《Yuan's Ascension》


 Chapter 1: Wu Yuan (1)

    <h4>Chapter 1: Wu Yuan (1)</h4>


    <i>Year 3224 of the Eastern Martial calendar, early spring.</i>


    <i>The Southdream Province of the Jiang Continent, Li City.</i>


    Though the chill of dawn had yet to fade, arge group of the county martial academy''s disciples were already assembled on the training ground, going through their morning exercises.


    This was an intermediate martial academy. The disciples were young and their musculoskeletal structures had yet to fully develop. Their understanding of martial arts was still shallow, and they had yet to embark on their true paths of martial arts.


    But as an academy of the Cloudstride Sect, a formidable entity among the sixteen provinces of the Jiang Continent, those qualified to enter the academy were either talents from Li City or descendants of martial artists within the sect itself. The collective training of the group exuded a formidable air.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Among them was a disciple who practiced with a short spear. His limbs stretched taut like a great bow, and his waist and hips moved as one as he threw the short spear. The spear whistled through the air and pierced deeply into a wooden post.


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang! </i>


    Those engaged in hand-to-handbat moved with the agility of foxes and attacked with the ferocity of tigers. All of them disyed extraordinary martial prowess.


    Meanwhile, in a corner of the training grounds, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boyy on the ground, propping himself with one arm in a strange posture.


    "You need to move your waist a centimeter more. Your limbs aren''t spread out enough, and you need to lean forward. Though you possess the strength of a thousand catties [1], you can only exhibit 70% of it." The boy, who wore a coarsely tailored and worn-down martial arts uniform, casually critiqued his ssmates from afar.


    To Wu Yuan, the vigorous movements of the martial academy''s disciples were full of ws.


    "This world is indeed extraordinary. When I first arrived, I thought it was a low-level martial world. The martial techniques here pale inparison to those of the Federation. The only thing that stands out is their physical attributes. The ordinary people of this world are strong enough to contend with the martial artists of the Federation, it''s truly astonishing." Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    As the youngest martial arts Grandmaster of the Sr System Human Federation, Wu Yuan''s understanding of martial arts ranked among the top ten in the Human Federation, which had a poption in the tens of billions.


    Of course, that was all in the past! For Wu Yuan had transmigrated to a new world.


    The cause of this transmigration? Wu Yuan wasn''t sure himself. By the time he woke up, he already found himself spirited away to this world.


    The process of his transmigration? Wu Yuan didn��t have the faintest notion.


    Since arriving in this world six months ago, he spent the first few months in a stupor, gradually recovering over the past month or so as the memories of the previous person were integrated with his own.


    <i>It''s been half a year since I''ve transmigrated, but I don''t see a system getting activated anytime soon. Guess you can''t take webnovels seriously! Or could it be that ... I am not the protagonist? </i>


    In his previous life, he had practiced martial arts from a young age, though he wasn��t a diehard purist.


    On the various cosmic inds of the Metaverse Federation, Wu Yuan had been known as a ��keyboard warrior��. He had also read countless webnovels, allowing him to ept the fact that he had transmigrated with rtive ease.


    The only thing he was still worried about was his elder sister. But since he was already here, he decided to make peace with it. As a martial arts Grandmaster, Wu Yuan understood that empty thoughts bore no fruit. Strength was the root of action, especially in this Middle Land where might reigned supreme and heroes fought for domination.


    After recovering from his disoriented state, Wu Yuan quickly adapted to his new identity and began his efforts to restore his cultivation. Unfortunately, an unfamiliar body and troubling family circumstances caused Wu Yuan''s progress to inch forward at a snail''s pace over the past month or so.


    <i>In my previous life, I had a steady supply of energy-dense supplements and a full-fledged artificial intelligence system monitoring my bodily functions. I also received training pointers from the ''Optimal Path of Martial Arts'', the cumtion of over a hundred years of big data by the Human Federation.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    As for this life? His cultivation environment was a far cry from before.


    However, it wasn''t all disadvantages. The deeper Wu Yuan dove into this world, the more he realized its astonishing potential in the martial path. It was not as simple as the lowly martial world it appeared to be.


    <i>Reality is not a novel; my sudden transmigration has nothing to do with the heavens finding me handsome.</i>


    However, Wu Yuan was not actually indifferent to the reason behind his transmigration. It was just that he understood. He wouldn''t be able to resolve this inexplicable matter for now. Even the Human Federation that had upied the sr system in his previous life wouldn''t be able to.


    <i>At this moment, my top priority is to seize first ce in the martial academy major tournament in eight days.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was calm.


    The martial academy''s major tournament was held once a year. The winner was qualified to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, the top martial academy within the Cloudstride Sect''s territory. Even its weakest graduates were at least Adept experts.


    <i>A fifth-grade expert can be considered an Adept, and is qualified to be a thousand-soldier lieutenant colonel in the city guard. </i>


    In the past month, Wu Yuan gained a certain level of understanding of this world. This was a world where martial sects ruled. Powerful martial artists could be kings or lords! They could erect their own sects! They could wander the world! They could even establish their own empires! Strength determined everything here.


    The Cloudstride Sect was considered a great martial sect, ruling over many thousands of li [2] ofnd. It had innumerable disciples and plentiful experts, making it a truly colossal entity.


    However, Wu Yuan was not too interested in entering the Cloud Martial Hall. During his time at the county martial academy, he had encountered a fifth-grade expert who disyed remarkable strength, slightly stronger than his own at the peak of his previous life. But the martial arts techniques exhibited were disappointing, far inferior to what he had previously learned.


    <i>Science is the primary driving force of martial arts.</i>


    As a doctoral degree holder in the specialization of martial arts, Wu Yuan agreed with this statement wholeheartedly and was a devout practitioner of this belief himself.


    Many of this world��s so-called experts spent twenty years of blood, sweat, and tears, just toprehend some secret techniques. Some sacred martial sects imed to have a thousand-year-old heritage, but in reality, they only recorded the top skills of a few thousand practitioners. How could theypare to the ''Optimal Path of Martial Arts'' derived from the training data of billions of members of the Human Federation?


    Wu Yuan was only interested in the martial academy major tournament because of the other award that the winner would receive - 500 taels of silver.


    <i>Arge meat bun costs three copper coins. 500 silver taels are equivalent to the purchasing power of 500,000 star yuan in the Federation</i>. <i>Of course, it''s only enough to buy a square meter of an ordinary property in the Ruling City.</i>


    Wu Yuan would have looked down on this bit of money in his previous life. A single martial arts duel with other martial arts Grandmasters earned him hundreds of millions in livestream rewards.


    But Wu Yuan was destitute in this life. Just slightly better than those on the brink of starvation!


    <i>Martial arts practitioners require a much higher food intake than ordinary people.</i> <i>The slow rate of my progress is closely rted to my insufficient food intake. If I have enough meat in my meals, my cultivation speed will increase more than tenfold.</i>


    Wu Yuan had many ns in mind for his martial arts training, but even a shrewd housewife couldn''t cook without rice. Martial arts training was not like cultivating to achieve immortality. One had to eat, and eat well!


    The 500 silver taels were the most easily obtainable ''first pot of gold'' for Wu Yuan. But most importantly -- It was safe, without requiring him to take any risks.


    <i>In this world, the study of martial arts seems to be built on a mediocre foundation. But a fifth-grade expert has power in the tens of thousands of catties. How strong are the first-grade experts who establish their own territories? And the legendarynd deities in the Heavenly Ranking of experts?</i>


    Wu Yuan had previously browsed through some records in the martial arts academy. Without sufficient confidence and strength, he would not act rashly.


    He was just an ordinary disciple of the martial arts academy. Why would he undergo a sudden metamorphosis? The right way to do things was one step at a time.


    <i>500 silver taels. After fulfilling my training needs, the remainder should be enough to cure my mother''s illness.</i> Wu Yuan couldn''t help but recall his gentle mother''s weathered face.


    When he first transmigrated over, he floated in and out of consciousness for months. Many advised his mother to give up on him. But she held on, putting aside her dignity to beg the other nsmen and colleagues of her deceased husband to lend herrge quantities of silver for her ''son''s'' recovery.


    The hearts of men are not made of stone, how can they be unmalleable?


    Over the months, Wu Yuan truly embraced this new body, epting that this person was now his mother. Naturally, her actions touched his heart.


    <i>Having taken the ce of her son, I shall bear this responsibility.</i>


    As time passed, the memories of the previous person who inhabited this body flowed into Wu Yuan''s mind, and he felt the zing warmth of his mother''s love grow each day.


    "Xu Yuanhan is here," someone suddenly called out from the other end of the training ground.


    "He is the general of defense''s son. The military training ground is better equipped, and he even has a dedicated soldier to spar with. He doesn''t normallye to the martial arts academy for morning practice."


    "Looks like something is about to happen." The training ground buzzed with spective chatter.


    These martial academy disciples were one-in-a-hundred talents in Li Cty. But the neer was evidently even more extraordinary.


    "Wu Yuan!"


    A slightly immature but deep voice rang out from afar. Many students naturally turned to look at the corner Wu Yuan was lying in.


    <i>Huh? He''s here so soon?</i>


    A burly teenager dressed in an extravagant purple martial arts uniform came into Wu Yuan''s view. Standing at around 1.9m tall, he possessed an extraordinary robustness reminiscent of a brown bear. Yet, the movements of his limbs and spine were filled with invisible power, akin to a spear ready to explode forth at any instant. Each step he took radiated remarkable pressure, and he stood out among the rest like a crane among chickens.


    He fixed Wu Yuan with aser-like stare.


    "Xu Yuanhan."


    Wu Yuan somersaulted to his feet from the ground, soaring more than a zhang [3] into the air. He stood tall, wearing a friendly smile as he asked, "What is it?"


    Wu Yuan was nearly 1.8 meters tall, but he seemed somewhat short standing in front of Xu Yuanhan.


    "Last time, I lost to you due to my carelessness. Today, I challenge you to a rematch." Xu Yuanhan stared at Wu Yuan.


    1. 1 catty = 0.5 kg ?


    2. 1 li = 0.5km ?


    3. 1 zhang = 3.3 meters ?

 Chapter 2: Wu Yuan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 2: Wu Yuan (2)</h4>


    Their confrontation drew the attention of arge number of disciples on the training ground.


    "I won''t fight you." Wu Yuan shook his head decisively.


    "Wu Yuan, are you afraid you''ll lose to me? You ced first in thest minor tournament." Xu Yuanhan''s voice rang out like a thunderous gong, deliberately amplified to draw the attention of all the disciples in the martial academy.


    "Is Wu Yuan afraid to ept the challenge?"


    "Xu Yuanhan is not an easy opponent. Wu Yuan won the previous match due to luck."


    "I think Wu Yuan is the tougher one. He experienced a sudden awakening a while back. In the three recent martial academy minor tournaments, he ced tenth, then fourth, and finally, he won first ce!" The many disciples of the martial academy whispered among themselves. All of them knew these two prominent figures in the academy.


    Xu Yuanhan was extremely talented and hailed from a prestigious family. At fifteen years old, he was already a seventh-grade martial novice. His future was boundless.


    Wu Yuan was from an ordinary family. Yet he stunned everyone, even drawing admiration from the academy headmaster.


    "As a sage once wisely noted, when public opinion bears down on an individual, an average person may falter under the weight of criticism and fail to meet their usual standards." He eyed Wu Yuan. "I need to engage in more sparring sessions with Wu Yuan to gauge the extent of his strength, and afterward, seek guidance from several uncles to refine countermeasures."


    Over the course of the previous year, he had emerged victorious in eighteen minor tournaments held at the martial academy. His eptance into the esteemed Cloud Martial Hall was all but certain.


    Who would have thought that as the major tournament approached, Wu Yuan would suddenly emerge as a contender?


    "I am indeed afraid of losing, Xu Yuanhan. Wait till the major tournament, we''ll have our rematch then," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly with a smile, indifferent to what the academy disciples thought of him.


    Reputation? Only children were bothered by such a thing.


    In the previous three minor tournaments, Wu Yuan deliberately controlled his rank, climbing higher each time. This was to make sure he wouldn''t look too suspicious when he finally won the major tournament


    "Hm?" Xu Yuanhan''s pupils contracted. He wasn''t anticipating Wu Yuan''s response. If he were in Wu Yuan''s shoes, he would find it hard to maintain hisposure under the stares of the crowd.


    "You really won''t ept my challenge?" Xu Yuanhan asked in a deep voice.


    "I won''t," Wu Yuan responded with a smile and shook his head.


    Xu Yuanhan fell silent for a moment, then grinned. "Fine. Wu Yuan, you''re interesting. Let''s settle our scores at the major tournament."


    Xu Yuanhan didn''t linger. He turned and left the martial grounds with a few followers.


    This scene left many disciples, who expected Xu Yuanhan to ��exploit his authority as the general''s son to oppress others��, somewhat disappointed.


    On the contrary, Wu Yuan was calm. This was within his expectations.


    <i>My rank in thest three minor tournaments has risen consistently, the name list should have been ced on the county mayor''s desk by now. I can''t offend the general of defense, but merely his son?</i>


    The general of defense was a prominent figure in Li County, second only to the county mayor. Xu Yuanhan, his youngest son, was naturally not some ordinary martial disciple one could casually provoke. However, this did not include the already formidable Wu Yuan.


    The county martial academy tournaments were held to identify true elite geniuses, one of the primary responsibilities of a county mayor. The general of defense wouldn''t dare intervene with it on a whim.


    In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, where martial artists vied for supremacy, certain influential figures within the great martial sects opted for a morevish lifestyle. This, in itself, was not a concern. However, when martial artspetitions were manipted and the principles of fairness and justice were cast aside, it signaled the sect''s impending downfall.


    <i>Moreover, Xu Yuanhan is no fool.</i> Wu Yuan smiled, looking in the direction of Xu Yuanhan''s departure.


    Xu Yuanhan was born with a golden spoon, yet he trained in the depths of winter and heights of summer, practicing martial arts every day since his early childhood. He might act arrogantly, but he was not the type of person to cause such trouble for his father.


    Even if he truly wanted to cause trouble for Wu Yuan, he would not do so under the watchful eyes of the others.


    ......


    <i>Within the county martial academy, in a nine-story building a kilometer away from the training grounds.</i>


    <i>On the seventh floor.</i>


    A slightly stooped old man in a green robe leaned against the railing. To his right stood a middle-aged man in a ck robe. He had a square face and an aura of authority that invoked respect.


    "General Xu, what do you think?" The old man in the green robe chuckled, "As I said, this Wu Yuan is someone who thinks before acting and wouldn��t ept the challenge."


    "Brother Zhang knows his disciples like the back of his hand, it''s admirable. My unworthy son was reckless this time." The middle-aged man in ck robes smiled, "However, Brother Zhang, are you really nning to refuse my previous proposal?"


    "It''s not that I want to refuse. It''s the county mayor."


    The old man in green robes nced at the other man, continuing with a cid tone, "You are a core disciple of the sect, surely you are more aware of how strict the Inspection Hall is than I am."


    "Haha, I am not obstructing Wu Yuan from entering the Cloud Martial Hall, I am just suggesting that he wait another year,"ughed the middle-aged man in the ck robe. "He just went through an awakening in his martial path. Old brother Zhang, if you nurture him just one year more, he could potentially enter the Cloud Martial Hall as the top entrant among four provinces. That is a major aplishment."


    "If he enters the Cloud Martial Hall this year, he will be just an ordinary disciple. No matter how incredible his future achievements, it will all be attributed to the Cloud Martial Hall''s nurturing."


    The green-d elder only smiled in response.


    "Three Qi Enhancement Pills, how about it?" The man in the ck robe put forth his final offer.


    The green-robed elder��s eyes narrowed, pausing for a moment, "And the county mayor''s end?"


    "There''s no need for you to worry about that, Old Brother Zhang."


    "Very well." The green-robed elder nodded, casuallymenting, "I''ve seen Yuanhan grow from a child into a mature and steady young man. If he doesn''t enter the Cloud Martial Hall this year, he will exceed the age bracket. What a shame that would be."


    "Wu Yuan, this little fellow, just went through an awakening and is indeed still young. It would be more appropriate for him to temper himself for a year before entering the Cloud Martial Hall..."


    ......


    <i>The county martial academy, in an advancedbat chamber.</i>


    "Brother Yuan, be careful!" A burly young man in ck, decked out in protective gear, moved with robust agility, unleashing a punch as fierce as a lightning bolt. The air itself seemed to howl.


    Wu Yuan merely shifted a step to his left, narrowly evading the punch.


    <i>Boom! </i>The mighty youth was prepared for it. He executed a powerful kick with his right leg, the muscles on his thigh bulging like solid steel bars.


    Wu Yuan took a step back in advance, almost as if he had anticipated the move, skillfully dodging the attack.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The muscr youth alternated between punches and kicks, every attack ferocious. The reinforced ground trembled subtly beneath him, but he could noty a finger on Wu Yuan.


    After nearly a hundred moves. The muscr youth finally ceased his assault, panting heavily. Drenched in sweat, he helplessly called out to Wu Yuan, "Brother Yuan, your footwork has progressed so remarkably. Just a few days ago when we sparred, I could still keep pace, but now I can''t even touch you."


    Wu Yuanughed.


    <i>Touch me?</i>


    During their previous exchanges, he had feigned weakness to create the illusion of rapid progress. Otherwise, even if ten people at the brawny youth''s level attacked him, Wu Yuan could easily dodge them all.


    In terms of power, Wu Yuan wasn''t much stronger than the buff youth. But skill-wise? It was a world of difference!


    "Brother Yuan, do people really be so powerful once they experience an awakening in their martial path?" The muscr youth couldn''t help but ask, "Before, I could always suppress you, but now, you can probably take on ten of me."


    "Little Wu, when you awaken your potential as well, you will naturally understand," Wu Yuanughed, giving an ambiguous response.


    Awakening? In the Middle Land, such an experience was a miracle for martial artists. Wu Yuan used the term ''awakening'' to disguise his rapid progress.


    <i>Awakening? Many martial artists struggle their entire lifetime without experiencing such a thing.</i>


    The muscr youth known as Little Wu sighed, "In the uing major tournament, I''m guessing Brother Yuan will be securing first ce. After you graduate from the Cloud Martial Hall, you will be an Adept expert at least. When that happens, you will truly undergo aplete transformation in status. The Wu n may even appoint you as their chieftain."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly in response.


    "Brother Yuan, I''m just concerned that Xu Yuanhan may be hatching some other n to deal with you. His father is the general of defense after all." Little Wu looked worried. As the son of a hundred-soldier captain of the city guard, he understood the authority the general held more clearly than most.


    "Don''t worry," Wu Yuan patted his shoulderfortingly, "In the worst-case scenario, I can always enter the Southdream Martial Academy instead. But if you don''t get in, your dad won''t let you off."


    The Southdream Martial Academy was one of the three tertiary martial academies under the Cloudstride Sect, second only to the Cloud Martial Hall. It wasn''t easy to gain admission.


    "Brother Yuan, please, don''t say anymore," Little Wu gave an exaggerated wail of despair.


    Wu Yuan chuckled at his dramatics and shook his head.


    Little Wu''s full name was Wu Sheng [1]. His father and Wu Yuan''s father were sworn brothers. Wu Yuan and Wu Sheng shared a bond thatsted from childhood till now. Wu Yuan, after fusing with the memories of the previous person, continued to honor this brotherly affection.


    From what Wu Yuan could remember, eight years ago, his father died in a battle between the Cloudstride Sect and the Great Jin Dynasty in the Battle of Hillstride. From then on, his family fell into decline and was subjected to bullying within the n. His mother was able to hold onrgely thanks to the help Wu Sheng''s family provided her.


    ......


    As the sunset faded into dusk, Wu Yuan and Wu Sheng left the martial academy together. From a distance, they saw a carriage parked under the shade of a tree. An elderly man in a ck robe stood by it, his brows furrowed.


    "Brother Yuan, it''s your Wu n��s chieftain. Perhaps he''s looking for you," Wu Sheng said in a lowered voice. "He''sing over, I will leave first." The internal affairs of the Wu n were not something Wu Sheng or his father had the right to intervene in.


    Wu Yuan nodded, then stepped forward to greet the chieftain "Chieftain, what brings you here?"


    Wu Qiming was the chieftain of the Wu n��s Li City branch. The Wu n in Southdream Province was considered a rtivelyrge n, but Wu Qiming was merely the chieftain of a branch of the n. The Wu n in Li City was an insignificant n.


    However, since Wu Yuan''s father passed away, various parties within the n joined forces to oppress their family. Wu Qiming established several rules to restrict their actions, otherwise, his mother wouldn''t have been able to resist their pressure by herself.


    In the past month, Wu Yuan quickly gained attention within the n due to his meteoric rise in the martial academy.


    "Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming looked at the most dazzling junior in the younger generation of his family and reprimanded, "What have you done to offend the general of defense?"


    1. The ��Wu�� in Wu Yuan is different from the ��Wu�� in Wu Sheng ?

 Chapter 3: Bullying An Impoverished Teenager

    <h4>Chapter 3: Bullying An Impoverished Teenager</h4>


    "Chieftain, the general has a highly revered status. Even the county mayor treats him with respect. I''m just a martial academy student who hasn''t reached the level of a sixth-grade martial virtuoso. I am not even qualified to see him, how could I have offended him?" Wu Yuan countered.


    Wu Qiming stared at Wu Yuan, trying to glean some clues from Wu Yuan''s eyes. However, all he could see was a wall of calm.


    "Then why did General Xu suddenly invite me to his banquet tonight? And insist that I bring you along?" Wu Qiming questioned.


    Wu Yuan immediately understood what was going on.


    The four big shots of Li County were - the county mayor, county deputy, county magistrate, and the general of defense. The first three, under the county mayor''s leadership, wielded great authority within Li City.


    Though the general of defense seemed unable to intervene in local affairs, hismand over the 600 soldiers of the Southdream Army granted him a military force that even the county mayor was reluctant to conflict with.


    Such a figure would typically only invite the top ten families of Li City to their private banquets. The Wu family? They didn''t even make the top hundred! Naturally, Wu Qiming thought Wu Yuan had somehow offended the general of defense. Otherwise, why would they suddenly receive an invitation?


    "Chieftain, the only connection between General Xu and me is Xu Yuanhan, who is my biggest contender in the major tournament..." Wu Yuan spoke indifferently, quickly revealing his ��grievances�� with Xu Yuanhan. In reality, the two had no real grievances. They had rarely interacted in the past.


    However, every county martial academy could only send one person to the Cloud Martial Hall each year. This was apetition of interests.


    "The Cloud Martial Hall? The champion of the major tournament?" As someone who managed to secure the position of a n chieftain, Wu Qiming understood the reason for the invitation in a sh.


    Given the capabilities of the general of defense, sending his son into the Cloudstride Sect was a walk in the park!


    How could enrolling in an ordinary sectpare to enrolling in the Cloud Martial Hall? As the top martial academy, the resources, and secret techniques a disciple of the Cloud Martial Hall could obtain exceeded those avable to disciples from ordinary academies tenfold.


    "Wu Yuan, follow me to the banquetter. No matter what happens, do not do anything without my approval," Wu Qiming said in a low voice. "Understood?"


    "Chieftain, I understand." Wu Yuan smiled, "Neither our Wu family nor I can afford to provoke the general of defense. No matter how unjust I may feel, I''ll bear it for the sake of my mother and sister, as well as our n."


    General of defense? If a simr situation urred when he was in his peak state in his past life, would that be someone Wu Yuan had to worry about?


    Unfortunately, he was at the mercy of his circumstances. No matter how skilled Wu Yuan was, he could not defeat a fourth-grade expert with tens of times his physical strength. As long as his power was still insufficient, he had to endure injustice when the situation called for it. Furthermore, Wu Yuan had to consider his family''s safety.


    "Wu Yuan, you don''t have to worry too much. The martial academy major tournament is a huge event that involves many interests. General Xu might not risk an intervention," Wu Qiming said in a quiet voice, "He might be inviting us to the banquet for other matters."


    Wu Yuan nodded, deciding not to object.


    <i>Other matters? The chances of that were practically zero!</i>


    "Let''s go, we shouldn''t bete," Wu Qiming signaled to the coachman a short distance away, who slowly brought the carriage to them.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan leaped off the balls of his feet andnded in the carriage.


    With a trace of worry on his face, Wu Qiming boarded the carriage step by step via the stool, maintaining the dignity befitting a n leader.


    ......


    The Xu Manor was brightly lit, grand and magnificent.


    As lower-status guests, Wu Qiming conscientiously arrived early with Wu Yuan. They didn''t encounter any of the difficulties they anticipated; the steward of the Xu Manor courteously ushered them to their seats which were situated at the end, and served them tea and pastries.


    As time passed, guests drifted in and out like clouds. The important figures of Li City that one rarely saw arrived one after another. At the end, even the county mayor and the county deputy arrived, and General Xu weed them personally.


    This banquet truly introduced Wu Yuan to the standards of high society in this part of the world. There were more dance tunes than he could keep up with, and the songstresses were bewitching but not overly promiscuous. All sorts of rare delicacies were also continuously presented.


    The extravagance and scale of the banquet far exceeded Wu Qiming''s imagination. Despite his status as a chieftain, he found himself ill at ease. Even the Wu n''s main family''s annual celebration paled inparison to this feast.


    On the contrary, Wu Yuan looked uninterested. As the evening wore on, Wu Yuan felt increasingly bored and even sleepy. In his previous life, he enjoyed dances and music a hundred times more exquisite and partook in feasts ten times morevish.


    <i>This world surpasses the ancient dynasties. This is merely a county town, there are also massive cities here with poptions of several million. But no matter how opulent or grand, I''m afraid they cannot rival the celebrations of the Metaverse.</i> Wu Yuan observed with a calm eye.


    As the music ended, the crowd dispersed.


    The banquet continued into the night. After a long wait, Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming finally received an invitation from the steward for a discussion in the side hall. Both of them understood what this meant. The main event was about to begin!


    The Xu Manor upied dozens of mu [2] ofnd, the estate''s periphery adorned with rockery corridors, waterside pavilions, and towers. However, the deeper one ventured, the simpler the decor became, bearing a solemn air akin to a military formation.


    "Chieftain Wu, Young Master Wu, this way please," the gentle-faced, purple-robed Steward Xu [1] led the way forward.


    Soon, they entered a side hall. Unlike the mor of the main hall, it was remarkably quiet here.


    "Wu Qiming pays respects to General Xu and Headmaster Zhang," Wu Qiming first performed a deep bow, then rose and bowed again slightly. Wu Yuan followed suit.


    The presence of the martial academy''s headmaster was the sole surprise for Wu Yuan.


    "Please sit, Chieftain Wu." General Xu''s voice resounded like a great bell. He had an imposing physique, and his face was a mirror of Xu Yuanhan''s, bearing an 80% resemnce.


    Despite his casual attire, he exuded an invisible aura. In Wu Yuan''s perception, it was akin to a fierce beast. He was far more terrifying than Headmaster Zhang Da of the martial academy beside him.


    The Cloudstride Sect decreed that only fourth-grade martial artists and above may assume the title of a county''s general of defense.


    In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, martial artists were divided into nine grades!


    Ninth-grade, eighth-grade, and seventh-grade martial artists were collectively referred to as martial novices, a standard even ordinary people who trained their bodies could aspire to reach.


    A sixth-grade martial artist was called a martial virtuoso, marking one''s true entry into the path of martial arts.


    Reaching the level of a fifth-grade signified bing an Adept. An Adept expert was a title respected in any corner of the world.


    As for fourth-grade martial artists?


    <i>At the pinnacle of my previous life, I was likely inferior to this General Xu in terms of pure physical strength</i>.


    The humans of the Middle Land were far stronger with regards to physical strength. An adult male could easily possess the strength of a thousand catties.


    "I''ve heard that the martial academy has produced an awakened martial arts prodigy this year. Today, I finally got to see him," General Xu said with a soft smile, his gaze falling on Wu Yuan.


    "We dare not im the word ''prodigy'' before the general," Wu Qiming quickly said.


    "Brother Wu need not be modest. Among the martial academy students I''ve seen over the years, Wu Yuan is one of the top few," the ck-robed elder, Zhang Da, chuckled at the side.


    "It''s all thanks to Headmaster Zhang''s teachings," Wu Qiming said.


    ��Teachers can only lead one to the door, but one''s cultivation ultimately depends on oneself. Were it not for Wu Yuan''s dedication to his training, I doubt my instruction would have yielded any results," Headmaster Zhang remarked with a chuckle.


    Unease grew within Wu Qiming as he listened. It was true that Wu Yuan''s talent in martial arts shone brightly, particrly over the past month when he began to make progress at a mind-boggling rate.


    However, no matter how much talent one had, it did not equate to strength. Wu Yuan had yet to reach the sixth grade, and was still far from being worthy of praise from the esteemed general of defense and the headmaster of the martial academy. One had to remember that these two were genuine martial experts!


    "General Xu, Headmaster Zhang. Since you''ve invited us here, I believe you have important matters to discuss with Wu Yuan and me. Please feel free to instruct us," Wu Qiming cut right to the chase with a polite smile.


    "Alright, I''ll get straight to the point." Headmaster Zhang''s expression turned serious, "The martial academy major tournament is imminent. With Wu Yuan''s strength, there is a high chance of him taking first ce, and then advancing to the Cloud Martial Hall for training. But if you enter the Cloud Martial Hall now, you will just be an ordinary disciple."


    "Next year is the 300th anniversary of our Cloudstride Sect. It is a year of great significance to the sect. Therefore, General Xu, the county mayor, and I held a discussion and came to a consensus. We hope that Wu Yuan will hold off on participating in this year''s major tournament, spending an additional year training at the county martial academy. In a year''s time, you will definitely grow stronger, and possibly get to vie for the number one spot among four provinces at the major tournament. If you clinch first ce then, you will enter the Cloud Martial Hall as the top entrant, bing the pride of the entire Li City! You will also gain more training resources, which will be of great use to you." Headmaster Zhang said in a sincere tone.


    Each martial academy held a yearly major tournament where the winning disciple entered the Cloud Martial Hall. From there, these disciples wouldpete again in a tournament between counties.


    The four provinces referred to the four provinces ruled by the Cloudstride Sect, including those past and present.


    Taking first ce meant being the most outstanding disciple admitted to the Cloud Martial Hall that year, naturally bing the center of attention. On top of that, it would coincide with the sect''s 300th anniversary celebration.


    The words of Headmaster Zhang were truly grandiose. But how could Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan not understand his deeper meaning?


    ording to the Cloudstride Sect''s rules, no one aged sixteen or above may enter the Cloud Martial Hall. And Xu Yuanhan was already fifteen this year.


    If it was really for Wu Yuan''s benefit, why invite the two to the banquet at the Xu Manor? Why would the general of defense meet them in person? Byw, the general��s faction was not allowed to meddle in the affairs of the martial academy. This wasmon knowledge. All this was merely him making use of the banquet''s extravagance to intimidate Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan, causing them to hesitate to refuse outright.


    ��Headmaster Zhang," Wu Qiming gritted his teeth and bowed his head, "It''s not that Wu Yuan doesn''t want to bring glory to the martial academy, but his family is poor and my Wu n is small,cking the resources to fully support him. Without resources from external contributors, I fear he may not be able to secure the top spot among the four provinces even if he spends another year in the martial academy. It would be better for him to enter the Cloud Martial Hall this year. When he grows up, he will still be the pride of Li City."


    Wu Yuan looked at Wu Qiming, slightly astonished. The chieftain actually had the guts to refuse?


    "Do you not trust me?" Zhang Da''s gaze narrowed slightly, his aura subtly shifting.


    A thin sheen of sweat began to appear on Wu Qiming''s forehead. He felt like he was being watched by a fierce tiger.


    "It''s not that I don''t trust you. But in the path of martial arts, stagnation means regression. Dying Wu Yuan''s entry into the Cloud Martial Hall by a year would greatly affect his progress." Wu Qiming steeled his heart. He knew his refusal wouldnd him in big trouble. But to him, Wu Yuan''s future was far more important!


    "Chieftain Wu has nned far ahead for Wu Yuan, I admire that," General Xu began in a gentle voice, "However, the people will not ignore Wu Yuan''s efforts to bring glory to Li City. Here is a reward of 5000 silver taels to cover his training needs for a year." As he spoke, his gaze swept to one side.


    With a creak, the side door opened and a servant respectfully presented arge stack of silver notes, each note marked with the number ��100��. In the corner of each note, the word ''Sta'' was inscribed as an anti-counterfeiting measure.


    <i>5000 taels? </i>Wu Qiming''s breath caught in his throat while Wu Yuan��s eyes flickered subtly. If the Wu n''s Li City branch wanted to amass such a fortune, numerous households would have to sell off their properties. This was an exorbitant sum!


    "Wu Yuan, are you willing?" General Xu looked directly at Wu Yuan as he asked.


    1. The ��Xu�� in Steward Xu is different from the ��Xu�� in General Xu ?


    2. 1 mu = 1/6 of an acre ?

 Chapter 4: He Who Understands The Times Is A Hero

    <h4>Chapter 4: He Who Understands The Times Is A Hero</h4>


    "General Xu, Wu Yuan is...." Wu Qiming began to speak on Wu Yuan''s behalf.


    "Chieftain Wu." General Xu''s gaze hardened with displeasure and a chill crept into his voice, "Right now, I am speaking to Wu Yuan!"


    A wave of invisible energy rippled out, as though a sleeping tiger was awakened. Wu Qiming''s pupils constricted sharply and he felt his hairs stand on end. Although he had received martial arts training, he was but a mere sixth-grade martial virtuoso.


    "Wu Yuan, there''s no need to feel nervous," Headmaster Zhang Da reassured with a smile. The frigid tension in the atmosphere rxed. "Speak your mind. But as the headmaster, I hope you can consider the bigger picture."


    While it seemed like he was trying to persuade Wu Yuan, it was in fact a veiled threat.


    At that moment, Wu Yuan''s attention waspletely drawn to therge stack of silver notes presented by the servant. His eyes showed a hint of longing, their edges tinged with a touch of red.


    Observing this, Wu Qiming couldn''t help but sigh inwardly, while a subtle smile graced the lips of both General Xu and Headmaster Zhang Da.


    No matter how level-headed Wu Yuan was, he was just a fourteen-year-old boy. 5000 taels of silver were enough to buy arge mansion in Li City!


    General Xu began to entice him, ��Wu Yuan, should you decide to withdraw from the tournament this year, you can take these 5000 taels of silver with you right away. Next year, you''ll still have the opportunity to join the Cloud Martial Hall and pursue the pinnacle of martial arts! Achieving the rank of a marquis or a general will no longer be mere wishful thinking."


    A struggle flickered across Wu Yuan''s face. After a brief pause, he nced discreetly at Wu Qiming as though he had made up his mind, "General, Headmaster, I am willing topete for the title of number one among four provinces to bring honor to Li City. I am prepared to continue my cultivation at the martial academy for another year."


    "Haha, good!" General Xu burst into heartyughter, "Now this is the spirit of a true Li citizen. This is how an exemry student from the county martial academy should behave."


    Wu Yuan kept stealing nces at the stack of silver notes. Meanwhile, a hint of regret and reluctance shed across Wu Qiming''s face.


    "Wu Yuan, take the silver notes with you and leave us for now," Zhang Da instructed.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan promptly grabbed the silver bills and carefully stashed them away. Following the servant''s lead, he exited the side hall.


    After Wu Yuan left, Zhang Da shifted his attention to Wu Qiming and spoke with a knowing tone, "Given your role as the chieftain of the Wu n, I trust you grasp the significance of connections. It would be unwise to take actions that might jeopardize your interests."


    Wu Qiming bowed. "Once we return, I will emphasize to Wu Yuan that his decision to forfeit this year''s martial academy major tournament was entirely of his own ord."


    "Today, Wu Yuan and I had the privilege of attending the general''s private banquet. Afterward, we returned home by ourselves. Neither the general nor Headmaster Zhang summoned us," Wu Qiming continued.


    General Xu and Zhang Da exchanged nces, nodding satisfactorily.


    This Wu Qiming, he was a sensible one.


    ...


    The steward escorted Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan out of the manor through a side door.


    "Brother Zhang, I have one more request," General Xu said with a friendly smile. "There''s no need to inform Yuanhan that Wu Yuan is withdrawing from the major tournament."


    Zhang Da was taken aback for a moment, then gave a slight nod, sighing: "Parents always n far ahead for their children''s futures. I hope Yuanhan will not let down your efforts."


    "There isn''t much more I can do. Once he enters the Cloud Martial Hall, his fate is in his own hands," General Xu spoke with a sigh.


    "Alright then." Zhang Da rose to his feet, "General Xu, I shall take my leave. I have much to discuss with the teachers of the martial academy regarding Wu Yuan''s matter. We must ensure nothing goes wrong."


    This matter concerned the very foundation of the county martial academy and could not be concealed by the headmaster alone.


    General Xu acknowledged with a nod. "In that case, I won''t see you out."


    He watched as Zhang Da departed.


    "Hmph!" A young man with a frosty expression strode out from the side of the hall. "Father, even in a fairpetition, Wu Yuan is no match for sixth brother."


    "Furthermore, given Father''s influence, a single word from you would have sufficed to make Wu Yuan withdraw. Why did you have to offer 5000 silver taels?" The young man couldn''tprehend his father��s actions.


    "Naive!" General Xu looked at his eldest son with visible disappointment. "From a young age, you loved taking advantage of others. How can you possibly grasp the concept of sacrifice?"


    "You have to give to get. 5000 taels of silver may not be an insignificant amount to our Xu family, but if it can pacify the Wu n''s resentment and significantly reduce our risks, that��s money well spent."


    "Among the six of you, only your sixth brother has truly inherited my martial arts talent. If the Xu family is to prosper, our hopes rest on him. I am willing to fork out an even higher price if it means he can enter the Cloud Martial Hall without an issue," General Xu stated somberly.


    "Father, I have been careless in my thoughts. I humbly seek your forgiveness," the young man bowed in apology, yet a chill lingered in the depths of his eyes.


    ...


    In Li City, curfew was lifted on every fifth day of the month. Today happened to be the fifteenth of March, so the streets remained lively even after nightfall.


    <i>Within a carriage.</i>


    "Wu Yuan, you shouldn''t have agreed," Wu Qiming stared fixedly at Wu Yuan.


    "Chieftain, 5000 taels of silver is a considerable sum," Wu Yuan said indifferently, "I''ll just be entering the Cloud Martial Hall a yearter."


    "Silver is just an external possession. In our vast Middle Land, what truly matters is martial strength." Wu Qiming shook his head, "Do you understand why the Cloud Martial Hall only recruits teenagers under the age of sixteen? The ages twelve to eighteen mark the best years toy one''s foundation in martial arts. If you miss this period, you''ll regret it for life."


    "Entering the Cloud Martial Hall a year earlier is worth much more than a mere 5000 taels of silver. Even 10,000 isn''t enough!" Wu Qiming tried to keep his voice low, but he could not conceal his agitation. "Wu Yuan, I thought you had be more sensible ever since you awakened your potential in martial arts, but you have greatly disappointed me today..."


    "Chieftain!" Wu Yuan suddenly interrupted Wu Qiming, looking into the other man''s eyes with unwavering seriousness, "Did we have a choice today?"


    A look of astonishment crossed Wu Qiming''s face. At this moment, he realized that Wu Yuan''s behavior in the side hall had been nothing more than an act.


    "If I had chosen to refuse, would that have changed the oue?" Wu Yuan continued, answering his own question, "It wouldn''t! All it would have done was offend General Xu and Headmaster Zhang,pelling General Xu to resort to riskier tactics."


    "General Xu was bold enough to invite us to his banquet and meet us in person, indicating his confidence in havingplete control over the situation. If I had refused, I��m not sure whether I��d survive safely until the martial academy major tournament."


    "Right now, at least General Xu and Headmaster Zhang don''t harbor hostility towards us. I can also continue to cultivate peacefully at the martial academy."


    "And I even received 5000 silver taels. That''s not a small sum," Wu Yuan chuckled, retrieving a sizable stack of silver notes from his clothing. He then split them into two piles and handed therger one to Wu Qiming. "Chieftain, this is for you."


    Wu Qiming was taken aback.


    "If it weren''t for our n, I might never have entered the martial academy."


    "Were it not for your presence today, Chieftain, I fear General Xu might have sent me away with a mere 500 taels." Wu Yuan shook his head, "By keeping 1000 taels, I''m already taking advantage of the n, but it is necessary for my cultivation and my mother''s treatment. I hope Chieftain will understand."


    "Wu Yuan, keep this silver for yourself! Money is indispensable for martial arts cultivation." Wu Qiming insisted, attempting to shove the silver notes back into Wu Yuan''s clothes.


    But Wu Yuan stopped him. "Chieftain, as long as I have sufficient money for my needs, I am content!"


    "If I run out of funds for my cultivation, I will definitely inform you." Wu Yuan revealed a smile, "Besides as Chieftain once said, once I grow strong enough, wealth will naturallye my way."


    "Your appetite should dictate the size of the loaf you eat. Eating too much will lead to more trouble than one can handle."


    "Chieftain, let''s alight here. If we go further in and other families catch sight of us, it will spark gossip." Wu Yuan half rose and gave a slight bow. In one swift leap, he was out of the carriage, disappearing into a nearby side street.


    Wu Qiming sat in the carriage, his head bowed as he looked at therge stack of silver notes in his hand. Indeed, he needed the silver. Maintaining a n was no easy task. Managing a n''s growth was even more challenging!


    "Xu Shouyi! Zhang Da!" Wu Qiming growled under his breath, a cold glint in his eyes.


    For over a decade, he served as the chieftain of the Li City branch of the Wu n. In his youth, he had grand ambitions in the path of martial arts, but it was unfortunately a wasted endeavor. For the sake of the n, he worked tirelessly.


    Wu Yuan stood out as the most gifted disciple that the Wu n��s Li City branch had seen in recent years, and Wu Qiming saw him as the great hope for the n''s resurgence.


    When circumstances demand it, one can only bow their head.


    <i>I just hope Wu Yuan''s progress won''t be hindered by this one-year dy. </i>Wu Qiming sighed.


    He did not take General Xu''s promises to heart. Wu Yuan could take first ce in next year''s major tournament? The promises of big shots were like bears splitting logs �� utterly nonsensical!


    <i>I can''t assist him in his martial arts cultivation. I can only search for more ways to alleviate Wu Yuan''s worries. </i>


    Wu Qiming continued to contemte how else he could support Wu Yuan.


    ...


    Wu Yuan walked through the dimly lit streets, exchanging greetings with each person he met. Those living within these narrow streets were all part of the Wu n.


    The Wu nprised hundreds of nsmen, spread across more than a dozen households. While most of these families were considered middle-ss, and better off than the impoverished residents of the city''s southern region, true wealth was still out of reach for them.


    He advanced another hundred meters and finally stopped before a somewhat dpidated courtyard house. This was Wu Yuan''s home!


    "Mother, I''m back!" Wu Yuan��s face brightened as he called out loudly into the courtyard house.

 Chapter 5: What Makes A Home

    <h4>Chapter 5: What Makes A Home</h4>


    The small courtyard house was a mere ten square yards in size, and its low walls were constructed with mud. The years had peeled back theyers of mud in several parts of the walls, revealing the gravel beneath.


    Surrounding the courtyard were three buildings, simrly weathered and aged. On either side of the main house, faded white couplets could still be seen. However, the courtyard was immactely clean. A few items of clothing, not quite dry, hung from a bamboo pole by the eaves. Beneath it was arge, half-filled water barrel.


    As the memories of his body��s previous upant merged with his own, Wu Yuan began to regard this house as a ce he had lived in for over a decade, a ce he called home.


    In his previous life, he owned a sprawling vi spanning over a thousand square meters. But ever since his sister''s marriage, it felt like nothing more than a ce to stay. Whereas in this life, this small courtyard house gave Wu Yuan a true sense of belonging.


    Among the courtyard houses in the neighborhood, this one was rtively spacious. In Wu Yuan��s memory, their family had moved in when his father was still alive. He was still a child then, and their family had prospered.


    Later, his father was killed in battle and the family fell into decline, struggling to support Wu Yuan��s training at the martial academy. They were almost forced to sell the house. Needless to say, they had no spare funds for repairs.


    "Mother, big brother is back." A youthful voice rang out happily.


    Shortly after, a slender girl of around eight or nine years old bounded out from a side room. She was dressed in gray fabric and her face beamed with excitement.


    "Brother, carry me!"


    "Of course," Wu Yuan replied with a grin.


    With a single stride, he effortlessly scooped up the girl with his right arm and carried her into the courtyard. This was a game the siblings yed frequently.


    "Little Yi, what did you do today?" Wu Yuan casually asked.


    "I was with Mother in the fabric shop! I learned how to create a flower arrangement with Sister Xing today," the girl responded excitedly.


    "Haha, Little Yi is truly skilled." Wu Yuan chuckled. However, his heart ached.


    The fabric business was the primary enterprise of the Wu n''s Li City branch, which operated numerous fabric shops throughout the city. Among these, the Wu Xing Fabric Shop, founded by their chieftain Wu Qiming, ranked among the top ten in a city teeming with hundreds of such establishments.


    The livelihoods of more than half of the hundreds of Wu nsmen were heavily reliant on this industry. Some were responsible for procurement and weaving, while others managed dyeing processes, and some focused on sales. Wu Yuan''s mother was a skilled dyer.


    Normally, the pension from Wu Yuan''s father who had died in battlebined with the n��s annual ie and the wages of his mother, were enough for a family of three to livefortably. However, Wu Yuan''s martial arts training was a money devouring pit for an ordinary family!


    If not for the Chieftain suppressing the dissent from the other nsmen, as well as providing them with unwavering support over the years, the family would have been unable to sustain itself by relying on the efforts of Wu Yuan''s mother alone.


    Consequently, there had been much gossip circting among the various Wu n households. After all, while Wu Yuan possessed some martial arts talent, he was not exactly a top-tier prodigy. The future returns from the n''s heavy financial investment in him were uncertain.


    Only the Chieftain''s authority prevented numerous n members from voicing their opinions publicly.


    <i>The previous Wu Yuan toiled in the martial academy for many years. Yet, I''m still a mere eighth-grade martial novice.</i> <i>It��s difficult to alter my destiny by following the conventional path!</i>


    In the vast Middle Land, martial artists were well respected. But as a martial novice, someone in the bottom three grades, the best prospects one could hope for would be to be a domestic servant, a guard, or a bodyguard. Even in the army, one would serve as little more than cannon fodder.


    To alter one��s destiny, one had to be a martial virtuoso at least!


    Transitioning from a seventh-grade martial novice to a sixth-grade martial virtuoso represented a significant milestone in every martial artist''s path within the Middle Land.


    If one did not reach the seventh grade by the age of sixteen, it was almost impossible to be a martial virtuoso in their twenties under normal circumstances.


    When it came to martial arts cultivation, skill did not rise proportionally to the length of training. In youth, individuals possessed abundant qi and vitality. Just like the rising sun, their unlimited potential facilitated rapid progress.


    Anyone above the age of thirty who had yet to reach the Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing phase would see their potential decline rapidly. Even if their physical faculties remained intact, achieving breakthroughs would grow progressively more challenging.


    The previous Wu Yuan would have struggled to be a seventh-grade martial artist before the age of sixteen.


    <i>But now, I am here! </i>


    If this body was already eighteen years old, even Wu Yuan would find it difficult to make any significant cultivation progress.


    But a physique merely fourteen years old? It was precisely the golden age for martial arts cultivation!


    Moreover, although the former Wu Yuan was not extraordinarily gifted, he had practiced diligently, building an exceptionally sturdy foundation for his physical abilities.


    <i>Although I don''t understand why I''ve arrived in this world, I will strive to fulfill your wishes.</i>


    With the amalgamation of the previous Wu Yuan''s memories and emotions, Wu Yuan asionally found himself straddling the boundary between reality and dreams, unsure whether he had transmigrated, or if the technological Federation was nothing more than a long dream.


    <i>Creak~</i> The door to the main house opened.


    "Yuan''er, you''re back." A fatigued-looking woman emerged from the dimly lit room with a fire poker in hand, seemingly in the midst of kindling a fire.


    Her face was streaked with a smudge of coal dust and her cheeks disyed a sickly pallor, but even the wrinkles on her forehead were unable to hide the beauty of her youth. A gentle smile graced her features.


    This was Wu Yuan''s mother, Wanqin. For many years, she had single-handedly raised him and his sister.


    "Mother, there''s no need to warm up my food, I''ve just returned from the general''s manor with the chieftain. We''ve already eaten," Wu Yuan quickly said.


    As he spoke, Wu Yuan gently took the fire poker from his mother''s hand, picked up the wooden bucket by the water barrel, and walked out into the courtyard. "Mother, you go freshen up first; I''ll go fetch water with Little Yi."


    Wealthy households often had private wells. However, along the Wu family��s street, it wasmon for ten or more families to share a single well. Given the standards of living in Li City, this was considered quite decent!


    Bncing his sister, Wu Yijun, in one arm, he drew water from the well using his free hand. This was a challenging feat for an ordinary man. But for Wu Yuan, it was a breeze. With a single leap, he could cover a distance of more than two zhangs. His cheetah-like agility incited peals ofughter from his younger sister, who cheered him on. "Brother, go faster!"


    The sound of water flowing into the barrel, intermingled with the siblings''ughter, elicited a subtle smile from their mother who remained inside the main house.


    Despite the hardships they endured, her children symbolized her hope and happiness, the very reason she continued to live.


    ...


    As the night deepened, and his sister fell asleep, Wu Yuan made his way to the east building. A single oilmp cast a dim glow, illuminating his mother, who was weaving.


    "Yuan''er, please have a seat," Wanqin said.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded and took a seat next to his mother. In a low voice, he said, "Mother, I have something to discuss with you."


    "Go ahead," Wanqin smiled, her hands continuing their work.


    "I will be withdrawing from this year''s martial academy major tournament," Wu Yuan did not beat around the bush.


    "What?" Wanqin''s expression shifted and her hands froze abruptly. She looked at Wu Yuan with a mix of confusion and urgency, "In the past few minor tournaments, haven''t you been constantly improving? You should have no problem getting into Southdream Martial Academy. Why would you forfeit?"


    Normally, she trusted her son and didn''t pry too much into his affairs at the martial academy.


    But how could any mother not feel concerned?


    The Southdream Martial Academy was far less prestigious than the Cloud Martial Hall. One admitted hundreds of students a year from a single province, while the other took in only dozens from three provinces. Whether onepared the innate talent of the disciples or the resources of the martial academies, the contrast was staggering!


    But in Wanqin''s view, it would already be a great aplishment if her son could gain admission into the Southdream Martial Academy. She couldn''tprehend why he would choose to forgo participating in the martial academy major tournament.


    "Mother, my n is topete in next year''s major tournament, where there''s a high chance I''ll be epted into the Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Yuan exined further, "Both the chieftain and the headmaster have shown support for my decision." He did not reveal the specifics.


    Hearing this, Wanqin was taken aback, her emotions wavering. She had great faith in the chieftain, Wu Qiming, and remembered the headmaster of the martial academy as a kind old man, but this matter concerned her son''s future.


    "Mother, if I can enter the Cloud Martial Hall, I will be a fifth-grade martial artist in the future at minimum, with hopes of reaching an even higher grade. When Father hears of this in the afterlife, I''m sure he will be iparably relieved." Wu Yuan continued, "Besides, I can always enter the Southdream Martial Academy next year. Even if my admission is dyed by a year, it won''t be toote."


    "A fifth-grade martial artist?" The words seemed to touch something in Wanqin''s heart.


    That was because she never forgot her husband''sst wish -- for their family to produce a fifth-grade martial artist.


    Moreover, she understood very well what a fifth-grade martial artist signified. There was not a single fifth-grade martial artist in the entire Wu n''s Li City branch. If they could produce one, it would elevate not only their modest family, but also the entire n''s status and influence considerably. In this world, wealth was just a byproduct of martial strength.


    "Yuan''er, since the chieftain supports your decision, I won''t dwell on it," Wanqin said, "However, when you encounter challenges, don''t act impulsively; always prioritize your safety."


    "I understand." Wu Yuan felt a rush of warmth in his heart. Most parents had a singr wish: for their children to remain safe.


    "Mother, this is a reward I received from the martial academy." Wu Yuan turned over his hand, presenting a silver note, and ced it beside Wanqin.


    "100 taels?" Wanqin could hardly believe it.


    She worked hard every day, but her monthly wages did not even amount to two taels. Her yearly earnings were only 20 to 30 silver taels. 100 taels of silver could sustain an ordinary family of three for several years!


    "Mother, the martial academy has decided to invest heavily in me, so I will receive a simr allowance every month," Wu Yuan said, shing a proud grin. "Take this for now."


    This was why Wu Yuan didn''t take out all 1000 taels at once - it was too much! His mother would likely be overwhelmed by such a sum.


    "Wu Yuan," Wanqin looked at her son, finding herself momentarily at a loss for words. She knew that powerful martial artists could easily rake in great sums of wealth, but Wu Yuan was still only fourteen.


    "Mother, I will work hard to support this family from now on. Tomorrow, please enroll Little Yi in school," Wu Yuan dered.


    "Yes, we''ll enroll her in school," Wanqin nodded in agreement.


    In affluent families, even if their childrencked martial arts talent, they often received an education and went on to take the Civic Competency Exam. In this world, women were permitted to participate in Civic Competency Exams.


    Even if onecked physical strength, one could still achieve a high position such as county mayor, bing a figure even fourth-grade martial artists obeyed and respected.


    If not for the family''s dire poverty, would Wanqin ever wish for her child to learn weaving at such a tender age?


    "Mother, from now on, you should stop working so hard as well." Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Go buy more nourishing tonics for yourself and take good care of your health. In time, I will invite an alchemist over to give you medical attention."


    "An alchemist?" Wanqin could not help but exim, "That''s too expensive! Let��s just have a physician look things over at most. All I really need is some proper rest.."


    Wanqin''s health was not faring well. Her umted fatigue had led to sickness, and she fainted twice at the fabric shop, the most recent incident happening justst year.


    If Wu Yuan had the capabilities of his previous life, he could have examined his mother''s health. But now? He felt utterly powerless! Only an examination by an Alchemist would put his mind at ease.


    "Mother, fret not. I have it all nned out." Wu Yuan said with a reassuring smile.


    Wanqin hesitated for a moment, but witnessing her son''s determination, she did not say anything more.


    ...


    Late into the night, the entire street quieted downpletely.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>An inconspicuous shadow slipped out from the west chamber. With a light leap, it soared several meters high, above the eaves of the roof. Itnded without a sound, like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, it melted into the darkness.


    After a mere ten breaths, Wu Yuan found himself standing on a secluded riverbank two Li away.


    The Southdragon River was a vast waterway running through the entire Li City with a tranquil and leisurely current. Now and then, a houseboat drifted by, and the pier was brightly illuminated.


    <i>What a fortunate turn of events. I was wondering what kind of excuse I shoulde up with to win the prize from the major tournament without having to enter the Cloud Martial Hall. I didn''t expect the heavens to favor me so. 5000 taels of silver, that��s ten times more than what I was hoping for.</i>


    <i>By controlling the muscles and rxing the mind, two hours of deep sleep is more than sufficient. It''s time tomence today''s training.</i>


    Wu Yuan shook his wrist slightly. All his muscles seemed to vibrate in unison as the object on his back shot up abruptly. It was a long saber.


    Wu Yuan''s fingers moved with great agility. In an instant, he reached out and gripped the hilt.


    <i>Swish!</i> He thrust the saber to one side, then brought it to an abrupt halt. The long saber was perfectly level with the ground, not a single degree nted.


    <i>A 230-catty saber no longer seems adequate for me; do I need to find a recement already? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. In his estimation, the saber in his hand felt lighter than it used to.


    It wasn��t the saber that had gotten lighter. Wu Yuan had simply gotten stronger!

 Chapter 6: The Nine Grades Of Martial Artists, Strength Surpassing 10,000 Catties

    <h4>Chapter 6: The Nine Grades Of Martial Artists, Strength Surpassing 10,000 Catties</h4>


    <i>When dawnes, I''ll exchange this saber for a heavier one at the martial academy.</i>


    <i>This world is very different from that of my previous life. The ck Aurora Saber in the weapons vault of the martial academy looks unimpressive at first nce, yet it weighs 10,000 pounds.</i>


    Even in the Human Federation, the densest alloy used in the crafting of cold weapons could not achieve such a weight. No such material existed!


    <i>This Patterned Steel Saber in my hand is quite extraordinary. In my previous world, it would have been considered a divine weapon.</i>


    It wasn''t that the craftsmanship was impressive. But rather, the material itself was simply that strong!


    The sight of the Aurora Saber allowed Wu Yuan to grasp an overview of this world, filling him with a deep wariness.


    The materials thatposed a worldplemented each other. With such a perversely strong metal, other things in this world had to be equally extraordinary, for example - alchemists!


    The word alchemy was not unfamiliar to Wu Yuan. In his previous life, it was prevalent in ancient civilizations. Whether it was the taoists in the East or apothecaries in the West, they all had some connection to it. However, the tide of technology eventually swept away all practices of alchemy on the Blue, relegating it to the dust of history.


    But in the Middle Land, things were different. Alchemy was not a myth, but rather a practiced and effective profession. Alchemists were highly valued in all thirteen continents of the Middle Land. Each one of them was a martial artist who studied objects with medicinal properties, and could refine precious medicinal pills to promote the progress of martial artists and cure diseases.


    Wu Yuan found this system difficult to understand.


    Alchemists were rare, and each one was famous. In the whole of Li County, there was only one true alchemist and a few apprentices.


    Since Wu Yuan intended to cure his mother''s illness, he naturally nned to hire an alchemist, which woulde at a hefty price.


    <i>Silver alone can hardly entice an alchemist. Even if the chieftain makes use of his status, sess isn''t guaranteed. Only when I be stronger will there be hope.</i>


    After a moment, Wu Yuan shut his eyes tightly. His fingers closed over the hilt of his saber as he held the de horizontally. There was no further movement. He appeared to be in deep slumber, maintaining this posture for two hours.


    Throughout the entire duration, Wu Yuan''s body and arms remained steady without trembling. It was a sight that would surely astonish the teachers at the martial academy.


    A saber weighing 230 catties was not too heavy for a true martial artist. Any teenager could lift it, but to hold it with a single hand for two hours? Even a sixth-grade martial virtuoso would struggle.


    Wu Yuan quietly sensed the subtle vibrations of the long saber. <i>Feel the saber, and the saber will be an extension of your arm.</i>


    The concept of weapon sense was not taught in the county martial academy. However, in the Human Federation, it was considered the most fundamental practice for mastering the usage of weapons.


    <i>Just as humans are alive, weapons are not inanimate objects.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was as still as water. <i>Weapons, too, have momentum.</i>


    Weapons training is about finding the momentum of the weapon, allowing one to attack effortlessly with double the effect. Although it sounded simple, training this skill to a high level was incredibly challenging.


    The aching of his arm, the flow of air, and even the mosquitos from the grass on the riverbanknding on the long saber, all constituted subtle changes to the weapon.


    Weapon sense was also a form of Strength Training.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan naturally sensed every aspect of his body, from the vibrations of his internal organs to the blood surging from his heart, the trembling of his muscles, the vibrating of his bones, and the flow of blood in his capiries.


    Wu Yuan was fully aware of all these sensations. This was known as Internal Vision, signifying an unimaginably precise control over the body.


    With every subtle change in the momentum of the long saber, Wu Yuan made continuous adjustments to his own movements to maintain resonance between himself and the weapon.


    <i>ording to the literature from the martial academy, few Adepts are able to perform Internal Vision. Those who can achieve it are all martial arts Grandmasters with formidable reputations in the thirteen continents of the Middle Land. </i>


    However, Wu Yuan was anything but satisfied. In his past life, he had been the youngest martial arts Grandmaster of the Human Federation, and had surpassed the level of Internal Vision. He could sense the most minute details in his body, expel all impurities within himself, and autonomously mend the subtle injuries in his body.


    A true embodiment of an indestructible body. That was the pinnacle of martial arts in the Human Federation!


    <i>I only regained consciousness in this life a month ago. I need to familiarize myself with this body again and further condition it to strengthen my soul and restore my realm.</i>


    Wu Yuan had a cultivation n in mind, as well as a burning desire to grow even stronger.


    The body was one��s essence, the source of one''s soul. Only with a strong body, one could attain a powerful soul.


    Time flew by. Wu Yuan''s consciousness rxed as he focused on sensing the saber in his grip. The saber''s momentum spread to his four limbs, and from his limbs to all hundreds of bones. It was afortable feeling.


    Another hour passed, and the night deepened.


    "Ha!" Wu Yuan''s eyes abruptly opened, his gaze turning sharp. His bones and muscles lightly resonated with a subtle hum, and his entire aura subtly shifted. Even an Adept expert wouldn''t be able to remain indifferent before such an aura.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan nted his left foot firmly into the ground. With a stomp of his right foot, his bodyunched forward like an arrow released from a bow, his figure blurring with frightening speed.


    Following that, the air exploded with a piercing sound, and a streak of ck light shot forth from the edge of the de.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Wherever the light touched, gravel was sent flying, and tall reeds were instantly cut down. The resulting gust of wind carried even further into the distance.


    If Xu Yuanhan were to witness such a scene, he would surely be bbergasted.


    A lengthy breath escaped Wu Yuan''s mouth like a white arrow. Then, his face brightened into a smile.


    <i>Saber Power Surge, Threefold. It took half a month, but I have finally mastered it! This strike surpasses 10,000 catties of force,parable to a sixth-grade martial virtuoso.</i>


    In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, martial artists were ssified into nine grades. The division between each grade was not well-defined, but rather based on the maximum force one could demonstrate.


    The ninth grade required a minimum single-arm force of 1000 catties, earning one the title of a low-tier martial novice.


    The eighth grade required a minimum force of 2000 catties. Those at this level were known as mid-tier martial novices.


    The seventh grade required a minimum force of 4000 catties. Those at this level were known as high-tier martial novices.


    A sixth-grade martial artist could be referred to as a martial virtuoso, requiring the manifestation of 10,000 catties of force.


    Fifth-grade martial artists, also known as third-rate Adepts, must manifest 20,000 catties of force.


    Fourth-grade martial artists, known as second-rate Adepts, must manifest 30,000 catties of force.


    As for the top three grades, it was a rarity for even one to be born among a million individuals. As far as Wu Yuan knew, there seemed to be no martial artists at that level in Li County.


    Of course, in a true life-or-death fight, strength was but one aspect. Martial arts skills, divine weapons, fighting will, and other factors all influenced the oue of the battle.


    Over the past month, Wu Yuan had trained constantly and made rapid progress, but his pure physical condition had only just managed to reach the seventh-grade martial novice level.


    The Saber Power Surge he practiced was considered a martial arts skill.


    <i>Ordinary people find it difficult to exert their full strength. They must train for many years to perfectly manifest all their power. But this is just the Fundamentals! </i>


    Wu Yuan clearly remembered the stages of martial arts skills ssified by the Human Federation:


    The Fundamentals involved manifesting the entire power of one''s body.


    Above the Fundamentals was Power Surge, which could allow one to momentarily multiply the force they could bring forth. The maximum was three times one��s base strength. Hence, it was also known as Threefold Power Surge. Those who grasped this level were capable of tripling their power. Power Surge consumed a great deal of physical energy and life force. Once unleashed, it was hard to control. Thus, it was considered a finishing move, not to be used lightly.


    Beyond Power Surge, there was Rigid Yet Supple, in which one could wield multitudes of force, retracting or releasing the force at will. One would be able to blend rigidity and softness, and attacks would be unpredictable and multifaceted.


    The three stages of martial arts skills were the Fundamentals, Power Surge, and Rigid Yet Supple. In his previous life, Wu Yuan surpassed the stage of Rigid Yet Supple.


    <i>However, I require time to adapt to my new body. It''s best to train step by step, mastering control over it. Only then can I hope to surpass the pinnacle of my previous life and reach even greater heights.</i>


    Wu Yuan had a clear understanding of himself. Entering the Cloud Martial Hall was not part of his ns for his martial arts journey in this world. At least, not at the moment.


    Although the Cloud Martial Hall was the top martial academy of the Cloudstride Sect, its goal was only to nurture fifth-grade and fourth-grade martial artists. A true martial powerhouse? That was beyond the martial academy''s abilities!


    As for the martial arts foundation of the Cloud Martial Hall? Wu Yuan had already seen the graduates from the Cloud Martial Hall, Headmaster Zhang Da was one of them. Zhang Da''s martial arts skills barely reached the Power Surge stage. It was unlikely that he would reach the Rigid Yet Supple stage in his lifetime, which greatly disappointed Wu Yuan.


    Once he entered the martial academy, many eyes would be on him. He wasn''t sure if he could hide his secrets as well as he was currently able to.


    <i>Even if I wait until my strength recovers, to the point where it''s hard for me to advance further, it won''t be toote to reach for the peak of martial arts in this world.</i>


    Wu Yuan would not act rashly. He knew very well that he only had one life and couldn''t afford to be careless.


    <i>Since heaven has given me a chance at rebirth, it would be reckless to explore the world when my strength still has the potential for rapid progress.</i>


    <i>At least, I have to ensure the well-being of my mother and sister first!</i>

 Chapter 7: The Importance of Genes

    <h4>Chapter 7: The Importance of Genes</h4>


    <i>Since General Xu was willing topensate me with five thousand silver taels, I now have enough for my cultivation needs. There''s no reason to get myself involved in the murky affairs of the Cloud Martial Hall.</i>


    Wu Yuan gave 4000 taels to Chieftain Wu Qiming because he knew that he didn''t earn this fortune by himself.


    If the Wu n was not a prominent family in the Southdream Capital City, or if the Li City branch didn��t exist, would General Xu have willingly parted with such a hefty sum? Dream on!


    <i>I just need enough to live a decent life. If I hoard it all, the chieftain might feel discontented as time passes, even if he doesn��t openly express it. </i>Wu Yuan wasn''t too hung up on it.


    <i>Now, the chieftain probably feels guilty towards me. With his character, he will likely find other ways to make up for it.</i>


    With the protection of the Wu n, his family would be safer, and Wu Yuan could focus on his martial arts cultivation without unnecessary distractions.


    Since arriving in this new world over a month ago, Wu Yuan had only two things on his mind: the first was to surpass his past life, reaching the peak of martial arts. The other was to ensure his family''s well-being.


    As the de sliced horizontally, a strong gust lifted sand and pebbles into the air.


    <i>Beyond Power Surge is Rigid Yet Supple. In my previous life, I cultivated this martial arts skill rapidly by leveraging the irregr gravitational changes in gravity chambers. But now, I don''t have such a convenient advantage.</i>


    Gravity chambers were widespread within the Human Federation, but aplete luxury in the Middle Land. Most martial artists here didn��t even consider it.


    <i>With a better cultivation environment, one can make faster progress in martial arts cultivation. I can only try taking advantage of nature.</i> Wu Yuan''s gazended on the nearby Southdragon River. The unpredictable undercurrents underneath the surface of the great river made it a better ce to train than on open ground.


    <i>Or perhaps, I should choose a waterfall and utilize the force of the waterfall''s impact? </i>


    Li County was part of the Riverdream Watershed, which teemed with numerous rivers. However, there were few mountains, so it wouldn''t be easy for him to find a waterfall suitable for cultivation.


    <i>No rush. I''llplete Strength Training first. When I move on to Viscera Cultivation, I will then proceed to the next stage.</i> Wu Yuan made his decision.


    Martial arts skills were important to any martial artist. Some weaker-looking martial artists could easily defeat burlier ones due to superior skills. A skilled martial artist could turn anything, even a needle or a brush, into deadly weapons!


    However, skill was only an extension of one''s body. No matter how much Wu Yuan honed his skills, he could only erupt forth with a little more than 10,000 catties of force, and that was after employing Threefold Power Surge. But top martial artists could manifest the strength of tens of thousands of catties or more with their physical bodies alone. How could onepare the two?


    <i>In the Middle Land, martial artists are divided into nine grades based on strength. </i>


    Wu Yuan brandished his long knife casually. The de''s radiance was biting cold. Whether swinging, chopping, or lifting, each stroke embodied thousands of catties of force, creating a series of subtle explosions in the air.


    <i>But the Human Federation divides martial arts into three stages - Strength Training! Viscera Cultivation! Acupoint Connection!</i>


    Strength Training involved cultivating one''s muscles, tendons, fascia, and bones to the limit of one''s genes.


    During the ancient dynasties of the Blue, this was known as external martial arts. The so-called Golden Bell Shield, Iron Clothing [1], and Stained Clothes Eighteen Falls [2], among others, all fell under the category of Strength Training.


    Viscera Cultivation, or Marrow Cleansing and Blood Transfusion, on the other hand, was performed from the outside in, strengthening one��s internal organs. When one achieved full mastery over Viscera Cultivation, one could perform Internal Vision. This allowed one to increase their lifespan and gain immunity to diseases.


    The ancient dynasties of the blue gave Viscera Cultivation the term ''internal strength cultivation''.


    <i>Undergoing Viscera Cultivation without Strength Training will only lead to unsatisfactory results; practicing martial arts without Strength Training is simply a waste of time.</i>


    Before the Human Federation entered the interster era, there were many so-called ''experts of internal strength cultivation'' who only practiced Viscera Cultivation and barely trained their muscles and bones. Their arms and bellies were loose and saggy, making them the subjects of ridicule.


    At the same time, some martial arts experts reached a high degree of external martial arts training. In their youth, these people were as vigorous as tigers, but their physical conditions declined rapidly as they reached their forties, and their bodies were gued with diseases before they were old. Why? This was because they didn''t practice Viscera Cultivation and couldn''t nurture their bodies!


    <i>It was only when we reached the interster era that great advancements in life science and the revival of martial arts finally culminated in the ''Optimal Path of Martial Arts''. That''s how the three phases of martial arts came into being. </i>Wu Yuan was one of thepilers of the 16th edition of the ''Optimal Path of Martial Arts'', hence he was naturally familiar with all of this.


    First Strength Training, then Viscera Cultivation, and finally when the muscles and bones resonated together and the 108 acupoints were connected, one could hope to unlock the ultimate mystery of human evolution...


    <i>Strength Training depends firstly on nutrition intake, secondly on the degree of effort, and third and most importantly, </i>a hint of anticipation shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes, <i>Genes!</i>


    <i>Genes are the main determinant of innate talent, they''re incredibly important! No matter how well-nourished you are, or how diligently you train your strength and cultivate your viscera, you can never grow to be ten meters tall, nor can you take flight.</i>


    In his former life, the Human Federation spared no expense in their pursuit of biological evolution, pouring countless resources into their goal. Martial artists sprouted up everywhere, as numerous as bamboo shoots after the rain. But they were always limited by gics.


    During the peak of Wu Yuan''s strength, he could not exert a force beyond 20,000 catties. Even with Threefold Power Surge, he could only reach 70,000 to 80,000 catties of force. Although some other martial arts Grandmasters were more powerful than Wu Yuan, their strength was also limited.


    <i>But in this Middle Land, a still-developing teenage boy whose muscles and bones are nowhere near their peak can effortlessly unleash 3000 to 4000 catties of strength? Some fourth-grade and fifth-grade martial artists who have yet toprehend Power Surge can exert tens of thousands of catties of strength?</i>


    What about the top three grades of martial artists? And those known asnd deities in the Heavenly Rankings? Without a doubt, it was the advantage of genes!


    <i>It''s just like the tigers of my previous world. They didn''t need to train, they could easily kill human martial artists with their raw physical strength alone.</i>


    <i>The same goes for this world. Untrained, ordinary people can acquire the strength of thousands of catties when they reach adulthood.</i>


    <i>The previous upant of this body was an eighth-grade martial novice. Bute to think of it, his muscles and fasciae weren''t properly trained. There''s still a long way from reaching the ultimate limit of his strength.</i>


    In Wu Yuan''s opinion, the division of martial arts into nine grades wasn''t scientifically urate.


    But to some extent, it reflected the limit of the human genome in the Middle Land, which was frighteningly around ten times stronger than that of the Human Federation!


    <i>Although the cultivation environment here cannotpare to my previous world, the Middle Land is a vast ce. There are unique paths such as alchemy, which can assist one''s martial arts cultivation.</i>


    <i>In my previous life, I was nearly 30 years old when I reached the peak of martial arts in the Human Federation. Looking back, I took many unnecessary detours in my younger days.</i>


    <i>Transmigrating here is like starting all over again, but my body''s genes are ten times stronger. How far will I go? </i>Wu Yuan was filled with anticipation.


    His singr focus on martial arts and insatiable desire for human evolution set Wu Yuan apart from billions of people in the Federation. Even in this new world, he yearned to witness the peak of martial arts in the Middle Land. How strong would such a person be?


    ...


    Wu Yuan continued to train tirelessly until dawn broke and the frequency of boats floating by began to increase.


    <i>Looking at the time, my mother should be waking up soon. It''s time to go home. </i>


    Wu Yuan sheathed his sword and strapped it to his back.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Like a wisp of smoke, he disappeared from the reeds of the riverbank. On careful observation, one would realize the reeds bore no trace of his footprints.


    Leaving no trace on snow or grass, such was the natural oue of practicing Rigid Yet Supple to near-perfection. Even if someone were to find traces of Wu Yuan''s martial training on the riverbank, they would find it difficult to track his path.


    He returned home silently.


    ...


    After breakfast, Wu Yuan bid farewell to his mother and sister, and headed for the martial academy to attend morning practice.


    To Wu Yuan, morning practice was merely a waste of time, but to avoid drawing attention, he endured it patiently.


    After the morning practice, the beginner and intermediate disciples attended martial arts sses. The advanced disciples scattered, some heading to the battle chambers forbat training, while others to the strength chambers to refine their physical condition. With the major tournament approaching, advanced disciples were free to decide how they wanted to spend their time.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan put on twoyers of inconspicuous-looking clothes in his room at the martial academy. Then, he left the academy through a side door and came to a deserted alley.


    <i>Transfiguration!</i> Wu Yuan controlled his body, causing his limbs and bones to tremble slightly. Suddenly his entire body shrank, his arms and thighs shortened, and his cheeks inted! Wu Yuan swiped his right cheek with a thumb, his handing away to reveal a thin scar.


    If Wu Yuan was a robust youth before, he now resembled a short, stout man. At a nce, this scarred man seemed to be about twenty years old.


    <i>Rip~ </i>Wu Yuan peeled off his outeryer of clothing and swiftly wore a new pair of shoes from his backpack.


    <i>I''ve never worn these clothes or shoes in public. With some transfiguration, even my mother won''t recognize me.</i>


    Caution was key in concealment!


    <i>To the Sta Consortium.</i>


    Wu Yuan packed up his old clothes and shoes. With a light leap, he darted along the eaves of the house into another alley. Then, he proceeded onto the main street, disappearing into the crowd.


    1. The mostmonly heard martial arts in martial arts TV series are the Golden Bell Shield and the Iron Cloth Shirt. In martial arts TV series, whoever masters these two martial arts skills is a martial arts master. As the name suggests, the golden bell cover means "a bell made of gold covers the whole body", emphasizing that it is difficult for external forces to enter and attack. The iron cloth shirt, as the name implies, means "wearing clothes made of iron", which means that the whole body is like steel and can resist any external force. ?


    2. Type of unarmedbat style in martial arts ?

 Chapter 8: Starcom Consortium

    <h4>Chapter 8: Sta Consortium</h4>


    Wu Yuan walked unhurriedly, winding through numerous bustling main streets and smallernes at a leisurely pace. He started in the east of the city where the martial academy was located, slowly moving to the city''s west.


    Li City, the heart of Li County, had a registered poption of nearly 200,000 and a permanent poption nearing 300,000. It was deemed arge city within the Southdream Province.


    Over the hundred years of the Cloudstride Sect''s rule, a pattern of nobility in the East and wealth in the West, poverty in the North and crime in the South, gradually formed within Li City.


    Important locations such as the county martial academy, the county mayor''s manor, and the general''s manor were all situated in the east of the city.


    The west of the city, on the other hand, was a hub of luxury where merchants congregated and all kinds of entertainment venues, brothels, and taverns were concentrated.


    <i>Li City is a harbor city. The Southdragon River flows from the west to the north of the city, allowing the city to enjoy a constant flow of visitors and goods. Although my Wu n resides in the city''s north, it is not too far from the west region. </i>Wu Yuan was quite familiar with theyout of Li City.


    This was a habit he had picked up. Whenever he arrived in a new ce, he would first familiarize himself with the geography and local customs.


    <i>The west of the city is themercial district, known for being a bottomless money sink. Some ostentatious rich merchants from the city''s east often head over to spend their fortunes. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the pedestrians on both sides of the streets, observing the expressions of the people passing by. In contrast to the serene ambiance in the East and the peddlers and businessmen in the North, the West was undeniably thriving. The quality of goods was notably superior, with the majority of shops lining the streets. The attire of the passersby also tended to be of higher quality.


    Wu Yuan reached an intersection where the busiest streets of the city''s west converged. In the distance, he saw the seven-story high-rise building that upied two entire streets - Sta Consortium!


    Unlike the signboards of other shops, the que of this tower was like a gilded painting; nk, with a few meteors streaking across. It was truly one-of-a-kind.


    <i>Objects from around the world gather, a myriad of starsprise the tower.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the golden characters on the azure stone erected on both sides of the main door. The characters were robust and strong, each stroke as sharp as an arrow. They didn''t appear to be carved by a craftsman, but more so indented with the finger of a powerful martial artist.


    <i>Azure with a touch of red, is this the silkblood azure stone that can only be found in the Min Continent? Each of these tworge stones probably weighs more than 10,000 catties. </i>


    Among the sixteen continents, excluding the distant three overseas continents, the thirteen continents of the Middle Land were divided into seven continents of the Central ins and six continents of the Wilderness.


    Each continent was incredibly vast, and the Chu Continent separated the Jiang Continent and the Min Continent. From Wu Yuan''s geographical knowledge, the two were tens of thousands of li apart.


    <i>Just shipping these two stones from the Min Continent to the Jiang Continent would cost tens of thousands of silver taels. </i>Wu Yuan felt somewhat wistful.


    Without airnes or railways, this alone was enough to reveal the astonishing wealth of the Sta Consortium.


    Of course, Wu Yuan was not surprised. Although he had only regained consciousness a month back, he heard of the Sta Consortium, the undisputed number one business establishment in the seven continents of the Central ins!


    They had branches in practically any county city of every sect and country in the seven continents of the Central ins. The items they sold were diverse, whether one was looking for divine weapons, pearl curios, or medicinal or spiritual pills, one could find such rare items and trinkets there.


    And even if they didn''t have the items readily avable, the Sta Consortium could deliver them to customers tens of thousands of li away, as long as they were willing to pay for it!


    As inscribed on its stone tablet, all objects around the world were gathered in the building.


    <i>Even the silver notes circting in the seven continents of the Central ins are issued by the Sta Bank. </i>Wu Yuan remembered the special anti-counterfeit mark on his silver note. The word marked was ''Sta''.


    Most sects and countries established their own banks, but they were far less credible than the Sta Consortium. Once someone left the territory that the bank was established under, their currency was basically unusable.


    After all, Great Jin, thergest nation in the world, had only been around for 200 years. Even some sacred martial arts sects found it difficult to maintain a legacy of a thousand years or longer.


    Meanwhile, the history of the Sta Consortium spanned over a thousand years, and the organization had never experienced a decline in prosperity.


    <i>The Sta Consortium is essentially a financial empire spanning countless sects and countries.</i>


    The fact that the Sta Consortium stood strong for millennia meant that its background was far from simple. It couldn''t be weaker than somerge nations or sacred sects.


    Wu Yuan was here precisely because he knew how powerful the Sta Consortium was.


    <i>Although this Sta Consortium tower covers arge area, there aren''t many customers</i>. <i>Most of these customers were dressed in expensive clothes and finery, obviously either rich or from aristocratic families.</i>


    Essentially, the customer base of the Sta Consortium was usually the upper ss of a county. Small in quantity, but high in value!


    <i>That makes sense. If they try to steal market share from businesses targeting the lower ss as well, I''m afraid the various sects and nations will be unable to tolerate it. </i>


    Wu Yuan looked down at his clothes and frowned slightly.<i> I��ve been careless.</i>


    Compared to the other patronsing and going from the Sta Consortium, Wu Yuan''s attire was too in, making him an eyesore. But it couldn��t be helped, he didn''t have much money until recently. He simply didn��t have any suitable attire.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan walked past the Sta Consortium, merging with the crowd.


    Shortly after, a plump, short young man, dressed in a green brocade outfit and a felt hat, entered Sta Consortium without attracting any attention. It was none other than Wu Yuan, who had discreetly changed his attire.


    <i>This ce is even bigger than I expected.</i> Wu Yuan looked around the interior of the Sta Consortium Tower. The decoration was not ostentatious, and in fact rather tasteful. He heard much about the Sta Consortium, but this was his first time entering one.


    Naturally, such a sight wasn��t enough to amaze Wu Yuan. Being a former member of the upper ss of the Human Federation, how could his experiences bepared to the ancient architecture of a mere county-level Sta Consortium building?


    The first floor was spacious. A wide range of items were disyed for sale on countertops, manned by store attendants. Saber-wielding guards patrolled the area. From what Wu Yuan could tell, the weakest of these guards were at least seventh-grade martial novices. The power that Sta Consortium wielded was evident at a nce.


    After a brief scan of the area, Wu Yuan went straight to the staircase on one side as though he had walked this path many times before, and went straight up to the second floor.


    On the second floor, there were fewer counters, but the items disyed were more precious.


    Wu Yuan did not stop, heading straight up the stairs to the third floor.


    The items sold on the first and second floors were ordinary. Some of them were expensive luxury items, but served no benefit to martial cultivation.


    On the third floor, one could find all kinds of items needed by martial artists, such as divine weapons and medicinal pills!


    This information was not recorded in the martial academy''s scrolls, but rather what Wu Yuan gathered while chatting with other disciples of the martial academy over the past month.


    "Sir, please wait." The corridor attendant courteously stopped Wu Yuan, "To continue to the third floor, a funds or identity verification is required."


    "Will these suffice?" Wu Yuan turned his palm over, revealing a stack of silver notes.


    "My apologies." The attendant bowed his head, hiding his surprise. There were more than a thousand silver notes in that stack. This person looked young, yet carried around so many silver notes. Which family did this young master belong to?


    The attendant dared not question him further, and Wu Yuan already ascended a few steps toward the third floor. Here, there were fewer guests and counters, making the ce appear emptier, and the decorations were even more luxurious.


    "Sir, may I assist you with anything?" A pretty female attendant dressed in purple approached him. Unlike the courtesans of brothels, these attendants were not flirtatious. Instead, they disyed a refreshing youthfulness. Such treatment didn''t exist on the first and second floors.


    "Body tempering pills." Wu Yuan said. This was the purpose of his trip.


    "Please follow me." With a radiant smile, the attendant in purple quickly led Wu Yuan into a private guest room. Wu Yuan took a seat, and another attendant served him tea.


    A middle-aged man dressed in ck robes was already seated on one side of the table, his chair positioned lower than Wu Yuan''s as a sign of respect for the customer.


    "Sir, body tempering pills are auxiliary medicinal pills taken by martial artists to temper their bodies and strengthen their martial arts. Its effects are strong, but also results in clear side effects, how about..." The middle-aged man in ck robes quickly exined.


    "I don''t need an exnation, just state your price." Wu Yuan''s voice was extremely hoarse, revealing a hint of indifference, as if he didn''t wish to say anything more than necessary.


    "Understood. Top-grade body tempering pills are 50 silver notes per pill. Mid-grade body tempering pills are ten silver notes per pill." The middle-aged man in the ck robe calmly stated, "How many do you require?"


    "What about low-grade pills?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Low-grade?" The middle-aged man was slightly taken aback, "Sir, low-grade body tempering pills contain arge percentage of impurities, resulting in significant side effects, they''re generally used for..."


    "I don''t need your input." Wu Yuan frowned and coldly said, "Just state the price."


    "One silver tael for two pills!" the man in ck robes said.


    "I want a thousand!" Wu Yuan dered.


    This time, not only did the man in ck robes freeze, but even the specially trained female attendant in purple was also taken aback.


    A thousand low-grade body tempering pills?


    "Sir, we cannot provide that many," the man in the ck robe said with a bitter smile.


    "What, you think I don''t have enough silver taels? Is this how the Sta Consortium treats its guests?" Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    "That''s not the issue," the man in the ck robe shook his head, "We simply don''t have that many low-grade body tempering pills in stock."


    He did not exin further. Low-grade body tempering pills were essentially waste pills. Instead of calling them medicinal pills, the more urate term for them was ''slow-acting poison''. Therefore, each time the Sta Consortium umted a certain number of these low-grade body tempering pills, they would be disposed of, leaving few in stock.


    "I''ll take as many as you have," Wu Yuan stated simply.


    ...


    A quarter of an hourter, Wu Yuan left the Sta Consortium with 687 body tempering pills.

 Chapter 9: Huan Xinyan

    <h4>Chapter 9: Huan Xinyan </h4>


    <i>They''re tracking me? Unexpectedly, even the reputable Sta Consortium partakes in such shady acts.</i> Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in mild consternation.


    How keen was his perception? Barely a month after waking up from hisa, he was already able to perform Internal Vision. This wasn''t merely due to his strong mind, but also his spiritual sense, honed in his previous life. He could clearly tell that someone had been observing him for some time.


    Wu Yuan casually quickened his pace and weaved through several secluded alleys. In a few swift movements, he disappeared without a trace.


    "Where did he go?" A young man, unremarkable in appearance and dressed in inconspicuous clothing, rushed to catch up but found himself at a dead-end. He had no choice but to return and report his failure.


    On the sixth floor of Sta Consortium was a spacious room with elegant and minimalist decor. One wall of the room was upied by a bookshelf filled with books.


    "He lost him?" A middle-aged woman asked in a soft voice. She sat on a futon and was dressed in a silver robe.


    "Yes. I had my people follow him, but it seems he noticed them early on and quickly shrugged them off." The man in a ck robe shook his head, "He''s not a simple customer. I misjudged him, thinking he was just a martial novice."


    "Haha, someone who can shake off your men is no ordinary person." The woman in a silver robe softly said, "In theory, our Sta Consortium only deals with the sales aspect, regardless of the customer''s identity."


    "A transaction of several hundred silver taels isn��t typically noteworthy, but the fact that he bought so many waste pills in one go is somewhat odd."


    "Perhaps it''s a group of bandits nning to expand their territory? Or a gang recruiting members untrained in martial arts?" The man in a ck robe wondered aloud.


    "Forget it." The woman in a silver robe waved her hand dismissively, "We''ll leave this matter as it is. But if this customer visits us to buy more waste pills, notify me at once."


    "Yes, Overseer." The man in a ck robe acknowledged.


    ...


    After losing the tracker, Wu Yuan quickly changed back into his original clothes in a quiet alley, discarding the luxurious garments he bought less than two hours ago. With a soft crackling of his joints, Wu Yuan returned to his original form.


    <i>I never thought that the mighty Sta Consortium wouldn''t even have a thousand low-grade body tempering pills.</i> Wu Yuan frowned. That was his only miscalction.


    <i>I''ll be spending the day at the martial academy, but it''s not suitable for me to digest the body tempering pills there. Let''s wait for nightfall.</i> Wu Yuan came to a decision.


    Before long, he entered the martial academy from a side door, carrying a bundle on his back.


    "Senior Brother!"


    "It''s Senior Brother Wu Yuan." Wu Yuan heard many voices calling his name as he walked by. As a famous disciple of the martial academy, his presence naturally drew attention. He made his way to the training tower deep within the martial academy.


    The martial academy''s practice rooms were divided intorgemunal rooms and small practice rooms. Every half a month, the academy held a minor tournament. Only the top thirty disciples were allocated small practice rooms to themselves, which were located within the training tower. Hence, it was very quiet here.


    Two figures emerged from the main door.


    "Brother Yuan!" a burly figure shouted in surprise. It was Wu Sheng.


    "You''re finally back, Instructor Huan has been looking for you. She''s waiting in your practice room right now."


    "Instructor Huan?" Wu Yuan paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Wu Sheng, Luo He, I''ll go meet Instructor Huan first. I''ll catch up with youter."


    "Go ahead," the tall and thin teenager chuckled.


    Wu Sheng was his childhood friend and practically his brother. Luo He was another good friend of his.


    Soon, he arrived at the practice room entrance and pushed the door open. A figure d in a purple robe appeared in Wu Yuan''s view.


    Her raven-ck hair fell freely as she leaned by the window. Her fingers were long and slender, and her billowy robe did little to mask her delicate figure. She had the appearance of a woman in her early twenties, with a hint of naivety, yet a certain degree of icy aloofness.


    "Instructor Huan," Wu Yuan gave a slight bow.


    At twenty years old, Huan Xinyan was the youngest instructor in the county martial academy. She was extraordinarily powerful for her age, already an Adept expert. Rumor had it that she was a core disciple of the Cloudstride Sect. However, for reasons unknown, she was dispatched to the tiny Li City.


    But to Wu Yuan, she was just his personal mentor. More precisely, she was the personal mentor of his body''s predecessor. The county martial academy ruled that anyone who reached the level of an eighth-grade martial artist could select a personal mentor from the academy''s instructors.


    "Wu Yuan, the headmaster informed me that you will be withdrawing from this year''s martial academy major tournament. Is that true?" Huan Xinyan asked sternly.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded. He didn''t expect the headmaster to inform his personal mentor in the span of just one night.


    "I disagree!" Huan Xinyan frowned.


    "Instructor Huan, I was thinking..." Wu Yuan tried to exin.


    "Don''t give me those lofty justifications," Huan Xinyan cut him off sharply. "So that you can win first ce in next year''s major tournament of four provinces? Do you take me for a fool?"


    Wu Yuan felt his words caught in his throat. This Instructor Huan was really straightforward.


    Ever since he regained consciousness one month ago, Wu Yuan hardly interacted with her. But from what he remembered, she had treated him fairly well. This was especially true when he first transmigrated over. During the few months he was disorientated, Huan Xinyan visited him twice just to bring over medicine for him.


    Though the help she provided was minimal, such a dedicated instructor was hard toe by. After all, Wu Yuan was not exactly outstanding then, and personal mentors did not have true disciple-master rtionships with their mentees. Therefore, Wu Yuan treated Huan Xinyan with great respect.


    "Since recovering from your illness, your martial potential has been awakened and your strength has increased rapidly. You have the potential to take first ce in the uing major tournament! If you enter the Cloud Martial Hall, it is not an exaggeration to say that you could be a fifth-grade or even fourth-grade martial artist in the future." Huan Xinyan continued, "This is not only for yourself, but also for the future strength of our sect."


    Wu Yuan listened, unable to refute her words. In his memory, Instructor Huan felt a strong sense of loyalty to the sect, and genuinely hoped that the sect would prosper.


    "Is it Xu Yuanhan? Did his father coerce you?" Huan Xinyan suddenly asked.


    Wu Yuan''s expression remained unchanged, but his heart quivered slightly. He remained silent.


    "You dare not say?" Huan Xinyan frowned, "Wu Yuan, as a martial artist, you should have a resolute mind. If they are forcing you to give way to Xu Yuanhan, tell me. You are my first mentee, I will seek justice for you."


    Huan Xinyan only joined the county martial academy a year ago.


    "Instructor Huan is considerate, but it was my individual decision to withdraw, and has nothing to do with anyone else. I am only fourteen years old. I can still enter the Cloud Martial Hall next year," Wu Yuan said.


    "Next year?" Huan Xinyan could no longer suppress her emotions, a trace of frustration entering her voice, "Entering the Cloud Martial Hall at fourteen versus at fifteen, do you not know what the difference is?"


    "I understand. But this year, I can still train at the county martial academy all the same." Wu Yuan said calmly.


    Huan Xinyan fell silent. She wasn''t particrly skilled with words. If the situation weren''t so regrettable or if Wu Yuan weren''t her first mentee, she probably wouldn''t have gotten involved at all.


    "Forget it! If you do not wish to tell me, I won''t press you. If you change your mind before the major tournament, you can always let me know." Huan Xinyan said quietly.


    "Thank you, Instructor Huan." Wu Yuan said.


    After watching as Huan Xinyan left the practice room and closed the door behind her, Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on the floor.


    <i>Just as I''d surmised, Instructor Huan is not merely a simple instructor of the martial academy; the rumors might indeed be true.</i>


    Instructors of the martial academy had to be Adepts at minimum. Hence, most of them were over 40 years old, with only a small number in their 30s.


    A sixth-grade martial virtuoso in their twenties was already a rare sight. An Adept expert in their early twenties? Wu Yuan believed that even within the Cloudstride Sect, such individuals were highly valued, undoubtedly the cream of the crop among the young generation.


    <i>Yet she was sent to Li City? Was she ostracized? Or did she make a mistake? Or is this her way of experiencing the trials and tribtions of the world?</i> Several possibilities shed through Wu Yuan��s mind. <i>Regardless of the situation, she should have a direct line ofmunication with the higher-ups of the sect.</i>


    The Cloudstride Sect, though called a sect, was essentially like a dynasty in this region ofnd. Generally speaking, who was most feared by the local authorities? Naturally, those who could ''contact the heavens''.


    <i>If I were indeed pressured to give up, I might actually take up Instructor Huan''s offer to help. After all, the Cloudstride Sect ces great importance on such matters. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Unfortunately, this was a path I chose willingly.</i>


    <i>Once I enter the Cloud Martial Hall, I will not only be under surveince but also restrained by the sect.</i> As a former martial arts Grandmaster, Wu Yuan was reluctant to chain himself down.


    <i>Moreover, General Xu has given me way too much. One must keep their word. </i>


    Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes. He controlled the muscles, tendons, and bones throughout his body, causing them to tremble slightly.


    The practice of martial arts required bnce. Strengthening one''s body was not about exclusively undergoing intensive fist or sword training. By engaging one��s musculoskeletal system, and controlling them to vibrate in unison, one could also achieve the effect of Strength Training.


    Naturally, the prerequisite for this was a high degree of bodily control. First and foremost, one had to be capable of Internal Vision.


    ...


    <i>Day turned to night.</i>


    <i>On a deserted riverbank.</i>


    <i>It''s time to test the effects of these body tempering pills. </i>Wu Yuan looked at the handful of pills in his hand. Their sweet aroma was tainted with a faint fishy smell.


    He opened his mouth and swallowed them all.


    If any powerful martial artist witnessed this scene, they would have undoubtedly been left dumbfounded. After all, even for highly refined high-grade body tempering pills, not many would dare to ingest several of them all at once. Let alone low-grade body tempering pills, which could be branded as poison pills.

 Chapter 10: Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique

    <h4>Chapter 10: Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique</h4>


    After the body tempering pills entered his stomach, Wu Yuan felt them dissolve.


    <i>The low-grade body tempering pill is truly worthy of the name ��poison pill��. It contains far more impurities than the high-grade body tempering pill.</i> He could distinctly detect numerous impurities within the medicinal pill.


    Every medicine has its side effects. But the low-grade body tempering pill was basically poison with a side effect of physical improvement.


    The body tempering pill was the mostmon basic medicinal pill refined by alchemists. Even some alchemist apprentices could refine it. This pill served as a supplementary aid for martial artists of fourth grade and lower, assisting them in tempering their bodies. It was concocted with rtively ordinary raw materials, thus the price it fetched was not too expensive, and the children of ordinary wealthy families could afford it.


    In the county martial academy, the top ten disciples of every minor tournament were rewarded with body tempering pills. Of course, they were only given high-grade body tempering pills. The reason for that was simple: thesemon medicinal pills contained arge percentage of impurities. If taken appropriately, the martial artist''s body would only suffer minimal damage, and the benefits outweighed the detriments.


    But they should not be taken excessively! If consumed inrge quantities, the copious amount of impurities umted in the body could damage one''s vitality.


    As for medium-grade body tempering pills, they had much greater side effects. It was mostly only taken by martial artists who found it difficult to make further progress. In the martial academy, disciples were strictly forbidden from consuming medium-grade body tempering pills to enhance their strength.


    As for the low-grade body tempering pill? It had its uses, but was far closer to a poison pill. The detriments outweighed the benefits, and consuming too much could even be fatal. They were usually the waste pills produced by alchemist apprentices during their failed refining attempts.


    <i>The high-grade body tempering pill is indeed decent, but much too expensive. 50 silver taels for one pill?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    He had taken it once, and the effect was quite good. But to buy 500, it would cost 25,000 silver taels! How many people in the entirety of Li City could actually afford it?


    <i>Even if I had that much silver, purchasing that many in one go would probably cause a stir in the Sta Consortium.</i>


    A transaction of tens of thousands of silver taels in a mere county city would definitely draw attention. Although the Sta Consortium was known for its neutrality and credibility, Wu Yuan wasn''t foolish enough to entrust his fate to someone else.


    Was their reputation good? Only when one��s purchase wasn��t big enough!


    Wu Yuan can''t afford to wait either. From the age of twelve to eighteen, every day marked a period of rapid physical growth, and each day he dyed his training was a huge waste of time. Thus, Wu Yuan chose the unremarkable low-grade body tempering pill.


    <i>The disciples of other martial academies, and even some powerful martial artists, dare not consume the low-grade body tempering pill due to its high percentage of impurities.</i>


    <i>Gurgle~ Hum~</i> A series of low rumblings emanated from Wu Yuan''s stomach like detonating grenades.


    If a martial arts expert were here, they would be astonished to discover that every muscle, tendon, and bone in Wu Yuan''s body was vibrating. This state onlysted about half a minute.


    Wu Yuan suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mixture of ck and purple colored impurities onto the river bank. These were the impurities from the medicinal pills.


    <i>It''s a pity that I haven''t reached the Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing phase. Otherwise, these impurities could bepletely expelled through the pores of my limbs and bones, further increasing the purity.</i>


    If high-grade body tempering pills were 99% essence and 1% impurity, then the low-grade body tempering pill was 80% essence and 20% impurity. By controlling his stomach, Wu Yuan was able to separate out most of the impurities, achieving a purity of 99.9%! The percentage of impurities was near zero, making him well and truly capable of consuming them inrge quantities.


    <i>Previously, I had yet to reach Threefold Power Surge. Even with Internal Vision, I didn''t dare take the risk.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    Internal Vision was the act of forcibly controlling the body''s muscles and bones. Only those with a strong spiritual sense could perform it, and it was very draining on the mind.


    The pinnacle of Power Surgey in achieving absolute familiarity with one''s body, allowing one to control it naturally without undue mental effort.


    It was thisbination that gave Wu Yuan the confidence to try it out. This was after considering his still-developing physical constitution, where his tendons and fascia have not been fully trained.


    Once hepleted the Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing phase, the degree of control he had over his body would grow to even more exaggerated levels!


    <i>In this Middle Land, there are probably some martial artists in the top three grades as well as the legendary Heavenly Rankings who are not inferior to me. </i>Wu Yuan sighed.


    However, at what age did these top martial artists reach Wu Yuan��s current level? Wu Yuan estimated that it would take them at least until they were 20 to 30 years old, well past the golden years of growth. Even with the assistance of medicinal pills, the effectiveness would be minimal.


    <i>Even after purification, the effectiveness of a single low-grade body tempering pill naturally cannotpare to a legendary natural treasure. But with sheer quantity, the effects won''t differ by much.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    In this world, there were legends of natural treasures. Many of them were recorded in the martial academy''s collection, and the book ''Cavalier Legends'' which was avable in bookstores, also contained extensive information on the subject.


    Certain martial artists had peculiar experiences during their youth, like consuming Vermilion Fruit, ingesting Python Pills, or swallowing a Northern Snow Lotus. These encounters significantly enhanced their strength, catapulting them to fame at a tender age!


    But Wu Yuan did not envy them. Whether it was body tempering pills, natural treasures, or gravity chambers, they were all under the category of external environment. But on the path of martial arts, how far one could go was ultimately determined by oneself!


    <i>To have the cultivation experience of a top martial artist. And to coincide with the golden age of development? </i>


    Wu Yuan stood up and leaped forward, his figure and aura abruptly transforming from a young boy to a fierce tiger.


    <i>And the ultimate martial arts cultivation method summarized by the Human Federation, the ��Optimal Path of Martial Arts��.</i>


    <i>With over 600 body tempering pills in hand, I have an ample supply for my training. Now, it''s time to focus on practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique.</i>


    The Human Federation created the ��Optimal Path of Martial Arts�� by summarizing the cultivation data of billions of humans. This process led to the creation of aprehensive framework for identifying the ideal exercises to enhance one''s martial arts journey, which was also continuously refined and improved over time.


    Different cultivation methods would be suggested to martial artists of different genders, ages, and levels. Among them, the most famous were the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique and the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique. These were two ultimate cultivation methods, the former hailed as the ultimate Strength Training technique, thetter as the ultimate Viscera Cultivation technique.


    <i>Among all living creatures on the Blue, the felines are the apex predators. Lions, tigers, and leopards are the kings among them, they have the strongest musculoskeletal structure, hence this technique was named after tigers and leopards. This technique is very powerful. The only problem is that it''s extremely difficult to cultivate!</i>


    Even with the assistance of artificial intelligence, many young martial artists suffered severe damage to their bodies after attempting to cultivate it. Therefore, this technique was categorized as a forbidden art!


    As for the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique? It was even more wondrous. How did the Grandmasters in Wu Yuan''s previous life break through their human limits to possess immense strength? It was all thanks to this technique!


    It could no longer be described by any creature that inhabited the Blue, hence it was named after a mythical creature, the dragon, to capture its majesty and enigma.


    <i>In my previous life, I only cultivated the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique after I became an adult, and never cultivated the Tiger and Leopard Bone Training Technique.</i>


    This was something he deeply regretted. If he had cultivated both techniques at the same time, Wu Yuan could not imagine what level he would have reached in his previous life. Perhaps he could have be the number one Grandmaster of the Federation.


    <i>In this life, perhaps I can truly challenge the limits of the human body and try the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes were filled with longing.


    This cultivation method was still in the early stages of development in the Federation. It was the strongest cultivation method for acupoints, and was meant to be practiced afterpletion of Strength Training and Viscera Cultivation. However, because few martial arts Grandmasters were able to reach the point of cultivating their acupoints, there wasn''t sufficient data to support this technique fully, hence it had yet to be perfected, and no one had truly mastered it.


    Before this technique could be perfected, Wu Yuan already transmigrated to this world.


    <i>Whether it''s the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique or the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique that I��ve never tried, I still have a long way to go before they''ll be relevant. Right now, my task is to cultivate the Tiger and Leopard Bone Training Technique to the pinnacle of Strength Training,ying the strongest foundation possible for my musculoskeletal system.</i>


    He took a deep breath and expelled it.


    Wu Yuan swiftly performed a series of postures, sometimes switching his legs back and forth, sometimes supporting himself with his arms, sometimes leaping like a fish. It looked like he was practicing some kind of fist technique or leg technique.


    But if one observed him for some time, one would realize that it was neither. Many of the postures were strange and specific. If he was not careful, he could easily sprain his muscles or bones. It waspletely different from the typical methods of strength training such as running, punching, squatting, and frog leaping. It was not suitable for those who did not have precise control over their muscles and bones.


    <i>Breathe deeply, control the flow of blood. </i>Even with the level of control he wielded over his body, he still found it difficult.


    When he first heard of these techniques in his past life, his body was already matured and he hadpleted his strength training. Though he tried them out, their effects were insignificant, hence he did not pay much attention to them.


    But practicing them again now, he gained a deeper insight into the effects of these techniques.


    <i>By mobilizing every limb and bone through these special movements with the spine as the core, one''s flesh, tendons, fasciae, and bones will eventually be perfectly unified. </i>Wu Yuan felt his whole body turning numb from the movements.


    All 206 bones of his body were colliding with each other! It felt veryfortable.


    <i>Doing this will lead to better effects. </i>Wu Yuan made several minor adjustments to his postures.


    Movements were the surface, muscles and bones were the interior, breathing rhythm and blood flow were the lubricants, constantly progressing towards the perfect state.


    While training, Wu Yuan also started to clearly feel his muscles and bones growing at an astonishing speed, more than ten times faster than before.


    At the same time, the body tempering pills he swallowed previously were rapidly consumed, continuously converted into the energy needed by his body.


    <i>Ordinary humans possess a very low energy conversion rate from food, while martial artists exhibit a higher rate. And my conversion rate is dozens of times higher than ordinary martial artists! </i>Wu Yuan felt his muscles and bones greedily absorbing every bit of power contained in the medicinal pills.


    Before long, Wu Yuan swallowed a few more low-grade body tempering pills and continued to train, repeating this cycle.


    Four hourster, the eastern sky began to brighten.


    Exhaling, Wu Yuan lightly leaped up to his feet, feeling refreshed and full of energy. His eyes lit up. <i>Not bad, my strength has increased by at least several hundred catties!</i>


    This was raw physical strength. One had to understand that Wu Yuan had only increased his physical strength from 2500 catties to about 3800 catties after training for more than a month.


    <i>But this way of cultivating is seriously tiring! </i>


    His mind and body were equally exhausted. The human body was not a machine; it could only be sustained with a bnce of tension and rxation. Constant stress would only cause the body to copse.


    <i>I will train once every two days. I already consumed fifteen body tempering pills the first time alone. The more I continue to train, the more I will consume. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It seemed that the 600 or so body tempering pills wouldn��tst him very long. Bear in mind, Wu Yuan only ingested low-grade body tempering pills. If he were to take high-grade ones, even arge n would go broke supporting him.


    For every martial artist powerhouse born, there were huge pirs of financial support behind them!


    <i>Time to go home!</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly scooped up the medicinal impurities from the ground and carefully discarded them in the river, watching as the currents washed them awaypletely. Only then did he return home.


    ...


    As the days passed, Wu Yuan spent his days in regr Strength Training and martial skillsprehension, and his nights cultivating the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique frenziedly. The constitution of his body improved at a terrifying speed.


    In the blink of an eye, it was time for the martial academy major tournament.

 Chapter 11: Effort Begets Miracles

    <h4>Chapter 11: Effort Begets Miracles</h4>


    The general of defense��s martial arena spanned a remarkable 800 zhangs in width, making it the most extensive area of level ground in Li City. The north wind blew vigorously, lifting the war banners as they rippled in the air.


    On any other day, even the wealthiest and most privileged would find it difficult to enter this ce, let alone themon folk. But today, it was filled with a sea of people!


    On one side of the tform was a viewing standposed of the nobility of Li City, while the other three sides were packed with tens of thousands ofmoners, creating a bustling atmosphere of rarely seen levels.


    In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, might was revered above all. The martial academy major tournament was not only a grand event for the county martial academy, but also the entire Li City. The powerful gentry of other counties and townships even arrived days in advance just to watch the tournament.


    "Sixteen down to eight!"


    The middle-aged referee in the arena was an Adept expert with an imposing figure. His voice was as loud as a bell, effortlessly rising above the noisy crowd. "He Zhong wins!"


    "Haha, I won! I won!" The tall, thin young man on the tform threw down the spear he had yet to unsheath, took off his armor, and pumped his fist in the air. A triumphant grin was spread across his face.


    The audience engaged in heated discussion. Sixteen down to eight, it was already the second half of the tournament.


    In every martial academy major tournament, 64 elite disciples would first be chosen from an internal selection. Then, they wouldpete publicly one-on-one in an open battle.


    This major tournament was not only supervised by the senior officials from the county and inspectors from the martial academy, but also a six-person patrol team made up of officers from the Cloudstride Sect headquarters and two other provinces. Therefore, the martial academy major tournament was as fair as possible, offering countlessmoner disciples the best chance to ''leap over the dragon''s gate'' [1].


    The first ce entered the Cloud Martial Hall. The top sixteen entered the provincial martial academy, the Southdream Martial Academy.


    "I lost!" Wu Sheng threw down his weapons and armor, jumped off the tform, and ran to the waiting area. His face was a picture of regret. "Brother Yuan, I was this close. Just a tiny bit more and I would have made it into the top eight."


    "You are half a year younger than He Zhong, so a slight gap in your abilities is perfectly natural," Wu Yuan consoled with aforting smile.


    "Just a tiny bit more." Wu Sheng whined.


    ��For goodness sake, Ah Sheng, drop the act. I can tell you��re about to break intoughter," Luo He couldn''t stand his friend��s shamelessness, "Is there any difference between the sixteenth and eighth ce? It''s just an increase in silver taels from ten to twenty. Either way, you get to enter the Southdream Martial Academy."


    "You''re far luckier than me. Xu Yuanhan was my opponent in the first round," Luo He shook his head.


    "Ah He, even if you didn''t encounter Xu Yuanhan, do you think you could''ve beaten anyone else?" Wu Sheng''s face was filled with mock disdain, "The only reason you''re participating in the open battle is because of sheer luck. Your father will definitely buy you a ce in the Southdream Martial Academy."


    "Don''t be so blunt," Luo Heughingly scolded. "With this, I have saved my father 90,000 silver taels."


    Wu Yuanughed as his friends bickered. They did much better than expected in this tournament.


    Luo He''s martial arts talent was mediocre, but his family ranked among the top ten wealthiest merchants in Li City, and the Luo family was a true local power whom even the county mayor had to treat with respect.


    If one was among the 64 disciples selected for the martial academy major tournament, one could gain admission into the Southdream Martial Academy by paying a sum of 10,000 silver taels. Of course, if someone were willing to pay 100,000 silver taels, the Southdream Martial Academy would dly ept them even if they didn''t have any martial arts foundation.


    Wu Sheng, who hovered around the 30th ce in several previous minor tournaments, made it spectacrly into the top sixteen, also exceeding everyone''s expectations.


    "Brother Yuan!" Wu Sheng suddenly looked over. "Among us three brothers, you are the one we admire the most."


    "That��s right" Luo He nodded passionately, "Brother Yuan was dealt the worst circumstances, but achieved the most in martial arts! Go defeat Xu Yuanhan and take first ce, you cultivation freak!"


    The reason Luo He hung out with Wu Yuan was because he admired him. In terms of age, Wu Yuan was the youngest, but the two happily called him ''big bro''.


    "Take first ce, enter Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Sheng shouted excitedly.


    His booming voice echoed throughout the waiting area, drawing the attention of many disciples waiting for their turn to fight. However, no one dared to voice their thoughts. Wu Yuan, Wu Sheng, and Luo He held considerable sway among the students of the martial academy.


    Sitting on the other side was Xu Yuanhan, who merely cast a cold nce over and chose not to say anything.


    "Stop shouting,�� Wu Yuan chuckled, "The uing matches will be determined swiftly. We��ll know the results soon."


    "Mm." Wu Sheng and Luo He both nodded in agreement, "Brother Yuan, you should meditate for now, we''ll wait for you here."


    Wu Yuan smiled in response.


    <i>This martial academy major tournament is far more grand than the university entrance exam of my previous life. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the sea of people in the distance. <i>It''s much like the imperial examination of ancient times.</i>


    One might not immediately rise to glory. But standing out from the rest in the martial academy and bing one of the top 64 was already a testament to one��s potential. All contenders held great promise of bing martial virtuosos in the future. If one could enter the Southdream Martial Academy, it indicated a certain probability of bing an Adept expert.


    <i>I''m afraid I''m already being targeted by some powerful families. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.


    Choosing sons-inw from the defeated in the arena was a customary tradition.


    Why would these powerful ns go through the trouble ofing here? Just to join in the fun? Of course not! More often than not, it was to identify talented martial artists as potential sons-inw, or towork with dazzling geniuses.


    Compared to the ancient dynasties of the Blue, academics did not guarantee one a position of a high-ranking official. But powerful martial artists, whose bodies were their foundation, were destined for greatness!


    <i>However, my participation in the martial academy major tournament may have angered Headmaster Zhang and General Xu.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the two figures above the central tform. Headmaster Zhang was all smiles, while General Xu wore a frosty expression.


    Wu Yuan had initially agreed to withdraw from the martial academy major tournament. After all, he was only fourteen. Even if he chose to forfeit, the sect��s patrol team would not pay it much notice. But at the final moment, Wu Yuan chose to participate.


    One match followed another. Wu Yuan participated in yet another match, sessfully advancing to the final four.


    Atst, he heard his name.


    "Four down to two." The voice of the burly referee echoed across the arena. "Wu Yuan, Liu Ruyan! Proceed to the tform!"


    "We''re at four down to two."


    "Wu Yuan."


    "Liu Ruyan is valiant and heroic, her spear technique is truly beautiful."


    "Wu Yuan is even more formidable! He was the champion of the most recent martial academy minor tournament! He''s the top contender for first ce."


    "Watch carefully." The audience grew heated as the duels continued. The spectacles grew more splendid with each match, and thebatants became increasingly well-known.


    The powerful ns who came specifically for the tournament got their hands on the list of elite disciples from the martial academy long ago, and had thoroughly studied every person on it.


    "Wu Yuan, only fourteen years old. They say he awakened his martial arts potential and his strength has soared recently."


    "The key is, he''s not from a prominent n. Although the Southdream Wu n is arge n, the Wu n of Li City is just a small n. This is an opportunity."


    "Pay close attention!"


    "If he enters the Cloud Martial Hall, therge ns in the city will all court him, and we��ll have no chance. But if he doesn''t take first ce? That''s our opportunity!"


    "Watch him carefully. With his talent, he��s more or less guaranteed to be an Adept expert in the future. He even has the potential to be a fourth-grade martial artist." The leaders of the powerful ns all watched the matches with aser-sharp focus.


    Truly ideal sons-inw were rare. Some did not have outstanding talent, some were already betrothed, and some came fromrge ns and were pickier with their marriage partners. And thus, those like Wu Yuan, gifted yet of lowly birth, were their favorites.


    <i>In the viewing stands.</i>


    "Hmph!" General Xu scoffed, his eyes brimming with icy contempt.


    "General, please maintain yourposure," Headmaster Zhang whispered cautiously from his side, "The patrol team is present, do not lose your decorum."


    "I, Xu Shouyi, will not tolerate deception," General Xu stated coldly.


    Headmaster Zhang gave a helpless smile. There was nothing he could say to persuade him. In terms of personal strength, he did not consider himself much weaker than the other. But in terms of status, he was far behind. Moreover, General Xu was just over 40 and still had hope for advancement. Once he reached the third grade, he would truly be an elite of the Cloudstride Sect!


    "Wu Yuan," Headmaster Zhang gazed upon the heroic young man on the tform and sighed inwardly, "Should I call you smart, or foolish?"


    <i>...On the tform.</i>


    "Wu Yuan, I may not be your match, but I will not surrender." Liu Ruyan was a young girl with her hair bundled into a ponytail. Her youthful face was determined. With a long spear in her hand, she radiated an indomitable spirit.


    "As a martial artist, how can you admit defeat without a fight?" Wu Yuan lifted his de and smiled, "Give it your all, who knows, a miracle might ur!"


    "A miracle?" Liu Ruyan frowned.


    <i>Only a minuteter.</i>


    <i>ng~ </i>Before he could draw his de, a lightning-quick thrust of her spear struck Wu Yuan in the chest.


    <i>Thump~ </i>The powerful force from the tip of the spearhead instantly sent the armored Wu Yuan flying off the tform.


    "Four down to two, Liu Ruyan, wins!" The referee dered without dy.


    "What?"


    "Wu Yuan lost?"


    "A major upset indeed! Liu Ruyan has advanced to the final duel? She''s going to face Xu Yuanhan in the final match?"


    "Such a shame! Wu Yuan is still young. His inexperience inbat was clearly shown in the final match." A chorus of mor spread, many martial artists revealing a shade of regret.


    <i>I won?</i> Liu Ruyan was momentarily stunned.


    She reyed her final thrust in her mind, unable to understand what just happened. <i>Wu Yuan clearly blocked it, but why did my spear seem uncontroble at the very end, violently shaking his de off? When did my spear technique be this powerful?</i>


    <i>Hard work, truly begets miracles?</i>


    1. "ording to Chinese mythology, the Dragon��s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carp swim upstream against the river��s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp sessfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. The expression is used tomunicate that if a person works hard, sess will one day be achieved." ?

 Chapter 12: The Mantis Stalks The Cicada

    <h4>Chapter 12: The Mantis Stalks The Cicada</h4>


    Though Liu Ruyan was somewhat bewildered, the fact that she was capable of advancing to the top four of the major tournament and standing out among the martial academy students, meant that she was definitely no fool. She had a feeling that Wu Yuan had deliberately lost to her.


    <i>But why? Doesn��t Wu Yuan want to enter the Cloud Martial Hall?</i> Liu Ruyan''s thoughts were a mess. <i>Moreover, if he��s indeed pretending to lose, his strength must be truly frightening.</i>


    The more she mulled it over, the more stunned she became. Did Wu Yuan deliberately manipte herst spear thrust? If they were in a real fight, he could easily kill her in a few strokes! That was a terrifying thought.


    However, despite the confusion in her heart, Liu Ruyan didn''t show it on her face. She showcased a beaming smile, as though ted that she had won this battle. Who could refuse the chance to enter the Cloud Martial Hall?


    <i>This girl, did she really not notice? Or is she also an actress? </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was calm, but he wore a pained, regretful expression, as though he was truly upset to have lost the battle.


    Wu Yuan stood up, hanging his head as he hastened back to the waiting area. Wu Sheng and Luo He, who had been waiting, immediately came up to him.


    "Brother Yuan, what happened?" Wu Sheng couldn''t help but ask.


    "Brother Yuan, don''t lose heart, you are younger than all of them, losing a match is just a minor setback," Luo Heforted.


    "I''m fine." Wu Yuan shook his head, forcing a smile onto his face.


    "Hmph! Wu Yuan, I thought you were supposed to be exceptional, but it seems you''ll being to the Southdream Martial Academy with us," a mocking voice rang out, "The one entering the Cloud Martial Hall this year will be Senior Brother Xu!"


    All eyes converged on the speaker. The voice belonged to one of Xu Yuanhan''s followers, also a martial academy disciple.


    As the son of the general of defense, along with his formidable strength, Xu Yuanhan had his own legion of followers in the martial academy. It was particrly so for the children of the Southdream Army''s soldiers, who naturally sought to rally under his banner.


    "Cheng Xiao, are you asking for a beating?" Wu Sheng red. Others might fear Xu Yuanhan, but Wu Sheng did not cower. His father was a hundred-soldier captain of the city guard, a rank significantly below the general of defense, but there was a natural animosity between the army of defense and the city guard. As the two critical military forces of the county city, their mutual restraint and opposition were strategically maintained by the high echelons of the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Wu Yuan, keep your men in line," Xu Yuanhan spoke up, his tone frigid.


    "Wu Sheng is my brother, not my man," Wu Yuan retorted with a smirk, "Furthermore, I hope you can keep your dogs in check, and prevent them from going around biting people. Dogs that bite should be whipped."


    "We''re leaving." Wu Yuan headed for the spectator stands designated for martial academy disciples. Wu Sheng and Luo He exchanged wry nces and quickly followed.


    "He called me a dog?" The martial academy disciple named Cheng Xiao seemed to have just grasped the insult and immediately chased after them.


    "Keep quiet." Xu Yuanhan frowned, "The decisive battle is imminent. If you continue to be disruptive, I''ll send you away to the spectator stands."


    "Senior Brother Xu, I was wrong," Cheng Xiao smiled sheepishly.


    Xu Yuanhan looked at Wu Yuan��s distant silhouette with a sense of puzzlement. Did Wu Yuan truly lose to Liu Ruyan due to carelessness?


    <i>It doesn''t matter! Now, the only one standing between me and the Cloud Martial Hall is Liu Ruyan.</i> Xu Yuanhan took a deep breath.


    Entering the Cloud Martial Hall was his goal.


    Liu Ruyan? He never considered her a threat.


    ...


    <i>He actually lost.</i>


    Seated in the stands, Huan Xinyan lightly furrowed her brows as the oue of the match was announced. Liu Ruyan is quite powerful, only falling short of Xu Yuanhan by a hair''s breadth. But in the past few major tournaments, she was clearly no match for Wu Yuan.


    Outsiders who only witnessed the previous minor tournaments didn''t have much insight into their abilities. It was quite simple to misjudge Wu Yuan, Xu Yuanhan, and Liu Ruyan as having simrbat prowess.


    But as a teacher at the martial academy, Huan Xinyan had personally witnessed the previous minor tournaments. Wu Yuan appeared to have just a slight advantage over the two. But in reality, Liu Ruyan and Xu Yuanhan were powerless to fight back.


    <i>Could it be that Wu Yuan intentionally lost the duel? </i>Huan Xinyan was slightly taken aback.<i> But it was too... authentic.</i>


    Losing on purpose wasn''t hard. But to lose just right, such that one couldn��t find a single w, was harder than winning outright! Huan Xinyan herself was unsure if Wu Yuan had lost on purpose.


    ..."Wu Yuan lost?" A glint of surprise shed through General Xu''s eyes.


    "Haha," Headmaster Zhang chuckled, "General. I told you, Wu Yuan knows when to advance and when to retreat. With this, no one should have anything more to say."


    "Hm." General Xu nodded his head, understanding what the headmaster meant.


    Had Wu Yuan simply decided to withdraw from the major tournament withoutpeting, even if he used the excuse of his age, there would still be a potential risk of the matter being exposed if someone reported it to the patrol team. But since he was publicly defeated in the major tournament, what''s more by someone other than Xu Yuanhan, there was nothing left to say.


    It was truly a perfect cover-up.


    "But did Wu Yuan really lose to Liu Ruyan on purpose? Or did Liu Ruyan cooperate with him?" General Xu''s brows drew together in a deep frown.


    As a fourth-grade expert, how keen was his perception? The blow that Liu Ruyannded on Wu Yuan was as swift as lightning. From what he observed, it couldn''t possibly have been an act. And it wasn��t just him - of the six Adept experts of the patrol team, none noticed any anomaly.


    "General, where the water is too clear, there are no fish [1]," gently intoned the Headmaster.


    General Xu pondered for a moment. "Fine, I understand. Let''s put this matter to rest. For now, it all depends on whether Xu Yuanhan can defeat Liu Ruyan."


    "Xu Yuanhan possesses extraordinary physical strength, he clearly holds the advantage," the headmaster stated confidently, "Although that girl Liu Ruyan is a decent fighter, she is noticeably weaker." He considered himself deeply knowledgeable about his disciples.


    <i>Merely a quarter of an hourter.</i>


    "He lost!"


    "Xu Yuanhan actually lost to Liu Ruyan?" Headmaster Zhang was aghast, "How is this possible?"


    General Xu''s face turned ashen.


    In their shock, both men failed to notice the nearly imperceptible smile that graced the lips of the middle-aged man, adorned in a blue official robe, who was perched on the central seat. He quietly murmured, "Xu Shouyi, anyone can enter the Cloud Martial Hall, except your son!"


    He was none other than the county mayor of Li City, a third-ranked official under the Cloudstride Sect �� Jiang Dongque.


    "General Xu, it''s a shame about Xu Yuanhan." Jiang Dongque said in a loud voice, his face etched with regret, as if feeling genuine pity for Xu Yuanhan.


    "Thank you for your concern, County Mayor Jiang." General Xu''s countenance was icy cold. He rose to his feet abruptly and exited the arena. His apanying martial officers also promptly departed, leaving behind the county mayor''s officials and lieutenant colonels, as well as members of the patrol team.


    "Patroller Liu, please present the token to the champion of the major tournament. After which, I will bestow the silver." County Mayor Jiang was all smiles.


    Those in possession of a Cloud Martial Token could enter the Cloud Martial Hall, and the 500 taels were the sect''s reward.


    The tform, surrounded by a multitude of magnates andmon folk alike, was a hive of spection and discussion.


    "Liu Ruyan won!"


    "She actually defeated Xu Yuanhan, thatst spear thrust was indeed breathtaking."


    "She won, she truly won! After so many years, anotherdy from Li City will finally be entering the Cloud Martial Hall."


    Almost no one had expected this result. Liu Ruyan, a seemingly unremarkable young maiden, had defeated the two hot favorites Wu Yuan and Xu Yuanhan in sequence, and imed first ce in the major tournament.


    Although there were numerous powerful female martial artists in the Middle Land, their natural physical disadvantages made them rtively scarce.


    On one side of the arena tform.


    "Xu Yuanhan actually lost to Liu Ruyan?" Both Luo He and Wu Sheng found it hard to believe. After all, before Wu Yuan won first ce in the minor tournament, Xu Yuanhan had been the reigning champion over ten times. And yet, he lost in a situation where Wu Yuan had already been eliminated. It was like a ship capsizing in a gutter! [2]


    <i>A ship capsizing in a gutter? No! </i>Wu Yuan frowned. <i>The spear technique that Liu Ruyan utilized waspletely different from the one she disyed when battling me. She had never exhibited it before in the martial academy.</i>


    This spear technique was not particrly brilliant. In fact, it had many shorings, which were all fatal weaknesses in Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    But her opponent was only fifteen-year-old Xu Yuanhan. With a little deduction, Wu Yuan understood that this undisclosed spear technique was probably something Liu Ruyan practiced specifically to counter Xu Yuanhan. Just enough to restrain Xu Yuanhan''s weapon and strength advantage. In the end, she won by a hair��s breadth!


    <i>That''s right, during the fight with me, Liu Ruyan barely expended any physical strength, while Xu Yuanhan had already fought multiple rounds and was greatly exhausted. Moreover, from the way the two engaged inbat, Xu Yuanhan obviously underestimated his enemy and found himself at a disadvantage right from the start.</i>


    In contrast, Liu Ruyan went all out as soon as the fight began. One was fully prepared while the otherpletely underestimated his opponent!


    It was true that greater physical strength was an important advantage. However, both sides possessed simr levels of skill. In the end, Xu Yuanhan was defeated, a result not undeserved.


    In duels between martial artists, strength was not absolute. One''s ability to think on their feet, as well as will to fight were all important factors that swayed the final oue.


    <i>Indeed, man proposes but heaven disposes.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head subtly.


    The intention behind his participation in the major tournament was to finalize this matter, eliminate other potential risks, avoid the attention of the higher-ups in the Cloudstride Sect, and ease the worries of both General Xu and the headmaster.


    Wu Yuan did not wish to waste time on such trivial matters. But in the end, Xu Yuanhan did not manage to im the first ce?


    <i>A troublesome development.</i> A hint of frost surfaced in Wu Yuan''s gaze. <i>I hope that the Xu family will act sensibly.</i>


    He did not wish for trouble, but should it be unavoidable, he could only find a way to resolve it.


    ...


    The major tournament concluded, and the tens of thousands of audience members gradually dispersed without anymotion.


    Liu Ruyan enrolled in the Cloud Martial Hall, and the county martial academy began to confirm the final list of those entering the Southdream Martial Academy.


    Just as many martial academy disciples expected, Wu Yuan chose to decline the offer.


    ��Next year, I will participate in the martial academy major tournament again, and do my utmost to enter the Cloud Martial Hall.�� Wu Yuan''s reasoning was more than understandable. So understandable that the recruitment instructors of the Southdream Martial Academy couldn''t refute him. If one had hope of entering the Cloud Martial Hall, why would one wish to join the Southdream Martial Academy?


    "Brother Yuan, we''ll have to part ways. I thought you''d be apanying us to the Southdream Martial Academy," Wu Sheng said with a tinge of sadness.


    "Exactly!" Luo He sighed, "That''s where the Wu n''s main family resides. If Brother Yuan were to attend the Southdream Martial Academy with us, our time there will be much morefortable."


    "The Wu n isn''t much stronger than your Luo family. And your father is the patriarch." Wu Yuan yfully punched Luo He in the chest andughed, "Alright, we should all strive to do our best."


    "You''ll only be spending three years in the Southdream Martial Academy. The training conditions there are not bad, far superior to the county martial academy. Train hard and aim to return as a martial virtuoso."


    Bing a sixth-grade martial virtuoso was the minimum requirement imposed by manyrge families on their heirs.


    "Brother Yuan, I''ll strive to be an Adept expert." Wu Sheng dered, his chin raised, "We��ll return at the end of the year and meet you again then."


    "A martial virtuoso?" Luo He pulled a face.


    Wu Yuan and Wu Sheng looked at Luo He and burst intoughter.


    ...


    The crowd of martial academy disciples soon dispersed. Headmaster Zhang did not invite Wu Yuan for a private conversation. Wu Yuan naturally didn''t wish trouble upon himself, and left the martial academy right away.


    Just as he reached the gate, he spotted a carriage a short distance away. Standing in front of it were Chieftain Wu Qiming and his mother Wanqin.


    "Chieftain, mother?" Wu Yuan looked in surprise at the two people waiting for him.


    Many members of the Wu n hade to watch the major tournament in the morning. Though Wu Yuan had not imed first ce, the fact that he made the top four was enough to lift their spirits. However, time had been tight then, and Wu Yuan hadn''t gotten an opportunity to speak to Chieftain Wu Qiming and the others at length.


    "Chieftain, mother." Wu Yuan approached them.


    "Are you going to Southdream Martial Academy?" Wu Qiming asked straight away.


    "No. I''ll participate in the major tournament again next year, and enter Cloud Martial Hall." Wu Yuan replied.


    "That works too." Wu Qiming nodded, "The Cloud Martial Hall is far superior to the Southdream Martial Academy, I support your decision to train for another year."


    Wu Yuan nodded. The chieftain always kept a clear head when it mattered.


    "Chieftain, you and my mother aren''t here just to ask about this matter, right?" Wu Yuan questioned. This matter had already been discussed before the major tournament.


    Wu Qiming went straight to the point. "The reason we are here is to discuss your marriage."


    1. idiom: One cannot be too picky. ?


    2. idiom: to fail miserably (where failure was not expected) ?

 Chapter 13: The Unity of the Clan

    <h4>Chapter 13: The Unity of the n</h4>


    The ancestral mansion of the Wu n''s Li City branch was encased within high walls and featured a grand courtyard. It was located in close proximity to the Wu family��s street, and was the usual ce where the Wu nsmen paid homage to their ancestors, convened, and feasted. It was also the residence of the chieftain, Wu Qiming.


    "Let us dismount," said Wu Qiming, who was the first to alight the carriage. As Wu Yuan helped Wanqin down from the vehicle, his gaze swept across the mansion. It was not as grand as the general''s manor, but still impressive.


    In Wu Yuan''s memory, since his father died in battle, he and his mother would only visit during the New Year and the three major festivals.


    The three major festivals were the Sect Establishment Festival, the n Establishment Festival, and the Martial King Festival. All of them were huge festivalsmemorating the sacrifices of their predecessors.


    For the people living in the seven continents of the Central ins, the Martial King Festival was universally celebrated in memory of the mythical progenitor of humanity, the Martial King. However, the same could not be said for the other two festivals. For those under the rule of the Cloudstride Sect, the Sect Establishment Festival was naturally observed simultaneously.


    "The chieftain has returned," the mansion''s steward greeted, revealing a smile as the two figures following closely behind came into view, "Young Master Yuan and Sister-inw."


    "Uncle Fang is too polite," Wu Yuan returned the smile.


    The steward was surnamed Fang, and he was someone Wu Qiming trusted greatly. Based on Wu Yuan''s memory, Steward Fang treated most Wu nsmen with a cold and distant demeanor. It appeared that the results of the major tournament had already spread among the nsmen. Fourth ce, although not the most striking, was still a dazzling result.


    "Old Fang, prepare some wine. I will dine with Wu Yuanter," instructed Wu Qiming, "Additionally, without my permission, no one shall enter the study."


    "Understood," replied Steward Fang promptly.


    Wu Yuan and his mother followed Wu Qiming into the study on one side of the courtyard. It was a tranquil ce, where a plethora of books stood in elegant arrangement. It was far superior to Wu Yuan''s house. They each took a seat.


    "Wu Yuan, I''ve already said whatever needed to be said on the way here."


    "The Qing family may not be considered powerful, but they wish to betroth their patriarch''s legitimate daughter to you. I have met thedy before, she is literate and courteous, and aspires to take the imperial examinations. She will no doubt be a capable pir of support," said Wu Qiming straightforwardly.


    "As for the Luo family, the prospective bride is also a legitimate daughter of the patriarch''s sixth wife. She appears less well-bred than the daughter of the Qing family, but the Luo family is a wealthy n and they''re willing to provide arge sum of silver to aid your cultivation. If I remember correctly, Luo He, the son of the Luo patriarch, is your fellow ssmate and friend."


    "As for the remaining few families, I deemed them not quite suitable for you, so I politely rejected them on your behalf." Wu Qiming nced at Wu Yuan, "Your mother believes that the Qing family is a more fitting match."


    "Mother, you wish for me to marry too?" Wu Yuan scrunched up his face.


    "It''s just the engagement. You still have a few years to go before the marriage." Wanqin said with satisfaction, "That legitimate daughter of the Qing family, I''ve seen her from a distance a few times..."


    "Mother!" Wu Yuan grimaced, "I have no intentions of getting engaged at this moment, nor have any thoughts of marrying in the near future."


    "Chieftain, for the Qing and Luo families, I would appreciate it if you could reject them on my behalf. The reason being that I am devoted to martial arts and have no interest in romantic entanglements for the time being." Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    Before Chieftain Wu Qiming could utter a word, Wanqin blew her top. "Yuan''er, you have always been resolute and decisive in your actions, and I have always respected your decisions." Wanqin looked at her son, incensed, "You have made great achievements in martial arts, and I am proud of you, but you must take marriage seriously! If you don''t get married and have children, how will I face your father in the future?"


    Wu Qiming chuckled. Wu Yuan felt a headacheing on.


    In his previous life, during the interster era, there was hardly any parental pressure to get married. In fact, a significant part of the human poption was raised via ��socialized parenting''. Unfortunately, he was now in the Middle Land, which shared manymon aspects with the ancient dynasties of the Blue. In both societies, bloodlines were considered sacred. Naturally, Wu Yuan wouldn''t me his mother. Each society had its own customs and conventions.


    Wu Yuan exined patiently, "Mother, your son is not unwilling to marry, but I just turned fourteen and it''s the prime age for martial arts training, I don''t want to be distracted."


    "When I reach my twenties, and have achieved great things in martial arts, I will consider marriage. By then, I will be able to choose an even more suitable wife." Wu Yuan stated solemnly.


    "In your twenties?" Wanqin hesitated.


    "Sister-inw, it''s perfectly normal for truly powerful martial artists to marry in their twenties or thirties." Wu Qimingughed, "That''s also the reason I didn''t bother convincing Wu Yuan."


    "Fine then." Wanqin trusted Wu Qiming wholeheartedly. Nheless, she eyed Wu Yuan sternly, "You are no longer allowed to bring up the topic of forgoing marriage."


    "Yes Mother, I will bear it in mind," responded Wu Yuan, nodding his head.


    "Wu Yuan, I am not knowledgeable about important matters, but the chieftain is. Consult with him often. I will head to the backyard to meet your aunt, you and the chieftain can carry on." With that, Wanqin rose, gave a slight bow to Wu Qiming, and exited the study. The aunt she referred to was naturally Wu Qiming''s wife.


    "Wu Yuan, you have a good mother. You must not fail her expectations," said Wu Qiming with a sigh.


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Even with limited knowledge, Wanqin was no fool. She had guessed that Wu Qiming wasn''t looking for Wu Yuan simply for a discussion about his marriage. If it was just for that, they wouldn''t havee to the Wu n''s ancestral mansion. The reason they held their discussion here was to prevent eavesdropping.


    Whatever they were discussing, it was no doubt an important matter. Therefore after the marriage issue was concluded, Wanqin tactfully left the room. She trusted her son''s judgment and believed the Chieftain would not shortchange Wu Yuan.


    "Are you really not considering marriage?" Wu Qiming asked as he poured himself some tea. "You are a sensible person, you should understand the advantages of an engagement."


    "Our Wu n is rtively weak after all. It won''t be possible for us to invest arge amount of resources in you. Bing the son-inw of the Luo or Qing n is equivalent to gaining the support of arge n. Your martial arts cultivation path will be much smoother." Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan.


    "I''m not considering it," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Chieftain Wu Qiming was right. If Wu Yuan was just an ordinary disciple of the martial academy, marrying into arge n would be his best choice. Financial support was immensely important for martial arts cultivation, and theserge ns needed the support of strong martial artists to maintain their prestige. This was a win-win situation.


    s, Wu Yuan didn''t have high requirements when it came to wealth. Or rather, the wealth that the Qing or Luo families could offer, was pitifully insignificant in terms of the aid it could provide Wu Yuan.


    Moreover, it was Wu Yuan''s belief that his wife should be someone whom he shared deep mutual affection with. How could he make his choice so casually?


    "Chieftain, whether it''s the Qing family or the Luo family, they are not simple people. Whoever bes their son-inw will be expected to repay them tenfold," Wu Yuan calmly said, "The help they''re giving me now will be my burden in the future."


    "When you grow powerful and be a high-ranking member of the sect, ruling over a county or even a province, it''s up to you whether to repay them or not," Wu Qiming said.


    There was an implicit meaning to his words, and Wu Yuan was fully aware of what he meant: Take what you can for now and discard it after it''s no longer useful. A little favor would suffice as repayment. After all, would they dare defy him?


    "Where a favor is received, return it like a gushing spring; when there is enmity, repay it tenfold," Wu Yuan said with a firm voice, "Chieftain, this is the essence of my martial path. I, Wu Yuan, act with honesty, and will not betray my heart."


    Wu Qiming''s eyes lit up. The essence of his martial path? He vaguely began to understand why Wu Yuan was able to improve so quickly.


    "Alright, since you''ve made up your mind, I won''t persuade you anymore," Wu Qiming said, "What are your thoughts on Xu Yuanhan?"


    Wu Yuan instantly understood that this was probably what Wu Qiming really wanted to ask. This matter had to be kept secret; Wu Qiming couldn''t discuss it with other members of the n.


    "Xu Yuanhan''s skills wereckingpared to his opponent, and he lost in a fair fight. What''s there to discuss?" Wu Yuan shook his head, "We have already fulfilled our promise; otherwise, neither Xu Yuanhan nor Liu Ruyan would be my match."


    "Hmm," Wu Qiming said with some regret, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn''t have agreed to the Xu Family''s request. In the end, dying your admission into Cloud Martial Hall only served to benefit Liu Ruyan."


    "Who can predict the future? That was our best choice at the time," Wu Yuan said with a tone of eptance.


    Wu Qiming sighed, "I understand, but with this unexpected turn of events, I wonder if the Xu family will harbor resentment towards us."


    "The Wu n has been benevolent and righteous. If the Xu family continues to oppress us, we cannot keep retreating," Wu Yuan expressed his opinion.


    The point of lowering one''s head for a moment was so that one could proudly raise their head in the end. If one only knew to bow, in the end, they would be trampled to dust at the bottom of a valley.


    "I will take it into consideration," Wu Qiming gently nodded, "but given General Xu''s character, it should not develop to such an extent."


    "Alright, we will discuss this matter in the future. Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan, "When ites to martial arts cultivation, our Wu n has fewer than ten martial virtuosos and not a single Adept. Apart from providing you with some silver taels, we can''t assist you with much else. If you need anything, be sure to tell me."


    "After today''s major tournament, nobody in the Wu n will oppose you anymore," Wu Qiming stated.


    "I haven''t finished spending that sum of silver taels. If I really need more, I won''t hesitate to ask the n for help," Wu Yuan answered cheerfully.


    In Wu Yuan''s memory, it appeared that the Wu n had been oppressing his family for several years, but the reason was not because he was fatherless. Instead, it was because his father''s death made it difficult for his family to support his cultivation, resulting in a long-term, significant consumption of their n resources.


    With Wu Qiming''s support, thousands of silver taels from the n''s treasury were spent on Wu Yuan. For arge n, such a sum is not much. But for the Wu n, it was exorbitant! After all, the n''s treasury was the umtion of the hard-earned money of hundreds of nsmen, and was meant to strengthen the entire n.


    In the Middle Land, there waspetition within most ns. But overall, they were united against external forces. A n that was not united was sure to decline.


    Moreover, one mustn''t forget that the previous Wu Yuan could only count as a disciple ranked among the top in the martial academy, but not the best. The chances of him bing an Adept expert were extremely low. This was the reason for some of the Wu nsmen''s dissatisfaction. They considered it a waste of resources.


    But today, at the young age of fourteen, he ranked top four in the martial academy major tournament. This aplishment was enough to convince the Wu n that the resources they invested had not gone to waste.


    In fact, this was also one reason why Wu Yuan wanted to participate in the martial academy major tournament. He harbored a sense of gratitude towards every member of the Wu n. If exposing only a small fraction of his true power was enough to bring relief and excitement to them all, why wouldn''t he?


    Or were you hoping for him to bide his time, and ''p the face'' of his nsmen in the future, like those novels he read in his past life? Why bother with something so frivolous? Wu Yuan truly hoped that the Wu n would grow stronger.


    "Haha, I hope you don''t me your uncles for their previous attitudes. It wasn''t easy for them either," Wu Qimingughed. "Actually, we''re all looking forward to seeing how far you can go. I hope Wu n''s Li City branch can one day birth an Adept expert!"


    ��When ites to doing business, without the support of martial power, excessive wealth is a disaster, not a blessing. A strong martial artist is the true foundation of a powerful n!"

 Chapter 14: Rebirth and Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 14: Rebirth and Transformation</h4>


    After dining with Chieftain Wu Qiming and his family at the ancestral mansion, Wu Yuan apanied his mother to a neighbor''s house to pick up his younger sister, then the family promptly returned home.


    As the night deepened, his mother Wanqin, and sister Wu Yijun drifted off to sleep.


    Wu Yuan navigated his way to the riverbank with a confident familiarity.


    <i>Finally, after more than a month since the mind fog cleared, I''ve managed to sort out most matters.</i> A smile spread across Wu Yuan''s lips.


    His initial n was to win first ce in the martial academy''s major tournament and im 500 silver taels. But in the end, through a series of unforeseen events, he ended up with even more silver.


    <i>Now, as long as I don''t meet with any major unexpected incidents, I have a year to focus on cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan carefully surveyed the surroundings to ensure he was alone.


    <i>One year? In my previous life, I made it into the top ten of the Federation Youth Martial Arts Championship in just a few short years! I wasn''t even seventeen then. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shone brightly.


    Ages twelve to eighteen were the golden years of development. Even without special training, some teenagers experienced significant growth in their height, weight, and musculoskeletal system simply by eating a normal diet. And if they practiced martial arts? Their growth would be even more dramatic!


    Martial arts was not the same as immortal cultivation - skill could always be improvedter, but one musty the foundation for their physical constitution before the age of eighteen.


    <i>In this life, my genes have been strengthened tenfold, and I also possess the cultivation experience of my previous life.</i>


    <i>One year? Even if I can''t reach the peak of this body''s potential, with the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, it is highly possible for me to exceed my former peak!</i>


    Wu Yuan��s body transformed like a tiger or leopard released from its cage.


    <i>Crack! Pop!</i> With a wide stance and his musculoskeletal system resonating in rhythm, his aura changed to that of a wild beast.


    Over the past ten days or so, Wu Yuan had practiced the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique multiple times, improving his physique substantially. Now, the force behind a single punch of his surpassed 5000 catties. Such a rate of progress was truly terrifying!


    <i>The musculoskeletal structure of a tiger, the swiftness of a leopard. </i>


    Wu Yuan swallowed several low-grade body tempering pills with a flip of his hand. A soft explosion resounded in his abdomen. Secondster, a heap of impurities flew out of his mouth. As his body grew increasingly robust, his digestive abilities naturally improved


    <i>Hot! </i>Wu Yuan felt the medicine rapidly take effect. He didn''t control it closely, instead quickly entering a state of cultivation, meticulously practicing various postures.


    During his initial attempt at the cultivation method, Wu Yuan was unfamiliar with the process, causing him to make frequent adjustments to his bones, muscles, and blood flow rate. But now that he had some practice, coupled with the precise control he wielded over his body, he could easily enter an almost perfect state.


    <i>Zi! Zi! Zi!</i> His posture changed from the inside out. With his spine as the core and his limbs as support, invisible bursts of energy began stimting his muscles and fascia.


    Wu Yuan adjusted his breathing and controlled the speed of his blood flow. Even his heart rate slowed down, achieving a resonance with his musculoskeletal system and the rest of his body.


    The stimtion grew more apparent! Wu Yuan felt as if his entire body - Muscles, fascia, and bones, was getting concurrently bitten by an army of ants. It was unbearably ufortable. This indicated that his body was growing at an astonishing speed.


    His muscles grew tougher and stronger, capable of unleashing greater strength. His fascia grew more resilient, and the density of his bones increased, capable of supporting more powerful muscles. Even his internal organs were vaguely affected, growing stronger.


    Correspondingly, the energy provided by the body tempering pills was also consumed at astonishing speed.


    <i>Cultivating with a clear and rxed mind leads to better effects?</i> A thought shed through Wu Yuan''s mind, but he immediately banished it.


    <i>Ignore distractions, continue cultivating.</i>


    He had a deep understanding of martial arts. With each practice session, the principles of this cultivation method gradually unfurled, stirring the deepest cells within the musculoskeletal system to grow to perfection, propelling him ceaselessly toward the boundaries of biology!


    <i>In my past life, I only began practicing the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique aftering of age. Even so, I reached a strength of over 20,000 catties.</i>


    <i>In this lifetime, what would happen if I were to practice two techniques simultaneously? </i>


    Wu Yuan��s heart was aze with anticipation. It took quite a while before he could regain his calm.


    ...


    Days passed one after another.


    Liu Ruyan, Xu Yuanhan, and a group of other elite students from the martial academy sessively left Li City. Luo He and Wu Sheng also set out for the Southdream Martial Academy.


    After the patrol team departed, General Xu did not give the Wu n any trouble, seemingly having let the matter go, just as Wu Yuan had hoped.


    After bidding farewell to his two friends, aside from asionally taking care of his sister and visiting the martial academy every few days, Wu Yuan devoted all his time to cultivating alone.


    Day after day, his physical attributes improved at a frightening pace, constantly evolving. The enhancements in strength and the rapid transformation of his body utterly fascinated him.


    Seasons changed from spring to autumn. In the blink of an eye, it was July, over three months since the martial academy major tournament.


    <i>In the dead of night on the riverbank.</i>


    Wu Yuan, exuding the aura of a fierce beast, struck a peculiar pose, lying half-prostrate on the ground. Beads of sweat rolled down his chiseled back and leg muscles.


    Exhaling, Wu Yuan lightly jumped to his feet.


    <i>Each time Iplete this Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, I feel wonderfullyfortable. </i>Wu Yuan reveled in the sensation of energy flowing through his body.


    The amount of sweat that sprouted from the pores of his skin swiftly ebbed. Given Wu Yuan''s body control, he could run tens of miles in one breath without breaking a sweat. However, the drastic transformation of his body''s constitution made it difficult to control his perspiration.


    <i>The Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique is truly worthy of being the pinnacle of the Human Federation''s wisdom, it''s simply incredible.</i>


    The more he practiced, the more impressed he felt with this Strength Training method. It was hard to imagine how it was created - only the collective wisdom of billions of people from the Human Federation made it possible.


    <i>I thought that the effectiveness would gradually weaken with time as it did with the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique. Who would have thought the effects would actually improve?</i> Wu Yuan felt rather emotional.


    He now understood the reason behind this phenomenon. If these techniques were practiced after reaching adulthood, the effects would not be as obvious because one''s musculoskeletal system would already be fully developed. But now, as he still was in the throes of furious growth, practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique would stimte his development even further.


    <i>In just three months, my strength is approaching that of my previous life! </i>He could now exert a force of 18,000 catties with a single arm.


    Wu Yuan had tested his physical strength at the martial academy yesterday when there was no one around. The result was not far off from what he perceived with his Internal Vision.


    <i>What terrifying power.</i>


    Just four months ago, when Wu Yuan first regained his senses, the force of his punch was only around 3,000 catties. Now, it had increased sixfold.


    <i>It''s the result of the wondrous cultivation method, but more importantly, the genes. If I were at this age in the Human Federation, I wouldn''t be able to reach this level in a year of practice, even with the aid of the AIwork and the best nutrition.</i>


    A cat, no matter how much it exercised, couldn''t be a tiger.


    <i>The Middle Land is vast, with numerous powerful martial artists in each generation. However, the number of fourteen-year-old fifth-grade martial artists should be few and far between. </i>


    Wu Yuan swung his fists. He controlled his muscles and bones to exert their strength, causing his muscles to bulge. Every part of his body became as tough as forged steel, brimming with formidable power.


    <i>The only problem is that the 800 body tempering pills I bought thest time are all used up.</i>


    <i>I��ve made four consecutive trips to the Sta Consortium. The fourth time, I believe they sent an Adept expert to track me down. Even though I managed to shake them off, I can no longer return.</i>


    <i>Where should I go to get body tempering pills next?</i>

 Chapter 15: Vicious Tiger Gang

    <h4>Chapter 15: Vicious Tiger Gang</h4>


    The first time Wu Yuan practiced the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, he consumed fifteen low-grade body tempering pills. As his power surged, so did his consumption. He depleted a staggering 55 body tempering pills during the training session he had justpleted.


    Over the past three or so months, Wu Yuan had visited the Sta Consortium four times in session, buying a total of over 2000 low-grade body tempering pills. Though he had changed his appearance through Transfiguration every time, he could not escape their notice.


    This did not surprise Wu Yuan. If he were the overseer of the Sta Consortium, he too would be curious.


    Now, Wu Yuan had less than a hundred body tempering pills left. His current supplies would onlyst him three more sessions at most.


    <i>Moreover, even with more body tempering pills, their effectiveness would only lessen over time. </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.<i> I must find a higher grade medicinal pill soon.</i>


    Body tempering pills were the most basic of auxiliary medicinal pills, only effective for low-level martial artists. Wu Yuan''s current physique was extremely robust. Though he was still in the Strength Training phase, his raw strength was close to a fifth-grade martial artist. The energy contained in the body tempering pill was now insufficient to support his growth.


    <i>But even if I find a higher-grade medicinal pill, I am a little short on silver taels. I can''t ask the chieftain for help again so soon.</i>


    Over these past three months, Chieftain Wu Qiming had taken the initiative to visit him, insisting that he take another 2000 silver taels. Of these, 1000 taels were given on behalf of the n. The other 1000 came from a portion of the 5000 taels that Wu Qiming had reserved for Wu Yuan from back then.


    Wu Yuan routinely cleaned up all traces of his training. His figure darted about unpredictably as he returned to the courtyard.


    <i>Home.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the courtyard house. Even though it was still nighttime, with the sky not yet bright, it was hardly any different from daytime in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    The courtyard wall was repaired, with a newyer of bricks. The gate and the interior of the house had been newly renovated, a huge improvement from when Wu Yuan first took over this body.


    This was all thanks to the n''s help.


    <i>Mother��s health has improved considerably.</i>


    Two months ago, the family invited the alchemist in Li City to treat his mother. Wu Yuan didn��t have to do anything. Thanks to this, a great burden was lifted from Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>The Chieftain is also under a lot of pressure. The Wu n isn��t arge n and has many expenses. Inviting an alchemist is not just a matter of favors, but also a huge financial burden. I should not trouble the Chieftain with mary matters anymore.</i>


    Wu Yuan knew that his uing cultivation needs would include advanced medicinal pills and many precious treasures. It would cost far more than what the Wu n could afford.


    <i>My strength has partially recovered, but it��s still far from my past life��s peak. Even after spending several months at the Rigid Yet Supple stage, I am still at a rudimentary level.</i> Wu Yuan lightly leaped into his house,nding without a sound.


    <i>However, hardly anyone in Li City can intimidate me now. Looking across the entire Middle Land, I no longer fear any second-rate Adepts.</i>


    Sixth-grade martial practitioners were martial virtuosos. Fifth-grade martial artists were also known as third-rate Adepts, fourth-grade martial artists were known as second-rate Adepts, and third-grade martial artists were known as first-rate Adepts.


    Wu Yuan��s pure physical strength fell short of a third-rate Adept, but his astonishing martial skillspensated for it.


    ...


    After Wu Yuan returned to his own courtyard house, he slipped into bed before his mother awoke. Only a mile away, the ancestral mansion of the Wu n remained lit throughout the night.


    <i>Inside the meeting hall.</i>


    ��Chieftain, we''ve done all we could. We''ve managed to scrape together 6,500 taels, but are still short of 1,500 taels,�� the white-bearded ountant sighed, his desk piled high with ount books, ��Our n''s treasury ispletely depleted.��


    ��1,500 taels?�� Chieftain Wu Qiming��s eyes were lowered, appearing deep in thought.


    ��The Vicious Tiger Gang, that bunch of scoundrels! They''re asking for too much! We��ve always paid 3,000 taels in the past years, but they want 8,000 taels this time. They are seriously pushing us into a corner!�� A burly man dressed in linen clothes gritted his teeth, ��Chieftain, maybe, we should refuse to pay.��


    ��Refuse to pay?�� A middle-aged schrly man shook his head, ��The Vicious Tiger Gang, one of the top five gangs in Li City, is well known for their brutality. Any business operating within their territory, even big ns like the Luo n, would rather pay some silver ording to the size of their businesses than get into a confrontation with them.��


    "Compared to the Vicious Tiger Gang, our Wu n is weak. A direct confrontation would be suicidal."


    "Even if their methods are brutal, that only applies outside of Li City. Does the Vicious Tiger Gang dare enter the city?" The man in linen garments red.


    "Enter the city? The Tiger Gang isn''t that foolish," remarked another young man in a ck robe, shaking his head. "The sect has dominion over a vast expanse ofnd. They only have enough manpower to oversee counties and municipalities. The numerous viges and towns scattered throughout their domain are beyond their reach."


    "Those ces are where these small gangs survive. Storming the city is equivalent to challenging the authority of the sect, which will alert and activate the Southdream Army."


    The majority of people in the Middle Land practiced martial arts. When one''s body was a weapon, one was naturally inclined to aggression. Martial artists were inherently unbound.


    Therefore, the Cloudstride Sect had no intention of controlling their subjects at the grassroots level, it was far too costly. They merely controlled the overall situation within their territory, delegating arge portion of authority.


    As long as a small gang did not expand excessively, the sect would not take action to exterminate it.


    "If we want our fabric shop to thrive, we can''t be confined to the city. We will have to head into the countryside, into viges and towns, to collect silkworms. It''s impossible to avoid the Vicious Tiger Gang," another youth in a ck robe calmly stated. "And if a conflict arises, I fear we might not be able to protect the two mansions we have outside of the city."


    The running of fabric shops was aplex matter. To grow the business, they had to purchase silkworms, silk, cotton, and linen. They also manufactured a portion of the raw materials themselves. Otherwise, the overall cost was too high. All of these inevitably involved operations outside the city.


    "But the Vicious Tiger Gang... is simply too ruthless." The man in linen clothing gritted his teeth. "We run a fabric shop, not a bank. This year they are demanding an additional 5000 taels from us. How much silver does our Wu n even make in a year?"


    "They are driving us to our deaths!" The linen-clothed man''s eyes were bloodshot.


    "Dongyao." Chieftain Wu Qiming suddenly spoke. "Did you find out who is behind the Vicious Tiger Gang?"


    "It''s not clear. The rise of the Vicious Tiger Gang was very quick, and the gang leader along with several high-ranking members appear to havee from outside the city." The elegant middle-aged man responded. "With our resources, it would be difficult to decipher their background in a short time."


    "It has to be either the county mayor, the general of defense, the county deputy, or the county magistrate." The man in linen garments snorted coldly.


    "Be cautious with your words." Wu Qiming frowned.


    However, those present knew well enough. A small gang of a few dozen or hundred men mightck any significant backing. But for a gang like the Vicious Tiger Gang with thousands of members, whose name reverberated throughout Li City, how could there possibly be no prominent figure sanctioning their actions?


    The 3000-strong army of defense could scatter arge gang with tens of thousands of members with ease. For the 600 soldiers of the Southdream Army, defeating 100,000 renegades wasn''t a big deal.


    The title of ''leader of a big gang'' sounded menacing, but they were mostly just puppets of the powerful used to umte wealth and do their dirty work.


    "Chieftain, why don''t we ask Brother Yuan if he has any spare silver?" The ountant suggested, "Once the n has more resources, we can repay Brother Yuan."


    Hearing these words, everyone turned to look at Wu Qiming.


    "No!" Wu Qiming shook his head, "Here''s what we will do, the n''s treasury must not be left empty. Prepare 5000 silver taels split into two piles: one with 3000 taels and the other with 2000 taels. I will personally make a trip to the Vicious Tiger Gang."


    ...


    Days passed one after another.


    This day, Wu Yuan came to the martial academy for practice as usual.


    Having ced fourth in thest major tournament, he did not participate in this year''s minor tournaments, but who amongst the recent batch of elite disciples dared im they could beat him?


    In Li City, Wu Yuan already earned a reputation as a martial arts genius. Headmaster Zhang Da even personally dered that Wu Yuan''s practice room was to be his private space, and he would only have to return it after next year''s major tournament.


    <i>Just after noon.</i>


    "Wu Yuan." His personal mentor, Huan Xinyan, appeared outside his practice room. "Your nsmen are looking for you. It seems like a very important matter, they are waiting for you outside the martial academy."


    "nsmen?" Wu Yuan was initially taken aback, then immediately nodded, "Thank you, Instructor Huan, I''ll meet them right away."


    Wu Yuan was somewhat puzzled. In the years of practicing at the martial academy, apart from the chieftain and his mother, no n member had evere to look for him at the martial academy.


    Swiftly, he arrived at therge gates of the martial academy. With a single nce, Wu Yuan spotted a few individuals by the entrance. Among them was a refined middle-aged man who seemed to be in great haste. He had a look of distress and was panting heavily.


    "Uncle Dongyao," Wu Yuan approached with long strides.


    Wu Dongyao, one of the three schrs of Wu n''s Li City branch, was renowned for his cunning intelligence and held a high position within the Wu n.


    "Wu Yuan, right now, only you can save the chieftain," Wu Dongyao spoke hurriedly.

 Chapter 16: The Wu Clans Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 16: The Wu n''s Fortune</h4>


    A mass of people had gathered at the ancestral mansion of the Wu n. The courtyard outside the ancestral hall was filled with over 400 nsmen.


    One had to understand that the Wu n consisted of just over 800 members in total, including the elderly, ill, women, and children. It was currently midday, and neither a festival nor a holiday. On an ordinary day like this, members of the Wu n would typically be dispersed among their various shops and houses, tending to their duties. Such a congregation of n members was indeed an unusual sight.


    Moreover, within the courtyard, many women and children were seen crying, and several white cloths covered the ground, casting a somber atmosphere.


    "Young Master Yuan has arrived," a voice suddenly rang out.


    "Wu Yuan? The martial prodigy from the ninth house?"


    "The chieftain values him highly."


    "Hmph, he may be an Adept in the future, but right now, he''s only a seventh-grade martial novice. What help can he offer?" Among the hundreds present in the yard, many turned to look at him, whispering among themselves. Their voices carried a mix of curiosity, doubt, and in some, an underlyingyer of disdain.


    The Wu n was not some family with a millennium-long history or thousands of members. Most of its hundreds of members would gather at the ancestral mansion for the New Year and the three major festivals.


    Wu Yuan had been favored by the Chieftain Wu Qiming these past years, a well-known fact within the n. Moreover, he had made quite a ssh in the martial academy major tournament a few months ago. Therefore, few nsmen did not recognize Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan, apanied by Wu Dongyao and a few others, made his way through the crowd. The sea of people automatically parted for him, allowing him to take in the scene in the courtyard.


    The crying women and children, and... corpses. Six corpses.


    He had gotten the gist of the situation from Wu Dongyao, and had long heard of the brutality of the gangs outside the city. But hearing it from others waspletely different from seeing it for himself.


    In his previous life, Wu Yuan had fought against mechanized armor, battled gically modified beasts, and even forged a legend of 1870 consecutive victories on the Star Fighting Network in the Metaverse.


    But he had never killed anyone before! Murder was against thew.


    In the interster era, what difference did it make if one was a martial arts Grandmaster? The Sk monitored the entire, and a single deployment of interster orbit artillery had the potential to annihte an entire supercity. There was never any room for martial artists to cause real harm with their powers.


    In the interster era, the primary aim of martial arts training was to pursue the evolution of life. Most martial arts Grandmasters acquired their wealth through live streaming, Grandmaster duels, and peak martial arts battles across the sr system. Not through blood-soaked killings.


    Through poring through extensive literature and receiving the memories of his body''s predecessor, he knew the cruelty of this Middle Land. Crimes were an everyday urrence here.


    But this was Wu Yuan��s first real encounter with death.


    There were some among the weeping women and children whom Wu Yuan knew well. One family lived just a few dozen meters away from Wu Yuan''s home.


    His kin were brutally killed, just like that. A hint of murderous intent had crept up within Wu Yuan after he understood what had transpired. And now, it grew into a burning thirst for blood.


    "Wu Yuan, let''s go to the meeting hall," Dongyao spoke in a low voice.


    Wu Yuan nodded. The two quickly walked past the ancestral hall and entered the meeting hall deep in the manor. Only four people were present. Following behind Dongyao, Wu Yuan understood that with Chieftain Wu Qiming captured, those present were the current decision-makers of the Wu n.


    "Wu Yuan pays respects to Uncles," Wu Yuan slightly bowed.


    This bow was made on behalf of his predecessor, and also to express gratitude to the n for the support they provided his family.


    "Wu Yuan and Dongyao have arrived," said an elderly man with a white beard. He sat on one side of the room, mustering a smile with some difficulty, "Please, take a seat."


    "Do sit," said a young man in a ck robe from across the hall.


    The other two did not speak. Their faces were emotionless, revealing nothing of their thoughts.


    Wu Yuan rose, standing at an impressive height of 1.8 meters. His youthful face betrayed his age, otherwise, none would have guessed he was only fourteen.


    "Uncles, on the way here, I have heard from Uncle Dongyao that the Vicious Tiger Gang has destroyed our mansion in the city''s south and seized our chieftain. This is simply uneptable," Wu Yuan dered.


    "Wu Yuan," a stern voice cut through the air. The ck-robed bald man who had been silent earlier now spoke, "You are here not because you are entitled to attend the n meeting, but because we need you to return the financial aid that the n has granted you. It is necessary for the n to ovee our current crisis. Keep your opinions to yourself."


    "Uncle Long," Wu Yuan asked in a calm voice, "In your opinion, what kind of person is eligible to attend n meetings?"


    "One must either be a schr who has passed the imperial examinations, a shopkeeper of two shops in prime locations, or a sixth-grade martial virtuoso," the bald man known as Wu Long replied coldly. "You''re still a child. Let''s talk about this when you''re older."


    "Uncle Long," Wu Yuan''s voice remained calm, "If reaching the sixth-grade martial virtuoso level is what it takes, then I believe I am eligible to speak now."


    This statement sent shockwaves through the room. Wu Dongyao, Wu Long, and the white-bearded elder were all taken aback, gazing at Wu Yuan in disbelief.


    Wu Yuan''s words held an implicit message: he possessed the strength of a martial virtuoso.


    Suddenly, the man known as Wu Long moved.


    <i>Boom!</i> Swift as a cheetah, he leaped two zhangs forward andnded heavily, cracking the azure stone floor. Without a pause, he balled his hand into a fist, swinging a powerful punch right at Wu Yuan!


    "No!" The white-bearded elder cried out instinctively.


    "Wu Long, stop!" Wu Dongyao also yelled in consternation, trying to halt Wu Long''s attack. But how could a seventh-grade martial novice react in time? Their faces paled.


    <i>Thud! </i>A dull explosion echoed through the hall. Contrary to the expectations of the Wu n��s higher-ups, Wu Yuan did not retreat but retaliated with a punch of his own.


    Under the impact of tens of thousands of catties of force, the ground instantly fractured.


    Wu Long remained in his original position, slowly retracting his fist. His eyes conveyed a mix of incredulity, tinged with a hint of joy. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan staggered backward several steps, seemingly overpowered, before finally stopping. Yet, defiance flickered in his eyes.


    The two of them stared at each other.


    The meeting hall fell silent. Wu Dongyao, along with the white-bearded elder and the other nsman, watched the scene in shock.


    Wu Long was the second-best fighter in the entire Li City branch of the Wu n, capable of unleashing a force of 15,000 catties. Yet, he did not dominate Wu Yuan in a contest of strength. He merely held a slight advantage, and the gap was not apparent. This suggested that Wu Yuan could exert at least 10,000 catties of force!


    "Haha, well done! You weren''t lying after all." Wu Long was far from angry, and a smile even bloomed on his stern face. "Wu Yuan, Uncle Long has wronged you. From now on, you have the right to speak in n meetings."


    "Three months ago, you were still a seventh-grade martial novice, and now you possess the power of 10,000 catties?" Wu Dongyao looked at Wu Yuan as if beholding a monster. Even after all his years of training, he had yet to be a martial virtuoso.


    "A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso!" The elderly man with a white beard stood up, his body trembling in agitation. "Thest time Li City saw such a gifted martial artist was over twenty years ago."


    "This is our Wu n''s great fortune!"


    "It was I who was too arrogant, I hope Uncles can forgive me." Wu Yuan seemed to have regained hisposure.


    "Arrogant? Haha." Wu Long shook his head andughed, "Kid, you call this arrogance? If I had your martial talent, I would be ten times more arrogant than you!"

 Chapter 17: I Can Only Rely On Myself

    <h4>Chapter 17: I Can Only Rely On Myself</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s impressive disy of power brought a rare moment of ease to the Wu n''s higher-ups, who were previously tense with anxiety.


    Three months ago, Wu Yuan secured fourth ce in the martial academy major tournament, signifying a huge possibility of reaching the Adept level in six to seven years.


    But now? In just over three months, he had advanced from a seventh-grade martial novice to a sixth-grade martial virtuoso. How astounding was his progress?


    Even now, Wu Yuan was among the few martial virtuosos in the Wu n! In the whole Li City branch, out of nearly a thousand n members, there were only nine sixth-grade martial virtuosos, not even in the double digits. This spoke volumes about the scarcity of martial virtuosos.


    The recruitment prerequisite of the Southdream Army, the Cloudstride Sect''s elite army stationed in Southdream Province, was that one had to be a martial virtuoso.


    "Wu Yuan is indeed a rare genius of our Wu n. If the chieftain knew, he would certainly be beyond exuberant," the ck-robed young man sighed, "Such a pity. If Wu Yuan were given three to five more years to fully mature, would we be so troubled today?"


    No one in the meeting hall spoke, their joy quickly fizzling out. Indeed, distant water could not quench present thirst [1]. Despite Wu Yuan''s shocking talent, he was still only a sixth-grade martial virtuoso. Only fifth-grade martial artists or above could truly be called experts.


    "Uncle Long, Grandpa Liu, Uncle Dongyao..." With a flip of his hand, Wu Yuan ced a stack of silver notes and a small amount of loose silver on the table, "I was able to train so quickly because I bought some training materials. I''ve spent quite a bit, and this is all I have left."


    There were more than 800 silver taels.


    In reality, Wu Yuan had a total of 3000 silver taels, as well as another 100 silver taels awarded to him at the martial academy major tournament. After deducting the amount required for his household necessities and body tempering pills, there were still over 1700 taels left. However, Wu Yuan was unwilling to expose the 1000 silver taels he had received from the general. Moreover, he had ns for the remaining silver.


    "Wu Yuan, your training is of utmost importance. Keep these silver notes," said Grandpa Liu, who was also the n''s ountant, without hesitation.


    He was the elderly master of the sixth house, a learned schr with a high status. Even the chieftain, Wu Qiming, held him in high regard.


    A n was like a miniature nation, financial power was incredibly crucial.


    "A southern mansion has fallen, and our nsmen are dead. Our top priority now is to save the chieftain," Wu Yuan shook his head, "Grandpa Liu, please ept these silver notes. As for my training, I will find a way to make it work."


    Wu Yuan did not allow them to decline the money, continuing, "Uncles, although Uncle Dongyao has roughly told me what happened, why did the Vicious Tiger Gang attack us? Our Wu n runs a clothing business; we don''t have any conflicts with the Vicious Tiger Gang."


    Understanding the root cause of an issue was key to formting the right solution.


    "Wu Yuan, this isn''t something you need to know. But with your strength, you are indeed qualified to help bear the family''s burden. So, I''ll tell you," Wu Dongyao replied.


    Wu Yuan gave an imperceptible nod. That was one of the reasons he revealed part of his strength.


    One, he wanted to gradually reveal his strength as a build-up for the future. If he were to suddenly expose his strength one day without warning, it would alert the powerhouses of this world, and he would be the center of attention.


    Two, he kept a low profile in the past to avoid trouble, but if he was still hesitant when trouble came looking, it was in foolishness.


    By showing some of his strength today, he could reassure his nsmen and solve the problem faster.


    "It all started when the Vicious Tiger Gang increased our annual tribute from 3000 silver taels to 8000 silver taels this year. They gave us no room for negotiation." Wu Dongyao said.


    "Humph, these gangs demand money routinely, but when has there ever been such a ridiculous increment?" The young man in a ck robe sneered.


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan''s eyebrow rose. An increase from 3000 taels to 8000 taels. A difference of 5000 silver taels, no more, no less. Was it merely a coincidence?


    Or was it intentional?


    Who was the powerful entity backing the Vicious Tiger Gang?


    Wu Dongyao patiently exined to ensure Wu Yuan followed along, "Gangs usually collect annual fees, estate taxes, and tolls, but they don''t usually go overboard. Whether in farming or business, ie tends to remain fairly stable. If they make excessively unreasonable demands, people will resist."


    "Resistance leads to casualties. Securing silver without bloodshed is the real goal for the thugs in these gangs," said Wu Dongyao.


    Wu Yuan gave a subtle nod. The Cloudstride Sect already levied taxes on the people. Formon folk, this was not a light burden. Once pushed to the brink, a desperate fight would naturally erupt between them and the thugs.


    The main reason individuals took on the risk to join gangs and be bandits was for money, not because they enjoyed fighting.


    The actions of the Vicious Tiger Gang were abnormal. After all, the Wu n, with hundreds of members, could muster an elite forceposed of seventh-grade martial novices and sixth-grade martial virtuosos. If it came to a fight, they were a tough nut to crack.


    "A few days ago, the chieftain personally visited the Vicious Tiger Gang with 5000 silver taels," Wu Long said in a low voice. "He intended to negotiate with them, but the gangsters turned hostile, killing two apanying nsmen and detaining the chieftain."


    "Then, the Vicious Tiger Gang even sent a squad of horsemen to attack one of our Wu n''s mansions located to the south of the city. Fortunately, we were alerted early and managed to evacuate quickly along the river. Still, we lost six nsmen."


    "The mansion was destroyed," Wu Long''s eyes zed over with a hint of red. "The Vicious Tiger Gang has demanded an additional 8000 silver taels. Only then will they free the chieftain."


    "Otherwise, not only will the Chieftain die, but our other mansion outside the city will be raided. The Wu n will also be unable to take one step out of the city."


    The higher-ups of the Wu n all wore gloomy expressions, while anger shed across Wu Yuan''s face.


    Murder, destruction of property, and they still demanded an additional 8000 silver taels? They were going too far.


    "Are we going to obey them?" Wu Yuan asked in a low voice.


    Since they had called him back to gather silver, it was clear that the Wu n had chosen to surrender, to give up.


    "What else can we do?" Wu Dongyao gave a bitter smile, "The chieftain is in their hands, the might of the Vicious Tiger Gang is tenfold that of our Wu n. If we resist, we might inflict some damage on the Vicious Tiger Gang, but our Wu n would be decimated."


    "Even if we don''t save the chieftain, if we can''t leave the city, the livelihoods of our Wu n will be in jeopardy."


    Wu Yuan fell silent. An integralponent of the fabric businessy outside the city. It was unrealistic to think they could purchase raw materials within the city.


    Getting trapped within Li City meant a slow march to their deaths. With hundreds of mouths to feed, the n''s daily expenses were not small. With only expenditure but no ie, the Wu n would not be able to keep up for long.


    "Do we have enough money?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Selling some of our real estate, along with the money you gave, should give us just about enough." The ountant sighed, "But the news has already spread and everyone is eagerly lowering prices. Our properties won''t fetch a high price."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod.


    Few will help in times of trouble, and many will kick you when you''re down.


    "What about the main family?" Wu Yuan asked quietly, "Can we ask for their help? Or the local authorities?"


    "As long as the Vicious Tiger Gang doesn''t enter the city or carry outrge-scale massacres, the local authorities won''t do a thing." Wu Dongyao shook his head, "As for the main family? They''re thousands of li away, and it will take several days just to get the message across."


    "Moreover, even if the main family is willing to help, distant water can''t put out a nearby fire. What can they do to the Vicious Tiger Gang?" Wu Dongyao sighed.


    Wu Yuan understood. They could not rely on anyone.


    If the Vicious Tiger Gang was targeting all the fabric shops or entire towns, they would naturally fail to suppress everyone. But they were only targeting the Wu n now, which wouldn''t cause much bacsh, and everyone was happy to sit back and watch the show.


    "Uncles, I will speak to the headmasterter today," Wu Yuan said.


    "The headmaster of the martial academy is powerful, but he cannot mobilize the two armies," said a young man in a ck robe, clearly harboring no hope.


    Grandpa Liu held a different opinion, "Wu Yuan, go ahead and give it a try. Headmaster Zhang has a widework of friends. If he''s willing to help you, perhaps we''ll be able to find a solution."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded and left the meeting hall immediately.


    Watching as Wu Yuan departed, Wu Dongyao furrowed his brows, "Uncle Liu. The martial academy will not meddle in this matter. Even if they are willing to help us, what can they do?"


    "We all know it''s futile," Grandpa Liu slightly shook his head, "But Wu Yuan is willing to contribute his efforts to the n, should we reject him? This would only cause him more grief."


    "Continuously supporting him won''t foster a sense of belonging. Let him give, only then will he have unseverable feelings for the n," Grandpa Liu said.


    Those in the meeting hall contemted his words.


    "Alright. Let''s not worry about Wu Yuan for now, let him do as he wishes. We need to devise more methods to amass enough silver. The sooner we rescue the chieftain, the better."


    ...


    Exiting the meeting hall, Wu Yuan exchanged a few words with his mother before leaving the Wu n''s ancestral mansion.


    Seek out Headmaster Zhang? Wu Yuan shook his head faintly. He was not so naive.


    The world of adults was all about interests. Why would the headmaster confront arge gang on behalf of the Wu n? What benefits would it bring? In Wu Yuan''s view, this smelled like a conspiracy.


    "Vicious Tiger Gang?" Wu Yuan murmured as he walked down the street.


    In his mind, he reminisced about the numerous times the chieftain had helped his family, and recalled the six corpses sprawled on the ground of the ancestral mansion''s courtyard.


    Eight of his rtives had met a gruesome end, of which, the bodies of two of them couldn''t even be retrieved.


    <i>It seems I can only rely on myself.</i> A glint of murderous intent shed in the deep recesses of Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Following the familiar path home, he changed into a set of clothing he had bought not long ago but never worn. Then he employed the Transfiguration technique, transforming himself into a tall and slender young man.


    Wu Yuan headed straight for the Sta Consortium. This time, he wasn''t buying medicinal pills, but a weapon meant to draw blood.


    In a life-or-death battle, having the right weapon was paramount.


    1. Help is too far away to solve a current crisis ?

 Chapter 18: A Lone Journey

    <h4>Chapter 18: A Lone Journey</h4>


    <i>In a private room on the third floor of the Sta Consortium.</i>


    "Esteemed guest, these are the weapons you requested." A young man in a ck robe sat in the lower chair, pointing to several weapons on the table with a professional smile. "Close-fitting soft armor, constructed with silver and fine steel wire as the core materials. It was meticulously crafted by specialist craftsmen into circles, and even an Adept will struggle to tear it apart. Completely intact, rated a sixth-grade weapon by our Sta Consortium. It is priced at 100 silver taels."


    "A fine steel long saber, three chi two cun in length [1]...rated sixth-grade, worth 60 silver taels." The young man in the ck robe looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Mm, I''ll take both the soft armor and the long saber. Pack them up." Wu Yuan said, appearing as a tall and thin young man.


    In the Middle Land, weapons were divided into different grades, simr in many ways to the nine grades of martial artists.


    Ninth-grade, eighth-grade, and seventh-grade weapons are not significantly different. These belonged to the category of ordinary weapons. They were sold at very low prices, and often made inmon cksmith shops.


    Weapons of the sixth, fifth, and fourth grades were primarily constructed of extraordinary materials. They weremonly known as superior weapons and were capable of withstanding the terrifying impact of powerful martial artists. Their prices were more than a hundred times higher than that of ordinary weapons.


    As for the top three grades of weapons? Also known as divine weapons, they were extremely rare, with prices ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of silver taels. Some legendary divine weapons couldn''t even be acquired with money. Most weapon refiners wouldn''t be able to refine a divine weapon in their lifetime.


    For Wu Yuan, superior weapons were sufficient in the short term.


    "In addition to these, I''d like to purchase detailed information on the Northern Mountain Gang." Wu Yuan casually said. The Northern Mountain Gang was arge gang on the same scale as the Vicious Tiger Gang, but even stronger, and with an even longer history.


    "Information on the Northern Mountain Gang?" The ck-robed young man''s pupils shrank slightly. After a little thought, he said, "The Sta Consortium''s information is divided into three levels: ''detailed'', ''rough'', and ''brief''. Which level of information do you need?"


    "Price." Wu Yuan said bluntly. That was his real concern.


    "180 taels, 10 taels, and 1 tael respectively," the young man in the ck robe said. "However, it should be noted that detailed information cannot be taken out of the Sta Consortium, it can only be read in the building. Once purchased, it can be viewed free of charge for fifteen days, including any updates during the viewing period."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, the price difference between these three levels of information was notrge. And with a little deduction, it was clear that for rough and brief information, the Sta Consortium wasn��t too worried about leaks. However, Wu Yuan understood that a single silver tael, the price of the cheapest level of information, could still feed a family of three for quite some time.


    "No matter, it was a casual inquiry," Wu Yuan said evenly.


    "A casual inquiry?" the young man in ck robes blinked in surprise.


    Wu Yuan soon departed from the Sta Consortium, his newly purchased long saber and soft armor in tow.


    After storing his weapons in the martial academy, Wu Yuan once again Transfigured into a sturdy man and entered the Sta Consortium. Once again, he climbed the stairs and ascended to the third floor.


    He entered another private room.


    Soon, arge pile of weapons was brought into the room by the guards.


    "Twenty throwing knives. Short handles, small but sharp... rated as fifth-grade, each knife is priced at twenty silver taels."


    "This is the Luminous Silverfrost Spear. The spearhead is made mainly of fine iron and mixed with a portion of Streamlight cold iron. Crafted by a master cksmith, its sharpness is extraordinary. The shaft is crafted from the finest Starwillow wood. Thebination of two, rated as fifth-grade, is worth 420 silver taels."


    The silver spear could be split into two parts and ced into a portable weapon case that could be carried on one''s back.


    "The totales to 820 silver taels," the middle-aged man in ck robes respectfully informed Wu Yuan of the final tally.


    "820 silver taels?" Wu Yuan, whose flesh and muscles were currently stretched and flexed to different proportions, furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He''d given away more than 800 taels in the ancestral mansion. After deducting the cost of the two weapons he''d previously purchased, he barely had enough to afford these as well.


    "Reduce the number of throwing knives to ten," Wu Yuan pondered for a moment, then added, ��Also, I need a detailed report on the Vicious Tiger Gang."


    ...


    <i>Within Wu Yuan''s private practice room in the county martial academy.</i>


    <i>The so-called superior weapons of this world are made rather crudely, yet they are immensely powerful.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the line of superior weapons arrayed before him. Soft armor, long saber, throwing knives, long spear. The most expensive of all was the Luminous Silverfrost Spear.


    Streamlight cold iron? Starwillow wood? These were materials Wu Yuan had never heard of in his previous life. He was no scientist to judge them either.


    But he tested the hardness of the spearhead, and indeed, it was extraordinary. As for the shaft? Its flexibility was astounding. A brief test confirmed its ability to withstand his Threefold Power Surge.


    <i>In open field group battles, it��s best to rely on a mighty axe or a long spear! Regrettably, even a sixth-grade superior axees at a price of thousands of silver taels.</i>


    The prices of weapons were intimately linked to the materials and metals it was crafted with. As for the Luminous Silverfrost Spear, the priciest part was the short spearhead.


    <i>In close quarters, one favors the long saber.</i> Wu Yuan picked up the long saber, an ordinary one made of fine steel, yet sharp as could be.


    Throwing knives were long-range weapons, highly effective in both ambush and pursuit. The price of each knife was low, corresponding to its small size.


    <i>I wonder if the Sta Consortium saw through my tactic of splitting my purchases into two separate trips.</i>


    Transfiguration was essentially a technique of disguise. It was difficult for ordinary people to detect, as it could alter one''s outward appearance via the reshaping of flesh and bone. However, the bulk of one��s musculoskeletal structure and essence could not be changed.


    The core of an individual, even when deliberately camouged, was difficult to truly alter. Moreover, the gap between the two weapon purchases was too short. On top of that, he had entered the Sta Consortium several times previously under Transfiguration to purchase low-grade body tempering pills.


    Given his cautious character, Wu Yuan would have preferred to disguise himself under three identities, staying as inconspicuous as possible.


    However, time waited for no man. Wu Yuan was worried that if he waited any longer, Chieftain Wu Qiming might not make it out alive. The audacious attack by the Vicious Tiger Gang showed theirplete disregard for the Wu n.


    Every year, within Li City''s borders, numerous martial artists fell at the hands of the Vicious Tiger Gang, including members of major ns and formidable martial artists.


    Thus, he decided only to split his purchases into two.


    <i>For 160 silver taels, the information on the Vicious Tiger Gang is rather clear.</i> Various details about the Vicious Tiger Gang surfaced in his mind. He had spent around an hour in the Sta Consortiummitting the most important information to memory.


    <i>The gang leader, Raging Tiger Yang Long, is a fourth-grade martial artist. He is known for his extreme ferocity and maintains a constant presence year-round at...</i>


    <i>Division Head Evil Tiger Li Ye, a fifth-grade martial artist, is the right-hand man of the gang leader...</i>


    The appearances of all six Adept experts in the Vicious Tiger Gang were ingrained deeply in Wu Yuan''s brain.


    As for those dozens of martial virtuosos and thousands of ordinary gang members, there were no individual mentions. The Sta Consortium didn''t go into much detail, only providing a rough number. The Sta Consortium, despite its vast informationwork, could only keep tabs on the Adept experts.


    Likewise, Wu Yuan also had a clear idea about the locations of the Vicious Tiger Gang''s headquarters and the two sub-branches mentioned in the intelligence. This intelligence was updated by the Sta Consortium ten days ago.


    <i>In arge gang of this size, significant changes within just ten days are unlikely.</i>


    <i>With money, even gods can be bribed. The ancestors of old did not deceive me.</i>


    Large ns with manpower could also collect such intelligence as long as they had the patience, such as the Luo family. Unfortunately, a small n like Wu n did not have that level of resources.


    Was 160 silver taels expensive? Yes! But Wu Yuan felt it was worth it. At least, it allowed him to understand the strength of the opponent he was about to face.


    <i>The chieftain went to the headquarters of the Vicious Tiger Gang. It is about 130 li from Li City, located deep within Ninecloud Mountain. </i>


    Wu Yuan was familiar with the entire map of Li County. However, he had never actually left the city. The terrain of Li County was mostly t, with a few rolling hills at most. Ninecloud Mountain was a famous mountain within a few hundred li of the city.


    Gangsters were divided into two types,nd bandits and water thieves. The bandits that roamed Li County and most of Southdream Province were mainly water thieves. The Vicious Tiger Gang was thergest group ofnd bandits in Li County.


    <i>It''s about time. </i>Wu Yuan stood up, donned his soft body armor, and carefully wrapped his weapon case, strapping it tightly to his back to avoid any noticeable irregrities. He then ced the throwing knives one by one into suitable positions. With the long saber in hand, he left the martial academy through a side door.


    Weapons were not forbidden in the Middle Land, but in general, most county cities and provincial cities still conducted checks. However, with Wu Yuan carrying the martial academy''s token, he encountered little resistance. Swiftly, he disappeared into the vast wilderness.


    This was the first time Wu Yuan had left the county city since transmigrating here.


    To ughter!


    1. 1 chi = 1/3 meter, 1 cun = 3.33 cm ?

 Chapter 19: A Moonless, Windy Night

    <h4>Chapter 19: A Moonless, Windy Night</h4>


    Ninecloud Mountain was a collective term for a continuous line of mountain peaks, stretching dozens of miles. It was the onlyrge-scale mountain range within Li County, and also the region wherend bandits were most active.


    It was 130 li away from Li City, and the journey was mostly through gentle ins. For martial artists familiar with the terrain, it would only take two to four hours to traverse it. But for Wu Yuan, it was his first time stepping out of Li City, venturing into the untamed regions of the Middle Land.


    Although he had already memorized the geography, textbook knowledge was different from reality. Out of caution, he refrained from asking others for directions, avoiding passers-by as far as possible.


    Finally, after an arduous six-hour journey, he arrived at the base of the mountain range. By the time night had descended in full, he had traversed two mountain peaks, delving deep into the heart of Ninecloud Mountain.


    From the summit, Wu Yuan gazed upon a sprawling, bustling fortress below. Brightly lit, the stronghold stood out conspicuously against the mountainous backdrop.


    <i>This should be the headquarters of the Vicious Tiger Gang. </i>


    Lifting his hand, a bronze mask covered his face. Simultaneously, Wu Yuan''s bonespacted with a series of crackles and pops. His height shrunk while his arms, waist, and thighs all thickened slightly. He took on the appearance of a stout man less than 1.7 meters tall, holding a long saber in his hand.


    <i>I wonder who��s behind this Vicious Tiger Gang. </i>Wu Yuan silently observed therge camp. <i>They��re actually bold enough to set up such an enormous base.</i>


    Land bandits and water thieves of small gangs had to constantly be on the move. After all, the guards of counties and townships were not to be underestimated. Even forrge gangs that established bases, they usually kept a low profile, ensuring the locations of their hideouts remained secret.


    Whether it was the city guard of a county or the powerful Southdream Army, all soldiers underwent rigorous military training and were well-equipped for battle. Roving bandits couldn''t hope to challenge them.


    Few gangs were as brazen as the Vicious Tiger Gang. It was practically screaming: "I have official backing!"


    <i>It''s not a bad thing. If they hadn''t established such arge stronghold, I might not have found them this easily. Night has barely fallen, and the members of the Vicious Tiger Gang might still be wide awake. But I can''t afford to wait, I must find the chieftain as soon as possible.</i>


    Normally, the best time tounch an ambush would be during thetter half of the night, when people tended to be least vignt.


    But time was of the essence. Wu Yuan dared not take the risk. Revenge was one of his objectives, but his primary goal was to rescue the chieftain. He was deeply grateful to the chieftain.


    <i>Although the timing is not ideal, it is a new moon tonight. This suits my purposes just fine. </i>


    The night sky was devoid of any trace of light. No moonlight to speak of, and barely a handful of stars. The darkness was all-epassing, making therge stronghold stand out even more.


    <i>The wind is picking up.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes, sensing a gale sweep past as he quieted his thoughts.


    Some could only muster 80% or even 50% of their strength when faced with life-or-death situations. Their hearts were not strong or firm enough.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open. His gaze hadpletely transformed, turning icy as frost, radiating a murderous intent.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    In one fluid motion, Wu Yuan ced his foot onto a tree branch. An imperceptible force pressed the branch downward, and he gracefully glided for several tens of zhangs beforending on the next tree branch.


    The pitch-ck forest was as clear as daylight in Wu Yuan''s eyes, and he rapidly closed in on the stronghold in the middle of the mountain.


    It was a dark and windy night. The perfect cover for murder and arson!


    The Vicious Tiger Gang was not amon band of renegades, but arge faction that developed over the course of many years. The organizational structure of the gang was rtively strict, the hierarchy clear, and the defenses of the stronghold were naturally stringent. There were patrolling guards, watchtowers, and hidden sentries.


    However, how skilled was Wu Yuan? He was no longer the person who had just transmigrated over. In the four months since he had recovered from his disoriented state, his physical strength had greatly increased, approaching the peak of his previous life.


    His mental perception was also growing continuously stronger. Although there was still some way to go before reaching the peak of his previous life, it was far stronger than when he had first regained consciousness in this world.


    Wu Yuan moved like a phantom, evading the numerous guards at the outermost perimeter of the stronghold with ease. Soon, he came atop a wall. With a light leap, Wu Yuannded in a corner.


    <i>The intelligence from the Sta Consortium only included the location of the Vicious Tiger Gang''s headquarters. As for the internal structure of the stronghold? I have no idea.</i>


    Wu Yuan concealed himself, observing his surroundings. Some areas were dimly lit, while others were cloaked in darkness.


    <i>In an inconspicuous guard post within the stronghold.</i>


    "Damn it! The gang made a couple of big deals a few days ago. The gang leader is having a grand celebration and they brought some girls into the stronghold. They''re all having fun, but we''re stuck on night shift?" A young gang member in greenined.


    "You can only me yourself. When the division head told you to behead a few people, you were slow to act. Why would the division head favor you?" An older gang member huffed.


    "But they were just kids!" The young thug couldn''t help but retort.


    "So what if they were kids? Didn''t you kill them in the end?" The middle-aged thug scoffed disdainfully, "Since you''re a bandit, you must be ruthless. Otherwise, why did you join the Vicious Tiger Gang? To practice chivalry?"


    The young gang member fell silent.


    Suddenly, a shadow shed past. The two guards felt their vision darken, and they both copsed. A hand caught each falling body soundlessly. Then, they were swiftly transported into an inconspicuous, empty building nearby.


    The door closed quietly behind them and the two guards were lowered to the floor. Wu Yuan then lightly touched the waist of the older guard.


    "Hmm?" The middle-aged guard suddenly woke up. What just happened?


    A split secondter, he was horrified to find a figure standing in front of him. The figure wore a bronze mask and carried arge bundle on his back.


    At that moment, he understood that an enemy had infiltrated them.


    "Don��t speak," Wu Yuan''s voice rasped, "I will ask, and you will answer. If I find the slightest deceit, you are dead. If you answer honestly, perhaps I may spare your life."


    "If you agree, nod," Wu Yuan peered down at him.


    The middle-aged guard nodded frantically.


    "Where does the Vicious Tiger Gang generally imprison their captives?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "There''s a small three-story building in the east of the stronghold, that''s where they usually lock up the captives," the middle-aged guard said in a quiet voice.


    "Good. Now shut up." Wu Yuanmanded coldly. He then gently pressed his hand to the waist of the young guard.


    Given Wu Yuan''s mastery over the human body, he knew perfectly well how to render someone unconscious, and then conscious again.


    The young guard awoke swiftly. In mere seconds, he understood his predicament and was filled with shock. After all, both guards neared the level of sixth-grade martial virtuosos, yet they had been caught off guard. They weren��t able to resist this man at all.


    "Look at me. Does the gang leader reside in the three-story building in the east of the stronghold?" Wu Yuan coldly demanded, "Speak!"


    "Not the gang leader. The gang leader resides in the small courtyard house beside the building. The building houses the two division heads and the Vicious Tiger..." The frightened young guard blurted out everything all at once.


    He didn��t notice the change in the middle-aged guard''s expression.


    <i>Boom! </i>Seemingly regaining his mobility, the middle-aged guard suddenly leaped up, his face twisted in ferocity. A short de appeared in his hand, and he thrust it towards Wu Yuan''s chest. At such close proximity, he believed that not even an Adept could evade this attack.


    A sh of light cut through the air, and the ghost-like Wu Yuan instantly swept past the guard''s side. A gash appeared on the guard''s throat and blood gushed out ceaselessly.


    The middle-aged guard''s eyes widened, his hand instinctively clutching his neck, but he could not stop the flow of blood. He opened his mouth, yet not a single whisper emerged before he copsed backward.


    Wu Yuan caught him, gentlyying him down.


    On the side, the young guard, who was newly inducted into the Vicious Tiger Gang, was terrified beyond reason. He had apanied the gang on piging expeditions a few times, but never before had death loomed so close.


    "He lied, and thus, he died." Wu Yuan''s voice was hoarse yet collected, "If you lie, you too shall meet your end."


    "I will ask, you shall answer..."


    In the next two minutes, Wu Yuan interrogated him. Terrified and cornered, the young guard spilled everyst secret, leaving no question unanswered.


    "Last question. How many people did you behead on yourst mission?" Wu Yuan asked.


    The young guard was taken aback, instinctively replying, "Three."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A de ray shed across the young guard''s neck. His head rolled off, tumbling about on the floor as his body went limp. Blood stained the ground. Even at his final breath, his eyes bulged wide, as if in disbelief.


    <i>Is this what it feels like to kill someone?</i> Wu Yuan gazed at the two lifeless bodies on the floor.


    His heart seemed to turn colder.


    <i>Those who kill, are killed in return. The Middle Land is far more cruel than my previous world. There is now, only strength reigns supreme. Perhaps one day, I too shall meet my end.</i> An understanding dawned within Wu Yuan.


    He searched the corpses, procuring a few silver notes which he stowed away. In a swift movement, he floated out of the room. Then, he stealthily navigated toward the prison located in the northern part of the stronghold.

 Chapter 20: The Chu-Jiang Token

    <h4>Chapter 20: The Chu-Jiang Token</h4>


    Wu Yuan was initially reluctant tomit arge-scale massacre. However, after overhearing the idle chatter of two guards, he realized that there might not be any innocent individuals in this entire stronghold. Even hesitating to behead someone led to punishment, how could anyone here be innocent?


    The middle-aged thug''s attempt to lure Wu Yuan into the three-story building, which was filled with the stronghold''s most skilled fighters, truly ignited his desire to kill. Besides, those he killed were all murderers.


    <i>It seems a me has been ignited in my heart.</i>


    With Wu Yuan��s strong mental perception, he naturally detected the subtle changes in his condition. It was as if he could see his thoughts with greater rity.


    <i>I am not a killer at heart. But as a martial artist, I strive for a clear mind.</i>


    In his previous life, he had never taken a person''s life. But today, he would not hold back.


    Despite the size of the Vicious Tiger Gang''s stronghold, it was crudely constructed. It looked somewhat like a military camp, nowhere near as exquisite as the manors of the local nobility in the county city.


    The stronghold''s security was tight on the outside, but ck on the inside. Wu Yuan was extremely watchful when passing through the outer perimeter and hidden sentries. But now, he was rtively rxed.


    After darting between buildings, jumping over several small courtyards, and avoiding a patrol team, Wu Yuan finally reached the prison located in the north of the stronghold.


    <i>There are actually eight people on guard duty, with lights illuminating all four sides. I can''t find any blind spots. </i>


    Wu Yuan, hiding in the darkness about twenty meters away, observed the prison building. He dared not get any closer.


    No matter how well he controlled his body, how precise his movements, how sharp his senses were, or how well he could hide his tracks, martial arts was not immortal cultivation. There were no techniques that granted one invisibility, allowing one to openly strut about in front of the guards.


    As for mind control? Illusions?


    <i>If I can surpass my previous mental strength and attain a level where my mind influences the external world, perhaps such things will be possible.</i>


    But for now, it was just a dream.


    Throwing knives? At best, he could only assassinate two or three people in one go. And once one of them was hit, the other guards would immediately notice and sound the rm.


    After a ten-second deliberation, Wu Yuan decisively retreated, leaving the prison behind and heading towards the south of the stronghold.


    <i>Only a quarter of an hourter.</i>


    <i>Boom~</i> A massive ze erupted from a small courtyard house in the south, closely followed by another one nearby. In the blink of an eye, four courtyard houses were ame.


    "Fire!"


    "Quick, fetch help, there''s a fire!" The entire stronghold was instantly in uproar. Shouts of rm echoed around, followed by the nging of emergency gongs.


    Amidst the mor, arge number of gang members hurriedly emerged from their houses, quickly grabbing tools to carry water and rushing towards the source of the fire.


    Most of the stronghold was constructed with wood, and the courtyard houses are closely adjacent to one another. If the fire were allowed to spread, the entire stronghold might be burnt down.


    In the east of the stronghold was a three-story building. Next to it was a delicate courtyard house.


    Inside the main hall of the courtyard house, rows of candles were lit, illuminating it brightly. The interior decor was elegant, not at all like the brutishness of a gang leader, but rather with a touch of schrly refinement.


    "Senior Brother, it''s been several years since west met, how did you find my stronghold today?" The robust middle-aged man in the host seat was dressed in a schr''s robe, speaking courteously.


    If the underlings outside saw their gang leader in such attire, they would surely be bbergasted. Indeed, this refined middle-aged man was none other than Yang Long, the leader of the Vicious Tiger Gang, who was well known for his ruthlessness in Li City!


    "Junior Brother is still as capable as ever. In just a few short years, you''veid such a vast foundation in Li County. Our master will be overjoyed to hear of this." Across the hall, sitting in the honored guest seat, was a tall and thin young man d in beast hide. Tworge ck hammers were ced on either side.


    "Serving Master is my duty," proimed Yang Long.


    "Junior brother, allow me to cut to the chase," spoke the youth in beast hide, "I am not only visiting you to inspect your mountain stronghold as per Master''s orders, but also to deliver anothermand. Over these past years, have you found any traces of a Chu-Jiang Token?"


    "Haha, if you had me asked a month ago, I would have had no news," Yang Long replied with a faint smile, "However, after years of relentless investigation, I have finally confirmed that when the Chu-Jiang Empire fell, a member of the royal family did indeed escape to the Southdream Province. A Chu-Jiang Token went missing in Li City."


    "As for myself, I have been secretly searching for it, and finally acquired it a few days ago," said Yang Long.


    "Oh?" The eyes of the youth dressed in beast hide brightened. He had asked the question casually, not expecting to reap any results.


    "Please take a look, Senior Brother," Yang Long said as he fetched a small box from the bookshelf behind him, opened it, and retrieved a palm-sized, glittering gold token. It was extremely dazzling, and did not look like ordinary gold.


    Yang Long held up the token for the thin youth in beast hide to examine. The surface of the token was covered with interwoven lines, resembling numerous rivers meeting at a single confluence. On the back, the ancient characters Chu-Jiang were inscribed.


    "It is indeed the Chu-Jiang Token," the youth in beast hide confirmed, his breath quickening, "Junior Brother, let me take a closer look."


    "Hehe," chuckled Yang Long. He flipped his palm over and gripped the token tightly, clearly uninterested in handing it over.


    "Junior Brother, are you nning to keep it for yourself?" The youth in beast hide looked slightly displeased.


    "Senior brother, this Chu-Jiang Token is more of a curse than a blessing to me. I am willing to hand it to you, allowing you to make a huge aplishment by presenting it to Master," Yang Long said slowly, "But, I have also put in years of effort..."


    "What do you want in return?" the youth in beast hide cut straight to the point, "Feel free to ask."


    "You are indeed straightforward, Senior Brother," Yang Long grinned, "But I am not a greedy man. All I ask for is three drops of Ancient Immortal Dew and a divine weapon."


    "Junior brother, every drop of Ancient Immortal Dew is precious beyond measure," the youth in beast hide frowned.


    "Senior Brother is Master''s direct disciple, my status cannot bepared to yours. The Ancient Immortal Dew is precious, but I believe it should not be a problem for you," said Yang Long, "My asking price is not high. If you cannot give it to me, there''s nothing I can do. But I believe the other senior brothers would be interested once they hear the news."


    The tall youth''s gaze narrowed slightly. He knew that Yang Long spoke the truth. To their master, as long as he obtained the Chu-Jiang Token in the end, it didn''t matter who handed it over.


    "Alright. Junior Brother, I do not have a divine weapon suitable for you. I''ll exchange it for a drop of Ancient Immortal Dew instead. Here''s a total of four drops!" The tall young man in beast hide waved his hand.


    A green jade vial flew out from his hand like a sh of lightning. Yang Long caught it easily and opened the vial stopper immediately. As a refreshing fragrance filled the room, a smile spread across Yang Long''s face.


    "Senior Brother is generous. I will be entrusting this Chu-Jiang Token to Senior Brother." Yang Long''s voice was hearty as he ced the golden token into a box, and with a wave of his hand, sent it over to the man d in beast hide.


    The young man in beast hide received it and looked it over carefully. His face rxed after he confirmed its authenticity, and he cautiously stowed it away.


    "Many thanks, Junior Brother." The tall and thin man in beast hide raised his wine cup.


    "I hope that after presenting the token to Master, Senior Brother will put in a good word for me." Yang Long also raised his wine cup.


    Ancient Immortal Dew was very precious. But in terms of value, forget four drops. For a Chu-Jiang Token, people would dly trade 40 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew for it.


    But Yang Long knew that their master only truly valued his five direct disciples. There were hundreds of nominal disciples like himself under their master. If he were to exchange it himself, he wouldn''t even get to see his master''s face before meeting his demise!


    The two disciples each harbored their own agendas, but both took what they needed in the end. Thus they chatted harmoniously for a while.


    "Big Brother, there''s trouble!" A frantic voice suddenly shouted from outside the hall, "An enemy has invaded our stronghold, a highly skilled one."


    "Second Brother, speak inside." Yang Long got up abruptly, his demeanorpletely different. He was no longer a gentlemanly middle-aged man, but a raging tiger.


    <i>ng~</i> Someone pushed open the door and entered.


    A sturdy, fat, and short man strode into the hall, his head bowed as he said, "Big Brother, just now, several courtyard houses in the south and west caught fire. Our brothers in the stronghold just rushed over to help. But before the fire was put out, the prison in the north suddenly sent up a signal re for help."


    "How is the situation now? Where are Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother?" Yang Long asked.


    "We rushed over right away. Fifth Brother is currently leading the Vicious Tiger Guard to encircle the expert, trapping him in a courtyard, but the casualties are heavy," the stout man said anxiously. "As for Fourth Brother, he was killed in two strokes of the expert''s saber right from the start!"


    "Fourth Brother is dead, two strokes?" Yang Long''s expression finally changed.


    "Senior Brother, I apologize for the inadequate reception, but there''s a bit of trouble in the stronghold. Some brainless idiot has intruded the stronghold, I will need to leave for a short moment to handle it." Yang Long turned to look at the tall and skinny youth dressed in beast hide.


    "Fourth Brother, he''s probably the one we saw earlier during the day," said the youth in beast hide softly. "Although his strength was average, he was an Adept. If he was killed in two strokes, the intruder is likely a second-rate Adept."


    "Haha. Junior brother, since I''m here, and you''ve also given me a great gift, why don''t I help you get things back under control?" the youth in the beast hide said with augh.


    "With Senior Brother here, the intruder will be captured in no time." Yang Long was overjoyed.


    Although this Senior Brother of his was young, he had been epted as a direct disciple by their master, and was certainly not weaker than him.


    "There''s no time to waste, let''s go." Yang Long tore off his robe, revealing his body armor underneath, and grabbed a machete from the weapons rack beside him. With a leap, he dashed out of the hall.


    The three Adept experts quickly rushed to the northwest of the stronghold.


    The area there was brightly lit, and cries of battle filled the air.

 Chapter 21: Ten Steps, One Kill

    <h4>Chapter 21: Ten Steps, One Kill</h4>


    As a fearsome major gang within Li City, the Vicious Tiger Gang was typically the one trampling over other viges and towns. It had been a long time since anyone dared to attack their headquarters.


    But today, someone had infiltrated their territory!


    Over 300 gang members surrounded a courtyard house in the northwest of the stronghold, with more members rushing over from all directions.


    As the headquarters of the Vicious Tiger Gang, coupled with the recent recruitment of new members, over 700 members were currently gathered in the stronghold. Theirbined force made for a truly imposing sight.


    <i>Who would have thought that besides the eight visible guards in that prison, there were actually two more guards in hiding?</i>


    As slippery as a ghost, he once again skillfully evaded several iing arrows. His spear shot forth in a lightning-fast motion.


    <i>Thunk~</i> A bloody hole opened in the forehead of the gang member charging at the front, and his lifeless body copsed. They were no match for Wu Yuan.


    <i>There are too many of them. The Adept I killed at the start should have been a third-rate Adept. I just don''t know which family head he was.</i>


    In the Vicious Tiger Gang, there were six family heads, all Adepts. ording to the information from the Sta Consortium, only the main family head was a second-rate Adept, the rest were third-rate Adepts.


    Wu Yuan was rather sessful in both sneaking in and setting fire to attract the attention of the gang members. Of the eight prison guards, four of them left their station to extinguish the fire. Wu Yuan''s execution was exceptional as well, with four throwing knives instantly killing the four guards.


    But he failed to anticipate the two guards hiding out of sight in therge courtyard house. A signal re was lit almost immediately. With no other choice, Wu Yuan opted for an aggressive strike. In the end, he found himself ensnared inyers of encirclement.


    <i>However, taking such a risk is worth it. At least, I confirmed that the chieftain is still alive. </i>Wu Yuan, wearing a bronze mask, recalled the sight of the woundden chieftain in the prison.


    If Wu Yuan had decided to withdraw at the first instance of discovery instead of scouting the prison, how could these martial novices and martial virtuosos have trapped him? However, Wu Yuan only confirmed Chieftain Wu Qiming��s location and status, but he did not bring him out of the prison.


    <i>Escaping with the chieftain would severely hamper my mobility. We won''t be able to get far. Even if I survive, the chieftain will surely perish.</i>


    <i>As long as I operate alone, even if I ultimately fail to dissolve the Vicious Tiger Gang, they may not realize that I''m here for the chieftain. </i>


    The moment Wu Yuan confirmed the chieftain was alive but immobile, he chose�� to strike! With his might alone, he would obliterate the Vicious Tiger Gang.


    <i>The Vicious Tiger Gang is but a gang of bandits, they won''t fight to the death. As long as I kill their leader and a bunch of members, the rest will naturally scatter in fear.</i>


    A well-trained army would copse after losing 30% to 40% of its soldiers, let alone a band of wealth-seeking bandits.


    "Get him!"


    "Old Xu is dead. He must be a second-rate Adept at least, where is the gang leader?"


    "Surround him! Quickly, release the arrows!" The throng of gang members hemmed in from all directions, but the courtyard house was narrow, with walls, buildings, and trees blocking their way. At most, only a dozen could reach Wu Yuan at once.


    <i>Whiz! Whiz! Whiz! </i>Arrow after arrow tore through the air towards him. These gang members might only possess the strength of a few thousand catties, but each arrow was imbued with staggering power, forcing Wu Yuan to avoid a direct hit. But with his exceptional perception and superior agility, it looked as if he was taking a leisurely stroll, effortlessly dodging every arrow flying his way.


    <i>Thump! Thump! Thump!</i> Arrows struck the trees with fearsome power, causing massive trunks to explode on impact. Where they struck door frames, gaping holes would appear in the woodwork.


    "Ah!" A blood-curdling scream echoed as an arrow ruthlessly punctured the thigh of a gang member, causing blood to spurt out.


    The battlefield was in chaos, and the archers positioned on all sides of the courtyard had little regard for their ownrades.


    "Die, all of you!" In Wu Yuan''s hand, the Luminous Silverfrost Spear danced like a swimming dragon, drawing circles to deflect the iing attacks. Then, it swiveled and countered with force.


    <i>Splotch~ </i>Blood sttered across the ground as gigantic wounds appeared on the throats of three gang members. They slumped to the ground instantly.


    After finishing off that Adept earlier, Wu Yuan cast aside his saber and took up his spear to y the thugs surrounding him. In group battles, the spear and axe reigned supreme!


    <i>How exhrating!</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shone brighter as his killing intent intensified.


    With every gang member he killed, he felt more invigorated. The energy he had depleted from the journey and fights seemed to be mysteriously recovering. He grew increasingly bolder as he fought!


    <i>What is happening?</i> Wu Yuan felt a flicker of confusion. He sensed something wrong with his condition, but couldn''t exactly pinpoint what it was. He only felt the rise of adrenaline, and raging killing intent.


    <i>Thump~ Thump~ Thump~</i> One by one, the bodies of the fallen gang members began to pile up, creating a macabre mountain of corpses. Most were pierced in the center of their forehead or their throats, while some were pierced in the chest or abdomen, inevitably meeting their demise.


    In terms of power, Wu Yuan''s physical strength had improved from a few days back. Now, he was nearing 20,000 catties, meeting the minimum standards for fifth-grade martial artists. Compared to these gang members, his power was overwhelming.


    His martial skill was even more fearsome. He wasn''t particrly proficient with the spear, but as someone at the Rigid Yet Supple stage, each stroke of the weapon was as natural as the sky itself, allowing him to defeat hundreds of enemies single-handedly. This was why the thugs identified him as a second-rate Adept.


    Any ordinary gang member who dared fight him was left either dead or injured. And yet, Wu Yuan was still conserving his energy. If he unleashed Power Surge, erupting with a multiplied force ten times the power of these gang members, he could sweep through them without the need for technique!


    <i>Bang~ Bang~ Bang~ </i>Like a streak of lightning, he swung his spear in arge circle once more. Terrifying power exploded from the spear shaft, sweeping away six members of the Vicious Tiger Gang.


    The silver spear suddenly sped up, rotating around the spearhead!


    "No!" A thug looked on helplessly as he was suspended in mid-air, his eyes filled with despair.


    <i>St! St~ St!</i>


    Of the six gang members, four were pierced through the head, instantly killed. Their bodies crashed to the ground. The other two members were pierced through the shoulder and arm respectively, blood gushing out, but they were fortunate to have avoided dying outright.


    "Too terrifying!"


    "His spear technique is unpredictable, we can''t kill him."


    "Since when did Li City give rise to such an expert?" The group of gang members who hade to besiege him all looked on in terror, and their steps slowed involuntarily.


    If there was hope for victory, they would naturally fight. But if death was a certainty, who would give up their lives willingly?


    So far, Wu Yuan had killed over a hundred gang members. Bodies littered the entire courtyard, a sight that would make anyone shudder.


    And thisst move was witnessed by Gang Leader Yang Long, Division Head Li Ye, and the tall man in beast hide, who were hurrying over.


    "What a formidable spear technique! Such skill is rare even among second-rate Adepts." The tall and thin man d in beast hide praised, "However, his physical strength appears to not have reached the second-rate Adept level." With keen observation, he discerned Wu Yuan''s true level of strength.


    "Face your death, boy!" boomed a voice.


    The hundreds of thugs surrounding the courtyard house looked over. Wu Yuan also peered into the distance.


    A muscr man appeared, wielding a huge machete. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, approaching Wu Yuan at astonishing speed.


    He charged directly into the courtyard house.


    "Gang Leader!"


    "The gang leader is here. He''ll definitely kill him." Joy and fervor filled the hundreds of Vicious Tiger Gang members. All of them firmly believed in their leader''s strength.


    <i>Let''s watch for now. </i>The tall and thin man in beast hide garments arrived half a stepter, but didn''t rush to attack.


    All those who joined the fighting earlier turned their attention to the center of the courtyard, trying to catch a glimpse of the two fighters.


    Raging Tiger Yang Long moved with phantom-like steps, covering a distance of more than ten zhangs without slowing down. He charged fiercely towards the motionless Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A chillingly fierce light was reflected off the de. If the attack struck true, it would surely cut Wu Yuan in half.


    "The gang leader''s machete." The members of the Vicious Tiger Gang were abuzz with excitement. It was with this machete that Yang Long made a name for himself among the millions in Li City.


    <i>My junior brother may not be incredibly talented, but after decades of practice, his skill with the machete isn''t weak.</i>


    There was the sound of a spear tip cutting through flesh.


    <i>Bang! </i>The robust figure of Yang Long crashed into the front gate, scattering fragments of wood as he fell heavily to the ground. He no longer drew breath. Blood trickled from between his brows, gradually staining the ground red.


    The boisterous courtyard fell silent. Everyone gazed in shock at the scene before them.


    The gang leader of the Vicious Tiger Gang, a second-rate Adept, was in in a single strike?


    And Wu Yuan seemed to have remained still the entire time. Only the blood dripping from the spearhead was telltale proof of what had happened.


    His gaze swept through all four corners of the courtyard.


    "Anyone else?"

 Chapter 22: First-Rate Adept

    <h4>Chapter 22: First-Rate Adept</h4>


    "Anyone else?" Wu Yuan asked coldly. His voice was hoarse and not loud, but it carried an intimidating presence that sent shivers through the Vicious Tiger Gang members scattered about the courtyard.


    Bodies were strewn across the courtyard house. The blood flowing from the forehead of Gang Leader Yang Long was strikingly conspicuous. The source of it all was the bronze-masked man in the center of the courtyard, brandishing a spear.


    Who else would dare step forward?


    <i>He must be Gang Leader Yang Long of the Vicious Tiger Gang. A second-rate Adept? His power and speed aren''t bad, but I overestimated him. He couldn''t even block my spear!</i> Wu Yuan nced at the bulky corpse lying on the broken wood.


    The lower limit of a third-rate Adept''s power was 20,000 catties. The lower limit of a second-rate Adept''s power is 30,000 catties. The gap between them wasn''t toorge. Yet at the moment Wu Yuan unleashed three times his strength, he burst forth with 60,000 catties of power,parable to a first-rate Adept! In terms of power, he was nearly twice as strong as Yang Long. Adding the gap in skill, one spear strike was enough.


    In the world of martial artists, life or death was decided in a moment, unless thebatants were evenly matched. Few battlessted hundreds or thousands of rounds before a victor emerged.


    <i>What terrifying spear technique.</i> The tall young man in beast hide��s pupils contracted.


    The less astute members of the Vicious Tiger Gang could not see what had happened clearly. But the tall man in beast hide saw everything. The moment the bronze-masked man shed with Yang Long, his speed surged, causing the power of the spear to skyrocket!


    It was a world of differencepared to the power he had previously disyed. If one were to say that the masked man had previously shown the power of a second-rate Adept, that one spear strike belonged unequivocally to the realm of first-rate Adepts.


    <i>Since when did a first-rate Adept skilled in spear arts appear in Li City? Or perhaps, he actually mastered Threefold Power Surge?</i> Many thoughts raced through the mind of the man in beast hide.


    First-rate Adepts were rare even within the Cloudstride Sect. Such people were eligible to rank amongst the top echelons. Each one of them was an influential figure with a renowned reputation.


    As for Threefold Power Surge? Amongst first-rate Adepts, those who could grasp Twofold Power Surge were few and far between. Threefold was even rarer!


    "Fire the arrows! Quick, fire the arrows, kill him!" The short, stout man known as Li Ye roared in anger. His shouts echoed with terror, yet tinged with a dash of madness. Gangsters werergely motivated by wealth, but also shared bonds of brotherhood. Yang Long was someone Li Ye recognized as an elder brother, a sworn brother in life or death!


    Though fearful, the archers on the surrounding courtyard walls still instinctively obeyed themand. Arrows shot at Wu Yuan like bolts of lightning.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan blurred, dodging a dozen arrows in session while simultaneously flipping his left hand. A throwing knife materialized within his palm.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Under the glow of the torches, the knife moved like a stream of light across the night sky.


    <i>Thud~</i> The throwing knife pierced through the head of the stout man, easily prating his helmet. His skull was shattered like a watermelon, and he fell from the high wall. The second family head of the Vicious Tiger Gang, Division Head Li Ye, was dead!


    This scene sapped away thest bit of courage from the remaining members of the Vicious Tiger Gang. The gang''sst Adept in the headquarters, the fifth family head, also revealed a look of terror. He no longer dared to issuemands. He had zero confidence in blocking that throwing knife.


    "The gang leader is dead! The second family head and fourth family head are also dead!"


    "Run!"


    "The Vicious Tiger Gang is finished. Flee! Let��s join some other gang." The thugs retreated like the tide. They had no intention of avenging their gang leader, who was already dead along with most of the other family heads. Even if they risked their lives to kill the man in the bronze mask, would it change anything?


    In the blink of an eye, only two figures remained in the expansive courtyard, aside from the lifeless bodies scattered about: Wu Yuan who stood on the ground, and the tall, slender young man in beast hide positioned on the second floor.


    "You, I presume, are not a member of the Vicious Tiger Gang." Wu Yuan''s voice was hoarse and deep. He remained extremely vignt, his hand never leaving his spear. He had noticed something off about the young man in beast hide.


    Unphased. Composed and rxed.


    Moreover, when the three Adept experts had arrived earlier, Evil Tiger Li Ye was following behind the gang leader, Yang Long. The young man in beast hide, on the other hand, walked beside the gang leader. All this highlighted the young man''s peculiarity.


    "Indeed, I am not a member of the Vicious Tiger Gang, but Yang Long was my junior brother." The young man in beast hide calmly said, "I don''t know why you invaded the Vicious Tiger Gang, but fights between martial artists have always been this way. I only hope that you can give me Yang Long''s body, so I can take it back to our sect for a proper burial."


    "Sect?" Wu Yuan grew alert. He remembered the intelligence from Sta Consortium. Yang Long was not a local of Li City, could he have a huge background?


    "You can have the body. But," Wu Yuan lightly lifted his long spear, running it over the fabric covering Yang Long''s body.


    <i>tter~</i> A green jade vial fell onto the blood-soaked ground.


    "This belongs to my master, I beseech you to leave it behind," the tall youth draped in beast hide spoke, a hint of urgency lining his voice.


    "Your Master''s possession? But this is my spoils of war, naturally, it is mine." Wu Yuan gently flicked the long spear in his hand, flipping the jade vial into the air, and then catching it.


    "You may take the corpse," Wu Yuan stated, staring directly at the other party.


    "Leave the jade vial." The youth d in beast hide stared intently at Wu Yuan, "I don''t want to fight you, don''t force me."


    "Force you?" Wu Yuan smirked, clutching the jade vial as he retreated swiftly, intending to leave the courtyard house. He could tell that this jade vial was no ordinary object.


    "Stop!" A thunderous roar echoed. The tall youth in beast hide pounced over ferociously, nearly overtaking Wu Yuan in an instant.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Two immensely heavy hammers appeared in his hand, instantly engulfing Wu Yuan in their gigantic shadows.


    <i>It''s fast</i>. Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted. <i>Too fast.</i>


    Among all the martial artists Wu Yuan had encountered so far, this person was undoubtedly the fastest. He instantly realized that this man was a true expert. Even if he wasn''t a first-rate Adept, he was close to reaching that level.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> Their weapons collided. Wu Yuan��s spear danced like a dragon in the sea. His muscles and bones erupted with their full strength as he blocked the powerful strikes of therge hammer continuously. One strike after another, like continuous tidal waves, forced Wu Yuan to keep retreating.


    <i>More than 50,000 catties of strength, a first-rate Adept.</i> Wu Yuan finally deduced solemnly. This time, he was in real trouble.


    One could not be a first-rate Adept through just training and eating. One also needed a certain level of skill. Why? Only when a martial artist''s mastery over their body reached a sufficient level, could they unlock thetent physical potential concealed deep within, elevating their physical strength to unprecedented heights. Physical strength and martial skillplemented each other, few excelled in only one aspect.


    <i>Boom! Bang! </i>The hammer was a heavy weapon that overpowered one''s foes with its momentum. In the hands of the youth in beast hide, the tworge hammers were as light as toys. Paired with his movement technique, they swept imposingly toward their target with unmatchable power.


    Wu Yuan''s spear danced like a dragon, shing repeatedly with the hammer and urately blocking each blow, guiding the impact to the sides while avoiding a direct hit. With that, he surprisingly managed to hold his ground.


    Wu Yuan had a higher martial skill level. But the youth in beast hide was overwhelmingly strong and he executed his hammer technique skillfully. In the lightning-fast exchange of blows, he rendered Wu Yuanpletely powerless to exploit any weaknesses.


    Just twelve hammer blowster, Wu Yuan seemed unable to withstand the continuous attacks, and the spear slipped out of his hands. He was sent flying backward,nding next to Yang Long''s body.

 Chapter 23: Wu Yuans Ultimate Power

    <h4>Chapter 23: Wu Yuan''s Ultimate Power</h4>


    With a thunderous stomp, a terrifying force rippled through the ground. The cobblestones paved with azure bricks shattered, and countless fragments flew in all directions. Wu Yuan rolled to reduce the impact, dodging to the other side in a sh.


    "You''ve lost your weapon. You brought this upon yourself, now die," the man in beast hide said with a piercing gaze, his killing intent rising. Swiftly, he swung hisrge hammer, charging at Wu Yuan who was attempting to escape. This seemingly casual swing contained astonishing power.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two throwing knives shot from Wu Yuan''s hand toward the man in beast hide at breakneck speed.


    "Hmph! Petty tricks!" The man in beast hide swung his twin hammers, dancing in mid-air as he struck down both knives at the same time.


    <i>Bang! Bang!</i> The throwing knives, imbued with tens of thousands of catties of force, were instantly deflected, veering off to the sides. One of the throwing knives pierced through the trunk of arge tree, sending it crashing down heavily, while the other sted arge hole in the courtyard wall. Dust billowed into the air.


    The young man in beast hide was forced to slow down.


    <i>ng~ </i>After rolling to dispel the force, Wu Yuan seized Yang Long''s machete that had been sted to a corner. He leaped up, holding the machete firmly as he faced off against the man in beast hide some distance away.


    "Do you think you can beat me just by changing your weapon?" The man in beast hide asked indifferently, leisurely wielding his twin hammers, "Weapons are external aids. Mastering a weapon requires a long period of practice."


    "This is my junior brother''s machete. You''ve only just gotten your hands on it, what can you possibly do with it?" The man in beast hide mocked, yet stared intently at Wu Yuan.


    Undermining one''s opponent''s confidence with words was amon tactic in battles among experts. Combat was never about pure strength or techniques alone. The will to fight and the ability to make snap decisions were equally critical.


    "I didn''t expect to encounter a first-rate Adept in this humble Li City," Wu Yuan''s voice was hoarse, his eyesying behind the bronze mask aze with battle fervor. "You, are someone worth fighting with my real weapon. You deserve to face my full strength."


    <i>Crackle~ </i>Suddenly, a soft popping sound resonated from Wu Yuan''s muscles and bones. Under the shocked gaze of the man in beast hide, Wu Yuan, who was less than 1.7 meters tall, instantly grew to 1.8 meters!


    "Transfiguration?" The lean young man in beast clothing was in disbelief. "You were battling me in a Transfigured state?" Transfiguration was not a foreign concept to the man in beast hide. Even if first-rate Adepts like him couldn''t perform Internal Vision, they had a high level of control over their body and could slightly Transfigure, just not to the same exaggerated extent as Wu Yuan.


    However, martial artists were mostfortable fighting in their normal physical state. When in a Transfigured state, a martial artist''s strength was handicapped. Wu Yuan was already very strong. Now that he returned to his normal height and bone structure, his strength would spike significantly.


    "So what if you undo your Transfiguration? Your increase in power is still limited! Today, you shall die!" The young man��s eyes were icy cold, "However, it''s rare that I encounter an opponent like you. To express my respect, I shall also use my strongest power to eliminate you."


    The man in beast hide dared not take his opponent lightly. The air whistled sharply as he swung his hammers, descending upon Wu Yuan. He was even quicker now, and the hammers exerted a more terrifying pressure than before. Furthermore, the man''s hammer technique had undergone a transformation. While his previous hammer technique was bold and forceful, each strike delivering full power, it was now a relentless, continuous assault.


    ��The spear is my choice for group battles, but my true expertise lies in the saber!" Wu Yuan''s eyes traced the approaching hammer. His battle spirit surged within him, igniting a fiery passion in his veins.


    Some of the martial arts Grandmasters Wu Yuan met in the Human Federation were no less formidable than this man in beast hide, and several even surpassed him. However, Wu Yuan had never engaged in a life-or-death battle before. The exhrating thrill left him in an unprecedented state of invigoration.


    In the face of death, therey great terror. In the face of death, an individual could trigger his biological potential, something neither ordinary training norpetition could aplish.


    <i>Triple Power Surge!</i> Wu Yuan''s skin, tendons, fascia, and bones shuddered in unison, then aligned in harmony. With his spine serving as the core, he channeled energy relentlessly to his limbs and bones, empowering his arms and legs. His physique soared to its peak state.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> His de gleamed, intercepting the formidable hammers.


    <i>Boom!</i> Despite wielding a force of 60,000 catties after employing Threefold Power Surge, the overwhelming force from the collision threatened to tear his machete from his grip, and sent his body��s qi into turmoil! His body was forcefully propelled backward, and the building he crashed into crumbled upon impact, sending wood and bricks flying in all directions.


    <i>A force approaching 100,000 catties? </i>Wu Yuan was astonished as he sprang from the wreckage. Before he had time to organize his thoughts, he once again met the hammers head-on, this time effortlessly fending it off.


    <i>A force of 50,000 catties? </i>Wu Yuan immediately grasped the situation. The thin man donned in beast hide had grasped Twofold Power Surge. Although he wasn''t proficient, he could still double his force during critical moments. A doubled force amounted to a staggering 100,000 catties, an utterly terrifying force.


    Power Surge was a technique specifically for unleashing extraordinary strength after achieving a high degree of bodily control. Though formidable, it exacted a heavy toll on one''s body. It was reserved for killing blows and not to be used lightly. Overusing it could lead to either a period of recuperation at best, or death from exhaustion at worst.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The hammer blows escted into a frenzied assault. With power far exceeding his previous disys, the air was rent asunder, producing a shrill noise. Despite the relentless onught pushing him back, Wu Yuan blocked them all.


    The fierce sh between the two experts caused a nearby house to copse. The courtyard wall crumbled like paper under the shockwaves of their battle. Some of the Vicious Tiger Gang members who hadn''t managed to escape watched this furious showdown with wide eyes and gaping mouths. The intensity of this fight was well beyond their wildest imagination.


    In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged a total of 58 blows. The tall man in beast hide suffered two superficial shes, but his muscles contracted to staunch the blood flow. The more they fought, the greater his astonishment grew.


    <i>Where did this guye from? His ability is shocking. Even though I''ve used Power Surge five times, he��s uninjured?</i>


    <i>His saber technique is technically wless. Even though I''m the faster one, I was the first to sustain injuries. Were it not for my protective armor, I might already be dead. Does he genuinely possess 60,000 catties of strength, or has he attained the Rigid Yet Supple state Master spoke of?</i>


    As he contemted his opponent��s might, fear seeped into his heart. Furthermore, after employing Power Surge five times, he felt thoroughly drained, as if his energy reserves were hollowed out. The toll on his body was too severe.


    <i>I can''t defeat him. I must leave! </i>He abruptly unleashed a hammer strike, elerating toward Wu Yuan. But it was a feint, and he prepared to leap onto the rooftop and flee.


    Wu Yuan saw through his n. "Take this!" Wu Yuan chose to advance rather than retreat. His form blurred, his de emanating a fearsome glow as he shed toward the young man in beast hide. One sh followed by another, each sh stronger than thest!


    "Thousand Mountains de!" This was the strongest saber technique Wu Yuan wielded when he stood at the pinnacle of the Human Federation. By gathering all his strength and mobilizing his musculoskeletal structure, he could instantly unleash multipleyers of de rays. The umtion of saber intent resembled an unassable mountain, hence the name Thousand Mountains.


    This technique ced a tremendous burden on the body and could not be exhibited lightly. In his previous life, Wu Yuan could execute up to 29 strokes in his peak state. Today, however, marked his first time disying the Thousand Mountains de since transmigrating here. In an instant, seventeen de rays shed!


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> A series of weapon shes echoed. The tall man d in beast hide fought for his life, managing to parry the initial fifteen strikes. He avoided the sixteenth strike by inclining his neck, but the de found purchase in the gap between his armguard and soft armor, cleaving through his shoulder and severing his entire arm.


    "Ah!" The man cried out in agony, releasing his hammer and losing his momentum. Blood spurted forth from the wound.


    <i>Flee! </i>Knowing his life hung by a thread, the man in beast hide hastily retreated. Yet the seventeenth strike didn''t deviate from its course, slicing through the beast hide and the sp of his soft armor.


    His clothes were sliced into tatters, and the soft armor broke apart, causing a box to drop out from the inneryer of armor. A grievous wound marred his chest, and blood poured forth. He dared not waste time securing the wooden box.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Covered in blood, his upper body bared, the man in beast hide sped away into the distance, disying astonishing swiftness.


    "Your day of reckoning will soone! Even if you flee to the three overseas continents, do not think you can evade my revenge!" seethed the man in beast hide, his voice dripping with endless hatred.


    How could he not loathe his opponent? He had lost an arm, significantly diminishing his strength, and he had been stripped of a precious treasure. This journey had exacted a heavy toll!


    <i>Future retaliation? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with an icy chill, his aura sharp as he observed the other party depart. However, he did not pursue.

 Chapter 24: Treasure

    <h4>Chapter 24: Treasure</h4>


    He watched as the tall figure in beast hide vanished into the distance, one arm now severed. Even as the figure faded into the night, Wu Yuan remained in ce, motionless.


    <i>After a long time...</i>


    <i>He should be far away now. </i>Wu Yuan finally exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage around him. There were no longer any members of the Vicious Tiger Gang in sight. All that remained were lifeless bodies scattered across the ground, fragments of stone, toppled structures, and the faint glimmer of distant mes.


    <i>I never imagined that defeating a first-rate Adept would be so challenging. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    This encounter marked his first battle with a first-rate Adept. His opponent had proven to be far more formidable than he had anticipated. Wu Yuan conceded that he had underestimated the martial artists of this world. A first-rate Adept could expertly harness Twofold Power Surge, and their strength was truly astonishing.


    In the martial grading system of the Middle Land, a first-rate Adept was only a third-grade martial artist. What about second-grade martial artists? First-grade martial artists? And what about the legendary martial artists who earned a ce in the Heavenly Rankings? At the moment, Wu Yuan could not fathom how strong they were.


    <i>I can kill an ordinary second-rate Adept with ease. However, the martial skills of a first-rate Adept are remarkably impressive. Despite my superior skills, defeating one isn''t an easy task.</i>


    All strategies were useless in the face of absolute strength. If the man in beast hide could consistently unleash a force of 100,000 catties, Wu Yuan might have found himself literally crushed to death. In such a scenario, beingpetent in martial skills would prove futile.


    In truth, Wu Yuan didn��t pursue him not because he was feigning indifference, but rather because he was uncertain about his chances of sess. Despite his opponent��s evident injuries, Wu Yuan, too, had pushed himself to his physical limits.


    Although Wu Yuan had reached the Rigid Yet Supple stage which reduced his energy expenditure, his relentless use of Saber Power Surge had taken a toll that could not be ignored. The unceasing shes and the formidable might of his adversary had left Wu Yuan with numerous internal injuries.


    The execution of the Thousand Mountains de was his final stand. Though he forced his opponent to retreat, Wu Yuan also found himself at the limits of his physical and mental endurance, his arm throbbing with pain.


    Pursuit? If he forced his opponent into a desperate counterattack, there was a good chance that he might lose his life. Wu Yuan wasn''t willing to gamble on that.


    <i>This battle to the death was something I was forced into. The nature of such life-and-death battles is extraordinary, I believe it will have a profound impact on my future.</i>


    <i>However, one must not deliberately ce themselves on the precipice of life and death repeatedly. With too many attempts, even a minorpse in judgment could lead to actual death. </i>Wu Yuan was keenly aware of this fact.


    Progress could be made without constantly courting danger. Unless absolutely necessary, pushing oneself to the limit too many times was excessive and might lead to one failing to reach the ultimate goal.


    By forcing the Vicious Tiger Gang to disband and saving the chieftain, Wu Yuan had fulfilled his objectives. There was no need to risk his life against this mysterious first-rate Adept.


    As for the future?


    <i>If you intend to seek vengeance, I hope you can keep pace with my rate of improvement. </i>


    Wu Yuan was confident that the man would be no match for him in time toe. All he needed was time for his body to develop. Given equal physical attributes, Wu Yuan was confident he could defeat the man in beast hide within three moves.


    <i>I''d better clean up the battleground quickly. After such a major incident involving the Vicious Tiger Gang, with most of its members dispersing, someone will arrive soon.</i>


    Wu Yuan remained in ce for a while. Once he felt some of his fatigue ebb away, he did not linger any longer.


    He proceeded to clean up the battlefield, starting by retrieving the box that had fallen from the soft armor of the tall youth in beast hide. Secondly, he securely stashed away the green jade vial obtained from the Vicious Tiger Gang''s leader. As objects retrieved from two powerful experts, Wu Yuan naturally regarded them as the most important items. For the moment, Wu Yuan did not examine them closely, and continued searching for valuables.


    In half a quarter-hour, he looted a substantial stack of silver notes and a heap of misceneous items from the courtyard littered with lifeless bodies. A rough estimate revealed that these silver notes exceeded 30,000 taels! Most of them were issued by the Sta Consortium, with a handful originating from the Cloudstride Sect. Naturally, the silver notes carried by the gang leader and the handful of Adepts ounted for nearly 20,000 taels, with minimal contributions from the rank-and-file members.


    <i>Having entrenched themselves within Li City for many years, the Vicious Tiger Gang has amassed an abundance of treasures. Even if Yang Long allocated a significant portion of the spoils to his sect and the influential figures backing him, the silver he retained would still be a considerable sum. There should be no less than 100,000 silver taels in the gang''s headquarters.</i>


    Nevertheless, he didn��t begin searching through the remaining sections of the stronghold. First and foremost, even though the Vicious Tiger Gang''s headquarters did not epass an extensive area, a solitary search would prove to be quite time-consuming. Secondly, the several hundred gang members who managed to flee had likely made off with the majority of the gang''s silver reserves, leaving behind a meager remainder.


    <i>Furthermore, I just need sufficient silver to cover my needs. When I first awoke, I fretted over 500 taels of silver, but now?</i>


    This single battle had yielded him over 30,000 taels of silver. Such was the power of martial prowess. As his strength continued to grow, Wu Yuan was confident that, should he choose, umting vast sums of silver would be a simple matter.


    He had gotten a decent haul from this journey. With a wave of his hand, he tucked the silver notes into his inner clothing.


    After thinking for a moment, Wu Yuan carefully unsealed the jade vial. Instantly, an invigorating fragrance wafted from the vial, gradually overpowering the lingering scent of blood in the courtyard.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan inhaled deeply. Immediately, he felt the refreshing scent revitalize his mind, causing him to freeze for a moment. Then, he promptly resealed the vial.


    <i>A natural treasure?</i> Wu Yuan recalled some passages from the texts he read that seemed to allude to a scent simr to the one emanating from the jade vial. However, he decided not to jump to conclusions. He had never seen a simr treasure.


    The vast Middle Land abounded with innumerable treasures; natural treasures were the stuff of legend to themon popce. How was Yang Long, a second-rate Adept, able to get his hands on such a treasure? There had to be a reason.


    <i>Let''s take a look. </i>Wu Yuan opened the box. Inside, he found neither natural treasures nor silver notes. Only a radiant golden token.


    <i>A token?</i> Wu Yuan reached out and picked it up. The token possessed substantial weight, much heavier than gold. The craftsmanship was also exquisite.


    <i>Chu-Jiang?</i>


    Wu Yuan scrutinized the token, closely examining the two ancient characters engraved on one side. His pupils subtly contracted. <i>Could it be...</i>


    In an instant, Wu Yuan grasped the implications. If his guess was right, he might have inadvertently stumbled into big trouble this time.


    <i>If Yang Long and the first-rate Adept indeed share an affiliation with the long-extinct Chu-Jiang Empire, it implies that they are part of a formidable organization. But what brings them to a small, unassuming county like Li County? What could their purpose be?</i> Wu Yuan was confounded.


    However, he was certain about one matter. <i>I mustn''t dy any longer. It''s time to leave!</i>


    Wu Yuan carefully ced the token back into its box, kept it along with the jade vial in his pack, and hastened toward the prison.


    The wreckage of the huge battle was somewhat contained. The battle did not cover a widespread area and ended rtively quickly, hence the prison remained untouched, save for the original prison guards who had all abandoned the building.


    The upants of the various prison cells had long noticed themotion outside, yet none dared to act rashly. After all, the Vicious Tiger Gang''s ruthlessness wasmon knowledge.


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang! </i>Brilliant de rays illuminated the cell frames, and the clinking of falling chains followed suit. Door after door swung open.


    "The Vicious Tiger Gang has been eradicated. You are all free to leave now," a chilling voice resonated from the courtyard, leaving the prisoners dumbfounded. Their incredulous gazes collectivelynded on the figure concealed behind a bronze mask.


    <i>The Vicious Tiger Gang has been wiped out? Really?</i> Before the prisoners could process this revtion further, the figure leaped into the air and promptly vanished from sight.

 Chapter 25: Who Could It Be?

    <h4>Chapter 25: Who Could It Be?</h4>


    Those inside the cells stared at the fractured cell locks with stunned expressions, some appearing to be in disbelief.


    Those imprisoned here were either wealthy or noble, implying that they could still be exploited for their worth. Their power was, for the most part, not weak. Several were martial virtuosos, and could still unleash a force of thousands of catties even with grievous injuries. Nearly all of them had tried to break their locks or bend the bars of their cell, but it was all in vain.


    Meanwhile, the mysterious man in the bronze mask had managed to split open more than a dozen cell locks with just a few shes without causing any damage to the bars. How strong was he? How precise was his control?


    "The machete he wielded looks like the one Yang Long has," a voice croaked from one of the cells, "Martial artists treat their weapons like their own children, they will never abandon them. Perhaps, Yang Long is truly dead?"


    "The prison guards are also nowhere to be seen."


    "Some time back, there were sounds of battle outside. That was the first time the man in the bronze mask came here."


    "Has the Vicious Tiger Gang really been annihted?" Several of the prisoners with exceptional acumen quickly deduced part of the truth.


    After a brief moment, a young man in a tattered purple robe pushed open his cell door and cautiously took a step outside, followed by a second step. Though he was injured, he walked faster and faster. He soon reached the entrance of the courtyard gate and heaved at the heavy iron gate. After a brief struggle, he opened it!


    Outside, mes soared into the sky, casting a vivid glow on the courtyard''s shattered walls. But there was no movement.


    "They''ve all left, the Vicious Tiger Gang is gone!" The young man in the purple robe lowered his voice and turned back excitedly, "We''re saved, we''re saved." Immediately, he wasted no more time, heading out of the prison without looking back.


    "Let''s go."


    "Quick, let��s flee." Having understood the situation, the prisoners in the various cells no longer hesitated. They threw open their cell doors, rushing outside of the prison despite the darkness of the night.


    Among them was Wu Qiming, his body smeared with blood and wracked with injuries. He was among the strongest of those imprisoned, but he had also suffered the worst torture.


    <i>We��re saved? </i>Wu Qiming was somewhat dazed. But even though he knew there might be danger, he struggled to his feet. He walked unsteadily out of the cell, and then out of the prison. The days he spent in the prison were a nightmare, he didn''t want to stay there a moment longer.


    <i>This way.</i> Wu Qiming bit down on the tip of his tongue, using the pain to keep himself awake. He visited the stronghold voluntarily, so he had a brief understanding of itsyout.


    After struggling towards the main gate, he saw the copsed courtyard houses, the bodies strewn about, and mes still burning in the distance. The high walls surrounding the stronghold were barely damaged.


    <i>All the bodies I see belong to members of the Vicious Tiger Gang. Could it be that not a single attacker died? The Vicious Tiger Gang was defeated by powerful intruders?</i> Wu Qiming looked around in shock. He couldn''t imagine how powerful the intruders were.


    Finally, Wu Qiming exited the stronghold. By this time, most of the Vicious Tiger Gang and the prisoners had already evacuated the stronghold.


    Out of nowhere, a shadowy figure darted through the darkness, materializing right in front of Wu Qiming. He jumped in fright.


    "S...Senior?" Wu Qiming looked at the figure fearfully. It was none other than the mysterious, bronze-masked expert who had cleaved the prison door open. His power was far beyond Wu Qiming''s imagination.


    "Stay still," the bronze-masked man spoke with a raspy voice, "I will take you away from here."


    Before Wu Qiming could react, a pair of strong arms had already secured him. The next thing he knew, he was soaring through the air.


    Wu Qiming soon understood that he wasn''t actually flying. The mysterious Adept was propelling himself through the air in a series of jumps and dashes! The night was so dark that he couldn��t see his hand before his face. Still, Wu Qiming could feel the wind rushing past him and hear intermittent ear-piercing beast howls, as well as the quivering of leaves.


    <i>So fast! </i>They were going far faster than Wu Qiming''s top speed on t ground. This mysterious expert seemed able to see through the darkness, effortlessly navigating around rocks, trees, and even cliff walls.


    <i>A second-rate Adept?</i> Wu Qiming was shocked. As a sixth-grade martial virtuoso, he had witnessed the abilities of many third-rate Adepts, but none of them could match up to this mysterious expert.


    Second-rate Adepts were all well-known figures within Li City. However, Wu Qiming felt that even the second-rate Adepts he had met before could notpare to this mysterious Adept.


    As for first-rate Adepts? Wu Qiming dared not consider such a possibility! First-rate Adepts were rarely seen figures, there wasn''t a single one in the entire Li City. Why would a first-rate Adepte to the humble headquarters of the Vicious Tiger Gang?


    Besides being astounded at the strength of this mysterious expert, Wu Qiming was even more puzzled by why this Adept chose to take him along. What about the other prisoners? It was as though this expert hade here specifically to rescue him!


    In just a quarter of an hour, the man in the bronze mask brought Wu Qiming over several mountains, and they arrived at the foot of Ninecloud Mountain.


    Wu Qiming only felt a sudden weightlessness, then hended on the grass. A muddy road was faintly visible in the distance.


    "Do not reveal my existence. Otherwise, both you and your n will be exterminated!�� The man in the bronze mask said in a cold voice, "Fend for yourself." Without waiting for Wu Qiming to reply, the bronze-masked man disappeared into the endless darkness, leaving behind a bewildered Wu Qiming.


    <i>Both my n and I will be exterminated?</i>


    <i>It seems that this mysterious expert knows me. It''s not a coincidence that he brought me down the mountain. He doesn''t want me to leak his existence, does this mysterious expert have a powerful enemy?</i>


    <i>Who helped me? Could it be an enemy of the Xu faction?</i>


    Wu Qiming pondered for a long time, but still couldn''t figure out which friend or rtive he knew could invite such a terrifying martial arts expert. Wu Yuan never crossed his mind. First of all, his height, figure, and voice werepletely different. Moreover, in his mind, Wu Yuan was just a well-behaved kid in the n, there was no way he would associate him with such a person.


    <i>I must heed this expert''s instructions. Besides, the destruction of the Vicious Tiger Gang is a major event, it will definitely cause a huge uproar.</i>


    <i>I just hope that the Xu faction will stop at this and not cause further trouble.</i>


    Wu Qiming recalled what the second family head had said to him. "Instead of proactively returning the money you took, you actually dare bargain! Since you''re this oblivious, I''ll have to teach you some manners."


    There was no doubt. The one who instigated the Vicious Tiger Gang to attack the Wu n was the general��s faction!


    <i>I wonder how the n is doing now. I pray nothing has happened.</i>


    Wu Qiming decided not to think about it anymore. Taking strenuous steps, he reached a section of the official route. With a brief nce confirming his direction, he set off for Li City.


    <i>By escorting the chieftain down the mountain, he should be able to avoid the scattered members of the Vicious Tiger Gang. This is as far as I can help him. </i>Under the cover of darkness, Wu Yuan watched as the chieftain hobbled away.


    He was unwilling to reveal that his purpose was none other than to rescue the chieftain, nor did he wish for the chieftain to know his true identity. At least, not for now.


    Having fused his predecessor''s memories and emotions, along with the experiences of the previous months, Wu Yuan was grateful to Chieftain Wu Qiming and treasured the bond they had. However, this did not mean Wu Yuan was ready to divulge all his secrets to him.


    Furthermore, whenever he thought of that jade vial which was most likely a natural treasure, as well as the strange token, Wu Yuan felt uneasy.


    <i>This matter will soon blow up. My current selfcks the strength to bear the consequences.</i>


    <i>Moreover, even if I alone possess great strength, even if I were a Heavenly Ranker, how can I protect the entire n at all times?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He suddenly understood why some powerhouses chose to joinrge forces or establish their own organizations: there was strength in numbers! Some mundane matters did not require one''s direct involvement, and could be delegated to subordinates who could potentially do a better job.


    <i>I hope the chieftain heeds my advice and keeps a low profile. </i>Wu Yuan sighed softly, silently trailing behind Wu Qiming.


    <i>Four hourster.</i>


    <i>He��s reached a town.</i> Wu Yuan watched from afar as Wu Qiming entered therge town. Only then was hepletely at ease.


    <i>Let��s head back to Li City.</i>


    Barely holding back his fatigue, he quickly set off for Li City, a journey that stretched hundreds of li.


    At the break of dawn, Wu Yuan finally beheld the majestic walls of Li City, towering approximately fifty zhang high. The city gates were already open.


    <i>Into the city.</i> Wu Yuan double-checked his silver notes and two treasures, adjusted his attire, and walked confidently through the city gates.


    Yang Long''s machete was indeed a fine de. It was at minimum a fourth-grade superior weapon worth tens of thousands of silver taels, which stirred Wu Yuan''s heart. But to avoid getting exposed, he didn''t hesitate to abandon it.


    ...


    Shortly after Wu Yuan entered the city, the news quickly spread from two municipalities and numerous towns near Ninecloud Mountain to Li City. The county mayor and the general of defense naturally received the information: the Vicious Tiger Gang had been annihted. The news shook the upper echelons of Li City!


    <i>Deep within the Xu Manor, in a main hall that was designed like a military camp.</i>


    <i>The Vicious Tiger Gang leader Yang Long is dead! The second family head, Li Ye, is dead... Wearing a bronze mask? Skilled in spear techniques, a single person wiped out the entire Vicious Tiger Gang?</i> General Xu stared in shock at the report in his hands.


    <i>Who could it be?</i>

 Chapter 26: Stirrings From All Sides

    <h4>Chapter 26: Stirrings From All Sides</h4>


    Just half a night after the battle, meticulously detailed reports reached the hands of the general of defense. What concerned General Xu most were three particr descriptions.


    <i>From beginning to end, this spearman killed each member of the Vicious Tiger Gang in a single move, including the gang leader, Yang Long?</i>


    <i>From beginning to end, he acted alone, there was no sign of anypanions?</i>


    <i>Lastly, it seemed that a mysterious Adept who had apanied Yang Long engaged in a struggle with the spearman? But no one knows the oue of their battle. </i>


    General Xu was greatly shocked, but quickly calmed down and began to analyze the facts. Without a doubt, this mysterious spearman was extremely strong, possibly a first-rate Adept. If he was second-rate Adept, he was undoubtedly among the strongest of that grade. At least, General Xu wasn''t confident he could defeat Yang Long in one move.


    <i>Even Jiang Dongque''s bodyguard Meng Qiang or Guan Zishan from Dongye Municipality couldn��t possibly have such strength. </i>General Xu felt a growing sense of unease.


    Cloudstride Sect ruled nearly a hundred counties. Each county mayor was protected by two second-rate Adepts and a dozen third-rate Adepts. Meng Qiang was Jiang Dongque''s personal guard in Li County, and was a prevailing existence among second-rate Adepts.


    Guan Zishan was the ancestor of the Guan family, the top n in Li City. At his peak, he was a first-rate Adept, and was given the title of the top expert in Li City. However, he was now well over 80 and his physical condition was on the decline. Hence, he was nowadays considered a peak second-rate Adept, but his abilities were not to be underestimated.


    In terms of individual strength, this mysterious spearman could sweep the entire Li City! Who could it be?


    <i>There are a few first-rate Adepts in Southdream Province, but few are proficient in the spear. Could it be a foreign Adept? </i>General Xu found this matter exceedingly troublesome.


    He was one of the top figures in Li City. But Southdream Province was merely one of the three provinces under the Cloudstride Sect, a sect filled with powerful individuals. As an insignificant general of defense of a county, he should be below the notice of such an expert.


    <i>What is the reason for this Adept single-handedly sweeping through the Vicious Tiger Gang?</i> General Xu felt his head throb. <i>Is he targeting me?</i>


    Barely any time had passed since the battle, and the information was too sparse. Furthermore, half of the leaders of the Vicious Tiger Gang alreadyy dead. Even if he nned to analyze the case, he didn''t know where to begin.


    <i>Regardless, with Yang Long''s death and the disintegration of the Vicious Tiger Gang, gaining control over Li City has be all the more difficult.</i> General Xu frowned.


    The figure behind the Vicious Tiger Gang was him! He was the keeper of this malicious hound, which bit any force within Li City that defied him.


    "Old Xu," General Xu called out.


    <i>ng~ </i>The door swung open, and a purple-robed Steward Xu respectfully entered, "General, what are your instructions?"


    "Immediately report this to the headquarters of the sect and request them to investigate whether any first-rate Adepts from the Jiang Continent have been active around Li City," General Xu spoke in a low voice.


    "Yes," Steward Xu responded, respectfully bowing and leaving the room. The door closed once more.


    "Liu Ye [1]," General Xu said.


    "General." A burly man emerged from behind the screen. His temples were high and imposing, and he had an intimidating presence.


    "You and Zhu Hong are to take apany of 100 soldiers each and head to Ninecloud Mountain. Bring the remaining three family heads of the Vicious Tiger Gang to Li City, I want to question them," General Xu''s voice was ice-cold, "However, if they dare resist, there''s no need to show mercy!"


    Each soldier of the Southdream Army was d in heavy armor and rode on horses. Two groups of a hundred each didn''t look like much, but once they rallied and charged, even a battalion of foot soldiersposed of thousands of martial virtuosos would find it hard to put up any resistance. A group of tens of thousands of renegades would immediately be scattered to the winds!


    "I understand," the burly man solemnly responded.


    ...


    Compared to the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the general''s manor, the mayor''s manor was euphoric upon receiving this news.


    "Congrattions, County Mayor! Congrattions, County Mayor!"


    A guard congratted, "With the disbandment of the Vicious Tiger Gang, Xu Shouyi has lost an arm. From now on, Li City will be in the palm of County Mayor''s hand."


    "Hold your tongue! This Li City is under themand of my Cloudstride Sect; I am merely its steward!" County Mayor Jiang Dongque scolded, but the jubnt tone of his voice was clear to all.


    Those part of the mayor''s faction knew full well about the feud between the county mayor and the general of defense. Their rtionship was like water and fire!


    "The Vicious Tiger Gang has long been a thorn in the side of the people of Li City. Though it has been eradicated, the remaining members still pose a threat," Jiang Dongque solemnly dered, "It is the responsibility of the city guards to ensure peace within our borders. All lieutenant-colonels, heed mymand: Immediately mobilize the left and right battalions. Eliminate the remaining scourge of the Vicious Tiger Gang and capture the remaining family heads of the gang alive."


    The city guard, consisting of 3000 men, was divided into three battalions: left, middle, and right, with 1000 guards in each battalion.


    "Yes."


    "Yes!" The lieutenant-colonels of the city guard stood excitedly.


    The city guard had no intention of confronting the Vicious Tiger Gang at its peak. Even if they won, they would suffer severe casualties. Why bother?


    But to confront the Vicious Tiger Gang without its gang leader, Yang Long? One could earn merits simply by breathing!


    The lieutenant-colonels of the city guard exited the room in a single file.


    "County mayor, should we not search for this mysterious spearman?" a tall man carrying a saber and d in red armor asked in a hushed tone.


    "Brother Meng, I have already reported it to the Cloudstride Sect. I will also issue a notice to the public to remain vignt of this mysterious spearman," Mayor Jiangughed, "There''s no point in doing more."


    "A first-rate Adept can leap several meters high, and neither mountain nor walls can stop them. They can hold their breath and stay underwater for half an hour, and crossrge rivers as if stepping over a stream."


    "With their endurance and stamina, they''re capable of covering a thousand li in a day, traversing mountains and cliffs as if walking on t ground," Mayor Jiang shook his head. "This mysterious expert who has never made an appearance beforest night��s battle should not be a local expert of Li City. If he has no family ties and is determined to hide, we are powerless to arrest or recruit him. Only experts dispatched by the sect will be able to handle this.��


    Mayor Jiang analyzed the situation clearly. Regardless of who this mysterious expert was, seizing the opportunity to strike at General Xu was his top priority.


    "Mm." Meng Qiang nodded slightly. He was merely reminding Jiang Dongque. As a personal guard dispatched by the sect, his sole task was ensuring the safety of Jiang Dongque. He never meddled with the county mayor''s business.


    <i>A mere half a dayter.</i>


    <i>In a quiet room on the sixth floor of the Sta Consortium tower in Li City.</i>


    "You''re saying... this mysterious spearman is very likely to be a local expert from Li City?" The woman d in purple robes rose to her feet, her face betraying her shock.


    "Yes!" The man in ck robes confirmed. "Upon receiving this information, we dispatched a team to Ninecloud Mountain to investigate the scene of the stronghold of the Vicious Tiger Gang. Subsequently, we recovered a throwing knife, forged by our very own artisans at Sta Consortium from the battlefield.


    "Moreover, ording to the descriptions provided by the fleeing gang members, this spearman seems to have wielded the Luminous Silverfrost Spear sold just yesterday."


    "Furthermore, the customer who purchased the spear yesterday also purchased detailed information regarding the Vicious Tiger Gang," exined the man in ck robes. "Such purchases are exceedingly rare, hence my vivid recollection of this event."


    The woman in purple robes nodded slightly.


    "Following an exhaustive analysis, we believe there is a 70% chance that this customer purchased his weapons from the Sta Consortium in batches via Transfiguration, and then headed straight for Ninecloud Mountain where the great battle ensued at night," continued the man in ck robes. "Such an expert would usually have a personal divine weapon. Why would he suddenly purchase a new weapon?"


    "There are only two possible exnations. First, he wishes to conceal his identity using newly purchased weapons. But then why did hee to the Sta Consortium? This would still reveal his whereabouts. "


    "Secondly, he might not have had a suitable weapon to begin with."


    "After our analysis, we ascertain that there is a 50% chance that this mysterious spearman resides in Li City, and has never revealed their prowess," the man in ck robes said gravely. "If our suspicions are correct, he is most likely under the age of 30 and has been training in solitude."


    "Search for him! Mobilize all resources at our disposal!"manded the woman in purple robes. "A first-rate Adept under thirty years old? If this is true and he hasn''t joined any sect, our Sta Consortium must do our utmost to recruit him."


    "This would be a massive aplishment!"


    ...


    Though the downfall of the Vicious Tiger Gang was swift, the aftereffects were far from over. Several factions within Li City collided in the shadows, fervently gathering information. All forces sought to unravel the truth and to locate this mysterious spearman.


    But whenever any intelligence concerning Wu Qiming was presented, it would be swiftly dismissed, with no one paying heed to him. No one could ever envisage that fourteen-year-old Wu Yuan could be that terrifying spearman.


    Wu Yuan was unaware of these undercurrents, and uninterested in them anyway.


    <i>Inside the martial academy, within the tightly locked doors of Wu Yuan��s private practice room.</i>


    <i>What connection does this token have with the Chu-Jiang Empire? </i>Wu Yuan toyed with the token in his hand, flipping through a stack of books before him.


    1. not to be confused with Wu Liuye, Grandpa Liu from the Wu n ?

 Chapter 27: Chu-Jiang, Great Jin, Cloudstride

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chu-Jiang, Great Jin, Cloudstride</h4>


    Previously in the stronghold within Ninecloud Mountain, Wu Yuan had been pressed for time. Between cleaning up the battlefield and rescuing the chieftain, he had no time to thoroughly examine the two treasures he had acquired. Now that he was back in the safety of the martial academy, he naturally took his time to examine them.


    The more he studied the token, the more Wu Yuan felt it was no ordinary object.


    <i>Its durability is no joke.</i> Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground, gripping both ends of the token in each hand.


    He tested its durability dozens of times. Fearing that he would crush it, Wu Yuan started by squeezing one side with the strength of several hundred catties. Gradually, he increased it to several thousand, until finally, he exerted his maximum strength! Yet, he couldn''t even leave a tiny scratch on it.


    <i>Could it be made of divine weapon material? </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    He would find it tough to damage a fourth-grade superior weapon. However, under the force of tens of thousands of catties, he should theoretically be able to sense changes in the weapon''s internal momentum.


    But with this golden token, no matter how much strength he added, it felt like y oxen entering the sea [1]. He could not perceive any internal shift within the token. Clearly, tens of thousands of catties of force were still far below its limit. It was definitely something extraordinary.


    The only thing Wu Yuan could think of were the divine weapons he had read about in the martial academy''s literature, as well as the numerous novels in his previous life.


    Any weapon referred to as ''divine'' wasposed of extraordinary materials. For fifth-grade weapons, the price ofmonly seen weapons like swords, axes, spears, and swords ranged from several hundred to several thousand silver taels. Throwing knives were the exception as little material was required for their construction.


    Yang Long''s machete was a fourth-grade weapon, one of the best among the superior weapons in Wu Yuan''s estimation, and was worth around 10,000 silver taels.


    As for divine weapons, they were constructed with special materials and were nigh unbreakable, even under the force of 100,000 catties. Even the most ordinary of third-grade divine weapons, made from the least materials such as throwing knives or daggers, were valued at no less than tens of thousands of silver taels! A regr third-grade divine weapon often cost upwards of 100,000 silver taels, and was hard toe by.


    As for second-grade and first-grade divine weapons? In the Middle Land, these were the stuff of legends, rare weaponry whose value could hardly be weighed in mundane objects like gold and silver. Every single second-grade and first-grade divine weapon had an extraordinary origin.


    <i>If this is truly made from divine weapon material, the 30,000 silver notes I received might not be worth as much as the material in this token.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. Divine weapons were precious treasures of astounding value.


    <i>The most important question is, what does this token represent? Some sort of authentication from the Chu-Jiang Empire of the past? Or a keepsake of the Chu-Jiang''s lost lineage?</i>


    Wu Yuan put down the token, continuing to sift through the books before him, hoping to find some clues within. These books were all rted to the Chu-Jiang Empire, and were collected from the martial academy''s library.


    ��Six Hundred Years of Chu-Jiang��, ��The Local Customs of Six Hundred Chu-Jiang Counties��, ��Chronicles of the Chu-Jiang Empire��, ��The Empire that Emerged from the Chu Continent��, ��The Secret History of the Chu-Jiang Royal Family��...There were more than ten books in total. After fusing the memories of his body''s predecessor, Wu Yuan had a rough understanding of the Chu-Jiang Empire. And after closely reading these books today, he gained a deeper understanding of this great empire that had fallen decades ago.


    The Chu-Jiang Empire was established more than 600 years ago in the Chu Continent, giving rise to numerous formidable figures over the centuries. It expanded rapidly, reaching its peak 200 years ago. Spanning across the Chu and Jiang continents, its territory stretched over 20,000 li. It governed 29 provinces, over 600 counties, and housed a poption of over 500 million - a massive empire! It was once the top empire in the Middle Land.


    The Cloudstride Sect was once a great martial sect under the Chu-Jiang Empire. Although it maintained a high degree of independence, it was subordinate to the imperial royal family and had to lend its strength to the empire when called upon to.


    This was until 200 years ago, when a Heavenly Ranker known as Imperator Jin emerged, suppressing all the other experts. He emerged from the border of the Xi Continent, and made numerous political and military maneuvers over the span of twenty years. Eventually, he conquered three nations and nine sects in the Zhong Continent, establishing Great Jin, and renaming the Zhong Continent the Holy Continent.


    The Zhong Continent, now known as the Holy Continent, ranked first in terms of territorial size, resources, poption, and historical culture among all thirteen continents, surpassing several other continents put together.


    Imperator Jin, a former Heavenly Ranker, previously held a universally acknowledged status as the strongest being in the world!


    60 years ago, Emperor Jin III thoroughly quelled internal strife within the empire, and then instigated war against the Chu-Jiang Empire. One was in its prime, the other, in decline. 30 years and six decisive battlester, the war between the two great empires concluded with Great Jin''s overwhelming march into the capital of the Chu-Jiang Empire, where the core of the Chu royal family was massacred.


    The Chu and Yuan Continents were nowrgely upied by the Great Jin Empire. Three provinces of the Jiang Continent also fell under their rule, establishing the Great Jin as the world''s most powerful nation. The royal family of Great Jin was also recognized as the world''s greatest force.


    Since the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, not a single sect or nation in the Middle Land dared to challenge the Great Jin Empire.


    At that time, the core of the Chu-Jiang Empire''s royal family was nearly wiped out, and its territories were in chaos. Ultimately, the Cloudstride Sect and a distant branch of the Chu-Jiang Empire, the Baijiang Kingdom, emerged victorious in iming four provinces each, greatly expanding their influence.


    <i>200 years after its establishment, the Great Jin Empire spans tens of thousands of li, but the expansion of its territory is far from over.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, putting down the book.


    The martial might of the Great Jin Empire far surpassed that of any other present nation. Every new generation of emperor disyed great ambition, and the various sects and nations could perceive their unrelenting desire to unite the Middle Land.


    The Battle of Hillstride eight years ago was the first battle between Emperor Jin IV of the Great Jin Empire and the Cloudstride Sect. The Cloudstride Sect suffered a defeat, leading to the loss of their ancestralnd, the Hillstride Province, and a reduction in their jurisdiction from four provinces to three. The Battle of Hillstride was therefore viewed as a continuation of the war between Great Jin and Chu-Jiang.


    <i>Great Jin is ambitious, and has the strength to unify the Central ins. But the major powers from the Yan, Wu, and Dong Continents will not stand by and allow it to happen. They might all be supporting the Cloudstride Sect in secret.</i>


    After the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, the Cloudstride Sect became the first line of defense against the eastward advance of the Great Jin Empire.


    <i>Father... he fell in the Battle of Hillstride. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes were downcast. Images of his father from his inherited memories came to mind, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions.


    Deep down, Wu Yuan bore little affection for the Great Jin Empire.


    <i>Eight years have passed since the Battle of Hillstride. Although the world appears to be at peace, there''s no predicting when the Great Jin Empire might begin another invasion.</i>


    A sense of urgency gnawed at him. His strength was far from sufficient! He couldn''t even kill a first-rate Adept. What could he do in a massive war between two nations? What could he do against an empire like Great Jin, with its numerous experts and millions of soldiers? He couldn''t even protect his own family and n!


    <i>This token... it might hold a great secret.</i> Wu Yuan spected, staring at the token. <i>The Chu-Jiang Empire fell, but the foundation of a 600-year-old empire is sure to be profound. The movement to restore the empire has never ceased.</i>


    Not to mention, many distant branches of the Chu-Jiang royal family had managed to escape, like the Baijiang Kingdom that ruled four provinces. Their rapid rise from humble beginnings wasrgely due to their im of being a distant branch of the Chu-Jiang royal family, which gave them massive influence.


    <i>The first-rate Adept I encountered harbors a deep hatred for me, and likely has powerful backing. The Cloudstride Sect might not even measure up. Before I have enough power, I can''t let it be known that I wiped out the Vicious Tiger Gang.</i>


    <i>If word gets out, it could bring cmity to my entire n! </i>


    Second-rate Adepts wouldn''t dare cause trouble in a county city. But a first-rate Adept wouldn��t be too worried about assassinating a county mayor, unless perhaps they were surrounded by the Southdream Army on open ground.


    He had to be careful.


    After the battle at Ninecloud Mountain, Wu Yuan''s understanding of the Middle Land deepened: might makes right, and life is as cheap as grass!


    <i>As for this jade vial?</i> Wu Yuan carefully stored the golden token and picked up the jade vial. Unsealing the vial, waves of refreshing aroma wafted out, bringing a wonderful sense offort to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Judging by this ��Compendium of Natural Treasures��, this jade vial likely contains a food and medicine type natural treasure. </i>Wu Yuan reced the stopper.


    The Compendium of Natural Treasures only provided vague descriptions, but it clearly exined some basic knowledge. Natural treasures were categorized into three major types: food and medicine, mineral, and special. Each major type was further divided into many subcategories.


    The natural treasures often mentioned by ordinary folk were mostly of the food and medicine type, which could directly enhance the strength of martial artists and improve their constitution. And the raw materials used in the production of divine weapons were essentially mineral type natural treasures.


    <i>However, this is just my preliminary judgment, I can''t be sure.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.


    Ingest it directly? No matter how confident Wu Yuan was, or how well he could control his body, he wasn''t that bold. Natural treasures were not always beneficial, they could be harmful too! Powerful martial artists usually didn''t fearmon poisons, but deadly toxins derived from certain natural treasures were said to affect even Grandmasters.


    <i>To determine what exactly is in the jade vial, the best method is to seek the Sta Consortium''s advice. The second best method is to seek out the alchemist in Li City.</i>


    All branches of the Sta Consortium gathered goods from all over the world. They surely had a way to identify it. Alchemists were arguably the people who dealt with natural treasures the most. The probability of them correctly identifying this treasure was also high. But Wu Yuan was reluctant to try either of these methods. It would increase the risk of exposing himself.


    <i>Li City is too small. The Vicious Tiger Gang just got wiped out, creating a tense atmosphere and drawing interest from numerous factions. If I were to unveil such a valuable treasure here, it could quickly be a target. Let''s try some silly methods first.</i>


    First of all, he needed to confirm whether the material in the jade vial was beneficial or detrimental!


    1. (idiom) never to be heard of again; gone forever ?

 Chapter 28: Welcome Back, Chieftain

    <h4>Chapter 28: Wee Back, Chieftain</h4>


    With great care, Wu Yuan tucked the golden token and the small vial away, then returned the books to their shelves. The practice room returned to its usual state.


    <i>Li City will probably be turbulent in theing days. Though the likelihood that someone suspects me is slim, caution is imperative. </i>


    Wu Yuan began meditating. For martial artists, rest did not necessarily mean deep sleep. The constant traveling and the huge battle on Ninecloud Mountain had depleted Wu Yuan''s energy greatly. Now, he finally allowed his tired muscles and bones to recuperate.


    Some elderly martial artists risked excessive vitality depletion when employing Power Surge a dozen times, which could potentially result in their demise. Even if they lived, they would suffer grave injuries.


    But Wu Yuan didn''t have such worries, his greatest advantage against many senior martial artists was his youth, a gift bestowed upon him by thews of nature. With his exceptional control over his body, a few days of rest was enough for him to get back to his peak state.


    <i>My body doesn''t feel worn out, but why was I so bloodthirsty duringst night''s battle?</i>


    During the bloody conflict, he had no time to think. But after calming down, Wu Yuan felt increasingly disturbed the more he recalled the events. He appeared to have been conscious, but after killing the initial two guards, a bloodthirsty impulse seemed to have invaded his brain, and he had nearly sumbed to it.


    <i>It wasn''t an illusion.</i>


    As a martial arts Grandmaster, Wu Yuan was confident in his judgment. <i>For each member of the Vicious Tiger Gang I killed, it felt as if a warm current was flowing through my body, constantly dispelling my fatigue.</i>


    It was a strange, inexplicable state.


    <i>Could it be that something abnormal is happening to my body? </i>Wu Yuan began using Internal Vision to meticulously inspect his own musculoskeletal system, internal organs, and limbs. However, he found nothing.


    After the fight ended, this strange state that had overtaken him quickly dissipated. Everything seemed to be a figment of Wu Yuan''s imagination.


    <i>If I enter such a strange state again, I must be vignt, and try to figure out the reason.</i>


    Wu Yuan was ufortable with the sudden appearance of this uncontroble state. But seeing as he was unable to understand the cause, Wu Yuan was forced to set it aside for now.


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes, controlling his muscles, bones, skin, and fascia. Adjusting his breathing, he cleared the distractions from his mind and meditated on his fight with the mysterious expert, filling in the gaps in his movements, and summarizing his errors.


    A fight for survival was a form of tempering, but it didn''t mean the more the better. Reflection and summary were just as important. The lessons drawn from a thoroughly analyzed battle surpassed the gains from ten inefficient life-and-death struggles. In his previous life, Wu Yuan excelled at summarizing his battles, which facilitated his rapid growth.


    ...


    A night passed, and a tinge of light filled the sky.


    "The chieftain is back?" Wu Yuan saw Wu Dongyao, who had hastilye to the martial academy to find him.


    "Yes! A mysterious expert destroyed the Vicious Tiger Gang. Raging Tiger Yang Long was directly killed, and the entire Vicious Tiger Gang has dispersed." Wu Dongyao, a schr who usually cared about his demeanor, was now very animated. It was clear how excited he was.


    "The Vicious Tiger Gang has dispersed?" Wu Yuan also grew excited, "I was so worried yesterday. The headmaster only promised he would make a suggestion to the county mayor, and I was still concerned about the chieftain''s safety."


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, your concern is noted, but there is no need to worry now. This news only spreadst night, it''s not surprising that you didn''t know." Wu Dongyaoughed, "After the Vicious Tiger Gang was eliminated, the chieftain and the other captives managed to escape. The chieftain has just returned to the ancestral mansion. As soon as I got the news, I came to find you."


    "That''s great, let us go to see the chieftain now." Wu Yuan replied joyfully. But inwardly, Wu Yuan sighed. In just one day and one night, the heavily injured chieftain had rushed back to Li City. He was probably worried about the Wu n!


    "No rush. Our chieftain has been severely injured. Let''s gather some provisions before we make our way to the ancestral mansion to see him."


    Wu Dongyaoughed lightly, "After all, men from both the mayor''s faction and the general''s faction are there to see the chieftain. We''ll struggle to get an audience with him if we go there now."


    "Oh? The mayor��s faction? The general��s faction?" Wu Yuan feigned surprise. However, his mind remained calm.


    "This is a matter of great importance. The mysterious expert who single-handedly crushed the Vicious Tiger Gang is certainly a first-rate Adept!" Wu Dongyao remarked with a sigh, "Such a formidable figure could cause the whole of Li City to quake with a single stomp, it''s natural that the mayor and the rest would take him seriously."


    "Anyone who manages to escape from the stronghold of the Vicious Tiger Gang will be investigated thoroughly..." Wu Dongyao exined to Wu Yuan.


    "Uncle Dongyao, let''s head out first and talk along the way," Wu Yuan suggested with a smile.


    "Of course," Wu Dongyao nodded. Having witnessed Wu Yuan''s capabilities, he no longer treated him as an ignorant child, but rather as someone to be respected. Otherwise, those at Wu n''s ancestral mansion would not have dispatched him to notify Wu Yuan at the first possible moment.


    ...


    By the time Wu Yuan and Wu Dongyao had gathered their provisions and returned to the Wu n''s ancestral mansion, arge gathering of Wu n members had already assembled. Compared to the deste and low spirits of just a few days ago, the Wu n members were now joyous and excited.


    "I heard that those scoundrels from the Vicious Tiger Gang have been wiped out!"


    "They''re not all dead, there''s too many of them. But the gang leader, Yang Long, is dead."


    "He had iting!" One nsman gritted his teeth.


    "Wu Yuan and Uncle Dongyao are here," someone announced, peering through the main gate and spotting the carriage. His voice drew the gazes of many nsmen.


    "I hear Wu Yuan has nearly reached the martial virtuoso level. Quite impressive indeed."


    "Our Wu n might have to rely on him in the future."


    "The chieftain possesses a good eye indeed." Many of the Wu nsmen whispered amongst themselves.


    A few days earlier in the meeting hall, the higher-ups of the Wu n quietly leaked Wu Yuan''s strength. As a result, most of the n members now knew of Wu Yuan''s near-martial virtuoso abilities. Naturally, this news was cause for celebration.


    Wu Yuan followed Wu Dongyao, his gaze sweeping over the many members of the Wu n. As they looked at him with pride and hope, he felt a warmth in his heart. They were his anchor in this world.


    <i>ng~ ng~ </i>Deep within the courtyard, a door to a chamber swung open, and a group of armed individuals strode out. Wu Long and Wu Liuye, among other higher-ups of the Wu n, followed cautiously.


    "Alright, we shall take our leave first. If the chieftain has any ideas, be sure to inform us at the mayor''s manor immediately," the leading man, d in red armor and carrying a saber, said softly.


    "Yes, naturally," Wu Liuye replied, "Rest assured, Senior Meng."


    The red-armored man nodded slightly, leading his men towards the mansion''s exit. His uninterested gaze swept over the crowd of Wu nsmen. Suddenly, his stride faltered for a moment.


    "You must be Wu Yuan," he addressed Wu Yuan.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully. His hearing was excellent. Upon hearing how Wu Liuye addressed him and observing the man''s physique, he roughly guessed the man''s identity.


    Meng Qiang, the second strongest martial artist in Li City! He was also the leader of Jiang Dongque''s personal guard. Such a figure came to visit the Wu n?


    "These past few months, your progress has been astonishing, I heard you''ve nearly reached martial virtuoso level," Meng Qiang admired, "I��m guessing, you must have lost at the martial academy major tournament on purpose, right?"


    "Senior, I do not understand what you''re saying," Wu Yuan replied, his head lowered.


    "Haha, no need to worry," Meng Qiang chuckled, "I''ve already rified some matters with the chieftain. You just need to remember that Li City belongs to the Cloudstride Sect, and no one can monopolize it. Should you suffer any injustice, the county mayor himself will redress your grievances."


    "I have matters to attend to and must take my leave," stated Meng Qiang. With steps as powerful as a tiger''s and graceful as a dragon''s, he led his team away from the Wu n''s ancestral mansion.


    Wu n watched Meng Qiang''s departing figure with an unchanged expression, but his mind churned.


    "Wu Yuan!" The white-bearded Wu Liuye grabbed Wu Yuan, "The chieftain has ordered you to see him as soon as you arrive."


    "Yes, lead the way, Grandpa Liu," Wu Yuan promptly replied.


    "The rest of you, stay here," Wu Liuye instructed, causing Wu Long, Wu Dongyao, and the others to halt in their tracks while he and Wu Yuan quickly entered the building and passed through a corridor.


    Atst, Wu Yuan arrived at a fairly well-decorated room of modest size. Wu Qiming was lying in bed, enveloped in swathes of white cloth. To his side was a maidservant holding medicine.


    "Chieftain, what happened?" Wu Yuan''s eyes welled up slightly as he lunged forward towards the chieftain.


    "Haha, rest assured, I''m not going to die," Chieftain Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan with a reassuring gaze. He had no sons of his own and his two daughters were married off. Over thest few years, he hade to view Wu Yuan as his own child.


    "Liuye, I have something to discuss in private with Wu Yuan," Chieftain Wu Qiming said softly.


    "Very well," Wu Liuye nodded. Without questioning, he led the maidservant out of the room and gently closed the door behind them.


    Within the room, only Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming remained.


    "Chieftain, why have you sent for me?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "The general''s faction is the one behind the Vicious Tiger Gang," Wu Qiming stated slowly, "They have not let the incident with Xu Yuanhan rest. The Vicious Tiger Gang''s oppression of the Wu n was orchestrated by them."

 Chapter 29: We Have Held You Back

    <h4>Chapter 29: We Have Held You Back</h4>


    "The one behind the Vicious Tiger Gang is indeed the Xu faction?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly. This matter reeked of a conspiracy from the start. The Vicious Tiger Gang unreasonably increased their tribute by exactly 5000 silver taels. How could it coincide so precisely?


    Back when Wu Yuan stormed the Vicious Tiger Gang��s stronghold, he didn''t have the time to contemte the root cause of the issue. During his rampage, he killed many of their members in session, stabbed the gang leader Yang Long to death with his spear, and fought a great battle with an unknown expert. Because of that, he was greatly weakened and didn''t have the energy to ponder the matter.


    "Chieftain, is there evidence?" Wu Yuan asked quietly.


    Chieftain Wu Qiming''s eyes held a chilly glint, "The Vicious Tiger Gang''s second family head, Li Ye, personally told me that if the Wu n immediately returned the 5000 silver taels, they would leave us in peace. But ��since we don''t know what''s good for us��, they ��have no choice but to teach us a lesson��."


    "Li Ye?" Wu Yuan recalled the fight that night. Was it the short and stout man he killed with a throwing knife? He didn''t leave a deep impression.


    "This general of defense has gone too far," Wu Yuan growled with a practiced show of indignation, "We''ve fulfilled our end of the agreement, yet they continue to press us. They even ordered the Vicious Tiger Gang to destroy our mansion? Aren''t they afraid that the Wu n will report this to the sect?"


    "Report it to the sect?" Wu Qiming shook his head mildly, "Firstly, we don''t have evidence. The major tournament that day was conducted under the watch of many eyes. Secondly, Xu Yuanhan eventually lost and went to the Southdream Martial Academy."


    Wu Yuan pretended to listen carefully.


    "However, I have thought through this matter carefully." Wu Qiming continued, "This doesn''t seem like General Xu''s style. Though he puts on a domineering front, he always stands by his words. Even though things didn''t work out, we did our best. With his status, there is no need for him to fall out with us over 5000 silver taels."


    "Given General Xu''s character, if he really wanted the 5000 silver taels back, he would have summoned us directly and coerced us with his authority. Why would he need to go about it in such a roundabout way?" Wu Qiming shook his head in confusion.


    "But few people know about this matter." Wu Yuan frowned, "Could it be the headmaster? Does he want to bring down General Xu?" Apart from the Wu n and Xu faction, the only other participant was Headmaster Zhang Da of the martial academy.


    "He wouldn''t do that." Wu Qiming shook his head firmly, "Once the matter is exposed, the first to be punished will be the headmaster of the county martial academy. He is the primary responsible party."


    Listening, Wu Yuan found some truth in his words.


    "Could it be, the eldest son of the Xu family?" Wu Qiming wondered aloud. "Now that I consider it, this approach does seem to align with his usual style."


    "The eldest son of the Xu family?" Wu Yuan showed a hint of confusion.


    "You spend most of your time in the martial academy, it''s not surprising that you haven''t heard of him." Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan, "General Xu has six sons. Apart from his sixth son Xu Yuanhan, all the others have achieved nothing in the aspect of martial arts."


    "His eldest son is named Xu Yuanjie. Born to his first wife, he is treasured by the general despite his age. He controls arge portion of the Xu faction''s resources, and handles many of the misceneous matters. He is quite famous among the upper-ss circles of Li City."


    "During his youth, General Xu had not yet risen to power, hence he experienced a period of hardship. Perhaps due to that, he doesn''t quite exhibit the magnanimity expected from a wealthy family." Wu Qiming remarked. He seemed to know a great deal about this Xu Yuanjie.


    "The magnanimity of a wealthy family?" Wu Yuan pondered the phrase.


    "In simpler terms, he is stingy." Wu Qiming slowly exined from the bed, "This Xu Yuanjie understands the difficulties his family experienced when they first rose to power. Thus, he values every little bit of profit and is reluctant to part with his wealth,cking a broader perspective."


    "But how can a wealthy n conduct themselves like an ordinary household? During crucial times, if there are things that one should give up, one must be willing to let them go." Wu Qiming solemnly stated, "Otherwise, one might incur significant losses for the sake of minor gains."


    "Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming sighed, "In this regard, you have an even deeper understanding than me." He remembered how Wu Yuan had readily agreed to General Xu''s request to withdraw from the major tournament. It was a model example of ''letting go''. If he were in Wu Yuan''s position, he doubted he would have been as decisive.


    "Chieftain, you tter me." Wu Yuan smiled. Decisive? When he agreed to General Xu''s request, he couldn''t have asked for more. Without those 5000 silver taels, his progress wouldn��t have been so rapid.


    "Based on what Chieftain has said, if the Xu faction has been supporting the Vicious Tiger Gang in secret, it''s quite likely that Xu Yuanjie is behind this," Wu Yuan said, "Since he wields significant authority within the Xu faction, he can naturally influence the Vicious Tiger Gang."


    From their discussion, a clear thread of logic was woven.


    "Wu Yuan, regardless of whether Xu Yuanjie is the instigator, the Xu faction is undeniably at the root of this," Wu Qiming said gravely, "Although the Vicious Tiger Gang has been dissolved, I hope you won''t forget about the lives of our eight nsmen."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded. The reason he had attacked the Vicious Tiger Gang with such mercilessness wasrgely because he had witnessed the corpses of his nsmen with his own eyes.


    He didn''t know much about the Xu faction before. But now that he understood the reason behind the tragedy, he was determined to avenge his nsmen when the chance presented itself!


    "However, don''t rush to take revenge. The Xu faction holds significant power, and we shouldn''t provoke them at this moment," Wu Qiming advised. "I hadn''t intended to share all this with you, but your Uncle Long and Uncle Dongyao informed me that you''ve reached the level of a martial virtuoso. Is that true?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "At the age of fourteen, you already possess the strength of a martial virtuoso. In the future, bing an Adept will be a walk in the park. There''s a chance you''ll be a second-rate or even first-rate Adept," Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan, his face filled with hope.


    "When that happens, when you be a high-ranking member of the sect, that will be the time to seek vengeance. For now, keep this matter between the two of us, we cannot inform the others," Wu Qiming said.


    "Don��t worry, Chieftain. I understand," Wu Yuan nodded, "I won��t act recklessly before I have enough strength."


    Wu Qiming gave a small nod. He had full faith in Wu Yuan, whom he knew had a measured character. Telling Wu Yuan about this was a carefully considered decision, and he hoped it could serve as motivation for Wu Yuan''s training. Without motivation,cency would set in.


    "Chieftain," Wu Yuan questioned, ��Why did Meng Qiang, the leader of the county mayor''s personal guard, visit our Wu residence earlier? Ordinarily, even if they were investigating the Vicious Tiger Gang, it wouldn''t warrant his presence.��


    Meng Qiang was a second-rate Adept. Given his strength, both the county deputy and county magistrate dared not treat him lightly, the county mayor respected him immensely. Unless it was a matter of great importance, he would not be deployed.


    ��Haha, Meng Qiang came on behalf of the county mayor.�� A smirk crept across Wu Qiming''s face, ��He wants us to serve as witnesses, using General Xu of abusing his power and forcing you to fake your defeat during the martial academy major tournament."


    "Would the sect believe that?�� Wu Yuan frowned.


    ��In just over three months, you''ve improved from a martial novice to nearly a martial virtuoso. This news has spread, and you also won first ce in the martial academy minor tournament,�� Wu Qiming said, ��Even if the sect doesn''t believe it, they won''t ignore such a im and will surely send someone to investigate. Even if they find nothing, it will be enough to make General Xu flustered."


    "And this is probably just a part of the county mayor''s scheme. With the Vicious Tiger Gang disbanded, General Xu has lost an arm, and the county mayor probably wants to use this opportunity to bring him down," Wu Qiming exined.


    Wu Yuan listened. He didn''t fully understand these political machinations, but he didprehend the gist of them.


    "Did Chieftain agree?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "I did not," Wu Qiming shook his head, ��We don''t have substantial evidence. Even if we did, what can we do about it? If we prove that General Xu manipted the major tournament, wouldn''t our Wu n also be guilty of ying along? How would that benefit us?��


    "Meng Qiang promised that the county mayor would protect us, but in reality, the final decision rests entirely on the county mayor''s discretion. Moreover, what if we fail to bring down General Xupletely? Can we endure the brunt of his retaliation?"


    "By vehemently denying the matter, the county mayor can only suspect that the major tournament was manipted, which might lead to some frustration on his part. However, it''s unlikely he will go to great lengths to harm us."


    "I must choose the lesser of two evils. Currently, our Wu n is weak, we can''t afford to provoke either side. When you and our Wu n be stronger, we can then seek justice."


    "Remember, you did not fake the results of the martial academy major tournament." Having clearly understood the situation, Wu Qiming exined it in detail to Wu Yuan.


    "I understand. In the martial academy major tournament, I was outmatched and thus lost to Liu Ruyan." Wu Yuan responded. It was best to let the past remain in the past. Overturning the verdict would only bring trouble upon themselves.


    "Your strength has improved so quickly, a sign of your incredible talent. The only thing holding you back has been the Wu n. If you had joined the Cloud Martial Hall sooner, your progress would have been even more remarkable," Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan with regret.


    "Chieftain, the n has treated me well enough." Wu Yuan argued.


    "No!" Wu Qiming shook his head and said, "Being treated well doesn''t necessarily mean it''s in your best interest. We''ve inadvertently held you back. I intend to request Liuye to write a letter to the main n. In the near future, they will send someone to Li City to bring you there."


    "The main n?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. The Wu n in Li City was just a branch of the Southdream Wu n, and a rather weak branch at that.


    "While the Southdream Wu n may not be considered arge n, it''s still somewhat stronger than the Luo n. If you go to Southdream Province and receive the main family''s full support, your growth will be elerated. Your chances of bing the number one in the four provinces at the Cloud Martial Hall tournament next year will increase significantly," Wu Qiming told Wu Yuan with a sigh. "Your genealogy will also be transferred to the main family."


    "Chieftain!" Wu Yuan frowned, speaking resolutely, "I''m staying in Li City. My genealogy will always remain in the Wu n of Li City. I''m not going anywhere else."

 Chapter 30: Cavalier, Experiment

    <h4>Chapter 30: Cavalier, Experiment</h4>


    "Wu Yuan," Chieftain Wu Qiming started to persuade him.


    "Chieftain." Wu Yuan interrupted, "I understand where you areing from. The main family of the Wu n would also regard me with importance, providing abundant resources for my cultivation. I would progress much faster by going there than by cultivating alone."


    "Then why?" asked Wu Qiming, puzzled.


    "I dislike trouble," Wu Yuan shook his head, "There are only slightly more than nine months left until the martial academy major tournament. Even if I were to go to the main n, how much resources could they offer me?"


    "If it''s too little, it won''t be of much use to me. If it''s too much, I fear disputes may arise within the main n. Not everyone might wee me. Why put myself through all that? I might as well head directly to the Cloud Martial Hall when the timees."


    "The resources provided by the Cloud Martial Hall will also be limited," Wu Qiming frowned, "In theing years, the main branch can continue supporting your cultivation."


    "Chieftain, in the path of martial arts, resources are secondary, the self is most important," Wu Yuan smiled, "Besides, the Cloud Martial Hall only limits the resources provided to ordinary disciples. What if I shine bright enough?"


    "In just three months, I already possess the strength of a martial virtuoso. In another nine months, I might even advance further and perhaps receive top-notch care from the sect. That would be an even better oue, don''t you think?" Wu Yuan''s expression held a mixture of jest and seriousness.


    He would have to reveal his strength eventually. After all, he was nning to challenge the pinnacle of martial arts in this world! Moreover, the trip to Ninecloud Mountain sparked Wu Yuan''s interest in joining a major power. The Cloudstride Sect was a viable option.


    "Advance further?" Wu Qiming''s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that the Wu n had only revealed part of Wu Yuan''s strength to the public, yet that alone was enough to astonish people. To advance further, did that mean bing an Adept?


    A fifteen-year-old Adept? That was a rather terrifying prospect.


    His instincts told him that Wu Yuan was overestimating himself, but considering this child��s consistently prudent actions, as well as his progress over the past few months, he dared not dismiss the possibility outright.


    A moment of silence went by.


    "Agreed." Wu Qiming suddenly eximed, "Wu Yuan, you''ve always been someone with strong convictions. From now on, you��ll be in charge of your cultivation matters. If you need anything from the n, do not hesitate to ask."


    "Furthermore, from this month onwards, the family will provide you with 1000 silver taels every month until you enter the Cloud Martial Hall." Wu Qiming said in a deep voice, "How you spend it is up to you, the n will not interfere."


    "Chieftain, this is too much..." Wu Yuan knitted his brows.


    "Do not refuse!" Wu Qiming red at him, "These 1000 taels are not just from me, but a decision agreed upon by the n''s higher echelons. This is the most the n can do to help you."


    "Of course, this help doesn''te without a price. When you be powerful in the future, remember to repay the n." Wu Qiming added.


    Wu Yuan looked at the chieftain, who maintained a stern look despite his injuries. At that moment, he understood that if he didn''t ept this silver, it might truly worry and unsettle the chieftain.


    "Alright, then. Chieftain, I ept." Wu Yuan agreed.


    "That''s more like it." Wu Qiming''s face brightened.


    ...


    After Wu Yuan left the ancestral manor, a group entered Wu Qiming''s room. Among them were Wu Long, Wu Liuye and Wu Dongyao.


    "Wu Yuan does not wish to be transferred to the main n." Wu Qiming said softly.


    "Really?"


    "That''s great!"


    "What a pity." The group showed mixed feelings, some seemed relieved, and some were slightly regretful.


    "I have exined the pros and cons to Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming swept his gaze across the crowd, "But Wu Yuan is a sentimental child. He does not wish to move his family lineage to the main n."


    "This is a sacrifice he made for our n. Moving forward, I do not wish to hear opposing voices in our n." Wu Qiming''s tone brook no argument.


    "Haha, Chieftain, rest assured,"ughed Wu Liuye, his white beard dancing with each chuckle. "Our vision pales inparison to yours. It is because of your unwavering confidence that we were able to see the day Wu Yuan''s hard work paid off."


    "Since Wu Yuan is staying in our branch n, the rise of the Wu n in Li City will be inevitable as he grows stronger," Wu Dongyao chuckled.


    "In the future, our branch could very well be a powerful n, not any inferior to the main n," a voice chimed in.


    Even though main and branch ns sharedmon roots, once a branch n expanded, divisions were bound to ur, especially if the main n didn''t provide enough support or exert sufficient control over the branch n.


    As the saying goes, ''Close in the first generation, distant in the second, and by the third and fourth generations, they be strangers.''


    The nsmen of the Li City branch didn''t harbor any particr feelings for the Southdream Wu n, only perceiving it as a distant ce.


    ......


    <i>Southdream Wu n?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He felt a sense of belonging to the Wu n of Li City. This was due to the teachings of his father etched in his memory, due to the n''s years of support for his mother and himself, and due to the chieftain''s guidance throughout his journey.


    Main n? Who were they to tell him what to do? They even had the gall to request him to change his family lineage?


    Wu Yuan knew very well that bloodline heritage was treated with utmost importance in this world. One''s family lineage was sacred, and even martial powerhouses couldn''t avoid the repercussions of it.


    <i>In the future, if I be strong and the main n gains some benefits from it, that will be my way of repaying them.</i>


    The main n wanted him to wear himself out for them? Dream on!


    <i>It''s been a few months since I''ve regained consciousness and faked an awakening in my martial path. By disying the strength of a martial virtuoso, I''m already considered a dazzling genius. If I revealed my full capabilities, letting the world know that I have the strength of a first-rate Adept?</i>


    Anyone would think that something was amiss. The word ''genius'' wasn''t enough to exin it.


    <i>Time is on my side. I will reveal my strength bit by bit. When my strength reaches a certain point, such worries will naturally fade away.</i>


    If one had the strength of a legendary Heavenly Ranker, who would dare to question them? If one''s strength fell short, abiding by the rules would allow them to have an easier time.


    <i>Unexpectedly, this matter is indeed rted to the Xu faction. Despite my prior concession, they refuse to let up.</i> A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>This score needs to be settled.</i>


    After returning from Ninecloud Mountain, he now understood the truth of this world. Thest bit of hesitation and restraint in Wu Yuan''s heart unconsciously dissipated.


    He went straight home.


    "Mother!"


    In a burst of excitement, his younger sister Wu Yijun, dashed outside, jubntly calling out, "Mother, brother has returned!"


    "Little Yi." Wu Yuan smiled and yed along with her as usual, skillfully picking up his sister with one hand as he walked into the kitchen: "Mother, I''m back."


    "You''re back?" Wanqin, who was preupied with a task, was pleasantly surprised. She gently admonished, "I understand that your training is crucial, but if you n to be away from the martial academy for an extended period, please do inform someone."


    "Understood, mother," Wu Yuan grinned. Despite her chiding words, her voice was filled with concern.


    "Since you''re back, I''ll make some more noodles." Wanqin quickly got busy.


    "Alright, I''ve been craving your meat noodles," Wu Yuanughed cheerfully.


    "The house seems cleaner than before." Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the kitchen.


    The walls were freshly painted, a noticeable improvement from before. Even his mother''splexion seemed healthierpared to when he had just regained consciousness in this world.


    The family of three enjoyed a warm, cozy breakfast.


    "Mother, the chieftain has returned." Wu Yuan set down his bowl and chopsticks. "I came here after visiting the ancestral mansion this morning."


    Wanqin replied, "I had guessed as much. Given your nearly martial virtuoso-level strength, the n values you highly. They would definitely have summoned you at the first instance."


    "Mother, you knew?" Wu Yuan was slightly astonished.


    "I am your mother." Wanqin cast a nce at Wu Yuan then chuckled, "The news has spread throughout the n. How could I not know?"


    Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    "Yuan''er, your martial talent is so incredible that it''s frightening. I''ve heard from others in the n that you are the most talented martial genius in Li County in thest decade. You''re likely to achieve great things in the future, and this is a good thing. As your mother, I''m happy for you." Wanqin looked at Wu Yuan, "But always remember, safety first."


    "Your mother doesn''t expect you to achieve grand military honors or gain power and prestige. I only wish for you to be safe and sound." Wanqin''s face bore a hint of worry.


    "I understand, Mother." Wu Yuan solemnly responded.


    He understood Wanqin''s worry. Achieving grand military honors, gaining power and prestige? His father was the youngest martial virtuoso in the n, with high hopes of bing an Adept. To garner military achievements and bring glory to the family, he voluntarily joined the sect''s army. Soon after that, news of his death arrived.


    People only saw martial artists gantly riding across thend, charging across continents and provinces. But how many saw the brutal bloodshed behind the blinding sword lights? For every hundred entering the martial world, only a handful return.


    "Mother, I will often be in seclusion in theing period, so I may not be home often." Wu Yuan quickly added, "Please don''t worry too much."


    "Okay." Wanqin nodded. She also knew that martial arts training was quite the monotonous grind, requiring a great deal of determination and perseverance in order to achieve results. Training in seclusion wasmon among martial artists.


    ...


    After leaving his home, Wu Yuan returned to the martial academy to pick up his belongings. Coming to a side street, he employed Transfiguration, and proceeded towards the south of the city.


    The sky began to darken.


    <i>In a rather secluded alleyway in the south of the city, where pedestrians were scant.</i>


    "Sir, this is the courtyard house I''ve chosen ording to your preferences, it''s quiterge!" An intermediary broker wearing a felt hat gushed in a ttering tone.


    "Where''s the thing I asked for?" Wu Yuan, now a tall-statured man of 1.9 meters who carried a saber, exuded an intimidating aura.


    "It''s all prepared in the backyard." The broker hurriedly added, "In ordance with your instructions, we''ve prepared an extra portion of all types of fodder and food. For the next ten days, someone will deliver a portion daily."


    "Good!" Wu Yuan nodded, flipping his palm to present a silver note. He coldly instructed, "As long as you handle the tasks well over the next ten days, you will naturally be rewarded. But don''t y tricks with me, otherwise..."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The broker felt a cold gleam sh before his eyes. A deep gash suddenly appeared on the stone floor. As his eyes widened in shock, he noticed arge rip on the front of his clothing.


    <i>An expert!</i> The broker gulped. He was an high-tier martial novice. Having spent many years away from Li City, he had a diverse array of experiences. Splitting azure stone with a de was not hard; an Adept could do it.


    But to be this fast with a de? So fast that he didn''t even notice the clothing on his chest being shed? This was his first time encountering such an expert. This man was very likely a second-rate Adept!


    "Sir, I will certainly do an excellent job," the broker said with even more deference, not daring to harbor any ill intent. He had already ssified Wu Yuan as a wandering cavalier in his mind!


    Intermediary brokers relished such cavaliers the most, as they were known for being generous spenders. Yet, they also dreaded these people the most. Whether thew or king''s decree, none could bind them; most cavaliers only believed in the sword they wielded.


    The broker departed from sight.


    <i>It��s time to try my silly method.</i> Wu Yuan strode into the far depths of the dpidated courtyard.


    This was an abandoned courtyard house. Inconspicuous, and with cheap rent. At the far end stood a line of stables and pigsties, all cleaned thanks to the broker''s arrangements. Inside the stable were four horses. In the pigsty, ten robust swine were eating, heads lowered into their troughs.


    <i>For such an experiment, pigs are the most suitable subjects. </i>Wu Yuan smiled as he retrieved the green jade vial from his bundle.

 Chapter 31: Conspiracy

    <h4>Chapter 31: Conspiracy</h4>


    Pigs were creatures whose gic makeup and physical structure bore an uncanny resemnce to that of humans, particrly in regard to the internal organs. In the interster era of his previous life, the pig remained a staple for scientific experimentation even as biological technology advanced. Hence, when Wu Yuan decided to conduct an experiment, the first creature that came to mind was the pig.


    <i>I have precise control over my body. Under normal circumstances, even if I were to imbibe deadly toxins, I could purge them entirely. However, it''s better to be cautious. I should first ascertain whether the liquid in this jade vial is beneficial or harmful!</i>


    Carefulness ensures a ship''s thousand-year voyage.[1] The more Wu Yuan saw through the underlying principles of this world, the more vignt he became.


    <i>Let''s begin.</i> Wu Yuan approached the pigsty.


    Night descended as Wu Yuanmenced his biological experiment. In the darkness, Li City swirled with undercurrents.


    <i>Inside a brightly lit study of the mayor''s manor.</i>


    "Sir, the Luo family, Wang family, Xu family [2].....these eight major families have all agreed, they''re willing to jointly sign a letter using Xu Shouyi of protecting gangs, causing wanton harm to the viges and trampling over the sect''sws," a respectful elder in a white robe reported, "However, the Guan family of Dongye Municipality has explicitly stated that they will not participate."


    "Guan Zishan, that old geezer." A hint of severity shed through the eyes of the cultured Jiang Dongque, but it was soon followed by a sigh of resignation.


    Guan Zishan, formerly a first-rate Adept, was previously a high-ranking general of the Chu-Jiang Empire. Although not part of the sect''s core, the Guan family continued to prosper even after the copse of the empire and his return to his hometown in his old age. Dongye Municipality was practically his private fief, and now, disciples of the Guan family were beginning to join the sect''s headquarters.


    Though he was a county mayor, he was unwilling to provoke the Guan family.


    "Forget it. The joint signatures of eight families, together with the remnants of the captured Vicious Tiger Gang, and the evidence collected in secret over the years, should be just about enough," Jiang Dongque decided.


    He then turned towards Meng Qiang, "Brother Meng, how are things on your end?"


    "The Wu n refuses to admit that the martial academy major tournament was rigged," Meng Qiang towered over the others, his voice booming like a bell, "Given the stance of the Wu n and Wu Yuan, it doesn''t seem fake. Could we have made a mistake?"


    "Mistake?" Jiang Dongque smiled and gently shook his head. "The Enforcement Bureau officers briefed me moments ago. They''ve uncovered that a few days back, the Xu faction deliberately instructed the Vicious Tiger Gang to target the Wu n, raising this year''s tribute from 3000 taels to 8000 taels!"


    "ording to the words of the convict, ��we aren''t asking the Wu n to make additional payment. Since they took the money, of course they should spit it back out��," Jiang Dongque said. "However, the Xu faction didn''t state clearly what task the Wu n failed to aplish."


    Meng Qiang was slightly surprised. After a moment of thought, he said, "You mean to say, the Xu faction spent 5000 taels to bribe Wu Yuan so that he would throw the major tournament. But in the end, the young master of the Xu n ended up losing to Liu Ruyan?"


    Jiang Dongque nodded subtly.


    "But what can we do if the Wu n doesn''t admit it?" Meng Qiang furrowed his brows.


    Without a victim, plus the fact that Xu Yuanhan was fairly defeated, would the higher-ups believe it even if the matter was reported to the sect? They might dismiss it as mere fabrications from Jiang Dongque.


    "It��s not a problem. I will have someone ''identally'' leak this news to the Xu faction," Jiang Dongque said lightly. "The Xu faction will think that the Wu n is preparing to jointly use them."


    A look of confusion appeared on Meng Qiang''s face.


    "In truth, we can''t be certain if the martial academy major tournament was rigged," Jiang Dongque said, "Judging from Wu Yuan''s current prowess, it seems unlikely he would have lost. However, even with the Vicious Tiger Gang''s ount, weck concrete evidence to prove it."


    Meng Qiang listened. Although he was strong, he didn''t quite understand these intricate schemes and concealed desires.


    "If there was no maniption, once Xu Shouyi knows that the Wu n falsely used him, he will only settle scores with them after autumn considering his nature," Jiang Dongque smiled subtly. "But if it was indeed rigged, don��t you think Xu Shouyi will take preemptive action out of fear once if knows that the Wu n is going to use him?"


    Meng Qiang was taken aback, then immediately frowned again. "But the Wu n refuses to admit it, they are not intending to use him."


    "It doesn''t matter whether the Wu n admits it or not," Jiang Dongque said with a light smile. "As long as this matter is true, suspicions will fester between both sides, and Xu Shouyi will have no choice but to address the situation by silencing them."


    "Even if the Wu n tries to clear up the air with Xu Shouyi, do you think Xu Shouyi will trust them? By then, as long as the Wu n doesn''t want to be exterminated, they can only listen to me and use the Xu faction for real," Jiang Dongque was very confident.


    Meng Qiang couldn''t help but nod. This was a conspiracy! As long as the Wu n truly endured injustice from the Xu faction, suspicion would surely creep between them, making trust difficult.


    "Harboring bandits in secret, poisoning the popce; that is a crime! Meddling in local affairs from the shadows; that is a crime! Manipting the martial academy major tournament; that is an even greater crime!" Jiang Dongque''s gaze turned icy, "With all these crimesbined, even if Xu Shouyi doesn''t fall from power, he will no longer dare to challenge me."


    Meng Qiang sighed silently. Martial artists were straightforward people, preferring direct confrontation. How could they understand these schrs and their cunning schemes?


    <i>The Wu n is truly unfortunate. Clearly uninterested in getting involved, yet forcefully dragged into this mess. </i>Meng Qiang shook his head in silent disapproval.


    He wasn''t particrly close to the Wu n, nor did he feel pity for them. He merely found itmentable.


    ...


    Days passed.


    Under thebined assault of the army of defense and the city guard, the once rampant Vicious Tiger Gang of Li City waspletely eradicated. The remaining members were either killed, captured, or fled in disguise!


    Apart from visiting his home and the martial academy once in a while to get updates on current affairs, the rest of Wu Yuan��s time was spent in the rented courtyard house.


    <i>It��s day three! I have enough data to draw a clear conclusion.</i> Wu Yuan stood next to the pig pen, staring intently at the tenrge pigs within.


    Three days ago, these ten pigs were nearly identical. Now, there were clear differences between them. Five of the pigs had shiny skin and were noticeablyrger. The changes in onerge boar were particrly distinct, and it even faintly emitted a fragrant scent.


    <i>A mere trace of this mysterious liquid, mixed into the feed of these five pigs, resulted in such noticeable changes. What if it was consumed in its entirety? The effects would be inconceivably potent!</i>


    Wu Yuan was no scientist nor alchemist, he was incapable of analyzing theponents of this mystical liquid. Nheless, three conclusions could be confidently drawn: Firstly, the liquid was not poisonous. Secondly, it greatly elerated the development and growth of living organisms. Thirdly, even in small quantities, its efficacy was astounding!


    <i>Oral administration proves effective. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted to another tworge pigs. <i>Topical application doesn''t yield noticeable changes.</i>


    He had divided the ten pigs into four groups. One group was given arge dose of the mysterious liquid, one was given a smaller dose, one group had it diluted in water and applied externally, and thest group was given their regr food with no exposure to the liquid at all.


    In the end, ingestion proved to be the most effective!


    Of course, the so-called rge dose'' was just a rtive amount.


    <i>The three-day experiment consumed less than one-tenth of the total liquid in the jade vial. I shouldn��t waste any more of it. Today, I shall test it on myself.</i>


    With the jade vial in hand, Wu Yuan returned to the center of the courtyard.


    Over the past few days, he had remodeled it,pleting all necessary repairs. The four walls of the courtyard were quite high, ensuring no one in a neighboring building could spy on what he was doing. One could say it waspletely private!


    After procuring a basin of clean water, Wu Yuan poured a tiny amount of crystal-clear purple liquid into it. The liquid slowly dissolved in the water, releasing a refreshing fragrance.


    <i>Gulp~</i> Wu Yuan lifted the basin, tilting his head back to take a massive swig, and then set the basin aside.


    <i>So hot! What overwhelming energy.</i> As the solution entered his stomach Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. Everything was going as he had predicted.


    Once the solution entered his stomach, his abdominal muscles convulsed, and the liquid immediately began to exhibit its function. A flood of energy coursed through his blood, quickly spreading to his entire body - his musculoskeletal system, internal organs, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and even his brain. Every piece of flesh in his body, every organ, was infiltrated by strands of mysterious energy, and then began to grow stronger!


    <i>This energy is at least ten times purer than a low-grade body tempering pill. Even just a trace contains so much energy! Absorbing it doesn''t burden my body at all! </i>


    Wu Yuan found it unbelievable. How could such pure energy exist in this world? After all, when Wu Yuan absorbed the energy from a body tempering pill, there was a limit to the body''s tolerance despite his internal organs'' ability to filter out impurities. It had to be done gradually and progressively, so he could only train once every two days. But by absorbing this mysterious energy, he could cultivate continuously until his body reached the limit of its endurance.


    <i>Is this a natural treasure? The effects are much stronger than I had anticipated.</i>


    Little did Wu Yuan know that Ancient Immortal Dew was extremely suitable for body tempering. Even among natural treasures, it was considered one of the best, and was extremely precious. One drop of Ancient Immortal Dew could be exchanged for a divine weapon with plenty of change!


    <i>Treasures are just external powers. If I let this natural treasure flow freely, 99% of its power will be wasted. </i>


    Wu Yuan leaped into the air, striking a peculiar pose. It was an exercise in the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique.


    <i>Conscious control,bined with the strongest Strength Training technique, can allow me to fully utilize the effects of this natural treasure.</i>


    Wu Yuan was highly focused, pouring all his efforts into cultivation. In an instant, all parts of his body, all 206 bones came together as one, faintly trembling.


    Like a glutton, Wu Yuan''s body and muscles devoured and absorbed the mysterious energy converted from the Ancient Immortal Dew.


    "Ah~" Wu Yuan felt spasms of pain in every muscle and bone of his body. His heart rate rose, and his whole body sweated as though in a sauna. A faintyer of mist began rising from his body. This was the manifestation of a drastic metamorphosis of one''s body.


    <i>So exaggerated.</i> Sensing the transformation of his physical constitution, he was somewhat shocked. He had never seen his physique improve at such an insane speed. The changes were actually visible, and it was several times faster than when cultivating with body tempering pills!


    1. Previous line of proverb: Cautiousness captures a thousand autumn cicadas. In other words, cautious individuals can catch even the most elusive cicadas, while careful individuals can keep a ship afloat for thousands of years. It metaphorically means that being cautious and careful helps avoid mistakes and ensures long-term stability and development. ?


    2. Different from the Xu in General Xu ?

 Chapter 32: Yuanhu Villa

    <h4>Chapter 32: Yuanhu Vi</h4>


    As he concentrated fully on practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, Wu Yuan could feel his body transform. His tendons and bones ached subtly, and his muscles were sore and itchy. This was because his body was growing at a staggering rate. The energy contained in the liquid was also rapidly consumed.


    <i>Just what is this natural treasure? It contains such pure energy. It��s truly magical! Practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique while absorbing this energy is simply the perfect pairing.</i>


    Even the purest energy was only useful if absorbed by the body. Should his body fail to absorb the energy, or if the energy was too pure, or if it exceeded a certain amount, it might even pose a danger to him!


    It was just like refeeding after a period of malnutrition. Overfeeding could be fatal!


    So in the beginning, Wu Yuan didn��t dare to ingest the liquid at its original concentration, carefully diluting a small part of it in water before intake. The oue proved that being careful was the right choice. If he had swallowed the liquid without diluting it, most of its effects would have been wasted even if Wu Yuan was somehow able to digest it.


    <i>The current concentration is within the limit of what my body can handle. </i>Wu Yuan smiled in satisfaction.


    He walked to the staircase and picked up the basin. The water now glowed a faint purple. He took a big gulp, making sure not to waste a single drop.


    In one breath, he drank a third of the water. As soon as it entered his abdomen, an explosive surge of energy cascaded outward. This natural treasure was ten times more potent than a body tempering pill! Wu Yuan didn''t want to waste one bit, so he continued to practice the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique.


    <i>The genome of this body is incredibly powerful, with a surprisingly high physical limit. I was also previously restricted by my energy supply when practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique. But now, I can practice as much as I want.</i>


    Anyone would be captivated by the feeling of constant growth.


    The thirteen continents within the Middle Land were colossal stretches ofnd where martial arts legacies endured for millennia. Certain sacred martial sects possessed secret techniques akin to the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique and the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique. While they might not be as effective, the disparity between them wasn''t significant. Moreover, such sects wouldn''t have anyck of natural treasures like Ancient Immortal Dew.


    Yet, whether secret techniques or natural treasures, the most crucial factor in determining how strong one became remained the individual themself!


    Even a martial arts Grandmaster would find it difficult to truly master these secret techniques, let alone a teenager who just started practicing martial arts. How many would manage toplete their training during their prime years of physical growth?


    Furthermore, even if they were barely able toplete their training, how many had the consciousness of a Grandmaster? How many of them could control their bodies to such a precise extent?


    Aside from training, Wu Yuan spent his time sleeping or feeding the pigs and horses.


    <i>...</i>


    <i>No more than two dayster in the courtyard.</i>


    Wu Yuan swung his arm.


    <i>Boom!</i> A punch flew as swiftly as lightning, striking the air with a faint explosion. Such a scene would cause any onlooker to turn pale.


    <i>The power of a single arm should have reached 24,000 catties. </i>Wu Yuan retracted his fist, the corners of his mouth curling up.<i> In just two days, I have increased my strength by about 4000 catties, haha!</i>


    24,000 catties of raw physical strength! Without incorporating any martial skills!


    In the Middle Land, 20,000 catties represented the minimum power of a fifth-grade martial artist, also known as a third-rate Adept. Only one third-rate Adept was born out of tens of thousands of people. Back in the Human Federation, such strength meant that one was already a martial arts Grandmaster. This level of power represented the upper limits of human biology.


    <i>The DNA of creatures in the Middle Land has far fewer imperfections. Theypletely surpass the genes of my past life. </i>


    <i>But even so, twenty-year-old Adepts are considered young elites of any great martial sect.</i> Wu Yuan, having conversed with his teachers at the martial academy, understood this well.


    An Adept at fourteen years of age? Even the word prodigy was insufficient to describe it.


    <i>This is just pure physical strength. What if I add Threefold Power Surge?</i> Wu Yuan clenched his fist. His arm muscles bulged, blue veins standing out. His activated muscles and membrane connected to his spine, causing it to rise and fall like a giant dragon, instantly mobilizing all his strength.


    <i>Converge!</i>


    <i>Boom!</i> A fist sted forward with threefold ovepping force. The air waspressed, like a cannonball being fired, then burst out with a fearsome roar!


    One punch. An immense 70,000 catties of power!


    ording to the grading system of martial artists, second-grade martial artists could exert a force of 100,000 catties with a single arm. They were powerful enough to split mountains and rocks, and were also called Savant experts.


    ...


    Deep within the general of defense''s manor, in a hall that resembled a military camp, the silence was deafening.


    A heavy object hit the floor with a dull thud.


    "Traitor! Traitor!" General Xu''s furious shouts pierced through the closed doors and windows, echoing into the courtyard beyond the hall.


    His personal guards maintained a vignt distance from the courtyard, conducting their patrols with cold expressions, ensuring that no one ventured too close.


    The hall was currently in aplete mess.


    "Father, I know my mistake!" A young man dressed in a ck robe knelt on the ground, a distinct bloody handprint marking his cheek. He was none other than the eldest son of the Xu family, Xu Yuanjie.


    "Don''t call me father, I dare not have a son like you." The typicallyposed General Xu zed with unrestrained fury.


    Xu Yuanhan lowered his head, terrified beyond measure.


    "Let me ask you. Did I not tell you to stay out of this matter? Why did you send Li Ye of the Vicious Tiger Gang to cause trouble for the Wu n?" roared General Xu.


    Xu Yuanjie dared not utter a word.


    "Speak!" General Xu red at him.


    "I...I thought, since Sixth Brother failed to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, these 5000 silver taels should naturally be retrieved from the Wu n," Xu Yuanjie stuttered.


    "Even if you wanted to retrieve it, why did you send the Vicious Tiger Gang?" General Xu red unblinkingly at Xu Yuanjie, as if he wanted to devour his own son alive.


    "I thought, since the Wu n doesn''t know manners, they should be taught a lesson..." Xu Yuanjie''s voice softened to a whisper. Then he burst out, "But father, I truly did not ask the Vicious Tiger Gang to kill the Wu nsmen, I really did not!"


    "You did not?" General Xu seethed with an all-consuming wrath, smashing the porcin on the desk onto the ground. "What do you think the Vicious Tiger Gang is? They are a pack of money-hungry wolves who treat human lives like grass! Even I can''t fully control them."


    "Did you think that Li Ye and the others would listen to youpletely?"


    "Naive! Ignorant!"


    "I see you wish topletely ruin your sixth brother and destroy our Xu n before you are satisfied," The more General Xu spoke, the angrier he got.


    Suddenly he grabbed his official seal, about to smash it on Xu Yuanjie. With his terrifying strength, if the seal hit, it would endanger Xu Yuanjie''s life.


    "Father!" Xu Yuanjie''s eyes were full of terror, he never thought that this matter would make his father this furious.


    "General, calm down! Calm down!" Liu Ye, the robust man beside them, finally stepped in to stop General Xu. At the same time, he turned to Xu Yuanjie, "Young Master, are you still not leaving?"


    "Thank you, Uncle Liu." Xu Yuanjie scrambled on all fours towards the hall exit, as if pardoned from a death sentence.


    "Imprison this traitor in the military cell; without mymand, no one is to release him!" roared General Xu.


    "Yes!" Two guards outside the hall acknowledged the order, promptly catching up with Xu Yuanjie.


    Finally, tranquility descended within the hall.


    General Xu drew a deep breath, then turned to Liu Ye, "Apologies, Liu Ye, I lost myposure. My failure to educate my child has led you to witness such a farce."


    "General, please soothe your rage," Liu Ye spoke in a low tone, "While the young master''s actions were impulsive, his intentions were good."


    "Good intentions? He''s too foolish, too focused on petty gains!" Disappointment filled General Xu''s eyes.


    Liu Ye found himself unable to reply.


    "General, ording to the two family heads we''ve captured, the young master did not reveal the specifics to the gang," Liu Ye broke the silence.


    "Does it matter?" General Xu shook his head, "How cunning is Wu Qiming? How can he not have guessed that it was the work of my Xu faction?"


    "Our mole in the county mayor''s faction has sent news. The Wu n has agreed to jointly use us!"


    "Moreover, that youngster Wu Yuan''s strength is advancing at a rapid pace, it is said that he already possesses the strength of a martial virtuoso."


    "A martial virtuoso at fourteen? When was thest time such a prodigy appeared in Li City? Among the disciples taken in by the Cloud Martial Hall this year, only one can rival him."


    General Xu shook his head slightly, "Once the Wu n lodges the usation, Jiang Dongque will undoubtedly lend his full support. Faced with a genius like Wu Yuan, the sect won''t sit by idly. The Inspection Hall will definitely make a trip here to investigate the matter."


    "What should we do?" The mention of the Inspection Hall caused Liu Ye''splexion to change.


    "If it weren''t for my idiotic child, the Wu n''s usation wouldn''t be a problem. But the third family head of the Vicious Tiger Gang has fallen into Jiang Dongque''s hands, and he knows too much." General Xu''s eyes were ice-cold.


    "I understand," Liu Ye nodded slightly, "This third family head will fall ill and die in prison."


    General Xu nodded satisfactorily, his anger subsiding a little.


    "What about the Wu n?" Liu Ye posed another question.


    "They have already suffered injustice at my hands; this time Wu Qiming almost lost his life. Many of the Wu nsmen have been injured or killed. They are probably filled with rage towards me. Along with Jiang Dongque stirring the pot, there''s no way to reconcile with them. Besides, even if we were to try reconciling, would they believe us?" General Xu''s gaze was icy.


    Liu Ye could not help but shake his head. Since the issue with the Vicious Tiger Gang, both sides had lost their foundation of trust.


    "Moreover, Wu Yuan possesses great talent. Even if we were to mend our rtionship, who knows whether he will seek revenge after he matures?" General Xu shook his head, "The risk is too high. I��m not willing to take such a gamble."


    "Then?" Liu Ye asked hesitantly.


    "Find an opportunity to get rid of Wu Yuan first. Once Wu Yuan is dead, kill Wu Qiming," General Xu said coldly, "By then, all those involved in this matter would have died, leaving no one to refute us. With only a few pieces of evidence in Jiang Dongque''s hands linking me with the Vicious Tiger Gang, I would be recalled back to the sect at most. With Master around, I still have the opportunity to make aeback."


    Liu Ye could not help but nod. Others might not know of this, but he knew that Xu Shouyi''s mentor was one of the key decision-makers of the sect.


    "We still haven''t found out who the mysterious spearman is. Although his wiping out the Vicious Tiger Gang has its pros and cons, it has solved a major problem for me," General Xu said.


    "Right." Liu Ye could not help but nod, a trace of lingering fear on his face, "Who could have imagined that Yang Long was actually a disciple of Yuanhu Vi? He concealed his identity too well. It was only after searching through the entire stronghold that I found the letters ofmunication between Yang Long and Yuanhu Vi."


    Yuanhu Vi was one of the six major powers of the Jiang Continent. Although weaker than the Cloudstride Sect, it still ruled over thousands of li of territory. It had a poption of twenty million and housed many martial arts experts.


    "Yuanhu Vi allied with the Cloudstride Sect against Great Jin. They can be considered half an ally, yet they nted a pawn in the belly of our sect. There must be a reason behind it," General Xu slowly said, "If we can find out the reason before the sect gets involved, we might not only be dered innocent, but even earn merit."

 Chapter 33: 100,000 Catties Of Force

    <h4>Chapter 33: 100,000 Catties Of Force</h4>


    <i>Within the hall.</i>


    "Innocent, and even earn merit?" Liu Ye pondered the general''s words.


    "Yuanhu Vi is merely a force that Old Yuanhu established, taking advantage of the copse of the Chu-Jiang Empire. With this force, he unified the Yuanhu Province for just over ten years. But its foundation is weak, far fromparable to our Cloudstride Sect," General Xu stated. As a senior official and a core disciple, he was very clear about the situation in the Jiang Continent, though he couldn''t say the same for the overall situation in the Middle Land.


    "Old Yuanhu has recruited some experts over the years. However, their numbers are limited, and he''s not one to readily ce his trust in others. The sole individuals he confides in and truly cherishes are his five direct disciples," General Xu murmured softly.


    "ording to what we''ve learned from interrogating the remnants of the Vicious Tiger Gang, the martial arts expert whost faced the mysterious spearman was dressed in beast hide and wielded twin hammers. He should be none other than Old Yuanhu''s youngest direct disciple, Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie!" General Xu said with certainty.


    "First-rate Adept, Ming Lie? I heard that he has yet to reach 30, and is acknowledged as the top genius of Yuanhu Vi!" Liu Ye eximed, "He was here?"


    First-rate Adepts were few and far between. There were no true first-rate Adepts living in Li City. But at the provincial level, there were quite a few first-rate Adepts.


    Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie was a famous first-rate Adept in the Jiang Continent for one simple reason - his youth! Being young meant having infinite possibilities.


    "There''s a 90% chance it''s him. This Beast Mountain Hammer must have a special reason for appearing here out of the blue," General Xu said, "Investigate! Mobilize all forces, get to the bottom of it."


    "From the time Jiang Dongque and the others jointly lodge theint, to the news reaching our sect, and then our sect sending a team here to investigate the matter, it will take at least a month. In five days, if we still can''t find anything,pile all the clues and report them to the sect. It will also be considered a meritorious deed," General Xu said.


    "Indeed," Liu Ye affirmed. He had been a follower of Xu Shouyi from a young age, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and thus gaining his utmost trust.


    ...


    The Jiang Continent, a confluence of countless rivers, spanned thousands of miles and boasted a poption of hundreds of millions. Despite enduring unending turmoil over thousands of years, it had maintained a structure of sixteen provinces.


    Yuanhu Province was the southernmost province of the Jiang Continent, situated at the junction of three continents, the other two being the Chu Continent and the Dong Continent.


    When the Chu-Jiang Empire first copsed, the region was plunged into chaos for over a decade. Only about ten years ago, when Old Yuanhu established Yuanhu Vi, did stability finally return.


    The headquarters of Yuanhu Vi was located beside the 600-li-wide Yuanhu Lake, nestled against the backdrop of Yuanhu Mountain. It boastedyers of towering pavilions and ancient trees reaching high into the sky, upying a broad expanse ofnd. Numerous disciples could be seen refining their skills on a variety of training grounds, a sight that showed off the splendor of a great martial sect.


    The grand hall at the highest point of the vi stood majestic and vast. Its decor was simple yet elegant. But today, there were no disciples guarding it.


    In the middle of the hall, a one-armed man was kneeling, his head bowed low to the ground. An invisible aura enveloped the entire grand hall.


    "You lost the Chu-Jiang Token just like that?" echoed a cold voice in the grand hall, "Ming Lie, you have truly disappointed me."


    At the front of the hall stood a man with ck hair. He was dressed in a wide red robe and had a lean face, dark skin, and narrow eyes. His demeanor radiated a sense of cold indifference. Most notably, his left eye appeared cloudy, a clear sign of blindness.


    He was Old Yuanhu, the master of Yuanhu Vi and the ruler of millions in Yuanhu Province!


    "I beg your forgiveness, Master!" Ming Lie bowed his head, sweat trickling down his face.


    "Did you recognize the expert you fought?" Old Yuanhu''s voice was still cold.


    "I could not,�� Ming Lie bowed his head, ��He wore a bronze mask, first wielding a spear, then a saber. His moves were strange and unfamiliar. I truly could not recognize him."


    ��I can confirm that his physical constitution wasn''t strong, only around the fifth grade. However, his martial skills were quite formidable. He invoked Power Surge repeatedly as if he was not restricted by any physical limits, I believe he has reached the Rigid Yet Supple stage.�� Ming Lie stated solemnly.


    "Rigid Yet Supple?" Old Yuanhu had maintained hisposure until those words reached his ears. In an instant, a cold gleam passed through his eyes.


    "A fifth-grade physical constitution, but at the Rigid Yet Supple stage? Ming Lie!�� Old Yuanhu''s gaze turned icy, and a bone-chilling aura enveloped the grand hall, ��Over the twenty years I''ve taught you, when did I ever teach you to deceive your master?��


    A chill ran down Ming Lie''s spine, causing him to shudder involuntarily. ��Master, I am puzzled too. But I''ve spoken nothing but the truth. I dare not deceive you.�� Ming Lie gritted his teeth, his head lowered.


    Old Yuanhu looked down at Ming Lie. His fingertips danced on his prayer beads, seemingly lost in thought. A strange pressure filled the grand hall, making it difficult for Ming Lie to catch his breath.


    Just as he was on the verge of copsing, Old Yuanhu finally spoke, ��Ming Lie, this time, I choose to believe you.�� His voice softened slightly.


    ��Thank you, master.�� Ming Lie, having been pardoned, bowed repeatedly.


    ��Transcribe everything you have said today, and send it to me.�� Old Yuanhu calmly instructed.


    ��Yes, I understand,�� Ming Lie nodded continuously.


    This was a customary practice at Yuanhu Vi.


    ��The loss of the Chu-Jiang Token is a minor matter. What''s truly pitiful is the loss of your arm,�� Old Yuanhu''s gaze fell upon Ming Lie''s severed arm.


    ��I have let you down, Master,�� Ming Lie hung his head, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.


    In the practice of martial arts, the loss of an arm would greatly affect the musculoskeletal system of the rest of the body. Forget stepping into a higher grade, even maintaining one''s current strength would be extremely difficult! His lifespan would also be affected, and in life-and-death battles, he would expose more fatal ws!


    "Fortune and misfortune are closely entwined in martial arts cultivation," Old Yuanhu slowly said, "300 years ago, there was a Land Ranker called Song Bo, who lost an arm in battle. After 30 years of hard work, he crafted the One-Armed Immortal de and became a Heavenly Ranker, shaking the world!"


    "It��s unfortunate that you��ve lost an arm. But you''re still young, not even 30 years old. If you focus on your martial path, I see no reason why you can''t reach my level in the future." Old Yuanhu solemnly said, ��You must not wallow in despair, do you understand?��


    "I will heed your words and not disappoint you, Master," Ming Lie promised.


    "Mm, you may leave," Old Yuanhu dismissed him.


    Ming Lie rose with difficulty. He had yet to heal from his injuries, and blood was still visible at the site of his amputation. He bowed, then slowly exited the grand hall.


    Not long after, two figures entered the grand hall, one tall, one short. The taller one was d in a white robe and appeared quite refined. The shorter one was d in iron armor, his muscles bulging, resembling a gigantic iron ball.


    "Master," the two bowed simultaneously.


    "Your junior brother found a Chu-Jiang Token in the Li County of Southdream Province. However, it was stolen from him, and he lost an arm," Old Yuanhu informed them in a cold voice.


    "The Chu-Jiang Token?" The refined man in the white robe was startled.


    "Our younger brother lost an arm?" The shorter, muscr man was equally shocked.


    Their initial reactions to the news werepletely different.


    "In a while, your younger brother will write up a report detailing the incident. Read it carefully," Old Yuanhu instructed.


    "Understood," the two disciples replied in unison.


    "Tang Ru, head to Li City with some of your elites for a covert investigation. If you find traces of the Chu-Jiang Token, you must retrieve it," Old Yuanhu looked at the refined man in the white robe.


    "Disciple understands," the man in white robes answered.


    "Zhu Shan, lead your elites and scour the area in a 500-li radius around Li City. Look for traces of the Chu-Jiang Token,"manded Old Yuanhu.


    "Yes," acknowledged the stout, portly man, cupping his fists.


    "Remember," Old Yuanhu''s gaze swept over his two disciples, "This matter is of great importance. The Cloudstride Sect may discover traces as well and send their experts. Avoid conflict with them if possible, and operate discreetly."


    "But if you confirm the location of the Chu-Jiang Token, acquire it at all costs," Old Yuanhu stated, "Afterwards, I''ll provide an exnation to the Cloudstride Sect myself."


    "Yes," the two disciples acknowledged their instructions with resolute hearts. With their master''s backing, their worries were greatly alleviated.


    The Cloudstride Sect controlled three provinces and was much stronger than Yuanhu Vi. But with the Great Jin Empire watching them like a tiger, neither would risk starting a war.


    ...


    Six days passed.


    <i>In a small courtyard house at the southern end of Li City.</i>


    Apart from two trips home to assure his family of his safety, Wu Yuan spent all his time in this courtyard house, fully dedicated to practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique. As the quantity of liquid in the jade vial dwindled, Wu Yuan''s physical constitution transformed at an unimaginable speed.


    His arms supported his weight as sweat covered his body, a faint mist shrouding his figure. Exerting a slight force on his fingertips, Wu Yuannded silently like a nimble cat. His pores tightened, and he stripped off his soaked shirt to wipe himself with a towel, revealing perfectly chiseled muscles.


    Wu Yuan''s muscr frame was not overly exaggerated, but instead visually harmonious. It gave one a sense of perfection.


    <i>If something gives off a sense of beauty or harmony, it means it is done correctly. </i>Wu Yuan understood this well.


    If he overtrained a single muscle or bone, causing it to grow disproportionatelyrge, it might not be beneficial, and instead disrupt the unity of the whole.


    In just six days, my physical constitution has increased by more than 50%, reaching its current limit. Any further enhancement would merely be pulling up the seedlings to ''help'' them grow [1]. Wu Yuan could distinctly feel the transformation in his musculoskeletal system.


    This was unlike training as an adult. Children and teenagers had to cultivate gradually, focusing on nurturing and stimting their growth. Chasing power blindly would only lead to setbacks.


    <i>Some martial artists begin straining their bodies at the age of seven or eight. This affects their subsequent development and they can''t grow tall! </i>Wu Yuan walked to one end of the courtyard.


    Your growth is stunted despite martial training? It just means you''re not training correctly.


    <i>This body is only fourteen years old. I''ve been diligently working on my physical constitution over the past few days with the liquid from the jade vial. However, I''m not only concentrating on building my physical strength; I''m also addressing past deficiencies and nurturing my body. I''m establishing a solid foundation for theing years of growth. The path of cultivation requires a step-by-step approach.</i>


    <i>I still have four more years of rapid physical development! By adhering to the naturalws of heaven and earth, allowing my body to progress, and pushing it to its limits at each stage, my physical condition will naturally continue to improve. Eventually, I may achieve a state I once deemed impossible. At least, the current me has already surpassed my former self! </i>


    Wu Yuan clenched his fist and swung a punch. The power in his limbs converged, and the casual punch made the air explode with a bang.


    Wu Yuan''s one-arm strength surpassed 30,000 catties. In the Human Federation, that would make him the top Grandmaster! If he were to use Threefold Power Surge, that would be 100,000 catties of force.


    <i>If I encounter that mysterious expert at Ninecloud Mountain again?</i> Wu Yuan grinned.


    <i>I can y him within three moves!</i>


    1. idiom: a farmer was wondering how to make his crops grow quicker. He came up with the idea of pulling them up, and indeed they appeared to have grown taller. Later, his son came to the field and saw that the crops had all died. ?

 Chapter 34: Change In Perspective

    <h4>Chapter 34: Change In Perspective</h4>


    The sh at Ninecloud Mountain had a profound impact on Wu Yuan, introducing him to the brutal reality of this world. More importantly, it gave him a fresh understanding of the Middle Land. If a first-rate Adept could master Power Surge, then how about those martial arts experts whose fame shook a continent, or those who stood at the pinnacle of the world? Their battle skills would only be even more formidable!


    <i>While the legendary Heavenly Rankers might not possess Xianxia or mythical abilities like moving mountains and oceans or plucking stars and moons, they can effortlessly split mountains and part rivers. They are nothing short of ''deities that walk thend''. How powerful are their martial skills?</i>


    Wu Yuan recalled the novels he had read in the martial academy''s library. At first, he doubted their authenticity. But now? He had no more doubts.


    Solely in terms of martial skills, the pinnacle of martial strength in this world likely surpassed Wu Yuan''s previous estimates.


    <i>And this spiritual liquid.</i> Wu Yuan lowered his head to look at the green jade vial beside him. Uncertain of what this mysterious fluid was, he referred to it as ��spiritual liquid��. Its effects were astounding. The Life Energy Liquid, a technological marvel of the Human Federation, paled inparison. Wu Yuan did not believe this to be a result of technological disparity.


    <i>It''s the material, a by-product of the fundamental differences of worlds. It''s just like how the materials that make up divine weapons surpass any alloy of the Human Federation.</i>


    Such a gap could not be bridged by technological research.


    <i>If such a treasure could only be found in the possession of Heavenly Rankers, that would be understandable. But a second-rate Adept possessing such a treasure? This means that simr natural treasures are abundant in the Middle Land! </i>


    <i>In theory, somerge factions could even supply a few martial arts prodigies with such treasures in bulk. Although the utilization efficiency of these young prodigies might be low, they can make up for it with sheer quantity.</i>


    Previously, Wu Yuan had brimmed with confidence in his abilities. But after getting a taste of this mystical spiritual liquid, he was no longer certain that his foundation was stronger than that of most elite martial artists in this world.


    The reason was simple. In terms of perception, martialskill, and perhaps bodily control, Wu Yuan might be superior. However, the top prodigies of this world might have been nurtured with countless precious resources since childhood, forging near-perfect physical foundations.


    At the moment of Wu Yuan''s transmigration and awakening, he was already fourteen. Even though his body''s predecessor had practiced harshly, and he had strived to nourish his body during these past months, many aspects of his physique were already set in stone. It was nearly impossible to change them. This could result in a gic gap from birth.


    <i>I transmigrated into a fourteen-year-old body, not a four-year-old one. It is destined never to reach absolute perfection.</i>


    Of course, he also felt fortunate.


    <i>At the very least, this was not the body of a 60-year-old. At the very least, this body''s predecessorid a decent foundation. My aim is to strive for perfection in the next four years!</i>


    <i>I have reached a high phase of cultivation. I can control my body, pushing it to its near-utmost limit of growth. But energy is needed for growth! The purer, the better.</i>


    Whether it was consuming ordinary meat, eating a body tempering pill, or nourishing the body with this spiritual liquid, all of these could supply him with energy. Wu Yuan could also expel nearly all the impurities.


    However, he could not expel thempletely. In this world, there was no absolute perfection. Thus, the fewer impurities contained in the things Wu Yuan consumed, the better. By doing this, he could minimize the buildup of impurities in his body, which, in turn, would reduce obstacles to his physical development and his future progress in Marrow Cleansing and Blood Transfusion cultivation.


    <i>Regr meat and body tempering pills don''t differ much in terms of impurities. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head. They only differed in terms of the amount of energy contained.


    If he hadn''t obtained this mysterious spiritual liquid, Wu Yuan would have continued cultivating with body tempering pills contentedly. But now that he knew it existed, he could not ignore it.


    <i>This spiritual liquid doesn''t contain a single trace of impurities?</i> When Wu Yuan first noticed this, he was deeply shocked. At least, with Wu Yuan''s current level of control over his body, he couldn''t detect any impurities in the spiritual liquid.


    <i>Too pure!</i>


    It ignited an instinctive desire within Wu Yuan. Moving from frugality to luxury was simple, yet transitioning from luxury back to frugality was a difficult path.


    <i>I had nned to cultivate uneventfully until I reached the age of eighteen, when my golden years of physical development ended, before venturing forth into the world. Perhaps by then, I couldmand a strength of 30,000 or even 40,000 catties!</i>


    Such strength was truly frightening. Cultivating in such a manner was also extremely safe.


    <i>But now? </i>Wu Yuan picked up the jade vial, staring at the scant remains of the spiritual liquid inside.


    <i>If I consistently supplement my cultivation with something simr to this spiritual liquid, by the time I reach eighteen, my physical constitution could improve by an additional twenty percent at least.</i> Wu Yuan estimated roughly.


    Twenty percent didn''t seem much. In these few months alone, Wu Yuan''s physical strength had multiplied nearly tenfold! However, it must be understood that this was his prime period of progress. When his body''s development approached its limit, it would be extremely difficult to increase his strength by even a hundred catties. A difference of twenty percent likely amounted to a disparity of tens of thousands of catties in strength!


    <i>In my past life, my physical constitution was too weak, making it difficult to attempt the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique. But in this life? There is clear hope!</i> A hint of longing was evident in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>The n needs to be altered. I need more spiritual liquid to aid my cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan made up his mind.


    However, spiritual liquid wouldn''t just fall from the sky.


    <i>There are two methods.</i>


    <i>One is to go and search for it myself, which offers more freedom and no constraints. However, the world is vast and a single person has limited time and energy, where should I go looking? The second method is to join a powerful force and utilize its resources.</i>


    A martial arts expert could take on more than 10,000 opponents. Why did they still choose to establish factions? One important reason was to collect resources more efficiently! There was strength in unity.


    <i>By allying with a faction and showcasing my talent, I can naturally secure more resources. At the very least, I can swiftly uncover the secrets of this world. Furthermore, I will one day journey across thend to explore all corners of this world. If I join a faction and attain a high position, it will greatly assist my mother and my n.</i>


    At different stages of life, one��s perspectives changed. When Wu Yuan had just regained consciousness, he had retained the values of aw-bound society from his past life. But now, his thinking gradually aligned with the martial artists of the Middle Land.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect is one option. If the Cloudstride Sect doesn''t suit my tastes, then I will seek out the sacred martial arts sects of the Dong Continent or the Wu Continent.</i>


    The Cloudstride Sect was located closest to him. And as a native citizen of the Cloudstride Sect, of which his father was once a military officer, Wu Yuan could easily earn the sect''s trust.


    As for the Wu Continent and the Dong Continent?


    The Wu Continent was the birthce of the foremost martial sect in the world, the Wu Sect [1]. Established by the Martial King, its legacy spanned thousands of years. The continent hosted numerous other great martial sects, and weed individuals from foreign continents without discrimination.


    The Dong Continent stood second only to the Holy Continent in terms of prosperity, and housed a multitude of factions. The headquarters of the Sta Consortium, for instance, was located in the Dong Continent.


    However, inparison to the Cloudstride Sect, earning their trust would prove far more challenging for Wu Yuan.


    <i>Moreover, the journey to the Dong Continent or the Wu Continent will be long and arduous. It would take me a considerable length of time just to get there, and I wouldn''t be able to look after my n.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head lightly.


    Great Jin was also an option. As the most powerful nation in the world, it had substantial resources, and openly weed martial artists from all corners of the world. Unfortunately, because of his father''s death, Wu Yuan harbored a subconscious feeling of dislike for the Great Jin Empire.


    <i>Moreover, if I rise to power in the future, the history of my family''sst eight generations will be thoroughly checked. Should it be discovered that my father was killed by Great Jin''s army, would they still trust me unconditionally? Would anyone believe that I am loyal to the royal family of Great Jin?</i>


    It was unrealistic! Loyalty was of utmost importance in any force. It was especially crucial in this world of martial arts where individuals could attain terrifying strength. If a faction raised a Heavenly Ranker, just for him to turn on them, it would be an absolute nightmare!


    <i>No rush. The remaining spiritual liquid is enough for another month of cultivation. I should think things over first.</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly tidied up his belongings in the courtyard, making sure nothing was left behind.


    After leaving the courtyard, Wu Yuan didn''t return home. Instead, he headed to the martial academy.


    Having ced fourth in the previous martial academy major tournament, he no longer had to attend any courses. However, as a disciple of the martial academy, it was important to make the asional appearance.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had decided to join a major power, and the Cloudstride Sect was his first choice. Making contact with the sect through the martial academy was a good strategy.


    After reaching the martial academy, he received a piece of news.


    "The Headmaster and Instructor Huan have been searching for me these past few days?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    1. not the same Wu as Wu Yuan ?

 Chapter 35: Revealing The First Hint Of Talent

    <h4>Chapter 35: Revealing The First Hint Of Talent</h4>


    Deep within the martial academy, next to the seven-story tower, stood a quiet, secluded courtyard house. This vicinity housed the martial academy''s instructors, and among all the residences, this courtyard house was the most splendid. It seldom received visitors, but it had been hosting an upant for the past few days.


    <i>Inside the courtyard house.</i>


    "Junior Sister, don''t fault Master. Every martial artist must go through the trials of the world. Being an instructor at the martial academy is already one of the easiest and most leisurely roles,"ughed a young man d in a roomy ck robe, with a faint scar on his face.


    "I know." Huan Xinyan, her striking ck hair framing her face, smiled, "To be an instructor, to teach students, is also to teach oneself. In the year that I''ve served as an instructor at the martial academy, the martial principles that eluded me in the past have slowly be clearer to me."


    "That''s right." The scarred young man regarded Huan Xinyan appreciatively, "The little girl who once followed her senior brother around, making a fuss, has finally started to mature."


    "Senior Brother, you''re always bringing up my childhood," Huan Xinyan gave a resigned smile.


    "Haha, even this youngdy knows how to feel bashful," the scarred young man chuckled heartily. He patted Huan Xinyan''s head affectionately. "I wonder which talented young man out there will one day be worthy of you."


    Despite his youthful appearance, the scarred young man was actually over 40 years old. His mastery of martial arts had preserved his looks remarkably well over time, and he was someone who had witnessed Huan Xinyan grow up every step of the way.


    "It''s still early," Huan Xinyan said, "I remember you were over 30 when you got married, Senior Brother."


    "I marriedte because there was no suitable match," the scarred young man chuckled, "Actually, that youngd Lu Ren is not bad."


    "Senior Brother, please don''t make things up. I''m not interested in him, and I''m not thinking of getting married anytime soon," Huan Xinyan shook her head.


    The knife-scarred young man simply smiled in amusement, clearly not taking her words to heart.


    "Instructor Huan, Senior Brother Wu Yuan has arrived at the martial academy. He has already gone to the martial grand hall," a somewhat uneasy voice called from outside the small courtyard.


    The two within the courtyard house turned their heads toward the voice. Outside the courtyard stood a tall, slender girl. She looked youthful and wore the martial academy disciple uniform.


    "Wu Yuan has arrived? Good, immediately report this to the headmaster, as well as the other instructors of the martial academy. I shall be there promptly," Huan Xinyan instructed.


    "Understood." The girl took her leave.


    "Wu Yuan? A disciple of the martial academy, I presume," the scarred youth in ck robes chuckled. "It appears you are worried about him, Junior Sister?" Earlier, he had heard the girl addressing Wu Yuan as ''Senior Brother'', thus he deduced his position within the martial academy.


    "He was my first personal mentee since my arrival at the Li County martial academy," Huan Xinyan wore a slightly prideful smile. "I''m looking for him because he potentially possesses the strength of a sixth-grade martial virtuoso. Hence, I wish for all the instructors of the martial academy to witness an assessment of his abilities."


    "A sixth-grade martial virtuoso?" the scarred youth in the ck robe chuckled. "The disciples of the martial academy are typically no older than fifteen, if I recall correctly."


    "Correct! Wu Yuan has barely turned fourteen," said Huan Xinyan earnestly. "Moreover, his rapid progress has only urred over the past few months. Just half a year ago, he was still somewhatcking even for a seventh-grade martial novice."


    "Barely fourteen? And not even a seventh-grade martial novice just six months ago?" The usuallyposed youth in ck robes appeared slightly taken aback. "Sister, are you certain? Did he experience an awakening in his martial path?"


    "How can I not be certain of my personal mentee''s progress?" Huan Xinyan affirmed.


    The ck-robed youth nodded slightly. "His physical constitution has improved at an astonishing rate. I do wonder how he fares in actualbat, though."


    "His de techniques and footwork are both solid," Huan Xinyan said confidently. She could see that her senior brother was intrigued.


    "Haha, Junior Sister, whether his training is solid or not is best determined through actualbat," the scar-faced youth in ckughed. "Isn''t your martial academy nning to assess him? Take me with you, I would like to see him for myself."


    "Alright." Huan Xinyan''s eyes brightened. She knew well that her senior brother held a high position within the sect. Should Wu Yuan catch his eye, Huan Xinyan was even more confident about Wu Yuan��s chances of joining the sect. One could even say that it was set in stone.


    The martial grand hall was the main hall of the martial academy, a venue forrge-scale public events. Within the hall were several practice rooms and strength assessment chambers. It was a ce where disciples of the martial academy frequented.


    "Senior Brother Wu Yuan."


    "Senior Brother." These martial academy disciples all recognized Wu Yuan.


    Standing by the side of the grand hall, Wu Yuan responded with a modest nod.


    <i>Why would Instructor Huan and the Headmaster be looking for me? </i>He could think of no particr reason.


    Ever since the martial academy major tournament ended, he had kept a low profile, seldom venturing out even when he cultivated at the martial academy.


    <i>These few months, I have only met Instructor Huan two or three times. Could it be rted to those rumors spread by the n?</i>


    Within his n, it was rumored that he possessed a level of strength nearing that of a martial virtuoso. But that was only a rumor, he had never publicly demonstrated such power.


    At this moment, a group of six or seven martial academy disciples walked through therge door of the grand hall.


    "Brother Guan, you will definitely be the first of us to reach the level of a seventh-grade martial novice!"


    "A seventh-grade martial novice!"


    "Brother Guan has ced first in thest four minor tournaments, and the speed of his progress is getting faster each day. There''s a good chance he''ll enter the Cloud Martial Hall next year." The disciples chattered as they walked,plimenting the handsome, burly young man in the center of the group.


    "Hm? Isn''t that Senior Brother Wu Yuan over there?" One of them suddenly noticed Wu Yuan standing close by.


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "At this year''s martial academy major tournament, it��s said that his strength was not far off from Liu Ruyan, who took first ce!" Several disciples whispered among themselves.


    In terms of age, Wu Yuan was even younger than some of them. However within the martial academy, Wu Yuan had always been a famous figure.


    "Wu Yuan?" the teenager named Guan Yang furrowed his brows. He had heard of Wu Yuan.


    As the most dazzling disciple from the Dongye Guan n in recent years, he yearned to enter the Cloud Martial Hall more than anything else. And to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, he had to seize first ce in the martial academy major tournament.


    Guan Yang had assessed hispetitors, and his greatestpetitor was none other than Wu Yuan. But in the past few months, he had not seen Wu Yuan around.


    "I heard that Wu Yuan is eligible to participate in the next martial academy major tournament. That''s why he stayed in the academy for one more year; he''s aiming for the Cloud Martial Hall too," a disciple whispered. "He is Brother Guan''s biggest threat."


    The other disciples all nodded in agreement; even without increasing their strength, the top four of the previous tournament all had the potential to seize first ce in the next major tournament. Moreover, they were at the golden age of physical development. Even without intense training, their strength would steadily increase.


    "He''s very powerful; I don''t think Brother Guan can match him yet," said a rather calm, tall, and skinny disciple in the group.


    "Hmph!" Guan Yang huffed coldly, shooting a stern nce at the skinny disciple. The disciple''s expression faltered, immediately realizing he had misspoken.


    Guan Yang abruptly changed his direction, leading his followers straight towards Wu Yuan.


    "Senior Brother Wu," Guan Yang greeted with a beaming smile, showing no trace of his previous coldness. "I have always admired Senior Brother Wu, but never got the chance to speak with you."


    "Senior Brother Wu."


    "Hello, Senior Brother." Several disciples greeted him with a look of awe.


    Even though they formed a clique with Guan Yang, they were still quite reserved in front of the famous Senior Brother Wu.


    "Hello," Wu Yuan casually replied, not minding them.


    "Senior Brother Wu, my name is Guan Yang. I was wondering if my name rings a bell with you?" Guan Yang maintained a graceful smile.


    "Guan Yang?" Wu Yuan pondered, shaking his head, "No."


    Guan Yang''s face stiffened. At that moment, he was fully convinced that Wu Yuan was deliberately mocking him. After all, he had seized first ce in the minor tournament four times consecutively. Even if Wu Yuan didn''t recognize him, how could he not know his name?


    Little did he know that ever since thest martial academy major tournament, Wu Yuan no longer paid any attention to the events within the academy.


    Martial academy major tournament? That was just a bunch of children ying house. In Wu Yuan''s original n, he had no intention to participate.


    "Senior Brother Wu, your reputation precedes you," Guan Yang fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan. "Word has it that you decided not to enroll in Southdream Martial Academy, all to secure the top spot in next year''s major tournament. Interestingly, I also have my sights set on joining the Cloud Martial Hall."


    "Why don''t we have a contest now? Senior Brother, what do you think?"


    "A contest?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow. He swept his gaze around, only then noticing the martial academy disciples behind Guan Yang. He quickly grasped the situation.


    "There''s no need for a contest." Wu Yuan said indifferently.


    "Is Senior Brother Wu scared, or do you think I''m not worthy?" Guan Yang asked in a low voice, "Senior brother Wu, you are strong. At fourteen, you became a seventh-grade martial novice. I admire that. Perhaps physically, I''m not as strong as you."


    "However, I received personal guidance and training from my n''s ancestor. I believe my saber skills are rather unique. I heard Senior Brother is also proficient in the saber. I would like to request your guidance." Guan Yang stared at Wu Yuan.


    Guan Yang was not impulsive by nature. But if he wanted to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, he had to understand the gap in strength between Wu Yuan and himself.


    "Ancestor?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly before he suddenly asked, "You are from the Dongye Guan n?"


    "Indeed!" Guan Yang replied with a hint of pride.


    Wu Yuan understood. The ancestor of Dongye Municipality''s Guan n, Guan Zishan, was the top expert of Li City, a former first-rate Adept! The Guan n was one of the most prominent families in Li City.


    "There''s Wu Yuan."


    "He''s finally back." Noise echoed from the grand hall''s entrance as a group entered, drawing the attention of numerous disciples.


    Guan Yang and Wu Yuan both turned to look.


    Headmaster Zhang Da, Huan Xinyan, and over ten other martial academy instructors d in purple robes walked in together.


    "Headmaster? Instructor Liu?" Guan Yang asked, slightly surprised.


    "So many instructors! Why have they suddenlye to the martial grand hall?" The twenty-odd disciples in the hall were all puzzled.


    Wu Yuan also looked over, but his gaze passed over the rest of the instructors andnded on a young man in ck robes with a scarred face at the very back of the group.


    That stride. Those eyes. And that aura, perfectly concealed but still caught by Wu Yuan''s sharp perception. He instantly knew that this was an expert, at least a first-rate Adept!


    "Haha, Guan Yang, I didn''t expect you all to be here," one of the martial academy instructors stepped forward,ughing, "We were going to call you over to observe and learn from your senior brother, Wu Yuan. Since you are all here already, you''ve saved us the trouble."


    "Instructor Liu, what do you mean by ''observe and learn''?" Guan Yang couldn''t help but ask.


    "What?" the martial academy instructor frowned, "Don''t you know? Your senior brother Wu Yuan has reached the level of martial virtuoso. Today, the martial academy is publicly assessing him!"


    "Senior Brother Wu? Martial virtuoso?" Guan Yang stared at Wu Yuan as though looking at a monster.

 Chapter 36: Cloud Heir

    <h4>Chapter 36: Cloud Heir</h4>


    The disciples inside the grand hall were struck dumb upon hearing the instructor''s words.


    "What? A martial virtuoso?"


    "Is it true?" These disciples of the martial academy looked at Wu Yuan in shock.


    "Wu Yuan is only fourteen, isn''t he?"


    "He''s yet to reach fifteen!" As disciples of the martial academy, most of them were eighth-grade martial novices. Naturally, they understood what reaching the martial virtuoso level represented.


    Amongst adults, martial virtuosos were rare enough to be called ��one in a hundred��, their capabilities warranting positions as corporals and sergeants in the city guard. For these teenage martial academy disciples, reaching the seventh-grade martial novice level was already a remarkable achievement.


    Though it might appear to be just a one-grade disparity between seventh and sixth grade, the baseline requirement for one''s physical constitution differed by a whole order of magnitude. Physical strength was doubled, and ability was improved tenfold.


    "A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso?" Guan Yang was momentarily dazed, blurting out subconsciously, "Impossible! It''s only been a few months; how could he have improved so rapidly? Is this for real?" He couldn''t help but believe it was some sort of mistake.


    One had to understand that Guan Yang was a seventh-grade martial novice, but the earliest age target Ancestor Guan set for him to be a martial virtuoso was before sixteen!


    "Guan Yang, what are you babbling about?" Instructor Liu frowned, "The headmaster is here in person. Do you still doubt it? Even if Senior Brother Wu isn''t a martial virtuoso yet, he''s most certainly close."


    "I dare not." Guan Yang lowered his head.


    Doubt the headmaster? Forget him, a seventh-grade martial novice youngster. Even if Ancestor Guan Zishan were present, he would think twice before contradicting the martial academy headmaster. Putting aside the matter of authority, the headmaster of the martial academy was at least a second-rate Adept!


    At this moment, Headmaster Zhang Da, Huan Xinyan, and other instructors of the martial academy entered the grand hall, wearing smiles as they looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Headmaster, Instructor Huan," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully. Despite the power he wielded, he chose to be a disciple of the martial academy, and thus must act the part.


    Guan Yang and other disciples of the martial academy also bowed one by one, each of them respectful.


    However, what surprised the disciples of the martial academy was that Headmaster Zhang Da and the instructors actively parted to form two columns, making way for a young man in ck robes and a scar on his face to walk to the forefront. All the instructors, including the headmaster, appeared to treat him with utmost respect.


    This caused the many disciples to feel inwardly shocked. From what they could remember, even when the county mayor or the general of defense came, the headmaster did not show such deference.


    Who was the young man in ck robes?


    Only Wu Yuan wasn��t surprised, but he still proceeded to show a shocked expression on his face. Since this was a y, he had to put on a performance.


    "Wu Yuan, allow me to introduce you. This is Senior Gao Yu, a protectorate from the sect headquarters," Headmaster Zhang Da made the introduction.


    Protectorate? The disciples were puzzled, and Wu Yuan also showed a look of confusion.


    ��The title of protectorate is a designation within our sect. Should Senior Gao Yu be dispatched by the sect, he could serve as the headmaster of the Southdream Martial Academy or even assume the role of a provincial general, Headmaster Zhang Da exined with a smile. "In simpler terms, Senior Gao Yu is a third-grade martial artist!"


    "And among third-grade martial artists, Senior Gao Yu is extremely strong," Zhang Da confirmed without hesitation.


    The grand hall fell into awed silence. All the disciples of the martial academy looked at the young man in the ck robe wide-eyed, some of them scarcely believing it.


    A third-grade martial artist was a first-rate Adept! For the vast majority of the disciples present, almost none of them had seen a first-rate Adept in their lives.


    "Greetings, Senior Gao Yu," Wu Yuan said, perfectly timing a look of admiration on his face. All the disciples paid their respects as well, some visibly excited. For most of them, this was their first close encounter with such a significant figure.


    Guan Yang maintained a formal demeanor as well. He was well aware that even his n''s ancestor had only been a custodian of the sect, never attaining the rank of protectorate.


    In the Cloudstride Sect, all protectorates were first-rate Adepts, but not all first-rate Adepts were protectorates.


    Guan Yang couldn''t help but nce at Wu Yuan with envy. It was clear to everyone that this influential figure was here because of him.


    "Wu Yuan, there''s no need to be nervous." The ck-robed young man with the scarughed. "I am not a protectorate of the Instruction Hall; I simply happened to be passing through Li City. Coincidentally, you came to the martial academy today and the headmaster wanted to verify your strength, so I came to take a look."


    Wu Yuan nodded obediently.


    "Wu Yuan!" Huan Xinyan said solemnly, "Although Senior Gao Yu doesn''t have the authority to admit you directly to the sect, writing you a rmendation is well within his capacity. If that happens, your chances of bing a Cloud Heir will greatly increase!"


    "You must seize this opportunity and perform well." Huan Xinyan advised, disying a trace of concern.


    "I will," Wu Yuan nodded, though somewhat puzzled.


    <i>Cloud Heir? What��s that? </i>


    Upon his arrival at the martial academy, he had only been notified toe to the martial grand hall. Nothing more was mentioned. During the past few days when he had been absent from the martial academy, Gao Yu had arrived in Li City without warning, and Huan Xinyan made the sudden decision to evaluate his abilities. There had been no opportunity for prior discussion.


    However, Wu Yuan had a hunch that Gao Yu seemed to have an extraordinary rtionship with Huan Xinyan. As Huan Xinyan''s personal mentee, if he genuinely desired to join the Cloudstride Sect, today appeared to be an excellent opportunity to do so.


    The mention of Cloud Heirs elicited expressions of joy, astonishment, and envy from the martial academy instructors nearby.


    ��Shall we proceed?�� Headmaster Zhang Da chuckled, ��Wu Yuan, all you need to do today is to disy your full strength. Don��t miss this rare opportunity. I would be delighted if one of our academy''s disciples could earn the title of Cloud Heir.�� His face was full of joy, seemingly holding Wu Yuan in high regard.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but sneer inwardly. How could he forget how this smiling tiger had forced him to bow out of the martial academy major tournament at the Xu Manor?


    ��I will do my best, Headmaster,�� Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    Before long, the group of martial academy instructors, led by Gao Yu, Zhang Da, and Wu Yuan, entered a spacious strength assessment chamber situated on one side of the Great Martial Hall. The room was vast, with enough space for hundreds of individuals!


    In addition to the instructors, many disciples, including Guan Yang, joined the gathering to witness the spectacle. Naturally, the martial academy instructors made no attempt to stop them. In no time, the number of attendees inside the strength assessment chamber reached around 50.


    ��Go ahead,�� Huan Xinyan said, ��Start with the 5000-catty test stone, then gradually proceed to heavier ones. Don��t rush.��


    Wu Yuan nodded. He moved to the center of the strength assessment chamber, where more than ten stone pedestals of varying weights were neatly arranged in ascending order, starting from 1000 catties, 2000 catties, and so on. Thergest stone pedestal weighed a staggering 20,000 catties.


    The assessment consisted of two tests: the first evaluated strength, while the second focused onbat.


    Wu Yuan did not obey Huan Xinyan''s instructions. Instead, he strode directly to the test stone weighing 8000 catties. The test stone was fashioned from a unique material and was exceptionally dense. Despite weighing 8000 catties, it was only the size of a table, but everyone present was keenly aware of the stone''s mass.


    "Up!" Wu Yuan clutched the handle on the side of the test stone with a single hand. With a swift motion, his arm suddenly exerted a shocking force, hoisting the stone upwards. Without any pause, he raised it directly above his head. His arm did not tremble, and his body did not waver at all.


    The onlookers stared in disbelief. Even Gao Yu, who typically appeared indifferent, was slightly taken aback, revealing a surprised expression.


    Although a martial virtuoso could lift 10,000 catties of weight with a single arm, it did not mean they could effortlessly lift a test stone weighing 8000 catties. And doing it in the same manner as Wu Yuan, without any pause, was a considerably more arduous feat. It was clear that Wu Yuan''s strength either vastly exceeded 8000 catties or he employed a unique force-exertion technique!


    Wu Yuan gently set it down, seemingly without much effort. Then, he proceeded to the next test stone, which was marginallyrger. This one weighed 10,000 catties. Without any hesitation, Wu Yuan raised it forcefully, with his arm, torso, and thigh remaining steadfast. The sole difference was a brief pause when the test stone reached his chest, clearly reflecting the stone''s increased weight.


    At this juncture, no one harbored any doubts about Wu Yuan''s martial virtuoso-level strength. He was a true fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso! Moreover, the instructors of the martial academy who observed Wu Yuan''s posture could clearly discern that Wu Yuan had yet to reach his limit.


    <i>Thud!</i> The test stone fell. Wu Yuan''s face turned slightly red, but he did not approach Huan Xinyan, and instead advanced toward the next test stone, intending to continue with the assessment.


    <i>10,000 catties? Could it be that this is not Wu Yuan''s limit?</i> Guan Yang stared in disbelief. The eyes of the martial academy disciples widened.


    <i>Can he lift even more? </i>Huan Xinyan''s eyes shone brightly. Wu Yuan had already exceeded her expectations by lifting the 10,000-catty test stone.


    Wu Yuan walked past the 12,000-catty stone without stopping.


    <i>Is he not continuing the test? What is Wu Yuan up to?</i> Huan Xinyan''s expression shifted, betraying a trace of doubt. <i>Could it be that he can lift an even heavier stone?</i>


    She vividly remembered that a little over three months ago, Wu Yuan had been nothing more than a seventh-grade martial novice! To amass such incredible strength in such a short span was truly terrifying. Yet, could he be even stronger?


    <i>Wu Yuan, this youngster. Does he truly possess such strength, or is he merely bluffing? </i>Headmaster Zhang Da stared intently at Wu Yuan.


    Outwardly, he seemed enthusiastic and optimistic about Wu Yuan''s prospects. However, inwardly, he harbored a measure of unease. At this moment, he regretted having previously obstructed Wu Yuan.


    Even when he reached the 15,000-catty test stone, Wu Yuan still did not stop. He continued to the next one.


    The atmosphere in the entire strength assessment chamber shifted dramatically. Even Gao Yu, a usuallyposed man, exhibited a hint of curiosity. He didn''t stop at the 15,000-catty stone?


    Atst, Wu Yuan came to a stop by the secondrgest test stone, which was nearly twice the size of the 10,000-catty stone he had just tackled. This test stone stood at nearly half a man''s height. It was an 18,000-catty test stone! Ayer of dust covered the testing stone, as if it had not been disturbed or wiped for a long time.


    At this very moment, nearly everyone held their breath while watching Wu Yuan. After all, in the 200 years since the establishment of the Li County martial academy, no disciple had ever lifted the 18,000-catty test stone.


    <i>Since I''ve made up my mind to join the Cloudstride Sect and rise to prominence swiftly without arousing suspicion, I must take the ''genius'' route! </i>


    <i>Originally, I was nning to stop at the 10,000-catty test stone. But this first-rate Adept Gao Yu just so happened to be present. I will reveal a little more then, I believe he''ll be able to see the clues.</i>

 Chapter 37: Gao Yus Attention

    <h4>Chapter 37: Gao Yu''s Attention</h4>


    It was just like putting on a performance. How spectacr one found a performance wasn''t solely determined by the performers'' quality but also the caliber of the audience. Had Gao Yu not been present, Wu Yuan would have only needed to lift the 8000-catty stone to wow the crowd. However, with an expert like Gao Yu watching, Wu Yuan felt the need to make his performance a little more special.


    Within the strength assessment chamber, more than ten martial academy instructors and dozens of disciples focused their attention on the muscr yet slightly immature-looking teenager in the center.


    A fourteen-year-old lifting an 18,000-catty test stone? Could it be done?


    <i>Can he lift it?</i> Guan Yang and the other martial academy disciples collectively held their breaths, their instincts telling them it was impossible. As fellow martial academy disciples, could the gap between them really be this huge?


    <i>Wu Yuan, this?</i> Huan Xinyan stared wide-eyed. After cultivating for many years, along with the help of her elders and a wealth of resources, her pure physical strength was just over 20,000 catties. But in her heart, she still held a glimmer of hope. What if he seeded?


    Wu Yuan ced his right hand on the handle of the test stone, his fingers gripping it tightly. His expression was serious, and he seemed somewhat nervous. His stance was firm, legs apart, and feet rooted. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath, as though trying topose himself.


    One second, two seconds, three seconds!


    Exhaling, Wu Yuan opened his eyes. His legs trembled, his muscles strained, and strength converged through his limbs and bones. His arm muscles bulged like coiling steel wires as a terrifying force erupted forth, and he exerted all his strength upward!


    The massive test stone quivered ever so slightly, but it remained still.


    "He failed?"


    "He didn''t manage to lift it?" The thought rose simultaneously in the minds of all the spectators. They subconsciously assumed Wu Yuan had failed.


    <i>But in the next moment!</i>


    "Get! Up!" The veins on Wu Yuan''s face bulged with the strain. As he shifted his right foot subtly backward, his spine undted like a great dragon and a mighty rush of power burst forth!


    <i>Twofold Power Surge! Double the force ovepped!</i>


    A torrent of force erupted. The test stone, weighing a staggering 18,000 catties, was suddenly hoisted up. Without any hesitation, Wu Yuan lifted it directly above his head! At this point, Wu Yuan''s face turned red, his arms trembled, and even his legs shook subtly, as if he was at his limits.


    After holding the position for a moment, Wu Yuan abruptly threw the test stone forward, hastily stepping back to evade the falling stone. A resounding thud filled the air as the massive test stonended heavily on the floor, causing tiny cracks to mar the custom reinforced surface.


    Breathing heavily, Wu Yuan gazed at Huan Xinyan, a hint of disappointment in his voice as hemented, "Instructor Huan, I''ve failed."


    For just a fleeting second, Wu Yuan had managed to maintain the test stone above his head. But ording to martial strength assessment rules, one must lift the test stone above the head and hold it there for half a breath (one breath is approximately six seconds) to pass!


    However, in the chamber''s stillness, every eye was fixed on the breathless youth at the center, some struggling to believe what they had witnessed. Wu Yuan had failed, that much was clear. However, everyone was well aware that he had held the test stone above his head, even if only for a brief moment. This demonstration showcased an instantaneous force of 18,000 catties.


    Just fourteen years old! How ridiculous was that?


    "At fourteen, he''s almost an Adept expert?" someone subconsciously blurted out.


    Adept experts were qualified to be instructors at the martial academy.


    "Inconceivable! In the thousand-year history of Li City, we''ve never witnessed a martial prodigy of this level," an instructor well-versed in history marveled. It felt as though they were not merely witnessing a moment but creating history itself.


    <i>He actually lifted it?</i> Guan Yang watched, agog. A chill ran down his spine. <i>Did I just challenge Senior Brother Wu? I would''ve been killed in a single punch!</i>


    Guan Yang no longer had a shred of desire to challenge Wu Yuan, not even the slightest hint of envy.


    When the gap in strength is small, there is envy. When the gap in strength is insurmountable, all that remains is awe, fear, and worship!


    Within the assessment chamber, onlookers were struck dumb. As they slowly regained their senses, they began to realize the terrifying extent of Wu Yuan''s talent. Only fourteen years old, yet so powerful. How far would he go in ten years? Twenty years?


    Gao Yu''s calm voice filled the room, "s, he falls slightly short, unable to lift the 18,000-catty test stone. However, lifting the 10,000-catty stone meets the minimum criteria of a martial virtuoso. Not bad."


    Many martial academy Instructors and disciples were taken aback, some even doubting their own ears. Such strength merely met the minimum standard of a martial virtuoso?


    "Alright, the assessment is concluded", Gao Yu dered, his voice still calm. "All martial academy disciples are to leave the grand hall."


    "Yes." Although Guan Yang and the other disciples were confused, they didn''t dare to question his orders. Like a receding tide, they swiftly exited the strength assessment chamber.


    Soon, the strength assessment chamber was emptied, with not a single martial academy disciple remaining apart from Wu Yuan.


    ��Wu Yuan, there��s no need for thebat test anymore, go rest for now.�� Gao Yu turned towards Wu Yuan with a faint smile.


    ��Senior, I haven��t exhausted myself, I can still take thebat test.�� Wu Yuan��s face was tinged with urgency, as if worried about failing to impress Gao Yu.


    ��Rest assured. I''m not denying your abilities, your performance has been exceptional. But whether or not you''re exhausted, you should know better than me.�� Gao Yu asserted.


    Surprise flickered across Wu Yuan''s face, as if his thoughts had been seen through.


    ��Listen to Senior Gao Yu.�� Huan Xinyan instructed.


    ��Yes.�� Wu Yuan ''obediently'' headed towards a nearby resting area.


    Seeing Wu Yuanply with his instructions, Gao Yu took a step forward and turned around. His previously warm gaze hardened as it swept across Headmaster Zhang Da and the various martial academy instructors. His voice was no longer as kind as when he spoke to Wu Yuan. ��I believe you are all core disciples of the sect. The headmaster, Zhang Da, is even a custodian of the sect, am I right?��


    Within the Cloudstride Sect, apart from civil officials, one must be a third-rate Adept to acquire the title of core disciple and a second-rate Adept to qualify as a custodian, especially in fields where martial skill was necessary. These titles were ranks, rted to specific positions, although one''s job scope was not entirely equivalent to one''s title.


    ��Correct.�� Headmaster Zhang Da carefully replied. The other Instructors were somewhat confused, why was Protectorate Gao Yu suddenly so serious?


    "As martial academy instructors who hail from the sect headquarters, have earned the trust of the sect, and undergone training at the Instruction Hall, you should understand the sect''sws," Gao Yu''s voice turned frigid. "So, there are some things I shall make clear."


    "Today''s matter concerning Wu Yuan is ssified as a ss two secret within the sect. It is not to be divulged by anyone," Gao Yu dered gravely.


    ss two sect secret? Upon hearing this, Headmaster Zhang Da, the dozen or so instructions, and also Huan Xinyan revealed expressions of shock. She had grown up within the sect and knew quite well what a ss two sect secret implied.


    "Do not question why," Gao Yu said coldly, "All you need to remember is this: the moment you step out of this door, what you witnessed today was Wu Yuan barely managing to lift the 10,000-catty test stone, signifying he has just acquired the bare minimum strength of a martial virtuoso!"


    "As for the 18,000-catty test stone? Due to prolonged neglect, its weight is imbnced, and in reality, it only weighs 13,000 catties. Wu Yuan failed utterly in his attempt to lift it."


    ��This is not only something you must remember, but also something you must ry to all the academy disciples. Make sure to inform them that Wu Yuan has only just reached the level of a martial virtuoso. Ensure they believe your words, especially those disciples who just departed," Gao Yu stated in a grave tone.


    All instructors listened intently, sensing that the matter was far more serious than they had thought.


    "If anyone dares to leak this matter, your own life will be forfeit at best. At worst��" Gao Yu''s gaze swept over all the instructors, uttering two words: "n extinction!"


    n extinction! A shock resonated within the hearts of all the martial academy instructors, now fully understanding that Protectorate Gao Yu was not joking. This was no small matter. Regret began to nibble at some of the instructors who hade to watch the spectacle.


    "Have you all understood?" Gao Yu''s voice was icy cold.


    "We understand," the crowd of instructors nodded in agreement.


    "All instructors may leave, Headmaster Zhang and Instructor Huan are to stay behind," Gao Yu ordered.


    The instructors of the martial academy quickly departed, leaving only Gao Yu, Zhang Da, and Huan Xinyan in the hall.


    "Headmaster Zhang, what have you discerned from this matter?" Gao Yu turned to look at Zhang Da.


    "I feel..." Just as Headmaster Zhang was about to speak his mind, he quickly remembered and stopped himself in time, "No! Wu Yuan merely managed to lift the 10,000 catty test stone. Nothing more, I didn''t discern anything else."


    "Very good." Only then did Gao Yu give a satisfied nod, "Furthermore, Headmaster Zhang, rece the 18,000-catty test stone with a 13,000-catty one tonight. And destroy the original test stone. Remember, the two stones must not look too different. Do you understand?"


    "Your subordinateprehends. The two test stones will be indistinguishable. I''ll personally oversee it to ensure no one catches on," Headmaster Zhang replied, "The strength assessment chamber will be temporarily closed as well."


    Gao Yu nodded in satisfaction. This Headmaster Zhang, he was certainly efficient.


    "That will do. I have matters to discuss with Wu Yuan. You need not listen in." Gao Yu dismissed him.


    After Headmaster Zhang took his leave, Huan Xinyan finally couldn''t restrain her curiosity and asked, "Senior Brother, what''s going on?�� She had rarely seen her Senior Brother adopt such a stern demeanor.


    "This mentee of yours is an extraordinary martial prodigy!" Gao Yu slightly shook his head. "I will talk to him directly. Listen in, you will soon understand."


    Huan Xinyan was full of questions, but she could only suppress them.


    The two approached Wu Yuan.


    "Senior, Instructor Huan." Wu Yuan stood up, his face riddled with fear, bewilderment, and uncertainty.


    "Don''t be nervous, sit down, let''s talkfortably." Gao Yu revealed his smile again, patting Wu Yuan''s shoulder.


    Gao Yu took the initiative to sit down. Wu Yuan and Huan Xinyan also sat down. Wu Yuan''s ''nervousness'' seemed to have eased a lot.


    "You probably saw what happened earlier." Gao Yu casually said.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded. He couldn''t help but say, "Senior, about the 18,000-catty stone... I don''t believe there was any mistake with its weight."


    "I am aware of the test stone''s weight," Gao Yu chuckled. "And I also know that if you remain calm and utilize your full strength, you can undoubtedly lift the 20,000-catty test stone."


    Revealing a shocked expression of being ��exposed��, Wu Yuan looked at Gao Yu.


    "I know more than you think," Gao Yu found Wu Yuan��s expression very amusing, "With your physical constitution alone, you should have a raw strength of 10,000 catties. The reason you can lift a boulder of 20,000 catties is because you have mastered a special technique of force exertion, isn''t it?"


    "Senior, you could tell?" Wu Yuan asked in surprise.


    "Mm, I''ve also mastered this technique, but to a greater degree of proficiency, which allowed me to easily detect it. There are telltale signs that suggest you''ve achieved a rudimentary grasp of it, such as needing to umte power for an extended duration." Gao Yu smiled, "This technique, called Power Surge, goes by different monikers like Hidden Force or Rigid Force..."


    "You can exert twice your raw strength simultaneously, which shows that you have just reached the Twofold Power Surge stage." Gao Yu looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Twofold Power Surge?" Huan Xinyan shot to her feet, looking at Wu Yuan in disbelief. She finally understood why her senior brother ced such importance on Wu Yuan''s assessment results.


    Mastering Twofold Power Surge at fourteen years old? That was undoubtedly worth his attention.


    "Senior, is it difficult to control this force exertion technique?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.

 Chapter 38: Three Dantian Lobes! The Human Limit!

    <h4>Chapter 38: Three Dantian Lobes! The Human Limit!</h4>


    Wu Yuan looked serious, his innocent, childish face not betraying a single w in his acting.


    Was it difficult? Gao Yu was somewhat taken aback, turning to Huan Xinyan by his side with a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Junior Sister, despite your role as his instructor, I presume you''ve not yet fully mastered the Twofold Power Surge?"


    Huan Xinyan wore a helpless expression. "Senior Brother, must you always expose my shorings?"


    "Instructor Huan hasn''t fully mastered it?" Wu Yuan feigned astonishment, but something clicked in his mind.


    Junior Sister? As expected! His initial guess was now confirmed. Even Headmaster Zhang Da was dismissed, yet Instructor Huan was allowed to stay. He clearly has greater trust in Instructor Huan.


    He had been wondering why Gao Yu, a sect Protectorate and first-rate Adept, would suddenlye to Li City. Now it seemed likely that Gao Yu''s visit was linked to Instructor Huan.


    Furthermore, Gao Yu addressing Instructor Huan as ''Junior Sister'' hinted at their shared master''s extraordinary stature. A Savant expert? Or even stronger? Their master likely upied one of the highest echelons in the Cloudstride Sect!


    "Wu Yuan, this knowledge is usually taught at tertiary martial academies, like the Southdream Martial Academy or the Cloud Martial Hall," Huan Xinyan began her exnation. "Given that you''ve already grasped this technique, I''ll offer a brief overview. Achieving mastery of your body''s strength and unifying it as one is the Fundamentals. Next, leveraging the musculoskeletal system is Power Surge."


    "Beyond that, if you can freely employ Power Surge and control it effortlessly... that''s Rigid Yet Supple. If you reach that level, you''ll be considered a Grandmaster in the thirteen continents!" Huan Xinyan quickly exined the three stages of martial arts skills.


    Fundamentals, Power Surge, Rigid Yet Supple!


    "The three stages of martial skill? Reaching Rigid Yet Supple earns one the title of Grandmaster?" Wu Yuan''s face revealed a hint of longing and curiosity, as though this was entirely new to him.


    "It may seem like there are only three stages, but the vast majority of martial artists find it difficult to reach even the second." Huan Xinyan looked at Wu Yuan, "As for those at Rigid Yet Supple, the third stage? The control they wield over their bodies has reached unparalleled mastery. Less than one in a million people reach that level!"


    "Is it that difficult?" Wu Yuan pretended to look shocked, but inwardly, he agreed with her. Was it difficult? Naturally. In his previous life, Wu Yuan diligently followed his optimized cultivation method in the ��Optimal Path of Martial Arts�� and enjoyed the benefits of a personalized training ground. Yet, it took him a full three years to grasp the Rigid Yet Supple stage, followed by another two years to achieveplete mastery.


    And in this life? With only four or five months of conscious existence in a brand new body, Wu Yuan still had some way to go beforepletely mastering the Rigid Yet Supple stage. In terms of physical strength, Wu Yuan had surpassed his past self. But in terms of martial arts skills, Wu Yuan needed more time to catch up with his past life''s pinnacle.


    "Wu Yuan, your saber technique and footwork are very solid." Huan Xinyan cast a curious nce at Wu Yuan, "But I remember that during the martial academy major tournament, your saber technique was not yet perfectly controlled, how did you progress so quickly?" She was not doubting him, just curious.


    "Instructor Huan," Wu Yuan shook his head, "I can''t really tell why, but ever since I woke up from that severe illness, I''ve noticed myself making significant and swift progress during training. "


    "Both my physical constitution and saber skills are improving quickly. Not long after the martial academy major tournament, I fully mastered the Fundamentals. For the past two months, I''ve dedicated myself relentlessly to saber practice. Before I knew it, I figured out this force-exertion technique." Wu Yuan said ''honestly''.


    This was the exnation he had prepared after seeing Gao Yu. He wanted to highlight two aspects of his talent: one was physical constitution, and the other was martial arts skills.


    Wu Yuan had ess to limited resources for physical training due to his background. Even if he did awaken his potential, a few months of cultivation should leave his strength at a maximum cap of around 10,000 catties. If he were any stronger, it would raise suspicions.


    But martial arts skills were different. They were aboutprehension, which was far harder to quantify than physical strength. Sometimes, one might be stuck in a bottleneck for a decade without progress. Other times, a moment of insight could lead to a breakthrough.


    "You naturally figured it out?" Huan Xinyan was taken aback. She couldn''t help but recall her personal Strength Training ground and dedicated saber instructor. Even with all that support, it took her several years just to grasp the basics. Furthermore, she hadn''t perfectly mastered Twofold Power Surge to this day. Compared to Wu Yuan, her talent was mediocre!


    "A martial arts awakening is this amazing?" Huan Xinyan shook her head in amazement. She had heard of this term, but this was her first time seeing a prodigy like Wu Yuan.


    "It''s not the awakening that''s amazing, but Wu Yuan," Gao Yu said with a smile, "Although a martial arts awakening is rare, even more so for young martial artists who have yet to train for long, our Cloudstride Sect''s territory is vast. It''s not umon to witness awakenings among young martial artists every few years, sometimes even multiple times in a year."


    "But very few are as amazing as Wu Yuan!" Gao Yu said in admiration.


    "Very few?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "Extremely few!" Gao Yu emphasized, "The so-called awakening is, in fact, the early unlocking or opening of the dantian lobe in extremely gifted individuals."


    Huan Xinyan looked a bit puzzled. Wu Yuan looked even more quizzical, but in his heart, he was a bit curious. The martial arts of this world were profound, and Wu Yuan didn''t find it surprising that they had a thorough understanding of the dantian lobe. But it was strange that they used the same terminology as his past life!


    "The cultivation of martial arts is based on the essence, qi, and soul."


    "The human brain represents the marrow sea, the upper dantian lobe, the abode of the soul. It''s also called Niwan Pce or wisdom sea!" Gao Yu was clearly well-versed in these details. "The heart represents the vital me, the middle dantian lobe, the dwelling ce of qi. It''s also known as the heart pulse, the qi sea."


    "Three inches below the navel is where one''s essence is stored, the lower dantian lobe also called the life pulse."


    "Martial arts cultivation, in essence, entails the continuous strengthening of the lower dantian lobe, nurturing the life pulse," Gao Yu exined. "When the life pulse steadily grows in strength, traversing the 108 acupoints, it ultimately unlocks the lower dantian lobe, pushing the human body to its limits. Through the life pulse, one transcends their physical capabilities."


    "The human body''s limit is reached when one''s single-arm strength reaches 200,000 catties. At this point, a practitioner is recognized as a first-grade martial artist, also known as a martial arts Grandmaster, or a Land Ranker," Gao Yu said.


    Martial arts Grandmaster! First-grade martial artist!


    Gao Yu spoke eloquently, sharing somemon knowledge he was familiar with. As Wu Yuan listened, his eyes glowed with interest. Atst, he was learning about the pinnacle of martial power in this world!


    Just as the Human Federation in his previous life had its unique approach, the cultivation of this world represented a different means to the same end.


    Grandmaster was a title bestowed upon those who reached the limit of the human physique. The only difference between the two worlds was the gic limit. The martial arts Grandmasters of this world had physical constitutions far superior to the Grandmasters of his previous life!


    A single-arm strength of 200,000 catties was considered the human limit of this world? Wu Yuan was intrigued.


    "Land Ranker? That''s far too difficult! There are only a few Grandmasters in the entire world." Huan Xinyan shook her head.


    Wu Yuan listened in silence. Since regaining consciousness, he had immersed himself in rigorous training, and his understanding of this world, especially when it came to advanced information, was rather limited.


    "It is indeed difficult. A Grandmaster of martial arts can literally split the earth! It''s not an exaggeration to say any martial arts Grandmaster can single-handedly take on a calvary of 10,000. They can be marquises in great nations, or start sects in the Huang Continent!" Gao Yu said, "Only by reaching the human body''s limit can there be any hope of unlocking the middle dantian lobe..."


    "The three dantian lobes each serve wondrous functions."


    "Typically, these dantian lobes remain sealed and may sporadically open for a brief duration, resulting in a range of miraculous changes within the body�� this is what we refer to as an ''awakening.''"


    "When the lower dantian lobe is unlocked, one can metabolize ordinary food with the efficacy of a natural treasure, and the body''s physical constitution will progress swiftly..."


    "As for the middle dantian lobe, my knowledge is limited, but it shares simrities with the lower dantian lobe, significantly enhancing the body''s potential."


    "ording to the literature of our sect, among the martial artists in the world, 99% of awakenings are caused by the unlocking of the lower and middle dantian lobes." Gao Yu said.


    Wu Yuan found his horizons expanding with this newfound knowledge. In the Human Federation, there were some theoretical studies on the existence and functions of the three dantian lobes. However, even among martial arts Grandmasters like Wu Yuan, not many could truly unlock their dantian lobe. Data was sparse, and the human body was incredibly mysterious; in-depth research was challenging, hence the Human Federation had not been able to systematize this.


    As for martial arts awakenings? This was something Wu Yuan had never heard of in his previous life. But this was not the case in the Middle Land. From what Gao Yu had said, it was clear that martial arts in the Middle Land flourished at a level beyond his imagination!


    "The upper dantian lobe is the most mystical of the three, and openings are rare. Once unlocked, it impacts both the middle and lower dantian lobes, enabling them to unlock some of their functions. But this is only secondary." Gao Yu continued, "Its primary function isprehension!"


    "When the upper dantian lobe is unlocked, it greatly enhances the martial artist''sprehension, be it memory,putational ability, or evenprehension, all would be significantly enhanced. In simpler terms, it results in a remarkable surge in intelligence!"


    "Therefore, I suspect," Gao Yu looked at Wu Yuan, "Your martial arts awakening was instigated by the opening of your upper dantian lobe."

 Chapter 39: Invitation

    <h4>Chapter 39: Invitation</h4>


    Awakening? Unlocking the upper dantian lobe? Wu Yuan was stunned to hear these terms!


    In his previous life, even at the peak of his mental acuity, he had only vaguely sensed the presence of the upper dantian lobe, yet he couldn''t unlock it. He was certain that he had not managed to open the upper dantian lobe of his current body.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, it''s perfectly natural that you find this puzzling," Gao Yuughed, " You see, the act of opening the upper dantian lobe cannot be detected."


    "It cannot be detected?" Wu Yuan wore an expression of confusion.


    "Yes, the three dantian lobes are very mysterious. The lower dantian lobe is somewhat easier toprehend, with it being the most tangible one. All Land Rankers have opened it, and they are capable of examining the lower dantian lobe of others," Gao Yu exined. "But the middle dantian lobe? Even the Land Rankers themselves face difficulty unlocking it, let alone perceiving the changes in others."


    Wu Yuan gave a subtle nod. The middle dantian lobe, the location of the qi sea, involved the mysteries of qi cirction and 108 acupoints. Its mysteries transcended the limits of the human body, shrouding it in profoundplexity. In his previous life, Wu Yuan had barely managed to open it.


    "How did our predecessors confirm the existence of the upper dantian lobe?" Wu Yuan cleverly yed the role of an awed teenager.


    A trace of respect entered Gao Yu''s expression as he answered, "It was the Heavenly Rankers who authenticated its existence. Land Rankers are individuals who have reached the boundaries of human capabilities."


    "Breaking these boundaries leads to the realm of the Heavenly Rankings!"


    "The ways of Heavenly Rankers transcend our mortal world and defy imagination. They are aptly callednd deities. Rumor has it that they haven''t merely unlocked the lower and middle dantian lobes, but even the upper dantian lobes!" Gao Yu solemnly stated, "Of course, this remains a legend, and I cannot verify this."


    "Unlocking the upper dantian lobe?" Wu Yuan showed an expression of longing. In reality, Wu Yuan''s heart was going through a tumultuous upheaval. He knew that he was just a step away from that level in his previous life. Perhaps, it was equivalent to the so-called Heavenly Rankers in the Middle Land.


    Gao Yu amusedly tempered his hopes, "Haha, don''t set your sights too high. Land Rankers indeed exist andmon folk might chance upon them, but encountering a Heavenly Ranker remains a myth in the mortal world. Many first-rate Adepts and Savant experts might never have the fortune of encountering a Heavenly Ranker in their lifetime."


    "Disciple understands," Wu Yuan nodded continuously, presenting a picture of humility.


    "I cannot verify whether you have unlocked your upper dantian lobe. Even Land Rankers won''t be able to." Gao Yu looked at Wu Yuan, "However, judging from your rate of improvement, it should be the case."


    "Because of this, your martial skills will rapidly improve, and this will impact your middle dantian lobe and lower dantian lobe, causing your physical constitution to undergo a sharp improvement."


    "So that''s how it is." Wu Yuan pretended to gain an understanding of himself.


    Awakening? Wu Yuan knew that no such thing happened. However, since Gao Yu had helped hime up with such an excellent excuse, it would be a waste of his efforts not to use it.


    Gao Yu fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan and dered, "Unlocking your upper dantian lobe sets you apart as one in a billion. I''ve conversed with Instructor Huan, who wholeheartedly attests to your diligence in cultivation. My expectations for you are exceptionally high. The Cloud Martial Hall, you have heard of it, right?"


    Wu Yuan nodded. District, vige, and town martial academies functioned as elementary institutions, weing children of appropriate age to pursue cultivation until they automatically graduated at the age of ten.


    Conversely, the municipal martial academy and the county martial academy represented intermediate institutions, with thetter being far more exclusive and selecting disciples with stronger potential.


    As for the Southdream Martial Academy, it was the only one of its kind in the province. It was a tertiary martial academy, and very few disciples were epted, at most 2000 a year. What was the poption of the entire Southdream Province? More than twenty million!


    As for the Cloud Martial Hall? That was the most prestigious martial academy within the jurisdiction of the Cloudstride Sect, epting only one disciple per county each year. The Cloud Martial Hall scarcely enrolled more than a hundred disciples in any given year. Any candidate who gained admission was unquestionably a martial prodigy.


    Take for example Liu Ruyan. She might have employed several tricks during her matches, but her strength was above average amongst the seventh-grade martial novices, while only fifteen years old. There was a high probability she would be a martial virtuoso before eighteen, and would most likely be an Adept in her twenties. Even the prospect of achieving second-rate Adept status was within her grasp. As for a first-rate adept? That would depend on Liu Ruyan''s subsequent fate and level of effort.


    "The Cloud Martial Hall only epts disciples under the age of sixteen, and over 90% of them eventually be Adepts. But that shouldn''t be your goal," Gao Yu gazed at Wu Yuan. "Your goal should at least be to be a Cloud Heir. Or better yet, to be a Heavens Heir!"


    "A Cloud Heir? A Heavens Heir?" Wu Yuan was puzzled. He had never heard of them.


    "Wu Yuan," Huan Xinyan stepped in to provide some rity, "The Cloud Martial Hall may admit a select few disciples, but each of them enjoys up to a decade of training within its walls. With the umtion of disciples over the years, there are consistently more than 500 disciples in the Cloud Martial Hall every year."


    "The Cloudstride Sect operates under a fair principle: the strong rise and the weak fall. Competition within the Cloud Martial Hall is fierce. Your strength determines the cultivation resources you receive. The ten most outstanding disciples earn the prestigious title of Cloud Heirs."


    "These Cloud Heirs represent the elite among the younger generation of the Cloudstride Sect and are always limited to a total of ten," Huan Xinyan exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. So, these so-called Cloud Heirs were simr to the Top Ten Outstanding Young Martial Artists of his previous life?


    "How strong are the Cloud Heirs?" Wu Yuan ''couldn''t contain his curiosity''.


    Gao Yu and Huan Xinyan exchanged nces. They were hoping for Wu Yuan to show interest. Geniuses were naturallypetitive, especially within their peer group.


    Gao Yu smiled and responded, "Cloud Heirs must not exceed the age of 26. Generally, they are second-rate Adepts, and the Cloud Heir currently in first ce is also the number one genius of the Cloudstride Sect, Xu Hui. At 24 years old, he is already a first-rate Adept!"


    Wu Yuan, feigning astonishment, reacted on cue, "Xu Hui? A 24-year-old first-rate Adept?" Meanwhile, he quietly wondered how many of his saber strikes the other party could withstand. Three moves? Five moves? However, Wu Yuan knew that bing a first-rate Adept at 24 was already a remarkable feat.


    "As for the Heavens Heirs, there are no fixed prerequisites, but the criteria are even more stringent. Thest time the Cloudstride Sect conferred the title of Heavens Heir was 30 years ago,�� Gao Yu chuckled, ��When you be a Cloud Heir in the future, you will naturally understand its requirements."


    "Me? A Cloud Heir in the future?" Wu Yuan looked taken aback.


    "Mm. Wu Yuan," Gao Yu gazed at him earnestly, "On behalf of the Cloudstride Sect, I hereby invite you to train in the Cloud Martial Hall and, after officially joining the sect, to be a part of the Finance Hall."


    "I can guarantee, on behalf of the sect''s Finance Hall, that the resources you receive during your time in the Cloud Martial Hall will be on par with those provided to any Cloud Heir."


    "Furthermore, when you eventually ascend to the position of Cloud Heir, the Finance Hall will exert every effort to aid you in achieving the coveted title of Heavens Heir."


    "In the future, you definitely have the potential to be the master of the Finance Hall, and even contend for the role of sect leader, with hopes of bing a Land Ranker." Gao Yu slowly said.


    As Huan Xinyan listened by the side, she waspletely stunned. She could tell that her Senior Brother thought extremely highly of Wu Yuan. He could be a sect leader? A Land Ranker? Wasn''t it a tad exaggerated? In her view, no matter how talented Wu Yuan was, he was still only a fourteen-year-old boy.


    "Really?" Wu Yuan appeared shocked, revealing a well-timed look of yearning. He knew that the talent he disyed had sessfully captivated the attention of Gao Yu, a first-rate Adept.


    "Senior Gao Yu." Wu Yuan suppressed his ��excitement�� and spoke in a low voice, "What is the Finance Hall? How does it differ from the Cloud Martial Hall?��


    "The Cloudstride Sect territory is vast andprises numerous personnel. It is divided into six halls internally," Gao Yu chuckled, "Apart from the Cloud Martial Hall which is only responsible for nurturing disciples, the other five halls each have specific responsibilities."


    "Among these five sect halls, the Finance Hall holds authority over the sect''s finances and construction duties."


    "In terms of support for your cultivation, I represent the Finance Hall, which stands as the foremost hall among the sect''s five," Gao Yu expressed with a touch of pride. "Wu Yuan, should you decide to join us in the future, you will gain direct ess to the sect''s most coveted training resources and the best auxiliary training environments."


    Wu Yuan blinked. He was starting to understand. This so-called Finance Hall was essentially a fusion of the Human Federation''s Finance Department, the Interster Engineering Department, the Interster Aviation Department, and many other departments.


    "Wu Yuan, I too am a disciple of the Finance Hall," Huan Xinyan added.


    Both of them fixed Wu Yuan with a hopeful look.


    The question weighed on Wu Yuan''s mind �C should he ept?

 Chapter 40: Best Course Of Action

    <h4>Chapter 40: Best Course Of Action</h4>


    Although he didn''tpletely understand, Wu Yuan was not an actual 14-year-old boy. With a little critical thinking, their intentions grew clear.


    Gao Yu had spotted his potential. The request for Wu Yuan to join the Finance Hall in the future likely arose from thepetition between the five halls of the Cloudstride Sect.


    Invitation? It seemed like a choice, but was it really?


    Clearly not! epting the offer was his best choice!


    Refusing Gao Yu''s offer would immediately offend him and possibly sour Huan Xinyan''s attitude. Even if she didn''t intentionally trouble Wu Yuan, it could lead toplications. Plus, the Finance Hall held both wealth and influence; there was little reason to decline. Therefore, he did not hesitate.


    "Senior Gao, Instructor Huan." Wu Yuan said seriously, "I trust the sect and Instructor Huan. I am willing to join the Finance Hall after entering the sect."


    Since he chose to agree, he would endeavor to leave the best impression possible, possibly reaping more benefits.


    "Excellent," Gao Yu smiled satisfactorily, "Wu Yuan, trust me, you won''t regret this choice."


    Huan Xinyan''s expression was even brighter. She and Wu Yuan were not too familiar with each other, just slightly closer than the ordinary teacher-student rtionship. Yet, Wu Yuan, her first mentee, held a special ce in her heart. Observing his blossoming talent and knowing he would join the sect''s Finance Hall made her truly happy.


    "Your swift progress in physical strength and martial skills is due to your awakening,�� Gao Yu exined, ��though this phase will soon end, it''ll permanently boost your potential."


    "Once youmence training in the Cloud Martial Hall, resources from both the Cloud Martial Hall and my Finance Hall will elerate your progress several times over. Natural treasures to assist in physical cultivation, top-tier cultivation methods, and specialized training facilities..."


    "Strive hard, and by twenty, you may well be a first-rate Adept!" Gao Yu solemnly dered.


    "Really?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up with enthusiasm, but in his heart, he felt indifferent. Drawing cakes [1] was indeed every leader''s forte. Leaders who couldn''t draw cakes didn��t make good leaders!


    Of course, Wu Yuan also understood that even if Gao Yu exaggerated things a little, it should not be too outrageous.


    <i>Since I''ve decided to leave Li City and the Cloudstride Sect offers natural treasures, why not give it a shot? While the Cloudstride Sect might not be the mightiest faction, gaining trust from other organizations is far more challenging.</i>


    He didn''t care much for secret techniques and specialized training facilities. Only natural treasures truly enticed him.


    For Wu Yuan, his top priority was to improve his physical constitution. Martial skills? They would be naturally restored to the level of his previous life in time, and ordinary secret techniques or specialized training environments wouldn''t help him improve any further.


    <i>There are Savant experts within the Cloudstride Sect, and perhaps even Land Rankers. I''ll soon have the chance to witness the true martial arts elites of this world.</i> Wu Yuan was looking forward to it.


    In his past life, Wu Yuan had taken part in multiple Human Federation Martial Arts Competitions and engaged in one-on-one duels with numerous martial arts Grandmasters. Deep down, Wu Yuan was eager to exchange blows with experts and face the mightiest among them!


    Granted, it was a different setting; thepetitions in his previous world posed no threat to his life. In this life? Without ample confidence or benefits, Wu Yuan would not rashly challenge those martial peak powerhouses.


    "Senior, the Cloud Martial Hall will only recruit new disciples next year, right?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Haha, that''s the standard procedure for ordinary martial artists. But for genuine prodigies, these rules need not apply," Gao Yu chuckled, "I''ll promptly report your invitation to the sect, and you''ll enroll via the special recruitment channel of my Finance Hall."


    "Nheless, all new disciples must undergo official verification by the Instruction Hall. When you factor in the substantial distance between Li City and the sect, it will take at least a month, at most two. Afterward, a special envoy will arrive to escort you directly to the Cloud Martial Hall," Gao Yu exined.


    One to two months? How slow. Yet, considering the primitive transportation methods of this world,bined with his special recruitment, it was true that a lengthy process was required. In this case, the wait wasn''t that long.


    "Senior, is there anything else I should be mindful of?" Wu Yuan tactfully inquired.


    "Secrecy is paramount," Gao Yu advised seriously, "Once you arrive at the sect headquarters and fall under the sect''s protection, you''ll be safe. Before that, conceal your talent and strength to minimize the risk of assassination or abduction."


    "Assassination?" Wu Yuan seemed quite surprised.


    "Indeed!" Gao Yu sighed, "The sects and kingdoms of this world are in perpetual strife. My Cloudstride Sect has many adversaries, the foremost being the Great Jin Empire! They aspire to unify the seven continents of the Central ins, and their spies are everywhere; it''s impossible to apprehend or eliminate them all."


    "These spies usually show no interest in ordinary martial artists, but once your exceptional talentes to light, it''s bound to attract their attention. When that happens, the Great Jin Empire may resort to assassinating you."


    "Some other powers may not kill you, but some underground organizations, like the Pleiades Guild and the Ninedeaths Circle, may kidnap you for their own purposes," Gao Yu said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly in understanding. Before the Human Federation unified the, the various nations that existed on the Blue were in constant strife. During those tumultuous times, major nations often assassinated the leading scientists of enemy nations.


    This world followed the same principles! In the Middle Land, martial arts reigned supreme, and budding martial arts prodigies were naturally highly prized.


    As for the Pleiades Guild? Ninedeaths Circle? Wu Yuan had heard a bit about them, they were underground organizations notorious even among themon popce, boasting long histories. Compared to these organizations, the Vicious Tiger Gang was merely a fledgling!


    "Furthermore, avoidcency. Utilize the first two months in the Cloud Martial Hall for rigorous cultivation. You are at the ideal age for training; don''t squander it," Gao Yu advised, "Only with utmost effort can you aspire to be a first-rate Adept before your twenties."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Wu Yuan responded.


    "Lastly, since you''ve pledged to join the Finance Hall in the future, the hall will not disappoint. Before your official entry into the sect, a wee gift will be prepared for you," Gao Yu confirmed.


    "I''m in a bit of a rush today, and I haven''t had a chance to prepare. In five days, return to the martial academy to meet me. A special gift will be presented to you, one that I believe will greatly benefit you," Gao Yu said with a slight smile, eyeing Wu Yuan.


    "A gift?" Wu Yuan''s face glowed with anticipation. Inwardly, Wu Yuan wondered whether the gift from Gao Yu and the Finance Hall could possibly aid him at all.


    "Good, return home for now. After today, news of your martial virtuoso strength is likely to spread rapidly, and you''ll barely qualify for the special recruitment. You don''t need to keep the matter of your special recruitment hidden from your family. Go home and discuss it with them," Gao Yu suggested.


    Wu Yuan nodded. With a respectful bow, he exited the grand martial hall.


    ...


    Inside the strength assessment chamber, only Gao Yu and Huan Xinyan remained.


    "Senior Brother, can you really make the decision so quickly?" Huan Xinyan inquired hesitantly. "Don''t you need to liaise with the sect first?"


    "If Master and the hall master knew about this matter, they would agree to it even faster than I can propose," Gao Yu exined, shaking his head. "Junior Sister, you''re still young and might not fully grasp the implications of opening the upper dantian lobe."


    "Once the news spreads, the other four halls will scramble for him. We must strike first to gain the upper hand!" Gao Yu dered with a grin.


    Taken aback, Huan Xinyan furrowed her brows, questioning, "Senior Brother, based on what you said earlier, isn''t there no way of determining whether one''s upper dantian lobe has been opened? Aren''t you afraid you might have made an incorrect judgment?"


    "Incorrect judgment?" Gao Yu paused momentarily, beforeughing, "Indeed, there is a possibility of error."


    "However, if Wu Yuan hasn''t opened his upper dantian lobe, yet already managed to gain initial proficiency in Twofold Power Surge in just a few short months, it demonstrates his immense natural talent in martial skills, which makes him far more formidable than we can imagine. In that case, it''s all the more reason for us to recruit him," Gao Yu reasoned.


    "Regardless of the situation, he has the potential to be a Grandmaster!" Gao Yu said in a hushed tone.


    Grandmaster potential? Huan Xinyan could hardly believe her ears.


    "In the Battle of Hillstride, our Cloudstride Sect suffered heavy casualties; Senior Uncle Xia Heng fell in battle, leaving only two elderly ancestors to support the Sect. Both of them are nearing a hundred years of age! How much longer can they sustain the Sect?" Gao Yu continued, speaking slowly, "I''m not recruiting Wu Yuan solely for our Finance Hall; it''s for the sake of the entire Sect."


    "I might reach the Savant level in this lifetime, but Grandmaster? I dare not even dream of it!"


    "Yet, whether it be Xu Hui or Wu Yuan, they both have the potential to be Grandmasters." Gao Yu solemnly affirmed, "As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we must not give up."


    "I understand, everything is for the sect." Huan Xinyan nodded subtly.


    Raised within the sect since they were children, they had a strong sense of allegiance to the sect.


    "How is Wu Yuan''s background?" Gao Yu asked.


    "A native of Li City, his n has been deeply rooted in Southdream for over a century, with many members choosing to join our sect as members," Huan Xinyan responded. "His father was a former member of the Southdream Army, who tragically lost his life in the Battle of Hillstride."


    "So, you''ve conducted a thorough investigation already? You''re quite prepared," Gao Yu remarked with a knowing smile.


    "His background is exceptionally clean, even more so than Xu Hui. Once the Inspection Hall carries out a more detailed inquiry, there shouldn''t be any issues," Gao Yu affirmed.


    Huan Xinyan nodded in agreement. Wu Yuan''s background and childhood experiences would satisfy any high-ranking member of the sect, proving him worthy of their full support.


    "Senior Brother, what gift will you prepare?" Huan Xinyan asked.


    "I have an idea in mind." Gao Yu responded with a smile, "The Hall Master is currently inspecting Southdream City. I will journey there to report this to him, and the final decision will be his."


    "Travel to Southdream City? That��s more than a thousand li away," Huan Xinyan eximed in surprise.


    "That''s why I advised Wu Yuan to wait for five days," Gao Yu exined, still smiling. "I can undertake the journey alone and make a swift return; five days should suffice for the round trip."


    Huan Xinyan nodded. She keenly felt the level of importance her senior brother ced on Wu Yuan.


    ...


    <i>I''m curious, what kind of gift is Gao Yu preparing?</i> Wu Yuan navigated the bustling streets.


    <i>My entry into the Cloudstride Sect has been significantly smoother than I anticipated. I''ve already got my foot in the door. Demonstrating one''s talent is truly crucial.</i>


    <i>But I have to wait for one or two months? That''s okay, the spiritual liquid in that jade vial should sustain me for a month.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s physical constitution had reached its current limit. From now on, he needed to focus on nourishing his body, and no longer needed as much spiritual liquid.


    <i>I need to inform my mother that I''ve been specially recruited into the Cloud Martial Hall and also ry the news to the chieftain.</i>


    <i>Oh, and the n must have received those ten pigs from the courtyard house.</i>


    The city''s unrest following the Vicious Tiger Gang''s elimination had gradually subsided.


    As for those pigs that had consumed the spiritual liquid, Wu Yuan didn''t want them to go to waste. Though he didn''t make an appearance himself, he arranged for their delivery to the Wu n, covering the transport expenses. Judging by the timing, they should have arrived by now.


    ...


    <i>Deep within the county martial academy, in a rather luxuriously decorated hall.</i>


    "I hope Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming are willing to reconcile," Headmaster Zhang Da muttered while adjusting his appearance in front of the mirror.


    "Xu Shouyi, you''ve certainly put me in a difficult position," Zhang Da sighed as he picked up a stack of silver notes from the table, a pang of regret in his heart.


    Yet he understood that he had no other alternative. If he waited any longer, he would have to make far greater sacrifices.


    Reconciling now was his best course of action!


    1. A drawing of a cake cannot fill one��s stomach. This means making absurd and unrealistic promises, and then using rhetoric to make people believe and serve them ?

 Chapter 41: An Unresolved Blood Feud

    <h4>Chapter 41: An Unresolved Blood Feud</h4>


    <i>Within the main hall of the Wu n''s ancestral mansion.</i>


    "Haha, fantastic! Wonderful!" Many days had passed since the incident, and although Wu Qiming had yet to fully recover, his condition had notably improved, allowing him to leave his sickbed.


    Upon receiving the news from Wu Yuan, Wu Qiming was beyond ecstatic, immediately gathering the n''s higher-ups to share the momentous news.


    "I knew you were making significant progress, but I dared only to hope for your admission into the Cloud Martial Hall next year, and that you''d be someone of importance in the sect in the future." Wu Qiming, usually the epitome of calm, was now beside himself with joy, "Who could have expected that you''d receive a special recruitment invitation from the sect so quickly!"


    "In truth, my abilities fall somewhat short of the typical special recruitment standards. It''s all because Senior Gao Yu favored me," Wu Yuan responded modestly.


    This was an excuse he had prepared well in advance. Although he didn''t fear assassination or abduction, Wu Yuan preferred to avoid any unnecessary trouble. He followed Gao Yu''s instructions to the letter, concealing the extent of his talent as much as possible. Special recruits varied in their qualifications, with some barely meeting the criteria, while others demonstrated exceptional talent.


    "Haha, Gao Yu is a sect protectorate; his status is extremely high. Just the fact that he singled you out speaks volumes!" Wu Liuye, even more ted, raised his wine cup and dered, "Even if you only barely qualified for special recruitment, you''ve already surpassed many Cloud Martial Hall disciples."


    "Indeed!" The refined Wu Dongyao beamed and remarked, "It''s been over twenty years since someone from Li City received a special recruitment invitation!"


    The Cloudstride Sect rarely extended invitations for special recruitment. On average, only two or three disciples received such invitations each year, tranting to one special recruit every two or three decades from one county.


    "Brother, you''re amazing!" Wu Yijun, his little sister, excitedly raised arge chicken leg at the dining table, "But this chicken leg tastes even better."


    "Hahaha!" Laughter filled the hall.


    Even Wanqin, sitting quietly at the side, couldn''t help but smile. Despite being surrounded by the n''s senior members, she carried herself with neither awkwardness nor inferiority. Instead, she felt a deep sense of pride. All of this was possible because she had given birth to a good son.


    <i>Husband, are you watching? Yuan''er has truly grown up. </i>Wanqin watched affectionately as Wu Yuan, Wu Qiming, Wu Long, and the others enjoyed their meal amidst lively banter. All those years of raising him had culminated in the achievements of today.


    <i>Mother is very happy, as is the chieftain.</i> Wu Yuan felt warmth in his heart, and a broad smile spread across his face.


    After regaining consciousness and inheriting the memories of his body''s predecessor, Wu Yuan felt himself being increasingly integrated into this world as time went by, bing a part of this family and this n.


    One could only persevere in their cultivation with a clear goal in mind.


    <i>I hope the smiles on the faces of my family and n members will always remain as radiant as they are today.</i>


    "Chieftain." Fang Bo, the steward, suddenly entered the hall in a hurry, "The headmaster of the county martial academy, Zhang Da, hase to visit!"


    The hall fell silent as Wu Dongyao, Wu Long, Wu Liuye, and others turned their attention toward chieftain Wu Qiming.


    The headmaster of the martial academy?


    "Chieftain, we''ll take our leave first," Wu Liuye took the initiative to speak. For the Wu n, the headmaster of the martial academy was someone of great importance.


    ��No need. Please continue with your meal, all of you, Wu Qiming dismissed the notion, "Fang Bo, guide Headmaster Zhang to the study. Wu Yuan, you''ll apany me to meet the headmaster."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan replied, rising from his seat.


    In the study, Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming didn''t have to wait long before Zhang Da arrived. After the initial formalities, they sat down.


    "Headmaster Zhang, your visit is somewhat unexpected. How may we assist you today?" Wu Qiming inquired with a friendly smile.


    "Haha, Chieftain Wu, you''re too kind, Wu Yuan is an exceptionally gifted disciple of our academy. It''s a delightful urrence that he has caught Protectorate Gao''s eye," Zhang Da said whileughing, "As the headmaster, I must offer my congrattions."


    "Without your personal guidance, Headmaster, how could Wu Yuan have garnered Protectorate Gao''s recognition?" Wu Qiming asked with a knowing smile.


    Zhang Da''s eyelids twitched. His words wereced with thorns!


    "I admit that I failed to consider the situation previously," Zhang Da admitted. "I was focused on Li City''s honor, neglecting the broader context of the sect, not to mention underestimating Wu Yuan''s martial talent."


    "Nevertheless, being a special recruit, Wu Yuan is now a source of pride for our county martial academy," he continued.


    "Today, all of the academy''s instructors have unanimously agreed to reward Wu Yuan with 5000 silver taels, in the hopes that he continues to excel after entering the Cloud Martial Hall," Zhang Da exined while producing a stack of silver notes. Each hundred tael note was imprinted with the word ''Sta''.


    "This?" Wu Qiming was initially taken aback but quicklyprehended Zhang Da''s intentions.


    He felt the 5000 taels were sufficient and turned to Wu Yuan. Wu Qiming was keenly aware that he must respect Wu Yuan''s views and treat him as an equal, no longer as a junior.


    "Headmaster." Wu Yuan smiled, "Do you know who was the expert that obliterated the Vicious Tiger Gang?"


    "I don''t. Currently, the sect is investigating it," Zhang Da shook his head, puzzled as to why Wu Yuan brought up this matter.


    "If you happen to discover the expert''s identity, Headmaster, kindly inform my Wu n. We would like to reward this expert generously," Wu Yuan solemnly expressed, "He has done us a great service."


    "A great service?" Zhang Da''s eyes sparkled, "Are you suggesting that the Wu n has obtained leads regarding this expert''s identity?"


    Wu Yuan continued, "The Vicious Tiger Gang first raised our Wu n''s tribute by 5000 taels this year, then razed our southern mansion, taking the lives of many n members. They even captured our chieftain and imprisoned him in their stronghold! Fortunately, this mysterious expert wiped out the Vicious Tiger Gang, enabling our chieftain''s return!"


    "The wounds on our chieftain were inflicted by the Vicious Tiger Gang. Headmaster, do you think the Wu n should express gratitude to this expert?" Wu Yuan gazed intently at Zhang Da.


    Zhang Da shifted ufortably under Wu Yuan''s stare. Astute as he was, he promptly grasped Wu Yuan''s insinuation and sighed deeply for Xu Shouyi.


    Wu Yuan''s sentiments were clear as crystal. Recalling the kindness of the enigmatic expert symbolized that he hadn''t forgotten the Xu faction''s mistreatment. If Zhang Da wished to resolve the grudges the Wu n had with him, add more money!


    "The Wu n experienced such a dreadful ordeal? Certainly, you should express gratitude to that mysterious expert," Zhang Damented emotionally, "Achieving so much under such difficult conditions must have been quite challenging. The martial academy will, therefore, provide you with an additional 5000 silver taels!" He produced another stack of silver notes.


    Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming exchanged nces, subtly nodding.


    "Haha, in that case, we sincerely appreciate Headmaster Zhang''s generous support for Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming took over the conversation, "Has your tea cooled? Would you like some more?"


    Headmaster Zhang nced at his piping hot tea. Adding more tea would cause it to overflow.


    His words were a clear signal of dismissal.


    "Haha, there''s no need for additional tea. I''ve just remembered that I have some pressing matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave," Zhang Da rose to his feet.


    "I''m feeling unwell and unable to see you out, I hope Headmaster Zhang understands," Wu Qiming wore an apologetic expression.


    "Headmaster Zhang, allow me to see you out," Fang Bo appeared at just the right time.


    Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming watched as Zhang Da departed.


    "Wu Yuan, 10,000 silver taels, isn''t it a bit too much?" Wu Qiming frowned, "He is the headmaster of the martial academy after all."


    "Chieftain, I know what I''m doing," Wu Yuan assured with a smile.


    Wu Qiming nodded subtly, still harboring some concerns but refraining from furtherments.


    "Wu Yuan, take these 10,000 silver taels," Wu Qiming gestured toward the silver notes on the table.


    "No need!" Wu Yuan shook his head, "Protectorate Gao has promised me that once I join the sect, I will receive a steady supply of various cultivation resources. I don''t currently require the silver. Conversely, once I depart, the n will need the funds as I won''t be able to assist until I graduate."


    Did Cloud Martial Hallck money? Wu Yuan was uncertain. But at the moment, he didn''t need these 10,000 silver taels.


    "Alright, your special recruitment into the sect is akin to ascending to the heavens in one step. I won''t stand on ceremony then," Wu Qiming gave a nod.


    "Headmaster Zhang visited to address our grievances, fearing future reprisals from me", Wu Yuan said softly, "The Xu faction will soon receive the news. Do you think they will also seek reconciliation?"


    "They will not. Headmaster Zhang came to reconcile with us because our feud has not reached the point of bing mortal enemies, and can be resolved with silver," Wu Qiming shook his head, "The Xu n? Only if Xu Shouyi regards the entire Wu n as fools. Otherwise, they cannot possibly reconcile a blood feud."


    "If they''re only willing to offer meagerpensation, they won''t risk trusting us even if we agree to reconcile, fearing that we''re merely biding our time for revenge."


    "To truly resolve our enmity, it would require something along the lines of Xu Yuanjie''s death. Is Xu Shouyi willing?" Wu Qiming sighed.


    "To kill his son?" Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. A number of Wu nsmen had perished. Even the chieftain had narrowly escaped death. How deep did this hatred run? Was it something that silver could resolve? The Xu n had to atone with a life, and it had to be a high-ranking individual''s death, only then could it truly appease the Wu n''s anger.


    "It doesn''t matter. Just exercise caution. These are turbulent times, Xu Shouyi is just a general of defense, not an almighty god, so I doubt he''ll risk outright murder," Wu Qiming stated, "Once you join the sect, everything will be settled."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. Revenge? He already had enough strength for it. But the Vicious Tiger Gang had just been eradicated. Acting again so soon would draw too much attention and the risk of exposure was high. For now, he could only let Xu Shouyi live a little longer.


    ......


    "Damn it!"


    "Damn it!" Within the Xu Manor, one of the chambers was in utter disarray. Fury zed in Xu Shouyi''s eyes as he bellowed, "That sted Zhang Da, how dare he decline my request for an audience?"


    "What exactly happened in the martial academy today?"


    "Gao Yu, that protectorate of the Finance Hall, why did he suddenlye to Li City? Why wasn''t I informed in advance?"


    "Wu Yuan, he cannot be allowed to live any longer!" An intense chill zed in the depths of Xu Shouyi''s eyes.

 Chapter 42: Ninedeaths Circle

    <h4>Chapter 42: Ninedeaths Circle</h4>


    In Li City, General Xu Shouyi wielded significant power, but his influence did not extend to the martial academy. By the time he received news of Protectorate Gao''s arrival in Li City and Wu Yuan lifting the 10,000-catty test stone, it was already quitete.


    He sought an audience with Headmaster Zhang Da as soon as possible, but was met with a closed door! Headmaster Zhang Da didn''t offer an exnation, let alone meet him face-to-face. He had even returned the Qi Enhancement Pills that Xu Shouyi had gifted to him.


    His attitude already said it all. He was cutting ties!


    <i>Wu Yuan, did he really just lift a 10,000-catty boulder? Lifting such a weight alone should not make Zhang Da so fearful.</i> Xu Shouyi had some doubts.


    So what if a fourteen-year-old had a strength of 10,000 catties? It was true that his talent was extraordinary. As long as he continued to develop at a normal pace, it was practically a given that he could be a first-rate Adept. But that would only happen many years in the future!


    Moreover, martial artists faced life-and-death trials as well as went on adventures across the world, which meant high casualty rates!


    <i>So what if he bes a first-rate Adept? Even someone like Gao Yu, who ranks among the strongest first-rate Adepts and is even nearing the Savant expert level, wouldn''t dare to kill a general of defense like me.</i>


    <i>And I also have Master''s protection!</i>


    <i>I still have the potential to raise my strength. In the future, I might even be a first-rate Adept.</i> Xu Shouyi was rather confident in himself.


    The higher one''s physical constitution, the slower their body''s decline. For second-rate Adepts and first-rate Adepts, they typically only started to show signs of aging after 60, and living to 100 wasn''t umon if they avoided serious injuries.


    As for Land Rankers, even at the age of a hundred, their vitality remained at its peak, although the period of recovery from injuries might be longer.


    <i>All this only goes to show that Wu Yuan��s talent isn��t just limited to what he��s shown, it��s even more frightening!</i>


    This conclusion only caused him further distress. What should he do?


    <i>Grudges, once forged, are hard to dissolve! Perhaps, I should confess my guilt to the sect. But manipting the martial academy major tournament is a capital offense! Even if I confess willingly, and even if Master helps plead my case, I fear it will mean a life of imprisonment, and the doom of my family!</i>


    Would Xu Shouyi be willing to take this path?


    <i>Or, I could stall! Bet on the fact that Zhang Da will not confess, bet that the sect won''t find out, bet that Wu Yuan will not have the capability to retaliate in the future, while also keeping an eye on that mongrel, Jiang Dongque.</i>


    To put it inly, this path would be akin to waiting for death! This wasn''t Xu Shouyi''s style.


    <i>Kill!</i> A murderous intent protruded from Xu Shouyi''s eyes. <i>Wu Yuan is the key to this matter. As long as Wu Yuan is killed, what can a single Wu n do? Overturn the heavens?</i>


    <i>But I cannot mobilize the Southdream Army, I cannot even mobilize my own family guards.</i> Xu Shouyi closed his eyes. <i>Wu Yuan is now valued by the sect, once he dies, the sect will go mad. I can''t leave a single trace of evidence. If they find out it was me, I will be done for.</i>


    Soon, Xu Shouyi opened his eyes. "Liu Ye!"


    <i>ng~</i> The door to the hall opened and Liu Ye walked in, bowing slightly, "General."


    "Abandon the n to assassinate Wu Yuan." Xu Shouyi said quietly, "Abandon all ns against the Wu n, destroy all evidence."


    "Abandon everything?" Liu Ye was slightly surprised, then acknowledged, "Understood." He didn''t need to understand the reason, he just had to follow orders.


    "You may leave, summon Steward Xu." Xu Shouyimanded.


    Liu Ye withdrew. Soon, Steward Xu arrived in the hall. By then, servants had already cleaned up the entire hall.


    "Prepare 10,000 silver taels. Tomorrow morning, deliver it to the Wu n, the one where Wu Yuan resides." Xu Shouyi spoke slowly, "As a celebration gift for Wu Yuan''s admission to the sect!"


    "10,000 silver taels? For the Wu n?" Steward Xu was hugely surprised. He was giving away such a huge sum of silver?


    "You may continue your duties." Xu Shouyi offered no exnation, dismissing all his guards and servants.


    Only Xu Shouyi remained in the hall. After ensuring there was no one around, he entered a side hall, opened a hiddenpartment, and retrieved apletely ck set of attire. After donning it, only his eyes were visible.


    He walked into another side chamber. From arge chest, he withdrew all the gold notes and most of the silver notes. To maintain his status as a general of defense, he had to entertain guests, reward his subordinates, and enjoy personal luxuries. All these required funds.


    <i>How frustrating. I, a dignified general of defense, must approach an underground organization?</i>


    He understood that the price for engaging such an organization was immense, but it was the most secure method.


    Having prepared everything, he switched the lights off.


    "I am going to rest. No one is to disturb me without mymand," Xu Shouyi issued his orders.


    "Yes!" answered the distant guards.


    Xu Shouyi transformed into a shadow, melting into the darkness as he silently evaded the heavy security of the Xu Manor. As a second-rate Adept who knew the arrangement of the Xu Manor inside out, none of the guards could detect him.


    He wove through many secluded streets and alleys before finally arriving in the south of the city.


    Here was an unassuming tavern. Arge redntern hung at the entrance, one missing, the other dirty and dim, seemingly on the verge of being extinguished, it appeared terribly run-down!


    Those unaware would see nothing more than a dpidated tavern here. Yet, the high-ranking figures of Li City knew the significance of this ce.


    This was none other than a stronghold of the Ninedeaths Circle in Li City!


    <i>Ninedeaths Circle?</i> Wrapped in ck attire, Xu Shouyi stared at therge, redntern, a hint of doubt in his heart. Was this really the ce? He went over the information he had received again, but there was no mistake.


    This was an underground organization that brought chaos to the world, its influence in the underbelly of the world stretching back a thousand years, inciting the wrath of both heaven and men. Generation after generation of Heavenly Rankers had sought to extinguish it!


    Yet, no one had ever seeded.


    Even till now, only within the all-powerful Great Jin did the Ninedeaths Circle keep a low profile. As for other countries and territories of major sects, their strongholdsy in every one of them. Numerous forces and factions were unwilling to provoke such an underground organization. As long as the Ninedeaths Circle did not overstep their boundaries, most turned a blind eye to them.


    Xu Shouyi concealed his figure and stepped into the tavern.


    "Esteemed guest, our establishment is closed. You may find another ce to drink," a server in in clothing came forward with due respect, intending to show him out.


    "Guests flock from the nine skies and eight directions, how can there be a closing time?" Xu Shouyi asked softly.


    "In the circle of death''s embrace, only silver''s touch is epted. Do you wish to hang a crimsonntern or answer the crimson call?" The server maintained his respectful demeanor.


    "Hang a crimsonntern." Xu Shouyi uttered.


    To hang a crimsonntern was to post a bounty. To answer the crimson call, was to ept an assassination request.


    "Red dust billows, from whence does our patron hail?" queried the tavern server once again.


    "Copper!" Xu Shouyi flipped his palm, revealing an odd token seemingly wrought of copper. On the face of the token was a silhouette of mountains, while the reverse bore a ferocious character for ''death''!


    The Ninedeaths Circle, an elite underground organization, did not simply allow anyone to dere a bounty. One had to be of significant status or demonstrate their might.


    As a general of defense, Xu Shouyi was issued the copper kill order. This was the lowest level token.


    "Esteemed patron, please exit and turn left, the 21st establishment is where you must enter. Ascend the stairs, and there will be someone responsible for hanging the crimsonnterns." The server said after verifying the authenticity of the token.


    Xu Shouyi nodded. He instantly understood that this decrepit tavern was but a waystation for the Ninedeaths Circle.


    He exited the shop. Following the instructions, he arrived at the ce, pushed open the door, and ascended the staircase.


    On the second floor, there was a single partitioned area. In the darkness, ady could barely be made out, her figure graceful, but her icy gaze was all too clear.


    "To hang a crimsonntern, please provide the exact identity of the target, all known information, and finally state your additional requirements!" Thedymanded coldly.


    "I want Wu Yuan of the Wu n who established the Wu Xing Fabric Shop dead! He is fourteen years old, a disciple of the county martial academy!" Xu Shouyi dered tersely, "He should possess the skill of a martial virtuoso..." Xu Shouyi shared all the information he knew.


    "I''d like for the traces of Wu Yuan��s death to point towards the Great Jin Empire.�� Xu Shouyi stated.


    <i>When the sect investigates the matter, there has to be a scapegoat. Who better than the Great Jin Empire?</i>


    Thedy listened intently while her brush danced upon a sheet of paper.


    "Please grant us a moment. We need to gather information on our end to ascertain the final sum needed for the bounty," thedy spoke, slipping the paper into the darkness behind her.


    A rustle of sound, and then silence fell.


    A long, long while passed.


    Just as Xu Shouyi was on the verge of impatience, a note emerged from the darkness and was passed into the woman''s hands.


    She received it, casting a quick nce.


    "Before I provide the quote, we require an upfront payment of 100 silver taels." thedy said softly.


    "Upfront?" Xu Shouyi furrowed his brows.


    "It''s protocol," the woman calmly stated. "Acquiring various forms of intelligence requires us to expend both time and energy."


    Grinding his teeth, Xu Shouyi extended a silver note. Even a man as powerful as him couldn''t help but curse inwardly at this extortion!


    epting the silver note, the woman stated inly, "To kill Wu Yuan as per your request, the price is 200,000 silver taels."


    "200,000 taels?" Xu Shouyi''s eyes widened, a hint of rage seeping into his voice. "Hiring a third-rate Adept only costs a thousand taels! What''s so difficult about killing a martial virtuoso? You dare demand such a hefty sum?"


    He was prepared to pay a certain price. But 200,000 silver taels was beyond his expectations. With such a sum, he could even engage a first-rate Adept.


    "Killing Wu Yuan is not the hard part." The woman''s voice did not hold a single shred of emotion, "The difficulty lies in how to forge the evidence, how to ensure our involvement remains undetected by the Cloudstride Sect."


    The news of Wu Yuan''s special recruitment had spread only a short while ago, yet the Ninedeaths Circle already got wind of it. The price of 200,000 silver taels wasrgely due to the Cloudstride Sect.


    The risks involved in assassinating him were high. Assassinating Wu Yuan might only cost the Ninedeaths Circle 10,000 silver taels. But once Wu Yuan was eliminated, if the Cloudstride Sect discovered the involvement of the Ninedeaths Circle, they would certainly retaliate by stamping out the Ninedeaths Circle''s territories, inflicting losses amounting to at least a million taels! Therefore, the final price was set at 200,000 taels.


    "200,000 taels? Too expensive! Outrageous!" Xu Shouyi shook his head. Although he had substantial wealth and should be able to afford it, much of it was tied up in fixed assets, unable to be liquidated in a short time.


    Moreover, the most important thing was that no evidence would point to him in the subsequent inspections! Once he liquidated his assets, umting arge amount of cash, and the sect began to investigate this matter, pointing him out as a suspect, how could he exin himself?


    "120,000 taels! That''s the highest price I can afford." Xu Shouyi gritted his teeth.


    "In the Ninedeaths Circle, you may only either hang crimsonnterns or answer the call of crimson, we do not entertain negotiation." the woman spoke indifferently, "If you do not have enough silver, please leave."

 Chapter 43: The Choice To Reconcile

    <h4>Chapter 43: The Choice To Reconcile</h4>


    At the break of dawn, a light drizzle lent a refreshing coolness to the summer air of Li City.


    "The Chieftain has summoned me?" Wu Yuan, who had just finished his breakfast at home, was greeted by the hurried arrival of Steward Fang, who came in such a rush that he had no time to bring an umbre.


    "Young Master Yuan, it''s someone from the Xu faction." Uncle Fang replied hastily.


    The news of Wu Yuan''s special recruitment by the sect hadn''t been officially disseminated, but Uncle Fang, who had witnessed the event the previous night, had tactfully begun addressing him as ''Young Master''.


    "The Xu faction? The general''s faction?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    Uncle Fang nodded in affirmation.


    "Mother, please see to Uncle Fang. Do serve him some hot soup before he leaves," Wu Yuan requested.


    "Alright. Since the chieftain is asking for you, you should hurry. I will take care of things at home," Wanqin replied.


    ...


    With each step Wu Yuan took, he covered a distance of several zhangs, swiftly arriving at the ancestral mansion. There, he found Wu Qiming and Steward Xu from the Xu Manor in the study.


    "Steward Xu." Wu Yuan said, looking straight at him without courtesy.


    "Ah, Young Master Yuan has arrived," Steward Xu responded with utmost politeness, seemingly ignoring Wu Yuan''s cold demeanor. This was a stark contrast to his attitude when Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming first visited the Xu faction.


    "Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming said with a slight smile on his face, "Steward Xu is here on behalf of General Xu to congratte you on your special recruitment by the sect. He has brought 10,000 silver taels to show the Xu faction��s support for you."


    "10,000 silver taels? From General Xu?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.


    "That''s right!" Steward Xu replied with a smile, "The general was overjoyed to hear of Young Master Yuan''s achievements. It''s been many years since such a martial arts prodigy emerged from Li City. The general specifically asked me to bring this generous amount of silver." As he spoke, Steward Xu presented a stack of silver notes.


    Wu Qiming observed from the sidelines. Clearly, this was a gesture of goodwill from the Xu faction, and whether it was to be epted depended entirely on Wu Yuan''s attitude. Wu Qiming did not want Wu Yuan to harbor resentment towards him.


    "The prosperity of the Xu faction is beyond our Wu n''s reach," Wu Yuan said indifferently, "I appreciate General Xu''s goodwill, but there is no need for this silver."


    "Thest gift of 5000 silver taels had a significant and unforgettable impact on our Wu n and me."


    "When you return, I hope you��ll tell General Xu to guard Li City more diligently in the future, ensuring that the hooligans don''t run wild," Wu Yuan expressed cidly. There was neither scorn nor joy in his tone, as if he was merely stating a matter of fact.


    Steward Xu''s half-extended hand stiffened, the color of his face changing slightly. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. As someone trusted by Xu Shouyi, how could he not understand the implications of Wu Yuan''s words?


    Previously, 5000 silver taels had almost caused the Wu n''s ruin. Would they dare ept 10,000 taels this time?


    "Haha, children don''t understand such matters," Wu Qimingughed, casually guiding Steward Xu''s hand and the stack of silver notes back to his chest, "Steward Xu, you''ve had a long journey. When you return, please tell General Xu that our Wu n is a benevolent andw-abiding family. We''d never wish to get into conflicts with others. We hope the general can rest assured."


    Having been given a path of retreat, Steward Xu regained hisposure, revealing a smile once again, "Young master Yuan is kind indeed, I understand the Wu n''s intentions and will surely ry it to the general, in hopes of fostering a good rtionship between both families."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod, not continuing the conversation.


    Not long after, Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan watched Steward Xu depart.


    "Chieftain, what do you think?" Wu Yuan asked quietly.


    "Does Xu Shouyi intend to reconcile with us?" Wu Qiming shook his head, "But Headmaster Zhang Da settled our grievances with 10,000 silver taels, and the general sent another 10,000 taels? I don''t understand."


    10,000 silver taels was not a small sum!


    Although the Middle Land was filled with chaotic, bloody battles between martial artists, top-tier powerhouses could easily amassrge sums of wealth. But that was only applicable to first-rate Adepts and above. For third-rate Adepts, if they did not risk their lives to loot and pige, they might not even possess 10,000 silver taels.


    Take for instance the Wu n of Li City, with nearly a thousand mouths to feed if rounded up. Considering their fixed assets such as mansions, courtyard houses, and fabric shops, their worth was around 200,000 silver taels. And if they were eager to liquidate their assets, they would suffer substantial losses. As for liquid assets? At their most affluent, they might have tens of thousands of silver taels, but during hard times, they struggled to scrape together even a few thousand.


    Therefore, 10,000 silver taels was not a small sum. But, this depended on the person! And the circumstances!


    The Wu n and Xu faction bore such deep grudges. Wu Yuan was about to be specially recruited by the martial academy, and his status had skyrocketed. Did the Xu faction think they could resolve this feud with a mere 10,000 silver taels?


    It was too little.


    "The fact that the Xu faction sent us silver indeed surprised me. But I am more concerned about other matters. Headmaster Zhang Da knew I was about to be specially recruited, so I am not surprised." Wu Yuan frowned, "But how did Xu Shouyi know about this in just one night? Did Headmaster Zhang tell him?"


    "He''s the general of defense, it wouldn''t be surprising if he has such insider information." A hint of worry appeared on Wu Qiming''s face, "I''m just worried. Youpletely rejected his goodwill today, does our Wu n really wish to provoke the Xu faction?"


    The thought of shing with the general of defense made Wu Qiming quite uneasy.


    "Do you prefer that I ept this 10,000 silver taels?" Wu Yuan retorted, "Chieftain, can you truly trust the Xu faction?"


    Wu Qiming paused, falling silent.


    "Moreover, can we truly let go of the feud? Wouldn��t our nsmen have died in vain?" Wu Yuan shook his head, speaking softly, "There are some things that can''t be measured with money."


    Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan. For a moment, he didn''t know what to say.


    A life couldn��t be measured with money? Yet in Wu Qiming''s mind, every life did have its price.


    Both fell silent, each lost in their thoughts.


    "If there is an appropriate way," Wu Qiming seemed to make up his mind, stating, "Wu Yuan, I still hope for a reconciliation with the Xu faction."


    "Reconciliation?" Wu Yuan looked at Wu Qiming incredulously, "Chieftain, when you returned alive that day, it was you who told me not to forget the grudge!"


    "Indeed." Wu Qiming sighed, "It was I who reminded you not to forget the hatred of our people. I yearn for revenge even more than you. At that time, rage filled my heart. But these days, I have been contemting this matter!"


    "Wu Yuan, you are incredibly talented in martial arts and may be a first-rate Adept in the future. But how many years will it take? Ten years? Fifteen years?" Wu Qiming shook his head and sighed, "That��s too far in the future. In the meantime, what can we do to the Xu faction?"


    "On the contrary, Xu Shouyi has a high status and extensive connections. If he wants to deal with us, he has plenty of ways."


    ��Perhaps, we could keep fighting. Eventually, you may obliterate Xu Shouyi and crush the Xu faction, but by the day we get our revenge, how many more Wu nsmen will be dead or injured?"


    "I have thought about it for a long time and made up my mind. Let''s not fight anymore. The Wu n is too weak, we cannot afford the losses." Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan, his eyes pleading.


    Listening to Wu Qiming''s words and observing his expression, Wu Yuan waspletely stunned. From his memory, he had never seen the chieftain plead like this. Even when he was imprisoned by the Vicious Tiger Gang, the chieftain had always gritted his teeth and persevered!


    "Chieftain, are you sure about this?" Wu Yuan''s expression was solemn, speaking in a low voice.


    "I''m sure." As Wu Qiming voiced his thoughts, his ideas grew clearer, "We canpensate the families of the nsmen who died. When you grow stronger, the n will also be stronger."


    "The deceased are gone, there is no need to shackle the living in the past. By ending our struggle with the Xu faction, you will be able to train at the Cloud Martial Hall in peace."


    Wu Yuan fell silent. Was the chieftain''s perspective wrong? No! It could even be said to be very sensible!


    As a chieftain, was revenge the first duty? Or was it to satisfy his desire? No! The most important duty of a chieftain was to continue the lineage of the n! To lead his nsmen to a better future! Even if this process caused him some humiliation, it still had to be done.


    A few minutes of silence ticked by.


    "Chieftain, how do you wish to proceed?" Wu Yuan slowly asked.


    "I will visit the Xu faction again and speak to General Xu." Wu Qiming seemed to have made a significant decision, "A face-to-face talk! I will do everything possible to make General Xu believe in the sincerity of the Wu n."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement, not uttering a word. Not denying meant acquiescence.


    "Wu Yuan, you don''t have to go, I can go myself," Wu Qiming quickly got dressed.


    Despite his injuries, he boarded the carriage, stepping onto the path leading to the Xu faction.


    <i>Clearly, we are in the right. Clearly, my Wu n suffered heavy casualties. In the future, I can tap into the power of the sect to crush Xu Shouyi.</i>


    Wu Yuan stood alone under the eaves, his eyes lowered, listening to the soft patter of rain hitting the ground.


    And yet! They had to take the initiative to reconcile. And even had to fully convince Xu Shouyi that the Wu n had given up on revenge. Why?


    <i>Because he is the general of defense of Li City? Because of thework of personal rtionships he has formed within the Cloudstride Sect? </i>


    Wu Yuan''s heart grew colder. He was unwilling! He was reluctant!


    Martial artists cultivated with a sincere heart, seeking rity of thought! Without rity, how could they maintain the purity of their initial aspirations?


    <i>I don''t me the chieftain! But, having such strength yet unable to wield it due to various considerations? </i>A hard-to-suppress killing intent welded up Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Those who possessed strength tended to aggression. And Wu Yuan was someone who could already exert 100,000 catties of strength.


    ...


    <i>After some time, at the Xu Manor.</i>


    <i>Clip-clop~ Clip-clop~ </i>The carriage carrying Wu Qiming slowly departed, heading in the direction of the Wu n''s ancestral mansion.


    <i>On the second floor of the three entryway courtyard of the Xu Manor.</i>


    "Steward Xu, do you believe Wu Qiming''s words? Can Wu Yuan and the Wu n truly let go of the resentment between our two families?" Xu Shouyi, dressed in a ck robe, asked in a deep voice.


    "Judging by their deeds and words, Wu Qiming''s words do not seem false." Steward Xu respectfully replied.


    Xu Shouyi subtly nodded.


    "But..." Steward Xu hesitated.


    "Whatever you have to say, just say it." Xu Shouyi stated.


    "As the leader of a n, Wu Qiming has many considerations, he is trustworthy." Steward Xu said, "But after observing Wu Yuan''s behavior today, I believe he has a stubborn character. This young hero might not be able to swallow such a grudge."


    "A young hero, is it?" Xu Shouyi murmured.


    "Alright, you may leave!"


    "Yes." Steward Xu respectfully replied and descended the stairs.


    <i>Wu Qiming. </i>Xu Shouyi watched as the Wu family''s carriage disappeared around the corner of the main street.<i> I am willing to trust you, but, can I trust Wu Yuan?</i>


    <i>My sincerest apologies. This time, I cannot keep my promises. I cannot afford to take this gamble!</i>


    ......


    <i>At the Wu n��s ancestral mansion.</i>


    ��Wu Yuan, these 30,000 silver taels are a gift from General Xu." Wu Qiming handed them to Wu Yuan.


    For two hours, Wu Yuan had been waiting in the ancestral mansion.


    "Chieftain, since the negotiations have ended fruitfully, take it. Consider it aspensation from the Xu family to our n.�� Wu Yuan said.


    "But this is...��


    "Chieftain, as I''ve said, it''s for the n." Wu Yuan firmly shook his head, refusing to be persuaded.


    Wu Qiming sighed, ��Wu Yuan, I hope you don''t me me.��


    "Chieftain, I don''t me you, I just me myself for not being strong enough. " Wu Yuan shook his head faintly, "If I had the power of a Savant expert now, would we have to go through such trouble?"


    Wu Qiming opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    "Alright. Chieftain, you should rest. Your injuries haven''t healed yet, don''t overwork yourself. I''m going home now." Wu Yuan walked into the hazy rain.


    Wu Qiming sighed deeply, but remained silent.


    ......


    Night fell.


    The drizzle continued to envelop Li City. The curfew was in effect, and not a sliver of moonlight illuminated thend. All streets were filled with darkness.


    <i>In a secluded alley not far from the Wu family''s street.</i>


    Three shadowy figures appeared soundlessly, moving at ghostly speed toward the Wu family''s street.

 Chapter 44: Environmental Mastery, Night Rain, Slaughter

    <h4>Chapter 44: Environmental Mastery, Night Rain, ughter</h4>


    <i>Thud! Thud! Thud! </i>A squadron of ten city guards, brandishing torches, marched straight down the middle of the streets, patrolling the city. Beyond the city wallsy the territory ofnd bandits and water thieves, where every vige and home had to fend for itself. But within the city, the city guard did their duties diligently.


    Yet amidst their watch, three mysterious figures cloaked in specialized night attire effortlessly melded into the shadows, moving withplete silence. Coupled with the cover of the night rain, they easily avoided this squad of patrolling city guards.


    As the trio pressed forward, the raindrops that fell on their jet-ck attire slid straight onto the ground below.


    Finally, the three arrived at the entrance of the Wu family''s street.


    The tall, thin figure at the front raised both palms,municating using hand signs. "Our target," he signaled, "resides in the 36th house ahead, in the west building."


    "He may be just a martial virtuoso," he cautioned, "but there''s a possibility of an expert from the Cloudstride Sect safeguarding him. If you encounter any difficulties, retreat immediately! We are the first team. Our mission is two-fold: assassination and reconnaissance."


    "And remember, try not to harm anyone else as far as possible."


    "Understood." The shorter, stout figure and the muscr figure behind him emitted soft chirps, reminiscent of raindrops hitting the ground.


    All three had been extensively trained,municating primarily through hand signs. They had mastered the art of mimicking bird calls, rain, and wind, creating their own secret code. They were true assassins!


    "Go!" The tall, thin figure at the front waved his hand, taking the lead into the Wu family''s street, with the other two following three steps behind. The three entered in an arrow formation, six steps apart.


    Even in the depths of pitch-ck darkness, their vision extended twenty meters ahead, and they confirmed their direction by the sounds of the wind.


    ...


    Along the Wu family''s street, perched atop the roof of an uninhabited courtyard, Wu Yuan sat in silence.


    The rain cascaded, dampening his garments while a wispy mist rose from his body. Utterly silent, he merged seamlessly into his surroundings.


    Ever since his physical constitution soared to its current limit, he had shifted his focus from Strength Training to nurturing his body. Each day, apart from training, he meticulously maintained his physical condition. The remaining hours were dedicated to honing his martial skills!


    <i>Mastering the Fundamentals means gainingplete control of one''s power and requires unwavering focus! Power Surge magnifies the force one can exert through the integration of the musculoskeletal system! Rigid Yet Supple is the pinnacle of martial skills, controlling one''s body as one wills! Perfecting Rigid Yet Supple means reaching the limit of the human body''s force application abilities.</i>


    <i>Unless one''s mind can perceive the very cells coursing through their flesh and blood, elevating their power to unfathomable heights, it would be difficult to surpass this stage.</i>


    <i>Man may be bound by the constraints of time, but the world knows no bounds!</i>


    With closed eyes, he embraced the rainfall, savoring each droplet''s descent, attuned to the water''s path along the eaves, attuned to the symphony of raindrops upon the earth...immersing himself in the unending darkness of the night!


    Everything within several tens of meters of Wu Yuan existed within the sphere of his awareness. Eyes closed, shrouded inplete darkness. Yet his mind''s eye remained vignt, perceiving with pristine rity.


    <i>In battles of life and death, a martial artist must not only master the application of force but also adapt to their environment. Much like how eagles reign over the skies and tigers rule the jungles, or how crocodiles lurk in the shallows to ensnare their prey, every creature has evolved to thrive in a specific habitat.</i>


    Once these creatures ventured beyond their familiar domains, their strength waned. The same was true for martial artists. Certain martial artists excelled in open spaces, while others thrived in mountainous terrain, and some unleashed their might underwater... Different environments either amplified or diminished their powers.


    <i>The true epitome of martial prowess lies not in adapting to a fraction of the surroundings, but inmanding any environment.</i>


    <i>Embrace the flow, turn all disadvantages into advantages!</i>


    <i>This is what martial artists pursue after mastering the Rigid Yet Supple stage, when the human body reaches its limit ��Environmental Mastery!</i>


    In other words, mastering control over one''s environment!


    In his previous life, Wu Yuan had reached this level. It was with this martial skill that he won first ce in the Battl Unlimited Fighting Championship, besting numerous other martial arts Grandmasters. His name shook the entire Human Federation.


    In this life, as Wu Yuan familiarized himself with a brand new, ever-evolving body, he decided to learn this skill anew.


    <i>The Wu family''s street on a rainy night is an entirely different experience from a sunny day.</i> Wu Yuan meticulously perceived his surroundings. The basics of Environment Mastery was to actively perceive diverse environments and situations!


    Open fields, dense jungles, arid deserts, shallow waterways, treacherous cliffs, rushing rivers, unfathomable depths... Martial arts was not a mere exercise of imagination, but immersion in the sensations andprehension of these variedndscapes, attuning the senses to the subtle changes in countless environments over time, as well as varying conditions of the same environment.


    For instance, the same forest could appear radically different in light rain versus heavy rain, especially under the influence of various seasons and weather patterns.


    The path to mastery required patience, a step-by-step journey of feeling, understanding, and ultimately gaining control. With a thorough grasp of a plethora of unique environments, the umtion of quantitative changes would lead to a transformative qualitative leap. At this point, one would find themon threads across countless environments. This was Wu Yuan''s understanding of perfect Environmental Mastery!


    Once this level was reached, he could instantaneously wieldplete dominion over every facet of the new environment even if confined to an entirely alien battleground. But for now, Wu Yuan was still far from achieving perfect Environmental Mastery.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly noticed something amiss.


    Though his eyes were still closed, he remained aware of the environment around him at all times. He could pick up on subtle shifts in the environment, like the distinct sound of raindrops impacting the cobblestones on the street 50 meters away!


    <i>Three individuals! Advancing closer rapidly, just 40 meters away! They''re experts! </i>Wu Yuan could vividly ''see'' it all in his mind. Such acute perception was only possible due to his full focus.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open. Through his sensitivity to changes in rain and wind, he instantly pinpointed the location of the three people.


    <i>Cloaked figures approaching the Wu family''s street on a rainy night? Are they here to assassinate me?</i> Not a ripple of disturbance rose in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    He stood up and tied a washcloth over his face. Simultaneously, his body vibrated subtly, soundlessly shrinking by ten centimeters.


    Like a ghost, Wu Yuan gently floated down from the roof. Barely any raindropsnded on him.


    Environmental Mastery!


    It wasn''t just about controlling the environment, but also maintaining and preserving its state, preventing the enemy from detecting even the most minuscule alterations in their surroundings that could reveal his presence.


    ...


    As the three ck-d figures gradually approached the Wu family courtyard, they slowed down until they were only ten meters from the gate. The trio came to aplete stop.


    <i>All of a sudden.</i>


    "Gentlemen, might I inquire as to the purpose of your unexpected visit?" A calm voice drifted forth from the darkness behind them.


    The two standing in the back of the hall felt their scalps freeze in horror! This voice seemed to whisper right into their ears. How close was it? Yet they noticed nothing during their entire approach.


    There was no hesitation.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two arrows instantly fired from the sleeves of the short, plump figure and the sturdy figure, aiming at the target behind them. At the same time, two traces of pale blue light sliced through the night sky, each stabbing toward a different direction in the darkness. That was because the two assassins were not sure of the speaker''s exact location.


    <i>Crack! Crack!</i> Two subtle sounds echoed simultaneously.


    The sound was very quiet, barely noticeable on the rainy night. But the tall, skinny figure felt his heart tremble as he turned around. It was the sound of a shatteredrynx!


    His gaze fell upon his two formerly healthy subordinates, now lifeless on the ground, their attacks having missed entirely. The span of time from their engagement to their demise was but an instant.


    However, the tall, skinny figure had no opportunity to dwell on the corpses before him.


    "You?" He swallowed, his eyes wide, staring at the ck-robed figure a meter away. Only a pair of eyes were visible!


    He was overwhelmed with fear. He, an experienced assassin of many years, had never encountered such a formidable expert. A Savant expert? Or even a Land Ranker? At this moment, his estimation of Wu Yuan''s strength soared infinitely!


    One meter, so close! It wouldn''t take more than an instant for him to plunge his dagger forth. The lean, tall silhouette was confident that more than 99% of first-rate Adepts would struggle to evade his strike.


    Yet, limbs were frozen, immovable, as if gripped by an icy paralysis. Because his twopanions who had dared to attack Wu Yuan were now lifeless corpses, their fates sealed.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes, the only feature visible on his face, held a quiet menace as he spoke softly. "If you answer me, you might live. But if you remain silent, your death is certain. I''m not a patient man."


    "Did youe here to assassinate Wu Yuan?"


    The tall, thin silhouette hesitated for a moment.


    Without warning, a cold streak of light sliced through the air. Agony seared through the arm of the tall figure, followed by a wave of weakness.


    The tendons in his right hand had been severed!


    "The next time, it will be your neck," Wu Yuan''s voice was devoid of emotion. "Tell me, are you here to assassinate Wu Yuan?"


    "Yes." The tall, thin silhouette uttered through gritted teeth.


    "Who sent you?" Wu Yuan asked again.


    "No one sent me. We are simply following orders," the tall silhouette replied solemnly.


    Once again, a swift sh of cold light rent through the air, filling the figure with terror beyondprehension.


    The tendons in his left hand were now severed as well!


    Wu Yuan''s voice grew colder still. "No one ordered you, yet you follow orders? Your lies are growing tiresome. Speak the truth."


    "I am an assassin from Ninedragon Peaks, tasked with assassinating Wu Yuan!" The tall, thin silhouette blurted out, "But I don''t know exactly who assigned the task."


    "When was the task issued?" Wu Yuan asked again.


    "I cannot say for certain, but it should have been issued either the day before yesterday or yesterday," the terrified silhouette stammered, practically divulging everything he knew.


    "Does your organization have a base within the city?"


    "Yes."


    "Take me there." Wu Yuan''s voice cut through the air frigidly.


    "Senior, I implore you to spare my life. Leading you to the branch means certain death not just for me, but for my entire n," the gaunt figure pleaded, his terror palpable.


    <i>Crack~ </i>Wu Yuan''s hand descended swiftly, crushing the man''s throat in an instant. Simultaneously, an invisible force surged through his fingertips, wreaking havoc within the victim''s brain and killing him.


    "I warned you, I��m not a patient man," Wu Yuan muttered.


    <i>Ninedragon Peaks? Which assassin agency is this? </i>Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed. He had only heard of the Pleiades Guild and the Ninedeaths Circle. As for other assassin agencies, he wasn''t sure.


    <i>First, I must dispose of their bodies.</i>


    Wu Yuan momentarily set aside the matter of the assassins. Quickly stacking three bodies, he collected the missed sleeve arrows and fallen daggers, double-checking that no evidence of the fight remained.


    Hoisting the bodies, he vanished into the dark rainy night like a wisp of smoke.

 Chapter 45: The Heavens Have Yet To Forsake Me

    <h4>Chapter 45: The Heavens Have Yet To Forsake Me</h4>


    A fine drizzle cast a somber veil over the usually lively Southdragon River. Flower boats, usually bustling with activity at night, nowy dormant along the shore.


    On a deste bank, Wu Yuan observed as three bodies, tied to heavy rocks, descended slowly into the river''s depths. He patiently waited until thest ripple dissipated.


    Since regaining his consciousness, Wu Yuan had grown ustomed to the weight of taking a life. Moreover, these three individuals were assassins, dispatched to kill him.


    <i>This ce lies two li from my usual training spot. It is the bank furthest downstream in the city, and five li away from the Wu family''s street. The river''s current is swift, and if these bodies resurface, it will take many days. By then, they will be discovered even further downstream. The odds of it being traced back to me are slim.</i>


    Clues? The three bodies had been stripped clean by Wu Yuan!


    Traces? On the way here, Wu Yuan left no footprints in the grass.


    In this Middle Land, surveince and technological support were nonexistent.


    <i>Ninedragon Peaks, it must be an underground organization. Three third-rate Adepts, one of them close to the second-rate level.</i> Wu Yuan��s gazended on the night stealth attire on the ground, the dagger smeared with deadly poison, and the sleeve arrow holder. There were no other misceneous items around.


    Revisiting the movements and routes of the assassins, Wu Yuan was certain that these were highly trained killers.


    It was not that the assassinscked strength, but rather that Wu Yuan''s own power was overwhelming. And by chance, he had been meditating on the rooftop and spotted them early. Had an ordinary second-rate Adept fallen victim to a surprise attack by three assants, their fate would have been sealed.


    1000 silver taels would suffice to hire amon third-rate Adept as a bodyguard. But to employ such assassins? Three of them? 10,000 silver taels would probably not be enough!


    Wu Yuan''s gaze was steely, his suspicions directed at one particr individual. <i>Xu Shouyi, is it you?</i>


    In theory, the one who ordered his assassination could also be an enemy of the Cloudstride Sect. However, the news of his special recruitment was only tentatively decided two days ago. It hadn''t been confirmed and wasn''t even announced within the Wu n.


    Which force could react so swiftly, acting immediately after receiving the news? The probability was too low! After all, Li City was only a county city, not a provincial city! It took time for the news to travel.


    <i>Previously, I was hesitant, but you''ve probed my patience time and time again. Don''t me me for whates next.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was icy.


    Wu Yuan''s mind began churning with ideas.


    <i>With tonight''s assassination attempt, things should calm down for a bit. Let''s clean this up first.</i>


    He gathered the clothes, daggers, and other items. After ensuring that no traces were left on the shore, Wu Yuan quietly left with the bundle of items.


    Wu Yuan didn''t bury these clothes and daggers on the beach. Once the bodies surfaced, any experienced constable or sheriff would scour the river for clues.


    ...


    A misty rain fell over Li City.


    Over a thousand li away in Southdream City, the moon hung high, casting its light across thend.


    As the heart of Southdream Province, Southdream City boasted a poption of millions. It was one of the core bases of the Cloudstride Sect''s territory and was considered a major metropolis in the world. The sight of flourishing prosperity stretched in all directions.


    To the east of Southdream City stood a towering mountain adorned with countless structures,plexes, and training grounds. From the summit, one could easily survey the entire Southdream Province.


    Even in the dead of night, lights continued to ze in one suchplex.


    "Gao Yu. Is everything you said true?" queried an elderly man with a full head of white hair, and robed in ck. He was seated on the principal seat, full of vigor despite his age, his face youthful beneath his crane-like hair.


    At first nce, he seemed no more than 60 years old. But Gao Yu, who stood in the middle of the hall, was acutely aware that this old man was actually a centenarian. His longevity was simply the result of his martial arts training.


    "Master, every word this disciple has spoken is true," responded Gao Yu solemnly. "It is extremely rare to find someone with Wu Yuan''s talent. Even Xu Hui falls short inparison."


    "Xu Hui?" The white-haired elder muttered. He was the Cloudstride Sect''s most gifted recruit in over a decade.


    "Gao Yu. Normally, I would visit him myself. However, I''m currently in the midst of patrolling the three provinces," the white-haired elder exined, "If I were to make a detour to Li City, it would attract unwanted attention and potentially put him at risk."


    "Furthermore, the uing meeting of the four families requires my immediate return to the sect."


    "Take mymand token and head to Li City to recruit Wu Yuan into our Cloudstride Sect," the white-haired elder directed, "Whatever promises you have made to Wu Yuan, I will ensure they are fulfilled upon my return to the sect."


    "Understood," Gao Yu acknowledged, a sense of relief washing over him. His greatest worry had been that the hall master would not believe his words, and therefore reject his proposal.


    "In light of this special recruitment, what have you prepared as a wee gift for Wu Yuan?" the white-haired elder inquired suddenly, his eyes keen.


    "Twenty medium-grade body tempering pills, 10,000 silver taels, and a copy of ''Cloud Martial Power Surge: Neen Movements''," answered Gao Yu.


    "That''s not quite enough," the white-haired elder shook his head.


    "Not enough?" Gao Yu was taken aback. In his mind, what he offered was already quite generous, especially as it was merely a wee gift. Once Wu Yuan joined the sect, they would provide him with even more resources for cultivation.


    "Hall Master, please advise me," Gao Yu said, realizing the hall master had made up his mind.


    "There''s no need for gold or silver," the white-haired elder said. "Bring the items over, Gu Ji."


    With a resounding ng, the side door swung open, granting entrance to a in-faced, middle-aged man dressed in simple linen garments. He walked into the room with a hunched posture, cradling a vial made of white jade delicately in his hands.


    "What is this?" Gao Yu inquired with curiosity, his eyes fixed on the mysterious vial.


    A soft chuckle escaped the lips of the white-haired elder as he replied, "Open it and take a whiff, you will know what it is."


    Gao Yu epted the vial from the man, handling it with caution. He gingerly removed the stopper, bringing the opening close to his nose. In an instant, a wave of invigorating sensation washed over him.


    "This!" Gao Yu eximed, taken aback by the contents of the vial. Hastily, he sealed it once more and stared at the white-haired elder with astonishment. "Hall Master, this was obtained through the immense efforts of our two ancestors."


    The elder''sughter filled the room as he spoke, "I am but an old man, with no hopes of achieving a breakthrough. Most of it has already been consumed, leaving behind this small amount." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Didn''t you mention that Wu Yuan might have unlocked his upper dantian lobe? This may be highly beneficial for him!"


    "Hall Master," Gao Yu couldn''t help but voice his concern.


    The white-haired elder furrowed his brows, a stern expression on his face. "Are you not going to heed my words? Be careful not to lose it. This is all I have left, and even the esteemed Hierarchs may not possess any more."


    "Disciple understands," Gao Yu said solemnly. With utmost care, he secured the jade vial in a protective case and stowed it away.


    "Gao Yu, once Wu Yuan''s true status is revealed, he will undoubtedly attract the attention of many prying eyes. He requires someone to safeguard him," the elder dered. "However, you aren''t trained in the skills of a bodyguard."


    "Gu Ji!" The white-haired eldermanded, "You shall apany Protectorate Gao. Once Wu Yuan has been safely escorted to the sect,e and seek me."


    "Yes," the middle-aged man dressed in linen nodded deferentially, his head still bowed. He positioned himself next to Gao Yu, ready to fulfill his duty.


    "Disciple shall obey," Gao Yu cupped his hands.


    Deep within his heart, heprehended the unspoken message. This Gu Ji, whom he was meeting for the first time, was not only traveling to Li City to protect Wu Yuan, but also to monitor him.


    "Hall Master, we must act swiftly. I shall return to Li City overnight," Gao Yu dered.


    "Go," the white-haired elder beckoned with a dismissive wave of his hand.


    ...


    In the distant Li City, Wu Yuan remained oblivious to the events unfolding in Southdream City. He tidied up everything and simply retreated to his home to rest, as though nothing had ever happened.


    The following day, the rain ceased and the sky gleamed with brightness. Wu Yuan followed his usual routine, paying a visit to the ancestral mansion before leisurely strolling through the Wu family''s street.


    <i>Wu Yuan is still alive? With not a single scratch!</i> Xu Shouyi, who had anxiously awaited in the study of the Xu Manor throughout the night, struggled to believe his own ears upon receiving the report from his subordinate.


    That shouldn''t be!


    Suppressing his inner turmoil, he motioned with a nonchnt wave of his hand, "Instruct Captain Liu to inform the county magistrate to dispatch additional city guards to closely monitor Wu Yuan''s surroundings. There must not be any mistakes."


    "Understood." How could this guard understand his deeper motives? He assumed his superior genuinely cared for Wu Yuan''s safety.


    <i>How is this possible?</i>


    Alone in his study, Xu Shouyi paced restlessly, his brow furrowed with confusion. <i>50,000 silver taels! Ninedragon Peaks explicitly guaranteed a sufficient force to eliminate him within a day. Wu Yuan is merely a martial prodigy, and the Wu n harbors no other formidable experts.</i>


    He couldn''t figure it out. Ninedragon Peaks, though not as illustrious as Pleiades Guild and Ninedeaths Circle, was still a top-tier underground organization! Their reputation was solid!


    Night fell.


    Wearing a disguise, Xu Shouyi entered the Ninedragon Peaks'' base, where he received a letter of exnation and a small package. With haste, he tore it open.


    <i>The mission failed, the three bronze-ranked assassins were lost after entering the Wu family''s street? There''s a 90% chance they are dead! Suspected presence of a first-rate Adept protecting Wu Yuan, hence the task was abandoned?</i> Xu Shouyi stared dumbfounded at the contents of the letter.


    This turn of events was far beyond anything he had anticipated.


    A first-rate Adept? He had already confirmed that Gao Yu had left the martial academy. First-rate Adepts weren''t cabbages, there weren''t that many of them in the entire Southdream Province.


    That was also why the Ninedragon Peaks abandoned their mission. With a first-rate Adept around, the difficulty of assassination was beyond their capabilities. 50,000 silver taels? 100,000 silver taels wouldn''t be enough!


    <i>Useless! This Ninedragon Peaks is utterly useless!</i> Xu Shouyi''s eyes flickered as he looked at the pile of silver notes in the opened package. Only 20,000 silver notes were in it.


    Three bronze-ranked assassins went missing. Therefore, despite their failure and subsequent withdrawal, Ninedragon Peaks still kept 30,000 taels for themselves, refunding only 20,000!


    He stood in silence for a long time.


    <i>It seems unlikely that Ninedragon Peaks would deceive me. Could there truly be a first-rate Adept protecting Wu Yuan? The sect''s caution in this matter is far too excessive.</i>


    To his knowledge, unless the special recruitment was confirmed, the sect would not send experts to protect someone. At least, they shouldn''t be sending a first-rate Adept.


    "How much silver would it take to continue the assassination?" Xu Shouyi asked.


    "We cannot proceed with this task. As a mere county branch, we do not possess the capability to eliminate a first-rate Adept," the ck-robed man from Ninedragon Peaks exined. "Furthermore, Wu Yuan is highly valued by the Cloudstride Sect, making the risk far too high. If you wish for us to request assistance from our headquarters, it would cost you no less than 500,000 taels!"


    "Half a million taels?" Xu Shouyi''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Such a rip-off! Even the Ninedeaths Circle wasn''t this despicable!


    However, Xu Shouyi also knew that the Ninedeaths Circle was unaware that Wu Yuan was being guarded by a first-rate Adept. Otherwise, the quote from the Ninedeaths Circle would have been even higher.


    <i>This is a real predicament. </i>


    Xu Shouyi rose and left the Ninedragon Peaks base. The more the sect focused on Wu Yuan, the more fearsome Wu Yuan''s revenge should he seek it.


    Silently maneuvering through the shadows, Xu Shouyi made his way back to his residence. Just as he changed his garments, Steward Xu rushed over in a flurry, proiming, "General, an enormous incident has urred, a truly massive one!"


    "Something huge? What happened?" Xu Shouyi suppressed his irritation.


    "General," Steward Xu began, "in the past few days, I''ve arranged for our subordinates to investigate the matter concerning the Vicious Tiger Gang. We have discovered the reason behind the mysterious spearman''s intrusion into their stronghold!"


    "Why?" Xu Shouyi''s curiosity was piqued.


    "It''s all for a token," Steward Xu revealed, handing over two pieces of paper. "For this item, Yang Long mercilessly ughtered nearly everyone within a manor. Only two individuals who hid in thetrine survived. We apprehended them and forcefully extracted the information. Based on their description, we have sketched a diagram of the token."


    Xu Shouyi epted the drawing, quickly scanning its contents.


    <i>The Chu-Jiang Token?</i> Xu Shouyi''s eyes lit up, his breath quickening.


    <i>The heavens have yet to forsake me!</i>

 Chapter 46: Immortal Treasure

    <h4>Chapter 46: Immortal Treasure</h4>


    As a core disciple of the Cloudstride Sect, Xu Shouyi had a deep understanding of the Chu-Jiang Empire that once ruled the sect.


    During Xu Shouyi''s childhood, the Chu-Jiang Empire had yet to crumble entirely. Thus, uponying his eyes on the characters "Chu-Jiang" etched onto one side of the token, Xu Shouyi immediately recognized it as the fabled Chu-Jiang Token.


    Could it be a forgery? Certainly, such a possibility existed! From what Xu Shouyi knew, rumors of the Chu-Jiang Token had circted throughout the Chu Continent, the Jiang Continent, and even the Yuan Continent, causing quite amotion.


    <i>But considering the fact that it instigated Yang Long to massacre an entire manor, and even provoked the involvement of Beast Mountain Ming Lie and that enigmatic expert, it is highly probable that it is authentic. I wonder if Jiang Dongque has found out about it.</i>


    Given the significance of the Chu-Jiang Token, the sect would undoubtedly dispatch an expert to investigate once they caught wind of it. Once the token''s authenticity was confirmed and it fell into their possession, Xu Shouyi, being the first to report it, would undoubtedly earn great merit.


    <i>As for that mysterious spearman, I wonder where he has vanished. Nheless, this is my chance.</i>


    He didn''t waste any more time, immediately writing a confidential report, and swiftly packaging it along with the two sheets of drawings.


    "Go, immediately take this to the sect''s postal station. It must be urgently delivered to the sect headquarters overnight." Xu Shouyi ordered his guard, urgency evident in his voice. "Hurry! It is of utmost importance!"


    "Yes, General." Sensing the gravity of the situation, the guard promptly departed.


    "Old Xu, we''re leaving!"


    Xu Shouyi straightened his clothes and walked towards the door. "Take me to the two witnesses. I must personally interrogate them."


    "General, it''s quitete." Steward Xu was taken aback.


    "No matter!"


    ...


    Ever since the treacherous attempt on his life under the cover of darkness, Wu Yuan had not ventured far from the alleyways of the Wu family''s street, never straying too far from his home.


    In the blink of an eye, several days passed.


    On this day, Wu Yuan was in his family''s modest courtyard, methodically practicing his punches with a deliberate cadence, reminiscent of an elder''s health-preserving exercises.


    However, upon closer inspection, one would notice a subtle quiver running through his skin, muscles, tendons, and bones.


    Ordinary martial artists relied on a multitude of rigorous exercises to build their strength. However, for a martial arts Grandmaster whose control over their own body has already reached the highest possible level, controlling the musculoskeletal system to vibrate subtly could allow him to achieve excellent training efficacy!


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan, ever vignt of his surroundings, suddenly narrowed his eyes.


    He ceased punching, pausing in ce. His pores, previously contracted, now expanded, allowing copious amounts of sweat to cascade from his body, forming a gossamer sheen on his skin.


    Someone was approaching!


    As long as one''s mind was agile enough to multitask, Strength Training and Environmental Mastery cultivation could be trained in tandem without conflict.


    "Wu Yuan, are you at home?" A melodious voice drifted through the air.


    Huan Xinyan? Wu Yuan was slightly startled.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan took a measured step forward and swung open the courtyard door.


    In an alley not far from the courtyard house stood Huan Xinyan. She was d in a loose purple robe, a faint smile on her face. She was strikingly gant.


    "Practicing?" Huan Xinyan''s discerning gaze swept over Wu Yuan. As an Adept, she could detect the subtle perspiration that clung to his body, the telltale sign of an intense workout.


    "Yes, I have just concluded my session!" Wu Yuan wiped away the perspiration and offered a warm smile. "Instructor Huan, pleasee in."


    "No need for that." Huan Xinyan said with a smile, "These past few days, why haven''t you been at the martial academy?"


    "I wanted to spend more time with my family." Wu Yuan answered simply.


    "Hmm." Huan Xinyan nodded. "Very well. You should have a rough idea of why I''m visiting. Protectorate Gao Yu has returned from the Southdream City."


    "The sect has tentatively approved your special recruitment request. Pleasee with me to the martial academy now," informed Huan Xinyan.


    "Approved?" Wu Yuan seemed to brighten up. He moved to step out the door but then hesitated, withdrawing his foot.


    "Instructor Huan, please give me one moment, I''ll change into clean clothes." Wu Yuan darted into his room.


    Huan Xinyan wasn''t in a rush and waited patiently.


    After changing to clean attire, the two departed from the Wu family''s street and boarded a rather opulent carriage waiting along the main road. They headed directly to the martial academy.


    <i>Inside the carriage.</i>


    "Wu Yuan, Protectorate Gao Yu went to considerable lengths to visit the hall master to appeal for your case." Huan Xinyan said.


    "The hall master?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised. He didn''t understand much about the organizational structure of the Cloudstride Sect. But just from his scant knowledge about the five halls of the sect, the hall master was, without a doubt, a figure of utmost authority within the Cloudstride Sect. Perhaps even the sect leader himself would show deference to such a person.


    In just five days, Gao Yu had an audience with the master of the Finance Hall?


    "I''m telling you this not because I want you to do anything, but just so you remember this favor." Huan Xinyan said softly, "This is how much the sect values you, as well as our expectations for you."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    The carriage raced swiftly,ing to a stop deep inside the martial academy. This was an area Wu Yuan seldom visited.


    As he dismounted from the carriage, his eyes quickly scanned his surroundings, taking in the sight of the grand, open gates of the central hall.


    Gao Yu upied the principal seat. In the guest''s seat by his side was a middle-aged man in linen clothes. His head was lowered, and he appeared quite inconspicuous.


    <i>What kind of person would have the privilege of sitting there?</i>


    There was something peculiar about this unassuming figure.


    ��Let us enter.�� Huan Xinyan led Wu Yuan in. As they stepped into the chamber, Wu Yuan was greeted by a subtle fragrance that seemed to melt away his tension and put his entire being at ease.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully.


    "Please, take a seat," Gao Yu gestured towards a table and chair, a slight smile on his face.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan bowed courteously before taking a seat alongside Huan Xinyan.


    Gao Yu began speaking softly, "Wu Yuan, I have discussed your special recruitment with the hall master, and there are no issues. We have also prepared a cultivation n for you. It is right in front of you on the table. Please take a look."


    "A cultivation n?" He picked up the topmost page from the neatly arranged stack of papers on the tea table. The paper was of exceptional quality and filled with intricate lines of writing.


    The Cloudstride Sect had stood for three centuries, but for the majority of its existence, it had been subject to the rule of the Chu-Jiang Empire, sharing governance over the subordinate provinces and counties. It was only in recent decades that the sect had gainedplete control over local affairs. But even then, it stillrgely adhered to thews of the Chu-Jiang Empire.


    Themon folk, though considered citizens of the sect, were only required to pay taxes and uphold thews. Nothing more was demanded of them. Yet this cultivation n opened with ''responsibilities'' at the top.


    <i>The elementary and intermediate martial academies require disciples to pay tuition fees. These disciples are not considered true sect members. But for disciples of tertiary martial academies and the Cloud Martial Hall, each one is a true disciple of the sect!</i>


    Disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall were exempt from any fees. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The sect poured a vast amount of resources into the Cloud Martial Hall each year, providing every disciple with ample resources for their cultivation. As disciples of the sect, they were given the privilege of enjoying the sect''s resources. And so, when the sect called on them to serve, they had to unconditionally obey the sect''s orders, including going to war, and killing for the sect!


    In simple terms, to be a member of the sect was to die as a ghost of the sect. This was an unbreakable bond.


    However, Wu Yuan wasn''t too concerned. The notion of ''obedience to the sect'' might seem limiting, but if one continuously improved their strength, eventually controlling the vast majority of the sect''s power, they could naturallymand the sect''s resources. It was a reciprocal rtionship!


    "All disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall receive approximately 5000 sect contribution points worth of cultivation resources each year. Meanwhile, I will receive cultivation resources worth 50,000 sect contribution points each year?"


    Ten times more than an ordinary disciple!


    "One can earn contribution points by rendering meritorious services to the sect, which can be exchanged for various resources within the sect, or directly gifted to some young disciples." Huan Xinyan exined, "Generally speaking, one contribution point is equivalent to one silver tael."


    "However, contribution points can be exchanged for some precious resources that are difficult toe by in the outside world."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. In his perspective, contribution points acted as the internal currency of the Cloudstride Sect, facilitating the distribution of resources.


    Wu Yuan quickly skimmed through the content. What followed were detailed descriptions of cultivation resources such as types of natural treasures, secret techniques, cultivation environments, educational materials, and so on. It was ratherplex.


    Wu Yuan had to concede that the Cloudstride sect truly lived up to its reputation as a great sect with centuries of history. The written n, at the very least, wasprehensive and reasonable... even though Wu Yuan had little use for it!


    He ced the stack of papers down on the table.


    "Wu Yuan, how do you find it? Are you satisfied?" Gao Yu inquired.


    "Quite satisfied," Wu Yuan replied with a nod.


    "For disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall, aside from the annual basic contribution points, there are a multitude of missions and ranking duels. As long as you steadily improve your strength and work diligently, the resources you receive will only increase," Gao Yu borated. "Moreover, our Finance Hall guarantees that if you can be a first-rate Adept before the age of twenty, we will dedicate all our resources to aid your growth."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. Such a promise was essentially empty words, devoid of any real meaning. If one truly possessed such exceptional talent, the Cloudstride Sect would wholeheartedly support them, unless they wereplete fools.


    "More details will be provided once you join the sect," Gao Yu smiled. "Let us move on to the second matter for today. We have prepared a wee gift for you." As he spoke, he rose from his seat and approached Wu Yuan, presenting a pristine book adorned with gilded lettering.


    "Your martial arts skill has reached the Power Surge level. This ''Cloud Martial Power Surge: Neen Movements'' manual encapstes the wisdom umted over countless generations of sect members and will aid you in bolstering your strength," Gao Yu exined earnestly.


    "Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan looked overjoyed as he epted the book.


    "The second gift is a collection of twenty top-grade body tempering pills, which will assist you in your body tempering cultivation," Gao Yu produced a purple jade vial.


    "Top-grade body tempering pills?" Wu Yuan asked in confusion, "I only know of high-grade and medium-grade body tempering pills."


    "Haha, the higher the grade of a body tempering pill, the fewer impurities it contains. High-grade body tempering pills still possess a considerable amount of impurities, rendering them unsuitable for consumption inrge quantities by martial artists," Huan Xinyan chimed in. "The top-grade body tempering pill, on the other hand, is meticulously refined by a master alchemist from our sect and contains almost no impurities. Such a treasure is not easily obtainable even with wealth in the outside world."


    "So precious? A master alchemist?" Wu Yuan seemed quite surprised. He stowed away the purple jade vial.


    "There are three gifts in total, the first two are conventional, nothing out of the ordinary," Gao Yu said. "Only the third one is a treasure of immeasurable worth, a rarity that our sect, with all its resources, could never hope to replicate."


    "It is considered an immortal treasure, and cannot be bought with money. It was collected from an immortal relic, the ruins of an immortal''s dwelling, by two ancestors of the sect, and the hall master has chosen to bestow it upon you!"


    "This is known as a Soul Condensing Pill!" Gao Yu produced a white jade vial.

 Chapter 47: Mr. Gu Ji

    <h4>Chapter 47: Mr. Gu Ji</h4>


    ��Cloud Martial Power Surge: Neen Movements�� was just a secret technique. Though it sounded valuable, the Cloudstride Sect could print as many as they desired. However, for the smaller ns and independent martial artists, it was still a rare treasure!


    Wu Yuan was unclear of how much twenty top-grade body tempering pills cost, but he estimated they were worth at least 5000 silver taels.


    Yet these two gifts were only conventional items?


    Soul Condensing Pill? Immortal treasure? Just how precious were these items if even someone as esteemed as Gao Yu spoke about them with such reverence?


    But most importantly, what had he just heard? Collected from an immortal relic?


    "Senior, what are these immortal relics you speak of? Could it be that there truly are deities in this world?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    First-grade martial artists reached the limits of the human body. Heavenly Rankers surpassed their human limitations and were known as nd deities''. Although Wu Yuan didn''t reach this level in his previous life, he had a vague concept of it.


    A real immortal? A god?


    "Haha, it''s hard to say," Gao Yu chuckled. "The thirteen continents of the Middle Land are vast and boundless, hundreds of timesrger than the Jiang Continent. The three overseas continents are even more mysterious. The world is filled with countless wonders, many of which are beyond the imagination of ordinary martial artists!"


    "I only know that many mysterious regions where natural treasures emerge are rumored to be relics left behind by immortals. They are fraught with dangers and only Savant experts have the qualifications to enter."


    "But where are these ces, and how does one gain entry? I''m not entirely certain," Gao Yu admitted.


    The information he shared was confidential. Ordinary people had no right to know, and even many third-rate Adepts and second-rate Adepts were clueless about them. But those present were the core members of the Cloudstride Sect. Gao Yu believed that Wu Yuan would soon join their ranks as a core member as well.


    "Regions where natural treasures emerge?" Wu Yuan recalled the spiritual liquid he was consuming. Such an oddity was indeed not something that could be produced in ordinary locations.


    "Protectorate, what is the purpose of this Soul Condensing Pill?" Wu Yuan inquired, "And how should one use it?"


    All treasures had their corresponding methods of use. Misuse brings disaster, not fortune!


    Huan Xinyan too looked curiously at Gao Yu. Even the brows of the quiet, middle-aged man in hemp clothing shifted a little.


    Gao Yu began to exin, "In this world, there are countless natural treasures, but most of them are geared towards enhancing the physical body. Take, for instance, the Snow Lotus of West Kun Mountain, the Ancient Immortal Dew, or the Core Earth Berries. Our renowned Cloudstride Sect boasts the Cloudspring Blood, which falls under this category as well."


    "These types of natural treasures all target the lower dantian lobe and have little effect on the middle dantian lobe, making them less appealing to Land Rankers."


    "Unfortunately, very few natural treasures possess properties that benefit the middle or upper dantian lobes."


    Gao Yu''s voice grew solemn as he revealed, "The Soul Condensing Pill, however, is an exceptional item that specifically targets the upper dantian lobe."


    "Targets the upper dantian lobe?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. The Human Federation, despite employing countless technological means, was unable to help Grandmasters unlock the upper dantian lobe.


    "Of course, the effects of the Soul Condensing Pill are said to be nothing short of miraculous," Gao Yu said.


    "But just how mysterious is the upper dantian lobe? Many Savant experts and even Land Rankers in the Cloudstride Sect who have consumed this pill have reported minimal effects, merely feeling more spirited. However, our hall master believes that if you have managed to unlock your upper dantian lobe, this pill might have a truly miraculous effect on you!"


    "For those who recognize its potency, they know that it''s tough to purchase a single pill even with hundreds of thousands of silver taels."


    "There are ten in this jade vial." Gao Yu pointed at the jade vial.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. "100,000 taels for one pill? And there are ten in the vial?"


    Didn''t that mean...This small white jade vial was worth millions of silver taels? One gold could be exchanged for ten silvers. This Soul Condensing Pill was more precious than gold!


    "Haha, don''t be shocked. ''More precious than gold'' is just an expression. The top natural treasures are usually traded for other treasures of equivalent value, their worth cannot be measured in mere gold and silver." Gao Yuughed, "Our Cloudstride Sect''s Cloudspring Blood, for example, is only avable to our elite disciples and high-ranking members. It is not sold to outsiders."


    "Gold and silver? They can''t be consumed or enhance one''s strength directly."


    "For a nation or a sect, the most crucial priority is to continuously cultivate top-notch martial power." Gao Yu exined, "With martial power at one''s disposal, concerns about funds be trivial. Without martial power, even mountains of gold and silver will be lost!"


    Wu Yuan nodded mildly. Whether it was silver notes, gold notes, or actual gold and silver, they were all fundamentally objects of socially constructed value. They were debt certificates, a form of credit. They served no intrinsic purpose on their own.


    Their existence was based on stability. And the foundation of stability was martial power!


    The Sta Consortium''s silver notes and gold notes gained universal recognition from sects and nations alike, thanks to the unwavering reputation the Consortium had built over thousands of years.


    "The method of consumption is simple. Adjust your mind to a tranquil state, and ingest it orally," Gao Yu continued, "Take two each time. After each dose, meditate for several days. Try to maintain a stable emotional state, and there should be at least a half-month interval between doses. If you sense any abnormalities in your mind, then wait longer."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan said respectfully, epting the jade vial. Wu Yuan''s wee gifts were now all handed to him.


    "Wu Yuan, ording to the sect rules, even though the Finance Hall applied for your special recruitment, you must go through a verification process by the Instruction Hall before admission. This is a standard process for all new entrants, even if one is the disciple of the Hierarchs. Therefore, you will need to visit the Southdream Province and pass the verification assessment of your capabilities at the Southdream Martial Academy before you can proceed to the sect," Gao Yu said, "It''s one of the three tertiary martial academies under the purview of the Instruction Hall and serves as an official facility for disciple authentication."


    Wu Yuan nodded. He understood that the Instruction Hall was responsible for organizational rtions and personnel assessment, but it couldn''t make the decision to reject or approve the applications from the other four halls.


    Wu Yuan didn''t find it cumbersome. The five halls of the sect each had their responsibilities, and mutual supervision was necessary to avoid one hall gaining too much power. This also indirectly proved that the Cloudstride Sect was a ''mature'' great martial sect!


    A powerful sect established by a Heavenly Ranker might thrive for a time, but without a proper system in ce, it would inevitably decline, potentially dissolving upon the death of the Heavenly Ranker.


    "You don''t need to worry too much, demonstrate your usual capabilities. Remember not to use the Power Surge technique," Gao Yu instructed.


    "Furthermore, to ensure your safety during this period, the sect has arranged for experts to remain at your side and protect you. A ten-soldier squad of elite city guards from Li City, all third-rate Adepts, will be apanying and guarding you until you enter the sect," Gao Yu said.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. Ten third-rate Adepts? They were all well-trained soldiers. If the ten of them exhibited harmonious teamwork, they wouldn''t fear challenging second-rate Adepts, and might even be capable of counter-killing them.


    This arrangement was practically overkill! After all, special recruits typically ended up as second-rate Adepts, and the sect''s enemies didn''t have the manpower to target them individually.


    Just as Wu Yuan thought this was all, Gao Yu continued speaking, "This is just the observable protection. The Finance Hall has also arranged for an expert to protect you covertly."


    "Mr. Gu Ji," Gao Yu turned to the middle-aged man in linen clothes.


    The linen-clothed middle-aged man stood up, his eyes were still lowered, and his voice was calm, "Under the orders of the hall master, I, Gu Ji, will protect special recruit Wu Yuan with my life. Before I breathe myst, Wu Yuan shall not be harmed!"


    "Thank you, Mr. Gu Ji," Wu Yuan bowed slightly. A sacrificial guard! This was Wu Yuan''s initial judgment. Moreover, Wu Yuan finally understood what was special about Gu Ji - he looked ordinary! Ordinary looks, ordinary height, ordinary clothes, ordinary voice. Had Wu Yuan not been observant of his surroundings, he would have almost forgotten about his existence.


    "You may refer to me as Steward Ji or Uncle Ji," Gu Ji said, still keeping his head lowered. "Starting today, I am your newly recruited steward. I will change into appropriate attire to fulfill my role."


    He paused for a moment before adding, "I also hope that you will forget about my martial arts skills. I am yourst line of defense. Unless you''re in a desperate situation or life-threatening danger, I will not take action. Only by remaining concealed can I truly be your trump card!"


    "Wu Yuan will remember, Uncle Ji." Wu Yuan corrected himself timely.


    Gu Ji nodded slightly, taking a step to position himself behind Wu Yuan. Though still donned in linen clothing, his aura hadpletely transformed. If he had initially resembled a simple farmer, unassuming and humble, now he gave off the impression of a savvy city dweller with a hint of schrly elegance!


    The only constant was that Gu Ji never revealed a trace of his martial prowess. Even Wu Yuan had to observe Gu Ji carefully before realizing his uniqueness.


    Gu Ji''s transformation left Huan Xinyan somewhat astonished.


    As for how powerful Gu Ji was? Gu Ji remained silent, Wu Yuan did not ask, and Gao Yu did not borate!


    "Wu Yuan, do you have any other thoughts or requests?" Gao Yu turned to Wu Yuan. Normally speaking, such concern wasn''t necessary, but Gao Yu held Wu Yuan''s opinion in high regard.


    "My primary concern lies in the safety of my family and n members," Wu Yuan voiced. "May I request additional protective measures?"


    Wu Yuan was not afraid for his personal safety. However, after the recent assassination attempt, it would be a lie to say he wasn''t worried for his family.


    Yet, Wu Yuan recognized that he couldn''t always be present to safeguard his loved ones and n members; he would have to venture into the world sooner orter. This was also an important factor behind his decision to join a faction.


    "Haha, a trifling matter, I shall bring it to the attention of the county mayor," Gao Yu chuckled. "Furthermore, all special recruitment disciples shall be granted a medium-sized mansion in the eastern region of the city,plete with residency rights. It shall be spacious enough for your family and a select few trustworthy n members to move in."


    "The eastern part of the city is a strategically protected area, closely monitored by the city guard. The Southdream Army frequently patrols the vicinity as well."


    "Even a second-rate Adept dare not stir trouble in the eastern area of the city."


    Gao Yu solemnly said, "In the future, when you rise to be a first-rate Adept, you will have the privilege of bringing your family straight to the sect headquarters. It is the safest ce for them. As for my own family, they already reside within the sect headquarters."


    "Thank you, Protectorate." Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude.


    Gao Yuughed, "You need not concern yourself with such trivial matters. The more talented and powerful you be, the less you will have to worry about them. The sect will naturally take care of everything for you."


    "Your sole focus should be on your training! Strive to reach the pinnacle of martial arts!"


    Wu Yuan nodded. Such treatment was simr to that of the top scientists in his previous life, who only had to concentrate on their research while the Federation took care of all their worries.


    "Alright, about your special recruitment, I''ve already informed the mayor''s faction. The news will soon spread." Gao Yu instructed, "County Mayor Jiang will make all the necessary arrangements for you. If you require anything, seek him out. Once everything is settled, make your way to the Southdream Martial Academy as soon as possible."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    ...


    Li City spanned several hundred li in radius, housing a poption of over a million, and had more than ten municipalities under its jurisdiction. It was quiterge.


    But among the circles of upper society, news always spread swiftly. Within a single day, nearly every influential figure in Li City became aware of Wu Yuan''s special recruitment invitation from the county martial academy.


    He would be gaining direct admission into the Cloud Martial Hall!

 Chapter 48: The Name That Echoes Through Li City

    <h4>Chapter 48: The Name That Echoes Through Li City</h4>


    In the Middle Land, if someone from the lower sses sought to change their destiny, the quickest path was through martial arts. If the nobility and wealthy wished to maintain their faction''s continued glory, they too needed to produce strong heirs.


    The annual county martial academy major tournament was a grand event, drawing audiences from all over Li City. Those who gained admission into the Southdream Martial Academy instantly became the talk of the town.


    Now, imagine the sensation that spread through Li City at the mention of a special recruitment, an event that wasn''t even guaranteed to happen only once in a decade.


    Ever since Wu Yuan undertook his assessment at the county martial academy, many rumors had begun circting. And today, with confirmation from the mayor''s faction, these rumors took flight, spreading like wildfire.


    "Special recruitment? What is that?"


    "Under normal circumstances, entering the Cloud Martial Hall requires participation in the martial academy major tournament. But special recruitment is reserved for those with exceptional talent. These prodigies need not participate in the tournament; they are granted direct entry into the Cloud Martial Hall!"


    ��Our Wu n will prosper!"


    With the official confirmation from the mayor''s faction, the entire Wu n in Li City boiled over with excitement. The branch n immediately burst into celebration akin to the three major festivals, sweeping away the previous gloom of the devastation of their mansion and the loss of their nsmen.


    A martial arts powerhouse had the power to alter the fate of a family or a n with a single word.


    ...


    <i>In the East of Li City.</i>


    A que of a mansion upying arge area, about 200 meters away from the mayor''s manor, was reced with the words ��Wu Mansion��.


    Wu Yuan, his mother Wanqin, his sister Wu Yijun, Chieftain Wu Qiming, Wu Dongyao, Wu Long, Wu Liuye, and several others, all gathered here. Of course, there was also Gu Ji, who had changed into the attire of a steward.


    In addition to the Wu n, County Mayor Jiang Dongque, the county magistrate, and several other officials from Li City also graced the asion.


    "County Mayor Jiang, ording to the sectws, a medium-sized mansion would suffice," Wu Yuan remarked, shaking his head.


    "Haha, the sectw also stiptes that if there are no suitable medium-sized mansions avable, you may upy arge mansion," Jiang Dongque chuckled, his demeanor amiable. "Since you''ve been specially recruited into the sect, you''ll acquire arge mansion in a few years after achieving greatness in martial arts. Why not take this step now and save yourself the trouble?"


    "Very well, I appreciate your kindness, County Mayor," Wu Yuan replied with a smile, no longer refusing the offer.


    Numerousrge, medium, and small mansions were established in every provincial city and county city of the Cloudstride Sect for the sect members and their families, and were allocated ording to rank.


    Therger the mansion, the closer it was to the military barracks and the mayor''s manor. The size of the mansion was also a direct representation of the status of the mansion''s master. It would also receive heavier protection.


    Should one retire, one had to vacate their mansion, much like Guan Zishan from Dongye Municipality who returned to his hometown after his resignation, with the majority of his family also relocating back to Dongye Municipality.


    Of course, if one made great contributions, there was a chance of obtaining permanent residential rights. But this was extremely rare.


    Both parties conversed for a while. After which, the county mayor, county magistrate, and others tactfully excused themselves, giving the Wu n some privacy.


    "When I became a schr, there were over a hundred of us in my batch. The county mayor came by to give us a motivational speech, but I''ve never had a private conversation with him," Wu Dongyaomented, "But the county mayor personally came down to congratte Wu Yuan and express his goodwill!"


    "Special recruitment just isn''t the same," Wu Long said seriously, "With Wu Yuan''s talent, he has the potential to be a first-rate Adept in the future."


    In each county, the term of a county mayorsted for four years. Typically, only one or two first-rate Adepts would emerge from a county.


    In the Middle Land, literati could take the imperial examinations, aspiring to be mayors, a status that rivaled a first-rate Adept. But ultimately, the formidable strength of martial arts experts meant that their individual power surpassed that of the collective. Literature served as a supporting role, martial arts remained the core!


    "Chieftain, I will be staying home for a while, but after returning from Southdream Province, I will embark on my journey to the headquarters of the sect," Wu Yuan spoke in a soft voice, "The mansion isrge. My mother does not have much experience with high society, hence I will be troubling chieftain to apany me to the banquets held by the county mayor and the other nobles over the next two days."


    "Wu Yuan, you can rest assured." Seeing Wu Yuan finally making a decision, Wu Qiming solemnly said, "I will pay close attention to your mother''s health, and will take care of Yi Jun''s education to the best of my abilities."


    Wu Yuan smiled. He believed Wu Qiming was intelligent enough to understand what was left unsaid.


    While weaker individuals relied on their n''s support, top martial arts experts might find their n to be a constraint instead.


    By bringing Wu Qiming to the banquet, Wu Yuan was essentially making a statement: Most of the rights once held by Wanqin have been handed over to Wu Qiming. In the future, Wu Qiming would act on behalf of Wu Yuan for matters in Li City.


    It was anticipated that the Wu n''s influence would grow rapidly. As long as Wu Yuan remained alive, his status within the sect would keep rising. Henceforth, with him as the n''s backer, the various officials within Li City wouldn''t dare trouble the Wu n excessively. This alone would save the Wu n a significant amount of expenses and trouble in their business.


    And what Wu Qiming needed to do was to take good care of Wanqin and Wu Yijun!


    "Brother, this mansion is enormous, even bigger than the chieftain''s!" Wu Yijun bounced excitedly as she ran out of the mansion.


    "Haha." The members of the Wu n couldn''t help butugh in response.


    The size of the Wu n''s ancestral mansion rivaled the medium-sized mansions in the eastern part of the city. But in terms of price, it was cheaper than a small mansion in the East, not to mention therge mansions in this area. Residing in the East meant stepping into the highest ranks of Li City��s nobility!


    Wu Yuan made various arrangements for the mansion. The outer courtyards were entrusted to the Wu n, while the inner mansion served as Wanqin and Wu Yijun''s living space.


    "Mother, do you have any objections to the chieftain handling these matters?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "How could I object?" Wanqin shook her head, sighing, "Today alone, we received hundreds of greeting cards from prestigious ns. Ick the relevant experience, how can I handle them? I can''t even remember all their names."


    "You are right to let the chieftain handle it." Wanqinughed, "Moreover, the chieftain and the n have been of great help to us over the years, one must not forget one''s roots."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. In the process of one''s rise, one has to rely on others. Rather than acquire help from outsiders, why not trust your nsmen?


    "Mother, for now, try to get yourself acquainted with the ce. If you have any thoughts or concerns, speak directly to the stewards. The chieftain and I will be attending a banquet." Wu Yuan stood up.


    ...


    To celebrate Wu Yuan''s special recruitment, County Mayor Jiang Dongque prepared a grand banquet in the mayor''s manor and extended an invitation to Wu Yuan.


    This marked the Wu n''s formal debut into the elite circles of Li City''s high society.


    The night grewte before the guests finally bid their farewells, departing from the mayor''s faction.


    At the entrance, Jiang Dongque watched the Wu n''s carriage disappear into the distance. As it turned round the corner, the smile at the corner of his mouth finally receded.


    "Sir, although Wu Yuan is a special recruit, he is still just a martial virtuoso at the moment. In the future, he will likely be a second-rate Adept at most." A historian by his side was somewhat puzzled, "What impact could he have on us? Why is there a need for such grandeur?"


    "Just four or five months ago, he was still an eighth-grade martial novice." Jiang Dongque said lightly, "He is only fourteen this year!"


    The historian was stunned. What struck them most about Wu Yuan was his astonishing rate of progress.


    "Indeed, his strength may not pose a significant threat to me. However, who can say what heights he will reach in the future?" Jiang Dongque exined. "If he ascends to be a first-rate Adept and decides to return to his hometown, he might im the position of a provincial general or a guardmander!"


    "In such an event, I may gain no personal benefit, but what about my Jiang n?"


    The historian nodded, but still felt that Jiang Dongque was making a fuss over nothing. After all, there were numerous first-rate Adepts within the sect, but how many of them could be a provincial general or guardmander?


    Jiang Dongque cast a nce at the historian, choosing not to waste his breath on an exnation.


    <i>Gao Yu, the Protectorate of the Finance Hall, is a man of considerable reputation. If he holds Wu Yuan in such high regard, how could Wu Yuan be an ordinary recruit?</i>


    The expenses incurred by the extravagant celebration were all deducted from the sect''s resources, costing Jiang Dongque virtually nothing. There was no reason for him to hold back.


    ...


    <i>In the general of defense''s estate.</i>


    "General, most of the city officials and prominent families have departed," reported Liu Ye, bowing slightly, "As per your instructions, our captains have gone over to offer their congrattions."


    "Good, I understand, you may rest now," Xu Shouyi softly replied.


    Liu Ye exited the room.


    <i>This Wu Yuan has indeed be a special recruit. Jiang Dongque seems to be treating this with immense importance, could he be privy to some secrets? This Wu Yuan indeed poses a threat.</i>


    Although he was careful not to reveal his identity when making the assassination request, Xu Shouyi knew that Wu Yuan would likely suspect it was him.


    <i>Humph!</i>


    <i>So what if you despise me?</i> Xu Shouyi''s gaze turned icy. <i>No matter how talented you be, even if you reach the level of a first-rate Adept, you can''t touch me without evidence.</i>


    ...


    In a discreet mansion located in the southern part of Li City, numerous well-trained men with stern expressions stood guard.


    A stout and burly man entered the central hall.


    "Junior brother."


    Inside the room, the elegant man in a white robe turned and smiled, "You''ve finally returned."


    "These days, I''ve been searching the viges and mansions around Li City, but haven''t found any trace of the mysterious spearman." The short man picked up his canteen and chugged the water down, "And from the intel bought from the Sta Consortium and the Pleiades Guild, no such martial expert has appeared anywhere in Southdream Province."


    "How is your investigation in the city going?" the short man asked.


    "Gao Yu has arrived." The elegant man in the white robe said.


    "What?" The short man was shocked, "Why has he suddenlye to Li City? Has the Cloudstride Sect gotten wind of the Chu-Jiang Token?"


    "It''s possible!" The refined man nodded, "However, it might also be for a different matter. Today, the Cloudstride Sect has specially recruited a disciple from Li City. His name is Wu Yuan. At fourteen, he has the strength of a martial virtuoso."


    "A martial virtuoso at fourteen?" The short man responded nonchntly, "Decent talent, I suppose. If he works hard, he could be a first-rate Adept before 30."


    The refined man simply nodded, seemingly not too interested in Wu Yuan. A first-rate adept? More than one first-rate adept had died at their hands.


    "Let us continue our search a while longer." The refined man suggested, "If we still can''t find any leads, we''ll return and report to our master."


    ...


    <i>Within an unremarkable mansion, roughly twenty li from Li City. </i>


    The mansion��s facade gave no hint of its true nature �C a hidden base of the Great Jin Empire within the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Special recruitment, you say? A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso? Quite the prodigy!" A young man dressed in blood-red clothes murmured to himself, listening to the reports from his subordinates.


    "Guo Liu, ording to your protocols, how would you handle this situation?" The red-robed youth asked the respectful, ck-robed, middle-aged man at his side.


    "Sir!" The ck-robed man mustered a smile, though it appeared somewhat forced. "Our branch primarily focuses on gathering intelligence. Ourbined martial prowess is not particrly strong, with only a few third-rate martial artists. Such special recruits often receive heavy protection from the Cloudstride Sect, so we typically just ry the information and await orders from above."


    "Wait for orders? If you wait for instructions on every matter, by the time you act, the Chu-Jiang River will have already flowed into the ocean!" The red-robed youth shook his head slightly, "Forget it, since I''m passing by, I might as well eliminate a prodigy from the Cloudstride Sect, removing some obstacles in the way of Great Jin''s n to unify the world."


    "Over the next few days, mobilize all your resources to monitor Wu Yuan''s movements closely. When the opportunity arises, I''ll personally take action."

 Chapter 49: Effects of the Soul Condensing Pill

    <h4>Chapter 49: Effects of the Soul Condensing Pill</h4>


    For two consecutive days, Wu Yuan, apanied by Chieftain Wu Qiming, navigated the opulent banquets of Li City''s upper ss, acquainting himself with many of its important figures. He was introduced to various high-ranking officials within the county, the city guard, the army of defense''s thousand-soldier lieutenant colonel, captains, and more.


    As they exchanged pleasantries, Wu Yuan could not deny that Chieftain Wu Qiming possessed a remarkable finesse in navigating these social intricacies. In the past, he simplycked the tform to shine.


    Meanwhile, with the assistance of the Wu n, the familypleted their relocation in two days. Both Wanqin and Wu Yijun settled into therge mansion.


    ...


    <i>Night descended. </i>


    <i>Inside the Wu mansion. </i>


    The central courtyard, separating the outer and inner sections of the mansion, was usually thest line of defense in arge mansion to protect the family. Here, Wu Yuan finally found a moment to meet the protection squad dispatched by the city guard.


    "Uncle Wu, I didn''t think you''d be the one toe." There were only ten of them, but each exuded an extraordinary aura. Among them, Wu Yuan spotted a familiar face - the city guard''s hundred-soldier captain, Wu Xiong!


    He was Wu Yuan''s father''s sworn brother, as well as Wu Sheng''s father. Over the years, Wu Xiong had taken good care of Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan was naturally delighted to see him.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, once I heard about your situation, I immediately reached out to the county magistrate, offering my services as your protector until you reach the sect. The magistrate kindly appointed me as the captain of this protection squad," Wu Xiong, donned in sturdy armor, revealed a simple and honest smile. His robust physique mirrored his name, Xiong (bear).


    "I will be troubling you then, Uncle Wu," Wu Yuanughed.


    "No trouble at all!" Wu Xiong boomed withughter. "I have watched you grow since you were a child. Your hard work and dedication to cultivation have always surpassed that rascal Wu Sheng. I knew from the start that you would achieve great things."


    "However, I was still astounded when I heard that you attained the strength of a martial virtuoso at fourteen! You surpass your father and myself by leaps and bounds," Wu Xiong grinned.


    The other guards were third-rate Adepts, mostly hundred-soldier captains from the city guard. However, all of them behaved courteously towards Wu Yuan, only Wu Xiong acted casually.


    "My father?" Wu Yuan''s mind drifted back to the past.


    "Sigh, your father was truly unfortunate," Wu Xiong sighed, seemingly reminiscing about the Battle of Hillstride.


    He turned to Wu Yuan, "If he knew how strong you''ve be, he would be thrilled, no doubt about it."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    "Actually, I have ulterior motives for apanying you," Wu Xiong chuckled. "I heard you were heading to Southdream Province, so I thought I''d take this opportunity to drop by and see that scoundrel Wu Sheng. He''s been at the Southdream Martial Academy for three or four months now, but he hasn''t bothered to send a single letter home."


    "Perhaps he''s just immersed in training at the tertiary martial academy and forgot to write," Wu Yuan responded with a smile, trying to defend his friend.


    "As if he''s that busy." Wu Xiong shook his head. Realizing they were getting off-topic, he swiftly changed the subject. "Rest assured, Wu Yuan. Your Uncle Wu will do everything in my power to ensure your safety on this journey. With the ten of us working together, even a second-rate Adept wouldn''t dare to harm you."


    Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude to each of the nine guards, looking at them one by one. "Thank you, Uncle Wu, and seniors, for going through all this trouble for me."


    "Haha, not at all!"


    "It''s nothing, the Southdream Province is the hearnd of our sect. Few forces dare to act arrogantly here. I doubt anyone would be reckless enough to obstruct us."


    "Rest assured," the ten experts responsible for guarding him all came forward, each pledging theirmitment to protecting Wu Yuan while thumping their chests.


    They were all confident in themselves. A second-rate Adept? They weren''t afraid!


    As for a first-rate Adept? How many of them could be found in all of Southdream Province? Even if other forces had hidden agents, they would rarely reveal their true strength for such matters.


    Wu Yuan acknowledged each guard''s assurance.


    "Alright, Uncle Wu, if you need anything, just let the steward know. I''m going to practice in the martial hall."


    "Haha, alright, off you go!" Wu Xiong said.


    With that, Wu Yuan turned and entered the inner courtyard.


    The inner courtyard of the mansion was quite spacious. Besides the garden, bedrooms, and other living and entertainment areas, there was also an enormous custom-built martial hall.


    The indoor martial hall was eighteen meters long, ten meters wide, and six meters high. To put it simply, it was gigantic! Apart from Wu Yuan, the only other person who came here was Gu Ji, who was the ''steward''.


    "Uncle Ji," Wu Yuan turned to the ck-robed middle-aged man. "I''ve settled most of my affairs in Li City. Before heading to Southdream Martial Academy, I wish to consume a Soul Condensing Pill."


    "Certainly. There is no issue as long as you reach the Southdream Martial Academy within a month," Gu Ji gently replied. "Young Master may rest assured. I will guard you throughout the period of your cultivation."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Having carefully observed Gu Ji for the past two days. He had gained a sense of the man''s abilities and character: discreet and quiet.


    Entering the martial hall, he closed all the windows and extinguished themps, plunging the hall intoplete darkness.


    <i>I can''t see anything beyond three meters.</i>


    In absolute darkness, even those with exceptional vision would be unable to see anything without a source of light.


    The martial hall was now nearly pitch ck, with only faint rays of light seeping through the cracks.


    <i>I must rely on perception.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes, silently sensing the changes in the environment inside the martial hall.


    The entry of light rays, the flow of air, and other sensations gradually formed a mental image of the martial hall in his mind. This was what many martial artists referred to as ''mind''s eye''.


    When he reached apletely tranquil state, Wu Yuan uncorked the jade vial and a Soul Condensing Pill fell into his hand. An invigorating fragrance filled the air, instantly revitalizing his spirit.


    <i>This? </i>The aroma of this Soul Condensing Pill bore some resemnce to the spiritual liquid he had obtained, but there was a fundamental difference.


    The spiritual liquid primarily alleviated physical exhaustion, whereas simply smelling the Soul Condensing Pill seemed to improve his mental state, dispelling his mental fatigue. As for his body, even with Wu Yuan''s heightened sensitivity to its changes, he detected no noticeable difference.


    <i>This Soul Condensing Pill is indeed a divine object, let''s give it a try.</i> Wu Yuan trusted the Cloudstride Sect and believed there weren''t any irregrities with the Soul Condensing Pills they gave him.


    He had concealed his true strength all along, ensuring that the chances of being discovered were near zero. Additionally, Gao Yu had no motive to set a trap for him.


    At most, this Soul Condensing Pill would yield no benefits for him. The likelihood of it causing harm was almost nonexistent.


    <i>Gulp! Gulp! </i>He swallowed two Soul Condensing Pills in session, and the strong digestive ability of the stomach instantly dissolved the two medicinal pills.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered in surprise.


    Just as he was preparing to direct his musculoskeletal system to absorb the medicine, he noticed that the two dissolved medicinal pills transformed into strands of unfamiliar energy, rushing straight toward his brain!


    With Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, he was barely able to sense this process via Internal Vision. It thoroughly startled him.


    How mysterious was the brain? It was a vital organ of the body!


    However, everything urred in a sh. Before Wu Yuan could react, that peculiar energy had already entered his brain. A momentter, waves of drowsiness flooded his mind, and his eyelids fought to stay open. Still in his seated position, Wu Yuan drifted into a deep slumber.


    For a strong martial artist like Wu Yuan, even if he had been administered the most potent sleeping drug, he should not have sumbed to sleep so swiftly. Yet, it was happening at this very moment.


    The brain was where one''s upper dantian lobe resided. From Wu Yuan''s mysterious upper dantian lobe, strands of strange blood-red energy suddenly gushed out, coursing through the meridians connected to the three dantian lobes. It flowed from the upper dantian lobe directly into the middle dantian lobe, and then from the middle dantian lobe into the lower dantian lobe.


    Finally, it was dispersed from the three dantian lobes and merged with every part of his body. Skin, sinew, internal organs, muscles, blood. Every fiber of Wu Yuan''s being, after assimting with this peculiar crimson energy, began to evolve.


    It didn''t enhance Wu Yuan''s physical constitution directly, but mended the tiniest of internal injuries. Deep within the cellr mitochondria, the very building blocks of flesh and blood, it brought about a profound transformation of his DNA!


    Miraculous! Unbelievable!


    Should Gao Yu or even the hall master of the Finance Hall witness this spectacle, they''d likely be left agape. None would have been able to imagine that the Soul Condensing Pill could have such extraordinary effects.


    Gu Ji, standing guard outside, waspletely oblivious to Wu Yuan''s metamorphosis.


    ...


    After a considerable duration, Wu Yuan''s consciousness returned


    <i>Hm?</i> His eyes flew open, and a flicker of astonishment danced within his pupils.


    <i>What happened to me? Did I doze off after taking the Soul Condensing Pill? </i>Wu Yuan recollected the moments preceding his loss of consciousness.


    <i>No, that doesn''t seem right.</i>


    My soul? Wu Yuan stilled his mind and realized that he seemed to clearly ''see'' his blood flowing through his veins, ''hear'' the vigorous rush of every drop of blood in the instant his heart thumped, and even sense every tremor in his musculoskeletal system!


    His Internal Vision had sharpened significantly.


    <i>My soul! Has it grown stronger? </i>Wu Yuan was astonished.


    The soul, residing in the upper dantian lobe, was a true enigma. It was something martial artists generally couldn''t actively cultivate.


    Typically, the stronger one''s physical constitution, the more nourished the upper dantian lobe, thus indirectly fortifying the soul. It was a passive process, and individuals with robust bodies often possessed stronger wills.


    And yet, within an incredibly brief span, Wu Yuan''s soul had experienced a noteworthy surge in strength! Undoubtedly, this miraculous transformation was the work of the Soul Condensing Pill.


    <i>My... upper dantian lobe? </i>With his strengthened soul, he involuntarily began to perceive his brain via Internal Vision.


    He could vaguely sense a mysterious ce in the depths of his brain. A ce that seemed to be shrouded inyers of mist and clouds.


    <i>It''s the upper dantian lobe! I can sense the existence of my upper dantian lobe?</i> Wu Yuan was startled.<i> I am still in the Strength Training phase, yet I can sense it?</i>


    As Gao Yu had mentioned, even many of the Grandmasters from the Land Rankings were unable to sense it. In his previous life, Wu Yuan had just barely managed to detect a sliver of his upper dantian lobe through special methods after many years of cultivation. The rity he experienced now far surpassed anything he had ever known.


    <i>Could it be that the strength of my soul surpasses that of the Land Rankers? </i>Wu Yuan couldn''t help but cast a curious nce at the jade vial before him. Just by consuming two Soul Condensing Pills, such wondrous effects have manifested.


    <i>What if I were to consume them all?</i>

 Chapter 50: The Black Pagoda In The Upper Dantian Lobe

    <h4>Chapter 50: The ck Pagoda In The Upper Dantian Lobe</h4>


    The massive doors of the martial hall swung open with a resonating ng, revealing a world shrouded in hazy darkness, save for a remote glimmer of faint light.


    It was already deep into the night.


    "Young Master, what''s the matter?" Gu Ji, who had been meditating in a nearby pavilion, opened his eyes.


    "Gu Ji, how much time has psed since I entered?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "One hour," replied Gu Ji.


    "Mm, Wu Yuan gave a slight nod as he pivoted, shutting the heavy doors of the martial hall once again.


    "Young Master?" A hint of confusion shed through Gu Ji''s usually serene eyes.


    Generally speaking, martial artists who had reached the level of martial virtuoso had a clear awareness of the passage of time.


    However, Gu Ji did not linger on the matter. As long as Wu Yuan remained unharmed, nothing else concerned him.


    ...


    <i>Inside the unlit martial hall.</i>


    <i>I feel like I''ve slept for a long time, yet only one hour has passed? </i>Wu Yuan sat cross-legged in a lotus position.


    This was not what he had anticipated. He had estimated that at least four to six hours had gone by.


    <i>Gao Yu said I should only take two Soul Condensing Pills at a time, and wait at least a month between each dosage. </i>Wu Yuan twirled the jade vial in his hand.


    Under ordinary circumstances, Wu Yuan would not consume any more pills. But Wu Yuan also remembered Gao Yu informing him that after taking the Soul Condensing Pill, he would need to meditate for several days to recuperate.


    <i>At present, I sense an astonishing fortitude within my mind and soul, and I experience no abnormal sensations. Only one hour has passed, and yet it appears that I have fully assimted the two Soul Condensing Pills, which differs from what Gao Yu told me.</i>


    <i>Did Gao Yu misinform him? He shouldn''t have, his knowledge was derived from the umted experiences of the Cloudstride Sect.</i>


    But Wu Yuan''s situation was clearly at odds with these experiences.


    <i>Each human has a unique physique. Perhaps most martial artists struggle to digest this Soul Condensing Pill, yet I ampatible with it?"</i>


    If it were an ordinary natural treasure, Wu Yuan would approach it with caution. For instance, he demonstrated patience when consuming the spiritual liquid.


    But the Soul Condensing Pill was a different matter entirely. Its magical potency brought Wu Yuan hope of unlocking his upper dantian lobe in one go. If he followed Gao Yu''s advice, it would take two or three months to fully digest them all! Wu Yuan could not wait that long.


    <i>The benefits of unlocking my upper dantian lobe several months in advance are self-evident. During one''s golden years of physical growth, every day was precious! Let''s try it!</i>


    After much deliberation, Wu Yuan decided to continue his experiment, but this time he didn''t swallow two pills; choosing to ingest just one Soul Condensing Pill.


    Just like before, upon swallowing the Soul Condensing Pill, it promptly unleashed waves of peculiar energy, flooding into his brain. Even though Wu Yuan was prepared this time, he could not stop it.


    As expected, exhaustion quickly seized him. But this time, his strong willpower allowed him to hold on a little longer before losing consciousness and falling asleep.


    Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, waves of mysterious crimson energy were released from the upper dantian lobe and gradually integrated into his entire body, just like before. However, the volume appeared noticeably diminishedpared to the previous asion.


    ...


    Wu Yuan came to his senses once again. Opening his eyes, the first thing he sensed was his brain. It was even clearer now! His upper dantian lobe grew even more distinct in his conscious perception. His soul had evidently grown stronger.


    Without hesitating, he pushed open the doors of the martial hall.


    "Uncle Ji, how much time has passed since Ist opened the door and asked you for the time?" Wu Yuan asked straightforwardly.


    "About half an hour!" Gu Ji responded sinctly.


    "Mm." With a ng, the door shut again immediately.


    <i>Young Master... has all that cultivation affected his brain?</i> Gu Ji furrowed his brow. Even someone as calm as him felt something was wrong with Wu Yuan.


    Shaking his head, Gu Ji once again closed his eyes and continued cultivating in silence. His cultivation method required his heart and mind to be iparably still!


    ...


    <i>If my calctions are correct, one Soul Condensing Pill will induce a half-hour slumber. </i> Wu Yuan sat in the center of the martial training hall.


    <i>And it seems that I can continuously refine these pills, allowing my soul to grow even stronger without any noticeable abnormalities or side effects, at least for now.</i>


    Wu Yuan poured out another Soul Condensing Pill. After pondering for a moment, Wu Yuan gulped it down. This time, he managed to stay awake for much longer, but eventually fell into a deep sleep once more.


    After what felt like a long time, Wu Yuan regained consciousness, and immediately began to perceive the changes in his soul. Once more, it had grown stronger than before. He did not experience any adverse side effects.


    At this point, any confusion or worries he had about the pill evaporated.


    <i>Although I don''t know the reason, it is clear that my talent with regard to fortifying my soul is above average. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled.


    Ten Soul Condensing Pills? Indeed, the Cloudstride Sect had given him a generous gift.


    <i>Continue! </i>Without any hesitation, Wu Yuan continued consuming them, one after another.


    The fifth pill...The sixth pill...The seventh pill... By the time Wu Yuan consumed the eighth Soul Condensing Pill, his soul had grown exponentially stronger, far stronger than before.


    This time, he managed to resist the overwhelming fatigue. Although his consciousness dulled, he did not fall asleep. With each surge of that strange power into his mind, Wu Yuan clearly felt his soul growing dramatically stronger. Unknowingly, his perception of the world sharpened to an extraordinary degree.


    <i>What is this energy? </i>Wu Yuan sensed an odd, blood-red energy, altering his musculoskeletal system at a cellr level. This was something he had not noticed before. The peculiar power manifested swiftly, only to dissipate just as quickly.


    Only after some time, did Wu Yuan fully awaken from his muddled state, beginning to recall what just happened.


    <i>That strange, crimson energy... did it flow out from my upper dantian lobe?</i> Wu Yuan was filled with bewilderment and shock.


    Wu Yuan did not have much knowledge about the upper dantian lobe. Nevertheless, he couldn''t help but sense that although his physical strength hadn''t witnessed any noticeable growth, his vitality seemed to have experienced an enhancement of sorts!


    Wu Yuan decided against hastily ingesting another Soul Condensing Pill. Instead, he opted to perform Internal Vision, meticulously examining every nook and cranny of his musculoskeletal system. Thanks to his considerably fortified soul, his Internal Vision had attained a remarkable level of rity. He could now delve into more minute details.


    <i>Hm? Those minor internal injuries that were previously difficult to repair... have they all vanished without a trace?</i> As Wu Yuan continued to explore the depths of his body, he swiftly became aware of further transformations.<i> It appears that it''s not just these minor injuries that have been remedied.</i>


    <i>Before, I distinctly perceived that my musculoskeletal system had reached its utmost limit. I believed I needed to nurture it for a significant period and reinforce my foundation before I could continue practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique to temper my body.</i>


    <i>But now, I feel that there''s still room for improvement, and it seems like it will not damage my potential?</i>


    Coming to this realization, he was somewhat dazed. How was this possible?


    Despite his skepticism, Wu Yuan had a vague inkling of understanding. Just now, the mysterious power that surged from the upper dantian lobe seemed to have transformed his body at the most fundamental level, augmenting his body''s potential!


    The improvements weren''t too obvious, but the implications were profound.


    <i>Could this be... progress towards attaining the perfect physique?</i>


    Obtaining the most perfect physique entailed nurturing the body from infancy, meticulously constructing each facet of itsposition to absolute perfection, gradually advancing towards the pinnacle of bodily perfection. But this had only ever existed in theory.


    Thinking about the mysterious energy just now, Wu Yuan saw a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, he could make it a reality! However, the prerequisite was that there was enough of this crimson energy.


    <i>Let''s try again.</i> Wu Yuan chose to take the ninth Soul Condensing Pill. This time, it was easier for him to resist his fatigue. His consciousness was also clearer.


    To his astonishment, the mysterious crimson energy that had previously surged from the upper dantian lobe did not manifest this time. "


    <i>Has it been fully depleted? </i>Wu Yuan experienced a pang of loss.


    <i>My soul? </i>Wu Yuan also noticed that after taking the Soul Condensing Pill this time, his soul didn''t improve as much as before, as if it was about to reach its limit.


    <i>Upper dantian lobe. </i>Wu Yuan concentrated on his brain, exerting every ounce of his being in an attempt to perceive its elusive presence. He strained to sense it with unparalleled intensity!


    After a prolonged period, a peculiar explosion erupted within Wu Yuan''s mind, as if rupturing the shackles of biological constraints. Involuntary waves of tion surged through his heart.


    Immediately, Wu Yuan''s soul detected a mysterious ce! It appeared indefinite, an expanse without boundaries. There is no distinction between up and down. There is no difference between left and right.


    Within this vastness, right at its center, a magnificent and primitive obsidian pagoda hung suspended in mid-air, emitting an ancient and majestic aura. Wisps of ethereal, blood-red mist coiled around the ck pagoda, shrouding it in an enigmatic embrace.


    <i>This ck pagoda...this is it! </i>Wu Yuan, sensing the grand ck pagoda, was utterly astounded.


    Witnessing its familiar appearance, a bolt of lightning seemed to strike his mind, instantly spawning numerous conjectures.


    <i>Could this be the reason for my transmigration into the Middle Land?</i>

 Chapter 51: Visualization! Strengthening The Soul!

    <h4>Chapter 51: Visualization! Strengthening The Soul!</h4>


    The looming ck pagoda upied only a tiny fraction of this mysterious region, yet the terrifying aura it exuded made it the focus of this vast space. It drew Wu Yuan''s full attention.


    <i>This!</i> Wu Yuan''s consciousness converged on the ck pagoda, sensing its terrifying grandeur, yet it also a strange familiarity that stirred aforting warmth within him. It felt as if he was a wanderer who had finally returned home.


    Wu Yuanposed himself as memories from his past resurfaced.


    <i>The ck pagoda looks almost identical to the one from my previous life!</i>


    In thete 21st century, deep within the Blue, the Human Federation unearthed a relic from an ancient civilization. Within this discoveryy evidence of a bygone era when formidable beings, capable of reshaping the very fabric of the sky and earth, roamed the. After the passing of countless years, this civilization had been buried, and many traces were erased. But buried in the middle of that mysterious relic was apletely intact ck pagoda.


    In the subsequent years, the Human Federation advanced rapidly, breaking through the limitations of biological technology. Ancient martial arts were revived, and humanity''s understanding of biology experienced a quantum leap as the interster eramenced. The boundaries of human biology were shattered time and time again.


    During the 21st century, the strongest human on the Blue could barely lift a thousand catties of weight. But by the time Wu Yuan rose to fame, the grandmasters of martial arts within the Human Federation possessed strength that surpassed tens of thousands of catties.


    All of these were secrets of the Federation that Wu Yuan only came into contact with after bing a grandmaster and entering the top martial arts circles.


    As a martial arts grandmaster himself, he had been able to get a close look at the over 100-meter-tall ck pagoda and even touched it with his hands. Right after touching it, he experienced no abnormalities. However, several yearster, just as Wu Yuan stumbled upon a faint clue to surpassing his physical limitations, he suddenly found himself transmigrated to the Middle Land.


    When he first transmigrated over, he couldn''t help but wonder about the mechanics behind such a phenomenon.


    He was a firm believer in rationality, dismissing the concepts of fate, luck, and reincarnation. For him, there had to be a logical exnation for everything, including his transmigration.


    This day, after consuming nine Soul Condensing Pills in a row, his soul had grown incredibly powerful. His consciousness was able to enter the upper dantian lobe, where he saw the ck pagoda inside.


    It was at that moment that he received his first clue. His arrival Middle Land should have an inseparable connection to that mysterious ck pagoda.


    <i>This mysterious ce should be the upper dantian lobe, where my soul originates from and resides. </i>With a simple thought, Wu Yuan could withdraw his consciousness like a receding tide. With a mere thought, his consciousness could enter this space.


    <i>The ck pagoda in the upper dantian lobe, is it illusory? It is only visible in my consciousness, but cannot be physically interacted with. It seems a bit different from the ck pagoda I previously touched with my hands.</i>


    The ck pagoda he had touched in his previous life filled him with a sense of majesty, but that was all. Meanwhile, the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe emitted aforting warmth, embracing his entire being. His consciousness was instinctively reluctant to leave.


    <i>ck pagoda! </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness observed the ck pagoda from a distance. Gradually, he felt himself rx, growing increasingly immersed in this sensation, maintaining just a sliver of consciousness to keep himself awake.


    At the same time, invisible tendrils of power emerged from the ck pagoda, fortifying his soul! The growth of his soul was very faint, almost undetectable, but Wu Yuan keenly registered this change.


    <i>What''s going on? I haven''t done anything. Simply by calmly observing the ck pagoda, my soul has unknowingly grown stronger?</i> Startled for a moment, a thought struck him. <i>Could it be that I have just undergone the legendary Soul Visualization?</i>


    Throughout his past life and in the Middle Land, Wu Yuan hade across numerous tales and ancient literature that mentioned Visualization.


    There were ounts of natural treasures that could facilitate soul development. As one''s physique improved, this process would also nurture and strengthen one''s soul. And there also existed a legendary method known as Visualization!


    <i>Enter the upper dantian lobe, the domain of the soul, and Visualize the myriad wonders of the world. Visualize all creatures, the six desires of life, the seven emotions of man... All can be Visualized! During the Visualization process, many illusions will disappear. Ultimately, one''s Visualizations will be reality... this is known as the Soul Visualization Method.</i> Wu Yuan recalled this from the wealth of cultivation information he had acquired from the Human Federation.


    This information, coted from the numerous martial arts sects, scriptures, and remnants of forgotten civilizations, was rather detailed. However, its authenticity could never be verified.


    At that time, no martial arts grandmasters in the Human Federation were capable of unlocking their upper dantian lobe. How could anyone practice Visualization? Even if someone had seeded in practicing Visualization, it was likely top secret within the Human Federation. It was not something Wu Yuan could have essed!


    <i>Back then, I thought the civilization remnants and the ck pagoda were all conspiracy theories, and didn''t think much of it. Now, if it''s true that the mysterious ck pagoda and those mighty beings truly existed in the past... The world of the Human Federation isn''t as straightforward as I imagined.</i>


    <i>The world of the Middle Land is even more mysterious!</i>


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but recall Gao Yu''s mention of relics from the ruins of an immortal''s dwellings. It seemed like everything was hinting at a big secret.


    <i>I have never truly seen someone practicing the Visualization method. But from what I understand, be it Visualizing Hell Asura, Scaling The Heavenly Pce, or Splendid Landscapes, there are no essential differences. For every enhancement of the soul, one would experience many dangers and may fall into them unknowingly. But I inadvertently Visualized the ck pagoda without encountering any signs of danger.</i>


    At this moment, Wu Yuan wasn''t sure of the authenticity of the Visualization method he knew. He wasn''t sure whether he was truly Visualizing.


    <i>But one thing is certain, when I observed the ck pagoda, my soul grew stronger.</i> Wu Yuan grasped the key point. Everything else was illusory, only the strengthening of the soul was real.


    As for the ck pagoda within the upper dantian lobe?


    <i>Regardless of whether it ultimately brings benefits or harm, the current me, who has just opened my upper dantian lobe, simply does not have the capability to deal with it. What I need to do now is continue strengthening myself. Then in the future, I may be able to uncover the secrets behind it.</i>


    <i>And being able to Visualize the ck pagoda, allowing me to continuously strengthen the soul without harm, is a fortuitous encounter!</i>


    The soul, elusive and nebulous, was difficult to strengthen by conventional means. And it had served no direct use in martial artsbat.


    Yet, a strong soul enhanced one''s intellectual capacity,prehension, and mental processing speed. Whether honing one''s physical constitution or mastering martial skills, an individual with a robust soul effortlessly achieved twice the results with half the effort!


    <i>Continue.</i>


    Gradually, his soul experienced incremental growth. These advancements were subtle, but as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. These tiny advances, umted over time, would lead to a jaw-dropping achievement.


    Wu Yuan grewpletely engrossed in Visualization. Slowly but surely, his consciousness began to blur, his senses fading into the background without his awareness.


    <i>Hmm?</i> A sudden jarring tremor rattled Wu Yuan''s soul. His consciousness teetered on the precipice of copse as boundless darkness surged into his mind, obscuring his perception.


    In a sh of realization, Wu Yuan understood that Visualizing the ck pagoda came with its toll. This exercise was strenuous on the soul. Just as the body required rest during physical conditioning, the soul too required respite.


    Rest was necessary. And how best to rejuvenate the soul? Sleep!


    Thus, Wu Yuan surrendered himself to a deep, dreamless, sleep. It felt like no time passed at all between sleeping and waking.


    Wu Yuan hopped to his feet, feelingpletely refreshed. His mind was much stronger than before he had taken the Soul Condensing Pills.


    With a single thought, he could easily sense every facet of his surroundings, no longer needing to concentrate to merge into the environment as he did before. With a mere thought, he could sense the minute details of his musculoskeletal system, far surpassing ordinary Internal Vision. With another thought, he could distinctly feel the upper dantian lobe situated in his brain!


    The eternal ck pagoda floated within, surrounded by a faint, almost imperceptible veil of blood-red mist.


    When Wu Yuan attempted to Visualize the ck pagoda again, he felt his soul writhe in pain, as though about to burst apart. This revtion made him understand that he must wait until his soul was fully healed before attempting to Visualize again.


    <i>The blood-red mist enveloping the pagoda... it appears to be the peculiar energy that previously infiltrated my body.</i>


    Wu Yuan scrutinized the blood-red mist, attempting to manipte it. Yet, the thinyer of mist clung stubbornly, draped over the ck pagoda. With his current strength, he could not pry it away.


    <i>Is this all the blood-red mist there is?</i>


    He possessed some knowledge about the ck pagoda. However, when it came to the enigmatic blood-red mist, he was utterly ignorant. How was it generated? What was its purpose? Were there any adverse effects? He knew nothing at all. All he could do was adapt to the circumstances as they arose.


    <i>I shall proceed with caution. I have only recently unlocked the upper dantian lobe. The mere ability to Visualize the ck pagoda and fortify my soul is already invaluable! </i>Wu Yuan wasn''t in a hurry to figure everything out.


    The upper dantian lobe concerned a vital aspect of life, one couldn''t afford to be careless with it.


    His consciousness receded from the upper dantian lobe like a tide. As he surveyed his surroundings, he saw light filtering in. The martial hall had grown much brighter.


    <i>How long has it been since Imenced Visualizing?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly felt a rumble in his stomach. He was a bit hungry.


    <i>ng~</i> The doors swung open. Outside, the sky was already bathed in light. The area was devoid of people, save for Gu Ji, who remained in the lotus position within the pavilion.


    "Young Master," Gu Ji rose, "How is the Soul Condensing Pill?"


    "It has some effect." Wu Yuan mumbled vaguely, "Uncle Ji, what time is it now? How long have I been in seclusion?"


    "Just some effect?" Gu Ji sighed inwardly, "Ever since you first entered the martial hall, you''ve been in seclusion for a total of twelve hours."


    <i>Twelve hours?</i> After a quick calction, Wu Yuan understood. He had spent about six hours Visualizing the ck pagoda.


    "Uncle Ji, I''m a bit hungry. I''ll go and have my meal now," Wu Yuan said, heading directly for the inner mansion.


    A maidservant was already there with a meal prepared.


    ...


    Over the course of several days, Wu Yuan practiced the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique while simultaneously ingesting spiritual liquid, striving to boost his physical constitution to its current limit. At the same time, he would periodically attempt to Visualize the ck pagoda, ascertaining whether his soul had fully recovered.


    A full eight dayster, Wu Yuan could finally confirm that each Visualization sessionsted about six hours, and he would need a gap of at least four days before he could Visualize again. As for the blood-red mist? Wu Yuan still didn''t understand it.


    On this day, he emerged from the martial hall once more.


    "Uncle Ji, let''s not dy any longer, we shall set off for Southdream Martial Academy tomorrow," Wu Yuan said softly.

 Chapter 52: Decoys

    <h4>Chapter 52: Decoys</h4>


    An unassuming mansion, tucked away just twenty li from Li City, served as Great Jin��s intelligence hub for matters within Li City.


    A man garbed in a ck robe burst into the modestly adorned hall of the mansion, his face glowing with excitement.


    "Sir! Sir! I''ve brought news!" he eximed, unable to contain his eagerness.


    A red-robed young man, engrossed in honing his saber skills, halted his practice and slid his weapon back into its sheath. With an indifferent gaze, he turned to face the ck-robed man.


    "Guo Liu, haven��t I already told you to knock before you enter my room?" The youth''s voice dripped with menace.


    A sh of fear passed through the eyes of the ck-robed man, prompting him to quickly lower his head. "Sir, I apologize profusely. This humble one shall not repeat the mistake."


    The ck-robed man felt somewhat wronged. This room was his originally personal chamber, and he had long grown ustomed to entering the room without knocking.


    ��I hope there won''t be a next time.�� The youth��s voice was icy, "Now, speak. What news have you brought this time?"


    "It''s about Wu Yuan," the ck-robed man breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "The spies I nted have just discovered that the Wu n has chartered arge boat. However, it is not intended for cargo, but for passengers."


    "A passenger boat?" the youth''s eyes sharpened. "Where is it headed?"


    ��Southdream!�� The ck-robed man answered, "I have dispatched individuals to gather more information from the boat''s owner. In the next two days, the vessel will sail downstream on the Southdragon River, traverse the Southcloud Canal, and cross the Great Wanqiu Swamp to reach Southdream City."


    ��Is it Wu Yuan?�� The youth asked lightly.


    "Most likely." The ck-robed man nodded, "Although the Wu n asionally sends representatives to Southdream City, chartering arge boat is a rare urrence. This is not a small expense."


    The youth nodded in understanding. "Any updates on the departure date and time?"


    "Wu Yuan is currently engrossed in seclusion, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of departure," the ck-robed man exined with a bitter smile.


    The youth furrowed his brows. Without knowing the precise timing, it would be challenging to set up an ambush in advance.


    "However, once the ship embarks, we can estimate its travel time," the ck-robed man hurriedly added. "Additionally, it will make a stop at the Radiant Dock in the Southcloud Canal to replenish supplies."


    He lowered his head, awaiting the decision of the youth before him.


    A moment of silence stretched on.


    "Their departure time remains uncertain, and their vignce will be heightened both in Li City and during their initial departure. It will not be a favorable moment to strike," the youth''s eyes fluttered open, his voice a soft whisper. "I shall seek assistance from Senior Sister Yu. Assemble a group of capable allies. We will make our move at the Radiant Dock of Southcloud Canal."


    "Ensure Wu Yuan meets his demise in a single, swift blow," he added, his wordsced with determination.


    "Select intelligent and powerful men under yourmand. We depart for the Radiant Dock tonight," the young figuremanded.


    "Understood," the middle-aged man d in ck robes nodded repeatedly.


    The deployment of manpower? It didn''t matter how many forces he had to allocate from this base. As long as he didn''t have to go personally, the middle-aged man had no objections. On the contrary, if the mission failed and investigations were initiated, he could conveniently shift the me for both this issue and other past issues onto the youth.


    Preparing to exit the hall, the middle-aged man was halted by a sudden remark.


    "By the way, you will apany me on this mission."


    ...


    <i>The following day.</i>


    <i>Inside the courtyard of the Wu residence in Li City.</i>


    Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, Wanqin, Wu Xiong, groups of guards, along with Wu Qiming and numerous others, gathered here.


    "Wu Yuan, this journey to Southdream spans thousands of li. Be careful along the way," Wanqin reminded.


    "Mother, I am just going to Southdream Province for a strength assessment. Once everything is over, I will naturallye back," Wu Yuan responded with a hint of helplessness.


    In these past few days, Wanqin had repeated her concerns countless times. After all, a mother worries when her child travels afar.


    Moreover, this journey to Southdream would span several counties, far more than a thousand li.


    "Brother Wu, I will be troubling you to take care of him on the journey," Wanqin nced at Wu Yuan, then turned her gaze to Wu Xiong.


    Wu Xiong was d in simple clothing made from cloth and brandished two short spears. "Haha, sister-inw, rest assured. With me here, there''s no need to worry about Wu Yuan''s safety," he vowed solemnly. He was a straightforward man.


    "Chieftain," Wu Yuan turned to Wu Qiming.


    "The news of your special recruitment has reached the main n," Wu Qiming informed him, "They have sent a letter, hoping that you will pay them a visit when you have the time."


    "The main n?" Wu Yuan gave a mild frown. He had neither a good nor bad impression of the main Wu n, but he didn��t wish to visit them if possible. He preferred to avoid trouble where he could.


    "Although the Wu n in Li City is independent, we do share our roots with the main n," Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan, sighing, "If you have the time, it would be good to pay them a visit."


    "Okay," Wu Yuan nodded. While he didn''t have any strong connections to the main n himself, both branch and main ns still shared an undeniable rtionship. Perhaps an order had already reached Wu Qiming, urging Wu Yuan to pay a visit to the main n.


    Furthermore, what harm coulde from paying them a visit? The Southdream Wu n was just a medium-sized family in the provincial city, simr to the Luo n from Li City. How much influence could they have?


    After bidding their farewells, Wu Xiong turned to a robust man d in heavy armor, ��Lei Tao, your group can set off now. Turn back once the boat reaches the canal,"


    "Yes," a robust man solemnly replied. He then ordered his men, "Let''s move."


    <i>Ssh! Ssh!</i>


    With him in the lead, a group filed out of the courtyard through the main gate and headed towards the outer courtyard. The group numbered twelve in total, with ten d in the armor of the city guard.


    Among the group was a teenager wearing the uniform of a martial academy student. From his height and build to his facial features, he bore a striking resemnce to Wu Yuan. With careful application of cosmetics and his head bowed low, he could easily pass for Wu Yuan himself. Another individual in the group sported attire simr to Gu Ji��s.


    Swiftly, this group disappeared into the distance, and the gates of the courtyard closed shut behind them shortly after.


    "Wu Yuan, that group is a decoy arranged by the county mayor,�� Wu Xiong revealed with a chuckle, "The County Inspection Bureau has noticed several parties discreetly inquiring after your whereabouts in recent days. Although the chances of them taking action are slim, we must remain vignt. Therefore, we spread the rumor that you are departing for Southdream Province by boat."


    "Your stand-in will take great care not to reveal his face, and will head straight to the boat in a carriage," Wu Xiong added solemnly, "Once their boat sets off, attracting the attention of those factions, we will disguise ourselves and depart from the city on horseback, riding hard for the Greendragon Bank located 80 li away. There, another boat prepared by the county mayor awaits us."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. He was not particrly concerned about assassination attempts. After all, with the average talent he had demonstrated, it would be quite strange for Cloudstride Sect''s adversaries to send a second-rate Adept to assassinate him. And the odds they would send a first-rate Adept were exceedingly small.


    However, Wu Yuan had to admit he was surprised by theprehensive arrangements made by County Mayor Jiang Dongque. He silentlymended the mayor''s foresight. Someone appointed as county mayor was surely no fool.


    The group waited for nearly two more hours before taking action.


    "Wu Yuan, we shall exit through the back door in separate groups, making our way to the neighboring Yang Mansion. From there, we will swiftly leave the city," Wu Xiong proposed.


    Wu Yuan had no objections. All twelve of them had already changed their clothes. They were now dressed as cavaliers and wore makeup to alter their features.


    Furthermore, Jiang Dongque had arranged for an additional six ordinary city guards to apany them. With that, the party of twelve swelled to eighteen, minimizing the chances of their identities getting exposed.


    ...


    Once the decoy group set sail, Wu Yuan''s party of eighteen departed Li City without causing as much as a ripple. Such bands of cavaliers were amon sight among the seven continents of the Central ins.


    "There''s no need to hold back our horses'' strength. Ride faster, let''s strive to reach Greendragon Bank within two hours," Wu Xiong dered. "If we can achieve that, we can set sail immediately, which will be quicker than the decoy boat. That will be the safest."


    ��Agreed,�� the others answered as the party of eighteen galloped along the official route.


    This official route, constructed during the Chu-Jiang Empire''s prime, was sturdy and well-trodden, with checkpoints set up every few tens of li. It spanned provinces, municipalities, and counties, allowing for efficientmunication within the empire.


    Ever since the Cloudstride Sect tookmand of several provinces, their influence over the region surpassed that of the Chu-Jiang Empire during its decline.


    Along the journey, they asionally came across other caravans and pedestrians. However, everyone who encountered Wu Yuan''s group of riders made way without hesitation.


    Unless one was aplete fool, one would know better than to offend a band of cavaliers astride Hoarfrost steeds. After all, a single Hoarfrost steed was worth hundreds of silver taels.


    ��At our current pace, anyone attempting to tail us would be left far behind.�� Wu Xiong''sughter carried on the wind, ��I must say, Wu Yuan, your riding skills aren''t bad at all.��


    ��I am nowhere near as skilled as you, Uncle Wu.�� Wu Yuan replied with a modest smile.


    Though inexperienced in horse riding, he had exceptional control of his body. After adapting to the motions, he could even rival some formidable cavaliers.


    Wu Yuan appeared calm on the surface, but his gaze scanned both sides of the road continually. "Despite no signs that we''re being followed, why do I feel that I am being watched?"


    Ever since his awareness was capable of entering his upper dantian lobe, Wu Yuan''s perception had grown extraordinarily sharp!


    ..<i>.</i>


    Around three kilometers above the ground, a pale blue bird, with a wingspan of roughly two meters, effortlessly soared and glided through the air. Resembling a grand eagle in form, its pale blue plumage seamlessly merged with the sky, rendering it virtually invisible to those below.


    Only a pair of piercing ck eyes peered down from above, fixated on the swift movements of the riders traversing the official route, appearing as mere ants from its lofty vantage point.


    From the ��Records of Dong Continent Birds'': <i>The mountains where the Dong Continent and the Min Continent intersect lie the habitat of a strange species of bird. Their feathers change colors with the seasons, mirroring the hues of the sky. They understand human nature, are able to converse in the human tongue, and their slender bodies resemble that of an eagle. Often soaring at altitudes of 10,000 meters, they are capable of covering vast distances spanning thousands of li in a single day. People have named this bird the Skyshade Bird.</i>

 Chapter 53: Armor-Piercing Crossbow

    <h4>Chapter 53: Armor-Piercing Crossbow</h4>


    Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, and Wu Xiong rode hard, sparing no effort from their sturdy Hoarfrost steeds. Following the smooth official route, they covered tens of li in just under an hour.


    Gradually, they left the city behind, delving deeper into the rural wilderness, the dominion of thend bandits and water thieves.


    In the distance, a vast expanse of rolling hills came into view, covered in thick vegetation.


    The official route followed a gorge nestled within these hills.


    "Up ahead is Meandering Forest Gorge, a stretch of more than ten li where thend bandits around Li City are most active. Stay vignt, everyone," warned Wu Xiong, his voice echoing through the air. "Protect the young master at all costs."


    "Haha, Brother Wu, you worry too much."


    "Although the Meandering Forest Gorge is infested withnd bandits, would they dare obstruct us?"


    "We''ll charge through this ten-li stretch in no time!" chuckled the hundred-soldier captains, theirughter ringing in the air.


    Their words seemed carefree, but their actions told a different story. Some subtly increased their speed while others gently tugged at their reins, seamlessly forming a protective circle around Wu Yuan and Gu Ji. In their eyes, the weakest members of the group were Wu Yuan and his steward Gu Ji.


    Wu Yuan''s decision to bring an ordinary steward had left many soldiers perplexed and even disgruntled. However, when Gu Ji showcased his remarkable riding skills, the guards wisely refrained from questioning his decision.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud~</i> The horses'' hooves thundered without pause as the group rode along the winding official route, maintaining their speed.


    The all-out charge of over a dozen warhorses caused the earth to tremble, creating a startlingmotion that echoed through the gorge.


    Unbeknownst to them, on the gentle slopes of thetter half of the Meandering Forest Gorge, nearly 200nd banditsy in wait amidst the dense forest. Some wore ck heavy armor, others wore soft armor or cloth armor.


    Their weapons varied as well.


    Lurking dozens of meters away from the main cluster of bandits, were a dozen or so individuals. They were d in uniform ck armor, their faces hidden behind masks that revealed only their eyes.


    But the most eye-catching difference was the massive crossbows they held in their hands.


    The crowd ofnd bandits regarded this ck-armored squad warily, none daring to approach.


    The Cloudstride Sect usually turned a blind eye to ordinary bands ofnd bandits and water thieves, except in two cases: heavy armor and armor-piercing crossbows. Should any group dare to hoard or forge these two items inrge quantities, the local city guard and the Southdream Army would join forces to eradicate them.


    "Leader" whispered some of the confusednd bandits, ��based on the terrain of the Meandering Forest Gorge, the first half is the most suitable for an ambush. Why would these mysterious experts choose to lead us to ambush the target in thetter half?"


    "Foolish," the leader of thend bandits, his face marked with a grim saber scar, spoke in a low voice, "Do you think they would resort to using armor-piercing crossbows for just any ordinary merchant convoy? The target must be an expert!"


    "The first half of the Meandering Forest Gorge is nked by steep slopes and overgrown with trees, which may seem ideal for an ambush. But if even we are aware of this, wouldn''t the target possess the same knowledge? They will be sure to pass through at full speed and remain vignt. Thus, once they have crossed the first half, when their horses are tired and their guards are lowered, that''s when the crossbows can most easily meet their mark."


    "Don''t ask any more questions." The leader of thend bandits silenced them with a low growl, "These mysterious experts could have easily coerced us toe here with their overwhelming strength, yet they spent 5000 silver taels to hire us. So just do as you''re told."


    "Yes!"


    "Understood." Although thesend bandits appeared disorganized, they had developed an implicit trust in their leader over time. Little did they know that their leader had received a handsome payout to lead them into this perilous situation.


    <i>Don''t me me.</i> The leader of thend bandits swept his eyes over therge group of bandits beside him, sighing inwardly. <i>10,000 silver taels is enough for me to change my name and identity, and live out my days peacefully in another county.</i>


    Deep down, he knew that this deal would not be as easy as the other party had promised. But he had no other choice. It was either silver or death!


    Suddenly, the earth trembled slightly as the faint clopping of horse hooves reverberated through the air. The men d in ck armor and the leader of the bandits sensed it immediately.


    The target was approaching.


    "Hide well!"


    "Prepare your bows and arrows." The previously rowdy bandits instantly fell silent, each of them ring fiercely into the distance.


    They were all well aware that they must not alert the target to their presence. Dozens ofnd bandits in the front row drew their bows and readied their arrows, priming themselves to shoot at a moment��s notice.


    The might of the crossbow was not contingent upon the wielder, but rather on the inherent power of the crossbow itself. The power of the bow and arrow, however, depended not only on the quality of the equipment, but also on the strength of the user!


    The ambushers didn''t have to wait long. On the official route that snaked through the gorge, nearly twenty figures materialized in their line of sight.


    "Eighteen riders?"


    "That''s more than expected! Is this the right target?" The men in ck armor felt somewhat uncertain. This number was more than what was stated in their information dossier.


    "Such powerful groups of cavaliers only pass through Meandering Forest Gorge once or twice a day. We can''t allow them to pass even at the risk of a mistake! Attack!" Themanding figure in ck armor gave the order to thend bandit leader.


    "Loose your arrows!" Thend bandit leadermanded.


    <i>Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!</i>


    In the blink of an eye, scores of sharp arrows whistled toward the group of horsemen, whose pace had begun to slow.


    ...


    "The second leg of the journey will be much safer."


    "Don''t worry too much." Having sessfullypleted the treacherous first half of the journey, the soldiers in the group began to rx their guard.


    "Young Master, fear not. Thend bandits mostly prey on merchants and caravans. To them, cavaliers are too tough to chew. They wouldn''t dare to confront us," said Wu Xiong, his horse slightly ahead of Wu Yuan''s. Once they had left the county town, everyone began addressing Wu Yuan as "Young Master."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded faintly, his gaze drifting toward the distance. Physically, he was as strong as a second-rate Adept, and his martial skills were on par with a Grandmaster.


    As for his soul? The level of awareness and control he had over his surroundings, while perhaps not as high as a Land Ranker, was certainly not lower than a Savant expert.


    It was impossible for hundreds ofnd bandits to staypletely silent, no matter how careful they were. A third-rate Adept might be oblivious, but how could Wu Yuan not notice?


    However, Wu Yuan did not voice his suspicions. He couldn''t help but wonder, were these bandits here by coincidence or were they specifically targeting him?


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Without any warning, a barrage of arrows descended from the dense forest on both sides of the slope. Each arrow glimmered with a metallic sheen.


    "Damn it!" Wu Xiong''s expression shifted to anger as he shouted, "Ambush! Protect!"


    He deftly pulled out twin spears, twirling them so rapidly that they formed a circr shield, deflecting the iing arrows.


    Wu Yuan disyed a shocked expression, twisting his body at thest moment to ''narrowly'' avoid two arrows.


    The other guards also reacted with lightning speed, either swinging their spears or drawing their sabers to block the iing arrows. At the same time, their horses galloped swiftly as they regrouped around Wu Yuan.


    Unfortunately, two riders, who were only high-tier martial novices, were unable to dodge in time and got struck by the arrows. The first rider''s soft armor managed to halt the arrow before it prated his chest, but his qi churned within him. Thankfully, his condition was not grave.


    <i>Thwack!</i> The second rider was far more unfortunate, the arrow finding its mark in his throat. Blood sttered and he plummeted from his mount, his fate hanging in the bnce.


    "There are still more lurking in ambush," warned Wu Xiong.


    "A bunch of riff-raff!"


    Wu Xiong and his fellow soldiers seethed with anger at the sight of their injuredrades. They could gauge the strength of the ambushers by the power of their arrows, and it seemed none of them were true experts.


    "Numbers two to four, protect the young master and break through the encirclement," bellowed Wu Xiong. "The rest of you, follow me up the slope to ughter the enemy!" The city guards referred to each other by code names.


    "Yes!"


    "Kill these scoundrels and avenge our brothers!"


    Even though there was internalpetition within the city guard, they were united in the face of external threats. One of their own had fallen, and they could not simply let it slide.


    "Charge!" Over a dozen horses split into two groups, with one continuing their advance while the other galloped into the thick forest up the gentle slope. They were all highly trained and moved with the swiftness of the wind.


    "What? Only one casualty? And all of them are Adept experts?" The previously confidentnd bandits now wore expressions of shock. After all, among their nearly 200-strong group, only their leader was an Adept. There were not many martial virtuosos among them either. If they possessed the strength of a martial virtuoso, they could easily join arge faction.


    Just as Wu Yuan single-handedly took on the Vicious Tiger Gang, an Adept expert in armor could effortlessly dispatch dozens of seventh and eighth-grade martial virtuosos.


    "Leader! What should we do? Many of thend bandits looked to their leader in terror. However, the leader of thend bandits had already received the signal from the burly man d in ck armor, and he understood that this group was their intended target.


    He gritted his teeth. "Kill them! Each rider you y earns you 100 silver pieces!"


    "Strike! This is a dense forest, the horses no longer have the advantage of speed."


    These bandits, tasting blood on the edge of their des and driven by the allure of rewards, each unveiled a bloodthirsty expression.


    Another volley of arrows pierced the air, followed closely by battle cries that echoed through the chaos. The bandits, wielding their weapons with wild abandon, charged recklessly towards the eleven cavaliers led by Wu Xiong.


    "Kill them all!" Wu Xiong and hispanions spurred their horses up the slope. When they were about 30 meters from the forest, their horse leaped into the air.


    In a blink of an eye, they traversed tens of meters,nding with earth-shaking thuds. They faced the onught ofnd bandits charging towards them, their weapons at the ready.


    The sh of steel filled the air, apanied by the sounds of impact. Long spears thrust, short spears struck, and sabers shed with deadly precision. Limbs flew, heads rolled, and blood painted the ground as over twentynd bandits fell in an instant.


    The six hundred-soldier captains of the city guard, equipped with strong physical constitutions and fourth-grade soft armor bestowed by the sect, disyed their well-honed teamwork from years of training. Theirbined charge was a force to be reckoned with, boasting the power of twenty individual Adepts.


    The devastating loss of theirrades struck fear into the hearts of the remainingnd bandits. The ones charging forward began to slow down, their motivation waning. They hade for riches, not death in vain.


    Wu Xiong''s two short spears punctured the bodies of bandits one after another. Sweeping his gaze over the forest, he suddenly spotted ten or so figures d in ck armor, concealed within the depths of the forest.


    Each of them held a massive crossbow with bolts already loaded, aimed directly at Wu Yuan''s group which was 100 meters ahead of Wu Xiong.


    "Shit! Armor-piercing crossbows!" Wu Xiong''s face drained of color. He was too far to intervene, helpless to prevent the impending danger.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Thirteen bolts were released in a fraction of a heartbeat, each bolt capable of threatening even a second-rate Adept. Hurtling through the air like dark meteors, all of them aimed at a single target.


    That target was none other than Wu Yuan, positioned at the center of the group.

 Chapter 54: Wingborne Sect

    <h4>Chapter 54: Wingborne Sect</h4>


    "Not good!" Wu Xiong''s eyes zed with a mixture of rage and terror. He only had himself to me for his carelessness. In his determination to avenge his fallen subordinate, he had forgotten that ensuring Wu Yuan''s safety was his true first priority!


    "No!"


    "Young Master," cried the five hundred-soldier captains of the city guard, their voices filled with panic. They could only watch helplessly from 100 meters away as thirteen armor-piercing bolts, deadly and precise, hurtled toward Wu Yuan.


    "Quickly! Protect the young master." The four hundred-soldier captains beside Wu Yuan were equally rmed. Their strength was inadequate to fend off the onught of armor-piercing bolts. Even blocking a single projectile would result in serious injuries.


    If there had been three or four bolts, perhaps they could have hoped to shield Wu Yuan from harm. But thirteen? The odds were stacked heavily against them.


    The thirteen ck-armored figures had been biding their time to get a clear shot. With the speed of the bolts, the guards had no time to react.


    ...


    "Thirteen massive armor-piercing crossbows, worth thousands of gold. Only four Adepts protecting him, resistance is futile."


    "The one being protected in the center should be Wu Yuan, aim to kill him directly."


    The ten or so ck-armored figures focused intently on the group of riders. Among them, the lead figure exuded a palpable thirst for blood.


    Had they unleashed the volley of crossbow bolts from the start, the ten Adepts might have stood a chance of preserving Wu Yuan''s life.


    The first wave of a crossbow ambush was always the most difficult to evade. Hence, they had cleverly orchestrated a diversion, employing a horde of bandits tounch arge-scale attack. The aim was to divert the attention of the guards and split them up before firing their crossbows. They had sessfully achieved their goal.


    Once Wu Yuan was killed, their mission would be aplished.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Before these ck-armored ambushers entered the line of sight of Wu Xiong and his men, the powerful armor-piercing bolts were already before Wu Yuan. One of these bolts shot straight towards Wu Yuan''s skull, unimpeded by the guards!


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Out of nowhere, a peculiar de ray materialized, splitting into thirteen streaks of light and enveloping Wu Yuan��s group.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> The thirteen armor-piercing bolts met the de rays with uncanny precision, exploding into fragments.


    The life-threatening crisis Wu Yuan faced was instantly resolved. Not a single armor-piercing bolt came close to Wu Yuan.


    "What on earth...?"


    "Was that the steward?" The four hundred-soldier captains, bracing themselves for a battle of life and death, gaped in astonishment at the figure that had suddenly leaped forward, wielding a saber with unbelievable skill. It was Gu Ji!


    With a single swing of his saber, he shattered thirteen armor-piercing bolts!


    Such terrifying strength! Was this expert secretly sent by the sect to protect Wu Yuan?


    "Everyone, hold your ground." Gu Ji''s voice was icy as he mounted Wu Yuan''s horse, saber in one hand and the other arm around Wu Yuan. Swiftly tugging on the horse''s reins, he abruptly brought the steed to a halt.


    "Huh!" The four hundred-soldier captains quickly pulled on their reins.


    "Young Master, I am here to safeguard you. The rest of you, go and assist Captain Wu and his men in eliminating everyst one of them!" Gu Ji''s voice was chilling, emanating a palpable killing intent. "Remember, leave only a few alive for questioning."


    "Yes!"


    "Charge!" Spirits roused, the four captains immediately turned their horses around. elerating sharply, they charged up the hill slope.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The shrill shrieks of ten armor-piercing bolts soared through the air.


    A glimmering ray of steel shed.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> In a sequence of thunderous explosions, the ten or so bolts either exploded or were deflected aside. None came close to Wu Yuan.


    No one doubted Gu Ji��s strength any longer.


    The third wave of bolts never arrived.


    That was because the first group of guards led by Wu Xiong had already intercepted the ck-d figures, forcing them to abandon their crossbows and draw their sabers in response!


    "Captain!"


    "How can there be a first-rate Adept?"


    "What do we do?" These ck-armored figures were terror-stricken.


    Although they were well trained and held their ground in battle against Wu Xiong and his men, their strength paled inparison! Of the ck-armored figures, only two were third-rate Adepts, the rest were merely martial virtuosos.


    As for therge group ofnd bandits? Confronted with such an overwhelming disparity of power, they had dispersedpletely. Their leader was frightened out of his wits after witnessing Gu Ji''s strength.


    <i>A second-rate Adept could dodge the armor-piercing bolts, maybe even split three or five. But to split thirteen in an instant? Impossible!</i> The bandit leader was consumed by terror.


    To shatter thirteen armor-piercing bolts with a single stroke meant that Gu Ji was, at minimum, a first-rate Adept!


    <i>There are clearly no first-rate Adepts in Li City. That old fellow from Dongye Municipality has lost his former strength. So, where did this expert emerge from?</i>


    <i>How did a first-rate Adept get entangled in this mission?</i> The leader of thend bandits desperately fled into the depths of the dense forest. Not an ounce of courage to fight remained.


    If the enemy was a second-rate Adept, they might stand a chance by relying on their numerical advantage and the power of their armor-piercing crossbows.


    But a first-rate Adept? In terms of physique, they were at least three times stronger than a third-rate Adept, not to mention the enormous gap in skill.


    The power discrepancy could not be merely defined as a tenfold difference. A third-rate Adept would typically be killed in an instant by a first-rate Adept.


    <i>Boom!</i> The air roared.


    The chieftain of thend bandits whipped around in terror, only to witness Gu Ji hurtling towards him at astonishing speed, Wu Yuan in one arm.


    With every stride Gu Ji took, billowing dust rose in his wake. As his de gleamed, the fleeing bandits fell one by one, akin to mown grass. Their throats were all slit open!


    Even whilst carrying another person and dispatching enemies along the path, his speed surpassed that of a galloping steed. He charged straight for the leader of thend bandits.


    "Senior, spare me! Spare me! I can give you valuable information!" The leader of thend bandits abruptly knelt, kowtowing repeatedly as he begged for mercy.


    Fight? He could not win!


    Run? He could not escape!


    Only by begging for mercy was there a glimmer of hope for survival. The leader of thend bandits did not want to die just like that.


    "Swoosh!" A terrifying de ray swept past, splitting into four rays in an instant.


    "Ah!" The leader of thend bandits cried out as the rays of light swept over his arms and thighs, severing the tendons in his limbs.


    His entire body wasunched into the air, smashing heavily back onto the earth. A violent fit of coughing seized him, and he expelled crimson droplets from his lips. Saturated in his own fresh blood, he could barely crawl.


    "Too terrifying, run!" Upon witnessing this scene, the resolve of thesend bandits finally crumbled, any notion of resistance dissipating. Some even abandoned their weapons, cursing the inadequacy of their own speed.


    Despite carrying Wu Yuan by his inner armor with one hand, Gu Ji was still rmingly fast. The glint of his de illuminated the darkness, one bandit after another falling to his relentless onught.


    The hundred-soldier captains divided into groups of four in a coordinated manner, charging towards the outskirts of the battlefield. They split up further into pairs, relentlessly pursuing and killing thend bandits who were attempting to escape.


    In the span of a fleeting moment, the battle cries that once filled the air dissipated. The slope of the hill was swallowed by an eerie silence. The only remnants of the brutal conflict were the scattered bodies and pools of crimson.


    Finally, Gu Ji halted, gently lowering Wu Yuan to the ground. Wu Yuan drew in deep breaths, his gaze sweeping over the gruesome sight that surrounded them. A trace of fear lingered on his face.


    "Young Master, I apologize for the fright," Gu Ji said in a low voice. "But if we hadn''t eradicated thesend bandits, word of our presence might have leaked, inviting trouble upon us."


    "I understand. Thank you for saving me, Uncle Ji," Wu Yuan replied, his voice barely above a whisper, his face pale as if forcing himself to maintainposure.


    Gu Ji nodded slightly.


    "Young Master!"


    ��We deeply regret scaring you." Wu Xiong, along with the group of guards gathered around Wu Yuan, their clothes smeared with blood. Worry was etched onto Wu Xiong''s face.


    "Do not me yourselves. Who could have expected a band ofnd bandits to possess so many armor-piercing crossbows?" Wu Yuan shook his head, not faulting Wu Xiong and his men in the least.


    "I hope to never witness such urrences again," The normally silent Gu Ji spoke, his voice cold, "Remember, our duty is to ensure the safety of the young master until he reaches the sect."


    "Furthermore, erase my existence from your memories. Do not whisper a word of me to anyone," Gu Ji''s piercing gaze swept over each guard.


    "Yes!" Wu Xiong and his men all bowed their heads without question.


    Wu Yuan did not disclose Gu Ji''s identity, but the strength he had revealed said it all. Wu Xiong and his men are not fools. They understood that the sect had arranged for this expert to covertly protect Wu Yuan. One could only imagine how important Wu Yuan was to the sect.


    "These bandits are weak, they cannot possibly possess so many armor-piercing crossbows." Gu Ji said coldly, "Those men in ck armor are well-trained, most of them would rather die than surrender. Only a single survivor is left among them. Swiftly interrogate him to uncover the motive behind this ambush."


    "Yes." Wu Xiong and his men promptly scattered. Some set off to interrogate the captives, while others began scouring the bodies for any clues or wealth. Bandits traditionally hid their treasures on their persons.


    Just a few minutester, the interrogation bore fruit, and the bandit leader and the remaining survivors were silenced. At this point, all those involved in the ambush had met their demise.


    "Young Master, this ambush was premeditated," Wu Xiong no longer treated him like a junior and reported solemnly, "ording to the ck-armored man''s words and some evidence from his body, the perpetrator of this ambush is the Wingborne Sect of the Dong Continent."


    "The Wingborne Sect?" A flicker of confusion passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    "The Wingborne Sect, one of the eight major sects of the Dong Continent, is even stronger than our Cloudstride Sect in terms of overall power." Gu Ji interjected, his voice steady. "If we were to assess the Cloudstride Sect''s enemies, Great Jin unquestionably holds the top position, while the Wingborne Sect stands as second."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly. The Middle Land was an expansive realm with a tapestry of intricate histories woven into each of its continents. Despite reading extensively over the past few months, he only considered himself somewhat familiar with the Jiang and Chu continents. As for the other continents, he only had a vague understanding of them.


    His impression of the Dong Continent was that it ranked second among the thirteen continents, second only to the Holy Continent upied by the Great Jin Empire. In terms of both size and poption, the Dong Continent dwarfed the Jiang Continent.


    To be ranked among the top eight sects of the Dong Continent, one could imagine the strength of the Wingborne Sect.


    "We dispatched a decoy, so how could the Wingborne Sect have prepared an ambush so swiftly? Could someone have leaked our n?" Wu Yuan questioned, his brow creased in concern.


    Wu Xiong replied solemnly, "This is just one of the Wingborne Sect''s ambush teams. ording to the Wingborne Sect disciple, they were uncertain which direction we would depart from, hence they sent four teams to lie in wait along different possible routes. The strength of the other three teams is not inferior to this one.


    Gu Ji frowned slightly.


    "Four teams?" Wu Yuan''s face was a picture of astonishment.


    "The Wingborne Sectmitted such vast resources and manpower just to kill a special recruit? Have they lost their minds?"

 Chapter 55: The Cost and the Gains

    <h4>Chapter 55: The Cost and the Gains</h4>


    "Indeed, it''s illogical. By dispatching such a powerful force to ambush a special recruit, they will definitely leave evidence of their involvement behind. The Cloudstride Sect will surely investigate and subsequently embark on a manhunt," a bald guard murmured solemnly. "And that''s not even considering that the assassination attempt failed."


    "Even if the assassination attempt seeded, would it have been worth it?" The bald guard shook his head.


    Even the mightiest powers in the world, such as the Great Jin Empire, had limited resources. It couldn''t afford to spend them recklessly!


    Furthermore, mobilizing such a significant force in enemy territory was a risky move. One wrong step could result in devastating losses. The difficulty of rebuilding such forces should not be underestimated.


    Most special recruits of the Cloudstride Sect never made it past the second-rate Adept level. The price paid by the Wingborne Sect was disproportionate to the benefits gained. If they were willing to pay a simr cost to assassinate every special recruit, how many experts and resources would the Wingborne Sect expend?


    "It is indeed strange. In the past, the Wingborne Sect mainly employed less costly methods like poisoning and close-quarters assassination to eliminate special recruits, just like the Great Jin Empire. Ambushes of this scale are extremely rare!"


    These guards, most of them hundred-soldier captains, were experienced and knowledgeable. Anyone withmon sense could sense that something was amiss.


    Gu Ji said coldly. "The actions of the Cloudstride Sect seem abnormal for an ordinary special recruit. However, what if they had prior knowledge of Wu Yuan''s status?"


    The group of guards fell silent. That made sense! Having a first-rate Adept as a personal bodyguard indicated that Wu Yuan''s importance to the sect far surpassed that of an ordinary special recruit. Though the Wingborne Sect paid a significant price, they might have concluded it was worthwhile as long as the assassination had seeded.


    "Captain Wu." Gu Ji turned to Wu Xiong, his voice frosty, "Immediately send a messenger to ry this incident back to Li City. Notify the county mayor and the general of defense. Request the city guard and the Southdream Army to mobilize at once."


    "Simultaneously, the Inspection Bureau must be activated. A thorough investigation is necessary. Those who deserve punishment must be captured, and those who pose a threat must be eliminated! The Wingborne Sect has dared provoke us. We shall teach them that Li City belongs to the Cloudstride Sect," Gu Ji dered coldly.


    In Li City, the authority of the Cloudstride Sect was equivalent to the mandate of the heavens. If encircled by both the city guard and the Southdream Army, even first-rate Adepts were likely to be defeated!


    "Yes." Wu Xiong immediately responded. Without wasting any time, he selected two guards, one of which was a hundred-soldier captain, while the other was a regr soldier. Both of them prepared to return to Li City to eliminate the other ambush teams sent by the Wingborne Sect.


    "Hold on a moment," Wu Yuan called out just as the two guards were about to mount their horses. He grabbed a stack of silver notes from the pile on the ground and handed it to them.


    "Young Master." Wu Xiong couldn''t help but decline, "The recent ambush was due to our negligence. We''ve put you in danger." The other guards chimed in, insisting they did not deserve the silver notes.


    "This is your deserved share!" Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Of the silver notes collected from the enemies, half will go to Uncle Ji, and the other half will be distributed amongst the guard team."


    "Young Master, you should keep these silver notes," Gu Ji added. "We are on a sect mission. Once our tasks are aplished, we will earn contribution points."


    "Uncle Ji, you promised not to interfere with my affairs." Wu Yuan smiled.


    Gu Ji couldn''t find the words to refute him.


    Shortly after, Wu Yuan divided up therge pile of silver notes on the ground and handed them to Gu Ji and the dozen guards.


    "Thest portion, which is also thergest share, will be allocated to the family of the fallen soldier." Wu Yuan sighed softly, handing the stack of silver notes to the hundred-soldier captain about to depart.


    At that moment, the gazes of the dozen guards toward Wu Yuan underwent a profound change.


    "Wang Heng thanks Young Master on his behalf." The hundred-soldier captain known as Wang Heng expressed his heartfelt gratitude with a solemn bow.


    "Thank you, Young Master." The sentiment was echoed by the ten or so guards. They were not fools; they could see that Wu Yuan''s gestures were an attempt to win their favor. And yet, their hearts were genuinely touched. Wu Yuan wasn''t offering empty words; he was using actual gold and silver to forge a connection.


    These soldiers, especially the hundred-soldier captains, had seen far too many officials and generals who were ''brothers in words, but greedy in actions''. They did not value verbal kindness, but tangible benefits.


    Wu Xiong instructed another hundred-soldier captain and amon soldier to remain in the dense forest, guarding the battlefield until a team from Li City arrived to clean it up.


    The thirteen armor-piercing crossbows alone were worth a fortune, and destroying them would be a waste.


    "Move out!" Wu Xiongmanded. Immediately, Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, and eleven guards swiftly mounted their horses. Their bodies were still stained with fresh blood as they set off for Greendragon Bank.


    ...


    The party did not spare their horses'' energy, traveling swiftly along the official route.


    "Young Master, are you still pondering over the events just now?" Gu Ji skillfully rode alongside Wu Yuan.


    "I am." Wu Yuan replied.


    "Very few people are aware of Young Master''s true level of talent. If we trace back the clues one by one, we will eventually find the culprit who leaked the information." Gu Ji said, "Young Master need not worry too much, the sect has its ways."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his mind nevertheless continuously analyzing the event.


    Who would have leaked the news? Wu Yuan did not have much understanding of the upper echelons of the sect, so he temporarily put that aside and focused on the few individuals he did know.


    Gao Yu? Huan Xinyan? The likelihood was extremely slim! The remaining suspects were none other than County Mayor Jiang Dongque, Headmaster Zhang Da, and the ten or so instructors of the martial academy. Any one of them could potentially be the source of the leak.


    But in Wu Yuan''s mind, the prime suspect remained the general of defense, Xu Shouyi. That man had ample motive!


    <i>Moreover, the failed assassination attempt suggests that I have a powerful protector. If he puts the pieces together, he might deduce that I possess extraordinary potential. Otherwise, why would the sect send an expert to protect me?</i>


    It was a sound line of reasoning.


    Did Xu Shouyi leak the information? To Wu Yuan, it actually mattered little, for he had already made up his mind: to seek an opportunity to kill Xu Shouyi!


    Within the span of an hour, Wu Yuan and hispanions arrived at Greendragon Bank and exchanged duties with the stationed city guard. They swiftly washed away the bloodstains from their bodies and changed into fresh attire. Then, the group boarded therge boat that had been prepared in advance, raised the sail, and set off into the Southdragon River!


    At the same time, the two guards responsible for delivering the message finally arrived at Li City, They promptly ryed the news to the mayor''s faction and the general of defense''s faction.


    "What? Wu Yuan was targeted for assassination by the Wingborne Sect?"


    "They even employed armor-piercing crossbows?"


    "Not only were they targeting his group, but there were also three other ambush teams on different routes?" Both Jiang Dongque and Xu Shouyi were taken aback.


    Less than a quarter of an hourter, another piece of news arrived. The decoy team had fallen victim to a sudden assault along a deserted stretch of the Southdragon River. They suffered aplete annihtion, down to thest man!


    As news of the massacre broke, a tremor ran through the upper echelons of Li City.


    "Search! Root out everyst undercover agent of the Wingborne Sect. I don��t care if you have to turn Li City upside-down. Leave none alive!" Jiang Dongque bellowed furiously.


    Given the magnitude of the incident, failure to deal with the matter properly would lead to dire consequences for him, the county mayor. His only source offort was the knowledge that Wu Yuan had managed to escape unscathed.


    When Jiang Dongque and the county magistrate arrived at the Meandering Forest Gorge, apanied by a contingent of city guards, the sight that greeted them left them utterly dumbfounded. The battlefield was drenched in blood, a testament to the ferocity of the conflict that had taken ce. How could Wu Yuan''s group,posed of a mere ten third-rate Adepts, have emerged victorious with only one casualty?


    On the other hand, Xu Shouyimanded the army of defense with grave seriousness, "Deploy all soldiers. Cooperate with the mayor''s faction to hunt down the spies of the Wingborne Sect! Stay vignt." With these orders, 600 soldiers from the Southdream Army sprung into action.


    <i>To assassinate Wu Yuan, the Wingborne Sect certainly kicked up quite a fuss. s, Wu Yuan managed to slip through their grasp.</i>


    In the blink of an eye, Li City was thrown into a state of chaos, as every avable resource was marshaled to both evade me and quell the brewing storm.


    Not only were the Wingborne Sect''s spies rooted out, but the relentless investigation by the Cloudstride Sect also exposed unfortunate informants from other factions, who were swiftly dealt with.


    ...


    As twilight approached, a towering mountain stood defiantly 300 li away from Li City. The Southdragon River, twisting and turning, formed a shape resembling the Chinese character ''��'' as it wound its way around the mountain.


    Hidden behind the mountain, several wooden huts were constructed. Outside the huts, a flock of majestic birds, their feathers a rich, earthen gold, blended seamlessly with their natural surroundings. Diligent birdkeepers attended to them with meticulous care.


    Thergest of the huts was furnished simply and upied by eight or nine stern-faced men. Among them, a lean man spoke in hushed tones, "Protectorate, all the Skyshade Birds have returned. Various teams have also brought back news."


    "Team one, havingpleted their assassination mission, found themselves pursued by experts from the Cloudstride Sect. Presently, they remain in hiding, and their situation is uncertain."


    "Teams three and four managed to shake off the Cloudstride Sect, but not without suffering significant losses. They are now on the run."


    "We anticipate a devastating blow to our intelligencework within Li City. Recovery within three to five years seems unlikely."


    "We can confirm that team two ambushed the target group, but were ultimately wiped out. They seem to have encountered a first-rate Adept," the lean man solemnly reported, "The target boarded a boat at the Greendragon Bank and is currently sailing down the river. At their current pace, they will reach our location in another two hours."


    Afterpleting his report, all eyes turned toward the short-haired youth in the brocade robe, emanating an air of wealth and aggression, seated at the head of the room.


    "Our sacrifices have indeed been great," the short-haired youth''s voice carried a gentle tone, resonating within the hut��s wooden confines. "However, there is indeed a first-rate Adept protecting that youngster Wu Yuan, which matches the information provided by Ninedragon Peaks."


    "It was worth it for the sect to take a gamble and send us here. He just joined the sect at fourteen years old, yet has a first-rate Adept protecting him. Does this Wu Yuan really have the potential to be a Grandmaster?" The short-haired young man shook his head slightly.


    Something did not add up.


    "Regardless, if we can eliminate Wu Yuan, the price paid will be worthwhile," the short-haired youth''s gaze swept across the room, "But if we fail in this task, all the resources we have invested in gathering information will have been for naught."


    "I hope no one here will get cold feet."


    "Yes." A solemn chorus of agreement filled the room. All of them understood the dangers their mission entailed.


    The short-haired youth nodded in satisfaction.


    "Let us depart! When Wu Yuan''s boat arrives, we shallmence the surprise assault."


    The group filed out in a single line. Under the fading light of dusk, they made their way to the shore concealed behind the mountain, where a fleet of small boats was prepared in advance.


    ...


    Night descended.


    Arge boat sailed on the wide river. Apart from the lower deck, there were two more floors on the boat. Wu Yuan resided in the meditation room on the second floor, the safest chamber on the vessel, while Gu Ji stood watch in the adjacent outer room. The eleven soldiers either patrolled the boat or supervised several crew members to ensure they were not cking off.


    <i>Within the meditation room</i>.


    <i>The blood-red mist surrounding the ck pagoda is truly bizarre and miraculous. It can fundamentally improve the body''s potential and guide its evolution towards the perfect form.</i>


    In recent days, his focus had been primarily split between Visualizing the ck pagoda to strengthen his spirit and contemting the changes urring within his body. The more he pondered, the more miraculous the blood-red mist seemed.


    In just a few days, the spiritual liquid was almost depleted, and his single-arm strength had skyrocketed by 2000 catties��an extraordinary pace of growth.


    <i>It''s a pity that the blood-red mist is now too sparse to be absorbed any further.</i>


    If quantity wasn''t an issue, how close could he get to the perfect body?


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s ears moved slightly as a trace of killing intent shed within his eyes. <i>Again? It never ends. </i>


    Wu Yuan didn''t have to wait long.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The once-calm surface of the water surrounding therge boat erupted. Figures wielding weapons emerged from its depths and brazenly stormed the deck!


    It was another fierce ambush, showing the urgency of the assassins, and also their confidence in aplishing their mission!


    "Enemy attack!�� Battle cries echoed throughout the boat as the assassins and the defenders shed fiercely.


    Amid the turmoil, Gu Ji alone held his ground, maintaining his vignt presence in the outer room on the second floor.


    In a sudden gust of wind, a radiant sword light pierced through the dim light. The swift and elusive strike erupted through the second-floor window towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>ng! </i>A blinding saber ray blocked the sword. Thebatants swiftly separated, creating a cautious distance between them.


    Gu Ji had joined the fray.


    "Young Master, be careful, it''s a first-rate Adept!" Gu Ji''s voice was solemn as he stared intensely at the unexpected arrival.

 Chapter 56: Throwing Knife!

    <h4>Chapter 56: Throwing Knife! </h4>


    <i>A first-rate Adept?</i> A trace of ��panic�� flickered across Wu Yuan''s face, but he didn''t stay still. With a somersault, he rolled to a corner of the room. He had long foreseen the approaching danger. If Gu Ji proved unable to hold them off, then he would step in.


    <i>An assassin?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes skimmed the darkness. In the dim lighting, he made out the figure of the assassin who mistakenly thought himself well concealed.


    The figure was tall and armed with a long sword. His fair palm gripped the hilt while a ck cloth partially concealed his face, revealing a pair of murderous eyes.


    Just as Wu Yuan dodged the attack, Gu Ji barged into the room.


    "Die!" With a sudden motion, Gu Ji''s saber unleashed a flurry of de rays, enveloping the swordsman from every direction.


    No words were exchanged, nor were any questions asked.


    One was a protector, the other an assassin. The moment their gazes met, they didn��t hold anything back, fighting with their lives on the line.


    This was the norm. Only those who survived had the privilege of showing off.


    As sword shed against saber, sparks ignited the air as steel rang. The youth exerted all his effort to defend himself, retreating little by little. A trace of shock flickered in his eyes.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> The full-force collision between two first-rate Adepts employing Power Surge resulted in a torrential sh, generating a force of over 100,000 catties. Windows shattered, doors splintered, floors trembled, and wooden fragments scattered through the air.


    Realizing his initial strike had missed, Gu Ji abruptly brandished a shorter de in his left hand. It was a foot shorter than his other saber.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> With dual sabers in hand, Gu Ji''s aura transformed once again. Now, his initial saber technique, which once bnced both offense and defense, had shifted entirely towards offense. Each swipe of his saber was swiftly followed by another, each strike faster than thest, like rivulets of silvery light cascading toward the youth.


    The sinister youth found himself pushed into a disadvantageous position, forced to retreat incessantly as splintered wood flew everywhere. In the blink of an eye, he retreated through two rooms.


    Suddenly, Gu Ji��s movements surged dramatically, leaving the sinister youth no chance to evade. A deep gash materialized on his abdomen, causing blood to spill out.


    "Die!" Gu Ji''s eyes remained cold, devoid of any hint of joy or sorrow.


    The youth''s heart palpitated wildly as he looked into his opponent''s emotionless eyes. This man wasn��t just a first-rate Adept, he was nearly a Savant expert!


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect actually sent such an expert to protect him? If this continues, my life might end here today. </i>The youth gritted his teeth, feeling utterly powerless.


    <i>Is this Gu Ji''s true strength?</i> <i>A dual-saber style? The second one appears to be a shorter de? </i>Wu Yuan observed the battle from a corner of the room, his eyes bright with curiosity.


    Mastering the art of the saber was rtively straightforward. As the saying goes: it takes a month to achieve proficiency with the staff, a year with the saber, and a lifetime with the spear!


    However, this saying did not ount for dual sabers. Wielding multiple weapons did not automatically trante to enhancedbat ability. Dual sabers required a higher level of bodily control and coordination of the musculoskeletal system, cing greater demands on the martial artist.


    This was especially so for dual sabers of different lengths. If oneckedpetence, thebined power of both weapons would not match that of a single saber.


    <i>The saber strike that inflicted the abdominal wound earlier must have been imbued with Threefold Power Surge. However, if the explosion of threefold force is not properly controlled, it ces immense strain on the body and can easily expose vulnerabilities in one''s defense.</i>


    Unleashing greater strength did not always equate to superiority. In battle, strength alone did not guarantee victory; agility held equal importance. The crux of the mattery in control. To be truly formidable, strength must be wielded withposure and precision. If control slipped, even the greatest strength was futile.


    <i>In terms of sheer physical strength, I am weaker than both of them. However, if a real fight ensues, I should be able to kill them swiftly. </i>


    Wu Yuan was confident in his ability, which was the reason behind his unppable state of mind throughout the journey. With great strength naturally came confidence.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s ear twitched. His heightened awareness allowed him to gain an overview of the movements within the ship and broadly understand the condition of each guard.


    <i>The situation doesn��t look good!</i> Someone had gotten injured.


    It was clear that Gu Ji possessed the strength to defeat this young opponent, given enough time. However, the enemy held the advantage in the battle taking ce on the ship''s first-level deck. By the time Gu Ji arrived to assist, Wu Xiong and the others would likely have suffered heavy casualties.


    <i>Looks like I''ll have to take some risks.</i>


    He did not have a heart ofpassion that yearned to save the world, but these valiant guards were here for his sake, to protect him on his journey.


    During the earlier assassination attempt at the Meandering Forest Gorge, Wu Yuan refrained from intervening, knowing it was unnecessary and would only expose himself. But now, darkness enveloped them. Furthermore, Gu Ji was entangled with the youth in a fierce battle, while the others were all on the first floor.


    No one would notice him leaving his room.


    Wu Yuan glided out of the wrecked chamber, his movements as ethereal as a specter. He vanished into the shadows, his watchful gaze sweeping over the deck where a fierce battle raged.


    "Kill!" A group of ck-d men, numbering around a dozen, seemed to be gaining the upper hand against Wu Xiong and his allies. These men were well-trained, and armed with shields and sabers. Astonishingly, they were all third-rate Adepts!


    If not for the fact that Wu Xiong��s group was equally battle-hardened and putting up a united front, they might have suffered numerous casualties by now. Nheless, several of them had already been wounded.


    "Hold on! We just have to endure until Senior Ji arrives!" Wu Xiong roared. As third-rate Adepts, their senses were keen, and they could all perceive that Gu Ji held a clear advantage in the duel.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In the chaotic and tumultuous environment, with the river raging around them, no one detected the sound of throwing knives slicing through the air. Such was the swiftness of these des.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Like exploding watermelons, the heads of four of the most ferocious ck-d men were instantly obliterated, their lives snuffed out in an instant!


    "What?" The remaining assassins were all taken aback. Even Wu Xiong and his guards were momentarily stunned.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Once again, streaks of light pierced through the darkness, hurtling towards the other assants.


    This time, the group of assassins were on high alert and instantly noticed the knives. But the throwing knives moved too swiftly, leaving no time for the targets to react. As they attempted to block with their sabers, it was already toote��the knives had found their mark.


    A thunderous sound followed as two skulls exploded into fragments. While two others managed to evade the attack, one wasn''t as fortunate. Half his neck was sliced open, blood spurting wildly from the wound. The final man''s arm was shed, the impact threatening to shatter his entire limb.


    Out of the thirteen figures d in ck, seven met their demise, and one was gravely wounded. It all happened in an instant.


    ��An expert!��


    ��Is a stealth weapons expert assisting us? Has the sect sent another top-notch fighter in secret?��


    "Who could it be?" Wu Xiong and his men were both shocked and ted. They instinctively scanned the darkness, hoping to catch a glimpse of their savior.


    But was anyone truly there?


    ��Attack!�� Wu Xiong bellowed. With a physique as robust as a bear, he brandished two short spears, "An expert from the sect hase to suppress them, annihte them all!"


    ��Attack!��


    ��Attack!�� The guards felt a renewed surge of confidence. Like a relentless tide, they descended upon the remaining figures in ck.


    On the other hand, the ck-d assassins peered fearfully into the shadows of the boat, feeling as though they were fighting with their hands tied. With such a stealth weapons expert hiding in the darkness, who would dare let their guard down?


    In an instant, the tables turned. The group of assassins found themselves plunged into despair, at aplete disadvantage.


    <i>An expert in stealth weaponry?</i> Though the two first-rate Adepts were fighting an all-out battle, they remained attentive to the other battle. Naturally, they could perceive the shift in the situation on the deck. However, their thoughts were drastically different.


    <i>The sect even sent an expert in stealth weapons without my knowledge? Throughout the journey, even I waspletely unaware of their presence. The sect must truly value Wu Yuan.</i>


    Not everyone could master the art of stealth weapons.


    A thought shed through Gu Ji''s mind and he bellowed, "Haha, you riffraff of the Wingborne Sect. Better watch your step!"


    "Hmph!" The youth''s icy gaze remained unfazed. But deep inside, his heart sank into the depths of despair.


    He knew he was outmatched by Gu Ji, barely able to hold him off. And now, a mysterious expert in stealth weapons had joined the fray, a veritable ''dragon whose head was seen but tail was not'' [1]. Who knew when or where this hidden opponent would strike from? The majority of his subordinates had already fallen victim to this hidden expert''s deadly skills. With a heavy heart, he acknowledged the failure of their mission.


    <i>Flee! </i>The youth made his decision without hesitation. Blocking Gu Ji''s saber with a swift stroke of his own sword, he stomped a hole into a floorboard beneath him. Then, he jumped through the gap into a room on the first floor.


    The youth avoided escaping directly from the second floor as he would have nowhere to draw strength from once he was in mid-air. If a stealth weapon attacked him then, he would be awaiting death like a sitting duck.


    "You think you can escape?" Gu Ji''s eyes were icy. His body glowed a faint crimson, and his speed increased dramatically, surpassing the youth by a fair margin. He jumped through the hole in the floorboard in pursuit.


    <i>Swish! </i>Gu Ji''s dual des shed through the air like a violent storm, de rays shing like streaks of lightning.


    <i>ng!</i> The youth desperately blocked Gu Ji''s deadly barrage, his face turning red as he strained himself to his limits.


    For a moment, the air was filled with the glint of des and afterimages of swords. The explosive collisions and waves of aftershocks turned the area into a wreckage.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The two first-rate Adepts shattered the wooden panels of the room on the first floor almost simultaneously, stepping onto the open deck. The deck was still a scene of chaos, the battle far from over.


    The moment the youth set foot on the deck, another throwing knife silently materialized.


    <i>Whiz! </i>Before the sound reached his ears, the knife was already in front of him.


    "Argh!" The youth roared in rage. He had maintained a constant vignce against the mysterious stealth weapons expert, allowing him to perceive the sneak attack almost immediately. He desperately swung his long sword, attempting to deflect the throwing knife. However, Gu Ji''s relentless assault made it difficult for him to focus on responding to the throwing knife. By the time he noticed, it was already somewhat toote.


    The youth swung his long sword with all his might, the tip of the sword barely brushing past the throwing knife, missing by only a hair��s breadth.


    Among experts, life or death was often determined by such a narrow margin.


    The throwing knife sliced through his unprotected skull, sending his head soaring as blood sprayed into the air. The youth was dead!


    Even in death, the youth couldn''tprehend why the Cloudstride Sect attached such importance to Wu Yuan that they would dispatch two top-tier Adepts to protect him.


    "Kill!" Gu Ji''s eyes flickered upon witnessing the youth''s demise. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around and advanced toward the three ck-clothed men who continued to put up a desperate resistance. "Leave one alive!" hemanded.


    ...


    Three out of four rooms on the second floor of the boat had been decimated in the battle. After Wu Yuan expertly killed the youth with a well-aimed throwing knife, he quietly withdrew to the sole remaining intact chamber.


    <i>ck Pagoda, blood-red mist!</i> Wu Yuan showed no joy over the death of his enemy, instead a hint of shock emerged on his face.


    At this very moment, his awareness converged in the upper dantian lobe. Here, he sensed a copious amount of blood-red mist billowing forth from the towering ck pagoda''s massive gates and windows.


    Thickyers of this crimson mist encircled the ck pagoda!


    1. a metaphor for extremely powerful people whose whereabouts remain a mystery ?

 Chapter 57: Divine Weapon Token

    <h4>Chapter 57: Divine Weapon Token</h4>


    The carnage on the first floor had yet to subside, but with the death of the youth and the arrival of Gu Ji, the remaining assassins were hardly a concern. Forget threatening Wu Yuan, they couldn''t even make it to the second floor.


    Inside the room on the second floor, a fraction of Wu Yuan''s consciousness remained alert to his surroundings, while the majority was focused on the ck pagoda within his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>This blood-red mist is nothing short of extraordinary and can be aptly called Evolution Mist. It optimizes the human genome, raising the limit of the body''s potential.</i> Wu Yuan vividly recalled the otherworldly experience he had undergone after consuming the Soul Condensing Pill.


    The blood-red mist didn''t directly bolster physical strength but rather optimized and transformed his body at the gic level. After getting an initial glimpse of the ck pagoda, his subsequent attempts to Visualize it and cultivate his soul further affirmed Wu Yuan''s hypothesis. If not for the increase in his body''s potential, how could Wu Yuan''s physical strength have increased by thousands of catties in just ten days?


    In his spare time over thest few days, Wu Yuan had been grappling with how to obtain more blood-red mist from the ck pagoda, but to no avail. After all, his soul was still too weak. Although he had unlocked his upper dantian lobe, he was only able to send his consciousness in. He was unable to manipte the ck pagoda or spend extended periods Visualizing it. How could he unravel the secrets concealed within it?


    But now, Wu Yuan finally gained some insight into how this blood-red mist was generated. Was it the byproduct of ughter?


    <i>Mm? What''s this? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise. As the amount of blood-red mist surrounding the ck pagoda increased, a small portion detached itself from the structure, gushing out from his upper dantian lobe.


    A wisp of mist swiftly infiltrated Wu Yuan''s middle and lower dantian lobes, merging seamlessly into his limbs and bones, eradicating any trace of fatigue. Simultaneously, a flicker of murderous intent welled up from the depths of Wu Yuan''s heart.


    <i>Could it be? Back at the Vicious Tiger Gang''s stronghold, I felt my weariness dissipate with every thug I killed. Was it due to this blood-red mist?</i>


    <i>At that time, I hadn''t opened the upper dantian lobe. It should be simr to what''s happening now, where a wisp of mist may not be potent enough to enhance the body''s potential, but it can certainly alleviate the fatigue of my musculoskeletal system. </i>Wu Yuan''s mind churned as he made several spections.


    <i>Pull.</i> Wu Yuanmanded his soul to make contact with the blood-red mist surrounding the ck pagoda.


    It was effortless. Threads of blood-red mist, responding to Wu Yuan''s mental directive, promptly departed from the upper dantian lobe and gradually merged into his musculoskeletal system. In an instant, Wu Yuan felt peculiar transformations within his body, apanied by a tingling sensation coursing through his muscles and bones!


    This was the elevation of potential at the essential level, a mystical evolution! Once again, he witnessed it taking ce.


    <i>Truly... incredible. </i>


    He was bbergasted. All his conjectures were now confirmed.


    <i>Visualizing the ck pagoda allows me to fortify my soul. And after taking lives, the ck pagoda generates a blood-red mist. A small amount of this mist can dispel physical weariness, while a greater quantity can even propel gic evolution, progressing my body towards the perfect martial body.</i>


    The function of this ck pagoda and the supernatural nature of this blood-red mist surpassed his wildest imagination!


    <i>In my past life, the Human Federation excavated the ck pagoda from ancient ruins and rekindled humanity��s interest in martial arts... I touched the ck pagoda. Later, just when I was on the cusp of breaking through to new heights, I transmigrated... These urrences are likely no mere coincidences.</i> Wu Yuan took a deep breath, his sixth sense telling him there was a great secret behind all this.


    In his past life, he had never taken theories of immortals and gods seriously. After all, the so-called remnants of immortals and mythological tales had always only ever existed in ancient tomes and legends. He had never seen them with his own eyes. But now?


    <i>Is it a mere coincidence that the ck pagoda I once witnessed in my past life is identical to the one residing in my upper dantian lobe? Or is there a greater force at y here?</i>


    <i>Can the wonders of this ck pagoda be deciphered through the lenses of martial arts and scientific understanding? </i>


    <i>The ancient scriptures speak of devilish cultivation methods that advocate the consumption of human blood to bolster one''s power. This ck pagoda, though eerie in appearance, does not seem to align with these devilish teachings!</i>


    Wu Yuan was certain that the corpses of those he had in showed no anomalies. As for the act of devouring souls, Wu Yuan was unable to determine whether such a thing had happened.


    <i>Gao Yu mentioned the existence of relics left behind by immortals. Though his exnation was vague, his use of the term ''immortal'' carries significant weight. Perhaps, immortals and gods truly do walk among us. </i>


    It was impossible to exin his transmigration and the ck pagoda without discussing immortals and gods.


    <i>I am currently unable to fathom the secrets of the ck pagoda due to myck of power.</i>


    <i>The world of the Middle Land is vast and profound. Its inhabitants have a long-standing history of martial arts, and with the power of their genes, their potential far exceeds the denizens of my previous world. Beyond the Land Rankings lies the Heavenly Rankings!</i>


    Wu Yuan had always been ambitious. How powerful were the Heavenly Rankers? Scant records existed, but Wu Yuan had a burning desire to reach that level someday.


    <i>The genome of humans from the Middle Land is very strong. Drawing from my past life��s experience, I have incorporated the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique and the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique into my training regimen, resulting in a tremendous surge in my strength. </i>


    <i>And now, I have this blood-red mist. If I obtain a continuous supply of it, allowing me to attain a truly perfect human body, how terrifying would my physical constitution be?</i>


    A single-arm strength of 300,000-400,000 catties? No, it was far more than that, beyond imagination! Even Wu Yuan couldn''t predict the heights of such strength!


    <i>However, I must not sumb to arrogance and lose myself. I must continue to tread with caution while I cultivate.</i> Wu Yuan quicklyposed himself.


    Firstly, were there any links between the blood-red mist and the act of ying enemies? Secondly, how exactly was the blood-red mist created?


    Was the blood-red mist contained within the ck pagoda, only revealing itself in response to his act of killing the enemy as a reward? If the blood-red mist was indeed rted to murder, then did its manifestation depend on the quantity of foes, or did it ount for their strength? These were all things that Wu Yuan had to understand in time.


    <i>ck pagoda.</i> Studying the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan noticed that the release of blood-red mist had gradually subsided, enveloping the pagoda in a swirling ring. With a mere thought, he could draw these swirling mists out of his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>The existence of the ck pagoda, it seems to be encouraging me to fight? To ughter?</i> Wu Yuan fell into deep thought.


    Deep down, he relished the thrill of battle! However, would he mindlessly butcher the weak without consideration, indulging in needless bloodshed just to grow stronger? Wu Yuan knew he could not!


    <i>I am no saint, harboring no aspirations to save the world. But neither am I a devil! I practice martial arts for strength, to pursue the ultimate limits of human biology. It''s not just for the sake of power! </i>


    A martial artist needed obsessions, but also a moral bottom line! Without obsession, one could not dedicate oneself to the martial path day after day for decades. Without a moral bottom line, one would eventually lose oneself to infinite desires.


    Wu Yuan only attempted to draw the surging mist away from the ck pagoda, but refrained from cultivating. The current circumstances did not permit it.


    "Young Master, all enemies have been eradicated." Gu Ji, carrying his saber, arrived at the only intact room on the second level. Apanying him was Wu Xiong.


    Wu Yuan opened the door and stepped forward. A trace of fear lingered on his face, yet his demeanor had regained itsposure. Taking steady steps, he bowed respectfully, "I am grateful, Uncle Ji, and Uncle Wu, for your assistance."


    Gu Ji and Wu Xiong couldn''t help but admire Wu Yuan. They didn''t belittle the ''fear'' Wu Yuan had disyed in the past two days. In their view, Wu Yuan was just a fourteen-year-old youth who had never experienced the horrors of battle. The fact that he could adapt so swiftly spoke volumes of his courage. An ordinary person would have fled long ago, consumed by terror.


    "It��s no trouble, protecting Young Master is our duty," Gu Ji said softly.


    "Young Master, the remaining enemies have all been eliminated," Wu Xiong took over, "However, the interrogation doesn''t look promising. This group of assassins was exceptionally ruthless. The only one that Mr. Ji managed to capture alive bit into a poison pill andmitted suicide."


    "A sacrificial warrior?" Wu Yuan eximed, taken aback.


    The difficulty of raising a sacrificial warrior could not bepared to merely raising a powerful disciple. Survival was an instinct ingrained in all creatures. Hence, sacrificial warriors were precious, and not to be easily expended.


    "They may not all be sacrificial warriors. Perhaps the one I captured happened to be one," Gu Ji said in a low voice, "Or perhaps he chose suicide, fearing torture and knowing that death was inevitable."


    Wu Yuan and Wu Xiong nodded in agreement. That made sense. Once captured alive, such assassins were seldom allowed to live. After extracting information through interrogation, they were typically executed.


    "Nevertheless, we did manage to glean some clues from them, particrly from the body of the first-rate Adept," Wu Xiong continued, "It appears that they received prior intelligence, subsequently dispatching experts from the Wingborne Sect''s territory to Li County in batches. They hadin in wait, seeking an opportunity to assassinate you, Young Master."


    Li City sat within the hearnd of the Cloudstride Sect''s territory. However, given that the Cloudstride Sect only had authority over three provinces andcked firm control over rural areas, it wouldn��t have been overly challenging for the Wingborne Sect to quietly send in teams of experts, especially if no expense was spared.


    "They received prior intelligence?" Wu Yuan mused, seizing the crux of the matter.


    "Young Master, once we arrive at Southdream City, I shall inform our sect and strive to get to the bottom of this matter," Gu Ji dered.


    Wu Yuan gave a nod of agreement. Such was the advantage of having a powerful faction at one��s back. Even the strongest martial artist would feel powerless when facing such circumstances alone.


    "Young Master, if the Wingborne Sect managed to receive the intelligence and carry out an assassination, other powers such as Great Jin may also take action," Gu Ji stated gravely. "Our original path is no longer safe. To add to that, the ship is severely damaged. As soon as we reach the next ferry port, we will go ashore. There is no need to report to the local authorities. We can procure horses directly from the checkpoint and continue our journey ovend."


    "Though it may be more exhausting, it is considerably safer," Gu Ji concluded.


    Traveling by water was convenient and swift, but there were only a few routes, which made it easy for enemies toy ambushes and carry out assassinations. By going ovend, the choice of routes was plentiful.


    "Very well. Uncle Ji, I will follow your arrangements," Wu Yuan concurred.


    Gu Ji cast a brief nce at Wu Xiong.


    "Young Master, Senior Ji, I will head down to check on the cleaning situation in the cabin," Wu Xiong said tactfully, bowed, and left the second floor. Only Gu Ji and Wu Yuan remained in the room.


    "Young Master, may we have the honor of meeting the stealth weapons expert who aided us in the fight?" Gu Ji asked in a low voice.


    "An expert in stealth weapons? Was such a person present?" Wu Yuan appeared genuinely surprised. "I''ve been hiding in my room the whole time and had no knowledge of this."


    Gu Ji was taken aback. Observing Wu Yuan''s expression, which did not seem to be feigned, he exined, "An expert in stealth weapons aided us just now, which enabled us to swiftly eliminate the first-rate Adept. Young Master, are you truly unaware of their presence?"


    "I had no idea," Wu Yuan shook his head, lookingpletely shocked. "Did the sect arrange for other experts to protect me during this journey?"


    At this, Gu Ji became even more puzzled. He shook his head, "Young Master, it seems that the hall master or perhaps the sect has other arrangements. This stealth weapons expert may not be willing to reveal themselves, but with their protection, you''ll be even safer.��


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded, seemingly more at ease.


    "Right." Gu Ji flipped his palm, "While tending to the aftermath of the battle, we retrieved a number of items. With Young Master''s character, you might not care for the other objects, but I believe this one will be useful to you."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan looked down. Resting in Gu Ji''s palm was a palm-sized rectangr metal token. It was faint blue and very thin, bearing the engraving of a sharp sword on its face. The words ''Divine Weapon'' were inscribed on it.


    "Divine Weapon Token?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.

 Chapter 58: Grant Me Freedom

    <h4>Chapter 58: Grant Me Freedom</h4>


    "Is Young Master familiar with the Divine Weapon Token?" Gu Ji asked.


    "I once browsed through the ''Divine Weapon Records of the Jiang Continent'' at the county martial academy, so I have some understanding of divine weapons," Wu Yuan replied, "I''ve heard of the Divine Weapon Token, but this is my first time seeing one."


    "Young Master, your knowledge is impressive," Gu Ji praised.


    "Ie from a modest background. My elders were unable to guide me and I''m too young to explore the world, so I could only broaden my horizons through literature," Wu Yuan exined with a smile.


    Gu Ji nodded approvingly, his impression of Wu Yuan growing increasingly positive. "Please take a look, Young Master. This token is a Divine Weapon Token of the Sta Consortium," Gu Ji flipped the token over. Etched onto the back was the word ''Sta''. Products from Sta Consortium were sure to be of top quality.


    "With the Divine Weapon Token, one can order a divine weapon of corresponding grade from the Sta Consortium," Gu Ji continued, "This specific token is a third-grade Divine Weapon Token. Young Master, please keep it. In the future, when you visit a province-level Sta Consortium, you can exchange it for a third-grade divine weapon that suits you." Gu Ji spoke confidently, evidently well-versed in such matters.


    "Each Divine Weapon Token is ssified by grade?" Wu Yuan seemed a bit surprised.


    "Indeed," Gu Ji replied, "The third-grade Divine Weapon Token is the mostmon, and third-grade divine weapons are usually wielded by Savant experts. Even if a first-rate Adept possesses a divine weapon, they will not reveal it unless necessary. After all, a first-rate Adept isn��t the strongest existence out there. Once the news spreads, it will invite trouble from those seeking to steal it."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Harboring a precious gem was a great way to invite trouble. This principle was universally acknowledged.


    Aside from throwing knives, third-grade divine weapons were mostly valued at more than 100,000 silver taels. At most, they could cost up to a few hundred thousand silver taels.


    This sum of silver taels might not seem like much to a first-rate Adept. However, one must realize that this was just a single weapon!


    One had to understand even for formidable martial arts experts, it was extremely difficult to rob arge family of a few hundred thousand silver taels. Properties,nds, and mines were immovable, and grains and fabrics were not portable, making them very troublesome to liquidate. But seizing a single divine weapon was equivalent to acquiring a few hundred thousand silver taels. It was enough to stir the hearts of any greedy Savant expert.


    Indeed, even though many first-rate Adepts establishedrge families and amassed vast riches, they seldom spent a fortune on forging divine weapons. To a first-rate Adept, there was no qualitative difference between fourth-grade superior weapons and third-grade divine weapons. Both were durable enough to withstand their explosive strength.


    "Can this Divine Weapon Token be exchanged at the Sta Consortium in Li City?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "No," Gu Ji shook his head, "Although the Sta Consortium is a mighty force that ordinary experts are hesitant to provoke, a county-level branch has, at best, the protection of a second-rate Adept, which is insufficient to ensure the security of divine weapons."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. "In that case, a second-grade Divine Weapon Token cannot be exchanged at the Sta Consortium in the Southdream Province?"


    "Correct!" Gu Jiughed, "For a second-grade Divine Weapon Token, you must go to one of the fifteen continent-level branches of the Sta Consortium to exchange it!"


    "How about a first-grade Divine Weapon Token?"


    "You will have to visit the Sta Consortium''s main tower in the Dong Continent," Gu Ji said. "However, a first-grade Divine Weapon Token is just a legend, and no one has ever heard of anyone owning one."


    "A first-grade divine weapon is immensely valuable, every one of their owners is on the Land Rankings. Even for a powerful empire like Great Jin, it''s no simple task to craft a first-grade divine weapon," Gu Ji sighed.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively. This knowledge was not readily avable in most texts.


    "Do we have a first-grade divine weapon in our Cloudstride Sect?" Wu Yuan casually asked out of curiosity.


    "We do!�� Gu Ji confirmed, ��It is no secret, as the news has already spread far and wide. One of our sect''s two hierarchs, The Rain Hierarch, wields the Moontide Sword. With the might of this divine weapon, The Rain Hierarch is ranked among the top 30 on the Land Rankings!"


    "She is our sect''s revered ancestor, and also the number one Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent." Gu Ji added. "Within the Jiang Continent, only the Baijiang King can confront The Rain Hierarch directly and remain undefeated."


    The Rain Hierarch? Number one in the Jiang Continent? Ranked in the top 30 of the Land Rankings? The gleam in Wu Yuan''s eyes intensified as he absorbed every word. Such information was impossible to acquire within Li City.


    This was the real world of martial arts experts! As Wu Yuan expanded his horizons, the vastness of the Middle Land far surpassed his initial expectations.


    "Uncle Ji, I don''t know when I''ll be able to exchange this third-grade Divine Weapon Token." Wu Yuan shook his head, "It would be better for you to keep it."


    "Me? I have no need for it!" Gu Ji shook his head, "A divine weapon is not of much use to me right now. When I grow more powerful, I have ways to acquire one."


    "Moreover, I''m not expecting you to exchange it for a divine weapon many yearster." Gu Ji smiled.


    "Why is that?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "This Divine Weapon Token is affiliated with the Sta Consortium, and it is considered a valuable asset. The sect is willing to purchase it for 100,000 contribution points. After you join, you may sell it to the sect. Although this exchange may result in a slight loss, it can greatly expedite your development." Gu Ji spoke with utmost seriousness.


    "100,000 contribution points?" Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly. This was no small gift. In the training n promised by Gao Yu, the finance hall would provide him with 50,000 sect contribution points a year. This single Divine Weapon Token was worth double that.


    "Uncle Ji, what do you wish for in exchange for such a precious treasure?" Wu Yuan asked softly. He wasn''t naive enough to believe that Gu Ji was willing to give him such a big gift just because he admired his looks.


    "Young Master is forthright, so I won''t beat around the bush either." Gu Ji looked into Wu Yuan��s eyes and said solemnly, "What I desire, is freedom!"


    "Freedom?" Wu Yuan was genuinely surprised and couldn''t help but look deeply at Gu Ji. "Wu Yuan is a bit confused, I hope Uncle Ji can speak candidly."


    "Some matters can only beprehended once you climb to a high position in the sect." Gu Ji said, "When you be the hall master of the Finance Hall or one of the sect hierarchs, I hope you will grant me freedom if I am still alive!"


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan gained some understanding into Gu Ji��s words. Freedom? Logically speaking, was there anywhere in this vast world that a first-rate Adept could not go? Who could bind him?


    Gu Ji appeared modest and silent on the surface, yet seemingly different from the typical sacrificial guard. Perhaps this involved some deeper secrets of the Cloudstride Sect.


    After a moment of contemtion, Wu Yuan solemnly said, "Uncle Ji, I give you my word. If circumstances allow in the future, I will definitely set you free."


    "Very well." A rare smile squeezed itself onto Gu Ji''s face as he ced the Divine Weapon Token on the table nearby.


    "Young Master, I shall take my leave. When the ship docks, I will inform you." Gu Ji slowly exited the room and closed the door, leaving Wu Yuan alone.


    <i>Gu Ji?</i> Wu Yuan gently picked up the token from the table. His powerful soul sensed that Gu Ji was currently seated in the lotus position outside the room. He stroked the token and stored it within his clothing.


    <i>Freedom...if there exists a possibility in the future, there��s no reason why I shouldn��t grant it.</i>


    Bing a hall master or sect hierarch held little allure for Wu Yuan. No one could predict the future. By agreeing to Gu Ji''s request, he stood to gain a priceless treasure, and he saw no reason to relinquish it.


    Doubts of Gu Ji''s loyalty did not gue Wu Yuan''s mind. Why should they? Power bred confidence, and Wu Yuan''s strength reassured him of his decision.


    In the outer chamber, Gu Ji sat cross-legged.


    <i>Exchanging the Divine Weapon Token for a promise is worth it. Even if I held onto it, it would eventually be confiscated by the hall master. By giving it to Wu Yuan, I can at least secure a promise.</i>


    Would Wu Yuan be willing to fulfill it in the future? That would have to wait until Wu Yuan became a Savant expert!


    <i>Ten years? Twenty years? To be regarded so highly by the sect and receive the added protection of another stealth weapons master, Wu Yuan''s potential must be even more terrifying than what has been revealed!</i>


    He understood that the chances of him living to see the day Wu Yuan became a Land Ranker were slim. However, one must never lose hope!


    ...


    As the hours slipped away, the boat carrying Wu Yuan and hispanions finally docked at the nearest port just before dawn. Without dy, everyone disembarked, swiftly mounting their horses at the checkpoint. Taking advantage of the approaching sunrise, they set off on their journey to Southdream City bynd, moving with stealth and covering their tracks.


    Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, Wu Xiong, and the others encountered no further assaults, and by noon on the fourth day of their journey, they finally arrived at Southdream City.


    <i>Over a thousand li.</i> Atop his horse, Wu Yuan fixed his gaze ahead at the massive, sprawling city with its towering city walls stretching tens of li into the distance.


    <i>Southdream City, at longst, we have arrived.</i>

 Chapter 59: Southdream Martial Academy

    <h4>Chapter 59: Southdream Martial Academy</h4>


    "Southdream City is truly huge!" As Wu Yuanid his eyes upon the grandeur of Southdream City, he was filled with genuine admiration. In his previous life, he had witnessed interster metropolises with poptions nearing a billion, but that was the wonder of technology. In the interster era, no one constructed walls nearly 30 meters high, stretching for tens of li! To Wu Yuan, Southdream City was a delightful novelty.


    "Haha, Southdream City boasts a poption in the millions. In the Jiang Continent, very few of the other fifteen provincial cities can rival its grandeur," Wu Xiongughed heartily. "Only Cloudhill City and Ninecaves City can be considered slightlyrger than Southdream. Even on a global scale, Southdream City can still be considered arge city."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod in agreement. During his time at the martial academy, he gained some knowledge about the geography of the world. Each of the thirteen continents was vast and expansive, yet not all boasted a distinct continental city. Though the Jiang Continent was divided into sixteen provinces, itcked a continental city!


    As for Cloudhill City and Ninecaves City, Wu Yuan was well aware of their significance. When the Chu-Jiang Empire first copsed, the Cloudstride Sect swiftly gained control over Hillstride, Cloudhill, Baihu, and Southdream - ensuring that the four provinces remained rtively unscathed by the horrors of war. However, the Battle of Hillstride cost them the Hillstride Province, reducing the Cloudstride Sect''s territory from four provinces to three.


    Cloudhill City, the heart of Cloudhill Province and the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect, naturally surpassed an ordinary provincial city in poption, size, and infrastructure after centuries under the sect��s rule. Ninecaves City, on the other hand, served as the core city of the four provinces under the jurisdiction of Chu Ping, the ruler of the Baijiang Kingdom.


    <i>The Jiang Continent is mostlyprised of t terrain with only a few hills, but manyrge intersecting rivers. Throughout the Middle Land, only the Dong Continent, the Chu Continent, and the Holy Continent can match its prosperity. </i>Wu Yuan sighed to himself.


    The true heart of the thirteen continentsy in the Central ins, which epassed the seven most influential continents.


    "Young Master, let us enter the city," Wu Xiong suggested with a warm smile.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    The group on horseback slowly proceeded along the official route into the city. The bustling pedestrians and traders who caught sight of the character ''Stride'' disyed on their horses all made way for them. In the Cloudstride Sect, the outer sect members wore the character for ''Stride'', and the members of the headquarters wore the character for ''Cloud''.


    As they approached the city gate, an imposing structure that stood over ten meters tall and almost twenty meters wide, the gatekeepers halted their caravan. With meticulous care, they inspected each identity badge before courteously granting them passage.


    Once inside the city, Wu Yuan was met with a vibrant scene. "How prosperous," he eximed as he rode on horseback, his eyes sweeping across the bustling streets. The wide stone-paved road, spanning tens of meters, was immactely clean and organized.


    Rows of shops and buildings lined up, with some towering six to seven stories high. The streets were packed with bustling pedestrians, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. While Li City was prosperous in its own right, it paled inparison to Southdream City, especially when it came to the number of people on the streets.


    Taking in his surroundings, Wu Yuan noticed several formidable martial artists passing by, some even appearing to be Adept experts. There were far more martial experts here than in Li City.


    <i>The books were right. Logically, each county should give rise to several first-rate Adepts, so why are they rarely seen?</i>


    The reason was simple: most first-rate Adepts wouldn''t choose to stay in a county city. These citiescked resources, were isted from outside news, and provided no opportunities to spar with equally skilled peers. The provincial city, being the central hub of a province, attracted a massive amount of resources. Among its poption of millions were numerous first-rate Adepts who had migrated from the surrounding counties. Even Savant experts could be spotted asionally.


    <i>Once I reach the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect, the concentration of strong martial artists will only increase! The same goes for the Holy Capital of Great Jin and those few sacred martial arts sects.</i>


    This was the aggregation effect of the elites!


    The Southdream Martial Academy was only ten li from the south gate which they had entered the city from. However, Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, and Wu Xiong took a detour through a quieter street, spending a quarter of an hour on horseback to reach their destination. The city was simply too crowded.


    Of course, the sights and sounds along the way deepened Wu Yuan''s understanding of the Middle Land. While the architectural and business standards still fell short of the Human Federation in his previous life, they were undoubtedly an improvementpared to the ancient dynasties of the Blue.


    "To my surprise, I haven''t witnessed a scene where a spoiled young noble tries to snatch amoner maiden in the middle of the street," Wu Yuan jokingly remarked. The streets were filled with weaving pedestrians. Through Wu Yuan''s sharp gaze, he witnessed a fair share of thievery and minor offenses, but anything more severe? Not a single one.


    "Haha, the reign of the Chu-Jiang Empire was a chaotic one indeed," Wu Xiong chuckled. "In my youth, there were bandits who brazenly murdered on the city streets in broad daylight, and the officials were powerless to enforce thew."


    "Ever since the Cloudstride Sect took full control, the outskirts of cities remained somewhat chaotic, but within the municipalities, ordinary cavaliers no longer dared tomit crimes wantonly."


    "As for the offspring of powerful ns? Of course, many shady deeds are still conducted in secret," Wu Xiong stated. "But openly defying the sect''sws and rules? That''s seeking death! The Inspection Hall isn''t just for show."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. These past few days, his interactions with Wu Xiong and the others had deepened his understanding of the Cloudstride Sect. The Finance Hall, which held the greatest financial power and controlled major construction projects, was a department that no one was willing to offend. The Inspection Hall, with itsbined duties of patrolling, judging, and detaining, was a department that struck fear into the hearts of all under the Cloudstride Sect!


    "Young Master, look," another guard said, pointing to something in the distance. Wu Yuan and the others turned their gaze in that direction. They had arrived at the Southdream Martial Academy.


    As one of the three tertiary martial academies of the Cloudstride Sect, Southdream Martial Academy housed nearly 10,000 disciples and upied a vast expanse ofnd, at least ten times the size of the Li County Martial Academy. The entrance gates themselves were grand and imposing.


    "All visitors must dismount!" A group of city guards stood at the academy entrance, led by a stalwart man in heavy armor. From the aura he exuded, Wu Yuan estimated him to be a third-rate Adept at minimum. Wu Yuan, Wu Xiong, and Gu Ji dismounted from their horses.


    "Greetings, Captain," Wu Xiong approached, presenting a token. "We are here on orders from the sect. Please inform the academy of our arrival."


    The captain could tell that the group before him was an unusual one. After quickly checking the token, he soon broke into a smile, ��Ah, so you are colleagues from Li City. Wee to Southdream City. Which one of you is Wu Yuan?"


    "I am," Wu Yuan stepped forward.


    "Mm, I will make arrangements for someone to inform them. The martial academy should have prepared for your arrival," the captain said.


    Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    Before long, a woman in blue robes swiftly approached, nked by several men in purple. Even from a distance, it was apparent that disciples along the roads of the martial academy showed great deference to them, bowing as they passed by.


    <i>The woman?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. He could perceive that the woman in blue robes possessed remarkable strength.


    "Wu Yuan, this is Xie Yu, a special instructor of the martial academy, and currently serving as an inspector," the guard captain respectfully introduced the neers.


    "Special instructor?" Wu Yuan wore a look of surprise. Unlike the county martial academy, one had to be a second-rate Adept to take on the position of a formal instructor at the Southdream Martial Academy. As for a special instructor? At least a first-rate Adept!


    "Greetings, Senior Xie!" Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, as did Wu Xiong and the other guards, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.


    "So, you''re Wu Yuan?" Xie Yu''s expression was rather cold, not a hint of a smile on her face.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Very well, your abilities as a special recruit need to be personally verified by the headmaster. However, he is currently away on an external inspection and will return in a few days. For now, you will stay at the Radiant Hall," Xie Yu stated indifferently. "Instructor Chen Qing, you will be responsible for showing Wu Yuan to his amodation, and will act as his host during this period."


    "Understood, Inspector," a middle-aged man responded.


    "Wu Yuan, follow me," the man known as Chen Qing said casually, leading the way toward the martial academy. Wu Yuan followed closely, making his way through the imposing gates of the academy.


    However, his guards, including Wu Xiong, were halted by two purple-robed instructors apanying Xie Yu. Wu Yuan paused mid-step, puzzled by this unexpected development.


    "Senior Xie, we are Wu Yuan''s personal guards, assigned by the sect to ensure his safety," Wu Xiong feltpelled to exin.


    "Sect orders? Since when is a mere hundred-soldier captain of a county qualified to discuss matters of the sect with me?" Xie Yu''s voice dripped with icy disdain.


    This left Wu Xiong and his fellow guards dumbfounded.


    "The Southdream Martial Academy is a key location within the sect, not somewhere any Tom, Dick, or Harry can waltz into. For the next few days, Wu Yuan will be residing at the academy, which will take responsibility for his safety. Once his capabilities have been verified, we will inform you when it is time to retrieve him."


    At this point, even the dozen or so city guards could sense that Xie Yu was intentionally targeting Wu Yuan��s guards. Even if she was following the rules of the sect, was there a need for such rudeness?


    After speaking, Xie Yu seemed ready to turn and walk away, as if she couldn''t be bothered to deal with Wu Xiong and hispanions.


    Wu Xiong and the other soldiers exchanged nces, feeling deeply wronged. Yet, they didn''t dare rebut in the slightest. In terms of status, an inspector from the tertiary martial academy held nearly the same weight as a vice headmaster. Even the county mayor would have to show deference when greeting one. And in terms of power? The woman was a first-rate Adept!


    This scene made Wu Yuan frown slightly. He had no grudges or grievances with this Xie Yu. And logically speaking, even if they didn''t wee his arrival at the Southdream Martial Academy, there was no need for such rude treatment.


    A first-rate Adept? Wu Yuan didn''t care in the slightest. However, for the time being, he couldn''t reveal his true strength. It was now the end of noon break and many students from the martial academy were starting to return from outside the campus. Quite a few people were casting curious nces in their direction, after all, Wu Yuan''s entourage was quite conspicuous.


    "Inspector Xie is here? It looks like she''s here to pick someone up."


    "What''s happening?"


    "No clue!"


    "Those people seem to be city guards from a small county, could they have provoked the inspector?" Murmurs filled the air as the martial academy disciples watched the spectacle.


    "Inspector Xie, am I eligible to enter?" A gentle voice suddenly rang out.


    The voice was not loud, yet it startled several instructors, numerous disciples, and even the city guards. The onlookers turned to the source of the voice in unison. Did someone just dare to challenge Inspector Xie?


    A trace of joy involuntarily seeped out onto the faces of Wu Xiong and his group.


    "What qualifications do you have..." Xie Yu turned around, her expression full of contempt. Just as she was about to reprimand Gu Ji, she saw the token he shed within his palm for a fleeting second.


    Her pupils contracted. The others might not have seen it clearly, but as a first-rate Adept, she knew what it was. In an instant, she understood the other party''s identity.


    Without waiting for Xie Yu to speak again, Gu Ji smiled and repeated himself, "We are ordered by the sect to protect Wu Yuan. Inspector Xie, I wonder if we are qualified to enter the martial academy?"


    All eyes were on Xie Yu, waiting for her response. Her expression shifted several times. After a long moment, she finally announced in a cial voice, "Captain Wu, let them in!" Without wasting another moment, Xie Yu strode away, leaving behind a bewildered group of instructors.


    The guard captain, initially taken aback by Xie Yu''s quick change of heart, quickly regained hisposure and stered a smile on his face. "Pleasee in, everyone," he said, beckoning them forward.


    "Let''s go in." Gu Ji said lightly. Wu Xiong and the others all revealed smiles, swaggering into the martial academy alongside Wu Yuan.


    The scene left the martial academy disciples dumbfounded. The formidable Inspector Xie actually backed down and allowed them to enter?


    "Wu Yuan, if you would be so kind as to follow me," beckoned Instructor Chen Qing, growing increasingly polite in his shock. There was even a hint of ttery in his tone. As he looked at Gu Ji, his eyes were filled with reverence.

 Chapter 60: His Name Is Wu Yuan

    <h4>Chapter 60: His Name Is Wu Yuan</h4>


    After the horses were led away by the academy''s attendants. Wu Yuan, Gu Ji, Wu Xiong, and theirpanions followed Chen Qing, strolling along the main road of the Southdream Martial Academy.


    Rows of ancient trees stretched high into the sky, while grand structures towered above the ground. Expansive training grounds and a countless number of martial disciples came into view, captivating Wu Yuan.


    <i>Now this is a tertiary martial academy!</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the disciples. The weakest among them were at the seventh-grade martial novice level, and a considerable number had reached the level of a martial virtuoso. It was quite remarkable. After all, the oldest disciples of the Southdream Martial Academy were merely twenty years old. However, Wu Yuan had yet to encounter a disciple who disyed the strength of a fifth-grade martial artist.


    Chen Qing took the opportunity to exin the workings of the academy as he led the way. "Those who possess a single-arm strength of 8000 catties and have sessfully passed the practicalbat assessments are eligible to graduate from the Southdream Martial Academy," he revealed. "After graduation, most disciples continue to improve their strength."


    "Among the disciples of our Southdream Martial Academy, 99% will ascend to the level of martial virtuosos. And from each generation, a significant number of Adepts will emerge. In fact, we have even produced a Land Ranker in the past!" Chen Qing shared, brimming with pride.


    "Quite an aplishment," Wu Yuan half-heartedly praised.


    Although the Cloud Martial Hall reigned as the top martial academy in the Cloudstride Sect, it only epted a limited number of disciples, solely focusing on cultivating the most exceptional talents. However, it was insufficient to rely solely on the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall to solidify their rule over vast territories. Hence, the three tertiary martial academies were all essential cornerstones of the sect.


    Take, for example, the Southdream Martial Academy. Each year, 1000-2000 disciples would graduate. Over time, they would gradually form the backbone of every municipality and county within the Southdream Province. And among these exceptional individuals from the tertiary martial academies, those with unwavering determination and perseverance had the potential to be Savant experts or even Land Rankers!


    The party traveled through various areas of the Southdream Martial Academy, delving deeper into its grounds. Here, a collection ofrge, individual courtyard houses stood, their tranquil atmosphere a stark contrast to the bustling periphery of the academy.


    "This particr area is known as the Radiant Hall," Chen Qing introduced with a polite smile. "Theserge courtyard houses are reserved for the top ten elite disciples of the martial academy, as well as esteemed guests from distantnds. During times when we have a high influx of visitors, it can be a challenge to amodate everyone."


    "However, as ofte, nearly half of these courtyards have remained unupied," Chen Qing added.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Instructor Chen, do you think a single courtyard will be sufficient for ourrge group?"


    Chen Qing was about to provide an exnation when another voice interjected, "Arrange for another courtyard house." The voice was as calm as before, yet it made Chen Qing''s heart tighten.


    He couldn''t forget who this voice belonged to. Even Inspector Xie had to lower her head before this person.


    "Yes, Senior," Chen Qing responded obediently, quickly arranging for two adjacent, clean courtyard houses for their group.


    Approaching the courtyard houses, Chen Qing handed Wu Yuan two tokens, saying, "Wu Yuan, these tokens grant you ess to the martial academy. The headmaster is expected to return within three to five days. Meanwhile, you are free to explore the public areas of the academy and the provincial city."


    "You will be notified upon the headmaster''s return," Chen Qing continued. "Should you require anything, you can find me on the third floor of the Heart Nourishing Pagoda. It is advisable for your bodyguards to refrain from wandering the academy, as it may lead to misunderstandings."


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Understood, Instructor Chen. Also, there is another favor I hope you can assist me with.��


    "Please don''t hesitate to ask," Chen Qing replied.


    "I have two friends, Wu Sheng and Luo He, who joined the martial academy this year from Li County," Wu Yuan exined politely. "Could you kindly notify them of my arrival and arrange for a meeting between us?"


    "A small matter," Chen Qing sighed inwardly with relief.


    "Instructor Chen, what brings you here?" A warm voice suddenly rang out from an outer courtyard a short distance away. A youth of around eighteen or neen in the academy disciple uniform pushed open the door. With confident strides, he approached without hesitation. Tall and well-built, his features exuded strength and charisma.


    Wu Yuan was not unattractive, butpared to this short-haired youth, he was obviously a notch inferior in the looks department. This discrepancy could mainly be attributed to Wu Yuan''s boyish looks.


    "Zhu Shang, haven''t you left for ss yet?" Chen Qing''s face lit up upon recognizing the neer.


    "Mm. I��ve just concluded my solitary training and was about to make my way there," the youth with the cropped hair replied, his gaze sweeping over the group. "And who might these individuals be?"


    "Wu Yuan, allow me to introduce Zhu Shang, a fourth-year disciple of Southdream Martial Academy, and one of the top ten disciples of the academy. He just turned twenty this year, and already possesses the strength of a third-rate Adept," Chen Qing introduced warmly.


    "Nice to meet you," Wu Yuan greeted, his lips curving into a faint smile.


    A third-rate Adept at the tender age of twenty? In terms of talent, he was on par with Huan Xinyan, standing among the elite disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "Zhu Shang, meet Wu Yuan, who has just arrived from Li City. These guards have been assigned by the sect to apany him," Chen Qing exined with a smile. "Though only fourteen years old, Wu Yuan possesses the power of a martial virtuoso. Once he sessfullypletes the headmaster''s verification, he will be granted the prestigious title of special recruitment student and gain direct entry into the Cloud Martial Hall."


    Upon hearing this, a subtle shift urred in the previously rxed demeanor of the youth. His gaze involuntarily lingered on Wu Yuan, reassessing him.


    Fourteen years old? Despite his towering stature, Wu Yuan''s face was still somewhat childlike, and he only looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. The strength of a martial virtuoso? A special recruitment student?


    "Nice to meet you, Brother Wu!" Zhu Shang''s attitude instantaneously transformed. Despite being older and stronger, his tone became significantly more deferential.


    "Brother Zhu, please address me as a junior brother," Wu Yuan politely suggested.


    "Haha, Brother Wu, you jest," Zhu Shangughed, "When you join the Cloud Martial Hall, I''ll need to address you as ''Senior Brother��. You may call me Brother Zhu."


    Wu Yuan was merely being courteous, but Zhu Shang dared not drop the formalities. He understood the significance of special recruitment students all too well. They were the core members of the Cloudstride Sect, the geniuses among geniuses. As long as they cultivated at a normal pace, they could easily be second-rate Adepts!


    Zhu Shang, a twenty-year-old third-rate Adept, was certainly talented, but his body had already passed its prime stage of development. To be a second-rate Adept, he would have to be put through the grind!


    He was nearly sixteen by the time he reached the level of a martial virtuoso. Though it was not shabby at all, the gap between him and Wu Yuan was insurmountable. A one-year difference in reaching the same level during their teenage years indicated a significant talent gap.


    "Very well. Zhu Shang, Wu Yuan will be staying here for some time," Chen Qing, who stood to one side, informed him. "You can interact more with him in the future whenever the opportunity arises. I believe Wu Yuan won''t refuse."


    "You are always wee," Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    Zhu Shangughed, "If Brother Wu is free tomorrow night, I would like to host a banquet solely for you. We can discuss our martial arts experiences in depth. How does that sound, Brother Wu?" Zhu Shang understood that Chen Qing was helping him build connections, and immediately seized the opportunity. If he could befriend Wu Yuan now, he was very likely establishing connections with a future first-rate Adept, or even a Savant expert. Such opportunities were few and far between!


    "I have priormitments for the next couple of nights, so I will have to decline the banquet," Wu Yuan replied with an apologetic smile.


    "Haha, no harm done, it can wait until Brother Wu is avable," Zhu Shang replied, his expression still very polite.


    "Wu Yuan, I believe you should settle in for now," Chen Qing said, "Zhu Shang,e with me. I just remembered something I need to discuss with you."


    "Alright," Zhu Shang agreed, understanding that Chen Qing was subtly hinting at him to not disturb Wu Yuan any further.


    "Thank you for your assistance, Instructor Chen," Wu Yuan said. With that, Chen Qing and Zhu Shang departed.


    "Uncle Wu, your soldiers can stay in one courtyard house, while Uncle Ji and I will reside in another," Wu Yuan suggested. "Once Wu Sheng arrives, I will inform him to visit you."


    "Haha, excellent," Wu Xiongughed. "I owe you one, Young Master."


    "It''s nothing," Wu Yuan responded with a warm smile.


    Wu Yuan and Gu Ji entered their courtyard house, taking a moment to survey their surroundings. The two-story detached house consisted of separate bedrooms and a small reception room, but the most eye-catching feature was the extraordinarily spacious martial chamber.


    After setting down their belongings, Wu Yuan and Gu Ji seated themselves in the reception room.


    "Young Master, please pay no heed to Xie Yu��s attitude," Gu Ji said softly. "I can only think of two usible reasons why she''s giving you a hard time."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "Firstly, the Southdream Martial Academy received your information long ago. You could have entered the academy after the martial academy major tournament this year, but you decided against it. Naturally, she harbors dissatisfaction because she missed out on some merits," Gu Ji exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "However, this reason is less probable," Gu Ji continued. "The more likely reason for her behavior is rted to your rmender, Protectorate Gao Yu."


    "Protectorate Gao Yu?" Wu Yuan murmured thoughtfully.


    "Our sect is vast, presenting a united front externally. Yet, internalpetition persists," Gu Ji elucidated, his tone light. "Not allpetitions are harmless, some breed conflicts, disputes, even deep-seated grudges!"


    "I understand," Wu Yuan responded with a nod.


    Where there were people, there was politics. The Cloudstride Sect ruled over millions, and achieving absolute peace and harmony was impossible.


    By being invited to join the sect by Gao Yu, he gained the trust of Gao Yu''s faction. Naturally, this inevitably meant offending certain members of the sect.


    "Haha, don''t worry too much, our sect has its rules. She can only make things slightly difficult for you at most, but she will not dare to meddle too egregiously," Gu Ji reassured him.


    "This is a trivial matter, I hardly paid any mind to it." Wu Yuan replied dismissively. He had encountered countless simr disputes in the past. As long as Xie Yu didn''t cross the line, Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered to pay attention to her.


    Soon after, Wu Yuan made his way to the second floor to cultivate in solitude, leaving Gu Ji behind on the first floor to keep watch as per usual.


    Not long after dinner, Gu Ji called for Wu Yuan once again.


    "The Wu n has sent an invitation?" Wu Yuan asked, examining the contents of the letter in his hand. "They sure got the news quickly."


    He had only arrived that afternoon, yet by evening, an invitation had already been delivered. There was no doubt that the Wu n had been eagerly awaiting his arrival.


    "Uncle Ji, inform the messenger that I will arrive at the Wu n''spound on time tomorrow." Wu Yuan instructed quietly.


    "Mm," Gu Ji acknowledged, showing no disapproval towards his decision. He wasn''t concerned about what Wu Yuan nned to do in the provincial city, as long as he remained safe and sessfullypleted the assessment procedure.


    ...


    As night fell, Wu Yuan settled into his amodations at the Southdream Martial Academy.


    Thousands of miles away, roars of fury reverberated through a sprawling, luxurious manor.


    "Damn it!"


    "Ah! Ah!"


    "Damn it!!!!!!" A muscr man in bronze armor howled, ��My nephew, my only nephew, Luo Fu. How could he meet his end in the Cloudstride Sect''s territory?"


    "Why!"


    "Why would they send him to assassinate a mere special recruit of the Cloudstride Sect?" The bronze-armored hulk red furiously at the messenger prostrated on the ground.


    The messenger shivered uncontrobly, too afraid to lift his head, asrge beads of sweat cascaded down his trembling form.


    "What''s the name of this special recruit from the Cloudstride Sect?" The bronze-armored figure pped the table abruptly.


    <i>Boom!</i> The solid rock tables and chairs erupted into a shower of fragments. A splinter of wood sliced through the messenger''s cheek, releasing a fresh stream of crimson.


    "His name is Wu Yuan!" The messenger''s voice trembled with unparalleled fear.

 Chapter 61: Ten Catties Of Etherstone

    <h4>Chapter 61: Ten Catties Of Etherstone</h4>


    "Wu Yuan? I will kill him, he must die!" Endless killing intent welled up in the eyes of the robust man in bronze armor.


    Luo Beixiong was a high-ranking member of the Wingborne Sect, wielding authority over a vast territory and leading an entire province''s military force. His reputation for brutality preceded him. Merely uttering his name in Luohuang Province sent a shiver down the spines of countlessnd bandits and water thieves.


    But even the fiercest of individuals had a soft spot buried in the depths of their hearts. Years ago, his parents passed away, leaving Luo Beixiong and his younger sister to rely on each other for survival. They endured constant humiliation, and their n turned a blind eye to their plight. Through relentless training and incredible martial arts talent, his strength increased by leaps and bounds. He climbed the ranks of the Wingborne Sect, eventually breaking through to the second grade. Eventually, he took charge of the n and became a sect elder. His fiery temper drove him to eradicate all his past enemies.


    Yet, after years of intense training and battles, an illness gued him, rendering him unable to father children. Hence, his greatest affection was reserved for his beloved sister''s sole offspring before her death, Luo Fu. The reason he was also surnamed Luo was because Luo Beixiong had requested a name change, nning to nurture this only nephew as his sessor.


    And Luo Fu did not disappoint. He trained diligently from childhood, and became a first-rate Adept just past his 30th birthday, with a promising future ahead. Yet he died while carrying out an ordinary sect mission?


    "Luo Fu, your uncle vows to avenge you. I will get to the bottom of this. Not just Wu Yuan, everyone involved will meet their demise." Luo Beixiong��s wrath knew no limits. The loss of his carefully nurtured sessor caused him immense anguish and even drove him to the brink of insanity.


    Observing this, the messenger''s heart turned sank. He knew of Luo Fu''s status within the Luo family and how much Luo Beixiong valued this nephew of his. As the harbinger of this bad news, he might just be crushed to death by Luo Beixiong in his anger.


    <i>Such bad luck! The custodian must have assigned me this task because I��ve fallen out of favor. If I survive and return from this ordeal, I must treat the custodian well. </i>The messenger longed to flee, but dared not move an inch!


    "Ah! Arghhh!" In a fit of fury, Luo Beixiong unleashed yet another kick, obliterating the screen behind him into countless fragments with a deafening crash. By this point, the entire hall resembled the aftermath of a battle.


    "Chief, the peak master has arrived." An urgent voice called out from outside, followed by a burly man sprinting in.


    "The peak master?" Luo Beixiong turned his head.


    Before the burly man could fully enter the hall, a phantom-like figure darted across the spacious courtyard, appearing in the messy hall.


    He was lean, with slightly bulging eyes and a face that suggested he was about 60 years old. He wore a loose white robe that didn''t quite fit and looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over, yet he exuded an undeniable sturdiness. Compared to the extremely robust Luo Beixiong, the elderly man in the white robe seemed feeble, but his presence quieted the raging Luo Beixiong.


    "Peak Master!" Luo Beixiong contained his fury, bowing his head slightly. The messenger by his side promptly paid his respects as well.


    "You may leave now." The white-robed old man spoke with a strong voice and a steady pace,cking any semnce of frailty.


    "Yes, Peak Master." The messenger looked as if he had been granted a great pardon. He knew he was finally saved. Meanwhile, the burly man remained bowed at the entrance, not daring to approach further.


    "Beixiong." The old man in white robes addressed him with a gentle gaze, "I am aware of what happened to that youngster, Luo Fu."


    "I hope Peak Master can redress my grievances." Luo Beixiong gritted his teeth as a hint of red filled his eyes.


    "I have already ordered an investigation into this matter and will provide you with an exnation." The white-robed old man spoke softly, "However, it will be confined to our sect. You cannot trespass into the Cloudstride Sect''s territory. We cannot afford to incite a major dispute between our sects."


    "Peak Master!" Luo Beixiong could scarcely believe his own ears. The peak master who had always shown support for him was now asking him to abandon his quest for vengeance?


    "This is not amand from me," the white-robed elderly man sighed lightly, "I understand the agony in your heart. I me myself for the death of young Luo Fu as well. But this was amand from the grand abbot."


    "The grand abbot?" Luo Beixiong��s eyes widened. Unlike the Cloudstride Sect, the Wingborne Sect oversaw seven provinces, which were divided among three peaks for cross-governance. They did not have a sect leader.


    Most sect affairs were resolved through a consensus among the three peak masters, whose statuses were slightly higher than that of the hall masters of the Cloudstride Sect. And above the three peak masters were the grand abbots, all of whom were Land Rankers!


    "The Cloudstride Sect and our Wingborne Sect have had a longstanding grudge, but neither of us has the ability to annihte the other." The white-robed elder shook his head slightly, "The world is changing. Great Jin harbors ambitions to unify the world and has the power to do so. The Cloudstride Sect is the first line of defense against the eastward advancement of Great Jin."


    "If the Cloudstride Sect were to fall, only the shallowly rooted Baijiang Kingdom would remain. How long can they remain standing?" The white-robed elderly man looked at Luo Beixiong, "At that time, Great Jin''s armies will march straight to the Dong Continent, and the first to bear the brunt will be our Wingborne Sect."


    Luo Beixiong��s mind reeled. The Great Jin Empire? It was an immense force that made any power in the world quiver. No one could resist it alone.


    "Life-and-death battles among first-rate Adepts are permissible by most powers as long as they are conducted out of the public eye," the white-robed elder calmly said, "But if you, amander of a province and a Savant expert, were tounch an assault on the Cloudstride Sect��s territory, how do you expect the Cloudstride Sect to take this lying down?"


    "I fear Grandmaster Yu would not hesitate to brandish the Moontide Divine Sword and storm our sect in retaliation!" The white-robed elder shook his head.


    Luo Beixiong''s pupils contracted slightly. Grandmaster Yu? She was a Great Grandmaster renowned throughout the world, a martial artist who could truly seize an enemy general''s head among millions of soldiers.


    "So, we should just let Luo Fu die in vain?" Luo Beixiong asked, his voice filled with indignation.


    "Foolish!" The white-robed elder nced at him and shook his head, "The grand abbot merely stated that you cannot personally confront the Cloudstride Sect or mobilize our forces to escte the conflict."


    "But when did he forbid you from seeking revenge?"


    Luo Beixiong''s eyes lit up in understanding.


    "Very well." The elderly man in white said, "I came as soon as I could, just to remind you not to underestimate yourself. As I get older, you''ll have the chance to be the next peak master. Although it''s a shame about Luo Fu, you can still find and train young sessors within the Luo family. Given your age, it''s not toote."


    "Beixiong is grateful for your teachings." Luo Beixiong said, bowing his head in silence.


    The elderly man in white nodded. He knew Luo Beixiong was not truly convinced, suppressing his anger deep within himself, but what of it?


    In the absence of the ability to reverse the situation, one must yield to it!


    The shared topmost priority among the eight sects of Dong Continent was to ensure that the Cloudstride Sect was not destroyed by the Great Jin Empire. A first-rate Adept was in? A trivial matter!


    "I have other matters to attend to. I shall take my leave." the elder in white announced, drifting out of the hall in a single step. His departure was as silent as a whisper.


    "Farewell, Peak Master." The burly man at the door bowed respectfully, not lifting his head until half an incense''s time had passed. Afterward, he strode into the hall with purposeful steps.


    "Chieftain." The burly man bowed to Luo Beixiong.


    "Luo Jiang, I need you to do something for me." Luo Beixiong''s voice was icy.


    "What are your instructions, Chieftain?" The burly man asked.


    "Visit the Ninedeaths Circle and the Pleiades Guild, and inquire about their prices to assassinate Wu Yuan, a special recruitment disciple of the Cloudstride Sect." Luo Beixiong ordered.


    "Now?" The burly man was taken aback. "Chieftain, these tworge organizations will likely charge exorbitant prices."


    "I do not wish to dy a single moment longer," Luo Beixiong stated icily. "Their prices may be steep, but only they possess the necessary strength."


    "The smaller agencies? Can they easily dispatch a Savant expert?" Luo Beixiong scoffed.


    "I understand." The burly man nodded promptly, "I will head there immediately."


    Luo Beixiong and other important figures at the provincial level might not be familiar with the intricacies ofrge underground organizations such as the Ninedeaths Circle or the Pleiades Guild, but they were well aware of the locations of certain branches.


    When it came to these top-tier underground organizations, the world''s major powers turned a blind eye to them as long as their actions were not too audacious. Where there was light, there also lurked darkness. It was impossible topletely eradicate all underground organizations!


    Even the mighty Great Jin Empire could only ensure that the underground organizations within its boundaries kept a low profile, but total eradication was beyond their reach.


    ...


    <i>Two hourster.</i>


    "Chieftain!" Luo Jiang rushed into the hall, still dressed in his night gear, "I''ve obtained the quotes."


    "Speak." Luo Beixiongmanded in a low voice.


    "The Pleiades Guild is asking for three million silver taels." Luo Jiang reported somberly.


    "Three million taels?" Luo Beixiong gnashed his teeth, "Has the Pleiades Guild gone mad? They��re demanding three million taels to assassinate a martial virtuoso?"


    "Their justification is that even our first-rate Adepts from the Wingborne Sect failed to kill him and perished instead. They suspect that the Cloudstride Sect will deploy more experts to protect him." Luo Jiang exined helplessly, "Only a Savant expert stands a chance of sess. Moreover, even if the assassination is sessful, it could potentially provoke a violent retaliation from the Cloudstride Sect."


    Luo Beixiong��s eyes flickered. Indeed, only a Savant expert could guarantee Wu Yuan��s death. Still, asking for three million taels was outrageous! Even someone as powerful as Luo Beixiong could not afford such a sum out of pocket.


    "What about the Ninedeaths Circle?" Luo Beixiong asked.


    "Their price is lower, but it''s still two million silver taels," answered Luo Jiang.


    "Too steep," Luo Beixiong shook his head. Whether three million or two million, both were far beyond his expectations. The most he was willing to spend was a million silver taels. He sought revenge, but not at any cost.


    "However, the Ninedeaths Circle stated that they would be willing to take action for ten catties of etherstone," Luo Jiang added.


    "Ten catties of etherstone?" Luo Beixiong''s eyes narrowed slightly. This price was also outrageous, and in a way, such a quantity of the natural treasure was worth even more than two million silver taels. Yet,pared to thatrge sum of silver, it was easier for him to gather ten catties of etherstone.


    ...


    Late at night, in the Radiant Hall of Southdream Martial Academy, Wu Yuan, who was practicing in the martial training room on the second floor, suddenly opened his eyes.


    <i>Has Gu Ji left?</i>


    During the past few days of travel, Wu Yuan had found time to consume the tenth Soul Condensing Pill, as well as practiced Visualization to strengthen his soul. With his incredible perception, he maintained an awareness of his surroundings at all times. It seemed that Gu Ji was protecting him along the journey, but in reality, Wu Yuan could clearly sense Gu Ji''s presence, even detecting the subtleties of the man��s breathing.


    <i>Did he take advantage of the rtive safety within the martial academy to send a report to East Cloudhill? </i>Wu Yuan recalled that Gu Ji had previously mentioned the need to report the incidents along the journey to the sect. East Cloudhill was the core of the Cloudstride Sect in Southdream City.


    <i>There''s no need to concern myself with Gu Ji��s activities. I should continue cultivating. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation. <i>I''m looking forward to seeing just how much of this blood-red mist my body can assimte.</i>


    As he closed his eyes, most of his consciousness converged on his upper dantian lobe. From there, he began guiding strands of the blood-red mist out from the upper dantian lobe to the middle and lower dantian lobes, then gradually integrated them into his musculoskeletal system.


    Wu Yuan''s form once again underwent a miraculous evolution.

 Chapter 62: Stealth Weapons Expert? Second-Grade?

    <h4>Chapter 62: Stealth Weapons Expert? Second-Grade?</h4>


    <i>These past couple of days, I''ve been constantly on the move, leaving me with little time to cultivate properly. </i>Wu Yuan coaxed the blood-red mist with his consciousness, merging it seamlessly into his muscles, tendons, skin, bones, and every drop of blood.


    <i>Howfortable. </i>Thest time Wu Yuan felt the blood-red mist assimte into his body was when he first unlocked his upper dantian lobe. At that time, he was in a semi-conscious state, and the quantity of blood-red mist was scarce. It couldn''tpare to the rity and intensity he was experiencing now.


    From start to finish, Wu Yuan''s strength did not seem to undergo significant improvements, but the peculiar changes in his body left him feeling increasinglyfortable and brimming with vitality. His cells were metamorphosing, his DNA continuously evolving! It was just like hammering a piece of iron over and over again. Although its weight remained unchanged, there was a qualitative improvement.


    Most importantly, even as the blood-red mist surrounding the ck pagoda seeped into his body, Wu Yuan felt no exhaustion or pain.


    After a long time, Wu Yuan expelled a long breath and stood up. <i>I��ve absorbed all of the blood-red mist around the ck pagoda in one go?</i> This body of his was like a gluttonous beast, ravenously absorbing the blood-red mist until there was none left!


    <i>In a few hours, my physical strength has increased by about 500 catties!</i>


    Wu Yuan lightly clenched his fist, his sinews exerting force. He could urately gauge his strength. The blood-red mist did not directly enhance his physical strength, but the optimization of his genes still elevated it indirectly. Now, he could deliver a force of 34,000 catties with a single punch!


    <i>Second-grade martial artists, also known as Savant experts, require a minimum single-arm strength of 100,000 catties. Now, if I employ Threefold Power Surge, I will be able to surpass this threshold.</i>


    But Wu Yuan knew better. Using such a measure to judge a martial artist''s true strength was grossly inurate. During the ambush on the boat a few days ago, both Gu Ji and the sword-wielding assassin, who were merely first-rate Adepts, easily unleashed attacks surpassing 100,000 catties in force. This was because cultivating to the third and second grades signified that the body was honed to an advanced level, and such martial artists typically mastered the Power Surge technique.


    <i>Savant experts who have mastered Threefold Power Surge can potentially unleash a force of 400,000-500,000 catties at full power. Even those who master Twofold Power Surge can still burst forth with a colossal force of 200,000 catties.</i>


    As one''s physicality became stronger, martial skills began to y an increasingly significant role in bolstering overall strength. And the higher one''s cultivation grade, the more remarkable the enhancement.


    Thus, Wu Yuan was confident that he could defeat the majority of first-rate Adepts. But if he were to encounter a Savant expert, he would need to be careful. Regardless of howpetent Wu Yuan was in martial skills, getting struck by 400,000-500,000 catties of force in a moment of carelessness meant getting pulverized into meat paste.


    As for Land Rankers? As humans who have reached their biological limits, their martial skills were at least at the Rigid Yet Supple stage. Such powerhouses could burst forth with power far beyond that of a Savant expert.


    Even if Wu Yuan''s martial skills were slightly superior to a Land Ranker, a single blow from them would be enough to end his life. There was a simple reason for that: the gap in strength was simply too massive. This was also why Wu Yuan was trying to keep as low a profile as possible. He was still too weak, he could not afford to be arrogant just yet.


    <i>The blood-red mist is almost exhausted, but my body can still evolve. I must find a solution.</i> A cold glint passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Collecting his thoughts, Wu Yuan pulled out a green jade vial from his bundle and swiftly dissolved the remaining drops of spiritual liquid into the water.


    <i>The blood-red mist amplifies potential. As for direct enhancement of physical strength, natural treasures like the spiritual liquid are required.</i> Wu Yuan lifted the basin, downing its contents in a single gulp. <i>Originally, I had thought that the remaining spiritual liquid would suffice for a month, maybe two, of cultivation. Yet, to my surprise, I have consumed it all within just ten days.</i>


    As the spiritual liquid entered his stomach, a surge of energy erupted forth.


    <i>Continue. </i>Wu Yuan resumed practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique.


    With each rigorous movement, his musculoskeletal system received a profound stimtion, permeating even his innermost organs. Having experienced an increase in its biological limits, his musculoskeletal system greedily absorbed the pure energy under such stimtion.


    Wu Yuan''s physical constitution continued to improve.


    ...


    <i>East Cloudhill, Southdream City.</i>


    As the heart of the Cloudstride Sect in Southdream Province, the vantage point from the mountain granted a sweeping view of the entirety of Southdream City.


    Even during the darkest hours of the night, the city remained aglow, its streets teeming with soldiers dutifully patrolling the area. asionally, sect disciples could be spotteding and going.


    Within a grand hall nestled on the mountainside, all was quiet.


    Gu Ji sat here, eyes shut in meditation.


    <i>Creak~</i> The door swung open, admitting a square-faced man adorned in a ck robe with a scroll in his hand.


    "Brother Gu, my apologies for the dy," the man in ck robes greeted with a smile.


    "No need for apologies." Gu Ji''s eyes flickered open, his countenance as stoic as ever.


    The ck-robed figure appeared unperturbed by the darkness around him, seemingly ustomed to it.


    "Division Head Luo, how is the situation?" Gu Ji cut right to the chase.


    Division Head �C those who heard the title would immediately understand the status of this ck-robed figure. His standing was as high as the governor of a province.


    "In recent days, I have been inmunication with the governor, the provincial general, and my fellow division heads. Thorough investigations have been carried out," the ck-robed man began. Through the Sta Consortium, we have confirmed the identity of the assassin - Luo Fu, a first-rate Adept from the Wingborne Sect."


    "Luo Fu?" Gu Ji''s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "The same Luo Fu from the Luo family of Luohuang Province?" He was knowledgeable about the major powers of the world, particrly regarding formidable adversaries of the Cloudstride Sect, which he knew inside and out.


    "Yes," the ck-robed figure nodded. "As an individual, Luo Fu is not particrly noteworthy. But his uncle, Luo Beixiong, is someone we need to watch out for. He cherishes his nephew very much, and it would not be surprising if he reacts impulsively upon learning of this."


    "The Savant expert Luo Beixiong?" Gu Ji felt a hint of pressure weighing on him. While he had confidence in his own abilities, he was well aware of the terror that came with facing a Savant expert - those who possessed the qualifications to be ssified among the upper grades of martial artists across the world.


    "What does the sect think about this?" Gu Ji inquired.


    "I have reported the situation to the sect headquarters and sought guidance from Senior Dong," the ck-robed man replied. "But as you know, there are only a limited number of Savant experts in our sect, and each has their own responsibilities to attend to."


    Senior Dong was the Savant expert stationed in Southdream Province, the nominal person in charge of the region.


    "Unless the Hierarchs intervene, whether Senior Dong is willing to help will depend entirely on his mood," the ck-robed man added with a tinge of helplessness.


    Gu Ji nodded in understanding. As long as they were only anticipating Luo Beixiong''s arrival without concrete evidence, the sect might not immediately dispatch a Savant expert.


    "Of course, you need not worry too much," the figure in ck reassured him. "The likelihood of Luo Beixiongunching a frontal attack is very low!"


    "An overt attack by a Savant expert would mean a total breakdown in rtions between the two sects. Following such an event, the Hierarchs would no longer remain idle spectators," the robed man asserted.


    For a moment, Gu Ji fell into a contemtive silence.


    Following such an event? By the time the attackmenced, it would be toote. What good would the Cloudstride Sect''s revenge do then? By that point, Wu Yuan would likely be long dead.


    "What is the other matter?" Gu Ji asked.


    "That''s what I would like to know." The middle-aged man expressed his doubts, "Was that throwing knife truly from a stealth weapons expert? I have made inquiries and it appears that none of the other four halls in my Southdream Province have dispatched such an expert for protection."


    "No one?" Gu Ji was taken aback.


    "It''s impossible for me to be unable to find out who it is, unless the person was sent directly from the sect headquarters." The robed middle-aged man said solemnly.


    Gu Ji fell silent for a while before responding slowly, "I don''t know about the rest. But I can confirm that there was indeed a stealth weapons expert assisting us then. And I suspect that this expert is at the Savant level!"


    "Savant expert?" Now it was the ck-robed man''s turn to be surprised, "You didn''t mention that before."


    "This is merely a guess. The expert''s skill with stealth weapons is at the first-rate Adept level," Gu Ji shook his head. "But their ability to conceal themselves is terrifying."


    "From beginning to end, I did not even catch a glimpse of them, let alone notice their presence," Gu Ji continued. "If they intended to kill me, I believe it would not have been a challenging task."


    "I didn''t dare openly search for them during the journey, for fear of offending this mysterious expert."


    The middle-aged man drew in a sharp breath. So formidable? He knew very well that Gu Ji''s strength surpassed that of the average first-rate Adept. It was indeed likely that someone who could instill such fear in Gu Ji was a Savant expert.


    "Alright, I shall depart first." Gu Ji stood up and stated. "Division Head Luo, I will leave the decision to include this stealth weapons expert in the report at your discretion. I will personally inform the hall master upon my return to the sect."


    "Mm," the middle-aged man nodded.


    The doors of the hall flew open, and like a whisper, Gu Ji vanished into thin air. The ck-robed man gazed at the dimly lit trees outside the hall, lost in thought.


    <i>Is he truly protected by a Savant expert? Which sect senior is it? How much emphasis does the sect ce on this Wu Yuan?</i>


    Suddenly, he remembered something important. <i>Nearly slipped my mind. I should warn Wu Mao not to pressure Wu Yuan too much.</i>


    ...


    As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, Wu Yuan descended the stairs, feeling rejuvenated. He had spent the night immersed in diligent practice, and slept deeply for two hours.


    "Young Master." Gu Ji came to greet him.


    "Uncle Ji, you''ve worked hard." Wu Yuan said with a look of apology on his face, as though oblivious that Gu Ji had been gone for several hours.


    "It''s my duty." Gu Ji said. "Young Master, the sect haspleted its investigation into the assassination attempt on your life. Division Head Luo personally delivered the findings."


    "Division Head Luo?" Wu Yuan seemed a bit surprised. In recent days, his interactions with Wu Xiong and Gu Ji had granted him a glimpse into the inner workings of the Cloudstride Sect��s upper echelons.


    The Cloudstride Sect was divided into five halls: the Instruction Hall, Inspection Hall, Military Hall, Finance Hall, and Civil Hall. Within each hall, the hall mastermanded the highest authority, followed by the deputy hall master.


    Following them in the hierarchy were the division heads. Each hall generally consisted of three division heads, each responsible for the affairs of an entire province.


    The division heads of the Military Hall were also the provincial generals, eachmanding the entire army of a province. The division heads of the Civil Hall served as the provincial governors, managing all administrative duties of their respective provinces. Each division head of the Instruction Hall was the headmaster of a tertiary martial academy. As for the division heads of the Inspection Hall and the Finance Hall? They did not have such fixed roles.


    The Division Head Luo that Gu Ji spoke of was the highest-ranked personnel of the Finance Hall in the Southdream Province.


    "This is the relevant information, please take a look, Young Master." Gu Ji handed over the scroll.


    Wu Yuan reached out and took it, flipping through it quickly. Soon, he had a clear understanding of the situation and closed the scroll.


    "A first-rate Adept, Luo Fu? Luohuang Province?" Wu Yuan softly pondered aloud, "What we should be worried about now is his uncle, Luo Beixiong?"


    "You are correct, Young Master. Logically, Luo Beixiong should direct his fury over Luo Fu''s death to the Cloudstride Sect." Gu Ji nodded. "Common sense tells us that Luo Beixiong wouldn''t dare wreak havoc in the Cloudstride Sect''s territory. But his only heir is dead, who knows if he��ll go mad?"


    Wu Yuan slowly nodded. Theoretically, someone who hadmand over a province''s military power wouldn''t act rashly. But people were unpredictable. How mighty were the emperors of the Han Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty during the ancient eras of the Blue? But after their most valued heirs died, their subsequent actions veered on the brink of lunacy. No human could maintain rationality andposure at all times. Only a machine could do that.


    "Uncle Ji, what''s your take on this?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "For safety''s sake, after verifying your abilities at the Southdream Martial Academy, it''s best that you do not return to Li City, but proceed directly to the sect headquarters." Gu Ji suggested.

 Chapter 63: It Is Improper To Record The Same Name In Two Honor Rolls

    <h4>Chapter 63: It Is Improper To Record The Same Name In Two Honor Rolls</h4>


    "Head straight to the sect headquarters?" Wu Yuan asked thoughtfully.


    "Indeed." Gu Ji replied, "As soon as the headmaster of Southdream Martial Academy deems that you��ve passed the assessment, I will immediately escort you from Southdream City to the sect headquarters. It should take four or five days."


    "The sect headquarters isn''t just protected by two Land Rankers, but also numerous Savant experts, first-rate Adepts, and 3000 troops of the Cloudstride Army. Forget Luo Beixiong, a single Savant expert. Even if a Land Ranker dares to force their way in alone, they would be tempting fate," Gu Ji stated confidently.


    Wu Yuan could only nod in agreement. Gu Ji''s words rang true. From their conversation, Wu Yuan gathered that anyone below the level of a Heavenly Ranker who rashly intruded into the headquarters of a great martial sect was putting their life in grave peril.


    The sheer presence of the 3000 troops from the Cloudstride Army alone was enough to deter any Land Ranker.


    There were four elite armies under the banner of the Cloudstride Sect, namely the Cloudstride Army, the Southdream Army, the Baihu Army, and the Cloudhill Army. Thetter three were allposed primarily of martial virtuosos. These soldiers were led by arge number of Adept experts, stationed in three different provincial cities to maintainw and order and ensure territorial stability.


    The Cloudstride Army, despite being the smallest army of the four, was the true backbone of the Cloudstride Sect and possessed the power to shake the Jiang Continent. With a force of 6000 soldiers, the Cloudstride Army wasposed of heavily armored Adepts wielding superior weapons. Their soldiers attacked with the fury of roaring rivers and defended with the sturdiness of towering mountains!


    Each of the three provincial cities was garrisoned with 1000 troops of the Cloudstride Army, the bedrock of a provincial general''s power. The remaining 3000 troops were stationed at the sect headquarters, receiving direct orders from the sect leader. In critical times ofpetition with other sects and nations, it was this army that instilled confidence in the Cloudstride Sect.


    Wu Yuan had to admit that Gu Ji''s proposal was a sensible one. If he only had the strength of a martial virtuoso, he would have probably epted this suggestion. However, Wu Yuan was already quite strong, and still rapidly improving.


    <i>Most importantly, if we were to proceed directly to the sect headquarters, wouldn''t we be letting Xu Shouyi get away scot-free?</i> A glimmer of killing intent flickered in Wu Yuan''s heart. He had long made ns to deal with Xu Shouyi before his enrollment into the sect. He had to rid his family and n of this imminent threat.


    ��Uncle Ji, let us observe the situation for now,�� suggested Wu Yuan, ��It won��t be toote to make a decision after the headmaster of the martial academy has verified my abilities.��


    ��Understood.�� Gu Ji reluctantly nodded. He could pressure Wu Yuan, however, he could not defy the hall master''s orders. His sole responsibility was to ensure Wu Yuan''s safety.


    "Uncle Ji, will you apany me to the Wu n?" Wu Yuan asked. Naturally, Gu Ji agreed.


    Shortly after, Wu Yuan and Gu Ji, along with Wu Xiong and three additional guards, departed from the martial academy. As for the other guards, they remained within the academy. Firstly, the provincial city was rtively secure. Secondly, having a dozen guards in tow would undoubtedly attract undue attention.


    ...


    The Wu n in Southdream Province might not have been among the top-tier families, but with nearly 200 years of history, they had previously produced a first-rate Adept and a county mayor. Consequently, they could be deemed a well-established n with deep roots. As such, the main family of the Wu n had managed to establish branch families in six counties of the Southdream Province.


    Today, within the great ancestral mansion of the Wu n''s main family, a lively scene unfolded as hundreds of n members congregated in the za in front of the ancestral hall.


    ��Though Wu Yuan may be a special recruit of the sect, he certainly is too arrogant.��


    A tall, flower-robed elderly man stood at the front of the crowd, a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes, ��We are the main n. Yet he, a branch member, failed to pay homage to his ancestors immediately after arriving in Southdream City. Despite agreeing to visit today, he has yet to make an appearance past breakfast time!"


    ��Out of the thirteen n elders, five personally came today. We have given him more than enough face,�� another middle-aged man dressed in red robes said coldly.


    "Let us all remain calm." A ck-robed elderly man spoke solemnly, "Wu Yuan is young and extraordinarily gifted. It is natural for such geniuses to be arrogant. Our hope is for him to join our main family and revitalize our Wu n, not to start a conflict.��


    ��Grand Elder, what you say holds merit," the elderly man in flowery robes snorted coldly, "However, just as the sect has itsws, the n has its rules. No matter how gifted Wu Yuan is, he is not above the internal rules of the n. After all, he is only a special recruit. At most, he will only be a second-rate Adept. Can he truly bring about a momentous transformation to our Wu n?"


    "Has our n ever faced a shortage of second-rate Adepts?" the middle-aged man dressed in red robes retorted, "In my opinion, today''s weing ceremony is excessively extravagant."


    The other n elders echoed their agreement. In theory, Wu Yuan''s inclusion in the main n would strengthen the entire family. But unless Wu Yuan became a first-rate Adept, he was merely a cake to be divided among themselves. Furthermore, the recent rejection letter from the Wu n in Li City which politely declined the request for Wu Yuan to join the main n, had already stirred discontent among these n elders.


    "Silence!" The ck-robed elderly man scanned the four people behind him, his expression finally darkening, "When Wu Yuanes, I do not wish to hear any mention of this."


    The n elders quieted down without any protest. When it came to status and prestige, no one couldpare with the grand elder apart from the chieftain. In fact, the n elders present were his juniors.


    "Grand Elder, Wu Yuan has arrived." A hurried voice echoed from the distant entrance, capturing the attention of the crowd gathered in the square.


    "He��s finally here."


    "I didn''t even have the chance to eat breakfast before being forced toe here."


    "Just a descendant of a branch family," the Wu n members whispered among themselves. It was clear that many were dissatisfied with Wu Yuan, whom they had yet to meet.


    "All of you,e with me to wee him," the grand elder said coldly, taking the lead to walk towards the entrance. Though they were reluctant, the other n elders dared not object and followed behind.


    ...


    <i>At the entrance of the Wu Mansion.</i>


    Wu Yuan and hispanions patiently awaited.


    "Young Master, we could have arrived on time, why did you choose to linger at the breakfast stall?" asked a guard named Fang Ying, puzzled.


    "In ordance with n etiquette, should a branch member visit the main n before breakfast as a mark of respect?" Wu Yuan asked, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.


    "Yes," Fang Ying nodded, he had thought that Wu Yuan was unaware of these intricate protocols.


    "If I werete, would you be displeased?" Wu Yuan asked with a lightugh.


    Caught off guard, Fang Ying hesitated before admitting, "I suppose I would."


    "That''s the point," Wu Yuan��s smile widened triumphantly. What he wanted was the dissatisfaction of the Wu n''s main family. The more dissatisfied they were, the better!


    The rest of the guards were somewhat perplexed by Wu Yuan''s words. Gu Ji, on the other hand, seemed thoughtful.


    "They''ve arrived," Wu Yuan murmured softly, watching arge crowd emerge from the main gate, but he did not show any intention of approaching them. This left his guards even more bewildered. ording to proper etiquette, the host shoulde forward to wee them. After which, Wu Yuan should take the initiative to greet them.


    While interacting with him in the past few days, Wu Xiong, Fang Ying, and the others felt that Wu Yuan was quite well-versed in decorum. But when it came to the Wu n, he seemed to disregard all conventions of courtesy.


    "This Wu Yuan!" Standing on the steps, the simmering anger of the Wu n elders reignited once they realized that Wu Yuan was not nning to move a single inch. Even the grand elder furrowed his brow slightly. Nheless, with utmost poise, he still smiled and took the initiative to walk down the steps.


    "This gentleman, you must be our Wu n''s young talent, Wu Yuan."


    "Indeed." Wu Yuan confirmed with a slight nod, "And you are?"


    "Wu Yuan," the elderly man in flowery robes couldn''t contain his frustration any longer and chided in a deep voice, "You are speaking to the grand elder; shouldn''t you pay your respects promptly?"


    "The grand elder?" Wu Yuan''s expression twisted into a wry smile as he offered a slight bow, "I, Wu Yuan, a descendant of the Wu n from Li City, humbly pay my respects to the grand elder." He didn''t even fully bend at the waist, let alone kneel.


    This time, even Wu Xiong and Fang Ying looked at each other with raised brows. They couldn''t help but feel that Wu Yuan''s behavior was somewhat uncalled for. After all, the grand elder of the main family was someone even the chieftain of the Li City branch had to bow to. n etiquette held great significance in the world of the Middle Land.


    But before the flower-robed elderly man and several others could reprimand him, they suddenly felt an icy re from the grand elder. Startled, they promptly swallowed their words.


    "Wu Yuan, the thousands of n members are ted that you could visit us. You are the first disciple of our Wu n to receive a special recruitment invitation from the sect, haha." the grand elder smiled warmly, "The Wu n''s great ancestral mansion is also the ��ancestor�� of the Wu n��s six branches, it is also where your roots are. Keep this in mind."


    "Hmm." Wu Yuan gave a nonmittal reply, feeling a little disappointed. This grand elder��s ��temperament cultivation�� was too powerful. Anyone who could attain such a position in arge n with such a long history was indeed no simpleton.


    "Wu Yuan, let us enter together." the grand elder gestured.


    Wu Yuan nodded. Led by the grand elder and several other n elders, Wu Yuan, apanied by his guards, embarked on a tour of the Wu n''s great ancestral mansion, learning about the illustrious history of their ancestors. Eventually, the group arrived at the newly decorated ancestral hall for the final and most important event: ancestor worship.


    <i>Considering my body and bloodline, paying homage to the ancestors will do no harm.</i>


    Wu Yuan had no psychological barrier or aversion to such an act,pleting all the rituals of ancestor worship properly.


    At this moment, nearly a thousand members of the Wu n crowded the ancestral hall and the za outside, packed in the limited space like a tin of sardines. All eyes were fixed on Wu Yuan, the grand elder and other distinguished members of the Wu n, standing before the portraits of their ancestors through the ages.


    ��Wu Yuan!�� The grand elder��s expression softened, and his clear voice resonated in the ears of all Wu nsmen, ��On this day, we gather at the mansion and honor our ancestors, not only to wee your arrival but tofort the spirits of our forebears, in the knowledge that a valiant martial artist of their lineage walks among us!��


    ��Are you willing to leave your name on the family honor roll in our hall of ancestors?�� the grand elder''s eyes gleamed with anticipation.


    The next moment, all eyes fell on Wu Yuan. How many descendants did arge n have? Not everyone could leave their names in the hall of ancestors. Only outstanding sessors or those who made great contributions to the n could have their names recorded on the family honor roll.


    If Wu Yuan agreed to leave his name, it would mean that his n membership would be transferred to the main n from Li City, and he would be a member of the main n.


    Gu Ji, Wu Xiong, and the others stood aside. This was an internal matter of the Wu n. As long as Wu Yuan''s life was not in danger, they would not interrupt, let alone interfere.


    ��Our ancestors paved a difficult path and built our legacy through trials and tribtions. Their hardships made the Wu n what it is today. I, Wu Yuan, am grateful for our forebears'' grace,�� Wu Yuan said with a smile, ��Hence, before I left Li City, the chieftain had already listed my name on the family honor roll in the Li City branch.��


    ��It seems improper to have one name listed on two family honor rolls. I''m afraid I am unable to fulfill Grand Elder��s wishes. I hope for Grand Elder��s understanding.��


    The entire hall fell into stunned silence. He refused!


    The smile on the grand elder''s face stiffened. He didn��t expect that Wu Yuan, despite being offered such a highly respected status, would reject him without hesitation.


    ��Wu Yuan! You''re being ungrateful.�� The red-robed elderly man standing behind the grand elder finally lost his temper and erupted, ��The Wu n in Li City is just a branch family, how can itpare to the main n? The fact that the main n is willing to embrace you and record your name in the family honor roll is an immense honor bestowed upon you!"


    ��I''ve always taken pride in being a member of the Li City Wu n,�� Wu Yuan calmly retorted, wiping the smile from his face. As he observed the enraged countenances of the Wu nsmen,ughter bubbled within him. He was not afraid of the main n turning against him, he was just worried that they wouldn��t. If they didn''t express hostility, he would be limited in how far he could go in his actions!


    "Wu Yuan, is this how Wu Qiming educated you?" Even the grand elder, with his patience and self-control, could not suppress his fury.


    "When I was young and ignorant, the chieftain taught me manners." Wu Yuan''s voice was calm andposed. "When my father died in the Battle of Hillstride, the chieftain offered me wealth; when I encountered troubles in life, the chieftain showed me the way."


    "Without the Wu n of Li City, there would not be the Wu Yuan of today!"


    "I wonder, what lessons are you intending to teach me today, Grand Elder?" Wu Yuan locked eyes with the grand elder, undaunted. "Disloyalty, unrighteousness, filial impiety?"

 Chapter 64: The Li City Wu Clan Will Replace The Main Clan

    <h4>Chapter 64: The Li City Wu n Will Rece The Main n</h4>


    In an instant, a wave of silence washed over the ancestral hall. Every member of the Wu n fixated their gaze on Wu Yuan, their faces contorted by a mixture of shock and disbelief. Anger simmered beneath the surface, their minds struggling toprehend the audacity of Wu Yuan''s words.


    <i>The young master may have crossed a line with his words.</i> Wu Xiong and Fang Ying exchanged confused nces.


    Initially, Wu Yuan''s ims held a semnce of reason. However, his final usation of disloyalty, unrighteousness, and filial impiety, was unquestionably inappropriate. In the minds of those present in the hall, the grand elder of the Wu n was someone to be held in high regard, a senior that Wu Yuan had to respect.


    "Wu Yuan." The grand elder''s ''patience cultivation'' level was top-notch, but faced with such usations in front of his nsmen, his face turned ugly. It had been many years since any member of the Wu n dared to speak to him like this. This was not mere defiance, but a public rebellion!


    Yet, Wu Yuan remainedposed, undeterred by the shifting attitudes of the crowd. His perception was keen, detecting the confusion that clouded the minds of Wu Xiong and Fang Ying.


    <i>If they are confused, that means I am on the right track. </i>Under normal circumstances, if the main n invited him to join them, a polite refusal would suffice. Even if they felt dissatisfied, they would have been hesitant to voice their discontent due to Wu Yuan''s current status. However, his choice of words deliberately strained their rtionship to its breaking point.


    <i>The world of the Middle Land values traditions and bloodlines... But I am indifferent to all that.</i>


    He knew that even though the main n provided little help to the Li City branch, the branch had definitely benefitted from the main n''s prestige in the past. Admittedly, his usations had been excessive.


    <i>But only by turning against the main n today, can I take the upper hand in this rtionship in the future. </i>Wu Yuan had already thought it through.


    He felt genuine gratitude towards his mother and the Wu n of Li City. Their considerable assistance, coupled with the fusion of his predecessor''s memories, had subtly influenced Wu Yuan. Hence, Wu Yuan was more than willing to lend a hand to the Wu n of Li City. However, it was not a pure sense of familial duty that propelled his actions, but rather a desire to reciprocate their assistance.


    Moreover, the Wu n of Li City only consisted of a few hundred members. When Wu Yuan attained true power and held a prominent position in the Cloudstride Sect, aiding them would be a straightforward task. The main Wu n, however, was an entirely different matter altogether. It was arge family with a long heritage, and Wu Yuan was not familiar with them.


    <i>The burdens they would ce upon me would be tenfold greater than those of the Li City branch.</i>


    He had acquired extensive knowledge concerning the main Wu n. Counting all their rtives, their number easily reached several thousand, with two second-rate Adepts and an evenrger number of third-rate Adepts.


    As Wu Yuan''s strength grew, the main Wu n would undoubtedly exploit the situation to aggressively expand their influence. Throughout history, such expansion wasmonce for families, yet for Wu Yuan, it would undoubtedly prove troublesome. Managing these misceneous affairs could devour an immense amount of his future time and energy.


    <i>Whether the decision-makers of the main n arepetent or not, it won''t prevent them from causing me significantplications.</i>


    <i>If I choose not to assist the main n when I��m in a position of power, I would undoubtedly face a deluge of criticism and misunderstandings. However, if I were to estrange myself from them first, others would find it difficult to fault me for not aiding the main n in the future.</i>


    This allowed him to retain the freedom to extend his help whenever he chose to, and also possess valid reasons for electing not to do so.


    Perhaps his current actions might lead many to perceive him as ignorant and impetuous, but the repercussions would pale inparison to the consequences of not aiding them down the line. After all, Wu Yuan was merely distancing himself from the main n, not forsaking his own family or abandoning the Wu n of Li City.


    Wu Yuan had already formted a n. In due course, he would secretlypensate the main n, but he would not announce it publicly.


    The actions of martial artists were dictated by a clear conscience.


    <i>By falling out with them now, some higher-ups in the sect might actuallymend me for my loyalty and integrity, viewing me as someone unashamed of my impoverished past. </i>Wu Yuan remained cool and collected.


    As he contemted, Wu Yuan let an insolent shade pass over his face. He fervently wished for the grand elder to fall out with him!


    "Wu Yuan, I am not just the grand elder of the main n, but also the six county branches of the Wu n!" The grand elder''s voice resonated deeply as he stared Wu Yuan down. "Do you understand this?"


    "Of course," Wu Yuan replied dismissively, his nonchnt demeanor provoking the grand elder even further.


    Just as the grand elder was about to berate him, a solemn voice echoed from outside the ancestral hall. "Grand Elder, Wu Yuan has had a difficult journey."


    The grand elder''s expression shifted subtly as he shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice. The other members of the Wu n, both inside and outside the hall, followed suit.


    "It''s the chieftain!"


    "Wasn''t the chieftain overseeing the inspection of the local city guards in the outlying municipalities?"


    "Did the chieftain rush back overnight?" Murmurs spread through the crowd, and Wu Yuan instantly recognized who had arrived: the chieftain of the main Wu n, Wu Mao. As a lieutenant colonel leading three battalions in Southdream City, a second-rate Adeptmanding 2000 soldiers, he was the most powerful figure in the Wu n within the Cloudstride Sect.


    The crowd parted effortlessly, creating a path for a group of guards leading a towering figure d in the formidable armor of a general. With an authoritative stride, the burly man, standing over two meters tall, made his way towards the ancestral shrine.


    "Chieftain, do you know..." The grand elder was the first to speak.


    "I know everything," Chieftain Wu Mao said, lighting an incense stick as he paid his respects to the ancestral portraits and tablets below. The grand elder could not help but remain silent.


    After bowing thrice, Chieftain Wu Mao inserted the incense stick. Only then did he turn to the grand elder, "Grand Elder, now that I am back, I will take charge of Wu Yuan''s affairs."


    The grand elder was irate, but seeing the solemn expression on Chieftain Wu Mao''s face, he could only mutter his consent, "Very well." In terms of seniority, he ranked higher than Wu Mao. But in terms of standing? Losing a grand elder was of little consequence to the Wu n, but should they lose Wu Mao, the entire family would be destabilized.


    "Wu Yuan," Wu Mao finally turned to face Wu Yuan, an amiable smile adorning his face.


    "Chieftain." Wu Yuan maintained a calm demeanor.


    "You need not take the words of the n elders to heart. They wish for you to join the main n because of their desire to strengthen the Wu n." Chieftain Wu Mao, though half a head taller than Wu Yuan and d in heavy armor, exuded no oppressive air.


    Wu Mao continued with a slight smile, "A single brush stroke cannot write two ��Wu��s. Be it the Wu n from Southdream or Li City, we all share the same origin, do we not?"


    Wu Yuan slightly knitted his brows, but had no choice but to nod in agreement, "Indeed." Even if he didn''t wish to be associated with the main n, Wu Yuan couldn''t deny the shared ancestry of the main and branch families of the Wu n.


    "You are the greatest genius the Wu n has seen in hundreds of years. Our ancestors would take immense sce in knowing this," proimed Chieftain Wu Mao, shocking the nearly 1000 n members gathered around the ancestral hall. The greatest genius in hundreds of years? Was that true?


    Several n elders exchanged bewildered nces. Was the chieftain not pursuing the matter any further?


    "You tter me, Chieftain," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "Whether I''m ttering you or not, only time will tell," Chieftain Wu Mao��s smile did not fade in the least, "Wu Yuan, is your reluctance to join the main n due to the Wu n of Li City?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Very well, there is no need for you to join the main n then," Wu Mao��s smile widened, "Moreover, from now on, you will be considered a n elder of the Wu n and entitled to a seat among the n elders."


    A stir rippled through the crowd as everyone looked at Wu Mao in astonishment, unable to believe their own ears. Even Gu Ji and Wu Xiong wore expressions of confusion. What was going on?


    "Chieftain, this goes against the n rules. ording to the rules, one can only assume the title of n elder if one has made significant contributions. Moreover, Wu Yuan has not even joined the main n," the grand elder spoke in a deep voice.


    "Grand Elder, a hundred years ago, when six branches separated from the main family, the main n made a promise to treat each branch as its own kin," Chieftain Wu Mao exined, his voice calm and measured. "There has never been a rule that explicitly forbids a branch member from attaining a seat among the n elders. The chieftains of the six branches have always been members of the n elders assembly."


    The grand elder''s eyes widened. It was customary for each chieftain of the six branches to be given a seat in the n elders assembly. But it was merely a formality. With no actual power, the branch leaders were limited to influencing their respective families alone.


    "Chieftain, the grand elder is right. I am too young and inexperienced. It is improper," Wu Yuan interjected, taking the initiative to voice his concerns. He had no desire to be a n elder.


    "Haha, one''s capabilities are unrted to age. I understand that you do not wish to join the main n, but are you truly unwilling to be a n elder?" Chieftain Wu Mao chuckled, "This n elders assembly epasses the entire Wu n, not just the main n."


    Wu Yuan found himself staring at the chieftain''s infuriating smile, at a loss for words.


    "This matter is thus decided," Wu Mao dered, bringing down a metaphorical hammer. The Wu nsmen exchanged nces, but no one dared to voice their objections. Within the n, it had long been the norm that Wu Mao''s word wasw.


    "All outstanding youngsters of the Wu n are rewarded equally, whether they hail from the main n or a branch," Wu Mao said, his smile unwavering. "Wu Yuan, once you formally join the sect, the entire Wu n will jointly gift you 20,000 silver taels every year for your cultivation."


    "Chieftain, there''s no need," Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.


    "I hope you don''t find itcking. I shall convene another n elders assembly and strive to increase the amount as much as possible," Chieftain Wu Mao boomingugh echoed around the hall. "Rest assured, the Wu n may not be arge n, but we will spare no effort when ites to supporting your cultivation. Surely you won''t refuse this?"


    "These resources aren��t just from the main n, but the entire Wu n. Unless, of course, you don''t consider yourself part of the Wu n?" Wu Mao shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    The hundreds of Wu n members were all struck dumb. 20,000 silver taels a year? By the heavens! From their understanding, Wu Yuan was merely an unremarkable martial virtuoso. Could he spend so many silver taels in a year even if he tried?


    "Chieftain, thank you." Wu Yuan said slowly. One should not rebuff a friendly gesture. Since Wu Mao, a second-rate Adept and the chieftain of arge n, was demonstrating such an attitude, Wu Yuan would truly be going overboard if he continued to express dissatisfaction.


    "Wu Yuan, I understand your reservations," Wu Mao replied with a smile. "But fear not, throughout history, it has been a regr urrence for the main n''s family to be reced."


    "I assure you," he continued. "Once you reach the second grade and be an elder of the sect, the Li City Wu n will take the ce of the Southdream Wu n as the main n."


    An audible gasp swept through the room.


    Wu Yuan looked at Wu Mao with a mix of surprise and doubt, wondering if he had misheard. A change in the main n''s family? Indeed, this was not unheard of. But in most cases, it was due to a branch of arge n gaining independence and surpassing the original main n in influence, rather than the main n voluntarily stepping down.


    It was akin to a battle for the throne, there have been many usurpers throughout history, but which emperor ever willingly abdicated?


    "Chieftain, you musn''t!"


    "You musn''t!" The expressions of several n elders were filled with rm. A change in the main n''s family was a nightmare scenario for any main n.


    "I am the chieftain, if you have any objections to this matter, bring them up at the n elders assembly." Wu Mao��s sharp gaze swept over the hundreds of Wu nsmen. Everyone fell silent.


    "Wu Yuan, what are your thoughts?" Wu Mao turned his gaze back to Wu Yuan, his eyes softening once more, as if he had transformed into an entirely different person.

 Chapter 65: Province-level Starcom Consortium

    <h4>Chapter 65: Province-level Sta Consortium</h4>


    "That is a strong statement." Wu Yuan smiled and replied, "Including the Southdream Wu n, our seven bloodlines are one family. This is an important teaching of our ancestors, a lesson ingrained in me from a tender age. I, Wu Yuan, shall never forget it."


    The fact that Wu Mao, the chieftain of arge n, was taking the initiative to lower his head, he was already giving Wu Yuan a tremendous amount of face. If Wu Yuan did not reciprocate, not only would the members of the Wu n misunderstand, but even Gu Ji, Wu Xiong, and the high-ranking members of the Cloudstride Sect would misconstrue Wu Yuan''s intentions.


    But although Wu Yuan acknowledged that Wu Mao''s statement was strong, he didn''t contradict his proposal. After all, there was no guarantee that the Wu n would change its main family. Who could foresee the future?


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, the worshipping of ancestors concludes here. Let us visit the family school and the rear courtyard. As a n elder, it��s important for you to understand the hierarchy of the Wu n." Wu Mao chuckled.


    With such an enthusiastic invitation, Wu Yuan couldn''t refuse him. And so, Wu Mao and Wu Yuan walked in front, followed by a few n elders, then Wu Xiong''s group, as they embarked on a second tour of the Wu n''s great ancestral mansion, even visiting several alleys inhabited by the Wu nsmen.


    But unlike the first tour, they did not merely take cursory looks at each location. Wu Mao took it upon himself to introduce each and every member of the Wu n to Wu Yuan, acquainting him with their backgrounds in meticulous detail. He even summoned the stewards from every corner of the residence to pay their respects to Wu Yuan, thereby affirming and solidifying his status as a true n elder.


    This scene surprised the entourage trailing behind the two. They were beginning to realize that Wu Mao was not joking. He treated Wu Yuan as a true n elder. By putting on such a grand disy of openly acknowledging Wu Yuan''s identity and authority, Wu Yuan would truly be able to mobilize the resources of the Wu n. At the very least, no one would dare to question his identity within the Wu n.


    After introducing Wu Yuan to the entirety of the n, Wu Mao graciously weed him and hispanions to the family-owned tavern, treating them with great hospitality.


    ...


    As the afternoon sun reached its apex, Wu Yuan politely turned down Wu Mao''s offer to stay the night and the group departed in their carriage.


    Standing at the entrance of the Wu n''s great ancestral mansion, they watched as the carriage retreated into the distance. Wu Mao turned his head, addressing the grand elder and the other n elders. "I can imagine the frustration and doubts that must gue your minds. Go to the meeting hall. I��ll exin everything there," he uttered in a soft tone. "I believe that once you hear my reasoning, you��llprehend the actions I��ve taken."


    With that, Wu Mao took the lead and entered the ancestral mansion. The n elders exchanged astounded nces, but ultimately it was the grand elder who followed suit, with the rest of the elders trailing behind.


    <i>...</i>


    <i>In the carriage on the road back.</i>


    "Young Master, in the end, you still epted the status of n elder and the silver notes," Gu Ji said lightly.


    "What other choice did I have?" Wu Yuan replied, ying with the stack of gold notes in his hand. One tael of gold was worth ten taels of silver. This stack of gold notes seemed small, but each had a value of 100 gold taels, worth a total of 20,000 taels of silver.


    "I assume today''s oue did not align with your initial intentions, Young Master," Gu Jimented nonchntly.


    "You''re quite observant, Uncle Ji." Wu Yuan smiled, "However, I am a member of the Wu n after all. I can''t go too far."


    "Since Chieftain Wu Mao is a reasonable man, let us observe for now. There is ample time." Wu Yuan leaned back into the narrow carriage seat, closing his eyes to rest his mind. A barely perceptible grin crept onto Gu Ji''s face as he refrained from probing any further.


    ...


    <i>In the Wu n��s meeting hall.</i>


    Entry into the meeting hall was only permitted to a select few. At the moment, only Chieftain Wu Mao, the grand elder, and another eight n elders were gathered here. Some of the n elders had hurried over upon hearing the news.


    Inside the hall, all eyes were on Chieftain Wu Mao.


    "Chieftain, we trust you, hence we did not question you in front of the nsmen. But now, it''s time for an exnation," the grand elder urged.


    "Grand Elder, please be patient," Wu Mao''s gaze swept across the hall, "I am sure that all of you n elders are full of questions, eager to know the truth."


    "I''ll cut to the chase. I have received the following news from the upper echelons of the sect: Wu Yuan is not an ordinary special recruitment disciple," said Wu Mao, "As you all know, special recruitment disciples typically possess remarkable talent, but usually amount to no more than second-rate Adepts."


    The group of n elders nodded. Special recruitment disciples all possessed exceptional talent. The Cloudstride Sect usually only recruited one or two each year, and four or five at most. It was quite a rare urrence.


    But bing a first-rate Adept was equally difficult!


    Over the past few decades, dozens of disciples were specially recruited throughout the entire Southdream County. And the number of first-rate Adepts that emerged from Southdream County over the same few decades was also only in the dozens. How could all the first-rate Adepts also be special recruitment disciples? That was illogical!


    In fact, ording to the Cloudstride Sect''s statistics, less than one-fifth of special recruitment disciples eventually became first-rate Adepts. Within the Cloudstride Sect, the vast majority of first-rate Adepts emerged from the numerous disciples of the tertiary martial academies and the Cloud Martial Hall.


    Of course, the probability that a special recruit would go on to be a powerhouse was disproportionately high. As long as their progress did not stagnate midway and they remained alive, they could at least be second-rate Adepts. The first-rate Adepts that emerged from the Cloud Martial Hall only ounted for one-tenth of all first-rate Adepts that emerged from the Cloudstride Sect.


    "ording to the higher echelons of the sect, Wu Yuan has a great chance of bing a Savant expert." Wu Mao solemnly said, "And if fate permits, he may be a Land Ranker."


    A wave of astonishment swept through the meeting hall. A Land Ranker? The n elders could hardly believe it. Such a legendary figure was too far-fetched, almost mythological to them.


    It was no exaggeration that a Grandmaster was capable of founding a sect and iming dominion over vast territories. Yuanhu Vi, for instance, was single-handedly established by Old Yuanhu, a Land Ranker. He dominated a region for decades, his name resounding throughout the world.


    Even if Wu Yuan only became a Savant expert, it was a terrifying enough prospect. A single one could face a thousand ordinary soldiers, and a regr army could hardly trap such an expert. Even the powerful Cloudstride Sect only stationed one Savant expert in Southdream Province all year round.


    The grand elder couldn''t help but ask, "Chieftain, forgive my skepticism, but who is this higher echelon? Is the information reliable?"


    "Rest assured, this is most definitely reliable." Wu Mao''s gaze swept over the crowd, solemnly emphasizing, "This is a matter of utmost secrecy within the sect. Remember not to leak what I''ve said today. Should the Inspection Hall conduct an investigation, you should know the consequences."


    "Understood."


    "We will not divulge a word." The n elders in the hall echoed in unison, finally understanding why the chieftain didn''t exin himself publicly. One could never be too careful where the Inspection Hall was concerned.


    "Chieftain, while I understand where you areing from, aren''t you promising a bit too much?" A purple-d n elder couldn''t help but voice his concerns, "Changing the n''s main family is a significant matter. Shouldn��t you have consulted with us beforehand?"


    "Yes, indeed!"


    "Offering silver is one thing, but how can we surrender the main n?" Other n elders nodded in agreement. That was their greatest concern. The grand elder sat silently to one side, his thoughts obscured behind a mask of deep contemtion.


    "Such foolishness." A glint of disappointment shed through Wu Mao''s eyes. "Do you not see? Just now, Wu Yuan was trying to provoke a conflict with our main n."


    The n elders were taken aback by his words.


    "A change in the n''s main family?" Wu Mao shook his head, sighing. "The title of ''main n'' of a family that hardly stands out in Southdream may be something you regard as a treasure, yet to Wu Yuan, it''s merely a burden."


    "I''ve gathered some information and examined Wu Yuan''s profilest night. He is not one to disrespect traditions, and from his past actions, he values his n greatly. Why would he act this way towards the main n? It was a deliberate choice," Wu Mao stated. "If we miss out on Wu Yuan, our Southdream Wu n would lose a genuine opportunity to rise."


    "What''s so important about the title of main n? If Wu Yuan bes a Savant expert in the future and desires power, do we have the ability to retain him? If he does not be a Savant expert, he won''t be able to seize power even if he wants to," Wu Mao said nonchntly.


    Many n elders fell into deep thought.


    "Whatever Wu Yuan wants, we will provide. Whatever he doesn''t want, we must also provide, willingly and proactively," Wu Mao slowly stated. "Our aim is to tie him to our Wu n''s chariot, making it impossible for him to escape."


    The hall fell into silence.


    "As for your concerns about the Li City Wu n swallowing us? Utter foolishness!"


    "Once Wu Yuan holds a high position in the sect and the Li City Wu n begins expanding, they would inevitably have to relocate, and Southdream City will be their first choice," Wu Mao exined. "How many nsmen does the Wu n of Li City have? How many does our main n have?"


    "In the future, Wu Yuan will need people, and he will not only rely on people from the Li City Wu n. In two or three generations, will we still be able to differentiate who is from which family?"


    "One brush stroke cannot write two ��Wu��s, these words were not just meant for Wu Yuan, but also for all of you," Wu Mao said softly.


    "But right now..." some n elders still hesitated.


    "At present, we remain the main n. Even with Wu Yuan''s rapid progress, he won''t be a Savant expert for another ten to twenty years." Wu Mao shook his head. "Moreover, even if we be a branch, being a branch of a noble family is far more powerful than being a so-called ''main n'' of a small family."


    Silence prevailed, with not a sound of opposition.


    "Grand Elder, what is your stance?" Wu Mao''s eyesnded on the grand elder.


    "Chieftain," the grand elder began slowly, "your words hold truth. Our vision was myopic. We shall follow your direction, but I have one proposal."


    A proposal? Wu Mao frowned slightly.


    "Let''s increase the silver notes allocated to Wu Yuan each year by an additional 10,000 taels," suggested the grand elder. "20,000 taels is somewhat insufficient."


    "Excellent!" Wu Mao sighed in relief.


    ...


    Twilight descended upon the Radiant Hall of Southdream Martial Academy.


    <i>Within the courtyard house where Wu Yuan resided.</i>


    "Another 10,000 silver taels were delivered? And from now on, I will receive 30,000 taels each year?" Wu Yuan''s astonishment was palpable as he took in the stack of silver notes Gu Ji handed him.


    The 20 gold notes had already exceeded his expectations. The main Wu n, although much more powerful than the Li City Wu n, had more n members and therefore greater expenses. 30,000 taels a year? That was not a small sum!


    "This chieftain Wu Mao may not be well-known, but it seems he has unified the opinion within the n," said Gu Ji. "He possesses decent skills and considerable charisma. When you rise to prominence, they will likely reap ten or even hundredfold returns."


    "Then let them wait," Wu Yuan shook his head. "Uncle Ji, I''m going upstairs to train."


    Gu Ji nodded. This was one aspect that he greatly admired about Wu Yuan. Regardless of the amount of ttery he received, Wu Yuan disyed no trace ofcency and would retreat into solitary training whenever he had spare time. In terms of diligence, Gu Ji admitted that he was inferior.


    Time ebbed away and the night deepened.


    Gu Ji remained on the first floor of the house, his eyes closed as if at rest. Yet his awareness reached every corner of the building. Even within the martial academy, he never let his guard down, always prepared for any potential assassination attempts.


    Little did he know that a shadowy figure was silently descending from the side of the building, slipping into the darkness without a trace.


    ...


    There were no curfews in Southdream City. As arge city with a poption of millions, it was naturally bustling with activity at night.


    At this moment, a burly man walked down the thriving main street.


    <i>Assassin? Only those who reach the Environmental Mastery level can truly be considered excellent assassins.</i>


    The burly man cracked a smile, his gaze drifting towards the towering nine-story building.


    <i>Tsk, tsk, I hope this province-level Sta Consortium doesn''t disappoint me.</i>

 Chapter 66: Weapons and Intelligence

    <h4>Chapter 66: Weapons and Intelligence</h4>


    The Sta Consortium, the mightiestmercial empire across the seven continents of the Central ins, was known for having thergest collection of treasures for sale and conducting its transactions fairly. Even the silver notes it issued were circted across the world, and universally epted as a form of currency. One could only imagine the terrifying power behind such an organization.


    <i>Absolute fairness? There are no absolutes in this world. The so-called absolute confidentiality only applies to small and ordinary transactions. Every time I utilized Transfiguration to procure valuable items at the Sta Consortium in Li City, I found myself shadowed incessantly.</i>


    Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.<i> I was even forced to temporarily halt my purchase of essential cultivation resources.</i>


    The numerous branches of the Sta Consortium across the world were ssified into four levels: headquarters, continent branches, province branches, and county branches. Naturally, the higher the level, the greater the branch''s security.


    For a county-level branch, a one-time purchase of 1000 silver taels was enough for one to be considered a VIP customer. But in a province-level branch? That wasn''t arge transaction. After all, the Southdream Province teemed with experts and illustrious families, where transactions exceeding 10,000 silver taels urred frequently. Transactions exceeding 100,000 taels were not umon either.


    This was a big reason why Wu Yuan wanted toe to Southdream City. Compared to Li City, there were ten times more resources, treasures, and information gathered here. Additionally, concealing his true identity was far simpler.


    After employing Transfiguration, Wu Yuan took on the appearance of a burly man and walked into the province-level Sta Consortium.


    "Wee, esteemed customer," an attendant greeted.


    Wu Yuan cast an appraising nce around him. The province-level Sta Consortium proved several times grander than its county-level counterpart, with each floor spanning a significantlyrger area. The decor was opulent and the clientele exuded an air of refinement. Many guests donned the attire of cavaliers, not appearing weak at all. Even the patrolling guards were much stronger than those in the Li City Sta Consortium.


    "I wish to visit the third floor," Wu Yuan dered coldly. His voice bore a maic quality, and was a stark contrast to his regr demeanor. For someone of his caliber, with martial skills at the level of a Great Grandmaster, altering his appearance and voice was a trivial matter.


    "Very well. Esteemed customer, please follow me," said the attendant promptly without asking to verify his identity or strength.


    Soon, Wu Yuan came to the third floor, where he was greeted by a graceful attendant radiating both modest charm and irresistible allure. Her beaming smile stirred a spontaneous fondness among those who beheld it.


    <i>Indeed, the Sta Consortium lives up to its name. </i>Wu Yuan silently praised.


    The attendants on this floor alone were a cut above those in the Li City Sta Consortium. They must have incurred no small expense to train them.


    He entered a private reception room where a man in his 30s, wearing a ck robe, awaited. His voice was gentle, striking a perfect bnce between humility and confidence. ''Esteemed customer, may I know what you seek from our Sta Consortium?''


    "I require both fourth-grade and fifth-grade throwing knives, small ones will suffice," Wu Yuan stated straightforwardly. He had previously purchased standard throwing knives from the Sta Consortium and found them very handy. However, after several major battles, many could not be recovered, and some were damaged after piercing through armor. Naturally, it was time to acquire a new batch.


    "Fourth-grade throwing knives, Sir? These are weapons meant for stealth and surprise attacks. The material requirements are not high, and typically a fifth-grade throwing knife can threaten a first-rate Adept," the ck-robed man couldn''t resist offering his advice.


    "Since when did the Sta Consortium start prying into its customer��s affairs?" Wu Yuan''s voice grew cold as an aura of power radiated from him, "How I use them is my business. You only need to answer one question: will you sell them to me or not?��


    Instantly, the ck-robed man felt as though he were being stalked by a ferocious beast, and a chilling sensation coursed through his body. Immediately realizing he had misspoken, he quickly corrected himself, "My apologies for overstepping, how many do you require?"


    "Price." Wu Yuan''s voice regained its calm.


    ��A fifth-grade throwing knife costs twenty taels, while a fourth-grade throwing knife is priced at 150 taels,�� the ck-robed man hastily answered.


    "I want twenty fifth-grade knives and ten fourth-grade knives," Wu Yuan replied indifferently.


    Though he was purchasing small throwing knives, they had to berge enough to prate heavy armor. Weight was a secondary concern. With Wu Yuan''s current strength, carrying several thousand catties of weight over long distances was a breeze.


    His primary concern was space! Concealing 30 throwing knives was the maximum amount Wu Yuan could manage withoutpromising hisbat abilities or drawing attention.


    "Very well, I will arrange for someone to retrieve them," the ck-robed man responded.


    "No need to rush," Wu Yuan coolly replied. "I also require fourth-grade soft body armor. It must not hinder my agility."


    "Fourth-grade soft body armor?" The eyes of the man in ck robes lit up. This was going to be a huge transaction!


    Minimal materials were used in the construction of throwing knives, even for superior rated ones. And as a stealth weapon, it couldn''t be priced too high. Otherwise, customers would turn to other weapon shops.


    But soft armor was different. It demanded more materials and skilled craftsmanship, which naturally drove up the prices. A high quality fourth-grade soft armor could easily fetch tens of thousands of silver taels.


    "Sir, since armors vary depending on an individual''s physique, most are tailored," the ck-robed man exined.


    "No need, I want a pre-made piece," Wu Yuan replied with a hint of indifference.


    Custom-made? His current figure differed significantly from his original form after Transfiguration, hence custom-made armor was out of the question.


    "Then, Sir, I would like to invite you to our armory to try on each one and determine which fits you best," the man in ck robes proposed.


    "Sure," Wu Yuan casually replied. He wasn��t worried that the Sta Consortium might pull tricks on him. The two went up directly to the fourth floor through a small door behind the reception room and came to a hidden room.


    "Sir, our armory is connected to various rooms, and is asionally visited by other customers choosing their weapons. If you seek to maintain anonymity, you may don a mask," the ck-robed man motioned towards the nearby wall, where an assortment of masks adorned with fierce or ghoulish expressions hung. Through these masks, only a pair of eyes would be visible.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, casually selecting a mask to wear.


    As he pushed open the door, an expansive arsenal unfurled before Wu Yuan''s eyes. Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, shields, bows... a myriad of weapons were presented, each one a fine masterpiece.


    "Sir..." The robed man watched as Wu Yuan finally selected a piece of soft armor after trying on more than a dozen armors. He couldn''t help but offer a gentle reminder, "Although this armor is rtively inexpensive, it may not be the most suitable choice for you."


    Hearing this, two guests standing a short distance away turned to look. Indeed, it was a rather poor fit.


    "Hmm?" Wu Yuan cast a cold nce over.


    "Nothing, whatever you say goes," the ck-robed man shut his mouth and quickly wrapped up the piece of armor, leading Wu Yuan back downstairs. They returned to the reception room and took their seats.


    "Sir, this armor is priced at 6300 silver taels, and the throwing knives are 1900 silver taels, bringing the total to 8200 silver taels," the ck-robed man looked somewhat expectant as he calcted the price. A one-time transaction of nearly 10,000 silver taels was not toomon for him.


    "There��s no need to rush," Wu Yuan remarked, tapping the table lightly with indifference. "I also require a significant quantity of bone forging pills."


    "Bone forging pills?" The ck-robed man''s eyes sparked with interest. "In what quantity, Sir?"


    The bone forging pill was a more advanced version of the body tempering pill with higher efficacy. It was usually targeted at Adepts and thus carried a higher price tag.


    A high-grade bone forging pill was priced at a hundred silver taels. A medium-grade bone forging pill cost twenty silver taels.


    "1000, medium-grade," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "1000?" The ck-robed man inhaled sharply. This was indeed a big transaction, these medicinal pills alone amounted to 20,000 silver taels. Adding the armor and weapons, it was nearly 30,000 taels in total.


    It was his first time this year handling such a significant transaction, and even the nearby female attendant couldn''t hide her astonishment. She wasn''t expecting the individual she casually assisted to be such avish customer.


    "On top of that, I require some information," Wu Yuan said casually, his eyes shifting to the attendant behind him. With tact, she immediately bowed her head and withdrew from the reception room.


    "Please speak freely, Sir," the man in ck robes said.


    "I want detailed information about the Ninedragon Peaks, the Pleiades Guild, and the Ninedeaths Circle," Wu Yuan spoke indifferently.


    "No problem," the ck-robed man smiled.


    "But don''t think you can fool me with simple summaries and historical events," Wu Yuan calmly continued. "What I��m looking for are the locations of these three major forces in the Southdream Province, their contact methods, the strength of their leaders, internal organizational structure, and other information."


    "The price is negotiable," Wu Yuan dered, keeping an unwavering gaze on the ck-robed man.


    The ck-robed man''s expression shifted slightly, but he soon regained hisposure. "Sir, our Sta Consortium abides by the rules of the Cloudstride Sect, we cannot possibly probe into these..."


    Wu Yuan stood up abruptly. "Very well, if the Sta Consortium is unwilling to conduct business, then I will have to spend additional effort to slowly gather weapons and information."


    Abide by the rules of the Cloudstride Sect? Only a fool would believe that!


    The ck-robed man immediately grew anxious. He could sense that Wu Yuan was not joking around. Not only was he refusing to purchase the intelligence, but even the transaction involving tens of thousands of silver taels was now off the table.


    "Sir, please do not be in a hurry to leave. Have a seat, let us talk this out." The ck-robed man implored.


    "Why, do you have the information?" Wu Yuan halted and turned around, his voice dripping with icy disdain, "I have no patience. If you continue to mess with me, there will be no more opportunities."


    "Esteemed customer, I will be honest with you." The man in ck robes gritted out, "Information regarding these underground organizations might be known to the upper echelons of the Sta Consortium, but it cannot be freely sold to outsiders. I must make a request, and even if the upper echelons agree, they will certainly need to verify your identity first."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. "I know. However, I shall not authenticate my identity."


    "Understood," the ck-robed man nodded, "The only thing I can do within my limited authority is to mix in some spections concerning the bases and general structure of these underground organizations together with regr intelligence."


    The ck-robed man ced a great deal of emphasis on the word ''spections''. Wu Yuan, of course, understood his meaning.


    After pondering for a while, he replied, "Alright."


    "Sir, please wait a moment. I will organize the rted information and present it to you. You may only peruse it within the confines of the Sta Consortium." The ck-robed man said, "Three pieces of intelligence are priced at a total of 1000 silver taels."


    "No issue." Wu Yuan nodded. Secret intelligence could not be brought out of the shop - this was a consistent rule of the Sta Consortium. How much a customer could remember depended on their ability.


    Was 1000 silver taels a hefty sum? Of course! But since ancient times, knowledge and information have always been extraordinarily precious.


    Wu Yuan didn''t have to wait long. The ck-robed man promptly delivered a few slim volumes and over ten separate parchments. Wu Yuan began reading immediately. Ever since he had unlocked his upper dantian lobe, his soul had grown steadily stronger. When it came to memorization, Wu Yuan could achieve total recall with just a nce.


    After less than an hour, Wu Yuan put down thest parchment, having gained a preliminary understanding of major underground organizations like the Ninedragon Peaks, the Ninedeaths Circle, and the Pleiades Guild. A loose n began to take shape in his mind.


    "Prepare my weapons and bone forging pills." Wu Yuan took out a sufficient number of silver notes and ced them on the table. As an ��afterthought��, he mentioned, "By the way, bring me thetest issues of the Land Rankings, Human Rankings, and Genius Rankings published by the Sta Consortium."


    The sight of therge stacks of silver notes ignited a gleam of anticipation in the eyes of the ck-robed man. Filled with delight, he responded cheerfully, "A small matter, I��ll bring them at once."

 Chapter 67: Land Rankings

    <h4>Chapter 67: ''Land Rankings''</h4>


    After spending nearly 30,000 silver taels, Wu Yuan donned his soft body armor, secured each throwing knife in position, and put on his clothing. He picked up several books and slung a bulky bundle filled with a thousand bone forging pills over his shoulder. Then, he stood up and left the Sta Consortium, merging into the bustling crowd.


    <i>No one is following me.</i> Wu Yuan maintained a constant awareness of his surroundings. <i>As expected of a province-level Sta Consortium, how generous of them.</i>


    Although a transaction of tens of thousands of silver taels was ratherrge, it appeared insufficient to rm the Sta Consortium''s higher echelons.


    <i>Now, I should purchase my primary weapon for battle.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s pace was quick, but not fast enough to attract undue attention. Mastering one��s movements to such a degree was no small feat.


    ... After more than two hours, passing by fourrge weapon shops, Wu Yuan finally settled on a fourth-grade battle saber from a moderately-sized establishment.


    Fourth-grade superior weapons were already considered the top treasures of most weapon shops.


    As for divine weapons? Without overwhelming power and backing, even if they could get their hands on a divine weapon, most weapon shops were not willing to disy it. If not handled well, a Savant expert might be tempted to steal it.


    After leaving the weapon shop, Wu Yuan headed to a nondescript store and purchased amon scabbard that could perfectly hide the de of his saber.


    With all errandsplete and ensuring once again that he remained untracked, Wu Yuan surreptitiously obscured his traces, silently returning to the martial academy.


    Throughout this excursion, whether it was the soldiers on the periphery of the martial academy, the guards on patrol within, or even the first-rate Adept Gu Ji guarding the first floor, none of them noticed Wu Yuan''s movements.


    Climbing the steps that lined the wall, Wu Yuan sat cross-legged at the center of the martial chamber.


    <i>With the strengthening of my soul, my perception of the world sharpens, deepening my understanding of Environmental Mastery. In terms of pure martial skill, I am no longer weaker than in my past life.</i>


    Awake and conscious for five months now, Wu Yuan''s abilities now surpassed the peak of his previous life in every aspect. Re-entering the stage of Environmental Mastery propelled Wu Yuan''s skills in stealth and infiltration to unprecedented heights.


    <i>In terms of stealth, I may still fall short of a Land Ranker, but I should surpass a Savant expert. </i>Wu Yuan smirked. <i>At least, Gu Ji didn''t detect me.</i>


    Admittedly, this sess was in part due to Wu Yuan taking the extra precaution to enter from an alternate side of the courtyard. If he were to assassinate a first-rate Adept? It would be challenging to aplish that soundlessly.


    <i>If I can perfect Environmental Mastery, exercisingplete control over my surrounding environment, even a Land Ranker might fail to sense my approach.</i>


    The more he practiced this skill, the more Wu Yuan recognized its potential inbat. However, the current Wu Yuan could only be considered a novice. There was still a long road ahead before he could reach perfect control.


    <i>ck Mountain Saber!</i> Wu Yuan unwrapped the bundle, grasping the scabbard with one hand. As he lifted it, Wu Yuan roughly estimated its weight. He could confirm that the saber and its scabbard together weighed a staggering 106 catties.


    The saber was named ck Mountain for two reasons. Firstly its de was entirely ck, forged from a special material that defied any reflection of light. This made it suitable for sneak attacks in the darkness. Secondly, Wu Yuan''s strongest saber technique was called ''Thousand Mountains''. Integrating these two aspects naturally gave rise to the name ck Mountain Saber.


    <i>Let''s give it another go.</i> Wu Yuan''s fingers itched to wield the de. Firmly gripping the hilt once more, he pulled out the ck saber from its scabbard. As the de emerged, Wu Yuan sliced forward. The edge of the de parted the air, apanied by the faint sound of an explosion, and the room itself seemed to hum faintly. The edge of the de remained three feet above the ground, unmoving as if frozen in time.


    <i>Indeed, this is a fine saber, not at all worse than Yang Long''s machete. In fact, it may even be superior. </i>A smile appeared on the corners of Wu Yuan''s mouth. <i>It can effortlessly withstand a force of 100,000 catties.</i>


    The true measure of a superior weapon was the limit of the material''s resistance when force was applied. A sixth-grade weapon might appear sufficient, but for an expert like Wu Yuan, it might shatter on impact when he fought at full strength. With a swift motion, Wu Yuan sheathed the saber.


    <i>This saber cost me 12,000 silver taels. Come to think of it, the true worth of Yang Long''s machete should be around tens of thousands of silver taels. It��s truly a shame to have lost it. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Of course, Wu Yuan did not regret his decision. The notoriety of Yang Long''s machete was too great, and various factions kept records of its appearance and details. If Wu Yuan wielded it, it would draw too much attention to him. Hence, he discarded it without heartache.


    Wu Yuan purposely avoided purchasing a battle saber from the Sta Consortium for the same reason, only acquiring soft armor and throwing knives from them.


    Throwing knives were a standard issue at the Sta Consortium and purchased by many experts across the world. Who could possibly keep track of all the buyers? Soft armor, worn discreetly beneath clothing, was also usually not exposed.


    Only battle sabers and heavy armor were conspicuous. Such treasures were typically custom-made, and the Sta Consortium would keep corresponding records. Should Wu Yuan ever cause a major incident while wielding them, the Sta Consortium��s intelligencework would certainlyunch an investigation, and easily trace the clues back to him.


    The weapon shops that Wu Yuan visited appeared to berge establishments, but they operated solely within Southdream City. The owners mostly didn''t care who they sold to, and possessed no ties to the intelligence business sector. This careful approach greatly reduced the likelihood of Wu Yuan being discovered, which was also why Wu Yuan decided to buy a regr scabbard. Every action taken was driven by the need for secrecy and safety.


    "Young Master, are you still awake at thiste hour?" A deep voice echoed from outside the martial chamber, it was Gu Ji. He had just heard the sound of a saber being drawn.


    "I am awake. I was just practicing with my saber, there��s no cause for concern." Wu Yuan replied.


    "Young Master, please rest early. I will head down first." Soon after, he heard the faint thumps of Gu Ji��s footsteps, and the stairwell fell intoplete silence.


    <i>One must not underestimate the senses of a first-rate Adept. It was a good decision not to purchase a spear or arge axe, they are too conspicuous.</i>


    Wu Yuan preferred to use a spear or axe for group battles and a sword or saber for singlebat. However, now that Gu Ji was following him around all day, he chose the saber for its ease of concealment. He could simply keep it in its scabbard and hang it on his waist. Even a Land Ranker could not make anything out just by looking at the scabbard. But a spear or arge axe? That would easily attract trouble!


    Wu Yuan ced the battle saber beside him, reaching out for the stack of books. He picked up the one on top, its cover adorned with golden characters that read ''Land Rankings.''


    <i>Land Rankings! Finally, a chance to properly understand the top martial artists of this world.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes brimmed with curiosity and anticipation.


    He had long heard about these rankings early on and was eager to learn more about the renowned individuals listed within.


    The Sta Consortium''s influence and intelligencework spanned the world, recording the notable feats of martial artists and assigning them ranks based on their strength. Ultimately, the ''Land Rankings'', ''Human Rankings'', and ''Genius Rankings'' were formed. Each ranking was unique.


    The title of Land Ranker, reserved for first-grade martial artists, was also derived from the ''Land Rankings��. Only first-grade martial artists could have their names recorded on the Land Rankings! In truth, the Sta Consortium wasn��t the only organization that ranked the strength of martial artists. However, their unparalleled informationwork and absolute neutrality earned them widespread recognition and authority over the years.


    He turned to the first page.


    <i>In the realm of human strength, the nine grades of martial arts illuminate the path.</i>


    <i>To transcend the boundaries of mortality, to shed the human form, is to embark on the journey towards immortality! It is the divine way! The road to godhood! That is why Heavenly Rankers are known asnd deities.</i>


    <i>Heavenly Rankers approach the realm of deities, far removed from the ordinary folk of the world. Their deeds seem like myths, beyond theprehension of ordinary people, making it challenging topile an urate list for the Heavenly Rankings.</i>


    <i>A first-grade Grandmaster can roam the world, establish a sect, or rule over territories. They have reached the peak of mortality, the pinnacle of all beings in thend, and represent the limit that most martial artists can strive for...thus, they are known as Land Rankers!</i>


    <i>In the first year of the Eastern Martial calendar, the Martial King established martial arts, ssified martial arts into nine grades, framed the structure of the thirteen continents, and created the first Land Ranking...</i>


    <i>In the year 1232 of the Eastern Martial calendar, the Nine Immortals Pavilion assumed this responsibility from the Wu Sect [1], revised the Land Rankings, and gradually gained public recognition for their list. This continued for nearly a thousand years.</i>


    <i>In the year 2116 of the Eastern Martial calendar, thirteen years after the fall of the Nine Immortals Pavilion, the Sta Consortium inherited the legacy of its predecessors, continuing the publication of the Land Rankings across the thirteen continents...</i>


    <i>In the year 2432 of the Eastern Martial calendar, the rankings included martial artists from all thirteen continents of the Middle Land: Holy, Dong, Wu, Jiang, Chu, Yuan, Yan, Min, Nan, Bei, Mo, Xi, Huang, as well as two overseas continents: Qiong and Feng. Presently, all fifteen continents are included.</i>


    <i>The Land Rankings are published once a year, documenting the names of all the Land Rankers from the fifteen continents. The rankings undergo revisions every October and are released in November, in two editions: primary and secondary.</i>


    <i>The primary edition ranks all the Land Rankers from the thirteen continents of the Middle Land and two overseas continents based on their actualbat strength, supplemented by rumors and legends. Three Land Rankers and eighteen Savant experts jointly determine the rankings, which are then reviewed by Heavenly Rankers before being made public to the world.</i>


    <i>The secondary edition ranks the Land Rankers from each continent, organizing them ording to their region of activity and strength...</i>


    <i>We, the Sta Consortium, uphold the Martial King''s will. This is the 3223rd issue, and the reviewing process concluded in October of the 3223rd year of the Eastern Martial calendar...</i>


    Wu Yuan read the book with surging emotions. The Martial King was a legendary powerhouse in the world of the Middle Land. He was a myth, a legend, and the first Heavenly Ranker to be officially acknowledged.


    He delineated the thirteen continents, and despite asional changes in provinces, counties, and municipalities over time, disputes over the continents had ceased for thousands of years.


    He defined the nine grades of martial arts, which were still in effect today.


    He set the criteria for the Land Rankings. Despite the twists and turns along the way, this duty was handed from the Wu Sect to the Nine Immortal Pavilion, and finally to the Sta Consortium, and was still recognized by the martial artists of the world to this day.


    The Heavenly Rankings? It remained a distant aspiration! To be listed in the Land Rankings, to earn the title of Grandmaster, was the dream that every martial artist in the Middle Land harbored since setting foot on the path of martial arts.


    <i>This isst year''s issue. Based on my calctions, it won''t be long until the new Land Rankings are released</i>. Wu Yuan flipped through the pages. <i>I''m excited to find out just how powerful the Land Rankers of the Middle Land world really are.</i>


    Within the dimly lit martial chamber, Wu Yuan��s vision remained unimpeded.


    <i>Jin Cang, ranked number one in the Land Rankings, reigns as Emperor Jin IV of the Great Jin Dynasty. He wields the first-grade divine weapon, the Sword of Emperor Jin. His current age is 62...</i> The first Land Ranker caused a frown to mar Wu Yuan''s brow.


    The current emperor of the Great Jin Empire was surely busy with matters of the state. Yet he was also the most powerful Land Ranker?


    1. the sect founded by the Martial King ?

 Chapter 68: The Twelve Grandmasters Of The Jiang Continent

    <h4>Chapter 68: The Twelve Grandmasters Of The Jiang Continent</h4>


    Wu Yuan naturally felt a sense of wariness and hostility towards the Great Jin Empire. After all, his father met his end in Hillstride Province, dying in battle against Great Jin. Moreover, the Great Jin Empire was the Cloudstride Sect''s biggest enemy.


    Once Wu Yuan joined the Cloudstride Sect, it was almost certain that he would sh with the empire in the near future.


    But upon reflection, Wu Yuan eased his tense expression. <i>That makes sense. Emperor Jin I was a Heavenly Ranker, so his bloodline wouldn''t be weak. Jin Cang, the chosen heir to the title of Emperor Jin, couldn''t have subdued the millions of people under the empire''smand without formidable power.</i>


    This was a martial artist''s world! A world where a single martial artist could contend with thousands.


    In the novels of his past life, emperors ruled without lifting a finger, and Great Grandmasters knelt at theirmand. But those were merely the fabricated tales of writers'' imaginations.


    In reality, it was true that governing a nation and maintaining peace required a specific set of talents. But in the Middle Land, the clever and wise could only serve as assistants to kingdoms or sects; relying solely on strategy and statecraft could not ensure long-term stability. Martial power was a must.


    This was especially so for a royal family. To trulymand a piece of territory, one must first possess immense martial power. It was Imperator Jin��s unrivaled might that paved the way to establishing the Great Jin Empire. Strategy was secondary.


    <i>If I were to take the path of the Civic Competency Exam within the Cloudstride Sect, I would, at best, be a governor. No matter how sharp my intellect, bing a hall master or sect leader would be impossible.</i>


    To hold such positions, one needed to be a Savant expert.


    For county mayors and provincial governors, if theycked personal strength, the sect would assign expert bodyguards to protect them from assassination. After all, intellect was useless if safety couldn''t be guaranteed. They couldn''t rely on an army of millions to protect them every day. Martial artists would eventually find an opportunity to assassinate them.


    <i>This Emperor Jin possesses both strong physical might and numerous experts under hismand. Unless a Heavenly Ranker were to intervene, who could assassinate him?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head with a sigh. Personal strength formed the bedrock of power.


    As Wu Yuan continued to read, he memorized the names of the Land Rankers, familiarizing himself with the Grandmasters on the list. These Land Rankers each had a remarkable background, be it as the leader of a great sect, or as the pir of a nation or sacred sect. Even a small number who were unfettered by fame or wealth were renowned cavaliers in their own right.


    Out of tens of millions, only a single Land Ranker would be born. However, how vast was the world? Each continent spanned thousands of li, with poptions in the billions. Naturally, there weren''t just a handful of Land Rankers. Hence, the ''Land Rankings'' only offered a mere glimpse into each one, featuring a concise introduction and a few ounts of their defining battles. As for moreprehensive information? That would have to be purchased separately from Sta Consortium.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened suddenly, and his finger paused on the introduction of the martial artist ranked 33rd in the Land Rankings.


    <i>Bu Yu, ranked 33rd in the Land Rankings. A Hierarch of the Cloudstride Sect in the Jiang Continent, wielding the first-grade divine weapon Moontide Sword, 96 years of age. Commonly referred to as Grandmaster Yu...</i>


    <i>At 68 years old, Grandmaster Bu Yu engaged in a battle with the two grand abbots of the Wingborne Sect in the Dalong Province of the Jiang Continent. She fought evenly against both of them, and a mere monthter, Grand Abbot Yuan Xian of the Wingborne Sect sumbed to his severe injuries...</i>


    <i>At 88 years old, in the Hillstride Province of the Jiang Continent, she first defeated Grandmaster Chen Luo of Great Jin, then engaged in a relentless battle with the East King Jin Jiu, exchanging hundreds of moves without defeat. Eventually, after Great Jin upied the Hillstride Province, they withdrew their forces, allowing the Cloudstride Sect to maintain its existence...</i>


    Bu Yu, a Hierarch of the Cloudstride Sect!


    <i>I see, the Grandmaster Yu that Gu Ji mentioned is named Bu Yu? Ranked 33rd? Judging from the records of her battles, she could potentially advance into the top twenty or even higher.</i>


    Jin Jiu, the East King of Great Jin, ranked twelfth in the Land Rankings, was a top-notch martial artist of the Jin royal family. To be able to exchange hundreds of moves with him without suffering defeat, one could well imagine Bu Yu''s strength.


    <i>Perhaps age ys a role. </i>The ages of the previous Land Rankers crossed Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Most were between 40 and 70 years old. Including Bu Yu, only two of them were over 90 years of age! Land Rankers, having reached the physical limits of the human body, wielded precise, nearly divine control over their bodies. They could automatically heal from a majority of injuries.


    Ordinary people began to show signs of age at 70 or 80, as their hair grayed and their steps grew unsteady. However, even at 100, these Grandmasters could pass for 50-year-olds, their bodily functions still at their peak. They could live hale and hearty lives even at 130 or 140 with ease.


    <i>And yet, no matter how strong their body, or how brilliant their martial skills, they are ultimately bound by flesh, unable to withstand the erosion of time.</i>


    The physical constitution of a Grandmaster at 60 years old remained almost unchanged from when they were 30. However, by the time they reached 90 years old, even if their peakbat power remained undiminished, their endurance in battle and speed of recovery after injury inevitably waned.


    As the saying goes, nothing beats the vigor of youth. This was an immutable truth passed down through the ages. Naturally, the older one grew, the lower their ranking on the Land Rankings.


    Wu Yuan continued to flip through the list, reading about each Land Ranker and noting down their aplishments firmly in mind. This gave him a clearer understanding of this world''s might.


    <i>Each Land Ranker has reached the physical peak of humanity. Yet, one''s innate physical constitution and early training conditions ultimately result in clear differences in one��s physical constitution. Martial skills, secret techniques, divine weapons, and age, all y a part in influencing the manifestation of one''s strength.</i>


    Take the current Emperor Jin, Jin Cang, for example. Since his childhood, he was provided with the finest training conditions. His foundation was rock solid. Combined with a first-grade divine weapon thatplemented his abilities, his strength was naturally terrifying.


    <i>The ''World Land Rankings'' records a total of 231 Land Rankers.</i> Wu Yuan read the final page of the book, and then closed it.


    Did this number ount for all the Grandmasters scattered throughout the Middle Land? Not necessarily. It was entirely usible that some experts achieved breakthroughs in secret, yet continued pretending to be Savant experts. The top forces of the world might also be hiding some trump cards.


    Wu Yuan pondered carefully. Even if there were reclusive experts, it was unlikely that there were many of them. After all, the Sta Consortium''s influence spread across the world. The Land Rankings were reset annually, so as long as a Grandmaster made their presence known, they would naturally make the list.


    <i>I wonder, how many Heavenly Rankers exist in this vast world?</i> A spark of curiosity ignited in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    s, there was no one to provide him with answers.


    As the ''World Land Rankings'' stated in its introduction, the gap between Heavenly Rankers and ordinary people was a great chasm, akin to the difference between immortals and mortals. Their exploits were beyond the understanding of the popce �� how could one possibly ascertain their deeds?


    Furthermore, the number of surviving Land Rankers was countable. One reason was that their lifespans were limited �� one would age and die by 150 to 160.


    But the Heavenly Rankers? ording to ancient legends, the Martial King lived a full 500 years! Therefore, it was impossible to determine whether a Heavenly Ranker still lived or died. For them, living 200 or 300 years was a simple matter. There were rumors that Imperator Jin, the founder of the Great Jin Empire, was still alive. But this was impossible to confirm.


    <i>There''s no rush. Once I possess the power of a Land Ranker, the answers will reveal themselves.</i>


    When one grasped a certain level of power, they naturally came in contact with the corresponding circles of knowledge. Without such power, even if one possessed all the information in the world, it would serve as nothing but idle discourse, a pointless exercise in worry.


    <i>The major events of the world are currently unrted to me at present, but I still need to pay attention to the affairs of the Jiang Continent.</i>


    Wu Yuan picked up the second book, ��Jiang Continent Land Rankings'' �� this was a secondary edition of the Land Rankings, recording only the Land Rankers who resided in the Jiang Continent year-round. There were a total of twelve.


    Compared to the previous ''World Land Rankings'' book, this ''Jiang Continent Land Rankings'' was much thinner, with only a dozen or so pages.


    <i>The descriptions of these Land Rankers are quite detailed, consisting of a brief biography and records of the victories that etched their names in history.</i> Wu Yuan observed with great fascination.


    <i>Grandmaster Yu, the first ranked Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent.</i>


    <i>Chu Ping, the second ranked Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent, known as the Baijiang King, a distant royal of the Chu-Jiang Empire...</i>


    <i>Chang Dong, the third ranked Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent, known as Old Yuanhu...</i>


    <i>Chen Luo, the fourth ranked Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent, hailing from the Great Jin Empire...</i>


    <i>...</i>


    <i>Huan Jian, the ninth ranked Grandmaster of the Jiang Continent, a Hierarch of the Cloudstride Sect...</i>


    ...Wu Yuan meticulously absorbed the information regarding the twelve Grandmasters of the Jiang Continent. Gradually, he pieced together a preliminary understanding of the prevailing state of affairs in this region.


    <i>The Great Jin Empire currently controls four provinces within the Jiang Continent, and astonishingly, they station three Grandmasters here permanently.</i> Wu Yuan was quite surprised.


    Based on what he just learned, the Great Jin Empire, which was founded 200 years ago, was still aggressively expanding its territorial influence in all cardinal directions to this day. The Min Continent, the Yuan Continent, the Jiang Continent...wherever the Great Jin Empire bordered, mes of war were ignited, except for the remote and barren Xi and the Huang Continents.


    Their insatiable appetite for world domination was known to all.


    But even when surrounded by enemies and constant warfare, the Great Jin Empire still managed to dispatch three Grandmasters to the distant Jiang Continent to reside long-term. This fact alone bore testament to the empire��s overall might.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect seems to be in a precarious position.</i>


    There were currently only two Land Rankers within the sect. Grandmaster Huan Jian was somewhat younger, but still already 89 years old. With Grandmaster Yu''s strength, they could deter their enemies for the time being. But what about ten years to twenty years from now?


    <i>I believe the higher-ups of the Cloudstride Sect have duly contemted these matters. It''s not toote to think about such things after I''ve joined the sect.</i>


    Should danger befall his mother or sister, Wu Yuan would perhaps risk his life in battle. But when it came to the Cloudstride Sect? Wu Yuan currently had no intention ofying down his life for its sake. In the face of true mortal danger, he would not hesitate to flee.


    <i>The ''Jiang Continent Human Rankings''?</i> Wu Yuan picked up the third book.


    The Human Rankings were aption of the experts that had yet to reach the Grandmaster level. The Land Rankings consisted of both primary and secondary editions, while the Human Rankings only focused on the rankings within each continent. A global ranking was simply not feasible given the sheer number of people and the scale of territories.


    Furthermore, unlike the Land Rankings, which was established by the Martial King and a tradition inherited for thousands of years, the Human Rankings and Genius Rankings were innovations of the Sta Consortium.


    <i>Featuring the top 500 experts below the Grandmaster level from the Jiang Continent? </i>Wu Yuan browsed through the ''Jiang Continent Human Rankings''.


    Each martial expert''s introduction was extremely brief. For example: "Zhang Changsheng, ranked 39, 41 years old, Savant expert, member of the Cloudstride Sect''s Military Hall..." These descriptions consisted of just over a hundred words and briefly recounted a notable battle that had propelled them to fame.


    However, considering the number of experts included in the rankings, Wu Yuan could understand the need to keep things short. If every detail was expounded upon, just how long would this volume be?


    He turned the pages quickly, but suddenly, his eyes stopped on a particr name.


    <i>Gao Yu is also listed?</i> Intrigued, Wu Yuan began to read attentively.

 Chapter 69: 46,000 Catties

    <h4>Chapter 69: 46,000 Catties</h4>


    <i>Gao Yu, ranked 146, aged 44, a first-rate Adept (third-grade), a member of the Cloudstride Sect''s Finance Hall... Judging by the ranking, Gao Yu''s strength is definitely among the top tier of first-rate Adepts.</i>


    The Jiang Continent Human Rankings epassed a total of 500 experts below the Grandmaster level. Out of these experts, 92 were Savant experts. And among these Savant experts, 21 were part of the Cloudstride Sect.


    If averaged across the sixteen provinces of the Jiang Continent, each province would have fewer than six Savant experts, proving just how rare their existence was.


    Apart from the 92 Savant experts, the other martial artists listed on the Human Rankings were all first-rate Adepts. As someone ranked in the 100s, Gao Yu wasn��t weak at all. In fact, he was close to the level of a Savant expert.


    It should be noted that there was a considerable variation in abilities among first-rate Adepts. The ones in the top tier could instantly defeat the ones in the bottom tier. For instance, the twin hammer expert that Wu Yuan previously fought had ordinary strength and could barely control the Twofold Power Surge technique. Now, Wu Yuan believed that if he exerted his full strength, he could y the same expert in just one or two saber strikes!


    ording to Wu Yuan''s estimation, Gu Ji and Luo Fu were among the stronger first-rate Adepts, especially Gu Ji who could asionally unleash Threefold Power Surge.


    <i>I can defeat Gu Ji without much difficulty, but killing him would pose a challenge. It would require dozens of exchanges before I get a chance tond a fatal blow.</i>


    The main obstacley in the huge difference in physical strength.


    As for defeating Gao Yu? Wu Yuancked confidence.


    He continued to turn the pages.


    <i>Half an hourter.</i>


    <i>The Jiang Continent stretches tens of thousands of li from east to west, With a poption in the hundreds of millions, it indeed produces a considerable number of experts!</i> Wu Yuan closed the ''Jiang Continent Human Rankings''.


    He closed his eyes. At this point, he hadmitted all the strong individuals listed in the Human Rankings to memory. He now had a clearer understanding of the overallndscape of the Jiang Continent and the number of martial arts experts living here.


    <i>My abilities ought tond me between rank 100 and 300 in the Human Rankings. </i>


    However, this was merely his conjecture, as his encounters with first-rate Adepts had been limited thus far. Having yet to witness the abilities of a Savant expert, it was difficult to make an urate judgment.


    Only a few of the first-rate Adepts he had crossed paths with were listed on the rankings. Luo Fu, an expert from the Dong Continent, was not listed. Gu Ji? Wu Yuan did not see his name, but judging from his demeanor when Gao Yu introduced him, his strength and status were likely not far behind that of Gao Yu''s.


    <i>Gu Ji... it''s probably a pseudonym. He appears to be a sacrificial guard.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It was not umon for various factions to conceal some of their experts across such a vastnd.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect indeed possesses profound roots. </i>


    The information of hundreds of experts from the Human Rankings shed through his mind. The Jiang Continent housed six major forces: The Cloudstride Sect, Great Jin, the Eastdream Wen Family, the Westdream Dao Family, Yuanhu Vi, and the Baijiang Kingdom.


    Without a doubt, the Cloudstride Sect boasted the strongest overall power among these forces, housing the most Savant experts and first-rate Adepts. Grandmaster Yu was a figure whomanded respect across the Jiang Continent with her sword. On the other hand, Yuanhu Vi, despite being protected by Grandmaster Old Yuanhu, had only two Savant experts at their disposal. They could barelypete against the Cloudstride Sect


    Chu Ping of the Baijiang Kingdom was a strong Grandmaster himself. With the support of two surviving Grandmasters from the Chu-Jiang Empire, he was able to im four provinces under his rule. However,pared to the Cloudstride Sect, the foundation of his kingdom was rtively weak, and his subjects disyed little loyalty or sense of belonging.


    The only force capable of posing a threat to the Cloudstride Sect was the Great Jin Empire. Although they had recently set foot in the Jiang Continent, they swiftly seized control of four provinces. This naturally led to great resistance. The Hillstride Province, for instance, had never ceased its struggle against their conquerors over the years.


    Nevertheless, the might of Great Jin was undeniable, as they could mobilizerge armies from other continents to invade the Jiang Continent at any given moment.


    <i>However, in the world of the Middle Land, where martial arts reign supreme, a single individual can often turn the tide. Great Jin''s dominance may notst forever. </i>Wu Yuan wasn��t too concerned.


    Setting aside the ''Jiang Continent Human Rankings'', Wu Yuan shifted his attention to the final book in the pile - the ''Jiang Continent Genius Rankings''.


    The Human Rankings epassed the entire Jiang Continent, ounting for all martial experts below the rank of first-grade Grandmaster. Beyond this criteria, there were no limitations. On the other hand, the Genius Rankings only applied to those under the age of 28.


    <i>Not determined by absolute strength, but by abination of power, age, and other factors. A ''talent ranking''? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Aption of the top 100 young prodigies in the Jiang Continent?</i>


    Talent, unlike tangible power, was difficult to quantify. Moreover, one��s fortune varied throughout one''s life. Some were born precocious, others werete bloomers. Any supposedly objective measure of talent seemed unreliable.


    Nheless, Wu Yuan flipped through the list. Itrgely recorded second-rate Adepts in their twenties and third-rate Adepts in their teens. The ten Cloud Heirs of the Cloudstride Sect were all on the list, but none of them caught Wu Yuan''s interest. Only the one ranked first prompted Wu Yuan to take a second nce.


    <i>Xu Hui, first on the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings, 24 years old, a first-rate Adept... I see why Gao Yu praised him. With such capabilities, he has the potential to be a Land Ranker.</i>


    Wu Yuan was well aware of how difficult it was to achieve the level of Grandmaster. Due to the advanced technology of the Human Federation in his past life, budding martial arts talents could be quickly detected through the metaverse''swork and specially nurtured. That made it possible to produce arge number of Grandmaster experts in their 20s or 30s despite a poption in the hundreds of billions.


    In the world of the Middle Land? The efficiency of discovering talents was much lower! Unless one was born into arge n, many martial arts geniuses lived ordinary lives. Even if they finally got a chance to showcase their talent, they were already in their teens or older.


    The stronger one��s genome, the harder it was to reach the human biological limit and be a Grandmaster.


    <i>The Grandmasters of both worlds are referred to as ''those who have pushed their bodies to the biological limits of humanity''. Both should have a simr level of martial skills as well. However, the Grandmasters of my previous world are far inferior to the Land Rankers of the Middle Land in terms of absolute martial power.</i>


    The humans of the Middle Land were blessed with truly formidable genes.


    Wu Yuan released a long breath, setting down the ''Jiang Continent Genius Rankings'' among the other books.


    <i>This information allows me to get a clearer understanding of this world, and avoid making erroneous judgments at critical moments.</i>


    Wu Yuan then reached into his bundle, retrieving arge bottle filled with bone forging pills.


    <i>However, the most crucial aspect is individual strength. If I possessed the power of a Heavenly Ranker, why would I need to concern myself with all of this?</i>


    Wu Yuan tipped his head back and swallowed two medium-grade bone forging pills.


    Body tempering pills, bone forging pills, and Qi Enhancement Pills were the three mostmon and universally consumed medicinal pills for supporting the cultivation of martial artists. Developed over thousands of years in the Middle Land, these pills had minimal side effects.


    <i>Once you reach the level of a third-rate Adept, the effects of body tempering pills be rather underwhelming.</i>


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes and controlled the muscles and blood in his stomach, skillfully breaking down the impurities contained in the medicinal pills.


    <i>Bone forging pills are suitable for second-rate Adepts and first-rate Adepts. In fact, my current physical constitution is equivalent to that of a second-rate Adept.</i>


    A base strength of 30,000 catties was the baseline for a second-rate Adept (fourth-grade).


    As for Qi Enhancement Pills? It wasn''t that Wu Yuan didn''t wish to buy them, but they were simply too expensive. One pill cost several thousand silver taels. Rumor had it that these pills allowed martial artists to establish a connection with their mysterious middle dantian lobes, potentially increasing their body''s potential. Many Savant experts wouldpete fiercely to acquire them.


    <i>If I purchase low-grade bone forging pills, it would attract too much attention, just like what happened previously.</i>


    Feeling the medicine taking effect, he began practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique.


    After the consecutive baptisms of spiritual liquid and the blood-red mist, Wu Yuan had realized that regardless of the control he had over his body, residual impurities would remain if the medicinal pills he consumed contained high amounts of impurities. Therefore, the quality of the medicinal pills consumed should not be too poor.


    Additionally, his initial decision to opt for low-grade body tempering pills was not only due to his confidence in his strength, but also because of his shortage of silver taels.


    But now? Despite spending nearly 40,000 silver taels in a single night, Wu Yuan still had over 40,000 taels remaining.


    What was wealth? Merely material possessions! As long as one possessed strength, there were countless avenues to acquire riches.


    <i>The bone forging pill''s medicinal efficacy surpasses that of the body tempering pill by several times, yet it is also gentler and easier to absorb. </i>Wu Yuan observed the disparity between the two types of medicinal pills.


    One by one, he ingested the bone forging pills, purging impurities from his body. Following the intense stimtion of the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, his entire musculoskeletal system eagerly absorbed the medicinal essence of the bone forging pill. A tingling sensation coursed through Wu Yuan''s body!


    <i>It may not match up to the spiritual liquid, but it��s much faster than my natural growth.</i> A smile crept onto Wu Yuan''s face. <i>After the evolution of my body''s genome via the blood-red mist, my body has be even more perfect, and the limits of my strength have been raised.</i>


    In less than two hours, the energy contained within over ten bone forging pills had beenpletely depleted, yet Wu Yuan did not feel the slightest trace of fatigue.


    <i>Continue.</i> Wu Yuan swallowed several more bone forging pills.


    ...


    Just over two hourster, Wu Yuan awakened once more. The world outside was already bathed in brightness, signaling the start of a new day.


    Midsummer at the Southdream Martial Academy was a sight to behold. However, Wu Yuan had no time to savor it. After a brief meeting with Gu Ji and Wu Xiong and a quick meal, he returned to the second-floor martial chamber to continue refining his body.


    <i>I must make the most of this time. Since my body can withstand it, I should give it my all. Let��s see how strong I can get. </i>Wu Yuan was aze with determination.


    Only through cultivation could he truly experience the wonders of the blood-red mist. Its ability to enhance his body''s potential was nothing short of mindblowing.


    For two entire days, Wu Yuan did not step foot outside the martial chamber even once. During this period, Zhu Shang, that disciple from the martial academy, came to visit Wu Yuan. Gu Ji promptly turned him away, not even bothering to disturb Wu Yuan.


    To Gu Ji, living without obsession wasn''t living at all. Without a heart passionately devoted to the martial path, how could one ever step into the realm of the Grandmasters? He deeply admired Wu Yuan��s way of life.


    Night fell once more.


    <i>Within the martial chamber on the second floor.</i>


    Wu Yuan stood in the center, his bare torso glistening with sweat and his attire reduced to a pair of shorts. His muscles, chiseled as though cut by a knife and carved with an axe, were almost perfectly defined. Sweat pooled on the floorboards beneath him. Off to the side were puddles of ck impurities.


    <i>Two days and two nights.</i>


    After consuming more than 400 medium-grade bone forging pills in a row, he had finally honed his physical strength to its current limit. A smile yed at the corners of Wu Yuan��s mouth.


    Two days ago, the maximum strength of his punch was just over 34,000 catties. Now? With a casual palm strike from Wu Yuan, the air ruptured, sending shockwaves cascading outward.


    <i>In terms of sheer power, a single strike now carries the weight of approximately 46,000 catties!</i>


    <i>I��m not far from the baseline strength required for a first-rate Adept (third-grade). It''s time to make a trip to the Pleiades Guild.</i>

 Chapter 70: ID 04013224182Thousand Mountains

    <h4>Chapter 70: ID 04013224182Thousand Mountains</h4>


    In just two days, the power of Wu Yuan''s single-armed punch surged by over 10,000 catties. How terrifying was that?


    Such progress was close to legendary tales of martial artists who gained immense strength after consuming natural treasures.


    However, there was a difference. While natural treasures could vastly increase one''s strength in a short time, they were often shortcuts that led to severe side effects down the line. But Wu Yuan was able to grow rapidly without any adverse side effects thanks to the mystical properties of the blood-red mist!


    If word of this spread, it would undoubtedly cause shockwaves in the martial arts world. It might even attract the attention of the Land Rankers and Heavenly Rankers, prompting them tounch an investigation into him.


    <i>Two days ago, I had to be cautious when facing first-rate Adepts like Gu Ji. </i>There was a hint of a smile on his face.


    Now? The considerable increase in his physical constitution had significantly increased Wu Yuan''s strength. Among first-rate Adepts, he was most definitely in the top tier.


    <i>Even if I am not a match for Savant experts, my odds of escaping are much better. </i>Wu Yuan picked up a towel beside him and wiped the sweat from his body. Then he put on his clothes.


    <i>To further improve my physical constitution, I have two options: either wait for my body to develop naturally, or acquire more of that blood-red mist.</i>


    How much more blood-red mist could his body absorb? Wu Yuan wasn��t sure. Even after devouring the blood-red mist a few days ago, his body had yet to reach its limit.


    This was precisely why Wu Yuan nned to make contact with the Pleiades Guild. Based on his experience, each time he killed an enemy, the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe would release some blood-red mist, which could be used to refine his body.


    But who should he kill? Wu Yuan refused to partake in the senseless ughter of innocent lives.


    <i>Ninedragon Peaks is somewhat weak. It won''t offer many suitable targets for me, and the choices will be limited.</i>


    Wu Yuan donned his soft body armor and garments. Next, he carefully positioned his throwing knives, checked that they were thoroughly concealed, and finally picked up his saber.


    <i>The Ninedeaths Circle? Their methods are too bizarre, and their members far too deranged. </i>


    <i>The Pleiades Guild might be an underground organization. But rtively speaking, they are better than the Ninedeaths Circle. At least, they appear to have a moral bottom line.</i>


    Wu Yuan recalled the records he had read at the Sta Consortium, which gave him an understanding of all three major assassin organizations.


    When he first discerned the magical effects of the blood-red mist and deduced its origin, a n had immediately taken root in Wu Yuan''s mind. It was none other than to be an assassin! And Wu Yuan''s first choice was the Pleiades Guild.


    <i>Crackle~ </i>With just a thought, his body trembled slightly. His height shortened a bit to roughly 1.8 meters, and his facial muscles also shifted, erasing his youthful appearance. He also messed up his hair. In an instant, Wu Yuan''s entire demeanor underwent a massive transformation. Now, he looked like a saber-wielding cavalier who lived without restraints!


    <i>Let''s go.</i> After confirming that Gu Ji was still meditating on the first floor, Wu Yuan drifted out of the room along the wall like a wisp of smoke, vanishing into the night.


    ...


    In the Middle Land, numerous kingdoms vied for supremacy. Powerful individuals emerged with each passing generation, and as time went on, various underground organizations sprang up.


    In the past, the actions of certain underground organizations were far too evil, leading to their eradication by a united front.


    There also existed underground organizations which, by virtue of their restraint, subtlety in their actions as well as formidable strength, had persisted until this day. Among them stood the Pleiades Guild.


    One of the three most widely recognized underground organizations in the world, the guild left its indelible mark across the thirteen continents. Its known modus operandi was assassination. The annals of history were stained with the blood of emperors and Land Rankers alike, many of which had traces leading back to the Pleiades Guild.


    Even within the Southdream Province, one could find their strongholds. Wu Yuan acquired this information from the Sta Consortium. However, it only specified two of their many bases.


    Were they truly bases of the Pleiades Guild? He had yet to find out.


    Finally reaching his destination, Wu Yuan stood in the shadows of a building, peering down a secluded alley. At the end, an inconspicuous coffin shop stood, its entrance slightly ajar. Swinging back and forth with the eerie creaking of the wind, the door revealed a chilling silhouette cast by the dim light within.


    <i>Is this the ce?</i> Doubts mingled with caution in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Carefulness ensures a ship''s thousand-year voyage. Wu Yuan opted not to rush in. Instead, he continued his surveince from the shadows. After a full two hours, he confirmed that this was indeed no ordinary shop.


    <i>There.</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze extended beyond the coffin shop to an adjacent mansion, hidden behind high walls. Though they seemed like two separate structures, theyout of the buildings hinted at a hidden passageway between them.


    Descending from the building, Wu Yuan made his way to the street below. Entering the deserted shop, Wu Yuan''s eyes fell upon two shallow coffins. One was meticulously arranged, while the other was partially constructed.


    A in-clothed, middle-aged man was diligently crafting a coffin, his head bowed in concentration.


    ��Sir, are you looking for a coffin?�� The middle-aged man put down his tools, greeting Wu Yuan amiably with a smile.


    At first nce, the man appeared no different from any ordinary shopkeeper. Yet, Wu Yuan keenly perceived something different about him. If he were a typical shopkeeper, his expression would surely have changed after seeing someone dressed as a cavalier and carrying a saber enter his shop. How could he remain so calm?


    "I am not looking for a coffin," Wu Yuan replied, his tone light. "Rather, I yearn to pluck the stars."


    "Sir, surely you jest. The stars reside in the sky, how could I possibly offer them here?" chuckled the middle-aged man.


    ��The opportunity lies on the seventh floor,�� Wu Yuan replied calmly.


    Surprise shed through the middle-aged man��s eyes, swiftly reced byposure. Respectfully, he said, "I understand your desire to pre-order a star coffin. Please,e inside so we may further discuss."


    Wu Yuan nodded. The middle-aged man closed the shop entrance, leading Wu Yuan to the backyard. After turning several corners, they proceeded down a long and dark corridor before ending up in a rather unremarkable room.


    ��Sir, please wait a moment,�� said the middle-aged man humbly. Slowly, he retreated into the long, dark corridor. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan casually chose a chair in the room and settled in.


    He didn''t have to wait long. A ck-robed figure, his face masked with the visage of a weeping ghost, pushed open a wooden door at the opposite side and stepped in. The door closed behind him.


    <i>His strength is not bad.</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze swept across the ck-robed figure, roughly estimating thetter��s capabilities. A third-rate Adept? Or perhaps a second-rate one?


    The ck-robed figure took a seat. "Sir, you look unfamiliar. I presume you are not one of our regrs," the man in the ck robe began. His voice was raspy, concealing any indication of his age.


    "First time''s the stranger, second time''s the friend," Wu Yuan responded nonchntly.


    The intel from the Sta Consortium pointed to two bases, one of which appeared to function solely as a branch for clients to post bounties. The base that Wu Yuan had arrived at seemed to be a branch where the Pleiades Guild assassins confirmed the status of their missions.


    "Are you here due to cause or consequence?" The man in the ck robe questioned.


    ��Cause�� referred to members from other regions arriving at this location for the first time to receive their assignments.


    ��Consequence�� referred to members from other regions who had finished their tasks and arrived here for the first time to im their rewards.


    "Neither cause nor consequence," Wu Yuan replied, "I''m here today to pluck stars."


    These code phrases were all recorded in the Sta Consortium''s intel. Wu Yuan''s words indicated that this was his first visit, and that he wanted to be a full-fledged assassin of the Pleiades Guild.


    "While our guild is inclusive, not everyone possesses the ability to pluck stars," the man in the ck robe murmured, "You must pass corresponding tests, not just in strength, but also in identity verification."


    "I wish to pluck stars, but only those from outside the guild," Wu Yuan chuckled. The Pleiades Guild assassins were categorized into two distinct groups: the first was the guild''s in-house assassins, carefully cultivated by the Pleiades Guild, much like a sect''s core disciples. The other kind was the affiliate assassins. They were essentially partners of the Pleiades Guild, enjoying more freedom but also fewer privileges.


    "That simplifies things," the man in the ck robe nodded. There were few prerequisites for affiliate assassins. Generally, they were only required to possess the necessary strength.


    "The simplest way to verify your strength is for you to lift this test stone," the man in the ck robe gestured towards an inconspicuous yetrge stone ced in one corner of the room.


    With a single nce, Wu Yuan immediately gauged the weight of the test stone.


    "20,000 catties?" Wu Yuan snickered, a hint of disdain in his gaze.


    "Haha, the Pleiades Guild doesn''t ept the useless. One must at least reach the third-rate Adept level, only then can one qualify to pluck stars," the man in the ck robe calmly stated.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. Stepping forward, he extended his right hand to grip the handle, holding his saber in his left. He stood upright, not even bothering to bend his waist.


    <i>Huff!</i> He exerted strength with his right arm. The test stone, weighing a full 20,000 catties, was effortlessly hoisted into the air without a pause. With the stone held aloft, not a single quiver was seen in his arm, as if the colossal rock were nothing but an illusion.


    This sight left the man in the ck robe in shock. What tremendous strength! He instantly judged that Wu Yuan''s power greatly surpassed 20,000 catties.


    "How''s that?" Wu Yuan asked with some scorn.


    "Haha, excellent," the man in the ck robe''s voice held a trace of admiration. Wu Yuan casually tossed the testing stone back to the floor, causing a thud that shook the ground.


    "You are now eligible to receive the one-star badge," the man in the ck robe stated. "What alias would you like to adopt? Two characters will suffice."


    "Thousand Mountains," Wu Yuan responded indifferently, having already decided on this name beforehand.


    The man in the ck robe nodded, saying, "This name has already been taken."


    "Taken?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "The Pleiades Guild has branches all over the world, with numerous assassins under itsmand. Naturally, aliases may ovep," the man in the ck robe exined. "But fret not, you have a unique identification number��04013224182. You can just append ''Thousand Mountains'' to it."


    "04013224182ThousandMountains, that will be my ID in the Pleiades Guild?" Wu Yuan contemted the meaning behind this number.


    "Remembering it is quite simple," the man in the ck robe exined. "04 signifies your affiliation to the Jiang Continent, which is fourth in order among the numerous divisions of the Pleiades Guild."


    "01 denotes that you are part of Southdream City, the provincial city first in order among the sixteen within the Jiang Continent."


    "3224, is the year of your induction."


    "182, means that you are the 182nd assassin to join the Pleiades Guild from the Southdream region this year. The final part, ''Thousand Mountains'', is defined by yourself," exined the man in the ck robe.


    "Remarkable," Wu Yuan nodded. From a single ID, one could tell that the internal organization of the Pleiades Guild was strict, and their management was quite logical and meticulous.


    "As per the guild rules, all newly registered assassins may obtain three stars at most," said the man in the ck robe. "Are you prepared to continue with the tests?"


    "I should warn you, failure could cost you your life."

 Chapter 71: Three-Star Assassin

    <h4>Chapter 71: Three-Star Assassin</h4>


    "There��s a risk of death?" Wu Yuan responded with a muted smile. "No problem at all, I��d like to give it a try." This was all included in the information he had purchased from the Sta Consortium.


    The Pleiades Guild''s assassins were categorized into seven ranks; one-star being the lowest, seven-star the highest. The higher the rank, the more high-level missions they could undertake and the more resources they could obtain from the guild. Even a Grandmaster-level neer could only attain a three-star assassin ranking at most. Want to rise up the ranks? Thenplete your missions.


    Wu Yuan hade to the Pleiades Guild with two goals in mind: acquiring more blood-red mist and finding worthy opponents to hone his skills against. Naturally, a one-star ranking wouldn''t suffice.


    "Very well," the man in the ck robe nodded, extracting a mask from a nearby cab. He softly instructed, "Put it on."


    "I will serve as your guide in the guild, and you may call me Custodian Qin. There are a few things I must disclose to you in advance."


    "The Pleiades Guild operates in the shadows; confidentiality is our utmost priority. Within the guild, you are known as Thousand Mountains, but once you step outside, no one cares about your identity."


    "Remember, never reveal your true identity or appearance to anyone." The figure in the ck robe locked eyes with Wu Yuan from behind his mask.


    "Thank you, Custodian Qin." Wu Yuan nodded, epting the mask, and putting it on. His first impression of it was that it was quitefortable. Once the mask was on, only his eyes were exposed, but small perforations on each side ensured that his breathing was not affected, minimizing any hindrance to him while he fought.


    "Follow me," the man in the ck robe stood up and pushed open the door. Wu Yuan followed him as they exited the room.


    Outside was a spacious courtyard surrounded by tall walls, designed to shield against prying eyes from the outside world.


    Wu Yuan scanned the scene, taking in the five figures standing in the courtyard, each of them concealed behind a mask. Judging from their physique, aura, and stride, Wu Yuan understood that they were at least Adepts. It was evident that this base of the Pleiades Guild was one of their strongholds, potentially hiding more experts within the surrounding houses.


    "This here is Thousand Mountains, a recent addition to our Pleiades Guild. He intends to increase his rank to two stars," the man in ck robes scanned the five, "Which of you five wish to test him? If you win, you will earn 500 merits."


    "Thousand Mountains, if you are defeated but manage to survive, you will owe the guild 500 merits in the future," the ck-robed custodian looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Merits?" Wu Yuan showed a trace of confusion.


    "One merit can be exchanged for one tael of silver," the custodian casually remarked. "Completing assignments earns you silver taels or merits."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. So these merits were like contribution points within a sect. 500 merits were equivalent to 500 taels of silver?


    "Haha, you''re called Thousand Mountains? A rookie who just joined the guild wants to rise a star right away? Did the custodian not inform you about the difficulty? Let me enlighten you. Rising to the two-star rank isn''t as easy as you think." A deep, low voice echoed. Among the five, the one farthest away from Wu Yuan stood up. He was a burly man wearing a mask that portrayed aughing face.


    "Hold on!" Wu Yuan suddenly interjected.


    "What? Scared?" the man with theughing mask sneered.


    "Thousand Mountains, what''s going on?" The custodian turned to Wu Yuan with a trace of displeasure.


    "Custodian, if winning against one person promotes me to two stars, what��s the test for advancing to three stars?" Wu Yuan asked calmly.


    Immediately, the expressions of the five assassins in the courtyard changed. This Thousand Mountains sure was full of himself. In particr, the burly man was filled with rage. This neer was looking down on him.


    "Three-star?" The custodian himself was taken aback, giving Wu Yuan a long look. "If you can defeat three of them at the same time, you may rise directly to the rank of three-star assassin."


    Three of them joining forces?


    "Haha! I can��t be bothered to choose," Wu Yuan chuckled, his eyeszily scanning the five figures in the courtyard. "Custodian, let''s save time and have them all attack me at once."


    "How arrogant!"


    "Such audacity." The assassins in the courtyard were incensed. Those who chose the path of assassination were hardly meek. With their identities anonymous, their actions grew even more uninhibited.


    "Do you truly mean this?" the custodian asked, his brow furrowed.


    "Absolutely," answered Wu Yuan, the epitome of calm.


    "Fine, I see you have spirit. Then you five may test your mettle against him," The custodian didn''t bother to intervene. "Try not to go too far." He retreated a few steps, leaving the space open for them.


    In battles between experts, who would dare to hold back? Hence, the custodian had warned Wu Yuan earlier about the possibility of death.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A figure blurred across the courtyard. It was Wu Yuan, arriving almost instantly at the center. His speed caused the five experts surrounding the courtyard to grow serious.


    <i>He doesn''t seem much slower than a first-rate Adept.</i> The custodian was also surprised.


    Speed and agility were rted, but not synonymous. To possess high agility, one must be able to unleash bursts of speed. However, pure speed did not necessarily indicate high agility.


    Nevertheless, moving at high speed indicated an astounding physical constitution.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The five experts moved from their positions, surrounding Wu Yuan.


    "Boy, you''re far too arrogant. Don��t me us if you die," growled the burly man behind theughing mask.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i> He drew two short axes from his waist.


    "Enough talk," Wu Yuan said indifferently. "Let''s end this quickly so I can be a three-star assassin."


    His words fanned the mes of fury within the five experts.


    "Attack!" a voice boomed. One of the assassins, notably smaller in stature, conjured a dagger seemingly out of thin air. He lunged at Wu Yuan, swift as a bolt of lightning.


    "Prepare to meet your end!" A muscr figure brandished his short axe, striding across the courtyard. He swung his weapon, aiming for Wu Yuan''s head.


    <i>Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!</i> Three other experts moved simultaneously, some wielding long sabers, others brandishing sharp swords, all of them as swift as the wind. Although these five had never fought as a cohesive unit, they demonstrated a remarkable synergy.


    <i>Among the five, only the burly man possesses second-rate strength, while the remaining four are somewhat inferior to that level.</i> Wu Yuan swiftly assessed.


    His audacious attitude stemmed from a certain confidence.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> The sh of weapons echoed through the air. Wu Yuan swiftly drew one of the three battle sabers strapped to his back, effortlessly blocking the onught of attacks from the five experts.


    Of the three battle sabers, two were fifth-grade superior weapons, each worth only hundreds of silver taels. The ck Mountain Saber? That weapon was reserved for formidable adversaries. Against these five? It wasn''t necessary to bring it out.


    <i>What a swift saber strike! </i>Observing from the sidelines, Custodian Qin''s expression shifted and he held his breath in anticipation, <i>Even the branch master''s swordsmanship isn''t this swift.</i>


    Custodian Qin made an immediate deduction. This seemingly young man, codenamed Thousand Mountains, was at least a first-rate Adept!


    <i>Where did he spring up from?</i> Custodian Qin wondered silently.


    He had met many of the first-rate Adepts in Southdream Province, yet Wu Yuan''s movements and battle style were unlike any he had witnessed before. Southdream Province might berge, but the number of first-rate Adepts was limited, and most of them were well-known.


    Inscrutable! Mysterious!


    <i>So powerful. Where did this experte from?</i> The five Adepts encircling Wu Yuan grew increasingly anxious as they fought.


    Though they had only exchanged a few blows, all five of them werepetent Adepts with keen eyes. They quickly discerned that Wu Yuan''s strength far exceeded theirs. However, the pride they had as Adepts prevented them from conceding.


    As they continued to battle him, some even harbored hope of defeating Wu Yuan with their numbers. Little did they know that Wu Yuan was purely just using them for practice.


    <i>This is just about enough. These are the only moves these Adepts can muster. None of them haveprehended Power Surge.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. None of their techniques impressed him.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Without warning, Wu Yuan''s saber techniques elerated. Dozens of de rays seemed to streak across the night sky. All five Adepts felt a strange and terrifying force surging through their weapons into their hands, as if they had been dealt an electric shock. Their palms involuntarily recoiled in an instant.


    <i>Thunk~ Thunk~ Thunk~</i> One by one, their weapons fell to the ground.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan darted out of the encirclement, arriving in front of the dumbfounded custodian. With a smile, he asked, "Custodian, how��s that?"


    "Thousand Mountains, you?" The custodian looked at Wu Yuan, wide-eyed. Even a first-rate Adept might not be able to instantaneously disarm five Adepts. It was harder than killing them outright. Today, he was able to recruit such a terrifying expert?


    "This!"


    "He?" The five Adepts were even more shocked, a sense of terror lingering in their hearts. With the strength Wu Yuan had demonstrated, killing the five of them would be as simple as ughtering chickens. How foolish they had been to provoke him earlier!


    "Custodian Qin?" Wu Yuan spoke again. "Can I consider this my victory?"


    "Haha, certainly," replied Custodian Qin, his tone taking on a friendlier note. "Your saber skills are as swift as lightning, one of the fastest I''ve ever seen in my life. Truly formidable."


    "With the strength you possess, it won''t be long before you be a four-star member." Custodian Qin expressed his admiration.


    Wu Yuan shed a smile. Three-star? Four-star? ording to the intelligence he had acquired, it was normally only first-rate Adepts that had the chance to be four-star assassins. Five-star assassins were generally Savant experts.


    "Thousand Mountains,e with me." Custodian Qin smiled. He guided Wu Yuan towards a building on the side of therge courtyard, leaving behind the five perplexed Adept experts.


    "Thousand Mountains?" The burly man sighed, "I sense the birth of a formidable assassin in Southdream Province." The others nodded, in full agreement.


    ...


    Custodian Qin led Wu Yuan down a corridor, arriving at a soundproofed room with dim lighting.


    "Thousand Mountains, your strength is extraordinary. Even the rank of a three-star assassin seems insufficient to encapste your abilities." Custodian Qin stated gravely. "But the Pleiades Guild has its rules, you may only start off as a three-star member."


    "Also, to be a true member of the Pleiades Guild, you mustplete at least one official mission."


    "This is your final test. Now that you are a three-star assassin, you mustplete a two-star mission, at the very least," Custodian Qin informed him.


    "A mission?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. He came to the Pleiades Guild with this exact purpose in mind.

 Chapter 72: The Moonlit Haven

    <h4>Chapter 72: The Moonlit Haven</h4>


    "Thousand Mountains, you look eager to begin." Custodian Qin said curiously, sensing a shift in Wu Yuan''s emotions. Who exactly was this Thousand Mountains?


    "Haha, Custodian Qin, assassination is essentially a fight, and I, for one, crave a good fight." Wu Yuan said with a grin, "How can one progress swiftly without engaging in battles? The limits of martial arts are meant to be broken through life-and-death battles."


    The term ''martial fanatic'' immediately came to Custodian Qin''s mind.


    Little did he know that Wu Yuan had long nned to create the persona of an arrogant and self-absorbed martial artist who was wholeheartedly obsessed with martial arts for his alter ego within the underground organization. It was distinctly different from his public identity as Wu Yuan. With this, he could hide his identity under anotheryer of disguise, keeping it secret for longer.


    "Your thirst for battle ismendable. The Pleiades Guild needs talents like you," Custodian Qin said encouragingly, his admiration for Wu Yuan evident in his words.


    "Thousand Mountains, before we delve into the specifics of the missions, I have something for you." He retrieved a badge from a box in the room and handed it to Wu Yuan, "This is your identity badge."


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan epted the badge, running his fingers over its surface. Crafted from a unique material, the badge waspletely azure, with a subtle crimson glow. The front was engraved with a seven-story building, while on the back were three stars, and beneath them was a series of tiny characters. Wu Yuan made it out to be his ID. This was a three-star assassin badge of the Pleiades Guild.


    "Once you''vepleted your first mission, I will formally register your ID with the higher echelons, ensuring that every branch of the Pleiades Guild across the Jiang Continent acknowledges your membership."


    "From that moment forth, you may use this badge to undertake missions at any Pleiades Guild branch within the Jiang Continent." Custodian Qin pointed at the token and said, "It will also serve as your sole proof of identity."


    "In the event of your demise and the badge falls into the wrong hands, it may be used to impersonate you," Custodian Qin cautioned, his tone turning serious. "Hence, during your visits to different branches, there may be instances where you are required to demonstrate your strength to confirm your identity. Please understand, this procedure is merely a routine check, and not specifically targeted at you. Do youprehend?"


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly, signaling his understanding. "Affirmative."


    In a world much like the Middle Ages, where transportation was arduous andmunication was primitive, even the greatest of nations and sacred sects were not immune to impostors pretending to be important figures. And in an underground organization like the Pleiades Guild, such deception would likely be even more widespread. Thus, identity verification was unavoidable.


    "When I be an official member, will I be able to undertake missions from other continents?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Custodian Qin smiled and replied, "No, unless you rise to the rank of a five-star assassin, affiliate members of the guild are not permitted to take on missions from other continents. Managing such arrangements would be far too cumbersome."


    "However, if you happen to journey to other continents in the future, you can create an additional identity at the guild branches there without any conflict," Custodian Qin spoke candidly.


    Wu Yuan was left speechless. Was this a subtle hint from an administrator that he could have an alternate ount? Either way, he wasn��t overly concerned about these restrictions. The Jiang Continent alone was vast enough to provide him with plenty of experiences.


    After Wu Yuan stored away the badge, Custodian Qin handed him a file containing a list of missions. "You have yet to officially join the guild, thus you can only ess a portion of the assassination missions. You may undertake any two-star or three-star mission, but none rated higher or lower."


    "Upon sessfulpletion of each mission, you will receive corresponding rewards. Most rewards are in silver, but you can also choose to receive merits."


    "Merits are unique to the Pleiades Guild and can be exchanged for items that cannot be bought with silver, such as de techniques or secret techniques created by a Grandmaster, natural treasures to aid cultivation, and specialized training environments," Custodian Qin chuckled, "If you umte enough merits, theoretically, you could even upy the seat of the guild master."


    "The position of the guild master?" Wu Yuan was mildly surprised. An affiliate member could be the guild master?


    "Don''t be shocked, the Pleiades Guild does not belong to any one person or n. In some aspects, the Pleiades Guild is a congregation of those ustomed to acting in the shadows, with thousands of years of heritage and interwoven rules imposing many restrictions and constraints on the upper echelons." Custodian Qin borated. "The guild master holds a term of office, they don��t have as much authority as you imagine."


    Understanding began to dawn on Wu Yuan. He reached out and took the scroll from Custodian Qin, opening it immediately. Simple descriptions of various missions were written on it. For example, a two-star mission to assassinate a certain n elder of arge family offered a reward of 8000 silver taels or 4000 merits. A two-star mission to y a certain cavalier wreaking havoc in someone''s territory offered a reward of 2000 silver taels or 1000 merits.


    <i>...The rewards are quite meager.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    These two-star missions were not to be taken lightly, especially for third-rate Adepts. Take the assassination of a family chieftain, for example. Regardless of the chieftain��s strength, the defensive measures implemented by theserge families alone would make escape nearly impossible once the assassin was discovered. After risking life and limb, the meager reward of a few thousand silver taels hardly seemed worth it.


    Without a guarantee of sess, how long could one continue to tempt fate with such dangerous missions?


    <i>Making money is not easy at all.</i> Wu Yuanmented quietly. <i>However, these tasks present no challenge to me.</i>


    With Wu Yuan''s prowess, these two-star missions were a walk in the park. He had no interest in them at all.


    <i>Hmm, there are protection missions? </i>ncing over the remaining tasks, one of them caught his attention. It involved protecting a municipality for six months, and the reward could be imed if the municipality leader remained alive for that period.


    "Since you can pay Pleiades Guild to kill, naturally, you can also pay Pleiades Guild to protect," Custodian Qin chuckled. "There are even several high-ranking missions where teams of experts are hired to venture into dangerous regions."


    "As long as you''re willing to pay the price, the Pleiades Guild will do anything."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. This was a special aspect of the Pleiades Guild aspared to Ninedeaths Circle. Their actions were more varied, more like an intermediary agency rather than solely focusing on bloodshed.


    <i>Three-star tasks. </i>After Wu Yuan flipped past dozens of two-star tasks, he finally arrived at the three-star missions. They were considerably fewer in number, with only three options avable for Wu Yuan to choose from. However, the difficulty took a significant leap, and the rewards in kind were far more generous - the lowest of them offering a staggering 18,000 silver taels!


    "I choose this task," Wu Yuan dered, pointing to one of the tasks.


    "This one?" After scanning through Wu Yuan��s choice, Custodian Qin could barely conceal his surprise. "Thousand Mountains, are you certain? Although it''s a three-star task, its true difficulty is on par with many four-star tasks. That''s why the rewards are so high."


    "I am aware," Wu Yuan replied. Where Wu Yuan''s fingernded on the scroll, the following was clearly written:


    <i>The Bloodwolf Gang is the sixth-rankednd bandit gang within the territory of Southdream City. The task is to kill the third family head Wang Xian, also known as Bald Wolf, a second-rate Adept. This mission is rated three stars.</i>


    <i>Mission rewards: 80,000 silver taels or 40,000 merits.</i>


    <i>Requirements: The target must die via beheading, and the head must be brought back as proof. Methods such as poisoning are prohibited. The task must bepleted before the 26th of August.</i>


    The minimum reward for a three-star task was 10,000 silver taels, while the maximum reward was 100,000 silver taels.


    "Thousand Mountains, I know you are strong. In a one-on-one fight, killing Wang Xian shouldn''t pose much difficulty," Custodian Qin couldn''t help but advise, "But you must not underestimate the overall strength of the Bloodwolf Gang. Both family heads are first-rate Adepts, and the gang is filled with countless experts. Completing this task won''t be easy."


    "Do we have detailed intelligence?" Wu Yuan asked in return. He didn''t have the patience to gather the information by himself.


    "If you ept the task, detailed intelligence will be provided to you," Custodian Qin said. "However, if you want the mostprehensive intelligence and real-time updates on the target''s movements, the guild will deduct an additional ten percent from your reward."


    "No problem," Wu Yuan agreed without hesitation. "Custodian Qin, please provide me with all the relevant intelligence."


    "Are you really going to ept it?" Custodian Qin furrowed his brows. He believed he had made the dangers of this mission abundantly clear.


    "Yes!" Wu Yuan uttered a single word.


    Custodian Qin could only sigh. It was difficult to dissuade those hell-bent on throwing away their lives. "Alright, follow me then," he said.


    The two left the secret chamber, arriving in another room with simple furnishings. Aside from two doors, the room waspletely enclosed.


    "I will retrieve the information." Custodian Qin excused himself and left.


    Wu Yuan waited for an hour before Custodian Qin returned and handed over a stack of scrolls. "Thousand Mountains, here is a summary of the Intelligence Division''stest findings on the Bloodwolf Gang. Of these, there are two pieces of news, one good, one bad. Which would you prefer to hear first?"


    "The good," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    Custodian Qin began, "The good news is that we have located Wang Xian''s recent whereabouts. He has been residing at the Moonlit Haven in the southern part of the city."


    "The Moonlit Haven that has branches all over the world?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    "Correct," Custodian Qin confirmed.


    Wu Yuan frowned slightly. Apart from the Sta Consortium, there were a few other influential powers that spanned the world. One such major power was the Moonlit Haven.


    It was a renowned brothel organization that countless men patronized, willingly emptying their wallets. Every year, the selections for Moonlit Oiran of each province and continent were grand events that drew a great deal of attention.


    In some respects, the fame of the Moonlit Haven far outstripped that of the Pleiades Guild, or the Ninedeaths Circle. One major reason was its quality, but another important factor was its security.


    A province-level Moonlit Haven might very well be guarded by a first-rate Adept and numerous second-rate Adepts, ensuring the safety of its guests.


    "This is good news, but what about the bad?" inquired Wu Yuan, shaking his head.


    "Apanying Wang Xian is the second family head of the Bloodwolf Gang. They have not left the Moonlit Haven the entire time," said Custodian Qin.


    "You could stake out the perimeter, and once they leave the Moonlit Haven, seize the opportunity to assassinate Wang Xian when he is alone," he suggested.


    "Hmm, I will consider it." Wu Yuan nodded, reaching out to take the intelligence dossier. He proceeded to read it in detail.


    ...


    Theyout of Southdream City differed greatly from that of Li City. The southern area, bustling with activity, housed the Sta Consortium and the Moonlit Haven.


    There was no curfew imposed in the city, and evente into the night, it remained vibrant. On the main street, crowds of people came and went. A robust man with a saber at his waist stood nearby, studying arge, solitary building.


    Several women loitered by the entrance, soliciting potential patrons. The majority of the men passing by, regardless of whether they sumbed to the temptations or not, couldn''t help but cast lingering nces.


    "The Moonlit Haven?" The robust man murmured to himself, "In my two lifetimesbined, I''ve yet to step foot in a brothel."


    "The Bloodwolf Gang, merciless killers who sow chaos wherever they tread. I will have no guilt killing them."


    A faint change washed over the man''s countenance. An expression of desire and avarice arose, akin to a lecher.


    He strode boldly towards the Moonlit Haven.

 Chapter 73: I Have Come To Claim Your Life

    <h4>Chapter 73: I Have Come To im Your Life</h4>


    Outside the five-story tall Moonlit Haven, all sorts of carriages and pedestrians came and went. The interior of the Moonlit Haven emanated a warm glow, and music andughter wafted through the entrance each time it was opened.


    Wu Yuan walked straight in.


    "Sir, pleasee in." the two sharp-eyed doormen perked up, their gaze brightening as they warmly weed him.


    Patrons like Wu Yuan, d in cavalier attire and armed with weapons, were known to be generous spenders.


    "I am in high spirits today, bring forth some beauties." Wu Yuanughed heartily and casually tossed a few ten-tael silver notes to the doormen.


    The doormen''s eyes gleamed, ready to ept the tip, but a skilled old madam swiftly snatched them away, her warm voice soothing, "Sir, pleasee inside."


    With resentful looks, the doormen reluctantly backed down.


    "Girls, why aren''t you attending to our guest?" The old madam shouted as she deftly pocketed the silver notes.


    "Sir."


    "Sir, it''s a pleasure to meet you for the first time." A group of courtesans originally soliciting customers rushed to surround Wu Yuan, their demeanor warm and servile.


    The Moonlit Haven was no ordinary establishment, and its patrons were expected to spendvishly. Merely upying a table on the first or second floor required a table fee of two silver taels, a sum beyond the reach of mostmoners.


    But to witness Wu Yuan casually tossing dozens of silver taels, despite having yet to enter the premises, was a rare sight indeed.


    "Haha, splendid! Splendid!" Wu Yuanughed heartily, pulling the girls close as if he were a simple-minded pervert. Flocked by the courtesans, Wu Yuan ascended to the third floor.


    The first and second floors were lined with individual tables, each requiring a table fee of two taels. Most solitary guests frequented these areas, some content with enjoying the shows and drinks, while others called for a courtesan or two to apany them.


    The private rooms, however, were exclusively found on the third floor. Merely stepping foot in these luxurious chambers cost one no less than ten silver taels.


    <i>Where did this country bumpkine from? </i>On the first floor, the madam''s smile faded as her eyes followed Wu Yuan up the stairs, a hint of disdain flickering within.


    With the sharp eyes she prided herself on, she deemed Wu Yuan to be nothing more than a brutish martial artist. Perhaps he had received a windfall and came to the Moonlit Haven to indulge himself, oblivious to the ways of the world. Anyone who patronized a brothel before would know that those soliciting customers were the ones in the bottom ranks. In the Moonlit Haven, the truly breathtaking and charmingdies would hardly show themselves up front. One had to spend hefty amounts of silver taels to get a glimpse of them.


    Two men, inconspicuously situated on the second and fifth floors, casually sipped their tea while scanning the guests below on the first and second floors. Wu Yuan naturally caught their attention. <i>His stepsck solidity, his gait is unsteady, his strength is mediocre. Not an Adept. </i>The two men exchanged a knowing nce, determining that Wu Yuan was nothing more than a bumbling fool dressed as a cavalier.


    ...On the third floor, Wu Yuan entered a private room next to a window, surrounded by five or six women. He opened the window, simultaneously engaging in flirtatious banter with the women and admiring the talented dancers on the stage below. He had to admit, the standards of the performers were high.


    <i>All three gazes have shifted away.</i> Wu Yuan lowered his head to sip his wine, his gaze falling on the clear liquid. <i>Are these all the guards in Moonlit Haven? They should no longer pay attention to me now.</i>


    Ordinary people could not detect the watchful eyes of these guards, but how could Wu Yuan miss them? He had detected their piercing gazes the moment he stepped foot inside, and instinctively feigned ignorance, heading straight to the private rooms on the third floor.


    <i>There''s no need to rush. I should carefully assess my surroundings and determine the number of experts present in the Moonlit Haven.</i> Wu Yuan was calm and unhurried. <i>ording to my intelligence, Bald Wolf Wang Xian and the second family head Bai Yuxian have been residing in the Fragrant Zither Mansion for the past few days. How extravagant.</i>


    The main building of the Moonlit Haven upied arge area and catered to regr guests who, at most, would shell out a few hundred silver taels in a single night.


    But the true elite clientele? They were escorted to the area adjacent to the main building. This section, roughly the size of a side street, was lined with dozens of courtyard houses, each hosted by a woman of exceptional talent and beauty. These courtyards were the heart and soul of the Moonlit Haven''s business, the source of its worldwide renown.


    Wu Yuan chose not to head directly toward the courtyard houses. Firstly, hecked aprehensive understanding of the Moonlit Haven''s security measures and had no intention of acting rashly. Secondly, making a brazen entrance into the courtyard house would draw too much attention, easily catching the eye of the ever-vignt guards.


    "Sir,e, lend your ear to the melody."


    "Come, have a drink."


    As Wu Yuan beckoned for more indulgences, he calmed his mind and delicately extended his senses throughout the entirety of the brothel, gradually spreading his consciousness. He did not rely solely on his vision and hearing.


    <i>Experts.</i> Wu Yuan felt a growing certainty. <i>Within this main building, there are five people with extraordinary auras. They are at least second-rate Adepts.</i>


    Wu Yuan could not confirm whether there were any first-rate Adepts. The surroundings buzzed withmotion, and the rooms were meticulously soundproofed; thus, Wu Yuan could not discern any noises from neighboring rooms.


    He was perceiving his surroundings with soul sense, a method of mental perception that Wu Yuan had gradually developed after his soul had grown stronger following the opening of his upper dantian lobe. Though this method only allowed him to gain a vague sense of his environment, it was sometimes miraculously effective.


    After the third round of drinks, Wu Yuan decided that the time hade.


    He put down his drink and stood up. "Girls, wait here for a moment. I''m going for a walk and wille back soon. Don''t run away," Wu Yuan''s face was slightly flushed, a little drunk.


    The group of women began to protest, but then they spied Wu Yuan retrieving a bundle of silver notes from his bosom, some worth ten taels, others twenty. In total, they estimated the value to be around 200 taels.


    Joy spread across their faces. They hadn��t even done anything specific yet, and he was already this generous?


    "Sir, would you like somepany?" a woman asked as she snatched up the silver notes.


    "No need," Wu Yuan waved his hand and left. The women in the room naturally did not pry further.


    Wu Yuan emerged from the private room. Instead of returning to the main hall on the first floor by the same route, he walked to the end of the corridor on the third floor and went straight to the side of the main building. Through the window, he got a clear view of the courtyard below. Here, another staircase led directly to a quietne in the courtyard that saw far fewer visitors.


    Like a drunken man, Wu Yuan staggered down the stairs. The people who passed by him on the stairs paid little attention to him. Once he reached the ground floor, Wu Yuan entered the quietne in the courtyard.


    Though he appeared tipsy and intoxicated, Wu Yuan''s senses were exceptionally clear. He constantly observed his surroundings, watching for signs that the experts from the Moonlit Haven had their eye on him.


    The atmosphere within these rows of connected courtyard houses was far more serene and elegant. Those who frequented this ce often dressed as wealthy merchants or schrs. Given Wu Yuan��s attire, he stood out somewhat, but not egregiously so.


    After a short while, Wu Yuan halted near a specific courtyard house. The sign on the entrance read ''Fragrant Zither Mansion'' in elegant, small characters. The slightly ajar courtyard door revealed a tastefully furnished interior.


    Extending his soul sense, Wu Yuan detected two powerful auras inside the courtyard house, both somewhat intimidating. They were at least second-rate Adepts. The target was here.


    "Is this the ce? The abode of Fairy Fragrant Zither?" Wu Yuan mumbled to himself, pretending to be inebriated as he staggered toward the entrance.


    "Who is this drunkard? Halt!" Two fierce guards at the gate blocked Wu Yuan''s path, looking ready for a fight.


    Unlike the other courtyard houses, where only servants guarded the gate at most, this Fragrant Zither Mansion had umonly aggressive guards. Judging from their attire, it was clear they differed from the Moonlit Haven''s regr guards.


    "Oh? There are people here." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, seemingly about to turn around.


    A sh of disdain crossed the eyes of the two guards. Where did this drunkarde from?


    Before Wu Yuan turnedpletely, an eerie yet restrained de ray shed. Before the two guards could register it, their throats were already slit. Their faces still retained their original expressions, but their lifeless forms toppled forward involuntarily.


    "Are they all drunk?" Wu Yuan muttered. The saber at his waist lookedpletely untouched.


    With both hands, he nonchntly held the shoulders of the two guards, cradling them as one would handle chicks, and silently pivoted them around.


    He pushed the door, entered the courtyard, and closed the door in one breath. Even the two schrly-looking guests standing slightly more than ten meters away failed to register anything out of the ordinary.


    <i>Bang~</i> The courtyard door closed shut. Only then did Wu Yuan casually discard the bodies of the two guards near the entrance.


    At that precise moment, a slender trickle of blood traced down from their necks. They were no longer breathing.


    <i>Since they joined a bandit gang, they should be prepared for this. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart remained as tranquil as a cidke.


    From the intelligence, he already knew that the two family heads of the Bloodwolf Gang hade to the provincial city to enjoy themselves, bringing along more than ten gang members as guards. These guards were not here to protect the Bloodwolf Gang''s two family heads, but to serve as errand runners.


    Wu Yuan''s motive for joining the Pleiades Guild was simple: to utilize their vast intelligencework in order to filter out the remorseless killers from the rest. The Bloodwolf Gang''s tactics were far more mercilesspared to the Vicious Tiger Gang of Li City.


    ...


    Within an exquisite private chamber that upied one side of the hall stood arge bed. A faint fragrance permeated the air, and the decorations were dainty and elegant.


    "Mn!" an extraordinarily beautiful woman endured the pain, her slender fingers tightly clutching the sheets. Meanwhile, a bald middle-aged man engrossed himself in pleasure.


    Another man, roughly 30 years old with a handsome face and dressed in white robes, reclined in a chair with his eyes closed.


    ��Hmm?" The man in white robes abruptly opened his eyes, his voice filled with suspicion. "Third Brother, something feels amiss."


    The bald man was slightly startled, while the woman didn''t respond, still disoriented.


    Before hisst word fell, the door burst open with a resounding bang. Both men instinctively turned their heads towards the disturbance, only to be met with the sight of a burly figure, unkempt hair framing his face.


    "Where did this trashe from?" The bald man cursed angrily, scrambling to find his clothes.


    "Who are you, Sir? What is the meaning of this?" The man in the white robes calmly asked. He was keenly aware that something wasn''t right, his hand already instinctively reaching for the long sword at his side.


    "I havee to im your life!" A gruff voice echoed through the room as a de ray streaked through the air, aiming for the man in white robes.

 Chapter 74: Fierce Battle

    <h4>Chapter 74: Fierce Battle</h4>


    Bald Wolf Wang Xian and Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian. These were the two individuals extensively detailed in the Pleiades Guild''s intelligence dossier. Their general appearance, height, physique, posture, unique techniques, and so on were all meticulously recorded. And when it came to their past battles, there was no shortage of ounts.


    So when Wu Yuan burst through the door, he recognized them at a single nce. His focus fell on Bai Yuxian, his primary target. Without hesitation, he swung his saber. With the eruption of Threefold Power Surge, paired with the Thousand Mountains secret technique, the horrifying speed of the swing sent a chill down Bai Yuxian''s spine. Where did this formidable experte from?


    <i>ng! </i>Despite his surprise, Bai Yuxian was still a first-rate Adept. He reacted swiftly and drew his sword to meet the oing attack. Simultaneously, he retreated with such force that he crashed into the wall behind him.


    The sh between saber and sword left a deep gash on Bai Yuxian''s abdomen, staining his white garments red with blood. In fights between martial artists, life or death was often determined in an instant.


    "Damn it!" Bai Yuxian gritted his teeth, regretting his earlier decision to remove his body armor for a moment of pleasure. Had he not done so, this injury may have been avoided.


    He focused his mind, controlling his abdominal muscles to stop the bleeding. But no matter how well he could control his body, injuries were sure to affect his strength.


    <i>Escape!</i> In the same instant that Bai Yuxian was wounded, he had crashed into the wall behind him with a force exceeding 100,000 catties, tearing through it as if it were made of paper-mach��. A gaping hole was left in its wake, scattering debris throughout the room.


    Bai Yuxian immediately fled for his life. Having shed with the disheveled man once, he already discerned that his opponent��s strength approached that of a Savant expert. He was no match for him.


    As for Bald Wolf Wang Xian? He can only send him thoughts and prayers. Bandit experts might share bonds of brotherhood, but most had not reached the point of perishing together.


    <i>He dodged it?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered, though he remained unsurprised.


    He was originally aiming for the man''s neck. But realizing his strike would miss its mark, he swiftly adjusted its trajectory towards Bai Yuxian''s abdomen. If the blow hadnded, thebination of the ck Mountain Saber''s sharpness, Wu Yuan''s terrifying strength, and well-honed saber skills would have cleaved the man in half. What a shame!


    No first-rate Adept was weak. Bai Yuxian narrowly avoided Wu Yuan''s deadly strike, suffering only a minor injury.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Unable to achieve his goal in one strike, Wu Yuan did not pause his step. He moved with lightning speed, stirring up gusts of wind. The relentless de now shifted its aim towards Bald Wolf Wang Xian, who was scrambling to get up.


    Fear filled Wang Xian''s eyes. In a single strike, this intruder had forced his second brother, a first-rate Adept, to retreat?


    Facing Wu Yuan''s iing attack, Wang Xian wanted to resist, but the vast disparity in strength left him powerless to react. The de swept past.


    The sharp ck Mountain Saber sliced through his neck. Wang Xian''s head soared through the air, while a torrent of blood spurted from his chest cavity, staining the beautiful woman who was still lying in the bed with a bewildered expression.


    Bald Wolf Wang Xian was dead!


    <i>Thump~</i> Wu Yuan caught the airborne head with the tip of his saber, smoothly opening the body bag he held in his left hand. With a flick, he deposited the head into the bag, securing the knot and casually fastening it to his waist.


    With the head in his possession, all he had to do was deliver it to the Pleiades Guild, and the task would bepleted.


    Wu Yuan executed the entire sequence of movements with the fluidity of a flowing stream. It was as though he had rehearsed it countless times, the motion bing second nature to him.


    The body bag provided to him by the Pleiades Guild had excellent sealing properties, ensuring that no blood would seep through.


    <i>Large, and bloody too.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes quickly scanned the room, taking in the woman on the bed drenched in sttered blood. Swiftly, he grabbed the stacks of silver notes and gold notes at the foot of the bed, stowing them in his robes.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan propelled himself into the air with a sudden burst of strength, his figure blurring as he soared five or six meters high, crashing through the roof with a thunderous impact.


    His determined gaze locked onto Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian, who had managed to ce several dozens of meters between them.


    "Ah!!!" A piercing scream echoed from the partially copsed house. It appeared that Fairy Fragrant Zither had juste back to her senses.


    ...<i>Escape? Do you think you can escape from me? </i>


    <i>I��ve only killed three people, this is far from enough mist. How can I allow you to slip away? </i>


    Wu Yuan��s leg muscles trembled violently and the muscles on his thighs bulged to their limits. Unleashing a burst of power, his speed doubled, and he morphed into a ghostly light speeding across dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.


    This was a secret escape technique called Ghostwalk.


    Physical constitution was the foundation of martial arts, but secret techniques were equally important. The disparity between a martial artist armed with secret techniques and one without was massive.


    These so-called secret techniques weren''t anything mysterious. They were simply a means of manipting the musculoskeletal system, inducing rapid vibrations, contortions, and exertions within a condensed timeframe. In exchange for immense energy consumption and even potential bodily damage, one could achieve a temporary surge in power.


    Thousand Mountains was Wu Yuan''s most formidable offensive type secret technique, honed through rigorous practice. As for Ghostwalk? It was a movement type secret technique he created in his previous life with the aid of technology, in his pursuit of the limits of speed.


    The secret technique took a significant toll on the body, but the results were astonishing. The distance between Wu Yuan and Bai Yuxian closed at a visible rate.


    ..."What��s happening?"


    "Where?"


    "It looks like something happened in Fairy Fragrant Zither''s courtyard." Many guests, courtesans, and pimps in the neighboring courtyard houses heard the noise of a wall shattering. Looking over, they saw a figure d in a white robe burst out from a courtyard house, nimbly stepping on rooftops and advancing rapidly.


    It was closely followed by a sharp scream. Then, an even faster figure broke through the roof, leaping across dozens of meters of empty air, hot on the heels of the first man.


    <i>So fast? </i>Bai Yuxian was shocked. <i>Even a Savant expert might not necessarily be this fast.</i>


    <i>But if he''s a Savant expert, that saber strike should have ended me! Could he be using a legendary secret technique? </i>


    As a first-rate Adept, Bai Yuxian was very knowledgeable. But before he had time to think of anything else, Wu Yuan was already upon him.


    "Die!" Just as the assant was about to reach him, Bai Yuxian suddenly twisted his torso. The sword in his hand flexed like a venomous serpent, thrusting towards Wu Yuan. It was swift and fierce, just like his moniker, Trickster Sword.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan was in a vulnerable position mid-air, with no surface he could draw strength from.


    <i>Good, I was afraid you wouldn''t fight back! </i>Instead of fear, Wu Yuan felt delighted, and he sent forth a sh with the ck Mountain Saber.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>de rays lit up. The weapons of the two experts collided more than ten times in an instant, the terrifying forces reverberating through their limbs and onto the rooftop, unleashing shockwaves in every direction. The courtyard building they were on copsed in an instant.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Yet another de ray cut across like lightning. Bai Yuxian had no time to evade, resulting in a grievous wound on his arm. He retreated hastily.


    "Stand back!"


    "Run!"


    "How powerful, are they first-rate Adepts?" At this moment, the once jovial crowd in the Moonlit Haven had scattered in terror, many courtesans fleeing for their lives. Though they were weak, they could tell that the two experts wielded immense power through the havoc they wreaked in their battle.


    "Halt!" A thunderousmand rang out.


    Several figures plunged down fiercely from the main building of the Moonlit Haven. An imposing man in ck armor led the group, hurtling toward Wu Yuan like a streak of lightning.


    "It''s the Moon Guardians! The Moon Guardians have sprung into action." A guest eximed with a hint of curiosity in his voice.


    The guards of Moonlit Haven were collectively referred to as Moon Guardians, renowned for their strength.


    "It''s Iron Tower Long Er, he''s here." Those who were familiar with the inner workings of the Moonlit Haven wore expressions of astonishment.


    Long Er, the top powerhouse of this branch of the Moonlit Haven, seldom took action.


    "Help! Your guests are being assassinated." Bai Yuxian roared, running towards the experts from Moonlit Haven for refuge. Wu Yuan was too strong! Bai Yuxian acknowledged that there was no way he could escape from the assassin on his own.


    "Begging for help?" Wu Yuan seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll, but his pace didn''t slow down, "From the moment of your cowardly retreat, your fate was sealed."


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan gave chase, his speed surpassing that of Bai Yuxian by far. Bai Yuxian barely fled ten meters before Wu Yuan caught up to him again, who followed up with another swift strike of his saber.


    <i>ng! </i>Bai Yuxian brandished his sword in defense. He no longer hoped to overpower Wu Yuan, focusing solely on protecting himself. In his desperation, he was astonishingly able to parry Wu Yuan''s saber strikes.


    <i>I can withstand it; there is still hope.</i> A glimmer of optimism blossomed within Bai Yuxian''s heart.


    He knew that he wasn��t just any ordinary customer. If his true identity were exposed, the city guard might even move to arrest him. But at this critical juncture, he had to rely on the power of the Moonlit Haven to preserve his life.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Yet another de ray streaked through the air, prompting Bai Yuxian to instinctively defend himself in his usual manner. But in the blink of an eye, that de ray multiplied into dozens of rays, blotting the sky.


    It was the secret saber technique -- Thousand Mountains.


    "No." Bai Yuxian''s eyes filled with fear, his sword swinging desperately in an attempt to ward off the relentless onught of Wu Yuan''s saber technique.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>The air resonated with a cacophony of jarring shes. In an instant, the two weapons crossed more than ten times.


    A head was sent flying, blood sttering in all directions. The figure in white robes loosed his grip on his weapon and crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.


    The second family head of the Bloodwolf Gang, Bai Yuxian, was dead!


    With casual nonchnce, Wu Yuan picked up the severed head and deftly patted down Bai Yuxian''s garments, extracting a bundle of silver notes. Then, he somersaulted to pick up the dropped sword. Bai Yuxian''s sword was a fourth-grade superior weapon at least.


    Just as Wu Yuan was about to leave, a shout rang out. "How dare you kill a guest of the Moonlit Haven, die!"


    <i>Boom! </i>Like a god descending from the heavens, the burly figure swooped down from the wall with fearsome speed,nding so heavily that the ground cracked beneath his feet. Following that, a dazzling crimson streak sliced through the air, hurtling directly towards Wu Yuan!


    <i>An expert! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed.


    With just one swing of the saber, he understood that this burly man was undoubtedly the strongest adversary he had faced thus far.

 Chapter 75: A Massive Reward (1)

    <h4>Chapter 75: A Massive Reward (1)</h4>


    The crimson de ray illuminated the area. Though it was just a single stroke, it seemed to assail him from all angles, instilling a sense of overwhelming suppression. This attack had a subtle effect on the soul?


    <i>Stronger than Gu Ji or Luo Fu! I cannot overpower him!</i> Confronted with this fearsome strike, Wu Yuan swiftly made the decision to retreat, discarding the sword he had just acquired without hesitation. After all, he only had one life.


    The reason Wu Yuan had dared to go head-to-head with Bai Yuxian earlier was that he could maintain Threefold Power Surge consistently. Even though his physical constitution was slightly weaker, he could exert more power.


    But facing this man built like an unyielding iron tower, Wu Yuan estimated that he would still be weaker even after employing Threefold Power Surge. How could he take his attacks head-on?


    Having a high level of martial skill meant having the upper hand when engaging with an opponent, allowing one to utilize one''s strength to exploit the enemy''s weakness. To sh head-on was foolish!


    Furthermore, he had been using Ghostwalk continuously, and although the Thousand Mountains technique seemed to havested only an instant, it had ced a significant strain on his body.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As Wu Yuan hastily retreated, he swung the ck Mountain Saber in a strange and unpredictable trajectory. Boosted with Threefold Power Surge, nearly 140,000 catties of force exploded forth!


    <i>ng! </i>As the two sabers collided in mid-air, Wu Yuan felt an immense force reverberate through the weapons. Despite having already weakened and dispersed the attack, his qi still grew unstable, prompting him to retreat even further.


    <i>This stroke possesses close to 300,000 catties of force!</i>


    With Wu Yuan''s sharp perception, he could discern that the terrifying force was nearly double his own! If he took it head-on, it would either kill or severely wound him. Without a shadow of a doubt, this towering figure possessed a physical constitution nearing that of a Savant expert (second-grade). He also grasped a rudimentary understanding of Threefold Power Surge, cing him firmly among the strongest tier of first-rate Adepts.


    Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, the man known as Iron Tower Long Er, was equally astounded.


    <i>What a peculiar saber technique and impressive control of force. His power may be weaker than mine, but he managed to deflect my saber.</i>


    Long Er discarded his contempt for his opponent.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Wu Yuan shot up the wall like a bolt of lightning, intending to escape. Fight? Wu Yuan was not entirely confident, one misstep could spell his demise.


    Besides, he held no grudges against this man built like an iron tower. Wu Yuan wasn''t keen on engaging in a bloody fight with him.


    "After killing someone, you think you can flee?" Long Er bellowed angrily. With a stomp, he too shot up like a sh of lightning,unching a flying kick toward Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom~ </i>The thick wall could no longer withstand the impact of hundreds of thousands of catties of force, copsing with a deafening crash and raising a cloud of dust.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Another fierce de ray streaked through the air, aimed directly at Wu Yuan.


    "The two who died were family heads of the Bloodwolf Gang, don��t push me!" Wu Yuan growled, swinging his saber.


    <i>Cling~</i> It appeared as though Wu Yuan was sent flying by Long Er''s saber strike, but in reality, he cleverly utilized the force to propel himself over ten meters away. Landing gracefully on one foot, he bolted even further.


    "Where do you think you''re going? Since you killed our guest, you must pay with your life!" Iron Tower Long Er roared. Wu Yuan''s strength exceeded his expectations, evoking some wariness in his heart, yet this only intensified his killing intent.


    The rules of Moonlit Haven must not be trampled on! Otherwise, how would they continue to do business?


    <i>Boom! </i>Despite his massive frame, Long Er disyed astonishing agility. Stepping off the wall, he lunged toward Wu Yuan like an agile giant bear, surpassing Wu Yuan''s speed.


    True experts possessed both agility and speed. It was a facy to believe there were martial arts powerhouses who excelled in only either aspect. What was perceived as ineptitude was often a matter of rtivity.


    A shrill whistle cut through the air with precision as a cold light ripped through the vast sky.


    "Hmm?" The Long Er''s expression shifted subtly as he spun the saber in his hand, shielding his front.


    <i>ng!</i> A throwing knife struck the side of the saber. Long Er blocked the weapon imbued with incredible force, then re-directed it in another direction.


    <i>Boom! </i>The throwing knife punctured a wall, causing debris to scatter before plunging deep into the ground, leaving behind a gaping hole.


    Before Long Er could rejoice, three more stealth weapons cut through the air like shooting stars.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> This time, Wu Yuan threw three throwing knives at once, each knife traveling at a breakneck speed!


    The throwing knives made almost no sound. If Long Er had not been vignt, he wouldn''t have noticed them so quickly.


    <i>Too fast. </i>Long Er''s expression changed subtly. This time, he sensed that the attack posed a lethal threat to him. At such close range, it was impossible to dodge thempletely.


    <i>ng! ng! </i>Long Er evaded one throwing knife, deflecting the rest with his saber. Upon impact, the saber quivered. Two throwing knives were sent off course.


    <i>Boom!</i> A throwing knife pierced a towering tree before embedding itself into the ground.


    <i>Thud!</i> The other throwing knife soared dozens of meters, spinning like a scythe before impaling the chest of a bystander. Blood spewed forth, leaving little hope for survival.


    This scene sent the bustling crowd of customers, courtesans, and pimps recoiling in fear, their hearts pounding in their chests. The sheer intensity of the sh was enough to make anyone tremble. Even from such a distance, they could still be caught in the crossfire?


    Silently, another throwing knife shot forth like a streak of lightning. The speed of this throwing knife surpassed the previous ones, and its trajectory waspletely unpredictable.


    Long Er, who just barely managed to block two throwing knives, didn''t have time to react to this sudden attack. He could only instinctively dodge to the side, desperately avoiding its deadly course.


    <i>Thump! </i>The throwing knife mmed into Long Er''s chest like a merciless hammer. A fearsome shockwave reverberated from his chest throughout his entire body.


    <i>Crack! Crack!</i> There sound of breaking bones echoed in the air.


    Long Er spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, staggering backward. He struggled to maintain his bnce, enduring wave after wave of pain as his internal qi churned relentlessly. He quickly realized that his bones and organs had been severely damaged. Injuries like these significantly diminished hisbat strength, potentially even turning lethal.


    "Halt, all of you!" Long Er bellowed as he stopped, ceasing his pursuit. The Moon Guardians, who had been ferociously chasing Wu Yuan, also came to a halt at themand.


    Through Iron Tower Long Er''s keen eyes, he could see that Wu Yuan, now almost twenty zhangs away, held three more throwing knives between his fingers. It was a silent disy of intimidation.


    <i>What a terrifying master of stealth weapons! </i>Long Er was utterly shocked. <i>He released three throwing knives simultaneously, yet all of them were imbued with his full power? How strong is his mastery of stealth weapons?</i>


    <i>Continuously exerting such force puts a great strain on the body, it''s the trump card of any expert. Can he really use it multiple times in session?</i>


    Though master archers posed an immense threat to their enemies, rapid firing within a short period put immense strain on the fingers, arms, and back. The same principle applied to throwing knives!


    A single throwing knife posed no threat to Long Er. It would take three or more to truly concern him. He couldn''t shake the instinctual feeling that Wu Yuan couldn''t pull off this killing move multiple times.


    But Long Er dared not gamble on it. Now that he was already injured, losing the bet would mean death!


    <i>Where did this stealth weapons experte from?</i> Long Er stared intensely at Wu Yuan''s retreating figure until hepletely disappeared into the dark alleyway.

 Chapter 76: A Massive Reward (2)

    <h4>Chapter 76: A Massive Reward (2)</h4>


    A group of Moon Guardians gathered around him.


    "Captain!"


    "Captain, are you alright?"


    "Who was that expert?" Seeing the blood dripping from Long Er��s wounds, all of them showed concerned expressions.


    "It''s nothing, just a minor injury. I will be fine after some rest." Long Er''s voice resonated with a deep timbre. "Third Brother, go notify the city guard immediately. Launch a citywide manhunt for this man."


    "Fourth Brother, gather your men and scour the area for any traces of the assassin. Question any witnesses."


    "Fifth Brother, investigate whether the victims are connected to the Bloodwolf Gang or not."


    "Sixth Brother, visit the overseer and make arrangements to reassure the guests immediately." Long Er issued a flurry ofmands in rapid session. Apart from his duty as a guard captain, he held much authority within Moonlit Haven as a first-rate Adept.


    "Understood!" The Moon Guardians respectfully acknowledged before quickly dispersing.


    Long Er remained in ce, deep in thought as he recalled the recent battle. <i>Earlier, this master of stealth weapons had a chance to kill me.</i>


    If the final throwing knife hadnded just three inches higher, he would have died without a doubt. An error in judgment? Long Er did not believe such a skilled stealth weapons expert would make such a rookie mistake.


    There was only one possibility!


    <i>He didn��t want to kill me? But why?</i> Long Er slightly furrowed his brows. <i>Could this intruder be a formidable powerhouse who infiltrated the city? Perhaps he deliberately avoided provoking the wrath of my Moonlit Haven?</i>


    ...


    <i>Eliminating an expert of this caliber using only stealth weapons is indeed no easy feat.</i> Wu Yuan quietly walked in the darkness. At first, Wu Yuan did not want to fight the man to the death. But the opponent had pushed him too far, sparking his killing intent. He was no pushover, and retaliated with his strongest stealth weapon technique: Triple Knife Volley!


    Under normal circumstances, Wu Yuan could execute this technique three times in session. However, the previous fights had taken their toll on his body, pushing him to his limit. His fingers had trembled ever so slightly when he threw thest knife, causing it to veer off course. Instead of striking Long Er''s head, it found its mark on his chest.


    <i>Fortunately, the expert from the Moonlit Haven was sensible enough not to pressure me further.</i> Wu Yuan''s frosty gaze flickered. <i>Otherwise, as long as I managed to create some distance between us, the blood mist would have greatly alleviated my fatigue with time, allowing me to reenter the fray.</i>


    When Long Er appeared, Wu Yuan instinctively drew upon the blood-red mist billowing out from the ck Pagoda, rapidly assimting it into his weary body to dispel exhaustion. This was the blood-red mist''s most formidable attribute. As long as he continued to dispatch his enemies, Wu Yuan''s endurance in battle would reach unimaginable heights.


    <i>Having evaded the danger, the mission can be consideredplete.</i> Wu Yuan pressed onward without slowing his pace.


    Wu Yuan bolted several li in a single breath. After several breaths, he confirmed that no one was on his trail. Then, he circled a wide perimeter before determining his course and stealthily making his way toward the Pleiades Guild''s base.


    On the way there, Wu Yuan caught glimpses of city guards patrolling the streets with torches in hand, enforcing martialw, and rounding up the streets. Their efforts were destined to be in vain.


    <i>I��m close.</i> Wu Yuan caught sight of the secluded street from afar and silently dropped down from the building.


    He entered the unassuming coffin shop.


    ...


    Deep beneath the concealed courtyard of the Pleiades Guild''s headquarters, an intricatework of tunnels extended into unknown depths. Within these subterranean passagesy several sizable secret chambers.


    Inside one of these hidden chambers, Custodian Qin and a young man cloaked in ck robes were gathered, surrounded by scrolls.


    "Custodian Qin, if I understand correctly, this Thousand Mountains possesses the potential to attain a four-star rank?" inquired the young man, his voice deep and somber.


    "Yes," Custodian Qin responded solemnly, "He definitely has the strength of a first-rate Adept."


    "Is that so?" The young man in ck robes remarked dispassionately, "To be a four-star assassin, one requires the strength of a first-rate Adept, but not every first-rate Adept can be a four-star member."


    "The strength of an assassin is but one facet, the key lies in mastering the art of assassination."


    "Many affiliate members possess great strength, yet they''re novices in actual assassination," the young man in ck robes shook his head.


    "Indeed, Branch Master," Custodian Qin concurred. In the realm of assassination, sess hinged on killing one��s target!


    "I''ve read the mission that Thousand Mountains epted, he seems to be a rather conceited man," the young man said softly, "He dared to take on a three-star task, one of significant difficulty at that."


    "I attempted to dissuade him," said Custodian Qin said helplessly.


    "What do you think are the odds of himpleting the task?" the young man in the ck robe asked with a smirk.


    "Between 30-50%," Custodian Qin hesitated, "However, even if he fails, his chances of survival should be around 80%."


    "80%? It all depends on whether Thousand Mountains is a fool," the young man in ck robes said indifferently, "If he brashly attempts an assassination inside the Moonlit Haven, he is doomed, regardless of the oue"


    "Doomed?" Custodian Qin was taken aback.


    "I have just received news of Iron Tower Long Er''s returnst night," the young man in the ck robe said lightly.


    Custodian Qin''s pupils contracted. Iron Tower Long Er? He was one of the top five experts in the Southdream Province! He had returned?


    "Thousand Mountains is in peril," Custodian Qin''s brows furrowed, "I hope he heeds my advice and patiently waits for Wang Xian to depart from the Moonlit Haven."


    "Let''s wait and see, we''ll hear news in a few days," the young man in the ck robe nonchntly said.


    As the two conversed, someone knocked on their door.


    "What''s the matter?" Custodian Qin opened the door.


    "Begging your pardon, Branch Master, Custodian," the voice of the masked man trembled with disbelief. "Thousand Mountains has returned."


    "He ims to havepleted his initiation mission and in Bald Wolf Wang Xian."


    "What?" Custodian Qin and the youth in ck robes exchanged incredulous nces.


    "You''re certain there��s no mistake?" Custodian Qin asked with some skepticism.


    "It should be correct, we have verified the face on the decapitated head," the masked man replied. "Moreover, the city guard is in uproar, it seems that something big just urred in the Moonlit Haven, but the full reports have yet to arrive."


    Custodian Qin and the ck-robed youth exchanged another nce.


    "How long has it been since he departed for the mission?" The youth''s voice was a slow, deliberate whisper.


    "Only three hours," Custodian Qin replied, his voice low.


    The two fell silent, their minds racing. Was it possible toplete a three-star mission of such difficulty in just three hours?


    ...


    "What? Isn''t this the head of Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian, the second family head of the Bloodwolf Gang?" Custodian Qin eximed in shock. His eyes locked onto the masked Wu Yuan, then shifted to the second severed head held aloft.


    "That''s right." Wu Yuan spoke with detached nonchnce. "When I entered the Moonlit Haven to locate Bald Wolf Wang Xian, Bai Yuxian happened to be present as well, so I killed them both. I thought he might be of some use, so I brought back both heads."


    Custodian Qin struggled to believe such an audacious im, yet after carefully inspecting the face of the severed head, he could no longer deny the truth. He gave Wu Yuan a deep look.


    "Something''s not right." Custodian Qin remembered something,pelling him to inquire, "You mentioned infiltrating Moonlit Haven to execute your targets. Did you not encounter Iron Tower Long Er?"


    "Long Er? Iron Tower Long Er, ranked 136th in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings?" Wu Yuan slightly furrowed his brows, "Is he a burly man who carries a crimson saber?"


    "Indeed." Custodian Qin answered.


    "I did encounter him. After I killed Bai Yuxian, we had a fierce fight. I feared that drawing the battle out over a prolonged period would attract the attention of the high-level martial artists in Cloudstride Sect, so I only had time to injure him before leaving the scene," Wu Yuan casually recounted.


    "Had I been granted more time, I would have brought back his head as well." Wu Yuan spoke with an air of indifference, as if Iron Tower Long Er was hardly worth mentioning.


    Custodian Qin was speechless, his mind spinning as he stared at Wu Yuan. He had held Wu Yuan in high regard before, but now he realized he had still sorely underestimated this neer.


    Even Iron Tower Long Er was defeated?


    Observing Wu Yuan closely, Custodian Qin couldn''t detect a single scratch on him. The more he pondered, the more unfathomable he found Wu Yuan.


    "Thousand Mountains, this matter is of utmost importance. I must report to the branch master," Custodian Qin solemnly dered. ��Wait here for a moment."


    "Very well." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Custodian Qin hurriedly departed, leaving Wu Yuan to savor his tea.


    <i>The master of the Southdream branch of the Pleiades Guild?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with curiosity as he quietly spread out his soul sense.


    ...


    <i>Within the hidden underground chamber.</i>


    "Bai Yuxian is dead, and even Long Er is wounded?" The young man in ck robes was equally astounded upon hearing Custodian Qin''s report. "Just how strong is this Thousand Mountains? Could he possibly be a Savant expert?"


    "Branch Master, if his ims hold true..." Custodian Qin lowered his voice, "Even if he hasn''t reached the level of a Savant expert, I''m afraid he is not far from it."


    "Such formidable experts are unheard of within my Southdream branch," hemented.


    The young man in the ck robe merely nodded slightly. First-rate Adepts? There were a few in the Southdream branch, including the branch master himself. But could they y Bai Yuxian, injure Long Er, and leave unscathed? None of them could achieve such a feat!


    "Custodian Qin, lead the way. I wish to meet him in person," the ck-robed youth softly voiced, "Such an expert is of great importance."


    "Understood."


    ...


    <i>Branch Master Qing?</i> Wu Yuan looked at the ck-robed man that Custodian Qin brought over.


    Despite the mask concealing the ck-robed man��s face, the pair of eyes revealed through the holes were enough to instill fear in anyone.


    Custodian Qin stepped aside, allowing the two to speak.


    "I have been informed of the situation by Custodian Qin. You have done an excellent job, Thousand Mountains," the ck-robed man spoke with a gentle voice.


    "Many thanks for yourmendation, Branch Master," Wu Yuan replied indifferently.


    "You havepleted the initiation mission. ording to our rules, you are entitled to either 80,000 silver taels or 40,000 merits!" Branch Master Qing announced.


    "Additionally, as you have killed Bai Yuxian, a four-star mission within our branch, you can receive 240,000 silver taels or 120,000 merits."


    "Though you didn''t directly take on the task, you still brought back his head. Hence, I will consider the missionplete by my authority as branch master."


    "However, there will be a deduction of ten percent for intelligence fees. In total, you can receive 288,000 silver taels or 144,000 merits."


    "Now, the choice is yours. Would you prefer silver taels or merits?"

 Chapter 77: The Branch Master’s Invitation

    <h4>Chapter 77: The Branch Master��s Invitation</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s eyelids twitched involuntarily. Bai Yuxian was worth a staggering 240,000 silver taels? What a valuable head.


    However, upon further reflection, Wu Yuan felt that the price was rather reasonable. Not only did the task involve eliminating a first-rate Adept, but it also demanded the ability to track down a slippery opponent who could cover their tracks with ease. Wu Yuan''s own close encounter with death earlier that day served as a stark reminder of the dangers involved. If a weaker first-rate Adept were to carry out the assassination, they would likely be killed by Long Er even if they managed to assassinate Bai Yuxian!


    To assassinate was to take lives, thus one couldn''t avoid the risk of their own life being taken in the process. It was a treacherous path that teetered precariously between life and death.


    Most importantly, someone had to be willing to offer a handsome bounty as a reward.


    Considering these factors, four-star assassination missions were a rarity within the Southdream Province branch, likely limited to just a handful.


    "Thousand Mountains, you ought to thank the branch master," Custodian Qin chimed in from the side, "Normally, bringing back a target''s head without epting the mission beforehand would only warrant half the reward at best. The branch master is essentially granting you an additional tens of thousands of silver taels."


    Wu Yuanprehended the subtle hint and immediately bowed in gratitude, "Thousand Mountains is grateful to the Branch Master for this kind gesture."


    "Haha, our Pleiades Guild values talent. I, for one, appreciatepetence," Branch Master Qing chuckled in response.


    Wu Yuan naturally understood Branch Master Qing''s intentions. His actions were all aimed at garnering Wu Yuan��s favor in an attempt to win him over.


    "Thousand Mountains, the choice is yours," Custodian Qin reminded gently. "Whether silver or merits, both are quite valuable."


    Silver? 288,000 silver taels was a monumental sum that had eluded Wu Yuan until now, capable of granting him endless opportunities.


    Indeed, if he were to choose the silver, Wu Yuan would be free of financial worries for a good while.


    "Branch Master, what can these merits be exchanged for?" Wu Yuan asked. "I would like to browse my options."


    "Of course." Branch Master Qingughed, signaling Custodian Qin with a look, who then swiftly fetched a book.


    "Thousand Mountains, you may peruse this. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask," Branch Master Qing presented the book to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan reached out and epted it. The book was not particrly thick, titled: ��Merit Redemption Catalog (Three-star)��.


    "Based on your membership ranking, you will receive different privileges, which will dictate the treasures you may redeem your merits for," Branch Master Qing exined. "Normally, the real treasures of the guild can only be obtained by five-star members. However, the merits needed for them are staggering."


    "With your current merits, you may redeem most treasures at the three-star level," Branch Master Qing added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Opening the book, he began to skim through it. Many items were avable for redemption, most of which were rted to martial artists. For example, high-grade body tempering pills, bone forging pills, and so on.


    There were also fifth-grade superior weapons, fourth-grade superior weapons, fourth-grade soft armor, heavy armor, throwing knives, hidden weapons, and more.


    Alongside each type of item were its price, introduction, medicinal effects, consumption methods, and other rted details.


    <i>The prices here do seem rather steep.</i> Wu Yuan''s brows furrowed in mild discontent.


    If one were to equate one merit to two silver taels, then redeeming these items was costlier than purchasing them from the Sta Consortium.


    Wu Yuan flipped through the pages one by one. Merits could also be exchanged for a range of extravagant yet superfluous goods, including renowned calligraphies, antiques, and rare treasures.


    But it didn''t end with mere items. They could even be redeemed for plots ofnd beyond the city''s borders, shops within the city itself, or even the services of third-rate Adepts and martial virtuosos. Various saber and sword techniques were also avable for exchange.


    s, Wu Yuan was not interested in these for the time being. Turning to thest two pages, he finally found what he was looking for.


    <i>Qi Enhancement Pill: 1000 merits for one pill, maximum redemption of 100 pills per member.</i>


    <i>Third-grade divine weapon: One weapon can be redeemed with 130,000 merits. The Sta Consortium will assume responsibility for crafting and delivering it within three months. Maximum redemption of two per member.</i>


    <i>Natural treasure: Ancient Immortal Dew, 60,000 merits for one drop. Maximum redemption of ten drops per member.</i>


    <i>Natural treasure: Starlight Liquid, 10,000 merits for one drop. Maximum redemption of ten drops per member.</i>


    These were the treasures that Wu Yuan desired. He read the details of the Qi Enhancement Pill and the two natural treasures carefully.


    <i>This Ancient Immortal Dew? </i>Wu Yuan��s astonishment grew as he read the description. <i>Why does it feel so simr to the spiritual liquid I obtained from Yang Long?</i>


    ording to the description, the liquid was purple in color. Its medicinal properties were nothing short of astounding, and its essence was remarkably pure, devoid of any impurities. It could fortify one''s physical constitution without any negative repercussions. The more Wu Yuanpared the two, the more he felt that the so-called spiritual liquid he obtained was none other than Ancient Immortal Dew.


    <i>I acquired about three or four drops of it, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of silver taels?</i>


    No wonder it produced such a miraculous effect!


    Instinctively, Wu Yuan was tempted to redeem his merits for Ancient Immortal Dew. However, he couldn''t help but hesitate. The price tag attached to it was simply too steep.


    Whenpared to the more affordable Starlight Liquid and Qi Enhancement Pills, it was clear that they were cheaper for a reason. They contained impurities and could potentially bring about undesirable side effects after consumption.


    <i>But with my impable control over my body and the aid of the blood-red mist, even a medium-grade bone forging pill can yield wondrous results. Not to mention these superior treasures.</i>


    Forget natural treasures, even Qi Enhancement Pills were hard toe by for second-rate and first-rate Adepts.


    "Thousand Mountains, have you made up your mind?" Custodian Qin asked.


    ��Branch Master, I''ve decided.�� Wu Yuan nodded, ��I would like to exchange 140,000 merits for 10 drops of Starlight Liquid and 40 Qi Enhancement Pills. The remaining merits will be converted to 8,000 silver taels. Is that feasible?" Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted between Branch Master Qing and Custodian Qin. He was not leaving a single merit untouched, using up all of them. Who knew what the branch master would think of this.


    Custodian Qin remained silent.


    "No problem at all," Branch Master Qing smiled. "If you had chosen to redeem your merits for Ancient Immortal Dew, it would have been quite troublesome. I would''ve had to send your request to the continent-level branch, and you would take at least a month to receive it. But for the Starlight Liquid?"


    "Fortunately, we have some in stock right here at the branch. We can give it to you right away." Branch Master Qing''s smile widened.


    "In that case, I must express my gratitude to Branch Master," Wu Yuan replied.


    A month? He couldn''t afford to wait.


    "Custodian Qin, please retrieve the rewards," Branch Master Qing instructed. "I would like to have a private word with Thousand Mountains."


    Custodian Qin bowed, leaving the room obediently.


    Within the secret room, only Wu Yuan and Branch Master Qing remained.


    "Thousand Mountains, I will be frank. You need not answer if you find the question intrusive," said Branch Master Qing with a smile. "Are you above 30 years old this year?"


    A sudden wariness sprang up in Wu Yuan''s heart. Age?


    Yet he showed no change in his demeanor, casually replying, "30 years old? Are you joking, Branch Master? I am nearing 40."


    "Oh?" A fleeting trace of disappointment crossed Branch Master Qing''s gaze. "What a pity. From Custodian Qin''s description of you, I assumed that you were in your twenties."


    "And if I were in my twenties?" Wu Yuan queried, his interest piqued.


    "Haha, it would imply that you possess astounding potential. If you''re willing to join us, you would receive exclusive nurturing from the highest echelons of the Pleiades Guild," Branch Master Qing chuckled.


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. A first-rate Adept in his twenties? In any major faction, such an individual would be hailed as a supreme prodigy.


    "A shame indeed. Had I been a decade younger, I might have given it a shot," Wu Yuanughed. He wasn''t overly concerned about the other party discerning his true age.


    Age? For a martial arts expert, sessful cultivation could allow one to preserve the youthful appearance of their twenties well into their forties, without a single wrinkle. Therefore, determining the age of a martial arts expert through appearance alone was highly challenging, and required special methods.


    "Since you have exceeded the age limit, we''ll leave it at that," Branch Master Qing slowly intoned. "However, I''d like to seek your opinion on another matter."


    "Please speak, Branch Master," Wu Yuan said.


    "Currently, within my Southdream Province branch, there are two four-star missions remaining on our list. Might you be interested?" Branch Master Qing asked.


    "Only two?" Wu Yuan seemed somewhat puzzled.


    "Yes, the majority of assassination missions arise from enmity. They often have a time limit, and the price set by our Pleiades Guild isn''t low."


    "Therefore, high level assassination tasks are very scarce. A four-star task is the highest level mission that a province-level branch can issue," Branch Master Qing elucidated.


    "Originally, there were three four-star tasks. You have killed Bai Yuxian, which counts aspleting one. Now only two remain," Branch Master Qing disclosed.


    "You are currently a three-star assassin. If youplete another four-star task, not only will you receive arge reward, but you can also advance straight to the rank of a four-star assassin."


    "A four-star assassin can redeem their merits for treasures several times more precious than a three-star assassin," Branch Master Qing tempted, fixing Wu Yuan with an expectant gaze.


    But Wu Yuan was unmoved. This was his first meeting with Branch Master Qing, there was no reason for him to be generous. If the two four-star tasks were easy toplete, he could go and finish them up himself. Why ask him? And show goodwill on top of that?


    <i>When I just became a three-star assassin, even though I demonstrated the power of a first-rate Adept, this branch master couldn''t be bothered to meet me. But now he��s suddenly so enthusiastic. I''m guessing it''s because I killed Bai Yuxian.</i>


    Wu Yuan had his suspicions. Perhaps the Southdream Branch of the Pleiades Guildcked an expert at Iron Tower Long Er''s level.


    "What''s the task?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Have a look for yourself." Branch Master Qing produced a scroll from behind him, clearly prepared beforehand.


    Wu Yuan epted it and had a look. The scroll was none other than the mission archives of the Southdream Province branch.


    He flipped directly to thest page, where three four-star missions were detailed. Apart from the task of killing Bai Yuxian, there were two others.


    <i>The Bloodwolf Gang...Southdream City. The task is to kill the gang leader Wu Shan, also known as Blood Wolf, a first-rate Adept. This mission is rated four stars.</i>


    <i>Mission Reward: 680,000 silver taels or 340,000 merits.</i>


    <i>Requirements: The target must die via beheading, and the head must be brought back as proof. Methods such as poisoning are prohibited. The task must bepleted before the 26th of August.</i>


    Wu Yuan frowned slightly. The description of this mission was an exact replica of the previous one targeting Bald Wolf. Could it be that someone held a grudge against the Bloodwolf Gang and wanted to crush the gang with silver?


    The exorbitant reward indicated that the leader of the Bloodwolf Gang had to be extremely strong. Additionally, Wu Yuan roughly understood the opponent''s strength. Blood Wolf Wu Shan ranked 163rd in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings!


    As for the other four-star mission?


    <i>Kill the governor of Southdream Province?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, someone actually posted such a mission?


    This region fell under the Cloudstride Sect''s jurisdiction, and the governor held the highest position within the sect''s civil administration. If he were to be assassinated, wouldn''t it enrage the entire Cloudstride Sect?


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan casually skimmed through the previous three-star missions, narrowing his gaze.<i> Interesting.</i>


    On the previous page, an unremarkable three-star task read:


    <i>Kill the general of defense of the county city in Li County of Southdream Province. The target is named Xu Shouyi, a near first-rate Adept. This mission is rated three stars.</i>

 Chapter 78: The Best Swimmers Often Drown

    <h4>Chapter 78: The Best Swimmers Often Drown</h4>


    <i>Assassinate Xu Shouyi?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze remained calm. <i>And the reward is 100,000 silver taels?</i>


    That was the highest reward for a three-star mission! Clearly, the challenge was not in assassinating Xu Shouyi, but in weathering the wrath of the Cloudstride Sect afterward, just like the task of assassinating the governor of Southdream Province. The mission reward for thetter was a whopping one million silver taels!


    The governor himself was merely a second-rate Adept. Even if he were protected by a first-rate Adept, the difficulty of assassination was disproportionate to the reward. Such a hefty reward represented not only the strength of the target, but also the power of the Cloudstride Sect behind them, which acted as a form of deterrence.


    <i>However, there are no extra requirements, meaning both straightforward assassination and poisoning are eptable?</i>


    For the missions involving the family heads of the Bloodwolf Gang, bringing back their heads was a necessary condition. But for killing the governor and Xu Shouyi, there were no such requirements. The employer must have specifically requested this condition, most likely due to a major grudge against the Bloodwolf Gang.


    "Thousand Mountains, what are your thoughts on these two four-star missions?" Branch Master Qing asked quietly.


    "Branch Master, I will pass on the governor''s assassination." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "If it''s discovered that I am the culprit, I fear there will be no ce for me in all of the Jiang Continent."


    Normally, if the governor of a province was assassinated, one would be unable to escape retaliation even if they fled the territory of the Cloudstride Sect. The Cloudstride Sect would dispatch experts for revenge upon receiving the news, hence if the assassin didn''t manage to get far enough, they would be hunted down. Any major power would do the same. Otherwise, how could they deter those who challenged their rule?


    "Branch Master, why not arrange for someone to poison him? It might be easier." Wu Yuan suggested.


    "Poison?" Branch Master Qing was left speechless. If poisoning the governor were so simple, why would this mission still be left iplete to this day?


    "The difficulty and risk of assassinating the governor are indeed extremely high,"mented Branch Master Qing, shifting the conversation. "And the other task? Would you be willing to attempt it, Thousand Mountains?" The other task was to assassinate Blood Wolf Wu Shan.


    "In the event of a failed assassination, is there a penalty?" Wu Yuan asked in return.


    "The penalty is not serious." Branch Master Qing replied. "If you fail the mission, some star points will be deducted."


    "Star points?" Wu Yuan looked puzzled.


    "For each task youplete, you will earn star points." Branch Master Qing exined. "Once you umte enough star points, you can be promoted to a higher rank and gain more privileges."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    "For instance, to advance from a three-star assassin to a four-star assassin, you need 20,000 star points," Branch Master Qing continued. "Each four-star task youplete will earn you 10,000 star points, whilepleting a three-star task will earn you 2000 star points."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. No wonder Branch Master Qing had said that he could be promoted to a four-star assassin just bypleting another four-star task.


    If a second-rate Adept wanted to be promoted to a four-star expert, they would have toplete ten three-star missions? That was equivalent to walking on the edge of life and death ten times! How many times could they survive?


    "If you fail, a tenth of the task reward''s star points will be deducted, that is, 1000 star points." Branch Master Qing stated.


    "Branch Master, I understand. I will ept the mission to assassinate Blood Wolf Wu Shan," Wu Yuan dered calmly. "However, I would also like to undertake a three-star task simultaneously."


    "A three-star task? Which one?" Branch Master Qing looked surprised.


    "This one." Wu Yuan pointed to the mission archives.


    "Kill the general of defense of Li County?" Branch Master Qing scanned the mission details.


    Instantly, he frowned. "Thousand Mountains, you must consider this carefully. Xu Shouyi''s strength is average, and it won''t be difficult for you to assassinate him. However, his master is a sect elder of the Cloudstride Sect. If your identity is exposed, the repercussions you will face won''t be trivial."


    "His master?" Wu Yuan''s eyes shimmered with an icy glint.


    Ah, now it made sense! No wonder Xu Shouyi could act so fearlessly, daring to meddle in local politics. The sect elders of the Cloudstride Sect were nothing like the Wu n''s n elders. One had to be at least a Savant expert to assume the former role.


    "It doesn''t matter, I will be choosing this mission," Wu Yuan said nonchntly. "I happen to be nning a trip to Yuanhu Province. Should I fail to assassinate Wu Shan, I canplete this task in passing."


    "That''s fine," nodded Branch Master Qing.


    Assassinate a county general? It might prove a bit troublesome, but assassins and killers were known for their fearlessness. The Pleiades Guild was not afraid! They even dared to assassinate Land Rankers.


    "I shall retrieve the necessary documents," Branch Master Qing announced. "Kindly await my return."


    A quarter of an hourter, Custodian Qin and Branch Master Qing returned to the room together.


    "Thousand Mountains, here are the treasures you requested, along with the silver notes," Custodian Qin handed over the items. "Feel free to inspect them."


    "I trust you, Custodian. There''s no need to inspect them," Wu Yuan remarked indifferently.


    Inspect them? Whether the Qi Enhancement Pills or the Starlight Liquid, Wu Yuan had never seen them in his life. Even if he inspected them, he wouldn��t know what to look for. As for the silver notes? Wu Yuan believed the other party wouldn''t dare forge them. He quickly put away the three jade vials and the stack of silver notes.


    "Thousand Mountains, these are the copies of the mission dossiers for the two tasks, you can take them with you" Branch Master Qing handed over the scrolls to Wu Yuan.


    "This book exins the rights and obligations of an affiliate assassin of the Pleiades Guild, and also records the locations of the various county branches within Southdream Province," Branch Master Qing added, "In the future, for tasks and rewards rted to one to four-star missions, you may proceed directly to these bases."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan epted the book. He was curious, so he flipped through it briefly.


    There was one guild branch in every county, and the province-level branch in Southdream Province was described in detail. As for the other fifteen provinces of the Jiang Continent? There was only one branch recorded per province. It was obvious that Wu Yuan, who was only a three-star affiliate assassin, did not have a high enough status to gain ess to the guild��s inner workings.


    "Remember, after you have memorized everything, you must burn it," Branch Master Qing reminded him, "If an outsider ever finds out that you are in possession of this book, it is highly probable that your affiliation with the Pleiades Guild will also be exposed."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Branch Master," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    The two of them chatted for a bit longer. After which, they parted ways.


    ...


    "Branch Master, Thousand Mountains has already left. He''s too fast; Nine Shadows could only tail him for half a street before being forced to retreat for fear of being detected," Custodian Qin hurried back to the secret chamber to report.


    "Never mind, we can''t control such an expert," Branch Master Qing said softly, "By tomorrow, I want aprehensive ount of how Thousand Mountains executed the assassination mission at Moonlit Haven. Gather all the information you can. Only then will we be able to properly gauge his true strength.


    "Understood" Custodian Qin said, "I shall issue the orders immediately."


    He then hesitated for a moment, "Branch Master, do you think he can kill Blood Wolf Wu Shan?"


    "Hard to say," Branch Master Qing shook his head slightly, "Blood Wolf Wu Shan is an expert on par with Iron Tower Long Er, he is not a fool. With his subordinates falling one after another, he will certainly grow suspicious."


    "The only way is for Thousand Mountains to strike before the news spreads, while Wu Shan has not yet been alerted. Otherwise, once the target has his guard up,pleting the mission will prove a great challenge."


    "However, there''s no other option. In Southdream Province, if the Cloudstride Sect doesn''t take action, only a handful of experts are capable of ying Blood Wolf Wu Shan." Branch Master Qing said, shaking his head subtly.


    Custodian Qin nodded in agreement. If the Cloudstride Sect decided to take action, killing one man wasn��t difficult. Unfortunately, there was likely a personage from the upper echelons of the Cloudstride Sect behind Blood Wolf Wu Shan.


    "One more thing. Regarding the assassination of the governor, prepare n three." Branch Master Qing''s voice was chillingly cold.


    "n three?" Custodian Qin was taken aback, and couldn��t help but question, "Branch Master, that would greatly increase our risk of exposure."


    "I don''t wish for that either. But if he doesn''t die, we won''t meet the minimum mission target, and my position as branch master will be in jeopardy. ��Would you three custodians fare any better?"


    Custodian Qin fell into silence.


    How could those who wielded vast authority within the guild live without any worries? Although the Pleiades Guild was rtively peacefulpared to the Ninedeaths Circle, it was an underground organization at the end of the day, and the internal governance was exceptionally brutal.


    ...


    <i>This branch master is desperate for me to aplish a four-star mission, there must be a significant reason behind it.</i>


    <i>But what does it matter to me? He doesn''t dare to go himself and wants to use me as his spear, sending me to confront Blood Wolf Wu Shan?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes turned icy as he swiftly maneuvered through the darkness, navigating street after street.


    Right from the start, Wu Yuan had no intention of fighting Blood Wolf Wu Shan. After exchanging blows with Iron Tower Long Er, he had already roughly grasped the strength of those on the Human Rankings. Each and every one of them were not to be trifled with!


    Even if Blood Wolf Wu Shan was slightly weaker, the gap was not toorge. At present, if Wu Yuan were to assassinate him, he stood an 80% chance of sess. The probability of victory seemed high.


    <i>But with the resources I currently possess, I could cultivate for a considerable length of time. Why should I risk it all? </i>


    Wu Yuan had thought it through. Let alone a twenty percent risk of death, even a ten percent risk was one Wu Yuan was unwilling to take.


    Taking risks, grinding, and engaging in battles were all methods to gather resources for cultivation. Stability should not be pursued blindly, as it would slow down one��s pace of progress. Yet, constantly taking risks could prove lethal too. The probability of death would escte significantly the more one tempted fate. And even if one was lucky enough to win once, what about twice? Or thrice?


    Those who frequent the river''s edge would inevitably get their shoes wet. The best swimmers often drown! The best strategy was not to tread carefully along the river''s edge, but to avoid it as much as possible.


    Why then, did Wu Yuan ept the mission?


    <i>If I hadn��t agreed, would Branch Master Qing still kindly hand over these treasures?</i> Wu Yuan smirked coldly. <i>Perhaps, he would find an excuse to deceive me and make me wait.</i>


    This was precisely why Wu Yuan decided to redeem all his merits. He cared little about the identity of Thousand Mountains. In the worst-case scenario, he could always employ Transfiguration, visit a continent-level branch of the Pleiades Guild, and create a new identity called Ten Thousand Mountains.


    <i>But Xu Shouyi, you''d better not run.</i> Killing intent zed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He didn''t seek revenge earlier because he knew he wasn''t powerful enough andcked absolute confidence!


    But now? It was time to avenge his nsmen.


    ...


    Along the way, Wu Yuan shed the clothing he wore as part of his disguise, slipping into the clothes he had hidden earlier in the hollow of a towering old tree.


    With new treasures and scrolls in his possession, he entered the martial academy in the dead of the night.


    Though the upheaval at Moonlit Haven shook half the city, the Southdream Martial Academy remained unaffected. The courtyard was cloaked in a hushed silence in the deepest hours of the night.


    Sailing through the slightly ajar window, Wu Yuan returned to the martial chamber on the second floor. He checked the hair-trigger rm at the door, confirming it was not tampered with. Only then did hepletely let his guard down.


    Settling himself in the lotus position, he quieted his mind, attuning himself to his surroundings.


    Gu Ji remained on the first floor, utterly oblivious to the whole slew of actions Wu Yuan had undertaken this night.


    <i>Let''s have a look at the spoils I''ve gotten from this trip.</i> Wu Yuan extracted the silver notes and treasures, quickly taking stock. Including the rewards from the Pleiades Guild, he had amassed approximately 45,000 silver taels in the form of silver and gold notes.


    <i>No wonder so many martial artists gravitate toward a life of banditry, thievery, and assassination. Plundering is indeed a quick way to wealth.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Yes, it was risky. However, the rewards, once obtained, were dreadfully lucrative.


    The tens of thousands of silver taels were just the beginning. Even more precious than the money were the 40 Qi Enhancement Pills, ten drops of starlight liquid, and 700 medium-grade bone forging pills he had umted.


    <i>All these should sustain my cultivation for a considerable time.</i> Wu Yuan grinned slightly.


    He consolidated and stored the items, leaving only a bottle of Qi Enhancement Pills in front of him, then closed his eyes.


    <i>There are roughly two hours left till dawn, let''s see how much blood-red mist my body can absorb. </i>Wu Yuan was filled with anticipation.


    His consciousness converged on the upper dantian lobe. In the boundless and mysterious space, a copious amount of blood-red mist hovered around the ck pagoda. In terms of total volume, it might even exceed the previous umtion.


    <i>Previously, I killed Luo Fu and some other assassins. This time, I killed fewer people but gained more mist. Could it be that the amount of blood-red mist corrtes with the strength of the enemies I kill?</i>


    The sample size was too small, hence this was just a spection.


    <i>There��s no need to think so much, I should cultivate first.</i> Wu Yuan''s consciousness expertly guided the strands of blood-red mist, seamlessly weaving them through his three major dantian lobes, and gradually assimting them into his body.

 Chapter 79: Senior Brother Wu (1)

    <h4>Chapter 79: Senior Brother Wu (1)</h4>


    <i>This feels as pleasant as ever.</i> Wu Yuan sighed as he basked in the sensation.


    Streams of blood-red mist flowed from the upper dantian lobe into his musculoskeletal system, evolving his body. Each time he experienced this, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but admire the blood-red mist from the bottom of his heart.


    Like a reservoir, his body possessed a finite capacity, but the crimson mist forcefully expanded it withoutpromising its foundation.


    <i>This crimson mist respects the natural progression of my growth, never overdrafting my vitality or disrupting my development cycle. I am still in the prime stage of physical development. With each passing day, I can sense the steady advancement of my physical constitution.</i>


    <i>Items like the Ancient Immortal Dew, the body tempering pill, and the bone forging pill can help a young beast gradually mature into a strong adult beast.</i>


    <i>On the other hand, this blood-red mist can transform a mere dog into a ferocious tiger, or potentially even a Tyrannosaurus Rex!</i>


    This was what it meant to evolve at the genomic level. Miraculous! Unimaginable!


    With Wu Yuan''s current knowledge, he could not imagine what kind of figure could have created the ck pagoda.


    <i>A god? Immortal? Devil?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, dismissing these thoughts and redirecting his focus toward his cultivation.


    ...


    Wu Yuan slept deeply for two hours. In the morning, he went downstairs to get some food, proving to Gu Ji that he was safe and sound. The rest of the time, he focused on his cultivation, absorbing the blood-red mist from the ck pagoda.


    In the blink of an eye, it was noon.


    "Young Master, Wu Xiong has arrived to see you," Gu Ji''s voice rang out. "He mentioned that your good friends, Wu Sheng and Luo He, are with him."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan opened his eyes and called out, "Uncle Ji, kindly request them to wait for a moment, I will tidy up and join them shortly."


    "Very well." With that, he heard Gu Ji descending the stairs.


    Wu Yuan rose, taking the time to straighten the mess on the floor and neatly organize the scrolls and other items he had acquired the previous night.


    Once satisfied, he swung the door open and made his way downstairs to the ground floor.


    "Uncle Ji." Wu Yuan greeted with a smile, spotting Gu Ji in the central hall practicing with his saber. His eyes were shut.


    "Young Master." Gu Ji opened his eyes and set aside his weapon. He nced at Wu Yuan and said lightly, "Your relentless training since your arrival in the provincial city a few days ago is paying off. Your strength has noticeably improved; there''s a clear difference."


    "I have made some progress." Wu Yuan smiled.


    His physical constitution had greatly improved, and even if Wu Yuan tried to conceal it, he couldn��t hide the changes in his skin condition, essence, qi, and soulpletely.


    "Young Master, training is not a one-off affair. It should be done in a sustainable manner. Keeping the mind in a constant state of tension might not be beneficial." Gu Ji advised.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "I''m guessing your two friends are nning to host a feast for you." Gu Ji said, "Do not stray too far from the martial academy. Last night, a highly skilled martial artistmitted a crime in Southdream City. A first-rate Adept lost their life. Be careful."


    "A first-rate Adept died?" Wu Yuan''s face filled with bewilderment. "Who would be bold enough tomit a crime in the provincial city?"


    "It remains unclear." Gu Ji shook his head. "That is why you must exercise caution, I will discreetly follow youter."


    "Thank you for the warning, Uncle Ji." Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude.


    After Wu Yuan exited the building, he was greeted by the dazzling spectacle of the outdoors, awash in vibrant hues beneath the unrelenting gaze of the sun. The heart of summer was a scene of beauty.


    The Radiant Hall, an important location nestled deep within the martial academy, was a ce that few disciples frequented during regr days. However, as Wu Yuan stepped out, he saw two young men in martial academy uniforms standing near the courtyard gate. They were Wu Sheng and Luo He, Wu Yuan''s good friends from his time at the Li City Martial Academy.


    "Brother Yuan is out."


    "Brother Yuan," the burly Wu Sheng and the refined Luo He quickly noticed Wu Yuan and ran up to him.


    In the courtyard, over a dozen guards who were in the midst of training also noticed Wu Yuan. Wu Xiong spoke excitedly to them, seemingly boasting about his son''s rtionship with Wu Yuan.


    "Little Wu, Ah He," Wu Yuan strode forward and enveloped them in a fierce bear hug, "I''ve been in the Southdream Martial Academy for several days now. You''ve finallye to see me."


    "Brother Yuan, don''t be upset with us," Luo He quickly said.


    "Instructor Yang informed us well in advance, but we were in the middle of our closed-door training and weren��t allowed to leave," Wu Sheng helplessly exined. "We only regained our freedom today."


    "As soon as we got out, we rushed over," Luo He added.


    ��How lucky, you guys get vacations?�� Wu Yuan grinned, "It''s hard for me to even get a day off."


    "Brother Yuan, you''re not ying fair!"


    "You''re such a bully." Wu Sheng and Luo He feigned anger, yfully punching Wu Yuan''s chest.


    However, they all burst intoughter shortly after. Even though they hadn''t seen each other for months, the bond between these friends remained steadfast, unchanged since their days in Li City.


    "Brother Yuan, I heard everything from my father." Wu Sheng sighed, "You''re too overpowered, acquiring the strength of a martial virtuoso in just a few months. No one in our generation of disciples has reached this level, and you''re even a month younger than me."


    "That''s why Brother Yuan was specially recruited by the sect, getting to enter the Cloud Martial Hall directly," Luo He grinned, "I can''t wait to see Xu Yuanhan''s face when he sees you."


    Wu Sheng''s expression darkened. "Let''s not talk about him," he muttered.


    "What''s the matter?" Wu Yuan asked, concerned.


    "It''s nothing, just some pettypetition among disciples, like what we had in the martial academy back in Li City," Wu Sheng reassured, his face returning to normal.


    Wu Yuan nodded. The purpose of a martial academy was to foster professional martial artists, hence it encouragedpetition. Naturally, it wouldn''t be as peaceful and refined as a private school. If Wu Sheng wasn''t willing to discuss it, Wu Yuan wouldn''t probe.


    "Let''s not dwell on the unpleasant matters. Ah He, you always said that once Brother Yuan arrived, you would host a feast," Wu Sheng nced at Luo He, "Now that Brother Yuan is here, it''s time for your wallet to bleed."


    "Haha, don''t worry, you bumpkin. What you consider a heavy loss is nothing but a mere scratch to me," Luo Heughed.


    Wu Sheng red at him. "I��m not going to stop eating until you go broke today."


    Wu Yuanughed, enjoying the banter between his two friends. Although his perspectives on many things had changed after dueling with martial arts powerhouses and conversing with high-ranking figures like Gu Ji and Gao Yu, it was in moments like these that he realized his body was still that of a fourteen-year-old boy.


    "Let''s go to the Drunken Sect Tavern," Luo He dered spiritedly.


    ...


    The Drunken Sect Tavern was located near the martial academy. Even with Wu Yuan''s discerning eyes, he couldn''t deny that it was an upscale establishment. Its decor and furnishings exuded elegance and sophistication.


    The tavern was a popr gathering ce for students of the tertiary martial academy who were predominantly of noble and wealthy backgrounds.


    Martial arts demanded a hefty investment. Without substantial wealth, supporting the early growth of a martial artist was an arduous task.


    Wu Yuan''s meager physical appearance when he first transmigrated over belied the fact that he was already stronger than 99% ofmoners.


    Rely solely on talent? Unless gifted with extraordinary talent, it was a difficult uphill battle for someone from a humble background to make a name for themselves.


    "Childe Luo," a waiter immediately recognized Luo He, enthusiastically weing him in. As the eldest son of arge n, Luo He was a regr patron here.


    "Today I have brought my good brother here. Bring all your specialty dishes to a private room upstairs." Luo He dered generously, "Price is no issue."


    "Of course, Childe Luo. Pleasee inside," the manager hastened to greet them, casting a nce at Wu Yuan, whom Luo He had mentioned.


    Wu Yuan was not wearing the uniform of the martial academy students and his clothes were quite ordinary. However, there was something remarkable about him that the manager couldn''t quite put his finger on. Though he appeared to be a teenager, he exuded an air of authority and confidence far beyond his age.


    "Luo He, there''s no need for such extravagance," Wu Yuan remarked with a smile.


    "Don''t worry, Brother Yuan. It will only amount to a few silver taels at most," Luo Heughed and reassured him, "For people like you and me, it''s nothing to worry about."


    "Luo He, let''s go upstairs," Wu Sheng beckoned. The group ascended to a spacious private room on the third floor, offering an exquisite view of a nearbyke. The season of blossoming lotuses painted a serene picture, with a gentle breeze adding to the ambiance.


    Before long, an assortment of delectable dishes arrived, apanied by the waitresses serving fine wine.


    "Brother Yuan, try this wine the tavern is famous for, reputed to have once intoxicated a Grandmaster expert." Luo He poured a cup for Wu Yuan.


    "Luo He, I''ll pass on the wine." Wu Yuan declined and stopped him, "At this crucial juncture in our training, refraining from wine and lust is essential."

 Chapter 80: Senior Brother Wu (2)

    <h4>Chapter 80: Senior Brother Wu (2)</h4>


    Wine is poison that pierces the gut, lust is a saber that scrapes the bone. This held true for adults, and even more so for the harm it inflicted on the swiftly developing bodies of adolescents.


    Considering Wu Yuan''s current physical constitution, the effects of a small quantity of alcohol were nearly negligible. However, he understood that the wine in this world was much more potent than that of his previous life. As for the physical constitutions of Luo He and Wu Sheng? It would undoubtedly have a significant impact on them.


    One might assume that a small indulgence would have little consequence, but all disasters originated from the umtion of small actions.


    "Exactly! Ah He, I often advise you to drink less, but you never listen. Today, it''s Brother Yuan��s turn to warn you." Wu Sheng chided.


    "Hehe, I''ll listen to Brother Yuan and forgo the wine." Luo He set down the wine pot, then gestured to the waitress by his side, instructing her to remove the wine.


    Wu Yuan chuckled and shook his head. He could tell that Luo He didn''t really intend to take his advice, but everyone had the right to free will, so he wouldn''t restrict his friend too much.


    With Luo He''s family background, even if he failed to seed in his pursuit of martial arts, he should have no worries in his lifetime. Among his two friends, Wu Sheng truly possessed a passion for the martial arts and had the potential to surpass his father, Wu Xiong.


    "Let''s eat!" Luo He chuckled, "Brother Yuan, the dishes here are unrivaled in taste, all renowned delicacies from Southdream. You rarelye here, so you must sample them.


    "Haha, alright, it��s rare for me to visit Southdream, I must try them indeed." Wu Yuan did not hold back.


    The three of them shared a meal while discussing amusing tales from the past, their recent experiences, and their hopes for the future.


    Suddenly, a wave ofmotion could be heard from outside. Luo He and Wu Sheng paid it no mind. But Wu Yuan, whose hearing was exceptional?


    His brows furrowed, but before he could warn hispanions, the door burst open and a group of people stormed in. Among them were the tavern manager, a handful of waitresses, and several disciples from the martial academy.


    "Hmm?" Luo He and Wu Sheng finally reacted, turning their heads.


    "Manager Hu, what is the meaning of this?" Luo He stood up, his face clouded over and his gaze icy.


    "Childe Luo, my sincere apologies, we could not stop them." The manager exined with a helpless look on his face.


    "Could not stop them, or did not wish to?" Wu Yuan retorted.


    The manager''s face visibly paled.


    "No need to me the tavern manager, I''m the one who wanted to enter." The tall martial academy disciple leading the group sneered, "I was wondering who had the audacity to upy my usual private room, turns out it''s you, Luo He."


    "Hai Chen, if you want to y, I will dly oblige youter." Luo He''s face darkened, "But today, I am hosting my good friend. It would be wise for you to leave, otherwise, don��t me me if things turn ugly."


    "Ugly?" The martial academy disciple named Hai Chen taunted, "I am so scared, a guy who got beaten like a pig in martialbat ss has the nerve to threaten me? Haha, how absurd!"


    "Haha!"


    "Haha!" The other disciples joined in theughter.


    Luo He''s eyes instantly reddened. The humiliation he faced during martialbat ss was a taboo topic for him. If anyone dared mention it, he would turn hostile immediately.


    "Hai Chen, that''s enough." Wu Sheng said in a low voice.


    "Wu Sheng, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to speak to me? Forget it, I can''t be bothered to quarrel with you lot today." Hai Chen scoffed, turning serious. "Today, I''m hosting a senior brother, one of the top ten disciples. You had better scram. Otherwise, none of you will be having a good time when he arrives."


    One of the top ten disciples? Wu Sheng and Luo He''s expressions both changed at once. Although they had just enrolled in the academy a few months ago and were still considered freshmen, they had already heard about the top ten disciples, the ten students who represented the pinnacle of the martial academy.


    A tertiary martial academy was not like an elementary or intermediate martial academy. To be one of the top ten amongst almost 10,000 disciples indicated extraordinary strength, at least at the Adept level. These were individuals destined for greatness.


    As fellow freshmen, Wu Sheng and Luo He were not afraid of Hai Chen. But to offend one of the top ten disciples? Even Luo He had to contemte the consequences.


    "Manager Hu, is this how you manage your tavern?" Wu Yuan suddenly interjected.


    This one sentence caused Manager Hu''s expression to change dramatically. If the shopkeeper was around, he naturally wouldn''t fear these youngsters. Those who were capable of opening shops usually had some background. But as amon manager, he couldn''t afford to offend anyone.


    "Who are you?" Hai Chen looked coldly at Wu Yuan.


    "My name is Wu Yuan," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile.


    "Wu Yuan?" Hai Chen raised an eyebrow, "I''ve never heard of you. Among the outstanding disciples of the Southdream Wu n, there is no one by the name of Wu Yuan."


    "Judging by your attire, I reckon you aren''t even a student of the martial academy," Hai Chen continued with disdain. "Perhaps... you are a friend of Luo He''s from the elementary martial academy in Li City?"


    "Hai Chen, do you know..." Luo He started, only to be silenced by a look from Wu Yuan.


    "Indeed, I am from Li City." Wu Yuan spoke once more, his tone nonchnt and rxed. "I am part of a branch family of the Southdream Wu n you mentioned."


    Wu Yuan was a n elder of the Wu n and also a special recruitment disciple of the Cloudstride Sect. But how vast was Southdream Province? With a poption in the tens of millions, the provincial city alone was home to a million people. Apart from some high-ranking officials and intelligence personnel who would pay attention to Wu Yuan��s situation, the majority were oblivious to such matters. These disciples who spent years cultivating in the martial academy were even more out of touch.


    "Humph!" Hai Chen sneered, stepping forward to loom over Wu Yuan. "Branch of the Wu n? You call yourself Wu Yuan, do you know who I am?"


    "I don''t." Wu Yuan replied ndly.


    "You don''t know, yet you dare to interrupt?" Hai Chen scoffed with a haughty expression.


    "Allow me to enlighten you, I am the son of a n elder from the Southdream Hai n. The Southdream Wu n is just a small family with not a single first-rate Adept. Even n elders of the Wu n would have to show me respect."


    "If you were a disciple of the martial academy, I might have ignored you. But a failure who can''t even qualify to enter a tertiary martial academy dares to interrupt me?"


    "Do you know? With a single word from myself to the Wu n, I could have you expelled from the n registry, making your family''s life worse than death." Hai Chen looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Oh? Really?" Wu Yuan remainedposed. It had been many years since hest encountered such a fool. However, it was rather understandable. Large families often produced fools. In his previous life, Wu Yuan had seen many such foolish ''family disgraces''.


    The saying ''meat-eaters are full of contempt [1]'' was not without reason.


    "The guest you''ve invited seems to be approaching," Wu Yuan intoned softly.


    "What?" Hai Chen was taken aback. The others in the room were simrly confused, but not for long.


    "Hai Chen?" A deep voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the room, instantly capturing everyone''s attention.


    It was none other than Zhu Shang, one of the top ten disciples of the Southdream Martial Academy whom Wu Yuan had previously met.


    "Brother Zhu, just give me a moment. The tavern is packed today, and I''m currently working on clearing the room," Hai Chen replied, a slight subservient smile on his face. The apanying disciples from the martial academy likewise mirrored this disy of ttery and admiration.


    Given Zhu Shang''s age and prowess, he had the potential to be a second-rate Adept.


    Even the chieftains ofrge ns would not dare to show him any disrespect, instead treating him as a young friend.


    It should be noted that among the manyrge ns of Southdream Province, having even one or two first-rate Adepts presiding over them was considered quite impressive. So, a second-rate Adept like Zhu Shang was undeniably a prominent figure.


    "Zhu Shang?" Wu Sheng and Luo He also turned to look at the neer. They had heard of him and caught glimpses of this famous disciple from a distance on a few asions. Unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to interact with him.


    "Senior Brother Wu, please ept my apologies." Zhu Shang''s attention remained fixed on Wu Yuan, disregarding the crowd around him. With his intellect, a single nce was all it took for him toprehend the situation.


    With an apologetic expression, Zhu Shang addressed Wu Yuan, "It seems there has been a misunderstanding today, I hope Senior Brother Wu can forgive me."


    A heavy silence enveloped the room. Hai Chen and the apanying martial academy disciples felt their hearts tremble.


    Senior Brother Wu? Zhu Shang was addressing him as ''Senior Brother''?


    Zhu Shang was already a fourth-year disciple. There were no disciples older than him in the martial academy. From his features, Wu Yuan appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, significantly younger than Zhu Shang.


    Wu Sheng and Luo He exchanged an equally shocked nce. They both knew that special recruitment disciples were unique, but didn''t imagine them to be this powerful.


    Powerful enough to make the martial academy''s top ten disciples bow their heads and address them as their senior brother.


    Keep in mind, Zhu Shang''s potential strength was not much weaker than that of a true disciple of the Cloud Martial Hall!


    "Brother Zhu, you can just call me by my name, I haven''t passed the headmaster''s assessment yet." Wu Yuan said calmly.


    "With Senior Brother''s strength, passing the assessment will surely be a breeze." Zhu Shang affirmed. He knew Wu Yuan''s strength. A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso couldn''t possibly fail the verification process.


    "I appreciate your kind words." Wu Yuan replied indifferently. "Alright. Brother Zhu, I''m here with some friends today. We had some misunderstandings with Brother Hai, but since you''ve just arrived, I assume it has nothing to do with you. Let''s leave it at that for today."


    Wu Yuan continued, "It wasn''t easy for me and my friends to meet up, so I won''t be able to apany you, Brother Zhu. We can chat when we return to the martial academy."


    "Okay," Zhu Shang nodded. "Senior Brother Wu, what happened today was a misunderstanding. If Hai Chen was rude in any way, I hope you can forgive him."


    "I''ll pay for this meal. After Senior Brother��s strength has been verified, I''ll invite you to a feast to make amends." Zhu Shang looked at Wu Yuan, his expression somewhat pleading.


    "Brother Zhu, as I''ve already said, it has nothing to do with you." Wu Yuan looked him in the eye, calmly stating, "Also, my brother is treating me today, there''s no need for you to pay for anything, Brother Zhu."


    Zhu Shang felt a wave of regret wash over him. Wu Yuan had refused to ept his mediation.


    Without hesitation, Zhu Shang fiercely kicked Hai Chen, sending him sprawling to the ground. He coldly barked, "You fool, are you still not going to apologize to Senior Brother Wu?"


    1. Meat-eater: A person who can afford to eat meat, by extension a person with wealth/power. In the old days, it meant that people in high positions and with generous sries were short-sighted. ?

 Chapter 81: A Single Grandmaster Is Superior To Ten Generations of Nobility

    <h4>Chapter 81: A Single Grandmaster Is Superior To Ten Generations of Nobility</h4>


    "Me?" Hai Cheny on the ground, his leg throbbing from the forceful kick he had received. Bewilderment washed over him, mingled with a growing anger.


    It was true that he wanted to curry favor with Zhu Shang. After all, whether it was talent or family background, Zhu Shang was far superior to him. But ttering and currying favor was one thing. Being forced to kowtow and admit wrongdoing was another.


    The three disciples from the martial academy who had apanied him were frozen in fear, barely daring to breathe. Wu Sheng and Luo He exchanged perplexed nces. Only Wu Yuan took a bite of his meal unhurriedly, watching Zhu Shang and Hai Chen''s performance with an indifferent expression.


    "What do you mean ''me''?" Zhu Shang scolded, "Do you have any idea who Senior Brother Wu is? He is a special recruit of the Cloud Martial Hall, and among those select few, he is extremely strong. His status rivals that of the Cloud Heirs themselves!"


    "Now, apologize!" Zhu Shang delivered a ''ferocious'' p to Hai Chen''s head.


    Upon hearing the words ''rival the Cloud Heirs'', Hai Chen, who had been seething with anger and contemting retaliation, felt as if a bucket of icy water had been dumped over him.


    His entire body froze stiff. Special recruitment? He had heard of it, but wasn''t sure just how prestigious it was. But the Cloud Heirs? That, he had heard from his n elders.


    Almost all graduates of the Cloud Martial Hall ended up bing Adepts. A small portion could even be second-rate Adepts. But the Cloud Heirs? More than 80% would eventually be first-rate Adepts. Most importantly, they were individuals who had been personally nurtured within the sect, earning its full trust. Hence, a Cloud Heir could easily assume a high position,pared to a first-rate Adept from a tertiary martial academy who had to struggle up the ranks.


    Such positions included the provincial general of defense, division head, protectorate, or other key positions in the five halls. Moreover, he had heard that many Cloud Heirs would be assigned the sect''s top experts as their masters, including the Hierarchs themselves. Within the sect, they had immense status.


    Naturally, bing one was exceedingly difficult. Out of each generation of disciples from the Cloud Martial Hall, only two or three might eventually be Cloud Heirs.


    <i>This country bumpkin? His status is on par with the Cloud Heirs, and he is good friends with Wu Sheng and Luo He? </i>Hai Chen drew a sharp breath.


    He was arrogant, and even a bit stupid, but not to the point of utter foolishness. Normally, he wouldn''t dare to provoke these truly formidable characters. By now, he realized he had gotten himself into serious trouble!


    At present, Wu Yuan was still quite young,cking the ability to retaliate against him, let alone his family. If he nned to take revenge, that would likely take a decade before it came to fruition. But who in their right mind would willingly provoke such a formidable foe out of the blue? When the time for retribution arrived, his entire family could face annihtion! Who knew whether Wu Yuan was the type to hold grudges?


    <i>If my father knew, he would surely break my legs. Fortunately, there''s still a chance to salvage this.</i>


    These thoughts shed through Hai Chen''s mind in an instant.


    Without hesitation, Hai Chen scrambled to kneel.


    "Senior Brother Wu, I have erred. I have offended you with my arrogance and presumptuousness. I beseech your forgiveness." Hai Chen said solemnly. At the same time, he ced both hands on the ground, lowering his head to kowtow.


    The sight left the other disciples stunned. Never did they expect the usually arrogant Hai Chen to genuinely kneel and admit his wrongdoings.


    As Hai Chen''s forehead was about to touch the ground, a hand intercepted and pushed his shoulder back up with such force that he almost flew off the ground. It was Wu Yuan!


    "I ept your apology, but there''s no need to kowtow. I''m still young, and don''t deserve such a grand gesture," Wu Yuan said lightly, "In the future, I hope Childe Hai Chen can get along with my two brothers in the martial academy."


    "Certainly," Hai Chen replied, a weight lifted from his heart.


    "Zhu Shang, let this matter rest here," Wu Yuan swept his gaze over Zhu Shang, and pointed at the table, "We still have to eat."


    It was a clear dismissal.


    "Alright, please continue with your meal. Today''s incident was indeed Hai Chen''s fault. Later, I will visit your amodation to express my apologies, Senior Brother," Zhu Shang said earnestly with a bow. He then led Hai Chen out of the room, and several apanying disciples from the martial academy hastily followed.


    Now, only Manager Hu and two waitresses were left in the room.


    "Manager, I understand that today''s incident was not your fault, but it can''t be a mere coincidence that they entered our room. There are six private rooms, and ours is located right inside, yet you led them directly to us," Wu Yuan said lightly.


    "Childe Wu," the steward was terrified.


    "If you don''t have the courage or strength to maintain the peace in your own tavern, you should reconsider your job," Wu Yuan suggested. "Now, leave. I don''t have the patience to deal with you today. Don''t disturb us."


    "Thank you, Childe Wu," the steward, having been pardoned, quickly retreated from the room with the two maids.


    After the door was shut, the room fell silent.


    "Brother Yuan!" Wu Sheng and Luo He stared at Wu Yuan in astonishment. Even though they were close as brothers, the Wu Yuan before them felt somewhat unfamiliar. It was hisposed demeanor just moments ago that caught them off guard the most, leaving them struggling to reconcile this new version of Wu Yuan with the familiar friend they had known their whole lives. For a fleeting second, Luo He even questioned if he were looking at his father.


    "Wasn''t I cool?" Wu Yuan joked. One sentence was enough to diffuse the tension in the air.


    "Indeed!" Wu Sheng eximed, giving him a double thumbs up.


    "Brother Yuan has always been cool,"ughed Luo He. "The sight of Hai Chen kneeling is simply too satisfying."


    "Such a shame," sighed Luo He with regret. "Brother Yuan, why did you stop him from kowtowing in the end? It was a rare opportunity."


    Wu Sheng looked at Wu Yuan with some puzzlement as well.


    "Since the situation had already been resolved, there was no need to go overboard." Wu Yuan calmly stated, savoring a piece of pork head. "With everyone watching, kneeling to apologize is the limit. Kowtowing is trampling on a man''s dignity."


    Wu Sheng and Luo He pondered over his words for a moment. In the heat of the moment, all they wanted was to humiliate Hai Chen for their own satisfaction.


    "I stopped him and helped him up to leave him with onest shred of dignity. After all, I had no intention, nor the ability to kill him." He ced his chopsticks down and let out a heartyugh. "Considering Zhu Shang offered him guidance, Hai Chen''s background mustn''t be ordinary."


    "Brother Yuan is smart indeed,�� Luo He praised. "The Hai n is one of the tenrgest families in Southdream. Their chieftain is a special custodian of the sect, and a first-rate Adept."


    "This Hai Chen happens to be the grandson of the Hai n''s chieftain. However, that chieftain has more than twenty grandchildren, and he doesn''t seem to be particrly favored," Luo He remarked.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Although Hai Chen''s status didn''t seem that high, ordinary Adepts tended to avoid offending the offspring of suchrge ns.


    "Brother Yuan!" Luo He suddenly eximed, "I nowprehend why my father insisted on sending me to the Southdream Martial Academy, and why only martial virtuosos or stronger martial artists can inherit the chieftain position. In truth, all the chieftains of my Luo n have been third-rate Adepts at least."


    "Oh? Why is that?" Wu Yuan asked with a knowing smile.


    "Martial power!" Luo He shook his head, his tone solemn, "When I was in the Li City Martial Academy, I failed to realize it. I had money and the protection of my n, so no one dared to offend me. But here in the Southdream Martial Academy, those with powerful backgrounds are a dime a dozen. My background is not worth mentioning!"


    "What��s truly valued is martial power, personal strength. Wu Sheng relied on himself to establish a solid position among the freshmen. No one would dare to bully him." Luo He said gravely, "But anyone can ridicule me without a second thought. That''s because my strength ranks at the bottom of the academy."


    "A schr wields their pen as a sword. A merchant employs their wealth and goods as a spear. But ultimately, these are all superficial. This world, is a world of martial artists." Luo He said, gazing at Wu Yuan, "That��s why, Brother Yuan, even though youe from a humble background, just revealing your potential in martial arts canpel the offspring of a major n to kneel and admit their mistakes."


    "Brother Yuan, thank you for helping me see this clearly. From now on, I will practice wholeheartedly. I don��t aim to be an Adept, but at least graduate sessfully and ultimately be a martial virtuoso." Luo He solemnly dered.


    "The heritage of ten generations of nobility pales inparison to the ascent of a single Grandmaster," Wu Sheng solemnly asserted. "A Land Ranker can stand at the peak of the world."


    "We still have time. As long as we have a clear view of the journey ahead, it''s never toote to work hard." Wu Yuanughed, "Come, let us raise a toast with water in lieu of wine."


    "Cheers!" Wu Sheng and Luo He raised their cups.


    ...


    Not far from the Drunken Sect Tavern was another slightly more modest tavern.


    Within a private room, Hai Chen raised his cup respectfully, "Brother Zhu, were it not for your advice today, I would have unknowingly made a grave blunder. Here��s a toast to you."


    "Martial artists abstain from alcohol, are you unfamiliar with the basic teachings of the academy?" Zhu Shang shook his head, "With such ack of restraint, when will you be a martial virtuoso? And you dare aspire to be an Adept expert?"


    Hai Chen''s embarrassment was evident as he and a few fellow disciples lowered their heads in shame.


    "Hai Chen," Zhu Shang stood up, his voice tinged with finality, "Today, I have given you a warning out of respect for your cousin. There won��t be a next time. You may eat, I will take my leave."


    With that said, Zhu Shang briskly left the private room. The crowd in the room exchanged uncertain nces.


    "Get lost!" Hai Chen smashed his cup on the floor in rage, "A bunch of worthless bastards!"


    ...


    Inside the Drunken Sect Tavern, the three brothers ate and chatted until the sun began its descent in the western sky. Only then did they settle the bill and leave the tavern, each heading their separate ways back to the martial academy.


    <i>I hope everything turns out well. </i>Wu Yuan gazed at the departing figures of Luo He and Wu Sheng, sighing inwardly. He couldn''t help them, their paths were theirs to tread alone.


    <i>Having been out most of the day, my heart feels somewhat lighter. </i>A slight smile grew on Wu Yuan��s face as he headed straight for his courtyard house in the Radiant Hall.


    Not long after Wu Yuan reached the martial chamber on the second floor, he received a report from Gu Ji.


    "Zhu Shang came to visit me?"


    Wu Yuan responded tersely, "I have no interest in meeting him." He attached no significance to what happened just now.


    As someone who could mingle with a figure like Hai Chen, how could Zhu Shang be as simple as it appeared? But Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered with the man''s identity or status.


    He cultivated in silence, merging strand after strand of blood-red mist into his body, feeling the constant transformation of his body.


    Gradually, night descended.


    As the night grew deeper, enveloping his surroundings in absolute stillness, Wu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, still seated in a lotus position.


    <i>I''m no longer able to absorb the blood-red mist? Have I finally reached the limit of how far my body can transform? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with an inkling of anticipation.


    <i>I''m curious to see what extent my physical constitution can be improved to this time!</i>

 Chapter 82: Shadow Blade, 130th In The Jiang Continent

    <h4>Chapter 82: Shadow de, 130th In The Jiang Continent</h4>


    <i>Blood-red mist! </i>Most of Wu Yuan''s consciousness converged on his upper dantian lobe and focused on the towering ck pagoda. The once thick blood-red mist that enshrouded the pagoda had dissipated, leaving only faint traces swirling around its structure.


    Exhaling deeply, Wu Yuan attempted to manipte the blood-red mist. However, as strands detached from the pagoda and left his upper dantian lobe, they failed to integrate into his musculoskeletal system. After a single cirction, Wu Yuan felt his exhaustion vanish, leaving him in peak physical condition.


    <i>My body can no longer assimte the blood-red mist.</i> Wu Yuan calmed his mind down.


    The origins of the blood-red mist remained a mystery to Wu Yuan. He couldn''t determine if it originated from his enemies or if it was an intrinsic property of the pagoda itself. However, this uncertainty didn''t deter Wu Yuan from utilizing the mist and experiencing its mystical effects.


    <i>My body.</i> Wu Yuan observed the changes in his muscles, bones, skin, and blood. At first nce, everything appeared unchanged apart from a surge in vitality.


    Rising to his feet, Wu Yuan retrieved a jade vial from a cab against the wall. Removing the stopper, a faint fragrance wafted through the air. This was the Starlight Liquid Wu Yuan had acquired from the Pleiades Guild. Compared to the Ancient Immortal Dew, the scent of Starlight Liquid was lighter, yet still invigorating.


    <i>Ten drops of Starlight Liquid, can they rival the potency of the Ancient Immortal Dew?</i>


    The Ancient Immortal Dew was undeniably effective, but its exorbitant cost made it impractical.


    cing the jade vial aside, Wu Yuan fetched a basin of drinking water.


    <i>My single-arm strength is now nearing 47,000 catties. How far can it rise this time?</i> Wu Yuan eagerly awaited the answer.


    Prior to this, his strength hovered just above 46,000 catties. In recent days, the constant merging of the blood-red mist had improved his physical constitution slightly, though it was far from significant.


    <i>Drip!</i> Wu Yuan tilted the jade vial, carefully allowing a single drop of Starlight Liquid to fall into the basin of clear water.


    Swiftly, the entire basin of water took on a pale purple hue, emitting faint rays of strange light, akin to the glow of starlight. This was what earned it the name Starlight Liquid. Wu Yuan was uncertain of the origins of these natural treasures, but he couldn''t be bothered with the specifics. As long as they were useful and could enhance his strength, that was all he needed to know.


    <i>It''s about time. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his mind, raised the basin filled with diluted Starlight Liquid, and proceeded to consume it in voracious gulps. In a single breath, one-third of it disappeared.


    The moment it entered his stomach, Wu Yuan felt pulses of peculiar energy bursting within him, rapidly permeating into every limb and bone. His body began to grow warm, apanied by a throbbing ache!


    <i>How painful! As per the catalog, the medicinal properties of Starlight Liquid are decent, but the side effects include intense pain and potential bodily harm, hence its rtively cheap price.</i> Wu Yuan clenched his teeth slightly.


    This pain didn''t originate from his stomach, but from the process of the Starlight Liquid''s energy fusing with his body. To be precise, the energy contained in the Starlight Liquid possessed a corrosive nature that was far less gentlepared to the Ancient Immortal Dew.


    The pain steadily intensified. Such torment would be enough to reduce an ordinary adult to writhing on the ground, bawling like a baby, but Wu Yuan''s expression barely wavered.


    <i>If one finds this degree of pain unbearable, how can one reach the pinnacle of martial arts?</i> Wu Yuan''s countenance was calm.


    Practicing martial arts and feeling the step-by-step enhancement of strength was a wondrous experience. But this journey was anything but smooth sailing. Loneliness, solitude, pain, all these were also part and parcel of the training process.


    Without further dy, Wu Yuan began practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, effortlessly transitioning between postures to stimte every fiber of his musculoskeletal framework.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s entire being stirred like a famished beast, greedily absorbing the energy released within his muscles and bones.


    As the energy surged in, his musculoskeletal system underwent a profound transformation. Wu Yuan''s bone density started to increase, rendering them sturdier and more resilient! His skin and sinews became more flexible, capable of withstanding terrifying outbursts of power. The density of his muscles also increased incessantly, resulting in amplified power!


    His heart thumped with more vigor. The blood flowing throughout his body underwent a transformation in density and texture, gradually acquiring a metallic essence. His physical constitution underwent aprehensive metamorphosis.


    This enhancement transcended the effects of the medium-grade bone forging pill he had previously ingested, and the Starlight Liquid was virtually free of impurities. Only a faint trace of corrosiveness lingered in the body.


    <i>Blood-red mist.</i> While cultivating, Wu Yuan concentrated his consciousness, guiding strands of the blood-red mist into his body.


    Immediately, a majority of the intense pain that wracked his body was alleviated, and the side effects induced by the Starlight Liquid were rapidly neutralized by the blood-red mist.


    <i>It worked. </i>Wu Yuan heaved a sigh of relief.


    There was naturally a reason why he dared to redeem such arge quantity of Starlight Liquid. He was relying on the magical blood-red mist.


    <i>Continue! </i>Deeply absorbed in his training, Wu Yuan''s physical constitution advanced rapidly, and clouds of mist rose from his body.


    The sun rose and set.


    Drops of Starlight Liquid were consumed one after another. Basin after basin of diluted Starlight Liquid was ingested.


    Wu Yuan didn��t leave the martial chamber even once. Aside from Gu Ji, who came upstairs once to confirm he was safe, no one else disturbed him.


    ...


    Another night descended.


    Most inhabitants of Southdream City were already deep in slumber, but the southern region of the city remained lively and bustling. The sh at Moonlit Haven two days ago had sent shockwaves through the city, but as the city guard��s search yielded no results, everything gradually settled back into its normal rhythm as if nothing had happened.


    <i>On the eighth floor of the Nine-story Sta Consortium tower, within a spacious and luxurious room on the east side ...</i>


    "How goes the investigation?" A middle-aged man d in robes interwoven with ck and white sat behind a desk, sipping his tea leisurely.


    "No progress thus far," respectfully replied an elderly ck-robed figure standing before him, appearing to be around 60 years old. "During the skirmish at the Moonlit Haven, he sessively killed Bald Wolf Wang Xian, Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian, and even exchanged blows with Iron Tower Long Er, then vanished without a trace."


    "But Overseer, two matters are certain. First, Iron Tower Long Er refrained from pursuit as he was injured in his encounter with the mysterious saber-wielder. It wasn''t out of unwillingness on his part."


    "Second, Wang Xian and Bai Yuxian are indeed on the Pleiades Guild''s assassination list," the elderly man in ck robes solemnly continued, "Someone recently posted bounties to assassinate them."��


    "Despite our efforts to investigate the Bloodwolf Gang and the enemies of the pair, it appears that we have not provoked this mysterious saber wielder."


    "Moreover, from tracing the route this expert took to enter the Moonlit Haven, it was evident that he was heading straight for Wang Xian and the others."


    "Thus, we are 80% certain that this mysterious saber wielder is an assassin from the Pleiades Guild who epted the mission to assassinate them," the man in the ck robe quickly stated.


    "An assassin from the Pleiades Guild?" The middle-aged man tapped the armrest of his chair, puzzled, "When did the Southdream branch of the Pleiades Guild start producing such formidable assassins?"


    "We find it strange too," the elderly man in ck replied, "This mysterious saber wielder, with frighteningly fast saber techniques and astonishing agility, slew Bai Yuxian in just a few moves. He seems to have mastered a secret technique from the Land Rankers."


    "His proficiency in stealth weaponry is equally fearsome. He was able to inflict serious wounds on Iron Tower Long Er, forcing him to give up on pursuit."


    "Such an expert cannot be undocumented, yet the only individual who matches his description on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings is unlikely to have been in Southdream recently," the elderly man in ck robes stated.


    In summary, the man did not exist!


    "Truly mysterious, are there no clues whatsoever?" the middle-aged man pondered, his brows slightly knitted, "Name, origin, lineage of their master... Do we really know nothing?"


    "We havepared this expert to some others who have appeared recently but concealed their appearance. Only one clue matches," the man in the ck robe exined, "Does Overseer remember Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie?"


    "Mm. Old Yuanhu''s treasured youngest direct disciple," the middle-aged man casually replied, "Didn''t he just lose an arm?"


    Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie was not on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. Among first-rate Adepts, his strength was at the bottom. However, as a disciple of a Grandmaster, he was rather talented. As an Overseer of the Sta Consortium, how could he not remember him?


    "Indeed! Ming Lie was sighted in Li County previously, where he lost his arm. It is rumored that he was injured by a mysterious spearman," the man in the ck robe said. "However, thetest report from Yuanhu Province suggests that Ming Lie was wounded by a saber-wielder. This person had astonishingly quick saber skills and employed stealth weapons!"


    "Saber-wielder? Using stealth weapons too?" The middle-aged man rose abruptly. "Are you suggesting that the mysterious spearman at Li County and the saber-wielder at the Moonlit Haven are one and the same? But their physiques don''t match!"


    "I have consulted with the Intelligence Division. My suspicion is that this elusive expert has mastered the art of Transfiguration, enabling him to elude all investigations into his identity," the cloaked figure dered solemnly. "Otherwise, we would have discovered traces of his activities."


    "Transfiguration? The Rigid Yet Supple stage?" The middle-aged man looked at the man in ck robes, shocked beyond belief.


    Transfiguration was simr to disguise, but not entirely the same. A disguise typically involved makeup, clothing, wigs, and such, but it couldn''t substantially alter one''s physical structure.


    Transfiguration, however, entailed minute adjustments to the skeletal frame without diminishing one''s potential, allowing a return to one��s original form. Only when one attained the level of Rigid Yet Supple in bodily control could this be achieved.


    The principle was simple. But in practice? Exceedingly challenging! Under normal circumstances, only a Savant expert could hope to master Transfiguration.


    "Are you confident about this?" The middle-aged man asked.


    "No," the man in the ck robe shook his head. Hecked evidence and was just putting forth a guess.


    The middle-aged man closed his eyes, contemting for a while.


    "Submit the hypothesis that you and the Intelligence Division havee up with." The middle-aged man instructed in a soft voice. "Assume that the spearman of Li County and this saber-wielder are the same person."


    "As for his name? Since we do not know, let''s tentatively call him Shadow de."


    "Very well," the man in the ck robe nodded. "And his ranking?"


    "He was able to wound Iron Tower Long Er and kill Bai Yuxian in a short time. His power is top-tier even amidst first-rate Adepts," The middle-aged man softly spoke. "Deliberate on his exact ranking and offer a rmendation."


    "Understood." The elder in the ck robe departed swiftly.


    Soon, a piece of news was dispatched from the Sta Consortium''s Southdream branch directly to its continent-level branch.


    <i>Codename Shadow de, true name unknown, history unclear. Proficient in the art of the saber and stealth weapons, also wields a spear. A first-rate Adept, his martial skills seem to have reached the stage of Rigid Yet Supple.</i>


    <i>Combat record: severed the arm of first-rate Adept Ming Lie in Li City. In Southdream, he slew the first-rate Adept Bai Yuxian, and wounded the first-rate Adept Long Er.</i>


    <i>Suggested Ranking: 130th in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.</i>

 Chapter 83: Third-Grade Martial Artist

    Chapter 83: Third-Grade Martial Artist


    Wu Yuan was oblivious to the storms of the world outside. Even if he were aware of them, he didn''t care. The headmaster of the martial academy had yet to return, his absence far exceeding the three to five days mentioned by Chen Qing. Thus, Wu Yuan was left undisturbed.


    Apart from routine rest and sleep, Wu Yuan dedicated his days to intense training in the martial chamber.


    When he first consumed the Starlight Liquid, his body held huge potential for improvement, hence his physical constitution improved rapidly. In less than a day, the force he could exert with one arm surged beyond 10,000 catties! However, once he depleted all ten drops of Starlight Liquid and switched to Qi Enhancement Pills, the pace of his progress slowed. Furthermore, his physical constitution was beginning to reach its current limit. Naturally, the rate of enhancement began to dwindle.


    After three days, his rapid advancements in physical constitution came to a halt. At this point, Wu Yuan nearly exhausted the supply of Qi Enhancement Pills.


    <em>I''ve reached my limit.</em>


    His musculoskeletal system had grown much stronger and more resilient than before, empowering him with seemingly boundless strength at a mere thought.


    Wu Yuan flexed his arm, causing his muscles to bulge. His sinews resembled steel, radiating an incredible strength. Taking a step forward, he propelled his spine, limbs, and bones with the sheer force of his muscles.


    <em>Boom!</em> As he threw a punch forward, a terrifyingly sharp whistle cut through the air, akin to the sonic boom produced by a throwing knife. He darted across the room with such speed that his figure nearly left afterimages.


    A smile spread across Wu Yuan''s face as he marveled at his newfound power.


    <em>Excellent! A single punch of mine now has approximately 68,000 catties of force.</em>


    That was an increase of more than 20,000 catties since he began his seclusion. If word of his rate of progress got out, few martial artists would believe it. And if it were confirmed, it would certainly cause an uproar throughout the Jiang Continent.


    <em>Previously, my physical constitution fell short of a third-grade martial artist, but now, I have surpassed it by far.</em> Wu Yuan pulled back his fist, the tidal wave of power in his body receding. <em>Ive reached this target half a year earlier than I nned.</em>


    ording to the grades of martial artists in the world of the Middle Land:


    A third-grade martial artist''s (first-rate Adept) minimum strength was 50,000 catties.


    A second-grade martial artist''s (Savant expert) minimum strength was 100,000 catties.


    A first-grade martial artist''s (Land Ranker) minimum strength was 200,000 catties.


    In the past, Wu Yuan''s exceptional martial skills allowed him to contend with first-rate Adepts. But even then, if he were to face the likes of Iron Tower Long Er, the strongest tier of first-rate Adepts, his chances of winning in a direct confrontation were less than 50%. He had relied on stealth weapons to secure victory in the previous battle, forcing Long Er to retreat.


    <em>Martial skills are established on the basis of one''s physical constitution. No matter how impressive one''s martial skills, they are useless if one''s physical constitution is too weak. Now, my physical constitution is considered average among first-rate Adepts.</em>


    Previously, Wu Yuan could only exert a force of 130,000-140,000 catties after Threefold Power Surge due to his physical limitations. In contrast, Iron Tower Long Er could unleash nearly 200,000 catties of force with just Twofold Power Surge. When employing Threefold Power Surge, Long Er''s power soared to almost 300,000 catties.


    Because of this vast difference in strength, Wu Yuan didnt dare to confront Long Er directly. Just a few exchanges would destabilize his qi, hence he chose to retreat. But now, things were different.


    <em>With Threefold Power Surge, I can now exert more than 200,000 catties of force. </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes zed with an intense battle spirit. <em>And I can maintain it for a prolonged period.</em>


    Even if first-rate Adepts managed to grasp Threefold Power Surge, most found it hard to maintain the technique throughout a battle. The technique ced a heavy load on the body, hence it was rarely deployed, mostly used as a finishing move.


    If one could unleash Threefold Power Surge at will without tiring, it meant that one had reached the Rigid Yet Supple phase. However, Wu Yuan spected that even among Savant experts, not many could reach this stage of martial skill.


    Iron Tower Long Er disyed formidable martial skill, and wouldnt necessarily lose to a Savant expert. His only shoring was his rtively weaker physical constitution.


    <em>If I were to face Iron Tower Long Er again? Defeating him will be as easy as killing Bai Yuxian then</em>. Wu Yuan was full of confidence.


    Confidence stemmed from strength. In the past, Wu Yuan would have fled at the sight of a Savant expert, but now, he was more than willing to engage with slightly weaker ones.


    After all, if new Savant experts had physical constitutions of just over 100,000 catties. Even with Threefold Power Surge, it would only amount to around 300,000 catties at most. As long as Wu Yuan avoided fatal blows and found an opportunity to unleash the Thousand Mountains technique, there was a possibility of killing his opponent. Of course, the process was a perilous one, but Wu Yuan no longer felt as helpless as before.


    <em>Most individuals at my current level of strength are venturing through counties and exploring the vast continents of this world.</em>


    The thirteen continents were immense, and true powerhouses were rare. As long as one remained humble and refrained from instigating unnecessary trouble, the odds of encountering a Land Ranker or a Savant expert were exceedingly slim.


    <em>I mustn''t allow arrogance to cloud my judgment. At present, my abilities only permit me to spar with weaker Savant experts at best. If I meet stronger ones, the likelihood of defeat is quite high.</em>


    <em>And if I were to encounter a Land Ranker? That would mean certain death! </em>


    Wu Yuan was clear about his limitations.


    <em>The ck pagoda and the blood-red mist can expedite my growth, but I still need to strive hard. I am currently only fourteen and a half years old.</em>


    <em>Even if the blood-red mist can no longer refine my genome, the assistance it has provided thus far is immeasurable. In another three and a half years, my physical constitution will have undergone a significant transformation.</em>


    <em>I must maintain a low profile. I am progressing at a rapid pace, and my cultivation resources are plentiful, theres no need to stand out and make waves.</em>


    <em>In theing years, I will stay in the Cloudstride Sect, gradually unraveling the secrets of the Middle Land.</em>


    Taking things slow and steady was of utmost importance. He only had one life, there was no need to take life-threatening risks unless absolutely necessary.


    <em>Nevertheless, before embarking for the Cloudstride Sect, there is one matter I must resolve.</em> A hint of frost shed across Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <em>Xu Shouyi!</em>


    In the blink of an eye, several days slipped by.


    Wu Yuan stayed in Southdream City for a full ten days before finally receiving news from Chen Qing: the headmaster of Southdream Martial Academy, Yu Mo, had returned.


    <em>In a courtyard house within the Radiant Hall.</em>


    "Wu Yuan, my apologies for the dy," Chen Qing said with utmost courtesy. "I did not anticipate the Headmaster''s absence to be prolonged. Inspector Xie informs me that he was called upon to attend to an urgent matter."


    "No worries," replied Wu Yuan calmly.


    "As soon as the headmaster returned, he immediately instructed me to summon you," Chen Qing continued with a solemn tone. "At this moment, the headmaster, Inspector Xie, eight other instructors, and 60 observing students have all arrived at the Martial Grand Hall. They await your arrival."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. "I shall follow your lead, Instructor Chen."


    "This way," Chen Qing motioned, leading Wu Yuan through the martial academy. His team of guards did not apany them, only Gu Ji strolled along at a steady pace.


    Before long, the trio arrived at the imposing Martial Grand Hall of the Southdream Martial Academy. This hall surpassed the size and amenities of its counterpart in Li City Martial Academy. The strength assessment hall alone rivaled the main hall of thetter.


    From a distance, Wu Yuan saw dozens of figures gathered within the strength assessment hall. Some were martial academy instructors, while others were students. ording to the sect regtions, special recruitment assessments necessitated the presence of the headmaster, an inspector, a required number of instructors, and observing disciples. This was to ensure the fairness and integrity of the proceedings.


    Among the crowd, Wu Yuan easily recognized a few familiar faces, such as Inspector Xie Yu and the disciple Zhu Shang.


    However, it was a middle-aged man donning a loose martial robe who led the proceedings. His gaze was sharp, his movements confident, a clear indication of his expertise. The only aspect that gave Wu Yuan pause was the fact that he possessed only a single arm.


    As the trio made their way into the strength assessment hall, everyone in attendance turned their attention to them.


    "Headmaster, this is Wu Yuan," Chen Qing introduced, guiding Wu Yuan toward the one-armed man.


    "Wu Yuan greets Headmaster Yu," Wu Yuan paid his respects.


    "So, you are Wu Yuan?" The one-armed man studied Wu Yuan, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I''ve reviewed your profile. You lost your father at a young age but didn''t lose heart. Instead, you pushed yourself hard in your training and never cked off. You''ve achieved remarkable things at such a young age. Very impressive indeed."


    "I am unworthy of such praise," Wu Yuan humbly responded.


    "No need for excessive formality," Headmaster Yu Mo replied, his gaze gentle. "Your father...he perished in the Battle of Hillstride, didn''t he?"


    Wu Yuan nodded, but did not understand why he was asked this.


    "Wu Yuan, the headmaster lost his arm in the Battle of Hillstride," whispered Chen Qing from the sidelines.


    Wu Yuan immediately understood.


    "I was the captain of arge army during the Battle of Hillstride. Perhaps your father was one of my soldiers," said Headmaster Yu with a sigh. "Regrettably, we lost that battle, along with the Hillstride Province."


    Wu Yuan listened silently. The Hillstride and Cloudhill Provinces formed the bedrock of the Cloudstride Sect. Losing Hillstride undoubtedly dealt a severe blow to the sect.


    Why did the Cloud Martial Hall refer to the annual recruitment of new disciples as the tournament of four provinces? It served to remind all sect members that the Hillstride Province must never be forgotten!


    "In these trying times for our sect, we cannot afford to squander your exceptional talent. I hope that you can carry on your father''s legacy and be a pir of our sect," Headmaster Yu remarked with a smile.


    "I shall strive to do so," Wu Yuan pledged solemnly.


    The surrounding throng of instructors and disciples exchanged puzzled nces. They were well aware of how strict the headmaster normally was. So why then, was he disying such an unusual amiability towards Wu Yuan? A pir of the sect? In their eyes, it would at least take a first-rate Adept to earn such a title.


    "I have a rough understanding of your strength, but the necessary protocols must be followed," the headmaster pointed at the distant test stone. "Off you go, give it a try."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Watch carefully, everyone," the headmaster swept his gaze over the crowd gathered to observe the assessment.


    Everyone focused on Wu Yuan, curious to see just how incredible this special recruit really was.


    Test stones were almost identical regardless of location. Wu Yuan effortlessly lifted the 10,000-catty test stone, eliciting gasps from the crowd of disciples.


    It wasn''t the weight of the testing stone that was impressive, but rather Wu Yuan''s age. Not yet fifteen, yet he held up the 10,000 catties test stone with such ease, clearly far from his limit.


    Wu Yuan put down the testing stone theatrically, not attempting to lift a heavier one. He remembered Gao Yu''s instructions, and didn''t want to reveal too much of his strength.


    "Does anyone here have any objections?" the headmaster swept his gaze over the crowd. "If there are no objections, then we shall begin the joint signing of approval." No instructor or apprentice raised any protest.


    "Hold!" A cold voice cut through the air, "Headmaster, I beg to differ."


    Every gaze in the room fixated on a single figure. It was none other than Xie Yu!


    "Inspector Xie, what are your thoughts?" Headmaster Yu Mos forehead creased slightly, "Wu Yuan is only fourteen. As per the sect''sws, lifting a stone of 10,000 catties is sufficient for him to pass."


    "As per the sect''sws, the assessment does not only evaluate brute strength, but also practicalbat," Xie Yu didn''t falter. "Headmaster, Wu Yuan''sbat abilities have yet to be assessed. Strength alone is not enough. Some may struggle to unleash even 30% of their true power in actual battle due to their inherent fear orck of conviction."


    "This Wu Yuan might very well be all bark and no bite, incapable of passing the practicalbat assessment." Xie Yu coldly rebuked.


    The furrow between Headmaster Yu Mo''s brows deepened. Everyone present was no fool, who couldn''t tell that Xie Yu was deliberately targeting Wu Yuan at this point?


    "Inspector Xie, how do you suppose we should assess him then?" Headmaster Yu Mo''s tone grew frostier.<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    Congrats to MrSaucy for winning the final red packet


    Thanks for leaving yourments, everyone. It wasn''t easy to pick 3, but there might be more events in the future, so do keep theming </blockquote>

 Chapter 84: The Blade Thirsts for Blood (1)

    Chapter 84: The de Thirsts for Blood (1)


    Everyone in the hall could tell that Headmaster Yu Mo held Wu Yuan in high regard, and was clearly displeased with Xie Yu for making things difficult for him.


    Wu Yuan''s expression remained unchanged and he kept silent, but a hint of coldness lingered in his heart. He was sure he hadn''t wronged Xie Yu in any way.


    "Following the practical assessment protocols, select five martial virtuosos to engage in one-on-one duels with Wu Yuan," Xie Yu stated, disregarding the intimidating re from the headmaster. "He must win at least two matches to pass the practicalponent."


    Inside the strength assessment hall, a majority of the crowd was taken aback by Xie Yu''s proposal. Win two out of five matches?


    On the surface, it might appear achievable, but one mustn''t forget that Wu Yuan was younger and had less time to hone his martial skillspared to his opponents. Furthermore, the disparity in strength among martial virtuosos was vast. How could onepare a martial virtuoso with 10,000 catties of strength to another with 19,000 catties?


    "Guo Long, Yang Yufeng...the five of you will face Wu Yuan." Xie Yu called out the names of five disciples.


    The expressions of these disciples immediately underwent subtle shifts, betraying their reluctance. They were no fools. With the headmaster and inspector at odds, thest thing they wanted was to draw attention to themselves. Regardless of the oue, there would be no benefit for them.


    "Inspector Xie, you have gone too far!" Headmaster Yu Mo''s smile vanishedpletely, his voice turning solemn. "The rules clearly state that a single match that allows the examinee to showcase their practicalbat ability is sufficient. There is no need for him to secure a victory, let alone win two out of five matches. You are deliberately making things difficult."


    Although he carried the title of headmaster, Yu Mo was also one of the three division heads under the Instruction Hall, burdened with numerous responsibilities. Normally, the affairs of the martial academy were mostly managed by Xie Yu. But his absence did not mean he couldnt interfere!


    "In ordance with the sect''s rules, a minimum of one duel and a maximum of five are required," Xie Yu shed head-on with the headmaster, refusing to back down. "Ive heard of Wu Yuan''s extraordinary talent, so it is only fitting that he be evaluated under the most rigorous criteria."


    "I am the headmaster," Headmaster Yu Mo stated icily.


    The staff and students martial academy gawked as they looked on. No one expected a mere assessment to turn into a battle between two titans of the academy.


    "Headmaster." Wu Yuan spoke up, "It''s fine. Since Inspector Xie holds me in such high regard, lets go with her proposal."


    All eyes naturally turned to Wu Yuan.


    "Young Master, you mustn''t," Gu Ji, who had been standing silently behind him, finally couldn''t hold back.


    Headmaster Yu Mo nced at Gu Ji, then at Wu Yuan, "You don''t understand."


    "Headmaster, I do understand," Wu Yuan responded with a hint of a smile, "Please rest assured, my performance will definitely satisfy Inspector Xie."


    Wu Yuan also shot Gu Ji a reassuring look.


    Headmaster Yu Mo frowned slightly, but didn''t know what to say. After all, Wu Yuan himself had chosen to agree.


    "Very well. Wu Yuan, I hope yourbat prowess lives up to your reputation," Xie Yu nced at Wu Yuan. "Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly."


    "Since you are no coward, I wont make things difficult for you. As long as you win one in five matches, I will sign my approval," Xie Yu stated indifferently, "You may rest for a quarter of an hour between each duel."


    Wu Yuan simply smiled in response. Just one win out of five matches?


    "You five," Xie Yu''s gaze sharply swept over the chosen five disciples, "Whoever loses will have 100 points deducted, and whoever wins will receive 50 points."


    The expressions of the five disciples changed drastically. Within the tertiary martial academy, points held significant weight. Many precious cultivation resources could only be essed once a sufficient number of points was reached. She was pressuring them into giving their all.


    In no time at all, everyone gathered by the martialbat hall adjacent to the strength assessment hall. An imposing, circr martialbat tform stood in the center of it.


    Wu Yuan, along with five other academy disciples, donned their protective gear, including helmets and neck guards. Though these might hinder their flexibility, they ensured the safety of the fighters.


    Shortly thereafter, they each selected their weapon of choice. Crafted from wood, the weapons were limited to long staffs, short staffs, and shields. Though sturdy, their potential to inflict serious harm was restricted.


    After all, matches between martial academy disciples were meant for training and honing their skills, not to draw blood. Bloody and brutal oues were strictly forbidden.


    On the circr martialbat tform around 30 meters in diameter, Wu Yuan and a disciple named Guo Long stood some distance apart, facing each other. Both had chosen the long staff as their weapon.


    Aside from Headmaster Yu Mo, Xie Yu, and Gu Ji who were first-rate Adepts, the other instructors and academy disciples watched from the sidelines.


    As first-rate Adepts, they wouldn''t interfere in the match between martial virtuosos. However, they could step in to save thepeting disciples at critical moments. Despite the solid protective equipment, the impact of their blows ranged from thousands to tens of thousands of catties. The risk of injury or even death remained ever-present.


    "Commence the duel, we will decide the victor at the appropriate moment," Headmaster Yu Mo said softly, "Remember, it''s just a match. Do not deliberately injure your opponent."


    "Understood."


    "Understood," both Wu Yuan and Guo Long responded.


    And so, the match began. The two of them no longer paid attention to the audience, focusing on each others movements.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze settled on Guo Long, a sturdy young man of around eighteen or neen. Given that he was chosen by Xie Yu, his strength had to be decent.


    "Wu Yuan, be careful. If you admit defeat, I will stop immediately," Guo Long said solemnly. This statement was not meant to belittle Wu Yuan. In his eyes, how strong could the martial skills of a fourteen-year-old boy be?


    Wu Yuan''s expression was calm, devoid of joy or sadness.


    Guo Long gripped his staff with both hands, one hand forward, the other pressed back. In just three steps, he charged at Wu Yuan like a cheetah.


    The staff resembled a spear, producing a sharp whistling sound as it pierced through the air, the impact of this staff''s strike easily surpassing 10,000 catties. urate and ruthless, it aimed straight for Wu Yuan''s chest. This was the level of skill of someone who spent years training with the spear.


    <em>How naive.</em> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, holding his staff in one hand. He took a step forward, narrowly evading the attack. The tip of Guo Long''s staff grazed past Wu Yuan''s ear, creating the illusion of a close call.


    Following that, Wu Yuan''s staff trembled in his hand. In a burst of speed, heunched a fierce stab towards Guo Long''s throat. If this blow were tond, it would surely shatter his neck!


    Gu Ji observed the scene with a cold and detached gaze, his only responsibility was to ensure Wu Yuan''s safety.


    "Not good!" Xie Yu''s and Yu Mo''s expressions changed simultaneously, and the idea of halting the match immediately crossed their minds. But at thest moment, Wu Yuan''s staff swiftly shifted from a thrust to a sweeping motion.


    <em>Boom! </em>The staff struck Guo Long''s chest with intense force, sending him hurtling backward and falling hard onto the ground.


    Wu Yuan retracted his staff with an air of nonchnce. "Brother Guo, thank you for going easy on me.

 Chapter 85: The Blade Thirsts for Blood (2)

    Chapter 85: The de Thirsts for Blood (2)


    An eerie silence prevailed.


    Guo Long lifted his head, disbelief etched on his face as he stared at Wu Yuan, his chest throbbing in pain. Even with the protective gear, his qi was in turmoil.


    <em>How can this be? His steps were not quick, how did he dodge a direct thrust from me? </em>Guo Long struggled to ept it.


    He had dedicated six whole years to perfecting his spear arts. And yet, he couldn''t evenst a single exchange against a fourteen-year-old boy?


    "I lost!" Guo Long gritted his teeth. Though he was reluctant, a loss was a loss! Guo Long knew that if Wu Yuan had not held back at thest moment, that staff thrust would have left him crippled or severely injured.


    "Thank you for your mercy, Senior Brother Wu." Guo Long rose and spoke in a low voice. He had changed how he addressed Wu Yuan to Senior Brother Wu.


    Within the Cloudstride Sect, all disciples of the various martial academies referred to the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall as senior brothers.


    Wu Yuan acknowledged his words with a slight nod, turning his gaze toward Yu Mo and Xie Yu.


    Gu Ji frowned slightly.


    Below the tform, all the instructors and disciples stared at Wu Yuan in astonishment. How incredible. The power he disyed didn''t look that outrageous, yet he defeated Guo Long in a single move.


    Wu Yuan''sbat prowess was evident to all. His footwork and spear skills surpassed these tertiary academy students by arge margin.


    Headmaster Yu Mo dered, "Wu Yuan is the victor of this match." He then turned to Xie Yu. "Inspector Xie, I believe there is no need to continue with the next four bouts."


    Xie Yu maintained a cold silence.


    "Inspector Xie?" The headmaster knitted his brows, a sh of anger in his eyes.


    "Wu Yuan is exceptionally gifted, warranting enrolment via special recruitment." Xie Yu calmly responded, "Rest assured, Headmaster, I am capable of fair judgment and will endorse his enrollment."


    Headmaster Yu Mo''s expression softened slightly.


    "Wu Yuan." Xie Yu''s gaze shifted to Wu Yuan, a hint of admiration in her eyes, and a shadow of a smile on her face, "You are truly strong. Don''t waste your talents, and don''t end up like Gao Yu."


    "Headmaster, I still have several sectors to patrol, I shall take my leave." Xie Yu promptly exited the martial grand hall.


    Headmaster Yu Mo sighed as he watched her depart.


    "Alright, the assessment is over. Chen Qing, coordinate the endorsements of all instructors and students," Headmaster Yu Mo instructed. "Also, ensure that no information about today''s duel is leaked. Vitors will be severely punished!"


    "Understood." Chen Qing promptly responded.


    "Wu Yuan,e with me," said Headmaster Yu Mo as he began to walk away. Wu Yuan followed.


    Only after Headmaster Yu Mo, Wu Yuan, and Gu Ji disappeared from view did the martialbat hall erupt in a flurry of discussion.


    "Terrifying!"


    "That strike..."


    "Guo Long has a single arm strength surpassing 15,000 catties. Among martial virtuosos, he is formidable. But he lost in just one exchange."


    "This Wu Yuan is a monster. Can you believe he''s only fourteen years old?"


    "Even a third-rate Adept might not necessarily be his match."


    The group of martial academy students chattered amongst themselves. Though the assessment was brief, it left a huge impact on them


    Meanwhile, several martial academy instructors also gathered around, their astonishment evident. "Wu Yuan must have mastered Power Surge," one of them eximed, disbelief in his voice. "Thatst spear strike transformed too quickly. Without a boost from Power Surge, it''d be downright impossible!"


    Another instructor chimed in, "Even if he hasn''t mastered it, he must be close."


    "A genius!"


    "He''s just fourteen years old. Between him and Xu Hui, I wonder who is more talented."


    The instructors engaged in a lively discussion. As second-rate Adepts, all of them had discerning eyes.


    Deep within the martial academy was the spacious and simply decorated headmaster''s office. Apart from arge desk and a weapon rack holding a single spear, the room was bare.


    "Yu Mo, after returning to the sect, I will report today''s matters to the hall master." Gu Ji spoke with a cold voice, "Xie Yu is too emotional. She is not fit to be an inspector of the martial academy."


    "She was simply unaware," the headmaster shook his head slightly, sighing, "Even I didnt know that Wu Yuan had already mastered Power Surge."


    "If Wu Yuan wasn''t at least this talented, would the hall master have assigned me to protect him?" Gu Ji retorted, his tone icy.


    Wu Yuan stood silently at the side, listening intently to them. He could tell that Gu Ji and Headmaster Yu Mo were familiar with each other. This made sense, there were only about 200-300 first-rate Adepts within the Cloudstride Sect. Even if Gu Ji had been concealing his identity, it was inevitable that some experts would recognize him.


    Headmaster Yu Mo let out a weary sigh. "You have the right to report this matter, and I will also inform the higher-ups."


    Gu Ji did not continue the conversation.


    "Wu Yuan, you never mentioned that you mastered Power Surge," Headmaster Yu Mo turned to Wu Yuan.


    "Headmaster, today is our first meeting. Moreover, Protectorate Gao has advised me not to reveal too much," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Headmaster Yu Mo felt a sense of helplessness creeping in.


    "With your strength, there was no need to disclose your mastery of Power Surge just now. I am confident you could have emerged victorious even without it," Headmaster Yu Mo sighed. "Now that you have unveiled your skills, it will be challenging to keep it under wraps. Despite my orders not to spread the news, many eyes witnessed your assessment. This may bring you unnecessary trouble."


    A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso versus a fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso who mastered Power Surge were two entirely different concepts! Thetter theoretically had the potential to be a Grandmaster. This was precisely why Gao Yu attached such great importance to Wu Yuan.


    "Headmaster, I''m frustrated," Wu Yuan said calmly, "If I wasn''t sure that Guo Long had nothing to do with this, he wouldn''t have suffered such a simple defeat."


    Headmaster Yu Mo was momentarily rendered speechless before the realization dawned upon him. Despite Wu Yuan''sposed demeanor, he was still just a fourteen-year-old boy. Perhaps he had set his expectations a bit too high.


    "Wu Yuan, that Xie Yu who made things difficult for you is associated with Protectorate Gao who initiated your enrolment into the sect," Headmaster Yu Mo sighed.


    "Of course, I am not trying to excuse her actions. This is a grudge between the older generation. We should not have involved you in our past grievances."


    "Alright, enough said. Rest assured, I will report the news to Senior Dong as quickly as possible, then send the news back to Li City and the headquarters of the sect," Headmaster Yu Mo said, "Wu Yuan, you should set off for the sect as soon as possible."


    "Thank you, Headmaster." Wu Yuan responded vaguely, "I need to return to my lodgings to gather a few things first."


    "Go ahead."


    ... Wu Yuan and Gu Ji made their way back to the Radiant Hall.


    "Young Master, you did that on purpose just now, didn''t you?" Gu Ji asked.


    "If I don''t give Xie Yu some trouble, won''t she think I''m a pushover?" Wu Yuan shook his head, "Uncle Ji, you''re not angry with me, are you?"


    "The fault lies with Xie Yu, not you," Gu Ji affirmed. "Rest assured, Young Master. When we return to the sect, the hall master will exin everything to you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He didn''t care much about Xie Yu''s difficulties, nor was he eager to take revenge. The sect was enormous and consisted of people from all walks of life. Nevertheless, if there was ever a chance in the future, Wu Yuan wouldn''t mind teaching her a lesson himself.


    Soon, they returned to their courtyard house.


    "Uncle Ji, we''ll set off tomorrow morning," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "Tomorrow morning? To the sect?" Gu Ji asked.


    "Not to the sect." Wu Yuan shook his head, "First, let''s return to Li City. I wish to bid farewell to my mother."


    "Alright." Gu Ji nodded, not finding anything amiss.


    ...


    <em>Two dayster.</em>


    At dusk, the setting sun''s afterglow spread across the vast Southdragon River as arge boat slowly docked at a small, unassuming wharf by the river.


    <em>Within a room on the second floor of the boat.</em>


    "Uncle Ji, is everything in order?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Fear not, Young Master. All arrangements have been made," Gu Ji responded, "As you wish to focus on consuming the Soul Condensing Pill, we shall remain here for the next few days, and proceed once you emerge from seclusion."


    "No one will dare disturb you, Young Master," he added.


    Although Gu Ji found Wu Yuan''s sudden request to consume a Soul Condensing Pill puzzling, he wisely chose not to probe further.


    With the previous incidents fresh in their minds, they were now much more cautious, and departed discreetly. However, Gu Ji deemed the likelihood of another assassination attempt to be quite low.


    The veil of night gradually descended.


    While everyone on board believed Wu Yuan to be meditating, a shadowy figure emerged from the second floor of therge boat.


    Disembarking from the boat, the silhouette vanished into the vast darkness.


    <em>Just 200 li to Li City. I should make it within two hours.</em>


    <em>Xu Shouyi, you won''t survive this night.</em>


    The figure gripped his saber tightly as he sped across thend, blending seamlessly with the shadows.

 Chapter 86: A Lone Killer Enters Li City!

    Chapter 86: A Lone Killer Enters Li City!


    This night, the moon was absent.


    Within the vastnd shrouded in darkness, asional flickers of light could be spotted where viges and courtyard houses gathered.


    A shadow moved silently, striding across thend. It leaped over hills in a few jumps, skirted around viges, and crossed small rivers in a single bound.


    <em>The Paddy Field Crossing is around 180 li away from Li City, but that''s if I follow the official route.</em> The entire map of Li County was firmly ingrained in Wu Yuans mind.


    <em>If I head in a straight line, the distance is only 130 li. If I keep running, I should reach there in about half an hour. </em>


    Carrying his saber on his back, he moved at terrifying speed.


    Wu Yuan''s powerful physical constitution provided him with frightening strength, speed, and endurance. His maximum speed was 80 meters per second. If he employed Ghostwalk, his speed could instantly soar to 150 meters per second. Of course, such bursts could only be sustained for a short time and would exert a strain on his body. Each spurt could onlyst one breath''s time (six seconds).


    When it came to long-distance running, he could maintain a pace of nearly 30 meters per second without tiring or taking breaks for a day and night. Moreover, the blood-red mist also helped dispel the fatigue in his muscles.


    <em>Xu Shouyi, I have eagerly awaited this day. </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with killing intent. <em>I truly did not wish for it toe to this, but you left me no choice.</em>


    If their only grievance was the maniption of the martial academy tournament, Wu Yuan would have merelyughed it off, perhaps nning some minor retribution in the future.


    When Xie Yu caused trouble for him at Southdream Martial Academy, Wu Yuan didn''t let it bother him.


    After all, plenty of fools existed in this world and troubles were unavoidable, was it right to eliminate everything that displeased you? Wu Yuan was no murderous devil.


    The atrocities of the Vicious Tiger Gang and the blood-soaked bodies of his n members had given Wu Yuan a wake-up call to the harsh realities of this world. Since then, he seldom harbored thoughts of mercy towards his enemies.


    That was also the moment he decided to kill Xu Shouyi.


    Retribution must never wait till dawn - such was Wu Yuan''s creed.


    At that time, Wu Yuan would have had no trouble defeating Xu Shouyi in a one-on-one fight. But to silently assassinate Xu Shouyi in the heavily fortified and well-guarded general''s manor? That was no easy task!


    The general''s manor was no Vicious Tiger Gang''s stronghold; it was surrounded by numerous Adept experts and hosted thousands of well-trained elite soldiers. Once discovered, escape would prove a challenge.


    Wu Yuan sought vengeance, not to rashly endanger his n and family. Should his identity be exposed, it would only bring disaster to the Wu n.


    For these reasons, Wu Yuan held back.


    The enhancements in strength brought about by the blood-red mist during his half-month journey to Southdream were undeniable. Hence, Wu Yuan finally steeled his resolve. Before heading to the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect, he would eliminate this threat.


    <em>Mother, Sister, and Chieftain all reside in Li City. If I head off to the Cloudstride Sect and leave Xu Shouyi around them, who knows when disaster may strike?</em>


    Wu Yuan had never been fond of gambling. Nipping the danger in the bud  that was his style.


    <em>Second-rate Adepts are already the top experts in Li City. Who can stop me?</em>


    <em>After killing Xu Shouyi, I will run 100 li and return to the Paddy Field Crossing. Who would suspect a fourteen-year-old boy?</em>


    Wu Yuan had already nned everything out, Gu Ji was his alibi.


    As he ran, Wu Yuan deliberately moderated his stride, leaving no footprints and making sure to avoid disturbing branches and stones. This precautionary measure was to prevent any experts from tracking him downter on. Likewise, he bypassed the towns to avoid any possible detection. This way, his identity was thoroughly concealed.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan was swift as a cheetah, leaving no imprint on the earth. His gaze was icy cold. The closer he drew to Li City, the calmer his heart became, and ripples of emotions no longer stirred. The closer one got to the battle, the moreposed one had to be.


    <em>Hm? </em>With his exceptional eyesight, Wu Yuan spotted the faint silhouette of a small ck mountain range stretching across the broad expanse of the earth under the dim moonlight.


    It was the outer wall of Li City!


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s speed climbed from 30 meters per second to 50, then 70 meters per second, nearly at full sprint. Soon, he was right before the wall.


    Under the cover of darkness, Wu Yuan leaped into the air, agile like a monkey, andnded on the upper half of the city wall. His powerful fingertips found purchase in the smallest crevices in the wall.


    With a slight exertion from his waist, he jumped up andnded without a sound. He now found himself atop the nearly ten-meter high wall.


    There were soldiers stationed on the city wall, about a hundred meters apart. Unfortunately, years of peace had made them somewhatx in their vignce. There was no chance of them detecting Wu Yuan.


    During the ancient dynasties of the Blue, the invention of cannons greatly reduced the effectiveness of walls, leading to their gradual disappearance.


    The same was true in the Middle Land. For powerful martial artists, even a 100-meter tall wall would not pose a hindrance. Hence, even the grandest cities had walls no taller than twenty meters. They just had to be tall enough to halt an army.


    <em>In the east of the city lies the general of defense''s manor. </em>Due to his familiarity with Li City, Wu Yuan immediately grasped the general direction with a single sweeping gaze from his vantage point.


    A city of hundreds of thousands was not small. Yet beneath Wu Yuan''s feet, it was no different from t ground. He stealthily advanced through towering buildings and windingnes. Midway, he even skirted the edges of his own Wu Mansion, ensuring his mother and sister were safe and sound. Eventually, Wu Yuan neared the general''s manor.


    <em>The general''s manor is essentially arge military camp, housing 500 soldiers of the Southdream Army. When off duty, most soldiers would reside within the estate.</em> Wu Yuan recalled the detailed intelligence he had obtained from the Pleiades Guild.


    <em>300 meters from the general''s manor is the county mayor''s manor, and another 300 meters away lies the city guard''s barracks.</em>


    <em>The entire eastern district of the city is teeming with soldiers</em>. Wu Yuan concluded.


    Defense was always more challenging than offense. Even the most powerful factions could not defend against a single martial artist with immense strength. They could only guard key locations.


    The Cloudstride Sect, for instance, concentrated their experts at their sect headquarters, with a portion stationed within the three provincial cities. As for the numerous county cities? They could only leave their defense to arge number of elite soldiers. Apanied by numerous Adepts, it was enough to make second-rate Adepts hesitate, and first-rate Adepts wary.


    Unfortunately, these measures could not stop Savant experts.


    <em>These soldiers are just defending their homnd. Most are innocent, theres no need to implicate them.</em>


    Wu Yuan infiltrated the general''s manor, perceiving everything around him. He did not rm the patrolling soldiers en route, nor did he choose to ughter indiscriminately.


    For those who ought to be killed, Wu Yuan refused to let a single one slip by! For those who should not be killed, Wu Yuan did not wish to incur karmic debt [1].


    Wu Yuan moved through the shadows, his eyes scanning every corner of the general''s estate, but his search proved fruitless.


    <em>Liu Ye and Zhu Hong, the ones responsible for the estate''s security, are both absent? </em>Wu Yuan''s brows furrowed with concern. These two captains of the Southdream Army, Xu Shouyi''s trusted aides, were responsible for many of his secret dirty deeds ording to the intel.


    After pondering for a moment, Wu Yuan entered the inner courtyard.


    <em>Xu Shouyi, eldest son Xu Yuanjie, third son Xu Yuanguang... </em>


    Following theyout of the estate mentioned in the intel, Wu Yuan skillfully avoided the maidservants and servants, pinpointing the exact location of his targets. Of his five targets, only three were in the manor.


    <em>Four of Xu Shouyi''s sons are home, but he and Steward Xu are both absent? </em>This was an unexpected development.


    Through the Pleiades Guild''s intelligence and his personal knowledge of the generals faction, he had already confirmed the eight targets he intended to eliminate.


    First and foremost were Xu Shouyi and Steward Xu. The other six were merely coteral.


    <em>Where could they have gone?</em> Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed further. <em>Could there be a banquet going on?</em>


    The situation Wu Yuan wanted to avoid the most had urred. They were not here!


    <em>Their whereabouts cannot possibly be unknown.</em> Wu Yuan''s gaze was icy cold.


    Making a quick decision, Wu Yuan avoided the servants and entered one of the buildings in the inner courtyard.


    <em>Within an opulent chamber on the second floor.</em>


    "Young master, there''s no need to rush," cooed a sultry female voice, stirring the imagination with sensuous sounds behind the crimson drapes.


    "My beauty, you have no idea. My father has been crazed ofte, keeping me locked away. He only allowed me out a few days ago," a muffled voice replied, "I was nearly stifled to death." Clearly, the man was impatient to begin.


    "What refined taste you have, Young Master Xu," a calm, emotionless voice echoed within the room.


    "Who''s there?" Xu Yuanjie scrambled out in panic, throwing back the covers to reveal his head.


    A shadowy figure stood at the foot of his bed.


    "You?" Xu Yuanjie''s voice failed him, paralyzed by terror. A ck saber was pressed against his throat, its icy chill palpable on his skin.


    The woman at his side hastily grabbed at her garments, covering her body in a frenzy, simrly too scared to utter a word.


    "Spare...spare me, kind sir!" Xu Yuanjie swallowed hard, pleading, "If it''s money you seek, I can provide any amount..."


    "Silence." Wu Yuan''s voice wasn''t loud, but it was chillingly indifferent, "I ask, you answer. No noise, no games. You''re a smart man, you should understand the significance of me bypassing the defenses of the general''s manor to stand before your bed."


    Xu Yuanjie nodded fearfully,prehending the stakes. He dared not utter a sound, fearing that any noise might provoke his assant and cost him his life.


    "Where has your father gone?" Wu Yuan''s voice was icy, "Tell me his location. If you dare lie, it doesn''t matter whether you survive this night, your life is forfeit!"


    "Dongyuan Pavilion, he''s gone to Dongyuan Pavilion, just 600 meters left of the main gate." Xu Yuanjie betrayed his own father without any hesitation.


    "During the day, experts from the sect arrived to investigate a matter. Tonight, they''re hosting a banquet at the Dongyuan Pavilion and my father has gone to apany them."


    "Which experts? What matter?" Wu Yuan asked, his saber inching closer to the man''s neck with each passing second.


    "I don''t know." Xu Yuanjie quivered, "All I know is that it''s important, but my father didnt share the details with me."


    "Ah, very good." Wu Yuan nodded slightly, lifting the saber in his hand as if to sheathe it.


    Xu Yuanjie let out a sigh of relief.


    <em>Swish!</em> An invisible de ray swept across, and a head fell to the ground, sttering blood everywhere. Xu Yuanjie was dead!


    "A-" The seductive woman opened her mouth to scream, but her voice never managed to escape. With a swift strike from Wu Yuans hand, the woman fainted.


    Silence filled the room.


    <em>One down.</em> In a fluid movement, he floated out of the window, swiftly entering the building next door along the eaves.


    Xu Shouyi''s legitimate wife died young, leaving a firstborn son. After that, he had several younger sons with his concubines. In total, he had six sons.


    The second son lived an honest life, focused on attaining merit and fame. He studied afar in the Southdream Province''s schrs academy.


    The fifth and sixth sons were still young and studied at the Southdream Martial Academy.


    The remaining three sons all had vile personalities,cking both literary and martial skills. They were either greedy, lecherous, or both. In Wu Yuan''s eyes, these three sons deserved death.


    Wu Yuan visited two more buildings. He couldn''t be bothered to interrogate his victims, ying the two targets in their dreams. From beginning to end, his actions did not alert a single servant or guard.


    <em>Xu Shouyi, it''s your turn.</em>


    <em>Dongyuan Pavilion</em>. With hardened resolve, Wu Yuan departed from the general''s manor inplete silence, making his way toward the Dongyuan Pavilion.


    1. the belief that misdeeds and mistakes made by your spiritual being in the past lives are carried to the next life <blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts</blockquote>

 Chapter 87: Surrender the Token

    Chapter 87: Surrender the Token


    Dongyuan Pavilion was a grandpound reserved exclusively for the reception of high-ranking sect members when they visited Li City, and its splendor was unrivaled. Though Wu Yuan had never set foot in this ce, he had heard countless tales of its grandeur during his time at the martial academy in Li City.


    <em>With Transfiguration, no one will be able to recognize me. </em>Wu Yuan glided through the shadows towards Dongyuan Pavilion. <em>Sparing the woman''s life isn''t an issue.</em>


    She was nothing more than a woman who pleasured men with her body, ignorant of all other matters. When Wu Yuan assassinated Bald Wolf Wang Xian, he spared the life of Fairy Fragrant Zither as well. To snuff out their existence required nothing more than a mere thought, yet it was meaningless.


    On his journey to Li City, Wu Yuan cautiously erased his tracks to prevent the experts of the Cloudstride Sect from tracing his path.


    Within the general''s manor, he also made sure to tread carefully. Firstly, he wanted to avoid alerting Xu Shouyi until he had located him, preventing his target from fleeing. Secondly, he had no desire tomit unnecessary murder.


    <em>I''m here.</em> Wu Yuan leaped into Dongyuan Pavilion from a dark corner of the building, extending his consciousness in every direction as he focused on sensing his surroundings.


    <em>Xu Yuanjie mentioned earlier that Xu Shouyi is hosting a banquet for several high-ranking members of the sect. An event of great importance, it seems.</em> Wu Yuan flitted through the corridors. His form melded with the shadows as he kept himself constantly attuned to his surroundings. Soon, he approximated his location.


    <em>The main hall! There are indeed quite a few experts gathered here. </em>Utilizing his soul sense, Wu Yuan detected the oddly high number of powerful auras within the main hall.


    The Dongyuan Pavilion was heavily guarded, its security not inferior to that of the general''s manor or the county mayor''s manor.


    Normally, even a first-rate Adept would find infiltrating thepound a daunting feat. For Wu Yuan, whose martial skills had reached the level of Environmental Mastery, this was moreplicated than a walk in the park, but still rtively straightforward.


    Drawing closer to the main hall, Wu Yuan concealed himself among the beams above the corridor.


    <em>Hmm? Is that... Xu Shouyi''s voice?</em> Wu Yuan''s keen hearing caught snippets of conversation from the hall tens of meters away.


    Apart from Xu Shouyi, Wu Yuan also spotted dozens of Southdream Army soldiers guarding the front door, including several captains in heavy armor.


    <em>Zhu Hong, Liu Ye? </em>A cold glint shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. <em>Good, it appears they are all here.</em>


    When his special recruitment offer was first made known to the public, many high-ranking officials in Li City hosted banquets in Wu Yuan''s honor. At that time, Xu Shouyi was absent, but Zhu Hong and Liu Ye were among those representing the Southdream Army. Naturally, Wu Yuan recognized the two of them.


    <em>Several auras present are strong enough to pose a threat to me.</em> Wu Yuan frowned. <em>They are at least second-rate Adepts, possibly even first-rate Adepts.</em>


    With his current strength, anyone who could intimidate soul sense was at least a second-rate Adept. In such circumstances, Wu Yuan couldn''t risk getting any closer. The closer he got, the higher the chances of exposure.


    <em>No need to rush. Let''s wait a bit more, they should be in the midst of their feast. But every feast wille to an end. When they leave thepound, I''ll confirm Xu Shouyi''s location and eliminate him in one strike. </em>Wu Yuan told himself to be patient.


    And so, he waited. Unexpectedly, this waitsted nearly six hours! One by one, the soldiers guarding the door began to doze off, yet the tinker of cutleries from the main hall did not subside.


    <em>This feast is meant tost until dawn? </em>Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly. <em>Daybreak is less than two hours away. If I dy any longer, itll soon be problematic to take action.</em>


    Killing Xu Shouyi was not difficult. The real challengey in escaping unscathed. Wu Yuan only felt confident in his ability to escape if the sky remained dark. Once the sun rose, the risk of exposure would increase tenfold! Wait till tomorrow night to attack? Many changes could ur in a single day!


    <em>My only option is to assault them forcefully.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes grew frosty. With a silentmand, the blood-red mist left his upper dantian lobe, instantly eradicating his fatigue. Hended silently and headed straight towards the main hall.


    The brightly lit main hall was magnificently decorated. Numerous candles illuminated the hall as if it were daytime and a cadre of maidservants lined up on either side.


    "Senior Brother Fu, do the dishes from Li City suit your pte?" Xu Shouyi cautiously inquired.


    "Haha, they''re not bad. Xu Shouyi, your senior brother did not misjudge you back at the sect," a morbidly obese man in purple robes chuckled. His table wasden with an abundance of meat, which he gobbled up heartily.


    Trays of food were served without end. On one side of his table sat two men, one young and one old. Though both possessed robust physiques, they appeared feeble and emaciatedpared to the girthy Senior Brother Fu.


    Watching Senior Brother Fu, the others couldnt help but shake their heads inwardly. Despite eating and drinking all night, Senior Brother Fu still had room in his stomach for more. He was truly an insatiable glutton.


    "General Xu, with regards to the Chu-Jiang Token, do you have any additional clues beyond what was reported to the sect?" an elegant youth with white hair cascading down his head asked in a refined manner.


    "Unfortunately, those were all the clues I had," Xu Shouyi said. "Protectorate Zhang, thest lead I discovered suggests that the token was either taken by Beast Mountain Ming Lie or a mysterious spear-wielder."


    "Hmm." The white-haired youth nodded slightly, his expression thoughtful.


    "How are we to investigate without any concrete clues? If Ming Lie is the culprit, he will have handed the token to Old Yuanhu," a ck-d old man shook his head. "As for that mysterious spear-wielder, do we have any information about him? His family or background?"


    "I couldn''t find anything at all," Xu Shouyi admitted, a bitter smile on his face.


    "Useless!" The ck-d old man snorted dismissively.


    Internally, Xu Shouyi seethed with frustration, but he dared not retort. These three individuals were far more powerful than him in terms of strength and status, hence they had been assigned to investigate the Chu-Jiang Token. In particr, the ck-d old man was the most powerful of the three.


    "Hm?" Suddenly, the ck-d old man turned his head.


    Almost simultaneously, the purple-robed obese man and the white-haired youth who had been leisurely enjoying their meal also focused their attention outside the hall, their expressions turning solemn.


    "What''s wrong?" Xu Shouyi asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.


    <em>Whoosh~ Bang! Whoosh~ Bang!</em> Liu Ye and Zhu Hong, the two captains of the Southdream Army guarding the door, were sent crashing into the hall. Each had a grievous wound on their neck, and blood flowed profusely. They were still struggling, but it was clear that their chances of survival were slim.


    "Assassin!" "Assassin!" It was only at that moment that the guards stationed outside the hall snapped out of their daze and cried out in rm.


    Almost instantly, everyone heard a series of thuds as the guards at the entrance were tossed aside like ragdolls. They crashed into walls, mmed into the hall, ornded on the distant azure stone ground. Everything unfolded in the blink of an eye, none of them stood a chance against the attacker.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A robust figure cloaked in ck darted into the grand hall, brandishing a saber. Donning a ghostly mask, he halted abruptly, his piercing gaze sweeping across the hall until it settled on Xu Shouyi. His voice carried an icy edge as he spoke, "Xu Shouyi, the time hase to settle our grudge from fifteen years ago."


    A grudge from fifteen years ago? Xu Shouyi was dumbfounded. What grudge?


    The three experts who had traveled to Li City to investigate the token rose from their seats.


    "You have impressive skills to infiltrate this ce without a sound. Quite bold." The white-haired youth''s eyes were cold, "No matter who you are, you are guilty of killing disciples of the Cloudstride Sect. Today, you shall meet your end."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Wu Yuan nced at the trio, his wordsced with indifference. "Just the three of you? Xu Shouyi won''t live to see the morning sun."


    <em>Boom! </em>In a blur of movement, Wu Yuanunched himself towards Xu Shouyi.


    "Die!" A voice thundered.


    <em>Boom!</em> Senior Brother Fu swung his axe with great force. His aura was formidable and his armor clinked with the movement. The elderly man in ck and the white-haired youth hung back, observing the sh.


    <em>Senior Brother Fu is ranked among the top 300 of the Human Rankings. </em>Xu Shouyi watched eagerly. He had no idea who the man in ck was. He only knew that he was here to kill him.


    <em>Crash! Boom! </em>The two figures shed past each other.


    The axe flew from the fat man''s hand and smashed arge hole into a nearby wall. The man himself was then thrown to the ground, blood flowing freely from a gaping wound in his abdomen.


    "Youre a Savant expert?" The purple-robed mans eyes filled with horror.


    "Fu San, known as Fat Axe, ranked 287 on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings," Wu Yuan''s voice was cold and emotionless, like an echo from the abyss, "If you wish to die, feel free to step forward."


    Wu Yuan then swept his saber in a clean arc, causing the blood to pool on the tip of his weapon.


    <em>Drip~ </em>The blood rolled off, sshing onto the ground. The hair-raising sound was clearly audible within the great hall, which had fallen into a haunting silence.


    Everyone stared at Wu Yuan in shock. With two swings of his saber, this intruder had defeated an expert ranked in the top 300 on the Human Rankings.


    <em>Senior Brother Fu was defeated in one strike?</em> Xu Shouyi was utterly stupefied.<em> A Savant expert? Such a terrifying person hase to kill me?</em>


    <em>Hes seeking revenge? But what grudge could I have formed fifteen years ago that would provoke such a terrifying Savant expert?</em> Despite racking his brains, Xu Shouyi found no answers.


    The white-haired young man looked at Wu Yuan, a trace of fear appearing in his shocked gaze. In terms ofbat power, he was around the same level as Fu San.


    <em>Swish~</em> The old man in ck blocked Wu Yuans advance with his sword. His face was weathered, appearing to be in his 60s or 70s, but his expression was calm. Fu San''s injury did not seem to rattle him.


    "You must be Shadow de, the one who killed Bai Yuxian in Southdream Province a few days ago," the old man in ck said softly.


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback, but his expression remained unchanged, "Shadow de?"


    "Shadow de is merely a nickname we''ve given you, for we are ignorant of your true identity," the elder man in ck robes spoke slowly. "Furthermore, I suspect it was you who slew Yang Long of the Vicious Tiger Gang."


    The entire hall fell into stunned silence, all eyes fixated on Wu Yuan.


    "And what if I were to deny any involvement?" Wu Yuan''s voice was steady.


    "Other than you, I can think of no one else." The elder man''s voice was gentle, yet his gaze bore into Wu Yuan. "I suppose the Chu-Jiang Token is also in your possession? Surrender the Chu-Jiang Token, and perhaps we will spare your life!"


    "The Chu-Jiang Token? Pray tell, what is that?" Wu Yuan maintained an air of indifference. "I''m afraid I don''t understand what you''re talking about. I''d rather avoid conflict with the Cloudstride Sect, but if you insist on blocking my path, then don''t me me for whates next." Wu Yuan''s voice turned icy as he raised his saber.


    The ck-d elder remained motionless, only the tip of his sword shifting slightly.


    "Then prepare to die!" Wu Yuan''s voice echoed through the hall as he transformed into a phantom, materializing instantly before the elderly man.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>A fearsome de ray tore through the air.

 Chapter 88: Those Who Obstruct Me Shall Die! (1)

    Chapter 88: Those Who Obstruct Me Shall Die! (1)


    In a sh between masters, were extra words necessary? Wu Yuan, maintaining the spirit of Thousand Mountains, exuded a cold, merciless demeanor.


    As one gained power, their tendency toward violence grew. Indecisiveness was a trait of the literati. Drawing sabers at the slightest disagreement was the norm among martial artists. Therefore, when the ck-robed elderly man did not retreat, Wu Yuan acted without dy.


    <em>ng! </em>The elderly man met Wu Yuan''s attack head-on. His sword twirled like a graceful dragon, parrying Wu Yuan''s fearsome de ray.


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</em>


    <em>ng! ng! ng! </em>


    de rays flowed like a river, sword lights rippled like waves. The two engaged in a fearsome exchange of blows, each sh reverberating through their bodies, the impact prating the ground beneath their feet. Cobblestones fractured, fragments soaring in every direction.


    For the moment, the two experts were evenly matched.


    Xu Shouyi watched them with his mouth agape. The de rays and sword lights shed with such astounding speed and power that he could barely make out their movements. This expert who hade to im his life could probably end him in a single strike. A shiver raced through his heart.


    <em>Sect Elder Mo, you must kill him! You must!</em> Xu Shouyi prayed fervently.


    This assassin had to die. If he were to escape, Xu Shouyi would never know peace with such a fearsome enemy lurking in the shadows. He might very well choose to flee the region immediately and seek refuge at the sect headquarters.


    Uncle Mo!


    "Uncle." The injured Fu San and the white-haired youth felt their hearts pound with fear as they watched the fierce battle unfold. If the elderly mans swordsmanship was like an unstoppable torrent, then Wu Yuan''s saber technique was the epitome of speed.


    "Master Mo clearly exerts greater force with each strike. Yet, this mysterious expert can hold his own against him? Their skills are on par?" the white-haired youth watched on in disbelief.


    "Master Mo has supposedly begun to grasp the Rigid Yet Supple stage. He is capable of unleashing Threefold Power Surge at will," the white-haired youth watched intently.


    "No! The mysterious expert has a higher martial skill level." Fu San stated fearfully, clutching his wound.


    He had faced off against such an expert? Fu San understood that Wu Yuan had shown mercy. Otherwise, the saber sh he received would have not merely grazed his waist, but sliced through his neck.


    <em>ng! ng! </em>In a matter of moments, Wu Yuan and the elderly man exchanged nearly a hundred blows and the main hall was now inplete chaos. Wu Yuan was at a slight disadvantage, but his breathing remained calm and steady. He showed no signs of panic, which only made the elderly man in ck more anxious.


    <em>So steady. His saber technique is unimaginably profound.</em> The elderly mans shock grew as the fight progressed. <em>How is it that he''s always one step ahead of me? Every dodge is wlessly executed, and every sh coincidentally leads my sword off-course.</em>


    Despite seemingly having the upper hand, the elderly man in ck was immensely frustrated. From start to finish, he was being led by the nose.


    <em>So thrilling! Fighting a true powerhouse is indeed thrilling.</em> Wu Yuan felt a rush of exhration.


    How long had it been since hest felt this way? Since regaining consciousness, Wu Yuan''s power had grown exponentially, and this was his first exhrating fight in a long while. Both his body and heart began to unwind as he fought.


    It appeared that bothbatants were fighting with their full might. But in reality, Wu Yuan was holding back a little. Otherwise, in the hundreds of exchanges between them, he had two fleeting opportunities tond a killing blow. This restraint didn''t stem from arrogance on Wu Yuan''s part, but rather from the assurance that came with achieving Environmental Mastery.


    <em>Controlling the environment, analyzing variations, sensing changes in the opponent''s weapon, steps, and posture, and then predicting the opponent''s next move to strike one step ahead.</em>


    Through Visualizing the ck pagoda, his soul grew stronger, deepening Wu Yuan''s understanding of Environmental Mastery and unveiling its immense potential.


    The Fundamentals, Threefold Power Surge, and Rigid Yet Supple all emphasized self-improvement. With each stage, one learned to master their body, developing it until it could unleash its maximum strength.


    Environmental Mastery, on the other hand, extended beyond the self. At this stage, one began to perceive the external world and enhance one''sbat power by utilizing the surroundings. This was a quantum leap from the previous stages of martial skill.


    <em>Is this the might of the 79th expert on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings? Ah, right, when he was young, he was a powerhouse ranked within the top twenty of the Human Rankings</em>.


    When he first entered the hall, Wu Yuan readily recognized Fu San and the white-haired youth due to their distinct appearances. Fu San, the purple-robed man, ranked 287th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. Lu Yuming, the white-haired youth, ranked 256th.


    Only the elderly man in ck eluded Wu Yuans mind. But after a few dozen exchanges, he deduced the man''s identity. Hisbat prowess was frightening, capable of sustaining Threefold Power Surge for prolonged periods. His swordsmanship was also a sight to behold. Yet, his raw strength wasn''t impressive. Whenever he employed Threefold Power Surge, his strength reached a mere 260,000 catties. On top of that, he was quite advanced in age.


    Among the plethora of Savant experts in the Cloudstride Sect, only one individual fit this description - Mo Jingchen, 79th on the Human Rankings! He was a Savant expert, albeit an aged one, nearing 100 years old. His physical constitution had deteriorated significantly, and his strength was not what it once was. But through his top-notch martial skills which were nearly on par with a Land Rankers, he retained the rank of Savant expert.


    Guan Zishan, a former first-rate Adept and previously the foremost martial artist of Li City, had also sumbed to the passage of time. Now aged and weakened, his strength had dropped to that of a second-rate Adept. Such was the fate of martial artists as they entered the twilight of their lives.


    <em>Forget it! I''ll be joining the Cloudstride Sect soon, theres no need to burn bridges. </em>He had spared Fu San for the same reason. Though they were strangers to each other, Wu Yuan did not wish to kill a first-rate Adept from the Cloudstride Sect unless absolutely necessary, let alone a Savant expert.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan''s attacks suddenly transformed, taking on a breathtaking speed. A barrage of de rays engulfed Mo Jingchen, leaving him startled.


    <em>Not good! Is this the saber secret technique mentioned in the intelligence?</em> Mo Jingchen''s expression changed slightly.


    He too had practiced a sword secret technique. s, weakened and aged, engaging in regrbat was already a tremendous burden for him, let alone executing a secret technique.


    In a sh, he made his decision. Retreat!

 Chapter 89: Those Who Obstruct Me Shall Die (2)

    <h4>Chapter 89: Those Who Obstruct Me Shall Die (2)</h4>


    With an earth-shaking boom, Mo Jingchen blocked an attack with his sword and retreated at full speed. Unexpectedly, Wu Yuan refrained from exploiting this opening. Instead, he remained where he was amidst the ruins.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Two streaks of light tore through the air, echoing throughout the grand hall.


    "Stealth weapons!"


    "Not good." The countenances of the white-haired youth and purple-robed obese man underwent a drastic transformation. The throwing knives were so swift and vicious that even these two first-rate Adepts could only watch on helplessly, unable to intervene.


    <i>ng~</i> A burst of sword light barely managed to strike one of the throwing knives, causing it to shatter and veer off to the side. It was Mo Jingchen! After his hasty retreat, he seeded in intercepting one of the throwing knives.


    In an instant, the scattered knife fragments, still containing more than 100,000 catties of force, sliced through a stout pir and severed it into two. The entire grand hall began to tremble slightly. The other unobstructed throwing knife hurtled forth, covering dozens of meters in an instant.


    <i>Squelch~ </i>It instantly prated Xu Shouyi''s cranium, sttering flesh and bone everywhere like a smashed watermelon.


    Xu Shouyi was dead!


    Everything happened too quickly. In that split second, Wu Yuan had unleashed the Thousand Mountains technique, forcing Mo Jingchen to retreat, then killed Xu Shouyi with a throwing knife.


    "Hahaha! Senior Mo, pardon my intrusion," Wu Yuan''s voice rang out, full of satisfaction after achieving revenge. "I bid you farewell." He had no desire to linger now that his mission was aplished.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a leap, he dashed towards the doorway.


    Though the fight with Mo Jingchen was exhrating, Wu Yuan understood the unpredictable nature of life-and-death battles and had no desire to stay longer than necessary. Furthermore, even though their skirmish hadsted less than ten breaths'' time from the moment Wu Yuan entered the room until now, he could faintly hear the urgent cries of "assassin!" and "hurry!"ing from outside.


    As Wu Yuan arrived at the central courtyard, he surveyed his surroundings. Numerous pinpricks of flickering mes were heading for the pavilion. It seemed the Southdream Army and the city guards had received the news and were rushing to the scene.


    "Still too slow," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Pushing off the ground, he soared seven meters high, reaching the eaves on the second floor. In a few shes, he quickly made his escape.


    "Stop, thief!" A thunderous voice echoed through the air, "Leave the Chu-Jiang Token."


    Two phantom-like figures leaped from the ground onto the eaves, moving with equally incredible speed. They jumped over buildings and alleys as if strolling on t ground, charging right for Wu Yuan. It was none other than Mo Jingchen and Lu Yuming! Despite Wu Yuan''s astounding strength, the death of Xu Shouyi, coupled with the likelihood that he had the Chu-Jiang Token, made them reluctant to give up.


    "Senior Mo! I killed Xu Shouyi because of a grudge from fifteen years ago. I have no desire to make the Cloudstride Sect my enemy." Wu Yuan''s cold voice echoed back, "But if you do not cease your pursuit, do not me me for my discourtesy."


    These words were both a threat and a reflection of Wu Yuan''s sentiments. While he was hesitant to kill the Cloudstride Sect''s experts, he would not hesitate to do so if pushed into a corner.


    Yet, Mo Jingchen and Lu Yuming turned a deaf ear to his warning.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i>


    Three formidable experts, one leading and two chasing, frantically sprinted through Li City at speeds of 60 to 70 meters per second. Putting all their focus on speed, they failed to control their strength well. 200,000 catties of force were exerted with each stomp, causing roofs to explode, walls to crumble, and debris to fly. This was the destructive power of martial arts experts. In many ancient texts and legends, a battle between Heavenly Rankers could easily destroy half a county city.


    "The assassin is over there!"


    "Kill him!"


    "Give chase!"


    Soldiers from the city guard and Southdream Army swarmed out from every district, converging on Wu Yuan''s location. Some armed themselves with powerful crossbows, others shooting arrows.


    For any other first-rate Adept, this would be a somewhat troublesome situation. However, it posed no threat to Wu Yuan, who had achieved Environmental Mastery. With the grace of a butterfly, Wu Yuan effortlessly dodged each and every arrow, quickly escaping from the encirclement. The only threat worth his attention was the pair of experts pursuing him.


    <i>I can''t shake them off?</i> Wu Yuan''s brows furrowed.


    But soon, Wu Yuan understood why this was the case. While his superior martial skills allowed him to excel in closebat, speed was solely dependent on one''s physical constitution. Unfortunately, in terms of pure physical constitution, Wu Yuan fell shortpared to Mo Jingchen and Lu Yuming. He was only able to maintain a distance between himself and them because the city''splex environment affected their speed.


    <i>No rush! Once I get out of the city, I''ll use Ghostwalk and dive into the Southern Dragon River, that should be enough to shake them off. </i>Wu Yuan came to a decision, deciding against using stealth weapons.


    What would killing Mo Jingchen and Lu Yuming aplish? Absolutely nothing.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The high-speed chase soon reached the southern region of the city, creating amotion that swiftly roused the city''s inhabitants.


    "There''s an epic battle going on!"


    "It''s a duel between martial arts experts."


    "Such a ruckus?" Countless citizens were jolted awake.


    "First-rate Adepts! It seems there are multiple first-rate Adepts." A handful of Adepts instantly made urate judgments. However, they could only observe, unable to interfere.


    <i>Not far now. </i>Wu Yuan looked ahead at the towering walls of Li City. Just two more li and he could finally make his escape.


    At that moment, several streaks of light shot toward Wu Yuan from a somewhat decrepit courtyard ahead. Stealth weapons!


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s expression turned frigid. His pace faltered slightly, and he shed out with the ck Mountain Saber.


    The sh of metal rang out as he deflected a throwing knife and nimbly avoided another. Such stealth weapons were not something an average expert could wield proficiently. Could there be a first-rate Adept present?


    Just as this thought began to form in Wu Yuan''s mind, two figures burst out from the courtyard.


    One of them was well-proportioned, d in silver armor, and armed with a long spear. "Surrender the Chu-Jiang Token!" he bellowed.


    With a swift and menacing whistle, his spear lunged straight for Wu Yuan''s skull.


    Meanwhile, the other man, who was shorter and stouter, donned heavy armor and wielded a pair of massive iron hammers. Unleashing a devastating blow from the hammer, he roared, "Die!"


    Their coordination was remarkably synchronized as they both charged at Wu Yuan simultaneously. Their intention was clear - to eliminate him on the spot.


    ��Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan! They''re here in Li City too?" The shocked voice of Lu Yuming rang out from behind. He had recognized the two experts at a nce. They were Old Yuanhu''s two most trusted direct disciples, and also the strongest among them.


    Under their master''s orders, they hade to Li City on a mission to locate the Chu-Jiang Token and had been staying in Li City for quite some time now. Initially, they had received news concerning Shadow de from the Sta Consortium and nned to travel to Southdream City in theing days to try their luck, but fate had other ns. By chance, they happened toe across Mo Jingchen and Lu Yuming pursuing Wu Yuan. Themotion was so loud that it caught their attention from afar.


    Upon hearing Mo Jingchen''s cry and seeing Wu Yuan''s distinct silhouette and weapon, they immediately recognized him as Shadow de mentioned in the Sta Consortium''s intel. This was the opening they had been waiting for and they couldn''t let it slip away. They made their decision at once: they would act, kill Wu Yuan, and seize the Chu-Jiang Token.


    "Those who obstruct me shall die!" Killing intent flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes. If surrounded, he would have to face the onught of four experts, putting him in immense danger. Any thoughts of mercy vanished from his mind.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s speed surged as he employed Ghostwalk. His saber shed with blinding speed as he confronted Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan head-on.

 Chapter 90: The Line Between Life and Death (1)

    <h4>Chapter 90: The Line Between Life and Death (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan handled Mo Jingchen with ease in their previous sh and naturally wasn��t too worried. He had activated the Thousand Mountains technique to defeat Xu Shouyi, but only maintained that burst state for a mere moment. The rest of the battle was fought in his normal state. Employing a hidden technique tested one''s physical strength and ability to withstand the burden of the augmented power.


    Sensing the imminent danger, Wu Yuan promptly activated Ghostwalk. With a burst of speed, he evaded thebined assault of Tangru and Zhushan. At the same time, he swung his saber. The de emitted a deafening roar, brimming with boundless power!


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> A series of horrifying weapon collision sounds echoed. During the exchange, the strength of the two experts exploded forth as one,pletely overpowering Wu Yuan. He staggered back three steps, each one cracking the cobblestones and leaving a deep imprint on the ground, before finally colliding with a wall and causing it to crumble. Only then did Wu Yuane to a halt.


    <i>Tangru? Zhushan?</i> His gaze turned icy cold as he nced at the two experts obstructing his path. He had heard Lu Yuming''s exmation, and based on their weapons and strength, he determined their identities.


    Grandmaster Old Yuanhu had five direct disciples. The youngest three were fairly young. The eldest disciple and the second disciple were no longer young, but both were incredibly strong. Tangru, ranked 98th in the Human Rankings, was skilled in the spear. Zhushan, ranked 121st in the Human Rankings, wielded dual hammers.


    <i>They are here for the Chu-Jiang Token? What kind of treasured object have Ie to possess, that it holds such irresistible allure? </i>


    The mere material of the token spoke volumes about its worth, but despite delving deep into the annals of the fallen Chu-Jiang Empire, Wu Yuan found no trace of its origin or purpose. He could not possibly consult with other experts on this matter either, leaving him no choice but to bury his questions at the back of his mind.


    However, there was no time for Wu Yuan to ponder further.


    "Die!" Although Tangru was taken aback by Wu Yuan''s sudden burst of speed, he reacted immediately when he realized his first spear thrust had missed its target. He lunged forward, long spear stabbing straight toward Wu Yuan. Like a thunderbolt, the spear hurtled forth!


    Zhushan was not tall, but he possessed brawny limbs and bulging muscles. With unrelenting force, he swung his dual hammers in a relentless assault, crashing down on Wu Yuan like an unforgiving tide. Hammers belonged to the category of heavy weapons, capable ofunching a warhorse into the air with a single strike.


    "Get lost!" Wu Yuan roared, his figure blurring as he evaded the spear. With a resounding bang, the spear tip scraped his waist and embedded itself into the half-copsed wall, causing a cascade of debris.


    But Tangru was a true master of the spear. Instead of retracting his weapon after a missed thrust, he seamlessly transitioned into a sweeping motion, utilizing the power of his waist and abdomen. Sweeping A Thousand Troops! This was amon technique employed by warriors wielding spears, halberds, andrge axes on the battlefield. Common, yet devastatingly effective. The best moves were not necessarily the shiest ones. There was elegance in simplicity.


    But Wu Yuan seemed to read their movements in advance. As he evaded the sweeping spear, he stomped with his left foot, propelled himself upward with the force, and narrowly escaped the impending strike. With a resounding thump, the ck Mountain Saber in Wu Yuan''s grasp whistled through the air, expertly hitting the shaft of Tangru''s spear at a precise angle. The collision of two forces, each bearing the weight of 200,000 catties, caused the spear shaft to tilt abruptly to the left.


    Unable to react in time, Tangru''s spear met the hammers, a collision that produced a resounding boom. The shockwaves reverberated in all directions, numbing Tangru and Zhushan��s arms and leaving them speechless. They thought their fighting skills were unmatched, yet Wu Yuan''s skills surpassed them by far. They were like toys dancing in the palm of his hand, having their movements orchestrated by Wu Yuan, who appeared to foresee the future.


    Wu Yuannded smoothly on both feet, then leveraging the momentum from hisnding, he propelled himself straight toward Tangru like a sharp arrow.


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>The sky filled with de rays as he activated the Thousand Mountains secret technique.


    <i>Not good! </i>Tangru''s expression changed. He quickly pulled back his spear to defend, infusing it with power with the flick of his wrist. The spear''s speed skyrocketed, leaving a trail of afterimages in the sky.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> The saber and spear shed over a dozen times. Wu Yuan attacked while Tangru defended. One advanced, and one retreated. For a while, the two experts found themselves stuck in a deadlock.


    The aftershocks from the collisions caused the nearby rooftops to shatter noisily. Buildings copsed or fractured, and the azure cobblestones on the street were sted apart. From time to time, fresh blood and mutted limbs were mixed in with the wreckage, remnants of the residents living in the alley.


    ��What��s happening?��


    ��Ah!��


    "Run, run!" Cries of despair filled the air as scores of residents, roused from their slumber in rm, instinctively fled their homes without even pausing to get dressed. A moment''s dy could mean the difference between life and death. The destructive power of a duel between near-Savant experts was truly frightening.


    Neither the coteral damage nor the devastation wrought upon homes and streets could distract the twobatants from their fierce sh, and it was undeniable that Wu Yuan held the advantage in this standoff.


    "Die!" Zhushan lunged forward a fraction of a secondter. Infusing his dual hammers with overwhelming force, he adapted his strategy and attacked Wu Yuan from a different angle.


    <i>ng! ng!</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan, who had driven Tangru into a desperate corner, was now forced to divide his attention and began defending against Zhushan''s powerful swings with his saber.


    As he blocked the hammers, Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly. Heavy! Extremely heavy! If Zhushan''s previous swing had carried the force of around 200,000 catties, it had now escted to 250,000 catties, and it didn''t stop there. Each subsequent swing from Zhushan''s sledgehammer was stronger and heavier than thest. Wu Yuan''s ck Mountain Saber began to tremble under the strain of the impact.


    <i>Fourth-grade superior weapons are meant for battles between first-rate Adepts, while these men disy the power of near-Savant experts. My own power will only continue to increase. Once this battle concludes, I should find a way to acquire a divine weapon.</i>


    As Wu Yuan and Zhushan shed fiercely, Tangru took the opportunity to step back. He breathed heavily, a trace of fear shing across his eyes. Wu Yuan''s full power was overwhelming, and his strikes were relentless. If not for Zhushan''s timely intervention, he might have been cleaved into two by Wu Yuan.


    In group battles, an inch longer was an inch stronger, and the long spear was perfectly suited for such situations. But in a duel between experts, where life and death were decided in an instant, it was the shorter weapon that posed a greater threat. Longer weapons could expose vulnerabilities, giving the opponent the opportunity to swiftly close the distance.


    "Kill!" Barely catching his breath, Tangru wasted no time. Each movement of the spear flowed seamlessly into the next, a blur of rapid strikes aimed at Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 91: The Line Between Life and Death (2)

    Chapter 91: The Line Between Life and Death (2)


    He couldnt afford to dy any longer. Wu Yuan was too powerful, and he feared that his junior brother might be struck down in a moment of weakness. The pair martial brothers fought as a team, maintaining their aggressive momentum while also staying cautious, striking with precision and ensuring that Wu Yuan couldn''t retaliate.


    Then, Wu Yuan suddenly changed his approach. He no longer fought head-on, instead shifting to a defensive stance, retreating or deflecting their attacks. Despite being at a slight disadvantage, Wu Yuan disyed uncanny resilience and unbelievable speed, sessfully parrying all attacks from the two experts.


    Lu Yuming, standing a hundred meters away, was left in awe as he watched the three experts sh with overwhelming strength. Any one of them could probably defeat him in just a few moves.


    "The three of them have employed their secret techniques, they''re all desperate." Mo Jingchen immediately evaluated the physical conditions of the threebatants.


    The two of them arrived just after Wu Yuan, Zhushan, and Tangru began their battle, but they did not join the fray.


    "The two disciples trained by Old Yuanhu have grown even stronger than before, especially Zhushan. Though he hasn''t made any notable achievements ofte, his strength is likely not much weaker than mine during my prime." Mo Jingchen sighed retrospectively.


    He recalled a time when he wouldn''t have considered Zhushan or Tangru worthy opponents. 50 years ago, even Old Yuanhu had to show him respect, addressing him as ''Senior''. Such a shame. The fist fears the vigor of youth, the martial artist fears old age; this was a perennial truth. For martial artists who had yet to reach the limits of the human body, their bodily functions would invariably start declining from the age of 60, and Mo Jingchen was far past that age.


    "Senior Uncle, aren''t we going to join the fight?" Lu Yuming asked.


    "Wait," Mo Jingchen replied with a single word.


    Lu Yuming was confused.


    "You''re not qualified to participate in their battle. At best, you can only slightly restrain him. One wrong move could lead to your death. As for me?" Mo Jingchen sighed softly, "I don''t have the endurance they possess. In a prolonged battle, my defeat is certain."


    "That Shadow de is just as strong as me. Hmm, maybe even slightly stronger than me. If I were in his position, facing abined attack from Wang Zhushan and Chen Tangru, I would likely already be dead. Yet, he has managed to hold his ground effortlessly," Mo Jingchen said in a somber tone.


    Lu Yuming listened with a startled expression. But he had to admit, he was indeed incapable of intervening in a battle of this caliber.


    "Whether it''s Shadow de, Wang Zhushan, or Chen Tangru, they are all our enemies. None of them will willingly give up the Chu-Jiang Token," Mo Jingchen murmured, "Their usage of secret techniques puts a great strain on them, rapidly consuming their stamina and energy. Let''s wait until they''re on the verge of determining the victor, or when both sides have sustained crippling injuries. That''s our chance to strike."


    "Will they give us that chance?" Lu Yuming couldn''t help but ask.


    "They don''t have a choice. Both sidesck trust, so they can''t possibly team up against us."


    "If Wang Zhushan and Chen Tangru proactively attack us under the watchful eyes of everyone here in Li City? Hmph! In ten days, Grandmaster Yu will bear her sword and march on Yuanhu Vi," Mo Jingchen stated with conviction.


    Lu Yuming subconsciously nodded in agreement. No one knew Shadow de''s origins or identity, but the identities of Zhushan and Tangru were widely known. The monk could flee, but the temple could not.


    "Neither side can trust each other. Zhushan''s side will never allow Shadow de to escape," Mo Jingchen shook his head. "So, they have no choice but to fight to the bitter end. Unless, of course, Shadow de is willing to surrender the Chu-Jiang Token. But why would he so readily give up such a valuable asset?"


    The two of them continued to keep their distance, approximately 100 meters away from the raging battle. They observed but did not engage, prepared to join the battle at any time.


    <em>Boom! Boom! </em>The intense battle continued and the three experts covered hundreds of meters as they fought, leaving a trail of obliterated walls and demolished houses in their wake.


    "Hmm? Tangru is in trouble!" Mo Jingchen''s expression suddenly shifted. "We can''t wait any longer."


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Like a streak of darkness, he leaped into battle!


    <em>Bang! Bang! ng! </em>Tangru and Zhushan rained attacks on Wu Yuan. As direct disciples of a Grandmaster, they had received personal instruction from Old Yuanhu himself, who tailored secret techniques to match their unique physical traits. Secret techniques came in countless names and variations, but at their core, they could be categorized into three typesfaster speed! Greater strength! Higher resilience!


    Tangru''s spear moved faster with each strike, each thrust deadly enough to pierce flesh and draw blood. Zhushan''s hammer grew heavier with each blow. One swift as the wind, the other solid as a mountain. Wu Yuan could only defend himself, even while unleashing the Thousand Mountains secret technique to its fullest extent.


    But every valley had a floor, every peak, a summit. Secret techniques demanded immense strength and stamina. The more powerful the technique, the greater the toll it took on the body, making it unsustainable over long periods. From the moment the three of them went all out, a full eleven seconds of intense battle had ensued.


    <em>ng!</em> At some point during the furious exchange, Tangru''s fearsome attacks slowed down noticeably, and he swiftly retreated backward. It was clear that he was unable to maintain this level of intensity. But how could Wu Yuan let him escape?


    "Kill!" Wu Yuans body blurred as his speed rose. He blocked Zhushan''s hammer with his saber, using the momentum to charge straight toward Tangru.


    <em>ng! ng! ng!</em> A flurry of strikes followed. Tangru was a picture of grim determination, struggling yet hopelessly outmatched.


    "Senior Brother!" Zhushan charged recklessly at Wu Yuan in a panic, desperate to save Tangru.


    <em>Swoosh! </em>A sudden streak of light shed, and the attack intended for Tangru was abruptly redirected towards Zhushan. The strike, too fast and too close, caught Zhushan off guard.


    Blood sprayed into the air. Zhushan''s eyes widened in shock, and his hammer fell to the ground with a resounding ng as his hand instinctively went to his throat. But the blood poured out, defying any attempts to staunch its flow.


    <em>Swoosh! </em>With another lightning-fast saber sh, Zhushans head was flung into the air, while his robust body fell to the ground with a thunderous crash.


    Zhushan, ranked 121st on the Human Rankings, was dead!


    <em>Swish!</em> Like a venomous snake, a sword pierced through the darkness in nearplete silence, aiming for Wu Yuan.


    Old fool, scram!" Wu Yuan roared, evading the strike with a surge of speed.


    de rays filled the air. Ghostwalk and Thousand Mountains! Two secret techniques were deployed simultaneously.


    <em>ng! ng! ng!</em> Saber and sword shed at lightning speed, their shrill ring echoing in every direction.


    Wu Yuan instantly seized an opening in the opponent''s swordy. Or perhaps, it wasn''t an opening at all, but simply that the elderly man was moving a tad slower. The de ray grazed Mo Jingchen''s chest, slicing diagonally downwards. His clothes split apart, and the terrifying force instantly propelled the old man backward.


    Instead of going after the old man, Wu Yuan turned his attention to Tangru. Maintaining Ghostwalk, his speed soared beyond 100 meters per second as he tore through the sky, straight for his target who was frantically escaping in terror.


    When he was 100 meters from Tangru, he threw out three throwing knives. Tangru''s face flushed red as he twirled his spear in a desperate attempt to defend himself.


    <em>ng! ng! ng! </em>Tangru blocked all three throwing knives, but the terrifying power embedded in them caused him to stumble and fall from the roof to the ground below.


    A figure swooped down like a giant roc.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>An unyielding barrage of de rays surged forward, leaving Tangru no chance to react. With great effort, he managed to fend off two shes. Then a cold glint shed and a severed head met the earth, blood spraying in its wake.


    Tangru, ranked 98th on the Human Rankings, was dead!


    Wu Yuan quickly picked up Tangru''s spear while patting down the man''s chest. In no time, he found a stack of banknotes and a small jade vial of unknown contents.


    <em>Time to leave! </em>Without hesitation, Wu Yuan leaped up, fluttering through the air like a nimble butterfly. In a series of agile bounds, he soared over the city walls, vanishing into the endless night.

 Chapter 92: Deduction, Harvest

    Chapter 92: Deduction, Harvest


    Ever since the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire decades ago, Li City had not been embroiled inrge-scale warfare. This era of peace led to the establishment of residential dwellings outside the city walls.


    On this particr night, as a battle raged within the city, the citizens residing beyond the walls remained blissfully unaware, their slumber undisturbed.


    Wu Yuannded softly, leaving only a faint imprint. Then, he sprang forward, leaping over ten zhangs without leaving a trace. He covered hundreds of meters in just a few powerful strides.


    <em>No one''s following.</em> Wu Yuan darted swiftly between the scattered dwellings, leaving no tracks behind. He nced back at the city walls, confirming that there were no pursuers.


    <em>If Lu Yuming and Mo Jingchen insist on chasing me, then they can''t me me for whates next. </em>A chilling glint appeared in Wu Yuan''s eyes. He was reluctant to engage inbat with them, fearing the consequences that might arise if today''s events ever came to light. How would the Cloudstride Sects members view him then?


    If Wu Yuan were alone in this world, he would have nothing to fear. But he had a family and a n. Joining the Cloudstride Sect had been his way of essing their power and ensuring the safety of his loved ones. After all, he couldn''t always be by their side as he ventured into the wider world, and he had no desire to establish his own sect.


    Of course, if Lu Yuming and the others were foolish enough to seek their own demise, Wu Yuan wouldn''t mind helping them on their way.


    <em>However, caution is the key to survival. First, I will head 30 li south, deliberately leaving some clues to mislead them into thinking I''m heading towards Yuanhu Province. Then, I''ll double back and make my way to the boat at the Paddy Field Crossing.</em>


    He hadn''t forgotten his previous conversation with Branch Master Qing of the Pleiades Guild, where he mentioned that his mission to assassinate Xu Shouyi was a mere side quest on his journey to Yuanhu Province. He imed that he was vengeance against Xu Shouyi due to a grudge formed fifteen years ago. True or false, all were but veils of deception.


    <em>The more openly I act and the stronger my power appears, the more information the various forces will gradually gather. Eventually, the information about my second identity as Thousand Mountains will be increasingly detailed. I must lead them on the wrong path. The further off from the truth, the better.</em>


    With time, the power exhibited by Wu Yuan''s original identity would also grow. His moves, techniques, and the like would gradually ovep with Thousand Mountains. Currently, Wu Yuan looked like a teenager, thus no one would suspect him. But he had to make an effort to conceal his characteristics and mislead their investigations. Otherwise, in ten to twenty years, when Wu Yuans strength was fully revealed and his fame grew, it would easily arouse the suspicions of discerning minds. Wu Yuan''s principle had always been to nip potential problems in the bud.


    <em>I''ll try to hide the identity of Thousand Mountains as far as possible. Even if I were to expose it, that will have to wait until I possess the strength of a Land Ranker.</em>


    Or perhaps a Heavenly Ranker!


    With Tangru''s spear in hand, Wu Yuan stuffed the gold notes and jade vial into the folds of his clothing and vanished into the night.


    Within Li City, the area where the battle took cey in ruins.


    <em>Whoosh!</em>


    "Senior Uncle." Lu Yuming rushed over in panic, supporting the heavily wounded Mo Jingchen, who was coughing up copious amounts of blood.


    "How are you faring?" Lu Yuming asked, his nerves taut as a bowstring, fearing the worst for Mo Jingchen.


    "After coughing up a bit of blood, I''m feeling much better." Mo Jingchen managed to rise to his feet. His face was pale, but he mustered a feeble smile. "Do not fret, I''m not going to die just yet."


    With a swift movement, Mo Jingchen tore open his outer garment, revealing the silver body armor underneath.


    "Thankfully, I''ve always kept this divine grade inner armor on. If it had been a fourth-grade one, I fear this bag of old bones might have genuinely...cough...cough..." Mo Jingchen''s words were interrupted by a fit of coughing, streaked with traces of blood.


    "Senior Uncle." Lu Yumings worry did not ease.


    "The saber wound has affected my lungs, but some recuperation should do." Mo Jingchen shook his head slightly. "However, when I can fight again, my strength will have diminished significantly.


    "I have truly grown old," Mo Jingchenmented with a sigh.


    "It''s all because of Shadow de. He must be killed," Lu Yuming growled. He had trained under Mo Jingchen in his formative years and held a deep affection for him. Naturally, Mo Jingchen''s injury kindled anger in his belly.


    "Shadow de? He has already shown me mercy. If he truly wanted to kill me, he could''ve returned to finish me off after killing Tangru, and I wouldve stood no chance," Mo Jingchen shook his head. "When martial artists fight, life and death hang by a thread. Its already my great fortune that he was willing to spare my life."


    Lu Yuming fell silent.


    "However, Shadow des departure has presented us with an enormous predicament," Mo Jingchen heaved a weighty sigh.


    "What do you mean?" Lu Yuming was taken aback.


    "Tangru and Zhushan have both perished," Mo Jingchen shook his head. "Yuanhu will not let this go."


    "Tangru and Zhushan''s appearance in Li City and the ensuing fight were of their own making," Lu Yuming frowned. "Moreover, it was Shadow de who ultimately dispatched them, what concern is it of ours?" In his eyes, this was hardly a significant problem.


    "Old Yuanhu trained five direct disciples. Tangru and Zhushan, havingpleted their training under him, possessed immense strength. Given a few more years, they could potentially rise to the Savant level," Mo Jingchen said in a soft voice.


    "His fifth direct disciple, Ming Lie, was the most talented but is now crippled. The other two disciples are quite ordinary. One can say that the lineage of Yuanhu Vi is on the verge of extinction."


    "Being over 90 years old, it will be increasingly challenging for him to find and nurture another worthy disciple. Dont you think he will be enraged? Though it was Shadow de who killed them, the fact remains that they perished in Li City," Mo Jingchen shook his head.


    "Furthermore, despite Tangru and Zhushan joining forces, they were defeated by Shadow de. One can only imagine how powerful that man is. Ironically, Shadow de only killed one second-rate Adept from our Cloudstride Sect. Although the three of us were injured, Shadow de spared our lives. If you were Old Yuanhu, how would you feel?" Mo Jingchen nced at Lu Yuming.


    Though stunned, Lu Yuming protested, "But shouldn''t he approach this logically..."


    "If logic prevailed in this world, why would we bother cultivating martial arts? We might as well focus on refining our rhetoric," countered Mo Jingchen. "Old Yuanhu is a Land Ranker. He seized control of Yuanhu Province through his martial prowess, not through reason and logic."


    "Master, what should we do?" Lu Yuming began to grow anxious.


    "When dawn breaks, inform the county mayor and instruct him to seal off the battlefield to prevent any disturbances or tampering. This will serve as evidence for future investigations," Mo Jingchen advised in a calm tone. "Additionally, center the investigation on the residences of Tangru and Zhushan. Also, carefully collect the bodies and belongings of the two deceased, and prepare them for their return to Yuanhu Vi."


    "Compose a thorough ount of today''s events and dispatch it to the sect headquarters with utmost urgency, informing the Hierarchs of the situation. This matter must be handled directly by the Hierarchs themselves."


    "Yes," replied Lu Yuming,mitting every word to memory.


    Noticing Mo Jingchen deep in thought, he couldn''t help but inquire, "Senior Uncle, is there anything else?"


    "Not at the moment." Mo Jingchen shook his head. "I''m thinking about this individual, Shadow de. It''s possible that he resides within the Cloudstride Sect''s territory, maybe even in the Southdream Province."


    "Why?" Lu Yuming asked curiously.


    "There has never been any sign of him in the past. He only appeared in recent months, striking multiple times, each time causing a biggermotion than thest and disying increasingly terrifying power." Mo Jingchen exined.


    "With his strength, eliminating us wouldn''t be a challenge. He dared to kill Chen Tangru, which proves he is not afraid of a Land Ranker''s retaliation. Yet he showed mercy towards us. If he truly is an unbound wanderer, why would he hold back?"


    "ording to his words, he doesn''t wish to be enemies with our Cloudstride Sect. Two possibilitiese to mind. Either he has connections with our Cloudstride Sect, or he is indeed a lone cultivator, but his family or n resides under our jurisdiction. Hence, he doesn''t wish to provoke us too much."


    Mo Jingchen continued to specte, deducing, "Based on these clues, I believe that Shadow de is a hidden expert who has been living in Southdream, Cloudhill, or Baihu for a considerable time. His ability to employ secret techniques with ease suggests he is rtively young.


    "His forte lies in the saber and stealth weapons. Stealth weapons are difficult to master, implying he must have received some form of mentorship, or at least acquired a certain inheritance."


    "He should be around the age of 30 to 50. If he has been training in solitude, possessing such strength at a young age would indicate extraordinary talent. There should be some records of his early years in the martial academies. He was probably a disciple from one of the three tertiary martial academies."


    "There should be a significant number of family members in his household, making it difficult for him to relocate his n." Line by line, deduction after deduction, Mo Jingchen swiftly constructed a rough profile of Shadow de, narrowing down the scope of their investigation.


    "By the way, Senior Uncle, didn''t he mention having a grudge with Xu Shouyi from fifteen years ago?" Lu Yuming suddenly asked.


    "That can be mostly ruled out," said Mo Jingchen with a sigh. "Are you a fool, or is he one? Considering Shadow des actions, he''s an extremely cautious man. He would never leave such tant clues for us to investigate. It''s merely an attempt to deceive us."


    Lu Yuming felt that his senior uncles words made sense.


    "As I suggested earlier, report everything to the sect. The Inspection Hall will carry out a thorough investigation," Mo Jingchen said softly, Such a formidable character, who acts wantonly without any remorse and hides within the territory of our Cloudstride Sect, is truly a menace."


    "Understood," Lu Yu Ming acknowledged.


    "Cough...cough..." Mo Jingchen erupted into another fit of coughing.


    The first light of dawn was on the verge of illuminating the sky, casting its gentle glow upon a deste hill located more than a hundred miles from Li City. Though the hill was overrun by weeds, the presence of several small paths hinted at asional visitors.


    Abandoned graves dotted the hill, forgotten and decrepit. In an inconspicuous spot, a freshly dug pit stood,rge enough to amodate a corpse.


    <em>What a fine spear, truly worthy of being called a divine weapon.</em> Wu Yuan stood by the pit, holding the spear. With a force of 200,000 catties, the spear lunged forward, piercing through the air with a supersonic screech.


    <em>It can effortlessly withstand 200,000 catties of force.</em> Wu Yuan marveled with a hint of reluctance.


    Divine weapons surpassed superior weapons in all aspects, especially in terms of their maximum force capacity. The ws of the ck Mountain Saber grew increasingly apparent to Wu Yuan.


    <em>s, I''m not fated to wield it, at least not for now.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head, wrapping the spear in a cloth he had conveniently picked up on the way. Tossing it into the pit, he covered it with dirt again. With Wu Yuan''s strength, these tasks were aplished with little effort. At a nce, this mound of earth was indistinguishable from the adjacent graves.


    <em>I doubt anyone would suspect a divine weapon is concealed in this graveyard.</em> A faint smile yed on his lips.


    Time was of the essence, and he was anxious to depart the scene. However, he couldn''t bring himself to part with the divine silver spear. Hence, this was the only n he could conceive. He meticulously erased any trace of his presence, surveying the surroundings to ensure no one lurked in the shadows.


    <em>Time to leave!</em> Wu Yuan leaped into the air, making his exit.


    Soon, he arrived at the Paddy Field Crossing, ten li away. Silently, he returned to his room on the second floor, with no one noticing anything amiss.


    Calming his mind, Wu Yuan retrieved another item from his harvest. Earlier, he had counted the gold notes. There were 4000 of them, equivalent to 40,000 silver taels! Wu Yuan carefully removed the small jade vial from his bosom, gently removing the stopper. Instantly, a refreshing aroma filled the air.


    <em>Spiritual liquid? Or perhaps I should say Ancient Immortal Dew? </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened.


    Upon closer examination, it indeed resembled the spiritual liquid he had previously obtained. He took a moment to study it.


    <em>Around ten drops? </em>Wu Yuan was overjoyed. This tiny bottle was probably worth a million taels of silver!

 Chapter 93: Mobilization

    Chapter 93: Mobilization


    A member of the Pleiades Guild could redeem a drop of Ancient Immortal Dew in exchange for 60,000 merits. 60,000 merits could be exchanged for 120,000 silver taels. Did this mean that when converted to silver, the jade vial was roughly equivalent to 1,200,000 silver taels?


    <em>Killing and arson fetch golden belts [1], the ancients did not deceive me.</em> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. Plundering indeed brought swift wealth.


    However, Wu Yuan understood that such precious natural treasures couldn''t be measured with silver. Converting it into silver was not difficult, but buying it back with silver was very troublesome, requiring the right channels.


    <em>Even the act of killing a regr first-rate Adept or a Savant expert doesnt guarantee the acquisition of such a treasure. </em>


    Chen Tangru, who could barely be considered a Savant expert, was a disciple of a Land Ranker. It was unsurprising for him to own more treasures than the average Savant expert.


    The acquisition of treasures boiled down to luck. When his luck was good, he could procure four drops of Ancient Immortal Dew just by killing a second-rate Adept, such as in Yang Long''s case. When his luck was mediocre, killing a first-rate Adept only yielded a handful of gold and silver, such as in Bai Yuxian''s case.


    <em>Everything went smoothly tonight because my abilities have greatly improved and my physical constitution has reached the third grade. That is why I was able to face numerous experts without breaking a sweat. </em>


    If his strength had remained unchanged from the time he had killed Bai Yuxian? Forget killing Xu Shouyi, even escaping with his life would have been difficult. The risks of plundering were high. Unless one possessed invincible strength, each plundering endeavor brought with it the risk of encountering an expert one could not withstand. And once that happened, death was the inevitable oue.


    <em>During the assassination of Bald Wolf Wang Xian, everything went ording to n. But the death of Xu Shouyi was only aplished by sheer strength and resilience.</em> Wu Yuan''s mind remained unclouded by greed as his gaze fell on the jade vial before him.


    <em>These treasures are excellent. But for now, they are mere icing on the cake. I must remain calm and take some time to cultivate.</em>


    Why was it that Wu Yuan could engage in prolonged battles against Chen Tangru, Wang Zhushan, and Mo Jingchen, unleashing secret techniques without exhibiting any signs of weariness? The answer was the blood-red mist!


    Wu Yuan''s physical constitution had reached its current limit. Therefore, the blood-red mist could no longer enhance his physique, it only relieved his fatigue and sustained his stamina. The rapid enhancements over the past few months hadpensated for his body''s deficits umted over ten years of growth.


    Wu Yuan estimated that even if he hadn''t reached the so-called perfect body, he was not far off. At fourteen and a half, he could unleash a punch with 68,000 catties of force! In the historical records of the Middle Land, there had never been such a case, at least not in the literature that Wu Yuan had read.


    <em>After ying two Savant experts from Yuanhu Vi, Old Yuanhu must be hell-bent on my demise.</em> Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Yuanhu Vi? He couldnt care less. Old Yuanhu, already frail and in his 90s,cked a substantial force under hismand. With only two Savant subordinates, his faction paled inparison to the might of the Cloudstride Sect.


    Wu Yuan just had to conceal his identity for a short while. A decadeter, when his strength reached its peak, Old Yuanhu would be over 100 years old, his body deteriorating with each passing day. By then, even if his true identity were revealed, what could the other party possibly do to him?


    <em>What lies ahead is a gradual progression in my growth.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. <em>When I reach the age of eighteen, I will naturally progress to the Viscera Cultivation phase.</em>


    In the Human Federation, the path of martial arts cultivation was divided into three distinct phases: Strength Training, Viscera Cultivation, and Acupoint Connection. None of these phases were inherently superior or weaker than the others.


    The boundary between Strength Training and Viscera Cultivation was not clearly defined. Those who focused on Viscera Cultivation did not necessarily possess a stronger physical constitution than those who practiced Strength Training.


    For instance, take a teenager like Wu Yuan, whose body was constantly developing. His muscles, bones, skin, and membranes grew stronger every day. How could one dere that he had concluded the Strength Training phase? Only when the body settled into its final form could one roughly judge the Strength Training phase to bepleted. This was when the Viscera Cultivation phase could begin.


    Viscera Cultivation, in essence, was about nurturing the body, maintaining its peak condition for several decades while also strengthening the internal organs in order to reinvigorate the musculoskeletal system, allowing the physical constitution to continue improving even after Strength Trainingrgely concluded!


    Strength Training and Viscera Cultivationplemented each other. As Wu Yuan''s musculoskeletal system grew stronger, his internal organs were also getting strengthened despite having yet to employ any specific cultivation methods targeting the stimtion of his internal organs.


    <em>I still have 700 bone-forging pills and twenty Qi Enhancement Pills left. The Starlight Liquid has been used up, but I''ve gained ten drops of Ancient Immortal Dew. Once I enter the sect, I will be granted arge amount of Cloudspring Blood as mentioned by Gao Yu. All of thesebined should suffice for my daily needs.</em>


    Cloudspring Blood was a natural treasure unique to the Cloudstride Sect. Few details about it were divulged, and it was only granted to the upper echelons and elite disciples of the sect.


    <em>Once the news about this battle in Li City spreads, its likely to cause a great stir. Shadow de? Is that what the various factions have nicknamed me?</em>


    Shadow de, a de that moved in the shadows. <em>It is fitting. </em>


    <em>It''s already August. The new Jiang Continent Human Rankings will be released in October. I wonder if the Sta Consortium will include me in the list.</em>


    Although he didn''t care about fame and did not wish to disclose his identity, witnessing his name on the list was akin to leaving his mark in the Middle Land. It was an intriguing feeling.


    <em>The Chu-Jiang Token?</em> Wu Yuan extracted the unusual token with the characters Chu-Jiang etched onto the front.


    <em>What kind of treasure could this be? What could possibly motivate multiple powerful factions to mobilize their experts and dispatch them to Li City, all driven by a glimmer of hope to acquire it?</em>


    He stared at the token for a long while.


    Suddenly, he gripped each end of the token, gradually intensifying his strength in an attempt to pry apart the Chu-Jiang Token. But even when he exerted a force of 200,000 catties, no changes were observed.


    <em>It''s more resilient than a third-grade divine weapon?</em> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly. Truly extraordinary!


    <em>This object must hold immense importance.</em> Wu Yuan pocketed it carefully.


    <em>Once I enter the Cloudstride Sect, Ill explore the sect''s library to decipher it. Once I possess the power of a Land Ranker, perhaps Ill be able to unravel its secrets. </em>


    He suppressed the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. Without actual power, all thoughts were nothing more than thoughts.


    <em>Time to rest. I need to stay in the room for two more days before meeting Gu Ji. </em>Wu Yuan tidied up his room and settled into bed, swiftly sumbing to sleep.


    However, he left a strand of consciousness awake to sense his surroundings passively. Should anyone draw close, Wu Yuan would awaken in an instant. This was a martial artist''s spiritual sense. A powerful body nurtured a strong mind and soul, naturally developing spiritual sense. Given his formidable body, Wu Yuans spiritual sense was incredibly strong.


    Upon his return to the Paddy Field Crossing, Wu Yuan resumed his role as a prodigious young martial artist aboard the boat.


    As the first rays of daylight began to break, Li City was put underplete lockdown and thoroughly searched by the Cloudstride Sect. However, news had already started to spread like wildfire. The Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, Ninedeaths Circle, and the Great Jin Empire, among others, began either openly or covertly investigating the matter.


    Wu Yuan''s battle was public, and the destruction caused by the battle between Wu Yuan, Chen Tangru, and Wang Zhushan was impossible to hide. Moreover, at dawn, the three sons of Xu Shouyi were found dead in their manor. Xu Shouyi himself had met a tragic end!


    There was no stopping the dissemination of this news. Even with iplete information, the various factions could piece together most of the situation through various sources. The damage left in the wake of the conflict wasparable to a duel between Savant experts.


    Before long, urgent messages were dispatched from Li City, rapidly reaching the higher echelons of the various factions. One such message found its way directly to the Cloudstride Sect''s headquarters.


    ...


    <em>A dayter, on the eighth floor of the Sta Consortium in Southdream City.</em>


    <em>Overseer! There''s news of Shadow de! </em>The first to receive the news was the Sta Consortium''s Intelligence Division, who promptly reported it to the overseer.


    "What? Shadow de battled Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan in Li City, killing them both? Even Mo Jingchen suffered grievous wounds at his hands?" A middle-aged man was shocked beyond belief, "He was still concealing his true power during the previous skirmish in the provincial city?"


    "Yes! Without a shadow of a doubt." A ck-robed elderly man replied respectfully, "We managed to acquire firsthand evidence of Mo Jingchen''s injuries by bribing several city guards."


    A prolonged sigh escaped the lips of the middle-aged man. "It all adds up. During the battle in the provincial city, he slipped away with ease and didn''t necessarily reveal his full strength. But during the battle in Li City, he was surrounded and attacked by numerous experts. He had no choice but to go all out." The middle-aged man shook his head slightly, "I didn''t expect him to be a Savant expert." There werent even a hundred Savant experts across the entire Jiang Continent.


    "Overseer, I have more to report. Shadow de may possess a Chu-Jiang Token." The ck-robed elderly man said, "This was publicly announced by Mo Jingchen."


    "Following this lead, we traced back the clues and discovered that this Chu-Jiang Token originated from a small gang in Li City, likely lost by a survivor of the Chu-Jiang Empire''s royal family while on the run," the ck-robed elder exined.


    "A Chu-Jiang Token?" The middle-aged man grew even more astonished, "Legend has it that this token is tied to the greatest secret behind the rise of the Chu-Jiang Empire, their most prized treasure."


    "Great Jin, Cloudstride, Yuanhu, Baijiang Kingdom, Eastdream and Westdream, even the eight sects of the Dong Continent... which power doesn''t wish to obtain a Chu-Jiang Token?" The middle-aged man shook his head slightly, "Its a pity that there are only eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens. When the Chu-Jiang Empire fell, the tokens were scattered."


    "Most of them should have already been obtained by various powers. This Shadow de, he managed to get one?" The middle-aged man sighed, "However, it has yet to be seen whether it''s a blessing or a curse for him."


    "Then what should we do?" The ck-robed elder asked.


    "That Mo Jingchen, although he is ranked 79th on the Human Rankings, he''s getting older, and his strength wanes with each passing year." The middle-aged man shook his head, For the imminent update of the Human Rankings, draft a new report and propose an appropriate adjustment to Shadow de''s rank."


    "Understood." The ck-robed elder acknowledged.


    "Thousand Mountains is a Savant expert?" Within the Pleiades Guild''s Southdream branch, Branch Master Qing and Custodian Qin were equally stunned upon receiving this piece of news. They had known all along that Thousand Mountains was none other than Shadow de in the Sta Consortium''s intelligence.


    "His strength is just a secondary matter. The crucial point is the Chu-Jiang Token," Branch Master Qing said in a hushed voice, "If we were to obtain it from him and offer it up, the headquarters would surely reward us generously."


    "But how do we entice Thousand Mountains here? Will hee to im the mission reward for Xu Shouyi?"


    1. Those who engaged in wicked deeds seemed to amass wealth effortlessly, owning belts made of gold. Second half: those who dedicate themselves to honest jobs like building bridges and repairing roads hardly die with intact corpses

 Chapter 94: Farewell, Arrival at Cloudhill (1)

    Chapter 94: Farewell, Arrival at Cloudhill (1)


    "It''s difficult to say," Custodian Qin shook his head, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "These are just the preliminary reports, and the truth within them cannot be confirmed. But Thousand Mountains is no fool - quite the opposite, he''s bold yet meticulous. He must have predicted that news of his possession of the Chu-Jiang Token would have spread by now. Its unlikely that he will make an appearance anytime soon."


    "It''s not just our Pleiades Guild. Which of the major powers across the seven continents of the Central ins wouldn''t want to get their hands on a Chu-Jiang Token? Besides, with our branch''s strength, can we contain Thousand Mountains even if he does arrive?"


    Branch Master Qing was left speechless. Indeed, even if Thousand Mountains were to appear, what could they possibly do? Resort to violence? With their branch''s strength, they might be able to restrain a first-rate Adept, but a Savant expert? Even with ample preparation, there was a good chance of the entire branch being annihted. Their chances of victory were slim to none.


    "Report it," Branch Master Qing spat, "We''ll wait for the decision from above."


    Approximately 100 li from Southdream City was a mansion epassing a small hill, home to a few hundred people. Among the plethora of mansions that dotted Southdream Province, this one appeared rather inconspicuous.


    As the first light of dawn approached, numerous brightly lit secret chambers under the mansion bustled with activity.


    "Senior Sister," a young man in silver robes walked into one such secret chamber, his lids still heavy with sleep.


    "Zhiyou, I''ve made up my mind. You''ll make a trip to our master''s residence today," said a middle-aged woman in purple robes, sitting in the host seat. Her expression was cold and aloof.


    "What?" The young man was taken aback. "Aren''t I supposed to lead a team to assassinate Wu Yuan? Senior Sister, ourst attempt in Li City only failed due to ourck of manpower, allowing Wu Yuan to escape."


    "The previous failure is irrelevant," the middle-aged woman in the purple robe said softly. "There are more pressing matters we must attend to. Furthermore, we no longer have any time to eliminate him."


    "Why?" The young man was puzzled. "What happened?"


    "Ive just received news that a Chu-Jiang Token has surfaced," the middle-aged woman handed him a scroll. "Take a look for yourself."


    The young man eagerly took the scroll and read through it. He was now wide awake and utterly astounded. "A Savant expert? Where did this Shadow dee from? There was no mention of him before this."


    "How fortunate for him to stumble upon a Chu-Jiang Token," the young man found it hard to believe. "There are only eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens in existence." He stored away the scroll and looked up at the woman in purple robes.


    "Wu Yuan is indeed a prodigy. ording to the intelligence and evidence we''ve been collecting, he has the potential to be a Savant Expert, and even a slim chance of reaching the Land Rankings," said the middle-aged woman.


    The young man nodded. After the whole assassination fiasco, the Great Jin Empire''s agents had mostly been flushed out of the Cloudstride Sect, leading to gaping holes in their intelligencework. Incidents such as the Wingborne Sect''s failed assassination attempt on Wu Yuan resulting in Luo Fu''s death, and the incident during the Southdream Martial Academy''s assessment remained partially unclear. However, multiple pieces of evidence pointed to the Cloudstride Sect cing great importance on Wu Yuan.


    "Wu Yuan may pose a threat in the future and must be eliminated," said the middle-aged woman in purple. "Initially, our n was to assassinate him on his way to the sect. But with the emergence of a Chu-Jiang Token, the Cloudstride Sect is likely to send numerous experts, including potential Land Rankers. If we proceed with the assassination at this moment, the risks we face will be exceedingly high. Therefore, we must abandon the n."


    "Compared to Wu Yuan, the Chu-Jiang Token holds greater significance," said the middle-aged woman in purple. "This Shadow de has dared to kill Old Yuanhu''s direct disciples and even y a general of defense of the Cloudstride Sect. It demonstrates his audacity andck of fear towards Grandmasters. Furthermore, he showed mercy to the experts of the Cloudstride Sect...theres a possibility that he is a hidden expert within their midst."


    "When you meet our master, request him to grant us additional manpower and resources, as well as sufficient authority," the woman in purple robes instructed, "We must spare no effort to track down Shadow de."


    "Are you suggesting that we track him down and eliminate him?" The youth voiced his uncertainty, "Savant experts are notoriously difficult to kill. Apart from our master, there are only two other Grandmasters from our Great Jin residing within the Jiang Continent."


    "Eliminate? All you ever think about is violence and bloodshed," the woman in purple robes cast a sidelong nce at him, "Why go through the trouble of eradicating a lone expert? We will recruit him! Every individual has desires, whether it be power, wealth, or pleasure. And as long as he has desires, he will inevitably have weaknesses that may be exploited by us."


    "Our Great Jin seeks to conquer the world, and we cannot rely on ughter alone. We must attract more experts to our cause. We must convince more experts to wholeheartedly embrace the vision of our Great Jin - ''Unification of the world, peace for the people, and prosperity of martial arts''."


    "As long as we can persuade him to join our ranks, not only will the Chu-Jiang Token be within our grasp, but even Shadow de himself will be a formidable weapon at our disposal!"


    ...


    News of the battle at Li City spread quickly. The name Shadow de shook the Jiang Continent, leaving a deep impression on all major powers. And at noon the following day, news of Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushans demise reached Yuanhu Vi. The Yuanhu Lake, spanning an impressive 600 li, roiled with tumultuous waves.


    <em>Within the majestic hall atop the Yuanhu mountain adjacent to theke.</em>


    "Tangru, Zhushan!" The usually imperturbable Old Yuanhu howled with fury, "Where did this Shadow dee from? How dare he kill my disciples? He must be tired of living!"


    Old Yuanhu''s real name was Chang Dong. In the depths of his fury, he let loose, allowing a palpable aura of malevolence to fill the hall, causing the maidservants and servants outside to tremble involuntarily. It had been many years since theyst saw Old Yuanhu this furious.


    A young man d in beast hide and missing an arm respectfully kneeled to the side. He lowered his head to look at the report in his hands. "Savant expert? This Shadow de is a Savant expert?"


    As memories of their battle shed through his mind, Ming Lie couldn''t help but wonder if his opponent had concealed his true strength. Thoughts raced through his head, mingling with a lingering sense of fear.


    To survive a life-and-death struggle against a Savant expert, only losing an arm, it was clear that his opponent had shown mercy. Ming Lie didn''t even consider the possibility that his opponent had rapidly risen in strength, going from a first-rate Adept to a top contender in the Human Rankings in a few months.


    "Why did only my disciples die?" Old Yuanhu roared in rage. "Apart from a second-rate Adept, not a single expert from the Cloudstride Sect died?"


    "Are these riffraffs from the Cloudstride Sect trying to deceive me? Could Tangru and Zhushan actually have been killed by them?" Old Yuanhu''s anger erupted like a volcano, unstoppable and all-consuming. How could he not be incensed? Yet within the depths of his rage, there alsoy a faint trace of panic!


    These disciples were the fruits of his many years ofbor and dedication. What was a direct disciple-master rtionship? It was akin to the affection between father and son. He had taken meticulous care of his disciples, guiding them and viewing them as his sessors, the inheritors of his legacy. Countless resources had been spent on his direct disciples.


    With Wang Zhushan and Chen Tangru''s talents, Old Yuanhu believed they could definitely reach the second grade in the future. They were his insurance in old age, when his strength began to wane. But more importantly, they were the future of Yuanhu Vi! First, Ming Lie''s arm was severed, followed by the death of his two direct disciples. It could be said that half of Old Yuanhu''s life work had been destroyed.


    The fist fears the vigor of youth, the martial artist fears old age. Why? In a martial artist''s prime, their enemies could only suppress their dissatisfaction. However, as their power waned in the twilight of their years, that was when their enemies sought retribution for past grievances. During such times, strong direct disciples were imperative to fend off their old enemies. Though he still had two Savant experts under hismand, they were subordinates recruited with incentives. Once his strength declined, their loyalty could not be guaranteed!


    "My Lord!" A bald man called out as he dashed into the hall. He dropped to one knee, his face filled with dread. "My Lord, something has happened!"

 Chapter 95: Farewell, Arrival at Cloudhill (2)

    Chapter 95: Farewell, Arrival at Cloudhill (2)


    "What''s the panic? How could things be any worse than they already are? Could it be that the naval forces of Great Jin havee to our doorstep?" Old Yuanhu forcibly suppressed his rage.


    This bald man was one of the two Savant experts under hismand. He had to give him the respect he was due.


    "Its not the naval forces of Great Jin. However, Grandmaster Yu of the Cloudstride Sect has arrived at the foot of the mountain with the Moontide Sword in hand." The bald man''s face was filled with panic.


    "Bu Yu?" A fierce glint shed in Old Yuanhus eyes.


    ...


    The appearance of a Chu-Jiang Token in Li City sent the whole Jiang Continent into turmoil, yet the instigator of all this was currently spending his timefortably on a boat eating and sleeping, relishing in two days of leisure before finally descending from the second floor.


    "Young Master, how do you feel?" Gu Ji approached Wu Yuan.


    "Not too bad. The Soul Condensing Pill had a much better effect this time," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    "That''s good to hear," Gu Ji nodded.


    "Let''s return to Li City," said Wu Yuan, "After bidding farewell to my mother, we''ll head to the sect headquarters."


    "Understood."


    Sailing with the current, the boat arrived in Li City at dusk, where they quickly learned about the recent events in Li City.


    "A duel between Savant experts? Arge area of the city was destroyed?"


    "A number of first-rate Adepts died."


    "Liu Ye is dead?"


    "The general of defense is dead!"


    "Such a terrifying battle." Wu Xiong and the other guards were shocked, yet there was a trace of relief on their faces. Had they been on duty, they might have been sent to the front lines and killed by the mysterious expert.


    "General Xu is dead?" Wu Yuan made sure to disy an appropriate amount of surprise.


    The group swiftly made their way into the city.


    "Young Master, a Savant expert from our sect will arrive soonyour safety is now assured." Gu Ji brought the news to him.


    "That''s great!" Wu Yuan appeared overjoyed, as though he could finally let down his guard.


    The city was awash with tension. However, no one associated Shadow de with the mere fourteen-year-old Wu Yuan, despite his burgeoning reputation as Li City''s exceptional young prodigy.


    <em>In the ancestral hall of the Wu n''s ancestral mansion.</em>


    "Chieftain." Wu Yuan looked at Chieftain Wu Qiming.


    "I''ve received the missive from the main n; you have be a n elder?" Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan with admiration.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded. "The seven bloodlines are one family."


    "That is splendid news, Wu Qimingughed heartily, A fourteen-year-old n elder. It''s a first in the history of our Wu n."


    He looked at Wu Yuan, "Wu Yuan, I heard what you did at the main n. I...express my gratitude." With that, Wu Qiming''s face turned solemn, and he lowered his head to bow. But before he couldplete the gesture, Wu Yuan caught Wu Qiming with his arm, his strength surprising the chieftain. He then quickly helped Wu Qiming back up.


    "Chieftain, I just did what I had to do," Wu Yuan chuckled, his gaze sweeping across Wu Long, Wu Dongyao, and Wu Liuye in the hall.


    "Seniors and Uncles, I will soon head to the Cloudstride Sect''s headquarters, thousands of li away. I entrust the safety and well-being of my mother and younger sister to your care."


    "Without question," Wu Liuye chuckled. "Brother Yuan, you need not worry about matters at home. Focus on your cultivation at the sect."


    "Indeed! I, Wu Dongyao of the Li City Wu n, am proud of you." Wu Dongyao also chimed in withughter.


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. "I hereby promise Seniors and Uncles, within a decade, there will be a ce for the Li City Wu n in the Cloudhill provincial city."


    The room went silent. Only now did they understand Wu Yuan''s intentions. The Southdream Wu n? Wu Yuan had never even considered vying for the position of the main n.


    The heart of the Cloudstride Sect was the Cloudhill Province, and it was there that he nned to relocate his family and kin. After decades or even centuries passed, the Cloudhill Wu n would be a sect of its own!


    In the days that followed, Wu Yuan remained in the mansion, cherishing every precious moment with his mother and sister.


    Several dayster, at the docks of Li City, severalrge ships prepared to set sail. Sect Elder Zhang Changsheng led the group, escorting the injured Sect Elder Mo Jingchen and Protectorate Fu San along with others back to the sect, alongside others. Naturally, Wu Yuan and Gu Ji apanied them.


    "Mother, I must go now. Please do not worry," Wu Yuan knelt and bowed to his mother, his expression serious.


    The members of the Wu n observed them in silence.


    "Yuan''er, with the chieftain and the others by our side, we will be fine. Take good care of yourself on the journey," Wanqin tried to hold back her tears, forcing a smile onto her face.


    She knew that it was a good thing that her son was going to the sect. However, a mother worries when her child travels far. The journey to Cloudhill was thousands of li long, how could she not worry? Moreover, it was at this very dock that she had sent her own husband off to war all those years ago.


    "Little Yi, I will be away from home. Make sure you do not upset Mother again," Wu Yuan said, rising to pat his little sister''s head.


    "Mmm," blinked Wu Yijun, still too young to understand the situation. She was only aware that her elder brother was departing on a distant journey.


    "Mother, Chieftain, Uncles, I shall take my leave," Wu Yuan bowed, turning to board the ship.


    The sails were unfurled, and soon the fleet disappeared into the vast expanse of the river''s waves.


    In the year 3224 of the Eastern Martial calendar, on the 27th of August, Wu Yuan bid his n farewell and set off for the Cloudhill Province.


    ...


    After crossing major rivers and meandering between canals, the fleet entered the Cloud River. This waterway stretched nearly 20,000 li in length, making it one of the four grand rivers of the Central ins and thergest river in the Jiang Continent.


    They sailed against the current, covering thousands of li in seven days. Eventually, the vast fleet neared thergest city in the Jiang Continent - Cloudhill City, a city renowned throughout the world.


    Bustling with trade, therge river was filled with passing ships, but no matter which faction or tradingpany encountered Wu Yuan''s fleet, all would make way without exception. The g bearing the word ''Cloud'' fluttering atop their ship exined everything they needed to know.


    "Is that Cloudhill?" Wu Yuan stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the towering mountain not far from the provincial city.


    "Mm. That''s the Eight-Sided Cloudhill, the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect," Gu Ji revealed a rare smile.


    "Eight-Sided Cloudhill?" Wu Yuan murmured. Memories of the books he had read during the ship''s voyage came to mind.


    From the Chronicles of Cloudstride'': <em>Cloudhill, also known as Eight-Sided Cloudhill, is located twenty li north of the Cloudhill Provincial City. The mountain is split into eight sides, each stretching for dozens of li. Only two paths lead up the mountain, each winding for more than ten li. </em>


    <em>Atop the mountain lies the Cloud Pool, a pond that spans a hundred hectares, never running dry regardless of the season, that serves as the source of arge river. Along the mountainside of the eight-sided mountain are six distinct cliffs. The cliffs stand more than ten rens </em><em>[1]</em><em> tall, shrouded by clouds all year round. </em>


    <em>The pinnacle of the mountain, known as Cloud Peak, is bathed in golden rays when the sky is clear. The founder of the Cloudstride Sect, Grandmaster Yun Shan, journeyed to this peak. Looking around at the wilderness, precipices, sprawling grass, and deste woods, a myriad of emotions was evoked within him. Thus, he erected the Cloud Hall, marking the beginning of the sect.</em>


    1. 1 ren = 7 feet

 Chapter 96: First Visit To The Sect (1)

    Chapter 96: First Visit To The Sect (1)


    As the fleet reached the harbor, the important figures such as Sect Elder Zhang Changsheng of the Military Hall, Sect Elder Mo Jingchen, and Protectorate Fu San, disembarked one after another.


    Zhang Changsheng, a Savant expert, had summoned Wu Yuan for a private meeting before they boarded the ship. As for the other high-ranking members of the sect, they barely acknowledged Wu Yuan''s presence during their time on board. And upon disembarking, not a single one bothered to inquire about him. Farewells were practically nonexistent.


    Wu Yuan''s ship, positioned at the tail end of the fleet, was thest to dock and naturally, his group was thest to disembark.


    Gu Ji whispered softly, "Young Master, don''t be disheartened. These higher-ups in the sect are simply unaware of the full extent of your talent. Furthermore, Sect Elder Mo is injured and in a rush to seek treatment."


    A knowing smile formed on Wu Yuans face as he replied, "Uncle Ji, you underestimate me. Why would I care about such trivial matters? Whether these senior members of the sect acknowledge me or not is not a big deal."


    Wu Yuanpletely understood their thoughts. A genius was still just a genius. The higher-ranking individuals in the sect hadn''t forgotten about him, they simply didn''t care. Besides, news of his exceptional abilities had not yet been made public. And even if it had, what difference would it make?


    In the eyes of these esteemed members, Wu Yuan had a high chance of bing a first-rate Adept and a certain probability of reaching the Savant level. However, that would take at least ten years, perhaps even more.


    If he had not yet joined the sect, these higher-ups might have extended an invitation to him as Gao Yu did. But now that he was officially part of the sect, they had little reason to involve themselves with a junior like him.


    And as for the possibility of him bing a Land Ranker in the future? History was filled with countless geniuses who showed great potential, but how many of them truly lived up to it?


    <em>Moreover, most Land Rankers only be Grandmasters after 40.</em>


    Wu Yuan was only fourteen at present. Even if he became a Grandmaster decadester, seasoned experts like Mo Jingchen would long be buried six feet under. Was there any reason for them to get into his good books?


    "Uncle Ji, it is I who should be grateful to these seniors for allowing me to join them on the ride." Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Let''s disembark. Protectorate Gao Yu has arrived."


    Gao Yu was waiting at the port, ready to wee Wu Yuan.


    Slinging his bundle on his back, Wu Yuan made his way down from the ship, then promptly bowed. "Protectorate."


    Gu Ji merely nodded.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, you''ve finally arrived," Gao Yu, despite being over 40, had a youthful aura about him. d in a striking ck robe, he looked both handsome and charismatic.


    "I must say, I am surprised that Protectorate would personallye to receive me. I am truly honored," Wu Yuan sincerely replied.


    "As your guide, it is only fitting that I wee you to our sect," Gao Yu said with a smile. "Let us proceed into the city."


    "Rest well in the provincial city tonight. Tomorrow, I will take you to Cloudhill," Gao Yu informed Wu Yuan.


    "Very well," Wu Yuan agreed without hesitation.


    ...


    Cloudhill City, much like Southdream City, was considered a provincial city. However, it held a special significance as it served as the heart of the Cloudstride Sect. It was strategically situated right beside the Cloud River - the lifeline of the region, and consequently became the most important port in the middle section of the river. The city teemed with a dense poption and thrivingmerce.


    Here, the influence of the Cloudstride Sect was particrly prominent. The eastern region of the city could be considered the sect''s stronghold, housing the families of its members. Magnificent mansions, lively taverns, and bustling shops formed a city within a city.


    Apanied by Gao Yu, Wu Yuan found himself staying in a luxurious mansion located in the east of the city, administered directly by the sect. The amodation was fully equipped, providing him with every convenience imaginable.


    That evening, Gao Yu threw avish banquet in honor of Wu Yuan''s arrival. Among the guests were a few custodians from the Finance Hall, all second-rate Adepts and figures of authority. They showered Wu Yuan with praise, elevating his status to unprecedented heights.


    Wu Yuan did not drink any wine, nor was he forced to by Gao Yu and the others.


    After three rounds of drinks, Gao Yu addressed Wu Yuan with a smile, "You must be weary from your journey. May your journey within the sect be smooth, and may you one day find your name among the Land Rankings."


    Wu Yuan replied, "Your kind words are appreciated, Protectorate.


    "I hope to foster a close rtionship between us." Gao Yu suddenly changed the topic, his tone bing slightly hesitant. "There is a small matter that came to my attention recently. After much consideration, I wanted to seek your understanding, Wu Yuan."


    Wu Yuan smiled knowingly. It was only a matter of time before this topic arose.


    "I''ve learned of Inspector Xie''s mistreatment towards you, and I feel somewhat responsible," Gao Yu admitted. "Xie Yu... she and I have aplicated history, which has left her withsting resentment towards me. I never thought she would take her anger out on you."


    "Wu Yuan, I apologize," Gao Yu raised his cup, "I hope you won''t mind Xie Yu''s behavior."


    "I dare not," Wu Yuan stood up ceremoniously, "Protectorate, being subjected to Inspector Xie''s assessment is a trivial matter. I''ve never taken it to heart."


    "You misunderstand, Wu Yuan. I am not here to shield Xie Yu," Gao Yu rified, shaking his head. "The sect elders have decided to punish her. You will also receivepensation."


    "I only hope you will not hold a grudge. The entire sect eagerly anticipates your future sess," Gao Yu said solemnly.


    "I understand, and I bear no ill will," Wu Yuan affirmed. "Working towards the prosperity of the sect is the duty of every disciple."


    The room raised their wine cups in a toast, and the banquet went on.


    After the feast, Wu Yuan retired to his amodations. The guests dispersed, and tranquility once again descended upon the entire courtyard.


    Within the courtyard, Gu Ji said softly, "Young Master, please do not be distressed over today''s affairs. Protectorate Gao Yu, too, has his difficulties."


    "It''s just a small matter. I will not take it to heart," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    What could he do? Gao Yu, a protectorate of the Finance Hall, could be considered a senior to Wu Yuan. Today, he personally received, hosted, and apologized to Wu Yuan, giving him a huge amount of face, just so that he would let go of the matter with Xie Yu. Could Wu Yuan refuse to let the matter go?


    "Uncle Ji," Wu Yuan changed the subject, "I observed that there are many mansions in the eastern part of the city. Are they residences of the higher echelons of our sect?"


    "Indeed." Gu Ji nodded, "Much like theyout of Li City, arge portion of the eastern area is filled with homes of sect members below the custodian rank. Although they may be smaller in size, they are nheless secure."


    Wu Yuan gave a subtle nod. Residing in Cloudhill was no mean feat. Every custodian of the Cloudstride Sect was at least a second-rate Adept. Anyone below the Custodian rank would still be deemed as a core disciple of the sect. This included the soldiers of the Southdream Army and the Cloudhill Army, and arge number of civil officials.


    "Only those above the level of a second-rate Adept are considered mid-ranking members of the sect, and are thus entitled to an individual mansion," Gu Ji exined.


    "Is it permanent?" Wu Yuan suddenly asked.


    "Of course not," Gu Ji chuckled. "Land is limited in the eastern region of the city. Unless one bes a Land Ranker, even the sect leader cannot secure a permanent, individual mansion."


    "Even the sect leader?" Wu Yuan murmured softly.


    ording to the regtions of the Cloudstride Sect, the hall masters of the five halls were all appointed from the sects Savant experts, and the remaining Savant experts were referred to as sect elders. Sect elders could also serve as deputy hall masters.


    The sect leader served an eight-year term, chosen through election by the assembly of sect elders and ratified by the Land Rankers, who concurrently served as hierarchs. In other words, the power of the sect leader was not as absolute as one might assume.

 Chapter 97: First Visit To The Sect (2)

    <h4>Chapter 97: First Visit To The Sect (2)</h4>


    "However, the sect is not withoutpassion. The residences of the sect leader and the sect elders are permitted to be retained for a period of 50 years after their passing," Gu Ji casually mentioned. "Consider it part of the legacy they leave behind."


    "As for the homes of division heads, protectorates, and special grade custodians, they can only be retained for ten years after their retirement," Gu Ji added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.


    Within the Cloudstride Sect, the highest ranking first-rate Adepts were the fifteen division heads of the five halls, followed by the numerous protectorates. Division heads and protectorates were typically individuals with great strength or those nurtured from the core of the sect. The remaining first-rate Adepts were all special grade custodians, like Guan Zishan of Li City, who had once held the position before retiring and returning to his hometown. As for second-rate Adepts, they were collectively referred to as custodians within the sect.


    "Young Master, are you asking these questions because you wish for your family to establish itself in Cloudhill City?" Gu Ji asked.


    "Uncle Ji, you''ve hit the nail on the head," Wu Yuanughed.


    "Unless one bes a Land Ranker, it is impossible to secure a permanent residence within the eastern region," Gu Ji shook his head. "Since the founding of the sect, there have only been a dozen or so families who managed to produce Land Rankers. Even among those, several families havepletely crumbled, leaving behind only the fading glory of their ancestors."


    Wu Yuan reflected silently. The Cloudstride Sect, with its 300 years of history, had only produced a handful of Grandmasters. One could only fathom the arduous path that led to the emergence of a Grandmaster. It was also difficult for a Grandmaster''s family to maintain its status for a long time.


    "With your talent, the path towards bing a Grandmaster is within your grasp," Gu Ji remarked. "However, a more prudent approach would be for you to acquire property in other areas of the city after you graduate from the academy."


    "Many experts of our sect often purchase additional mansions in the city for their families. However, the property tax is exceptionally high; only the wealthiest families can afford to reside here long-term," Gu Ji added solemnly.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. The concept of property taxes was not new to him. The Human Federation in his previous life heavily levied these taxes in the three provincial cities, while only collecting them modestly in the county cities.


    In Wu Yuan''s understanding, aside from the collection of silver, the Cloudstride Sect had set such a rule with another crucial purpose in mind - bnce!


    <i>Flowing water never grows stagnant, and a well-used door hinge remains uncorroded. Only by maintaining fluidity at the center of power, and constantly encouraging the rise of new and powerful families into the upper echelons, can the Cloudstride Sect thrive in the long run.</i>


    The long-term maintenance of this system was not due to the selflessness of the Cloudstride Sect''s sessive leaders. Rather, it was the external environment that forced their hand.


    <i>Any sect or kingdom that fails to uphold its strength and prosperity is destined to crumble.</i> Wu Yuan recalled the ancient texts he had read.


    The Middle Land was vast and boundless. Over thousands of years, no one had ever truly unified it. The top martial powerhouses could alter the course of the world single-handedly. Therefore, every faction must perpetually increase its strength, birthing powerful individuals generation after generation to ensure their heritage endured. The same principle applied to families. Regardless of the glory of their ancestors, if they did not produce strong martial artists, they would soon plummet from their current status.


    This was why all major powers ced immense importance on building martial academies. It was the most effective way to unearth potential martial prodigies.


    "Uncle Ji, when will you depart?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "I will leave after midnight," Gu Ji replied. "The eastern region of this city is very safe, protected by a Savant expert and numerous first-rate Adepts, as well as arge number of soldiers equipped with powerful crossbows. Apart from a Land Ranker, no one would dare to stir up any chaos."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. If one were to think of the safest location within the territory of the Cloudstride Sect, one would first think of the sect headquarters, followed closely by the eastern region of the Cloudhill Provincial City.


    "Take care, Uncle Ji. Thank you for your guidance throughout this journey," Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow.


    Gu Ji replied nonchntly, "No need to mention it. I hope that you will achieve great sess in martial arts, and that your name will reverberate throughout the world."


    "I will strive to do so," Wu Yuan affirmed, "And I will not forget the promise I made to you, Uncle Ji." If he had enough strength, he would liberate Gu Ji. This was a promise he made in exchange for Gu Ji''s third-grade Divine Weapon Token.


    "Ji thanks Young Master." A rare trace of happiness surfaced on Gu Ji''s face. He couldn''t help but worry that Wu Yuan would conveniently forget about their agreement. However, Wu Yuan''s actions over the past few days had instilled some confidence in him, and Wu Yuan''s proactive affirmation eased his concerns.


    ...


    When Wu Yuan emerged from his mansion the next day, Gu Ji had already departed, vanishing without a trace.


    Apanied by Gao Yu and a few other core disciples, Wu Yuan mounted his horse and left the city, following the official route towards Cloudhill. Twenty li might seem far, but in reality, it was very close. In the blink of an eye, the group arrived at the base of the mountain. Looking up at the towering mountain, Wu Yuan��s breath was stolen. Cloudhill was grand and majestic, resembling a celestial peak.


    <i>Eight-Sided Cloudhill truly lives up to its reputation.</i>


    Cloudhill was not a range of mountain peaks, but a singr grand mountain rising from the ins. Upon its slopes, a vast and rtively level wilderness stretched for dozens of li, home to tens of thousands.


    It was a naturally defensible terrain, one difficult to assault. Of the eight sides of Cloudhill, six were steep cliffs, challenging to climb even for first-rate Adepts. Only two sides were of a gentler incline, offering paths up the mountain. As a result, the mountain was often described as: ''Eight Sides to Cloudhill, Six Sides of Peril''.


    "What''s that?" Wu Yuan spotted a sprawling military encampment near the mountain foot, the distant echoes of battle cries faintly audible.


    "That is one of the 1000-soldier battalions of the Cloudstride Army," Gao Yu exined. "The 6000 soldiers of the Cloudstride Army are divided into six major camps. Each of the two main paths up the mountain is defended by a 1000-soldier battalion, and there is another battalion on the mountain itself. The remaining 3000 soldiers are stationed in the three major provincial cities."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Therge barrack was built along the mountain''s contours. Although only 1000 men strong, each soldier was an Adept expert, which meant that a single battalion could triumph in a battle against 100,000 elite troops.


    As for the remaining six sides of Cloudhill? Aside from a handful of soldiers on alert, no sizable army was stationed for defense. After all, anyone capable of scaling hundreds of meters of sheer cliff to reach the summit was undoubtedly a martial arts powerhouse; ordinary soldiers would not stand a chance.


    "Let''s go!" Gao Yu dered.


    After passing therge military camp, they dismounted to have their identity tokens verified. Then, they continued along the Winding Mountain Path for dozens of li. Thankfully, they were all skilled martial artists and made fast progress. But even so, it took them about a quarter of an hour to finally reach the summit.


    Suddenly, a breathtaking panorama unfolded before their eyes. It was a tapestry of mountains, forests, fields, and misty clouds, with manypounds and towers faintly visible in the distance. It resembled a pce fit for immortals.


    A colossal hall stood on the peak, around 10 li away. That was none other than the Cloud Hall. Numerous training grounds sprawled between the halls and towers, with disciples of the Cloudstride Secting and going.


    "Can you sense anything special about this mountain?" Gao Yu asked with a smile.


    Wu Yuan took a moment to contemte before replying softly, "The temperature. The temperature in Cloudhill City was not high, and our elevation has increased by a kilometer. Logically, we should be feeling a bit cold. Yet, I find the temperature veryfortable. This is illogical." He shook his head.


    "Correct! Cloudhill has a spring-like climate all year round, with a consistent temperature that deviates from the norm of other mountains. This is precisely why our sect''s founder chose to establish the sect here despite the tremendous challenges," Gao Yu exined with a faint smile.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "What else do you find differentpared to Cloudhill City?" Gao Yuan asked with a smile.


    "Different?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but look back at the vast Cloudhill City below.


    "It''s much quieter, far removed from the mortal world," Wu Yuan murmured.


    "Mm," Gao Yu nodded. "Most martial sects in the world don''t establish their headquarters in big cities. The mortal world is noisy and full of conflicts, temptations, and disturbances that are not conducive to cultivation."


    "In the end, martial arts cultivation is about honing one''s skills, mastering one''s body, and reaching the limits of the human physique. Cultivation of the mind is very important." Gao Yu sighed wistfully. "Each time I return to Cloudhill, I feel a genuine sense of tranquility and gain new insights."


    As Wu Yuan''s gaze wandered across the mountain, the diversendscapes of Cloudhill seemed to soothe and settle his emotions.


    The Cloudstride Sect prospered for hundreds of years, there were naturally aspects that made it extraordinary.

 Chapter 98: First Visit To The Sect (3)

    <h4>Chapter 98: First Visit To The Sect (3)</h4>


    "Gao Yu, you''ve finally arrived," a female voice called out from afar, growing closer with shocking speed. The figure covered hundreds of meters in an instant and arrived before the group.


    She was a beautiful woman with a charming figure, roughly around 30, and dressed in purple robes. Judging from her speed, she was at least a first-rate Adept.


    "Senior Sister Zhao, it''s been a while. You sure are enjoying a leisurely life as a Cloud Martial Hall instructor." Gao Yu remarked with a smile, "Today, I��ve brought you a good disciple."


    "Are you Wu Yuan?" The woman in purple robes looked at Wu Yuan with a hint of curiosity.


    "Greetings, Instructor Zhao," Wu Yuan bowed.


    "Wu Yuan, this is Instructor Zhao, one of the eighteen instructors of the Cloud Martial Hall. Her real name is Zhao Baifan, and she is also affiliated with our Finance Hall. She specializes in the art of the saber. I have personally invited her to be your guiding instructor," Gao Yu introduced thedy.


    Wu Yuan nodded, acknowledging the information.


    The Cloud Martial Hall, the top martial academy of the Cloudstride Sect, had eighteen resident instructors, all of whom were first-rate Adepts, and each was responsible for a group of disciples.


    As for Zhao Baifan? Wu Yuan was aware of her too. Ranked 119th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, she was in the top tier of first-rate Adepts, possessing a strengthparable to Chen Tangru, whom Wu Yuan had in.


    "Wu Yuan, strive hard." Gao Yu looked at Wu Yuan, "Once you officially join the academy, Instructor Zhao will discuss the benefits promised by the Finance Hall."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Wu Yuan, try to keep up with me," said Zhao Baifan calmly, paying no further attention to Gao Yu as she turned and flew into a deep forest.


    Her voice echoed in the wind, "Gao Yu, remember to bring me a gift the next time you visit."


    Gao Yu froze.


    "Protectorate, remember to bring gifts on your next visit," Wu Yuan teased, quickly following behind.


    Gao Yu remained in ce, shaking his head and chuckling to himself, "This kid."


    Immediately after, Gao Yu felt a headache, "These women. Why is it that each and every one of them wants gifts?"


    ...


    At dawn, the mists had yet to dissipate. Two figures sprinted down the main road of the sect, drawing curious nces from the disciples they passed by. However, once they realized it was Zhao Baifan, they no longer found it odd.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Zhao Baifan suddenly came to a halt.


    "Instructor Zhao," Wu Yuan finally caught up, his breath ��ragged from the exertion��.


    "With your physical constitution, your single-arm strength should have reached 15,000 catties, am I right?" Zhao Baifan asked.


    "I''m still a bit short." Wu Yuan replied.


    "Hmm, you excel at speed then. Having such a strong physical constitution at your age is quite impressive." Zhao Baifan said, casting an approving look at Wu Yuan. "I''ve met Gu Ji, and he speaks highly of you."


    "Gao Yu also mentioned that you have extraordinary talent and suspects that you''ve opened your upper dantian lobe," Zhao Baifan continued. "I hope you won''t disappoint me. I will be your guiding instructor for the next five years at the martial academy. You understand the difference between an instructor and a master, don''t you?"


    "I understand," Wu Yuan replied.


    An instructor was a temporary guide, with no deep bond between them and their students. But a master was like a father to his disciples. Experts wouldn''t easily take on disciples, just as martial artists wouldn''t simply worship any master. For the time being, Wu Yuan had no ns to find himself a master.


    "Instructor Zhao, why only five years?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled. "Aren''t Cloud Martial Hall disciples supposed to train in the martial academy for ten years?"


    "The Cloud Martial Hall is divided into senior and junior academies. Disciples who have enrolled in the hall for less than five years are part of the junior academy," Zhao Baifan exined as they walked deeper into the academy, passing numerous small peaks,pounds, and buildings.


    "The senior academy consists of disciples who have sessfully reached the third-rate Adept level within their first five years. Those who fail to do so face expulsion from the Cloud Martial Hall," Zhao Baifan exined. "If they do reach the third-rate Adept level, they will continue their cultivation for another five years, primarily through field trials."


    Wu Yuan felt his confusion clear up. So, there was an evaluation at the midway mark of the ten-year training at the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "Wu Yuan, your talent is exceptional. I expect you to take the top 30 in next year''s annualpetition. And the following year, aim for the top ten," dered Zhao Baifan.


    "Annualpetition?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "Every year, the senior academy hosts a major tournament to determine the top ten disciples of the sect, the Cloud Heirs. Meanwhile, the junior academy holds its ownpetition. The higher your rank, the more cultivation resources you receive," Zhao Baifan rified.


    It seemed the senior and junior academies conducted separate assessments.


    "Are disciples of the junior academy not allowed to participate in the major tournament?" Wu Yuan asked, curious.


    "Let''s discuss that when you get to the top ten of the annualpetition," Zhao Baifan nced at him. "Don''t overestimate yourself. You may be talented, but there��s no shortage of geniuses at the Cloud Martial Hall. Most of the junior academy disciples who rank in the top ten are close to bing second-rate Adepts. Some exceptional ones are already second-rate Adepts!"


    Typically, individuals entered the Cloud Martial Hall at around fifteen or sixteen years old. A second-rate Adept at twenty years old? That was already extraordinary!


    "Incredible! Absolutely incredible!" Wu Yuan disyed an appropriately astonished expression. But deep down, he was calcting the amount of strength he should reveal and when to reveal it to remain within the boundaries ofmon sense.


    To be reasonably talented and sessfully navigate through his body''s golden development period��that was Wu Yuan''s goal. As for the annualpetition and major tournament? Wu Yuan hardly spared it a second thought.


    As they conversed while walking, Wu Yuan gradually gained a deeper understanding of the Cloudstride Sect and the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "We''re here," Zhao Baifan pointed into the distance.


    A massive training ground, several martial grand halls, and countless expansive courtyard houses came into Wu Yuan''s view. Wherever Wu Yuan''s gazended, many disciples with youthful appearances were practicing their martial skills on the training ground, each disying remarkable prowess. Cultivation was an arduous endeavor, one could only attain great achievements through relentless practice from the break of dawn till the fall of dusk.


    "Instructor Zhao, didn''t you mention that few disciples are enrolled in the Cloud Martial Hall? Why is it sorge?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but inquire.


    "Just because there are few people, we should have a small venue?" Zhao Baifan gave a cryptic smile. "Wu Yuan, think of it from a different perspective. Those who train here are not mere disciples, but Adepts - some even broaching the level of us instructors. How could the training grounds not berge?"


    Upon entering the martial academy, numerous disciples cast inquisitive gazes towards Wu Yuan. In the Cloud Martial Hall, the intake of new disciples numbered only around a hundred each year, so everyone generally knew one another - or at least they were not strangers.


    This young man that Zhao Baifan had brought in was undoubtedly a disciple of the martial academy, yet he appeared unfamiliar.


    "Is he a special recruitment student?"


    "He must be!"


    "A special recruitment student arrived just yesterday, and there��s another one today?"


    "Who is he? Which county does he hail from? Does anyone recognize him?" The disciples present for morning practice whispered among themselves curiously.


    Special recruits were a rare breed, with only two or three admitted each year, and thus, they attracted quite a fair bit of attention.


    Wu Yuan surveyed the scene with a look of interest and soon spotted a familiar face.


    "Wu Yuan? What brings you to the Cloud Martial Hall?" A surprised voice came from the side of the training ground. Wu Yuan and Zhao Baifan turned their heads towards the source of the voice.


    "Liu Ruyan?" Wu Yuan smiled. "Long time no see."


    Indeed, it was Liu Ruyan, the one who had managed to ''defeat'' Wu Yuan in the martial academy major tournament. She had just entered the Cloud Martial Hall this year.


    "You know each other?" Zhao Baifan nced over.


    "We were disciples in the same year at the county city''s martial academy." Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    "Instructor Zhao." Liu Ruyan was visibly nervous.


    "Hmm, Liu Ruyan, train diligently and build a strong foundation." Zhao Baifan said calmly. "Although Wu Yuan has just joined us, he already possesses the strength of a martial virtuoso. From now on, both of you will be under my charge. You can learn a lot from Wu Yuan." With those words, Zhao Baifan led Wu Yuan deeper into the academy, leaving a bewildered Liu Ruyan behind.


    "Wu Yuan, a martial virtuoso?" Liu Ruyan found it hard to wrap her head around it.


    Ever since her ''lucky'' admission into the Cloud Martial Hall, she believed diligent training and the hall��s resources would allow her to leave her formerpetitors in the martial academy far behind in the dust. But Wu Yuan?


    <i>In the past, he lost to me. Yet right now, I''m still far from the martial virtuoso level. </i>Liu Ruyan was deeply shaken. <i>How did he suddenly gain the strength of a martial virtuoso?</i>


    ...


    As Liu Ruyan questioned her reality, Zhao Baifan led Wu Yuan to the disciples'' residence situated deep within the martial academy.


    "The junior disciples mostly reside here, four to a courtyard house," Zhao Baifan pointed towards the huge courtyard houses not far away, "Wu Yuan, you will temporarily reside in the Ninth Courtyard House."


    Looking over, Wu Yuan noted that every courtyard house upied nearly 1000 square meters, within which four smaller vis were constructed.


    "What about those? Can junior disciples reside there?" Wu Yuan pointed towards several courtyard houses in the distance.


    Those courtyard houses were standalone, ensuringplete privacy for their upants. Thend each one upied was no less than that of an entiremunal courtyard, appearing rather luxurious.


    "They can," Zhao Baifan responded indifferently, "However, only those ranked top ten of the annualpetition may reside there."


    "Top ten of the annualpetition?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.


    With his numerous secrets, he naturally hoped to secure a private residence. However, thepetition was still months away.


    "Instructor Zhao, are there other ways?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "There are indeed." Zhao Baifan responded coolly, "Any junior disciple who challenges the Skystride Pavilion and seeds may move into the Upper Courtyard."


    "Skystride Pavilion?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up, "I wish to give it a try."


    "You?" Zhao Baifan gave him a side nce, "You''re far from ready."


    "Instructor Zhao, there''s no harm in trying," Wu Yuan grinned, "Even if I fail, it will allow me to realize my shorings."


    "Fine, I''ll take you there." Zhao Baifan nodded.


    It was high time she taught Wu Yuan a lesson, to curtail his pride and demonstrate that there were indeed heights beyond his reach.

 Chapter 99: Shake the Heavens (1)

    Chapter 99: Shake the Heavens (1)


    Throughout their journey here, Wu Yuan showed nothing but politeness and respect for his instructor. However, Zhao Baifans sharp senses detected an undercurrent of arrogance in his attitude.


    Geniuses were proud creatures, and Zhao Baifan was resolved to temper some of that arrogance in Wu Yuan. A genius needed a certain level of self-assurance, but it should never cloud their judgment. She felt that Wu Yuan had allowed all that praise to get to his head.


    Wu Yuan, follow me, Zhao Baifan said, leading the way as they ventured deeper into the martial academy. The path was paved with cobblestones, winding and branching off in all directions. Wu Yuan followed along, habituallymitting the route to memory.


    "Hehe, if it isn''t Senior Sister Zhao?" A gruff voice broke the silence, as two figures emerged from a nearby courtyard house.


    "Si Longliang?" Zhao Baifan''s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure crossing her features. Though brief, Wu Yuan didn''t fail to catch it with his acute perception.


    <em>Si Longliang, ranked 195th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, a member of the Cloudstride Sect''s Military Hall and currently an instructor of the Cloud Martial Hall... </em>Wu Yuan''s mind supplied him with the relevant information from the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.


    <em>Among the human rankers who serve as instructors of the Cloud Martial Hall, Instructor Zhao holds the highest rank, followed by this Si Longliang. More than 100 Cloudstride Sect members are ranked, of which only six are instructors of the Cloud Martial Hall.</em>


    The Jiang Continent was vast, home to thousands of first-rate Adepts. There were at least 200 first-rate Adepts under the banner of the Cloudstride Sect alone.


    After a moment''s thought, Wu Yuan understood that not all eighteen instructors of the Cloud Martial Hall were listed in the Human Rankings. Zhao Baifan and Si Longliang were among the more powerful instructors of the Cloud Martial Hall.


    Sister Zhao, it''s still bright and early, yet you don''t seem too pleased," a man with a squarish face approached with a heartyugh. He stood nearly 1.9 meters tall, possessing arge and robust physique. This man was Si Longliang. Compared to him, Zhao Baifan appeared rather petite.


    "Greet Instructor Zhao," Si Longliang instructed, a crafty grin stretching across his face.


    The short-haired boy behind him obediently bowed. "Instructor Zhao."


    "Wu Yuan, we cannot allow others to use my disciples of disrespect. Greet Instructor Si." Zhao Baifan instructed calmly.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded and bowed, "Wu Yuan pays his respects to Instructor Si."


    Si Longliang''s face stiffened. Traditionally, he detested being addressed as ''Instructor Si'', as it sounded nearly identical to ''corpse'' in Chinese [1]. As a result, most disciples of the martial academy referred to him as Teacher Si[2]. How could Zhao Baifan, a fellow sect member, not be aware of this? Yet the two held a grudge, and she took pleasure in irking Si Longliang. To make matters worse, Si Longliang could notsh out at Wu Yuan, a new disciple.


    "Oh? You''re Wu Yuan?" Si Longliang''s face softened, his gaze shifting towards Wu Yuan. He chuckled, "I''ve heard of you. Both you and Haisheng are special recruits below fifteen years old."


    "Haisheng?" Wu Yuan nced past Si Longliang to the short-haired boy behind him.


    The boy also turned his attention to Wu Yuan, both recognizing each others status. However, unlike Wu Yuan''s inquisitive gaze, the short-haired boy''s eyes held a challenging gleam. Geniuses were always defiant after all.


    "Sister Zhao, these two young fellows are both special recruits who have just joined our sect. Why don''t we let them have a little sparring match to test theirbat abilities?" Si Longliang proposed with a smile.


    His suggestion sounded perfectly innocent, but both Zhao Baifan and Wu Yuan understood the hidden agenda behind his words: he was looking for trouble!


    "Wang Haisheng, enrolled in the academy just yesterday. Barely fifteen, yet already a martial virtuoso. I heard your one-armed punch exceeds 13,000 catties." Zhao Baifanmented with a smile, "Impressive indeed."


    "Thank you for the praise, Instructor Zhao," Wang Haisheng replied, pride written all over his face. Ever since he was a child, Wang Haisheng had been hailed as a prodigy, and he carried that belief and arrogance with him even after joining the Cloud Martial Hall.


    Wu Yuan, however, understood that Zhao Baifan''s apparent praise for Wang Haisheng was actually a question directed at him. Would he be confident if they sparred?


    "Instructor Zhao, we have other matters to attend to. Shall we proceed?" Wu Yuan suggested. y with this youngster? He had no interest. It was just a waste of time.


    "Hehe, Wu Yuan, don''t be scared. Your abilities should be on par with his. A sparring match is also a form of assessment. There''s no harm in losing," Si Longliang chuckled.


    Zhao Baifan frowned slightly and said indifferently, "That''s enough, Junior Brother Si. We do indeed have other matters to attend to. They are around the same age, and there will be ample opportunities for them to spar in the future."


    Si Longliangzily questioned, "Why the rush so early in the morning?" He was convinced that Wu Yuan was scared, which made him quite pleased. Though he couldn''t outdo Zhao Baifan himself, it would still bring him great joy if his disciples performance surpassed Zhao Baifan''s disciple.


    "I wish to upgrade my residence to the Upper Courtyard, so I requested Instructor Zhao to take me to the Skystride Pavilion so I can challenge it." Wu Yuan smiled.


    "Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan frowned slightly. She was reluctant to tell others about this. After all, Wu Yuan was sure to fail, and she merely wanted to teach him a lesson. However, Wu Yuan took it upon himself to share the news with others. Once word got out, Wu Yuan would surely be a subject of ridicule.


    "You just joined the sect and you''re already challenging the Skystride Pavilion?" As expected, Si Longliang looked at Wu Yuan with amusement, then turned to Zhao Baifan, "Senior Sister Zhao, is your disciple joking?"


    "He''s not joking, Wu Yuan wants to attempt it, so I will allow him to understand how difficult it is," Zhao Baifan replied indifferently.


    "Teacher Si, what is the Skystride Pavilion?" Wang Haisheng couldn''t help but ask.


    "The Skystride Pavilion is a trial ground for disciples of the martial academy. It consists of three levels. Generally speaking, even passing the first level is considered quite an achievement for junior disciples," Si Longliang stated casually.


    "Even most third-rate Adepts fail to pass." He said this in reply to Wang Haisheng, but more so for Wu Yuan.


    "Even third-rate Adepts struggle to pass?" Wang Haisheng wore a shocked expression.


    "Thank you for the information, Instructor Si," Wu Yuan smiled, "Instructor Zhao, let''s get going."


    Hearing ''Instructor Si'', Si Longliang''s face stiffened.


    "Instructor Si," Zhao Baifan looked at Si Longliang''s expression with a trace of amusement on her face, "We''ll chatter." Without dy, she led Wu Yuan off.


    "Hmph!" Si Longliang''s eyes shed with dissatisfaction, "Haisheng, let''s go see how your Junior Brother Wu ns to pass the Skystride Pavilion trial."


    "Yes," Wang Haisheng agreed. He wasn''t foolish; he instantly realized that his instructor wanted to see Wu Yuan make a fool of himself. He was also curious about the Skystride Pavilion itself.


    As Zhao Baifan led the way, she noticed Si Longliang and his group trailing behind them.


    "This is all your own doing," she gave Wu Yuan a sidelong nce as she spoke softly, "Don''t me me when you lose face."


    "Rest assured, Instructor Zhao," Wu Yuan responded with a faint smile.


    "Oh?" A flicker of surprise shed through Zhao Baifan''s eyes. She had assumed that Wu Yuan would appear troubled and anxious upon learning about the difficulty of the Skystride Pavilion.


    Unexpectedly, Wu Yuan remained calm. Was it because he had everything under control? Or was he just putting on a strong front?


    1. in Chinese, both are pronounced ''Si Shi''


    2. pronounced Si Lao Shi

 Chapter 100: Shake the Heavens (2)

    Chapter 100: Shake the Heavens (2)


    Zhao Baifan had no grounds to stop Si Longliang and Wang Haisheng from tagging along, so the group of four ventured deep into the martial academy, soon reaching the exclusive trial grounds.


    Skystride Pavilion, though called a pavilion, was actually a structure consisting of three interconnected towers, each spanning a massive area.


    Two martial academy students stood at the gate, waiting for someone to finish their trial. Upon seeing Wu Yuan and his group, they quickly paid their respects. "Instructor Zhao, Instructor Si."


    Both Zhao Baifan and Si Longliang acknowledged their greetings with a nod, not initiating a conversation. The instructors were clearly ustomed to disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall attempting to conquer the Skystride Pavilion.


    "A disciple is currently attempting the challenge. Young Wu Yuan, you''ll have to wait." Si Longliang pointed to the red sign at the gate: "A green sign indicates that you may enter."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Instructor Si." Wu Yuan responded with an honest face.


    Si Longliangs face stiffened once again.


    "The three towers represent levels one, two, and three of the Skystride Pavilion," Zhao Baifan exined to Wu Yuan, "Conquering the Skystride Pavilion simply refers topleting a level. Bypleting level one, you will be qualified to reside in the Upper Courtyard. As for level two? It will require the strength of a second-rate Adept at least."


    Zhao Baifan turned to Wu Yuan, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don''t expect you to seed. Just hold on as long as you can, and try not to disgrace yourself too much."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded ever so slightly. Try not to disgrace himself?


    "Instructor Zhao, what is that?" Wu Yuan pointed to a towering three-sided stone tablet that stood before the first tower. Each side of the monument was engraved with names and detailed time records.


    The first side wrote:


    <em>Historical Record: Fang Xia, fifteen years and ten months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3022.</em>


    <em>Current Record: Xu Hui, sixteen years and nine months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3216.</em>


    The second side wrote:


    <em>Historical Record: Fang Xia, seventeen years and nine months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3024.</em>


    <em>Current Record: Xu Hui, twenty years and eight months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3220.</em>


    The third side wrote:


    <em>Historical Record: Fang Xia, twenty-one years and four months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3028.</em>


    <em>Current Record: None.</em>


    Wu Yuan quickly skimmed through the inscriptions, and a general understanding formed in his mind.


    "The historical record refers to the youngest disciple to havepleted that level of the tower since the sects inception. The current record refers to the youngest presently enrolled martial academy disciple to have passed that level." Zhao Baifan exined.


    "I''ve heard of Senior Brother Xu Hui. They say he''s a first-rate Adept, yet he couldnt pass the third level?" Wu Yuan asked curiously. Was the martial academys trial truly that challenging?


    "He couldn''t," Zhao Baifan confirmed. "But remember, Senior Brother Xu still has two more years. There''s still a chance for him to conquer it before his graduation."


    Wu Yuan gave a faint nod. Didnt this mean even a first-rate Adept could not pass the third level?


    "Who is this Fang Xia recorded here?" Wu Yuan asked. All historical records on the three-sided stone tablet were aplished by someone named Fang Xia. A first-rate Adept at the age of twenty-one? Truly impressive!


    "Grandmaster Fang Xia." Admiration rose on Zhao Baifan''s face. "He''s the strongest Grandmaster in the history of our Cloudstride Sect."


    "The strongest Grandmaster?" Wu Yuans interest was piqued.


    "300 years ago, the founder of our Cloudstride Sect established the Cloud Hall. In those early days, we were merely an ordinary sect, even weaker than the Yuanhu Vi of today." Zhao Baifan exined. "Back then, our Cloudstride Sect struggled to secure its territory."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. 300 years ago, the Chu-Jiang Empire was in its prime.


    "After the sect was founded, it experienced over a century of decline until the rise of Grandmaster Fang Xia, who revived the sect." Zhao Baifan murmured, "Not only did he break numerous records, but at the age of 31, he climbed onto the Land Rankings, bing the youngest Grandmaster in the Jiang Continent in thest 500 years."


    A Land Ranker at 31? Even Wu Yuan could not help but admire him. In this world, reaching the limit of the human body was much harder than in the world of the Human Federation. One could only imagine how talented this Grandmaster Fang Xia was!


    "Under Grandmaster Fang Xia''s leadership, our Cloudstride Sect flourished, and before he turned 50, he became one of the ten Great Grandmasters in the world. The royal family of the Chu-Jiang Empire honored Grandmaster Fang Xia as the King of East Jiang and granted him the territories of Cloudhill, Baihu, Southdream, and Hillstride as our sect''s permanent domain." Zhao Baifan revealed, "That was the golden age of our Cloudstride Sect."


    Martial strength decides who owns thend. This was a proverb and likewise, a reality.


    "What happened next?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Grandmaster Fang Xia vanished mysteriously at over 60 years old. Legend has it that he entered an immortal relic and died there," Zhao Baifan sighed. "At that time, he was already ranked third in the Land Rankings, and universally recognized as the most promising expert to step into the Heavenly Rankings."


    Disappeared when he was over 60? Wu Yuan nodded slightly. At such an age, a Grandmaster was still in his prime, untouched by old age.


    "That''s enough. You can learn about the exploits of Grandmaster Fang Xia in the libraryter," Zhao Baifan said. "If you want to attempt the Skystride Pavilion, go ahead and challenge yourself."


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    At that moment, the doors to the first tower swung open with a bang, and a figure in ck came hurtling out, crashing heavily onto the ground. The doors closed, and the red sign turned green.


    "Senior Brother Tian."


    "Senior Brother." The two martial academy students hurried forward to help the ck-robed student, who appeared around eighteen or neen, back to his feet.


    "I failed yet again," the young man in ck muttered, shaking his head in frustration, his teeth gritted together. "Just a bit more, just a little bit more and I could have won!"


    The two students exchanged a look. Anyone could tell that Senior Brother Tian had failed. If he had seeded, he wouldn''t have been unceremoniously thrown out.


    "Instructor Zhao, I am going in," dered Wu Yuan. Without further ado, he strode past the ck-d youth and hispanions, pushing open the doors.


    Once he entered, the doors closed shut once more.


    "Who is he? I dont recall seeing him before!" A disciple was confused.


    "He seems quite young, perhaps hes a new disciple?" Another disciple guessed.


    "He is a disciple under Instructor Zhao''s guidance, and just entered our sect via special recruitment. Though merely fourteen, he has considerable talent. Do not underestimate him," chuckled Si Longliang.


    Zhao Baifan frowned at his words, but remained silent. She shifted her gaze towards the towering structure. Not a single sound emerged.


    "He just joined?"


    "Fourteen? He must barely possess the strength of a martial virtuoso!" Several disciples were taken aback. "He dares to challenge the Skystride Pavilion when he''s still so weak?"


    Si Longliang''s smile grew even brighter. However, it quickly began to fade. Because, a full twenty breathster, Wu Yuan had yet to be thrown out.


    "This kid, he isn''t hiding by the door avoiding the trial, is he?" Si Longliang murmured.


    Wang Haisheng stood by, clenching his fists.


    Another ten breaths passed!


    "He hasn''t emerged yet?" A disciple expressed surprise.


    "Isn''t this almost as long as I endured?" The disciple in ck was equally amazed. His strength was ranked among the top 30 of the junior academy.


    "Oh?" A smile appeared on Zhao Baifan''s face. In her view, as long as Wu Yuansted more than twenty breaths, he wouldn''t be a disgrace. Now, 30 breaths had already passed.


    Very quickly, another ten breaths passed!


    Now, the faces of the crowd outside the tower showed a mixture of shock and bewilderment. So long? How could that be possible?


    "Senior Sister Zhao, is it possible your disciple was knocked unconscious by the sect elder, and is now nursing his injuries?" Si Longliang couldn''t help but ask.


    Zhao Baifan shot him a sidelong nce.


    <em>Boom~ </em>After what felt like an eternity, the imposing doors creaked open. Contrary to everyone''s expectations, Wu Yuan was not thrown out.


    Instead, a weathered old man in flowing white robes emerged. Wu Yuan trailed behind him, his clothes in disarray, but his eyes burning with an unparalleled intensity. It was clear that he had undergone a fierce battle.


    The disciples witnessing this scene were somewhat confused. However, the instructors of the martial academy, Zhao Baifan and Si Longliang, exchanged looks of profound shock. Could it be?


    "Greetings, Sect Elder Tian." Zhao Baifan and Si Longliang respectfully bowed.


    "Greetings, Sect Elder," echoed the other disciples, following suit. Only then did they realize that the guardian of the Skystride Pavilion was actually a sect elder, and all sect elders were Savant experts!


    "Haha, Baifan, are you Wu Yuan''s mentor?" The white-robed elder exuded an aura of tranquility as he smiled at Zhao Baifan.


    "Indeed, Sect Elder, Wu Yuan just joined today," Zhao Baifan replied with deference.


    "Mm. Ensure that you teach him well and do not let his potential go to waste," the elder instructed, turning his attention to Wu Yuan. "Young Wu Yuan, don''t ck off."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Wu Yuan responded with deep respect. Then, he walked down the stairs,ing to stand beside Zhao Baifan.


    The elder in white robes didn''t offer an exnation. With a single stride, he arrived before the first stone tablet and bowed respectfully. "Ancestor Fang Xia above, excuse my impertinence."


    With a swift motion, a flexible sword appeared in his palm.


    <em>Swish! Swish! Swish!</em>


    Sword lights shone brightly as fragments of stone were chipped away. Secondster, a brand-new inscription was revealed before everyone''s eyes:


    <em>Historical Record: Wu Yuan, fourteen years and seven months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3224.</em>


    <em>Current Record: Wu Yuan, fourteen years and seven months, Eastern Martial calendar year 3224.</em>


    Total silence. Everyone stared at the text on the stone tablet, then at Wu Yuan, hardly believing their own eyes. He sessfully passed the first level of the Skystride Pavilion at fourteen years old?


    "This!" Si Longliang''s eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing. But it had been personally verified by Sect Elder Tian, there was no possibility of falsehood.


    "You?" Zhao Baifan also stared at Wu Yuan in utter disbelief.


    "Instructor Zhao," Wu Yuan said with a haughty grin, "I told you, I wont disappoint you. I will break Ancestor Fang Xias records one by one."


    Wu Yuan''s voice was not loud, but his words were audible to everyone present.


    Si Longliang instinctively opened his mouth to reprimand the boy. Who was Ancestor Fang Xia? He was a sacred figure that countless disciples of the Cloudstride Sect revered!

 Chapter 101: An Appeal to the Hierarchs (1)

    Chapter 101: An Appeal to the Hierarchs (1)


    "Just as long as I qualify to reside in the Upper Courtyard," Wu Yuanughed.


    Shake the heavens? Wu Yuan didn''t care whether the heavens were shaken or not.


    The Skystride Pavilion was just a trial ground for third-rate Adepts looking to challenge themselves. Was it a big deal whether or not he broke a record? He just wanted a ce where he could cultivate in peace.


    Besides, he couldn''t keep his true strength concealed forever. Wu Yuan knew what to do to maintain the image of a genius: grab the attention of the Cloudstride Sects higher echelons andpel them to invest resources into his growth, all while maintaining a reasonable pace of progress.


    "Did Sect Elder Tian say anything to you?" Zhao Baifan asked.


    "He didn''t say much," Wu Yuan shook his head, "After I passed the trial, Sect Elder Tian asked for my age and my name since he was unfamiliar with me."


    "Mm." Zhao Baifan nodded, "Sect Elder Tian is a sect elder of the Instruction Hall and he cares deeply about his juniors. I can tell he holds you in high regard."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, "Sect Elder Tian is a good person."


    "Are you tired?" Zhao Baifan asked.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Remembering to maintain his raw strength at around 15,000 catties and restrict the Power Surge technique to the twofold level, all while pretending to be pushed to his limits while battling Sect Elder Tian was truly exhausting!


    Even more exhausting than going all out!


    "Junior Brother Si, are you still determined to have your disciple spar with Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan suddenly turned to Si Longliang, who was preparing to depart.


    Wang Haisheng''s expression stiffened slightly. No matter how confident he was, he didn''t believe he could defeat a third-rate Adept. Apetition? He would just be humiliating himself.


    "There is no need." Si Longliang nced at Wang Haisheng, then turned to Zhao Baifan, his voice calm and his smile steady. Senior Sister has found a good disciple. Make sure you don''t let him down."


    "Wu Yuan, work hard." Si Longliang''s gaze rested on Wu Yuan as he spoke with a sigh. "I can''t say if you''ll ever reach the heights of Grandmaster Fang Xia, but for now, your talent surpasses his. Don''t growcent; I anticipate the day our sect produces its next Grandmaster."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Si." Wu Yuan said, no longer intentionally addressing him as Instructor Si.


    Perhaps there were some minor conflicts between Si Longliang and Zhao Baifan, but such disagreements weremonce. Where there were people, there were disputes. It was clear that their conflict was merely a trivial spat over pride, and Wu Yuan sensed the sincerity behind Si Longliang''s words.


    "Goodd, I was beginning to think you didn''t know the proper way to address me," Si Longliang feigned annoyance before breaking intoughter. "Just wait till practicalbat ss; I''ll discipline you then." With that said, he didn''t linger any longer.


    "Let''s go." Si Longliang strode away, closely followed by Wang Haisheng. Soon, the two vanished from sight.


    "Instructor Zhao, may I go select my house now?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.


    "Are you that keen on having your own ce?" Zhao Baifan responded with a helpless smile.


    "Food, clothing, shelter, and transportationthese are the essentials," Wu Yuan stated seriously.


    "Let''s go."


    The two promptly departed from the Skystride Pavilion, leaving the three disciples staring at each other in bewilderment.


    "The record set by Grandmaster Fang Xia! Its been disyed outside the Skystride Pavilion for over 200 years."


    "It actually got broken?"


    "Wu Yuan? Where did hee from? Seems like a special recruitment disciple."


    "Unbelievable, a third-rate Adept who isn''t even fifteen? How does he cultivate?" The three disciples whispered excitedly among themselves.


    "Let''s go! This is sensational news, the martial academy is about to get lively." The three disciples swiftly departed, spreading this groundbreaking news.


    Shortly thereafter, another disciple arrived at the Skystride Pavilion. After a casual nce at the stone wall, his eyes widened, and he left in a hurry, hardly able to hide his astonishment.


    The Cloud Martial Hall''s top disciples from the senior and junior academies each had their own independent courtyard houses, fully equipped with all kinds of facilities.


    Situated at the highest point of the martial academy was a single courtyard house. From here, one could overlook the entirety of the Cloud Martial Hall.


    The outdoor training ground, spanning 600 square feet, was paved with a special material capable of withstanding a battle between first-rate Adepts.


    At this moment, there was only one young man in white robes on the training ground, holding a long sword.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> Sword lights shone as a session of silhouettes flickered.


    With graceful fluidity, the young man executed a sword technique, seemingly appearing everywhere in the spacious training ground at once. It was a sight that would make any second-rate Adept''s heart tremble.


    Just as he was wholeheartedly practicing his sword technique, an urgent voice called out.


    "Senior Brother Xu, something horrible has happened! It''s horrible!"


    <em>Swoosh!</em> A brawny figure in academy disciple attire vaulted over the courtyard wall, stopping at the edge of the training ground.


    "Senior Brother Xu, please stop, I have something important to tell you!" The brawny young man of about twenty years old called out.


    Several strokes of sword light swept through like a raging wind. As they converged into one, a youth in white robes materialized. He was none other than the top Cloud Heir of the Cloud Martial Hall, Xu Hui!


    He was recognized as the leading figure among the young generation of the Cloudstride Sect, as well as the entire Jiang Continent, ranking first on the Jiang Continent''s Genius Rankings. At the age of 24, he was already a first-rate Adept.


    Junior Brother Ge, what''s the matter? Xu Hui asked. Sword held nonchntly in one hand, his robes fluttering in the wind, his gaze emanating a piercing sharpness. One could aptly describe him as a ''dashing young master''.


    Senior Brother, the first record on the stone tablet at the Skystride Pavilion has been broken, Junior Brother Ge stated.


    Oh? A trace of surprise flickered in Xu Hui''s eyes, which soon spread into a smile. It''s only natural that my record has been broken. Throughout the history of our sect, there have been many stronger than me.


    A new powerful junior has emerged from the junior academy, stronger than I was back then, that''s all. It''s normal, Xu Hui said indifferently, without a care.


    He set the previous current record for level one of the Skystride Pavilion eight years ago. Why would he care about such a trifling matter?


    Senior Brother, it''s not your record. It''s Ancestor Fang Xias historical record! Junior Brother Ge emphasized, It''s broken! Broken.


    The ancestor''s historical record? Xu Hui''s pupils contracted slightly, finding it hard to believe. He reflexively asked, Who?


    Wu Yuan, Junior Brother Ge answered.


    Wu Yuan? A hint of confusion shed across Xu Hui''s eyes. Although he had little interest in the martial academy''s internalpetition, he couldn''t have been unaware of the emergence of such a formidable junior.


    He''s a disciple that just joined the sect today, a special recruit, Junior Brother Ge continued, swiftly filling Xu Hui in on the details he had gathered.


    He''s only fourteen years and seven months old, and yet has already passed the first level of the Skystride Pavilion? Despite his numerous experiences, Xu Hui was stunned upon hearing the news. He knew what this implied.


    "Remarkable!" Xu Huiuded with deep admiration. "This Junior Brother Wu, he is indeed a prodigy blessed by the heavens. One can only wonder how far he will go in the future."


    "Senior Brother, aren''t you concerned?" Junior Brother Ge couldn''t help but ask.


    "Whats there to be worried about?" Xu Hui replied with a faint smile, "A fourteen-year-old third-rate Adept. As long as he doesn''t consume any forbidden substances that would deplete his physical potential, I presume he would be a first-rate Adept before he turns twenty."


    "It is indeed our sect''s fortune to have recruited such a genius, Xu Hui chuckled, "My only worry is that he may not reach his full potential."


    "Senior Brother," Junior Brother Ge hesitated before continuing, "Wu Yuan is still young and not as aplished as you. But if he continues to grow, twenty, or maybe thirty, yearster, he could pose a huge threat to your position."


    "When the timees for the nomination of the next sect leader.." Junior Brother Ge said in a low voice.


    "Foolish! Ignorant! Ge Feng, never speak of such matters to me again," Xu Hui shook his head. "Remember, we are martial artists."


    "Whether it be the role of hall master or sect leader, it is as transient as fleeting clouds. Only one''s own strength holds any real value."


    "I care naught for status," A glimmer of ambition sparkled in Xu Hui''s eyes. "My heart yearns solely for the path of martial arts!"


    "One ought to live as Ancestor Fang Xia did. Fang Xia harbored no desire for power, yet his overwhelming strengthpelled the Chu-Jiang Empire to willingly bestow him with a fief," Xu Hui dered.


    "The feeble rely on status. Bing a Land Ranker is in itself a mark of status," Xu Hui solemnly proimed.


    Ge Feng couldn''t help but grimace. Though he didnt say another word, he grumbled discontentedly in his heart. <em>A Land Ranker? Is it that easy to be a Grandmaster?</em>


    "Senior Brother, you may not want topete with him, but Wu Yuan might want topete with you in the future," Ge Feng suddenly said.


    "Hes more talented than me, that''s certain," Xu Hui responded with a slight smile, "But if his aspirations are confined to vying for the position of hall master or sect leader, he won''t achieve much in the end."


    "Only those who arepletely focused have the qualifications to reach the pinnacle of martial arts!"


    Ge Feng kept silent. All he could think of was that his cousin was too idealistic for his own good.


    "Ge Feng, broaden your perspective, don''t limit yourself to your tiny world," Xu Hui said in a soft voice. "You must understand. The Battle of Hillstride and the tragic demise of Hierarch Xia Heng are events that have left our Cloudstride Sect in dire straits. We face an unprecedented crisis, and if we fail to produce a new Grandmaster within the next two decades, our fate is sealed."


    Ge Feng''s eyes widened in surprise. He hadnt thought that far ahead.


    "The entire sect looks to me as their beacon of hope," Xu Hui shook his head, "If Wu Yuan can help share my burden, I dly wee it. Even if there were ten more Wu Yuans, it would only be a blessing for the sect."


    "Alright, Ge Feng, go back and focus on your cultivation. Otherwise, forget reaching the first-rate Adept level, even bing a second-rate Adept will be difficult for you."


    With a dismissive wave, Xu Hui turned his attention back to his sword practice.

 Chapter 102: An Appeal to the Hierarchs (2)

    Chapter 102: An Appeal to the Hierarchs (2)


    News of the broken Skystride Pavilion record gradually spread through the Cloud Martial Hall, shocking both senior and junior academy disciples alike. The name Wu Yuan quickly became the talk of the martial academy.


    <em>Wu Yuan is a third-rate Adept? </em>When Liu Ruyan heard the news, she waspletely bbergasted.


    Just a little over two hours ago, she had learned that Wu Yuan possessed the strength of a martial virtuoso. How did he be a third-rate Adept in the blink of an eye? And not one at the bottom tier at that. Most ordinary third-rate Adepts found it hard toplete the first level of the Skystride Pavilion.


    "How in the world does he cultivate?" Liu Ruyan sank into self-doubt.


    Within the 200-meter martial hall on the ground floor of a private courtyard dwelling, two figures, one purple, one ck, crossed des at lightning speed. A flurry of saber rays whistled.


    Suddenly, the figure d in ck retreated and sheathed his saber.


    "Instructor Zhao, I concede." Wu Yuan gave a helpless smile, "Instructor Zhao, your saber skills are much swifter and fiercer than mine. Though our strength is equally matched, I am not your equal."


    "You''re pretty good." Zhao Baifan also sheathed her saber, sighing, "No wonder you passed, you''ve already mastered the Twofold Power Surge technique." Just the thought of it sent goosebumps up Zhao Baifans flesh.


    "How did you train?" Zhao Baifan couldnt help but ask.


    "I experienced an awakening in my martial arts path. As for the Power Surge technique, during my time in Li City, Protectorate Gao Yu gifted me a book called ''Cloud Martial Power Surge: Neen Movements''." Wu Yuan ''honestly'' exined, "I trained following the meticulous instructions of the secret technique manual, and eventually achieved my current proficiency."


    Wu Yuan attributed his sess to Gao Yu, but in reality, he only skimmed through the secret technique once. He believed that Gao Yu woulde up with a usible reason on his own, just like how he deduced that Wu Yuan had ''unlocked'' his upper dantian lobe.


    "You reached your current level just by reading a secret technique manual?" Zhao Baifan couldn''t help but recall her own training process. It was a flood of bitter tears!


    She suddenly understood why Wu Yuan carried himself with such pride. Heavens! If she had such talent, she''d probably be ten times more arrogant than Wu Yuan. Rtive to his talent, Wu Yuans attitude was already terribly modest.


    "What do you think of this courtyard house?" Zhao Baifan quickly changed the subject.


    She had a momentary aversion to broaching the emotionally damaging subject of martial skills.


    "Not bad," Wu Yuan nodded. In his opinion, everything was quite satisfactory.


    The focal point of the courtyard house revolved around the cultivation of martial arts, with all the necessary provisions and amenities readily avable. If one disregarded the technological disparity, this house would be considered a top-tier mansion in the former Human Federation.


    "Mm, for your day-to-day affairs, four servants will be assigned to you. They will reside in the servant quarters located on the outskirts of the courtyard house. Should you require their assistance, you may summon them. Otherwise, they will refrain from interrupting your cultivation," Zhao Baifan elucidated.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. The Cloudstride Sect had taken care of every detail for him. Prodigies such as himself merely needed to concentrate on their cultivation, while the sect would handle all other matters.


    The primary duty of martial arts practitioners was going to war against the sect''s adversaries during territorial disputes!


    "These are the basic living standards within the sect." Zhao Baifan continued, "Regarding cultivation, there are three important aspects. I will briefly exin them to you so you may know what to expect. For details, you can refer to the ''Cloud Martial Hall Guidelines.''"


    Wu Yuan nodded, listening carefully.


    "Firstly, we have the courses. Eighteen instructors take turns delivering public lectures at the martial grand hall every two days. Attendance is voluntary," Zhao Baifan disclosed, "The topics will center around martial skills, body tempering..."


    "Next, we have the tutorials. Every ten days, I will personally offer you guidance and assess your progress. I will inform you of the specific date and time."


    Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    "The second aspect pertains to auxiliary cultivation treasures. These are of utmost importance if you wish to progress swiftly. Within the Cloud Martial Hall, silver holds no value. What truly matters is contribution points," Zhao Baifan emphasized.


    "I recall Uncle Ji mentioning it," Wu Yuan said.


    "All disciples are awarded 5000 contribution points a year, a fixed allocation from the sect. It can be exchanged for various cultivation resources, such as body tempering pills, bone-forging pills, Qi Enhancement Pills, and even the sect''s Cloudspring Blood," Zhao Baifan said.


    "There are four ways by which disciples of the junior academy can earn additional contribution points, aside from the fixed allocation."


    "The first is the annualpetition. Ranking within the top 100 will grant you 5000 contribution points. The reward for the top 30 is 10,000, and 20,000 for the top 10.


    "Secondly, by enhancing one''s strength and reaching the level of a martial virtuoso, a one-time reward of 10,000 contribution points can be imed."


    "Completing level one of the Skystride Pavilion will also grant you a one-time reward of 20,000 contribution points."


    "Completing level two of Skystride Pavilion will grant you 100,000 contribution points." Zhao Baifan nced at Wu Yuan. "Your rewards will soon be calcted and distributed."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "The third method is to exchange treasures, a method essible to all disciples of Cloudstride. Offer the sect a precious treasure, and exchange it not for silver, but other natural treasures, divine weapon tokens, or divine weapons themselves." Zhao Baifan exined.


    <em>This should be a path specially created for disciples with powerful backgrounds butcking in talent</em>.


    Absolute fairness? That was impossible. The fact that the Cloudstride Sect was able to maintain rtive fairness was already impressive.


    "Your fixed allocation of contribution points will be raised to 50,000 each year as promised by the Finance Hall, a cost borne by us." Zhao Baifan continued, "In addition, aspensation for the matter concerning Xie Yu, Protectorate Gao Yu has ordered a dose of Cloudspring Blood to be delivered to you as a personal gift."


    "A dose of Cloudspring Blood?" Wu Yuan was taken aback by the unexpected generosity. Protectorate Gao Yu was sparing no expense to make amends. It seemed that unless Xie Yu provoked him once more, Wu Yuan would find it difficult to harbor any ill will towards her.


    "Please convey my gratitude to the protectorate, Instructor Zhao." Wu Yuan said softly.


    "Mm." Zhao Baifan nodded. "The fourth method is by undergoing field trials, usually undertaken by the disciples of the senior academy."


    "If you wish to learn more about anything I said in-depth, please refer to the Cloud Martial Hall Guidelines. For now, that is all."


    "Take the time to familiarize yourself with your environment, I''lle again tomorrow." With that, Zhao Baifan rose. "If you have any questions, you may ask me then."


    "Understood. Thank you, Instructor Zhao. Allow me to see you off," Wu Yuan stood up.


    Shortly after, Zhao Baifan was ushered out.


    "Cloud Martial Hall Guidelines?" Wu Yuan pulled out a hefty book. The book contained aprehensive list of do''s and don''ts for the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall. Wu Yuan slowly began to read through it.


    After leaving Wu Yuan''s courtyard, Zhao Baifan walked to the main path, shaking her head in a quiet sigh. <em>I wonder where Gao Yu found this mini monster.</em>


    In terms of physical constitution, a fourteen-and-a-half-year-old with a punch force of about 15,000 catties was impressive, but not exceedingly rare. But his skill inbat?


    "Even among the Heavenly Rankers, was there anyone this formidable when they were at his age?" Zhao Baifan muttered to herself.


    During their recent sparring session, Zhao Baifan had won. But she was well aware that Wu Yuan was merely unustomed to battle,cking in experience. Given more practice, he would soon be her equal.


    Such a prodigy! A prodigy so spectacr it felt unreal.


    <em>The news that he broke Fang Xia''s record must have spread by now. I wonder if Sect Elder Tian has informed the hall master.</em>


    <em>Nevertheless, such a momentous event warrants informing the hall master.</em>


    She had hurried to leave earlier to report this matter as soon as possible. The cultivation n for Wu Yuan had to be adjusted.


    Zhao Baifan swiftly left the martial academy, heading toward the eastern side of Cloudhill.


    The Cloud Martial Hall was indeed vast, yet it upied less than a tenth of the total area of the Cloudstride Sect''s headquarters.


    <em>Soon, within another magnificentpound atop Cloudhill.</em>


    "You''re suggesting that the two Hierarchs personally take Wu Yuan as their disciple and guide him on his cultivation path?" An elderly man draped in a ck robe, his hair as white as snow, sat in the host seat. He appeared visibly surprised.


    "Hall Master," addressed Zhao Baifan with grave solemnity, "I offer this suggestion because I refuse to witness such remarkable potential go to waste!"

 Chapter 103: After 30 Years, I Glimpsed The Doorway To Immortality (1)

    Chapter 103: After 30 Years, I Glimpsed The Doorway To Immortality (1)


    "Disciple did not witness Wu Yuan conquering the Skystride Pavilion, and I am unaware of how n Elder Tian evaluated Wu Yuan," Zhao Baifan began. "However, I sparred with Wu Yuan earlier, and I only have five words to describe him."


    "Which five words?" the ck-robed elderly man curious asked.


    "Prodigy blessed by the heavens," Zhao Baifan uttered.


    The old man lightly tapped his finger on the armrest, lost in contemtion. After a brief silence, he spoke softly, "Very well, I shall consult with Elder Huan."


    "Hall Master..." Zhao Baifan wanted to add something.


    "Baifan," the elderly man in the ck robe sighed lightly, "Wu Yuan indeed possesses incredible talent, but The Rain Hierarch is currently absent from the sect. As for The Sword Hierarch? You know his personality."


    Zhao Baifan fell silent, understanding his words instantly.


    The sect had two hierarchs. The fiery-tempered Rain Hierarch was known for her immense strength and deep concern for every member of the sect, often intervening in both minor and major matters.


    And the Sword Hierarch? To put it nicely, he was fond of solitude. In blunt terms, one might call him apathetic. The sect leader, hall masters, and other members of the sect rarely saw him around.


    "In that case, I must trouble you, Hall Master," Zhao Baifan said politely.


    The elderly man in the ck robes smiled warmly. "Its no trouble. We are truly lucky to have such a prodigy in our ranks. The entire sect should unite and do everything possible to foster his growth. You may leave now."


    "Yes." Zhao Baifan swiftly exited the grand hall, leaving the old man alone in the hall.


    "Unexpectedly, that youngster Gao Yu was right," the old man murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. "After the defeat at Hillstride, Xu Hui''s talent blossomed brilliantly, and now Wu Yuan has joined our ranks. Haha, it seems the heavens are casting their favor upon our Cloudstride Sect."


    He disappeared from the main hall in the blink of an eye, devoid of any semnce of a man nearing 100 years of age.


    Among the eight sides of Cloudhill, one was a lofty cliff face that stretched high into the sky, as if cleaved asunder by an unparalleled expert''s hand. Thus, it was aptly named Razor''s Edge Cliff!


    Atop the cliff, a gargantuan cave rested. The area within a kilometer radius of this mountain cliff was a forbidden zone of the Cloudstride Sect, guarded meticulously by a dedicated group of soldiers. Ordinary disciples were forbidden to approach without explicit permission.


    A figure in purple robes swiftly approached the cliff along the main path, finally halting in front of thest house perched on the edge.


    He was obese, with the appearance of a 50-year-old. Several horizontal creases folded across his face, lending him an air of fierceness and intimidation, dissuading any notion of trifling with him.


    Sect Elder Huan, the guards greeted, bowing respectfully.


    How is the hierarch faringtely? queried the rotund elder in purple robes. His voice, surprisingly gentle, contradicted his menacing visage.


    Sect Elder Huan, the hierarch has been faring as per usual, onlying here every few days for food, a soldier reported dutifully.


    They were all familiar with the rotund man in purple. Despite his high rank, he was known to be affable and never condescending.


    Mm. The rotund man in purple nodded in acknowledgment. "I shall pay the hierarch a visit."


    The soldiers bowed in response.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>The rotund man in purple crossed several hundred meters in a few nimble leaps. Despite his hefty build, he was extremely agile, moving with ease along the steep cliff face. In just a few steps, he descended nearly a hundred meters down the cliff.


    In a sh, he darted into the cave. The cave was incredibly vast, bearing signs of human excavation. One could only imagine the herculean effort required to carve such a structure into the cliff face.


    "Father," the rotund man in purple kneeled, his voice echoing throughout the cave, "Your son is here to see you and pay his respects. How have you beentely?"


    His voice was loud and resonant, reverberating throughout the cave before being carried away by the wind.


    For a moment, there was only silence. The man in purple robes couldn''t help but lift his head, only to realize with a start that at some point in time, a gaunt, middle-aged man was already standing behind him.


    He was thin with a well-proportioned physique outlined under his white robe. At first nce, he seemed like an ordinary man without any martial training. However, his unusuallyrge hands, unkempt appearance, and flowing beard painted him as anything but ordinary.


    He emanated an air of entricity, while his tranquil gaze appeared capable of piercing through the dust of the mortal world.


    If Wu Yuan were present, he would instantly conjure up a specific image in his minda Taoist priest! And not just any priest, but a genuine ascetic!


    "Father." The man in purple robes quickly rose to his feet, joyfully eximing, "Father, your cultivation seems to have improved considerably!"


    "It''s only been half a year since west met, your weight has swelled impressively too," the middle-aged man in white robes responded drily.


    The purple-robed man rubbed his head sheepishly.


    "I''ve told you before. Eat less, live simply, and focus on cultivation. That will lead to longevity," the white-robed man shook his head ever so slightly. "You''re almost twenty years younger than me, but just look at yourself! You''re a second-grade martial artist, yet after two decades of my tutge, you''ve ended up cultivating a body of fat."


    "I fear I may be the one to send you off to the afterlife," the man in white robes shook his head.


    The man in purple robesughed, "Father, fret not. I will go on a diet when I return."


    "Each time I reprimand you, you seem to derive pleasure from it," the man in white robes walked to the cliff''s edge, peering down at the vastnd below.


    "I am over 70 but still have a father to chastise me. That is a great blessing, how can I notugh?" The man in purple robes chuckled, "Each time I visit and see you in good health, Father, my worries are eased."


    "You rascal." The man in white robes shook his head in amusement, "Speak then, what brings you to me this time?"


    "I am here on behalf of a disciple." The plump man in purple robes continued, "This disciple is named Wu Yuan, and he''s only fourteen..."


    The purple-robed man narrated Wu Yuan''s general situation and handed over a stack of documents, "Please take a look, father."


    "At fourteen years and seven months, hepleted level one of the Skystride Pavilion, breaking Grandmaster Fang Xias historical record?" The middle-aged man''s interest was piqued, and he quickly skimmed through the documents.


    "Interesting, he must have opened his upper dantian lobe. If he cultivates diligently with unwavering persistence, there is a high probability of him bing a Grandmaster."


    The white-robed man''s tone turned matter-of-fact, "Your management of the sect ismendable, you''ve even unearthed such a prodigy. Once he grows up, reiming the Hillstride Province will be within our grasp."


    "Thank you for your praise, father, the purple-robed man replied. "However, we feel it may be difficult to properly educate such a prodigy. So, I would like to make a request. Father, would you be willing to personally mentor this child?"


    "Are you suggesting that I take on a disciple?" The middle-aged man in a white robe grinned sardonically.


    "Father, please understand." The purple-robed man bowed his head, his heart filled with unease.


    "I know you mean well, so I won''t hold it against you," the middle-aged man sighed, his expression returning to normal. "Indeed, this Wu Yuan is a rare gem, but you know my disposition. I don''t take on disciples. If you weren''t my own son, I wouldn''t have taught you either."


    "Father." The purple-robed man tried to persuade him.


    "No need to persuade me." The middle-aged man frowned, "You should know me by now. I wish to distance myself from the chaos of the world. My sole aspiration is to ascend the Heavenly Rankings and tread the path to immortality!"

 Chapter 104: After 30 Years, I Glimpsed The Doorway To Immortality (2)

    Chapter 104: After 30 Years, I Glimpsed The Doorway To Immortality (2)


    The purple-robed man gave a bitter smile. How could he not know?


    "A person''s mental bandwidth is limited, as is their lifespan. Diverting energy towards other matters onlyplicates things," the white-robed middle-aged man murmured. "The more one cares about family, disciples, and love, the slimmer the chance of achieving immortality."


    "The essence of a person is even more finite. When ones human body reaches its limit, one must consolidate their foundation and nourish their essence, not squander it recklessly. Only then can longevity be attained. Take Grandmaster Yu for example. Though unparalleled inbat, countless battles have depleted her essence, leaving her with a lifespan at least twenty years shorter than mine!"


    "Human strength is finite, yet the world is boundless!"


    "I reside on this cliff, observing the world. The more Iprehend, the more I realize how much the mortal world incites chaos within the heart. Heaven and earth stretches far and wide, while the path to immortality remains shrouded in obscurity."


    "After decades of quiet contemtion, I''ve finally gotten a glimpse through the doorway to immortality, but s, my time is running short," said the middle-aged man.


    "It doesn''t matter to me whether Wu Yuan is well on his way to bing a Grandmaster. Even if he has the potential to transcend mortality, it does not kindle my interest."


    "Attaining immortality is my lifelong quest," the man in white robes whispered.


    The purple-robed obese man solemnly said, "Father, while there is truth to your words, the path to immortality is elusive. Since ancient times, how many have achieved it?"


    "The concept of immortal cultivation has existed since ancient times. Yet, since the reign of the Martial King, who has ever seen a true immortal?"


    "We are born of the mortal realm, rooted in the mundane. Is the path of detaching from worldly desires truly the right path to immortality?" the man in purple robes asked.


    "Imperator Jin ruled with unmatched power, yet he never sought detachment, and still, he became the foremost expert and forged the greatest empire."


    "Indeed, these are convincing arguments, my son," the man in white robes chuckled, "My foolish child, let it be, to each their own. Though I do not ept disciples, I do have some advice."


    "Please share your wisdom, Father," the eyes of the purple-robed man gleamed.


    "Nurturing a Grandmaster expert is an arduous endeavor," the middle-aged man in white robes said quietly, "Let Sect Elder Mo instruct Wu Yuan."


    "His martial skills are not inferior to mine; it''s just that hisprehension of the world is not at the Grandmaster level. If Wu Yuan can reach a point where there is nothing more Sect Elder Mo can teach, he can only rely on himself for the rest of his cultivation journey."


    "Understood," the elderly man in purple robes replied.


    "Secondly, devise a proper training n. Do not hold back on any precious resources," the man in white robes continued lightly, However, refrain from openly announcing it or showing excessive concern for him. In simpler terms, provide substance, not reputation!"


    The elderly man in purple robes pondered thoughtfully.


    "Reputation burdens the soul. A youngd can easily lose himself amidst continuous praise," the man in white robes softly stated, "Most geniuses are prideful and restless."


    "Moreover, treasures should not be handed over freely. Set obstacles in his path and goals for him to strive for."


    "Yes, Father, I understand," replied the purple-robed man.


    "Lastly, from what I''ve observed in his file, Wu Yuan treasures his family and n greatly," the middle-aged manmented. "This is his weakness. Bring his closest kin to the Cloudhill Province and ensure their safety."


    "Allocate some precious items to improve his mother''s well-being and prolong her life, as well as to support his sister''s healthy development. Consider allowing her to join the sect in the future."


    "Also, slowly begin relocating his n to the Cloudhill Province. Gradually absorb the talented individuals from their n into our sect."


    "This will bind him to us. Our proactive actions will progressively reinforce his sense of belonging to our sect!"


    "Simultaneously, it will also alleviate his lingering concerns. After all, news about Wu Yuans achievements cannot be concealed forever. Great Jin, the Wingborne Sect, or some other major power may stir up trouble without us knowing." The white-robed man continued, "They will not stand idly by as the Cloudstride Sect produces a Grandmaster."


    "Yes Father, I understand," the purple-robed man repeated, feeling as though he just gained a newfound rity. His own father, despite living in seclusion for thirty years and being untouched by worldly matters, still saw through everything.


    "I shall make arrangements for someone to depart for Li City tomorrow, the purple-robed man said.


    "Make arrangements?" The white-robed man shook his head. "For crucial matters, one should act personally and swiftly. Go now, and don''t travel by ship, run! Move about more, and shed some weight. Each day you dy brings additional risk."


    "Understood," the purple-robed man acknowledged.


    <em>Within the martial chamber of a private courtyard house in the Cloud Martial Hall.</em>


    <em>Is this Cloudspring Blood?</em> Wu Yuan opened the stopper of the jade vial, peering at the pale red liquid it contained. It looked like watered-down fresh blood, yet emitted a peculiarly enticing fragrance.


    This was just delivered by two custodians of the Finance Hall. It was a gift from Protectorate Gao Yu, requiring no contribution points from Wu Yuan.


    <em>To be taken orally, not too much at once. Each vial contains ten doses?</em> Wu Yuan read through the ''Cloud Martial Hall Guidelines'', which provided instructions on the usage of various treasures.


    He took a small sip. Once it entered his stomach, its powerful medicinal effect swiftly diffused. To avoid wasting its benefits, Wu Yuan began to cultivate and temper his body.


    However, he had nowpletely replenished his body''s deficiencies. Even though he cultivated painstakingly every day, he no longer made significant progress. The enhancement of his physical constitution was bound to be a gradual process from now on.


    <em>The effect of this entire vial is slightly stronger than a drop of Starlight Liquid. It should not be the original solution, but a diluted version. However, the side effects are indeed reduced.</em>


    Every medicine had side effects, and even natural treasures were not exempt from this.


    Consuming too much Starlight Liquid would corrode the body, depleting its potential. Therefore, regr martial artists had to bnce it out with other treasures to neutralize its corrosiveness.


    As for the Cloudspring Blood? Its side effects were less severe, but if taken excessively, it would cause the body to ache, irritating the nerves and depriving one of restful sleep.


    <em>Compared to these, the Ancient Immortal Dew is indeed the best. </em>It truly lived up to the name Immortal Dew, with zero side effects and astonishing effectiveness. The only drawback? It was expensive!


    <em>Others may worry about overdosing, but with the blood-red mist aiding me, I have nothing to fear. </em>Wu Yuan smiled, setting aside the vial of Cloudspring Blood.


    Whether it be the Ancient Immortal Dew, Cloudspring Blood, Starlight Liquid, or even the bone-forging pill or Qi Enhancement Pill, they were all the same in Wu Yuan''s eyes. All served the purpose of strengthening the body.


    <em>I can redeem twelve bottles of Cloudspring Blood per year at most? </em>Wu Yuan continued to peruse the ''Cloud Martial Hall Guidelines''. He was more than halfway through the thick book, and had put together a general n for his future cultivation path.


    <em>The first two vials of Cloudspring Blood are a must, but after that? It depends on how many contribution points I can gather.</em>


    The first vial of Cloudspring Blood that a disciple obtained each year cost 3000 contribution points. The second, 5000 contribution points. From the third vial onward, the price would revert back to its ''original'' 10,000 contribution points, and each disciple could obtain a maximum of twelve vials each year.


    As for ordinary treasures such as the bone-forging pill?


    <em>If one contribution point is equivalent to one silver tael, it''s nearly the same as the market price.</em>


    There was nothing worth noting on that front.


    <em>Contribution points also be exchanged for martial arts guidance?</em>


    For instance, apart from the regr guidance one would receive every ten days, one could request extra guidance at a rate of 300 contribution points per hour. One could also request for guidance from a sect elder, which required 1000 contribution points per session.


    Even guidance from the Hierarchs was avable, though came with a hefty price tag of 10,000 contribution points. However, the following words were written next to it: Proceed at your discretion!


    <em>Both Hierarchs are Grandmasters. I would very much like to exchange pointers with a Grandmaster.</em> A gleam shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.

 Chapter 105: Number One In The Jiang Continent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 105: Number One In The Jiang Continent (1)</h4>


    Yes, it wasn��t to seek guidance but to exchange pointers.


    Wu Yuan wasn��t arrogant, he simply had that much faith in his abilities. So what if they were Land Rankers? While they had powerful physical constitutions, they might not necessarily surpass him in terms of skill.


    However, that didn��t mean that Wu Yuan had no desire to ask them for guidance at all. Compared to his previous life, martial arts in the Middle Land was much more advanced, with many Grandmasters throughout the ages breaking through their human limits.


    Wu Yuan had many unanswered questions, such as details about these human limits and the upper dantian lobe, and he hoped that the Grandmasters would be able to provide him with answers.


    It wasn''t that he wasn''t intelligent enough. But how could the exploration and research of one person match the thousands of years of cumtive knowledge of an entire world?


    <i>But I can only leave them unanswered for now. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. Disying Twofold Power Surge was already the limit. In fact, it was a bit too much, already enough to attract the attention of the two hierarchs of the Cloudstride Sect.


    Even more? He might just get captured for experimentation.


    <i>There''s still time, no need to hurry. I''ll practice for a few more years. I only need to attend sses asionally. As for the supplementary guidance from experts, I''ll just put on an act when the timees. Once or twice should be enough. </i>Wu Yuan decided, returning to his reading.


    He knew better than to draw too much attention. If he was going to pretend, he had tomit fully.


    <i>I can even exchange my points for divine weapons?</i>


    Apart from normal items and natural treasures, one could also exchange their points for weapons, including divine weapons.


    A third-grade divine weapon required 150,000 contribution points. It also came with the warning ''proceed at your own discretion''.


    <i>As for these secret techniques? </i>Wu Yuan scanned the list of various saber, sword, spear, and axe techniques. The price range of these secret techniques varied from tens to thousands of points.


    <i>I''ll redeem a few asionally to look through. </i>Wu Yuan was unwilling to squander too much on such techniques, knowing very well that the secret techniques of the Cloudstride Sect were iparable to the likes of Thousand Mountains or Ghostwalk.


    These secret techniques were simr to the ''Tai Chi Sword''[1], ''Eight-extremities Boxing��[2], ''Eight Trigram Palm''[3], and other such techniques from his past life.


    <i>The Fundamentals are all about routines; beginners must learn the basics.</i>


    In his past life, he had immersed himself in the study of nearly a hundred forms of martial techniques - from the fist, saber, spear, and axe to footwork and more. He had dedicated over a decade to mastering these techniques, blending a hundred schools of thought. But as the years went by, he forgot them all!


    <i>Reaching the Rigid Yet Supple stage signifies one is qualified to be Grandmaster. At this point on, these forms and routines be less important, and one must begin afresh from within. From simplicity toplexity, fromplexity to simplicity. Everything converges in the heart. Where the mind goes, the weapon follows, not a hair''s breadth off. This is the essence of being a Grandmaster.</i>


    Every move a Grandmaster made seemed to be inspired by the divine, as only then could they establish their own school of thought.


    For a Grandmaster, what mattered most was creating a secret technique that could greatly enhance their physical burst power.


    Take ''Thousand Mountains'' and ''Ghostwalk'', for example. When Wu Yuan reached the limits of his human body and his power was harmoniously unified in his past life, he devised these techniques based on his physical characteristics.


    After arriving in the Middle Land, Wu Yuan''s physical constitution now surpassed that of his past life. Yet, he found himself less proficient in these two secret techniquespared to before.


    Why?


    <i>My body is still developing, still growing. The two bodies are different, and the experiences from my past life cannot be applied exactly to this body. Once this body reaches its human limits, I will need to recreate the techniques.</i>


    The strongest secret technique was a self-created one.


    <i>However, I must acquire these sixteen ''Grandmaster��s Insights''. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed as he mentally checked off each name from the list.


    ��Grandmaster Yun Shan''s Insights'', ''Grandmaster Hong He''s Insights''... ''Grandmaster Fang Xia''s Insights''... ''Grandmaster Xia Heng''s Insights'', ''Grandmaster Bu Yu''s Insights'', ''Grandmaster Huan Jian''s Insights''.


    There were sixteen volumes in total, each written by one of the sixteen Grandmasters who had emerged from the Cloudstride Sect since its inception.


    ording to the outline, these cultivation insights were personallypiled by each Grandmaster between ten to twenty years after stepping into the Grandmaster level, capturing a reflection of their lifelong cultivation journey.


    <i>Books are the crystallization of wisdom, the vessels of experience. These sixteen Grandmaster''s Insights are equivalent to sixteen Grandmasters imparting their martial arts knowledge. Reading them is equivalent to learning from the sixteen Grandmasters. </i>


    <i>Only by drawing on the experiences of many Grandmasters can I hope to reach new heights.</i>


    Each volume of Grandmaster''s Insights required 30,000 contribution points for redemption. Was it expensive? Not to Wu Yuan! Outside the sect, one couldn��t buy a Grandmaster''s cultivation insights even with 200,000 silver taels. Such was the power of a great martial sect.


    Having the guidance of ancestors from past generations was many times more helpful than having to navigate one''s cultivation path alone. Of course, the warning ''proceed at your own discretion'' was also stated.


    <i>It is advised that one should be a first-rate Adept with martial skill at the Rigid Yet Supple stage before redeeming a volume.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled. He naturally understood the principle. If one''s strength or skill level was insufficient, reading the book was like reading a divine scripture[4]. They might not be able toprehend the Grandmaster''s insights even if they read them.


    <i>I don��t have enough contribution points. </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly. He had a strong desire to read the sixteen Grandmaster''s Insights right away. Unfortunately, he couldn''t even acquire a single one at the moment.


    <i>I can only umte contribution points bit by bit. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.


    Based on his calctions, he could only obtain a total of 80,000 contribution points this year, most of which needed to be exchanged for cultivation treasures, such as Cloudspring Blood. Moreover, having just joined the sect, wouldn''t be too eye-catching to immediately redeem a Grandmaster''s Insights?


    <i>I''ll wait another two years before acquiring a Grandmaster''s Insights. It won''t be toote then. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s gaze fell onto a page, his lips curling into a smile. <i>These special cultivation environments are precisely what I needed. This greatly eases my worries.</i>


    To nurture its disciples, the Cloudstride Sect expended vast resources to construct a variety of special training grounds on Cloudhill.


    One type was static environments, such as the Gale Crag nestled between two cliffs. It featured unique tunnels that spurred relentless gusts of wind year-round, rendering it ideal for physical conditioning.


    Another example was the Thousand Woods Forest, a carefully selected woond nted with sturdy Yellow Dragon Wood. These trees were uniquely shaped to allow disciples to practice their martial skills amongst the trees.


    Simr static environments numbered over a dozen.


    Then there were dynamic training environments, such as the Mountain Cascades located on one side of Cloudhill, where the waters from the Cloud Pool gave rise to waterfalls of varying heights �C 10, 30, and even 100 zhangs.


    The unpredictable flow of water was ideal for practicing spear, saber, and sword techniques. Simply enduring the waterfall''s impact was also greatly beneficial to one''s cultivation.


    There were about five or six simr dynamic environments.


    <i>Not many contribution points are required to ess these special training environments. With just ten points, one can practice at one site for a year. </i>


    He understood why the cost was low - the losses incurred by the sect during each use were inconsequential.


    <i>If I want to make further progress in Environmental Mastery, I should gradually adapt myself to these special environments.</i>


    Environmental Mastery, at its core, entailed being able to perceive one''s surroundings to ensure no oversights duringbat. Was this the pinnacle of martial arts? Wu Yuan had no answer. However, he sensed further room for progress on the path he had chosen. That alone was sufficient for him to feel he made the right choice.


    <i>Hmm? I can even redeem contribution points for an expert to apany me during practicalbat training. </i>Wu Yuan flipped through thest few pages. Havingpleted the book, he closed it.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect has truly poured everything into building the Cloud Martial Hall, no wonder disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall generally surpass those of other tertiary martial academies.</i>


    Talent was just one aspect. The Cloud Martial Hall provided secret techniques, Grandmaster''s Insights, auxiliary treasures, special cultivation environments, individual practicalbat mentoring...


    One could say that the sect had everything prepared. As long as their disciples cultivated diligently, most would achieve some level of sess. By their twenties, they could easily be third-rate Adepts.


    <i>Besides the necessities to maintain my disguise, I will mainly spend my contribution points on cultivation treasures first, then on special cultivation environments. </i>Everything else was secondary.


    He set the book down and arranged his belongings properly. After that, he made his way to the center of the training ground.


    <i>I trained daily on the journey here, and my physical constitution has improved slightly. Let''s try the blood-red mist again.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes.


    Within his upper dantian lobe, a denseyer of blood-red mist enveloped the towering ck pagoda. The quantity was much greater than before.


    <i>During the battle in Li City, I didn''t kill many enemies, yet there��s several times more blood-red mist present now than when I killed Bai Yuxian.</i>


    This only confirmed Wu Yuan''s previous guess. The more enemies he killed, and the stronger they were, the more blood-red mist would emerge from the ck pagoda.


    <i>Let''s give it a shot. </i>Strands of blood-red mist surged from the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, quickly extending to Wu Yuan��s limbs and body. And then��assimted!


    <i>My body can continue to absorb the blood-red mist?</i> Wu Yuan''s heart filled with tion as he sensed the subtle changes within him. He could barely detect them, yet it was undeniable.


    <i>Though I''ve consumed more blood-red mist this time, the improvement is smaller. </i>Was it because the blood-red mist needed for evolution increased in tandem with the refinement of his physical constitution?


    The process onlysted for a moment.


    <i>I can''t absorb any more blood-red mist? </i>A glimmer of surprise flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    After a brief period of contemtion, a theory took shape in his mind.


    <i>The reason I experienced massive changes previously was because it was this body��s first time absorbing the blood-red mist. My body was akin to a nk canvas, riddled with numerous imperfections in gic makeup, offering ample room for enhancement. And a few days ago, these ws werepletely repaired.</i> Wu Yuan spected.


    Both his genome and physical constitution had already reached their current limit. Consequently, the amount of blood-red mist that could be assimted had also diminished.


    <i>My body is still developing and growing. Does this mean that as long as my physical constitution further improves, I can absorb more blood-red mist?</i>


    In other words, Wu Yuan''s progress could no longer race along as quickly as it did in the previous months. Only gradual progress was possible.


    <i>However, with the aid of the blood-red mist and over three more years left in my body''s golden development period, the extent to which my physical constitution improves is destined to far exceed normal martial artists. </i>Wu Yuan was calm.


    <i>My only concern is whether the blood-red mist I currently possess can sustain my cultivation until I turn eighteen.</i>


    At this moment, the blood-red mist seemed plentiful. Yet, Wu Yuan keenly noticed that the further his body evolved, the more blood-red mist was consumed. There were also no enemies for Wu Yuan to y on Cloudhill.


    Wu Yuan took some time to gauge the total quantity of blood-red mist surrounding the ck pagoda.


    <i>Based on the rate of consumption just now, the existing blood-red mist should be sufficient for another year.</i>


    As for what would happen after one year? He would cross that bridge when he came to it.


    1. Taijijian: a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art tai chi. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional tai chi schools. The different family schools have various warmups, forms and fencing drills for training with the sword. ?


    2. Bajiquan: a traditional Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power in closebat and is well known for its rapid elbow and shoulder strikes ?


    3. Baguazhang: one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or neijia). Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism. ?


    4. metaphor for indecipherable text ?

 Chapter 106: Number One In The Jiang Continent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 106: Number One In The Jiang Continent (2)</h4>


    At dawn the following day, two people arrived at Wu Yuan''s private courtyard house.


    "Instructor Zhao," Wu Yuan respectfully greeted, then bowed to the slightly frail elder in ck robes, "Disciple Wu Yuan pays his respects to Sect Elder Mo."


    The sect elder in ck robes was Mo Jingchen. His aura was calm, indicating he had recovered significantly from his injuries.


    "Wu Yuan, you are already acquainted with Sect Elder Mo?" Zhao Baifan was somewhat surprised.


    "We traveled to the sect together," Mo Jingchen chuckled, "I didn''t expect to see you again so soon, Wu Yuan. My impression of you was that you were quite talented, but I never imagined you would break the historical record of the Skystride Pavilion set by Ancestor Fang Xia," Mo Jingchen said with a sigh.


    "It was merely a fluke," Wu Yuan modestly replied.


    "Sect Elder Tian verified it personally, it was no fluke," Mo Jingchenughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But don''t let sess make youcent."


    Wu Yuan nodded, though internally perplexed. Why was this Sect Elder Mo visiting him instead of tending to his injuries?


    Zhao Baifan said, "Wu Yuan, the hierarchs have taken notice of you and assigned Sect Elder Mo as your martial skills instructor. When ites to martial skills, Sect Elder Mo ranks among the top three of all sect elders, and borders on the level of Grandmaster. He is more than capable of teaching you.��


    Zhao Baifan continued, "Aren''t you going to kowtow to your master?"


    "Sect Elder Mo will be instructing me?" Wu Yuan''s face was filled with surprise and disbelief, but inwardly his thoughts flew.


    Mo Jingchen was indeed highly skilled inbat, far superior to the likes of Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan. However, his physical constitution had deteriorated with age, making it challenging for him to utilize his secret techniques, which significantly reduced his strength.


    Given the same physical constitution, Wu Yuan surmised that he could defeat Chen Tangru in twenty moves. But to defeat Mo Jingchen? It would take at least 50 moves.


    But despite acknowledging his skills, Wu Yuan did not think the man was worthy of being his master. It wasn''t that he was unwilling to ept a master, but Wu Yuan''s pride demanded a show ofpelling strength before he could willingly submit.


    Whether he sensed Wu Yuan''s reluctance or that he was personally unwilling to ept a disciple, Mo Jingchen said, "There is no need for me to be his master. Just call me Instructor Mo. After all, this old body of minecks the ability to teach you as a true master would. Once a month, I will provide you with some guidance."


    "Instructor Mo," Wu Yuan nodded slightly. This arrangement was the most fitting one.


    Mo Jingchen returned the nod. In truth, he was reluctant toe, but was bound by the orders of the hierarchs. Along with Wu Yuan''s undeniable talent, he reluctantly made the trip.


    "Wu Yuan," Zhao Baifan said. "Apart from informing you about Sect Elder Mo''s appointment as your instructor, I am also here to discuss the adjustments to your training n."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan was intrigued. What adjustments were they going to make?


    "Initially, we agreed on an annual allocation of 50,000 contribution points."


    "But yesterday, the hierarchs decreed that the sect will grant you a yearly allocation of 100,000 points during your training in the Cloud Martial Hall. Additionally, the sect will supply you with ten additional drops of Ancient Immortal Dew every year." Zhao Baifan exined, "Ancient Immortal Dew is superior to Cloudspring Blood, with fewer side effects. You may review its effects in the outline; it is introduced in detail there. Everything else remains unchanged."


    "Many thanks to the hierarchs and the hall master." Wu Yuan respectfully responded, feeling quite moved.


    The Cloudstride Sect truly knew how to make grand gestures. 100,000 contribution points was not surprising, but ten drops of Ancient Immortal Dew was quite remarkable. It was a yearly provision, equivalent to spending a million silver taels on him each year, a substantial investment for the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Of course, the sect has high expectations of you. In this year''s annualpetition, seize a spot in the top ten. In next year''spetition, im first ce!" Zhao Baifan emphasized, "If you fail to achieve this, the contribution points and the Ancient Immortal Dew will be halved."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Were the expectations high? If Wu Yuan truly possessed only this much strength, then the expectations weren''t low. However, Wu Yuan would easily defeat the Cloud Heirs if he so desired.


    "Wu Yuan,e outside and bring your saber," Mo Jingchen instructed. "I wish to test your current abilities."


    "Yes." Wu Yuan retrieved a fifth-grade superior weapon.


    The trio made their way to the sprawling 600-square-foot training ground outside. Wu Yuan and Mo Jingchen stood around twenty meters apart. Zhao Baifan didn''t interrupt, observing from the sidelines.


    "Come, Wu Yuan, attack me with all your strength." Mo Jingchen instructed with a smile.


    "All my strength?" Wu Yuan hesitated, eyeing the empty-handed Mo Jingchen.


    Did he really mean it?


    "There��s no need to worry, given your strength, I can easily restrain you," Mo Jingchenughed, "Young man, don''t underestimate me because I am old."


    "Alright, Instructor Mo. Be careful." Wu Yuan stepped forth and swung his saber.


    A short momentter, Wu Yuan stepped back, saber in hand. "Instructor Mo, please guide me."


    This type of ''all-out fight'' was very tiring!


    "Do you specialize in quick attacks? In terms of martial skills, even some second-rate Adepts are probably not aspetent as you." Though Mo Jingchen already knew Wu Yuan''s abilities, he was still surprised after actually crossing des with the teenager.


    "You really are a little monster. However, your movements remind me of an old friend. His saber techniques were just as fast!" Mo Jingchen shook his head, seemingly invoking some less-than-pleasant memories.


    He then looked at Wu Yuan, "I will now demonstrate the proper execution of your saber techniques. Watch carefully."


    "Mm.�� Wu Yuan observed intently.


    Half an hourter, Mo Jingchen concluded his instruction, during which Wu Yuan had focused seriously.


    "One month from now, I shall return to assess your progress in training," Mo Jingchen dered solemnly. "Do not ck off."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Instructor Mo. I won''t disappoint you in a month''s time," Wu Yuan expressed his eagerness. He then watched as Mo Jingchen and Zhao Baifan vanished from his sight.


    <i>How tiring. </i>The smile on Wu Yuan''s face faded, and he frowned slightly. <i>It appears I need to reveal my abilities sooner.</i>


    <i>Today, I shall visit Gale Crag.</i> Wu Yuan decided on his destination and left the courtyard house.


    ...


    Zhao Baifan and Mo Jingchen departed from the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "Sect Elder Mo, how is Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan couldn''t help asking as they walked.


    "A genius!" Mo Jingchen said softly. "Hisprehension ability is extraordinary; no wonder he managed to grasp Twofold Power Surge on his own in just a few months. Despite being nearly 100 years old, I have yet to encounter such a prodigious individual."


    "What a pity." Mo Jingchen shook his head.


    "Why?" Zhao Baifan was startled.


    "It''s a pity that I am old andck energy. If I were 30 years younger, I would definitely take him as my disciple." Mo Jingchenughed. "With proper guidance and sufficient time, he could be a Great Grandmaster renowned across the world. Even if I cannot be a Grandmaster myself, it would be an honor to teach one."


    Zhao Baifan was left speechless.


    "Little Baifan, rest assured. At my age, the five halls hold no sway over me. Furthermore, Wu Yuan is destined to surpass the confines of any single hall. In due time, he shall lead the entirety of the Cloudstride Sect," Mo Jingchenughed heartily. "With the benevolence of the hierarchs, I shall dedicate myself to his tutge."


    "Thank you for your efforts, Sect Elder." Zhao Baifan smiled.


    ...


    Having passed the first level of the Skystride Pavilion, Wu Yuan''s reputation in the Cloud Martial Hall skyrocketed, and he became the talk of the town for some time.


    However, Wu Yuan didn''t care much about these matters. While he didn''t mind acquainting himself with the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall, he saw no need to actively forge friendships.


    Wu Yuan made appearances at the public lectures in the martial grand hall every three to five days, devoting the rest of his time to training alone.


    Apart from setting aside a fixed block of time each day for Strength Training, he mainly practiced in Gale Crag.


    His unconventional method of cultivation was soon reported to the upper echelons of the sect. However, after Zhao Baifan and Wu Yuan sparred several times, the sect''s upper echelons decided to withdraw their interference once they confirmed Wu Yuan''s rapid improvement in both physical constitution and skill.


    A genius couldn''t be evaluated bymon sense.


    ...


    As time passed, news of Wu Yuan breaking Grandmaster Fang Xia''s record spread far beyond the borders of Cloudhill. After all, Grandmaster Fang Xia''s fame was tremendous. Moreover, the major yers of the Jiang Continent and their subdivisions ced great emphasis on any information regarding the Cloudstride Sect.


    The Cloudhill branch of the Sta Consortium was one of its seventeen continent-level branches in the world, granting them ess to immense resources.


    Within the ninth floor of the main building, an elderly man dressed in grey robes, approximately sixty years old, furrowed his brows as he flipped through a list of names. "Are you certain about this ranking? Wu Yuan is not even fifteen yet. Is it appropriate to ce him so high?"


    The first page of the name list clearly read: ��Preliminary Edition of the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings.��


    "Overseer," a middle-aged man dressed in a purple and white patterned robe solemnly said, "At fourteen, this Wu Yuan haspleted level one of the Skystride Pavilion, almost a year earlier than Grandmaster Fang Xia."


    "So what? He''s just a third-rate Adept," the grey-robed elderly man frowned. "Who knows whether he consumed any forbidden substances that overdraft his vitality to boost his physical constitution?"


    Cases like this were not umon in history. Some young experts possessed the strength of 30,000-40,000 catties at the age of fifteen or sixteen. Yet, even in their twenties, their strength remained stagnant at 30,000-40,000 catties!


    "The Cloudstride Sect isn��t made up of fools. We conducted a thorough investigation. They''ve assigned a Savant expert to personally tutor this Wu Yuan," Director Li solemnly stated. "ording to our previous information from Southdream, Wu Yuan is currently a sixth-grade martial artist at best."


    "Thus, my conjecture is that he has an extraordinary martial skill level. He might already have mastered Twofold Power Surge." Director Li turned to look at the grey-robed elderly man.


    "What?" The grey-robed elder was somewhat incredulous, his gaze flickering.


    "Overseer, I understand your thoughts. Elevating Wu Yuan��s rank this suddenly will undoubtedly attract attention from various powers and possibly incite dissatisfaction from the Cloudstride Sect," Director Li said. "However, if the Cloudstride Sect itself isn''t concealing this information, we can hardly be med."


    "Furthermore, Overseer, you must understand that our Sta Consortium thrives on chaos in the world," Director Li continued. "It has always been our guiding principle."


    Be it the Land Rankings or Genius Rankings, was it out of goodwill that the Sta Consortium invested tremendous efforts into gathering information?


    A widely recognized ranking list was meant for the organization''s prestige and benefits, and also an effective weapon to provoke the nerves of various powers.


    "Very well, we shall publish the rankings ording to this list!"


    ...


    As October arrived, various powers around the world, particrly martial artists, fixated their attention on a single matter: the highly anticipated annual ''Land Rankings'' was soon to be released!


    Simrly, the ''Genius Rankings''piled by each Sta branch in the various continents needed to be revised ordingly. As one of the seven continents in the Central ins, the Jiang Continent naturally had no shortage of individuals eagerly awaiting the Genius Rankings.


    When the initial ''Genius Rankings'' volumes were distributed to the various branches, they were swiftly snapped up.


    "The top rank in the ''Genius Rankings'' is unexpectedly not Xu Hui? He has been pushed to second ce."


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "Who is this Wu Yuan? A special recruit of the Cloudstride Sect?"


    "Fourteen years old? It��s his first time on the list!"


    "The Genius Rankings, Cloudstride''s Wu Yuan, number one in the Jiang Continent!" This explosive news swept across the entire Jiang Continent like a whirlwind.

 Chapter 107: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (1)

    <h4>Chapter 107: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (1)</h4>


    The Sta Consortium was renowned for its three rankings: the Land Rankings, the Human Rankings, and the Genius Rankings. Among them, the most crucial and weighty was undoubtedly the Land Rankings. Any one of the Grandmasters listed therein wielded the power to determine the fate of an entire region or even the whole world.


    However, those who truly had a vested interest in the Land Rankings were primarily martial arts powerhouses.


    For themon folk and even the majority of martial artists, most simply paid a cursory nce to whoever held the top spot, and perhaps the Land Rankers from their own continent.


    As for the Land Rankers from other continents? The ordinary people scarcely bothered to take notice. After all, such heights were too lofty, too far removed from their daily lives.


    Generally speaking, within each continent, the focus of attention unquestionablyy with the Human Rankings.


    This list, teeming with countless names, epassed renowned Savant experts and first-rate Adepts from every corner of a continent, figures well known to the citizens of each province and county.


    For the vast majority of martial artists, the Land Rankings seemed distant, while the Human Rankings were a more tangible and attainable pursuit.


    Evennd bandits and water thieves across the region paid close attention to the annual Human Rankings.


    Why so? Because often, righteous experts would sweep through thends, annihting the bandit threats along their path. Hence,nd bandits and water thievesmitted to memory the experts listed in the Human Rankings. Should theye across one, they would do their utmost to avoid provoking them, increasing their chances of survival.


    As for the Genius Rankings? Those listed also enjoyed a significant level of fame, albeit much less whenpared to the Human Rankings. After all, the young prodigies had to reach maturity before they could secure a ce on the Human Rankings. In terms of deeds and legends, the majority of geniuses paled inparison to the experts of the Human Rankings.


    This year, however, the circumstances in the Jiang Continent had changed.


    Among the experts andmon folk of the sixteen provinces of Jiang Continent, the topic of the Genius Rankings overshadowed even the Human Rankings. And all because of a single individual: Wu Yuan!


    He was listed on the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings for the first time before the age of fifteen, one of the youngest ages ever recorded among the prodigies of various powers within the continent. And not only did he make the list, but he imed the top spot.


    This signified that, in the opinion of the Sta Consortium, Wu Yuan was already recognized as the foremost talent of the current generation in the Jiang Continent! Even Xu Hui, who became a first-rate Adept at the age of 23, was ced second.


    One must understand that copies of the Genius Rankings were sold even at the municipality-level Sta Consortiums.


    And thus, the whole of the Jiang Continent was shaken. Countless martial artists andmoners had the same question on their minds: what in the world had Wu Yuan done to deserve such a rank?


    The Sta Consortium''s introduction of Wu Yuan offered little insight, consisting only of two sentences: A special recruitment disciple of the Cloudstride Sect. He broke a record set by Grandmaster Fang Xia!


    "Heavens! Ascending to the top of the Genius Rankings at the age of fourteen and a half, how talented must he be?"


    "Grandmaster Fang Xia, I''ve only heard of him."


    "Is he a Grandmaster of the Cloudstride Sect?"


    "Fang Xia is the greatest Grandmaster in the history of the Cloudstride Sect, one of the top Grandmasters that the Jiang Continent has produced in thest 500 years."


    "So, is Sta Consortium implying that Wu Yuan is even more impressive than Grandmaster Fang Xia in his youth?"


    "The top two talents of Jiang Continent are now both from the Cloudstride Sect." The entire Jiang Continent buzzed with discussion.


    The name Wu Yuan truly echoed throughout the Jiang Continent!


    The Sta Consortium, universally recognized for itsprehensive intelligencework, was unique in its capacity to erect branches in any power across thends, openly amassing information. Their published lists held unmatched credibility.


    The three major lists of the Sta Consortium garnered immense attention from the six major powers and various factions, who, upon receiving the lists, naturally sprang into action. Apart from them, numerousrge families within the Cloudstride Sect also rapidly scrambled to gather any and all information on Wu Yuan.


    Manpower and resources were mobilized to investigate every detail from the time of his birth - his growth trajectory, experiences, family background, enemies, friends, rtives, and so forth...


    ...


    Nested underground within an unassuming mansion in the Southdream Province was a hideout of the Great Jin Empire.


    "Such a prodigy? Even more talented than Xu Hui?" The youth held up the list in disbelief. "How is this possible?"


    "The Sta Consortium wouldn''t rank him number one without reason," the middle-aged woman in purple robes retorted, a cold gleam in her eyes, "He must possess Grandmaster potential."


    "Then we...?" The youth gulped, an anxious look on his face.


    "We��re in deep trouble," the woman in the purple robe stated icily. "Such a talent has emerged from the area within our jurisdiction, and though we noticed him early on, we failed to mitigate the risk. A catastrophe has brewed. The higher-ups will surely penalize us."


    "Moreover, I have checked his background. His father died in the Battle of Hillstride. Once he matures, he will surely seek revenge against our Great Jin Empire. Report it!" The woman in the purple robemanded.


    In truth, even before they could ry this information, the upper echelons of the Great Jin Empire had already issued a decree: "Rank Wu Yuan as fourteenth on the Jiang Continent Current Danger Index and first on the Potential Danger Index."


    The reason for Wu Yuan''s rtively low cement as the fourteenth on the index was because the thirteen above him were either Grandmasters, or among the top ten on the Human Rankings, powerful Savant experts that stood a great chance of ascending to the Grandmaster level.


    In other words, in the eyes of the high-ranking members of the Great Jin Empire, Wu Yuan posed a greater threat than most of the Savant experts. His existence called for urgent elimination.


    ...


    Although Wingborne Sect was situated in the Dong Continent and not the Jiang Continent, the two sects were nheless nemeses, and they paid close attention to any news about the Cloudstride Sect.


    "I''ve said it before, Wu Yuan is a significant threat. A bunch of ipetents," Luo Beixiong raged, "We should have deployed a Savant expert to kill him long ago."


    How could he not be enraged? His heir, Luo Fu, had perished, yet the enemy he most wanted to kill was soaring to new heights.


    ...


    At the Jiang Continent branch of the Ninedeaths Circle, a man in ck robes asked, "Have you found out where his family members are?"


    "His only two immediate family members were escorted to Cloudhill City a month ago, and are currently under heavy protection. There are Savant experts stationed there all year round, along with numerous Adepts. It''s impossible for us to abduct them unnoticed.��


    "Forget it then," the man in ck robes shook his head, "The Cloudstride Sect has always provided excellent protection for the families of their martial artists."


    "Keep an eye on Wu Yuan and keep up to date on any information about him."


    "Yes, Sir!"


    ...


    "What? Our Ninedragon Peaks had once attempted to assassinate him? Does the Cloudstride Sect know?��


    As a second-rate underground organization, the Ninedragon Peaks was taken aback when they discovered this forgotten detail while gathering information about Wu Yuan. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the Cloudstride Sect was likely aware of their failed assassination attempt.


    The higher echelons wasted no time in deliberating on the situation.


    "We must keep a low profile at once."


    "Cover up any evidence regarding this incident. For our branches within the territories of the Cloudstride Sect, consolidate the organizational strength as much as possible. In addition, send someone to apologize to the Cloudstride Sect, and put this matter to rest."


    ...


    In the east of Cloudhill City, a grand mansion stood. This was the permanent residence of the top n in the Cloudstride Sect, the Fang n.


    Although the Fang n had fallen into decline, without even a single Savant expert in their midst, they were still irrefutably the number one n of the sect. This was because they were the n descendants of Ancestor Fang Xia, the legal basis of the Cloudstride Sect''smand over the four provinces.


    "Wu Yuan is not yet married, right? His n is a small one, and could use our assistance."


    "Immediately utilize all connections. Have our nsmen in Cloudhill and disciples in the Cloud Martial Hall make contact with Wu Yuan," the current patriarch of the Fang n ordered, "As long as he is willing, my family will gift him 500,000 contribution points and two million silver taels."


    "Agreed."


    "Agreed."


    "Agreed!" The top ranks of the Fang n quickly reached a consensus.

 Chapter 108: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (2)

    <h4>Chapter 108: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (2)</h4>


    Within the Southdream Wu n''s meeting hall, Wu Mao''s gaze swept across the assembly of n elders.


    "n Elders, do any of you have objections to my decision?" If so, voice them now."


    Silence ensued.


    Before each of the eleven n elders, a copy of the ''Jiang Continent Genius Rankings'' wasid.


    "Chieftain, you previously appointed Wu Yuan as a n elder and rewarded him generously. That was the right move," one n elder began, "But isn''t it a bit hasty to change the main n''s family now?"


    Seeing that someone had taken the initiative to speak, others started to chime in.


    "Yes, Wu Yuan''s achievement of topping the Genius Rankings is truly extraordinary and dazzling. But right now, he is only fourteen. It is difficult to predict whether he will reach adulthood," another elder added. "Perhaps we should wait another two years."


    "Agreed. Recing the main family is a matter of great significance for our Wu n. We should not be hasty." Most of the n elders expressed their opposition.


    Chieftain Wu Mao listened without uttering a word.


    Finally, the voices began to settle.


    "Are you all finished?" Wu Mao''s voice carried a cold edge. "A bunch of short-sighted fellows. Do you not understand how exceptional Grandmaster Fang Xia was? He was only a step away from the Heavenly Rankings, someone capable of single-handedly leading the Cloudstride Sect to its peak."


    "Wu Yuan has broken his record. Do youprehend what that means?" As Wu Mao''s cold gaze swept over the elders, each one lowered their heads. "Grandmaster! In the future, Wu Yuan has the potential to be a Grandmaster! Perhaps even a Great Grandmaster!" Only the top ten in the Land Rankings were qualified to be titled Great Grandmasters.


    "I know what your concerns are. Wu Yuan is too young," Wu Mao continued, "But it is precisely because he is young and his abilities are not yet fully developed, that we still have a chance."


    "If we wait some more? Wait for his abilities to improve, wait for him to be a first-rate Adept? A Savant expert?" Wu Mao snorted, "Will he still care about us then?"


    "Main n? Branch n? Do you know that the Wu n of Li City has already begun migrating to Cloudhill Province?" Wu Mao suddenly let out a sigh. "This is the Southdream Wu n''s greatest opportunity to rise."


    "What main n, what branch n? All that matters is seizing this opportunity. In a hundred years, my Wu n will stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the Fang and Yun families of Cloudhill as a Grandmaster n!"


    "When that happens, there will only be the Wu n of Cloudhill." Wu Mao intoned softly, "If the n elders assembly disagrees, then I hereby withdraw from the Southdream Wu n. I shall relocate my immediate family to Cloudhill Province." Wu Mao pronounced each word unequivocally.


    Dead silence. The n elders were dumbfounded, each one taken aback by Wu Mao''s audacious promation. They never anticipated him to wager everything on this.


    "Gentlemen." The grand elder, who had remained silent all this time, slowly broke the silence, "I concur. The Southdream Wu n should select its finest, and relocate them to the Cloudhill Province."


    "Henceforth, we make no distinction between the branch and main families. The Wu n is to be led by Wu Yuan!"


    A decisive strike of the gavel. With the chieftain and grand elder in agreement, the remaining n elders had little room for dissent.


    ...


    In Li City, Wu Qiming addressed the gathered Wu nsmen in the hall. "Everyone, Wu Yuan''s rise has exceeded our wildest expectations. I have received a letter from Sister Wanqin, stating that the sect has granted our n a mansion, along with a generous gift of silver."


    "I havee to a decision. The Li City Wu n is to immediately mobilize our personnel to head to Cloudhill Province, andy the initial foundations for our n��s future." Wu Qiming dered, "Dongyao, you shall take the lead."


    "Understood!" Wu Dongyao''s eyes gleamed with determination.


    "Remember, do not act recklessly. Your main duty is to represent the Wu n, form alliances with those from various backgrounds, and make thorough preparations," Wu Qiming instructed. "Above all else, ensure the safety of Sister Wanqin and Yijun."


    "This is merely the first step of the Wu n''s rise. How far we go in the future will mostly rely on Wu Yuan. The day he graduates will be the day the Wu n establishes itself in the Cloudhill Province."


    "If Wu Yuan bes a Grandmaster one day, he may live beyond a century, ensuring the prosperity of the Wu n for a hundred years. However, our most pressing need at the moment is ack of talented individuals."


    "Excluding him, the Li City Wu n doesn''t even have a single third-rate Adept. Our current focus must be on breeding and nurturing the next generation! People are the lifeblood of the n."


    ...


    Because of a ranking, the entire Jiang Continent was in uproar, with powers from all sides scheming and plotting in the shadows. Some wished to earn the favor of Wu Yuan.


    Some aimed for assassination, to strangle this prodigy while he was a fledgling.


    Yet, none of these had any effect on the Cloudstride Sect headquarters.


    If a Savant expert dared to trespass into Cloudhill, it would be a one-way trip. Only Grandmasters stood any chance.


    Of course, news of the Genius Rankings also reached the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "He''s ranked first right off the bat? Even Senior Brother Xu Hui was ced second? Isn''t the Sta Consortium favoring Wu Yuan too highly?"


    "Too exaggerated." The disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall engaged in fervent debates. Some believed the ranking was warranted, while many argued that it was unjust towards Xu Hui.


    Yes, Wu Yuan''s performance was indeed unimaginable. But he had merely passed a single trial at the Skystride Pavilion, whereas Xu Hui had fought his way to the top of annualpetitions and major tournaments, carving his reputation over the past eight years!


    Within the Cloud Martial Hall, numerous disciples held great respect for Xu Hui. Many saw him as a benchmark, the goal they were striving for.


    ...


    <i>At the highest point of the Cloud Martial Hall, within Xu Hui''s private courtyard house.</i>


    "Senior Brother, won''t you consider discussing things with your fellow Junior Brothers?" Ge Feng couldn''t help but speak up, "Many are upset on your behalf."


    "Upset about what?" Bncing on a single finger in the center of the training courtyard, Xu Hui''s voice remained steady.


    "Everyone thinks the Sta Consortium has gone too far." Ge Feng said passionately, "They feel Wu Yuan is too conceited..."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Xu Hui suddenly leaped andnded gracefully on the ground. He stared at Ge Feng with an odd look.


    "Senior Brother..." Ge Feng felt a shiver crawl down his spine.


    "Because of the Sta Consortium''s ranking, they think Wu Yuan is too conceited?" Xu Hui shook his head, "In my opinion, they need a reality check."


    "Or maybe...Those junior brothers and sisters did not utter such statements; it is merely your attempt to sow discord between me and Wu Yuan, is it not?" Xu Hui shot Ge Feng a piercing nce.


    "Senior Brother, how could I possibly..." Ge Feng protested.


    "Ge Feng, go back. There''s no need for you toe here anymore," Xu Hui frowned, "Wu Yuan''s ranking is well-deserved. There''s nothing more to be said."


    "Senior Brother, are you dismissing me? I am your younger brother!" Ge Feng red.


    "Cousin!" Xu Hui replied nonchntly.


    "Still a brother," Ge Feng mumbled.


    "Don��t worry, I am not casting you aside." Xu Hui spoke softly, "I am about to apply for graduation; I will no longer remain in the Cloud Martial Hall."


    "Graduation?" Ge Feng was stunned, "Senior Brother, you are merely 24. You still have two more years to train, then..."


    "It is pointless. During these eight years in the martial academy, I''ve learned all that needs to be learned. Master has taught everything he should," Xu Hui said calmly, "It''s time to venture out into the world. The world is vast, and I''ve long wanted to have a look. Cloudhill is too small."


    Ge Feng was struck speechless. Indeed, it was an established rule within the Cloud Martial Hall that any disciple who attained the status of a second-rate Adept could request to graduate.


    However, the vast majority of disciples would not choose to leave early. After all, where else could one find a cultivation environment that could evene close to rivaling the Cloud Martial Hall? It was important to note that senior disciples were allowed to venture outside the hall for field trials, so they were not confined to its premises at all times.


    "Senior Brother," Ge Feng suddenly spoke, a thought striking him. "I recall you once mentioning that you wouldn''t graduate until youpleted the third level of the Skystride Pavilion. Could it be...?"


    "Hehe," Xu Hui chuckled. "As long as you understand."


    Soon, he saw Ge Feng to the door.


    <i>The first on the Genius Rankings?</i> Xu Hui looked down at the martial academy below, at each courtyard house, each martial grand hall. <i>It''s been eight years.</i>


    <i>In this world of martial arts, there should be a ce for me, Xu Hui.</i>


    <i>Next year, on the Human Rankings, there should be my name. </i>


    With his sword in hand, Xu Hui ventured deeper into the Cloud Martial Hall, toward the Skystride Pavilion!

 Chapter 109: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (3)

    <h4>Chapter 109: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (3)</h4>


    Inside the martial chamber located on the first floor of Wu Yuan''s private courtyard, Wu Yuan shook his head faintly as he read thetest issue of the rankings. <i>How unexpected, the Sta Consortium actually ced me first on the Genius Rankings.</i>


    He had merely set a new historical record for the first level of the Skystride Pavilion; this ranking was somewhat exaggerated. However, this truly shed light on how highly Grandmaster Fang Xia was regarded in the Jiang Continent. It appeared he had acted rashly.


    <i>Hmm, judging from the sect''s reaction, there shouldn''t be much of a problem.</i>


    Spending a month in the Cloud Martial Hall had deepened his understanding of the Cloudstride Sect.


    <i>The Fang n, Yun n, Huan n... </i>Wu Yuan casually looked through the six congrattory letters.


    Four of them were from the families of Grandmasters, and two of them were from the families of current sect elders. The fact that these letters had found their way directly to Wu Yuan spoke volumes about the power and influence of these families within the Cloudstride Sect.


    The Fang n''s letter was the most straightforward. They had even gone to the extent of inviting a protectorate to personally deliver their message, and had expressed their willingness to betroth a daughter of their main family to Wu Yuan. The condition was clear - once he graduated from the academy, they would be bound in matrimony.


    The Fang n descended from the same bloodline as Grandmaster Fang Xia. Despite their decline, the n held a special status. As long as the Cloudstride Sect existed, the n would never fall.


    Wu Yuan declined them all. Then, he picked up thetest issue of the Human Rankings, flipping through it with great interest.


    On a page nearing the end of the book was the following:


    <i>Alias: Shadow de, Real name: Unknown.</i>


    <i>Ranked 68th in Jiang Continent Human Rankings, proficient in saber skills, stealth weapons, and control of burst secret techniques. Age estimated to be between 40 and 60.</i>


    <i>Family lineage and master: Unknown!</i>


    <i>Achievements: Slew Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan, both experts on the Human Rankings, in Li City. Defeated Savant expert Mo Jingchen in Li City.</i>


    <i>The Sta Consortium ranked me 68th on the Human Rankings? </i>This ranking was rather fair. One could say that given the strength Wu Yuan demonstrated at the time, this was slightly higher than expected.


    On the contrary, after the battle in Li City, Mo Jingchen''s ranking plummeted straight out of the top hundred. Clearly, the Sta Consortium deemed that Mo Jingchen, an old man nearing 100, no longer possessed the strength of a savant expert.


    As Wu Yuan continued to browse through the rankings, a gentle yet resonant voice echoed from outside the courtyard. "Wu Yuan, are you home?"


    "Hmm?" Wu Yuan looked up, slightly surprised. He quickly made his way to the courtyard.


    "Senior Brother Xu?" Wu Yuan greeted him with a smile. The visitor was none other than Xu Hui [1].


    They had first met at a public lecture half a month ago. Judging solely from their first meeting, Wu Yuan found Xu Hui to be a good man, open-hearted and magnanimous. Underneath his refined and schrly appearance, was a heart full of heroism.


    "Do I not get any tea?" Xu Hui jested.


    "Senior Brother, pleasee in." Wu Yuan quickly called out, "Uncle Liu, serve the tea."


    "Yes, Young Master." Uncle Liu was the oldest and most prudent out of Wu Yuan''s four servants. Hence, Wu Yuan appointed him as the steward of the house.


    Taking their seats in the reception room on the ground floor, Wu Yuan and Xu Hui were greeted with freshly prepared tea.


    "Have you seen thetest ranking by the Sta Consortium?" Xu Hui asked, cutting right to the chase.


    "I have," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "How does it feel?"


    "Like I''m in a dream," a faint hint of trepidation crossed Wu Yuan''s face, just like a normal fourteen-year-old boy, "Senior Brother, I..."


    "There''s no need to say anything, I''m not here to me you," Xu Huiughed, "This is the Sta Consortium''s ranking, it has nothing to do with you. Moreover, your ability to make the list is a testament to your talent."


    "Senior Brother, your abilities far surpass mine," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    "That''s because I''ve cultivated far longer than you," Xu Hui said softly, "You have immense talent and a good nature. You are ten times better than me when I was your age."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    "I''m here not to lecture you, but to give you a reminder as someone who has more experience." Xu Hui turned serious, "Don''t lose yourself in the fame."


    "Whether it��s securing the top position in the martial academy or iming a spot on the Genius Rankings, it''s all illusory! Only your strength is real."


    "Do not get overly concerned with breaking the Skystride Pavilion''s historical records. If you can break them, do so. If you cannot, do not let them weigh on you." Xu Hui smiled, his eyes twinkling as he continued, ��What truly matters is this: hold onto your initial intentions, remain true to yourself, and diligently cultivate your skills."


    "Consider that a final piece of advice from your senior brother before I depart. I hope I don''te across as being too naggy."


    "Not at all, Senior Brother. Your willingness to offer me advice shows that you hold me in high regard." Wu Yuan''s voice held a hint of concern as he asked, "You mentioned you''re leaving? Is it for a field trial?" Senior academy disciples were often sent down the mountain on field trials.


    "Ha! You may consider it a trial if you wish." Xu Hui replied with a grin, "Alright, Junior Brother Wu. Strive hard. I look forward to the day you surpass me."


    "Senior Brother." Wu Yuan''s youthful face beamed with energy and confidence. "I believe that one day, us martial brothers will stand side by side on the Land Rankings." His words were filled with the arrogance and pride of a young prodigy.


    "Let''s work hard together then." Xu Hui echoed with a warm smile.


    Looking at Wu Yuan, he saw a reflection of himself when he first entered the martial academy, the same youthful confidence.


    ...


    As the famous senior brother of the senior academy, everyone was expecting Xu Hui to host a grand ceremony upon his departure. But he left silently, without any fanfare.


    It was not until the current records of the second and third levels of the Skystride Pavilion were erased, that the hundreds of disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall learned about it.


    <i>Senior Brother Xu has departed?</i>


    Several days went by before Wu Yuan received the news.


    <i>He left after passing the third level of the Skystride Pavilion, refusing to hold a graduation ceremony? Senior Brother Xu is a true martial artist indeed. Havingpleted the third level of the Skystride Pavilion, he should be eligible for a ce on the Human Rankings.</i>


    A 24-year-old expert on the Human Rankings? That was someone who had a high chance of bing a Grandmaster!


    <i>We can only meet again in the future.</i> Wu Yuan had a good impression of Xu Hui. However, everyone had their own path, their own destiny.


    Shaking off the swirling thoughts in his mind, he continued to cultivate ording to his n.


    ...


    Days flew by.


    Even after Xu Hui''s departure, the debate about the first ce on the Genius Rankings didn''t cease among the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall.


    But in the year 3225 of the Eastern Martial calendar, after the first wave of heavy snowfall, the debate abruptly ended.


    During the junior academy''s annualpetition, Wu Yuan set a new record of neen consecutive victories, sweeping through all his senior brothers and sisters in the junior academy!


    He imed first ce in the annualpetition, bing the new ''Great Senior Brother'' of the junior academy.


    At that time, he was just fifteen.


    1. the Xu in Xu Hui is not the same as the Xu in General Xu ?

 Chapter 110: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (4)

    <h4>Chapter 110: From Spring to Autumn, Second-Grade (4)</h4>


    Spring ended, and autumn arrived.


    In the blink of an eye, winter descended once more, covering Cloudhill City with a thickyer of snow. Meanwhile, the unique climate of Eight-Sided Cloudhill meant that the temperature on the mountain dipped slightly, but remained pleasant overall.


    The Verge, a unique cliff on Cloudhill, extended like the formidable edge of a massive de, spanning nearly a hundred meters in length and a mere three feet in width. Below ity the Hundred Zhang Cliff.


    A young man in ck robes sat cross-legged at the edge of the cliff. His robes whipped about in the howling wind, yet he remained steady.


    His face, appearing no older than eighteen or neen, was as sharp as a saber. Years of cultivation allowed him to control his aura, and he bore an air of maturity and stability that belied his age. It was Wu Yuan!


    <i>After cultivating in solitude for over ten days, I have finally grasped the intricacies of this cliff and gainedplete control. </i>Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. <i>After residing on this mountain for a year and a half, my Environmental Mastery training has finally borne fruit.</i>


    Wu Yuan ascended Cloudhill in the Eastern Martial year of 3224, in the month of September. Now, it was February of the Eastern Martial year of 3226. Exactly a year and a half.


    Throughout this period, he had only descended the mountain once, during the previous winter after the annualpetition. He had spent the end of the year in Cloudhill City at the Wu Mansion, where he reunited with his mother and sister.


    In the Middle Land, New Years was celebrated in mid-February.


    <i>New Years is approaching.</i>


    This year''s junior academy annualpetition recently concluded, and Wu Yuan retained his title as the champion. For two consecutive years, he was the reigning champion of the Cloud Martial Hall''s junior academy annualpetition.


    Last year''s October issue of the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings still listed him in first ce.


    ��Wu Yuan.�� A woman in purple robes called out from the opposite end of the Verge, her voice cutting through the deafening howl of the wind.


    "Instructor Zhao." Wu Yuan rose and leaped into the air, a single bound carrying him over tens of meters. He then quickly returned to the main cliff. What appeared to be a precarious cliff to a normal person seemed like a t surface under his feet.


    "Instructor Zhao, what brings you here?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.


    The visitor was none other than Zhao Baifan, the instructor who guided Wu Yuan when he first arrived at the mountain. Of course, she seemed more like a ''life coach'' now.


    "Wu Yuan, your training methods are always so unique. You have been staying on the Verge for over ten days now," Zhao Baifan couldn''t help butment.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, "Overlooking the world from up here provides a unique perspective. Is Instructor Zhao here to spar with me again?"


    "I wouldn''t dare, you''re a little monster," Zhao Baifan shook her head, "Half a year ago, I could still hold my own against you with equal strength. But now? I''ll lose for sure." She had no inkling of the way Wu Yuan cultivated. His progress defied allprehension.


    Wu Yuan just smiled, offering no exnation. After all, could he admit that his martial skills were already on par with that of a Grandmaster?


    But due to Wu Yuan''s shocking rate of progress, the higher-ups of the Cloudstride Sect had never intervened with his training, amodating nearly all of his requests. This greatly pleased Wu Yuan.


    Over time, as he interacted with the various instructors, protectorates, and elders of the sect, his sense of belonging to the Cloudstride Sect grew stronger than ever since his arrival.


    "Instructor Zhao, you must have sought me out for a reason, please speak your mind," Wu Yuan said.


    "Of course," Zhao Baifan replied. "It''s about Sect Elder Mo. He will be leaving the mountain tomorrow and hopes you can go bid him farewell."


    "Instructor Mo?" Wu Yuan gave a slight nod, "All right, let''s go."


    ...


    Sect Elder Mo''s residence was a super mansion built right in the heart of Cloudhill.


    In no time, Wu Yuan and Zhao Baifan arrived at the meticulously arranged courtyard house.


    "Instructor Mo." Wu Yuan gave a respectful bow.


    Although the teachings Mo Jingchen imparted over the past year or so were of little help, the battle experiences he umted over a lifetime proved to be a wellspring of inspiration for Wu Yuan.


    And since half a year ago, Mo Jingchen had begun to tutor Wu Yuan every three to five days. Disregarding how much Wu Yuan actually took away from his lessons, Mo Jingchen had truly taught him wholeheartedly. Their temperaments also meshed well.


    "Please, sit." Mo Jingchen faintly smiled, looking older than he had a year ago.


    They all took their seats.


    "Wu Yuan, I have submitted my resignation to the sect and will be retiring to my hometown." Mo Jingchen said slowly, "I''m nearing a hundred years old, and once I descend from the mountain, I won''t be returning. Therefore, I hoped to see you onest time."


    Wu Yuan listened.


    "You are the most gifted disciple I have ever instructed," Mo Jingchen said. "In just a little over a year, you have already grasped the concept of Rigid Yet Supple. The only thing youckpared to me is experience, but I believe you will catch up to me within three to five years."


    "Your progress is nearly unbelievable." Mo Jingchen sighed. "The annals once said that the Martial King was first listed on the Heavenly Rankings at 30 years old. I used to consider it nothing more than an exaggeration from historians. But after witnessing your growth, I have no choice but to admit that true prodigies exist in this world."


    "I owe it all to your guidance, Instructor Mo," Wu Yuan humbly responded.


    "Stop ttering me," Mo Jingchen chuckled. "I did not summon you here merely to exchange pleasantries. As your martial skill instructor, I wish to present you with a gift before I depart."


    As Mo Jingchen spoke, he offered a book to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan epted the book, his eyes quickly scanning the title engraved on the cover, ''Secret Art: Hundred Waves''.


    "This?" Wu Yuan showed a puzzled expression.


    "You have read many secret technique manuals, and I have taught you several saber secret techniques," Mo Jingchen said. "But ordinary secret techniques only involve the saber itself. When you touch upon the Rigid Yet Supple stage, it means you are about to set forth on your own unique path."


    "Though your physical constitution is still weak, your martial skill level is high enough to practice a secret art."


    "Secret art?" Wu Yuan had a ''curious'' look.


    "Wu Yuan, a secret art is in fact a special kind of secret technique." Zhao Baifan exined from the side, "Typically, it involves a Grandmaster expert utilizing a special inner force to unleash a rapid burst of strength..."


    Zhao Baifan''s exnation allowed Wu Yuan to understand the term swiftly. The so-called secret art was simr to his self-created secret techniques such as ''Thousand Mountains'' and ''Ghostwalk''.


    "This secret art was specifically created for me by The Rain Hierarch in exchange for a million contribution points. It is tailored to my physical attributes. Today, I will be passing it on to you," Mo Jingchen said. "It may not suit you perfectly, but you may be able to gain some inspiration by referring to it."


    "I understand. Thank you, Instructor Mo." Wu Yuan replied gratefully.


    "But remember, do not use the secret art unless it is a matter of life and death," Mo Jingchen cautioned, his tone serious. "When you reach the Grandmaster level in the future, you should be capable of creating your own secret art."


    "Of course, once you reach the Grandmaster level, you might even obtain a forbidden art. At that point, a secret art would pale inparison," Mo Jingchen added.


    "Forbidden art?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "I have only heard about it, but there''s no harm in sharing. Secret arts are created by Land Rankers and their powers are still confined to the realm of mortals," Mo Jingchen smiled. "Above secret arts lie forbidden arts, also known as divine arts or immortal arts. These are crafted by Heavenly Rankers and passed on to powerhouses in the mortal world."


    Divine arts, immortal arts, crafted by Heavenly Rankers? Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with excitement. A whole new world was unfurling before him.


    "Forbidden arts are said to be immensely terrifying, capable of multiplying the user''s power. But those who surpass the nine grades of the martial artists are transcendents, fundamentally different from us ordinary beings," Mo Jingchen exined.


    "Therefore, for a martial artist to perform such a technique, the cost is severe. The least harmful oue would be serious injury, but it could easily lead to disability or even death. Therefore, it is known as a forbidden art!��


    Mo Jingchen sighed, ��Generally speaking, only a Land Ranker can safely perform it."


    Wu Yuan nodded, silently absorbing this newfound knowledge.


    ��Alright, let''s leave it at that,�� Mo Jingchen smiled, "Wu Yuan, this old man''s remaining years are numbered. Before my final breath, I hope to hear news of you making it onto the Land Rankings. You have the potential.��


    Having personally mentored Wu Yuan, he was convinced of the young man��s extraordinary talent.


    ...


    Wu Yuan returned to his courtyard house in the Cloud Martial Hall and began to leaf through the ''Secret Art: Hundred Waves��. Indeed, it was simr to the ��Thousand Mountains�� technique he had been practicing, perhaps even more refined. There was much he could learn from it.


    <i>Grandmaster Yu should have reached a higher skill level than me in my previous life.</i> Wu Yuan assessed.


    Since he came to the Middle Land two years ago, Wu Yuan had cultivated tirelessly. Long periods of Visualizing the ck pagoda had rapidly strengthened his soul, which was reflected in his cultivation. His rate of progress far exceeded that of his past life.


    Setting aside the secret manual, Wu Yuan made his way to the middle of the training ground.


    <i>Time to practice my punches.</i> Wu Yuan slowly practiced his fist techniques. Each movement was precise, his physical strength flowing like water.


    He made no effort to suppress his own power. Within the confines of the martial chamber, afterimages danced and blurred into existence!


    Despite the astounding disy of speed and power, the air seemed to offer no resistance, leaving no trace of a sonic boom in its wake.


    <i>The first level of Environmental Mastery is Perception! The second level is Integration!</i>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes were clear.


    <i>Integrating with the wind, the air no longer hinders. Integrating with the water, the current no longer obstructs.</i>


    <i>Without a trace, the same power erupts, unseen yet infinitely more perilous.</i>


    This was Wu Yuan''s greatest gain from his years of cultivation on Cloudhill.


    <i>Boom! </i>As his final punch connected with the air, a muffled sonic boom resounded. Fortunately, the private courtyard house��s soundproofing kept it contained. Wu Yuan had also confirmed that no one was within a hundred meters of his location.


    <i>A single-arm punch with a force of 110,000 catties. </i>A faint smile crept onto Wu Yuan��s face. <i>I wonder where I would rank in the Human Rankings now.</i>


    <i>It��s been half a year since Ist assimted the blood-red mist. I can''t help but wonder how much stronger I��ll be when it fuses with my body once more.</i>


    <i>The time hase to descend the mountain and embark on a hunt.</i>

 Chapter 111: Shadow Blade Resurfaces In The Martial World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 111: Shadow de Resurfaces In The Martial World (1)</h4>


    When Wu Yuan initially ranked in the Genius Rankings of the Jiang Continent, he believed that the blood-red mist would sustain him for a year.


    However, as time went on, he began to sense that something was amiss. The consumption of the mist was far greater than he had expected. The reason? His physical constitution was improving far too quickly!


    <i>The blood-red mist enhances one''s potential not temporarily, but permanently.</i>


    Wu Yuan recalled the events ofst year.


    His physical constitution had improved much faster than he had anticipated, and the blood-red mist was far more effective than he had imagined.


    By June ofst year, the blood-red mist enveloping the ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe had beenpletely depleted, all absorbed and fused into his body.


    Despite this, Wu Yuan''s progress remained swift. Four months ago, his one-armed punch had exceeded 100,000 catties. After the annualpetition, when heavy snowfall covered Cloudhill City, he effortlessly reached 110,000 catties! One could say that Wu Yuan was now a firmly established second-grade martial artist.


    Though he had only trained on the mountain for a year and a half, his physical constitution had increased by more than 40,000 catties. Bear in mind, Wu Yuan had only recently turned sixteen.


    And this was just his physical constitution. His martial skill was still at the Environmental Mastery level, but it had undergone a fundamental transformation.


    His overall strength? If he were to encounter his past self who had just ascended the mountain, the current him could kill that boy within five moves!


    <i>My body is capable of absorbing a significant amount of blood-red mist. I will soon descend from the mountain to take on a new mission from the Pleiades Guild. This will lead to a considerable enhancement of my physical constitution. </i>Anticipation filled Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    It had been well over half a year since hisst assimtion of the blood-red mist.


    What heights could his physical constitution reach after his next round of assimtion, supplemented by the Ancient Immortal Dew? It was hard to predict!


    <i>Two more years until the end of my golden development period. By then, how far will my power have increased? </i>Wu Yuan''s thoughts started to drift.


    Wu Yuan��s rate of progress far surpassed his initial expectations upon his transmigration. This was due to both Wu Yuan''s efforts and the influence of the mysterious ck pagoda!


    With a meticulous andprehensive cultivation n in ce, and constant adjustments to align his training with his actual rate of progress, Wu Yuan was able to optimize his growth.


    <i>If I��d left the mountain in the middle ofst year, it would have attracted the attention of the sect''s upper echelons. After all, I was only fifteen then.</i>


    Given the potential that Wu Yuan had shown, the sect was highly likely to assign a first-rate Adept or even a Savant expert to protect him if he left the mountain, thereby greatly restricting his actions. Back when Gu Ji acted as his personal bodyguard, it gave Wu Yuan a good number of headaches.


    Therefore, Wu Yuan persevered in solitary cultivation, prolonging his stay until the conclusion of the annualpetition and the arrival of the New Year.


    And now, he had just celebrated his sixteenth birthday.


    <i>Grandmaster Fang Xia set the second level��s historical record when he was seventeen and nine months old. Now that I''m sixteen, it''s about time.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s strategy was to gradually unveil his strength, keeping it at a reasonable level. The objective was to gain independence as swiftly as possible.


    <i>It''s time to meet the sect elder. </i>


    Wu Yuan retrieved his saber, securing it to his back. Then, he departed from his private courtyard.


    ...


    "Senior Brother Wu!"


    "Senior Brother."


    "Greetings, Senior Brother Wu." As he walked through the academy, disciples from the Cloud Martial Hall greeted Wu Yuan with beaming faces, some even disying a hint of reverence.


    This was a stark contrast to when Wu Yuan first entered the martial academy. Back then, he was embroiled in debates about who should earn the title of ''top genius'' between himself and Senior Brother Xu Hui.


    <i>I didn''t disy much strength in the past, which led to many controversies. But now, no one has any doubts left.</i>


    He triumphed over hispetitors in two consecutive annualpetitions, the most recent one less than ten days ago.


    Not a single disciple could withstand more than three moves from Wu Yuan, not even those junior academy disciples who were approaching their fifth year of training.


    This performance thrust Wu Yuan''s reputation in the Cloud Martial Hall into the spotlight, and hepletely reced Xu Hui''s position in the martial academy. The debate about who was the number one genius had since evaporated.


    Though he had only joined the Cloud Martial Hall two years ago and was still barely sixteen, many disciples from the senior academy started calling Wu Yuan ''Senior Brother'' as well. In the Cloud Martial Hall, powermanded respect!


    ��Look, that''s Senior Brother Wu. Since I joined the martial academy, this is only the second time I''ve seen him!" As several sixteen to seventeen-year-old female disciples exited the martial grand hall, one of them pointed to Wu Yuan with visible excitement.


    "Senior Brother Wu is like a dragon that one may catch glimpses of but is never fully seen," remarked an older female disciple. ��I''ve only caught glimpses of Senior Brother Wu a handful of times, even though we share the same age."


    "I heard Senior Brother Wu no longer attends the instructors'' sses."


    "Legend has it that Senior Brother Wu''s martial skills surpass even Instructor Zhao��s!"


    "Really? Are you sure?"


    "I heard this from a custodian senior in my family. Senior Brother Wu is said to train year-round in various parts of Cloudhill, hardly ever staying at the martial academy."


    "Maybe next year, Senior Brother Wu will be the ''Great Senior Brother'' of the entire martial academy." The group of disciples discussed excitedly.


    During his two years as a disciple of the academy, Wu Yuan had created many legends.


    Of the 700-800 disciples across both the senior and junior academies, a vast majority believed that by the next annualpetition, Wu Yuan had a high chance of securing a spot among the top ten Cloud Heirs. He might even take first ce!


    The Cloud Martial Hall''s rules never stated that disciples from the junior academy couldn''tpete for the position of Cloud Heir. However, it had been decades since the Cloud Martial Hallst saw such a prodigy.


    Xu Hui managed to achieve it, but only in his fourth year at the academy, where he ranked eighth among the Cloud Heirs. In his fifth year, he took first ce among the Cloud Heirs.


    Everyone believed that Wu Yuan was even stronger than Xu Hui all those years ago. No one among the current top ten Cloud Heirs could deny this, and none had ever been heardining about it. They all understood that Wu Yuan existed on a different level from them.


    When the gap was small, it bred jealousy. But when the gap was too wide, all that was left was admiration, reverence, or fear!


    However, Wu Yuan had no interest in pursuing status within the Cloud Martial Hall, just as he remained indifferent to the idle discussions among the disciples.


    ...


    After leaving the martial academy, he arrived at the south region of Cloudhill.


    Rows of imposing structures, edifices, and waterside pavilions stood, with vignt guards patrolling their perimeters.


    Visible and concealed sentry posts could be found at almost every turn, ensuring such stringent security that not even a Savant expert could infiltrate unnoticed.


    This was the Finance Hall''s territory. The soldiers, core disciples, and inner disciples all recognized Wu Yuan, allowing him to pass through effortlessly.


    He soon came to a halt at a grand hall and announced his arrival.


    "Wu Yuan, the sect elder has permitted you to enter," said a courteous middle-aged man in white robes.


    "Thank you, Custodian," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "No trouble at all, please follow me," replied the man in white robes. He was a second-rate Adept and personal bodyguard of the sect elder, but he did not dare treat Wu Yuan with the slightest disrespect.


    Together, they arrived at the grand hall, where only a couple of maidservants were present.


    "Wu Yuan pays his respects to Sect Elder Huan," Wu Yuan bowed.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, what brings you here out of the blue?" An obese, purple-robed man chuckled as he descended the steps.


    The purple-robed man had a menacing face, which only grew more frightful when heughed. He was a sect elder of the Finance Hall, Huan Zidong.


    But Wu Yuan knew that Huan Zidong''s personality was theplete opposite of his intimidating exterior.


    Over the past year or so, Wu Yuan came to understand that the Finance Hall only had three Savant experts, who were considered rtively weak in terms of martial power among the five halls of the Cloudstride Sect.


    The three Savant experts were the hall master, the deputy hall master, and Sect Elder Huan Zidong.


    The hall master? Wu Yuan had only met him once. The deputy hall master? They had never met, as he was rumored to be stationed in Baihu year-round.


    The one he interacted with most frequently was Sect Elder Huan Zidong. Over the past year, they had met and conversed on five or six asions.


    Huan Zidong had a rather gentle disposition and was widely known throughout the sect.


    However, his most prominent title was ''the son of a Grandmaster'', owing to his father��s position as The Sword Hierarch.


    But to Wu Yuan, Sect Elder Huan Zidong held multiple identities. He was not only the master of Protectorate Gao Yu but also the grandfather of Huan Xinyan. With theseplex rtionships intertwining, Wu Yuan''s association with Huan Zidong was destined to be a ratherplicated one.


    Among the higher-ups of the sect, it was an epted fact that Wu Yuan was part of Huan Zidong''s faction.


    The Cloudstride Sect��s territory spanned arge area, governing tens of millions of people. The sect''s internal power was naturally divided among its numerous hall masters and sect elders, giving rise to countless factions thatpeted with each other. However, in the face of external threats, these factions would inevitablye together in a show of unity.


    "Sect Elder, the year ising to an end, and I wish to leave the mountain," Wu Yuan stated bluntly.

 Chapter 112: Shadow Blade Resurfaces In The Martial World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 112: Shadow de Resurfaces In The Martial World (2)</h4>


    "Leave the mountain?" Huan Zidong pondered for a moment, "Hmm, you haven''t left the mountain for a year, so you must miss your family. Your training has been strenuous as well."


    "Alright, you have my permission. Just return to the mountain within a month," Huan Zidong agreed.


    Typically, disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall''s junior academy were granted a maximum of half a month''s leave annually. However, this strict management did not apply to those who had entered the senior academy and embarked on field trials in the martial world.


    But in Wu Yuan''s case? While the specifics of Wu Yuan''s cultivation method remained unclear, Huan Zidong was well aware of his unwavering dedication and the intensity of his training. This was evident from the rapid progress he had made. Naturally, Huan Zidong showed him more leniency.


    "Sect Elder, I would like a two-month vacation," Wu Yuan requested with a smile.


    "Two months?" Huan Zidong furrowed his brow slightly.


    "Yes, I estimate that I will spend only ten days with my family," Wu Yuan exined. "For the remainder of the time, I wish to explore the Jiang Continent on my own." Venturing into the world, that was Wu Yuan''s n.


    "No," Huan Zidong immediately rejected. "You''re just a sixteen-year-old kid, there''s no reason for you to delve into the martial world."


    "Sect Elder, I yearn to broaden my horizons," Wu Yuan persisted.


    "What do you know? What do you think the martial world is?" Huan Zidong frowned. "I am aware that you are fond of reading ssics, but do you know who wrote those martial tales? A bunch of miserable schrs, that''s who! What do they know about the martial world?"


    "Gvanting across vast continents, horses thundering and leaving their mark on the world, the sh of des and the dance of swords, merry feasts, and joyous melodies.�� Huan Zidong shook his head, These are nothing more than the fanciful creations of schrs'' minds. The reality of the martial world is far more treacherous. It is a world where one may be drugged, ambushed in their sleep, set upon by multiple assants, and ambushed in disadvantageous terrain with arrows and crossbows!"


    "This so-called martial world is nothing but a cesspool of lowly martial artists squabbling over insignificant gains."


    "Your current task is to focus on training. Wait until you be a first-rate Adept, or even a Savant expert. It won''t be toote to go on your adventures then." Huan Zidong was slightly peeved.


    His temperament was generally amiable, and he had high hopes for Wu Yuan. But it was precisely because of this that he was upset with Wu Yuan��s naivety.


    "Sect Elder, I''ve considered everything you said. I understand your worries." Wu Yuanughed. "How about you and I have a friendly sparring session? Equal base strength, no weapons."


    "If Sect Elder can capture me within 50 moves, I won''t mention field trials until I''m twenty." Wu Yuan grinned mischievously.


    Huan Zidong was stunned.


    The middle-aged man in white robes who had escorted Wu Yuan into the hall stared at Wu Yuan in disbelief. Was he challenging the sect elder?


    "Wu Yuan, are you serious?" Huan Zidong stared at him, searching for any sign that he was joking in his eyes.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan��s expression held utmost sincerity, exuding the confidence befitting a sixteen-year-old martial prodigy.


    "Little rascal, it seems your wings have finally hardened[1]," Huan Zidongughed. "Very well, I ept your challenge. If I am unable to capture you within 50 moves, I shall grant you permission to leave the mountain and wander the martial world."


    Huan Zidong then casually asked, "What''s your current single-arm strength?"


    "35,000 catties," replied Wu Yuan.


    "Hmm, not bad, 35,000..." A wave of realization suddenly washed over Huan Zidong, and he stared incredulously at Wu Yuan. "What did you say, 35,000 catties?"


    The minimum physical constitution requirement for a third-rate Adept, a fifth-grade martial artist, was 20,000 catties! And for a second-grade Adept, a fourth-grade martial artist, it was 30,000 catties.


    In other words, the power Wu Yuan disyed had far exceeded the basic requirement for a second-rate Adept! Keep in mind, he was only sixteen.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. He had thought of this from the very beginning. If he didn''t show enough strength, how would he convince the upper echelons of the Cloudstride Sect?


    Was this number impressive? Absolutely. But considering that Wu Yuan had alreadypleted the first level of the Skystride Pavilion at the age of fourteen and a half, his progress was notpletely oundish. It fell within a reasonable range.


    Huan Zidong wasn''t the only one taken aback. The middle-aged man in white robes felt his jaw drop to the floor. After all, he was already more than 40, yet still a second-rate Adept.


    "Wu Yuan, I believe you wouldn''t deceive an old man like me," Huan Zidong said with a solemn face, "But your physical constitution alone is not enough to convince me. Let me see how much you''ve learned from Sect Elder Mo in the past year and a half."


    Wu Yuan bowed and made a gesture of invitation.


    The hall they were in was spacious enough, covering an area of 200 square meters.


    The middle-aged man in white robes, along with the maidservants, quickly retreated to the sidelines, creating space for Wu Yuan and Huan Zidong to spar.


    They stood some distance apart, facing each other. One, the son of a Grandmaster, a sect elder! One, the most dazzling prodigy of the Cloudstride Sect, just sixteen years old.


    "Boy, take this!" Huan Zidong stripped off his outer robes, leaving only his inner armor on. In a sh, he lunged at Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom!</i> Huan Zidong''s kicknded with an explosive force, surpassing 100,000 catties of power.


    Wu Yuan understood that Huan Zidong wasn''t breaking the rules of the match, but simply activating Threefold Power Surge. Both sides were only restricting their raw physical strength.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s figure moved, surprisingly attacking first. He dodged the kick and unleashed his own from an angle, equally swift.


    With another activation of Threefold Power Surge, the ground fissured beneath their feet.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Huan Zidong''s expression shifted, and he promptly modified his movement mid-air, intercepting Wu Yuan''s leg with his leg technique.


    <i>Bang~</i> With a muffled sound, both of them retreated.


    "Good rascal." Huan Zidong wore a serious expression, no longer taking Wu Yuan lightly.


    The power Wu Yuan exhibited truly shocked him.


    <i>Boom!</i> Huan Zidongunched another attack, this time forgoing his leg technique to unleash a flurry of fist strikes as sharp and lethal as sabers. "Roving Dragon!"


    Unfazed, Wu Yuan''s gaze remained calm as he stepped back beforeunching himself forward.


    A series of muffled explosions reverberated, akin to sonic booms. The force of the collision generated perilous gusts of wind, causing nearby maidservants to pale.


    Meanwhile, the white-robed middle-aged man stood transfixed, his mouth agape at the blinding speed of thebatants, which left afterimages in their wake.


    What 35,000 catties? This was a sh at the level of first-rate Adepts!


    In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over a hundred moves, creating a storm of flying rubble in the middle of the grand hall.


    <i>Bang!</i> Wu Yuan appeared to slip up, and was sent flying by a punch from Huan Zidong,nding ten meters away. The battle came to a halt.


    "Sect Elder, I admit defeat," Wu Yuan chuckled as he picked himself up.


    "No, it is I who lost," Huan Zidong shook his head. "Did you think I wouldn��t notice? After over a hundred moves, you purposely left an opening, giving this old man some face."


    "It''s all because Sect Elder possesses exceptional skills," Wu Yuan said earnestly.


    Huan Zidong burst into a helplessugh. "Alright, you little rascal, if you don''t know how to tter others, then don''t."


    He then sighed emotionally, "I didn''t expect your martial skills to have reached this level. No wonder Sect Elder Mo left, he must have felt there was nothing more to teach you,"


    "I still have much to learn from Instructor Mo," Wu Yuan responded.


    "Mm." Huan Zidong nodded, "Sect Elder Mo��s skills are extraordinary. He had great potential to be a Grandmaster back in the day, but s... Never mind, it''s pointless for a junior like you to hear about these old stories."


    "Kid, your strength is impressive. Now, I fear you can even pass the second level of the Skystride Pavilion. But remember, strength is not the only aspect necessary for traveling around the Jiang Continent," Huan Zidong warned with a serious expression, "You also need experience."


    He looked at Wu Yuan, "Furthermore, you should be aware that you are the number one prodigy in the Jiang Continent, with countless forces setting their sights on you. If you strut around like this, it''s still fine if you don''t leave Cloudhill City, but once you do, that''s not adventuring, it''s suicide!"


    Huan Zidong��s intentions were clear as day: to dissuade Wu Yuan from leaving the mountain.


    "Sect Elder. What if I can do this?" Wu Yuan grinned. A crackling sound echoed through the air as his bone structure contorted.


    Under the stunned gazes of Huan Zidong, the white-robed man, and maidservants, Wu Yuan transformed from a strapping young man nearly 1.9 meters tall into a robust man shorter than 1.8 meters.


    His bones and muscles expanded in size, and even his face shape underwent a slight change. His entire presence was utterly transformed.


    "This? Transfiguration?" Huan Zidong struggled to believe his eyes. "Wu Yuan, how did you do it? You''ve only just begun to grasp Rigid Yet Supple."


    "Sect Elder, I''m only sixteen." Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Huan Zidong frowned for a moment, but soon understood. "That''s right, as one grows older, their musculoskeletal system loses its pliancy. Transfiguration bes increasingly difficult."


    "But as a teenager, your musculoskeletal system is naturally more flexible, lowering the difficulty of Transfiguration. You''re able to perform it as long as you have a basic grasp." Huan Zidong sighed.


    "Sect Elder," Wu Yuan spoke with a smile. "I am fully aware of the risks associated with leaving the mountain. However, remaining in Cloudhill year-round can feel stifling at times. I long to explore the world, to take a breath of fresh air."


    "Rest assured, Sect Elder. Firstly, I won''t reveal my identity. Secondly, I won''t leave the sect''s territory. Thirdly, I''ll return to Cloudhill in two months." Wu Yuan assured him solemnly.


    Huan Zidong still seemed hesitant.


    After a pause, Huan Zidong said, "Wu Yuan, you may head back first. I will have to consult with the hall master and others. But rest assured, even if your request is not approved in the end, you will be granted a month''s vacation."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    He empathized with Huan Zidong''s concerns but couldn''t divulge any further information. After all, time could exin his talents, but there was no way to exin his level of experience in the martial world.


    Even if he were only given a month''s holiday, Wu Yuan felt it was sufficient.


    Huan Zidong sternly added, "One more thing. Although you now have the strength toplete level two of the Skystride Pavilion, you must not attempt it before the annualpetition next year. Understand?"


    "Disciple understands." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Breaking records was merely a matter of reputation. He was already acknowledged as the number one prodigy in the Jiang Continent, attracting the attention of all major powers. There was no need to intentionally get on the nerves of opposing forces like Great Jin and the Wingborne Sect. If he was unlucky, a group of Grandmasters might even be promoted to jointly ascend Cloudhill to strangle him in advance.


    With that, Wu Yuan left the grand hall.


    "Custodian Qing." Huan Zidong''s gaze was sharp as he nced at the maidservants, "And all of you, listen carefully.��


    "Don''t breathe a word about what you witnessed today. If I hear a whisper about this from an outsider, not only will you die, but your entire family will be finished!" Huan Zidong said with unprecedented severity.


    "Understood." Everyone in the hall responded in unison, their hearts thumping in fear.


    They roughly understood the reason behind Huan Zidong''s caution. The talent Wu Yuan had disyed was too terrifying! So terrifying that even Huan Zidong was startled and afraid, worried that it would be leaked.


    1. Used as a metaphor for people. One has to rely on others at first, but as one gradually develops skills, one is able to stand on their own two feet. ?

 Chapter 113: Shadow Blade Resurfaces In The Martial World (3)

    Chapter 113: Shadow de Resurfaces In The Martial World (3)


    Cloudhill sprawled out in all its majestic glory. The Cloud Martial Hall, the headquarters of the five halls, and the sect grand hall towered on the mountain. Countless martial artists and their kin called this mountain home. But the most sacred ce of the sect, without a shred of doubt, was the Cloud Hall.


    It stood at the very summit of Cloudhill, founded by Grandmaster Yun Shan. It was from here that the sect had developed and flourished for three centuries.


    Within the Cloud Hall, Huan Zidong knelt as he presented his report with utmost respect.


    "Hierarch, this is all the information we have on Wu Yuan at present."


    Apanying him was Zhao Baifan, whose head was also lowered, yet her eyes were filled with excitement. That was because she was meeting the person she most revered and admired all her life.


    "Sixteen years old, and he''s already reached the Rigid Yet Supple stage?" A soft, feminine voice eximed in both surprise and delight. "You may rise."


    "Thank you." Huan Zidong and Zhao Baifan straightened up, their eyes taking in the vast and resplendent hall.


    At the far end, perched atop nine steps, rested a grand jade tform. Seated on the tform was a woman who appeared to be in her 50s or 60s, adorned in crimson robes. Many wrinkles lined her face, but they could not hide the extraordinary beauty of her younger days.


    At first nce, she appeared to be a noblewoman, someone who had no knowledge of martial arts. However, Huan Zi Dong and Zhao Baifan knew that this seemingly ordinary elderly woman was none other than the pir of the Cloudstride Sect: Grandmaster Bu Yu. With a single sword, she had dominated the Jiang Continent for 30 years!


    "Zidong," the elderly woman spoke softly, "I consent to Wu Yuan leaving the mountain. He has the strength to protect himself, and it is time for him to venture out."


    "But Hierarch, is it not too soon? Many forces are keeping an eye on him. Huan Zidong was still worried, but before Grandmaster Bu Yu, he was just a junior.


    "A young eagle will eventually yearn to challenge the storms beyond," the elderly woman in flowing red robes replied with a smile. "In my twenties, I embarked on my own journey across the world before assuming leadership of the sect."


    "Xu Hui, who has been wandering the Jiang Continent with his sword for over a year, currently stands among the top 200 in the Human Rankings."


    "One does not be a Grandmaster through training alone. Its not merely about power or martial skills. A Grandmaster must possess a resolute heart. Without facing trials and tribtions, one can only attain the status of a first-grade martial artist at best, not a true Grandmaster," the old woman in red robes stated inly.


    A first-grade martial artist? Not a Grandmaster? Huan Zidong listened thoughtfully.


    "Time waits for no one. Neither I nor your father can continue to postpone matters for much longer," the elderly woman confessed. "Ever since Xia Heng fell in battle, no one from the sects past two generations has shown the potential to be a Grandmaster. The next contenders in line are Xu Hui and Wu Yuan. They must mature swiftly. Otherwise, the 300-year legacy of the Cloudstride Sect will crumble in our hands."


    The elderly woman shook her head. "Tie up any loose ends and spread the word  Wu Yuan will be in seclusion in this hall for two months."


    "Understood," Huan Zidong acknowledged.


    ....


    "The hierarch agreed?" Wu Yuan was pleasantly surprised when he met Zhao Baifan, who hade to convey the oue of his request.


    "Yes," Zhao Baifan nodded. "Sect Elder Huan and I met with The Rain Hierarch. The Sect Elder was initially hesitant, but ultimately, the hierarch chose to grant you her permission."


    Wu Yuan inclined his head slightly. The Rain Hierarch turned out to be a rather understanding individual. Perhaps she believed that letting go was the right way to nurture talent.


    "But Sect Elder Huan has explicitly instructed that you must never reveal your identity while out there," Zhao Baifan said solemnly. "I understand your desire to visit your home after descending from the mountain. As soon as you depart from your residence, the sect will dere that you are under the personal tutge of The Rain Hierarch, undergoing secluded training. Do you understand?"


    Once again, Wu Yuan nodded in affirmation. This was a feint to lower the vignce of the various factions and powers.


    Although Wu Yuan wasn''t too concerned, he conceded that the arrangements made by the Cloudstride Sect were rather sensible.


    Heavy snow nketed thend, and a biting wind whipped through the air.


    Wu Yuan packed up his belongings, taking with him only one jade vial, two sabers, and some gold and silver notes. For now, he did not employ Transfiguration, descending from the mountain in the dead of the night. Following the official route, he returned to the Wu Mansion located in Cloudhill City in under two hours.


    The clopping of horse hooves echoed in the stillness.


    "The young master has returned!" The two third-rate Adepts stationed at the gate couldn''t hide their joy upon recognizing Wu Yuan.


    "Quickly convey the news to the Lady."


    The typically quiet Wu Mansion suddenly transformed into a hive of activity, and before long, a sizable group emerged with a well-dressed woman in the center. It was Wanqin.


    "Mother." Wu Yuan knelt and bowed respectfully.


    "Rise, rise, my good boy," Wanqin eximed, a mix of astonishment and delight lighting up her face as she lent a helping hand to Wu Yuan, her gentle touch grazing his cheek.


    "You''ve gotten thinner, yet stronger," Wu Yuan said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he stood tall.


    Compared to two years ago, Wanqin appeared much healthier now, carrying herself with the poise of ady of importance. At first nce, one would assume she was in her early 30s.


    This was a great source of satisfaction for Wu Yuan. He had never requested anything from the sect, but they had gone above and beyond to make all the necessary arrangements. They had even arranged for a renowned physician to treat Wanqin and oversee her well-being, providing her with precious natural treasures to consume daily, which fortified her body. While it wouldn''t transform her into a martial artist, it did have the benefit of preserving her health, enhancing her physique, and extending her lifespan.


    "Big brother!" A beautiful young girl dressed in academy disciple uniform bounced out, throwing her arms around Wu Yuan.


    "Little Yi," Wu Yuan beamed in response.


    The girl was none other than his younger sister, Wu Yijun. Compared to just over a year ago, the ten-year-old Wu Yijun had grown noticeably taller. After an evaluation by the sect, it was confirmed that she possessed a decent level of martial talent. Currently, she was undergoing training at the East City Martial Academy in Cloudhill Province, which was widely recognized as the most esteemed elementary martial academy within the Cloudstride Sect.


    The children of Grandmasters and n elders were enrolled in this academy for training, yet Wu Yijun''s status within the academy was top-tier even among them. After all, unless one was a grandchild of a sect elder or child of a protectorate, Wu Yijun''s status was superior.


    The major ns in Cloudhill Province all knew that Wu Yuan had only two immediate family members, both of whom were greatly valued by the sect.


    "Lady, it would be unseemly for the young master and young miss to remain in the snow. Shall we retire inside?" suggested the housekeeper.


    "Yes, let us proceed indoors," echoed the crowd. The entourage quickly made their way into the mansion.


    On this day, the entire Wu n bustled with activity, as if carrying out preparations for a grand festival. It was nearly as momentous as paying homage to the Martial King.


    <em>Deep into the night, within a chamber in the Wu n''s residence.</em>


    "Chieftain," Wu Yuan greeted with a smile.


    "Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming sighed, "Ive told you before, you should be the chieftain, and I can just serve as a n elder."


    "I don''t have the time to handle the n''s affairs," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "I can handle them for you," Wu Qiming proposed, "The title is what truly matters."


    "If Chieftain is going to be handling the affairs, then you should be the chieftain," Wu Yuan stated with a smile, "With a proper titlees proper respect. The various factions in Cloudhill Province will only ord you respect if you hold the title of chieftain."


    Wu Qiming shook his head, unable to say anything more.


    "I''ll be relying on you for the mansions internal matters," Wu Yuan said with a grateful smile.


    "It''s nothing. The sect has made all the arrangements; we are merely lending a helping hand," Wu Qiming replied with a sigh. "In fact, we are the ones who are benefiting from your reputation."


    Wu Yuan responded with a faint smile.


    "Wu Yuan, how do you perceive the situation with the main n?" Wu Qiming couldn''t help but ask.


    "It doesn''t matter," Wu Yuan answered indifferently, "Wu Mao is ambitious. As a second-rate Adept and a custodian of the sect, he has his own decisions and perspectives."


    "But no matter what the future holds after I leave, it shall be you, Wu Qiming, to assume the title of first chieftain of the Cloudhill Wu n," Wu Yuan confided softly.


    "The first chieftain?" Wu Qiming''s breath caught.

 Chapter 114: Shadow Blade Resurfaces In The Martial World (4)

    Chapter 114: Shadow de Resurfaces In The Martial World (4)


    He had assumed either Wu Yuan or Wu Mao would take on the role. After all, in terms of strength, status, and strategic prowess, Wu Mao was undeniably better suited to be the chieftain of the Cloudhill Wu n.


    "When the timees, Wu Mao can serve as the grand elder if he is willing," Wu Yuan said softly, "And after that, within the Cloudhill Wu n, there will be no more distinction between ''us'' and ''them''. The capable will rise, and the weak will fall. I will safeguard the n, but its progress will ultimately depend on itself."


    "I understand." Wu Qiming nodded.


    "Chieftain, take this money." With a flip of his hand, Wu Yuan presented a substantial stack of gold and silver notes.


    "This?" Wu Qiming''s pupils constricted.


    "It''s a total of 100,000 taels," Wu Yuan said. "So far, I have yet to graduate from the academy, and the sect has only provided me enough to meet the expenses of my mother and sister."


    "Life in Cloudhill is far from easy! I am aware of the hardships you''ve faced, Chieftain. Consider this my initial investment into the n," Wu Yuan said seriously.


    In the past, hecked the status and influence to offer such a generous contribution. But now? Even if Wu Qiming was curious about where he got the money, he had no way to find out.


    "Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming seemed a tad ufortable.


    "Chieftain, do not be troubled," Wu Yuan reassured with a faint smile. "I haven''t forgotten everything the n has done for me in the past. Isn''t it time that I repay the n?"


    "Don''t worry. This silver means little to me; it won''t hinder my cultivation," Wu Yuan stated confidently.


    Ultimately, Wu Qiming epted the stack of gold and silver notes.


    ...


    Upon returning home, Wu Yuan continued his daily cultivation routine. During his spare time, he spent time with his mother, acutely aware of how fleeting these precious moments were. While his own lifespan stretched on, his mother''s time was limited. Moreover, as his power and status increased, these leisurely days would only be rarer. Wu Yuan cherished this familial love deeply.


    In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.


    At night, Wu Yuan bid farewell to his mother and Chieftain Wu Qiming. Without notifying anyone else in the mansion, not even his sister Wu Yijun, he changed into a set of clothes he''d never worn before. Then, he slung a bundle on his back and armed his weapons.


    After employing Transfiguration, Wu Yuan silently departed from the Wu Mansion.


    The Cloudhill Province was a region that never slept, always brimming with activity. Of course, this only applied to the western and northern parts of the provincial city. The further south one went, the more dpidated and sparse the houses became.


    <em>Freedom. No shackles, no burdens, no responsibilities.</em> Wu Yuan strolled along the streets, saber fastened to his side.


    His mind was more rxed than ever before. The restraints on his immense strength were lifted!


    Two hourster, the carefree Wu Yuan arrived at a rundown courtyard house in the southern part of the city. The courtyard gate was slightly ajar, and the solitaryntern indicated the presence of someone inside.


    He donned a mask he had prepared earlier and pushed the gate open.


    "Who goes there?" A voice barked.


    "Three-star assassin, Thousand Mountains, hase to turn in my mission," replied Wu Yuan casually.


    His voice was soft, yet it rang like a thunderp.


    The two guards at the doorway jumped. So direct? They scanned the surrounding streets instinctively, relieved to find it deserted.


    "What assassin, what Thousand Mountains," one of the guards retorted. "Be on your way, there''s nothing for you here."


    "Thousand Mountains?" The other guard had a sudden epiphany. "Are you the one who killed Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan?"


    Upon hearing this, the guard who was set on reprimanding Wu Yuan also came to a realization.


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan affirmed with a nod.


    The two guards exchanged a nce, their faces etched with fear. Though they were only low-ranking members of the Pleiades Guild, they had heard of the name Thousand Mountains. He was a Savant expert!


    "Pleasee in, Sir. There are too many prying eyes outside. We will notify the guild immediately," one of the guards whispered, his voice barely audible.


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. He wasn''t afraid of ambushes or traps.


    When one wasn''t capable, caution was necessary, while with great strength came a certain degree of audacity. Of course, this confidence could bergely attributed to his soul sense.


    Before long, a steward materialized and respectfully guided Wu Yuan deeper into the premises. The courtyard stood enclosed by towering walls, with buildings packed closely together. Finally, they reached a moderately sized courtyard.


    Here stood more than a dozen figures, their faces concealed behind bronze masks. Through his soul sense, and judging by their steps and postures, Wu Yuan immediately identified them as experts.


    "This sure is arge gathering," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over them.


    "Are you nning to keep me here? Is this a protocol of the Pleiades Guild?" His question hung in the air, as icy as his stare.


    Simultaneously, the assembled experts felt an invisible pressure exerted on their hearts, causing them to tremble involuntarily. Dread gripped them, and their minds raced toprehend the nature of this attack.


    For more than a year, Wu Yuan had diligently Visualized the ck pagoda. His soul grew stronger, and his soul sense keener. With time, he gradually deciphered the applications of the souls power.


    The simplest application was intimidation via gaze or voice! Wu Yuan didn''t have to lift a finger; his words were enough to instill fear in everyone present, deterring them from acting rashly.


    "Thousand Mountains, you must be joking.


    Finally, a red-robed man wearing a smiling mask stepped forward, his voice amicable, "I am the master of the Pleiades Guild''s Jiang Continent branch. You can call me Branch Master Ma. We have no intention of causing you trouble.


    We simply suspected that someone was impersonating you, Thousand Mountains. After all, you''ve been off the radar for over a year."


    Branch Master Ma chuckled, "We thought you had abandoned this identity, so we felt the need to be cautious."


    "Why would I abandon the identity I went to great lengths to acquire?" Wu Yuan retorted with a cynical smile.


    "Thousand Mountains, you''re rather bold. Every single faction in the Jiang Continent is searching for you," Branch Master Ma sighed, "This is Cloudhill Province, the Cloudstride Sects stronghold."


    "So what if they''re all after me?" Wu Yuanughed, "You''re telling me there''s a Grandmaster in your branch?"


    "Of course not," Branch Master Ma admitted with an awkward smile.


    "Well then," Wu Yuan continued nonchntly, "I fear no one except a Grandmaster. Even if the Cloudstride Sects two Grandmasters came, whether they can stop me from leaving is still up for debate."


    The eyes of the Pleiades Guild experts narrowed. What arrogance!


    "Thousand Mountains, I admire your courage," Branch Master Ma responded, his tone unchanged, "However, I am curious as to why you''re here today."


    "I am here to turn in a mission. Wu Yuan replied indifferently, "Over a year ago, I epted a mission to assassinate Xu Shouyi in Li City. I had business in the Min Continent and just returned. I thought I''d turn in the mission while I''m here."


    "Once a mission ispleted, there''s no time limit for turning it in, correct?" Wu Yuan asked calmly.


    "Of course not. Thousand Mountains, kindly present your identity badge for verification," instructed the branch master.


    With a flick of his wrist, Wu Yuan sent the badge sailing through the air. The branch master caught it, gave it a quick once-over, nodded, and handed it back to Wu Yuan.


    "The verification is in order. What is your reward of choice, Thousand Mountains?"


    "Exchange it all for Qi Enhancement Pills," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly.


    "Not a problem," the branch master nodded.


    A few momentster, a package containing Qi Enhancement Pills was delivered. Wu Yuan did a quick check, counting a total of 45 pills inside.


    "Anything else, Thousand Mountains?" the branch master asked. "Are you here to ept a new mission?"


    "I want to inquire whether there are any five-star tasks avable in the Jiang Continent," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Is it possible for me to ept one?"


    Five-star? The branch master stared at Wu Yuan in shock. "Thousand Mountains, do you understand what a five-star mission entails?"


    "Of course, generally they involve assassinations targeting Savant experts," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "There are a couple," the branch master confessed. "Two expiring tasks, in fact, that no one in the Jiang Continent has been able toplete."


    "But, Thousand Mountains, as a three-star assassin, you must demonstrate your strength in order to undertake such tasks," Branch Master Ma informed him.


    "Strength?" Wu Yuan smirked.


    <em>Wham!</em> A de ray shed, followed by a soft clink as the weapon was sheathed.


    Only then did a single strand of long hair slowly fall from the branch master''s head.


    Within the courtyard, a profound silence fell.


    "Does this level of strength suffice to take on the mission?" Wu Yuan''s voice was eerily quiet.

 Chapter 115: Amidst Ten Thousand Soldiers (1)

    <h4>Chapter 115: Amidst Ten Thousand Soldiers (1)</h4>


    As the long strand of hair fluttered down, the courtyard was enveloped in a heavy silence. All eyes fixated on Wu Yuan, their bodies frozen in fear by the single stroke of his saber.


    The branch master, who had appeared indifferent before, involuntarily flinched. He couldn��t hide the flicker of terror that surfaced in his eyes when he saw his own hair floating down.


    Heavens! The branch master might not be a Savant expert, nor was he listed in the Human Rankings, but his true martial prowess ced him within the top 200-300. How else could he subdue a group of proud and fierce assassins?


    But that saber sh was unbelievably fast. To put it bluntly, if Wu Yuan had intended to end his life just then, his head would already be rolling on the ground.


    A full moment passed.


    The branch master cleared his throat and forced himself to regain hisposure, disguising his fear withughter. "Senior Thousand Mountains, surely you jest. With your strength, of course you are capable of undertaking five-star tasks."


    "Custodian, hand the mission archives to Senior Thousand Mountains." The branch master subconsciously started addressing him as ''Senior''.


    This Shadow de was clearly much stronger than what the Human Rankings had indicated. Such a person couldn''t possibly be just any bottom-tier Savant expert. Perhaps only 20 to 30 others possessed this level of strength throughout the entire Jiang Continent.


    "Yes." A deep voice of an expert echoed in the courtyard.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In a sh, he darted into a nearby chamber, swiftly retrieving a dossier and extending it to Wu Yuan.


    "Senior, if you would kindly turn to the final page, you will find two five-star assignments." The branch master said softly, "Five-star tasks are rare. Firstly, few assassination targets are worthy of such a rating in the Jiang Continent. Secondly, the price is exorbitant and beyond the reach of ordinary factions and powers. And there is a time limit."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, flipping the dossier directly to thest page. The descriptions of two five-star assignments were written here.


    The first assignment:


    <i>Kill Wu Yuan, a sixteen-year-old disciple of the Cloudstride Sect''s Cloud Martial Hall, ranked first on the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings. Expected to be a second-rate Adept. This mission is rated five stars. </i>


    <i>Task Reward: Five million silver taels, or two and a half million merits.</i>


    <i>Requirements: Must be killed before the Year 3226, September of the Eastern Martial calendar. All methods are eptable as long as the target is killed!</i>


    At first nce, it appeared to be an easy task.


    "Kill Wu Yuan?" Wu Yuan murmured, "This Wu Yuan, is he the same person who''s been making waves in the Jiang Continent these past few years?"


    "Yes, if you are familiar with his name, Senior, then you should understand how talented he is," the branch master nodded.


    "His personal strength is negligible. However, he''s currently cultivating on Cloudhill, under the protection of the Cloudstride Sect''s stronghold. Infiltrating Cloudhill and eliminating him is an exceedingly challenging task. Even a first-rate Adept wouldn''t necessarily seed, hence it''s a five-star mission," the branch master exined.


    "I didn''t expect this kid to be so valuable," Wu Yuan said mildly.


    "The minimum reward for a five-star mission is one million silver taels. A reward of five million taels is indeed high," the branch master replied.


    "However, your branch is located right here in Cloudhill City. You''re rather bold to be posting such a mission. Aren''t you afraid the Cloudstride Sect will pay you a visit?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.


    "Not at all! It''s not just us, the Ninedeaths Circle also has this mission avable. Even some second-rate underground organizations are secretly marking Wu Yuan," the branch masterughed, "Great Jin, the Wingborne Sect, and many other factions are all watching him."


    "If he dies, the Cloudstride Sect will never be able to figure out who killed him," the branch master said. "In fact, Senior, if you took this assignment and it waspleted by another organization, you can still collect the reward from us. After all, we have no means of verifying if you carried it out. As long as Wu Yuan is dead, the mission is deemedplete."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. This was madness!


    His gaze moved down,nding on the second mission.


    <i>In the Hillstride Province of Great Jin, near the Cloudhill Province, an elite force of 10,000 known as the Eastward Sixth Division is stationed. Themanding major general is Wang Xiaohe, a Savant expert. Your task is to eliminate him. This mission is rated five stars.</i>


    <i>Mission Reward: Six million silver taels or three million merits.</i>


    <i>Requirements: The target must be killed before Year 3226 June of the Eastern Martial calendar, by any means necessary.</i>


    "This target is interesting," Wu Yuan said quietly.


    "Wang Xiaohe has held the rank of major general for some time. He only recently returned from his post at the Holy Capital of the Great Jin Empire this year. As he is not a native expert from the Jiang Continent, he does not appear on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. His strength is estimated to lie somewhere between 60 and 90 on the ranking," the branch master roughly exined. "But his personal strength is of secondary importance; the key problem lies with the Sixth Division itself."


    "It is one of the eight elite field divisions stationed in the Jiang Continent by the Great Jin Empire,posed solely of martial virtuosos and above. All sergeants and above are Adept experts!" the branch master eximed.


    "Among the thousands of Adept experts are numerous second-rate and first-rate Adepts, and their military formation is tight. In fact, attempting to assassinate Wang Xiaohe within the ranks of this army would prove deadly even for Savant experts," the branch master cautioned.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. The Sixth Division?


    "I''ll take the task of assassinating Wang Xiaohe," Wu Yuan calmly stated.


    "Are you serious?" The branch master was shocked.


    "Do I sound like I''m joking? I''m Thousand Mountains, when have I ever failed toplete an assignment?" Wu Yuan responded indifferently. "What, am I not allowed to take it?"


    "Haha, of course you can take it," Branch Master Maughed. He then hesitated for a moment before slowly continuing, "However, Senior Thousand Mountains, speaking of missions, the assassination of the Bloodwolf Gang''s leader, Blood Wolf Wu Shan, assigned to you over a year ago, seems to be iplete."


    Wu Yuan blinked in surprise. It hadpletely slipped his mind.


    "I''m not ming you, Senior," the branch master quickly added. "But the fact remains that you failed toplete the assassination mission within the designated time, incurring a deduction of the corresponding star points as per the rules."


    "Go ahead and deduct them," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly.


    Star points? Wu Yuan couldn''t care less about them. His ambition was not to be a six-star or seven-star assassin of the Pleiades Guild.


    The branch master was slightly surprised at his indifference.


    "Senior Thousand Mountains, would you like to receive the corresponding information?" Branch Master Ma inquired further. "The reward for this mission exceeds one million silver taels, but only a maximum deduction of 100,000 taels will be made uponpletion."


    For missions below five stars, the Pleiades Guild''s intelligence division deducted one-tenth of the reward in exchange for detailed information. As for missions above five stars, a t rate of 100,000 taels was deducted.


    "Alright, provide me with a copy," Wu Yuan nodded, his tone cool. "However, if I find the information to be unworthy of its price, don''t me me for turning hostile."


    "Senior is sure to find the information valuable," the branch master assured, signaling to his subordinates.


    Two figures vanished into the building. This time the wait was longer,sting a full quarter of an hour. Finally, a man emerged, holding a scroll. Wu Yuan epted it from him.


    "Now that we have finalized the mission, let''s discuss the reward," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the branch master, and then the numerous experts in the courtyard. "Is there anything here worth three million merits?"


    This was no paltry 100,000 or 200,000 merits. Three million merits! For an underground organization, would they dare to store treasures worth millions of silver taels here? Even if they did, they''d most likely spread them out among various branches, avoiding the risk of putting all their eggs in one basket.


    "It depends on what treasure Senior desires." Branch Master Ma said, "Most treasures are usually kept at the headquarters. Only after a mission ispleted will we schedule a time for delivery.��


    "50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew," Wu Yuan said softly.


    Branch master Ma''s pupils contracted slightly.


    "Within ten days, I willplete the mission." Wu Yuan said calmly, "Within two months, I shall return to turn in the mission. I hope that by the time I arrive, you will have prepared my reward. Don''t disappoint me."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Like a bolt of lightning, Wu Yuan shot out of the courtyard. In a few shes, he disappeared without a trace.


    All that remained was his parting warning, echoing in the courtyard, "If I am disappointed, the consequences will be severe.��


    Even as the voice gradually faded away, the dozen experts in the courtyard looked at each other, none daring to speak first, for fear of angering their branch master.


    After a moment of silence, Branch Master Ma slowly announced, "You may all leave for now."


    "Understood!" Having received a pardon, the dozen experts of the Pleiades Guild scattered in all directions.


    In an instant, Branch Master Ma found himself standing alone in the courtyard, surrounded by an eerie silence.


    Soon, a figure emerged from the depths of the shadows. It was an old man, hunched over and d in tattered garments, appearing no taller than 1.7 meters. His pitiful appearance resembled that of a beggar one might encounter on the streets.


    "Senior Uncle." Branch Master Ma greeted him with respect.


    "I am no match for him," the old man croaked, his voice hoarse.


    Branch Master Ma''s eyes widened in disbelief. "How can that be? Senior Uncle, aren''t you 16th on the Human Rankings?"


    This hunched old man was his main pir of support at this continent-level branch of the Pleiades Guild. Without his backing, he would never have secured his position as branch master.


    In Branch Master Ma''s eyes, even the top ten experts on the Human Rankings would struggle to survive against his Senior Uncle. That was because this hunched old man was none other than an infamous assassin, capable of instilling fear in the hearts of countless experts on the Jiang Continent.

 Chapter 116: Amidst Ten Thousand Soldiers (2)

    <h4>Chapter 116: Amidst Ten Thousand Soldiers (2)</h4>


    "Just now, I concealed myself within the darkness, changing my position twice," the old man whispered, his words barely audible. "Yet, this Thousand Mountains possesses an uncanny perception. His right fingertip constantly moved, always pointing directly at me."


    "The moment I was about to attack, I saw a glint of metal between his fingertips. He''s skilled with the throwing knife! If I hadunched an attack, he would surely have flung that throwing knife without hesitation." The hunched old man shook his head slightly, "Also, that saber sh he disyed. I''m not sure I would have been able to block it."


    "That sh wasn''t meant for you, it was meant for me. He was warning me not to make any rash moves. If I did, death might be the oue," the hunchbacked old man nced at Branch Master Ma, "I might not necessarily die, but you would be a goner."


    Branch Master Ma felt a shiver down his neck. He hadn''t expected that two Savant experts had already shed in the shadows, and he had unwittingly danced on the brink of life and death.


    "Senior Uncle, what should we do now?�� Branch Master Ma asked anxiously.


    "The strength this Shadow de wields doesn''t match the information we''ve gathered." The hunchbacked old man shook his head slightly, "At present, we cannot ascertain whether his rapid advancement urred in the past year or if he has been concealing his true strength all along."


    "If he was just concealing his strength previously, that''s understandable. But if he has truly grown that much over the past year? That��s terrifying." The hunchbacked man said, "However, his martial skills are on par with a Grandmaster��s."


    "A Grandmaster?" Branch Master Ma eximed.


    "It''s hard to say." The hunchbacked old man shook his head, "But one thing is certain, we cannot afford to provoke Thousand Mountains."


    "We should report this to the headquarters and let the guild master decide. If they want the Chu-Jiang Token, they��ll have to dispatch a Grandmaster."


    "Haha, everyone wants the Chu-Jiang Token, but when it falls into the hands of such a high-level expert, how can it be easily obtained?" The hunchbacked old man shook his head.


    Dispatch a Grandmaster expert? Branch Master Ma''s pupils shrank slightly. Though the Pleiades Guild��s influence spread across thirteen continents, they didn��t have that many Grandmaster experts at their disposal. Moreover, several of them were affiliate assassins who couldn''t be ordered around, and their whereabouts were unknown. The number of genuine in-house Grandmasters could be counted on one hand.


    The crux of the matter was that Grandmasters had their pride. They were all considered guild elders and could simply refusemands from the guild master if they were unwilling to obey them.


    "If the guild master can''t send a Grandmaster." The hunchbacked elderly man nced at the branch master, "Then we wait for news. After Wang Xiaohe''s demise, make a request to the headquarters for 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew."


    "I am nothing but a bag of old bones. I have no intention of risking my life against an expert who is nearly a Grandmaster." With that, the elderly man stepped into the shadows and vanished without a trace.


    ...


    Wu Yuan strolled leisurely along a quiet street, relying on the faint light from the roadside to read the scrolls in his hand.


    <i>That Savant expert concealed in the darkness must be Shadow Stinger Mo Gou from the Human Rankings.</i> Wu Yuan pondered as he read through the scrolls.


    If this had taken ce two years ago, when Wu Yuan just reached the stage of Environmental Mastery, he might not have noticed the other party.


    But the current Wu Yuan? After more than a year of cultivation on Cloudhill, his skills had undergone a massive improvement, and he was now able to seamlessly blend into any environment at a moment''s notice. He could meld with the darkness or the wind, adapting effortlessly to any changes in his surroundings.


    The moment Wu Yuan spread out his soul sense, the hunchbacked elderly man''s attempt at concealment became nothing more than a joke. Every movement of his was as clear as a zing light bulb.


    If he chose not to act, then Wu Yuan would ignore him as well. But if he did?


    <i>I do indeed crave a bout with the top Savant experts on the Human Rankings. It will be helpful to gauge the gap I need to close. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s heart bore no fear. Though there might still be a difference in their physical constitutions, it was no longer insurmountable.


    As he strolled along, Wu Yuan maintained an air of nonchnce.


    <i>The mission requires Wang Xiaohe to be killed before June. Was this mission issued by my Cloudstride Sect? Or the Baijiang Kingdom? Or perhaps, a case of internal feud within the Great Jin Empire?</i>


    There had to be a reason for the stipted time frame. Given that the assassin''s share of the reward amounted to six million silver taels, the employer might have spent ten million silver taels! Such an astronomical sum of wealth was simply mind-blowing. Typically, only a Land Ranker would have the means to amass such vast resources.


    Why were five-star missions so few and far between? A crucial reason was the exorbitant prices demanded by the Ninedeaths Circle and the Pleiades Guild. This resulted in very few employers with the capability to post missions rated at this difficulty.


    <i>Whatever the reason, it doesn''t matter. </i>A glimmer of coldness shed across Wu Yuan''s eyes as he closed the file. <i>All that matters is his death.</i>


    This was because the Eastward Sixth Division served as Great Jin''s main fighting force during the Battle of Hillstride City. Wu Yuan''s father had perished in that very battle.


    For over a decade now, Wang Xiaohe held the position of the sixth division''s leader. In short, Wang Xiaohe had murdered Wu Yuan''s father!


    Whenever the memory of his father''s demise surfaced, Wu Yuan felt an overwhelming surge of murderous intent welling up inside him, hungry for vengeance.


    He understood that these were the memories and emotions of his body''s predecessor. Rather than Wu Yuan''s mind taking over after his transmigration, it was more urate to say they had merged, with Wu Yuan''s past life''s consciousness inmand.


    <i>My father''s murderer can never be forgiven.</i> Wu Yuan silently vowed.


    Killing the enemy would release more blood-red mist, and he could im a hefty reward from the Pleiades Guild. If he could get his hands on 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, Wu Yuan wouldn��t have to worry about resources for a considerable time.


    And there was one more matter.


    <i>The Battle of Hillstride urred a decade ago. The Great Jin Empire has since been gearing up for war. It was only due to the sh between The Rain Hierarch and the East King of Great Jin that they temporarily ceased their attacks.</i>


    But such peace wouldn''tst. Great Jin was thriving and abundant with experts. Meanwhile, Grandmaster Bu Yu was growing older, and the Cloudstride Sect''s strength was dwindling. In three to five years, at most ten, the mes of war would reignite.


    Thest major battle took ce in Hillstride Province. The next time, Great Jin''s forces would undoubtedly target Cloudhill Province!


    <i>By killing one of their Savant experts, their entire army will be thrown into disarray.</i> Wu Yuan flicked the scroll.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>A strange surge of energy rolled across the parchment, shredding it into countless pieces.


    <i>For every ounce of strength stripped from the Great Jin, the Cloudstride Sect''s chances of victory in the next war will increase.</i> Wu Yuan quickened his pace toward the Sta Consortium.


    Without realizing it, Wu Yuan now felt a clear sense of belonging to the Cloudstride Sect. This was in part due to the sacrifices made by the sect, and also his ties to his family and n.


    ...


    <i>Just before dawn.</i>


    <i>On the fifth floor of the Cloudhill branch of Sta Consortium.</i>


    "Senior," a young man in ck robes spoke softly, "this is the divine grade body armor you ordered a year ago. Please feel free to test it."


    Within the open boxy a set of jet-ck body armor, devoid of any reflection of light. It appeared simple yet extraordinary.


    A year prior, when Wu Yuan left the mountain to visit his family, he came to the Sta Consortium in secret andmissioned this piece of body armor with the third-grade Divine Weapon Token Gu Ji had given him. One yearter, he had finallye to collect it.


    <i>Swish~ </i>Wu Yuan reached into the box and equipped the body armor in one fluid motion. Where the scales joined, the material was slightly stic. It fit him perfectly!


    The body armor only covered the vital parts of his torso, and its defensive capabilities were much weaker than full-body heavy armor. But in exchange, it had the advantage of flexibility.


    "Not bad, worthy of a divine grade body armor." Wu Yuan gripped the body armor, exerting more than 200,000 catties of force, yet it did not yield in the slightest. It was indeed crafted from divine weapon material.


    "It does not impede my agility in battle at all," Wu Yuan remarked, his satisfaction evident. Every product from the Sta Consortium was indeed exquisitely crafted, it was no empty boast.


    For a real expert, guarding the vitals was sufficient. Agility was of utmost importance.


    "Alright! I''m leaving." Wu Yuan rose from his seat, tossed down his Divine Weapon Token with a flick of his wrist, and quickly left the Sta Consortium.


    Just as he expected, Sta Consortium deployed their ''eyes''. Unfortunately for them, he shook them off with ease.


    As the first light of dawn broke, the crowing of roosters echoed throughout the city.


    The city guards flung open the city gates. Along with the surging crowd, Wu Yuan left the Cloudhill Province.


    ...


    It was the evening of the second day after Wu Yuan left Cloudhill City.


    In Li City of Southdream Province, atop a deste hill less than ten li from the Paddy Field Crossing,y numerous solitary graves.


    <i>It seems the number has swelled from a year ago. </i>With the aid of his sharp recollection, Wu Yuan could roughly discern the freshly made graves from the previous year''s ones.


    After a cursory assessment, Wu Yuan approached a specific grave and began to dig. Harnessing his strength, he swiftly unearthed the entire mound of soil within ten breaths, exposing the tattered garments concealed beneath.


    Ripping the fabric, a shimmering silver spear was exposed! It was the divine weapon Wu Yuan had hidden here after ying Chen Tangru.


    <i>What a treasure. </i>Wu Yuan picked it up and stabbed it forth with a force of tens of thousands of catties. An explosion of power propelled the spear forth like an arrow! The spear tip tore through the air, fast as lightning, yet absent of any piercing screech. It seemed to merge into the wind, unaffected by air resistance.


    <i>Truly a divine weapon. It can effortlessly bear an explosive force of tens of thousands of catties. Now I can fight freely.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a smile. <i>I also have divine-grade inner armor for protection.</i>


    He was all set and ready!


    <i>It''s time to head to Hillstride Province</i>.


    Wu Yuan wasted no more time. He quickly restored the grave to its original state and ensured all his belongings were in order.


    Turning into a streak of light, he traversed hundreds of meters in a blink.


    Under the cover of the dim light, he vanished into the vastnd.


    ...


    The Cloudstride Sect was first established in Cloudhill Province. For a hundred years, it recruited disciples and consolidated its influence in the Cloudhill and Hillstride Provinces. Its roots ran deep.


    But all that changed ten years ago. The forces of the Great Jin Empire sank their fangs into their territory, capturing Hillstride Province. Even the powerful Grandmaster Bu Yu could onlypel Great Jin to cease their assault, but not surrender their newly imednds.


    For ten long years, the Hillstride Province remained ensnared in chaos. With the military might of the Great Jin Empire entrenched in the province��s borders, how could the Cloudstride Sect willingly retreat? They had been patiently prepared for a counterattack, entangled in a hidden struggle with the enemy nation!


    On the nearly thousand-li-long border where Hillstride and Cloudhill met, heavy forces from both sides were stationed, ready for any unexpected incidents.


    The Eastward Sixth Division had set up camp along the border, with over 10,000 highly skilled soldiers camped by the mountains and rivers. The advantageous terrain granted them the upper hand in defense, posing a challenge to opponents looking to assail the army.


    As night fell, a number of guard teams were stationed around the major general''s tent, the central tent in the camp, while arge number of soldiers patrolled the area.


    "Major General, is it true that the ninth prince is on his way?" a lieutenant d in armor softly questioned. "Isn''t he merely amander in name,cking any genuine authority within Linjiang City?"


    "Among the emperor��s sons, the ninth prince is one of the most talented. At a young age, he already possesses extraordinary strength," a burly, bearded man in heavy armor, seated in the host seat, replied, "His tactical maneuvers are equally remarkable."


    "But the crown prince and the third prince are no pushovers either. The crown prince currently leading a northern expedition to the Yuan Continent, and the third prince is governing the southern state," the burly bearded man said, "Though the ninth prince has the support of the east king and is the empress''s legitimate son, he must achieve great feats if he wishes to distinguish himself!"


    "In our Great Jin, military aplishments take precedence. If we wish to expand eastward, the Cloudstride Sect stands as the first tough nut to crack. Naturally, the ninth prince is eager to dismantle it," the burly bearded man remarked. "How can His Majesty be unaware that the ninth prince is simply amander in name?"


    "If one wishes to be the crown prince, one must lead by example. How can he be trusted to govern our vast territory from the Holy Capital if he doesn''t even dare venture to the front lines of the border?" the burly bearded man said, "But don''t worry, the ninth prince is onlying to rally the morale of the troops, and will leave after a few days."


    The lieutenant nodded, "I understand, I shall make the necessary arrangements immediately."


    After the lieutenant left, only the burly bearded man remained in the central tent, engrossed in studying the intricate map before him.


    "Major General Wang, your unwavering dedication is trulymendable," a spectral voice echoed.

 Chapter 117: A Clash With A Grandmaster (1)

    <h4>Chapter 117: A sh With A Grandmaster (1)</h4>


    "What is Inspector General Yu doing in the major general''s tent instead of minding his own business?" Wang Xiaohe inquired, his eyes not leaving the map.


    He knew that voice all too well and didn''t wish to see this person at all.


    "Hmm, Major General Wang, His Majesty has entrusted me with the task of supervising the army. As per protocol, I am obligated to visit the major general''s tent daily to receive thetest military reports." The faint voice turned frigid. "Why, have you done anything to vite militaryw?"


    A frosty glint shed through Wang Xiaohe''s eyes, hidden by his lowered head. A eunuch daring to lecture him about militaryw?


    Yet Wang Xiaohe ced his brush down and lifted his head. His expression was cold but seemed to have returned to normal. "What does Inspector General Yu wish to know?"


    Standing in front of him was a young man around 1.8 meters tall, quite handsome, but slightly effeminate. He was also d in armor.


    The Great Jin Empire''s power was at its peak. Even though eunuchs supervised the army, those dispatched were in no way individuals who knew nothing of the military and feared death. This was simply the emperor exercising checks and bnces.


    "Today, I noticed some movement in the ninth camp. They departed in the morning and only returned in the evening," Inspector General Yu mentioned nonchntly. "Byw, if a 10,000-men army is encamped in one location, any military movement involving over 1000 men must be approved by the Eastward General��s faction. Movements involving between 100 and 1000 men require the approval of both the main army and the inspector general."


    "Why was I not informed about the movement of a full 800 men?" Inspector General Yu looked at Wang Xiaohe pointedly.


    "It was a secret order!" Wang Xiaohe responded icily. "They were just carrying out a task. Once the monthly reportes in, the inspector general will be fully informed."


    "Even if it was a secret order, as the inspector general, I should have been the first to know," Inspector General Yu sneered. "Was the request from the county mayor of Anping also a secret order? Does the field army need to get involved in local bandit suppression? Then what purpose do the city guards serve?"


    Wang Xiaohe''s pupils shrank slightly. He didn''t expect Inspector General Yu to find out the discrepancy even before the day ended.


    "The county mayor of Anping, a staff officer under the ninth prince, was a good friend of yours during your time in the Holy Capital, wasn''t he?" Inspector General Yu looked at Wang Xiaohe. "The area under his jurisdiction is in chaos, so, Major General, you''ve taken it upon yourself to dispatch troops to quell the disturbance?��


    Wang Xiaohe met his gaze coolly, not uttering a word.


    "General Wang.�� Inspector General Yu''s voice suddenly softened, "I know you look down on me, but I''m here on His Majesty''s orders, not some rigid old man. I can understand certain matters, but I do hope that in the future, you will inform me beforehand about any troop movements."


    "Since this is the first time, I won''t report it. But I hope there won''t be a second time," Inspector General Yu said.


    "Thank you, Inspector General." Wang Xiaohe looked deeply at Inspector General Yu. He knew he had underestimated this new eunuch.


    "Hm?" Suddenly, a flicker of surprise and anger shed across Wang Xiaohe''s eyes. Despite his heavy armor, he swiftly lunged forward with unexpected agility.


    <i>Boom! </i>A sturdy cab of documents shattered, sending countless papers, bamboo slips, and broken wood into disarray.


    <i>Swish~ </i>A cold glint whizzed through the space where Wang Xiaohe had just stood.


    "Assassin! Second-grade!" Having narrowly evaded the fatal strike, Wang Xiaohe let out a fierce roar, his voice echoing in all directions.


    In truth, there was no need for him to sound the rm, as the multitude of guards and soldiers stationed outside the tent had already heard themotion inside.


    "Assassin!"


    "Quick, someone is trying to assassinate the general." Urgent shouts for help rose from outside the tent.


    And inside the tent, the previously smug Inspector General Yu''s face was now in disbelief.


    "Assassin?" This was the central military tent! The tent was thoroughly guarded by numerous Adept experts. How did an assassin infiltrate it?


    A thought shed through his mind, unbidden: could it be that Wang Xiaohe had grown tired of him and was looking for an excuse to get rid of him?


    All this happened too quickly, barely leaving any time for Inspector General Yu to gather his thoughts.


    He instinctively took two steps back, attempting to escape the central military tent, only to feel himself being lifted into the air.


    Lifted? This wasn''t him taking flight, but rather Wang Xiaohe seizing him by the shoulder and hurling him backward to be used as a human shield.


    <i>Boom! </i>A silver spear thrust straight toward him, piercing through Inspector General Yu''s armor and body with the ease of puncturing tofu. Blood sttered.


    Inspector General Yu was dead!


    <i>Squelch~</i> The spear shuddered as hundreds of thousands of catties erupted, turning Inspector General Yu''s body into countless stters of blood and flesh. Even his armor was broken into shards that tore through the fabric of the tent.


    Outside, screams filled the air. When a martial artist was capable of unleashing such an immense force, even the tiniest fragment of stone or a sliver of steel could be a deadly weapon. Numbers meant nothing in the face of such power.


    Inside the tent, the pungent stench of blood permeated the atmosphere.


    "General Wang, you are indeed decisive, using your colleague as a shield," Wu Yuan remarked coolly as he stood within the tent, donning a ghoulish mask. d in ck, he brandished a silver spear with its tip aimed directly at the still-shocked Wang Xiaohe.


    In Wang Xiaohe''s hand was a hefty saber, his focus locked onto Wu Yuan. "Who are you and why are you trying to assassinate me?"


    "Someone hired me, so I''vee to take you out," Wu Yuan responded, his voice steady.


    "So you��re an expert from the Pleiades Guild. Your stealth skills are quite something, managing to infiltrate my centralmand tent without a sound," Wang Xiaohe''s expression turned savage. "I''ve been a soldier for nearly two decades, and you''re the most fearsome assassin I''ve ever seen. But what a shame..."


    "What''s the shame?" Wu Yuan asked softly.


    "The shame is that you didn''t seize the moment to strike, allowing me a chance to catch my breath," Wang Xiaohe sneered. "From the moment I grabbed my saber, your fate was sealed."


    "Is that so?" Wu Yuan''s voice was icy, as if echoing from the depths of the underworld. "Who knows, maybe you dodged my spear not because of your skills, but because I wanted to be entertained a while longer. After all, true experts are hard toe by."


    As the words e by'' escaped his lips, Wu Yuan sprang forward. The ground beneath his feet cracked, revealing numerous fissures.


    The distance between them was a mere three zhangs. For experts of their caliber, it was practically no distance at all!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Imbued with 300,000 catties of force, the spear was thrust straight at Wang Xiaohe!


    <i>Swish swish! </i>The saber flickered as Wang Xiaohe retreated, striking Wu Yuan''s silver spear with all his might.


    As their weapons shed, Wang Xiaohe''s initial thought was that his opponent��s strength wasn��t too powerful. But almost immediately, a strange power was transmitted from the spear shaft into his body. His soul shook, and he nearly lost grip of his saber.


    "Retreat!" Wang Xiaohe tried to pull back.


    "Retreat? Can you?" Wu Yuan''s eyes were cold.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>The spear was swiftly retracted and abruptly raised high. The spearhead and shaft melded into a lengthy iron staff, ferociously smashing toward Wang Xiaohe.


    It was a blur of motion, too fast to make out clearly.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wang Xiaohe swung his long saber horizontally. Even as he gave his all to resist, the ground beneath him exploded, sending rocks and debris flying in all directions.


    <i>Unbelievable speed!</i> Wang Xiaohe eximed inwardly, a mix of shock and anger coursing through him. He forced himself to ignore the numbness in his arm and retreated as quickly as he could. He knew better than to face this onught head-on.


    "Let''s see how many of my attacks you can block." Wu Yuan advanced leisurely, as if strolling through his own garden. If one spear attack didn''tnd, he immediately followed up with another. It was a seamless barrage of attacks.


    "Die!" Seeing that there was no way to dodge, Wang Xiaohe had no choice but to go all out. Streaks of de rays lit up.


    <i>Cling! Cling! </i>de rays ovepped! Spear silhouettes filled the sky! The two experts shed over a dozen times in an instant, and beads of sweat began to form on Wang Xiaohe''s forehead.


    It was too fast, too furious. Wu Yuan''s sheer strength wasn''t overwhelming, but the speed of his spear technique surpassed Wang Xiaohe''s wildest imagination. It took every ounce of his strength just to withstand the attacks.


    <i>Boom! </i>The confrontation between the two Savant experts created intense aftershocks that radiated in all directions, causing the major general��s tent to crumble into ruins.


    Silence fell. Amidst the broken wood and torn fabric, two figures stood tall in the center of the wreckage: one holding a battle saber, extraordinarily robust. The other holding a silver spear, with only his eyes visible.

 Chapter 118: A Clash With A Grandmaster (2)

    <h4>Chapter 118: A sh With A Grandmaster (2)</h4>


    Their gazes locked.


    "I see you truly live up to the reputation of a major general. You have quite a few underlings." Hundreds of soldiers surrounded Wu Yuan, with more approaching with each passing moment.


    A military formation began to take shape. A great number of Adepts had bows and arrows ready, training their weapons on Wu Yuan, alongside arge battalion of ordinary soldiers armed with powerful crossbows. This was the most effective way for an army to deal with martial arts experts.


    "You are strong. There aren''t many experts like you in the entire Jiang Continent." Wang Xiaohe stared at Wu Yuan. "Tell me your name. Otherwise, when you die, your family won''t even know where you perished."


    "My name? Even I don''t know." Wu Yuan''s voice was cold as ice. "But, people often refer to me as ''Shadow de''!"


    "Shadow de?" As Wang Xiaohe pondered, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. ��You''re Shadow de from the Human Rankings? But how could your strength be..."


    "Enough with the questions!" Wu Yuan''s eyes turned frosty. "I''ll send you on your way!"


    By now, the soldiers in the encirclement numbered more than 500. It was just about enough.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s figure darted forward.


    "Shoot!" Someone ordered in a booming voice.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Immediately, a storm of arrows nketed the sky like meteors. They shot straight at Wu Yuan with hair-raising speed.


    "I don''t believe you can dodge them all." Wang Xiaohe held his long saber as he stood confidently in front of the army, his gaze fixated on Wu Yuan. The strength of an armyy in their sheer number of arrows!


    But immediately, Wang Xiaohe''s face contorted in horror. "How is that possible?"


    Wu Yuan''s body had inexplicably twisted, then instantaneously returned to normal, as if he could predict the direction of each arrow. He evaded the majority of them.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> With his spear, he deflected two arrows hurtling towards him with great precision. Somehow, Wu Yuan had effortlessly maneuvered through the rain of arrows in the blink of an eye, unscathed! All that did was slow him down slightly.


    "A torrent of arrows from a vast army is hardly a cause for concern." Wu Yuan grinned. He darted dozens of zhangs forward like a ghostly apparition, once again closing in on Wang Xiaohe.


    As he thrust his spear forth, the same force erupted, yet this time the spearpletely melded into the air. With minimal resistance, its speed instantly increased by half. A soundless but lethal strike, aimed straight for his opponent''s head!


    "No!" A glimmer of fear shed through Wang Xiaohe''s eyes. The spear technique earlier was quick enough to make him sweat. But this was even more horrifying.


    <i>How can this be the strength of someone ranked 50 or 60 on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings? This guy is at least in the top 20! Or even top 10!</i>


    <i>Is this the legendary ''Harmony of Man and Nature''? Even if it falls slightly short, it''s practically at that level. </i>


    Wang Xiaohe''s eyes turned red as panic began to seize him. He finally understood why Wu Yuan was so confident. Why would such a formidable expert worry about an army siege?


    Wang Xiaohe knew that if he did not fight for his life today, his chances of survival were slim.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wang Xiaohe''s aura transformed. His speed soared as he flew back in retreat,unching a sh towards the spear.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Countless shards of rock scattered in every direction as the two weapons shed.


    <i>A secret technique or secret art? Even if his strength has increased a notch, what can it do? </i>Wu Yuan''s battle spirit was raging.


    Moments ago, he was merely relishing in the thrill of the hunt. It had been far too long since he had the opportunity to engage such a skilled opponent, so he was just ying around.


    But, would he still give the opponent any further chances? Wu Yuan gave Wang Xiaohe no opportunity to widen the gap between them. The two shed furiously, moving as if they were one.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>Wu Yuan stabbed his spear forward in quick session, as Wang Xiaohe shed his saber relentlessly.


    The observing soldiers, realizing that their crossbows were no longer effective, charged forward. These soldiers were the personal guards of Wang Xiaohe, bound by militaryw to face severe consequences if their major general died. Naturally, they fought with utmost desperation.


    Each of these soldiers possessed strength equivalent to at least 10,000 catties, with several Adepts among them surpassing tens of thousands of catties in strength. When they unleashed their full power, their might could not be underestimated!


    "Those who stand in my way will die!" Wu Yuan''s eyes emitted a bone-chilling killing intent as he swung his silver spear. A barrage of spear silhouettes swept in all directions.


    <i>Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!</i> A series of spear silhouettes shed by, leaving over twenty soldiers dead, their throats punctured or necks sliced open.


    Taking advantage of the chaos, Wang Xiaohe, as slippery as an eel, seized the opportunity to distance himself from Wu Yuan and desperately fled.


    However, before he could catch his breath, Wu Yuan leaped from the ground onto the mass of soldiers, using their heads and shoulders as stepping stones. He streaked forth like a bolt of lightning.


    Countless spears, sabers, and swords stabbed at him along the way. Yet, he managed to dodge each and every strike, striding through an entire division untouched! This bizarre agility sent chills down the spines of Wang Xiaohe and the soldiers.


    Meanwhile, streaks of spear silhouettes scythed into the army, culling the soldiers like stalks of wheat. It didn''t matter whether they were third-rate, second-rate, or even the rare first-rate Adept. Wu Yuan''s spear was unstoppable.


    In an instant, hundreds of soldiersy dead, and Wu Yuan once again caught up with Wang Xiaohe. Both of them had now broken through the army''s encirclement.


    "Kill!" Wang Xiaohe gritted his teeth and turned around, shing fiercely with his saber, as though resolved to fight to the bitter end. Escape meant certain death, whereas in struggling to hisst breath, perhaps there was a glimmer of hope.


    "Die!" Wu Yuannded, a hint of madness shing in his eyes. His spear moved like a tempest, filling the sky with afterimages. His attacks werepletely silent, yet more than half as fast as before!


    Secret Art: Thousand Mountains, maximum power! In an instant, dozens, hundreds of spear shadowspletely enveloped Wang Xiaohe, moving faster than his eyes could follow.


    <i>His attacks can get even faster? What kind of ability is this?</i> Wang Xiaohe couldn''t believe it, his face flushing red as he put up a desperatest stand.


    But any defense would inevitably fail. By the 46th spear thrust of the Thousand Mountains technique, Wang Xiaohe''s resistance crumbled. The spear tip grazed his saber edge, effortlessly breaking his defense. With a squelch, it pierced his throat.


    Wu Yuan exerted force, twisting the spear tip and causing the corpse to split open, blood sttering everywhere. There was no chance of survival.


    Wang Xiaohe was dead!


    A few droplets of blood stained Wu Yuan''s boots, but why would he concern himself with such minute details?


    Wu Yuan drove his spear into the ground. He deftly kicked the divine saber up, then grabbed it.


    "The major general is dead!"


    "Inspector General Yu is also dead."


    "Kill, kill the assassin!" Thousands of soldiers from various military tents surged towards Wu Yuan like a tidal wave.


    One man against an army? For a Land Ranker, a Grandmaster, taking on thousands of opponents single-handedly was by no means an exaggeration. Countless such instances were recorded throughout the history of the Middle Land.


    With Wu Yuan''s current strength, he was unafraid to face an army of 10,000 head-on. Thanks to the endless supply of blood-red mist, his body would never tire. But even if he could easily dispose of this army, what was the point?


    <i>In wars between nations, the battle is always decided by the sh between the top warriors. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes were ice cold. <i>Killing a few officers will suffice, there''s no need to massacre these low-ranking soldiers.</i>


    The earlier killing spree had produced enough blood-red mist to saturate his upper dantian lobe. The ck pagoda no longer produced any more.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan casually picked a direction and activated Ghostwalk. His spear twirled, leaving behind a trail of soldier corpses on the ground.


    He broke through the army''s encirclement, vanishing into the darkness.

 Chapter 119: A Clash With A Grandmaster (3)

    <h4>Chapter 119: A sh With A Grandmaster (3)</h4>


    With both itsmanding major general and inspector general dead, three out of five brigadier generals fallen, and heavy casualties among the soldiers, the 10,000-strong division was plunged into chaos. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the two remaining brigadier generals strove to restore order, gradually bringing some semnce of order to the disoriented army.


    As dawn was just about to break, the sound of galloping horses echoed outside therge encampment. The group of riders rapidly closed in.


    "The ninth prince has arrived in person, where is Wang Xiaohe? Tell him to hurry up and wee the prince!" A booming voice called out.


    Even after a long pause, there was no response, prompting the group to storm angrily into the camp.


    ...


    "What? Wang Xiaohe has perished just this night? Assassinated by a fearsome expert?" The group of experts clustered protectively around a young man in ck robes, shocked to receive such a bolt out of the blue.


    "How can this be? A month ago, General Wang was still in perfect health when he bid me farewell at Linjiang City!" The ck-robed young man around twenty years old seemed to be in denial. His eyes were red, and his facial muscles twitched spasmodically as he held back his tears.


    "I refuse to believe it. I must see Major General Wang''s body," He dered, marching straight towards the copsed central tent.


    "Your Highness." A lieutenant intercepted his path, attempting to dissuade him, "General Wang''s body has already..."


    "Scram!" the ck-robed young man roared, kicking him away. Though both were first-rate Adepts, the lieutenant was sent hurtling through the air, spewing blood as hended nearly ten meters away.


    Without hesitation, the ck-robed youth pressed forward, arriving at the central tent with his retinue in tow.


    The scene that awaited them was a macabre picture of carnage, with blood staining every inch of the area. Arrayed in a grim row were over a hundred lifeless bodies. The metallic tang of blood permeated the air, its pungent odor assaulting their senses. However, all of them were battle-hardened martial artists. This bit of gore wasn��t enough to rattle their minds.


    The young ck-robed man darted forth,ing to a halt before a lifeless body lying on a white cloth. It was Wang Xiaohe''s corpse. His body was split in two, barely held together, and his face was disfigured, almost beyond recognition.


    "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!" The young man could no longer hold back his emotions, copsing to his knees beside the body. He let out a guttural howl, a mournful wail of despair.


    Silent and somber, the dozen or so experts stood behind him. They all knew that despite the nearly two-decade age difference between the ninth prince and Wang Xiaohe, both had been disciples under the same Grandmaster.


    In their early years, before the ninth prince had revealed his talent, it was Wang Xiaohe, his Senior Brother, who had guided and mentored him in lieu of their master. Over time, they grew inseparable.


    Later on, one ascended to the ranks of a major general while the other unexpectedly rose in prominence among the princes, securing a favorable position within Emperor Jin''s heart. He was now a strong contender for the throne!


    After a moment of silence, the ninth prince suddenly looked up, his cheeks streaked with dried tears. His visage twisted with unyielding hatred and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance.


    "You,e here!" The ninth prince pointed at the lieutenant he had just kicked.


    "Your Highness," the lieutenant quivered in fear, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "What exactly happened here?" The ninth prince''s gaze bore into him, "Don''t leave anything out, I want everyst detail."


    "Yes, earlier this night, I..." the lieutenant hurriedly recounted everything he knew.


    Under the ninth prince''smand, three more of Wang Xiaohe��s personal guards were quickly summoned. They were brought forth and interrogated one by one. Their ounts amalgamated into aprehensive retelling of the event, offering the ninth prince and his entourage of experts a clear understanding.


    "Shadow de?" The ninth prince''s eyes were icy cold. "Is it the rumored Shadow de who acquired the Chu-Jiang Token? Uncle Jin [1], is it him?"


    "Your Highness, it''s hard to tell. It could be an imposter," a white-robed old man who was part of his entourage spoke softly, "Shadow de is known for his saber skills and throwing knives, but ording to the description, this mysterious expert is skilled in spear arts."


    "Also, ording to the intelligence gathered by the Sta Consortium, Shadow de is merely an expert ranked in the 60s or 70s on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. He is far from strong enough to kill Major General Wang amid 10,000 soldiers."


    "Even in a one-on-one confrontation, it''s unlikely that he could kill Major General Wang." The white-robed old man shook his head slightly, "There''s a 90% chance it''s an imposter."


    At this moment, a middle-aged man in red robes who had been pacing back and forth in the copsed tent returned to the group. Two short spears were fastened to his back, and his expression was cold.


    "Instructor Li?" The ninth prince asked tentatively. His attitude when speaking to this man was distinctly different.


    "I studied the traces of their fight and cross-examined it with the testimonials of the soldiers," the red-robed middle-aged man stated icily. "This individual possesses the strength to rank within the top ten of the Jiang Continent Human Rankings."


    Top ten in the Human Rankings? Everyone''s hearts sank. This was an incredibly formidable expert, nearly on par with a Grandmaster in terms of strength.


    "I am confident that I can kill him," The red-robed middle-aged man uttered.


    The crowd gasped in shock!


    Apart from the few lieutenants and personal guards who were brought in for questioning, even the retinue apanying the ninth prince exchanged incredulous looks. They knew this man was powerful, but his association with the ninth prince had been rtively brief, leaving them with limited knowledge about him.


    He had the confidence to kill an expert ranked top ten in the Human Rankings?


    "Excellent!" The ninth prince''s gaze was firm, his eyes radiating a chilling light.


    He abruptly turned towards one of his followers, a ck-robed man, "Nan Wei? Where''s your Bloodseeker Spirit Insect? I��m going to hunt him down."


    Nan Wei''s face paled as he responded, "Your Highness, we only have two Bloodseeker Spirit Insects left. Besides, we don''t know whether the assassin''s body was contaminated with blood, and several hours have already psed. I cannot guarantee that the tracking will seed." His words all hinted at one thing: he hoped the ninth prince would abandon this pursuit.


    "Track him. Even if you fail, I won''t me you." The ninth prince stared at the ck-robed man, trying to sound as gentle as possible while restraining his anger.


    All eyes were fixed on Nan Wei, curiosity lurking within the gazes of several onlookers. Spirit insects were extremely rare. Many of them had only read of such creatures in ancient texts. It was their first time seeing one in the flesh.


    "Yes, Your Highness." Nan Wei reluctantly acquiesced, nodding his head.


    He proceeded to collect a small amount of blood from each corpse, including that of Wang Xiaohe, and carefully mixed it within a vial.


    Next, he gingerly opened a jade vial from his bundle and delicately deposited one of the insect eggs into the small vial of blood.


    Right before their eyes, the insect egg devoured the blood in the jade vial, rapidly hatching. In a matter of moments, a crimson flying insect, no bigger than a thumb, emerged from the shell. Everyone watched it intently.


    The insect began circling the pile of corpses. After a while, it seemed to make up its mind. It buzzed, flying off in a specific direction.


    "Your Highness." The middle-aged ck-robed man caught the spirit insect excitedly, "The spirit insect has detected a familiar scent of blood. It''s in the southwest."


    "Southwest?" The ninth prince''s gaze swept across his subordinates, a glint of cold determination flickering in his eyes. "Uncle Jin, Instructor Li, Huo Ling, Nan Wei, the four of you shall apany me. Together, we will hunt down this killer."


    "Your Highness, you mustn��t!" The white-robed elderly man known as Uncle Jin, immediately interjected, attempting to dissuade him. "How can we allow Your Highness to endanger your life? This vile man dared to assassinate a major general of Great Jin and deserves to be eliminated, but we can take care of it. There''s no need for Your Highness to personally take the risk."


    "Exactly! Your Highness, you should remain in the army, we''ll go."


    "Your Highness." The others chimed in. Their futures rested on the ninth prince��s shoulders. Naturally, they didn''t wish for him to jeopardize his life.


    "My father spent over ten years on the battlefields of the Xi Continent, constantly flirting with death. Only then did he be a Grandmaster, leading his victorious army into the capital." The ninth prince looked at his followers, "Unless one reaches the Grandmaster level, one cannot be an emperor! This is a rule passed down by our ancestors."


    "Today, with Instructor Li and all of you by my side, how can I hope to be a Grandmaster if I shrink from pursuing a single assassin? How can I aspire to be an emperor?"


    "Moreover, I must personally kill him!" The ninth prince growled.


    "But..." The white-robed elderly man was still reluctant.


    "There''s nothing more to discuss." The ninth prince said coldly, "Uncle Jin, if you''re afraid, then you may remain here."


    "Nan Wei, release the spirit insect."


    "Yes." Nan Wei didn''t dare to argue and quickly let go of the spirit insect in his hand.


    The spirit insect flew into the air, its speed not particrly impressive.


    "Instructor Li, Nanwei, Huo Ling, let''s go." The ninth princemanded, following the spirit insect. The experts hastily followed suit.


    The white-robed elderly man sighed softly, turning to a ck-robed burly man among the retinue. "Wu Xi."


    "Master Jin." The ck-robed burly man responded.


    "Immediately inform Grandmaster Chen Luo about this. I will leave markings along our path. Tell the Grandmaster to hurry," the white-robed elderly man urged. "Don''t dy. Go now!"


    "Understood." The ck-robed burly man nodded, quickly heading back the way they came.


    After issuing the order, the white-robed elderly man leaped several meters, chasing after the ninth prince and his party.


    1. Not the same Jin as Emperor Jin ?

 Chapter 120: A Clash With A Grandmaster (4)

    <h4>Chapter 120: A sh With A Grandmaster (4)</h4>


    After killing Wang Xiaohe, Wu Yuan quickly made his escape. Even though he had to slow down to avoid leaving traces, he was still impressively swift. He headed southeast, running without pause for several hours. Eventually, he came to arge river.


    <i>I actually ran 600 li, all the way to the Cloud River. This should be the border between the Hillstride and Baihu Provinces.</i>


    While he was familiar with the terrain of the entire Jiang Continent, he had never traversed it personally. Deserted riverbanks stretched out as far as his eyes could see, and across the expansive rivery a series of undting hills.


    Wu Yuan drove his divine saber into the ground and casually set down his spear. Then, he stripped off his clothes.


    <i>There''s a 600 li distance between the scene of the battle and my current location. I''ve left no traces behind and avoided all settlements. Even the most skilled tracker won''t be able to locate me. </i>Wu Yuan''s lips curled into a faint smile.


    He had taken every conceivable precaution. After all, his target was a bordermander of Great Jin, a significant figure. His death would surely cause a huge uproar, so excessive caution was necessary.


    As he eased the tension in his body, countless tightly sealed pores sprang open, unleashing a deluge of perspiration. A wave of weariness washed over him as he allowed himself a brief respite.


    <i>Time for a bath.</i> Wu Yuan leaped into the crystal clear waters of the Cloud River. Though bone-chillingly cold, he found the bath refreshing. A whileter, he swam back to the shore.


    Wu Yuan slipped back into his clothes, feeling rejuvenated. He took in the vast, tranquil river flowing east. The winter sun wasn''t warm, but it was pleasantly soothing.


    <i>Having killed Wang Xiaohe, I''ve aplished my mission, settled my vendetta, and even stirred up some trouble for Great Jin. Plus, I''ve amassed quite a bit of blood-red mist. </i>


    Wu Yuan felt rather cheerful as he sat down and crossed his legs in the lotus position, focusing his consciousness. Within his upper dantian lobe, dense swirls of blood-red mist spiraled around the ck pagoda. His body seemed to be rejoicing, craving the blood-red mist.


    <i>It''s been half a year since Ist assimted blood-red mist. This time, I hope the mist from the ck pagoda will be sufficient. In fact, why not cultivate right here?</i>


    Without any hesitation, Wu Yuan started channeling the blood-red mist in his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>Boom!</i> The blood-red mist surged out from his upper dantian lobe like a tsunami, rapidly reaching every limb and bone.


    Assimtion!


    Instantly, Wu Yuan perceived the minute changes in his musculoskeletal system. His entire body seemed to quiver, and his soul appeared to be cheering.


    <i>Evolution! Enhancement!</i> Wu Yuan silently marveled.


    In terms of miracles, even the Ancient Immortal Dew couldn''tpete with the blood-red mist. One pushed the body to its limit, while the other shattered those limits. There was noparing the two.


    Skin, bones, membrane, internal organs, and even his blood, were all continuously transformed as they assimted the blood-red mist. At the same time, the dense mist surrounding the ck pagoda diminished visibly.


    <i>Killing a Savant expert yields so much of this blood-red mist. I''d need to y hundreds of soldiers to obtain the same amount of mist gained from killing Wang Xiaohe alone."</i>


    The secrets hidden within the ck pagoda were profound indeed. Where did the blood-red mist originate from? Was it provided by the pagoda itself as a reward for his kills? But how could the pagoda urately assess the strength of his enemies?


    Or perhaps it devoured some mysterious substance from the deceased? Why could it only devour those he''d in? He couldn''t figure it out!


    The sun began to set in the west.


    Just as the blood-red mist in the upper dantian lobe was almost depleted, Wu Yuan finally felt his body reach its saturation point.


    <i>I''ve absorbed 90% of the mist. Only 10% remains? Does this mean I''ll need tomit more ughter? </i>Deep down, Wu Yuan didn''t truly relish taking lives.


    <i>Forget it. For now, let''s push my physical constitution to the limit. I can��t wait to see how much stronger I��ll get this time.</i> His eyes glowed with anticipation.


    His one-armed punch could now produce a force of 110,000 catties. As he focused on his body, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but sense that this uing round of improvements might surpass his expectations.


    He retrieved a jade vial from the bundle on the ground. Opening it, a refreshing scent wafted out, arousing a strong desire to consume its contents.


    Inside the jade vial was Ancient Immortal Dew. Over three years, the sect had bestowed him with a total of 30 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew. ounting for the ten drops he already possessed and subtracting the small amount he had used in the past year, he estimated that roughly 36 drops remained.


    Ancient Immortal Dew, with its high energy content andpact size, was perfect for carrying on his travels.


    Therefore, during his rigorous training on Cloudhill, Wu Yuan rarely consumed the Ancient Immortal Dew to enhance his physique, instead favoring Qi Enhancement Pills and Cloudspring Blood. He had saved these drops specifically for his journey through the world.


    <i>Now, I can improve my physical constitution without any obstruction. I wonder if these drops of Ancient Immortal Dew will be enough.</i> Wu Yuan smiled slightly.


    He opened his mouth and swallowed a whole, undiluted drop of Ancient Immortal Dew! Instantly, a burst of potent energy erupted from his mouth, cascading down to his stomach. With his current robust physical constitution, he was well-equipped to handle it.


    Leaping up, Wu Yuan began practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, each movement stimting his body.


    The overwhelming energy from the Ancient Immortal Dew flooded into every corner of his body.


    Like a long-awaited downpour following a drought, Wu Yuan''s muscles and bones greedily absorbed the energy of the Ancient Immortal Dew with an insatiable appetite.


    The blood-red mist propelled his physical limits to uncharted heights while the Ancient Immortal Dew itself was free from impurities. With the assistance of both, his physical constitution started to improve at breakneck speed.


    With every drop of Ancient Immortal Dew he consumed, Wu Yuan''s physique surged, rapidly climbing from a single-arm strength of 110,000 catties to 120,000 catties, then 130,000 catties, rocketing straight up.


    The sun dipped below the horizon and rose once more.


    By the time Wu Yuan concluded his cultivation session, the sun was overhead. He stood in ce, his heart at peace.


    <i>After a day and night, I''ve finally reached my current physical limit! After dispelling the fatigue caused by nonstop cultivation, the blood-red mist has been nearly depleted. Only three drops of the Ancient Immortal Dew are left.</i>


    Wu Yuan had consumed over 30 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, equivalent to spending millions of silver in a single night. However, Wu Yuan didn''t feel the slightest regret. After all, the reason he had toiled so relentlessly to acquire these resources was to enhance his strength. What good was an abundance of treasures if he couldn''t raise his strength?


    Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, looking down at his palms. Gently clenching them, he could feel a tremendous power within himself, ready to unleash its might at any given moment. His strength had grown exponentially.


    Two days ago, his one-armed punch strength was 110,000 catties, and his raw physical constitution was at the bottom tier of second-grade martial artists.


    But now? Wu Yuan executed a punch. It was swift, silent, and far faster than before!


    <i>Boom!</i> Heunched a second punch, this time without integrating the movement into the surrounding environment. The air exploded violently.


    <i>My one-armed punch strength is roughly... 160,000 catties!</i> The corners of Wu Yuan''s mouth curled up. <i>The gap between myself and the Grandmasters is closing rapidly.</i>


    The minimum physical constitution requirement for a Land Ranker was 200,000 catties.


    During his time on Cloudhill, Wu Yuan had read quite a few ssics, including some notes from Grandmasters (not insights), allowing him to gain a certain level of understanding of Land Rankers.


    Why did the Martial King set the physical constitution of first-grade martial artists at 200,000 catties 3000 years ago? It was the universal standard of human biological limits in the world of the Middle Land.


    During Wu Yuan''s previous life in the Human Federation, the physical constitution of a martial arts Grandmaster generally ranged between 25,000 to 30,000 catties for a single-armed punch. In the world of the Middle Land, the one-armed punch strength of a Grandmaster generally ranged from 200,000 to 250,000 catties.


    Grandmasters with higher base strength existed. However, such urrences were rare. It required one to have exceptional innate physical abilities and receive the best training from an early age. On top of those conditions, one still had to reach the level of a Grandmaster. Only then could one see a glimmer of hope to achieve such strength.


    <i>An ordinary Grandmaster may not be capable of rivaling my martial skills. Just two days ago, I considered myself virtually invincible below the Grandmaster level.</i>


    <i>But now? I should be able to spar with a Grandmaster to some extent.</i>


    At the very least, he had the ability to put up a fight, unlike before when he was utterly defenseless. One could say that apart from the legendary Heavenly Rankers, Wu Yuan was nearly at the summit of martial arts in the world of the Middle Land.


    Wu Yuan felt his mind ease slightly. In just two years, he had aplished much. The number of people who could threaten him in this world was shrinking. True freedom and peace of mind could only be obtained through power.


    Just like that, Wu Yuany quietly by the riverbank, allowing his mind to drift and extend in all directions, leisurely sensing the world around him.


    Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty, an hour, two hours.


    As the sun gradually set in the west, Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open. <i>Hmm?</i>


    He somersaulted to his feet, the divine saber was already in his hand. His attention was drawn to the forest not too far away. With his powerful senses, he had detected something stirring within the trees. Several figures were dashing towards him at rming speed.


    He didn''t have to wait long.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Several figures leaped into the air andnded in the deserted woods around 100 meters away from him. Only a shallow rivery between them.


    <i>These people?</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly. As he surveyed the five figures, his gaze settled on a stern-faced youth in ck robes. This man appeared to be the leader. But after only a nce at him, Wu Yuan''s focus ultimately turned to a man in red robes, radiating an ominous indifference. It was this man who posed the greatest threat!


    "Are you Shadow de? Did you kill Senior Brother Wang?" The ck-robed youth stared intently at Wu Yuan, especially at therge saber in his hand. It was Wang Xiaohe''s divine weapon.


    "Senior Brother Wang? Wang Xiaohe?" Wu Yuan squinted slightly, calmly responding, "Are you Grandmaster Sun Dongning''s disciple?"


    He knew that Wang Xiaohe was a disciple of a Grandmaster. But so what? It didn��t deter him from ending that man��s life.


    "So it really was you!" The ck-robed youth''s eyes zed with unending fury, as if eager topletely devour Wu Yuan.


    "Are you here for revenge?" Wu Yuan asked softly.


    "I don��t know how you found me so quickly. But it seems you are experts from the Great Jin Empire." Wu Yuan''s voice was not loud, but it carried crisply to the other side of the riverbank.


    "Sir, are you truly Shadow de?" The white-robed elderly man suddenly asked.

 Chapter 121: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (1)

    Chapter 121: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (1)


    Shadow de? Wu Yuan''s gaze turned to the white-robed elderly man, his mind quickly analyzing the identities of the five individuals before him.


    The red-robed middle-aged man with two short spears on his back was the strongest. At least, through Wu Yuan''s soul sense, he posed the greatest threat  a lethal one!


    After spending more than a year on Cloudhill, Wu Yuan''s mastery of his soul had grown, and he could now wield it with increased dexterity. He had also gained a general understanding of how soul sense worked.


    Normally speaking, opponents who were two or three grades weaker than him, such as second-rate Adepts and ordinary first-rate Adepts, would give Wu Yuan a slight sense of danger, but they could essentially be ignored.


    Those one grade weaker, such as the top 200 first-rate Adepts in the Human Rankings, or average Savant experts, would give him a vaguely dangerous sensation.


    As for a lethal threat? These experts were at the level of the top ten in the Human Rankings!


    Next was the white-robed elderly man. Although the threat he posed was slightly weaker, it also carried a hint of lethal danger, not much weaker than the red-robed middle-aged man.


    As for the ck-d woman with twin des? She was even weaker. Based on Wu Yuan''s estimations, her strength was on par with Wang Xiaohe, cing her somewhere around the 50s on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.


    Although they might seem rtively weak from Wu Yuans analysis, such abination of individuals was extremely terrifying. Two likely top ten Human Rankings experts traveling together? Below the Grandmaster level, they were nearly invincible.


    Even the formidable Cloudstride Sect would find it hard to mobilize such an elite team despite having over twenty Savant experts among their ranks.


    <em>And these experts appear to be followers of the ck-robed young man?</em> Wu Yuan frowned. Through his soul sense, the ck-robed youth''s strength was not too shabby, but his threat level was onlyparable to Chen Tangru. He could barely be considered a Savant expert. Yet, he had somehow managed tomand two top ten experts from the Human Rankings? What a joke!


    Those in the top ten of the Human Rankings generally possessed incredible skill and physical constitution, possibly even possessing the potential of a Grandmaster. They might submit to a Grandmaster, but to submit to the son of a Grandmaster? Their pride simply wouldn''t allow it. At least, ording to the intel Wu Yuan had, there didn''t seem to be any young man in the vast Jiang Continent capable of such a feat.


    Thest of them, a ck-robed middle-aged man, seemed to be the weakest. His status also appeared the lowest among the five. However, Wu Yuan''s sharp eyes picked up on something peculiar about this individual. Why would a first-rate Adept involve himself if they were after him, especially considering the strength he had disyed? To throw his life away?


    However, the greatest concern Wu Yuan had was: how did this group of Savant experts track him down? He had taken great care not to leave any traces on his journey, and had sprinted a full 600 li! In theory, they shouldn''t have been able to trace his whereabouts. At least, not in fewer than two days after Wang Xiaohes death.


    Still, Wu Yuan remained calm. He was far from powerless, and wasn''t afraid of a bunch of Savant experts. Even if they were Grandmasters, it made no difference. Wu Yuan would stand his ground and fight!


    As his mind churned, Wu Yuan''s gaze scanned the distant forest. His senses had picked up a unique, barely perceptible aura.


    "Kid, Uncle Jin is asking you a question." The woman in ck, who looked about 40, spoke with a frigid tone, "If you wish to have an intact corpse, answer honestly."


    "So what if I am? And what if I''m not?" Wu Yuan replied calmly.


    The old man in the white robe smiled, "Hehe, if that''s not the case, could you enlighten me as to why you murdered Wang Xiaohe?"


    "For money. What''s so unusual about that?" Wu Yuan said with indifference. "His head is worth five million silver taels."


    The expressions of the group involuntarily shifted. The young man in ck robes leading the group red at him with such fury that he seemed ready to spit fire from his eyes. Just for money? However, the old man in white motioned for the young man in ck to remain calm.


    Evidently, their purpose for pursuing Wu Yuan had changed after theymunicated on the way here. Hence they did not immediately engage Wu Yuan in battle.


    "So, are you a Savant expert from the Pleiades Guild?" The old man in white asked quietly, "To my knowledge, of all the underground organizations, only the Pleiades Guild has a bounty on General Wang Xiaohe."


    "So what if I am?" Wu Yuan asked indifferently. He wasn''t surprised they''d figured out he was from the Pleiades Guild. To sessfully assassinate a Savant expert, he would at least have to be from a second-rate underground organization. The Pleiades Guild and Ninedeaths Circle were the most likely culprits.


    Just as Wu Yuan had read the five-star missions of the Pleiades Guild and knew there was a bounty on his head, it came as no surprise that the Great Jin Empire, which upied three territories in the Jiang Continent, had sent their spies to infiltrate the Pleiades Guild.


    Therefore, it was only natural that the empire would be aware of the Pleiades Guild''s bounty on Wang Xiaohe. Bounties required an upfront payment. Hence, unless the target was someone of great importance like Wu Yuan, very few employers would issue bounties across multiple organizations simultaneously. The cost would be exorbitant!


    "If your only concern is money, I may have a way out for you," the white-robed elderly man softly spoke. "Hand over your Pleiades Guild''s identity badge and state your identity within the Guild. If so, we might consider sparing you!"


    All eyes were on Wu Yuan.


    "Haha!" Wu Yuan suddenlyughed, fixing the elderly man with a sardonic grin. "Old man, do you take me for a fool, or are you the fool?"


    "If I hand over the identity badge, you could impersonate me and im the reward at the Pleiades Guild. And the moment I surrender the badge, you''ll probably kill me on the spot." Wu Yuan scoffed. "You nned this well."


    The white-robed elderly man''s expression remained unchanged. This was indeed their scheme. Wang Xiaohe was dead, and there was no point wallowing in sorrow. Their best course of action was to extract every remaining ounce of utility, with the most significant being the bounty from the Pleiades Guild.


    Money had the power to move even gods. Five million taels was no mere pocket change even for a prince, a fortune ample for diverse uses. It was alsomon knowledge that an emperor needed wealth and treasures in hand to tempt and bind the experts under his control.


    The Pleiades Guild only recognized identity badges, not people. Hence they wanted Wu Yuan dead, and the Pleiades Guild badge in his hands. However, the Pleiades Guild badge wasnt as sturdy as it appeared - a Savant expert could easily destroy it if so desired. That was why they preferred to coax the token out of Wu Yuan first.


    "You!" Wu Yuan suddenly pointed his saber at the young man in ck robes, a smirk ying on his lips, "If I am not mistaken, you must be Jin Rensu, the ninth prince of Great Jin!


    In a heartbeat, the expressions of the woman in ck and the middle-aged man in ck robes subtly shifted. They didn''t expect their opponent to point out the identity of the ninth prince directly.


    The youth in ck robes merely furrowed his brow, remaining silent. The elderly man in white and the middle-aged man in red didn''t bat an eye.


    "It seems my assumption was correct. Wu Yuan calmly stated, "I was just wondering who could make such a group of experts obey theirmand.


    The present Emperor Jin had over twenty princes. Yet, only three princes truly stood out, earning the favor and respect of various factions: the eldest prince, the third prince, and the ninth prince. The ninth prince was the sole son of the current Empress, a legitimate heir!


    These three royal princes eachmanded an enormous army. Among them, the ninth prince had ruled over the three territories in the Jiang Continent for the past six years. He was the officially recognized highest authority of Great Jin within the Jiang Continent, tasked with executing the eastward expansion strategy of the empire. Even the three Great Grandmasters were, in name, subject to his orders.


    As the Great Jin Empire''s mortal enemy, the Cloudstride Sect was well-informed about the ninth prince. Although Wu Yuan didn''t pay it much attention, he''d caught a glimpse once when he visited the Finance Hall. Nevertheless, with his exceptional memory, he retained most of what he saw.


    When the ck-robed youth referred to Wang Xiaohe as "Senior Brother Wang" and demonstrated his ability tomand a group of experts, Wu Yuan finally confirmed the youth''s identity as the ninth prince. Both he and Wang Xiaohe were disciples under the tutge of Grandmaster Sun Dongning.


    "You are rather perceptive," the ck-robed youth said with a cold expression. "I am indeed the ninth prince of the Great Jin."


    "Ninth Prince, you are quite forting," Wu Yuan said nonchntly. "Alright, I won''t hide it from you either. Indeed, I am Shadow de."


    So what if he revealed his identity? If they want a fight, then bring it on!


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had taken on the task to assassinate Wang Xiaohe using Shadow des identity, and the Pleiades Guild was aware of it. As long as the Great Jin Empire performed an investigation, it was only a matter of time before they realized Thousand Mountains and Shadow de were one and the same.


    "Really?" The ck-robed youth''s eyes narrowed slightly, and the gazes of the others also changed. They naturally doubted whether Wu Yuan was telling the truth. But at this point in time, there was no reason for him to impersonate the identity of Shadow de.


    "Shadow de? If you truly are Shadow de," the elderly man in white robes murmured, "I shall not deceive you. You do indeed have a path to survival."

 Chapter 122: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (2)

    Chapter 122: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (2)


    "Oh? Do tell," Wu Yuan responded with a casual air.


    "Join the Great Jin Empire!" the elderly man in white said.


    "Join Great Jin?" Wu Yuan revealed a mischievous grin, his gaze flickering toward the ck-robed youth, "Ninth Prince, can you ept me? Can the Great Jin Empire truly embrace my existence?"


    "Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible," A cold gaze emanated from Jin Rensu''s eyes as he stared at Wu Yuan, "But if you''re willing to hand over the Chu-Jiang Token, it would be considered a great meritorious deed. In that case, it could be feasible."


    "Not only will the charges on your head be removed, but you may also be granted anything you wish for. Whether it''s a secret technique, a secret art, a natural treasure, power, or beauties, the choice is yours. If you desire power, I can rmend you to the emperor. You could be granted the title of First ss Marquis," Jin Rensu said.


    Everyone around him listened in silence without any visible reactions. They had already discussed these matters during their journey.


    "Is that so?" Wu Yuan smirked, "Turns out this Chu-Jiang Token is rather precious. What a tantalizing offer.


    Unfortunately, you''ve miscalcted. I have no interest in power and I''m not after beauties. As for secret arts? Secret techniques? Hehe! I don''t care."


    "My goal is to be a Great Grandmaster, and have my name listed on the Heavenly Rankings. I suppose the old fogey emperor can''t provide me with what I want," Wu Yuan spoke lightly, "After all, the only Heavenly Ranker within Great Jin is Imperator Jin."


    In the Great Jin Empire, only the founding emperor was known as Imperator Jin. The next emperors in line were simply referred to as Emperor Jin.


    Wu Yuan''s words caused a shift in the expressions of everyone present. Hisnguage held not a shred of respect for Emperor Jin.


    "Shadow de, I''ve been merciful enough." Coldness seeped into Jin Rensu''s voice, "But I will give you onest opportunity. Surrender the Chu-Jiang Token, and I will spare your life."


    "Do you really think I would carry such a precious treasure on my person?" Wu Yuan scoffed.


    Both Jin Rensu and the white-robed elderly man''s pupils constricted slightly. This was their biggest fear.


    "Enough! I have no time to waste with you. I''ve obtained the information I needed." Wu Yuan''s voice suddenly turned cold, "Ninth Prince, I have no intention of joining Great Jin, nor do I wish to be your enemy."


    "I hope you won''t force my hand," Wu Yuan raised his saber slightly.


    Killing Wang Xiaohe would have little impact on the situation in Great Jin or the Cloudstride Sect, except for causing some minor disturbances. But to kill the Ninth Prince? He was a legitimate prince of Great Jin, and though not the crown prince, he was the most likely contender for that position. His death would undoubtedly create chaos within Great Jin!


    Though he was operating under the alias Shadow de and there was no proof of his connection to the Cloudstride Sect, who knew what Emperor Jin would think? Would he use this as an excuse to reignite the war with the Cloudstride Sect? Everything was uncertain. Therefore, Wu Yuan wasn''t too keen to resort to violence. Besides, he sensed an unknown threat looming nearby.


    "I''m forcing your hand?" The ninth prince''s teeth ground together, his eyes burning with fury. "You''ve murdered my Senior Brother and ughtered my entire army. Yet, you have the audacity to me me for retaliating against you?"


    He spun around, fixing his gaze on the old man in white. "Uncle Jin, will you persist in trying to reason with him?"


    With the slightest shake of his head, the old man in white robes closed his eyes. Then, they flew open and he spat out one word: "Kill!"


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>At once, the elderly man in white, the woman in ck, and the impassive man in red who had been silently observing the scene, sprang into action!


    The remarkable swiftness of these three experts was nothing short of terrifying, particrly the man in red. He effortlessly surpassed a speed of 200 meters per second! Like a phantom, he triggered a series of sonic booms. The distance between Wu Yuan and them was roughly 100 meters, which meant that the man in red reached Wu Yuan in less than half a second.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>Two ck, short spears tore through the air towards Wu Yuan.


    "Shadow de, you asked for it." A sword materialized in the white-robed man''s hand, dancing unpredictably.


    Only the woman in ck was marginally slower, but her two sabers howled in sync.


    Half a second was a very brief span of time. But for experts of Wu Yuan''s caliber, who possessed immensely strong souls, their mental and physical reaction speeds exceeded those of ordinary individuals by at least tenfold.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan sidestepped, evading the full-force thrust of the man in red. He then shed out with his saber, aiming for the other spear.


    <em>Boom! </em>As sword shed with spear, the impact reverberated through the air, scattering stones and dust in all directions.


    In the fleeting moment that their des met, Wu Yuan realized he couldn''t kill the man in the red robe in a short time, and darted past him. He then faced the second attacker, the old man in white robes.


    The man in red robes felt his arm growing numb as he staggered back, and a hint of fear surfaced on his face. "Not good! Retreat quickly!"


    But s, it was toote. Wu Yuan had already collided with the white-robed elderly man. Rays of sword light unfurled from the elder''s hand like a peacock unting its feathers. It was resplendent and beautiful, yet filled with overwhelming killing intent.


    "Uncle Jin''s swordy," Ninth Prince Jin Rensu observed the spectacle with bated breath. The sh between martial arts experts was truly intense. Standing the farthest away from the battle, he hadn''t heard the panicked cry of the man in red.


    <em>ng! ng! ng! </em>The de rays and sword lights intertwined, shing more than a dozen times in the blink of an eye. The swordy of the white-robed elder was blindingly bright! In terms of martial skills, he was no worse than Mo Jingchen, perhaps even stronger, and on top of that, his physical constitution was still at its peak.


    After witnessing the sh between Wu Yuan and the man in red robes, he realized Wu Yuan''s formidable strength and promptly employed his secret art.


    Wu Yuan also unleashed his full strength in response. Threefold Power Surge, an eruption of 480,000 catties of force! Thousand Mountains! His musculoskeletal system vibrated at its highest frequency.


    The second level of Environmental Mastery, Integration!


    At that very moment, Wang Xiaohe''s divine weapon exploded with a whole new level of power in Wu Yuan''s hands, sweeping across everything in its path, silent yet overwhelming!


    <em>St! </em>With the ninth stroke of the saber, a head was sent flying. Even in death, the man in white robes had an expression of disbelief. In hisst waking moment, the scenes of the life he lived shed through his mind, and his heart was filled with resentment. He thought himself a future imperial instructor. Who would have known he would die here? The darkness swallowed hisst thread of consciousness.


    Jin Tanying, ranked 33rd on the Holy Continent Human Rankings, was dead!


    The Holy Continent was the number one continent in the world. If Jin Tanying had been born in the Jiang Continent, his strength alone would have easily secured him a spot within the top ten of the Human Rankings.


    The elderly, white-robed man was in with just nine strokes of the saber. Yet, Wu Yuan did not pause his step, appearing beside the ck-robed woman in a sh. Her face was full of fear and surprise.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>de rays intertwined.


    <em>Ssh! </em>The woman in ck staggered violently. Inertia propelled her forward as she fell, stirring up mud and water. Blood flowed down her neck.


    Bai Yumeng, ranked 53rd in the Holy Continent Human Rankings, was dead!


    In the blink of an eye, two out of the three Savant experts were dead! This scene caused all color to drain from the ninth prince''s face. What was happening? From his understanding, Wu Yuan had decentbat strength. But with three top-notch Savant experts, especially the man in the red robes, capturing him should have been child''s y!


    "Retreat!" The red-robed middle-aged man roared as he hurtled towards Wu Yuan.


    After dispatching the woman in ck, Wu Yuan swiftly dodged the red-robed man again, this time charging directly for the ninth prince. That was his real target.


    The ninth prince was a legitimate prince of Great Jin, and Wu Yuan honestly preferred not to kill him. He had no desire to start a war just yet. But if they dared to strike, he was not afraid to retaliate. So what if he turned their world upside down?


    <em>Run! </em>Jin Rensu''s heart palpitated wildly as he turned tail and ran for his life. His physical constitution had reached the second grade, but in terms ofbat power, he was at the bottom tier of Savant experts. Facing Wu Yuan? He didn''t stand the slightest chance!


    <em>Swoosh!</em> Without hesitation, Wu Yuan flung a throwing knife. A torrent of force, hundreds of thousands of catties, was imbued into it.


    Surpassing the speed of sound, the throwing knife shot whizzed unerringly toward Jin Rensu.


    With Wu Yuan''s current strength, bolstered by martial skill at the second level of Environmental Mastery, not even the top ten on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings could stop this throwing knife. It was simply too fast. So fast that even the red-robed middle-aged man, despite his best efforts to divert its trajectory, couldnt keep up.


    <em>Boom! </em>In Wu Yuan''s line of sight, a somewhat blurry human figure burst forth from the forest behind at a speed exceeding 300 meters per second. His sheer speed unleashed a heart-trembling shockwave, causing the surrounding foliage to bow down and countless fragments of earth and rock to be flung into the air. And just like that, he positioned himself directly between Wu Yuan and Ninth Prince Jin Rensu.


    A fleeting shadow of a staff swept through the air, obliterating a throwing knife in an instant. The shattered remnants of the de collided with a colossal boulder in the distance, triggering a reverberating explosion that sent fragments flying in all directions. The figure remained motionless, his afterimage solidifying into a tangible presence.


    Caught in a state of shock, Ninth Prince Jin Rensu gazed at Wu Yuan with a terrified expression, but as he recognized the figure before him, his eyes lit up in joy. "Uncle Chen, you''re here?"


    Wu Yuan came to a halt, his gaze locked onto the neer. Standing at just under 1.8 meters tall, this robust man possessed a square face and a cropped mane of hair. Adorned in pitch-ck battle armor and boots, only his head and arms were exposed.


    His hand tightly gripped a weathered metal staff, tinged with a pale blue hue. Despite its primitive appearance, the weapon bore the marks of countless shes. The tip of the staff pulsed with light.


    Like a towering mountain, the man radiated an indescribably daunting aura!


    <em>This... This is definitely a Grandmaster expert.</em> Wu Yuan stared at the man with razor-sharp focus, his grip on his saber tightening.

 Chapter 123: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (3)

    <h4>Chapter 123: Grandmaster! Life or Death, Only a Battle Will Tell (3)</h4>


    When Jin Rensu��s group first made contact with him, Wu Yuan refrained from immediatelyunching intobat for two reasons. Apart from curiosity, he had felt an almost imperceptible, unsettling aura emanating from the dense forest hundreds of meters away. This had aroused suspicion and instilled a hint of hesitation within him.


    However, once he made up his mind to fight, Wu Yuan went all out, holding nothing back as he eliminated these threats first.


    And now, Wu Yuan could finally confirm with absolute certainty that a Grandmaster expert had arrived.


    Furthermore, from the opponent''s height, weapon, and the way Ninth Prince Jin Rensu addressed him, Wu Yuan had roughly guessed his identity: one of the twelve Grandmasters of the Jiang Continent��Chen Luo. He was ranked 116th in the Land Rankings, and his fortey in the staff!


    Processing this information, Wu Yuan realized that although his soul was powerful, his soul sense was not invincible. He could perceive experts below the level of Grandmaster with rity. But for those who reached the human limits? He could only get a vague sense of their presence, as Grandmasters had the ability to conceal their auras.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The man in red robes arrived beside Jin Rensu and Grandmaster Chen Luo in a sh.


    "Grandmaster Chen!" the red-robed man bowed his head in extreme respect. Proud as he was, boasting a near-invincible status beneath the Grandmasters, he still had to bow his head in front of a real Grandmaster.


    In the Middle Land, an insurmountable chasm separated the Grandmasters from the rest. Throughout the ages, few martial artists could ever break this convention.


    "Uncle Chen, kill him! You must kill him!" Jin Rensu suddenly yelled, hatred zing in his eyes as he pointed usingly at Wu Yuan.


    For a prince, enlisting the aid of top-tier experts, particrly those ranked high on the Human Rankings, was far from easy. They were not inclined to pledge their allegiance to others. Both the old man in white robes and the woman in ck were individuals he had painstakingly recruited and trusted immensely.


    <i>Pa!</i> A sudden, forceful pnded across Jin Rensu''s face.


    The youth waspletely dazed. "Uncle Chen."


    "Still not awake? When you encounter a problem, you let hatred cloud your mind, driving you to recklessly seek revenge." Chen Luo''s voice was cold "And what''s the result? If it weren��t for me, you''d be dead! With such a temperament, how could His Majesty rest easy entrusting the future of Great Jin to you?"


    "But I..." Jin Rensu attempted to protest.


    <i>Pa!</i> Another pnded.


    "Listen when your elders are imparting wisdom!" Chen Luo''s voice turned icy. He pointed at the two lifeless bodies strewn across the ground with his staff. "Take a good look, two Savant experts have perished because of your actions."


    Jin Rensu ground his teeth in frustration as he listened. A fire raged within him, but at this moment, he could only bow his head and utter, "Thank you, Uncle Chen. Rensu understands his mistake now."


    Naturally, Chen Luo recognized Jin Rensu''s dissatisfaction, but he was confident that in retrospect, Jin Rensu would naturallyprehend. If he couldn��t? Then he was simply unworthy of taking the throne. That would also mean Chen Luo had misjudged him.


    What''s more, he didn''t care in the slightest if Jin Rensu held a grudge against him. Where couldn''t a Grandmaster go in this vast world?


    Even if Jin Rensu became emperor, Grandmasters were never truly beholden to anyone.


    Only at this moment did Chen Luo''s gazend on Wu Yuan. "You are Shadow de?"


    His eyes were filled with curiosity and killing intent, "I never expected you to be a quasi-grandmaster."


    Quasi-grandmaster? The middle-aged man in red robes and Jin Ren felt their hearts shudder. Only then did they realize what kind of being they had provoked.


    "Quasi-grandmaster?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.


    "Based on the speed and strength you disyed earlier, your power doesn''t seem to have reached the first-grade level." Chen Luo said softly.


    "And what of it?" Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered.


    "But, it appears you have reached the Harmony of Man and Nature stage. How strange." Chen Luo said softly, "Your vital qi appears vigorous, unlike that of an 80-year-old. Truly bizarre. Can you exin it to me?��


    "Hmph." Wu Yuan just snorted coldly, refusing to offer an exnation. He naturally understood what Chen Luo meant.


    In the world of the Middle Land, an average second-grade martial artist, regardless of how gifted or how hard they strived, could only enhance their physical constitutions to a limit of 160,000 to 180,000 catties.


    Only by mastering Rigid Yet Supple and gradually gaining Environmental Mastery could one truly unleash the full potential of their body, reaching the limit of their human body. At that stage, one''s physical constitution would experience a significant leap, breaking past 200,000 catties of strength.


    This Grandmaster had easily discerned that Wu Yuan recently exerted 160,000 catties of strength, barely qualifying him as a top-tier second-grade martial artist. Yet, Wu Yuan''s martial skills were at an extraordinarily high level.


    As for the Harmony of Man and Nature? ording to Wu Yuan''s previous research, the stage of Environmental Mastery was indeed referred to as the Harmony of Man and Nature in the Middle Land!


    From Chen Luo''s perspective, if Wu Yuan possessed such exceptional martial skills, his physical body should not have stagnated at this level; he should have already entered the first-grade level.


    Generally, there are only two possibilities.


    Either he was still in a period of physical growth, and would naturally transition to the first-grade level in the future. Or he was an extremely old martial artist, like Mo Jingchen. At that point, with declining qi and vitality, making further breakthroughs would be impossible even with incredible martial skills.


    "Unwilling to speak?" Chen Luo fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan. "Speak up, Shadow de. There might be a chance, a slim chance, that I will spare your pitiful existence."


    "Spare me?" Wu Yuan scoffed, shaking his head. "Is Great Jin made up of fools? Even the Grandmasters are no exception."


    "Can''t you guys switch up your lines?" Wu Yuan shot back with a mocking sneer.


    Chen Luo faltered. The ninth prince, Jin Rensu, and the man in red robes looked at Wu Yuan in surprise. He dared act so brazenly in front of a Grandmaster?


    "Do you really think you can escape from me?" Chen Luo asked, his voice now a dangerous whisper.


    "Chen Luo." Wu Yuan chuckled coldly, "Everyone knows you by your Grandmaster title, but the first time I heard your name was ten years ago, during the Battle of Hillstride."


    "Ha! It was there that the Cloudstride Sect''s Grandmaster Yu gave you a good beating, nearly routing Great Jin''s army! If it weren''t for the timely arrival of East King Jin Jiu who held her off, I bet you''d have died there and then!" Wu Yuan sneered, "I''ve never considered you a worthy opponent."


    Silence fell. Ninth Prince Jin Rensu and the red-robed man stared at Wu Yuan, stupefied. Yes, everything he said was true. But what good could possiblye from provoking a Grandmaster?


    "You''re courting death!" A chilling light exploded in Chen Luo''s eyes. Wu Yuan''s words had struck a nerve within this proud Grandmaster.


    The Battle of Hillstride concluded in triumph for Great Jin. Yet, it was a battle of dishonor for him. As a young Grandmaster at the peak of his prowess, not even 60 years old, he found himself on the brink of death at the hands of an elderly Grandmaster nearing 100. How pathetic.


    "Chen Luo!" Wu Yuan roared suddenly, battle intent erupting in his eyes. "I��ll give you two choices. One, you let me go, and today''s events end here. Two, fight me, and you might just kill me."


    "But." Wu Yuan lifted his saber, the tip pointing at Ninth Prince Jin Rensu, "He, will die!"


    Such a naked threat caused a flicker of fear to pass through Jin Rensu''s eyes. He trusted Chen Luo, but anyone would be apprehensive when threatened by a quasi-grandmaster.


    "Shadow de, I don''t care who you are, or whether you have a Grandmaster backing you," Murderous intent burst in Chen Luo''s eyes, "Today, you are dead meat! Li Zi, protect the prince."


    <i>Boom! </i>Chen Luo shot forward, skyrocketing to nearly the speed of sound, his staff whirling through the air with unbridled fury.


    The mighty staff descended on Wu Yuan, its force akin to the copse of the sky.


    "Good move." Wu Yuan''s eyes were fixed on the metal staff as it closed in, a surge of adrenaline flooding his body.


    Grandmaster! Finally, he was facing a true Grandmaster for the first time since arriving in this world. Was he confident? Not at all.


    And yet!


    <i>Roaming the world, engaging in countless fights, can one have absolute certainty of victory in every battle? Only when the battlemences, can one truly know whether they will live or perish.</i> Fighting spirit zed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A dazzling de ray ignited.


    Confronting a Grandmaster expert, Wu Yuan dared not hold back at all, simultaneously activating the two secret arts Thousand Mountains and Ghostwalk.


    <i>Boom! </i>Apanied by a dull explosion, an invisible wave of power swept in all directions. Although Jin Rensu and the man in red robes stood nearly 200 meters away, they could feel the impact vividly.


    <i>Bang! </i>Like a meteor, Wu Yuan was violently sted back hundreds of meters, mming into the riverbank and sending up a tide ten meters tall.


    Once more, Chen Luo took a single step forward. Like a phantom, he charged at Wu Yuan. The air merely erupted with a faint rumble. It was evident that Chen Luo��s martial skill had reached a terrifying level. Even if it didn''t surpass Wu Yuan��s, the gap was not significant. Both had reached the Environmental Mastery stage.


    <i>Boom! </i>The staff swung down towards Wu Yuan''s head. If this blownded, Wu Yuan''s skull would surely burst open. In shes between martial artists, life and death hung by a thread.


    <i>Swish! </i>Wu Yuan''s figure twisted. Like a gust of wind, he evaded the blow, simultaneously delivering a saber strike of his own. But it was blocked by the staff right away.


    <i>A Grandmaster indeed! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes burned with excitement,<i> I can''t confront him head-on, or my defeat will be inevitable.</i>


    "The staff is a heavy weapon. But Chen Luo, I''ve told you. If you attack me, he''s doomed!" Wu Yuan suddenly sidestepped. Exerting force with his legs, he dashed straight towards Jin Rensu.

 Chapter 124: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (1)

    <h4>Chapter 124: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan barely vaulted a hundred meters when he abruptly sensed a terrifying force bearing down on him, aiming for the kill.


    <i>Swish! </i>He made a sweeping cut with the long saber!


    <i>Boom!</i> A cataclysmic collision ensued, sending shockwaves rippling in every direction. Wu Yuan was thrown back dozens of meters, his feet carving two deep trenches in the ground as hended. Only then was the force of the staff blow finally mitigated.


    Through their previous exchanges, Wu Yuan hade to understand that going head-to-head with Grandmaster Chen Luo was near impossible!


    In terms of strength, Wu Yuan could consistently muster around 480,000 catties.


    But Grandmaster Chen Luo? ording to Wu Yuan''s estimates from their recent sh, Chen Luo could exert about 650,000 catties of force, and the raw strength of his one-arm punch could deal approximately 210,000 catties. There was a significant disparity between them.


    He had superior martial skills, allowing him to integrate with his surroundings, reducing air resistance significantly. This made his saber strikes faster and more menacing. However, having just entered the stage of Environmental Mastery, his control would inevitably waver amidst high-speed movements and intensebat.


    On the other hand, unlike his previous adversaries, Grandmaster Chen Luo''s every move was nearly wless, clearly attaining the level of Environmental Mastery as well.


    In summary, Wu Yuan''s slight advantage in martial skills couldn''tpensate for the gap in strength. Moreover, the discrepancy in their physical attributes affected not just their strength but also their speed, endurance, and various other facets ofbat power.


    But the most critical disadvantage Wu Yuan faced was his weapon!


    <i>When I exert my full strength, I''m starting to feel the limits of this divine saber. A third-grade divine weapon is not suitable for battling a Grandmaster.</i>


    Third-grade divine weapons were typically wielded by Savant experts. A Grandmaster could unleash 600,000 catties of power at least and their primary weapons and inner armor were generally second grade. In fact, many Grandmasters possessed first-grade divine weapons which significantly boosted their strength.


    Where twobatants possessed equalbat power, the advantage of a stronger weapon could not be overlooked. Grandmaster Chen Luo wielded a renowned weapon recorded in the World Land Rankings. It was a second-grade divine weapon, the Greenme Staff. Once swung, its blows were as explosive as a st of fire and thunder, and Wu Yuan was currently experiencing its might firsthand.


    <i>Haha! So even a Grandmaster needs to employ secret arts to catch up with me?</i> A thought arose in Wu Yuan''s mind and he beganughing loudly. "Chen Luo, I wonder how many times you can protect him."


    He appeared to be making casual conversation, yet his legs bulked up even further, and he shot forward at a speed that broke the sound barrier.


    "Scram!" Chen Luo''s face turned pale as his figure blurred to catch up, blocking Wu Yuan with his staff. In terms of burst speed, he was faster than Wu Yuan.


    Whether it was Chen Luo or Wu Yuan, their maximum sprint speed could exceed the speed of sound, but it required a buildup of momentum. In an instantaneous burst of speed, Wu Yuan could nearly reach 300 meters per second, while Chen Luo approached the speed of sound.


    Of course, both of them were employing secret arts, forcibly exerting power through the high-frequency resonance of their musculoskeletal system, allowing them to forcibly achieve heightened speed. However, maintaining this state over an extended period was challenging.


    "Die!" Chen Luo gripped his staff with one hand, pressing in for a close attack. His staff silhouette towered over Wu Yuan like an unstoppable torrential wave.


    The staff was a heavy weapon, shorter than a spear yet more agile; longer than a sword yet blunter and heavier. It dealt immense force whether swung, smashed, jabbed, or cleaved.


    Moreover, one wouldn''t dare block an attack from a Grandmaster lightly.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Wu Yuan parried with his saber, his footsteps as swift as lightning, yet he was forced to retreat.


    Wu Yuan''s saber was shorter. To win, he needed to engage in close-quartersbat.


    However, Chen Luo''s staff was too heavy; so heavy that Wu Yuan did not dare to withstand it directly. He could only retreat continuously to disperse the force!


    At the same time, Wu Yuan was constantly drawing on the blood-red mist to minimize his body��s fatigue, ensuring he could endure a prolonged battle.


    <i>Is this the power of a Grandmaster?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes burned with fervor, unable to hide his shock. <i>Stronger than I expected!</i>


    Everything he knew about Grandmasters was merely spection based on his own abilities and the books he had read. Only through actualbat could he understand how strong a Grandmaster really was.


    Wu Yuan did not really want to fight Chen Luo. After all, entering a life-and-death battle without absolute confidence was extremely risky. But if an opponent wanted to fight him, Wu Yuan was not afraid.


    <i>Something''s off! How can his saber technique and footwork be so fast? </i>Chen Luo��s rm grew as the fight went on. <i>He''s clearly not that strong. Logically speaking, under my relentless assault, even an expert like Li Zi would have been crushed to death by my staff!</i>


    Li Zi, already at the pinnacle of the Human Rankings, was a mere opportunity away from entering the Grandmaster level. In Chen Luo''s estimation, even if Wu Yuan was more powerful than Li Zi, there were limits to that power.


    By right, Wu Yuan should either be dead or severely injured by now. However, not only did Wu Yuan not take any injuries, his attacks grew more ferocious as the battle wore on. He seemed to be retreating step by step, but he was actually perfectly deflecting all of Chen Luo''s attacks.


    It was simply unbelievable! He was evidently weaker, yet barely at a disadvantage. This could only mean one thing.


    <i>This Shadow de''s martial skills are superior to mine. </i>Coming to this realization, Chen Luo shelved his pride.


    Before, he had a feeling that Wu Yuan��s martial skills had reached a high level, but couldn��t be certain what level it had reached. Now, the more he observed and perceived his opponent''s movements, the more wary he grew.


    <i>The Harmony of Man and Nature is divided into three levels: Perception, Integration, and Unity. Most Grandmasters only reach the Perception level. Meanwhile, this Shadow de has definitely reached the Integration level.</i>


    <i>There''s no doubt!</i> Chen Luo was finally certain. Those de rays were silent and scarcely stirred the air, a telltale sign that one had reached the Integration level.


    At this level, one''s body was perfectly integrated into the environment. Be it air, water, or any other battlefield environment, one would experience no resistance from the environment, allowing one to unleash their power to the fullest extent. On the other hand, the opponent would still be affected by the environment. Though exerting the same amount of power, the force ultimately unleashed by eachbatant would be vastly different.


    Chen Luo was at the Perception level, currently striving toward the Integration level. Therefore, he quickly identified Wu Yuan''s stage of martial skill.


    <i>Who is this Shadow de? Which old fogey is he? Or is he a genius who popped out of nowhere?</i> A myriad of thoughts raced through Chen Luo''s mind in an instant. Names shed by, one after another, but none of them matched. Well, if nothing came to mind, then it was best to forget about it.


    <i>No matter who you are, you will die today.</i> Chen Luo''s gaze was icy cold. <i>Your martial skills are superior to mine, but only to a certain extent.</i>


    <i>My physical constitution is much stronger than yours; my strength, speed, stamina, and endurance are all far superior. I refuse to believe that I can''t crush you to death. </i>This was the confidence derived from a powerful body.


    <i>ng! ng! </i>Both sides fought with all their might, shing time and again. One attacked, his staff whistling and sweeping, relentless as a tsunami, as if topletely submerge the opponent! One defended, his battle saber heavy and unsophisticated, de rays forming an imprable defense, leaving no opening for the opponent to exploit.


    "Too terrifying!"


    "Is this a Grandmaster-level duel?"


    "A battle between Grandmasters?" The red-robed Li Zi, Ninth Prince Jin Rensu, and the weakest ck-robed Nan Wei watched the battle with gaping mouths.


    Both Chen Luo and Wu Yuan disyed horrifying power. Wherever they passed, sand and stones flew, huge rocks were shattered, numerous cracks appeared on the ground, and even the towering trees on the riverbank toppled. Nothing could stop them. The speed these two experts were shing surpassed the speed of sound.


    <i>This is a Grandmaster! </i>Ninth Prince Jin Rensu stared intently. <i>Is this the limit of the human body?</i>


    Li Zi also looked on, filled with longing. He had trained for decades, only a hair''s breadth away from reaching the level of a Grandmaster, but this final step was like an insurmountable chasm.


    <i>A battle of this caliber? </i>Nan Wei trembled with fear. As a first-rate Adept, he was usually the receiver of praise and adtion.


    Yet at this moment, he could hardly make out Wu Yuan and Chen Luo��s movements, only feeling the terrifying aftershocks of their battle.


    A single shockwave from their battle could swiftly extinguish his life.

 Chapter 125: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (2)

    <h4>Chapter 125: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (2)</h4>


    "Instructor Li, who will win?" Ninth Prince Jin Rensu couldn''t contain his worry, his eyes betraying his concern.


    By this point, anyone who still considered Wu Yuan a mere top expert in the Human Rankings was a fool. So what if his physical constitution was weaker? To martial artists,bat power was the only standard. The fact that Shadow de could hold his ground against Grandmaster Chen Luo for so long earned him the status of a Grandmaster in their eyes.


    "The victor will most likely be Grandmaster Chen Luo," Li Zi replied. "Look, Chen Luo''s staff technique is practically divine. Each strike forces Shadow de to retreat, he��s incapable of facing it head-on."


    Jin Rensu nodded. Though his physical constitution was decent, his martial skills were average at best. He could barely discern the situation on the battlefield and struggled to make out any details.


    "Shadow de''s martial skills are also terrifying." Li Zi observed the battle intently, "His skills might even surpass Grandmaster Chen Luo."


    He didn''t want to miss a single move from these two Grandmaster-level experts. Such face-offs were too rare, too hard toe by. If he could glean something from it, it would be of great help to him.


    "Shadow de is stronger?" Jin Rensu was taken aback.


    "In terms of pure skill, that��s the feeling I��m getting," Li Zi said, "Of course, in a life-and-death duel, martial skills are important, but physical constitution also matters significantly. It''s quite clear that Grandmaster Chen Luo''s physical constitution is far superior. There''s an 80% chance that Chen Luo wille out on top!"


    Jin Rensu nodded slightly.


    Li Zi nced at Jin Rensu. There was something he left unsaid: if he wasn''t tasked with protecting Jin Rensu, he could participate in the battle as well, though just barely. In doing so, their odds of winning would be significantly higher.


    "Instructor Li, it seems that the fight is moving further away." Jin Rensu looked puzzled, "They''re now five to six li away from us." A Savant expert could observe objects a hundred li away without issue, as long as there were no obstructions.


    "Hmm, Shadow de might be trying to escape, but he''s a lot slower. He won''t get away." Li Zi chuckled. With the two Great Grandmasters shing at a distance, they naturally felt more at ease.


    "Something''s not right." Nan Wei suddenly warned, "Your Highness, it seems that Shadow de is charging towards us."


    "Don''t worry, Uncle Chen will stop him," Jin Rensu said confidently, wearing a light smile.


    "This isn''t good." Li Zi''s expression changed. "Grandmaster Chen''s speed...it seems slower than Shadow de''s. What''s going on?"


    "Really?" Jin Rensu''s expression finally shifted. No longer concerned with his image, he shouted in fear, "Instructor Li, run!"


    The two Savant experts swiftly fled.


    ...


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Two afterimages streaked across the already devastatedndscape, both surpassing the speed of sound. Wherever they passed, powerful aftershocks kicked up sand and dust, like two untamed whirlwinds. It was Wu Yuan and Chen Luo.


    "Shadow de, stop running!" Chen Luo furiously pushed himself to his limits. His speed had reached its peak, but he was still a bit slower than Wu Yuan.


    As the two raced through the air, surpassing the speed of sound, Chen Luo''s words were lost to the wind, unable to reach Wu Yuan''s ears.


    On the contrary, because Chen Luo was pursuing Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan''s voice instantlynded in his ears, "Give up, Chen Luo. You can''t catch me."


    <i>Even if I can''t defeat Chen Luo, I can at least kill Jin Rensu. </i>Killing intent raged in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he soared to his maximum speed.


    Previously, the two went all out, simultaneously executing several secret arts, with Chen Luo initially gaining the upper hand over Wu Yuan. But how long could one��s body sustain such intense strain? Even a Savant expert could only maintain it for two breaths at most.


    Originally, Chen Luo thought that Wu Yuan could sustain his secret arts for two or three breaths at most. However, the fierce battle between the twosted for six breaths! The first to falter was surprisingly Chen Luo.


    When a Grandmaster erupted with full strength, it was a terrifying sight. Their near-perfect physical constitution allowed for a longer duration of explosive powerpared to a Savant expert.


    But even that had its limits. Six breaths was Chen Luo''s limit. Once the time was up, he could no longer continue to sustain his secret arts, and both his attacks and movements slowed.


    Wu Yuan sought to take advantage of this opening tounch a counterattack, but despite his shock at Wu Yuan''s terrifying endurance, he instantly switched from offense to a watertight defense, leaving no gap for Wu Yuan''s attacks tond.


    At this point, Wu Yuan clearly understood that the massive disparity in physical constitution made it impossible for him to kill a Grandmaster at his current level. If this continued, the blood-red mist would eventually run out!


    In the fierce shsting just ten breaths, about a fifth of the blood-red mist enveloping Wu Yuan''s ck pagoda had already been consumed.


    More critically, the full-on sh with the Grandmaster made Wu Yuan realize that the blood-red mist couldn''t eliminate his fatigue indefinitely. It merely strengthened his physical strength and stamina. But it would eventually reach a limit, and by then, even with the blood-red mist, his body would break down from the unbearable strain.


    With this revtion in mind, Wu Yuan understood the gravity of his situation and the need for a clear and calcted n. And so, he made the decision to withdraw.


    But before leaving, he naturally had to collect some interest �C Jin Rensu��s life!


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan''s normal sprinting speed was far from the speed of sound. On the contrary, just about every Grandmaster could reach the speed of sound when moving at full speed.


    However, executing Ghostwalk caused Wu Yuan''s speed to soar. Furthermore, air resistance was almost non-existent to him, allowing him to reach a speed close to 500 meters per second.


    This was much faster than Chen Luo, who was temporarily unable to activate his secret arts. In one second, he could widen the gap by nearly a hundred meters. Of course, this incredible speed came at a great cost, draining his energy reserves at an rming rate.


    <i>Eight li away, I''ll catch up in fourteen seconds.</i> Wu Yuan focused on the two figures fleeing at high speed. This wasn''t Li Zi''s maximum burst speed, but unfortunately, it was Jin Rensu''s, even after employing his secret art.


    <i>Hmm? They stopped? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. <i>They''re actually approaching me instead? How clever of them indeed! Sadly, can they stop what''sing?</i>


    ...��Instructor Li.�� Jin Rensu gritted his teeth. In the jaws of death, he decided to follow Li Zi''s suggestion and abruptly ceased his escape. Instead, like madmen, they charged straight toward Wu Yuan!


    "Your Highness, Grandmaster Chen is too slow. Employing his secret arts has stretched him to his limits. If we keep running, we''ll only widen the gap between Grandmaster Chen and Shadow de. We will then be left to fend for ourselves against Shadow de for half a breath." Li Zi urgently exined, "It''s suicide!��


    Half a breath, that was three seconds!


    "But if we take the fight to them, it would save a third of the time needed for Grandmaster Chen to catch up," Li Zi said through clenched teeth.


    They were seeking salvation amid the clutches of death. There was no alternative! Against a Grandmaster, they could only choose the option that offered the highest chance of survival.


    "He''sing!" Li Zi, shielding Jin Rensu, stared intently at the rapidly closing figure. The glimmer of that saber��s edge was blinding!


    <i>Faster! I must be even faster! That cursed Shadow de, daring to trick me, leading me further away.</i> Chen Luo''s eyes burned red with fury as he pushed himself beyond his limits. His body was already ravaged by exhaustion from the preceding shes. If he employed his secret arts again, he would exceed his body''s threshold, making future recovery difficult.


    <i>Forbidden art! If His Majesty was willing to grant me a forbidden art from the immortals, I would never have allowed Shadow de to rampage unchecked! </i>Chen Luo gritted his teeth, his gaze never leaving Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 126: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (3)

    <h4>Chapter 126: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (3)</h4>


    He was giving it his all, but the distance between him and Wu Yuan only grew wider.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i>


    Dust billowed across the earth. In less than ten seconds, the distance between Wu Yuan and Jin Rensu had shortened to a mere 500 meters. Within another second, they would collide.


    As for Chen Luo, he was just two li behind Wu Yuan, and in just two or three seconds, he would catch up too.


    In other words, Wu Yuan''s window of time to ughter them was brief.


    "Shadow de, this is the ninth prince of Great Jin, His Majesty''s most valued son. Don''t make a mistake!" Li Zi''s urgent shout pierced through the air.


    "Emperor Jin''s son? If Emperor Jin pisses me off, I won''t hesitate to ughter him either!" Wu Yuan��s speed didn''t slow in the slightest; if anything, it increased.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of eerie brilliance illuminated the surroundings as a de ray sliced through the air.


    "Kill!" Li Zi gritted his teeth, powering forward at full speed as he brandished his dual spears to meet the attack. Spear silhouettes multiplied as his near-Grandmaster strength erupted. He didn''t hope topletely block Wu Yuan, just stall for two seconds.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> Saber met spear, and the two shed over ten times in an instant. The terrifying force imbued within the de ray sent Li Zi''s qi roiling!


    <i>Boom! </i>One retreated rapidly, while the other advanced. After a brief but intense skirmish spanning over a hundred meters, Li Zi somehow managed to hold his ground, slowing Wu Yuan''s pace.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Like a bolt of ck lightning, Grandmaster Chen Luonded with a resounding thud and shot forward across the terrain. He was now mere hundreds of meters from Wu Yuan!


    "Be gone!" Wu Yuan swung his saber ferociously, forcing Li Zi to retreat again. Li Zi reacted instantly and met the attack. But then, in a silent and horrifying disy, three streaks of metal sliced through the air, aimed directly at Jin Rensu. At this moment, they were only 200 meters from their target.


    <i>Not good! </i>Grandmaster Chen Luo panicked, knowing all too well the devastating power of Wu Yuan''s throwing knives.


    Li Zi reacted in record time, jabbing one spear toward Wu Yuan while instinctively flinging the other out.


    <i>Boom~ </i>The flung spear swiftly deflected two of the throwing knives, sending them spiraling off in different directions. Only one throwing knife remained, hurtling at 800 meters per second, leaving Jin Rensu with virtually no time to react.


    Jin Rensu''s eyes locked onto that single throwing knife. He could almost feel the grim reaper breathing down his neck.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A sh of sword light shone as he drew his own sword.


    <i>Boom~ </i>The impact sent a bone-chilling power surging through his weapon. His arm ached sharply and his divine weapon flew from his grasp. However, he managed to deflect thest throwing knife, altering its trajectory. Ripping through the air, it grazed past Jin Rensu''s scalp, narrowly missing its mark.


    A momentary joy flickered through Jin Rensu''s mind. <i>I blocked it! I blocked a Grandmaster''s throwing knife!</i>


    <i>Thwack~</i> Another throwing knife swiftly streaked by, slicing through his skull. The immense impact instantly followed through. Bone fragments exploded and blood sttered, as the headless body was forcefully flung backward before finally crashing to the ground.


    The ninth prince of Great Jin, Jin Rensu, was dead!


    This was Wu Yuan''s tried and true method with his throwing knives. Afterunching three in rapid session, he would swiftly follow up with a fourth. It was his most lethal stealth attack.


    "Shadow de!!!" Chen Luo''s roar echoed through heaven and earth, filled with endless murderous intent and inextinguishable rage.


    As for Li Zi? He had no time to mourn Jin Rensu''s death.


    <i>Cling! Cling! Cling!</i> Another lightning-fast series of exchanges, apanied by a heart-stopping de ray.


    <i>Thwack~ </i>The de ray descended on Li Zi''s remaining spear, sliding along the spear shaft and across his neck.


    No blood was visible, but Wu Yuan sidestepped past Li Zi, directly pouncing toward Jin Rensu''s corpse.


    With a heavy thud, Li Zi''s tall figure copsed to the ground, blood slowly trickling from his neck.


    Fourth in the Holy Continent Human Rankings, Li Zi, was dead!


    <i>If you were wielding two spears, it would have taken me some effort to kill you, but you dared sacrifice one spear to save someone else? </i>


    Dual-wielding was a challenging ability that required precise control of force. Those who had not mastered it were better off using a single-handed weapon. However, once mastered, the power it unleashed was truly immense.


    "Shadow de, you��re dead meat!" A thunderous roar of unadulterated rage reverberated through the atmosphere.


    <i>Boom!</i> With a ferocity that could not be contained, a staff descended upon the earth.


    Chen Luo had finally caught up.


    <i>ng! </i>Wu Yuan swung his saber to meet the weapon, his expression cold. Borrowing the momentum from the impact, he lunged towards Jin Rensu''s side.


    <i>No treasures?</i> A cursory nce revealed only weapons and armor on his body. He saw no other valuable items. That shouldn''t be the case! The ninth prince of Great Jin didn''t carry any items with him?


    <i>A wrist guard?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes swept over the corpse once again, noticing something peculiar about the wrist guard on the prince''s right arm.


    At this moment, a Grandmaster was hot on his heels, Wu Yuan had no time for further contemtion. He instinctively swung his saber, the tip flicking upwards ever so slightly.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>The arm was severed at midpoint. The wrist guard soared through the air,nding securely within Wu Yuan''s grasp.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan covered hundreds of meters, his body twisting like an elusive gust of wind, narrowly dodging the ferocious staff swinging towards him.


    The Greenme Staff swiped past, splitting arge tree in half.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Enraged, Chen Luo unleashed a barrage of staff strikes, their silhouettes dominating the sky,pelling Wu Yuan to flee in a desperate bid for survival. He dared not face his opponent head-on.


    "Chen Luo, dispose of the corpses," Wu Yuan called out. Pivoting abruptly, he unleashed a de ray of monstrous intensity.


    <i>Hm?</i> Chen Luo''s expression shifted, and he raised his staff to defend.


    <i>ng~</i> Wu Yuan''s saber strike appeared fierce, but it was barely imbued with force. He was simply utilizing the recoil to elerate as he fled. Once again, he widened the distance between himself and Chen Luo!


    <i>Flee! </i>With a leap, Wu Yuan covered hundreds of meters, frantically fleeing, leaving behind a blurred shadow.


    Another fight? He could already feel waves of exhaustion rippling through his body. Even the blood-red mist could not fully dispel it.


    <i>Flee? I don''t believe you can maintain your secret art indefinitely.</i> Chen Luo, seething with anger, shed forward in hot pursuit of Wu Yuan.


    The casualties were devastating. Ninth Prince Jin Rensu had died. How was he going to exin this to Emperor Jin? How could he let Wu Yuan off the hook?


    As for the corpses? The ck-robed middle-aged man, Nan Wei, was enough to guard the bodies from wild wolves.


    The gap between the two quickly widened.


    Yet, there was no joy on Wu Yuan''s face. Much like Chen Luo had predicted, even with his blood-red mist, Wu Yuan could not maintain his burst state forever. There would be an end, a limit.


    Once his body reached its breaking point? Even swinging his saber would be tough, and death would be inevitable.


    <i>I can''t keep this up, I have to take a gamble. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shimmered.


    Choosing to confront a Grandmaster was akin to cing one��s life on the line!


    In an instant, Wu Yuan deactivated Ghostwalk, significantly reducing the strain on his body. His speed dropped sharply.


    <i>He''s finally unable to hold on.</i> Chen Luo''s eyes were icy cold, finally glimpsing a chance to put an end to Wu Yuan. After all, the benefit of having a superior physical constitution was that his normal sprinting speed outpaced Wu Yuan��s significantly,


    After the two darted nearly ten li across the vast wastnd, Chen Luo finally caught up with Wu Yuan.


    "Die." Chen Luo swung his staff once again at Wu Yuan.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> Wu Yuan swiftly spun around, his saber emanating a menacing glow, forcefully meeting the relentless strikes of the staff. Chen Luo swung the Greenme Staff wide, intending to crush Wu Yuan with raw power.


    While the weapons and armor lessened the impact of each sh, the umted injuries would eventually reach a critical point. But Wu Yuan''s saber techniques were remarkably versatile, either guiding the attacks like flowing water or striking preemptively like lightning, never allowing for a direct collision.


    Without invoking their secret arts, there was a clear power imbnce, yet Wu Yuan possessed superior skill. The gap was not as great as it seemed.


    As they battled, whenever Chen Luo slowed down to gather his strength for an attack, Wu Yuan took the opportunity to flee hundreds of meters away. Chen Luo had no choice but to continue the pursuit.


    Less than an hour into this cat-and-mouse game, Wu Yuan managed to escape dozens of miles away as the two experts relentlessly tugged and pulled at each other. The areas they passed by were left in total disarray.


    <i>I just have to keep going like this, I don''t believe he can oust me.</i> As Wu Yuan frantically fled, the blood-red mist constantly entered his body, restoring his energy.


    Under normal circumstances, Wu Yuan''s endurance would naturally pale inparison to a real Grandmaster. However, with the blood-red mist, nothing was certain.


    <i>Argh! How can this Shadow de maintain this level ofbat power for so long? </i>Chen Luo was on the cusp of tearing out his hair in frustration. <i>He has been keeping his secret art active for far too long. Even a Grandmaster would have reached their limit by now.</i>


    Though he was a Grandmaster himself, he could only maintain each burst of secret art for half as long as Wu Yuan.


    <i>Let''s see how long you can keep it up. </i>Chen Luo gritted his teeth, still unwilling to give up.


    The Cloud River snaked ahead, yet Wu Yuan continued to travel in a straight line, fleeing toward the Baihu Province.

 Chapter 127: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (4)

    <h4>Chapter 127: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (4)</h4>


    Beneath a modest hill, a vige stood, guarded round the clock by a burly man even during the harshest winter days. Ever watchful, his gaze scanned the horizon for any sign ofnd bandits.


    Suddenly, two terrifying figures swooped down from a distance, catching the burly man off guard.


    ��Danger is approaching!�� he shouted urgently.


    Soon, the few martial virtuosos in the vige raced out, their faces a picture of disbelief as they watched the two terrifying figures collide. The battle was like a cataclysmic sh of devils and gods, a level beyond their wildest imagination! They couldn''t observe the fight clearly at all.


    The two figures drew closer, careening through the neighboring forest and leaving a trail of uprooted trees and whirling stones in their wake. Following that, the two figures continued their high-speed chase into the distance, quickly disappearing from view.


    ��Chieftain!��


    ��What just happened?�� Everyone in the manor couldn''t hide their shock as they turned to their elderly chieftain, the most powerful and knowledgeable person among them.


    ��They''re Grandmasters. It��s a Grandmaster duel!�� The old man took a deep breath. ��Quick, immediately inform the municipality officials, there''s a duel between Grandmaster experts.��


    Soon, someone quickly swiftly set off on horseback for the municipality.


    This wasn''t the only vige that witnessed the battle. As Wu Yuan made his escape, he purposefully steered clear of any viges and towns, unwilling to cause unnecessary casualties. Yet, under the pressure of pursuit, he could only avert them slightly, battling while fleeing.


    Numerousmoners and martial artists witnessed their terrifying fight. The aftermath of their chase alone was enough to send chills down the spines of many second-rate Adepts and first-rate Adepts. Countless messages were sent and reports were made.


    ...


    As the night descended, the rolling hills echoed with the explosive sh of weapons. The darkness had no impact on them. Grandmasters had excellent vision, and dim lighting was enough for them to engage in a battle to the death.


    Bear in mind, with their physical constitution, Grandmasters did not feel tired even after sprinting continuously for three days and nights. Of course, this did not include all-outbat.


    After the initial exchange, the two were entangled in a deadly chase, not pausing to eat, drink, or sleep. It was a tremendous test of physical strength, endurance, and willpower!


    Dawn broke on the horizon, and heavy snow began to fall. The hilly region turned into a world of ice and snow for miles on end.


    Although it was still winter season at the Cloud River, the entirendscape had transformed.


    Amidst the swirling blizzard, the sh of weapons echoed, punctuated by the thunderous booms that resonated through the frosty air.


    The weapons in their grip were cold, and the icy chill seeped through their clothing. Yet, the fighting spirit and killing intent of these two martial powerhouses remained undiminished, their speed still close to their peak.


    This region belonged to the Yuanhu Province. In one night, Wu Yuan and Chen Luo, two Grandmaster-level experts, had fought their way from the Cloud River at the border of Hillstride and Baihu all the way here, crossing a distance of 2000 li.


    When Wu Yuan once again managed to put a distance of 300 li between them, reaching the base of a snow-draped mountain, Chen Luo finally stopped. Gripping his Greenme Staff, his eyes locked onto the figure darting away into the forest.


    He had given up! Whether it was physical strength or stamina, he was nearly at his limit. But what made him despair was Wu Yuan''s seemingly endless stamina. There was no hope of victory in sight.


    Sensing that Chen Luo was no longer pursuing him, Wu Yuan also began to slow his pace.


    "Shadow de, after this battle, your name will spread throughout the world." Chen Luo''s voice echoed powerfully through the air, filled with endless killing intent. "However, since you dare kill the ninth prince, the Great Jin Empire will never let you off. No matter how vast the world may be, there will be no safe haven for you."


    "Chen Luo, I will hunt you down. This grudge is etched in my heart." Wu Yuan''s icy voice resonated through the air, "As for Great Jin? So what if Emperor Jin tops the Land Rankings?"


    "Let me teach you something. When amoner gets angry, blood is spilled in five steps. In ten steps, the enemy nation is wiped out [1]. One day, I shall march upon the peak of the Holy Capital, and face Jin Cang in an ultimate showdown!"


    Wu Yuan''s indifferent voice gradually faded, and his figure disappeared over the mountain,pletely out of Chen Luo''s sight.


    <i>The peak of the Holy Capital?</i> Chen Luo''s gaze was icy. Though he didn''t fully understand, one thing was clear to him: Shadow de was dering war on Emperor Jin!


    <i>This Shadow de is a major threat. Jin Rensu is dead, I''m in big trouble.</i> Chen Luo sighed inwardly.


    Jin Rensu represented an entire faction within the empire, someone whom many within the Great Jin Empire ced their hopes on. His death was bound to cause a great upheaval.


    It would have been better if Chen Luo hadn''te to assist. But he had shown up, yet Wu Yuan still killed Jin Rensu. How would the various internal factions of the Great Jin Empire view him? What would Emperor Jin think?


    <i>I''ll head back first. Let''s see if the east king has any ideas.</i> Chen Luo furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze sweeping over the heavy snow.<i> Staying in Yuanhu Province is unwise.</i>


    Old Yuanhu was not someone to be trifled with. Moreover, his strength had waned drastically, and he needed to recuperate.


    ...


    Rows of mountains stretched endlessly. Amid the fierce snowstorm, a lone figure trudged forward, a saber strapped to his back.


    <i>Atst, I��ve escaped from Chen Luo.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>That mad dog was relentless. Luckily, I made the right gamble.</i>


    Of course, Wu Yuan understood the reason behind his pursuer''s rabid determination. Jin Rensu was dead.


    <i>If I hadn��t killed Jin Rensu, I probably wouldn��t have been chased over 2000 li into the Yuanhu Province. And this is just the beginning. Next, I��m afraid Great Jin will muster a great deal of resources to hunt me down.</i>


    But Wu Yuan had no regrets. They had alreadye for his head, was he to hold back out of fear?


    Even if the emperor of Great Jin came after Wu Yuan, the solution was simple: kill him!


    <i>Regardless, at least Great Jin won''t consider me a member of the Cloudstride Sect. Even if they send armies, they won''t be in a hurry.</i>


    When the soldierse, resist them with generals. When the wateres, dam it with earth. [2]


    <i>This battle was more rewarding than a long period of arduous cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan recalled his battle with Chen Luo. In a day and a night, how many thousands of blows did they exchange? He had long lost count.


    Whether in his past life or this one, Wu Yuan had never engaged in such an extended life-or-death battle. It was truly an eye-opening experience.


    In truth, even after Chen Luo finally ceased his pursuit, Wu Yuan''s body had not yet reached its breaking point. He could have risked going back into the battle and potentially killing Chen Luo. But, Wu Yuan chose to let it be.


    <i>Life and death hang by a thread. What I was meant to go through with, I''ve gone through. If I risk everything to kill Chen Luo, I may end up losing my own life. I''ll wait until I''m stronger. </i>Wu Yuan��s mind was clear.


    A life-or-death gamble was not about risking one''s life over and over again. Knowing when to retreat was crucial.


    <i>With Jin Rensu''s death, Great Jin will be thrown into turmoil. This battle will rock the Jiang Continent. </i>


    Wu Yuan cracked a grin. <i>But, it was Shadow de''s doing. What does it have to do with me, Wu Yuan?"</i>


    <i>For now, let''s find a ce to eat.</i> Flexing his legs slightly, Wu Yuan disappeared into the blustering snowy forest.


    ...


    The battle between Wu Yuan and Chen Luo came to an end, but the aftermath of the storm was just beginning. Their earth-shattering confrontationsted an entire day and night, spanning a distance of 2000 li!


    Countlessmoners and martial artists bore witness to the fight, and news of the Grandmaster-level battle in Baihu Province quickly spread like wildfire.


    "It��s definitely a battle between Grandmasters."


    "Two Grandmaster experts shed from south to north, finally stopping when they reached Yuanhu Province. The oue remains unknown."


    "Who were thebatants?"


    "Unclear, we couldn''t see it clearly at all."


    Numerous spections circted, with initial reports failing to provide a definitive consensus on the identities of the fighters.


    <i>Just one dayter.</i>


    <i>Shadow de, an expert listed on the Human Rankings, resurfaces in the martial world, first assassinating Ninth Prince Jin Rensu of Great Jin, then engaging in a battle spanning across 2000 li with Grandmaster Chen Luo.</i>


    <i>Shadow de, the newest addition to the Land Rankings.</i>


    These two pieces of news were disseminated from the Hillstride Province, rippling out into the world like a stone dropped into a still pond. In no time, the various factions across the entire Jiang Continent received the news.


    The impact was not limited to the continent, spreading quickly to the Holy Continent and swiftly reaching the top echelons of the seven continents of the Central ins through channels such as the Sta Consortium.


    The name Shadow de resounded throughout the world.


    1. Literally speaking, "when the distance is so close, the strength of any one person is enough to match the entire country." Meaning: I am so close to you now, if I really want to hurt you, it doesn''t matter how powerful you are, you won''t be able to go unharmed. This is a threat to the other party not to be too conceited ?


    2. metaphor for deciding the countermeasures based on the specific situation. ?

 Chapter 128: The World Trembles (1)

    <h4>Chapter 128: The World Trembles (1)</h4>


    The thirteen continents of the world spanned 80,000 li east to west and 60,000 li north to south. They upied a massive area, teeming with hundreds of millions of lives!


    Only a little over 200 of all these beings were Grandmasters listed on the Land Rankings. Every single Grandmaster was a formidable powerhouse, capable of governing territories and acting as a pir of nations.


    In shes between martial artists, life and death hung precariously in the bnce. Therefore, unless they were absolutely certain of victory, Grandmasters were usually reluctant to engage inbat. A small slip-up could lead to death, delivering a crushing blow to their respective factions.


    Battles between Grandmasters were thus extremely rare! At least, they were rarely publicized. In times of peace, only around three to five Grandmaster-level battles might ur each year, most of them ending without fatal oues.


    Take the Jiang Continent, for example. Thest duel to the death between Grandmasters dated back to the Battle of Hillstride a decade ago. That battle imed the life of a Grandmaster and shaped the current state of the Jiang Continent, putting the Great Jin Empire��s eastward expansion on hold for the past decade.


    At least hundreds of thousands of civilians caught glimpses of Wu Yuan and Chen Luo''s battle. More importantly, it was intertwined with the session dispute within the Jin royal family. Such a sh caused a farrger impact than the usual Grandmaster showdowns, rivaling the epic battle between Grandmaster Yu and the East King Jin Jiu at Hillstride ten years ago!


    ...


    In the heart of winter, the headquarters of Yuanhu Vi remained cloaked in unyieldingyers of snow.


    <i>Deep within a grand hall situated atop the highest peak.</i>


    "Bastard! That damn Shadow de!" Old Yuanhu roared, his countenance contorted in rage. "An expert that can rival a Grandmaster, stooping so low as to target a couple of juniors?"


    Within the grand hall, a crowd knelt on the ground, shivering with fear. They naturally understood why their lord was so furious.


    The news had juste in: Shadow de, a Savant expert who had killed two division heads over a year ago, actually possessed the strength of a Grandmaster.


    Upon receiving this news, they too had been dumbstruck. A Grandmaster? With such monstrous strength, did Yuanhu Vi even stand a chance at avenging their fallen? While Old Yuanhu was strong, he was getting on in his years. How much longer could he endure?


    "Bastard!" Old Yuanhu abandoned all decorum, venting his anger without restraint as he demolished one object after another. A massive bookcase was pulverized with a single punch, sending splinters into the air.


    Fear gripped the hearts of everyone present, and none dared to raise their heads. This was the second asion they had seen their lord in such an agitated state. Thest time was over a year ago when the news of Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan''s deaths had reached their ears. Again, it was all because of Shadow de!


    After a long while, the grand hall fell into a gradual hush.


    "Everyone, out. Now," Old Yuanhu abruptlymanded. "Ming Lie, you stay."


    Shuffling sounds echoed as the crowd hurriedly retreated.


    "Ming Lie, step forward," Old Yuanhu ordered.


    "Master." The youth d in beast hide rose, one severed arm hanging listlessly by his side. However, the aura he exuded was far stronger than two years ago. The loss of his arm had not crushed the spirit of this once-promising talent of Yuanhu Vi.


    "Master, you...?" Ming Lie stuttered in shock, struggling toprehend the sight before him.


    At this moment, Old Yuanhu looked as though he had aged ten years, his once ck hair now mostly white.


    "Do you still bear a grudge against Shadow de?" Old Yuanhu rasped.


    Ming Lie lowered his head, silent.


    "Are you certain that you crossed des with Shadow de two years ago in Li City?" Old Yuanhu asked again.


    "Yes," Ming Lie nodded solemnly. "Everything I said was true."


    "If that''s the case," Old Yuanhu sighed, closing his eyes, "let go of your resentment over this lost arm, Ming Lie."


    Ming Lie''s pupils constricted.


    "Grandmaster Chen Luo is currently in his prime, and his vital qi is abundant," Old Yuanhu said softly. "Yet, he had to abandon his pursuit."


    "Reports state that Shadow de''s power and speed were not superior to Chen Luo''s. However, his stamina and endurance were astonishing."


    Ming Lie listened intently, hanging on to every word.


    "This Shadow de, there''s a slim chance that he''s a cunning old man, a master ofbat, masquerading as just another skilled expert," Old Yuanhu stated. "But there''s a greater possibility that he''s an inconceivable prodigy, a youth of unimaginable potential. And in the span of a mere two years, he catapulted from the top 500 of the Human Rankings to the level of a Grandmaster."


    "Only thetter can ount for such enduring vital qi and physical strength. I cannot think of any other possibilities." Old Yuanhu shook his head.


    "How is that possible?" Ming Lie��s mind reeled. Such dramatic growth in two years?


    "Master, even if the Martial King were reborn, he probably couldn''t achieve this, right?" Ming Lie voiced his skepticism. "Even Imperator Jin took more than a decade to go from a first-rate Adept to a Grandmaster."


    Who could possibly rival the cultivation progress of Imperator Jin?


    "If it is indeed theing of immortals, anything is possible," Old Yuanhu said. "Legend has it that the Martial King only started practicing martial arts at twenty, yet entered the Heavenly Rankings at 30. What''s so strange about a genius of this caliber appearing now?"


    Ming Lie was stunned, but notpletely convinced. He had, of course, heard legends of the Martial King. But those were myths and legends, not many people in the world truly believed these mythical records. After all, it was an inconceivable notion.


    "Master, what do you mean by theing of immortals?" Ming Lie asked.


    "The Land Rankings were interrupted twice throughout history, do you recall them?" Old Yuanhu did not give a direct answer.


    "I remember," Ming Lie nodded. "In the first year of the Eastern Martial calendar, the Martial King established the Land Rankings; in the year 1232, the Nine Immortals Pavilion took over from the Wu Sect and revised the Land Rankings; in the year 2116, thirteen years after the Nine Immortals Pavilion was destroyed, the Sta Consortium republished the Land Rankings for the thirteen continents."


    These historical urrences were documented in every issue of the Land Rankings. With his exceptional memory as a first-rate Adept, Ming Lie was able to recall these major historical events without much difficulty.


    "Do you know that the current Wu Sect was reestablished only a thousand years ago by various factions?" Old Yuanhu continued.


    Ming Lie was taken aback.


    The Wu Sect, the foremost martial arts sacred sect in the world, was reestablished a thousand years ago?


    "Do you know that the Nine Immortals Pavilion was once the number one sect in the world? Why was it named ''Nine Immortals''?" Old Yuanhu answered his own question, "Because of theing of immortals."


    In a sh, Ming Lie had an inkling of understanding, and couldn''t resist voicing his curiosity, "Master, do immortals truly exist in this world?"


    Legends of real immortal beings had circted since ancient times, but how many had actually seen one? Let alone an immortal, how many had even crossed paths with a Heavenly Ranker?


    "Immortals may or may not exist.�� Old Yuanhu said in a low voice, "Only a Heavenly Ranker can answer this question."


    "Alright!" Old Yuanhu sighed, "Ming Lie, as your master, I will stake everything on onest gamble. If we seed, Yuanhu Vi might still have a chance to preserve its legacy. But if we fail...Heh, I will take care of everything."


    The more Ming Lie listened, the more perplexed he became. Yet, he had a faint feeling that his master seemed to be making his final arrangements, as if preparing for the inevitable.


    "It all hinges on this Shadow de. Remember, you must never harbor thoughts of revenge against Shadow de again!" Old Yuanhu stared at Ming Lie, "Do you understand?"


    "Yes." Ming Lie clenched his jaw. Did he want to? Of course, he didn''t. But what could he do about it? He understood his master''s concerns. The gap between them was too vast, revenge was futile.


    "In addition, never disclose the truth about your encounter with Shadow de," Old Yuanhu instructed. "From this day forward, if anyone inquires, you must insist that Shadow de severed your arm with a single stroke and spared your life."


    Ming Lie was taken aback.


    "Do you understand?" Old Yuanhu red.


    "I understand, Master." Ming Lie bowed his head.


    "Thirdly, starting today, cease all investigations into Shadow de''s identity and whereabouts. Dere that your senior brothers'' deaths a year ago were solely their own fault, unrted to Shadow de," Old Yuanhu continued.


    "Master," Ming Lie finally couldn''t help himself. How could he not understand by now? His master was afraid of Shadow de and was proactively lowering his head.


    "Master, I''m not willing to let my senior brothers'' deaths be in vain," Ming Lie gritted his teeth, "Shadow de may be powerful, but Yuanhu Vi is not weak. If pushes to shove, the oue is uncertain."


    "Foolish boy," Old Yuanhu��s tone held no rebuke. "If I were 30 years younger, I would never have given up on revenge. But s, I have grown old, and cannot protect you anymore."


    "Go on, carry out your tasks," Old Yuanhu sighed with exhaustion and weariness, "Let me have some peace."


    Ming Lie closed his eyes, ultimately choosing not to say another word.


    He slowly departed from the grand hall.


    As he descended the steps, Ming Lie nced back. Beyond the slowly closing doors, the grand hall stood in disarray. A solitary figure, tall, thin, and white-haired, stood facing away from the entrance, a poignant image of loneliness and age.


    "Master." A hint of reluctance shed in Ming Lie''s eyes.


    He understood that his proud Master had truly grown old.

 Chapter 129: The World Trembles (2)

    <h4>Chapter 129: The World Trembles (2)</h4>


    News of the battle between Wu Yuan and Chen Luo spread across the entirety of Baihu Province, naturally reaching the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect.


    <i>At the highest point of Cloudhill, the Cloud Hall.</i>


    "Master, what are your thoughts on Shadow de?" A burly middle-aged man dressed in ck robes stood respectfully in the hall. He was none other than the current leader of the Cloudstride Sect, Lu Feng.


    "It is both a boon and a curse, a double-edged sword," the elderly woman seated in the host chair spoke with a gentle voice.


    The ck-robed middle-aged man listened attentively.


    "The Great Jin Empire is undoubtedly our number one enemy," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "The Wingborne Sect is just a minor nuisance. Chu Ping of the Baijiang Kingdom may want to annex us to rebuild the Chu-Jiang Empire, but he can''t even manage the Guangping and Dalong Provinces, he''s just an ambitious yet ipetent idiot."


    "Great Jin had a reign of four consecutively wise rulers. The Jin royal family is constantly ranked in the Land Rankings, with kings keeping a firm hold over their territories and defending theirnds from all sides," The Rain Hierarch said slowly. "Jin Cang in particr has the demeanor of his ancestor, Imperator Jin. He aims to unify the world, and our Cloudstride Sect is but a stumbling block."


    "Great Jin is ambitious and has the ability to swallow our Cloudstride Sect. Therefore, anyone willing to oppose Great Jin is a friend of our Cloudstride Sect. Back then, I tolerated Chang Dong upying the Yuanhu Province for this very reason."


    "Whether or not this Shadow de was previously concealing his true strength, if he is willing to stand against Great Jin, it is good news for our Cloudstride Sect. If we can get in touch with him and form an alliance, it would be even better."


    The Rain Hierarch continued, "During his recent battle in Li City, he spared Sect Elder Mo and the others. We can infer that his grievances are directed at specific individuals within the sect, rather than the Cloudstride Sect as a whole."


    "Hierarch is wise," the ck-robed middle-aged man praised.


    "With benefitse drawbacks." The Rain Hierarch calmly stated, "If we can specte that Shadow de is likely residing within our Cloudstride Sect''s territory, won��t Great Jin realize this as well? Who''s to say they won''t use Shadow de of being an expert of our Cloudstride Sect, then proceed to invade Cloudhill? If that happens, it would be a catastrophe for our Cloudstride Sect."


    The ck-robed middle-aged man felt his body break out in chills. Another war with Great Jin?


    "Issue themand to prepare our forces for war," the Rain Hierarch dered calmly. "Mobilize on three fronts and gather all second-rate Adepts and above from the sect."


    "Understood," the ck-robed middle-aged man acknowledged.


    "Next, send messengers to Westdream, Eastdream, Yuanhu, the Baijiang Kingdom, and the Dong Continent Sect Alliance. They must be informed of our situation and be ready to offer assistance in the event of war. Otherwise, if Cloudstride falls, the Jiang Continent will be destroyed."


    "The Jiang Continent is positioned at the center of the world. If it falls, then the Min Continent, Dong Continent, Wu Continent, and Yan Continent will be defeated by Great Jin one by one like a lengthy serpent," The Rain Hierarch said.


    "Thirdly, deliver a letter to Emperor Jin. Just one sentence: If Cloudstride falls, Chu-Jiang will fail to gather!" The Rain Hierarch said indifferently, "That will be all. Whates next depends on the decisions of Great Jin and the other factions."


    The ck-robed middle-aged man looked thoughtful, then acknowledged reverently, "Disciple will attend to these matters immediately."


    ...


    As a top-tier underground organization, the Pleiades Guild wasn''t too far behind the Sta Consortium in terms of the strength and reach of their intelligencework.


    Once the battle was investigated thoroughly, its roots could be traced back to the Pleiades Guild. Thus, after the snippets of intel from the various branches reached the Pleiades Guild''s Jiang Continent branch, the result of piecing together the collective information left Branch Master Ma utterly stunned.


    <i>A medium difficulty five-star mission led to a Grandmaster-level battle? Jin Rensu, the ninth prince of Great Jin, is dead? Li Zi is dead? </i>Branch Master Ma could hardly believe it.


    Li Zi stood among the top five in the Human Rankings of the Holy Continent. In the Jiang Continent, he was a strong contender for the top rank. And now, he was dead? The fact that his name didn''t even warrant a mention in the main news only illustrated the magnitude of the sensation this battle had caused.


    Branch Master Ma''s senior uncle, Shadow Stinger Mo Gou, also balked at the news.


    <i>Shadow de is a Grandmaster expert? No wonder, how else could he have effortlessly detected my presence? Luckily I didn''t attack him that day, I managed to save my hide. Otherwise, I would��ve been a goner.</i>


    Just two dayster, a messenger arrived at the Jiang Continent branch of the Pleiades Guild. "A Grandmaster is about to arrive?" Branch Master Ma and Mo Gou looked at each other in disbelief, "We are to wee him outside the city?"


    Naturally, the two didn''t dare to dy. Swiftly, they left the stronghold of the Jiang Continent branch. Following the orders, they arrived at an unassuming municipality roughly 100 li away from Cloudhill City.


    In a rundown courtyard, Branch Master Ma and Mo Gou paid their respects in unison. "Grandmaster!"


    "Grandmaster!"


    Standing before them was a figure shrouded entirely in ck robes, emanating a faintly palpable aura of death. Only a pair of eyes peeked out from beneath the darkness.


    And when those eyes swept over them, their bodies erupted with goosebumps. Even Mo Gou, sixteenth on the Human Rankings, felt his courage dissipate in the face of this imposing figure.


    "Well done, you two." The towering figure in ck robes cupped his hands in mock salute, his voice haunting, "Because of a mere five-star mission, a prince of Great Jin is dead, along with four Savant experts, one of whom had the potential to be a Grandmaster."


    "Should I apud your skills, or should I punish you for the trouble you''ve brought the Pleiades Guild?"


    Branch Master Ma and Mo Gou exchanged nces. They knew exactly what the towering figure in ck was insinuating.


    With Great Jin suffering heavy losses, their first target would surely be Shadow de. But who''s to say the Pleiades Guild wouldn''t be implicated?


    Both men felt wronged. Were they going to be punished for this?


    "However, Great Jin has been constantly oppressing our Pleiades Guild. Hmph, them losing a batch of experts is a good thing," the figure in ck scoffed.


    Relief washed over Branch Master Ma and Mo Gou.


    "Today, I am here for a specific matter," the figure in ck robes said. "As per your previous report, I have brought with me 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew."


    "I shall wait here for two months. As soon as Shadow de approaches you to turn in the mission, bring him to me without dy," the figure in ck murmured. "I wish to meet him personally."


    Both Branch Master Ma and Mo Gou were taken aback.


    "Grandmaster," Mo Gou couldn''t help asking, "Could it be that our Pleiades Guild is targeting Shadow de? He''s a Grandmaster too."


    ��Do not ask what you are not meant to know." The figure in ck robes shot him a piercing look of icy hostility.


    Mo Gou immediately shivered, bowing his head, ��I understand my mistake.��


    Hierarchy within the Pleiades Guild was strictly enforced. Although it wasn��t as brutal as the Ninedeaths Circle, the guild��s rules were obeyed far more strictly than any regr sect.


    ��Proceed. When he arrives, I will appear.�� The towering figure leaped into the air, disappearing into the darkness.


    ...


    The Dong Continent, recognized as the greatest continent after the Holy Continent, was home to eight major factions.


    The Ster Province was universally acknowledged as the most powerful and prosperous among the 36 provinces of the entire Dong Continent, rivaled only by the Holy Capital of the Great Jin Empire.


    Furthermore, the Ster Province was widely recognized as a ''neutral province'' due to the fact that it housed the headquarters of the Sta Consortium, and was the only territory the consortium fully upied.


    The region thrived thanks to its prime geographical location where numerous major rivers intersected. Countless treasures from all over the world gathered here.


    The headquarters of the Sta Consortium, built against a mountain and adjacent to a major river, was a splendid city called the Millennium Star Hub. It was named as such as its lights had never gone out in over a thousand years.


    Within a grand hall in the headquarters of the Sta Consortium, eleven figures, each dressedvishly and exuding an extraordinary presence, took their seats.


    ��Today, I��ve gathered everyone here to discuss two matters.�� A middle-aged man in purple robes began, ��The first matter concerns the confrontation between Shadow de and Chen Luo a few days ago.��


    ��We have conducted an investigation and confirmed that one of his identities is that of an assassin of the Pleiades Guild, code-named Thousand Mountains. He haspleted several missions for the guild and currently holds the rank of a three-star assassin."


    "He killed Wang Xiaohe and engaged in a fierce battle with Chen Luo. Several Savant experts including Li Zi perished while battling him. From our investigations so far, we have a preliminary conclusion."


    "Based on our initial assessment of his power, Shadow de''s martial skill has likely reached the second level of the Harmony of Man and Nature, Integration, but his physical constitution appears to not have reached first-grade yet..." the purple-robed middle-aged man quickly finished his summary. "The first resolution is as follows: should we list him in the Human Rankings or the Land Rankings?"


    "Those in favor of including him in the Land Rankings, please raise your hand."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Six hands were raised.


    "Very well." The purple-robed middle-aged man nodded. "Six to four, Shadow de shall be included in the Land Rankings. As for the specific ranking, that shall be determined in October."


    Everyone present had no objections. The decision to include him was in line with the principle of prioritizingbat power. The objections were rooted in the fact that, ording to the investigation results, his physical constitution had not yet reached the first grade. Both sides had valid reasons.


    "Now, onto the second matter," the man in purple robes continued. "The Cloudstride Sect has appealed for aid from the alliance of the eight major powers of the Dong Continent. This matter shall be decided at the alliance meeting in three days and the Sta Consortium must take a stance."


    The Sta Consortium was one of the eight major powers of the Dong Continent. However, it was the most unique faction which did not send troops directly into battle.


    "I believe there''s no need for me to go over the information and data again." The purple-robed middle-aged man said. "Those in favor of supporting the Cloudstride Sect when the warmences, please raise your hands."


    All ten hands were raised.


    "Unanimously passed." The man in purple robes dered, "Initiate the contingency n, prepare separate war support ns of 30 million, 80 million, and 200 million silver taels. Our Sta Consortium will never allow Great Jin to unify the world."


    ...


    The Grandmaster battle in the Jiang Continent had everyone on edge. As the side that suffered the greatest losses, Great Jin was the center of attention. But even after three days, five days, and then a full week passed, Great Jin still did not release a statement.


    The Holy Capital was the imperial city of Great Jin, home to over three million people and prosperous beyond imagination. Whether martial arts, culture, or economic progress, it was indisputably the top city in the world.


    In the east of the Holy Capital stood the Jin Royal Pce. It stretched over 100 li with numerouspounds and buildings obscuring the sky, showcasing the mighty power of Great Jin.


    At the center of the Jin Royal Pce, sprawling across hundreds of zhangs, above a series of steps reaching over 30 zhangs high, stood the Jin Hall, a sacred hall of the Great Jin Empire.


    A burly man in ck armor knelt below the stairs with his eyes closed. On both sides of the man stood rows of guards, each one an Adept.


    "Your Highness." An elderly imperial eunuch gently persuaded, "You have been kneeling here for three days and three nights. It''s not that this old servant did not report Your Highness''s arrival, but His Majesty has been in closed-door cultivation and has yet to emerge."


    "Perhaps it would be wise for Your Highness to return to your residence for now. I shall promptly notify you as soon as His Majesty emerges from his closed-door cultivation."


    "Your kindness is appreciated." The burly man in ck armor replied in a low voice, "However, it is I who failed to perform my responsibilities, leading to the ninth prince��s death. I must beg His Majesty for his forgiveness."


    "As long as His Majesty does not emerge from seclusion, I will kneel in repentance here." The ck armored man''s expression was resolute.


    The elderly eunuch felt helpless.


    "His Majesty permits the east king to enter the pce." A deep voice echoed from a towering dais a hundred zhangs away, reverberating through the Jin Royal Pce.

 Chapter 130: Emperor Jin’s Wrath (1)

    Chapter 130: Emperor Jin��s Wrath (1)


    The Jin Hall rose from the ground, the stairs alone reaching a height of over twenty zhangs, all paved with the iparably sturdy ck Jadestone. There were five tforms, consisting of 449 steps in total. This symbolized that the one who resided above the steps was the supreme ruler!


    Themand reverberated throughout the vast Jin Royal Pce.


    "Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you," the imperial eunuch urged, "Aren''t you going to enter the hall?"


    "As youmand," the heavily armored man slowly rose to his feet.


    For most people, standing again after three days of kneeling in worship in the depths of winter without sleep, food or water was a challenge. But as one of the top twelve martial artists in the Land Rankings, the man in ck armor was asposed as ever as he removed his sword.


    By thews of the Great Jin Empire, unless granted a royal decree, officials and princes were required to enter the pce dressed in brocade attire. Only the East King and the North King were permitted to enter in armor, but weapons were forbidden within the hall. They had to disarm themselves before stepping foot into the Jin Hall.


    Throughout the ages, the east king and north king had been the pirs of the Great Jin Empire, serving as important ministers for the royal family and shouldering the heavy responsibility of supporting the empire.


    Step by step, the man in ck armor ascended the staircase, finally setting foot inside the Jin Hall. Above him, a dome towered more than ten zhangs high. The majestic hall was lined with rows of magnificent columns on either side, as well as soldiers in full armor.


    A man in purple and gold robes sat with his eyes closed on a high throne at the end of the hall. A beautiful woman in exquisite attire knelt by his side, sobbing uncontrobly.


    <em>Thump! Thump! </em>Each step the ck-armored man took echoed through the hall, as if he weighed as much as a giant. This was not deliberate on his part. Instead, the floor had been designed by master craftsmen such that any step someone took would produce a clear sound. Even Savant experts were no exception. This was all to guard against the silent intrusion of assassins.


    Given the skill of the armored man, he could achieveplete silence if he willed it, but that would only reveal that he was deliberately controlling his body. Soon, he arrived at the center of the hall.


    "I, Jin Jiu, kneel before His Majesty." The armored man knelt heavily, "I havee to confess my sins and ask for His Majesty''s punishment!" Jin Jiu''s voice echoed through the vast pce, only to be met with the quiet sobbing of the luxuriously dressed woman.


    "Ninth Brother, we are kin, there is no need for such formality. Rise," the man seated upon the throne finally spoke. His voice carried a gentleness that contradicted the reputation of a fearsome ruler.


    Jin Jiu stood up. Before him sat a slightly frail-looking tall man, a figure that no one would associate with the first in Land Rankings. Yet, East King Jin Jiu, understood all too well just how formidable his second brother truly was.


    "I have been apprised of what happened at the battle at Cloud River, as well as the ninth prince''s matter." Emperor Jin''s voice remained gentle, devoid of any trace of sorrow, as if the deceased Jin Rensu was not his son.


    "Your Majesty, you must seek justice for Rensu!" The beautiful woman couldn''t help but look up at the tall man on the throne.


    "Empress!" Emperor Jin''s voice turned cold. "Today, I am discussing matters with the east king. I permitted you to attend this meeting out of consideration for the loss of your son. However, the imperial harem should not meddle in political affairs. As the head of the harem, how can you notprehend this?"


    The empress clenched her jaw and lowered her head, not uttering another word.


    "I beseech Your Majesty for punishment," Jin Jiu said solemnly.


    "This matter is not your fault." Emperor Jin''s voice regained its gentleness. "Although you govern the various provinces of the Chu Continent, and are responsible for supporting the three provinces of the Jiang Continent, that region was under the jurisdiction of the ninth prince. He perished on patrol duty while en route to the border."


    "Since our ancestors founded this nation over two centuries ago, dozens of royal heirs have perished on the battlefield, including my eldest brother, third brother, fifth brother... Why would my own sons escape the same fate?" Emperor Jin''s words were deliberate, each one weighty. "In our quest to unify the world, sacrifices are unavoidable."


    East King Jin Jiu listened in silence. Generation after generation, the royal family of Great Jin indeed suffered immense losses. Out of more than 30 siblings in their generation, less than ten survived to the present day.


    "East King!" Emperor Jin began, his words measured. "For over a decade, you have governed the East in my stead, and I am grateful for your efforts. The demise of the ninth prince was of his own making, but it does not absolve others of guilt."


    "Jin Tanying and Li Zi have shown great dedication in their guard duties. They are hereby posthumously promoted to First ss Marquis, and their families shall be rewarded!"


    "Grandmaster Chen Luo failed to protect his liege. He shall be demoted from Third ss Duke to First ss Marquis. His military responsibilities shall remain unchanged and he will continue to guard the Jiang Continent."


    "Furthermore, I, the Emperor of Great Jin, hereby dere: Anyone who discovers the true identity of Shadow de will be rewarded ten million silver taels and bestowed the rank of Third ss Marquis upon confirmation."


    "Additionally, anyone who sessfully eliminates Shadow de and provides evidence shall be bestowed with the following by the royal family of Great Jin: 100 million silver taels or an equivalent natural treasure, aplete set of immortal arts, and the title of Second ss Duke." Emperor Jin''s voice remained steady. "Spread this promation far and wide, to every continent, every province, every Grandmaster on the Land Rankings, every expert on the Human Rankings. Let all be informed."


    His words were delivered casually, but the beautiful woman next to Emperor Jin had stopped crying, looking at him with indescribable shock.


    The east king was just as stunned, his heart pounding.


    Ten million silver taels? 100 million silver taels? Second ss Duke? It was only now that he realized the extent of Emperor Jin''s fury hidden beneath his calm exterior! When the emperor rages, the world should tremble. This saying rang true indeed.


    For arge nation, a reward of 100 million silver taels wasn''t toorge a loss, but it was enough to drive any first-rate Adept or Savant expert crazy. Even ten million silver taels were considered a generous offer. After all, one only needed to uncover the culprits identity.


    Wealth and titles might not entice Grandmasters. After all, these were figures who stood at the pinnacle of mortal martial prowess. What material pleasures could they not obtain?


    However, once their power reached a ceiling, they were faced with a barrier that couldn''t be breached by mere natural treasures. Emperor Jin was willing to offer a set of immortal arts as a reward?


    Immortal arts, also known as divine arts or forbidden arts, were created by Heavenly Rankers, and could greatly augment the strength of a Land Ranker. Most Land Rankers coveted two types of treasures: a set of immortal arts, and a first-grade divine weapon!


    "Your Majesty, this set of immortal arts?" Jin Jiu couldnt resist asking.


    "Chen Luo has presented a detailed ount of his encounter with Shadow de, and I havemanded the Ministry of Supervision to coborate with the Sta Consortium and the Pleiades Guild to gather all avable information on Shadow de." Emperor Jin spoke in aposed manner. "Based on the assessment of the two highest-ranked ancestors, it is likely that this Shadow de is an average first-ss genius, with a slim chance of being an upper first-ss genius."


    "There''s a possibility that he''s an upper first-ss genius?" Jin Jiu drew in a sharp breath. He finally understood why Emperor Jin was offering such a generous reward.


    In their pursuit to unify the world, the Great Jin Empire naturally needed to keep tabs on prodigies from hostile forces and make appropriate ns.


    These prodigies are divided into three major sses: first, second, and third, with each ss further subdivided into upper, average, and lower ratings. These ssifications were constantly updated based on the prodigy''s performance.


    Those with potential for the Human Rankings were rated third-ss prodigies and made up the majority.


    Those with potential for the Land Rankings were ssified as second-ss prodigies. They were under close observation, like Xu Hui of the Cloudstride Sect, who was an upper second-ss prodigy with a high chance of bing a Grandmaster.


    As for first-ss prodigies? They were extremely rare! As far as East King Jin Jiu knew, among the prodigies registered in the Ministry of Supervision, there were fewer than twenty first-ss prodigies in the entire world, with most of them rated lower first-ss.


    Lower first-ss prodigies had a 99% chance of bing Grandmasters assuming their regr rate of growth and development.


    Average first-ss prodigies were highly likely to be Great Grandmasters, with a slim chance of making the Heavenly Rankings. Currently, only three were registered  Wu Yuan of the Cloudstride Sect, Zhen Lin of the Bei Continent, and Xing Shisan of the Dong Continent.


    As for upper first-ss prodigies? Throughout the history of Great Jin, only one had ever appeared, and that singr appearance led to the disappearance of Imperator Jin. Great Jin nearly copsed entirely.


    These were secrets that none of the ministers were privy to, but as a present king of the Jin Empire, he was naturally aware.


    "Whether it''s Wu Yuan of Cloudstride or Zhen Lin of the Bei Continent, they are still in the early stages of unveiling their abilities. We still have time to prepare," Emperor Jin looked down at East King Jin Jiu, "But this Shadow de, his power has already reached the level of a Grandmaster."


    "Whether he can make it to the Heavenly Rankings remains uncertain. But soon, he will reach the level of Great Grandmaster," Emperor Jin said, "Each additional Great Grandmaster on the Land Rankings is another obstacle to Great Jin''s mission of unifying the world. I do not wish to see another one appear."


    "I understand, Your Majesty." East King Jin Jiu solemnly replied, "I shall spare no effort to uncover the identity of Shadow de."


    He understood the gravity of the situation.


    A genius was nothing more than a genius. The so-called evaluation of prodigies was just a judgment on potential, and it was unknown whether they could live up to said potential. Only the strong were a deadly threat!


    Both Emperor Jin and Jin Jiu needed to face their most immediate, greatest threat. And clearly, Shadow de had already established himself as a significant menace.


    "At the same time, draft a formal letter to the Cloudstride Sect," Emperor Jin said calmly, "I hope the Cloudstride Sect will find out the identities of Shadow des kin within a year, and deliver them into the custody of the Great Jin Empire."


    "Otherwise, two years from now, our Great Jin''s Northern Cavalry, along with the Nan Continent Navy, will gather in the Jiang Continent and march straight to Cloudhill to attend the centennial birthday celebration of Grandmaster Bu Yu!"


    Grandmaster Bu Yu was already 98 years old, and in just over two years, she would turn 100. That milestone marked the beginning of a Grandmaster''s rapid decline from their peak.


    "Understood," East King Jin Jiu responded, a glint of battle intent shing in his eyes. "There''s no need for Your Majesty to take action personally. I''ve grown stronger during these ten years of peace. I shall lead the charge, ascending Cloudhill to vanquish Cloudstride!"


    "There''s no rush. The battle with Cloudstride is a crucial one that will secure our rule. Once it falls, Great Jin will sweep through the Central ins within a decade," Emperor Jin stated, his voice as calm as a cidke. "The four continents bordering the ocean won''t just stand by and watch."


    East King Jin Jiu nodded slightly. He did not fear Grandmaster Bu Yu, yet why did the Battle of Hillstride ten years ago end in a truce for Great Jin? It was due to the arrival of reinforcements from various powers!


    "Furthermore, I have already granted the twelfth prince the right to establish his own faction. Take him with you when you return to the East, East King," Emperor Jin softly spoke. "His talents are not inferior to the ninth prince''s. The sole concern is that he was raised within the pce by women,cking opportunities to temper himself. I trust you to guide him well."


    "Your Majesty can rest assured! In time, the twelfth prince shall disy a valorous spirit that rivals Your Majesty," East King dered sincerely.


    This didn''t surprise him. Such was the tradition of the royal family of Great Jin. Each generation saw numerous princes vying fiercely for the throne, and the one with the most outstanding military exploits earned the right to im the title of emperor. The struggle for the throne imed countless lives.


    East King Jin Jiu himself was once defeated by the current Emperor Jin in the struggle for the throne, and was eventually granted the title of East King, presiding over the Chu Continent.


    By all rights, such a line of session,bined with widespread enfeoffment, should have spawned internal strife among the princes, resulting in the disintegration of Great Jin long ago. Yet, as generations passed, the Great Jin Empire remained steadfast, growing mightier with each passing day.

 Chapter 131: Emperor Jin’s Wrath (2)

    <h4>Chapter 131: Emperor Jin��s Wrath (2)</h4>


    Great Jin, the world''s number one empire, possessed an internal intelligence system that far surpassed that of the Sta Consortium.


    The highest echelons of major powers such as the Pleiades Guild and Sta Consortium secretly made moves against Great Jin. Yet, none wished to break off rtions with the Great Jin Empire openly.


    The moment Emperor Jin issued his promation, the calm before the storm ended, and a torrential downpour began. Within just five days, two pieces of news spread across all seven continents of the Central ins.


    <i>Great Jin is offering a reward of ten million silver taels and the title of ''Third ss Marquis of Great Jin'' for information on the true identity of Shadow de.</i>


    <i>Great Jin is offering a reward of 100 million silver taels, aplete set of immortal arts, and the title of ''Second ss Duke of Great Jin'' for the death of Shadow de.</i>


    Almost every expert who had publicly disclosed their residence on the Land Rankings and Human Rankings swiftly received the news.


    ...


    In the Hillstride City of the Jiang continent, Chen Luo sat in his courtyard house, reading the message. As a Grandmaster of Great Jin, he naturally received the news first.


    <i>His Majesty has truly lost his senses. He''s giving away 100 million silver taels, and even willing to offer a set of immortal arts?</i>


    <i>Hmph! If they were willing to grant me a set of immortal arts, I could have in Shadow de that very day. </i>Chen Luo shook his head.


    There was no essential difference between secret arts and immortal arts. However, mastering an immortal art was extremely difficult, ten times harder than mastering a secret art.


    If ordinary martial artists identally obtained a secret art manual, they would only be able to disy 50%-60% of its power, as their physical constitutions had yet to reach the necessary level. Nevertheless, as long as they didn''t push their limits, they were unlikely to cause irreparable damage to their bodies.


    Forbidden arts or immortal arts were different. Crafted by Heavenly Rankers, even the slightest misstep during training could inflict severe injuries upon a martial artist. Moreover, since the constitution of each martial artist was unique, the same forbidden art principle would be modified by Heavenly Rankers based on the end user''s physical attributes, amplifying its potency while minimizing harm to the body.


    Therefore, a written manual version of forbidden arts was nearly non-existent, as they were all imparted through personal tutoring from Heavenly Rankers. Even if there were lone Grandmasters lucky enough to obtain a forbidden arts manual, none would dare cultivate them without a Heavenly Ranker''s assistance. Without a doubt, behind Great Jin, was a Heavenly Ranker.


    A burning desire stirred within Chen Luo.


    <i>If I could get my hands on a forbidden art, and then a first-grade divine weapon, how could Bu Yu dare act arrogantly in front of me?</i>


    Unfortunately, he could only dream. If a Grandmaster of Great Jin made a substantial contribution, there was naturally a chance to obtain a forbidden art, or even a first-grade divine weapon. Sadly, the difficulty was tremendous. Great Jin didn''t hand out these treasures easily.


    After all, why should a Heavenly Ranker, who oversaw the mortal world and observed the rise and fall of Grandmasters, go through the trouble of guiding a Grandmaster in the cultivation of forbidden arts?


    Keep in mind, a forbidden art in itself didn''t contribute much to a Grandmaster''s ascension into the Heavenly Rankings, and might even be detrimental.


    <i>Hmph, this news will soon spread throughout the world. But how many are actually capable of obtaining the rewards? </i>


    As the only Grandmaster who had ever shed with Shadow de, Chen Luo was well aware of the man��s prowess. With his incredible martial skills and unimaginable physical stamina, how was one supposed to kill him? A mass encirclement? Against a martial artist at Grandmaster level, a million-strong army was nothing more than a joke. Only a Grandmaster could stand toe to toe with another Grandmaster. This was an ironw that remained unchanged for millennia!


    <i>Only those who possess abat power ranking within the top 30 of the Land Rankings are capable of crushing Shadow de. Anyone else will suffer defeat.</i>


    Chen Luo sipped his wine.


    <i>They think I��m aughingstock? A bunch of fools, they should try locating Shadow de first.</i>


    Once a Grandmaster went into hiding, they were nearly impossible to find.


    ...


    The colossal bounty of the Great Jin Empire shook the world.


    ��Heavens! Ten million silver taels.��


    "This is madness."


    "Only the Jin royal family would be willing to part with so much silver for a deceased prince. Tsk tsk, princes really are noble."


    "100 million silver taels!"


    "Idiot, that Shadow de is a Grandmaster. How do you n to kill him? Just be realistic and try to uncover his identity."


    Ordinary martial artists were captivated by the allure of ten million silver taels. They didn��t even have to engage in life-or-deathbat, they just had to investigate and uncover the identity of Shadow de.


    ording to the information released by the Great Jin Empire, there was a high probability that Shadow de resided in the territory of the Cloudstride Sect. Thus, many wandering martial artists in the Jiang Continent began to flock over there.


    While ordinary martial artists were mainly attracted by the silver, Land Rankers were tempted by the set of immortal arts.


    Naturally, some were hesitant.


    "Immortal arts are attractive, but if you want to learn them, you''ll have to meet the Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin. At that juncture, your life won''t be in your hands."


    Many Grandmasters cast a quick nce at the message, then tossed it aside. This was quite a normal reaction. So what if it was Emperor Jin? Enticing Grandmasters to fight was no easy feat.


    "Haha, let''s take a gamble! I see no hope for a breakthrough in this lifetime. Once I master a forbidden art, my strength will skyrocket, and then I can venture into the Xin Continent with greater confidence."


    "A Heavenly Ranker! I don''t necessarily want to master any forbidden art. I just wish to meet a Heavenly Ranker and ask a question."


    "Shadow de? Truly mysterious. He''s a Grandmaster, yet seemingly emerged out of thin air. Quite interesting."


    Nevertheless, a few Grandmasters were still tempted and set off towards the Jiang Continent.


    ...


    <i>In Cloudhill.</i>


    "Tell Emperor Jin that the Cloudstride Sect knows nothing about Shadow de. Whether he has rtives, and whether those rtives reside within my Cloudstride Sect, we know nothing." Grandmaster Bu Yu''s voice was icy cold as she tly rejected the request delivered by Great Jin��s envoy.


    "Moreover, I suggest Emperor Jin perform some introspection. In the past two centuries, how many ns, sects, and kingdoms has he annihted? Is it truly unexpected for a Grandmaster to rise against Great Jin?" Grandmaster Bu Yu''s voice was frosty.


    "If Emperor Jin intends to present me with a grand gift on my 100th birthday, my reciprocal gift will surely please him."


    The messenger left helplessly.


    ...


    The southernmost point of Yuanhu Province was the junction of the Jiang, Chu, and Dong Continents. A few hundred li furthery the border of the Min Continent.


    In thisnd of rugged mountains and heavy snow stood an ordinary house, propped up by thin wooden boards. The charcoal fire slowly burned inside as the cold air seeped in from outside.


    Outside the house was a low cliff, covered in several feet of deep snow. The sky was filled with falling snowkes, and thend was littered with numerous withered branches and towering trees.


    <i>A world of ice and snow truly offers a different feeling. </i>Oblivious to the turmoil of the world, Wu Yuan gripped his saber, standing amid the snowstorm, allowing the heavy snow to fall on him.


    For over ten days, he had secluded himself in these mountains, far away from the battleground where hest shed with Chen Luo.


    <i>If not for the ninth prince��s treasure, I doubt I would be living in suchfort on these mountains.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled. With a flick of his wrist, a pot of wine materialized before him. He took a swig straight from the pot, savoring its light vor. The liquor was specially brewed to pose no harm to the human body.


    <i>Storage artifact! I wasn''t expecting such an object to exist in the Middle Land.</i>


    Wu Yuan gazed at the wrist guard in his hand. It was the one he had taken from Jin Rensu that day.


    After shaking off Chen Luo, Wu Yuan had run another several hundred li and sought shelter in a stranger��s house. After changing his clothes and taking a bath, he then resumed his escape.


    He had learned his lesson after the previous time he was tracked down from 600 li away. After taking some time to contemte the matter, he believed that the group must have tracked him through scent or blood.


    Hence, after disguising himself twice, crossing tworge rivers, and running for more than 1000 li, nearly leaving the Jiang Continent behind, Wu Yuan finally came to a stop after reaching this wooden house on the mountain.


    When Wu Yuan first examined the wrist guard, he couldn''t figure out how to use it. He was only certain of its extreme durability, which surpassed that of a third-grade divine weapon.


    After a long time, an idea from the webnovels he had read in his past life came to him - feeding it with blood!


    <i>Who would''ve thought, it really can recognize an owner. Reading webnovels did have some use after all. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    With a thought, an illusory space approximately three cubic meters in size materialized before his eyes. There were numerous items stored in the space: silver notes, gold notes, liquor, numerous vials, food, as well as plenty of weaponry and natural treasures. There was also arge number of books.


    <i>Excluding the treasures I don''t recognize, just the ones I do could easily fetch millions of silver taels. I''ve seriously gotten a windfall.</i>


    He tossed the liquor back into the storage treasure. Soon after, a book materialized in his hand.


    <i>��Secrets of Divine Spirit Insects: Volume Two''?</i> Wu Yuan flipped directly to page six. <i>Was this Bloodseeker Spirit Insect what enabled them to track me down previously?</i>


    Every book in that pile was hard toe by under normal circumstances. They most likely belonged to the secret archives of the Jin royal family.


    <i>However, the value of these treasuresbined might not surpass the value of the storage artifact itself. Who could create such a treasure? </i>Wu Yuan was both curious and wary.


    Even a Grandmaster expert, despite their immense strength, couldn''t possibly study the concept of space. Wu Yuan understood clearly that pocket dimensions were something even the highly advanced Human Federation of his past life hadn''t fully explored.


    <i>Do immortals truly exist in the Middle Land? Or is this just an immortal relic?</i>

 Chapter 132: Endless Peaks and Rivers (1)

    <h4>Chapter 132: Endless Peaks and Rivers (1)</h4>


    From the moment he arrived in the Middle Land, Wu Yuan was gued with questions. He didn��t believe for a moment that his arrival here was a mere ident or coincidence. There had to be unseen forces at y intentionally or unintentionally affecting him, whether it be immortals, gods, devils, or some highly advanced civilization watching from the shadows. Otherwise, how could his transmigration be exined?


    Then, the emergence of the ck pagoda and the blood-red mist further confirmed his suspicions. The ruins of the ancient civilization on the Blue were no mere fabrication.


    <i>The ck pagoda is an extremely powerful enigma! </i>


    <i>The Blue and the Middle Land might share a certain connection, but given my current circumstances, it will be difficult for me to uncover this link.</i>


    Wu Yuan studied the inconspicuous ck wrist guard. Neither his transmigration to this world nor the presence of the ck pagoda in his dantian were tangible objects. But this wrist guard shed light on many of Wu Yuan''s spections. It hinted at the existence of spatial technology.


    <i>Pocket dimensions cannot be as simple as some novels portray - as if ordinary mortals or the so-called Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivators could create them.</i>


    The significance of this technology might not be apparent at first nce. However, it represented a remarkable application of space - separating space, and fusing space and matter in a stable state. It was a marvel beyondprehension.


    <i>If it''s a technological civilization, it surpasses anything within the Human Federation. If it''s a cultivation civilization... its inhabitants must be on the same level as immortals and devils. </i>


    With such limited information, Wu Yuan could hardly imagine what kind of divine power such beings who could manipte space possessed. Perhaps even plucking stars and capturing moons were nothing more than child��s y to them.


    <i>As for Jin Rensu, in the end, he is just a Savant expert. I have encountered many such experts but nothing quite like this item</i>.


    Whether natural treasures or superior weapons, they all fell within Wu Yuan''s scope of understanding, but this storage artifact? At the very least, within the Cloudstride Sect, Wu Yuan had never seen a simr magical treasure, nor could he find any mention of it in the literature he read.


    <i>Considering Jin Rensu''s personal strength, it would be hard to imagine he obtained it on his own. Was he able to ess this treasure due to his status as a prince of Great Jin? Behind Great Jin, there must be a Heavenly Ranker.</i>


    These elusive beings might be shrouded in mystery, but their existence was unquestionable.


    Looking back on the history of the Great Jin Empire, it became clear that without a Heavenly Ranker to maintain order, the Empire would have long crumbled into countless warring factions.


    Why was it so difficult to unify the thirteen continents? The answer was power!


    <i>The difficulty ofmunicating over long distances was never the primary obstacle, it��s power.</i>


    To unify the world, one had to first possess the power to quell any uprising swiftly and decisively. Without the ability to maintain order, how could one expect to achieve unity? Martial might always took precedence!


    The world was teeming with countless martial artists, giving rise to numerous Land Rankers. Typically, these Land Rankers had a sense of pride and were reluctant to submit to their peers.


    So what if someone was ranked number one on the Land Rankings? If dozens of Land Rankers joined forces, even the strongest among them would fall.


    However, it was a different story when it came to the Heavenly Rankings!


    <i>Nearly half of the thirteen continents are vast deserts and untamed wilderness. The Great Jin Empire already upies close to half of the Central ins. Behind Great Jin, there must be a Heavenly Ranker, maybe even more than one.</i>


    Territory, like wealth, corrted with one''s strength.


    Imperator Jin, once the undisputed number one martial artist in the world, founded the Great Jin Empire, then suddenly disappeared, and his reign was passed on to Emperor Jin II.


    Was Imperator Jin still alive? Who could say for sure?


    <i>Those on the Heavenly Rankings truly exist in a different world from themon folk.</i>


    <i>The Martial King was rumored to have lived for 500 years. ording to records, the oldest Grandmaster expert lived for 180 years.</i>


    <i>It should then be reasonable to assume that a Heavenly Ranker, if uninjured, should have a lifespan of 300 years. The Sta Consortium is most likely backed by a Heavenly Ranker as well.</i>


    This much was ringly obvious.


    <i>The fact that this wrist guard storage artifact was granted to a prince suggests that many other members of the Great Jin royal family possess them. Perhaps a Heavenly Ranker is able to obtain one with rtive ease? Yet, it is rarely seen in the outside world, or rather, I''ve never heard of a known method to forge one.</i>


    There were no absolute secrets in the world. If the item was truly one of a kind, then that would leave him with little to investigate. But with an evident abundance of storage artifacts, it implied that there was a steady supply of them.


    Over the course of many generations, even the most closely guarded heritage secrets were bound to be leaked.


    For instance, first-grade divine weapons were equally precious, and rare! Yet many legends of the Middle Land imed that the Sta Consortium, the Great Jin Empire, as well as the Divineforge Tribe deep within the Huang Continent all possessed methods of forging one.


    <i>Could it be one of those immortal relics that Gao Yu mentioned? But in my two years at the Cloudstride Sect, I��ve struggled to find any clues. Perhaps I haven''t disyed enough strength.</i>


    No matter how talented one was, without enough power, the Cloudstride Sect''s higher-ups wouldn''t share much. Not because they didn''t trust him, but because they deemed it unnecessary.


    <i>It seems I must at least possess the strength of a Land Ranker and interact more with the martial experts of this world to unravel its deeper secrets.</i>


    He sheathed his saber. After making his way through the blizzard, he returned to the hut and sat beside the fire pit.


    Then, he began to examine the contents of the storage artifact.


    <i>Ancient Immortal Dew, a total of twelve drops?</i> Wu Yuan''s face beamed with delight.


    Back then, he was forced to make a hasty escape at the banks of the Cloud River,pelling him to leave behind the remaining Ancient Immortal Dew. It had pained him greatly for several days. Even the divine-grade silver spear was lost.


    While being pursued by Grandmaster Chen Luo, he was only left with the divine-grade battle saber, body armor, and wrist guard. But with this, he had managed to recoup his losses.


    <i>What about the other natural treasures? </i>Wu Yuan cast a quick nce at the unfamiliar objects. With his current knowledge and experience, he found himself unable to recognize any of them, and set them aside forter consideration.


    <i>Gold and silver notes... roughly equivalent to 1.2 million silver taels. </i>Wu Yuan swiftly calcted, a smile spreading across his face. He had struck it rich!


    Even after decades, most Savant experts would find it hard to umte such arge sum of money without risking their lives. Wu Yuan was rather capable, but had only cultivated for a fraction of the time they did.


    <i>��Secrets of Divine Spirit Insects: Volume One'', ''Secrets of Divine Spirit Insects: Volume Two'', ''World Land Rankings'', ''Holy Continent Human Rankings'', ''Great Jin Statutes'', ''Emperor Jin''s Martial Arts Manifesto'', ''The History of the Silver Hairpin'', ''The Fengyue Chronicles''...</i> Wu Yuan once again sifted through therge stack of books in the storage artifact.


    Half of them were casual reads or miscenies, but quite a few were useful to Wu Yuan.


    The two volumes of the ��Secrets of Immortal Spirit Insects�� were particrly valuable, containing detailed records of hundreds of unique spirit insects. However, most of them were marked as extinct, with only a dozen or so still in existence. These descriptions included information on their appearances, habits, uses, and general range of activity.


    <i>My horizons have been broadened. These spirit insects are extremely rare, but I suspect those top powerhouses likely have quite a few. I must be more vignt in the future. </i>Wu Yuan felt increasingly wary.


    He had be acutely aware that the Middle Land was far from a typical martial world. Rather, it was a martial world with relics of an ancient civilization of immortals and devils, with mysterious abilities that far surpassed his imagination.


    One could never be too cautious.


    <i>Next, I''ll study ''Emperor Jin''s Martial Arts Manifesto'' and ''Secret Art: Bloodstack''. </i>Wu Yuan began flipping through the pages.


    These two texts held the secrets of the Great Jin royal family and were never meant to be circted. In principle, the prince should destroy them after reading to prevent information leaks. Unfortunately, the ninth prince, Jin Rensu, had only recently joined the ranks of the second-grade martial artists and hadn''t fully memorized them. Ultimately, it was Wu Yuan who stood to benefit.


    <i>Fundamentals, Power Surge, Rigid Yet Supple. Bncing rigidity and suppleness allows one topletely manifest one''s physical power. Moving forward, one perceives the natural world, seeking the Harmony of Man and Nature... </i>


    Wu Yuan��s eyes lit up as he read ''Emperor Jin''s Martial Arts Manifesto''. Unfortunately, his excitement was short-lived. The book simply mentioned it without further exnation.


    <i>So the concept of Environmental Mastery is known as the Harmony of Man and Nature in the Middle Land?</i>


    The concept of the natural world indeed corrted with his understanding of the environment.


    <i>Secret Art: Bloodstack.</i>


    As he read the next book, Wu Yuan quickly realized that this was a very special secret art.


    Conventional secret arts, be it the Thousand Mountains that Wu Yuan practiced, or the Hundred Waves that Mo Jingchen handed to him, essentially involved controlling high-frequency vibrations in the musculoskeletal system to achieve increased force.


    But Bloodstack was different.


    <i>By stimting qi, shock the middle dantian lobe to augment thebat state. This will result in a surge in speed, strength, and mental rity?</i>


    With his high level of martial skill, he quickly discerned the general training method of this secret art, but the specifics still required additional deliberation.


    <i>Channel the qi to strike the middle dantian lobe. Each strike might impair the middle dantian lobe, but it might also temporarily open the middle dantian lobe, raising the physical constitution to its limit.</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly realized the pros and cons of this secret art.


    <i>Perhaps I can derive some inspiration from it.</i>


    Wu Yuan was not in any rush. The path ahead of him was long and filled with unknowns. With limited guidance, he could only explore things on his own and consolidate his discoveries.

 Chapter 133: Endless Peaks and Rivers (2)

    Chapter 133: Endless Peaks and Rivers (2)


    He remained in the mountains for nearly ten days. Only when the heavy snow started to melt did Wu Yuan shoulder his bag and leave the mountain.


    Of course, the bag was just for show. All important items were stored in the storage artifact, except the saber which was wrapped in cloth and carried on his back.


    <em>To avoid trouble, I should try not to use the storage artifact in public. The wrist guard should also be concealed as far as possible.</em>


    Such a treasure was likely to be documented in Great Jin''s records and easily identified.


    Wu Yuan entered a county city within the Yuanhu Province and casually settled in a tavern. Soon, he overheard two pieces of news.


    <em>Yuanhu Vi haspletely abandoned the search for Shadow de, asserting that the deaths of Chen Tangru and the others were self-inflicted? </em>Wu Yuan slowly relished the taverns specialty dish: Spicy Flower Fish.


    <em>A couple of years ago, they were still pursuing this case relentlessly.</em>


    He had been keeping an eye on Yuanhu Vi. After forming a vendetta, how could he forget about them?


    Soon, Wu Yuanprehended Yuanhu Vi''s decision. The strength he disyed during his battle with Chen Luo must have been so immense that even Old Yuanhucked confidence.


    He was a Grandmaster who had crossed the age of 90. Once he was over 100, with a weakening body, why would the few Savant experts of Yuanhu Vi shield him from Wu Yuans wrath? It would be wiser to surrender first.


    <em>If Old Yuanhu truly wishes to yield, I can''t be bothered to deal with him. </em>Wu Yuan enjoyed his meal and drink at a leisurely pace.


    There was no need for total annihtion since he had suffered no losses.


    Of course, if Old Yuanhu''s health deteriorated, and the time came for the Cloudstride Sect to take over Yuanhu Province, it would be another story.


    <em>Old Yuanhu is a minor issue. Emperor Jin is the real madman, actually cing such a huge bounty on my head! </em>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    The tavern was buzzing with discussion about the bounty issued by the Jin Royal Family. 100 million silver taels! This amount was nothing short of astronomical.


    <em>How much have I earned through all my incessant efforts,borious killings, and battles with Grandmasters?</em>


    <em>The total amount probably doesn''t even exceed ten million silver taels. Not even a tenth as valuable as my head. </em>Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly.


    It was clear that the Jin royal family was desperate. However, Wu Yuan remained unfazed. So what if his identity was exposed? Even the most deranged individual would never believe that sixteen-year-old Wu Yuan possessed the might of a Grandmaster. This defied all logic.


    <em>They can take their time to search. Even if they find me, so what?</em> Wu Yuan''s heart was calm.


    <em>For those below the level of Grandmaster, it doesnt matter how manye, I''ll kill them all.</em>


    <em>As for Grandmasters, although a set of immortal arts is tempting, how many Grandmasters exist in the world? Just over 200. Excluding those who are enemies of Great Jin, how many would be willing to risk their lives to capture me?</em>


    Those who would trulye to hunt him down were the Grandmasters that served Great Jin, perhaps three to five of them at most.


    The world was vast and boundless. Once Wu Yuan employed Transfiguration, who could find him if he chose not to reveal himself?


    <em>And in a few years, even if I''m exposed, what can they do? By then, my physical constitution will have reached new heights, I will have grown even stronger, and my mother and sister will have the protection of the sect.</em>


    <em>Unless of course, Emperor Jin loses his mind, ordering Grandmasters tomitrge-scale massacres!</em>


    However, that would be taboo. Under normal circumstances, Grandmasters wouldnt ughter ordinary martial artists ormoners en masse.


    Why? Once it started, it set a dangerous precedent. You may massacre others, but can you stop other Grandmasters from doing the same to your loved ones? You can''t guard them forever. Even if you try to protect them, you may fail.


    <em>The most troublesome issue right now is the Pleiades Guild. </em>Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    The reward for killing Wang Xiaohe was six million silver taels. How could Wu Yuan bring himself to give up such a fortune?


    Wu Yuan had informed the Pleiades Guild that he wanted to redeem it for 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew. Give it up? That would mean the Pleiades Guild would stand to benefit from his efforts for free!


    <em>Unless the Pleiades Guild is truly determined to kill me and dispatches several Grandmasters, they will likely not risk falling out with me over 100 million silver taels.</em>


    100 million silver taels was a lot of money! For some Grandmasters who ventured out to establish their own sects, it was not a small amount.


    But for the top major powers, this amount wasn''t extraordinary. The Cloudstride Sect upied three provinces, umting astronomical sums of wealth each year.


    If the Pleiades Guild turned against Wu Yuan and failed to kill him, then they would be stuck with a Grandmaster nemesis. Even for such a powerful organization, this was big trouble. As long as the Heavenly Rankers didn''t intervene, it waspletely possible for Wu Yuan to uproot the Pleiades Guild''s strongholds one by one.


    <em>No rush. Even if the Pleiades Guild sends their Grandmasters, they can''t wait forever.</em>


    <em>I told the sect I would wander the martial world for two months. It hasn''t been twenty days yet. I can stall, stall until they lose patience, then I can im my reward. </em>Wu Yuan tore into his meat.


    <em>Time to go. First, I''ll need to stock up on supplies, particrly food. Then, it''s off to the mountains! </em>


    Wu Yuan pulled out a few pieces of broken silver. "Waiter, check please!"


    ...


    After getting a general update on the situation in the world, Wu Yuan wasted no time purchasing copious amounts of food, flint, and clothing from the county city.


    This was one of the advantages of possessing a storage artifact. With tenfold, even hundredfold capacity, it was infinitely more convenient than bags. He could carry it with him wherever he went without fear of miscing it. Soon enough, all necessary preparations werepleted.


    Wu Yuan left the county city, braved the biting winds, and hit the road again. This time, his destination was the Southcloud Province, one of the four provinces under the Baijiang Kingdom, ruled by Chu Ping.


    <em>Traveling the world is an integral part of cultivation and enlightenment. </em>Wu Yuan had no doubts about his cultivation n.


    He journeyed across different mountains and rivers, bearing witness to a myriad of diversendscapes. While the world was in an uproar over Emperor Jin''s bounty, Wu Yuan embarked on his first ascetic journey since arriving in the Middle Land.


    In his past life, he had spent over a year walking thousands of li alone to advance his martial path. In this lifetime, he was just getting started on his martial path. Wu Yuan chose the less-traveled paths, paths that others dared not tread, yet he strode along them as if walking on level ground. Gradually, his heart found tranquility.


    It would be inurate to im that Emperor Jin''s bounty had no impact on Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan was unconcerned for his own safety. However, his family, n, and sect weighed heavily on his mind. After all, this was the Great Jin Empire, a power-hungry juggernaut hellbent on conquering the world.


    And thus, Wu Yuan resolved to achieve inner peace. Inner peace was not a superficial concept. It was about achieving genuine serenity, and viewing oneself from an impartial perspective.


    While traversing the wild forests, Wu Yuan chanced upon a pack of wolves hunting down a deer, their kill staining the forest floor crimson. He merely watched in silence, recognizing the process as a natural part of the circle of life.


    Along a mountain stream, a famished tiger lunged at him from the snowy terrain. Wu Yuan effortlessly pped the beast to the ground and offered it a few chunks of meat. The snowfall that year was unusually heavy, limiting the animals food sources. In response, the tiger submitted, bing as docile as a kitten. Subsequently, whether it was Wu Yuan''s strength or the lure of food that won it over, the tiger apanied Wu Yuan for hundreds of li, consuming massive amounts of meat from his stock. In the end, Wu Yuan shooed it away.


    <em>It eats too much.</em> Wu Yuan chuckled, watching the receding figure of the tiger. He never intended to keep a tiger as a pet.


    He continued on his journey.


    Over 28 days, Wu Yuan traversed thousands of li. From Yuanhu Province, he passed through the jurisdiction of the Baijiang Kingdom, and finally arrived at the boundary of Dalong Province.


    The Jiang Continent wasprised of sixteen provinces. Since the copse of the Chu-Jiang Empire, the easternmost Guangping and Dalong Provinces were plunged into constant chaos, infested with never-ending waves ofnd bandits and water thieves.


    This anarchy persisted for over thirty years, eventually culminating in a fragmentedndscape dominated by several powerful factions. Yet, the turmoil endured, and human life held no more value than weeds.


    <em>Lawless times!</em> Wu Yuan''s mind was unruffled as he bore witness to countless bandit raids and massacres during his journey through Dalong Province. He too faced multiple attacks from thesewless bandits. His response was singr  kill every bandit that crossed his path.


    <em>Survival of the fittest is the natural order of this world. Unfortunately, I cannot save everyone, all I can do is live without regrets!</em>


    Wu Yuan felt a quietude settling upon his heart.


    <em>The concern for my family and sect stems from one thingmyck of power. I fear that I am no match for the Great Jin Empire. If I possessed the power of the number one Land Ranker or Heavenly Ranker, would I still worry?</em><em>Who would dare object if I killed the ninth prince, or even butchered Emperor Jin?</em>


    Standing atop a small hill, he felt a newfound sense of rity banishing his doubts.


    <em>Once I cross this pass, Ill be in the Dong Continent.</em>


    Wu Yuan gazed far into the horizon at a majestic city gate. It was the Ironstone Pass, one of the ten significant boundaries in the world. This pass marked the boundary between the Jiang Continent and the Dong Continent.


    <em>This journey, from my initial encounter with Chen Luo, must have spanned a distance of 10,000 li. </em>


    <em>Rivers and mountains stretch for thousands of li, creating a breathtaking panorama.</em>


    Across the vastnd, trees were budding new leaves, and the harsh winter was turning into early spring.


    Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes and drew his de. A de ray shed into existence, surging to its maximum power as it severed the air, and was sheathed just as quickly. Even a Savant expert might find it hard to discern the beginning and the end of this single stroke.


    This stroke was executed without a whisper of sound, creating no ripple in the air from start to finish, as if the saber had never been drawn.


    <em>Atst, I canpletely integrate myself into the surrounding environment. I have truly aplished the second level of Environmental Mastery.</em>


    Wu Yuan opened his eyes gently. He took onest nce at the imposing crossing before turning around.


    <em>It''s time to go back.</em>


    Less than half a month remained until his appointment with the Pleiades Guild.


    Ten dayster, night fell within Cloudhill City. The heavy snow had long since melted away.


    <em>In the Jiang Continent branch of the Pleiades Guild.</em>


    "Shadow de is here?" Branch Master Ma and the two custodians by his side exchanged surprised nces, finding it hard to believe.


    So much time had passed that they''d thought Shadow de had given up on iming the mission reward. After all, Great Jin''s bounty was known to all, and it would make sense for Shadow de toy low. However, the actions of Grandmasters could not be understood withmon sense.


    "Let''s go quickly." Branch Master Ma said hastily, not daring to dy. After all, it was a Grandmaster expert! What were the repercussions of angering such a figure? He dared not imagine.


    <em>Within the courtyard.</em>


    "Branch Master Ma, you''re saying that a Grandmaster from your Pleiades Guild wants to meet me?" Wu Yuan''s voice was light, his eyes scanning the middle-aged man standing before him.


    Master Ma felt a chill crawl down his spine. Shadow de felt even more fearsome than before, yet he couldn''t pinpoint what exactly had changed.


    "Senior Shadow de, everything this junior said is true." Branch Master Ma said in a low voice. "50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew are extremely precious, which is why the Grandmaster himself is personally carrying them, waiting a short distance from Cloudhill City for your arrival."


    "Secondly, Senior Shadow de, your fame reverberates throughout the world. The Grandmaster from our guild has been hoping to meet you. Our Pleiades Guild absolutely bears no ill will towards you." Branch Master Ma said sincerely with a bow.


    Did the Grandmasters within the guild harbor hostility? How would a branch master like him know? But in front of Wu Yuan, he dared not utter a word about hostility. One wrong move and a mere p from Wu Yuan could end his life.


    "Fine, lead the way." Wu Yuan said, picking up Master Ma and leaping into the air with effortless grace.


    Wu Yuan''s skills were top-notch and he had just purified his mind after a journey of 10,000 li. He was not afraid of some Grandmaster expert of the Pleiades Guild.


    As Wu Yuan and Branch Master Ma departed, an old, hunched man emerged from the shadows, relief evident on his face.


    <em>Thank goodness I didn''t impulsively step out. I''ve managed to avoid disaster once again. A meeting between Grandmasters is not something we can afford to partake in.</em>


    100 li wasn''t far for a Grandmaster. Wu Yuan and Branch Master Ma soon arrived in the municipality, and reached the courtyard that Branch Master Ma had pointed out. It was a deste, uninhabited ce.


    "Senior Shadow de, our guild''s Grandmaster said..." Branch Master Ma began.


    "There''s no need to exin," Wu Yuan softly said, "I already know where he is."


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan leaped into the air, virtually flying. He stopped outside a building, several hundred meters away from the courtyard. Dozens of meters away, a tall figure shrouded in a ck robe stood.


    "I am here," Wu Yuan uttered.


    "Pleiades Guild, Li Yan," the tall figure in ck robes softly said, "Hearing tales about someone cannot bepared to meeting them in person. Shadow de, you''re stronger than I imagined."

 Chapter 134: Invitation To Chu-Jiang (1)

    Chapter 134: Invitation To Chu-Jiang (1)


    <em>Hm? Where did he go?</em>


    Branch Master Ma stood frozen in the secluded alleyway, his nerves on edge. Just a moment ago, Wu Yuan was beside him. But he had vanished in the blink of an eye.


    <em>So, this is a Grandmaster? No wonder there are barely any stories about them in the world.</em>


    He was a high-ranking expert on the Human Rankings, yet even he had no clue which direction Wu Yuan had taken off in, much less an ordinary person.


    And this was just a Grandmaster. What about the legendary Heavenly Rankers? As long as they didn''t start arge-scale battle, mortals wouldn''t be able to detect them at all if they wished to remain hidden.


    <em>I wonder if the two Grandmasters wille to blows. </em>Branch Master Ma scanned his surroundings.


    <em>Id better hide for now, I should really learn from my Senior Uncle.</em>


    <em>Right! Back at the branch, I informed Senior Uncle that Grandmaster Shadow de had arrived. He explicitly instructed me to go on and greet him first, saying he would follow shortly. So why hasn''t he arrived?</em>


    <em>He set me up again!</em>


    Atop a building, Wu Yuan and the tall figure cloaked in ck stood several dozen meters apart. They could close the gap in an instant, yet neither side showed any sign of fear.


    "Li Yan?" Wu Yuan pored over the Land Rankings in his mind. There was no such name. Clearly, it was an alias. No one would state their real name in the Pleiades Guild.


    "Shadow de is just a code name the Sta Consortium gave me. You might as well call me Thousand Mountains," Wu Yuan said indifferently, "Besides, how strong did you imagine me to be?"


    "Haha! Then I will call you Thousand Mountains." The towering figure in ck robesughed, "Its quite a surprise that you actually came to meet me. Your courage exceeds my expectations."


    "And not to mention, you sensed my presence from hundreds of meters away without me revealing myself. Your perception is truly terrifying, even stronger than mine. The rumors, they are indeed true." The towering figure in the ck robe said.


    Wu Yuan responded with a silent smile. Courage? Perception?


    To be honest, Wu Yuan did hesitate to meet him. But having traversed countless li over mountains and across rivers, and achievingplete mastery over the second level of Environmental Mastery, his concerns had lessened significantly.


    The only thing he feared about visiting the Pleiades Guild was being ambushed by several Grandmaster experts. There was a potential risk of death.


    But firstly, the Pleiades Guild had no reason to help Great Jin trap him. 100 million silver taels? That wasn''t enough! Secondly, how many Grandmaster experts could the Pleiades Guild truly muster?


    Most importantly, Wu Yuan had faith in his own abilities. His soul sense was quite powerful to begin with, and now with the breakthrough in his skill level, his perception of the surrounding environment had grown even stronger. Grandmaster experts could forget about ambushing him.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s perception, the only Grandmaster expert within several li was the one standing before him.


    "What rumors?" Wu Yuan asked calmly.


    "The rumors that your skill level can match a Great Grandmaster, that youve reached the second level of Harmony of Man and Nature, Integration." The towering figure in the ck robe chuckled, "I was somewhat skeptical before, thinking that Chen Luo, that fool, was just fabricating stories to evade punishment. But now, it seems they hold some truth."


    Wu Yuan remainedposed. The Harmony of Man and Nature was also divided into several levels? Integration seemed to refer to the second level of Environmental Mastery, as well as the skill level of a Great Grandmaster. As far as Wu Yuan knew, only the top ten in the Land Rankings were called Great Grandmasters.


    "Li Yan, I''vepleted the task. Where''s the item?" Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the imposing figure in ck, a glint of frost shing in his eyes. "Don''t tell me you didn''t bring it." If he didn''t, a fight would break out right there and then.


    "Don''t worry. The reason our Pleiades Guild can remain hidden in the shadows across the world is due to our reputation of trustworthiness." Li Yan replied with a slight smile.


    With a flip of his hand, a jade vial appeared in his palm.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Like a stream of light, the jade vial shot toward Wu Yuan. The force imbued in it was nothing short of terrifying, but Wu Yuan caught it steadily. This was a test to see if Wu Yuan would falter or show fear.


    Trust? That only applied when one had a powerful enough bargaining chip! Their unspoken intentions were clear.


    "Hmm, not bad." Wu Yuan uncorked the vial, allowing a wave of sweet fragrance to waft out. He scanned the contents - roughly 50 drops. Wu Yuan trusted the Pleiades Guild not to y tricks in this regard.


    "Li Yan." Wu Yuan tucked the jade vial into his clothing, his voice low, "You''ve been waiting here for a month or two, expending a good deal of time to meet me. I suspect it''s not just to deliver this Ancient Immortal Dew."


    If the Pleiades Guild had no other business with him, nor intended to fall out with Wu Yuan, they could have just handed the treasure to Branch Master Ma or Mo Gou.


    "Naturally, there''s something else," Li Yan nodded. "I''ll get straight to the point. Thousand Mountains, do you possess a Chu-Jiang Token?"


    "I do." Wu Yuan said honestly. In the past, he didn''t reveal due to ack of strength. Now? What harm was there in admitting it?


    The Cloudstride Sect and Yuanhu Vi had both boldly seized their opportunities to snatch it from him, seemingly unafraid of exposure. This implied that whatever benefit it was that the Chu-Jiang Token granted, it could be fully protected with a Grandmaster''s strength.


    "Alright, I believe you," Li Yan nodded. "Then I''ll be straightforward. I want to invite you, an affiliate assassin of the Pleiades Guild, to join me and the Pleiades Guild experts in exploring the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm next August."


    "Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm?" Wu Yuanughed, "Why should I join hands with your Pleiades Guild? I have the Chu-Jiang Token, can''t I go there myself?"


    How was the Chu-Jiang Token used, and what was the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm? In reality, Wu Yuan was totally clueless.


    But this didn''t prevent him from drawing deductions from Li Yan''s words. Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm? Judging by the name, it was likely a spatial immortal relic rted to the Chu-Jiang Empire. The Chu-Jiang Token? It was most likely the key to gaining ess to the relic. Or perhaps a medium, certificate, or the like, within the immortal realm.


    Wu Yuan''s words were a gamble based on his spections, wagering that his guess was correct in order to extract more information.


    "You know the location of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm?" A hint of astonishmentced Li Yan''s voice.


    From this reply, Wu Yuan knew that he had made the right guess. The Chu-Jiang Token was likely the key or medium for entering and exiting the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    "Do you really think only your Pleiades Guild would know?" Wu Yuan scoffed, "Dont forget, Im from the Jiang Continent."


    The Chu and Jiang Continents were former territories of the Chu-Jiang Empire.


    "Hmm." Li Yan''s gaze deepened as he observed Wu Yuan.


    He knew the location of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm? That was a closely guarded secret of the Chu-Jiang royal family!


    He couldn''t help but wonder which major power Wu Yuan belonged to. The survivors of the Chu-Jiang Empire''s royal family? The Cloudstride Sect?


    The thought of Wu Yuan''s conflict with Great Jin also crossed Li Yan''s mind. He could also be from one of the top sects that had been destroyed by the empire.


    "Thousand Mountains, since you''re aware, I''ll be straightforward," Li Yan said quietly. "One Chu-Jiang Token allows one Grandmaster and two ordinary martial artists to enter. So, I''d like you to take two Pleiades Guild Savant experts with you."


    "Take others?" Wu Yuan replied indifferently, "What''s in it for me?"


    "50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew or other treasures of equivalent value per person," Li Yan didn''t beat around the bush. "Once inside, I hope you can protect them as much as possible. Of course, if you encounter danger, prioritize your safety.


    Wu Yuan''s expression didn''t change. 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew? That was 100 drops for two people. If converted into silver, it would be worth millions of silver taels. All that just to bring them in?


    Li Yan''s words hinted at dangers lurking in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm that could threaten the lives of Grandmaster experts. The greater the potential benefits, the greater the risks they were willing to take. There were definitely many treasures lying in wait within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    "Li Yan, are you underestimating me or do you believe I don''t understand the value of a spot in Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm?" Wu Yuan asked coldly. Indeed, he didn''t understand.


    "Shadow de, name your price," Li Yan remained unfazed.


    "200 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew," Wu Yuan stated calmly.


    "No problem." Li Yan nodded.


    "...Plus a second-grade divine armor," Wu Yuan continued in a rxed tone. Noticing how easily Li Yan agreed to his conditions, he realized he had underpriced and quickly raised his demands on the spot.


    Just as expected, Li Yan slightly furrowed his brows, "Shadow de, you''re asking for too much. A second-grade divine weapon isn''t a third-grade one  its exceedingly difficult to forge. One second-grade divine weapon can be traded for 100 catties of etherstone!"


    "It''s merely two Savant experts, not Grandmasters," Li Yan shook his head.


    <em>100 catties of etherstone? </em>Wu Yuan''s expression remained unchanged.


    He obviously knew he was pricing aggressively. 200 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew were worth over twenty million silver taels.


    As for the second-grade divine weapon? Third-grade divine weapons were generally wielded by Savant experts and worth over 100,000 silver taels, and could go as high as one million silver taels. But a second-grade divine weapon was typically wielded by a Grandmaster, and each one could reach a whopping ten million silver taels!


    Moreover, it was not something one could easily buy with money. The number of factions capable of forging second-grade divine weapons in the world could be counted on two hands.


    Many Grandmasters whocked strong backing and were unwilling to engage in deadly battles might not even possess a second-grade divine weapon.


    "Li Yan, if you''re not willing, then forget it." Wu Yuan shrugged nonchntly, "I can find other Savant experts to apany me. Perhaps Ill be able to reap greater gains."


    It was a provocation. However, Li Yan had no way to gauge Wu Yuan''s true strength.


    "Fine, I agree with your conditions." After a moment of silence, Li Yan slowly responded. "We''ll meet at the Pleiades Guild branch in the Chu Continent, Lv City, on the 22nd of August next year. Then, we''ll head to Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm together. At that time, I will hand over both the divine-grade weapon and Ancient Immortal Dew to you."


    "I can wait for the divine-grade weapon, but I must have the Ancient Immortal Dew within five days, Wu Yuan replied with a smile. Otherwise, no deal!


    "Thousand Mountains, you''ve crossed the line this time. Li Yan snapped, frustration mounting. What if you take the Ancient Immortal Dew and dont meet up with us, instead sneaking into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm with other experts? How should I find you then?


    Reputation and promises were worthless in the eyes of experts.


    Fine, Wu Yuans voice was indifferent. I wont make it hard for you, but you must first give me 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew as a deposit. Surely the Pleiades Guild wont be troubled by such a tiny bit of treasure?


    Li Yan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. Alright.


    With a swift motion, Li Yan flipped his palm and tossed another jade vial to Wu Yuan. It was almost identical to the one before.


    Wu Yuan weighed it in his hand. Satisfied, he pocketed it: One more thing.


    Shadow de! Li Yans voice rose several decibels, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan. Dont push your luck.


    "Rx, its a minor thing! Give me a copy of all the information you have on the Chu-Jiang Token and Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, Wu Yuan said casually. Dont look at me like that, I simply wish to cross-reference it with what I know.


    Exchange information for it. Li Yans voice was low.


    Li Yan, you dont have a choice, Wu Yuan smirked. If you dont agree, I wont return the 50 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew I just got.


    Li Yans eyes widened. He had figured it out from Wu Yuans reply. This man probably didnt have any detailed information about the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm at all. Hed beenpletely swindled!


    "Dont worry," Wu Yuan chuckled, "You wont stand to lose anything."


    A heavy silence hung in the air.


    "Fine, Shadow de, I''ll trust you," Li Yan stared intently at Wu Yuan, "Just be warned, if you betray me, you will regret it."


    With that, Li Yan waved his hand, and another scroll flew towards Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan reached out and caught it.


    "Dont forget, Shadow de. 22nd of August next year, in Lv City of the Chu Continent!" With those final words, Li Yan retreated several hundred meters, swiftly disappearing from Wu Yuan''s sight.


    <em>He left so quickly, as if afraid I was going to devour him. </em>Wu Yuan smirked.


    <em>Not bad. I''ve collected 100 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew on this trip.</em>


    <em>Now, back to Cloudhill City. </em>Wu Yuan quickly took off.


    Several hourster, in a nearby alleyway, Branch Master Ma wore a troubled expression.


    <em>No updates yet? Has the exchange between Shadow de and the Grandmaster ended? How much longer do I have to wait?</em>


    From beginning to end, Wu Yuan and Li Yanpletely disregarded Branch Master Mas existence. Uninformed and apprehensive, he dared not leave.<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts</blockquote>

 Chapter 135: Invitation To Chu-Jiang (2)

    <h4>Chapter 135: Invitation To Chu-Jiang (2)</h4>


    As the first rays of dawn pierced the sky, Cloudhill City stirred to life, its eastern quarters buzzing as people came and went.


    Wu Yuan stood in the shadow of a five-story building, watching as an elegant woman and a lively young girl appeared - his mother Wanqin, and his little sister, Wu Yijun.


    Wu Yijun already had her breakfast. After Wanqin walked her to the mansion gate, she left the Wu Mansion followed closely by two guards.


    <i>My family. </i>A smile tugged at Wu Yuan''s lips as warmth spread through his heart.


    He had returned to Cloudhill City to see his family, but did not reveal himself. After all, as far as the public knew, Wu Yuan was supposed to be training up on the mountain with The Rain Hierarch. Why would he suddenly appear at the foot of the mountain?


    <i>Only The Rain Hierarch, Sect Elder Huan, and Zhao Baifan know about my journey through the world. Though they wouldn''t leak such a secret, I''d better stay hidden.</i>


    Even if he did show himself, not many people would connect Wu Yuan with Shadow de, mostly likely dismissing it as a coincidence.


    <i>But this will ur again in the future. Once is a coincidence, but every time? Some astute observers would inevitably start getting skeptical. It''s best to be cautious. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s figure melted into the shadows as he silently disappeared from the Wu Mansion.


    From the foot of Cloudhill, he took an unconventional route as he scaled the mountain. Finally, he arrived at the Cloud Martial Hall.


    "Senior Brother Wu!"


    "Good to see you, Senior Brother."


    "It''s been a while since we''ve seen Senior Brother Wu."


    "Rumor has it that Senior Brother Wu has been cultivating in seclusion with The Rain Hierarch. He seems different now." Disciples of the martial academy whispered among themselves as they saw him passing by.


    Despite his two-month absence, Wu Yuan''s reputation in the Cloud Martial Hall remained as strong as ever.


    "Where''s Instructor Zhao?" Wu Yuan asked a few students.


    "She''s in the Ninth Martial Grand Hall."


    Soon after, he arrived at a martial chamber on the second floor of a martial grand hall.


    "Instructor Zhao, I''m back," Wu Yuan found Zhao Baifan.


    "Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan, who was in the midst of meditating, turned around. Her eyes radiated a sense of relief, as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "You''re finally back. I''ve heard no news of you during your two-month journey through the martial world. I''ve been worried."


    "If Instructor Zhao had heard any news of my exploits, I''d probably have trouble making it back," Wu Yuan grinned cheekily.


    "Enough with the jokes!" Zhao Baifan red at him, then burst intoughter and asked, "How was your experience?" Zhao Baifan could not put on the airs of an instructor when speaking to Wu Yuan.


    "The martial world is cruel, yet fascinating," Wu Yuan smiled, "But it still can''tpare to the tranquility of Cloudhill."


    "Mm, such enlightenment shows that you''ve experienced much on your journey." Zhao Baifan sighed, "In my younger days, I too used to rule a region. But I soon grew tired of the deception and trickery, and requested to return to the mountain. Eventually, I became an instructor at the Cloud Martial Hall."


    "It is much more peaceful here," Zhao Baifan added.


    "Instructor Zhao, you''ve got great potential to be a Savant expert." Wu Yuan said sincerely.


    This was not ttery, but heartfelt admiration. Without the aid of potent natural treasures, one''s martial skill had to reach a high level in order to tap into the deepest potential of the body to eventually be a Savant expert, or a Grandmaster.


    To instruct a student is to also instruct oneself.


    Zhao Baifan was rtively young, possessing amendable focus on cultivation. The odds of her bing a Savant expert in the future were high.


    ...


    Meeting Zhao Baifan was synonymous with announcing his return to the sect''s higher-ups. Therefore, after taking his leave, Wu Yuan immediately returned to his long-missed private courtyard house and issued some instructions to his servants.


    Walking up to the second floor, he first inspected six small contraptions he''d set up prior to his departure.


    <i>No evidence of tampering. </i>Wu Yuan nodded slightly. <i>It seems that no one has visited the second floor during my absence.</i>


    He strode directly into the storage room, retrieving the perfectly intact Chu-Jiang Token from a hiddenpartment. After cing it into his storage artifact, Wu Yuan finally allowed himself to rx.


    <i>Just what secrets does the Chu-Jiang Token hold? </i>He flipped his palm to reveal a stack of scrolls. <i>I hope the information from the Pleiades Guild doesn''t disappoint.</i>


    He sat down and began to read.


    <i>The Chu-Jiang Empire, established by Heavenly Ranker Chu Yue in the Eastern Martial calendar year 2558, gradually expanded its reign from the Chu Continent...</i>


    The beginning delved into the history of the Chu-Jiang Empire''s expansion, not much different from the history of the Great Jin Empire. A Heavenly Ranker established a nation and rapidly expanded its influence across several continents.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up as he read a particr passage.


    <i>Grandmasters emerged from every generation of the Chu royal family. The numerous experts produced by the Chu-Jiang Empire was a highly abnormal phenomenon. After the empire crumbled, the world learned that the royal family of the Chu-Jiang Empire possessed a special immortal relic,monly referred to as the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm or the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm...</i>


    <i>Legends speak of great secrets hidden within the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm, which brims with countless natural treasures and immortal legacies. The Chu-Jiang royal family ascended to power through these immortal inheritances... The Chu-Jiang Secret Realm, like many immortal relics, is not easily essible. Only with the key, the Chu-Jiang Token, can it be opened.</i>


    <i>Ever since Great Jin vanquished Chu-Jiang, the Chu-Jiang royal family scattered, and countless books and scriptures were dispersed across the world. Only then did the news of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm spread.</i>


    <i>There are eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens in total. The Chu-Jiang Secret Realm can only be opened when at least six of the Chu-Jiang Tokens are gathered. </i>


    <i>It can be opened once every hundred years. The next possible opening, ording to conjecture, will ur after August of the year 3227 in the Eastern Martial calendar...</i>


    <i>Heavenly Rankers are prohibited from entering. Each Chu-Jiang Token permits the entry of three individuals, but only one of them can be an expert who has reached their body��s gic physical limit...</i>


    <i>From the information currently avable, of the eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens, the Great Jin Empire has at least three, the Baijiang Kingdom has at least two, the Cloudstride Sect has at least one, the Sta Consortium has at least two, the Ninedeaths Circle has one, and Grandmaster Shadow de has one. The remaining Chu-Jiang Tokens are unounted for.</i>


    Wu Yuan set down the document. It was not particrly detailed, providing no information about the specific location of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, what treasures existed within, or how dangerous it was. However, it gave Wu Yuan a general idea of the function and origin of the Chu-Jiang Tokens.


    <i>Presumably, the Pleiades Guild also has a Chu-Jiang Token. If Li Yan is willing to pay a price for me to bring two Savant experts inside, it suggests he has a certain level of confidence in making a profit.</i>


    <i>Back then, when the Chu-Jiang Empire was overthrown, thest Chu Emperor fought to his death in the imperial city. Before the final battle in the imperial city, the royal family scattered.</i>


    <i>The Chu Emperor probably distributed the many treasures within the royal family to various branches. And since the Great Jin Empire surrounded and pursued them, it is possible that Great Jin ended up with more than just three Chu-Jiang Tokens.</i>


    <i>Chu Ping of the Baijiang Kingdom, although only a distant branch of the royal family, is the only publicly known Grandmaster expert of the Chu family today. Certainly, many of the survivors of the Chu-Jiang royal family have rallied to him.</i>


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect, too?</i>


    The number of Chu-Jiang Tokens fell within his expected range.


    The Pleiades Guild could deduce the approximate opening time and were willing to share this information with Wu Yuan, suggesting the information wasn''t particrly valuable.


    <i>When the timees, all forces will likely send their Grandmaster experts. If I head there?</i>


    It''d be risky! The dangery not only in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm itself, but also in the other participants of the treasure hunt, such as the Grandmasters dispatched by Great Jin. If they identified Wu Yuan as Shadow de, they would surely seize the opportunity to strike.


    <i>If a Grandmaster from the Cloudstride Sect were to participate, it will most likely be The Rain Hierarch. If she��s alone...</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    For now, Wu Yuan didn��t believe it was the right time for him toe clean with the two Hierarchs just yet. Neither Bu Yu nor Huan Jian had even met Wu Yuan, and there was no substantial foundation of trust.


    Why should Bu Yu and Huan Jian trust a 16-year-old��s ims of attaining Grandmaster-level strength after just two years of solitary cultivation? Could Wu Yuan be an old monster in disguise? Any normal person would have doubts. And Wu Yuan had no way to exin himself.


    <i>Between now and next August, I have a year and a half to significantly bolster my strength. My current worries stem solely from my inadequate strength to face off against several Grandmasters. In a year and a half, my physical constitution will improve significantly. At that time, I''ll make a decision depending on the circumstances.</i>


    His curiosity about the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm fueled his desire to enter it. But the treasures within were secondary. What mattered most was his longing to explore the deep, hidden secrets of this world.


    ...


    After he met with Zhao Baifan, Wu Yuan had another private meeting with Sect Elder Huan.


    After the sect elder confirmed everything was fine, Wu Yuan resumed his cultivation routine at Cloudhill, tempering his body and honing his skills.


    However, since reaching the pinnacle of the second level of Environmental Mastery, Wu Yuan''s attempts to further sense his surroundings yielded meager progress. That was because he could merge with his environment with a single thought. No matter how unique the environment was, it failed to stimte him anew. It felt as though the progression of his skills had reached a bottleneck. He could only strive to improve his physical constitution.


    Throughout the passing of spring and the arrival of another zing summer, the summit of Cloudhill remained pleasantly cool.


    Late one night, Wu Yuan Visualized the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, fortifying his soul as per his usual routine. Despite making slower progress over the past two years, he never cked off, Visualizing the ck pagoda habitually.


    With the continual strengthening of his soul, Wu Yuan''s mental processing, analytical abilities, and memory far exceeded those of ordinary people. His martial skills advanced at an astonishing pace.


    <i>Essence, qi, soul! The soul is the most important. </i>


    As his soul grew stronger, the duration of each Visualization session lengthened.


    This day, as he persisted with his Visualization practice, he felt himself bing more and more lucid. Unlike before, he didn''t grow groggy or exhausted when reaching his limit.


    When night fell and all was still, Wu Yuan felt an increasing tranquility within him, sharpening his perception of his surroundings.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Even with closed eyes, it felt as if they were wide open, with his mental consciousness effortlessly flowing around the objects in the hall like water.


    <i>Soul sense flows like water, yet can be gathered in a palm.</i>


    A thought suddenly shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. Instinctively, he made an attempt.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> To his amazement, a chair in the corner of the room began to waver and levitate where he gathered his consciousness, as if a hand was gripping it!


    <i>Could it be that my soul has be strong enough to manipte objects from a distance?</i> A wave of astonishment washed over Wu Yuan''s heart.


    He opened his eyes, staring at the suspended chair. But as his concentration wavered, the chair fell from mid-air with a clunk.

 Chapter 136: Soul Force Awakens, Grandmaster’s Insights (1)

    <h4>Chapter 136: Soul Force Awakens, Grandmaster��s Insights (1)</h4>


    <i>Is this...the power of the soul? Manipting the tangible with the intangible, telekinesis? </i>Even someone as steadfast as Wu Yuan waspletely taken aback at that moment. This was something that went beyond his wildest imagination.


    <i>Let''s try again.</i> This time, Wu Yuan did not close his eyes, but simply focused his mind. He immediately felt a formless power dwelling within the upper dantian lobe. With a single thought, he could manipte it at will. It was much clearer than what he perceived initially!


    <i>It''s the soul, the power of the soul! </i>Wu Yuan waspletely certain.


    Then, like a surging tide, this formless power burst forth from the upper dantian lobe, spreading in every direction. To the naked eye, it manifested as an image refracted within his mind.


    As the power of his soul expanded, Wu Yuan felt a flood of information inundate his mind. The entire structure and arrangement of the martial chamber materialized in his consciousness, akin to a three-dimensional projection, as though he were physically interacting with every facet of it.


    In other words, even if Wu Yuan were to close his eyes and silence his hearing, he would still perceive theyout of the entire room, even clearer than through mere sight. The only difference was that the power of his soul could not replicate colors!


    <i>Can the power of the soul reach ces that the eyes can''t see?</i> Wu Yuan keenly felt the uniqueness of this power. Once it spread, nothing could go unnoticed within a certain range.


    <i>Grasp. </i>Now more familiar with this power, Wu Yuan made another attempt at telekinesis. He felt the previously dispersed power enter the chair one more. Slowly, the chair began to float again.


    <i>It''s strenuous.</i> Despite Wu Yuan��s efforts, the chair''s movements were sluggish. Even an ordinary child could easily evade it.


    Moreover, a wave of fatigue suddenly washed over Wu Yuan''s soul, scattering his mental focus. His soul''s power retreated back to the upper dantian lobe, like a receding tide. With a heavy thud, the chair fell back to the ground.


    Sitting down in a lotus position, Wu Yuan exhaled deeply, weariness reflected in his eyes. <i>So tiring. Controlling a floating chair that weighs only a dozen catties for a mere minute or two is more exhausting than fighting with Chen Luo.</i>


    It had been a while since Wu Yuan had experienced such fatigue. However, he wasn''t quite ready to fall asleep yet. He sank into thought.


    <i>The soul power originating from the upper dantian lobe, is quite simr to the Soul Force mentioned in novels.</i>


    Those characters could y enemies thousands of li away with a single swing of their swords. Who wouldn''t yearn for such power? There were also those who could manipte flying swords or other magical treasures due to their powerful souls. Wu Yuan had once dismissed these stories as mere fantasy, never believing they could be true.


    <i>Whether it��s Soul Force, or the so-called psychokinesis, telekinesis, or soul power, essentially, they are all powers stemming from a strong mind and soul.</i> Wu Yuan concluded, grasping the essence of these abilities. There was no other way to achieve this step other than by fortifying the soul, making it extremely difficult to reach.


    <i>The upper dantian lobe is the abode of the soul. Even though the world of the Middle Land is aware of its existence, how many can actually unlock it? I''m afraid only those from the legendary Heavenly Rankings can do so.</i>


    Typically, there were two methods to strengthen the soul. The first involved nurturing the physical form, which indirectly enhanced the soul. This would manifest in one''s demeanor, such as increased mental resilience. The second approach relied on the utilization of natural treasures, such as the Soul Condensing Pill.


    <i>In literature and reality alike, I have never heard of a Grandmaster remotely controlling objects. From my experience, even individuals at the human gic limit struggle with such a task.</i>


    In his past life, Wu Yuan had reached the human limit for some time, yet his soul was not even one-tenth as strong as it was now. This was partly due to having a stronger physique in his current life. However, the more influential factor was the fact that Wu Yuan had been Visualizing the ck pagoda daily for the past two years, causing his soul to grow at an astonishing pace.


    <i>After two years of Visualization, coupled with the continuous nurturing of my body, my soul has finally acquired enough strength to leave the confines of the upper dantian lobe and exert influence in the physical world.</i>


    <i>Let''s call this power Soul Force for now.</i>


    The first function of Soul Force was sensing and perception.


    <i>The soul sense I employed in the past was merely an auxiliary power. It allowed me to perceive the presence of individuals in my surroundings through the vigor of their qi and auras, but it was rather vague. However, perceiving the world with Soul Force allows me to see every detail, clearer than the naked eye.</i>


    The only drawback was its range.


    <i>At present, I can only explore up to ten meters. Furthermore, the further Soul Force extends from my body, the more energy it consumes. The closer an object is to the limits of its exploration range, the hazier my perception of the object bes, and the greater my energy expenditure.</i>


    Although simple consciousness exploration consumed much more Soul Force energy than object maniption, it was still significant and could not be sustained for long.


    The second function of Soul Force was remote object maniption.


    <i>My current telekinesis ability is rtively weak; I can''t move something that weighs 100 catties. </i>Wu Yuan had already tested this. <i>Even controlling an item weighing around ten catties is a strenuous task.</i>


    The faster the movements of the object he manipted and the longer the distance between himself and the object, the greater the depletion of his Soul Force energy.


    Over 30 meters? Wu Yuan couldn''t even budge a single grain of rice that far away.


    In terms of perceiving his surroundings, the results were miraculous. But when it came to telekinesis? Currently, it appeared showy but impracticable. After all, the only real threats to Wu Yuan''s life were Grandmasters, who could easily unleash the power of 600,000 to 700,000 catties. What good was this rookie-level ability to control objects?


    <i>But, this is merely the start. With a soul strong enough to control objects, my speed ofprehension, analysis, and perception have been greatly amplified.</i>


    As his soul grew stronger, Wu Yuan believed that both abilities, consciousness exploration and telekinesis, would progressively improve. In due course, they would y a pivotal role in battle.


    For example, if he could slightly alter the trajectory of a throwing knife mid-flight? His attacks would be multiple times deadlier!


    <i>The ck pagoda! Truly, it''s unimaginable. </i>Wu Yuan marveled. <i>The blood-red mist that it produces evolves my genome, while Visualizing it strengthens my soul.</i>


    How miraculous was that?


    However, even though his soul was much stronger than before, it was still as insignificant as a mayflypared to the ck pagoda itself, unable to shake the structure in the slightest. What''s more, if Wu Yuan Visualized the ck pagoda for too long, he would still experience pain.


    The rtionship between Wu Yuan''s soul and the ck pagoda was like the rtionship between nts and the sun. nts needed sunlight to grow, but if the sun''s rays were too intense, the nts would be scorched to death!


    ...


    In the following days, aside from his daily training, Wu Yuan also dedicated a considerable amount of time to pondering over the potential applications of Soul Force.


    As days went by, he gradually started to experiment with incorporating Soul Force into hisbat training.


    <i>The second level of Environmental Mastery, is fundamentally the ability of the soul and body to perceive the surrounding environment, allowing the body to perfectly adapt to the environment. The so-called environment is essentiallyposed of matter. By integrating my body into the environment, the environment presents no obstacles to me.</i>


    <i>Then, if my Soul Force advances, could I gradually control the surrounding environment? Or even bend its forces to my will?</i>


    If this could be achieved, this meant his opponent would be hindered by air resistance, water currents, and other matter as they fought, handicapping their strength.


    Meanwhile, not only would Wu Yuan not be weakened, but he would even gain a boost. Two people with the same physical constitution, yet an astoundingly wide gap inbat power.


    This was just one path Wu Yuan contemted as his martial arts skills hit a bottleneck. Deep down, he felt this might indeed be the right path.


    Again and again, he tried. Again and again, he pondered. Again and again, he failed!


    As flowers bloomed and withered with the passing of time, the seasons changed from the height of summer to the depths of fall. Wu Yuan''s physical constitution grew stronger, and his soul increasingly powerful. However, his martial arts skills remained stagnant, showing no significant signs of improvement. Yet Wu Yuan showed no sign of giving up.


    ...


    As November arrived, autumn neared its end.


    Inside the martial chamber on the first floor, Wu Yuan practiced the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique in solitude, repeatedly stimting his musculoskeletal system to its limits.


    After what seemed like an eternity, he finally let out a long breath.


    <i>What a relief. </i>Wu Yuan smiled and suddenly threw a punch. His muscles snapped like a whip, resulting in a terrifying sonic boom. Wu Yuan did not attempt to negate the effects of air resistance. If he had integrated his movements with the air, the force behind this strike would have been even greater. However, the sonic boom allowed him to vent the stifling feeling in his heart, bringing him great satisfaction.


    <i>My one-armed punch force has finally reached 190,000 catties.</i>


    That was about 30,000 catties more than when he sparred with Grandmaster Chen Luo half a year ago!


    But it was important to note that this was due to the continuous assimtion of the blood-red mist into his body over the past six months. Wu Yuan clearly felt the slowing of his physical progression. He knew this was a sign of his golden development phase graduallying to an end.


    Although it was said tost until the age of eighteen, in reality, the duration of the golden development phase could vary slightly based on an individual''s constitution. Wu Yuan, who was nearing eighteen, was reaching the end of his rapid development phase.


    <i>No matter, there''s still over a year to go. After this golden development phase, my physical constitution should easily break through the 200,000 catties threshold and reach the first-grade level.</i>


    <i>Once Strength Training concludes, I canmence Viscera Cultivation. By then, my physical constitution will receive a significant boost. </i>Wu Yuan was calm.


    His physical constitution was bound to surpass themon Grandmaster.


    Strength Training, Viscera Cultivation, Acupoint Connection. Completing these three crucial phases would greatly enhance his physical constitution. Martial artists in the Middle Land could continue to increase their strength from tens of thousands of catties to 200,000 catties after reaching adulthood, and thetter two cultivation phases yed a vital role in this continuous progression.


    Although Wu Yuan had not yetpleted the first phase, Strength Training, his physical constitution was already nearing the first grade.

 Chapter 137: Soul Force Awakens, Grandmaster’s Insights (2)

    Chapter 137: Soul Force Awakens, Grandmaster��s Insights (2)


    <em>Let''s attempt Soul Force again.</em>


    Following his usual routine, Wu Yuan wiped his body clean, assumed the lotus position, closed his eyes, and began his Soul Force training once more.


    Gradually, his Soul Force expanded outward. One meter, three meters, ten meters, twenty meters... In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force extended beyond a radius of 100 meters, far surpassing his initial attempt.


    Next, he focused on deeply perceiving the matter within this expanded radius. This consumed his Soul Force energy at a rapid pace and a wave of exhaustion overtook him, but he had faced this many times before and refused to give up.


    As Wu Yuan immersed himself in perceiving his surroundings, his Soul Force extended further and his heart grew calmer. Soon, his perception grew increasingly clear!


    His consciousness gradually merged with the surrounding environment, not exactly like the matching of frequencies in the second level of Environmental Mastery, but a fusion of his soul, spirit, and environment! It was as if his soul and spirit werepletely assimted with the environment, giving him a sense of unparalleled peace.


    While his physical body resided in the room, his consciousness ventured outside. Where it drifted, he could sense the rhythm of the wind; as it swooped down to the ground, he could feel the weight of the earth...


    Wu Yuan found himself enveloped in a profound serenity. It was as if a refreshing breeze washed over him, rejuvenating his spirit.


    Soon, a surge of strange power permeated his being, seeping through his skin and coursing through his body. He could feel it threading across every inch of him, gradually converging in his middle dantian lobe.


    <em>Whats this? </em>Wu Yuan''s awareness snapped back into his body.


    <em>Power from the outside world? </em>Wu Yuan could sense that this power originating from the world outside was extraordinary.


    <em>My soul integrated with my surroundings, sensed a stronger force, and naturally absorbed it.</em>


    Like a flowing stream, this mysterious power coursed through every corner of his body. Before he knew it, his body became stronger, purer.


    <em>It can even purge impurities from the body?</em> Wu Yuan was stunned.


    His body only contained minute amounts of impurities, yet this mysterious power from the external world could still expel them.


    <em>What exactly is this power?</em> Wu Yuan''s heart was filled with questions, but he did not attempt to reject this mysterious force. He merely observed it.


    Gradually, Wu Yuan realized that this mysterious force was not rampaging through his body, but instead, it was nourishing every inch of it along a strange, mystical route. The path it took was difficult to detect with the naked eye, only with a strong consciousness could one sense it.


    <em>With the middle dantian lobe as the core, it weaves through 108 points of the body...</em> If Wu Yuan still did not understand what was going on, then his past life''s cultivation was in vain.


    This path had to be the so-called meridian cirction [1], reaching every single part of the body.


    <em>So, the Federation''s conjectures were all true. The lower dantian lobe refines food and other energy sources to nourish the essence and blood, strengthening the body to the human limit. Unlock the middle dantian lobe, and you can open the human acupoints... initiating the ultimate evolution of life!</em>


    Wu Yuan felt like he was slowly pushing open the door to a brand new realm. On this night, unknowingly, he had finally reached the level he had dreamed of in his previous life.


    As his consciousness grew weary, he gradually fell into a deep sleep. The mysterious power from the outside world also quickly dissipated after weaving through his meridians, leaving no traces.


    The next morning, Wu Yuan woke up and jumped to his feet in the martial chamber,pletely refreshed.


    <em>My perception? </em>Wu Yuan quickly noticed that his body appeared lighter, his strength and speed had increased, and his vision and hearing had also improved!


    He immediately recollected the events of the previous night.


    <em>My soul has fully integrated into the surrounding environment.</em> Wu Yuan closed his eyes, focusing his mind.


    Gradually, he sensed that mysterious power once again, and began to consciously guide it. Instantly, this mysterious power entered his body once more.


    <em>It''s a type of energy that can bolster the physical body and purge impurities. Though its effects are subtle, with only slight enhancements to my body, its purity is unparalleled. Only the Ancient Immortal Dew canpare to it.</em>


    A shocked expression crossed Wu Yuan''s face. The Ancient Immortal Dew was a very precious natural treasure, worth more than 100,000 silver taels per drop. But this mysterious power? In Wu Yuan''s view, it seemed to contain the infinite potential of this vast and boundless world, waiting for him to seize it.


    <em>The power contained within the world itself? </em>Wu Yuan took a deep breath.


    Just by Visualizing the ck pagoda and continuously boosting his soul, he had unlocked such a surprising feature?


    Why bother hunting for natural treasures in the future? All he needed to do was focus on absorbing the power of the world, and his body would continuously grow stronger.


    <em>Could it be that the Heavenly Rankers are tapping into this power? The power of this vast world?</em>


    Land Rankers already reached the limit of the human body. To surpass the limit of life meant embarking on a transcendent path of evolution. This likely required some external power beyond the human body itself.


    <em>Other than the two hierarchs, only the sect''s sixteen Grandmasters Insights can provide me with answers.</em> Too many questions and curiosities arose in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    If he had never reached this level, he could have epted being kept in the dark. But now? His mind raced, spawning countless questions as his thirst for the truth ignited. After all, curiosity was the instinct of every intelligent being.


    Wu Yuan left his room.


    ...


    "Wu Yuan, are you certain you want to redeem these two Grandmaster''s Insights?" The two custodians stationed in the library questioned Wu Yuan repeatedly.


    "Yes!" Wu Yuan nodded. "There is no need to dissuade me any further. I am well aware that two Grandmaster''s Insights require 60,000 contribution points. I wish to redeem them."


    The two custodians exchanged a nce, their helplessness evident.


    In their view, these Grandmasters Insights were typically only redeemed by first-rate Adepts or above. No matter how talented Wu Yuan was, he was still just a disciple in his teens, could he reallyprehend the Grandmasters Insights? It was simply a waste of contribution points!


    But with Wu Yuan''s insistence, what could the two custodians say? In terms of status, Wu Yuan held a much higher rank than them within the sect.


    "Very well!" The older custodian relented. "Wu Yuan, you may only read the books here in this reading room, they must not be brought out. The contents of these books must never be shared with anyone, understood?"


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    They watched as Wu Yuan clutched the two books, ducked into a reading room, and then closed the door behind him without hesitation.


    "Report this matter to the sect elder."


    ...


    The reading room was an enclosed space of ten square meters with excellent sound instion, designed for a single reader and fitted with a bed for rest.


    <em>Grandmaster Yun Shan''s Insights. </em>Wu Yuan leaned back and cracked open the first book.


    <em>Grandmaster Yun Shan, the founder of the sect, might not be as powerful as Grandmaster Fang Xia, but he was still one of the top twenty experts in the world at the time.</em>


    Wu Yuan already had a general understanding of the history of the sixteen grandmasters in his sect. In the end, he selected two insights from them.


    <em>Without such strength, how could he establish a sect during the flourishing age of the Chu-Jiang Empire? His cultivation insights must be extraordinary.</em>


    Wu Yuan began to read, immersing himself in the book''s pages.


    Books embodied the wisdom of the ancients.


    Reading a book was essentially having a dialogue with the ancients across time and space.


    ......


    <em>Three dayster, in the Cloud Hall.</em>


    "You''re saying, Wu Yuan has started to read the Grandmaster''s Insights?" Grandmaster Yu looked down from the host seat.


    "Yes." Sect Elder Huan stood respectfully, a hint of concern on his face, "Not only that, he redeemed two Grandmaster''s Insights, and after entering the reading room, he hasn''t emerged for three whole days."


    "Could he have fallen under some kind of psychosis?" Sect Elder Huan wondered worriedly.


    "Which two Grandmasters'' Insights were they?" The Rain Hierarch asked. Her voice was steady, seemingly unworried.


    "''Grandmaster Yun Shan''s Insights'' and ''Grandmaster Fang Xia''s Insights'', Sect Elder Huan replied.


    "Craftyd! He doesn''t settle for just any reading material, he goes straight for the two most formidable Grandmasters," The Rain Hierarch''s face revealed a slight smile.


    Sect Elder Huan was taken aback. "Hierarch, aren''t you worried?"


    "Do you remember the words of Sect Elder Mo when he returned to his hometown?" The Rain Hierarch said lightly, "At the beginning of the year, Wu Yuans skill had already reached the Rigid Yet Supple stage."


    Sect Elder Huan couldn''t help but nod.


    "With his talent, even if he didn''tpletely perfect the stage after nearly a year, he must have made significant progress," The Rain Hierarch murmured.


    "What does that have to do with him now?" Sect Elder Huan was puzzled.


    "Geniuses are lonely!" The Rain Hierarch said, "The more you understand, the more you grasp, the more doubts will flood your mind. Within the martial academy, no one can guide him anymore, and he doesn''t feel that it''s appropriate to consult me."


    "So, only the Grandmaster''s Insights can provide him with the answers he seek." The Rain Hierarch smiled, "I suspect he''s now lost in those books."


    "It''s time to meet him. Once Wu Yuan emerges, bring him to me," The Rain Hierarch instructed softly, "I want to see what sets this number one genius of our sect apart from the rest."


    "Yes," Sect Elder Huan''s eyes lit up.


    How could he not understand? The Rain Hierarch was finally going to personally mentor Wu Yuan.


    Days slipped by.


    Within the reading room, Wu Yuan slowly savored the text, reading at an unhurried pace. The two Grandmasters'' Insights weren''t wordy, fewer than one million words in total, but they were brimming with martial arts principles. This was especially so for ''Grandmaster Fang Xia''s insights'', thest fifth of which covered all his insights after bing a Great Grandmaster.


    Wu Yuan felt that his horizons were greatly broadened.


    <em>So, this is the path from Grandmaster to Heavenly Ranker.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled as he continued pondering and deducing, working hard to digest these insights and make sense of them.


    On the eighth day, Wu Yuan finally emerged from the reading room with the two Grandmasters'' Insights.


    Before he could utter a word, the two custodians insisted he stay put, urging him to be patient. Soon, a rotund elder in purple robes hurried over.


    "Sect Elder Huan," Wu Yuan greeted with a smile.


    "You little rascal, you scared me to death. How could you be so engrossed in those books?" Sect Elder Huan red at him. "You''ve been reading non-stop for eight days and nights!"


    Wu Yuan justughed in response.


    Only by bing obsessed enough to forget about sleeping and eating could one attain the truth! Without delving deep and immersing oneself, how could one achieve greatness? Given his physical constitution, he could go without food or drink for ten days without an issue.


    Moreover, over the past eight days, Wu Yuan had been absorbing the mysterious power of the external world, and felt neither hunger nor fatigue.


    "I see you''re in good shape, Sect Elder Huanmented. Alright, put down the books. Follow me to the Cloud Hall. The Rain Hierarch has summoned you."


    "The Rain Hierarch?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    The most powerful Grandmaster of the sect, a world-renowned expert, suddenly wished to meet him?


    What could possibly be the reason?


    1. acupoints are positioned along the meridians

 Chapter 138: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (1)

    Chapter 138: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (1)


    "Elder Huan, why did The Rain Hierarch summon me? What does she need from me?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "It''s likely rted to the two Grandmaster''s Insights you''ve redeemed," Elder Huan replied with a smile.


    Wu Yuan stiffened.


    "Rx, a meeting with The Rain Hierarch will only be beneficial for you. Generally, unless a new Savant expert has emerged, or a schr or martial artist is demoted from the governor or provincial general level, the hierarchs rarely meet with sect members," Elder Huan chuckled.


    Wu Yuan nodded subconsciously. A new Savant expert meant a new sect elder or hall master. Each one was qualified to join the sect''s upper echelons. It was perfectly normal for such figures to be summoned by the hierarchs. As for a governor or a provincial general? They were the political and military leaders of a province, each holding great responsibility. Naturally, they would also be summoned by the hierarchs.


    Aside from these particr cases, there were hundreds of first-rate Adepts within the sect, but not many of them ever met with hierarchs regrly.


    "Thest Cloud Martial Hall disciple who was personally summoned by the hierarchs was your Senior Brother Xu Hui," Elder Huanughed. "Alrightd, that''s enough questions. Go, wash up quickly and change into clean clothes."


    "Okay." Wu Yuan nodded. He had spent eight days without eating nor drinking, fully immersed in reading,prehending, and cultivating. He didn''t pay any attention to his appearance at all. It was only when Elder Huan informed Wu Yuan that he finally took a good look at himself. Indeed, he was filthy.


    After a bath and change of clothes, Elder Huan and Wu Yuan soon arrived at the base of the Cloud Hall, only ten li away from the Cloud Martial Hall. Here, two guards verified their identities before they were allowed to head straight for the grand hall.


    "Sect Elder, the defenses of the Cloud Hall seem rather weak," Wu Yuan whispered. "It''s not even as well protected as your hall."


    "Weak?" Elder Huan shot Wu Yuan a nce, "The Cloud Hall is the most heavily guarded location of our sect, with numerous hidden traps. Moreover, the hierarch herself is worth more than any number of guards."


    Wu Yuan chuckled. True, a single Grandmaster could stop arge army. If they were to encounter an enemy that even The Rain Hierarch couldn''t detect or defeat, then no matter how many experts they had, it would be useless.


    They arrived at the entrance of the grand hall, Elder Huan respectfully announced, "Hierarch, Wu Yuan has arrived."


    Wu Yuan followed behind him. He did not hastily activate his Soul Force to probe his surroundings as he wasn''t too sure how powerful The Rain Hierarch was. Keeping a low profile and disguising his strength was his first priority.


    "Come in." A gentle voice echoed from the end of the grand hall. The voice wasnt loud, yet it clearly reached their ears.


    The two men entered the spacious, dimly lit hall.


    "Greetings, Hierarch." Wu Yuan and Elder Huan both bowed respectfully.


    "No need for formalities, have a seat." The gentle voice replied.


    Both men took their seats. It was only then that Wu Yuan got a clear look at her face. She appeared to be a woman in her 50s or 60s with a kind face, like a neighborhood grandmother. Her attire was quite ornate and bulky, not suited forbat.


    At first nce, seated in the host seat of the hall, Bu Yu seemed like an elderly noblewoman, not the fabled Cloudhill Sword Deity, a Grandmaster swordswoman who had stood at the peak of the Jiang Continent with her sword for three decades!


    With Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, he could perceive the vitality within the elderly woman despite her concealing her aura. She was more powerful than Grandmaster Chen Luo.


    In his perception, she posed a lethal threat to him. Once their weapons shed, the oue was uncertain. She was certainly the most formidable expert Wu Yuan had ever met, far from a typical centenarian Grandmaster. This was Bu Yu, the absolute master of the Cloudstride Sect.


    As Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the elderly woman, his eyes were drawn instinctively to the sword hanging prominently on the wall. Though sheathed, its razor-sharpness was impossible to hide. The Greenme Staff could not begin topare to it.


    <em>The Moontide Sword. A first-grade divine weapon, also the number one divine weapon in the entire Jiang Continent.</em>


    Numerous Grandmasters had met their demise at the hands of this divine sword.


    Through his studies of the Grandmaster''s Insights, Wu Yuan had gained a deeper understanding of divine weapons. He now knew that, apart from being sharper and crafted with superior materials, there was no essential difference between third-grade divine weapons and superior weapons.


    A second-grade divine weapon harbored just a hint of spirituality. As for a first-grade divine weapon, it was not only sharp and capable of withstanding incredible force, but was also infused with spirituality that far surpassed second-grade divine weapons. Its worth transcended any mundane measure of gold and silver. The spirit was the core of a first-grade divine weapon.


    <em>Once a Grandmaster possesses a first-grade divine weapon, their power surges exponentially. </em>


    The Moontide Sword? Wu Yuan knew it well; it was a treasured heirloom of the Cloudstride Sect, forged by Grandmaster Fang Xia over two centuries ago.


    As Wu Yuan contemted, a gentle voice echoed from the host seat. "Wu Yuan, your soul seems incredibly strong."


    These words caught Wu Yuan off guard. What a move by Grandmaster Bu Yu. Wu Yuan had done his best to conceal his power, yet Bu Yu still detected it.


    "I see no fear in your eyes, only curiosity," The Rain Hierarch looked down at Wu Yuan, a hint of amusement and surprise in her eyes. "Among the many youths below seventeen, you are the first who dares to meet my gaze."


    "Thank you for your praise, Hierarch." A hint of ''joy'' surfaced on Wu Yuan''s serious face, like a young boy basking in the praise of his elders.


    The Rain Hierarch couldn''t help butugh, her doubts surrounding Wu Yuan dissipating. This was the typical mindset of a typical youngster. Even the mostposed would feel joy when praised by their elders.


    "Wu Yuan, I have known about you ever since you broke Grandmaster Fang Xia''s record. Your potential is extraordinary," The Rain Hierarch smiled warmly, "Of course, it was The Sword Hierarch who formted your initial training n, as I was absent from the sect at that time."


    <em>The Sword Hierarch?</em> In the Cloudstride Sect, Bu Yu was known as The Rain Hierarch despite her mastery of swordsmanship. Whereas Huan Jian, who excelled in palm techniques but never wielded a sword, was ironically known as The Sword Hierarch.


    "You have made remarkable progress, yet neither The Sword Hierarch nor I have summoned you until now. Do you hold any resentment towards us?" The Rain Hierarch inquired, a yful smile on her lips.


    "How could I harbor resentment?" Wu Yuanughed, "The sect''s training n is excellent. I have received numerous cultivation treasures and the guidance of a Savant expert like Sect Elder Mo. Not to mention the care provided to my family and loved ones."


    "I''m well aware of everything the sect has done for me, and am eternally grateful to the sect," Wu Yuan intoned earnestly, his face a mask of sincerity.


    What a joke! Even if Wu Yuan did hold some resentment, he couldn''t let it show now. When a big shot asks if you feel any resentment, you should never take it seriously. If you honestly tell them about your dissatisfaction, that''s just in stupidity.


    "Well then, that''s good," The Rain Hierarch nodded. "Wu Yuan, do you know why I summoned you here?"


    "Could it be because of the Grandmaster''s Insights?" Wu Yuan spected.


    "Indeed," The Rain Hierarch nodded. "Grandmaster''s Insights are usually studied only by Savant experts and top tier first-rate Adepts within the sect. After all, if your skill level isn''t up to par, their value to you is negligible, worth far less than 30,000 contribution points."


    Wu Yuan gave a small nod. Martial arts cultivation should be gradual and progressive. Rushing to understand the profound mysteries of martial arts wasn''t always productive.


    It was just like math - children should take an interest in the subject first. If you start teaching advanced math off the bat, it would look like gibberish,pletely killing their interest.


    "Disciple understands. The library custodians have mentioned this," Wu Yuan nodded. "In terms of physical constitution, I am indeed inferior to a first-rate Adept. Currently, my one-arm strength is only 42,000 catties, I estimate it will only reach the first-rate Adept level earliest next year."


    "But when ites to martial skills, I dare say, I should not be weaker than the sect elders. It''s just that I''m stuck at a bottleneck, so I borrowed the Grandmasters'' books to resolve my doubts," Wu Yuan ''honestly'' confessed.


    This was the excuse he had thought of beforehand. The path of a genius meant gradually revealing his talent.


    "A one-arm strength of 42,000 catties?" Sect Elder Huan couldnt hide his shock. He knew that Wu Yuan''s martial skills were top-notch, but wasn''t the rate of improvement of his physical constitution a little too fast?


    "Your martial skills are impressive, and your physical constitution is improving swiftly," The Rain Hierarchmended. "But in martial arts, actions speak louder than words. Sect Elder Huan, kindly assist in sparring with Wu Yuan." Martial skills weren''t proven through words, butbat!


    "Me again?" Sect Elder Huan helplessly muttered.


    "The Sword Hierarch has tasked me with keeping an eye on you and encouraging you to be active," the Rain Hierarch grinned. "I''m helping you lose weight."


    Sect Elder Huan fell into a speechless silence. A 70-year-old man constantly urged to lose weight by his father... He couldn''t decide whether this was a curse or a blessing.


    "Sect Elder, I lost to you at the beginning of the year. This time, I will give it my all." Wu Yuan said excitedly, his eyes shining.


    "Alright." Sect Elder Huan stood up, smiling, "You''ve roamed the world for two months, then read the Grandmaster''s Insights, let''s see how much progress you''ve made."


    Under The Rain Hierarch''s supervision, Wu Yuan and Sect Elder Huan positioned themselves at a distance, facing each other. It was another bare-handed match.


    "Both of you are to limit your base strength to 30,000 catties." The Rain Hierarch dered, "I will serve as the referee and indicate when to stop."


    "Yes." Both of themplied.


    Without dy, the two of them collided with a resounding boom. Although they were only using 30,000 catties of raw strength, the actual force surged to 90,000 catties due to the activation of Threefold Power Surge.


    Their battle was brief,sting only two breaths.


    "Stop,"manded the Rain Hierarch abruptly.


    Wu Yuan and Sect Elder Huan pulled back several meters. Given their exceptional physical constitution, neither of them was injured.


    "You''ve lost, Sect Elder Huan," the Rain Hierarch announced the result.


    Sect Elder Huan looked defeated. Turning towards Wu Yuan, he sighed, "Indeed, I have lost. You didnt even leave a bit of face for this old man. Always one step ahead, never allowing me to gain an advantage."


    Wu Yuan responded with an embarrassed smile. He could sense that Sect Elder Huan wasn''t truly angered.

 Chapter 139: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (2)

    Chapter 139: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (2)


    The two of them sat down once again.


    "Wu Yuan," Sect Elder Huan couldn''t resist his curiosity, "Although I''ve yet to reach the peak of the Rigid Yet Supple stage, I shouldn''t have been at a disadvantage during the spar. Is it possible that you have already advanced to the Harmony of Man and Nature?" He had indeed lost the fight miserably.


    "The Harmony of Man and Nature?" Wu Yuan feigned confusion, "Perhaps. Essentially, I can perceive the fluctuations in my surroundings, allowing me to seize the initiative inbat. I am unsure if this counts as reaching the Harmony of Man and Nature stage."


    "It does," the Rain Hierarch answered slowly, "Sect Elder Huan, Wu Yuan has indeed reached a rudimentary level of the Harmony of Man and Nature stage. He is at the Perception level."


    "He reached the Harmony of Man and Nature stage before seventeen?" Sect Elder Huan looked at Wu Yuan as though beholding a monster. He was well aware of what this meant.


    Wu Yuan also looked at the Rain Hierarch with a ''startled'' expression.


    "Wu Yuan, you have read two Grandmaster''s Insights. However, they may not have fully answered all your doubts," The Rain Hierarch said."Today I summoned you here primarily to confirm your martial skills."


    "Now, I believe the time hase to exin some matters to you," the Rain Hierarch continued.


    "Disciple is all ears," Wu Yuan said with a mask of ''seriousness.''


    Sect Elder Huan promptly shut his mouth and listened attentively. He knew that receiving a lecture from The Rain Hierarch was an incredibly rare opportunity.


    "Fundamentals, Power Surge, Rigid Yet Supple, you''ve mastered them all. I won''t harp on those," said The Rain Hierarch, "You should understand that once Rigid Yet Supple is perfected, you are able to control your whole body, sense the middle dantian lobe, and see the path to the human limit."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Once the Rigid Yet Supple stage was fully mastered, he could aspire to reach the human limit and potentially be a Land Ranker.


    "In reality, just perfecting Rigid Yet Supple alone scarcely gets you to Grandmaster level," The Rain Hierarch exined quietly, "Many Savant experts, such as those in the top ten of the Human Rankings, have almost all perfected Rigid Yet Supple, Sect Elder Mo is a prime example."


    "And why is that?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Life force and age," The Rain Hierarch said sinctly, "If one perfects Rigid Yet Supple before 30, bing a Grandmaster will be a breeze, like in your case."


    "Me?" Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    "Your skills have reached a highly advanced stage while in your youth. If you continue to develop your body''s potential,bined with practicing secret arts, your physical constitution will naturally progress by leaps and bounds," The Rain Hierarch borated, "Reaching the human limit will be a natural progression, and by the age of 30, your body could potentially reach the first-grade level.


    "A Grandmaster at 30?" Wu Yuan''s face lit up with ''anticipation.


    Sect Elder Huan was struck dumbfounded. A Grandmaster at 30?


    "Someone who perfects Rigid Yet Supple just before 60 still has a chance to be a Grandmaster despite their waning vitality," The Rain Hierarch continued, "But once they surpass 60? Their chances diminish significantly."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. First-rate Adepts and Savant experts were still in their prime at 40. Compared to their 20s or 30s, their physical constitutions had yet to decline noticeably. But once over 60, even though theirbat prowess seemed to be at its peak, their vitality rapidly diminished. The most obvious gauge of one''s vitality was endurance and recovery time.


    "But Hierarch, throughout history, many experts only became Grandmasters in their 70s or 80s," Sect Elder Huan couldn''t help but interject from the side.


    Wu Yuan was equally ''curious''.


    "If they are only able to achieve the Rigid Yet Supple stage of martial skill, it''s naturally challenging for them to break through to the next cultivation level," The Rain Hierarch stated, "But what if they are able to reach a higher level of martial skill, achieving harmony with nature? That is, the Harmony of Man and Nature!"


    "The term ''Man and Nature'' represents all of heaven and earth," The Rain Hierarch continued, "Master your physical body, invigorate your spirit, look within yourself to perceive the world, and dedicate ample time and energy to grasp the indescribable spiritual qi of heaven and earth!"


    "Substitute essence for qi to purify the body and restore one''s youthfulness, only then can one aspire to be a Grandmaster," The Rain Hierarch exined.


    "Spiritual qi of heaven and earth?" Sect Elder Huan fell deep in thought. He had long known about the existence of spiritual qi, but regrettably, his skill level wasn''t high enough to sense it.


    Yet, Wu Yuan was struck with a revtion. The Grandmaster''s Insights mentioned spiritual qi, but only in passing, and not as extensively as The Rain Hierarch''s exnation.


    "The so-called qi, in essence, is a miraculous free-floating energy in the world, the most fundamental energy of the world," The Rain Hierarch said, "People often say: essence, qi, and soul. The essence, originating from the lower dantian lobe, refers to the essence of the human body. When food is refined, it is transformed into essence!"


    "However, when transformed into essence,mon substances contain impurities which are harmful to the human body. This makes it challenging to achieve longevity solely through consuming grains and meats. Only when one''s martial skill reaches the Harmony of Man and Nature and their soul grows sufficiently robust, can they hope to perceive and consume qi."


    "Qi does not contain any impurities. It can cleanse the body, eliminate impurities within, and prolong life, just like Ancient Immortal Dew, which is the liquefied essence of spiritual qi. Many other natural treasures are essentially nurtured by spiritual qi," The Rain Hierarch solemnly stated.


    Wu Yuan was stunned by what he heard. Ancient Immortal Dew was actually the liquefied state of spiritual qi? The mysterious power he sensedst night was most probably this spiritual qi. No wonder the two forms of energy were nearly identical.


    At this moment, a whole new world revealed itself to him. The so-called transcendental evolution was nothing more than a quantum leap in energy levels. Those who absorbed spiritual qi were inherently superior beings to martial artists who fed on grains and meat.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, "Hierarch, I learned from the Grandmaster''s Insights that the Harmony of Man and Nature is divided into Perception, Integration, and Unity. Can one consume qi upon reaching the Perception level?"


    Wu Yuan was now certain that Environmental Mastery was termed Harmony of Man and Nature among the martial artists of the Middle Land. The first level of Environmental Mastery was Perception, sensing the surrounding environment. The second level was Integration, harmonizing one''s body with the environment. As for Unity? Wu Yuan only gained a vague understanding from Grandmaster Fang Xia''s insights.


    "One indeed has the potential to consume qi at the Perception stage." The Rain Hierarch stated, "Provided ones soul is strong enough, coupled with advanced martial skill level, and that one learns a specific qi consumption method. Then, there is a sliver of hope."


    "Skill, soul, and method  all three are critical," The Rain Hierarch said, "Even so, it''s fraught with difficulties. Often, only one in six experts over the age of 60 who have reached the Perception stage can step into the realm of the Grandmasters."


    Wu Yuan suddenly understood. "Hierarch, is it necessary to learn the qi consumption method?"


    "It''s not absolutely necessary." The Rain Hierarch shook her head, "If you have a high enough skill level, such as reaching the Unity stage, or if your soul is exceptionally strong, you might be able to directly consume qi through your own power after ten to twenty years."


    "Ten to twenty years?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. That long?


    "Mm-hmm." The Rain Hierarch chuckled, "Does it seem long? Many martial artists at the Perception level spend at least five to six years practicing the qi consumption method before they are able to achieve it.


    Wu Yuan fell silent. Qi consumption was so difficult? If that was the case, why was he able to forgo learning a qi consumption method, and in merely a few months, absorb spiritual qi by himself? Was it because of his strong soul?


    "How did the methods of qi consumptione about, Hierarch?" Wu Yuan feltpelled to ask.


    "The first qi consumption method was actually created by Heavenly Rankers," The Rain Hierarch answered. "Heavenly Rankers have mostly perfected the Harmony of Man and Nature or even higher stages! Their souls are so powerful that they can even perform telekinesis.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. "Hierarch, can only Heavenly Rankers perform telekinesis?" he inquired.


    "Of course." The Rain Hierarchughed, "Controlling the tangible with the intangible, how unimaginable. It''s something almost impossible for Grandmasters to aplish."


    "Take for instance the legends of sword immortals, who are naturally Heavenly Rankers. They can unleash extraordinary power with a single sword strike, ying enemies hundreds of meters away."


    "Telekinesis is one of the three conditions for a Grandmaster to enter the Heavenly Rankings," The Rain Hierarch''s eyes were full of longing.


    "Three conditions?" Wu Yuan was curious.


    "As you will certainly be a Grandmaster, there''s no harm in telling you now," The Rain Hierarch said, "Firstly, your physical constitution must reach the limit of the human body, with vitality that shows no signs of decline. The ideal age limit is 100, but the younger, the better."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "Secondly, you must at least reach the Integration level of martial skill."


    "Thirdly, you must be able to perform telekinesis. Of course, you don''t need to reach the level of sword immortals. As long as you are able to lift an object weighing ten catties with your soul, and clearly sense the middle dantian lobe, that will suffice."


    "If these conditions are met, the Heavenly Rankings lie within your grasp," the Rain Hierarch asserted. "But without the trifecta of a strong body, advanced skill level, and a powerful soul, sess will forever elude you. The stronger your body, the higher your skill level, and the more powerful your soul, the better your chances of breaking through."


    Wu Yuan stood there, his mind reeling from what he had just heard.


    Three conditions.


    Just reach the Integration stage? He had already achieved that.


    Control an object weighing ten catties with his soul? He could already manipte objects weighing hundreds of catties, making them orbit around himself.


    Sensing the middle dantian lobe? He could sense all 108 acupoints in his body.


    The only thingcking was his physical constitution. But reaching the limit of the human body was nothing more than a matter of time for him.


    "What''s wrong, scared?" The Rain Hierarch looked at Wu Yuan and let out a soft sigh. "Bing a Heavenly Ranker is extremely difficult. Take me for example. In terms of skill, I reached the Integration stage in my 70s, but my soul... I have never been able to achieve a breakthrough."


    Despite taking numerous risks to acquire Soul Condensing Pills, their effects were disappointing." The Rain Hierarch shook her head. "Telekinesis is simply too challenging."


    Wu Yuan fell silent.<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For your reference:


    <strong>Conditions To Enter Heavenly Rankings</strong>


    1. Physical constitution: Reach the limit of the human body (200,000 catties base strength). The ideal age limit is 100


    2. Martial Skill: Reach Integration level of Harmony of Man and Nature/ Environmental Mastery stage


    3. Soul: Able to perform telekinesis (lift an object weighing ten catties) + clearly sense the middle dantian lobe</blockquote>

 Chapter 140: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (3)

    Chapter 140: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (3)


    Sect Elder Huan listened from the side with keen interest. The Heavenly Rankings were too far out of his reach. In this lifetime, he didn''t harbor much hope of bing a Grandmaster. But while he had epted his fate long ago, it didn''t mean he wasn''t interested in Grandmasters or the Heavenly Rankings.


    "Wu Yuan."


    "Hierarch." Wu Yuan responded promptly.


    "Your exceptional talent, though not unprecedented, is undoubtedly unmatched in todays world!" The Rain Hierarch looked straight into Wu Yuan''s eyes, "Before seventeen, you have already reached the Perception stage. In the future, achieving Integration won''t be hard. Your awakening has unlocked your upper dantian lobe, resulting in a particrly strong soul."


    "One could say that, as long as you proceed methodically, your future holds immense potential for greatness." The Rain Hierarch''s eyes shimmered with anticipation. "Don''t limit yourself to the Land Rankings, aim for the Heavenly Rankings. I will stake my life to lend you my assistance."


    "Heavenly Rankings?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. He didn''t expect The Rain Hierarch to set such high expectations for him.


    "Back then, Grandmaster Fang Xia was on the cusp of entering the Heavenly Rankings. If not for the Chu-Jiang Empire...never mind, there''s no need to delve into those secrets." The Rain Hierarchs gaze focused on Wu Yuan, "If you be a Heavenly Ranker, our Cloudstride Sect will flourish for 300 years. Even Great Jin will be helpless to stop us."


    Sect Elder Huan listened with a gaping mouth. He knew Wu Yuan had a good chance of bing a Grandmaster, but the Hierarch believed Wu Yuan could actually be a Heavenly Ranker?


    "300 years?" Wu Yuan asked curiously. "Can a Heavenly Ranker truly live for that long?" The Grandmaster''s Insights he had perused didn''t provide much details on Heavenly Rankers.


    "Much longer," the Rain Hierarch murmured. "You see, an average Grandmaster typically lives to around 140-150 years old. But why is it that some Grandmasters can extend their lives to 170-180 years? It''s through the consumption of qi!"


    "Take The Sword Hierarch, for instance. In terms ofbat prowess, I surpass him. However, when ites to qi research, he is far more advanced than me," The Rain Hierarch admitted with a hint of self-deprecation. "Unless any idents ur, he will undoubtedly outlive me by at least two decades."


    Wu Yuan and Sect Elder Huan exchanged nces.


    Sect Elder Huan recalled what his father had told him. He thought he was just boasting, little did he know it was all true.


    "Grandmasters can only consume qi, but they can''t store it as their acupoints have yet to be opened," The Rain Hierarch exined.


    "Heavenly Rankers, on the other hand, not only consume qi, but they can also refine it. They have opened their middle dantian lobe, and by circting it through their acupoints which act as nodes, they can store spiritual qi within their body, and tap into the qi as a source of energy."


    "Qi consumers are blessed with long lives! Qi refiners scarcely fear death." The Rain Hierarch''s eyes held endless longing. "The so-called Heavenly Rankers are essentially a group of qi refiners. Naturally, their lifespans are extraordinarily long, 300 years is just the lower limit. The higher their cultivation level, the longer their lifespan."


    "From what I know, there exist qi refiners who have lived over 500 years," the Rain Hierarch sighed.


    Wu Yuan and Sect Elder Huan were stunned.


    In just 200-300 years, countless dynasties and sects had risen and fallen. The Cloudstride Sect could only boast a history of just over 300 years. The Chu-Jiang Empire had crumbled after a little over 600 years. Yet, Heavenly Rankers could live over 500 years? Truly, qi refiners scarcely feared death.


    "Hierarch, what did you mean when you said you would lend me your assistance?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "There''s no need to question it," The Rain Hierarch said faintly, "You''ll know when the time is right. The information I''ve just provided is a rough guide to help youprehend the Land and Heavenly Rankings, and to provide you with a clear purpose."


    The Rain Hierarch said solemnly, "Remember, Wu Yuan, your goal should be the Heavenly Rankings!"


    "Disciple will keep that in mind," Wu Yuan replied seriously.


    "Elder Huan, I wish to speak to Wu Yuan alone, you may leave," The Rain Hierarch suddenly ordered.


    "Understood," Sect Elder Huan responded in a low voice. He understood that if the hierarch didnt want him present, it meant they were discussing something truly serious.


    ...


    Only Wu Yuan and The Rain Hierarch remained in the hall.


    "Wu Yuan," The Rain Hierarch began softly, "With your current strength, you should be able to challenge the third level of the Skystride Pavilion soon."


    "Perhaps, I have not attempted it yet," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Given the power he had demonstrated, his physical constitution fell slightly short of a first-rate Adept, though his overall strength was on par with one.


    However, the third level of the Skystride Pavilion was regarded as a benchmark for the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall. The sect''s predecessors had set the level of difficulty with little expectation that future generations of disciples would surpass it.


    Therefore, ording to Wu Yuan''s n, he would challenge the Skystride Pavilion''s third level only after turning eighteen.


    "Completing the third level of the Skystride Pavilion will not be easy. It takes time for your physical constitution to improve. It is also challenging to make significant martial skill advancements in a short time," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "Initially, I had intended to wait a few more years and subject you to further tests. Unfortunately, I can''t afford to wait any longer."


    "So, after the annualpetition next year, challenge the second level of the Skystride Pavilion," The Rain Hierarch dered, "After that, apply for a field trial."


    "Field trial?" Wu Yuan blinked in confusion.


    "Just follow my instructions," The Rain Hierarch assured him, "I have my reasons."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Turning over her palm, a book appeared out of thin air.


    "This book, ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'', is the sole qi consumption method our Cloudstride Sect has obtained." The Rain Hierarch gently caressed the book cover and said quietly, "Now, it''s yours."


    The book flew gracefully towards Wu Yuan, who instinctively reached out and caught it.


    The book cover was not made out of ordinary paper, but rather a very special material. Its unique texture and exceptional durability made it evident that it had been painstakingly created at great expense.


    "This is the original book," The Rain Hierarch stated calmly.


    "Original?" Wu Yuan was immediately taken aback.


    "There are two main variations of qi consumption methods: the first are those created by the Heavenly Rankers, and came into existence first," The Rain Hierarch said, "The second are those discovered by generations of martial arts experts from various immortal relics."


    "''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' was obtained by Ancestor Fang Xia from an immortal relic. Copies only retain the form, but not the spirit of the original! When reading the original book, you will feel the book guiding you through the process. This will make qi consumption much easier than merely reading the words," The Rain Hierarch said, "Even so, it is no easy feat."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. Such was the power of a sect. No matter how talented he was, he could hardly obtain such a treasure by himself.


    "Of course, you may not remove this book from the mountain." The Rain Hierarch said softly, "Once you have mastered the method, return the book to me."


    "Yes, Hierarch," Wu Yuan agreed obediently.


    "In addition," The Rain Hierarch dered, "I shall arrange for the sixteen Grandmasters Insights to be made avable to you at the library, free of charge. All contribution points will be waived."


    "Thank you, Hierarch," responded Wu Yuan gratefully. This unexpected gift would save him hundreds of thousands of contribution points.


    Of course, Wu Yuan understood that contribution points were merely a means of distributing sect resources among the disciples, a way to motivate them. However, restricting him with contribution points after witnessing his exceptional talent would contradict the sect''s original purpose of promoting cultivation among its disciples.


    "Alright, you may leave," The Rain Hierarch gestured with a wave of her hand, her expression slightly burdened as if a weighty thought had crossed her mind.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan cupped his hands, not asking further. He clutched the books to his chest and respectfully took his leave.


    Watching Wu Yuan depart, The Rain Hierarch rose and proceeded down the grand hall''s corridor, eventually reaching a side hall at the rear. Inside, rows of spirit tablets were on disy, surrounded by the constant burning of incense.


    Predecessors of the sect," The Rain Hierarch looked at the names on the spirit tablets, deep in thought. "The sect is in peril, Bu Yu beseeches your permission to take bold action."


    "Wu Yuan is still young and untested, I cannot be certain if he can be trusted with this responsibility. Yet, I am left with no other choice." With a gentle sigh, The Rain Hierarch lit three incense sticks, bowing three times before inserting them into the incense burners.

 Chapter 141: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (4)

    <h4>Chapter 141: Qi Refiners Scarcely Fear Death (4)</h4>


    Wu Yuan descended from the Cloud Hall and found Sect Elder Huan patiently awaiting him outside. They exchanged a few words before the sect elder dismissed him, allowing him to return to the Cloud Martial Hall.


    The sect elder was a man who knew the rules. When the Rain Hierarch didn''t invite him to listen in, he didn''t pry.


    Returning to his dwelling at the Cloud Martial Hall, Wu Yuan settled into a lotus position and fell into deep contemtion.


    <i>So it turns out, it was all because of spiritual qi. Perceive the enormity of heaven and earth and absorb its spiritual qi to strengthen one��s physical constitution. The Heavenly Rankers were qi refiners all along.</i>


    Qi refiners scarcely feared old age, easily living for hundreds of years.


    <i>From an ordinary human, to a martial artist, and then to Grandmaster, there''s no essential change.</i> <i>Only when advancing to the Heavenly Rankings does one truly transform, experiencing an evolution of life! </i>There was a hint of longing in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>And unbelievably, I��ve already met two of the three prerequisites to enter the Heavenly Rankings? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    It was simply inconceivable. The only condition hecked was physical constitution, but that could be easily fulfilled in time.


    <i>The Martial King defined the first-grade cultivation level as the possession of 200,000 catties of strength. I suspect this is the minimum requirement for entering the Heavenly Rankings.</i>


    Lackingplete information, all he could do was ponder and make conjectures.


    <i>But even though my soul and skill level have met the requirements for the Heavenly Rankings, I can''t afford to ck off.</i>


    Among the Heavenly Rankers, there were both the mighty and the meek. As The Rain Hierarch had mentioned, some Heavenly Rankers attained the Unity stage, achieving true Harmony of Man and Nature. There were even Heavenly Rankers who could wield their weapons with their minds alone, ying their enemies from great distances. Compared to these Heavenly Rankers, Wu Yuan was far behind.


    <i>My advantage is my physical constitution. When an ordinary Grandmaster enters the Heavenly Rankings, their physical constitution will probably just be over 200,000 catties. But after I reach the human limit, my physical constitution will eventually skyrocket to a truly astonishing degree.</i>


    Wu Yuan firmly believed that a strong body, advanced martial skills, and a powerful soul, were all products of umtion. Once he truly stepped into the Heavenly Rankings, he would be stronger than the average Heavenly Ranker.


    <i>The Hierarch wants me to challenge the second level of the Skystride Pavilion after the annualpetition, and also participate in a field trial?</i> A glimmer of confusion flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He hadn''t forgotten The Rain Hierarch''s words - she would stake her life to lend him her assistance. But cultivation was an individual endeavor. How could she assist him?


    <i>Could it be that The Rain Hierarch ns to venture into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm to seek treasures that can aid me?</i>


    The more he pondered, the more usible it seemed.


    <i>For now, I can only proceed one step at a time. I must strive for greater strength!</i>


    <i>The Sta Consortium ced me in the 180s on the Land Rankings. With my current strength, I wonder where I would stand.</i>


    A little over a month ago, the new rankings by the Sta Consortium were released. Wu Yuan still ranked first in the Jiang Continent Genius Rankings. At the same time, Shadow de was ranked 183rd in the Land Rankings out of fewer than 250 Land Rankers.


    Evidently, to the Sta Consortium, Shadow de''s overallbat power was among the lower rungs of the Land Rankings. The reason he was not the lowest was mainly due to his formidable endurance. Otherwise, if the Sta Consortium based the ranking solely on physical strength, then Wu Yuan would be at the bottom, as most Grandmasters were physically stronger than him.


    <i>Combining the two Grandmaster''s Insights I''ve read, the ''World Land Rankings'', and the exnation from The Rain Hierarch, Grandmasters can be roughly divided into four tiers. The weakest should be those Grandmasters whose skills have yet to reach the Harmony of Man and Nature. But they should be few in number.</i>


    The reason was simple. Unlike his previous life, it was extremely difficult to reach the human limit in the world of the Middle Land, and achieving a breakthrough in martial arts skills was even more difficult. It was almost impossible for one to be a Grandmaster at a very young age.


    Therefore, those who did be Grandmasters tended to possess high levels of martial skill, and a majority of them were at the Perception level of the Harmony of Man and Nature stage, such as Grandmaster Chen Luo.


    Above these two tiers were rtively strong Grandmasters. Their martial skills either reached the Integration stage, or they possessed a first-grade divine weapon, or both. Hence, their strength surpassed ordinary Grandmasters.


    Currently, there might only be 20-30 such Grandmasters throughout the world, and all had the qualifications topete for the title of Great Grandmaster. They were generally referred to as Peak Grandmasters.


    As for those in the top tier? A good example was Emperor Jin Cang, who was widely recognized as the top Land Ranker. His physical constitution was astonishing, with his single-armed punch surpassing 250,000 catties of force!


    He wielded multiple first-grade divine weapons, among which was the universally renowned Sword of Emperor Jin. He also reached a high level of martial skill, and most crucially, he cultivated immortal arts granted to him by Heavenly Rankers. He had virtually no weakness.


    <i>Immortal arts are, in essence, the art of manipting spiritual qi. However, Land Rankers can only consume qi but are unable to refine it. Therefore, employing such immortal artses with a massive cost and the chances of sessful cultivation are extremely low.</i>


    But once sessfully cultivated, the power gained would be immense.


    <i>At this moment,paring myself to Heavenly Rankers is futile. Even among the countless Land Rankers, I have yet to reach the pinnacle! I must continue my cultivation.</i>


    <i>The Rain Hierarch has allowed me to read the insights of sixteen Grandmasters for free, I can''t waste it. Reading is the umtion of wisdom.</i>


    <i>This book ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' teaches a method of qi consumption. I must also make time to cultivate it. </i>A flicker of anticipation crossed Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Previously, he wasn''t aware of qi consumption methods, yet he had managed to absorb the barely perceptible spiritual qi. Now that he obtained a cultivation method, how far would his cultivation go?


    ...


    After meeting the Rain Hierarch, Wu Yuan''s life resumed its routine. Each day, in addition to his usual body tempering and skill cultivation, he would visit the library to read the Grandmasters'' Insights. Every night, he set about practicing ''Majestic Earth and Oceans''.


    Wu Yuan had initially thought he would have no trouble mastering the qi consumption method. It was only after trying it firsthand that he understood what made ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' so powerful.


    <i>The key to this qi consumption method is perceiving every single acupoint with absolute rity. Only by circting qi and nurturing the body with qi, can one gradually absorb it. </i>


    Thankfully, his soul was sufficiently powerful, such that even without the qi consumption method, he could vaguely sense the existence of his acupoints. With a method to reference, sensing the cirction of qi through his acupoints only became easier.


    Time was of the essence.


    Autumn turned to winter. It was another cold year, and the annualpetition was approaching.


    <i>On the first floor of Wu Yuan''s courtyard house.</i>


    <i>I can finally perceive all 108 acupoints.</i> Wu Yuan''s consciousness coursed through the circuit of qi.


    <i>Boom!</i> An overwhelming surge of spiritual qi inundated his body.

 Chapter 142: The Foundation Of A Qi Refiner (1)

    <h4>Chapter 142: The Foundation Of A Qi Refiner (1)</h4>


    After meeting with The Rain Hierarch and reading almost all sixteen Grandmaster��s Insights of the sect, Wu Yuan''s understanding of spiritual qi had greatly expanded.


    He now knew that spiritual qi was present in practically all matter, but it was not an ordinary substance like air or water. It could only be detected by the soul and harnessed through the body. When the soul and body worked in tandem, spiritual qi could be absorbed.


    <i>The ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' method is truly worthy of being an heirloom of the Cloudstride Sect. Consuming qi through this method is much more efficient than forcibly absorbing qi.</i>


    At this moment, countless minuscule pores in Wu Yuan��s body were wide open, weing a massive influx of spiritual qi into his body through precisely 108 channels, flowing through the main meridians into the minor meridians, gradually permeating every part of his body.


    His muscles, tendons, flesh, and internal organs greedily consumed it like a parched riverbed, evolving, upgrading, and transforming.


    Apart from upgrading his physical constitution, the spiritual qi seemed to subtly enhance his genome, though only slightly. More importantly, it eliminated the scarce remaining impurities in his body.


    <i>The lower dantian lobe is where the essence resides. Its function is to strengthen the physique. The middle dantian lobe is where the qi sea is located. Its function is to enhance the body''s limit.</i>


    The Grandmasters of the Middle Land all possessed incredible physical constitutions. This was mainly due to them honing their martial skills to exceptional levels and unlocking their middle dantian lobes.


    Once the middle dantian lobe was unlocked, the body would unconsciously absorb spiritual qi, leading to monumental strides in strength.


    Many elderly martial artists were able to restore their youthful vitality by consuming qi, transforming their life essence, and stepping into the level of Grandmaster.


    For over half a year, Wu Yuan absorbed the spiritual qi. However, even afterpletely mastering ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'', he couldn''t shake off the feeling that the impact of spiritual qi on his genes and life essence remained minimal.


    <i>That��s right. </i>An epiphany dawned on Wu Yuan. <i>Compared to the genuine spiritual qi, the Ancient Immortal Dew contains far more energy. Though slightly inferior in terms of spirituality, it can still enhance the genome of many martial artists who consume it for the first time. But even before I started consuming qi, the Ancient Immortal Dew could only strengthen my physique.</i>


    <i>Long-term qi consumption can purify and even transform the bodies of ordinary martial artists and even Savant experts. That''s because they have never experienced a gic evolution.</i>


    <i>But I have the blood-red mist, which has almost miraculous effects on gic evolutionpared to the spiritual qi. My genome has already evolved to perfection.</i>


    As far as Wu Yuan was concerned, consuming qi could not fundamentally evolve his DNA.


    <i>It��s more like an upgraded version of the Ancient Immortal Dew. Yet, even though I''ve mastered the ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'', greatly increasing my speed of qi consumption, directly consuming the Ancient Immortal Dew is still quicker.</i>


    Wu Yuan estimated that if he didn''t stop to rest and kept consuming qi all night, the amount of energy absorbed would roughly equate to two or three drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, a paltry sum. After all, whenever Wu Yuan tempered his body, he could easily consume dozens of drops of Ancient Immortal Dew in a day or two.


    <i>However, Ancient Immortal Dew is expensive and is limited in quantity. Meanwhile, spiritual qi originates from the world itself, boundless and inexhaustible.</i>


    <i>Furthermore, this is just the beginning. The main reason why my current consumption rate is slow is that my meridian cirction system is not yet fully connected, and the acupoints have not been fully awakened. </i>


    Wu Yuan felt the spiritual qi pass through the 108 channels. Why were there 108 channels? This was because the human body''s meridian system contained 108 primary acupoints.


    Each primary acupoint served as a gateway for the entry of spiritual qi into the body. These acupoints were mysteriously connected in aplete meridian system, ultimately converging in the middle dantian lobe.


    <i>No wonder The Rain Hierarch mentioned that many Savant experts spend one to two decades struggling to refine qi. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    It was indeed a daunting task. To refine qi, one��s soul had to be strong enough to sense all 108 acupoints throughout the body.


    Only by sensing theplete meridian system could one guide the spiritual qi through each meridian, while preventing it from running amok and damaging the body.


    With Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, he could clearly sense his middle dantian lobe, yet it took a long time for him to sense all 108 acupoints in his body.


    From his estimates, any other Savant expert would take at least ten to twenty years of hard work. And the prerequisite was that their soul was powerful enough to begin with. Otherwise, even if they practiced the ��Majestic Earth and Oceans�� for a hundred years, they might still not seed.


    As Wu Yuan focused carefully, he realized that there were many other benefits of consuming qi.


    <i>Once qi flows through the meridians, the spiritual energy nourishes the middle dantian lobe and acupoints, and continuously widens the meridians.</i>


    It was simr to how martial artists tempered their musculoskeletal system. Muscles and bones determined the strength of a martial artist.


    <i>The ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' states that the middle dantian lobe, 108 acupoints, and the meridian system form the foundation of a qi refiner, just like a martial artist''s musculoskeletal system. The stronger the qi sea, acupoints, and meridians, the more qi can be stored, and the faster the spiritual energy can be absorbed, </i>ultimately increasing one��s strength.


    Nourishing the body via the consumption of qi was the goal of martial artists. Qi refiners were those who could utilize qi as an energy source.


    <i>The blood-red mist can evolve my genome, but it can only influence the body, unable to directly strengthen the middle dantian lobe, acupoints, and meridians.</i>


    <i>As for Ancient Immortal Dew? It contains immense quantities of energy, but I can only ingest it into my stomach, unable to directly deliver the energy to the qi sea in my dantian. It can only be used to strengthen the body. In the end, I must still rely on qi consumption.</i>


    During the consumption of qi, spiritual qi entered the meridians via the mysterious acupoint passages.


    <i>Consume qi to nurture the qi sea, nourish the acupoints, and expand the meridians.</i> Wu Yuan fullyprehended the purpose of qi consumption.


    In doing so, he wasying the groundwork to be a qi refiner in the future.


    <i>ording to ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'', Grandmasters who enter the Heavenly Rankings typically first open their middle dantian lobes, then progressively expand their meridians and open their acupoints. </i>


    <i>I haven''t reached the human body limit, hence although I can perceive the middle dantian lobe, I can''t unlock it.</i>


    A person��s essence resided in the lower dantian lobe. The lower dantian lobe had to be nurtured to its limit in order to open the middle dantian lobe. And the so-called limit was the limit of the human body.


    <i>The principles are interconnected. Now through consuming qi, my middle dantian lobe, acupoints, and meridians are continuously strengthened.</i>


    <i>When I truly open my middle dantian lobe in the future and be a qi refiner, my strength will be unimaginable.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s eyes shone with ambition.


    Most Grandmasters possessed physical strength around 200,000 catties, yet an elite few could surpass 250,000 catties. The gap in strength was massive.


    Simrly, for the experts who just stepped into the Heavenly Rankings, how could those with strong foundations and weak foundations have the same strength?


    <i>But theoretically, only Heavenly Rankers should be able to refine qi. How long has it been since the Human Federation revived the martial arts? How did they deduce the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique? </i>


    Wu Yuan suddenly remembered the three ultimate cultivation methods of the Human Federation.


    There wasn��t much left to say about the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique and the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique. Wu Yuan had personally experienced their effects, and they were indeed extraordinary. It was only the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique that he had yet to cultivate.


    After all, in his previous life, he was only able to perceive his middle dantian lobe. As for the acupoints? He couldn��t even sense a single one back then, how could he possibly cultivate the technique?


    Yet, the moment Wu Yuan grasped the ��Majestic Earth and Oceans�� and sensed his meridian system, he was stunned to find that it perfectly aligned with the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique.


    This meant that the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique was not merely a rough spection, but a summary based on vast amounts of data.


    Moreover, it implied that if Wu Yuan entered Heavenly Rankings in the future, he could attempt to cultivate the Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique.


    <i>Were there also Heavenly Rankers in the Human Federation? Or is the technique rted to the ancient relics where the ck pagoda was located? Could there be resources on qi absorption and refining there?</i>


    The more he thought, the more Wu Yuan felt there were great secrets behind the Blue and ck pagoda.


    The ancient civilization relics where the ck pagoda was located depicted a group of powerful beings that roamed the skies and thend. Could they have been qi refiners? Was there a flourishing cultivation civilization during the ancient era of the Blue?


    Naturally, these were just Wu Yuan��s random guesses. He had no way to confirm them, and he didn''t wish to delve too deeply into them either.


    Two hourster, Wu Yuan concluded his cultivation session.


    <i>No more spiritual qi is entering my body.</i>


    Just as one had a limit to how much food they could eat, the same went for qi absorption.


    <i>On one hand, I need to continue tempering my body and keep driving my body��s gic evolution with the blood-red mist.</i>


    <i>On the other hand, I must continue consuming qi, pushing my meridians and acupoints to the limit every day to build the strongest foundation for qi refining.</i>


    <i>Then, there is the matter of honing my skills.</i> The thought caused Wu Yuan''s brow to furrow.


    He had traversed numerous rivers and mountains, achieving the pinnacle of the second level of Environmental Mastery. He sought a breakthrough to the next level but to no avail.


    <i>ording to the insights of Grandmasters Fang Xia, Yun Shan, and Hong He, Integration is to fully merge one��s body with the world, while Unity is to merge one��s soul with the world, sensing its power and harnessing it for one��s own use.</i>


    Man''s existence is finite, but the world is boundless.


    Yet, achieving it was easier said than done. Not one of the Grandmaster��s Insights was able to fully expound the concept of Harmony of Man and Nature.


    Why? Because even when Grandmaster Fang Xia wrote his insights, he had not reached the Unity level! The only relevant information on the topic was either their own conjectures, advice sought from Heavenly Rankers, or snippets of information gleaned from immortal relics.


    Want to reach the Unity level? Even some Heavenly Rankers had yet to aplish it.


    <i>It''s more practical to focus on strengthening the soul.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Out of nowhere, an apple flew into his hand. He controlled the object with Soul Force, manipting it to fly towards him.


    <i>In the past six months, my soul has grown significantly stronger, and my proficiency in telekinesis has also improved.</i> A glint of anticipation shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>With continued Visualization and greater strength, my stealth weapon, the throwing knife, will truly undergo a transformation.</i>


    The prospect of a throwing knife that could change direction, even within small margins, was incredibly frightening!

 Chapter 143: The Foundation Of A Qi Refiner (2)

    <h4>Chapter 143: The Foundation Of A Qi Refiner (2)</h4>


    Days flew by.


    Wu Yuan spent his time immersed in cultivation within his private courtyard house. Unlike most disciples of the martial academy, he never joined others for meals.


    Most disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall were extremely diligent, especially the disciples of the senior academy. There were almost nozy bones. However, humans were not machines, they needed to rest and rx. It was rare to see anyone as outright obsessed as Wu Yuan.


    His way of unwinding from cultivation? It was to read in the library, to meditate in various special cultivation environments in Cloudhill, pondering the mystery of Unity.


    Because of this, almost all disciples in the Cloud Martial Hall couldn��t help but admit that Wu Yuan was simply superior to them. He had such exaggerated talent, yet still cultivated so rigorously?


    Soon, it was time for the annualpetition of the Cloud Martial Hall. The first snow had arrived, but the weather was still pleasant on Cloudhill.


    "Senior Brother Wu!"


    "Senior Brother." Early in the morning, two disciples of the martial academy arrived outside Wu Yuan''s courtyard house, both looking quite excited.


    <i>ng~</i> The door opened.


    "Jiushan, Longhe, up so early?" Wu Yuan stepped out, a smile lighting up his face as he greeted the two figures in the distance. The two were both robust young men, one slightly older than the other.


    One was called Fang Jiushan, a member of the Fang family and a disciple of the martial academy. More than two years ago, Wu Yuan rejected the Fang family''s marriage proposal, but the Fang family did not give up, and this Fang Jiushan quickly became Wu Yuan''s number one fan in the martial academy. Despite being older than Wu Yuan, Fang Jiushan still addressed him as ��Senior Brother�� without hesitation.


    The other, Wu Longhe, had only enrolled in the Cloud Martial Hall a year ago. He was the most outstanding talent of the Southdream Wu n in this generation after Wu Yuan. He did not hail from Cloudhill City, but from another branch. Naturally, as soon as he entered the martial academy, he immediately reached out to Wu Yuan.


    Being part of the Wu n himself, Wu Yuan naturally did not reject his friendship. Moreover, after some observation, he felt Wu Long��s personality was decent and asionally gave him some guidance. The Wu n needed talent to stand firmly on Cloudhill.


    ��Let them in,�� Wu Yuan chuckled, and the servant at the door finally admitted the two of them.


    "Senior Brother, why did you wake up sote? All of us junior academy disciples have been waiting." Fang Jiushan''s eyes sparkled with anticipation.


    "Waiting for what?" Wu Yuanughed.


    "Senior Brother, today is the day of the annualpetition and the highly anticipated major tournament," Wu Longhe''s voice trembled with excitement. "Rumor has it that this year, you will challenge the ten Cloud Heirs!"


    "The ten Cloud Heirs?" Wu Yuan smiled wryly.


    "Senior Brother, which rank are you aiming for this time?" Fang Jiushan excitedly asked, "Are you challenging the eighth or ninth first, or going straight for the top five?"


    "The top five? Seems a bit difficult," Wu Long hesitated slightly.


    Having just entered the Cloud Martial Hall, he had yet to witness Wu Yuan in battle. Meanwhile, he had seen several of the top-ranking Cloud Heirs in action, and their prowess had left a deep impression on him.


    "Longhe, you didn''t witness Senior Brother''s overwhelming victory in the junior academyst year." Fang Jiushan said earnestly. "Another year has passed, and Senior Brother''s strength must have grown once more. I believe he might even secure a ce in the top three."


    "Top three?" Wu Long was taken aback.


    "Alright, that��s enough guessing. We��ll know the oue once we get there," Wu Yuanughed, skirting a direct answer.


    The annualpetition?


    <i>I''ve turned seventeen this year, this should be my final year in the Cloud Martial Hall.</i>


    He had no intention of staying in the Cloud Martial Hall forever. ording to Wu Yuan''s n, once his golden developmental stage ended, he would leave Cloudhill to venture through the various continents of the world.


    The Middle Land was vast, epassing thirteen continents. Beyond that, there were three overseas continents and countless inds. Once he had made some progress in his cultivation, he nned to see these sights. Why would Wu Yuan confine himself to the tiny Cloudhill?


    <i>Moreover, as per The Rain Hierarch''s instructions, I''ll go challenge level two of the Skystride Pavilion after this year''spetition.</i>


    <i>Since that��s the case, let''s show some real strength this year, rounding off my cultivation career as a disciple of Cloud Martial Hall with a perfect finale.</i>


    Soon, the trio reached thergest training ground of the martial academy. Here, dozens of stages had already been set up and most of the 800 plus disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall had already arrived.


    As Wu Yuan''s group made their entrance, heads turned, and the training ground buzzed with excitement.


    "Senior Brother Wu is here!��


    "Senior Brother!"


    "Senior Brother." Many disciples revealed expressions of excitement and adoration. In terms of fame and prestige, Wu Yuan''s standing within the martial academy was extremely high.


    ...


    On one side of the training ground, three young men observed the scene, shaking their heads in resignation.


    "Although we are the top three Cloud Heirs, our junior brothers and sisters certainly didn''t greet us with such fervor when we arrived," a young man with a red birthmark on his face remarked helplessly. "What��s so great about being a Cloud Heir?"


    Another young man in blue robes shook his head, jokingly saying, "Senior Brother Xu suppressed us in our early years. We thought we could finally breathe easy once he left, but now we have this Junior Brother Wu."


    "Junior Brother Wu is indeed unimaginably talented, and practices extremely diligently," the young man in ck robes on the far right said softly. "In due time, he will be even stronger than Senior Brother Xu!"


    "But he''s been in the martial academy for less than three years! Are we really going to allow ourselves to be bested by him this year?" The young man in ck robes asked solemnly. "If we are to lose, it should at least wait until next year."


    "Indeed." The young man with a red birthmark and the young man in blue robes both nodded, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.


    The three of them were currently the top three Cloud Heirs of the senior academy and shared a close bond. They didn��t envy Wu Yuan, understanding that their future achievements were iparable to his. But as Cloud Heirs, they all had their pride, and were unwilling to concede defeat.


    ...


    <i>Bang~</i> The final blow descended like a bolt of lightning.


    The spear wielded by the youth with the red birthmark was knocked out of his grasp. In an instant, the opponent''s staff connected with his body, sending him flying off the tform!


    "Senior Brother Ju, thank you for going easy on me." Wu Yuan smiled politely with his hands cupped in respect.


    ...


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang!</i> After several rapid exchanges, Wu Yuan swiftly pivoted and delivered a strike. His staff transformed into a spear, erupting with raw power as it connected with the chest of the young man in blue robes, propelling him through the air.


    "Senior Brother Yu, victory is mine," Wu Yuan beamed.


    "From today onward, you''re my Senior Brother," the youth in blue robes reluctantly conceded.


    The gap was simply too immense, Wu Yuan��s strength was overpowering, leaving him with no room to counterattack. He was led by the nose the whole way, and in the end, he was sent flying by a reverse spear strike. The two were onpletely different levels.


    "Senior Brother Wu!"


    "Great Senior Brother!"


    "He��s aiming for the number one Cloud Heir spot!" The training ground grew rowdy with the exmations of hundreds of disciples. The deafening shouts echoed in all directions, especially from Fang Jiushan and Wu Longle.


    Such dominance!


    Once Wu Yuan stepped onto the tform, he scored neen consecutive wins, sweeping the junior academy. This was within everyone''s expectations and did not cause much of a stir.


    Following that, Wu Yuan, the number one in the junior academy, directly challenged the top ten Cloud Heirs of the senior academy.


    He first challenged the tenth. At that time, the tenth Cloud Heir''s face turned green. He thought that even if Wu Yuan wanted to challenge someone, he would directly challenge the top five. Unexpectedly, Wu Yuan chose him, the seemingly easy target.


    But soon, this Cloud Heir understood that he was wrong, Wu Yuan wasn��t going after easy prey. Instead, he was targeting everyone!


    Tenth! Ninth! Eighth!... Wu Yuan challenged them one by one. Not a single Cloud Heir could withstand more than ten moves from him. Facing Wu Yuan, the ten Cloud Heirs were as helpless as ordinary junior academy disciples in the Cloud Martial Hall.


    As he fought his way up to the second Cloud Heir. The entire Cloud Martial Hall bubbled over with excitement. Regardless of whether they were senior academy disciples or junior academy disciples, everyone felt their hearts conquered by Wu Yuan��s might.


    Soon, it was the final battle.


    On the dueling tform, under the gaze of nearly 1000 pairs of eyes, a young man in ck robes stared intently at Wu Yuan, gripping a sword tightly.


    ��Wu Yuan,�� he spoke in a low voice, ��I know I��m no match for you. But I hope you can use your full strength to defeat me.��


    ��Full strength?�� An odd look shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes, then he chuckled. ��Alright, Senior Brother Tang, I''ll grant your request.��


    <i>Boom!</i> Under the keen observation of the audience, the two crossed paths. The ck-robed youth was sted off the tform by a casual swing of Wu Yuan''s staff andnded t on his bottom.


    Wu Yuan won in one move.


    "Senior Brother Tang, this is my full strength. I hope I didn''t disappoint you." Wu Yuan grinned, "Thanks for going easy on me."


    Wu Yuan then leaped off the stage, ignoring the screams and cheers of the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall.


    As for the young man in ck? Not many people were paying attention to him anymore.


    He sat on the ground, dazed for a long time, with nothing in his mind but that one staff strike. No matter how hard he thought and pondered, there was only one conclusion: guaranteed defeat! No matter how one tried to hide, defeat was inevitable in the face of that staff swing.


    <i>Damn, what level has Wu Yuan reached?</i> The ck-robed youth sighed inwardly.


    He felt that the profoundness of that single staff swing might be worth pursuing for a lifetime.


    Suddenly, his expression changed again.


    <i>Among the Ten Cloud Heirs, I am probably the only one defeated in a single move.</i> The ck-robed youth revealed a bitter smile.


    He didn��t just lose face, he even asked for this humiliation himself.


    ...


    Only two hourster, another piece of news quickly spread through the Cloud Martial Hall. The new Great Senior Brother of the Cloud Martial Hall, Wu Yuan, passed the second level of the Skystride Pavilion, once again breaking the record set by Grandmaster Fang Xia.


    The news that Cloudstride��s Wu Yuan possessed the strength of a first-rate Adept at seventeen spread like a hurricane from Cloudhill, and could not be contained.


    It wasn��t just the entire Cloudstride Sect that was shaken. All factions who had been paying attention to Wu Yuan were also shocked.


    ...


    Situated in the far west corner of the Jiang Continent was the Jinyang Province.


    The city of Jinyang was the western gateway of the Jiang Continent. It bordered the Chu and Yuan Continents, and served as the Great Jin Empire''s main base forunching attacks on the Jiang Continent.


    Within a super mansion situated in the east of the city, a purple-robed elderly man, around 60 years of age, wore a look of utter shock upon seeing the unexpected visitor before him. "East King, what brings you here?" he asked.


    "If I hadn��te, I''m afraid the three of you wouldn��t do a thing even as the Cloudstride Sect produces another Great Grandmaster." East King Jin Jiu, dressed in his usual attire, spoke in a cold voice.


    The purple-robed elderly man��s face froze.


    "Cloudstride��s Wu Yuan. His power grows stronger by the day. At only seventeen years old, he already possesses the strength of a first-rate Adept." East King Jin Jiu fixed his gaze on the purple-robed elderly man. "You, Chen Luo, and Lu Jiangyin, are the three of you just going to sit back and do nothing?"

 Chapter 144: Assassination (1)

    <h4>Chapter 144: Assassination (1)</h4>


    The elderly man d in purple robes maintained an outwardly respectful demeanor, yet his proud spirit could not be concealed. These words struck a nerve within him,pelling him to retort, "Your Highness, do you truly believe that we have been idle? We simplyck the opportunity to strike."


    "That Wu Yuan hardly ever leaves Cloudhill. And when he does, he remains in the eastern district of Cloudhill City. You are well aware of the defenses in that region. It��s challenging for us to gather urate intelligence," the purple-robed elderly man exined, his voice tinged with frustration. "As for Cloudhill itself? We have attempted numerous probes, dispatching agents, and even bribing the guards. Yet, all traces vanished into thin air."


    "For over a year, the majority of our resources within the Cloudstride Sect��s territory have been dedicated to searching for traces of Shadow de, leaving us with inadequate means to deal with Wu Yuan," the elderly man rebutted defensively.


    East King Jin Jiu fixed his gaze on him, understanding that amidst the man''s justifications, therey undeniable truths. The resources they could mobilize were insufficient, and the Cloudstride Sect guarded Wu Yuan fiercely.


    "Wang Huang, what I want is not an exnation, but results." East King Jin Jiu stated with indifference. "ording to thetest intelligence, Wu Yuan has risen to the top of his generation in the Cloud Martial Hall, andpleted the second level of the Skystride Pavilion in Cloudhill. He''s likely to possess the strength of a first-rate Adept."


    Hearing this, the elderly man in purple robes sighed inwardly. Although this information had yet to be widely disseminated, the higher echelons of various factions and powers already caught wind of it. How could he be unaware? And yet, what could he do about it?


    Suddenly, a sonorous voice called out from afar. "Your Highness."


    An instantter, a figure d in blue robes entered the hall. He was lean, almost two meters tall, with an extraordinary demeanor. His eyes were spirited, and he showed no fear even in front of East King Jin Jiu, one of the top twelve in the Land Rankings.


    "Big Brother," the man in blue robes greeted.


    "Lu Jiangyin." East King Jin Jiu''s brows furrowed slightly.


    Anyone with even a superficial knowledge of the Jiang Continent would immediately recognize the identities of the three men upon hearing their titles. Officially, the four provinces of the Jiang Continent under the jurisdiction of the Great Jin Empire were governed by the Twelfth Prince. But in reality, everyone knew that the real people in charge were the three Land Rankers - Chen Luo, Lu Jiangyin, and Wang Huang.


    Among the three Grandmasters, Chen Luo was the strongest, while Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang were as close as brothers, despite not being rted by blood. The two sides checked and bnced each other, a typical strategy of the Great Jin Empire.


    "Forgive me for failing to wee Your Highness upon your arrival," Lu Jiangyin bowed slightly and cupped his hands.


    East King Jin Jiu''s face softened a bit. He was well aware that the two men before him were both Grandmasters, two sharp weapons that paved the way for the empire''s eastward advancement. Punishing them was out of the question, for all Grandmasters had their pride and dignity. Even when Grandmaster Chen Luo failed to protect the ninth prince, leading to his charge''s demise, he was merely demoted in rank.


    "Duke Lu," East King Jin Jiu spoke softly, "these past years, whether it be Shadow de, Wu Yuan, or Xu Hui, you have failed to eliminate these threats. I believe an exnation is in order."


    "We have not fulfilled our duties adequately," Lu Jiangyin replied in a subdued tone. "We have caused worry for Your Highness and our ipetency prompted you to make the journey to the Jiang Continent."


    Unlike the elder in purple robes, Wang Huang, Lu Jiangyin did not attempt to offer any excuses. East King Jin Jiu, their direct superior, hade all the way to the Jiang Continent to personally question them. This clearly meant that he was unsatisfied with their performance. Did the reality of the situation matter? Absolutely. However, what mattered even more was acknowledging one��s error. Attitude was crucial.


    East King Jin Jiu nodded, stating calmly. "I understand that you are facingplex challenges and that your resources are stretched thin. I do not me you for that. Nevertheless, the situation has reached a critical point and must be resolved as soon as possible. Do you have a n in mind?"


    Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang exchanged nces.


    "Brother, how about you present your proposal to the East King?" Lu Jiangyin suggested, knowing that his younger brother had recently angered the East King. This was an opportunity for him to make amends and mend their rtionship.


    Wang Huang was straightforward but not foolish. He understood that his elder brother was offering him an opportunity. "Your Highness, we have developed two proposals and were just about to report them when you showed up."


    "Let''s hear it," East King Jin Jiu said impassively.


    "The first proposal is to issue a bounty," began the purple-robed Wang Huang, "and have the Pleiades Guild, Ninedeaths Circle, and other powerful factions deal with..."


    "No," East King Jin Jiu immediately interjected, vetoing the idea.


    "Savant experts might have a chance at killing Wu Yuan, but the risk is extremely high, and not many are willing to take it," East King Jin Jiu stated indifferently. "Wu Yuan''s bounty has been open for a long time, yet no one has seeded. As for employing Grandmasters? Mobilizing the Grandmasters of the Pleiades Guild and Ninedeaths Circle woulde at an extremely high cost."


    Both Wang Huang and Lu Jiangyin nodded in agreement.


    To kill a Shadow de, Great Jin was willing to offer 100 million silver taels and a set of immortal arts. But to kill Wu Yuan? On one hand, the talent he had disyed so far wasn''t too earth-shattering, and on the other, he was still weak. This meant that more cost-effective arrangements could be made.


    Above all, there existed an unspoken agreement that was upheld universally - Land Rankers would not easily strike at those below the level of Grandmaster. To a Grandmaster, an army of a million soldiers meant nothing to them. If they were to thoughtlessly assassinate whomever they wished, how many geniuses would the world lose?


    "What''s the second proposal?" inquired East King Jin Jiu.


    "Our intelligence reveals that Wu Yuan returns home from the mountain every New Year," Wang Huang reported. "Though Cloudhill Province is well fortified, it wouldn''t be difficult for experts near the top of the Human Rankings to infiltrate it. Judging by the date, Wu Yuan will soon descend from the mountain."


    "The n is for several Savant experts to infiltrate Cloudhill Province together and assassinate him," dered Wang Huang with solemnity. "After the initial wave, the assassins will immediately retreat, regardless of the oue."


    The n seemed straightforward, but in reality, this was the norm. Genuine conspiracies rarely entailed numerous twists and turns. After all, human nature was unpredictable. So-called ��foolproof strategies�� and ��ingenious ns�� were mostly the creations of the literati''s imagination. The favored approach of the wise was to crush their foes with absolute power.


    "Hmm, assassinating him in Cloudhill Province would be much easier than on Cloudhill itself," murmured East King Jin Jiu. "However, just sending a few Savant experts might not guarantee sess. They may even potentially end up trapped."


    "Wang Huang, since you devised this proposal, you are the most suitable candidate. Why don''t you undertake this mission?" suggested East King Jin Jiu nonchntly.


    "Me?" Wang Huang''s eyes contracted. He couldn''t help but nce at his elder brother.


    "Your Highness East King," Lu Jiangyin frowned, "If a Grandmaster were to act, Wu Yuan would certainly have no chance. However, Bu Yu and Huan Jian might lose their minds."


    Once the delicate equilibrium was disrupted, the consequences were unpredictable.


    "I''m rather hoping that Bu Yu will storm Jinyang City in a fit of rage," East King Jin Jiu chuckled. "In theing period, I will be holding fort in Jinyang, there''s no need for you to worry."


    "Bu Yu is nearing 100 years old, and Huan Jian is self-centered. The only potential threat to us is Wu Yuan," East King Jin Jiu uttered slowly, "He cannot be allowed to survive. He must be eradicated before the Battle of Jiang breaks out."


    "Otherwise, when the great conflict erupts, Wu Yuan will most likely escape from Cloudhill, disappear for a decade or two, and then return as a Grandmaster, perhaps even a Great Grandmaster. By then, it will be exceedingly difficult to eliminate him," East King Jin Jiu stated.


    Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang were taken aback.


    A Great Grandmaster? Among the general public, Great Grandmasters referred to the top ten individuals in the Land Rankings. However, among Land Rankers, it was those who reached the level of Peak Grandmaster that were referred to as Great Grandmasters.


    Only 20-30 individuals in the world possessed the power of a Great Grandmaster. Across the vast Jiang Continent, there were merely two Great Grandmasters. One was the leader of Cloudstride Sect, Grandmaster Yu, and the other was Chu Ping from the Baijiang Kingdom. With these two around, it was difficult for Great Jin to conquer the Jiang Continent. This demonstrated the immense deterrence that a Great Grandmaster posed to enemy nations.


    "The Battle of Jiang? What is that?" Lu Jiangyin inquired.


    "There is no harm in telling you in advance. After all, by May at thetest, you will be notified tomence preparations," East King Jin Jiu stated slowly. "His Majesty has informed me that this October, the 7th, 8th, and 9th divisions of the Jin Holy Army will set off for the Chu Continent. By the beginning of next year, they will set up camp in Jinyang!"


    Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang were both astounded.


    The Jin Holy Army was the greatest elite force of Great Jin, the imperial army. It was divided into nine divisions, totaling a staggering 90,000 soldiers.


    It might not sound like much, but every soldier in the Jin Holy Army was an Adept, forming the most elite and powerful force in the world. Each divisionmander was a Grandmaster, and just three divisions could stand against an army of a million.


    "In November of this year, the north king will lead 100,000 Iron Cavalry from the Yuan Continent into battle. Next March, 60,000 naval forces from the Min Continent will move northward, merging with 60,000 from the Chu Continent, forming a total of 120,000 naval forces. They will infiltrate the Jiang Continent via the river," East King Jin Jiu stated.


    ��Once the armies converge and the Grandmasters gather, we n tounch the Battle of Jiang before June next year. Following the Cloud River, we will strike directly at Cloudhill City, then onto Ninecaves City,pletely conquering the East River. Wu Chenggong will act as the suprememander during the war!"


    Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang now fully understood. A decade after the Battle of Hillstride, the empire was about to incite another great war!


    The north king of Great Jin was a Great Grandmaster, a cornerstone of the royal familyparable to the east king. Even the weakest soldiers within the 100,000-strong Iron Cavalry from the Yuan Continent were martial virtuosos. Of the 120,000 naval soldiers serving as Great Jin''s force in the Chu and Min Continents, more than half were martial virtuosos. The Eastward Expedition Army, stationed within the Jiang Continent, ounted for a total of 80,000 soldiers. This led to a total of 300,000 elite soldiers. Combined with the 30,000 soldiersprising the Jin Holy Army, this colossal force was entirely capable of decimating entire nations.


    Even if the Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang Kingdom joined forces, they would stand no chance against such an army. Moreover, once the multiple armies converged, the number of Grandmasters alone already exceeded ten. Most notably, the suprememander of the army was not the east king or the north king, but - Wu Chenggong!


    Four decades prior, heid waste to Chu-Jiang. Three decades prior, he conquered three nations of the Nan Continent. Fifteen years ago, 80,000 Iron Cavalry trampled the Xi Continent on an expedition of 16,000 li, forced the Xi Continent to submit, and triumphantly returned, putting an end to 200 years of conflict at the western border of Great Jin.


    He was the universally acimed number one general and the war deity of Great Jin! A first-ss duke of Great Jin, who could enter the pce without disarming, meet the king without bowing, and the epitome of a true subject. In terms of martial prowess, ranked second in the Land Rankings! Titled a duke, but in reality, a king! Forget the north king and east king, even Emperor Jin would rise and respectfully address him as ��General��.


    "Is it really Wu Chenggong?" Lu Jiangyin uttered in disbelief, his voice still tinged with shock.


    "Of course," replied the East King Jin Jiu with an air of indifference. "This information is strictly confidential and must not be divulged. All you need to know is that the Battle of Jiang will be a make-or-break moment for the empire. Once we stabilize the Jiang Continent under Great Jin''s rule, the unification of the Central ins will be halfwayplete."


    Jin Jiu''s voice grew grave as he continued, "If we lose this battle... we won''t be able to speak of war for another three decades. So, don''t worry about what the Cloudstride Sect might think. What you must do is eliminate any potential threats within the Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang Kingdom before the great battle.��


    "Understood," Lu Jiangyin and Wang Huang responded in unison.

 Chapter 145: Assassination (2)

    <h4>Chapter 145: Assassination (2)</h4>


    "Wang Huang." Jin Jiu turned to the man in purple robes, speaking solemnly, "If you sessfully kill Wu Yuan, I will request His Majesty to grant you a reward of 30 million merits."


    Only by making big promises could one motivate their subordinates to give their all.


    "30 million merits?" The elderly man''s eyes lit up.


    They didn��t serve Great Jin out of loyalty, benefits were always the top priority. A set of immortal arts could be redeemed for 100 million merits, while a drop of Ancient Immortal Dew was worth 60,000 merits. One could only imagine how generous such a reward was.


    Jin Jiu spoke in a quiet voice, "Once everything is in ce, execute the n as soon as possible. I need to make my way to Hillstride City to meet with Chen Luo."


    Soon after, East King Jin Jiu departed, leaving behind the two Grandmasters.


    "Are you really nning to go, Second Brother?" Grandmaster Lu Jiangyin furrowed his brow in concern.


    "Big brother, this is worth 30 million merits." Wang Huang eximed with excitement. "Once Iplete this task, I''ll be one step closer to obtaining a set of immortal arts."


    "Second brother, you need to calm down," Grandmaster Lu Jiangyin advised, shaking his head. "As incredible as the immortal arts are, they won''t be of any use if you lose your life. The fact that you''ve killed Wu Yuan will eventually be revealed."


    "Wu Yuan is the Cloudstride Sect''s hope. Anyone who dares to extinguish that hope is dering an evesting feud with the Cloudstride Sect. Whoever takes on this task will be the top target of Bu Yu and Huan Jian," Grandmaster Lu Jiangyin exined. "Otherwise, why do you think no one dares to take on the mission?" He clearly understood the crux of the situation.


    "In the uing war to conquer the Jiang Continent, we will have to face them sooner orter," Wang Huang argued. "Big Brother, surely there''s no need to worry, right?"


    "Humph! The Cloudstride Sect has stood strong on the Jiang Continent for hundreds of years. The means at their disposal are unfathomable. Even before we discuss anything else, if Bu Yu refuses to let you off, are you willing to risk your life fighting her to the death?" Lu Jiangyin snorted coldly. "That Jin Jiu tells us not to worry while he''s stationed in Jinyang? Ha! If there''s truly no danger, why doesn''t he go himself?"


    Wang Huang��s excitement began to wear off as his head cleared. "Big Brother, what should I do?" he asked.


    "Great Jin''s momentum of unifying the world is unstoppable. We seek glory, so we naturally follow the strongest. Let others gnaw on the hard bones." Lu Jiangyin began, "Jin Jiu specifically called for your participation, so you can''t refuse to go."


    Wang Huang nodded.


    "Don''t rush to attack Wu Yuan. You lead the team and take a few Savant experts with you for the assassination." Lu Jiangyin lowered his voice, "If sessful, you''ll simply be reaping free merits. At that time, we will make a grand show, publicizing that it was those few Savant experts who killed Wu Yuan, so as to avoid provoking the Cloudstride Sect''s anger."


    "If the assassination fails, don''t bother about those few Savant experts, go locate Xu Hui right away," Lu Jiangyinughed, "He is also a threat. Killing him will not drive the two old fellows of the Cloudstride Sect mad, but it is enough to satisfy Jin Jiu."


    Wang Huang''s eyes lit up, "Big Brother is wise."


    ...


    After Wu Yuan swept through the disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall with his nearly invincible might during the annualpetition, and thenpleted the second level of the Skystride Pavilion, his reputation in the Cloud Martial Hall soared to unprecedented heights. The strength he disyed,parable to a first-rate Adept, also shocked the entire sect.


    Soon there were calls to promote Wu Yuan from a Cloud Heir to a Heavens Heir. Savant experts and first-rate Adepts from the Finance Hall and even the Instruction Hall put forth their appeals, however, all were suppressed by the Hierarchs.


    News of Wu Yuan''s meteoric rise spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves through the various factions and setting undercurrents in motion. Yet, amid the chorus of admiration and incredulity, Wu Yuan remained unfazed. He continued his disciplined training without a hitch.


    More than ten days after the conclusion of the annualpetition, Wu Yuan finally made his way to the Finance Hall to meet Sect Elder Huan.


    "Sect Elder, I would like to discuss two matters with you," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Firstly, I wish to partake in a field trial."


    Disciples from the Cloud Martial Hall, especially those from the senior academy, were often assigned a variety of field trials by the sect. The purpose of training disciples was not to coddle them like flowers in a greenhouse, but to strengthen them forbat and warfare. Without experiencing life-and-death situations or weathering storms, even a disciple with a strong physique and high skill level might only be able to utilize 30% - 50% of their potential.


    "A field trial?" Sect Elder Huan furrowed his brow momentarily before nodding in assent. "Mm, the hierarchs have previously informed me about this. When a suitable task arises, I will notify you. After all, the regr defense and patrol duties are hardly appropriate for someone like you."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Field trials epassed more than just battles and bloodshed. For instance, bing an instructor at a martial academy, like Huan Xinyan, was a type of field trial. Likewise, assuming the role of a civil or military official in a province or county also counted as a field trial.


    "Is there anything else?" asked Sect Elder Huan.


    "I intend to descend from the mountain and return home for the New Year," Wu Yuan responded.


    "Descend from the mountain?" Elder Huan squinted at Wu Yuan, his voice low and grave. "Wu Yuan, ever since youpleted the second level of the Skystride Pavilion, the various powers have been paying even closer attention to you. Are you aware of this?"


    "I am," Wu Yuan responded nonchntly.


    "And yet, you still intend to leave the mountain?" Sect Elder Huan frowned.


    Wu Yuan shook his head. "Sect Elder, I have already reached the level of a first-rate Adept. I can protect myself. Even if I were to be a Savant expert, a Grandmaster could still end my life. Should I never venture beyond the mountain?"


    Sect Elder Huan found himself unable to argue.


    "Sect Elder, rest assured. Cloudhill Province is rtively safe. Even among Savant experts, few would dare to attempt assassinations in the eastern region of the city," Wu Yuan reassured him. "Furthermore, when I leave the mountain, I will employ Transfiguration to avoid drawing attention. Few are aware of my ability."


    "Sect Elder, I will be away for no more than five days. After spending time with my family, I will promptly return to the mountain," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    "Very well, be careful then," Sect Elder Huan could only nod.


    After bidding farewell to Sect Elder Huan, Wu Yuan walked along the main road.


    <i>Assassination? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. <i>If there is no attempt on my life, so be it. But if there is, it��ll save me some effort.</i>


    The crimson mist Wu Yuan acquired during the previous battle at Cloud River had nearly been depleted over the past six months. He needed to replenish it.


    Wu Yuan stayed on Cloudhill for two more days. Then, on the eve of the new year, he altered his appearance with Transfiguration and quietly headed down the mountain.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan entered Cloudhill City, he took a leisurely stroll through the streets. The throngs of people bustling through the streets and alleys stirred various emotions within Wu Yuan, who had long grown ustomed to the tranquility of the mountain.


    <i>The scent of fireworks. </i>As Wu Yuan walked at a slow pace through the crowded streets, his eyes taking in the sights and sounds of the busy vendors, haggling buyers, and pedestrians, a smile crept onto his face.


    <i>Crowds are a sign of peace, and the hustle and bustle is the realm of humanity.</i>


    Wu Yuan had traversed the vast mountains and rivers of the Jiang Continent. He had traveled through Yuanhu Province, crossed the Southcloud Province under the rule of the Baijiang Kingdom, and even witnessed the chaotic and merciless Dalong Province.


    <i>Comparatively speaking, for themon folk, the rule of the Cloudstride Sect isn''t half bad. </i>Wu Yuan had seen both the light and the shadows that lurked beneath the surface.


    Cultivating on the mountain, consuming and refining qi, led to detachment from the world and allowed one to truly understand the sentiment ''the world is vast, and I am but a fleeting moment''. Meanwhile, asionally visiting the city and immersing oneself in its sights pulled one''s spirit back to humanity!


    While wandering and sightseeing, he bought many gifts for his mother and sister along the way. Then after undoing Transfiguration, Wu Yuan regained his normal appearance and entered the Wu Mansion through a side door.


    News of the young master''s return quickly spread throughout the mansion, however, strict orders were given to keep it secret. Therefore, even the neighboring households remained oblivious to Wu Yuan''s return.


    As he spent time with his mother and sister, night fell.


    Seated in silence on the second floor of the eastern building, Wu Yuan allowed his Soul Force to expand in all directions, feeding him a wealth of information. Within a 100-meter radius, everything was under the surveince of Wu Yuan''s Soul Force, capturing the actions of his family, nsmen, and numerous servants.


    <i>Soul Force truly is amazing, is this the ability that qi refiners wield?</i>


    Each time he activated his Soul Force, he was struck by its mystical nature. Qi refiners were in a league of their ownpared to martial artists.


    <i>Sect Elder Zhang and Hall Master Gu are really dedicated.</i>


    Around 100 meters away on either side of the Wu Mansion, two figures stood guard, nearly invisible in the darkness of the night. However, Wu Yuan could detect their presence through his Soul Force, their vital aura glowing like bright mes. Both were Savant experts that Wu Yuan had met before.


    One was Sect Elder Zhang Changsheng of the Military Hall, ranked 34th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. The other was Gu Wang, the hall master of the Inspection Hall, ranked fourth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings and currently the closest person to bing a Grandmaster in the Cloudstride Sect.


    It seemed that after Sect Elder Huan had granted Wu Yuan permission to leave the mountain, he promptly reported the matter to The Rain Hierarch, who ordered two Savant experts to secretly follow and protect Wu Yuan. In truth, Wu Yuan had already sensed their presence during his descent from the mountain.


    <i>To have two Savant experts stationed here on such a festive asion. </i>Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel a tinge of guilt. However, there was no way for him to exin that their presence was unnecessary.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, three days went by and the new year arrived.


    Apart from his daily cultivation, Wu Yuan spent precious time with his family, celebrating the new year with merriment. Snow began to fall once more, gently drifting through the air like willow catkins as the temperature fell.


    As night descended, households closed their doors and the streets quieted down, with only asional patrol squads passing by.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i>


    Through the veil of darkness, a group of figures braved the biting wind and heavy snow. Skillfully maneuvering between buildings, they glided noiselessly along the deserted streets, heading for the eastern district of the city. Finally, they entered an empty room.


    "We are three li from the Wu Mansion." Wang Huang''s burly figure was wrapped in ck robes, only his eyes visible. "Our sources indicate that Wu Yuan has returned to his mansion. At present, he should be residing on the second story of the eastern wing."


    "Is everything clear?" Wang Huang scanned the three shadowy figures.


    "Yes!" The three figures nodded in unison.


    "Go! Kill Wu Yuan!" Wang Huangmanded with a wave of his hand.


    The three men, already cloaked in their night gear, quietly opened the window and drifted out, swiftly making their way toward the Wu Mansion.

 Chapter 146: Grandmasters Demise (1)

    <h4>Chapter 146: Grandmaster''s Demise (1)</h4>


    Snowkes whirled in a chaotic dance. Wang Huang shut the window, leaving only a sliver of a gap.


    <i>Three Savant experts taking on a first-rate Adept... just one exchange is all it takes. Hopefully, all goes well.</i> Wang Huang peered through the crack, watching as the three Savant experts disappeared into the far end of a secluded alley.


    Wang Huang heeded his big brother''s words and didn''t follow along. Would they seed? He couldn��t be sure.


    <i>If it fails, I��ll just leave.</i> Wang Huang knitted his brows slightly. <i>Regardless of sess or failure, I hope Qi Zai, Lian Qizhi, and Kou Jiao, all make it out alive.</i>


    Qi Zai was neenth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, Lian Qizhi was 38th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, and Kou Jin was 52nd on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.


    One had to understand that although Wang Huang was a Grandmaster, he only had five Savant experts under his directmand. These three were the strongest Savant experts he could deploy. If all three were to perish here, it would deal a heavy blow to his personal forces.


    ...


    The three Savant experts, adopting an arrowhead formation, stealthily approached Wu Mansion along the secluded alley. They treaded with utmost caution, deliberately restraining their pace to avoid alerting any lurking onlookers in the shadows.


    They all knew very well that whether it was day or night, the eastern district was constantly guarded by the Cloudstride Sect''s experts, who kept a vignt watch in all directions. This was no exception even during the new year.


    "Sister Kou, you''ll be our reinforcement." The lean, towering figure leading them whispered, "Old Zhi and I will infiltrate the mansion, take out Wu Yuan, and then make our exit. If anyone tries to stop us, show them no mercy!"


    "Understood." The other two acknowledged with a nod.


    They weren''t professional assassins, thus they weren''t too proficient in using hand gestures for silentmunication. However, they kept their voices low enough that it was hardly a disturbance to the vicinity.


    The trio swiftly approached the mansion.


    ...


    The lights on the second floor of the Wu Mansion were extinguished.


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged, immersing himself in the practice of the ''Majestic Earth and Oceans'' technique, silently absorbing the qi of the world. His Soul Force unconsciously dispersed.


    To consume qi, one had to first be in tune with the world and wholly spread out one''s consciousness. Only then could one perceive the mysterious power deep within all things.


    "Hmm?" Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    His soul sense had picked up several strong auras rapidly closing in on his mansion.


    His Soul Force could only probe a radius of approximately 100 meters. However, it revealed every minute detail within that area, rendering stealth techniques futile. Soul sense, on the other hand, was abination of one''s soul, hearing, and other aspects, offering a vague perception of the vital auras present in the external world.


    The vital aura of a martial arts expert was robust, while that of amon person was feeble. With the strength of Wu Yuan''s current soul, he could easily detect any second-rate Adept and above within a two-li radius through soul sense. The closer and more vigorous the vital aura, the clearer it was reflected in his soul sense.


    <i>Three Savant experts?</i> A chill shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.<i> In the middle of winter, during the New Year celebrations, they��re sneaking into my ce in the dead of night?</i>


    If they were experts from the sect, they wouldn''t be so covert. It was almost guaranteed that they hade with ill intentions.


    There were less than 100 Savant experts in the entirety of the Jiang Continent, each one a prominent figure. What target could unite them in action?


    <i>There''s a 99% chance they''re here to assassinate me. </i>The more Wu Yuan thought, the colder his eyes became, a murderous intent blossoming within him. <i>They didn''t dare kill me on Cloudhill, instead deciding to sneak into my mansion.</i>


    His mother, his sister, and many n members were still sleeping in the mansion!


    <i>How brazen. Looks like my continuous disy of talent has be too big a threat, forcing the enemies of the sect to abandon subtlety.</i>


    The recruitment of multiple Savant experts for an assassination mission was a bold move. Not many forces could pull this off.


    <i>The Great Jin Empire? The Wingborne Sect? Or assassins from the Pleiades Guild, or the Ninedeaths Circle?</i> Several possibilities shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    His soul sense could only roughly confirm the vital auras of the individuals. As for their identities and their strength levels? Those details eluded him.


    <i>Whoever they may be, it doesn''t matter. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy.


    Gently, he opened the window, drifting down from the second floor like a gust of wind, disappearing into the darkness. He dashed over 100 meters in a single leap, leaving the vicinity of the mansion without causing the slightest ripple in the air.


    The guards on both sides of the Wu Mansion, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, didn''t notice his movements at all.


    In reality, Wu Yuan''s skills surpassed even that of a Great Grandmaster who had mastered Integration. His Soul Force epassed everything within a 100-meter radius, quelling even the slightest disturbances in the air currents.


    <i>My telekinesis ability is stillcking, unfit forbat. But as a supplementary skill, it proves quite effective. </i>For instance, leveraging the flow of air to increase his speed.


    ...


    Qi Zai, Lian Qizhi, and Kou Jiao dared not tread on the rooftops, instead proceeding along the shadows of the alleys.


    The falling snow grew denser, veiling the world in a misty cloak of white.


    In their line of sight, a silhouette flitted by.


    "Stop!" Qi Zai abruptly halted, his eyes filled with terror.


    At the same time, Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao''s eyes were also filled with shock.


    Before them, the apparition solidified into a ck-robed figure at the end of the alley. Before they could react, the figure had already closed the distance between them to a mere 30 meters without a sound.


    The snow-covered ground bore no traces of footprints.


    <i>A...A Grandmaster? The eastern district of the city is guarded by a Grandmaster?</i> Qi Zai''s eyes bulged, wondering if he were hallucinating. Sent here to eliminate a mere teenager, only toe face-to-face with a Grandmaster?


    Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao, who were trailing behind, were equally transfixed in horror, unable to heed their instincts to flee. They could only stare wide-eyed at the figure who was entirely shrouded in ck cloth. Even his eyes were covered.


    Walking on snow without leaving a trace? The three of them could manage that, but it would require them to focus on controlling their movements precisely, reducing their speed. Meanwhile, this ck-robed figure simply flickered 100 meters across without disturbing the air or leaving a single trace behind, just like a ghost.


    The only possibility they could think of was that he was a Grandmaster, and not a weak one at that. He should have reached the Perception level at least.


    <i>We''re doomed! If we face him head-on, I see no chance of survival.</i> Qi Zai��s mind was in turmoil.


    He was ranked neenth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. But Land and Human Rankings were like heaven and earth. Between the twoy an insurmountable disparity in physical constitution, even more so in skill. One was still tapping into their human potential, while the other drew their power from the world. The two simply couldn''t bepared.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The fierce northern wind howled, apanied by cascading snowkes. The remote alley was devoid of passersby in the dead of night. Despite possessing the robust constitution of Savant experts, they had never felt this cold.


    "Senior Huan Jian," Qi Zai gritted his teeth and addressed the figure. Even though Wu Yuan was concealed beneath the ck robe and had used Transfiguration to slightly alter his form, it was still apparent that he was a man. Naturally, he was mistaken for Huan Jian.


    "Tell me your name." Wu Yuan did not rify, his voice icy cold, "State your intentions, are you here to assassinate Wu Yuan?"


    "Run!" Without any hesitation, Qi Zai''s figure retreated in a sh.


    He had already identified Wu Yuan as Grandmaster Huan Jian, plus the man had called out his intentions. And this was Cloudhill City. Staying here any longer was a death wish! Fight? A few dozen Savant experts might stand a chance of killing a Grandmaster. Just the three of them? Defeat was certain!


    The saying "Only a Grandmaster can deal with another Grandmaster" had been proven by countless experts from the Middle Land''s thirteen continents through bloodshed and sacrifice.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao also sprang into action. They no longer cared about concealing their tracks, putting everything into speed. After all, they had nothing to lose. An enemy Grandmaster was about to kill them, it couldn��t get worse than that.


    The reactions of the three Savant experts were quick, but Wu Yuan was even faster. His Soul Force had already enveloped the entire alley, locking onto the three assassins. The moment Qi Zai''s leg had moved, even before he exerted any force, Wu Yuan already sensed their attempt to flee. Though he was thest to move, his attacknded first.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Three shes of light streaked through the air soundlessly. The two closer figures only managed to retreat several meters before their heads were impaled. The throwing knives, now tainted with blood, continued their trajectory, piercing into the ground deeply. The impact caused the ground to rupture and rocks and snow to scatter. The once pristine white became a canvas of crimson.


    Lian Qizhi and Kou Jing were dead!


    Only Qi Zai, the strongest among the three, kept his life. At the moment between life and death, he managed to unsheathe his saber, turning and striking the iing throwing knife, deflecting it slightly off course. But the sheer power contained within the weapon sent tremors through his arms and his entire body was sent flying backward, his battle saber almost slipping from his grasp. The overwhelming force behind the knife consumed his thoughts.


    <i>Boom!</i> The deflected throwing knife shot into a nearby house, crashing into tworge pirs. Instantly, the house copsed.


    Before Qi Zai could rejoice, a sinister de ray shed. Its movement was so swift that it left no disturbance in the atmosphere.


    <i>Swoosh~ </i>The thought of blocking the strike with his saber was abruptly dashed as searing pain erupted in his neck. Dizziness overwhelmed him, his vision blurring. With a thud, thest vestiges of consciousness slipped away as Qi Zai witnessed a headless corpse crumple onto the snow.


    Qi Zai was dead!


    <i>He managed to block my throwing knife? Though it may seem like a coincidence, he was strong enough to rank in the top 30 in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings at least.</i> Wu Yuan nced at the headless corpse on the ground.


    With a thought, the battle saber, inner armor, and other trinkets soared through the air and flew into Wu Yuan''s storage artifact. Afterward, he quickly collected the remains of the other two Savant experts.


    <i>Thump~ Thump~</i> From just around the street corner, the sound of a patrol squad running over was faintly audible, mixed with voices urging, "Hurry, go and investigate."


    It seemed that Wu Yuan''s sh with the three Savant experts had caused quite amotion, especially the copse of the nearby building. The city guard was already alerted.


    <i>There''s another one. </i>Wu Yuan turned his gaze into the distance. Within his soul sense, there was an individual with an exceptionally robust vital aura in a building 800 meters away, much stronger than the three Savant experts. It was a Grandmaster!


    Back when he faced Chen Luo for the first time, Wu Yuan''s soul was still weak. Thus, when the Grandmaster concealed his aura, Wu Yuan was incapable of clearly sensing it. But now? Wu Yuan''s soul possessed the ability to levitate objects. Within a two-li radius, not even a Grandmaster could elude his soul sense.


    <i>There are only two Grandmasters in the entire sect.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were cold. <i>And it just so happens that these three Savant experts came from that direction?</i>


    How many coincidences could exist at the same time?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan took a step, silent yet swift, crossing over 200 meters in an instant. He disappeared at the end of the street, heading straight for the enemy.


    Meanwhile, the city guards of the Cloudstride Sect had yet to reach the site of the conflict.

 Chapter 147: Grandmasters Demise (2)

    Chapter 147: Grandmaster''s Demise (2)


    Through a crack in the window on the second floor of a building, Wang Huang observed the situation outside, listening carefully to any abnormalitiesing from the direction of the Wu Mansion. In the silence of the night, it was not difficult for a Grandmaster to hear the sounds of battle several li away.


    Less than three breaths after the Savant experts disappeared from his sight, Wang Huang''s ears caught a sudden explosion. Though faint, it left no room for doubt.


    <em>Something''s wrong! </em>Wang Huang quickly pinpointed the location based on the sound. The fight was urring roughly 700-800 meters away from his position, a significant distance from Wu Mansion. How was it possible for the three Savant experts to be detected so swiftly? A nagging doubt crept into Wang Huang''s mind.


    <em>Is it a coincidence? Even Cloudstride''s Gu Wang wouldn''t be able to detect them from hundreds of meters away.</em> Wang Huang frowned. <em>Could there be another Grandmaster?</em>


    Despite his suspicions, Wang Huang''s confidence in his abilities remained unshaken and he didnt flee immediately. After all, he was nearly two li from the battlefield, hiding here without making a sound. Unless there was someone who had achieved the Harmony of Man and Nature, it was normally impossible for other Grandmasters to detect him from such a distance.


    But less than half a breathter, Wang Huang''s pupils contracted slightly. <em>Hm?</em>


    In his line of sight, a figure shrouded in ck robes had appeared at the end of the alley, 300 meters away. Each stride covered more than a hundred meters, barreling directly toward him. Yet it was silent as a whisper, leaving no trace in the snow.


    <em>Integration, it''s a Great Grandmaster! Run! </em>Wang Huang''s scalp tingled with rm.


    Without hesitation, he burst through the window behind him. Before the dust and splinters had settled, he was already more than 100 meters away. And the moment he took off, the ck-robed figure, as if sensing his escape, propelled himself over as well.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A de ray zed to life. The entire building exploded, a fearsome saber cleave etching a chilling mark, but it could not hamper Wang Huang''s retreat. The swing had missed.


    <em>Indeed, a Grandmaster. Since he fled as soon as he saw me, he must be an enemy! </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with icy resolve, instantaneously arriving at a conclusion.


    There was no need for words. Kill!


    <em>Boom! </em>Wu Yuan leaped to the top of the building. Pushing off a broken pir, his speed suddenly increased, breaking past the sound barrier. Secret art: Ghostwalk!


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan caught up to Wang Huang, who was nearly 100 meters away.


    <em>Such speed, this burst speed is even faster than Chen Luo''s.</em> Wang Huang''s mind was in turmoil.


    Unbeknownst to him, over the past few months, Wu Yuan had not only been diligently cultivating the Majestic Earth and Oceans, but his physical constitution had also been steadily improving. Currently, he surpassed the first-grade threshold of 200,000 catties. Judging solely by physical constitution, Wu Yuan was no weaker than the average Grandmaster.


    Indeed, in terms of secret arts execution, Wu Yuan was slightlycking as Ghostwalk didn''t perfectly align with his current body. But in terms of skill level, Wu Yuan''s perfected Integration wasparable to the Great Grandmasters in the Land Rankings. Overall, Wu Yuan''s burst speed wasparable to Chen Luo''s.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan swung his saber. The merciless de ray shot right towards Wang Huang''s neck.


    "Get lost!" Though Wang Huang was shocked by Wu Yuan''s speed, he reacted swiftly.


    In a fluid motion, he unsheathed his sword and blocked Wu Yuan''s saber. The sword seemed to flow like water as it aimed for Wu Yuan''s arm. It was a flexible sword!


    <em>Retreat. </em>Wu Yuan understood that he had been careless. The flexible sword, once mastered, became a formidable weapon akin to a venomous snake,pletely unpredictable. In terms of martial skills, although Integration was higher than Perception, it wasnt enough for Wu Yuan to overwhelm his opponent.


    <em>ng! ng! ng!</em> As Wu Yuan retreated, his saber technique transformed, appearing dreamlike among the falling snowkes.


    <em>Bang! Boom! Bang!</em> The two sides shed more than ten times.


    In the blink of an eye, they covered hundreds of meters. Their horrific sh, with abined force exceeding a million catties, razed countless structures in their wake. Walls crumbled and debris scattered like confetti. In a single exchange, the two Grandmasters reduced half a street to ruins. The air filled with the anguished cries of innocent bystanders, caught unaware in their sleep. The destructive might of a Grandmaster was truly frightening.


    "Who is it!"


    "Who?"


    "Stop at once!" Sensing the sh, the experts stationed throughout the district quickly rushed over.


    From afar, even more experts made their way over. Horrified by the aftermath of the battle, some shot signal res. A flurry of radiant lights shot upward, bathing the night sky in blinding brilliance. This was the unmistakable call for reinforcements from the sect headquarters atop Cloudhill, signaling that Grandmasters were engaged inbat.


    On this wintry night, Wu Yuan and Wang Hupletely disregarded the rapidly gathering experts of the Cloudstride Sect.


    <em>A saber? The style and footwork bear no resemnce to Bu Yus. Even with Transfiguration, such a drastic change is impossible. Huan Jian? His expertise is in palm techniques. </em>A torrent of thoughts shed through Wang Huang''s mind. <em>Who could it be?</em>


    The opponent''s strength was on par with his own, if not stronger.


    Shadow de, I didn''t expect you to be a member of the Cloudstride Sect.<em></em>Wang Huang suddenly dered, his voice ringing out across Cloudhill City. In just a brief exchange, Wang Huang had identified Wu Yuan.


    Which other Grandmaster throughout the territory of the Cloudstride Sect wielded a saber, and would attack him on sight?


    "What?"


    "Is that Shadow de?"


    "Grandmaster Shadow de is from the Cloudstride Sect?" The experts of the Cloudstride Sect rushing towards the scene were all taken aback.


    "I have no rtion to the Cloudstride Sect," Wu Yuan said coldly, slightly lifting his saber, his gaze fixed on Wang Huang. "However, Wang Huang, as a Grandmaster of Great Jin, you have vited the rules by trespassing into Cloudhill City."


    His words also echoed through the air, reaching the ears of all present.


    "Wang Huang! Grandmaster Wang Huang!"


    "Erratic Sword Wang Huang? Isn''t he supposed to be in Jinyang City? Why is he in Cloudhill City, has Great Jin gone mad?"


    "Quick, notify Cloudhill and get the Hierarchs here."


    "Is war about to break out again?" The many experts of the Cloudstride Sect were utterly shocked.


    The mention of Shadow de did not cause much worry among the sect''s experts. Regardless of his ties to the sect, little hostility existed between Shadow de and the Cloudstride Sect from their intelligence. But Wang Huang? What was a Grandmaster of Great Jin doing in Cloudhill Province?


    Hearing the sporadic murmuring, Wang Huang''s expression changed slightly. Though he had no desire to reveal his identity, he knew that he was the only Grandmaster proficient in the flexible sword throughout the Jiang Continent, making him easily distinguishable.


    Completely enshrouded in ck robes, Wu Yuan stood atop a three-story building, a long saber in hand. With his eyes concealed, an aura of mystery surrounded him. "Wang Huang! Jin Cang ced a bounty of 100 million silver taels on my head, tempting the world to hunt me down! Today, I''ll start by ying you to cleanse my de! In the future, I''ll invade Jin Hall to butcher Jin Cang!" Wu Yuan''s cold voice carried far.


    <em>Boom! </em>Wu Yuans legs exerted a sudden explosive force, unleashing hundreds of thousands of catties of power. Combining the force with Ghostwalk, his speed instantly surpassed the speed of sound. In an instant, he was right before Wang Huang.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>A fierce de ray swept across the endless night sky, enveloping Wang Huang. Wang Huang''s face changed color, and he swiftly retreated, his long sword flickering like a venomous snake as he barely managed to block Wu Yuan''s ferocious attack.


    A series of explosions followed as buildings, towers, and walls crumbled beneath the force of their sh. The air was filled with screams of terror as the Cloudstride Sects experts and city guards who failed to evade were swept away like leaves in a storm. No one else could participate in the battle!


    In the blink of an eye, the two Great Grandmasters exchanged over a hundred moves. Wu Yuan''s saber technique was bold and unceasing. He disyed both Ghostwalk and Thousand Mountains, unleashing his maximumbat strength.


    Meanwhile, Wang Huang struggled to hold his ground despite also employing his secret arts. As time passed, panic began to take hold of Wang Huang. He wanted to escape, yet his attempts were futile!


    <em>Something''s wrong. How can Shadow de be so strong? Chen Luo said he was only at the threshold of the Grandmaster level, but in terms ofbat power, this Shadow de is almost reaching the Peak Grandmaster level!</em>


    At this point, Wang Huang was clinging desperately to survival. His judgment was spot on. Compared to other Grandmasters, Wu Yuan''s physical constitution was slightly inferior and his weapons and secret arts were weak,nding him among the bottom tier of Grandmasters.


    But in terms of martial skill, Wu Yuan was a force to be reckoned with. Furthermore, Wu Yuan''s soul was extraordinarily powerful, and his Soul Force could detect every minute detail of his surroundings. When applied in concert with his martial skills, the saber skills he disyed were simply inconceivable.


    "Go to hell!" Wu Yuan''s battle intent surged like a zing inferno.


    Kill! Kill! Kill!


    Ever since he was dered a wanted man by the Great Jin Empire, a deep-seated anger had been simmering within Wu Yuan. Yet he forced himself to swallow it down. All this time, he had been looking for an opportunity to vent it. And today, the Great Jin Empire had the audacity to dispatch assassins to invade the Wu Mansion, touching on Wu Yuan''s most sensitive nerve - his family!


    He had arrived in the Middle Land with no attachments, let alone a sense of belonging.


    With the integration of memories and emotions, his mother and sister became his biggest priority aside from the martial arts.


    He just wished for his family to live in peace. Anyone who daredy a finger on them would be killed. Even Imperator Jin wouldn''t be spared!


    <em>Boom! Boom! Boom! </em>The two Grandmasters were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The speed of their movements bordered on supersonic. Like two hurricanes sweeping across arge area, countless casualtiesy in their wake.


    "This!"


    "A catastrophe." Several Savant experts of the Cloudstride Sect who had arrived in haste could only watch the terrifying battlefield from a safe distance, not daring to get any closer. Even the strongest among them, Gu Wang, feared that he would be killed instantly if he interfered in such a fight.


    "Grandmaster Shadow de seems to be stronger!"


    "Wang Huang is ranked 193rd in the Land Rankings. His strength is rtively weak among the Grandmasters, but he is still a true Grandmaster."


    For now, Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang were helpless to stop the battle, and could only evacuate the citizens as far as possible from the battlefield. Countless precedents had demonstrated that when a confrontation between Grandmasters erupted within a city, the casualty toll was often grave.


    The fierce battle between Wu Yuan and Wang Huang continued, leaving a radius of several square li inplete disarray. Wu Yuan did his best to dictate the course of the fight, forcing Wang Huang to flee to an area far from the Wu Mansion where fewer people lived.


    As the old saying goes, a prolonged attack is hard to maintain. Yet despite maintaining two secret arts, Wu Yuan showed no signs of fatigue, growing bolder in his attacks as the fight went on. Conversely, Wang Huang was getting more and more anxious, his body strained to its limits. Contrary to the previous adage was another saying  a prolonged defense would inevitably crumble!


    Wu Yuan deftly evaded yet another lunge from Wang Huang''s sword. At that moment, his saber shed mysteriously, connecting with Wang Huang''s chest.


    <em>Rip~</em> Under the impact of hundreds of thousands of catties, Wang Huang''s clothes were instantly torn apart, revealing his sturdy soft armor underneath. Despite the protection of his divine-grade soft armor, Wang Huang was still forced to retreat.


    Undeterred, Wu Yuan twisted his waist in a peculiar way, bearing the brunt of Grandmaster Wang''s retaliatory sword strike. Meanwhile, his de ray bore down with the pressure of an unstoppable mountain, piercing straight through the enemy''s skull.


    It was too fast! In this life-or-death faceoff, there was no avenue for Wang Huang to retreat.


    <em>Plop~</em> His head went flying.


    The sword that grazed Wu Yuan''s waist caused his qi to roil. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body was blown back nearly 100 meters.


    <em>Boom~ </em>A headless corpse fell heavily, and the divine-grade flexible sword ttered to the ground.


    Grandmaster Wang Huang was dead!

 Chapter 148: Shadow Blade Is Wu Yuan (1)

    Chapter 148: Shadow de Is Wu Yuan (1)


    <em>Taking down a Grandmaster is truly much tougher than killing a Savant expert. </em>


    His waist and abdomen still throbbed painfully. With the control he had over his body, he could tell that two of his bones were fractured. Thankfully, the third-grade divine soft armor had shielded him from the worst of it. Without its protection, Wang Huang''s final strike would have inflicted severe damage, if not ended him altogether. Such was the nature of martial arts battles.


    Although Wu Yuan appeared to hold the upper hand, a slight misstep could easily result in injury or death. Of course, if Wu Yuan had not gambled with his life, choosing to defeat Wang Huang methodically instead of killing him as quickly as possible, he wouldnt have gotten injured. But to him, trading a wound for his opponent''s life was no loss.


    <em>If I had dyed any longer, I fear The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch would have arrived. </em>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    <em>Crack! </em>Enduring the pain, his musculoskeletal system trembled, aligning the broken rib back into ce.


    Once that was done, he vanished in a blur, reappearing beside Grandmaster Wang Huang''s lifeless body. With a swift gesture, he collected the divine-grade flexible sword, the close-fitting inner armor, and the assortment of gold and silver notes strewn about the ground.


    <em>Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng are on their way.</em> An inkling of unease crept into Wu Yuan''s heart. Did they discover his absence from the Wu Mansion?


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan darted into a street alley that remained untouched by the huge battle.


    From the moment Wu Yuan killed Wang Huang, doubled back to collect his spoils of war, then made his exit, barely an instant had passed.


    "Senior Shadow de!"


    "Senior, please wait!" Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, and two other Savant experts immediately ran after him.


    Wu Yuan didn''t even turn to look at them. Enveloping his surroundings with Soul Force, he flicked his wrist. Three throwing knives whipped through the air, creating a deafening sonic boom as their speeds rocketed to 600 meters per second. Simultaneously, they were nted into the ground right at the feet of the four Savant experts. The impact showered the four with dirt and debris.


    "Anyone who continues to pursue me will die!" Wu Yuan''s cold voice echoed through the alleyways.


    The four Savant experts halted in their tracks, none daring to defy the warning.


    "Hall Master Gu, what should we do?" Zhang Changsheng and the others remained rooted in ce, casting uncertain nces toward Gu Wang, who stood at the front of the group. In terms of status, Gu Wang, the master of the Inspection Hall, held the highest authority among them.


    "Grandmaster Shadow de must have his reasons for avoiding us. Let us cease our pursuit," Gu Wang shook his head, suppressing the doubts gnawing at his mind.


    "Wang Huang was a Grandmaster. His death today is a major incident. The news of his death in Cloudhill City will shake the entire Jiang Continent. Regardless of his purpose for being here, he is now no more," Gu Wang added solemnly, "Great Jin may seize this opportunity to strike."


    The Savant experts couldn''t help but nod in agreement. They were all higher-ups of the Cloudstride Sect, well aware of the ongoing conflict between their sect and the Great Jin Empire.


    "Our top priority is to suppress any information leakage. The sh erupted in the eastern district of the city. Although the conversation between Wang Huang and the Grandmaster Shadow de has spread to some extent, it is unlikely that those in other districts have heard their exact words," Gu Wang calmly stated. "Therefore, General Tian, promptly issue orders to the city guard to seal off the entire eastern district and provide swift medical aid to the wounded."


    "Enhance all security measures. It is highly probable that spies from various factions have infiltrated the eastern district. Order all sect members to iste themselves within their homes. No movement ormunication is allowed. Anyone found leaking the news shall be executed without mercy!" Gu Wang''s killing intent red, "Their decapitated heads shall be paraded through the streets, serving as a deterrent to all the scum within the city."


    "Completely seal off Cloudhill City. I dont want to see a single bird fly out. Furthermore, enforce a curfew, strictly forbidding any faction from transmitting messages."


    "Understood." General Tian''s face turned solemn.


    "Sect Elder Wu." Gu Wang turned to the sect elder next to him.


    "Hall Master Gu." Sect Elder Wu responded.


    "You are to lead the Cloudstride Army and Cloudhill Army to immediately surround the bases of the Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, and Ninedeaths Circle," Gu Wang stated coolly. "No one shall be allowed to enter or exit. Inform them that a Grandmaster of the Cloudstride Sect is en route. Without proper authorization, no messages shall be passed.


    This is Cloudhill! Our Cloudstride Sect''s Cloudhill! Anyone who dares to defy these orders will be executed without mercy!"


    "Understood." Sect Elder Wu nodded.


    "Everyone." Gu Wang''s gaze swept over the group, his voice low, "I know that all of you, including the many disciples stationed in the city, have many spections regarding the identity of Grandmaster Shadow de. But as higher-ups of the sect, you should understand the gravity of the situation."


    "Remember this well: without explicit acknowledgment by the Hierarchs, Shadow de is not a member of our Cloudstride Sect. If anyone under yourmand dares to question this, punish them directly. Kill anyone who dares to spread any false news, even if it''s a first-rate Adept."


    "No questions, no doubts, no guesses, just obedience! Obedience! And more obedience!" Gu Wang dered coldly, "Is that clear?"


    In summary: seal off the news! Deny any association between Shadow de and the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Understood!"


    "Understood!" The Savant experts echoed in solemn agreement. None of them opposed his orders.


    They understood the severity of a Grandmasters death. Crucial times called for severe measures! Anyone who dared vite the rules, be it a protectorate or member of a Grandmaster''s family, would not be spared!


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>Sect Elder Wu and General Tian swiftly departed. The two of them were originally Savant experts overseeing the eastern district, making them the best-suited individuals to implement the necessary arrangements.


    In reality, only a short time had passed since Shadow de scared off the four Savant experts of the Cloudstride Sect with his throwing knives, to the moment Gu Wang began issuing his orders.


    Now, only Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng remained in the alley.


    "Let''s go back. We must check if Wu Yuan has been found."


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>The two Savant experts quickly ran towards the Wu Mansion. They had barely covered 200 meters when they came across several experts and a group of city guards dealing with the bodies of three Savant experts in a deserted alley.


    In a sudden burst of movement, a figure dashed out from the Wu Mansion, arriving in front of Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang at astonishing speed. It was a thin, frail old man in ck robes.


    "What''s the situation, Sect Elder Luo?" Gu Wang asked in a deep voice.


    "Wu Yuan has just returned to his mansion," the frail ck-robed figure replied. "He ims to have left the mansion for a stroll, only to rush back home after hearing sounds of battle."


    "Out for a stroll?" Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang exchanged a nce, a flicker of suspicion and doubt in their eyes. Could this truly be a mere coincidence?


    When the fight between the Grandmasters had just begun, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng immediately checked the second floor to confirm Wu Yuan''s safety. However, no one was there! The two of them guarded both the left and right of the mansion, yet Wu Yuan vanished under their watch?


    At the time, both Savant experts instinctively assumed that Wu Yuan had been abducted. Though shocked and horrified, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng didn''t have the time to dwell on it. They had sent out a distress signal and issuedmands to their subordinates, then rushed to the scene of the battle between Grandmasters. After all, who else could have taken Wu Yuan right under their noses, if not a Grandmaster? Soon after, the two witnessed Shadow de killing Wang Huang.


    Now, a myriad of questions arose in their minds. Why had the two Great Grandmasters shed? Why was Wang Huang in Cloudhill City? Were the three deceased Savant experts killed by the Shadow de?


    But above all, the most pressing question was: why did Wu Yuan disappear precisely during this critical juncture?


    "Hall Master Gu, Sect Elder Zhang, what''s the situation now?" Sect Elder Luo inquired.


    He was one of the three Savant experts entrusted with guarding the eastern district of the city and had just returned from an exhaustive search for Wu Yuan, ignorant of the massive battle that had just taken ce.


    "Grandmaster Shadow de appeared and killed Wang Huang..." Zhang Changsheng began, his words leaving Sect Elder Luo dumbfounded.


    Wang Huang was dead? A Grandmaster had perished?

 Chapter 149: Shadow Blade Is Wu Yuan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 149: Shadow de Is Wu Yuan (2)</h4>


    "The situation is critical. Wang Huang''s death is already confirmed, so any further discussion is pointless," Gu Wang stated. "Sect Elder Luo, I need you to return immediately and order a lockdown of the Wu Mansion. No one must be allowed to leave. At the same time, convince the public that Wu Yuan never left the mansion. He was merely in secluded cultivation.��


    "What?" Sect Elder Luo was perplexed but quickly nodded. "Alright, consider it done."


    "Also, do not disturb Wu Yuan," Gu Wang added seriously.


    The sect leader, Gu Wang, and the Finance Hall''s hall master held the highest positions within the Cloudstride Sect after the Grandmasters. Other Savant experts generally followed theirmands. Though Sect Elder Luo didn''t fully grasp the situation, he could tell by Gu Wang''s expression that it was urgent, and proceeded to carry out his orders immediately.


    "Hall Master Gu?" Zhang Changsheng was somewhat confused.


    "Sect Elder Zhang, let''s keep our questions to ourselves for now," Gu Wang shook his head slightly. "We two are the only ones who know the full story. Therefore, it''s best for us to formte our own theories and deductions. This way, when we meet the hierarchster, we can each present our individual conjecture, aiding the Hierarchs in making well-informed judgments.��


    Elder Zhang quickly grasped the situation. "I understand."


    The duo made their way slowly to the outskirts of the Wu Mansion, neither heading inside nor summoning Wu Yuan. Both of them remained silent, deep in contemtion of the day''s events.


    ...


    After returning, Wu Yuan pacified his family and n members, who were in a state of panic, before retreating to the second floor of the mansion.


    Sitting in a lotus position, a flicker of worry crossed his eyes. <i>Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng did not ask to speak to me privately? Have they discerned something?</i>


    Just moments ago, Wu Yuan had braved injuries to y Wang Huang, kept the sect��s Savant experts at bay with throwing knives, then took a roundabout route at maximum speed to return to the Wu Mansion.


    But it was still toote. By that point, Sect Elder Luo, along with arge group of sect disciples, had already begun their search for Wu Yuan.


    <i>At that time, I had three choices. First, im that I was abducted by Wang Huang and subsequently rescued by Shadow de. However, that exnation would be riddled with logical inconsistencies. Why would Shadow dee to my aid? And why did he conveniently appear just in the nick of time? Suspicion would still arise.</i>


    <i>Second, admit that I am Shadow de. But the risks would be astronomical. The higher-ups of the Cloudstride Sect might understand, but what about Great Jin? If they were to find out, they''d go ballistic and a Heavenly Ranker might even be dispatched to hunt me down.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head gently.


    Ultimately, Wu Yuan chose the third option - to say he was simply out for a stroll. Slipping away right under the noses of two Savant experts? A flimsy and rather absurd excuse, but it was the one he went with.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect isn''t made of fools. Logically, Gu Wang and the others should havee to see me as soon as possible. At least, Sect Elder Luo would have checked on me. </i>


    Yet, not a single Savant expert came personally to see Wu Yuan. Only one thing slightly reassured him.


    <i>The sect elder suddenly announced to the public that I��ve been meditating in a secret chamber?</i>


    Evidently, they were attempting to cover up Wu Yuan''s absence from the mansion during this period.


    <i>Forget it! Overthinking won��t get me anywhere. Even if I were given a chance to redo everything today, I would still choose to kill Wang Huang.</i> A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    By threatening his family, Great Jin had crossed Wu Yuan''s bottom line!


    <i>If they ultimately don''t expose me, I will simply act ordingly. </i>Wu Yuan''sposure returned. <i>If it does get exposed, everything will depend on the sect''s attitude.</i>


    Things were different now. Back in Li City, any Savant expert could have easily eliminated him. He had to be extremely cautious not to reveal any connection between his different personas. But now?


    <i>Mybat power is not far off from that of a Great Grandmaster.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes hardened like chips of ice. <i>Even if Emperor Jin wants me dead, he may not seed.</i>


    With the aid of the blood-red mist, Wu Yuan believed no Land Ranker could catch up to him given his endurance and physical strength. And with Soul Force, it was almost impossible for Wu Yuan to be ambushed.


    So what if he were exposed? With his strength, he no longer feared the Cloudstride Sect turning against him. Even if Bu Yu and Huan Jian joined forces, capturing him wasn��t going to be easy.


    <i>Based on my observations of The Rain Hierarch, she is a wise individual. Even if she confirms that I am indeed Shadow de, she would likely opt for cooperation rather than opposition. At the same time, she would do her best to conceal any connection between Wu Yuan and Shadow de.</i>


    Upon realizing the truth, turning against Wu Yuan meant the sect would make a formidable enemy. If the status quo was maintained, it would mean an additional powerful enemy for the Great Jin Empire, making them allies of sorts.


    <i>For now, I can only wait. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his mind.


    He closed his eyes, quietly absorbing spiritual qi while blood-red mist emanated from his upper dantian lobe. The two both worked to heal his injuries.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Less than twenty breathster, Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes opened spontaneously.


    He sensed a powerful vital aura rapidly approaching. A Grandmaster!


    <i>Is it The Rain Hierarch? Or The Sword Hierarch?</i> Wu Yuan spected silently.


    In his soul sense, the neer had just made contact with Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang.


    ...


    <i>In a courtyard not far from Wu Mansion, less than 30 breaths after Wang Huang''s death. </i><i>[1]</i><i> </i>


    "Hierarch."


    "Hierarch." Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang greeted respectfully.


    "What exactly happened?" The Rain Hierarch stood in the courtyard, her voice retaining its characteristic gentleness. "I want aprehensive ount. Leave no details out."


    Other than the three of them, no one else was present in the courtyard.


    "Hierarch, allow me to start," said Zhang Changsheng. "Today, both Hall Master Gu and I were positioned on either side of Wu Yuan''s residence..."


    Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang each recounted what they had observed and heard. At the same time, Gu Wang also detailed the countermeasures he had proposed.


    "Excellent." The Rain Hierarch looked at Gu Wang with evident appreciation and sighed, "Gu Wang, when ites down to it, you''re more suitable for the position of sect leader than Lu Feng."


    "Hierarch, you jest." Gu Wang shook his head slightly. "Being a hall master is troublesome enough."


    The Rain Hierarch nodded slightly. Savant experts each had their pursuits. Some sought wealth and pleasure, while others aspired for the pinnacle of martial arts. Different pursuits led to different oues.


    "Share your assessments of the situation," The Rain Hierarch instructed. She didn''t immediately disclose her thoughts, opting to hear the opinions of the two Savant experts first.


    "I''ll go first then," Zhang Changsheng intoned solemnly, "First, judging from the location of the battlefield and the manner of their demise, it is highly likely that Grandmaster Wang Huang and the Savant experts came here with the intent of assassinating Wu Yuan. Besides Wu Yuan, there''s no other target in Cloudhill Province who warrants a Grandmaster taking action personally. Xu Hui may be brilliant, but he''s not talented enough to incite such desperation from Great Jin."


    The Rain Hierarch nodded, "Go on."


    "Secondly, the first wave of assassins was likelyposed of Qi Zai and the other Savant experts. However, they were detected by Grandmaster Shadow de and subsequently in," Zhang Changsheng stated. "With the three Savant experts dead, Grandmaster Wang Huang flew into a rage, confronted Grandmaster Shadow de, and was eventually killed by him. This is Disciple''s conjecture," Zhang Changsheng stated.


    "Do you believe that Shadow de just so happened to be near the Wu Mansion and stumbled across the three Savant experts attempting to assassinate Wu Yuan?" The Rain Hierarch calmly questioned.


    "Disciple suspects that Grandmaster Shadow de is secretly protecting Wu Yuan," Zhang Changsheng solemnly replied.


    "What about Wu Yuan?"The Rain Hierarch softly asked. "If we go by your assumption, Wu Yuan would not have been kidnapped at all. He should have remained in the mansion."


    "Given Wu Yuan''s skill level, it is possible that he managed to elude both myself and Hall Master Gu... perhaps," Zhang Changsheng hesitated slightly.


    "No, that cannot be correct." The Rain Hierarch shook her head, "If Shadow de was secretly protecting Wu Yuan, he would have departed from the Wu Mansion at the same time as Wu Yuan. So why then was he able to eliminate the three Savant experts beforehand? ording to Wu Yuan''s ount, he was strolling in the opposite direction of the Grandmaster''s confrontation."


    Zhang Changsheng fell silent. After a moment, he spoke slowly. "Could it really be a coincidence? Shadow de and Wu Yuan are unrted, they just happened to encounter Great Jin''s experts attempting to assassinate Wu Yuan?"


    The Rain Hierarch smiled faintly and turned her gaze to Gu Wang, "Hall Master Gu, what do you think?"


    1. one breath = six seconds ?

 Chapter 150: Shadow Blade Is Wu Yuan (3)

    <h4>Chapter 150: Shadow de Is Wu Yuan (3)</h4>


    Zhang Changsheng also looked at Gu Wang.


    "Hierarch, if we were to only consider today''s incident, it could indeed be dismissed as a mere coincidence," Gu Wang spoke quietly. "Wu Yuan might have just happened to go out, and Grandmaster Shadow de could have crossed paths with Great Jin''s experts and killed them due to a personal grudge stemming from his bounty.��


    "However, before Hierarch arrived, Ipared the whereabouts of Shadow de and Wu Yuan over the past few years. When Wu Yuan left Li City, Shadow de made his first appearance, annihting the Vicious Tiger Gang and seizing the Chu-Jiang Token."


    "En route to Southdream, Wu Yuan was targeted for assassination by the Wingborne Sect. There were reports of a stealth weapons expert assisting Wu Yuan''s guards, but his apanying personal guard, Gu Ji was unable to locate this hidden expert."


    "When Wu Yuan was at the Southdream Martial Academy, Shadow de appeared once again, killing two experts. Later on, Wu Yuan was returning to Li City and stopped at a ferry crossing about 100 li from Li City. That night, Shadow de once again appeared in Li City. Chen Tangru, Wang Zhushan, and the general of defense of Li City were all killed. And it just so happens that Wu Yuan holds a grudge against the general of defense of Li City, Xu Shouyi!"


    "Later on, the Shadow de was absent for a prolonged period. Then, during Wu Yuan''s secret departure from the mountain, the Battle of Cloud River broke out and Shadow de''s name rang throughout thends."


    "For the past half a year, there were no traces of Shadow de, until today. When Wu Yuan was targeted for assassination, Shadow de reappeared. And during the ensuing sh with Grandmaster Wang Huang, Wu Yuan vanished." Gu Wang spoke softly.


    Zhang Changsheng stood there in stunned silence. He was only thinking about today''s events, and never even considered it from such depth and perspective.


    "Changsheng, you should take a page out of Hall Master Gu''s book," remarked the Rain Hierarch, her voiceced with a faint smile.


    "You tter me, Hierarch." Gu Wang responded with a modest chuckle, "As the hall master of the Inspection Hall, it''s my duty to keep track of all happenings in the four corners of the world. Naturally, I have to be well-versed in such information."


    "Give us your judgment," The Rain Hierarch said.


    "Two possibilities," Gu Wang said softly, "First, Shadow de is a mysterious and terrifying expert who discovered Wu Yuan''s untapped potential in secret, took him as a disciple, and has been protecting him in the shadows."


    The Rain Hierarch nodded thoughtfully.


    "But I find this possibility unlikely to be true," Gu Wang said.


    "Why?" The Rain Hierarch asked.


    ��Our intelligence suggests that Shadow de has been gradually unveiling his true strength with each appearance. Such a cautious and measured approach seems unnecessary for a Grandmaster of his caliber." Gu Wang exined.


    "Secondly, there is no Land Ranker simr to Shadow de in the published rankings. With the strength Shadow de disyed today, he could have easily brought Wu Yuan away with him from the beginning. There was no need to let him join our Cloudstride Sect," Gu Wang said.


    The Rain Hierarch nodded slightly, convinced by Gu Wang''s logical deduction.


    "What''s the second possibility?" The Rain Hierarch asked.


    "Shadow de... is Wu Yuan!" Just five words, yet they reverberated with a weight that could shake the world.


    "Shadow de is Wu Yuan?" Zhang Changsheng was dumbstruck, instinctively denying, "Impossible!"


    The Rain Hierarch silently listened, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


    "Indeed, it''s unthinkable. If we go by this assumption, it means that at fourteen, Wu Yuan was already a first-rate Adept. At sixteen, he rivaled a Grandmaster, and at seventeen, he��s a Great Grandmaster," Gu Wang shook his head, sighing. "However, the growth of Shadow de''s strength coincides almost exactly with the gradual unfolding of Wu Yuan''s abilities."


    "This also exins why, despite Shadow de''s overwhelming strength, he clearlycks a proper divine weapon. Combining this with the various coincidences before, can there truly be so many coincidences?"


    "Exclude all the impossibilities," Gu Wang slowly said. "Thest possibility left, no matter how inconceivable, is the truth."


    Zhang Changsheng was shaken to the core, still finding it hard to ept. A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster?


    "Even the legendary Martial King wasn''t this formidable, right?" Zhang Changsheng blurted out.


    "They are simr," Gu Wang casually said. "The Martial King started practicing martial arts at twenty. With an already matured physique, he made it to the Heavenly Rankings at 30."


    "That''s just a legend," Zhang Changsheng shook his head.


    "A legend is not necessarily untrue, it just surpassesmonprehension," Gu Wang calmly stated, leaving Zhang Changsheng unable to reply.


    "This discussion ends here," The Rain Hierarch suddenly spoke, and looked at Zhang Changsheng. "Changsheng, you must erase all the spections Gu Wang just mentioned from your mind. Do you understand?"


    "Understood." Zhang Changsheng nodded vigorously, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.


    "Gu Wang, immediately proceed to the Inspection Hall and alter all records pertaining to Wu Yuan," instructed The Rain Hierarch. "This includes the stealth weapons expert��s appearance during the assassination attempt on him by the Wingborne Sect, and his secret descent from the mountain. All traces must be erased. Also, ensure all involved parties keep their mouths shut."


    "Understood." Gu Wang nodded, understanding The Rain Hierarch''s intentions.


    "In addition, our Cloudstride Sect will publicly deny that Shadow de is a Grandmaster of our sect," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "But through various underground intelligence channels, spread the opposite information."


    "Let the various powers believe that Shadow de is a hidden Grandmaster of our Cloudstride Sect and make it known that he is not older than 40 years old."


    Zhang Changsheng was taken aback.


    "Hierarch, are you suggesting we use the conflicting news about Shadow de��s identity to distract the various powers and provide cover for Wu Yuan?" Gu Wang''s eyes lit up with realization.


    "A Great Grandmaster in his 30s is noteworthy, but not enough to drive people to recklessness. But a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster? Once exposed, the Heavenly Rankers will take up their weapons, and no one can stop them," The Rain Hierarch murmured. "Right, Wang Huang dared to plot murder in my Cloudhill Province, his death is well deserved.


    "Craft a statement to the world, denouncing Wang Huang and Shadow de for disrupting the rules of the Land Rankers. At the same time, dere that all fault lies with the Great Jin Empire."


    "Prepare a second promation stating that extensive damage was dealt to Cloudhill City, and demand apensation of 300 million silver taels from the Great Jin Empire!" The Rain Hierarchmanded. "Make this known to all thirteen continents."


    "I understand." Gu Wang replied with a slight smile, "I will immediately meet the sect leader to sort these matters out. Great Jin must be made topensate our Cloudstride Sect with 300 million silver taels."


    He understood The Rain Hierarch''s intentions. The louder these thunderous pronouncements echoed, the fewer eyes would remain focused on Wu Yuan, eventually diminishing to the point ofplete disappearance.


    As for offending Great Jin? The enemy had even sent a Grandmaster to assassinate their members. Was there any room left for negotiation? The war between them was bound to erupt sooner orter!


    Standing at the side, Zhang Changsheng''s eyes were practically zed over from confusion.


    300 million silver taels? In his view, although the confrontation between Shadow de and Wang Huang caused significant destruction, iming a loss of hundreds of millions of silver taels was an overstatement.


    "Alright, you may proceed.�� The Rain Hierarch said softly, ��I''m going to see Wu Yuan.��


    ��Understood.��


    ...


    <i>Shortly after, inside the Wu Mansion.</i>


    ��Disciple pays respects to the Hierarch.�� Wu Yuan greeted, somewhat nervous. He knew that the Hierarch hadmunicated with Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, but the specifics were unknown to him.


    ��The earlier battle must have rmed you.�� The Rain Hierarch sighed, ��Fortunately, Grandmaster Shadow de killed the Grandmaster of Great Jin.��


    ��A Grandmaster is dead?�� Wu Yuan feigned shock.


    ��Yes.�� The Rain Hierarch nodded, ��The deceased Grandmaster''s name was Wang Huang, you should have heard of him.��


    ��Wang Huang of Jinyang?�� Wu Yuan had a look of ��realization��, then ''curiously'' asked, ��What was he doing in Cloudhill City?��


    ��Attempting to kill you.�� The Rain Hierarch uttered.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened, and a hint of ''fear'' flickered within his gaze.


    ��Haha.�� The Rain Hierarch suddenly chuckled, "Alright, Wu Yuan, I won''t scare you anymore. Wang Huang and his underlings were indeed sent to assassinate you. You should be proud of yourself forpelling Great Jin to employ a Grandmaster assassin."


    "Disciple is terrified," Wu Yuan quickly responded.


    "Grandmaster Shadow de is a mysterious individual, showing only fleeting glimpses of his true power." The Rain Hierarchughed, "It is your good fortune that he saved your life, but don''t expect a second stroke of luck."


    "Come with me, we''re heading back up the mountain." The Rain Hierarch gave a kind smile.


    "Understood." Wu Yuan bowed his head, thoughts storming his mind.


    How much of what The Rain Hierarch had said was true and how much was a lie? Did she trust him? Or was he being deceived? However, Wu Yuan detected no signs of deceit in the Rain Hierarch''s demeanor, so he dared not take rash action.


    Soon, Wu Yuan left the Wu Mansion, following The Rain Hierarch back to Cloudhill.

 Chapter 151: Divine Weapon Spirit (1)

    Chapter 151: Divine Weapon Spirit (1)


    Both Wu Yuan and The Rain Hierarch returned to Cloudhill overnight. Surprisingly, during their journey, The Rain Hierarch did not ask him about Shadow de. Instead, they chatted about his family, the Wu n.


    After reaching the mountain peak, she did not summon him to the Cloud Hall either, but simply allowed him to rest in his courtyard house at the Cloud Martial Hall. It was as though she fully believed Wu Yuansme excuse.


    Within the martial chamber on the first floor of his private courtyard house, Wu Yuan sat in silence. A part of his consciousness controlled his body to consume spiritual qi and practice the ''Majestic Earth and Oceans''. The remainder of his attention was spent pondering the day''s events. With Wu Yuan''s current soul strength, multitasking was a piece of cake for him.


    <em>Something''s not right. The Rain Hierarch is extremely astute. Gu Wang, hall master of the Inspection Hall, is known as the strategic mastermind of the sect. After observing everything today in person, he didn''t sense anything amiss? That''s not possible.</em>


    Wu Yuan refused to believe that the sect members were stupid. Even without mentioning anything else, the fact that Sect Elder Luo covered up his absence was enough to show that the sect''s higher-ups had their own judgment.


    <em>Logically, the higher-ups should suspect a connection between Shadow de and me. If they were to investigate our shared appearances and the timing of those encounters, a clear link would emerge easily.</em>


    The memory of his encounter at the Southdragon River lingered in Wu Yuan''s mind. He had discreetly aided his guards with throwing knives. How could Gu Ji possibly not report this?


    <em>Strange, Sect Elder Luo didn''t press me for further details, but simply announced to the public that I had not left the house. </em>Wu Yuan shook his head. <em>After The Rain Hierarch arrived, she had a long conversation with Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng. Did they ultimately believe the nonsense I made up? </em>He didn''t believe that for a second.


    <em>There are two possibilities. First, they are convinced that Shadow de and I share a close rtionship and Shadow de has been protecting me in secret. But if that were the case, the Hierarch should have asked me a few questions at least. Or perhaps The Rain Hierarch hasn''t decided what to ask me yet?"</em>


    <em>Secondly, they might suspect that I am Shadow de.</em>


    Wu Yuan was well aware that he hadn''t done a particrly ster job of covering his tracks. In fact, the loopholes were everywhere. Over the past few years, his age subconsciously caused everyone to disregard this possibility.


    But today, the ws were too ring for the higher-ups in the Cloudstride Sect to continue ignoring the possibility. Once they made that assumption and began matching past traces one by one, the probability of Wu Yuan''s exposure would skyrocket.


    <em>Will this lead to a breakdown in rtions with this sect?</em>


    Wu Yuan hesitated a little. It wasnt that he was worried about the sect persecuting him. The probability existed, but it was small! The bigger concerny in how he would exin his inexplicable transformation from an ordinary child to a prodigy at the age of fourteen.


    A Grandmaster at seventeen! In the past 3000 years of the Middle Land, apart from the legendary Martial King and some individuals on the Heavenly Rankings, none could match his cultivation progress, let alone surpass it.


    How could he exin this? Stating that it was due to his awakening and opening of the upper dantian lobe was no longer enough to convince others.


    One''s power might be exined by talent, but their actions and character? No one was born with inherent knowledge and experience.


    <em>Face the soldiers with generals, dam the water with earth. Let''s see how the sect decides to respond.</em>


    Wu Yuan''s final decision was to adapt to the changing circumstances while staying true to himself. He didn''t want to sever tiespletely with the Cloudstride Sect. For the past two years, the sect had indeed done its best to nurture him. Falling out with them was thest thing Wu Yuan wanted to see.


    A man must know what to do and what not to do!


    Secondly, Wu Yuans family and n members had deep ties with the Cloudstride Sect.


    <em>The only thing I can do is to continue improving my strength. Strength is the foundation of everything. </em>


    The Rain Hierarch likely suspected something, so why were there no signs of confrontation? Ultimately, it was because the strength Wu Yuan had exhibited today was so overwhelming that the entire sect was not confident of victory.


    Wu Yuan suppressed his manifold thoughts, shifting his attention to the storage artifact. <em>Let''s have a look at the treasures I have gained today.</em>


    To Wu Yuan''s disappointment, the Grandmaster and three Savant experts carried only just over 100,000 silver taels in total. This was a considerably smaller haulpared to when he had in Ninth Prince Jin Rensu. As for other treasures? Apart from a pile of weapons and armor, they were all cheap trinkets, and not even a single natural treasure. But it did make sense, who would burden themselves with useless treasures on an assassination mission thousands of li away?


    <em>Eight third-grade divine equipment, three weapons, four suits of soft body armor, and a pair of battle boots?</em> Wu Yuan retrieved the pair of boots from the storage artifact.


    The material was special; the outeryer was sturdy, while the inside was surprisingly supple.


    In duels between martial artists, footwear yed a pivotal role. A regr boot could instantly fall apart under the explosive force of tens of thousands of catties. Thus, most martial arts experts wore specialized boots. However, divine-grade battle boots were rare. They might only be third-grade divine equipment, but the difficulty and expense of creating afortable and well-fitting pair were far greater than for ordinary third-grade divine equipment.


    <em>A Grandmaster indeed.</em> Wu Yuan immediately tried on the boots.


    Though they were originally tailored for Wang Huang, they fit him surprisingly well. As for the other third-grade divine equipment? They weren''t much help to Wu Yuan, who already possessed third-grade divine-grade armor and weapons.


    <em>I''ll have to find an opportunity to sell these pieces of divine equipment in the future. </em>Using them was not an option, as it would only expose him.


    Wu Yuan looked at the flexible sword in front of him.


    <em>Except for this sword.</em>


    Grandmaster Wang Huang had been armed with a total of three pieces of divine equipment. The body armor and battle boots were all third-grade divine equipment. This flexible sword, however, was a second-grade divine weapon.


    <em>The Drizzle Sword. </em>Wu Yuan carefully inspected the long sword that was recorded on the ''Land Rankings''.


    Wu Yuan recalled the fierce battle. In Wang Huang''s hands, the sword exhibited a delicate drizzle of sword light, unpredictable and ever-changing. It was a much more formidable weapon than the third-grade divine saber Wu Yuan wielded. This was one of the reasons why Wu Yuan had to spend a considerable amount of time, ultimately resorting to a desperate trade of injury for life, to finally y Wang Huang.


    <em>This weapon isn''t quite right for me. </em>After examining the divine weapon, he flicked his wrist, sending out several graceful arcs of sword light.


    His swordsmanship was in no way inferior to that of Wang Huang. At their level of skill, their control over their bodies was so refined that while their weapons were important extensions of their bodies, they weren''t irreceable. Whether the saber or sword, they were merely vessels for their skills. Wu Yuan was a master of saber techniques when wielding a saber, and likewise, a master of spear techniques when wielding a spear. Even if he were to pick up a sword, his strength would not diminish by much.


    For experts, what mattered in a weapon was its suitability to the user''s preferences.


    Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly fond of meticulous, clever techniques. He preferred the more straightforward, explosive style ofbat, favoring strength over finesse, triumphing with superior speed. The saber and poleaxe brought him the most satisfaction in life-and-death battles.


    <em>However, ording to Grandmaster Fang Xia, the major difference between second-grade and first-grade divine equipment, besides the maximum force they can withstand, is their spiritual nature. A third-grade divine weapon is essentially simr to superior weapons. A second-grade divine weapon, however, is imbued with spirituality.</em>


    Wu Yuan didn''t quite understand the concept of spirituality. He had onlye across it asionally while perusing the Grandmaster''s Insights.


    <em>Why waste time thinking when I can put it to the test?</em> Wu Yuan got up to test the sword.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>


    In a sh, the martial chamber was bathed in the ethereal glow of sword lights, brilliant and beautiful.


    <em>After a dozen swings, I must admit, this Drizzle Sword is quitefortable in my hands, effortlessly channeling the full force of my power.</em>


    Wu Yuan evaluated the long sword to be a decent weapon. But so far, he didn''t sense anything too profound. Its spirit? He couldn''t feel it.


    He paused for a moment, pondering what to try next.


    <em>Let''s approach this from a different angle</em>.


    Wu Yuan gripped the sword once more, but this time, he didn''t perform a sword dance. Instead, he enveloped himself with Soul Force, gradually perceiving the long sword from this perspective. Gradually, he felt as though his body and heart were eager to merge as one with the weapon, making it a part of his body!


    In the beginning, nothing much happened. But Wu Yuan was patient. He knew that whether it was the honing of weapon techniques or the practice of qi consumption methods such as Majestic Earth and Oceans, mastery grew increasingly challenging as one reached the higher, more profound levels. Patience was key. So, Wu Yuan continued to perceive it with a quiet mind, believing that the second-grade divine weapon was not as simple as it appeared.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan''s heart grew tranquil. Holding the sword, he quietly perceived it, hoping toprehend the mysteries lying within the sword.


    After two hours, when the first light of dawn appeared in the sky, Wu Yuan finally vaguely sensed the uniqueness of this divine weapon.


    <em>Patterns! Cryptic patterns! Within this second-grade divine weapon, there exist special patterns that can interact with spiritual qi, so faint they''re almost imperceptible.</em>


    Wu Yuan carefully pondered over these special symbols, which seemed to act in simr ways to the meridian cirction system.


    <em>The so-called spiritual nature of a divine sword might just refer to the sword''s ability to form a connection with the spiritual qi.</em>


    Once someone fully mastered a second-grade divine weapon, one could harness the spiritual qi through the weapon and activate its full potential, significantly elevating its power.


    Unfortunately, although Chen Luo and Wang Huang possessed second-grade divine equipment, the power of their weapons did not noticeably increase in battle. The only difference was that their weapons were sharper and more durable.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>After standing still for a long time, Wu Yuan finally swung the divine weapon again. The speed of the swing was unchanged, but the sword in his hand seemed toe alive.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>Countless twinkling sword lights lit up the martial hall. Next, raindrops materialized out of thin air and fell to the ground. It was incredibly strange, like a magic spell conjured from fairytales!


    <em>Swoosh! </em>After onest swing, Wu Yuan rotated his wrist and sheathed the sword. By now, the ground within a radius of three zhangs around him was wet with droplets. It was a spectacle that would shock any expert. One must remember that he was indoors!


    <em>Everything originates from spiritual qi. The special symbols contained in the weapon, once activated, can refine a bit of the spiritual qi, dramatically increasing the weapons power?</em>


    Just now, Wu Yuan clearly felt that a profound connection was ignited from thebination of his soul and sword, leading to the sword''s autonomous qi consumption. It had transformed the qi into droplets of water. With a single sword strike, it seemed as if a drizzle was enveloping the ground, giving Wu Yuans swordy an even more illusory and peculiar appearance, and increasing its might threefold!


    <em>A second-grade divine weapon, containing only a tiny bit of spiritual nature, is already this mystical.</em> Wu Yuan sheathed the Drizzle Sword. <em>How much stronger would a legendary first-grade divine weapon be?</em>


    He had only observed the sheathed Moontide Sword from afar and had yet to witness a strike from a first-grade divine weapon. But this didn''t stop Wu Yuan from specting.


    <em>Chen Luo and Wang Huang, both Perception-level experts, are unable to fully unleash the abilities of a second-grade divine weapon due to their weak souls. I''m guessing they can''t even achieve qi consumption.</em>


    Without the ability to consume qi, it was nearly impossible for them to tap into the weapon''s true potential. ording to various texts, possessing a first-grade divine weapon would greatly enhance the strength of even a regr Grandmaster.


    <em>Could it be that a first-grade divine weapon doesnt need to be fused with the owners soul and can consume qi on its own once it is wielded?</em>


    After storing his treasures, Wu Yuan decided it was time to rest. At his level, sleeping for two hours a day was sufficient. However, after a bloody battle with a Grandmaster, the anxiety of his identity exposure, and a focused session of sword practice, Wu Yuan was indeed somewhat fatigued.

 Chapter 152: Divine Weapon Spirit (2)

    Chapter 152: Divine Weapon Spirit (2)


    Razor''s Edge Cliff, a sheer cliff face on Eight-Sided Cloudhil, towered 100 zhangs into the sky. It seemed as if it had been cleaved by a peerless expert. This location had be a forbidden zone within the sect in recent decades, with ordinary disciples prohibited from approaching without specific orders.


    As the first rays of dawn illuminated the world, a special guest arrived below the towering cliff.


    "Grandmaster Yu, you seldom visit me here," said the lean, white-robed middle-aged man with a smile. His long beard fluttered about, unkempt, like a mountain hermit.


    The visitor was none other than Grandmaster Bu Yu. The middle-aged man gestured for her to sit. But aside from two stone stools, there were no other seats.


    Bu Yu did not sit, instead staring at the white-robed man for a long time before she managed a bitterugh. "Junior Brother, you are always one step ahead of me."


    "Does it matter whether I''m ahead or behind?" The man in white robes sat down with no regard for decorum, his gaze scanning the vast sky and earth. "Your talents far exceed mine, Senior Sister. If you were like me, you''d be nearing the realm of immortality."


    "Understanding it is easy, but executing it is not. I cannot still my mind. Even if I were to meditate for 30 years, it would be in vain," Bu Yu shook her head. "Junior Brother, not everyone can be like you."


    A faint smile yed on the white-robed man''s lips, but he refrained from arguing with her.


    "Well then, Senior Sister, what brings you here today?" The man in white asked.


    "It concerns Wu Yuan," Bu Yu said, exining the day''s events and Gu Wang''s various conjectures.


    "Shadow de? I heard my little fatty mention it," the white-robed man said softly.


    "So hes Wu Yuan? A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmastertsk tsk, unbelievable!" The man in whiteughed.


    "Junior Brother, I need your help to make a decision," Bu Yu said softly. "Who do you think Wu Yuan is? What is his purpose for joining the Cloudstride Sect?"


    "Did you bring his detailed records? I''ve seen them before, but I wish to read them again," the man in white said.


    "Understood." Bu Yu nodded, flicking her wrist and sending a scroll towards him.


    The white-robed man caught it and his eyes began to scan the scroll meticulously. After a while, his gaze brushed over the words "...fell seriously ill at the age of fourteen, awakened soon after, martial arts cultivation progress skyrocketed..."


    His eyelids twitched. Slowly, he closed the scroll.


    "Three possibilities! First, he genuinely possesses exceptional talent." The man in the white robe said softly, "If so, then just like the Martial King, he is a prodigy blessed by heaven!"


    Bu Yu frowned slightly, this wasn''t the answer she was looking for.


    "Second, Shadow de isn''t Wu Yuan, but rather a qi refiner who has left behind a remnant soul to inhabit Wu Yuan''s body." The man in the white robe indifferently hypothesized, "This remnant soul could be helping him increase his strength..."


    Bu Yu''s eyes flickered. Instinctively, she felt that this answer was closer to the truth. Why didn''t she interrogate Wu Yuan right away? Because, deep down, she found it hard to believe that a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster could exist.


    She had contemted the issue thoroughly. Gu Wang was indeed intelligent, but he knew little about the deep secrets of the Middle Lands thirteen continents. Hence his deductions were based on iplete information. But Huan Jian was different, he had been exposed to numerous higher-level secrets.


    "The third possibility is something I heard bits and pieces of when I was in the Xin Continent." The man in white robes murmured, "Legend has it that when a qi refiner reaches an extremely high cultivation level, their soul can not only manipte objects and survey its surroundings, but manifest physically and roam the world, traveling through all the continents and oceans in one night, and even reach the stars. They can even abandon their physical body and reincarnate!"


    "For these powerful qi refiners, the physical body is just a vessel, the soul is the only true essence of their existence." The man in white robes calmly stated, "Reincarnation is equivalent to a new life, naturally difficult to exin in words."


    Bu Yu was left with her jaw hanging, her mind reeling at this newfound knowledge.


    Reincarnation? It was a myth. However, she grasped the full implications of his words and couldn''t help but inhale deeply, her voice solemn as she asked, "Are you suggesting that Wu Yuan could be a reincarnated immortal?"


    "I never imed such a thing," the man in white shook his head.


    Bu Yu furrowed her brows.


    "Senior Sister, you''re overthinking it," Huan Jian said, his tone light. "In truth, it matters little which of these three possibilities is true. What truly matters is that we can no longer control Wu Yuan."


    "Since he dared to follow you up the mountain, it means he''s confident he can escape from both of us," said Huan Jian quietly. "I urge you to consider his words, actions, and character. Think about why he was willing toe up the mountain."


    "Who he is, is not important," said Huan Jian calmly. "What truly matters is determining the course of action that will benefit us the most."


    Bu Yu fell into deep thought. Though she maintained a calm facade in front of others, she couldn''t shake her wariness of Wu Yuan and even felt rather apprehensive of him.


    "I''d appreciate your guidance, Junior Brother," Bu Yu said quietly. "He has a vendetta against Great Jin, killing Wang Huang and Jin Rensu. He''s been living in Cloudstride since he was a child. His family and n all reside here."


    "He has spent over two years on Cloudhill, conducting himself with discipline, devoting himself to cultivation, never stepping out of line," Huan Jian remarked lightly. "If he has truly be a Great Grandmaster, does the Cloudstride Sect possess anything that would entice him?"


    Bu Yu was taken aback.


    "Just as the Cloud River flows to the east, all worldly possessions will eventually part with us. The might of Great Jin looms over the world. We can''t protect the sect with our power alone," said Huan Jian quietly. "Sister, it might be wiser to let go."


    "Whatever he wants, give it to him. Whatever doesn''t need, give it to him anyway! In the future, if he''s willing, our Cloudstride might experience a resurgence. Perhaps we''ll even be the second Wu Sect [1], continuing a lineage unbroken for 3000 years," Huan Jian chuckled lightly. "And if he truly is unwilling, could the situation possibly be worse than the army of Great Jin at our doorstep?"


    Bu Yu fell silent.


    <em>Whoosh~ </em>Suddenly, the white-robed man flicked his hand, and a streak of light flew out, embedding itself firmly into the ground. It was a battle saber.


    "This?" Bu Yu stared at the saber in shock: "Junior Brother, this was bestowed to you by the ancestors."


    "I have no attachment to the sect. This saber has merely been gathering dust." Huan Jian closed his eyes and said softly, "Senior Sister, I''ve said all that needs to be said. You are the sect master. However we proceed, I''ll leave it up to you."


    Bu Yu sighed softly and pulled out the battle saber from the ground. Then, she leaped into the air and scaled the mountain wall. Just as she was about to reach the top of the cliff, a voice called out from the cave. "Senior Sister, Xia Heng''s death was my fault. When Great Jins army reaches Cloudhill, I will take action."


    Upon hearing this, Bu Yu sighed inwardly. Take action? Her junior brother had not taken action in 30 years.


    <em>Is the realm of the immortals, the gate to eternal life, worth abandoning everything in the mundane world for?</em> Bu Yu looked at the fiery red battle saber in her hand.


    After a long while, she made up her mind. With a wave, the saber disappeared, and in a single stride, she covered hundreds of meters, swiftly departing from Razor''s Edge Cliff.


    ...


    Although the Cloudstride Sect had done everything possible to stem the spread of the news, how could they keep it a secret from the dense poption of millions within Cloudhill City?


    Wang Huang and three Savant experts had fallen. This was a fact that couldn''t be denied. Furthermore, the devastating impact of the face-off between Wu Yuan and Wang Huang in the city, and their conversation which was heard by tens of thousands of people, left no room for doubt.


    And so, a mere two dayster, when the Cloudstride Sect finally lifted its blockade, the news spread like wildfire. Shadow de resurfaced after more than half a year of absence, demonstrating the prowess of a Great Grandmaster, and taking down Wang Huang in a single battle! The Jiang Continent was shaken to the core.


    Simultaneously, numerous other tidbits of information were disseminated. For instance, "Shadow de is nearly 40 years old", "Shadow de supposedly shares a senior brother rtionship with the current sect leader of the Cloudstride Sect", "the untold secrets between Shadow de and the courtesan", "Shadow de is actually a hidden expert nurtured by the Cloudstride Sect", "The age-old friendship between Shadow de and Wu Yuan"... These pieces of scattered news caused a dizzying spectacle.


    At the same time, two official statements were publicized. The promation from the Cloudstride Sect demanding 300 million silver taels ofpensation from Great Jinwas especially shocking. It spread through the seven continents of the Central ins at a mind-boggling speed, drawing attention from powers all around the world! Hundreds of millions of silver taels, even for a great nation, was no small sum. This promation alone, in terms of impact, even overshadowed the event of Shadow de killing Wang Huang.


    <em>In Cloudhill City, within the headquarters of the Cloudstride Sect''s Inspection Hall.</em>


    "Hall Master, everything has been arranged," a custodian reported, "The whole world is now in confusion."


    "Good. Have the fabricated records of Shadow de''s upbringing and identity been prepared?" Gu Wang asked softly.


    "They have been prepared," the custodian nodded.


    "Disseminate them once more, intentionally exposing them to the moles of the Pleiades Guild and Sta Consortium embedded in our Inspection Hall. Once they ry the message back, initiate a major internal investigation. Arrest eight out of ten, and kill all the captured ones," Gu Wang instructed nonchntly.


    "Understood," replied the custodian respectfully.


    "To dissuade people from believing a usible theory, the most effective approach is not to outright deny it," Gu Wang mused, raising his tea cup as he contemted the teachings of the former hall master. "Instead, rece it with an alternative spection that appears even more likely!"


    It was entirely possible that Shadow de was Wu Yuan. Gu Wang knew this all too well, and there would be no shortage of people making the same guess. One could not underestimate the intelligence of the world''s major powers, particrly the Great Jin Empire and the Sta Consortium.


    Hence, it was imperative for him to conceal any traces of Shadow de as thoroughly as possible. His goal was to establish the notion that Shadow de, approaching his forties, was a hidden expert from the Cloudstride Sect. Whether real or fake, it would be increasingly difficult for anyone to discern the truth.


    "I don''t need to keep it hidden indefinitely, just dy it for three to five years," Gu Wang murmured, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Once Shadow de bes a Heavenly Ranker, it won''t matter whether his identity is exposed or not."


    ...


    <em>Several thousand li away from the Cloudstride Sect, in Jinyang City of the Jiang Continent.</em>


    "You''re saying, Shadow de might be Wu Yuan?" The east king''s eyes red with a frigid gleam.


    1. sect established by the Martial King

 Chapter 153: Heavens Heir (1)

    <h4>Chapter 153: Heavens Heir (1)</h4>


    Within the grand hall, the east king, Grandmaster Chen Luo, Grandmaster Lu Jiangyin, and important ministers of Great Jin stationed in the Jiang Continent were all in attendance.


    Eight days had passed since Wang Huang''s death. The Cloudstride Sect had transported his body, along with the bodies of the three other Savant experts, to Jinyang City.


    Throughout these past eight days, a whirlwind of news, both true and false, and even gossip, had swept across thend.


    The Cloudstride Sect''s two statements had also reached the capital of Great Jin. Various factions were diligently sifting through this sea of information, hoping to uncover the truth and unravel this perplexing affair. Apart from the undisputed fact that Shadow de assassinated Wang Huang, the rest was as elusive as a cloud of fog.


    "Your Highness East King, as I previously mentioned, based on the findings of the Intelligence Division and the Ministry of Supervision, a thorough analysis of all avable information suggests an 80% probability that Shadow de is a Grandmaster hailing from the Cloudstride Sect," a ck-robed man reported with utmost deference.


    "But the biggest puzzle lies in the fact that even after meticulouslybing through the Cloudstride Sect''s records, we have yet to identify a single expert in their 30s who matches the given description."


    "Simrly, there''s a 20% chance that Shadow de is Wu Yuan," the man in ck continued. "But this hypothesis raises even more questions. First, Wu Yuan has never disyed an unbelievable level of power. His growth has been gradual and traceable, the path of a genius."


    "Secondly, a martial arts genius who has shown exceptional talent from a young age might conceivably be a Great Grandmaster by the age of seventeen. However, Wu Yuan remained entirely ordinary until the age of fourteen. This fact is verifiable. So, to transform from an ordinary youth to a Great Grandmaster within a mere three years?" The man in ck shook his head. "Ordinarily, it would be deemed impossible."


    The Grandmasters and military officials in the hall fell into deep thought.


    The Martial King, who ascended from a mere martial artist to a Heavenly Ranker within a decade, was already a legendary figure. Was it possible that Shadow de went from an ordinary youth to a Great Grandmaster in three years? This was a feat that even surpassed that of the Martial King.


    "But, a substantial piece of the puzzle is missing." A man cloaked in ck respectfully continued, "If Wu Yuan is indeed Shadow de, the Cloudstride Sect wouldn''t have allowed him to reveal himself so prematurely. At least, his participation in the Cloud River battle was uncalled for."


    The assembly contemted his words. They were not privy to the inner workings of the Cloudstride Sect and could only specte from the intel gathered.


    "East King." Lu Jiangyin''s voice was grave and solemn, "I am inclined towards the belief that Shadow de is a hidden expert within the Cloudstride Sect."


    "Indeed! During the battle at the Cloud River, Shadow de was an Integration-level expert," Chen Luo added quietly. "I don''t believe a sixteen-year-old youth could possess such a terrifying skill level."


    The eyes of the assembly turned towards the east king, awaiting his final decision. After a prolonged silence, East King Jin Jiu made his deration. "Ensure Wang Huang is granted a first-ss marquis'' funeral, and the three Savant experts the same honor. I will petition His Majesty to bestow them posthumous titles, ensuring their families are rewarded."


    This was the respect they were due, though the rewards were ultimately meant to appease the living and quell any discontent.


    "Secondly, prepare the army for battle." East King Jin Jiu spoke softly, "Stockpile supplies and make the necessary arrangements for the arrival of our forces. The Battle of Jiang will proceed as nned."


    "Understood!" The assembly in the hall chorused.


    Though East King Jin Jiu did not explicitly say so, his orders indicated his judgment - Shadow de was not Wu Yuan! Had the judgment been otherwise, they wouldn''t be preparing for battle but petitioning Emperor Jin, rallying all of Great Jin''s Grandmasters for a surprise attack on Cloudhill. Perhaps, even the Heavenly Rankers would make an appearance.


    Even as the crowd dispersed from the grand hall, their chatter fading into the background, East King Jin Jiu remained lost in thought, his brows furrowed with uncertainty.


    <i>Is Shadow de Wu Yuan?</i> East King Jin Jiu��s mind swirled with doubts.


    Verifying it was simple, a direct assault on Cloudhill would do it.


    <i>But if we were to engage in war prematurely, before we are truly prepared, it could potentially ignite a joint retaliation from all nations.</i> East King Jin Jiu sighed inwardly. <i>When that happens, will we have the strength to emerge victorious?</i>


    Great Jin stood as an unstoppable force, unrivaled in its power and influence. Yet, it faced enemies on all fronts, save for the West, which had been suppressed by Wu Chenggong. As for the Heavenly Rankers making an appearance?


    <i>How can the Heavenly Rankers be summoned so easily?</i>


    As one of the Great Grandmasters close to entering the Heavenly Rankings, he was well aware of the many concerns and limitations of the Heavenly Rankers. It wasn''t only Great Jin who had Heavenly Rankers in their ranks. If the Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin broke the tenuous agreement that held them in check, the world would no longer know peace.


    As for unifying the world? It would be a fantasy. At least, it wouldn��t be up to him, Emperor Jin, and the other many Land Rankers.


    ...


    <i>The Dong Continent, Ster Province, the Sta Consortium Headquarters.</i>


    "The Grandmasters in Great Jin have yet to execute a joint operation?"


    "It seems Great Jin hase to the same conclusion as our Sta Consortium: Shadow de is likely not Wu Yuan."


    "Shadow de might be Wu Yuan, but the possibility is too small." A group of high-ranking ster councilors from the Sta Consortium engaged in discussion.


    The highest echelons of the Sta Consortium were those in the Ster Council. Even the overseer of the headquarters was one of the 30-odd councilors. Of course, most of them were stationed in various branches, and the major decisions within the consortium were made by eleven rotating councilors.


    "That''s enough." The purple-robed man at the head of the hall swept his gaze over everyone. "There is no need to further escte this conflict."


    "Great Jin, as always, seeks to determine the fate of the world through its mighty army, rather than resorting to covert measures." The man in purple robes softly said: "We don''t need to add fuel to the fire. If Shadow de is not Wu Yuan, everything remains unchanged."


    "If he is Wu Yuan, then a new Heavenly Ranker is destined to be born. If a new Heavenly Ranker emerges from the Cloudstride Sect? Hahaha, it��ll be a wonderful deterrence measure. He will surely unify the Jiang Continent, creating a true divide in the world. For our Sta Consortium, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks."


    "Spread the word. Our Sta Consortium has determined that Shadow de is not Wu Yuan." The man in the purple robe hammered his verdict.


    "Yes, Overseer!" The ten ster councilors on rotation rose to their feet.


    ...


    <i>In an endless desert on the Mo Continent.</i>


    "Is Shadow de that young genius Wu Yuan from the Cloudstride Sect?"


    "The chances aren''t high."


    "I��d rather hope so, haha, the more bastard dogs of Great Jin die, the better." A group of menughed heartily as they guzzled their drinks.


    ...


    <i>The Jiang Continent, Ninecaves Province, Ninecaves City.</i>


    This was the core region of the Baijiang Kingdom under Chu Ping''s rule. In the center of the pce stood the Chu Hall, opulent and imposing.


    "I''ve received news from the Sta Consortium. They believe that Shadow de cannot possibly be Wu Yuan," said a man dressed in a silver robe, seated atop the throne at the center of the grand hall.


    With his long hair cascading down, thick eyebrows, andrge eyes, the 1.9-meter-tall man exuded a regal stature. This was Chu Ping, the Baijiang King, and also a famed Grandmaster. Ranked 36th in the ''World Land Rankings'', he was recognized as the only Grandmaster in the vast Jiang Continent who could rival Grandmaster Yu.


    "Your Majesty, we mustn''t rely solely on the information from the Sta Consortium for such an important matter. We should form our own judgment.�� A soft-spoken old man with a refined demeanor advised. "The Sta Consortium may have its agenda. What''s important is how you see the situation."


    "I hope it''s not him," Chu Ping confessed in a soft voice.


    The refined old man gave a slight nod.


    "Your Highness, Elder Wu," A burly man with a booming voice chimed in, "No matter if he��s Wu Yuan or not, it��s to our advantage if Cloudstride Sect produces another Great Grandmaster. Their chances of fending off Great Jin will rise."


    ��A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster is almost guaranteed a spot on the Heavenly Rankings in the future. If that happens, Great Jin''s chances of expanding eastward would be close to none," the burly man added in a deep voice.


    "But, if he��s truly a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster, we might have to submit to him," Chu Ping��s expression grew pensive.


    "Your Highness, you��re overthinking." The burly man shook his head, "Even if Shadow de bes a Heavenly Ranker and demands our submission, our lives aren''t on the line. But if Great Jines to kill us, will we stand any chance of survival?"


    Chu Ping was momentarily stunned.


    Indeed! Both the Cloudstride Sect and him, Chu Ping, were once part of the Chu-Jiang Empire. Though he had dered himself king and ruled a region, the Cloudstride Sect had never openly opposed him. Both sidespeted with each other, each iming to be the true heirs of the Chu-Jiang Empire. But at the end of the day, they wouldn��t annihte each other.


    However, if Great Jin arrived with their army? It was a dead-end!


    "Your Majesty, if your goal is merely to preserve the lineage of Chu-Jiang, what we have now is enough," the refined old man said softly. "But if you truly wish to restore the empire to its former glory, then the key lies not in others, but in ourselves. True power can only be attained when one grows strong enough to acquire it!��


    ��200 years ago, Imperator Jin fought alone. Today, the vast territory of Great Jin stands."


    "I understand," Chu Ping nodded slightly, his eyes full of longing. "Only by bing a Heavenly Ranker can we rebuild the Chu-Jiang Empire. The Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm will be our biggest opportunity."


    ...


    The battle between Shadow de and Wang Huang sparked a hugemotion throughout the world. The upper echelons of various powers mostly focused on Shadow de''s potential and the rtionship between Shadow de and Wu Yuan, carrying out arge number of covert operations and even fierce battles in secret.


    Yet, for the majority of martial artists andmon folk in the Jiang Continent, as well as countless others around the world who were aware of the issue, their favorite topic of discussion remained the numerous strange tales and anecdotes surrounding Shadow de.


    ��Wonderful!��


    ��Ten years ago, Grandmaster Xia Heng died in the Battle of Hillstride at the hands of Great Jin.��


    ��The Grandmasters of Great Jin are not invincible. Our sect can bring them to their knees as well."


    ��Wipe out those bastards!�� Within the territory of the Cloudstride Sect, countless martial artists andmoners discussed the topic excitedly. They were originally subjects of the Chu-Jiang Empire. After decades of grueling warfare against the Great Jin Empire, countless martial artists perished in battle, fueling a deep-rooted animosity between the two sides.


    If one were to criticize the Chu-Jiang Empire''s bureaucracy as corrupt, then one couldmend the Cloudstride Sect''s governance in the past three decades as exemry. They had not instigated any warfare in 30 years, which somewhat satisfied the people. Who would want to live in a perpetual state of war?


    Of course, the majority of the Cloudstride Sect felt resentment and even hostility towards the Great Jin Empire, which aimed to conquer them.


    ��Across the vast Jiang Continent, apart from Grandmaster Yu and the Baijiang King, no other Grandmaster has managed to achieve the feat of killing another Grandmaster!��


    ��How rare is the fall of a Grandmaster?��


    ��I believe Grandmaster Shadow de is strong enough to ce in the top 50 of the Land Rankings.��


    "Or maybe even higher!�� In the sixteen provinces of the Jiang Continent, countless martial artists engaged in fervent discussions about the event, with the members of the Cloudstride Sect disying the most enthusiasm. Most of them had already embraced the idea that Shadow de was a member of their sect!

 Chapter 154: Heavens Heir (2)

    <h4>Chapter 154: Heavens Heir (2)</h4>


    While the world seemed to be in uproar, the higher echelons of the Cloudstride Sect watched Great Jin like a hawk and maintained a state of heightened alert on Cloudhill. They understood that other factions were curious at most, but were unlikely to cause any major unrest. Even their great adversary, the Wingborne Sect, wouldn��t be able to stab them in the back at this critical juncture, as it was restrained by the other sects in the Dong Continent. It was only Great Jin that they had to remain wary of.


    Yet after almost half a month, the only moves Great Jin made were to publicly reject all demands in the statements from the Cloudstride Sect, and to send back a scathing reply, with no other actions taken.


    Only then did the Cloudstride Sect fully ascertain that Great Jin had likely chosen not to wage war. Of course, the defense of Cloudhill never wavered.


    Then, a piece of news started to circte among the higher ranks of the Cloudstride Sect: a consensus had been reached within the sect to ordain Wu Yuan as a Heavens Heir, with a ceremony soon to follow.


    ....


    <i>At the Cloud Martial Hall, in Wu Yuan''s private courtyard. </i>


    Wu Yuan cultivated at a steady pace, and his injuries were mostly healed. The blood-red mist he gained from killing a Grandmaster far surpassed what he had obtained from any other expert. This meant that he no longer had to worry about running out of blood-red mist in the short term.


    "Hall Master, Sect Elder Huan, I wasn��t expecting you to visit." Wu Yuan was slightly startled when he heard they hade to his residence. He often interacted with Sect Elder Huan. But when it came to the Finance Hall''s hall master, Yan Hong, Wu Yuan had only crossed paths with him on two asions.


    He was an elderly man with hair as white as snow. From what Wu Yuan knew, he was the oldest of the five hall masters, a peer to the two hierarchs, and the most just and strict.


    However, what stood out the most in Wu Yuan''s memory of Yan Hong were the ten Soul Condensing Pills he had gifted him. It was these ten Soul Condensing Pills that had helped Wu Yuan unlock his upper dantian lobe, catalyzing his surge in strength.


    "Sit down, there''s no need to be so stiff and formal," Yan Hong chuckled as he looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded, inwardly rather grateful to Hall Master Yan.


    "Wu Yuan, over the past few days, the sect has been preparing for a possible invasion from the Great Jin Empire, so we haven''t had the time to speak to you," Sect Elder Huan began with an apologetic smile.


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Although he spent all his time in closed-door cultivation and did not attend sses in the martial academy, both Fang Jiushan and Wu Longhe would asionally visit him. Thus, he was roughly aware of the sect''s movements, including the Cloud Martial Hall''s disciples receiving instructions to prepare for battle. He also had a vague idea of the rumors and news circting beyond the mountain. Hence while cultivating, he had remained partially vignt and prepared himself for any changes.


    "However, you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can''t guard against a thief for a thousand days." [1]


    ��The turbulence caused by Grandmaster Shadow de is gradually subsiding, so it''s time for us to address certain matters," Sect Elder Huan said, "Hall Master, if you will?"


    Wu Yuan turned to look at Yan Hong.


    "Wu Yuan, do you still remember the promise made to you over two years ago when Gao Yu brought you into the sect?" Yan Hong asked, chuckling heartily.


    "Promise?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted. Could the rumors be true?


    "It seems you''ve heard the news," Yan Hong chuckled. "Sect Elder Huan and I are here to officially inform you that the sect elders assembly has unanimously decided to designate you as a Heavens Heir with the agreement of the two hierarchs."


    Wu Yuan was honestly shocked.


    Heavens Heir? He was unaware of what the term signified when he first joined the sect, but he soon learned that the top ten disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall were known as Cloud Heirs, a long-standing tradition. Yet the title of Heavens Heir represented the highest honor among the younger generation of disciples, conferred only upon the truly gifted. Not even Xu Hui had been awarded this honor. In the Cloudstride Sect, thest person to be granted the title of Heavens Heir was Xia Heng, over 30 years ago.


    "I haven��t even been in the sect for three years," Wu Yuan shook his head. The title was bestowed based on talent and loyalty.


    "Age does not define ambition," Yan Hongughed. "With your talent, you were already qualified for the title from the moment you joined the sect. But over the years, your brilliance has shaken the world. Your name is recorded in the intelligence of nearly all powers across the world, and everyone believes that you will be a Land Ranker in the future."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. This was the truth.


    "As a Heavens Heir, your status will surpass that of the sect leader, second only to the two hierarchs," Sect Elder Huan spoke up. "You will have ess to the sect''s vast resources, privileged knowledge, and secrets. Your family and n will also reap the benefits of this honor. In essence, as a Heavens Heir, you will be groomed as the future master of the sect. You should understand that the sect leader is merely a figurehead," Sect Elder Huan stated.


    Wu Yuan nodded. This was a world dominated by martial artists, where the disparities in power were insurmountable. No amount of clever strategies or tactical brilliance could bridge the gap between an army of millions and a single Land Ranker, let alone a Heavenly Ranker. In order to establish itself, any major power had to possess immense martial strength, with a sect master whose power was unparalleled.


    ��Wu Yuan, this is the sect''s opinion,�� conveyed Yan Hong. ��Nevertheless, we will respect your choice. Are you willing to ept the title of Heavens Heir?��


    Wu Yuan hesitated. He had been questioning why the two hierarchs hadn''t approached himtely. And now, out of nowhere, the sect had decided to ordain him as a Heavens Heir. Was this the stance the two hierarchs had decided on?


    Yan Hong and Sect Elder Huan patiently waited for Wu Yuan to make his decision, both having some insider knowledge of the situation.


    "Receiving the sect''s favor is a great honor," Wu Yuan finally spoke, his voice slow and measured. "I ept the title of Heavens Heir."


    Yan Hong and Sect Elder Huan exchanged nces, relief washing over them.


    ��Excellent." Yan Hong nodded with a beaming smile. "In two days, a ceremony will be held for you at the Cloud Hall. The hierarchs themselves, along with the n elders and protectorates, will be present. Prepare yourself ordingly."


    ��Understood,�� replied Wu Yuan.


    ��Alright. Wu Yuan, I must inform the hierarchs of your decision. I''ll take my leave now," Yan Hong said with a smile. "No need to see me out." With that, he rose from his seat and departed.


    Only Sect Elder Huan and Wu Yuan remained in the martial hall.


    "Sect Elder, is there something else?" Wu Yuan asked, his tone cool andposed.


    "Wu Yuan." Sect Elder Huan fixed Wu Yuan with a prolonged stare before slowly responding, "I shouldn''t be the one asking you this question. The hierarchs asked me not to, but I couldn''t resist. These past few years, I''ve given you my all and watched you grow."


    Wu Yuan sighed quietly. Throughout his three years at Cloudhill, he felt a deep gratitude towards Sect Elder Huan, Zhao Baifan, and Sect Elder Mo. These three had offered him unwavering support.


    "Sect Elder, feel free to ask," Wu Yuan stated.


    "Good, I trust I haven''t misjudged you. I��ll be blunt then," Sect Elder Huan zeroed his gaze on Wu Yuan, "Are you Shadow de?"


    How direct! Wu Yuan felt a sudden impulse to reveal the truth. But his rationality stopped the words from escaping his lips.


    After a moment of silence, Wu Yuan softly spoke. "Sect Elder, I can only say that if the sect ever faces a great cmity, Shadow de will definitely take action!"


    "Hahaha," Sect Elder Huan burst intoughter, "Very well. Rest assured, I won''t tell anyone about our conversation. I''ll take my leave now."


    "I''ll see you off, Sect Elder."


    Soon, Wu Yuan watched as Huan Zidong disappeared into the night.


    "Sect Elder Huan, was this truly an impulsive question?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    He gently closed the door.


    ...


    <i>Late at night, in the Cloud Hall.</i>


    Rows upon rows of spirit tablets were nestled behind the grand hall, illuminated bymps and the lingering scent of incense.


    "Hierarch, as per your instructions, I spoke with Wu Yuan," Elder Huan spoke with utmost reverence. "He did not directly express his thoughts, but after a prolonged silence..."


    "Tell me."


    "If the sect ever faces a great cmity, Shadow de will definitely take action!" Elder Huan''s voice was low, but the emphasis on ''definitely'' was clear.


    Sect Elder Huan continued, "Hierarch, Wu Yuan is most likely..."


    "Enough, no need to continue," The Rain Hierarch stood in the center of the ancestral shrine, cutting off Sect Elder Huan. "Go, prepare for the ceremony in two days."


    Elder Huan let out a deep sigh, bowed, and slowly withdrew.


    "Shadow de, is this your stance?" The Rain Hierarch stared at the various names before her, deep in thought. After a long while, she lifted the incense and bowed deeply, "Master, Ancestors of our sect. I pray for your divine protection. I pray that Bu Yu made the right choice."


    ...


    <i>Two dayster.</i>


    The early spring weather brought a particr charm to Cloudhill. As the dawn light illuminated the Cloud Hall, it appeared even more dazzling and solemn.


    At the foot of the Cloud Hall, thousands of disciples from the Cloud Martial Hall, as well as core disciples and inner disciples, stood in rows. On both sides of the azure stone steps leading to the Cloud Hall stood second-rate Adepts who served as custodians. Each individual was clothed in uniform attire of their respective status.


    As the time drew close, the boisterous disciples outside the hall gradually fell silent.


    <i>ng! ng! </i>After nine resonating tolls, all of Cloud Hall fell intoplete silence.


    Donned in ck robes, Sect Leader Lu Feng strode out from the Cloud Hall, overlooking the disciples amassed below. ��Our ancestors were virtuous and protected us from all sides. They founded the sect atop Cloudhill more than 300 years ago, establishing the Cloudstride legacy!��


    ��The Cloud Heirs are the sect''s champions through the generations. However, above the Cloud Heirs, there exists a higher rank, the Heavens Heirs. A Heavens Heir is a champion bestowed upon the Cloudstride Sect by the heavens.�� Sect Leader Lu Feng articted each syble with gravity.


    ��Where is Wu Yuan?�� His voice, robust and resonant, reverberated across the entire Cloudhill.


    A figure in ck appeared at the foot of the Cloud Hall amidst the sea of gazes. He responded in a powerful voice, ��Disciple Wu Yuan is here.��


    ��Enter the hall,�� Lu Fengmanded solemnly.


    Wu Yuan ascended the steps under the watchful eyes of thousands, each step sure and strong, not a trace of fear in his gaze. The Cloud Hall fell into silence once more. Only the sound of Wu Yuan''s footsteps could be heard.


    After ascending the stairs, Wu Yuan followed Lu Feng into the Cloud Hall. Sweeping his gaze across the figures on either side, he recognized many familiar faces. Numerous sect elders like Yan Hong, Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, and Huan Zidong, as well as division heads and protectorates like Gao Yu, Zhao Baifan, and other high-ranking custodians were present. There were easily more than a hundred people, all first-rate Adepts or stronger.


    Earning a ce in the Cloud Hall equated to being a key figure within the Cloudstride Sect. However, what caught Wu Yuan''s attention were the two figures at the far end of the grand hall. One was The Rain Hierarch, still clothed exquisitely. The other was a lean middle-aged man, d in a white robe, bearing an air of unbridled freedom and worldly detachment. He seemed at least twenty years younger than The Rain Hierarch standing next to him.


    <i>The Sword Hierarch? </i>Wu Yuan wondered, a flicker of caution darting through his mind.


    Through his soul sense, The Sword Hierarch in front of him seemed almost ethereal. Though he stood there, it was as if he existed on a different level from everyone else, harmoniously merged with the world. His gaze remained calm, yet a single nce instilled Wu Yuan with a sense of lethal danger.


    <i>On the ''World Land Rankings'', isn��t The Sword Hierarch ranked ninth in the Jiang Continent, and over 150 in the world? Why does his aura give me the feeling that he''s much stronger than The Rain Hierarch? </i>It could only mean that the Land Rankings were not urate.


    Under the scrutiny of more than a hundred onlookers, Wu Yuan made his way to the center of the grand hall, while Lu Feng positioned himself to the side.


    "Wu Yuan." The Rain Hierarch arrived at the center of the grand hall, peering down at Wu Yuan. With a wave of her hand, the Moontide Sword suspended in mid-air flew into her grasp. Raising one hand, she gently began, "Age seventeen, a native of Li City in the Southdream Province..."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively to the narration of his life story.


    "Since his induction into the sect, he has been diligent in cultivation and of noble character. Twice he has emerged as the victor of the Cloud Martial Hall''s annualpetition, twice he set historical records in the Skystride Pavilion. He stands at the pinnacle of all disciples, surpassing the achievements of countless generations in Cloudstride."


    With a deliberate and measured cadence, the Rain Hierarch solemnly proimed, "Today, we make known to the heavens, to the ten generations of ancestors, and the people of the four provinces, that we confer the title of Heavens Heir upon him."


    "Where is Wu Yuan?" The Rain Hierarch''s voice rose.


    "Disciple is here," Wu Yuan responded with cupped hands.


    "Will you, Wu Yuan, pledge yourself to uphold the aspirations of our sect''s ancestors, safeguard the people of Cloudstride, and perpetuate the enduring legacy of Cloudstride?" The Rain Hierarch asked.


    "Disciple is willing!"


    1. means that you can''t be on high alert forever ?

 Chapter 155: First-Grade Divine Weapon (1)

    Chapter 155: First-Grade Divine Weapon (1)


    "Very well." The Rain Hierarch nodded with satisfaction, "Henceforth, you are the seventh Heavens Heir of the Cloudstride Sect." Throughout the 300-year history of the Cloudstride Sect, only six Heavens Heirs had ever been ordained before Wu Yuan, a testament to their rarity.


    "Receive the sword." The Rain Hierarch waved her hand, and the divine sword soared towards Wu Yuan with a speed that would have left even a second-rate Adept trembling. Wu Yuan caught it firmly.


    The Moontide Sword, the strongest divine weapon of the Cloudstride Sect in over a century, represented the sect''s legacy and hope. Receiving this sword meant shouldering the weight of responsibility that came with it. With this act, the ceremony reached its conclusion.


    "Heavens Heir," Lu Feng, the sect leader, bowed slightly.


    "Greetings, Heavens Heir!" Inside the grand hall, under the lead of the five hall masters, the assembly of sect elders, division heads, protectorates, and custodians paid their respects. The Savant experts offered a subtle nod of acknowledgment, while the majority bowed deeply.


    The status of a Heavens Heir was equivalent to that of the sect leader! Yet, all present in the hall understood that in terms of significance, a Heavens Heir held even greater importance.


    As the grand ceremony drew to a close, the hall masters, n elders, protectorates, and others dispersed. The disciples outside the Cloud Hall followed suit.


    At the same time, several disciples headed down the mountain to spread the news to the civil and military officials, disciples, and armies in the three provinces. This was to announce the identity of the Cloudstride Sect''s next sect master, a promation that would soon reach the ears of the major powers across the seven continents of the Central ins in the days toe.


    Regardless, the impact would be minimal, for Wu Yuan''s prodigious talent was widely recognized among the various factions, and his somewhat ambiguous connection to Shadow de only added to his reputation. It was only natural that he would be a Heavens Heir.


    "Wu Yuan,e with us." The Rain Hierarchmanded, immediately marching off with The Sword Hierarch towards the rear of the grand hall.


    Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment before following suit. He reasoned that since the announcement was already made public, it was unlikely that the hierarchs had ulterior motives.


    Behind the grand hall stood a modest ancestral shrine.


    <em>Tablets? </em>Wu Yuan took in the burning incense and numerous names engraved on the spirit tablets. Ancestor Yun Shan, Ancestor Hong He, Ancestor Fang Xia In total, there were a good two to three dozen tablets.


    <em>These are the names of the Cloudstride Sect''s past sect leaders and Grandmasters. </em>Wu Yuan deduced, immediately understanding the significance of the ce.


    He turned to look at The Rain Hierarch and Sword Hierarch. The Sword Hierarch quietly moved to one side, while The Rain Hierarch bowed respectfully and meticulously offered incense to each tablet.


    After cing the incense, The Rain Hierarch moved to The Sword Hierarch''s side, then turned to Wu Yuan, her voice gentle, "Wu Yuan,e and pay your respects to honor our past ancestors."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan obediently followed the Rain Hierarch''s actions.


    Once they were done, The Rain Hierarch said, "Wu Yuan, with our sect''s ancestors as witnesses, you are now a Heavens Heir. There are some matters of the sect that we should naturally inform you about. Normally, certain information shouldn''t be shared with you at this juncture, but time waits for no one. If we don''t inform you now, I''m afraid there won''t be another opportunity."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Won''t be another opportunity?


    "The Cloudstride Sect is on the brink of annihtion."


    Just one statement, yet it was like someone dropped a bombshell on him.


    "What?!" Wu Yuan involuntarily looked up at The Rain Hierarch. His shock was genuine.


    "Theres nothing surprising about this," The Rain Hierarch said lightly. "Great Jin is breathing down our necks. We''ve enjoyed a ten-year truce, but now that the battles in the Min and Yuan Continents have ceased, it won''t be long before they set their sights on the Jiang Continent. Time is a luxury we can ill afford."


    "I''m growing old. Next year, I''ll be over a hundred, and mybat power will rapidly decline. I won''t be able to hold on for long," The Rain Hierarch said slowly.


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    For a Grandmaster, living to 130 or 140 was a breeze, but once they crossed 100, theirbat power started to wane. Even though the process was slow, and they could maintain the strength of a Savant expert until their dying breath, and this decline in power was irreversible. Old enemies from years past would never let such an opportunity slip by.


    For any sect, the presence of a Grandmaster in their prime was a matter of paramount importance. It acted as a deterrent, making other forces think twice before unsheathing their weapons. But without it? Annihtion loomed menacingly close.


    "Emperor Jin is ambitious, and he intends to unify the world within his lifetime," The Rain Hierarch continued. "As early as next year,test five years from now, Great Jin willunch another offensive east. In terms of military strength, we are far behind. By then, I will be old, and The Sword Hierarch won''t be able to hold the fort alone."


    "Furthermore, given The Sword Hierarch''s temperament, he might not be willing to fight for the sect till the end," The Rain Hierarch stated bluntly.


    The Sword Hierarch, standing nearby, showed no change in expression upon hearing this.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    He finally understood why rumors swirled within the sect, painting The Sword Hierarch as apathetic and indifferent. It wasn''t entirely false.


    "Hierarch, once war breaks out, the major factions of the four coastal continents won''t just stand by," Wu Yuan said.


    The four coastal continents referred to the Yan Continent, Wu Continent, Dong Continent, and Min Continent.


    "They will naturally lend their support, and so will the Baijiang King," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "But the premise is that our Cloudstride Sect is powerful enough. What good is backup if we can''t even withstand the first onught from Great Jin?"


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    Indeed, even as a pawn, one needed to be strong enough to prove valuable.


    "Even if we repel the first wave of Great Jin''s attack, if we''re too weak afterward, the four coastal continents may back the Baijiang Kingdoms rule over our Cloudstride Sect and Yuanhu Province," The Rain Hierarch sighed. "Then, with the Baijiang Kings authority over eight provinces, he''d be in a better position to help them resist Great Jin''s forces."


    Wu Yuan''s shock deepened as he furrowed his brows. "The subjects of our Cloudstride Sect won''t readily ept the rule of the Baijiang King."


    The Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang King were both purported sessors to the Chu-Jiang Empire. However, in truth, the reputation of the Chu-Jiang Empire had long been tarnished over the span of 600 years and held little sway over the people.


    A Grandmaster could form the backbone of a faction. But to truly establish a strong faction, time was needed, along with loyal armies, martial artists, and citizens. Among all virtues, martial might was foremost!


    And yet martial strength wasn''t omnipotent. A Land Ranker, or even a Heavenly Ranker, couldn''t possibly kill all dissenting citizens and soldiers.


    "They won''t dismantle the banner of our Cloudstride Sect," The Rain Hierarch understood the situation clearly. "But over time, all power will be seized by the Baijiang King. Moreover, the Baijiang King might try to resurrect the banner of the Chu-Jiang Empire. At that point, what distinction would there be between our Cloudstride Sect surviving or being eradicated?"


    Wu Yuan slowly nodded. Bing a puppet? The Rain Hierarch''s analysis was undeniably sound.


    "I was originally hoping to entrust Xu Hui with this matter. His talent is indeed remarkable, and his progression ismendable. But the sect cannot afford to wait any longer." The Rain Hierarch said in a lowered voice, "Each additional Grandmaster in our ranks will buy us a bit more time. But without a Heavenly Ranker, it will be tough to withstand Great Jin''s military might. Only those in the Heavenly Rankings can fight against other Heavenly Rankers!"


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. From these words alone, he could deduce that there must be a Heavenly Ranker behind Great Jin. The Rain Hierarch had essentially confirmed it.


    "Xu Hui represents a glimmer of hope for the sect. But Wu Yuan, you are truly indispensable for the sect''s future," The Rain Hierarchs gaze fell on Wu Yuan, filled with hope.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively. The future?


    "Do you know why Heavens Heirs are so rarely ordained?" The Rain Hierarch softly asked.


    "Please enlighten me, Hierarch, Wu Yuan replied.


    "This title signifies more than just reputation and duty," The Rain Hierarch sighed. "It represents the vast benefits it embodies. Even the sect finds it burdensome, which is why only exceptional individuals are chosen. Of the previous six Heavens Heirs, five became Land Rankers.


    Wu Yuan involuntarily felt moved. Such selectiveness showed how cautious the sect was in choosing their candidates.


    "Wu Yuan." With a wave of her hand, several items materialized on the table beside her: a thick book, a saber, and a silver ring.


    <em>A storage artifact? </em>Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.


    By this point, if he still failed to recognize that The Rain Hierarch too possessed a storage artifact, it would be an embarrassing disy of ignorance.


    "You don''t seem the least bit surprised; it appears you already know about the existence of storage artifacts," The Rain Hierarch remarked, a faint smile on her face.


    "I''vee across references to them in the Grandmaster''s Insights," Wu Yuan responded.


    Indeed, the Grandmaster''s Insights had briefly mentioned them, alluding to some mystical belongings of immortals. However, they never explicitly stated that they were real.


    The Rain Hierarch chuckled and shook her head, not pressing the matter further. She then picked up a saber sheathed in a ck scabbard.


    "This saber is named Sunfury." The Rain Hierarch held the hilt in her right hand, gently caressing the scabbard with her left. There was a touch of sentimentality and nostalgia in her actions. Then, with a firm grip on the scabbard, she suddenly pulled out the de.


    <em>Boom! </em>The moment the saber left its scabbard, a terrifying saber intent exploded throughout the entire hall like a volcanic eruption. Even with his strong soul, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel slightly shaken. It was utterly horrifying!


    "What...?" Wu Yuan''s eyes were wide. It was the most powerful saber Wu Yuan had seen to date.

 Chapter 156: First-Grade Divine Weapon (2)

    Chapter 156: First-Grade Divine Weapon (2)


    "Do you feel it? The world knows that our Cloudstride Sect''s Moontide Sword has dominated the Jiang Continent for 100 years." The Rain Hierarch sighed, "In reality, for over 100 years, two first-grade divine weapons have always existed within our sect: the Moontide Sword, and the Sunfury Saber!"


    Two? He stared at the saber in The Rain Hierarch''s hand. The aura emitted by the saber was in no way inferior to that of the Moontide Sword. It was definitely not something a second-grade divine weapon couldpare to.


    "From the moment Grandmaster Fang Xia acquired this Sunfury Saber, it has never been revealed to the world." The Rain Hierarch murmured, "Compared to the Moontide Sword, its much more domineering, not something the average person can wield. Hence, almost all of the sect''s sessive hierarchs have chosen to wield the Moontide Sword."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Indeed, through his soul sense, he could clearly distinguish that the Moontide Sword was more restrained, while this Sunfury Saber was as wild as a volcano.


    "For the past several decades, the Sunfury Saber has always been The Sword Hierarchs apanying weapon." The Rain Hierarch sheathed the battle saber and looked at Wu Yuan, "From this day forward, it is yours."


    "Mine?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted, his gaze involuntarily darting to The Sword Hierarch. This was The Sword Hierarch''s treasure.


    "Don''t look at me. The sect''s heirloom treasure ought to be wielded by the most suitable individual." The Sword Hierarch, who hadn''t spoken until now, exuded an otherworldly aura as he exined calmly, "And that individual is you. I''ve kept it by my side for nearly three decades, never once unsheathing it."


    Wu Yuan didn''t have any response to that. As far as he knew, The Sword Hierarch hadn''t left the mountain in 30 years, so he had no need for the saber.


    "Take it." The Rain Hierarch gestured.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> The Sunfury Saber flew towards Wu Yuan, who instinctively caught it and examined it with great care. Excitement flickered in his eyes.


    For martial artists, secret techniques were their greatest obsession, followed closely by divine weapons. A powerful divine weapon could greatly enhance a martial artist''s strength. How could Wu Yuan, who had a fondness for sabers, not yearn for a top-tier divine saber?


    <em>What a powerful saber intent. An average first-rate Adept may not be able to withstand it if their soul is weak. If one remains in the presence of a first-grade divine weapon for too long, it might even injure the soul. </em>Wu Yuan''s breath hitched subtly as he felt the searing heat in his palm.


    He now thoroughly understood that just like the difference between a Land Ranker and a Savant expert was like heaven and earth, so too was the difference between a first-grade and a second-grade divine weapon. Compared to the Sunfury Saber, the Drizzle Sword was no better than scrap metal!


    As The Sword Hierarch and The Rain Hierarch observed Wu Yuan handle the Sunfury Saber without any fear of its saber intent, they exchanged a knowing nce. Any previous doubts they harboredpletely vanished.


    The Sword Hierarch nodded subtly.


    "Wu Yuan, don''t let us down," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "You are the first Heavens Heir to inherit a divine weapon right after induction."


    "Disciple understands. Thank you, Hierarchs," Wu Yuan responded with a slight nod.


    He realized he had momentarily lost hisposure, and the hierarchs now had full confirmation of his identity. But still, everything was left unsaid.


    "Wu Yuan, this is our sect''s sole qi refining technique, known as the ''Five Elements Cycle.'' It is widely practiced across the world. I now pass it to you," The Rain Hierarch waved her hand once more and a thick book flew towards Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up as he caught it. Qi refining? The methods he had learned so far only taught him how to unlock the 108 acupoints and enhance his perception of spiritual qi with his soul sense. But how to convert the qi? How to connect the acupoints? How to open up the qi sea in his dantian? These were only taught in qi refining manuals!


    <em>The material of this book isnt as impressive as that of the ''Majestic Earth and Oceans''.</em> However, Wu Yuan understood.


    As per The Rain Hierarch''s words, this was not the original manual, and the technique itself must have been widely disseminated.


    "Wu Yuan, when you reach the limit of the human body and your soul grows progressively stronger, you may attempt to practice qi refining," The Sword Hierarch softly stated, "Those sacred martial sects may possess more powerful qi refining techniques, but the ''Five Elements Cycle'' is widely regarded as the safest andq least prone to side effects."


    "Typically, all martial artists, upon reaching their human limits, would first attempt to practice the ''Five Elements Cycle.'' Once they be true qi refiners and understand their attributes, they will then switch to a cultivation method more suitable for themselves," The Sword Hierarch quietly added.


    "Attributes?" A flicker of confusion crossed Wu Yuan''s eyes. What did that mean?


    "Haha, there''s no harm in telling you," Sword Hierarch chuckled.


    "The spiritual qi is not a chaotic mix of spiritual energy, but instead finely divided into many types. And the human body, nourished by the world, does not have absolutely bnced attributes," Sword Hierarch exined calmly.


    "When your martial skill reaches the Unity level in the future, and you begin to perceive the Dao of heaven and earth, you wille to understand the various types of heaven and earth''s powers."


    "In the vast world, the five mostmon types of heaven and earth''s powers are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. There are also some rtively rare powers."


    "As for our human bodies, we as martial artists can absorb all heaven and earth''s powers. But once you be a qi refiner, your energy source will originate from qi, and you will specialize in cultivating a type of heaven and earth''s power ording to your personal characteristics. After all, it is too difficult to control all the heaven and earth''s powers simultaneously. A jack of all trades is a master of none," Sword Hierarch said lightly. "All of these will be exined in the qi refining method. You can take your time to read andprehend it in the future."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Sword Hierarch," Wu Yuan said earnestly.


    He didn''t need any guidance on how to reach the limits of the human body. But to break past those limits and be a qi refiner? If there were seniors to guide him, he would be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort. The Sword Hierarchs words helped Wu Yuany the framework of how he should proceed.


    "Wu Yuan, the third treasure we grant you is a storage artifact." The Rain Hierarch waved her hand, and a silver ring flew towards Wu Yuan.


    "Drip some blood on it, and it will recognize you as its master," The Rain Hierarch exined.


    Of course, Wu Yuan was already aware. After following her instructions, Wu Yuan sensed a faint connection between himself and the silver ring. Once worn, the ring could magically expand and contract to fit his finger perfectly. It didn''t hinder his movements inbat, and wouldn''t fall off.


    <em>What a huge space!</em> As a current owner of a storage artifact, he manipted it expertly. The moment the storage space opened up, Wu Yuan was shocked.


    It was roughly ten cubic meters of space, the size of a small room, and more than three times bigger than the storage artifact he got from ying Jin Rensu. Inside the storage artifact, all sorts of items were neatly arranged: a myriad of jars and bottles, stacks of books nearly reaching a person''s height, and a huge stash of throwing knives!


    "Wu Yuan, within the storage artifact, you will find 1000 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew and 2000 drops of Cloudspring Blood." The Rain Hierarch began, "Six books contain the sects knowledge of Grandmasters, qi refiners, and immortal relics. They are the essence of what the Cloudstride Sect has umted over hundreds of years, with records of ces like the Xin Continent, Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, and the various isles in the South Ocean."


    "Seven other books contain the collective intelligence gathered by generations of our sect''s ancestors during their travels across the world. There are also eleven books that provide a brief introduction to the world''s various powers, the culture and customs of different regions, and their geographicalndscapes. After reading these books, you should gain a thorough understanding of the world."


    The Rain Hierarch continued, "There are 300 throwing knives, 100 of which are third-grade divine weapons that can potentially threaten a Grandmaster. The other 200 are fourth-grade superior weapons, suitable for everyday use. All knives are unmarked, ensuring that no one will recognize them."


    "This, is the most the sect can offer you in terms of support." The Rain Hierarch sighed softly, "How far you can go in the future depends entirely on your own efforts."


    The Sword Hierarch nced at Wu Yuan.


    As Wu Yuan sensed the treasures within the storage artifact, he stood stock-still. The intentions of the two Hierarchs were now clear. A first-grade divine weapon, qi consumption method, qi refining method, intelligence, ample natural treasures, and throwing knives that would preserve his anonymity. One could say that, from now till the point he entered the Heavenly Rankings, everything Wu Yuan needed for his cultivation had been provided.


    He remained silent for a long time.


    "Wu Yuan thanks the two Hierarchs." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, his voice solemn, "Wu Yuan will never let the sect down in this lifetime."


    What more could he ask for?


    The Sword Hierarch and The Rain Hierarch exchanged nces, both revealing a hint of a smile.


    "Wu Yuan, since you are part of the sect and have the talent, the sect will naturally spare no effort in nurturing you." The Rain Hierarch said with a slight smile "There''s no need to feel indebted to the sect. Once you make it to the Heavenly Rankings, the sect will take pride in you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "Wu Yuan, remember I mentioned that you are to embark on a field trial?" The Rain Hierarch asked.


    "I remember." Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Your field trial is to venture out into the world! Until you be a Heavenly Ranker, you must never return to Cloudhill, not even if the sect encounters a great catastrophe!" The Rain Hierarch''s tone was grave.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted.


    Just now, he was still somewhat puzzled. Even if the sect wanted to nurture him intensively, why provide him with so many natural treasures at once? 1000 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, 2000 drops of Cloudspring Blood. Converted into silver taels, it was probably worth 200 million. Moreover, such a vast amount of natural treasures could not be bought with mere silver. For the Cloudstride Sect, it was probably an umtion of wealth over many years. So, it turns out that they wanted him to leave the mountain.


    "Hierarch!" Wu Yuan opened his mouth to speak.


    "Wu Yuan." The Rain Hierarch cut him off, her voice calm yet resolute, "We are not doing this to drive you away, but for your own safety. You are far too talented. So talented that it makes various factions in the world wary. Once the true extent of your talent is exposed, they will stop at nothing to kill you, especially Great Jin."


    "War is on the horizon. Your presence or absence will not alter the course of events unless you be a Heavenly Ranker," The Rain Hierarch exined.


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    Indeed, his strength might rival that of a Great Grandmaster, but how many experts resided in Great Jin? And then there were the Heavenly Rankers, the elites who overlooked the world from their lofty positions. Not to mention the million-strong army that threatened to march eastward.


    His strength, as formidable as it was, still fell short in the face of the impending storm brought by Great Jin.


    "Moreover, with your skill level, it would be pointless for you to remain on Cloudhill any longer," The Sword Hierarch suddenly spoke from the side. "Travel the world, behold its manifold wonders, and experience the hustle and bustle of life. Only then can you find your way faster, perhaps even achieving true Harmony of Man and Nature. Once you reach that point, you will be aligned with the Dao. The Dao is inherent in the world. If you confine yourself to Cloudhill, your advancement will invariably stagnate," The Sword Hierarch''s voice was ethereal, like an enlightened sage.


    "But Hierarch," Wu Yuan said, a hint of confusion in his voice. "Didnt you also stay on the mountain for 30 years?"


    "At the age of 30, The Sword Hierarch left the mountain and traveled the seven continents of the Central ins. At 50, he became a Grandmaster," The Rain Hierarch said softly. "After bing a Grandmaster, he spent ten years traversing the far reaches of the north, traveling west to the Xi Continent and the Huang Continent, and south to the Xin Continent, only then returning to meditate in the sect for thirty years."


    "Only by first experiencing the world, can one then transcend it. Only after traversing the world and seeing all its wonders, can one find their most suitable path forward," The Rain Hierarchughed. "I believe you can sense that the Sword Hierarch''s level ofprehension is superior to mine. Listen to him, he''s right!"


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    Throughout the world, The Rain Hierarchs swordsmanship wasuded, while the Land Rankings ced the Sword Hierarch at a low rank. But from his perception, The Sword Hierarch seemed to have reached a far more profound level.


    "Sword Hierarch, have you truly attained Unity of the Harmony of Man and Nature?" Wu Yuan suddenly asked.

 Chapter 157: The Terror Of The Unity Level (1)

    <h4>Chapter 157: The Terror Of The Unity Level (1)</h4>


    Faced with Wu Yuan''s question, The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch exchanged knowing smiles.


    "Wu Yuan, as martial artists, there is no useparing strengths through discussion. Would you be willing to engage in a sparring match with The Sword Hierarch?" The Rain Hierarch chuckled, "Without weapons."


    "Spar with The Sword Hierarch?" A glint of battle intent shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes, "I would be more than willing. But, will The Sword Hierarch be amenable to it?"


    "Senior Sister, you know where I stand." The Sword Hierarch nced at The Rain Hierarch, a hint of displeasure creasing his face.


    "Wu Yuan is about to leave the mountain. Let this be a moment of mentorship to show him howrge the world truly is, so he doesn''t behave too arrogantly when roaming outside." The Rain Hierarch said with a smile.


    The Sword Hierarch contemted for a moment, then nodded, "Very well, but remember, do not go too far."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan''s eyes sparked with anticipation.


    Though unclear whether The Sword Hierarch had truly reached the Unity level of the Harmony of Man and Nature, Wu Yuan could tell that the hierarch��s martial skill level was far higher than his own.


    On the peak of the Cloud Hall, aside from the main hall and ancestral shrine, there stood a colossal training ground, spanning over 50 zhangs. Although not quite suitable for a battle to the death between Grandmasters, it was more than sufficient for a simple spar.


    Soon, Wu Yuan and the Sword Hierarch took their positions at opposite ends of the training ground, 30 zhangs apart, facing each other from a distance. The only spectator was The Rain Hierarch. As for the other disciples? On regr days, without explicit permission from the hierarchs, no disciple would dare visit the Cloud Hall. Therefore, they were unaware of the imminent duel.


    "Wu Yuan," Sword Hierarch said. "I understand that you wish to get a glimpse of what lies ahead on the path of martial skill. So, feel free to attack me however you wish. I do not relish participating in battles, but my strength lies in defense."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered as he grasped the implications of Sword Hierarch''s words: he could unleash his full power, there was no need to hold back.


    Taking a deep breath, Wu Yuan steeled his resolve. As battle fervor coursed through his body, he spoke in a low voice, "In that case, I will not hold back. I will fight barehanded as my strength lies in palm techniques. Please guide me, Hierarch."


    Wu Yuan was proficient with the saber and poleaxe, which had some corrtion with palm techniques. In his previous life, Wu Yuan was particrly fond of palm techniques.


    "Hahaha, palm techniques?" Sword Hierarchughed. "Good, palm techniques happen to be my expertise as well. Come."


    The Sword Hierarch was not a fan of fighting, and his life pursuit was immortality. But as a Land Ranker, he had been through countless battles. When the time came forbat, he showed no fear.


    "Wu Yuan,e." The Sword Hierarch beckoned, standing nonchntly. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man who knew nothing about martial arts, almost as if he was belittling Wu Yuan.


    But from Wu Yuan''s perspective, it could not have been further from the truth. Merely standing there, Sword Hierarch emanated an air of imprable defense.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s figure transformed into an afterimage as he dashed ten zhangs across, seemingly preparing tounch an attack from an unexpected angle.


    The Sword Hierarch, unperturbed, took a single step.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan paused, his gaze locked onto the hierarch, an indescribable shock filling his eyes. Inconceivable!


    In terms of martial skill, Wu Yuan had already perfected the Integration level. It could be said that among the Grandmasters he had faced before, none couldpare to his current abilities. Though Wu Yuan felt a certain wariness towards The Rain Hierarch, a majority of the fear was directed to the Moontide Sword. However, The Sword Hierarch was different. Every nce, every move he made, seemed to exert immense pressure on Wu Yuan, as if the entire world was bearing down on him with endless killing intent.


    <i>Wu Yuan is no longer hiding the fact that he''s Shadow de. His steps are very refined, and the environment imposes no restrictions on him. He''s not at all inferior to me. </i>The Rain Hierarch observed the battle quietly.


    Neither side mentioned Wu Yuan��s identity, but they each revealed their knowledge of it in their own way.


    <i>However, to win against Huan Jian?</i> The Rain Hierarch shook her head slightly. <i>I wonder how far he can push Huan Jian.</i>


    She was well aware of Huan Jian��s strength. Getting a glimpse through the gate of immortality was not just empty talk!


    ...


    <i>This is Unity? The final level of Harmony of Man and Nature?</i> As Wu Yuan''s figure continually flickered around The Sword Hierarch, he could tell that his opponent''s skill level was far too profound and fundamentally different from his own.


    <i>No more probing. It''s time to go in for the kill</i>. A flicker of resolve passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. Without reservation, he unified his musculoskeletal system, causing his speed to skyrocket beyond the limits of sound. He was going all out! Since he had already been seen through, and he also trusted the two Hierarchspletely, there was naturally no need to continue hiding his strength.


    <i>So fast! </i>


    <i>Grandmaster! </i>


    Both The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch''s eyes shed with surprise. They''d anticipated it, yet witnessing this scene sent shockwaves through their hearts. A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster!


    At the moment, they were only twenty zhangs apart. It would only take an instant for the two to collide.


    <i>What?</i> Wu Yuan, who had just advanced ten zhangs, saw the Sword Hierarch suddenly swing his arm, sending a palm strike toward him.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan felt a drastic change in his surroundings. The once unobstructed environment was suddenly suffused with an overwhelming pressure.


    <i>Boom! </i>A sharp, piercing sound echoed through the air as Wu Yuan''s speed sharply decreased.


    <i>Bang!</i> Their palms collided, generating a visible shockwave in the air that rippled in all directions. Though Wu Yuan exerted an immense force of 600,000 catties, he was sent stumbling back, leaving deep imprints on the sturdy ground. Debris soared through the air, propelled by the magnitude of the shockwave. Meanwhile, the Sword Hierarch stood firm, merely taking a single step back. The strength disparity was astonishing.


    <i>How...how is this possible?</i> Wu Yuan gaped at the Sword Hierarch, filled with disbelief.


    One million catties of force! Wu Yuan was certain that in their head-on collision, the Sword Hierarch had exerted a force of one million catties! It was inconceivable! How could a Grandmaster unleash such force?


    <i>No, it''s more than just physical strength. It felt as though the entire weight of heaven and earth was oppressing me.</i> Wu Yuan realized with sudden rity.


    Human strength had its limits, but heaven and earth were boundless!


    <i>Let''s try it again! </i>Wu Yuan was not one to yield easily.


    "Hierarch, be careful!" With a roar, he charged in once again.


    With every step Wu Yuan took, air resistance dulled his speed, causing an eruption of sonic booms. It was as though he was in a different realm, where Integration held no sway.


    <i>Charge! </i>Wu Yuan gritted his teeth. Surprisingly, his speed did not drop but increased instead. Secret art: Ghostwalk!


    "Ha!" His palms morphed into sabers, and his biceps swelled, resembling steel as he braved the terrifying air resistance and hurtled towards the Hierarch.


    Yet, in the next heartbeat, Wu Yuan felt the environment around him abruptly shift. Instead of resisting him, an invisible force suddenly augmented his movements, granting him an unexpected burst of speed. This split-second alteration caught Wu Yuan off guard, contorting his posture awkwardly.


    <i>Bang! Bang!</i> The twobatants passed by each other in a sh, shing twice. The hierarch easily blocked Wu Yuan��s distorted palm strike. Then, he struck again, slipping through Wu Yuan��s defenses with supernatural precision and sending him flying through the air. However, the second palm strike was slightly weaker. Wu Yuan only flew a dozen zhangs before crashing heavily to the ground. Though his qi was sent into turmoil, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    <i>This... this power? </i>Wu Yuan stared at the Sword Hierarch incredulously, sensing the ever-changing, mystical energy surrounding him. How terrifying! With just a thought, The Sword Hierarch could either obstruct his opponent''s attacks or distort their techniques. In a duel between experts, life and death were decided in a blink! Based on their previous exchange, Wu Yuan knew that if both sides were armed, he could have lost his life.


    "Wu Yuan, would you like to try again?" The Sword Hierarch smiled, "I can withdraw my control over heaven and earth''s power."


    "No need!" Wu Yuan clenched his teeth and stood up, his eyes still brimming with determination. "Hierarch, I want to try again."


    With those words, Wu Yuan''s figure darted forward once more.


    <i>Boom! </i>His speed increased, but was still restricted by that mysterious force. Then, his hands turned as sharp as sabers, shing toward The Sword Hierarch.


    <i>Hum~</i> The terrifying force that previously suppressed Wu Yuan suddenly dissipated slightly. This change alone would be enough to make even a Savant-level expert struggle. But this time, Wu Yuan''s stance barely wavered. Overall, he was hardly affected! This was the mark of an Integration-level expert, someone who had perfectly mastered their body. The previous encounter had caught him off guard, being his first time facing such an opponent. But now that he was prepared, Wu Yuan swiftly adjusted his state of integration with the world.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>In an instant, the two of them shed in an intense exchange. Wu Yuan couldn''t help but be taken aback by The Sword Hierarch''s immovable stance, relying solely on the power from his waist and abdomen to unleash palm strikes with the force of a million catties each. It was nothing short of astonishing!


    The most remarkable thing, however, was the seamless flow of The Sword Hierarch''s palm strikes. It was like an unending tide, with no pause between attacks, as if he required no adjustments whatsoever. Each palm strike sent Wu Yuan flying backward. Again and again, Wu Yuan charged forward, colliding over and over. The terrifying shockwaves turned the training ground into a chaotic mess, the azure stones under their feetpletely reduced to fragments.


    Wu Yuan''s assault was a roaring storm, yet it couldn''t even rattle Sword Hierarch. He stood like an unyielding mountain, indifferent to techniques and attacks. All he needed was the power of his palms.


    <i>Is this Wu Yuan''s strength? Or should I say, Shadow de''s strength?</i> The Rain Hierarch observed in awe from the sidelines. The explosive burst of power, the dazzling execution of skill and technique, the unwavering endurance! It made her truly realize that Wu Yuan indeed possessed the strength of a Great Grandmaster.


    However, she was a little disheartened to see that despite the dust and debris swirling around The Sword Hierarch, not even a single speck of dustnded on him. Wu Yuan''s offensive was certainly fierce. If it were her, she would have probably been forced to retreat long ago, or perhaps even resorted to using the Moontide Sword. But The Sword Hierarch only asionally stepped back to dissipate the force from their shes.


    <i>Unknowingly, the gap between me and Huan Jian has grown thisrge?</i> The Rain Hierarch sighed inwardly.


    In the past, she had been the most talented individual of their generation in the sect!


    <i>So, this is the Unity level! Sensing heaven and earth, channeling the power as your own.</i> Admiration shed through The Rain Hierarch''s eyes. This was the true path to transcendence.

 Chapter 158: The Terror Of The Unity Level (2)

    <h4>Chapter 158: The Terror Of The Unity Level (2)</h4>


    After countless failed attempts, Wu Yuan suddenly retreated, pulling back ten zhangs. He stood still, staring at his hands which were trembling and numb. Taking a deep breath, Wu Yuan somberly dered, "Hierarch, I concede!"


    From start to finish, Wu Yuan didn''t gain the upper hand a single time. If not for The Sword Hierarch adopting a purely defensive stance, he''d have been utterly beaten.


    "Haha, it''s been decades since Ist fought. Facing a Great Grandmaster like you is quite refreshing," the Sword Hierarchughed.


    But inwardly, he was also quite shocked by how quickly Wu Yuan adapted. At first, his control of heaven and earth''s power had an effect on Wu Yuan. But as the battle progressed, aside from the natural suppression caused by heaven and earth''s power, it no longer posed a threat to him.


    "Both of you are stronger than me," The Rain Hierarch walked up to them with a smile. Then added, "Once this is over, I''m guessing you two will dust yourselves off and leave, dumping all this mess on me." She pointed to the ground beneath them.


    Only then did Wu Yuan and the Sword Hierarch notice that the surrounding azure stones within a radius of 30 zhangs had beenpletely destroyed, shattered into countless fragments. As for the area where the battle had taken ce, it had been reduced to dust.


    "Rain Hierarch," Wu Yuan gave a sheepish smile.


    "Senior Sister," the Sword Hierarch nced at Rain Hierarch indifferently. "It was you who asked me to spar with Wu Yuan. If anyone is to me, it''s you."


    The Rain Hierarch sent a piercing re his way, but it didn''t seem to faze the Sword Hierarch in the slightest. Wu Yuan couldn''t help but chuckle at their sibling-like banter.


    "Wu Yuan," The Rain Hierarch looked at Wu Yuan and smiled, "If you had continued to hold back just now, I fear that The Sword Hierarch and I would have found it difficult to fully trust you."


    "I was overly cautious," Wu Yuan sincerely replied.


    "Wu Yuan," Sword Hierarch said quietly, "Your rapid rise to the Great Grandmaster level at seventeen with such a strong physical constitution cannot simply be exined by talent. We understand that everyone has their secrets, and we will not force you to share yours."


    "I only wish to ask one question. You can choose whether to answer or not," The Sword Hierarch softly asked, "Are you truly yourself?"


    Wu Yuan''s pupils narrowed. Could it be that Sword Hierarch had caught on to something?


    He paused, deep in thought.


    "Hierarchs," he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "I am Wu Yuan, the Heavens Heir of the Cloudstride Sect!"


    With his response, Sword Hierarch and Rain Hierarch understood that pressing further would be meaningless. Either way, their concerns werergely alleviated.


    "Alright, we believe you." The Rain Hierarch''s eyes sparkled, "Haha! The news of a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster will shake the world!"


    "It will also prompt the Heavenly Rankers from all over the world to kill you," The Sword Hierarch interjected, giving the Rain Hierarch a sidelong nce.


    Wu Yuan gave a silent sigh. A Grandmaster in his 50s or 60s? None of the major powers would bat an eye. But a Grandmaster not even in his twenties? That would make all factions tremble in fear. Upon discovering such an uncontroble menace, the major powers would surely scramble to eradicate it without dy.


    "Wu Yuan, you are destined to lead our sect in the future, so I shall not conceal this from you," spoke The Sword Hierarch with a dispassionate tone. "The power I wielded in our duel is the power of heaven and earth, reserved solely for those who have attained Unity."


    "The power of heaven and earth?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    He understood that the man in front of him, who was nothing more than a bottom-tier Land Ranker in the public eye, was in fact a terrifying expert. He had surpassed all the predecessors of the Cloudstride Sect, even Ancestor Fang Xia, bing the first ever Unity-level expert in the history of the sect!


    "The first two steps of the Harmony of Man and Nature, Perception and Integration, involve gradually merging oneself into the environment, reducing the world��s rejection of oneself," the Sword Hierarch said softly. "Unity is the act of bing one with the world, with heaven and earth!"


    Wu Yuan��s breath caught as he listened. This knowledge was not mentioned in the Grandmaster''s Insights. Those Grandmasters were merely specting about Unity. Meanwhile, the Sword Hierarch had already reached that level.


    "Sword Hierarch, how does one achieve Unity?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Despite attempting numerous methods over the past year, he couldn''t even find the right door.


    The Rain Hierarch also listened with rapt attention. Her skill level was not far from Wu Yuan''s, perhaps even higher, but simrly, she was stumbling blindly in the dark.


    "To progress from Integration to Unity, there are four paths," The Sword Hierarch said slowly. "The first is the path I took: meditate to quiet your heart and mind, gradually bing one with the world. After meditating for 30 years, I unwittingly reached Unity! In other words, attune yourself to nature."


    Wu Yuan and the Rain Hierarch listened with contemtive expressions. They both knew of this path, yet it was an extremely difficult one, especially for The Rain Hierarch who was racing against the clock.


    "The second path is based on ancient texts I obtained during my time in the Xin Continent," the Sword Hierarch murmured, "When skill converges on the Dao, one achieves Unity. That''s the endpoint of martial skill, but the starting point ofprehending the natural world."


    "Among qi refiners, there are some extremely powerful beings whose strength surpasses the Heavenly Rankings. They control Intent. If they''re willing to expend their energy, they can naturally guide martial artists to unravel the mysteries of heaven and earth''s power." The Sword Hierarch shook his head, "Attuning oneself to the world is extraordinarily profound. It''s indescribable, ineffable. But if one can already perceive it, then the difficulty of cultivation will be reduced by more than tenfold."


    Intent? Beings surpassing the Heavenly Rankings? Wu Yuan listened in shock. He faintly understood that the vast world of the Middle Land hid many secrets he had yet toprehend.


    Unfortunately, the second method turned out to be a dead-end. After all, the Heavenly Rankers stood as the strongest beings in the Middle Land. Surpassing the Heavenly Rankings? He''d never heard of such a thing.


    "What''s the third method?" the Rain Hierarch asked.


    "The soul!" The Sword Hierarch dered without hesitation, "A strong body nurtures a strong soul. After achieving the Harmony of Man and Nature, the soul will be nurtured by the world and grow stronger."


    "A powerful soul sharpens the mind and substantially enhances one��sprehension abilities. Likewise, when the soul reaches higher levels of strength, it naturally gains insight into the workings of nature. The stronger the soul, the easier it is toprehend the world," the Sword Hierarch murmured, "Just like how a child is unable to grasp certain concepts, but after they grow up, it bes much easier."


    "Which is why many Heavenly Rankers who are only at the Integration level initially canter slowly raise their martial skill to the Unity level as their souls strengthen."


    The Rain Hierarch listened with a resigned heart. Strengthen the soul? It was impossible.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up, a wave of excitement bubbling within him.


    "The fourth method is to rely on extraordinary objects! Treasures!" The Sword Hierarch spoke, "Some treasures birthed by the world hold unimaginable power. Once utilized, they can naturally endow the user with mastery of the Harmony of Man and Nature stage, even potentially transcending Unity. Of course, such extraordinary objects are incredibly rare," the Sword Hierarch sighed lightly, "Most immortal relicsck such treasures."


    Four methods. The first and third methods could essentially be summarized as relying on oneself and strengthening oneself. The second relied on guidance from seniors. As for the fourth? Pure reliance on external objects!


    <i>Extraordinary objects? Soul? Self-reliance?</i> The Rain Hierarch silently pondered. In reality, she already knew most of this information.


    "Sword Hierarch, now that you have reached Unity, how long will it take for you to enter the Heavenly Rankings?" Wu Yuan curiously asked.


    "It will take some time. Once Unity is achieved, there are two major effects. The first is a deepened perception of heaven and earth, allowing one to draw on heaven and earth''s power in battle," The Sword Hierarch murmured, "The second is to guide heaven and earth''s power into one''s body, further enhancing one''s physical strength, and rejuvenating one''s youth."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    ording to what The Rain Hierarch had previously said, as long as one was not over a hundred years old, breakthroughs were practically guaranteed once Unity was achieved!


    "The younger you are, the easier this process! It has been two years since I reached this stage, and I estimate it will take quite a few more years before I can break through." The Sword Hierarch revealed with a smile, "But for you, with your boundless vitality, as long as your physical strength increases to 400,000 catties, you should be able to circte your qi throughout your body, open up your qi sea, andplete the breakthrough in at most one to two months."


    "400,000 catties?" Wu Yuan asked softly, "A Heavenly Ranker possesses such strength?"


    "That''s right," Sword Hierarch nodded. ��The physical constitution of a Heavenly Ranker greatly surpasses that of a Land Ranker. 400,000 catties is the limit to which the spiritual qi can augment one''s physical constitution!��


    ��For a Heavenly Ranker, physical strength is merely one aspect. What truly makes them formidable is qi. Although qi isn''t as explosive as raw physical strength, it is flexible and versatile. It can be used to kill enemies from a distance, control objects, and cast arcane arts.��


    ��Once Heavenly Rankers achieveplete Harmony of Man and Nature, they can initiallymand around 100,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. As their strength increases, they can ultimately control up to 200,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. With thebination of diverse powers, it enables the Heavenly Rankers to easily unleash a force of two to three million catties.�� Sword Hierarch muttered in a low voice.


    ��A Land Ranker would be utterly helpless in the face of a Heavenly Ranker. Though, if they possess a first-grade divine weapon, they might be able to block one or two strikes.��


    ��A first-grade divine weapon?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback.

 Chapter 159: Traverse the World (1)

    Chapter 159: Traverse the World (1)


    "A first-grade divine weapon?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "You''ve already obtained the Sunfury Saber. I won''t delve into the specifics. Once you are acquainted with this divine saber, you will understand what I mean," the Sword Hierarch said indifferently. "Just remember, the divine saber possesses a spirit. One can learn from the weapons path, but must not grow obsessed with it."


    "The path forged with one''s own power is the strongest," The Sword Hierarch nced at Wu Yuan.


    "Disciple will keep these words in my heart." Wu Yuan said.


    The Sword Hierarch nodded and looked towards The Rain Hierarch.


    "Alright, Wu Yuan, you are now a Heavens Heir. This is the Heavens Heir Token." The Rain Hierarch flipped her palm, revealing a white token. She tossed the token towards Wu Yuan. He caught it with ease and proceeded to examine it carefully.


    The token was round and white, about the size of half a palm, and as thick as a pinky finger. It was warm and smooth like jade but didn''t feel quite like it due to its weight.


    The small token seemed unassuming, but Wu Yuan estimated it to weigh about twenty catties, incredibly dense. Clearly, it was made of very special material. On its front, the words ''Heavens Heir'' were carved. On the back was the word ''Cloudstride''.


    "Hmm? Spiritual qi?" Wu Yuan could feel a faint trace of spiritual qi within the token as his fingers made contact with the token.


    "This Heavens Heir Token is crafted from fine-grade etherstone after its spiritual qi is exhausted," the Rain Hierarch exined softly, "Though it no longer contains qi, its material has been nurtured by spiritual qi. Simply carrying it will have a calming effect."


    "Fine-grade etherstone?" Wu Yuan looked at the token in surprise.


    Etherstone was something he had encountered in the Grandmaster''s Insights, but he had never seen any in person. It was a very special type of jade, containing incredibly pure spiritual qi. At its core, it was simr to the Ancient Immortal Dew.


    Ancient Immortal Dew was in a liquid state and could be easily absorbed while etherstone was solid. Typically, only a Grandmaster was able to absorb the qi within it. However, by crafting it into jade tforms, sitting on one long-term would strengthen the foundation of the body. In the history of the Middle Land, many kings and emperors constructed jade coffins withrge quantities of etherstone, in hopes of preserving their bodies for thousands of years. Etherstone was considered the highest tier among jade stones.


    <em>One catty of ordinary etherstone is worth a minimum of 100,000 silver taels. The value of fine-grade etherstone is at least 100 times that of ordinary etherstone! This is truly a priceless treasure.</em>


    As stated in ''Grandmaster Fang Xia''s Insights'', one catty of fine-grade etherstone, if exchanged for silver, was worth at least ten million silver taels. It was a useful resource even for Heavenly Rankers. Naturally, the value of the Heavens Heir Token in Wu Yuan''s hand was much lower than that, as the qi it contained was almostpletely depleted. But the material alone, which weighed up to twenty catties, was worth at least several million silver taels.


    "Wu Yuan, now that everything has been rified, make arrangements to leave the mountain." The Rain Hierarch instructed. "I''m not forbidding you from visiting your home or returning to the Sect, but refrain from causing any disturbances before you have sufficient strength." The Rain Hierarch insisted.


    "Disciple understands."


    Shortly thereafter, The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch watched Wu Yuan disappear into the dense forest.


    "What do you think?" The Rain Hierarch asked.


    "He''s probably not a reincarnated immortal being." The Sword Hierarch slowly said, "If he truly is one, then he has disguised himself too well, and is too bold. I had a chance to kill him just now."


    The Rain Hierarch nodded lightly.


    "In reality, whether he is one or not, it doesn''t make much difference," The Sword Hierarch said, shaking his head slightly. "Since we''ve made up our minds, why hesitate? I''ve given the matter some thought. Even if there is a soul remnant residing in his body, he still needs to possess the necessary talent to reach such heights in such a short period," Sword Hierarch said calmly. "Look at those Heavenly Rankers. Can you easily nurture a new one?"


    The Rain Hierarch nodded, understanding what he was getting at. A new Heavenly Ranker? In the Middle Land, Heavenly Rankers weren''t just produced at will.


    "A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster... We''ve done everything we could. If he still cannot make the Heavenly Rankings," Sword Hierarch shook his head, "then we cant be med."


    "Mm. Heavenly Rankings?" The Rain Hierarch''s eyes held a hint of mncholy as she sighed, "Before I realized it, you''ve already surpassed me. You never mentioned perfecting the Harmony of Man and Nature before."


    "Perhaps providence truly does exist. I only reached this level after Wu Yuan ascended the mountain," The Sword Hierarch remarked, "Throughout this past year, I have immersed myself in the cultivation of qi. Naturally, I did not have the time to discuss it with you."


    "Oh?" A hint of surprise shed in The Rain Hierarch''s eyes. She had initially thought that Huan Jian was just making casual conversation with Wu Yuan. Who would have thought it was true?


    "Fortunately, youve made a breakthrough. When Wu Yuan matures, our Cloudstride Sect will have two Heavenly Rankers. When that happens, the sect will truly flourish." The Rain Hierarch''s eyes brimmed with anticipation.


    Back then, Imperator Jin single-handedly expanded the Great Jin Empire''s territories, turning it into a vast empire spanning several continents and nearly a hundred provinces. Once any sect obtained the support of two Heavenly Rankers, its power was bound to expand rapidly.


    "Senior Sister, don''t pin your hopes on me. You know my temperament," Sword Hierarch said indifferently. "I have no interest in worldly affairs such as sects and ns. Power struggles are like fleeting clouds to me. I am solely devoted to the path of immortality."


    The excitement in the Rain Hierarch''s eyes dimmed.


    "What about the Chu-Jiang Token? Will you participate?" The Rain Hierarch asked softly.


    "If I enter, my power will be restricted, drastically reducing mybat power," The Sword Hierarch shook his head. "Besides, at this moment, my priority is to evolve my body and strive to unlock my qi sea at the fastest speed. The more I dy, and the older my body gets, the harder it will be. If you want to participate, go ahead.


    The Rain Hierarch felt helpless. She could tell that her junior brother truly had no worldly desires.


    "Senior Sister, our master entrusted me with the responsibility of looking after you before his passing. 30 years ago, before Dong''er left us, she also wanted me to promise that our little fatty would live a prosperous life." Sword Hierarch softly said, "These are mymitments and the essence of my Dao Heart, my final worldly attachments." [1]


    "If it weren''t for you, I''m afraid I would have faked my death and roamed the world long ago," Sword Hierarch spoke softly.


    The Rain Hierarch smiled bitterly. How could she not understand Huan Jian''s personality?


    "Regarding Wu Yuan, I neither like nor dislike him. Today, if you hadn''t intervened, I wouldn''t have bothered giving him guidance even if he possessed extraordinary talent," Sword Hierarch casually remarked.


    "I will honor my promise to you. When Great Jin''s troops arrive, I will protect Cloudhill. However, it is just this once. Dynasties rise and fall, sects flourish and decline, this is the natural cycle of the world, there is no use being obstinate about it." Sword Hierarch casually said, "Whether the Cloudstride Sect thrives or not, it will eventually fall."


    "But we can''t let it fall under our watch." The Rain Hierarch gritted her teeth.


    "The sect is yours, not mine." Sword Hierarch smiled lightly. Then he stepped forward and strode into the distance. He was walking on air!


    As heaven and earth''s power distorted the air, his figure became increasingly blurred until it waspletely invisible. Onest sentence echoed in the air. "After seeing you and the little fatty off, Huan Jian of the Cloudstride Sect will no longer exist."


    This was the power of the Harmony of Man and Nature. When one was able to harness heaven and earth''s power, dominating battles and restricting one''s opponents were just the tip of the iceberg. There was an entire slew of mysterious capabilities one gained with it as well, far beyond the level of the Grandmasters.


    Atop the Cloud Hall, only the Rain Hierarch remained. A soft sigh escaped her lips, as her eyes betrayed a mixture of reluctance and apprehension.


    1. What is a Dao Heart? /r/noveltrantionsments/y9aurm/the_concept_of_dao_heart_an_exnation/

 Chapter 160: Traverse the World (2)

    Chapter 160: Traverse the World (2)


    Currently stationed in the martial chamber on the ground floor of his private courtyard, Wu Yuan didn''t rush to depart from the sect. Rather, he began to examine the treasures gifted by The Rain Hierarch.


    <em>Hm? This book teaches the usage of first-grade divine weapons? </em>Wu Yuan quickly scanned the various literature left by the Rain Hierarch.


    Among them was a book titled ''A Brief Introduction to Spirit Equipment''. Wu Yuan flipped through its pages.


    <em>So, storage artifacts and first-grade divine weapons are all referred to as spirit equipment. Spirit equipment is divided into many types. For example, storage artifacts are auxiliary spirit equipment. Powerful weapons are only one type of spirit equipment.</em>


    The Cloudstride Sect amassed these pieces of intelligence over centuries, some of which seemed basic but were actually hard-earned lessons, even costing lives.


    <em>Controlling spirit equipment is an incrediblyplex process. </em>Wu Yuan was surprised as he read on.


    The first step was to im ownership by dripping blood onto the piece of equipment to leave an aura imprint. The second step was to nurture it in hopes of achieving a true connection with the piece of spirit equipment, which allowed one to better unleash its might.


    He finished browsing through the whole book.


    <em>First-grade divine weapon, the Sunfury Saber. </em>


    With a flip of his palm, the sheathed battle saber appeared in his hand. He gripped the hilt with his other hand and unsheathed the saber.


    <em>Boom!</em> The fiery red de was revealed, radiating an aura of impending destruction akin to a volcano on the verge of eruption.


    <em>What a fearsome saber intent, as if it yearns to manifest itself.</em>


    Wu Yuan willed his Soul Force to leave his body and suppress the saber intent, causing the de to tremble slightly. Before long, it quieted, its restless nature pacified. No matter how mysterious this spirit saber was, it was just a weapon without an owner.


    "Recognize your owner!" Wu Yuan dripped his blood onto the de. Soon, he felt a vague connection with the battle saber. He could now easily sense the presence of the war saber.


    <em>As stated in ''A Brief Introduction to Spirit Equipment'', Land Rankers with weak souls cannot suppress the spirituality of a first-grade divine weapon at all. They can only harness a fraction of its power. In fact, even the Moontide Sword has yet to truly recognize The Rain Hierarch as its rightful owner.</em>


    Theoretically, one could im ownership by feeding their spirit equipment a drop of blood.


    However, if an ordinary mortal were to attempt the same on a piece of ownerless spirit equipment, it would reject them outright. It was simr to how Wu Yuan bing a Heavens Heir was something the entire sect epted as an inevitable oue. The final ceremony was merely a formality. If a random ordinary disciple took his ce, even the backing of the hierarchs would be meaningless. They would just be treated with disdain.


    <em>Repress.</em> With a thought, his Soul Force quelled the stirring energy, causing the fearsome aura radiating from the Sunfury Saber to quickly recede. It now looked like any ordinary saber.


    <em>Good, that''s the way. A weapon that rouses caution in others before it is even wielded loses the element of surprise. Let''s try again. </em>Wu Yuan held the saber and concentrated on perceiving it.


    Perhaps due to thepletion of the ownership ritual or Wu Yuan''s formidable soul, he felt as if the elusive and chaotic spiritual qi had be faintly clearer in his soul sense through the saber.


    <em>Is this the real appearance of spiritual qi?</em>


    Just as the Sword Hierarch had said, spiritual qi was divided into many types. In his soul sense, he saw many colors, some with hints of gold, some slightly brown, and some yellow... a peculiar sight indeed.


    When Wu Yuan probed his surroundings with Soul Force, there was no color to speak of. After all, color was merely a reflection of light. But now, his soul sense could distinguish the different types of spiritual qi via their colors. Among the numerous types of spiritual qi, the one Wu Yuan sensed most clearly was a kind of fiery red spiritual qi.


    <em>Fire attribute. ording to ''A Brief Introduction to Spirit Equipment'', the sevenmon spiritual qi attributes are metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder. This Sunfury Saber is a fire-type weapon.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened withprehension. <em>Once its power is unleashed, it can effortlessly stir fire spiritual qi.</em>


    Through the saber, Wu Yuan could sense the fire attribute more clearly, and at the same time glimpse into the other mysterious attributes of spiritual qi. It was as if his soul was basking in a profound warmth.


    <em>This is heaven and earth''s power.</em>


    Wu Yuan now understood why the hierarchs imed that a Grandmaster who wielded a first-grade divine weapon could withstand a few moves from a Heavenly Ranker. It was because of heaven and earth''s power! A first-grade divine weapon could mobilize heaven and earth''s power.


    <em>Let us put it to the test! </em>The door opened a crack, and Wu Yuan''s figure vanished from the chamber.


    Nighttime on Cloudhill was always tranquil.


    Wu Yuan stood silently in his courtyard house. Holding the saber, he extended his Soul Force, his bodypletely merging with the environment. He could feel the flow of various mystical powers converging on his position. As Wu Yuan''s perception of these powers grew clearer, he deftly guided and directed their currents with his Soul Force. Immediately, the surrounding power surged violently, coalescing into a focused torrent within the de of the saber.


    Raising his weapon, Wu Yuan unleashed a fierce sh, propelling a de ray forward. It soared through the air, traversing several zhangs before dissipating into nothingness.


    A hint of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. Through this sh, his understanding of the abilities of first-grade divine weapons grew clearer.


    <em>Firstly, the divine weapon enhances my awareness of fire qi and grants me a slight perception of various spiritual qi. This can facilitate my progress towards achieving the Unity level of the Harmony of Man and Nature.</em>


    Although his perception remained faint, mostly relying on the divine weapon''s inherent power, it surpassed the level of beingpletely unaware. However, it fell short of the skill of a seasoned qi refiner guiding junior martial artists to sense the power of heaven and earth through Intent.


    <em>Secondly, the amount of heaven and earth''s power that the divine weapon itself can mobilize is roughly equivalent to 30,000 catties of force.</em> Wu Yuan analyzed.


    While 30,000 catties might not sound impressive, it became increasingly challenging to enhance physical strength as one approached the human limit. For a Grandmaster who had yet to achieve the Harmony of Man and Nature, their base single-arm strength was generally just over 200,000 catties.


    <em>Once I nurture the divine weapon and connect with it on a deeper level, it will be capable of mobilizing a greater amount of heaven and earth''s power.</em>


    A first-grade divine weapon could mobilize more than 100,000 catties of force through heaven and earth''s power!


    Compared to Unity-level experts, a divine weapon couldn''t flexibly alter heaven and earth''s power, barely aiding the owner in aspects other than attacking. Most of the time, it could only concentrate the power on a single point of the weapon to unleash bursts of force.


    Even so, it was able to substantially enhance a Land Ranker''s strength, also increasing the owner''s chances of entering the Heavenly Rankings.


    After iming ownership over the Sunfury Saber andmanding the saber to retract its aura, it now looked like any regr weapon. Wu Yuan strapped it to his back.


    The process of nurturing a weapon was essentially about forming a resonance between the mind and the saber. The most straightforward and practical method, as described in ''A Brief Description of Spirit Equipment,'' was to simply do everything together: sleep together, eat together, walk together.


    This way, after days and months passed, a natural bond would form between the owner and the spirit weapon, oveing all obstacles in their rtionship. In fact, many Grandmasters with weak souls still managed to slowly subdue a first-grade divine weapon through this rather silly method, eventually seeding in iming ownership.


    Wu Yuan was in no hurry to descend the mountain. While nurturing his divine weapon and refining his body, he began to peruse the plethora of books prepared by The Rain Hierarch. Sharpening the saw didn''t dy the chopping of firewood!


    <em>Before venturing into the world, one must understand it.</em>


    Wu Yuan read one book after another, effortlesslymitting them to memory. Records of the Jiang Continent,'' ''3000 Years of the Dong Continent,'' ''Legends of the Heavenly Rankings,'' ''History of the Holy Continent,'' ''Major Events of the Central ins,'' ''Turbulence In The Bei Continent,'' ''Demonic Beasts of the Huang Continent,'' ''Records of Immortal Relics Across the World,'' ''The Xin Continent''...


    <em>So, in the entire Middle Land, there are over a hundred known immortal relics? Among them, more than 80 are considered minor relics, and the truly major relics number just over ten.</em>


    Minor relics did not necessarily serve a significant purpose. Some were left behind by ancient qi refiners, containing qi consumption methods, secret techniques for qi refining, and powerful artifacts and weapons, while others contained special items.


    <em>For example, in the depths of Cloudhill of my Cloudstride Sect, there exists an immortal relic.</em> Wu Yuan was stunned when he read this.


    The details regarding Cloudhill''s immortal relic werebeled as top secret, clearly added separately by two Hierarchs.


    The entire Eight-Sided Cloudhill enjoyed spring-like weather all year round and continually produced Cloudspring Blood. This was the real reason the Cloudstride Sect had been able to prosper for so long. It wasmon for long-established sects and factions in the world to exercise control over various immortal relics to some extent.


    However, the truly mystical and dangerous relics were the major immortal relics.


    <em>The Xin Continent! </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes were glued to a simple map within the book beside a description of the Xin Continent.


    Of the sixteen major relics known to the Cloudstride Sect, more than ten were either too difficult to ess, sealed all year round, or had been upied by major powers for a long time. Only three were open for exploration. Oney deep in the Huang Continent, and another one was on an overseas ind. Thest and by far thergest was located on the Xin Continent. These three immortal relics were all treasure troves left by many ancient qi refiners and brimmed with danger.


    <em>Any Land Ranker who enters the Huang Continent relic faces certain death? And the Ind of Immortals and Devils in the South Ocean has been plundered to near depletion after thousands of years, attracting fewer and fewer martial artists. Only the Xin Continent is left!</em>


    If one set out from the Dong Continent, heading Southeast in a straight line for 120,000 li, they would reach a vast and deste continent. The continent was home to numerous terrifying savage beasts, and even demonic beasts. But at the same time, an abundance of mystical natural treasures and immortal relicsy within its depths!


    <em>120,000 li. The continent was only discovered more than 2000 years after the Martial King''s rise. Before that, no one in the Middle Land''s thirteen continents, not even the Heavenly Rankers, knew of its existence. This is not surprising, after all, it is far too distant.</em>

 Chapter 161: Traverse the World (3)

    Chapter 161: Traverse the World (3)


    Among the three overseas continents, the Qiong and Feng Continents were expansive inds that stretched for thousands of li, andy just a thousand li away from the Middle Land. Only the Xin Continent was located an unfathomable distance away.


    Over eight centuries ago, a Heavenly Ranker, driven by curiosity, set out to explore the ends of the world and stumbled upon this continent.


    Even now, the true size of the Xin Continent remained shrouded in mystery, with explorers from the Middle Land barely scratching the surface of its staggering expanse. The separation between the twondmasses was daunting, making conquest of the Xin Continent an impossible dream for any power. The presence of fearsome demonic beasts further hindered the migration of themon folk.


    <em>Something''s not right. Logically, to determine its size, one would only need to circle the Xin Continent. There''s no need to venture deep into the continent.</em>


    However, the book he held in his hands, a collection of ounts from the Cloudstride Sect''s three surviving Grandmasters who had dared venture into the Xin Continent, failed to provide an answer to his question.


    <em>Only Grandmasters possess the ability to travel to the Xin Continent?</em>


    Though it was a well-known location for immortal relic hunting, it was more urate to call the Xin Continent a mysterious, uncharted ind.


    <em>Demonic beasts actually exist in this world? </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, but soon understood why this was the case. After all, in the Middle Land, the human genome was incredibly advanced, let alone the genomes of its wild animals.


    He recalled the encounter he had with a powerful tiger during his travels in the Southcloud Province. It could be considered a savage beast, with strength surpassing any animal he had encountered in his past life, capable of rivaling a second-rate Adept.


    <em>After the Martial King divided thend into thirteen continents, the Central ins became a haven for humans for thousands of years. Scarcely any demonic or savage beasts are still present there, with most retreating to the rivers and mountains.</em>


    But none of them dared stir chaos, for those who did were dead meat. As a result, manymon folk and even martial artists rarely encountered wild beasts throughout their lives.


    However, once one ventured beyond the seven continents of the Central ins, visiting ces such as the Min Continent, the Nan Continent, the Huang Continent, or the overseas Qiong and Feng Continents where poptions were sparser, the presence of demonic beasts grew more prevalent.


    Among these continents, the Huang Continent was home to thergest number of demonic beasts. It was a vastndmass, rivaling the Holy Continent in size. While sparsely popted by humans, it teemed with wildlife.


    <em>Animals who possess the strength of third-rate Adepts are considered savage beasts. And those who possess the strength of Savant experts, though ssified as demons, are mere lesser demons who pose little threat. </em>Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    Beyond the lesser demons, however, existed the greater demons. Each of these beings was on par with a Grandmaster and many of them had caused significant upheaval throughout the history of the Middle Land.


    Wu Yuan delved into book after book, gaining a moreprehensive understanding of the Middle Land. It also sparked many theories.


    <em>All historical records trace back to the time of the Martial King, over 3000 years ago. </em>Wu Yuan began toprehend why the Martial King held such a revered position. He was akin to the Yanhuang [1], Suiren [2], Nuwa [3], Fuxi [4], and other legendary figures from his past life. He was the forefather of humanity, the catalyst for the birth of civilization. Before the Martial King, the world of the Middle Land was engulfed in chaos.


    <em>As for the emergence of the immortal relics in the Middle Land, it can be inferred that there once existed an immensely powerful civilization that spanned the entire world, most likely a qi refining civilization. </em>Wu Yuan spected.


    A Heavenly Ranker was, in essence, a qi refiner. However, Heavenly Rankers were exceedingly scarce, and there simply werent enough of them to establish immortal sects or forge a systematic civilization. To put it more urately, the Middle Land had evolved into a flourishing martial arts cultivation civilization.


    <em>From historical texts, there seems to have been a notable rise in the overall standard of martial arts over the course of the past several thousand years. The emergence of Savant experts and Grandmasters has be increasinglymon. </em>


    Wu Yuan attributed this phenomenon to poption growth and the strengthening of martial arts heritage in the Middle Land. Nevertheless, these were mere spections on Wu Yuan''s part. What truly captivated and troubled him was the mystery surrounding the copse of this formidable qi refining civilization in history.


    The presence of immortal relics brought to mind the mysterious ck pagoda that once stood on the Blue. That world seemed to house a powerful immortal cultivation civilization that had inexplicably vanished. However, Wu Yuan chose not to dwell too much on these spections, leaving them for future investigation if the chance ever arose. If not, he simply didn''t feel inclined to pursue them.


    <em>Once I be a Heavenly Ranker, and eventually a qi refiner powerhouse, many secrets will naturally be unveiled. </em>


    Wu Yuan continued reading. On the page spread in front of him were the words Chu-Jiang Relic. The Cloudstride Sect had granted Wu Yuan ess to a wealth of meticulous intelligence regarding the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    <em>The Cloudstride Sect is truly a sect that has endured for centuries in the Chu-Jiang Empire. Their information is far more trustworthy andprehensive than that of the Pleiades Guild.</em>


    Such was the advantage of having an influential background. The umtion of this ssified knowledge must have cost the Cloudstride Sect copious resources, whether time, effort or even lives.


    <em>It appears that there are three entrances. </em>Wu Yuan made a mental note.


    After five days, Wu Yuan finally read through everyst book,mitting every word to memory.


    <em>Books are truly the stepping stones of civilization. </em>A slight smile tugged at his lips. <em>Now, I fully understand the Middle Land. Step by step, I shall traverse its length and breadth.</em>


    Having delved deep into numerous books, Wu Yuan''sprehension of the world expanded exponentially. The thirteen vast continents of the Middle Land, though grand in scale, seemed minusculepared to the endless oceans that surrounded them. An insatiable desire for exploration ignited within him, fuelling ambitions that stretched to the farthest reaches of the world.


    <em>It is time to leave this mountain. There are still several months until the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm opens. Once I descend from the mountain, I shall embark on a journey across the world. Then, on the 22nd of August, I shall make my way to the Chu Continent, to fulfill my promise to Li Yan.</em>


    Wu Yuan had not forgotten his agreement with Li Yan. Initially, he had intended to seek advice from the two hierarchs. Yet, even after revealing his true strength and identity, they remained silent on this issue, refraining from prying into his affairs. Thus, Wu Yuan chose to forgo his questions. The agreement with the Pleiades Guild was an equal exchange, and he had no intention of betraying it.


    Martial artists killed decisively, but they were not without principles. Some actions were necessary, while others were strictly forbidden.


    <em>Before I depart, I shall pay the hierarchs a visit.</em> He rose to his feet. After a moment''s hesitation, he went upstairs and prepared some ink and paper. In the quiet solitude of his chamber, he began to write.


    <em>Year 3227 of the Eastern Martial calendar, 12th of March. </em>


    It was early spring, but the air on Cloudhill felt as warm and inviting as early summer. The paths leading up the mountain were adorned with blossoming flowers, creating a picturesque scene.


    Greetings, Heavens Heir. Two custodians at the foot of Cloud Hall greeted Wu Yuan with respectful demeanors. Normally, even sect elders werent casually granted an audience with the hierarch.


    In no time, Wu Yuan stood in the Cloud Hall, facing The Rain Hierarch. He hade to recognize the hierarch''s penchant for extravagant clothing. "Wu Yuan pays respects to the Hierarch," he greeted with a slight bow.


    The Rain Hierarch regarded him with a gentle gaze, her voice carrying a soothing timbre. "Wu Yuan, are you preparing for your excursion beyond the mountain?"


    "Mm," replied Wu Yuan. "In these past few days, I have reached a basic proficiency over the Sunfury Saber, and absorbed the knowledge contained within the books gifted by Hierarch. I feel prepared to begin my journey. Hence, I''vee to bid farewell."


    The Rain Hierarch smiled approvingly. Not bad, I see you dontck patience. Go forth and explore the world, but remember, it''s not just about fighting and killing. Prioritize your safety. I anticipate seeing your name grace the Heavenly Rankings."


    Cultivation was not only achieved in the hardships of life and death trials, but also in the pursuit of personal growth and self-preservation.


    "Disciple understands," Wu Yuan affirmed. With a graceful motion, he removed his wrist guard and ced it on a nearby desk. "Hierarch, I am forever indebted to our sect and have no means to repay everything youve done for me. As a token of my gratitude, I have prepared some items for you. I humbly request that you ept them."


    Before The Rain Hierarch could respond, Wu Yuan took a step back, bowing respectfully. "Farewell, Hierarch." With that, he exited the hall, walking down the steps.


    "This youngster, he even left us a farewell gift?" A subtle grin crept onto The Rain Hierarchs face.


    With a brisk stride, she approached the desk and picked up the wrist guard.


    <em>A storage artifact?</em> Surprise shed in her eyes as she perceived the item. <em>Its capacity isnt toorge. Could he have acquired this after killing Wang Huang?</em>


    Carefully, she began to examine the contents within the space. Inside, she found around eight third-grade divine weapons, all acquired through the demise of experts like Wang Huang and Qi Zai at Wu Yuans hands.


    They were worthless to Wu Yuan, hence he bequeathed them to the sect. Why didnt he bequeath them to the Wu n? There wasnt a single first-rate Adept in the Wu n at present. Possessing these treasures was more a curse than a blessing!


    <em>The original edition of Majestic Earth and Oceans, Secret Art: Thousand Mountains, Secret Art: Ghostwalk, Secret Art: Bloodstack''. </em>The Rain Hierarch flipped through the stack of manuals, not too surprised by the first few.


    However, when she reached the final three, a glimmer of confusion flitted across The Rain Hierarch''s eyes.


    1. "Yanhuang" are the two legendary leaders of ancient China. Yan is Yan Di, Huang is Huang Di. The Yanhuang people are considered to be the ancestors of Chinese civilization, and the Han people (called the Huaxia people before the Han Dynasty) are called the descendants of the Yanhuang people.


    2. Suiren appears in Chinese mythology and some works that draw upon it. He is credited as a cultural hero who introduced humans to the production of fire and its use for cooking.


    3. Nuwa is the mother goddess of all mankind, credited with the creation of humanity and repairing the broken Pir of Heaven.


    4. mythical creator of humanity <blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For your reference:


    Thirteen continents of the Middle Land: Holy (previously Zhong), Dong, Wu, Jiang, Chu, Yuan, Yan, Min, Nan, Bei, Mo, Xi, Huang


    Overseas continents: Qiong, Feng, Xin</blockquote>

 Chapter 162: Traverse the World (4)

    Chapter 162: Traverse the World (4)


    <em>Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique, Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique. </em>


    From their titles alone, she could tell that they were no ordinary secret techniques or secret arts. Without dy, she began to read them.


    Just leafing through the pages of the first book, Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, and reading the meticulous exnations, her eyes grew as wide as saucers. As she set aside the first book, going through the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique whileparing it to her own experiences, her pupils dted in disbelief.


    Waves of shock rose within her heart.


    <em>Body refining sacred art! </em>The Rain Hierarch''s eyes gleamed with incredulity. <em>Even the prized sacred arts by the top-tier major factions may note close to this one. </em>


    Why were the top-tier major factions in the world able to consistently produce powerful Grandmasters generation after generation? Resources aside, it was mainly due to their cultivation methods. It was rumored that apart from ordinary secret techniques and secret arts, these major powers also possessed body refining sacred arts tailored for martial artists at different stages.


    <em>How did Wu Yuan obtain such a cultivation method?</em> Spections brewed in her mind, but she quickly shook off her thoughts.


    <em>No wonder his physique improved so rapidly.</em> Though it was still difficult to believe that a seventeen-year-old could be a Great Grandmaster, the two sacred arts gave her some insight into how he achieved such a feat.


    <em>With these two body refining sacred arts, the foundation of the Cloudstride Sect will be further solidified, potentially matching the top-tier major factions. </em>


    Based on these two cultivation methods alone, The Rain Hierarch felt that the numerous treasures given to Wu Yuan werepletely worthwhile.


    <em>As for this Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique, Wu Yuan annotated that the method is iplete and to be cautious while cultivating it.</em> She was unsure how good the method was. After all, her soul could only perceive the middle dantian lobe and several dozen out of the 108 acupoints so far.


    <em>Ill let Junior Brother Huan have a look at it.</em>


    With that, she left the Cloud Hall and headed towards Razor''s Edge Cliff.


    After handing over the storage artifact he had obtained from ying Jin Rensu to The Rain Hierarch, Wu Yuan set off from Cloudhill.


    <em>The sect has given me everything I could possibly need, even a first-grade divine weapon. The only way I can repay them is by giving them the three ultimate cultivation methods.</em>


    He wasnt too concerned about revealing them. True, these techniques could grant immense power, but their effectiveness relied on the person cultivating them. Back in the Human Federation, everyone had ess to the three cultivation methods, yet Grandmasters were still a rarity, one in a million!


    Now that the Cloudstride Sect had these secret arts, their foundation was much stronger. In time, they were bound to reach greater heights.


    <em>Those sacred martial sects in the Middle Land also possess some body refining secret arts, but I''ve never heard of a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster.</em> Wu Yuan chuckled.


    The idea seemed absurd. Even a 30-year-old Great Grandmaster was rare throughout history. While external circumstances mattered, an individuals ultimate progress depended on themself.


    <em>First, I should visit my mother and sister.</em>


    As Wu Yuan swiftly descended from the mountain, Cloudhill City soon came into view. Without drawing attention to himself, he entered the city and returned home. The news of his return was kept within the mansion.


    He stayed for just a day and a night, cherishing this brief time with his family. He also spoke with Wu Qiming, inquiring about the ns recent circumstances.


    Under the cover of night, leaving only a letter, he packed his belongings without bidding farewell to his mother. Silently, he slipped out of the mansion.


    As the first rays of dawn graced the wide official route, two tall ck horses advanced at a trot, the early spring wind biting cold.


    asionally, farmers could be seen tending to their fields along the path. Riding astride the first horse was a rugged man of around 30, dressed in thin clothingyered with soft armor, a war saber strapped to his back. The sight of him alone was enough to make anyone think twice about provoking him.


    <em>Haha, on myst journey, I travelled through seven or eight provinces in the Jiang Continent, mostly through dense mountain forests and untamed wilderness. </em>Wu Yuan leisurely led his horse forward, showing no signs of urgency.


    <em>This time, I''ll stick to the official route, passing through cities and towns, and allow myself to freely appreciate the beauty of the world.</em>


    He stopped whenever he wanted, and went wherever he wanted.


    He had no specific destination in mind, only a general direction - entering the Yuan Continent from the Jiang Continent, passing through the Holy Continent, and ultimately reaching the Chu Continent. The route he nned would mostly take him through the territory of Great Jin.


    <em>Who knows, as I travel the world, I might have to spill some blood. And if Im going to kill someone, it should naturally be an enemy.</em> Wu Yuan had changed his appearance with Transfiguration.


    <em>I doubt anyone would anticipate that the renowned Shadow de is audacious enough to wander into Great Jin''s territory.</em>


    <em>There are plenty of saber-wielding experts in this world. From today onwards, I shall be known as Wan Liu.</em>


    <em>As long as I don''t reveal my Grandmaster-level strength, not many will suspect me. And even if it is revealed, so what? As long as I avoid direct confrontations with Great Jin''s top experts, I can simply escape. </em>


    Wu Yuan didn''t ce much importance on this matter. For a Grandmaster like him, fleeing thousands of li overnight was a piece of cake!


    Even if Great Jin tried to use their numerical advantage to capture him, they wouldnt be able to coordinate their forces in time.


    "Go!" Wu Yuan urged his horse forward.


    He had purchased these two exceptional ckfrost steeds for 200 silver taels from an estate he passed by after leaving the city. Of course, whether or not the owner was open to the idea of selling them was an entirely different matter.


    ......


    When he first began his journey in the hearnd of the Cloudhill Province a few days ago, he witnessed the Cloudstride Sect''s forces diligently patrolling the area. Naturally, he didn''te across any foolish bandits along the way.


    Moreover, bandits usually thought twice before tangling with someone who looked like a cavalier. Wu Yuan didn''t possess any goods that would entice them either.


    Along the journey, Wu Yuan lived life as he pleased. If he stumbled upon a picturesque view, he would halt his saber and fist practice to appreciate it. Whenever he reached a new destination, he would choose a tavern and eat and drink to his heart''s content.


    This was simply how he embraced life. He had no qualms about being a bystander, but when the mood struck him, he didnt mind generously tossing out a stack of silver notes, instantly bing the wealthiest man in the vicinity!


    But of course, he never neglected his physical training and the Visualization of the mysterious ck pagoda. He fully immersed himself in this indulgent way of cultivation.


    <em>Cultivating ones mind and contemting the worlds profundities doesn''t necessarily require distancing oneself from worldly affairs.</em> Wu Yuan firmly believed in this chosen path. <em>The chaotic mortal realm is also a part of the vast world.</em>


    Ten dayster, he finally reached the border where Cloudhill Province, Hillstride Province, and Eastdream Province converged. It was here that Wu Yuan encountered his first ambush since embarking on his adventure.


    On the narrow official route, he found himself confronted by more than ten bandits on horseback, armed with spears or wielding sabers, some d in armor. They blocked Wu Yuan''s path, their eyes greedily fixed on his horse. Kid, leave your saber and horses.


    "My horses?" Wu Yuan chuckled. The Bluethunder Horses that he had acquired with a hefty sum of silver coins took on a distinct blue hue, a sign of their unique demonic beast lineage.


    Why did he go to such lengths? Well, it was naturally to attract the attention of bandits so he could replenish his blood-red mist.


    No problem. As long as you can withstand one strike from my saber, the horses are yours.


    The bandits, taken aback by this bold promation, barely had time to utter a word before a swift gust whistled in their ears.


    Like a specter of death, a de ray shot through the air. In an instant, over ten heads were severed from their bodies, and lifeless corpses tumbled from their mounts.


    Wu Yuan was already back on his horse, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he muttered, "Too weak." Tilting his head back, he took a swig of his fruit wine and spurred his horse forward, traversing the blood-soaked ground.


    <em>The weaker they are, the less blood-red mist they provide me. I do hope the next batch of bandits proves more challenging.</em>


    "Go!" hemanded, urging his horse forward.

 Chapter 163: Union of Heaven, Earth, and Man (1)

    <h4>Chapter 163: Union of Heaven, Earth, and Man (1)</h4>


    As Wu Yuan''s physical constitution grew stronger, his body��s consumption of the blood-red mist also rose. It was currently fueled by the astounding amount obtained from ying Grandmaster Wang Huang and three Savant experts, and was still in abundant supply.


    <i>However, I must ensure that my stock of blood-red mist remains ample throughout my journey, rather than waiting until it runs low before seeking replenishment.</i>


    Who could foresee whaty ahead? Perhaps he would find himself shing with a Grandmaster. Hence, it was necessary to maintain peakbat power at all times.


    After numerous experiments, Wu Yuan also began to form a hypothesis about the origin of the blood-red mist. It seemed unlikely that it was produced by the deceased, and more likely the ck pagoda itself.


    <i>As my power continues to grow, it is only when I encounter enemies with strength on par with mine that the blood-red mist emerges in significant quantities. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    Weaker foes provided only meager amounts of the mist, as demonstrated by the ying of a dozen bandits who were predominantly martial novices and martial virtuosos, with barely any third-rate Adepts among them. There was a stark difference in blood-red mist productionpared to when Wu Yuan killed a third-rate Adept two years ago.


    <i>In essence, the amount of blood-red mist released depends on the human aspect of the equation. It factors in my own power and the strength of my adversaries. </i>


    The ck pagoda''s ability to discern the rtive strength between Wu Yuan and his foes was truly mysterious.


    <i>This has the unmistakable touch of some higher-order existence. I suspect it is somehow linked to extremely powerful qi refiners.</i>


    He dismissed these thoughts for the time being. For a long time now, Wu Yuan had been diligently trying to decipher the secrets of the ck pagoda and the blood-red mist. With his growing strength, he gradually unraveled more information.


    <i>I��ve only acquired a little blood-red mist so far, but there��s no need to rush. This Great Spirit Mountain Range stretches across hundreds of li, serving as an essential passage from the Yuan Continent, through Eastdream, and into the Jiang Continent. It''s only natural that it attracts a horde of bandits. </i>Wu Yuan smiled.


    Certain conditions bred a hotbed for bandits: first, a constant flow of traveling merchants. Bandits were driven by greed, and their love for silver taels knew no bounds. Second, treacherous terrain that allowed for quick escapes. ins were rarely favored bynd bandits. Third, an area situated at the crossroads of various major powers. This often led tox oversight and created fertile ground for banditry.


    Given that the Great Spirit Mountain Range fulfilled all three of these conditions, it was no surprise that it was infested with bandits.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s knowledge, there were seven notorious gangs that held significant sway in this region.


    Given that he intended to keep his true identity concealed as he roamed the world, Wu Yuan had no interest in epting missions from the Pleiades Guild, nor did he feel the need to decide who deserved to live or die. He devised a simple solution��eliminate anyone who came seeking his life!


    This was where the Bluethunder Horses came into y. The mere presence of two Bluethunder Horses, valued at nearly 10,000 silver taels, was enough to lure any ordinary bandit.


    ...


    The Great Spirit Mountain Range was a long stretch of majestic peaks and undting terrain.


    Wu Yuan, riding one of the two Bluethunder Horses, carried an ample supply of food and fodder in his storage ring, enough tost several months. Furthermore, Wu Yuan, having mastered qi consumption, did not require daily sustenance. Carrying food and seasonings was simply to satisfy his asional cravings.


    He traveled leisurely, covering distances that ranged from a few li to several dozen li each day. Wu Yuan traveled at his own pace along the mountainous official route, with the sky as his nket and the earth as his bed. asionally, he would pause to refine his fist techniques and hone his techniques with the saber.


    As he ventured forth on this journey of carefree abandon, his mind and heart grew increasingly tranquil.


    <i>Heaven and earth are vast and boundless!</i>


    Wu Yuan''s soul swelled with power. With each passing moment, his perception of the world deepened and sharpened.


    The weight of the earth, the expanse of the sky, and the vitality of nature began to resonate within his heart and soul. All weariness and concerns were discarded to the back of his mind.


    Perhaps it was because Wu Yuan was too small a target, or because he didn��t strictly keep to the official route, but it wasn''t until the sixth day of traveling through the Great Spirit Mountain that his desired prey finally appeared.


    "Trash, leave those horses behind!"


    "Two Bluethunder Horses, and the rider looks like a cavalier... I don��t think it��s a good idea to provoke him.��


    "Who cares? How dare he pass through our ckwind Fort��s territory without paying the toll?" Hundreds of bandits descended on Wu Yuan, charging down from the mountainside. Yet, none of them dared to release their arrows, fearful of harming the Bluethunder Horses.


    <i>Finally, they��re here. </i>Wu Yuan smiled. After so many days, he was starting to get impatient.


    "Where did this foole from? He��s about to die, yet he��s smiling instead of running for his life," jeered the bandit leader. With a sudden leap, he swung his saber towards Wu Yuan''s neck, confident that he could sever it in a single stroke. He could already visualize the blood sttering in his mind.


    <i>Bang! </i>A loud crunch echoed through the air, sending shivers down the spines of the surrounding bandits.


    The bandit leader��s chest was obliterated, leaving behind a gaping hole of mangled flesh and blood.


    <i>Boom~ </i>Thend bandit leader was sent flying eighteen meters back, crashing into two other bandits before colliding with a colossal tree. The tree snapped in half, copsing onto the ground.


    His eyes bulged, life extinguished. The two bandits struck by his lifeless body felt as though an unimaginable force mmed into them. Both fell to the ground, spitting out blood as they teetered on the edge of death.


    In one punch, three lives were snuffed out!


    <i>Without using my Soul Force or saber, I managed to subtly harness heaven and earth''s power. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes were bright with excitement. <i>Just as The Sword Hierarch advised, attuning myself to the world is highly effective.</i>


    Wu Yuan paid no mind to the bandits surrounding him. Just the sight of the punch he had just delivered was enough to petrify them. The strongest among them, the Ninth Leader, had been dispatched in a single blow?


    "Is that all you can do?" Wu Yuan casually asked. His gaze waspletely calm, surveying the hundreds of bandits on both sides. He concealed his aura wlessly.


    "Kill! Avenge Ninth Leader!" A furious roar echoed through the air.


    "Kill him!"


    "Kill!" With Wu Yuan''s provocation, thend bandits, who were well-ustomed to bloodshed, could no longer hold themselves back. They surged towards him from all directions, like a tidal wave intent on swallowing him whole.


    They believed that by relying on overwhelming numbers, they could exhaust the seemingly indomitable martial artist standing in their way.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The echoing impact of fists meeting flesh reverberated through the air as the bandits surrounding Wu Yuan were sent flying in all directions. Some were left with shattered limbs, while the unfortunate ones had their headsunched into the distance or chests punctured!


    In an instant, more than ten figures were hurled nearly 30 zhangs away, no longer breathing as they crashed to the ground. The sight of this spectacle finally instilled genuine fear in the hearts of these merciless bandits.


    "Damn it! We''re dealing with an expert!"


    "Run." Gripped by panic, the surviving bandits fled, abandoning all hope of victory against Wu Yuan. Their group scatteredpletely.


    As bandits, they did not fear death, having long prepared themselves for such an oue. However, the absence of hope could fracture even the sturdiest wills.


    But how could Wu Yuan allow them to escape?


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Each earth-shaking impact sent a bandit crashing to the ground.


    "Have mercy!"


    "Run!" Desperate cries filled the air as the bandits sprinted even faster, cursing their ancestors for not bestowing them with an extra pair of legs.


    In the end, out of the hundreds who challenged Wu Yuan, only a meager dozen or so managed to flee. This wasrgely due to Wu Yuan testing out the new concepts he had learned on them rather than focusing on massacring them. Otherwise, none of these bandits would have survived.


    <i>Immersing myself in the vastness of the world, attuning my soul to the rhythms of nature, and trekking through majestic mountains and winding rivers truly works. If I continue to improve at this rate, it won''t be long before I can harness spiritual qi.</i>


    Wu Yuan was filled with anticipation. This result was not solely from the journey this past half a month. It was also the result of a year''s worth of tireless exploration through the Jiang Continent, as well as the umtion of many sessions of contemting the majesty of the world on Cloudhill.


    "Let''s continue," Wu Yuan dered, urging his horse forward. The act of eliminating these bandits didn''t stir any emotions within him.


    Little did he know that by leaving a dozen or so survivors, he had unwittingly provoked the wrath of a formidable foe.


    ckwind Fort, the dominant force in the vast Great Spirit Mountain Range, was shaken to its core by the heavy casualties inflicted upon its bandit brethren. The survivors, having witnessed their leader''s demise and the suffering of theirrades, wasted no time in reporting the incident.


    The head boss of ckwind Fort seethed with anger. "How dare some trash run amok in my territory! Even if he��s a Savant expert, he��s dead meat!"


    "Contact the other major factions immediately!" hemanded. "We must put an end to this farce. The reputation of the Great Spirit Mountain Range is at stake!"


    Despite their internal rivalries, the seven major bandit groups of the Great Spirit Mountain Range unified in the face of external threats. Swiftly, messages were exchanged, and scouts from ckwind Fort reported back that they had found traces of Wu Yuan.


    This development was to be expected. Wu Yuan, who was focused on his cultivation and traveled unhurriedly, did not go out of his way to conceal his whereabouts.


    With the ckwind Fort as the core fighting force, the head bosses of three prominent bandit groups had gathered their main forces. In addition, three other head bosses, though absent, had sent a formidable contingent of their elite bandits. Theirbined strength amounted to nearly 10,000nd bandits, including hundreds of Adept experts. This massive ambush was set up for a single Wu Yuan.


    Unbeknownst to them, Wu Yuan had long detected the presence of thesend bandit scouts through his soul sense. However, he paid them no heed, utterly devoted to his cultivation. It was only when the 10,000 banditsunched their all-out assault that Wu Yuan finally halted his cultivation and opened his eyes.


    He adhered to a simple creed: should anyone seek to harm him, he would retaliate without hesitation. He would feel no remorse in ughtering these bandits.


    ��Kill him!�� The thunderous battle cries of the almost 10,000nd bandits reverberated through the forest, echoing through tens of li.


    A colossal sh erupted, soon descending into a one-sided massacre. It was a scene of bloodshed and brutality.


    Wu Yuan did not rush his killing spree; he was not concerned with the number of enemies he dispatched. Rather, he utilized these bandits as a means to validate his epiphanies.


    <i>There��s no need to wield the saber. My fists can also harness spiritual qi</i>. There wasn��t a ripple of emotion in Wu Yuan as he engaged in the carnage with unparalleled focus.


    One punch, one kill! Regardless of whether they were martial novices, martial virtuosos, second-rate Adepts, or first-rate Adepts, anyone foolish enough to charge at Wu Yuan would swiftly meet their demise.

 Chapter 164: Union of Heaven, Earth, and Man (2)

    <h4>Chapter 164: Union of Heaven, Earth, and Man (2)</h4>


    Every single foe was reduced to nothingness by a single devastating blow. No one had the strength to withstand his punch! No one had the agility to evade his punch! No one had the resilience to survive his punch!


    Initially, the four bosses of thend bandits brimmed with confidence. From their estimates, even a Savant expert would bepletely worn out from such an intense battle. When that happened, it was their opportunity to go in for the kill!


    But their conviction soon crumbled, their miscalction dreadfully apparent. In less than two hours, over 2000nd bandits met their end at the hands of Wu Yuan''s unyielding fists. Even a first-rate Adept in heavy armor met a grisly demise, his chest caved by the sheer force of Wu Yuan''s punch.


    Currently, the vast stretch of mountain forest spanning ten li had turned into a field of motionless corpses. The mountain range was dyed crimson with blood!


    Unfazed, Wu Yuan''s countenance remained aloof as he muttered to himself. "That strike could have been more restrained." It was as though the bandits he had just killed were nothing more than a bunch of ants.


    "Flee!"


    "He''s no human, he''s a demon!"


    "Run!" Confronted by Wu Yuan, who resembled a living devil, the once fearsome bandit horde crumbled. Overtaken by terror, they began to disperse, disregarding the shouts of their bosses.


    "Top ten on the Human Rankings!"


    "Could he be a Grandmaster? Only someone of that caliber could possess such physical strength." The bosses of the four bandit factions shivered. Though it was embarrassing, they chose to prioritize their own survival. After all, they only had one life.


    Unfortunately for them, Wu Yuan''s soul sense had expanded to a three-li radius. He had long detected four individuals with rtively stronger vital auras than the other bandits. How could he allow them to escape?


    "Do you think you can flee?" Wu Yuan''s gaze turned frigid as he unleashed his full speed, darting several hundred meters in an instant. In a flurry of motion, hundreds of bandits were tossed into the air, their limbs scattered, and blood spraying. None survived the onught. In an instant, Wu Yuan was standing before the four bosses.


    ��Not good.�� A sense of impending dread gripped one of the bosses as his expression twisted in horror.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Sounds of impact echoed through the air, followed by four dull thuds. The four bandit bosses, each ranked within the top 150 of the Jiang Continent Human Rankings,y lifeless on the ground.


    The seven major bandit factions of the Great Spirit Mountain Range suffered heavy losses in this battle, with over 4000 dead and only a handful injured.


    The ckwind Fort was particrly pitiful, losing eleven of its leaders, including the ninth leader from their previous encounter with Wu Yuan. The faction was instantly removed from the seven major bandit factions of the mountain.


    Fear gripped the entire Great Spirit Mountain Range,pelling numerousnd bandits to flee the area, swearing to abandon their lives of crime.


    This was the terror of Grandmasters, experts with overwhelming power, unparalleled skill, and unwavering stamina. Throughout history, there had been countless tales of individual Grandmasters battling armies upwards of 100,000 men, ultimately iming the lives of over 10,000 soldiers and emerging unscathed.


    One man against an army of a million. For a Grandmaster, this was far from challenging.


    The battle shook the Great Spirit Mountain Range to its core. The name Fist King of Hell spread like wildfire, striking panic into the hearts ofnd bandits who fled the mountain in droves. This epic sh quickly became the talk of all the surrounding viges and towns.


    The mysterious expert known as the Fist King of Hell was said to possess the strength to rival the top ten in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, a suspected Grandmaster.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, the man at the center of this storm, remained oblivious to the chaos he had caused. Instead, he saw this ughter as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world''s true nature.


    <i>Heaven and earth are uncaring.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind was calm. The world nurtured all beings equally, without favor or bias. There was the saying that ��human beings are the essence of heaven and earth, the primate of all things��, yet the fates of those he had ughtered were no different from the fates of pigs and dogs ughtered by humans. [1] This realization spurred Wu Yuan''s spirit to undergo another shift.


    Leaving behind the Great Spirit Mountain Range, Wu Yuan ventured into the Eastdream Province. At the northernmost tip of the Jiang Continent, two major families, the Eastdream Wen Family and the Westdream Dao Family, controlled the Eastdream Province and Westdream Province respectively.


    The origins of these tworge families could be traced back to the legendary Heavenly Ranker, Moon sh Liu Guang, who wielded a saber capable of slicing through moonlight and enjoyed unrivaled fame 800 years ago.


    As time passed, the Liu Family splintered into two factions, firmly entrenched in their respective territories with the aid of Grandmasters from both families.


    During Great Jin''s eastward campaign, the leaders of Eastdream and Southdream proimed themselves loyal vassals of the empire, and were bestowed the titles of Duke. Yet, they opted to remain neutral, refraining from joining the battles waged by Great Jin.


    But this had little to do with Wu Yuan. He ventured into Eastdream and Westdream to gain insight into the intricacies of human nature. Of course, if he encountered any misguided ruffians along the way, he wouldn''t hesitate to put them down.


    Whenever he witnessed injustice, he would deliver swift punishment, ranging from a severe beating to a lethal blow, acting on his whims and attracting a good deal of trouble. However, those who foolishly sought trouble with Wu Yuan soon learned the cmity they had invited upon themselves.


    <i>Follow your desires, heed the fire in your heart. That is the path of a true martial artist.</i>


    Wu Yuan dispatched yet another group of experts who dared to challenge him, then left like the wind.


    Heading north along the Westdream Province, the gradient of the terrain gradually steepened. After covering countless li and crossing the imposing Yangqu Mountain Range, the gradient ttened out, transforming from towering mountain ranges into vast stretches of rolling hills and ins.


    From the terrain, Wu Yuan recognized that he had finally arrived at the Yuan Continent. Here, the pockets of grassfields spread around the hills and ins, and eventually overrger areas as one ventured further north, ultimately leading to a great grasnd beyond the Central ins.


    <i>ording to the literature,pared to the Jiang Continent and Chu Continent, the Yuan Continent boasts a bolder folk culture and a somewhat more primal popce.</i> A smile graced Wu Yuan��s face.


    Among the seven continents of the Central ins, the Yuan Continent was renowned for its formidable cavalry, known as the Yuan Continent Iron Cavalry. The 300,000 Iron Cavalry was a true force of nature that struck fear into the hearts of its enemies.


    Not long after Wu Yuan set foot on the Yuan Continent, he found that the continent was currently embroiled in unending chaos, a maelstrom of ceaseless warfare that had endured year-round.


    The north king of Great Jin, stationed in the eastern reaches of the Yuan Continent, had gradually expanded his dominion by annexing three provinces over several decades. This expansionist fervor birthed a formidable cavalry force perpetually engaged in conflict with the two great nations of the continent.


    <i>Great Jin is truly an empire that makes enemies on all fronts.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s journey from the ins of the central Jiang Continent to treacherous peaks of the northern regions, and through the Yuan Continent interwoven with grassfields and rolling hills took him two months. His physical constitution improved at an astonishing pace, and his soul grew ever stronger.


    More importantly, as he ventured alone free from restraints, drawing upon the insights of the Grandmasters and the wisdom of The Sword Hierarch, Wu Yuan''s understanding of the vast world deepened, his perception growing increasingly clear.


    He became ever more aware of the vastness of heaven and earth and his own insignificance within it.


    ...


    In the month of July, the early whispers of summer graced thend with lush grasses and the melodious songs of warblers. The gentle breeze carried warmth, and sunlight bathed the earth in its ethereal glow.


    Situated in the eastern region of the Holy Continent stood a renowned mountain known as the Skysaber Mountain. Piercing the clouds, this towering behemoth rose thousands of zhangs from the ground. Its terrain was exceedingly treacherous, protecting the chokepoint between the Yuan Continent and the Holy Continent.


    It was one of the eight famous mountains in the world. However, the origin of its name stemmed from a narrow, straight, and dark canyon that cleaved the eastern side of the mountain. This canyon appeared to have been created by an unimaginably powerful saber sh. Legend said that it was created during a sh between two Heavenly Rankers thousands of years ago. Thus, both the canyon and the mountain were named Skysaber.


    In the present day, beneath an imposing boulder at the highest point of the Skysaber Canyon on the eastern nk of the mountain, a group of soldiers assembled on the mountain path, effectively sealing off the area.


    A crowd of martial artists and evenmon folk watched from a distance, curiosity bubbling within them.


    "The governor hasn��t arrived yet?"


    "Who in the world could that be? A Grandmaster?"


    "Controlling power from afar, even a Grandmaster couldn��t aplish that. Could it be an immortal?"


    "Who can say?" The soldiers engaged in hushed conversation amongst themselves. They had been deployed here after being informed that a formidable expert was blocking the path to the Skysaber Canyon.


    The Skysaber Canyon was an acimed scenic attraction. Many officials and nobles from Great Jin passing through the Skysaber Mountain would often visit the canyon, marveling at the breathtakingndscape. But in recent days, ess to the prime viewing tform had been obstructed.


    "Senior Lu, over there, that expert is right there." A middle-aged man garbed in official attire led an elderly figure cloaked in ck robes, hurrying along the mountain path with utmost deference. Several officials and generals followed behind respectfully. Clearly, the ck-robed elderly man held an exalted status.


    "The governor has arrived, but who is that?"


    "Who knows!"


    "The provincial general from the city is also here. Who is this distinguished person?" The multitude of soldiers, martial artists, and onlookers whispered amongst themselves, utterly shocked.


    In their eyes, the governor and the provincial general were already figures of the highest echelon, capable of determining the fate of countless individuals.


    Who could wield such authority over them?


    "Expert?" The elderly man in ck abruptly halted his steps, his gaze fixated on a colossal boulder several hundred meters away. Perched atop the rock was a figure, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes. The man was disheveled, appearing around 30 years old, emanating a ruggedness that hinted at a life in the grasnds.


    However, the elderly man in ck knew better than to judge him solely based on his appearance or attire. He understood that some individuals, particrly those who had reached higher levels of cultivation, could not be assessed by their external traits alone. A moment of observation was all it took for a look of astonishment to appear on the elderly man''s face.


    "Heaven, earth, and man, united in a painting," he murmured to himself, increasingly awestruck by the man on the boulder. Sitting there, he seemed to have seamlessly merged with the surroundings, akin to a magnificent work of art.


    Suddenly, a recollection shed through the elder''s mind, filling his eyes with irrepressible astonishment. ��This feeling, could it be?��


    "Governor Wang, has anyone attempted to approach this senior?" the elderly man in ck turned his head, speaking in a deep voice. Unconsciously, he had already begun addressing the man as ��Senior��.


    Governor Wang, quick to notice this, stepped forward and whispered, "Senior Lu, when this mysterious senior appeared two days ago, some soldiers initially tried to drive him away. However, before they could even get close, they felt an invisible force pushing them back. Sensing something amiss, they wisely refrained from acting hastily and promptly reported the situation to me."


    "I''ve heard myths of immortals," Governor Wang cautiously continued, "and thus, I was concerned and immediately notified you, Senior."


    Inhaling deeply, the elder in ck nodded approvingly at Governor Wang. "You''ve done well, exceptionally well! Fortunately, you didn''t recklessly disturb this senior."


    "Give the order, everyone is to leave without making amotion.��


    "Understood." The governor couldn''t help but shudder. Deep within, he felt a growing certainty that his initial guess had hit the mark. Mulling over this revtion, the governor''s gaze involuntarily flickered towards the rugged figure hundreds of meters away.


    A Heavenly Ranker?


    The elderly man in ck robes walked up, his strides deliberate and measured. Soon, he walked past the group of guards, until he was only 30 meters from the imposing boulder.


    At this point, he could feel an invisible resistance, a force exceeding 10,000 catties. With every step forward, the resistance intensified, bearing down on him like the weight of the entire world.


    <i>It''s spiritual qi! In the past, my mentor wielded a first-grade divine weapon and disyed this power.</i> Any doubts left in the elderly man vanished.


    <i>Compared to the power my mentor exhibited, this feels like true spiritual qi. And that expert can control it from 30 meters away! </i>Awe mingled with the elderly man''s gaze as he beheld the figure perched on the boulder.


    <i>He��s a Heavenly Ranker!</i>


    1. From Shakespeare''s Hamlet ?

 Chapter 165: Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu (1)

    <h4>Chapter 165: Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu (1)</h4>


    <i>My mentor once told me that when one reaches the Integration level of the Harmony of Man and Nature, there is hope of entering the Heavenly Rankings. And upon achieving Unity, truly harnessing spiritual qi, they would undoubtedly be a Heavenly Ranker.</i>


    <i>However, there are only a few known Heavenly Rankers in the world. I wonder who this man is.</i> The elderly man pondered.


    The gap between Land Rankers and ordinary martial artists ormoners was immense.


    As for Heavenly Rankers? They were callednd deities for a reason. These were individuals who pursued the profoundness of heaven and earth and had long transcended the mundane.


    It could be said that apart from exceptional circumstances, many Grandmasters were rarely able to catch a glimpse of a Heavenly Ranker throughout their lives.


    <i>Could it be a Heavenly Ranker from Great Jin? </i>As the ck-robed elderly man contemted this, his expression subtly changed.<i> I hope it''s not someone with a grudge against Great Jin.</i>


    In the past century, Great Jin had expanded its territory aggressively, and the covert shes among Heavenly Rankers had never ceased. Ordinary citizens and martial artists remained oblivious to this. However, as a disciple of an expert in the sect, with formidable strength of his own, the ck-robed elderly man was keenly aware of this information.


    ��Governor Wang!�� The elderly man called out to a figure several hundred meters away.


    ��Senior Lu.�� The governor bowed in response.


    ��Immediately instruct your finest painter to capture this senior��s portrait,�� the elderly man instructed with a deep voice. ��Then, send it to the Northern Army camp and the Yuanxia Pce for the Grandmasters to examine.��


    ��Understood,�� the governor acknowledged. To be appointed as governor, ruling over tens of millions, required a certain level of astuteness. He quickly deduced that Senior Lu was uncertain of the identity of this mysterious expert.


    The Northern Army camp, led by the north king, wasposed of several Grandmasters. The Yuanxia Pce, one of the three martial arts havens of the Holy Continent, simrly amodated several Land Rankers throughout the year. ording to legends, the Yuanxia Pce was ruled by a Heavenly Ranker.


    As time passed, more soldiers arrived at the scene to maintain order. The ck-robed elderly man noticed that the mysterious Heavenly Ranker seemed to be in deep meditation and took great care not to disturb him, sending the crowd of martial artists and citizens away, and even temporarily closing the famous Skysaber Canyon.


    ...


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged atop the huge boulder, looking like a rugged tribesman.


    <i>This is what it means to achieve Unity?</i>


    It had been four months since he departed from Cloudhill. During this time, he traversed the Jiang and Yuan Continents, immersing himself in the world, and gaining profound insights into heaven and earth. With his formidable soul, his progress elerated swiftly.


    After arriving in the Yuan Continent, even without relying on a first-grade divine weapon, his pure fist and palm techniques subtly stirred spiritual qi. From that moment on, his advancement became increasingly pronounced, and his connection with the vast heaven and earth grew clearer.


    As June arrived, Wu Yuan journeyed into the Holy Continent, a ce with distinct customs and culture from the Jiang Continent. This experience deeply moved him. He vaguely sensed that he stood on the cusp of truly harnessing spiritual qi, and just needed to take onest step.


    Standing at the peak of Skysaber Mountain, he overlooked the vast Yuanjin ins, stretching for hundreds of li. And there before his eyesy the Skysaber Canyon, a mere dozen zhangs wide yet extending for over ten li.


    Did a Heavenly Ranker carve this canyon with his saber? Wu Yuan couldn''t say for sure. But the grandiosity of the world resonated deep within his heart. At that moment, he finally grasped the magnificence of the world. Everything fell into ce.


    It was like the first cry of a newborn baby, the sprouting of a bamboo shoot, or the blossoming of a bud overnight.


    In that moment, Wu Yuan''s soul transcended the limitations of his physical form, attuning to the boundless spiritual qi!


    He took the pivotal step beyond the mundane and became a true qi refiner. He had reached the Unity level, the true form of Harmony of Man and Nature!


    <i>Even without the need for a first-grade divine saber, I can perceive the boundless spiritual qi with utmost rity.</i>


    Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder were the seven most prevalent types of spiritual qi, which corresponded to the various powers of heaven and earth.


    It was a hundred times, even a thousand times clearer than sensing them through his divine saber!


    And beyond these types of spiritual qi, there existed other enigmatic and rare manifestations of heaven and earth''s power. Wu Yuan could only vaguely perceive them, yet couldn''t harness them.


    <i>The fusion of numerous powers of heaven and earth culminates in theplete heaven and earth''s power. These mysterious powers underpin the very workings of the world.</i> Wu Yuan experienced a sudden epiphany. <i>Spiritual qi is the embodiment of heaven and earth��s powers in operation.</i>


    Such a profoundprehension of heaven and earth''s essence was difficult to describe in mere words.


    <i>The so-called qi refiner is an individual who seeks to understand the profoundness of heaven and earth andmand its powers.</i>


    <i>If Iprehend and control each power, from the surface of heaven and earth��s profundities till its depths, until mastery of theplete heaven and earth''s power, unlocking the essence of heaven and earth, I shall be the most formidable qi refiner.</i> Wu Yuan intuitively grasped this truth.


    The attainment ofplete Harmony of Man and Nature brought about this natural realization without any guidance. Simultaneously, he felt himself propelled instinctively in this direction.


    <i>The soul is nourished by the physical body, and in the same way, it can be nourished by heaven and earth��s power.</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Force extended outward.


    His soul naturally drew upon heaven and earth''s power, much like a tree��s roots breaking through the soil and its leaves basking in the nourishing sunlight.


    Wu Yuan felt his soul being nourished by the epassing essence of the heavens and earth, experiencing a remarkable surge in growth. This advancement surpassed the effects of the ck pagoda''s Visualization technique by tenfold, even a hundredfold. As his soul strengthened, so did his Soul Force, and his perception of the vast heaven and earth grew clearer with each passing moment.


    Concurrently, Wu Yuan inspected his internal body, and realized that the previously hazy 108 acupoints were now vividly clear, and he could sense every minute passage of his meridians.


    <i>No wonder it��s so difficult for a Land Ranker at the Integration level to enter the Heavenly Rankings. But once Unity is achieved, a swift breakthrough will ur, transforming one into a genuine qi refiner</i>.


    The soul nurtured by heaven and earth would experience rapid growth, making qi consumption and refining effortless.


    Immersed in this experience, Wu Yuan felt an overwhelming sense offort. In just one day, his soul grew four or five times stronger, an astonishing feat. However, what surprised Wu Yuan the most was that his physical constitution remained stagnant.


    <i>ording to The Sword Hierarch, when a Land Ranker''s skill reaches Unity, they naturally perceive heaven and earth and are nurtured by its power, leading to a rapid improvement in their physical constitution. But why has my body not experienced any changes?</i>


    When he first consumed qi, spiritual qi entered his body, but there was no transformation in his physical constitution. Despite the infusion of heaven and earth��s power, Wu Yuan''s body showed no significant improvements or advancements. It seemed that there was no more room for growth, as if he had reached his limit.


    <i>That��s right, I��m still in the Strength Training phase and have not even begun Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing. My lower dantian lobe has yet to develop to maturity, yet my physical strength is already at 220,000 catties. </i>


    <i>At best, heaven and earth''s power can improve my physical strength to 400,000 catties. </i>


    <i>As I continue to grow, my physical constitution will only get increasingly exaggerated. This indicates that my body is already very refined, and needs time to grow gradually. The blood-red mist''s influence on the evolution of my body is much stronger and more pronounced than that of heaven and earth''s power.</i>


    The mystical properties of the mist once again awed Wu Yuan.


    <i>My rapid advancement to the Unity level can be attributed to my naturalprehension ability and also the strength of my soul, which surpasses that of other Land Rankers. </i>


    A person''sprehension abilities were not fixed but rather influenced by experiences, cognition, and various other factors. With a powerful soul, one could perceive the profundity of heaven and earth more clearly. If also given proper guidance, their rate ofprehension would elerate.


    <i>I��ve only gotten an initial grasp of the Unity level, and can only control about 30,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. I still have a long way to go before reaching The Sword Hierarch��s level. However, with a strong soul and continuous contemtion of the different powers of heaven and earth, I will quickly improve, and will soon be able tomand 120,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power.</i>


    From The Sword Hierarch��s guidance, Wu Yuan knew that reaching the Unity level alone was a feat that countless Land Rankers struggled with, and that beginners like him could only control around 20,000 to 50,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. However, with time and familiarization, he would be able to harness around 120,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power.


    The Sword Hierarch had taken a mere year or two tomand 120,000 catties. Now, Wu Yuan��s next step was to achieveplete mastery of Unity. The books left by The Sword Hierarch only offered vague suggestions on how to achieve a breakthrough, urging him toprehend the essence of a specific type of heaven and earth''s power. Once he understood it, the power he could wield would surge to an astounding 200,000 catties!


    <i>For now, I must cultivate and grow to the absolute limit of this stage. As for the method of breakthrough...I shall deal with it when the timees. At the very least, I have achieved the true Harmony of Man and Nature. Nothing can stand in my way of bing a true qi refiner.</i> His heart brimmed with longing and anticipation


    At the tender age of seventeen, Wu Yuan attained Unity. He knew that none before him in the history of the Middle Land''s thirteen continents had aplished such a feat.


    To be a true qi refiner, there was only one thing left to do: enhance his physical constitution.


    <i>With a powerful soul and the ability to control the body down to the smallest meridians. Once my musculoskeletal development isplete, I can practice the ''Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique'', pushing my body to its peak in one go and reaching the limit of my human body. </i>He eagerly anticipated his eighteenth birthday. By then, his strength would soar to unimaginable heights.


    Wu Yuan gathered his thoughts and settled into the lotus position, immersing himself in the boundless world. Having just achieved a breakthrough, and with his spirit and soul transformed, this first clear view of the world would prove to be his greatest opportunity for progress.


    The earth stood solid and unyielding, mes burned with explosive power, trees sprouted and flourished, and all forms of life pulsated with beauty. The world, in all its splendor, unfolded before Wu Yuan''s eyes, captivating his senses.


    Nurtured by the boundless expanse of the world, Wu Yuan''s spirit transformed, growing stronger and attaining a heightenedmand over heaven and earth''s power. In truth, Wu Yuan had long been aware of the crowd surrounding him, but he had no desire to interrupt his cultivation. Instead, he wielded heaven and earth''s power to keep them at bay. And if anyone dared to disturb him? Wu Yuan wouldn''t hesitate to eliminate them with a throwing knife.

 Chapter 166: Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu (2)

    <h4>Chapter 166: Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu (2)</h4>


    The process of his breakthroughsted for three whole days.


    As the morning sun rose on the fourth day since his arrival at Skysaber Mountain, casting its resplendent rays upon the majestic peak, Wu Yuan finally opened his eyes and gradually rose to his feet. With a mere thought, an unseen force swept over him, purging the dust from his body. Simultaneously, the invisible sphere that had enveloped a ten-li radius around him dissipated entirely.


    "He''s awake!"


    "The expert has awakened!"


    "Look!" Hundreds of meters from the mountain path, whispered murmurs filled the air.


    Over the past few days, martial artists andmon folk who had caught wind of the rumors had congregated here, their numbers nearing the thousands. They were all abuzz with excitement, eager to witness the moment Wu Yuan awakened. However, a contingent of soldiers blocked their path, preventing them from drawing too near.


    <i>It seems I��ve attracted quite a gathering.</i> Wu Yuan cast a cursory nce at the crowd, paying them little heed. His Soul Force extended, surveying his surroundings, while his soul sense subtly epassed a radius of six to seven li. It appeared that no Grandmaster-level expert was present.


    "Junior Lu Liang greets Senior." The ck-robed elderly man took a step forward, bowing respectfully at the foot of the towering boulder.


    "Lu Liang?" Wu Yuan nced down at him. After gainingmand over heaven and earth''s power, along with his greatly strengthened soul and spirit, Wu Yuan gained a profound awareness of the world, and inadvertently felt that he was overlooking the mortal world.


    At this moment, he trulyprehended why The Sword Hierarch maintained such aloofness towards the mundane world. Qi refiners had truly transcended mortality, and were no longer on the same order of existence as mortal martial artists; the gap between them was as vast as the gap between the heavens above and the earth below.


    "What is the matter?" Wu Yuan asked nonchntly. Having justpleted his breakthrough, he did not consciously subdue his power in the state of Harmony of Man and Nature. As a result, his voice seemed to reverberate across the entire world.


    "Skysaber Mountain is honored to be graced by Senior��s presence," the elderly man hastily responded. "I have already informed the seniors at Yuanxia Pce. If Senior can spare a moment, a representative from the Heavenly Rankings will arrive to meet with you."


    "Meet me?" Wu Yuan remainedposed. "Does Great Jin n on arresting me just because I experienced some cultivation insights after ??passing through this region?"


    "Senior, how could you say such a thing?" the ck-d old man, trembling with fear, swiftly fell to his knees. "It is merely a discussion on the Dao!"


    "A discussion on the Dao? Haha, with the exception of Imperator Jin, no one else in Great Jin is worthy of discussing the Dao with me," Wu Yuan stated indifferently.


    These words struck terror into the heart of the elderly man in ck. He couldn''t help but wonder who exactly this rugged man was. Which passing deity was he?


    "Youngster, go and deliver a message." Wu Yuan gracefully stepped off the colossal boulder and into the air. "Tell Jin Cang that the world does not belong to a single person or family. If your appetite exceeds your capacity, your stomach might just burst."


    This spectacle elicited gasps of astonishment from the numerous martial artists andmon folk in the distance. No matter how the wind blew, Wu Yuan remained unshaken as he stood in mid-air. Floating a thousand zhangs above the ground, in the warm embrace of sunlight, he looked like an immortal.


    "Yes, Junior understands," the elderly man in the ck robe uttered, though inwardly panicking. He could tell that this mysterious Heavenly Ranker held a grudge against Great Jin, yet he dared not defy his instructions. As a Savant expert himself, he knew that if the Heavenly Ranker decided to end his life, it would require nothing more than a single thought.


    "If Junior may be presumptuous, may I ask what is Senior��s name?" the ck-robed elderly man queried through clenched teeth.


    He knew that he couldn��t retain the man, but if he failed to even ascertain his name, he might face severe repercussions.


    "My name? I am Wan Liu, remember it well!" Wu Yuan��s voice echoed as he took a single step into the air. As if the fabric of space warped, his figure blurred until he vanished from view, leaving everyone bewildered as they stared at the empty sky.


    "Wan Liu?" the ck-robed elderly man made a mental note. The name waspletely unfamiliar to him.


    ...


    With Wu Yuan''s disappearance, peace and quiet returned to the Skysaber Canyon, as hordes of civilians and martial artists were driven away by the soldiers.


    "He��s called Wan Liu!"


    "He made Senior Lu kneel and pay respects."


    "He could walk on air! He must be and deity from the Heavenly Rankings." The thousands of martial artists and civilians were thrilled, engaging in animated discussions.


    Many would never bear witness to the sight of a Heavenly Ranker in their lifetime, but fortune had graced them, making it a hot topic of discussion.


    Meanwhile, the ck-robed elderly man did not depart. Apanied by the governor and the group of soldiers, they surrounded the Skysaber Canyon and waited patiently.


    "Are you Lu Liang?" One dayter, a chilling voice resonated from above, startling the elderly man and the group. All of them looked up at the neer with gaping mouths. It was a man around 40 years old, wearing white robes and a hat. He emanated an otherworldly aura as he stood suspended in mid-air. His ability to walk on air was all the proof they needed of his status.


    While the other officials and soldiers did not know who the neer was, the ck-robed elderly man recognized the man��s outfit, and instantly knew he was a legendary figure.


    "Disciple Lu Liang pays respects to Deity Zhao," the ck-robed elderly man greeted reverently, kneeling.


    "Disciple pays respects to Deity Zhao," all the officials and soldiers hurriedly kneeled, feeling as though they were in the presence of a deity.


    "You know who I am?" The white-robed man��s demeanor softened slightly, his voice ethereal. "Tell me everything that transpired in the Skysaber Canyon."


    "Yes," the ck-robed elderly man responded quickly. "Five days ago..." Soon, he swiftly recounted the events.


    "Wan Liu?" The man in white robes murmured to himself, "Walking on air, invisible force? It��s the Unity level, a qi refiner!��


    Reaching the Unity level meant earning a spot on the Heavenly Rankings. Hence, the white-robed man known as Deity Zhao didn��t bother questioning the mysterious expert��s level, promptly adding him to the Heavenly Rankings.


    "He dared im that throughout Great Jin, only Imperator Jin is worthy of discussing the Dao with him?" The white-robed man''s expression soured slightly.


    ��Where did this Wan Liu emerge from? Why haven''t I heard of him before?�� The world kept track of the number of Heavenly Rankers, after all.


    Suddenly, he thought of a frightening possibility, causing hisplexion to subtly shift. However, he quickly regained hisposure.


    "Alright. Lu Liang, was it? I will remember your name. You''ve done quite well this time," he dered.


    "Return to the Yuanxia Pce, and a Grandmaster will reward you. I shall take my leave first," the man in white robes instructed. As he waved his hand, space seemed to distort around him, and in an instant, he vanished from sight.


    "Farewell, Deity Zhao.��


    ...


    In a matter of days, a piece of news that rattled all thirteen continents spread from the Skysaber Mountain of Great Jin: a Heavenly Ranker known as Wan Liu emerged at Saber Mountain, disying deity-like powers, and specifically warned Jin Cang to abandon his ambition of unifying the world.


    This news reached every major power in the world, prompting frantic investigations from all factions. Which faction did this mysterious Heavenly Ranker belong to? Where did hee from? Countless rumors began to circte, stirring up a storm of spection.


    ...


    <i>Within the majestic Jin Hall of the Jin Royal Pce.</i>


    "The Heavenly Rankers have signed a treaty. The conflicts in the Middle Land are to be resolved by the Grandmasters and armies," Emperor Jin stated, his voice barely concealing his rage. "Who is this Wan Liu? How dare he openly vite the treaty of the Heavenly Rankers?"


    "Your Majesty!" East King Jin Jiu, donned in heavy armor, shook his head solemnly. "The so-called Heavenly Rankings treaty does hold some power, but it does not include all of the Heavenly Rankers. This Wan Liu appeared out of nowhere, and we know nothing about him."


    "Deity Zhao has sent us news that Wan Liu may very well be an immortal who just arrived in our world. We must exercise extreme caution."


    "An immortal?" Emperor Jin''s eyes narrowed as he asked in a deep voice. "Are you certain?"


    "It is merely Deity Zhao''s spection. He intends to consult with the elders for further deliberation," Jin Jiu replied.


    Emperor Jin nodded lightly, a fraction of his worries dissipating. He muttered softly, "Thousands of years have gone by, and the nexting of immortals may ur at any time. If that were to ur, it would be cmitous!"


    East King Jin Jiu concurred with a nod. They were all well-versed in the ancient texts, fully aware of the horrors the immortals could unleash upon the world.


    "Your Majesty, there is no need to overly concern yourself with Wan Liu. Deity Zhao and the ancestors will handle the matter of the Heavenly Rankers," Jin Jiu swiftly changed the subject, "Currently, we must decide on our representatives for the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Less than a month remains.��


    "Mm." Emperor Jin nodded slightly, "Have the Eastdream and Westdream families epted our terms?��


    ��They have agreed and are willing to relinquish the two Chu-Jiang Tokens to us," Jin Jiu affirmed. "This will provide us with an absolute numerical advantage at the Grandmaster level. Whether it��s obliterating Chu Ping or Bu Yu, or seizing treasures, we have the upper hand."


    One Chu-Jiang Token could grant entry to one Land Ranker.


    "Excellent!" Emperor Jin expressed his satisfaction with his nod, "The ancestors have informed me that Sixth Uncle will lead the team. Despite his age, he has more than sufficient strength to wipe out arge group of Grandmasters."


    "Sixth Uncle?" Jin Jiu''s eyes gleamed, well aware of their sixth uncle''s formidable prowess. Despite having secluded himself for decades and having no aspirations for the Heavenly Rankings, his martial skills were truly fearsome.


    ...


    <i>Within the Cloudstride Sect, in the Cloud Hall.</i>


    <i>Haha, wonderful! </i>Grandmaster Bu Yu was ted upon receiving the news from the Sta Consortium. <i>A mysterious Heavenly Ranker bearing a grudge against Great Jin has emerged!</i>


    <i>s, the Heavenly Ranker is as elusive as a phantom, no one can identify him.</i> Grandmaster Bu Yu sighed.<i> If only he would consider lending his protection to the Cloudstride Sect, it could give the Great Jin Empire pause. At the very least, it would help preserve the foundation of our sect.</i>


    However, Bu Yu knew this was nothing more than wishful thinking. Even if she were to encounter this mysterious Heavenly Ranker, why would they ever choose to assist the Cloudstride Sect?


    <i>Instructor Huan will eventually depart. But the sect must not crumble in my hands. The opening of the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm is our greatest opportunity. No matter how dangerous, I must go. </i>Grandmaster Bu Yu''s eyes shone with determination.

 Chapter 167: Gathering Of Forces (1)

    Chapter 167: Gathering Of Forces (1)


    Shortly after, Bu Yu set aside the report on Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu. Then, she began cultivating with the Moontide Sword.


    <em>iming ownership over a first-grade divine weapon is truly no easy task. One must either resonate perfectly with the weapon or possess a powerful soul capable of subduing its spirituality. </em>Bu Yu sighed inwardly.


    Regrettably, she had yet to aplish either. The sword intent of the Moontide Sword, as well as the saber intent of the Sunfury Saber, did not resonate harmoniously with her.


    <em>Back then, I ventured into the Huang Continent, risking my life to battle a demonic dragon to obtain Soul Condensing Pills, but their effects were disappointingly minimal.</em> She knitted her brow.


    Bu Yu''s disposition differed from that of Huan Jian. Whilst Huan Jian had embarked on the path of a qi refiner after journeying to the Xin Continent years ago, diligently persevering in silent meditation for three decades before finally achieving a breakthrough at the age of 90, Bu Yucked such patience.


    Her temperament was characterized by vtility. Whether it was tempering herself in the fires of adversity, stretching her potential in the face of life and death, or venturing into the unknown to hunt for treasures, none had yielded the desired sess.


    She had traversed the world, ruing gains that steadily improved her strength. Even without the Moontide Sword recognizing her as its master, she had ranked among the top twenty in the World Land Rankings in her prime!


    Even in herter years, she exerted immense pressure on East King Jin Jiu during the Battle of Hillstride eleven years prior, forcing him to retreat rather than engage her in a fight to the death. But despite these aplishments, she still hadnt managed to take that crucialst step.


    <em>Failure to break through at 100, a lifetime unable to enter the Heavenly Rankings. Although this adage may not be absolute, it can only be dyed by a year or two at most.</em> Bu Yu was acutely aware of this reality.


    At 100, herbat prowess would gradually wane, yet there was still a flicker of hope for a breakthrough. But if she still failed to achieve a breakthrough even after another three or four years went by, then all hope would be lost! This was because once the aging process began, it was not just the physique that deteriorated, but the soul as well.


    <em>Apart from the legendary Qi Sea Pill and Spiritlight Flower found in the immortal relics of the Xin Continent, the most powerful external item that could potentially help me is the Purplewood Spirit Fruit. And it can only be found in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm!</em>


    <em>If I acquire a Redwood Spirit Fruit, it would also allow me to temporarily maintain my peakbat prowess and physical constitution.</em>


    <em>Hm? </em>Bu Yu suddenly furrowed her brows, turning towards the entrance of the grand hall.


    Soon, a figure dressed in ck robes rushed into the hall, hastily kneeling. "Hierarch, Lord Chang Dong from Yuanhu Vi has arrived in Cloudhill City and requests an audience with you."


    <em>Chang Dong? Why has hee here all of a sudden? </em>A cold glint shed through Bu Yu''s eyes but quickly disappeared.


    "Send a message to Cloudhill City. I ept his request and permit Grandmaster Chang to ascend the mountain," Bu Yu said faintly.


    "Yes." The ck-robed man left to deliver the message.


    Less than two hourster, Lu Feng, the sect leader of the Cloudstride Sect, received a man dressed in red robes at the base of Cloudhill.


    The man was slender with a darkplexion, his narrow eyes giving one a feeling of aloofness, though he had a smile on his face at the moment.


    The two strolled along the mountain path.


    "The Cloudstride Sect, led by Sect Leader Lu, is truly the most prominent force in the Jiang Continent!" The ck-haired elderly man nced at the Cloud Martial Hall in the distance, where numerous disciples were diligently practicing in the open-air training ground.


    "Senior, you tter me," Lu Feng replied politely. "The Yuanhu Vi, established single-handedly by Senior, has be a formidable sect within just 20 years. It''s an achievement that I greatly admire."


    The ck-haired man let out a chuckle.


    When he initially established Yuanhu Vi, he didnt think much of the Cloudstride Sect. He even believed he could rival Grandmaster Yun Shan. However, the true difficulties of founding a sect only revealed themselves as he embarked on one task after another.


    "I have heard tales of Wu Yuan''s unparalleled talent, a prodigy that the Jiang Continent hasnt seen in a thousand years. I wonder if he is currently residing in your sect?" The ck-haired man inquired nonchntly.


    "Wu Yuan?" A sense of caution welled up within Lu Feng, but he responded with a chuckle, "He has been diligently training under The Sword Hierarch, although I cannot say for certain."


    He was well aware of the animosity between Shadow de and the ck-haired man. He was even more cognizant of the potential connection between Wu Yuan and Shadow de.


    "Brother Huan Jian truly proves himself a worthy hierarch of the sect, tirelessly guiding the disciples." The ck-haired elderly man smiled.


    "Senior, if you would kindly follow me," Lu Feng quickly redirected the conversation.


    The two swiftly scaled the mountain, arriving at the outskirts of the Cloud Hall.


    "Chang Dong, please enter the hall," a gentle voice called out from within, "Lu Feng, there is no need for you to apany us. I have important matters to discuss with Chang Dong."


    "Understood," Lu Feng responded respectfully.


    As the ck-haired man strode into the hall, his eyes were instantly drawn to the divine sword resting on a stack of documents. A tinge of envy flickered within his heart. The first-grade divine weapon, the Moontide Sword.


    "Chang Dong, please have a seat," Bu Yu upied the host seat, wearing a weing smile.


    "I apologize for the sudden visit, I hope Grandmaster Yu doesn''t mind," Chang Dong cupped his hands politely before settling down, "I presume Grandmaster Yu is already aware of the purpose behind my arrival."


    This ck-haired man was none other than Old Yuanhu, Chang Dong.


    "Purpose?" Bu Yu squinted slightly. After a moment, she spoke slowly, "It must be the Chu-Jiang Token, correct? ording to my calctions, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm will open next month. And as far as I know, Brother Chang, you possess a Chu-Jiang Token."


    "Yes, indeed," Chang Dong nodded. "I do possess a Chu-Jiang Token. And from my knowledge, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm will open for a period of ten days. Once it opens, if you fail to enter within those ten days, you''ll have to wait for another hundred years.


    Chang Dong continued, "Given the dangers lurking within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, I propose an alliance, Grandmaster Yu. Together, we stand a better chance of facing any challenges or enemies."


    "An alliance?" Bu Yu''s expression remained unchanged as she casually responded, "The Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is indeed perilous. However, it takes at least six Chu-Jiang Tokens to open it. And between us, we only possess two. Whether we can sessfully unlock it in the first ce remains uncertain."


    Without at least six Chu-Jiang Tokens present, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm would remain sealed ording to the intelligence left by the Chu-Jiang Empire.


    "Grandmaster Yu, let''s not y coy about its opening," Chang Dong stated, shaking his head. "We both know that more than ten Chu-Jiang Tokens have surfaced in the world already."


    "Missing this opportunity would mean waiting for another hundred years," Chang Dong added. "The value of the treasures within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm rivals those found within the relics in the Huang Continent. Those who possess Chu-Jiang Tokens will not sit idly by."


    Bu Yu casually replied, "Even if it is opened, that alone is not enough reason for us to form an alliance. Besides the natural treasures, there are two precious spirit fruits that neither of us would be willing to give up to the other."


    Chang Dong smiled, "The hunt for treasures will depend on our own abilities. What I truly mean by forming an alliance is protecting ourselves from Great Jin."


    "Great Jin?" Bu Yu''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "When Chu-Jiang was destroyed, both you and I were officials under Chu-Jiang, and we are well aware of the power Great Jin wields," Chang Dong said in a lowered voice. "They have already obtained at least three out of the eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens."


    "And from my sources, the two Chu-Jiang Tokens possessed by Eastdream and Westdream have fallen into the hands of Great Jin!"


    "What?" Bu Yu was genuinely shocked. With one Chu-Jiang Token, one Grandmaster could enter the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. And the more people from the same faction, the greater their advantage within the relic.


    Eastdream and Westdream each possessed one Chu-Jiang Token since the era of the Chu-Jiang Empire; this was a widely known fact.


    "Can we trust this information?" Bu Yu questioned, fixing Chang Dong with a piercing gaze.


    Chang Dong replied with a resolute nod, "It is reliable. The Great Jin Empire possesses no fewer than five Chu-Jiang Tokens, allowing them to deploy five Grandmasters."


    "Great Jin, driven by their insatiable thirst for dominance, aspires to conquer the world. The Jiang Continent is a piece of meat they are determined to devour."


    "You and I, pirs of our respective sects, will find ourselves trapped once we step foot into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Escape is nearly impossible, leaving us with no choice but to confront our enemies head-on," Chang Dong whispered, his tone filled with urgency. "I strongly believe that given the opportunity, the Great Jin Empire would not hesitate to eliminate us."


    "Moreover, neither of us can afford to forfeit the chance to enter the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm; it is our greatest chance to achieve a breakthrough," Chang Dong continued.


    Bu Yu fell silent, contemting his words. She naturally understood that joining forces would offer an additional measure of safetypared to acting alone.


    "How can I be certain that you are not deceiving me?" Bu Yu challenged.


    Chang Dong shook his head. "There is no point. If I were to align myself with the Great Jin Empire, considering my age, they would hardly grant me the rights to retain Yuanhu Vi, as is customary for them."


    "You are well aware of my aspirations," Chang Dong emphasized. "Firstly, I wish to enter the Heavenly Rankings. Secondly, I want to ensure the enduring legacy of my sect. Great Jin cannot fulfill either of these desires."


    Bu Yu nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth in Chang Dong''s words. Land Rankers mostly hoped to establish factions and ensure their prosperity once they saw no hope of entering the Heavenly Rankings.


    Many aspired to be revered as the ancestor of a n or sect, remembered by generations of future disciples.


    "Even if the two of us were to form an alliance, we are no match for Great Jin," Bu Yu murmured, "You and I both understand that among the top ten in the Land Rankings, Great Jin has already imed three spots."


    "In addition," Bu Yu added, "there''s a strong possibility that there are Land Rankers among its ranks who have yet to reveal themselves publicly. The full extent of Great Jin''s power remains shrouded in mystery."


    Whether it be the Human Rankings or the Land Rankings, they only documented martial artists and their corresponding strengths based on public track records.


    For sects or ns consisting of only a few Grandmasters, concealing their power was nearly impossible. Why? Because these Grandmasters were the foundations of their respective sects. If they didnt showcase their strength, they could not intimidate and deter their foes.


    As for the immensely powerful sacred martial sects or the top-tier major forces? They had an abundance of experts! Many Grandmasters might go years without disying their might. When they finally achieved a breakthrough, nobody was aware, thus they did not appear on the Land Rankings.


    Take Huan Jian, for example. He possessed strength nearly on par with Heavenly Rankers, but how many people were privy to this knowledge?


    "No matter how formidable Great Jin may be, there are only a limited number of Chu-Jiang Tokens in total," Chang Dong calmly stated. "I will also reach out to Chu Ping. Our three factions shall advance or retreat as one."


    "And then there''s your sect''s Land Ranker, Shadow de. With our three factions united, even if we are not as formidable as the experts of Great Jin, we wont be much weaker," Chang Dong dered.


    Upon hearing this, Bu Yu knew the other party hade prepared.

 Chapter 168: Gathering Of Forces (2)

    Chapter 168: Gathering Of Forces (2)


    "Shadow de is not an expert affiliated with my sect," Bu Yu replied nonchntly.


    It was necessary to maintain a stance of denial towards outsiders.


    "Haha, whether he is or isn''t, it matters not," Chang Dong smiled. "Rest assured, Grandmaster Yu, I understand my priorities. Although my two disciples have perished, I have forgiven Grandmaster Shadow de. Our top priority right now is to unite against Great Jin."


    His sincerity seemed genuine.


    "Very well," Bu Yu said, "I am willing to form an alliance, but only if you can convince Chu Ping. If wee to an agreement, let us all meet at Cloudhill on the 14th of August," Bu Yu proposed. She had no intention of meeting them in the Ninecaves Province or Yuanhu Province. Cloudhill was where she felt most secure. And with her junior brother, Huan Jian holding down the fort, she had full confidence in his ability to handle these two forces.


    "Excellent." Chang Dong stood up and dered, "Then, I shall take my leave. Time is of the essence, I must make haste to the Ninecaves Province."


    Shortly after, a disciple led Chang Dong down the mountainside.


    <em>Taking Shadow de into ount, the Cloudstride Sect holds a minimum of two Chu-Jiang Tokens. If I can win over Chu Ping, he will bring at least two more. This bnce of power will prevent either side from acting rashly against me.</em>


    <em>Furthermore, with Great Jin as ourmon enemy, we will have a total of five Grandmasters. This will undoubtedly make Great Jin wary.</em>


    <em>In 600 years, the Chu-Jiang Empire has produced three Heavenly Rankings experts, and numerous Grandmasters every generation!</em>


    <em>I dont hope to obtain a Purplewood Spirit Fruit. But a few Redwood Spirit Fruits would significantly bolster Yuanhu Vi''s chances of continuing its legacy!</em>


    At over 90 years old, Chang Dong gained much wisdom from numerous lessons learned over the years. He knew that being overly greedy could lead to great losses. Moderation was key.


    Meanwhile, in the Cloud Hall, Bu Yu deliberated.


    <em>Originally, I had nned to visit Chang Dong. But it seems he has beaten me to it. It makes sense. Considering his strength, he is likely the weakest Chu-Jiang Token holder.</em>


    <em>With the alliance of our three factions, we no longer have to fear Great Jin. I wonder who will lead Great Jins team. It is unlikely that Emperor Jin and Wu Chenggong will take action. Could it be Jin Yue?</em>


    With the guidance of the Heavenly Rankers and the size of their territories, the Great Jin Empire boasted an abundance of Grandmaster experts under theirmand.


    <em>Will Wu Yuan make an appearance?</em>


    Why did she not ask Wu Yuan directly? One pivotal reason was Huan Jian''s reluctance to go, thus leaving the Cloudstride Sect with no other candidates. To go or not to go, the decision rested solely with Wu Yuan himself.


    The details of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm and its significance were all written in the books she had gifted him.


    <em>I can only wait till August.</em>


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, August arrived.


    In the height of summer, arge trading caravan snaked its way along the official route through the Danjun Province of the Great Jin Empire.


    Countless mules and horses were burdened with goods. Numerousrge carts were apanied by hundreds of merchants and guards, who either rode on horseback or followed the caravan on foot.


    "Brother Wan, youre still reading the ''Fengyun Chronicles''?" a man in ck robes asked jovially, mounted atop a ckfrost Steed.


    "Yup," a youthful man in his twenties, draped in white robes that gave him the appearance of a schr, chuckled as he waved the book in his hand.


    He sat within the carriage, bouncing along as it moved, hisplexion fair and bearing little sign of martial arts training.


    "Brother Wan is certainly not one to hold back when ites to spending. This ''Fengyun Chronicles'' from the Sta Consortium costs half a silver tael. Once you''re done with it, let me have a look," the ck-robed man said, hisughter echoing through the air.


    "Sure!" said the young man in white with a grin. He resumed flipping through the book, absorbing the words on the pages.


    "July, at the Skysaber Mountain of Great Jin, and deity by the name Wan Liu appeared, floating above a thousand-zhang cliff. He said..." the young man in white read slowly.


    "Brother Wan..." A boy of around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in linen clothing, stole a glimpse at the book and chuckled. "This news has already been widely spread. He''s called Deity Wan. He shares the same surname as you, Brother Wan."


    "He''s not a deity, just a Heavenly Ranker," the young man in white corrected him with a smile.


    "My mother told me that those in the Heavenly Rankings are deities!" insisted the boy in linen clothing.


    The young man in white chuckled, choosing not to argue with him.


    "Are you guys talking about Deity Wan?" The man in ck robes atop the horseughed. "I''ve heard that deities can walk on air and burrow into the earth. The founder of Great Jin, Imperator Jin, was a deity."


    "Walk on air and burrow into the earth? I''m envious!"


    "It is said that only those who surpass the Grandmasters are deemed deities." The boy in linen clothing''s eyes filled with longing. "If I had the power of a deity, I would surely marry a hundred wives."


    "Haha, Little Mao, you havent even grown into Big Mao and youre already thinking about marriage?" joked the man in ck robes. [1] "Next time our caravan passes through the county city, I''ll help you broaden your horizons."


    "No, I want to save money for marriage. Big Brother Jia, you''re heading down the wrong path, just like Brother Wan," said the boy in linen clothing. "You always make fun of my name, but if you continue to indulge in drinking, by the time we return to the Chu Continent, you won''t have a single hair left on your head." [2]


    "You little rascal," the man in ck robes red at the boy. "However, Brother Wan, next time you go, don''t bring me along." The man in ck looked at Wu Yuan, scrunching up his face as he thought about how much money he had left.


    "I only made a single stop on this trip, and simply for a drink," the young man in white robes remarked casually, "It was you who insisted on staying the night, costing us ten silver taels."


    The man in ck sheepishly smiled in response.


    The threepanions continued to engage in casual banter. As traders, being on the road was tiresome and monotonous, and most were typically too exhausted to engage in much conversation. Yet, having rested in the city the day before and not yet enduring a full day''s journey, their spirits remained high, and they found themselves with plenty of energy to spare.


    "In July, there were indications of the Yuan Continent''s Iron Cavalry mobilizing..." the young man in the white robe continued, flipping through the recently acquired Holy Continent Fengyun Chronicles.


    Unlike the Land Rankings, Human Rankings, and Genius Rankings which were updated annually, the Fengyun Chronicles contained rumors and intriguing events from each continent and province. It served as aption of publicly made intelligence from the Sta Consortium, although itcked in-depth details. Nevertheless, it provided a general understanding of significant events throughout the world.


    <em>There are only ten days left until the opening of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. </em>The young man in white robes leisurely perused the book, deep in thought. <em>Considering the speed of the caravan, we should be able to reach Ly City in the Chu Continent on time.</em>


    This white-robed young man was none other than Wu Yuan in a Transfigured state. After departing from Skysaber Mountain, he embarked on another journey. However, he no longer assumed the guise of a saber-wielding cavalier.


    <em>After themotion at Skysaber Mountain, the name and image of Wan Liu are likely now etched in people''s minds. The news should have spread far and wide.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    He disguised himself once more, this time transforming into a schr, and adopting the name Wan Shui. [3]


    His new identity was a schr visiting distant rtives in the Chu Continent. He was a martial virtuoso who was traveling alongside the merchant convoy for safety.


    <em>Wan Liu or Wan Shui, theyre nothing more than aliases.</em> Wu Yuan didnt ce much significance on these names.


    <em>There is a certain charm to being a trader</em>. He reclined back in the cart filled with goods.


    At Wu Yuans level, it didnt matter whether he was standing, lying down, or even sleeping. In every action, he cultivated. The most important aspect of cultivation was ones heart.


    <em>Nurturing the spirit, fortifying the soul, and attuning oneself to the nature of the world. The vast and boundlessndscape, as well as the mundane world, are all aspects toprehend, and serve as insights for cultivation.</em>


    This was where Wu Yuan diverged from The Sword Hierarch. The Sword Hierarch sought to sever emotional ties and tread the path to immortality in solitude, believing in contemting the profoundness of nature. On the other hand, Wu Yuan believed that everything existed for a reason, and it was important to avoid extremes.


    <em>In merely a month of journeying across thousands of li, the amount of heaven and earth''s power I canmand has grown to 60,000 catties. </em>Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    Although all Unity-level cultivators experienced rapid progress upon reaching this level, his rate of advancement remained astonishing.


    <em>My flight speed has increased to approximately 80 meters per second. </em>It had been some time since hest tested it.


    Upon achieving Unity, utilizing heaven and earth''s power to sustain flight was far simpler than manipting objects with Soul Force.


    But though flying was well within Wu Yuan''s capabilities, it was far slower than sprinting.


    <em>Running on the ground and flying are two distinct concepts.</em>


    As long as he harnessed the power of the air, could utterly subdue a Grandmaster in a single move. No matter how formidable a Grandmaster might be, their leaps could only carry them ten or so zhangs into the air before gravity brought them back to the earth.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan''s mastery of heaven and earth''s power grew, and he was able to understand the power that those at this level wielded.


    <em>ording to the books gifted by the Hierarchs, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is a peculiar ce where heaven and earth''s power is suppressed, rendering it nearly impossible to mobilize.</em>


    It was precisely heaven and earth''s power that allowed Heavenly Rankers topletely suppress the Land Rankers.


    <em>If I find myself unable to employ heaven and earth''s power, defeating other Grandmasters would prove quite troublesome.</em> Wu Yuan frowned.


    However, Wu Yuan was not too concerned. Stepping into Unity constituted a holistic transformation, and mastery of heaven and earth''s power was just one of the means at his disposal.


    1. The word Mao () means hair. Another possible interpretation is: You havent even grown out your hair (from puberty)


    2. See the previous reference


    3. Fun fact: Wan Shui = Myriad Waters. Thousand Mountains, Myriad Waters is amon idiom (, qinshn wnshu) that means "to travel a long distance over mountains and rivers." <blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    Lv City has been changed to Ly City.</blockquote>

 Chapter 169: Gathering Of Forces (3)

    <h4>Chapter 169: Gathering Of Forces (3)</h4>


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed, his gaze instinctively turning towards the distant woods. <i>Bandits? And not just a few either!</i>


    His soul sense had grown stronger in the past month, and nothing within a radius of nine li could escape his perception. He could vaguely sense the presence of thousands of vital auras gathering about seven li away. Leading them were several first-rate Adepts.


    <i>There��s no way to avoid them.</i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    There was only one trade route here, surrounded by thick forests. Take a detour? That would mean an additional 100 li!


    <i>Let''s see how Chairman Zhang handles it</i>. Wu Yuan closed his eyes.


    During this journey, even though they were enemies, Wu Yuan had to admit that the security of the Great Jin Empire was quite impressive.


    But on a journey through mountains and forests, spanning 3000 li, encounteringnd bandits and water thieves was inevitable. The majority of them were dealt with by the leader of the caravan, Chairman Zhang. However, this was the first time they hade across such arge group of bandits.


    Soon, they were about to enter the Chu Continent. As a recently conquered territory of the Great Jin Empire, it had witnessed unceasing rebellions over just the past few decades and was naturally more chaotic than the hearnd of Great Jin.


    It took less than a quarter of an hour.


    "Halt!"


    "Haha! Look at this fat sheep!"


    "Close in on them quickly." From the dense forests on both sides of the official route, howls and shouts filled the air. A huge wave of bandits, d in armor and brandishing swords, sabers, and crossbows, began converging from all directions.


    "This is bad."


    "Quick!" The entire caravan was a flurry of movement as security personnel sprang into action, their expressions filled with utmost seriousness. Dealing with such a sizable group of bandits was no easy task.


    Over a hundred merchants swiftly drew their weapons, their anxiousness outweighing that of the guards. Yet, remarkably few disyed fear. In this day and age, those who dared to travel across vast distances for trade were ustomed to risking their lives for profit; they were notcking in strength.


    Even Little Mao, his face tinged with fear, unsheathed a steel saber, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on the bandits concealed within the dense forest.


    "Fellow gentlemen," Chairman Zhang called out at the forefront of the caravan, his voice amplified. "We have inadvertently disturbed you good folks on our journey through this blessednd. Here is a small sum of money to make up for the inconvenience. We hope you can grant us passage."


    Inconvenience fees, tea money, road fare; different terms for different ces. However, in most cases, ��negotiation�� was possible when a caravan encounterednd bandits: exchange money and be done with it. Most bandits, content with the marypensation, would not escte matters too far. After all, indiscriminate killing only led to casualties among their own. Moreover, excessive bloodshed along a trade route would at best drive away traders and, at worst, draw the attention of arge army.


    "Old man!" the one-eyed bandit at the front of the group sneered from atop his horse. "I��m just beginning my reign over this region. Originally, I nned on ughtering all of you. But, due to the kindness in my heart, I��ll spare you."


    "Leave behind the goods and women! If you do so, I��ll allow you to live!" the one-eyed manmanded coldly.


    The caravan erupted in a chorus of shock and dismay. Chairman Zhang''s expression shifted. How unfortunate he was to stumble upon a bandit boss on his maiden robbery with his new underlings. Significant chaos was bound to ensue.


    "Boss," Chairman Zhang hastily changed his address. "Truly, it is a momentous asion. We are prepared to offer 10,000 taels of silver as a gesture of our goodwill. Will Boss kindly show us mercy?"


    The one-eyed man sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "10,000 taels? Do you take me for a beggar? The contents of this cart alone are worth at least 100,000 taels of silver."


    "I��ll say it again, leave the goods and the women," the one-eyed man dered coldly. ��Failure toply will not bode well for you."


    "Leave the women!" echoed the bandits on either side, their voicesced with excitement.


    The escort and merchants of the caravan grew increasingly tense, their grip on their weapons tightening. They knew that a battle could erupt at any moment.


    Chairman Zhang gritted his teeth. Leaving behind the goods was simply not an option. As the caravan''s organizer, the goods he transported were the most valuable, worth nearly 100,000 taels of silver. It was his entire fortune.


    Caught in a moment of hesitation, Chairman Zhang deliberated. Should he yield to their demands?


    Unwilling to wait any longer, the one-eyed man''s single eye flickered with a hint of savagery as he growled, "Brothers, kill!"


    The size of this caravan made it a challenging bite to swallow, and he was reluctant to sacrifice his fellow bandits. But if they persisted in their stubbornness, then they would face the consequences.


    For a gang seeking to establish their presence and reputation, showcasing their might was imperative. A massacre was inevitable, if not this caravan, then the next. How else could they sow terror along the trade route and amass vast fortunes of silver?


    "Kill!"


    "Kill them all!" bellowed the horde of bandits more than a thousand strong, their visages twisted in bloodthirsty grins as they surged forth from every direction, weapons poised.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A storm of arrows hurtled toward the caravan.


    "Kill!" "Kill them all!" The guards of the merchant caravan roared back in response, their faces flushed red with fury as they held their weapons and shields high.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>With piercing, ear-splitting whistles, streaks of blinding light sliced through the sky like meteors, aiming unerringly for the mounted leaders at the front of the bandit horde.


    "Danger!"


    "Stealth weapons!" The three first-rate Adepts in the front paled. Some swung their sabers in a desperate attempt to parry, others disyed lightning-quick reflexes in a frantic bid to escape the lethal trajectory.


    Yet, the three streaks of light defied allprehension, miraculously altering their course to track the evasive maneuvers of their targets!


    Stealth weapons capable of changing direction? Yet, there was no time for the three first-rate Adepts to ponder this mystery.


    <i>Thud! Thud! Thud!</i> Blood sprayed forth, as the three streaks of light pierced their skulls with uncanny precision. Blood trickled from their foreheads, their faces eternally frozen in a macabre tableau: a manic grin, a flicker of terror, a vacant stare. Three lifeless bodies crumpled to the ground.


    The three leaders of the bandits were all dead!


    Following that, something invisible silently threaded through the air, severing the necks of the dozens of bandits charging at the front and releasing a gush of crimson blood.


    Both the second-rate Adept guard captain and the other guards were frozen in shock, their mouths agape in disbelief.


    Amongst the stunned onlookers stood Little Mao, his wide eyes fixed on Wu Yuan, ��Big Brother Wan, you?��


    Just now, he had seen Wu Yuan flick his wrist. Momentster, three streaks of light soared through the air and struck down the bandit leaders. He had taken them down with practically no effort, akin to swatting flies.


    "Expert!"


    ��Brother Wan is a Savant expert? Or a Grandmaster?�� eximed the ck-robed Brother Jia, his voiceced with astonishment and excitement.


    At this moment, the thousands of bandits that once swaggered about confidently now stood paralyzed with fear, staring at the lifeless bodies scattered across the ground. Some saw Wu Yuanunch his attack, but the majority did not. Either way, the three leaders of their group were dead, as well as dozens of their brothers. Without a doubt, they had unwittingly provoked a force beyond theirprehension.


    "Run!"


    "Flee!" The group of bandits scattered like leaves in a hurricane, desperate to escape the mysterious expert.

 Chapter 170: Gathering Of Forces (4)

    <h4>Chapter 170: Gathering Of Forces (4)</h4>


    The guards of the caravan didn''t give chase, merely releasing a few arrows after them. Their duty was to safeguard the convoy, not engage in a battle to the death. If there was a way to avoid bloodshed, they would dly seize it. Furthermore, the events unfolded so quickly that many guards and merchants were still in a daze, unable to react in time.


    "Little Mao," Wu Yuan lifted his gaze and took a sip of fruit wine, a serene smile gracing his face. "Do you recall the two saber techniques I taught you on our journey?"


    "I do! I do!" Little Mao finally snapped out of his stupor, nodding vigorously.


    "Haha, practice diligently. Who knows, one day you might use those saber techniques to win the hearts of a hundred wives." Wu Yuan chuckled, passing the bottle of wine to Little Mao.


    Then, Wu Yuan leaped into the air like a ghostly apparition, effortlessly traversing dozens of zhangs in an instant and vanishing into the thick forest.


    It all took ce in the blink of an eye, and the majority of the caravan failed to react until he was gone.


    "It''s Young Master Wan!"


    "So, it was him all along. He saved us."


    "He''s a formidable expert." Amidst their astonishment, the caravan buzzed with discussions and jubtion.


    Meanwhile, Little Mao recalled Wu Yuan''s departing words.


    <i>Two sets of saber techniques...</i> Little Mao''s eyes gleamed with determination. <i>Big Brother Wan is incredibly strong. The saber techniques he taught me must be equally strong. I will practice diligently, without fail!</i>


    <i>Perhaps, I might one day be an Adept too.</i> Little Mao didn��t dare dream of bing as powerful as Wu Yuan. In his eyes, bing an Adept expert was an incredible enough aplishment.


    Without dy, the caravan continued its journey.


    Before long, tales of the indomitable white-robed gentleman Wan Shui singlehandedly repelling a thousand bandits began to spread through the region.


    ...


    A mere two dayster, thousands of li away, a man in his 30s dressed in white arrived at arge city astride a Bluethunder Horse, looking at the distant city walls stretching longer than ten li long.


    <i>I had nned on leisurely making my way to the Chu Continent, but it seems fate haspelled some people to offer themselves up as blood-red mist.</i> The man in white fixed his gaze on the distant city. <i>Well, I suppose I shall savor these remaining days by exploring Ly City at my leisure.</i>


    Of course, this man in white was none other than Wu Yuan. Throughout his months of travel, he had encountered simr situations more than once, often finding trouble shortly after adopting a disguise. Though he could usually pass unnoticed, Wu Yuan, ustomed to roaming the world and following his whims, would often dispatch those who displeased him before departing nonchntly. Each time, he would leave behind a different persona.


    It could be said that Wu Yuan''s actions yed a significant role in the Sta Consortium''s ��Fengyun Chronicles��.


    ��Go!�� Wu Yuan urged his horse into the city.


    ...


    <i>Meanwhile, in a mysterious location within the Holy Continent.</i>


    This was a forbidden zone of Great Jin, a sacred ground of the royal family, and one of the three holy sanctuaries of the Holy Continent. In the depths of this area, a majestic hally concealed. On this day, the doors swung open, and a group of figures emerged.


    "Sixth Uncle!" Emperor Jin, ustomed to surveying all beneath him, humbled himself by donning a ck robe and going out of his way to greet the arrival.


    "Greetings to the Grand Elder." The ten or so individuals apanying Emperor Jin paid their respects with utmost reverence, careful not to disy any hint of disrespect.


    All Grandmasters of the Jin royal family, regardless of position, were required to abdicate and join the royal n elders council upon turning 80 years of age. All n elders of the royal family were Grandmasters!


    One could only fathom the immense power of the Jin royal family. Over the past two centuries, the number of concealed Grandmaster experts remained unknown. Every ten years, the royal n elders council convened to determine their rankings throughbat, and at the top of the Royal Family Land Rankings stood the Grand Elder.


    "Your Majesty." The ck-robed middle-aged man gave an easy smile. At first nce, one could mistake him as Emperor Jin''s brother, for the resemnce was uncanny. Yet, everyone present knew that this middle-aged man, who was Jin Cang��s biological uncle, had long surpassed 90 years of age and once held the title of north king.


    "Sixth Uncle, I received word from our ancestors that you have sessfully reached the Unity level," Emperor Jin eximed, his excitement evident.


    "I was just lucky," Jin Cang replied nonchntly. "I was worried I wouldn''t break through before reaching 100, but with the guidance of our two ancestors and the insights from the ''Amethyst Cradle Jade Record'', I attained the Harmony of Man and Nature before I knew it. Stepping into the realm of the immortals, heaven and earth''s power flows through the body, rejuvenating one��s youth."


    "Congrattions, Sixth Uncle." Emperor Jin bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with longing.


    Though he was the emperor, the real power and authority in this world was held by the Heavenly Rankers. Only they possessed incredible lifespans, along with the ability to fly and tunnel. The emperor was merely a figurehead, controlled by Heavenly Rankers.


    ��Congrattions, Grand Elder.�� The crowd behind him chorused. Even the weakest of them was a Savant expert, and all understood the significance of this aplishment �C it meant that Great Jin was about to wee another Heavenly Ranker.


    "Your Majesty may rest assured." The ck-robed middle-aged man smiled, "I am already aware of the matter regarding the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm."


    "As of now, I have just made a breakthrough and my body is still transforming. I have not unlocked my qi sea yet, thus I can still enter the Immortal Realm, although I will be unable to harness heaven and earth''s power."


    "In just a few short months after my breakthrough, my strength has reached 280,000 catties." said the ck-robed middle-aged man, "Plus, I am equipped with spirit armor and a first-grade divine sword."


    "One could say, even ten Grandmasters joining forces would be no match for me. If Bu Yu and Chu Ping dare show their faces, I will make sure they won��t leave alive." The ck-robed middle-aged man dered confidently.


    ��Excellent.�� Emperor Jin was delighted. Eliminating Bu Yu and Chu Ping would clear the path for Great Jin��s conquest of the Jiang Continent. With them out of the way, the army could sweep through the entire region without any resistance.


    ��Sixth Uncle, do you think Ninedeaths Circle and Sta Consortium will also send their quasi-Heavenly Rankers?�� Emperor Jin expressed his worries.


    "The odds are slim," the ck-robed middle-aged man murmured. "To reach the Heavenly Rankings from the Land Rankings, it takes half a year for the young and two to three years for the old. The Ninedeaths Circle, Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild��all of them boast Heavenly Rankers in their midst. Yet, producing a new Heavenly Ranker is no trivial task."


    ��Moreover, for one of them to coincidentally break through during this exact period? It��s nearly impossible! In this generation of the Jin royal family, I am the sole Grandmaster who has achieved a breakthrough.��


    "Moreover, the Ninedeaths Circle and the other powers have a far shallower understanding of the Chu-Jiang Empirepared to Great Jin."


    "Indeed," Emperor Jin concurred, nodding in agreement.


    Their conquest of the Chu-Jiang Empire not only secured them the Chu-Jiang Tokens but also a wealth of rted information. The Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang Kingdom, long-standing subjects of the Chu-Jiang Empire, possessed a trove of detailed information. On the other hand, the Ninedeaths Circle and Pleiades Guild? These factions might be powerful, but the information at their disposal was mostly fragmented or rudimentary, nowhere close to the archives maintained by Great Jin.


    "Sixth Uncle, these five are the Grandmasters who shall apany you on this trip," Emperor Jin dered, motioning towards the five Grandmasters behind him. Swiftly, he proceeded to introduce each one in turn.


    "And these twelve are the Savant experts who will join you, responsible for gathering natural treasures from the outer region," Emperor Jin casually added.


    "They��re decent," the ck-robed middle-aged man nodded. "Keep in mind, the Grandmasters will assist me in securing the two spirit fruits. As for the Savant experts, do not be overly greedy. Avoid venturing into the inner region!"


    "Yes!" the group of experts replied respectfully.


    Originally, these five Grandmasters had various personal agendas, but now, they dared not entertain them. This man was a quasi-Heavenly Ranker, generously bestowed a multitude of treasures by the Jin royal family. He was capable of single-handedly obliterating them all!


    ��The Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is set to open in less than ten days. The journey there is almost 10,000 li."


    ��Let us depart!��


    ...


    Wu Yuan had taken up residence in a spacious courtyard house in Ly City. Apart from his daily cultivation routine, he wandered through the bustling streets, immersing himself in Ly City''s rich culture while perceiving his surroundings with Soul Force.


    Soon, August 21st arrived.


    <i>They��re here. </i>Wu Yuan, standing within the confines of his courtyard house, sensed the arrival of several formidable vital auras, making their entrance into the city from the East.

 Chapter 171: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (1)

    Chapter 171: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (1)


    Ly City, one of the many county cities scattered across the Chu Continent, was a ce that drew little attention. On any normal day, the top experts one could find within the city were first-rate Adepts. Even second-rate Adepts were considered prominent figures.


    But today was different. Today, in an unassuming courtyard house tucked away in the city, over a dozen individuals had gathered, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.


    One among them was a bald, muscr man d in ck heavy armor. He casually swung a wolf''s tooth cudgel, his face expressionless. Another figure in a ck cloak leaned against a gazebo pir, exuding an air of ease and confidence.


    "Brother Li," a man in white robes, appearing to be in his 30s, approached the cloaked figure with a frown. "Theres less than half a day remaining until the opening of the immortal realm. Where is this friend of yours? If he doesn''t show up, do we continue waiting?"


    "Patience, Brother Song Guang," the ck-cloaked figure replied nonchntly. "I am certain he will arrive. The realm will stay open for at least three days, giving us enough time to enter even if he arrivester."


    Though the white-robed man didnt look too pleased, he chose to remain silent, finding a spot to sit.


    "I wonder who Grandmaster Li Yan is waiting for."


    "It must be a Grandmaster."


    "How can an individual who dares to possess a Chu-Jiang Token without the backing of a faction be weak?" Eight figures waiting at the edge of the courtyard discussed in quiet murmurs.


    These eight, who were usually regarded as big shots by themon folk and other martial artists, now found themselves as mere followers and subordinates within this courtyard house. As their eyes fell on the ck-cloaked figure, the white-robed man, and the bald man, a flicker of involuntary awe appeared in their gazes.


    Grandmaster! Three Grandmasters, all gathered here.


    In the courtyard, a heavy silence hung in the air, each individual lost in their own thoughts.


    <em>Shadow de, you better not have swindled me after taking the Ancient Immortal Dew. </em>The towering, ck-cloaked figure''s hood concealed a turbulent mind far from the calm exterior he projected.


    It was Li Yan, the very same man who had struck a deal with Wu Yuan in the past.


    As time ticked away, an unsettling unease began to gnaw at Li Yan, despite the silence from the white-robed man and the bald muscr figure in their midst.


    <em>Shadow de is likely an expert from the Cloudstride Sect. Did he decide to join forces with Bu Yu after his ties to the sect were exposed during the battle against Wang Huang? </em>The more Li Yan pondered over it, the more usible the scenario seemed.


    Time continued to slip away and the sun gradually began to set. Even the Grandmasters and eight apanying Savant experts were beginning to grow restless.


    Suddenly, a voice as light as a feather yet resonant like a bell, shattered the silence. "Brother Li Yan, sorry for the wait. The cold voice echoed through the courtyard, catching the attention of all present.


    "Who''s there?" The white-robed man, previously meditating in a lotus position, instinctively opened his eyes and darted back several zhangs.


    The bald muscr man also swiftly turned around, his gaze fixated on a corner of the courtyard. The eight Savant experts followed suit, their hearts trembling slightly.


    In that corner, a young man emerged, dressed in ck with the appearance of someone in theirte twenties. His fair skin and the sword hanging from his waist gave him the air of a charismatic nobleman who had traversed the far reaches of the world.


    Everyone in the room felt their hair stand on end, immediately raising their guards in rm.


    One had to understand that night had yet to fall. Yet, the young man in ck had managed to infiltrate a courtyard house with three Grandmasters and eight Savant expertspletely undetected.


    The stealth skills exhibited by this young man were enough to send shivers down the spines of the Grandmasters. Suppressing his astonishment, Li Yan lifted his hood and approached the neer.


    "Brother Li, you didnt notify me, Zang Jing, that you were already here." the young man greeted with a smile. "It took me quite a while to locate you."


    "Zang Jing?" Li Yan blinked in surprise but quickly understood the situation. Shadow de did not wish to reveal his identity. He didnt mind and yed along. "Haha, Brother Zang Jing, my apologies. But you''ve arrived just in time. The immortal realm has yet to open.


    The neer was none other than Wu Yuan. Although his appearance and attire had undergone a significant change since hisst encounter with Li Yan, thetter had little doubt that it was the same man.


    Firstly, a Grandmaster possessed the ability to alter their appearance with Transfiguration. With Shadow des reputation, it would be strange if he did not make use of this skill. Secondly, their agreement was known to only a few others. Lastly, while Li Yan could not discern one''s identity through their soul''s aura like a Heavenly Ranker, he practiced a secret art that allowed him to roughly identify an expert''s identity through their qi.


    "Brother Zang Jing, allow me to introduce you," Li Yan eagerly gestured toward a man d in white robes. "This is Ster Councilor Song Guang from the Sta Consortium, a Grandmaster.


    Wu Yuan offered a faint smile. "Brother Song, your reputation precedes you."


    Song Guang, ranked 24th on the Land Rankings, was a highly skilled swordsman. Coupled with his affiliation with the Sta Consortium, his fame was widespread.


    "Brother Zang Jing is indeed a reclusive expert," Song Guang replied with a subtle smile.


    "And this is Tie Tuo, a Grandmaster from Ninedeaths Circle," Li Yan pointed to a robust man in heavy armor nearby. "You may not be familiar with his name, but I believe you recognize his other identity, Donggu Khan!"


    "I''ve heard of Brother Tie," Wu Yuan nodded, Your name is well-known across the Bei Continent.


    The Bei Continent was divided into nine great ins, each ruled by a dominant tribe. Among them, the Donggu tribe held authority over the central in with King Khan as their leader. Never did Wu Yuan imagine that King Khan would represent the Ninedeaths Circle. Donggu Khan ranked 59th in the Land Rankings.


    <em>Before entering, I enveloped this courtyard with my Soul Force, yet these three Grandmasters remained oblivious. Their souls are pretty weak. However, the alliance between the Pleiades Guild, Ninedeaths Circle, and Sta Consortium piques my interest. </em>


    While Grandmasters possessed exceptional vision and hearing, the ability to probe ones surroundings with Soul Force was typically reserved for Heavenly Rankers, which could be employed to deal a devastating blow to martial artists.


    "Haha, Brother Zang jests," Tie Tuoughed heartily, wielding his cudgel. "The Central ins are where the true talents and powerhouses gather. Neither Brother Li Yan nor Brother Zang are on the Land Rankings, but I have a feeling that both of you are stronger than me!"


    Wu Yuan and Li Yan simply smiled in response. Everyone present knew that these two representatives of the Pleiades Guild were likely using aliases.


    Following that, Li Yan introduced the eight Savant experts to Wu Yuan, four of whom hailed from the Pleiades Guild. They were known by their nicknames, Big Jiu, Wang Two, Wu Three, and Dong Four.


    Wang Two, Wu Three." Li Yan pointed out two Savant experts with a smile. "Brother Zang, they will apany you into the immortal realm."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon the two. Without a doubt, the Pleiades Guild put no thought into their nicknames at all. Wang Two was a sturdy man with a beard, d in purple armor. Wu Three was a stunning beauty.


    "Greetings, Senior." Both Wang Two and Wu Three bowed respectfully, fully aware that underestimating Wu Yuan due to his youthful appearance would be a grave mistake. The remaining six Savant experts also bowed respectfully. However, Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered to pay attention to them. If they were Grandmasters, then perhaps. But a Savant expert? He couldn''t care less.


    "Everyone, now that all participants are present, I would like to offer a final reminder before we head for the entrance of the immortal realm." Li Yan spoke with authority.


    His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing momentarily on Wu Yuan. "During this coboration, each of our three factions may employ our own methods to seize treasures, but fatal blows are strictly forbidden."


    "Understood," the bald Tie Tuo chuckled.


    "Of course," the man dressed in white, Song Guang, also smiled.


    Wu Yuan merely nodded in acknowledgment, exhibiting a cold demeanor.


    "Im d that we cane to an understanding," Li Yan lowered his voice. "ording to the information we have received, Great Jin possesses at least five Chu-Jiang Tokens."


    "And it is possible that Cloudstride, the Baijiang Kingdom, and Old Yuanhu may form a Former Chu Alliance." Li Yan''s tone grew somber. "If we do not unite, these two factions could pick us apart one by one. We are here solely for the treasures, not for a struggle to the death against them."


    Tie Tuo and Song Guang both nodded slightly, this news was not new to them.


    <em>Great Jin obtained five tokens? An alliance between Cloudstride and the Baijiang Kingdom?</em> Wu Yuan maintained hisposure.


    Having been on a long journey, he was unaware of this information.


    <em>I created this alias, Zang Jing, as someone who will eradicate the experts of Great Jin.</em> A glint of cold determination shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <em>The more that show up, the better.</em>


    There was no point indiscriminately ughtering the innocents under Great Jins rule. Wu Yuan harbored no desire to engage in unnecessary bloodshed. Therefore, during his time exploring thends of Great Jin, Wu Yuan had refrained from purposefully killing the experts or civilians of the empire, unless they were bandits or ill-mannered troublemakers.


    However, the situation was quite different when it came to the Grandmasters of Great Jin. Wu Yuan knew that each Grandmaster he eliminated would significantly reduce the damage they could deal to the Cloudstride Sect.

 Chapter 172: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (2)

    Chapter 172: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (2)


    "Alright, let''s rest for another hour," Li Yan said softly. "After that, we''ll make our way to the entrance. The other factions might have already arrived."


    Li Yan motioned for Zang Jing to follow him as he headed toward the main building in the courtyard house. Wu Yuan understood Li Yan''s intentions and followed closely behind.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> The duo swiftly entered the main building, and with a wave of Li Yan''s hand, the door mmed shut, preventing any prying eyes from observing them. Only a few stools stood in the building.


    "Brother Zang Jing, your reconnaissance and stealth skills have greatly improved," Li Yan softly marveled, his voice not audible to anyone but Wu Yuan.


    "Its just a slight improvement," Wu Yuan casually chuckled.


    "I''m d that you''ve kept your promise, Brother Zang Jing," Li Yan said, smoothly revealing a set of armor made of ck chainmail in his hand. On top of the chainmail was a white jade vial.


    "Have a look, Brother Zang Jing. This is what we agreed on," Li Yan smiled. 150 drops of Ancient Immortal Dew and a suit of second-grade divine inner armor. The armor has been customized to your desired size and color."


    "Mm, Brother Li, you are as straight to the point as ever," Wu Yuan smiled, reaching out and epting the treasures. Without hesitation, he swiftly removed his outer clothing and the third-grade divine armor beneath, recing it with the second-grade divine armor.


    It was a perfect fit. While Wu Yuan''s appearance and skin color were altered via Transfiguration, his height and physique were a replica of his original body.


    Altering one''s height and physique through Transfiguration had a noticeable impact on ones disy of strength. It might not make much of a difference when facing weaker opponents, but in a battle between experts, life and death teetered on a delicate bnce.


    <em>Lets test it out.</em> Wu Yuan began to test the defensive capability and durability of his newly acquired body armor. Though he believed Li Yan wouldn''t deceive him in this regard, he could not afford to be careless when it came to matters of life and death. Entrusting such critical matters to fate was the epitome of folly.


    Li Yan observed silently from the sidelines, withholding anyments.


    Wu Yuan''s face broke into a slight smile as he remarked, "Not bad. No wonder they are considered a major faction. Their equipment truly sets them apart."


    "Brother Li, rest assured, once we enter the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, I will do my best to protect Big Jiu and Wang Two," Wu Yuan said softly.


    For him, returning a favor was a matter of principle. Protecting a few subordinates? It was a trivial matter.


    However, Wu Yuans voice grew slightly gentle yet deliberate, "I must confess, Brother Li, I do have some ties to the Cloudstride Sect. I hope you can instruct your men to minimize conflicts with their experts, and if possible, avoid killing them. Please, do not make things difficult for me."


    Li Yan chuckled lightly, "I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I have already issued instructions to that effect."


    "Oh, and one more thing. Brother Zang Jing," Li Yan lowered his voice, "I cannot say for sure which expert from Great Jin will make an appearance, but it is highly likely that the leader will possess spirit battle armor. There may even be more than one person equipped with it. Exercise caution."


    "Spirit battle armor?" Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Indeed. It appears that Brother Zang Jing is already aware of what this entails, so I shall not go into further detail." Li Yan continued, "Also, I must remind you that Song Guang belongs to the Sta Consortium, known for its vast wealth and treasures. He might also possess a suit of spirit battle armor."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly, a sense of vignce building within him.


    Spirit battle armor was a type of treasure explicitly mentioned in the books provided by The Rain Hierarch. Essentially, it belonged to the category of first-grade divine equipment.


    Just as how second-grade divine weapons only possessed a trace of spirituality while first-grade divine weapons were capable of manipting heaven and earth''s power, there was also a qualitative difference between second-grade armor and first-grade armor.


    For defensive equipment like hard battle armor, soft inner armor, and shields, each upgrade from superior equipment to third-grade to second-grade divine equipment was an increase in the equipments strength and resilience, allowing one to endure increasingly stronger blows.


    Yet, they all had one wtheycked adaptability, making it challenging to protect the entire body!


    In confrontations between experts, the tip of a saber or spear was aimed with extreme precision. It would strike directly for the eye, without even grazing the brow. That was why most experts only wore soft armor or chain mail. Heavy armor, while providing higher defense, hindered mobility. A moment''s dy in a life-or-death battle would expose a weakness that the opponent could exploit.


    However, first-grade divine armor couldpensate for these weaknesses. As long as it recognized its owner, it could protect any part of the body. Even the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose could be shielded.


    <em>Spirit battle armor is typically reserved for Heavenly Rankers. Using qi as its source of power, the armor''s ability to absorb impact is greatly enhanced. With Soul Force sensing ones surroundings, one no longer requires sight or hearing, thus enabling one to achieve full-body protection and the elimination of all vulnerabilities.</em>


    The chasm between a qi refiner and an ordinary martial artist was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.


    If faced with an average Grandmaster like Wang Huang, Wu Yuan could defeat him in just five moves with the aid of heaven and earth''s power. Even without heaven and earth''s power, it was possible to kill him in twenty moves. However, if the opponent was wearing spirit battle armor, the dynamics would shift entirely. Vulnerabilities would be non-existent, leaving one to rely solely on the consecutive impacts of blows to achieve a fatal oue.


    It could be said that a Land Ranker in possession of such battle armor was nearly synonymous with being unkible below the level of the Heavenly Rankings. However, spirit battle armor was exceedingly rare. In this world, numerous experts might boast possession of a first-grade divine weapon, but procuring a suit of spirit battle armor? In the World Land Rankings, only Emperor Jin, Jin Cang, was documented to own one.


    <em>It doesnt matter. Anyone who dares obstruct me from obtaining the two spiritual fruits shall meet their demise. </em>Killing intent surged in Wu Yuans heart.


    On the path of cultivation, it was only natural to seize treasures when the opportunity arose.


    The entrance to the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm did not lie within Ly City but rather at Jiexian Mountain, situated over 200 li away. This mountain did not boast any particrly distinctive features. During both the era of the Chu-Jiang Empire and Great Jin''s upation of the Chu Continent, armies had been dispatched to guard it. Naturally, among the local popce, numerous rumors and legends surrounding the mountain had arisen.


    The top-tier factions of the world were well aware that Jiexian Mountain served as the entrance to the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    The weakest member in Wu Yuan, Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuos group was still a Savant expert, thus they crossed 300 li in no time at all. As night descended, the group of twelve sessfully evaded the patrolling army and ventured into the outskirts of Jiexian Mountain.


    "Everyone, the entrance to the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is not a cave, but rather the entirety of Jiexian Mountain," Li Yan exined with a smile. "Jiexian Mountain spans an area of approximately 200 li in radius, which is precisely why no power has been able to effectively seal it off."


    Wu Yuan and the rest of the group nodded in agreement. Even for Heavenly Rankers, their immense Soul Force still couldnt cover a 200-li radius. Besides, the established agreements among the Heavenly Rankers from different factions kept them in check.


    Additionally, while the treasures of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm held great value for Land Rankers, they offered little to the Heavenly Rankers. Hence, the Heavenly Rankers didn''t pay much attention to it.


    "Everyone, please take out your Chu-Jiang Tokens," Li Yan instructed.


    With a simple gesture, Li Yan produced a palm-sized golden token in his hand. Though the material of the token didn''t resemble gold, it radiated a dazzling brightness. Its surface was adorned with intricate lines, resembling the convergence of countless riversa truly exquisite creation.


    Witnessing this, Wu Yuan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo also presented their Chu-Jiang Tokens. To everyone''s surprise, when Wu Yuan revealed his token, it trembled ever so slightly, as did the one held by Li Yan. Subsequently, the tokens seemed to respond to each other, emitting a peculiar white light.


    Wu Yuan was bewildered. "What does this mean?"


    Li Yan appeared to have anticipated this development. "This implies that, aside from us, there are other Chu-Jiang Tokens somewhere else on the Jiexian Mountain. Once at least six Chu-Jiang Tokens are gathered here, the Immortal Realm will open."


    Following Li Yan''s words, Song Guang and Tie Tuo also revealed their tokens, which also glowed white.<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For your reference:


    <strong>Equipment grade (Middle Land)</strong>


    <strong>Equipment category</strong>


    ninth, eighth, seventh


    Ordinary


    sixth, fifth, fourth


    Superior


    third, second


    Divine


    first grade


    Divine/Spirit</blockquote>

 Chapter 173: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (3)

    <h4>Chapter 173: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (3)</h4>


    A booming voice suddenly resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind, "Token bearers wishing to enter the Fourth Eldritch Realm, you may select two first-grade martial artists to apany you."


    Wu Yuan��s pupils constricted. Where did this voicee from? It hadpletely evaded the detection of his soul. The eerie nature of this voice was enough to unnerve not only Wu Yuan but also Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo. Only the eight Savant experts seemed unaffected, exchanging bewildered nces.


    "It appears that everyone has heard this voice," Li Yan murmured. "ording to the legends, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is a secret realm created by an extremely powerful qi refiner for a specific purpose. Its otherworldly nature surpasses ourprehension."


    Song Guang frowned, ��So the real name of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Fourth Eldritch? I wonder what it means."


    Neither Wu Yuan nor Tie Tuo answered him, both unfamiliar with this name.


    "It is merely a code name. All we need to know is that it holds numerous treasures," Li Yan smiled. "Everyone, since we have all heard the instructions of the voice, let us not dy any further. Shall we enter?"


    The few Grandmasters nodded in agreement.


    Li Yan instructed, "Those holding tokens, respond to the voice in your mind, and hold the hands of the people you wish to bring alongside you."


    Wu Yuan said in a soft voice, "Allow me to go first."


    The Cloudstride Sect had documented the entire process, thus Wu Yuan was well-versed in it. Wang Two and Wu Three promptly approached him, each taking one of Wu Yuan''s hands.


    "I wish to enter the Fourth Eldritch Realm," Wu Yuan responded silently to the mysterious voice in his head, tightly gripping the Chu-Jiang Token.


    One breathter, a wave of white light materialized, enveloping Wu Yuan, Wang Two, and Wu Three.


    <i>This power?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with astonishment. Through his soul, he could distinctly sense that it was spiritual qi, but far more refined. The purity of this qi surpassed the spiritual qi he absorbed daily by countless folds.


    In the next instant, Wu Yuan, Wang Two, and Wu Three were swallowed by the surging white light and vanished from their original location without a sound.


    Li Yan and Song Guang were slightly startled by this scene.


    "This is on the same level as immortals and devils," Li Yan sighed, "I''ll go next."


    Before long, everyone grasped their Chu-Jiang Tokens, responded to the mysterious voice, and were swiftly swallowed by the white light.


    ...


    The moment Wu Yuan was engulfed by the white light, an imperceptible power rippled through his entire being in an instant. Immediately, this fluctuation transformed several times before being transmitted to the depths of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    <i>Age: seventeen</i>


    <i>Soul level: Soul Perception. </i>


    <i>Soul talent: average first-ss.</i>


    <i>Qi refining talent initial assessment: lower first-ss</i>


    <i>Body refining talent: exceptional!! </i>


    <i>Warning, an individual with exceptional body refining talent has appeared! Warning, an individual with exceptional body refining talent has appeared! Unlock the Eldritch Chamber! </i>


    The invisible ripple carried a massive amount of data to a mysterious corner of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    ...


    The world spun. Wu Yuan found himself disoriented, the familiar night sky reced by a disconcerting blur. His head swirled with confusion as the scenery transformed before his eyes.


    He was currently standing on unfamiliar terrain, a dark realm stretching out before him.


    <i>This? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed. The sun and moon were both absent, with only the heavy shroud of ck clouds obscuring the sky. Only faint beams of light managed to pierce through, as if a stormy downpour would begin at any moment. The atmosphere wasden with an oppressive aura.


    Wang Two and Wu Three materialized beside Wu Yuan. Beneath their feet was a strange, green metallic expanse that sprawled out like an enormous training ground.


    Wu Yuan surveyed his surroundings. Mountains rolled in the distance, their peaks adorned with spindly trees that towered hundreds of meters high.


    This ce was a world starkly different from the one outside!


    "Senior Zang Jing, this must be the waiting area mentioned in the intelligence. If the number of Chu-Jiang Token holders falls short of the requirement, we must wait for ten days. After which, the path to the treasures will open," Wu Three murmured softly.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    <i>As expected, I��m unable to mobilize heaven and earth''s power here.</i>


    Why could heaven and earth''s power be harnessed in the outside world? At its core, it represented the unobstructed diffusion of countless different powers, allowing cultivators who have reached the Unity level to perceive it.


    However, in this Fourth Eldritch Realm, an unseen force seemed to hold sway, suppressing andpressing heaven and earth''s power. At least, Wu Yuan currently found himself unable to perceive its presence. Without being able to sense it, manipting it became an impossibility.


    <i>My Soul Force has been greatly affected as well. I can only perceive a small radius of a few dozen meters.</i>


    To put it into perspective, before stepping foot into this realm, Wu Yuan''s soul allowed him to sense up to 200 meters in every direction. But now, that ability had been restricted.


    However, apart from its dampening of heaven and earth''s power and the constraints on his Soul Force, the realm itself didn''t differ much from the world outside.


    At that moment, a faint buzzing filled the air. Invisible vibrations rippled through the space, and suddenly, Song Guang, Li Yan, Tie Tuo, and theirpanions materialized nearby, as if conjured out of thin air.


    The group gathered.


    "It seems we are among the first to enter the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm," Li Yan spoke, his gaze sweeping across the vast training ground that stretched for one li. "ording to the information left by the Chu-Jiang Empire, it takes six Chu-Jiang Tokens to unlock the Immortal Realm."


    "Once twelve Chu-Jiang Tokens are present, we canmence the treasure hunt after three days of waiting. And if we manage to gather all eighteen Chu-Jiang Tokens, we can begin the hunt immediately."


    "Patience, everyone. We must wait a few more days," Li Yan said softly.


    Everyone nodded in agreement. Soon, they each found a suitable spot and settled into a lotus position, allowing themselves a moment of respite to maintain their peak strength.


    Wu Yuan, too, found a ce and sat down, crossing his legs. He focused on regting his breathing, preparing himself for whaty ahead.


    They didn''t have to wait long. Only two hourster, at the far end of the training ground, bursts of brilliance erupted, heralding the arrival of over a dozen figures.


    "So many people.��


    "It''s Jin Qing! Unexpectedly, he''s the one leading the Great Jin Empire this time."


    "There''s also Yue Shanzhong."


    "Indeed, they sent five Grandmasters," Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo were all on high alert, watching the group of people who had appeared 200 meters away. A total of fifteen people had arrived.


    "So, he''s Jin Qing?�� Wu Yuan''s gazended on the middle-aged man in ck clothing, and information about the other party immediately surfaced in his mind.


    21st in the ��Land Rankings��! The former north king of the Great Jin Empire, nearly the same age as The Sword Hierarch. Thest time he had disyed his strength in battle was more than ten years ago.


    Li Yan leaned closer to Wu Yuan, speaking softly. "Brother Zang Jing, Great Jin has many members, but only two of them are real threats. One is Jin Qing, who is over 90, yet appears younger than he looked ten years ago. Rumor has it that he consumed a powerful treasure to maintain his appearance."


    ording to his description on the ��World Land Rankings��, ever since Jin Qing stepped down from the position of north king of Great Jin, he had been in closed-door cultivation. How much strength had he umted over such a long time? It was hard to say. Moreover, something about Jin Qing��s transcendent-like aura felt familiar to Wu Yuan.


    However, the dual suppression of heaven and earth''s power and Soul Force in this realm made it difficult for Wu Yuan to get a clear sense of it. He could only feel that Jin Qing posed a lethal threat.


    ��The other is Yue Shanzhong. ording to the Land Rankings, he��s the strongest among this group from Great Jin,�� Li Yan continued.


    Wu Yuan nodded, his eyes shifting to the man in ck armor.


    Yue Shanzhong, ranked sixteenth in the Land Rankings. A first-ss duke of the Great Jin Empire, he wielded a first-grade divine weapon and had made significant contributions to the Empire.


    Jin Qing and Yue Shan were all officially recognized as Great Grandmasters. Regarding the remaining three Grandmasters, Wu Yuan spected that they were likely near the level of Chen Luo and Wang Huang.


    It wasn''t just Wu Yuan, Li Yan, and theirpanions who were observing the experts from the Great Jin Empire; the team from Great Jin was also studying them.


    "Song Guang from the Sta Consortium."


    "They seem to have quite a few members."


    "Tie Tuo! He��s King Khan of the Eastern ins of the Bei Continent! Which faction is he representing?"


    "And that individual in the ck robe, I recognize him as a Grandmaster from the Pleiades Guild." The experts from the Great Jin were able to identify more than half of Wu Yuan''s group.


    In reality, most Grandmasters possessed a certain level of arrogance. Under normal circumstances, they were unwilling to employ Transfiguration.


    "Their team is made up of twelve individuals, indicating they possess four Chu-Jiang Tokens. But who is the final Grandmaster?"


    "I can��t tell." The experts from the Great Jin scrutinized Wu Yuan and the remaining experts, unable to discern the identity of thest Grandmaster.


    Wu Yuan blended in seamlessly with the other eight Savant experts, remaining inconspicuous.


    "It''s the young man in white with a sword!" Jin Qing, their leader, focused his attention on Wu Yuan. "His power might even surpass even that of Song Guang."


    "What?"


    "Him?"


    "He��s the strongest?" The team of Great Jin��s experts were all taken aback, struggling to believe it.


    After all, Song Guang held the 24th position on the Land Rankings, and his name was renowned throughout the world. Meanwhile, as they observed Wu Yuan, they didn��t find anything noteworthy about him.


    "Keep in mind, this team is a coalition of top-tier major powers. We don''t want to offend thempletely." Jin Qing��s voice was barely audible. "Our goal is to eliminate all the forces on the Jiang Continent."


    "Understood," the experts of Great Jin replied in unison.


    "But what if wee across them during the treasure hunt?" someone couldn''t help but ask.


    "When it''s time to kill, we kill," Jin Qing said indifferently. "But don''t go out of your way to ughter them. And if you encounter the young swordsman in white robes, everyone except Yue Shan should immediately flee. None of you are a match for him."


    The Savant experts nodded in acknowledgment, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. A few Grandmasters exchanged nces, disying a hint of dissatisfaction. Jin Qing didn''t bother exining further. He was also unable to mobilize heaven and earth''s power, but his soul had far surpassed that of an ordinary Grandmaster. His instincts were screaming that Wu Yuan was an absolutely lethal threat!

 Chapter 174: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (4)

    Chapter 174: Enter, Exceptional Body Refining Talent (4)


    Great Jin and Wu Yuans teams each upied a corner of the training ground. As time passed, both sides remained vignt yet not overly concerned.


    "ording to the intel, there is an invisible power controlling the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. No one can begin fighting before the realm officially opens," Li Yan chuckled.


    Wu Yuan and Song Guang couldn''t help but nod. No one here was a fool, they could all tell that the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm had itsws and procedures, a stark contrast to the immortal relics that were nothing more than ruins.


    Having anticipated this, individuals like Jin Qing and Li Yan had brought an ample supply of food and water in their storage artifacts. Starvation was not a concern.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan, Li Yan, and the others observed that there appeared to be no distinction between day and night within the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm. Above them, the dark clouds lingered, refusing to dissipate.


    Approximately a dayter, after the two teams hadpletely settled down, a wave of light appeared at a corner of the training ground, startling everyone. Then, twelve figures materialized.


    "It''s Chu Ping! The Baijiang King hase in person."


    "And there''s Bu Yu, the strongest in the Jiang Continent.


    "Chu Jun, Chang Dong, the top Grandmasters of the Jiang Continent are all here!" The teams that had arrived earlier observed the neers.


    There was no doubt that Bu Yu and Chu Ping stood out the most.


    <em>Hes the Baijiang King?</em> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the silver-robed man who had flowing hair and thick eyebrows. Every gesture he made exuded an undeniable aristocratic air.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but acknowledge that the Baijiang King certainly looked impressive. No wonder he had quickly garnered the support of various factions of the Chu-Jiang lineage, bing the ruler of four provinces.


    <em>Chang Dong, Old Yuanhu?</em> Wu Yuan''s gaze then shifted to the red-robed elderly man. He remembered that he had killed two of his disciples. Who knew if the elderly man had truly let go of his hatred?


    <em>Indeed, it is The Rain Hierarch who is participating this time. And following the hierarch are Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng.</em>


    Previously, during Wu Yuan''s battle with Grandmaster Wang Huang, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng were the ones ordered to protect him.


    <em>Perhaps it''s because these two have the highest chances of bing Grandmasters within the sect.</em>


    Gu Wang, fourth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, needed no further introduction.


    Zhang Changsheng might not be the strongest among Savant experts, but his youth granted him a unique advantage. With further tempering, he held the potential to reach the Grandmaster level.


    <em>However, the overall strength of Great Jins team is rather concerning.</em> Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.


    After a moment of careful consideration, he decided to keep his identity concealed for the time being.


    <em>That Jin Qing gives me the feeling that he is no ordinary martial artist, defeating him wont be a simple task. Lets wait and observe for now. A surprise attack at a crucial moment can sometimes be the most effective.</em>


    Despite Great Jin''s suspicions regarding Wu Yuan''s identity, they had yet to connect him with the Cloudstride Sect, thanks in part to the cover provided by the experts from the Sta Consortium and the Pleiades Guild.


    The moment Chu Ping and Chang Dongs group arrived, they immediately felt immense pressure.


    Over there is the teamposed of the Sta Consortium and Pleiades Guild.


    Great Jins team isrger than expected. They have five Great Grandmasters, including Jin Qing and Yue Shanzhong.


    Thankfully, their three factions had wisely chosen to unite beforehand. Otherwise, facing the Great Jin alone would undoubtedly spell their doom.


    Shadow de is absent? Chu Ping scanned the training ground, his gaze stopping briefly on Wu Yuan and Li Yan, but he did not harbor excessive suspicion.


    Grandmaster Yu, Shadow de is really not from your Cloudstride Sect? Chang Dong was equally perplexed, believing that Shadow de should have either entered alone or joined forces with Bu Yu. Yet, even up till the moment they activated their tokens, they had yet to see any trace of Shadow de.


    Shadow de is not a Grandmaster of the Cloudstride Sect, Bu Yu asserted with a calm expression.


    Yet, doubts unfurled within the depths of Bu Yu''s heart. Her eyes swept across the figures on the training ground until theynded on a young man d in white robes with a sword by his waist. A sliver of confusion crossed her mind as a sense of familiarity washed over her. However, she couldn''t help but feel some uncertainty. The figure before her was different, dressed in unfamiliar attire, and Wu Yuan was known for his saber techniques, while this man wielded a sword.


    Chu Ping murmured, "Everyone, dont forget what we discussed previously. Considering the strength of Great Jins team, we will proceed with n A."


    "Let''s move in teams! We will divide the Redwood Spirit Fruit among the four of us. It can only maintain ourbat abilities, but won''t enhance our strength or help us break through in soul power. The allocation of the Purplewood Spirit Fruit will depend on the situation," Chu Ping stated.


    "Mm."


    "Very well." Bu Yu and the others had no objections. They had already agreed that if Great Jins team was weak, they would search individually to cover arger area and increase their chances of finding treasures. However, if the Great Jin proved to be too strong, they would move in teams, prioritizing their survival over acquiring more loot.


    "Everyone!" Song Guang from the Sta Consortium took the initiative to stand up, his gaze scanning the other two teams. "Currently, our three teams have collected a total of thirteen Chu-Jiang Tokens."


    "ording to the information left by the Chu-Jiang Empire, in just two more days, the invisible restrictions ced on the training ground will be lifted."


    "I have a proposal. Would everyone be willing to hear it?" Song Guang''s voice echoed across the training ground.


    All eyes turned to Song Guang.


    "Grandmaster Song, please go on," said the silver-robed Chu Ping of Baijiang with a smile.


    "Please, go ahead," Yue Shanzhong from Great Jin''s team also spoke up, his tone courteous.


    Despite the friction between Great Jin and the Jiang Continent Alliance, neither side seemed eager to offend Song Guang and Li Yans team.


    "The Redsoil Mountain Range serves as a boundary of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Beyond the mountain range lies the inner region, where the two spiritual fruits can be found."


    The mountain range, with its faint reddish hue, stood out prominently.


    "In contrast, the outer region is home to ordinary spiritual nts, etherstone, Ancient Immortal Dew, and other treasures." Song Guang continued with a smile, "Given our time limit of five days, I suggest we adhere to the usual customs of the Chu-Jiang Empire. The Grandmasters shall venture into the inner region, leaving the outer region for the youngsters."


    The Grandmasters of the two teams exchanged nces. If they were to engage in a free-for-all battle royale, the Savant experts would be rendered entirely useless. None of them could interfere in battles between Grandmasters.


    The inner region, spanning nearly 1000 li in length and breadth, held countless dangers. On the other hand, the outer region stretched for hundreds of li, requiring the Savant experts to meticulouslyb for treasures.


    Five days? It was an impossible task to thoroughly search the entire realm in such a limited timeframe.


    "Very well, we agree," The Baijiang King dered with jovialughter.


    "We agree as well," Yue Shanzhong chimed in.


    Song Guang nodded. With this, a preliminary agreement was solidified among the three teams. However, this agreement was essentially unenforced. If any Grandmaster decided to secretly infiltrate the outer region and kill the Savant experts there, no one would be able to stop them.


    The following day, the three teams ceased allmunication, choosing to meditate in silence. The world around them remained dark and gloomy.


    In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day since Wu Yuan, Song Guang, and the others had entered the realm. During this time, no additional experts had arrived with a Chu-Jiang Token.


    Suddenly, a low hum filled the air, its vibrations sweeping through the training ground and lifting the invisible restrictions ced on the cultivators. A voice reverberated in the ears of all present.


    "The Fourth Eldritch Realm is hereby open, and will close in five days! The Eldritch Chamber, positioned at the heart of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, is now essible. Those wishing to enter must arrive within three days. It shall be resealed after that period." The emotionless voice then faded into nothingness.


    With that, freedom of movement was granted to everyone. Yet, no one made any rash moves, as confusion etched itself onto their faces. All of them had heard the voice, but what was the Eldritch Chamber?


    But unlike the rest, a trace of desire flickered across Jin Qing''s face.


    <em>The Eldritch Chamber? I see now! No wonder it''s called the Fourth Eldritch Realm. To think there''s an eldritchs inheritance here! This is my chance!</em>


    Swiftly, he gathered his thoughts.


    <em>Initially, I had intended to bide my time and let all of you search for treasures before killing you and seizing them for myself. </em>Jin Qing''s eyes flickered with a murderous intent. <em>But now, you can all rot in hell.</em>


    With a thunderous boom, Jin Qing sted himself straight toward Chu Ping and Bu Yu.

 Chapter 175: Clash! Wu Yuan’s Might (1)

    Chapter 175: sh! Wu Yuan��s Might (1)


    Jin Qing, who was bestowed with numerous treasures from the Great Jin royal family and was on the verge of entering the Heavenly Rankings, was confident that he could dominate the Fourth Eldritch Realm alone.


    Initially, he had nned to leave Chu Ping, Bu Yu, Chang Dong, and the other experts to their own devices. Then on the fourth or fifth day of the treasure hunt, he would strike and snatch their loot.


    After all, even though he was powerful, he couldnt outpace the other Grandmasters at finding treasures. Moreover, a bloody fight could easily lead to injuries or even deaths on Great Jins side. By then, if few of his team members were left, it would be difficult for them to find a good number of treasures.


    But the appearance of the Eldritch Chamber changed his thinking.


    <em>Eldritches, these extremely powerful and unique qi refiners, do not solely determine their chosen inheritors based on pure strength.</em> Numerous thoughts raced through Jin Qings mind.


    Having perused the Amethyst Cradle Jade Record, Jin Qing possessed a deep understanding of the ancient qi refiners, and knew a thing or two about the power the eldritches held.


    <em>I cannot allow them to reach the Eldritch Chamber at any cost! </em>Jin Qing''s gaze turned as cold as ice.


    The requirements for obtaining the inheritance within the Eldritch Chamber remained murky to him, and he had never seen the Eldritch Chamber. But one thing was crystal clear to him - if he allowed the group of Grandmasters in front of him, especially those from the former Chu empire, to inherit the eldritchs legacy, it would spell catastrophe for Great Jin.


    As for the other treasures hidden within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm?


    <em>Be it the Redwood Spirit Fruits or the coveted Purplewood Spirit Fruits, they are of little use to me. Whether I receive fewer or more of them is of little consequence. </em>Jin Qing meticulously weighed the advantages and drawbacks in an instant.


    Ultimately, he came to a decision  kill all members of the Former Chu Alliance.


    Even if it meant giving up potential treasures or forsaking the inheritance of the Eldritch Chamber, he would not permit the enemy to receive the inheritance!


    As a former north king of the Great Jin royal family, Jin Qing was someone who acted decisively.


    While the three teams of Grandmasters and Savant experts were still pondering the meaning of the Eldritch Chamber, Jin Qing was already dozens of meters away from his original position. Even the experts from Great Jin hadn''t reacted to this change yet.


    It was worth noting that the training ground spanned approximately one li in length and breadth, around 500 meters, with each team upying a corner. Great Jin and the Former Chu Alliance faced each other diagonally, with approximately 700 meters between them.


    For any ordinary Grandmaster, crossing 700 meters would typically take close to half a breath, or three seconds. But Jin Qing defied expectations, bursting forth at speeds exceeding the sound barrier! His movements were as fluid as water and utterly silent.


    Among all the experts present, only Wu Yuan, who possessed a far stronger soulpared to the other Great Grandmasters, was able to react instantly.


    <em>So fast!</em> Wu Yuans expression instantly changed as he realized that Jin Qings speed far surpassed his own. Instantly, he concluded that Jin Qing was an unimaginably terrifying opponent.


    <em>Kill! </em>Wu Yuan lunged towards Jin Qing, but his burst speed was slower than Jin Qing''s. He couldn''t stop the first wave of attacks!


    <em>Whoosh!</em> In no time, Jin Qing advanced more than 100 meters from his original position.


    "It''s Jin Qing!"


    Hes fast. Bu Yu and Chu Pings astonishment was evident on their faces. Without wasting a moment, they propelled themselves forward to confront Jin Qing head-on. Retreat? As renowned Great Grandmasters who fearlessly ventured into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, they were confident in their abilities. How could they back down from the first battle? Furthermore, how could they abandon the Savant experts behind them?


    "Kill!" "


    Kill!" Chang Dong and the robust Chu Jun, just a fraction slower, promptly joined the attack.


    "It''s Jin Qing!"


    "He''s charging over."


    "Are they engaging inbat right from the start?" At this point, Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo noticed this development but refrained from taking any action.


    Zang Jing! Brother Zang Jing has joined the fray too?


    Li Yan and the other Pleiades Guild experts understood the reason, while Song Guang and Tie Tuo found themselves a little bewildered. Nheless, their instincts told them to steer clear of this battle.


    "Kill!"


    "Quick, support the grand elder."


    "Kill them." The four other Grandmasters in Great Jins team wasted no time joining the battle. As for the numerous Savant experts from both sides, some had yet to react, while others immediately retreated to the outskirts of the training ground. There was no ce for Savant experts in a sh between Grandmasters, especially Great Grandmasters!


    The Savant experts were acutely aware that their sole purpose in the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm was not to engage inbat, but rather to search for treasures.


    As soon as the indifferent voice faded, pandemonium unfolded in the waiting area. Three Grandmasters shed across the training ground, colliding just two secondster. Layers of ck scales spread over Jin Qings body. Arms, face, legs, waist, hairhis entire body was fully enclosed without a single gap, like a titan armored in iron. Only his eyes and mouth remained exposed. With a swift motion, a ck divine sword materialized in his hand, emanating an intimidating aura.


    Die! Jin Qing roared as he swung his sword, looking like a war deity.


    <em>So fast? And hes equipped with spirit armor? </em>A trace of shock and anger shed through Chu Ping''s eyes. In that instant, he realized that Jin Qing had been hiding his true power.


    Get lost! Enraged, Chu Ping''s sleeve burst at the seams, revealing his muscr physique as he fiercely swung his own first-grade divine saber.


    <em>Boom! </em>The sh between the two Great Grandmasters wielding their divine weapons created an explosive impact, generating a visible spherical shockwave that reverberated in all directions, strong enough to tear apart an ordinary person.


    <em>Rumble~</em> The ground, which was made of some absurdly strong material, only trembled momentarily.


    As the shockwave rolled through the air, Grandmaster Bu Yu, who stood closest to the epicenter, only slowed down slightly, while the Grandmaster-level experts converging from various directions remained unaffected.


    Yet, the faces of Chang Dong, Chu Jun, and even the yet-to-act Li Yan and Song Guang disyed a drastic change. The power that Jin Qing exhibited in their first sh was nothing short of terrifying, sending Chu Ping hurtling through the air, careening 30 zhangs away before violently tumbling on the metallic ground. In that head-on collision, Chu Ping found himself at an insurmountable disadvantage, robbed of any opportunity to react.


    <em>Swoosh!</em> Like a bolt of ck lightning, a sword descended from the sky with unyielding precision, aiming straight for Chu Ping''s face. It was none other than Jin Qing. After sending Chu Ping flying with a single stroke of his sword, he had stepped back to disperse the force, then pushed off the ground, transforming into an indistinguishable blur as he lunged towards Chu Ping at the speed of sound.


    In Jin Qing''s view, injuring ten fingers wasnt as serious as severing one. Killing one enemy meant one less obstacle to ovee.


    A resounding boom reverberated through the air as Chu Ping unleashed his full physical strength. His waist and back exerted a tremendous force as he propelled himself forward, narrowly evading the near-fatal strike. Simultaneously, his saber swung back, aimed squarely at Jin Qing.


    However, an astonishing scene yed out, leaving everyone in shock. Jin Qing, whose sword had missed its mark, paid no mind to the menacing saber attack. With the swiftness of a venomous snake, his sword swiftly changed its course.


    With a resounding thwack, the saber struck Jin Qings armor.


    Meanwhile, Jin Qings sword, smooth as silk, glided effortlessly through the gaps in the helmet and armor, piercing Chu Ping''s neck as he watched on, horrified.


    "No!" Bu Yu bellowed, her eyes burning with fury.


    "Your Highness, watch out!" Chu Juns eyes widened in shock.


    The force of Chu Pings strike sent Jin Qing stumbling to the side. However, fresh blood dripped from his sword.


    A head soared through the air!


    Driven by momentum, the headless body flew several zhangs forward before crashing heavily onto the ground,ing to a stop after rolling several times.


    Chu Ping, the Baijiang King, was dead!

 Chapter 176: Clash! Wu Yuan’s Might (2)

    Chapter 176: sh! Wu Yuan��s Might (2)


    This sight caused the hearts of all the Grandmasters and Savant experts from the three teams to tremble violently, leaving some struggling to believe what just happened. Chu Ping, a powerhouse that had shaken the world for two decades, met his end in such a manner? But even as they struggled to wrap their heads around it, the decapitated head drenched in bloody right before their eyes.


    shes between martial artists were as such. Irrespective of whether one was a king, a lord, or a renowned figure across thend, life and death hung by a thread in every battle.


    "Grand Elder is so strong!"


    "y them all! Kill!" Amidst the shock, the experts in Great Jins team were mostly ovee with excitement.


    Even Chu Ping, one of the top powerhouses in the Former Chu Alliance, had perished in the blink of an eye. Who could stop Jin Qing?


    "Your Highness!"


    "This is bad, what do we do now?" Whether Grandmasters or Savant experts, fear filled the expressions of the Former Chu Alliance team. Furthermore, all Grandmasters present, even Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo standing at a distance, could tell that Jin Qing was abnormally powerful.


    The sh between Chu Ping and Jin Qing undoubtedly showcased Chu Ping''s strength, but it paled inparison to Jin Qings, who utterly dominated the battlefield. Was this the same Jin Qing who failed to make it into the top ten of the Land Rankings in his prime?


    "The force he exerted exceeds 800,000 catties! Even the number one Land Ranker cannot be this strong." Li Yan''s eyes turned frosty, a chill coursing through his veins. "Could he be a quasi-Heavenly Ranker?"


    A wave of shock rippled through everyone. With the speeds Grandmasters could reach, the first fight ended in just seconds. Jin Qing took Chu Ping''s life with three swift strokes of his sword.


    Despite enduring a brutal blow from Chu Ping''s saber, Jin Qing appeared unharmed and proceeded to glide towards Bu Yu, who was attempting to escape.


    Just moments ago, Bu Yu and Chu Ping hade to a tacit understanding and nned to encircle Jin Qing. But to their surprise, Chu Ping fell in just a few exchanges.


    <em>Run!</em> Bu Yu was shaken to the core. Countless brushes with life and death had honed her instincts to a razor edge. In an instant, she realized she stood no chance! From Jin Qing''s attacks, she glimpsed a shadow of her junior brother  quasi-Heavenly Ranker!


    Furthermore, Jin Qing emerged unscathed after taking the brunt of Chu Ping''s saber strike with his body alone. This confirmed Bu Yu''s suspicions that he was indeed wearing the legendary spirit battle armor!


    <em>Whoosh~ </em>Jin Qings sword moved in a silent arc.


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! </em>As Bu Yu backpedaled, sword lights bloomed and whistled through the air. It resembled moonlight, dazzling and intoxicating. It was the first-grade divine weapon, the Moontide Sword!


    <em>ng! ng! ng! </em>The sh of weapons reverberated in a deadly symphony, as the two powerhouses shed nearly ten times in an instant, exhibiting incredible swordsmanship.


    Even as Bu Yu retreated, she understood that engaging in directbat would surely result in her death, as evidenced by Chu Ping''s fate. Thus, she focused all her efforts on defense the moment their des shed.


    With each sh, she expertly leveraged the force to beat a swift retreat, allowing her to both deflect and evade her opponents moves, effectively buying herself more time.


    However, Jin Qing''s swordsmanship not only surpassed Bu Yus in power, but also speed. His spirit battle armor allowed him to dedicate his focus solely to offense, and he rained attacks on her like a ferocious storm. After exchanging around ten blows, Bu Yu found herself caught in a treacherous position, with death lurking at every turn.


    At that moment, a figure streaked through the sky.


    "Move!" a fierce roar echoed through the air.


    <em>Swoosh! </em>An incandescent crimson de ray silently emerged from the shadows, its presence leaving no trace in the air, mercilessly targeting the armored titan.


    <em>This saber technique? It''s that man in white!</em> Jin Qing''s eyes narrowed, but without hesitation, he raised his sword to meet the iing de. Despite his spirit armor''s protection, he had no desire to withstand a hit unless absolutely necessary.


    One of them was a quasi-Heavenly Ranker, his bodys constitution raised past its limits with heaven and earth''s power, boasting a single-arm strength nearing 290,000 catties, and was capable of unleashing 860,000 catties after Threefold Power Surge!


    The other possessed a single-arm strength of 240,000 catties, but channeled the power as a unified force, equally terrifying when coupled with Threefold Power Surge!


    <em>Boom~</em> As sword met saber, another devastating shockwave erupted, surpassing all previous collisions as it expanded in all directions.


    <em>Hm? </em>Jin Qing''s pupils contracted as he felt the formidable power behind the sh. It carried an eerie, prating force, causing his skin to tingle with pain. Against his will, his body was violently thrown backward.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> The young man in white robes came charging in, wielding a ming red battle saber that emitted an ominous aura. But as they shed, his momentum abruptly halted, as though he had collided with an imprable wall of steel.


    Bu Yu''s eyes narrowed as she focused on the fiery-red saber, her gaze inadvertently shifting to the white-robed youth. She instantly recognized him. It was Wu Yuan!


    However, Jin Qing was someone who had effortlessly in Chu Ping in just three strokes. How did Wu Yuan send him flying with just one sh?


    Although amazed by Wu Yuan''s extraordinary power, Bu Yu didnt forget the youths thunderous roar.


    <em>Swoosh!</em> With a swift swing of her sword, Bu Yu darted sideways like an arrow, evading Jin Qing''s charge and meeting the approaching figure of Yue Shanzhong.


    <em>The hierarch has left. </em>Wu Yuan felt the tension in his heart rx slightly. Then, he turned his gaze toward the towering figure adorned in battle armor.


    <em>His strength surpasses 800,000 catties! In this Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, we are unable to tap into heaven and earth''s power, causing the overall power of first-grade divine weapons to diminish significantly. The power we can unleash predominantly stems from physical strength.</em>


    <em>ording to my intelligence, Jin Qing is over 90 years old. Yet in his prime, he was never this strong. </em>Wu Yuan''s mind raced.


    In the end, there was only one possibility that Wu Yuan could conceive  quasi-Heavenly Ranker! Once a Great Grandmaster attained Unity, the process of entering the Heavenly Rankings could take as little as several months to as long as three to five years. During this process, their physical constitution continuously improved and their strength escted. This phase was called quasi-Heavenly Ranker.


    "You clearly wield a saber, yet you disguised it as a sword. And the moment I attacked an expert from the Former Chu Alliance, you immediately tried to stop me. Are you Shadow de of the Cloudstride Sect?" His words reverberated across the training ground as he stared intently at Wu Yuan.


    Without waiting for Wu Yuan''s response, Jin Qing darted toward him, his divine sword slicing through the air with a chilling gleam. Whether or not he was Shadow de didn''t concern Jin Qing. But since Wu Yuan dared to intervene, he had to die!


    <em>How fast! Im no match for Jin Qing in pure physical strength alone. I must focus on my other abilities.</em> As he retreated, Wu Yuan''s saber flickered, effortlessly blocking the ck divine sword. And just as quickly, he counterattacked with his own saber.


    <em>What a strange saber technique. </em>Jin Qing felt a strange difort as his powerful strikes seemed to dissipate into nothingness like he was hitting cotton, unable to find their mark.


    <em>Ah! Damn it! Just die already! </em>Frustration mounting, Jin Qing channeled his qi and unleashed a secret art, instantly increasing his speed and strength, although not significantly.


    <em>Secret art? I know some secret arts too.</em> Unfazed, Wu Yuan responded in kind, employing Thousand Mountains and Ghostwalk. His strength and speed both experienced a huge boost.


    "How can this be?"


    "That white-robed youths secret arts seem more powerful than Jin Qings." The Grandmasters looked on in astonishment.


    In his heart, however, Wu Yuan knew that his secret arts were inferior. The stronger one''s physical constitution, the weaker the effects of secret arts. For those who had yet to reach their human limit, like himself, the boost was significant. The closer one was to their human limit, the weaker the effects of the secret art.


    For Heavenly Rankers, secret arts were practically useless. Jin Qing, though not a Heavenly Ranker yet, was gradually nearing that level, thus the effects of his secret arts were naturally reduced. Wu Yuan, on the other hand, possessed a robust physical constitution, but he still had a ways to go before reaching his human limit.


    And so, as both of them utilized their secret arts simultaneously, Wu Yuan managed to mount a surprisingeback despite his initial disadvantage.


    <em>Boom! Boom! Boom! </em>The two powerhouses went head to head, shockwaves reverberating with each exchange. Jin Qing charged toward his opponent like a bull, pursuing Wu Yuan who deftly evaded his fierce attacks like a graceful white butterfly.


    "I dare you to stop running!" Jin Qing roared. His spirit armor slightly hindered his agility, which wasnt a big deal when facing other Grandmasters due to his high martial skill level. But when his opponent was Wu Yuan, someone of the same skill level, this w was magnified.


    I dare you to take off that tin can! Wu Yuan coldly taunted, though his speed didnt slow in the slightest.


    The head-on battle truly opened Wu Yuans eyes to how fearsome spirit armor was. Anyone who equipped one was practically invincible. At one point, Wu Yuan''s saber hit Jin Qing''s arm, but it didn''t budge an inch, almost resulting in Wu Yuan''s head being sliced off by Jin Qing''s counterattack. This sobered Wu Yuan up, prompting him to switch to full-on defense.


    Jin Qing could make mistakes over and over again. But Wu Yuan could not afford a single one! One misstep and he was dead!


    <em>My strength iscking. If I could unleash a force of millions of catties with each swing, the continuous collisions would rattle Jin Qing to death.</em> Wu Yuan felt incredibly stifled throughout the match. He hadn''t encountered such a frustrating battle in years.


    Yet, he had no idea that the intense battle between him and Jin Qing had left the Great Grandmasters and experts inplete awe. Bu Yu, Yue Shanzhong, Chu Jun, and Chang Dong, and even the spectators like Li Yan, Song Guang, and Tie Tuo stood there, mouths agape. No one had expected that Wu Yuan, despite being at a clear disadvantage, could hold his own against Jin Qing.

 Chapter 177: Clash! Wu Yuan’s Might (3)

    Chapter 177: sh! Wu Yuan��s Might (3)


    "Where did he pop up from?"


    "Just now, Grand Elder said this white-robed youth is Shadow de?"


    "With his strength, he might even rank number one on the Land Rankings!" The experts from Great Jin were visibly shaken, their emotions a mix of fear and relief. If Jin Qing hadnt been the one leading their group, they would have surely been annihted by Wu Yuan.


    "Chu Ping died in just a few seconds, yet this white-robed youth exchanged hundreds of blows with Jin Qing without showing any signs of defeat?" Chang Dong, Chu Jun, and the rest of their team were equally astonished.


    <em>Incredible! In a span of mere months, Wu Yuan has risen to such heights? Could it be... he has also attained the Unity level of the Harmony of Man and Nature stage?</em> Bu Yu found herself both shocked and exhrated, her mind abuzz with a plethora of thoughts.


    Perhaps Wu Yuan had a fortuitous encounter, but regardless of how he aplished it, he was a prodigy from the Cloudstride Sect.


    Suddenly, Jin Qing''s speed and strength visibly waned. The impact of his attacks weakened, and his sword techniques seemed restrained.


    <em>He cant maintain his secret arts any longer?</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes turned icy. His body moved with an elusive grace, his saber akin to a zing orb of fire, its de''s fervent radiance causing Jin Qing''s strikes to deviate from their marks.


    One reached the time limit of his secret arts, while the other continued to execute his secret arts. Naturally, the gap between their power and speed narrowed, allowing Wu Yuan, who was initially on edge, to find a measure of reprieve.


    Yet, Wu Yuan had no intention to deliver a fatal blow to his opponent; the spirit armor was far too resilient, and Jin Qing was uninjured throughout their confrontation.


    <em>My strength still falls short of killing this Jin Qing. </em>Wu Yuan came to a realization.<em> My objective is to rescue the hierarch, but my strength alone is not enough.</em>


    Through his peripheral vision, Wu Yuan surveyed the entirety of the battlefield. Bu Yu, Chang Dong, and Chu Jun were engaged in a fierce sh with four Grandmasters from Great Jin''s side. However, it was clear that they too were at a disadvantage.


    <em>If Chu Ping hadn''t been overconfident, choosing to fight head-on, there might have been hope for this battle.</em> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    If Chu Ping was still alive, then as long as Wu Yuan sessfully pinned down Jin Qing, the battle between the other Grandmasters wouldn''t have reached such dire straits.


    They needed more than just strength to ovee this crisis.


    Brother Li Yan, Brother Song Guang, Brother Tie Tuo. If Great Jin seeds in annihting the Former Chu Alliance, who do you think theyll set their sights on next? Wu Yuan''s booming voice reverberated in all directions.


    These words caused Li Yan and Song Guang''s expressions to change subtly. This was exactly what they feared. Great Jins team was already the strongest of the three, and Jin Qing was far more powerful than any of them. Even Wu Yuan could only manage to restrain him. If Great Jin wiped out Bu Yu, Chu Jun, and even Wu Yuan, they would be left to deal with Great Jins experts alone.


    Song Guang and Li Yan exchanged a knowing look, realizing the gravity of the situation.


    "Senior Jin Qing!" Song Guang suddenly darted forward, his white robes shifting as ayer of silver scales materialized over his body,pletely enveloping him. This unexpected sight startled all the experts present. Another person with spirit battle armor?


    "Senior, please halt your attack" bellowed Song Guang. "Otherwise, you cant me us for intervening."


    The words startled Great Jins team, and a flicker of unease shed through Jin Qing''s eyes. The addition of a few more Grandmasters was a minor concern, but the fact that Song Guang was also equipped with spirit battle armor changed the game entirely. It meant he had the strength to meddle in Jin Qing''s battle with Wu Yuan.


    And that wasn''t all. Li Yan and Tie Tuo were no pushovers and were capable of inflicting devastating casualties on Great Jins team.


    "Hold!" Jin Qing''s voice rang out, his sword slicing through the air with a fluid grace as he retreated.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan disengaged as well, swiftly backing up.


    Bu Yu, Chu Jun, and Yue Shanzhong, and the remainingbatants immediately broke away from their respective battles, re-grouping on either Wu Yuan or Jin Qings position.


    Both sides now stood a few hundred meters apart, tension thick in the air.


    "Grand Elder," Yue Shanzhong and the rest of Great Jins team directed their attention towards Jin Qing. There was no trace of blood on his divine sword.


    A section of his armored helmet retracted, revealing Jin Qing''s stern face. He locked his fierce gaze on Wu Yuan, dering, "Very well! Whether you are Shadow de or not, since youve chosen to be my enemy, youd better be prepared to face the consequences."


    His gaze then shifted to Song Guang and Li Yan, his tone cold, "Song Guang, I will spare them on your behalf. But mark my words, do not allow yourself to be manipted. Spirit battle armor is valuable enough to ignite envy in any person."


    "Lets go!" In a swift motion, Jin Qing abruptly left the training ground, swiftly followed by the other three Grandmasters from his team. The five individuals disappeared into the hills, sprinting towards the Redsoil Mountain Range that marked the boundary of the realm.


    As for the Savant experts, those from Great Jin and the Former Chu Alliance had already scattered in opposite directions at the start of the conflict. Their purpose for venturing into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm was not to engage in battle but rather to hunt for hidden treasures. Join in the battle? A single Grandmaster could easily annihte them all.


    Once the Grandmasters from Great Jins teampletely vanished from view. Chu Jun finally moved, standing beside Chu Pings lifeless body, his face etched with sorrow. "Your Highness."


    Chu Jun was one of the two Grandmasters under Chu Ping.


    Witnessing this scene, everyone remained silent, allowing him to grieve. Wu Yuan couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. No matter how formidable, illustrious, or talented, once dead, humans were just a hunk of flesh and blood.


    After a moment, Chu Jun stored Chu Pings body away, a gesture met with no dissent, as the prized first-grade divine saber had already been imed by Jin Qing. With a swift motion, Chu Jun returned to his group, his expression mostlyposed, though the lingering grief was still evident. He understood that in life, one must always look ahead.


    "Thank you for saving my life." Chu Jun offered a solemn bow to Wu Yuan, Song Guang, and Li Yan.


    "Theres no need to thank me." Song Guang''s spirit armor, resembling fish scales, retreated to reveal his face. With a smile, he gestured towards Wu Yuan. "If you feelpelled to express gratitude, then direct it towards Zang Jing. He held off Jin Qing, allowing me to intervene."


    Zang Jing? Bu Yu, Chang Dong, and Chu Jun were all stirred by the mention of this name.


    "Zang Jing, Jin Qing referred to you as Shadow de just now. Are you truly the Shadow de wanted by Great Jin?" King Khan, a straightforward man, asked the question on everyones minds.


    All eyes turned to Wu Yuan.


    "Indeed!" Wu Yuan affirmed. "I am Shadow de, the one responsible for Wang Huang''s death. Li Yan is aware of this. My apologies to Song Guang and Brother Tie Tuo for keeping it from you previously.


    "No harm done," Song Guang replied with a smile.


    "Haha, Brother Zang Jing, you are refreshingly honest. As for me, Tie Tuo, I hold no grudges," Tie Tuo, wielding his wolfs tooth cudgel,ughed heartily.


    The entire room joined in theughter, except for one personChang Dong!


    "Shadow de, we had our differences in the past," Chang Dong unexpectedly spoke up, his attitude humble. "However, my two disciples were at fault, and I cannot me you, Brother Shadow de. Today, you saved me, and for that, I am grateful."


    Previously, Yuanhu Vi''s deration to forgo revenge against Shadow de marked the first step. Now, seeing the person in the flesh and humbly yielding was the second step.


    "Haha, I understand your sentiments, Brother Chang Dong. Let us put an end to our grievances," Wu Yuan said, his smile warm.


    Killing Chang Dong would be childs y. But what about Yuanhu Province? The Cloudstride Sect wouldnt be able to establish control over his territory in a short time, and that would only present Great Jin an opportunity to seize it.


    "Brother Shadow de and Brother Chang Dong, it is wonderful that you have resolved your old grudges," Song Guang chuckled. "But I must ask, Brother Shadow de, do you have ties to the Cloudstride Sect? Or should I say, are you Wu Yuan?"


    A heavy silence descended upon the room. All eyes turned towards Wu Yuan, and even Wang Two and Wu Three were curious to know the answer.

 Chapter 178: Clash! Wu Yuan’s Might (4)

    Chapter 178: sh! Wu Yuan��s Might (4)


    Shadow de was a name renowned throughout thend. Wu Yuan was a prodigy said to have reached the first-rate Adept level at the tender age of seventeen. Could they be one and the same? If they were, didnt that mean he was a seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster?


    "Haha, Brother Song Guang, you jest. I do have some connections with the Cloudstride Sect," Wu Yuan responded naturally. "But I am not Wu Yuan. I merely protected him in secret when he first joined the sect."


    "He possesses great talent. Given time, it won''t be difficult for him to reach the Grandmaster level," Wu Yuan continued, his tone nonchnt.


    This was the answer Wu Yuan had prepared long ago. He knew that hiding Zang Jings identity as Shadow de might not be possible. After all, it was widely known that Shadow de possessed a Chu-Jiang Token. Coupled with his recent act of protecting Bu Yu, it was bound to raise suspicion.


    But the connection between Shadow de and Wu Yuan? Regardless of whether Song Guang had evidence or not, Wu Yuan would adamantly deny it to the bitter end, never revealing the truth.


    A quasi-Heavenly Ranker at seventeen? Before he had the capability to protect himself from the trouble it might bring, Wu Yuan had no intention of drawing that much attention to himself.


    "Hahaha, it seems we''ve been overthinking," Song Guang chuckled. "Considering Brother Shadow des strength, you are easily top three, or perhaps even first on the Land Rankings. Wu Yuan is undeniably talented, but I doubt he can reach such a level at the tender age of seventeen."


    The other experts nodded in agreement. In truth, while most powers had their suspicions that Wu Yuan could be Shadow de, they were not too convinced. A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster was a notion that their minds instinctively rejected.


    "Brother Song Guang, you tter me," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "But it is not an exaggeration," Li Yan, who had been silent until now, softly voiced, "That Jin Qing eliminated the Baijiang King in a few moves. While it is true that the Baijiang King underestimated him, it is possible that his strength far surpasses even Emperor Jin himself."


    "He has very likely achieved Unity, and is just a few steps away from the Heavenly Rankings. Brother Shadow de, even without spirit armor, managed to hold your ground against Jin Qing. If you had also equipped spirit armor, the battle might have resulted in a draw," Li Yan gazed at Wu Yuan with admiration and a hint of reverence.


    At his words, everyone immediately looked at Wu Yuan in shock, their perception of Wu Yuan undergoing a dramatic shift.


    After the intense, deadly battle, everyone recognized the power both Jin Qing and Wu Yuan possessed. However, now that they had the chance to calm their minds and reflect, they realized just how terrifying their strength truly was. They were not ordinary Grandmasters. A thought surfaced in their mindsHeavenly Ranker!


    "To have two quasi-Heavenly Rankers emerging at the same time is truly a rarity," Tie Tuo spoke in a deep voice, "Brother Shadow de, your fame is bound to spread throughout the world, and the unification of the Jiang Continent will soon be within your grasp."


    Wu Yuan shook his head and remained silent. He had to admit that both Song Guang and Li Yan, representatives of major factions, possessed keen insight.


    "Everyone, the true focus at the moment should not be on how powerful Shadow de is," Bu Yu suddenly spoke, "Let us instead discuss how we can hunt for treasures."


    She did not wish for Wu Yuan to borate any further. The more he spoke, the more he revealed about himself.


    "Treasure hunt? The treasure isnt the main prize here, but rather the Eldritch Chamber. From the information we''ve gathered, there is no record of such a chamber ever appearing before." Song Guang remarked.


    "And let us not forget, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is merely a name we have given this ce. Its true name is the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Therefore, I firmly believe that the so-called Eldritch Chamber holds unimaginable treasures!" Song Guang said seriously.


    Silence hung in the air as everyone contemted his words.


    "I concur," Chang Dong interjected, his voice slightly raspy. "Consider this: Jin Qing possesses immense power and could have easily waited for us to collect the treasures before hunting us down. There was no need for him to kill us from the very beginning. It should have been more advantageous for him to wait than to act.


    "As a member of the Jin royal family, he likely knows the significance of the Eldritch Chamber and was worried about us taking the treasure inside, so he attacked us in advance." Chang Dong stated solemnly.


    After a brief moment of analysis, everyone present felt that Chang Dong and Song Guang''s reasoning made sense.


    "Whether or not that is the case," Wu Yuan said softly, "since it was explicitly mentioned by that mysterious voice, the worth of this Eldritch Chamber must far surpass that of the two spiritual fruits. Moreover, the closer we venture towards the center of the Eldritch Realm, the greater the abundance of these two fruits."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the group. "Therefore, why don''t we prioritize the Eldritch Chamber? Great Jins team has already taken the lead, and time is of the essence. Shall we proceed individually or together?"


    Upon hearing this, uncertainty shed across the faces of those present. Going separately would increase the chances of obtaining treasures, but it would also heighten the risks of encountering Great Jins experts or the inherent dangers of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.


    On the other hand, going together would ensure safety, but only Song Guang could match Wu Yuan inbat.


    "What are you hesitating for?" Song Guang asked. "Lets first get to the Eldritch Chamber as soon as possible. Once its secrets are clear, we can then split up and embark on our individual quests for treasures."


    "Furthermore, we needn''t travel together," Song Guang suggested. "Shadow de, you and I can lead separate teams, each traveling three li apart. In doing so, not only can we uncover more treasures, but we can also swiftlye to each other''s aid should danger arise."


    Three li? It would take a Grandmaster only one breath to cover the distance.


    Very quickly, Wu Yuan took charge of Bu Yu and Chu Jun, while Song Guang partnered with Li Yan, Tie Tuo, and Chang Dong. The two groups then hurriedly made their way to the Redsoil Mountain Range.


    The Savant experts had long dispersed across the outer region, scouring for treasures. They knew better than to tempt fate by entering the inner region.


    The training ground was around 800 li from the center of the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>The five Grandmasters from Great Jin moved at a speed of 300 meters per second. With their pace, it wasnt long before they reached the imposing Redsoil Mountain Range.


    This mountain range, devoid of vegetation and shrouded in foreboding clouds, resembled a mighty red dragon. It was aptly known as the Red Dragon Mountain Range or the Redsoil Mountain Range.


    "Grand Elder, did we really stand no chance of winning earlier?" Feeling a little frustrated, Yue Shanzhong couldnt help but ask Jin Qing.


    "Indeed," Jin Qing replied, his gaze cold as ice. "Even if Song Guang joined the battle, I had nothing to fear. But the rest of you would have perished."


    A heavy silence settled over the four Grandmasters.


    "That young man in white robes is likely none other than the Shadow de," Jin Qing remarked with a cold tone. "Aside from him, I can''t think of any other Grandmaster on the Land Rankings who possesses the Chu-Jiang Token, would go to such great lengths to rescue Bu Yu, and wield a saber."


    The Grandmasters nodded. How could so many coincidences exist?


    "However, if he truly is the Shadow de, then this is noughing matter." Jin Qing shook his head. "I suspect his martial skill is on the verge of the Unity stage."


    Recalling the youths saber techniques and elusive movement techniques, Jin Qing shivered inwardly. He was too powerful.


    The Harmony of Man and Nature wasn''t just about harnessing heaven and earth''s power, but also about holistically improving ones weapon techniques, movement techniques, and musculoskeletal coordination.


    "Harmony of Man and Nature?" The rest of the team also trembled at the mention of it. This meant that another Heavenly Ranker was on the brink of emerging.


    "But for now, let''s set aside the matter of the Shadow de." Jin Qing spoke in a low voice. "Remember what I''ve told you. Make your way to the center of the Fourth Eldritch Realm as swiftly as possible and enter the Eldritch Chamber."


    "Whoever obtains the inheritance will be granted the right to establish the fourth martial arts holy sanctuary in Great Jin!" Jin Qing''s words carried a weighty seriousness.


    "Understood." The eyes of the four Grandmasters red with determination. What was a martial arts holy sanctuary? It was a plot of territory overseen by a Heavenly Ranker! Just like Yuanxia Pce! Just like the holy sanctuary of the royal family!


    Each time the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm opened, it would only remain essible for five days. The Eldritch Chamber required them to arrive within three.


    Thus, when Wu Yuan and Song Guang reached their decision, they didnt waste a single moment, sprinting straight toward the center of the Eldritch Realm.


    Within just two hours, they covered more than 200 li, scaling the towering Red Dragon Mountain Range thousands of zhangs tall, and entering the inner region.


    Everyone, exercise due caution. Danger lurks at every corner in the inner realm."

 Chapter 179: Evaluation Passed! Senior, Will You Lead The Jiang Continent? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 179: Evaluation Passed! Senior, Will You Lead The Jiang Continent? (1)</h4>


    Throughout history, the Chu-Jiang Empire''s royal family had frequented the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, leaving behind a fair amount of written records. These documents were scattered with the downfall of the empire, ending up in the hands of various major factions. Thus, all the Grandmasters participating in the Immortal Realm treasure hunt were well-informed about the two spiritual fruits and the divide created by the Redsoil Mountain Range, which partitioned the entire Immortal Realm into two separate regions.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i>


    "The Chu-Jiang royal family scoured the entire outer region diligently, yet not a single spiritual fruit was discovered," Bu Yu exined to Wu Yuan as they advanced.


    "The outer region is filled with numerousmon natural treasures. Meanwhile, the inner region, spanning thousands of li, is the sole area where the two spiritual fruits were found."


    "It is evident that a peculiar power permeates the entirety of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, effectively separating the inner and outer regions," Bu Yu concluded.


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly, already aware of this information. Why did Li Yan expend treasures worth 20 million silver taels to secure two spots with Wu Yuan? Because it was worthwhile!


    The outer region abounded with countless natural treasures. ording to the intelligence from the Cloudstride Sect, a Savant expert could effortlessly acquire over 100 million silver taels worth of treasure. Of course, the prerequisite was that they left the Immortal Realm alive. In the past, when the Chu-Jiang Empire monopolized the entire Immortal Realm, casualties were few, and treasure hunting was the primary objective. However, this time, the oue might diverge from the past.


    Grandmasters like Wu Yuan would engage inbat within the inner region, while the Savant experts in the outer region would also partake in a perilouspetition. Despite the abundance of natural treasures in the outer region, their value paled inparison to the two spiritual fruits found within the inner region.


    These two special spiritual fruits were treasures that evoked envy even among Land Rankers! The Redwood Spirit Fruit, once consumed, could significantly enhance the strength of a martial artist. Even ordinary individuals could attain a physical constitution akin to a first-rate Adept without any adverse side-effects. Savant experts who consumed it would acquire a physical constitutionparable to a Grandmaster, while Land Rankers could prolong their peak physical state for an additional decade. Each person could only consume a maximum of two in their lifetime!


    <i>In essence, a century-old Grandmaster could prolong their peakbat prowess by two decades with the consumption of two Redwood Spirit Fruits. </i>Wu Yuan recalled the information he had read.


    This was the number one reason why individuals like Bu Yu and Chang Dong staked their lives to participate in the treasure hunt.


    But while the Redwood Spirit Fruit postponed the deterioration of one��s physical constitution, it was unable to preserve one��s soul from decay or enhance one��sbat abilities. In simpler terms, while the physical constitution of an ordinary person who consumed the fruit would improve, theirbat awareness and martial skill level would still require gradual honing.


    <i>The Redwood Spirit Fruit is undoubtedly miraculous, but it��s simply a rtively potent natural treasure. It is enough to pique the interest of Grandmasters, but not enough to drive them to madness. The Purplewood Spirit Fruit is the truly mystical treasure.</i>


    Dubbed by numerous Grandmasters as the Soul Fruit or Dao Enlightenment Fruit, the Purplewood Spirit Fruit contained a mysterious power that significantly fortified a Grandmaster''s soul and enabled a Land Ranker to perceive heaven and earth''s power. However, one could only consume three in their lifetime.


    ording to the records left behind by the Chu-Jiang royal family, if a Great Grandmaster managed to consume three Purplewood Spirit Fruits, their chances of entering the Heavenly Rankings would increase to 30%. This might not appear significant. Yet, in reality, out of the numerous Great Grandmasters that emerged in each generation, only three or four would be Heavenly Rankers at best. At worst, not a single one would make the cut.


    <i>The potency of the Purplewood Spirit Fruit surpasses that of the Soul Condensing Pill, but they may not be of much use to me.</i>


    When it came to the soul, Wu Yuan believed that even the Heavenly Rankers might not necessarily surpass him. Furthermore, the intelligence he had gathered mentioned that the two spirit fruits of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm had negligible effects on Heavenly Rankers.


    Therefore, Wu Yuan''s initial purpose for joining the immortal realm treasure hunt revolved around acquiring Redwood Spirit Fruits for his family, particrly his mother.


    <i>My younger sister possesses decent martial arts talent, and with the sect''s current level of support, she may not reach the first-rate Adept level, but there is hope for her to be a second-rate Adept, or at the very least, a third-rate one.</i>


    He didn��t hold much expectations for his sister''s martial arts achievements. Generally, only one out of 100,000 could reach the first-rate Adept level. As for his mother, Wanqin, there was no need to consider the possibility at all.


    <i>Once they consume the Redwood Spirit Fruit, my mother''s body will undergo a metamorphosis, guaranteeing her a peaceful life till 100 years old. And my little sister? She wouldn''t have to spend a great deal of time strengthening her body anymore. If she is interested in martial arts, she could wholly devote herself to honing her skills. Bing a first-rate Adept won��t be difficult for her, and she might even have a shot at bing a Savant expert! And if her interest doesn��t lie in martial arts, her existing martial prowess and the support of the Wu n would pave the way for a life of wealth and prosperity. </i>


    This was the future Wu Yuan had meticulously arranged for his family. Martial artists acted with a clear conscience. If there were more Redwood Spirit Fruits avable, he wouldn��t mind helping the Wu n produce a few additional first-rate experts, solidifying the n''s position.


    As for the sect?


    <i>The hierarch would have no trouble obtaining two Redwood Spirit Fruits for herself. I should strive to secure a Purplewood Spirit Fruit for The Rain Hierarch.</i>


    Wu Yuan strongly hoped that Bu Yu would enter the Heavenly Rankings.


    <i>Furthermore, based on the Rain Hierarch��s personality, even after she achieves a breakthrough, she won��t leave the Central ins, continuing to guard the sect. This will ensure the safety of the family and n for hundreds of years. When I venture into the Xin Continent or other distantnds, I will have one less worry.</i>


    His path to bing a qi refiner from the Harmony of Man and Nature stage would thus be free from obstacles. En route to Ly City, he had contemted his future ns. In his opinion, The Sword Hierarch was far less dependable than The Rain Hierarch.


    <i>However, the mysterious Eldritch Chamber presents an unexpected disruption to my ns. I��ll decide what to do after checking it out. </i>Wu Yuan had no idea what the Eldritch Chamber entailed.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun reduced their pace to 100 meters per second as they reached the barren hills. They weren''t the only ones being cautious, as a few li away, Song Guang and the other Great Grandmasters also proceeded with a simr level of wariness, watching for potential ambushes.


    <i>The vegetation in the inner region is much sparser than that of the outer region. </i>


    Wu Yuan scanned the vast expanse of the inner realm, his soul sense constantly alert, never allowing anypse in perception.


    The earth, a stark shade of red, resembled a desert. Small mounds rose and fell in session with the asional glimpse of dark canyons, like deep scars carved by a saber into the earth. These canyons were notrge, the narrowest being around ten meters wide and the widest barely reaching 100 meters. For Grandmasters, they could leap across them in a single bound.


    Amidst this destendscape where sporadic tufts of grass stretched for li, towering trees rose up like giants, looking somewhat out of ce in the environment.


    ��These massive trees should be the tree demons that inhabit the inner region, possessing terrifying attack power and remarkable vitality on the level of Heavenly Rankers. Don��t provoke them.�� Bu Yu warned softly.


    Wu Yuan acknowledged this information with a nod.


    The three main hazards of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm were the tree demons, redsoil assassins, and spirit fruit guardians. Among them, the tree demons were the most powerful. However, as long as one kept a distance of three li from them, the tree demons wouldn''t attack. Furthermore, their extermination offered little in terms of rewards, and the Chu-Jiang Empire royal family had learned to steer clear of them after suffering heavy losses in their previous encounters.


    As they ventured deeper into the inner region of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, Wu Yuan and Bu Yu remained cautious, navigating their way through canyons and hills while avoiding the tree demons.


    Before long, they covered dozens of li.


    <i>Another canyon.</i> Wu Yuan caught sight of a narrow, dark valley around 100 meters away in peripheral vision.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Just as he prepared to leap across, a sudden eruption of dark red lights streaked through the air like bolts of lightning from the depths of the canyon, aiming straight for Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun. Each streak of light traveled around three times the speed of sound!


    The Grandmasters had been on high alert, slowing their pace and anticipating a sudden ambush the whole time. And so, the moment those three streaks of light materialized, Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun detected them without dy.


    "Get lost!" bellowed the burly Chu Jun, conjuring a massive double-ded poleaxe in his grip. A weapon of sheer ferocity, it could sh, sweep, spin, and even serve as a makeshift shield in dire moments. Holding the poleaxe horizontally before him, Chu Jun braced himself.


    <i>Boom! </i>A thunderous collision ensued, causing Chu Jun''s arm to tremble as he was forcefully propelled backward.


    <i>ng!</i> Moonlight shed as Bu Yu swiftly drew the Moontide Sword just in time to intercept the projectile. The impact redirected the stealth weapon to the sandy ground, stirring up a cloud of sand. The details of the weapon were clear to the Grandmasters: a perfectly smooth, dark red needle-like projectile, no longer than half an inch.


    Wu Yuan''s figure flickered eerily, shifting an inch to the side in mid-air, narrowly evading the iing stealth weapon. Though he was unable to harness heaven and earth''s power and his Soul Force��s range was limited, his telekinesis abilities remained unimpaired at close range due to his powerful soul.


    <i>Redsoil assassins? Impressive stealth skills! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed coldly.


    Despite his formidable soul sense, he had failed to detect their presence beforehand. Nevertheless, as the three needles shot toward him, apanied by ferocious shockwaves, Wu Yuan instantly discerned the ambushers�� location.


    <i>Swish! </i>Wu Yuan''s foot barely touched the ground before he shot forward, covering nearly 100 meters in an instant.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>A cloud of sand erupted into the sky, then three fearsome figures burst out from the ground. Each of them possessed a human form, standing at around two meters tall. Their faces were concealed behind crimson masks, their bodies draped in light red robes that seamlessly blended with the surrounding earth. In their hands, they brandished identical red sabers, as if forged in an assembly line. The three figures seemed to be carved from the same mold.


    "Kill!" The figure at the center bellowed. Only a pair of light red eyes were revealed under his red robes, filled with intense bloodlust.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i>


    Like bolts of lightning, the three figures in red robes simultaneously sprang into action, closing in on Wu Yuan from three different directions.


    "Careful, Shadow de!" Bu Yu and Chu Jun rushed to assist Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 180: Evaluation Passed! Senior, Will You Lead The Jiang Continent? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 180: Evaluation Passed! Senior, Will You Lead The Jiang Continent? (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan engaged in an intense sh with the trio of crimson-d figures. Swift as a specter, he evaded two menacing de rays, retaliating with scorching de rays of the Sunfury Saber.


    Secret art: Thousand Mountains, activated! Threefold Power Surge!


    <i>Stter! </i>As the de rays crossed paths, a severed head went flying and a lifeless body crashed heavily onto the ground.


    <i>Redsoil Assassin. Base strength of 200,000 catties, with martial skill at the Rigid Yet Supple stage. </i>Wu Yuan analyzed with a cold gaze.


    This information had been ryed to Wu Yuan beforehand. Tree demons, whilecking in agility,pensated with their formidable size and robust vitality, making themparable to Heavenly Rankers in overallbat power. As for the redsoil assassins, they were among the bottom tier of Grandmasters in terms of strength.


    <i>If they chose to focus solely on defense, it would take me three to five strikes to end their life. Yet they dared attack me directly?</i> Wu Yuan was unperturbed by such an opponent. His power and skill level far surpassed theirs. Additionally, the redsoil assassins possessed no armor or defensive measures, relying solely on their razor-sharp battle sabers.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> Once again, a lightning-swift exchange took ce, apanied by fiery de rays. Two more bodies crumpled to the ground.


    Wu Yuan came to a halt, sheathing his Sunfury Saber as he watched three headless corpses dissolving rapidly before him.


    Only after that did two Bu Yu and Chu Jun arrive. The sight of the partially dissolved bodies of the assassins in the crimson soil left both of them shocked.


    "What frightening saber skills!" Chu Jun eximed in awe, his gaze shifting to Wu Yuan.


    While the redsoil assassins were not particrly formidable, they still possessed the strength of Grandmasters. Yet, three of them had been swiftly dispatched by Wu Yuan in an instant. Chu Jun knew Wu Yuan was strong when he fought Jin Qing, but he was only just beginning toprehend the true level of Wu Yuan''s power.


    "As expected, it aligns with the reports. Whether it''s the tree demons or the redsoil assassins, no rewards evere from eliminating them," Bu Yu sighed softly. "Once they perish, they dissolvepletely, leaving no trace. I wonder how they were created."


    "It''s quite mystical. They don''t seem truly alive," Wu Yuan murmured, his gaze fixed on the three lifeless bodies, lost in contemtion.


    After eliminating these redsoil assassins, a new wave of blood-red mist emanated from Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe. This further confirmed that the blood-red mist originated from the ck pagoda, rather than the act of taking lives.


    Soon enough, the redsoil assassinspletely dissolved, leaving no trace on this deste in, aside from the countless fragments of rock and heaps of sand stirred up during the battle.


    "Even that stealth weapon has dissolved," Wu Yuan observed, ncing toward the spot where the flying needle had previously pierced into the sand. There was no longer any sign of it.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Several figures swiftly approached from a short distance away - it was Song Guang, Li Yan, and their group, who had been trailing behind.


    "Brother Song Guang, Brother Li Yan, the Redsoil assassins have all been eliminated. Let us press on," Wu Yuan said.


    Without wasting any time, Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun resumed their journey.


    And so, the two groups parted ways once more, making sure to evade the tree demons, though finding themselves asionally ambushed by redsoil assassins. Sometimes they faced a lone assant, while other times there were two or three of them. Nevertheless, the groups consisted of numerous Grandmasters and even Great Grandmasters, allowing them to easily dispatch the assassins without suffering any casualties.


    As they ventured deeper into the region, they finally encountered true danger. This time, over 30 redsoil assassins showed up,unching a ferocious assault on Song Guang''s group. Though Song Guang immediately plunged into battle, killing one redsoil assassin in just three moves, the sheer number of assassins overwhelmed him. Chang Dong, who was the weakest of the group, possessed far greater individual strength than the redsoil assassins. Yet against the horde of redsoil assassins that struck in perfect unison, even the Great Grandmaster struggled.


    In a matter of moments, the slightly weaker Tie Duo and Chang Dong were stabbed by the sabers, drenching the surroundings in blood. Although their injuries were not life-threatening, the mounting pressure ced their lives in jeopardy.


    At this critical juncture, Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun dashed to their aid, with Wu Yuan leading the charge. His movements were as swift as lightning, casting eerie de rays. One by one, the redsoil assassins crumbled beneath his onught, alleviating the strain on everyone present.


    In the end, out of the 30 redsoil assassins, Wu Yuan single handedly annihted eighteen of them. Though Song Guang was equipped with spirit armor, which allowed him to focus solely on offense, the rate of his kills was much slowerpared to Wu Yuan.


    The group of exhausted Grandmaster experts panted heavily, watching the dissolving bodies of the fallen assassins. Inevitably, all eyes converged on Wu Yuan.


    "Shadow de, you saved us this time," Li Yan shook his head in awe. "With so many redsoil assassins, only Song Guang would have survived this if you hadn��t intervened!"


    "Indeed!" Tie Tuo shook his head, his expression filled with disbelief. "Though the redsoil assassins are individually not much stronger than those at the top of the Human Rankings, there were simply too many to handle. Only Brother Shadow de was able to dominate the battlefield with absolute strength.��


    The others present nodded in agreement. Wu Yuan''s power left them deeply shocked.


    "But, why were there so many redsoil assassins?" Song Guang frowned. "Could it be rted to the Eldritch Chamber?"


    "We have indeed encountered an abnormallyrge number of redsoil assassins," Li Yan replied, shaking his head slightly.


    ording to the Chu-Jiang Empire''s intelligence, encountering redsoil assassins four or five times in five days was the norm when venturing into the inner region. However, Wu Yuan and his group, who had only been in the inner region for two hours, had already faced three or four attacks, each one more vicious than thest.


    "Perhaps it''s because of our numbers," Bu Yu suggested softly. "By moving in groups, we might be attracting arger number of redsoil assassins. Or, maybe this is a special situation."


    "Special situation?" Chang Dong sighed. "After traveling hundreds of li, I have yet to spot any of the two spirit fruits."


    His words elicitedughter from the group. The two spirit fruits? They had just barely reached the inner region. Even if a Grandmaster spent all five days searching diligently, they would typically find only three to five spirit fruits.


    "Let''s keep moving," Wu Yuan suggested. "We''ve covered around 500 li so far, and ording to our map, we''re about 300 li away from the center of the Fourth Eldritch Realm."


    ��Mm, let''s continue!"


    "Let��s go.��


    The group pressed on, ever mindful of Great Jin''s team which had set off ahead of them. Up till now, there were still no signs of them.


    ...


    One by one, the redsoil assassins dissolved into the earth. Then, they turned into invisible ripples, surging forward toward the heart of the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    "Finalbat evaluation, passed!"


    "Activating n one! All preparations areplete!"


    "Waking the realm master,"mands echoed through the depths of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, as ripples of energy reverberated throughout thend.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun continued their rapid advance. Whether it was a stroke of good fortune or perhaps some other unknown reason, their encounter with the 30 redsoil assassins was thest attack they faced. Without obstructions in their path, they covered hundreds of li smoothly.


    "Senior Shadow de, I have a matter to discuss with you," Chu Jun suddenly spoke up. He had unconsciously stopped referring to Wu Yuan as Brother Shadow de, instead addressing him as Senior Shadow de. This was all due to Wu Yuan��s incredible disy of force.


    "Please speak, Brother," Wu Yuan replied, his tone nonchnt. Though they had only been acquainted for a brief time, he could sense that Chu Jun was someone with a good temperament.


    "Senior Shadow de, are you a native of the Jiang Continent?" Chu Jun inquired, a curiosity shining in his eyes.


    "Naturally," Wu Yuan replied.


    Since it was publicly acknowledged that he was a member of the Cloudstride Sect, there was no need for him to conceal this information.


    "That''s good," Chu Jun muttered. "Senior Shadow de, would you consider takingmand of the Baijiang Kingdom after departing from the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm?"


    Wu Yuan''s eyebrows rose in slight astonishment. "What did you say?"


    Chu Jun''s determination grew stronger as he spoke, his words carrying a newfound resolve. "With His Highness dead, my heart grieves, but I must consider the wellbeing of the people in the four provinces. Even though Wu Hongxuan and I are both Grandmasters, we are just ordinary Grandmasters. We don��t have the capability to rule over such vast territories."


    At that moment, the situation crystallized in Wu Yuan''s mind. The Baijiang Kingdom was initiallyposed of three Grandmasters��Chu Jun, Wu Hongxuan, and Chu Ping, and the former two served as their king, who ruled over four provinces known as Four Provinces of Baijiang.


    "My family was originally part of the Chu-Jiang Empire, and we have been deeply indebted to the empire for generations," Chu Jun said, shaking his head with a sigh. "That''s why I followed His Highness without hesitation, believing that he would one day restore the empire."


    But with Chu Ping dead, his hopes were shattered.


    "Although His Highness has descendants, theyck sufficient martial prowess and cannot stabilize the nation in chaotic times. To make things worse, the Great Jin Empire is constantly breathing down our necks," Chu Jun said gravely. "After careful consideration, I believe that only you, Senior Shadow de, can bring order to Baijiang and deter the Great Jin Empire and the four coastal continents from making rash moves."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, "Your words make sense. However, you should know that I am a member of the Cloudstride Sect. Inviting me to take over would be like inviting the Cloudstride Sect to swallow the Baijiang Kingdom, wouldn''t it?" He spoke frankly, concealing nothing.


    Chu Jun smiled bitterly, "Senior is jesting. Since His Highness�� death, I knew that the Chu-Jiang Empire was thoroughly finished, with no hope left."


    He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice filled with conviction. "The Cloudstride Sect shares our roots. It''s better to let them unify the Jiang Continent than to let Great Jin ughter its way in. Besides, even if we don''t surrender, aren��t Senior Shadow de and Grandmaster Bu Yu interested in unifying the Jiang Continent?"

 Chapter 181: Finally, After 100,000 Years, Youve Arrived (1)

    <h4>Chapter 181: Finally, After 100,000 Years, You''ve Arrived (1)</h4>


    Unify the Jiang Continent? Wu Yuan and Bu Yu exchanged a nce. Chu Jun was no fool. Indeed, the thought had crossed their minds.


    When the Chu-Jiang Empire fell, its territories were plunged into chaos. The Cloudstride Sect,cking the strength to maintain control over such arge area, allowed the rise of the Baijiang Kingdom and Yuanhu Vi. However, the breakthroughs of Huan Jian and Wu Yuan, coupled with the sudden demise of Chu Ping, had set the stage for new possibilities.


    Wu Yuan had yet to think too deeply about it, but Bu Yu''s ambitions had already taken root, thriving like wild weeds. Nevertheless, they were aware of the numerous eyes and ears within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm and refrained from discussing these matters openly. Expanding their territory would inevitably attract more martial artists and solidify the sect''s foundations. It was an appealing prospect.


    "Senior, I greatly admire you," Chu Jun remarked sincerely. "You are also a native of the Jiang Continent. When you enter the Heavenly Rankings, assume leadership over the Four Provinces of Baijiang, and be the master of the Cloudstride Sect, the entire region, including the Guangping, Dalong, Eastdream, Westdream, and Yuanhu Provinces, will submit to you."


    "At that time, unifying the Jiang Continent and reiming its sovereignty will be within your grasp," Chu Jun continued passionately. "The Jiang Continent should not be a pawn of the four coastal continents. It belongs to the people of the Jiang Continent. And who knows, as your strength grows, you may one day surpass Imperator Jin, rebuild the Chu-Jiang Empire, and shake the world."


    Wu Yuan fell silent, his thoughts momentarily paralyzed by Chu Jun''s grand vision. The man��s tough exterior concealed a surprisingly insightful mind, capable of painting a grandiose picture of the future. However, this vision was not an easy one to aplish.


    "Shadow de," Bu Yu interjected with a chuckle. "Grandmaster Chu''s words hold merit. If you were to be the ruler of Baijiang, our sect would undoubtedly support your endeavor to unify the Jiang Continent."


    Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly. Unify the Jiang Continent? Even if he were to establish a kingdom in name, it would inevitably be handed over to the sect for management. After all, the vast expanse of mountains and rivers required soldiers for defense and administrators for organization. Wu Yuan himself had no interest in dealing with such mundane affairs. As for the Wu n, the number of members they had hardly warranted their control over such a vast territory.


    The Jin royal family, despite producing numerous Grandmasters across generations, still continued to rally foreign Grandmasters to their cause and allowed them to upy various sections of the empire��s territory to ensure stability.


    In a world of martial arts, a single individual could wield extraordinary strength. Without unparalleled martial strength, it was impossible to establish a stable dynasty. Although powerful individuals like the Land Rankers and Heavenly Rankers might be loyal to their nation, n, or sect, few were willing to submit to a weak ruler.


    "Grandmaster Chu," Wu Yuan began lightly. "Do you believe I have what it takes to be the ruler of Baijiang, capable of subduing the various internal factions under the Baijiang Kingdom?"


    The four provinces spanned an area of thousands of li, with a poption in the tens of millions. Subjugating them all to under one person was not something that could be aplished with a few words.


    ��I do!�� Chu Jun nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I will convince Wu Hongxuan. With His Highness�� demise, as long as we unite our forces and have Senior Shadow de hold the fort, we can eliminate those who refuse to submit."


    Wu Yuan gave a mild nod. ording to his knowledge, Chu Junmanded the elite Baijiang Army under the king''s reign. With Wu Hongxuan as the prime minister, the two of them together could indeed gain control over the Baijiang Imperial Court.


    "Very well," Wu Yuan agreed. "But let me make this clear, I have no intention of founding a nation or establishing a royal dynasty. The one who will unite the Jiang Continent is the Cloudstride Sect!"


    Chu Jun blinked, taken aback by this unexpected promation. Bu Yu, on the other hand, couldn''t hide the glimmer of joy in her eyes. Though she outwardly supported Wu Yuan, she couldn''t help but worry inwardly.


    A nation or a sect��these were the two choices avable to the peak powerhouses in the Middle Land. Some preferred to establish grand kingdoms, while others opted for the path of erecting sects. Both had their advantages and disadvantages.


    "In the future, would you and Wu Hongxuan be willing to join the ranks of the Cloudstride Sect?" Wu Yuan asked casually.


    Chu Jun hesitated for a moment, then chuckled, "As long as it is your wish, Senior, I am willing!"


    Once an arrow was released, it could not be retracted. As the one who brought the matter up, Chu Jun knew that refusing Wu Yuan now would only offend him, which was something he couldn''t afford. Moreover, the emergence of a Heavenly Ranker in the Cloudstride Sect and their ability to resist the forces of Great Jin indicated that the unification of the Jiang Continent was inevitable. The internal politics of the Four Provinces of Baijiang had no say in this.


    <i>I am but a fish on the chopping block. Your Highness, please don��t me me. Uncle Wu and I are not capable of handling such a vast territory. Once news of your demise spreads, it will only attract covetous gazes. </i>Chu Jun sighed inwardly.


    Since he couldn��t hold on to it forever, it was better to sell it now while he was still rades in life and death�� with Wu Yuan and Bu Yu. Perhaps it could even fetch a good price. At the very least, from Chu Jun''s perspective, Wu Yuan wouldn''t put him in the worst-case scenario.


    Bu Yu and Wu Yuan exchanged a nce. After a moment, Bu Yu asked, "Chu Jun, what are your conditions?��


    "Firstly, conduct a funeral with royal honors for the deceased king, and bestow his descendants the title of first-ss marquis. Pay homage to the deceased king annually, observing the customary rites and rituals, to bring sce to the hearts of the four provinces," Chu Jun dered.


    "Secondly, maintain the existing order of both military and political affairs within the four provinces for as long as feasibly possible. Thirdly, the civil and military officials of the four provinces should hold the same status as members of the Cloudstride Sect."


    "Finally, in the future, the people of the four provinces should not face any discrimination if they wish to join the Cloudstride Sect, ensuring their loyalty," Chu Junid out all four demands in one breath.


    Clearly, these conditions were all carefully crafted.


    "Chu Ping was a self-proimed ruler of the Baijiang Kingdom. By right, he does not deserve a burial with royal honors.


    Chu Jun��s heart sank.


    ��...However, we acknowledge his significant achievement in pacifying the four provinces and bringing about a period of peace. For this reason, he shall be granted the privilege of a burial with royal honors. As for his heirs, they shall be bestowed the title of first-ss marquis with hereditary session of the title," Bu Yu said.


    Wu Yuan nodded approvingly. In ordinary circumstances, no sect would bestow the title of prince, making first-ss duke the highest attainable rank, with all others falling beneath it. Even the Grandmaster families within the Cloudstride Sect were typically only granted the title of first-ss marquis, which could be seeded by their heirs.


    "All military and political matters pertaining to the four provinces shall be under the control of Cloudhill. All officials in key positions, including county mayors, generals of defense, and martial academy headmasters, must undergo examination by the sect before their appointments are confirmed." Bu Yu asserted.


    "Simrly, civil and military officials within the four provinces shall also be required to pass this examination. Bu Yu added, "Furthermore, I assure you, Grandmaster Chu, that the sect shall treat all four provinces equally, without favoritism. The positions of both yourself and Grandmaster Wu shall remain unaltered."


    These final words gave Chu Jun pause. But ultimately, he relented. He understood that the independence of the Four Provinces of Baijiang was an unattainable dream. The terms presented by the Cloudstride Sect were far better than he had hoped for and much more preferable to being subjugated by the Great Jin Empire. Most importantly, Chu Jun had secured a promising future for himself.


    <i>The Cloudstride Sect currently boasts only two Grandmasters. Shadow de is on the cusp of a breakthrough. With the addition of a new Heavenly Ranker, my own status will undoubtedly rise once the kingdom is integrated.</i>


    As for the Baijiang Kingdom? From the bottom of his heart, Chu Jun believed he had done everything within his power to ensure a prosperous future for its descendants.


    "Agreed," Chu Jun nodded firmly. "Senior Shadow de, Grandmaster Bu Yu, I ept all of your conditions. Upon my return to Ninecaves Province, I shall consult with Prime Minister Wu without dy and provide a definitive response in twenty days."


    Twenty days was neither excessively long nor unreasonably short.


    "Very well.��


    ...


    The negotiations had gone well, and as a result, the bond between Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun had grown stronger without them even realizing it. Chu Jun had started to think of himself as a subordinate of Wu Yuan, while the way Wu Yuan and Bu Yu spoke to him grew warmer. However, it took time to build trust, and they could notpletely let their guard down yet.


    As for Song Guang, Li Yan, and the others, they were unaware of the negotiations that just took ce. Since thest attack by the redsoil assassins, there had been no further ambushes, and the two teams had not met since then.


    They were all feeling slightly frustrated, as none of them had spotted a single spirit fruit thus far.


    Finally, after venturing over 500 li into the inner region and crossing a small mountain range over 100 zhangs high, they reached the summit of a mountain. Both teams came to a halt, and the seven Grandmasters stood in awe, gazing out into the distance.


    "It''s enormous!"


    "Truly massive!"


    "Could that be the Eldritch Chamber?" In the distance, a faint silhouette of a majestic bronze temple rose from the ground. The temple stood about a hundred li away, radiating an ancient aura that shook their spirits. Even Wu Yuan couldn''t hide his shock.


    "If we can see it so clearly from 100 li away, it must be 500 to 600 zhangs in height." Chu Jun couldn''t contain his amazement.


    "Sounds about right," Wu Yuan murmured, "And in terms of width, it spans over a dozen li."


    By measuring the distance between themselves and the temple, and then examining its size within their field of vision, they could roughly estimate the height and width of this towering bronze temple.


    "Eldritch Chamber?" Sprinting over, Li Yan shook his head. "How is this a chamber? It is clearly a colossal temple! I cannot begin to fathom how it was constructed."


    The group of Grandmasters resonated with his sentiments. Even with their immense power, they found this architectural spectacle to be beyond the bounds of their imagination. It was a feat that could barely be aplished by mortal hands.


    "This is the might of the ancient qi refiners!" A look of yearning appeared in Song Guang''s eyes. "Legends speak of ancient qi refiners who could pluck stars and traverse the sky. Constructing a temple of this magnitude would pose no challenge to them."


    "Let��s proceed. If such a massive temple had appeared before, the records of the Chu-Jiang Empire would have surely mentioned it. But there were none," Song Guang stated solemnly. "This means that this must be its debut appearance."


    Every heart skipped a beat. As Grandmasters, even the least aplished among them, Chang Dong, possessed knowledge of numerous secrets. They understood all too well what a newly appearing immortal relic signified.


    Immortal treasures! Divine weapons! Cultivation techniques! Mystical objects!

 Chapter 182: Finally, After 100,000 Years, Youve Arrived (2)

    <h4>Chapter 182: Finally, After 100,000 Years, You''ve Arrived (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Without hesitation, they transformed into streaks of light, hurtling with all their might toward the colossal temple.


    Every one of them was filled with desire and vigor, and Wu Yuan was no exception. When caution was warranted, he acted ordingly. But when a great opportunity arose, he would naturally do his best to seize it.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, Li Yan, and Song Guang finallyprehended why Jin Qing had sought to kill them from the outset. Perhaps he had foreseen the existence of this enormous immortal relic.


    A tense atmosphere settled over the group. In particr, suspicion lingered between Wu Yuan and Song Guang, their eyes darting warily at each other, preparing for a sudden attack.


    However, as Wu Yuan took the lead and Song Guang followed close behind, both showed no signs of hostility in their demeanor, allowing the other Grandmasters to heave a sigh of relief.


    <i>No matter how strong I am, I cannot guarantee a swift victory over Song Guang. If I attack him, the Grandmasters may scatter and flee, disrupting our unity. </i>Wu Yuan had reasoned it out.


    He wasn��t confident that he could eliminate all the Grandmasters. Furthermore, they had yet to encounter any of Great Jin��s experts after leaving the waiting area. Therefore, Wu Yuan was reluctant to instigate internal conflict that would only serve to benefit the enemy. For Wu Yuan and the Cloudstride Sect, Great Jin was their number one nemesis.


    ...


    <i>In a mysterious space within the walls of the grand bronze temple.</i>


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> A giant, standing three meters tall, unleashed thunderous punches that ruptured the air. Each step it took shook the earth.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A figure shrouded in ck armor, nearly two meters tall, desperately evaded the relentless onught of the giant, not daring to confront it head-on.


    <i>The force behind each of the eldritch warrior''s punches exceeds two million catties. Why is this trial so difficult?</i> Blood trickled down Jin Qing��s lips, his chest bursting with frustration.


    At first, he had thought he would be able to engage inbat with this towering giant and eventually kill it. But a single punch had been enough to bring him to his knees.


    The giant only executed ordinarybat techniques and seemed unable to employ Power Surge. Yet itsbat strength derived solely from sheer power and speed was mind-boggling. Even with the protection of his spirit battle armor, Jin Qing was cautious not to endure another direct blow.


    As for close-quartersbat? He tried it once. The giant''s arms, abdomen, back, and thighs, had immediately transformed into lethal weapons, exerting astonishing strength. The giant operated wlessly, akin to a perfect fighting machine.


    <i>Ten breaths. I just need to endure for another ten breaths longer, and I canplete this trial. I��vee this far, surrender is not an option.</i> Determination gleamed in Jin Qing''s eyes.


    However, just as this thought entered his mind, the giant suddenly spun andunched a swift kick. The attack was ten times faster than the speed of sound, striking Jin Qing and sending him flying.


    <i>Boom!</i> As he collided forcefully with the wall, a fist as hefty as a sandbag soon followed suit, but Jin Qing managed to evade it with every ounce of his strength, feeling the walls and the ground both trembling as he rolled out of the way.


    <i>Fuck it. If I don��t go all out, I��ll die!</i> Jin Qing''s eyes burned with a fiery resolve, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. [1]


    He charged forward towards the giant, only to once again be sent hurtling through the air with a single punch, utterly overpowered.


    ...


    As Jin Qing was beaten to a pitiful wreck within the temple, the area surrounding the grand bronze temple waspletely deste, the earth perfectly level.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Li Yan finally reached the temple, their gaze fixed upon the towering edifice before them.


    Each held their breath, their anticipation mounting as they drew nearer to the temple. The sheer grandeur of the structure was overwhelming, filling them with awe and wonder. With every step, they could feel an ancient, powerful energy rushing towards them. It was a sight that made their hearts tremble, as if they were mere ants standing before a dragon. Even Wu Yuan couldn''t help but be taken aback.


    <i>Comparing it to the ck pagoda I saw years ago, this temple is truly majestic, a work of immortals and devils. </i>


    Not even the ten-kilometer-long interster cargo ship he had seen in the past had elicited such a reaction from him. And yet, Wu Yuan��s sixth sense told him that the ck pagoda was more mysterious, and was a higher level of existence than this temple.


    The group of seven individuals came to a halt a few hundred meters away from the temple, their eyes scanning the surroundings.


    ��Jin Qing and the others are nowhere to be found,�� Tie Tuo voiced. ��We��ve yet to see any signs of them the entire way here.


    ��Perhaps they intentionally covered their tracks. After all, for a Grandmaster, leaving no traces behind isn��t a difficult feat.�� Song Guang suggested. ��At this moment, I believe Jin Qing and his team are likely already inside the temple.


    ��This temple has quite a few doors,�� Song Guang pointed to the distant temple.


    Everyone began contemting their next move.


    Rising over 500 meters high and spanning a width of nearly twenty kilometers, the bronze behemoth was closer to a colossal wall than a temple. At the base of the temple were hundreds of doors, each one around 150 meters apart, stretching endlessly in every direction.


    Li Yan broke the silence. ��Judging by the distance, we have reached the center of the Eldritch Realm, and this should be none other than the Eldritch Chamber. With no further clues from the mysterious voice, we are left with no choice but to venture inside if we wish to im the treasure that awaits us.��


    "Now, the time hase to decide," Li Yan dered. "Shall we all enter the same door? Or shall each of us choose a separate door?"


    His gaze surveyed the crowd until it settled on Wu Yuan. "Brother Shadow de, this time I opt to go alone."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    No one knew what secretsy within the temple. It should be noted that the doors were not particrlyrge, standing only twenty meters tall. However, once inside, darkness consumed everything. None knew where each door led to.


    Venturing alone was far riskier, but no one was willing to share a treasure they had obtained.


    "I, too, choose to go alone," stated Song Guang.


    "Let us split up!��


    ��Considering the number of doors, the odds of encountering an expert from Great Jin are rtively slim.�� Each individual made their choice.


    An opportunity had presented itself, and everyone yearned to seize it.


    "Shadow de, it would undoubtedly be safer if I follow you. But if I were to select a different door, our sect''s chances of acquiring valuable treasures would rise substantially," Bu Yu spoke to Wu Yuan, cautious enough to refrain from using his true name. ��Besides, if I do encounter danger, I won''t weigh you down."


    "Take care," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "You too."


    Finally, with a tacit understanding, the seven Grandmasters went through separate doors.


    Song Guang boldly stepped in first, swiftly swallowed by the enveloping darkness. Bu Yu followed suit. Eventually, only Wu Yuan remained, standing before the massive temple.


    He meticulously studied every door, his gaze lingering on each one in search of any clues, but there was nothing. As each Grandmaster entered, no sound could be heard from them as if the darkness had consumed them entirely.


    <i>Let''s go in. </i>Wu Yuan made up his mind. With closed eyes, he reached out and selected a door at random. Stepping through it with confident strides, he suddenly found himself submerged in an abyss of darkness, devoid of any guiding light. Doubt crept into his mind, causing him to hesitate.


    Then, a low hum resonated through the air, an invisible ripple passing him by. Surprise flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes. But before he could even contemte fleeing, space warped, and his body disappeared from its original location.


    ...


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan��s vision was blurry as dizziness washed over him. It reminded him of the sensation he experienced when he first entered the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. As the surrounding scene solidified, he felt the firm ground beneath his feet.


    <i>This? </i>His pupils contracted in astonishment as he beheld a towering temple before him. It reached an impressive height of 100 zhangs and its length and width were several hundred zhangs.


    Every surface of the temple, from its walls to its floor, was crafted in gleaming bronze. Gargantuan jade tforms reced conventional seats, appearing more suitable for giants than ordinary humans.


    Suddenly, an indifferent voice, ancient and indistinct, echoed throughout the vast temple. "Finally, after 100,000 years, you have arrived."


    1. yea Feng Xian (the author) suddenly went ��� ?? ?

 Chapter 183: Dao Debate (1)

    <h4>Chapter 183: Dao Debate (1)</h4>


    ��100,000 years? Who are you?" Wu Yuan''s mind reeled, his eyes darting around the majestic hall before him, his mind on high alert.


    This bronze temple was honestly aplete enigma to him, and the abilities of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm defied allmon sense! Whether it was the sheer size of this realm, the redsoil assassins, tree demons, or other supernatural entities, it all served to showcase the mind-boggling capabilities of its owner.


    Apart from true immortals and devils, Wu Yuan couldn��t think of anyone else capable of such feats.


    And now, they imed they��d been waiting for 100,000 years? It sounded utterly preposterous!


    <i>No one��s there? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze scoured the towering,pletely enclosed hall, but failed to find the source of the voice.


    Suddenly, a multitude of vibrant hues materialized in the air, swiftly coalescing at the center of the hall to form a phantom throne, towering several meters high and nearly ten meters wide.


    The ethereal throne gradually unveiled a phantom form seated upon it, emanating a chilling aura that caused Wu Yuan to freeze.


    <i>This is... a holographic projection?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted.


    A virtual giant loomed before him, towering over ten meters in height, adorned in finely crafted ck metal armor that exuded an air of grandeur, leaving only his head and palms exposed. With each resounding step of his metallic boot in the air, Wu Yuan felt as if his heart was being crushed beneath his feet, rattling him to the core.


    <i>What is he? Even a Heavenly Ranker would be no match for him. An ancient qi refiner?</i> Wu Yuan found it difficult to breathe, and thepulsion to kneel and surrender nearly overwhelmed him. This wasn��t because Wu Yuan possessed a feeble will, but rather due to the insurmountable disparity between them �C that between a lower-order existence encountering a higher-order being. It was unfathomably terrifying!


    It was important to note that this ck armored giant was not present in the flesh, but rather a mere projection! Logically speaking, it should not possess such a formidable aura.


    <i>I must remain vignt and exercise utmost caution! </i>Wu Yuan reigned in his soul sense, exerting every ounce of his willpower to suppress the surging fear and inclination to kneel. He looked down, refusing to meet the piercing gaze of the giant.


    "Junior Wu Yuan greets Senior!" Suppressing the urge to act on his instincts, he just managed to bow before the towering figure d in ck armor. An inkling arose within him, linking the voice he had just heard to this ck armored giant.


    "Haha!" The giant in ck armor erupted into boomingughter that shook the ground.


    "Indeed, you are the one for whom I have waited for 100,000 years. The fact that you possess such indomitable will at the mere age of seventeen and can resist the weight of my aura is truly impressive." His voice echoed throughout the temple.


    <i>Seventeen? </i>Wu Yuan knew that his strong will was a culmination of his previous lifetime��s experiences along with his current one. However, he couldn''t exactly say it.


    "Wu Yuan, raise your head," the ck armored giantmanded.


    Wu Yuanplied obediently, and in an instant, he noticed that the immense aura previously emanating from the giant had vanished, leaving no trace.


    Observing the ck-armor giant once more, it appeared to be a mere projection, imposing only due to its sheer size, butcking genuine strength.


    Wu Yuan was just about to speak when the ck armored giant interjected, "You need not say anything; simply listen to my words." Though ethereal in nature, his voice resonated through the hall.


    Wu Yuan had no choice but to remain silent and listen intently.


    "I am aware that your mind is filled with questions. I shall answer them one by one," the ck armored giant spoke slowly. "The Fourth Eldritch Realm is a world created by a powerful eldritch called Hou Feng. It may be considered a grotto-heaven in a loose sense. Its primary purpose is to select suitable mortals to learn the teachings of eldritch cultivation, who will then go on to be new eldritch cultivators of the Hou Feng Tribe."


    <i>Eldritch, Hou Feng, grotto-heaven, new eldritch cultivators?</i> Wu Yuan blinked, grappling with these unfamiliar terms.


    Soon, he began to grasp a vague idea of what was going on. So, the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, or rather, this Fourth Eldritch Realm, served as a training base for new eldritches?


    "The Fourth Eldritch Realm was established over 100,000 years ago and has witnessed the rise of numerous mighty eldritches," the ck-armored giant stated calmly. "As for me, I am the spirit of this realm, known as the realm master."


    More than 100,000 years? Wu Yuan did a double take. Whether in his previous life or this one, the concept of such an immense span of time was beyond hisprehension. In his previous life on the Blue, civilizations only endured for 5000-6000 years. Even in this life, where the Martial King had divided the world into thirteen continents, it had only been a little over three thousand years since the inception of human civilization.


    ��Greetings, Realm Master,�� Wu Yuan respectfully changed the way he addressed the figure before him. From the title alone, one could deduce that the mysterious individual controlling the Fourth Eldritch Realm all this time was none other than this ck-armored giant.


    "I''m sure you''re curious. Who is Hou Feng, what are eldritches, and what tribe? After 100,000 years, they have all vanished from history." A faint smile yed on the lips of the ck-armored giant. "You may also be wondering why I still remain here."


    Wu Yuan nodded. In the external world, eldritches, immortals, and devils had be extinct. Could it be that the realm master had lived over 100,000 years?


    "I am not a living being," the ck armored giant said, his tone indifferent. "I am a spirit, created by Eldritch Hou Feng. Though I possess intelligence and the ability to think, I am bound by my limitations and cannot break free like a true living creature."


    ��Spirit?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback by this revtion.


    It seemed simr to the concept of the ideal artificial intelligence that countless scientists in his previous life had attempted to create. Unfortunately, even before his transmigration, the Human Federation had yet to ovee this hurdle.


    "When the Fourth Eldritch Realm was first established, it yed a crucial role for the Hou Feng Tribe," the ck-armored giant sighed. "Unfortunately, about 100,000 years ago, a war of unprecedented scale erupted in the Greenridge Macrocosm!"


    "The war swept through more than half of the macrocosm, with numerous ancient existences making their appearances. Countless qi refiners, eldritches, devils, and demons perished, and I believe the flourishing cultivation civilization suffered a heavy blow."


    "During the great war, the Hou Feng Tribe was wiped out. At that time, I left the Greenridge Macrocosm, descending to the Summerpeak World. As a result, I am unaware of the final oue of the war." The armored giant''s voice carried a note of sorrow. "However, judging by the destruction that has befallen more than half of the Summerpeak World, I assume that the ending was far from pleasant."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but shudder. The Greenridge Macrocosm? The Summerpeak World? Was that how ancient qi refiners and eldritches referred to the world of the Middle Land?


    "The Summerpeak World is indeed the world you are currently living in," the armored giant confirmed. "However, while it may pale inparison to the Greenridge Macrocosm, it is still a vast expanse for mortal beings. The Middle Land you inhabit is but a mere fraction of the Summerpeak World."


    "The Middle Land is just a small part of the entire Summerpeak World?" Wu Yuan couldn��t hide his astonishment.


    He recalled that one had to travel 100,000 li southeast to reach the Xin Continent. But how big was the Xin Continent? Whaty beyond the Xin Continent? Was it the very edge of the world? These questions remained unanswered.


    The armored giant''s voice softened as he spoke, "I can only sense what happens within a few hundred li radius of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, and my knowledge of the Summerpeak World is limited. I am afraid I cannot provide you with further information."


    It continued, "As for the information I know, it probably wouldn''t be much use to you at this point. Around 100,000 years ago, a cataclysmic battle in the Greenridge Macrocosm wreaked havoc on various dimensional nes, severely damaging the entire Summerpeak World. The area where your Middle Land now stands was left in ruins, with nearly all life forms eradicated."


    "It is only in the past few thousand years, as the universalws slowly mended the world and it regained its vitality, that some qi refiners emerged and prosperity gradually returned," the armored giant borated calmly.


    Realization dawned on Wu Yuan. The reason why the Middle Land had a history of just 3000 years and contained countless immortal relics whilecking any traces of the previous qi refiners was now clear to him. It appeared that the qi refining civilization in the world of the Middle Land had been decimated by the devastating war 100,000 years ago.


    This realization sent shivers down Wu Yuan''s spine. Just the residual aftershocks of the war were enough to devastate the vast Summerpeak World. The sheer scale and power of those beings who actually fought in the great war itself was unimaginable. Was this the might of the immortals and devils?


    "It was a close call," the armored giant revealed with a sigh. "Despite the annihtion of the Hou Feng Tribe, I have always adhered to their primary directive �C to raise new eldritches."


    "After my descent here, I endured the world''s spiritual qi upheaval twice, slowly restored the Fourth Eldritch Realm, then went into hibernation."


    "And so, I have patiently waited. Tens of thousands of years ago, humanity repopted the Middle Land. A few thousand years ago, martial arts finally resurfaced."


    "These few thousand years, I made countless attempts to search for potential candidates to join the ranks of eldritch cultivators, such as directly recruiting individuals within my perception range to enter the Fourth Eldritch Realm, or inciting fiercepetition among different factions by distributing artifacts, all in the hopes that talented individuals would enter the realm."


    "s, not one caught my attention. The Summerpeak World is but a worldlet, and no qi refiners were born for a long time. The bloodlines of Middle Land''s creatures have deteriorated, far inferior to those of the macrocosms. To truly nurture a genuine eldritch proves exceedingly challenging." The armored giant seemed lost in his memories.


    Wu Yuan stood stupefied. Heavens! Even without any training, the humans of the Middle Land could effortlessly exert a force of several thousand catties once they reached adulthood. And this was considered a deteriorated bloodline? How formidable must the creatures from the macrocosms be?


    "If I had enough time, I would wait patiently until the Summerpeak World regained its former glory, when countless qi refiners and martial artists thrived. Then, I would have a wider selection pool to choose from for nurturing new eldritches."


    "Sadly, time is not on my side. But fortunately, Wu Yuan, you arrived!" The armored giant''s gazended on Wu Yuan, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. "Perhaps the heavens have taken pity on me, gifting the Middle Land with a prodigious talent like yourself!"


    ��Your aptitude may not surpass that of some elite, ground-breaking prodigies in the Greenridge Macrocosm, but it is still above average." The armored giant said sincerely, "Even during the prime of the Summerpeak World, it would likely take several decades, if not a century, for a talent like you to emerge."


    "I am running out of time. You are my best choice."


    Wu Yuan��s heart thumped. His talent was only above average? He couldn''t help but wonder about the countless cultivation prodigies that once lived during the prime of the Summerpeak World. As for the Greenridge Macrocosm, it surely surpassed the Summerpeak World by who knew how many times. It was only normal that there were prodigies with greater talent and strength than him.


    "This is your talent evaluation," the ck armored giant announced. As he pointed, a myriad of glowing particles converged.


    Wu Yuan looked over.


    <i>Age: seventeen.</i>


    <i>Soul level: Soul Perception</i>


    <i>Soul talent: average first-ss.</i>


    <i>Qi refining talent initial assessment: lower first-ss.</i>


    <i>Body refining talent: exceptional.</i>


    Wu Yuan felt slightly confused, and he turned toward the ck-armored giant. Though he could read the words individually, he couldn��t understand what they meant as a whole.


    "Realm Master, what does Soul Perception of soul level mean?" Wu Yuan asked.

 Chapter 184: Dao Debate (2)

    <h4>Chapter 184: Dao Debate (2)</h4>


    "You wille to understand all this information in due time. However, there''s no harm in telling you now," the ck-armored giant replied, his words measured. "Soul strength is ssified into eight levels. From weak to strong: Yin Soul, Settled Soul, Conscious Soul, Soul Perception, Yang Soul, Soul Will, Yuan Soul, and Divided Soul!"


    "Yin Soul refers to the soul level of ordinary individuals. At its apex, it can linger in the world after the body��s death. Some individuals, consumed by immense resentment, might transform into vengeful spirits if they perish during the utmost Yin hour, in extremely Yin locations. This is essentially caused by a Yin Soul which refuses to disperse!"


    "The Settled Soul level can be achieved by most first-grade martial artists in the Middle Land. Those who reach this level are just barely able to perform Internal Vision," the ck-armored giant continued.


    "At the Conscious Soul level, one can perceive the inner workings of their organs and meridians with rity. You can invoke fear in others with a mere nce. With the right techniques, you can even manipte certain qi refining equipment. To be a qi refiner, you must reach the peak of the Conscious Soul level."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. This Conscious Soul level probably referred to the ability to control objects via telekinesis, albeit to a small extent.


    "You are currently at the Soul Perception level," the ck-armored giant stated, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "At this level, you possess the ability to multitask. Your Soul Force and soul sense are also greatly enhanced. Yourprehension of the profoundness of heaven and earth will also deepen. You can wield powerful weapons, and remotely control objects to eliminate enemies hundreds of meters away. Typically, only Golden Core qi refiners are able to reach this soul level."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "But the speed at which the object moves iscking. Even Savant experts could easily evade my attacks, let alone qi refiners," Wu Yuan confessed.


    "Naive!" the ck armored giant scoffed. "You truly believe that all qi refiners are foolish enough to manually control objects with their Soul Force alone? Such a method would consume an astronomical amount of energy," the giant shook his head disapprovingly. "By infusing essentia into spirit equipment or artifacts, then executing techniques, you can significantly amplify their power!"


    "Even ordinary people know how to utilize equipment. Are you telling me you don��t? The soul serves as the foundation, just as the body needs to be tempered to develop strength. Do you enter a battle unarmed? You must forge weapons and armor and learn martial skills," he exined.


    "Spirit equipment, artifacts, and techniques are all ''tools��. The stronger your soul and essentia, and the better the tools you wield, the more your strength can be magnified, perhaps ten times, or even 100 times." the ck armored giant elucidated.


    These words triggered a sudden realization in Wu Yuan.


    He was right! Controlling an object to eliminate enemies was akin to felling arge tree. Attempting to do so with bare hands would require an immense amount of strength. However, if one wielded an axe, the required strength was reduced by more than tenfold. One��s soul strength was undeniably important, but techniques and spirit equipment were equally crucial. Whenbined, they allowed one to unleash formidable power.


    "Above Soul Perception is Yang Soul. At this level, your telekinesis abilities are enhanced, and you can even project thoughts into the minds of weaker beings, invading their souls. However, it is important to note that invasion is the extent of your influence; you cannot rece them," the ck-armored giant borated. "Those who reach this level are often referred to as Amethyst Cradle Reverands. In the Greenridge Macrocosm, they can rule over regions, and during the prime of the Summerpeak World, they were the top powerhouses."


    Yang Soul? Amethyst Cradle Reverands? Wu Yuan listened intently, making mental notes of this newfound information.


    "I have limited knowledge of the higher levels, such as Soul Will, Yuan Soul, Divided Soul, etc. They belong to the level of immortals and devils," the ck armored giant solemnly dered.


    "Do not aim too high. Your soul talent is remarkable, having reached the Soul Perception level even before bing a qi refiner. However, soul progression is akin to cultivating martial arts. It advances rapidly at the initial stages, but reaching the Yang Soul stage may take countless years," the giant warned.


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly, his thoughts swirling. Soul talent? Unbeknownst to others, the rapid growth of his soul was primarily attributed to his Visualization of the ck pagoda.


    ��In macrocosms, talent is typically assessed based on various factors such as age, physical constitution, and lower and middle dantian lobes. The evaluation categorizes talent into three major sses: first-ss, second-ss, and third-ss, each with three sub-sses: lower, average, upper, totaling nine talent grades.�� The ck armored giant exined.


    ��Your soul talent and qi refining talent are first-ss, which is not bad. In the Greenridge Macrocosm, you stand a high chance of being recruited intorge sects and families. Hehe, it''s my good fortune that I was able to find you in the ruins of the Summerpeak World. Of course, it''s also your good fortune that you entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm. It appears our meeting is fated,�� the ck armored giant stated.


    Good fortune?


    ��Realm Master, is talent the only criteria evaluated? Are other aspects not assessed?�� Wu Yuan asked.


    The Cloudstride Sect considered talent, willpower, intellect, and many other factors when they recruited disciples.


    ��Other aspects?�� The ck armored giant chuckled. ��Ordinary people would have to pass through multiple stages to even get a chance to meet me, and even then, I might not bestow them the cultivation inheritance. However, in your case, I��ve already assessed your practical martial skills via the redsoil assassins.��


    ��Considering the fact that you could reach this cultivation level at seventeen years old in the Summerpeak World, I imagine you must have practiced arduously. However, your talent is still the key factor. I��ve waited 100,000 years for someone like you to show up. Even if I wait another 100,000 years, there��s no guarantee that someone with greater talent will show up. Therefore, I see no need for additional tests.


    "Diligence is important. But sometimes, hard work simply cannot match up to raw talent.�� The armored giant said, ��If one wants to be an Archeldritch or Archimmortal, one must possess abination of talent, unwavering perseverance, luck, and many other virtues."


    "All I ask of you is to attain the Shambh phase. Even if youck in other areas, your talent is sufficient topensate for any shorings."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback, yet he had to admit that the rtive importance of hard work versus natural talent remained unclear. After all, those who truly stood at the pinnacle often possessed abundant talent, relentless diligence, and fortuitous encounters.


    "Realm Master, you mentioned the Shambh phase and the Golden Core phase. What are these phases?" asked Wu Yuan, his curiosity piqued.


    "Ah, it seems your sect is rather average, given that they are unaware of this information. Over 100 qi refiners have emerged over the past few millennia in the Middle Land. Do you not have a single qi refiner in your sect?" the ck-armored giant sounded a little surprised. "However, this only goes to prove your dedication and perseverance."


    More than 100 qi refiners? Wu Yuan was astounded. In other words, since the Martial King divided the world into thirteen continents, over 100 individuals had entered the Heavenly Rankings?


    "Heaven and earth is boundless, consisting of countless realms. Cultivation systems abound, including the Golden Core path, eldritch cultivation, eldritch body, demonic divine path, devil path, blood devil path, and countless others, each with their own intricacies and ever-changing nuances," exined the ck armored giant. "However, stripping away all external differences and delving into the essence, there are only two fundamental types: qi refining and body refining."


    Qi refining? Body refining?


    "Those you refer to as first-grade martial artists have essentially reached the pinnacle of their body tempering phase," the ck-armored giant borated. "At this stage, the lower dantian lobe bes exceptionally robust. Then, if the spiritual qi and soul unite to open the qi sea dantian and unlock the middle dantian lobe, one can naturally generate high-grade energy refined from spiritual qi��essentia!"


    "This phase is known as the Qi Sea phase. Reaching this phase signifies the initiation of qi refining, and earns one the title of qi refiner, what you might refer to as Heavenly Rankers."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened,prehension dawning on him. Finally, the path of transcendence became clear. So Heavenly Rankers are basically qi refiners at the Qi Sea phase.


    "At the Qi Sea phase, one has a lifespan of 500 years. The phase is divided into nine stages." stated the armored giant. "Qi Sea cultivators can soar through the skies, y their enemies by controlling swords or artifacts, and manipte spiritual qi to perform wondrous feats."


    "Spirit equipment, what you call first-grade divine equipment, can only be properly wielded by those who have reached the Qi Sea phase. Typically, a qi refiner can effortlessly overpower an ordinary martial artist, be it in closebat or from a distance," the armored giant stated with a faint smile.


    "However, nothing is absolute. Take you for example. When you reach your body��s human limit, defeating a qi refiner of higher phase is not an insurmountable challenge!" he chuckled.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Defeat a Heavenly Ranker?


    "It��s not abnormal. In terms of skill level, you are no weaker than them, both harnessing heaven and earth��s power," the ck-armored giant said. "Regr first-grade martial artists would be killed in an instant, as their human limits are extremely weak due to their weakened bloodline.��


    ��But you, Wu Yuan, are different. You already possess a strength exceeding 200,000 catties. After undergoing Marrow Cleansing and Blood Transfusion, when your inner organs reach their limit, your attacks will hold unimaginable might."


    "Essentia has its limits. Qi refiners at the Qi Sea phase, particrly those in the initial three stages, mostly fight in closebat. With essentiabined with their physical strength, they can only muster a force of about two million catties. By that time, your punch can also unleash millions of catties of force."


    "Dispatching weaker qi refiners will not be a difficult task for you," the ck-armored giantughed. "And if they opt to control objects via telekinesis? Relying solely on the power of essentia, a spirit weapon can only travel a limited distance of several dozen zhangs from their body. With a single leap, you can cross 500 meters. Where can they hide? With strong vital qi strengthening your mind andmand over spiritual qi, those weaker spirit weapons may not even be able to approach you."


    "The only issue is that qi refiners can fly, evading your pursuit. But as long as you grow strong enough, a bow and arrow would suffice to dispatch those qi refiners who cannot dodge in time," the ck armored giant uttered confidently.


    He had encountered numerous qi refiners over countless years, and had a deep understanding of the Qi Sea phase.


    Wu Yuan swiftly realized that this aligned with his previous conjectures. They appeared to be the same cultivation phase on the surface, yet different foundation levels could yield vastly different strengths.


    "Of course, this pertains solely to dealing with weaker qi refiners. For those who have reached the fourth stage of the Qi Sea phase and beyond, their essentia is greatly augmented. You must exercise caution when dealing with them," the ck-armored giant continued, "However, with your talent, once you reach your human limit, I predict you will soon be a genuine eldritch cultivator. At that juncture, it won��t be inconceivable for you to rival qi refiners at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase."


    As the ck-armored giant chuckled, a deep and rumbling sound echoed through the air. "At least, for the Qi Sea cultivators hailing from the wild and untamed territories of the Middle Land, defeating them won''t pose much of a challenge!"


    Eldritch cultivator? Wu Yuan''s excitement swelled within him. It was evident that the realm master possessedplete mastery over an entire eldritch cultivation system.


    "Qi refining and body refining is, at its core, a philosophical debate of the Dao," the giant exined. [1]


    "Qi refiners hold the belief that heaven and earth knows no bounds. They open their middle dantian lobes, drawing in the boundless spiritual qi of heaven and earth, and wield control over its power. With a mere thought, they can vanquish foes in worlds beyond, and with a single technique, they can obliterate an entire world. Eventually, they transcend their mortal forms, ascending to be beings who eternally dwell within the vast cosmos," the ck-armored giant uttered softly.


    "But the body refiners beg to differ. They hold the conviction that the physical body is unique in heaven and earth. The so-called limitations of the human body are nothing more than the restrictions imposed by the lower dantian lobe upon mortals. By merging soul and body, body refiners unlock a myriad of unimaginable powers within their physical forms. They care little for artifacts, as their bodies serve as their most formidable artifact," the giant said.


    "They have little use for the arcane arts, because they can shatter allws with a single punch!"


    1. The various cultivation systems or paths can also be considered Daos. However, I would like to differentiate them from the Daos which refer to the workings andws of heaven and earth, such as the elements. Hence, I will not refer to them as Daos, but they are still inherently part of the Dao as a whole. ?

 Chapter 185: Shambhala Phase, 10,000 Year Lifespan (1)

    Chapter 185: Shambh Phase, 10,000 Year Lifespan (1)


    That strong? Wu Yuan was startled. Up until now, his knowledge of qi refiners had been that the spiritual qi was a higher-order power and possessed greater flexibilitypared to physical strength.


    But now, it seemed that in the worlds beyond, there also existed a group known as body refiners, dedicated to cultivating their physical bodies. It was a path more closely aligned with martial artists, where the body itself became the ultimate weapon. No reliance on artifacts, no need for arcane artssimply a single punch capable of shattering allws. The mere mention of it ignited a fire within him.


    "Do you understand the might of body refiners?" the ck armored giant questioned as he looked down.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "The path of a body refiner is one fraught with hardship. The ck-armored giant shook its head. The concept of the human body as a miniature word, creating its own cyclesdo you trulyprehend the immense challenge it presents to refine one''s body to rival the real world?"


    "The path of body refining is a treacherous one. And the stronger a body refiner bes, the more they will find themselves rejected by heaven and earth itself, making it increasingly difficult to progress."


    "Heaven and earth rejects them?" Wu Yuan couldn''t hide his surprise.


    He had trouble wrapping his head around such a concept. However, Wu Yuan had only recently stepped into the Unity level, still struggling to harness 200,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. His understanding of the intricate workings of heaven and earth was but surface-level knowledge. Engaging in a conversation on such matters, he couldn''t help but feel utterly clueless.


    "That was the beginning of the great Dao debate, a battle that has raged through the eons in the Greenridge Macrocosm," the ck-armored giant remarked, settling himself on his magnificent throne. "But these concerns need not burden you at this stage. Focus on reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase before contemting such matters."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Indeed, what did he know of Dao debates, qi refining, and body refining?


    In his present world, within the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, the majority of qi refiners were Qi Sea cultivators. If Wu Yuan could truly be an eldritch cultivator, he would be able to dominate the world. As for the even more distant future? That could wait.


    The ck-armored giant chuckled, looking down at Wu Yuan. "You inquired about the Golden Core phase. As one progresses through the nine stages of the Qi Sea phase, one will expand the qi sea andpress essentia. Once the qi sea reaches a certain size, one can step into the second phase of a qi refiner. This is the Golden Core phase."


    "In the Greenridge Macrocosm, Qi Sea practitioners are asmon as cow hair. However, once one reaches the Golden Core phase, one is addressed as Superior, and is granted a level of respect. At this phase, as long as you do not provoke any formidable figures, you can live your life freely without trouble. The Golden Core phase is also divided into nine stages, and cultivators at this phase have a lifespan of 1000 years!" the ck-armored giant dered.


    <em>Golden Core Superior? A thousand-year lifespan?</em>


    Indeed, the saying that qi refiners scarcely feared old age was fitting. Once one stepped into the Golden Core phase, their lifespan extended to a thousand years.


    Various factions in the Middle Land have produced qi refiners. Are there any Golden Core Superiors? Hard to say! After all, I cannot survey the entire Middle Land," the ck-armored giant shook his head. "But even if there are, I believe there are only one or two. Moreover, their ambitions are likely to extend beyond the Middle Land."


    "For Golden Core Superiors, the Middle Land is minuscule. They have surpassed the Qi Sea phase entirely, and their strength cannot be quantified in catties."


    "A single arcane art of a Golden Core Superior can set mountains aze and boil the sea. It is not umon for them to traverse 100,000 li in a day, wandering between worlds, exuding a tiny fraction of resemnce to immortals and devils." The ck-armored giant exined, "In short, if a Golden Core Superior wishes to unify the entire Middle Land, it should be a trivial task."


    Wu Yuan was astounded. They were truly that formidable? It seemed that ordinary Qi Sea phase qi refiners could not hope to battle Golden Core Superiors.


    "When one reaches the ninth stage of the Golden Core phase, it signifies that the spiritual qi within their body has reached the limit of its purity. Further progress allows the development of an Amethyst Cradle in their Qi Sea."


    "The Amethyst Cradle is not an internal world, but rather a source that shatters the final barrier between the individual and heaven and earth through the meridian cirction system. Amethyst symbolizes heaven and earth, and qi refiners make heaven and earth their abode. Their minds can freely traverse through heaven and earth, and their lifespan will be greatly extended to 3000 years," the ck-armored giant sighed. "At this phase, for qi refiners, they are but a step away from shedding mortal limitations. They can be referred to as Reverands."


    Qi Sea practitioners had a lifespan of 500 years. Golden Core practitioners had a lifespan of 1000 years, and were addressed as Superiors. Amethyst Cradle practitioners had a lifespan of 3000 years, and were addressed as Reverands. Wu Yuan silently summarized what he had learned.


    "Amethyst Cradle Reverands, in the eyes of mortal martial artists, are no different from true immortals and devils. They are able to manipte space and are the ones who create the storage artifacts you use," the ck-armored giant exined. "Before that great war 100,000 years ago, Amethyst Cradle Reverands represented the pinnacle of strength within the Summerpeak World."


    "In the eyes of an Amethyst Cradle Reverand, annihting the Middle Land is a trivial task, merely requiring them to cast a few arcane arts. The Summerpeak World has yet topletely recover from the effects of the great war. Im not sure if any Amethyst Cradle Reverands still exist in the Summerpeak World."


    "Among the numerous immortal continents within the Greenridge Macrocosm, Amethyst Cradle Reverands are significant existences. They are highly sought after byrge sects and families," chuckled the giant. "They possess the capability to govern vast territories and rule over billions of subjects."


    "Even in a world like Summerpeak, if one reaches the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase and influences the heart of the world, they can ignite Faith Incense and propagate their Faith. To mortals, an Amethyst Cradle Reverand is indistinguishable from a true immortal. Typically, in a world like this, the emergence of a single Amethyst Cradle Reverand is a rare urrence.


    Wu Yuan listened intently. He grasped the general notion that Amethyst Cradle Reverands were powerful qi refiners that held a position of dominance during the prime of the Summerpeak World.


    As for the meaning behind Faith Incense or heart of the world? He couldn''t quite understand, but refrained from rifying his doubts for now.


    "Wu Yuan, with your talent, if you had never met me, it would have taken you hundreds of years for you to potentially be a Golden Core Superior," murmured the ck-armored titan. "As for bing an Amethyst Cradle Reverand without guidance? Its nearly impossible!"


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. He instinctivelyprehended how difficult it was. A few arcane arts were capable of obliterating the thirteen continents of the Middle Land?


    The power wielded by an Amethyst Cradle Reverand was truly inconceivable.


    "The Qi Sea, Golden Core, and Amethyst Cradle phases delineate the path of a qi refiner," the ck-armored titan spoke somberly. "But this is not the path of an eldritch warrior. Nor is it the path I am preparing for you."


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback. The path of an eldritch warrior? Merely moments ago, he regarded eldritch cultivation as a distinct niche within the path of qi refining, akin to the difference between a saber and a sword. However, it appeared that things were not as he initially imagined.


    <em>Eldritch warriors, are they body refiners?</em><blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For your reference: (turn phone horizontally)


    <strong>Cultivation Phases</strong>


    cont. (Quasi-Heavenly Ranker)


    <strong>Phases</strong>


    <strong>Title/other names</strong>


    <strong>Lifespan (years)</strong>


    <strong>Description</strong>


    Qi Refiner (sword, array, alchemy, eldritch mage sses)


    Qi Sea


    Heavenly Ranker,nd deity


    soul+spiritual qi to open middle dantian lobe


    Golden Core


    Superior


    Amethyst Cradle


    Reverand


    shed physical form to advance


    Void Refiner


    Eminence


    Divided Soul


    Earth Immortal (pseudo-immortal)


    Tribtion


    High Immortal (pseudo-immortal)


    Archimmortal


    Heavenly Immortal


    Body Refiner (eldritch warrior, demonic, blood devil body paths)


    Communion


    Heavenly Ranker,nd deity


    soul+flesh (vital qi) to open lower dantian lobe


    Spiritual Body


    Superior


    Shambh


    Reverand


    10,000


    Elysian Field


    Eminence


    Dharma Body


    Earth XX (pseudo-immortal)


    Universe Architect


    High XX (pseudo-immortal)


    Archeldritch, Archdemon etc.


    Heavenly XX</blockquote>

 Chapter 186: Shambhala Phase, 10,000 Year Lifespan (2)

    Chapter 186: Shambh Phase, 10,000 Year Lifespan (2)


    ording to the giant, there were two distinct paths to transcendence.


    You find it strange?" The towering figure d in ck armor peered down at Wu Yuan, a smile ying on his lips. "Do you know what an eldritch is?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head. "Junior is ignorant on this matter."


    The ck-armored titan spoke softly. "In the tumultuous era of the creation of heaven and earth, where chaos reigned, ancient deities shed and devils ran rampant, humanity was mere prey, struggling to survive. However, there arose a group of exceptional humans who brandished primal weapons, treading upon the earth with unwavering determination as they waged war against the devils. They carved paths and cultivatednds, establishing a sanctuary for humanity."


    "Their relentless pursuit of knowledge allowed them tomune with the essence of heaven and earth, bringing prosperity to all of humanity. They defied heaven and the earth,pelling the ancient deities and devils to retreat, and even forcing primordial Demonic Deities and Devil Monarchs to their knees."


    "In the end, all the races of the myriad worlds submitted, and humanity became the leader of all beings," the giant spoke slowly. "They are called  eldritch."


    "The eldritches are those who never kneel, who stand tall and indomitable. They are the ones who possess an intimate connection with heaven and earth,prehending its every facet. The eldritch, apart from the ancient deities and devils, are the earliest cultivators, their power and antiquity tracing back to the dawn of time."


    Wu Yuan was utterly captivated. The word eldritch held a profound significance indeed!


    "There are two types of eldritch cultivators: eldritch mages and eldritch warriors," the ck-armored titan elucidated. "However, with the passage of time, many ancient mythological tales have been forgotten. The rise of immortal cultivation has caused a gradual decline in eldritch cultivation. Nevertheless, it remains an immensely powerful and enduring cultivation system."


    "The eldritch warriors, inspired by the cultivation methods of ancient deities and devils, ultimately created aprehensive system of their own. Many body refiners, both human and demon, can trace their roots back to the eldritch warriors or simplified versions of their practices," the giant exined, his voice growing softer. "Bing a body refiner is within the grasp of most. Any first-grade martial artist who practices any inferior body cultivation method can be one. However, progressing to future phases also bes increasingly challenging, often leading to insurmountable obstacles."


    "Only a peerless genius can be an eldritch warrior. To put it simply, an eldritch warrior is the most powerful and perfect body cultivator," said the ck-armored titan indifferently, "It is also the core cultivation heritage of my Fourth Eldritch Realm."


    A peerless genius?


    The ck-armored giant sighed. "Your talent evaluation reveals that your soul talent and qi refining talent are merely above average. However, your body refining talent is exceptional! Should you choose to forsake the path of an eldritch and instead cultivate as a qi refiner, you would be squandering your immense potential."


    "If you choose the path of qi refining, you might be apetent qi refiner. However, if you be an eldritch cultivator, you will be a top-tier body refiner. With enough hard work and opportunities, you could even reach the point where a single punch of yours shatters allws." The giants words carried a weighty seriousness.


    Wu Yuan understood what it meant now. The core of the Fourth Eldritch Realm''s inheritancey in the eldritch warrior cultivation method, a path designed specifically for body refiners.


    But despite the ck-armored giant''s grandiose ims, Wu Yuan couldn''t shake off his doubts. Were the giant''s words truly reliable? If eldritch cultivation was that incredible, why did it fall into decline? Why did the immortal cultivation path of qi refining be the trend? These questions swirled incessantly in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Realm Master, how does one be an eldritch warrior?" Wu Yuan asked. "Qi refining revolves around the fusion of the soul and qi, while body refining revolves around the fusion of the soul and flesh. Aren''t they fundamentally different?"


    "Indeed!" The ck-armored giant affirmed. "For qi refiners, as long as they reach the necessary phase and possess sufficient soul strength, they can open their qi sea. However, the degree of their immortal root may vary. But the path to bing an eldritch warrior deviates from this."


    "The first obstacle of bing an eldritch lies within the physical body. The human body must be capable of wielding a punch strength of 600,000 catties with a single arm. This is the minimum requirement, and the higher the better," the ck-armored giant exined. "Simultaneously, the demands on ones soul are exceedingly high. It must reach the Soul Perception level at least."


    "Furthermore, one must integrate a unique eldritch treasure into their body. The strength of this treasure determines the strength of ones initial eldritch tattoos the term for immortal root unique to eldritches!"


    "This eldritch treasure is not a natural treasure. Calling it that is an insult. An eldritch treasure is a thousand times, no, a million times more valuable than a Redwood Spirit Fruit or Purplewood Spirit Fruit."


    Wu Yuans eyes widened. Now he understood why the ck-armored giant confidently imed that an eldritch cultivator could rival a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. With a remarkable physical constitution, a powerful soul, and an immortal root forged by rare and precious eldritch treasures, one was just able to be a novice eldritch cultivator. How could an average qi refiner, who onlymanded spiritual qi,pare?


    At the same time, Wu Yuan also began toprehend why eldritch warriors were on the decline. One significant reasony in the difficulty of cultivation. Merely the initiation itself was a formidable challenge; breaking through theter phases would undoubtedly be even more arduous!


    Over the course of thousands of years, hundreds of qi refiners had emerged from the ruins of the Middle Land. Perhaps even Golden Core cultivators had been born. Yet this realm master had yet to find someone qualified to be nurtured into an eldritch warrior.


    The vast majority of qi refiners might be weak, but their easy initiation and astonishing numbers would invariably produce some shockingly talented geniuses.


    "Once you be an eldritch warrior, the first phase is known as the Communion phase. This phase is divided into nine stages, during which you are able to consume qi. Your physical strength will grow, your recovery abilities will be strengthened, and you can cultivate various eldritch techniques, thereby exhibiting a variety of physical powers. It isparable to the Qi Sea phase, and your lifespan will be extended to 1000 years," the ck armored giant exined.


    "But isn''t the lifespan of Qi Sea cultivators only 500 years?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "What a joke! What kind of bodies do they have? And what kind of bodies do eldritches have? An ordinary body refiner may live longer, but generally only up to 600 to 800 years," the ck-armored giant shook his head, "Qi refiners seek to live for as long as heaven and earth, while the ultimate pursuit of eldritch warriors is to survive even if heaven and earth perishes."


    Wu Yuan felt his breath catch as he listened. He finally grasped the uniqueness of eldritch warriorstheir lifespan! Just the first phase alone granted a lifespan of 1000 years,parable to Golden Core cultivators.


    "The second phase of an eldritch warrior is known as the Spiritual Body phase. Once you reach this level, your strength grows, but the most important enhancement is your vitality. Your head and heart are no longer weaknesses, and severed limbs can be regenerated, even decapitation can be healed. You have practically no vulnerabilities," the ck-armored giant proimed proudly.


    "Regrow severed limbs? No vulnerabilities?" Wu Yuan was shocked by the overwhelming vitality.


    At that level, none of the usual fatal injuries that gued ordinary martial artists would be weaknesses anymore. How terrifying would an eldritch warrior be in a life-or-death battle?


    "Furthermore, the lifespan of a Spiritual Body phase cultivator can reach 5000 years," the ck armored giant looked down at Wu Yuan, "Forget Golden Core Superiors, not even Amethyst Cradle Reverands have a lifespan as long as eldritch warriors in the Spiritual Body phase."


    5000 years? Wu Yuan was momentarily stunned.


    What else was cultivation for, if not great power and longevity? In these two aspects, the eldritch perfectly embodied them.


    "The Shambh phase," said the ck armored giant in a slow, deliberate tone, "is the third phase of an eldritch warrior. This phase forms the essential distinction between refining qi and refining the body."


    "The Amethyst Cradle Reverand reflects heaven and earth through their qi sea, employing heaven and earth as the abode of their soul as they prepare themself for their Void Refining transformation. Meanwhile, in the Shambh phase, the eldritch warrior contemtes heaven and earth, etching the imprint of the mountains and rivers within their very beings,ying the foundation for the Grotto-Heaven Elysian Field. One seeks the Dao externally, while the other seeks it internally!"


    "At the Shambh phase, one''s lifespan is extended to 10,000 years," the ck-armored giant revealed. "At this phase, one can be revived from a single drop of blood, ones mental imprint is nearly indestructible, and one possesses the true capability to shatter countlessws with a single punch."


    In just a few short sentences, the ck-armored giant had undeniably disyed the might of the eldritch warrior.


    The Communion phase offered a lifespan of 1000 years. The Spiritual Body phase allowed for a lifespan of 5000 years. The Shambh phase granted a lifespan of 10,000 years!


    The stark contrast in longevity, coupled with the astounding vitality, ignited an unstoppable desire within Wu Yuan to be an eldritch warrior immediately. However, Wu Yuan still held back.


    "Realm Master, if the eldritch warriors are truly so formidable, what about the eldritch mages?" Wu Yuan asked. "Based on what you''ve said, it seems the eldritch mages lean towards the path of the qi refiner. Is it possible for one to cultivate both paths simultaneously?"


    "You little rascal. Walk both paths at the same time?" The ck-armored giant''s angry re pierced through Wu Yuan. "Your strength may becking, but your ambitions are certainly lofty!"


    Wu Yuan remained silent, sensing that the ck armored giant wasnt outright dismissing the notion. Perhaps, there was still a glimmer of hope.


    Were eldritch warriors powerful? Certainly! But if he were to forsake the path of an eldritch warrior and instead wholeheartedly pursue the path of a qi refiner?


    The path of a qi refiner relied on harnessing the qi at its core, ultimately giving up on the physical body. However, the blood-red mist that was released from his ck pagoda enabled Wu Yuan''s physical genome to undergo an unprecedented transformation.


    Yet, Wu Yuan was reluctant to relinquish the path of a body refiner as well. His instincts were warning him that solely embarking on the path of the eldritch warrior might not be the wisest choice.


    "The majority of individuals find it difficult to master even one path of eldritch cultivation," the ck-armored giant spoke slowly. "But for you? Your soul talent is extraordinary. If you have the ambition for it, you may even endeavor the path of eldritch universal cultivation!"


    "However, be warned, it is a path fraught with unimaginable agony!"

 Chapter 187: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (1)

    Chapter 187: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (1)


    "Eldritch universal cultivation?" Wu Yuan was perplexed. He had only ever heard of Dao universal cultivation.


    "You must understand, the eldritch warrior cultivation system was created around imitating the cultivation of ancient gods and devils. These ancient beings have existed since the beginning of creation, before heaven and earth took shape," the ck-armored giant exined. "The ultimate goal of an eldritch warrior is to rival these ancient beings. But fundamentally, heaven and earth is unwilling to allow the ancient gods and devils to exist!"


    Unwilling? Wu Yuan didnt understand, so he simply made a note of it.


    "Body cultivators, generally speaking, are superior in directbatpared to most qi refiners of the same level," the ck-armored giant dered. "However, as they progress in their cultivation, the path of a body cultivator bes increasingly challenging, their numbers dwindle, and ultimately, qi refiners be the dominant force."


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan questioned, "Realm Master, doesn''t this mean that qi refining is the correct path? The only ones capable of reaching the pinnacle of heaven and earth?"


    "Haha. The ck-armored giant suddenlyughed. "Wu Yuan, in your opinion, what kind of individual can be considered a peak powerhouse?"


    Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment. After some contemtion, he suggested, "Amethyst Cradle? Shambh?"


    "Wrong!" The ck-armored giant shook his head.


    "The Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators may be considered formidable within the Summerpeak World, but the Summerpeak World is fundamentally just a worldlet of the vast Greenridge Macrocosm in the boundless heaven and earth." The ck-armored giant chuckled.


    "Even a single immortal continent contains countless thousands of such simr worldlets, not to mention the Greenridge Macrocosm itself, which is dozens of billions of timesrger than the Summerpeak World! When the Hou Feng Tribe was at its zenith, it held dominion over many worldlets akin to Summerpeak."


    Wu Yuan was left in a daze. The ck-armored giant had mentioned that the Greenridge Macrocosm was more incredible than the Summerpeak World, but he never could have imagined the staggering difference.


    The Middle Land, a vast expanse stretching for tens of thousands of li, was nothing more than a mere fraction of the Summerpeak World. And the Summerpeak World itself was unimaginably immense.


    But the Greenridge Macrocosm? It was on a whole different level, billions of times the size of the Summerpeak World. No wonder it was called a macrocosm. How infinitely expansive must this macrocosm be? How many creatures inhabited its boundless domains? Countless beings thrived and multiplied, naturally giving birth to extraordinary powerhouses. This was a realm of immortals and devils, brimming with limitless might!


    Just the thought of venturing into such a vast world ignited a fiery determination in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    "Do you find the Greenridge Macrocosm vast and boundless?" The ck armored giant peered down at Wu Yuan. "But you must understand, even the Archeldritchs and Archimmortals who inhabit macrocosms have no right to speak of the Great Dao."


    "They may possess longevity that rivals the heavens, achieving true immortality, butpared to the ancient gods and devils of old? They are nothing more than ants in the presence of dragons! Countless macrocosms and geniuses have been born within the river of worlds. But how many of them can reach the pinnacle? My eldritch lineage may be weak, but we too have formidable entities who have reached the zenith."


    "Your talent ismendable, but only when evaluated within the confines of the Summerpeak World. When ced amidst the countless worlds akin to the sands along a riverbank, your brilliance dims. Therefore, do not concern yourself with the disputes of the Great Dao at the end of the path of cultivation. Do not overestimate yourself!"


    "I have expectations of you, but I only hope that youll reach the Shambh phase and restore the glory of the eldritch lineage in the Summerpeak World," the ck-armored giant spoke lightly. "Without my guidance or the inheritance of others, it will be exceedingly difficult for you to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "Once you reach the Shambh phase and truly be the leader of the Summerpeak World, perhaps then you can bring prosperity to all beings in this world. We may discuss the future at that time. But in my estimation, your chances of surpassing Shambh are exceedingly slim! Very slim indeed! You must understand that on average, it is a rare urrence for an entity that surpasses the Shambh phase to be born among countless worlds," the ck-armored giant stated.


    Wu Yuan listened, his mind beginning toprehend the vastness of heaven and earth. Summerpeak World? Greenridge Macrocosm? Countless worlds within the river of worlds?


    <em>I have indeed been arrogant. Even with the presence of the mysterious ck pagoda and my previous life experiences that propelled me to the pinnacle of martial arts in the Middle Land, my credentials areughable in the presence of true immortals and devils. I must set aside my pride and humble myself.</em>


    The title of Grandmaster was only significant among martial artists. In the presence of genuine immortals and devils, Grandmasters were nothing more than babies, perhaps not even that.


    <em>In the Middle Land, other qi refiners are merely stumbling in the dark or learning from some immortal relics they unearthed. But those relics, at best, were left behind by the Golden Core Superiors or Amethyst Cradle Reverands. </em>


    With the great war sweeping across the Summerpeak world, the relics left behind in the ruins would not be overly powerful. Meanwhile, the realm master and the entire Fourth Eldritch Realm were undoubtedly created by a mighty eldritch beyond the Shambh phase.


    <em>The inheritance here may not be as powerful as that of the top sects in the Greenridge Macrocosm, but it is unquestionably the strongest legacy avable to me now, far surpassing any other relic. </em>


    Without the Fourth Eldritch Realm and its eldritch heritage, what could Wu Yuan possibly cultivate? He would be left with only the Five Elements Cycle''.


    <em>A beggar considering which business he should start to reach the highest levels of wealth? Ludicrous!</em> Wu Yuan shook his head, suppressing his numerous thoughts.


    From the perspective of probability, Wu Yuan understood that reaching the pinnacle of the Summerpeak World was already a huge achievement.


    <em>All beginnings are fraught with difficulties. Lets take things one step at a time. Furthermore, the path of the eldritch warriors, though arduous, is not without hope. There have been those who have conquered its trials and reached the summit.</em>


    The future was still distant. For now, his focus was on the inheritance that awaited him. With its power, he would possess the strength necessary to confront the Great Jin Empire.


    "Wu Yuan," the ck-armored giants voice was tinged with amusement. "I understand your apprehensions. In truth, over the course of countless years, not only you, but the generations of ancestors in the eldritch lineage have discerned the ws in the path of the eldritch warrior. Thus, the path of the eldritch mage was conceived."


    "These eldritch mages specialize in qi refining," the giant continued. "And throughout generations, exceptional talents rose within the eldritch lineage, paving the way for the eldritch universal cultivation. The eldritch universal cultivation is the fusion of two paths, eldritch warrior and eldritch mage cultivated simultaneously."


    Cultivated simultaneously? Wu Yuan echoed, his surprise evident. There was such a good thing?


    "Indeed," the ck-armored giant confirmed. "However, don''t assume it to be a boon without consequences. Everyone''s mental bandwidth is finite, and the limitations of treading two paths simultaneously will ultimately be revealed."


    "The majority of eldritch cultivators eventually forsake one path and focus solely on the other," the giant cautioned. "And once a path is abandoned, what is lost may never be regained.


    "Lost? Can''t theypensate for each other?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.


    "The crux of the issue lies in the soul!" The ck-armored giant stated. "For a qi refiner, they discard their physical body, uniting their soul and qi. On the other hand, a body refiner must unify their soul and body."


    "For ordinary martial artists, their soulsck the strength to tread even one path, let alone two. Their feeble souls would only make any path they choose extremely arduous! And should they give up halfway, all the effort poured into the abandoned path would be in vain," The ck-armored giant continued.


    "Furthermore, this is merely the first obstacle. There are numerous aspects like eldritch arts, techniques, treasures, and more that demand time for cultivation. Our lifespans are limited. Can one find enough time to cultivate both paths simultaneously?"


    "Wu Yuan, your soul is not bad. In the short run, it might support you in cultivating two paths at once, but it would also hinder your progress. The mere splitting of your soul alone would inflict excruciating pain; it would be akin to torture."


    "If you focus solely on the path of the eldritch warrior, I am confident that you could reach the Shambh phase within 500 years. However, if you attempt to cultivate both, even a thousand years might prove insufficient."


    "Furthermore, these initial difficulties are just the tip of the iceberg. The further you progress, the more challenges you will face. Cultivating both paths inherently engenders conflicts regarding the understanding of the Great Dao." The ck armored giant shook his head. "Unless you stumble upon an extraordinary stroke of luck, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of both paths simultaneously."


    Wu Yuan sank into deep thought. Much like studying literature or martial arts, a true martial artist was one who wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to the martial path; only then could they achieve greatness.


    Dividing one''s energy? If it was for rxation, that might not be an issue. But if one wished to divert their focus to another full-time pursuit?


    To strive for the peak in both endeavors simultaneously? Naturally, it would be ten times more difficult!<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    Just wanted to share a bit of background on why I settled on the term ''eldritch'':


    So, the termes from my interpretation of the word '''', which directly trantes to ''witch''. However, after diving into the author''s descriptions and chatting with my boss, I decided to opt for ''eldritch'' instead of inventing a new term. I liked how it carries the same eerie and unsettling vibe as ''witch''. While ''eldritch cultivators'' aren''t exactly brewing potions or sprouting tentacles, they do tend to take on an otherworldly appearance as they advance, cultivating various parts of their bodies. They might even grow to massive sizes, as mentioned in the chapter.


    I know it might not seem like the most precise fit, but I believe the author chose '''' for a reason, even if these cultivators aren''t your stereotypical witches zipping around on broomsticks.


    Now, onto a few other terms:<ul><li>


    Amethyst Cradle: Trantes to purple mansion or abode.</li><li>


    Shambh phase: Instead of sticking with ''Mountainsea'', I got a bit creative here. Shambh is this mythical ce in Tibetan Buddhism, known for its tranquility and happiness. It felt fitting because during this phase, body refiners create a sort of paradise within themselves, with mountains and seas.</li></ul>


    I''d love to hear your thoughts on whether you prefer more creative or direct trantions of terms. I''ll take it into ount when deciding on names in the future!</blockquote>

 Chapter 188: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (2)

    Chapter 188: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (2)


    "Take your time to think through it," The ck-armored giant looked down at Wu Yuan. He still hoped that Wu Yuan would concentrate solely on the path of the eldritch warrior.


    It was a path with fewer obstacles. However, as a spirit, he abided by his program, and did not harbor any intentions of deceiving Wu Yuan.


    A momentary silence filled the air.


    "Realm Master, I havee to a decision," Wu Yuan began slowly. "I still have plenty of time before reaching my human limits. There is ample time for consideration. I will start by treading the path of the eldritch warrior. Once I am no longer a novice of this path, then I will consider whether I want to simultaneously practice both paths."


    There was still time to make a choice. Moreover, Wu Yuan had yet to delve into the intricacies of eldritch cultivation. Without experience, he could not make an informed decision.


    Wu Yuans first option was to be an eldritch warrior. If he had the ability, he would also pursue the path of an eldritch mage. By having an additional path, it might mean one more option avable to him in the future.


    "Very well! Your thoughts are not misguided," the ck armored giant intoned, gazing down at Wu Yuan and sighing. "I too have seriously contemted this matter. As my time is nearly at its end, I will bestow upon you all the cultivation methods, treasures, and experiences that I possess. However, your future cultivation will depend solely on you. I cannot decide how far you can go. At the end of the day, the choice of cultivation path lies with you. After all, I am nothing more than a spirit!"


    "Follow me," he beckoned. With those words, the radiant throne upon which the giant figure in ck armor sat vanished, and his slightly ethereal formnded on the metallic ground. Next to him, Wu Yuan seemed like a dwarf inparison.


    "Realm Master, are eldritches not human?" Wu Yuan gestured towards the colossal jade tforms surrounding them, unable to contain his curiosity. "Why are the seats here so immense?"


    Chuckling, the ck-armored giant replied, "Hehe, once you be a strong eldritch in the future, your physical form will also grow to extraordinary proportions, forming a true eldritch body. In fact, this applies to all types of cultivatorswhen they attain great power, their bodies expand ordingly."


    "The enormity itself represents a certain level of strength," the giant continued. "For instance, qi refiners who surpass the Amethyst Cradle phase and transform into Void Refiners have immortal bodies asrge as their soul voidrealms. The immortal bodies of mighty beings can effortlessly span the entirety of the Summerpeak World."


    "As for body refiners, even without mentioning the legendary Archeldritches, an eldritch like Hou Feng can crush the entire Middle Land just by lying down when he reveals his dharma body. The practitioners with blood devil bodies are even more terrifying in size," the giant revealed. "Legend has it that there are some unique cultivation systems and life forms, such as the World Ringworm, capable of devouring entire worlds."


    "So, don''t be daunted by the size of this ce," the giant assured Wu Yuan. "For transcended cultivators, it''s actually quite small and constricting. Most of the eldritch cultivators here are still initiates, after all."


    Wu Yuan blinked. Conversing with the ck-armored giant, he realized just how limited his own experiences were and how vast and mysterious the world of cultivators truly wasfar beyond his imagination.


    With curiosity and excitement, Wu Yuan followed the ck-armored giant to the end of the hall, a towering expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly. Standing at its base, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel like a mere ant inparison. The wall before him was overwhelmingly colossal, devoid of any embossments or decorations. At the very bottom, therey an astonishingly massive jade tform.


    <em>This jade tform seems to be thergest one. It feels as though a multitude of eldritches congregated in the hall to listen to the speaker preaching the Dao on the jade tform.</em>


    From theyout of the hall, it was easy to make these deductions.


    The ck armored giant soon came to a halt. He reverently bowed before the jade tform, and with a wave of his hand, a scroll painting materialized on the colossal wall behind the tform. The portrait on the scroll depicted a striking woman, her countenance both human and serpent-like. Draped in earthy-yellow attire, she possessed seven hands sprouting from her back, each in a distinct gesture. Cradled in two arms at her bosom were two serene giant serpents. Though confined to a painting, she emitted a sacred luminescence, containing a power beyondprehension.


    Wu Yuan''s breath hitched as he gazed upon the painting. A mere peripheral glimpse of the woman''s eyes sent an overwhelming and chilling wave of pressure cascading over him. It was as if his very thoughts were frozen, trapped in a relentless grip of terror.


    <em>What...what is this? </em>Wu Yuan looked down, bewildered and unnerved. <em>A mere painting and a single gaze can possess such power?</em>


    Yet, an uncanny sense of familiarity tugged at Wu Yuan''s consciousness. It felt as though he had encountered her before, in some distant memory.


    "Wu Yuan!" The ck-armored giant''s voice pierced through Wu Yuans thoughts. He turned to Wu Yuan. "I shall ask you one final time. Will you join the eldritch lineage as a member of the Hou Feng Tribe?


    If you reject this offer, I shall erase your memories, leaving no trace of your time in the Fourth Eldritch Temple. But if you ept, I will exert every ounce of my strength to assist you on your path to bing a formidable eldritch," boomed the voice of the giant in ck armor.


    Erase his memories? Wu Yuan couldn''t help but be amazed by the other party''s extraordinary abilities. But, having prepared himself ahead of time, Wu Yuan had no intention of declining. Solemnly, he dered, "I am willing!"


    "Excellent! Centuries, millennia from now, I shall not regret the decision I made today," the ck-armored giant nodded with satisfaction. "Eldritch warriors, unlike other body refiners, possess a crucial advantage: the existence of powerful Eldritch Progenitors!"


    "The Eldritch Progenitors are the oldest ancestors of the eldritch lineage, the very source of it. They hold various authorities over the orders of heaven and earth, and are one of the peak powerhouses of heaven and earth."


    "Since the dawn of creation, generations of eldritches have evolved from feeble to mighty existences thanks to the guidance of the Eldritch Progenitors." In a low, solemn tone, the ck-armored titan spoke, "The Eldritch Progenitor revered by my Hou Feng Sect wields authority over the order of thend among the various progenitors, and is known as the Earth Empress and Central Mother, the Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu!"


    Hou Tu? Wu Yuan''s eyes widened. Once her name was spoken, he finally knew why thedy in the painting felt so familiar. Hou Tu was a legendary entity from the ssical mythologies of his past life.


    Now, it appeared that she was one of the Eldritch Progenitors from the eldritch lineage?


    Although Wu Yuan didn''t fullyprehend what was an Eldritch Progenitor or what it meant to have authority over the order of thend, a whirlwind of thoughts flooded his mind.


    Mythical legends, the ancient ruins of the Blue''s ck pagoda, the progenitors of the eldritch lineage... All these fragments of information converged, convincing Wu Yuan that the Blue and the vast cultivation civilization he was now in were subtly intertwined!


    <em>Is there some enormous secret behind the ck pagoda and my transmigration?</em> Wu Yuan''s heart raced. <em>Is it possible for me to return?</em>


    The idea of returning left Wu Yuan with an insatiable yearning. The world he once knew, the loved ones he held dear, they were not forgotten, but rather buried deep within his heart as there was no apparent path back to them.


    But now, with the mention of Hou Tu, a glimmer of hope ignited within Wu Yuan.


    If the ancient legends held any semnce of truth, if they were but a reflection of reality on the Blue, then surely a connection had to exist. Surely there was a way back!


    As Wu Yuan mulled over these thoughts, an authoritative voice broke his contemtion.


    "Wu Yuan," the armored giant bellowed, "The primal eldritches, and even the weaker eldritch tribes of today, rely on their own strength or natural treasures to establish their foundation for Communion. s, their foundations are feeble, restricting their future progress."


    "But you are lucky, as I possess the true image of the Eldritch Progenitor. It is an unparalleled treasure, passed down when the Eldritch Progenitor propogated her Faith. My Hou Feng Tribe, despite our many years in the Greenridge Macrocosm, possesses only three such treasures. And now, there is but one remaining.


    Kneel and pay homage to the Eldritch Progenitor! Gaze upon her image and envision it within your heart, silently pray, and call out the name of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu." The armored giant dered, "The eldritch cultivation heritage will be naturally transferred to you. Once bestowed, you must activate the cultivation method. I shall aid you in merging with the eldritch treasure, together forging eldritch tattoos and establishing the best foundation."


    Understood." Wu Yuan nodded, cing his trust in the armored giant''s words. After all, it had mystical abilities. Deceiving him was unnecessary.


    Wu Yuan knelt, kowtowing in reverence. Then he lifted his gaze, looking at the sacred image of the Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Wu Yuan''s willpower was strong. Initially, the pressure from the image was overwhelming, causing difort within his soul. However as time went by, Wu Yuan began to feel the weight lessen gradually, as if the once mighty and unattainable image now emitted a maternal aura. This warmth permeated his being, akin to the loving gaze of a mother.

 Chapter 189: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (3)

    Chapter 189: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (3)


    <em>His soul is innately powerful indeed, allowing him to easily resist the pressure of the Eldritch Progenitor.</em> The armored giant by his side was inwardly impressed. <em>If Wu Yuan can sense the presence of the Eldritch Progenitor, then with my aid, there is a promising chance of establishing fourth-degree eldritch tattoos.</em>


    The giant was well aware that natural talent was just the initial step; the ability to perceive the Eldritch Progenitor was the crucial part.


    <em>If he fails, then Ill get him to visualize the Great Eldritch Dharma Body. With his talent, sess will not be difficult. But his hopes of attaining fourth-degree eldritch tattoos will diminish greatly.</em>


    Eldritch tattoos were divided into nine degrees. While fifth-degree eldritch tattoos weremendable and reaching the Shambh phase was feasible, ones cultivation path would undoubtedly be more challenging down the line. The armored giant fervently wished for Wu Yuan to seed on his first attempt and form fourth-degree eldritch tattoos.


    <em>Hou Tu! Eldritch Progenitor! The Earth! </em>Wu Yuan''s heart was enveloped in tranquility so profound that it seemed to erase all troubles and wash away the memories of his past and present life. It was as if all thoughts had vanished, leaving only the image of the Eldritch Progenitor imprinted in his mind.


    Through that ethereal image, his consciousness began to flutter, detaching from his physical form. In an instant, he traversed vastnds and crossed endless cosmos, leaping from one world to another, until he found himself in an unimaginably vast void.


    In this void, countless worlds flowed along like numerous boats on a river, with no beginning or end in sight. And there, at the end of the void, stood the towering figure of the Eldritch Progenitor. d in an earthy-yellow robe and bearing seven arms on her back, shemanded a presence that dwarfed the river of worlds. Her motherly gaze swept over one world after another, warming the beings of countless worlds


    <em>The Eldritch Progenitor! Is this Hou Tu?</em> Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel a tremor in his heart. Though this thread of consciousness was weak, he could clearly perceive her form. It was as though an eternity had passed in that single moment when her gaze swept over countless worlds, including Wu Yuan.


    And then, a smile graced thepassionate face of the Eldritch Progenitor.


    <em>Hm? Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu just smiled?</em> Wu Yuan was taken aback. This smile was perhaps meant for the countless beings in the multitudes of worlds. Yet, he had a vague sense that the Eldritch Progenitor... was smiling at him.


    In an explosion of shes, Wu Yuan felt as if everything he had experienced was nothing more than a dream, an illusion fading rapidly from his memory.


    In the grand hall, under the image of the Eldritch Progenitor, the ck-armored giant stared at Wu Yuan inplete disbelief.


    A surge of brilliance erupted from the portrait. Then, mysterious tattoos materialized on Wu Yuan''s skin, then quickly sank into his flesh, as though merged with his body. Simultaneously, streams of earthy-yellow power coalesced in the air, forming cryptic tattoos before binding to Wu Yuan''s figure and coursing into his body.


    On Wu Yuans back, numerous indistinct arms materialized, and across his chest, two serpentine illusions coiled. Surrounding him, a myriad of earthy-yellow rays shimmered with an incandescent brilliance.


    He seemed to bear a vague semnce to the Eldritch Progenitor, albeitcking the grandeur immortalized in the portrait. Yet, a trace of divine aura emanated from him!


    <em>Heavens! To worship the Eldritch Progenitor with absolute faith that the heavens decide to bestow eldritch tattoos upon him directly? Our Hou Feng Tribe has scarcely seen such prodigies throughout the years! Back in the day, even Hou Feng himself could only summon the Eldritch Progenitors spirit, but didnt receive eldritch tattoos directly from her.</em>


    Having raised countless new eldritch warriors and witnessed the birth of numerous eldritch cultivators, the giant was well aware that there were variations in the strength of each eldritch warrior. The eldritch tattoos one established in the beginning would greatly shape one''s future path.


    The weakest individuals were those who struggled to Visualize the Great Eldritch Dharma Body, relying on powerful eldritch mages to forcefully imitate the tattoos or having to personally condense the tattoos themselves. Such eldritch cultivators would only receive ninth to seventh-degree eldritch tattoos. Even if they spared no cost, they might receive sixth to fourth-degree tattoos at best.


    With inferior eldritch tattoos, the cultivation of ones eldritch body andprehension of eldritch teachings would progress slowly. Those who could Visualize the Great Eldritch Dharma Body were considered average talents, possessing sixth to fourth-degree eldritch tattoos. On the other hand, those who could Visualize an Eldritch Progenitors Dharma Body were deemed top talents, the elites of the Hou Feng Tribe. They could effortlessly attain fourth-degree eldritch tattoos and potentially third to first-degree eldritch tattoos.


    As for those like Wu Yuan, who could witness their dharma body during their first Visualization and receive heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos? These were top-tier prodigies! Heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos were at least third-degree, but the possibility of second-degree or even first-degree eldritch tattoos were not out of reach.


    <em>Haha, splendid!</em> The ck-armored giants illusory figure brimmed with excitement. <em>The heavens have blessed our Hou Feng Tribe! With heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, he won''t even need the eldritch treasure I prepared.</em>


    <em>Haha! Wu Yuan not only possesses the potential to reach the Shambh phase in the future, but also to be a prominent figure in a macrocosm, and revive the long-lost Hou Feng Tribe! </em>The ck Armored Giant''s eyes were filled with longing and anticipation.


    Having lost all hope since the downfall of the Hou Feng Tribe, he had resigned himself to following the natural cycle of his existence, raising a few eldritch cultivators in his final moments.


    But then, Wu Yuan arrived, igniting a spark of hope within him! He believed that with Wu Yuan''s innate talent, there was a chance that this youth would dominate the entire Summerpeak World and restore the lineage of the eldritch to its former glory.


    However, the idea of re-establishing the Hou Feng Tribe had never crossed his mind. It seemed too daunting of a task. After all, the Hou Feng Tribe was one of the most powerful eldritch tribes in the vast Greenridge Macrocosm. Given the results of Wu Yuans talent assessment, he had thought it was impossible for the youth to reach such heights. Still, he found contentment in the fact that the Middle Land had produced such an extraordinary prodigy.


    But now, Wu Yuan had given him an immense surprise. He glimpsed a sliver of genuine hope.


    Hou Feng Though I doubt I will live to witness that day," the ck Armored Giant murmured, "I still hold onto a glimmer of hope."


    To pass away with hope was, in itself, a form of happiness.


    <em>However, it is somewhat peculiar. Countless members of my Hou Feng Tribe began worshiping the Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu from a tender age, devoutly honoring her, but only a handful of those exceptional prodigies were able to receive heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos!</em>


    Why was it termed heavenly endowed? Eldritch Progenitors wielded the authority of the natural order of heaven and earth, controlling a part of the heavens. To be endowed by the heavens meant that in the early stages of cultivation, one established a connection with the Eldritch Progenitor through the boundless expanse of space. Heavenly endowment was granted through the intricate workings of destiny, resulting in the natural formation of eldritch tattoos, and the inheritance of techniques.


    However, despite the countless worlds and beings that prayed to the Eldritch Progenitors, only a minuscule number had ever received a response from them


    <em>And yet, this Wu Yuan has managed to secure their favor on his very first attempt. Could it be that his lineage holds a deep-rooted connection to the eldritch bloodline?</em>


    The armored giant was perplexed. But instead of dwelling on the matter, he chose to let it go.


    <em>The reason is irrelevant. From this moment forward, Wu Yuan is a member of the Hou Feng Tribe.</em> The ck-armored giant cast a nce at Wu Yuan. <em>Although he has received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, he has not yet reached the limits of his human body, hence he cannot begin the next step of cultivation yet. However, the mere nurturing by Earth ether alone has caused his physical constitution to improve dramatically.</em>


    Surrounding Wu Yuan were intricate and sacred tattoos. They merged with his body, infusing him with waves of earthy-yellow power. Wu Yuans physical constitution began to undergo a rapid transformation, an unprecedented rate of progression that defied the imagination. Ordinarily, such dramatic changes in a martial artist''s physique would lead to its copse, yet Wu Yuan''s body remained resilient and intact. This was the remarkable nature of the eldritch warrior cultivation teachings.


    Six hours swiftly slipped away, yet Wu Yuans eyes remained shut as he absorbed the mysterious power, yet to awaken.


    The ck-armored giant waited patiently. He understood very well that the initial condensation of the eldritch tattoos would determine the degree of the eldritch tattoo and therefore the individual''s potential. The longer the process took, the more powerful one would be.


    <em>Hm? </em>The ck-armored giant furrowed its brow. <em>All failed? Not a single one made it past the sixth level? Theirprehension aptitudes are sorelycking. If they were better, I wouldn''t mind paying a small price to cultivate another eldritch.</em>


    <em>Well it makes sense, I was simply too greedy. It''s already a miracle that someone like Wu Yuan was born. To find another potential eldritch? The odds are slim. </em>The ck-armored giant remained unfazed.


    He was immensely satisfied with Wu Yuan.<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    Hey everyone, thank you so much for your feedback yesterday, and I''m really sorry about the hups with unlocking the chapters.


    Regarding the naming of terms, I''ll make sure to reach out to others for input on whether a term holds deeper cultural significance or if it''s just something the author made up. I''ll also steer clear of using English terms that already have established meanings, unless it''s a direct trantion.


    I''m incredibly grateful for all your wonderful support, and I''ll do better next time!</blockquote>

 Chapter 190: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (4)

    Chapter 190: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (4)


    In a deste desert, ripples appeared in the air several zhangs above the ground.


    <em>Boom!</em> A figure donning a purple robe materialized out of thin air and tumbled to the ground, steadying herself uponnding. Then, she forcefully expelled a mouthful of fresh blood.


    <em>I feel much better after letting that out, I nearly died right there! </em>Grandmaster Bu Yu''splexion paled, holding onto a trace of lingering fear.


    <em>Thankfully, the mysterious power that governs the entirety of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm does not push us into a corner. We are allowed to surrender.</em>


    She had explored numerous immortal relics and knew that certain selection tests within these relics were exceedingly brutal, offering no chance of survival.


    <em>My injuries are not light. But after passing a few stages, I obtained a Purplewood Spirit Fruit, two Redwood Spirit Fruits, and acquired an immortal art. This journey wasnt in vain! </em>A smile graced Grandmaster Bu Yus pallid countenance.


    This journey had been bountiful, and Grandmaster Bu Yu found herself quite content with the results.


    As she surveyed her surroundings, a question arose in her mind. <em>Where have I been transported to? Clearly, this relic is designed to select exceptional talents. Wu Yuan, with his remarkable abilities, might have reaped great rewards here.</em>


    <em>It''s possible he has yet to emerge. But what Ive gained is already satisfactory. There is no need to be greedy. I must exercise prudence and find a secluded spot to consume a Redwood Spirit Fruit. And then, I shall conceal myself once more to recuperate and heal my injuries.</em>


    <em>I must tread carefully. Should I encounter Jin Qing and lose my life and treasures, the cost would far outweigh any potential gains. </em>Grandmaster Bu Yu reminded herself.


    She chose a direction at random and swiftly departed from the area.


    Meanwhile, on a deste desert, approximately 100 li away from the bronze temple, over a dozen demonic beastsy motionless, an armored shadow looming above them.


    Exerting considerable strength, the ck-armored figure reached down and pulled out a divine sword from one of the corpses. The armor partially retracted, revealing the head of Jin Qing.


    My luck seems to be holding. Ive stumbled upon a Redwood Spirit Fruit rather swiftly," Jin Qing muttered to himself. "Together with what I acquired in the temple, it is quite a substantial harvest."


    "However," he continued, a tinge of disappointment in his voice, "I still could not pass the sixth level."


    He had exerted immense effort, even risking his life on thest two levels. Regrettably, he had failed.


    <em>The gains arent small. Ive even managed to obtain a qi refining arcane art. When I unlock my qi sea, it''ll give me a significant boost in strength.</em> Jin Qings brows furrowed. <em>But will Shadow de pass the sixth challenge of the Eldritch Chamber?</em>


    He had crossed paths with Shadow de before and was pretty sure that the youth had already reached the Harmony of Man and Nature stage. What''s more, he knew that Shadow de was not that old!


    <em>Hisprehension aptitude is definitely higher than mine. His chances of passing the sixth challenge are much higher as well. </em>Jin Qing''s eyes turned icy. <em>I can only hope that he hasn''t sessfully made contact with the eldritch inheritance.</em>


    If Shadow de seeded, it was destined to spell trouble!


    <em>Let''s go find some other spirit fruits. If Im lucky, I might stumble upon Bu Yu.</em> Jin Qing''s gaze swept across the in. <em>Killing her would eliminate a major obstacle in Great Jins unification of the Jiang Continent!</em>


    As time passed, one by one, the Grandmaster experts either gave up voluntarily or failed the selection test. Storing the rewards they received, they left the Eldritch Chamber one after another.


    Deep within the Eldritch Chamber, in a grand hall, two whole days had passed. The giant in ck armor kept an eye on Wu Yuan the entire time. He had been waiting for nearly a hundred thousand years, so he didnt lose his patience over another two days of waiting. On the contrary, the longer Wu Yuan took, the more ted he grew.


    <em>Hum~ </em> Finally, the massive painting of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu returned to normal, while the earthy yellow lights swirling around Wu Yuan gradually dissipated. The ethereal arms on his back and colossal serpents on his chest swiftly faded away. However, the illusory coiled form of a serpent lingered on Wu Yuan''s forehead and chest, gradually melding into his flesh. With that, Wu Yuans body seemed to sink into peaceful tranquility.


    After a long while, Wu Yuan let out a long breath and opened his eyes slowly. He felt that he had been in a bizarre state over thest two days, only regaining consciousness now.


    <em>Hm? </em>As he opened his eyes, he noticed that his vision and hearing had undergone a remarkable enhancement. He could even see the tiniest speck of dust a hundred meters away with absolute rity.


    <em>My Soul Force?</em> His soul strength had grown immeasurably. Previously in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, his Soul Force could only extend ten meters beyond his body. But now, with a mere thought, he could extend it to a radius of 100 meters.


    Wu Yuan sensed that the invisible suppression of heaven and earth''s power was still in force. Hence, there was only one exnation  his soul had strengthened remarkably. Before he could delve further into this revtion, a profound shock overcame him.


    <em>My strength?</em> At that moment, Wu Yuan finally sensed his newfound physical strength. The improvement of his physical constitution gave him the feeling that he could kill a Grandmaster in a single punch.


    He rose to his feet and exerted some strength in his arm. Even without testing it with a punch, Wu Yuan already knew the extent of his physical enhancement.


    <em>Single-arm punch force of 330,000 catties! </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in shock. How could such a transformation ur?


    Before entering the Fourth Eldritch Realm, his physical constitution was only 240,000 catties. In the blink of an eye, it had increased by a staggering 90,000 catties.


    "Wu Yuan, you''re finally awake," a voice filled with joy echoed through the air. It was the ck-armored giant.


    "Realm Master, what happened?" Wu Yuan asked. Lifting his palms, he could feel the surging power within him, leaving him somewhat at a loss. This sudden improvement in strength was somewhat mortifying.


    "Don''t worry, calm your mind. Feel your musculoskeletal system, feel your lower dantian lobe, and sense the newly awakened soul chamber within your body," the ck-armored giant spoke softly. "You haven''t reached your human body''s limit yet, hence the eldritch tattoos are hidden. But with the strength of your soul, perceiving them shouldn''t be a problem. Once you sense them, you''ll naturally understand many things."


    Wu Yuan immediately quieted his mind, his Soul Force turning inward as the ck-armored giant had suggested. He began to focus on his lower dantian lobe.


    Soon, he was shocked to discover that his body''s musculoskeletal system had undergone a remarkable transformation, apanied by profound changes in his lower dantian lobe. Countless cryptic patterns containing the profoundness of the Dao filled Wu Yuans perception.


    In the depths of Wu Yuan''s lower dantian, a surreal realm unfurled in his mind, housing a towering figure with closed eyes. The sight took him aback.


    <em>Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu?</em>


    <em>Boom! </em>Without warning, the figure shattered into countless streams of information that rushed into Wu Yuan''s mind. Nine degrees of eldritch tattoosEldritch ProgenitorsTerranean Body. eldritch universal cultivationsoul chamber cirction An abundance of information overwhelmed him. It took some time for Wu Yuan to fully grasp his current circumstances, given the strength of his soul.


    <em>Inheritance memories, I see now. </em>


    Eventually, he came back to his senses. Opening his eyes, he bowed respectfully to the nearby portrait of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Then, he turned and bowed once more to the realm master, expressing his gratitude.


    "Hou Feng Wu Yuan of the Hou Feng Tribe thanks Realm Master for his guidance!"


    Only by delving into the cultivation methodology of the eldritch warrior did Wu Yuan realize the immense power and significance of the Eldritch Progenitors. He now fully understood the extraordinary opportunity he had been granted.


    The ck-armored giant smiled. "Haha, excellent. From this day forward, you are officially a member of the Hou Feng Tribe."


    In the eldritch lineage, one''s name was preceded by the name of their tribe, a tradition upheld during formal asions. However, on regr days, one did not have to follow it.


    "Wu Yuan, you have received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. This is the best possible eldritch treasure, surpassing anything I had originally prepared for you," the ck-armored giant said. "Tell me, what degree of eldritch tattoo did you condense?"


    "Second degree!" Wu Yuan replied.


    "Not too shabby," remarked the ck armored giant, a tinge of admiration evident. "A first-degree eldritch tattoo is akin to a first-degree immortal root for a qi refiner. It is the stuff of myths and legends, highly sought after yet practically unattainable. Second-degree eldritch tattoos are already an unimaginable achievement. At the very least, you will face no obstacles on your path to bing an Archeldritch."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod.


    The title of Archeldritch signified an unfathomably powerful level within the eldritch lineage, granting one the ability to establish their own ns and tribes.


    While progressing through their cultivation paths, eldritches possessed the capability to gradually upgrade the degree of their eldritch tattoos using alternative methods. However, with each progressive cultivation phase, the cost and difficulty grew increasingly prohibitive.


    Eldritch tattoos signified ones potential. If one condensed high-degree eldritch tattoos from the very beginning, ones cultivation progress would be far swifter, greatly increasing the chances of reaching the Archeldritch phase in the future.


    "Alright! Since you have obtained the inheritance memories, I won''t repeat the details," dered the ck-armored giant. "First, l shall exin the treasures I have prepared for you."

 Chapter 191: Fang Xia Pays Respects To Young Master (1)

    Chapter 191: Fang Xia Pays Respects To Young Master (1)


    "Treasures?" Wu Yuan''s eyes sparked with interest.


    The heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos contained a vast reservoir of inheritance memories. At its corey the cultivation teachings, epassing the cultivation methods for both eldritch warriors and eldritch mages. However, there were four important conditions for one to cultivate well:panions, wealth, teachings, and location. Out of the four, wealth and teachings were the most indispensable.


    "Wu Yuan, I have high hopes for you. Your heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos surpassed my wildest expectations. The Fourth Eldritch Realm is teetering on the brink of copse. Yet, your current strength is woefully inadequate," the ck armored giant spoke in a low, resonant voice.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, a hint of understanding coloring his expression. Whenpared to the truly powerful cultivators, he was honestly far too weak. Right after, he furrowed his brow. "The Fourth Eldritch Realm is copsing?"


    "Nothingsts forever. Time grinds all down to dust. Generally, the Fourth Eldritch Realm can endure for a million years. However, during that monumental catastrophe 100,000 years ago, the Fourth Eldritch Realm, though it managed to survive, had its energy source almost entirely depleted," the ck-armored giant sighed heavily. "Based on my calctions, it might be able to hold on for 1000 years at most.


    1000 years?" Wu Yuan''s expression turned incredulous.


    For someone like Wu Yuan, who had only lived for a few decades, 1000 years seemed like plenty of time. But naturally, whenpared to 100,000 or even a million years, it wasnt long at all.


    "With your current level of strength, you''re far too weak. If you perish midway, I''ll have to raise another eldritch within the remaining time. Hence, the treasures I have prepared for you will be given in three separate batches."


    The ck-armored giant gazed at Wu Yuan intently. "I''ll give you the first batch now. Once you reach the Spiritual Body Phase, return to the Fourth Eldritch Realm and I''ll give you the second batch. The third and final batch will be given when you reach the Shambh phase. At that point, you''ll have the strength needed to safeguard all the treasures I''ve prepared for you!"


    "Disciple understands," Wu Yuan nodded dutifully.


    <em>Perish midway? Even if I struggle to break through in the future, I''ll strive to outlive you.</em>


    Wu Yuan wouldnt be content until everyst treasure was in his hands. Of course, he didnt voice his thoughts aloud. He was truly grateful to the ck-armored giant.


    "Since you already possess a storage artifact, I won''t give you another," the ck-armored giant dered, "Once you open your soul chamber, your bodys storage capabilities will surpass those of a storage artifact. This is a natural advantage of an eldritch warrior."


    "The first treasure I have prepared for you is an immortal root establishment eldritch treasure, called the Luminous Immortal Soil." The ck armored giant gestured, and suddenly a crystal stone, asrge as a grindstone and somewhat resembling soil, materialized out of thin air.


    Wu Yuan sensed immense spiritual qi emanating from the Luminous Immortal Soil, giving him a feeling of warmth.


    "With your heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, you have been naturally endowed with a Terranean Eldritch Body. Though you didnt utilize this Luminous Immortal Soil to establish your immortal root, you can absorb its energy to cultivate your eldritch body and soul chamber once you reach the Communion phase. Your speed of cultivation will be ten, perhaps even 100 times faster than refining spiritual qi or etherstone." The ck armored giant offered his solemn advice.


    "Remember, the path of cultivation is long, and your lifespan is fleeting. Do not squander too much time refining qi. Devote your time and energy toprehending heaven and earth and honing secret arts."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The Luminous Immortal Soil gradually descended. With a wave, Wu Yuan kept it in his storage artifact.


    "The second treasure is a fourth-grade spirit eldritch armor." The ck-armored giant flipped his hand, revealing a suit of earthy-yellow armor. "It is the standard protective armor for new eldritch cultivators of the Hou Feng Tribe."


    "However, standard issue does not imply inferior quality. Years of research from countless generations of eldritch mages throughout the tribe''s extensive history have gone into crafting this suit of armor. Although it may not be the most powerful among fourth-grade spirit equipment, it is undoubtedly top-notch." The ck armored giant presented it to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan reached out to grasp the earthy-yellow armor. With a thought, a drop of blood emerged from his fingertip andnded on the armor, and he began the usual process of iming ownership of the weapon. But to his surprise, the armor rejected his blood, causing it to slide off andnd on the ground.


    "What?" Wu Yuan was taken aback by the unexpected urrence.


    "Haha, though I have dampened the armor''s spirituality, it remains a fourth-grade spirit armor, far surpassing the eighth-grade and ninth-grade spirit equipment utilized by the qi refiners of Middle Land," the ck armored giant chuckled. "A novice like you, who has yet to genuinely embark on the path of cultivation, will naturally struggle to im ownership."


    "Eighth-grade spirit equipment? Ninth-grade spirit equipment?" Wu Yuan''s confusion grew. He didnt know that spirit equipment was graded.


    "The so-called first-grade divine weapons, such as the saber in your hand, are considered eighth-grade spirit equipment. The artifacts and spirit equipment employed by both qi refiners and body refiners, are categorized into nine grades, with the first grade being the strongest and the ninth grade the weakest."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. So, a first-grade divine weapon was the weakest grade of spirit equipment. Yet, the Sunfury Saber he wielded was an eighth-grade spirit weapon and not the weakest ninth-grade level.


    Within the inheritance memories Wu Yuan obtained were numerous cultivation teachings, but many aspects of cultivation that were considered general knowledge were barely addressed.


    "If you be an eldritch mage in the future and learn about equipment forging, you will naturally be able to identify differences between spirit equipment," the armored giant said.


    "Now, steady your breath and focus on the eldritch tattoos within your body. Engage these eldritch tattoos and channel them to suppress the spirit equipment. Then, try iming ownership once more."


    Oh? Curiosity flickered within Wu Yuan''s eyes as he nodded.


    Closing his eyes and stilling his mind, Wu Yuan concentrated on sensing the mysterious symbols tattooed on his greatly enhanced flesh, blood, tendons, and bones.


    Gradually, a sinuous, serpent-like eldritch symbol appeared on Wu Yuan''s chest, emanating a faint yet formidable aura. Beads of perspiration glistened on Wu Yuans forehead. Activating these tattoos put arge strain on his body, akin to executing multiple secret arts in unison.


    "Now, drip your blood and im ownership!" the armored giant''s voice resounded.


    Without dy, Wu Yuan lifted his hand. A drop of blood emerged, but instead of falling downward, it dispersed instantaneously, merging seamlessly into the eldritch armor before him.


    In a heartbeat, Wu Yuan sensed a tenuous connection forming between himself and the armor. With a mere thought, his armor seemed to transform into liquid, melding into a beam of earthy yellow radiance that assimted into his arm, and then into his body.


    <em>This is eldritch battle armor?</em> Wu Yuan could clearly sense the presence of the battle armor.


    In an instant,yers of earthy yellow scale armor covered his arms, legs, chest, and the rest of his body, encasing himpletely, giving Wu Yuan the appearance of a fearsome earth spirit, emanating a domineering aura.


    With a mentalmand, the armor retracted to reveal his head, surprise evident in his eyes. "Spirit battle armor is truly agile. The craftsmanship is also unique, I can control it with my mind and there isnt a single w."


    The contrast between this and his previous second-grade divine inner armor was like night and day. Wu Yuan finallyprehended the truly extraordinary nature of this spirit battle armor. Any martial artist who equipped it would be virtually invincible.


    The ck-armored giant spoke with a low voice, "This eldritch armor possesses astonishing defense capabilities. But for an eldritch warrior, it is only an auxiliary aid. Cultivating the eldritch body is your true focus."


    Wu Yuan nodded. From the inheritance memories, body refining warriors did not use artifacts not because they didnt want to, but becausepeting with qi refiners in artifacts or arcane arts would be ying to the enemy''s strengths. The body was the core of a body refiner.


    "Wu Yuan, the eldritch armor is a piece of fourth-grade spirit equipment, which may make a Golden Core Superior envious at most. But the Luminous Immortal Soil is a treasure that even an Amethyst Cradle Reverand would envy. You must never expose it until you have enough strength," the ck-armored giant warned solemnly.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan responded earnestly.


    "Secondly, do not reveal any information regarding the Hou Feng Tribe," said the ck-armored giant in a low tone.


    "Mm?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "Sooner orter, the fact that you are an eldritch warrior will be exposed. If that happens, it won''t matter much. There are countless eldritch cultivators across various worlds, and not many would care. But the Hou Feng Tribe is different. It made many formidable enemies prior to the great war in the past."


    "You possess great talent. If fate allows, you might leave the Summerpeak World in the future and venture into the macrocosm. Though I do not know which immortal continent you will end up in, your talent will not go unrecognized."


    "100,000 years is a long time, and I have no knowledge of the final oue of that war. However, some enemies of the Hou Feng Tribe may still exist. If they discover your existence, they will not hesitate to annihte you. Therefore, until you gain enough power, you must keep your identity hidden," the ck armored giant said solemnly.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan said with a nod. The enemies of the Hou Feng Tribe? Good heavens! These were likely powerful existences that surpassed the Shambh phase.


    "The third treasure prepared for you is a lifebound eldritch beast, a Teng Snake!" The ck armored giant gestured, and a glowing egg slowly descended from the void. It was around the size of a palm, but the intense aura it emitted was terrifying.

 Chapter 192: Fang Xia Pays Respects To Young Master (2)

    Chapter 192: Fang Xia Pays Respects To Young Master (2)


    <em>Teng Snake? </em>In his previous life, it was a legendary creature from ancient myth, also known as a Flying Serpent. The Teng Snake was a powerful immortal beast and divine beast, capable of riding the clouds.


    "Each cultivation ideology possesses its own unique lifebound treasures," the ck armored giant exined. "Qi refiners have lifebound talismans, lifebound immortal arrays, lifebound flying swords, lifebound medicinal cauldrons, lifebound divine pills, and many more. Among the countless worlds, all sorts of mysterious and bizarre treasures exist and qi refiners each have their own specialization of sses, so you must be cautious."


    "Our eldritch lineage, on the other hand, primarily uses lifebound gu," the ck-armored giant continued. "Eldritch mages utilize these, while eldritch warriors rely on lifebound eldritch beasts. The Teng Snake is one of the ancient Devil Deities, and the first Devil Deity Teng Snake was a follower of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, which eventually became her lifebound eldritch beast." The ck-armored giant turned to the nearby portrait of the Eldritch Progenitor.


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. So the giant snake held by Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu in the portrait was the progenitor of the Teng Snake race, exining its ferocious aura.


    "Your lifebound eldritch beast can be chosen from a variety of options. It could be a de of grass, a rabbit, or even a dog. But while the bloodline of your lifebound beast is important, subsequent nurturing is crucial," the armored giant continued.


    The Teng Snake is one of the top eldritch beasts when ites to bloodline. You should already possess the corresponding eldritch beast cultivation method, so I won''t delve further into that. Just remember, even though you may train other spirit beasts, your lifebound beast will be your lifelongpanion, fighting alongside you. The two of you will grow, live, and die together. Treat it well, nurture it, and in the future, when you be a powerhouse, the Teng Snake will not disappoint."


    Understood, Wu Yuan nodded solemnly. After receiving the inheritance memories, he had a deep understanding of the importance of ones lifebound eldritch beast. It was an inseparable part of an eldritch warrior. For a sword immortal to attain the level where one sh shatters allws, their lifebound flying sword yed an extremely important role. For an eldritch warrior, the eldritch beast was equally vital.


    "Stow away the Teng Snake egg. When you unlock your soul chamber, use it to nurture and hatch the egg,"manded the ck-armored giant.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement and stored the Teng Snake egg with a wave of his hand.


    "The fourth treasure is knowledge," dered the armored giant while summoning several cylindrical, crystal-clear jade stones from the void.


    This? Wu Yuan voiced his confusion.


    You possess inheritance memories, so I am not worried about your cultivation methodology," the giant spoke gravely. "However, your sectcks basic cultivation knowledge. Here are eight immortal slips. Probe them with your Soul Force, and the information contained inside will be revealed. Besides the two slips that contain cultivation teachings, the rest are filled withmon cultivation knowledge, as well as information about the Greenridge Macrocosm."


    Information about the Greenridge Macrocosm? Wu Yuan blinked. 100,000 years had gone by, would the information still be relevant?


    "Dont worry," the ck-armored giant assured him, as if reading Wu Yuan''s thoughts. "The Greenridge Macrocosm has stood for countless billions of years. Though the great war was devastating, it had little impact on the macrocosm itself. Many nations and factions have endured for billions of years. Much of the information from 100,000 years ago is still relevant."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, swiftly receiving the eight immortal slips. Though he had no immediate use for them, the knowledge they contained was invaluable.


    "Luminous Immortal Soil, eldritch battle armor, lifebound eldritch beast, immortal slips. These are all the treasures Ive prepared for the Communion phase of your cultivation," said the ck-armored giant softly. "The rest is up to your own efforts."


    The ck-armored giant still possessed a surplus of valuable treasures, such as etherstone and spirit equipment for various cultivation paths. However, he was unwilling to provide Wu Yuan with any more gifts, not until Wu Yuan reached the Spiritual Body phase, at least. Having trained numerous new eldritch cultivators, the giant understood that giving too many treasures at once could quash an individual''s drive and ambition. Powerhouses were not born solely through the investment of material treasures, but rather forged through life-and-death struggles! At the end of the day, Wu Yuan had to rely on himself to ovee the challenges of cultivation.


    "Mm, Disciple understands," Wu Yuan responded with a solemn nod. Though the ck-armored giant did not grant him many treasures, their total worth was immeasurable. Each one was a priceless treasure. For the current Wu Yuan, it was enough.


    After hesitating for a moment, the ck-armored giant spoke once more. "Wu Yuan, you are still too weak. And from what I have observed, your enemies are very strong."


    "Enemies?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "The qi refiners of the Great Jin Empire are not to be underestimated," the ck-armored giant replied slowly. "I do not wish for you to meet an untimely demise. Thats why, Ive prepared a bodyguard for you. The ck armored giant waved his hand.


    <em>Whoosh~</em> Numerous light particles coalesced into a light screen.


    <em>What is this? It resembles a screen from a movie theater. </em>A hint of confusion clouded Wu Yuans expression.


    On the light screen, a moderately sized hall could be seen. At its center sat a naked, middle-aged man in the lotus position, seemingly immersed in cultivation.


    Wu Yuan stared at the ck-armored giant, confused.


    This individual has been trapped in the Fourth Eldritch Realm for over a century, initially intended to be put to death, the ck-armored giant exined. However, his talent is not too bad. After taking him under my wing, he has now be an eldritch mage.


    "Eldritch mage?" Wu Yuan gasped. Over a century? Was this man from the Chu-Jiang royal family?


    "He has reached the eighth-stage qi sea phase," the ck armored giant stated, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. Although not overwhelmingly powerful, he possesses sufficient strength to safeguard you during the most dangerous period of your cultivation journey.


    Eighth-stage Qi Sea phase? Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted. Among the numerous worlds, a qi refiner with this level of cultivation might not be considered exceptional. However, in the Middle Land, such a cultivator was incredibly strong.


    "Realm Master, if he is truly so powerful, will he heed mymands once he leaves this realm?" Wu Yuan expressed his concerns, shaking his head in doubt.


    "Hmph," the ck-armored giant scoffed. "Bound by eldritch gu arts and taking an oath in the name of the Eldritch Progenitor, his obedience is not a matter of choice. Theres nothing to fear."


    A spark of anticipation flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes. With an eldritch mage by his side, Great Jin was no longer that dangerous a threat.


    "I shall summon him," the ck-armored giant dered, waving his hand.


    <em>Swish~ </em>A streak of light crossed the air. The naked figure on the screen vanished in an instant. And just as quickly, he reappeared before Wu Yuan and the giant. Standing at a height of 1.8 meters, he possessed a lean physique, with a head full of luscious hair.


    Momentarily taken aback, the man''s face flushed with a tinge of embarrassment as white robes materialized around him. He seemed to have just woken up.


    "Fang Xia pays his respects to Realm Master," the man in white robes bowed respectfully.


    "Mm," the ck-armored giant responded indifferently with a slight nod.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuans expression was a sight to behold. Fang Xia? What a familiar name.


    Fang Xia. As exined earlier, this is Wu Yuan, your charge for the next 50 years. The ck-armored giant addressed Fang Xia with a cold voice. 50 yearster, return here. I will naturally remove the eldritch gu art and grant you freedom.


    Fang Xia thanks Realm Master for your generosity, A surge of excitement flickered in Fang Xia''s eyes. Finally, after over a century of waiting, this moment had arrived.


    Fang Xia, the middle-aged man in white robes, bowed to Wu Yuan. Fang Xia pays his respects to Young Master. Young Master may rest assured. If Young Master orders me to go East, I, Fang Xia will never go West. If Young Master wants a 28-year-old woman, I, Fang Xia, will definitely not bring you an eighteen-year-old woman! He dered with utmost seriousness.


    This deration caused the armored giant and Wu Yuan to fall silent. A moment passed before Wu Yuan''s voice broke the stillness. Senior Fang Xia, are you the same Grandmaster Fang Xia who vanished from the Cloudstride Sect over a hundred years ago?


    Exactly! Is the Cloudstide Sect still around? Has Young Master heard of me? Fang Xia nodded with enthusiasm.


    Wu Yuan fell silent once more. It actually turned out to be the case! But if one actually thought about it, it wasnt too big a stretch considering the low probability of someone else with the exact same name being acknowledged by the ck-armored giant for having a not bad level of talent.


    And yet, the white-robed middle-aged man standing before Wu Yuan bore little resemnce to the image he had conjured of the legendary Grandmaster Fang Xia.


    "You do not need to address me as Young Master, Wu Yuan will suffice," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head slightly.


    Fang Xia opened his mouth to speak, but the ck-armored giant cut him off. "Just do as Wu Yuan says. He wishes to treat you as an equal, not as a servant. Are you saying you object to this?"


    "I dare not object," Fang Xia shook his head furiously. "I will listen to whatever you say!"


    "Very well. Fang Xia, I will send you back first. Once Wu Yuan is ready to leave the Fourth Eldritch Realm, I will transport both of you out together," the armored giant said in a cold tone.


    "No, please, Realm Master, let us discuss" Fang Xia began. But with a wave of the giant''s hand, Fang Xia vanished from sight.


    "Wu Yuan, dont worry too much about him. Hes been held captive for far too long, and tends to be excitable around others," the armored giant stated, shaking his head. "He was moreposed when he first arrived. I suspect he will return to normal once he leaves with you."


    Wu Yuan nodded, understanding the situation. ording to the historical ounts of the Cloudstride Sect, Ancestor Fang Xia had mysteriously disappeared in his 60s. So it turned out he was imprisoned within the Fourth Eldritch Realm for over a century. Under such circumstances, it was hardly surprising that his personality had undergone significant changes.


    "There is no need to worry about his strength. He has already established a sixth-degree immortal root, indicating a decent foundation. I believe he will be a valuable asset to you," the armored giant reassured Wu Yuan. "In 50 years'' time, I expect you to have acquired enough power to protect yourself."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The eighth-stage Qi Sea phase, given a sixth-degree immortal root, rivaled even some ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators with weaker immortal roots. Even if hecked proficiency in arcane arts or battle experience, he should have no problems dealing with fourth or fifth-stage Qi Sea cultivators.


    "Wu Yuan, I have given you all the necessary treasures," the armored giant stated softly. "How far you go in the future will depend on yourself. For now, would you like to continue staying in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, or do you prefer to leave?"


    "Leave?" Wu Yuan shook his head. "Realm Master, what about thepanions who entered the Eldritch Chamber with me? Can you tell me how they are doing?"


    "None of them were able to pass my test and have all departed from the Eldritch Chamber," replied the ck-armored giant. "You may observe those who entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm alongside you."


    With a wave of his hand, numerous light screens materialized in mid-air, each disying a different person. Bu Yu, Li Yan, Song Guang... Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng... and experts from Great Jin, such as Jin Qing and Yue Shanzhong, among others.


    Some were resting, while others were looking for treasures. Unbeknownst to them, Wu Yuan and the ck-armored giant silently observed their activities.


    "Hmm? Chang Dong and Tie Tuo are absent?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow.


    "The two you mentioned have already been found and killed by the quasi-qi refiner of Great Jin, Jin Qing," said the ck-armored giant indifferently.


    Wu Yuan''s expression shifted. Chang Dong was dead? It seemed Yuanhu Vi was done for. And Tie Tuo, that bold, brash king from the grasnd, also died?


    "You''ve spent more than two days in the Eldritch Chamber condensing your eldritch tattoos, the ck-armored giant shook his head. "During this period, these martial artists have left the Eldritch Chamber to hunt for treasures in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, inevitably shing with one another."


    "I cannot be bothered to manage such affairs. Furthermore, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene," the ck-armored giant stated nonchntly.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. The realm master was a spirit who adhered to its specific operating procedures and only concerned himself with Wu Yuan. As for the other martial artists, he simply went by the book.


    Given that he had been monitoring the Fourth Eldritch Realm constantly, he shouldnt have been oblivious to the connection between Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, yet he remained indifferent.


    "It appears that Jin Qing and his two subordinates are on the brink of encountering the female Grandmaster who shares a close association with you." The ck-armored giant pointed towards two of the light screens and remarked, "Her name is Bu Yu, correct?"


    "What?" Wu Yuan''s expression changed.

 Chapter 193: Kill! The Terrifying Wu Yuan (1) (Teaser)

    <h4>Chapter 193: Kill! The Terrifying Wu Yuan (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan immediately turned to the light screens monitoring Bu Yu and Jin Qing. On both screens, a tree demon could be seen in the background. This meant that the two were not too far from each other. Two other Grandmasters from the Great Jin Empire followed behind Jin Qing. If Bu Yu chanced upon the group, her life would surely be in peril.0


    "Mm? Not good!�� Wu Yuan''s face drained of color and he instantly turned to the ck-armored giant, "Realm Master, could you help me relocate this senior to a different position?"0


    On the light screen, both Bu Yu and Jin Qing suddenly increased their paces and were now sprinting at full speed. Evidently, they had detected each other''s presence and Jin Qing was now chasing down Bu Yu!0


    "I cannot involve myself in the affairs of these martial artists. It makes no difference to me whether they live or die," the ck-armored giant stated with indifference.0


    Wu Yuan ground his teeth. Indeed, the ck-armored giant had no reason to concern himself with Bu Yu''s fate.0


    "However," the ck-armored giant continued with a subtle grin, "Following protocol, when I send you out of the Eldritch Chamber, I can teleport you to any random location within the realm."0


    Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened.0


    ��0


    The sky of the Fourth Eldritch Realm was perpetually obscured by foreboding, heavy clouds. And yet, not a single drop of rain poured down.0


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</em>At this moment, multiple figures streaked across the reddish earth. A pale green figure surged ahead at a speed surpassing the sound barrier. A formidable gust of wind followed in his trail, kicking up stones and dirt in the air.1


    <em>Boom!</em>A figure d in ck scale armor and brandishing a divine sword hurtled towards the pale green figure, its fierce momentum skimming the ground. Two figures behind him struggled to keep pace, their speedgging far behind. Despite their desperate efforts, they continued to fall further into the distance.0


    <em>Damn it! How can I be so unlucky? Just when I barely managed to obtain a Purplewood Spirit Fruit, Jin Qing showed up!</em>Bu Yu clenched her teeth, her slightly aged features etched with subtle despair.0


    She was pushing herself to her limits, fleeing for her life. Yet, the armored figure behind her was quickly gaining ground, the gap between them rapidly shrinking from ten li to a mere five or six in an instant.0


    In terms of speed, Bu Yu could reach a speed of roughly 500 meters per second after employing her secret technique and holding nothing back. However, Jin Qing''s burst speed could reach nearly 600 meters per second! After employing his secret technique, it soared to a staggering 700 meters per second. Physically, Jin Qing held a significant advantage.1


    <em>Once he catches up, I can only do my best to stall for time, praying that luck favors me and I stumble upon Wu Yuan or Song Guang.</em>Bu Yu''s face flushed red from the strain of maintaining her secret techniques.0


    She knew that only Song Guang and Wu Yuan were strong enough to rescue her.0


    <em>Or perhaps, the tree demon.</em>Bu Yu fixed her gaze on a colossal tree that stood rooted in the earth several dozen li away, reaching a height of 100 meters. Trespassing into the tree demon��s territory offered a faint glimmer of hope for survival, but it also carried a high likelihood of a swift demise.0


    "Bu Yu! Prepare to meet your end." Jin Qing pushed his speed to the limit. Through his spirit battle armor, a pair of eyes brimming with excitement were revealed.<em>This is indeed my lucky day.</em>0


    Though the spoils from the Eldritch Chamber were average, Jin Qing found the past two days to be quite fruitful. Not only had he acquired numerous spirit fruits, but he had also seeded in ying Chang Dong. And now, he had encountered Bu Yu.0


    <em>Chu Ping is dead, as is Chang Dong. Once I eliminate Bu Yu, there will be nothing left to obstruct Great Jin''s conquest of the entire Jiang Continent.</em>Jin Qing waspletely confident in himself.0


    As a former north king of Great Jin, he was well-versed in the empire''s ns. This time, he had deliberately brought his spirit armor into the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm with one main objective �� to eliminate as many Grandmasters of the Jiang Continent as possible.0


    <em>It would have been somewhat troublesome to kill a Great Grandmaster like Bu Yu without the spirit battle armor. But with it? It will require no more than twenty moves!</em>Jin Qing''s eyes turned icy cold.0


    His physical constitution had improved, but not significantly. The reason why he could act so arrogantly, despite facing restrictions on his power in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, was because of his spirit battle armor. The spirit armor crafted by qi refiners was basically a cheat item for martial artists.2


    Jin Qing pursued Bu Yu relentlessly over the wide desert and yawning canyons. In just a few moments, the distance between them shrank to 1 li. One could say that Jin Qing would catch up to Bu Yu in just one more breath.0


    <em>Hmm, so you��re nning to seek refuge behind a tree demon.</em>Jin Qing''s gaze turned frigid as he saw through Bu Yu''s n.<em>Hmph! I��ll just y both of you.</em>0


    While other Grandmaster experts were fearful of the tree demons, Jin Qing remained undaunted.0


    <em>I have fled this far, but I��ve yet to see Wu Yuan or Song Guang for thest two days.</em>Despair began to creep into Bu Yu''s heart.<em>Is this where I meet my end?</em>0


    She was unwilling to resign herself to such a fate. Wu Yuan and The Sword Hierarch had achieved breakthroughs consecutively. She even managed to acquire the Purplewood Spirit Fruit, and the Heavenly Rankings were now within sight. She finally saw hope for the future. How could it all end here?0


    Suddenly, amidst her despair, Bu Yu felt a fluctuation in the air. Her gaze darted to the side, where an earthy-yellow figure was hurtling towards her at an astonishing speed, kicking up a cloud of faint red dust.0


    Even from a distance, Bu Yu could see his face clearly.<em>Wu Yuan?</em>Her heart surged with joy.0


    She had nearly lost all hope, resigning herself to a desperatest resistance. However, Wu Yuan had finally arrived. With her sharp vision, she could see that Wu Yuan was d in earthy-yellow battle armor, revealing only his eyes. It immediately reminded her of Jin Qing and Song Guang''s spirit battle armor.0


    <em>Spirit battle armor? Did Wu Yuan acquire spirit battle armor from that Eldritch Chamber?</em>Bu Yu''s heart swelled with tion, and her worries instantly vanished.0


    "Shadow de!!"Jin Qing, who had been doggedly chasing after Bu Yu, red at the iing Wu Yuan intensely. He too had noticed the spirit battle armor, but didn''t back down. After exchanging blows with Wu Yuan previously, he knew that Wu Yuan had a higher martial skill level than him, but he had a stronger physical constitution.0


    <em>And if my guess is right, Shadow de collected numerous treasures from the Eldritch Chamber other than the spirit battle armor. If I kill Wu Yuan, they will all be mine.</em>Greed arose in Jin Qing''s heart.7


    He was fully aware that it would be challenging to defeat Wu Yuan, who was now equipped with the spirit battle armor. However, how could he leave without at least trying?2


    <em>It''s Shadow de!</em>0


    <em>He''s here? When did he acquire spirit battle armor?</em>Zhong Jun and Dong Jiu who were hurrying over were startled.0


    "Hmm? Grand Elder is about to confront him, but the Shadow de isn��t slowing down at all."1


    "Are they going to fight to the death?" The two Land Rankers slowed down. They weren''t too concerned. In their view, although Shadow de could potentially rival Jin Qing now that he also wore spirit battle armor, defeating him was absolutely impossible. A single punch from Jin Qing contained a force of 290,000 catties!4


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh!</em>Though Wu Yuan and Bu Yu were rapidly approaching each other, Bu Yu dared not slow down with Jin Qing only a few hundred meters behind her. Wu Yuan also maintained his speed.0


    Bu Yu opened her mouth to caution him, but before she could speak, Wu Yuan''s voice resounded directly in her mind. "Hierarch, leave Jin Qing to me. You focus on Zhong Jun and Dong Jiu."0


    One ability of Soul Force was telepathicmunication. Wu Yuan had to hide his power previously, but with his growing strength, there was no longer a need to conceal some abilities.0


    <em>Soul Force telepathy?</em>Bu Yu''s eyes widened with astonishment. She understood the implications of this ability, but there was no time to think further.0


    The earth shook as Wu Yuan brushed past Bu Yu, his head enveloped in a protectiveyer of earthy-yellow scales. He seemed to transform into an earth spirit, his presencemanding and vast. A fiery red saber materialized in his hand.0


    ��Die!�� Without hesitation, Jin Qing swung his divine sword ferociously, his gaze locked on the approaching Wu Yuan. One wielded a saber, the embodiment of an indomitable earth spirit. The other wielded a sword, evoking the image of a ck-armored war deity. The saber''s de rays zed like a stream of fire, while the sword lights danced with elusive precision, capable of cutting through any obstacle.1


    With a thunderous impact, their weapons collided, unleashing a shockwave that rippled in all directions. Dust and debris filled the air as the ground quivered beneath their feet. Amidst the settling dust and smoke, a figure was propelled backward like a projectile. It was Jin Qing.0


    Swift as lightning, the earthy yellow figure closed the distance, catching up to Jin Qing in an instant. The saber cleaved down with unyielding brutality.

 Chapter 194: Kill! The Terrifying Wu Yuan (2)

    Chapter 194: Kill! The Terrifying Wu Yuan (2)


    <em>ng! ng! ng!</em> de rays and sword lights shed, sending shockwaves through the ground. The collision between these two top-tier martial artists wrecked the ground.


    This spectacle caused the onlookers'' faces to contort in shock.


    <em>How is this possible?</em> Zhong Jun and Dong Jiu couldn''t believe their eyes. <em>The grand elder is actually being pushed back and forced to retreat in a direct confrontation? Just how strong is this Shadow de?</em>


    On their journey here, they had witnessed Jin Qing sweep through all opposition. From the redsoil assassins to the tree demons, and even the spirit fruit guardians, he had been unstoppable.


    This was the first time Jin Qing voluntarily retreated after encountering an adversary. The meaning of this required no exnation.


    <em>Wu Yuan overpowers Jin Qing inbat? </em>Bu Yu watched this astonishing scene, her astonishment mingled with excitement.


    She vividly remembered the moment the Fourth Eldritch Realm was first unlocked, when Wu Yuan could barely hold his own against Jin Qing, constantly at a disadvantage. In the end, it was Song Guang that stopped the battle.


    Back then, Jin Qing had the advantage of spirit battle armor. But objectively speaking, even without armor, Wu Yuan was no match for Jin Qing. But now? The tables had turned.


    <em>Die! I refuse to believe it! How did he be so strong?</em> Jin Qing roared with fury, his desperation evident as he put up a desperate resistance against Wu Yuan.


    Sword lights shed, resplendent in their brilliance! However, the exquisite sword lights were repeatedly shattered by crimson rays, their vtile hue akin to an erupting volcano, emanating an unstoppable, raging might.


    <em>Bang! </em>One saber strike after anothernded on the sword. Wu Yuan stood firm and unwavering, while Jin Qing was forced to retreat time and time again. The sheer power behind each saber strike reverberated through his divine sword, the pressure like a mighty mountain threatening to crush him. It was beyond anything Jin Qing had ever experienced.


    <em>The impact of each strike contains at least one million catties of force!</em> Jin Qings mind struggled toprehend what was going on. Just days ago, Wu Yuan had been no match for him, but now, in the blink of an eye, he found himself overpowered. The rate of Wu Yuan''s improvement was nothing short of terrifying.


    <em>His physical constitution and martial skill are both superior to mine. I am no match for him. </em>Though it was hard to swallow, Jin Qing had faced countless life-and-death battles. When defeat was imminent, he knew he had to make a swift decision.


    <em>Run!</em> Blocking Wu Yuan''s saber strike with his sword, he leveraged the momentum to dart several hundred meters away.


    In less than one breath, both parties exchanged more than a hundred blows, and Jin Qing decided to make his escape.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy cold as he watched Jin Qing flee. "Where do you think you can escape to?"


    With Threefold Power Surge, his legs pushed off the ground with one million catties of force, propelling him at a mind-boggling speed of nearly 800 meters per second. Wu Yuan pursued his fleeing opponent, unwilling to let him slip away.


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</em> In the midst of their pursuit, Wu Yuan flicked his wrist and a trio of streaking lights hurtled towards Zhong Jun and Dong Jiu, who were engaged in a fierce sh with Bu Yu.


    One million catties of force,bined with Unity with the environment, made for an instantaneous and surreptitious assault. The three throwing knives sailed toward their targets at a bone-chilling velocity, surpassing the speed of sound by five to six times. In the blink of an eye, the throwing knives arrived before the two Great Grandmasters.


    <em>Not good!</em> Zhong Juns face paled. With astoundingly swift reflexes, he evaded the throwing knife. The brawny Dong Jiu, however, was just a fraction slower.


    The trajectory of the throwing knives was simply too strange, rendering it nearly imperceptible unless one maintained constant vignce, even for a Grandmaster.


    Nheless, on the precipice of life and death, Dong Jiu managed to dodge the throwing knife, subsequentlyunching a forceful swing of his hammer toward the final throwing knife.


    <em>Bang! </em>The moment the two weapons shed, the hammer flew from his grip. At the same time, Dong Jiu''s body soared like a meteor, hurtling backward at a tremendous velocity.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A pale green afterimage shed by, and a beam of sword light cleaved through the sky. A head soared high, spattering the surroundings with crimson.


    Dong Jiu, a Great Grandmaster of Great Jin, was dead!


    The perpetrator behind this act was none other than Bu Yu herself. Her strength was tied with thebined power of the two Grandmasters, until Wu Yuan''s triple throwing knives broke the stalemate, creating an opening for her.


    "Youre thest one," Bu Yu dered coolly, stashing away Dong Jiu''s countless treasures as she fixed her gaze on Zhong Jun.


    <em>Run! </em>Without a moment''s hesitation, Zhong Jun fled. Previously when Dong Jiu was still alive, they fought two against one, giving them the courage to put up a fight against Bu Yu. Alone? Theoretically, there was a glimmer of hope for victory. However, the odds of actually winning were no more than ten percent.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Bu Yu pursued him immediately. With Wu Yuan handling Jin Qing, she was not afraid of any other expert from Great Jins team. Even if she met Yue Shanzhong, she had a decent chance ofing out on top.


    <em>Dong Jiu is dead, only Zhong Jun remains, and he ran off!</em> Wu Yuan caught a glimpse of the fleeing figure out of the corner of his eye. A weight on his shoulders was now lifted.


    As powerful as Wu Yuan was, killing a Grandmaster who had reached the level of Perception with throwing knives from 2 li away was almost impossible. Perhaps if he was only tens or hundreds of meters away from his target, it was still doable. But for a long-range attack, Grandmasters had ample time to react, a slight shift to the side would be enough to evade it.


    After all, no matter how strong Wu Yuan''s Soul Force was, he couldn''t alter the trajectory of a throwing knifeunched from two li away.


    However, Wu Yuan''s purpose was to create an opportunity for Bu Yu. And Bu Yu did not disappoint, seizing the moment to kill Dong Jiu.


    <em>Once I be an eldritch warrior, I must acquire several powerful spirit throwing knives and cultivate some techniques. Then, Ill be able to freely eliminate my enemies via telekinesis. </em>A thought flickered across Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Telekinesis was typically an ability of qi refiners, but if an eldritch warrior possessed a strong enough soul, they could also achieve it, albeit with weaker powerpared to a qi refiner.


    Wu Yuan suppressed the thoughts running through his mind.


    <em>Now, only Jin Qing remains. Considering The Rain Hierarchs strength, we should be capable of handling him.</em>


    As Wu Yuans gaze settled on the figure d in ck armor, waves of killing intent emanated from his heart. "Jin Qing!"


    With Chang Dong''s demise, Yuanhu Vi was fated to descend into disarray. Tie Tuo? Wu Yuan had taken a liking to that robust man from the ins.


    <em>Great Jin is responsible for Grandmaster Xia Heng''s death.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes turned icy. <em>And they also killed my father. This time, Great Jin dispatched a quasi-Heavenly Ranker, intent on annihting us all from the very beginning.</em>


    Great Jin was fated to be his archnemesis. If the Great Jin did not fall, Wu Yuan''s heart would never find peace.


    "Jin Qing, today I will utilize every ounce of my strength to end you," Wu Yuan dered, swooping downwards like a gargantuan roc in pursuit of Jin Qing.


    <em>ng! ng! ng! </em>The rapid shes stirred up a cloud of dust. Ultimately, Jin Qing was sent soaring through the air, immediately leveraging the momentum to flee.


    "Shadow de, you may be stronger than me, but it is not an insurmountable difference," Jin Qing brandished his divine sword, bellowing, "You should know that my spirit battle armor renders it impossible for you to kill me."


    Their speeds surpassed the threshold of sound, but with Wu Yuan chasing after Jin Qing, his wordsnded clearly in Wu Yuans ears.


    <em>Kill!</em> Wu Yuan kept silent, his gaze unwaveringly locked onto Jin Qing as he left afterimages in his wake. There was no need to reply. Even if he yelled back, Jin Qing wouldnt be able to hear him. As formunicating via Soul Force telepathy? Wu Yuan didn''t want Jin Qing to know how powerful his soul was.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>The two collided once more, one unleashing nearly 900,000 catties of force, the other approaching one million catties!


    <em>Boom~ </em>Jin Qing utilized the force to leap away once again, appearingpletely unaffected.


    <em>His sword is a first-grade divine weapon, his battle armor is at least ninth-grade spirit armor.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes were icy, not too surprised by how long it was taking to kill Jin Qing. Now that he had his own spirit battle armor, Wu Yuan was well aware of its defensive might.


    <em>But, I am faster than you, you cannot escape. </em>Wu Yuan exuded confidence. <em>My battle armor is sturdier, with better impact-dampening capabilities. My physical constitution is more robust, and my resistance to blows is my greatest strength!</em>


    <em>I still have ample blood-red mist to relieve my fatigue time and time again! If 100 blows are not enough to kill you, then Ill deal 1000, 10,000,100,000! </em>Wu Yuan''s killing intent raged.


    If two Grandmasters possessed spirit battle armor and had no weaknesses, then it would ultimately boil down to endurance! The loser was the one who surrendered first!


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan and Jin Qing embarked on an intense pursuit across the vast desert, cutting through 100 li in the blink of an eye.


    <em>Shadow de is trying to deplete my stamina, and then kill me!</em> A chilling realization dawned on Jin Qing.

 Chapter 195: Fierce Clash in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, A Bountiful Harvest (1)

    <h4>Chapter 195: Fierce sh in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, A Bountiful Harvest (1)</h4>


    Though Jin Qing was aware of this fact, he found himself powerless to turn the situation around. In a direct confrontation, he was at a disadvantage, neither able to match Wu Yuan''s speed nor find a way to escape. However, he refused to give in without a fight.


    ��Keep chasing me if you want. Let''s see who gives up first!�� Jin Qing bellowed, his movements as swift as the wind. His tactic was to hit and run, evading a head-on strike with Wu Yuan.


    ��Hmph!�� Wu Yuan''s eyes remained cold, his mind unaffected. He maintained a high level of concentration, closely monitoring Jin Qing''s every move to prevent him from making a break for it. Killing Jin Qing swiftly? Wu Yuan had attempted it, but it proved to be impossible.


    <i>With a force of a million catties, even a regr second-grade divine weapon or third-grade divine weapon can inflict severe damage on a Grandmaster expert if the impact is concentrated on a single point. I could kill one in two or three strikes.</i>


    Even without spirit battle armor, it would take hundreds of exchanges to determine a victor, with neither of them managing to disarm the other. In terms of skill, they were evenly matched. In terms of strength, Wu Yuan won by a hair. Overall, the disparity in power between them was marginal.


    Moreover, the impact of their blows first passed through their weapons before being transmitted to the battle armor. And as long as the attacknded within the defensive scope of the spirit battle armor, even in vulnerable areas like the head, neck, and groin, the majority of the force would be absorbed by the armor. The remaining force was designed to be dispersed throughout the armor, rendering the actual damage inflicted on the body inconsequential.


    In other words, a Grandmaster equipped in spirit battle armor was practically unkible inbat against opponents of simr strength.


    <i>If I were a full-fledged qi refiner, I could employ arcane arts to tie him down, then unleash a barrage of attacks to annihte him. If I were a powerful body refiner, capable of unleashing millions of catties of force in a single blow, I could smash him to pieces in one punch! </i>


    Spirit battle armor wasn��t without limits. If the threshold of its force absorption capacity was exceeded, the armor wouldn��t be able to mitigate the excess impact, inevitably leading to grave injuries for the wearer. If the force was powerful enough, the spirit battle armor might even shatter.


    <i>Unfortunately, though I received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, they remain dormant until I reach my human potential. I haven''t even taken the first step on the path of the eldritch warrior. </i>Wu Yuan sighed.


    For now, he was still just a mortal martial artist.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>


    Both experts alternated between battling and running. Jin Qing would suddenly halt and change direction abruptly, attempting to shake Wu Yuan off. But Wu Yuan, with his unwavering focus, would promptly adapt and quickly resume chasing.


    <i>Damn it! There��s not a single river or jungle in this Fourth Eldritch Realm.</i> Jin Qing gritted his teeth.


    If there were a river he could dive into, both he and his pursuer would be impeded by the currents of the water, and he could prolong the fight. Or if the terrain were more intricate, he could hope to elude Wu Yuan despite his slower speed. But the Fourth Eldritch Realm offered nothing of the sort, with only sandy desert in sight.


    <i>Charge! </i>Jin Qing, fueled by reckless abandon, leaped into the gaping canyon before him. It was a dark abyss, stretching for what seemed like an eternity. As for the potential danger? He had no time to dwell on such matters.


    Wu Yuan followed suit without a second thought. A cacophony of rumbles and dull explosions could be heard from the canyon as they plunged into its depths. The ground quaked, mirroring the intensity of the battle unfolding.


    ...


    Meanwhile, somewhere in the inner region near the Redsoil Mountain Range, a man in ck armor reclined atop a hill.


    <i>It��s already day four, yet I��ve barely gained anything. All that time in the Eldritch Chamber, and only a Redwood Spirit Fruit and a Purplewood Spirit Fruit to show for it.</i> Yue Shanzhong shook his head in disappointment. The Redwood Spirit Fruit was of little value to him.


    Over the past few days, Yue Shanzhong had not actively searched for Jin Qing. Grouping up with him promised safety, but it also raised the issue of sharing the spoils.


    In the midst of his contemtion, the earth beneath him trembled ever so slightly. As a Great Grandmaster, Yue Shanzhong possessed keen senses and instantly realized that something was amiss. Bending down, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.


    At that moment, two figures emerged from a fissured chasm just a few hundred meters away. One ck and one yellow figure burst out from the heart of the earth, apanied by a storm of shattered rocks and sand. Severalrge chunks of pulverized demonic beasts flew out of the canyon, blood and gore painting the ground red.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The two figures shed once more uponnding, obliterating everything in their vicinity.


    <i>This! </i>Yue Shanzhong��s eyes widened with disbelief. <i>That must be Jin Qing, and the one wielding the ming red saber is Shadow de. He��spletely overwhelming Jin Qing? Impossible! How could Shadow de''s power have escted so rapidly?</i>


    He had always acknowledged Jin Qing''s strength and secretly harbored a tinge of envy towards the man.


    <i>With this level of speed and power, Shadow de must be on the brink of entering the Heavenly Rankings. </i>Yue Shanzhong felt incredulous.


    This massive improvement had taken ce in just two short days.


    <i>Not good. They may not have noticed me yet, but once they realize I''m nearby and I get dragged into their battle... </i>The thought of being caught in the crossfirepelled Yue Shanzhong to beat an immediate retreat.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a swift motion, he glided across the ground, disappearing into another crevice.


    ...


    "Shadow de, you��ve been chasing me for over eight hours. Are you still unwilling to give up?" Jin Qing bellowed with unbridled fury, hisposure beginning to crack.


    For eight whole hours, he had fled for his life, venturing into the treacherous depths of a dark canyon and encountering a horde of redsoil assassins along the way. In the end, their fierce sh had obliterated not only the majority of the redsoil assassins but also a great number of Redwood Spirit Fruits and the demonic beasts guarding them.


    Whenever Jin Qing blocked Wu Yuan��s attacks, his speed slowed as well. In the end, he failed to shake off Wu Yuan despite his best efforts. If one were to calcte the total distance the two had traveled since the beginning of the fight, one would get a staggering 6000 li, equivalent to crossing the full length of the Fourth Eldritch Realm several times.


    "I��ve told you before, Jin Qing. Escape is futile. You may be able to hold on for eight hours. But what about 16 hours, or 40 hours? I don��t believe your stamina willst forever.�� Wu Yuan''s killing intent knew no bounds.


    After such an arduous and prolonged fight, weariness was starting to take its toll on his body, despite his greater strength and the aid of the blood-red mist. Hence, he was convinced that Jin Qing was nearing his breaking point, and was determined to finish him off.


    <i>Argh!!</i> Jin Qing, on the other hand, was growing increasingly frustrated and desperate. If this was the world outside, he would have various methods to deal with the situation, even if he couldn''t shake off Wu Yuan. For instance, he could flee to Great Jin toward the residence of the Heavenly Rankers.


    Or, he could charge into the Cloudstride Sect''s headquarters, holding the lives of the disciples on Cloudhill hostage.


    Unfortunately, this was the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Even if he nned to threaten Wu Yuan with Bu Yu��s life, he had no idea where to begin searching for her.


    <i>It wasn��t easy for me to achieve a breakthrough. I��ll be a qi refiner soon, I can��t afford to die here!</i> Jin Qing''s mind raced as he considered his options.


    <i>Survive! I must survive!</i> He repeated to himself.


    ...


    As time ticked on, the total distance covered by Wu Yuan and Jin Qing now increased to over 10,000 li, their paths twisting and turning countless times within the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    The sh of des between the twobatants reverberated through the realm, drawing the attention of the other treasure hunters like Song Guang, Li Yan, and Song Jun from far and wide.


    "In just two days, Shadow de has grown this strong?"


    ��Spirit Battle Armor! I��ve never seen this particr suit before.��


    "It must have been obtained from the Eldritch Chamber.��


    ��Shadow de must have reaped a bountiful harvest from the Eldritch Chamber. Given his talent, the rewards he received must be unimaginable.��


    Fueled by curiosity, Song Guang and Li Yan chose to trail the battling duo as they crossed paths once again. Over the course of the sixteen-hour chase, Wu Yuan found himself utterly spent, while Jin Qing teetered on the brink of copse.


    "Jin Qing''s agility is waning.��


    "Shadow de��s strength is still at its peak!"


    ��They��ve gone back into the canyons.��


    Song Guang and Li Yan, positioned twenty li away from thebatants, watched the battle in awe. Never before had they witnessed a battle of this level: two quasi-Heavenly Rankers equipped with spirit battle armor, locked in a life-or-death fight.


    As a tremor coursed through the earth, Li Yan and Song Guang slowly inched back, not daring to draw too close to the battle. Even Song Guang, who possessed his own set of spirit battle armor, was taken aback by the sheer intensity of the sh.


    Finally, the chaos began to subside, reced by an eerie silence that stretched across the realm.


    "It has grown quiet.��


    "Did they venture deeper into the canyon?"


    <i>Boom! </i>An earthy yellow figure soared into the sky, interrupting Li Yan and Song Guang��s thoughts. It was none other than Wu Yuan, brandishing a fiery red saber in one hand. In the other, he held a lifeless body d in ck armor.


    <i>Bam!</i> The body crashed heavily onto the ground as Wu Yuan released his grip. The motionless bodyy like a discarded dog amidst the debrisdenndscape, devoid of any signs of life.


    Witnessing this scene, Song Guang and Li Yan were left speechless, realizing that the horrifying battle had reached its final act.


    Wu Yuan emerged victorious. Jin Qing was dead!


    ...


    The sight of Jin Qing''s lifeless body struck Song Guang and Li Yan like a thunderp. They had always believed that equipping spirit battle armor equated to being unkible. Yet, today, a quasi-Heavenly Ranker wearing spirit battle armor had met his demise! It was not a death by superior technique, but by sheer brutal force.


    "This Shadow de is too terrifying!"


    "Quasi-Heavenly Ranker..."


    "On average, only one Heavenly Ranker is born every few decades among the thirteen continents of the Middle Land. The experts of Great Jin will lose their minds when they learn of this."


    "With his power, Shadow de is destined to be a Heavenly Ranker soon," Song Guang and Li Yan whispered to each other.

 Chapter 196: Fierce Clash in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, A Bountiful Harvest (2)

    <h4>Chapter 196: Fierce sh in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, A Bountiful Harvest (2)</h4>


    <i>Finally, Jin Qing is dead.</i> The scales on Wu Yuan''s head receded, unveiling his weary face. However, his eyes were bright with tion.


    So what if his opponent was a quasi-Heavenly Rankings or was equipped with spirit battle armor? If he said he would kill someone, then he would kill them.


    His strong soul had long detected the lurking presence of Li Yan and Song Guang during the battle. But it mattered little to Wu Yuan. Even Jin Qing was no match for him, let alone these two Grandmasters.


    <i>With Jin Qing eliminated, the military might of Great Jin is greatly weakened.</i>


    Perhaps, in the not-so-distant future, he would no longer fear qi refiners. But if a qi refiner decided to deal with a bunch of mortals? Given a chance to prepare, even those at the early stages of the Qi Sea phase were capable of wreaking havoc for kilometers around with a single arcane art.


    <i>Now, let''s see what treasures I��ve got.</i> With a mentalmand the now ownerless spirit battle armor, detached from Jin Qing''s body and hovered in mid-air.


    <i>It should be one of the lower three grades of spirit equipment.</i> Wu Yuan deduced as he examined the armor. As he ran his hand across its surface, he felt fine cracks already marring it.


    Spirit equipment was divided into nine grades, with a qualitative difference every three grades. Ninth-grade, eighth-grade, and seventh-grade equipment could be damaged in shes with Qi Sea phase cultivators.


    <i>Grandmaster Fang Xia is an eighth-grade Qi Sea cultivator. I��ll hand this armor to him after leaving the Fourth Eldritch Realm, perhaps he has a way to repair it.</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>If it cannot be repaired, I��ll leave it with Grandmaster Bu Yu. In fights with other Grandmasters, she��ll no longer have to worry about defense.</i>


    With a thought from Wu Yuan, a belt, two rings, and two storage artifacts flew into his grasp. His Soul Force surged into them, and he began searching through them.


    <i>Millions of silver notes? Useless! </i>After reaching his current level, silver was no longer valuable. Cultivators like him did not trade with such currency.


    <i>Thousands of catties of etherstone?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked to discover a pile of sparkling jadestone within a storage ring. Though their quality seemed inferior to his Heavens Heir Token, the sheer amount of spiritual energy contained within these ordinary etherstones was astonishing.


    <i>This is quite heavy. W</i>u Yuan remembered the books Bu Yu had provided him, mentioning that a cubic meter of etherstone weighed more than 100,000 catties. While thousands of catties of etherstone might appear significant, their actual volume wasparatively small.


    <i>If converted into silver, one catty of etherstone could fetch 100,000 silver taels.</i> Wu Yuan��s lips curled upwards. <i>I guess I��m now a millionaire in terms of silver taels. </i>Unfortunately, silver held little value to him now.


    <i>There are also books.</i> Wu Yuan scanned therge stack of books and scrolls. From their titles alone, only a few were worth reading. Most were of little use to Wu Yuan.


    He also found some natural treasures, third-grade divine weapons, second-grade divine weapons, and even first-grade divine weapons. For instance, Chu Ping''s first-grade divine sword and Tie Tuo''s wolf��s tooth club.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept past the weapons and armor belonging to Chang Dong, Tie Tuo, Chu Ping, and the others, before finally settling on a pile of spirit fruits. Among them, two types of spirit fruits floated within the storage artifact.


    One was a round red spirit fruit, about the size of half a fist. It bore a resemnce to a red apple, but with far tougher skin. The other fruit was of a simr size and appearance, but entirely purple in color. Both types of fruits emitted a peculiar aura, and merely looking at them aroused a deep desire to consume them.


    <i>Eleven Redwood Spirit Fruits. Five Purplewood Spirit Fruits.</i> A wide smile stretched across his face. Compared to silver and etherstone, these were the true treasures! These fruits alone were enough to significantly enhance the strength of the Cloudstride Sect''s top echelons.


    Wu Yuan quickly sorted the various treasures. After that, he turned and greeted the two figures making their way towards him with a faint smile. "Brother Li Yan, Brother Song Guang, it''s been quite some time.��


    Li Yan and Song Guang instinctively shivered. They hadn''t anticipated Wu Yuan to be so courteous.


    "Brother Shadow de, it''s been a while indeed," Li Yan spoke up, unable to resist stealing a nce at Jin Qing��s corpse on the ground. "Shadow de, you must be truly powerful to have in Jin Qing."


    "I was just lucky," Wu Yuan replied casually.


    Li Yan and Song Guang could only offer bitter smiles. Luck? They were well aware that the two had been locked in a brutal battle for hours. Jin Qing was pushed to the brink of exhaustion by Wu Yuan''s relentless onught. Yet, there stood Wu Yuan now, serene and unperturbed, showing no signs of exhaustion.


    "Gentlemen, Jin Qing has fallen. With him gone, no one else from Great Jin��s team can pose a threat to you," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "So, what brings you here? If there are no pressing matters, why not take the remaining time to search for spirit fruits? Surely, there are still some remaining in the Fourth Eldritch Realm."


    Due to their previous assistance, Wu Yuan held a positive opinion of Li Yan and Song Guang. Hence, he didn��t consider killing them and looting their treasures.


    "Shadow de, we naturally have a reason foring to meet you," Song Guang said hastily. After a brief pause, he continued, "After ying Jin Qing, you must have obtained a considerable number of spirit fruits. Would you be open to a trade with my Sta Consortium?"


    "Indeed!" Li Yan chimed in. "Shadow de, whether it''s the Sta Consortium or my Pleiades Guild, we can offer a generous price. Cultivation methods, top-tier divine weapons, or a plentiful supply of etherstone��they are all up for negotiation."


    Wu Yuan chuckled, realizing their true intentions. It seemed they hade to trade with him.


    "Gentlemen, the spirit fruits I possess are barely enough for my own needs," he replied, shaking his head. "I have no intention of trading them at the moment. However, after departing from the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, I will inform you if I ever decide to sell the spirit fruits."


    "Very well, time is short. I must continue my search for treasures." Wu Yuan didn��t wish to waste any more time with them. In a swift motion, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished from sight.


    Li Yan and Song Guang exchanged a helpless nce.


    "Jin Qing must have reaped huge rewards from the Grandmasters he slew as well as the Eldritch Chamber. Yet, they all ended up in Shadow de��s hands. He must now possess a substantial number of Purplewood Spirit Fruits." A trace of reluctance crossed Song Guang��s features as he clenched his jaw. "If he were willing to trade those Purplewood Spirit Fruits with me, my chances of breaking through would skyrocket.��


    Li Yan nced at Song Guang and chuckled, "What are you thinking? This attempt to trade with Shadow de is just us trying our luck."


    Li Yan shook his head. "Considering his current strength, he''s already showing us kindness by not killing us for our treasures."


    Among the strong, who cared about the rules? Even though Tie Tuo represented the Ninedeaths Circle, he was still killed by Jin Qing after crossing paths with him. Great Jin wouldn��t care if the news spread either.


    "Yes, you''re right. This could be the moment when the Cloudstride Sect rises to power." Song Guang replied.


    Li Yan shrugged, "It''s hard to say. The secret of the Eldritch Chamber cannot remain hidden forever. Great Jin will surelyunch an investigation into Jin Qing''s death. And when they find out it was Shadow de, they will undoubtedly wage war against the Cloudstride Sect. It might even escte into a battle between Heavenly Rankers.��


    Song Guang shook his head. "No matter how strong Shadow de is, he is still just a Grandmaster. Once Great Jin��s Heavenly Rankers arrive, the oue cannot be certain."


    Song Guang was startled, "Will Great Jin vite the treaty of the Heavenly Rankers?"


    Li Yan scoffed, "Treaty? It''s just a piece of paper!" He lowered his voice, ��In the past, Great Jin was willing to bide its time because it had an absolute advantage in terms ofbat prowess. They were confident but didn''t want to pay a high price."


    "But with the Cloudstride Sect''s rise, the situation has be unpredictable. They may not continue to wait," Li Yan warned.


    "Let''s get going, the matters of the Heavenly Rankers are not our concern. We should focus on finding ways to obtain more Purplewood Spirit Fruits." With that, the two Grandmasters swiftly departed.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan raced across the earth at astonishing speed. His eyes swept in every direction, his soul sense taking in his surroundings.


    <i>The Fourth Eldritch Realm only opens for five days. There��s fewer than two days left. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes turned icy cold. <i>Of the five Grandmasters from the Great Jin Empire, Jin Qing and Dong Jiu are dead. I wonder how many of the remaining three are still alive.</i>


    <i>Zhong Jun was pursued by The Rain Hierarch. The oue of their battle is unknown. Yue Shanzhong who hid in the canyons is likely still alive. As for Tang Jin, I��m not sure about her status. However, before my battle with Jin Qing, she was alive. I have not encountered her since then.</i>


    With the limited time remaining, Wu Yuan''s n was simple: find more Spirit Fruits and eliminate the remaining Great Jin experts.


    ...


    <i>A few hourster, in a dark canyon.</i>


    <i>Roar! Roar! </i>The sky filled with the thunderous roars of massive beasts that resembled ck panthers. They charged towards the figure entering the canyon, scaling the steep slopes with ease.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>des of red de rays shed, and the beasts tumbled back down into the canyon.


    An earthy-yellow silhouette advanced towards a protruding outcrop of rock on a slope of the canyon, mercilessly ughtering the beasts attacking him.


    <i>Another Redwood Spirit Fruit. </i>Wu Yuan collected the spirit fruit and ced it into his storage artifact.


    <i>These demonic beasts are not real creatures. They are essentially the same as those redsoil assassins.</i> Wu Yuan observed, his gaze fixed on the dissolving panther corpses.


    Even their blood quickly faded away.


    With a single powerful leap, Wu Yuanunched himself into the sky, leaving the canyon below.


    ...


    In one day, Wu Yuan covered around 600 li, scanning his surroundings with Soul Force and soul sense. Whether it was due to luck or some other reason, he managed to find three more spirit fruits. However, they were all Redwood Spirit Fruits, and he couldn��t find any Purplewood Spirit Fruits. Soon, the closure of the Fourth Eldritch Realm was approaching.


    From the vantage point of a towering mountain, Wu Yuan gazed out across thend.


    <i>This entire time, I��ve yet to encounter another expert, including The Rain Hierarch.</i>


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed, and a sh of killing intent arose. <i>Yue Shanzhong! </i>


    Slightly more than ten li away, a figure d in ck armor emerged from a shadowy valley, pursued by a horde of demonic snakes. It seemed they were guarding a spirit fruit in the valley.


    <i>Haha! Purplewood Spirit Fruits! With three of these fruits, I have a chance to enter the Heavenly Rankings! </i>Yue Shanzhong was beyond ecstatic.


    After risking life and limb, he finally obtained a Purplewood Spirit Fruit. He only dared fight his way through the demonic beasts after donning spirit battle armor. Without it, even a Great Grandmaster would tread cautiously.


    But in the next moment, Yue Shanzhong''s joyous expression transformed into one of sheer terror. From a distance, an earthy yellow figure bolted towards him with incredible speed.


    <i>Shadow de!</i>


    <i>Run!</i> Yue Shanzhong''s emotions churned within him, a mix of shock, rage, and despair. He fled, his cries ripping through the air. "Shadow de, spare me! Spare me! I''ll give you all the treasures I possess!"


    As his pleas echoed, Yue Shanzhong hurled his storage artifact off to the side, hoping to lure Wu Yuan into retrieving it. But Wu Yuan did not take the bait. Eight li and nine breathster, they shed.


    <i>ng! ng! </i>Metal screeched. As a de ray shed by, a lifeless body crumpled to the ground.


    Yue Shanzhong was dead!


    <i>After killing you, your treasures will be mine anyway.</i> Wu Yuan collected the equipment on the corpse, then backtracked around 10 li. There, he found the discarded storage ring.


    In that short span of time, no one else hade by.


    <i>Two Redwood Spirit Fruits and three Purplewood Spirit Fruits? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up as he examined the contents of the storage artifact. Looting others was indeed the most efficient method of earning treasures.


    <i>Onwards, to the next area</i>.


    ...


    Time flew by. Wu Yuan searched diligently, but in the remaining time, he did not find any more spirit fruits, nor did he encounter any other opponents.


    And finally, the five-day deadline was up.


    ��Wu Yuan, prepare to depart from the Fourth Eldritch Realm.�� The cold voice of the realm master echoed in his mind.


    Wu Yuan''s face split into a grin as an unseen energy wrapped around him. An instantter, he vanished.


    ...


    "Young Master, at longst." Before Wu Yuan could fully shake off his drowsiness, an exuberant voice reached his ears.

 Chapter 197: Old Fang Will Accompany The Young Master on Your Journey (1)

    <h4>Chapter 197: Old Fang Will Apany The Young Master on Your Journey (1)</h4>


    Around five days ago, Wu Yuan, Li Yan, and Song Guang entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm at night. As they emerged, night had fallen once more.


    <i>This isn''t the same ce I entered from.</i> Wu Yuan looked around, realizing he was currently on a deste hill. Even amidst the pitch-ck night, his vision was sharp.


    The realm master randomly scattered the cultivators who entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm across various parts of Jiexian Mountain, preventing them from immediately attacking each other once they left. Such measures were in ce to honor the original purpose of the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    <i>The realm master is just a spirit that follows protocol, enforcing the rules without exception. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s gaze finallynded on the refined middle-aged man dressed in white robes. He had to admit, the man was handsome. He didn��t exude the charm of a pretty boy, but the maic appeal of a mature uncle. A phrase from Wu Yuan''s past life came to minddy killer.


    Why did the realm master forbid Fang Xia from intervening in the Fourth Eldritch Realm? ording to Wu Yuan''s deductions, there was only one possibility��the realm master did not allow those above the Grandmaster level to enter. For example, Heavenly Rankers were barred from the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Fang Xia had be an eldritch mage within the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Hence, he was prohibited from taking action.


    "Young Master?" Fang Xia regarded Wu Yuan with a gaze full of care and concern, as if tending to a mentally challenged child.


    "I''m alright," Wu Yuan replied calmly. "Senior Fang Xia, I''ve told you to address me as ''Wu Yuan''..."


    "It��s good that you��re alright," Fang Xia nodded repeatedly, then smiled, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth. "Wu Yuan, is it? Alright, Young Master, I''ve got it now. And please stop calling me ��Senior��. Just Fang Xia will suffice, or even Old Fang, if you''d prefer."


    Wu Yuan was at a loss for words. He gave Fang Xia an odd look, causing a shiver to slither down Fang Xia''s spine.


    "Young Master?" Fang Xia''s voice quivered, sensing the unsettling shift in Wu Yuan''s demeanor.


    "Is it possible that you��re so concerned about me because you know my true identity?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Young Master, let heaven and earth bear witness to my vow." Fang Xia''s expression transformed abruptly, his tone solemn, "Even if you doubt the world, Young Master, never doubt my unwavering loyalty. If you tell me to go East, I will definitely not..."


    "Halt!" Wu Yuan interjected sternly. ��Get to the point. One sentence.��


    "Young Master, if any harm should befall you, I��ll be imprisoned once more," Fang Xia''s eyes welled up, teetering on the brink of tears. "Young Master, I have endured 136 years, seven months, and nine days in captivity, surviving solely on the consumption of qi for survival."


    "Spiritual qi is delectable, but anything, no matter how delightful, can drive one to madness when consumed as the only source of food over a century. It is nothing short of miraculous that I, Fang Xia, have managed to retain my sanity."


    "I was confined within those walls with no food, no one to talk to, no books to read, no melodies to savor..." A deluge of words spilled forth like a breached dam.


    "Stop!" Wu Yuan''s forehead beaded with cold sweat. By this point, his former image of Ancestor Fang Xia had crumbled into dust. He couldn��t tell whether the century-long imprisonment had irreversibly transformed Fang Xia''s character or if this was his original personality.


    <i>Books cannot be trusted.</i> Wu Yuan recalled the descriptions of Ancestor Fang Xia��s noble and heroic character within the Cloudstride Sect''s records, then contrasted them with the person in front of him. He found it hard to look him in the eye.


    "Senior Fang Xia," Wu Yuan weighed his words, then chose to disclose the truth, slowly uttering, "In actuality, you are my ancestor."


    "No!" Fang Xia vehemently shook his head. "Young master, you mustn��t do this."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback by Fang Xia''s strong reaction.


    "Young Master, I understand your desire to maintain a low profile and preserve my dignity by not embarrassing me with a formal title," Fang Xia spoke solemnly. "But rest assured, Young Master, I, Fang Xia, see through all of this. Empty titles mean nothing to me. I don''t mind pretending to be a housekeeper or disguising myself as an old servant, as long as I get some time off for vacation."


    He paused for a moment before asking, "By the way, Young Master, is the Moonlit Haven still open? It''s been over a hundred years since Ist visited. Lonely Moon, Autumn Dust, and Winter Frost... These fairies must have passed away by now. But no matter, there must be others with the same names..." Fang Xia''s words kept pouring out without restraint, changing topics every few sentences.


    "Senior Fang Xia, stop," Wu Yuan interjected with a serious expression. "From now on, listen to me, and do not interrupt."


    "Alright, I will obey whatever Young Master says," Fang Xia obedientlyplied, shutting his mouth.


    "Senior Fang Xia, you truly are my sect ancestor!" Wu Yuan sighed helplessly. "I am a disciple of the Cloudstride Sect..."


    Fang Xia��s jaw dropped.


    "We are in the year 3227 of the Eastern Martial calendar. The current hierarchs are Bu Yu and Huan Jian. The Cloudstride Sect..."


    Wu Yuan quickly briefed him on the current situation, primarily focusing on three key aspects. Firstly, he revealed his own identity, including his secondary persona as Shadow de. Secondly, he provided details about the Cloudstride Sect and its rtionship with the Great Jin Empire. And thirdly, he delved into the current state of affairs in the Middle Land. Last, he exined the situation that unfolded in the Fourth Eldritch Realm. However, Wu Yuan only gave a vague ount of his harvest from the Fourth Eldritch Realm, refraining from divulging specific details.


    "The Moonlit Haven still stands," Fang Xia remarked thoughtfully. "It''s no surprise, given that it has existed for a thousand years. A hundred years is nothing. The Chu-Jiang Empire, on the other hand, is actually demolished. I had nned to pay them a visit and have some fun by taking down their old ruler and iming the emperor��s title for myself."


    Wu Yuan remained silent.


    After a century of istion from the mortal world, the transformations that had taken ce were a lot to process, and Fang Xia needed some time to digest everything. Finally, after a while, he lifted his head with a stern expression.


    "Young Master," Fang Xia began firmly. "I''ve made up my mind. We��ll let it be known that you were the one who rescued me. You can call me ��Ancestor��, and I will refer to you by name."


    "But in my heart, you will always be my young master," Fang Xia''s voice was resolute. "When we''re alone, I''ll call you Young Master, and you can call me Old Fang."


    "That''s it?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel a vein popping in his temples. After all that thinking, Fang Xia was stuck on the issue of titles?


    "Haha, there''s more to it than that," Fang Xia chuckled, a slight smile ying on his lips. "Rest assured, Young Master, I understand the gravity of our situation. I won''t go looking for old mes at Moonlit Haven before we sort things out.��


    ��Young Master, at this moment, we face two major threats."


    "What two major threats?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "The first one is the Great Jin," Fang Xia replied, his usually yful demeanor reced by a somber expression. "If you hadn''t killed Jin Qing, Great Jin might have tolerated it. But since you were able to defeat Jin Qing, it proves that you''re on the verge of bing a qi refiner. If I were an ancestor of the Great Jin, as soon as I confirm this news, I would rush to Cloudhill to hunt you down."


    Wu Yuan nodded slowly. He had considered this possibility as well, but made the decision to kill Jin Qing decisively, knowing that Fang Xia would support him in the future.


    "Unfortunately, Young Master, you are too softhearted," Fang Xia shook his head with a sigh. "You should have killed everyone, including Song Guang and Li Yan."


    "If all of them had been eliminated, the news would never have been leaked," Fang Xia added, his face filled with regret. "And we could have seized more treasures."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback by Fang Xia''s words. He had thought he had been decisive enough, butpared to Master Fang Xia, his actions still seemed naive.


    "What''s the second threat?" he asked.


    Fang Xia''s expression grew solemn as he dered, "The danger lies in your softheartedness. When Song Guang and Li Yan return to their factions, they will report the fact that you killed Jin Qing to the Pleiades Guild, Sta Consortium, and even the Ninedeaths Circle. Don��t you think the Heavenly Rankers behind these powers will be tempted?"


    "By killing you, they��ll be able to obtain numerous spirit fruits and at least two suits of spirit battle armor, several spirit weapons, possibly mysterious treasures from the Eldritch Chamber, and several Chu-Jiang Tokens... If it were me, I would rush over immediately to kill you upon receiving the news."


    Wu Yuan fell into silence, realizing he had not considered this point.

 Chapter 198: Old Fang Will Accompany The Young Master on Your Journey (2)

    <h4>Chapter 198: Old Fang Will Apany The Young Master on Your Journey (2)</h4>


    "Old Fang," he finally spoke up, "is there also a Heavenly Ranker behind the Sta Consortium?"


    A cold smile appeared on Fang Xia��s face. "Indeed! In my heyday, I roamed the world''s brothels... cough, I mean roamed the world for several decades, encountering several qi refiners. Many of them were allied with the Sta Consortium. They established themselves across the thirteen continents, with all factions acquiescing to their presence, and even Great Jin had to ept their silver notes. Do you really think it��s due to their neutrality and impartiality?"


    "Of course not," Fang Xia answered his own question. "It''s martial power! The Sta Consortium possesses one of the world''s strongest martial forces. They are at least capable of rivaling Great Jin. As for the Pleiades Guild and Ninedeaths Circle, these behemoths with thousands of years of history, there are definitely qi refiners behind them. Otherwise, they would''ve long been exterminated by qi refiners from opposing powers."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Despite being imprisoned for over a century, Fang Xia had evidently umted a wealth of experiences before his confinement.


    "If my guess is correct," Fang Xia continued, "the reason why the Chu-Jiang Empire was destroyed is closely rted to Chu Bohong. It was this old bastard who tricked me back then."


    Wu Yuan''s surprise showed on his face. "Chu Bohong? The second emperor of the Chu-Jiang Empire?"


    Fang Xia confirmed with a nod. "Mm, he was a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. If my guess is right, he must have died long ago. If not, the Chu-Jiang Empire would not have crumbled so easily. With his death, only a handful of weaklings would be left. Even with the aid of arrays, fending off Great Jin��s Qi Sea cultivators would have been impossible. Their downfall was inevitable."


    Wu Yuan understood now. These were secrets he had never known until today. "Old Fang," he asked curiously. "Why were you imprisoned back in the day?"


    Fang Xia gritted his teeth, resentment simmering beneath his words. "That wily Chu Bohong told me that demonic beasts in the Fourth Eldritch Realm could be captured and tamed. He gave me three beast-taming rings and urged me to try it out. I fell victim to his deception."


    "In the end," Fang Xia continued, his voice lowering, "I seeded in capturing three beasts. Just as the five-day deadline drew to a close, everyone else departed while I was imprisoned alone."


    "Just like that?" Wu Yuan questioned.


    "Just like that," Fang Xia responded with a shrug. "Yet, thanks to my unparalleled talent, I managed to break through and be an eldritch mage just by cultivating the most basic ��Eldritch Codex��. And eventually, Young Master, you arrived."


    Wu Yuan was left speechless, realizing that Chu Bohong''s motives for deceiving Fang Xia into capturing the demonic beasts in the Fourth Eldritch Realm were likely moreplex than they seemed. However, the events of the past were now distant memories, and the Chu-Jiang Empirey in ruins.


    Yet, there was a silver lining in Fang Xia''s imprisonment. If he had spent the past hundred years in the world outside, he might not have advanced to the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase.


    "Old Fang," Wu Yuan asked. "What should we do about these two threats?"


    Fang Xia delivered a single, resolute word, "Eliminate."


    Wu Yuan regarded Fang Xia skeptically, "Old Fang, how are you going to withstand so many powerful forces by yourself?"


    It wasn''t that Wu Yuancked faith in Fang Xia. However, Fang Xia had been cultivating in seclusion the whole time,cking experience in realbat. He might not have any powerful artifacts either. Could he withstand the onught of the various major factions? After his battle with Jin Qing, Wu Yuan came to a profound realization: one��s overallbat power was abination of one��s personal strength and also the artifacts one possessed.


    "Do you doubt me, Young Master?" Fang Xia asked, his agitation evident. "Years ago, I fought tirelessly, often outnumbered two to one, sometimes even three or four..." As caught sight of Wu Yuan''s doubtful gaze, his voice trailed off.


    "Young Master, whether it''s Great Jin or any other force, their primary target will undoubtedly be Cloudhill," Fang Xia changed the subject.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "In Cloudhill, there lies an immortal relic. Are you familiar with it?" Fang Xia inquired.


    "I''ve heard of it," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Our priority should be to return to Cloudhill as swiftly as possible," Fang Xia grinned.


    "Once I utilize that immortal relic as the foundation for an eldritch array, I��ll be able to hold off anyone below the Golden Core phase. In fact, if a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator falls into the trap, they might not make it out alive," Fang Xia spoke solemnly.


    "Is it really that powerful?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "When ites to directbat, eldritch warriors are far stronger than us eldritch mages," Fang Xia shook his head. "However, we eldritch mages study everything: eldritch gu blood arts, poisons, arrays, medicinal pills, and more. We dabble in them all."


    "When ites to arrays, only a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator who has cultivated a lifebound diagram array can surpass me," Fang Xia stated confidently.


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly. Upon reflection, it made sense. After all, Fang Xia had been systematically trained by the realm master, and should have received aplete cultivation method. At the very least, when holding the geographical advantage, defeating a group of loose cultivators from the Middle Land shouldn��t be a problem.


    ��Old Fang,�� Wu Yuan said suddenly. "What if a Golden Core Superior emerges from Great Jin or some other faction?"


    "Don''t worry, Young Master," Fang Xia replied with a serious expression. "I, Old Fang, will definitely apany you on your journey."


    "What journey?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "The journey to theherworld!" Fang Xia dered.


    ...


    Two hourster, about 300 li from Jiexian Mountain, darkness enveloped Yangxu County City.


    In arge courtyard, a few individuals patiently waited.


    "Rain Hierarch, when will Senior Shadow de arrive?" Gu Wang, dressed in ck robes, whispered with a touch of worry on his face. "We''ve been waiting for quite some time. By right, Senior Shadow de should have arrived earlier than us.��


    "Don��t worry," Bu Yu softly said.


    Suddenly, the lights in the courtyard distorted, and two figures gradually appeared. This sight caused Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng''s expressions to change subtly. They hadn''t sensed anything at all.


    The first figure had handsome features and wore a green robe. The other figure wore white robes and held a reed fan, exuding an otherworldly aura.


    "Wu Yuan?" Zhang Changsheng was taken aback.


    "Wu Yuan?" Bu Yu and Gu Wang echoed, equally surprised that Wu Yuan had chosen to show up in his original appearance.


    But their attention was immediately captivated by the middle-aged man in white robes standing before Wu Yuan. With an air of divinity surrounding him, everyone was immediately spellbound.


    Wu Yuan cleared his throat. "Rain Hierarch," he said lightly. With that, the people in the courtyard finally regained their senses.


    ��Wu Yuan, this gentleman is?�� Bu Yu asked softly. The white-robed man��s presence filled her with an overwhelming sense of dread, causing warning bells to go off in her head. Her gaze unconsciously gravitated towards him.


    "This is Ancestor Fang Xia," Wu Yuan announced solemnly.


    Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng were all taken aback. Fang Xia? Of course, they knew of Fang Xia. Bu Yu had known that name ever since she was a child!


    "That��s right!" Wu Yuan continued, understanding the confusion running through the trio''s minds. "This gentleman is the Cloudstride Sect''s greatest ancestor, Fang Xia."


    "He has been trapped in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm until I stumbled upon the Eldritch Chamber and inadvertently released him," Wu Yuan revealed.


    "Master Fang Xia has now be an incredibly powerful qi refiner," Wu Yuan emphasized. "He possesses the strength to vie for the title of the world''s number one expert."


    These were the words agreed upon by Wu Yuan and Fang Xia beforehand, which carefully avoided any mention of eldritches or Wu Yuan''s new identity.


    However, Fang Xia insisted on adding ��the world''s number one expert�� to his introduction for one simple reason: if no Golden Core Superior existed in this world, he was fully eligible to contend for the title of the world''s strongest expert. Even if a Golden Core Superior were present, it was no matter. He would first inte his own reputation, ensuring that he would receive a flood of admiration.


    And indeed, his strategy proved fruitful. Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng��all three were utterly stunned by Wu Yuan''s introduction. Grandmaster Fang Xia was the number one expert in the world? Instinctively, they felt skeptical. Yet, as they sensed the extraordinary aura emanating from Fang Xia, their doubts began to dissipate.


    "Bu Yu pays her respects to Ancestor Fang Xia," Bu Yu was the first to bow. "I beseech Ancestor to save the sect from its current crisis."

 Chapter 199: Return Of The Ancestor (1)

    <h4>Chapter 199: Return Of The Ancestor (1)</h4>


    With utmost reverence, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng bowed low. "Ancestor Fang Xia, we beseech you to save the sect from crisis."


    "Rise," Fang Xiamanded. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned an invisible force that supported Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng to their feet. This disy left them awestruck, erasing any doubts they may have harbored about Wu Yuan''s words.


    Such power could only be wielded by one who had reached the Unity stage, harnessing heaven and earth''s power. It was a feat achievable by a qi refiner if they unleashed their essentia, but this force was different. It was both formless and invisible.


    "I��ve understood the general state of our sect from Wu Yuan," Fang Xia remarked, his gaze sweeping over the trio. He continued tly, "I must say, there is a clear trend of regression with each generation. Even after the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, you stubbornly cling to the four provinces."


    A tinge of shame crossed Grandmaster Bu Yu''s face. In the past, she had made the decision to keep to the four provinces. Although there were many reasons behind her choice, it was undoubtedly a missed opportunity for expansion.


    "However, I cannot ce the me solely on your shoulders. The Great Jin Empire''s overbearing nature cannot be ignored," Fang Xiamented, exuding the demeanor of a wise ancestor. ��Bu Yu, as a hierarch of the sect, you have protected it for several decades. Your efforts, if not entirely sessful, are still recognized."


    It was a stark contrast to his encounter with Wu Yuan.


    ��However, your greatest contribution by far was epting Wu Yuan into the sect,�� Fang Xia asserted genuinely.


    "Wu Yuan is, without a doubt, an unprecedented genius of our sect. Without him, the state of our sect would have worsened in recent years," Bu Yu quickly responded.


    Leaving aside all other considerations, Wu Yuan killed Wang Huang and acquired treasures from the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Bu Yu had witnessed these contributions firsthand. Moreover, it wouldn��t have been possible for Ancestor Fang Xia to return without Wu Yuan.


    "Hehe, Wu Yuan is no ordinary genius, not just a once-in-a-century talent," Fang Xia chuckled, stroking his beard. "Wu Yuan is the greatest prodigy the Middle Land has seen ever since the Martial King divided the Middle Land into thirteen continents. His talent even outshines the Martial King himself."


    The greatest prodigy Middle Land had seen in thousands of years? Outshining the Martial King?


    Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang exchanged nces. They both acknowledged Wu Yuan''s incredible talent, but the Martial King held such a revered status as the founder of civilization in the Middle Land that it was difficult to ept this notion, even when uttered by Fang Xia himself.


    "Do you doubt my words? You''ll understand in due time. Right now, he��s a seventeen-year-old quasi-Heavenly Ranker," Fang Xia nonchntly said. "In terms of talent, Wu Yuan surpasses me by a hundredfold."


    In Fang Xia''s heart, being chosen by the realm master as a sessor indicated an unimaginably high level of talent.


    "We believe you, Ancestor," Bu Yu responded.


    She knew that debating this was meaningless. It was evident that Ancestor Fang Xia held Wu Yuan in high regard. Why question it?


    "Bu Yu, Wu Yuan ims you pursued Great Grandmaster Zhong Jun of Great Jin. Did you seed in killing him?" Fang Xia inquired.


    "I did, Ancestor!" Bu Yu nodded fervently. "I managed to acquire three Purplewood Spirit Fruits and four Redwood Spirit Fruits on this trip."


    "Well done," Fang Xia acknowledged with a smile. "So it appears that out of the five Great Grandmasters from the Great Jin Empire who entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm, only Tang Jin remains. As an ordinary Grandmaster, she is unlikely to have umted a significant number of treasures."


    "Ancestor is indeed wise," Bu Yu praised.


    "Enough with the ttery," Fang Xia responded seriously. "Despite the numerous challenges our sect is facing, the two significant threats we must confront are..."


    Fang Xia quickly conveyed the conclusions of his conversation with Wu Yuan.


    "All of this was deduced by Wu Yuan," Fang Xia emphasized, "I was trapped for over a hundred years and knew nothing of the current state of the world."


    "That��s impressive, Wu Yuan!" Bu Yu eximed.


    Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng also looked at Wu Yuan with considerable admiration.


    Wu Yuan, shook his head in resignation, knowing that Fang Xia had actually deduced the information himself. Despite this, Fang Xia insisted on giving the credit to Wu Yuan.


    ��The two threats we face involve Heavenly Rankers, but I have a n to deal with them,�� Fang Xia confidently asserted. ��Even if ten Heavenly Rankers arrive, I��ll send them all to their graves.��


    This deration shocked Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng. At this moment, they wholeheartedly believed that Fang Xia must have reached an unbelievable level of power.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuan remained calm. On the way here, he had briefly examined the first immortal slip from the realm master, gaining some understanding of the cultivation path ahead.


    He learned that the Qi Sea phase was divided into nine stages, with each set of three stages representing a threshold. Cultivators at the first three stages were considered early-stage and possessed little essentia and mana. Whether in terms ofbat style or power, they had yet to undergo a qualitative changepared to Land Rankers.


    The fourth to sixth stages marked a major transformation, qualifying them as mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. They wouldpletely break away from thebat style of martial artists and truly exhibit the fighting style of transcendent cultivators, whether in arcane arts, spirit equipment, arrays, or talismans.


    Finally, those at the seventh to ninth stages werete-stage Qi Sea cultivators. When they unleashed their arcane arts inbat, they would appear no different from immortals and devils to the eyes of mortals.


    Given that Fang Xia was an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, defeating ten early-stage practitioners would be a piece of cake with his advantage in mana reserves alone. He wouldn��t even need to use any artifacts.


    "However," continued Fang Xia in a light tone, ��In order for our sect to endure in the long run, relying solely on me will not suffice. We need to produce more martial arts Grandmasters and Heavenly Rankers."


    "In the past, it was a challenging feat for individuals to reach the Grandmaster level due to the scarcity of valuable treasures andck of proper guidance. However, under my guidance, the number of experts born within the Cloudstride Sect will multiply exponentiallypared to the past," Fang Xia continued confidently, his words igniting excitement within the listeners.


    Why were the top-tier major factions able to maintain their legacies for millennia? One important reason was the extended lifespan of its Heavenly Rankers who could live for 500 years. With guidance from these powerful seniors, the probability of producing Heavenly Rankers over several centuries naturally rose.


    Simrly, a Heavenly Ranker had the strength to seize numerous precious treasures, boosting the chances of nurturing martial arts Grandmasters.


    Take the Great Jin Empire, for instance. With each new generation of the royal family, multiple Land Rankers were produced. Was this truly a result of talent alone? Of course not! It was mainly due to guidance provided by the numerous qi refiners working behind the scenes.


    "I shall guide you," Grandmaster Fang Xia asserted. "But we also require more martial arts geniuses. Only with a sufficientlyrge poption and territory can we produce enough geniuses.��


    Fang Xia turned his gaze to Bu Yu. "Once we return to the sect, I will set up arge defense array around the mountain. Afterward, I will dispatch Huan Jian and his troops directly to Yuanhu Province to seize control. A province without a single Grandmaster cannot possibly im independence."


    "Ancestor, regarding Junior Brother Huan..." Bu Yu began with some hesitation.


    "Hmph! Wu Yuan informed me that he wishes to cultivate in solitude, transcend mortality, and revel in freedom as he ventures across the world?" Fang Xia sneered, his disdain evident.


    "A martial artist who has yet to open his qi sea, speaking of freedom? He likely hasn''t even stepped into the Domain level, let alone grasped True Intent. While our sect is in great peril, all he desires is to retreat into his shell like a tortoise, all while preaching about the Heavenly Dao?"


    "A disciple of Cloudstride should dedicate their life to the sect. Has he forgotten this fundamental principle?" Fang Xia''s voice grew stern.


    "If you cannot rectify his behavior, I will," Fang Xia dered with determination. "Does he enjoy solitude? If he pisses me off, I shall imprison him for precisely 136 years, 7 months, and 9 days. Let us see if he will beg to be released by then."


    "Understood." Bu Yu obediently agreed.


    Zhang Changsheng and Gu Wang couldn��t help but feel that Ancestor Fang Xia seemed to be a little differentpared to their preconceived notion of him. Nevertheless, their curiosity was piqued. What was the significance of precisely 136 years, 7 months, and 9 days?


    <i>The Sword Hierarch is in for a hard time. </i>


    Wu Yuan recalled his recent conversation with Fang Xia regarding the two hierarchs of the sect. Upon hearing Huan Jian��s actions and mindset, Fang Xia made up his mind to teach him a lesson he would never forget!


    "As for you, Bu Yu?" Fang Xia''s gaze shifted towards Bu Yu. "It appears you have consumed a Redwood Spirit Fruit. When you return to the sect, make it a priority to consume the Purplewood Spirit Fruits andmence secluded cultivation. I will offer guidance and ascertain if you possess the potential to break through. Time is running out."


    "Understood," Bu Yu responded, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement.


    Turning to Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, Fang Xia addressed them. "You have both disyedmendable efforts in the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Each of you shall be rewarded with a Redwood Spirit Fruit. However, bear in mind that Grandmasters at the Rigid Yet Supple stage are considered the weakest among Land Rankers.


    ��Bing a Grandmaster is the end goal for a martial artist. Meanwhile, entering the Heavenly Rankings is but the beginning of transcending from a mortal to an immortal," Fang Xia dered nonchntly. "A Heavenly Ranker can relish in freedom for 500 years!"


    Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng felt their hearts skip a beat. "Thank you for imparting your wisdom, Ancestor."


    "Oh, and one more thing," Fang Xia added. "Bu Yu, upon your return, promptly dispatch a messenger to Chu Jun of the Baijiang Kingdom, demanding the submission of their four provinces within ten days. If they fail to submit, Huan Jian will lead our army into battle against them."


    ��One should only eat as much as their stomach can handle.��


    "Since I, Fang Xia, have returned, the Chu and Jiang continents are destined to be territories of the Cloudstride Sect. Whoever dares to obstruct my path shall meet their demise.�� Fang Xia''s voice exuded an air of calm authority, yet his dominance was unparalleled.


    "Great Jin aspires to unify the world? They can dream on! Even if Imperator Jin were to return, he''d have to face me in a fight to the death," proimed Fang Xia.

 Chapter 200: Return Of The Ancestor (2)

    <h4>Chapter 200: Return Of The Ancestor (2)</h4>


    The words ignited a fiery determination within Bu Yu, Zhang Changsheng, and Gu Wang. As disciples who had grown up in the sect, their affection for it ran deep. They had once dreamed of the sect expanding its territory and dominating thend. However, the harsh reality had forced them to abandon such impractical fantasies long ago.


    <i>Is this Fang Xia��s real nature, or is he just letting loose after being imprisoned for so long? </i>Wu Yuan observed the scene with a hint of skepticism.


    Having joined the Cloudstride Sect not long ago, his sense of belonging did not run as deep as theirs. Regardless, Wu Yuan had no intention of obstructing Fang Xia. In the near future, when he became an eldritch warrior, his power would reach unparalleled heights. Alongside Huan Jian''s breakthrough and Fang Xia''ste-stage Qi Sea phase cultivation, the might of the sect was far too powerful to be confined to four provinces alone.


    "Enough talk, let''s return to the sect," Fang Xia dered.


    With a wave of his hand, a streak of light shot out from his palm, rapidly expanding into a ck, semi-open longboat. The vessel was about five meters long and less than a meter wide at its widest point, and its surface was covered with intricate cryptic patterns. Astonishingly, the boat hovered about two meters above the ground!


    "This is?" Bu Yu and the others were taken aback.


    "It''s a flying boat artifact," Wu Yuan exined with a smile. "Controlled by Ancestor Fang Xia, this ninth-grade spirit flying boat is specifically designed for travel."


    Wu Yuan had arrived with Fang Xia on this very flying boat. With a graceful leap, hended at the forefront of the vessel, followed by Bu Yu and Gu Wang, who quickly followed suit. The flying boat was more thanrge enough to amodate five individuals.


    Soon, Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and the others took their seats.


    ��Sit tight.�� Ancestor Fang Xia stood alone at the front of the boat, his white robe billowing like a deity among mortals.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Their surroundings distorted momentarily before the boat vanished from its original position.


    In the eyes of Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and the others, the flying boat shot forward like a fish gliding through water, rapidly taking off. The city below shrank in size while the looming dark clouds grew closer.


    The intricate lines etched on the boat''s surface formed a protective barrier, perfectly shielding its upants from the external environment. Additionally, the boat''s sleek shuttle-like design minimized air resistance to an almost negligible level.


    Wu Yuan marveled silently, transmitting his thoughts to Ancestor Fang, "The speed of this flying boat must be close to one kilometer per second. What is its maximum velocity, Ancestor Fang?"


    "Approximately ten li per breath," Fang Xia''s voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind. "This is merely ninth-grade spirit equipment, a gift from the realm master. If Young Master is fond of it, I can gather materials, nurture Earthfire, and fashion a cauldron to create a flying boat artifact for you when we return to Cloudhill."


    "Sure," Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Cultivation epassed more than justbat; the pursuit of knowledge and mastery in refining pills, crafting artifacts, and understanding arrays and talismans were equally vital aspects. The study of such disciplines was challenging. ording to the immortal slips, these auxiliary methods were greatly varied and intricate, and required one to tap into heaven and earth''s power. Thus in this aspect, qi refiners were far superior to body refiners!


    <i>Body refiners excel at wreaking havoc. But when ites to construction, they can''t keep up with qi refiners no matter how hard they try.</i>


    During his hundred-year imprisonment, Fang Xia, an eldritch mage, focused on cultivating his mana and exploring various subjects in his spare time. However, he was only able to acquire theoretical knowledge, leaving practical skills to be honed through hands-on experience after leaving the realm.


    "Young Master, once you be an eldritch warrior, even the fastest seventh-grade flying boats won''t be able to match your running speed," Fang Xia''s voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan was intrigued.


    "One��s strengths are dependent on their core cultivation path. The physical power of an eldritch warrior is terrifying. Killing a qi refiner with a single punch is nothing out of the ordinary," Fang Xiamunicated telepathically. "With such incredible strength, their running speed is astonishing, covering 20 to 30 li in one breath is normal."


    "Before reaching the Spiritual Body phase, the running speed of an eldritch warrior onnd is usually faster than their flying speed."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    20 to 30 li in one breath? That was roughly ten times the speed of sound!


    In fact, this was simr to qi refiners. When they had yet to umte sufficient essentia, their speed on the ground surpassed their flying speed.


    An eldritch warrior also had to reach the Spiritual Body phase before their bodies underwent major changes. Only then did they possess the ability to generate force from thin air and tread on air as if it were solid ground. Flying was more flexible and looked befitting of an immortal. But for low-tier cultivators, flying might not always be faster than running on the ground.


    "Old Fang, we must be several kilometers above the ground by now," Wu Yuan looked down as they approached the cloudyer.


    "2000 zhangs!"


    "Can we go higher?�� asked Wu Yuan, his curiosity piqued.


    "It is indeed possible," Fang Xia replied with augh, "but I would prefer that we didn''t embark on our journey to the afterlife so soon."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback by Fang Xia''s response.


    "Beyond 10,000 zhangs above the ground lies the Heavenly Lightning Stratum," Fang Xia exined. "asionally, powerful lightning strikes ur at these high altitudes. This is not your ordinary thunderstorm, but rather heavenly lightning that operates ording to thews of the world.��


    Fang Xia continued, ��A Golden Core Superior cultivator can withstand a few strikes without much concern. In fact, ording to the Eldritch Codex I��m cultivating, some powerful cultivators with affinities for lightning arts intentionally venture into the Heavenly Lightning Stratum to capture heavenly lightning."


    "But," Fang Xia chuckled, "if we were to be struck by the heavenly lightning, haha... let''s just say we will be off to the afterlife!"


    ...


    As time passed, Fang Xia swiftly guided the flying boat back to Cloudhill.


    About a hundred li from Jiexian Mountain stood arge military encampment. Here, a 10,000-strong army of Great Jin was garrisoned, surrounded by tight defenses. Within the centralmand tent, a woman dressed in ck sat in the host seat, appearing to be in her 30s. She was none other than Tang Jin, a Grandmaster of Great Jin.


    A heavily armored general stood respectfully at her side. "Senior Tang, why aren''t the other seniors present?"


    Tang Jin coldly dered, "It��s not your ce to ask.��


    The general immediately bowed in deference. Though he held a position of authority and was a Savant expert, he knew he was no match for a Land Ranker like Tang Jin.


    Although Tang Jin appeared calm on the surface, her emotions were in turmoil. Before entering the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm, the team had decided to gather at this military camp once they were sent out of the realm. But now, several hours had passed! Apart from a few Savant experts hurrying over, there was no sign of anyone else from Great Jin��s team arriving, naturally causing Tang Jin to feel anxious.


    Suddenly, a frantic voice called out from outside the tent, "Senior Tang, there''s a message from Grandmaster Song Guang of the Sta Consortium.��


    "Bring it to me quickly," Tang Jin ordered.


    Soon, a written message was delivered to her. Suppressing the fear in her heart, she quickly scanned through it. It didn��t take long before herst shred of hope was extinguished.


    <i>He''s dead? Grand Elder is truly gone? </i>Tang Jin��s hand dropped to her side despondently as she fell into a daze. She still couldn��tpletely believe it. In the Fourth Eldritch Realm, she had witnessed the intense battle between Jin Qing and Wu Yuan from a distance, too afraid to approach them. Therefore, she wasn''t sure of the oue of the battle until now.


    "General Wang, I''m leaving this ce in your hands. I must return to the Holy Capital immediately." With those words, Tang Jin abruptly stood up, her eyes filled with determination.


    Before General Wang could react, she had already rushed out of therge tent, disappearing into the darkness. Only a piece of paper gently floated down to the ground.


    "What''s this?" General Wang had a sinking feeling. He quickly picked up the paper, on which a few words were written:


    <i>In the battle between the quasi-Heavenly Rankers Shadow de and Jin Qing, Shadow de emerged victorious and Jin Qing perished! Within a month, or at most half a year, Shadow de will undoubtedly enter the Heavenly Rankings.</i>


    "Jin Qing? The north king has reached the quasi-Heavenly Ranking level? And now he''s dead?" General Wang''s astonishment was palpable. "Shadow de is on the cusp of the Heavenly Rankings as well?"


    General Wang was well aware of the bounty posted by Great Jin, which had spread far and wide. He was naturally familiar with the notorious reputation of Shadow de


    ...


    As soon as Tang Jin received the urgent message, she hastened to the Holy Capital at full speed.


    Meanwhile, within a sprawling courtyard house in Ly City, Song Guang and Li Yan met.


    "Song Guang, aren''t you worried about enraging the Cloudstride Sect by sharing this intelligence with Great Jin?" Li Yan shook his head. "If it were me, I wouldn''t dare take such a risk."


    "Afraid?" Song Guang responded with a smirk. "What do I have to fear? It isn��t just the two of us who witnessed Shadow de��s strength. Jin Qing met his demise in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Who else but Shadow de could have in him? Even if I don��t say anything, it won''t be long before Great Jin connects the dots."


    Li Yan shook his head, voicing his skepticism. "Even if Great Jin suspects him, it will take time for them to respond if we remain silent."


    "But the moment Great Jin receives this message, they will plunge us all into war!" Li Yan eximed with exasperation. "Your Sta Consortium has always thrived on chaos."


    "Only amidst chaos is there a ce for us to survive," Song Guang retorted. "Li Yan, don''t pretend to be innocent. Aren��t you going to report this news once you return anyway?"


    "Once you report it, won��t your two friends from the Pleiades Guild make their way to Cloudhill?" Song Guang sneered. "There��s no need to put on pretenses when our intentions align."


    Li Yan cast him a sidelong nce but remained silent.


    "That settles it," Song Guang dered, making his way toward the courtyard''s exit. "Inform your faction��s ancestors as soon as possible. We must reach Cloudhill before the Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin do."


    "This is but a y in progress. Shadow de is smart, and there��s a 99% chance he won''t return to Cloudhill until he truly bes a Heavenly Ranker.��


    "However, if we unite our factions'' strengths to support the Cloudstride Sect against the Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin, and simultaneously approach Wu Yuan with friendship while employing both intimidation and allure tactics on Bu Yu and Huan Jian, we may just coax Shadow de out of hiding," Song Guang proposed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    "Then, we��ll have the chance to capture him and loot his treasures. His Purplewood Spirit Fruit will be ours.��


    ��Time is of the essence," Song Guang dered, pushing open the courtyard doors and vanishing into the cloak of night.


    <i>This Song Guang.</i> Li Yan couldn''t help but furrow his brow as he observed Song Guang''s departure. He understood Shadow de''s nature, yet he also recognized that Song Guang''s proposition was the best course of action. After all, who wouldn''t be enticed by the wealth that Shadow de possessed, especially when hecked the protection of a Heavenly Ranker?


    Song Guang had sent a message to the Great Jin not to lend assistance, but to orchestrate circumstances in a way that wouldpel Shadow de to reveal himself.


    <i>The Sta Consortium, always weaving their treacherous schemes, pitting the tiger against the wolf. </i>Li Yan��s brow creased. <i>Their true aim is to capture Shadow de and obtain his Spirit Fruit, but they fear the consequences of a direct assault on Cloudhill. </i>


    <i>Enough deliberation. I��ll just report this and allow the ancestors to decide. </i>Li Yan concluded.


    He dared not withhold such critical information.

 Chapter 201: Return Of The Ancestor (3)

    <h4>Chapter 201: Return Of The Ancestor (3)</h4>


    In the early morning hours, with the first hints of daylight on the horizon, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia drew nearer to Cloudhill City. Eight-Sided Cloudhill, an impressive sight from a distance, towered beneath their feet.


    <i>This is true liberation. The feeling of traversing thousands of li in the blink of an eye. Nothing can rece this sense of freedom. </i>Wu Yuan felt emotional as they flew through the air.


    Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng were equally astounded. Jiexian Mountain was located in the Chu Continent, thousands of li from Cloudhill. Yet in such a short time, they had soared across countless mountain ranges, deep valleys, mighty rivers, and barren ins!


    "Cloudhill," Fang Xia murmured, standing at the helm of the flying boat. He maintained his poise, but a hint of nostalgia lingered in his eyes. And perhaps a touch of mncholy.


    Over a hundred years had passed, enough time for the world to change in many ways. Yet, for Fang Xia, the people and events he once knew had now faded like smoke.


    <i>Once these matters are resolved and the young master is on the right path, I must visit Moonlit Haven. </i>Fang Xia mused to himself. <i>Perhaps there, I can recapture the sentiments of bygone days.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Heaven and earth''s power shifted, concealing the presence of the flying boat. Once they neared the peak of Cloudhill, their speed slowed sharply, and they soonnded.


    "Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, you two go ahead," Fang Xia ordered calmly. "Instruct the sect leader to gather all the sect elders at the Cloud Hall."


    "Understood," Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng responded without hesitation, leaping from the boat.


    "Ancestor, should we proceed to Cloudhill��s relic or head to the Cloud Hall?" Bu Yu inquired softly.


    "Neither!" Fang Xia''s eyes gleamed with a frigid determination as he subtly shook his head. "Before anything else, let''s teach that unfilial martial grand disciple a lesson!"


    Bu Yu was left unable to find the right words to respond.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The flying boat elerated once again, reaching a speed of ten li per breath. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves hovering above a brilliantly illuminated cliff: Razor''s Edge Cliff!


    "Ancestor, shall I go and fetch Junior Brother Huan?" Bu Yu asked.


    "No need," Fang Xia furrowed his brow. "I''ll go see him myself. I want to see what kind of miscreant Ji Puyu has raised."


    Bu Yu promptly fell silent. Ji Puyu, her master, was also a Grandmaster. Sadly, he passed away several decades ago.


    ording to the timeline, Ji Puyu began his rise to prominence when Fang Xia was still in charge of the sect. It was no surprise that the two were acquainted. Bu Yu suspected that Ji Puyu and Fang Xia shared a simr rtionship to that of Xu Hui and herself now.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a single stride, Fang Xia materialized in the air hundreds of meters away. In the next instant, he had already entered the cave.


    On the flying boat, Wu Yuan and Bu Yu exchanged nces.


    "Rain Hierarch..." Wu Yuan shook his head repeatedly. "Don''t me me. I didn''t say much. I simply reported the situation as it was. I didn��t expect Ancestor Fang Xia to fly into a rage upon hearing that The Sword Hierarch hasn''t set foot in the secr world for 30 years."


    "I understand," The Rain Hierarch disyed a bitter smile. "I''ll take responsibility for this. Let��s just hope that Ancestor Fang Xia won��t be too harsh on him. The Sword Hierarch is known to be quite particr about his image."


    A brief moment passed, during which Wu Yuan and The Rain Hierarch, with their sharp senses, could distinctly make out the sounds of scolding and... whipping echoing from within the cave.


    Wu Yuan remainedposed, his demeanor steady. On the other hand, Bu Yu��s eyelid twitched.


    Seconds ticked by.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Soon, two figures d in white robes emerged from the depths of the cave �C the first exuding confidence and authority, the second appearing somewhat sheepish. It was none other than Fang Xia and Huan Jian. The pair made their way onto the flying boat.


    "Wu Yuan, Senior Sister," Huan Jian said with a wry smile upon alighting, "A heads up about Ancestor Fang Xia''s return would have been much appreciated."


    Suppressing theirughter, Wu Yuan and Bu Yu returned the greeting. Huan Jian''s face was swelling noticeably,plete with clear markings.


    One had to remember that Huan Jian was a quasi-Heavenly Ranker with an exceptional physique. One can only imagine the severity of the beating he endured.


    "They were nning to inform you, but I forbade it," Fang Xia spoke indifferently. "I wanted to witness the conduct of the first transcended mortal from my Cloudstride Sect myself."


    A bitter smile crossed Huan Jian''s face. The moment Fang Xia arrived at his cave, he had mistakenly believed that a Heavenly Ranker assassin from Great Jin hade for him. He tried to resist, only to bepletely crushed in the opponent��s first move. Through their confrontation, Huan Jian realized the vast difference between them. Fang Xia was on apletely different level.


    Along with Fang Xia��s status as an ancestor of the sect, Huan Jian dared not harbor any ill intent. What''s more, Huan Jian vividly remembered Fang Xia''s promise to him: "Serve the sect and continue your cultivation, and your aplishments will surpass any worldly exploration or silent contemtion tenfold!"


    It was the carrot-and-stick approach. What more was there to say?


    With a disapproving frown, Fang Xia ordered, "Tidy up and change your attire. Go meet the sect elders and make sure to follow my instructions to the letter."


    "Understood," Huan Jian obedientlyplied.


    With a sweep of his hand, the bruises on his face vanished, and his white robes transformed into ck robes. A small saber appeared, deftly trimming his disheveled hair and goatee. In no time at all, he morphed into the likeness of a middle-aged official, radiating an air of authority.


    "Off you go," Fang Xia waved him away.


    Huan Jian quickly departed.


    "Bu Yu, Wu Yuan, let��s go. We are heading to the relic," Fang Xia dered. "Whether the Cloudstride Sect will one day be as stable as Mount Tai relies on this."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A flying boat swiftly made its way towards a forbidden zone nestled deep within Cloudhill.


    The zone, several li in radius, was obscured from view by dense forests and heavily guarded by numerous soldiers.


    The trio slowly descended, unnoticed.


    "That��s the entrance to the relic," Bu Yu murmured to Wu Yuan, pointing to a colossal cave at the center of the forest. "Inside lies the relic."


    Wu Yuan nodded. He had only heard of this immortal relic but had never seen it in person.


    "Don��t resist." Fang Xiamanded softly, stowing away the flying boat. An unseen force held Wu Yuan and Bu Yu in ce.


    Like streaks of light slicing through the air, the trio flew into the cave. The area inside the cave was pitch ck. However, a man-made stairway could be seen along the walls.


    <i>It''s so hot! </i>Wu Yuan was taken aback by the searing heat that greeted them inside the cave. The further in they went, the higher the temperature grew.


    The feeble light that managed to pierce through the cave faded with each passing step. But even the weakest among them, Bu Yu, was a Great Grandmaster, and she had no trouble observing her surroundings with minimal lighting. And for Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, who could harness Soul Force, the absence of light was inconsequential. The darkness was no issue.


    In the blink of an eye, they descended nearly a kilometer, the roughly ten-meter-wide cavern twisting and curving along the way. Over a dozenrge cracks marred the walls, allowing rainwater to seep in.


    <i>It''s so hot! No wonder nothing grows here. This also exins why Cloudhill has a perpetual spring climate, even during winter.</i>


    After trekking for over three kilometers in Wu Yuan''s estimation, they reached the underbelly of Cloudhill. Suddenly, the world before them became crystal clear.


    They stood in a vast underground cavern, bathed in a gentle, ethereal glow. Wu Yuan''s eyes widened at the sight of numerous luminous gems and precious stones embedded within the rocky ceiling.


    <i>Are those Night Pearls?</i> Wu Yuan was startled.


    The cavern resembled a grand square, stretching approximately 800 meters in length, 300 meters in width, and dozens of meters in height. Several passages also extended further into the darkness. However, what truly captivated their attention was the peculiar jade stones that paved the entirety of the square.


    <i>A jade chamber?</i> Wu Yuan was startled as he perceived the area with his Soul Force.

 Chapter 202: Return Of The Ancestor (4)

    <h4>Chapter 202: Return Of The Ancestor (4)</h4>


    The poor quality jade stones that covered the square couldn��tpare to etherstone, but the sheer scale of the square left him breathless. Who would have thought that such a hidden grotto-heaven would be tucked deep in the belly of Cloudhill? From the external traces, it seemed to be man-made. The amount of manpower and resources required for its construction must have been exorbitant. Only a powerful qi refiner could aplish such a feat.


    <i>The spiritual qi here... it''s so dense. </i>Standing on the jade stone square, Wu Yuan could sense that the density of the spiritual qi was at least ten times that of the outside world.


    <i>What''s that?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils slightly contracted as he caught sight of a cauldron in the middle of the square, partially buried in the ground. It contained a faint red liquid. The cauldron and the surrounding jade stones were engraved with countless cryptic symbols, giving off a sense that they were one with nature.


    "It''s an array." Fang Xia looked around and exined. ��The entire jade chamber is a potent spirit-gathering array. Beneath the chamber lies a spirit vein which a previous qi refiner tapped on to set up the array. The convergence of spiritual qi,bined with the unique characteristics of Cloudhill, resulted in the creation of Cloudspring Blood.��


    As Wu Yuan listened, he couldn''t help but marvel at the abilities of qi refiners.


    ��A spirit-gathering array? Bu Yu, on the other hand, was stunned and confused. After all, the Cloudstride Sect had no Heavenly Rankers, hence they had been utilizing this immortal relic without understanding the principle behind it.


    Suddenly, Fang Xia made a grabbing motion toward empty air, conjuring a massive green hand that reached for the cauldron on the ground. Before Wu Yuan and Bu Yu could react, there was a sudden explosion.


    <i>Boom!</i> The massive cauldron on the ground was lifted into the air, causing cracks to spread throughout the surrounding jade stones. The once peaceful spiritual qi within the jade chamber was thrown into disarray. The cauldron then flew towards Fang Xia, who swiftly stowed it away.


    "Ancestor?�� Bu Yu spoke up with some hesitation. If the Cloudspring Blood, a crucial resource of the Cloudstride Sect, waspromised, it would significantly dy the cultivation progress of the sect''s disciples.


    "Don''t worry," Fang Xia assured, dismissing Bu Yu''s concerns. "I''m not destroying our sect''s foundation. The qi refiner who set up this array was terribly ipetent. They had a perfectly good spirit-gathering array, but they failed to understand theyout of the spiritual veins and ended up creating something wed, then called it Cloudspring Blood. In reality, Cloudspring Blood is nothing more than impure spiritual liquid."


    Spiritual liquid was otherwise known as Ancient Immortal Dew!


    "I will rearrange the spirit-gathering array such that it will continuously produce spiritual liquid. Both the quantity and the quality will surpass the previous Cloudspring Blood," Fang Xia dered.


    Bu Yu''s eyes brightened. With arger quantity and stable supply of spiritual liquid, the cultivation speed of the Cloudstride Sect��s disciples would skyrocket. While the top-tier powers of the world had powerful instructors and cultivation teachings, they did notck cultivation resources either!


    "I destroyed the original spirit-gathering array to study the spiritual veins, but you don''t need to concern yourself with these matters for now," Fang Xia said softly.


    "Find any avable alcove and begin cultivating.�� Fang Xia pointed to a few alcoves carved from the jade chamber that were essible through a distant passage, "Make good use of your time, consume the Purplewood Spirit Fruit, and focus on contemting the world. For now, you needn''t worry about the affairs of the sect. If you fully digest the spirit fruit and still fail to make a breakthrough, I will share my insights on attaining the Harmony of Man and Nature with you."


    Bu Yu nodded in agreement. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, she knew she had much to learn from Fang Xia.


    Not to mention, Fang Xia��s return, as well as Wu Yuan and Huan Jian��s strength, allowed her to truly be at ease. Even if she went into seclusion for cultivation, she didn''t need to worry about any untoward incidents befalling the sect.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Bu Yu darted swiftly into an alcove. As Fang Xia had mentioned, she didn��t have much time left.


    <i>Whoosh! </i> With a flick of his wrist, Fang Xia summoned two beams of light, which coalesced into a shimmering barrier,pletely sealing the entrance to the alcove. This barrier served to inste against any external disturbances.


    "Young Master." Fang Xia abruptly turned to Wu Yuan and smiled. "Rest assured, Bu Yu cannot eavesdrop on our conversation."


    Wu Yuan responded with a slight smile. "What are the chances of Grandmaster Bu Yu achieving a breakthrough?"


    Deep down, Wu Yuan truly hoped for Bu Yu to make a breakthrough, for she had sacrificed too much for the Cloudstride Sect.


    "A breakthrough? It��s hard to say." Fang Xia mused thoughtfully. "I understand your sentiments, Young Master. I too hope for her sess. The decline of the sect to this point is partly my fault."


    "Her master, Ji Puyu, was just a youngster back in the day." Fang Xia shook his head. "In the blink of an eye, his disciples have be the pirs of the sect for decades. Such is the unpredictable nature of life."


    "Nevertheless, From an objective standpoint, the likelihood of Bu Yu achieving a breakthrough is less than 30%!" Fang Xia murmured softly. "The time remaining for her is far too brief, and the pressure is immense.��


    ��The Purplewood Spirit Fruit provides decent support, but itcks the potency to directly instill the insight of Dao. Even with my assistance, this is a pivotal step towards transcendence on the journey from Integration to Unity, the key to resonating with nature and heaven and earth. It all hinges on her," stated Fang Xia.


    Wu Yuan gave a subtle nod. In the world, there indeed existed some unimaginable treasures. It was a shame that Middle Land was too small to nurture them! The Purplewood Spirit Fruit was the best treasure they could find.


    "Fang Xia, how do you n to construct this array?" Wu Yuan inquired, gesturing toward the vast jade chamber before them.


    "The construction of an array cannot be rushed, especially arge-scale defense array like this one." Fang Xia borated slowly. "It requires a meticulous approach. I must first understand the entireyout of Cloudhill and determine the direction of the flow of spirit veins. Then, step by step, refine the array gs and establish a solid foundation for the array. Only then can I piece them together to form aplete and impregnable defense array!"


    "It��s thatplicated?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. He had never studied arrays before.


    "The path of array cultivation is intertwined with the profundity of heaven and earth itself. At its core, it harnesses heaven and earth''s power to kill one��s enemies. How can it not beplicated?" Fang Xia shook his head, "If you really delve into it, it''s no less challenging than the path of equipment forging."


    "Fang Xia, if I understand correctly, aren''t there portable arrays?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    This was something he had learned from an immortal slip, though his understanding was limited.


    "That would be an array disk," Fang Xia rified. "Arrays can be ssified into fixed arrays and portable arrays. A fixed array taps into heaven and earth''s power. It requires less resources, is far more powerful, and is more resilient against disruption," Fang Xia borated. "On the other hand, a portable array relies on an energy source, such as etherstone or ethercrystal, which is infused into the array disk to activate it. An array disk is difficult to construct, its usage consumes a substantial amount of resources, and itcks adaptability to different terrains. It is rigid in nature andparatively easier for an array expert to decipher."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly, recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of each array type. Their applications varied, contingent on the cultivator''s individual preferences and circumstances.


    "Of course, there are arrays that epass elements of both," Fang Xia added. "Take for instance a qi refiner who cultivates a lifebound array diagram. They etch diverse array symbols into their lifebound array diagram, seamlessly integrating it with their understanding of heaven and earth. Deploying the array ispletely effortless, requiring a mere thought."


    "However, while they arepetent at utilizing arrays, they naturally find themselves at a disadvantage when ites to directbat," Fang Xia concluded, chuckling softly.


    "Lifebound diagram array?" Wu Yuan nodded.


    A cultivator��s lifebound object often determined their expertise. For example, a sword immortal refining a lifebound flying sword would possess formidable destructive power! On the other hand, an eldritch warrior refining a lifebound eldritch beast would grow along with the beast, advancing together and battling side by side.


    "Young Master, I know what concerns you," Fang Xia said with a broad smile. "Rest assured, I should be able toy down a mind confusion array, as well as a monitoring array which is capable of surveying a 100-li radius around Cloudhill, by today."


    "When it ispleted, no qi refiner will be able to escape the array''s detection. And when the killing array isid out, tsk tsk, few Qi Sea cultivators will be able to withstand it," Fang Xia stated with confidence.


    "Young Master, what you need to do now is to concentrate on cultivating. Once you be an eldritch warrior, with you in closebat and me attacking from afar, we shall conquer the world together!"

 Chapter 203: Terranean Body (1)

    <h4>Chapter 203: Terranean Body (1)</h4>


    "Conquer the world together?" Wu Yuan snorted withughter.


    If he became an eldritch warrior, he would indeed be near invincible in closebat with his second-degree eldritch tattoos.


    "But old Fang." Wu Yuan shook his head, "When I spoke with the realm master, he mentioned a methodology called eldritch universal cultivation, where I can cultivate both paths."


    "Both?" Fang Xia regarded Wu Yuan as if he were looking at a monster.


    Suddenly, he blurted out, "Young Master, what is the current detection range of your Soul Force?"


    "800 meters," Wu Yuan replied.


    In truth, after Wu Yuan received his heavenly-endowed eldritch tattoos, his soul underwent a remarkable transformation, increasing his Soul Force range to 1300 meters. Was Fang Xia someone he could trust? Yes! However, Wu Yuan always adhered to the belief that ''the human heart is unfathomable''. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he wouldn��t reveal all his secrets to anyone.


    "800 meters?" Fang Xia eximed, "Young Master, I now know why the realm master chose you as his sessor, and why your growth is so rapid."


    "If I had your soul talent, I daresay I might have already grasped True Intent by now!" Fang Xia sighed with regret.


    "Is a range of 800 meters that amazing?" Wu Yuan was rather surprised by his reaction.


    "Of course it��s amazing." Fang Xia said solemnly, "Young Master, do you know what��s the exploration range of my Soul Force? I am currently at the eighth stage of the Qi Sea phase."


    "I don''t know." Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "400 meters," Fang Xia chuckled.


    ��So small?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback. Fang Xia could be considered a powerhouse among Qi Sea cultivators, yet his soul was weaker than his own?


    ��You think this is small?�� Fang Xia shook his head with a bitter smile. "Young Master, it seems you don''t understand. Do you know the three requirements to enter the Golden Core phase?"


    "I don''t." Wu Yuan confessed, shaking his head.


    He really had no idea about these things, after all, he was still far from bing a true eldritch warrior.


    "The first is to umte essentia till one reaches the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase, the second is to reach the Unity level in martial skill, and the third is for one��s Soul Force range to extend at least 500 meters." Fang Xia exined slowly, "The first two are easy to achieve, but strengthening one��s soul is the most difficult."


    "Over the past hundred years, I''ve reached the threshold of the Domain stage and in the recent decade, my soul has greatly expanded, yet I��ve only barely reached this step.


    ��Young Master, you haven''t even be an eldritch warrior yet, but your soul is already this powerful." Fang Xia marveled, lost in thought. ��Once you be an eldritch warrior, your soul will strengthen by leaps and bounds. Perhaps it might even beparable to a genuine Golden Core Superior.��


    He sighed, ��Comparison is truly the thief of joy.��


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly. A ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator��s Soul Force could only reach a range of around 400 meters. But once they broke through to be a Golden Core Superior, the soul would be nourished by the Golden Core. Reaching a range of dozens of li was quite normal.


    He understood that the strength of his soul could not be solely attributed to talent, but also to his Visualization of the ck pagoda and the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. Once he progressed to be an eldritch warrior, the corresponding improvement might not be as dramatic.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan realized something and asked, ��Old Fang, you��ve already progressed from the Harmony of Man and Nature and reached the threshold of the Domain stage?��


    ��Hehe!�� Fang Xia responded with a smug expression, ��Young Master, you seem surprised.��


    "Based on the information from the realm master''s records, a Qi Sea cultivator at the Domain stage can easily decimate a group ofte-stage cultivators in the same phase." Wu Yuan was truly impressed.


    The Fundamentals, Power Surge, and Rigid Yet Supple represented the unearthing of the human body��s strength.


    Perception, Integration, and Unity��these were the levels of a practitioner''s progression from the inside out, where one gradually sensed and harnessed heaven and earth''s power.


    The Domain stage was reached once a cultivator perfected the Unity level, gained a deeper understanding of heaven and earth''s workings, grasped the essence of a specific heaven and earth''s power, andmanded more than 200,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power.


    Even without artifacts or arcane arts, a cultivator at the Domain stage could easily overpower arge group of Qi Sea phase cultivators simply by tapping into heaven and earth''s power.


    One had to understand that the minimum skill requirement to enter the Golden Core phase was the Unity level. In other words, not all Golden Core Superiors were necessarily able to control Domains.


    "Young Master, it''s not as exaggerated as you think," Fang Xia shook his head, "Whether it''s the Unity level or the Domain stage, it alles down to how one harnesses heaven and earth''s power. The main difference between me and otherte-stage Qi Sea cultivators is the artifacts I possess."


    "Artifacts?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "In this world, there are numerous immortal relics left behind by ancient cultivators from the earlier eras of the Summerpeak World," Fang Xia exined. "Factions like Great Jin and the Sta Consortium have been umting these relics over a long span of time. Some of them even possess sixth-grade or fifth-grade spirit equipment, which will greatly enhance their strength. Even if my skills reach an advanced stage, I might not necessarily be able to defeat them.��


    Wu Yuan had a moment of realization.


    "That''s why we need to maintain a low profile, lure them into attacking us, and set up an ambush," Fang Xia chuckled, ��While waiting for Young Master to be an eldritch warrior, I��ll take care of a fewte-stage Qi Sea cultivators and acquire more resources and powerful artifacts. When you have broken through and all preparations areplete, it will be our turn to show the world who��s boss. Together, we can eliminate one faction after another, plundering all those treasures they��ve umted.��


    Wu Yuan shook his head helplessly. He never expected Fang Xia''s ambitions to be so grand.


    "Young Master, I��m not joking," Fang Xia dered with a serious look. "The path to immortality is one of struggle! It is the relentless pursuit of opportunities, the acquisition of artifacts, and the quest for longevity itself!"


    "The ebb and flow of heaven and earth, the cyclical rise and fall of all things, these are the naturalws. The path to immortality is a rebellion against nature, but it is not nature itself that we defy, rather thews that govern it."


    "Why did I admonish Huan Jian and praise Bu Yu? Severing one��s worldly ties and transcending the mundane may sound noble," Fang Xia mused, shaking his head. "But is the arduous journey to immortality not another form of worldly struggle?"


    "With a Dao Heart that forsakes even the most basic worldly desires, how can one hope to challenge the Heavenly Dao? How can one carve a blood-soaked path through the bodies of countless cultivators? Sooner orter, one shall crumble to mere dust and bones!"


    "The factions in Middle Land call themselves ��factions��, but in reality, they are nothing more than a bunch of loose cultivators. All those precious artifacts are as good as trash in their hands. Allowing them to hold onto such treasures is a sin! Stripping them bare and sparing their lives is already an act of mercy," Fang Xia stated with indifference. "By consolidating their resources, Young Master, we increase our chances of advancing to the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "Young master, you have incredible soul talent, allowing you to potentially cultivate two paths simultaneously. But whether it be raising a lifebound eldritch beast or cultivating a lifebound artifact in the future, great reserves of resources and treasures are required. If you don��t fight for the resources you need, forget traversing two paths, even a single path will be impossible toplete," Fang Xia spoke gravely.


    "Young master, why do you think the strong establish sects?" Fang Xia abruptly questioned, seemingly changing the topic.


    "Establish sects?" Wu Yuan paused, caught off guard by the question. He had never given this much thought.


    "Why do they desire to dominate the world? To leave a legacy? That is what mortals would think. Since they are limited by their lifespan, they hope that their ideals and will would be immortalized instead. Cultivators nearing their final days also tend to have such mindsets," Fang Xia shook his head. "But for the cultivators in their prime, the establishment of sects or nations is not merely for the sake of leaving legacies!"


    "I can live for 500 years. Once I reach the Golden Core phase, my lifespan will be extended to 1000 years. How many of my disciples and grandchildren can possibly surpass me in longevity?" Fang Xia chuckled. "And if I were to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, my lifespan would be lengthened beyond imagination!"


    Wu Yuan chuckled. Indeed, the disparity in lifespan between cultivators and ordinary people was staggering. It wasn��t surprising that their mindsets changed as well.


    Fang Xia leaned in. ��I have three motives for revitalizing the Cloudstride Sect. Firstly, to acquire resources. By expanding our territories and training an army of skilled cultivators and Grandmasters, we will have the manpower to explore the far reaches of the world, the overseas continents, and perhaps even the entire expanse of the Summerpeak World with unparalleled efficiency. The likelihood of discovering a treasure trove increases exponentiallypared to searching individually."


    Wu Yuan listened intently. These were concepts he had never considered before.


    "Secondly, it is to uncover talent," Fang Xia stated with conviction. "With the passing of generations, perhaps prodigious talents will be born within our vast territory. By investing resources into their growth, there is a chance that they might surpass even me. And as they grow, I may be able to benefit from their achievements."


    Fang Xia''s chuckle filled the air. "It��s the same in your case, Young Master," he said. "Without the Cloudstride Sect, you wouldn��t have ced such trust in me. When you unite the entire Summerpeak World in the future, even the smallest bit of power that slips through your fingers might be enough to elevate me to greater heights."


    Wu Yuan found himself caught betweenughter and tears, unsure of how to respond to Fang Xia''s unorthodox thinking.


    "Andstly, Faith!" Fang Xia dered.


    Faith? Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, his confusion evident. The realm master had mentioned it once or twice, but it was still a mystery to him.


    "Faith, or rather incense offerings. The soul of an intelligent being is extremely unique. ording to the ��Eldritch Codex�� I��m cultivating, when an intelligent being worships another being, their Faith and incense offerings contain mysterious power.�� Fang Xia exined in a deep voice.


    "Once one reaches the Amethyst Cradle stage, they can propagate their Faith and refine this mysterious power, greatly enhancing their cultivation. However, countless powerhouses dominate the macrocosms and set many strict regtions on evangelization. Amethyst Cradle cultivators are far too weak to qualify to propagate their Faith.��


    "Although the Summerpeak World is expansive, it has only been a few thousand years since it experienced a resurgence. Many civilizations within its borders have yet to fully revive."


    Fang Xia''s excitement was palpable as he continued, "Young Master, this is our chance! We must strive to unify the entire Summerpeak. Only this way, when cultivators from the macrocosm descend into this world or when we ourselves venture into the macrocosm, will we possess the qualifications to defy fate and forge ahead on the path to immortality."


    Wu Yuan mulled over Fang Xia''s words. He understood that Fang Xia''s words were spoken from the heart. These were all part of his Dao Heart.


    "Old Fang, I appreciate the guidance," Wu Yuan gave him a sincere bow.


    Fang Xia grinned. He had long noticed Wu Yuan''s exceptional talent and personal moral values. However, certain rules did not apply to the journey to immortality. As instructed by the realm master, Fang Xia knew that it was his duty to provide timely guidance to Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 204: Terranean Body (2)

    <h4>Chapter 204: Terranean Body (2)</h4>


    "Young Master," Fang Xia began, "All we need at present is an overarching objective, which we will achieve one step at a time." His smile grew wider as he continued, "For now, your cultivation is of utmost importance. I suggest you start by bing an eldritch warrior. If you still have spare time and mental capacity thereafter, unlocking your qi sea to be an eldritch mage is not out of reach. However, there is one thing you must take note of.��


    Wu Yuan listened attentively, knowing that Fang Xia, who had cultivated for over a century, possessed far more cultivation experience than himself.


    "It is said that the three dantian lobes - upper, middle, and lower - can amodate the cultivation of three lifebound objects, one in each lobe," Fang Xia exined. "Of course, the upper dantian lobe, wherein the soul resides, is the most mysterious. I must admit, my understanding of it is limited. However, if you can truly cultivate two paths simultaneously, you will be able to cultivate an additional lifebound object. You must choose wisely."


    "My suggestion is to select an object that specializes in offense for the middle dantian lobe!"


    "An object that specializes in offense?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. "But don''t you cultivate a lifebound gu?"


    "Young Master, you will soon have a lifebound eldritch beast. There is no fundamental distinction between an eldritch beast and a gu. Furthermore, gu are not particrly proficient in offense," Fang Xia exined, shaking his head. "Given the limited time avable for cultivating both paths, I estimate that your proficiency in refining pills, array formations, and other qi refining disciplines may not reach impressive heights."


    "Instead of being a jack of all trades, focus primarily on the eldritch warrior cultivation path, striving for strong closebat abilities! As for the qi refining path, cultivate a lifebound flying sword or throwing knife, granting you an additional long-range attack option."


    "Specialize in offense. There are plenty of disciplines for qi refiners to specialize in. The immortal path is closely intertwined with qi refiners," Fang Xia said with a chuckle. "However, among all virtues, might reigns supreme! Among all paths, the path of killing holds the highest authority."


    Might made right.


    "Of course, this is merely a suggestion. It is entirely up to you, Young Master, to decide how you wish to proceed," advised Fang Xia.


    "Very well, I will take your advice into consideration. It��s still not toote to contemte my options as a qi refiner after bing an eldritch warrior," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan flipped his palm to reveal several storage rings and belts, extending it toward Fang Xia. "Old Fang, these are the spoils of my treasure hunt in the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Take them."


    Among the treasures were two first-grade divine swords, etherstone, spiritual liquid, and spirit fruits. Wu Yuan had crammed the remaining ordinary divine weapons, including Jin Qing''s spirit battle armor, as well as bottles and jars, into the storage artifacts.


    "Use them as you see fit, whether on yourself or the martial artists of our sect," Wu Yuanughed.


    "Very well," Fang Xia epted them with a smile. "You need not concern yourself with these trivial matters. I��ll handle them. You should concentrate on your cultivation."


    He quickly examined the various storage artifacts.


    "Ah, a suit of spirit battle armor? Excellent, I shall make use of it. The realm master only provided me with basic treasures," Fang Xia''s eyes gleamed as he carefully inspected it. "Hmm, it��s a suit of ninth-grade spirit armor, but it seems to be slightly damaged. After repairing it, it��ll be as good as new. For now, I��ll just use it as it is."


    "Reforging spirit battle armor is a moreplex task than repairing any sword or saber!" Fang Xia nced at Wu Yuan.


    "As long as it is functional," Wu Yuan replied.


    A cultivator only required a certain number of artifacts. The surplus? They merely sat there gathering dust, unused.


    "As for these ten Redwood Spirit Fruits, aside from Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, I shall select a few talented experts from our sect to consume them," Fang Xia dered. "Having a few more Grandmaster martial artists, even if they rank at the bottom of the Land Rankings, will greatly facilitate our unification of the Jiang Continent."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    During his exploration of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, Wu Yuan managed to gather a grand total of sixteen Redwood Spirit Fruits and eight Purplewood Spirit Fruits. He gave ten Redwood Spirit Fruits to Fang Xia. As for the remaining six, he had other uses in mind for them. He had no immediate ns to make use of the eight Purplewood Spirit Fruits. If one was unable to reach the Integration level on their own, it would be pointless to consume Purplewood Spirit Fruits. Moreover, there were no martial artists at this level in the Cloudstride Sect.


    ...


    After several hours, the sun was at its peak. Despite the sweltering heat in the height of summer, the members of the Cloudstride Sect gathered at the Cloud Hall on Cloudhill, their faces brimming with excitement.


    "We pay our respects to Ancestor Fang Xia. We pay our respects to Hierarch Huan Jian!" The words reverberated in the air, spoken in unison by more than ten Savant experts, including Sect Leader Lu Feng, Gu Wang, Yan Hong, Zhang Changsheng, the Instruction Hall''s Sect Elder Tian, Huan Zidong, and others. Dozens of trusted first-rate Adepts like Zhao Baifan, Gao Yu, Si Longliang, Xu Hui, and many more filled the hall as well. It was a sight to behold, all the core members of the entire Cloudstride Sect gathered in one ce.


    "Everyone, I trust you have all familiarized yourselves with the document provided earlier." Huan Jian addressed the crowd. "Ancestor Fang Xia''s strength rivals, if not exceeds, that of the legendary Imperator Jin! Senior Shadow de and I are on the cusp of entering the Heavenly Rankings. Furthermore, The Rain Hierarch is currently in closed-door seclusion, attempting to break through."


    "In other words," Huan Jian''s gaze swept over the assembly, "After three long centuries, our Cloudstride Sect is poised to enter an era of true prosperity!"


    The atmosphere in the hall was a mixture of astonishment and barely contained jubtion. Heavens! After their defeat at the Battle of Hillstride, the upper ranks of the Cloudstride Sect had been filled with pessimism, weighed down by the immense pressure from Great Jin. But in a sudden turn of events, the sect was on the verge of producing several Heavenly Rankers.


    On top of that, Ancestor Fang Xia, someone who held an irreceable status in the hearts of the Cloudstride Sect''s disciples, had returned! The level of reverence most disciples felt towards him far outweighed their respect and admiration for Bu Yu.


    "Prepare for war!" Fang Xia, dressed in flowing white robes, took his seat at the head of the gathering. His gaze swept over the eager eyes before him. "During my youth, I shook the world, securing four provinces for our Cloudstride Sect. Now that I have returned, the Cloudstride Sect shall expand its territory once more."


    "Our first step is to conquer Yuanhu Province and unify the central region of the Jiang Continent. Our second step is to seize the Four Provinces of Baijiang, as well as the Guangping and Dalong Provinces, thereby controlling the six provinces in the eastern region of the Jiang Continent. Our third step, once we have consolidated the central and eastern regions, will be to gather our armies and march towards Hillstride, Eastdream, and Westdream in the western region of the Jiang Continent,pleting the unification of the Jiang Continent, and making sure the whole world recognizes the name of Cloudstride."


    Fang Xia continued, addressing Lu Feng, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng. "You three, heed my orders."


    "Disciples are present," the trio stepped forward.


    "Sect Leader Lu Feng, the efforts and sacrifices you made for the sect have not gone unnoticed. Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, your contributions in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm were significant." Fang Xia dered, "Each of you shall receive a Redwood Spirit Fruit as a reward."


    "Savant experts who consume a Redwood Spirit Fruit will immediately reach their human limits and reach the level of Grandmasters!" Huan Jian chimed in at that moment.


    His words left the numerous assembled Savant experts green with envy. Heavens! How difficult was it to progress from the Savant level to the Grandmaster level? Yet a single fruit was all it took? Their evaluation of Ancestor Fang Xia immediately rose a notch.


    "All disciples, listen carefully," Fang Xia spoke slowly. "I have more than three Redwood Spirit Fruits in my possession, but treasures will only be granted to those who earn them. In the uing wars to unify the Jiang Continent, failure will be met with punishment, while sess will be rewarded."


    "Remember, the Redwood Spirit Fruit is just the beginning. Your goal should not be to be a Grandmaster. The Heavenly Rankings is what you should strive for! With me and Shadow de, the era before us is destined to witness the rise of the Cloudstride Sect," proimed Fang Xia with an air of authority, his voice resounding through the hall.


    "First-rate Adepts," he continued, ��those of you who perform significant meritorious deeds will also be rewarded with treasures."


    Looking out at the gathered disciples, Fang Xia''s deep voice echoed with determination. "From this day forward, whether it is bing a Grandmaster or a Heavenly Ranker, these feats will be ten times easier for the disciples of the Cloudstride Sect. I envision a future, a thousand years from now, where the Cloudstride Sect stands proudly atop the Middle Land, our names forever etched in the annals of history."


    He paused, his piercing gaze sweeping over the hall. "Do you have the confidence to reach these heights?" Fang Xia, dressed in a flowing white robe, emanated an otherworldly aura, his words igniting a fervor within everyone present.


    "Yes!" they chorused, their conviction ringing through the air.


    Fang Xia''s tone shifted, a chill creeping into his voice. "Let me make this clear upfront. For those who may have previously engaged in personal dealings with Great Jin, I will let it slide. But from this moment on, should anyone dare to betray the sect and their treachery is confirmed, do not me me for being ruthless."


    "Remember this," Fang Xia dered. "My abilities far surpass anything you can fathom. I am at least ten to a hundred times stronger than your imagination can conceive."


    His gaze turned icy cold, sending shivers down the spines of the Cloudstride Sect''s experts. For a brief moment, the world seemed to darken, Fang Xia standing as the absolute center, a god-like figure radiating absolute dominance and invincibility. Even the Savant experts and first-rate Adepts felt a chill, like ants in the presence of a colossal dragon.


    Then, as quickly as it came, the atmosphere shifted, returning to normal. But the experts in the hall were left in awe, their eyes wide with shock. Fang Xia had vanished without a trace, along with Xu Hui. Only the quasi-Heavenly Ranker, Huan Jian, remainedposed throughout. He silently marveled at Ancestor Fang Xia��s power.


    Whether one was young or old, or even a Grandmaster, everyone ultimately sought fame and fortune. With Fang Xia leading the way, the members of the Cloudstride Sect were filled with newfound courage, ready to face whatever challenges came their way. On top of that, he enticed them with promises of renown and riches, then disyed unmatched might in the end, instilling fear in those who dared to defy him!


    One could say that although Fang Xia''s meeting with the core circle of the Cloudstride Sectsted only a few moments, he had already established unshakable authority within their hearts!


    "Everyone!" Huan Jian slowly began. "Save for Lu Feng, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng, all others are to prepare for battle. Assemble the Cloudstride Army and summon those who have retired from service."


    "In three days'' time, Lu Feng shall assume the role ofmander, with Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng as his deputies, leading a force of 4000 Cloudstride soldiers. They shall join forces with the armies of Southdream and Baihu, beginning a campaign towards the South!"


    "We shallunch a direct assault on Yuanhu!" Huan Jian''s tone grew grave.


    "Understood!" Came the resounding response.

 Chapter 205: Terranean Body (3)

    <h4>Chapter 205: Terranean Body (3)</h4>


    At the entrance of the relic cave nestled in Cloudhill, towering trees crowded together.


    Fang Xia looked at Xu Hui with a warm smile. "You must be Xu Hui.��


    Xu Hui''s face betrayed his nervousness as he replied, "Indeed, Ancestor."


    No matter howposed and collected Xu Hui typically was, his insides twisted in anxiety as he faced the sect''s ancestor, a Heavenly Ranker.


    "Both Grandmaster Shadow de and Grandmaster Huan Jian hold you in high regard," Fang Xia said softly. "They both firmly believe that you, out of all the disciples, possess the greatest potential to reach the Heavenly Rankings."


    "Wu Yuan surpasses me tenfold," Xu Hui hastily interjected.


    ��Just tenfold?�� A smile tugged at the corners of Fang Xia''s lips, though his eyes failed to mirror the same mirth.


    His response caught Xu Hui off guard.


    "Forget about Wu Yuan," Fang Xia''s smile faded, turning serious. "Tell me, are you willing to be my disciple?"


    Xu Hui''s eyes lit up.


    ...


    Under Fang Xia''s guidance, the Cloudstride Sect began transforming into a war machine, preparing to achieve the ambitious goal of unifying the Jiang Continent.


    Wu Yuan knew about these extensive ns, but chose not to involve himself. In Fang Xia''s own words: "If these disciples cannot even handle such trivial matters, what purpose do they serve? If the Heavenly Rankers from the Middle Land assail us, and if I, old Fang, fail to protect Cloudhill, what use am I to you, Young Master? Young Master, please rest assured and focus on your cultivation!"


    And so, Wu Yuan made his way directly to a courtyard house assigned by Huan Jian, situated only a few li from the entrance to the relic cave. The courtyard house wasn��trge, but well designed, offering all the necessary amenities. A multitude of maidservants and servants bustled about, attending to their duties.


    Within the spacious meditation chamber, Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position.


    <i>Fang Xia really knows what he��s doing.</i>


    Compared to the veteran cultivator who had spent decades traversing the length and breadth of the middlend and cultivated non-stop for a century, Wu Yuan admitted that he was far less experienced.


    <i>However, the advantages of youth cannot be ignored.</i>


    He remainedposed, his mind untroubled by concerns for his safety as he now enjoyed protection from an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator who reached the Domain stage. There was barely anyone in the Middle Land who could threaten him. As for Golden Core Superiors?


    <i>If Fang Xia can be acknowledged as someone whose "talent is not bad" by the realm master, his strength can certainly be ced at the pinnacle of the Middle Land''s cultivators.</i>


    While there might be other martial artists throughout the thirteen continents with talentparable to Fang Xia''s, what were the chances that they would inherit a cultivation legacy at the same tier? It was important to remember that the lineage of the Fourth Eldritch Realm originated not from a cultivator within the Summerpeak World, but from the distant Greenridge Macrocosm.


    <i>The realm master said that cultivators at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase likely exist within the Middle Land. However, the probability that a Golden Core Superior has emerged is extremely low.</i>


    As for the Amethyst Cradle phase, Wu Yuan felt it even less probable. Even during the prime of the Summerpeak World, Amethyst Cradle Reverends were already the peak powerhouses.


    <i>Either way, I must not becent or ck off on my cultivation efforts. </i>He did not forget the realm master��s warnings and advice.


    The Middle Land was only a small corner of the entire Summerpeak World. 100,000 years after the major war in the Greenridge Macrocosm, civilization was reborn here. But what about the other regions in the Summerpeak World? Would powerful cultivators emerge from their depths?


    <i>Old Fang ns to unify Summerpeak to facilitate the propagation of Faith to the masses. It��s likely that cultivators in other regions of this world who have reached a high cultivation level share simr aspirations. After all, the Hou Feng Tribe ruled over numerous worlds like Summerpeak, and the realm master descended to Summerpeak along with the Fourth Eldritch Realm. This all seems to hint at a connection between the Greenridge Macrocosm and the Summerpeak World.</i>


    Would Golden Core Superiors and Amethyst Cradle Reverends descend into the Middle Land one day? Everything was unknown, yet the possibility existed.


    <i>Whether these powerful cultivators will be a blessing or a curse, whether they arrive with good or evil intentions, is uncertain. However, an Amethyst Cradle Reverend has the power to destroy the entire Middle Land. No matter what, one should not leave their destiny in the hands of outsiders. </i>Wu Yuan felt a sense of wariness and urgency in his heart.


    The only thing he could do was to strengthen himself.


    <i>If I reach the Spiritual Body phase or even the Shambh phase, it will greatly increase my chances of weathering any future storms. </i>Wu Yuan contemted the path forward.


    Since he had both talent and opportunity, it was only right that he worked hard.


    <i>As Old Fang advised, bing an eldritch warrior is the first step. Since my eldritch tattoos are second-degree, once I achieve this, my immortal root will rival that of ate-stage qi refiner in the Qi Sea phase.</i>


    Eldritch tattoos, a type of immortal root, were divided into nine degrees. The strength of one''s immortal root determined the quality of the essentia generated, making it incredibly important!


    <i>Whether it be the first-degree eldritch tattoos or the first-degree immortal root, both are practically myths within the vast expanse of the Greenridge Macrocosm. Second-degree eldritch tattoos are already the pinnacle of immortal roots in the realm of reality.</i>


    Take for example a Qi Sea cultivator with a second-degree immortal root. Even at the first-stage Qi Sea phase, their mana could rival that of an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a low degree immortal root. Once a second-degree immortal root cultivator became ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator, their mana wasparable to a Golden Core Superior!


    On the other hand, a poor immortal root would not only result in inferior quality mana, but it would also hinder the growth of the soul, the cultivation of arcane arts, the refinement of lifebound artifacts, and numerous other aspects. The repercussions were numerous and far-reaching.


    In theory, one could gradually upgrade their immortal root to a higher degree midway through their cultivation path, but with one��s path already fixed, this was immensely difficult.


    <i>If one possesses a low degree immortal root (ninth, eighth, and seventh degrees) the Amethyst Cradle phase will be the furthest they can go.</i> Wu Yuan sighed.


    In his hand, an immortal slip materialized. As his Soul Force entered it, a torrent of information flooded Wu Yuan''s mind. An immortal slip was essentially a book designed for cultivators.


    Instead of rushing to start cultivating, Wu Yuan decided to first finish reading all eight immortal slips from the realm master. Only by expanding his knowledge and horizons could he formte the most urate cultivation n and arrangements.


    Taking the right path was far more important than speeding ahead on the wrong one.


    <i>So it turns out that numerous qi refining sses exist, each with its own unique specializations. Sword immortals reign supreme in battle, while array cultivators are unrivaled in defense...</i>


    <i>Body refiners are also divided into eldritch warrior, blood devil body, demonic deity, divine spirit paths, etc. Among those, divine spirit cultivation is the mainstream path among humans. Legends speak of countless worlds governed by the Immortal Court beyond the macrocosm, where god-like beings engage in fierce battles...</i>


    <i>Array cultivation, alchemy teachings...</i>


    <i>Cultivation can also change the lives of mortals. In the macrocosm, the influence of cultivation on the mortal realm is multifaceted. With an artifact, a mortal can also fly and burrow into the earth... </i>


    Wu Yuan waspletely absorbed in the immortal slips, his knowledge expanding and his understanding of the cultivation world deepening with every word he devoured.


    The concepts of the two major cultivation schools of thought �C qi refining and body refining, began to crystallize in his mind, and he started to grasp the true meaning behind Fang Xia''s words. The path to immortality was indeed one ofpetition.


    Hours passed, and the sun set and rose again before Wu Yuan, tired but satisfied, finally finished reading.


    The immortal slips had contained an overwhelming amount of information, not just in text form but also through vivid images and instructive videos. Trying to exin it all in words was simply an impossible task.


    Although Wu Yuan possessed a strong soul, capable of processing far more information than an ordinary person, the sheer volume of knowledge he had absorbed left him feeling somewhat dizzy. But after some time, he regained hisposure and opened his eyes, a brilliant rity shining through his fatigue. Learning new things was truly exhrating.


    <i>With a little more time to digest and organize this newfound knowledge, even Fang Xia won''t be able to match my theoretical understanding of cultivation paths.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    Even though Fang Xia had received guidance from the realm master, it couldn''tpare to the effort he invested into Wu Yuan, to whom he had imparted all the knowledge he possessed.

 Chapter 206: Terranean Body (4)

    <h4>Chapter 206: Terranean Body (4)</h4>


    Wu Yuan stashed away the immortal slips before closing his eyes once again.


    <i>To think that the first two fundamental cultivation methods mentioned in the ''Archeldritch Divine Codex'' are the very ones I''ve been cultivating.</i>


    This revtion held immense significance for Wu Yuan. The ''Archeldritch Divine Codex'' was the core teaching of his inheritance memories, a divine codex that taught one the path to the Archeldritch phase. Among the three primary cultivation methods outlined in the codex - ''Strength Training Method,'' ''Marrow Cleansing Method,'' and ''Communion Method'' - Wu Yuan was already well-versed in the first two, which corresponded to the ��Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique�� and ��Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique�� respectively.


    The only unfamiliar technique was the ''Communion Method,'' which focused on cultivating the soul chamber. The ''Hundred Acupoints Divine Technique'' was a cultivation method for refining the qi sea dantian lobe.


    <i>I can��t help but wonder if the Blue managed to distill these ultimate cultivation methods, which areparable to the teachings of immortals and devils, through the analysis of big data alone, or whether there was some unseen force orchestrating the resurgence of martial arts in the Blue era. </i>


    There were too many signs pointing toward a hidden hand behind the scenes. However, it was all spection for now.


    <i>Forget it. As of now, I��m just a fledging who has yet to step onto the path of immortal cultivation. If I manage to be an Archeldritch one day, then perhaps I��ll find a way back home.</i>


    Home. The ce he yearned for all this time.


    But reaching the Archeldritch phase was still a distant dream beyond his current reach. ording to the immortal slips, Archeldritches were considered powerhouses even in the Greenridge Macrocosm, beings who had truly thrown off the shackles of mortality.


    Nheless,pared to when he initially arrived in the Middle Land, Wu Yuan finally glimpsed a flicker of hope, a narrow road that could potentially lead him back home. Difficult and treacherous as this road might be, it was a road nheless.


    ...


    <i>I have yet to reach eighteen years old. In theing months, I��ll practice the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique routinely. Once my physique is honed to perfection, I��llmence practicing the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique.</i>


    There was no need for extensive rest during the Viscera Cultivation phase.


    <i>By then, I will be able to reach my human limit in a short time considering my skill level. Then, I will unlock my soul chamber.</i>


    For qi refiners, the pathy in nurturing the qi sea, while body refiners sought to unlock the soul chamber.


    <i>During this period of preparation, my focus should be on enhancing my skill level.</i> Gently closing his eyes, he allowed his Soul Force to expand and connect with the world around him.


    In this state of meditation, Wu Yuan attained a sense of inner tranquility. Body, heart, and soul fused harmoniously, bing a single entity. If a Grandmaster were observing this, it would seem as if he had vanished into thin air. But in reality, Wu Yuan had merged into the world, bing a part of nature.


    <i>The power of fire! The power of wind! The power of wood! </i>


    His consciousness and soul intertwined with the world around him. Wu Yuan''s Soul Force seeped into the intricate fabric of heaven and earth, extending beyond the confines of his meditation chamber.


    With each passing moment, his Soul Force pierced through the surfaceyer of heaven and earth, gradually unraveling the mysterious powers that dwelled deep within. These powers of heaven and earth, vibrant and surging, were the source of heaven and earth��sws, ensuring its harmonious operation.


    Cultivators, such as Wu Yuan, possessed the unique ability to sense, mobilize, andprehend these powers of heaven and earth.


    <i>However, among the numerous types of heaven and earth��s power, the one that truly resonates with me is the power of thend! </i>


    Wu Yuan beheld the majestic and limitless power of thend. Within his soul sense, this surging heaven and earth''s power manifested as a rich, earthy yellow hue!


    Martial artists who transcended mortality often found themselves inclined towards a particr type of heaven and earth''s power, one that was more attuned to their perception and cultivation. Eldritch warriors were not exempt from this phenomenon.


    Wu Yuan paid homage to the portrait of Hou Tu, who was the Eldritch Progenitor who wielded the authority of thend in heaven and earth. After she bestowed Wu Yuan with second-degree eldritch tattoos, his body underwent a transformation without him realizing it, evolving into a Terranean Body. Synonymous with the Divine Earthly Body, it was also known as the Terranean Eldritch Body! By nature, it was a beloved vessel of thend.


    <i>My aptitude for thend surpasses that of fire, wood, wind, and the like.</i>


    This was what Wu Yuan could tell from perceiving the various types of powers of heaven and earth. His attunement to the power of thend surpassed that of any other type of heaven and earth''s power by more than tenfold.


    <i>Thend suits me best. By focusing on contemting this aspect of heaven and earth, my progress will be ten, even a hundred times faster than if I cultivated other types of its power.</i> Wu Yuan reached a decision.


    Upon reaching Unity, every practitioner had to make a choice. Should they strive toprehend all types of heaven and earth��s power? In theory, yes. However, everyone had strengths and weaknesses; there was no such thing as a genius in everything.


    To practice one��s skills was toprehend the Dao. There were countless Daos of heaven and earth, with each type of heaven and earth''s power harboring an expansive dao within. Numerous practitioners dedicated their entire lives to grasping only a minuscule fraction.


    The body''s transformation was akin to water persistently eroding stone. However, the true essence of skill advancementy inprehension, in grasping the intricacies and nuances of one''s chosen path.


    <i>My soul is strong, while my Terranean Body implies that I have a natural affinity for the Land Dao. Bybining these two aspects, my progress will be swift.</i>


    This road he had chosen stretched far into the distance, promising endless possibilities.


    ...


    Immersed in his cultivation, night fell within the quiet martial chamber.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, his practice interrupted.


    Before long, a respectful voice called out, ��Heavens Heir, your family has arrived.��


    <i>Family?</i> A smile lit up Wu Yuan��s face. "Alright. Escort them to the main hall and prepare a dinner banquet. I will join shortly."


    "Understood."


    ...


    Soon after, Wu Yuan made his way to the main hall, where he was greeted by the presence of Wu Qiming, Wanqin, and Wu Yijun. The joy on everyone''s faces was palpable as they gathered for a hearty dinner. After dinner, the various maidservants and servants left, giving the family their privacy.


    "Chieftain, Mother," Wu Yuan smiled affectionately. "I have invited you to Cloudhill because our sect is preparing for a momentous event."


    "Momentous?" Wu Qiming and Wanqin exchanged puzzled nces, their curiosity piqued.


    Wu Yijun leaned against her brother��s back with a carefree air. Though she had matured from her time in Li City, she was still young and didn��t fullyprehend the intricacies of sect matters. All she knew was that her big brother was really awesome.


    "The sect is preparing for a war that will unify the Jiang Continent," Wu Yuan dered.


    The countenances of Wu Qiming and Wanqin underwent a transformation. Compared to the past, it was clear that their perspectives had been shaped by study and experience.


    Wu Yuan reassured them with a smile on his face, "There��s no need to fret. The higher echelons of the sect have made their own judgments. Your only task is to keep this knowledge to yourselves and not let it spread."


    "As a matter of fact, my main reason for inviting you here was for you to consume a certain treasure," Wu Yuan continued.


    "A treasure?" Both Wu Qiming and Wanqin voiced their confusion simultaneously.


    In a swift motion, Wu Yuan conjured a fruit resembling an apple in front of their bewildered eyes. It was a Redwood Spirit Fruit.


    "After consuming this fruit, your physical bodies will undergo a transformation, reaching the level of third-grade martial artists," Wu Yuan chuckled. "And there will be no adverse side-effects."


    Third-grade? Wu Qiming and Wanqin were left dumbfounded.


    "One fruit can elevate us to the level of first-rate Adepts?" Wu Qiming found it difficult to believe.


    "It is merely a physical transformation. To truly be a first-rate Adept, one must still diligently train their skills," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    "Wu Yuan, such a treasure must be extremely precious," Wu Qiming couldn''t help but express his worry.


    Wanqin chimed in, "Yuan''er, this must be a treasure granted to you by the sect for your cultivation. You mustn��t give it away."


    They had no idea about Wu Yuan��s true capabilities.


    "Fear not, Mother, Chieftain, I have my reasons for gifting this to you. Chieftain, once you consume it, continue to train diligently. Only then will you earn the respect of all as the chieftain of the Wu n," Wu Yuanughed. "And as for you, mother, consuming it will grant you a longer and healthier lifespan, putting your child''s mind at ease."


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s head snapped up, a glint of frost shining in his eyes.


    <i>A Heavenly Ranker has arrived? Impressive speed. How audacious. Now, I''m curious, which faction are they from? </i>

 Chapter 207: Blotting Out The Sky With One Hand

    <h4>Chapter 207: Blotting Out The Sky With One Hand</h4>


    Wu Yuan��s Soul Force was only able to extend up to two li. However, with the aid of heaven and earth''s power, his perception could span dozens of li! The entire Eight-Sided Cloudhilly within the reach of his soul sense.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan detected two powerful vital auras hurtling toward Cloudhill at rming speed, showing no signs of slowing down. In terms of the strengths of their life force, they surpassed even Huan Jian, a quasi-Heavenly Ranker. Without a doubt, they were qi refiners!


    <i>Coming from the East, they��re unlikely to be experts from Great Jin. Could it be that Old Fang��s prediction was correct? Are they the experts from the Sta Consortium? Or perhaps the Pleiades Guild?</i>


    They entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm on August 22nd and left on August 27th. Today was the night of the 29th, a mere two days since their departure from the immortal realm. Only a few factions could have reacted so swiftly.


    "Wu Yuan, is something troubling you?" Wu Qiming noticed the change in Wu Yuan''s expression.


    "Just a small matter," Wu Yuan smiled and replied. "Chieftain, Mother, I suggest you consume the spirit fruits here, don��t leave my courtyard house. The method of consumption is simple, just consume all the fruit flesh. You can also teach Xiaoyi to do the same."


    "I will return promptly once everything is settled," Wu Yuan said reassuringly.


    "Very well," Wu Qiming nodded.


    "Yuan��er, if you have urgent matters, go ahead and attend to them," Wanqin added.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With an explosive burst of movement, Wu Yuan soared out into the courtyard. Scales the color of earthy yellow covered him as he equipped his spirit battle armor.


    But before Wu Yuan could take any action, a thunderous roar shattered the stillness of the night, resonating through the air like rolling thunder across Cloudhill. "Bu Yu, Huan Jian, show yourselves at once!"


    "Who is it?��


    "Who dares to call the hierarchs by their names?��


    "The voice ising from the sky!��


    "Could it be a Heavenly Ranker?�� Large groups of disciples from the Cloudstride Sect rushed from their respective towers and courtyard houses, all looking up at the sky in shock.


    Two figures stood in mid-air, their presence radiating a terrifying aura that sent shivers down the spines of those below. One figure was cloaked in mes, while the other radiated a deep azure hue. Their brilliance was blinding, leaving the disciples of the Cloudstride Sect in shock, particrly those who were second or first-rate Adepts. The fact that they dared to call out the names of the hierarchs and tread in the sky could mean only one thing �C Heavenly Rankers!


    "Heavenly Rankers have arrived?" Murmurs of disbelief and unease filled the area. The news of Heavenly Rankers descending upon Cloudhill sent waves of uncertainty through the crowd.


    However, the top-tier martial arts experts of the sect remainedposed. Those like Yan Hong, Xu Hui, and Gao Yu, knew that Fang Xia had returned to protect the sect. Yet, even with this knowledge, their confidence was not absolute. Both sides had Heavenly Rankers, who would prove stronger?


    ...


    Above Cloudhill, two resplendent figures hovered in the air, their gazes fixed on the chaotic scene unfurling below. Despite the darkness of the night, their acute vision and perception allowed them to witness the panic that gripped the numerous disciples.


    "Brother Wu, must we disy such an overbearing attitude?" queried the figure cloaked in a radiant azure aura, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Our purpose here is to aid the Cloudstride Sect."


    "Hmph! The Cloudstride Sect is just small fry. There��s no point worrying needlessly," retorted the man garbed in ck robes, mes swirling around him. "Let��s just cut through the formalities and ensure they know their ce."


    In that instant, a disturbance caught the attention of the man enshrouded in mes. His gaze darted downward, and the figure wrapped in azure light followed suit.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> An earthy-yellow figure leisurely made his way to them from the forest below. His movements were measured, and it was a rather unremarkable entrance. However, speed was just a rtive concept. In the blink of an eye, the earthy-yellow figure had arrived mere meters away from the two resplendent beings.


    "Earthy-yellow spirit battle armor? Are you Shadow de?" inquired the figure wreathed in azure light indifferently. Having received prior reports, he was well aware of the individual''s identity.


    "Shadow de pays his respects to Seniors," Wu Yuan stood mid-air, offering a slight bow as a token of respect. "I was not apprised of the arrival of the esteemed Seniors and humbly apologize for failing to extend a proper wee."


    Given the unknown identities and abilities of these Heavenly Rankers, it seemed prudent to err on the side of politeness.


    "Shadow de? Hahaha!" bellowed the man enshrouded in mes. "You dare return to Cloudhill? Your audacity ismendable. From your vital aura, it appears you aren��t far from unlocking your qi sea."


    "Far inferior to the two esteemed Seniors," Wu Yuan responded lightly.


    "Shadow de, allow me to introduce myself. I am known as Meng Cai, a seven-star elder of the Pleiades Guild," the figure bathed in an azure glow greeted amicably. "And this Daoist beside me is Wu Jianzhong, an elder from the Sta Consortium."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. "So, you are Senior Meng Cai and Senior Wu Jianzhong. I have heard much about your esteemed reputations."


    In reality, he had no prior knowledge of their existence. It was possible that in the distant past, they made a name for themselves in the Land Rankings. However, given the ever-evolving nature of these rankings, it was unreasonable to expect Wu Yuan to recall such old events. As for the Heavenly Rankings, only a handful of stories throughout the Middle Land had managed to withstand the test of time, persevering through generations.


    "Shadow de, since you are here, I shall be straightforward," Meng Cai uttered calmly. "You have killed Jin Qing. Do youprehend the magnitude of the cmity you have invited upon yourself?��


    ��The Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin will not let this transgression go unpunished. As a Grandmaster of the Cloudstride Sect, you should be aware that your sect has only remained standing up until this point due to the Heavenly Rankings Treaty established among the Heavenly Rankers of the Wu Sect, Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, and Great Jin."


    "Your act of ying Jin Qing has ced us in a predicament. Safeguarding you won��t be an easy task," Meng Caimented, shaking his head.


    Heavenly Rankings Treaty? Wu Yuan was entirely oblivious to this. Perhaps Bu Yu possessed some knowledge on the matter.


    Yet, Wu Yuan was no fool. He discerned the unsaid implication in Meng Cai''s words. He said that safeguarding him would not be an easy task, which meant that they were indeed capable of protecting him! Human nature invariably hinged on sentiments and self-interest.


    "I appreciate your concern, Senior Meng. However, this matter between Great Jin and myself requires no worry on your part," Wu Yuan replied, neither overly prideful nor humble.


    Meng Cai''s brow furrowed ever so slightly.


    "Brother Meng, what did I say? Your tactic of courtesy before force won��t yield any results," Wu Jianzhong, cloaked in a ck robe, emanated a domineering aura as he spoke with chilling detachment. "Shadow de, I shall be sinct. Surrender your spirit battle armor and all your spirit fruits, and the Cloudstride Sect shall remain unharmed."


    "And if I refuse?" Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "To reject a toast is to be punished with a forfeit," Wu Jianzhong''s face turned dark. "Do you believe that by ousting and ying Jin Qing, you can brazenly disy arrogance?"


    "I believed you possessed some potential and was contemting sparing your life. But since you fail to recognize your ce, prepare to die." Wu Jianzhong''s eyes frosted over.


    The next moment, he moved.


    <i>Boom!</i> A brilliant cascade of fire surged towards Wu Yuan.


    Meng Cai, standing at the sidelines, shook his head with a tinge of regret. "What a pity," he mused to himself, ��Today, we witness the fall of a quasi-Heavenly Ranker."


    In his view, Wu Yuan was someone who had yet to open his qi sea. How could he hope to contend with Wu Jianzhong? He wouldn''t even be able to withstand a single blow.


    But in the next moment, a sense of rm washed over him.


    ...


    On Cloudhill, numerous keen-eyed martial artists strained to catch a glimpse of the earthy-yellow figure locked in confrontation with the two Heavenly Rankers. Outside the Cloud Hall, Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, and Lu Feng emerged from seclusion, astonishment etched across their faces as they peered up at the sky.


    "What��s happening?" Lu Feng gasped, his voiceced with disbelief.


    "It��s Senior Shadow de," Gu Wang said solemnly, having learned of the color of Wu Yuan''s spirit battle armor from Bu Yu. "They appear to bemunicating."


    "Where is Ancestor Fang Xia?"


    "The Sword Hierarch has already left the mountain." They all cast their gazes upwards, their hearts heavy with concern. The pressure emanating from the two Heavenly Rankers was simply too overwhelming!


    "Hm? Not good! The fiery Heavenly Ranker is attacking Senior Shadow de," Lu Feng eximed, hisplexion paling.


    "Not good!" The realization hit them all simultaneously.


    Atop Cloudhill, those with rtively better vision experienced a fleeting moment of fear. Yet, a momentter, a startling scene unfolded before their very eyes.


    <i>Boom! </i>Just as the fiery figure made his move, a mesmerizing disy of golden currents materialized above Wu Yuan, streaming through the sky with a fearsome intensity. This golden power took the form of shimmering swords, radiating a palpable sharpness that caused one to erupt in goosebumps.


    In an instant, these golden streams converged before Wu Yuan, transforming into a colossal palm that spanned hundreds of zhangs in length. The world seemed to freeze for an instant, its radiance piercing through the endless expanse of night.


    Even the sky and moon were eclipsed by this grandiose golden palm. It was a sight that struck fear into the hearts of all who beheld it.


    As this colossal hand took form, it reached out with a deliberate, unhurried motion, towards the figure wreathed in mes.


    <i>Not good!</i> A profound sense of foreboding washed over Wu Jianzhong, causing his expression to contort in an instant.


    Retreat immediately crossed his mind, and fiery red scales enveloped his body as he equipped his spirit battle armor. The golden hand��s aura of impending destruction caused his entire body to quiver uncontrobly.


    Meanwhile, the gazes of Meng Cai and Wu Yuan remained fixed on the spectacle unfolding before them. The giant golden palm, seeminglynguid in its approach, encased the fiery figure in mere moments, rendering any resistance futile.


    "Have mercy! I beg of you, spare me, Senior!" Wu Jianzhong''s terrified voice pleaded from within the grasp of the colossal hand. He knew from the pit of his stomach that the disparity in power between them was insurmountable.


    "This... This!" Meng Cai could only stare wide-eyed at the scene ying out before him.


    "A little squirt at the fourth-stage Qi Sea phase dares cause trouble on Cloudhill? You must be courting death!" A cold voice resonated throughout the heavens and earth.


    "No! Senior, I beg of you..." The terrified pleas were abruptly silenced.


    <i>Poof!</i> The golden hand clenched its palm fiercely. Fire and blood burst out between the crevices of the massive golden fingers.


    Then, silence.


    Heavenly Ranker Wu Jianzhong was dead!


    The entire world seemed to hold its breath. The disciples on Cloudhill, including first-rate Adepts and Savant experts, stared in disbelief at the scene before them.


    Heavens! A Heavenly Ranker, who had arrived with such grandeur, had been squeezed to death just like that?


    "We have a Heavenly Ranker in our Cloudstride Sect?"


    "Amazing." After a moment of silence, Cloudhill erupted into ecstasy, with countless disciples cheering excitedly.


    Though many were still perplexed, wondering how the sect could have lost the Battle of Hillstride if there was a Heavenly Ranker in their ranks, the prevailing sentiment was one of triumph.


    "Ancestor!"


    "Ancestor Fang Xia." Several informed Adepts and Savant experts recognized the voice of Ancestor Fang Xia, their shock palpable. Today, they had truly witnessed the power of Ancestor Fang Xia.


    "Ancestor!"


    "The world��s number one expert?" Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng exchanged a nce, simultaneously recalling the first time they had met Fang Xia. Wu Yuan had introduced him as the world��s number one expert! At that time, they were rather skeptical. But now, their doubts were vanquished.


    He could kill a Heavenly Rank with a single hand? Indeed, that title was well-earned.

 Chapter 208: The Name Fang Xia

    <h4>Chapter 208: The Name Fang Xia</h4>


    The disciples of the Cloudstride Sect were filled with fervor as they gazed up at the spectacle unfolding in the sky above Cloudhill. The colossal golden palm ignited a surge of adrenaline within them, stirring their blood.


    Across the world, Land Rankers were able to carve out a piece of territory for themselves, ruling over theirnd. However, the myths of Heavenly Rankers were known to all. These were beings who represented a level of power that dwarfed the mundane.


    While the Heavenly Rankers of sects and empires seldom made appearances, their existence served as a deterrent, akin to the steadfast anchors in a tempestuous sea or the pirs supporting the sky.


    And today, the Cloudstride Sect boasted their own Heavenly Ranker, one whose strength was proven through the shattered bones and spilled blood of another Heavenly Ranker.


    ...


    <i>He squeezed a Heavenly Ranker to death with his palm? </i>In the night sky, Wu Yuan stared at the resplendent golden palm, his breath taken away.


    At close proximity, the sheer power the golden hand emitted threatened to overwhelm him, evoking a sense of incredulity.


    Why had Wu Yuan dared to tap into heaven and earth''s power, flying up to face the two unwanted visitors? Was it truly because of courage? No! It was Fang Xia who transmitted his voice to Wu Yuan, assuring him that he need not fear, for he had his back.


    And Fang Xia indeed lived up to his word, surprising Wu Yuan with his strength. When the mes shrouding Wu Jianzhong erupted forth, Wu Yuan''s very soul felt as if it were about to explode. His instincts screamed that he could not withstand it. Such strength truly befitted the title of Heavenly Ranker.


    Yet, before Fang Xia, the man was rendered helpless, unable to move an inch. The level of shock it instilled within Wu Yuan was beyondprehension.


    From the very beginning to the end, Fang Xia had never revealed himself, until this very moment. A figure draped in flowing white robes emerged silently from behind Wu Yuan. The robes fluttered around him, as if caught in a golden whirlwind, while his demeanor exuded a cold detachment, akin to an emperor surveying the world below. The aura he emitted was truly terrifying, brimming with an overwhelming majesty. It was a stark contrast to the friendly Old Fang that Wu Yuan knew.


    <i>Eighth-stage Qi Sea, Domain stage! This is what a cultivator at the Domain stage is like! A single individual can effortlessly overpower a bunch of mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. </i>


    From this encounter alone, Wu Yuan recognized how strong Fang Xia was. No matter how weak Wu Jianzhong may have been, he was still a fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. To be killed in a single strike? In Wu Yuan''s eyes, unless a Golden Core Superior descended, nine out of ten Qi Sea phase cultivators would be no match for Fang Xia.


    <i>My strength is so far behindpared to transcendent cultivators. I must be an eldritch warrior as soon as possible.</i> Wu Yuan yearned, a spark of desire igniting within him.


    Wu Yuan had always been proud. Although Fang Xia was his appointed bodyguard by the realm master, Wu Yuan did not wish to be protected forever. He yearned to participate in battle too.


    <i>How terrifying!</i> Meng Cai, who stood a mere hundred meters away from the colossal golden palm, felt a chill run down his spine. <i>This aura, this power! When did such a powerhouse emerge from the thirteen continents of the Middle Land? </i>


    In Wu Yuan''s perception, Fang Xia was very strong. Whereas in Meng Cai''s perception, it felt as though a weapon with an unyielding desire to pierce through the heavens and the earth had appeared. The sharpness of this weapon caused Meng Cai''s very soul to tremble in fear.


    Gold! This was the type of heaven and earth''s power that Fang Xia specialized in, the Gold Dao. It possessed an unrivaled strength and rigidity, capable of delivering ferocious blows!


    Silently, the colossal golden hand dissipated into nothingness. Only the battle armor and storage artifact, both bearing signs of damage, remained. They transformed into several streams of light,nding in Fang Xia''s palm. Meng Cai dared not make a single movement.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Fang Xia took a step forward, traversing hundreds of meters with ease, and stopped before Meng Cai. Wu Yuan followed closely behind.


    Fang Xia spoke with an icy tone, "Daoist Meng Cai, what is the meaning of this? Have you forgotten who I am after a century?"


    Individuals at the same cultivation phase typically addressed each other as ��Daoist��.


    "More than a century?" Meng Cai was startled at first. As he scrutinized the middle-aged man in white robes, a look of recognition crossed his face. "Fang Xia? You��re alive!"


    Wu Yuan immediately understood that Fang Xia and this Heavenly Ranker Meng Cai shared a history.


    "Heh, back when I first entered the Land Rankings, you were already famous," Fang Xia remarked nonchntly. "Who would have thought that over a hundred years would pass, and now you��re a qi refiner at the fifth-stage Qi Sea phase."


    "Compared to you, Daoist Fang Xia, I am far behind," Meng Cai forced a smile. "I suspect you��re just a step away from the Golden Core phase.��


    Fang Xia smiled faintly, offering no response.


    "Given that you dare cause trouble on Cloudhill, I would normally end your life in a single p," Fang Xianguidly dered. "However, considering our past rtionship and the fact that you did not resort to aggression, I will overlook today''s incident."


    "Thank you, Daoist Fang Xia, for sparing me." Meng Cai replied, his voice low.


    He understood what Fang Xia meant. He and Wu Jianzhong had recklessly intruded into Cloudhill, making outrageous ims and even initiatingbat against Wu Yuan. If they were to meet their demise, they had no one to me but themselves. In the end, it could be said that no one could have anticipated that the seemingly insignificant Cloudstride Sect concealed a powerhouse like Fang Xia.


    Meng Cai wished to leave immediately, but he dared not move without Fang Xia''s permission. When one''s very existence was at the mercy of another, was there room for defiance?


    "Is Dong Qian still holding the position of hierarch within the Pleiades Guild?" Fang Xia suddenly asked.


    "Dong Qian vanished decades ago after embarking on a journey to the Xin Continent," Meng Cai replied in a hushed tone. "At present, the highest-ranking hierarch in our Pleiades Guild is Daoist Niu Hao." This information was widely known among the Heavenly Rankers, there was no reason for Meng Cai to conceal it.


    "Very well, I won��t make things difficult for you," Fang Xia said coolly. "But do convey a message to Niu Hao on your return. This is the sole instance of leniency. If he dares to meddle with Cloudhill again, he should be prepared to meet the same fate as Wu Jianzhong."


    "Thank you, Daoist Fang Xia," Meng Cai finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to survive this ordeal.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Meng Cai asked. "Daoist Fang Xia, I am aware of your immense strength, but Shadow de imed the life of Jin Qing first. This is sure to enrage the Great Jin Empire. The three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin are filled with more than a dozen qi refiners. They are not to be trifled with, especially Jin Quan, who reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase decades ago," Meng Cai added, his tone solemn.


    "Furthermore, Yuanxia Pce''s Zhao Xing and Starsea Pavilion''s Hai Feizhang are bothte-stage Qi Sea cultivators," he continued.


    "There are so manyte-stage Qi Sea cultivators in Great Jin?" A flicker of surprise crossed Fang Xia''s face, mingled with a glint of apprehension in his eyes.


    "Indeed! If not for the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin, our forces in the coastal continents would not have been forced to concede to Great Jin time and time again. They already upy 40% of the territory in the seven continents of the Central ins," Meng Caimented, shaking his head. "Great Jin is Cloudstride��s greatest enemy."


    "Daoist Fang Xia, today you have in Wu Jianzhong. Although his strength is average among the qi refiners of the Sta Consortium, Wan Xing has established a firm foothold on the Heavenly Rankings for 300 years. His unfathomable power is something even Imperator Jin cannot handle. You have offended two major forces simultaneously, which is quite unwise," Meng Cai warned.


    From his perspective, Fang Xia could have merely intimidated Wu Jianzhong with his strength; there was no need to kill him and make more enemies.


    "Daoist Meng Cai, I have only recently emerged from my seclusion and have yet to be informed of these matters. Thank you for enlightening me, your kindness is appreciated," Fang Xia responded calmly.


    "But as for how I��ll handle these two forces, there is no need for concern."


    "You may be on your way now.�� His words were a clear dismissal.


    "Pardon my intrusion," Meng Cai dared not utter another word and respectfully bid farewell with a bow. In a sh of azure light, he swiftly vanished.


    "Fret not, Young Master, let us return to the relic," Fang Xia''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two of them also disappeared swiftly into the night. The night sky resumed its tranquility. However, Cloudhill was anything but calm.


    Soon, the sect''s higher echelons made an announcement: "The Heavenly Ranker who took action today at Cloudhill is Ancestor Fang Xia, who is the world��s number one expert."


    This news sent shockwaves through the sect.


    "Ancestor Fang Xia?"


    "The greatest ancestor of our Cloudstride Sect is still alive?"


    "What��s wrong with calling him the world��s number one expert? He has the strength to defy the heavens, to crush other Heavenly Rankers in a single palm!��


    "The world��s number one expert! Ancestor Fang Xia!" The countless disciples of the Cloudstride Sect fervently discussed the news.


    Instead of stemming the spread of this news, the Cloudstride Sect covertly fueled it. To bring unity to the Jiang Continent, one must first make the entire world tremble!


    ...


    The jade chamber within the sect��s relic was incredibly vast, with the jade stones on the floor meticulously arranged. A recess at the periphery of the jade chamber remained bathed in an ethereal glow where Grandmaster Bu Yu was in seclusion, unaffected by this monumental conflict.


    <i>This ce? </i>Wu Yuan surveyed the jade chamber. At first nce, it appeared no different from two days earlier, but as he focused on sensing heaven and earth''s power, he found several differences. The walls of the jade chamber now bore a myriad of strange cryptic patterns, pulsating in harmony.


    However, the most significant transformation was at the center of the jade chamber. The colossal cauldron that had been plucked out by Fang Xia was now reced. Now, its connection to the surrounding jade stones was distinctly different from before. And yet, Wu Yuan perceived a sense of naturalness.


    "You truly are my Young Master, detecting the changes so swiftly," Fang Xia chuckled.


    Alone with Wu Yuan, the domineering aura he exuded moments agopletely vanished.


    "My vision isn��t that good. I can��t tell what the exact changes are in detail." Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Haha, once Young Master makes your breakthrough, everything will be made clear," Fang Xia responded with a smile. "Fear not, Young Master. The monitoring array and mind confusion array will beplete in just two hours. By then, even a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator would not be able to breach Cloudhill as effortlessly as Meng Cai and Wu Jianzhong did," Fang Xia stated solemnly.


    Wu Yuan found himself nodding involuntarily, his faith in Fang Xia bolstered by their recent battle.


    "I shall proceed with the establishment of the killing array once these two are in ce," Fang Xia chuckled. "Once the killing array is fully activated, Cloudhill shall be as impregnable as a fortress. By then, the killing array alone will epass the entirety of Cloudhill City."


    "Oh? Such vast coverage?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "It isn��t unusual for a Golden Core Superior to construct an array capable of spanning thousands of li," Fang Xia shook his head. "Compared to theirs, this one is nothing, barely covering a few hundred li."


    "Old Fang." Unable to contain his curiosity, Wu Yuan asked, "ording to Meng Cai, it appears that the Great Jin Empire has threete-stage qi sea cultivators in their ranks, and Imperator Jin is still alive."


    Imperator Jin was a living legend throughout the thirteen continents of the Middle Land. Through his own strength, he established the Great Jin Empire and forged a historical legacy. He was a figure that countless martial artists aspired to.


    "Can we withstand Imperator Jin?"

 Chapter 209: Gathering Of Heavenly Rankers (1)

    <h4>Chapter 209: Gathering Of Heavenly Rankers (1)</h4>


    "Hehe, do you fear for my safety, Young Master?" Fang Xia chuckled, "We cannot disregard Meng Cai''s wordspletely, but they may not be entirely trustworthy either."


    Wu Yuan nodded. After surviving a brush with death, Meng Cai immediately expressed his goodwill by providing that information? It was uncertain if the news held any truth.


    "Considering Imperator Jin''s age, it��s not surprising that he still lives," Fang Xia said slowly, "Ninth-stage Qi Sea phase? With his talent and strength, reaching such a level is unsurprising, but Young Master need not worry. Great Jin may be powerful, but my recent elimination of Wu Jianzhong was not just an act of plunder. It was also to make a statement.��


    ��Great Jin��s three holy sanctuaries seem mighty, but leaving aside the Jin royal family''s holy sanctuary, would the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion willingly submit to Great Jin''s authority?"


    "If their loyalty is genuine, there would be no need for them to split into three major forces. When the rewards outweigh the risks, cultivators from the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion will naturally align themselves with Great Jin. But when the risks are too great, with a possibility of endangering their lives, they will remain mere spectators."


    "As for the Sta Consortium? Hmph! This faction has maintained its strength for a millennium. Though they im neutrality, they secretly sow chaos throughout the world. Nevertheless, their strength is genuinely formidable. Wan Xing is the individual I fear the most," Fang Xia said in a low voice, "To my knowledge, even before Imperator Jin''s rise, Wan Xing was already hailed as the world''s strongest expert. Given his age, he must be nearing 500 years old. He is the most likely person to reach the Golden Core phase," Fang Xia stated.


    "The Golden Core phase?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    "It is a possibility," Fang Xia said softly, "However, since he allowed Great Jin to expand repeatedly, the chances of him being a Golden Core Superior are very slim. In thest battle, we asserted our dominance. If the Cloudstride Sect exhibits weakness, these factions will swarm us. If we prove too strong, threatening their lives, it will make them cautious."


    "For now, we just need to buy ourselves some time until the killing array is fully set up. Then, we will be invincible on our home turf," Fang Xia said with a grin, "And Young Master will have all the time in the world to cultivate."


    Wu Yuan responded with a bitter smile.


    "Fang Xia, that may hold true. But if we didn��t kill Wu Jianzhong today, we wouldn��t have made an enemy out of the Sta Consortium, am I correct?" Wu Yuan questioned, his brow furrowing.


    Before the event just now, there weren��t any unforgivable grievances between the Cloudstride Sect and the Sta Consortium.


    "Since he dared to attack Young Master, he deserved to die." Fang Xia chuckled. "If we decide to attack them in the future, it will be hard to argue our case. But this was a case of retaliation in self-defense, no one can fault us."


    "Among all the factions in the Middle Land, the Sta Consortium has amassed the greatest quantity of wealth and treasures!" Fang Xia eximed.


    "Take Wu Jianzhong, for instance. His storage artifact contains an abundance of valuable materials, sufficient to forge numerous pieces of spirit equipment!"


    Wu Yuan gave a resigned smile.


    ...


    After bidding Fang Xia farewell, Wu Yuan made his way back to his own residence. Wu Qiming, his mother Wanqin, his sister Wu Yijun, and a retinue of maidservants and servants awaited him in the courtyard house.


    "Heavens Heir." The maidservants and servants greeted Wu Yuan, their relief evident.


    Just after Wu Yuan had disappeared, a fierce battle erupted in the sky above Cloudhill. Should any harm have befallen him, it would not bode well for the maidservants and servants.


    "You may all leave." Wu Yuan instructed, then returned to the main hall where his family awaited.


    "Wu Yuan, what happened just now?" Wu Qiming immediately asked, gesturing upwards.


    "It was a skirmish among Heavenly Rankers," Wu Yuan chuckled, ��Ancestor Fang Xia protected us.��


    Wu Qiming and Wanqin were both taken aback.


    "Fang Xia?" Wu Yijun''s jaw dropped in astonishment, "Isn''t he the legendary ancestor of our Cloudstride Sect? I thought he was dead."


    Though martial artists were practitioners of the martial arts, it was important that they didn��t neglect cultural studies either. Educating themselves through literature and cultivating one''s moral character was integral to shaping one''s perspective and values, greatly enhancing the development of one''s martial spirit. Thus, the elementary martial academies under the Cloudstride Sect included requisite cultural subjects in their curriculum. The sect''s history was naturally an importantponent.


    "It was reported that the ancestor had passed away," Wu Yuan smiled, "but he lives on, and will continue living for a long time."


    Even if he failed to advance to the Golden Core phase, Fang Xia could still enjoy 200 more years of life.


    "Alright. Chieftain, Mother, you should consume the Redwood Spirit Fruit." Wu Yuan stated, "Little Yi,e eat this fruit, it��s really sweet."


    Without dy, Wu Yuan personally watched over Wu Qiming, his mother Wanqin, and his sister Wu Yijun as they consumed the Redwood Spirit Fruit. Only then did he allow himself to rx.


    Digesting the Redwood Spirit Fruit would take several days, hence Wu Yuan allocated a meditation chamber for each family member and instructed the servants to look after them.


    Wu Yuan then returned to his own meditation chamber and resumed his cultivation.


    Late into the night, in the middle of perceiving the profundity of thend, Wu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes.


    <i>Such a fascinating fluctuation��has Old Fang''s monitoring array finally been established?</i>


    Just now, Wu Yuan��s Soul Force had picked up on a ripple of energy passing through him, then surging into the distance.


    <i>Continue. </i>He didn��t continue paying attention to it.


    As the first light of dawn shone, a faint smile appeared on Wu Yuan��s face. <i>Finally, the amount of heaven and earth''s power I canmand has reached 120,000 catties.</i>


    After reaching Unity, each cultivator faced two major thresholds. The first was to control 120,000 catties of heaven and earth''s power. The second was to control 200,000 catties.


    <i>Despite years of cultivation, The Sword Hierarch remains stuck at the first step, unable to break through.</i>


    <i>On the other hand, with my Terranean Body and the perception of my soul sense, I was able to shatter this bottleneck in a mere few days.</i>


    The advantages of his Terranean Body, coupled with a powerful soul, became increasingly apparent to him. The speed at which heprehended the profundity of thend was nothing short of astonishing.


    <i>The profundity of thend.</i> He sensed its vastness, warmth, and weightiness. It was this process of perception and understanding that fueled his swift mastery of heaven and earth''s power.


    For Qi Sea phase cultivators, heaven and earth''s powers often resembled a vague haze in their perception, hindering their progress.


    <i>Butpared to Old Fang?</i> Wu Yuan recalled that massive golden palm, devoid of any spiritual qi fluctuations. It was a pure convergence of heaven and earth''s power, the power of a Domain!


    <i>To measure it in terms of catties would be an insult.</i> He sighed inwardly and swallowed his pride. <i>I still have much to learn.</i>


    With that, he refocused his attention on his cultivation.


    ...


    The sun began its ascent over the Yan Continent. Nestled at the northeastern edge of the Central ins, and the northernmost point of the Middle Land, the Yan Continent earned the nickname: Land of Bitter Cold. Still, its climate was far more hospitable than the vast ins of the Bei Continent. Its unique blend of prairie tribes and agricultural societies gave rise to a culture unlike any other.


    Deep within the northern reaches of the Yan Continent stood the Divine Bull Mountain, a modest peak amidst the sprawling expanse of the Northern Mountain Range. Though not a popr tourist spot, hardly anyone would suspect that a Heavenly Ranker resided in secluded cultivation there.


    Veiled in perpetual snow and enclosed by treacherous cliffs, an unassuming cave was hollowed out into the mountaintop. Apart from several jade tforms, the space didn��t contain any decorations or furniture.


    "Brother," a young man d in green robes bowed deferentially. If Wu Yuan were present, he would have recognized the young man as Meng Cai. In a matter of hours, he had crossed thousands of li to reach the Divine Bull Mountain.


    On the central jade tform sat a bare-chested, unkempt man, his muscles rippling with strength. "Wu Jianzhong is dead?"

 Chapter 210: Gathering Of Heavenly Rankers (2)

    <h4>Chapter 210: Gathering Of Heavenly Rankers (2)</h4>


    The man''s brows furrowed. "Who killed him? How did he die? Don��t leave out any details."


    Meng Cai quickly recounted the events that had transpired.


    "Brother, I did not mean to disturb your cultivation, but the two guild elders and I are of a simr level of strength. None of us are able to handle a situation of this magnitude. After much consideration, we decided to seek your guidance."


    Within the Pleiades Guild, Meng Cai held full control over the day-to-day operations. Thus, he quickly learned about Shadow de��s harvest from the immortal realm and immediately rushed to Cloudhill.


    But deep down, Meng Cai knew that the reason the Pleiades Guild still stood alongside the Sta Consortium and Great Jin, even after Guild Elder Dong Qian''s departure, was solely due to the man before him��Niu Hao!


    A true ascetic who had spent years cultivating in the unforgiving wilderness of ice and snow, Niu Hao was now the solete-stage Qi Sea cultivator left in Pleiades Guild.


    "No trace of spiritual qi fluctuations... A giant golden hand that can instantly kill a fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivator?" the disheveled man��s eyes filled with disbelief. "Could it be...a Domain?"


    Meng Cai was taken aback. "A Domain?"


    Niu Hao softly replied, "The Domain stage lies above the Unity level and signifies a high level of mastery over a type of heaven and earth''s power. A Qi Sea cultivator who can manifest a Domain bes virtually invincible below the Golden Core phase."


    "What?" Meng Cai''s eyes widened. Invincible below the Golden Core phase?


    "I am only specting; nothing is certain," Niu Hao said, shaking his head slightly. "From what you''ve told me, Fang Xia has not shown himself in a long time. Perhaps he has been adventuring overseas. It is difficult to predict what abilities he might have."


    "We are unqualified to intervene in this battle," Niu Hao spoke softly. "Furthermore, ording to your ount, Shadow de is also an affiliate member of our Pleiades Guild?"


    "Yes," Meng Cai nodded.


    "Send a gift to the Cloudstride Sect along with an apology to Grandmaster Shadow de," Niu Hao dered, his tone indifferent. "Then, inform the Sta Consortium and Great Jin about the battle. Of course, do not divulge my spections. Just inform them that Fang Xia may possess the strength of a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator."


    Meng Cai felt a tinge of confusion. Apologize? He could understand that. But deliberately hiding information?


    "Let them sh! I don��t know what Fang Xia''s motives are for his ruthless actions, deliberately provoking the Sta Consortium. Perhaps he has a grand objective in mind. We mustn''t interfere with his intentions," Niu Hao calmly dered, "You must understand that we cannot afford to entangle ourselves with Great Jin, the Sta Consortium, or the Cloudstride Sect, and I have no wish to provoke their ire."


    ��For the Pleiades Guild, this matter concludes here! Remember, no matter the victor, we must remain impartial. Should a Golden Core Superior truly emerge, our submission must follow immediately."


    "Or...wait until I emerge from seclusion." Niu Hao waved his hand dismissively, "Go now, and bear in mind, the Cloudstride Sect��s rise is inexorable, akin to the rise of Jin Quan in the past, destined to shake the world. Maintain a low profile, refrain from meddling, and abstain from taking sides."


    "Understood." Meng Cai replied solemnly. He bowed and departed.


    "Domain? Fang Xia has reached such heights in just over two centuries of cultivation?" Niu Hao muttered to himself.


    He closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation. Within his middle dantian lobe, his boundless qi sea hosted nine swirling whirlpools, with the essentia converging into a raging deluge. In those dark whirlpools, golden radiance seeped through, as if on the verge of bursting forth at any moment!


    ...


    As the days went by, the news of the sh at Cloudhill and the fall of a Heavenly Ranker spread like wildfire, unimpeded by the Cloudstride Sect or the Pleiades Guild.


    Fang Xia of the Cloudstride Sect was now a figure that shook the entire world, thrust into the limelight as someone with the strength to y another Heavenly Ranker, instantly solidifying his status as one of the top powerhouses in existence.


    Five days following the sh at Cloudhill, the Cloudstride Sect��s armies gathered,manded by three Grandmasters. An unstoppable force of 60,000 soldiers invaded Yuanhu Province. Simultaneously, under the might of two Great Grandmasters, the Four Provinces of Baijiang submitted to the Cloudstride Sect, and were seamlessly absorbed into its territory.


    Almost immediately, the armies of the Four Provinces of Baijiang advanced into the turbulent Guangping and Dalong Provinces in the Jiang Continent, effortlessly pacifying both regions. In the blink of an eye, the territory of the Cloudstride Sect ballooned from three provinces to an astounding ten, causing waves of astonishment to reverberate throughout the world. [1] Countless civilians and martial artists were taken aback by suchrge-scale expansion, an event that had not been witnessed in centuries, not since the founding of the Great Jin Empire 200 years past.


    Confronted with the bold expansion of the Cloudstride Sect, the Great Jin Empire and the eight major sects of the Dong Continent kept silent, as though they had tacitly agreed to it.


    Three days after assuming control over the ten provinces, the Cloudstride Sect sent forth a statement that reverberated across the world �C ��A Letter to the Forefathers of Chu-Jiang". Within ity words of usation and condemnation of the Great Jin Empire''s transgressions, culminating in an ultimate aim �C the restoration of the old borders of the Chu-Jiang Empire. This was nothing short of an open deration of war against the Great Jin Empire, a promation that shook the world once more.


    All eyes were now on the Great Jin Empire. How would they respond to the audacious challenge from the Cloudstride Sect?


    ...


    September 28th marked the deration of a National Mobilization by the Great Jin Empire. From the Yuan Continent in the North to the Nan Continent in the South, from the Jiang Continent in the East to the Xi Continent in the West, abined force of two million soldiers was activated, ready to conquer the Jiang Continent.


    Needless to say, the mobilization of such a vast army, scattered across multiple continents, was certain to consume a great deal of time. For example, the Westward Expedition Army was stationed thousands of li away in the Xi Continent. It would take them ages to arrive.


    Within the Jin Hall in the Holy Continent, a sense of trepidation permeated the air. Countless pce maids and servants quivered in fear, dreading the wrath of the increasingly irate Emperor Jin.


    "Curse that Cloudstride Sect!" bellowed Emperor Jin, his tall and slender frame seated upon the imposing dragon throne. ��How did a Heavenly Ranker suddenly emerge from the Cloudstride Sect? And topound matters, he��s powerful enough to y another Heavenly Ranker.��


    Despite his royal image, Emperor Jin looked utterly helpless in the face of their provocation. He knew all too well that whether it be an army of one million or even ten million, when a major faction backed by a Heavenly Ranker powerhouse openly dered war on the Great Jin Empire, the oue would not be decided by conventional military alone.


    Suddenly, a voice as indifferent as the winds tore through the air, resounding throughout the resplendent Jin Hall. "Cang''er, what troubles you so?"


    "Mm?" Emperor Jin''s eyes widened in astonishment, soon reced by unbridled joy. "Ancestor?"


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Emperor Jin, a Great Grandmaster, rushed out from the hall in a blur. Before him, suspended in mid-air, stood seven figures. All seven were Heavenly Rankers.


    Emperor Jin humbly prostrated himself, trembling with a mixture of reverence and anticipation. "Jin Cang offers my deepest respects to the deities."


    In his heart, Emperor Jin knew what their arrival signified: the Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin were finally taking personal action against the Cloudstride Sect.


    1. Three after they lost the Hillstride Province ?

 Chapter 211: Advancing Beyond The Qi Sea Phase (1)

    <h4>Chapter 211: Advancing Beyond The Qi Sea Phase (1)</h4>


    At this moment, Emperor Jin, along with the countless soldiers, servants, and maids within the Jin Royal Pce prostrated in reverence. Awe filled their hearts. Were these individuals all Heavenly Rankers? The Great Jin Empire had this manynd deities in their ranks?


    "Jin Cang, rise," spoke the man who led the group. He appeared to be in his thirties, garbed in green robes with cropped hair and a faint smile on his face, radiating warmth from his demeanor.


    Jin Cang promptly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the group of Heavenly Rankers. "Ancestor, is our Founding Ancestor not present?"


    "Let us discuss this matter inside," said the man in green robes.


    Jin Cang nodded, then whispered immediately to the eunuch at his side, "Prepare an upper first-ss banquet with utmost haste."


    "Understood," the imperial eunuch beside him answered without hesitation.


    Even when the princes arrived, they typically held a lower first-ss banquet. An upper first-ss banquet? Such an asion was a once-in-a-decade rarity.


    ...


    Before long, the seven Heavenly Rankers took their seats inside the resplendent pce, while Emperor Jin stood beside the green-robed man.


    A feast of exquisite wines and dishes was presented, each more luxurious than thest.


    After three rounds of wine, a middle-aged man sitting on the right posed a question, "Daoist Jin Ji, Daoist Jin Long, will Daoist Jin Quan not be in attendance?"


    This man appeared to be around 40 years old, donning a tall hat and white robes, and exuding an otherworldly aura. He was Zhao Yi, the man who had previously appeared at the Skysaber Mountain. He hailed from the Yuanxia Pce, one of the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin.


    Jin Quan was none other than Imperator Jin, Emperor Jin I. Jin Ji, the son of Imperator Jin, was Emperor Jin II. As for Jin Long, he was the third south king of the empire, and hailed from the same generation as the current Emperor Jin''s grandfather. The fourth generation of Emperor Jin strayed from the traditional ''father to son'' session.


    "Indeed, Daoist Jin Ji," a man d in ck robes added. "It isn��t that we don��t trust you. However, intelligence from the Pleiades Guild suggests that Fang Xia might be a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Can the seven of us truly take him down without sustaining injuries?"


    "Indeed.��


    "Daoist Jin Ji, I believe it would be best to invite Daoist Jin Quan to participate in the uing battle. This is not just any war, but a critical one for the unification of the world..��


    Apart from a cultivator with a mane of silver hair, several other cultivators began voicing their agreement.


    This scene made Emperor Jin Cang realize that the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin were not as united as he had assumed. The ck-robed figure who had spoken was someone Jin Cang was familiar with, a Heavenly Ranker named Hai Jian who hailed from the Starsea Pavilion.


    <i>Ancestor Jin Ji, Hai Jian, and Zhao Yi are the strongest among them. Even Ancestor Jin Long seems a notch weaker inparison.</i>


    "Fellow Daoists," Jin Ji, who was seated on the imperial throne, began. Though his face was youthful, his presencemanded respect. He had held the mantle of Emperor Jin for several decades.


    Softly, Jin Ji revealed, "My father has been in closed-door cultivation for a long time. I have duly informed him of the situation, and he has decreed that I, along with Fellow Daoists of the Starsea Pavilion and Yuanxia Pce, must join forces to confront Fang Xia."


    "Fang Xia is undeniably powerful. However," he paused, sweeping his gaze over the qi refiners congregated on either side of the grand hall.


    Suddenly, he released an invisible aura, startling Zhao Yi and Hai Jian.


    "Seventh stage?" Zhao Yi stammered, his gaze fixed on Jin Ji, his voice tinged with disbelief. "No! Eighth stage? You��ve reached the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase?"


    Zhao Yi''s incredulous words sent shockwaves through the assembly, leaving Hai Jian and the remaining cultivators awestruck.


    "Indeed," Jin Ji responded, a flicker of a smile dancing on his lips. "In recent decades, I have made significant strides in cultivation, reaching the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase.��


    A hushed stillness enveloped the room. Zhao Yi, Hai Jian, and the other gathered Heavenly Rankers exchanged nces, feeling the weight of his words.


    Within the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, several major factions were highly influential, including the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin, the Sta Consortium, the Pleiades Guild, the Ninedeaths Circle, and the Huang Temple, among others. To be recognized as a major faction, each one had to fulfill one criterion: have at least e-stage Qi Sea cultivator in their ranks!


    By reaching the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase, he was already a peak powerhouse in the Middle Land.


    "Daoist Jin Ji, your achievements are trulymendable," Zhao Yi uttered, a trace of newfound reverence in his voice. "Before the age of 200, you have already be ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator. There��s a chance you��ll reach the Golden Core phase in your lifetime!"


    The Golden Core phase! Despite the rise of countless factions and forces throughout the Middle Land��s history, they had yet to produce a Golden Core cultivator.


    "Reaching the Golden Core phase will not be easy. Daoist Zhao Xing, Daoist Hai Feizhang, and my father reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase a long time ago. Their likelihood of reaching the Golden Core phase is high," Jin Ji remarked with a gentle smile. "As for me? It��s not toote to think about such matters after reaching the ninth stage."


    A heavy silence fell. The eighth-stage Qi Sea phase? Ninth-stage Qi Sea phase?


    Among the attendees, Jin Ji was the onlyte-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Zhao Yi and Hai Jian were second-inmand within their respective holy sanctuaries, yet they had been stuck in the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase for a long time.


    "With Daoist Jin Ji joining us, I can see hope for victory in the uing battle," Hai Jian spoke with deliberate slowness. "However, killing a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator still isn��t going to be an easy feat."


    Each ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator was someone who stood at the summit of the Middle Land, their might unrivaled by early-stage or mid-stage cultivators.


    Hai Jian, Zhao Yi, and the others were deeply reluctant to engage in a life-or-death sh with such a formidable adversary.


    They thought that Jin Quan would be taking action personally, and were worried that he would pressure them into taking part. Furthermore, the three holy sanctuaries had formed an alliance. Hence, they had rushed over to participate in the meeting.


    Although Jin Ji''s strength exceeded their expectations, it paled inparison to the world��s number one expert, Jin Quan.


    "Observe." With a flick of Jin Ji��s wrist, a palm-sized disk materialized, adorned with intricate patterns. On its edges were six small gs that emitted a distinctive aura, merging together to create a unified entity. The object emanated a chilling ferocity.


    "An array disk?" Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up


    "This array?" Zhao Jian was equally astonished by the power inherent in the array disk.


    The other cultivators were equally captivated by the uniqueness and power of the array disk. Undoubtedly, it was a priceless treasure that could very likely determine the winner in the uing war.


    "This is the Septet Ignis Array," Jin Ji exined softly, "It is a cooperative attack array requiring a minimum of three cultivators for activation and amodating up to seven. When seven cultivators cooperate to drive the array, one assumes the role of array leader as the controller of the array disk, while the other six carry the array gs while attacking."


    "It has three primary functions: firstly, when the cultivators synchronize their efforts, they can generate ignis through the array disk by expending essentia and etherstone. This ignis is capable of incinerating anything in its path. Secondly, array armor is a passive ability. As long as one carries an array g and remains within a kilometer of the array disk, iing attacks will be weakened by the array armor. Andstly..."


    After borating on the three main functions of the array, Jin Ji smiled, "Indeed, it is quite challenging to eliminate a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. I do not expect us to kill him. But as long as we defeat him and threaten the Cloudstride Sect��s members, we canpel him to surrender."


    "With the Septet Ignis Array, I firmly believe that even if several ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators join forces, they will find it exceedingly difficult to kill us." Jin Ji smiled slyly, "Do any of you Fellow Daoists still harbor any reservations?"

 Chapter 212: Advancing Beyond The Qi Sea Phase (2)

    <h4>Chapter 212: Advancing Beyond The Qi Sea Phase (2)</h4>


    The numerous Heavenly Rankers exchanged nces. Eventually, their gazes settled on Zhao Yi and Hai Jian.


    "Haha, with this array, we no longer have any concerns," Zhao Yi chuckled. "Furthermore, our three holy sanctuaries took extensive efforts to eradicate the Chu-Jiang Empire. That tiny Cloudstride Sect believes they can resurrect Chu-Jiang? A preposterous dream!"


    "Indeed," Hai Jian chimed in from the side, "Great Jin, united by our three holy sanctuaries, must work in harmony.��


    "Marvelous!" Outwardly, Jin Ji smiled with satisfaction. However, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of disappointment. In terms of the amount of wealth and treasures umted, the Jin royal family far surpassed any other organization, including the Sta Consortium. However, in terms of the number of qi refiners the royal family produced, there were only three to this day.


    Initially, Jin Qing''s breakthrough had brought immense joy to Jin Ji. But in a cruel twist of fate, his brother met his demise in the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    <i>Shadow de, you have to die!</i> Jin Ji vowed to himself. Simultaneously, a different thought crossed Jin Ji''s mind. <i>That Shadow de, could it be that he obtained an invaluable treasure from the Eldritch Chamber? I must do everything in my power to obtain it.</i>


    While other forces across the thirteen continents were oblivious to the existence of eldritches, the Jin royal family''s precious Amethyst Cradle Jade Record contained explicit ounts of these formidable cultivators.


    "Right, Daoist Jin Ji," Zhao Jian interjected suddenly. "Has the Sta Consortium still not responded to Wu Jianzhong��s death?"


    The other Heavenly Rankers turned their gaze towards Jin Ji, awaiting his response. It had been a month since Wu Jianzhong''s defeat, and the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin chose to observe the ongoing conflict between the Sta Consortium and the Cloudstride Sect from afar. Little did they expect that the Sta Consortium would remain idle.


    "Wan Xing sent us a message, stating that the Sta Consortium shall remain impartial in this war," Jin Ji revealed in a hushed tone. "They have only one condition: if we can eliminate Fang Xia, it will serve as vengeance for the Sta Consortium. In return, they will not dispute our im over the Jiang Continent."


    "That cunning old fox!"


    "Coward, afraid of death above all else."


    "The Jiang Continent? The Sta Consortium is speaking as though they��re doing us a favor by not blocking our troops after we kill Fang Xia." The Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin were full of indignation.


    They were indeed wary of Wan Xing. The Sta Consortium was universally acknowledged as the foremost power in the world due to its martial might. The Great Jin Empire could only stand a chance against them when the three holy sanctuaries joined forces.


    "Very well. We cannot force Wan Xing to join the battle." Jin Ji''s gaze swept across the assembled crowd. ��It will take several days for us to learn how to operate the Septet Ignis Array. Once we learn the controls, we will march forth to conquer Cloudhill."


    The six Heavenly Rankers nodded in agreement.


    "Cang��er," Jin Ji turned his attention to Jin Cang beside him.


    "Ancestor," Jin Cang lowered his head respectfully.


    ��Inform the armies mobilized in the Yuan Continent, Jiang Continent, and Chu Continent to make preparations," Jin Ji spoke softly. "As soon as the battle at Cloudhill concludes, they are to immediately invade the Jiang Continent, removing the greatest obstacle that stands in the path of Great Jin''s unification."


    "Understood," Jin Cang''s eyes gleamed. He knew that once the Jiang Continent was theirs, the unification of the world would be within the Great Jin Empire��s grasp.


    ...


    Despite the arrival of autumn, Cloudhill still offered gentle breezes and pleasant temperatures.


    Ever since the climactic battle between Heavenly Rankers that concluded in August, the world had been thrown into a frenzy. In the month of September, the Cloudstride Sect had relentlessly expanded their influence, their banners now fluttering in ten out of the sixteen states of the Jiang Continent, causing ripples of awe and fear throughout thend.


    Gu Wang, Lu Feng, and Zhang Changsheng disyed Grandmaster-level strength during the battle, bing overnight legends.


    Atop Cloudhill, however, all was tranquil. The various factions of the world had been made aware that Shadow de was an expert of the Cloudstride Sect, and soon to enter the Heavenly Rankings. However, only a select few were privy to the fact that Shadow de was none other than Wu Yuan.


    ...


    After Wu Qiming, Wanqin, and Wu Yijun had consumed the Redwood Spirit Fruits, Wu Yuan escorted them down the mountain.


    With the visitors gone, tranquility returned to Wu Yuan''s private courtyard house. Within the dimly lit meditation chamber, Wu Yuan sat in silence.


    <i>Blood mist! </i>Like a tidal surge, the blood-red mist rushed to permeate every fiber of his body. Wu Yuan''s body functioned as a sponge, eagerly absorbing and assimting the energy coursing through him.


    Before Wu Yuan, a row of jade vials stood, emptied of the Ancient Immortal Dew they originally contained. Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, and he grabbed another vial of the spiritual liquid. Tilting his head back, he consumed dozens of drops.


    Fueled by thebined powers of the blood-red mist and the spiritual liquid, Wu Yuan could feel his entire musculoskeletal system undergo a rapid metamorphosis. Countless impurities were expelled, and his tendons, bones, skin, and membrane underwent a swift and remarkable improvement. The rate of this transformation surpassed even the initial fusion with the eldritch tattoos.


    For two full days, visible impurities continued to surface on Wu Yuan''s skin, before finallying to a stop as his metamorphosis ended.


    <i>What a peculiar sensation! I never imagined that consolidating second-degree eldritch tattoos coupled with the effects of blood-red mist would allow my body to evolve to this extent after just one month of cultivation. Is it possible that the blood-red mist amplified the potency of the eldritch tattoos?</i> The mere thought of it left Wu Yuan in shock.


    Inte August, when Wu Yuan had entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm, the force behind his one-armed punch had been a modest 240,000 catties. However, after consolidating the eldritch tattoos, that power had surged to 330,000 catties.


    For the past month, Wu Yuan had cultivated in seclusion, and his strength had advanced without stopping. Subsequently, he attempted to assimte the blood-red mist, resulting in an astounding transformation.


    <i>Now, my punch</i>...


    Exerting the slightest force, he felt overwhelming might coursing through his veins. His eyes lit up.


    <i>520,000 catties!</i> It had increased by more than 100,000 catties, surpassing even his wildest expectations.


    <i>Even Heavenly Rankers are no match for me now in terms of pure physical strength. Even though they have reached the Qi Sea phase, their advancement from the first stage to the ninth primarily depends on the umtion of essentia!</i>


    The strength of qi refinersy in essentia!


    <i>Whether at the first or the ninth stage of the Qi Sea phase, their single-arm strength rarely exceeds 400,000 catties, perhaps only reaching 410,000 or 420,000 catties at most. </i>The immortal slip had provided Wu Yuan with this invaluable insight. Qi refiners did not prioritize physical might, for a robust physique often proved to be a hindrance in theirter cultivation.


    <i>My mastery over heaven and earth''s power... </i>Wu Yuan''s Soul Force dispersed, attuned to the subtle undtions of the invisible, yet indescribably grandiose power that permeated the world.


    With a mere thought, he could summon a force of 200,000 catties! This meant that in just a single month, Wu Yuan reached the pinnacle of the Unity level. The next step was the Domain stage.


    <i>In terms of skill, I now stand on equal footing with most mid-stage andte-stage Qi Sea cultivators. However, they far surpass me in practical application, as they excel atbining their essentia with heaven and earth''s power.</i>


    <i>At the very least, when in closebat, I have a high chance of inflicting serious injuries, or even ying weaker Heavenly Rankers in a sudden outburst of strength.</i>


    Essentia was highly versatile, allowing one to eliminate adversaries from afar. Meanwhile, the advantage of physical strengthy in its unending yet concealed power, which, when unleashed through the Threefold Power Surge, resulted in incredible force.


    Time slipped away as Wu Yuan keenly perceived andprehended the changes within his own body.


    <i>Hm? </i>Wu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, sensing the tumultuous changes in the surrounding spiritual qi.


    "Young Master," a voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "The killing array ispleted, please have a look."

 Chapter 213: Killing Array, Clone Gu

    <h4>Chapter 213: Killing Array, Clone Gu</h4>


    <i>Is the Killing Array finallyplete?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled with anticipation. He could sense fluctuations in the spiritual qi.


    Over the past month, Fang Xia had first established the monitoring array, the simplest array of the three. Just a few dayster, he added the mind confusion array. And now, after nearly a month of work, he had finally finished setting up the killing array.


    <i>Old Fang must have called me over for a reason. Let��s go have a look. </i>Wu Yuan swiftly darted out of the courtyard.


    ...


    A short whileter, Wu Yuan entered the relic cave at the base of Cloudhill.


    <i>What in the world?</i> Wu Yuan waspletely awed by the sight that greeted him inside the cave. It looked nothing like what it was one month ago.


    The jade chamber had undergone aplete transformation, both in aesthetics and size. The walls were now smooth and polished, bathed in the brilliant glow of shimmering pearls attached to the ceiling, which illuminated the chamber as if it were daylight.


    But the aspect that changed the most was the ground. It was now meticulously paved with jade stones, each emitting a soft halo. Upon closer inspection, countless intricate gold patterns could be discerned on the surface.


    <i>Gold! It belongs to the gold attribute of heaven and earth.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    He knew that the Domain Fang Xia controlled was the Gold Dao.


    The myriad of gold patterns on the jade stones extended throughout the chamber, resembling rivers converging into the sea, eventually culminating at the center.


    Therge cauldron now gleamed with renewed brilliance, brimming with arge quantity of crystal-clear liquid, which was none other than spiritual liquid. With a single nce, Wu Yuan estimated that it held at least several thousand droplets. The concentration of spiritual qi in this liquid surpassed that of Cloudspring Blood by at least ten times.


    But what truly captured Wu Yuan''s attention was the colossal golden sphere suspended above therge cauldron. It had a diameter of three meters and intricate patterns were etched on its surface. A torrent of golden qi currents revolved around it. Ethereal golden chains extended from the sphere, connecting to the fabric of space throughout the jade chamber, creating an enchanting, otherworldly spectacle.


    From the pressure emanating from the golden sphere, Wu Yuan could tell it posed a lethal threat to him. Clearly, this radiant sphere was linked to Fang Xia''s killing array.


    "Young Master, what are your thoughts?" Fang Xia stood beside the golden sphere, wearing a proud smile.


    "Old Fang, this is truly remarkable," Wu Yuan praised sincerely.


    "Hahaha, this sphere functions as the core of the arrays set up on Cloudhill," Fang Xia boasted, his satisfaction evident. "For the past month, I''ve traveled almost a thousand li in total, meticulously surveying and organizing the spiritual veins in this area. I even diverted the course of certain spiritual veins, then integrated numerous array bases into their flow."


    "Only by converging these streams into a singr current can an array take shape, forming what we call the array core," Fang Xia exined.


    "Incredible," Wu Yuan marveled, his voice filled with admiration. "Old Fang, your mastery of arrays rivals that of a Golden Core Superior."


    No longer a naive novice of the immortal path, Wu Yuan knew that numerous Golden Core Superiors couldn��tpare to Fang Xia in terms of array cultivation.


    "This is my first attempt at constructing an array, so it might still be rough around the edges," Fang Xia admitted with a chuckle. "But with time, I can refine and perfect it. As of now, the foundation has beenid. Once activated, even a Golden Core Superior may find themselves unable to breach its defenses."


    "Fortunately for us, we acquired numerous resources from Wu Jianzhong. If I had to rely solely on the Cloudstride Sect''s meager provisions, the final product would have had far more ws."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged Fang Xia''s words with a slight nod.


    The creation of a fixed array required a specific environment. To construct this array for the Cloudstride Sect, Fang Xia had to consolidate the flow of all spiritual veins within a thousand-li radius.


    Expanding the range of the array to cover a thousand-li radius while maintaining its power would increase the difficulty more than tenfold. This was the reason whyrge sects and powerful factions established their strongholds at locations where spiritual veins converged, such as renowned mountains and expansive rivers.


    Secondly, an array required exceptional materials for construction. Only extraordinary minerals and natural treasures were capable of forming a solid foundation for the array.


    Thirdly, the expertise of the array cultivator yed a crucial role. It was just like constructing a house; even with the same environment and materials, different architects could produce vastly different results. Array construction operated under the same principles.


    "Young Master," Fang Xia interrupted Wu Yuan��s thoughts, "this array can be controlled by up to three individuals. I suggest that you leave your mental imprint and gauge the power of this array for yourself."


    "Three people?" Wu Yuan repeated.


    "Indeed," Fang Xia confirmed, gesturing towards the three jade tforms surrounding therge cauldron. "Controlling the arrays, particrly the killing array, requires one to have a strong soul. The arrays can be controlled by three individuals working in unison, or just a single individual. That is to say, the array can amodate up to three mental imprints.


    ��An array is simr to an artifact. Once it recognizes its controller, one can wield the array''s power freely within its range," he exined. "Young Master, give it a try. Within the Cloudstride Sect, there is no one better person better suited to control the array than you, apart from myself of course."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Young Master, since you have yet to umte essentia, you may leave your Soul Force imprint for the time being," Fang Xia advised.


    Wu Yuanplied, closing his eyes and extending his Soul Force toward the suspended sphere of golden light.


    The moment his consciousness entered the sphere, it felt as though he had entered a vast realm. In that instant, a torrent of information flooded his consciousness.


    <i>Howrge.</i> Wu Yuan waspletely stunned. His perception had transformed, as though he had grown numerous extra eyes that reached impossibly high into the sky and plunged deep into the earth, into rocks, caves, and soil. Every detail came alive before him, from the martial artists training on Cloudhill to the peddlers selling their wares on the streets of Cloudhill City, and even the rabbits and mice darting through the wild forests, as well as the roaring Cloud River.


    In the blink of an eye, everything in a spherical area with a 300-li diameter materialized within Wu Yuan''s mind. As long as he willed it, he could monitor any nook and cranny within this area with crystal clear definition, as if he was perceiving it with his Soul Force. Nothing could evade his surveince.


    However, the influx of information proved overwhelming for his soul. With a thought, the projections blurred and faded, leaving only the distribution of vital auras. This was enough for Wu Yuan to sense the rtive strengths of vital auras within the range of the monitoring array.


    <i>The monitoring array has three distinct functions. Firstly, it provides passive surveince. I will be instantly notified if any life form at the first-stage Qi Sea phase enters the array��s range, granted I am also within the array��s range.</i>


    <i>Secondly, the array controller can actively search for a specific life form. One would only get a vague sense of the target, limited to perceiving the vital aura. However, it ces a minimal burden on the soul. </i>


    <i>Andstly, there is holographic sensing, which proves to be quite taxing.</i>


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan once again began to observe the intricate patterns etched on the surface of the golden sphere. As he perceived it with his Soul Force, the encoded information within the patterns revealed instructions on how to control the array.


    The mind confusion array enveloped a diameter of several hundred li. It produced a type of fog that distorted one��s senses and muddled one��s sense of direction. Any individual within the array��s range would also suffer from a weakened Soul Force.


    <i>However, these two arrays are merely supporting measures. The real power lies in the killing array.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s consciousness departed from the golden sphere, leaving behind a faint mental imprint that formed an invisible bond between him and the array. Then, he slowly opened his eyes.


    "Old Fang," Wu Yuan looked at Fang Xia. "Array cultivation is nothing short of astonishing."


    Only through firsthand experience did Wu Yuan understand the usefulness of array cultivation. It could multiply a cultivator��s strength tenfold, or even a hundredfold.


    "Haha. Now that Young Master has left your mental imprint, there is no need for me to expound on its functions," chuckled Fang Xia. "Though the Sta Consortium and Great Jin may appear inactive, I have detected the presence of qi refiners approaching Cloudhill on multiple asions over the past month."


    "Oh?" A glimmer of surprise flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    "Of course, they kept a ten-li distance from the sect," Fang Xia added. "It is obviously a reconnaissance effort."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    It was only logical. Without a Golden Core Superior leading the charge, who would dare to provoke Fang Xia, someone who could easily tten a fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivator?


    ��They will strike sooner orter. Perhaps they will probe our defenses first," Fang Xia remarked. "But we must be fully prepared. Young Master must understand that the killing array alone may not be enough to withstand an assault from ate-stage Qi Sea qi refiner."


    Wu Yuan listened intently. The killing array boasted a number of functions, but its true potential was intricately linked to the capabilities of its controllers.


    "These arrays are sufficient for us to hold our ground in the Middle Land. But if our aim is to drive them away, this method falls short. If they have the audacity to approach, we must inflict upon them a world of pain," Fang Xia dered solemnly.


    "So, my strategy is as follows: first I will deal a full-powered strike once an enemy draws near, ensuring that they remain here."


    "But while I can still control the array at a distance from its core, its power will diminish significantly." Operating an array while stationed at its core naturally yielded the strongest effects.


    "When the timees, it will be your responsibility to control the array, Young Master."


    "Me? Control the array?" Wu Yuan eximed, shaking his head. "Old Fang, I don��t have any essentia, don��t joke with me."


    "Hehe. Young Master, I have my methods." Fang Xia smiled faintly, waving his hand. From his palm, a streak of light soared forth. Swiftly, it took on the form of a figure that bore an exact resemnce to Fang Xia, even emitting the same vital aura.


    "What?" Wu Yuan was astounded.


    Qi refiners typically did not recall a person by appearance alone but by their soul aura. One might alter their appearance via Transfiguration, but altering one��s soul aura was nearly impossible. Yet, Wu Yuan couldn��t distinguish between the two at all.


    "Divided Soul?" Wu Yuan blurted out, somewhat incredulous.


    "No," both Fang Xias spoke in unison.


    One Fang Xia chuckled, "Young master, this is my lifebound gu, the Clone Gu, which enables me to cultivate a clone in advance. This clone is normally nurtured within my qi sea and can be summoned into battle during critical moments. However, the soul strength and essentia of my clone is only one-tenth of mine."


    "If I perish, so too will my clone. If my clone dies, I will suffer serious damage, but it��s possible to nurture the clone anew," Fang Xia exined. "I��ll have my clone control the first two functions of the killing array while my main body heads out to ughter the enemies. This is the best coordination tactic."


    "The third function of the killing array allows the controller to administer a decisive blow to the opponents�� souls at the most critical juncture, called Soulquake. I believe Young Master is most suited for this task," Fang Xia eximed with fervor, "Your soul strength far surpasses mine."

 Chapter 214: Enemies At The Doorstep

    <h4>Chapter 214: Enemies At The Doorstep</h4>


    <i>Soulquake Art? </i>Wu Yuan understood what he meant in an instant.


    Fang Xia��s Clone Gu would be responsible for the first two functions of the killing array. While its strength was not quite on par with Fang Xia himself, it was nearly identical until the Clone Gu��s essentia was depleted.


    Whenever the killing array harnessed spiritual qi tounch an attack, the array controller would also expend some energy, hence the need for essentia.


    The Clone Gu��s strength did not lie in directbat. However, it proved quite useful in critical moments, capable of confusing enemies, exploring risky areas, acting as a substitute array controller for the main body, refining pills, and much more. Even before mentioning anything else, the fact that it could provide an additional ten percent of one��s soul strength and essentia made it immensely valuable.


    The first two functions of the killing array harnessed the spiritual qi, but the third function, Soulquake, was different. It did not require heaven and earth''s power or spiritual qi and its effects only targeted the soul. Naturally, the stronger the soul of the array controller, the greater the effectiveness of Soulquake.


    "Alright." Wu Yuan grinned. "When the timees, I shall unleash a Soulquake through the array. It will be enough to deliver a paralyzing blow at the crucial moment."


    Secret arts involved the physical body, arcane arts involved essentia, and soul arts involved the soul. Countless types of arts existed, none inherently stronger or weaker. It all depended on how cultivators implemented them in battle.


    "Young Master, I also have some good news for you." Fang Xia smiled. "After cultivating in seclusion for over a month, Bu Yu has achieved Unity."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled. "The Rain Hierarch has made a breakthrough?"


    "Yes," Fang Xia gestured toward a distant chamber within the cave, still barricaded by a curtain of light. "She has yet to emerge or speak to me, but as the controller of the array, I can sense the changes in heaven and earth''s power surrounding her."


    "She has indeed advanced," Fang Xia asserted.


    A hint of tion appeared on Wu Yuan''s face. While he was happy that the Cloudstride Sect had gained another qi refiner, he was even happier for Bu Yu herself for achieving a breakthrough after devoting herself tirelessly to the sect. With this advancement, she could now live for 500 years. It was truly a cause for celebration.


    "Young Master, your vital aura brims with vigor. Physically, you may even surpass me in strength. Your training over the past month appears to havee along well," Fang Xia looked at him with eager anticipation. "I await the day you be a true eldritch warrior."


    ��Haha, alright,�� Wu Yuan chuckled.


    "Young Master, as an array controller, you can harness its power as long as you remain within its range," Fang Xia informed him. "Once Bu Yu emerges from seclusion, you will sense it. Why don��t you return for now? We can celebrate her achievement after she joins us."


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan nodded.


    ...


    The killing array was established with Cloudhill at its core, epassing a radius of hundreds of li, including the entirety of Cloudhill City.


    Through the monitoring array, Wu Yuan could see how his family and fellow nsmen were doing with a mere thought, even while he was physically on Cloudhill.


    A profound sense of tranquility enveloped his heart. As he continued his training, his consciousness grew sharper. And now, at longst, the Cloudstride Sect could be said to haveid a preliminary foundation, a cornerstone that wouldst millennia.


    ...


    In the Baihu Provincial City of the Jiang Continent was a stronghold of the Cloudstride Sect.


    As the heart of the sect''s rule in Baihu, it amodated arge number of disciples, a sizable contingent of stationed troops, and naturally, numerous training grounds, courtyards, and edifices. All in all, it spanned a vast expanse.


    Inside the central hall of a grand edifice in the stronghold, a man in hemp clothing patiently waited.


    <i>I clearly received a message about my transfer to the Chu Continent, with the task of gathering intelligence for the impending war. Why the abrupt summons? From what Sect Elder Tian has written, it appears a Grandmaster wishes to meet me?</i> Thoughts swirled in his mind.


    Among first-rate Adepts, his abilities were considered decent. However, was branded a sinner within the sect. Why would he be granted an audience with a Grandmaster out of the blue?


    <i>Could it be that something has happened to Mother or Yu��er? Or perhaps they caused some trouble? </i>His mind raced, dismissing the thought almost immediately.


    <i>No! It shouldn��t be. They are safe and imprisoned in Cloudhill City. What trouble could they possibly stir up?</i>


    He went through every possibility, but still couldn��t figure out the reason for this meeting with a Grandmaster.


    Suddenly, two figures emerged from a corridor at the side of the hall. One was an elderly man with a flowing white beard. The other was a middle-aged man d in ck armor, exuding an extraordinary presence. Both figures made their way to the center of the hall.


    "Sect Elder Tian, Hall Master Gu," the man dressed in hemp attire greeted with a bow.


    The man in ck armor was Gu Wang, the hall master of the Inspection Hall.


    "Gu Ji. It has been over a decade since west met. At that time, youmitted a grave sin," Gu Wang''s voice was deliberate and measured as he gazed down at the man in hemp attire. "Your memory is certainly sharp."


    "I would never dare to forget the hall master��s appearance," Gu Ji humbly lowered his head.


    At this moment, his brain was thrown intoplete chaos. From what he knew, Gu Wang, now a Grandmaster andmander of several armies, guarded the Baihu Province. What kind of pressing matter could warrant him taking time out of his busy schedule just to meet him?


    "Gu Ji." Gu Wang began slowly, "Thirteen years ago, youmitted a grievous crime. ording to thew, your entire family should have faced execution, but the sect chose to show mercy. Your family was imprisoned, and you became a sacrificial pawn of the sect."


    "The sect struck a deal with you �C perform ten significant meritorious deeds, or reach the level of a Savant expert, and you may receive a reduced sentence. Complete thirty significant meritorious deeds, or rank among the top twenty in the Human Rankings, and your entire family will be set free. Am I correct?" Gu Wang asked softly.


    "Indeed," Gu Ji lowered his head.


    That one mistake had inflicted tremendous losses on the sect, resulting in countless casualties. As someone who grew up within the sect, Gu Ji felt deep regret every time he recalled that incident. He would carry the weight of guilt for a lifetime.


    Despite the severe punishment, he harbored no resentment. A mistake was a mistake! Throughout the years, he had toiled diligently, not seeking forgiveness from the sect, but yearning to improve the life of his imprisoned family.


    "The sect has decreed that starting today, your family is fully pardoned and hereby liberated," Gu Wang said softly. "Your sentence will be lightened significantly. However, you must join my army and fight in the imminent war for the Jiang Continent!"


    "As long as you umte 3000 military merits, true freedom will be yours. Your past crimes will be forgiven, and you will be granted the rank of protectorate within the sect," Gu Wang continued.


    Gu Ji was utterly bbergasted. ruing 3000 military merits was no easy task, butpared to the previous requirement of thirty significant meritorious deeds, it was hardly difficult. Most importantly, his family was now dered innocent and allowed to go free.


    Gu Ji''s eyes welled up. After thirteen years, he had finally lived to witness this day.


    "Gu Ji thanks the sect for its benevolence!" Gu Ji prostrated on the ground, kowtowing over and over again.


    "It is indeed the sect''s benevolence that spared your life," Gu Wang said lightly. "But you must also express your gratitude to Heavens Heir Wu Yuan. It was he who examined your case and pleaded on your behalf, hoping to secure your freedom."


    Wu Yuan? The realization hit Gu Ji like a bolt of lightning, sending shockwaves through his heart. He had never anticipated this turn of events. In just two years, that young prodigy had be someone who could absolve him of his heinous crimes with just a passingment?


    <i>Young Master Wu Yuan did not forget his promise to me.</i> Gu Ji continued to kowtow with a mixture of relief and gratitude.


    ...


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan��s private courtyard in Cloudhill City.</i>


    <i>Gu Ji''s family has been released?</i> Wu Yuan read through the scroll delivered by the Inspection Hall.


    He could perceive the entire Cloudhill City with just a thought, allowing him to get real-time updates on Gu Ji''s family��s situation.


    <i>The crime wasmitted by Gu Ji. </i>Wu Yuan ced the scroll on the table before him.


    He had never forgotten his promise to Gu Ji. However, while he was actively taking on the identity of Shadow de, it wasn��t the appropriate time to carry out such a task, nor could he easily uncover the details behind the matter.


    It was only after returning to Cloudhill and understanding Gu Ji''s situation over the past few days that Wu Yuan realized a direct release could not be justified. To grant absolution without addressing the lives lost because of his mistakes would be a great disservice to the sect''s disciples and the citizens who had suffered.


    <i>For thirteen years, he has diligently served the sect, amassing countless merits without making a single error. Such an individual deserves a chance to make amends. At the very least, his family should not be burdened by his sins.</i>


    It was this conviction that prompted Wu Yuan to speak to Gu Wang. The top echelons of the sect, such as Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, and Lu Feng were all aware of Wu Yuan��s real identity.


    He casually set the scrolls aside. The fulfillment of the promise made to Gu Ji signified thepletion of a karmic cycle.


    In the immortal slip, it was mentioned that promises and oaths carried a weighty karma. Destiny and karma, profound and enigmatic concepts, were far beyond the grasp of mortals or weak cultivators. However, for those at high cultivation levels, destiny and karma were extremely important. If entangled by numerous karmic ties, one''s cultivation would be adversely affected.


    <i>Both Great Jin and the Sta Consortium are truly masters of endurance. </i>Wu Yuan closed his eyes, suppressed his numerous thoughts, and resumed his cultivation.


    ...


    Soon, it was the 8th of October. In the Ster Province of the Dong Continent, situated roughly a hundred li away from the headquarters of the Sta Consortium,y a canyon. This ce was strictly off-limits, except for specific personnel of the Sta Consortium.


    The canyon was perpetually shrouded in fog, making it difficult for anyone without a special token to navigate its depths.


    "Honored Sta Elders," a ck-robed old man entered a courtyard house nestled deep within the canyon and spoke respectfully, "A message has been delivered from Great Jin. On the 12th of October, Heavenly Rankers from the three holy sanctuaries will join forces to overthrow Cloudhill. They specifically extended an invitation for our Sta elders to witness this event."


    Silence engulfed the courtyard for a moment.


    "Very well, understood. Inform the overseer not to intervene. The Sta Consortium shall continue to operate within the territory of the Cloudstride Sect," a detached voice replied, "This matter concerns the deities, we��ll handle it ourselves."


    "Yes," the ck-robed elderly man responded deferentially.


    ...


    <i>A battle on the 12th of October?</i> A simr invitation for Meng Cai had also arrived at the Pleiades Guild headquarters.


    After a moment of contemtion, he reached a decision.


    <i>I��ll go have a look! Big Brother only told me not to interfere in the great war between the three factions. But merely observing should not be a problem.</i>


    <i>For a battle of such magnitude, even Jin Quan might make a move, how rare is that? This is a once-in-a-century event in the Middle Land!</i>


    <i>Mm, I should inform the other two guild elders.</i>


    ...


    ��Haha, there hasn''t been a peep from the Sta Consortium since Wu Jianzhong''s demise. On the contrary, Great Jin can��t wait any longer.��


    ��Our Wu Sect should naturally go watch this spectacle.��


    ...


    "Fang Xia is rumored to be a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. One cannot help but wonder if Jin Quan will make his presence known again."


    ...


    "As the Arctic King, it��s only natural that I observe the Central ins engage in their internal strife."


    ...


    In a brief span of time, Heavenly Rankers from the Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, Ninedeaths Circle, Wu Sect, Huang Temple, as well as major factions in the Nan Continent, Bei Continent, and Mo Continent, were invited to witness the Great Jin Empire assert their dominance.


    Several Heavenly Rankers declined the invitation. However, with Fang Xia��s name making waves recently, along with the Great Jin Empire��s domineering might, numerous Heavenly Rankers were eager to witness the spectacle.


    ...


    Soon, the 12th of October arrived. Apart from a handful of top echelons from various top-tier major factions, everyone else, includingmoners and most Grandmasters, was unaware of the imminent war in the Jiang Continent.


    This was the reason why Heavenly Rankers seldom appeared in the mundane world. They existed on apletely different level.


    On Cloudhill, all was calm. As the days passed, neither the Great Jin Empire nor the Sta Consortium made any moves toward aggression, and Wu Yuan and Fang Xia maintained their calm.


    During this period, Bu Yu emerged from seclusion, and the upper echelons of the Cloudstride Sect rejoiced upon receiving news of her breakthrough.


    The weather today was perfect, with just the right amount of sunshine and a cloudless sky.


    Wu Yuan reclined leisurely at the edge of Razor''s Edge Cliff, his eyes shut as if basking in the sunlight. Even in Huan Jian''s absence, this ce remained a forbidden zone.


    <i>Cultivating while lying down and being physically close to the earth allows me toprehend the profoundness of the Land even more vividly than when I am sitting up. </i>Wu Yuan found this rather amusing.


    Besides honing his body, Wu Yuan dedicated the rest of his time toprehending the profundity of the Land.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, and he looked up at the sky. Numerous figures were vaguely visible. His gaze hardened. <i>Heavenly Rankers? Quite a number of them.</i>


    <i>Has it finally begun?</i>

 Chapter 215: The World Watches, The Battle Begins (1)

    <h4>Chapter 215: The World Watches, The Battle Begins (1)</h4>


    Among the three arrays defending Cloudhill, the monitoring array had the greatest coverage, with a radius spanning over a hundred li. The range of the mind confusion array was slightly smaller, spanning around one hundred li. The range of the killing array was the most limited. However, it was still able to cover the entire Cloudhill City once activated.


    <i>Three individuals. Hm? They��ve stopped?</i> Thanks to the passive effect of the monitoring array, Wu Yuan was made aware of the Heavenly Rankers the moment they drew close. They stood high in the sky, just over a hundred li from Cloudhill.


    <i>I should head to the array core.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In a blur of motion, Wu Yuan vanished, the surrounding light distorting in his wake. The soldiers stationed in the vicinity did not notice him even as he made his way past them.


    Wu Yuan''s formidable physique propelled him through the air at a speed exceeding 1000 meters per second, a pace that could rival numerous Heavenly Rankers. In less than two breaths, he made his way through Cloudhill and entered the cave. A split secondter, he arrived at the jade chamber, which was lit up as bright as daytime. The resplendent golden sphere levitated at its center.


    At this very moment, the sphere was projecting a number of scenes from the world outside into the air. The most eye-catching of which showed the scene in the sky around 100 li away.


    "Wu Yuan has arrived," Huan Jian announced.


    "Wu Yuan," Bu Yu turned her head.


    "Greetings, Hierarchs." Wu Yuan smiled faintly as he strode to the sphere.


    His gazended on Fang Xia, who was seated on a jade tform. The jade chamber, serving as the core of the array, was rather spacious. Furthermore, the density of spiritual qi in the jade chamber far surpassed that of the world outside. As a result, Bu Yu and Huan Jian typically cultivated in alcoves hollowed out from the walls of the jade chamber.


    Currently, Fang Xia had carved out twenty small alcoves into the walls of the jade chamber. This was in line with his future ns. These alcoves had the capacity to amodate more than twenty qi refiners cultivating in seclusion simultaneously. Additionally, two newly dug tunnels extended further from either end of the jade chamber.


    ording to Fang Xia, once he gathered enough materials, he would channel the power of the spirit veins to nurture two Earthfire wellsprings, thus creating the foundation for a pill chamber and an equipment hall. At that point, the sect would begin to take the shape of a fledgling immortal sect.


    "Wu Yuan has arrived?" Fang Xia''s eyes flickered open. Sitting in the lotus position on the jade tform, he exuded the air of a lofty sect ancestor.


    "Yesterday, news arrived from the Pleiades Guild, stating that the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin have joined forces, inviting factions from far and wide to witness the uing battle. Today, they aim to annihte our Cloudstride Sect." Fang Xia spoke slowly.


    "What? Inviting factions to watch the battle?" Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian''s expressions turned grave.


    Over the past few days, the three of them had primarily been immersed in secluded cultivation, leaving Fang Xia to handle the misceneous affairs of the Cloudstride Sect. Hence, they were unaware of this development.


    "Great Jin is greedy indeed." Huan Jian said softly. "They believe they can devour our Cloudstride Sect in one go just because the three holy sanctuaries have banded together. What an insatiable appetite."


    "The Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion are staunch allies of the Jin royal family. This joint attack is proof of their determination." Bu Yu expressed her concern.


    For the past three decades, she had steered the course of the Cloudstride Sect. Through her interactions with various factions across the world, she gained a deep understanding of the strength of the Great Jin Empire.


    She was all too aware that the Cloudstride Sect survived the copse of Chu-Jiang not solely due to the sect''s own strength. Rather, it was mostly thanks to the Wu Sect, Sta Consortium, and several other influential factions that had exerted pressure on Great Jin, preventing them from advancing further eastward.


    But this time, even if the Sta Consortium didn��t seek vengeance, they were unlikely to lift a finger to assist them.


    "Haha," Fang Xia chuckled. "Do not underestimate your ancestor. Rest assured, I am confident."


    "We dare not," Huan Jian and Bu Yu quickly replied in unison.


    In the past few days, Fang Xia had provided them with much cultivation guidance, imparting Eldritch Codex to them. Ordinary cultivation methods like the Five Elements Cycle had long faded into the recesses of their minds. They both knew that Fang Xia was powerful beyond their imagination.


    Fang Xia revealed, "The qi refiners that have approached our territory thus far do not hail from the Great Jin Empire. However, we must remain vignt. Wu Yuan, both you and this clone will oversee the arrays."


    "Clone?" Wu Yuan eximed, taken aback.


    "The ancestor''s main body departed at the first sign of the qi refiners," The Rain Hierarch smiled, gesturing towards a projection from the golden sphere. "Wu Yuan, have a look."


    Wu Yuan directed his gaze toward the disy. In the sky, a figure clothed in white robes was already standing outside Cloudhill. It was Fang Xia.


    <i>Clone Gus are seriously incredible</i>. Wu Yuan sincerely admitted.


    If no one informed him, he would have beenpletely unaware that the Fang Xia before him was merely a clone. Having a Clone Gu as a lifebound gu proved remarkably useful in critical moments.


    "Very well. Ancestor, let��s control the array together," Wu Yuan swiftly settled onto a jade tform.


    With a thought, his Soul Force entered the golden sphere. A deluge of information and images inundated Wu Yuan''s mind, and the projected images shifted ording to his will. Every detail of the monitoring array was now unveiled within Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    <i>Soulquake Art, cryptic patterns</i>. Wu Yu began sensing andprehending the intricate patterns within the radiant sphere, learning how to activate the Soulquake soul art.


    With a thought, he activated several array bases. Soon, he felt his consciousness expand and the range of the killing array extended to nearly 100 li in radius, ready to strike at his will.


    ��Excellent.�� A smile graced Fang Xia''s face as he observed Wu Yuan. With the young master controlling one function of the killing array, his mental strain was significantly reduced, allowing him to focus on operating the remaining arrays.


    <i>Activate. </i>Fang Xia gave a mental order. In an instant, the area 100 li around Cloudhill was engulfed inyers of fog. Visibility plummeted swiftly.


    <i>Mind confusion array? </i>Bu Yu and Huan Jian quietly watched the scene unfold before them.


    ...


    The moment the defense arrays were activated over Cloudhill, confusion and curiosity spread among the inhabitants.


    "What��s happening?"


    "Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?"


    "What dense fog." Disciples of the Cloudstride Sect, as well as countless civilians, soldiers, and martial artists in Cloudhill City, all cast their gazes upwards. The fog was so thick that it obscured their vision, nketing everything in a hazy white veil.


    These abrupt and dramatic changes in the sky surpassed theprehension of themon folk. Even many first-rate Adepts and Savant experts were left in confusion.


    "I am Fang Xia!" Out of nowhere, a warm voice reverberated throughout Cloudhill, reaching even the farthest corners of Cloudhill City. It felt like the voice of a deity whispering into the ears of a million creatures.


    "Great Jin encroaches upon our Cloudstride Sect, intending to assault the mountain! Fear not, the array created by the sect��s Heavenly Ranker will protect you. Remain calm and stay in your homes. Once Great Jin''s Heavenly Rankers have been eliminated, everything will return to normal."


    This booming voice ignited a fervor among the inhabitants of Cloudhill and Cloudhill Province.


    "Ancestor Fang Xia!"


    "Legend has it that the ancestor is the world��s number one expert."


    "Heavenly Ranker!"


    "He will eliminate Great Jin''s Heavenly Rankers? Our ancestor is truly awe-inspiring." Countless citizens and martial artists began discussing feverishly.


    The Battle of Hillstride had sown the seeds of deep-seated enmity between the Cloudstride Sect and Great Jin. Three centuries of history bound the citizens of Cloudhill City irrevocably to the cause of the Cloudstride Sect, and they naturally rallied behind their faction.


    Meanwhile, apanying Fang Xia''smand, numerous troops and disciples began to restore order.


    "Great Jin is the reigning power of the world."


    "Ancestor Fang Xia is strong, but can we win this battle?" Many disciples and citizens could not put down their worries.


    ...


    Fang Xia''s voice wasn��t limited to the range of the arrays. It spanned several hundred li, leaving the newly arrived Heavenly Rankers startled.


    "This Fang Xia...is truly domineering," remarked a ck-robed youth as he surveyed the area with a smile. "It appears we are the first to arrive."


    "Mm." A man in green robes stood nearby, his gaze fixated on the shroud of white mist. He murmured softly, "Fang Xia is actually well-versed in arrays?"


    "Meng Cai," another figure, an elderly man in purple robes, spoke in a low voice, "You and Wu Jianzhong encountered no such array during your previous visit, did you?"


    "No," the man in green robes shook his head.


    The trio were all seven-star elders of the Pleiades Guild.


    "In just one month, they managed to construct such a powerful mind confusion array,"mented the elderly man in purple robes, his tone grave. "If the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin had acted sooner, perhaps they could have seen a glimmer of hope for victory. But now? Their chances of defeat have increased tenfold, if not more."


    Suddenly, a flying artifact resembling a curtain streaked over with astonishing velocity. It came to an abrupt halt roughly ten li away from the Pleiades Guild''s members. Three figures rode the artifact, their demeanor rxed as they sipped their drinks leisurely.


    <i>Members of the Wu Sect. </i>Meng Cai and the ck-robed youth looked over, their expressions shifting subtly. <i>Dong Pan actually decided toe?</i>


    "Daoist Meng Cai, your group sure is early," boomed a figure d in ck armor as he emerged from the curtain artifact. Appearing to be in his 30s, with a bushy beard, he exuded a presence thatmanded respect.


    "It is a pleasure to meet you, Daoist Dong Pan," Meng Cai and the youth in ck robes greeted respectfully, their demeanor courteous.


    "Haha, no need for formalities,"ughed Dong Pan. "I am merely here to join in the fun. Don��t mind me, please carry on."


    Meng Cai and the others forced bitter smiles. Don��t mind him? Would anyone dare?

 Chapter 216: The World Watches, The Battle Begins (2)

    <h4>Chapter 216: The World Watches, The Battle Begins (2)</h4>


    Within the jade chamber, Bu Yu spoke in a deep voice. "Dong Pan has arrived. ording to the intelligence provided by the Pleiades Guild, he is a peak powerhouse that must be treated with utmost caution."


    "The Heavenly Rankers of the Pleiades Guild are indeed showing him utmost courtesy," noted Huan Jian, watching the interactions between the Heavenly Rankers projected by the sphere.


    <i>Emperor Dong Pan of the Wu Sect, it��s indeed him.</i> Through the monitoring array, Wu Yuan could clearly see the ck-armored figure.


    Several thoughts came to his mind. Meng Cai narrowly escaped with his life, and shortly after, he extended a gesture of apology in the form of a gift. Alongside this offering was apendium of information on various powers across the world,piled by the Pleiades Guild. Clearly, the Pleiades Guild intended this as a friendly gesture.


    Within thependium were mentions of influential figures such as Imperator Jin Quan, Wan Xing of the Sta Consortium, the Arctic King of the Bei Continent, and Deity Huang of the Huang Temple. These individuals were the peak powerhouses of the world, cultivators at thete-stage Qi Sea phase.


    Dong Pan was also prominently featured in the records. This self-proimed emperor was the first powerhouse of the Wu Sect in centuries, thus asserting himself as the true ruler of the Wu Continent. Presumably, Dong Pan had reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase.


    Apparently, Emperor Dong Pan and Wan Xing were the primary obstacles hindering the expansion of Great Jin.


    As time went by, more Heavenly Rankers materialized in the sky around 100 li away from Cloudhill and joined the existing crowd. Each of them cast their gaze toward Cloudhill, which was shrouded by the array.


    No one dared to trespass the boundaries of the array, nor did anyone attempt to make conversation.


    "24 individuals!"


    "28 individuals!"


    "31 individuals!"


    "A group from the Huang Temple has arrived, including the legendary jiaolong.�� [1]


    "The Arctic King has also arrived." Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian began to feel some pressure as they watched the figures assemble outside Cloudhill.


    Within the projection on the light screen, nearly 40 figures materialized, each one a Heavenly Ranker that stood at the summit of the Middle Land.


    "With the exception of Great Jin and the Ninedeaths Circle, representatives from all remaining seven top-tier major factions in the Middle Land have arrived," Huan Jian reported solemnly.


    <i>It appears the entire world is watching this battle.</i> Wu Yuan keenly felt the mounting pressure.


    Information from the Pleiades Guild revealed that the Middle Land, which epassed thirteen continents and various overseas continents, was home to numerous sects and nations. However, only nine of these factions could truly be considered top-tier major factions.


    These nine factions were the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin, the Sta Consortium, the Wu Sect, the Pleiades Guild, the Ninedeaths Circle, the Arctic Alliance, and the Huang Temple. 100 years ago, there were ten factions with such a title. But due to the extended conflict between Great Jin and the Chu-Jiang Empire, which ultimately led to the deaths of all Heavenly Rankers from the Chu-Jiang Empire, it was removed from the list.


    Each of these nine factions had its own sphere of influence, which often ovepped with one another. Numerous smaller sects and factions owed their allegiance to these nine dominant factions.


    "Are you afraid?�� Fang Xia, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly smiled. ��After this battle, the world will acknowledge my Cloudstride Sect as the tenth top-tier major faction."


    "After eradicating Great Jin, my Cloudstride Sect will be the number one faction in the world!" Hisughter filled the air, but quickly subsided as his expression turned serious. "Wu Yuan, prepare for battle. Great Jin��s team has arrived.��


    ...


    In the sky a distance from Cloudhill, Heavenly Rankers from all corners of the world converged, engaging in spirited discussions as they rode their artifacts. On normal days, these Heavenly Rankers were scattered across the world and rarely had such an opportunity to interact. Among them, the most prominent figures were Emperor Dong Pan, the Arctic King, and the jiaolong from the Huang Temple.


    "Arctic King, what are your thoughts on this array?" Emperor Dong Pan asked, still seated on his curtain artifact.


    "I can��t discern much from it," Arctic King stood in the sky, his lengthy mane of white hair cascading down his back. His appearance was extremely handsome, and he was one of the top cultivators in the world.


    "I remember hearing the name Fang Xia a long time ago. I thought he was long dead," the Arctic King said with detached indifference. "If he had returned to the Middle Land sooner, the Chu-Jiang Empire may not have fallen."


    "Few can construct an array as powerful as this one," Arctic King remarked impassively.


    "Old Long, your thoughts?" Emperor Dong Pan directed his gaze toward the ck, thirty-zhang-long jiaolong. It was a demonic beast that served as a guardian deity of the Huang Temple, a creature that lived through many eras.


    "The true nature of Fang Xia''s array will grow clear once Great Jin��s attackers enter its range," the ck jiaolong replied in the humannguage.


    Among the numerous Heavenly Rankers gathered, the renown of these three individuals eclipsed all others. Though they took an interest in Fang Xia''s array, they showed no fear.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Out of the blue, a purple, 30-meter-long battleship materialized on the horizon, flying towards them.


    "It��s the Purplemoon flying boat.��


    ��Great Jin has arrived." The Heavenly Rankers, including Emperor Dong Pan and the Arctic King, turned their attention towards the neers.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>A total of seven figures emerged from the flying boat before it was stowed away.


    "It��s Jin Ji, Zhao Yi, and Hai Jian!"


    "There��s also Jin Long and the others."


    "All three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin have dispatched their Heavenly Rankers." The group of spectators realized that this was a joint attack by three major factions.


    "But where are the leaders of the three holy sanctuaries?"


    "Jin Quan did not make an appearance?" This revtion left many Heavenly Rankers bewildered. This was a sh against a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator after all.


    <i>Jin Ji��s aura? </i>Emperor Dong Pan and the Arctic King exchanged nces, both detecting a dangerous sense of foreboding from Jin Ji''s aura. That was a cultivator who could pose a lethal threat to them!


    <i>The royal lineage of Great Jin, though few in number, boasts a fair share of powerhouses. Jin Long, for instance, reached the fourth-stage Qi Sea phase after around 100 years of cultivation. </i>Emperor Dong Pan''s expression soured slightly.


    <i>Legend has it that Jin Quan unearthed a mysterious immortal relic.</i> Arctic King focused on Jin Ji, harboring numerous thoughts.


    These two peak powerhouses each had their own considerations.


    ...


    "No sign of Jin Quan!"


    "Great Jin dispatched seven Heavenly Rankers." Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and the others observed the situation from the jade chamber beneath Cloudhill.


    "One eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator!" Fang Xia��s clone suddenly said. "Two are sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivators, while the remaining four are all fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivators."


    e-stage Qi Sea cultivator and six mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. Thisposition caused Wu Yuan and the others to tense up.


    None of the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin could rival the Sta Consortium.


    However, once united, they were undeniably the number one empire.


    ...


    At this moment, the seven Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin observed the distant array that spanned nearly 100 li.


    Roughly ten li out of the array��s range, several dozen Heavenly Rankers watched on.


    "Daoist Jin Ji, what kind of array is this?" Zhao Yi, dressed in white robes, was perplexed. "I cannot tell what its purpose is."


    "Nor can I.��


    "I don��t understand its function," echoed the other Heavenly Rankers.


    "This Fang Xia isn��t just strong, but also a master of arrays," Hai Jian said in a deep voice. "It seems we are attempting to infiltrate their of a great cultivator."


    All of them shared a gnawing sense that something was awry.


    "Why the impatience? This fixed array relies on the specific terrain of mountains and rivers," Jin Ji calmly asserted. "I find it hard to believe that Fang Xia could construct a truly powerful array in just over a month."


    "Moreover, we invited various factions from all over the world to observe this battle. If we are to retreat right now, the three holy sanctuaries will be nothing more thanughingstocks."


    Zhao Yi, Hai Jian, and the others exchanged nces. Reputation was naturally important.


    Originally intended as a demonstration of Great Jin''s might, it now seemed as though they were stuck in an inescapable situation.


    "Do not fret. So what if he has set up an array?" Jin Ji stated in a low voice. "Aren��t you aware of the Septet Ignis Array��s might? This is just a mind confusion array. All we need to do is destroy each array base one at a time and flush out Fang Xia! My proficiency in array cultivation isn��t any weaker than his.��


    Everyone nodded involuntarily. They were willing to join the attack not only due to their overwhelming numbers but also because of the Septet Ignis Array Jin Ji wielded. Its immense power was beyondprehension.


    All of a sudden, a white-robed figure burst out from the dense white mist, standing at the edge of the array. It was none other than Fang Xia.


    "Haha, you want to end my life? Eradicate my Cloudstride Sect? Come and face me if you dare!" Fang Xia looked at each figure in the sky one by one with a mocking smile, his voice echoing more than a hundred li across.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In a swift motion, he vanished back into the array, the billowing fog quickly obscuring his traces.


    "Is that Fang Xia?"


    "His aura is indeed extraordinary." Countless Heavenly Rankers from various factions observed from a distance, yet none dared to intervene. The Wu Sect and Sta Consortium remained silent, unwilling to lend assistance to the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Daoist Fang Xia. Great Jin will grant you a chance to live!" Jin Ji, draped in green robes, floated in mid-air, his voice echoing throughout the sky. "Surrender Shadow de, hand over the spirit fruits, and give up the nine provinces outside the Cloudhill Province."


    "You Great Jin scum can stop spouting your nonsense! If you have the guts,e on in. I, Fang Xia, will wipe you out!" Fang Xia replied without missing a beat, his booming voice rolling through the air.


    The Heavenly Rankers witnessing this battle couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    Jin Ji''s face contorted with anger. "Since you dare reject my gracious offer, prepare to meet your end!"


    His gaze turned icy cold as gave a hand signal. "Fellow Daoists, assemble the array!"


    In perfect synchronization, the six Heavenly Rankers sprang into action as an array g materialized before each of them. Beneath Jin Ji''s feet, a purple array disk materialized, growing rapidly in size until it reached ten zhangs. Its surface was adorned with intricate patterns.


    The array disk radiated with purple light, harmonizing with the surging spiritual qi. In the blink of an eye, a 100-zhang-tall roc manifested. Bathed in vibrant purple mes, it exuded an overwhelming might. Jin Ji, Zhao Yi, and the other cultivators controlled the array from inside its body.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The roc unfurled its wings and soared forward, crossing three to four li with a single p. In no time, it reached the edge of the white fog.


    ...


    The spectators in the sky stared in shock at the majestic roc wreathed in mes.


    "Such strength!"


    "What kind of array is this?"


    ��Coordination of seven Heavenly Rankers?��


    ��This is the Great Jin Empire��s strength?��


    The power of the roc had surpassed all expectations, causing a chill to run down their spines.


    <i>Coordination Array! Roc? Golden Core? </i>The Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan were filled with equal parts shock and disbelief.


    The reason why Great Jin was confident enough to invite them here was now clear to all. With such an array, the possibility of ying a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator was no longer an unattainable dream.


    In a grave tone, the jiaolong spoke, "It is merely the form of a Golden Core cultivator, not a true Golden Core cultivator. Watch closely."


    The Heavenly Rankers stood at a distance, observing the unfolding spectacle.


    <i>Boom!</i> The colossal purple roc pierced through the white fog, its body enveloped in purple mes. The resulting explosion shook the sky and earth. A mass of white fog was swiftly swept away, revealing the lushndscape beneath.


    <i>Hiss~ </i>A patch of white fog dissipated, leaving behind a scene of devastation. The once serene mountains were now consumed by fire, debris and soil scattered in every direction.


    Although the purple roc possessed immense power, the controllers decided to methodologically dismantle each array base.


    <i>Boom! </i>At that moment, a figure emerged, enveloped in swirling golden qi streams, while his body was d in ck armor. His aura radiated a monstrous presence, akin to that of a deity.


    He flew through the air, crossing six li in the blink of an eye, charging fearlessly towards the purple roc.


    "It''s Fang Xia!"


    ��He��s daring enough to engage in closebat?" The spectating Heavenly Rankers were all glued to the thrilling fight.


    1. Jiaolongs are a type of dragon in Chinese mythology that are usually aquatic. They look a lot like quetzalcoatls. ?

 Chapter 217: Soulquake! Tear The Sky And Earth Asunder! (1)

    <h4>Chapter 217: Soulquake! Tear The Sky And Earth Asunder! (1)</h4>


    A tempestuous wind howled as the hundred-zhang-long purple roc unleashed a resounding roar. Unending mes devoured everything in sight. A boundless white fog obscured the sun, rolling and churning through the air.


    Within the body of the purple roc, the Great Jin Empire''s seven Heavenly Rankers took their respective positions. Jin Ji controlled the central array disk, while the remaining six experts controlled different sections of the array.


    "Fang Xia has made his move.��


    "He��s courting death.��


    "The Septet Ignis Array''s main weakness lies in its massive energy consumption. The millions of catties of etherstone we have stockpiled will only sustain the array for a short time."


    "Barely any time has passed, yet he��s taking the initiative to attack?"


    The Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin felt a fire in their bellies. They had all experienced firsthand the immense power the roc could unleash once they coordinated their efforts. Wielding such power was honestly addictive.


    "Kill him," Jin Jimanded, pressing his foot firmly onto the array disk.


    Just like the brain of the roc, he was able to direct all sections of the array. The words his father had said when presenting him with this artifact resounded vividly in his mind: "The Septet Ignis Array is the most prized treasure I obtained from the treasure realm. When sevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators join forces, they can challenge a Golden Core Superior. With all seven of you working in unison, it is entirely possible to y a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. With this array, unify the Central ins! When I emerge from the treasure realm, it shall herald the day Great Jin conquers the world."


    Jin Ji brimmed with confidence. As an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he did not consider himself any less powerful than the Arctic King and other peak powerhouses. With him leading the array, it was enough to vanquish an entire group of Heavenly Rankers!


    He was a little taken aback when he witnessed Cloudhill enveloped in a fog array stretching out for 100 li in every direction. But he felt no fear.


    His initial n was to dismantle the array piece by piece. Yet, Fang Xia dared tounch a direct attack?


    <i>Nine-stage Qi Sea phase? If you rely on the array and utilize long-range arcane arts, you might stand a chance of winning. Engaging in closebat is nothing short of courting death. </i>Jin Ji��s icy gaze locked onto his target.


    With a resounding boom, the purple roc unfurled its zing wings, casting a massive shadow over thend as it sped right for Fang Xia.


    ...


    Over forty Heavenly Rankers from all corners of the world were fixated on the unfolding battle.


    "How powerful," remarked Emperor Dong Pan.


    "The form of a Golden Core cultivator?" The Arctic King''s gaze remained fixed on the battle. "The legendary roc, even in the form of an array, is truly terrifying."


    "Great Jin has such a trump card?" The Heavenly Rankers from the Sta Consortium shivered involuntarily.


    One had to understand that ever since the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, the Sta Consortium had been rallying various powers in a tense standoff against Great Jin.


    The disy of power exhibited by the purple roc today was undeniably jaw-dropping. Such a level ofbat had not been witnessed in the Middle Land for a very long time. Even during the battle that saw the fall of the Chu-Jiang Empire, Great Jin did not reveal such a powerful array when they assaulted the forbidden zone of Chu-Jiang.


    ...


    Within a jade chamber underneath Cloudhill, Bu Yu and Huan Jian focused on the projection, which showed Fang Xia amid a roaring inferno. Equipped with spirit battle armor, he appeared tiny inparison to the majestic purple roc. Yet, he harnessed an incredible golden power, unleashing a terrifying might that defied his small frame. At this moment, he had already shed with the purple roc!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i>


    In the blink of an eye, golden lights materialized before Fang Xia, resembling numerous flying swords. These lights merged with the surging golden qi streams, brimming with boundless power. Each streak of golden light contained a bone-chilling sharpness as they descended onto the purple roc from all angles. Essentia arcane arts! Domain!


    "Old Fang, are we not activating the killing array?" Wu Yuan''s consciousness observed the ongoing battle through the monitoring array.


    "No rush! I didn��t anticipate that Great Jin would possess such a formidable array. I��ve miscalcted," Fang Xia''s voice resonated solemnly in Wu Yuan''s mind, "Fortunately, I took the precaution of setting up the killing array in advance. Otherwise, I would have been relentlessly pursued and defeated."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Did this mean that even Fang Xia, someone at the Domain stage, couldn''t withstand this array?


    "Young Master, remember, the difference that an artifact can make in a battle increases the lower a cultivator''s level," Fang Xia exined, "Their array is at least a fifth-grade array disk, perhaps even a fourth-grade array disk."


    "We have only one opportunity to use Soulquake. We must time it correctly." Fang Xia spoke with a grave tone, "Wait for my signal."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan responded solemnly.


    ...


    Night fell. White fog nketed thend, golden light streaked, and mes danced!


    It was the great battle between the Cloudstride Sect and the Great Jin Empire!


    On one side, Fang Xia, an eldritch mage at the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase, showcased the might of the Domain stage! Standing against him were seven Heavenly Rankers wielding a coordination array.


    The very moment they shed, a battle of inconceivable magnitude ensued!


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The purple roc''s speed left the ground trembling. Its incandescent form, from body to wings, beak to talons, metamorphosed into a lethal arsenal, each strike imbued with unparalleled might. One could argue that its power transcended the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A sea of golden radiance extended for hundreds of meters, shielding Fang Xia entirely. It resembled a swarm of countless swords, warding off the relentless assault of the purple roc.


    In terms of sheer strength, the purple roc surpassed Fang Xia by far. However, Fang Xia''s sudden bursts of speed and battle instincts were nothing short of astounding. He repeatedly unleashed attacks, gracefully evading the mes, ws, and sweeping wings like a gust of wind, as though dancing on the edge of a knife.


    <i>Three functions of the killing array. The first function is Void Suppression! Any foe within the array will find themselves suppressed by heaven and earth''s power. </i>Fang Xia''s gaze turned frigid. <i>On the contrary, as long as I remain in the array, I will receive a power boost.</i>


    <i>The second function, Golden Sword Art!</i>


    The array and his arcane arts intertwined. Although Fang Xia possessed a firm foundation, he only established sixth-degree eldritch tattoos. His mana hardly deviated from that of an ordinary ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Why, then, were his arcane arts so powerful? It was all thanks to the array!


    The Golden Sword Art, the strongest offensive arcane art that Fang Xia wielded, was etched into the core of the array.


    Array, essentia, Domain stage. Thebined might of these three elements gave him the courage to engage in a frontal battle with the fearsome purple roc.


    <i>No rush! An eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator leading a group of mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators, is capable of activating such a formidable array?</i> Fang Xia''s gaze turned icy. <i>It must have a weakness.</i>


    <i>Within portable arrays, the array disk remains fixed. The roc is generated by consuming etherstone within the array disk and has a fixed amount of essentia. To dismantle this array, I just have to find its vulnerability.</i>


    Just asbat techniques had weaknesses, so did arrays.


    <i>Attack! To seek opportunity amidst danger, I must engage in closebat, employing the True Eye Art in conjunction with my Domain to perceive movements with greater rity. </i>Fang Xia''s eyes turned frosty.


    Reaching the Domain stage meant his skill level far surpassed those of these Heavenly Rankers, giving him the courage and capability to take risks.


    "Such frenzied attacks."


    "What exactly are thoseyers of golden light surrounding Fang Xia? A treasure? An arcane art? Or the power of the array?" The Heavenly Rankers were left dumbfounded.


    The purple roc unleashed hair-raising power, with speed, strength, and me arcane arts that surpassed all expectations. But Fang Xia managed to withstand it all.


    The outburst of power from the two sides was enough to leave everyone gaping in astonishment. Even Emperor Dong Pan, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, and the Arctic King admitted their inferiority.


    "Yet another array base has been destroyed. The white fog has dissipated significantly."


    "Fang Xia was hit by the w, yet he didn��t die?��


    "He was sent crashing into the ground."


    ��The purple roc is hot on his heels.�� The Arctic King, Emperor Dong Pan, Meng Cai, and the others kept their eyes peeled on the battle.

 Chapter 218: Soulquake! Tear The Sky And Earth Asunder! (2)

    <h4>Chapter 218: Soulquake! Tear The Sky And Earth Asunder! (2)</h4>


    Several li away, the mind confusion array that once covered arge area now shrank by more than half. It seemed as if the very earth had upturned, leaving behind a stretch of scorchednd that spanned dozens of li and crumbled hills. The devastation was staggering.


    The ground trembled non-stop as the fierce battle between Fang Xia and the purple roc continued underground.


    <i>Boom!</i> Suddenly, the white fog dissipated, revealing the breathtaking sight of the Cloud River. Its waters churned violently, and waves several dozen zhangs high crashed upon the shores, as if the sky and earth were being torn asunder.


    A ck figure encircled byyers of golden light shot into the sky, then raced along the river.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> The massive roc burst forth from the raging waters, the explosion creating a hole in the river bed. The river water poured into the newly formed cave, resulting in a massive whirlpool that surged into the copsing cave below.


    Apanied by a haunting whistle, a stream of purple me with unimaginable power soared over the river, instantly vaporizing the water and casting a veil of white mist.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly half of the ten-li-long river evaporatedpletely, and the rest was on the verge of drying up. The unstoppable mes devoured everything in their path, consuming thendscape like a city consumed by a raging firestorm. Countless trees on both banks began emitting thick smoke.


    It was a sight that sent shudders through the hearts of the observing Heavenly Rankers.


    "A ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator is capable of unleashing such devastating power? Fang Xia''s strength is truly awe-inspiring,"


    ��However, he is still no match for that roc. Right now, he��s desperately evading the attacks.��


    ��The power of the array cannot be sustained indefinitely. It will ultimatelye down to a battle of endurance.�� The Heavenly Rankers, including the Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan, reached a simr conclusion.


    Fang Xia''s strength was undeniable, his prowess unmatched. But Great Jin��s roc array was even more terrifying.


    ...


    "This! The ancestor is the one being pursued?"


    ��Can he withstand it?�� Huan Jian and Bu Yu watched the fight with bated breath. This was their first glimpse into battles between qi refiners. Rivers were overturned, the flow of seas were reversed and the sky and earth were rent asunder. It was an entirely different ball gamepared to fights between mortal martial artists.


    The application of essentiabined with heaven and earth''s power allowed Fang Xia to exhibit a level of force that left them wide-eyed. Great Jin��s array also caused their hearts to tremble.


    Granted, Huan Jian and Bu Yu understood that such insane strength couldn��t be achieved by those at the first or second stages of the Qi Sea phase. However, they also knew that with diligent cultivation, one could gradually umte essentia and mana, paving the way for breakthroughs in one��s cultivation path. This was why early-stage Qi Sea cultivators spent the majority of their time cultivating in seclusion, rarely venturing outside.


    <i>Old Fang! </i>Wu Yuan��s mental state was highly tense, his Soul Force fully merged with the radiant sphere of golden light.


    He could keenly sense that Fang Xia''s vital energy was waning. During their collision underground, Fang Xia had endured two strikes from the purple roc, and the devastating impact inflicted serious injuries on him.


    Qi refiners, though highly versatile inbat due to essentia, had the disadvantage of fragile bodies.


    Suddenly, a piercing voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind: "Young Master, it��s time! Soulquake Art!"


    The opportunity would onlye once.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s eyes turned red with bloodlust as the soul energy in his upper dantian burst forth.


    The space within the golden sphere suddenly transformed. Cryptic patterns adorned the space, only perceptible via Soul Force.


    With a mere thought, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force cascaded through these intricate patterns. Like an avnche, the power escted exponentially.


    The unseen ripple of Soul Force bypassed the multitude of feeble creatures within the killing formation��s range, avoided Fang Xia, and surged directly toward the imposing purple roc.


    Within the fiery exterior of the roc, Wu Yuan faintly discerned the presence of seven lives.


    <i>Boom! </i>At the moment of impact, the Soul Force encapsted within the fluctuation erupted!


    ...


    In the sky beyond Cloudhill, Fang Xia abruptly halted his frenzied escape through the billowing white fog. Then, he turned back and charged towards the approaching purple roc.


    ��What��s Fang Xia trying to do?��


    ��Is he tired of living?��


    ��Instead of fleeing, he decided to charge right in?�� The Heavenly Rankers observing from outside the array could not believe their eyes.


    The two sides were only around three li apart, and the impending collision seemed inevitable.


    ��No!�� Huan Jian and Bu Yu both paled. Fang Xia was only able to somewhat hold his own due to his arcane arts. Engaging in closebat with the roc was a suicidal move.


    <i>Kill! The moment that Soulquake hits them will be my best opportunity. I believe the young master will not disappoint.</i> Fang Xia��s eyes were cold with determination, focused on the roc''s chest.


    After multiple probing attempts, he discovered that the weakest point of the array was its chest!


    ...


    ��Kill him!��


    ��Since Fang Xia has decided to throw away his life, we��ll dly oblige!��


    Led by Jin Ji, the Septet Ignis Array emanated an aura that shook the sky. All seven of the Heavenly Rankers broke into smiles as they sensed the change in Fang Xia''s movements. He was literally handing them victory on a tter.


    But in a sudden turn of events, they felt an explosion go off within their souls, as if someone had hit the back of their heads with a staff.


    <i>This...</i> Jin Ji''s head spun, but rity was quickly restored by the soothing green glow of the gem nestled at his chest.


    <i>Not good, it��s Soulquake Art. How is it so powerful? </i>Panic flickered in his eyes as he realized the other six Heavenly Rankers were left disoriented.


    Jin Ji controlled the core of the Septet Ignis Array, but he alone couldn''t manipte such a colossal array. And even though he regained his wits quickly, the momentarypse had cost him dearly as Fang Xia was already closing in for the kill!


    In a blinding sh, a torrent of golden light converged, resembling a divine sword of immense proportions slicing through the sky, straight toward the chest of the giant roc.


    The roc was shed into two, its bisected halves falling to the earth.


    mes scattered, and the resounding boom echoed through the air. But the divine sword did not stop there��it changed direction and plunged forward, cleaving through space and obliterating the four Heavenly Rankers in front. Their bodies shattered into countless fragments.


    All of them were dead!


    For cultivators at the Qi Sea phase, getting hit by the attack of a cultivator nearing the Golden Core phase meant they were as good as dead upon impact.


    The air crackled with energy as the golden light shed with a streak of green light, thetter deftly manipting a rapidly shrinking array to block the assault.


    Jin Ji emerged from the chaos, his eyes filled with fear, and his qi in turmoil.


    Without hesitation, he employed a forbidden art and fled. The instant that he shed with Fang Xia, his speed skyrocketed to a terrifying level, propelling him into the sky.


    <i>Wind? He��s certainly fast!</i> With a mere thought from Fang Xia, the golden light that illuminated the sky and earth abruptly changed course, a portion of it hurtling toward the fleeing Jin Ji.


    The rest split in two, transforming into two menacing sword lights that charged toward the two other Qi Sea cultivators �C Zhao Yi and Hai Jian.


    <i>Block it!</i> Jin Ji gritted his teeth and he fled with all his might. He swiftly formed a series of hand seals, summoning a massive shield that radiatedyers of green light, resembling a giant pir. It crashed towards the relentless golden light.


    Artifact: Green Shield, arcane art: Wind Shield Art


    <i>Rumble~</i> In a cataclysmic explosion of green light, the shield was sent hurtling backward through the air, though it had exhausted a substantial portion of the golden light''s power.


    A resounding explosion echoed through the air as the remaining streams of golden light struck Jin Ji, causing his qi to churn violently. However, he channeled that momentum to elerate even further, swiftly leaving the array''s range.


    As for Zhao Yi and Hai Jian, they managed to regain consciousness after getting hit by the Soulquake Art. They were given no opportunity to unleash arcane arts or employ artifacts to deflect Fang Xia''s assault. Even if they were, their chances of survival were slim at best.


    <i>St! St!</i> As two streaks of golden light streaked across the sky, Zhao Yi and Hai Jian were reduced to crimson mist.


    Both lives were extinguished in an instant.


    A deafening boom followed as the two halves of the purple roc crashed to the ground. mes erupted into the sky, intermingling with the swirling dust and rubble.


    A thin veil of white fog clung to the air, as Fang Xia stood in the sky, enveloped inyers of golden light. d in ck armor, he looked at the Heavenly Rankers who witnessed the battle with an icy gaze, his aura emanating a deity-like ferocity.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Jin Ji broke free from the array, racing away without a single backward nce. A streak of vibrant green light vanished into the sky.


    The Arctic King, Emperor Dong Pan, Old Jiaolong, and the Heavenly Rankers from across the world watched the spectacle unfold. A silence descended upon them, lingering for what felt like an eternity.


    Finally, breaking the silence, the Arctic King slowly uttered four words, "World''s number one expert."

 Chapter 219: World’s Number One Expert (1)

    <h4>Chapter 219: World��s Number One Expert (1)</h4>


    Just moments ago, the roc was like an unstoppable force of nature, soaring through the air in hot pursuit of Fang Xia. Yet, Fang Xia managed to create a miracle, piercing the roc with his Golden Sword Art!


    The sight of the colossal creature''s body getting spliced apart and plummeting to the ground left the spectatorspletely stunned. How could a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator unleash such power?


    When six out of the seven Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin were swatted like flies, the spectators didn��t even bat an eye. With the purple roc array in tatters, all of them understood that a ughterfest was inevitable.


    However, the four words spoken by the Arctic King sent shivers down their spines.


    The world''s number one expert? Both martial artists and qi refiners alike were driven by the pursuit of longevity and fame. Who could resist the allure of titles? Even the Heavenly Rankers, whose lifespans reached up to 500 years, who stood at the pinnacle of the Middle Land and were capable of determining the fate of millions with a singlement, were still enticed by the title of ��world''s number one expert��.


    "More than 200 years ago, Wan Xing was hailed as the world''s number one expert," boomed the voice of the enormous jiaolong.


    "200 years ago, Jin Quan rose to prominence. The two shed in the Ster Province, and ultimately, Jin Quan emerged victorious, iming the title of the world''s number one expert for the past two centuries. For over 200 years, be it Daoist Arctic King or Daoist Dong Pan, none one has been able to shake his position."


    "Today, Daoist Fang Xia faced seven opponents. Though he had the help of an array, he confronted them alone. He shattered his opponents�� array and yed six Heavenly Rankers. This battle shall be recorded in the annals of history. Is it not fitting to call him the world��s number one expert?"


    The crowd fell silent. The Heavenly Rankers from various factions exchanged nces, not voicing their thoughts. They didn��t think that the taciturn jiaolong would voluntarily acknowledge Fang Xia��s supremacy.


    The world''s number one expert! When the Arctic King had made the im, some were still a little skeptical. But when the old jiaolong spoke, few dared to question him.


    For one, the power Fang Xia disyed was undeniably terrifying. Secondly, the old jiaolong had lived for an iprehensible length of time. He was rumored to have lived for over 800 years, making him the most ancient being in existence. In terms of perspective and wisdom, few could rival this jiaolong.


    "The world''s number expert, Fang Xia?"


    "Fang Xia!" Numerous Heavenly Rankers couldn''t help but turn to the figure d in armor, standing in the air. The sharpness in his eyespelled many to avert their gaze instinctively.


    The period of Fang Xia''s rise to fame was indeed short, but the oue of the battle meant he was destined to im the title of the strongest in the Middle Land. Killing six Heavenly Rankers in a single battle? It had been countless years since such a momentous event had unfolded in the Middle Land.


    ...


    <i>Within the confines of the jade chamber beneath Cloudhill.</i>


    "He shattered the array with such ease?"


    "Amazing!" Huan Jian and Bu Yu were simultaneously astonished and ted. Too many changes had taken ce too quickly.


    Merely moments ago, worry had gripped their hearts, and they feared for Fang Xia''s life. Yet in the blink of an eye, the Great Jin Empire suffered a devastating defeat, as six of the seven Heavenly Rankers met their swift demise. He was like a war deity.


    <i>He dismantled the array just like that?</i> Wu Yuan forgot to breathe as he watched everything unfold.


    Just now, he had inflicted severe damage on the seven Heavenly Rankers with the Soulquake Art. Soulquake Art was essentially a technique to concentrate Soul Force and manipte it to explode upon impact, targeting the enemy''s soul.


    The potency of its effect depended on the disparity in strength between the souls. While Wu Yuan possessed a formidable soul, it fell short of the Golden Core level. Thus, he relied on the intricate patterns of the array to augment his power.


    However, it was important to acknowledge that Soulquake Art was different from Soulshatter Art; it was only effective the first time it was employed, and its purpose was to disrupt the enemy��s focus and, at best, momentarily confuse them. It was a supportive measure.


    Ultimately, it was Fang Xia''s strategy of pinpointing the enemy array''s weakness and delivering a decisive blow that led to their defeat.


    <i>The array and I were just supporting factors. The key to our victory was still Old Fang��s strength.</i>


    While Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and the countless Heavenly Rankers observing the battle might attribute their sess to the power of the array, Wu Yuan saw things differently.


    Through the array, he witnessed the terrifying eruption of Fang Xia''sbat prowess and felt the overwhelming might of the purple roc. In truth, even without external help, Fang Xia would have easily emerged victorious in a direct confrontation. However, he decided to win the battle with Wu Yuan''s assistance.


    <i>This is the might of the Domain stage.</i> Through the array, Wu Yuan sensed the power of the Domain stage more vividly than ever before.


    <i>Beyond Unity lies the Domain. My path to the Domain stage lies in the profundity of earth. In the next major conflict, I will no longer be a supporter, but a participant. Eliminating the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin won��t be an easy task. Relying on Old Fang alone won��t be enough.</i>


    ...


    Jin Ji had fled without regard for his image and long disappeared from the area.


    Meanwhile, after deliberating among themselves, several of the Heavenly Rankers who observed the battle began to depart as well, such as the old jiaolong from the Huang Temple who left after bidding farewell to Fang Xia.


    However, the Heavenly Rankers from Min Continent, Nan Continent, and Yuan Continent swiftly converged at the periphery of the array after a quick discussion and began conversing with Fang Xia.


    Throughout the past century, the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin expanded their territory in every direction. They appeared formidable, but rued many enemies along the way.


    Following this battle, all major powers across the world came to realize that the likelihood of Great Jin annihting the Cloudstride Sect was extremely slim.


    Cloudstride Sect and Great Jin. If these two great forces were to collide, it was almost certain going to end up in a protracted war. Certain Heavenly Rankers who harbored grievances against Great Jin naturally sought to align themselves with Fang Xia.


    "Haha. Don��t worry, the battle between myself and Great Jin has only just begun." Fang Xiaughed as he mingled with the Heavenly Rankers.


    He weed all who approached him and built connections with them. After all, there was no such thing as one man ruling over the world.


    In the wake of the recent battle, Fang Xia realized that even though the revival of civilization in the Middle Land might have only begun a few thousand years ago, the qi refiners that inhabited the thirteen continents were far from weak. Before Great Jin fell, it would be unwise to make more enemies.


    As time passed, Heavenly Rankers departed one after another. These individuals all represented the highest echelons of various factions within the Middle Land, and had to return to their factions to deliberate on how to navigate their rtionships with Great Jin and the Cloudstride Sect.


    Finally, only three top-tier major factions were left �C the Wu Sect, the Arctic Alliance, and the Sta Consortium. The air crackled as three figures made their way toward Fang Xia.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, the prowess you disyed in today''s battle has left us all in awe," said the Arctic King. "Without a doubt, you deserve the title of world''s number one expert."


    "Arctic King, you��ve ttered me. As a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, the Golden Core phase is certainly within your reach," Fang Xia responded with a smile.


    After being imprisoned in the Fourth Eldritch Realm for over a century, with nothing to do but cultivate in seclusion, he naturally yearned for recognition. What was the harm of iming the title of the world''s number one expert for a bit?


    However, when speaking to cultivators like the Arctic King, who held no grudges or ill will toward him, Fang Xia found it more appropriate to show courtesy and respect.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, your ambitions are grand," remarked the elderly man in ck robes, standing the furthest from Fang Xia in the group. "But do you honestly believe you can confront Great Jin and my Sta Consortium simultaneously?"


    ��Sta Consortium? You are...Liu Junxing?�� The smile on Fang Xia''s face faded, his eyes narrowing slightly as a flicker of killing intent emerged.


    Unease washed over the Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan in response to Fang Xia''s sudden shift in demeanor.


    The ck-robed elderly man paled as a hint of fear shed through his eyes. He too was a seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivator, but it was only when he faced Fang Xia up close that he trulyprehended the extent of the man''s power.


    "Fang Xia, your decision to kill Wu Jianzhong was morally righteous, for he was the one who provoked you first," dered Emperor Dong Pan as he stood before Fang Xia, d in ck armor. "However, the Sta Consortium did not pursue the matter, and Daoist Liu has refrained from retaliation. There is no need for such aggression."


    "Fang Xia, Daoist Liu harbors no ill intentions," the Arctic Kingughed heartily.


    "Haha, very well, since both of you have spoken, I have no choice but to give him face," Fang Xia chuckled. Abruptly, the tension in the air dissipated. "Daoist Liu, speak your mind. What is the matter?"


    A flush of color returned to the elderly man��s face.


    "Fang Xia." Liu Junxing forced a smile, "On behalf of Wan Xing, the Sta Consortium promises that if the Cloudstride Sect does not expand any further into the Dong Continent, the Sta Consortium is willing to let bygones be bygones."


    "Oh? No revenge for the death of Wu Jianzhong?" Fang Xia teased.


    "His death was of his own making, and we will handle the aftermath. There��s no need for you to concern yourself with this matter." Liu Junxing replied.


    "Daoist Dong Pan and Daoist Arctic King will be witnesses to our treaty," Liu Junxing proposed, awaiting Fang Xia''s decision.


    In reality, the Sta Consortium had dispatched four Heavenly Rankers on this trip. As per Wan Xing''s instructions, if Fang Xia were to fall at the hands of the Great Jin, they would swiftly retaliate, obliterating the Cloudstride Sect in its entirety.


    However, should Fang Xia sessfully repel Great Jin''s assault, the Sta Consortium would be willing to make peace with the Cloudstride Sect, on the condition that they pledged to cease their expansion into the Dong Continent.


    All this time, Sta Consortium had been the force backing the eight major sects of the Dong Continent. It was practically their territory.


    "Not expanding into the Dong Continent?" Fang Xia''s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over the Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan.


    His mind, sharp as a polished de, understood the implications. This decision was not solely that of Wan Xing, but also endorsed by the Wu Sect and the Arctic Alliance. It was a collective agreement to prevent any single entity from wielding too much power.


    Great Jin��s might had prompted various factions to unite against it.


    Fang Xia, with his overwhelming strength, was also seen as a potential threat by these major factions. Thus, they sought to curb the Cloudstride Sect''s expansion, for with territory and poption growth came an increased probability of producing powerful qi refiners.


    A moment of silence hung in the air.


    "Agreed,�� Fang Xia began softly, ��I can assure you that, as long as I lead the Cloudstride Sect, it shall not expand into the Dong, Wu, Yan, and Min Continents."


    The Arctic King, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others exchanged nces, all recognizing the loophole in Fang Xia''s promise. It was contingent upon his leadership. Once he stepped down, the possibility of Cloudstride Sect''s expansion into the Dong Continent remained open.


    "Well said, Daoist Fang Xia is indeed a straightforward man," Liu Junxing replied with a smile. "On behalf of the Sta Consortium, we pledge to abstain from interfering in the conflict between the Cloudstride Sect and Great Jin. Moreover, apart from business transactions, our Heavenly Rankers shall refrain from trespassing into the Cloudstride Sect''s territory, barring any exceptional circumstances."


    The Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan watched in silence as the two parties sealed their treaty.


    There was no need for Fang Xia to make any more promises. In the eyes of the trio, Fang Xia''s leadership of the Cloudstride Sect would continue for at least another two centuries. Who could predict what would happen so far into the future?


    A single treaty between Heavenly Rankers could maintain decades of peace between factions, which was good enough for them.


    "Alright then, Fellow Daoists, I bid you farewell." Though Liu Junxing was a seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he still felt pressured in the presence of these peak powerhouses and quickly departed.


    Emperor Dong Pan smiled at Fang Xia and asked, "Have you heard of the Middle Land Immortal Hall?"


    The Middle Land Immortal Hall?" Fang Xia had never heard of it.

 Chapter 220: World’s Number One Expert (2)

    <h4>Chapter 220: World��s Number One Expert (2)</h4>


    Soon, Fang Xia returned to the jade chamber beneath Cloudhill, and Wu Yuan withdrew his consciousness from the array.


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian were both ecstatic after watching the battle. "We won, we won the battle!"


    ��The credit goes to Wu Yuan. We were able to win because he activated the Soulquake Divine Art at the crucial moment.�� Fang Xia said with a smile.


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian turned to Wu Yuan in surprise. The two of them had yet to try controlling the array.


    The Soulquake Art was a formless and intangible attack on the soul, making it difficult to understand just by observing the projection.


    "It is Ancestor who is truly formidable," Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile. "The Soulquake Art only gave him a fleeting window of opportunity. Even a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator would struggle to get the timing right.


    ��Fang Xia, I have no intention of stealing the credit that is rightfully yours," Wu Yuan chuckled lightly, his eyes meeting Fang Xia''s.


    Fang Xia turned his gaze towards Wu Yuan and the others. "This battle may havee to an end, but our war with Great Jin has only just begun."


    Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian all nodded in agreement. Great Jin made a strong show of force this time, but after reading the information provided by the Pleiades Guild, they now had a better understanding of the three holy sanctuaries.


    Among the three holy sanctuaries, the Jin royal family had the fewest Heavenly Rankers, relying heavily on Imperator Jin for the past century. On the other hand, the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion boasted a legacy spanning thousands of years, continuously producing powerful Heavenly Rankers.


    Although the loss of six of their Heavenly Rankers was significant, it did not shake their foundations. The three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin would not easily let this go.


    Huan Jian suddenly spoke up, ��Ancestor, why didn��t you kill Jin Ji?"


    Wu Yuan softly exined, "Jin Ji cultivates wind essentia, granting him exceptional skill in escape techniques. Only someone who cultivates lightning arts can match him in that aspect. Furthermore, in his bid to prioritize speed, Jin Ji resorted to a forbidden art. Although it inflicted significant damage to his qi sea, it greatly increased his speed. Even with the ancestor''sbat prowess, it would be challenging to catch up."


    Huan Jian and Bu Yu were surprised by Wu Yuan''s extensive knowledge, not expecting him to possess such insight.


    Wu Yuan simply smiled mysteriously, choosing not to borate further. Having read the eight immortal slips, the knowledge he had surpassed even Fang Xia.


    Fang Xia chuckled. "Wu Yuan is correct. At the time, I had other concerns. My injuries were severe. If I had left the array to pursue Jin Ji, the Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan could have swarmed me. It would have been perilous."


    "I��ve seized six array gs from the array Jin Ji wielded. He can��t do much with the array disk alone," Fang Xia exined. "As for the man himself? Though he poses a threat, it isn��t an urgent one."


    Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian nodded. Presently, the Cloudstride Sect relied almost entirely on Fang Xia. Should any harm befall him, all would be lost.


    "Next, I must take some time to recover from my injuries. Huan Jian, you shall assume leadership of the sect. Command our stationed forces not to initiate war. Furthermore, spread the news of our triumph, let it be a form of reassurance for the ten provinces, especially the seven provinces that have recently joined us."


    "Understood," Huan Jian replied.


    "Once my strength is renewed, I will organize the artifacts left behind by the six Heavenly Rankers, creating the beginnings of the Cloudstride Sect��s treasury," Fang Xia stated with a smile. "And once I nurture the Earthfire, I will forge pieces of spirit equipment for all of you."


    Soon, the group dispersed. Fang Xia and Bu Yu each retreated to a cave in the jade chamber. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan and Huan Jian departed from the jade chamber.


    ...


    After the Heavenly Rankers who had gathered outside Cloudhill departed, the mind confusion array that had enveloped Cloudhill and Cloudhill City dissipated, leaving countless citizens and martial artists astonished by the aftermath of the great battle that had unfolded a few li away.


    It was as if the world had nearlye to an end. Even the roaring Cloud River had transformed entirely.


    During the battle between Fang Xia and the purple roc, the sounds of fighting and destruction had reached the ears of numerous martial artists andmon folk, not just within the city, but even those on the mountain. Yet, only those who bore witness to the battle firsthand could trulyprehend the sheer brutality of the fight.


    "Between Cloudhill and the Cloud River, Ancestor Fang Xia faced off against seven Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin, emerging victorious, with six of them meeting their demise!"


    ��Fang Xia, the world��s number one expert!��


    These two pieces of news were swiftly transmitted from the upper echelons of the sect. The poption of Cloudhill and Cloudhill Province was immediately consumed by a mixture of awe and excitement.


    "Heavens!"


    "He eliminated six Heavenly Rankers?"


    "Those are Heavenly Rankers that can fly and tunnel into the earth, he killed six of them from Great Jin at once?"


    "The world''s number one expert! Ancestor Fang Xia!" The disciples of the Cloudstride Sect were whipped into a frenzy as word about this remarkable feat rapidly spread across the ten provinces under their dominion.


    In order to foster unity within a sect, it was crucial to show both power and benevolence! For the original three provinces under the Cloudstride Sect��s jurisdiction, there was no need for any extra measures. However, chaos continued to erupt within the recently acquired seven provinces, leaving little room for benevolence. In such circumstances, a straightforward disy of power was the best course of action.


    ...


    "Six Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin fell!"


    "Cloudstride''s Fang Xia, the world''s number one expert." The news of the tumultuous battle, coupled with these two significant revtions, spread across the world with unprecedented speed. It resembled the rise of Imperator Jin two centuries prior.


    Backed by the Wu Sect, Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, and numerous other factions, Fang Xia''s fame and stature rapidly caught up to that of Imperator Jin. Only then did the title of the world''s number one expert begin to carry true weight.


    Simultaneously, all major powers throughout the world tacitly epted that the Cloudstride Sect was now considered a sacred martial sect, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other nine top-tier major factions.


    ...


    In the distant Great Jin Empire, high above the Holy Capital, a green figure sliced through the air like a gust of wind. His countenance was drained of all color, his mind consumed with terror.


    <i>They''re dead. All of them! Zhao Yi and Hai Jian, they��re all dead. </i>Jin Ji shook his head. He looked down at the bustling Holy Capital below with a hollow gaze.


    <i>Jin Long is also dead.</i> A wave of sorrow washed over him.


    The Jin royal family, unlike the martial sect, struggled to replenish its ranks. Sacred martial sects sought to recruit exceptional talents from far and wide, singling out prodigies from countless millions of lives, producing generation after generation of Heavenly Rankers.


    On the other hand, the Jin royal family, despite their best efforts at procreation, was scarce in numbers. Over 200 years, only three Heavenly Rankers were produced throughout the entire lineage of the Jin royal family.


    Thus, Jin Ji had previously attached great significance to Jin Qing. Each Heavenly Ranker held immeasurable value for the Jin royal family.


    <i>The Yuanxia Pce was dealt the greatest blow this time. </i>Jin Ji sighed inwardly.<i> Three Heavenly Rankers died.</i> And they were all mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators, critical pirs of the faction. The Yuanxia Pce had a deep foundation that even Jin Ji could not measure, but he estimated that not more than ten Heavenly Rankers remained in their faction.


    <i>If Zhao Xing were to learn of this, he would surely lose his sanity. Only my father possesses the power to quell their fury</i>. Jin Ji''splexion turned ashen. <i>Having activated forbidden arts, my Qi Sea has been damaged. I must seek Father''s counsel.</i>


    Though Jin Ji was an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, his reverence for his father remained unshaken. In his heart, there was nothing his father couldn��t do.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Swiftly crossing the Holy Capital, Jin Ji continued his journey westward, covering dozens of li. Finally, hended on a towering mountain, its peak shrouded in mist and enveloped by ancient trees.


    This was a forbidden area that belonged to the Jin royal family, known as the Royal Forest Residence. Apart from those of the royal n, no one was permitted to enter. Ordinary martial artists who entered the mountain found themselves inexplicably back in the world outside. This mountain peak concealed crucial secrets.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As Jin Ji soared aboveyers of dense fog and forests, his Soul Force detected the presence of numerous ck snakes dwelling amidst the thick underbrush. Some were only a few meters long, while others stretched over ten meters in length. And there were even rare specimens that reached an astonishing twenty to thirty meters.


    The mountain peak appeared to be an ominous snake-infested mountain. Yet, Jin Ji had grown ustomed to this eerie environment, swiftly arriving at the mid-section of the mountain where a cavern, several dozen zhangs wide, came into view.


    "Father!" Jin Ji called out, his voice echoing through the cavern.


    A thunderous roar erupted from the depths, apanied by the smell of blood. Soon after, the colossal, triangr head of a snake emerged from the cavern, rivaling that of a small house. The snake��s sinuous body was so long that he couldn��t see where it ended.


    The snake stared at Jin Ji, exuding a frightful aura. However, it instilled no fear in him.


    "Uncle ck," Jin Ji greeted.


    Since his earliest years, Jin Ji had fostered a deep rtionship with the colossal snake.


    "Jin Ji," the serpent hissed in human speech, "Why does your aura appear so unsettled? Did you activate a forbidden art? And why have you returned alone? Where is Jin Long?"


    "He is dead," Jin Ji replied with a pained smile.


    "Dead?" the serpent was taken aback.


    That little rascal whom he taught for dozens of years died on his first expedition?


    "I recall that Master entrusted you with the Septet Ignis Array," the serpent growled, looking at Jin Ji with disapproval, "It was the most precious treasure acquired from the treasure realm. Did you lose it to Fang Xia?"


    "I have failed you, Uncle ck," Jin Ji bowed his head in shame.


    In terms of power, he stood on equal footing with the enormous snake before him. However, both he and Jin Long had received cultivation guidance from the snake after bing qi refiners. Thus, a sincere reverence for the snake had taken hold within Jin Ji''s heart.


    The snake shook its head with a sigh, withdrawing from the entrance of the cave, "Go on in. Master has ventured deep into the treasure realm, I��m not sure whether he will see you."


    "Thank you, Uncle ck," Jin Ji nodded gratefully, then swiftly darted into the cave. As he delved deeper, the walls of the cave widened, revealing luminescent pearls that illuminated the path on either side.


    After some time, Jin Ji found himself standing in an unfathomably immense purple pce. The great hall stretched out before him, nked by jade tforms that emanated a density of spiritual qi surpassing the outside world by more than a hundredfold.


    Jin Ji made his way toward the center of the hall, then prostrated on the ground. ��Father, I��ve disappointed you with my uselessness.��


    Before his voice fell, a flurry of green lights converged, and an illusory figure d in resplendent purple robes materialized on a nearby jade tform.


    "Jin Ji, you have truly let me down," a frigid voice pierced the air.

 Chapter 221: Middle Land Immortal Hall (1)

    <h4>Chapter 221: Middle Land Immortal Hall (1)</h4>


    "Father!" Jin Ji bowed his head in shame.


    He knew that Uncle ck must have alreadymunicated with his father. As a spirit beast who was bonded to his father with a soul pact, it was able tomunicate with its master in mysterious ways.


    "Jin Qing is gone, Jin Long too. The array gs of the Septet Ignis Array are all lost as well." Sitting atop the jade tform, his father looked down at him. The disappointment in his eyes cut deep. "It was a mistake to entrust Great Jin to you."


    Jin Ji dared not lift his gaze any further. He knew his father was truly angry.


    After a long silence, the illusory purple-robed figure finallymanded, "Rise."


    "Recount every detail of this past month, particrly the encounter with Fang Xia," the purple-robed figure instructed, his voice measured and calm.


    "Understood. After I received the treasure from Father, I visited the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion...�� Jin Ji exined everything with his head bowed, his voice growing softer until it was nothing more than a whisper. "In the end, I was the sole survivor.��


    "Father, this is the battle footage I recorded.�� With a wave of his hand, he conjured a light screen. It showcased Jin Ji controlling the Septet Ignis Array, pursuing Fang Xia through a dense, white fog.


    The purple-robed figure watched the light screen without speaking. Jin Ji lowered his gaze, not uttering a single word. The scene on the screen reyed over and over again until the mana imbued in the image waspletely depleted, causing the light screen to burst into a brilliant cascade of light particles.


    ��Father, I can re-�� Jin Ji was halted by a firm gesture from his father. He promptly shut his mouth.


    Seated on the jade tform, the purple-robed figure spoke with measured deliberation. "This Fang Xia appears to have reached the Domain stage."


    ��The Domain stage?�� Jin Ji''s eyes widened in astonishment. He knew what this implied. Once a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator reached this stage, they were practically invincible within the Qi Sea phase.


    ��You don��t believe me? There was nothing wrong with your battle tactics. Perhaps if the seven qi refiners controlling the array were ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators like the Arctic King or Deity Huang, there might have been a chance of winning,�� the purple-robed figure said slowly.


    ��Without utilizing any powerful artifacts, Fang Xia could withstand your attacks with just an array and some arcane arts?�� The purple-robed figure shook his head. ��If the array he constructed was really that strong, why would he allow you to destroy the array bases one by one? It doesn��t add up!��


    Jin Ji immediately felt enlightened.


    ��It only means that Fang Xia himself is incredibly powerful. From the battle footage, those golden flows of qi should be the power of the Domain stage. With enough time, Fang Xia could easily reach the Golden Core phase. It will only be a matter of time,�� the purple-robed figure sighed.


    Jin Ji was shocked. The Golden Core phase? From the ��Amethyst Cradle Jade Record��, he knew that even in the vast higher world, a Golden Core Superior could lead a decent life. And Fang Xia was someone who could definitely reach the Golden Core phase? It should be noted that since the Martial King divided thend into continents thousands of years ago, not a single Golden Core Superior had appeared in the Middle Land.


    ��It makes sense. As the spiritual qi continues to recover to its original levels and the poption of the Middle Land grows, more and more geniuses will emerge,�� the figure in purple robes said. "More than a thousand years ago, there were only a dozen Heavenly Rankers in the world at most."


    "And now? Adding up all the factions in the world, both overt and underground, there are probably more than 70 Heavenly Rankers," the purple-robed figure remarked. "With so many qi refiners, a Golden Core Superior is sure to emerge sooner orter."


    Jin Ji listened intently.


    "Ji��er! Though you yed a significant part in this battle, you are not solely to me for our defeat," the purple-robed stated as he turned to Jin Ji.


    The young man''s head drooped in response.


    "If only Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang had been willing to cooperate with you earlier," the purple-robed figure continued. "If the three of you had controlled the array together, the oue of the battle might have been different. Unfortunately, they refused to act, and thus our loss was inevitable."


    "Now, the Septet Ignis Array is gone. Even if I leave the treasure realm right now, confronting Fang Xia will prove challenging."


    "Let this matter end here," the purple-robed figure dered.


    "Father, are you giving up?" Jin Ji protested, his disbelief apparent.


    They had suffered immense losses, were they truly surrendering so easily?


    "What other choice do we have?" the purple-robed illusory figure retorted coldly. "Go fight Fang Xia to the death? Wake up, my son. When something is impossible, we must cut our losses."


    "You must understand that the Wu Sect and Sta Consortium are closely monitoring Great Jin," the purple-robed figure added, his tone softening. "I will negotiate with both holy sanctuaries. We will relinquish the six provinces within the Jiang Continent under our jurisdiction to halt Fang Xia''s advance."


    "Cede six provinces?" Jin Ji struggled to ept it. "Won''t that allow the Cloudstride Sect to fully unify the Jiang Continent?"


    These six provinces had been hard-won territories, acquired after countless battles.


    "After suffering defeat, how can we expect to appease the Cloudstride Sect without concessions?" the purple-robed illusory figure replied, his voice growing colder. "Giving up the six provinces is just a way for us to buy some time."


    "The Cloudstride Sect, which previously had a territory of just three provinces, has suddenly gained more than ten at once. It will take them some time to fully integrate their newfound territories. For the next decade or two, they will not initiate any new wars. This period is critical. Once I sessfully emerge from the treasure realm, it won��t matter whether Fang Xia has reached the Domain stage or not." The purple-robed figure slowly said. "As long as he has yet to make a breakthrough to the next phase, I can kill him all the same!"


    Understanding glimmered in Jin Ji''s eyes as he finallyprehended the meaning behind his father��s words.


    "Go have some rest. Prepare the official document, and deliver it to the Cloudstride Sect," the purple-robed figure instructed. "Also, hand over the treasure to Dong Guang. Among the Heavenly Rankers in the royal n faction, he is the only one who has the ability to wield it."


    "Understood!" Jin Ji replied respectfully.


    The Jin royal family didn��t only nurture disciples from their bloodline, but also invited numerous experts to join their faction. Unfortunately, producing Heavenly Rankers was no simple task, and with the royal family''s concerns with regard to their secrets getting leaked, they only managed to produce two in the past two centuries. One had met their demise in the Xin Continent, leaving only one alive.


    ...


    Watching Jin Ji depart, the purple-robed illusory figure fell into silence. After a moment of contemtion, he waved his hand, causing two streaks of light to sh through the hall. After some time, countless specks of light converged, forming two illusory figures - one in ck robes and the other in blue robes. Both turned their gazes toward the purple-robed figure.


    "Daoist Zhao, Daoist Hai," the purple-robed figure greeted with a slight smile. "It has been many years since west met."


    The figures in the ck and blue robes exchanged nces. They were none other than Zhao Xing, the leader of Yuanxia Pce, and Hai Feizhang, the leader of Starsea Pavilion.


    "Jin Quan, since you used the precious Illuform Talisman, I��m guessing there must be an important reason for convening a meeting out of the blue," the figure in ck robes said softly.


    "Mm." The figure in purple robes gave a solemn nod, speaking calmly. "Daoist Zhao is a straightforward man, so I shall not mince words. Daoists Zhao Yi and Hai Jian have perished."


    "What? Yi��er is dead?" Zhao Xing''s eyes widened in shock.


    "Hai Jian has fallen?" Hai Feizhang''s countenance subtly shifted, betraying his inner turmoil.


    The battle at Cloudhill had only just concluded, and the two of them had been preupied in secluded cultivation, unaware of the oue. The weight of this news struck them like a thunderbolt. Whether it was Zhao Yi or Hai Jian, they were the second-strongest experts of their respective sects. Their significance to their factions could not be overstated.


    "Fellow Daoists, please calm down and listen to me first. Both met their demise at the hands of Fang Xia from the Cloudstride Sect," the purple-robed figure spoke withposure. "Allow me to exin in depth..."


    He swiftly recounted everything Jin Ji had reported. With each passing word, the initial rage within Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang gradually morphed into disbelief, and eventually, a profound silence.


    After a long pause, Zhao Xing finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "All of them... gone? Jin Quan, do youprehend the gravity of this loss? My Yuanxia Pce only had seven Heavenly Rankers! Three of them are now dead due to this conflict! How many more losses can we afford?" Zhao Xing''s voice was filled with barely restrained wrath.


    "My Starsea Pavilion, too, has been reduced to a mere four Heavenly Rankers," Hai Feizhang sighed softly, his voice tinged with sorrow.


    These were Heavenly Rankers he was talking about! The entire Great Jin Empire, including the three holy sanctuaries, hadn��t even produced twenty such individuals in total.


    One had to understand that the few Heavenly Rankers that were part of the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion Heavenly Rankers had been painstakingly umted by these factions over centuries. Yet in a single battle, six of them were gone!


    "The quest for unification exacts a grievous toll," the purple-robed figure let out a soft sigh. "The demise of Jin Long and the loss of treasures weigh heavily on my heart. If anything is to me, it��s that Fang Xia is simply too strong."


    Zhao Xing''s eyes turned icy as he questioned, "Jin Quan, are we simply going to let the Cloudstride Sect off the hook? This war was initiated by you."


    The purple-robed figure spoke slowly, "Fang Xia''s individual strength surpasses any of us three. Even if we were to unite, we would still fall short of breaching Cloudhill."


    ��I will be attempting to make a breakthrough soon. Once I seed, he won''t be able to stop me. No one in the Middle Land can," the purple-robed figure whispered, leaving Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang shocked.

 Chapter 222: Middle Land Immortal Hall (2)

    <h4>Chapter 222: Middle Land Immortal Hall (2)</h4>


    A breakthrough? Zhao Xing fixed his gaze on the purple-robed figure. "The Golden Core phase?"


    The purple-robed figure chuckled. "Haha, it is incredibly difficult to advance from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase. I cannot say I��m confident in my chances of sess."


    Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang fell into silence. By not denying it, it meant they agreed.


    "Jin Quan, what do you need us to do now?" Hai Feizhang finally spoke, his voice slow and measured.


    "I need time," the purple-robed figure replied calmly. "Help me hold the fort for the Great Jin and grant me sufficient time toplete this breakthrough. Just as we agreed over a century ago, all the martial arts prodigies from Great Jin will join your sects."


    "When I seed with my breakthrough and unify the Central ins, I promise that the Yuanxia Pce and Starsea Pavilion will reign supreme in the Central ins. I will also teach you how to reach the Golden Core phase," the purple-robed figure spoke gently.


    Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang exchanged a nce. Their support for Jin Quan had propelled Great Jin to expand rapidly, paving the way for him to unify the Holy Continent over a century ago. The Jin royal family wanted to rule over all. Meanwhile, the two sacred martial sects strived to strengthen their foundations. These three factions thus united to establish the Great Jin Empire.


    "Very well," Zhao Xing murmured in a deep voice. "Jin Quan, I will lend you my support. However, you must first allow us to peruse the ��Amethyst Cradle Jade Record��."


    "Agreed,�� Hai Feizhang quickly chimed in. It was a treasure he had long yearned for.


    "No problem," the figure in purple robes spoke calmly. "I shall also gift each of you a piece of fifth-grade spirit equipment."


    Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, October drew to a close, and more than ten days passed since the bloody battle at Cloudhill.


    The world was shaken by the news, yet its impact on ordinary folk and martial artists remained minimal.


    Deep beneath Cloudhill, within the jade chamber, the four highest-ranking members of the Cloudstride Sect gathered.


    Fang Xia had emerged from his seclusion two days prior, and his vital aura was markedly improved.


    "Ancestor, allmands have been issued, and the news has been disseminated widely," Huan Jian, who was in charge of overseeing sect matters, spoke softly. "I believe the ten provinces will swiftly stabilize. There should no longer be any rebellions against the previous edicts."


    "This battle showcased Ancestor��s divine might and dealt a heavy blow to Great Jin. It was a pivotal moment for the rise of the Cloudstride Sect," Bu Yu said with a smile. "Everyone now knows that our Cloudstride Sect will not only endure, but even flourish. Who would dare harbor ill intent?"


    Both of them felt their chests swelling with pride. Bu Yu not only achieved a breakthrough in her twilight years, but would also get to witness the rise of the sect firsthand. She felt truly fortunate.


    "Ten provinces is just the start," Fang Xia dered, his voice steady andposed. "Yesterday, Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang arrived outside Cloudhill together."


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian were immediately taken aback. They knew who these two were. Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang were leaders of their respective factions, and their famested several centuries. This was especially so for Zhao Xing, who had risen to prominence long before Wan Xing, having lived for well over 400 years. The fact that these two powerful cultivators arrived at Cloudhill was a matter of utmost gravity.


    Wu Yuan listened silently. He had sensed the arrival of the two powerful cultivators but was unaware of the details surrounding their visit.


    "They have promised us that Great Jin will relinquish control over the six provinces in the western region of the Jiang Continent to our Cloudstride Sect," Fang Xia uttered slowly.


    Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and Wu Yuan exchanged nces, their brows furrowing. Great Jin, having already suffered the loss of six Heavenly Rankers, was now promising to cede their territory?


    "Ancestor, what are the terms they have put forth?" Wu Yuan inquired, his forehead wrinkling with concern.


    "A ceasefire on both sides," Fang Xia responded.


    Before anyone else could interject, Fang Xia continued, his voice soft but resolute, "I have already agreed. If I had not, the Cloudstride Sect would never find peace. A truce is beneficial."


    ��Quite a reasonable proposal.�� Huan Jian said softly.


    ��Achieving the unification of the Jiang Continent without sacrificing any soldiers or pawns is an excellent oue. However, the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin suffered massive losses. If Imperator Jin and his allies decide tounch a joint attack, Ancestor may not be able to hold them off alone,�� Bu Yumented in a deep voice.


    After reviewing the information from the Pleiades Guild, they understood Great Jin��s strength.


    ��In November, Great Jin will begin to withdraw from the Jiang Continent. Huan Jian, you are to oversee the handover to the sect''s military and civil officials. You must swiftly consolidate the six provinces. If Eastdream and Westdream submit obediently, then all is fine. If any reject our rule, show no mercy.��


    ��Understood.�� Huan Jian acknowledged his orders with a nod.


    ��The unity of a sect cannot be fostered overnight. Once everything is in order, the responsibility of managing the sect will be left to your subordinates,�� Fang Xia said. ��Also, there is one more matter that involves you.��


    Fang Xia turned over his palm, revealing a few bluish crystals. These crystals resembled jade but were even more translucent and ethereal.


    ��This is?��


    ��Etherstone? It doesn��t look like it.�� Bu Yu and Huan Jian voiced their confusion, unsure of what these crystals were.


    ��Voidrealm jade?�� Wu Yuan, recognizing them as a special type of treasure mentioned in the immortal slips,


    ��These are hall jades of the Middle Land Immortal Hall. By imprinting your Soul Force on the Pce Jade, it is akin to iming ownership, which will grant you ess to the Middle Land Immortal Hall once it is opened.��


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian werepletely confused.


    ��These contain information on the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Have a read.�� As Fang Xia handed out three thin books, Bu Yu, Wu Yuan, and Huan Jian eagerly started scanning the pages.


    ��Middle Land Immortal Hall?��


    ��There��s actually a ce like this? Individuals can manifest their Soul Force in a virtual form, allowing them tomunicate instantly despite being tens of thousands of li apart?" Bu Yu eximed in awe.


    "The Wu Sect wields such a wondrous artifact?" Huan Jian, too, found himself taken aback. "This is truly an immortal treasure. It means the Middle Land Heavenly Rankers canmunicate instantly during crucial moments."


    Swiftly flipping through the pages, Wu Yuan pieced it all together. The so-called Middle Land Immortal Hall matched the description of the voidrealms mentioned in the immortal slips. And the crystals were none other than voidrealm jades.


    <i>As the immortal slip suggests, the high-grade voidrealms are far more wondrous than the metaverse of my previous life. I wonder how impressive the Wu Sect''s Middle Land Immortal Hall is.</i>


    The metaverse was apletely virtual world. Though very impressive, it was confined to the limits of technology. On the other hand, the voidrealms crafted by powerful cultivators were spaces that blurred the line between the real and virtual, capable of amodating countless entities.


    "The Middle Land Immortal Hall requires the utilization of Soul Force to enter," Fang Xia exined, "which means only Heavenly Rankers can gain ess."


    "ording to what Dong Pan told me, in response to the Cloudstride Sect��s rise, they will open the Middle Land Immortal Hall on the tenth of November.��

 Chapter 223: Warning, A Golden Core Cultivator Has Appeared (1)

    <h4>Chapter 223: Warning, A Golden Core Cultivator Has Appeared (1)</h4>


    "The Middle Land Immortal Hall isn��t permanently essible?" Wu Yuan asked with a frown.


    "It isn��t. As Dong Pan mentioned, each opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall requires a vast amount of etherstone," Fang Xia exined. "If they were to keep it open for an extended period, the cost would be astronomical. The Wu Sect cannot afford it."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. From the immortal slip, he learned that within the vast Greenridge Macrocosm, the majority of immortal sects and nations established their own voidrealms and operated them 24/7. The functions and capabilities of each voidrealm varied.


    Compared to these true immortal sects, the Wu Sect didn��t have the resources to sustain the full-time operation of the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Typically, the Middle Land Immortal Hall holds a scheduled meeting once every decade," Fang Xia exined. "The time interval between these meetings depends on the whims of the Wu Sect."


    "Unless, of course, a significant event that affects the entire Middle Land urs." Fang Xia chuckled. "After all, the Middle Land Immortal Hall is essentially a special artifact, with its core controlled by the Wu Sect."


    Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian all nodded. The artifact was in the hands of the Wu Sect. Naturally, the Wu Sect had the final say on how it was used.


    "Our Cloudstride Sect will soon undergo an astronomical rise in strength," Fang Xia stated. "That is why Dong Pan has decided to open the Middle Land Immortal Hall. I also believe it to be a perfect opportunity to announce the presence of our Cloudstride Sect to every corner of the world."


    "Furthermore, if the four of us enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall together, the other factions who are unsure of our situation will assume that there are four Heavenly Rankers in our ranks. This will make them think twice before making any reckless moves," Fang Xia dered with utmost seriousness.


    Wu Yuan and the others nodded in agreement. Powerful factions might try to hide their true power by not sending all their Heavenly Rankers into the Middle Land Immortal Realm. Meanwhile, weaker factions would attempt to put on a strong front to deter their enemies.


    The Cloudstride Sect was still a newly rising faction, hence they needed to show the other factions that they were not to be taken lightly.


    "Huan Jian, Bu Yu, in theing days, do not hold back on the spiritual liquid. Refine your physical constitutions and open your qi seas as soon as possible," Fang Xia instructed. "Advancing from the first stage of the Qi Sea phase to the sixth stage is merely a matter of umting essentia, there are no other obstacles."


    "Both of you are already in yourter years. Therefore, you must cultivate your mana as quickly as possible, or else you will have no hope of reaching the Golden Core stage in this lifetime," Fang Xia warned.


    "Understood," Bu Yu and Huan Jian respectfully replied.


    With Fang Xia��s guidance, they had grown well-versed in various aspects of immortal cultivation, grasping the key points to take note of in the nine stages of the Qi Sea phase.


    "You may leave," Fang Xia said, "I have something to discuss with Wu Yuan."


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian bowed and promptly departed. In recent days, they resided in a new courtyard house established near the entrance of the cave.


    In the jade chamber, only Fang Xia and Wu Yuan remained.


    "Young Master," Fang Xia immediately broke into a warm smile, "May I know what level your physical strength has reached?"


    "A single-arm punch strength of 620,000 catties." Wu Yuan told him the truth.


    Under the dual influence of the eldritch tattoos and blood-red mist, his physical constitution had improved without pause recently.


    "620,000 catties?" A flicker of astonishment shed through Fang Xia''s eyes, "Master, you have not yet begun Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing, have you?"


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Fang Xia fell silent. After a momentary pause, he finally spoke again. "Young Master," he began tentatively, "the eldritch tattoos you''ve condensed...they must be the legendary top three degree eldritch tattoos, am I correct?"


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened. It was spot on!


    "You don''t need to reply, Young Master. I know it is not my ce to ask you such questions. I simply deduced it based on the progress of your physical cultivation." Fang Xia continued, his words filled with anticipation. "Once you''vepleted Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing, your base fist strength could potentially skyrocket to several million catties."


    "And once your soul chamber is opened...�� Fang Xia shook his head. "Whether body refiners or qi refiners, there are no inherent aspects that make one superior or inferior apart from one��s immortal root."


    "If one establishes ninth-degree eldritch tattoos, their maximum physical strength upon bing an eldritch warrior would only reach a little over two million catties."


    ��So weak?�� Wu Yuan frowned slightly. With his current strength of 600,000 catties, if he utilized Threefold Power Surge and heaven and earth''s power, he could nearly reach that level already.


    Fang Xiaughed. "Do not underestimate it. A newly emerged qi refiner with a ninth-degree immortal root may have a weak physique, but with essentia, their overall strength can still exceed two million catties."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "If you possess third-degree eldritch tattoos, then once you be a body refiner, even at the first stage of the Communion phase, your body��s mana alone could rival that of a seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivator or seventh-stage Communion cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root."


    "For every one degree difference in immortal root, it requires one cultivation stage difference to bridge the gap."


    ��As for two cultivators with the same immortal root but one is a cultivation phase more advanced, the more advanced cultivator is six cultivation stages stronger," he exined. "Young master, with your third-degree eldritch tattoos, once you reach the ninth stage of the Communion phase, you could potentially rival a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a ninth-grade immortal root."


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly. He had already learned everything Fang Xia said through the immortal slips. However, Fang Xia had gotten one thing wrong. His eldritch tattoos were not third-degree, but rather second-degree!


    Someone with legendary first-degree eldritch tattoos would be able to rival the bottom tier of ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators and Communion cultivators the moment they entered the Communion phase.


    "Young Master, the main reason why I epted Great Jin��s truce is to buy time for your breakthrough," Fang Xia said with a smile. "Once you achieve it, with a bit of cultivation, your strength will be sufficient to rival the high-tier qi refiners."


    "Based on my estimation, qi refiners in the Middle Land mostlyck any noteworthy cultivation methods, and mostly end up establishing immortal roots of the bottom three degrees."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Unless the disparity in cultivation level was clear, it was difficult to determine a person''s immortal root or cultivation stage at first nce. One could only vaguely perceive the strength of their vital aura and mana.


    This was why numerous Heavenly Rankers believed Fang Xia was a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Fang Xia had established sixth-degree eldritch tattoos. Although he was only at the eighth stage of the Qi Sea phase, his mana was on par with a seventh-degree immortal root ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator.


    Throughout the Middle Land, establishing a seventh-degree immortal root was an incredible feat. One��s external environment, cultivation methods, and immortal root establishment treasures all affected the degree of one��s immortal root.


    "Young Master, your physique has been undergoing rapid transformation. Over this period, I assume your soul has grown stronger?" Fang Xia asked, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.


    Wu Yuan vaguely nodded, offering no further exnation. There were matters that he was willing to divulge to Fang Xia, but when it involved the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan preferred to keep it a secret. The ck pagoda was far too mysterious. Unless absolutely necessary, Wu Yuan would not disclose it to anyone.


    "Young Master, your public persona is Wu Yuan, and your undercover identity is Shadow de," Fang Xia continued, "But I don��t believe you should use either of the two identities at the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Instead, you should assume a new identity. Moreover, this identity should be shocking enough to rock the entire world, ensuring all factions think twice before bearing ill will toward our Cloudstride Sect."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan��s curiosity was piqued.


    "Young Master, have a look," Fang Xia said, handing the intelligence on the Middle Land Immortal Hall to Wu Yuan. A mischievous chuckle escaped his lips. "It was this information that sparked an idea."


    Wu Yuan examined the document.


    "Immortal Hall Soul Imprint Ranking: Each hall jade holder, upon entering the Immortal Hall, can leave their soul imprints...The Immortal Hall Soul Imprint Ranking is synonymous with the Heavenly Rankings!"


    "Heavenly Rankings?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    It was only through this piece of information that he realized that the renowned ��Heavenly Rankings�� was not decided by the Sta Consortium, but rather the strength of one��s soul imprint in the Immortal Hall.


    After a moment of contemtion, Wu Yuan grasped Fang Xia''s idea and was unable to suppress a smile. "Old Fang, this approach is excellent. If it can be aplished, I believe that everyone will have to acknowledge the strength of our Cloudstride Sect.��


    "Haha. In doing so, Great Jin and the other factions would certainly hesitate to make any moves, granting Young Master ample time to cultivate," Fang Xiaughed. "Our Cloudstride Sect will also have a chance to train our disciples, build our forces, and when the time is right, wage war to reim the Chu Continent."


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded, before suddenly smiling. "Although, I may not necessarily require a new identity. I have quite a number of sock puppets[1] in stock."


    Fang Xia waspletely puzzled. Sock puppet? What was that?


    1. A sock puppet is a false online identity used for deceptive purposes. ?

 Chapter 224: Warning, A Golden Core Cultivator Has Appeared (2)

    <h4>Chapter 224: Warning, A Golden Core Cultivator Has Appeared (2)</h4>


    As time passed, Great Jin retreated from the six provinces of West Jiang of its own volition. Meanwhile, the Eastdream and Westdream provinces submitted to the Cloudstride Sect. And thus, in a mere two months, the Cloudstride Sect unified the Jiang Continent.


    This momentous news reverberated across the world, prompting heated discussions among countless martial artists. Who could have foreseen that the Cloudstride Sect, once in a precarious position, would rise to be a behemoth that ruled the central region of the world?


    However, amidst the discussions and whispers, the Heavenly Rankers were not taken aback by the Great Jin''s relinquishment of territory. For them, this was merely the natural order of things.


    The world believed that the ebb and flow of the thirteen continents, the rise and fall of dynasties, were determined by the countless ordinary soldiers who fought and bled on the battlefield. But the Heavenly Rankers, the true rulers of the world who stood at the zenith of martial power, knew better. Their lives and deaths, their triumphs and defeats, held the true power to shape the course of history.


    Soon after Great Jin''s retreat, a piece of news from the Wu Sect was sent to every corner of the world, reaching the ears of nearly every Heavenly Ranker.


    ...


    With a cave in the Divine Bull Mountain, situated in the Yan Continent, Niu Hao, the leader of the Pleiades Guild, nced at the notification from the hall jade in his hand. A smile formed.


    <i>The Middle Land Immortal Hall is opening, this will be interesting. Let��s see if my soul imprint surpasses Jin Quan.</i>


    ...


    <i>At the Sta Consortium.</i>


    "The Middle Land Immortal Hall is opening?" A gathering of Heavenly Rankers from the Sta Consortium convened, deliberating over whether they should attend the meeting.


    "Wan Xing has conveyed his decision not to attend. We shall go in his ce to find out what news the Wu Sect has for us.��


    ...


    The South Ocean was a vast expanse that stretched over countless li, dotted with an abundance of inds numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Amongst these isles, the Min Continent stretched nearly 10,000 li across.


    Naturally, such a plethora of inds nurtured a substantial human popce, particrly in the past thousand years when the Middle Land''s inhabitants embarked on a steady migration southward, catalyzing an unprecedented surge in martial artists throughout the South Ocean.


    Apart from the human race, the vast region was also home to arge number of demons. Countless lesser demons, greater demons, and even Archdemons thrived on these inds. Archdemons were demonic beasts that could rival Heavenly Rankers.


    To the human eye, all species of demonic beasts were practically indistinguishable from one another. Meanwhile, for these creatures, the other species of demonic beasts were practically indistinguishable from humans. Thus, in the expansive South Ocean, human factions waged war against each other, the human race warred with demonic beasts, and different species of demons also engaged in wars!


    Nestled deep within the South Ocean, tens of thousands of li removed from the Min Continent, was a massive crystal pce. This was a nation of demons, where myriad aquatic demonic beasts lived.


    <i>At the center of the crystal pce.</i>


    ��The Middle Land Immortal Hall?��


    Among the swirling currents, a massive jiaolong with azure scales coiled on the ground. From afar, he looked like a small hill. He fiddled with the hall jade in his ws.


    "The 10th of November? How amusing, hahaha," he chuckled. "I have to travel tens of thousands of li to meet Old ck in the Huang Continent, but if we both enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall simultaneously, we can see each other without having to leave our residences. It''s almost as good as meeting face to face."


    ��It is a pity that the Wu Sect is so stingy, opening the hall only once every decade. Something big must have happened for them to decide on a sudden meeting.��


    ��The humans are the true darlings of this world. It��s only been a few years, yet their qi refiners are multiplying rapidly. ording to the Dragon��s Lair Records, I fear that in another century or two, a Golden Core Superior will be born."


    "The resurrection of immortal civilization...�� he sighed, ��but how do I advance to the Spiritual Body phase? I am not much younger than Old Hei.��[1]


    "Mmm, I shall rest for now. When I awaken, it should be just in time for the opening of the immortal hall." The green-scaled jiaolong coiled his gargantuan body, stowed away the hall jade, and closed his eyes.


    ...


    As the Cloudstride Sect solidified its control over the Jiang Continent, the once tumultuous situation in the Central ins settled entirely.


    In the blink of an eye, the tenth of November arrived.


    Deep under Cloudhill, Fang Xia, Wu Yuan, Huan Jian, and Bu Yu gathered in the jade chamber.


    "Have you all memorized the important things to take note of?" Fang Xia''s gaze swept over the trio.


    ��Yes,�� Huan Jian nodded solemnly. "Shadow de is in seclusion. The individual entering the Middle Land Immortal Hall is a Senior who returned with Ancestor Fang Xia from overseas."


    "Ancestor, are you sure we won��t get exposed?" Bu Yu couldn''t help but voice her concern.


    "In due time, you will understand," Fang Xia replied with a cryptic smile.


    Wu Yuan chuckled.


    <i>Hum~</i> Suddenly, the hall jades they held began to emit a brilliant glow, and numerous faint silhouettes seemed to dance. It was a strange, mystical sight.


    "We have all been recognized as owners," dered Fang Xia with a sense of authority. "The Middle Land Immortal Hall has been opened. Focus your Soul Force and send it into the immortal hall."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A second Fang Xia materialized beside the original. The Clone Gu took its seat on the jade tform beneath the golden orb, controlling the array.


    Once they entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall, their awareness of the outside world would be greatly diminished, leaving them vulnerable to potential attacks.


    "Let us proceed!"


    The four individuals channeled their Soul Forces into the hall jade.


    ...


    Meanwhile, thousands of li away in the Wu Continent, deep within the highest temple of the Wu Sect, a colossal purple sphere emitted a radiant glow.


    Several imposing figures, emanating powerful auras, stood within the temple, perceiving the information from the purple orb. At the front of the group stood Emperor Dong Pan in ck armor.


    Without warning, a mechanical voice resonated from the purple orb. "Four hall jades from the Cloudhill Province of the Jiang Continent have been activated!"


    "Four?"


    "The Cloudstride Sect has four Heavenly Rankers?" The Heavenly Rankers of the Wu Sect exchanged incredulous nces.


    "Previously, Fang Xia had requested five hall jades from me, iming that the Cloudstride Sect now had five Heavenly Rankers. I thought he was joking," Emperor Dong Pan murmured. "Could it be true?"


    Once considered a mere pawn of the Sta Consortium, the Cloudstride Sect had never garnered serious attention from the Wu Sect. And yet, now they purportedly possessed four, or perhaps even five, Heavenly Rankers?


    "Warning, a suspected Golden Core cultivator has entered the immortal hall! Warning, a suspected Golden Core cultivator has entered the immortal hall!" The impassive mechanical voice urgently red. "The individual hails from the Cloudhill Province of the Jiang Continent!"


    "Warning, a suspected..." The voice repeated.


    The Heavenly Rankers of the Wu Sect were left dumbfounded. A Golden Core cultivator?


    "The Cloudstride Sect has a Golden Core cultivator?" Emperor Dong Pan echoed their astonishment, before issuing a solemnmand. "Immediately enter the immortal hall to meet the Heavenly Rankers of the Cloudstride Sect."


    ...


    Wu Yuan experienced mild vertigo as a strand of his consciousness entered the hall jade, plunging him into utter darkness. Then, a sudden burst of light illuminated a vividly clear scene before him, and a pristine, white hall stood came into view.


    A figure draped in white robes materialized out of thin air �C it was Wu Yuan himself.


    <i>Projected consciousness spanning tens of thousands of li. This simtion feels as real as the metaverse, no, it��s even more realistic! </i>Wu Yuan marveled, his gaze sweeping across the space.


    A spacious hally before him. Beside him stood a jade tform. Twelve colossal pirs, intricately carved and enveloped in mist, propped up the grand hall, creating an ethereal atmosphere akin to an immortal realm. Such a magnificent hall was a rarity in the mortal world.


    <i>The Middle Land Immortal Hall is indeed a voidrealm. Judging solely from the sensory aspect, it is at least an eighth-grade voidrealm, surpassing the metaverse. It is also far more user-friendly. </i>


    Voidrealms were divided into nine grades. Sixth-grade voidrealms had the ability to simte reality in various aspects. With each increase in grade came added features and wondrous capabilities.


    Suddenly, a cold voice echoed throughout the hall. "Esteemed Heavenly Ranker, as this is your first visit to the Middle Land Immortal Hall, you may choose a name for yourself. It is advisable to use your true name. Furthermore, please confirm your desired appearance. Simply envision it with your Soul Force, and your appearance will transform ordingly. Remember, you only have one chance to confirm your appearance, and it is rmended to adhere to your true appearance."


    Countless points of light converged, forming a mirror before Wu Yuan. It revealed his current image.


    <i>This does not resemble me in any way. </i>Wu Yuan remarked inwardly as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror.<i> It makes sense. The hall jade can only ensure the uracy of one''s Soul Force; it cannot scan physical appearances.</i>


    For cultivators, the soul was the only true constant. One could change their physical appearance at a whim.


    <i>This scenario.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled, a sense of familiarity washing over him. It reminded him of his past life when he registered as a yer in virtual reality games on the Battl Cosmos in the metaverse.


    <i>But confirming an appearance simply by imagining it? That��s even more miraculous than the capabilities of the metaverse.</i> Wu Yuan��s lips curled in amusement.


    As an appearance formed in his mind, the original figure in white robes underwent a swift transformation, quickly forming a towering silhouette shrouded in ck robes. Only a pair of icy cold eyes could be seen, the rest of his features hidden.


    "Do you confirm your appearance?"


    "Yes!"


    "Please state your name.��


    "Wan Liu,�� Wu Yuan said.


    1. should be referring to the ck jiaolong from Huang Temple ?

 Chapter 225: First Place In The Heavenly Rankings (1)

    <h4>Chapter 225: First ce In The Heavenly Rankings (1)</h4>


    The persona Wu Yuan adopted was that of Wan Liu, an identity he had employed only once, which was back at Skysaber Mountain. On the mountain, Wu Yuan had deliberately proimed, "With the exception of Imperator Jin, no one else in Great Jin is worthy of discussing the Dao with me."


    This deration rippled through the world, arousing the curiosity of the numerous major factions. Little did he anticipate that he would be using this identity once again so soon!


    "Honorable Wan Liu," The mechanical voice echoed through the hall, "At present, the Middle Land Immortal Hall has opened only three sectors: the personal hall, the Soul Imprint Hall, and the Conference Hall."


    "The details regarding these three halls, along with further information and instructions on the usage of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, can be found in the jade booklet in front of you."


    Countless specks of light swirled together before Wu Yuan, forming a delicate, translucent jade booklet before Wu Yuan. His eyes widened in awe at the magical sight before him.


    "How beautiful," Wu Yuan whispered in awe.


    Only in voidrealms could such mystical abilities be possible. After all, they were virtual spaces, unbound by the limitations of the physical world. One could make any object as beautiful as one wanted to.


    <i>A jade booklet?</i> Wu Yuan reached out and gently opened the hovering artifact. Instantly, a cascade of illusory characters burst forth from its pages, forming a virtual light screen in front of him. Countless words appeared, written in the script of the Middle Land civilization.


    <i>Honorable Heavenly Ranker Wan Liu, we extend our warmest wee to the Middle Land Immortal Hall.</i>


    <i>The Middle Land Immortal Hall, at its core, is a voidrealm opened by the Martial King. Its purpose is to serve as amunal and impartial tform for information exchange among the Heavenly Rankers across the thirteen continents and overseas continents of the Middle Land. During critical moments, it serves the function of connecting all Heavenly Rankers, ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire Middle Land.</i>


    <i>Every user possesses an identical physical constitution upon entering the Middle Land Immortal Hall, namely the strength and speed of a first-grade martial artist. The physical strength of the user��s body in the real world will not be reflected in the voidrealm.</i>


    <i>The only aspect of the user��s original body reflected is Soul Force. Every individual��s consciousness is unique, hence the establishment of the Soul Imprint Hall.</i>


    <i>Distance is arge barrier tomunication, and gathering all Heavenly Rankers in one ce is a difficult task. Furthermore,rge-scale casualties are likely to ensue if physical altercations ur. </i>


    <i>With a strong soul, one is able to cultivate mana and arcane arts more quickly, and also improve their Daoprehension. A powerful soul is also a sign of physical strength. Thus, the most effective criteria to decide the order of the Heavenly Rankings without causingrge-scale damage is the strength of one��s soul imprint, formed by one��s Soul Force.</i>


    <i>The personal hall stands as a dedicated, private hall for each user. No user may enter another user��s personal hall. The Soul Imprint Hall is the location where the Heavenly Rankings are decided via soul strength. The Conference Hall serves as a gathering ce for all Heavenly Rankers of the Middle Land tomunicate with one another.</i>


    <i>With the resurgence of the immortal cultivation civilization, it is our hope to witness the unity of the fifteen provinces of the Middle Land, whether one is from the human or demonic race, ensuring the perpetual legacy of the Middle Land''s rich civilization.</i>


    Though the introduction was concise, it clearly exined the history of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, as well as encapsted the Martial King��s purpose for creating it �C unity of the Middle Land.


    <i>The Martial King is truly the forefather of our civilization.</i> Wu Yuan was sincerely impressed by how the man turned a deste wilderness into a proper civilization. His contributions and achievements were truly immeasurable. He was someone who would always be remembered in the annals of history as the Middle Land''s first recorded Heavenly Ranker.


    <i>ording to the records, the Wu Sect copsed and experienced a revival. Yet this Middle Land Immortal Hall was never lost? Even if Great Jin really unifies the world, it is unlikely that they will be able to eradicate Wu Sect.</i>


    For countless millennia, the Wu Sectpletely dominated the Wu Continent and never expanded its territory. Rarely any faction throughout the Middle Land dared challenge the inheritors of the Martial King''s legacy. Some Archdemons even had deep respect for the Martial King.


    <i>Let��s go see what��s outside.</i> Wu Yuan decided, stretching his body. His illusory body waspletely guided by his consciousness. It was a long time since hest experienced this, so Wu Yuan initially felt slightly unfamiliar with this sensation.


    With purposeful steps, he strode towards the entrance of the personal hall. Stepping past the threshold, the scenery around him changed instantly.


    Wu Yuan found himself standing outside his personal hall. Before him sprawled a vast square za, stretching for what seemed like more than 1000 kilometers. The entire za was paved with jade stones that emitted a soft, radiant glow, creating a breathtakingly dreamlike atmosphere.


    The jade stone za floated in mid-air, suspended over an endless sea of clouds. Above was an infinite sky of light. Numerous purple chains were connected to three sides of the square za, which tethered numerous identical floating halls to the za. Clouds and mists swirled around the structures. Just from appearances alone, the ce was worthy of being called an immortal hall.


    <i>My personal hall?</i> Wu Yuan nced back at his own hall, located ten meters away. Then, he calcted the number of personal halls along all three chains. A total of 67!


    <i>So, there are a total of 67 Heavenly Rankers in the world?</i> Wu Yuan pondered over this figure, slightly lower than his initial expectations. However, he knew that it might be inurate. The Wu Sect might not be aware of the existence of every Heavenly Ranker, and some might have chosen to abstain from entering the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Furthermore, he wasn��t sure what would happen to the personal halls of Heavenly Rankers who met their demise.


    As he mulled over these thoughts, a golden-robed figure emerged from the personal hall beside him,ing to a stop not far from Wu Yuan.


    "Old Fang," Wu Yuan said someone hoarsely. As his gaze settled on the figure, the person��s name appeared in his mind. Name: Fang Xia. This was a function of the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Furthermore, Fang Xia had made no effort to obscure his true appearance.


    "Old Wan," Fang Xia replied with a mischievous grin, using the name they had agreed upon. No one knew if the Wu Sect could monitor their actions and speech, hence the need for caution.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Two more streaks of light darted towards them. They were Huan Jian and Bu Yu, both of whom did not make substantial adjustments to their appearance and attire.


    ��Ancestor, Senior Wan.�� The two approached Fang Xia and Wu Yuan with a deep bow, showing extreme reverence.


    Since this was a charade, each of them yed their roles to perfection. The four gathered.


    "The Pleiades Guild''s intelligence reported over 60 Heavenly Rankers. Here, I see an equal number of halls," Fang Xia gestured toward the surrounding structures. "I wonder how many Heavenly Rankers truly inhabit the Middle Land?"


    "We will find out," Wu Yuan chuckled. "Eventually, the Cloudstride Sect will form our own versions of such intelligence.��


    Intelligence had to be umted over time. In the past, the Cloudstride Sectcked the qualifications to interact with Heavenly Rankers, thus they had little information on them.


    Suddenly, the air before the four began to thrum and countless specks of light converged, forming three distinct figures. Leading the trio was a domineering man in ck armor. It was none other than Emperor Dong Pan.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, wee to the immortal hall," Emperor Dong Pan spoke with a cordial smile. His gaze swept to the side,nding on Bu Yu and Huan Jian. "Daoist Bu Yu? Daoist Huan Jian? I wasn��t expecting to witness two new entrants in the Heavenly Rankings. Congrattions are certainly in order."


    "You are too polite, Daoist Dong Pan," Fang Xia chuckled.


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian were more reserved. They were well aware that the man before them was one of the top cultivators in the Middle Land �C Emperor Dong Pan.


    Emperor Dong Pan''s gaze finally fell on Wu Yuan. He bowed slightly. "Dong Pan pays his respects to Senior Wan Liu."


    "Wu Nonghan pays his respects to Senior Wan Liu!"


    "Dong Guangbo pays his respects to Senior Wan Liu!" The two apanying Heavenly Rankers also bowed in respect.


    A glint of puzzlement shed through Fang Xia��s eyes. Emperor Dong Pan addressed Wu Yuan as his senior and paid respects as a junior? One had to understand that the Immortal Hall was controlled by the Wu Sect. This meant they had the ability to sense Wu Yuan��s Soul Force through his hall jade. Emperor Dong Pan''s respectful attitude towards Wu Yuan indicated that Wu Yuan''s Soul Force might have reached the level of a Golden Core Superior.


    <i>Young Master��s Soul Force has already gotten this strong?</i> Fang Xia gaped inwardly.


    A Soul Force range with a radius of 500 meters was the criteria for advancing to the Golden Core phase. But after breaking through to be a true Golden Core Superior, their soul strengthened greatly after being nourished by their Golden Core, extending the radius of Soul Force perception to ten li.


    Fang Xia''s surprise was nothingpared to the storm of emotions raging within Huan Jian and Bu Yu. This unexpected disy shattered their understanding of the situation. Emperor Dong Pan, a renowned top cultivator, addressed Wu Yuan as ''Senior''? Though they were bewildered, they were certain that Dong Pan was not a fool. There had to be a reason for his actions.


    "You are Dong Pan?" Wu Yuan, shrouded in ck robes, gazed down at Emperor Dong Pan with eyes as cold as ice. "I��ve only returned to the Middle Land for a year, but I��ve heard of you. Old Fang mentioned you as well."


    "I heard that Senior made an appearance at Skysaber Mountain," Emperor Dong Pan replied, his smile respectful. Wu Yuan''s demeanor, and the natural expressions of Fang Xia, Huan Jian, and Bu Yu only further confirmed his suspicions. Wan Liu had to be an ancient monster returning from overseas. Even if he was not a Golden Core Superior, his soul could rival that of a Golden Core cultivator. He was likely not any weaker than Fang Xia.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded slightly, choosing not to say anything more and maintaining a cold, unfriendly demeanor. In his experience, the more one spoke, the more likely one was to make errors. It was better to say nothing at all.


    "Daoist Dong Pan, Old Wan is not one for excessive conversation," Fang Xia interjected,ughing. "I had to persuade him several times before he agreed toe and take a look at the immortal hall."


    "It is our Wu Sect��s honor that Senior Wan graced the Immortal Hall with your presence," Emperor Dong Pan said with a smile.


    "This voidrealm is not bad," Wu Yuan suddenly spoke, his tone indifferent. "It is slightly better than a ninth-grade voidrealm. Is it eighth or seventh grade?"


    "But it��s a pity that you��re not using it to its fullest potential," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Functions such as information depositories, equipment refining simtions, pill refining simtions, andbat simtions, are going unused. If you activated these features, the Middle Land could produce twice as many Heavenly Rankers at least, and the standards of medicinal pills and artifacts would greatly improve. Instead, you only use the voidrealm for simplemunication. What a waste of a treasure," he remarked with disdain.


    His words left Huan Jian and Bu Yu inplete confusion. Even Fang Xia, who had received an inheritance, was somewhat clueless about suchmon cultivation know-how.


    But when Emperor Dong Pan and Wu Nonghan heard these words, their hearts jolted, and chills went down their spines! Theirst shred of doubtpletely evaporated. At this moment, they confirmed that Wan Liu was indeed a senior expert from beyond the ocean.


    ��We have made a fool of ourselves in front of Senior.�� Emperor Dong Pan bowed even lower, forcing a bitter smile. "This voidrealm consumes too much energy, and its essence has been damaged, it can only be maintained at the lowest setting." He didn''t dare to show the slightest disrespect.


    "Don''t worry, young Dong Pan," Wu Yuan''s eyes were as cold as ice. "I have little interest in voidrealms of this level. I returned to the Middle Land at Old Fang��s invitation, to stand by his sect and wipe out those who dare to cross them."


    Emperor Dong Pan and the others got goosebumps. In their minds, the image they had of Wan Liu was an old monster who had been wandering overseas for many years, with no attachments, and was a close friend of Fang Xia. He had returned to the Middle Land to help Fang Xia revitalize the Cloudstride Sect...


    Heavens! The status of the Cloudstride Sect was elevated once more in the minds of Emperor Dong Pan and the others. Dealing with just Fang Xia was already a challenge. Adding on a mysterious Wan Liu? And several new Heavenly Rankers? Their foundation was now solid bedrock.

 Chapter 226: First Place In The Heavenly Rankings (2)

    <h4>Chapter 226: First ce In The Heavenly Rankings (2)</h4>


    "Haha, Senior Wan jests. With your protection, who would dare think of harming the Cloudstride Sect?" Emperor Dong Panughed.


    The group continued their conversation. Wu Yuan resumed his aloof demeanor, mainly leaving the conversation to Fang Xia, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others.


    One by one, Heavenly Rankers emerged from their personal halls, each wearing unique attires and disying different attitudes. However, their identities could be discerned from their names alone.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd, his eyesnding on several familiar faces. Among them were the Arctic King, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Jin Ji, and a few other rtively weaker Heavenly Rankers.


    Yet, the numbers seemed to have dwindled since theirst visit to Cloudhill. Wu Yuan vividly remembered the impressive turnout of over 40 Heavenly Rankers who had gathered to witness the battle. It was then that he and Bu Yu had caught their first glimpse of thesend deities.


    However, it appeared that these Heavenly Rankers had not yetid eyes on Wu Yuan and hispanions. Wu Yuan''s attention was particrly drawn to the presence of powerful demonic beasts. He scanned their names.


    "Qiong Sea King?" Wu Yuan studied the majestic azure jiaolong. This creature was none other than the overlord of the South Ocean, a universally recognized Archdemon and ruler of the seas. In the water, Qiong Sea King was invincible, and even ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators had no choice but to flee in fear.


    "ck Snake King?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened as he spotted a colossal ck snake, a divine beast of the Jin royal family. It was rumored to possess powerparable tote-stage Qi Sea cultivators, and was associated with Imperator Jin.


    <i>Niu Hao! </i>Wu Yuan recognized the leader of the Pleiades Guild, a man exuding a powerful aura with wild hair framing his face.


    However, it seemed that not all Heavenly Rankers had arrived. Notable ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators such as Deity Huang, Wan Xing, Imperator Jin Quan, and the leader of the Ninedeaths Circle, Rong Le, were conspicuously absent.


    As Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Bu Yu observed the other Heavenly Rankers, their gazes were returned in kind. The presence of four unfamiliar faces, along with Emperor Dong Pan and the other hosts disying an unusual level of respect and courtesy towards them, caused a small stir. It was only natural that they were curious.


    "Bu Yu and Huan Jian! The two Grandmasters from the Cloudstride Sect have made it to the Heavenly Rankings! Fang Xia is truly incredible."


    "The Cloudstride Sect has produced three Heavenly Rankers at once?"


    "Bu Yu and Huan Jian are rather unimpressive. From their feeble auras, they are likely only at the first stage of the Qi Sea phase. They might even be quasi-Heavenly Rankers. Reaching the fifth or sixth stages of the Qi Sea phase requires at least a century of cultivation. However, the man in ck robes is someone important."


    "That''s correct! His aura is indeed powerful. Wan Liu? I''ve never heard of him!"


    "I believe he once made an appearance in Great Jin. He��s at odds with Great Jin!"


    "His aura is terrifying, both Fang Xia and Emperor Dong Pan seem weaker whenpared to him."


    "Who is this Wan Liu?" The Heavenly Rankers murmured amongst themselves.


    Their attention was primarily focused on Wu Yuan. They understood Fang Xia��s strength, but Wan Liu was still a mystery. Even though Wu Yuan did not intentionally unt his power, his Soul Force and aura were undeniably potent!


    Prominent cultivators such as the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, ck Snake King, Old Jiaolong, and Qiong Sea King paid extra attention to Wu Yuan. They stood at the pinnacle of the Middle Land and were instinctively cautious of those who possessed simr levels of power. However, as per tradition, no one approached the neers as Emperor Dong Pan had yet to introduce them.


    Gradually, the number of Heavenly Rankers assembled in the jade za exceeded 60, including Archdemons. For quite some time, no new Heavenly Rankers emerged.


    "Senior, Daoist Fang Xia," Emperor Dong Pan said, "As custom dictates, I must introduce you and register your names in the Soul Imprint Hall."


    "No problem," Fang Xia chuckled, "Old Wan won''t mind."


    Emperor Dong Pan offered a nod, careful not to incite the wrath of this old monster.


    "Fellow Daoists!" his booming voice echoed throughout the jade za, halting the debates and discussions as everyone turned to him.


    "We convene today at the Middle Land Immortal Hall for two reasons. The first reason is to introduce the new Daoists from the Cloudstride Sect. Daoist Fang Xia reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase after cultivating for more than 200 years. His legendary battle at Cloudhill needs no exnation. In terms ofbat power, he undoubtedly ranks top three in the world!"


    The Heavenly Rankers listened silently.


    ��Daoist Bu Yu and Daoist Huan Jian are new entrants to the Heavenly Rankings.��


    "This final individual is a returning cultivator from overseas who goes by the name Senior Wan Liu. His power far surpasses mine, and he is a good friend of Daoist Fang Xia��s. Senior Wan Liu is currently an honored guest of the Cloudstride Sect."


    The za wentpletely silent, every eye fixated on Wu Yuan, curiosity mingling with wariness. Emperor Dong Pan was a peak powerhouse himself. For him to address this man as ��Senior��, how powerful was this Wan Liu?


    Jin Ji, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, and the others exchanged nces, their expressions betraying a hint of vignce. The Cloudstride Sect��s honored guest?


    Emperor Dong Pan maintained his polite demeanor. "Senior Wan, Daoist Fang Xia," he said with a smile, "In ordance with the tradition of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, it is customary for one to imprint their name at the Soul Imprint Hall via Soul Force. I shall take you there now, kindly follow me."


    ��Haha, sure.�� Daoist Fang Xia responded jovially. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan''s gaze remained icy, offering no response at all.


    "Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan''s voice boomed through the air, "For those who are inclined, you may join us to witness the event at the Soul Imprint Hall. Those uninterested may proceed directly to the Conference Hall."


    Without a moment''s dy, Emperor Dong Pan took the lead, followed closely by Wu Yuan and Fang Xia. Bu Yu and Huan Jian brought up the rear.


    As for the other Heavenly Rankers in the za, their curiosity got the better of them. One by one, they followed along. There was only one question on everyone��s minds: could Wan Liu, the individual Emperor Dong Pan referred to as ''Senior'', im the top spot?


    The jade za was lined with personal halls on three sides while two grand halls stood on the remaining side �C the Soul Imprint Hall and the Conference Hall.


    Before long, the Soul Imprint Hall was abuzz with activity. Over 60 Heavenly Rankers had gathered. The Wu Sect and Cloudstride Sect��s Daoists stood at the forefront of the hall.


    Among the spectators, ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators such as the Arctic King and Zhao Xing, had the best view in front. The others stood in rows on either side, their positions indicating their respective strengths.


    "Senior Wan, Daoist Fang Xia, allow me to present the Soul Imprint Ranking, otherwise known as the Middle Land Heavenly Ranking!" Emperor Dong Pan announced, "Please note that the Heavenly Rankings do not necessarily reflect one''s actualbat power; they merely serve as a point of reference."


    He gestured towards the end of the hall. Soon, a light screen materialized on the massive wall, revealing the Heavenly Rankings:


    First ce, Wan Xing


    Second ce, Jin Quan


    Third ce, Qiong Sea King


    Fourth ce, Deity Huang


    Fifth ce, Emperor Dong Pan


    Sixth ce, Niu Hao


    Seventh ce, Zhao Xing


    Eighth ce, Rong Le


    Ninth ce, Arctic King


    Tenth ce, Hai Feizhang


    Eleventh ce, ck Snake


    Twelfth ce, Dong Qian


    Thirteenth ce, Mountain Devil King


    Fourteenth ce, ck Jiao


    Fifteenth ce, Liu Junxing


    Sixteenth ce, Jin Ji


    ...


    The list continued, consisting of more than seventy names, including those who had already passed away such as Zhao Yi and Hai Jian. It was evident that the Heavenly Rankings werest updated during the previous opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, thus it was not an urate reflection of the current standing of the Heavenly Rankers. After each name was arge emblem.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, Senior Wan, your task is quite simple," Emperor Dong Pan chuckled. "Just focus your soul and look at the light screen. Collide your soul with the soul imprints previously left by the Heavenly Rankers, and your ranking will be determined."


    In truth, all Heavenly Rankers in the voidrealm were embodiments of their Soul Force, which meant the Wu Sect could generate the Heavenly Rankings directly if they wanted to. However, they intentionally hid such marvels of the voidrealm, inviting them to use these superficial methods.


    "Bu Yu, why don''t you give it a try first?" Fang Xia suggested, a smile ying on his lips.


    ��Understood.��Bu Yu took a step forward, her eyes fixated on the light screen at the far end of the hall. Her name materialized on the screen in a swift fashion. 72nd ce, Bu Yu. She was inst ce.


    Emperor Dong Pan chuckled, "Haha, Daoist Bu Yu has just made a breakthrough, such a ranking is a normal urrence."


    Bu Yu smiled, stepping back with a sense of fulfillment. To leave her mark on the Heavenly Rankings was already a difficult feat, she had no regrets.


    Next, Huan Jian stepped forward. In mere moments, the results were out. 72nd ce, Huan Jian. Bu Yu plummeted to the 73rd position immediately.


    These two individuals ended up taking thest two spots, elicitingughter from many Heavenly Rankers. Though they were well aware that having one��s name included in the Heavenly Rankings already signified their status as top cultivators in the Middle Land, being the weakest two was not seen in the best light. Bu Yu and Huan Jian, though, remained unperturbed.


    ��What��s so funny?�� Fang Xia furrowed his brow. He stepped forward, focusing on the light screen and focusing his Soul Force.


    <i>Hum~ </i>A faint vibration reverberated through the grand hall as the light screen at the end flickered to life. A new name entered the disy: Fang Xia. Behind that name, there was a soul imprint emblem.


    A series of resounding booms echoed in session as Fang Xia''s name skyrocketed up the list, swiftly surpassing the lower ranks and soaring into the top ten, showing no signs of slowing. After a series of soul imprint collisions, Fang Xia''s standing surpassed that of Wan Xing and Jin Quan, quickly iming the first position!


    The previousughter abruptly ceased, and all the Heavenly Rankers stared at the light screen in shock. First ce in the Heavenly Rankings? They were all keenly aware of Fang Xia''s formidablebat power, yet battle prowess did not necessarily corrte to the strength of one''s soul.


    Take Jin Quan, for instance, who excelled inbat but always fell short in Soul Forcepared to Wan Xing. But Fang Xia? He didn��t only excel inbat. His soul was just as strong!


    "Old Wan," Fang Xia turned his head and grinned at Wu Yuan, "Care to have a go?"


    Suddenly, all eyes turned to Wu Yuan.


    ��Soul Imprint Ranking? Heavenly Rankings?" The ck-robed figure spoke with an indifferent tone, "Daoist Dong Pan, you lot must have nothing better to do."


    A hint of embarrassment flickered across Emperor Dong Pan''s countenance. He naturally understood what Wu Yuan was getting at.


    "Fine, since I��m a guest, it��s only right to extend you some courtesy." The ck-robed figure uttered coldly, taking a step forward and adjusting the cloth covering his face slightly. A pair of frigid eyes were fully revealed.


    As those eyesnded on the light screen, the screen brightened as countless specks of light converged. Almost instantly, a fresh name appeared at the top: First ce, Wan Liu. There was no need forparison. With just one nce, Wan Liu''s name ascended to the top, a vast chasm separating him from the other Heavenly Rankers. Number one in the Heavenly Rankings!


    "What a waste of time," the ck-robed figure shook his head slightly. "Old Fang, if there is anything else, inform meter. I shall take my leave."


    <i>Swish~ </i>The figure burst into a cascade of shimmering light, dissolving into countless motes as he exited the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    Confronted with this spectacle, a hushed stillness fell upon Emperor Dong Pan, the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, and the remaining cultivators of the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase. Even the Heavenly Rankers, assembled from the farthest corners of the world, were rendered speechless.


    A singr question took root in their minds �C just how powerful was Wan Liu?

 Chapter 227: The Devils Lair In The Huang Continent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 227: The Devil''s Lair In The Huang Continent (1)</h4>


    Within the Soul Imprint Hall in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, over 60 Heavenly Rankers stood in stunned silence. Right after Wan Liu��s name flew to the top of the Heavenly Rankings, he called it a waste of time and departed? They were not expecting that at all.


    Emperor Dong Pan''sughter broke the silence, drawing everyone''s attention. ��Haha, fellow Daoists, Senior Wan Liu is a figure that lives beyond the world we know of. If he wishes to depart, who are we to stop him?"


    He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "But fear not, if any of you wish to exchange words with Senior Wan Liu, you may find him at Cloudhill or contact him through the Daoists from the Cloudstride Sect."


    With that, he smoothly transitioned to the next topic. "Moving on, any Heavenly Ranker who wishes to leave their soul imprint may step forward. An hourter, we shallmence the Middle Land Conference."


    Emperor Dong Pan''s words were met with nods of agreement from the Heavenly Rankers. Though Senior Wan Liu felt disdain toward the Middle Land Immortal Hall, they held it in high regard.


    But just as the atmosphere settled, Fang Xia spoke up. ��Fellow Daoists, I have a word of caution I would like to offer.�� His voice cut through the room,manding everyone''s attention.


    Emperor Dong Pan was taken aback, but quicklyposed himself and smiled. "Please speak, Daoist Fang Xia.��


    "Wan Liu is exceptionally powerful, but due to his reluctance to create unnecessary karma, he rarely takes action. So far, he has only intervened once. I believe Daoist Jin Ji has had the pleasure of experiencing his strength!" Fang Xia said with a grin.


    In an instant, all eyes turned to Jin Ji.


    <i>I experienced it?</i> Jin Ji was momentarily stunned, but soon grasped what he meant. Was he referring to that unexpected Soulquake Art during his intense battle with Fang Xia?


    A shiver traveled down Jin Ji''s spine. Since that harrowing fight, he had been gued by thoughts, unable to fathom how Fang Xia, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, could exert such a level of power. Could it be that Wan Liu had covertly intervened?


    "I am unaware of Senior Wan Liu''s abilities," Jin Ji muttered vaguely, reluctant to divulge further.


    The less Jin Ji revealed, the more intrigued the others grew. These factions were increasingly convinced that the Great Jin Empire had suffered a significant blow at the hands of Wan Liu. Wan Liu''s image grew increasingly mysterious in the minds of these Heavenly Rankers.


    "I do not wish for any of you to face a cmity, as it would be a loss for the cultivation world in the Middle Land," Fang Xia spoke, his words carrying a faint warning. "I merely wish to remind you all that my sect''s disciple, Wu Yuan, has caught the attention of Daoist Wan Liu and has be his direct disciple. I hope that there will be noplications."


    A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd.


    "Wu Yuan? Who is that?"


    "I��ve never heard of him."


    "Wu Yuan? Ah, I know of him! A martial prodigy from the Cloudstride Sect. At a young age, he already possesses the strength of a first-rate Adept."


    "I��ve heard of him too."


    "Such a prodigy was taken in as Wan Liu''s disciple? It is only expected." The Heavenly Rankers engaged in hushed discussions.


    In truth, most Heavenly Rankers were unfamiliar with Wu Yuan, especially those hailing from outside the Central ins. The realms of ordinary folk and qi refiners were separate. Unless major events unfolded, the presence of Heavenly Rankers remained elusive to ordinary martial artists.


    Meanwhile, no matter how skilled a martial artist was, they rarely caught the attention of Heavenly Rankers. Unless someone became a Heavenly Ranker themself, most of them couldn''t care less. But henceforth, the name Wu Yuan was ingrained in the minds of all Heavenly Rankers, who immediately added him to the list of individuals one should not provoke. All because he was a direct disciple of Wan Liu.


    To provoke him was to incur the wrath of the otherworldly Wan Liu who stood behind him.


    ...


    With two hours remaining until the Middle Land Conference, numerous Heavenly Rankers sought to improve their standing in the Soul Imprint Hall. Some temporarily departed from the Middle Land Immortal Hall while others left the Soul Imprint Hall and congregated in the za outside to converse with Fang Xia, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian.


    Fang Xia was no doubt the most popr individual. Many desired to acquaint themselves with Fang Xia and, through him, the enigmatic Wan Liu. But when a robust man with unkempt hair and a colossal jiaolong with azure scales approached Fang Xia, the other Heavenly Rankers tactfully made way.


    "Daoist Qiong Sea, Daoist Niu Hao." Fang Xia greeted them with a smile.


    Qiong Sea King was the most powerful Archdemon in the world! Niu Hao was the leader of the Pleiades Guild. Yet, Fang Xia was not the least bit afraid of them. Though if he had topare, he was more cautious of Qiong Sea King. In the vast ocean, even a group of ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators could not hope to match Qiong Sea King.


    Someone cast an invisible barrier over the trio, ensuring their conversation remained unheard by prying ears. This was not a special privilege; any member of the Middle Land Immortal Hall could activate this function.


    "Niu Hao," Qiong Sea King addressed Niu Hao with an imposing gaze. "I believe our goals align. You may speak first."


    Niu Hao nodded and turned to Fang Xia. "Daoist Fang Xia, our intentions are simple. We merely wish to inquire whether Senior Wan Liu is a Golden Core Superior."


    Qiong Sea King also looked intently at Fang Xia.


    "Hehe," Fang Xia chuckled, raising a finger to his lips while whispering, "This is the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Some matters are best left unsaid."


    Qiong Sea King and Niu Hao exchanged a knowing nce. Not a denial? That could only mean affirmation!


    "Daoist Fang Xia," Qiong Sea King''s tone grew solemn, "I have been cultivating for over 700 years, yet I still struggle to find the method to break through. I believe Daoist Niu Hao faces a simr predicament and hopes to seek guidance from Senior Wan Liu."


    "We sincerely hope that Senior Wan Liu may provide us with some insights," Niu Hao added, standing beside Qiong Sea King.


    "Guidance?" Fang Xia appeared hesitant as he spoke, "I cannot make any promises. I must first consult Senior Wan Liu."


    "That is fair," Qiong Sea King and Niu Hao nodded in agreement.


    Without dy, Fang Xia dissipated into countless specks of light, his Soul Force departing from the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    After a long wait, a streak of light emerged from a personal hall and shot across the sky. Soon, he approached Qiong Sea King and Niu Hao.


    "Fellow Daoists," Fang Xia spoke with a measured tone. "Daoist Wan Liu has expressed his willingness to meet with Daoist Qiong Sea."


    To the dismay of Niu Hao, Fang Xia added, "There is no need for you to seek him, Daoist Niu Hao."


    A surge of joy spread across Qiong Sea King��s face. Meanwhile, Niu Hao couldn''t help but question this oue, his expression faltering, "Why can Daoist Qiong Sea meet him but not I?"


    Fang Xia let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Daoist Wan Liu is a body refiner," he exined. "What guidance could he offer to a qi refiner like you?"


    Niu Hao fell silent as he contemted Fang Xia''s words. While most Heavenly Rankers and Archdemons in the Middle Land focused on qi refining, it was not to say that they were oblivious to body refining. And indeed, there were those who cultivated this path.


    Qiong Sea King was a body refiner at the ninth-stage Communion phase. Yet, due to the scarcity of body refiners in the Middle Land, many simply ssified him as a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator.


    Curiosity sparked within Qiong Sea King as he turned to Fang Xia. "Is Senior Wan Liu also a practitioner of the body refining path?" His massive dragon tail began to sway from side to side, and he could barely contain his excitement.


    Heaven had finally taken pity on him. He had spent centuries in arduous cultivation blindly grasping at straws. The Dragon��s Lair Records had provided minimal assistance, leaving him to ovee countless hurdles on his own. After all these years, he finally had the chance to meet a senior from the same path! A single crumb of wisdom from a senior could save him decades of cultivation.

 Chapter 228: The Devils Lair In The Huang Continent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 228: The Devil''s Lair In The Huang Continent (2)</h4>


    With a resigned look, Niu Hao departed. Meanwhile, Qiong Sea King leaned over and whispered to Fang Xia. "Daoist Fang Xia, what are Senior Wan Liu''s preferences? What gifts should I bring? Are there any specific requirements I should be aware of?" His heart raced with anticipation and nervousness.


    "Hehe," Fang Xia chuckled, shaking his head. "Do you possess any treasures that someone like Daoist Wan Liu would find valuable?"


    Qiong Sea King suddenly remembered Senior Wan Liu��s stature. "You��re right. There��s no way my lowly treasures will interest him."


    "After the conclusion of the Middle Land conference,e to Cloudhill to meet Senior Wan Liu," Fang Xia proposed. "We can discuss the details in person then."


    "Very well," Qiong Sea King agreed with a nod.


    ...


    "Senior Wan Liu is a body refiner?" Emperor Dong Pan swiftly received this news through the Middle Land Immortal Hall. His expression remainedposed, revealing no hint of surprise. Soon, he learned another piece of information: Qiong Sea King was preparing to journey to Cloudhill, to seek guidance from Wan Liu.


    "Qiong Sea King is a body refiner at the ninth-stage Communion phase. Since Wan Liu is confident that he can offer guidance, could he truly be a Spiritual Body Superior?" Emperor Dong Pan silently marveled.


    In certain aspects, the Spiritual Body phase was even more fearsome than the Golden Core phase, because the Spiritual Body phase granted one a lifespan of 5000 years.


    ...


    There was an hour��s time between Wu Yuan��s departure from the Middle Land Immortal Hall and themencement of the Middle Land Conference. During this period, thetest news from the immortal hall began to spread outside.


    <i>In the depths of a forbidden cave, situated west of the Holy Capital of the Great Jin Empire.</i>


    "Father, the updates are as follows." Jin Ji spoke with reverence, rying the events of the day. "I suspect that the devastating Soulquake Art employed in the previous battle was executed by Wan Liu."


    "The strength of his soul and Soul Force are truly overwhelming, likely at the level of the Golden Core phase," the purple-robed illusory figure spoke slowly.


    Jin Ji''s heart trembled with shock. Could that man have truly reached the Golden Core phase?


    "But," the purple-robed figure said calmly, "If he truly were a Golden Core phase Superior, why didn��t he take direct action? With his power, conquering our Great Jin is a trivial matter."


    Jin Ji recounted Fang Xia''s words, "Wan Liu wishes to steer clear of any karmic entanglements."


    "Ha, karma?" The purple-robed sneered, a hint of disdain flickering in his eyes. "On the treacherous path of immortality, who can truly evade karma? Just resolve it all with power and be done with it. My guess is that this Wan Liu is a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with an astonishingly formidable soul, masquerading as a Golden Core cultivator to intimidate us."


    Jin Ji was taken aback, "Ninth-stage Qi Sea phase?"


    "The likelihood of him being a Golden Core cultivator is slim," the figure in purple robes spoke calmly. "However, with such immense Soul Force, his strength cannot be underestimated. He must be, at the very least, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, possibly even a qi refiner with a medium degree immortal root."


    Medium degree immortal root? Jin Ji gasped. Immortal roots were ssified into nine degrees, with the medium degrees epassing the fourth, fifth, and sixth degrees. It might sound unremarkable, but in actuality, a staggering 99% of Qi Sea cultivators were low degree cultivators.


    Throughout the Middle Land, the number of sixth-degree immortal root qi refiners could be counted on a single hand! As for the fifth-degree immortal root? They were nothing short of legends in the Middle Land.


    "While he may not be a Golden Core cultivator, our Great Jin will not have an easy time dealing with both him and that Fang Xia if we go to war," the purple-robed figure said coldly. "Carry on as usual and issue an order to cease all actions against Wu Yuan and his family. Unless the Cloudstride Sect initiates an assault, everything can wait until I emerge from seclusion." With that, the illusory figure dispersed into innumerable specks of light.


    "Farewell, Father," Jin Ji bowed. After a moment, he retrieved the hall jade from his pocket.


    ...


    Rows of mist-shrouded courtyard houses and majestic towersy within thebyrinth of deep canyons in the Ster Province of the Dong Continent.


    Deep within a tower stered with numerous images of stars ands, Liu Junxing spoke in a low voice, ��Wan Xing, what should we do?��


    "He may be a Golden Core cultivator," a frigid voice replied from the depths of the tower, "but as our Sta Consortium has reached a peace treaty with him, and he has not unleashed his might upon the world, it matters little whether he is one or not."


    "Convey my orders. Do not provoke the Cloudstride Sect. This era is fated to be theirs. We shall observe their rise and patiently await their eventual decline," the cold voice instructed.


    "As youmand.��


    ...


    The Huang Continent, situated at the southwestern extremity of the Middle Land, was an immense expanse ofnd, surpassing even the Holy Continent in size.


    Throughout the ages, thisnd had been characterized by towering mountains and thick miasma, as well as the countless demons that wreaked havoc, rendering it a harsh environment rivaled only by the Mo Continent.


    The human race faced a tough time surviving in the Huang Continent. Yet, for the past 2000 years, the human race had tenaciously multiplied, stubbornly taking root in the Huang Continent. Countless tribes thrived among the mountains, their numbers reaching tens of millions.


    All these diverse tribes and beings paid homage to the Huang Temple, the only martial arts sect in the Huang Continent, and one of the major powers of the world.


    A towering stone hall perched atop a colossal boulder. Untamed woods stretched from the stone hall in all directions, dotted with structures that housed bizarre creatures. On the Huang Continent, demons outnumbered humans.


    Within the stone hall, a gargantuan ck-scaled jiaolong was coiled up, emanating a powerful aura. This was none other than the renowned ck Jiao King of the Huang Continent, a creature that had lived for over 800 years.


    "Senior Jiao, is it true that Senior Wan Liu has reached the Spiritual Body phase?" A slender woman, dressed in crimson battle armor and a veil over her face, stood amidst two pirs. Her voice was cold but melodious, resonating with a siren-like quality that bewitched all who heard it.


    "Hall Master," ck Jiao King��s deep voice rumbled, "Qiong Sea King informed me that Senior Wan Liu has potentially reached the Spiritual Body phase. He intends to journey to Cloudhill in the Jiang Continent to meet this individual."


    The woman in crimson armor sank into contemtion.


    "Hall Master," ck Jiao King continued, "You are a peerless talent, entering the Heavenly Rankings before the age of 30 and establishing a fifth-degree immortal root. Only the ancient Martial King can rival your talent. However, you are still young, still only at the fifth-stage Qi Sea phase. We don��t have the luxury of time to wait for you to develop further."


    "News of Deity Huang��s death in the devil''sir cannot remain concealed for long," ck Jiao Kingmented.


    "Our Huang Temple has thrived thanks to the devil''sir. However, in recent centuries, the disturbances within the devil''sir have intensified. It is evident that the resurgence of spiritual qi is affecting not only our Middle Land but also causing the devil soil around the devil''sir to mature at an rming rate, giving birth to increasingly powerful devil soldiers. Our Huang Temple alone can no longer contain this threat! We must seek external assistance."


    "But the ancestral teachings!" the woman in crimson armor protested, her silver earrings tinkling as they swayed.


    "The ancestral teachings are meant to be adapted to our circumstances, not rigidly adhered to," ck Jiao King��s voice rumbled. "Hall Master, I understand your concerns. Once we unseal the devil''sir, it��s likely that we will never know peace again. Without a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, our current strength is inadequate to retain ownership over the devil��sir.."


    "But if we were to keep the news secret, then once the array falters, granting the devil soldiers passage to the surface, chaos will surely consume our world. When that happens, we would not only be sinners of the Huang Continent, but sinners of the Middle Land," ck Jiao King persuaded. "With Senior Wan Liu around, we may be able to avert this disaster entirely."


    "No!" A resolute glimmer shone with the woman��s eyes. "The temple is part of our ancestral heritage, entrusted to us by our ancestors. I cannot allow it to be destroyed under my rule."


    "I will make onest attempt."

 Chapter 229: Convincing Qiong Sea King (1)

    <h4>Chapter 229: Convincing Qiong Sea King (1)</h4>


    Within the jade chamber under Cloudhill, a hum filled the air. The three hall jades dimmed, returning to their original state. Seated in the lotus position, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and Fang Xia simultaneously opened their eyes.


    "Is it over?" Wu Yuan, standing nearby, asked with a smile.


    Bu Yu nodded. "Mm. After the Middle Land Conference concluded, the Wu Sect gave us some time to exchange insights before closing the Middle Land Immortal Hall once more. It will remain closed for the next six years."


    "Six years?" Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.


    "Bu Yu, Huan Jian," Fang Xia interjected. "Having borne witness to today''s proceedings, I believe both of youprehend the extent of Wu Yuan''s power."


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian nodded in unison, their gazes involuntarily drawn towards Wu Yuan. A clear glimmer of respect shone in their eyes.


    Previously, they had regarded Wu Yuan as a remarkably gifted individual. However, after stepping into the Unity level, Bu Yu regained her confidence. They both knew that Wu Yuan had reached Unity, but instinctively believed that there wasn��t a substantial gap between them, especially not in such a short span of time.


    Yet, their trip to the Middle Land Immortal Hall had served as a brutal reality check. One of them rankedst among the Heavenly Rankers and the other second tost. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan''s soul imprint ranking surpassed even that of Fang Xia. Bu Yu and Huan Jian understood the implications of this: Wu Yuan was destined to surpass them both.


    Fang Xia continued solemnly, "Remember, the top Heavenly Ranker is Wan Liu. Wu Yuan is merely Wan Liu''s direct disciple."


    "Understood," Huan Jian replied.


    "Senior Wan Liu is averse to meddling in worldly affairs, hence he seldom makes an appearance," Bu Yu added softly.


    Fang Xia nodded in satisfaction. "During this Middle Land Conference, the various factions were all shocked and awed by Wan Liu. Combined with thebat strength I have disyed, it will usher in an era of peace for the Cloudstride Sect. This is our opportunity. Bu Yu, Huan Jian, use this time to open your qi seas and be true Qi Sea cultivators.��


    Both of them nodded without hesitation.


    "Very well, you two may depart now," said Fang Xia.


    Without any dy, they left.


    After returning from the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Bu Yu and Huan Jian realized that Wu Yuan''s formidable soul allowed him to increase his strength at a rate far surpassing their own. There was a possibility that he could even surpass Fang Xia in the future.


    In the jade chamber, only Wu Yuan and Fang Xia remained.


    "Young Master, your soul..." Fang Xia shook his head, "It is extremely strong, unbelievably powerful! How far can your Soul Force reach now?"


    Soul Force?


    "It can extend about five li," Wu Yuan spoke softly.


    "No wonder! No wonder Emperor Dong Pan was so wary," Fang Xia eximed, "Five li? A typical Golden Core cultivator can reach just over ten li upon their initial breakthrough. Although there��s still a gap between you and them, your range has already far exceeds the vast majority of ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators!"


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. In truth, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force radius was not five li. It was eight li!


    The Middle Land Immortal Hall, being a voidrealm, had several limitations when measuring the range of one��s Soul Force. It could only provide a vague estimation, hence the result was that he was a suspected Golden Core cultivator.


    "Young Master," Fang Xia eximed, his voice filled with awe, "your soul talent defies allmon sense. It��s no wonder that the realm master has set you the goal of cultivating two paths simultaneously."


    Cultivate two paths simultaneously? Wu Yuan pondered silently. The realm master never made that his objective; it was his own insistence that drove him to attempt it.


    "Fang Xia, what was discussed at the Middle Land Conference?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    He had left the Middle Land Immortal Hall early not due to unforeseen circumstances or reluctance to join the conference. Rather, it was a deliberate choice to maintain his proud and aloof image as Wan Liu.


    "The discussions at the conference revolved around recent events in the Middle Land," Fang Xia said. "The unification of the Jiang Continent by our Cloudstride Sect was mentioned, as were the affairs in the South Ocean, Xin Continent, and the Arctic. Allow me to exin..."


    Wu Yuan listened intently. Intelligence, news, and general knowledge were vital, even if they did not directly enhance one''s power. Just as merchants could not earn wealth beyond their understanding, cultivators could not acquire an immortal treasure that surpassed theirprehension. For example, if he had not read the immortal slips which detailed the different grades and functions of voidrealms, how could Wu Yuan have established his lofty image in Emperor Dong Pan��s mind with just a few words?


    After a while, Fang Xia concluded his ount.


    "With no major issues at hand and peace treaties established with both Great Jin and the Sta Consortium, we can anticipate a period of tranquility, giving us the opportunity to focus on our cultivation," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "Indeed," Fang Xia chuckled, "Young Master, you need time to evolve into an eldritch warrior, while I must steadily umte mana and strive to reach the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase."


    "Old Fang, I eagerly await the day you achieve a breakthrough and be a Golden Core cultivator." Wu Yuan smiled.


    After one grasped the Domain stage, reaching the Golden Core phase became all the more certain.


    "It would require several decades of diligent mana umtion," Fang Xiamented, yet he had a smile on his face. Even if it took several decades, Qi Sea cultivators had a lifespan of 500 years. Breaking through to the Golden Core phase before 300 was already an impressive feat. Throughout the countless generations in the Middle Land, several hundred qi refiners emerged. Yet, not a single cultivator reached the Golden Core phase.


    "Young Master, one more thing puzzles me. Why did you agree to Qiong Sea King��s request?" Fang Xia asked. "We could have found a pretext to decline him, just as we did with Niu Hao. Your guise as Wan Liu can only be maintained within the Middle Land Immortal Hall. If you meet him face-to-face, our ruse will be easily exposed.��


    "Don��t worry, Old Fang, I have my ns," Wu Yuan replied with a grin, "Niu Hao is barely over 300, is he not?"


    "Mm," Fang Xia confirmed.


    "A qi refiner focuses on cultivating the mana within their Qi Sea, and their physical requirements are rtively lower," Wu Yuan spoke softly, "Even at the end of their lifespan, a qi refiner may still have hope for a breakthrough. That��s why the chances that I��ll be able to manipte him are low.��


    Fang Xia listened intently.


    "Body refiners are unlike qi refiners. They ce a greater emphasis on fortifying their physical bodies. Once Communion cultivators surpass the age of 600, their physique begins to deteriorate, and the possibility of a breakthrough dwindles. Once they exceed 900 years, all hope is lost!" Wu Yuan said.


    "ording to the intelligence procured from the Sta Consortium, Qiong Sea King has cultivated for over 700 years. Qiong Sea King is a naturally-born jiaolong, blessed with a lifespan of 300 years. He became an Archdemon before turning 50, but even after 700 years of cultivation, he has yet to reach the Spiritual Body phase," Wu Yuan shook his head, "Body refiners are inherently slower atprehending the Daopared to their qi refiner counterparts."


    The heavens were fair. Body refiners were granted long lives. For example, Spiritual Body cultivators had lifespans stretching for 5000 years, even longer than Amethyst Cradle cultivators. However, even with their extended lifespans, body refiners were bound by the constraints of heaven and earth. Their speed ofprehending the Dao paled inparison to that of qi refiners.


    "From my evaluation, the likelihood of Qiong Sea King achieving a breakthrough on his own is less than ten percent," Wu Yuan concluded. "So, don��t you think he will seize an opportunity for a breakthrough?"


    Fang Xia''s eyes sparked with understanding. Niu Hao still had ample time to discover a method to advance to the next cultivation phase, so he wasn��t desperate yet. If Wu Yuan were to propose exceedingly unfavorable conditions, Niu Hao would likely reject them outright. However, Qiong Sea King had no such luxury!


    "Young Master, do you have a way to aid Qiong Sea King?" Fang Xia inquired curiously.


    "Hahaha," Wu Yuan chuckled, not providing an answer.


    So far, Fang Xia had demonstrated unwavering loyalty and proved himself to be an outstanding bodyguard. Yet, Wu Yuan couldn''t forget how Fang Xia was coerced into swearing fealty through the Blood Gu Art after enduring over 100 years of imprisonment by the realm master.


    After everything Fang Xia went through, he was now the bodyguard of the realm master��s sessor. Resentment would surely brew within anyone��s heart if they were subject to such circumstances.


    It wasn''t that Wu Yuancked trust in Fang Xia. However, in the treacherous pursuit of immortality, where life and death hung by a thread, rationality told Wu Yuan to never ce absolute trust in anyone. No one!


    As Wan Liu, Wu Yuan had carefully crafted an image of a lofty figure in the eyes of the various factions in the Middle Land. And now, he was gradually establishing his authority as a young master in front of Fang Xia. He only hoped that in 50 years'' time, when this master-servant arrangement came to an end, they would treat each other as fellow Daoists and not foes.


    ...


    One dayter, an azure-scaled colossal jiaolong over 60 zhangs long rode the clouds towards Cloudhill. It was none other than Qiong Sea King.


    Soaring 1000 zhangs above the ground, hisrge draconic eyes surveyed the bustling human city below. <i>Such a prosperous human city, this must be Cloudhill City.</i>


    He was still several dozen li from Cloudhill City, but with his control over heaven and earth''s power and extraordinary hearing as a body refiner, he could extract a wealth of information from the mor below.


    <i>Hmm... it seems there are many wonders of the human race. s, I can��t go sightseeing. </i>Qiong Sea Kingmented inwardly, shaking his gargantuan head.


    After reaching the Communion phase, one could manipte the size of their body to some extent. But assuming a human form? It was impossible. Just as a Heavenly Ranker could employ Transfiguration to assume someone else''s appearance, they could not transform from a human into a pig.


    The art of Shapeshifting could only be learned during the Spiritual Body phase.


    <i>That must be Cloudhill. </i>Qiong Sea King gazed at the peak of the tall mountain around 100 li in the distance. It was adorned with countless structures and teeming with arge poption.


    In Qiong Sea King''s perception, the mountain peak was not exceptionally high. Yet, it was certainlyrge.


    <i>I forgot to ask Fang Xia how I��ll be meeting Senior Wan Liu. What should I do now? </i>Qiong Sea King might have lived for more than 700 years, but the majority of that time was spent cultivating in the depths of the South Ocean, and he rarely engaged with the human race. Thanks to ck Jiao King, he learned of the defense array around the Cloudstride Sect and avoided barging in recklessly.


    "Qiong Sea,e to the northern side of Cloudhill," a gentle voice resonated in Qiong Sea King''s mind.


    Senior Wan Liu? Qiong Sea King��s eyes lit up as he recognized the voice. It seemed gentler than it had been at the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    Without hesitation, the jiaolong whipped his tail and propelled its massive body forward to the northern side of Cloudhill. His presence was obscured amidst the clouds and fog, and heaven and earth''s power refracted the light around his body. Thus, not a single person from Cloudhill Province nor Cloudhill City knew that a colossal jiaolong was passing by overhead.

 Chapter 230: Convincing Qiong Sea King (2)

    <h4>Chapter 230: Convincing Qiong Sea King (2)</h4>


    To the south of Cloudhilly Cloudhill City, while its northern side was covered withrge stretches of verdant forest. Save for a scattering of human settlements and official routes, the region bore little trace of human activity. It was in this direction that Fang Xia had steered the battle with Great Jin, striving to minimize the toll of casualties.


    Guided by Wu Yuan, Qiong Sea King swiftly arrived at a designated location, twenty li north of Cloudhill, then slowly made his descent into the forest.


    ��Senior Wan Liu?�� Qiong Sea King��s massive eyes scanned his surroundings, searching in vain for Senior Wan Liu��s figure.


    In an instant, the air was filled with white fog, enveloping the area around Qiong Sea King. It was the Mind Confusion Array.


    "Senior Wan Liu?" Qiong Sea King''s eyes narrowed with suspicion as he released a low growl that reverberated through the forest. Though he did not often interact with humans, he was far from foolish.


    "This fog is merely to conceal your presence," Wu Yuan''s voice echoed mysteriously within the thick fog. "Qiong Sea, worry not."


    Suppressing his rising panic, Qiong Sea King spoke in a hushed voice, "Senior Wan Liu, why do you hide yourself?"


    "Whether you see me or not, does it affect the guidance I provide?" Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Qiong Sea King was taken aback. It was a valid point.


    "Senior, I humbly request your guidance on the path to the Spiritual Body phase," Qiong Sea King implored, bowing his enormous azure draconic head. His eyes burned with insatiable desire.


    "Qiong Sea, as a ninth-stage Communion cultivator, you should understand that vitality is the core criteria for a body refiner to transition to the Spiritual Body phase," Wu Yuan''s voice was calm, but with a hint of regret. "But your age is far too advanced."


    "I��ve never had a mentor," Qiong Sea Kingmented. "I have been navigating the path of cultivation alone. I beg for your understanding, Senior." In reality, Qiong Sea King possessed the Dragon''s Lair Records, but he was unwilling to reveal it at the moment.


    "At over 700 years old, a breakthrough is not impossible," Wu Yuan said. "There are three methods."


    "Three methods?" Qiong Sea King listened with bated breath.


    "The first relies on external objects," Wu Yuan slowly exined, "During my travels across the oceans, I''ve encountered many mystical treasures, like the Ninesong Rebirth Pill created through alchemy, and natural treasures like the Longevity Fruit and Millennium Snowjade Marrow. Once consumed, they can significantly restore your vitality. Your odds of breaking through will naturally increase greatly.��


    Qiong Sea King was left stunned.


    Ninesong Rebirth Pill? Longevity Fruit? What kind of treasures were these? He had never heard of them before.


    "Senior Wan Liu, I have never heard of these treasures. Where can I find them?" Qiong Sea King asked. If such treasures could be found in the Middle Land, surely it wouldn��t have been absent of Golden Core cultivators for thousands of years?


    "These treasures are all considered mythological items," Wu Yuan said, "The second method is reaching the Domain stage. Once you grasp a Domain, your body will naturally transform and advance to the next phase in time."


    "Domain?" Qiong Sea King was speechless. All qi refiners and body refiners knew this method and understood that once they grasped a Domain, they could reach a higher level. But how many could actually achieve this?


    "If the first two methods are not feasible, then only thest method remains �� the path of power," Wu Yuan said indifferently, "That is, to forcefully temper your body until it reaches the Spiritual Body stage! The mostmon way to practice this method is to find a suitable environment, consume medicinal treasures, endure the impact of the environment, and temper your body until it reaches the limit of your current phase.


    ��When your mana and body merge, and the soul chamber ispletely integrated into the flesh, you naturally forge your Spiritual Body," Wu Yuan exined.


    "That simple?" Qiong Sea King was taken aback. He had never thought of this method.


    "Simple? You are essentially putting yourself in a danger zone. Body refiners with fire attributes can practice within divine volcanos, but how many can endure it? Even with enough spirit herbs, treasures, and proper body tempering techniques, there��s still a high chance of death. And without a proper technique? It means certain death." Wu Yuan replied nonchntly.


    Qiong Sea King fell silent.


    Wasn''t this just stating the obvious? He had no body tempering techniques. If he did, why would hee all the way here to meet Wu Yuan?


    "Qiong Sea. I invited you here because I have the confidence to help you achieve a breakthrough. I possess a suitable water attribute body tempering technique." Wu Yuan said lightly.


    Numerous body tempering techniques were detailed in the eight immortal slips. This was the advantage of acquiring a powerful inheritance. In one shot, he could gain ess to resources that lone cultivators struggled to umte in a lifetime.


    "And as for the cultivation environment? The ocean is boundless. Surely it wouldn''t be too difficult for you to find a suitable one," Wu Yuan said in a cool voice.


    Qiong Sea King''s excitement grew.


    "However!" Wu Yuan continued. "Qiong Sea King, you must understand one thing. Teachings cannot be spread lightly, and techniques cannot be taught casually."


    Qiong Sea King immediately calmed himself. "Senior, please state your conditions. I will do everything in my power to fulfill them," he replied, bowing his head.


    "50 years!" Wu Yuan uttered.


    Qiong Sea King was taken aback. He asked in a lowered voice, "Senior, are you suggesting that I be your spirit beast? I, Qiong Sea King, refuse to be a servant." Most powerhouses had their pride and worked towards greater freedom. Constantly bowing their heads and submitting would only weaken their resolve on the path of cultivation.


    "Spirit Beast? No! Since my Whitewing died, I no longer had a desire for any spirit beasts. Furthermore, I have no intention of enving you. What I��m suggesting is a rtionship of equals. I hope that you can safeguard my disciple, Wu Yuan, for the next 50 years," the voice in the white fog spoke with indifference.


    "I n on departing from the Middle Land soon and embarking on a journey through vastnds and seas. It will not be suitable to bring him along. Normally, you may cultivate as you please. But in times of danger, I ask that you protect him. Qiong Sea King, if you agree, I will grant you various teachings, such as the body tempering technique," the voice within the fog said. "If you are unwilling, then feel free to leave."


    These words plunged Qiong Sea King into an internal dilemma. 50 years? Though he wouldn��t be an ordinary servant spirit beast, there might be some humiliation involved on his part. However, if he could obtain the corresponding teachings, once he reached the Spiritual Body phase, he would be able to enjoy thousands of years of freedom.


    No further sound came from the white fog, as if awaiting Qiong Sea King''s decision. After a long while, he finally spoke in a low and determined voice, "Senior Wan Liu, if your teachings are truly effective," he began, "I agree to your request and will protect Wu Yuan for the next 50 years." This was his final decision after weighing the gains and losses.


    "Then let us forge the Spirit Beast Contract," the voice in the white fog dered nonchntly. "Disciple, present the contract and the first part of the teachings to Daoist Qiong Sea."


    "Yes," a young voice responded.


    Qiong Sea King waited patiently.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>From the depths of the thick mist emerged a surprisingly young figure in ck robes. In his hands, he clutched a purple scroll and an immortal slip.


    "Senior Qiong Sea," Wu Yuan greeted, cupping his hands.


    "Are you Wu Yuan?" Qiong Sea King peered down at Wu Yuan. Though he was just a kid, the vigorous vital aura emanating from him was not insignificant.


    "You are nearly a body refiner?" Qiong Sea King asked in disbelief. "You haven''t even reached eighteen years of age."


    Before arriving in Cloudhill, he had diligently gathered information on the Cloudstride Sect. After all, know thyself, know thy enemy.


    "I had the guidance of my master," Wu Yuan responded, a faint smile gracing his lips.


    "Excellent. With your talent, your future is bright. It wouldn��t be an insult for me to protect someone of your caliber for a time," Qiong Sea King spoke solemnly. "Pass me the immortal slip so that I can examine it."


    Wu Yuan nodded and extended his hand, offering the slip with a casual wave.


    Qiong Sea King delicately held the immortal slip in his ws, swiftly absorbing its contents. A deluge of information flooded his mind.


    "Remarkable! What an amazing technique, I had no idea one could cultivate in this manner..." Qiong Sea King eximed with tion. Then, the flow of information abruptly ceased.


    This was only the first half of the method. Without the rest of it, it could not be cultivated.


    "What? Why does it end here?" Qiong Sea King''s anxiety grew, his yearning for the second half of the technique nearly driving him crazy. This was his greatest opportunity for a breakthrough.


    "Wu Yuan, let us seal the contract!" Qiong Sea King said without hesitation.


    "Very well," Wu Yuan replied with a subtle grin. Finally, the fish had taken the bait.


    With a flourish, Wu Yuan unfurled the glowing scroll in his hand. It floated towards the Qiong Sea King, who examined the writing on the scroll with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.


    "Swearing on the Eldritch Progenitor? A Blood Gu contract?" he eximed, his voice tinged with astonishment. "Senior Wan Liu is a legendary eldritch?" The Dragon''s Lair Records only mentioned fragments of information about eldritches.


    ��Mm.�� A cold voice echoed from the surrounding fog.


    "Wu Yuan, you are indeed worthy of being Senior Wan Liu''s disciple," Qiong Sea King rumbled, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "Perhaps in the future, you too may be an eldritch."


    Wu Yuan simply smiled in response.


    Qiong Sea King meticulously examined the contents of the scroll once more. "The oath and the contract are in order," he muttered. "Very well, Wu Yuan, let us proceed."


    And so, they began to recite the oath, swearing on the Eldritch Progenitor��s name. The moment thest word fell, a powerful and unseen force washed over Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King. It left just as quickly as it arrived, leaving Qiong Sea King feeling somewhat relieved. With that, the oath had been made.


    Now, it was time to confirm their agreement with the sealing of the Blood Gu contract. The contract was crafted by Fang Xia, who was naturally proficient in such skills as an eldritch mage. Its purpose was simr to that of a beast-taming ring, yet its effects were far more unique. It bound both master and spirit beast, making the rtionship akin to that of partners.


    As time slipped away, Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King dripped their blood onto the scroll, igniting a brilliant red light that filled the room. The scroll transformed into countless shining specks of light, merging into the bodies of Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King. In an instant, identical blood symbols appeared on the foreheads of both Wu Yuan and the Qiong Sea King, forming an imperceptible bond between the two. The blood symbols then retracted back into their respective bodies.


    "Qiong Sea." Wu Yuan smiled, looking at the massive jiaolong before him. He could feel both his and the jiaolong��s soul, and sensed the faint connection between them.


    "Master," Qiong Sea King looked at Wu Yuan in shock, his voice trembling with disbelief, "You...?"


    The bond between a spirit beast and its master, particrly one formed through a Blood Gu contract, had unique functions. They could sense each other''s whereabouts andmunicate with each other via their spirits.


    At this moment, Qiong Sea King was astonished to find that Wu Yuan''s soul strength surpassed his own by leaps and bounds. It was likeparing a firefly to the brilliance of the moon. Wu Yuan''s soul shone dozens of times brighter than his.


    "Your guess is correct," Wu Yuan responded with a faint smile, "I am Wan Liu."

 Chapter 231: Finally Becoming An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (1)

    <h4>Chapter 231: Finally Bing An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (1)</h4>


    "Master, aren��t you Wu Yuan? Aren��t you Senior Wan Liu��s disciple?" Qiong Sea King was dumbfounded by this revtion. He was first stunned by Wu Yuan��s soul, then left in a daze by what Wu Yuan said.


    "Daoist Qiong Sea," an amused voice echoed through the fog. Then, a figure flew out, gracefully touching down beside Wu Yuan.


    "Fang Xia?" Qiong Sea King stared intently at the neer, a hint of trepidation flickering in his eyes. Powerhouses were instinctively wary of those who matched their strength.


    "Daoist Qiong Sea, please rest assured," Fang Xia chuckled. "I serve the young master, and you are the young master��s spirit beast. From this day forward, we are equals."


    "Young master?" Qiong Sea King''s confusion deepened. He couldn��t understand thisplicated rtionship.


    "Old Fang, please exin everything to Qiong Sea," Wu Yuan smiled.


    With both parties having forged a Blood Gu contract, he could now trust Qiong Sea King. Even though the contract onlysted 50 years and maintained some semnce of an equal partnership, Wu Yuan still held the advantage in their rtionship.


    After all, the contract was written by Fang Xia. Naturally, as long as Wu Yuan did not exert undue pressure and kept to his promises, Qiong Sea King would willingly obey him. Such was the power of a Blood Gu contract!


    Furthermore, there were restraints imposed by the Eldritch Progenitor oath. The Eldritch Progenitormanded the authority of the natural order, akin to that of Heaven itself.


    Anyone who vited the oath sworn on the Eldritch Progenitor��s name would be met with the inexorable retribution of karma and destiny, meted by the Eldritch Progenitor who stood witness!


    A mischievous grin yed on Fang Xia��s lips. "Qiong Sea, Wu Yuan is the young master''s true identity. Whether it be Wan Liu at the immortal hall or the renowned Grandmaster Shadow de of the Central ins, they are mere disguises worn by the young master...The young master is blessed with unparalleled talent..."


    "I myself was once sealed in the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm, but a few short months ago, I was rescued and brought back into the realm of the living by none other than the young master. Within the depths of the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm lives a powerful eldritch deity. He spends his time in slumber, patiently awaiting the recovery of the spiritual qi." Fang Xia carefully concealed fragments of the truth while interweaving fabrications into the narrative. Eight parts truth, and two parts deception.


    "The young master is the chosen heir of the eldritch deity, destined to be the master of the eldritch realm! In time, the young master shall reign over the Middle Land, and one day, rule over Summerpeak World!" Fang Xia dered with zing passion.


    "As the first spirit beast under the young master''smand, so long as we dutifully aid the young master in theing centuries, your advancement to the Spiritual Body phase is hardly a concern. Even reaching the Shambh phase will be but a trifling feat!" Fang Xia painted a vivid picture of the young master''s future in Qiong Sea King��s mind.


    Qiong Sea King was left stupefied. He relied on his strength to reign over his vast demon kingdom in the South Ocean. Though the South Ocean stretched far and wide, how many Archdemons possessed intelligence? Even greater demons, whose strength wasparable to that of Grandmasters, possessed much lower intelligencepared to the average human. Within the demon kingdom, the prevailingw was the survival of the fittest.


    While Qiong Sea King''s thought process was indisputably swift, his wisdom and ability to spot deception were sorelycking whenpared to the human race. In simpler terms, he was somewhat naive. At this moment, Qiong Sea King found himself wholeheartedly believing Fang Xia''s words, convinced that Wu Yuan was an extraordinarily gifted prodigy, supported by a formidable eldritch deity.


    Of course, it was not solely due to Fang Xia''s powers of persuasion. The most influential factorsy in Wu Yuan''s young age, his powerful soul, and his extraordinary understanding of the world, all of which were sufficient to convince Qiong Sea King in both heart and mind.


    For Qiong Sea King, as long as Wu Yuan could fulfill his promises, that was all that mattered. The pact between them was now sealed. The stronger Wu Yuan grew, the greater the benefits that both he and his spirit beast would reap.


    "Qiong Sea pays his respects to Master," Qiong Sea King greeted with genuine sincerity, bowing his massive head toward Wu Yuan. This act symbolized true submission.


    "No need to be overly formal, Qiong Sea," Wu Yuan gently replied with a smile. "The contract we have forged is one of equals. For the next 50 years, you shall protect me, and I shall generously reward you. I will spare no effort to help you advance to the Spiritual Body phase."


    "After 50 years, should you desire freedom, the world will be yours to explore. But if you still wish to follow me, that can also be arranged," added Wu Yuan.


    When dealing with spirit beasts, there was no need for oppression or exploitation. Sometimes, forming friendships or even familial bonds increased the spirit beast��s protective nature over its master.


    "Thank you, Master," Qiong Sea King replied softly, finally releasing a sigh of relief. He could already sense the binding force of the pact and the weight of the oath.


    "Return that immortal slip to me,"manded Wu Yuan as he held up a different immortal slip in his hand. "Within this slip, you will find threeplete sets of techniques that are suitable for you. Memorize them and then return the slip to me."


    The teachings contained in Wu Yuan''s inherited memories were bound by the power of the Eldritch Progenitor and could not be shared. Even if someone searched his soul, they woulde up empty-handed.


    However, the information and teachings within the eight immortal slips could be shared with his subordinates, disciples, and pupils as needed. After all, the realm master��s goal was to continue the eldritch lineage in the Summerpeak World. If he couldn��t share any teachings, it defeated the purpose.


    "Understood," Qiong Sea King''s eyes brimmed with an intense yearning. He quickly received the immortal slips from Wu Yuan. In an instant, he assimted the knowledge contained within the slips.


    "Such incredible techniques actually exist in this world?" Qiong Sea King eximed, his excitement palpable. "The body tempering technique! To think that the soul chamber can be used tobine treasures with one��s flesh, yielding miraculous results. This Century meheart Liquid mentioned in these teachings, isn��t it a type of treasure nurtured within the depths of underwater volcanoes? Haha, even I know how to acquire it!"


    For centuries, Qiong Sea King had waited, his hope dwindling with each passing year. However, the teachings he obtained from Wu Yuan rekindled a spark of optimism.


    "Qiong Sea, what say you?" Wu Yuan asked with a warm smile as he tucked away the immortal slips. These immortal slips were able to store copious amounts of information, their contents erasable and rewritable. Wu Yuan only had eight immortal slips with him, hence he could not afford to waste them.


    "The debt of receiving Master��s teachings shall forever be engraved in Qiong Sea''s heart," Qiong Sea King expressed his gratitude with utmost respect,pletely won over by Wu Yuan. Though Wu Yuan''s strength paled inparison to his own, his knowledge surpassed Qiong Sea King by far.


    ...


    Surrounded by dense white fog, Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Qiong Sea King took some time to chat. Qiong Sea King had shortened his massive form to a mere ten meters, no longer drawing undue attention.


    "Only eight Heavenly Rankers reside in the South Ocean?" Wu Yuan and Fang Xia exchanged incredulous nces, their surprise evident. In terms of size, the South Ocean rivaled that of the entire Middle Land and teemed with countless lives. And yet, only eight Heavenly Rankers emerged from among them?


    "Indeed, barely a handful," Qiong Sea King shook his head. "I only know of four Archdemons, and the remaining four Heavenly Rankers are from the human race. Master, this is actually not too surprising. In the South Ocean, there are numerous beasts with the strength of greater demons. They number in the millions, or possibly even more. Despite my status, I cannot give an urate figure.��


    "Some ns, such as the Tiger Whales, Devil Sharks, Deep Sea Chapters, and others, are individually stronger than human Grandmasters in the water. However, theyck intelligence. Can they truly be categorized as demons?" Qiong Sea King questioned.


    Wu Yuan and Fang Xia nodded in agreement. Some massive beasts possessed power surpassing that of human Grandmasters, but it was a power borne of sheer size, not the refinement of their musculoskeletal systems.

 Chapter 232: Finally Becoming An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (2)

    <h4>Chapter 232: Finally Bing An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (2)</h4>


    "A demon, by its very nature, is intelligent. However, the level of intelligence relies heavily on luck," Qiong Sea King continued. "In terms of sheer numbers, the South Ocean far outstrips the Middle Land by tenfold, perhaps even a hundredfold. But the number of intelligent beings is far fewer."


    ��Take my demon nation for example. The number of greater demons is in the tens of thousands, yet most of them have terribly low intelligence. The task of teaching them the concept of their body��s limits, the meridian cirction system, and sensing the world to achieve Unity...is way too difficult!�� Qiong Sea Kingmented.


    "Among humans, for every few dozen Grandmasters, a Heavenly Ranker is born," Qiong Sea King mused, his voice carrying a touch of longing. "With the guidance of a senior Heavenly Ranker, the chances of more Heavenly Rankers arising increases. But for the oceanic demonic beasts? Among tens of thousands of greater demons, it is a rarity for a single Archdemon to emerge. Humans, blessed with their intelligence and the umtion of knowledge across generations, have a terrifyingly high probability of producing powerhouses."


    Wu Yuan and Fang Xia nodded subtly. Humans, while rtively weaker from a physical standpoint, had a huge advantage in intellect. On the other hand, the beast poption wasrge, but theycked intelligence and civilization heritage. The odds of a powerhouse emerging from their ranks remained dismally low.


    However, when an Archdemon did emerge, their immortal root was typically very strong. Qiong Sea King himself established a sixth-degree immortal root.


    "Qiong Sea King, your next task is to return to the South Ocean, look for treasures, and cultivate. But I have an additional task for you: seek out natural treasures.��


    ��Natural treasures?�� Qiong Sea King''s brow furrowed in confusion.


    Fang Xia chimed in from the side. ''Haha, Qiong Sea King, rally the demonic beasts and other Archdemons under yourmand to search for natural treasures. We need a substantial amount of natural treasures, particrly etherstone ores. In return, I will personally fashion aplete set of spirit battle armor for you.��


    ��Spirit battle armor?�� Qiong Sea King''s eyes widened with excitement.


    Most spirit battle armors found in immortal relics catered only to human qi refiners. There were scarcely any designed for Archdemons. This was primarily due to the fact that demonic beasts came in numerous shapes and sizes. For a behemoth like Qiong Sea King, ordinary spirit battle armor would not fit him. He required a customized, ultrarge set of battle armor.


    Throughout the Middle Land, there wasn��t a single qi refiner capable of such a feat, not even for the lowest ninth-grade spirit equipment. Thus over the years, Qiong Sea King fought all his battles without any equipment. Even so, he still managed to earn the title of King of the South Ocean!


    Fang Xia handed Qiong Sea King a detailed list of treasures.


    ��Fear not, leave it to me. The South Ocean mayck many things, but natural treasures are not among them,�� Qiong Sea King chuckled, carefully stowing the list away within his storage artifact.


    For someone like him, who was just one step away from the Spiritual Body phase, umting more natural treasures served no purpose. They would only sit around collecting dust. However, if they could be exchanged for a set of spirit battle armor? Hisbat prowess would soar to unimaginable heights!


    ��Qiong Sea King,�� Wu Yuan asked quietly, ��in the entirety of the Middle Land, who do you believe to be the strongest qi refiner?��


    ��Master, without a doubt, it��s Jin Quan,�� Qiong Sea King dered without hesitation. ��From my knowledge, he possesses the most powerful artifacts in the world, and is the only qi refiner with a sixth-degree immortal root.��


    "Sixth-degree immortal root?" Wu Yuan and Fang Xia exchanged a nce. Achieving such a feat in the Middle Land was truly remarkable.


    ��I have exchanged blows with Wan Xing, Deity Huang, Emperor Dong Pan, and Arctic King. In aquatic battles, none of them are my opponent.�� Qiong Sea King puffed his chest out with pride, ��However, when Jin Quan challenged me to a duel in the South Ocean some time back, I only had a slight advantage.


    Wu Yuan and Fang Xia both grew serious. Jin Quan was not going to be easy to deal with.


    When Great Jin deployed the Septet Ignis Array during the battle at Cloudhill, it had greatly shocked them. And after studying the array gs, Fang Xia concluded that if sevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators controlled the array, they would be able to go toe-to-toe with a Golden Core Superior.


    ...


    Soon, Qiong Sea King rode the clouds and departed from Cloudhill. The unease that once burdened his heart had transformed into confidence.


    Observing the jiaolong��s departure, Fang Xia couldn''t help but remark, ��Young Master, your methods are indeed effective. You actually managed to subdue Qiong Sea King. Under normal circumstances, only a Golden Core Superior would be able to tame such a demonic beast.��


    Strength was required to subdue demons.


    Even with the terrifying vitality of a qi refiner and the advantage of the Cloudhill arrays, Fang Xia was not confident that he could capture the jiaolong.


    ��That��s why I only made Qiong Sea King submit for a period of 50 years.�� Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    This duration aligned with Wu Yuan''s n and Fang Xia''s term as his bodyguard.


    <i>If I fail to reach the Spiritual Body phase within 50 years, I will have disappointed the realm master. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    For most body refiners, the notion of reaching the Spiritual Body phase in half a century was nothing short of a preposterous dream. However, Wu Yuan was determined to prove himself.


    "Do we direct our efforts towards subduing other Archdemons or qi refiners, Young Master?" Fang Xia inquired.


    "No need," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "Whether one is a qi refiner or body refiner, one can only have two contractual servants until they reach the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase. For now, Qiong Sea King will suffice."


    The term contractual servant didn��t only refer to spirit beasts, it included humans as well. Though Fang Xia was serving Wu Yuan, he was bound by the realm master''s Blood Gu contract.


    As for Wu Yuan himself, once he became a full-fledged eldritch warrior, the Teng Snake would upy one of his spirit beast slots. Consequently, only one slot remained for another spirit beast. Qiong Sea King, the strongest Archdemon in the Middle Land, was thus the obvious choice.


    "In the future, with you, me, Bu Yu and the others, and Qiong Sea King��s numerous demons from the South Ocean, we will be better positioned to eradicate the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin in a single decisive blow." Wu Yuan smiled at Fang Xia. ��If you or Qiong Sea King achieve a breakthrough, the annihtion of the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin will be a simple task."


    "Mm," Fang Xia chuckled. "Young Master is right. We need not rush, time is on our side."


    ...


    After the Middle Land Conference concluded, tranquility settled over thend. The once tumultuous shes between warring factions had ceased, reced by a delicate peace between the Cloudstride Sect and the Great Jin Empire.


    Yet, everyone knew that this break from conflict was temporary, as the highest echelons of Heavenly Rankers andmon soldiers alike knew that another war would inevitably ignite in the near future. For now, however, there was peace.


    In Cloudhill City, the heart of the Jiang Continent, a grand transformation began. Guided by Fang Xia��s vision, the Cloudstride Sect embarked on an unprecedented sect reform, taking steps to evolve into an immortal sect. It was an ambitious endeavor that reshaped Cloudhill itself.


    Majestic mountains sprouted around Cloudhill, forming a breathtakingndscape akin to a true immortal sect. Whether moving mountains or redirecting rivers, it was all doable with Fang Xia��s arcane arts.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan remained untouched by the events of the world. Other than spending time with his family asionally and contacting Qiong Sea King in the distant South Ocean, the rest of his days were dedicated to cultivation.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the year 3228 of the Eastern Martial calendar. April brought the early blossoms of spring, painting the world with vibrant colors.


    The Archeldritch Mountain was a mountain several hundred zhangs tall, crafted by Fang Xia specially for Wu Yuan. It was considerably smaller in staturepared to Cloudhill to the west. Numerous pavilions were constructed, dotting the mountain''s peak.


    As Fang Xia put it, "In the Greenridge Macrocosm, it''smon for headquarters ofrge immortal sects to span millions of li. This is nothing."


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan named the mountain Archeldritch Mountain, a reflection of his desire to be an Archeldritch in the future.


    About a hundred meters below the peak, arge meditation chamber was meticulously carved out. Standing outside the chamber, one had an unobstructed view of Cloudhill City. However, the peak was typically covered in a misty shroud, activated by nothing more than a thought from Wu Yuan.


    <i>My body has finally developed to maturity, two monthster than expected.</i> Wu Yuan stood in the meditation chamber, which was constructed entirely out of jade stone, and thick with spiritual qi.


    A small spirit-gathering array had been set up, linking the peak to a spirit vein deep within the earth. This setup gathered copious amounts of qi, ensuring continuous production of spiritual liquid. All of these resources were intended to aid Wu Yuan in his cultivation.


    The sheer quantity of etherstone and jade stone used to construct this meditation chamber cost an astronomical figure, far beyond the means of ordinary factions. These stones had been acquired through the efforts of Qiong Sea King, who had spent over two days procuring them from the South Ocean and delivering them here. This was a benefit of loyal subordinates. Wu Yuan could simply focus on his cultivation, leaving the logistics to others.


    <i>Today marks thepletion of my Strength Training.</i> Wu Yuan stripped off his clothing, standing on the pristine white etherstone with bare feet. A glimmer of anticipation danced in his eyes.


    <i>My single-arm punch strength now exceeds a million catties. Now, it is time to begin Viscera Cultivation!</i>

 Chapter 233: Finally Becoming An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (3)

    <h4>Chapter 233: Finally Bing An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (3)</h4>


    Without dy, Wu Yuan began practicing the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique, a method far more challenging than the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique. Though it was difficult, it allowed him to stimte his internal organs at a deep level.


    Soon, Wu Yuan found himself drenched in sweat.


    <i>Blood-red mist! Spiritual qi!</i> Wu Yuan cultivated diligently, absorbing the ambient spiritual qi around him. The effects of the blood-red mist had diminished since Wu Yuan''s one-armed punch broke through the 800,000 catties threshold, but he could still absorb it in small quantities. Thus, his reserves of the mist remained abundant.


    <i>Hum~</i> Wu Yuan''s physical constitution steadily improved. Repeatedly practicing the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique, he could sense his internal organs nearing their limits.


    Sitting down in the lotus position, he stopped absorbing the spiritual qi. Before him, a transparent crystal materialized out of thin air. The crystal, the size of a millstone, emitted an incredibly potent spiritual qi, hundreds or thousands of times more concentrated than what was produced by the spirit-gathering array. This was the Luminous Immortal Soil!


    <i>My body has been greatly stimted; this is an opportunity for growth. Whether I absorb the spiritual qi or spiritual liquid, it''s too slow.</i> Wu Yuan recalled the teachings of the Realm Master.


    To a cultivator, what was the most precious resource? Time! One should never take their lifespan for granted. Cultivation was an uphill battle. Even if one could live for 10,000 years, each day was still precious. Only by progressing rapidly could the summit be within reach. Employing the Luminous Immortal Soil would only save him a day or two, but it was still worthwhile.


    Guided by Wu Yuan''s formidable Soul Force, a substantial amount of pure energy contained within the Luminous Immortal Soil was assimted into his body. Wu Yuan''s physical form underwent a radical transformation, gobbling up the energy like a voracious beast. Muscles, bones, skin, membranes, flesh, and blood all experienced a continuous metamorphosis. It was an evolution taken to extremes!


    1.1 million catties! 1.2 million catties!...1.4 million catties!...1.8 million catties!


    Wu Yuan''s single-arm strength crept ever closer to his human limits, increasing by several tens of thousands of catties with each passing day.


    In terms of burst strength, Wu Yuan could now unleash a short-range punch with six million catties of force! It was enough to sweep through first and second-stage Qi Sea cultivators!


    Summer reached its zenith. Billowing clouds shrouded the peak of Archeldritch Mountain, obscuring it from view.


    <i>ck Pagoda! Visualization! </i>Wu Yuan sat cross-legged within the meditation chamber, his consciousness converging in on his upper dantian lobe as he Visualized the ck pagoda.


    Even now, he was not any closer to uncovering the mysteries behind the ck pagoda. However, the act of Visualizing the ck pagoda had propelled the growth of his soul, which advanced at an rming pace. His rate of progress showed no signs of slowing, but rather began to speed up. It was truly astonishing!


    <i>My Soul Force has reached a range of ten li.</i> Wu Yuan perceived the swift growth of his soul. It was due in part to the strengthening of his physical body reflecting on his soul��s development, but the main factor was still the Visualization of the ck pagoda.


    ...


    It was the onset of autumn. Just as dawn broke on the horizon, the hills were adorned in a tapestry of red and yellow, as if the very forests were dyed inyers of gold!


    <i>Atop Archeldritch Peak.</i>


    <i>The solidity of thend is the wellspring of all life, amodating all organisms.</i> Wu Yuan reclined against a colossal boulder, focusing on the vastness of the world and sensing the grandeur of thend, boundless and limitless.


    When Wu Yuan was not tempering his body, he spent most of his remaining timeprehending the Dao. Over the course of more than a year, streams of earthy-yellow light began to materialize around him. These were not actual qi currents, but the manifestation of the fusion of the profundity of thend and heaven and earth''s power!


    <i>The Domain stage appears to be within close reach.</i>


    When he first started, Wu Yuan was a little impatient, yet as he delved deeper into the profundity of thend, he became increasingly engrossed, unable to extricate himself. He truly found joy in lying down, quietly attuning himself to the profundity of thend. And with a tranquil state of mind, the cultivation of his body also elerated.


    ...


    <i>Early spring of yet another year.</i>


    Deep within a mountain range, approximately 200 li from Cloudhill, a region spanning nearly 100 li had been designated as a forbidden zone by the Cloudstride Sect, prohibiting entry from passers-by.


    Two figures floated high above the center of this mountain range. One was draped in regal purple robes, reminiscent of a nobledy, while the other wore ck robes. Both looked at the mountain range below them. Standing approximately 10 li apart on the mountain range were two figures. One wore ck battle armor, the other was garbed in earthy-yellow armor.


    "Who do you believe will emerge victorious this time?" Bu Yu asked softly.


    "It��s hard to say. Wu Yuan��s progress has been rmingly swift," Huan Jian mused. "Even with the strength of a third-stage Qi Sea cultivator, the ancestor may struggle to withstand his onught."


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian had both sessfully unlocked their Qi Seas.


    <i>Boom!</i> The earthy-yellow figure burst forth, crossing six li in the blink of an eye. The earth trembled beneath their feet, as the devastating shockwave carved a trench into the terrain, hurling rocks into disarray. Trees? They had long disappeared from this mountain range.


    <i>Boom! </i>The figure in ck armor responded by charging forth as well, covering several li in an instant. A chorus of golden radiance erupted around him.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> An army of gleaming, golden swords engulfed the sky. Then, they lunged toward the earthy-yellow figure.


    Like an apparition, the earthy yellow figure twisted and flickered, somehow managing to dodge the storm of golden light without losing any speed. In the blink of an eye, he had closed the distance with the ck-armored figure.


    An earthy yellow de ray shed, as heavy as a thousand mountains. It whistled several li across the sky, heading straight for the figure in ck armor. The ck-armored figure retreated swiftly. Engaging in closebat with a body refiner? That was a death wish.


    ��Hundred Swords.�� As the ck-armored figure retreated, he formed a hand seal. Countless streams of light converged into a single terrifying sword light, then flew towards the earthy-yellow figure. It was an artifact!


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> The flying sword artifact was agile and unpredictable, attacking the earthy-yellow figure from all angles. The earthy yellow figure blocked the attack with his battle saber, but the onught reduced his speed, and he couldn��t keep up with his opponent for a brief moment.


    "What a refined flying sword art!" Huan Jian marveled in a deep voice.


    "Telekinesis." Bu Yu said.


    They had already started practicing the Telekinesis Art, but their execution was far from Fang Xia��s level.


    "The battle saber in Wu Yuan''s hand is an eighth-grade spirit weapon newly forged by the ancestor. It��s far stronger than the Sunfury Saber," Huan Jian said in a low voice. "Moreover, Wu Yuan''s body technique has grown strongerpared to a month ago."


    "Mm," Bu Yu nodded slightly and sighed. "The rate of Wu Yuan''s progress is truly astonishing, he hasn''t even stepped into the Communion phase."


    Even the thought of it was enough to send goosebumps throughout their skin. He hadn''t even be a true transcendent, yet he was already this strong. Once he truly transcended mortality, what kind of transformation would his strength undergo?


    In the midst of the exchange between Bu Yu and Huan Jian, the oue of the battle below was determined.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> The flying sword artifact gradually lost its vigor after countless fierce collisions, its essentia depleted to thest drop. Meanwhile, the figure in earthy yellow didn��t look the slightest bit tired. Clutching his saber, he exuded an indomitable aura.


    Seizing the instant that the flying sword returned to its owner, the figure in earthy yellow sprang into action. With a mighty sh, a giant crevice several li long was shed open. The ck armored figure had no way to avoid the attack!


    Swiftly, he propelled himself into the air, narrowly evading the de ray. A chuckle escaped his lips as he conceded, "I admit defeat."

 Chapter 234: Finally Becoming An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (4)

    <h4>Chapter 234: Finally Bing An Eldritch Warrior, The Start Of Transcendence (4)</h4>


    The figure in earthy yellow halted, and then his helmet retracted to reveal Wu Yuan��s handsome and lean face. Sheathing his saber, he flew up to join Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and Fang Xia. Compared to a year ago, Wu Yuan��s aura was no longer outright intimidating. Instead, it was discreet and mature. Now, hemanded respect with his mere presence.


    "Wu Yuan, your progress is astonishing," Fang Xia praised. His armor retracted to reveal his face.


    He chuckled, "Even with third-stage Qi Sea mana, I couldn��t withstand your attack and was forced to take to the skies." During the battle, he had limited his strength to a third-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root.


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian were both astounded. Though both were considered elites among martial artists, their positions on the Heavenly Rankings were mediocre. They were able to unlock their Qi Seas with Fang Xia''s guidance, but only established eighth-degree immortal roots. In a direct confrontation with Wu Yuan, they were sure to lose. At most, they could rely on the flying ability of qi refiners to save their lives.


    It could be said that Wu Yuan''s strength had undergone a remarkable transformationpared to a year ago.


    However, Wu Yuan himself shook his head slightly, ��This is not enough. With this bit of power, I��m still at the bottom rungs of the Heavenly Rankings.��


    A third-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root was equivalent to a first-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a seventh-degree immortal root. Defeating one was hardly a noteworthy achievement. Additionally, a critical disadvantage of martial artists was their inability to fly. While Wu Yuan could technically fly, he had to rely on heaven and earth''s power, rendering his flight pitifully slow and suitable only as a supporting measure rather than for pursuit.


    ��Patience,�� Fang Xia encouraged. ��The stronger you are now, the stronger the immortal root you will establish. Once you break through, your strength will increase by leaps and bounds.��


    Fang Xia was hugely impressed by Wu Yuan��s progression, especially since the boy was only neen.


    The Middle Land continued to remain at peace. In what seemed like an instant, winter of the Eastern Martial calendar year 3229 had arrived, and Wu Yuan was now close to twenty.


    Wu Yuan did not deliberately control the array, allowing the snow to nket the peak of Archeldritch Mountain. Within the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan stood unclothed at its center, reveling in the surging, all-epassing power that flowed through his body.


    <i>After nearly two years of cultivating the Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique, my physical constitution has finally developed fully. A single-arm strength of 4.8 million catties. Is this the limit of my physical constitution?</i>


    The Grandmasters of the Middle Land could muster a force of just over 200,000 catties with a single arm. Wu Yuan was more than twenty times stronger than them. The disparity was ridiculous.


    With each punch, Wu Yuan could unleash a force of tens of millions of catties, enough to cause mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators to pale. But Wu Yuan understood that his extraordinary strength was the result of his second-degree eldritch tattoos and the mysterious blood-red mist.


    <i>Both shaped my nearly perfect physical constitution. </i>


    Reflecting on his inherited memories, Wu Yuan recalled that eldritch warriors with third-degree eldritch tattoos typically possessed a single arm strength of about 3 million catties before their breakthrough.


    <i>It��s time to break through to be an eldritch warrior. The Grandmasters of the Middle Land face numerous difficulties during their breakthroughs, whether due to their mediocre physical constitutions, inadequate skill, orck of soul strength. As for me</i>?


    In terms of soul strength, he was on par with Golden Core Superiors. In terms of skill level, he surpassed the majority of Qi Sea cultivators. In terms of physical constitution, he had reached his human limits. Bing an eldritch warrior was simply a natural progression for him.


    <i>Breakthrough secret art. </i>Wu Yuan began to recall the ��Archeldritch Divine Codex��, focusing on ''Communion Art,'' also known as the ''Hundred Veins Communion Art.''


    Wu Yuan''s consciousness converged on his fully developed lower dantian lobe, initiating the first step.


    <i>The meridian cirction system channels the spiritual qi, connecting to the 108 acupoints which are linked with the middle dantian lobe. </i>


    <i>However, by channeling vital qi within the meridian cirction system instead, one can converge the force to strike the lower dantian lobe! At its core, this Hundred Veins Communion Art revolves around the mobilization of the body''s vital qi, delivering precise strikes to the lower dantian lobe along the meridians. </i>Wu Yuan came to this realization.


    The cirction of vital qi was no easy task, beyond the capabilities of the average Grandmaster. Thus, to be an eldritch warrior, one had to possess a remarkably resilient physical constitution, capable of generating a single-arm punch force of no less than 600,000 catties.


    Exhaling deeply, Wu Yuan executed a sequence of movements, each one seamlessly flowing into the next, gradually linking all the meridians within his body. The potent vital qi in his body surged into action.


    Just as countless rivulets converged into a mighty river, and then merged into a boundless sea, strands of vital qi followed the intricate pathways of his small meridians, swiftly congregating into the auxiliary meridians. Finally, the torrent of vital qi surged into the main meridians, racing through the meridian cirction system at an astonishing velocity, crashing unyieldingly into the lower dantian lobe.


    <i>Soul, enter!</i> With a thought, his soul surged forth from the upper dantian lobe, colliding with the lower dantian lobe. Body refiners fused their soul and flesh!


    <i>Boom!</i> To Wu Yuan, it felt like he was experiencing the Big Bang, the birth of a new universe. The once tumultuous lower dantian lobe burst open.


    Wu Yuan''s mind quivered. Without a doubt, he knew that he had seeded. His vital qi, having flowed through the intricatework of meridians, flooded into the lower dantian lobe, swiftly coalescing into a colossal vortex. The lower dantian lobe expanded incessantly.


    <i>Hum~</i> Simultaneously, the eldritch tattoos, once dormant within his flesh and blood, began emitting a terrifying pressure, bathing Wu Yuan in a radiant glow.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Wu Yuan was like the center of a vortex. Boundless spiritual qi surged into his body, and he began to undergo a frenzied metamorphosis.


    ...


    <i>Hm? The spiritual qi is in chaos?</i> Fang Xia, who had been deep in meditation in the jade chamber opened his eyes. <i>Strange, it��sing from Archeldritch Mountain. </i>


    A slit formed on his forehead, then it peeled back to reveal an eye, which swiveled towards the Archeldritch Mountain. Arcane art: Spirit Eye!


    ��Ah!�� A sharp pain pierced Fang Xia��s mind, forcing him to shut his Spirit Eye.


    <i>Such formidable soul pressure. Could it be the young master? Has he achieved a breakthrough?</i> This was the only possibility he could think of.


    ...


    Meanwhile, within the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan voraciously devoured and absorbed the vast spiritual qi from the Luminous Immortal Soil. He concentrated the majority of his soul��s consciousness in his lower dantian, which had expanded to incredible proportions and was now known as his soul chamber.


    Intricate and cryptic patterns adorned the surfaces of the soul chamber. At its center, a miniature phantom that looked exactly like Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position, radiating immense pressure. It was the manifestation of his soul.


    A total of 108 illusory passageways were connected to the soul chamber, through which vital qi flowed. Strands of earthly-yellow energy orbited around the phantom, emitting a vigorous vitality. A substantial quantity of vital qi was constantly being converted into this earthy-yellow power within the soul chamber.


    <i>Vital ether!</i> Realization dawned on Wu Yuan.


    Qi refiners cultivated qi sea mana, known by various names such as essentia, demonflux, or devilflux. This power was a direct conversion of spiritual qi. On the other hand, body refiners cultivated vital ether, derived from the body��s vital qi. Eldritch warriors referred to it as eldritch ether.


    <i>Vital ether originates from one��s life force and is an inseparable part of the body. It has an array of wondrous applications, such as nourishing and fortifying the body.</i>


    Why did body refiners have such strong bodies? The answery in the assimtion of vital ether into the body.


    With a silentmand from Wu Yuan, the recently formed earthly-yellow vital ether surged forth from the soul chamber, coursing through the intricatework of meridians that spanned his entire body. The sensation was exhrating, as if Wu Yuan''s blood itself is reaching a boiling point. His already formidable physique underwent an unprecedented metamorphosis, an evolution of his bones, muscles, internal organs, skin, and blood.


    This was a leap in the order of life, an advancement that surpassed all of Wu Yuan''s past experiences. It was not merely a surge in muscr strength, but rather the endowment of every fiber of his being with a spiritual nature. The speed of physical recovery, the rate at which injuries healed��everything underwent earth-shattering changes. And now, he was truly granted the ability of flight. This was transcendence!


    Qi refiners soared through the skies and tunneled into the depths of the earth,municated with heaven and earth, and cast impressive arcane arts through essentia. On the contrary, once body refiners stepped on the path of transcendence, they found it difficult to establish a connection with heaven and earth. This was because their bodies already reached the extremities of strength. With absolute strength, one could shatter allws.


    <i>Eldritch body! This is what it means to be a real body refiner. </i>Wu Yuan could feel his body undergoing rapid transformation, his eyes aze with battle fervor. <i>It''s no wonder they say that once a cultivator with second-degree eldritch tattoos bes an eldritch warrior, they can rival the power of an ordinary eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator.</i>

 Chapter 235: Surge of Power (1)

    <h4>Chapter 235: Surge of Power (1)</h4>


    Endless flows of spiritual qi spewed out onto the mountain peak from the underground spiritual veins, and were then drawn into Wu Yuan''s body. The spiritual qi from the Luminous Immortal Soil was also devoured just as voraciously. With multiple sources of spiritual qi, his body underwent a swift metamorphosis, involuntarily exuding a dreadful aura akin to a ferocious beast.


    A full day passed before the torrent of spiritual qi finally subsided. Wu Yuan rose, his skin now as clear as jade, his muscles chiseled to perfection. The surface of his skin radiated a faint, earthy luminescence, the mark of the Terranean Eldritch Body.


    <i>At longst, sess. The first stage of the Communion phase!</i> Wu Yuan exhaled in relief. He sensed the wondrous nature of his soul chamber and the extraordinary characteristics of the earthy-yellow vital ether. It was worlds apart from his previous state.


    <i>Thank goodness for the Luminous Immortal Soil.</i> Wu Yuan clenched his fists, feeling boundless power coursing within him. It far surpassed anything he had experienced before. <i>Without it, cultivating a body as robust as mine would have taken an eternity. Who knows how long I would have to absorb spiritual qi?</i>


    <i>In the past, mybat power wasparable to that of a Heavenly Ranker, but at the end of the day, I was still mortal, unable to soar through the skies or tunnel beneath the earth''s surface, or live much longer than a Grandmaster.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes brimmed with a fiery determination. <i>By reaching the Communion phase, I��ve finally stepped on the path of transcending mortality.</i>


    One had to reach the Qi Sea and Communion phases before one could truly call themselves cultivators of the immortal path.


    Expelling a breath, Wu Yuan''s body levitated into the air without the support of heaven and earth''s power.


    <i>Most martial artists eventually be qi refiners, forsaking closebat in favor of cultivating mana and arcane arts. Those who go on to be body refiners are the ones who carry on the true legacy of martial artists. Even so, the transformations are equally incredible.</i> A soft smile tugged at Wu Yuan''s lips.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A green robe materialized and draped over Wu Yuan��s body. As the door to the meditation chamber mmed open, he darted out. Light and shadow distorted around as he flew upward into the vast expanse of ice and snow.


    <i>So this is flight.</i> Suspended 1000 zhangs above the ground, he felt that treading the air was as natural as stepping on the ground. This newfound ability was granted to him by his soul chamber. The vital ether merged with his flesh and blood, bestowing it with spirituality and allowing him to take flight at will.


    <i>Let��s test it out!</i> He dove forward, calcting his speed. <i>My burst speed is around four li per second, with a peak flight speed of 1.5 li per second.</i> This was taking into ount the slight boost from heaven and earth''s power.


    Naturally, he knew that the boost in speed provided by the spiritual qi was minimalpared to that of his body itself, since he was still at the Unity level of skill. Even so, he was seven times faster than the speed of sound. Many Heavenly Rankers who just unlocked their qi seas would hardly be able to reach such speed.


    <i>I am not an ordinary body refiner, but someone with second-degree eldritch tattoos, a powerful body, and potent eldritch ether, surpassing many mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. However, when ites to flight speed, I am slower than most cultivators in the Middle Land, let ale-stage Qi Sea cultivators.</i>


    Through his interactions with Fang Xia, he had learned thatte-stage Qi Sea cultivators could typically reach peak flight speeds of ten li per second. While the flight abilities of an eldritch warrior were decent, it fell short whenpared to their qi refiner counterparts. At the Communion phase, one could reach astonishing speeds onnd by relying on the strength of one��s physique.


    It was only in the Spiritual Body phase that a body refiner could trulypete with a qi refiner in terms of flight.


    <i>Still, my immortal root is strong enough. Once I reach the high-tier Communion phases, my flight speed should rival mostte-stage Qi Sea cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan felt calm.


    Body refiners and qi refiners each had their own set of strengths and weaknesses!


    <i>Now, I should assess my running speed onnd.</i> Coming to a decision, he flew toward the north.


    In just ten seconds, he found himself above a jagged, ravaged mountain range. Below himy the area where Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian frequently engaged in sparring matches to test theirbat prowess and hone their arcane arts. This was a forbidden zone sanctioned by the Cloudstride Sect.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan descended,nding deftly on the ground. It was time to start assessing his speed.


    <i>Boom! </i>Like a bolt of lightning, he left behind a trail of afterimages.


    <i>My instantaneous burst of speed is approximately nine li per second! In fact, my maximum speed exceeds eleven li per second.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    His running speed was more than double his flight speed.


    <i>Under normal circumstances, a Communion cultivator''s running speed is twice that of their flight speed. Yet my running speed is significantly faster thanks to my Terranean Body.</i>


    The profundity of thend belonged to the Earth Dao. Wu Yuan''s vital ether, or more precisely, his earth ether, naturally meant he had a strong affinity for earth, granting him swiftness on foot.


    Each cultivator focused on different attributes of ether or mana, thusing to possess their own unique strengths. For instance, wind-attribute individuals, like Jin Ji of the Great Jin Empire, might be weaker than Fang Xia in terms of raw power, but his flight speed far surpassed Fang Xia��s.


    Why was the Qiong Sea King invincible in the sea? Other than his strong immortal root, he was also a water attribute type. Thus, he naturally dominated all aquatic battles.


    <i>My punch strength. </i>Wu Yuannded on a distant hill. Then, he pushed off the ground, dashing down the hill like a meteor.


    <i>Boom!</i> Layers of faint, earthy-yellow light surrounded his figure.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>After dashing back and forth several times, the hill crumbled like fragile tofu, the resulting rockslide filling the air with dust and soil. A good third of the hill had toppled.


    Only then did Wu Yuan halt at the forest''s edge on the opposite side of the hill.


    <i>Base punch strength surpasses 15 million catties. With Threefold Power Surge, it can reach 50 million catties.</i>


    When converted to his previous life''s measurements, it was equivalent to an explosive force of 25,000 tons! However, such power was not unheard of. After all, Wu Yuan had witnessed intergctic warships weighing millions of tons, which were essentially weapons of mass destruction.


    However, what was a cultivator��s greatest weapon? Agility!


    <i>A cultivator can take flight through the skies or delve beneath the earth, capable ofunching assaults from any angle at any moment.</i> Wu Yuan was satisfied with his newfound strength. <i>This is true transcendence.</i>


    If Wu Yuan so desired, he could obliterate an entire city in the blink of an eye!


    <i>Nevertheless, when ites to destructive power, body refiners cannotpare to qi refiners.</i> Wu Yuan contemted inwardly.


    For instance, seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivators could produce explosive power in the tens of millions of catties just by unleashing their essentia. However, by harmonizing their essentia with heaven and earth, they could castrge-scale arcane arts!


    That sort of destructive power could not be described with mere catties. Naturally, mastering such arcane arts was no easy feat.


    <i>When pitted against an opponent in one-on-onebat, the speed and defense of a body refiner are truly astonishing. Therge-scale arcane arts of a qi refiner can hardly make a dent.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly. <i>They must rely on single-target arcane arts or instantaneous ones.</i>


    In a nutshell, when facing a qi refiner, a body refiner should not allow the opponent the chance to cast arcane arts or remain in one ce for long. Instead, one should unleash their maximum speed, striving for closebat and ending the fight swiftly!


    A body refiner in the Communion phase could unleash hundreds of millions of catties of raw power solely through the strength of their physical body. Their bodies were so resilient that they collided directly with spirit weapons. As for qi refiners? Their physical strength paled inparison, around 400,000 catties. Though terrifying to mortals, their fates were sealed if they were forced into closebat with a body refiner.


    <i>Qi refiners may possess feeble physical bodies, but they wield the power to reshape the world. </i>Wu Yuan observed the flow of earthy-yellow energy and sighed inwardly.


    <i>Body refiners, like myself, circte vital ether within our bodies, providing no enhancement to our power. I must cultivate an ether art. Only then can I harness the vital ether in battle.</i>


    A qi refiner''s essentia contained immense power, enabling them to unleash various arcane arts capable of reshaping the world. But for a body refiner, their true powery in their physical body. The foundation of theirbat powery in their enduring and unyielding body. Vital ether had several interesting uses. Firstly, for rapid healing of bodily injuries. Secondly, the cultivation of ether arts!


    <i>Ether arts are what allow body refiners to dominate countless worlds, challenge heaven and earth, and earn them the title of war deities.</i> Wu Yuan recalled the information from his inheritance memories.


    A body refiner that had yet to master ether arts was still considerably strong. However, when confronted with a qi refiner capable of creating puppets, constructing arrays, casting arcane arts, and controlling a multitude of artifacts, the odds of victory shrank drastically.


    But once a body refiner cultivated an ether art, their strength experienced a dramatic surge, giving them the confidence to challenge a qi refiner. ording to legends, a body refiner''s body could grow to billions of li, and they could obliterate a world with a single strike. Or with an undying body, one could stand unscathed as numerous qi refiners bombarded them with arcane arts��all thanks to ether arts!


    <i>Ether arts stem from vital ether, originating from the soul chamber, and are ultimately executed by the body.</i> Wu Yuan contemted. <i>Should I cultivate body technique ether arts, not only will my running speed reach unprecedented levels, but even my flying speed may rival that of my qi refiner counterparts. Unfortunately, my first ether art has to be Eldritch Form.</i>


    Unlike arcane arts which came in a myriad of entric types, ether arts originated from the body and were manifested through thebination of eldritch tattoos and the body, resulting in rtively fixed categories. For instance, the function of eyes was to observe the outside world, hence cultivating detection type ether arts inevitably led to the cultivation of Double Eyes. One could only cultivate one ether art for their eyes.


    Simrly, human body refiners often utilized their arms to attack and typically cultivated an outburst type ether art to enhance their offensive power. However, each person possessed only a single pair of arms, limiting them to cultivating only one ether art for their arms.


    <i>The cultivation of ether arts also originates from the vital ether within the soul chamber. But for someone in the initial Communion stage who just stepped onto the path of transcendence, neither the body nor the soul chamber possesses sufficient strength. The vital ether within the soul chamber can only support one ether art.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.


    Thus, the first ether art one chose to cultivate was crucial. Many body refiners without an inheritance might fail toprehend this, but for Wu Yuan, he had already devised a n through his inheritance memories prior to his breakthrough.


    <i>Basic ether art, Eldritch Form! This is the first ether art I will cultivate, aprehensive ether art that nurtures the Soul Chamber and strengthens one��s burst attacks. </i>


    The soul chamber, also known as the lower dantian lobe, could also be supported with one ether art. Typically, one would cultivate a burst type ether art that enhanced a body refiner''sbat prowess in all aspects, including speed, strength, and bodily defense. Eldritch Form was one such burst type ether art.


    <i>If I had first-degree eldritch tattoos, I could cultivate the advanced ether art Deity Form.</i>


    From least to most powerful, ether arts were categorized into basic, advanced, and grand tiers. Wu Yuan��s inherited memories contained dozens of ether arts from each tier. Unfortunately, the strength of an ether art was directly proportional to the demands it ced on one''s soul chamber and body.


    Only a first-degree eldritch tattoo bearer could cultivate a grand ether art as their first ether art upon reaching the Communion phase. For those with ninth-degree to second-degree eldritch tattoos, they had to pick from the basic ether arts.


    <i>Nevertheless, ordinary ether arts should suffice. Qiong Sea King and ck Jiao Kingck inheritances and have yet to cultivate any ether arts, yet they have still reached the apex of the Middle Land.</i>


    <i>Once I enter the Spiritual Body phase, I will be able to cultivate an advanced ether art.</i> He recalled the details of Eldritch Form. <i>Among the many basic ether arts, Eldritch Form is among the strongest. In the future, it will be a seamless transition to the advanced ether art Deity Form. ording to the nid out in my inherited memories, my lifebound eldritch beast, the Teng Snake,bined with eldritch battle armor, and my cultivation of the ether art Eldritch Form, forms the idealbination for a Communion phase eldritch warrior.</i>

 Chapter 236: Surge of Power (2)

    <h4>Chapter 236: Surge of Power (2)</h4>


    As Wu Yuan returned to Archeldritch Mountain from the sect��s forbidden zone, he saw a white-robed figure awaiting him. Spotting Wu Yuan, the figure immediately came forward to wee him.


    "Old Fang," greeted Wu Yuan with a smile.


    "Young Master, you��ve made a breakthrough?" asked Fang Xia, his expression a mixture of surprise and joy as he sensed the powerful vital aura bursting from Wu Yuan without any restraint. After the breakthrough, Wu Yuan��s body underwent a profound metamorphosis, hence he had yet to fully control his newfound strength.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Haha, splendid!" Fang Xia chuckled, "With your breakthrough, I can finally rx. From what I can perceive, I believe you can easily overpower numerous Heavenly Rankers with your current strength."


    "If Wu Jianzhong were here, I could kill him effortlessly now," Wu Yuan stated calmly.


    Wu Jianzhong was a fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivator whocked any powerful artifacts. It would take Wu Yuan a single exchange of blows to kill him. As for stronger adversaries? For Wu Yuan who had only just broken through, the prospects seemed unfavorable.


    "Haha," Fang Xiaughed, "Though you are only at the first stage of the Communion phase, you already possess such formidable power. With time, you will undoubtedly be able to match ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator."


    "Cultivators from the Middle Land are all weak," Wu Yuan shook his head, "Theyck inheritances."


    An inheritance made a world of difference.


    It was only after Wu Yuanmunicated with Qiong Sea King via spiritual telepathy that he realized how pitifully weak the jiaolong��s lifebound divine beast was, even after Qiong Sea King had spent hundreds of years raising it. And as for ether arts? It was nonexistent!


    The same applied to qi refiners like Fang Xia, who, despite cultivating for a little over two centuries, excelled in various disciplines, surpassing thete-stage Qi Sea cultivators of the Middle Land in artifact forging, pill refining, and array crafting.


    Was it due to hisprehension abilities? No! Even at 60 years old, Fang Xia had yet to enter the Heavenly Rankings. His natural aptitude forprehension was weakerpared to Jin Quan, Wan Xing, Niu Hao, and Arctic King at the outset. However, guided by the realm master and inheriting the Eldritch Codex, he naturally underwent huge improvements.


    Now, as long as Fang Xia cultivated regrly, he would almost certainly reach the Golden Core phase! This was the power of inheriting knowledge.


    "Young Master, you have just reached the first-stage Communion phase. At the beginning of this phase, your progress is bound to be rapid. With your exceptional talent, I dare say you will reach the fourth stage in no more than a decade," Fang Xia dered with a serious tone. "Once that milestone is reached, we will have a fighting chance against Great Jin in the impending conflict."


    A decade? Wu Yuan couldn''t help but chuckle, "Old Fang, I��ve only justpleted the breakthrough. I must continue to cultivate my ether and ether arts. Let��s discuss this matter once my power is stabilized.


    "Very well, Young Master��s cultivation should indeed take precedence," Fang Xia nodded. In the end, his primary concern was for Wu Yuan''s safety.


    He returned to the meditation chamber alone.


    <i>Array, shield! </i>Wu Yuanmanded silently. A ripple of invisible waves cascaded out as the array activated, enshrouding Archeldritch Mountain in an imprable veil.


    On most days, Archeldritch Mountain was devoid of humans. And now, with the power of Wu Yuan''s soul and Soul Force, he could immediately tell if Fang Xia dared to pry into his affairs. It wasn''t that he doubted Fang Xia''s loyalty. It was simply that Wu Yuan refused to ce absolute trust in anyone other than himself.


    With a flip of his hand, the ethereal and translucent Luminous Immortal Soil gleamed in his palm. Next to it floated a palm-sized egg that brimmed with a powerful aura. It was the Teng Snake egg.


    <i>Lifebound eldritch beasts must be cultivated during the Communion phase. The selected eldritch beast mustplete the lifebinding contract with its master while newly born or before birth.</i> Wu Yuan gently cradled the Teng Snake egg in his hand.


    Amongst the pantheon of divine beasts, the Teng Snake bloodline was extremely strong, but not the strongest. From his inherited memories, Wu Yuan knew that the beasts who truly stood at the pinnacle included the True Dragon, Divine Phoenix, Golden Crow, Qilin, World Ringworm, Cosmic Beast, and Chronos Wood among others.


    <i>But how can I, a first-stage Communion cultivator, hope to encounter the young of a pinnacle-tier divine beast?</i>


    Forget the Summerpeak World. Even in vast macrocosms, such pinnacle divine beasts could rarely be found. The Teng Snake was Wu Yuan''s best choice.


    <i>Moreover, selecting the Teng Snake as my lifebound eldritch beast presents three distinct advantages.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly. <i>Firstly, the Teng Snake��s strength is in flight,pensating for my disadvantage.</i>


    One��s choice of lifebound eldritch beast was extremely important. Take for instance Qiong Sea King''s lifebound eldritch beast, a great turtle. As its abilities were weaker than that of the Qiong Sea King, it was not too useful to him.


    <i>Secondly, this Teng Snake egg is still unhatched. As long as I nurture it diligently and forge a strong bond between us, it is entirely possible to reach the point of innately sharing feelings and Daoprehension.</i>


    <i>Thirdly, the Teng Snake Progenitor still lives. Should I have the fortune of bing an Archeldritch, I have a real chance of meeting the Eldritch Progenitor and seeking guidance for my lifebound eldritch beast.</i>


    While some divine beasts had strong bloodlines, their progenitors had long passed away.


    Of course, the day he became an Archeldritch was still distant. However, the mere prospect of the first two benefits filled Wu Yuan with eager anticipation for the arrival of his lifebound eldritch beast.


    As Wu Yuan gently ced his hand on the snake egg, ether surged from his soul chamber to his palm, then into the egg.


    <i>Lifebound eldritch beast!</i> Wu Yuan''s soul chamber radiated with a resplendent glow, its cryptic symbols rippling.


    <i>Boom! </i>The Teng Snake egg which had been sealed in dormancy suddenly stirred, releasing fearsome waves of aura. If Wu Yuan had yet to break through, this aura would have caused him to pale. But now, he was barely able to withstand it.


    <i>Hold fast.</i> Wu Yuan gritted his teeth in determination. The vital ether from his soul chamber poured ceaselessly into the Teng Snake egg. Simultaneously, vital qi was converted to vital ether in his soul chamber.


    <i>This isn��t a Teng Snake, it��s a glutton! </i>Wu Yuan clenched his teeth, fighting to maintain the flow of vital ether as his face turned pale.


    After a long time, the Teng Snake egg��s aura slowly receded, revealing a cryptic symbol on its outer shell. On Wu Yuan''s chest, a cryptic symbol also surfaced. It was the lifebinding contract. A mere momentter, Wu Yuan could feel a faint link forming between himself and the Teng Snake egg, as if he could sense the delicate existence of life taking shape within it.


    With a swift motion, Wu Yuan tore open his shirt, revealing his glowing chest. After the lifebinding contract waspleted, the Teng Snake egg and Luminous Immortal Soil both entered his body. The symbol on his chest gradually faded.


    Within his soul chamber, Wu Yuan now sensed the Teng Snake egg and the Luminous Immortal Soil slowly orbiting around Wu Yuan��s soul phantom.


    The soul chamber was a microcosm that possessed storage capabilities far surpassing the qi sea of a qi refiner. Truly powerful body refiners did not need any external storage artifacts; their soul chamber would gradually evolve into a grotto-heaven, perhaps even a full-fledged world.


    <i>Hum~</i> A small stream of earthy-yellow vital ether flowed steadily into the Teng Snake egg. Concurrently, the spiritual qi emitted by the Luminous Immortal Soil was promptly absorbed by the illusory channels within the soul chamber, and then converted into vital qi.


    <i>I am truly fortunate to have established a second-degree eldritch root and have this mystical Luminous Immortal Soil to cultivate my vital ether. Otherwise, as a first-stage Communion cultivator, it is uncertain how long it would take to incubate the Teng Snake.</i> Even if those whocked strength, established weak immortal roots, or were deprived of an optimal cultivation environment were given a divine beast cub, the process of nurturing it into a lifebound eldritch beast would span countless years, and would also hinder their cultivation progress.


    <i>If not for the Teng Snake, I might have reached the third-stage Communion phase in merely a year or two with the aid of the Luminous Immortal Soil. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>With the Teng Snake, it will take far longer.</i>


    A lifebound eldritch beast consumed its master��s vital ether in order to grow.


    <i>It seems that my cultivation ns will be dyed. But once the Teng Snake hatches, all these sacrifices will be worth it. </i>Wu Yuan eagerly anticipated that day.

 Chapter 237: Surge of Power (3)

    <h4>Chapter 237: Surge of Power (3)</h4>


    <i>After bing an eldritch warrior, the strength of my soul has grown exponentially. But as I cultivate vital ether and expand my soul chamber, most of my soul��s power is taken up by the soul chamber.</i> Wu Yuan finally grasped the difficulty of cultivating two paths simultaneously.


    The soul was intangible. When a cultivator perceived the outside world, they converged their soul power. For body refiners, a significant portion of the soul''s power remained concentrated within the soul chamber, a smaller fraction resided within the upper dantian lobe, and only a tiny amount merged into the flesh.


    The fusion of soul and flesh granted immense physical strength to a body refiner and granted one strong recovery abilities.


    To cultivate the soul chamber, a majority of the soul''s power had to be dedicated to expanding it. The stronger the soul chamber, the further it nurtured the soul, thus amplifying its strength. However, this also necessitated a stronger soul to sustain it.


    <i>Eventually, a body refiner''s soulpletely integrates into the soul chamber, forsaking the middle and upper dantian lobes. In contrast, a qi refiner follows the opposite path, continually merging their soul��s power into the qi sea, strengthening it, and ultimately abandoning the lower and upper dantian lobes.</i>


    Only through the unification of soul and qi did a qi refiner��s essentia attain an unparalleled spirituality. These two paths were diametrically opposed, yet both demanded the continuous integration of a cultivator''s soul.


    <i>Even though I Visualize the ck pagoda consistently, there��s a limit to the daily growth of my soul. How long can the ck pagoda support me? Will theree a time when my soul stops developing? </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brow


    <i>Furthermore, this is just the beginning. The further I progress, the greater the disparities between these two paths. The cultivation of ether arts, arcane arts, vital ether, essentia, mana, etc. all demand a significant amount of time.</i>


    He finally understood the realm master��s advice to stick to one path. By trying to bnce two endeavors, both would end up hindered by their mutual influence. Perhaps by cultivating each path independently until he reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase and ninth-stage Communion phase, he could defeat a Golden Core Superior despite being one phase lower. However, if he stuck to a single path, he might end up reaching the Spiritual Body phase far earlier. Most practitioners could ill afford to spend part of their lifespans on another cultivation path.


    <i>Eldritch universal cultivation must exist for a purpose. If this path is avable to me, I should naturally walk it.</i> Wu Yuan resolved himself. This decision was not born of recklessness but rather a note from his inherited memories. Though this path was arduous, the rewards it granted in thetter stages were equally bountiful.


    <i>But I can��t embark on the path of the eldritch mage at the moment. I have just entered the Communion phase, and my soul power is insufficient.</i> He furrowed his brow slightly. <i>Moreover, I don��t possess any good materials for root establishment. Even if I forcefully unlock my qi sea, a sixth-degree immortal root is the best I can hope for.</i>


    A sixth-degree immortal root seemed decent, but it offered little help to Wu Yuan.


    <i>I must wait until I am certain of achieving a fourth-degree immortal root before opening my qi sea. As long as I have yet to breach the Spiritual Body phase, there��s no hurry.</i>


    Once he reached the Spiritual Body phase, his body and soul would fully meld into one, and the opportunity to unlock his qi sea would be lost.


    ...


    The news that Wu Yuan had be the Middle Land''s first eldritch warrior was only known by Fang Xia. The Middle Land remained peaceful throughout this period.


    Apart from his daily eldritch ether practice, Wu Yuan spent his time cultivating the Eldritch Form ether art andprehending the world. His power grew steadily each day.


    ...


    <i>The eldritch battle armor has finally awakened fully. </i>Standing in mid-air, Wu Yuan��s body waspletely covered in eldritch battle armor. His body glowed with earthy-yellow light, akin to a war deity.


    <i>Previously, before I became an eldritch warrior, I was only able to im partial ownership over the eldritch armor. Though a fourth-grade spirit armor, its defensive capabilities did not surpass that of typical eighth or seventh-grade spirit armor. That was because it was partially sealed, and yet to be fully awakened! Only vital ether can activate its dormant power. It is an artifact tailored to body refiners. </i>Wu Yuan could feel immense power coursing through the eldritch armor.


    Once qi refiners ascended to the pinnacle of their cultivation path, they could wield countless artifacts with their boundless essentia. Meanwhile, body refiners tended to wield only two or three artifacts, though each one held paramount significance.


    The seasons shifted, and the arrival of the year 3231 was marked by the ephemeral dance of spring. Wu Yuan, now 21 years of age, had already been an eldritch warrior for over a year.


    Within the forbidden zone of the Cloudstride Sect, the once thriving mountain range was now ttened, transforming into deste ins. Sandy expanses stretched as far as the eye could see, ravines and gullies etching a chaotic pattern across thend.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>A torrential downpour of golden swords cascaded from the heavens, akin to a mighty river of swords hurtling towards the earthy-yellow figure below.


    "Be careful, Young Master!" Fang Xia''s voice rang out.


    "Haha, good move!" Wu Yuan bellowed, his saber firmly gripped in one hand. Standing in mid-air and encased in battle armor, he calmly observed the oing deluge of des.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan��s figure shed. At the same time, he grew from less than two meters to three zhangs tall, transforming into a towering war deity. Ether art: Eldritch Form!


    A supersonic boom apanied his earthy yellow form as he sprinted forward with boosted speed. A magnificent trail of de rays sliced across the sky like a dazzling river.


    shes of steel resonated through the air. The golden river of swords stood no chance against the earthy-yellow war deity''s unstoppable charge, spiraling out of control as their aura dissipated. The earthy-yellow figure pressed on, closing in on the ck-armored figure.


    <i>Flee!</i> Fang Xia''s expression shifted as the pressure of the war deity��s aura bore down on him. Heunched countless flying sword artifacts in desperation, yet they proved futile against the earthy-yellow deity''s relentless advance. Several sessive charges brought him within just three li of Fang Xia.


    <i>Stabilize!</i> With a mentalmand from Fang Xia, golden qi currents swirled around him in a three-li radius. The fusion of the qi currents and flying swords amplified the power of the sword lights to a staggering degree.


    For a moment, it seemed as though Wu Yuan was mired in a treacherous quagmire, his speed diminishing rapidly as he struggled to approach Fang Xia. However, the golden sword lights, despite their impressive disy, merely tickled the surface of Wu Yuan''s battle armor. It could hardly stop him.


    "Old Fang, that��s foul y!" Wu Yuan called out with some annoyance. "You agreed to limit yourself to the base mana of a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator and not activate your Domain."


    "Young Master, your ether art outburst was far too terrifying," Fang Xia shook his head in disbelief. "You covered a distance of three li in an instant. Even if I were to unleash my full mana, I wouldn''t be at ease without resorting to my Domain."


    It was akin to the rumble of a massive truck, automatically sending shivers down one''s spine even if they knew it was unlikely to hit them. The pressure Wu Yuan was exerting far exceeded that of a truck. A single punch from Wu Yuan could shatter a mountain. There was no way Fang Xia would allow him to get close.


    Soon, Wu Yuan''s eldritch form dissipated and Fang Xia retracted his Domain. Bu Yu and Huan Jian were not invited to spectate this sparring match.


    Fang Xia expelled a long breath. "Young Master, your progress is truly earth-shattering," he shook his head in admiration. "If I were to engage in closebat without utilizing my Domain, I would have no confidence in holding you off."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile. A body refiner was a warrior at heart, and now that he had cultivated an ether art and advanced to the second-stage Communion phase, his strength was significantly greater than when he first broke through.


    "Ether arts are immensely powerful, but a body refiner''s ether is limited," Wu Yuan chuckled. "Once the ether is depleted, it bes impossible to unleash ether arts with the same level of explosive strength."


    "That��s one way of putting it. But at least, during the activation of the ether art, it is incredibly challenging for a qi refiner of the equivalent phase to withstand the onught of a body refiner," Fang Xia sighed. "When I fought against the Qiong Sea King, who was also at the ninth-stage Communion phase, the pressure I felt from him wasn''t much stronger than yours, Young Master."


    "Qiong Sea King has yet to master any ether arts," Wu Yuanughed.


    Though he was just a second-stage Communion cultivator, Wu Yuan had a powerful immortal root. Qiong Sea King��s immortal root was weaker than his by three degrees. Once he unleashed an ether art, the power gap shrunk even further.


    "Young Master, with this ether art at your disposal, you��ll be able to contend with any ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator in the Middle Land," Fang Xia chuckled, hisughter echoing through the air. "Even if your ether is depleted, your strong defenses and ground speed would make it improbable for anyone to kill you."


    "That is still far from enough," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head. "If we are to topple Great Jin, we need even greater strength. But there��s no need to worry, that day will soon arrive." After over a year of nurturing the Teng Snake, it was on the verge of hatching.


    ...


    Years of peace had allowed the Cloudstride Sect to solidify their dominion over the Jiang Continent. The Cloudstride Sect��s status had gradually risen to the same rank as the Wu Sect, Yuanxia Pce, and Starsea Pavilion, bing a true sacred sect in the eyes of martial artists andmon folk alike.


    Deep within the Huang Continenty a mountain range shrouded in darkness. The soil was a crimson red, and the flora emanated an unsettling aura.


    This ce was decreed as a forbidden zone by the Huang Temple. Hence despite the abundant poption of mortals in the Huang Continent, none had set foot in this realm for thousands of years, rendering the peculiar nature of this ce unknown to the public.


    On an early summer day in the year 3221, the centuries-long peace in this peculiar mountain range spanning hundreds of li was abruptly shattered.


    <i>Hum~</i> In an instant, the sky above the mountain range was illuminated, and violet fog enveloped the region.


    <i>Boom!</i> Like an apocalyptic cataclysm, a surge of dark power surged forth from the bowels of the earth. The heart of the mountain range ruptured, causing an onught of soil and stone to tumble into the hole. In the blink of an eye, a colossal chasm stretching hundreds of meters in length materialized��an abyssal cavern without end, devastating power leaking out from its depths.


    As streams of eerie crimson power surged out, the once-vibrant foliage of the entire mountain range wilted visibly.


    A resonant cry pierced the air. From the depths of the cavern, a colossal creature burst out into the open. Its sinewy frame extended twenty meters in length, encased in ck scales. Its four hooves pounded the earth as it looked around with a bloodthirsty expression.


    "The passage is opened?�� The creature lowered its head, sniffing about as though predicting the fate of the world. Its eyes, obsidian orbs brimming with anticipation and malevolence, emitted a strange resonance, as if conversing in anguage foreign to mortal ears. "At longst, we have returned!"


    A series of deafening roars erupted, reverberating off the cavern walls. Emerging from the depths, grotesque beings crawled forth, one after another. They numbered in the hundreds, perhaps even the thousands. The smaller ones among their ranks measured a mere ten meters in length, while others reached an astonishing 50 meters.


    "Roar!" "Roar!" The ck-hooved creatures stood at the entrance of the cavern, their collective outcry challenging the heavens themselves, as if dering their emergence.

 Chapter 238: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 238: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (1)</h4>


    A thunderous roar echoed through the air, rattling the very foundations of the earth. The noise seemed to erupt from hundreds, if not thousands, of ck-scaled beasts, their hooves pounding against the ground in a deafening rhythm. More and more of these creatures poured out from the depths of the abyssal cavern.


    A swirling purple fog engulfed the area, stretching almost a hundred li in every direction. Within this haze, shes of purple lightning danced.


    ...


    Within a hundred-li radius of the abyssal cavern stood a grand stone hall. Within the hall, arge light screen disyed the chaotic scene unfolding at the entrance of the abyssal cavern.


    Before the projection stood an imposing, ck-scaled jiaolong alongside two elderly men, one in white and one in purple. Their expressions were grave as they watched the countless strange beasts howling toward the sky.


    "The creatures have broken through to the surface," the jiaolong spoke in a low voice.


    "Hall Master, they have yet to emergepletely," the white-robed elderly man spoke with a trace of panic. "With thebination of Hall Master''s array and the treasure left behind by Deity Huang, we should be able to suppress this menace with ease."


    "Hall Master," the purple-robed elderly man said, his tone equally somber.


    They all understood the direness of their situation. Deity Huang had fallen. A hall master descended into the depths of the devil''sir with a powerful artifact to look for him, but she was never seen again. And now, the creatures have surfaced in the mortal world. If they made a single misstep, the thousand-year legacy of the Huang Temple would be reduced to rubble in an instant.


    "Deity Jiao, what course of action should we take?" Both the white-robed and purple-robed elders turned their attention to the immense ck-scaled jiaolong.


    In terms of raw power, ck Jiao King might not be stronger than them. However, every Heavenly Ranker of the Huang Temple was a junior to the ck Jiao King, almost all having received his guidance and tutge.


    "What other option do we have?" ck Jiao King shook his colossal head. "Activate the array and eradicate these devils."


    The two elderly men exchanged a knowing look. Walking to the stone tform at the center of the grand hall, the elder in white sat cross-legged, his hands deftly weaving intricate seals. Cryptic patterns in shades of purple materialized around him. In a fraction of a second, the patterns erupted into brilliant radiance, encircling the white-robed elderly man. The air grew saturated with purple fog, veiling the stone hall��s interior in an ethereal haze.


    ...


    From the depths of the devil��sir, a legion of ck-scaled beasts surged into the open. Wherever they passed, flora wilted, and all life was extinguished.


    The sky above was enshrouded in an unending expanse of violet fog. Those streaks of lightning seemed to grow increasingly tangible with each passing moment, meandering through the sky like serpentine dragons of unfathomable power.


    Then, without warning, a resounding boom echoed through the atmosphere. It was as though all the lightning in the world converged in one ce, as thousands upon thousands of purple lightning bolts, thick as water barrels, descended wrathfully from the fog. This onught of thunder sought to reduce the abyssal cavern, ck-scaled beasts, and all that stood in its path to ash.


    Then, a thunderous roar reverberated from the depths of the devil''sir. The sound carried across the boundless wilderness, its echoes resounding with an untamed fury.


    Then, with an earth-shattering boom, an immense figure burst forth from the depths of the cavern. Layer uponyer of ck scales enveloped its colossal form, resembling arger version of the beasts that surrounded it. Its sheer enormity was beyondprehension��and it reached an astounding length exceeding 300 meters.


    However, its most prominent feature was the two pairs of enormous wings that adorned its back, their plumage an intery of onyx and crimson feathers. Razor-sharp spikes adorned the edges of the wings, and it gleamed like forged metal.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Its two pairs of wings unfurled, blotting out the sky, and instantly shielding the ck-scaled creatures below.


    <i>Crack! Boom!</i> Countless thunderbolts mercilessly cascaded down, engulfing the entire area in an instant, forcing the horde of ck-scaled beasts to scatter in fear, only to be bombarded into oblivion. Numerous lightning bolts also struck the colossal creature��s body.


    As the lightning dissipated, a series of wounds appeared on the colossal creature''s head, wings, and back, some reaching as deep as several zhangs, exposing bone. Its body was drenched in crimson blood, and it looked like a picture of misery.


    <i>Hum~</i> Then, the wounds on the massive creature''s body began to mend at a visible rate. In the blink of an eye, it waspletely healed.


    <i>Roar!</i> The colossal creature bellowed towards the sky, its roar resonating through the vast world. Beneath it, hundreds, maybe even thousands of smaller ck-scaled beasts, who found refuge under the shelter of its wings, trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground, as though they were kneeling before their king.


    <i>Roar~ Roar~ Roar~</i> One after another, more gargantuan ck-scaled creatures emerged from the depths of the abyssal cavern, more than ten in total. Though none matched the size of the first colossal creature, even the smallest among them exceeded 30 meters in height and 80 meters in length, resembling miniature hills. The most crucial detail was that all of these newly emerged creatures had two pairs of wings.


    ...


    Inside the stone hall, ck Jiao King and the two elderly men were dumbfounded as they witnessed the scene unfolding on the light screen.


    "It endured a full-powered strike from the array?" the white-robed elderly man stared in disbelief. Though he was only a seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he doubted that even a body refiner at the ninth-stage Communion phase could endure such a barrage of lightning without sustaining critical injuries with him controlling the array.


    "In just moments, its injuries recoveredpletely," the ck Jiao King said in a slightly hoarse voice, his gaze fixed on the screen. "Spiritual Body! It has reached the Spiritual Body phase!"


    The two elderly men felt as though they were doused in a bucket of ice water. Spiritual Body phase? A creature equivalent to a Golden Core Superior had been born in the devil''sir without their knowledge?


    "Not good!" the color drained from the white-robed elderly man''s face. "They are heading towards us."


    The expressions of ck Jiao King and the purple-robed elder darkened. The light screen projection showed the four-winged ck creature unleashing a mighty roar, streaking through the sky like an ominous bolt of ck lightning.


    With terrifying speed, it charged directly towards the stone hall. The projection recorded that it was traveling at 90 li per breath, equating to fifteen li per second! The stone hall, where the core of the array resided, was less than 100 li from the abyssal cave!


    And it wasn��t just the four-winged creature. Numerous two-winged creatures trailed closely behind, eager to hunt down their enemies.


    "Escape!" ck Jiao King, a being that had lived over eight centuries and often interacted with humans, possessed uncanny survival instincts. Without hesitation, it barrelled out of the stone hall, crashing straight through a stone pir in its path.


    In an instant, it vanished into the boundless purple fog. Fight? The jiaolong had no intention of confronting a Spiritual Body creature. Survival was the only thing on his mind.


    "Escape!" The elderly man in purple opted to flee immediately as well.


    At that moment, he heard the voice of the white-robed elderly man in his mind. "Sang Gu, my days are numbered, and I��ve already abandoned all hope of achieving a breakthrough. Deity Huang has perished, and the hall master''s fate remains uncertain. Honestly, I am weary."


    Seated on the stone tform in a lotus position, the white-robed man��s tired voice echoed in the other man��s mind. "These devils are swifter than the wind. If we both flee, it will be our end. I��ll manipte the array to stall their advance, so quickly get to the Wu Sect and rally everyone together to eradicate the devil��sir! For our selfish desires, our temple raised these dangerous creatures and failed to stop them from running rampant. We mustn��t let the Middle Land perish alongside us!"


    "Senior Brother Han." The elderly man in purple robes protested.


    "Hurry!" The voice of the white-robed elderly man turned frigid, his entire body emanating a radiant earthy-yellow glow.


    "Forbidden art?" The purple-robed elderly man��s face paled.


    Given the advanced age of the white-robed elderly man, his qi sea was beginning to deteriorate. Employing a forbidden art at this time was akin to courting death.


    No longer hesitating, the purple-robed elderly man shot away into the purple fog.


    Only the white-robed elderly man remained in the stone temple, seated in silence atop the stone tform as he perceived the intricacies of the array. His eyes swept through the familiar stones within the temple''s walls one by one.


    "I, Han Cheng, born in the Zhong Continent, rescued by my master, and raised in the Huang Continent, am fortunate to have embarked on the path of immortal cultivation." Scenes spanning countless centuries surfaced in his mind. "If the temple falls, I shall go down with it."


    Resolve ignited within the white-robed elderly man''s eyes. "The Spiritual Body phase? Even if you reach the fabled Shambh phase, I will defend the temple to myst breath!��


    <i>Boom! </i>The stone temple erupted, unleashing a torrential onught of lightning that consumed the surroundings, hurtling towards the approaching four-winged creature.


    ...


    <i>Cloudhill Province, Archeldritch Mountain.</i>


    At the midway point of the mountain, numerous buildings were erected. A variety of trees and flora had also been nted over the years, resulting in the current flourishingndscape.


    "Brother, check out my swordsmanship." On a za in front of a building, a young woman practiced her sword technique on the training ground, garbed in a form-fitting attire that entuated her figure. Each movement was executed with precision and grace, each stroke of sword light steadfast, urate, and ruthless. Her mastery of the sword was certainly extraordinary.


    Beside the training ground, Wu Yuan sat next to his mother, Wanqin. The two of them indulged in juicy fruits, attended by a retinue of maidservants and servants.


    Seeking respite from the scorching summer sun and hoping to spend time with his family, Wu Yuan had invited his mother and sister for a retreat on the mountain.


    Observing Wu Yijun''s graceful swordy, Wu Yuan let out a hearty chuckle. "Little Yi''s skill with the de ismendable indeed. It seems Instructor Zhao has mentored her seriously."


    A subtle smile graced Wanqin''s lips. Though her physique had undergone a remarkable transformation after consuming the Redwood Spirit Fruit, she had little aspiration for the martial path.


    ��Yuan��er, when do you n to get married?" Wanqin asked, unable to contain herself. "You��re already more than twenty years old. By that age, your father had already started a family."


    Wu Yuanughed merrily, dismissing his mother''s concerns. "There is no need to rush, Mother."


    "You may not be in a rush, but I��m in a rush to see my grandchildren," Wanqinmented, shaking her head. "I don��t understand. With your current status and aplishments, is there any woman beyond your reach? I��m simply clueless as to the criteria you seek in a partner."


    Wu Yuan responded with a smile. What kind of woman did he truly desire? Even he couldn��t answer that question.


    However, he understood where his mother wasing from. Years ago, when Fang Xia shook the world with his power, Wu Yuan had assumed the guise of Wan Liu, appearing in the Middle Land Immortal Hall and instilling fear in the Heavenly Rankers of the world. Naturally, the average martial artist andmon folk remained oblivious to these details.


    However, the Cloudstride Sect carefully fed morsels of information to the world, sharing that Wu Yuan had reached the Land Rankings in his early twenties. The Sta Consortium''s intelligence records also stated that Wu Yuan was the most extraordinary martial prodigy the Middle Land had witnessed in thest thousand years.


    While Wu Yuan might not have openly disyed his strength in the capacity of his original identity, it was only natural that the higher echelons of the sect knew a thing or two about his abilities. Furthermore, the transformations of Wu Yijun, Wanqin, and Wu Qiming were impossible to conceal.


    This was especially evident in the case of his younger sister, Wu Yijun. Due to her tender age, the effects of the Redwood Spirit Fruit had not yet fully manifested in her body, but her physical development was still abnormally swift. For several years, she dedicated herself to practicing her swordsmanship, and her skill level improved by leaps and bounds. Currently, she was regarded as the foremost martial prodigy in the younger generation of the Cloudstride Sect.


    Under Wu Qiming��s leadership, the Cloudhill Wu n experienced a meteoric rise, bing one of the top ten ns within the sect. In Wanqin��s view, now that her son was an aplished martial artist and the sect was prospering, the next step was naturally the continuation of their lineage through offspring.

 Chapter 239: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 239: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (2)</h4>


    "Brother, how did I fare?" Wu Yijun approached him with her sword in hand. She was a natural beauty, and years of martial training had granted her a warrior��s charisma. Approaching the age of fifteen, she had blossomed into a youngdy.


    "Not bad at all," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. "Swordsmanship begins with simplicity, progresses toplexity, and ultimately returns to simplicity. After three years of practice, you have mastered the basics of the Thirteen Sword Styles. This is your first set of sword techniques, correct?"


    "Yes," Wu Yijun nodded. "Instructor Zhao mentioned that at my current pace, I have the potential to be a first-rate Adept before I reach twenty."


    The one training Wu Yijun was none other than Zhao Baifan. After consuming a Redwood Spirit Fruit, she had already be a Savant expert.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile. A first-rate Adept? If Wu Yijun''s physique continued to develop at a normal pace, her constitution should rival that of a first-rate Adept by eighteen. And as long as she grasped the basics of the Power Surge skill, she could reach the base strength of a first-rate Adept.


    However, Wu Yuan wasn��t too satisfied with his sister''s rate of progress. That was because he had given his sister a Purplewood Spirit Fruit to strengthen her soul. Without having to spend much time tempering her body, along with apetent instructor to provide her guidance, she would never stray from the correct cultivation path. Hence, her progress from ten years of practice should easily rival that of an ordinary person who had trained for 30 years.


    "Good, keep working hard," Wu Yuan encouraged her with a smile. "It appears our family is destined to produce a renowned sword saintess."


    Deep down, Wu Yuan knew he couldn''t expect too much from his sister. Unlike Fang Xia, Wu Yijun wasn��t a genius. In fact, she was less talented than Bu Yu or Huan Jian. Nevertheless, she was set on the right path from a young age. With his guidance, if she continued to work hard, there was hope for her to be a qi refiner in the future.


    Suddenly, a deep and slightly urgent voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Master! Master! Something has happened." It was the voice of Qiong Sea King, his spirit beast.


    The power of their blood gu contract allowed them tomunicate through telepathy. Even if they were separated by vast distances, they could speak to each other via spirit transmission as long as their souls were strong enough.


    While conversing with his mother and sister, Wu Yuan inquired in his mind, "What��s the matter?"


    "The Huang Temple has been destroyed! Deity Huang is dead!" Qiong Sea King conveyed the shocking news. "Creatures from the devil��sir have reached the surface! A powerful being at the Spiritual Body phase has emerged in the Huang Continent."


    A flicker of astonishment passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. The Huang Temple was destroyed? Deity Huang was a lesser-known figure among mortals but famous among Heavenly Rankers, an individual on par with beings like Jin Quan and Wan Xing. Yet, he was dead? More importantly, a Spiritual Body powerhouse was born? Devil��sir? What in the world was going on?


    Just as Wu Yuan pondered over these questions, a figure descended from the sky andnded in the square. It was The Rain Hierarch, Bu Yu.


    ��Wu Yuan,�� she greeted.


    ��Rain Hierarch,�� Wu Yuan returned the greeting.


    "Ancestor Yu?" Wu Yijun and Wanqin were both surprised to see one of the sect��s leading figures.


    Bu Yu gave Wu Yijun and Wanqin a slight nod, then looked at Wu Yuan. "The Wu Sect has sent a message. An urgent Middle Land Immortal Hall Conference is to be held. A major event that could affect the survival of the entire Middle Land has urred, and the Huang Temple has been nearly eradicated."


    "Oh?" A hint of seriousness shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    First, Qiong Sea King reported the news to him, then the Wu Sect sent the sect a message?


    "The ancestor has already proceeded to the jade chamber," Bu Yu continued. "The Wu Sect would like to ask if Senior Wan Liu will be attending the conference."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. Wan Liu? The Wu Sect, which controlled the core of the Middle Land Immortal Hall voidrealm, couldmunicate with any Heavenly Ranker through their hall jades. But after thest Middle Land Conference, Wu Yuan voluntarily relinquished ownership over his hall jade. Naturally, he could no longer receive messages from them, thus the Wu Sect could onlymunicate with him through Fang Xia and Bu Yu.


    "Let''s meet Ancestor Fang Xia first," Wu Yuan said softly.


    Bu Yu nodded.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>The two instantly turned into streaks of light, leaving Archeldritch Mountain and heading towards Cloudhill.


    "Mother, Little Yi, have a rest on the mountain for now. I''ll be back soon," Wu Yuan said before he left.


    Wu Yijun and Wanqin were both stunned when the two left.


    "Mother, is Brother...flying?" Wu Yijun''s eyes widened, both shocked and thrilled.


    "It seems so," Wanqin could barely speak from the shock.


    "Heavenly Ranker! Mother! Only Heavenly Rankers can fly," Wu Yijun eximed in awe, "Big Brother has be a legendary Heavenly Ranker."


    Wanqin was dumbstruck. All along, she thought that her son had just be a Grandmaster. A Heavenly Ranker? That was and deity!


    She began to understand why her son always avoided discussions of marriage. How could any mortal match up to a deity?


    ...


    As Bu Yu and Wu Yuan hurried to their destination, Qiong Sea King continued to transmit information to Wu Yuan. "Master, ck Jiao King came to visit me. ording to him, the devil''sir..."


    Wu Yuan listened in silence. Having perused several immortal slips, Wu Yuan possessed a vast wealth of knowledge. Through Qiong Sea King''s description, he swiftly pieced together a great deal of valuable information.


    Devils! As Wu Yuanpared the creature being described with what he knew of devils, his heart grew heavier. The gravity of the situation became clear. Of course, the exchange between Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King was confined to words. For now, they couldn''t confirm whether the situation had reached truly catastrophic levels.


    <i>I just hope it hasn��t.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    ...


    They quickly arrived at the jade chamber situated beneath Cloudhill. Fang Xia and Huan Jian were already present, their expressions grave.


    "Ancestor, what exactly has happened?" Wu Yuan asked with concern.


    Fang Xia''s solemn gaze met Wu Yuan''s, uncertainty shadowing his features. "We are not entirely certain. All we know is that Deity Huang has fallen, along with Han Cheng. The fate of the other Heavenly Rankers of the Huang Temple remains unknown," Fang Xia exined. "However, some Heavenly Rankers should have survived. Sang Gu has been dispatched to the Wu Continent to seek reinforcements."


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly, absorbing the information.


    Han Cheng was the only other publicly knownte-stage Qi Sea cultivator from the Huang Temple apart from Deity Huang. Now, they were both gone.


    "Old Fang, Qiong Sea King has reached out to me. He is with ck Jiao King," Wu Yuan transmitted his voice into Fang Xia''s mind. "ording to his ount, I suspect that it may be a worm devil." No one other than Fang Xia knew about the connection between Qiong Sea King and Wu Yuan.


    "A worm devil?" Fang Xia was taken aback. He was utterly clueless about such a creature.


    "Ancestor, I wish to enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall," Wu Yuan said straightforwardly. "Let��s listen to what Sang Gu has to say."


    "Very well," Fang Xia nodded in agreement.


    Bu Yu and Huan Jian didn��t have any objections. The four of them swiftly activated their hall jades, infusing it with their Soul Force.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian materialized in the voidrealm. However, they did not find themselves within their personal halls. Instead, they appeared directly within a majestic hall. A jade tform immediately materialized beneath each of them, allowing them to take their seats without dy.


    <i>They��ve sent us directly to the Conference Hall?</i> Wu Yuan and Fang Xia exchanged a look, sensing that things were not as simple as they appeared. It was clear that the Wu Sect didn��t wish to waste a single moment.


    <i>More than 40 Heavenly Rankers are already present. </i>Wu Yuan, d in a ck robe, surveyed the expansive hall. This was his first time setting foot in the Conference Hall. During his previous visit to the Middle Land Immortal Hall, he had departed just before themencement of the Middle Land Conference. As a result, he was unfamiliar with theyout of the Conference Hall.


    To his surprise, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia''s jade tforms were situated in the front row while Bu Yu and Huan Jian materialized in the third row, a clear indication that the Wu Sect had arranged their cement based on their strength. In the first row were other peak powerhouses such as Zhao Xing, Niu Hao, Rong Le, and the Arctic King. Naturally, the imposing figure of Qiong Sea King was also seated among them. He opened his massive eyes and shot Wu Yuan a look.


    Without any change in expression, Wu Yuan silently reassured Qiong Sea King.


    ��Senior Wan Liu has arrived!��


    ��Fang Xia is here!��


    The appearance of the Cloudstride Sect��s Heavenly Rankers ignited a wave of discussion that swept through the Conference Hall. Almost all heads turned.


    "Senior Wan Liu," Emperor Dong Pan, wearing ck armor, took the initiative to greet him. ��With your presence, I can finally say we have some measure of confidence to tide over this crisis.��


    "Since this matter concerns the Middle Land, I may know a thing or two. If I can be of assistance, I shall offer my aid. However, whether I will take action is another matter entirely." Wu Yuan''s voice rang out, cool and detached.


    The Emperor Dong Pan nodded fervently. ��Of course, we are already grateful that Senior has graced us with your presence. In just a moment, we will project all the intelligence Daoist Sang Gu has brought us onto the screen. If Senior has any insights, we hope to seek your guidance."


    Wu Yuan responded with a slight nod. With that, he closed his eyes, entering a state of meditation.

 Chapter 240: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (3)

    <h4>Chapter 240: The Cataclysm of the Middle Land (3)</h4>


    Time slipped away, and more Heavenly Rankers arrived, including those who did not make an appearance during the previous opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Among them was Wan Xing. Contrary to Wu Yuan''s expectations, Wan Xing appeared before him as a brooding figure draped in ck robes. It was unclear whether his current appearance was his true appearance.


    "Senior Wan Liu," Liu Junxing promptly ushered Wan Xing towards Wu Yuan upon his arrival.


    Wu Yuan extended his greetings, "Daoist Wan Xing, there��s no need to be so formal. You and I have the same surname after all. In a way, we��re family."


    "Junior dares not," replied Wan Xing with extreme respect.


    Aside from Wan Xing, numerous other Heavenly Rankers also approached Wu Yuan one by one as they arrived and paid their respects. As the sole suspected Golden Core Superior in all of the Middle Land, Wan Liu was treated with utmost courtesy by the Heavenly Rankers.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, the Conference Hall was filled with over 60 Heavenly Rankers. In the front row, more than tente-stage Qi Sea cultivators had gathered. The second row consisted of around 30 mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators, while dozens of early-stage Qi Sea cultivators filled the third row, many of whom were in the midst of cultivating in seclusion or roaming the world.


    The individuals present at this assembly represented the apex forces of the Middle Land - the true rulers who decided the fate of the world.


    Soon, a hush fell upon the Conference Hall as the attendees settled down.


    Emperor Dong Pan, taking on his role as the host, stood at the center of the hall and addressed the assembly with solemnity. "Fellow Daoists, the Middle Land Conference is convened today in response to a grave disaster that has emerged from the Huang Continent. If we fail to unite and contain its spread, it threatens to engulf the entirety of the Middle Land. That is the urgency of our gathering."


    The expressions of the Heavenly Rankers in attendance underwent an abrupt change. Engulf the entire Middle Land? While they had received news of the severe damage dealt to the Huang Temple, most were unaware of the full extent of the situation.


    "Now, Daoist Sang Gu shall exin the specifics," Emperor Dong Pan''s voice rumbled. "As this incident unfolded in the Huang Continent, he is the person most familiar with its origins and repercussions."


    With that, he stepped down, and a purple-robed figure took his ce. It was none other than Sang Gu, a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator hailing from the Huang Temple.


    "Fellow Daoists, to fully exin this matter, I must begin from the Huang Continent��s immortal relic," Sang Gu''s voice was low and somber. "The Huang Relic is thergest immortal relic in the Middle Land. I believe many daoists here have explored it."


    All the Heavenly Rankers present nodded involuntarily. Indeed, thergest immortal relic in the world was the one in the Xin Continent. The nextrgest immortal relic was the one in the Huang Ruins. Of course, the Fourth Eldritch Realm was massive, but it was internally managed by the realm master. With him as the guardian, Heavenly Rankers simply couldn''t enter. Plus, it only opened once every hundred years, so the Heavenly Rankers didn��t ce much importance on it.


    "In actuality, the Huang Relic consists of two sections. What lies on the surface is just one section," Daoist Sang Gu solemnly stated. "The other section, deeply buried underground, has always been exclusively upied by our Huang Temple."


    "What?"


    "Two sections?"


    "Exclusively upied by the Huang Temple?" These revtions struck the Heavenly Rankers like bolts of lightning.


    Though it raised many questions, it also answered a perplexing question that had lingered in the minds of many for a long time: how could the Huang Temple, with its sparse poption and inhospitable environment, consistently produce an abundance of Heavenly Rankers with each passing generation?


    ��Just as you may suspect, the Huang Temple owes its sess to the relic. It formed the bedrock of our temple, enabling us to flourish and expand. For hundreds of years, this secret has never been leaked to outsiders.�� Sang Gu confirmed their spections.


    Everyone listened attentively.


    "But," Sang Gu paused, his voice heavy with gravity. "Deep within this relic, amidst its treasure troves and a vast etherstone deposit, lies a huge threat. Our temple��s cultivators have named it the Devil''s Lair."


    Sang Gu pointed at the empty air. In the next moment, a myriad of light specks converged to form a light screen. Disyed on this projection was a sprawling, ominous abyss, with an otherworldly crimson hue emanating from its depths. This undergroundbyrinth contained numerous smaller caverns of unimaginable depth, leading into the unknown.


    "For countless generations, the creatures of the Devil''s Lair have been relentlessly fighting their way through the relic, trying to reach the surface," Sang Gu continued solemnly. The projection shifted, revealing a horde of fearsome creatures with ck scales and four hooves surging out of the cave, their haunting roars and crimson eyes sending a shiver down the spines of the onlookers.


    "What manner of beasts are these?"


    "Could they be devilish beasts?"


    "I��ve never seen them before.��


    ��From their physical appearance, they don��t seem that strong.�� Having seen a number of creatures with simr physiques, the Heavenly Rankers began discussing the strength and identity of these creatures.


    On the contrary, Wu Yuan��s gaze was locked onto the colossal creature encased in obsidian scales, a chill passing through his heart. It was indeed a devil!


    "All this time, we, the cultivators of the temple, have vanquished any escaping devilish beast, while meticulouslyying out arrays around the entire relic," Sang Gu muttered. "Initially, these devilish beasts were feeble, but as time passed, they grew increasingly powerful."


    "Devilish beasts are insatiable in their bloodlust. Mad and irrational, they show no mercy, ravaging all forms of life. They assail and devour with unrestrained frenzy once they cross paths with any living being, be it ordinary creatures or martial artists."


    "Two centuries ago, a devilish beast with the strength of a Heavenly Ranker emerged from the devil''sir for the first time. It possessed incredible vitality," Sang Gu stated.


    On the light screen, a massive creature adorned in ebony scales materialized. Unfurling its wings, it engaged in a fierce sh with a young man in purple armor within the underground cavern.


    "It��s Deity Huang!"


    "Deity Huang in his youth," numerous Heavenly Rankers recognized the young man.


    On the light screen, the youth in purple armor moved with elegant grace, ultimately manipting dozens of throwing knife artifacts to y the ck-scaled creature.


    "This marked the beginning of our nightmare. Henceforth, every few years, devilish beasts with the strength of Heavenly Rankers would lead a swarm of ordinary devilish beasts, attempting to break out into the surface. We resisted them time and time again, each encounter exacting a higher toll than thest," Sang Gu shook his head.


    "The worst asion was the Huang Continent Bloodbath 92 years ago. A Heavenly Ranking devilish beast, apanied by hundreds of ordinary devilish beasts, swarmed out from the relic, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. We paid a heavy price to eradicate all the escapees," Sang Gu sighed.


    "The Huang Continent Bloodbath?"


    "So, it was started by these devilish beasts?" Realization dawned on the Heavenly Rankers.


    That was a truly infamous catastrophe, but in the end, the news was covered up by Huang Temple. The Heavenly Rankers of various factions believed that it was simply an Archdemon wreaking havoc and were not overly concerned about the event.


    "We��ve endeavored to infiltrate deep into the devil''sir, in an attempt to uncover its origins," Sang Gu shook his head. "Yet, every attempt was met with failure!"


    "Throughout the history of the temple, only two Heavenly Rankers have ever ventured into the devil��sir. However, both never returned," Sang Gu recounted, the flicker of apprehension evident in his eyes.


    "Six years ago, the devil''sir stirred once more. This time, a horde of over ten Heavenly Ranking devilish beasts emerged, theirbat power rivaling that of Communion cultivators. Ultimately, to end the crisis, Deity Huang sacrificed his life!" Sang Gu shook his head in a solemn gesture.


    Silence enveloped the room. Deity Huang was really dead? Even Wan Xing, the Arctic King, and the other ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators, wore grave expressions. The demise of Huang Deity was more than a loss. It served as a stark reminder that they, too, could face a simr fate in the face of such a disaster.


    "However, by leveraging the trove of treasures unearthed from the relic to fortify our arrays, we managed to repel that tide," Sang Gu''s head shook once again. "We dared not divulge the news of Deity Huang��s passing. However, it also inspired us to rally the world in a unified assault on the devil''sir."


    ��Unfortunately, before we could solidify our resolve, the devil''sir cleared a passage from the depths of the relic to the surface. This took ce just a day ago," Sang Gu said bitterly. "Despite the temple''s best efforts, we were unable to stop them. Even our strongest defense array was no longer effective."


    The scene on the light screen shifted once more, revealing a gaping mammoth cavern in the midst of the rugged mountain range. Strange ck-scaled beasts emerged from the cavern.


    What unfolded next left the entire assembly thunderstruck. A rumbling onught of lightning, capable of obliterating even ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators, mercilessly descended on the creatures.


    At that moment, a colossal creature burst forth from the depths of the cave. Its four wings unfurled, blotting out the sky above. It sessfully obstructed the lightning bolts, resulting in minimal casualties among the ordinary ck-scaled creatures.


    ��What sort of creature is that?��


    ��It��s far too strong!��


    ��Ninth-stage Communion phase?��


    ��The other Heavenly Ranking devilish beasts only have one pair of wings, but this one has two pairs. It is also muchrger. They are clearly not the same!�� The Heavenly Rankers engaged in another round of fervent debates.


    Fang Xia, Wan Xing, the Arctic King, and Zhao Xing''s expressions turned grave as they witnessed the power of the array. However, their astonishment grew when they realized that the four-winged ck-scaled creature was only momentarily wounded, and quickly recovered.


    The rest of the projection was straightforward �C the Huang Temple��s array was destroyed, with the four-winged creature leading the charge. The final explosion before Han Cheng''s demise failed to halt the creatures, though it did manage to inflict further injury on the four-winged ck-scaled beast.


    "The creatures of the devil''sir have emerged! Numerous Heavenly Ranking devilish beasts and ordinary devilish beasts have begun a frenzied massacre outside the devil''sir.�� Sang Gu stated, his face filled with pain, ��The mere surfacing of the devil''sir has already transformed the area in 100-li into a lifeless hell. All nts within this area have withered, as if this zone is forbidden to the living.��


    Silence enveloped the room, as the Heavenly Rankersprehended the gravity of the situation.


    "This will undoubtedly be a catastrophe for the Middle Land," Sang Gu uttered solemnly.


    At that moment, many eyes turned to Qiong Sea King. He was the only ninth-stage Communion cultivator in the world.


    "Its body has gained spirituality! This is the hallmark of the Spiritual Body phase." proimed Qiong Sea King with an undertone of trepidation.


    ��That is not a Spiritual Body cultivator!�� A frigid voice swiftly rebutted.

 Chapter 241: Blood Devil, Hell Devil, Worm Devil (1)

    <h4>Chapter 241: Blood Devil, Hell Devil, Worm Devil (1)</h4>


    The attention of every Heavenly Ranker in the Conference Hall shifted towards the origin of the frigid voice.


    "Senior Wan Liu has spoken!"


    "Not the Spiritual Body phase?"


    "There may still be hope!" Excited whispers rippled through the gathering of Heavenly Rankers.


    Moments before, they had listened intently to Sang Gu''s narration, witnessed the unfolding of horrifying scenes, and heard the ninth-stage Communion phase Qiong Sea King personally confirm that the ck-scaled creature had reached the Spiritual Body phase, causing despair to grip their hearts.


    A Spiritual Body devilish beast leading a swarm of Communion devilish beasts along with countless ordinary devilish beasts was wreaking havoc on the world at that very moment. But most important of all was that abyss-like devil''sir. Could they stop this crisis?


    "Not the Spiritual Body phase?" Qiong Sea King stared at Wu Yuan, his face etched with confusion. What else could a physical body that had reached such a level be if not the Spiritual Body phase?


    "Please elucidate, Senior Wan Liu," Qiong Sea King requested solemnly. At the same time, he sent a puzzled spirit transmission to Wu Yuan.


    The reply he received from Wu Yuan via spirit transmission was to ��be patient.��


    "Fellow Daoists, please be silent," Emperor Dong Pan''s voice resonated like a bell throughout the Conference Hall.


    In an instant, the murmurs ceased, and all eyes turned to Wu Yuan.


    "Senior Wan Liu," Emperor Dong Pan approached Wu Yuan and spoke respectfully. "May we seek your guidance?"


    "Very well, I have no desire to witness a great cmity befall the Middle Land. I will share everything I know." Wu Yuan rose slowly. "Fellow Daoists, lend me your ears. Dong Pan, grant me authority over the voidrealm.��


    "At once," Emperor Dong Pan hurriedly replied.


    The Heavenly Rankers took their seats, their anticipation palpable. Wu Yuan walked to the center of the hall, feeling the hopeful and intense gazes on him. Internally, he couldn''t help but sigh. Even he had never thought that such a dreadful disaster would strike the Middle Land.


    Wu Yuan began, "Firstly, I must inform all of you that ording to the information provided, if this disaster goes unchecked, it will breach the boundaries of the Huang Continent in approximately ten years."


    "In no more than 50 years, the entire Middle Land will be decimated by an onught of devilish beasts pouring forth from the devil��sir. Not a single living being will survive, not even the nts. Even those residing in the surrounding oceans of the Middle Land will undoubtedly perish!"


    "Everything will be annihted! Erased off the face of the world!" Wu Yuan dered, each word hammering into their hearts.


    A hushed silence descended on the hall. Complete annihtion? Most of the Heavenly Rankers felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.


    Before Wu Yuan had spoken, some of the Heavenly Rankers whose territory was a great distance from the Huang Continent, such as Qiong Sea King and the Arctic King, had harbored their own thoughts. To them, this event might be considered a disaster, but it was urring thousands of li away from them. The impact might not reach them.


    The vast South Ocean consisted of numerous territories and was more than 100,000 li from the Huang Continent, the southernmost part already nearing the Xin Continent. The boundless ocean itself acted as a formidable barrier.


    In their perception, such vast distances would pose a challenge even for those at the Spiritual Body phase. As long as they remained in hiding, they might never be found. However, Wu Yuan''s words revealed a grave truth: the entirety of the Middle Landndmass, and even the ocean surrounding it, would be exterminated within 50 years at most.


    "This cmity not only threatens Middle Land, but if allowed to spread unchecked, it will ultimately engulf the entire Summerpeak World, potentially leading to its utter destruction," Wu Yuan said. "I believe the Summerpeak World may be a foreign concept to some of you."


    Many Heavenly Rankers disyed bewildered expressions, though a few didn��t seem surprised. It was evident that the cultivation world of the Middle Land, with its numerous factions and abundance of immortal relics, had gained some understanding of the Summerpeak World over its millennia-long revival.


    "I believe most Daoists here understand that for a qi refiner, the path progresses from Qi Sea, Golden Core, then to Amethyst Cradle. For a body refiner, the path epasses the Communion, Spiritual Body, and Shambh phases. Regardless of one��s chosen cultivation path, progress must be made one step at a time," Wu Yuan surveyed the gathering of Heavenly Rankers, his voice resonating with solemnity.


    "However, in the vast expanse of heaven and earth, where countless worlds exist in the long river of time and space, the Summerpeak World is only one world among countless others."


    A wave of shock rippled through the assembly. Many Heavenly Rankers disyed surprised expressions, including Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan. While they possessed knowledge of the Summerpeak World and knew that the Middle Land was merely a tiny fraction of it, the revtion of countless worlds was new to them. After all, to those in the Qi Sea phase or the Communion phase, the Summerpeak World already appeared immeasurablyrge.


    "In these worlds, one may meet not only other cultivators but also various unique lifeforms," Wu Yuan continued. "Some of these lifeforms defy conventional categorization based on cultivation levels. The ''devil''sir'' moniker chosen by the daoists from the Huang Continent is rather fitting."


    "The source of this devil''sir is indeed a devil. More urately, a worm devil which has awakened and is rapidly growing," Wu Yuan revealed slowly.


    A worm devil? Devil? Many Heavenly Rankers were taken aback, their eyes widening in disbelief.


    "Devils are a unique lifeform, and several species exist," Wu Yuan exined. "One such species is the blood devil, born from the legendary Blood Sea. The blood devil path cultivated by humans originates from the blood devils, and is a widespread cultivation method in many worlds."


    ��Another species is called the hell devil, born from the ancient abyss of legends, Hell itself." He paused. Sweeping his hand through the air, numerous light specks converged to form a light screen. Words began to materialize on the screen, forming a detailed description of hell devils.


    "Among the sub-species of hell devils, there are those known as delusion devils, masters of soul attacks who are capable of enchanting the hearts of men. Then there are spirit devils, skilled in qi refinement, and war devils, proficient in body refinement," Wu Yuan exined.


    "The worm devil, in essence, is a type of delusion devil, possessing a powerful soul and exhibiting characteristics of a war devil. It is strong, evil, and bloodthirsty. What has appeared in the Huang Continent is likely a young worm devil," Wu Yuan revealed, his tone heavy. "It appears to have surpassed the perilous incubation period and entered its juvenile phase. From now on, its strength will grow rapidly."


    "An Amethyst Cradle cultivator could easily suppress it," Wu Yuan said coldly. "But for the feeble Middle Land, which has yet to produce a single Golden Core phase cultivator, this is a true cataclysm that could doom the world!"


    Hell devil? Worm devil? The hearts of the listeners trembled. A juvenile worm devil?


    For some Heavenly Rankers who were wandering cultivators and had not received significant inheritances, Wu Yuan''s information opened their minds to a whole new world.


    "Worm devil? Just one worm devil? But what about all those devilish beasts? Could they be the hell devils mentioned by Senior Wan Liu?"


    "Soul attacks?"


    "Is that four-winged, ck-scaled creature the worm devil?" The hall began to buzz with spection and discussion.


    "Silence," Daoist Wan Xing''s voice cut through the room like a de,manding attention and restoring order. The Conference Hall fell into a hushed stillness, anticipation hanging in the air. In the absence of Imperator Jin Quan, Daoist Wan Xing held a position of great influence.


    With utmost respect, he addressed Wu Yuan, ��Senior Wan Liu is truly knowledgeable about devils. Could you kindly borate on how this devil will harm our Middle Land, and how should we go about killing it? Is there a possibility of victory?��

 Chapter 242: Blood Devil, Hell Devil, Worm Devil (2)

    <h4>Chapter 242: Blood Devil, Hell Devil, Worm Devil (2)</h4>


    All eyes turned to Wu Yuan. How could they confront this worm devil? Was there any hope for victory? These were the real questions.


    "The worm devil��s lifecycle is divided into incubation, juvenile, and adult stages," Wu Yuan said in a deep voice, "The worm devil is a representation of extreme strength and extreme weakness."


    "Extreme strength, because its soul and reproduction abilities are extremely strong. Like a queen bee or queen ant, it constantlyys arge number of eggs which hatch into devil soldiers. These soldiers all contain a trace of its soul, and countless devil soldiers guard the devil soil where the worm devil��s main body resides. The devilish beasts you saw during Daoist Sang Gu��s presentation are these devil soldiers."


    "Extreme weakness, because a juvenile worm devil has littlebat strength. Even if it can raise Shambh devil soldiers, a single Golden Core expert can kill its main body! When the worm devil��s main body dies, all its devil soldiers perish alongside it." Wu Yuan said seriously.


    These words sparked a glimmer of hope in the Heavenly Rankers. Shambh devil soldiers? From what they saw on the light screen, those devil soldiers might be strong, but most were only at the Communion phase. From their estimation, any of the Heavenly Rankers present had the ability to kill the worm devil��s main body.


    "Your guesses are not wrong, the worm devil��s main body is indeed weak. At the current moment, a single arcane art from any Qi Sea phase cultivator could kill it," Wu Yuan shook his head. "However, the worm devil naturally understands this vulnerability. It has likely bred an extensive legion of devil soldiers within itsir, serving as its guards.��


    "The wingless ck-scaled creatures which are only dozens of meters in length are considered juvenile devil soldiers, and are still below the Communion phase." Wu Yuan exined. "Only those which have reached the Communion phase are considered true devil soldiers."


    "Simr to body refiners, devil soldiers possess incredible strength and a seemingly inexhaustible vitality," Wu Yuan continued. "However, their resemnce ends there. Devil soldiers only harbor a fragment of the worm devil''s soul, resulting in limited intelligence and a primal desire for bloodshed. They are incapable of reproduction andck refined martial skills, rendering them unable to cultivate ether arts or wield artifacts."


    "That is why I mentioned earlier that the strongest devil soldier you saw on the projection is not at the Spiritual Body phase," Wu Yuan rified, causing a collective sigh of relief among the Heavenly Rankers.


    If every devil soldier was on par with a true cultivator, that would be truly outrageous. After all, there were only a handful of Heavenly Rankers in the entire Middle Land, while the devil soldiers, though originating from a single worm devil, numbered in the thousands, resembling an entire nation.


    "However, based solely on its physique, the strongest devil soldier should have already reached the first or second stages of the Spiritual Body phase in terms of raw strength," Wu Yuan��s words immediately mped down on their optimism.


    "Devil soldiers are created in two ways. The first is through direct breeding by the worm devil. The stronger the devil soldier, the more arduous and time-consuming it is for the worm devil to breed one. The possibility of this Spiritual Body devil soldier being bred directly by the worm devil is very low," Wu Yuan said grimly.


    "The second way is by having the devil soldier consume its own kind. By devouring other devil soldiers, it grows stronger. Countless weak devil soldiers are sacrificed to create a single powerful one."


    Wu Yuan''s voice grew somber. "You��d better pray that this Spiritual Body devil soldier is the only one of its kind. If there are three or four of them, the difficulty of exterminating the worm devil will grow exponentially."


    A sense of apprehension filled the air as the Heavenly Rankers exchanged worried nces. One devil soldier at the initial stages of the Spiritual Body phase was something the Middle Land could handle if they united against it. But more of them?


    "Senior Wan Liu, perhaps we can negotiate with the worm devil? What if we propose a non-aggression pact?" someone suggested.


    "Na?ve," Wu Yuan curtly responded, shaking his head. "How long do you think it takes a worm devil to mature and amass an army of devil soldiers solely through the absorption of spiritual qi? The quickest way for it to grow is to devour all forms of life��whether it be nts, animals, or even the bodies of cultivators."


    "The worm devil is able to digest any living matter through its devil soil. The more it consumes, the faster it grows. Based on my understanding, a devil is nothing more than an agent of ughter. From the moment of its birth, its instinct is to kill. It continues to grow, feeding on the world, until it reaches adulthood, at which point its frenzied spree of devouring and ughtering will finally cease. At that stage, a worm devil will have amassed an army of countless devil soldiers, flooding a portion of the world and annihting all life within its grasp," Wu Yuan exined.


    "Do not entertain thoughts of escape. Even now, this worm devil has the ability to raise devil soldiers at the Spiritual Body phase. However, it aplished this, it only serves to highlight the rming speed of its growth, and it will only elerate further. Even if you were to flee from the Middle Land to the Xin Continent, in 50 years'' time, the devil soldiers will inundate the Middle Land, and within a few centuries at most, they will conquer the entirety of the Summerpeak World,'''' Wu Yuan stated coldly.


    "The skies, the earth, the oceans��all territories will be cleansed by the relentless tide of devil soldiers. By then, even the Amethyst Cradle and the Shambh cultivators will face only one path: annihtion by the devil soldiers."


    Within the Conference Hall, the Heavenly Rankers were left in shock at the doomsday scenario described by Wu Yuan. Was there no hope for the world''s salvation?


    <i>Haiz!</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    This knowledge was only briefly mentioned within the eight immortal scrolls and wasn��t exined in detail. Even the realm master could not have anticipated the appearance of a worm devil in the Summerpeak World.


    Worm devils were a scarce breed even among the hell devils, and were incredibly rare even in the expansive Greenridge Macrocosm. Yet, against all odds, a worm devil had actually appeared here.


    <i>Everything I said to these Heavenly Rankers, is also a warning to myself.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. He had no confidence in facing the worm devil. After all, it was an entity naturally destined to surpass the Amethyst Cradle phase within a few centuries.


    Emperor Dong Pan spoke up, ��Senior Wan Liu, we are grateful for your exnation of what worm devils are, but how can we deal with this looming danger? With Senior��s extensive knowledge of worm devils, you must know a way to save our Middle Land. We implore Senior to guide us and save the Middle Land."


    "We implore Senior to guide us and save our Middle Land." Daoist Wan Xing stood up.


    "We implore Senior to guide us..." the Arctic King rose to his feet.


    "We implore Senior to guide us..." Niu Hao stood up.


    "We implore..." In a matter of moments, almost all the Heavenly Rankers in the Conference Hall rose to their feet, facing the central figure cloaked in ck robes with utmost respect. Despite their personal grudges and conflicts, these Heavenly Rankers were willing to set aside their differences in the face of this impending catastrophe.


    Feeling their urgent, feverish gazes on him, Wu Yuan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "Killing the worm devil is an extremely difficult feat, and the chances of sess are low. If you are to grasp even the faintest glimmer of hope, three crucial conditions must be met."

 Chapter 243: I Am Also Wu Yuan Of The Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 243: I Am Also Wu Yuan Of The Middle Land (1)</h4>


    A glimmer of hope. These words quelled the tide of despair in the hearts of the Heavenly Rankers.


    "Senior Wan Liu, no matter the sacrifice we must make, as long as there remains a sliver of hope, we will fight for it," Daoist Wan Xing dered.


    A spark shone in the eyes of the Heavenly Rankers, their determination reignited by these words of conviction.


    "In order to kill the worm devil, three factors must be considered." Wu Yuan began, his voice measured and deliberate, "Firstly, time. You can ill afford to allow it further opportunities to grow. In terms of swiftness of development, few cultivators can rival its pace. Thus, you must act swiftly, and as soon as possible."


    The Heavenly Rankers listened intently.


    "Secondly, unity," Wu Yuan continued. "I understand that the Middle Land is divided into numerous factions, a fragmented realm split by petty conflicts and grudges." He paused for a moment, shaking his head. "However, in the face of this imminent catastrophe, you must shed your grievances, set aside your differences, and stand as one. Only through united action can you seize the faintest glimmer of hope to bring down the worm devil."


    His voice grew solemn, filled with a quiet admonition. "Those who still cling to their selfish desires and hide their cards will surely meet their demise."


    The Heavenly Rankers sank into contemtion. It was true that grudges between factions existed, such as how the Great Jin Empire warred with all its neighboring sects and nations. After centuries of existence, animosities were sure to arise. Even the Heavenly Rankers and the diverse Archdemons, divided by their disparate races, found themselves entangled in the web of grievances.


    "Thirdly, resolve. Prepare yourselves to sacrifice your lives," Wu Yuan uttered calmly. "You stand no chance against the worm devil in a battle of attrition. There may not appear to be many Communion Phase devil soldiers from the swarm, but who can fathom their numbers within the devil''sir with its speed of reproduction?"


    "The number of Heavenly Rankers will dwindle with each fallenrade, and producing a new one is no easy task. Therefore, you must amass your strength, charge into the devil''sir, and spare no cost to y the worm devil��s main body. Only then will you see a glimmer of survival," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the Heavenly Rankers.


    "The closer you draw to the worm devil, the more desperate its resistance. In other words, those at the frontlines will face an overwhelmingly high chance of death."


    Time, unity, and resolve. Aplishing these three ts was easier said than done. Humans were inherently selfish,plex creatures. Everyone was aware that an immense catastrophe drew near, but who would dare take the first step?


    The Conference Hall fell into silence, the Heavenly Rankers lost in contemtion.


    Wu Yuan, too, fell into a pensive state.


    Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness, "Senior Wan Liu, when the time for the final confrontation with the worm devil arrives, permit me to lead the charge. Haha, this old bag of bones won��t be living much longer anyway."


    All eyes turned to the speaker. Surprisingly, it was Daoist Wan Xing! d in ck robes, his expression was serene andposed.


    "Wan Xing," Wu Yuan regarded Daoist Wan Xing with a hint of astonishment. He did not anticipate him to be the first to rise to the asion.


    "Senior Brother," Liu Junxing couldn''t help but interject.


    "Be silent," Daoist Wan Xingmanded, shooting Junxing a stern look, his aura exerting pressure on the man.


    Reluctantly, Liu Junxing closed his mouth.


    "Fellow Daoists," Daoist Wan Xing addressed the numerous Heavenly Rankers, his gaze sweeping across their faces. "As Senior Wan Liu proposed, if we, the Heavenly Rankers, were to abandon Middle Land and seek refuge in the distant Xin Continent or venture into the perilous Spiritless Region, we might have a chance to survive and live out to the end of our lifespan."


    "However, this is Middle Land, our homnd, where all of us have made fond memories. Ever since the Martial King established the boundaries of the thirteen continents 3000 years ago, we have emerged as the pinnacle of strength among countless beings in the Middle Land. In the face of such a dire cmity, if we all flee and fend for ourselves, then who will the billions of living beings in the Middle Land turn to?" Daoist Wan Xing shook his head gently.


    "My time draws near. If I so desired, I could live out my days until the natural end of my lifespan. But what purpose would that serve? What was the meaning of all these years of cultivation, these four centuries of existence?��


    ��Cultivation is not just for the sake of longevity, but to live without regrets! Every man must die. Even if we ultimately sumb to this worm devil in battle, I only wish to face death without regrets." Daoist Wan Xing turned to Wu Yuan, his eyes filled with eptance and peace.


    Everyone looked at Daoist Wan Xing with stunned expressions.


    Wu Yuan was also unable to speak for a moment, returning Daoist Wan Xing��s gaze in silence. He suddenly felt that he might have misunderstood this Heavenly Ranker, this man who was renowned for centuries.


    To enjoy such prestige and be subtly regarded as a leader by all the major factions, it was clear that Daoist Wan Xing did not solely rely on his martial prowess to achieve such standing. Likewise, Wan Xing''s words also gave Wu Yuan cause for introspection.


    "Wan Xing, when the decisive battle arrives, I shall stand by your side." A rugged voiceughed heartily. "We have been friends for 200 years. How could you forget me in such a crucial moment?"


    All eyes were once again drawn to a familiar figure. It was none other than Emperor Dong Pan, the leading figure of the Wu Sect.


    Daoist Wan Xing couldn''t help but smile. He and Emperor Dong Pan were acquainted for centuries, working together to control the overall situation in the Middle Land and stand against Imperator Jin. Now, faced with the impending disaster threatening the Middle Land, they were joining forces once again.


    This scene garnered respect from Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, and the numerous other Heavenly Rankers. They all understood the gravity of the situation.


    "Fellow Daoists, there is no need to rush," Wu Yuan began, his voice calm andposed, "Though time is short, we mustn��t act in haste. Next, I will present more detailed information about worm devils. Please read through the information beforeing together to discuss countermeasures. Let��s determine how we shall ovee this cmity together."


    With a wave of his hand, the light screen beside him disyed numerous lines of text. Wu Yuan was able to present the information due to the high level of authority he was granted over the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the other Heavenly Rankers focused their attention on the text, meticulously memorizing every detail.


    "These devil soldiers are akin to the incarnations of the worm devil?"


    "If we y a devil soldier, the worm devil will be alerted?"


    "Unlike cultivators, devil soldiers possess an energy core within their bodies. These energy cores are equivalent to high-quality etherstone?" Whispers of discussion filled the air.


    The details about worm devils were a mixture of promising and troubling discoveries, both shocking and intriguing the Heavenly Rankers. Soon enough, they had allmitted the information to memory.


    "Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan dered in a solemn tone, "In the art of war, knowing oneself and the enemy is already half the battle won. Senior Wan Liu has already graciously provided us with detailed intelligence about the worm devil. Now, it is imperative that we collectively focus on devising strategies to confront this menace. Let��s reach our final decision in six hours."


    Inside the Conference Hall, each Heavenly Ranker contemted the matter deeply, eagerly exchanging their thoughts and potential strategies.


    Meanwhile, some Heavenly Rankers chose to depart from the Middle Land Immortal Hall to inform those who were absent from the gathering. Among those who left was Jin Ji, who was obviously bringing the news to Imperator Jin.


    ...


    ��Senior Wan Liu, Daoist Fang Xia,�� Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing approached Wu Yuan and Fang Xia. An invisible barrier formed around the group, shielding their conversation from prying ears and ensuringplete privacy.


    "Please speak,�� Wu Yuan prompted in a low voice.


    Daoist Wan Xing asked, "Senior Wan Liu, will you lend a helping hand to aid Middle Land in oveing this crisis?"


    Emperor Dong Pan shot Wu Yuan a hopeful look.


    ��I cannot,�� Wu Yuan shook his head, dashing their hopes. Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing exchanged a disappointed nce, though they had somewhat anticipated this oue.


    Wu Yuan calmly exined, "You must understand that I was only able to return to the Middle Land with Fang Xia after taking the risk to cross the treacherous Spiritless Region. I am willing to assist Fang Xia once or twice, but it does not imply that I am willing to jeopardize my life, just as I refrained from directly intervening during Great Jin''s assault on the Cloudstride Sect.


    He added nonchntly, "The consequences of the worm devil��s existence, while significant, will only manifest decades or even centuries in the future. This isn��t a problem I need to concern myself with. The Middle Land may be your homnd, but it is not mine."


    Lending a hand? Wan Liu was just a fake persona he had created, there was no way for him to lend his strength.


    "Senior has always been detached from worldly affairs. We understand that our request is somewhat unreasonable, and we sincerely hope for your understanding," Daoist Wan Xing said in a deep voice. "We are already beyond grateful for the invaluable information Senior provided on the worm devil."


    "You have our thanks, Senior," Emperor Dong Pan chimed in.


    "No need to thank me," Wu Yuan responded coldly, "I understand that there may still be lingering resentment in your hearts.��


    ��I will refrain from taking any action during this battle, however the same cannot be said for my disciple, Wu Yuan. He will join the fight." Wu Yuan dered.

 Chapter 244: I Am Also Wu Yuan Of The Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 244: I Am Also Wu Yuan Of The Middle Land (2)</h4>


    "Wu Yuan?" Emperor Dong Pan was puzzled.


    "Isn��t he the young prodigy from the Cloudstride Sect?" Daoist Wan Xing eximed in surprise, "Didn��t he just reach the Grandmaster level recently?"


    "Haa," Wu Yuan chuckled lightly, "He has already be a body refiner. Though he isn��t too strong, he can still contribute to your fight. As he is a native of the Middle Land, I cannot prevent him from joining the battle. When the battle starts, I hope both of you Daoists can help me keep an eye on him."


    Daoist Wan Xing was utterly astounded. "A body refiner? A 21-year-old body refiner?"


    At this moment, Emperor Dong Pan found himself equally shocked.


    A 21-year-old Heavenly Ranker? Heavens!


    "Fellow Daoists, Wu Yuan has always been extraordinarily talented. In recent years, under the guidance of Daoist Wan Liu and the consumption of numerous treasures, it isn��t surprising that he has be a body refiner," Fang Xia added with a chuckle.


    "With Senior Wan Liu as his master, it is indeed not too surprising," Daoist Wan Xing sighed, "But it is still astonishing."


    "This Wu Yuan is truly an unparalleled prodigy, it��s a pity that there simply isn��t enough time for him to mature."


    Had it not been for this impending cmity, both Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan might not have been pleased to witness the emergence of such a peerless genius. But now that they were faced with this great catastrophe, they naturally considered the bigger picture.


    ...


    After conversing with Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia��s consciousness exited from the imposing Middle Land Immortal Hall. Then, the two came to the sky above Cloudhill. Meanwhile, Bu Yu and Huan Jian remained in the underground jade chamber.


    "Young Master, is it truly appropriate to reveal your strength at this time?" Fang Xia inquired, unable to contain his curiosity.


    "In the beginning, it was necessary to keep it secret due to myck of strength," Wu Yuan responded, his lips curling into a slight smile.


    "But now? I have reached the third-stage Communion phase. I have the artifacts you��ve refined, and also cultivated numerous techniques," Wu Yuan calmly stated. "I no longer fear anyone in the Middle Land. Why should I be worried?"


    "Furthermore, the truth of my identity will be unveiled sooner orter. You have witnessed the reports regarding the devil worm. Can we truly evade this threat?" Wu Yuan shook his head ever so slightly, gesturing towards the thriving Cloudhill City sprawled out in the distance. "Just as Daoist Wan Xing said, if we were to withdraw, billions of lives within the Middle Land would perish!"


    "Tell me, Old Fang, can we retreat?" Wu Yuan''s unwavering gaze bore into Fang Xia''s eyes.


    Fang Xia fell into a contemtive silence. Momentster, a grin stretched across his face. "Young Master, if you have resolved to participate in this battle, then I, Old Fang, naturally cannot refuse. Even if we are to perish, I shall go first!"


    A shared understanding passed between the two as they exchanged smiles.


    "Old Fang, you have many talents. Can you think of any way for us to navigate this impending cmity?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Yes!" Fang Xia dered without a moment''s hesitation.


    "What is it?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    "The Fourth Eldritch Realm," Fang Xia stated solemnly. "If there��s anyone in the Middle Land capable of removing the threat of the devil, it would be the realm master."


    "The Fourth Eldritch Realm?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself, his gaze growing resolute, "Very well. Old Fang, help me think of more solutions. Meanwhile, I will make a visit to the Fourth Eldritch Realm."


    With that, Wu Yuan''s form transformed into a streak of radiant light as he sprinted in the direction of the Chu Continent.


    Watching Wu Yuan''s receding figure, Fang Xia��s smile slowly faded. <i>Wu Yuan, the realm master has indeed chosen you for a reason. Perhaps, in due time, you will truly prove yourself worthy of being my ''young master''.</i>


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan traversed thend at a speed exceeding ten li per second, heading straight for the Chu Continent.


    Over the past few years, Wu Yuan reached a deep level ofprehension regarding the profundity of the Land. Though he had yet to reach the Domain stage, he far surpassed his former self. At least, Wu Yuan was able to sprint across the earth without leaving a trace of disturbance in the air.


    As he journeyed, he effortlessly leaped over mountains and crossed mighty rivers. Everywhere his eyes fell, vibrant scenes of life unfolded.


    <i>Worm devils are not beasts, they are devils. Among hell devils, they are one of the most terrifying subspecies. Wherever they appear, life is extinguished.</i> Wu Yuan absorbed every detail of the passingndscape, his determination growing ever stronger.


    <i>I may be able to escape this battle. In a few decades'' time, I may even cultivate to the Spiritual Body phase. At that time, I''ll possess a greater arsenal of solutions, perhaps even the means to flee the Middle Land altogether. Even if the worm devil seeks to engulf the entirety of Summerpeak, it would require hundreds of years to achieve such a feat.</i>


    <i>I have every opportunity to evade this impending catastrophe. Yet, should I retreat now and allow the worm devil to reduce the Middle Land to utter ruin, will I regret my inaction in the years toe?</i>


    Wu Yuan shook his head subtly, recollecting memories of his beloved mother, sister, and the Wu n. The faces of Gao Yu, Zhao Baifan, Wu Sheng, Luo He, and numerous others whom he cherished flooded his thoughts. He reminisced about the majestic rivers and mountains he saw during his travels across the Jiang Continent, as well as the diversendscapes of the Central ins.


    <i>I am Wu Yuan of the Blue, but I am also Wu Yuan of the Middle Land.</i>


    Determination shone in his eyes, and he quickened his pace. To Wu Yuan, 10,000 li wasn��t too far.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan raced to the Fourth Eldritch Realm, the numerous Heavenly Rankers in the world engaged in fervent discussion.


    <i>Deep within the forbidden zone in the Holy Continent, in a massive cave.</i>


    "Father, based on Wan Liu��s warning, if we fail to halt the advance of the worm devil, it will spell our doom," Jin Ji reported. "Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing are both requesting your assistance in the uing battle. Will you emerge from seclusion to fight alongside them?"


    A massive snake, its obsidian coils spanning a hundred meters,y nearby.


    "Worm devil?" The illusory figure in purple robes seated atop a jade tform showed an expression of disbelief. "How could a worm devil appear in the Middle Land?"


    "Master, Jin Ji and I also share your astonishment. However, the evidence shown has proven this to be an irrefutable fact," ck Snake King rumbled. "Deity Huang has indeed died; this is the undeniable truth."


    The purple-robed illusory figure fell into contemtive silence.


    After a moment passed, ck Snake King cautiously posed a question, "Master, will you emerge from your seclusion?"


    "I will not." The purple-robed illusory figure slowly replied, his expression steadfast. "I��m currently at the precipice of a breakthrough, a crucial juncture. Once achieved, I will wield full control over the treasure realm. Emerging from seclusion now would render all my previous efforts wasted."


    "Even if I were to join forces with Wan Xing and the others, the odds of ying the devil are exceedingly low!" The illusory figure said.


    Jin Ji and the colossal ck snake listened attentively.


    "Even if every cultivator in the Middle Land were to unite in this battle, the likelihood of winning remains less than 30%," the illusory figure dered, shaking his head. "Since victory is near impossible, we must prepare for retreat in the event of failure."


    "Father, do you have an escape n?" Jin Ji asked. "Are we to venture into the Spiritless Region?"


    "The Spiritless Region is a ce of extreme danger. We might as well take our chances and confront the devil until the bitter end," the illusory figure replied with a shake of his head. ��Don��t forget, no matter how strong the devil may be, it cannot feed without limit, and requires time to grow."


    "As long as I gain control over the treasure realm, I will have a way for us to depart from the Middle Land."


    Jin Ji and the ck snake''s eyes sparkled with renewed hope.


    "I will strive to achieve my breakthrough as soon as possible," the illusory figure stated.


    "As for you two, proceed to the battlefield. Victory would be ideal, but above all, prioritize survival. If circumstances prove dire, retreat," the illusory figure instructed firmly.


    "Understood." Jin Ji and the ck snake nodded in unison.


    With a glimmer of hope for their survival, any thoughts of fighting to the death naturally dissipated.


    "Furthermore, didn��t the six array gs of the Septet Ignis Array fall into Fang Xia��s hands?" the illusory figure continued. "Seize this opportunity to force Fang Xia to surrender the array gs, the rationale being that it is an important weapon for dealing with the devil. The value of this array is immense.��


    "Understood, it will be done," Jin Ji nodded, feeling much more confident than before.


    ...


    In less than half an hour, Wu Yuan had raced across tens of thousands of li, sprinting from the Jiang Continent to Jiexian Mountain on the Chu Continent. Just as before, an imposing army patrolled the area. However, they failed to notice Wu Yuan previously when was a Grandmaster, let alone now.


    "Realm Master, Wu Yuan humbly requests an audience," Wu Yuan announced softly as he presented the Chu-Jiang Token.


    Wu Yuan was aware that the Fourth Eldritch Realm epassed a radius of 200 li around Jiexian Mountain, and the realm master was able to sense everything that happened within this range.


    After a moment of silence, beams of light shot forth from the Chu-Jiang Token and wrapped around Wu Yuan. Feeling an invisible power surrounding his body, he did not resist.


    <i>Whiz~</i> Lights streaked by, and when the world settled around Wu Yuan once more, he found himself back in the temple where he had once received his inheritance.


    "Wu Yuan!" Amanding voice called out, "Why have you suddenlye looking for me instead of cultivating diligently?"


    "Realm Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully to the towering figure at the end of the hall. "I implore the realm master to save the Middle Land. A worm devil is poised to bring about an apocalypse."


    Wu Yuan quickly recounted the recent events in the Huang Continent.


    "Devil? Huang Continent? Tens of thousands of li away?" The realm master''s form shimmered, and his voice reverberated through the temple. "Wu Yuan, I cannot save the Middle Land. Even if I were capable of doing so, I would note to its rescue."

 Chapter 245: To Live Without Regrets (1)

    <h4>Chapter 245: To Live Without Regrets (1)</h4>


    He couldn��t save the Middle Land? Even if he were capable of doing so, he would note to its rescue?


    Each word hit Wu Yuan''s heart like a sledgehammer. Even the realm master was helpless?


    "Realm Master, is there truly no way?" Wu Yuan clenched his teeth, ��It��s merely a juvenile worm devil.��


    At the far end of the temple, the ten-meter tall, slightly illusory figure finally moved. d in ck armor, he strode forward, stopping in front of Wu Yuan. Even as an eldritch warrior, Wu Yuan felt pressured by his overwhelming aura.


    "Hmph!" A contemptuous snort escaped the giant��s lips. "Wu Yuan, you little rascal. Now that you��ve embarked on the path of immortal cultivation and reached the third stage of the Communion phase, you��ve grown bold indeed," the realm master''s voice turned icy. "A juvenile worm devil? Did you not read the immortal slips I gave you? Don��t you understand what a devil is?"


    ��Throughout the ages, the Greenridge Macrocosm had been gued by countless wars, ignited by the infamous Blood Sea and Abyss. Each conflict created mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, iming the lives of numerous immortal cultivator powerhouses.


    ��In the bleakest of times, the devils reigned supreme over the Greenridge Macrocosm. It was only through the arrival of the Eldritch Deities dispatched by the Eldritch Progenitors and the Celestial Soldiers of the Immortal Court that the tides were finally turned."


    "Be it a blood devil or a hell devil, they are an iprehensibly powerful entity in the river of time and space, and the worm devil is an elite sub-species of hell devil. Even a juvenile worm devil exceeds your current capabilities as a novice immortal cultivator. The Middle Landpletelycks the means to resist such a foe," the realm master''s voice boomed, echoing through the grand hall as he looked down at Wu Yuan.


    "Realm Master, I understand all that," Wu Yuan said through clenched teeth, doing his all to resist the realm master��s intimidating aura. "This battle will be extremely difficult. But if we don��t at least give it a shot, we are all doomed to certain death! I see no alternative!"


    "You do have an alternative," the realm master interjected. ��In ordance with tribalw, as a member of the tribe, you have the option to seek refuge in the Fourth Eldritch Realm. This grotto-heaven, established by Hou Feng, exists in a differentyer of space. Even if an adult devil is highly unlikely to discover this realm, let alone intrude it. It will be a safe haven for you."


    "Considering the size of Summerpeak, other regions may have already discovered methods to establish contact with the macrocosm. When the devastation caused by the devil reaches a critical level and its impact grows significant, powerful cultivators from the macrocosm will be dispatched here to annihte it."


    "Even if the macrocosm''s cultivators do not arrive, the devil will eventually depart from Summerpeak once it has consumed all life in this world, and move on to another world among the countless spacetimes. At that point, you can safely emerge from the Fourth Eldritch Realm. You can absolutely survive this crisis."


    "What about the others? Can they take refuge here?" Wu Yuan asked urgently.


    "Fang Xia may. He��s an eldritch mage, and a member of our Hou Feng Tribe," the realm master replied in a deep voice. "Any cultivator of the eldritch lineage may be permitted to enter. As for all other individuals, they are forbidden from taking refuge here."


    "Is there no room for flexibility?" Wu Yuan pressed. The Fourth Eldritch Realm spanned thousands of li. If it could shelter a significant number of people, he wanted to ensure the safety of his loved ones at least. Wu Yuan didn��t have a single ounce of confidence in this battle against the devil.


    "Wu Yuan, don��t push your luck," the realm master said, appearing slightly annoyed. "I favor you and assist you to the best of my abilities, all for the session of the tribe��s legacy. I do have some leeway to maneuver, but I must adhere to the rules established by Hou Feng. I cannot defy them."


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. At the end of the day, the realm master was merely a spirit, a ''program''. This program possessed wisdom and a semnce of humanity, but it was bound by its core rules.


    "In that case, I have no choice," Wu Yuan shook his head gently, his gaze fierce with determination. "There is only one path left: to fight to the death for the Middle Land! To vanquish the devil!"


    "Do you understand what you��re saying?" The realm master frowned.


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded, his voice returning to its usual calm. "The Middle Land is small, so small that a Golden Core Superior has never emerged to this day. But at the same time, the Middle Land stretches across tens of thousands of li, teeming with billions of living beings! This is a ce where I��ve made countless memories, a civilization of rich culture dating back more than thousands of years."


    "Here, countless heroes have risen, their sagas told over the years," Wu Yuan''s thoughts turned to the Martial King.


    "Moreover, it��s the homnd of my family and friends," Wu Yuan''s voice softened as he began to piece together fragments of his past two decades.


    When he transmigrated here, he didn''t rece his body��s predecessor��s mind. Instead, a merging of both minds took ce. It wasn��t just their memories that intertwined, but emotions as well. At this point, he could no longer discern whether he was Wu Yuan from the Blue who had transmigrated, or Wu Yuan from Middle Land who was infused with memories of the Blue. It was akin to Zhuang Zhou''s dream of bing a butterfly - who could truly discern what is real? [1]


    <i>And how can I forget the seniors and Daoists who are willing to fight for the Middle Land? </i>Wu Yuan''s thoughts drifted to the proactive derations of Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan.


    "Realm Master, I consider the Middle Land my homnd," Wu Yuan said. He recalled the words of Daoist Wan Xing, echoing them with conviction. "Cultivation is not just for the sake of longevity, but to live without regrets!"


    "Perhaps, if I were to hide away in the Fourth Eldritch Realm, I could emerge as a formidable cultivator after thousands or even millions of years. This may not be the wrong choice, but in doing so, I fear I would cease to be the person I am now."


    "Much like you, Realm Master, who would go to any lengths to secure the legacy of the Hou Feng Tribe, I, Wu Yuan, am prepared to give my all for the survival of Middle Land, to fight until myst breath with no regrets!��


    Wu Yuan exhaled and continued softly, ��Realm Master, I wish to leave the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Please send me out."


    The realm master stared at Wu Yuan, speechless. The resolute words of this young man had left a huge impact on him.


    "Homnd? Cultivation for a life without regrets?" the realm master murmured. After a moment, a smile slowly spread across his face, and his body began to glow.


    Wu Yuan observed the change in astonishment, not sure what caused it.


    "Wu Yuan, you should understand that the Fourth Eldritch Realm is merely a secret realm for training new eldritches, so I don��t possess any treasures that can be considered too precious," the realm master began. "Furthermore, you have only reached the Communion phase at present, limiting your privileges. As per the rules, I am unable to grant you any of the rtively more powerful treasures."


    Wu Yuan nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in his heart. From the realm master''s words, it seemed he was going to provide assistance?


    "Based on your ount, this worm devil possesses the ability to produce devil soldiers at the Spiritual Body phase," the realm master stated, "And since it��s willing to dispatch one for an expedition, it signifies the presence of at least one devil soldier of the same caliber, or perhaps even two, or three, guarding itsir within the devil soil."


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan''s heart sank.


    "I can only grant you two more treasures," the realm master solemnly said, "The first one is a fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman."


    The realm master waved a hand, conjuring a purple talisman that crackled with lightning, and sending it toward Wu Yuan. Numerous intricate patterns were etched on the talisman. To date, it was the mostplex talisman Wu Yuan had ever seen.


    The art of talisman crafting was deeply profound, equivalent to the path of alchemy and equipment forging.


    "Imprint your vital aura on it, and you��ll be able to activate it at will. However, do bear in mind that despite its destructive power, it can only be used once," the realm master warned, "It does not discriminate between friend and foe, but it should be capable of obliterating arge group of devil soldiers or a devil soldier at the Spiritual Body phase."


    "Thank you, Realm Master," Wu Yuan replied with palpable excitement.


    A talisman capable of eliminating a Spiritual Body devil soldier? With such a trump card in his possession, his chances of victory soared considerably.


    "I also recall you mentioning that there are several ninth-stage Qi Sea phase cultivators in the Middle Land." the realm master said, "The second treasure I grant you is an array."


    "Relying solely on your own strength to confront the worm devil is futile. The cultivators of the Middle Land must unite their strength. The most efficient method to unite multiple cultivators for a coordinated assault is through the utilization of an array,��


    With a wave of the realm master��s hand, a gold disk the size of a watermelon materialized out of thin air. Alongside it were four gold gs.


    ��This array?�� As Wu Yuan��s gaze fell on this array, his eyes lit up. The aura exuded by the four gs rivaled that of the Septet Ignis Array, and appeared even more refined.


    "im ownership and the corresponding information will be made known to you," the realm master instructed.


    Wu Yuan nodded and gently ced a hand on the disk. As he infused the array with eldritch ether and imprinted it with his vital aura, a torrent of information flooded out from the array into his consciousness.


    <i>The Goldstone Penta Array requires the coordination of three cultivators for activation, and can amodate five cultivators at most. With metal at its core, the cycle of the five elements perpetuates endlessly. Among the numerous five elements arrays, it is one of the deadliest.</i>


    The five elements were the five mostmon Daos in heaven and earth, and many cultivators chose to contemte them. For example, the profundity of the Land that Wu Yuan sought toprehend was a subset of the earth element, whereas Fang Xia chose toprehend the Gold Dao, which was a subset of the Metal Dao.


    "You guessed right, Fang Xia will lead this array.�� The realm master chuckled.


    ��Remember, it isn��t a big deal if you lose the gs, but the array disk is important. As long as the array disk is secure, the array gs can always be recreated through the patterns on the array disk. Moreover, only by wielding the disk can one harness the full potential of the array,"


    "The destructive power of this array is rtively high. A group of fivete-stage Qi Sea cultivators controlling the array can rival a Spiritual Body devil soldier. That��s why Fang Xia must be the leader. Do you understand?"


    ��Yes,�� Wu Yuan nodded. He carefully stored both the Heavenly Thunder Talisman and the array disk and gs with a wave of his hand.


    "Right, you mentioned the existence of a voidrealm in the Middle Land. Show me the voidrealm jade."


    Wu Yuan nodded once more. Turning over his palm, the hall jade appeared and flew toward the realm master.


    The towering figure effortlessly caught the jade. It looked ridiculously tiny in his hands, akin to an ordinary human holding a button.


    In an instant, the hall jade burst into light, as though numerous beams were piercing through its surface. Less than a breathter, the jade returned to its normal state.


    "Here you are," the realm master said nonchntly, casually tossing the hall jade back to Wu Yuan. "An eighth-grade voidrealm, far inferior to the sixth-grade variety possessed by the Hou Feng Tribe, is still a rarity in the humble Middle Land."


    "I have made some modifications to this voidrealm jade," the realm master continued. "Henceforth, this voidrealm jade may be used to establish two separate identities."


    "Two identities?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. He had been grappling with how toe up with an excuse for why ��Wu Yuan�� was unable to enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Unexpectedly, the realm master effortlessly resolved his dilemma, providing a way to avoid arousing suspicion.


    "There��s no need to be surprised; it is not a difficult task," the realm master exined softly. "A voidrealm is essentially an artifact that simtes Soul Force, and as such, there are methods to deceive its core essence."


    "Thankfully, this is just an eighth-grade voidrealm," the realm master mused. "If it were a seventh-grade voidrealm, I would be powerless to help you."


    "Thank you, Realm Master," Wu Yuan said gratefully. Even if Wan Liu''s identity as Wu Yuan��s persona were to be exposed, it wouldn��t significantly impact the overall situation. But, the fewerplications, the better.


    "Wu Yuan, this is all I can do for you," the realm master said slowly. "From this point onward, you are on your own."


    "Remember, when all seems lost, do your best to survive!" The realm master said.


    Wu Yuan chuckled, giving a non-reply.


    "Are you prepared to depart?" the realm master inquired.


    "Yes!"


    An array of dazzling lights converged on Wu Yuan, swallowing him whole before he disappeared from the temple.


    1. The passage tells the story of the philosopher Zhuang Zhou, who dreamed that he was a butterfly. When he woke up, he could not tell if he was Zhuang Zhou dreaming that he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming that it was Zhuang Zhou. The passage is often interpreted as a meditation on the nature of reality and the rtionship between the self and the world. It suggests that the distinction between dreams and reality is not always clear, and that our sense of self is fluid and ever-changing. ?

 Chapter 246: To Live Without Regrets (2)

    <h4>Chapter 246: To Live Without Regrets (2)</h4>


    The realm master stood alone in the majestic temple, his voice a low rumble. "Haiz. Wu Yuan, if you had chosen the path of retreat, if you had refused to fight for thend that raised you, I must confess that I would��ve been slightly disappointed."


    "But by choosing to fight, the oue is almost certainly death. I only hope...that you return alive."


    The realm master wasn��t concerned about the fate of the Middle Land. Having lived for countless years and witnessed the catastrophic disaster 100,000 years prior, what was a tiny Middle Land to him? In macrocosms, wars of catastrophic proportions often shattered entire worlds, iming countless lives in their wake.


    What truly weighed on his mind was Wu Yuan��s life. Should Wu Yuan perish, finding another suitable sessor in the short term was practically impossible!


    Yet as a spirit, his influence over Wu Yuan was limited to advice. Thews of the Fourth Eldritch Realm prohibited him from coercing Wu Yuan into any course of action.


    ...


    The moment Wu Yuan departed the Fourth Eldritch Realm, he wasted no time, sprinting right back towards Cloudhill.


    <i>There��s no time. The Heavenly Rankers of various factions are still deliberating on the strategy. After that, we still have to learn the controls for the array.</i>


    It took time for one to learn and familiarize themself with the controls for the coordination array, it wasn��t something that could be achieved in a day.


    <i>Every moment is precious. Hordes of devil soldiers have already made their way to the surface. As we n our countermeasures, they are wreaking havoc upon thend, ferrying flesh and blood back to the devil soil. This will fuel the growth of the worm devil, allowing it to develop at an unprecedented rate.</i>


    <i>I must deliver the Goldstone Penta Array to Fang Xia as quickly as possible. We still need to select suitablete-stage Qi Sea cultivators to control the array with him.</i>


    The fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman was powerful, but it was a one-time-use artifact. It was the array that would be pivotal for their victory in the uing battle.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan sped up.


    ...


    In the distant Wu Continent, a group of figuresnded on the highest floor of the headquarters of the Wu Sect. Leading them was an aged man with a weathered face. He wore ck robes and exuded an otherworldly aura.


    "Wan Xing," Emperor Dong Pan approached the group.


    "Dong Pan, it��s been many years since our pathsst crossed. I never expected a cmity to bring us together again." Wan Xing smiled.


    As the two peak powerhouses chatted, the Heavenly Rankers from the Wu Sect and the Sta Consortium maintained a respectful distance.


    "Dong Pan, have you devised any viable solutions?" Daoist Wan Xing inquired with a chuckle.


    "With Senior Wan Liu unwilling to lend assistance, the only method I can think of is to employ an array," Emperor Dong Pan replied. "During the battle at Cloudhill, the array employed by Great Jin was led by Jin Ji and a group of mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. Its destructive power was no joke."


    "With Jin Quan or Fang Xia leading the array, along with thebined might of seven ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators, we might stand a chance at infiltrating the devil''sir and killing the devil worm," Emperor Dong Pan proposed seriously.


    "It seems our thoughts align," Daoist Wan Xing nodded approvingly. "Have you managed to contact Jin Quan?"


    "He has relinquished ownership over the hall jade," Emperor Dong Pan sighed, shaking his head. "However, I have managed tomunicate with Jin Ji, who revealed that Jin Quan is presently in absolute seclusion and cannot be contacted under any circumstances."


    "Absolute seclusion?" Daoist Wan Xing''s brow furrowed. "I��m guessing this Jin Quan is just afraid of death. Doesn��t he understand that there are no unbroken eggs under a copsed nest?"


    "We can��t force Jin Quan to participate if he refuses," Emperor Dong Pan stated. "Jin Ji has agreed to join the battle and is willing to contribute the array, but he has two conditions. Firstly, he insists on being the sole leader of the array disk. Secondly, Fang Xia must return the six array gs currently in his possession to Great Jin after the battle.��


    ��This father and son.�� Daoist Wan Xing''s eyes glinted with a hint of frost, unable to contain his anger.


    Emperor Dong Pan sighed, understanding and sharing his frustration. Still, anger wouldn��t solve the problem at hand.


    After a moment of silence, Daoist Wan Xing spoke in a low voice, "Dong Pan, prepare to contact Jin Ji and Fang Xia once more. We must attempt to negotiate. This array will be crucial in the battle against the worm devil."


    Emperor Dong Pan nodded in agreement.


    ...


    Less than half an hourter, Wu Yuan, who had been sprinting without sparing his eldritch ether, returned to Cloudhill.


    "Young Master," Fang Xia greeted, approaching Wu Yuan. He had been waiting in the air above Cloudhill the whole time.


    "Old Fang," Wu Yuan nodded. "What is the current situation? Any news from Middle Land Immortal Hall?"


    Wu Yuan had yet to enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall since he left for the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    For qi refiners, sending a thread of consciousness into the voidrealm wouldn��t hinder their actions in the physical world. With Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, such actions would have no impact on him whatsoever.


    "Nothing significant happened," Fang Xia stated, shaking his head. "A few Heavenly Rankers made suggestions, but they aren��t too effective."


    "I was pressured by Jin Ji to return the array gs I had seized previously," Fang Xia continued, his tone tinged with annoyance. "He proposed that a group of ninth-stage Qi Sea phase cultivators join forces to wield the array."


    "Who willmand the array disk?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Jin Ji himself," Fang Xia replied. "ording to Jin Ji, Jin Quan will not participate in this battle."


    ��How calctive.�� A chill shed through Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    None of them were fools. If Jin Quan was in control of the array, that was tolerable. But Jin Ji? Though he was an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, how could hepare to the likes of Daoist Wan Xing, Arctic King, and others in terms of mana, arcane arts, andbat experience?


    "Young Master, I��m worried that Jin Ji''s participation in the battle is merely a diversion, and his true intention is to reim the Septet Ignis Array''s array gs," Fang Xia cautioned, shaking his head.


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Young Master, is the realm master willing to aid us?" Fang Xia asked with a hint of anticipation.


    "The realm master is unable to handle the worm devil either," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "But he has provided some assistance."


    "Take a look at this." Wu Yuan turned his palm upward, and a golden array disk materialized in his hand, with four intricate array gs slotted into it.


    The invisible pressure released from the array caused Fang Xia''s eyes to widen with awe. "An array disk?"


    It appeared to be no ordinary one as well.


    "Old Fang, this is a five elements array with metal as its core element. The realm master has specifically requested you to lead it. Take your time to learn its controls," Wu Yuan exined.


    "As for the Septet Ignis Array, I believe we should consult Daoist Wan Xing and the others. After all, manpower is needed to activate the array. Even if the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jinbined its forces, I doubt they can muster sevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators," Wu Yuan said.


    Fang Xia nodded eagerly, his excitement palpable as he epted the array disk. Having immersed himself in the study of arrays for over a century and reached the Domain stage ofprehension, his understanding of array disks far surpassed Wu Yuan''s.


    After a quick examination, Fang Xia eximed, "What an impressive array! With this array at our disposal, our chances of victory will vastly improve."


    "Old Fang, I��ll be entrusting this array to you. Take your time to decipher the controls. However, we must retain our ownership over this array disk." Wu Yuan said.


    "Of course," Fang Xia replied with confidence. "When ites to controlling arrays, is there anyone in the Middle Land who would dare challenge my expertise?"


    ...


    Two hourster, a handsome, youthful figure d in white robes materialized in the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "This is Wu Yuan, direct disciple of Senior Wan Liu," announced Daoist Wan Xing. "He has already reached the Communion phase and will participate in the uing battle against the worm devil."


    Wu Yuan cupped his hands. "Wu Yuan pays his respects to Seniors."


    His words immediately captured the attention of every Heavenly Ranker in the Conference Hall.


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "Isn��t he just 21 years old?"


    "A 21-year-old Heavenly Ranker?"


    "Heavens!" Every Heavenly Ranker was left astounded, grappling with the incredulity of Wu Yuan��s age.


    He was by far the youngest Heavenly Ranker throughout the history of the Middle Land.


    Wu Yuan smiled inwardly. After his hall jade was altered by the realm master, he was now able to assume multiple identities in the Middle Land Immortal Hall. The only issue was that Wan Liu and Wu Yuan could not be present in the Middle Land Immortal Hall at the same time.


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, it is a pleasure to meet you! Senior Wan Liu has mentioned you," Daoist Wan Xing stepped forward with a thin smile, pushing down his tumultuous emotions. "A body refiner in his twenties, truly an extraordinary talent."


    "I also hold great admiration for Senior," Wu Yuan responded solemnly.


    A brief exchange of pleasantries took ce. Though everyone was shocked by his age, any additional Heavenly Ranker was a good thing given the crisis they were facing. Someone with a strong background and exceptional talent like Wu Yuan was particrly wee. Therefore, all the Heavenly Rankers showed great enthusiasm.


    ...


    Elevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators, including Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, Daoist Wan Xing, the Arctic King, Jin Ji, as well as twote-stage Communion cultivators, Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King, gathered for a meeting at the front of the Conference Hall. These thirteen individuals represented the highest echelons of the Middle Land.


    "Senior Wan Liu is willing to provide a powerful arrayparable to Great Jin''s?" Fang Xia''s words sparked excitement among Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others. A powerful array was extremely effective in battle.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, you have reached the Domain stage of Daoprehension, ranking second only to Senior Wan Liu in terms of personal strength," Daoist Wan Xing remarked. "You should be the one to control this array disk."


    "I concur. Daoist Fang Xia possesses great expertise in arrays," the Arctic King agreed.


    The rest had no objections.


    The array disk was provided by Wan Liu, hence it essentially belonged to Fang Xia. With Fang Xia''s strength, it was natural that he would assume the position of array leader.


    "I recall that Great Jin also possesses a powerful array," Qiong Sea King suddenly spoke up. "The array gs are in Fang Xia��s possession, are they not?"


    "Indeed, the array gs are with me," Fang Xia confirmed.


    Qiong Sea King continued, "I propose that Fang Xia hands the array gs to the other Daoists, and that Wan Xing leads the array."


    "In the interest of preserving the safety of the Middle Land, I am willing to relinquish the array gs," proimed Fang Xia righteously. "Entrustingmand of the array to Daoist Wan Liu is undoubtedly the most suitable course of action. I wholeheartedly endorse Daoist Qiong Sea''s proposal."


    ��Mm.�� Qiong Sea King nodded, turning his immense eyes to Jin Ji. "What say you, Daoist Jin Ji?"

 Chapter 247: Vanguard (1)

    <h4>Chapter 247: Vanguard (1)</h4>


    Emperor Dong Pan, the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Mountain Devil King, and the other peak powerhouses of the Middle Land turned to face Jin Ji at the same time.


    The pressure of their stares caused Jin Ji to curse inwardly. <i>That damned Qiong Sea King, why do you have to meddle in matters that don��t concern you?</i>


    Other than the Goldstone Penta Array, the only other known coordination array in the entire Middle Land was the Septet Ignis Array, of which both Great Jin and Fang Xia controlled severalponents.


    Now that Fang Xia had not only revealed a new array but also agreed to relinquish the array gs of the Septet Ignis Array, coupled with the previous intelligence provided by Wan Liu, it was evident that the forces of Middle Land, particrly Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and others, saw the Cloudstride Sect in a favorable light. If Jin Ji were to refuse, he would provoke the ire of all the factions in the Middle Land!


    But if he agreed? Once he surrendered the array disk, reiming it would prove difficult. And if he chose to retreat at a critical juncture, taking it with him was basically impossible.


    "Jin Ji, don��t waste everyone''s time, speak up," growled Qiong Sea King aggressively.


    The Heavenly Rankers found this disy entirely reasonable. As the top Archdemon and king of the ocean, Qiong Sea King naturally exuded a domineering air.


    "Daoist Jin Ji, this matter is important," Emperor Dong Pan fixed Jin Ji with a stare.


    All eyes were now on Jin Ji, awaiting his response.


    "Fellow Daoists," Jin Ji''s gaze swept across the gathering as he spoke, "Iprehend the gravity of this situation. However, the array disk of the Septet Ignis Array must be controlled by a member of the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin. I believe it would be fitting for Daoist Zhao Xing tomand the array disk."


    He paused briefly before continuing, "Furthermore, I propose that Daoist Wan Xing takemand of Daoist Fang Xia''s Goldstone Penta Array. Also, after the battle is concluded, the array gs of the Septet Ignis Array must be returned to the royal family of Great Jin."


    The gathering fell silent. All of them knew that Jin Ji was shameless. But this level of audacity was beyond anything they expected, leaving them speechless.


    "Jin Ji, your shamelessness is truly beyond saving!" Qiong Sea King bellowed with fury. His massive draconic form rose, towering over the others. "Fang Xia��s array mastery is unmatched and the array disk and gs are all provided by him. It is only right that he leads the array."


    "And you? Just a single array disk with no apanying gs. What good is that? The fate of the Middle Land hangs in the bnce, yet you��re here scheming and obstructing everyone. Do you take us for fools?" The Qiong Sea King''s rage intensified as he turned to Zhao Xing, challenging him with a fiery gaze. "If Jin Quan were leading the array, I wouldn''t say a word. But that old fogey isn��t even willing to fight, hoping to sit back and wait for the benefits to drop into hisp."


    "If you piss me off, believe me when I say I��ll devour everyst offspring of the Great Jin royal family, starting with Jin Cang." The Qiong Sea King''s fury reached its zenith.


    Hearing this, Jin Ji''s expression flickered. Jin Cang was the current generation��s Emperor Jin. Jin Ji was all too aware that Qiong Sea King feared no consequences as the ruler of the South Ocean.


    "Daoist Qiong Sea, I believe..." Zhao Xing attempted to interject, but was swiftly cut off by the enraged Qiong Sea King.


    "I don��t give a damn what you believe!" Qiong Sea King thundered. "You three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin are always speaking of unifying the Middle Land. Yet, when the Middle Land is faced with a cmity, you persist in scheming and plotting. Unify my w! It would be more fitting for you to give up your territory."


    Qiong Sea King''s fiery temper left the leaders of various factions stunned. No one had anticipated such a vehement disy from the typically reserved Qiong Sea King.


    More importantly, Qiong Sea King was in the best position to speak out. Firstly, as an Archdemon, he did not hail from the continents of the Middle Land and was not bound by its politics. Secondly, he possessed incredible strength, and was one of the most senior figures present. Even before Daoist Wan Xing''s rise to fame, he had already established himself as the reigning king of the South Ocean. Andstly, he was a body refiner, and would not derive any personal gain regardless of who led the array.


    Hence, Qiong Sea King''s opinion was impartial in their view.


    "Why don��t you name me someone from the Middle Land who surpasses Wan Xing and Fang Xia in terms of array mastery?" Qiong Sea King continued without missing a beat.


    "Zhao Xing, do you think you can do a better job than Wan Xing at leading the array?" Qiong Sea King fixed his gaze on Zhao Xing.


    The others remained silent, their eyes on Zhao Xing.


    Zhao Xing smiled bitterly, reluctant to speak. He was confident in his abilities, but iming to be better than Daoist Wan Xing? That was rather oundish.


    "Everyone, let''s hear your thoughts." Qiong Sea King scanned the crowd.


    It was then that Rong Le, who had remained silent the entire time, directed a question to Jin Ji. "Jin Ji, is it true that your father will not be participating in the battle?"


    "He��s currently in seclusion, and unable to join the uing conflict." Jin Ji said.


    Rong Le''s tone remained measured as he continued, "Then, please hand over the array disk. Daoist Wan Xing will lead the array. Our intention is not to covet your treasure, but rather to secure the survival of the Middle Land."


    ��Exactly!�� Niu Hao nodded in agreement.


    "Daoist Qiong Sea, Daoist Rong Le, your proposals makeplete sense," the Arctic King added his support. "Daoist Jin Ji, please hand over the array disk. Rest assured, once victory is achieved, the treasure shall be returned to you."


    In that moment, representatives from the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin - Jin Ji, Zhao Xing, and Hai Feizhang - found themselves standing alone in a sea of overwhelming pressure.


    Jin Ji��s face turned visibly ugly. "Very well," he conceded, his voiceced with suppressed frustration. "I will hand over the array disk. However, I hope Fellow Daoists can make good on your promise, and return the array to me once the battle is won."


    ...


    Soon, the peak powerhouses of the Middle Land reached a final decision. The Septet Ignis Array team would be made up of Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Rong Le, and Jin Ji.


    Meanwhile, the Goldstone Penta Array team would consist of fourte-stage Qi Sea cultivators, namely Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Bei Li, and Liu Junxing, as well as the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase cultivator Wu Nonghan.


    Bear in mind, only qi refiners could control coordination arrays.


    ...


    ��Master, how was my performance?�� Qiong Sea King''s voice reverberated in Wu Yuan��s mind.


    ��Not bad!�� Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    It was Wu Yuan who had orchestrated the coboration between Qiong Sea King and Fang Xia to rally forces of the Middle Land, exert pressure upon Great Jin andpel them to relinquish their hold over the Septet Ignis Array.


    This was precisely why Wu Yuan had kept his rtionship with Qiong Sea King concealed all this time. Qiong Sea King was his hidden weapon. At critical moments, he could strike with maximum effectiveness.


    Concluding their conversation, Wu Yuan turned his thoughts to the two arrays.


    <i>The Septet Ignis Array has more bnced stats, while the Goldstone Penta Array is optimized for offense, capable of unleashing devastating strikes. Both arrays are capable of matching a Golden Core Superior.</i>


    They would be relying heavily on these arrays for the uing battle.


    <i>However, this matter concerns the survival of the Middle Land. Jin Quan would rather lose ownership over the Septet Ignis Array than emerge from seclusion?</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    Though Wu Yuan had never met Jin Quan, he was felt a sense of unease toward the man. This was a figure who had shaken the Middle Land for 200 years.


    <i>He may be scheming something, but whatever it is, it cannot be worse than the destruction of the Middle Land.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Compared to Jin Quan, the worm devil was the real threat.


    <i>The worm devil must be eliminated. The arrays will serve as our main offense during the battle. Unfortunately, there isn��t much I can do to assist them in that aspect.</i>


    <i>However, qi refiners are weak at defense. During the decisive battle, it will be body refiners like myself and Qiong Sea King who will y a pivotal role.</i>


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on a jade tform, sending a thread of Soul Force into the hall jade and into the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    He focused the rest of his mental energy on cultivating.


    <i>I��ve just reached the third stage of the Communion phase. Making a breakthrough to the next phase before the battle begins will not be possible.</i>


    The cultivation of vital ether could only be done one step at a time. There was no way to expedite the process.


    <i>In terms of artifacts, I have the eldritch battle armor and a metal attritbue, eighth-stage spirit battle saber Fang Xia forged for me. I won��t be able to get my hands on any stronger artifacts. Even if I do, I doubt I��d be able to wield them effectively.</i>


    <i>There are some ways to augment my strength in a short span of time. Firstly, the Teng Snake.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the presence of the embryonic creature within his soul chamber.


    The Teng snake egg had been consuming his vital ether for over a year. If not for the incubation of the Teng Snake, Wu Yuan would have nearly reached the fourth stage of the Communion phase by now. However, the birth of his lifebound eldritch beast promised to grant him an exponential surge in his overallbat power.


    As for when exactly the long-awaited hatching would ur? Wu Yuan could not be sure.


    <i>Soon.</i> Wu Yuan perceived the vigorous vitality pulsating within the Teng Snake egg. <i>I only pray it will emerge before the imminent sh.</i>


    <i>Secondly, the Domain stage.</i> Wu Yuan attuned his senses to the profundity of the Land, and the majestic power contained within the Land. Years of cultivation had deepened hisprehension of this Dao. Now, he was just a hair��s breadth away from the Domain stage. However, breaking through that final bottleneck was also the most difficult part.


    ...


    As time passed, Heavenly Rankers would asionally materialize in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, conversing with Emperor Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, and Fang Xia, exchanging ideas and formting potential solutions.


    These three individuals gradually emerged as the undisputed leaders of the Middle Land. Jin Quan could have stood beside them, had he so chosen. However, he opted to seclude himself when the Middle Land was beset by a cmity.


    Wu Yuan, seemingly a mere bystander, activelymunicated with Fang Xia throughout this period, proposing numerous suggestions from the knowledge he had acquired.


    After six hours, the number of Heavenly Rankers gathered in the Middle Land Immortal Hall reached a startling figure of 70, many of whom Wu Yuan was seeing for the first time.


    In the face of this crisis, numerous Heavenly Rankers who had been keeping a low profile, as well as new Qi Sea cultivators, had chosen to take a stand and fight.


    ...


    The 70 Heavenly Rankers assembled in the Conference Hall.


    Emperor Dong Pan came to the center. "Fellow Daoists, first and foremost, I am pleased to announce that 70 valiant Heavenly Rankers have already pledged to join the battle. This assembly represents the pinnacle of the Middle Land. Never before have so many Heavenly Rankers gathered in one ce. However, we must remain grounded in reality. The battle that lies ahead is poised to be an arduous one, and sacrifices will be inevitable. Many Daoists here will fall."


    The Heavenly Rankers listened quietly. The attendees were a mix of humans and Archdemons, though humans made up the majority. All of them had put aside past grudges, uniting to fight for the future of the Middle Land.


    "Four hours ago, I received updates of the situation in the Huang Continent from Daoists in the Xi Continent, Nan Continent, Holy Continent, and Huang Temple, who recorded the scene with projection arts," Emperor Dong Pan said. ��I��ve selected two projections that provide the best representation of the situation. Please observe.��


    <i>Swoosh~</i> Two light screens materialized in the air, drawing the gazes of Wu Yuan and the others upward. The first screen disyed a majestic mountain range, lush with greenery. Suddenly, the earth trembled and beasts scurried away from the mountain desperately.


    ��This is a mountain range in the northern region of the Huang Continent,�� Emperor Dong Pan provided context.


    Suddenly, the screen revealed a monstrous, ck-scaled creature descending from the skies. Its four wings sliced across thend, reducing the beasts to mangled flesh with terrifying precision.


    The colossal creature opened its maw, unleashing an invisible suction force that sent all traces of the dead beasts flying into its mouth.


    <i>Roar~</i> As the creature unfurled its wings and disappeared into the distance with blinding speed, the first scene came to an end.


    "Just as Senior Wan Liu described, the massive bodies of these devil soldiers are designed to store the flesh and blood of their prey. They hunt tirelessly, delivering their gruesome spoils to the devil''sir." Emperor Dong Pan exined.


    The atmosphere in the assembly turned grim. Therge influx of flesh into the devil''sir would undoubtedly elerate the growth of the worm devil, spawning even more soldiers.


    ��Let��s watch the second projection.�� Emperor Dong Pan said.

 Chapter 248: Vanguard (2)

    <h4>Chapter 248: Vanguard (2)</h4>


    The Heavenly Rankers turned their attention to the second light screen.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes constricted.


    The scene of the second projection was straightforward. It showed a 40-meter-long, ck-scaled creature wreaking havoc on a small tribal vige. The creature showed no mercy as it hunted down the hapless humans, swallowing them whole amidst their screams of terror and wails of agony. Limbs were torn asunder, and blood stained the earth.


    This gruesome disy stirred fury within the Heavenly Rankers, and their eyes burned with anger. Even many Archdemons couldn��t help but frown.


    Yet, it was the conclusion of the projection that truly horrified them all.


    After devouring hundreds of humans, the ck-scaled creature began to writhe and howl violently. The buildings within the vige crumbled and copsed as the ground shook.


    Then, a pair of wings burst forth from its back, and the creature expanded in size. In just two breaths, it grew from 40 meters to 80 meters, its wings spanning an astonishing 200 meters when fully extended. With a final, thunderous roar, the transformed creature took flight, disappearing into the sky.


    The second light screen projection came to an end, leaving the Heavenly Rankers with ugly expressions.


    "A breakthrough?"


    "It matured so quickly?��


    "Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan''s voice cut through the murmurs of unease. "Senior Wan Liu''s intelligence failed to mention this. After consuming flesh and blood, these worm devil soldiers will grow rapidly, quickly reaching the Communion phase."


    "The only good news is that the devil soldiers who have reached the Communion phase seem unable to continue developing by solely consuming flesh and blood," Emperor Dong Pan said.


    ��There must be countless juvenile devil soldiers within the devil��sir. If we allow these juvenile soldiers to persist in their massacre, can you imagine the number of devil soldiers that would arise?"


    The Heavenly Rankers buzzed with discussion, their gazes brimming with frustration and fury. Wu Yuan mirrored their somber expressions.


    The intel provided by the realm master had neglected to mention this crucial detail. After all, hell devils were a rare sight in the vast macrocosm, let alone worm devils.


    It could be said that the immortal slips from the realm master were somewhat outdated andckedplete information.


    However, this detail immediately upended all their previous ns! The Communion devil soldiers appeared to number just over a dozen during the first wave. But how many juvenile devil soldiers were there? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand?


    <i>If all these juvenile devil soldiers transform into Communion devil soldiers?</i> Wu Yuan shuddered at the thought of Communion devil soldiers nketing the skies and thend.


    Even if they all remained at the first stage of the Communion phase, it would be a nightmare once they grew to a certain size. What��s more, these countless Communion devil soldiers could cannibalize each other and transform rapidly into Spiritual Body phase devil soldiers.


    Forget everything else, as long as the number of Spiritual Body devil soldiers reached the double digits, the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land could forget about putting up a resistance, it would be a futile battle!


    <i>No wonder the immortal slips stated that once a worm devil is born, it will be the bane of countless worlds.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. With this new information, he understood that the Middle Land was frightfully short on time.


    ...


    "Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan addressed the assembly. "I trust that everyone here understands what the juvenile devil soldiers'' ability to grow and transform rapidly means for us. Although the Huang Continent''s poption is small, it stillprises tens of millions of humans, not to mention countless beasts and marine life in the surrounding seas."


    "The transformation of these juvenile devil soldiers is not an instantaneous process. They must first reach a length of 40 meters and consume a massive quantity of flesh and blood before they can undergo this metamorphosis."


    "However, if we allow these devil soldiers to feast unhindered, it is likely that we will face hundreds, even thousands of Communion devil soldiers by the end of the month."


    "We cannot afford any further dys, we must not grant the worm devil any additional time to grow."


    "Therefore, after extensive deliberations with Daoist Fang Xia, Daoist Wan Xing and other cultivators," Emperor Dong Pan''s gaze swept over the gathering of Heavenly Rankers, "Twelve cultivators, namely Daoist Niu Hao, Daoist Wan Xing... Daoist Wu Han Nong, and I will immediately begin familiarizing ourselves with the array controls. Once we have mastered the array controls, we shall rally all the Heavenly Rankers, storm the worm devil��sir, andmence the decisive battle!"


    "During this familiarization period,�� Emperor Dong Pan continued, "Daoist Qiong Sea and Daoist Mountain Devil will lead 58 Heavenly Rankers into the Huang Continent. Their objective will be to eliminate the juvenile devil soldiers and any scattered devil soldiers, thereby impeding the worm devil��s growth."


    ��Are there any objections?" Emperor Dong Pan''s voice reverberated through the Conference Hall.


    Not a single objection was raised. The determination in the eyes of all the Heavenly Rankers was clear.


    "Then, for the Middle Land, let us depart," Emperor Dong Pan dered slowly.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Huan Jian, and Bu Yu simultaneously opened their eyes, rising from their respective jade tforms in the jade chamber under Cloudhill.


    "The three of you will be venturing forth to the Huang Continent to join the first wave of counterattacks," Fang Xia said in a deep voice.


    "Ancestor, I haven''t had a chance to fight since bing a Heavenly Ranker," Huan Jianughed, "A fight with the devil soldiers will certainly be thrilling."


    "We''ll be going ahead," Bu Yu also smiled, "But we will be depending on you for the final battle, Ancestor."


    Fang Xia nodded approvingly.


    The other four cultivators who would control the array with him were ted to rendezvous at Cloudhill. Thus, Fang Xia would wait here for their arrival.


    "Here are some pieces of spirit equipment I have refined for you, though they are still prototypes. I was intending to refine them further once the earthfire had stabilized. Unfortunately, it appears we have run out of time," Fang Xiamented, a wistful sigh escaping his lips as he flicked his wrist.


    Three radiant streaks shot toward Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian respectively. The three deftly caught the objects.


    "Alright, time is of the essence. If there��s anyone you wish to meet or any matters you wish to wrap up before you go, make it quick," Fang Xia instructed. "Once you have concluded your affairs, make your way to the Huang Continent as soon as possible. The sooner you join the battle and the earlier we begin killing the devil soldiers, the greater our odds of victory.��


    ��Remember, should you find yourselves facing an enemy you cannot withstand, retreat and seek assistance via the Middle Land Immortal Hall."


    "You may proceed," Fang Xiamanded.


    "Understood!" The three of them nodded in unison, and swiftly left the jade chamber.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan found himself in the air above Cloudhill City. From his vantage point, the city pulsed with life.


    Street vendors peddled their wares, innkeepers extended warm greetings to travelers from all directions, childrenughed and yed, and youths practiced their martial exercises on the training grounds.


    It was a symphony of beauty.


    <i>This...is the mortal world I hold dear.</i> Wu Yuan''s lips curled into a faint smile as he descended swiftly,nding silently in a sprawling courtyard of an opulent estate.


    <i>The Wu Mansion.</i> Wu Yuan scanned thepound. More resplendent than ever before, the pavilions and courtyards of the Wu Mansion were a breathtaking sight to behold.


    <i>Hum! </i>Light twisted and Wu Yuan arrived hundreds of meters away,nding in another courtyard. In the distance, a group of giggling girls yed in a pavilion while a noblewoman in exquisite garments sat on a stone bench.


    <i>Mother.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a smile.


    Ever since his sister had devoted herself to martial arts, their mother, Wanqin, had taken in orphaned girls, raising them as her own.


    <i>Forgive me, Mother, I cannot be filial this time. </i>Facing Wanqin, Wu Yuan knelt on both knees and respectfully kowtowed three times. No one noticed his presence. He didn''t wish to disturb his mother. There was no need for it.


    <i>Once Fang Xia and the others have mastered the array controls, the battle willmence. It couldst anywhere from three to seven days. If we emerge victorious, then there is no reason to give mother cause for concern. However, if we lose the battle, it will take several months before the worm devil rampages across the Middle Land. There is no need for Mother to bear the burden of such knowledge. It is better to let her live in peace for a while longer.</i>


    As for his sister? With a quick sweep of his Soul Force, he confirmed her safety. After a moment''s consideration, he decided not to disturb her either.


    <i>It��s time.</i> Wu Yuan shot into the sky, swiftly heading towards the Huang Continent, which was situated tens of thousands of li southwest of the Jiang Continent.


    ...


    <i>On the Wu Continent.</i>


    "Today, the Heavenly Rankers from all corners of the world will assemble at the Huang Continent." Sang Gu''s gaze swept over the two Heavenly Rankers standing before him.


    "This cmity was brought about by our Huang Temple. Now, we are the only Heavenly Rankers that remain from the temple. Whether it be for retribution or redemption, we shall stand at the frontlines of his battle. Retreat is out of the question."


    "Let us proceed!"


    ...


    The northernmost frontier of the Bei Continent was a world of ice and snow.


    "You three mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators are to patrol the area individually and eradicate the devil soldiers," the Arctic King addressed the five silhouettes standing before him. "You two are still weak. Work together to eliminate the enemy."


    "This battle is fought for ourselves, for the Arctic Alliance, and above all, for the Middle Land.��


    ��After this battle concludes, I hope you see all of you back here at the Alliance Sacred Mountain, alive and well," the Arctic King said in a deep voice.


    "Go forth!"


    "Understood!" The five Heavenly Rankers transformed into streaks of light, vanishing into the sky.


    "Bei Li, it��s time that we leave for Cloudhill," the Arctic King turned to a man with flowing ck hair by his side, a smile gracing his lips. "The two of us brothers managed to unify the North. With the world''s heroes congregating, we mustn��t fall behind."


    "Mm." Bei Li inclined his head ever so slightly.


    The oue of this battle had yet to be decided, yet Bei Li had never harbored a shred of doubt towards his elder brother. They were brothers in life and death.


    The twote-stage Qi Sea cultivators of the Arctic Alliance swiftly journeyed southward.


    ...


    <i>On the Dong Continent.</i>


    <i>Haha. Even though I��ve lived for more than 400 years, I still failed to take the final step. What a waste of my years. </i>Daoist Wan Xing gazed down at the bustling city beneath him, the ce he had safeguarded for over four centuries.


    "Let��s move out!"


    Together with Liu Junxing, the two made their way towards the Holy Continent, while the other Heavenly Rankers of the Sta Consortium made their way towards the Huang Continent.


    ...


    <i>In the vast South Ocean.</i>


    "My three brothers," the colossal Qiong Sea King looked like a small mountain as he peered down at the three massive Archdemons before him.


    "Haha! I don''t have much to say. We��ve basked in centuries of glory and prosperity alongside each other. Now, we shall endure hardships together."


    "Humanity is always vying for supremacy." Qiong Sea King''s voice resounded through the heavens and earth, "We cannot afford tog behind. Make sure to y more devil soldiers so us Archdemons don��t lose face."


    "Haha, Big Brother, they��re merely devils, while we are demons." Mountain Devil King who resembled a colossal turtle chuckled, "Demons and devils have been rivals since ancient times. While humans fear devils, we do not."


    "ughter!"


    "ughter!"


    The four Archdemons swiftly made their way from the South Ocean to the Huang Continent.


    ...


    <i>Year 3231 of the Eastern Martial calendar, 9th of May.</i>


    On this day, 58 Heavenly Rankers hailing from the Bei Continent, the Yan Continent, the Dong Continent, the Qiong Continent, and many more left their homes behind. They emerged from their factions, from the depths of ancient forests, from the unfathomably deep ocean, leaving behind their descendants and embarking on their journeys almost simultaneously!


    Their starting points were diverse, yet, they were headed for one singr destination��the Huang Continent!


    Their temperaments, life journeys, ages, and races varied. And yet, today, they found themselves united under a singr banner��vanguard!


    For the Middle Land��s survival, they would stand at the frontlines of this battle.

 Chapter 249: Unstoppable (1)

    <h4>Chapter 249: Unstoppable (1)</h4>


    Within the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, a massive three-dimensional projection of the map of the Middle Land was suspended in mid-air. Numerous green light dots, marked with a unique numeric identifier, moved around the map. Dozens of these dots headed straight toward the Huang Continent.


    70 Heavenly Rankers sat in a circle within the hall, their connection to the Middle Land Immortal Hall maintained with a strand of Soul Force. In times as dire as these, the Wu Sect spared no effort to ensure the continued operation of the immortal hall.


    "Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan began solemnly. "By altering the settings of your hall jade, you can share your real-time physical location in the Middle Land. Furthermore, I have granted everyone here authorization to project images of your surroundings into the immortal hall via the hall jade."


    A series of light screens materialized above the Heavenly Rankers, capturing their actions in the physical world. Gradually, more and more screens appeared, disying the scenes of individual Heavenly Rankers.


    "The worm devil shares a mental connection with all its devil soldiers. Though they may appear scattered, they are actually a unified force capable of surrounding us with ease," Emperor Dong Pan stated. "Our only means ofmunication is the Middle Land Immortal Hall."


    Nods of agreement rippled through the gathering of Heavenly Rankers.


    <i>These holographic projections connected via Soul Force allow us tomunicate with zerotency no matter our position, be it in the sky, onnd, or under the sea. </i>


    It was far better than the virtual metaverse, whichgged when one exceeded a certain distance in the real world.


    <i>And these are just some basic functions of voidrealms.</i>


    The immortal slips mentioned the existence of top grade voidrealms capable of forging instantaneous connections across dimensional nes and worlds. It seemed almost magical.


    A voidrealm was the world of a soul!


    <i>The true immortal path is definitely not to be an ascetic that spends all his time cultivating in seclusion on some mountain in the wilderness, relying on the whims of the heavens to provide them with natural treasures. </i>


    He shook off his numerous thoughts.


    <i>I��ll soon reach the Huang Continent.</i> Wu Yuan quickened his pace,paring his location to the position of the green dot on the map. <i>I should be among the first to set foot on the Huang Continent.</i>


    ...


    "Once all 58 Heavenly Rankers enter the Huang Continent, the map area disyed will narrow down to the Huang Continent, eventually shrinking further to a circle with a diameter of 20,000 li, known as the devil zone," Emperor Dong Pan ryed. "This will provide clearer positioning for each daoist."


    ��From Senior Wan Liu��s intelligence, devil soldiers rarely stray more than 10,000 li from the worm devil. Thus, limit the range of patrol to a radius between 500 li to 10,000 li from the devil��sir. While patrolling, please scan your surroundings with Soul Force. Any area that has been scanned once will be marked in white, and will change to yellow once it has been scanned twice.��


    ��In the event that you encounter a Communion devil soldier, the green light dot representing your position will turn red, alerting nearby Heavenly Rankers toe to your aid. However, if faced with a Spiritual Body devil soldier, immediate retreat is advised.��


    ��Your mission is to eliminate as many devil soldiers as possible starting from the peripheral area of Huang Continent, ensuring that none are missed. Once the two arrays are ready for activation, we will form a circle with a 500 li radius around the devil��sir, then charge in to eliminate the worm devil.��


    The Heavenly Rankers listened silently to Emperor Dong Pan��s instructions. Without the Middle Land Immortal Hall, they would be as coordinated as headless flies, easily picked apart and killed by the devil soldiers under the worm devil��s control.


    But with the Middle Land Immortal Hall, they could share and receive information instantly, giving the immortal cultivators of Middle Land a fighting chance. Whether it was the wars between mortal kingdoms orrge-scale battles between immortals, intelligence was the key to victory.


    ...


    <i>The Huang Continent!</i> Wu Yuan took another step and soared through the air, crossing thousands of li in the blink of an eye beforending. As he journeyed onward, the mountain peaks wed higher, their stony brows furrowed against the sky. Emerald tendrils, woven by ancient trees, draped thendscape, and beneath them, and remote winding paths stretched across thend.


    <i>The Huang Continent is truly massive. The area designated as the devil zone upies only a fraction of the entire continent.</i>


    ...


    "Makendfall!"manded Qiong Sea King.


    The fishermen on the shore watched in shock as the ocean writhed in sudden agony, then, a massive jiaolong burst out of the water. Its azure-scaled body stretching over 60 zhangs, undting in the air. It headed straight ind, followed closely behind by a ck turtle the size of a small mountain.


    ...


    Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, a figure in ck robes spoke in a deep voice. "I have entered the devil zone and begun patrolling.��


    "It��s Meng Geng from the Xi Continent.��


    ��He��s the first to enter the devil zone.��


    Many Heavenly Rankers turned towards him. The Xi Continent bordered the Huang Continent, hence it was natural that he would arrive first.


    "I��ve also entered the devil zone,�� a voice tinged with an eerie quality rang out, belonging to a massive blood snake.


    ��Blood Snake King. He hails from the Huang Continent.��


    As time passed, more and more Heavenly Rankers reached the Huang Continent, entering the devil zone demarcated by the Middle Land Immortal Hall and beginning to patrol the area.


    This first wave of Heavenly Rankers who had arrived were abination of local experts from the Huang Continent or individuals from the neighboring Xi, Nan, and Holy Continents. These three continents were situated closest to the Huang Continent.


    "I have entered the Devil''s Zone," a calm voice rang out, causing many Heavenly Rankers to look over in surprise.


    "Is that Wu Yuan?"


    "How did he arrive so quickly? Didn��t he set off from the Jiang Continent?"


    ��Wu Yuan arrived even earlier than ck Snake King, Fu Xinxia, and Jiang Yi.�� Many Heavenly Rankers were taken aback.


    They were all fully focused on getting to their destination in the shortest time possible and didn��t pay much attention to the movements of light dots on the map. Hence, not many had taken notice of Wu Yuan''s speed.


    "The discement from the Jiang Continent to the devil zone in the Huang Continent exceeds 60,000 li! Even if Wu Yuan had left for the Huang Continent at the earliest possible moment, his speed is still 50 li per breath at minimum.��


    ��Heavens! 50 li per breath? Sustained over an extended period?��


    ��Even sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivators would struggle to reach such a speed.��


    "Did he really just be a Heavenly Ranker?��


    ��Maybe Senior Wan Liu brought him there?�� Spections and conjectures swirled among the Heavenly Rankers.


    It was worth noting that though Wu Yuan was qualified to join them in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, he was still in his early twenties. Thus, they treated him as a junior and didn��t pay significant attention to him.


    However, his speed alone had altered their perception entirely. If he could reach such speeds through his own abilities, it was unlikely that he would be weak in other aspects. Hence, many Heavenly Rankers no longer treated Wu Yuan as a youngster who had just stepped into the Communion phase.


    ...


    The setting sun cast a golden hue on the majestic mountains.


    <i>Dozens of us Heavenly Rankers have been scouring the devil zone. However, the other Heavenly Rankers are patrolling at an excruciatingly slow pace.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Patrolling relied on more than just one��s vision. One''s view could easily be obstructed, particrly with the rugged terrain of the Huang Continent. Not to mention, devil soldiers could choose to burrow underground. Hence, Soul Force perception was equally crucial!


    <i>The Soul Force of other Heavenly Rankers can only reach a range of several hundred meters. </i>Wu Yuan extended his Soul Force<i>. But my Soul Force? It can reach a radius of more than ten li. </i>


    Years of cultivating had swiftly augmented Wu Yuan''s Soul Force range, and his sprint speed was equally astonishing.


    <i>So far, no Heavenly Ranker has surveyed the area in this direction. </i>Wu Yuan quickly decided on a path from the map projection in the Middle Land Immortal Hall andmenced his patrol.


    ...


    <i>A quarter of an hourter, within a canyon.</i>


    <i>Boom!</i> A mass of soil and rocks tumbled down in a massivendslide.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Two ck-scaled creatures, each exceeding 30 meters in length, burst out of the canyon, causing boulders to fly and the muddy soil on both sides to copse.


    A streak of earthy-yellow tore across the sky, charging straight for them.


    <i>Roar!</i> One of the ck-scaled creatures opened its cavernous mouth to take a bite at the iing attacker.


    <i>Boom! </i>The earthy-yellow figure mmed into its gaping maw and sted straight through its skull, spattering blood and scales everywhere. The enormous body crashed to the ground.


    <i>Swish! </i>Another de ray cut through the air, sending the head of the other fleeing ck-scaled creature flying.


    Two juvenile devil soldiers were dead!


    "The weaker juvenile devil soldiers possess the strength of Savant experts, while the stronger ones are on par with Grandmasters." Killing intent gleamed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. "Ordinary folk stand no chance against them."


    Only a quarter of an hour had passed since Wu Yuan entered the devil zone. Yet, he had already surveyed more than a thousand li, and these were already the seventh and eighth juvenile devil soldiers he had hunted down.


    He had witnessed countless human settlements breached and their walls shattered, as well as scores of massacred wild beasts. Each devastating scene fueled Wu Yuan''s killing intent.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> With a mentalmand, the two devil crystals lodged in the decapitated heads of the devil soldiers flew straight into his palm.


    <i>These devil crystals are essentially energy crystals, simr to etherstone. Mm, the energy each one contains matches that of a piece of mid-grade etherstone of the same size.</i>


    ording to the immortal slip, etherstone was generally ssified as low-grade, mid-grade, or high-grade!


    Ordinary etherstone used by the Middle Land''s cultivators was considered low-grade, and the so-called fine-grade etherstone mentioned by the Heavenly Rankers was ssified as mid-grade. As for high-grade etherstone? Wu Yuan hadn''t seen any in the Middle Land.


    The harvesting of devil crystals held little value in his eyes.


    <i>Unfortunately, the ck pagoda is no longer releasing blood-red mist.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head in disappointment.


    Ever since Wu Yuan��s one-armed punch strength surpassed a million catties, he could no longer assimte blood-red mist into his body. Consequently, Wu Yuan stopped replenishing the mist once it was depleted.


    After bing an eldritch warrior more than a year ago, Wu Yuan tried discreetly killing bandits on the Jiang Continent. But to his dismay, the ck pagoda no longer produced blood-red mist. At that time, he had spected that this might be due to the vast disparity in strength between himself and the bandits. Yet, he had no means to validate this assumption. Thus, for the past year or so, Wu Yuan refrained from utilizing the blood-red mist for cultivation.


    <i>Furthermore, I��m uncertain if the blood-red mist within the ck pagoda remains effective after my transcension into an eldritch warrior. Can it still enhance my physical form?</i>


    The only way to find out was to experiment. Having experienced the mystical properties of the blood-red mist early on, Wu Yuan was reluctant to abandon this power. Until now, Wu Yuan had yet to unravel the secrets behind the ck pagoda, even with his soul on par with that of Golden Core cultivators.

 Chapter 250: Unstoppable (2)

    <h4>Chapter 250: Unstoppable (2)</h4>


    <i>All these juvenile devil soldiers are controlled by the worm devil. It can sense the condition of each devil soldier. </i>


    <i>The worm devil is definitely aware that I��m killing its devil soldiers. I refuse to believe that it won��t send any Communion devil soldiers to obstruct me. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy


    <i>For each Communion devil soldier we kill now, we��ll face one less Communion enemy in the final battle.</i> Wu Yuan��s killing intent soared. <i>Perhaps, their deaths may even contribute to my cultivation. I hope the stronger devil soldiers will show up soon, the stronger the better!</i>


    The strength of these devil soldiers varied greatly. However, a devil soldier at the ninth-stage Communion phase only had the raw physical strength of a ninth-stage Communion expert with a ninth-degree immortal root. Devil soldierscked any artifacts or knowledge of ether arts, meaning their overall strength was significantly weakerpared to a ninth-stage Communion expert.


    As for Wu Yuan, although he was at the third-stage Communion phase, his base physical strength surpassed that of a ninth-stage Communion devil soldier. And this was without factoring in artifacts and ether arts. While Wu Yuan''s strength might not have reached the level of the world''s top expert, he certainly ranked among the highest in the Middle Land.


    <i>Kill! Kill them all! Even if I encounter a Spiritual Body devil soldier, I mustn��t back down!</i>


    Wu Yuan brandished his saber, continuing to patrol in the darkness. He sprinted across thend, Soul Force sweeping through his surroundings, detecting one worm devil soldier after another. With swift precision, he ughtered them all, leaving no survivors.


    ...


    Four hours passed since the first Heavenly Ranker entered the devil zone, and night had descended.


    <i>On a deste mountain.</i>


    ��Kill!�� As a blinding green light filled the sky, countless trees toppled, and dirt and rocks were sent flying. Three worm devil soldiers, each exceeding twenty meters in length, were pierced in the head by the green light, falling to the ground. The devil crystals within their heads flew into the air.


    <i>Onto the next one! </i>A figure glowing with green light soared into the sky, heading to the next patrol area.


    ...


    "The total count of juvenile devil soldiers in has now surpassed 160.��


    "Excellent!"


    "Dong Guangbo is indeed a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. His efficiency and ruthlessness inbat are truly remarkable!"


    "This strategy of patrolling and hunting down devil soldiers is highly effective." Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, numerous Heavenly Rankers discussed quietly.


    In the beginning, the Heavenly Rankers didn��t manage to find many devil soldiers. But as time passed, more than 40 of the 58 Heavenly Rankers participating in the first wave of counterattacks arrived at the devil zone. Naturally, this resulted in a tremendous increase in search efficiency.


    "Nevertheless, the most Daoist with the highest killing efficiency is none other than Daoist Wu Yuan."


    "Out of the 160 juvenile devil soldiers, he yed over 70 by himself."


    "He''s unstoppable." All the Heavenly Rankers couldn''t help but direct their gazes toward the figure in white robes, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes.


    At first nce, he seemed unremarkable, yet the projection above his head revealed intermittent scenes of blood sttering in the darkness.


    One juvenile devil soldier after another met their demise at his hands, including two that were over 40 meters long and on the verge of transforming into true devil soldiers.


    "After night fell, Heavenly Rankers found their vision limited, greatly hindering their search efficiency, but Daoist Wu Yuan appears to be unaffected by the darkness."


    "Could it be due to his powerful Soul Force?"


    "No! It��s more likely the effect of a scouting treasure granted to him by Senior Wan Liu. After all, he is a direct disciple of Senior Wan Liu."


    "When ites to killing efficiency, even Qiong Sea King cannotpare to him." The numerous Heavenly Rankers were utterly awed and humbled by Wu Yuan��s frenzied ughter.


    Wu Yuan''s efficiency at patrolling and killing was equivalent to thebined efficiency of twenty Heavenly Rankers working as a team. It was nothing short of horrifying. Even though they suspected Wu Yuan of possessing an artifact, utilizing such artifacts required considerable strength to begin with.


    By now, the fleeting scenes of Wu Yuan battling on the light screen shattered any notion of him being a weak, early-stage Communion cultivator. In their hearts, Wu Yuan''s power was undeniably on par with those at the seventh-stage Qi Sea phase. With his might, he could easily rank among the top twenty cultivators in all of the Middle Land.


    ...


    In the southern region of the Huang Continenty a deep abyss, within which was the cavernous devil��sir. This vast, ominous underworld was shrouded in darkness, its surface slick with a viscous ck substance that permeated every crevice. Countless creatures with ck scales roamed through the darkness.


    At the center of this darkir was an immense, ck sphere, spanning over 600 meters in diameter. Its surface was adorned with intricate, cryptic patterns.


    Guarding the sphere on either side were two ck-scaled creatures stretching over 300 meters in length. Their wings, once ck, now took on a crimson hue. Meanwhile, the sphere was fed by a continuous stream of juvenile devil soldiers, each no more than ten meters in length, providing the sphere with a never-ending supply of flesh and blood.


    Internally, the sphere housed a mass of semi-transparent eggs, suspended throughout the sphere or nestled within various crevices, resembling a beehive. Within these eggs were unhatched ck-scaled creatures that measured roughly a meter in length. Through numerous strange channels, they absorbed the food and nutrients, undergoing rapid growth.


    At the core of therge sphere was an orb, approximately ten meters in diameter and glowing with ck light. Its surface emitted a hazy glow, and it was devoid of the repugnant stench of blood that permeated the space surrounding it. Instead, an aura of sanctity emanated from the orb. Who would have thought that the true form of the bloodthirsty worm devils was a crystalline orb of light?


    <i>A mere bunch of lowly insects! How dare you y my soldiers? The audacity of this feeble wastnd of a world to antagonize the great Lord Xio repeatedly!</i>


    The orb red as numerous cryptic patterns intertwined, a clear disy of its wrath.


    Over countless centuries, the relentless interference of the Huang Temple inflicted blow after blow to its growth, greatly affecting its rate of development. Just when it finally managed to obtainrge quantities of flesh and blood recently, it was thwarted once more, and hundreds of juvenile devil soldiers were killed. The scale of this loss was truly staggering.


    Through its soul connection with its soldiers, the glowing orb gave itsmands. "Annihte them all! First-stage Communion devil soldiers, encircle and eradicate these insects."


    From the immortal slips Wu Yuan had read, a worm devil��s soldierscked any form of autonomous consciousness. They were simply puppets, extensions of the worm devil''s will. But while it was true that the devil worm could take over the consciousness of any soldier, it was not to say that these devil soldiers had no mental faculties.


    The devil worm had tens of thousands of soldiers. Controlling each one individually would be a nightmare. Though devil worms were considered creatures from a noble bloodline and had unique souls, this was still an impossible feat, especially so for a juvenile creature.


    It would only possess the consciousness of its devil soldiers during crucial junctures, while issuing itsmands from itsir most of the time.


    ...


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Right at the center of the devil zone, tremors of earthquakes fractured thend, causing mountains to copse. Beneath the surface of thend, slumbering winged devil soldiers awakened and emerged.


    The cultivators of the Middle Land relied on the Immortal Hall to confirm their locations. Meanwhile, the devil soldiers possessed an innate ability to sense each other. From the locations of the fallen juvenile devil soldiers, they quickly ascertained the general direction of their adversaries.


    <i>Roar! Roar! Roar!</i> The devil soldiers unfurled their wings and proceeded forth in pairs or trios,unching assaults on the periphery of the devil zone.


    ...


    Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall,the avatars of twelvete-stage Qi Sea cultivators gathered as a group to familiarize themselves with the array controls. At the same time, they maintained a fraction of their attention to oversee the situation in the devil zone.


    Each light screen disyed the various experiences of the Heavenly Ranker it tracked. The grand map projection at the center showed the patrolled areas and the whereabouts of each Heavenly Ranker.


    "The Communion devil soldiers have appeared! They are not acting alone, but in pairs or trios."


    "Run! Escape quickly!" The participating Heavenly Rankers immediately raised their vignce, preparing themselves to flee for their lives!


    "Daoist Blood Snake King has escaped."


    "Daoist Dong Boguang has escaped." As night deepened and over 300 devil soldiers were killed, the first wave of counterattacks from the worm devils arrived!


    More than 40 Communion devil soldiers materialized from all corners of the region. Though they varied in strength, none of them feared death, and they worked in groups, sending the majority of high-tier Heavenly Rankers running for their lives.


    It became evident that the initial count of around a dozen devil soldiers had multiplied exponentially in a matter of days.


    ��Not good!�� Panic gripped the avatar of a purple-robed elderly man seated on a jade tform. ��Fellow Daoists, please save me! I��ve encountered a group of six Communion devil soldiers.��


    ��Quick! Those near Gu Shan, go to his aid!�� Emperor Dong Panmanded.


    All eyes were fixed on the light screen above the purple-robed elderly man''s head. The elderly man was desperately trying to escape from the monstrous ck-scaled creatures that pursued him.


    Numerous Heavenly Rankers, guided by their hall jades, hastened to his rescue.


    But less than a breathter, Gu Shan''s agonized cry echoed through the air as his avatar in the immortal pce vanished, and the light screen vanished along with it. He had died, bing the first Heavenly Ranker in the Middle Land to perish in the battle against the worm devil.


    This tragic event sent shockwaves through the Heavenly Rankers. The battle had only just begun; they hadn''t even breached the worm devil''sir. But before they could grieve his loss, another cry for assistance pierced the air fewer than ten breathster.


    ��Help!�� A figure d in green robes grew pale. "I��ve encountered five Communion devil soldiers, two of which surpass 200 meters in length! Both are two-winged!"


    These words caused the expressions of the Heavenly Rankers present to shift. All the battle data generated by the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land was gathered and analyzed. Thosecking wings with body length below 50 meters were ssified as juvenile devil soldiers. The closer a juvenile devil soldier was to the threshold of 50 meters, the sooner their transformation into true devil soldiers.


    Those with one pair of wings were Communion devil soldiers, and of the dozens that had appeared thus far, those reaching 180 meters in length could unleash strength equivalent to the eighth-stage Communion phase.


    As for those longer than 200 meters with one pair of wings, they were most likely at the ninth-stage Communion phase. And there were two of them! Ordinary Heavenly Rankers could not hope to withstand such a group of devil soldiers.


    "I am 8000 li from Daoist Meng Cai," boomed Qiong Sea King. "It will take me more than a quarter of an hour to arrive."


    "I am 4000 li away!" bellowed Mountain Devil King.


    "I am 5000 li away," said ck Jiao King with a somber shake of his head.


    Despair consumed Meng Cai. He knew that only a cultivator at the seventh-stage Qi Sea phase would stand a fighting chance against this group of five devil soldiers. Yet among the 57 Heavenly Rankers engaged in battle, only a scarce few possessed such strength. Only Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King, both in the eighth-stage Communion phase, had absolute confidence in their abilities.


    ��Meng Cai is done for.��


    "Cursed devil soldiers.��


    "My strength is insufficient. Even if I head over to help, I��ll just be throwing my life away for nothing." The other Heavenly Rankers sighed, their hearts filled with bitterness.


    This wave of devil soldiers was simply too strong, requiring a group of Heavenly Rankers to team up to conduct a sessful rescue. Should someone with feeble strength venture into battle, such as those at the early stages of the Qi Sea phase, it would be nothing short of a death wish.


    "Don''t give up, Daoist Meng Cai! Just hold on for one more breath!" An urgent voice echoed through the air.


    In that instant, everyone��s attention turned towards a single figure. It was Wu Yuan!


    "Just one more breath, and I will reach your location!" dered Wu Yuan.


    On the light screen above his head, a vibrant earthy hue rapidly elerated to an astonishing speed, streaking through the darkness.


    "Wu Yuan''s speed is 80 li per breath!" Emperor Dong Pan blurted in disbelief.

 Chapter 251: Wu Yuan! Wu Yuan!

    <h4>Chapter 251: Wu Yuan! Wu Yuan!</h4>


    "80 li per breath?"


    "That fast?"


    "Wu Yuan is that strong?" Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Emperor Dong Pan''s words left the Heavenly Rankers wide-eyed.


    All eyes turned to the racing figure projected on the light screen. To put matters into perspective, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root had a typical flight speed of 60 li per breath.


    Naturally, individuals like Emperor Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, Niu Hao, and otherte-stage Qi Sea experts mostly established eighth or seventh-degree immortal roots. But even so, the majority of them were no match for Wu Yuan in terms of speed!


    <i>Senior Wan Liu is truly extraordinary to have raised such a powerful disciple in a matter of years.</i> Daoist Wan Xing marveled inwardly. The strength disyed by Wu Yuan surpassed his expectations.


    "Wu Yuan is this strong?" Jin Ji stared closely at the light screen.


    The stronger Wu Yuan was, the higher their odds of oveing the crisis. However, he couldn��t help but hope that Wu Yuan wouldn��t be too strong.


    <i>Young Master.</i> Fang Xia too had his eyes fixed on the light screen. Having sparred with Wu Yuan frequently over the years, he possessed the greatest insight into Wu Yuan''s abilities.


    These Heavenly Rankers were in a state of shock and surprise, but they dared not distract Wu Yuan.


    <i>Keep going! If Wu Yuan is this strong, there��s hope for me! I can survive this. </i>Meng Cai screamed silently, this faint glimmer of hope prompting him to make one final struggle.


    The seconds slowly ticked away.


    "He''s here! Wu Yuan is almost at Meng Cai��s location!" Emperor Dong Pan''s somber voice resonated, "They will soon cross paths."


    At this moment, all Heavenly Rankers diverted some attention to watch the light screen. Was Wu Yuan truly powerful enough to challenge five devil soldiers, or was it just an empty boast?


    ...


    Despite the oppressive darkness of the night, the projections on the light screen were not simted with light alone, hence the appearances of the ck-scaled, winged creatures could be vividly seen. There were a total of five of them, with the pair at the front both surpassing 200 meters in length and reaching speeds of 60 li per breath. The remaining three, though slightly smaller, still stretched over 150 meters.


    Five Communion devil soldiers charged relentlessly toward Meng Cai, their thunderous roars rupturing the silence. The air trembled as they flew past, causing the trees to quiver.


    Meng Cai first spotted these five devil soldiers from dozens of li away and fled without hesitation. But despite his best efforts, the devil soldiers were slowly closing the gap, especially the two most powerful ones in front!


    In less than a breath, the gap between the two sides diminished to less than ten li. In just two more seconds, they would reach Meng Cai.


    At that moment, a radiant earthy-yellow light shattered the darkness as a shining figure streaked through the sky. Each time he pushed off the ground, several li flew by beneath him. Each time hended, the ground buckled with the force, forming arge pit.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Each one of Wu Yuan''s footsteps was like a thunderp. Meanwhile, Meng Cai zipped through the air.


    Their paths intersected for a fleeting instant.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Meng Cai only had time to transmit a single sentence via Soul Force.


    "Go!" Wu Yuan''s response was short.


    At this moment, the light screen that tracked Wu Yuan shimmered and zoomed in, allowing the Heavenly Rankers to witness the spectacle clearly.


    Wu Yuan stood alone against the five Communion devil soldiers. The scale of these creatures dwarfed him, and he appeared as a mere speck inparison.


    A question echoed through the minds of the onlookers - Can he win?


    ...


    One breath was six seconds. Wu Yuan''s sprint speed was thirteen li per second. The two leading ck-scaled creatures matched his speed, their wings propelling them at ten li per second. They collided at a speed 33 times the speed of sound!


    The moment Wu Yuan had brushed past Meng Cai, he infused his battle saber with vital ether, which now radiated an earthy-yellow brilliance. Its de gleamed with deadly sharpness, ready to carve through any obstacle in his way.


    <i>The more devil soldiers I kill now, the fewer we��ll have to deal with during the decisive battle!</i> <i>And who knows, perhaps those two might reach the Spiritual Body phase. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cial.


    ��I��ll be sending you on your way now!��


    Power surged through his sinews and bones, and heaven and earth''s power trembled, ready to heed hismand. Wu Yuan''s legs erupted into motion. Like an arrow released from a tautly drawn bowstring, his bodyunched high into the air, his war saber held aloft.


    With a guttural roar, the ck-scaled behemoth extended its wings to their fullest extent, nketing the sky. Its body spun, scales glowing with a sinister ck light. Its wings, sharp as twin des, shed the air toward Wu Yuan.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan''s fury. A sturdy armor of earthy yellow encased his body as he leaped into battle.


    A streak of earthy-yellow brilliance illuminated the night sky, slicing through space. The saber''s trail created a fearsome de ray, shing straight for the monstrous creature''s wings.


    In a collision of cataclysmic proportions, the air convulsed, causing shockwaves to reverberate in all directions. The resulting explosion seemed to split the sky and shatter the earth. The impact liftedyers of soil and rock into the air, creating a chaotic maelstrom.


    The colossal ck-scaled creature abruptly halted. The de had shed one of its wings, spilling countless droplets of crimson into the sky. But even as the beast stumbled forward, the torn wing began to regenerate before Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>How tough!</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback by the creature��s defenses. His sh had managed to leave a wound several meters in length, yet to a devil soldier at the ninth-stage Communion phase, it was merely a scratch.


    Although the devil soldierscked understanding of ether arts and couldn��t wield artifacts, they were indeed created to protect the worm devil for a good reason.


    With a thunderous bellow, the other ninth-stage Communion devil soldier swiped a deadly w at Wu Yuan.


    The main weapons of these devil soldiers were their wings and ws. Though every part of their body could be wielded inbat, they were less effective as weapons.


    The massive w approached, obscuring Wu Yuan��s vision.


    "Scram!" Wu Yuan swung his saber, erupting with power as he struck upward.


    <i>Cling! Cling!</i> Metal rang as he parried the w with his de.


    The air quaked violently as Wu Yuan was sent hurtling through the air. The devil soldier, too, was flung away.


    In battles between mortals, one��s physical size mattered. But for cultivators? Arge body did not necessarily equate to great power. In terms of force exerted, Wu Yuan was stronger than these two Communion phase devil soldiers even without resorting to his ether art.


    <i>Boom! </i>He crashed into the ground, the impact forming a crater hundreds of meters deep. Without skipping a beat, Wu Yuan pushed off the ground and charged at the ninth-stage Communion devil soldier, whose wings were swiftly regenerating.


    Why injure ten fingers when you can sever one?


    ...


    "Wu Yuan singlehandedly faced two enemies yet he��s gaining the upper hand?" Meng Cai, who had fled far away at this point, looked back with astonishment.


    He had initially believed that Wu Yuan would barely manage to hold his ground, yet this was far from just resisting the creatures, he was outright suppressing them!


    ...


    <i>With the Middle Land Immortal Hall.</i>


    "This strength?"


    "Wu Yuan.�� Shock rippled through the gathering of cultivators, and everyone found it hard to believe their eyes.


    In apetition of brute force, Wu Yuanpletely dominated the two ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers!


    <i>Master isn��t much weaker than me at all.</i> Qiong Sea King stared at the light screen. <i>As the sessor of an Eldritch Deity, he must have cultivated ether arts. Once he employs his ether arts, he may even surpass me.</i>


    <i>It��s only been a few years... Uuu, he��s too powerful!</i>


    ...


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Deep within the dark mountain range, Wu Yuan shed fiercely with the two ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers.


    In just two strikes, he managed to overwhelm the devil soldiers, and they struggled to recover from the searing de rays that had pierced their defenses.


    As for Wu Yuan?


    <i>My physique is strong enough, and I��m equipped with eldritch armor!</i>


    The eldritch armor fortified his defenses to an extraordinary degree. The strikes from the devil soldiers were buffeted by his weapon and armor, leaving him virtually unharmed.


    Wu Yuan''s speed skyrocketed to over nine li per second, arriving almost instantly before the wounded devil soldier.


    This time, Wu Yuan did not confront the creature head-on.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The two forces shed in rapid session. Eventually, Wu Yuan found an opening. Swift as lightning, he deftly evaded the iing ws and delivered a savage sh with his saber.


    A ghastly wound opened on the devil soldier''s back and blood sprayed forth!


    Once more, Wu Yuanunched himself up, stomping down forcefully on his target. The hide of the ninth-stage Communion devil soldier was impervious to spirit equipment, but now, it was rendered apart by the force of the impact. Its colossal body plummeted, the ground rumbling in response.


    A mighty howl echoed from the devil soldier as it writhed in pain, unable to put up a fight. Just as Wu Yuan prepared to finish it off, a tail covered in menacing scalesshed towards him.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan caught sight of it from the corner of his eye.


    He quickly darted aside, avoiding the deadly tail whip. In the blink of an eye, he swiftly arrived in front of the 150-meter-long devil soldier.


    <i>Whoosh! Swoosh! </i>de rays danced. In one swift motion, Wu Yuan expertly sliced through the devil soldier''s neck, precise and merciless like a butcher.


    The massive body of the devil soldier was cleaved into two, crashing toward the earth with a resounding thud. The remaining two devil soldiers, each measuring roughly 150 meters in length, fled in panic.


    However, Wu Yuan didn''t pause for a moment, his figure shing as he darted after them. His eyes were cial shards, his saber reflecting a steely gleam.


    For a fleeting moment, the night sky was illuminated with de rays. Wu Yuan, who was on the brink of the Domain stage, had far superior martial skillpared to these Communion devil soldiers. They were onpletely different levels.


    Wu Yuan dispatched the three weakest devil soldiers in an instant. Their bodies fell to the ground, lifeless.


    <i>The ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers aren��t easy to take down, these few fifth-stage Communion devil soldiers?</i> Wu Yuan regarded their bodies with a frigid expression.


    At the Domain stage, one could tten a fourth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a mere thought, just as Fang Xia had done. For Wu Yuan, he could wipe out a few fifth-stage Communion armorless devil soldiers in just a couple of strikes.


    At this moment, the two remaining devil soldiers scattered in panic, gripped with fear.


    <i>You think you can escape?</i> Wu Yuannded, then sprang after them, his speed rising to an rming level. He swiftly made a decision, setting his sights on the severely wounded ninth-stage Communion devil soldier.


    In an instant, he caught up with the creature.


    <i>Whoosh! Boom!</i> The two sides shed once more.


    ws collided with de rays, and both tumbled and plunged into the soil.


    ...


    Within the immortal hall, all eyes were fixed on the light screen. As the fight descended underground, the projection grew fuzzy.


    The ground shuddered violently as the two battled.


    "Can Wu Yuan win?"


    "Wu Yuan is truly strong!" The Heavenly Rankers werepletely captivated by the projection, wishing they could fly over and witness the battle firsthand.


    Suddenly, a seismic upheaval shook the ground. The devil soldier burst out from the depths, its ck scales slick with fresh blood and one wing cruelly severed.


    Though unstable, it rose into the sky, whipping up clouds of rocky debris and soil.


    "Its wing is shattered."


    "It��s trying to escape, but it��s much slower than before now, approximately 30 li in a single breath." The Heavenly Rankers watched on with bated breath.


    Then, with an earth-shattering boom, a radiant figure erupted from the ground, elerating to a bone-chilling 70 li per breath. Like a meteor, it shot skyward, slicing through the wounded demon soldier with a blinding de ray.


    The ck-scaled creature, measuring over 200 meters in length, was torn asunder by the de ray. Scales scattered in all directions, blood poured out, and the two severed halves of the creature plummeted to the ground.


    An earthy-yellow figure stood in the night sky, slowly lowering his de. Trickles of crimson dripped from the de''s keen edge, sshing onto the ground.


    In just four breaths, four devil soldiers were in, and one escaped.


    Silence fell over the Middle Land Immortal Hall as the Heavenly Rankers remained transfixed in shock.


    The name Wu Yuan was now permanently etched in their minds.

 Chapter 252: The Miraculous Nature Of The Blood-red Mist

    <h4>Chapter 252: The Miraculous Nature Of The Blood-red Mist</h4>


    "Too strong!"


    "In a direct confrontation, he can kill a ninth-stage Communion devil soldier in just a few breaths?"


    The Heavenly Rankers felt themselves doubting their eyes as they watched the events unfold on the light screen.


    However, the corpses of the fallen devil soldiers sprawled on the ground were solid evidence that everything they had seen was unquestionably real!


    The figure brandished his saber against the backdrop of the night sky, shining with earthy-yellow light. His posture radiated an aura of pure dominance, leaving everyone breathless in awe.


    "So strong," Wu Nonghan breathed. "He almost seems as strong as Qiong Sea King. There��s no doubt that he has reached the pinnacle of strength in the Middle Land."


    The pinnacle of strength in the Middle Land? As a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, Wu Nonghan''s words carried weight. His statement caused numerous Heavenly Rankers to turn to the white-robed youth sitting in the lotus position. At a cursory nce, he appeared rather ordinary.


    "The pinnacle of strength in the Middle Land? Wu Yuan is certainly worthy of that status. He could even contend for the rank of top five in the Middle Land," bellowed the Mountain Devil King, shaking his head. ��Frankly, I''m uncertain if I could defeat Wu Yuan in a match."


    Hearing that, the Heavenly Rankers were stunned.


    Mountain Devil King, an eighth-stage Communion expert, was a joint ruler of the South Ocean along with Qiong Sea King and wielded great influence. His words carried immense weight!


    Throughout the Middle Land, including the South Ocean, there were barely fifteente-stage Qi Sea and Communion experts, all of whom were qualified to vie for the title of the world''s number one expert. Currently upying that coveted spot was Fang Xia, whose standing was agreed on by consensus during the sh at Cloudhill.


    Below Fang Xia were Qiong Sea King and Imperator Jin Quan. After that came Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao. If Deity Huang had not met his unfortunate demise, he too would have belonged to this tier.


    The Arctic King, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Mountain Devil King, Rong Le, Jin Ji, and Bei Li were noticeably inferior to the aforementioned group.


    The strength exhibited by Wu Yuan, though not at the level of Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan, was no weaker than that of Mountain Devil King and Jin Ji.


    "Wu Yuan is only 21, right?" Bei Li murmured. "Truly a heaven-blessed prodigy of our Middle Land. I wonder how he cultivates."


    These words sent a jolt of revtion through the Heavenly Rankers. Indeed! Bing a Heavenly Ranker at the age of 21 was already frightening enough. Yet, Wu Yuan''s strength far exceeded the average Heavenly Ranker!


    "Wu Yuan is immensely talented," Fang Xia said with a smile. "Otherwise, why would Senior Wan Liu take him as a disciple? He will y a significant role in this battle."


    "Haha, with Wu Yuan''s talent, he is bound to be the strongest in the Middle Land once we ovee this worm devil crisis," Qiong Sea Kingughed heartily.


    Their words caused all the Heavenly Rankers to nod reflexively. After all, who could deny Wu Yuan''s talent after watching him fight?


    "Fellow Daoists," Wu Yuan��s avatar in the immortal hall suddenly opened his eyes. "Let''s give it our all. The more devil soldiers we kill now, the higher our chances of winning the decisive battle."


    ...


    <i>In a corner of the Conference Hall.</i>


    "Daoist Zhao, Daoist Hai." Jin Ji''s voice resonated in the minds of Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang. This was a function essible to all members of the immortal hall. Of course, Emperor Dong Pan could eavesdrop on them if he wanted to.


    Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang turned towards Jin Ji.


    "How can Wu Yuan be this strong?" Jin Ji questioned. "He became a body refiner just recently. No matter how fast his cultivation progressed, he should only be at the second or third stage of the Communion phase. How could he easily kill a ninth-stage Communion devil soldier?"


    Wu Yuan''s power had startled Jin Ji.


    Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang exchanged nces.


    "Jin Ji, you��re not the only one confused about this." Zhao Xing replied. "We are all equally perplexed."


    "Power is never baseless," Hai Feizhang chimed in, his voice low and controlled. "From Wu Yuan''s burst speed and the power behind his saber techniques, it��s evident that his strength is on par with ours."


    "Perhaps he has established a fifth or even fourth-degree immortal root. Alternatively, he may possess a formidable artifact. Or it could be that he has mastered a legendary ether art, granting him a burst of explosive strength for a short period. There could be numerous reasons behind his power, and normally we would definitely attempt to uncover the truth. But as things stand, does the reason for his power truly matter?" Hai Feizhang shook his head.


    Jin Ji fell silent, contemting his words.


    "No matter how powerful or talented Wu Yuan is, even if he one day takes over the world, the most he could do is take our lives," Zhao Xing calmly stated. "But the worm devil craves destruction, aiming to eradicate everything!"


    "So, there''s no need to concern ourselves with the reason behind Wu Yuan''s strength. It is of no significance in the present moment. The stronger he is, the better for us! Focus on learning the array controls," Zhao Xingmanded. "Once we eliminate the worm devil, then we can consider the matter of Wu Yuan."


    ...


    "Dong Pan, I am fully prepared toy down my life in this battle," Daoist Wan Xing began a private conversation with Emperor Dong Pan.


    "Each of us has our own destined path. Wu Yuan''s strength might not only be due to his rtionship with Senior Wan Liu, but it may also have something to do with the mysterious Eldritch Chamber in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm," Daoist Wan Xing hypothesized.


    Emperor Dong Pan nodded.


    The news of what transpired within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm was not a well-guarded secret. Both Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan had carried out covert investigations into Jiexian Mountain on the Chu Continent. Regrettably, their efforts yielded no results.


    "The worm devil is the real threat at this moment; the stronger Wu Yuan bes, the better it is for us. Who cares how he became this powerful?" Daoist Wan Xing sighed. "Moreover, even without Senior Wan Liu''s support, he��s part of Fang Xia��s faction. If the two join forces, they need not fear anyone!"


    "Fang Xia is very strong," Emperor Dong Pan nodded subconsciously.


    Through learning the controls for the Septet Ignis Array, they were beginning to understand just how powerful this array was.


    Yet during the battle at Cloudhill, Fang Xia had single-handedly dismantled the array. He was undoubtedly stronger than the two of them.


    Every Heavenly Ranker in the immortal hall knew that Wu Yuan''s rapid improvement had to be the result of a fortuitous encounter, perhaps even a precious treasure. But so what? With the alliance of Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, along with Qiong Sea King��s support behind the scenes, they could boldly wage war against the entire Middle Land.


    This was why Wu Yuan unleashed his power without holding back.


    ...


    <i>In the night sky above the devil zone in the Huang Continent.</i>


    After a brief rest, Wu Yuan scanned the area with Soul Force, quickly locating the devil crystals of the four deceased devil soldiers.


    de rays sliced through the corpses, and several pitch-ck devil crystals soared upward,nding in Wu Yuan''s palm.


    <i>What dense spiritual qi. Much purer than a mid-grade etherstone.</i> Wu Yuan was silently astonished as he examined the devil crystal in his hand. <i>The devil crystal of a Communion devil soldier can likely rival a high-grade etherstone of equal size!</i>


    The four devil crystals varied in size. Thergest, acquired from two ninth-stage Communion devils, was asrge as a human head!


    <i>Combined, they weigh more than 1000 catties.</i> 1000 catties of high-grade etherstone? ording to the immortal slip, in the Greenridge Macrocosm, one catty of high-grade etherstone was equivalent to 100 catties of mid-grade etherstone and 10,000 catties of low-grade etherstone. These four devil crystals were an incredibly valuable harvest.


    <i>Sustenance is only one reason why devil soldiers grow rapidly after cannibalizing each other. The main reason is that they absorb these devil crystals. Removing these devil crystals prevents other devil soldiers from deriving the benefits of devouring these dead ones and also serves as a form of wealth.</i>


    Even if other devil soldiers were to secretly devour these fallen devil soldiers, it wouldn��t be of much use to their growth.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A figure dressed in green robes swiftly flew across the night sky andnded before Wu Yuan.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, I am indebted to you for saving my life. Without your intervention, I would surely be dead by now," Meng Cai expressed his gratitude in a humble manner.


    Though he surpassed Wu Yuan in terms of seniority and age, such distinctions held little importance on the long and treacherous path to immortality. Superiority was ultimately decided through power.


    "We��re all fighting together for the Middle Land, Daoist Meng Cai. There is no need for thanks," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile.


    While the Sta Consortium and the Cloudstride Sect had their disputes in the past, with Meng Cai previously attempting to suppress thetter, the present circumstances required them to stand united against amon enemy.


    "Daoist Meng Cai, time is of the essence. Let��s continue patrolling other areas. We can talkter in the immortal hall."


    "Very well," Meng Cai agreed, showing no hesitation despite the recent danger he had faced.


    Both individuals transformed into streaks of light, scattering in different directions.


    It was indeed risky to have weaker Heavenly Rankers patrol vast regions alone, but the devil zone covered a massive area. If they relied solely on the likes of Wu Yuan, Qiong Sea King, and a handful of top-tier powerhouses, who knew how long it would take for them to finish surveying the entire zone? How many devil soldiers could just a few of them eliminate?


    Danger and peril were inescapable in this catastrophe. How could it be otherwise? The majority of Heavenly Rankers had already prepared themselves for the possibility of death.


    ...


    Wu Yuan continued to sprint across the terrain, Soul Force scanning his surroundings. But underneath his calm expression was barely suppressed excitement.


    <i>Just as I suspected! As an eldritch warrior, only by vanquishing fellow transcendents will the ck pagoda produce blood-red mist.</i>


    The reason for Wu Yuan��s momentarypse after he dispatched the devil soldiers was not that he was ted over killing a ninth-stage Communion devil soldier. Rather, he was astounded by the tremendous surge of blood-red mist that flooded out from the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe. The quantity was staggering, its concentration far surpassing its previous levels.


    The concentration of the blood-red mist produced had multiplied tenfoldpared to when he yed a Grandmaster as a mortal.


    <i>If the previous type of blood-red mist produced is level one mist, then the current type is level two mist. It has evolved.</i>


    With his powerful soul, Wu Yuan was able to multitask effortlessly, surveying the area with Soul Force, while maintaining his avatar in the immortal hall. Simultaneously, he drew the blood-red mist into his body with Soul Force, watching the tendrils of mist assimte into his body and eradicate his fatigue.


    As for strengthening his physical constitution?


    <i>It failed?</i> Wu Yuan��s heart sank.


    Despite the significant increase in concentration, it still failed to reinforce his body further.


    <i>Is it because my body is already too strong? </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>Perhaps. A body forged with second-degree eldritch tattoos is practically invincible among cultivators at the same phase. If the blood-red mist could still enhance my strength, it would be far too ridiculous.</i> Wu Yuan reassured himself, though he couldn��t help but feel slightly disappointed.


    He had initially hoped that the blood-red mist would greatly bolster his power, increasing his confidence in oveing the worm devil catastrophe.


    <i>Next, I��ll attempt the middle dantian lobe, followed by the soul chamber. </i>Wu Yuan persisted.


    With a soft humming sound, the blood-red mist surged into the chaotic middle dantian lobe. Unfortunately, the almost fully nurtured middle dantian lobe remained unchanged.


    Without dy, faint traces of the blood-red mist flowed into the soul chamber, the transformed version of his lower dantian lobe. The soul chamber stood vast, an assortment of stored items floating about in the upper half.


    At that moment, Wu Yuan''s soul phantom was seated in the lotus position at the center of the soul chamber, circting vital ether without pause.


    Adjacent to the phantomy the Luminous Immortal Soil, which constantly released spiritual qi. This energy was absorbed through the 108 floating channels of the soul chamber.


    On the other side, a majestic vital aura emanated from the Teng Snake egg. As the first trace of blood-red mist entered the soul chamber, a resounding explosion urred. Much like pouring hot oil into water, the boundless vital ether instantly bubbled and boiled,pletely consuming the blood-red mist.


    Subsequently, the speed at which the soul chamber refined the vital qi within the floating channels skyrocketed. Twice as fast! Thrice!


    The Teng Snake egg, which had been gradually absorbing the vital ether to grow, appeared to be stirred, as its absorption rate surged considerably!


    <i>Five times!!! By killing devil soldiers and receiving blood-red mist from the ck pagoda, I can increase my speed of cultivating vital ether fivefold?</i> This revtion was mind-boggling.


    Wu Yuan had previously estimated that reaching the ninth-stage Communion phase would take him decades of cultivation. But now, as long as he had the assistance of the blood-red mist, it could be aplished in just ten years at thetest.


    <i>And it��s not just the refinement of vital ether.</i> Wu Yuan could feel his excitement building as he perceived the Teng Snake egg. <i>Its rate of vital ether absorption has increased by over ten times! In two days at thetest, the Teng Snake will hatch! </i>

 Chapter 253: Spiritual Body Devil Soldier (1)

    <h4>Chapter 253: Spiritual Body Devil Soldier (1)</h4>


    Ever since he became an eldritch warrior more than a year ago, Wu Yuan dedicated his vital ether to nurturing the Teng Snake egg, hoping that it would hatch as soon as possible. Wu Yuan initially estimated that it would hatch in half a month to a month.


    However, at this critical juncture, disaster struck in the form of the worm devil. The cmity proliferated swiftly, and the devil soldiers showcased strength beyond their imagination. In just three to five days, it was likely that they wouldunch the final decisive battle.


    But now, the blood-red mist emerging from the ck pagoda exhibited a miraculous effect��though it could no longer strengthen Wu Yuan''s physical constitution, it certainly quickened his cultivation progress.


    <i>The cultivation of essentia is basically to circte essentia constantly, perpetually expanding the qi sea��it is a process that spans many years. Cultivating vital ether simrly necessitates an ongoing process of expansion and fortification of the soul chamber. One simply cannot rush the process.</i>


    It was just like how human growth adhered to the rules of natural biology; one couldn��t grow fat from a single mouthful of food. The cultivation of mana followed the same principle as well. Absorbing the spiritual qi from heaven and earth, as well as the spiritual qi from etherstone and the Luminous Immortal Soil, merely allowed one to improve the type of ��nourishment�� they consumed, facilitating elerated growth, yet there existed a limit to the speed of progress.


    But now, the blood-red mist melded into the soul chamber, merging with the vital ether, improving Wu Yuan''s progress several times over. The blood-red mist had an even more pronounced effect on the Teng Snake egg''s growth.


    <i>Even if I exert myself to the fullest extent and unleash Eldritch Form, my power still falls short of Old Fang��s.</i> Wu Yuan clearly understood this. The Domain stage granted one truly frightening power!


    <i>I��m not even able to match Old Fang, much less the two arrays. Take, for instance, the Goldstone Penta Array��once activated under Old Fang''smand, it has the potential to put up a decent fight against a true Golden Core Superior.</i>


    It stood a good chance of winning against first or second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers.


    <i>However, the moment the Teng Snake emerges from its shell, not only will my strength skyrocket, but the Teng Snake itself will be a formidable fighter. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart swelled with anticipation. He could sense the Teng Snake egg''s rapid growth within his soul chamber.


    <i>Hm? There are devil soldiers in the vicinity!</i>


    Wu Yuan came to a sudden halt, his Soul Force delving deep into the earth below. A colossal devil soldier over 100 meters long lurked underground, concealed beneath the earth.


    <i>Boom!</i> A burst of power surged through his legs as Wu Yuan split the ground and into the depths.


    ...


    The Middle Land epassed thirteen continents, along with the overseas Feng Continent, Qiong Continent, and tens of thousands of inds scattered in the South Ocean. It was home to billions of people and a myriad of beasts.


    On this particr night, apart from the inhabitants of the Huang Continent, themon folk went about their lives as they had for millennia, resting as the sun set.


    Deep within the remote wilderness, amidst towering mountains and dense forests, the Heavenly Rankers of the Middle Land waged a brutal battle against the devil soldiers, determined to secure the fate of their homnd.


    The world was oblivious to these events. Still, not a single Heavenly Rankerined or faltered in their resolve. They understood that this battle was their duty and burden to bear.


    ...


    "Go to hell!"


    "Roar!"


    In the skies, Qiong Sea King��s massive body disyed astonishing agility. With a force that seemed to rend the sky and split the earth, it smashed its draconic tail into a devil soldier, causing its head to explode.


    ...


    "Devour!" Mountain Devil King, asrge as a miniature mountain, opened its gigantic maw. An invisible suction force caused a devil soldier, almost the same size as him, to fly toward him.


    <i>Boom!</i> Mountain Devil King violently headbutted the devil soldier.


    ...


    "Meteor shower, fall!" Dong Guangbo, a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, was among the strongest Heavenly Rankers participating in the first wave of attacks.


    Explosive booms filled the air as mes poured down like a cascading meteor shower, setting the night sky alight. Amidst this zing sea, devil soldiers writhed and howled in agony.


    ...


    As the night deepened, the worm devil''s ferocious counterattack incited a series of bloody shes between the Middle Land��s cultivators and the numerous Communion devil soldiers.


    More and more devil soldiers joined the fray, executing themands of the worm devil. The rtively powerful devil soldiers moved individually, while others gathered in droves to unleash synchronized assaults.


    With each ensuing battle, the tension in the Middle Land Immortal Hall grew. With Emperor Dong Pan acting as the warmander, countless Heavenly Rankers patrolled for devil soldiers while simultaneouslymunicating with the immortal hall and seeking reinforcements when necessary.


    The initial wave of Heavenly Rankers was rtively weak, hence their confrontations were marked by a brutal disy of bloodshed. In the firstrge-scale sh, over 40 devil soldiers met their demise, with nearly 1000 juvenile devil soldiers wiped from existence.


    However, the worm devil swiftly adapted andunched a second retaliatory strike. By midnight, over 200 devil soldiers joined the battle at the same time. In just a single hour, eight Heavenly Rankers sumbed to their relentless assault!


    Besieged by a horde of more than ten devil soldiers, even the powerful Dong Guangbo perished before the other Heavenly Rankers coulde to his aid. A wave of grief swept through the immortal hall. In this second wave, two battles in particr left all the experts dumbfounded.


    The first battle revolved around Qiong Sea King. Unleashing the terrifying might of a ninth-stage Communion cultivator, he engaged in a massive confrontation against eight devil soldiers. Ultimately, he killed six of them, including two ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers.


    The second battle revolved around Wu Yuan. Perhaps because the strength Wu Yuan unleashed in the first wave was far too frightening, he found himself surrounded by more than ten Communion devil soldiers in the second wave, the weakest of which was at the sixth stage.


    Up till now, Wu Yuan had yet to reveal his ether arts, refusing to expose his trump card to the worm devil. Nevertheless, Wu Yuan emerged triumphant from the skirmish by relying on his indomitable defense and vitality!


    Under the watchful eyes of dozens of Heavenly Rankers, Wu Yuan confronted the army of devil soldiers again and again. Each time, he found himself besieged by uncountable foes, yet just like an invincible war deity, he simply refused to retreat or go down!


    Finally, after a full ten breaths of intensebat, eight devil soldiers died, while four flew away in defeat. On the other hand, Wu Yuan stood with his back against the night sky, as steady as a mountain.


    This awe-striking spectacle not only left the devil soldiers in a state of terror, but also evoked astonishment and reverence from all the Heavenly Rankers of the Middle Land.


    "Wu Yuan''s vitality defies allprehension!"


    "His defense is strong enough to withstand a direct assault from a ninth-stage Communion devil soldier? Such an opponent would make even Qiong Sea King hesitate to confront head on!"


    "Though his saber technique may not rival Qiong Sea King''s w technique in sheer power, Wu Yuan possesses a vitality that could very well match Qiong Sea King��s." The Heavenly Rankers looked at Wu Yuan with renewed gazes.


    During the first wave of the battle, Wu Yuan exhibited remarkable offensive power and speed. And in the second wave, he disyed astonishing defense.


    "In terms of overall strength, Wu Yuan deserves to be ranked among the top five in the Middle Land," eximed Daoist Wan Xing, "In a battle to the death, neither I nor Emperor Dong Pan can be absolutely confident of defeating him!"


    In just one night, nine Heavenly Rankers from the Middle Land met their demise. However, the vanguard felled more than 100 Communion devil soldiers and thousands of juvenile devil soldiers, a staggering loss for the worm devil.


    As if recognizing that the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land were a tough nut to crack, the devil soldiers began to retreat.


    As dawn broke on the Huang Continent, the vanguard of Heavenly Rankers scoured the outskirts of the devil zone, yet only a few dozen juvenile devil soldiers were spotted. Not a single Communion devil soldier was found.

 Chapter 254: Spiritual Body Devil Soldier (2)

    <h4>Chapter 254: Spiritual Body Devil Soldier (2)</h4>


    "The worm devil''s army has withdrawn!


    "This confrontation has taken its toll on the worm devil, it must be unwilling to suffer greater losses.��


    "Even with vast reserves of flesh and blood, nurturing hundreds of devil soldiers is no simple task.��


    "Already, the worm devil has issued orders for the remaining devil soldiers to retreat deeper into the devil zone.��


    Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, numerous Heavenly Rankers came to a swift consensus �C to momentarily halt their attacks.


    The triumphs of the previous night were significant, but the costs incurred were equally devastating. Thus, they chose to turn their focus to patrolling the perimeter of the devil zone, affording themselves a much-needed respite.


    However, as dusk fell, a realization began to dawn on the Heavenly Rankers. Given its noble bloodline, a worm devil was not one to simply concede defeat due to the loss of a few devil soldiers. The purpose of its existence was rooted in carnage and destruction. Why would it fear them?


    The reason the devil soldiers hid during the day was to rest and recover from the devastating blow dealt by the Middle Land��s powerhouses. The worm devil was merely regrouping its troops, gathering strength for what was toe.


    Then, it began!


    Three swarms of devil soldiers emerged at different locations on the outskirts of the devil zone, obliterating vast stretches ofnd and mercilessly ying an unfortunate Heavenly Ranker that crossed their path. These swarms were all led by Spiritual Body devil soldiers spanning over 300 meters. Under theirmand were more than ten devil soldiers at the sixth-stage Communion phase or higher.


    At that moment, all cultivators of the Middle Land realized the grave truth �C the worm devil was sending out its main forces.


    "Retreat!"


    "Quickly withdraw!"


    "Leave the devil zone immediately!" Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, and others frantically issuedmands, the panic evident in their voices.


    At this point, warnings were unnecessary. Countless Heavenly Rankers were already scrambling to flee the devil zone. Yet, the rampaging Spiritual Body devil soldiers possessed eyesight capable of seeing 10,000 li into the distance, allowing them to target and capture the escaping Heavenly Rankers from the sky.


    Just fifteen minutester, Mountain Devil King found himself pursued by a swarm of devil soldiers. They appeared to target him specifically due to his strength.


    Thankfully, Mountain Devil King, an eighth-stage Communion cultivator, possessed the vitality and power to endure their attacks until Qiong Sea King arrived.


    No words needed to be exchanged as they crossed paths.


    Layered armor, resembling scales, cloaked Qiong Sea King''s massive frame. Without hesitation, Qiong Sea King dove headfirst into battle.


    "Spirit battle armor!"


    "Heavens! Qiong Sea King possesses spirit battle armor? When did he acquire it?" gasped the Heavenly Rankers, their astonishment evident.


    No one anticipated that Qiong Sea King held such a powerful trump card.


    "Roar!" The colossal Spiritual Body devil soldier bellowed, hurtling towards Qiong Sea King at a terrifying velocity.


    <i>Boom!</i> The sh between these two titans created an explosion that seemed to shake the foundations of the world.


    "They��ve collided!��


    "What incredible speed! Spiritual Body devil soldiers are indeed difficult opponents. Their bodies are as hard as armor, no wonder the Huang Temple''s array could only inflict superficial wounds on it.��


    "Qiong Sea King is at a slight disadvantage.��


    "The wings, scales, and ws of the Spiritual Body phase devil soldier are all weapons, and it can recover quickly from injuries. This cultivation phase is truly deserving of the name ��Spiritual Body��."


    "Though Qiong Sea King is physically weaker, hepensates for it with his extraordinary skill and technique, and has the support of an artifact. Thus, he is only at a slight disadvantage." The Heavenly Rankers looked on anxiously. Qiong Sea King represented the apex ofbat power among the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land.


    "Kill!" bellowed Qiong Sea King. With the protection of his spirit battle armor, he fought with unrestrained fury against the Spiritual Body devil soldier.


    His decision to confront the enemy head-on stemmed not only from his desire to save Mountain Devil King, but also the need to assess the strength and capabilities of Spiritual Body devil soldiers in preparation for their inevitable decisive battle.


    Victory in battle was achieved by understanding both oneself and one''s enemy.


    It was only after Qiong Sea King retreated with Mountain Devil King, leaving the devil zone, that the Spiritual Body devil soldier gave up its pursuit and turned back.


    ...


    In a different region of the battlefield, Wu Yuan plunged headfirst into a swarm of devil soldiers to save several Heavenly Rankers, including Bu Yu. He found himself entangled in a fierce struggle with them, one of which was at the Spiritual Body phase.


    Both sides unleashed their devastating might, leaving a trail of destion that stretched for numerous li in their wake.


    Relying on his vitality and speed, Wu Yuan took down three Communion devil soldiers, and then escaped from the Spiritual Body devil soldier. His strength could be said to rival Qiong Sea King!


    However, Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King could only hold back two of the three swarms of Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Consequently, the third swarm wreaked havoc upon the cultivators of the Middle Land, inflicting countless injuries and iming the lives of five Heavenly Rankers.


    In the wake of this staggering loss, the surviving Heavenly Rankers made a strategic retreat from the devil zone, regrouping at the North Huang City some 2000 li away. The city was the thirdrgest of its kind in the Huang Continent, housing a poption of millions.


    ...


    The atmosphere in the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall was heavy and solemn.


    Daoist Wan Xing swept his gaze across the assembly of Heavenly Rankers, speaking with a grave voice, "This is what it means to go to war against a devil. This is what it means to face a cmity. However, our sacrifices have not been in vain. We have seeded in eliminating a considerable number of devil soldiers, evenpelling the worm devil to deploy its Spiritual Body devil soldiers."


    Emperor Dong Pan added, "From another perspective, our vanguard has struck a nerve of the worm devil. We are fortunate that Daoist Qiong Sea and Daoist Wu Yuan participated in this battle. If not for them, the casualties resulting from the worm devil''s retaliation would have been even more devastating."


    At that moment, the Heavenly Rankers turned toward Qiong Sea King and Wu Yuan with grateful expressions.


    Qiong Sea King��s reputation was known far and wide, and he had long held the title of King of the South Ocean. Thus, no one was surprised by the strength he disyed. On the other hand, Wu Yuan��s name swiftly rose to prominence, and his standing at the pinnacle of the Middle Land in strength was solidified.


    ...


    The appearance of the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers had caught all the Heavenly Rankers off guard. The strength of the worm devilpletely surpassed their expectations.


    After some discussion, it was decided that the 40 or so Heavenly Rankers would temporarily rest in North Huang City and await the arrival of the arrays. From what they could tell, their only hope of eliminating the Spiritual Body devil soldiersy in the arrays.


    The majority of Heavenly Rankers sought ces to rest and recuperate.


    Meanwhile, within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and Niu Hao, met up with Qiong Sea King and Wu Yuan.


    Daoist Wan Xing spoke, "Daoist Qiong Sea, Daoist Wu Yuan, the Spiritual Body devil soldiers are too powerful. Any other Heavenly Ranker who encounters them will most likely meet their end. Henceforth, patrolling the devil zone is no longer a viable strategy. Only the two of you have sufficient strength."


    "Therefore, if the two of you are confident, would you be willing to venture into the devil zone alone and continue hunting the devil soldiers?" Daoist Wan Xing continued. ��We hope that you can hinder the growth of the worm devil as much as possible."


    "Especially you, Daoist Wu Yuan," Emperor Dong Pan couldn''t help but interject. "Your individual hunting efficiency is equivalent to that of dozens of Heavenly Rankers."


    The cultivators couldn''t help but shift their gaze towards Wu Yuan. In terms of power, Qiong Sea King was slightly superior. But when it came to patrolling and killing efficiency, Wu Yuan was the undisputed number one!


    Thus far, Wu Yuan could be considered the biggest contributor to the fight against the worm devil.


    "I require half a day of rest." Qiong Sea King said glumly. "My ether has been greatly depleted."


    Feeling the intense scrutiny on him, Wu Yuan shook his head. "I need a day to regain my strength."


    The Teng Snake was about to hatch!

 Chapter 255: Hatch! Fifth-Stage Communion Phase (1)

    <h4>Chapter 255: Hatch! Fifth-Stage Communion Phase (1)</h4>


    "One day?" Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing exchanged nces.


    Typically, even if Qi Sea and Communion phase cultivatorspletely depleted their mana, they only required two or three days to fully recover their mana via refining spiritual qi. Should they choose to absorb the spiritual qi in etherstone to replenish their mana, this process would take even less time.


    "Daoist Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, I believe Wu Yuan has a good reason for requesting a day of rest." Fang Xia interjected. "You can''t be thinking that he��s afraid of death, right?"


    This statement evokedughter from everyone. Wu Yuan had more than proven his strength and courage. How could anyone think that he was scared?


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, please ept our apologies. We were too impatient," Daoist Wan Xing said sincerely. "It��s just that at the rate the devil soldiers are growing, I��m worried there might be unforeseen changes."


    "Daoist Wan Xing, there��s no need for apologies, when ites to safeguarding the Middle Land, our priorities align," Wu Yuan replied in a deep voice. "The truth is, my recurrent battles against the devil soldiers have granted me some insights, especially after I faced the Spiritual Body devil soldier. I believe a period of meditation will allow me to apply these insights, and perhaps amplify my strength."


    "Oh?" Fang Xia, Daoist Wan Xing, and Emperor Dong Pan perked up.


    Wu Yuan was only 21 years old. From his age alone, everyone understood that his strength must have developed at a mind-boggling rate. His talent surpassed theirprehension.


    Treading the perilous line between life and death over numerous battles invariably drew out a person''stent potential. Therefore, when Wu Yuan imed that he had gained some insights, no one had a reason to doubt him.


    "A rise in strength is always a wee development. There��s no rush," the Arctic King nodded. "Daoist Wu Yuan, your immortal root must be incredibly strong."


    Emperor Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, and the others couldn''t help but direct their gazes towards Wu Yuan. Even though Qiong Sea King was Wu Yuan''s spirit beast, there were some details that his master did not share with him either. A flicker of curiosity crossed the jiaolong��s eyes.


    "Forgive me for my curiosity. If my question is inconvenient, please disregard it," the Arctic King shook his head.


    This was definitely a sensitive question among cultivators.


    "It''s not a big secret," Wu Yuan responded. "Furthermore, I believe Fellow Daoists will alle to know it in due time. I established a fourth-degree immortal root."


    "Fourth-degree!"


    "No wonder."


    "A fourth-degree immortal root, That must be the reason for your rapid progress," Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan eximed in awe.


    They had long suspected that he had established a strong immortal root. A fourth-degree immortal root was within their expectations.


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    A fourth-degree immortal root...even in the Greenridge Macrocosm, a cultivator with such an immortal root would be deemed a prodigal talent. Such talents would even be considered core members of most immortal sects.


    One had to understand that numerous Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators were only able to establish sixth or seventh-degree immortal roots.


    Revealing a fraction of his strength on asion wasn��t necessarily a bad thing. Furthermore, while Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the Arctic King appeared to be in high spirits, Wu Yuan understood that deep down, a trace of despair wormed its way into their hearts.


    The worm devil was far too strong. Just a few swarms of devil soldiers were enough to coerce the cultivators of the Middle Land into evacuating the devil zone. The cultivators hadn��t even begun to infiltrate the devil''sir.


    "A fourth-degree immortal root."


    "Unbelievable. From all the records I��ve read, such prodigies are scarce, even during the prime of the Summerpeak World," Daoist Wan Xing said emotionally. "Daoist Wu Yuan has most likely reached the fourth or fifth stage of the Communion phase, and isn��t much weaker than us."


    ��It��s a pity,�� Emperor Dong Pan shook his head slightly. "Given Wu Yuan''s rate of progress, he could reach the ninth-stage Communion phase in just a few decades. By then, he��ll be able to defeat a Spiritual Body devil soldier in a one-on-one battle."


    "But there��s no time for Wu Yuan to develop to his full potential," Fang Xiamented.


    Fang Xia, more than anyone, understood how shocking Wu Yuan''s progress was.


    All devil soldiers had ninth-degree immortal roots, and were much weaker than experts of the same phase. However, when it came to first-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers, their raw base strength equaled that of a ninth-stage Communion cultivator with a third-degree immortal root.


    Throughout the Middle Land, few dared to confront the Spiritual Body devil soldiers head-on. As for defeating them? After understanding theirbat power through the projections, Fang Xia didn��t have a single ounce of confidence.


    "Wu Yuan, focus on cultivating," Daoist Wan Xing said. "During the decisive battle with the worm devil, the two arrays will be our main forces. But you and Daoist Qiong Hai will y equally crucial roles. The arrays are estimated to arrive in the Huang Continent within two or three days."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.


    ...


    The Huang Continent, while often deemed a barbaric and miasmic region of the Middle Land, housed nearly 100 million inhabitants.


    North Huang City, the thirdrgest city in the Huang Continent, had a poption of more than a million people.


    But now, chaos reigned.


    "Run!"


    "A terrifying devilish beast has emerged in the South."


    "The temple has beenid to waste, and it��s rumored that Deity Huang has fallen."


    "Heavenly Rankers from the world''s various factions have rushed to the Huang Continent, but they��re struggling to defeat the devilish beast."


    "Escape! Flee to the Nan Continent!" Countless rumors spread like wildfire throughout North Huang City��some mere spection, while others were true.


    After all, the Huang Temple had indeed been reduced to ruins. The so-called devil zone, originally the core stronghold of the Huang Temple, had been embroiled in fierce battles for the past two days. Subsequently, many powerful martial artists escaped to the Huang Continental City.


    With the sudden appearance of numerous Heavenly Rankers, including the gigantic Qiong Sea King, Mountain Devil King, and other imposing Archdemons, rumors instantly began spreading, causing a wave of panic to sweep through the city''s nobility andmon folk alike. In a desperate attempt to escape the disaster, families fled to the Xi, Holy, and Nan Continents.


    Amidst the turmoil, Sang Gu and ck Jiao King took action, utilizing thest vestiges of power the Huang Temple still held to quell the unrest. Meanwhile, other Heavenly Rankers observed from the sidelines.


    <i>Sigh, the people are always the victims of change. </i>Wu Yuan perched atop a lofty mountain situated roughly ten li from North Huang City. He surveyed the entire city, witnessing the disorder that had taken hold. A weighty burden settled on his heart.


    So far, North Huang City was better off than most other ces since the devil soldiers had yet to reach this area. Meanwhile, within the devil soldier-infested regions in the devil zone, the casualties were immeasurable.


    ��Master, if we eradicate the worm devil, peace will naturally return to the Huang Continent,�� Qiong Sea King coiled itself beside Wu Yuan, his voice rumbling, ��But failure to win the decisive battle would seal the fate of these ordinary humans, regardless of where they flee.��


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. What did the Heavenly Rankers fight with such desperation? Selflessness? Of course not. They were simply left without alternatives. Even surrender wasn��t an option. When pushed to such dire straits, fighting to the death became their only option.


    "Qiong Sea, we must keep our connection a secret," Wu Yuan instructed telepathically. "Guard me while I focus on my cultivation."


    Both of them had already disabled the hall jade''s projection function. They also blocked the hall jade, ensuring Emperor Dong Pan could not spy on them through it.


    Qiong Sea Kingughed, "Master, rest assured. Even if Spiritual Body devil soldiers arrive, I can hold them off. Besides, with ck Snake King and Sang Gu controlling the array, no one will ambush us."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. The Huang Temple hadid an array over the North Huang City. Devil soldiers usually stayed within a range of 10,000 li from the devil��sir, but with the rapid growth of the worm devil, who knew if this norm would be broken?


    More than 40 Heavenly Rankers either meditated or toured the city, enjoying thest moments of calm before the storm.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan dug out a cave on the barren mountain and began cultivating.


    <i>Teng Snake egg!</i> Wu Yuan sensed silently.


    Streams of blood-red mist surged into his soul chamber, infusing the Teng Snake egg with vital ether. Over the course of a year, the egg gradually turned crystal clear and somewhat transparent, revealing the lifeform curled up inside.


    ��Master...Master...I...�� Faint ripples of energy were released from the egg


    Wu Yuan''s soul phantom felt a surge of warmth. Lifebound eldritch beasts were not puppets devoid of consciousness. Instead, they possessed self-awareness, as though the soul chamber was giving birth to life. This distinction set them apart from lifebound equipment such as flying swords and diagram arrays.


    <i>Soon.</i> Wu Yuan patiently waited. Meanwhile, he silently attuned himself with the vast expanse of thend below him, feeling wave after wave offorting warmth nourishing his heart.


    <i>The Land, the nurturer of all life.</i>


    He understood that progress was built upon umtion. Each time, heprehended a little more. Then one day, his efforts would bear fruit and he would reach the Domain stage.

 Chapter 256: Hatch! Fifth-Stage Communion Phase (2)

    <h4>Chapter 256: Hatch! Fifth-Stage Communion Phase (2)</h4>


    Within the devil zone, approximately 6000 li from North Huang City, thendscape bore the scars of a recent brutal battle. Copsed mountains and crushed trees hinted at the destruction that had taken ce.


    In the skies above, a myriad of enormous ck-scaled, two-winged creatures, roared in unison. Over a hundred in number, they covered the sky like a dark storm cloud.


    Suddenly, three streaks of ck light sliced through the air. Three gargantuan ck-scaled creatures arrived in front of the group of Communion devil soldiers. Each of the neers surpassed 300 meters in length, with four wings sprouting from their backs. Thergest among them had particrly eye-catching wings, which were crimson in color. Its size was unlike anything seen before.


    ��Roar!��


    "Hiss! Roar!" The crimson-winged devil soldier surveyed the swarm of Communion devil soldiers, its gaze icy cold and filled with killing intent. Then, it released strange sounds that echoed through the air, reminiscent of a deity devil��s sinister whispers.


    In response, countless devil soldiers bowed their heads, emitting low growls of submission.


    Then, the crimson-winged devil soldier unfurled its wings that spanned over 500 meters with a deafening roar, transforming into a blurred afterimage as it soared into the sky.


    Like a tidal wave, the Communion devil soldiers followed behind, flying toward North Huang City at full speed.


    ...


    Within a deste mountain cave in North Huang City, Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position, sensing the changes in his soul chamber.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The raging vital ether circted furiously, forming enormous vortices around the soul phantom. There were three vortices in total, indicating the third-stage Communion Phase.


    Vital ether poured into the crystal-clear Teng Snake egg like a relentless tide. The Teng Snake egg epted it without reservation, devouring everything fervently like a bottomless pit. The surface of the Teng Snake egg turned increasingly transparent and bright.


    <i>Life has begun, the Teng Snake is born! </i>Wu Yuan instantly knew that the Teng Snake fetus had finally reached its ultimate limit of growth within the egg, which began shaking violently.


    <i>Crack~ Crack~ </i>With two crisp sounds, a visible crack formed on the eggshell, soon followed by several more. Then, the eggshell shattered into fragments.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A serpentine creature, its bodycquer ck, shot out and dove into the tumultuous vital ether, stirring up ripples. The creature proceeded to feast on the vital ether with an insatiable appetite. Simultaneously, it began to grow at an rming rate.


    "Master...Howfy!" A voice, childlike yet strikingly clear, reverberated within Wu Yuan''s spirit.


    "Teng Snake?" Wu Yuan''s soul phantom, identical to himself, smiled as it observed the Teng Snake swimming below.


    The creature waspletelycquer ck with a sleek physique, and adorned with countless obsidian scales that resembled tough armor. Sprouting from its body was a pair of wings covered in the same ck scales, while four ws extended from its abdomen. Each w, though not particrly long, gleamed with razor sharpness.


    <i>This is the fabled Teng Snake?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, as it was somewhat different from what he had imagined.


    In the mythology of his past life, the Teng Snake had not been described with wings. Meanwhile, without the wings, the Teng Snake before him would resemble a powerful ck dragon without horns.


    <i>Boom~</i> With the voracious depletion of Wu Yuan''s vital ether, the ck Teng Snake grew at a staggering pace. Its scales became more distinct, and it emanated a stronger, predatory vital aura. Its ws grew sharper, curving like wicked scimitars.


    <i>Its vital aura is strengthening rapidly. </i>Wu Yuan observed quietly.


    Lifebound eldritch beasts grew in tandem with their masters. Their masters�� cultivation level was their level of development, and they shared the same soul chamber. To a certain extent, the strength of a lifebound eldritch beast was crucially dependent on the strength of its master, not just its bloodline.


    In a single breath, the Teng Snake consumed more than half of the vital ether in the soul chamber, reaching its limit of growth and causing the soul chamber to rumble.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The Teng Snake flew to the center of the soul chamber, arriving beside Wu Yuan''s soul phantom. Without hesitation, it coiled tightly around Wu Yuan''s leg, resting its head on Wu Yuan''s arm in a disy of affection.


    Wu Yuan had nurtured the Teng Snake throughout its incubation process, and the two were also bonded by a contract.


    Hence, to the Teng Snake, Wu Yuan was its world. Even ifmanded to sacrifice itself for him, it would dly do so without hesitation.


    "Master! I... I am full now!" the childlike voice dered once more.


    "Excellent, henceforth, you shall be known as... Little ck," Wu Yuan responded with a smile, casually assigning it a name.


    "Little ck?" The Teng Snake swished its feathered tail, taking a moment to respond, "Um, I have a name now! Little ck!"


    Wu Yuan chuckled. Lifebound eldritch beasts had their advantages and disadvantages. Compared to an authentic Teng Snake spirit beast, Little ckcked an independent soul chamber, making it somewhat weaker. Its future cultivation of ether arts would also be somewhat limited.


    But there are also benefits. For example �� an undying body!


    <i>Once I set foot in the Shambh phase, my lifebound eldritch beast will revive within my soul chamber no matter how many times it��s killed. At that time, as long as I do not perish, my lifebound eldritch beast will not die either.</i>


    However, before he reached the Shambh phase, he had to exercise caution.


    <i>Little ck��s base strength is equivalent to a third-stage Communion cultivator with a third-degree immortal root, surpassing the typical Teng Snake.</i> Wu Yuan keenly perceived thetent power within the Teng Snake.


    At birth, members of the Teng Snake race naturally established a fourth-degree immortal root at minimum. However, in the case of Little ck, it was connected to Wu Yuan''s soul chamber, hence its immortal root was more powerful than most, reaching the third degree.


    <i>Nevertheless, Little ck needs time to grow. It needs to cultivate ether arts andprehend the profundity of heaven and earth. </i>


    <i>One step at a step.</i>


    With a strong immortal root at birth, Little ck was already incredibly powerful. However, Wu Yuan would not permit Little ck to engage in battle unless he was in a critical situation, mindful of the potential trouble if it were to be injured or, worse, killed.


    <i>Now, let��s see how far this gift will take my cultivation progress.</i> Wu Yuan scanned the fragments of eggshell drifting within his soul chamber, filled with anticipation.


    The incubation stage of a lifebound eldritch beast might impede the progress of its master''s cultivation. But once it was born, it would usually present its master with a one-time gift. In this case, it was the Teng Snake eggshell.


    Typically, a newborn Teng Snake would consume its own eggshell fragments to bolster its strength and growth. However, for a lifebound eldritch beast that shared the same soul chamber as its master, it had no need to consume its eggshell to enhance its soul chamber. Thus, Wu Yuan could absorb the fragments into his soul chamber.


    <i>Refine.</i> With a mere thought from Wu Yuan, the scattered eggshell fragments swiftly converged into the swirling ether vortex below.


    <i>Boom!</i> The ether vortex convulsed violently, causing the entire soul chamber to tremble. The eggshell began liquifying at a visible rate.


    The soul chamber began to expand, as though refined and purified by the vortex of vital ether. Cultivation at the Communion phase was mainly about expanding and fortifying the soul chamber, enabling it to contain greater amounts of pure vital ether.


    Soon after, the soul chamber trembled as the vital ether slowly formed a fourth vortex, and the purity of vital ether increased with each passing moment.


    <i>In just a few short hours, I��ll have reached the fourth-stage Communion phase. </i>Wu Yuan was ted. <i>And I��ve only refined less than a third of the Teng Snake eggshell. What a wondrous treasure! Continue! </i>


    Such rapid transformation would not have been possible without the integration of the blood-red mist, as well as the spiritual qi from the Luminous Immortal Soil.


    Several more hours passed. The soul chamber trembled once more, and another ether vortex was created, making a total of five. At this point, barely any eggshell remained, and it was soonpletely refined.


    <i>In less than a day, I��ve gone from the third-stage Communion phase to the fifth stage, and I��m not far from the sixth stage. </i>Wu Yuan waspletely satisfied.


    With every increase in ether purity, his strength would also grow ordingly.


    Turning his attention to Little ck, Wu Yuan sensed the creature''s insatiable hunger as it dove into the ether vortex, eagerly devouring more vital ether and continuing to transform. The bottleneck of a lifebound eldritch beast��s development was its master''s cultivation level.


    <i>Body, transform!</i> Wu Yuanmanded, and vital ether flowed out of the soul chamber, seamlessly merging with his physical form. In an instant, his bones, meridians, muscles, fascia, blood, and skin underwent upgrades. As a body refiner, Wu Yuan mainly relied on his physical strength in battle, which was used to soothe weariness, mend wounds, and execute ether arts!


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s body went through a rapid metamorphosis, finally subsiding after an hour.


    His power ascended new heights once more!


    ...


    The birth of the Teng Snake and cultivating to the fifth-stage Communion phase had taken up a good half of the day. However, he did not emerge from seclusion, continuing to meditate and limate himself to the augmentation of his physical strength.


    "Master, this is bad! Three Spiritual Body devil soldiers have arrived!"


    "They��re right outside North Huang City, and already breached the outer array," Qiong Sea King��s agitated voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s spirit.

 Chapter 257: Engage! Going All Out! (1)

    <h4>Chapter 257: Engage! Going All Out! (1)</h4>


    <i>Deep within the cave.</i>


    "Three Spiritual Body devil soldiers?" Wu Yuan��s expression shifted. He quickly extended his Soul Force to perceive the area within a ten-li radius.


    Through his Soul Force, he witnessed countless frightened civilians and martial artists in a state of panic, scrambling for safety.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan sensed the invisible heaven and earth''s power manifesting as a faint white fog, cloaking an expanse spanning a radius of dozens of li around North Huang City. It was unmistakably a mind confusion array.


    <i>Why are these devil soldiers in North Huang City? The devil zone is at least 2000 li from here</i>. Thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. However, he knew that Qiong Sea King wouldn��t lie to him. They were here!


    <i>Three Spiritual Body devil soldiers? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with a hint of frost<i>. Let��s see just how many Spiritual Body devil soldiers this worm devil can raise.</i>


    Raising Communion devil soldiers wasn��t a difficult task for the worm devil, but raising a single Spiritual Body soldier likely proved more challenging than raising dozens of ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers.


    Based on Wu Yuan''s estimations, there wouldn��t be more than ten Spiritual Body devil soldiers under the worm devil''smand.


    Having made up his mind, Wu Yuan rose from his seat, leaped out of the cave, and soared into the sky. His gaze swept across the four corners of thend. If unimpeded, his vision extended more than 1000 li away.


    Even with a thin veil of white fog shrouding his surroundings, Wu Yuan could still clearly see what was happening 100 li away.


    <i>So many Communion devil soldiers.</i> Wu Yuan spotted numerous enormous devil soldiers in the Communion phase surrounding the perimeter of North Huang City, forming the beginnings of a siege. However, these Communion devil soldiers only held their position and did not advance.


    In the skies above North Huang City, a group of Heavenly Rankers hovered vigntly, ready to engage in battle at a moment''s notice.


    Suddenly, Qiong Sea King''s voice urgently resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind, ��Master, pleasee to the South! I won��t be able to hold on for long.��


    ��Mm!�� Wu Yuan swiftly nodded and directed his gaze toward the fierce aerial sh raging in the South of the city, the impact of each sh shaking the ground.


    <i>My primary focus should be halting the advance of the Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Qiong Sea King won��t be able to hold them off for long. We can deal with the Communion phase devil soldierster. </i>Wu Yuan understood this point.


    ��Little ck, prepare for battle. Combined flight configuration!�� Wu Yuan��s voice echoed in the Teng Snake��s mind.


    Little ck emerged from the soul chamber, wrapping itself around Wu Yuan��s body. Its obsidian wings extended, appearing as though Wu Yuan had grown wings. Together, they seemed to meld into one entity.


    Wu Yuan��s flight speed instantly elerated, and they tore through the sky like a streak of ck light. Their destination: the southern sector of the city.


    "It is Wu Yuan!"


    "There��s hope."


    "What remarkable speed." ck Jiao King, Blood Snake King, Meng Cai, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and the other Heavenly Rankers watched as the figure streaked past them.


    ...


    <i>Within the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall.</i>


    Emperor Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, and Fang Xia, still immersed in learning the array controls, spared a fraction of their attention to watch the ongoing battle.


    Projected on a massive light screen at the center of the hall were figures in a frenzied melee. On one side were three immense Spiritual Body devil soldiers, exerting intimidating pressure. On the opposing side, Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King fought desperately to hold their ground.


    Both Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King were shrouded in a faint red glow which granted them a heightened power burst and enhanced speed, an effect of the array.


    "I am channeling all my energy into operating the array," Sang Gu, the elderly man in purple robes gritted his teeth, "but the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers keep expanding the battlefield, attempting to destroy the array bases. ck Snake King and I aren��t able to help much."


    The enormous ck Snake King also wore a serious expression. Despite being a sixth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he was not particrly adept at arrays. Among the 58 Heavenly Rankers that originally made up the vanguard, Dong Guangbo had the highest cultivation level. Unfortunately, he already perished in the devil zone. Hence, it fell to Sang Gu from the Huang Temple and ck Snake King to control the array established in North Huang City.


    "I cannot hold on for much longer. Fellow Daoists, get ready to flee," Mountain Devil King stated grimly.


    The countenance of all the Heavenly Rankers immediately changed. Flee?


    "Try to persist as long as possible; retreat should only be ast resort," Emperor Dong Panmanded solemnly. "Overwhelming numbers of devil soldiers are converging on North Huang City. Should we scatter and attempt to flee, we will be hunted down one at a time by the Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Moreover, if the city falls, millions of inhabitants will be mercilessly ughtered!"


    Naturally, the Heavenly Rankers all knew this.


    North Huang City was a metropolis housing an extensive poption. If the devil soldiers were allowed to massacre the people within, the quantity of flesh and blood transported back to the devil��sir would give rise to an unimaginablyrge horde of devil soldiers.


    However, the vast majority of Heavenly Rankers found themselves powerless in the face of the intense battle between Qiong Sea King and the Spiritual Body devil soldiers, utterly unqualified to participate.


    Most of them were early-stage Qi Sea cultivators, and only a fraction were mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. If they united their strengths through a powerful array, it might give the first and second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers pause.


    Unfortunately, such powerful arrays were much more difficult to controlpared to normal arrays, surpassing the capabilities of the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land.


    This was the reason behind their decision to split up and patrol the devil zone. Not only did this widen the search area, but it also ensured that each Heavenly Ranker was assigned duties within their capabilities. The weaker Heavenly Rankers were given the duty of hunting down juvenile devil soldiers, applying pressure to the worm devil, and slowing its nefarious predation of mortals.


    This goal was partially aplished. Meanwhile, the ughter of Spiritual Body devil soldiers was left to the more powerful cultivators.


    "The North Huang City ispletely surrounded," said the Arctic King, an unnatural pallor settling on his face. "Previously, the devil soldiers were divided due to us patrolling and hunting them down in the devil zone. Now we��ve regrouped, but three Spiritual Body devil soldiers have led swarms to coordinate an attack on us."


    "The disparity in strength between the vanguard and the worm devil''s forces is toorge. We have grievously miscalcted," Emperor Dong Pan gravely intoned.


    Why did the Heavenly Rankers withdraw from the devil zone following the third wave of counterattacks by the worm devil? It was because the devil soldiers exhibited overwhelming might, surpassing the predictions of Daoist Wan Xing and the others.


    Now, numerous devil soldiers burst forth from the devil zone, converging on North Huang City to take it down.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan has emerged!" a voice suddenly eximed.


    A light screen materialized, swiftly disying a figure enveloped in an earthy-yellow aura, with ck wings extending from his back. With frightening velocity, the figure soared toward the heart of the battlefield.


    "Such speed!"


    "What are those dark wings sprouting from his back?"


    "Daoist Wu Yuan seems to have grown even more powerful.��


    ��Over 100 li per breath! He''s nearly there!" Emperor Dong Pan couldn''t believe his eyes.


    Even the Arctic King, Fang Xia, and Emperor Dong Pan would be left in the dust if they tried racing against Wu Yuan at his current speed.


    Wu Yuan undoubtedly ranked first in terms of speed among the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land!


    "He is closing in!"


    "The mind confusion array has beenpletely shattered," Sang Gu, the person in charge of controlling the array, announced in a slightly flustered voice.


    The expressions of the Heavenly Rankers collectively changed.


    Once the mind confusion array was broken, the enemies would have a clear view of the battlefield. The horde of Communion devil soldiers that had been lurking around the array might swarm in at once!


    "Everyone!" Qiong Sea King��s booming voice echoed through the air. "Daoist Wu Yuan ims he is confident that he can y the Spiritual Body devil soldier!"


    Having been in secluded cultivation until now, Wu Yuan had yet to enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall.

 Chapter 258: Engage! Going All Out! (2)

    <h4>Chapter 258: Engage! Going All Out! (2)</h4>


    As the mind confusion array over North Huang City shattered, the faint white fog that had shrouded the city dissipated.


    The battleground was now fully visible to the countless citizens in the distance. First-rate Adepts and Savant experts could see everything in 100 li if they positioned themselves at a high enough vantage point.


    "Devilish beasts are really assaulting the city!"


    "So many devilish beasts."


    "That devilish beast must be several hundred meters in length! Heavens!" The citizens of North Huang City were instantly ovee with hopelessness and despair.


    Previously, they were unable to see the creatures and could find some sce in their ignorance. But now, everything changed as they watched the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers overwhelming Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King on the outskirts of North Huang City.


    "All citizens, please remain calm!" A voice that seemed to echo from the heavens resounded throughout the city. "Heavenly Rankers from all corners of the Middle Land have arrived to aid North Huang City."


    "This battle is a war for the entire Middle Land! We will not forsake you." Sang Gu''s voice rang out via the array as he strived to maintain order and prevent further turmoil.


    "That��s true!"


    "So many Heavenly Rankers."


    The sight of numerous deity-like figures standing resolutely in the sky stirred their hearts.


    Heavenly Rankers were the stuff of myth and legend in the Middle Land. In the minds of ordinary citizens, they were nigh invincible, thus given the title nd deity��.


    Yet at this moment, the gazes of nearly all Heavenly Rankers, martial artists, and citizens in the south of the city were drawn to a figure racing through the sky with remarkable speed.


    "He��s heading into battle!"


    "That jiaolong must be the legendary Qiong Sea King, who reigns over the vast South Ocean. But even he seems to be unable to withstand the attacks. Who is this neer? Can he win?" Several of the rtively more knowledgeable martial artists wondered.


    The light screen in the Middle Land Immortal Hall showed Wu Yuan nearing the part of the battlefield where the fighting was most intense.


    The devil soldier with four blood-red wings swiftly turned its attention towards the approaching Wu Yuan, its beady eyes locking onto him with a chilling intensity.


    Then, the creature let loose a bone-chilling roar, a sound that seemed to shake the very foundation of the earth. It resonated with an eerie power,manding attention like a decree. Before the sound faded, a chorus of roars echoed in response as hundreds of Communion devil soldiers previously encircling North Huang City plunged into battle.


    "Engage! Block the devil soldiers!" The dozens of Heavenly Rankers in the sky flew forth to meet the enemy. They had no other choice. The mind confusion array had been shattered, and whatever was left of it was no match for thebined assault of the devil soldiers.


    The winds howled as Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King fought three enormous devil soldiers their size, barely holding their positions with their vitality and sturdy defenses. In just five breaths, they were forced into a precarious state.


    Then, like a mighty roc, Wu Yuan flew toward them, saber raised to strike. His cold gaze locked onto the most powerful devil soldier.


    <i>To bring them down, aim for their strongest! </i>Wu Yuan lunged forward.


    The crimson-winged devil soldier tilted back its head and let loose a primal roar, then fixed its eyes on Wu Yuan. They had crossed paths just one day ago, with the devil soldier relentlessly pursuing Wu Yuan, only to fail to catch its target and retreat in disappointment.


    With a flurry of motion, the crimson-winged devil soldier over 330 meters long charged towards Wu Yuan.


    As the two began their battle, razor-sharp wings and brilliant de rays collided in the sky. The difference in the size of the twobatants was like David versus Goliath.


    Monstrous shockwaves erupted in all directions, causing the houses and city walls hundreds of meters below to copse.


    Its tailshed out, connected with Wu Yuan��s body, and sent him flying several li into the distance. Soon after, a massive talon obscured the sky, ws shing like three massive sabers. Once again, it propelled Wu Yuan backward.


    "Damn it!" Wu Yuan gritted his teeth.


    The crimson-winged devil soldier had grown significantly stronger in speed and power since the previous day. It was now at the second-stage Spiritual Body phase. This was the nature of these devil soldiers �C through consuming their own kind, their strength increased rapidly without impediment.


    <i>Although I have reached the fifth-stage Communion phase, I am still far from matching the power of a second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier.</i> He was four stages short.


    Breaking through from the ninth-stage Communion phase to the first-stage Spiritual Body phase seemed like a single increase in stage, but the gap between the two phases was equivalent to six stages. The difference of four stages was indeed significant.


    <i>Relying on the eldritch armor, spirit saber, and superior skills, I can hold my ground. </i>Wu Yuan peered into the distance. <i>But what I need now is not just to keep up, but to emerge victorious!</i>


    If this battle was lost, countless Heavenly Rankers and innocent civilians would be ughtered. By the time the final decisive battle arrived, any hope for victory would be even slimmer.


    But if they won and killed this massive horde of devil soldiers, their chances of victory in the final battle would increase substantially.


    "Die!" The crimson-winged devil soldier red menacingly at Wu Yuan, swiping at him with its ws and wings.


    Wu Yuan was forced to retreat. Having reached the Spiritual Body phase, this devil soldier possessed intelligence and aptly recognized Wu Yuan as a significant threat. After all, in merely a day, his power had increased remarkably.


    "Kill him! Kill him!" Invisible waves fluctuated deep within the mind of the crimson-winged devil soldier as the worm devil gave its orders.


    ...


    <i>Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall.</i>


    "Amazing!"


    "Wu Yuan actually managed to block the crimson-winged devil soldier? His strength seems to have undergone a tremendous enhancement." Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan were astounded.


    Such rapid growth waspletely beyondprehension. In the previous skirmish within the devil zone, Wu Yuan was slightly weaker than Qiong Sea King.


    But now? He could stand on equal footing, if not surpass Qiong Sea King in strength.


    "Wu Yuan is indeed strong, but it��s not enough!��


    "He won��t be able to stop them. The devil soldiers still far surpass us in strength. We are ill-equipped to face the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers, and there��s still the threat of the surrounding devil soldiers!" The Conference Hall buzzed with discussion.


    Many Heavenly Rankers were locked in fierce battles against the horde of Communion devil soldiers.


    "Look!" The Arctic King suddenly pointed at the light screen in shock, drawing the attention of the majority of Heavenly Rankers.


    On the projection, Wu Yuan unleashed a burst of brilliant earthy yellow light that enveloped his entire body. In an instant, he underwent an astounding transformation, growing to a staggering height of five zhangs.


    His aura surged with an overwhelming intensity, causing Daoist Wan Xing��s eyes to widen in disbelief. "Ether art? It��s a body refiner��s strongest move!" His astonishment was palpable. "This must be the legendary Form of Heaven and Earth! Rumor has it that once a body refiner reaches a certain level, their body expands to be as vast as a world, possessing boundless power. It��s a great mystical art on the same level as a qi refiner''s void refining ability!"


    The Heavenly Rankers watched with bated breath, their nerves on edge. Qiong Sea King and the Mountain Devil King both watched with fervent expressions. Ether art? Neither of them had ever obtained an ether art.


    <i>Boom!</i> As Wu Yuan unleashed the might of his ether art. A snake appeared beside him, its ck wings spanning over 100 meters in length, exuding a frighteningly powerful aura.

 Chapter 259: Number One Immortal Cultivator Of The Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 259: Number One Immortal Cultivator Of The Middle Land (1)</h4>


    "A snake?"


    "What��s that?"


    "I��ve never seen such a creature before!" Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, the gathering of Heavenly Rankers was stunned at the sight of Wu Yuan towering five zhangs high, alongside the sudden appearance of the Teng Snake, whose presence and aura radiated undeniable dominance.


    Employing the Eldritch Form ether art, Wu Yuan��s aura almost seemed to suppress the crimson-winged devil soldier.


    The Teng Snake��s body, extending 100 meters in length, seemed to blot out the sky. It unfurled its ck wings, exerting immense pressure. Its aura was by no means inferior to Qiong Sea King��s.


    "Is this ck snake at the ninth-stage Communion phase? Its aura seems stronger than Mountain Devil King��s!" Sang Gu, who was controlling the array, murmured in a low voice.


    "A spirit beast?"


    "Wu Yuan has such a powerful spirit beast?" Daoist Wan Xing, Jin Ji, and the other Heavenly Rankers looked on in shock, their amazement palpable.


    On the other hand, Fang Xia, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian exchanged awed nces. All three of them were practitioners of the Eldritch Codex, and were well-versed in the various top divine beasts documented within its pages.


    This was the fabled Teng Snake!


    <i>The young master''s lifebound eldritch beast hatched so quickly, and it��s none other than the legendary Teng Snake?</i> Fang Xia''s eyes sparkled with excitement. <i>In close-quartersbat, the young master''sbat power might even exceed my own.</i>


    <i>There��s hope! </i>A flicker of optimism arose within Fang Xia''s heart.


    Within the immortal hall, a mixture of shock and anticipation flooded the Heavenly Rankers.


    "Hold firm!"


    "Let��s see what Daoist Wu Yuan is capable of."


    "No need to retreat just yet!"


    "We still have hope." The Heavenly Rankers assembled in North Huang City prepared for battle, exchanging words of encouragement among themselves.


    Though they were on the brink of despair, they were still determined to fight without any regrets. Losing the battle in North Huang City would deal them a devastating blow, making the final decisive battle much more difficult.


    ...


    In the deepest recesses of the devil''sir, within the heart of the devil zone in the Huang Continent,y an immense and shadowy underworld. It was a ce ofplete darkness. At the center of the colossal ck sphere, which was adorned with intricate and cryptic patterns, resided a strange, dignified-looking orb �C the main body of the worm devil.


    Abruptly, a terrifying radiance red within the orb!


    <i>It''s a Teng Snake! And it has learned ether arts!</i> Countless thoughts, apanied by waves of terror, swirled within the orb.


    True hell devils were born from the Abyss and possessed incredible power. Among them, the worm devil was an elite subspecies from a noble bloodline. They also possessed inherited memories, which included cultivation knowledge, as well as clear records of their enemies.


    The Teng Snake was a huge nemesis etched deeply into its memory!


    Buried within the inherited memories of the worm devil was an image: in a vast expanse of outer space, a mass of worm devils congregated, forming an unending army of devil soldiers that traversed different spacetimes regions, feasting on one world after another.


    Then, a Teng Snake spanning billions of li suddenly appeared! Opening its gargantuan maw, it slurped up the entire army of devil soldiers in a single breath!


    "Kill!"


    "Kill them! Kill the Teng Snake! Kill this human!" The worm devil sent its consciousness to the distant North Huang City.


    To the worm devil, Wu Yuan was its primary target - the most significant threat to its existence.


    ...


    With the ferocious battle in the sky and the defensive array half-destroyed, the southern district of the North Huang City waspletely ravaged, and other regions of the city were also affected by the conflict, with countless civilians falling victim to death or injury.


    Yet, only a moment had passed since Wu Yuan had activated Eldritch Form.


    "Roar!"


    The colossal crimson-winged devil soldier bared its bloody maw once more, unleashing a thunderous roar as it charged ferociously toward Wu Yuan. Its speed was nothing short of heart-stopping!


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s battle intent raged. Transforming into a towering giant fifty zhangs tall, his saber grew proportionately longer, growing into a gigantic weapon that induced sheer terror.


    Wu Yuan coiled his legs like a spring, thenunched himself forward with explosive power. This was Wu Yuan''s first time activating the Eldritch Form ether art since reaching the fifth-stage Communion phase.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two colossal w rays swiped through the sky, resembling gigantic pirs as they converged on Wu Yuan from opposite directions.


    Previously, Wu Yuan would have deftly evaded the attack, fearing a direct confrontation.


    But now? He would kill it!


    "Kill!" A battle cry ripped from Wu Yuan��s throat as he swung his saber in a savage arc. The majestic de ray collided head-on with the w rays.


    <i>Boom~</i> The cataclysmic collision unleashed a shockwave that ttened everything in its path. Two deep gashes tore open on the talons of the devil soldier, spilling blood onto the ground.


    When a devil soldier reached the Spiritual Body phase, the toughness of its hide was greatly augmented, akin to wearing a suit of spirit battle armor. And its talons were one of the sturdiest parts of its body, second only to its head. Hence, Wu Yuan was unable to cut off its talon.


    Wu Yuan was sent hurtling backward. Thanks to the eldritch armor, his qi roiled but he wasn��t injured.


    However, Wu Yuan quickly realized the futility of a head-on confrontation. Even if he unleashed Eldritch Form, it would only allow him to match the crimson-winged devil soldier at best. Eliminating it swiftly was nearly impossible! In other words, defeating it in a one-on-one battle was an extraordinarily difficult feat.


    <i>At the end of the day, I��m still still an entire phase short.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes hardened. Fighting an opponent one phase above was always insanely difficult. Furthermore, he was only at the fifth-stage Communion phase.


    "It��s injured.��


    "Wu Yuan managed to actually injure a crimson-winged devil soldier!"


    "With the aid of his ether art, his power risen exponentially." The Heavenly Rankers observed the projection on the light screen intently. Those closer in proximity to the battleground, like Qiong Sea King, watched from afar.


    "With Daoist Wu Yuan''s power, he can already be hailed as the world''s number one expert," Emperor Dong Pan gritted his teeth. "Yet, it still won��t be easy to win this battle!"


    The hearts of the Heavenly Rankers grew heavier with each passing moment.


    ...


    Wu Yuan roared and charged back into the fray, engaging in another lightning-fast exchange with the devil soldier. de rays and w rays split the air.


    The battle between the human and creature was the most climatic battle the Middle Land had witnessed in thousands of years. The aftershocks of their shes sent shivers down the spines of countless onlookers. Despite their enhanced vision, even martial artists struggled to see the details of the battle clearly.


    While qi refiners battled with arcane arts, body refiners typical fought in physical brawls, disying hair-raising physical strength.


    Little ck��s wings glinted like twin des as they cut through the air with astonishing velocity.


    In a split second, it thrust itself into the conflict between Qiong Sea King, Mountain Sea King, and the two other Spiritual Body devil soldiers, swiftly alleviating their burden.


    The Teng Snake''s swiftness was nothing short of astounding, its noble bloodline imbuing the young Little ck with fearsomebat power.


    However, the two Spiritual Body devil soldiers were not going down easily. Though it was two versus three, they were not outmatched in the least.


    Once again, the battle reached an impasse, a deadlock with no clear victor.


    <i>Bang! Bang! </i>Wu Yuan and the crimson-winged devil soldier shed fiercely in mid-air, locked in a brutal skirmish.


    <i>Rip~</i> A de ray shed, and the crimson-winged devil soldier''s front talon was shed open once more, resulting in a gaping wound spanning eight meters.


    <i>Hiss~</i> A strange dark substance flowed, rapidly healing the injury.


    This was the Spiritual Body phase! In the Communion phase, one gained the ability of flight, but the body still suffered from numerous vulnerabilities, not too different from that of an ordinary body refiner.


    But in the Spiritual Body phase, one could run on air as if traversing solid ground, and even regenerate lost limbs! A Spiritual Body cultivator��s body had next to no weaknesses. As long as their head and soul chamber were still intact, they would live.


    <i>Roar~ </i>Suddenly, the crimson-winged devil soldier bellowed and a shroud of ck light materialized over its body, subtly bolstering its aura and augmenting both its speed and strength.


    It seemed that failing toplete the orders of the worm devil and getting locked in a grueling struggle against Wu Yuan finally drove the crimson-winged devil soldier to desperation.


    <i>Devil Technique?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold. Devil soldiers could not cultivate ether arts. The only technique that they could employ was one that harnessed the power of their devil crystal to release an explosive burst of strength for a short time.


    With an earthshaking roar, the crimson-winged devil soldier charged once more.

 Chapter 260: Number One Immortal Cultivator Of The Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 260: Number One Immortal Cultivator Of The Middle Land (2)</h4>


    <i>Blood Snake King has fallen? </i>Wu Yuan cast a fleeting nce at the wider battlefield. Protected by the array, the Heavenly Rankers shed fiercely with devil soldiers, the advantage they gained in artifacts was unable topensate for the overwhelming numerical disadvantage they faced. On top of that, the Communion devil soldiers fought fearlessly without any regard for their lives. This was the most frustrating part about battling a worm devil.


    <i>There��s no other choice! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes turned frigid, making a decision. Once again, he flew up to meet the crimson-winged devil soldier. The sh between the two forces intensified.


    At that moment, Little ck suddenly twisted its body. It darted through the air like a fish in water, its speed skyrocketing as it raced towards Wu Yuan.


    However, its actions did not go unnoticed. The two Spiritual Body devil soldiers roared and quickly flew after the Teng Snake, disregarding Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King.


    Reacting swiftly, Mountain Devil King moved to intercept them, only to be stopped by Qiong Sea King''s voice in his mind. "Disengage! Mountain Devil, disengage immediately!"


    "Why?" Mountain Devil King was perplexed.


    "No time for questions, just move!" Qiong Sea King growled. He had received amand via spiritual transmission from Wu Yuan to assist the other Heavenly Rankers.


    Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, confusion rippled through the gathering of Heavenly Rankers.


    "What��s happening?"


    "The ck snake has fled towards Wu Yuan, pursued by two Spiritual Body devil soldiers."


    "Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King retreated? They didn''t join the fight?" Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, Daoist Wan Xing, and the other Heavenly Rankers looked on in confusion and shock.


    The situation on the battlefield changed so quickly that they couldn��t grasp the specifics. For example, why would the Spiritual Body devil soldiers chase the ck Teng Snake so persistently? And why would Qiong Sea King disengage so abruptly?


    ...


    As the Teng Snake streaked across the sky, its body shrank and intertwined seamlessly with Wu Yuan. This scene left the majority of Heavenly Rankers stupefied, struggling to grapple with what was going on.


    They understood that spirit beasts could erge or shrink their bodies at will. But in this case, the ck flying snake and Wu Yuan seemed to merge into one, revealing only a pair of massive ck wings.


    <i>Beast Fusion. </i>Only Fang Xia understood the full truth. This was what differentiated a lifebound eldritch beast from other contracted spirit beasts.


    Ordinary spirit beasts possessed soul chambers or qi seas of their own, their abilities unaffected by the cultivation level of their masters. Even at the early Qi Sea phase, one could form a contract with an Amethyst Cradle spirit beast as long as the spirit beast was willing to consent.


    On the other hand, lifebound eldritch beastscked their own soul chambers, a limitation that prohibited them from surpassing the level of their masters'' cultivation. Yet, they shared a soul chamber with their masters, resulting in an unparalleledpatibility between the two. It was this synchronicity that granted them the ability of Beast Fusion.


    As the Teng Snake merged with Wu Yuan, their collective power multiplied, akin to qi refiners coordinating to control an array. This union boosted Wu Yuan��s power exponentially, simr to the execution of an ether art without the burden of having to expend his vital ether.


    ��Roar!�� The three Spiritual Body devil soldiers descended onto Wu Yuan from all directions.


    At that moment, the wings on Wu Yuan��s back seemed to shimmer with a faint glow, and his body blurred. Ether art: Deity Step.


    As a creature beloved by the wind, Teng Snakes possessed an inherent mastery of this ether art. Though considered an ordinary ether art, it was still highly effective when employed during the Communion phase.


    <i>Boom!</i> The Eldritch Form ether art already granted Wu Yuan a considerable boost in speed and strength. With the addition of the Deity Step, along with the amplification of power due to the support of his lifebound Teng Snake, Wu Yuan''s strength soared to unprecedented heights.


    In just a fraction of a second, he was already in front of the crimson-winged devil soldier.


    "Wu Yuan''s speed has surpassed 150 li per breath!" Sang Gu eximed within the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Kill!" Unrestrained battle intent radiated within Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Why did he anticipate the birth of the Teng Snake so eagerly? The answer was simple. Sword cultivators depended on their lifebound flying swords to conquer any adversity. Could a sword cultivator without such a lifebound flying sword still call themselves a sword cultivator?


    Likewise, could an eldritch warrior, especially one with Wu Yuan''s caliber of talent, truly be deemed an eldritch warrior without a lifebound eldritch beast?


    Among eldritch warriors, Wu Yuan��s talent was top tier. Among lifebound eldritch beasts, the Teng Snake was a top-tier bloodline. The power that culminated from such abination exceeded the imaginations of ordinary cultivators.


    Beast Fusion was originally a killing move Wu Yuan intended to reserve for the final decisive battle. But now, Wu Yuan didn��t have the luxury of holding back.


    <i>Not good!</i> Fear flickered in the crimson-winged devil soldier''s eyes as it sensed the changes within the human cultivator in front of it. This man posed a grave threat to its existence.


    With a resounding boom, the devil soldier began rotating its body. Its wings spun like crimson des, while its ws danced swiftly through the air. It resembled a tightly woven of knives, poised to block Wu Yuan��s iing attack.


    As the sh of metal rang out, chunks of bloody flesh sprayed into the air. In mere moments, Wu Yuan broke through the crimson-winged devil soldier''s defense, arriving right before its skull.


    de rays crisscrossed, shing open a gaping wound on the devil soldier''s skull. Even though the resilience of its flesh wasparable to spirit armor, it was nothing more than a pitiful joke in the face of Wu Yuan''s attack.


    Thrown into disarray, the crimson-winged devil soldier spun wildly, desperately fleeing from Wu Yuan. But like a nimble butterfly, the dark wings on Wu Yuan��s back extended, leaving eerie trails as he ensnared his opponent with an iron grip.


    "Faster!" Wu Yuan''s eyes burned frenziedly as he swung his saber again and again, aiming to pierce through the devil soldier''s head. However, the creature''s skull proved toorge and its flesh too sturdy. On top of that, it drew power from the devil crystal to rapidly heal its wounds.


    The pair of Spiritual Body devil soldiers swooped in, swiping at Wu Yuan with their massive ws.


    <i>I can��t dodge!</i> As Wu Yuan quickly assessed his situation, his gazended on the massive wound that alternated between widening and repairing itself. <i>In that case, you can die now!</i>


    A three-chi-long purple talisman materialized next to Wu Yuan, its surface adorned with intricate patterns that glowed and crackled with sparks of lightning. This was the fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman the realm master had gifted him.


    Wu Yuan had been saving it for the final decisive battle. However, the worm devil was far stronger than he had anticipated. Relying solely on his own abilities wasn��t nearly enough to y the crimson-winged devil soldier.


    <i>The worm devil must be desperate to kill me because it recognized the Teng Snake. It cannot have that many Spiritual Body devil soldiers under itsmand, so each one that dies weakens its forces greatly. This crimson-winged devil soldier might even be the highest-ranked soldier of them all.</i>


    With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, the fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman flew toward the open wound of the crimson-winged devil soldier.


    Instantly, a colossal talon swatted Wu Yuan. Raising his saber to block the strike, his wings red, and he propelled himself backward with the force of the sh, quickly retreating hundreds of meters.


    <i>No!</i> Panic rose in the crimson-winged devil soldier��s eyes as it instinctively sensed the imminent danger posed by the approaching talisman. This talisman was a lethal threat!


    But before it could flee, the fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman activated!


    <i>BOOM!</i> Massive bolts of purple lightning snaked through the sky, striking with a force that seemed capable of obliterating the world. Purple light engulfed everything within a radius of several hundred meters.


    The crimson-winged devil soldier was buried in the light, as were two other Spiritual Body-phase devil soldiers, and even Wu Yuan! The tempest of lightning transformed the entire vicinity into an overwhelming sea of electricity. Rocks and soil were instantaneously reduced to vapor, disappearing into oblivion.


    ��Wu Yuan!"


    <i>Master?</i> As the tumultuous sea of lightning erupted, Mountain Devil King and Qiong Sea King instantly fled for their lives, ncing back in horror. They clearly felt that each one of those streaks of lightning posed a deadly threat to them. The blinding light obstructed them from pinpointing where the lightning originated from.


    "This!"


    "This lightning?"


    "Wu Yuan?"


    Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, the Heavenly Rankers watched the spectacle unfolding on the light screen with a mixture of astonishment, trepidation, and a glimmer of anticipation.


    After a single breath, the lightning sea that had shrouded the world dissipated entirely.


    All that was left was the lifeless body of the crimson-winged devil soldier, fragments of its skull falling to the ground. Two streaks of de rays quickly dismembered the heads of the other two Spiritual Body devil soldiers, who were already split into two by the lightning


    The scattered remains of the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers plummeted to the ground, electricity still coursing through their flesh.


    In the sky, only one figure remained standing �C Wu Yuan. His body was marred by countless injuries, and even his pair of ck wings were wounded, oozing blood.


    But, he won.

 Chapter 261: The Eve of the Decisive Battle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 261: The Eve of the Decisive Battle (1)</h4>


    The mangled remains of the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers crashed to the ground, raising huge clouds of dust. They no longer moved. Only Wu Yuan remained standing in the sky, his body battered but his aura zing with the might of a deity.


    The Mountain Devil King stared at him in disbelief, eyes bulging from his massive turtle head. "How did Wu Yuan do it? And what was that sea of lightning? Three Spiritual Body devil soldiers died just like that?"


    ��They died just like that.�� Qiong Sea King reflexively swallowed, a flicker of fear dancing in his eyes.


    After shing with the Spiritual Body devil soldiers just now, he knew just how strong they were firsthand. With his strength, he couldn��t hope to y a single one. But Wu Yuan killed all three. Just how strong was he?


    Regardless of whether Wu Yuan had utilized a treasure, the oue spoke for itself.


    Qiong Sea King found himself feeling a wave of relief. <i>Master! I am truly fortunate to have such a master.</i> Before this moment, he had addressed Wu Yuan as ��Master�� out of obligation from his oath and contract. But deep within, he had still harbored some resentment, feeling somewhat taken advantage of. If not for his desperation to make a breakthrough in his cultivation phase, he wouldn��t have agreed to a 50-year contract.


    However, Wu Yuan''s disy of power today earned Qiong Sea King''s genuine submission.


    From the moment they were born, demonic beasts adhered to the unforgivingw of the jungle, revering strength above all else.


    ...


    "Excellent!��


    "Did Wu Yuan just y three Spiritual Body devil soldiers simultaneously?"


    "Remarkable."


    ��There��s hope!�� The Heavenly Rankers who were engaged in a fierce struggle against the hordes of Communion Phase devil soldiers felt their fighting spirits rekindle. They had prepared themselves for a battle to the death, only to have the tides turn in the most unexpected manner.


    With the Spiritual Body devil soldiers dead, even in the worst-case scenario where Wu Yuan was too heavily injured to continue fighting, Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King were enough to hold back the tide of Communion Phase devil soldiers. Along with the support of the defensive array, securing North Huang City was well within their grasp.


    "Inconceivable!"


    "How did Wu Yuan do it" The disbelief hung heavy in the air as those within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, including Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, Zhao Xing, and numerous others, stood bbergasted by the surreal turn of events.


    A single Spiritual Body devil soldier was enough topletely suppress Qiong Sea King. And behind every devil soldier was the worm devil.


    Even when Wu Yuan held his own against the crimson-winged devil soldier after revealing his ether art and Teng Snake spirit beast, the Heavenly Rankers still weren��t confident in their chances of victory.


    Yet, in a single move, the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers ceased to exist.


    "Excellent," Daoist Wan Xing whispered, the faintest glimmer of a smile touching his lips. "The worm devilunched a surprise assault on North Huang City, but this battle is our win."


    "Yes," Hai Feizhang agreed fervently. "With three Spiritual Body devil soldiers dead, we��ve delivered a crushing blow to the worm devil."


    Everyone was curious about what Wu Yuan unleashed on the devil soldiers. But at least for now, this battle was won.


    ...


    "The three most powerful devilish creatures are dead.��


    "Thank goodness."


    "We��re saved." A wave of exhration washed over the inhabitants of North Huang City. Tears of joy flowed freely from the eyes of countless citizens.


    At the same time, many martial artists and ordinary citizens cast their eyes skywards, drawn to the earthy-yellow figure sttered with blood.


    Who was he?


    ...


    <i>High in the sky.</i>


    <i>The fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman is indeed impressive.</i> Though Wu Yuan had anticipated its destructive power, it still gave him a shock.


    The Fourth Eldritch Realm master had granted Wu Yuan two treasures: the Goldstone Penta Array that was now with Fang Xia, and the fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman. Never could he have imagined the terrifying capabilities of this talisman. Not only did it obliterate the crimson-winged devil soldier, but also inflicted severe damage on the two nearby Spiritual Body devil soldiers, nearly snuffing out their lives and allowing Wu Yuan to dispatch them with ease.


    <i>If not for the fact that I received a level of protection from the lightning as the owner of this talisman, as well as my eldritch armor, I might have perished right there and then. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    His body��s physical defense was weaker than that of the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Moreover, there was arge gap in their cultivation stages.


    <i>Little ck has taken quite a beating. </i>Wu Yuan acutely sensed the Teng Snake''s injuries. Its wings were nearly in shreds.


    Thankfully, as long as Wu Yuan remained alive in the state of beast fusion, the Teng Snake��s injuries would not be fatal.


    With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan''s ck wings disappeared. Little ck retreated into his soul chamber, greedily consuming vital ether to heal itself.


    Recovering from severe injuries was considerably easier for a lifebound eldritch beastpared to an ordinary spirit beast.


    Wu Yuan felt the electricity in the air dissipating rapidly around him. <i>The path of the talisman is truly vast and profound.</i>


    This was just a fifth-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman. One could only imagine the immense power contained in a fourth-grade, third-grade, or even first-grade Heavenly Thunder Talisman.


    The main advantage talismans had over arrays was that they did not require a high level of cultivation from their users.


    <i>The immortal slips didn��t lie. In theory, a Qi Sea phase cultivator with a first-grade talisman could defeat an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.</i>


    Wu Yuan paused briefly, considering how alchemy, arrays, talismans, and equipment forging each served distinct purposes.


    <i>Trying to escape?</i> From the corner of Wu Yuan''s eyes, he watched the Communion devil soldiers beating an organized retreat. It was clear that the worm devil was controlling them remotely.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan immediately sprang into action, swiftly descending to the ground level and sprinting toward the nearest Communion devil soldier. Though he didn��t have the assistance of the Teng Snake, Wu Yuan was still a fifth-stage Communion cultivator who could dash hundreds of li in one breath.


    <i>Boom!</i> In just two seconds, Wu Yuan ran through the streets. In the eyes of countless civilians and martial artists, he moved like a sh of light, appearing instantly in front of a fleeing Communion devil soldier.


    The 170-meter devil soldier howled in terror,shing out its tail in defense.


    A figure leaped into the sky, and a de ray tore through the air. The ck-scaled creature''s body was instantly split in two, showering blood down onto the earth. It was over in one strike!


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan charged toward another Communion devil soldier.


    ...


    "Retreat!"


    "Retreat!" Invisible waves transmitted through a mysterious connection ordered the hundreds of frightened devil soldiers to flee. It hadpletely lost its will to fight.


    "Kill! Kill them all!" With Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King leading the charge, dozens of Heavenly Rankers chased after the fleeing devil soldiers, their eyes burning with righteous fury.


    All of them understood that each devil soldier killed today would increase their chances of victory in the uing decisive battle.


    However, Wu Yuan was unquestionably the most eye-catching presence on the battlefield. He unleashed the Eldritch Form ether art once more, towering over thend as a giant.


    Earthy-yellow de rays shed by, brilliant and dazzling. Not a single Communion devil soldier could withstand the onught. Even the ninth-stage Communion devil soldiers were cut down after a few extra swings of his saber.


    Bodies of dead devil soldiers rained down from the sky.


    After some time, no more devil soldiers remained in the area. Only Heavenly Rankers stood in the sky above North Huang City.


    A hush settled over the battlefield.


    A faint smile appeared on Wu Yuan��s face. <i>We��ve won.</i>


    Qiong Sea King shouted excitedly, "We won!"


    "Victory!"


    ��The worm devil isn''t invincible.��


    "We��ll definitely defeat the worm devil! We will emerge victorious!" The Heavenly Rankers were ecstatic beyond measure.


    ...


    In the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, countless light specks converged to form a young man dressed in white robes. His gaze was gentle, yet held a sharp edge, causing those who beheld it to shiver.


    The eyes of more than 50 Heavenly Rankers in the Conference Hall focused on him, filled with a mixture of reverence, admiration, and respect.


    ��Daoist Wu Yuan,�� Daoist Wan Xing abruptly stood up with a smile. "Fellow Daoists, please give a warm wee to Daoist Wu Yuan! Today, he single-handedly turned the tides of the battle, enabling us to clinch victory in North Huang City."


    The Heavenly Rankers collectively nodded in agreement. None of them felt that Daoist Wan Xing''s words were an exaggeration.


    In the battle at North Huang City, 63 Communion devil soldiers were killed. The rest of the devil soldiers escaped without a trace, making it impossible to chase them down.


    Wu Yuan alone was responsible for almost 50 of their deaths, in addition to bringing down the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers. It could be said that victory wouldn��t have been possible without him.


    Wu Yuan smiled. "The credit goes to everyone. If Fellow Daoists hadn''t worked together to hold them back, I wouldn''t have been able to take down so many devil soldiers."


    This was the truth. Furthermore, the contributions and sacrifices of each individual were clear for all to see. There was no need to im them all for himself, it served no purpose.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, there��s no need to be modest," Emperor Dong Pan said, his tone filled with admiration. "Your unmatched strength is what allowed you to defeat three Spiritual Body devil soldiers single-handedly. Without a doubt, this battle will be remembered as the greatest battle in the history of the Middle Land. Your contributions will be paramount to the defeat of the worm devil in the decisive battle."


    "Moreover, with your strength. You are fully deserving of the title of the world''s number one expert," Emperor Dong Pan proimed.


    "That��s right," Qiong Sea King agreed in a deep voice, "Daoist Wu Yuan, you are rightfully the top expert the Middle Land has seen for thest 3000 years, well deserving of the title of the world��s number one expert."

 Chapter 262: The Eve of the Decisive Battle (2)

    <h4>Chapter 262: The Eve of the Decisive Battle (2)</h4>


    The world��s number one expert.


    Many of the Heavenly Rankers felt their emotions stir as they listened. However, they couldn''t contest the statement. Not even Jin Ji, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, and other influential cultivators who were at odds with Wu Yuan could contest it. It was simply an objective fact. After all, who else could boast a battle record as distinguished as his?


    Wu Yuan was undoubtedly the foremost expert in the Middle Land after the Martial King who lived over 3000 years ago.


    On top of that, he was only 21 years old!


    <i>Just 21, and he can already suppress the majority of opponents at the ninth-stage Qi Sea or Communion phase, and even y Spiritual Body devil soldiers.</i> The Heavenly Rankers couldn''t help but wonder how far he would go.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Jin Ji spoke for the first time, turning towards Wu Yuan at the host seat. "Regarding the lightning you unleashed, was it a high-grade talisman?"


    In an instant, the Conference Hall fell silent and every Heavenly Ranker stared at Wu Yuan, unable to hide their curiosity.


    Jin Ji wasn��t the only one who had questions about it, but asking about someone''s trump cards was an unspoken taboo. With Wu Yuan''s impressive disy of power just moments ago, nobody wanted to provoke him.


    In the end, it was Jin Ji who asked the question on everyone��s minds.


    "Indeed, it was a talisman," Wu Yuan said, choosing not to conceal the truth. "This talisman, a destruction-type treasure, was a gift from my master. Originally, I had nned to activate it only after we entered the devil''sir, but the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers proved too powerful. Although I sessfully withstood their relentless attacks, I was unable to defeat them with my own abilities."


    Everyone instantly understood. So, this talisman was a gift from Senior Wan Liu.


    Suddenly, Daoist Wan Xing asked, "Do you have more of such talismans?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head. "Unfortunately, I do not. These talismans are extremely valuable, and even though my master has no use for them, he only brought one with him." Without hesitation, he pushed all responsibility to Wan Liu.


    Hearing this, the Heavenly Rankers exchanged furtive nces. The raw power disyed by this talisman could instantly vanquish a second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier. And yet, it was of no use to Wan Liu?


    Just how powerful was Wan Liu? Of course, none of them actually asked this question out loud.


    Jin Ji''s voice broke the silence. "Daoist Wu Yuan, we all saw that ck flying snake that apanied you, but none of us could identify it. Would you care to enlighten us?"


    The Conference Hall fell silent again.


    Wu Yuan calmly responded, "Daoist Jin Ji, don��t you think your question is inappropriate? I will share what is necessary, so let''s not go too far."


    ��Haha,�� Jin Ji chuckled,pletely disregarding Wu Yuan''s cold attitude. "Daoist Wu Yuan, revealing these details will help us understand your abilities and allow us to coordinate with you better in the decisive battle!"


    "Mm, that statement is valid," replied Wu Yuan nonchntly. "But now I have a question for Daoist Jin Ji. In this battle that will determine the fate of the Middle Land, Jin Quan, the one who ims to be the guardian of Great Jin, refuses to fight. Can you exin this to me?"


    Jin Ji��s face turned red from embarrassment, and he lowered his head reflexively.


    "Hmph!" Wu Yuan scoffed, no longer paying attention to him.


    Observing this, the other Heavenly Rankers no longer dared to enquire further.


    The current Wu Yuan no longer needed anyone''s support. His incredible achievements during the battle at North Huang City had established him as the most powerful expert in the Middle Land.


    ...


    Soon, Emperor Dong Pan, Daoist Wan Xing, Qiong Sea King, the Arctic King, Fang Xia, and Wu Yuan convened for a brief meeting.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, could you kindly share your abilities? This will allow us to prepare for the critical moment of attack," asked Daoist Wan Xing.


    Wu Yuan gave it some thought, then replied, "At my peak state, I can contest a third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier. But I can only maintain my ether art for a limited time. In general, I can only match a first-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier."


    The strength of an eldritch warrior experienced a dramatic increase when their ether art was activated.


    Their opponents were devil soldiers. If their opponents were true cultivators in the Spiritual Body or Golden Core phase, Wu Yuan understood that victory would be far from guaranteed, even with his full power unleashed.


    Upon hearing Wu Yuan''s words, everyone''s faces lit up with joy.


    Emperor Dong Pan eximed enthusiastically, "With Daoist Wu Yuan on our side, our chances of victory will improve greatly! We have already defeated three Spiritual Body devil soldiers during the battle at North Huang City. My estimation is that the worm devil has no more than five Spiritual Body devil soldiers left."


    Wu Yuan shook his head, "Let''s not get too optimistic. The sh in North Huang City left me with serious injuries. I estimate it will take me two days to recover."


    The injuries, however, were not inflicted on Wu Yuan but the Teng Snake. It would need two days to recover.


    "Two days? That should be enough," Daoist Wan Xing chuckled with a smile. "I estimate that within two days, we will be able topletely familiarize ourselves with the array controls."


    "Mm," Fang Xia agreed, solemnly nodding. "With the strength of our arrays, along with the assistance of Wu Yuan and Daoist Qiong Hai, our chances of victory are high."


    The Arctic King added with a smile, "There''s at least a 30% chance now."


    ��Let''s avoid wasting any more time. We must give this our fullest effort," dered Daoist Wan Xing solemnly. "Each of us has witnessed the speed that new devil soldiers spawn. If we continue to dy, their numbers will escte rapidly."


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    "Thus, my proposal is to wage the definitive battle in three days where we willunch an assault on the devil''sir!" Daoist Wan Xing dered.


    ...


    After setting the time for the decisive battle, the various cultivators went their separate ways.


    Wu Yuan was preparing to leave the Middle Land Immortal Hall, but Daoist Wan Xing stopped him.


    "Daoist Wan Xing," Wu Yuan turned to the ck-robed figure and greeted him with a smile, "How can I help you?"


    Wu Yuan had a rather favorable impression of Daoist Wan Xing.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, are you part of the eldritch lineage?" Daoist Wan Xing asked with a smile.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Don��t be surprised. After all, I know a thing or two about the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm." Daoist Wan Xing continued with a smile, "Moreover, I know about the eldritch lineage. At first, I was skeptical, but the flying snake by your side and the seamless harmony between you two have confirmed my suspicions."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile. All body refiners cultivated lifebound treasures, but those who chose lifebound divine beasts were often always eldritch warriors, a unique characteristic that set them apart.


    "Your talent is truly exceptional, a rarity in this world. It is evident that you are destined to rule the Middle Land in the future." Daoist Wan Xing''s tone was filled with admiration.


    "Daoist Wan Xing has overpraised me," Wu Yuan replied humbly.


    The thought of ruling the Middle Land had naturally crossed Wu Yuan''s mind in the past, but now was not the time for such discussions.


    "Don''t worry," Wan Xing said, a smile on his lips. "On the road to immortality, the strongest reign. Your strength already surpasses ours despite your age. Your aptitude and talent are far superior to ours. It''s only natural that you''ll rule over Middle Land in the years toe."


    "And not only that," Wan Xing added with an intriguing tone, "Do you know why Dong Pan and I teamed up against Great Jin?"


    Wu Yuan stayed silent, looking intently at Wan Xing as he awaited an exnation.


    "Firstly," Wan Xing began, "Jin Quan is not sufficiently powerful. His strength is inadequate to force us to surrender."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged with a nod.


    "Secondly," Wan Xing continued, "Jin Quan is only motivated by personal gain. He is a coward when ites to making sacrifices. I saw this firsthand when we explored the Xin Continent together," Wan Xing shook his head. "But I never expected him to refuse to join the battle against the worm devil."


    Wu Yuan listened intently. He didn��t know much about Jin Quan apart from the historical ounts recorded in the annals.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Wan Xing looked at Wu Yuan sincerely. "The reason I��ve said all this is that I have alreadye to terms with the possibility of death in the uing battle against the worm devil."


    Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted at the mention of death. One could speak about death easily, but who would willingly embrace it?


    "As a powerful body refiner, your chances of survival are high," Wan Xing spoke calmly with a faint smile. "I have already passed on instructions that if I fall in this battle, the Sta Consortium will ept you as their leader and offer their assistance as you unify the world."


    "And one more thing,�� Wan Xing''s voice turned urgent, "Daoist Wu Yuan, I implore you to do everything within your power to prevent Jin Quan from uniting the Middle Land."


    "I believe Jin Quan is trying to break through to the Golden Core phase."

 Chapter 263: Wan Xing and Dong Pan

    <h4>Chapter 263: Wan Xing and Dong Pan</h4>


    ��Trying to break through to the Golden Core phase?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Transitioning from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase wasn��t too difficult for the genius cultivators in higher-order worlds. But for someone in the Middle Land, it was an immense hurdle.


    And Jin Quan was currently in seclusion to attempt a breakthrough?


    "Jin Quan''s circumstances differ from ours," Daoist Wan Xing continued. "Both Daoist Dong Pan and I have cultivated one step at a time over centuries."


    "Furthermore, what we refer to as inheritances are nothing more than remnants left by the sect''s predecessors many years ago. And most of the ancient texts we acquired were iplete."


    Wu Yuan nodded. In the words of the realm master, the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land were all loose cultivators, relying mostly on rudimentary techniques to progress.


    In other words, if a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator in the Middle Land were to receive proper cultivation guidance like Fang Xia, they would stand a good chance of reaching the Golden Core phase.


    "But Jin Quan is different. He has inherited aprehensive legacy," Daoist Wan Xing said seriously. "He has most likely discovered a well-preserved relic from an immortal sect''s ruins."


    ��Oh?�� Wu Yuan''s curiosity was piqued. A well-preserved relic?


    "Do you really think the rapid progress of his early years was all due to his talent? Even if we consider his natural aptitude, how could his son be just as exaggeratedly talented as him? Jin Ji reached the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase after just 200 years of cultivation," Daoist Wan Xing shook his head.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but agree. It made sense!


    Inheriting talent through one��s bloodline was possible, simr to how the children of Heavenly Rankers naturally possessed an exceptional aptitude for martial arts.


    He might also have handed down treasures to his son, like the one Wu Yuan gifted to his sister, Wu Yijun, turning her into a young prodigy.


    However, it was important to remember there was a limit to these auxiliary measures.


    Reaching the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase in just 200 years meant that Jin Ji''s talent surpassed not only that of Jin Quan, but also Daoist Wan Xing and many others.


    The chances of both father and son naturally being born with such perverse talent were near zero, so there had to be an underlying reason.


    Throughout history, the Jin royal family produced a constant stream of Land Rankers and Heavenly Rankers, each generation stronger than thest.


    How could a single family with few descendants produce so many talented individuals?


    Daoist Wan Xingmented, "Over the years, Jin Quan has consistently discovered a wide variety of extraordinary treasures. The artifacts he wields, along with the Septet Ignis Array, all exceed our wildest expectations. While the Sta Consortium may be considered the wealthiest empire in the world, our treasures cannotpare to that of the Jin royal family."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Indeed, the Goldstone Penta Array was gifted to him by the realm master. If not for that, he would never have obtained it. And the Septet Ignis Array was every bit as rare as the Goldstone Penta Array.


    Daoist Wan Xing sighed, "Our hopes of breaking through are hindered by old age and ack of guidance. Our only option is to forcefully attempt a breakthrough. I have tried to condense a Golden Core twice, but both attempts failed due to the fragility of my soul. It took me years to recover from the bacsh of each failure."


    "It was only then that I came to the realization that a strong soul is crucial for advancement." Wan Xing smiled bitterly.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. Structured guidance was indeed of paramount importance.


    For example, consider Fang Xia and his cultivation of the Eldritch Codex. He had extensive knowledge of the requirements to advance to the Golden Core phase, as well as the correct cultivation methodology, allowing him to avoid unnecessary detours and dys.


    But Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, the Arctic King, and the others were the top echelons in their respective factions, yet theycked proper guidance and thus had to go through repeated trial and error.


    "Jin Quan has exceptional innate talent and guidance from an inheritance," Daoist Wan Xing said. "Other than being at a critical juncture of a breakthrough, I cannot think of any other reason for his decision to abstain from participating in the fight against the worm devil."


    Wu Yuan felt that this was highly usible.


    Overall, the Jin royal family supported the fight against the worm devil. If not, they wouldn��t have surrendered the array disc, and Jin Ji and ck Snake King wouldn''t have joined the battle. The Starsea Pavilion and Yuanxia Pce wouldn''t have gathered their forces either.


    ��In reality, all of us know that if Jin Quan doesn''t get involved in this battle, he��ll stand to reap the benefits of our sacrifices.�� Daoist Wan Xing sighed, "Unfortunately, we have no other options."


    Wu Yuan stayed quiet. Indeed, they had no choice but to ept it. They simply had no way to force Jin Quan to join the uing battle.


    They were faced with two constraints: time was running perilously short, and both the Starsea Pavilion and Yuanxia Pce would refuse to lend their support.


    Even if all other factionsbined their forces, breaking through the heavily guarded pce of the Jin royal family was still going to be an arduous battle.


    While they were embroiled in internal conflicts, the worm devil��s army would inevitably sweep through the Huang Continent. How could they hope to stop the worm devil then?


    Meanwhile, by choosing not to coerce Jin Quan, they were able to wield two powerful arrays, greatly increasing their chances of defeating the worm devil.


    Harnessing the full power of these arrays required thebined might of twelve cultivators in total. But there were only twelvete-stage Qi Sea cultivators in the Middle Land, with the Jin royal family making up four of them.


    It was precisely due to their strong position that Jin Quan had the confidence to abstain from participating.


    "The oue of the battle against the worm devil is still uncertain. We might not have a choice, but Dong Pan, the Arctic King, and I are determined to prevent Jin Quan from uniting the Middle Land," Daoist Wan Xing dered solemnly.


    "But, Wu Yuan, you are different," he continued with a hint of a smile. "The strong reign. If you are the one to unify the Middle Land in the future, we have no objections."


    Wu Yuan quickly spoke up, ''The future can wait until after we have eradicated the worm devil. If we fail to kill it, all this will be meaningless anyway.''"


    "I can only give you my word that if I survive this ordeal, I will respect the philosophies of the various factions. After all, if Great Jin wishes to unify the world, the first obstacle in their way is the Cloudstride Sect."


    ��Excellent.�� Having confirmed Wu Yuan��s stance, Daoist Wan Xing��s face brightened.


    "Daoist Wan Xing, I will take my leave.��


    With that, Wu Yuan��s avatar swiftly dispersed into numerous light specks, and he left the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    The gentle smile on Daoist Wan Xing''s face slowly vanished. After a brief moment, a figure dressed in ck armor materialized beside him. It was Emperor Dong Pan.


    "You��ve heard everything," Daoist Wan Xing turned to Emperor Dong Pan.


    Emperor Dong Pan nodded. He had the ability to monitor all activities in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, which naturally included the conversation between Daoist Wan Xing and Wu Yuan.


    "Are you really nning to give it up?" Emperor Dong Pan asked in a low voice, "The Sta Consortium does not belong to you alone.��


    Daoist Wan Xing smiled wryly. "Thest immortal epoch ended a thousand years ago. It��s just a name." he shook his head. "They were the ones who founded the Sta Consortium, but I am the master of the Sta Consortium now. Naturally, I get to decide what to do with it."


    "Moreover," he continued, "think about Wu Yuan''s progression. How close is he to the Spiritual Body stage?��


    Daoist Wan Xing sighed, "When the Xin Continent is overturned once more, even they can''t ignore the power of the Middle Land."


    Emperor Dong Pan gave a slight nod.


    As peak powerhouses of the Middle Land, they were privy to many secrets and fully understood what it meant when immortals arrived.


    Daoist Wan Xing met Emperor Dong Pan��s eyes, "We have no other options. If Wu Yuan and Fang Xia join forces, they have enough strength to dominate the Middle Land. Regardless of who achieves a breakthrough, the unification of the Middle Land is inevitable."


    "Rather than ending up in a sorry state in the future," he continued, "it''s better to take advantage of our shared mission of exterminating the worm devil to proactively show goodwill towards Wu Yuan."


    Daoist Wan Xing smiled slightly, "At least, based on the intelligence I��ve received, Wu Yuan wouldn''t annihte our bloodline disciples as long as we voluntarily submit to him."


    Emperor Dong Pan nodded reflexively.


    Why didn''t they go looking for Fang Xia, choosing to speak to Wu Yuan instead? Apart from Wu Yuan''s greater talent, it was because they believed that Wu Yuan''s actions and character were traceable and more trustworthy.


    Fang Xia''s character was far too overbearing!


    When the Chu-Jiang Empire fell into ruin, the Sta Consortium backed up the Cloudstride Sect, preventing its destruction. Thus Daoist Wan Xing could be considered a benefactor of sorts to the Cloudstride Sect.


    Yet the moment Fang Xia returned, he mercilessly ended Wu Jianzhong''s life.


    Though Daoist Wan Xing had never openly expressed his thoughts on this matter, how could he feel indifferent?


    Emperor Dong Pan cautiously asked, "Well, what are your spections?"


    Daoist Wan Xing smiled. "It''s pointless to investigate further. The strength Wu Yuan has shown is already close to that of a Golden Core Superior. Whether he is Wan Liu or not, does it even matter?"


    "Only by following the trend can we survive. I��ve already made all the necessary preparations for the younger generations."


    "That saber of yours is just sitting around collecting dust. Why don��t you give it to Wu Yuan instead?" Daoist Wan Xing chuckled.


    Emperor Dong Pan nodded thoughtfully.


    "Our top priority right now is to kill the worm devil. As for what happens afterward..." A mysterious smile appeared on Daoist Wan Xing''s face. "We��ll talk about it after we survive this."


    ...


    <i>Huang Continent, North Huang City.</i>


    The immense battle had caused extensive damage to the entire North Huang City, iming countless lives in the aftermath. However, the martial artists and army of the Huang Temple quickly maintained order.


    The Heavenly Rankers each went their separate ways to rest.


    Wu Yuan returned to the deste mountain located north of the city, which remained untouched by the disastrous sh.


    "Master, these are the devil crystals from the devil soldiers you killed.�� Qiong Sea King��s massive body descended from the sky, gradually shrinking in size as he approached the cave entrance.


    A bunch of devil crystals flew through the air andnded softly at Wu Yuan''s feet.


    Given Wu Yuan��s strength, no one dared to covet his spoils.


    "I will take the three devil crystals from the Spiritual Body devil soldiers. As for the rest, you can divide them between yourself and Mountain Devil King. These devil crystals are of little use to me." Wu Yuan''s voice echoed from the cave.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A pile of devil crystals flew out.


    "Understood," Qiong Sea King nodded repeatedly, collecting dozens of devil crystals. Now that he recognized Wu Yuan''s strength, he no longer harbored any dissatisfaction with his master.


    Sensing Qiong Sea King''s departure, Wu Yuan began to iron out his thoughts.


    <i>The quality of devil crystals obtained from the Spiritual Body devil soldiers is one tier higher.</i> Wu Yuan examined the three enormous floating devil crystals.


    <i>A single one is worth dozens of devil crystals from Communion devil soldiers.</i>


    With a wave of his hand, he kept the three devil crystals.


    <i>What did Daoist Wan Xing mean by that?</i> Wu Yuan ruminated over their conversation.


    <i>He wants to make me the ruler of the Middle Land?</i>


    Was he sincere? Perhaps.


    <i>But it��s more likely that the circumstances forced his hand. My strength has already exceeded their expectations. And Jin Quan is a looming threat.</i>


    If Jin Quan managed to advance to the next phase, how could he tolerate the existence of Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan given their deep resentment?


    <i>Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan might not truly like me. However, whenpared to Jin Quan, I am the better option. </i>


    <i>Is this Daoist Wan Xing��s way of making his final arrangements?</i>


    <i>No matter what awaits me in the future, the worm devil must be killed. If the worm devil isn��t dead, there will be no future to speak of.</i>


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes, regted his breath, and began cultivating silently.


    As blood-red mist flooded into his soul chamber, the five vortexes of vital ether began rotating at an astonishing speed.


    As the Teng Snake joyfully swam amidst the vital ether, the injuries on its body and wings healed rapidly.


    ...


    On the Holy Capital''s western nk, a mountain cloaked in secrecy stood as a forbidden zone for all but the royal family. Few humans ventured up the mountain, which was home to many species of snakes.


    Deep inside a cavern was a majestic underground temple. And beyond the temple was a rtively small metal chamber, spanning only a few dozen meters in length.


    Inside the chamber, a middle-aged man wearing purple robes sat in the lotus position, his feet bare.


    Abruptly, strange streaks of green light circted around the man. He remained undisturbed, his eyes still closed. Streams of the same colored light emerged from his body, streaking about energetically around the entire chamber.


    The barefoot man in purple muttered to himself, "Is this the essentia Domain?"


    The nine previously tranquil vortexes within his qi sea began to thrash and writhe turbulently.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    A surge of golden brilliance erupted from the depths of the maelstrom, engulfing the vortexes and restoring them to their previous calm. At the same time, the qi sea began to undergo aplete transformation.

 Chapter 264: Epiphany, Fluctuations Of The Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 264: Epiphany, Fluctuations Of The Land (1)</h4>


    <i>Ninth-stage of the Qi Sea phase, condensing the core.</i>


    <i>I, Jin Quan, have finally taken this step.</i> A jubnt smile lit up the purple-robed man��s face.


    He was Jin Quan, the founding imperator of Great Jin.


    Since the revival of civilization in the Middle Land thousands of years ago, he was the first to surpass all predecessors, reaching the Golden Core phase!


    This level of cultivation was considered decent even in macrocosms, and Golden Core Superiors could be core disciples of most major immortal sects.


    <i>It will still take some time before my golden core is fully formed.</i> <i>At least ten more days.</i> Jin Quan estimated.


    Having justpleted a breakthrough, both his mana and soul were still in the process of rapid transformation. In order to unlock the truebat power of this phase, he had to wait until they were stabilized at a new equilibrium.


    <i>Ji''er''s message mentioned that Wan Xing, Dong Pan, and the others will be ready to operate the array in one or two days.</i> A jade talisman appeared in front of Jin Quan.


    Though he didn''t own a voidrealm, he did have a fewmunication artifacts.


    Jin Ji, Wan Xing, and the others collectively studied the array operation method in a location near the Holy Capital.


    Communicating over such a short distance was fast and simple. Hence, Jin Quan was well-informed about how the resistance against the cmity was proceeding. Jin Ji reported everything he knew to his father.


    <i>The worm devil fully deserves its mention in the Amethyst Cradle Jade Record. They��ve been responsible for countless massacres in the Greenridge Macrocosm. </i>A flicker of fear crossed his eyes.


    It was far too powerful.


    How many devil soldiers had hatched since Huang Temple��s seal was broken just a few days ago? If given more time, how much stronger would they be?


    The greatest strength of a worm devil was never itsbat power, but rather its ability to produce devil soldiers en masse and raise them to maturity at a rapid rate.


    ��However,�� Jin Quan frowned slightly, "Wu Yuan can single-handedly ughter entire swarms of devil soldiers in each battle. He has nurtured a lifebound eldritch beast and cultivated ether arts. On top of that, his cultivation level is high, making him a truly troublesome opponent."


    After his sessful breakthrough, Jin Quan no longer concerned himself with Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan.


    The appearance of the worm devil indeed spelled a cmity for everyone. But among the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land, it was the Cloudstride Sect that he was most wary of. First came Fang Xia, then the mysterious and unpredictable Wan Liu, and now Wu Yuan popped up.


    <i>At twenty-one years old, hisbat power is already close to that of a Golden Core Superior. Even in a macrocosm, such a genius is extremely rare.</i>


    When he first received this news, he waspletely stunned. When had such a prodigious talent emerged in the Middle Land?


    <i>How powerful must Wan Liu be to nurture such a formidable disciple?</i>


    <i>But if he has such incredible strength, why doesn''t he exterminate the worm devil?</i> This was the most perplexing part for Jin Quan.


    <i>He possesses extensive information about worm devils, indicating that he understands them very well.</i>


    The earlier one dealt with a worm devil, the easier it was to eradicate it.


    <i>The most likely possibility is that Wan Liu is weaker than he appears.</i>


    But even if Wan Liu was excluded from the equation, there were still Fang Xia, Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, and other powerful immortal cultivators, along with the two arrays they controlled. Together, they were a thorn in his side.


    The reason he had allowed Jin Ji to hand over the array disk of the Septet Ignis Array was because he was more than happy to let Wan Xing and the others fight the devil on his behalf. After all, he didn��t expect to find an opportunity to break through so quickly,


    <i>There''s no need to show up yet. I��ll let Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Wan Xing, and Dong Pan charge ahead. </i>Jin Quan''s eyes held a sinister glint.


    <i>Even if they can''t kill the worm devil, they will at least injure it severely. By then, my power will have stabilized,pleting my breakthrough. It won��t be toote for me to deal the killing blow then.</i>


    <i>If they do kill the worm devil, it would most likely result in heavy casualties, and their essentia would be mostly depleted. At that moment, I��ll appear and kill anyone who��s unwilling to submit, instantly unifying Middle Land.</i>


    Jin Quan was confident in his n. But all ns were inevitably wed.


    The crucial question was whether he could quickly reach the devil��sir and eliminate the worm devil after the Middle Land alliance''s failure.


    <i>Even if I can''t kill the worm devil, it doesn''t matter. I��ll prioritize my own survival and escape through the treasure realm, leaving the Middle Land. </i>


    Jin Quan had considered every aspect. The best scenario was unifying the Middle Land without having to lift a finger. The worst scenario was being forced to leave the Summerpeak World.


    He pondered for a moment.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Jin Quan suddenly waved his hand.


    In a majestic hall not far from the metal chamber, two illusory figures suddenly appeared out of thin air.


    "Father, did you summon me?" Jin Ji''s figure respectfully saluted.


    On the jade tform nearby, a purple-robed illusory figure sat in the lotus position.


    "Mm." Jin Quan''s expression was calm as he announced, "Ji''er, I��ve sessfully broken through my shackles, entering the Golden Core phase. After a while, I will truly be a Golden Core cultivator."


    "Congrattions, Father! Congrattions!" Jin Ji was overjoyed.


    The Golden Core phase!


    With such power, one could dominate the entire Middle Land if they so wished.


    "Father, what about the devil worm cmity?" Jin Ji quickly asked.


    "I won''t be participating in the battle," Jin Quan said lightly. "I have already exined my rationale to you, there��s no need to reiterate. Besides, I have yet toplete my breakthrough."


    Jin Ji nodded slightly.


    "What you need to do is continue your attempts to win over Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang," Jin Quan said calmly. "Even if the both of us do ultimately leave the Middle Land, having a few morete-stage Qi Sea experts under ourmand will prove advantageous.��


    "Father is wise," Jin Ji nodded.


    "So, do we still have to participate in the uing battle?" Jin Ji asked.


    "Yes," Jin Quan dered firmly, "Your duty is to assess the worm devil��s power. If the Middle Land has the means to fight it, join them and eliminate the worm devil."


    "However, if the worm devil cannot be beaten, escape at the first possible instance. Survival is your top priority," Jin Quan stated firmly.


    ��I will take care of the aftermath.��


    "Understood," Jin Ji finally understood his father''s n, and had to admit, it was quite despicable. However, the rate of sess was extremely high.


    All he had to do was sit back, rx, and watch the Middle Land��s various factions duke it out with the worm devil.


    Jin Ji''s smile grew wide with admiration. "At that moment, Father will emerge as the hero who saves the Middle Land, surpassing even the Martial King in status. Themon folk of the world will undoubtedly express their gratitude and pledge their loyalty as your faithful subjects."


    Soon after, the illusory figures of both father and son dissipated.


    The battle in North Huang City concluded with the devil��s army suffering heavy losses and quickly retreating.


    Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and a group of other cultivators fully dedicated themselves to understanding the cryptic patterns within the array disks and gs.


    In the Huang Continent, Wu Yuan, who now led the vanguard, focused on recovering and meditating.


    The confrontation between the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land and the worm devils came to a brief intermission.

 Chapter 265: Epiphany, Fluctuations Of The Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 265: Epiphany, Fluctuations Of The Land (2)</h4>


    Qiong Sea King, Mountain Devil King, and ck Snake King continued to patrol the region around North Huang City, even venturing into the devil zone.


    Yet, their efforts were in vain, as they couldn''t find even a single hint of a devil soldier. Even the juvenile devil soldiers seemed to have vanished into thin air.


    It seemed as though the worm devil had truly admitted defeat andpletely retreated after the fierce battle at North Huang City, losing all hope of confronting the Middle Land��s immortal cultivators.


    Without Wu Yuan��s leadership, Qiong Sea King and the others only patrolled the perimeter of the devil zone, having learned their lesson from their previous encounters with the Spiritual Body devil soldiers.


    ...


    A vast underground realm extended almost a hundred li below the surface of the devil''sir.


    At the center of this realm stood a massive ck sphere, over 600 meters in diameter, emitting radiant strands of purple light in the darkness.


    Surrounding the sphere were a seemingly infinite number of ck-scaled creatures, lying prostrate on the ground.


    The sight was frightening enough to make a Heavenly Ranker wet their pants.


    The only constion was that most of them were juvenile devil soldiers below ten meters in length. Those exceeding twenty meters were the minority.


    Of the unending ck tide, only 300 were Communion devil soldiers more than 100 meters in length and possessed a single pair of wings.


    As for the gargantuan monstrosities over 300 meters in length, there were only three.


    This was in line with what Fang Xia, Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, and the others had expected.


    During this brief span of time, numerous devil soldiers had spawned, but only six of them were at the Spiritual Body phase!


    At the core of the ck sphere was a crystalline orb adorned with cryptic patterns, emitting vibrations that rippled throughout the underground realm.


    Every single devil soldier prostrated on the ground. Even the Spiritual Body devil soldiers were no exception.


    All of them felt the immense fury, disbelief, and fear emanating from their mighty leader.


    <i>This world was supposed to be a wastnd. In theory, even Golden Core cultivators shouldn��t be appearing here.</i>


    <i>The lightning sea was powerful enough to take the lives of my mightiest warriors. Could this be a talisman treasure from my inherited memories? This shouldn��t be happening.</i> Numerous thoughts shed within the orb.


    It was a descendant of the noble worm devil bloodline, but due to the seal ced on it from early on and other obstructions from the Huang Temple, its development and growth proceeded at a snail��s pace.


    When it finally broke the seal, it joyously believed that it could eat and grow to its heart��s content, conquering the entire world.


    However, reality dealt it a crushing blow.


    The three Spiritual Body devil soldiers, whom it had raised at great cost, werepletely ughtered. In addition, the Communion devil soldiers that perished in North Huang City were elites it had meticulously raised.


    Factoring the initial losses, it is safe to say that the worm devil was facing an unprecedented crisis. Instinctively, it felt a looming danger that threatened its life.


    <i>The human race is the foremost race of the myriad spacetimes, they are no fools. After ying these many of my brave warriors, they will quickly advance to myir. </i>The worm devil concluded.


    Hence without hesitation, it ordered all devil soldiers to regroup at its position. Even the juvenile devil soldiers scattered throughout the devil zone were promptly summoned back.


    "I need a stronger guard!"


    "ughter! Consume each other and give rise to the strongest warriors!" The worm devil''s finalmand resonated deep within the minds of all devil soldiers.


    The Communion and Spiritual Body devil soldiers remained still.


    However, the juvenile devil soldiers previously prostrate on the ground suddenly erupted into a frenzy. Bloodthirsty maws opened, mercilessly tearing into their fellow brethren.


    Blood sprayed and limbs flew as the bodies of countless juvenile devil soldiers were torn into shreds. Their ravenous brethren quickly began feasting on the remains.


    In the midst of this cannibal feast, the scales on the devil soldiers'' bodies hissed as they grew at a visible rate, reaching 20, 30, and even 40 meters!


    "Roar!" Soon, the juvenile devil soldiers neared the limits of their rapid growth. Their roars crescendoed as they convulsed in pain on the ground.


    Wings sprouted, physiques burgeoned, and their growth surged!


    The number of juvenile devil soldiers quickly dwindled, but new Communion devil soldiers emerged at a rapid pace.


    <i>Curse those sted humans!</i> The orb radiated with intense anger and deep resentment.


    It had spent countless years painstakingly amassing this multitude of juvenile devil soldiers.


    Nurturing these juvenile devil soldiers had not been an easy task, as creating a powerful army of devil soldiers required not just abundant resources, but also a significant amount of time.


    These juvenile devil soldiers served two purposes �C to gather sustenance, and potentially advance to the Communion phase and join its guard!


    The worm devil had intended for these juvenile devil soldiers to mature gradually to the Communion phase by consuming the flesh and blood of organisms outside their.


    Instead, he was forced to resort to an internal feeding frenzy. This was a terribly inefficient method as significant losses were incurred during the transfer of energy from the eaten to the eater.


    As numerous juvenile devil soldiers annihted one another, scattered hordes of true devil soldiers emerged. Though their overall strength appeared to have increased, they were simply depleting theirbined resources.


    But the worm devil had no choice. The impending crisis loomed overhead, and relying on just three Spiritual Body devil soldiers and 300 Communion devil soldiers offered no sce.


    Finally, the tidal wave of juvenile devil soldiers was gone, their massacre turning the underground realm red. Only a few thousand Communion devil soldiers were left.


    "Eat!" The worm devil''smand resonated in the minds of all Communion devil soldiers, "Devour each other!"


    Without any hesitation, they immediately started tearing into each other.


    Communion devil soldiers could continue to develop via two methods. The first method involved absorbing spiritual qi and maturing over the course of many years.


    The second path, which was much quicker, involved consuming the bodies of fellow devil soldiers or other equally powerful spirit creatures.


    Over time, the number of Communion devil soldiers decreased. Those that remained experienced a surge in size and power.


    Atst, one particrly massive Communion devil soldier reached a threshold, triggering a transformation. Boundless spiritual qi flooded into its body, boosting its growth at an inconceivable rate.


    A new pair of wings, formed of flesh and blood, burst out from its back.


    ...


    No one knew of the profound changes happening deep inside the devil''sir.


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on a deste mountaintop near North Huang City. Quietly, he observed the hustle and bustle of the people in the city thaty beneath his feet.


    The Teng Snake''s injuries had fully healed after a little more than a day, and only then did Wu Yuan emerge from the cave.


    <i>Life is truly wondrous, and among the infinite species, humans are unique. </i>Overlooking thend, a faint smile blossomed on Wu Yuan��s face.


    North Huang City had just witnessed a massive battle, and it was difficult to estimate the extent of damage dealt to the city.


    But despite being mired in ruins, the city showed signs of renewed life in just a day or two.


    <i>Thend nurtures life.</i>


    <i>Life, nurturing! Embracing all. </i>


    Wu Yuan contemted the Dao quietly, attuned to the waves of fluctuations from the boundlessnd.


    <i>Yes! The earth is the genesis of all life.</i>


    Something deep within Wu Yuan''s heart seemed to stir.


    His spirit gradually transcended the corporeal, melding with the expansive terrain.

 Chapter 266: The Domain Stage

    <h4>Chapter 266: The Domain Stage</h4>


    Out of the numerous mysterious powers of heaven and earth Wu Yuan could perceive via Soul Force, the immense and sturdy power of earth was the clearest to him.


    He could also sense the sharp and fierce power of metal, the scorching and explosive power of fire, the continuous and endless power of water... although they were far less distinctpared to earth.


    But the moment Wu Yuan''s consciousness and spirit merged with the vastnd, only the vast and boundless power of earth remained in his perception. He could no longer sense the other types of heaven and earth��s power at all.


    <i>This is thend?</i> After condensing his eldritch tattoos, Wu Yuan spent several years contemting the profundity of thend, seeking to understand the power of earth.


    Due to his Terranean Body, he possessed an inherent aptitude for the Land Dao. And at present, his understanding of heaven and earth''s power far surpassed that of ordinary Heavenly Rankers.


    Though still technically in the Harmony of Man and Nature stage, he was actually just one step away from reaching the Domain stage.


    However, this step was an enormous chasm. Generations of peak powerhouses in the Middle Land grappled with oveing this challenging obstacle for generations.


    <i>In the past, the power of earth was simply something I wanted to control, but I��ve never immersed my entire being into sensing it like this. </i>Wu Yuan grew engrossed in the sensation. <i>All this time, I��ve yet to truly appreciate the beauty of thend!</i>


    It wasn��t merely the beauty of variousndscapes. It was the kind of beauty that touched one''s heart and soul, leaving one in awe of its splendor.


    Thend was vast and boundless.


    All of nature''s wonders, including the magnificent mountains and rivers, the breathtaking four seasons with their blossoms, breezes, snow, and moonlit nights, and the fiercepetition and natural selection of creatures in the skies and seas, could be traced back to thend.


    It was precisely because thend amodated everything and nurtured all existence that this resplendent world thrived in all its glory!


    <i>Thend is eternal and unchanging, nourishing everything like a mother without expecting anything in return. It is always present.</i> This insight struck Wu Yuan as he silentlyprehended the profound fluctuations of thend.


    Years of umted insights connected to one another in his mind, creating a brand new schema unique to Wu Yuan.


    <i>In the past, I broadlyprehended the profoundness of thend but could never find the gateway to the next level of perception. </i>


    <i>The vastness of the earth is iprehensible, a tapestry of wonders. Even trying to unravel even a fraction of it is daunting. </i>


    <i>What I truly love is the life that exists on this earth. </i>


    Through his Soul Force, Wu Yuan saw numerous points of light, each one representing a spark of life.


    As the sun beat down on the ruins of the great battle, children with lively eyes waved their arms, their vitality shining through despite the hardships...


    In fields of wild grass, small, weak des swayed in the wind. Anyone could trample on them, yet they simply grew back, spreading throughout the world...


    His thoughts turned to his mother, who disyed unwavering determination despite her difficulties. This was the tenacity of life.


    Wu Yuan also thought of the catastrophe brought by the worm devil and the cultivators who shed blood on the battlefield for the sake of the Middle Land and billions of living beings. This was the fervor of life.


    <i>The magnificence of life resides not in grand speeches or boasts, but in countless ordinary moments.</i> Tears shimmered in the corners of Wu Yuan''s eyes as he reflected on all living beings, touched by life itself.


    On the deste mountain, Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position, dressed in white robes,pletely immersed in this state of enlightenment.


    Faint streams of earthy-yellow qi flowed around his body, an external manifestation of heaven and earth''s power involuntarily mobilized by his enlightenment.


    If a Heavenly Ranker approached Wu Yuan now, they would feel the surging passion and genuine warmth of life.


    The surging power within him was the power of the Domain stage.


    Heaven and earth''s power was the external manifestation of the myriad Daos of heaven and earth. It was diverse andplex, representing the fusion of countless Daos, weaving together to shape the intricate tapestry of existence.


    Only by deeplyprehending a type of heaven and earth''s power and gradually uncovering the essence of a Dao''s profoundness, could someone hope to manifest a Domain.


    Reaching the Domain stage signified crossing the threshold of gaining a true preliminary understanding of a Dao. It was precisely because Fang Xia stepped through the threshold of the Gold Dao that he gained the ability to harness heaven and earth''s power to form his Gold Domain.


    On the other hand, the Dao that Wu Yuan studied was the Land Dao.


    As the seconds passed, half a day went by.


    With a deep exhale, Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. His eyes, now brimming with newfound depth and tranquility, emitted an entirely different aura.


    <i>The ardor of life! I never expected that this trip to the Huang Continent would have such a profound impact on me.</i> Wu Yuan was filled with emotion.


    <i>In a single push, I��ve reached the Domain stage.</i>


    In the Huang Continent, he witnessed the brutal carnage caused by devil soldiers, and the zing spirit of the Heavenly Rankers.


    Along with grasping a critical insight and years of umtion, Wu Yuan achieved a triumphant breakthrough.


    Wu Yuan��s thoughts drifted into introspection. <i>I have only scratched the surface of the ''ardor of life'' within the Earth Dao. However, this is likely only a tiny portion of the entire Earth Dao.</i>


    He understood very well that the myriad Daos of heaven and earth were not just empty words after reading the immortal slips.


    Among the myriad Daos of heaven and earth, there are Great Daos and Minor Daos, tangible Daos and intangible Daos.


    The Earth Dao, Metal Dao, Wind Dao, and Fire Dao were all part of an incredibly profound Great Dao, a cornerstone that supported the workings of heaven and earth.


    The Land Dao was just a tinyponent of the Earth Dao.


    And what Wu Yuanprehended was just a tiny fraction of the Land Dao, only epassing part of its rtion to life.


    <i>The immortal slips described the Life Dao as a type of Great Dao. The myriad Daos of heaven and earth coexist and interact in profound harmony, rather than beingpletely isted from each other.</i>


    Apart from the Earth Dao, life was also an importantponent of the Wood Dao. Life was also epassed in the profoundness of the Water Dao which nourished countless lives.


    The merging of these countless Daos was what formed the structure of the magnificent world!


    <i>The merging of these countless Daos? To me, it��s still far too early to understand such a concept.</i>


    <i>Even the invincible, legendary Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu onlymands a fraction of the Earth Dao.</i> Wu Yuan did not have grand ambitions.


    <i>My goal is to gradually improve my understanding of the current Dao until I reach the ninth level of the Domain stage.</i>


    As one��s understanding of a Dao progressed, the amount of power one could unleash naturally increased.


    The Domain stage was divided into nine levels, and Wu Yuan was currently at the first level.


    <i>If not for the pressure of the cmity, I probably would have taken years to break through. Reaching the Domain stage of Daoprehension at just 21 years old?</i> A smile tugged at Wu Yuan��s lips.


    How many Heavenly Rankers of the Middle Land failed to reach the Domain stage after struggling for centuries?


    Naturally, Wu Yuan was able to achieve this feat at an unprecedented speedrgely thanks to his Terranean Body and powerful soul, allowing hisprehension efficiency to far surpass that of ordinary Heavenly Rankers by a few orders of magnitude.


    <i>Reaching the Domain stage has also led to a huge leap in my overall power.</i> The amount of heaven and earth''s power Wu Yuan could now harness was far greater than before.


    <i>Under normal circumstances, a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator would never stand a chance against a first-stage Golden Core cultivator. However, once the Domain stage was reached, the Qi Sea cultivator should be able to put up some resistance.</i>


    Reaching the Domain stage was highly challenging. Many cultivators who reached the Golden Core phase might never advance to the Domain stage in Daoprehension.


    Fang Xia was confident enough to single-handedly confront the Septet Ignis Array led by Jin Ji due to his mastery of arrays as well as his grasp of a Domain.


    <i>If I were to face the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers once again, there would be no need to unleash ether arts or employ Beast Fusion. With the power of the Domain stage and the defenses of the eldritch armor, I��ll be able to withstand their attacks.</i>


    This wasn��t arrogance, but rather the confidence one gained after breaching the threshold of the Domain stage.


    <i>If I activate ether arts and Beast Fusion, erupting with full strength?</i> A glimmer of battle intent ignited in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>I might even stand a chance of ying the crimson-winged devil soldier.</i>


    Even if a third or fourth-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier appeared, Wu Yuan wouldn��t back down.


    <i>Making a breakthrough before the decisive battle may just be a blessing the heavens bestowed upon both myself and the Middle Land</i>. Wu Yuan felt a sense of gratitude.


    With each advancement in power, hope for victory grew.


    Wu Yuan stood up. The surrounding light waves distorted as he walked toward North Huang City. He had a sudden desire to take a leisurely stroll around the city right before the life-or-death battle with the worm devil.


    Only a few stepster, Wu Yuan found himself in the midst of the bustling city. Merchants bellowed their wares over the din, and countless stalls were open for business. War and cmity couldn��t stop life from going on.


    This scene reminded Wu Yuan of his mother, his sister, and the numerous people living in Cloudhill Province.


    <i>How wonderful. </i>An involuntary smile graced Wu Yuan''s lips.


    Previously, he was aloof, but at the same time, he was lonely.


    But now as he wholeheartedly contemted the mysterious wonders of thend and the passionate essence of life, his love for this world grew, and he wished for its prosperity.


    He refused to let the worm devil ravage it.


    <i>Worm devils may exist to destroy everything as part of the natural cycle of heaven and earth, but I see them only as a blight.</i> Wu Yuan''s killing intent grew stronger.


    ...


    Four hours after Wu Yuan achieved his breakthrough, night fell over North Huang City.


    Over 50 Heavenly Rankers gathered in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, their spirits high.


    ��Fellow Daoists,�� Daoist Wan Xing��s gaze swept through the Heavenly Rankers, sensing their enthusiasm. "Jin Ji, Dong Pan, myself, and the four other array operators have just departed from the Zhong Continent and will reach North Huang City in a few hours."


    The assembly immediately bubbled with excitement. All of them understood that the two arrays would be their main force against the worm devil.


    "The five of us will take an hour to rest before departing," Fang Xia added, causing another wave of anticipation to surge through the crowd.


    "The devil''sir lies deep underground. There will be no difference between day and night during the decisive battle. The sooner we start, the better," dered Daoist Wan Xing earnestly. "Fellow Daoists, please make your final preparations. Once our two teams arrive, we will charge into the devil''sir."


    The eyes of all the Heavenly Rankers zed with determination. No one raised any objections.


    They had long made the decision to begin the battle as soon as possible.


    ...


    Several hourster, darkness enveloped thend and only a few lights flickered in the empty streets of North Huang City.


    However, high in the skies, dozens of figures floated, their robes and hair rustling silently in the wind.


    They waited in silence, their hearts calm and focused.


    ��They��re here.�� Qiong Sea King, who had been coiled up until now, spoke in a deep voice, prompting the Heavenly Rankers to look over.


    A purple flying boat swiftly approached.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Seven figures emerged from the vessel, quickly heading towards the assembled group of Heavenly Rankers.


    It was none other than Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Rong Le, and Jin Ji.


    Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King went forward to greet them.


    ��Daoist Wan Xing.��


    ��Daoist Niu Hao.��


    ��Daoist Wu Yuan��...


    "Thank you all for your hard work." Many Heavenly Rankers greeted each other and exchanged words, showing sincere camaraderie.


    However, the most popr were naturally the strongest cultivators such as Wu Yuan.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, this is our first meeting." A sagely old man in ck robes smiled kindly, appearing quite amicable.


    ��Daoist Wan Xing.�� Wu Yuan nodded respectfully.


    He couldn''t help but notice the contrast between the aged man before him and his youthful avatar at the Middle Land Immortal Hall. However, meeting him in person felt much more authentic.


    The voidrealm could simte the soul and appearance of a person, achieving 100% likeness. But what was illusory would always be just an illusion,cking that trace of true essence.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, we were able to prevail in the vanguard battle thanks to you." Emperor Dong Pan stepped forward, turning over his hand to reveal a package. With a solemn expression, he handed it to Wu Yuan. ��I believe you are the only person who qualifies to wield this weapon.

 Chapter 267: Invading The Devil Soil

    <h4>Chapter 267: Invading The Devil Soil</h4>


    ��Battle saber?�� Wu Yuan was slightly startled.


    He already owned an eighth-grade spirit battle saber.


    ��This weapon was unearthed by one of our Wu Sect''s ancestors from the relic site of the Xin Continent. It is ssified as a high-grade spirit weapon. However, it is very special, and not a single Heavenly Ranker has managed to wield it in a thousand years.�� Emperor Dong Pan said, handing it over to Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan, you can give it a try."


    ��Oh?�� Wu Yuan''s curiosity was piqued. If Emperor Dong Pan himself called it high-grade, it had to be a seventh-grade spirit weapon at least. Only Golden Core cultivators were able to forge spirit equipment of that level.


    Wu Yuan epted the weapon. As he did so, the Heavenly Rankers looked on with curious gazes, intrigued by the package Wu Yuan held.


    Since the battle saber would be wielded sooner orter, there was no need to hide it. Moreover, Wu Yuan was confident in his own strength, knowing that no one in the Middle Land would dare to covet his treasure.


    Hence, he unwrapped the package, revealing a deep ck battle saber. The de emitted a chilling aura, and faint waves of ferocious pressure rippled out.


    From its appearance alone, many Heavenly Rankers recognized that it was a splendid saber. As for how powerful it was, they couldn��t tell exactly.


    Wu Yuan clenched the hilt with one hand and closed his eyes. With his other hand, he carefully ran his fingertips along the length of the saber, sensing every inch of the de.


    <i>Hum~</i> One breathter, the saber shone with a bright light, instantly bathing the night sky in earthy-yellow radiance.


    With that, Wu Yuan''s entire demeanor underwent a subtle transformation. His eyes grew colder and more ruthless, resembling a deity of ughter.


    "This aura?�� The Heavenly Rankers'' expressions shifted.


    Even Qiong Sea King felt a little uneasy. He had never seen Wu Yuan like this before.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan swung the saber fiercely. Instantly, a saber ray was generated, extending dozens of meters and leaving asting trail in the air.


    This spectacle left everyone astounded.


    The battle saber dimmed and Wu Yuan''s aura quickly returned to normal. However, nobody dared to underestimate this saber any longer.


    "Daoist Dong Pan, are you really willing to give me such a treasure?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but look at Emperor Dong Pan with confusion.


    He had imprinted his vital aura and extracted the knowledge within the battle saber.


    This saber was called the Delirium Landbreaker Saber.


    It was indeed a high-grade weapon, rated fifth-grade spirit equipment, capable of withstanding shes between cultivators at the Golden Core phase or Spiritual Body phase under normal circumstances.


    But most crucially, it was an earth-type treasure, making it a perfect match for Wu Yuan.


    It was a tremendously valuable item!


    Compared to the eighth-grade spirit saber Wu Yuan previously wielded, the Delirium Landbreaker Saber would take Wu Yuan''s attack power to the next level.


    "Treasures ought to be granted to heroes." Emperor Dong Pan smiled and said, "Wu Yuan, a young hero like you deserves a treasure like this. The decisive battle will soon begin. The stronger you are, the more you��ll be able to help us."


    Emperor Dong Pan sighed and continued, "Besides, as its owner, you should understand that ordinary cultivators wouldn''t be able to handle it."


    Wu Yuan instinctively nodded.


    Beyond the pressure it naturally exerted as a spirit weapon, the Delirium Landbreaker Saber also exerted extreme pressure on its owner��s soul, resulting in a strong urge to kill. Without a strong soul, one could not im ownership, which was why the word ��delirium�� was part of its name.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, with this precious treasure in your hands, our chances of winning this battle are greatly enhanced," Daoist Wan Xing added with heartyughter.


    The numerous Heavenly Rankers standing beside him also broke into smiles.


    "Wu Yuan," a low voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "I hope you can spare the bloodline of the Martial King if I perish in the devil''sir." Emperor Dong Pan transmitted the message via Soul Force.


    Understanding his intentions, Wu Yuan quickly responded to Dong Pan''s question through Soul Force, "Daoist Dong Pan may rest assured. No matter who unifies the Middle Land, the Martial King, who founded our Middle Land��s civilization, will always bememorated every year, for thousands of years toe."


    Emperor Dong Pan smiled. Wu Yuan''s promise was enough for him.


    As time passed, conversation between the Heavenly Rankers faded out and the sky grew quiet, each person lost in their thoughts.


    Wu Yuan stood in the air, familiarizing himself with the newly obtained Delirium Landbreaker Saber.


    Given that he already reached the Domain stage, he could easily unleash the full potential of a sixth-grade spirit weapon. However, wielding a fifth-grade spirit weapon required more thought.


    Less than two hourster, Daoist Wan Xing broke the silence, "They''re here."


    Wu Yuan, Niu Hao, and the other Heavenly Rankers watched as five streaks of light swiftly approached.


    "Fellow Daoists, apologies for the tardiness," Fang Xia said, leading the team that included the Arctic King, Bei Li, Liu Junxing, and Wu Nonghan.


    At this moment, all the Heavenly Rankers participating in the uing battle were fully assembled above North Huang City.


    Daoist Wan Xing chuckled, "You��re notte, you��re just in time."


    The Heavenly Rankers smiled. However, none of them rxed. They knew this was the calm before the storm, and all of them adjusted their mental states in preparation for the ensuing battle.


    Daoist Wan Xing addressed the group, "Fellow Daoists, Qiong Sea King, Mountain Devil King, Daoist Sang Gu, ck Snake King, and others have been tirelessly patrolling the outskirts of the devil zone in the Huang Continent for the past few days. Unfortunately, they have not found any signs of devil soldiers yet.��


    ��Daoist Qiong Sea King even patrolled the circumference just 1000 li from the devil''sir, yet no traces of devil soldiers were found.�� Wan Xing''s gaze swept across their faces. ��Evidently, that the battle at North Huang City dealt an unprecedented blow to the worm devil��s forces.


    "Therefore, as per the n, let''s not dy any longer and charge into the devil''sir," dered Daoist Wan Xing.


    Emperor Dong Pan agreed firmly, "Indeed, we must not dy any longer."


    "The devil soldiers are of secondary importance. It is the death of the worm devil that will put an end to this cmity," Fang Xia added.


    Wu Yuan listened silently. Their original strategy involved systematically sweeping through the outskirts to eliminate the devil soldiers and weaken the worm devil''s power.


    However, it was clear that the worm devil had already fully consolidated its forces. In terms of growth rate, no one could match the worm devil, not even Wu Yuan himself.


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan''s rapid breakthrough did not happen in a short time. Instead, it was the result of several years'' worth of umtion.


    Moving forward, progressing in the cultivation of vital ether andprehension of the Daos would all require a significant length of time.


    "Stick to the strategy," instructed Daoist Wan Xing in an authoritative tone. "We will directly invade the devil��sir and eliminate the worm devil. Maintain contact with the Middle Land Immortal Hall."


    ��Let��s go!��


    Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Daoist Wan Xing, and a few others flew to the front, leading the charge like the tip of an arrowhead. The numerous other Heavenly Rankers followed suit, transforming into shining streaks of light as they soared toward the core of the devil zone.


    Wu Yuan nced in the direction of the Jiang Continent. No one knew whether he would survive this battle.


    <i>I have no choice but to fight for the sake of my family and the Middle Land. </i>


    There was no turning back; retreat was not an option.


    As dawn broke on May 15th, in the year 3231 of the Eastern Martial calendar, the experts of the Middle Land made their final stand against the worm devil.


    Yet, on this night, the citizens of various nations and billions of living beings in the Middle Land were still fast asleep.


    ...


    The distance from North Huang City to the devil''sir was approximately 13,000 li. For Heavenly Rankers, this distance wasn��t far at all. Within two hours, they were already deep in the devil zone.


    Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Daoist Wan Xing observed the surrounding terrain. Fierce gusts of wind blew, and mountain ranges stretched out as far as the eye could see.


    Though it was the peak of summer, the time when life flourished, thendscapes were deste and barren. Along their journey, they encountered countless mountain ranges, rivers, and forests, but signs of vitality and activity were scarce. The further they ventured into the devil zone, the fewer signs of life were visible.


    Finally, a faint glimmer of light pierced through the darkness on the horizon, revealing a world shrouded in darkness.


    The vast expanse was covered in a thin ck film and devoid of any signs of life or greenery. Darkness consumed thendscape, as if all life had ceased to exist.


    In that moment, all the Heavenly Rankers couldn''t help but stop in horror. They had all heard the tales of worm devils obliterating everything in their path. But only now were they witnessing the extent of the devastation. It was a sight that left their hearts pounding in fear.


    "We have reached the edge of the devil soil," dered Senior Wan Xing, his resonant voice echoing in the ears of all Heavenly Rankers. "About 100 li from here is the entrance of the devil''sir."


    "ording to Senior Wan Liu''s intelligence, devil soil refers to the stronghold built by worm devils. It allows them to absorb abundant spiritual qi and strengthen their devil soldiers."


    "The area epassed by devil soil is the worm devil��s territory.�� Daoist Wan Xing exined, "Wherever the devil soil expands, all signs of life are extinguished. There is no way to escape."


    The Heavenly Rankers listened attentively, already fully aware of this information.


    ��Countless devil soldiers reside deep within the devil soil, including those at the Spiritual Body phase.�� Daoist Wan Xing exined. ��Therefore, any Heavenly Rankers that are too weak will serve little purpose by heading in, as you will just be cannon fodder or perish from the aftershocks alone.��


    "Following the n, we will split into two groups. The first group, supported by the two arrays, will aim to defeat the worm devil in a single, decisive strike. Failing to achieve this, we will eliminate as many of the rtively stronger devil soldiers as possible. After which, the second group willunch the second wave of attacks."


    Daoist Wan Xing scanned the crowd. "If anyone has an objection. Raise them now."


    He was met with silence.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Daoist Wan Xing, along with the others, turned to Wu Yuan.


    It was agreed upon previously that Wu Yuan wouldmand the decisive battle.


    The reasons were simple. First, Wu Yuan was the strongest among them and had the greatest chance of survival. Second, his Soul Force was unmatched, enabling him to perceive the entire battlefield even in the darkness underground.


    "Let''s go," Wu Yuan said sinctly, leading the way into the devil soil.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Fang Xia, and the others split into their array teams and swiftly followed suit.


    Qiong Sea King let out a fierce, low growl. Swinging its massive tail, it swiftly caught up, with Mountain Devil King trailing closely behind.


    ck Jiao King, who was a sixth-stage Communion cultivator, and the other cultivators at the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase, including Fu Xinxia, Lei Lie, Bu Nianyan, He Lianqi, and Meng Geng, followed behind.


    To participate in the battle, one had to reach the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase at minimum.


    The 22 powerhouses representing the pinnacle of the Middle Land swiftly vanished from the sight of the remaining 30 or so Heavenly Rankers.


    "Will we win?" asked Bu Yu, her anxiety evident.


    "Definitely!" Huan Jian said softly, his eyes filled with longing and anticipation.


    ��Fellow Daoists, our strength is rtively weak, hence charging into the devil''sir is suicide for us," Sang Gu said solemnly. "But if Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, and the others fall, we will fight until ourst breath."


    "Everyone, please enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall to witness the battle."


    "Prepare yourselves to head into battle."


    Massive light screens materialized one after another in the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    It showed Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, Fang Xia, and the others soaring swiftly above the devil soil.


    The most eye-catching figures were Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, and Fang Xia.


    A young man dressed in pristine white robes, radiating an ethereal aura.


    An elderly man d in a somber ck robe, showing no signs of joy or sorrow.


    A middle-aged man dressed in splendid white robes, exuding amanding presence.


    Wu Yuan represented the peak of martial prowess within the Middle Land! Daoist Wan Xing and Fang Xia eachmanded an array!


    The oue of the battle would be decided by these three. All Heavenly Rankers who were not part of the first wave watched the projections with a mixture of nervousness and hope.


    "They��ve entered the devil''sir!" Sang Gu suddenly eximed.

 Chapter 268: Saber Unsheathed

    <h4>Chapter 268: Saber Unsheathed</h4>


    The Heavenly Rankers who had yet to join the battle fixed their gazes on the projection within the light screen.


    The entire realm was covered in a ck substance, creating a depressing, eerie atmosphere. All who beheld it felt an unseen weight press down on their hearts.


    An enormous cave, longer than three li,y deep underground. It appeared to stretch on endlessly,pletely covered in darkness. It looked like the gateway to hell itself.


    Within this cave, 22 figures stood in the air.


    Suddenly, the bodies of Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Rong Le, and Jin Ji glowed purple. Among them, Daoist Wan Xing was the brightest.


    An array disk materialized beneath him, swiftly expanding and growing over ten zhangs in diameter. Countless swirling cryptic patterns decorated its surface.


    As the array disk glowed purple, spiritual qi began quickly flowing into it. Then, it fused with the array gs.


    Suddenly, a massive roc spanning nearly 400 meters appeared, its body shrouded in vibrant purple mes.


    Compared to the time Jin Ji controlled the array, the Septet Ignis Array was far more powerful.


    It took six ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators and one eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator to unleash the true power of this array.


    Simultaneously, Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Bei Li, Liu Junxing, and Wu Nonghan activated their array. Soon, a majestic demonic beast resembling a mantis appeared, standing 30 zhangs tall and entirely gold in color.


    At first nce, it seemed much smaller in size, but in terms of power, it onlygged slightly behind the Septet Ignis Array.


    The Goldstone Penta Array led by Fang Xia consisted of fewer members, and their team had a lower cultivation level overall, sufficiently illustrating the brilliance of the Goldstone Penta Array.


    However, out of its six legs, the front four were as sharp as sabers, two of which extended from the golden mantis�� thorax and the other two from its abdomen. These de-like limbs were as cold as ice and as sharp as razors.


    No one doubted the strength of those de-like limbs; it was basically a demonic beast born for battle.


    Just behind the mantis, ayer of battle armor covered Wu Yuan''s body. A pair of ck wings emerged from his back, radiating an equally formidable aura.


    The other eight powerhouses were all noticeably weaker. Qiong Sea King was no match for Wu Yuan in his Beast Fusion state, let alone the two arrays.


    "The two arrays,manded by Daoist Wan Xing and Fang Xia!"


    "The strongest expert, Wu Yuan."


    "The eight powerhouses, including Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King."


    Everyone watched in silence as the two arrays took shape.


    Wu Yuan''s ck wings trembled and his figure transformed into a beam of light, shooting into the cave. He was closely followed by a massive purple roc and golden mantis. The remaining eight powerhouses hurriedly followed suit, venturing into the depths of the devil''sir.


    The battle could erupt at any moment.


    ...


    Within the dark world, 100 li below the ground level, all surfaces werepletely thered with the ck substance. Countless broken scales littered the devil soil, along with pools of viscous blood. The metallic stench of blood saturated the vast cave.


    Within the enormous ck sphere, the crystalline orb quivered, transmitting intense fluctuations.


    ��Kill! ughter them all!��


    The frail main body of the worm devil made it vulnerable in directbat. However, it had the ability to manipte numerous devil soldiers with its powerful soul, which took a peculiarly unique structure. Because of this, its Soul Force perception range extended much further than Wu Yuan''s.


    Additionally, the devil''sir served as the kingdom it ruled. Though its Soul Force did not cover the entireir, it had a vague awareness of everything happening within it. Given the huge disturbance caused by the powerful invaders, it was naturally alerted.


    At this moment, it sensed over ten immensely powerful auras hurtling towards it through a passage of the cave. The two leading forces in particr had such frighteningly strong auras that even the worm devil trembled.


    The worm devil understood that this would likely be the strongest counterattack from the powerhouses of this world. If it emerged victorious, subjugating this world would be effortless.


    But if it failed? Then it would perish!


    Low roars echoed throughout the underground world, heralding the arrival of massive creatures that surrounded the colossal ck sphere. Though they were few in number, all possessed four crimson wings!


    ...


    A glint shimmered in Wu Yuan��s eyes as he extended his Soul Force to its fullest range. However, due to the obstructions of the cave��s structure, his consciousness could only extend to a radius of eight li.


    Descending at a speed of six li per second, he was joined closely by the roc, six-legged mantis, and Qiong Sea King. Meanwhile, the passageway of the cave shrank rapidly.


    Nevertheless, could mere rocks and soil impede their progress?


    <i>Up till now, we still haven��te across a single devil soldier.</i> Wu Yuan felt uneasy. They entered the devil''sir two breaths ago and already descended more than 80 li.


    The absence of resistance was odd. As the situation grew stranger, Wu Yuan and the other Heavenly Rankers grew more alert.


    Then suddenly, Wu Yuan''s voice echoed in the minds of the Heavenly Rankers, ��Below us is a massive underground world, likely their of the worm devil. Everyone, be careful!��


    There was no response from the other Heavenly Rankers. They simply followed his orders without question.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan was abruptly stopped by a powerful explosion, its dreadful shockwaves sending ck soil, blood, and limbs flying into the air.


    The earth trembled violently as a massive purple roc wreathed in mes quickly descended, illuminating the vast underground expanse.


    Shortly after, Qiong Sea King, the six-legged golden mantis, and several other Heavenly Rankers joined the roc. They stood as a group, their faces filled with shock as they surveyed the stretch of ck soil 100 li below the surface. This was the world of the worm devil.


    ��An underground world!��


    ��What a pungent stench of blood.��


    ��This is the devil��sir, but there were no devil soldiers in sight.�� Numerous thoughts raced through their minds.


    ��No!�� a voice echoed in their minds. ��It��s just that the weakest devil soldiers have been turned into fodder. Only the most powerful ones are left.��


    Wu Yuan''s voice grew cold and he raised his saber, pointing it forward. "They are approaching!"


    His reminder was unnecessary. Everyone present had already noticed the hazy scene at the far end of the underworld. In the distance, about 100 li away, a massive dark sphere stood out.


    There was no doubt �C this was the main body of the worm devil. Gigantic crimson-winged creatures surrounded the ck sphere, their icy stares chilling one to the bone.


    Thergest of the crimson-winged devil soldiers let out a powerful roar, its deep bellow echoing throughout the vast underworld.


    A chorus of furious roars erupted from the devil soldiers. Their blood-colored wings shuddered, gleaming like honed des. In an instant, their figures transformed into streaks of light, charging straight toward the purple roc, Wu Yuan, and the six-legged golden mantis.


    ...


    Inside the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, the 32 Heavenly Rankers who had yet to join the battle watched the screens with incredulous expressions.


    Eight devil soldiers with four crimson wings!


    This meant that there were no fewer than eight second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers within the devil��sir. It was a terrifying force!


    ��Can we win?��


    "Eight of them? How can we win against that?" Despair filled the hearts of all the Heavenly Rankers.


    The worm devil''s powerpletely surpassed their expectations.


    The moment the first crimson-winged devil soldier moved, Wu Yuan already transformed into a towering giant, five zhangs tall. He swung his saber forward.


    "ughter them!" Wu Yuan''smand echoed throughout the underworld.


    The wings on his back trembled. Then in a sh of light, he flew through the air toward thergest crimson-winged devil soldier.


    Earthy-yellow qi streams emerged from Wu Yuan''s body, pulsing with unstoppable power. Thebination of powers gave him the appearance of a divine entity, fighting against heaven and earth!


    "Domain!" Sang Gu eximed in astonishment. A glimmer of hope kindled in his heart as he whispered, "There��s hope."


    ��There��s still hope.��


    ...


    Darkness enveloped the entire subterranean realm, apanied by the unmistakable scent of blood.


    The sh between the worm devil and the Middle Land��s peak powerhouses began.


    <i>Eight Spiritual Body devil soldiers? Is there still a point in fighting? Our defeat is all but certain! </i>Inside the purple roc, Jin Ji''s thoughts were in disarray. Any possibility of victory seemed nonexistent.


    Previously, they defeated three Spiritual Body devil soldiers, but there were still eight crimson-winged devil soldiers. How could they beat such overwhelming odds?


    <i>Escape!</i> Thoughts of fleeing immediately rose in Jin Ji��s mind.


    He exchanged nces with Hai Feizhang and Zhao Xing, who were standing not far away.


    Niu Hao, Rong Le, ck Snake King, ck Jiao King, and the other cultivators all felt despair cloud their hearts. The enemy was far too strong!


    If there were only four or five Spiritual Body devil soldiers, they might have had a slight chance of winning. But facing eight of them, each at least in the second-stage Spiritual Body phase, the odds were bleak.


    Even Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan, who were mentally prepared to sacrifice their lives, still felt consumed by hopelessness. Even if they fought with everything they had, victory was still unlikely.


    At that moment, a massive figure, the color of earth, zoomed through the sky like lightning, apanied by swirling earthy-yellow qi currents.


    His presence dominated the entire battlefield, slightly surpassing even that of the purple roc.


    "The Domain stage?"


    "Land Domain."


    ��Wu Yuan hasprehended a Domain?�� Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the other Heavenly Rankers were astounded.


    The Domain stage! Once a cultivator reached this level, they would be able to progress to the Golden Core phase without any obstacles. Apart from Fang Xia, the Middle Land had yet to produce a single Domain stage expert in the past thousands of years.


    Meanwhile, the six-legged golden mantis also sprang into action. It brandished its four saber-like limbs as its body emitted a dazzling golden light, radiating boundless power.


    Gold Domain!


    "Fang Xia has reached the Domain stage as well!"


    "Hemands an array as well as a domain. His strength won��t be any weaker than Wu Yuan��s."


    "There��s still hope for us yet! Kill!" Wan Xing dered resolutely.


    ...


    The ming purple roc spread its wings andunched a fierce attack on the approaching devil soldiers.


    "Kill!" shouted Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King as they charged into battle, their roars echoing through the air.


    "Form the array!" A faint glow shrouded the bodies of ck Snake King, Fu Xinxia, and the other experts, and the six of them faintly began merging into one entity.


    This third array did not significantly boost their strength, but it enhanced their defense via circting the flow of auras.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Wu Yuan stepped into the air, his wings trembling as swirling earthy-yellow streams surrounded him. Within moments, his speed soared to 160 li per breath.


    Wu Yuan��s gaze locked onto his target, thergest crimson-winged devil soldier. He uttered a single word through gritted teeth: "Kill!"


    Wu Yuan swung his saber in an upward arc, aiming directly for the devil soldier��s head. At the same time, the devil soldier��s talons crashed down toward the saber.


    <i>Boom!</i> The two met in a cataclysmic collision. Under the pressure of the qi currents, the w buckled and fractured, staining the surroundings with blood.


    The colossal crimson-winged devil soldier, measuring 350 meters in length, was propelled backward by the saber strike, tumbling through the air.

 Chapter 269: Dire Straits

    <h4>Chapter 269: Dire Straits</h4>


    The force of the devil soldier��s ws reverberated through the length of the battle saber and mmed into the eldritch battle armor. Wu Yuan, towering at a height of five zhangs, was forcefully thrown backward against his volition.


    However, his weapons, battle armor, as well as the Beast Fusion state helped to dissipate some of the force, leaving Wu Yuan mostly unharmed. Only his internal qi roiled.


    <i>I only have a slight advantage? This devil soldier must be at the third-stage Spiritual Body phase!</i> Through the direct collision with the devil soldier, Wu Yuan was able to ascertain its strength.


    That was indeed the case. Wu Yuan''s power was equivalent to a ninth-stage Communion cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root. Thus, he would be no match for a first-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier. But since reaching the Domain stage, Wu Yuan��s overallbat power made him more than capable of confronting it.


    <i>By employing the ether art and Beast Fusion, my burst power mirrors that of a devil soldier at the third-stage Spiritual Body phase. Moreover, the Delirium Landbreaker Saber amplifies my attack, giving me a slight edge over it.</i>


    Nevertheless, it was only a small advantage. A Spiritual Body devil soldier could unleash immensebat power even without the use of artifacts or ether arts, solely relying on their physiques.


    <i>At the end of the day, I am still at the fifth-stage Communion phase, with limited ether avable to me. Although my strength greatly increases when I activate Eldritch Form, the consumption is equally enormous.</i> Wu Yuan clearly recognized this fact. <i>Once I run out of ether, mybat power will only beparable to a devil soldier at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase.</i>


    <i>I have to end this battle quickly!</i>


    In the fleeting moment of their collision and subsequent recoil, Wu Yuan made up his mind.


    His wings quivered, his body flickering as he quickly dodged to the side to avoid the devil soldier. Then, he headed straight for that huge ck sphere.


    Why bother getting entangled with these devil soldiers? Wu Yuan��s main target was the worm devil!


    As long as he could y the worm devil, these seemingly daunting and formidable devil soldiers would crumble without a fight, no longer posing a threat to them.


    The colossal third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier soared through the air with an earth-shaking roar. Its enormous tail sliced through the sky toward Wu Yuan.


    <i>ng! </i>The sh of metal reverberated through the air as Wu Yuan intercepted the strike with his saber.


    Two additional devil soldiers with crimson wings flew toward Wu Yuan, roaring as they wed at him.


    The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, sending soil flying in every direction. de rays shed and an earthy yellow qi current surged forth, enveloping the three devil soldiers in its power.


    <i>One third-stage Spiritual Body soldier, and two second-stage Spiritual Body soldiers</i>. Wu Yuan unleashed all his strength, speed, skill, and power, not holding anything back.


    However, these three Spiritual Body devil soldiers demonstrated exceptional coordination, surpassing even their counterparts in the battle at North Huang City. With their massive bodies, sharp ws, and strong tail strikes, they effectively sealed off all angles of Wu Yuan''s attacks,pletely entrapping him.


    The devil soldiers'' gaze held both chilling murderous intent and a touch of arrogance, suggesting an intelligence beyond that of mindless beasts. It was clear that they were not acting independently, but rather being manipted by the worm devil.


    It was as though the worm devil was controlling eight puppets to eliminate Wu Yuan, Daoist Wan Xing, and the other cultivators.


    This was the advantage of fighting on its home turf. When the distance between the worm devil and its soldiers was too far, controlling them was a challenge, thus it allowed them to fight with greater freedom. However, when in close proximity, manipting its soldiers became much easier.


    While the worm devil��s skill and cultivation level were inferior to Wu Yuan��s, its intelligence surpassed that of its soldiers.


    ��Roar!�� ��Roar!�� Two devil soldiers, one at the third-stage Spiritual Body phase and the other at the second-stage Spiritual Body phase, charged forward with lightning speed. Together, theyunched a fierce assault on the six-legged golden mantis.


    The sh of weapons and ws echoed through the air. Streams of golden energy howled, glinting sharply as they converged as one.


    The six-legged golden mantis radiated an aura of ughter, fully embracing its nature as a deadly predator.


    Under Fang Xia��smand, the array erupted with tremendous power, causing the battlefield to tremble.


    In a fraction of a second, both sides engaged in an intense sh, exchanging hundreds of blows.


    Each saber strike dealt damage to the devil soldiers, and every collision left asting impact on their bodies. However, the wounds on the Spiritual Body devil soldiers, ranging from just a few meters to tens of meters, were just a slight nuisance. They simply regenerated all torn flesh, an ability further amplified by being in the vicinity of the devil soil.


    "These Spiritual Body devil soldiers are troublesome foes," Fang Xia muttered through gritted teeth. He was exerting his full effort to control the array. But despite appearing to have the upper hand, he was unable to break through the defenses of the devil soldiers.


    The six-legged golden mantis fought with incredible agility, but its burst speed could notpare to that of Wu Yuan, who had the help of a Teng Snake.


    On the other hand, the Spiritual Body devil soldiers were unafraid to endure each strike with their near indestructible bodies, boldly engaging in head-on shes.


    The six-legged golden mantis excelled in offense, but its defense was only average. With repeated collisions, the array could crumble. After all, arrays were not true bodies.


    <i>We cannot get past them. </i>Daoist Wan Xing��s expression darkened like a stormy sea.


    He infused all his power into the Septet Ignis Array, causing the purple roc''s aura to surge. mes danced through the air, turning the underworld into a sea of fire.


    Two enormous devil soldierspletely disregarded the mes raging around them, blocking the path with their huge frames. They shed head-on with the purple roc repeatedly, not allowing it to advance a single inch.


    <i>Damn it!</i> Daoist Wan Xing overflowed with frustration.<i> If only I controlled a Domain, allowing me to unleash more of the array��s power.</i>


    The purple roc wielded by the coordination of sevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators was fundamentally more powerful than the six-legged golden mantis or even Wu Yuan.


    However, due to Daoist Wan Xing''s lower skill levelpared to Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, the power unleashed by the purple roc was slightly weaker than that of the six-legged golden mantis.


    The main advantage of the purple roc was its defense, allowing it to confront the devil soldiers fearlessly.


    In contrast, both Qiong Sea King and the Mountain Devil King werepletely suppressed by thest third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier and unable to advance. This third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier even had enough strength left to provide support to the other devil soldiers on the battlefield.


    ck Snake King, Lei Lie, and the other cultivators at the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase refrained from charging into the fray. Instead, they supported the melee fighters with long-range arcane arts and artifacts.


    However, their attackscked the same impact as those executed through the coordination array. Along with their weaker cultivation levels, the Spiritual Body devil soldiers barely paid attention to them, and they had little influence on the overall battle.


    The top 22 immortal cultivators of the Middle Land united tounch their strongest attacks, but were effortlessly countered and subdued by the eight Spiritual Body devil soldiers.


    Furthermore, there were over ten Communion devil soldiers, each exceeding 200 meters, positioned around the colossal ck sphere.


    They stood at a distance, observing the battle and refusing to engage. These soldiers acted as the worm devil��sst line of defense.


    ...


    In the Middle Land Immortal Hall, a heavy silence filled the air. Bu Yu, Huan Jian, Meng Cai, and the other Heavenly Rankers stared at the light screen, their tension palpable.


    They werepletely taken aback by the magnitude of the battle, as well as the level of power unleashed by thebatants.


    "Wu Yuan��s strength is truly terrifying!


    ��How did he manage to single-handedly restrain three Spiritual Body devil soldiers?"


    "His speed is incredible, he��s not allowing the worm devil to catch its breath at all.��


    "The spirit beasts conjured by the two arrays are equally formidable."


    These Heavenly Rankers couldn''t deny that Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Daoist Wan Xing werepletely unmatched in the Middle Land.


    However, the worm devil��s forces were even more powerful. It had a total of eight Spiritual Body devil soldiers, three of them at the third-stage Spiritual Body phase, and five at the second-stage Spiritual Body phase.


    Their imprable blockadepletely halted Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Daoist Wan Xing''s attempts to approach the massive ck sphere.


    "Can we win?"


    ��We must win.�� Countless Heavenly Rankers silently prayed, feeling a sense of powerlessness wash over them. They might possess the strength to fight Communion devil soldiers. But confronted with Spiritual Body devil soldiers, they could only resign themselves to fate.


    ��Not good.�� Sang Gu''s face twisted in distress. ��The Septet Ignis Array is on the verge of copsing!"


    The Heavenly Rankers felt their hearts plummet.


    ...


    <i>Deep in the heart of the devil''sir.</i>


    A battered Spiritual Body devil soldier, its hide scorched and flesh torn, swung its enormous steel-like tail, aiming for the majestic purple roc.


    <i>Bang!</i> The purple roc was sent reeling back again, its body of mes crashing to the ground.


    The impact of the force prated the array, causing the cultivators within to cough up blood. Though the force was diminished by more than 99%, it still caused the vital qi of the array controllers to churn.


    Blood trickled from the corners of Jin Ji��s mouth.


    The battle had barely just begun!


    ��This Daoist Wan Xing is a lunatic. By shing with the Spiritual Body devil soldier over and over again, the array is bound to crumble eventually.�� Jin Ji''s eyes flickered with fury as he caught sight of the figure in ck robes on therge array disk.


    ��Wu Yuan is strong, but the worm devil��s forces are even stronger.��


    ��If my father joined the fight against the worm devil right after breaking through, there might have been a chance for us to emerge victorious.��


    ��But now, it��s toote. This battle is already lost. The third-stage Spiritual Body devil has yet to use its full strength, and there are still nearly twenty devil soldiers at the eighth or ninth stages of the Communion phase.��


    ��I��ve done my best. I refuse to perish in this ce.�� Jin Ji made an instantaneous decision.


    Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang heard his voice in their minds.


    "Very well," Zhao Xing replied.


    "If you want to leave, go ahead. After much thought, I realized that I cannot abandon my homnd." Hai Feizhang changed his mind.


    Jin Ji and Zhao Xing nced at each other. What a fool!


    At that very moment, the purple roc collided forcefully with the devil soldier once more.


    "Now!" Jin Ji''s form was instantly encased in ayer of green light. He quickly left his position within the array and sped into the raging inferno at the tail.


    At the same time, Zhao Xing darted forward. Swiftly, the two of them left the array and transformed into streaks of light, rushing towards the rear.


    With two controllers suddenly leaving the array, the purple roc��s aura instantly weakened and its fiery wings fractured, causing it to tumble and plummet downward.


    ��Not good!��


    ��Jin Ji! Zhao Xing!��


    ��Traitors!��


    The cultivators observing the battle in the immortal hall immediately erupted with uncontroble rage.


    Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan turned ashen. They never imagined that Jin Ji and Zhao Xing would abandon the battle at such a crucial moment.


    It was an unforgivable betrayal!!


    A menacing silhouette raced through the sky, its w rays leaving a foreboding trail. The devil soldier which had been reserving its strength eagerly seized the opportunity before it.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The massive purple roc, pushed to its limits, split in half with a thunderous explosion. mes scattered in every direction, revealing the cultivators inside.


    The other second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier swiftly closed in for the kill.


    The sharp w ray tore through the air, instantly cleaving through one of the figures.


    "Watch out!"


    <i>Boom!</i> A body was reduced to flesh and blood.


    Rong Yue, the leader of the Ninedeaths Circle, was dead!

 Chapter 270: Carving A Path Of Survival For The Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 270: Carving A Path Of Survival For The Middle Land (1)</h4>


    If qi refiners engaged body refiners in closebat without the protection of an array? It was basically a death wish!


    "Rong Le!" Daoist Wan Xing cried out, his face contorted with pain.


    He waspletely covered in battle armor and enshrouded in ayer of mes that disyed a strange power. This allowed him to endure the remaining impact of the w strike. His figure shed, and he quickly manipted the array disk to withdraw.


    "Jin Ji! Zhao Xing!" The veins on Emperor Dong Pan''s temples bulged as he unleashed a thunderous roar. But despite his anger, he was forced to flee for his life.


    Niu Hao and Hai Feizhang cursed as they retreated.


    "Jin Ji! You bastard!" Volcanic fury erupted in Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Bei Li, and the others were all equally outraged, unable to believe that Jin Ji and Zhao Xing would desert them in the middle of the battle. It was aplete and utter betrayal.


    Just moments ago, Wu Yuan and the two arrays had joined forces, yet they were unable to break through the blockade formed by the eight Spiritual Body devil soldiers. They couldn��t get close to the worm devil at all.


    On the contrary, if their aim had been to escape, they would��ve been able to do so easily. They hadn��t been in immediate danger, and had not reached desperate straits yet.


    If Jin Ji and Hai Feizhang had intended to flee, they could have chosen to do so at any moment. Why did they choose to desert at the most critical juncture? What benefit did they gain from such an act?


    From the perspective of Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others, no one could escape the cmity of the worm devil.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Jin Ji and Zhao Xing swiftly dashed out of the array,pletely ignoring Emperor Dong Pan''s furious shouts. They kept their heads down, charging frantically through the passage of the devil��sir.


    ...


    Inside the Middle Land Immortal Hall, the Heavenly Rankers who had yet to join the battle red angrily at the two escaping figures.


    "We��re finished!"


    ��We lost.��


    "Traitors!" Many eyes turned bloodshot, and some even shed tears as an overpowering weight of despair engulfed the Conference Hall.


    Thest flicker of hope for the Middle Land waspletely extinguished when the Septet Ignis Array crumbled, leaving nothing more than resignation in its aftermath.


    "Look!" Suddenly, an urgent voice rang out.


    Everyone immediately turned to the light screen. What they saw left them inplete disbelief.


    Within the projection, Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao, who were initially fleeing for their lives, started emitting surges of fiery rainbow light!


    They came to a halt as their bodies burst into me. Within their eyes, there was only serenity.


    The Spiritual Body devil soldiers who were in pursuit felt their souls tremble with a deep-rooted terror. They, no, the worm devil couldn''t help but stare at the three figures erupting with rainbow light.


    The light was dazzling and radiant, yet it gave the worm devil a feeling of suffocation, leaving it bewildered and uneasy.


    As an entity from a noble bloodline, it didn��t spare any cultivator in the Middle Land a nce, except for Wu Yuan. But now, the worm devil felt threatened by these three seemingly insignificant beings, leaving it restless and uneasy.


    ��Scram!�� Qiong Sea King and the Mountain Devil King, two powerful Archdemons, immediately charged over, one mming into the Spiritual Body devil soldiers with its gigantic body while the other swept its massive tail through the air.


    They were the first to notice the changes happening to Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao, and quickly began diverting the attention of the pursuing devil soldiers, allowing the three toplete their attack.


    In the air of the underworld, Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao smiled peacefully, as though they had epted their departure from the living. There wasn��t a single trace of fear on their faces.


    ��Fellow Daoists, trying to escape is futile. Even if we do escape, we��ve lost the array gs. Considering the worm devil''s rapid growth, postponing the battle would only lead to our defeat.�� Daoist Wan Xing''s gentle voice echoed in the minds of Emperor Dong Pan and Niu Hao. ��Today, the worm devil is at its weakest.��


    Emperor Dong Pan chuckled, ��I originally thought that with the emergence of a genius like Wu Yuan, we wouldn��t have to choose this path.��


    Niu Hao remained silent, but his actions told them all they needed to know.


    In mere moments, the bodies of these three ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivatorspletely burned to ash, leaving behind intensely bright spheres of rainbow light.


    This was the result of thebination of their blood, flesh, and soul!


    At this point, their weapons and armor fell to the ground.


    A faintly shimmering object, reminiscent of the Heavenly Thunder Talisman that Wu Yuan had once activated, could be perceived within the rainbow light.


    Everyone in the underworld instantly felt an intangible pressure.


    ��This is?�� Jin Ji and Zhao Xing, who had fled dozens of li from the battlefield by now, couldn''t help but turn back in astonishment.


    "Wan Xing!"


    "Emperor!"


    Both Liu Junxing and Wu Nonghan''s eyes welled up with tears. Being second-inmand of the Sta Consortium and Wu Sect, they both grasped the meaning of this scene.


    At the expense of their lives, they would unleash their greatest attack.


    <i>This is... a talisman?</i> Fang Xia watched this scene in shock, his vast knowledge allowing him to vaguelyprehend the situation.


    <i>The three of them still took this step in the end. </i>The Arctic King, situated in the six-legged golden mantis array, couldn''t help but reminisce about a scene from decades ago when they came together to explore a relic site in the Xin Continent.


    Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao each obtained a special talisman. At that point, the Arctic King did not understand the power of those talismans. But now, he finally understood.


    <i>Is this the Soul Sacrifice Talisman?</i> Wu Yuan''s expression changed.


    Among the cultivators, he had the most extensive knowledge of cultivation and the strongest Soul Force.


    Instantly, Wu Yuanprehended the intentions of Daoist Wan Xing and the other two cultivators.


    The Soul Sacrifice Talisman was a powerful artifact that targeted the soul, and its strength depended solely on the power of its owner. If its owner was strong, the talisman would be unstoppable. Conversely, if its owner was weak, the talisman''s power would also be weak.


    However, this talisman was rarely seen for several reasons. Firstly, it was extremely difficult to craft. Secondly, each user was only given one opportunity to use it in their lifetime.


    The soul sacrificed by the Soul Sacrifice Talisman was none other than its owner��s! Its owner��s essence and soul were poured into the talisman in order to deliver the strongest possible blow. Often, it was only activated by the weak as ast resort.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes reddened. Once the Soul Sacrifice Talisman was activated, there was no turning back.


    In other words, Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao were destined to die here.


    It was also at this moment that Wu Yuan realized why Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan mentioned their willingness to die. It was likely that they had nned to use the Soul Sacrifice Talisman at the critical moment from the very beginning.


    However, the fact that Niu Hao joined them as well was a surprise to Wu Yuan. This low-profile leader of the Pleiades Guild acted decisively without a sound.


    "Wu Yuan, Fang Xia!" Suddenly, Daoist Wan Xing''s voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind. At the same time, Fang Xia heard the same voice in his mind.

 Chapter 271: Carving A Path Of Survival For The Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 271: Carving A Path Of Survival For The Middle Land (2)</h4>


    "The three of us will give up our lives to severely injure, or even kill, the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers. At the very least, they will be unable to stop you for a brief moment."


    "I��ll leave the rest to you. This is ourst chance."


    "Haha, I was born and raised in the Middle Land, it is only fair that we repay our homnd. Let us lead the way, carving a path for every living being in Middle Land." The voice of Daoist Wan Xing carried a gentle tone, but each word conveyed unwavering conviction.


    <i>Boom! </i>Though Qiong Sea King and Mountain Sea King tried their best, they were only able to stop the devil soldiers for two seconds.


    "Roar!" A Spiritual Body devil soldier propelled itself towards the three radiant orbs at full speed.


    ��Fellow Daoists, let us embark on the journey to the afterlife together, haha!��


    ��Indeed, let��s go together.��


    ��With you two by my side, it won��t be a lonely trip.��


    Then, the rainbow orbs formed by Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao exploded.


    The three Soul Sacrifice Talismans transformed into three brilliant beams of light, containing the life force of the three experts.


    Rainbow lights flew through the air, illuminating the underworld in a dazzling disy. At this moment, the world seemed to fall into a quiet stillness.


    Whether on the battlefield or the Middle Land Immortal Hall, everyone watched the three streaks of rainbow light.


    They fully understood that Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao made the ultimate sacrifice in order to carve a path of survival for the beings of the Middle Land!


    The two Spiritual Body devil soldiers roared. Their wings thrashed violently, trying to block the three brilliant streams of rainbow light that swiftly pierced through the battlefield.


    Traveling at an unimaginable speed, the lights swiftly maneuvered, evading the second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers one by one, until they finally collided with the three third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers, the most powerful forces in the worm devil��s ranks.


    This was Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao��s objective.


    The third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier blocking Wu Yuan let out a menacing roar. It swung its ws, trying to resist the light.


    However, the rainbow lights passed through its ws without a sound, as if the two belonged to separate spatial dimensions. Their radiance slightly diminished before making contact with the devil soldier''s enormous head.


    The expression of the Spiritual Body devil soldier distorted in agony as pain wracked its body and it tumbled down from the air.


    It wasn��t the only one.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Thest two Spiritual Body devil soldiers suffered the same fate. Their pained howls echoed in the air as they plummeted downwards, crashing to the ground. They were still alive, but the torment they experienced was worse than death.


    The Soul Sacrifice Talisman targeted the soul. The Spiritual Body devil soldiers could be considered puppets. While they possessed consciousnesses, their souls were considerably weakerpared to true cultivators at the Spiritual Body phase.


    The five remaining Spiritual Body devil soldiers roared in fear, their eyes filled with panic as they charged forth to confront Wu Yuan and Captain Fang Xia.


    By now, the worm devil already understood that it was in grave danger.


    In the Conference Hall of the immortal hall, a bud of hope bloomed in the Heavenly Rankers�� hearts.


    Wu Yuan and Fang Xia were well aware that this opportunity could not be missed. There was no time to waste, it was time to go all out!


    As Daoist Wan Xing had said, this was theirst chance. Even though they sacrificed their lives, the trio could not guarantee the deaths of the Spiritual Body devil soldiers. They could only keep them at bay, albeit for a moment.


    This moment was Wu Yuan and Fang Xia��s final chance, and the entire Middle Land��s final chance!


    ��Kill!�� Wu Yuan''s eyes grew red as he wielded his saber with unstoppable force, sending the second-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier flying.


    Wu Yuan was initially surrounded by three devil soldiers. But now, the most powerful one was in no shape to battle, howling as it rolled on the ground in agony. Only two enemies remained.


    <i>Boom! </i>The wings on Wu Yuan��s back shimmered. Ether art: Deity Step.


    Instantly, his speed was boosted, and he raced through the underworld in a sh. Strike after strike, he cut through the Spiritual Body devil soldiers in his way, relentlessly advancing towards the colossal ck sphere.


    The Spiritual Body devil soldiers flew into a frenzy. They pped their wings vigorously, desperately trying to obstruct Wu Yuan.


    ��You��re not going anywhere!�� Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King put up a desperate fight, working as a team to hinder one Spiritual Body devil soldier.


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!" Fang Xia''s heart zed with killing intent. The six-legged golden mantis morphed into a whirlwind, des shing with lethal precision.


    The two Spiritual Body devil soldiers were forced to tear their focus away to defend against his attacks, unable to guard their master. They could only release helpless roars.


    The worm devil could no longer impede Wu Yuan''s assault.


    <i>Boom! </i>With Deity Step, Wu Yuan elerated, reaching a distance of less than ten li from the ck sphere in just two seconds.


    A peculiar voice suddenly echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, pleading, "Human, I��m willing to make a vow to never invade this world again. Don��t force my hand."


    It was the worm devil! Sensing Wu Yuan��s approach, the worm devil finally felt a surge of intense fear.


    "Force you? I will put an end to you!" Wu Yuan''s eyes turned bloodshot as he sensed the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers on the ground regain consciousness.


    Daoist Wan Xing and hisrades gave up their lives to secure this brief moment.


    "Go to hell!!" Wu Yuan''s speed increased even further as a de ray shed forth, lighting up the underworld.


    A massive wave of earthy-yellow qi currents surged forward.


    The Communion devil soldiers trying to stop Wu Yuan exploded one after another, dying instantly. These devil soldiers were pathetically weakpared to Wu Yuan when he went all out.


    In just one second, Wu Yuan was just 500 meters away from the giant ck sphere. It was practically within arm''s reach!


    As he shed forth with the saber, an incandescent de ray tore through the air,nding on the ck sphere.


    <i>Boom!</i> The sphere began to fracture.


    "Human, I pleaded for mercy and conceded defeat. You are the one that forced me to do this!" The worm devil''s roar echoed fiercely within Wu Yuan''s mind, filled with boundless rage. ��Since you n to kill me, then let us both perish together!''"


    ��Nightmare! Of! A Thousand! Hearts!!��


    The crystalline orb within the colossal ck sphere suddenly shone with a breathtaking brilliance, then shattered with tremendous force. The shattered pieces transformed into countless strange rays of light, hurtling toward Wu Yuan


    The main body of the worm devil was weak, and itcked the ability to engage in directbat. However, its soul was immensely powerful and unique.


    Hence, all worm devils could unleash soul attacks, with the rtively stronger ones able to execute a multitude of soul techniques.


    However, as a juvenile worm devil, the only technique it could disy was its innate ability �C Nightmare Of A Thousand Hearts!


    Unfortunately, using this move came at a great price. Once unleashed, the worm devil would revert back to its original state even if it survived. Therefore, worm devils only used this skill in desperate circumstances.


    "Destroy!" Each piercing beam of light carried the thoughts and intentions of the devil''s soul.


    The brilliant light immediately engulfed Wu Yuan, who was too close to avoid it.

 Chapter 272: Overcoming The Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 272: Oveing The Cmity</h4>


    <i>The main body of the worm devil. </i>After breaking into the ck sphere, Wu Yuan saw strange rays of light rushing toward him. Past the light rays, at the center of the intricate, honeb-like ck sphere, was a crystalline orb about the size of a palm.


    "Annihte!" Wu Yuan''s fury knew no bounds.


    From a single nce at the crystalline orb, he could feel the intense soul aura contained within, and instantly recognized that it was the main body of the worm devil.


    However, the realization onlysted for a brief moment.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The rays of light shot towards Wu Yuan. Theypletely disregarded the earthy-yellow qi streams swirling around him, broke through all barriers, and poured into his body.


    Wu Yuan instantly grasped that this was a soul attack.


    The soul power imbued in the rays of light was powerful beyond imagination. As they pierced through his body, they infiltrated his upper dantian lobe and soul chamber in an instant, invading Wu Yuan��s soul.


    "AH!" Wu Yuan screamed in pain as the encroaching darkness threatened to consume him. His consciousness quickly dimmed, and he crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.


    The soul attack struck him in an instant!


    "Little ck! Crush that vile worm devil!" With hisst shred of consciousness, Wu Yuan gave Little ck one final order.


    Before the battle, the realm master had given Wu Yuan a chance to escape from the cmity, but he decided to face the enemy directly.


    After the great battle in North Huang City, Wu Yuan had a sudden insight into the profundity of the ardor of life, and his feelings for the myriad of living beings in the Middle Land deepened.


    The actions of Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao also touched him, solidifying his resolve.


    He would defeat the worm devil, even if it meant death!


    As Wu Yuan''s consciousness blurred, he faintly saw a shadowy figure emerge from his body, lunging towards the crystalline orb with a fierce roar.


    The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly.


    "Qiong Sea, ry mymand to Fang Xia: Obliterate the Jin royal family!" Wu Yuan transmitted his final directive through their spiritual bond.


    With that, hepletely lost consciousness, and his head hit the ground.


    ...


    "Die!"


    "I��ll live, while you��ll die!" The small crystalline orb watched its attack strike Wu Yuan, emitting invisible waves filled with anger and a hint of excitement.


    The worm devil felt its heart bleed. Centuries of hard work were all rendered meaningless.


    Nightmare Of A Thousand Hearts drained 99% of its Soul Force and quickly wore down its consciousness.


    However, as it sensed Wu Yuan''s soul weakening and watched the man plummet to the ground, a surge of joy filled its being.


    As long as Wu Yuan perished, no one among the Middle Land''s immortal cultivators would pose a threat to the eight Spiritual Body devil soldiers, allowing it to devour as much as it wanted and make a swift recovery.


    Suddenly, a ck flying snake emerged from Wu Yuan''s body, reaching the crystalline orb in a sh. Its sharp ws descended in a swift arc.


    "No!" The worm devil''s main body emitted waves of despair.


    <i>Rip~</i> w raysnded on the crystalline orb, crushing it into countless fragments and scattering motes of strange light in every direction.


    ...


    After recovering from the assault on their souls, the three colossal Spiritual Body devil soldiers pped their wings and sped toward the colossal ck sphere, their eyes filled with panic and urgency.


    "Kill!" The golden mantis bombarded the three Spiritual Body devil soldiers with attacks, causing them to stumble back.


    "Kill!" Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King attacked the devil soldiers frenziedly, trying to restrain as many as they could.


    "We''re winning, Wu Yuan has reached the worm devil��s main body!" Fang Xia dered through gritted teeth.


    At that moment, the Spiritual Body devil soldiers began shaking their heads furiously, roaring and howling in agony.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The devil soldiers trembled violently. One after another, their ferocious gazes faded, then they fell to the ground. Their vital aura began to wane rapidly.


    "What��s going on?" eximed Mountain Devil King in shock and confusion.


    "We won?" Fu Xinxia and Lei Lie, who wereunching long-range attacks, were struck with astonishment and excitement.


    "Is the worm devil dead?" Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and others inside the golden mantis felt a mix of tion and disbelief.


    Did the fearsome worm devil finally meet its end?


    As the devil soldiers began falling from the air, Qiong Sea King suddenly bellowed in a mix of shock and fury, "Mast..Wu Yuan''s soul aura is fading."


    "He''s about to die!"


    As Wu Yuan''s spirit beast, Qiong Sea King could clearly sense his master''s soul aura. Wu Yuan was on the verge of death!


    Before the cultivators could react, an overpowering tidal wave of soul power crashed down on everyone, causing their expressions to change instantly.


    Weaker cultivators like ck Snake King and Fu Xinxia, who were both at the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase, instantly paled. The wave of soul power was relentless and unyielding, drowning and engulfing all.


    "The worm devil is dead. Retreat!" Fang Xia ordered, clenching his jaw in pain.


    Even he, the strongest among them, struggled to withstand the continuous onught of soul power, let alone the other Heavenly Rankers.


    Even before he made the order, those unable to bear the soul power already transformed into streaks of light and retreated hastily. The further they were from the core of the devil��sir, the weaker the soul power.


    ...


    In the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, the Heavenly Rankers who hadn''t participated in the battle watched the projection on the light screen with bated breath.


    Suddenly, a wave of soul power cut off the projection, and the soul avatars of the Heavenly Rankers in battle disappeared.


    "Wu Yuan entered the core of the devil''sir!"


    "All the devil soldiers have been defeated, so the worm devil must be dead."


    "It''s hard to say for sure. What if the worm devil is trying to trick us?" Many Heavenly Rankers anxiously discussed the situation.


    "Why would the death of the worm devil cause their connection to the Immortal Hall to be severed?"


    "Could Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and Qiong Sea King all be dead?"


    The air was filled with a weighty silence. Nobody spoke, only exchanging uncertain nces amongst themselves.


    <i>Hum~</i> Suddenly, countless points of light converged in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, and avatars appeared one by one.


    Miraculously, it was Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, the Arctic King, and the others. In total, there were thirteen figures.


    "They survived!"


    "They''re alive! And look, there''s Fang Xia!" The conference hall, previously silent, suddenly filled with a chorus of joyous voices.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, the worm devil..." Sang Gu asked in a low voice. The Heavenly Rankers observing the battle all turned to Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, and the others, their eyes filled with anticipation, eager to hear the final oue once and for all.


    ��We have confirmed the demise of all devil soldiers. Right now, we are swiftly making our way back to the surface through the passage of the devil''sir,�� Fang Xia announced.


    ��The worm devil is dead! We have averted this catastrophe!��


    The conference hall exploded with cheers and unabashed joy.


    ...


    Soon, 41 figures floated in the air above the ckened soil.


    Qiong Sea King, Fang Xia, and the Arctic King stood before the gathering of Heavenly Rankers.


    ��The battle unfolded as follows. Jin Ji and Zhao Xing deserted the battle at a critical juncture, putting us in dire straits and causing Daoist Rong Le to lose his life.�� Fang Xia slowly articted each word.


    ��At our most desperate moment, Daoist Wan Xing, leader of the Sta Consortium, Emperor Dong Pan, leader of the Wu Sect, and Niu Hao, leader of the Pleiades Guild, saved us. They paid the ultimate price to deal a blow to the three mightiest devil soldiers. Their sacrifice allowed us to create an opening into the core of the worm devil''sir.��


    ��And finally, Wu Yuan, the top prodigy of the Middle Land, fearlessly ventured into the core of their alone and delivered the final blow, sealing the worm devil''s fate.��


    ��At the moment, a violent storm of soul power rages in the underground abyss, preventing anyone from approaching. We do not know what has happened to Wu Yuan, and his fate remains uncertain.�� Fang Xia''s voice grew deeper as he spoke.


    The Heavenly Rankers listened with heavy hearts. When someone''s fate was unknown, it often meant that they were dead. Wu Yuan, the peerless prodigy, had perished?


    "Today, we took many casualties," Fang Xia dered, his voice resonating through the air. "But let us not forget the countless fallen Daoists from the previous battles, such as Dong Guangbo and Blood Snake King. They were valiant heroes who gave their all to safeguard the Middle Land. Though the cmity may have passed, their heroic spirits live on."


    "All factions must spread the news of this battle throughout the world so that countless civilians and martial artists can learn of their deeds." Fang Xia''s tone was solemn. "Any objections?"


    Numerous Heavenly Rankers nodded in agreement.


    The leaders of the Sta Consortium, Pleiades Guild, and Wu Sect had all perished in battle. How could they allow their legacies to be forgotten?


    Their stories would be chronicled and passed down for generations, just like the legends of the Martial King.


    "Lastly," Fang Xia said with an icy tone, "I issue a call to arms. Apart from the Starsea Pavilion led by Daoist Hai Feizhang, the other two holy sanctuaries of Great Jin, the Jin royal family and Yuanxia Pce, must be held responsible for their desertion. They are unforgivable traitors, sinners of the entire Middle Land."


    "After a discussion with the Arctic King and Qiong Sea King, we have decided to petition the world tounch a crusade against Jin!" Fang Xia��s firm gaze swept through everyone present.


    ��Crusade against Jin!�� The Arctic King dered in a cold voice.


    ��Crusade against Jin!�� Qiong Sea King thundered, his voice filled with boundless fury.


    ��Crusade against Jin!�� Wu Nonghan spoke solemnly, representing the remaining power of the Wu Sect.


    "Crusade against Jin!" One Heavenly Ranker after another echoed the cry, seething with anger.


    All of them had seen Jin Ji and Zhao Xing''s betrayal.


    More than 40 Heavenly Rankers swiftly reached a unanimous decision. As representatives of all the forces in the Middle Land apart from Great Jin, the world wouldunch a crusade against Jin with the goal of annihting them!


    ...


    The Heavenly Rankers soon left the area, and only Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King remained standing at the entrance of the devil''sir.


    Both looked down at the dark abyss below.


    "I made several more attempts, but I simply cannot enter that fractured ck sphere. The closest I could get to was 50 li. The waves of soul power originating from the sphere are still in effect," Fang Xia shook his head with a bitter smile. "All I can confirm is that all the devil soldiers have been wiped out."


    No one knew what Wu Yuan had encountered inside the massive ck sphere.


    "How about you?" Fang Xia asked, looking at Qiong Sea King.


    ��I still cannot detect Master''s aura.�� The Qiong Sea Kingmented, shaking its massive head with frustration.


    "Let''s leave for now." Fang Xia said in a low voice. ��While emotions are still running high, we should take the opportunity to join forces with the other factions and march towards the Holy Capital, eliminating Jin. This was Young Master��s finalmand."


    Qiong Sea King nodded in agreement.


    Just as they turned to leave, Qiong Sea King suddenly halted, bursting with excitement as he eximed, "I can sense Master''s aura! Master is still alive!!"

 Chapter 273: The Second Function Of The Blood-Red Mist

    <h4>Chapter 273: The Second Function Of The Blood-Red Mist</h4>


    ��He��s still alive?�� Fang Xia felt his spirits lift. "You��d better not be lying tofort me, Qiong Hai.��


    ��Why would I lie to you?�� Qiong Sea King shook his head, ��I��m still waiting for Master to provide me guidance so I can advance to the Spiritual Body phase. Do you seriously think I was hoping for his death?"


    "Excellent! Wonderful!" Fang Xia broke into a wide smile. "Qiong Sea, try to focus on perceiving as much as you can. What��s the situation down there? Has the young master responded?"


    Thest thing Fang Xia wanted was Wu Yuan��s death. Beyond his deep admiration and respect for Wu Yuan, there was also the matter of the Blood Gu Art imnted into his soul by the realm master.


    If Wu Yuan died in the cmity but Fang Xia survived, what conclusions would the realm mastere to once he found out? If he was unlucky, the realm master might just decide to take out his anger on him. Fang Xia had no desire to be his punching bag.


    "Master hasn''t responded," Qiong Sea King ryed solemnly. "However, I can now perceive Master''s soul aura much more clearly than before. However, it is extremely feeble, barely less than one percent of its former strength."


    ��Less than one percent?�� Fang Xia''s expression shifted.


    This implied that his soul wasn��t simply harmed, but almostpletely destroyed.


    "However, Master''s soul aura is in the process of strengthening and healing," Qiong Sea King reported, focusing on their spiritual connection. "I estimate that it willpletely recover in a month."


    "One month?" Fang Xia nodded, heaving a sigh of relief.


    ��There are two possible reasons for Master''s unresponsiveness. First, it could be because his soul had been seriously injured, causing him to fall into a deep slumber. Alternatively, it could be because he has entered a special state that makes it impossible for him to establish contact.�� Qiong Sea King hypothesized.


    "After all, who can understand what Master experienced when facing the worm devil?"


    "No one has a better understanding of worm devils than Master. These creatures are horrendously powerful, who knows what trump cards they might have?" Qiong Sea King sighed, shaking his head.


    Fang Xia gave a faint nod.


    Hell devils, which included worm devils, were creatures of mass destruction even at the juvenile stage.


    "I will head back into the devil''sir," Fang Xia dered. He couldn''t rest easy without personally checking on the situation.


    In a swift motion, golden qi currents swirled around him as he propelled himself into the devil''sir.


    Qiong Sea King remained outside. He wasn��t too fond of the damp, blood-soaked abyss.


    In a few dozen breaths, Fang Xia emerged, looking pale and disheveled.


    "You encountered the enemy?" asked Qiong Sea King, his voice filled with concern.


    "No," Fang Xia sighed and shook his head. "The wave of soul power has grown stronger. Just a little while back, I could reach the 50 li mark, but this time, I couldn''t evene close to the 80 li mark before my soul was unable to bear it.��


    Qiong Sea King was taken aback. He knew how powerful Fang Xia was. Even though Fang Xia was only at the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase, his strength already surpassed that of Qiong Sea King. He was practically destined to reach the Golden Core phase.


    Yet, he was unable to get closer than 80 li to the ck sphere? What in the world was happening in the devil��sir?


    Fang Xia solemnly shook his head, stating, "There��s no way to know what the young master is currently experiencing. However, we can be sure of two facts: he is alive and his safety is assured."


    "As long as he��s alive, there��s a chance that he will awaken. And with that wave of soul power, even a Golden Core Superior will be unable to get close enough to harm him," Fang Xia said.


    Qiong Sea King nodded slightly.


    "For now, let��s proceed to the Holy Capital. Our mission is to eliminate every member of the Jin royal family. Whether Jin Quan or Jin Ji, none of them deserve mercy. The Yuanxia Pce also ought to be annihted." Fang Xia dered, his gaze icy cold.


    "Once we havepleted the tasks assigned to us by the young master, we shall return here to protect him."


    "Mm," Qiong Sea King nodded. "The worm devil cmity has ended. Great Jin is now our biggest threat. If not for them, Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan might still be alive."


    Qiong Sea King might be an Archdemon, but he respected Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao just as much as any other Heavenly Ranker.


    As for his thoughts on Jin Ji, who wouldn��t feel disgusted by that man��s despicable actions? Traitors are all detestable!


    Thus, Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, the Arctic King, Liu Junxing, and the other Heavenly Rankers all came to an agreement: to eliminate Jin!


    "Let''s go. We need to catch up with the Arctic King and the others. With the Goldstone Penta Array, along with you and Mountain Devil, defeating Jin Quan will be as easy as ughtering a chicken. Even if he has an array, he won''t be able to withstand our power." Fang Xia stated confidently.


    The Septet Ignis Array was shattered. Though the array disk was recovered, Hai Feizhang was the sole survivor among its former users.


    Naturally, there was no way Fang Xia and the Arctic King could trust Hai Feizhang fully. Though he did not betray them, he was still a leader of one of the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin.


    The Heavenly Rankers from different factions already considered themselves lucky if they didn��t have to deal with the Starsea Pavilion as well.


    Reactivating the Septet Ignis Array within a short time frame was not feasible, and even if achieved, its power would be significantly weaker than before.


    However, the five Goldstone Penta Array controllers had all survived.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King raced towards North Huang City as streaks of light.


    ...


    The depths of the devil''sir was a subterranean world carved out over time by the worm devil to incubate arge number of juvenile devil soldiers. As the area was part of the devil soil, no other living creatures were present.


    At the center of this underworld was a massive ck sphere with a diameter of over 600 meters. However, this sphere was damaged, and the interior waspletely wrecked.


    Inside each honeb-like opening, there were countless lifeless bodies of youngrvae, each only a meter long, creating a haunting atmosphere.


    As the worm devil was dead, all its soldiers also perished.


    There was a rough scratching sound, like sandpaper filing stone. A colossal ck flying snake, coiled like a small mountain, rested its massive head on the ground. Its serpentine eyes were misty, resembling tears.


    "Master! Uuuuu~ Master!" Little ck looked down at the yellow-armored motionless figure lying in the center of its coils. It was none other than Wu Yuan.


    The air was filled with a low buzzing, as the fluctuations of soul power surged in all directions at a constant frequency.


    "Master," Little ck was ovee by uncertainty as it grappled with the situation. No matter how it called out, Wu Yuan remained unresponsive.


    The only sce Little ck had was that its master was still alive. As a lifebound eldritch beast, its survival was intertwined with its master��s. If its master died, it would perish too. However, why hadn''t his master awakened from his slumber?


    Little ck was a Teng Snake, a spirit beast from a bloodline that far surpassed the worm devil in nobility. However, it was born just a few days ago. In its panic, it found itself at a loss. The only thing it could do was faithfully stand guard by Wu Yuan''s side.


    It firmly believed that its mighty master would eventually awaken.


    ...


    Inside the soul chamber within Wu Yuan''s body, vital ether flowed vigorously, but the soul phantom was nowhere to be found


    In the upper dantian lobe, time seemed to stand still. Thousands of strange streams of light were suspended in the mysterious upper dantian, unmoving.


    As usual, the ck pagoda towered in space. Surrounding the ck pagoda was a turbulent, churning sea of blood-red mist.


    But for the first time, arge quantity of blood-red mist poured continuously into a ck stone pir at the top of the ck pagoda. Then, the enormous pir began emitting bursts of blood-red light, illuminating the entire upper dantian.


    <i>I never expected that the blood-red mist had such an ability. It��s actually able to block an invasion of soul consciousness? </i>Below the ck pagoda, a slightly illusory figure sat cross-legged.


    It looked just like Wu Yuan. Indeed, this was all that was left of his soul after the attack, joined back together from fragmented pieces. It was a far cry from its former self.


    <i>If I don��t refine these threads of soul consciousness from the worm devil, my own consciousness will be trapped in the upper dantian lobe.</i> Wu Yuan studied the enigmatic lights.


    <i>But, at least I survived. If not for my powerful soul, the ck pagoda, and the umtion of sufficient blood-red mist, I would��ve been a goner.</i> He heaved a sigh of relief.


    As long as he was alive, there was still hope.


    During the final battle with the main body of the worm devil, Wu Yuan waspletely confident in himself. He firmly believed that the power of his soul rivaled the average Golden Core Superior.


    But the moment they shed, Wu Yuan realized just how wrong he was. The worm devil he was facing wasn��t one born just a couple of days ago, but one that had already dedicated two centuries to cultivation. Its soul was extremely powerful and unique.


    The worm devil''s final killing move, Nightmare Of A Thousand Hearts, was a technique that mustered a significant portion of the worm devil��s soul consciousness and sent it into its victim��s mind all at once.


    Individually, each thread of soul consciousness was unable to inflict much damage. But when thousands of them were unleashed all at once, they were able to collectively annihte even the most resilient Golden Core cultivator''s soul.


    Wu Yuan was no exception.


    The soul phantom in his soul chamber sumbed to the relentless torrent of the worm devil''s consciousness, disintegrating instantly. The remaining threads of consciousness moved on to invade his upper dantian lobe.


    Wu Yuan hadn��t been an eldritch warrior for long and had yet to cultivate any secret arts to defend his soul. Hence, his only option was brutal endurance.


    But how could he endure it? As Wu Yuan''s soul neared oblivion, the previously inactive ck pagoda began to stir.


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan had eliminated numerous devil soldiers, umting abundant blood-red mist. And when he finally eradicated the worm devil, the resulting reward of blood-red mist surpassed the collective quantity of all the blood-red mist Wu Yuan had obtained before.


    At that time, the flood of blood-red mist had cascaded into the colossal stone pir at the top of the pagoda, which frenziedly absorbed everyst bit of the blood-red mist.


    At the same time, the stone pir began glowing with a strange light, freezing the threads of soul consciousness that were on the verge of annihting thest vestige of his soul. This gave Wu Yuan a precious moment to catch his breath.


    This was when Wu Yuan understood the second function of the blood-red mist.


    <i>The first function of the blood-red mist is the improvement of the physical body. Whether evolving my genome or speeding up the cultivation of vital ether, all of it pertains to my physical body. </i>


    <i>Its second function is to defend my soul. The ck pagoda is able to absorb the blood-red mist, which then manifests as a crimson light that defends against assaults on the soul. </i>


    The ck pagoda had always been an enigma to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Indeed, its influence on my soul has been observed before. Since my soul is fortified each time I Visualize the ck pagoda, then it must be inherently connected to the soul and capable of warding off attacks from this aspect.</i>


    In truth, Wu Yuan had already discovered that the ck pir could emit a strange red light after absorbing the blood-red mist a few days ago. However, he didn''t fully understand its function yet at the time.


    Dealing with a soul attack waspletely new to him, so he didn��t know what angle to start investigating the phenomenon either. The ck pagoda itself did not provide any answers.


    Furthermore, the worm devil''s attack was fast and ruthless, nearly obliterating his soul in a sh. It was only when the trace of his consciousness was about to vanish that the ck pagoda, seemingly eager to protect its master, decided to act. And it was only then that the ck pir absorbed the mist of its own ord, subduing the worm devil��s soul consciousness that manifested as strange lights.


    The ck pagoda was able to suppress and even destroy these threads of soul consciousness. But eliminating them all would consume a significant quantity of blood-red mist.


    Suppression alone consumed a substantial amount of mist, but it was still within an eptable level and could be maintained for a long period of time.


    On the contrary,plete eradication required far greater quantities of mist. Even if Wu Yuan were to deplete the entire reservoir of the blood-red mist, he couldn''t guarantee that everyst thread of soul consciousness would be eliminated. A single remaining thread was enough to finish off Wu Yuan��s weakened soul.


    Hence, Wu Yuan chose the alternative �C refine them!


    <i>The structure of the worm devil''s soul is truly unique. It��s as though there are thousands of independent soulsbined into one. No wonder it canmand such an impressive army of devil soldiers. </i>


    <i>However, the worm devil is no longer alive. These threads of soul consciousness no longer have an owner. As long as the red light from the stone pir keeps them subdued, they will be the nourishment that fuels my ascent.</i>


    <i>If I assimte them, I��ll be able to strengthen my own soul. My soul would not only recover but perhaps even surpass its previous level of power</i>. Wu Yuan felt a flicker of eager anticipation.

 Chapter 274: Sword Pellet, Golden Core Sword Cultivation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 274: Sword Pellet, Golden Core Sword Cultivation (1)</h4>


    The massive, fractured, ck spherey in the depths of the underground realm. Within the sphere was a giant ck flying snake, coiled up without moving.


    <i>Uuu... Master��s soul aura is growing stronger.</i> Through the bond they shared, Little ck was highly sensitive to the changes in Wu Yuan��s body as it stood guard over its master.


    <i>There is no need to concern myself with the external world.</i> In the upper dantian lobe, Wu Yuan��s soul avatar refined the streams of strange light.


    The light streams wereposed of soul power, and refining them simply meant devouring them.


    The soul power resisted instinctively, but the red light enveloping it rendered it motionless, allowing Wu Yuan to take his time refining it.


    As Wu Yuan proceeded step by step, he felt his once fragmented soul rapidly regenerating.


    <i>With Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King working together, even if they fail to defeat Jin Quan and Jin Ji, their safety shouldn��t be an issue. </i>Wu Yuan hadplete faith in them.


    Fang Xia, in particr, was someone who hadprehended a Domain and established a powerful immortal root. In terms of power, he surpassed ordinary cultivators at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase despite only being at the eighth-stage Qi Sea phase himself.


    Qiong Sea King was also strong enough to protect himself.


    <i>As for my physical body, I trust that Little ck will dutifully safeguard my body and carry me away if any real danger arises. </i>


    As a Teng Snake, Little ck might be slightly naive as a newborn, but it was far from foolish. Moreover, lifebound eldritch beasts pledgedplete loyalty to their masters, willingly sacrificing their lives at a singlemand.


    <i>I have no alternative. If I don''t fully refine it, my consciousness will remain trapped in the upper dantian lobe.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    As he refined the strands of soul consciousness, he also Visualized the ck pagoda at the same time. Under the dual effects, his soul quickly began to recover.


    ...


    Thousands of li from the core of the devil��sir, a war of epic proportions raged above the Holy Capital of the Great Jin Empire.


    The skies were torn apart by the bombardment of colossal fireballs, and the earth trembled as structures crumbled and turned to rubble. mes devoured the halls, leaving behind partially crumbled walls and lifeless bodies.


    The imperial city was once a thriving symbol of opulence, but now ity in ruins.


    ��Run!��


    ��The Heavenly Ranker Deities are fighting. We��ll die for sure if we stay here.��


    Panic consumed the citizens as they ran for their lives, filling the air with cries of terror. Pce maids, serving girls, and soldiers all fled desperately. Despite their fear, there were those who couldn��t contain their curiosity, casting asional nces at the sky where the intense battle raged on.


    It wasn��t only the inhabitants of the imperial city that witnessed the terrifying spectacle, but also the nobles,moners, and martial artists throughout the entire Holy Capital.


    In the air, one could see a colossal azure jiaolong which emanated an overwhelming aura, an Archdemon that resembled a turtle, and a ferocious, six-legged golden mantis, nearly 100 meters tall, shrouded by swirling golden qi currents.


    Apanying these creatures were numerous figures resembling immortals, each emitting an indescribable power as they floated in the air.


    "Destroy the Great Jin Empire!" A thunderous roar reverberated through the air.


    With themand, the three creatures unleashed their attacks at the same time, shing with a purple-robed human figure in the skies.


    Revolving around the purple-robed figure were streams of green light that flickered with mes, as well as numerous flying swords, giving him the appearance of an otherworldly deity.


    Numerous Heavenly Rankers watched the fierce sh from a distance, but chose not to get involved.


    "Do you really think you can destroy Great Jin?" The purple-robed man said with a hint of contempt.


    He stood in mid-air without a trace of fear, blocking the onught of attacks with the flying swords and enormous fireballs.


    "Destroy Great Jin? Why?"


    "Why are so many Heavenly Rankers attacking Great Jin? There are rumors that the Jin Hall has copsed, and His Majesty has been crushed to death." The fearful residents of the Holy Capital shook with trepidation.


    Most of them heard the words of the voices from the heavens, shouting phrases like ��Destroy Great Jin" and "Great Jin will crumble".


    "Jin Quan, you cannot stop us alone." Qiong Sea King��s furious voice boomed. "It��s one thing if Great Jin didn��t want to join the battle against the worm devil, but you actually have the audacity to betray us? All of you deserve to die!"


    "Hahaha! Betrayal? What a joke.�� The figure hovered in the air, his long hair billowing behind him as his purple robes fluttered in the wind.


    "I, Jin Quan, have dominated this world for two centuries. I am hailed as the number one expert in the world, establishing the Great Jin Empire through sheer might, not mere words."


    Both voices echoed through the air into the ears of the onlookers.


    "Worm devil?"


    "Is that Jin Quan?"


    "It��s the founding emperor of Great Jin, the strongest expert in the world."


    "The Imperator!" Many citizens in the Holy Capital were filled with awe as they looked up at the figure draped in majestic purple robes.


    Imperator Jin Quan of the Great Jin Empire was a legendary figure who was rumored to have passed away.


    "The world crusades against Jin? Well then, let''s see. Wu Yuan is dead, Wan Xing is dead, and Dong Pan is dead. Is there anyone left in this world that can stop me?" Jin Quan''s eyes gleamed with a cold, icy chill.


    "Remember this: I, am the first Golden Core cultivator of the Middle Land."


    "Deploy the array!"


    <i>Boom!</i> Suddenly, the sky above the Holy Capital darkened, quickly enveloped in an eerie green light.


    The six-legged golden mantis, Qiong Sea King, and the Mountain Devil King were immediately engulfed by the light. However, the golden qi currents surrounding the six-legged mantis quickly dispersed the strange green light around them, protecting Qiong Sea King and the Mountain Devil King.


    "Greenlight Sword." Jin Quan swiftly formed an intricate hand seal, causing numerous fireballs to scatter and transform into a swirling tempest of swords soaring around him. Then, he expelled a sword pellet from his mouth.


    The pellet burst, transforming into a flying sword that emitted a powerful aura, surrounded by a hazy green glow.


    "Is that a lifebound flying sword?"


    ��Golden Core sword cultivator.��


    Witnessing this, the expressions of Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Qiong Sea King, and Mountain Devil King all turned serious.


    Destroying Great Jin in one shot didn��t seem too difficult in theory, given that the various factions throughout the world were joining forces.


    However, right from the beginning, Jin Quan proved them wrong, unleashing the full power of a Golden Core cultivator. He nullified all their attacks, stunning everyone.


    No one expected Jin Quan to have quietly advanced to the Golden Core stage.


    Yet, despite his immense power, Jin Quan adamantly refused to participate in the battle against the worm devil. Naturally, this struck a nerve within Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and Qiong Sea King, along with the Heavenly Rankers from all over the Middle Land.


    Without dy, both sides erupted into war. As a true Golden Core cultivator, Jin Quan��s power far surpassed the third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Unfortunately, the time he had to stabilize his breakthrough was cut short, and he had yet to learn many potent arcane arts or im ownership over more artifacts. As a result, he found himself at a slight disadvantage.


    Jin Quan was eventually forced to activate his ultimate technique,bining the Holy Capital''s defense array with his lifebound flying sword.


    Sword cultivators were a ss of qi refiners that excelled in offensive abilities. They were among the few who could match the attack power of body refiners.


    The phrase ��one sword strike to shatter allws�� echoed across countless worlds, simr to the sentiment of ��power shattering allws."


    "Kill!" Jin Quanmanded coldly.

 Chapter 275: Sword Pellet, Golden Core Sword Cultivation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 275: Sword Pellet, Golden Core Sword Cultivation (2)</h4>


    Numerous flying swords converged their power into a fearsome sword light, fiercely cleaving through the sky toward the six-legged golden mantis.


    <i>Boom!</i> The mantis quickly retreated as countless streams of golden light resembling flying swords converged. They began to block the advancing green sword light.


    However, the golden streams were effortlessly cut into two, as if slicing through soft tofu. As the green sword light approached, four de-like limbs rose up, meeting the light in a shower of sparks.


    Slowly, the sword light faded away, revealing visible fractures on the four de-like limbs of the six-legged mantis.


    Several more sword lights shot forth immediately, aiming at the six-legged golden mantis, Qiong Sea King, and Mountain Devil King.


    "Withdraw!" ordered the six-legged mantis.


    Qiong Sea King reacted quickly and fled swiftly, but how could he outpace the speed of the sword light?


    "Be gone!" Qiong Sea King roared furiously as he struck the sword light with his enormous tail. The collision caused an explosion that might have fractured his tail if he hadn��t been wearing spirit battle armor.


    The sword light thennded on Mountain Devil King��s back, on a giant turtle shell that acted as a formidable shield. Instantly, the shell cracked open, causing countless streams of blood to gush out.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>It was quickly followed by another streak of sword light. Mountain Devil King was the weakest among them.


    A tall, golden figure quickly intercepted the assault of sword light, allowing Mountain Devil King to retreat.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> de rays shed against sword lights as the six-legged Mantis fought to resist its power.


    Finally, the three powerhouses broke free from the array.


    "Hmph! If you are willing to surrender to Great Jin, submit your deration of surrender before June 1st.�� His chilling voice echoed throughout the air, ��Otherwise, once I conquer the Middle Land, no one will be spared." Jin Quan did not leave the boundary of the array.


    "Jin Quan, you��re just depending on the power of the array. I''ll be waiting for you at Cloudhill," Fang Xia''s bone-chilling voice echoed far and wide in response.


    The six-legged golden mantis, Qiong Sea King, and Mountain Devil King quickly retreated, closely followed by numerous Heavenly Rankers.


    With their departure, peace returned to the Holy Capital.


    "Your Majesty!" The city erupted with excitement, as countless citizens and martial artists bubbled with exhration.


    They did not understand how this battle came about. All they saw was their revered imperator showcasing his might, effortlessly defeating dozens of Heavenly Rankers who were trying to ruin their empire. Naturally, they were overwhelmed with joy.


    In the sky above, Jin Ji and Zhao Xing, the former in green and thetter in ck, soared through the clouds.


    "Your Majesty," Zhao Xing saluted respectfully, not daring to show a hint of disrespect.


    In the past, he and Jin Quan treated each other as equals. But now, he acknowledged that Jin Quan''s strength far surpassed his.


    Stepping from the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase to the first-stage Golden Core phase was no less difficult than scaling the heavens.


    "Daoist Zhao, there��s no need for such formality," Jin Quan said casually. He still needed a few subordinates, and Zhao Xing had shown enough obedience. Hence, he treated the man with a level of politeness.


    ��Father,�� Jin Ji interjected, "Why didn''t you assemble a sword array with your lifebound flying sword? You could have killed them."


    ��Naive. Sword arrays are meant for long-range attacks. With each additional sword light formed, the weaker the power imbued in each sword light, but its mana consumption is negligible." Jin Quan nced at his son as he exined, "My lifebound flying sword is quite powerful, but it hasn''t reached the level of a sixth-grade flying sword. What if the enemy destroys it with a close-range attack?"


    "Keep this in mind. A qi refiner��s top priority in battle is their own self-preservation. The primary purpose of a lifebound flying sword is to defend the sword cultivator.��


    "Even if I send my flying sword to attack Fang Xia''s array, it won��t be able to shatter the array in a short time," Jin Quan said with a shake of his head.


    "That Fang Xia is truly a force to be reckoned with. Even with our defense array, defeating him and Qiong Sea is still a challenge. They were capable of ying the worm devil after all, we must not underestimate them.��


    Jin Ji and Zhao Xing both nodded in agreement.


    "Father, what should we do next?" Jin Ji asked.


    "It hasn��t been long since I made a breakthrough and my power has yet to stabilize. There��s no rush. After my flying sword is upgraded and I''ve learned a few more arcane arts, we��ll head to Cloudhill." Jin Quan replied quietly.


    "After my breakthrough, my soul had grown much stronger. If I can reach the Domain stage in skill, that would be even better.�� Jin Quan dered. "When that happens, the Cloudstride Sect will undoubtedly be the first to crumble."


    Jin Ji and Zhao Xing listened intently. The worm devil cmity had greatly cut down the number of peak powerhouses in the Middle Land. Currently, Fang Xia was the biggest threat to Great Jin.


    "Are you certain that Wu Yuan is dead?" Jin Quan asked abruptly.


    "No, not entirely," Zhao Xing admitted, shaking his head. "At the time, all we saw was Wu Yuan charging into the core of the worm devil��sir."


    "However, body refiners have immense vitality. If Wu Yuan is still alive, why didn��t he join the fight?" Zhao Xing wondered aloud. "It is highly probable that he lost his life in the worm devil��s final counterattack."


    Jin Quan''s brow furrowed slightly. There was nothing much he could do about Wu Yuan for now.


    Visit the Huang Continent to investigate the matter? Jin Quan didn��t dare to leave the Holy Capital until he waspletely confident in his strength.


    If Wu Yuan did survive, he would definitely join Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King to surround Jin Quan, creating a perilous situation that could lead to his downfall.


    <i>There��s also Wan Liu. What level of strength does he have?</i> A cold gleam shone in Jin Quan��s eyes.


    <i>Yet, he has never truly made an appearance. The Wu Sect controls the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Could it be that Dong Pan, Fang Xia, and Wan Xing created a character called Wan Liu to deceive me?</i>


    With each passing moment, Jin Quan found the thought more usible.


    ...


    Shortly after, in a location far from the Holy Capital, Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Wu Nonghan, and a group of Heavenly Rankers were gathered. The atmosphere was tense.


    Arctic King said in a frigid voice, "Jin Quan has actually reached the Golden Core phase."


    He was met with silence, as the Heavenly Rankers'' minds raced.


    The Golden Core phase!


    Previously, they had only heard rumors about a Golden Core Superior��s power, but today they finally witnessed it firsthand. With just a few sword lights from the sword pellet, Jin Quan effortlessly repelled thebined attacks of the peak powerhouses of the Middle Land.


    "All this time, he had this much power. Yet, he refused to join the battle. If Jin Quan had lent us his support, Daoist Wan Xing and the others might not have fallen during the worm devil cmity." Wu Nonghan''s eyes turned red as he voiced his thoughts.


    The atmosphere grew even more somber. Jin Quan''s abilities were undeniably strong, but it was precisely because of this that the Heavenly Rankers were angered to no end.


    "Fang Xia, can we ask Senior Wan Liu for help?" The Arctic King''s voice broke through the tense atmosphere.


    Wan Liu. Everyone looked at Fang Xia, feeling a flicker of hope in their hearts.


    "He has left Middle Land,�� Fang Xia responded with a bitter chuckle. Since Wu Yuan could not be present, this was the only answer Fang Xia could provide.


    Many Heavenly Rankers looked at each other in confusion.


    "Actually, the situation isn��t as bleak as it appears.�� Fang Xia scanned the crowd. ��A Golden Core sword cultivator is indeed strong."


    ��However, it doesn''t mean we can''t kill him.��

 Chapter 276: The Changing Landscape Of The Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 276: The Changing Landscape Of The Middle Land (1)</h4>


    "Kill him?" The gathered crowd was taken aback.


    Jin Quan was a true Golden Core Superior, not an ignorant Spiritual Body devil soldier. It would be extremely difficult to take his life.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, are you confident?" Arctic King asked in a low voice.


    Many peak powerhouses from the Middle Land had lost their lives in the battle with the worm devil. Among the few survivors were Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Qiong Sea King, and Hai Feizhang.


    Bei Li, an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, had a close rtionship with the Arctic King, granting the Arctic King great influence and authority.


    ��Mm.�� Fang Xia nodded slightly. "All of you saw it for yourselves �C Jin Quan is undeniably powerful, deserving of his reputation as a Golden Core sword cultivator. But despite having an array on his side, he still couldn''t overpower us. His strength iscking."


    Nods of agreement spread quickly among the gathering.


    Indeed, Jin Quan was at a disadvantage in the beginning when he fought against the six-legged golden mantis, Qiong Sea King, and Mountain Devil King. He only managed to bnce the scales by employing his lifebound flying sword and the defense formation.


    "He has yet toprehend a Domain. Once we return to Cloudhill and activate the defense formation I created, along with the Goldstone Penta Array, even if he tries to wipe us out with all his strength, he will not seed.�� Fang Xia''s words hung heavily in the air.


    The Arctic King, Bei Li, and several others exchanged nces.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, we must not let ourselves be trapped within our own defenses," the Arctic King said earnestly. "Moreover, we all know that once an individual reaches the Golden Core phase, their soul��s strength will skyrocket, making it easier for Jin Quan to reach the Domain stage. The longer we dy, the stronger he will be."


    "What we need is a method to kill him once and for all." Arctic King dered.


    "Patience is key," Fang Xia stated. "As you know, I have already reached the Domain stage. As long as you grant me enough time, I will also advance to the Golden Core phase within the next ten years."


    Fang Xia smiled as he continued, "When I reach both the Domain stage and the Golden Core phase, we will easily overpower Jin Quan."


    The gathering fell into deep contemtion. They had seen Fang Xia''s strength with their own eyes and knew that his advancement to the Golden Core phase was only a matter of time.


    However, the umtion of mana to make a breakthrough in one��s qi sea required time. How long did they have to wait? Could they afford to wait ten years?


    ��It��s just a ten-year wait on Cloudhill. Ten years is barely any time at all to us Heavenly Rankers.�� Qiong Sea King said nonchntly.


    A sneer appeared on his face as he continued, "We have two options ahead of us. The first one is to beg Jin Quan like dogs, pleading with him to spare our lives as he enves us forever!"


    He looked around at the assembly and said, "The other option is resistance: to kill Jin Quan and destroy Great Jin. If you humans choose to submit, go ahead. But I, Qiong Sea King, refuse."


    He turned to Mountain Devil King and asked, "What do you say, Mountain Devil?"


    "Wherever you go, I will follow you without question, Big Brother," Mountain Devil King''s voice thundered.


    As the second most powerful entity in the South Ocean, he had a deep connection with Qiong Sea King.


    "My Huang Temple pledges to battle Great Jin," dered ck Jiao King with a booming voice, earning a nod of agreement from Sang Gu. They were all that was left of the Huang Temple.


    Wu Nonghan and Liu Junxing exchanged a nce.


    Liu Junxing said lightly, "Great Jin��s continued existence defies the natural order."


    Wu Nonghan calmly stated, "Today, I intend to relocate the core of Middle Land Immortal Hall to Cloudhill."


    These sinct statements were enough to show the stances of the Sta Consortium and Wu Sect.


    At this point, the other Heavenly Rankers focused their attention on the Arctic King and Hai Feizhang.


    After the devastating worm devil cmity, many major factions were left with a fraction of their forces. The Ninedeaths Circle and Pleiades Guild were no longer backed byte-stage Qi Sea cultivators and also had a shortage of Heavenly Rankers, which made it necessary to adopt a subtle approach.


    "I am willing to gather the remaining forces of Starsea Pavilion and relocate to Cloudhill. I hope that Daoist Fang Xia will not mind our presence." Hai Feizhang suddenly said.


    "Why would I? You are most wee," Fang Xia replied with a smile. Though he was still wary of Hai Feizhang, he didn��t let it show.


    ��A word of caution to our Fellow Daoists. Jin Quan is a man consumed by vengeance, skilled in deception and betrayal. Even if he epts our surrender for now, we cannot be certain of what lies ahead once the situation stabilizes.''" Hai Feizhang spoke slowly and deliberately.


    The Heavenly Rankers sank into thought.


    ��How about you, Daoist Arctic.�� Fang Xia turned toward the Arctic King, the cultivator with the greatest influence.


    The Arctic King sinctly stated, "We shall get rid of Jin Quan."


    With all the peak powerhouses in agreement, any Heavenly Ranker with a differing opinion did not speak up.


    After some time, the Heavenly Rankers decided on their next steps.


    Firstly, they established the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance, putting up a unified front against the Great Jin Empire. Together, all factions would release a deration denouncing Great Jin''s rule, aiming to sow doubt among the empire��s subjects.


    Secondly, until the ultimate downfall of Great Jin, all major forces would gather in Cloudhill City, which served as the central headquarters for the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance.


    Thirdly...


    A total of nine uses were agreed upon, and ��Cloudhill Covenant�� was established. However, whether intentionally or otherwise, the alliance''s discussions conspicuouslycked any mention of the alliance��s leader. It was evident that the coalition was a temporary one, formed specifically to counter Great Jin.


    Shortly after, the Heavenly Rankers quickly scattered. Some had to return to their strongholds to make preparations before regrouping in Cloudhill City.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xia, the Arctic King, Bei Li, Wu Nonghan, Liu Junxing, and Qiong Sea King stayed back.


    ��Daoist Fang Xia, why did you inform us to stay back via Soul Force transmission?�� Wu Nonghan questioned. ��I need to hurry back to relocate Middle Land Immortal Hall."


    As the ultimatemunication tool, the Middle Land Immortal Hall was an artifact that would spark envy in the heart of any cultivator. On top of that, the Wu Sect no longer had the strength to protect it.


    Fang Xia began in a low voice, "Among the Heavenly Rankers who have left, some may seek refuge in Great Jin."


    Everyone nodded. Despite Hai Feizhang''s convincing words, there was nothing stopping him from changing his mind and returning to Great Jin��s camp.


    As for those wandering cultivators, who knew what choices they would make? Even some major factions might choose to go back on their word.


    After all, a Golden Core sword cultivator was simply too powerful. Jin Quan was also fundamentally different from the worm devil. The worm devil would undoubtedly kill anyone they encountered, but Jin Quan''s intentions were uncertain. His objective might not be to take their lives.


    "I asked you to stay back because I have something to reveal," Fang Xia said with a faint smile. ��Wu Yuan is not dead."


    "What?"


    "Wu Yuan is still alive?"


    ...


    Fifteen minutester, Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King soared through the sky.


    "Fang Xia, why did you reveal that the master is still alive?" Qiong Sea King asked quietly. "What if someone secretly informs Jin Quan? Won''t that put Master in danger?"


    "I had no other choice," Fang Xia replied, shaking his head. "If we don''t give them some reassurance, especially the Arctic King, will he truly be willing to face Jin Quan in a battle to the death?"


    "During the worm devil cmity, no one had a say in the matter,�� Fang Xia continued. "And right now, the two of us have no options. However, the Arctic King has a choice. Unlike us, he isn��t sworn enemies with Jin Quan. And we also need to consider if Wu Nonghan and Liu Junxing are truly intending to seek revenge or if they have other motives."


    Qiong Sea King pondered deeply. "But should we really have told them that Master will be back in a year?"


    "I can''t be absolutely certain about that," Fang Xia said, shaking his head. "But a year should be the longest that the Arctic King and his allies are willing to wait."


    "Ten years? That''s too long! There will be too many variables," Fang Xia stated. "One year is just right. Additionally, you mentioned that the young master''s soul aura is rapidly recuperating and is expected to reach its previous peak in one month."


    "It��s only an estimation. How can we be sure that there won''t be any idents? What should we do if Master doesn''t return after a year?" Qiong Sea King expressed his confusion with a shake of his head.


    Fang Xia calmly replied. "That, we��ll decide after a year."

 Chapter 277: The Changing Landscape Of The Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 277: The Changing Landscape Of The Middle Land (2)</h4>


    The battle between the Heavenly Rankers and Jin Quan in the Holy Capital sent shockwaves throughout the Middle Land. The news was like a massive boulder crashing into a peacefulke, shaking the foundations of thend.


    Jin Quan''s status as the unrivaled expert of the world was once again solidified by this battle.


    But in a sudden twist of events, the Cloudstride Sect, Sta Consortium, Wu Sect, Pleiades Guild, Ninedeaths Circle, Arctic Alliance, Huang Temple, and South Ocean Alliance��the eight top-tier major factions��issued a joint promation to the world.


    They carefully described the terrifying ordeal during the worm devil cmity and meticulously recorded the contributions of each Heavenly Ranker.


    The Sta Consortium published the ��Heavenly Ranker Chronicles�� as a tribute to recount the deeds of the fallen Heavenly Rankers.


    With that, the names and heroic exploits of these Heavenly Rankers - Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Niu Hao, and Rong Le - became widely known.


    The world waspletely shaken by the promation! Many ordinary people and martial artists finally understood the sacrifices made by the Heavenly Rankers and the catastrophic cmity that had struck the Huang Continent, putting the entire Middle Land at risk.


    Naturally, Wu Yuan also received recognition for his contributions, and his achievements were by far the most dazzling.


    At the age of 21, he reached the pinnacle of cultivation in the Middle Land, surpassing many Heavenly Rankers. He became the beacon that led them through this catastrophe.


    The influence of the various factions, whether intentional or not, led to the organization of numerous festivities and ceremonies.


    The Battle of the Huang Continent became a historical event nearly rivaling the establishment of civilization by Martial King.


    On the contrary, the actions of the Great Jin Empire spread rapidly, leading to a profound impact on bothmoners and martial artists in the Middle Land.


    At first, the empire tried to deny these ims through official statements in an attempt to hide the truth. However, the departure of the highest echelons of the Starsea Pavilion to Cloudhill seemed to confirm the validity of these events.


    Consequently, in the eyes of countlessmoners throughout the Middle Land, the Great Jin Empire became synonymous with the words ''evil'' and ''traitor'', leading to a drastic decline in the reputation of the Jin royal family.


    ...


    The restoration process in Great Jin began, and the wrecked imperial city in the Holy Capital was slowly repaired.


    <i>Inside a small, mostly undamaged hall.</i>


    Jin Ji, sitting in the host seat, looked down at the slim middle-aged man dressed in yellow robes. "What is troubling you? If even Emperor Jin is worried, how must the numerous pce attendants andmoners feel?"


    Jin Cang bowed his head silently. Rumors about his death in the battle at the Holy Capital were flying about, but the truth was that he wasn''t actually there at the time.


    "Ancestor," Jin Cang began in a low voice. "These rumors are all falsehoods. I''m not worried. Our armies and officials in the various regions are loyal and won''t betray us due to some baseless gossip."


    "But..." Jin Cang hesitated.


    "Today, the entire world is an adversary of our Great Jin. Can Great Jin truly emerge victorious?" He fretfully voiced his thoughts.


    The crusade against Jin was noughing matter.


    "Why are you worried about a bunch of insignificant nobodies? As the emperor, it''s your duty to perform your role and stand firm. When the imperator emerges from seclusion and unsheathes his sword, no one in this world will dare defy our Great Jin." Jin Ji dered vehemently.


    ��Understood,�� Jin Cang nodded.


    ...


    Wu Qiming looked out at the sun-drenched front courtyard of the Wu Mansion in Cloudhill City.


    With deep concern in his voice, he asked, "Little Yi, is the news true? Did Wu Yuan really perish in the Battle of the Huang Continent?"


    The Sta Consortium had circted this news widely. Although many people in the Jiang Continent might not know of Daoist Wan Xing or Emperor Dong Pan, they are well aware of Wu Yuan. He had be famous in recent years and earned the reputation of a genius among his peers.


    Wu Yijun, a striking warrior dressed in battle attire, stood with a sword by her side, her head held high. She nodded gently, her face showing no signs of pain or sorrow, as she confirmed, "Yes, Brother has died in battle. The Rain Hierarch personally made a visit to the mansion, and I witnessed it with my own eyes."


    Only a small group of high-ranking individuals, including Fang Xia, knew the truth about Wu Yuan''s fate. The official announcement imed that Wu Yuan had died in battle.


    Wu Qiming''s expression changed as he listened to Wu Yijun. In his eyes, Bu Yu was already a figure of immense power and influence.


    "Chieftain, my big brother was the strongest peak powerhouse in all of the Middle Land, the most dazzling genius in thousands of years. For the sake of Middle Land, he gave up his life." Wu Yijun stared directly at Wu Qiming.


    "Indeed." Wu Qiming nodded gently.


    Suddenly, he felt his heart tremble, as he realized that the mischievous little girl from his memories had now grown up and matured.


    In a daze, he saw another figure before him �C not Wu Yijun, but rather Wu Yuan at fifteen years old.


    Speaking softly, Wu Yijun reassured him, "Chieftain, don��t worry. The Rain Hierarch has promised that our n will not be mistreated and our position will remain unchanged."


    "Even though Big Brother has died, I��m still here," Wu Yijun said, her voice turning cold. "I will not let the Wu n of Cloudhill fall into decline."


    Wu Qiming let out a deep sigh. He realized that the young maiden in front of him was no longer an innocent child.


    Wu Yijun was now a fifteen-year-old second-rate Adept. No one dared to underestimate her.


    She added solemnly, "But for now, please don''t tell my mother that Big Brother has passed away."


    "I understand," Wu Qiming nodded once more.


    As Wu Qiming left, Wu Yijun stood by the window, her gaze wandering over the toys in the corner, reminders of a time when Wu Yuan had bought them over and yed with her.


    <i>Big Brother! </i>Tears filled Wu Yijun''s eyes, but she quickly regained her determination. <i>I won''t let the sacrifices you made for our n go to waste.</i>


    She was an intelligent individual. As soon as she heard the news, she knew that the powerful figure who had protected her and the n from the storms of the world was now gone. There wasn��t even a Savant expert left among the Wu nsmen.


    Her brother''s advice echoed in her mind: "Status and reputation are all illusory. Only one��s strength is true."


    <i>Big Brother, you��ve helped me build up a strong foundation. In the past, I might not have been as dedicated, but now I will train diligently and aim to be a Grandmaster, and maybe even a Heavenly Ranker!</i>


    ...


    The days slipped away quickly.


    In the year 3231 of the Eastern Martial calendar, on the tenth day of June, the armies from the Min, Jiang, Dong, Yan, Yuan, and Huang Continents gathered at the provincial borders of the Great Jin Empire.


    The mes of war engulfed the territories under the empire''s control, consuming everything in its path.


    On June 16th, Imperator Jin Quan arrived at the Cloudhill, apanied by Jin Ji and Zhao Xing. Jin Quan wielded his lifebound flying sword, its sword intent spreading hundreds of li, threatening to tten Cloudhill.


    Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and Qiong Sea King immediately flew up to engage them.


    A titanic battle erupted, with both sides refusing to yield. Ultimately, Imperator Jin made the decision to retreat. Orders from Cloudhill were sent out to the armies at the provincial borders, putting a halt to their invasion.


    For a short period of time, calm settled over the Middle Land. However, both the Great Jin Empire and the Immortal Cultivators Alliance knew that peace would notst.


    Eventually, a victor would have to be decided.


    ...


    As time went by, the month of July arrived.


    Just ten li from Cloudhill was a newly constructed massiveke concealed by an imprable mist. It was an area that ordinary people would never be able to venture into.


    "Qiong Sea, is there still no news about the young master? Almost two months have gone by already," Fang Xia whispered, his voice filled with urgency.


    "No," the Qiong Sea King replied solemnly. His colossal frame was submerged in the tranquilke, leaving only his majestic draconic head above the surface.


    His weighty voice reverberated through the air like thunder. "However, the young master��s soul aura is growing in strength at an astonishing rate!"


    "I dare say that it is several times stronger than before."


    ��Several times?�� Fang Xia stood in shock.


    Wu Yuan��s soul, previously unmatched in strength, had now grown stronger by several times?


    Just what level had it reached? And how did this sudden spurt in growth ur?


    ��Just what is happening to the young master right now?�� Confusion was etched on Fang Xia��s face.

 Chapter 278: Yang Soul, 300 Strands Of Consciousness

    <h4>Chapter 278: Yang Soul, 300 Strands Of Consciousness</h4>


    In the Huang Continent, within the depths of the devil''sir,y a shattered, colossal ck sphere.


    Within the sphere was an ever-vignt ck flying snake. Months had passed, but it never left the sphere.


    The stone pir atop the ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe continued to emit a majestic crimson radiance.


    The thick blood-red mist that once shrouded the ck pagoda had mostly dissipated, corresponding to the diminishing of the strange lights that seemed to have frozen in time.


    Underneath the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan��s soul phantom sat in the lotus position. It looked much more realistic,rger, and more solid than before.


    <i>Assimte! Visualize!</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with determination as he focused on absorbing the threads of strange light, strengthening his soul.


    After a short while, Wu Yuan felt that his soul had reached a bottleneck, making it more difficult to continue merging with these strange lights.


    However, Wu Yuan refused to give up. Considering the current state of his soul, he could eliminate the leftover strange lights if he wanted to return to the physical world.


    However, Wu Yuan understood that this was a huge opportunity. If he missed out on it, who knew when he would have such an encounter again?


    <i>Push through! I never want to experience that feeling of powerlessness I faced when confronting the worm devil again. I must protect everything that is dear to me.</i>


    <i>With a stronger soul, I can cultivate at a faster rate. Only with a stronger soul can I have hope of unlocking the qi sea and embarking on the path of eldritch universal cultivation.</i>


    Little by little, Wu Yuan gradually assimted the soul power contained within these unusual light strands. At the same time, he Visualized the ck pagoda.


    <i>Boom!</i> Finally, Wu Yuan��s soul avatar exploded, breaking through the bottleneck. In an instant, his consciousness spread fully throughout every corner of his upper dantian lobe.


    Then, it burst out of the confines of the upper dantian lobe, rushing through the middle dantian lobe, soul chamber, and the meridians and acupoints, allowing him to perceive every detail of his body vividly.


    Wu Yuan''s consciousness then proceeded to leave his physical body,ing to the surrounding broken ck sphere. Looking down, he saw his own body and the resting ck snake.


    This went beyond Soul Force perception; it was a true observation from a different perspective.


    <i>In the past, my Soul Force perception could be equated to my eyes, only able to see things that were distant but within range. However, it has now be something more.</i>


    When his consciousness spread beyond his body, it was as if he was standing outside his body, observing himself.


    When his consciousness dove deep into his meridians and blood vessels, as if he was possessing them, sensing the cirction of spiritual qi in an incredibly realistic way.


    His perception had risen to a new level!


    <i>These are all strands of consciousness! In the past, my soul could handle only six to eight strands of consciousness at most. In other words, I could sustain seven or eight thought processes simultaneously. But now, I have a total of 300 strands.</i>


    <i>All these 300 consciousness strands belong to me. Among them, one is the principal consciousness and the rest are secondary consciousnesses. This is the Yang Soul level!</i>


    The soul strength of most martial artists usually hovered between Yin Soul and Settled Soul. At the Yin Soul level, their souls would not scatter after death, lingering in the world of the living, while at the Settled Soul level, they were able to perform Internal Vision.


    During the Qi Sea phase or Communion phase, cultivators typically reached the Conscious Soul level, with a limited Soul Force range, but enough power to manipte objects. In rare cases, exceptionally strong individuals could even reach the Soul Perception level.


    At the Golden Core phase or Spiritual Body phase, the soul usually remained at the Soul Perception level. At this level, the soul would grow stronger, the range of Soul Force perception would grow, and the number of strands of consciousness would increase.


    However, the ability to manipte arge number of objects from a distance was still unattainable. One still had to rely on aura imprints on their artifacts as well as mana. Furthermore, consciousness strands were unable to leave the body.


    This was why cultivators in the Spiritual Body phase often engaged in close-quartersbat.


    It was only at the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phases that most cultivators reached the Yang Soul level. At this level, while one��s Soul Force perception range might not surpass that of the Golden Core phase, the sheer quantity of consciousness strands increased significantly.


    This represented a true evolution, a genuine qualitative shift, where a single thought had the power to move mountains and rivers, where thoughts transcended the limitations of the body and basked in the sunlight, where thoughts could possess weaker beings and invade their souls.


    Techniques like Soul Search and Memory Erasure could only be executed by an individual at the Yang Soul level.


    Simrly, even without using essentia or mana, those in the Shambh phase could manipte artifacts with their formidable souls and were capable of obliterating groups of Qi Sea cultivators from a distance.


    Meanwhile, those at the Amethyst Cradle phase could unleash arcane arts capable of shattering worlds with their powerful souls.


    <i>I never expected my soul to reach such a level. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    For ordinary cultivators, advancements of the soul were slow and difficult. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan��s progress was like aet.


    <i>The first factor is my powerful immortal root. Though I��m only at the fifth-stage Communion phase, my power rivals those at the ninth-stage Communion phase. </i>


    When hisprehension of the profundity of the Land reached the Domain stage, it also had an effect on his soul.


    But most importantly, it was due to him Visualizing the ck Pagoda day after day.


    <i>On top of that, the worm devil��s soul naturally reaches the Yang Soul level at birth, allowing it to possess numerous consciousness threads. </i>


    <i>With this fortuitous encounter, along with the assistance of the ck pagoda, and the culmination of other factors, I reached the Yang Soul level in one go.</i>


    His thoughts converged and flowed back into his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>What are these strange streams of light?</i> With a single thought, invisible ripples radiated from his soul, dispelling each stream of light upon contact.


    Ordinary people ate meat to strengthen their bodies. Meanwhile, Grandmasters consumed qi.


    After reaching the Yang Soul level, the remnant soul power of the worm devil could no longer enhance Wu Yuan��s soul power even if he refined it.


    The crimson light from the stone pir atop the ck pagoda faded, and Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe returned to its previous state.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s soul consciousness threads infiltrated every corner of his body, ultimatelying to a stop in his soul chamber.


    Once again, he was fully in control of his physical body.


    Wu Yuan, who had been sleeping deeply for almost three months, opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a huge serpentine face staring at him.


    ��It must��ve been hard on you, Little ck,�� Wu Yuan smiled at Little ck.


    "Master, you''re awake!" Little ck eximed, shrinking down and wrapping itself around Wu Yuan''s arm.


    Wu Yuan gently stroked its tiny head affectionately. Looking around, he didn''t see anyone else.


    <i>There isn��t a single living being within a 50-li radius.</i> The range of his Soul Force perception had experienced an upgrade, epassing a wider area.


    Additionally, his soul consciousness strands could be mobilized within the boundaries of his Soul Force, but as the distance from his physical form increased, the power he could harness decreased.


    Put simply, Wu Yuan could telekically wield a weapon from a distance of 50 li away, and strike any opponent at that distance.


    <i>No wonder it is said that powerful sword cultivators can y enemies from a thousand li away with their flying swords. </i>


    Those mythical tales were getting closer to reality for Wu Yuan.


    <i>The profundity of heaven and earth. </i>Wu Yuan''s Soul Force gathered. The countless mysteries of the world now seemed to vividly reveal themselves before him.


    Specifically, he could perceive the profundity of the Land more than ten times clearer than before.


    <i>It''s no surprise that when the Yang Soul level is reached,prehending a Domain bes much easier. With such rity of perception, reaching the Domain stage is practically effortless.</i>


    Having strong fundamentals was absolutely crucial.


    With a thought, a pebble on the ground shot upward and sped into the distance. Not long after, a loud explosion echoed.


    <i>As anticipated! Let''s put the throwing knives to the test.</i> Wu Yuan��s expression was exultant.


    A ck throwing knife materialized and swiftly sliced through the air, leaving a mesmerizing trail of light.


    The originally fractured ck sphere now shattered noisily, causing numerous fragments to scatter and hang in mid-air.


    The throwing knife floated in front of Wu Yuan.


    <i>Just by using my Soul Force alone to manipte artifacts, the power I can exert is this strong? It might even rival Old Fang''s Golden Sword Art.</i> Wu Yuan was honestly shocked.


    He hadn��t evenplemented the attack with his Domain. Once he activated his Domain, the power of each attack would increase exponentially. He might even be able to defeat a regr ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator in just one strike.


    This was the power of a mighty soul.


    Soul, essentia, physical body. Any of these three facets, when cultivated to the fullest extent, allowed one to exhibit immense power.


    <i>If a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator possesses a soul at this level and has enough mana, they could easily defeat a first-stage Golden Core cultivator. Right now, I may be able to wield greater power using my Soul Force to manipte artifacts from a distance than in close-quartersbat.</i>


    Close-quartersbat was far more dangerouspared to long-range assaults.


    <i>With my current soul level, unlocking my Qi Sea shouldn��t be an issue.</i>


    His previous n had involved reaching the ninth-stage Communion phase before unlocking his Qi Sea.


    But now, was that still necessary?


    Even if his vital ether cultivation reached the ninth-stage Communion phase, it wouldn''t have a significant impact on the growth of his soul.


    <i>I will consult with the realm masterter.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    Unlocking the Qi Sea was a significant matter that could not be taken lightly.


    ��Master, this is for you.�� Little ck suddenly lifted its head and spat out a handful of sparkling crystal fragments resembling jade.


    "What is this?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Little ck''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind as it exined, ��These fragments are the remains of the worm devil''s main body after it perished. I felt that they were unique, so I collected them.��


    "Oh? The main body of the worm devil?�� Wu Yuan''s interest grew as he reached out to retrieve the crystal fragments.


    After probing them using his Soul Force, he sensed their exceptional nature. These crystals emitted an unknown power that differed from the usual mana or ether. It appeared to be abination of soul power and spiritual qi.


    ��You did well, Little ck,�� Wu Yuan praised the Teng Snake and kept the crystal fragments. Since he didn��t understand what they were, he stored them safely for now.


    <i>It''s time to return. I''ve been asleep for several months. I wonder if Fang Xia has managed to defeat Jin Quan sessfully. </i>


    Wu Yuan observed his surroundings. His Soul Force extended, searching every corner, making sure nothing valuable was left behind.


    As for the remains of the ordinary devil soldiers? After months, their bodies had rotted, making them useless. The Spiritual Body devil soldiers still had intact corpses, but their devil crystals were already harvested, making those bodies worthless too.


    <i>Time to go!</i> Wu Yuan took a step forward.


    Instantly, he surrounded himself with Soul Force. The rocks and soil above him parted, creating a pathway leading back to the surface.


    At the same time, he sent a spiritual transmission to Qiong Sea King. "Qiong Sea, I have returned."

 Chapter 279: The Opportunity To Unify The Middle Land

    <h4>Chapter 279: The Opportunity To Unify The Middle Land</h4>


    The Greendragon Lake, which stretched for over ten li in the Cloudhill Province, was where Qiong Sea King built his dwellings after the establishment of the Immortal Cultivators Alliance in the Middle Land.


    Initially a small reservoir, the Qiong Sea King expanded it, connecting it to Cloud River through carefully constructed canals. This enabled the river to flow into the newly formedke, which he named Greendragon Lake.


    Although Qiong Sea King was a jiaolong, he had the heart of a true dragon. Theke was covered in dense white mist a majority of the time.


    ��This pond is too small,�� Qiong Sea King murmuredzily as he rested at the bottom of theke. "Compared to my majestic Crystal Pce, this is nothing."


    The Crystal Pce was located deep within the ocean and covered a vast expanse, its grandeur befitting the ruler of the South Ocean. Meanwhile, the ten-like was the maximum area that could be allocated to him within the vicinity of Cloudhill.


    <i>Once Master returns and defeats the wretched Jin Quan, I��ll finally be able to return to the South Ocean.</i>


    Qiong Sea King had seen Jin Quan''s strength firsthand and was shocked by the power of a lifebound flying sword wielded by a Golden Core cultivator.


    As long as Jin Quan was still a threat, Qiong Sea King dared not leave Cloudhill. Jin Quan could easily y him in one-on-onebat even if he were to flee deep into the ocean.


    A familiar voice suddenly rang out in Qiong Sea King''s mind, ��Qiong Sea, I have returned.''"


    "Master?" The Qiong Sea King eximed joyfully.


    Through Qiong Sea King��s spirit, he saw a person dressed in pristine white robes inside his upper dantian lobe. He stood facing the azure jiaolong��s own soul phantom.


    "Master!" eximed Qiong Sea King again, this time his voice filled with surprise.


    In the past, Wu Yuan could only exchange words with him whenmunicating via spiritual transmission. But now, Wu Yuan was able to condense his soul into an avatar.


    ��Are you surprised?�� Wu Yuan smiled, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.


    With the advancement of his soul, Wu Yuan developed the ability to create a soul phantom during spiritual transmission, enabling easiermunication with Qiong Sea King.


    However, it was crucial to mention that Wu Yuan''s ess was limited to his soul phantom, and he could not actually intrude into Qiong Sea King''s upper dantian lobe.


    "Master, you''re back!" Qiong Sea King eximed, his soul phantom��s tail wagging ecstatically.


    Wu Yuan chuckled, remarking, "Qiong Sea, I have never seen you this ted. Are you in the South Ocean now?"


    After waking up, he swept the area with his Soul Force and confirmed that no other living beings were present. Hence, he knew that Fang Xia and the others had departed, unable to get close to him due to the residual waves of soul power.


    Qiong Sea King quickly replied. "No, I dare not return to the South Ocean by myself. I��m seeking refuge in Cloudhill now, along with a majority of the Heavenly Rankers around the world."


    "Oh? What happened?" Wu Yuan asked, his curiosity aroused. "Why can''t you go back to the South Ocean?"


    He knew very well that Qiong Sea King disliked the environment at Cloudhill and considered the ocean his true sanctuary.


    "It''s Jin Quan! Master, Jin Quan has sessfully broken through to the Golden Core phase. Following your instructions after the worm devil��s death, I teamed up with Fang Xia..." Qiong Sea King exined urgently.


    Wu Yuan quickly learned the events that had urred during his months of absence.


    "So, the Middle Land is split into two main forces," Wu Yuan said thoughtfully. "One is the Great Jin Empire led by Imperator Jin. They have a number ofte-stage Qi Sea cultivators and over ten Heavenly Rankers in total.��


    ��The other force is the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance, which includes factions like the Cloudstride Sect, Sta Consortium, and Pleiades Guild. Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and you are at the helm of this alliance. It seems that more than 30 Heavenly Rankers have joined this force."


    The politicalndscape of the Middle Land had changed greatly. In the past, the Middle Land consisted of countless individual factionspeting to dominate thend. The Great Jin Empire was unable to unify the entire Middle Land despite its powerful forces.


    Now, Jin Quan had broken through, bing the first Golden Core cultivator. This immediatelypelled the factions to form an alliance and gather at Cloudhill. Even the core of the Middle Land Immortal Hall was shifted here.


    "Indeed," nodded Qiong Sea King. "Master, there''s no need to worry about those affiliated with the Great Jin Empire. Those Heavenly Rankers who have sided with them are simply loose cultivators, with note-stage Qi Sea cultivators among them. The main forces supporting Jin Quan are the Jin royal family and the powerhouses from the Yuanxia Pce."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively. It was unsurprising to him that some Heavenly Rankers had also pledged their allegiance to the Great Jin Empire. Not everyone could be expected to possess unwavering ideals and righteousness.


    Daoist Wan Xing, Dong Pan, Niu Hao, and the others had valiantly sacrificed their lives in the battle for the Middle Land. Meanwhile, Jin Quan and Jin Ji''s actions were truly despicable. But, considering Jin Quan''s current power, it was only natural that some would side with him, driven by the instinct to survive.


    "The winner between the two sides will mainly be decided by the battles between the peak powerhouses,"mented Qiong Sea King.


    "There is no denying Jin Quan''s incredible power. With Fang Xia leading one array, along with Wu Nonghan and Lei Meng controlling Septet Ignis Array, and myself, we are just able to fight Jin Quan to a stalemate." Qiong Sea King waved his w, and several memory projections appeared. ��Master, these are projections of my memories of the battles.��


    Rows of memory projections formed on either side of Wu Yuan��s soul phantom, showcasing the conflicts that took ce in the sky above the Holy Capital or at Cloudhill.


    Wu Yuan carefully observed every scene. He was familiar with the strength of Qiong Sea King, the six-legged golden mantis, and Mountain Devil King, allowing him to urately assess Jin Quan''s power.


    "Golden Core sword cultivator?�� A glimmer of frost crept into Wu Yuan''s gaze as a hint of wariness arose. ��Indeed, he��s powerful.��


    Jin Quan established a sixth-degree immortal root and had yet toprehend a Domain. If he were a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, Wu Yuan was confident he could end him in a single strike.


    However, this transition from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase signified a metamorphosis. The mere increase in mana exponentially multiplied one''s power.


    Therefore, even if Wu Yuan employed both closebat and long-range techniques with his Yang Soul, he couldn��t bepletely certain of defeating Jin Quan.


    Furthermore, if Wu Yuan was nning to fight him in the Holy Capital, Jin Quan��s home turf? With a defense array supporting him, killing him would only get more challenging.


    <i>But Jin Quan must be eliminated. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold. <i>As a Golden Core sword cultivator, if you only prioritize your own survival, then so be it.</i>


    <i>But when the entire Middle Land faces a catastrophe, you cower behind others, unwilling to take risks. </i>


    <i>You waited for the cmity to pass and for the powerful cultivators to fall, then emerged to reap the benefits? How repugnant!</i>


    Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, Niu Hao, and the others might not be virtuous individuals, but they grasped the bigger picture and disyed courage when the situation called for it.


    Wu Yuan genuinely admired such individuals from the bottom of his heart.


    As for the Heavenly Rankers who refused to take risks and hid away, even though Wu Yuan looked down on them, he wouldn''t go out of his way to kill them.


    However, someone like Jin Quan? Wu Yuan would kill every single one he encountered.


    "Master, now that you have returned, let��s go kill Jin Quan together!" Qiong Sea King said excitedly.


    "No, Golden Core sword cultivators cannot be underestimated. We must either refrain from taking action or achieve sess in one fell swoop," Wu Yuan shook his head. "Didn''t you say that Fang Xia hasplete control over the Middle Land Immortal Hall?"


    "Yes." Qiong Sea King nodded. "Wu Nonghan voluntarily handed it over. He said that such a precious treasure couldn��t be protected by the Wu Sect alone."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He didn''t care enough to ponder whether this was the truth.


    "Qiong Sea, ask Fang Xia to enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall," Wu Yuan said. "We will continue our conversation within the Middle Land Immortal Hall."


    "Understood," King Qiong Sea nodded.


    ...


    With numerous Heavenly Rankers gathered in one location, Cloudhill City underwent a remarkable transformation. New mountains emerged one after another all around Cloudhill, each one upied by a Heavenly Ranker.


    Cloudhill remained mostly unchanged, the only difference being that the defense arrays were fortified and now possessed even wider coverage and greater power than before.


    <i>In the underground jade chamber.</i>


    <i>I never expected the Sta Consortium to have such treasures. This saved me a good deal of effort and helped me reach the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase in one go.</i> Fang Xia sat cross-legged on the jade tform, a smile on his face.


    <i>Thanks to this, I''m confident that I can reach the Golden Core phase in just six or seven years. </i>


    Fang Xia naturally yearned to reach the Golden Core phase.


    Then, his eyes flickered with a hint of fury. <i>Jin Quan, I will crush you once I reach the Golden Core phase.</i>


    As someone whoprehended a Domain, Fang Xia took great pride in his strength. He despised Jin Quan''s character, but he couldn''t ignore the man��s formidable strength.


    <i>One step at a time. As long as I umte sufficient mana, I��ll be able to break through to the Golden Core phase.</i> Fang Xia cultivated quietly.


    Tworge clusters of light floated in front of him on the jade tform. One was a massive golden cluster, which was the core of the defense array. The other cluster was smaller, tinged with a purple hue.


    "Warning, a powerful individual exceeding the upper limit of the immortal hall has entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall..."


    Fang Xia was taken aback by the sudden warning. <i>What? Exceeding the upper limit?</i>


    As the controller of the immortal hall��s core, Fang Xia was familiar with its various limitations. Naturally, he understood what it meant to exceed the upper limit �C the Amethyst Cradle stage!


    A Reverend had just entered the immortal hall?


    ��Hm?�� Fang Xia looked up abruptly as a jiaolong, measuring over ten meters long, flew into the jade chamber. It was Qiong Sea King.


    "Old Fang, hurry! The master is on his way back!" eximed Qiong Sea King. "Quick, let''s enter the immortal hall!"


    Fang Xia immediately understood, "The young master has returned?"


    His heart couldn''t help but quiver with astonishment. The young master''s soul reached the level of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator? Heavens!


    The rate of his soul��s progression was far too frightening!


    ��Very well, I shall enter the immortal hall right away.�� Fang Xia replied.


    ...


    <i>Nothing has changed.</i> Wu Yuan stood in the center of the za within the Immortal Hall, looking around.


    There wasn��t anyone else here, and three sides were still upied by personal halls. However, there were noticeably fewer personal hallspared to the past, around 40.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Gold and green lights converged, revealing one figure wearing a gold robe, and another one in the form of a jiaolong.


    "Master," Qiong Sea King greeted him.


    ��Young Master,�� Fang Xia bowed. He felt his breath nearly taken away by Wu Yuan''s unfathomably strong aura.


    Wu Yuan smiled faintly and said, "No need for formalities. Old Fang, could you please update me on the current situation?"


    ��Of course,�� Fang Xia nodded quickly.


    Fang Xia swiftly conveyed his insights, and Wu Yuan cross-referenced his words with Qiong Sea King''s, gaining a clearer understanding of the circumstances within the Middle Land.


    ��Young Master, Jin Quan''s actions have indeed roused fury, but they have also provided you with an opportunity to unify Middle Land.�� Fang Xia stated.


    ��Oh?�� Wu Yuan was slightly confused.


    ��You, Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and myself are recognized as the greatest contributors in the battle against the worm devil.��


    ��And as the one who ultimately vanquished the worm devil, you have earned the most merit.��


    ��It is truly regrettable that Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan fell in the battle. But Young Master, the whole of the Middle Land owes you a debt of gratitude, and your bravery has brought you tremendous renown," Fang Xia dered.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    ��Now, the whole world is aware of the massive sh between the two sides. This war has also made Jin Quan��s might known to all.��


    ��In theing days, if Young Master sessfully defeats Jin Quan, your fame will spread throughout thend, leaving an unforgettable impression and shaking the very foundation of society.��


    ��With the overwhelming gratitude of the public, and the support of myself, Qiong Sea King, the Sta Consortium, and the Wu Sect, Young Master can go on to be the ruler of the Middle Land, and the alliance leader of the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance.��


    ��By then, who in their right mind wouldn��t submit to you?��


    Qiong Sea King quickly chimed in, "Young Master, I wholeheartedly support this course of action."

 Chapter 280: Formal Challenge

    <h4>Chapter 280: Formal Challenge</h4>


    "An opportunity to unify the Middle Land?" Wu Yuan pondered aloud.


    ��Young Master, it might be viable to conquer the world by sheer martial force, just like Jin Quan. But as cultivators, our goal of unifying the world goes beyond just training the next generation of disciples or gathering resources. The main goal is gathering Faith Incense." Fang Xia stated.


    "To inspire belief and adoration in bothmoners and fellow cultivators, you must establish a foundation of genuine benevolence and unwavering power."


    "Even if Jin Quan sessfully unifies the world, it will still take a significant amount of time to restore his damaged reputation and gain the genuine devotion of the people. This process would involve manipting historical records, spreading propaganda through education, and even destroying books and scriptures for generations toe."


    "Faith Incense can only be obtained from the heartfelt sincerity of the people," Fang Xia said.


    Wu Yuan nodded. Faith Incense would serve various purposes once he advanced to the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Acquiring more Faith Incense would be advantageous, but the shortage of it wouldn''t hinder him.


    "Fang Xia, what strategies do you have in mind?" Wu Yuan asked. "How can we kill Jin Quan?"


    Fang Xia chuckled, "The first approach is to besiege him. Two months ago, he was able to trap us in Cloudhill with his strength. He no longer fears leaving the Holy Capital. If we can lure him here, then Young Master, along with myself, Qiong Sea, and others, can join forces toy siege to him and potentially end his life."


    "What other strategies do you have?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Fang Xia answered, "The second approach is to exercise patience. The power of Young Master''s soul has grown tremendously and your progress is astounding. It may take some time, but whether within a year or several yearster, you��ll definitely acquire the strength to kill Jin Quan in a direct confrontation."


    "One to several years? That''s far too long." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly and asked, "You mentioned earlier that Jin Quan has a method to leave the Middle Land?"


    Fang Xia confirmed with a nod, "Yes. In the beginning, Jin Ji tried to win over Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang by offering them a safe way to leave the Middle Land.�� After the cmity, Hai Feizhang promptly informed Fang Xia about this matter.


    Qiong Sea King focused on the ongoing conversation.


    ��Old Fang, as you said, the best way to assert our dominance in the eyes of the world will be to confront him directly. If we besiege him, how can we ensure that all other parties involved will submit to us?" Wu Yuan slowly said.


    Fang Xia sank into contemtion.


    "Send a messenger to the Holy Capital to deliver a formal challenge to Jin Quan."


    "Today is August 8th. On September 8th, I will arrive at the Holy Capital to face him in a battle to the death." Wu Yuan dered


    "What?" eximed Fang Xia,pletely astonished.


    "Master," Qiong Sea King was surprised, "Are you nning to go to the Holy Capital on your own? Isn��t a month too soon? Jin Quan is a Golden Core sword cultivator after all."


    A sly smile crossed Wu Yuan''s face, "I am aware."


    "Young Master, how confident are you?" Fang Xia asked, staring intently at Wu Yuan.


    "30%," said Wu Yuan stated.


    "Only a 30% chance of victory?" Fang Xia balked. "Young Master, as a body refiner, you may have incredible self-preservation abilities, but the risk is still substantial."


    ��30% certainty that I will y him, and 99% certainty that I��ll defeat him," Wu Yuan said calmly.


    Fang Xia and the Qiong Sea King fell silent.


    In their previous fights, Fang Xia led an array, apanied by Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King. However, when they faced Jin Quan in the Holy Capital, they could only flee with their tails between their legs.


    Wu Yuan was 30% certain he could kill him?


    "Don''t worry," Wu Yuan continued with a smile. "I have closely studied your fights with him. Even if I lose, I will still survive. Plus, both you, Fang Xia, and Qiong Sea King can provide support from a distance."


    Fang Xia nodded involuntarily, feeling his anxiety ease.


    The strength Wu Yuan had shown previously was no weaker than the power of the array when led by Fang Xia. Even if he truly couldn��t defeat Jin Quan, his survival shouldn''t be a concern.


    ��While the formal challenge is on the way to the Holy Capital, spread the word far and wide, calling on all those who wish to witness the match to gather at the Holy Capital." Wu Yuan''s voice was calm, though a hint of pride shed in his eyes. "I hope that after this sh, all chaos in the Middle Land will cease once and for all."


    "Very well," Fang Xia nodded. Though he was still a little worried, he couldn��t go against Wu Yuan��s orders.


    "When will you return, Young Master?" asked Fang Xia.


    Wu Yuan smiled and said, "I''ve nearly reached the Chu Continent, but it will take some time before I can return to Cloudhill. There��s no rush."


    Fang Xia immediately understood that Wu Yuan was nning to visit the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    "Qiong Sea, guard Cloudhill diligently during this period," Wu Yuan instructed. "Oh, and Old Fang, how is my family doing?"


    Through Qiong Sea King, Wu Yuan learned that the Sta Consortium had published news of his supposed demise.


    He was very worried about his family, particrly his mother.


    "They are fine. Your mother still doesn''t know because we made sure to keep the news hidden from her," Fang Xia chuckled. "But your sister knows. That girl is strong and has a simr demeanor to yours, Young Master."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan smiled. If Fang Xia praised his sister, it means she must have done well.


    "Young Master, do you wish to meet the Arctic King and the others?" Fang Xia asked.


    "Invite the Arctic King, ck Jiao King, Wu Nonghan, and Liu Junxing to the immortal hall," Wu Yuan said.


    These individuals formed the core of the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance.


    ...


    Upon receiving the notice, the Heavenly Rankers in Cloudhill swiftly entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan!��


    ��How are you?�� The Arctic King, ck Jiao King, Wu Nonghan, and Liu Junxing were thrilled to see Wu Yuan.


    Despite Fang Xia''s previous assurances, they still harbored some doubts since they had yet to actually meet Wu Yuan.


    Wu Nonghan eximed excitedly, ��Haha, with Wu Yuan by our side, our chances of killing Jin Quan have risen greatly!"


    Everyone shared his enthusiasm.


    At twenty-one years old, Wu Yuan had nearly reached the Golden Core phase. He was an exceptional prodigy!


    Everyone firmly believed that Wu Yuan would easily advance to the Spiritual Body phase. They also had high hopes that he would eventually lead the immortal path civilization of the Middle Land to even greater heights.


    That was why Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan had arranged for Wu Yuan to seed them and take over the leadership of the Sta Consortium and Wu Sect after their deaths.


    Wu Yuan looked around at the gathering and stated, "I''ve already instructed Ancestor Fang Xia to draft a formal challenge and send it to the Holy Capital. On September 8th, I will fight Jin Quan there."


    "The battle will determine not only who wins and who loses, but also who lives and who dies!"


    His words were met with expressions of shock and disbelief.


    ...


    Inside the jade chamber under Cloudhill, Qiong Sea King shook his head whileughing, "Hahaha, Old Fang, did you see the look on the Arctic King''s face just now?"


    Fang Xia sighed and said, "I find it difficult to understand the reason for the young master��s confidence. Jin Quan is a Golden Core sword cultivator after all."


    "Just have faith in our young master," Qiong Sea King replied, not too concerned.


    ...


    About 30 li north of Cloudhill was a recently restored mountain. Several grand pavilions and halls stood on the summit of the mountain.


    <i>Within one of these halls.</i>


    "Wu Yuan has returned?" Bei Li eximed with astonishment.


    "Mm," the Arctic King nodded faintly. "Just now, Fang Xia summoned me, Wu Nonghan, Qiong Sea King, and a few others for a meeting at the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Wu Yuan showed up."


    "He seems to have grown even stronger." the Arctic King remarked.


    "Stronger? That''s great," Bei Li nodded. "Although Fang Xia is strong, he isn��t strong enough to defeat Jin Quan alone. With Wu Yuan joining forces with him, our chances will improve significantly."


    It was clear that Bei Li acknowledged Wu Yuan''s capabilities.


    The Arctic King''s expression turned grave as he spoke, "Wu Yuan ns to enter the Holy Capital alone and challenge Jin Quan to a life-or-death battle. From his tone, it''s clear that he is confident in his ability to defeat Jin Quan."


    "Enter the Holy Capital alone?" Bei Li was taken aback.


    There was a moment of silence.


    "Elder Brother, what should we do next?''" Bei Li asked.


    "After observing the situation for some time, it��s clear that Qiong Sea King, Wu Nonghan, and Liu Junxing have all chosen to side with Wu Yuan. If he fails to defeat Jin Quan, then so be it."


    "If he seeds, or kills Jin Quan... No, even if their match ends in a stalemate, we��ll have no choice but to submit to him." the Arctic King sighed softly.


    Bei Li fell silent, lost in thought.


    If Wu Yuan''s strength turned out to beparable to Jin Quan''s, then as representatives of the rtively weak Arctic Alliance, Bei Li and the Arctic King had to align themselves decisively with one side.


    Continue to remain undecided? That was the quickest way to bring about their downfall.


    "Let''s wait for the oue of this battle," the Arctic King decided. "If Wu Yuan wins, we''ll be the first to propose that he should be the leader of the Middle Land Alliance and the ruler of the Middle Land."


    "Understood," Bei Li agreed. "I will make the necessary preparations at once."


    A wise man submits to the circumstances.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s formal challenge to Jin Quan sent shockwaves through the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance.


    While the various faction leaders pondered over their response, Wu Yuan reached the summit of Jiexian Mountain in the Chu Continent.


    This time, the invisible energy instantly transported Wu Yuan to a different realm before he could announce his arrival. As usual, he was brought to the temple.


    ncing at the far end of the temple, Wu Yuan immediately spotted the towering figure of the realm master.


    ��Realm Master,�� Wu Yuan greeted with a smile.


    In the past, the realm master had always seemed mysterious to Wu Yuan. However, now that he had reached the Yang Soul level, Wu Yuan was able to sense certain aspects of the realm master''s aura that eluded him previously.


    "Is the worm devil dead?" the realm master asked, surprise evident in his gaze.


    He took a step forward, standing before Wu Yuan. As the controller of the Fourth Eldritch Realm''s essence, he was keenly aware that Wu Yuan''s aura was vastly different from before.


    From the realm master��s perception, Wu Yuan''s vital aura was still rtively feeble, yet his soul shone with a brilliant radiance, as dazzling and intense as a zing sun.


    "Mm," nodded Wu Yuan. "We paid a price but managed to kill it sessfully. The Middle Land has ovee the cmity."


    "Tell me the details," the realm master requested.


    "Of course," Wu Yuan agreed, quickly retelling the events of the worm devil catastrophe, purposefully leaving out any reference to the ck pagoda.


    The realm master listened attentively, taking in every word.


    When Wu Yuan mentionedprehending a Domain, the realm master looked astonished.


    When Wu Yuan recounted the voluntary sacrifices of Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and Niu Hao, the realm master seemed to grow slightly emotional.


    Finally, when Wu Yuan informed him that he had reached the Yang Soul stage, the realm master was bbergastered.


    ��Unbelievable,�� the realm master blurted out. "Wu Yuan, release your Soul Force and Domain power at the same time. It will be best if you canbine them."


    He needed to witness Wu Yuan��s progress for himself.


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Very well."


    Instantly, the Delirium Landbreaker Saber materialized before his chest. This battle saber could be wielded by both qi refiners and body refiners.


    Streams of earthy-yellow energy formed around him, filled with immense power and resonating with a low hum. In a blink, they spread throughout the temple, surrounding Wu Yuan and the realm masterpletely.


    Regr Heavenly Rankers were unable to tap into heaven and earth''s power with the Fourth Eldritch Realm. However, those who reached the Domain stage understood thews of heaven and earth''s power, which even the Fourth Eldritch Realm could not restrict.


    Without warning,yers of earthy yellow qi streams encased the ck saber. Then, the saber sliced through the air at incredible speed, leaving a blinding trail of light. The sh mark remained visible for a long time.


    The realm master couldn''t help but exim, "Magnificent! That strike could kill a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator!"


    He continued, "It''s a shame that you don''t possess essentia. With your powerful Soul Force, your ability to control artifacts will only improve."


    The realm master looked seriously at Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan, it''s time for you to unlock your qi sea."


    ��Unlock my qi sea?�� Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened. The goal of his trip here was exactly that, but he never expected the realm master to bring up the subject first.


    With his qi sea opened, he would be able to cultivate essentia and wield much greater control over artifacts. This was what gave Wu Yuan the confidence to issue the formal challenge.


    "I��ve underestimated you. There��s no way your soul talent is just average first-ss. It��s definitely at the exceptional tier, even more exaggerated than your body refining talent," the realm master eximed.


    "Reaching the Yang Soul level at 21? I am inclined to believe that you might actually be the reincarnation of some ancient powerhouse."


    Wu Yuan could onlyugh.


    "With your soul, it would be aplete waste if you don��t pursue the path of eldritch universal cultivation," the realm master said wistfully.


    ��You may unlock your qi sea at any time. However, you must carefully consider which path to take next.��

 Chapter 281: Dark Earth Sword Path

    <h4>Chapter 281: Dark Earth Sword Path</h4>


    ��After reading the immortal slips I gave you, you should understand the importance of a strong immortal root establishment treasure to support the opening of your qi sea." the realm master said.


    ��The cultivators in the Middle Land generally have weak immortal roots, with only a few sixth-degree ones. Their shorings are not solely due to ack of natural talent, but are mainly the result of ack of guidance and a scarcity of the precious treasures needed for root establishment," exined the realm master.


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Root establishment treasures are indeed incredibly important."


    The Luminous Immortal Soil that the realm master previously gave him was an earth attribute treasure that could help him establish a fourth-degree immortal root at minimum.


    A fourth-degree immortal root was already incredibly strong.


    As for the highest three degrees? They were extremely rare even within the Greenridge Macrocosm. Those who managed to establish them were considered top-tier geniuses.


    As for his Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, that was considered an immense fortuitous encounter.


    "Naturally," the realm master continued, "For someone like you with both great physical and soul strength, establishing a fourth-degree immortal root would be easy."


    Wu Yuan murmured, "Fourth degree?"


    If this were a year ago, he would have been satisfied with establishing a fourth-degree immortal root in qi refining. After all, it wasn''t his main cultivation focus.


    But now? Wu Yuan felt somewhat dissatisfied.


    "Realm Master, do you have any superior root establishment treasures?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "I possess various treasures such as weapons and talismans, but they are not suitable for root establishment," the realm master replied. "Moreover, when the Fourth Eldritch Realm was established, the main emphasis was on raising eldritch warriors rather than eldritch mages."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In his previous life, different universities emphasized different aspects of their students�� education, which led to different facilities and equipment prepared for their students.


    "Even the finest of the root establishment treasures I have here still pale inparison to the Luminous Immortal Soil," the realm master shook his head. "They wouldn''t be of much help to you, and will not support the establishment of a third-degree immortal root."


    "And as for the second and first degrees? They are simply myths! To establish such high-tier immortal roots directly, one would need an extremely rare opportunity."


    Wu Yuan sank into deep thought.


    ording to the immortal slips, powerful cultivators with second or even first-degree immortal roots mostly established lower degree roots at first, then slowly upgraded them over time.


    The number of cultivators establishing a second-degree immortal root on their first try was far fewer than those establishing a first-degree immortal root after numerous years of cultivation.


    "Realm Master, please have a look at this." Wu Yuan suddenly flipped his palm, revealing several glimmering shards. Little ck had given them to him when he woke up.


    ��Oh?�� The realm master was initially surprised, but after a brief examination, his eyes lit up with excitement. "Hahaha! Wu Yuan, the heavens must favor you indeed! This is Soul Ethercrystal, an invaluable treasure that greatly supports the unlocking of one��s qi sea. It��s far better than the root establishment treasures I have."


    ��Soul Ethercrystal?�� Wu Yuan was startled.


    "Where did you find such a treasure?" asked the realm master curiously. "In the Middle Land, it is rare for anyone toe across such invaluable treasures."


    ��It was retrieved from the remains of the worm devil,�� Wu Yuan exined


    Wu Yuan sensed the uniqueness of these crystal shards but had no idea what they were until now.


    "I see," said the realm master. "Worm devils are mysterious creatures. The knowledge I have on them is only a tiny fraction of its many secrets. I never imagined that its main body would be so valuable even after death."


    ��But it makes sense. The worm devil��s main body is inherently frail, yet it��s able to control an army of devil soldiers. So it turns out the reason behind this is that its main body is made up of Soul Ethercrystal, naturally endowing it with an extremely strong soul. Perhaps it has an innate Yang Soul?�� The realm master spected.


    Wu Yuan was rather impressed at how quickly the realm master could make a logical deduction of the workings of the worm devil��s soul from just its remnants.


    ��Realm Master, can I potentially establish a third-degree immortal root with the support of Soul Ethercrystal?�� Wu Yuan asked.


    The realm master shook his head slightly. "There is a possibility, but fortune will also y a role."


    Wu Yuan��s expression froze.


    ��Soul Ethercrystal is just as precious as Luminous Immortal Soil, albeit slightly rarer. Typically, they are able to help one establish a fourth-degree immortal root at least. Even if your soul is incredibly strong, there is no guarantee of being able to unlock a third-degree immortal root. It all depends on luck.�� The realm master rified.


    Luck? Wu Yuan nodded slightly. On the path of cultivation, luck was indeed crucial.


    "I��ll use it then." Wu Yuan said, "In all honesty, even if I did manage to obtain better treasures, I don��t have the ability to refine them as of now. If I do end up with a fourth-degree immortal root, then I''ll wait for another opportunity in the future to advance to the top three degrees."


    "Mm. A fourth-degree immortal root is not bad at all," the realm master said. "In the history of the eldritch lineage, many powerhouses who travel between spacetimes started with only fourth or fifth-degree immortal roots."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    Starting high implied that one had a good chance of bing a powerhouse, but starting low didn��t necessarily mean one couldn��t reach the peak.


    "Now that you''ve chosen your root establishment treasure, next, you need to choose your main cultivation ss." The realm master said, "In my opinion, it��d be best for you to be a sword cultivator!"


    "Sword cultivator?" Wu Yuan was taken aback, "Not eldritch mage?"


    He remembered that the realm master initially rmended that he be an eldritch mage.


    "That was in the past, things are different now." The realm master said, "Back then, I didn''t know your soul was so powerful."


    "Wu Yuan, you must understand that for an eldritch warrior, the only benefits of a powerful soul are faster cultivation andprehension of the profundity of heaven and earth. After all, eldritch warriors are melee fighters."


    Wu Yuan felt that it made sense. Soul Force didn��t help much in meleebat.


    "But for qi refiners, a strong soul can greatly enhance theirbat power. With powerful Soul Force, they can wield more artifacts and harness more mana." The realm master continued,


    "The eldritch mage relies heavily on supporting abilities. Their attack power is not too strong, and how powerful their soul is won��t make a big impact on their overall strength."


    "But throughout countless worlds in numerous spacetimes, the sword cultivator is known for their attack power." The realm master said, "It is the most powerful ss for a qi refiner."


    "Can��t I choose the throwing knife as my lifebound object?�� Wu Yuan asked, feeling puzzled. In his perspective, it shouldn��t matter whether it was a saber or sword, weapons were just vessels for his power.


    ��It isn��t the same,�� the realm master said with a smile, ��Among the countless worlds, you��ll find an abundance of lifebound objects - sabers, spears, swords, halberds, and more. However, only sword cultivators and cauldron cultivators are truly able to stand alongside array cultivators and pill cultivators! Do you know why?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Many eras ago, two terrifying beings were born in heaven and earth. Eventually, they went on to stand at the peak of the countless spacetimes. One wielded a sword as their lifebound object, while the other wielded a cauldron. With their unparalleled might, they gained the ability to influence the very mechanics of heaven and earth. Hence, their weapons went on to hold a unique significance in this vast heaven and earth."


    "The lifebound flying sword, unmatched in attack, shatters allws!"


    "The lifebound divine cauldron, unmatched in defense, can subdue mountains and rivers!"


    "Ever since then, any cultivator in the subsequent generations that chose either equipment as their lifebound object was granted far greater power than their peers." The realm master continued,


    "Thus, two major sses emerged, impacting other cultivators as well. Why else would qi refiners frequently employ flying swords in their attacks?" chuckled the realm master.


    Wu Yuan was dumbfounded by what he had heard.


    There were powerhouses so fearsome that their choice of weapon could influence the mechanics of heaven and earth? It was inconceivable.


    "Furthermore, you��ll receive an additional benefit by embarking on the path of a sword cultivator," the realm master grinned suddenly. "A tremendous benefit."


    "There��s more?" Wu Yuan''s curiosity was piqued.


    "When unlocking the Qi Sea, one must forge their lifebound flying sword. Even the weakest cultivators can forge one sword," said the realm master with a subtle smile. "Prodigies with powerful souls may attempt to condense a second, or maybe even a third sword."


    "The more lifebound flying swords one possesses, the stronger the sword cultivator bes."


    "And you can definitely forge more than them," the realm master said, his eyes gleaming brightly.


    "Haha, just as alchemists who can refine multiple divine pills with different uses are far more versatile, multiple lifebound flying swords grant you far more power than ordinary flying swords," the realm masterughed.


    "If you unite your lifebound flying swords to form a sword array inbination with your soul, you will be invincible in battle, even mightier than in closebat."


    These words ignited a fire of yearning inside Wu Yuan.


    Compared to others at the same cultivation phase, he was already incredibly powerful in closebat. Now, he could be even more powerful at long-range assaults?


    Other qi refiners had to prioritize self-preservation due to their frail physiques. But for Wu Yuan, he couldunch long-range attacks without worrying about self-preservation.


    "Of course, don��t get too excited just yet," the realm master said. "Unless you are able to divide your soul and create two true selves in the future, your progress on both cultivation paths will slow. Think carefully before you decide."


    "I understand," nodded Wu Yuan, "I won''t have any regrets."


    An additional path meant an additional way to reach the peak. Furthermore, the path of a qi refiner wasn��t inferior to the path of an eldritch warrior. Hence, Wu Yuan made his decision without hesitation.


    "Alright. I have already shared with you the eldritch mage teachings," said the realm master. "I have several sword cultivator teachings in my possession, but for condensing multiple lifebound swords of the earth element, the only teaching I have is called ''Dark Earth Sword Path''. This is considered a high-tier cultivation methodology."


    "When you enter the Greenridge Macrocosm in the future, you should look for opportunities to join a major sect and cultivate the ��Heaven and Earth Sword Path''. Both teachings arepatible."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He trusted that the realm master wouldn��t deceive him.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The realm master waved his hand.


    Wu Yuan didn��t resist, allowing the deluge of information to flood his mind. With his powerful soul, he assimted the knowledge within ten breaths.


    It was the cultivation method of the ''Dark Earth Sword Path''.


    "This is just the first half?" Wu Yuan froze.


    "The first half is enough tost you until the Golden Core phase, and this is all I have," the realm master stated. "To obtain the other half of the methodology, you��ll have to rely on yourself."


    "Understood," said Wu Yuan with a smile. "May I cultivate here?"


    "Naturally. I��ll send you to the meditation chamber," the realm master replied, gesturing with a wave of his hand.


    In the distant sky, a rift in space opened, revealing a meditation chamber inside. An unseen force wrapped around Wu Yuan, pulling him into the chamber, and then the rift closed.


    Apart from a jade tform, the meditation chamber was bare.


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on the tform. He felt the cluttered thoughts in his mind fade away, and his spirit felt calm and serene.


    <i>This jade tform alone is a true treasure. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    Suddenly, invisible vibrations filled the air, and arge quantity of metal ores materialized in the chamber. The metal ores emitted rich spiritual qi, and came in shades of ck, yellow, and silver.


    ��This is?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "When you first unlock your qi sea, your lifebound flying sword mustn��t be too strong as your qi sea won��t be able to contain it. You may forge your swords with the metal ores provided," the realm master''s voice echoed within the chamber.


    "As you continue to progress in your cultivation, you will have the opportunity to gradually refine and upgrade your lifebound flying swords."


    "Thank you, Realm Master," Wu Yuan said with gratitude.


    The realm master''s voice echoed, "No worries. Concentrate on your cultivation. These are just some things I can offer within my capacity. If you need anything, feel free to inform me."


    With that, the voice of the realm master faded away.


    <i>Life is indeed much easier with a senior��s guidance. </i>Wu Yuan chuckled and closed his eyes.


    The steps to cultivate the methodology rose in his mind.


    He only had one opportunity to establish his initial immortal root and forge multiple flying swords. There was no room for error. Hence, he had to fully understand the cultivation method before proceeding.


    ...


    While Wu Yuan cultivated in the meditation room within the Fourth Eldritch Realm, his formal challenge quickly spread across the thirteen continents of the Middle Land with the help of the Middle Land Alliance.


    "Deity Wu Yuan is still alive?��


    ��From what the Sta Consortium wrote, he surpasses Emperor Dong Pan in strength and is currently the number one expert in the world. He��s just 21 years old!��


    ��Wasn''t he killed during the battle with the worm devil?��


    "Wu Yuan is alive! He will challenge Imperator Jin at the Holy Capital on September 8th, and the result will determine who lives and dies."


    "Whoever wins will be rightfully called the world''s number one expert." The thirteen continents buzzed with excitement.


    Upon hearing the news, countless martial artists began their journey to the Holy Capital, eager to witness this epic showdown. Battles between Heavenly Rankers were a rare sight to begin with, let alone a fight to determine the number one expert in the world.


    ...


    <i>Within the depths of a cave in the forbidden zone of the Jin royal family.</i>


    ��Father, will you ept the challenge?�� Jin Ji asked, looking at Jin Quan on the jade tform.


    Jin Quan gave a mirthless smile. "Do I have a choice?"

 Chapter 282: Qi Sea Unlocked, Nine Swords Condensed

    <h4>Chapter 282: Qi Sea Unlocked, Nine Swords Condensed</h4>


    Jin Ji was taken aback by his father��s words.


    ��I never thought Wu Yuan would still be alive. Unexpectedly, even the worm devil couldn''t get rid of him.�� Jin Quan shook his head slightly.


    Jin Ji sighed inwardly.


    Years ago when he first heard Wu Yuan''s name, he simply saw the youth as a young prodigy who could potentially be a qi cultivator. Hence, he didn''t pay much attention to him.


    But out of the blue, Wu Yuan rose to the pinnacle of the Middle Land, and even his father saw him as a great enemy. Wu Yuan��s talent was truly inconceivable.


    "Wu Yuan''s strength may have improved, but it is unlikely that he has reached the Spiritual Body phase," Jin Quan said. "He hasn��t cultivated for long. Even with his exceptional talent and unique treasures, achieving progress that rapid would be extremely difficult."


    Jin Ji listened silently, trusting his father''s judgment.


    "However, issuing a formal challenge suggests that he possesses a measure of confidence. It is highly probable that they are nning to besiege us." Jin Quan spoke slowly. ��Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, and the others will most likelyunch a joint assault.��


    "What should we do?" Jin Ji asked anxiously.


    "It doesn''t matter,�� Jin Quan replied indifferently. ��We have no choice. If they decide to attack the Holy Capital, are we not going to defend ourselves?��


    ��If we don''t have the courage to retaliate even with the support of the defense array, all territories belonging to Great Jin are doomed to fall.��


    Jin Ji listened, recognizing the validity of his father''s words.


    When the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance hindered Jin Quan at Cloudhill, it obstructed Great Jin��s mission of unifying the world.


    If Jin Quan failed to protect the Holy Capital, what was the point of continuing the war?


    ��Don''t worry. With the aid of multiple arrays, even if I lose, my safety is assured. And if circumstances reach a dire point, we can always leave the Middle Land via the treasure realm," Jin Quan assured him.


    ��Understood,�� Jin Ji realized that his father had already formted an escape strategy.


    Of course, leaving the Middle Land was ast resort.


    "Alright, focus on your cultivation and work hard to reach the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase as soon as you can," Jin Quan instructed.


    "Yes, Father," Jin Ji said respectfully as he bowed and withdrew.


    Jin Quan was the sole person remaining in the chamber.


    <i>Wu Yuan? </i>Jin Quan stood up, his eyes filled with a cold glint. After pondering for a moment, he walked further into the hall.


    After passing through many strange light screens, he entered a spacious hall. Here, a huge circr crystal tform was located right in the middle. From this tform, several passageways extended further into the depths.


    <i>Treasure realm, third hall.</i> Jin Quan surveyed the various passageways and slowly walked to the enormous crystal tform.


    Jin Quan gazed at the round crystal tform. Peculiar beams of light extended from all sides of the tform into the air, and seemed mysteriously connected to the surrounding space in some way.


    The inside of the tform was filled with a strange liquid that shimmered like starlight, and waspletely enclosed by the crystal walls of the tform.


    At the center of the liquid floated a gigantic, oval white egg, measuring about two meters in length. Countless intricate patterns decorated the eggshell, and it radiated a powerful and divine aura.


    Without a doubt, it was a precious treasure.


    <i>It��s close topletion. Once I unify the world, squash these obstacles, and propagate my Faith, I can truly aspire to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase. </i>


    Many powerful individuals throughout the history of the Middle Land had yearned to unify the world. Yet, few ever truly achieved this goal. The benefits were not enough to outweigh the detriments for all other factions, which only led to enmity from all sides.


    Since the Great Jin Empire''s inception, its primary mission had always been to unite the world.


    Jin Quan was never worried about reaching the Golden Core phase; his real goal was the Amethyst Cradle phase!


    <i>Wu Yuan? Fang Xia? Everyone thinks I was only able to reach the Golden Core phase due to luck. Just wait, I��ll crush each and every one of you.</i>


    Jin Quan followed a passageway and entered a meditation room. Wu Yuan and Fang Xia were growing stronger at a rapid pace. As someone who had just advanced to the Golden Core stage, Jin Quan��s progress was not slower than theirs at all.


    ...


    Soon after the formal challenge reached the Holy Capital, the Jin royal family gave their reply �C challenge epted!


    When the news broke, the entire world was sent into a frenzy. Countless Heavenly Rankers and numerous martial artists eagerly awaited the day of the battle.


    The horrific destruction of the Holy Capital caused by Fang Xia and the others when they previously stormed the city left manymoners and nobles in a state of panic. Many decided to temporarily flee the Holy Capital.


    However, Wu Yuan remainedpletely absorbed in his cultivation, oblivious to the situation of the external world.


    It took him a full three days to prepare for the opening of his qi sea. This lengthy preparation time was not only due to the great caution required when opening one��s qi sea, but theplexity of the ��Dark Earth Sword Path��.


    <i>I never expected Wu Yuan''s soul to develop this rapidly.</i> The realm master observed him patiently. <i>Just 21, yet already at the fifth-stage Communion phase and the Yang Soul level.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s insane progress had upied the realm master��s mind over the past few days. In all his years of experience and knowledge, he had yet to encounter such a heaven-defying talent.


    If Wu Yuan''s previous state astonished the realm master, Wu Yuan��s current statepletely shook him to his core.


    <i>A genius like this could easily earn a ce among the most prestigious nations and sects within the Greenridge Macrocosm. He may even have the opportunity to be a disciple of a great powerhouse...</i>


    <i>Hm? Is it finally about to begin?</i> Holding his breath in anticipation, the realm master observed Wu Yuan closely. <i>I hope the unlocking of his qi sea proceeds without an issue.</i>


    <i>...</i>


    <i>Within the cultivation chamber.</i>


    <i>Flow through the 108 acupoints, the pathways of the meridians, to collide with the middle dantian lobe, unlocking the qi sea, then condensing the sword soul. </i>Wu Yuan reviewed the important steps of the cultivation method once more.


    Wu Yuan had spent the past three days diligently simting the process of unlocking the middle dantian lobe numerous times, ensuring there were no errors. The only part he was still uncertain about was the degree of immortal root he would establish.


    <i>Let��s begin.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes. With a mentalmand, his soul circted throughout his body following the Dark Earth Sword Path.


    The Dark Earth Sword Path was an earth attribute cultivation method that perfectly suited his Terranean Body.


    But no matter the cultivation method, the process of unlocking one��s qi sea remained the same �C circting spiritual qi through the meridians and ultimately converging the qi at one point to bombard the middle dantian lobe.


    The immortal root was the foundation of the qi sea. There were three main factors that contributed to the degree of one��s immortal root. Firstly, the strength of one��s meridians and the number of meridian channels the spiritual qi was circted through.


    Secondly, the strength of the root establishment treasures during the initial opening of the qi sea.


    Thirdly, luck. Even if someone followed the same teachings and had identical root establishment treasures, the resulting qi sea immortal root would still differ.


    With a loud crackling sound, the concentrated spiritual qi in the meditation chamber surged through all 108 acupoints, flowing through each of his meridians before being condensed andpressed.


    This was an easy task for Wu Yuan given his strong soul. Land Rankers with weaker souls, on the other hand, could only engage twenty meridians at most, leading to a lower degree immortal root.


    This was why the realm master believed Wu Yuan had the potential to establish a fourth-grade immortal root.


    <i>Converge.</i> Under Wu Yuan��s guidance, every limb, bone, and meridian in his entire body seemed to tremble. As though bursting out of a broken dam, liquid-like spiritual qi converged on his middle dantian lobe with an impact capable of instantly tearing apart a weaker individual''s body. However, Wu Yuan effortlessly withstood the force.


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, the previously dense middle dantian lobe exploded.


    <i>With the opening of my qi sea, my journey to immortality has begun.</i>


    The soul chamber inside his body represented a whole new realm. Meanwhile, the newly opened qi sea was vast and empty, its true size unknown. It seemed real, yet shifted like an illusion.


    Waves of spiritual qi poured into his qi sea, quickly transforming into liquid. This was essentia!


    Therge quantity of essentia in his qi sea rapidly converged to form ake. At the center of theke, a swirling whirlpool formed.


    Several crystals flew through the air andnded in theke with a ssh. Under Wu Yuan''s precise control, the two merged, causing his qi sea to undergo a transformation.


    This was the root establishment treasure, Soul Ethercrystal. As the two interacted, his qi sea began to expand at an astonishing speed, continuously refining and umting vast amounts of spiritual qi, producingrge quantities of essentia.


    After a whole day, the Soul Ethercrystal was fully refined by the qi sea��s essentia. At this point, Wu Yuan��s qi sea had expanded to a mind-boggling size.


    <i>It��s nearing its limit? </i>Wu Yuan felt a little dissatisfied. <i>Will it be a fourth-degree immortal root, or maybe a third-degree immortal root?</i>


    Wu Yuan felt that the size of his qi sea had yet to reach the third-degree immortal root level.


    <i>Blood mist, integrate!</i> Wu Yuan willed.


    In an instant, blood-red mist spread across the sky, merging with the qi sea. This was Wu Yuan''sst attempt to strengthen his qi sea��s foundation.


    As the blood mist cleared, the qi sea, which resembled argeke, began to churn, expanding at an even faster rate. Wu Yuan��s aura grew turbulent as well, like crashing waves in a storm.


    Finally, the qi sea reached its limit of expansion, and the waves calmed down. Breaking through this point would either necessitate reaching the Golden Core phase or having a fortuitous encounter.


    Within the vast expanse of the essentiake, a massive vortex emerged, causing visible ripples to radiate outwards.


    The second-stage Qi Sea phase!


    <i>After breaking through, I reached the second-stage Qi Sea phase immediately? This should be rted to my strong soul. </i>Wu Yuan felt ted. <i>Considering the size of the qi sea and referencing the cultivation method, it should be... a third-degree immortal root.</i>


    <i>The blood mist is indeed effective at increasing the rate of essentia production. </i>Wu Yuan was impressed.


    Without the blood mist, his newly opened qi sea wouldn��t have reached the third-degree immortal root level. The fact that he was able to establish a third-degree immortal root during the opening of his qi sea already made him a peerless genius.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Mysterious lights danced above the swirling qi sea, converging to form a figure that looked exactly like Wu Yuan. An aura of sword energy began to naturally manifest around his body.


    It was his sword soul!


    There were a variety of cultivation teachings a qi refiner could choose from, which would also result in differences in the qi sea and soul condensed. These formed the core of the various teachings.


    <i>The sword soul originates from the soul. I believe the strength of my sword soul is able to surpass a majority of Golden Core cultivators by far. </i>Wu Yuan��s sword soul smirked.


    A rush of strange lights whirled around his sword soul, each carrying a fraction of his soul power. Each additional light beam seemed to strain his sword soul and qi sea. Wu Yuan''s spirit felt as though there was a heavy weight pressing down on it.


    <i>Seven strands of sword soul light?</i>


    In the sword cultivator ss, refining three lifebound flying swords at once was already enough for someone to be hailed as a prodigy.


    <i>Still, I will surpass that.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were filled with determination.


    Once a route was chosen, it was difficult to change course. It was better to forge the maximum number of flying swords possible from the beginning. As one progressed, increasing the number became far more difficult.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>The sword soul seemed to pulse with unbearable pain, as though on the verge of crumbling. Another strand of soul light shot out from it, causing his heart to tremble despite his unwavering will.


    If a qi refiner''s soul strength wascking, splitting their soul light into three or four strands would lead to total soul destruction, let alone seven.


    <i>Press on!</i> Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, exerting every ounce of strength to cultivate the ��Sword Soul Splitting Art�� once more.


    A fracture formed on the sword soul as another strand of soul light flew out.


    <i>Ahh!</i> Despite his strength, Wu Yun felt a fierce pain wracking his spirit, causing his sword soul to waver. Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and persevered.


    <i>Nine is the maximum number. Nine strands of soul sword light is the limit.</i>


    With a thought from Wu Yuan, each strand of soul light began transforming ording to the method recorded in the ��Dark Earth Sword Path��.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force guided the nearby precious metals into his qi sea. There, they were melted and separated by his essentia. After which, the metal essence was merged with the strands of soul light.


    After seven whole days, nine resplendent flying swords merged subtly into one entity, encircling the sword soul. They trembled slightly, their profound sword aura influencing the entire qi sea.


    <i>Nine swords of the Dark Earth Sword Pathe together in a single array.</i>


    The eyes of Wu Yuan''s sword soul burned with battle fervor. <i>Jin Quan, I wonder how many strikes you can withstand?"</i>

 Chapter 283: September 8th (1)

    <h4>Chapter 283: September 8th (1)</h4>


    Previously, Wu Yuan estimated that he had a 30% chance of killing Jin Quan in the Holy Capital, and that was after going all out. But now, the odds had significantly shifted in his favor.


    <i>If Jin Quan''s strength hasn''t improved significantly, I have a 70% chance of killing him.</i>


    This was not arrogance, but a recognition of his own power.


    <i>Even though I''m only at the second-stage Qi Sea phase, a third-degree immortal root is equivalent to a strong foundation. My mana already rivalsmon sixth and seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivators.</i>


    Mana was just one aspect of his newfound power. The real game-changer was his artifacts, the nine lifebound flying swords. When unleashed, their power wasparable to that of nine sword cultivators attacking at once in perfect synchronization.


    Furthermore, in terms of qi refining, Wu Yuan��s soul was his most powerful weapon. The stronger his soul, the more powerful his flying swords, allowing him to effortlessly overpower weaker Golden Core cultivators.


    <i>I am able to refine nine flying swords thanks to my soul. Currently, in terms of power, my attack power in qi refining far surpasses that of body refining.</i>


    It wasn''t because he had greater talent in qi refining, but purely because of the massive advantage brought by his soul.


    <i>However, Wan Xing and Dong Pan both believed that Jin Quan has gotten his hands on a powerful inheritance. Judging from his fights with Fang Xia, it seems he has inherited aplete set of teachings from a sword cultivator. I must not underestimate him.</i>


    On the path of immortal cultivation, it was essential to remain vignt regardless of one''s strength or confidence. Even a lion would exert its full force when pouncing on a rabbit.


    Wu Yuan opened his eyes and saw that therge pile of metals in front of him was reduced to around 30% of its former size. He also noticed some scraps nearby.


    <i>Since the realm master has given this to me, the rest is mine as well. </i>Wu Yuan��s lips curled into a faint smile.


    With a wave of his hand, he gathered all the metals and minerals and stored them away.


    Upgrading one��s lifebound flying sword was a challenging endeavor, requiring one to acquire and refine numerous treasures.


    And that was for a single lifebound flying sword. Wu Yuan had nine of them. Just the thought of it gave him a throbbing headache. The road ahead wasn��t going to be an easy one.


    ��Realm Master!�� Wu Yuan raised his head and called out.


    <i>Hum~</i> A barely noticeable ripple surrounded him. Wu Yuan made no effort to resist it. In an instant, his surroundings changed, and he found himself standing in the magnificent temple once more.


    "Wu Yuan," the realm master''s towering figure stood just a short distance away. "How did it go? What degree of immortal root did you establish?"


    "Third degree,�� Wu Yuan sighed and shook his head. ��Unfortunately, I wasn��t able to establish a second-degree immortal root.��


    "You little rascal, a third-degree immortal root?" the realm master''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he burst intoughter. "Stop acting, I can tell you��re barely able to hide your happiness. A third-degree immortal root is a remarkable achievement."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t resist breaking into a smile.


    "Moreover, this is just a supplementary cultivation path for you," sighed the realm master. "Though you had teachings to guide you, they weren��t top-tier teachings that could directly lead to the essence of Great Daos. Additionally, youcked the guidance of powerful seniors."


    ��The fact that you could still establish a third-degree immortal root is truly impressive. If you continue down the eldritch universal cultivation path, your future will hold great promise.��


    Wu Yuan chuckled.


    At first, Wu Yuan did not understand the significance of the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. However, as time went by, he began to grasp what kind of miraculous opportunity he had been given.


    He was more than thrilled to have established a third-degree immortal root in the path of qi refining.


    ��As you ascend to the Amethyst Cradle phase or even higher, opportunities to upgrade your immortal root will naturally arise. With a third-degree immortal root, your path to bing a true sword immortal will be unhindered by any obstacles."


    Wu Yuan nodded. After reading the ��Dark Earth Sword Path��, he naturally understood what bing a sword immortal meant.


    Being referred to as an ��immortal�� by countless immortal cultivators was a clear indication of one��s unfathomable power, positioning them alongside the mighty Archeldritches.


    ��How many lifebound flying swords did you forge?�� the realm master asked. ��Six or seven?��


    He had closely observed Wu Yuan''s progress and roughly estimated the number of swords based on the amount of precious metals and ores consumed.


    Wu Yuan''s lips curved into a grin as he waved his hand. Instantly, nine streaks of earthy-yellow light flew out from his fingertips. Each steak of light was a sword pellet. These pellets swiftly transformed into nine flying swords that revolved around Wu Yuan, filling the temple with palpable sword intent.


    The realm master''s jaw dropped.


    "Withdraw." With a gesture, the nine lifebound flying swords flew back into Wu Yuan''s Qi Sea, where he would continue to nurture them.


    "Nine lifebound flying swords?" the realm master eximed. The way he looked at Wu Yuan shifted, as if seeing him in a whole new light.


    "Realm Master, what do you think?" Wu Yuan asked with a haughty smile.


    The realm master could not find the words to reply.


    A third-degree immortal root and nine lifebound flying swords? Such a level of talent couldn��t be described in words.


    "Are these flying swords all seventh-grade spirit weapons?" the realm master asked.


    Wu Yuan nodded and replied, "My foundation corresponds to an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root. Therefore, I can only refine seventh-grade spirit flying swords at most."


    There was a limit to how much one��s lifebound flying swords could be refined. If they were too powerful, one��s qi sea might not be able to contain them.


    Under normal circumstances, at the first-stage Qi Sea phase, the lifebound flying swords forged were ninth-grade spirit equipment.


    At the fourth-stage Qi Sea phase, the lifebound flying swords could be upgraded to eighth-grade spirit equipment.


    At the seventh-stage Qi Sea phase, the lifebound flying swords could be upgraded to seventh-grade spirit equipment.


    At the first-stage Golden Core phase, the lifebound flying swords could be upgraded to sixth-grade spirit equipment.


    At the fourth-stage Golden Core phase, the lifebound flying swords could be upgraded to fifth-grade spirit equipment.


    At the seventh-stage Golden Core phase, the lifebound flying swords could be upgraded to fourth-grade spirit equipment.


    "To upgrade the lifebound flying swords to sixth-grade spirit equipment, I have to cultivate to the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase," Wu Yuan shook his head. "And, I also need to gather sufficient suitable treasures."


    Lifebound flying swords varied in attribute, hence upgrading them required treasures with matching attributes.


    "The ninth-stage Qi Sea phase? There��s no rush," the realm master smiled. "Your lifebound flying swords may only appear to be seventh-grade spirit weapons. But in your hands, their power is almostparable to fifth-grade spirit weapons."


    "Abined attack with nine fifth-grade spirit flying swords? Among Qi Sea cultivators, you��ll be practically invincible. Even those with first-degree immortal roots might not be as strong as you," the realm master said emotionally.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Why were sword cultivators called the ss with the highest attack power? A lifebound flying sword was able to match the strength of an artifact two grades higher than itself.


    While most Qi Sea cultivators wielded eighth or seventh-grade spirit weapons, even the weakest sword cultivators possessed a lifebound flying sword at the first-stage Qi Sea phase, matching the might of a seventh-grade spirit weapon. In terms of attack power, who could trump them?


    However, each ss naturally came with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Artifact cultivators were skilled at manipting a diverse range of artifacts for various situations. Alchemy cultivators could refine pills that were used for transformations, detoxification, poisoning, and mana boosts.


    Array cultivators excelled at setting up powerful arrays, while talisman cultivators could unleash unimaginable power through their talismans.


    There were countless paths, and all paths converged at the end. There was no absolute stronger or weaker ss, it all depended on the application by the user.

 Chapter 284: September 8th (2)

    <h4>Chapter 284: September 8th (2)</h4>


    "Wu Yuan, it is important to remember that your exaggerated talent as a qi refiner is solely attributed to your soul," said the realm master. "As you advance to the Spiritual Body and Shambh phases, the importance of your soul will diminish. At that point, your attacks in close-quartersbat will be as powerful as your long-range attacks."


    "Furthermore," the realm master continued, "your heavenly endowed second-degree eldritch tattoos enhance your chances of achieving a first-degree immortal root in body refining. Do not neglect your cultivation of the eldritch warrior path."


    "I understand," said Wu Yuan solemnly.


    Although Wu Yuan''s current qi refining abilities might seem impressive, it was only temporary. In contrast, eldritch warriors grew stronger as they advanced through each cultivation phase, and they were able to unleash greater force with their ether arts as they progressed.


    Among the countless worlds, thebat power of eldritch warriors rivaled that of sword cultivators.


    Wu Yuan��s goal was to cultivate both paths.


    "What are your future ns?" the realm master asked.


    "Studying sword arts," Wu Yuan smiled. "The ''Dark Earth Sword Path'' contains profound sword arts that not only unleash the full potential of my flying swords but also enhance my understanding of the profundity of the Land."


    The true value of profound sword artsy in the fact that they contained the profundities of the Dao.


    "Mm. That��s fine too. As you begin your cultivation journey, it''s crucial to learn from those who came before you. Once you gain strength, you''ll be able to develop your own unique sword arts and saber techniques," advised the realm master. "But when ites to sword arts, I suggest focusing on understanding the ''Dark Earth Sword Array'' from the ''Dark Earth Sword Path''."


    ��Dark Earth Sword Array?�� Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "It��s a type of array, just like the other coordination arrays. You would be wasting your nine lifebound flying swords if you don��t learn a sword array." The realm master shook his head.


    "In terms of harnessing heaven and earth''s power of thend, The Dark Earth Sword Array, the first array within the ''Dark Earth Sword Art,'' is one of the best.��


    "Right now, you have the first half of the cultivation teachings, which details the first six steps. Once you have a strong grasp over the initial six steps, you will be recognized as a powerhouse even with the Greenridge Macrocosm."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The realm master was not a true living being. However, he had existed for countless ages and obtained all sorts of knowledge. As a result, Wu Yuan ced great importance on his advice.


    "Will youprehend the sword arts here, or do you wish to return?" asked the realm master. "You can take those metals with you, but I won''t be giving you any other treasures until you reach the Spiritual Body phase."


    Wu Yuan smiled awkwardly. ��Realm Master, I would like to return, please send me out.��


    He was concerned that Jin Quan wouldunch a surprise attack on Cloudhill during his prolonged absence.


    ...


    Wu Yuan left the Fourth Eldritch Realm and headed straight for Cloudhill, reaching his destination in just an hour.


    After a brief chat with Fang Xia, Wu Yuan paid his family a visit. News of his uing sh with Jin Quan had spread quickly, hence his younger sister, Wu Yijun, knew he was still alive. Meanwhile, his mother remained blissfully unaware.


    In response to his family''s concerns, Wu Yuan put on a show of confidence to reassure them. After soothing his worried n, he spent the night in Cloudhill City.


    The next morning, Wu Yuan returned to Archeldritch Mountain. He gave the maidservants several instructions, then entered his meditation chamber and began cultivating in seclusion.


    <i>The core sword art of the ��Dark Earth Sword Path�� is the Dark Earth Nine Swords, followed by the Dark Earth Sword Array. </i>Numerous relevant details unraveled in his mind.


    After reading through them, he understood that the Dark Earth Sword Array was essentially the advanced version of the Dark Earth Nine Swords. To learn the Dark Earth Sword Array, one had to firstprehend the Dark Earth Nine Swords.


    <i>The Dark Earth Sword Array has three main forms. The first is known as the Nine Swords Array, which consists of nine flying swords. </i>


    <i>Next is the Hundred Swords Array, which is abination of nine Nine Swords Arrays, consisting of a total of 81 flying swords.</i>


    <i>The third form is the Thousand Swords Array. It is abination of nine Hundred Swords Arrays. This array consists of 729 flying swords.</i>


    Comparing the three forms, the Thousand Swords Array was naturally the strongest. However, Wu Yuan understood that the Hundred Swords Array and Thousand Swords Array were simply multiples of the Nine Swords Array.


    <i>The Nine Swords Array is the foundation, the core. How can a Hundred Swords Array made up of 81 ordinary flying swordspare to the power of a Nine Swords Arrayposed of nine lifebound flying swords? </i>


    When it came to controlling artifacts, it wasn��t the more the better. A single powerful artifact could surpass a million weaker ones.


    Moreover, the more artifacts one controlled, the more it strained one��s soul and consumed one��s mana. It was simr to a battle between two mortal armies, where having more soldiers didn''t guarantee victory. 10,000 seasoned cavalrymen could easily defeat a million foot soldiers.


    <i>The Dark Earth Sword Array is divided into ten steps.</i>


    As one progressed along the steps, it grew increasingly difficult to cultivate, but it also corresponded to an increase in power.


    <i>Reaching the first level of the Domain stage means having the potential to cultivate the first step of the Sword Array.</i> The difficulty was astronomical, but Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel an intense excitement.


    Was it challenging? Of course. But the challenge was what made it exciting.


    <i>There are less than twenty days left until September 8th. If I can master the first step of the sword array, it will greatly enhance my control over the nine flying swords.</i> Wu Yuanpletely immersed himself in understanding the sword art.


    ...


    Time flowed by rapidly, and September 8th arrived in an instant.


    The first light of dawn appeared on the horizon.


    "Master, we have all assembled and are waiting for you at Cloudhill," Qiong Sea King''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Got it," Wu Yuan said.


    The doors to the meditation chamber on Archeldritch Mountain swung open, releasing a streak of light that pierced through the thick veil of white mist. The figure swiftly headed for the sky above Cloudhill.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan."


    ��Daoist Wu Yuan is here.�� The dozens of Heavenly Rankers gathered above Cloudhill all turned in unison as Wu Yuan arrived.


    Wu Yuan had short hair and was dressed in white robes that fluttered in the wind. At a nce, he looked like an ordinary man. However, his piercing eyes held a sharp edge that could strike fear into the hearts of even the most powerful individuals; the Arctic King and Mountain Devil King dared not meet his gaze.


    The same thought instantly arose in all the gathered Heavenly Rankers�� minds: what a strong aura!


    "Apologies for the dy," Wu Yuan said with a gentle smile on his face.


    "Haha, there��s no need to rush. The sun has just risen," chuckled the Arctic King. "If we leave now, we��ll reach just on time."


    Wu Yuan gave a subtle nod.


    "Wu Yuan, we will form the Goldstone Penta Array and journey together to the Holy Capital with Qiong Sea King," Fang Xia said, "The rest of the Heavenly Rankers will protect Cloudhill and watch the battle from the immortal hall."


    Wu Yuan chuckled. Fang Xia''s actions revealed his underlying anxiety. He was afraid that if Wu Yuan lost and Cloudhill wasn��t well protected, many Heavenly Rankers would lose their lives.


    "No need," Wu Yuan calmly asserted.


    "Ancestor Fang Xia, leaving your clone behind will be enough," Wu Yuan said confidently. "All the other Heavenly Rankers can go witness the battle."


    "This is the final battle before the unification of the Middle Land."


    Without waiting for Fang Xia to reply, Wu Yuan propelled himself skyward and soared toward the West.

 Chapter 285: The Summit of the Holy Capital

    <h4>Chapter 285: The Summit of the Holy Capital</h4>


    The sun hung high in the sky, casting its brilliant rays down on the Holy Capital. As the imperial city of the greatest empire in the Middle Land, it was a bustling hub with a poption of millions.


    Schrs, poets, and merchants from all corners of the world flocked to its prosperous streets, where cultures and treasures congregated. Yet today, a deste silence pervaded the wide avenues, opulent mansions, and towering edifices. It was as if an invisible power had drained the life from this once-vibrant city.


    However, upon closer inspection, one would realize that the people of the Holy Capital had not vanished. Rather, they were all hiding indoors.


    The farther one ventured towards the outer reaches of the city, the more packed the streets were. Nevertheless, no one dared to speak above a whisper. Almost all of them craned their necks, looking up at a purple-robed figure seated aloft in the sky. A colossal ck serpent coiled around him.


    "It��s His Majesty."


    "It��s September 8th. Today is the day Emperor Jin will face Wu Yuan right here in the Holy Capital."


    "For the past two centuries, our imperator has dominated the world. Yet this mere kid dares to challenge his might?" Throughout the Holy Capital, crowds of nobles andmoners murmured with low voices.


    This was the stronghold of Great Jin. Here, the Jin royal familymanded immense respect and admiration. Imperator Jin Quan, in particr, held a revered status in the hearts of the people as a mysterious figure shrouded in legend.


    Above the imperial city, nearly twenty figures hovered in the air, each emanating extraordinary auras. They were all Heavenly Rankers.


    "Where is Wu Yuan? Why haven''t they arrived yet?"


    "Did he get cold feet at thest minute?"


    "It''s difficult to say. We��ve all witnessed Wu Yuan''s strength. Can we really say that he isn��t strong? He��s someone who fought head-on against several Spiritual Body devil soldiers.��


    "Spiritual Body devil soldiers? What a joke! Can they evenpare to true Golden Core cultivators?"


    "If Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and the Arctic King joined forces, the oue would be hard to say. However, Wu Yuan dares challenge the imperator alone? It��s a guaranteed defeat for him!��


    These Heavenly Rankers were mostly loose Cultivators. Most of them participated in the war against the worm devil and would simply follow whichever side was stronger. Obviously, they had more faith in Jin Quan, who had broken through to the Golden Core phase.


    Jin Ji and Zhao Xing, standing at the front of the Heavenly Rankers, exchanged nces.


    ��Don''t worry. Father will definitely kill Wu Yuan." Jin Ji reassured them.


    Zhao Xing nodded, "I have witnessed the Superior''s methods. He��s indeed powerful, even stronger than when he attacked Cloudhill previously."


    In the middle of their conversation, a cry of surprise interrupted them.


    "They''re here!" someone eximed, pointing into the distance.


    Everyone turned their gazes and witnessed dozens of light streaks crossing the sky, rapidly approaching their location.


    "They��re all here.��


    "Even Bu Yu and Huan Jian, mere first-stage Qi Sea cultivators, havee to watch."


    "How bold." The Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin whispered disdainfully, but Jin Ji and Zhao Xing exchanged a wary nce. Clearly, the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance had great confidence in Wu Yuan.


    Led by Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, the experts of the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance hovered in the sky, stopping less than a hundred li away from the Holy Capital.


    With a thunderous rumble, Fang Xia, Liu Junxing, and the other three individuals activated the array disk and gs, forming a six-legged golden mantis.


    At the same time, a colossal purple roc, spanning 100 zhangs in length, also materialized. The Septet Ignis Array wasmanded by Arctic King, leading a team of mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators. Even Qiong Sea King swelled to his full size.


    Theirbined presence filled the sky with overwhelming pressure, causing the faces of the Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin and other martial artists with excellent vision to involuntarily pale in rm.


    The Heavenly Rankers from Great Jin were evidently inferior to the Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance.


    Finally, a figure d in flowing, snow-white robes streaked across the sky and arrived above the Holy Capital. The forceful winds howled, yet failed to diminish hismanding presence.


    Upon witnessing this spectacle, the millions ofmoners and martial artists in the Holy Capital City easily deduced that the white-robed youth was none other than Wu Yuan, the unrivaled prodigy of the Middle Land continent in the past three millennia.


    Seeing Wu Yuan''s arrival, the ck serpent entwined around the figure in purple robes quickly retreated into the distance, while the figure in purple robes stood up, casting his gaze towards Wu Yuan.


    Twenty li away, Wu Yuan came to a stop in the air.


    Two peak powerhouses sized each other up for some time.


    "Wu Yuan, you have finally arrived. I hope that your strength does not disappoint," Jin Quan''s long hair danced in the wind as he appraised Wu Yuan with piercing eyes. His voice was amplified through an array, echoing to the farthest reaches of the Holy Capital.


    "Disappoint?�� Wu Yuan''s eyes grew icy cold, his voice carrying a chilling edge. "Jin Quan, I shall twist off your head and offer it to Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan." Through his Domain, Wu Yuan��s words also echoed through the air.


    Jin Quanughed mockingly. "Offer it to them? Even if they had survived the worm devil cmity, I would y them. No one can stop me from unifying the Middle Land.��


    ��Death was inevitable for them then,�� His eyes locked onto Wu Yuan. "As it is inevitable for you now. You may have some strength, but today, I will help you understand the power of a Golden Core cultivator."


    Jin Quan''s voice boomed, filled with arrogance. "The dignity of an imperator cannot be humiliated. I am the imperator of Great Jin and I shall be the imperator of the entire Middle Land."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with indifference as he dismissed Jin Quan''s ims. "Imperator? You��re merely a little brother. [1] Enough of your nonsense. Today, I shall send you on your way!"


    "After today, Great Jin will cease to exist."


    Before his words faded, earthy-yellow qi currents surged around him, spreading nearly a kilometer in radius. Simultaneously, an overwhelming aura emanated from Wu Yuan, enveloping his surroundings.


    Standing tall in mid-air, he held his battle saber, his body covered in radiant battle armor like that of a war deity. The pressure he exuded left numerous Heavenly Rankers and countless martial artists breathless, unable to look at him directly.


    Thebination of the Domain and his strong soul brought forth an unprecedented sense of oppression.


    "Hahahaha~ Impressive, Wu Yuan. Unfortunately, this is the Holy Capital, my empire." Jin Quan��s voice held a strange power, lifting the feeling of suffocation in the hearts of the mortals in the Holy Capital.


    Jin Quan waspletely unruffled by Wu Yuan��s aura. There was no fear in his eyes, which instead glimmered with an intense killing intent.


    Suddenly, a hazy green light filled the vast Holy Capital, enveloping every street and alley.


    An aura of holiness seemed to surround Jin Quan as a vivid green sword materialized before him. Alongside it, a multitude of flying swords, matching in color, also appeared.


    The sword qi crisscrossed in a mesmerizing disy. However, the all-epassing array was unable to intrude into the earthy-yellow Domain. The gathered streams of earthy-yellow qi were as solid as thend itself.


    In the next instant, a pair of majestic ck wings sprouted from Wu Yuan��s back, radiating with a divine light. Teng Snake ether art: Deity Step.


    Wu Yuan��s figure grew to an astonishing five zhangs in height before their eyes. As he raised his battle saber, his agility and power was augmented beyond measure. Ether art: Eldritch Form.


    The strands of green light from the array rippled and buckled, and the sky and earth seemed to tremble.


    A dazzling de ray cut straight toward Jin Quan with blinding speed.


    Wu Yuan closed the distance of twenty li in a single second, bringing him right in front of Jin Quan.


    ��No!"


    ��He��s too fast.��


    ��The imperator.�� The faces of the spectators contorted with worry, especially those of Jin Ji and Jin Quan.


    Fang Xia and the Arctic King, on the other hand, felt a mixture of excitement and anticipation.


    As the de ray hurtled forward, Jin Quan''s eyes shed with a cold gleam. <i>It��s fast.</i>


    Despite having received reports of Wu Yuan��s incredible speed, it was still shocking when he faced it head-on.


    Jin Quan swiftly darted out of the saber��s path as it cleaved through the air, obliterating numerous structures as itnded. His speed was faster than Wu Yuan''s, and his movements were strangely unpredictable.


    <i>He��s this fast?</i> Wu Yuan was astonished. Jin Quan had never exhibited such a movement technique in the past, and it far surpassed the abilities of a first-stage Golden Core cultivator.


    <i>Did Jin Quan hide his true power, or did he make a breakthrough? </i>Numerous conjectures flew in Wu Yuan��s mind.


    A series of flying swords streaked across the sky, descending on Wu Yuan with astonishing velocity.


    ��Scram!�� Wu Yuan''s wings vibrated as he swung his saber horizontally, blocking the volley of flying swords.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>A rapid series of collisions rang out. More than ten flying swords relentlessly struck Wu Yuan, each one radiating immense strength. However, they were greatly impeded by Wu Yuan��s Domain.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuan''s saber strikes sent every flying sword spinning off course. The scattered swords required time to recover before they could rejoin the assault. They were far from able to stop Wu Yuan''s advance.


    However, each time Wu Yuan pressed forward, Jin Quan skillfully parried each of his attacks with his flying sword or dodged them with his movement technique.


    <i>Jin Quanprehends the Wind Dao, so he is naturally swift. However, it��s unusual for a Golden Core cultivator to possess such speed. </i>Wu Yuan��s brow furrowed.


    He intended to try closing the distance and eliminating Jin Quan in closebat, but Jin Quan��s strength exceeded his expectations.


    ...


    "Wu Yuan is incredibly fast.��


    ��The imperator is also extremely powerful. Those flying swords strike quickly and urately, yet Wu Yuan wlessly blocked every one.��


    The exchanges between the twobatants were so rapid that themoners and skilled martial artists were unable to catch any details. From what they could tell, both sides were evenly matched.


    However, the Heavenly Rankers perceived a different story.


    "Wu Yuan''s defeat is certain. This is Wu Yuan''s full strength, yet he��s unable to approach his opponent," Zhao Xing stated confidently.


    Jin Ji smiled knowingly and said, "My father hasn''t even wielded his lifebound flying sword yet. Wu Yuan''s defense is impressive, but each attack from the flying swords takes a toll on his body. So far, he hasn''t been able to get within 500 meters of my father."


    "Furthermore, my father still hasn''t used his ultimate move," Jin Ji added. He knew his father��s strength better than anyone.


    ...


    ��He��s in trouble.�� Within their separate arrays, Fang Xia and the Arctic King exchanged concerned nces.


    They knew that when a body refiner fought a qi refiner, the key to victoryy in quickly unleashing a huge burst of power to overwhelm the opponent and close in for the kill.


    If the fight was prolonged? The qi refiner had the advantage of continuously replenishing their mana and could also rely on medicinal pills to restore their mana, thus avoiding significant damage to their bodies. The longer the battle dragged on, the higher the chances of the body refiner''s defeat.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan''s strength is already remarkable," the Arctic Kingmented solemnly. "However, Jin Quan is stronger, and he hasn''t even unleashed his lifebound flying sword."


    "Get ready to back him up," Fang Xia said. "Even if Wu Yuan loses, Jin Quan won��t be able to kill him that..."


    Fang Xia''s expression abruptly turned anxious. "Something��s wrong. Where did Jin Quan go?"


    ...


    Above the Holy Capital, the battle between the twobatants reached its climax.


    ��Wu Yuan, your strength is indeed exceptional. Given more time, you might even surpass me,�� Jin Quan said, looking at the massive war deity.


    "s, you are fated to die today. As a show of respect for your strength, I will kill you with my strongest move.�� Jin Quan��s booming voice echoed through the sky and earth.


    At that moment, brilliant green qi streams enveloped Jin Quan��s body, enhancing his movement technique to an unprecedented level. His control over the flying swords was also greatly enhanced, boosting both their speed and power.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> Wu Yuan''s saber technique was remarkably fast, but the relentless onught of flying swords overwhelmed him with their sheer ferocity.


    His speed slowed involuntarily, causing the distance between Jin Quan and himself to widen significantly.


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan was at an absolute disadvantage.


    <i>This is the Domain stage! Wind Domain! </i>Wu Yuan stared at Jin Quan, finally understanding the mystery behind his unconventional movement technique.


    Jin Quan wasn��t just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator. He was one that had reached the Domain stage!


    "Wu Yuan, you can die now!" The green sword that had remained suspended in front of Jin Quan finally moved.


    1. The chinese word for Imperator is ��, pronounced ��di��. The chinese word for little brother is �ܵ�, pronounced ��didi��, which refers to a certain male private part in ng ?

 Chapter 286: Light Tears Across The Sky

    <h4>Chapter 286: Light Tears Across The Sky</h4>


    Jin Quan was a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root. He wasn��t weak, but neither was he overwhelmingly strong. Hence, Wu Yuan decided to engage him in closebat with his full power as a body refiner. The fact that he was a qi refiner was a crucial trump card, one that he wasn��t willing to expose unless necessary.


    But the moment Jin Quan activated his Domain, this no longer applied. Just as Fang Xia was acknowledged as the world''s number one expert by Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan upon showcasing his mastery of the Domain stage, Jin Quan''s strength also multiplied exponentially, matching third-stage Golden Core cultivators.


    "Green Wind Sword Array!" Jin Quan unleashed his full power, his killing intent palpable. His lifebound flying sword finally moved, and the swarm of flying swords originally attacking Wu Yuan quickly changed direction to surround the lifebound flying sword.


    A sixth-grade lifebound flying sword was as strong as a fourth-grade spirit weapon. Alongside it were eight seventh-grade spirit weapons. Guided by strange intricate patterns, the green qi streams connected the nine flying swords, merging them into an ethereal green divine sword.


    As the sword array took shape, the expressions of the Heavenly Rankers watching the battle shifted.


    Jin Ji and Zhao Xing looked on eagerly, urging him on, "Kill! Kill Wu Yuan!"


    "This is bad.��


    ��A lifebound flying sword at the Domain Stage? With thebination of a sword array, even a Spiritual Body devil soldier won��t survive an attack like this.�� Fang Xia and the Arctic King''s faces turned grave.


    "Master, retreat now!" urged the Qiong Sea King, quickly transmitting a message to Wu Yuan''s spirit. The sheer power of the sword array sent a chill down his spine.


    How fast was the burst speed of a Golden Core cultivator who grasped the Wind Domain? The moment Qiong Sea King��s voice resonated within Wu Yuan''s spirit, a sword array materialized in front of Jin Quan. A rain of swords descended, piercing through the air and hurtling towards Wu Yuan.


    "Meet your death.�� Instead of fleeing from the attack, Wu Yuan did the unexpected - he charged headfirst into the deadly storm of flying swords.


    While Jin Quan assembled the sword array and the ethereal divine sword sent the volley of swords down on Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan sprinted forward, closing the distance between them to less than six li.


    Both Wu Yuan and Jin Quan were able to cross dozens of li in a second, but flying swords were even faster. With only six li between them, it was basically a closebat fight.


    The green divine sword sliced through the air.


    "Dark Earth Sword Array." Wu Yuan faced the green divine sword without a hint of fear. In the blink of an eye, earthy-yellow flying swords emerged around him.


    Nine Dark Earth flying swords! All of them were his lifebound flying swords!


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan''s incredibly robust Soul Force surged into the flying swords, and strands of earthy-yellow aura instantly merged the nine flying swords into one entity �C a massive earthy-yellow divine sword that shot across the sky.


    Enveloped within the sword''s aura, Wu Yuan radiated unfathomable sharpness and strength. It was the first step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: Sword Array Assembly.


    Under the control of Wu Yuan''s mighty soul, the Dark Earth divine sword streaked through the air like a beam of earthy yellow light, far quicker than the green divine sword.


    ��Not good.�� Jin Quan��s face paled.


    <i>Boom!</i> As the divine swords shed, the green sword was shattered, and countless ordinary flying swords were sent spinning in all directions. Cracks marred the surfaces of the seventh-grade swords.


    "Run!" Jin Quan immediately attempted to flee.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The earthy-yellow divine sword elerated once again, reaching an inconceivable velocity as it tore through the vast sky.


    In an instant, it sted right to Jin Quan��s position. That terrifying sharpness instantly prated through shield and armor, pulverizing Jin Quan''s body! His flesh and blood exploded into gory stters.


    The next instant, the earthy-yellow divine light faded as Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords returned to his body.


    From his lofty vantage point in the sky, Wu Yuan looked down at the rapidly plummeting flying swords, battle armor, and other equipment in the distance. The hazy green light that once shrouded the Holy Capital also began to fade.


    Jin Quan was dead!


    Having broken through the Golden Core phase and grasping the Domain stage, Jin Quan was brimming with pride and ambition to unify the Middle Land. However, his dreams were brutally crushed by Wu Yuan.


    "Jin Quan, from the moment you convinced Jin Ji and Zhao Xing to betray the world, you were a dead man," Wu Yuan murmured to himself. "I just didn''t expect that you would force me to use my trump card."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the onlookers. The world fell into utter silence!


    ...


    "Master, hurry..." Qiong Sea King suddenly stopped his mental plea, his eyes widening as he gazed at the streak of earthy-yellow divine light carving through the sky.


    Fang Xia and Arctic King were equally astonished as they watched the earthy-yellow divine light, which was surprisingly faster than Jin Quan''s flying sword. All they saw was Wu Yuan transforming into a fearsome divine sword, then as the divine light swept past Jin Quan��s body, the imperator was no more.


    "What?"


    ��Jin Quan is dead?��


    Was it an artifact or something different altogether? Questions swirled in their minds. Could it be Wu Yuan''s ultimate ability? The idea seemed unbelievable, given that Jin Quan was a Golden Core cultivator who could summon a Domain.


    Meng Cai, Liu Junxing, Sang Gu, along with the other Heavenly Rankers, were shaken by the spectacle.


    But one breathter, exhration swept through the Immortal Cultivators Alliance. Jin Quan''s death signaled the downfall of the Great Jin Empire!


    When Wu Yuan spoke earlier that day about the battle marking the ��final battle before the unification of the Middle Land��, the group was initially skeptical. But now?


    "Kill!" Fang Xia growled. "This is the day we obliterate Great Jin."


    The six-legged golden mantis transformed into a sh of gold, charging towards the Holy Capital with unstoppable speed.


    "Kill! Annihte them all.�� The Heavenly Rankers cried out in unison, jumping into the fray.


    Everyone understood that this battle would decide the fate of the Middle Land once and for all. This was the time to go all out.


    While Fang Xia and the Arctic King sprang into battle with high spirits, the Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin were paralyzed with fear.


    "How... how is this possible? Wu Yuan he..." Zhao Xing''s voice faltered with disbelief.


    "Father." Jin Ji��s voice was a whisper, his mind still refusing to ept his father��s death, his heart throbbing with pain. For two centuries, he had unparalleled admiration for his father, his faith in the man beyond measure. In his heart, his father Jin Quan was his world!


    But today, his world came crashing down.


    "Run, Jin Ji!" Zhao Xing''s panicked voice was cut short as he transformed into a streak of light, trying to escape the looming danger.


    Despite his efforts, a de ray sliced through the air with deadly precision, ending his life in a spray of blood.


    Zhao Xing was dead!


    Another de ray followed, cutting down ck Snake King as he tried to escape, causing him to plummet towards the ground, lifeless.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s wings quivered, and he shot forward like a bolt of lightning, instantly arriving in front of Jin Ji.


    As for the ten or so mid-stage and early-stage Qi Sea cultivators from Great Jin, Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered to deal with them. That task was left for Fang Xia and the others to handle.


    "Why aren''t you running?" Wu Yuan looked down at Jin Ji.


    "Will you let me go?" Jin Ji shook his head in resignation. "Even my father died at your hands, how can I escape?"


    "I no longer wish to flee," Jin Ji sighed.


    Wu Yuan looked at Jin Ji coldly and asked, "Do you have any final words?" Letting him go was naturally out of the question!


    "Can you spare the Jin royal family''s disciples?" Jin Ji murmured.


    "They will be dealt with ording to customs," Wu Yuan replied simply.


    "Thank you, Wu Yuan, you may proceed," Jin Ji said, a faint smile of eptance on his face.


    Following the usual customs, all martial artists from the Jin royal family would die, but at least the bloodline of non-martial artists would be spared.


    A de ray shot past, sending his head flying.


    Jin Ji was dead.


    With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan gathered up the treasures left behind. His gaze swept across the Holy Capital, its walls broken and buildings reduced to rubble from the sessive battles.


    The previously destroyed imperial city had only been halfway repaired.


    In the distance, Fang Xia and the Arctic King were in hot pursuit of the fleeing Heavenly Rankers, showing no mercy as they took them down one by one.


    These Heavenly Rankers, who had once been loose cultivators, had defected to the Great Jin. The moment they made their choice, there was no turning back.


    Wu Yuan''s Soul Force swept over the Holy Capital, picking up on the fear and anxiety of its millions of citizens.


    <i>At least, we won��t have a war that sweeps through the entire Middle Land.</i>


    ...


    From ��The Progenitor Chronicles��:<i> The Progenitor hails from Li City in the Southdream Province of the Jiang Continent. His surname is Wu and his given name is Yuan... </i>


    <i>In the year 3231 of the Eastern Martial calendar, the Progenitor led an attack on the Jin Empire, resulting in the defeat of Imperator Jin in the continental city of the Zhong Continent. Fang Xia, the Arctic King, and others spread the news across the Jin Empire��s territories, ultimately pacifying the Jin Empire.</i>


    <i>As September came to an end, thend deities elected the Progenitor as the leader of the Middle Land Alliance.</i>


    <i>By the following spring, peace had spread across thirteen continents of the Middle Land and beyond, with the Progenitor receiving great praise for his virtues. </i>


    <i>The Wu Empire was founded, with Cloudhill City as its capital, ushering in a new era of peace and stability. </i>


    <i>Despite calls to alter the calendar, the Progenitor dered: "The Martial King marked the dawn of civilization, his teachings have persisted for 3000 years and must not be discarded."</i>


    <i>Year 3232 of the Eastern Martial calendar, also known as the first year of the Immortal Wu era...</i>


    <i>Note: The Zhong Continental City is known by the people of Jin as the Holy Capital.</i>

 Chapter 287: The Ruler Of The World

    <h4>Chapter 287: The Ruler Of The World</h4>


    The years 3231 and 3232 of the Eastern Martial calendar were an unforgettable period in the history of the Middle Land. It started with the worm devil cmity, prompting Heavenly Rankers from around the world to unite as one and eliminate it in a decisive battle on the Huang Continent.


    After that, an unprecedented war broke out in the Middle Land between the Great Jin Empire and the Immortal Cultivators Alliance formed by various factions.


    The conflict reached its climax during the decisive battle at the Holy Capital, where Wu Yuan killed Jin Quan, leading to the downfall of the highest echelons of the Great Jin Empire.


    Jin Quan''s impressive strength garnered awe from powerhouses such as the Arctic King, Sang Gu, and Liu Junxing. And Wu Yuan was strong enough to defeat Jin Quan.


    Hence, there was no need for Wu Yuan to do anything. With Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King��s efforts, the Immortal Cultivators Alliance quickly transformed from a loose coalition into the most powerful force in the world.


    Following the proposals from the Arctic King and Bei Li, Wu Yuan was unanimously selected as the leader of the alliance.


    In October of the year 3231 of the Eastern Martial Calendar, the Cloudstride Sect��s forces advanced from the Jiang Continent and quickly conquered all territories within the Yuan Continent, Chu Continent, Jiang Continent, and the Holy Continent (Zhong Continent) within a month.


    By November of the same year, Wu Yuan was dered the founding emperor of the newly established Wu Empire.


    During the early months of the year 3232 of the Eastern Martial Calendar, the empire''s territory expanded under the strategic guidance of Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King.


    From the northern Bei Continent to the tens of thousands of inds in the South Ocean, the Qiong Continent in the South, and the Xi and Huang Continents in the West, to the eastern overseas Huang Continent��every corner inhabited by humans or demonic beasts alike swore allegiance to the Wu Empire.


    Following the resurgence of civilization in the Middle Land 3000 years ago due to the Martial King, a new ruler emerged �C Wu Yuan.


    The Wu Empire was also the first nation to unite the Middle Land after 3000 years, in the truest sense of the word.


    Numerous other factions such as the Sta Consortium, Wu Sect, Pleiades Guild, and Ninedeaths Circle continued to exist, but their influence quickly waned.


    The year 3232 of the Eastern Martial Calendar marked the beginning of the Immortal Wu era. The Middle Land Immortal Cultivators Alliance was also rebranded as the Middle Land Guard, and it waspulsory for all Grandmasters and Heavenly Rankers to join their ranks.


    Concurrently, the Teng Snake Guard, a group of guards solely loyal to Wu Yuan, was quietly established. Led by Fang Xia, these guards were tasked with identifying and training exceptional young martial talents across the continent and ensuring their unwavering loyalty to their ruler.


    ...


    In Southdream Province''s Li City, the county martial academy stood. A group of newly enrolled youths, eager and full of energy, followed a ck-robed middle-aged man as he led them into the restricted area of the academy. The boys looked around curiously, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.


    "Don''t touch anything," the ck-robed man scolded, his voice stern. "Though it may seem unimpressive to you, eight years ago, His Majesty himself trained on these grounds. He was the most diligent disciple during his time here."


    ��Back then, His Majesty walked the same paths you are standing on now. Upon leaving the Li County Martial Academy, he ascended Cloudhill, bing the foremost genius of the Cloudstride Sect and the Middle Land," the man continued proudly. "Eventually, he climbed to the pinnacle of the Middle Land, establishing the Wu Empire. What does this tell you?"


    His voice rang out, powerful and inspiring, as he dered, "Your external environment is not the determining factor. With dedication and hard work, you too can reach the heights of Land Rankers, even Heavenly Rankers."


    The youths listened, their hearts swelling at the prospect of their own potential greatness. The group of boys, all in their early teens, had grown up on tales of Wu Yuan��s deeds.


    Wu Yuan''s name had be synonymous with the pinnacle of strength in the Middle Land. Even the renowned Martial King, considered the progenitor of human civilization, faded inparison to the awe and yearning evoked by Wu Yuan''s name in the hearts of these boys.


    As they left the building, they saw a young woman in a martial artist��s attire, exuding both beauty and strength.


    "Headmaster," the ck-robed middle-aged man greeted in a respectful tone.


    ��Headmaster.��


    ��She��s the headmaster?��


    ��Rumors say she was His Majesty''s very first mentor," The boys discussed in hushed voices, eyes shining with awe.


    ...


    In the busy Wu Mansion of Li City, guests arrived one after another, creating a lively atmosphere. [1]


    Inside a quiet pavilion in the courtyard, two acquaintances chatted.


    "It''s tough to find a moment of peace these days," a muscr young man said with a smile. ��Sorry to keep you waiting, Luo He.��


    Standing next to him was a refined young man who observed the bustling scene with amusement. "The Luo Mansion is always filled with all sorts of people trying to get my attention, some even lining up outside," Luo He shared with a chuckle.


    ��Even some prominent ns from the Nan Continent have dispatched emissaries bearing gifts. Who knows where they heard the news from.��


    "I came here today to escape the madness," Luo He said with a faint smile.


    The muscr young manughed heartily and gestured toward the abundant wine. ��We have more than enough drinks. Come, sit.��


    The two brothers sat down, the burly young man pouring wine for Luo He as they chatted. "Your father''s decision is final, right?"


    "The Luo n has selected me as the next chieftain during the elders assembly," Luo He answered with a shake of his head. "But I''ve decided to postpone it for a year, I want one more year of peace before taking on that responsibility."


    "You have be someone extraordinary," the muscled youth said proudly as he nodded.


    "Aren��t you the same, Wu Sheng?" Luo He gave him a side nce. ��Your father��s new position should be confirmed by now.��


    "Yes, he has been appointed as the county magistrate," Wu Sheng confirmed.


    These two were Wu Yuan''s childhood friends who continued their cultivation at the Southdream Martial Academy after he departed to Cloudhill.


    "We used to mock the idea of one person''s sess benefiting all, Luo He shook his head. ��But look at us now."


    Wu Sheng chuckled.


    "It''s been so long since west saw Wu Yuan," Luo He said quietly, "I can''t help but remember our days at the martial academy."


    "Be careful with your words, he is now His Majesty," Wu Sheng urgently whispered.


    "Indeed, His Majesty," Luo He chuckled, shaking his head, "I always knew that His Majesty would aplish great things, but I never could have imagined it would be to this extent."


    "It��s like a dream," Wu Sheng murmured under his breath.


    "Yes, it��s just like a dream." Luo He agreed with a solemn nod, then exhaled while shaking his head, "Yet, the world only sees us as His Majesty''s friends. Who knows if His Majesty still remembers us?"


    As they chatted, the housekeeper suddenly rushed in. "Young Master, quick, go to the front yard to receive an imperial edict."


    ��What imperial edict?�� Wu Sheng was taken aback.


    The housekeeper hastily rified, "It''s an edict from His Majesty. Young Master Luo, you need to hurry home too. The Luo family has also received one."


    By now, the two brothers understood the situation and stood up together.


    ...


    The Cloudhill provincial city was officially renamed the Cloud Capital, set to be the capital of the entire Wu Empire and the heart of the Middle Land.


    The Cloud Capital began to enact an unprecedented expansion project, with ns to cover hundreds of li and cross the Cloud River. It would also house eight million people, making it thergest city in the world, surpassing the Zhong Continental City. However, achieving this grand goal would take time.


    In the eastern part of the city, the Wu Mansion had grown considerably, resembling a miniature imperial city with interconnected buildings. [2]


    In one of the courtyards, a tall young man in purple robes turned to his uncle and asked, "What title do you think His Majesty will bestow you? After all, you are the chieftain of the main Wu n."


    Wu Mao, wearing a ck robe, stoically replied, "In the Wu Empire, there are no main or branch ns. There is only the royal family, led by Wu Qiming. I am just an elder."


    "Yes, you are an elder," the young man in the purple robe acknowledged.


    ��The immortal hall has conferred Wu Yijun the title of Crown Princess or Southdream Princess, with the Southdream Province as her territory,�� Wu Mao said softly.


    ��Additionally, the chieftain is granted the title of East Jiang Prince, serving as the head of the royal family.


    ��As for myself, I believe I��ll be granted the title of marquis,�� Wu Mao said lightly.


    ��Marquis?" The young man was surprised, "Given that Wu Qiming is conferred the title of Prince of the Blood, I thought you would be conferred the title of Prince of a Commandery at the very least." [3]


    "Wu Qiming is an exception," Wu Mao said calmly. "His Majesty has decreed that royal descendants must be Heavenly Rankers to be conferred the title of prince and Grandmasters to be conferred the title of marquis. The corresponding rewards will not becking."


    "The glory and benefits we''ve reaped are astounding, but in His Majesty''s heart, there''s a world of difference between us and Wu Qiming��s group."


    "Issue my orders: curb any arrogance, and do not overstep your bounds. Also, suppress any discontent in your hearts."


    Wu Mao shot a nce at the young man in purple robes. "We did not help His Majesty one bit during his journey to unify the world.��


    ��Even without the Wu n, His Majesty is still an awe-inspiring emperor. But, without His Majesty, my Wu n is worthless."


    "Fortunately," Wu Mao mused, "His Majesty didn''t hinder the royal family from rising up the ranks. Now, we need to utilize our resources, practice diligently, and produce more Grandmasters and Heavenly Rankers."


    ...


    In the skies above Cloudhill, two figures strode through the air.


    "Master, I have carried out your orders," Fang Xia said with a smile. "The empire''s authority has been firmly established throughout the continents of the Middle Land in recent months,ying the groundwork for your rule."


    "Our next task is to subtly expand our influence, convincing the people of the Middle Land to swear their loyalty to the Wu Empire and ce their trust in His Majesty," Fang Xia said seriously. "This will require some time."


    "Old Fang, leading the Immortal Cultivators Alliance is already a significant role. Why do you feel the need to go as far as founding a nation?" Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Some Heavenly Rankers sought to establish sects or crown themselves emperors. However, Wu Yuan did not share these ambitions.


    "Your Majesty, how can we earn the world''s allegiance without forming a nation?" Fang Xia sighed, shaking his head. "Without a banner for the people to rally under, how can we rival the patriotism of the original major sects? We can also forget about gathering Faith Incense. In fact,plete unification of the Middle Land is the best course of action, lessening strife and protecting themon people from the ravages of war."


    "Of course, you need not concern yourself with these matters, Young Master. Bu Yu and I will handle everything,�� Fang Xia chuckled and reassured Wu Yuan. ��Once the system is established, everything will run smoothly on its own. You only need to focus on your cultivation as always. The stronger you be, the safer the Middle Land will be.��


    ��Even if powerful warriors from other regions of the Summerpeak World manage to cross the Spiritless Region and reach us, we have nothing to fear."


    ��Mm,�� Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    ...


    After discussing the current state of Cloudhill City and other recent events with Fang Xia, Wu Yuan returned to Archeldritch Mountain.


    Over the past year, while the lives of the numerous inhabitants of the Middle Land experienced significant changes, Wu Yuan''s life remained rtively unchanged.


    Following the battle at the Holy Capital, he paid tribute to Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others. He also erected monuments tomemorate them annually.


    Wu Yuan made only one appearance at the Middle Land Immortal Hall, where he was practically worshiped by numerous Heavenly Rankers, solidifying his position as the number one powerhouse in the Middle Land.


    Wu Yuan did not intend to unify the Middle Land. But after his show of strength, along with the Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King adamantly pushing for it, one thing naturally led to another. Nheless, these developments barely affected Wu Yuan, and he left all these misceneous affairs to others.


    Wu Yuan spent time with his family asionally, but he mainly focused on cultivation as well as breaking the seal on a particr token.


    In Wu Yuan��s cultivation chamber, he observed the Amethyst Cradle token in his hand. <i>After ten months of hard work, I am finally going to unlock the secrets of this treasure realm token from Jin Quan.</i>


    Wu Yuan killed many Heavenly Rankers during the battle at the Holy Capital, including Jin Quan. Naturally, their treasures were now his.


    As Wu Yuan inspected the treasures he had acquired, he found numerous flying sword artifacts and spirit battle armor, natural treasures, rare cultivation manuals, and ancient literature. However, it was the token in Wu Yuan''s hand that held the most value. Its aura imprint was so deeply etched that even Wu Yuan spent nearly a year erasing it despite his strong soul.


    A sudden hum filled the air, and the purple token flickered with light.


    1. Wu Sheng��s residence, not Wu Yuan��s ?


    2. Wu Yuan��s family residence ?


    3. See <u>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_and_noble_ranks_of_the_Qing_dynasty</u> ?

 Chapter 288: Entering The Treasure Realm

    <h4>Chapter 288: Entering The Treasure Realm</h4>


    The purple token flickered briefly before the light faded, a wisp of aura now lingering in the air.


    <i>It has reverted to an ownerless object?</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    Such tokens could revert back to being ownerless if their owners chose to relinquish their ownership, or if their owner''s aura imprint faded with the passage of time. Or, if someone forcefully erased the aura imprint, as Wu Yuan did.


    <i>It took me ten months to seed. If it were Jin Quan, it would have taken him centuries. This item must have already been ownerless when he first acquired it.</i> Wu Yuan felt a hint of pride creeping into his heart.


    This was the power of luck.


    Wu Yuan discovered numerous treasures within Jin Quan��s storage artifacts, including numerous high-grade etherstone rarely found in the Middle Land and powerful artifacts such as the sixth-grade spirit battle armor Jin Quan typically wore. Wu Yuan passed on some of these artifacts to Fang Xia.


    He also found fourplete sword arrays and 36 spirit flying swords, with some at the seventh-grade and others at the sixth-grade. There were also many broken pieces of spirit equipment of various grades, as well as Daoist scriptures, ancient books, and cultivation teachings, the most impressive of which was the ��Dark Moon Sword Manual��.


    All of this confirmed Daoist Wan Xing''s words �C Jin Quan must have had an extraordinary fortuitous encounter.


    Furthermore, after the battle at the Holy Capital, Wu Yuan came across the Jin royal family��s forbidden zone near the city. There, he had found the mountain and the relic deep inside it. However, he was unable to enter the relic and had to give up and return.


    <i>im ownership.</i> Wu Yuan willed his Soul Force to imprint his vital aura within the purple token. After which, he began to perceive the information within the token.


    An instantter, a torrent of information rushed into his mind like a broken dam. "My name is Reverend Qing Yan. A great disaster will soon befall the Summerpeak World, I leave..."


    Wu Yuan realized that this must be a message left by the token''s original owner. Hence, Wu Yuan didn��t resist, absorbing all the information within the token in just a few breaths. Finally, he understood the entire story.


    <i>So, this is an inheritance of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend?</i> Wu Yuan was astonished. When he first examined Jin Quan��s treasures, he suspected that this wasn��t the inheritance of a Golden Core Superior.


    The information within the token revealed that many years ago, an Amethyst Cradle Reverend named Qing Yan, who was a sword cultivator, foresaw a great disaster sweeping across the entire Summerpeak World. Before the disaster struck, he hastily left behind an inheritance for anyone destined to find it.


    It seemed that this Amethyst Cradle Reverend never returned, likely perishing in the terrifying disaster.


    <i>Was it the great war 100,000 years ago? </i>Wu Yuan thought of the war mentioned by the realm master, a war that devastated the Greenridge Macrocosm, leading to the destruction of the powerful Hou Feng Tribe and wiping out all civilization in the Summerpeak World.


    <i>Let''s go take a look.</i> Wu Yuan made his decision.


    Given that Reverend Qing Yan was in a hurry to leave an inheritance, it was likely that he left little behind in the way of material possessions. The bulk of his inheritance was most likely Daoist scriptures, which could be inferred from the relics found in Jin Quan��s storage artifacts. Nheless, Wu Yuan had to make a trip to the relic to find out.


    ...


    Once the thought struck him, Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate. He transmitted a message to Fang Xia and set off from Archeldritch Mountain immediately, not informing anyone else of his ns.


    In a few shes, Wu Yuan swiftly ascended into the sky, breaking through the dense clouds and soaring to an altitude of tens of thousands of meters. Below himy a nket of thick clouds, while above, the sky gleamed with brilliant light.


    <i>Going any higher will bring me too close to the Heavenly Lightning Stratum. </i>Wu Yuan looked upward.


    Wu Yuan knew he had two options if he wanted to leave the world of the Middle Land. The first was to use a teleportation array. The second was to cross the Heavenly Lightning Stratum then Gravitational Stratum with his own strength. But Wu Yuan knew he wasn��t strong enough to leave the Summerpeak World on his own.


    "Little ck!" he called.


    Instantly, a ck flying snake emerged from his arm. It grew rapidly, growing into a colossal forty-zhang-long creature. Compared to its size a year ago, it had grown once more.


    "Master," Little ck chirped excitedly, curling up and lifting Wu Yuan onto its head affectionately.


    "We��re heading to the Zhong Continental City," Wu Yuan instructed with a smile. He knew Little ck loveding to the world outside, so he let it out wherever he got the chance to.


    Little ck hummed in acknowledgment, spreading its wings and taking off like an arrow. Despite their speed, invisible ripples seemed to form a barrier around them, blocking the wind.


    <i>Little ck��s speed has increased since reaching the sixth-stage Communion phase.</i> Wu Yuan noted.


    After a year of cultivation, Wu Yuan had progressed from the fifth to sixth-stage Communion phase. As his lifebound eldritch beast, Little ck had also made a breakthrough.


    ...


    After reaching the sixth-stage Communion phase, the Teng Snake was even faster than before. At its normal speed, it could travel 100 li in a single breath, and with Deity Step, it could move even faster.


    The trip from Cloudhill to Zhong Continental City spanned 20,000 li. Less than half an hourter, Little ck��s voice resounded in Wu Yuan��s mind. "Master, we''re almost here."


    The flying snake then broke through the cloudyer and descended towards the Holy Capital, now known as the Zhong Continental City.


    <i>Compared to how it used to be a year ago, it��s far quieter now. </i>From his vantage point above, Wu Yuan peered down at the city. He could make out tiny buildings, streets, and people below. His current eyesight even allowed him to see ants scurrying on the ground.


    The imperial city of Great Jin, once lively and prosperous, now stood deste after Wu Yuan''s battle with Jin Quan a year ago. A year ago, reparation efforts had begun during the battle, yet no progress was made since the battle ended. Weeds covered the area, and buildings and alleys still showed signs of the devastating battle.


    Countless civilians drifted through the city streets, their eyes hollow and movements automatic, as though numb to their plight. It was a stark contrast to Cloudhill City''s vibrant energy.


    The saying ��their rise is brisk, their fall is sudden��, echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, filling him with a sense of mncholy.


    During Great Jin��s days of glory, the Holy Capital stood as the number one city in the world.


    ��Now that the Wu Empire is established and I��m the ruler of the Middle Land, Cloudhill City will soon be the next number one city in the Middle Land," Wu Yuan muttered to himself. "But how long can itst?"


    The more Wu Yuan observed and experienced, the more profound his emotions grew.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Little ck soared through the sky with Wu Yuan on his back. The world below, filled with civilians and martial artists, remained oblivious to their presence. Soon, theynded on a mountain to the west of the Zhong Continental City.


    The peak was shrouded in mist and guarded by soldiers, a forbidden area of the Great Jin that remained off-limits even after the fall of the empire. This wasn��t to protect whaty within but to ensure no one ventured inside for their own safety.


    <i>Open.</i> With a thought, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force spread out. The white mist automatically parted, allowing Little ck to fly straight in.


    The number of giant snakes in the area appeared to have dwindled significantly.


    Following a familiar route, Wu Yuan swiftly reached the end of the cave,ing to the entrance of a rather spectacr temple. The hall was simply constructed, but the material of the floor and walls alone was a testament to its extraordinary nature.


    After killing Jin Quan, Wu Yuan had ended up at this temple during his subsequent exploration. Back then, he was unable to make further progress. After ten months, he finally returned.


    <i>The entrance is over there.</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Force spread out in a 50-li radius. Everything within this circr area was within his perception. This mountain was actually hiding a massive metallic hall.


    The hall extended more than four li at its longest, and over two li at its shortest, with a height exceeding 300 meters. It was also incredibly robust! At least, Wu Yuan''s first attempt to forcefully break in a year ago had been unsessful.


    Back then, he had only been able to confirm the location of the entrance through his Soul Force. As for the interior of the temple? It was like a massive ck hole in his Soul Force, impossible to perceive.


    Before long, Wu Yuan arrived at the entrance. The door waspletely concealed and looked no different from the surrounding walls.


    <i>Go.</i> With a wave of his hand, a purple token flew out andnded on the door. In an instant, countless cryptic patterns emerged on the door��s surface. These patterns seemed chaotic, yet subtly formed a whole.


    <i>Wind? The profundity of Wind?</i> Although Wu Yuan did notprehend the profundity of Wind, all Daos were interconnected, so Wu Yuan could vaguely sense it.


    With a thunderous rumble, the countless cryptic lines converged, and with a dull thud, the wall split open to reveal a metallic passage, which emitted a strange green glow from its walls.


    The token flew back and hovered beside Wu Yuan.


    <i>A passage? </i>Wu Yuan scanned the passage with his Soul Force, perceiving the interior. It was very quiet, and the light was dim.


    <i>Too bad I don''t have a puppet. </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly. Puppets weremonly used treasures among immortal cultivators.


    Apart from their usage in battle, they were also very useful during exploration, treasure hunting, and many other exploits. The devil soldiers under the control of the worm devil bore many simrities to puppets.


    "Little ck, go." With a thought, Little ck, who had been coiled around his arm, shot straight into the metallic passage, transforming its body into a thinner and longer form.


    "Master, there''s no danger. It''s a veryrge hall, with several passages. I don''t know where they lead." Soon, Little ck''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s spirit.


    Just as Wu Yuan was about to enter, Little ck suddenly let out a cry of surprise. "Master, Master, there��s a legendary Star Embryonic Body!"


    "Star Embryonic Body?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Master, with it, you can now cultivate two true selves." Little ck was beyond ecstatic.

 Chapter 289: True Self, Mana Body, Ether Body

    <h4>Chapter 289: True Self, Mana Body, Ether Body</h4>


    ��Star Embryonic Body?�� Wu Yuan was startled. ��Cultivate two true selves?��


    Creating a new true self was no easy feat. Those who chose the path of eldritch universal cultivation had to learn the Soul Split Secret Art and cultivate two true selves in order to reach the pinnacle of both body refining and qi refining cultivation. Failing to do so would mean sacrificing one for the other.


    However, a new true self wasparable to a second life, one could only imagine the difficulty of creating one.


    "Little ck, is it true?" Wu Yuan asked via spiritual transmission.


    Things were now differentpared to a year ago when Little ck was just born. Despite the wealth of inherited memories it possessed, there was simply not enough time for it to fully absorb andprehend them all back then.


    Over the past year, Wu Yuan''s power had surged to new heights. As Little ck''s mana and physical strength grew, so too did its wisdom and insight. It could now offer Wu Yuan guidance in various areas.


    "It��s true," Little ck affirmed. "Master, this ce aligns perfectly with the description of the Star Embryonic Body in my memories."


    Little ck continued. "Master, there is no danger within this hall. It��s safe for you to enter and explore."


    Wu Yuan had conducted a preliminary scan with his Soul Force and imed ownership over the entrance token. Along with Little ck scouting the path ahead, Wu Yuan now felt confident enough to enter the passageway.


    In a sh, he glided across the hundred-meter-long metallic passage.


    Before himy a vast, empty hall, constructed of silver-white metal tinged with hues of green. It spanned several hundred meters in length and over ten meters in height.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze settled on a massive crystal tform at the center of the hall. Radiant chains of light extended from the tform into the air, as though they were seamlessly connected with the surrounding space. It gave Wu Yuan a somewhat eerie feeling.


    At that moment, Little ck began to shrink in size. It circled the crystal tform, eyeing the interior.


    <i>Three passageways?</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes swept across the hall, noting three identical metallic corridors leading in various directions. The destination of each passage remained a mystery to him.


    "Master,e quickly!" Little ck''s urgent call rang out, its gaze not leaving the crystal tform.


    With a swift stride, Wu Yuan joined Little ck at the circr tform, which had a diameter exceeding ten meters and a depth of more than three meters. The surface of the tform was transparent, and constructed of some unknown material.


    Peering in, Wu Yuan��s eyes were immediately drawn to the mysterious liquid within. The tform held arge quantity of liquid that seemed to sparkle like starlight. The liquid bore a resemnce to the Starlight Liquid Wu Yuan consumed during his days as a martial artist, but it was even more pure and crystalline in nature.


    Yet, it was not the liquid that captivated him the most. It was the massive elliptical egg, suspended in the center of the tform.


    The egg, measuring over two meters in diameter, had a pristine white shell, adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in harmony with the surrounding liquid. It exuded a powerful vital aura, as if some powerful life form was being nurtured within it.


    "Master, look, this liquid is Star Embryonic Liquid which nurtures the Star Embryonic Body," Little ck eximed eagerly. "How did that Jin Quan or whatever have such a treasure in his possession?"


    "This is a precious treasure for creating a qi refiner true self. And now, it��s all yours, Master," Little ck fidgeted with excitement.


    "The original owner of this relic must have been someone extraordinary," Little ck remarked.


    "Little ck," Wu Yuan said in a hushed tone, "I am familiar with the method for creating a qi refiner true self, but what are the Star Embryonic Liquid and Star Embryonic Body? I have never heard of them before."


    The eight immortal slips Wu Yuan received from the realm master contained a wealth ofmon knowledge about cultivation. But as a mere spirit left behind by the Hou Feng Tribe, the realm master''s knowledge was limited.


    "Master, your initial n was to cultivate to the Amethyst Cradle phase. Then, when your soul reached the Yuan Soul level, you would employ the ��Soul Split Secret Art�� in order to refine two true selves. Am I right?" Little ck inquired.


    "That is correct," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Over the course of a year, Wu Yuan and Little ck chatted frequently. As his lifebound eldritch beast, Little ck waspletely loyal and knew many of Wu Yuan''s secrets, including his ns for cultivation.


    The essence of eldritch universal cultivationy in the concept of cultivating both paths of qi refining and body refining. Though these paths were inherently contradictory, they could coexist in the early stages.


    However, upon reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase, significant discrepancies would arise. To advance from the Amethyst Cradle phase, a Reverend had to shed their physical form. To advance from the Shambh phase, the soul chamber and upper dantian lobe had to unite as one to create a perfect physical form.


    The two paths were naturally conflicting!


    Thus, as cultivators of both paths progressed, those with insufficient talent would eventually make the decision to abandon one path entirely.


    This gave rise to the Soul Split Secret Art.


    The secret art was performed at the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase, in which the soul was split into two, separating the qi sea from the physical body, and a new qi refiner true self was created. Apart from their soul, these two true selves were kept separate, allowing each self to progress independently.


    But how difficult was that? Among tens of thousands of Shambh cultivators, it was rare to find a single cultivator who sessfully created a qi refiner true self.


    To cultivate the Soul Split Secret Art, one''s soul had to reach the level of Yuan Soul to withstand the strain of splitting one��s soul.


    When the Yang Soul reached a powerful enough point, one would naturally develop Soul Will. When Soul Will was condensed to the point of forming a void space or grotto-heaven, it would then be a Yuan Soul.


    Reaching the Yuan Soul level in the Amethyst Cradle phase was as difficult as ascending to the heavens! Only Wu Yuan, who had the support of the ck pagoda to fortify his soul at an unnatural pace, was able to reach the Yang Soul level before the Spiritual Body phase and had a chance of sess.


    After all, under normal circumstances, it would take him hundreds of years to reach the ninth-stage Shambh phase.


    "Master, a few hundred years is far too long. Firstly, there is no guarantee of reaching the Yuan Soul level by then, and secondly, cultivating both qi refining and body refining paths will only impede your progress in the long run," Little ck remarked.


    Wu Yuan understood this as well.


    For a dual body and qi refiner, if both the soul and the body shared one true self, the soul''s development would result in repercussions for the body, while the body''s refinement of spiritual qi would result in repercussions for the soul.


    It was simr to how vital ether circting through the body when one activated a secret art would disrupt the operation of essentia.


    There was ack of effective separation.


    The various drawbacks,bined with the risk of eventual failure, were why few cultivators dared to pursue both paths. This was also the reason why the realm master advised Wu Yuan against such a choice.


    "Splitting one��s soul is difficult and will cause numerous uncertainties in one��s future," Little ck exined. "Some great beings will gather spiritual body vessels, allowing their descendants and disciples to begin creating their qi refiner true selves at an early age. This Star Embryonic Body, although not the best spiritless body vessel, is still a rare find."


    "How does it stack up against the Amethyst Heavenly Body?" Wu Yuan asked.


    He already knew most of what Little ck had said. Among the spiritless body vessels, he knew that the Amethyst Heavenly Body was the strongest.


    "It cannotpare," Little ck replied solemnly, shaking its head. "An Amethyst Heavenly Body, even when used by a Shambh cultivator, can perfectly contain their Amethyst Cradle mana. It is the pinnacle of spiritual body vessels, a treasure even an Archeldritch would covet."


    Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Indeed, it was a treasure that even an Archeldritch would cherish. How many would be willing to waste it on a Shambh cultivator?


    "While the Star Embryonic Body may not be as exceptional, it will not impede your progress, Master," Little ck reassured him. "It has more lenient requirements for the soul, making it a suitable choice for your current level of qi refining cultivation. Otherwise, once you reach the Amethyst Cradle stage, you may find yourself unable to use it anymore."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. There were both advantages and disadvantages.


    Creating a qi refiner true self early on was like having an extra life, a significant advantage.


    A true self was distinct from a mana body or ether body. When one reached profound heights on the path of cultivation, qi refiners would create a mana body while body refiners would create an ether body.


    Both mana and ether bodies were formidable assets. Even if they were to die in battle, they could be recreated. However, they could never rece the true self. If the true self perished, so too would the mana body and ether body.


    By cultivating two true selves, as long as one remained alive, an individual was still able to continue living.


    On the road of cultivation, longevity was the ultimate prize. And for Wu Yuan, acquiring the Star Embryonic Body in the Middle Land was already his great fortune.


    "Is my current soul level sufficient to begin creating a new true self?" Wu Yuan asked.


    The earlier the qi refiner true self was created, the lower the requirements for the soul.


    "It��s sufficient. From my inherited memories, if you perfect Soul Perception at the Communion phase, sess is within reach," Little ck assured him. "As for reaching the Yang Soul level? 100% sess rate."


    Wu Yuan nodded. He trusted Little ck''s words.


    "However, I sense that the Star Embryonic Body has yet to reach maturity," Little ck remarked. "Perhaps it would be wise for Master to leave a strand of consciousness within the embryonic body."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    As time flowed by, Wu Yuan focused on contemting the purpose of the circr tform.


    After a long time, he finally gained some understanding. The surface shimmered with chains that resembled streams of light, yet they were, in truth, aplex array intertwined with the grand hall.


    With a sharp exhale, Wu Yuan''s mind trembled slightly as a thread of his consciousness extended outward, piercing through the tform and merging with the colossal white egg.


    Aforting warmth enveloped the strand of consciousness, allowing it to recover swiftly. However, this was just the first step. To truly fuse with the egg, half of his soul would need to be infused into it.


    After that, Wu Yuan scoured the hall for any hidden treasures. Unfortunately, they had already long been plundered by Jin Quan.


    <i>Three more passageways?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the remaining paths, detecting a mysterious force obstructing them.


    "Let��s go!" After selecting a passageway to explore, Little ck scouted the path as Wu Yuan followed closely behind. They moved cautiously and did not face any obstructions.


    After traveling nearly a kilometer, Wu Yuan and Little ck entered a small chamber. It had a diameter of a few dozen meters and was devoid of furnishings.


    <i>What is this ce? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, studying the cryptic patterns on the walls, which were not found on the walls of the outer grand hall.


    The entire relic was an unbroken whole, akin to an artifact. However, Wu Yuan didn��t see a control center.


    Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air as a powerful surge of soul energy converged from all directions, targeting Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    <i>A soul attack? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed.


    <i>Boom! </i>His Soul Force surged outward, preemptively defending against the assault.


    The enemy��s soul power was effortlessly repelled by Wu Yuan''s soul, and he thwarted the attack with ease. Compared to the worm devil, this attack was barely worth mentioning.


    "You managed to block it?" A shocked youthful voice echoed through the hall. "Who are you? Could it be that you slew Jin Quan and imed the token?"

 Chapter 290: He Is Lying

    <h4>Chapter 290: He Is Lying</h4>


    The moment the voice echoed through the chamber,yers of eldritch armor akin to fish scales enveloped Wu Yuan, leaving only a narrow slit for his eyes.


    This hall had a unique characteristic of restricting one��s Soul Force, hence sight was important.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Little ck shrank rapidly and fused with Wu Yuan, its ck wings sprouting from his back.


    "Who are you?" Wu Yuan''s voice echoed deeply, his senses heightened with caution.


    This long-sealed mysterious hall, possibly buried in the aftermath of a war 100,000 years prior, still harbored life? And it called out Jin Quan''s name? What was their connection to him?


    Wu Yuan��s Soul Force swept through the hall, yet it revealed nothing.


    <i>Ding~</i> Suddenly, the walls glowed, projecting beams of light that coalesced into the image of a child. He was 1.3 meters tall, d in green robes with red hair and a single horn on his head.


    "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yinxuan, the hall spirit of Yanqing Hall," the child spoke with a grin. "I wee your presence here."


    Yanqing Hall, hall spirit, Yinxuan... Wu Yuan quickly pieced together the clues from the child��s words. This hall was no ordinary construction; it was a powerful artifact, possibly rated third-grade spirit equipment. Only third-grade spirit equipment and above were able to produce an intelligent spirit.


    "You are only at the Qi Sea phase. Even with the help of your spirit beast, breaking in forcibly is impossible." The red-haired child murmured. "Furthermore, I sense the token''s aura."


    "The token acknowledges you as its master, so I believe you��ve already read the information Master left in the token and understand the chain of events," Yinxuan stated, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "Ask your questions, and I shall answer in turn."


    Wu Yuan examined the child warily before slowly asking, "Is Reverend Qing Yan your master?"


    "Yes, I am one of Master��s treasures. However, I serve little purpose in battle, thus when master went forth to handle the Summerpeak World''s cmity, he left me behind." The red-haired horned child exined. "This ce stands as the master''s inheritance site, and you are the second cultivator to arrive at Yanqing Hall in 100,000 years."


    "Was the first Jin Quan?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Yes, he arrived here long ago and has grown into a sword cultivator over the years. He passed several of Master''s trials and obtained numerous treasures and Daoist scriptures." The red-haired horned child recounted. "That��s why the ces you''ve explored are all empty."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly. It was as he had surmised.


    "What may I gain from this ce?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Gain?" The red-haired horned child shook his head. "You won��t be gaining anything. Master departed in haste, without leaving behind any borate inheritance n."


    "Currently, only the Star Embryonic Array remains in the Yanqing Hall. However, the array is one with me, thus you may not take it with you." The red-haired horned child stated. "No treasures remain in the Yanqing Hall."


    No treasures? Wu Yuan frowned slightly. "Senior Yinxuan, what about the Star Embryonic Body nurtured within the Star Embryonic Array? Must I forego that as well?"


    Without the Star Embryonic Body, he couldn''t create his qi refiner true self. Hence, securing the Star Embryonic Body was of utmost importance.


    "You recognize it?" the child��s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, heughed, "Your breadth of knowledge is truly impressive."


    "Senior has overpraised me," replied Wu Yuan, his tone neither proud nor humble.


    "You may take the Star Embryonic Body, but it won''t reach maturity for another century. Taking it with you now will only damage it," warned the child. "Come back a hundred yearster."


    "A hundred years?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow. So long? He couldn��t afford to wait.


    "Master," Little ck''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, ��He��s lying. There was no shortage of the Star Embryonic Liquid, the Star Embryonic Body will be ready in just three more years at most."


    "Mm,�� Wu Yuan replied via spiritual transmission as well. ��Little ck, don��t make any sound for now."


    Naturally, Wu Yuan trusted Little ck over the child.


    ��Do I really have to wait 100 years?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Yes," confirmed the child. "I am just a spirit of an artifact. Why would I deceive you? Plus, I am bound here and cannot escape."


    "Is that so?" Wu Yuan asked with a smirk.


    Unable to escape? Wu Yuan did not underestimate his opponent''s abilities.


    "Since you, an artifact spirit, still exists, I''m guessing the entire hall artifact is still functioning well," Wu Yuan said. "Can you point me to the control center?"


    iming ownership of smaller artifacts was easy, butrger ones hadplex internal structures that made iming ownership much harder unless one had reached a high cultivation level.


    Wu Yuan didn''t care about the potential treasures hidden in the hall. He believed that the hall itself was a priceless treasure.


    The child quickly stated, ''My master has concealed my control center. You will not be able to locate it.''"


    "I am a second-grade spirit," he continued, "Your power is insufficient. Even if you want the hall to acknowledge you as its owner, it will be futile. Return in a century when your strength has grown. Perhaps you��ll be able to obtain the Star Embryonic Body and attempt to control the Yanqing Hall then."


    "If you wish to stay a bit longer, go ahead. Just don''t disturb me, I��m going to sleep," the boy stated with a sleepy tone.


    "I will consider it," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Suddenly, the red-haired unicorn boy''s expression twisted in anger. ��Bastard! You found it? I offered you a chance to leave, yet you try to refine me? Fine, face the consequences!��


    With a crackling noise, the walls of the hall began glowing with an intense green light, and powerful waves of soul energy rolled toward him.


    "Finally dropping the act?" Wu Yuan smiled coldly.


    He focused his Soul Force on the walls, studying and refining the intricate patterns.


    Previously, when Wu Yuan first entered the grand hall and saw the cryptic patterns on the walls, he immediately felt that something wasn��t right. Then, there was a sudden attack on his soul, making him even more wary. On top of that, Little ck warned him about the red-haired child, deepening his suspicions.


    Hence, the whole time Wu Yuan was speaking to the child, his powerful soul was scanning the cryptic patterns on the walls. From the patterns, he realized that the chamber was none other than the control center of the entire hall.


    Why did the red-haired child obstruct him? Why did he attack and deceive him? Wu Yuan gave it some thought, but couldn��t figure it out. However, he knew that in order to control the Yanqing Hall, he needed to decipher the cryptic patterns.


    The moment the child found out, he immediately turned hostile.


    Wu Yuan effortlessly dispersed the onught of attacks with his Soul Force, continuing his refinement of the control center undeterred.


    ��Ah! Stop, stop!�� The child howled, ��Don��t force my hand.��


    However, the child''s pleas fell on deaf ears as Wu Yuan ignored him. Wu Yuan had long guessed that the child only had one offensive ability, and the range of its soul attack was limited to the chamber.


    ...


    In the depths of the sprawling hally a secret chamber. Within its confines, eight ck figures stood motionless. They were uniform in appearance, each standing at a height of one zhang. They had four pairs of arms, an unnatural feature that set them apart from humans.


    Suddenly, a wave of energy rippled through the room. Then, a chilling voice spoke. ��Eldritch cultivator detected, Communion phase.��


    "Guardians one through eight, infuse backup ethercrystal. Eliminate the eldritch invader!"


    Themand echoed through the chamber, activating the eight ancient beings that had been dormant for countless ages.


    Three figures instantly came to life. Their blood-red eyes opened, cold and brimming with murderous intent. Their limbs moved, and they disappeared into a narrow passage at rming speed.


    The remaining five figures remained still, their eyes closed, as though they had sumbed to the passage of time.


    ...


    In the chamber lit by cryptic patterns, Wu Yuan concentrated on deciphering the patterns of the control center, determined to imprint his vital aura.


    <i>Mm? </i>Suddenly, his expression shifted, his gaze falling on something below. He quickly moved from his position.


    <i>Boom!</i> The metal ground exploded, revealing a cavern of immense proportions. Three ck figures emerged from its depths, hovering in mid-air.


    <i>These are puppets?</i> Wu Yuan recognized the figures at a nce. They seemed to be crafted from a type of ck metal, resembling war deities. Though theycked vital aura, their four arms gleamed like deadly curved sabers.


    Cowering in a corner, the illusory red-haired child yelled, ��Kill him!��


    In an instant, the figures lunged towards Wu Yuan.


    "Scram!" Wu Yuan shouted as a flurry of sword pellets transformed into nine flying swords.


    Earthy-yellow qi currents formed a protective barrier around him. The sword array and Domainbined as one, enveloping Wu Yuan within.


    <i>Boom! </i>The divine swords wrapped in hazy earthy-yellow light charged towards the ck figures.

 Chapter 291: Lowly Eldritch

    <h4>Chapter 291: Lowly Eldritch</h4>


    Ten months ago, Wu Yuan had harnessed his Soul Force and essentia to control nine lifebound flying swords, killing Jin Quan in a single strike, and thus proving the power of the Dark Earth Sword Array.


    Since that day, Wu Yuan had progressed from the second-stage Qi Sea phase to the third, fortifying his soul, and thereby enhancing the power of the sword array.


    One could say that even a fifth-stage Golden Core cultivator who grasped a Domain would struggle to withstand the full force of Wu Yuan''s strike.


    The strike from the divine sword sent the approaching ck figure hurtling backwards like a meteor cast into the outer reaches of space.


    Yet, to Wu Yuan''s astonishment, no discernible cracks marred the ck figure.


    At the same time, two muffled thuds echoed through the chamber as the divine sword grazed past the two remaining puppets, sending them crashing into the walls violently.


    Harrowing shockwaves collided within the narrow chamber.


    However, upon colliding with the wall, the figures rebounded in a sh, raising their arms to attack Wu Yuan.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i> A flurry of de rays materialized.


    <i>What grade of battle puppet is this?</i> Wu Yuan gasped inwardly.


    The puppets attacked with such agility that Wu Yuan found himself scarcely able to react.


    <i>Swish~ Swish~</i> The des danced, their metallic sh echoing in the air.


    Wu Yuan''s illusory divine sword rippled, but managed to withstand the onught of the two ck puppets.


    Though Sword Array Assembly was just the first step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, it wasn��t so easily shattered.


    <i>What a fierce assault.</i> Wu Yuan could feel the impact of the force striking the array.


    Such forceful impacts would be fatal to a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Even a Golden Core cultivator would suffer grave wounds. But Wu Yuan was a body refiner, and he shrugged off the impact as though it were a mere nuisance.


    "Attack! Kill him!" The red-haired child continued to incite the puppets.


    The three ck puppets lunged at Wu Yuan once more, their razor-sharp arms shing at him.


    The illusory divine sword enveloped in earthy yellow light met their attacks head on.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Dozens of blows were exchanged in the span of a single moment, causing the entire chamber to tremble faintly. Yet, neither side could gain the upper hand.


    Amazingly, the walls bore no scars from the ferocious battle taking ce.


    <i>The attack power of these puppets isn��t too high, but their resilience is unmatched. Each collision leaves no visible marks on their sturdy exteriors.</i> Wu Yuan observed with growing worry as the fight continued.


    Escape was not an option.


    Though the three puppets were repeatedly sent flying during each sh, they guarded the entrance firmly, leaving Wu Yuan with no avenue for retreat.


    "You can��t escape, you��re doomed!" the red-haired child taunted.


    Wu Yuan didn��t bother replying.


    <i>Sword array, assemble! </i>Nine green flying swords, each exuding a powerful aura, materialized around Wu Yuan, then arranged themselves in an array formation.


    The array was one of the four sword arrays he acquired from Jin Quan, along with the nine sixth-grade wind-type flying swords.


    Though they were not a perfect match for Wu Yuan��s attribute and far less powerful than lifebound flying swords, Wu Yuan was still able to unleash incredible power when he channeled all his strength into the array.


    <i>Go!</i> The nine flying swords seamlessly melded into a single entity, morphing into a divine de woven with green and earthy yellow qi streams, striking one of the puppets.


    Despite the puppet''s persistent attacks, it found itself outmatched by the new sword array conjured by Wu Yuan.


    Instantly, the pressure on his lifebound flying sword array lessened significantly.


    <i>Do these puppets have no weaknesses?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned frigid.


    Though he appeared uninjured, controlling two sword arrays simultaneously took a huge toll on his soul and mana.


    Jin Quan had so many flying sword artifacts, yet why did he refrain from deploying them back then? The answery in the strength of his soul, orck thereof.


    Simr to how a massive army wouldn��t be able to exhibit its full might without ample provisions and equipment, 30% of Wu Yuan��s essentia was already drained after just one breath of fighting with three ck puppets.


    Despite his third-degree immortal root, he was only a third-stage Qi Sea cultivator. The simultaneous maniption of numerous flying swords demanded an astonishing amount of energy.


    <i>Hm? </i>Surprise flicked in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    The three puppets came to a sudden halt,nding on the ground. Their crimson eyes closed shut. They remained motionless, as though slipping into a deep slumber.


    <i>What��s going on?</i> Wu Yuan immediately went on high alert, casting a wary nce toward the red-haired, horned child nearby.


    At that moment, the child��splexion was ashen.


    "Haha! Haha!" The child erupted into bitterughter. ��If not for the fact that all reserves of ethercrystal have been depleted to sustain the operation of the Yanqing Hall over the years, rendering these fourth-grade puppets unable to unleash their full abilities, how could you havested this long?"


    "Lowly eldritch, you��ve won.�� The red-haired child locked eyes with Wu Yuan, a sense of defiance and despair etched on his features.


    Wu Yuan listened silently, though he was inwardly perplexed.


    Lowly eldritch? The spirit was at odds with him not because he yed Jin Quan, but because he was an eldritch cultivator?


    Simultaneously, the artifact spirit seemed to have broken down mentally.


    "Haha, I have failed my master''s expectations. His sessor lies dead, and eventually, even the Yanqing Hall will fall into a disgusting eldritch��s hands.��


    Though it was a mere apparition, the red-haired, horned child appeared lifelike, portraying vivid emotions. Even illusory tears trickled from his eyes.


    "Eldritch brat. You may be strong, but you can forget about gaining anything from this ce. And I will never recognize you as my owner!" The child screamed.


    Silently, the illusory figure of the child detonated, disintegrating into a myriad of light particles that dispersed into the air.


    Wu Yuan stood frozen as the small chamber regained its stillness once more.


    A beat passed before Little ck''s voice reverberated in his mind. "Master, it appears that this artifact spirit has chosen to self-destruct," the words echoed solemnly.


    "Self-destruct? Suicide?" Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. He knew that not all artifact spirits possessed the same level of intelligence. Some simply followed orders without question,cking the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.


    But there were others who were intelligent and could exhibit a range of emotions. They could experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.


    For example, the realm master could adapt ording to different situations as long as he didn��t vite the operating principles. Meanwhile, this red-haired, horned child, despite his youthful appearance, had existed for countless millenia. It was clear that it was deeply loyal to its owner.


    <i>Artifact spirits obey the orders of their owners. It seems that this Reverand Qing Yan is an enemy of the eldritch lineage, and it��s not a small grudge either.</i>


    <i>Even when encountering an eldritch he had never met before, he wanted to kill me immediately.</i>


    <i>Meanwhile, Jin Quan should be the true sessor of Reverend Qing Yan.</i>


    With the red-haired child gone and Jin Quan dead, these secrets would be buried in the annals of time, lost forever.


    <i>The legacy left by Reverand Qing Yan has also been severed.</i>


    Wu Yuan realized that this was the norm. Revivals were rare. Destruction andplete severance were the way things usually went.


    As for Wu Yuan? He wasn''t Reverand Qing Yan��s sessor. In fact, one might even call him the destroyer of the Amethyst Cradle Reverand��s legacy.


    <i>In the future, I must be more careful when exploring.</i>


    He wouldn''t naively believe that all relic creators had neutral or good intentions. Some powerful cultivators delighted in destroying new geniuses. Some cultivators, full of resentment towards the world before their death, would deliberately set up a killing array in their grotto specifically to kill those who entered. Some harbored extreme hatred for cultivators of a certain sect.


    If a weaker eldritch cultivator had entered the Yanqing Hall, they might have died. Wu Yuan was only able to survive due to his strength.


    <i>The artifact spirit can choose to self-detonate, but obliterating the entire Yanqing Hall is outside his capabilities. </i>Wu Yuan maintained hisposure, allowing his Soul Force to spread out as he continued to decipher the cryptic patterns on the walls.


    There was a nagging concern in his mind that the red-haired child had feigned its suicide, and had prepared other traps for him. However, in Wu Yuan and Little ck''s understanding, once someone took over the control center of an artifact and imed ownership, the artifact would bepletely under their control.


    Seconds and minutes ticked by. A quarter of an hourter, a low hum resonated through the vast hall and it began to tremble, as if expressing tion.


    "Master, you��ve managed to im ownership?" Little ck eximed. "This hall is a type of high-grade spirit equipment, getting it to recognize you as its owner is not easy at all."


    "Mm. I��m its owner now," Wu Yuan confirmed with a faint smile. The speed of this process was owed to his formidable soul.


    <i>Perceive! </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness delved into the hall��s core, swiftly mapping out every nook and cranny. The grand structure unveiled itself, revealing its core and various halls - from the main hall, puppet hall, meditation chamber...It consisted of dozens of halls.


    <i>The entire hall is, in fact, a grotto flying boat crafted with great effort by Reverend Qing Yan?</i>


    Flying boat artifacts came in diverse forms, each with its unique purpose. Some were tailored for swift journeys, etched with intricate arrays to enhance speed. Others were designed for cargo, featuring expansivepartments and even copsible spaces for storage. Civilization flying boats could house entire poptions of mortals, sheltering a civilization within their walls.


    Then there were the military flying boats, armed to the teeth with powerful weaponry. Wu Yuan had gleaned from ancient texts that certain legendary iterations could decimate a world with a single strike.


    The grotto flying boats, however, boasted versatility. They provided defense, mobility, and an array of specialized chambers for extended cultivation sessions.


    <i>A second-grade grotto flying boat is worth about as much as Luminous Immortal Soil. </i>Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished.


    This flying boat was the most valuable treasure left behind by Reverend Qing Yan. Compared to a second-grade flying sword, the Yanqing Hall held far more value; they were simply not in the same league.


    <i>Ethercrystal reserves depleted?</i> Wu Yuan finally realized why the red-haired child had been so reluctant to self-destruct. The puppet hall at the lower level of the flying boat housed eight guardian puppets, all fourth-grade ckrock Puppets. These puppets boasted a strengthparable to a ninth-grade Spiritual Body cultivator (ninth-degree immortal root). Theirbat power was exceptional.


    However, being non-living puppets, they could not independently absorb spiritual qi. Once they engaged in battle, their energy consumption was staggering, beyond what etherstone could sustain. Only the purest ethercrystal could activate them.


    Unfortunately, the passage of time had depleted the once abundant ethercrystal reserves within the Yanqing Hall. The remainder was only enough for three ckrock Puppets to operate briefly.


    This exined why the red-haired child had initially tried to deceive Wu Yuan into leaving. It was hoping to preserve the precious ethercrystal.


    <i>This is?</i> Suddenly, Wu Yuan detected a mysterious space directly beneath the flying boat.

 Chapter 292: Spatial Mithril Tower

    <h4>Chapter 292: Spatial Mithril Tower</h4>


    <i>This is?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    As a flying boat, the Yanqing Hall��s structure was reinforced with an array that blocked Soul Force perception. Hence, this space had gone unnoticed by Wu Yuan until now.


    Now that Wu Yuan gained an initial level of control over the Yanqing Hall, his Soul Force intertwined with the flying boat��s core, and his Soul Force was no longer obstructed.


    Thus, it was not long before his attention was drawn to a mysterious area beneath the Yanqing Hall, piquing a blend of shock and excitement within him.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan left the control room, weaving through awork of passageways that connected the various halls within the Yanqing Hall. These halls were grouped into three main zones: training, storage, and rest.


    His destinationy within the training zone, where rows of chambers for meditation stood. However, Wu Yuan paid them no mind, swiftly descending through the passageway.


    Finally, Wu Yuan arrived at the lowest level of Yanqing Hall, where he was greeted by arge hatch spanning over four meters.


    If Wu Yuan wasn��t the flying boat��s owner, it would have been nearly impossible for him to discover the hatch, even with the aid of Soul Force. Such was the quality of a high-grade artifact. If an ordinary person were to examine the flying boat, they would only think that the vessel waspletely sealed without a single gap.


    <i>Open. </i>Wu Yuan issued a mentalmand.


    The energy required to manipte the entire Yanqing Hall far exceeded Wu Yuan''s current capabilities, but coaxing the hatch open only required a fraction of his power.


    With a silent hum, the hatch obeyed.


    Witnessing the hatch''s movement, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but marvel silently. Although the Yanqing Hall was a second-grade flying boat, nothing was immune to the erosion of time. Yet, over 100,000 years had passed, and this ce was still so well preserved. This was almost certainly the work of the now dispersed artifact spirit.


    Little ck squirmed out from around Wu Yuan''s arm. Poking its head out, it was equally amazed as it peered down at the expansive space below. "Master, there��s actually a teleportation array here?"


    "Mm." Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    In one step, he made his way through the hatch. A square space with a length of around 50 meters had been excavated directly beneath the Yanqing Hall.


    Sturdy rocks supported the area from all four sides, with an invisible power subtly merging the rocks into one entity.


    <i>It''s an array, safeguarding this area to prevent the walls of rocks and soil from copsing and burying this ce. </i>Wu Yuan swiftly discerned this with his powerful soul.


    However, most of Wu Yuan''s focus was on the four mithril towers in the distance. The towers were identical, each with a base diameter exceeding ten meters, a height of roughly twenty meters, and a slightly weathered surface.


    The four towers were positioned close to each other, only leaving a gap in the center. ck chains linked the four mithril towers, creating the illusion that they were a single entity.


    ��It is indeed a teleportation array, and judging by the size of the mithril towers, it seems to be a mid-grade teleportation array." Wu Yuan murmured, "It should be able to teleport individuals directly out of the Summerpeak World. I never expected to find a teleportation array concealed here."


    Teleportation arrays were extremely rare, involving intricate applications of the profundities of Space. Even an Amethyst Cradle Reverend would struggle to construct one outright.


    Typically, cultivators would purchase spatial mithril towers fromrge factions, and then input spatial coordinates for connection.


    Why were they so valuable? It was primarily due to the construction materials. Spatial mithril was extremely sensitive to spatial fluctuations and was the exclusive material used in the crafting of spatial mithril towers.


    The Summerpeak World was considered a worldlet, and a teleportation array was unnecessary for internalmunication. Therefore, Wu Yuan never imagined that such a precious teleportation array would be hidden within the Middle Land.


    <i>I initially believed that the Yanqing Hall was the ultimate prize, but now, it appears that these spatial mithril towers forming the teleportation array are the true gems.</i>


    Any one of the four spatial mithril towers could easily surpass the value of Yanqing Hall. Their total worth was astounding.


    <i>Countless eons have passed.</i> Wu Yuan approached the teleportation array, running his hand across the surface of the silver tower. With a gentle swipe, he removed the dust, revealing the gleaming, untouched mithril surface beneath.


    With a mentalmand, the thickyers of dust obscuring the towers flew into the air, and the once dull-looking towers sparkled anew.


    <i>It��s indeed as the legends said. As long as the spatial mithril towers are undamaged, they can remain as good as new even after countless millennia. </i>Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    While most artifacts would deteriorate after a million years, these towers seemed immune to the effects of time, a testament to their immense value.


    "Master," Little ck eximed, circling the teleportation array eagerly. "The array appears undisturbed, its cryptic patterns are still intact and functional."


    "You can give it a try," Little ck suggested. "Perhaps, we can depart the Summerpeak World even before reaching the Shambh phase."


    Little ck had an innate yearning to explore the vast river of spacetimes, stemming from its inheritance memories.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan agreed with a nod.


    Without hesitation, arge percentage of Wu Yuan��s consciousness threads delved into the workings of the teleportation array, focusing on the central base and the control room between the silver towers.


    Swiftly, he familiarized himself with the array, grasping its internal mechanisms and operating methods.


    The rapid speed of this process wasn��t due to his intellect, but rather that the knowledge from the immortal slips and Little ck already provided him with a basic understanding of teleportation arrays. Coupled with the incredibleprehension speed of his Yang Soul, Wu Yuan swiftly understood the intricacies of the teleportation array.


    "Master, how is it?" Little ck asked with concern.


    "There��s no danger, it��s still functional," Wu Yuan replied quietly. "But out of the nine teleportation coordinates programmed into the array, only one is still active."


    In order to perform its function, a teleportation array had to be linked with another teleportation array. In other words, this array had once been connected to nine others in different locations, allowing for teleportation between them. However, over time, eight of those connections had been severed, leaving only one.


    "Just one?" Little ck was taken aback.


    "The array isbeled ''Li Tian 0068,'' but I''m not sure what that means," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Little ck shared his confusion. Was there some special significance to the words ��Li Tian��?


    Then, Wu Yuan realized something. <i>Jin Quan must have been able to remain so calm during the worm devil cmity due to this exact teleportation array.</i>


    With such an escape route, there was no reason for Jin Quan to fight a desperate battle. The other Heavenly Rankers in the Middle Land didn''t have this option.


    After making a circle around the teleportation array, Wu Yuan made a decision. "Let''s go, Little ck."


    "What about the array?" Little ck asked.


    "For now, we��ll leave it here along with the Yanqing Hall and other artifacts." Wu Yuan said, shaking his head.


    Both the teleportation array and the Yanqing Hall flying boat had to be fueled with either essentia or ethercrystal, both of which Wu Yuan didn''t have enough of at the moment.


    It would take at least an Amethyst Cradle cultivator to have a sufficient essentia capacity, and Wu Yuan did not have ethercrystal on hand at the moment. It was a high-quality treasure, and a much purer energy source than etherstone.


    Hence, he could only look at these powerful artifacts, but was unable to use them.


    Furthermore, although he understood how the teleportation array worked, he had no idea where ��Li Tian 0068�� was. Even if it could help them leave the Middle Land, Wu Yuan didn��t feelfortable activating it without knowing his destination.


    As for the Yanqing Hall? It was toorge for him to transport with his current storage artifacts, and it couldn''t be shrunken down like smaller flying boats. Store it in his soul chamber storage? The soul chamber of a Communion cultivator could not amodate such a huge artifact either. Wu Yuan had no choice but to leave it behind.


    <i>However, not all is lost. Once I reach the Spiritual Body phase, gaining increased power and arger soul chamber, I��ll naturally be able to store this Yanqing Hall. </i>


    <i>As for the teleportation array?</i>


    Wu Yuan had an insatiable curiosity to explore the vast worlds beyond. However, he was still making progress with his cultivation, and the destination of the teleportation array remained a mystery. It was not worth taking such a risk at the moment.


    ...


    Exiting the underground teleportation array, Wu Yuan returned to the Yanqing Hall, meticulously scouring every hall in search of anything Jin Quan had missed. s, Jin Quan had scavenged the entire area clean; the halls werepletely emptied.


    Next, Wu Yuan came to a meditation chamber. The chamber was small in size, with a radius of less than 20 meters. The only object in the room was a jade tform ced in the center.


    As he sat in the lotus position on the jade tform, Wu Yuan felt his disorganized thoughts clear and his heart grow tranquil.


    <i>The jade tform in the meditation room of the Fourth Eldritch Realm has a simr passive function. However, the effects of this jade tform seem to be more pronounced. Practicing here will elerate myprehension of the Land''s profundity.</i>


    Little did Wu Yuan know that even though Reverend Qing Yan could notpare to the top powerhouses of the Hou Feng Tribe, he was previously still a peak powerhouse in the Summerpeak World, and considered the Yanqing Hall his stronghold.


    While the Fourth Eldritch Realm boasted numerous treasures of its own, it was just one of the many training bases of the Hou Feng Tribe. In some ways, it could notpare to the unique qualities of the Yanqing Hall constructed by Reverend Qing Yan.


    ...


    Thend was shrouded in darkness, yet the Middle Land Immortal Hall remained bathed in light.


    <i>Within a hall.</i>


    "Young Master." Fang Xia, adorned in gold robes, greeted respectfully.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment. "Old Fang, is the Middle Land Guard fully formed?"


    "It is." Fang Xia nodded.


    The Middle Land Guard was an organization that all Heavenly and Land Rankers within the Middle Land were required to join. Not all of these experts were sincere about pledging their allegiance to Wu Yuan.


    In contrast, the Teng Snake Guard recruited promising young talents, nurturing them from a tender age.


    "Erect a Daoist Scripture Tower in the Middle Land Immortal Hall. I will contribute a plethora of secret techniques and ancient tomes for the benefit of all Heavenly Rankers across the Middle Land," Wu Yuan dered. "This shall serve as a form of guidance to bolster their strength."


    "Daoist Scripture Tower?" Fang Xia pondered for a moment before nodding. "That won��t be an issue. Major immortal sects in the macrocosms have established simr towers in both the physical realm and the voidrealm."


    The Middle Land Immortal Hall had served primarily as a hub formunication while it was under the control of the Wu Sect, but Wu Yuan envisioned a more multifaceted role for the voidrealm.


    Communication was just a rudimentary function of a voidrealm. With the activation of several more functions, the voidrealm could host an abundance of secret techniques and intelligence reports, and the administrator would be able to alter the reading permissions of any user at will.


    Compared to traditional paper scrolls and immortal slips, the voidrealm offered unparalleled convenience.


    And the Middle Land Immortal Hall was just an eighth-grade voidrealm. A higher grade voidrealm would be able to hold a wealth of data, simte processes such as alchemical refining, weapon forging, talisman crafting,bat scenarios, and more.


    Their capabilities were truly mystical. The most cutting-edge voidrealms could even rival reality in every facet, with illusions nearly indistinguishable from the physical world.


    Of course, such features remained a distant dream for the current Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Young Master, will the teachings within this Daoist Scripture Tower be freely essible?" Fang Xia queried.


    "No. Some elementary teachings will be disseminated free of charge," Wu Yuan rified. "Martial arts cultivation methods such as the ''Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique'' and the ''Dragon Marrow Cleansing Technique'' shall be made avable to all, fostering a martial culture across the Middle Land."


    "Basic qi cultivation methods will also be distributed widely without reservation. However, for more esoteric teachings, I will categorize them," Wu Yuan exined. "One must make a contribution of equivalent significance to earn the privilege of studying andprehending them."


    "Contribution? What form will it take?" Fang Xia queried.


    "Common field trials and other simr tasks," Wu Yuan replied. "However, the most important contribution is exploration! This includes venturing across the world and exploring the depths of the ocean to unearth etherstone and precious metal deposits."


    "I will provide you with detailed information and my requirements in due course. This is just a broad outline," Wu Yuan said.


    It was only within etherstone veins that ethercrystal could be found. However, only a meager quantity was produced.


    The upgrading of lifebound flying swords demanded the consumption of rare metals, only found inrge ore deposits.


    One of the main purposes of establishing his rule was none other than resource acquisition.

 Chapter 293: Fifteen Years Of Immortal Wu (1)

    <h4>Chapter 293: Fifteen Years Of Immortal Wu (1)</h4>


    "Young Master, as a voidrealm, the Middle Land Immortal Hall indeed has numerous wondrous features,�� Fang Xia said. "One of the primary reasons the Wu Sect hesitated to keep it open for an extended period was its huge consumption of etherstone."


    "The more individuals enter, the more etherstone required to power it," Fang Xia warned.


    "I understand," Wu Yuan replied impassively, "Now that the Wu Empire and Middle Land Guard have pooled the world''s resources, establishing arge scale spirit-gathering array should be feasible. We can simply ce the core of the voidrealm within the array. I believe it shouldn''t be too difficult for the entire Middle Land to power a single voidrealm."


    Fang Xia was slightly surprised by Wu Yuan��s proposal, pausing to consider it.


    "If that is the case, it won��t be difficult," Fang Xia said. "Young Master, your ingenuity knows no bounds. Since this is your decision, I shall make the necessary arrangements promptly."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "There is one more matter," Fang Xia said hesitantly.


    "What is it?"


    "Should we put some measures in ce to limit the Daoist scriptures avable to Arctic King, Bei Li, Hai Feizhang, and the others?" Fang Xia inquired


    Wu Yuan naturally understood what Fang Xia was implying.


    The number of peak powerhouses in the Middle Land had greatly dwindled. Only a few left had any hope of reaching the Golden Core phase.


    Despite the unfavorable cultivation environment of the Middle Land, the Arctic King, Hai Feizhang, and some others had managed to reach the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase. Once they acquired a substantial number of Daoist scriptures and grasped the methods within, their power would likely surge rapidly, potentially even breaching the Golden Core phase in one fell swoop.


    If they grew too powerful, they might prove challenging to control.


    "No need." Wu Yuan shook his head, "For those with the potential to reach the Golden Core phase, we must not only refrain from curbing their progress, but provide all the support and guidance they need, illuminating the correct path of cultivation."


    "Golden Core phase? Old Fang, should you keep managing all these matters by yourself, it would impede your cultivation. Enlisting a few individuals at the Golden Core phase could help alleviate your burden," Wu Yuan smiled, "As for any repercussions? I have faith in my abilities."


    "My aim is to transcend the Amethyst Cradle phase and eventually be a fabled Archeldritch. Why should I fret over them?"


    "In due course, I shall unite Summerpeak," Wu Yuan chuckled, "No matter how quickly they cultivate, they will onlyg far behind me."


    Subduing underlings? Even if their loyalty wascking, Wu Yuan saw no need to do so. Ultimately, figures like the Arctic King, Hai Feizhang, and others may harbor ulterior motives, but they have yet to exhibit any signs of treachery.


    "Moreover," Wu Yuan stated, "we have all read the ancient texts and writings left behind by Dong Pan and Wan Xing. Based on past urrences, when the Xin Continent''s passageway is revealed with the receding tide, a connection to other regions may be established."


    "That period will be the most perilous time for the Middle Land. Hence, producing stronger individuals is advantageous," Wu Yuan mused. "My concern is not that they will grow too strong, but rather that they��ll still be too weak."


    "Understood, I shall attend to it promptly," Fang Xia responded softly.


    He understood that the youngster who once relied on him for protection had now grown up and had his own independent thoughts. Whether power or foresight, Wu Yuan had now surpassed him.


    ...


    After his conversation with Fang Xia, Wu Yuan remained in the Yanqing Hall to cultivate.


    Days turned to weeks.


    Alongside his cultivation, Wu Yuan diligently worked on constructing the Daoist Scripture Tower within the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    This tedious task involved uploading a number of cultivation teachings into the voidrealm in the form of virtual immortal slips.


    The majority of these teachings were from the eight immortal slips the realm master had given him.


    Numerous basic qi refining and body refining methods, as well as ordinary alchemy and equipment crafting secrets, were all considered top-tier teachings within the Middle Land.


    Additionally, methodologies such as the Dark Moon Sword Manual he obtained from Jin Quan were also included in the Daoist Scripture Tower.


    Wu Yuan even incorporated two sets of basic ether arts, reserved for potential future body refiners of the Middle Land.


    With his inherited memories, Wu Yuan had a plethora of ether arts to choose from. Conversely, for loose cultivators like Qiong Sea King, acquiring a single ether art was already extremely difficult.


    Furthermore, certain sword arts, saber techniques, pill refining secrets, and other more advanced techniques could only be redeemed with the corresponding level of contribution.


    <i>Regrettably, those advanced ether arts and the top-tier teachings such as the Archeldritch Divine Codex from my inherited memories cannot be shared with others.</i>


    Wu Yuan was bound by unbreakable restrictions due to his oath. Even if a powerhouse attempted to extract knowledge from Wu Yuan��s memories through a soul search, they would find these inherited memories inessible.


    Time flowed by as Wu Yuan meticulously inputted the teachings into the Daoist Scripture Tower one at a time. The process of erecting the Daoist Scripture Tower served as a unique form of cultivation for Wu Yuan.


    <i>Teaching is also cultivation! To teach students is to teach oneself. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    Many great schrs also developed themselves in the process of imparting knowledge to their students.


    ...


    On the 8th of October in the year 3232 of the Eastern Martial calendar, all Heavenly Rankers in the Middle Land Guard received a message from Fang Xia via their hall jades, and convened at the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    One by one, the Heavenly Rankers arrived. Their numbers had dropped sharply after the worm devil cmity and the war with Great Jin. In total, less than 40 remained.


    "What is that?" one asked as they beheld the massive new building beside the Conference Hall.


    "A new hall?" another mused.


    Soon, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia appeared before the gathered Rankers.


    "Due to his benevolence, the Alliance Leader has made the decision to share his knowledge of the immortal cultivation world with everyone here. This includes cultivation teachings and secret arts, culminating in a treasure trove surpassing any sect in the Middle Land today," Fang Xia announced.


    "But remember, teachings are not to be shared lightly. Only the most basic teachings and knowledge are free. Advanced teachings and secret arts require corresponding contributions."


    A treasure trove surpassing any sect in the Middle Land? The Heavenly Rankers were not surprised. They knew that Wu Yuan''s strength and progress hinted at a powerful inheritance. Naturally, they yearned to learn the teachings as well.


    Fang Xia continued. "As for advanced teachings, those who learn them will have to vow never to share the knowledge."


    "Where can we find these teachings?" the Arctic King inquired.


    "All teachings are hosted in the newly built hall in the distance, the Dao Scripture Tower," Fang Xia revealed with a smile. "You are all wee to explore the tower and learn any of the teachings within, as long as you offer the corresponding contributions."


    With a loud rumble, the gates to the hall opened. Just as the Arctic King and Hai Feizhang were about to step forward, the voices of the Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King boomed. "Thank you, Alliance Leader, for the grace of your teachings."


    The two of them bowed respectfully.


    "Thank you, Alliance Leader, for the grace of your teachings," echoed Liu Junxing, Meng Cai, and the other Heavenly Rankers, offering their own respectful bows.


    Witnessing this disy of deference, the Arctic King, Hai Feizhang, and Bei Li had no choice but to follow suit.


    "No worries. Fellow Daoists, you may continue with your cultivation," Wu Yuan said lightly before his avatar scattered into particles of light.


    Wu Yuan was no fool. He knew that this performance was likely orchestrated by Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King to elevate his standing and establish a leader-subordinate rtionship between himself and the Heavenly Rankers.

 Chapter 294: Fifteen Years Of Immortal Wu (2)

    <h4>Chapter 294: Fifteen Years Of Immortal Wu (2)</h4>


    With that, the group of Heavenly Rankers entered the tower.


    The Daoist Scripture Tower was divided into four major sections: qi refining, body refining, general knowledge, and misceneous studies. Each section was further subdivided into smaller sections.


    The Heavenly Rankers quickly dispersed, searching for teachings suitable or interesting to them.


    <i>So one can even circte qi in this manner through their meridians?</i> The Arctic King sighed inwardly as he read the immortal slip in his hand. <i>Compared to this qi refining method, the method I cultivated is simply trash.</i>


    <i>What a pity, if I had cultivated this from the start, I could have established a sixth-degree immortal root. </i>The Arctic King shook his head and sighed.


    Once an immortal root was established, it could only be slowly upgraded over time.


    <i>However, if I cultivate more profound teachings, I might be able to upgrade my immortal root by one degree once I step into the Golden Core phase.</i>


    The stronger one''s immortal root, the more difficult it was to upgrade, thus a cultivator who simply wished to raise their seventh or eighth-degree immortal root by one or two degrees would find it rtively easy.


    <i>Hm? There''s only the first chapter? </i>The Arctic King''s expression shifted slightly.<i> I need to provide a two-star contribution to learn this cultivation method?</i>


    <i>Two-star contribution, that''s ten catties of ethercrystal. Ethercrystal, where am I going to find that?</i> The Arctic King frowned slightly.


    <i>Oh? There''s another way, I can exchange 500 catties of high-grade etherstone for this cultivation method.</i>


    High-grade etherstone was already extremely precious to him. A single catty of high-grade etherstone could be exchanged for 10,000 catties of low-grade etherstone.


    <i>Only a small amount of high-grade etherstone is produced in etherstone mines. However, I''ve umted quite a bit over the years. </i>


    He was currently stuck in a cultivation bottleneck. No matter how much etherstone or ethercrystal he had, it couldn��t help him break through. It was far more practical to exchange them for better cultivation methods.


    ...


    <i>Flying Sword Art? There��s actually a method that progressively enhances one��s Soul Force telekinesis abilities, leading to better flying sword control?</i> Liu Junxing was equally astonished.


    In the past, he struggled to control just three flying swords, but as long as he learned this technique, he would be able to create a basic sword array.


    <i>Oh? Ethercrystal is required! </i>Liu Junxing soon realized this criterion as well.


    ...


    "So, the Middle Land is but a small corner of the vast Summerpeak World, which in turn is part of the Greenridge Macrocosm, a vast space epassing countless spacetimes. Within the boundless river of time and space, it is considered one of therger macrocosms." Hai Feizhang immersed himself in the wealth of knowledge before him.


    Previously, his knowledge was confined to the Summerpeak World. Now, his understanding of the world beyond had broadened exponentially.


    ...


    ��Ether arts! Heavens, the Alliance Leader has ced ether arts in the Daoist Scripture Tower.��


    ��Ether art ''Mountain Mover'', ether art ''Four-Armed Form''." The Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King were thrilled.


    The iplete inheritances they received included mentions of ether arts, but they were merely records with no clear instructions on how to cultivate them.


    "One ether art requires 100 catties of ethercrystal for redemption?" The Qiong Sea King and Mountain Devil King exchanged nces. Both felt that this requirement was a little unreasonable.


    Soon, the Qiong Sea King noticed that 50 catties of ethercrystal had already been contributed under his name.


    <i>Is this a reward for my loyalty?</i> The Qiong Sea King''s heart swelled with joy.


    As the ruler of the South Ocean, acquiring 50 catties of ethercrystal was not impossible. After all, he could only cultivate one ether art for now.


    ...


    A short whileter, the Heavenly Rankers of the Middle Land began to realize the true value of the Daoist Scripture Tower. Fang Xia''s introduction was not an exaggeration but rather an understatement.


    The secret techniques guarded by their own sects couldn��t even begin topare to the ones stored within the Daoist Scripture Tower. Even the simplest teachings avable for free could be the cornerstone of their sects, let alone the profound methodologies that required contributions.


    For instance, Wu Yuan and Jin Quan were able to easily cultivate sword arrays and control numerous artifacts thanks to their inheritances. Meanwhile, many Heavenly Rankers struggled with controlling just a handful of low-grade flying swords.


    This was the power of an inheritance.


    Consider the Thousand Swords Array detailed in the ''Dark Earth Sword Array��.


    In theory, a Qi Sea cultivator could control 729 flying swords. The gap was staggering!


    The only issue that vexed these experts was how they could obtain a sufficient quantity of high-grade etherstone and ethercrystal.


    "Apart from ethercrystal and etherstone, various precious metal ores can also be exchanged for these teachings." Some Heavenly Rankers quickly noted this information.


    Soon, they received a message from Fang Xia: "The Middle Land is vast, and the four oceans are expansive, teeming with treasures. The Xin Continent is evenrger. Venture out and explore the world! Acquire enough treasures, and you may exchange them for teachings."


    ...


    Within a hall in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Fang Xia delivered the news to Wu Yuan, "Young Master, your orders have beenpleted. I have disseminated a variety of martial arts teachings, manuals, and qi consumption and refining methods among the martial academies across the various continents, provinces, and counties."


    "Before long, those exclusive martial teachings of the major sects will all be worthless.��


    Fang Xia continued exuberantly, "Martial arts will flourish in the Middle Land. In just one decade, martial arts prodigies will spring up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain."


    "In twenty years, countless martial arts geniuses will emerge. And in 50 years, countless qi refiners will surface.�� Fang Xia''s voice turned solemn. ��Your benevolence will be remembered for eternity."


    A slight smile yed on Wu Yuan''s lips.


    The Middle Land of the present day was free from civil unrest. In the near future, the poption would burgeon. By spreading various martial arts teachings, they were nting the seeds for the future. All that remained was to await the fruition of their efforts.


    ...


    The years flew by. Apart from spending time with his family and meeting with Heavenly Rankers from various regions, Wu Yuan also asionally mentored budding martial arts prodigies. The remainder of his days were devoted to cultivation, and his essentia and vital ether steadily increased each day.


    Simultaneously, he embarked on journeys across the fifteen continents and four oceans. He tread every corner of the vast Middle Land, observing the customs of diverse regions and the evolution of various life forms, garnering new insights.


    Unbeknownst to him, hisprehension of thend and life deepened during these travels.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the year 3247 of the Eastern Martial calendar. Fifteen years had psed since the Wu Empire''s unification of the world. The children who had witnessed Wu Yuan��s rise to power were now adults.


    Factions like the Great Jin Empire, the Sta Consortium, the Wu Sect, and other sects gradually faded into obscurity as the people''s faith shifted towards His Majesty the Emperor, the illustrious founder of the empire, Wu Yuan.


    Now, the most formidable force in the world was the Middle Land Guard. Heavenly Rankers patrolled the skies and earth, safeguarding the Middle Land. In the hearts of the new generation of martial artists, Wu Yuan''s stature surpassed even the ancient Martial King.


    This heralded the dawn of a new era - the era of Immortal Wu.


    ...


    On this day, within a meditation chamber on Archeldritch Mountain, Wu Yuan immersed himself in cultivation.


    "Master, the Star Embryonic Body haspleted the incubation stage," Little ck''s jubnt voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind.

 Chapter 295: Qi Refiner Self

    <h4>Chapter 295: Qi Refiner Self</h4>


    <i>Finally, the incubation stage isplete.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes fluttered open as a smile crept onto his lips.


    It had taken far longer than he had expected. When he first entered the Yanqing Hall, Little ck had confidently stated that the Star Embryonic Body would reach maturity within a few short years.


    But as Wu Yuan soon discovered, theory alone was not enough. Little ck''s estimations had been far too optimistic.


    In reality, it took fifteen long years before it was finally ready. While it was a far cry from the 100 years stated by the artifact spirit, the process had been filled with unexpected challenges.


    <i>After such a long wait, it��s finally time to go have a look.</i> A glint of anticipation shone in Wu Yuan��s eyes. This day had been a long timeing.


    In one swift movement, Wu Yuan left the meditation chamber and soared into the sky. The lightwaves around him distorted, rendering him invisible to any onlookers below.


    <i>Cloud Capital.</i> Wu Yuan gazed down at the sprawling city beneath him. With a poption exceeding four million, it was a bustling metropolis that epassed the Cloud River and numerous other rivers, connected by grand bridges constructed through Wu Yuan''s mastery of earth-type arcane arts.


    Fifteen years had brought an incredible transformation to the city, causing the previous Cloudhill City or Holy Capital during its prime to pale inparison.


    During its most prosperous days, the Great Jin Empire only upied thends of three continents and had a poption of less than half the world. However, it squandered its resources on warfare. How can itpare to the Wu Empire, where resources were instead channeled into construction and maintaining peace?


    Presently, only small-scale military forces and constables were needed to quell local disturbances in the Middle Land. Meanwhile, the broader peace was maintained by the Middle Land Guard and Teng Snake Guard.


    The Middle Land Guard consisted of numerous Heavenly Rankers, while the Teng Snake Guard had grown gradually over fifteen years, now boasting arge number of first-rate and second-rate Adepts. Both groups monitored the world with ease.


    Martial arts pervaded every corner of the Middle Land, with martial artists and even Heavenly Rankers venturing far and wide.


    <i>Cloudhill. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes swept across thendscape of Cloudhill. He took in the grandeur of the towering mountain, the numerouspounds, pavilions, and halls nestled among towering trees, and each training ground and grotto of the Heavenly Rankers.


    This region was now the headquarters of the Middle Land Guard, and each Heavenly Ranker was allocated their own personal mountain peak. However, the tallest andrgest mountain by far was the Archeldritch Mountain, rebuilt by Wu Yuan himself.


    Just the area ofnd upied by the headquarters of the Middle Land Guard dwarfed that of the entire Cloud Capital.


    Fang Xia, who had recently broken through, couldmand mountains to rise with a single arcane art, an ability relegated to the realm of immortals and devils.


    The Middle Land Guard currently boasted two Golden Core cultivators: Fang Xia and Hai Feizhang, along with nearly 70 Heavenly Rankers, including more than tente-stage Qi Sea cultivators.


    <i>It''s a shame that Qiong Sea King has yet to break through. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Despite receiving the best inheritances and Wu Yuan��s personal guidance, Qiong Sea King and the Arctic King had yet to advance to the next phase. Meanwhile, Hai Feizhang who had kept a low profile all these years quietly ascended to the Golden Core stage two years prior.


    <i>Let''s go.</i> Wu Yuan stepped into the air as easily as walking on t ground. With each stride, he shed dozens of li ahead, covering hundreds of li in a second. The scenery beneath him shed past in a blur.


    For most cultivators who contemted the Earth Dao, their speed onnd would only be slightly faster than their flight speed. But when Wu Yuan moved, the air transformed into solid ground beneath his feet, melding sky andnd into a seamless whole.


    This was one of the traits of a Spiritual Body cultivator.


    Indeed, after fifteen years of cultivation, Wu Yuan advanced from the Communion phase to the first-stage Spiritual Body phase.


    Given that Wu Yuan had the assistance of the Luminous Immortal Soil and blood mist, this cultivation progress was considered rather slow. This dy was due to him cultivating both paths of qi and body refining, causing him to face obstructions in body refining when he progressed in qi refining.


    This wasn��t toorge an obstacle at the Communion phase, but his progress in the Spiritual Body phase was far slower.


    ...


    Given Wu Yuan��s flight speed, he arrived at Zhong Continental City from Cloudhill in less than seven minutes.


    In contrast to the prosperous Holy Capital in the past, the city was now smaller. However, it regained its vibrancy, bing the thirdrgest city in the world, surpassed only by Cloud Capital and the Ster City.


    Wu Yuan swiftly made his way to the Yanqing Hall at the west. After passing through a mind confusion array of white fog, he was greeted by a colossal snake.


    "Master," the snake raised its head.


    It was Little ck, now a colossal creature nearly 100 zhangs long who could block out the sun when it spread its wings.


    Its current power far surpassed that of the Spiritual Body devil soldiers. Even a third-stage Spiritual Body devil soldier wouldn��t stand a chance against Little ck in a one-on-one battle!


    "Little ck, you have done well," Wu Yuannded gracefully, giving Little ck a reassuring pat on its now shrinking head.


    Little ck nuzzled against Wu Yuan''s hand affectionately.


    In recent years, Little ck had taken up residence in the Yanqing Hall.


    "It was my miscalction that kept Master waiting for so long," Little ck expressed remorse.


    Wu Yuan smiled reassuringly and followed Little ck into the depths of the Yanqing Hall.


    The main hall remained unchanged. The only difference was that the sparkling liquid that once filled the entire crystal tform was now nearly depleted, while the giant elliptical egg in the center, two meters in diameter, disyed intricate patterns that shone like starlight on its white shell.


    The vital aura of the egg had grown significantly strongerpared to fifteen years ago!


    "Has the incubation stage concluded?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Yes," Little ck nodded eagerly, "Master, observe the pattern on the eggshell. It��s wless and naturally formed."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    The patterns on the eggshell seemed to intertwine in perfect harmony, and any addition would disrupt the delicate bnce.


    "Furthermore, I sensed that its vital aura peaked over the past month," Little ck added, "It has ceased to develop any further."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged the information with a faint nod.


    With the formation of cryptic patterns on the eggshellpleted and its vital aura reaching its peak, they could roughly assume that the incubation stage had reached its conclusion.


    However, both Wu Yuan and Little ck possessed only theoretical knowledge, hence they weren��t able to confirm this.


    "Alright then. Little ck, protect me," Wu Yuan instructed.


    Little ckplied, soaring out of the main hall and coiling itself around the entire mountain with its colossal body. In the Spiritual Body phase, one could erge or shrink their body to any size.


    "With Little ck guarding me, even foes as powerful as Fang Xia won��t be able to threaten or disturb me," Wu Yuan''s Soul Force extended outward as he rxed.


    Compared to Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King, Wu Yuan ced his utmost trust in Little ck.


    Despite only being at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase, Little ck had learned many ether arts, possessed a strong immortal root, as well asprehended a Domain, making it powerful enough to outmatch Fang Xia, a second-stage Golden Core cultivator.


    ...


    Within the main hall of the Yanqing Hall, Wu Yuan settled into a lotus position, clearing his thoughts and focusing his mind, going over the Soul Split Secret Art onest time in his mind.


    This secret art was part of the inheritance memories passed down to Wu Yuan, and for the past fifteen years, he simted the first level countless times.


    <i>Compared to fifteen years ago, my soul has grown significantly after consistently Visualizing the ck pagoda, yet my cultivation of qi remains at the seventh-stage Qi Sea phase. The demands on my soul are not high.</i>


    Why did a cultivator have to reach the Yuan Soul level in order to split their soul at the Amethyst Cradle phase?


    The amount of mana an Amethyst Cradle cultivator possessed was far too much for a weak split soul to control. This was why Wu Yuan focused on cultivating his vital ether rather than essentia, leading him to reach the first level of the Spiritual Body phase.


    Soon, hepleted the mental simtion of the process.


    <i>Let��s begin. </i>Wu Yuan felt his heart reach apletely peaceful state. The crystal tform before him slowly opened, revealing the giant egg that emitted a potent vital aura.


    Within his qi sea, the ethereal sword soul gleamed, surrounded by nine lifebound flying swords that enveloped his qi sea with sword qi.


    <i>Soul Split!</i> Wu Yuan initiated the technique.


    <i>Crack~</i> An excruciating pain surged through Wu Yuan''s entire being, threatening to overwhelm him. Even his consciousness dimmed. This agony eclipsed even the torment he faced when confronting the worm devil at death''s door.


    The Soul Split Secret Art wasn''t merely about splitting the soul down the middle. The soul was formless, an amalgamation of consciousness threads. Hence, the secret art entailed extracting strands of consciousness one by one from the body. Each step proceeded ording to Wu Yuan��s expectations.


    <i>Expel.</i> He gritted his teeth against the searing pain as his consciousness threads flowed out from his upper dantian lobe.


    This was not the spreading of Soul Force; it was the separation of the soul''s essence. Waves of weakness overtook his mind, testing his resolve. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. Now, he understood why so few cultivators dared to undertake such an endeavor.


    Even splitting a mere one-fifth of his soul already left him feeling drained. To split around half? Nevertheless, with his powerful soul and meticulous preparations, Wu Yuan persevered.


    As the expelled strands of consciousness lingered in the air outside his body, a sense of hesitation and coldness permeated them. The Yang Soul, while able to possess bodies, could not remain outside the body for long. Only upon reaching the Yuan Soul level could it manifest a truly resilient form.


    <i>Go! </i>Wu Yuanmanded.


    The hundreds of expelled soul consciousness threads swiftly streamed into the massive shell within the tform.


    In one seamless motion, it was done.


    Why was finding a suitable vessel so challenging? Only a spiritless body vessel was capable of allowing one to wlessly meld their soul consciousness threads with its physical form.


    A spiritless body vessel was absolutely pure, without the slightest contamination of soul aura. Even for a powerhouse surpassing the Amethyst Cradle phase, acquiring such a body was exceedingly difficult. Such a body vessel was also the ideal vessel for amodating a soul.


    Hence, Wu Yuan saw this as a golden opportunity. He knew that Reverend Qing Yan was only an Amethyst Cradle Reverend, and it was remarkably rare for someone like him to possess a Star Embryonic Body.


    As Wu Yuan''s soul consciousness threads entered the shell, it felt like they were returning home to their original body. A feeling of warmth enveloped his soul. It was a perfect integration!


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan felt his consciousness shift suddenly, perceiving the existence of two true selves. Their perception of the world was distinct, however the consciousnesses of both selves were shared. Both were Wu Yuan.


    <i>Qi refiner self, assimte. </i>Wu Yuan swiftly merged his soul consciousness threads with the body inside the shell. Nourished by the body, the split soul began to recover to its original state.


    As the soul entered the shell, the once internally chaotic Star Embryonic Body underwent rapid transformation. Originally in an unborn state, it would soon be born into the world upon merging with the soul.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan''s soul was severely weakened, fatigue washing over him. Despite this, he pressed on. Splitting the soul was merely the initial step.


    The second step - relocating the qi sea!


    The qi sea, a mysterious realm that was part real and part illusion, could be relocated into a spiritless body vessel. The soul chamber could not.


    However, the qi sea alone could be moved, but the essentia and mana could not be carried over.


    <i>Open! Split! </i>With a mentalmand, pain tore through Wu Yuan as his chest split open. A sphere of light burst forth, hurtling towards the white egg.


    Thankfully, Wu Yuan had reached the Spiritual Body phase, reducing the damage taken from splitting his qi sea. This second step posed little danger.


    The cracks in the eggshell multiplied, signaling the rapid transformation of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    As the cracks grew wider, the sphere of light descended, entering the egg through the fractures and merging with the new body.


    A surge of vigorous vital aura emanated from the cracked white shell.


    <i>Sess.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    All that was left to do was wait for the birth of his qi refiner self.

 Chapter 296: Goodbye, Realm Master

    <h4>Chapter 296: Goodbye, Realm Master</h4>


    <i>Thank goodness my soul managed to hold on. If I��d fainted and failed to extract my qi sea, the fate of my immortal root degree would have been left to chance. </i>Wu Yuan heaved an internal sigh of relief. <i>I hope my third-degree immortal root remains unaffected. I already reacted as quickly as I could.</i>


    One had to understand that if the original body''s qi sea failed to merge with the new body, a new qi sea would naturally form in the new body, though the resulting immortal root degree was uncertain.


    The transformation of the Star Embryonic Body had to follow its natural course.


    <i>ck Pagoda. </i>Within the upper dantian lobe of his body refiner self, his weakened soul began to Visualize the ck pagoda silently, stabilizing swiftly and beginning to recover gradually. Though the pace of recovery was not swift, it was enough to astound anyone if the news got out.


    <i>It appears that I have only lost a fifth, but it will take at least a year to restore my soul to its former strength. </i>Wu Yuan sighed quietly to himself.


    Of course, Wu Yuan was well aware that many Shambh cultivators struggled for centuries to mend their souls after the process of splitting them.


    The stronger the soul, the more arduous the recovery process.


    <i>Nevertheless, it��s a sacrifice worth making.</i>


    Cultivating two true selves presented numerous advantages. They could each cultivate unhindered, grasping the intricacies of different paths without interference.


    Most importantly, he had acquired an additional life!


    <i>Save for the karma and destiny of myth, no other attack can bridge the connection between true selves.</i>


    How inscrutable was karma and destiny? Even the legendary Archeldritches were helpless against their power. There was only a passing mention of the concepts in the immortal slips. Hence, Wu Yuan decided not to worry too much about it. It was a concern for another time.


    <i>My body refiner self can Visualize the ck pagoda, allowing my soul to quickly recuperate. However, healing the soul of my qi refiner self won��t be easy, and I can only depend on my body to nourish it gradually.</i>


    As for specific techniques to cultivate the soul? Though Wu Yuan possessed some from his eldritch warrior inheritance memories, their efficacy paled inparison to Visualizing the ck pagoda.


    As the part of Wu Yuan''s soul that left his original body merged fully with the Star Embryonic Body, his qi refiner self��s upper dantian lobe was formed.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes abruptly widened in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.


    Without warning, a majestic ck pagoda suddenly materialized within the upper dantian lobe of the qi refiner self. It bore an uncanny resemnce to the ck pagoda within Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s upper dantian lobe.


    The only disparity was that one was shrouded by a faintyer of blood-red mist, while the other was not.


    This sight shook Wu Yuan to his core.


    When he was a martial artist, he sensed the ck pagoda the moment his soul perceived the upper dantian lobe. Thus, at that time, Wu Yuan remained unaware of when the ck pagoda manifested.


    But this time, Wu Yuan beheld the emergence of the ck pagoda within his qi refiner self''s upper dantian lobe with his own eyes.


    <i>What exactly is this ck pagoda? </i>Wu Yuan was perplexed.


    As he cultivated and grew stronger, Wu Yuan also became increasingly bewildered by the ck pagoda. Even now, he didn��t have the faintest notion of what it was.


    However, he smiled.


    <i>This is a good thing. With a ck pagoda in my qi refiner self''s upper dantian lobe, my soul cultivation will be enhanced tenfold at least.</i>


    <i>Hum~</i> The feeble soul of his qi refiner self also began to Visualize the ck pagoda. It grew steady, no longer on the verge of dispersal, and gradually recuperated.


    And so, of Wu Yuan''s two true selves, one sat in the lotus position within the main hall, slowly healing its soul and physical wounds. The other reclined within the white eggshell, recovering its soul and going through the process of transformation.


    After more than ten days went by, a low hum filled the air, followed by a streak of light emerging from the inside of the circr tform.


    It was a man with cropped hair. He stood at nearly 1.9 meters tall, his physique robust and powerful. Striding across the air unclothed, his sharp features and piercing gaze exuded a dangerously sharp aura, reminiscent of a divine weapon.


    A ck robe flew up, cloaking his body entirely. His eyes locked onto a figure in white robes seated in the lotus position.


    <i>Observing myself in this state is truly unnerving. </i>The ck-robed Wu Yuan smiled awkwardly. The souls and memories of both selves were connected seamlessly, without birthing a new consciousness.


    Soon, the white-robed Wu Yuan rose to his feet, extending his hand as the essentia and mana remaining in his body refiner self flowed into the ck-robed Wu Yuan without obstruction.


    Two true selves were originally a single entity, hence there were no obstructions during the transfer of mana.


    Simultaneously, nine beams of light shot forth from the white-robed Wu Yuan��s fingertips. They were his nine lifebound flying swords. Though they had yet to produce artifact spirits, they exhibited a simple consciousness, circling around the ck-robed Wu Yuan joyfully akin to yful children.


    <i>The foundation of the qi sea in the qi refiner self has sustained minor damage, but it remains a third-degree immortal root with no significant repercussions. </i>Wu Yuan assessed silently.


    Such a result was already fantastic, considering how many Shambh cultivators saw their immortal roots downgraded upon creating a qi refiner self.


    <i>Remarkably, my cultivation level has increased to the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase in one go.</i> Wu Yuan smiled with satisfaction.


    In a brief span of time, his cultivation had risen by two stages, thanks in part to the abundant energy within the Star Embryonic Body. This energy not only transformed his physical form but also bolstered his cultivation significantly. In fact, such an increase was considered rtively small.


    <i>However, thebat power of my qi refiner true self has declined. This will be the case in the short term.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    While the mana of his qi refiner true self had grown, his soul had diminished to just one-fifth of its previous strength, resulting in a weakened ability to manipte artifacts.


    <i>One cannot expect perfection in every aspect. In terms of qi refining, my strength has only waned by 20%.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly. <i>Yet my potential is now greater, and my strength will surely rebound in due time.</i>


    <i>At the very least, I can attempt to upgrade my lifebound flying sword to sixth-grade spirit weapons.</i>


    For over a decade, the numerous powerhouses of the Middle Land Guard had scoured the vast expanse of the Middle Land, exploring the seas and tunneling underground, discovering numerous metal ore deposits. The resources obtained would be used to upgrade Wu Yuan''s nine lifebound flying swords, which had progressed to seventh-grade spirit equipment.


    His qi refiner self possessed a third-degree immortal root. Though it was currently at the ninth stage Qi Sea phase, its mana rivaled that of a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root.


    Consequently, given enough treasures, the lifebound flying swords could even be upgraded to sixth-grade spirit weapons.


    <i>However, I fear the treasury of the Middle Land Guard may not have adequate resources for that.</i> Wu Yuan sighed softly.


    A lifebound flying sword couldn��t be upgraded by feeding it junk. To maintain the quality of the sword''s foundation, one had to perform the process methodically. The higher the grade of the lifebound flying sword, the more stringent the requirements for metals and treasures.


    Ultimately, the Middle Land was limited in its resources. Could it provide enough treasures to facilitate the upgrading of all nine lifebound flying swords? Uncertainty gnawed at Wu Yuan.


    <i>One step at a time.</i> The ck-cloaked Wu Yuan waved his hand, and the nine flying swords transformed into sword pellets, returning to the Qi Sea to continue their nourishment.


    By nurturing them with one��s essentia, lifebound flying swords could be upgraded gradually, albeit at a painstakingly slow pace. Upgrading a sword from seventh-grade spirit weapons to sixth-grade spirit weapons would take hundreds of years. And Wu Yuan possessed nine of them!


    While musing inwardly on this, several beams of light flew from his body refiner self to his qi refiner self. These were spirit battle armor, storage artifacts, and various other items.


    Unlike the soul chamber of the body refiner, the qi sea of a qi refiner existed in a state between reality and illusion. Apart from the lifebound artifact crafted by oneself, other artifacts and items could not enter the qi sea and had to be stored in storage artifacts.


    Within the storage artifact for his qi refiner selfy the four sets of flying swords from Jin Quan, alongside a plethora of etherstone and ethercrystal.


    At this juncture, it could be said that Wu Yuan''s two true selves were now fully formed.


    <i>In the past, I refined both my qi and body within one body. My soul, meridians, and flesh had to be shared among two paths, causing interference. </i>Wu Yuan''s two true selves exchanged a nce and chuckled.


    Previously, one plus one was less than two, hindering one another. Now, one plus one was greater than two, advancing in harmony.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> A shrunken Little ck entered the grand hall of the Yanqing Hall and immediately spotted the two Wu Yuans. The one cloaked in ck exuded a sharp aura, while the other in white seemed more restrained but still emitted a domineering air.


    "Master, you��ve seeded?" Little ck''s excitement was palpable as it eagerly wrapped itself around the arm of the body refiner self. It was able to easily distinguish the differences between the two true selves, and was naturally closer to the body refiner self.


    "Let��s go, Little ck," Wu Yuan said, swiftly leading the way out along the passage of the Yanqing Hall, leaving behind his qi refiner self in ck robes.


    <i>In terms of power, my qi refiner self is no weaker than Little ck at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase. </i>The ck-robed Wu Yuan broke into a slight smile. <i>From now on, my qi refiner self will guard the Yanqing Hall.</i>


    In truth, Wu Yuan had already gathered some ethercrystal over the years, making it rtively easy to activate the Yanqing Hall. Additionally, the soul chamber at the Spiritual Body phase could also store the Yanqing Hall. However, considering the presence of a teleportation array within the hall, Wu Yuan chose to proceed cautiously. Previously, it was Jin Quan��s lifeline, and now it was Wu Yuan��s.


    <i>This can wait until after my breakthrough to the Golden Core phase. For now, I��ll strengthen my soul and cultivate step by step. </i>The ck-robed Wu Yuan decided as he returned to the meditation chamber to resume cultivating.


    This was another advantage of having true selves; one could stand guard or embark on a risky expedition while the other focused on cultivation undisturbed.


    Wu Yuan had long nned to keep the existence of his qi refiner self hidden unless absolutely necessary. Every step on the road to immortality was fraught with peril. With a variety of methods at his disposal, his chances of survival would increase.


    ...


    Wu Yuan rode atop Little ck, the Teng Snake soaring through the air as they swiftly made their way towards the Chu Continent.


    "Master, are we heading to Jiexian Mountain?" Little ck asked. Over the years, it had learned about the existence of the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    ��Mm,�� Wu Yuan confirmed with a nod. "The realm master mentioned a batch of resources awaiting me upon reaching the Spiritual Body phase or Shambh phase. I achieved this milestone two years ago, but circumstances prevented me from making a trip there. Now that I��ve created a qi refiner self, I have settled one of my worries. It��s time to im my reward.��


    Little ck nodded and increased its speed, propelling them towards Jiexian Mountain far faster than Wu Yuan��s top speed. In less than seven minutes, Little ck crossed 20,000 li, bringing them to the edge of their destination.


    ��Realm Master.�� Wu Yuan extended his Soul Force.


    <i>Hum~</i> An unseen power descended, transporting them into the Fourth Eldritch Realm. As usual, they arrived within the familiar confines of the temple.


    Wu Yuan smiled, greeting the towering figure before him. "Realm Master."


    "Wu Yuan, you��ve reached the Spiritual Body phase in just a little over ten years?" The realm master gasped in astonishment, then it turned into shock. "But where is your essentia? Was your qi sea destroyed by someone? Did you meet a powerful enemy?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head, "It��s not that. Realm Master, I have created my qi refiner self."


    The realm master fell into a pensive silence.

 Chapter 297: Archeldritches And The Immortal Court

    <h4>Chapter 297: Archeldritches And The Immortal Court</h4>


    At Wu Yuan''s reply, the realm master found himself at a loss for words. Time and time again, Wu Yuan surpassed his expectations. When they first met, Wu Yuan was merely sixteen or seventeen years old. Back then, he had seen potential in Wu Yuan, and hoped that he would advance to the Shambh phase and restore the Hou Feng Tribe.


    But then, Wu Yuan received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos and established a second-degree immortal root. Andter, in his early twenties, he grasped a Domain and eliminated a juvenile worm devil.


    Now, just a little over a decadeter, Wu Yuan had reached the Spiritual Body phase. But what truly astounded the realm master was the fact that Wu Yuan had created a qi refiner self. This went beyond mere talent.


    "Wu Yuan." After a pause, the realm master finally spoke, drawing a deep breath. "Did youe to im your reward for reaching the Spiritual Body phase?"


    Wu Yuan nodded, touching down on the ground. Little ck winded around his arm and gazed about curiously.


    On its first visit here, it was newly hatched and still somewhat naive. And since Wu Yuan had kept it within his soul chamber, it knew little about the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    "So this is the Teng Snake? It appears quite intelligent," the realm master remarked, a rare smile gracing his features as he observed the snake around Wu Yuan''s arm. He had nurtured this Teng Snake egg for millennia, forming a deep bond with it.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. "Its name is Little ck."


    The realm master''s expression stiffened. Little ck?


    "Your talent for naming seems to becking," the realm master couldn''t resist casting a nce at Wu Yuan. "Much like your skill in finding a Daopanion."


    At this, Wu Yuan could only manage a sheepish grin.


    "Reaching the fifth-stage Communion phase in a mere few years is something I can stillprehend," the realm master began, shaking his head. "But to then cultivate two paths simultaneously and reach the Spiritual Body phase in just over ten years? Frankly, I am perplexed. Such rapid cultivation seems imusible by relying solely on the Luminous Immortal Soil."


    Wu Yuan simply smiled in response, choosing not to offer an exnation.


    Under normal circumstances, he should only have reached the eighth-stage Communion phase, but the realm master was unaware of the blood-red mist''s influence. This mysterious mist had significantly hastened Wu Yuan''s cultivation speed, rendering his progress several times quicker.


    However, upon reaching the ninth-stage Communion phase, the blood mist acquired from ying the worm devil and Jin Quan was nearly depleted. Therefore, Wu Yuan had to rely on himself to break through to the Spiritual Body phase.


    Observing Wu Yuan''s reticence, the realm master chuckled. "Where is your qi refiner self? You visit once every decade or so; is there something you wish to discuss with me?"


    Understanding that Wu Yuan was no longer a naive youth, the realm master refrained from pressing further. Since he didn��t wish to speak, there had to be a valid reason.


    "Indeed, there are matters I seek your guidance on," Wu Yuan smiled.


    He quickly recounted the significant events of the past decade. Apart from matters rted to the ck pagoda, he withheld no details, including the inheritance of Reverend Qing Yan. When dealing with different people, the degree of confidentiality also varied.


    The realm master''s astonishment was palpable as he absorbed Wu Yuan''s words. "Acquiring a Star Embryonic Body from an Amethyst Cradle Reverend��s inheritance? Among the spiritless body vessels, this is a decent one. I don��t even possess the most ordinary spiritless body vessel here.��


    Wu Yuan just nodded slightly. The purpose of the Fourth Eldritch Realm was to train new eldritches, why would it hold such unique treasures?


    "Since you have obtained it, then it is simply meant to be," the realm master dered solemnly. ��Among the numerous Shambh powerhouses who desperately seek spiritless body vessels, many see their efforts end up in vain, ultimately resigning themselves to abandoning the path of qi refining."


    ��As for you.�� He turned his gaze towards Wu Yuan, his eyes glittering. "Before reaching 50, you already possess two true selves, paving the way for a boundless future. Two true selves, two lives, two souls - your progress will greatly surpass that of a single true self."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "The progression of your soul is truly unbelievable," the realm master stated, gazing at Wu Yuan with awe. "Evenpared to other Amethyst Cradle cultivators, your soul might not be at the bottom tier. If you hadn��t informed me, I may not have even realized that you recently utilized the Soul Split Secret Art."


    "My soul is indeed a little weak," Wu Yuan said.


    This was true. Despite Visualizing the ck pagoda for over ten days, his soul had yet to fully recover. However, this wasn��t an obvious fact.


    "It��s already impressive that you were able to stabilize your soul in such a short time," the realm master remarked with a smile. "Don��t be too greedy."


    The realm master genuinely felt joy at Wu Yuan''s progress. The stronger Wu Yuan became, the closer he would be to the resurgence of the Hou Feng Tribe.


    "Realm Master, my main concern is the teleportation array," Wu Yuan admitted.


    With Wu Yuan''s current power, he had almost full control over the situation in the Middle Land, so he wasn''t too worried. But beyond its borders, it was a different story. The so-called ing of immortals�� briefly mentioned in the Middle Land''s ancient texts made Wu Yuan wary.


    "I have been contemting the teleportation array you mentioned earlier," the realm master replied. ��I have never heard of the term ��Li Tian��, but it likely represents the name of a region of a certainrge faction. And ��0068�� should refer to a city, base, or teleportation array that is numbered ''68'' in this region.


    "However, there is a 99% chance that this teleportation array does not lead to a different location within the Summerpeak World," the realm master continued. "The size of a worldlet does not necessitate the presence of four spatial mithril towers. Just one would suffice at most."


    Wu Yuan pondered this information. He had considered these points, but not as thoroughly as the realm master.


    "Should I take a risk and attempt it?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Hehe, with so many qi refiners at your disposal, why not get one to be your test subject?" the realm master chuckled.


    "I have considered that option before," Wu Yuan admitted with a bitter smile. "But activating the teleportation array requires a massive quantity of ethercrystal."


    "Thus far, aside from a small portion reserved for my cultivation, the remaining ethercrystal is only sufficient for a single activation of the teleportation array. I fear there won��t be enough for a second attempt," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    To conduct a proper experiment, he needed enough ethercrystal for at least three activations. Two for the round trip of the test subject, and one more for Wu Yuan to make the journey there after confirming the safety level of the destination. This was the bare minimum. If not for the scarcity of ethercrystal, Wu Yuan would have conducted the experiment long ago.


    "That won��t be a problem. The reward I have prepared for you for reaching the Spiritual Body phase includes a significant amount of ethercrystal," the realm master grinned slightly. "Enough for you to activate the teleportation array dozens of times."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. The realm master was generous indeed.


    "You need not worry about ethercrystal for now," the realm master assured. "Instead, you must think carefully about the risks. The teleportation array may lead to a macrocosm or some other mysterious realm. Do you still wish to proceed? And if so, will both of your true selves journey together, or just one?"


    Wu Yuan delved deep into thought. Indeed, this was a decision that required careful consideration.


    "My suggestion is that, if all goes smoothly, your qi refiner self should set out first, with your body refiner self following shortly after," the realm master advised.


    "Why is that?" Wu Yuan questioned.


    "Based on what you said, numerous cultivators reside outside the Middle Land in the other regions of Summerpeak World, and they may visit the Middle Land in the future. Is that right?" the realm master inquired.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan affirmed.


    This wasn��t a secret among Heavenly Rankers. He had learned a bit about this when he first became an eldritch warrior. After defeating Jin Quan and uniting the Middle Land, he gradually took control of the Sta Consortium and the Wu Sect, and read the records from their archives, thus expanding his understanding.


    The Middle Land was a gargantuanndmass surrounded by vast bodies of water on all sides. Those who dared to venture in any direction across the waters would eventually find themselves at the very edge of the world. The closer one drew to the edge, the thinner the spiritual qi grew, until it vanished entirely. Thus, the furthest reaches across the four oceans became known as the Spiritless Regions, deste and unforgiving ces where no cultivator or ordinary creature could easily survive.


    The Middle Land resembled a colossal cage, isting its inhabitants. This was what drove Daoist Wan Xing and the others to such great lengths during the worm devil cmity. There was simply no way out.


    This made Wu Yuan��s ims that he brought Fang Xia with him from across the ocean when he masqueraded as Wan Liu all the more confounding to the Heavenly Rankers. Throughout the history of the Middle Land, no outsider had ever made it across the Spiritless Regions into the Middle Land.


    However, this did not mean that no outsider had ever set foot within the Middle Land. This was what theing of immortals meant. The Spiritless Regions, which acted as a barrier between the Middle Land and the outside world, experienced periodic spiritual tides every thousand years or so. During these periods, the concentration of spiritual qi would rise, causing the Spiritless Regions to recede.


    Nestled within the Xin Continent, adjacent to the Spiritless Region,y an area where the spiritual qi remained somewhat dense. This was the most vulnerable point of connection between the Middle Land and the world beyond. When the spiritual tides arrived, a passage would be revealed in this area, linking the Xin Continent, and thus the Middle Land, to the rest of the world.


    The term ��immortal epoch�� denoted the periods when foreign cultivators entered the Middle Land. ording to the annals, three such spiritual tides had urred in the past. The first tide had brought no outsiders, but the subsequent two had ushered in foreign cultivators. Each incursion of these foreign cultivators had wrought havoc upon the Middle Land.


    Why did the records of the Sta Consortium indicate that they had re-established the ''Heavenly Rankings'' and ''Land Rankings'' a thousand years ago? Because that was the period of civilization��s resurgence following an immortal epoch.


    Despite the destruction these foreign cultivators often caused, they also imparted knowledge and advancements, sparking a renaissance within the Middle Land. Various factions, including the Sta Consortium, the Pleiades Guild, and the Ninedeaths Circle, had been founded by foreign cultivators from thest immortal epoch, who had left behind a legacy of rudimentary cultivation texts.


    "Based on historical patterns, the spiritual tide is due to arrive once more. It mighte anytime between now and 100 years.�� Wu Yuan said.


    The realm master nodded, "No wonder I sensed the presence of formidable qi refiners nearby on multiple asions, which vanished swiftly. It should be none other than theing of immortals."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    As recorded by the Sta Consortium, foreign cultivators ventured to the Middle Land primarily to pige resources. While they did bring ruin to certain top-tier sects, they refrained from the widespread ughter of mortals, leaving the popcergely unaware of their existence.


    Only selected Heavenly Rankers possessed knowledge of these foreign threats.


    "In previous spiritual tides, there were no Golden Core cultivators among the intruders," Wu Yuan stated. "However, we know very little about them. The Middle Land''s civilization is currently in a period of resurgence, and the other regions of Summerpeak are evenrger. We must not underestimate them."


    If the next spiritual tide ushered in the same level of adversaries as before, Wu Yuan wouldn��t have anything to fear. Fang Xia alone was enough to deal with them. The current strength of the Middle Land was far superior to that of a thousand years ago.


    On top of that, there was Wu Yuan himself. If his qi refiner and body refiner selves joined forces, he wouldn��t shy away from a battle, even if the intruders werete-stage Golden Core cultivators.


    Yet, the known information was scarce; who could say what perils lurked in the distant corners of the Summerpeak World? An encounter with an Amethyst Cradle Reverend was not outside the realm of possibility.


    Hence, the teleportation array held a pivotal role in Wu Yuan''s ns��a vital escape route during moments of crisis.


    "That is why I suggested that your qi-refiner self go forth to explore the ce where the teleportation array leads first," the realm master spoke slowly. "100,000 years have passed; the state of the macrocosm remains a mystery, much like Reverend Qing Yan''s hatred for eldritch cultivators."


    "In truth, I specte that the ancient conflict may have been waged between the Archeldritches and the Celestial Soldiers of the Immortal Court."


    "I do not know the oue of the war. However, the Immortal Court''s dominion has stood unyielding for eons."


    "If the macrocosm is currently under the control of the Immortal Court and your body refiner self heads over now, you might be killed the moment your eldritch identity is revealed," the realm master cautioned gravely. "In the Summerpeak World, the worst possible scenario is the birth of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend. However, this is a manageable threat, and the Fourth Eldritch Realm can always offer you sanctuary."


    "But in the macrocosm, powerhouses abound. There exist peak powerhouses who can snuff out life across billions of li with a mere thought."


    Wu Yuan''s astonishment was palpable.


    These were revtions that the realm master had withheld from him until now. The great war that ravaged myriad worlds 100,000 years ago might have been sparked by the sh between Archeldritches and the Immortal Court?


    "I can only surmise based on fragmentary evidence," the realm master said lightly. ��Given how weak you were in the past, what good would such knowledge serve? It would only cause you to overthink unnecessarily."


    Wu Yuan found himself momentarily speechless.


    "Of course, everything hinges on whether the teleportation array still functions," the realm master continued, "If it fails, it would be wise to survey other regions of the Summerpeak World before deciding on your next steps."


    Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Alright, I have exined everything you need to know," the realm master concluded with a wave of his hand, releasing several streams of light.


    "It��s time to give you your reward."

 Chapter 298: Preparations Before Departure

    <h4>Chapter 298: Preparations Before Departure</h4>


    "Treasure?" Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with excitement. The primary reason for his trip here was to obtain his rewards for reaching the Spiritual Body phase.


    "ording to the rules, upon achieving the Spiritual Body phase, you will receive a gift from the Fourth Eldritch Realm." The realm master gestured towards several beams of light. "These are the best treasures I can prepare for you within my authority."


    Wu Yuan looked over. The first treasure was apletely ck, sealed weapon case. It appeared to be made of wood, but was actually crafted from an unidentified metal.


    "I am aware that despite your sword cultivator ss, your heart lies with the saber," the realm master pointed to the weapon case. "This contains an earth attribute saber I selected specifically for you. It is a third-grade spirit weapon, enough for you to exhibit your power."


    Third-grade spirit equipment? Wu Yuan��s breath caught. What a valuable treasure!


    While a fourth-grade spirit weapon was only one grade lower than a third-grade one, the difference was immense, one worth a hundred times more than the other.


    Though weapons such as sabers and swords often held the least value among artifacts of the same grade, this was still a piece of third-grade spirit equipment after all. He would have to exchange around 30 suits of his current eldritch armor for such a saber.


    It should be noted that the Delirium Landbreaker Saber Emperor Dong Pan had gifted Wu Yuan did not quite meet his needs any longer.


    The weapon case creaked open, revealing the war saber within. Instantly, a dense aura seeped out. It wasn��t sharp, but rather exuded a heavy presence, just like a mountain.


    "What an impressive saber," Wu Yuan remarked, his eyes shimmering as he examined the weapon. The entire saber was ck and emitted a potent aura of Earth Dao, a testament to the skill and cultivation level of its creator.


    With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan stowed the saber away in his soul chamber.


    "This second treasure is meant for the Teng Snake," the realm master dered, unwilling to refer to it as Little ck. He couldn��t help but feel that such a name was unworthy of the mighty Teng Snake.


    As the object came into view, Wu Yuan realized that he was familiar with it �C eldritch armor. Apanying the armor was a pair of wings, about a meter in length and nearly transparent, with feathers that were sharp as knives and gleamed with cold light. In terms of strength, the wing artifact seemed to surpass the eldritch armor.


    "This wing artifact, called the Veiled Serpent Plume, is exceptional even among third-grade spirit equipment," the realm master exined. "With both the eldritch armor and the Veiled Serpent Plume, the Teng Snake will be better equipped for battle."


    Wu Yuan nodded, relieved to have found a suitable artifact for Little ck. This was a problem that had vexed him for a long time.


    "The Veiled Serpent Plume not only aids the Teng Snake in flight speed andbat, but also serves as a disguise," the realm master continued.


    Wu Yuan was intrigued.


    "The Teng Snake may not be as well-known as the True Dragon, World Ringworm, or Phoenix, but those with the right inheritance and knowledge can easily identify it," the realm master warned. "Any eldritch who has a contracted Teng Snake is undeniably a top-tier genius. This could easily attract unwanted attention."


    "With the Veiled Serpent Plume, the Teng Snake can alter its appearance. Even during Beast Fusion, the wing artifact can allow it to conceal its form," the realm master concluded.


    "I see," Wu Yuan nodded.


    While he faced no immediate threats in the Middle Land, traveling abroad posed unknown dangers. Staying discreet was the wisest course of action.


    "The final reward is ethercrystal," dered the realm master, gesturing towards the final storage artifact. "I��ve filled it with some ethercrystal and high-grade etherstone. Feel free to look through it."


    Wu Yuan offered a slight nod in response.


    His Soul Force extended, flowing into the belt-shaped storage artifact. Instantly, Wu Yuan''s expression shifted.


    "Realm master, how much ethercrystal is this?" Wu Yuan asked softly.


    It was a staggering amount.


    "Not much, just ten cubic meters of ethercrystal, not even enough to fill a small house," the realm master remarked casually, as though it was no big deal.


    This time, Wu Yuan fell silent, his heart thundering in his chest.


    Ten cubic meters? Enough to fill a house? Heavens!


    What was ethercrystal? It was the crystallized form of pure energy, containing a vast reservoir of spiritual qi.


    To Wu Yuan''s knowledge, within the macrocosm, a piece of sixth-grade spirit equipment was worth approximately a catty of ethercrystal. A piece of fourth-grade spirit equipment was valued at 1000 catties of ethercrystal.


    And the weight of one cubic meter of pure ethercrystal? Over 100,000 catties!


    The third-grade spirit saber, a cherished possession in Wu Yuan''s eyes, was worth one cubic meter of ethercrystal.


    In a nutshell, the realm master had just given Wu Yuan a million catties of ethercrystal in one go. Inparison, the million catties of high-grade etherstone ced nearby didn��t look impressive at all.


    "Do you find it valuable?" the realm master asked with a smirk.


    Wu Yuan could only nod.


    Indeed, it was immensely valuable. Over the past decade, he had enticed Heavenly Rankers to offer up their ethercrystal and scour the Middle Land for more in exchange for teachings from the Daoist Scripture Tower. But in total, Wu Yuan had amassed only several hundred catties of ethercrystal.


    Though this quantity sounded modest, several hundred catties were enough to make a Golden Core cultivator''s heart race.


    "It��s valuable to ordinary Golden Core cultivators. But for you, this isn��t much at all. Ethercrystal is one of the most essential treasures. Whether in cultivation, array formation, pill refining, tool crafting, and more, one cannot go without them. Hence, within the immortal cultivation realm, ethercrystal and high-grade etherstone are not just resources, but also currency," the realm master exined.


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    For cultivators, wealth held little significance! Or rather, few cultivators would ce trust in a currencycking actual value. The only universally epted equivalent resource among cultivators was ethercrystal.


    "You believe ethercrystal is valuable, but that perception is shaped by your time in the Middle Land," the realm master remarked. "The Middle Land is small with scarcely any resources. In the Communion phase, you were barely able to scrape together an adequate amount of resources. But now that you��ve reached the Spiritual Body phase, it is no longer sufficient, much like how a jiaolong cannot thrive in shallow waters.��


    "In the macrocosm, ethercrystal can be exchanged for any cultivation resource you desire, but in the Middle Land, its utility is limited," the realm master said. "Moreover, the Middle Land struggles to produce ethercrystal to begin with."


    The realm master continued, "Do you know that in the Heavenly Crystal River, powerful beings can condense a sphere of ethercrystal the size of a world in one go?"


    Wu Yuan felt his jaw drop.


    A sphere of ethercrystal the size of a world? How much was that?


    The realm master chuckled.


    It was no small feat! Condensing ethercrystal deep within the Heavenly Crystal River? While some great beings possessed such ability, such entities were few and far between in the vast river of time and space.


    "With your potential, joining arge faction in the macrocosm and bing a core member would grant you even greater resources," the realm master suggested. "What I have provided is but a fraction of what you could attain. Broaden your horizons."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Only the realm master would downy such a gift. As per Wu Yuan��s understanding, the wealth he had just been bestowed wasparable to the worth of a weaker Amethyst Cradle Reverend!


    Naturally, treasures like the Luminous Immortal Soil were worth more than a million catties of ethercrystal.


    Furthermore, the strength of Amethyst Cradle Reverends varied, with Reverend Qing Yan being one of the rtively stronger ones. The Yanqing Hall he left behind could fetch two or three million catties of ethercrystal if sold in the macrocosm.


    However, the Yanqing Hall wasn��t of much use to Wu Yuan at the moment; what hecked was ethercrystal. It was akin to crossing a desert �C what good was gold there? Water was far more useful.


    "For small matters, etherstone will suffice; for big matters, use ethercrystal," the realm master said. "These are the currencies of the immortal cultivation world."


    "This is everything I��ve prepared for your phase advancement reward," the realm master concluded.


    "Thank you, Realm Master," Wu Yuan expressed genuine gratitude.


    Each treasure was extremely useful for him and had likely been meticulously chosen by the realm master.


    "Very well. That will be all, it��s time for you to leave," the realm master looked directly at Wu Yuan, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I will be awaiting the day you advance to the Shambh phase."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan gave a firm nod.


    After a brief chat, Wu Yuan bid farewell to the realm master and left the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    ��He has departed once more.�� The realm master''s illusory form flickered slightly. Alone in the vacant hall, he murmured to himself, lost in contemtion, "Master, will I witness the revival of the Hou Feng Tribe?"


    Once, he dared not harbor any hope. But now, hope shone bright, no longer as distant as before.


    ...


    After departing from the Fourth Eldritch Realm, Wu Yuan made his way back to the Yanqing Hall, where he divided the ethercrystal and etherstone between his two true selves.


    <i>My qi refiner self requires more ethercrystalpared to my body refiner self.</i>


    Absorbing spiritual qi from high-grade etherstone would slightly expedite his mana cultivation more so than directly absorbing spiritual qi. By utilizing ethercrystal, he could further enhance the speed of his cultivation.


    Meanwhile, his body refiner self already benefited from the Luminous Immortal Soil, which provided superior effects for cultivationpared to ethercrystal.


    Afterpleting his task, his body refiner self returned to the Archeldritch Mountain in the Cloud Capital and began closed door cultivation.


    <i>Although the realm master didn''t say it explicitly, he��s encouraging me to venture out and take risks.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    Take risks? With Wu Yuan��s personality, he had always veered on the side of caution and stability, taking a methodical approach to cultivation over the past fifteen years. But now, he sensed that this path could no longer bring him closer to his goals.


    <i>My body refiner self still has room to progress, albeit at a slower pace without the blood-red mist. </i>


    With the inheritance memories, his body refiner self had nock of teachings or ether arts. However, this was not the case for his qi refiner self.


    <i>Currently, I��m cultivating the Dark Earth Sword Path. The path of the sword is the path of killing. A strong sword heart cannot be cultivated through closed-door cultivation alone. Moreover, the Dark Earth Sword Path is not among the best sword cultivation techniques. </i>Wu Yuan recognized this clearly.


    For his eldritch warrior cultivation, he had inheritance memories to refer to for guidance. But for sword cultivation, he had none. Who knew how long he would take to find the answers he sought?


    <i>My lifebound flying swords have now stagnated at their current grade, deprived of the minerals and treasures necessary for advancement.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    In a few hundred years, he could certainly reach the Golden Core phase through cultivation alone. But once time was lost, it could never be reimed.


    Once his vitality waned, the task of cultivating a powerful sword heart capable of cutting through all obstacles would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.


    <i>My Daoprehension has also reached a bottleneck at the Domain stage.</i> Wu Yuan sensed that he was quickly approaching the limits of what he could achieve by focusing solely on secluded cultivation.


    It was time for him to venture forth into the greater world and challenge himself!


    The feelings Wu Yuan had for the Middle Land were simr to how a teenager felt about his vige. In his heart, an insatiable yearning for the world beyond stirred, a yearning for excitement and blood-pumping battles!


    <i>If I were to pinpoint the moment that stirred my excitement the most, it would undoubtedly be my battle with Chen Luo.</i> Wu Yuan reminisced.


    A young hero shing fiercely with an opponent over 2000 li amidst chilling winds and shing des. What a stirring scene!


    Wu Yuan came to a decision.


    "Old Fang, Qiong Sea King,e to me at once," Wu Yuan��s voice echoed in their minds.


    Before long, Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King arrived at Archeldritch Mountain and followed Wu Yuan''s Soul Force guidance into the meditation chamber.


    "Young Master."


    "Master." The two of them greeted him.


    "I am preparing to leave the Middle Land. Will you join me on this journey?" Wu Yuan asked, smiling at the man and beast.


    Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King were taken aback. Leave the Middle Land?


    With Wu Yuan''s exnation, they soon understood what he meant.


    "There''s a teleportation array?" Fang Xia was shocked.


    "Master, you��ve cultivated two true selves?" Qiong Sea King was even more astonished, "Two lives?"


    "The destination of the teleportation array is unknown," Wu Yuan exined. "First, I need a trustworthy Heavenly Ranker to conduct a trial expedition to assess the danger level of the destination.��


    ��After that, if all goes well, and I��m ready to leave Middle Land, will you apany me?" Wu Yuan looked at the two individuals he trusted greatly.


    Fang Xia hesitated, a brief struggle flickered through his eyes.


    "Master, I��m willing to apany your qi refiner self. As for the trial attempt? I am willing to take the risk," Qiong Sea King offered, excitement shining in his eyes.

 Chapter 299: The Bloodforge Army’s Report

    <h4>Chapter 299: The Bloodforge Army��s Report</h4>


    Qiong Sea King took the initiative to step up. Fang Xia, who was still caught in a dilemma, was startled by his decisiveness.


    "Daoist Fang Xia, I am unlike you," Qiong Sea King said, shaking his head. "You��ve only spent two centuries cultivating, yet you��ve already reached the Golden Core phase and mastered the Domain stage long ago. Even in the face of limited resources, you can still progress. It may take a bit longer, perhaps 200-300 years more, but you can ascend to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase in due time. Only the leap from the Golden Core phase to bing an Amethyst Cradle Reverend marks a true hurdle."


    Fang Xia nodded in acknowledgment.


    Transitioning from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase did not necessitate mastering the Domain stage. However, to advance from the third-stage Golden Core phase to the fourth, one''s understanding of a Dao must reach the first level of the Domain stage at least.


    "But my circumstances differ," Qiong Sea King continued, his voice subdued. "Master has treated me well, granting me various body tempering techniques, ether arts, new body refining methods, and even the ''Eldritch Codex'' for study. Yet, I am unable to advance from the Harmony of Man and Nature stage.


    ��I have located two suitable locations for body tempering in the depths of the sea. However,cking the Body Tempering Spirit Pill and Bloodmerge Spirit Grass, I cannot endure the excruciating pain during the process," Qiong Sea King admitted, shaking his head. "Forcing myself to proceed would likely result in the copse of my soul."


    Fang Xia was taken aback.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. Despite Qiong Sea King''s age, he was born with a formidable bloodline and faced no opposition in the South Sea. Theck of trials and obstacles had left his Dao Heart and soul rtively fragile.


    Over the years, Qiong Sea King had faced numerous challenges in pursuit of a breakthrough, but still failed to achieve it.


    "As I age, the possibility of a breakthrough grows more distant," Qiong Sea King confessed quietly. "I sense that if I remain in the Middle Land, I may die of old age before I attain my goal."


    "In the Daoist Scripture Tower, it is written that the macrocosm is vast, teeming with interconnected spacetimes, countless cultivators, and rare treasures," Qiong Sea King mused.


    "Though the risks of exploration are high, if my time is toe, then let it be on the path to a breakthrough," he concluded, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. "In this life, I desire nothing else."


    "Daoist Qiong Sea indeed has a strong resolve," Fang Xia remarked with a tinge of admiration. "Ick your determination." He wished he wasn��t so fearful.


    "Old Fang, your views aren��t necessarily wrong," Wu Yuan remarked with a thoughtful expression. "There��s no need to charge recklessly into the unknown. Qiong Sea is willing to take risks due to his own motivations. I, too, wish to enter the macrocosm for reasons I cannot ignore."


    "Moreover," he continued, his lips spreading into a smile, "Even if I embark on this journey, it will be only my qi refiner self that ventures forth. My body refiner self will remain here in the Middle Land, cultivating in seclusion."


    On the road of immortal cultivation, each step must be tread with caution. Reacting recklessly to provocations, rushing into dangerous escapades under the misguided notion of self-improvement��such actions were folly. One should only take great risks when faced with bottlenecks, where it is impossible to break through otherwise.


    Wu Yuan believed that his body refiner self was still making rapid progress, a sign that he was on the correct path. Without absolute certainty, one should not hastily change course.


    <i>In the quest for immortality, speed is important, but stability is paramount.</i> Wu Yuan thought quietly.


    Reaching the Spiritual Body phase granted him a lifespan of 5000 years. Right now, Wu Yuan was in his 30s, time was on his side. If he could smoothly reach the Shambh phase in a century or two, he was willing to bide his time.


    His qi refiner self, however, could not afford such leisurely progress. He only had a lifespan of only 1000 years in the Golden Core phase. Furthermore, the path of the sword demanded unwavering determination to cut through all obstacles in one��s path, unlike that of the eldritch warrior.


    The memories and souls of his two true selves were connected, yet their cultivation paths diverged. Cultivating separately, eachpensating for the other''s weaknesses, was the correct approach.


    ...


    Wu Yuan chose not to disclose the news to anyone else. Entrusting the knowledge of the teleportation array and his two true selves to the loyal Fang Xia and Qiong Sea King was enough.


    In Wu Yuan''s n, only his qi-refining self would leave, so why bother with a public announcement? In terms of strength, his body-refining self had grown even more powerful, and the absence of his qi-refining self didn''t affect Wu Yuan''s ability to defend the Middle Land by much.


    After his meeting with Wu Yuan, Qiong Sea King returned to meet with Mountain Devil King and the other Archdemons. Of course, he dared not reveal the truth, citing absolute seclusion as the reason for his absence.


    Mountain Devil King and ck Jiao King fully understood Qiong Sea King��s determination. They knew all too well that Qiong Sea King had reached an advanced age and the prospect of a breakthrough was fading, making seclusion a logical choice.


    Two dayster, Wu Yuan''s body-refining self and Qiong Sea King departed Cloudhill and arrived at Yanqing Hall in the western reaches of Zhong Continental City.


    As for Fang Xia? Wu Yuan saw no need to summon him once more. Wu Yuan respected his decision to remain in the Middle Land, but it wasn��t necessary to divulge all the secrets of the Yanqing Hall. Wu Yuan rarely allowed Little ck to appear before Fang Xia and the rest on normal days as well.


    He would never fully let down his guard in front of anyone.


    Upon entering Yanqing Hall, the ck-robed Wu Yuan rose to his feet on the jade tform in the meditation chamber, facing the white-robed Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King who were entering via the passageway.


    "This?" Qiong Sea King who was leading the way, stared at the ck-robed Wu Yuan in shock.


    Despite his mental preparation, the sight of Wu Yuan''s two true selves still caught him off guard. He sensed that his soul was linked to both Wu Yuans, confirming their shared identity as Wu Yuan.


    Qiong Sea King soon noted the discrepancy between the white-robed Wu Yuan and the ck-robed Wu Yuan. One exuded a sharp aura akin to a divine sword, while the other possessed a more reserved but domineering aura.


    "Qiong Sea," the ck-robed Wu Yuan grinned, "I am the qi-refining self. Come with me to the teleportation array."


    "Yes, Master," Qiong Sea King nodded.


    Though they were merely different true selves of Wu Yuan with connected souls and consciousnesses, the situation felt weird.


    Qiong Sea King began reacting on instinct to bid the white-robed Wu Yuan goodbye, but halfway through, he paused.


    "Follow," the white-robed Wu Yuan murmured, "The two true selves are both me, there is no distinction."


    "Understood," Qiong Sea King acquiesced.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The ck-robed Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King proceeded down the passageway of the Yanqing Hall towards the teleportation array, leaving the body-refining self in the main hall.


    Little ck emerged from the white-robed Wu Yuan��s soul chamber and coiled itself around his arm. "Master."


    "Stand guard and alert me to any developments," Wu Yuanmunicated through his spirit.


    Little ck nodded, leaving the Yanqing Hall in a sh.


    ...


    Underneath the Yanqing Hall, Qiong Sea King stood in awe before the four massive spatial mithril towers, his breath catching in his throat.


    "Is this the teleportation array?" he asked, his eyes wide with wonder.


    Though he couldn''t recognize what the spatial mithril towers were, there was no doubt in his mind that they were immensely precious treasures.


    "Qiong Sea, follow my earlier instructions," the ck-robed Wu Yuanmanded, "After you enter, activate the array. Take some time to explore your surroundings, then activate it from the other end to return. We have plenty of ethercrystal."


    With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan tossed a hefty chunk of ethercrystal to Qiong Sea. It weighed a few thousand catties!


    <i>So much ethercrystal.</i> Qiong Sea King held his breath as he epted it.


    As he held the ethercrystal, Qiong Sea remembered how he used to treat several dozen catties of ethercrystal like a precious treasure.


    <i>Master was so wealthy the whole time. There��s no need for him to exploit us to obtain ethercrystal and etherstone at all. He must have been trying to motivate us, making sure we don��t find it too easy to learn the teachings of the Daoist Scripture Tower and ck off.</i>


    Qiong Sea King shrank his body and stepped onto the teleportation array. Then, he ced the ethercrystal into the fuel chamber.


    <i>Hum~ </i>The four mithril towers which had remained dormant for untold ages lit up sequentially, and the chains connecting them were illuminated with cryptic patterns.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> After their radiant disy, the mithril towers swiftly dimmed. The teleportation array was now vacant. Qiong Sea King had vanished.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self waited patiently. Leaving was not the difficult part. The tough part was returning safely.


    Soon, a quarter of an hour psed, but the teleportation array exhibited no changes.


    <i>Has Qiong Sea King encountered a mishap?</i> Wu Yuan furrowed his brow. Qiong Sea King was a ninth-stage Communion phase body refiner with robust vitality. Could he have encountered grave danger?


    Just as Wu Yuan began to worry, the four silver towers gleamed faintly, and a hazy ring of light appeared. Then, Qiong Sea King materialized in the center of the spatial mithril towers.


    "Qiong Sea?" Wu Yuan''s gaze brightened.


    "Master." Qiong Sea King was ecstatic, zooming out of the teleportation array. "Master, it is a macrocosm! The destination of the teleportation array is most likely the legendary Greenridge Macrocosm."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    This was the optimal oue.


    "Master, please take a look." Qiong Sea King retrieved a crystalline sphere, a water crystal ball crafted by water-type cultivators.


    The crystal ball projected the image of an enormous world.


    "Master, the opposite terminus of the teleportation array is also a teleportation array." Qiong Sea King exined. "However, it is buried deep underground, concealed by an invisibility array."


    "It took me some time to reach the ground level. The environment of this vast expanse is not harsh at all, and the spiritual qi is exceedingly abundant." Qiong Sea King swiftly ryed his discoveries.


    Wu Yuan nodded, his heart brimming with anticipation. He didn��t need a fortuitous encounter, arriving safely in the macrocosm through the teleportation array was already a fantastic scenario.


    "However, Master, the ethercrystal required to activate the teleportation array far exceeds your initial estimate," Qiong Sea King continued. "For a single activation, 2000 catties of ethercrystal are necessary."


    "What?" Wu Yuan''s countenance shifted slightly.


    2000 catties of ethercrystal didn��t sound like much. Yet, in Wu Yuan''s knowledge, such mid-grade teleportation arrays typically demanded around 200-300 catties per activation. A tenfold increase in consumption? What was the rationale?


    He deliberated for a moment.


    "Perhaps it��s due to neglect over the years, or the considerable distance," the ck-robed Wu Yuan murmured. "Regardless, let��s proceed."


    2000 catties of ethercrystal? Even if it were 20,000 catties, Wu Yuan could afford it. He was resolved to enter the macrocosm.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The ck-robed Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King stepped onto the teleportation array and inserted 2000 catties of ethercrystal into the fuel chamber.


    As a brilliant light enveloped them, both man and beast vanished from the array simultaneously.


    Within the meditation chamber of the Yanqing Hall, the white-robed Wu Yuan closed his eyes.


    <i>I wonder if this journey to the macrocosm will go smoothly.</i>


    ...


    The Summerpeak World was aplete, independent world. Observing it up close, one would feel that it was a vast expanse, teeming with countless lives and civilizations. Beyond the world stretched an endless, boundless cosmos.


    However, in a distant spacetime region from the Summerpeak World, an observer standing here could gaze upon numerous vast worlds, each rivaling the size of the Summerpeak World itself. These worlds adhered to a set ofws, perpetually in motion. The Summerpeak World was but one among many, unremarkable inparison.


    Suspended in this spacetime region were towering majestic halls, their inhabitants bustling about within.


    Outside one temple, armed soldiers patrolled the perimeter, their eyes cold but devoid of life.


    Abruptly, a sharp voice rang out, "High Immortal Qiming, it��s an urgent matter! Urgent matter!" A ck-robed man bearing a jade tablet hurried towards the hall. [1]


    "Stop!"


    "Impudent!" The soldiers immediately grew hostile, readying their weapons.


    The man was taken aback, but before a confrontation could escte, an unseen power emanated from the hall, quelling the soldiers'' aggression. However, they maintained a cold vignce toward the ck-robed man.


    The ck-robed man breathed a sigh of relief.


    "What''s the matter?" a disinterested voice echoed from the unlit temple. "Zang Gan, you��ve interrupted my cultivation. If your news fails to satisfy me, you should know the consequences."


    The ck-robed man''s expression shifted as he knelt before the temple. "High Immortal, the Bloodforge Devil Army has reported escapees from Bloodforge World 30056, originally named the Summerpeak World. The World Seal Array has detected a breach in the seal via a teleportation array, releasing two transcendent beings."


    "Shall we dispatch a team to pursue them?" the ck-robed man asked solemnly.


    1. Yes, the author used the same given name as Wu Qiming (same chinese characters). Dun Dun DUUNN!! Nah I think the author just ran out of names...or did he? ?

 Chapter 300: Arriving In The Macrocosm

    <h4>Chapter 300: Arriving In The Macrocosm</h4>


    "Escaped from a Bloodforge World? Breaching the World Seal Array? Is it a high-grade teleportation array? Or perhaps a unique mid-grade one?" A dispassionate voice echoed through the hall, tinged with surprise.


    "I cannot say for certain, the Bloodforge Devil Army is only in charge of reconnaissance," the ck-robed man replied respectfully. "Those Bloodforge Worlds are shrouded in primordial power, making thorough exploration impossible."


    There was no reply for some time. The ck-robed man waited quietly.


    After a prolonged silence, the indifferent voice spoke again. "I have checked the relevant records of the Summerpeak World. It returned to normalcy a mere six thousand years ago before being designated as a Bloodforge World, correct?"


    "Indeed," the ck-robed man affirmed.


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall had countless worlds under its jurisdiction, hence they were all assigned numbers. This world number 30056 was just one unassuming world among them. Hence, it was unsurprising that the High Immortal was unaware of it.


    "How high is the probability of capturing them?" the emotionless voice inquired.


    "I cannot im absolute certainty," the ck-robed man admitted, "The teleportation array breached the World Seal Array in one go, suggesting the array''s creator possesses considerable skill."


    "We can roughly surmise that their destination is within the Redmoon Immortal Continent, a vassal of the Silvermist Immortal Nation. But pinpointing their exact location within the immortal continent..." the man''s voice trailed off.


    Forget an immortal nation, even an immortal continent ne was vast and boundless, filled with countless beings and cultivators. Where were they going to begin their search?


    "Do you take me for a fool?" a hint of anger entered the voice, "Most of the Bloodforge Worlds we oversee are part of the Redmoon ne. How can they teleport directly to other immortal nations?"


    "Even a high-grade teleportation array cannot transport individuals between immortal nations."


    The ck-robed man sighed inwardly.


    "What is our next course of action, High Immortal?" the ck-robed man asked cautiously.


    "How many are aware of this information?" the voice in the hall inquired, regaining hisposure.


    "Very few," the ck-robed man confirmed, "Besides myself, only the Amethyst Cradle Reverend tasked with safeguarding the World Seal Array is aware."


    As for the soldiers surrounding him? They were not living beings, but rather puppets controlled by the immortal presiding over the hall.


    There was another pause. After some time, the voice echoed from the temple once more.


    "The Devil Monarch has spoken. Just as the natural order is a cycle, life should be granted an opportunity to survive. These two transcendent beings were able to break through the World Seal Array, proving that they have found this opportunity," the voice spoke slowly. "There is no need to investigate further."


    ��Understood,�� the ck-robed replied gratefully, as though having received a great pardon.


    "Also, this has shown that the World Seal Array is fallible. Make sure to reinforce the array, to ensure that there will be no more oversights," the voice continued.


    "Furthermore, the Amethyst Cradle Reverend has been diligent in his duties and deserves a reward. Send him a reward on my behalf."


    "Understood," the ck-robed man said in a low voice. "Those two transcendent beings were just lucky, this subordinate swears..."


    "Transcendent beings? What transcendent beings?" The voice now held a hint of frost in its tone.


    The ck-robed man understood the warning and quickly corrected himself, "Yes, my reason foring here today was just to pay respects to the High Immortal."


    "Watch your speech and actions," the voice reminded him lightly. "Don''t overstep your bounds and don''t misjudge yourself. Certain mistakes, if made by me, will only result in a light reprimand, but if made by you, will result in banishment to the Bloodforge Battlefield."


    ��Understood,�� the ck-robed man shuddered at the mention of the Bloodforge Battlefield. It was a ce given the nickname of ��hell��. He would rather face any punishment than be sent there.


    Soon, the ck-robed man left the temple and came to outer space. <i>They actually chose to conceal such a significant event?</i>


    Reinforcing the World Seal Array meant destroying the evidence of the breach. The reward was a means to keep the Amethyst Cradle Reverend��s mouth shut, and the final threat was to ensure his own silence.


    <i>It makes sense. </i>He shook his head in resignation. <i>If the higher-ups discover that transcendent beings have escaped the Bloodforge World?</i>


    His heart trembled. The High Immortal had a lofty status. At most, he would just have a bad day. But him, a small fry at the Amethyst Cradle phase? He was a goner!


    <i>Eighth Bloodforge Hall.</i> The ck-robed man��s eyes swept across the floating halls in the space behind him.


    <i>When will I have a hall of my own?</i>


    He flew into the teleportation array not far away.


    The numerous worlds visible in outer space did not seem too distant. But in reality, they could be tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of li away!


    ...


    Wu Yuan was unaware of the events unfolding in outer space.


    A slight difort pricked at his soul as the teleportation array activated, followed by an invisible force enveloping his body in its grasp.


    <i>Space?</i> Wu Yuan''s strong soul seemed to have sensed something. At the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase, one would begin to interact with the concept of space. Compared to other Amethyst Cradle cultivators, Wu Yuan''s soul wasn��t weak at all.


    Soon, his surroundings came into focus, revealing unending darkness. But with his powerful vision, he could make out four spatial mithril towers coated in dust.


    Without a sound, light burst forth, illuminating the ce. Arcane art: sh Art. It was a very ordinary support-type arcane art.


    <i>It seems we are indeed buried underground. </i>


    The moment hended here, he felt an astonishingly strong gravitational pull. However, it did not hinder his Soul Force, allowing it to spread out in all directions.


    Rocks, soil, caves... Wu Yuan''s surprise grew as he perceived his surroundings. He only discovered more rocks and soil for dozens of li in every direction. How far beneath the surface were they?


    More importantly, there was no trace of the teleportation array from his Soul Force��s perception, as if this ce was nothing more than ordinary soil. Unless one saw it with their own eyes, no one would believe that there was arge-scale teleportation array here.


    <i>Is it an array that can block Soul Force perception? No, it��s not blocking, it��s deceiving. </i>Wu Yuan came to a realization, it was just as Qiong Sea King had described.


    ��Qiong Sea, how far are we from the surface?�� Wu Yuan asked in a low voice.


    "It��s approximately 800 li," Qiong Sea King replied, his form shrank to around six meters, the smallest it could go. It was unlike the Teng Snake which had the innate talent of shrinking its body to a very small size the moment it was born.


    Qiong Sea King was a jiaolong with much greater talent than ordinary demonic beasts. Butpared to the Teng Snake, he was far inferior.


    "800 li?" Wu Yuan was stunned. No wonder Qiong Sea King took so long to return, it was indeed deep.


    "Let''s go," Wu Yuan said in a low voice, stepping off the teleportation array.


    The cavern they were in seemed to teeter on the brink of copse, with only four spatial mithril towers intact. Perhaps it was intentionally disguised as such.


    The Qiong Sea King swiftly caught up, gesturing towards the four towers behind him. "Master, what about these?"


    "Leave them be," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "I might be a qi refiner, but I��m not skilled in arrays. I cannot understand the workings of the array here."


    It was more than a mereck of understanding; Wu Yuan''s Soul Force failed to even detect the existence of the array.


    "This teleportation array is our only passage to the Middle Land," Wu Yuan exined in a quiet voice. "It has existed for a long time, proof that the measures in ce to conceal it are still in effect. Our best course of action is to maintain the status quo and not disturb it."


    Wu Yuan knew the story of Xiao He and Cao Can. [1] If you don��t understand something, don��t change it recklessly.


    "Understood," Qiong Sea King nodded.


    With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, earthy-yellow qi streams enveloped them in a Domain.


    "Go, follow the same path as before." The both of them quickly made their way to the surface at a speed of half a li per second.


    The higher they went, the lower the pressure on their bodies. For Wu Yuan whoprehended the profundity of thend, this speed was rather slow. This was because Wu Yuan meticulously restored the path behind them with his Domain as they ascended, leaving no trace of their passage.


    ��This is our first time arriving in the macrocosm, we can never be too careful," Wu Yuan reminded him. "This teleportation array is of utmost importance; we must ensure its secrecy at all costs."


    Qiong Sea King nodded, admiring Wu Yuan''s foresight. In his previous solo exploration, he had not considered such aspects.


    Before long, the ground fissured without a sound. Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King flew out andnded on the ground, which quickly returned to its original state.


    As they observed their surroundings, Wu Yuan took in the towering trees and rolling mountains, as well as the nearby stream teeming with fish. At a nce, thisndscape was not unlike the mountain ranges of the Middle Land.


    Who would have guessed that a high-grade teleportation arrayy 800 li beneath their feet?


    <i>The spiritual qi here is incredibly rich, more than tenfold what I''m ustomed to. The inhabitants of this ce must be more formidable as well.</i> Wu Yuan thought inwardly.


    On average, the creatures in the Middle Land were strongerpared to the Blue of his previous life, making it far easier to be a martial arts Grandmaster. But in the Middle Land, bing a qi refiner still proved difficult.


    From Wu Yuan��s knowledge, spiritual qi was more abundant in the macrocosm, and creatures were naturally more robust. Whether body or qi refining, cultivation was far more essible.


    <i>I can perceive heaven and earth��s power more clearly as well.</i> Wu Yuan noticed, sensing the intricate workings of different types of heaven and earth��s power around him via his Soul Force.


    Whether cultivating orprehending the Dao, it was far easier here. Along with the massive number of beings that inhabited the macrocosm, numerous powerhouses were produced with each generation.


    ��What rich spiritual qi,�� Qiong Sea King also began greedily inhaling the air, absorbing the spiritual qi. His draconic whiskers fluttered in excitement. Turning to Wu Yuan, he asked, "Master, where to next?"


    "East. There��s a vige with human activity. Let us head there and gather information before deciding our next move," Wu Yuan suggested.


    With a swift step, Wu Yuan led the way.


    Three suns hung closely in the sky, allowing Wu Yuan to easily orientate himself.


    1. Xiao He was a brilliant statesman who served as the prime minister of the Han dynasty. After Xiao He''s death, Cao Can took over as prime minister. He followed Xiao He''s example and continued to implement the policies that had made the Han dynasty so sessful. Moral: do things the same way as one��s predecessors. ?

 Chapter 301: Taiyuan Divine Court (1)

    <h4>Chapter 301: Taiyuan Divine Court (1)</h4>


    One man and one beast strode through the depths of the mountain forest.


    "There''s no need to move too quickly," Wu Yuan''s voice resonated in Qiong Sea King��s mind, "Our location is still uncertain. Refrain from revealing your full strength or taking flight."


    "Yes, Master," Qiong Sea King acknowledged with a nod.


    As they pressed onward, Wu Yuan manipted the ambient light waves with a mentalmand, rendering them imperceptible to the eyes of ordinary mortals.


    Naturally, this measure was futile against cultivators whoprehended heaven and earth��s power. Those who wielded heaven and earth��s power would naturally discern the irregrity of the distorted light.


    "Master, look," After ten li, Qiong Sea King suddenly spoke, extending a w towards the distant sky.


    In the air several dozen li away, a sizable silver flying boat sailed at a moderate speed.


    "It is a tenth-grade flying boat," Wu Yuan observed. "Designed for mortals."


    "Mortals own flying boats?" Qiong Sea King eximed in astonishment.


    "Qiong Sea, I reminded you to read up on the general knowledge material within the Daoist Scripture Tower, but it seems you weren��t paying attention," Wu Yuan shook his head. "Spiritual energy is abundant in the macrocosm, hence ordinary etherstone veins are ubiquitous. Low-grade etherstone holds little value for cultivators."


    "Qi refiners decided to fashion basic flying boats for mortals, below the standard of ninth-grade spiritual equipment. Hence, they are dubbed tenth grade. These basic flying boats harness low-grade etherstone as their source of power," Wu Yuan exined.


    Qiong Sea King was taken aback.


    "Do not assess the macrocosm through the same lens as the Middle Land. The Middle Land is a primitive ce with few qi refiners, thus the focus is presently onbat."


    Wu Yuan murmured.


    "Yet, the macrocosm is steeped in history, a ce where qi refiners have forged a resplendent civilization, excelling not only inbat but in diverse disciplines. They have achieved wondrous feats in culture, art, architecture, and more. Even mortals thrive here."


    The two continued their journey, their path soon leading them to a remarkably wide road that stretched into the distance and was paved with a unique kind of stone.


    asionally, they observed vehicles passing by. However, they were unlike the carriages of the Middle Land, instead resembling the cars from Wu Yuan''s past life, powered by etherstone.


    In the fields,rge puppets toiled, with humans riding them. These puppets were manned by ordinary mortal humans.


    "Master, I��ve read about this before," Qiong Sea King remarked. "These puppets, known as agricultural puppets, have incredible strength but are not suited for battle. Instead, they excel in tasks such as nting andbor, with a single puppet capable of matching hundreds or even thousands of ordinary workers."


    Qiong Sea King, though not the most attentive reader, still possessed some basic general knowledge.


    Soon, they approached quaint vige.


    The scene before them unfolded like a carefully painted canvas, revealing orderly rows of houses. Nestled within several of the courtyards were small flying boats. Amongst the dwellings, patches of vibrant greenery flourished, tended to by mechanical contraptions��agricultural puppets tirelessly working thend. In the distance, they spotted several training grounds, where martial artists honed their skills amidst the serene backdrop. This idyllic scene unfolded before them, unlike any vige Qiong Sea King or Wu Yuan had ever encountered in their travels through the Middle Land.


    <i>This vige bears more resemnce to the countryside of the interster era in my former life. Truly, the true cultivation world is far removed from the outdated notions depicted in novels.</i>


    When he first read about the Greenridge Macrocosm from the eight immortal slips bestowed by the realm master, Wu Yuan was taken aback, realizing the disparity between his preconceived notions and the reality of immortal cultivation.


    However, he was convinced by a statement within the immortal slips �C cultivation was not about living longer to endure prolonged suffering, but living longer to seek a better life.


    Cultivation was not all about following old traditions to the letter. Cultivation was not about building grottos in deste mountains, living like a mountain hermit to achieve enlightenment.


    That, Wu Yuan realized, was not the true essence of cultivation.


    The pursuit of inner peace and transcendence was not synonymous with forsaking creatureforts.


    "Master, do most mortals in the macrocosm live such good lives?" Qiong Sea King inquired curiously.


    "No," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head slightly. "The macrocosm is vast, with immortal nations as plentiful as forests and immortal continents asmon as tides. Leaders from different factions hold varying perspectives, resulting in three general types of civilizations under their rule."


    "Three types?" Qiong Sea King asked, surprised.


    "The first type is perfectly encapsted by what we are currently witnessing. You may take this as a glimpse of therger picture," Wu Yuan exined with a smile. "Martial arts aremonce, and all humans embody the potential of dragons. This is the type of rule I envision for the Middle Land."


    Qiong Sea King couldn��t help but recall the current situation in the Middle Land. Though Wu Yuan''s rule had only just begun, his philosophy and approach already brought about significant changes to the Middle Land.


    "Qi refiners craft numerous puppets to aid mortals, enhancing their standard of living," Wu Yuan continued. "At a nce, this appears to be a waste of time, simr to how I utilized earth-type arcane arts to construct bridges, facilitating transport across rivers in the Cloud Capital. This allows mortals to spend more time focusing on martial arts cultivation, rather than struggling to put food on the table."


    "Don��t you think this will lead to an increase in martial artists and cultivators?" Wu Yuan posed the question with a smile.


    Qiong Sea King sank into thought.


    As a demonic beast, he had only established a modest demonic kingdom in the South Ocean. Why would he ponder such profound questions?


    "Nevertheless, there are drawbacks," Wu Yuan added solemnly. "Martial arts cultivation and the evolution of life is a path of loneliness and solitude, and immortality is elusive.��


    "Excessivefort and ack of urgency can breedcency," Wu Yuan continued. "However, among the human race, this type of immortal civilization has be mainstream. Even though many immortal nations and factions have made adjustments to their rule, many still adhere to the mindset that ��everyone is a dragon��."


    Qiong Sea King nodded.


    "The second type is primitivism," Wu Yuan borated. "The eldritch lineage is one such example. They prefer not to overly influence the lifestyles of mortals. They emphasize the birth of the strong from barbarism, prioritizing natural selection and primalbat."


    "After all, the journey of the evolution of life and the pursuit of the immortal path are inherently brutal and bloody," Wu Yuan sighed. "There is little room forpassion or kindness."


    "Natural selection?" Qiong Sea King''s eyes gleamed.


    He felt himself resonating with this school of thought, sensing it aligned more closely with his own inclinations.


    "What about the final type?" inquired Qiong Sea King, unable to contain his curiosity.


    "The final type is known as the Asura Devil Path," chuckled Wu Yuan. "The worm devil we encountered falls under this category of civilization, along with the hell devils born from the Abyss. The strongest among them ascend to power by treading upon the corpses and bones of countless others."


    "Naturally, even among the human race, there are cultivators who embrace the Asura Devil Path," Wu Yuan exined. "It is a primitive form of natural selection, wherepetition and killing are not avoided."


    "Those who follow the Asura Devil Path believe that only through brutal and bloody battles, constantly toeing the edge of life and death, can they stimte the most primitive and essential power of life," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head. "Rather than shying away frompetition, they encourage their subordinates to engage in frenzied killing, each one akin to a crazed devil."


    "Hence, it is aptly named the Asura Devil Path!"

 Chapter 302: Taiyuan Divine Court (2)

    <h4>Chapter 302: Taiyuan Divine Court (2)</h4>


    "Some powerful figures that follow the devil path intentionally incite bloodshed when selecting disciples, holding trials where only the final survivor is deemed worthy of bing their sessor," Wu Yuan said.


    Qiong Sea King shuddered at the thought.


    A world where everyone vied for survival until only one remained standing? That was their method of selecting disciples? These people were truly devils!


    "Everyone is a dragon, primitive natural selection, and the Asura Devil Path," Wu Yuan borated. "These three categories of immortal path civilizations are not mutually exclusive, with many civilizations ending up with a mix of ideologies. Each possesses its merits and ws, yet they have all produced formidable beings that stand at the pinnacle of strength."


    "However, it appears that fortune has favored us, as the region we have arrived at likely aligns with the ideology of ��everyone is a dragon��," Wu Yuan beamed. "This civilization tends towards peace and is the easiest for us to integrate into."


    "Shall we venture into the vige, Master?" inquired Qiong Sea King.


    "No need," Wu Yuan dismissed the idea. "Inquiry is not the only way to gather information. Wait for me here."


    Just as diagnosing ailments required keen observation, listening, and asking the right questions, one could also take the same approach to information gathering.


    Merely by observing the mundane activities in the vige, Wu Yuan was able to understand many things. Moreover, with his Soul Force, he could perceive even more.


    For instance��books! Books served as the crystalization of civilization, recording everything from societal developments to the personal narratives of ordinary individuals. Fortunately, this humble vige did notck books.


    When Wu Yuan first set foot in the Middle Land, and then onto Cloudhill, his initial instinct was to immerse himself in volumes of literature, learning new information and news through text. And now, the process repeated itself.


    Qiong Sea King waited patiently as Wu Yuan began delving into countless books. By extending his Soul Force, he also eavesdropped on various conversations of the mortal vigers. Slowly but surely, the veil of mystery in this world began to lift before Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Every household worships the Taiyuan Divine Court and Immortal Redmoon? </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>So, this territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Taiyuan Divine Court, and thisnd is ruled by Immortal Redmoon?</i>


    The vast macrocosm stretched out endlessly,prising numerous spacetime nes. The information provided by the immortal slip merely scratched the surface, and there existed countless forces akin to the Hou Feng Tribe within the macrocosm.


    The name Immortal Redmoon was unfamiliar to Wu Yuan, but the Taiyuan Divine Court had been referenced in the immortal slips. It was a colossal entity spanning multiple spacetime nes within the Greenridge Macrocosm, standing as one of the preeminent forces in the macrocosm.


    It was evident that the teleportation array had led them to a region governed by Immortal Redmoon under the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    Thus, both the Taiyuan Divine Court and Immortal Redmoon were revered here, as the Faith Incense of myriad creatures held significant importance to almost all factions, barring a select few cultivation sects.


    "Qiong Sea, we shall head to Fengchuan City," Wu Yuan suddenly dered.


    "Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King queried, perplexed.


    "Humans seem to be the majority race of this expansive territory, which is overseen by a powerful immortal known as Immortal Redmoon," Wu Yuan exined. ��Under his jurisdiction lie numerous cities, ranked in nine tiers, with the lowest three tiers primarily consisting of mortals. Cultivators typically only appear in sixth-tier cities and above."


    "Fengchuan City is a fifth-tier city, the lowest tier directly governed by the Redmoon Immortal Hall, a true bastion of cultivators," Wu Yuan borated with a smile. "Everything within a radius of a million li lies under Fengchuan City��s jurisdiction, and the city serves as a hub for cultivators within this vast expanse. By venturing there, we shall find the answers we seek."


    A radius of a million li? A city of cultivators? Qiong Sea King''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. Perhaps this was the ce he would find the treasures necessary for his breakthrough.


    "Master, what��s the level of the strongest cultivator in Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King inquired eagerly.


    "We��ll find out when we get there," Wu Yuan replied with a mysterious smile.


    Qiong Sea King nodded, unaware that even Wu Yuan himself had no idea. After all, how much actual high-level information would this small vige have?


    If not for the Taiyuan Divine Court propagating its Faith across thend in order to gather Faith Incense, Wu Yuan wouldn��t even have managed to acquire the amount of knowledge he did.


    As for Fengchuan City, it was a fifth-tier city that countless mortals pursuing immortality aspired to visit.


    In the eyes of the numerous mortal vige folk, Fengchuan City was the most powerful city they knew of, a legendary immortal city they might not visit even in their lifetime.


    The higher ranked fourth-tier and third-tier cities were beyond the knowledge of these simple vigers.


    With a wave, a magnificent purple flying boat appeared. It was nearly 100 meters in length, a treasure Wu Yuan had acquired after defeating Jin Ji �C an eighth-grade flying boat.


    Wu Yuan''s storage artifacts had the capacity to amodate items up to 100 meters in all three dimensions, barely containing this flying boat.


    "Board," Wu Yuanmanded.


    "This?" Qiong Sea King was surprised. "Master, didn''t you wish to maintain a low profile?"


    "Icked knowledge of the situation earlier, hence the desire for discretion," Wu Yuan stated coolly. "But now, I am confident. We will proceed on flying boat."


    ��Moreover, the journey to Fengchuan city spans hundreds of thousands of li at least. Do you propose we cross it on foot?" Wu Yuan shook his head with a chuckle.


    Qiong Sea King fell silent immediately.


    They swiftly entered the flying boat, taking off with a burst of speed. The flying boat ascended to several thousand zhangs, reaching a maximum speed of about six li per second.


    ...


    Mountain ranges stretched endlessly into the horizon, their peaks disappearing into the ethereal haze of mist and fog.


    Amidst the swirling mist, a multitude of majestic halls emerged, their grandeur shrouded in mystery. Within their walls dwelled countless puppets, their mechanical forms moving with precision as they patrolled the vast expanse or dutifully performed their assigned tasks.


    Numerous mortal women dwelled within the confines of these halls. Yet their beauty, once a source of admiration, now seemed tinged with sorrow, their gazes haunted by a palpable sense of fear and resignation. Each one was a captive, ensnared within thebyrinthine corridors of the mountain halls.


    Within one of the halls, a ck haired muscr man indulged himself in pleasure without holding back. As a cultivator, his body was immensely strong. Though the woman beneath him was a martial artist, she struggled to endure the pain. However, she forced herself to disy a joyful expression, fearing the wrath of the man above her.


    "Brother! Brother!" Suddenly, an anxious voice resounded from the corridor adjacent to the hall.


    "Scram," the ck-haired man snapped.


    "Brother, it��s important," the voice persisted.


    "You can go," the ck-haired man scowled, gesturing for the woman to leave.


    She hurriedly grabbed her clothes and departed.


    "Enter." With a mentalmand, a ck robe draped itself over the ck-haired man, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure.


    A young man garbed in silver robes, appearing somewhat entric, hastened into the hall.


    "Third brother, I was in the middle of something," the ck-haired man stated coldly.


    "Hehe,�� the silver-robed young man grinned. "Big Brother, a fat sheep has offered itself up. A standard grade flying boat."


    "The surveince array just detected it in the thirteenth sector. The tracking arts and puppets have locked onto the flying boat," the young man in silver robes eximed excitedly. "Brother, shall we take action?"

 Chapter 303: Qiong Hai, Prepare For Battle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 303: Qiong Hai, Prepare For Battle (1)</h4>


    "A standard grade flying boat?" The ck-haired, muscr man narrowed his eyes slightly. "Specify the grade."


    A ninth-grade flying boat was considered standard-grade, as was a sixth-grade one. However, the disparity between the two is massive.


    "The puppets�� observations indicate that the flying boat''s speed is approximately more than 30 li per breath," the silver-robed, entric young man remarked. "There doesn''t seem to be any anti-tracking cryptic patterns, so it could be an eighth-grade flying boat, with a small chance that it is seventh-grade."


    "Any identifiers?" The ck-haired, muscr man inquired.


    Certainrge factions and families often disyed their insignias or war banners, deterring others from causing trouble. Even marauding raiders like them tended to steer clear of such entities.


    "None. Neither the Redmoon Immortal Hall''s insignia, nor the Funan Sect''s, nor the emblems of Starsword City''s top six families were disyed," the silver-robed, entric young man added. "Even insignias of the Amethyst Cradle families in Fengchuan City were not seen."


    The Funan Sect was a sect with considerable prestige, their territory spanning over 10 million li in radius.


    Starsword City ranked as a fourth-tier citymanding extensive territory with numerous cultivators. Naturally, it was home to several powerful families. Fengchuan City was a city that fell under its jurisdiction.


    Although Fengchuan Citycked particrly formidable families, raiders with bases within its territory naturally avoided provoking the local power yers. A family headed by an Amethyst Cradle Reverend was already a behemoth to these raiders.


    Theoretically, all cultivators venturing out on expeditions understood the risks that they were taking, facing the possibility of life and death on their own terms. They couldn��t me others for killing them. Most masters, seniors, and family elders of these cultivators typically did not bother avenging them if they perished either.


    But it was always good to be prepared for the worst!


    "Brother, based on my analysis, he is likely a loose cultivator," the silver-robed, entric young man earnestly stated. "Even if he has some backing, he��s likely nothing more than an insignificant disciple of a Golden Core cultivator, or someone disregarded within his family."


    "Of course, the most probable scenario is that he is simply a loose cultivator with a bit of luck. He might not even own a voidrealm jade." The silver-robed, entric young man chuckled. "Even if he possesses one, we need not fear."


    ��In the worst-case scenario, we can just relocate after this raid," the silver-robed, entric young man proposed. "Big Brother, what do you think?"


    The ck-haired, muscr man fell into contemtion.


    Robbing cultivators was different from robbing mortals. At their strength, each robbery attempt was equivalent to a life-and-death battle, so caution was paramount. It just took one mistake for them to be wiped outpletely.


    The raiding party that he led, while not exceptionally powerful, managed to survive until nowrgely due to their vignce.


    Silence stretched on for six breaths.


    "Big Brother, if we dy any longer, the target will most likely escape our search radius," the silver-robed, entric young man urged. "If we''re hesitant to pursue such a weak loose cultivator, perhaps we should just disband now."


    The ck-haired, muscr man furrowed his brow slightly. He understood that the silver-robed man made sense.


    "Summon Second Brother and Fourth Brother," the ck-haired, muscr man instructed in a low voice.


    "Understood," the silver-robed, entric young man quickly replied.


    "Also, bring the puppets and ethercrystal weapon aboard the battleship," the ck-haired, muscr man continued. "Make preparations."


    The silver-robed, entric young man was taken aback by his brother''s cautiousness.


    "Of course," he nodded.


    ...


    Shortly thereafter, a massive battleship, stretching over 300 meters in length, slowly emerged from the thick fog, revealing its imposing presence.


    In an instant, the light waves surrounding the vessel distorted, and the flying boat took off, speeding through the air and swiftly navigating through the mountain range.


    Within the pce, a group of female ves remained, trembling in fear but unable to flee due to the powerful puppets guarding the premises. These third-grade and fourth-grade martial artists knew they stood no chance against such strength.


    ...


    High in the sky, a purple flying boat approximately 100 meters long soared swiftly through the clouds.


    Inside the flying boat, Qiong Sea King was coiled up in the main hall, focusing on his cultivation. After reaching the ninth-stage Communion phase, he struggled to make further progress in physical strength. However, he continued trying various methods to break through his bottleneck and advance to the Spiritual Body phase. As long as he persisted, there was still a chance of sess.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on a jade tform, which he had crafted after taking inspiration from the Dao contemtion jade tform in the Yanqing Hall. Though it was far inferior, it was still better than nothing.


    <i>By relying on ethercrystal to cultivate gradually, I should break through to the first level of the Golden Core phase after some time.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. For qi refiners, this was the fastest way to cultivate.


    <i>It��s a pity that out of nine lifebound flying swords, only two have been upgraded. </i>


    Within Wu Yuan��s qi sea, nine lifebound swords orbited around his sword soul. Among them, two of the lifebound flying swords had a particrly strong aura. Wu Yuan had upgraded them to sixth-grade spirit weapons using arge amount of precious metals and minerals.


    Although Wu Yuan was only at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase, his powerful immortal root meant that his mana capacity wasparable to a weak first-stage Golden Core cultivator. Therefore, he was able to upgrade his lifebound flying swords.


    The remaining seven flying swords remained as seventh-grade spirit weapons. Not because Wu Yuancked the mana to upgrade them, but because he had insufficient resources.


    He was only able to umte enough resources to upgrade two flying swords thanks to the hard work of the Heavenly Rankers and Land Rankers, who explored everyst nook and cranny of the Middle Land for over ten years to gather resources for him.


    <i>Fengchuan Citymands a territory of a million li in radius, dwarfing the entirety of the Middle Land. </i>Wu Yuan extended his Soul Force as they traveled, collecting information along the way.


    They passed by plenty of Qi Sea cultivators and innumerable martial arts Grandmasters. They also passed through eighth and ninth-tier mortal cities, some bustling with poptions in the hundreds of thousands.


    As he continued to gather information, Wu Yuan gradually pieced together a clearer picture of his current location �C the immortal continent known as the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    <i>An immortal continent, vast and boundless, is actually a ne. </i>


    Immortal continent nes were mentioned in the immortal slips. Back then, the Hou Feng Tribe had reigned as a dominant force within the expanse of an immortal ne.


    <i>Fengchuan City is considered a huge metropolis, supposedly brimming with a wealth of cultivation resources. I hope it lives up to its reputation. </i>


    <i>It would be best if I��m able to acquire a voidrealm jade of the Redmoon Immortal Realm. </i>


    The Redmoon Immortal Realm was a voidrealm essed by countless cultivators across the Redmoon Immortal Continent. It held an allure beyond imagination, and was dubbed a second world for those who pursued the path of cultivation!


    As Wu Yuan contemted, a faint hint of confusion suddenly flickered through his eyes.


    Hm? With a mentalmand, the massive flying boat began slowing to a stop.


    <i>There are powerful qi refiners 200 li away? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold.


    The soul of his qi refiner self was rtively weak, limited to a range of only 60 li even though it had reached the Yang Soul level. However, his Soul Force,bined with hisprehension of the Dao, allowed Wu Yuan to vaguely sense any movement thousands of li away.

 Chapter 304: Qiong Hai, Prepare For Battle (2)

    <h4>Chapter 304: Qiong Hai, Prepare For Battle (2)</h4>


    Just moments ago, a subtle ripple in the spiritual qi had caught Wu Yuan''s keen senses, a mere 200 li away. Yet, scanning the skies from his perch on the flying boat, there was nothing to be seen in that direction.


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan remained steadfast in his assessment. The faint tremor in the spiritual qi persisted, refusing to dissipate.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan��s Soul Force suddenly detected an extremely faint thread of aura wrapped around the hull of the flying boat. He had no idea how long it had been there.


    Had it not been for Wu Yuan''s vignce, prompted by the peculiar fluctuations detected 200 li away, he might have overlooked it altogether, failing to notice the anomaly lurking just under his nose.


    <i>A tracking talisman?</i> Wu Yuan had an inkling.


    Unlike the Middle Land, qi refiners in the macrocosm didn''t fight via straightforward methods alone. They employed tactics like arrays, talismans, puppets, and many more. There were countless ways to track someone.


    <i>Am I being targeted? Is it a robbery? Did I identally pass through the territory of raiders who enjoy looting qi refiners?</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly hazarded a number of guesses.


    "Master, what''s the matter?" Sensing that the flying boat had stopped, Qiong Sea King lifted his head, asking in a low voice.


    "There''s a bit of trouble," Wu Yuan said quietly. "It''s fine, let''s change direction."


    With a thread of essentiabined with Soul Force, Wu Yuan dispelled the tracking arcane art around the hull. At the same time, he altered the purple flying boat��s direction, steering clear of the source of spiritual qi fluctuations.


    Wu Yuan''s decision was not born out of fear, but rather a desire to avoid unnecessary conflict.


    <i>Let''s stay clear of needless battles. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly to himself. Those who dared to rob others were typically confident in their abilities.


    But just two seconds after changing course, a hint of anger shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    From thebination of his Soul Force andprehension of heaven and earth��s profundities, he could vaguely sense a powerful surge of spiritual qi heading towards him from a distance.


    It heralded the arrival of a ck flying battleship hurtling towards Wu Yuan��s purple flying boat, no longer concealing its presence.


    <i>26 li per second? A sixth-grade flying battleship?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were frigid. <i>These raiders sure are persistent. I can��t shake them off.</i>


    A Golden Core cultivator (ninth-degree immortal root) had a normal flying speed of twenty li per second. The approaching battleship was speeding towards them at 120 li per breath, the threshold speed for the Golden Core phase.


    "Qiong Sea," Wu Yuan addressed Qiong Sea King.


    "Master," Qiong Sea King responded.


    "Prepare for battle," Wu Yuanmanded coldly.


    ...


    Inside the swiftly moving ck flying boat, four figures stood. Their leader was the burly, ck-haired man.


    "Big Brother, my tracking arcane art has been dispelled," the silver-robed youth said, surprise evident in his voice.


    "It seems this sheep isn''t as easy a prey as we thought," murmured a bald headed, ck-robed youth.


    "Perhaps the boat��s movements were too obvious, allowing them to detect using. Or they possess some sort of special artifact," suggested a woman in purple robes, her voice calm and collected. She looked around 30 years old, with a striking appearance.


    The group nodded in agreement.


    "Fourth Sister, catch up to it and release the puppets,�� the ck-haired muscr manmanded. ��Go test his strength, and work with Third Brother to activate the Ethercrystal Heavenly Thunder Array when the time is right."


    "Got it," the woman replied.


    "Rest assured, Big Brother. You can leave the array to me," the silver-robed youth said eagerly. "The power of this battleship��s Heavenly Thunder Array rivals that of an attack by a fourth-stage Golden Core cultivator."


    "Second Brother, once the puppets have probed his strength, you will protect me and end the battle," the burly man instructed, his voice steady.


    The bald youth acknowledged with a nod.


    They had fought simr battles together countless times, each ying a crucial role in their coordinated efforts.


    Out of the four of them, two were in charge of melee fighting, while the silver-robed youth was an array cultivator who specialized in arrays. The purple-robed woman, whose lifebound artifact was a cauldron, was a true equipment craftswoman who excelled in creating flying boat artifacts and manipting puppets for battle, scouting, and so on.


    Only by working together could the four of them bring out their greatest strength, and bymunicating via Soul Force, they were able to react quickly.


    Though the ck flying boat was 200 li from the purple flying boat, it swiftly closed the gap.


    In just eight seconds, the ck flying boat reached Wu Yuan.


    "Release the puppets!" the burly man ordered without hesitation.


    With a mentalmand from the purple-robed woman, the underside of the ck flying boat opened, and four enormous puppets resembling jiaolong were unleashed. Together, they flew forward, heading straight for the purple flying boat beneath them.


    The silver-robed entric youth sat cross-legged on a huge light sphere, adorned withyers of cryptic patterns on its surface. <i>Gravity Array!</i>


    Waves of invisible power began radiating from the ck flying boat, enveloping a radius of ten li, causing the purple flying boat to slow drastically.


    ��Roar~�� The four jiaolong puppets, each over 60 meters in length, closed in on their target with a speed not at all inferior to ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators, their roars echoing through the air. They were at least sixth-grade puppets!


    The purple flying boat, around 100 meters in length, seemed defenseless as the massive puppets closed in from all directions, ready to strike.


    "Scam!" A bellow resounded through the air as an azure jiaolong burst forth from the flying boat, its whiskers swaying as it rapidly grew in size. At the ends of its two forelimbs were a pair of draconic ws that shimmered with a chilling light.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Its ws sliced through the air, striking at a jiaolong puppet swooping in for an attack.


    The massive puppet staggered, nearly falling to the ground. Faint cracks appeared on its metallic skull.


    "An azure jiaolong spirit beast?��


    ��At least the ninth-stage Communion phase?��


    ��It��s using an ether art!" The four individuals within the ck flying boat were stunned by this disy.


    Although these jiaolong puppets were merely ordinary sixth-grade puppets, with abat powerparable to the sixth-stage Qi Sea phase, their bodies were still very durable.


    Yet, one was cracked with just one hit?


    Thedy in purple robes looked particrly grim. She was controlling the puppets with her Soul Force, thus any damage they took also led to a bacsh on her soul.


    "Attack!" shemanded, directing the four puppets to surround Qiong Sea King, however, she didn''t dare to engage in another head-on sh.


    <i>ng! </i>The door of the flying boat swung open, and the burly man and bald youth emerged. Battle armor covered their body in an instant, and they left the flying boat in a sh.


    "Die!" Qiong Sea King rampaged through the air, his ws whirling and tailshing, forcing the jiaolong puppets to retreat again and again.


    <i>Ether arts are seriously useful! </i>Qiong Sea King''s fighting spirit zed. This was the first time he was able to thoroughly enjoy the thrill of battle since cultivating an ether art.


    Ether art: Mountain Mover. It was an ether art that enhanced the body, empowering the user to unleash inconceivable power from the limbs!


    ��Star swords.�� A figure in ck armor dashed out of the flying boat, surrounded by eighteen flying swords orbiting his body. The swords then shot towards Qiong Sea King in a flowing stream of deadly light.


    Next to the figure in ck armor, a giant in red armor appeared, with numerous sturdy vines extending from his body. The vines spread out, nketing the entire sky in an attempt to bind Qiong Sea King.


    <i>A Golden Core cultivator? A ninth-stage Communion body refiner? That vine must be his lifebound spirit nt. </i>Qiong Sea King realized, his expression shifting.


    Immediately, he called out. "Master, save me!"

 Chapter 305: Nine Swords Of Light (1)

    <h4>Chapter 305: Nine Swords Of Light (1)</h4>


    Qiong Sea King put up a desperate resistance against the enemy while simultaneously reaching out to Wu Yuan for aid via spiritual transmission.


    The sound of impact echoed through the air as the swords struck Qiong Sea King''s massive form in quick session. Each sword seemed to weigh 10,000 jun, their edges razor-sharp, piercing through all obstacles. [1]


    Even d in spirit battle armor, the onught of sword lights seemed to prate Qiong Sea King��s defenses, inflicting serious damage.


    In just one exchange, the flying swords tore through his hide and flesh, and blood trickled from his whiskers.


    Meanwhile, the red-armored giant, also disying an ether art, unleashed a torrent of vines that ensnared Qiong Sea King''s body. The vines seemed to grow inexorably, spreading with lightning speed across the battlefield.


    ��Be gone!�� Despite his injuries, Qiong Sea King fought back, shing at the vines with his sharp ws. Yet for every vine he cut, more seemed to take its ce, threatening to overwhelm himpletely.


    ��What a ferocious spirit beast.��


    ��It even mastered an ether art.��


    "Second Brother''s Coiling Wind Vine is getting stronger." The silver-robed youth and purple-robed girl observed the battle with astonished expressions inside the flying boat.


    The two of them specialized in support. When it came tonding the killing blows on tough opponents, they had to rely on their big brother and the second brother.


    "Don��t bother struggling." The red-armored giant taunted Qiong Sea King with augh.


    In a one-on-one battle, he wouldn��t be confident in his victory. But now his big brother, a Golden Core cultivator, was with him. As long as his big brother assembled his flying sword array to suppress the jiaolong, he could easily capture it.


    "A ninth-stage Communion jiaolong is a rare find indeed," the red-armored giant mused, already imagining the profit to be gained from capturing the creature alive.


    "Second Brother, watch out." The ck-haired man whose gaze was locked onto the purple flying boat suddenly spoke.


    <i>Swish!</i> Without hesitation, a ck flying sword materialized beside the man, streaking off like a bolt of lightning.


    Simultaneously, a streak of earthy-yellow light sliced through the air!


    <i>ng! </i>The sh of weapons echoed, a cacophony of metal meeting metal. The ck-haired man''s flying sword collided with the earthy-yellow light, causing shockwaves to radiate out from the impact.


    The man felt a jolt to his mind, as if his lifebound flying sword had encountered an imprable barrier. It was instantly deflected, flying off to the side.


    "My sword was deflected so easily?" The ck-haired man''s expression twisted in disbelief as he swiftly retreated.


    "Hm?" Fear flickered across the face of the red-armored giant, who instinctively swung the vines in his grasp.


    The earthy-yellow light sliced through vine after sturdy vine like a knife through cucumbers. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of entwining vines were diced up, freeing Qiong Sea King.


    "Master!" Qiong Sea King cried out in jubtion.


    At that moment, the ck-haired man, as well as the silver-d youth and the purple-robed woman on the flying boat all had a clear view of the earthy-yellow light. It was a flying sword!


    Simultaneously, they caught sight of a figure cloaked in ck, emerging from the unassuming purple flying boat in the distance.


    It was cold and murderous �C a harbinger of death!


    <i>Swish~</i> The earthy-yellow light shot across the sky, severing vines with unrelenting speed before striking the red-armored giant.


    "Ah! Block it!" The red-armored giant''s face flushed red in desperation. He had no time to worry about his spirit nt''s injuries in the face of this terrifyingly swift opponent. There was no time for retreat.


    Instinctively, he swung the hammer in his grip, attempting to repel the oing flying sword.


    <i>Bang~</i> The collision was akin to a pebble striking a truck.


    The heavy hammer flew from the red-armored giant''s grasp. With another sh of earthy-yellow light, the giant''s head exploded.


    The earthy-yellow light, encased in swirling qi currents that resembled sword lights, shredded the red-armored giant''s body like a ragdoll. A heap of lifeless flesh thudded to the ground.


    The red-armored giant was dead!


    "Ha! Marvelous!" Qiong Sea King bellowed with excitement.


    "This?"


    "Impossible!" Both the silver-d youth and purple-robed woman on the flying boat stood agape in astonishment.


    Their second brother, a ninth-stage Communion cultivator with a seventh-degree immortal root, who was skilled in ether art and d in battle armor, was felled in a single blow?


    <i>Ninth-stage Qi Sea phase? He must be one of those monstrous prodigies, and he��s even grasped the Domain stage? </i>Among them, only the ck-haired man grew fearful.


    As the most powerful and knowledgeable of the group, he discerned the overwhelming power imbued within that earthy-yellow flying sword. It was indomitable!


    In an instant, an urgent cry pierced the mind of the silver-robed youth. "Third Brother, activate the Ethercrystal Heavenly Thunder Array immediately!"


    "Yes!" the silver-robed youth replied. He understood the gravity of the situation. Their second brother was already lost, it was fight or perish.


    <i>Hum~</i> Throughout the fight, the ck flying boat had been pulling the purple flying boat toward it with a gravity array. Suddenly, purple cryptic patterns glowed on the bow of the battleship, drawing in streams of energy.


    In a sh, a brilliant pir of light as dazzling as heavenly lightning shot forth from the ck boat, aimed directly at Wu Yuan.


    "Kill him!" the silver-robed youthmanded, his eyes locked on Wu Yuan. The ck-haired burly man was equally tense. He knew that if this strike failed to kill their opponent, they were in real trouble.


    <i>It all hinges on this.</i> The purple-robed woman was the one most on edge. This strike was a concentration of the entire flying boat''s power into one point, releasing it in one explosive burst.


    After this strike, gathering such power again would require them to refuel the flying boat with ethercrystal, which would take at least five breaths.


    Five breaths? That was enough time for the mysterious man in ck robes to ughter them all several times over.


    ...


    The pir of light erupted from the ck flying boat, reaching an extreme speed. However, Wu Yuan''s reaction speed was even faster.


    When the streams of purple light first began to converge, Wu Yuan knew he had to react immediately. Having read up on the general knowledge regarding the macrocosm, he recognized what this was �C an ethercrystal weapon!


    Ethercrystal contained an astonishing amount of energy, prompting many qi refiners to experiment with harnessing this energy in an explosion, evenpressing it further before releasing it in one go!


    After many years, ethercrystal weapons were born. Even a mortal who wielded an ethercrystal weapon could easily kill a Qi Sea cultivator.


    ording to the records in the immortal slips, there existed incredible ethercrystal weapons with the power to easily eliminate Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Naturally, such ethercrystal weapons were also rare and unaffordable for most Amethyst Cradle practitioners.


    An ethercrystal weapon was in essence a unique type of artifact, akin to the Heavenly Thunder Talisman Wu Yuan previously utilized. So, the moment he realized that his opponent wielded an ethercrystal weapon, he did not hesitate at all.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In a flurry, more than ten flying swords materialized around him, their sword qi coalescing to form two Dark Earth Nine Swords Arrays. Though he possessed the ability tomand more sword arrays, there wasn��t enough time.


    Simultaneously, the vast earthy-yellow qi currents enveloped the area a few hundred meters around him, shielding himpletely. It was his Domain!


    Following this, the horrifying light column of heavenly thunder descended upon him.


    The Earth Domain had the greatest defense among the Domains of the five elements. Wu Yuan''s Domain was so powerful that if ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator entered it, they would find it difficult to move.


    However, it was breached by the strike, albeit with a significant reduction in the power of the light pir.


    1. 1 jun = 30 catties = 15 kilograms ?

 Chapter 306: Nine Swords Of Light (2)

    <h4>Chapter 306: Nine Swords Of Light (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom! </i>The collision was akin to twos crashing into each other, brilliant enough to blind mortals.


    The two Dark Earth Nine Swords Arrays shone with dazzling light as Wu Yuan pushed the sword arrays to their limit.


    A low rumble filled the air as the outer sword array showed signs of strain, yet managed to withstand the force of the fearsome pir of light. In contrast, the second sword array,posed of eight lifebound flying swords and a single ordinary flying sword, remained steady and unwavering.


    <i>This attack is equivalent to a full strike from a fourth-stage Golden Core cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root, as well as grasped the Domain stage.</i> Wu Yuan estimated. This strike was not weak at all.


    Unfortunately for his opponents, as long as Wu Yuan could react in time to form a sword array, the attack wouldn��t be a lethal one.


    Despite his weaker mana reserves, his soul made up for it. Even though his qi refiner self had a weak soul rtive to his body refiner self, it was still stronger than when he killed Jin Quan more than ten years ago.


    But most crucially, his level of Daoprehension reached the Domain stage! For the past fifteen years, Wu Yuan had traveled all across the Middle Land. His understanding of the profundity of the Land now reached an even deeper level than before.


    <i>Reassemble! </i>Wu Yuan gave a mental order. The once faltering outer sword array regrouped with renewed vigor, merging with his Domain to unleash a formidable sword qi that sent shivers down the spines of the raiders.


    ��What?��


    <i>Out of the two sword arrays protecting him, the Ethercrystal Heavenly Thunder Array isn��t even able to shatter one? Unbelievable!</i> The burly man with ck hair and the silver-robed youth felt as though someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water on their heads.


    At this moment, they truly understood the strength of their target.


    ��Run!�� Without any hesitation, the ck-haired burly man shot into the distance in a desperate bid to escape.


    ��Run?�� Wu Yuan''s cold gaze locked onto him, unleashing his essentia.


    A soft hum filled the air as the nine lifebound flying swords converged, melding into an earthy-yellow divine light in the blink of an eye.


    The second step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: Nine Swords Of Light!


    With a resounding boom, the divine light tore through the sky, matching the speed of the heavenly lightning pir that was unleashed by the battleship.


    The divine light sliced through the air, piercing through ten li and shattering several of the ck-haired man''s flying sword artifacts. In a swift motion, it passed over his form with a deafening bang, evaporating flesh and blood in its wake.


    The Golden Core cultivator was dead!


    ...


    <i>Escape!</i> The silver-robed young man and the woman in purple felt their hearts in their throats as they scrambled to steer the battleship away.


    With a resounding boom, Wu Yuan streaked toward them. The earthy-yellow qi streams around his body wrapped around the battleship. As though submerged in mud, the battleship��s speed slowed dramatically, unable to break free.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan conjured two massive palms of swirling earthy-yellow qi streams, each palm positioned on either side of the ck flying boat. Then, he pped them together.


    <i>Bang! </i>The battleship quaked violently, its upants struggling to maintain their footing.


    "We cannot endure much longer, the flying boat is already taking damage," the woman in purple trembled in horror. ��A sixth-grade spirit flying boat may look grand and expensive, but its structural integrity is no match for the sustained assault of ate-stage Golden Core expert."


    In her mind, Wu Yuan��s strength had already reached that level.


    As the silver-robed young man hesitated, the two colossal palms formed by abination of Domain and essentia hammered down upon the flying boat, causing it to deform and crack under the relentless assault.


    It was a single, tiny crack. But that was more than enough.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Like a swift and deadly snake, a flying sword slithered through the crack. Just two secondster, the trembling flying boat was brought to an abrupt halt.


    With a metallic ng, the cabin door swung open, revealing two lifeless bodies with heads impaled by the flying sword. An unseen force lifted them out.


    ...


    In a matter of breaths, the raiding party, consisting of one first-stage Golden Core cultivator, one ninth-stage Communion cultivator, and two ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators armed with an ethercrystal weapon, waspletely annihted by Wu Yuan.


    "Strip the battleship of anything that can be transported," Wu Yuan ordered. With a mentalmand, he deftly kept the storage artifacts, flying swords, armor, and other possessions from the dead cultivators.


    "No problemo!" Qiong Sea King chirped eagerly, darting into the flying boat. Just breathster, he emerged with barely contained excitement. "Master, the battleship isden with treasures, including hundreds of catties of ethercrystal."


    "Mm, keep them for now," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly, engrossed in the assessment of his spoils from the raiders�� storage artifacts.


    Artifacts? Ethercrystal? Such trifles held little interest for Wu Yuan, who had received a million catties of ethercrystal from the realm master. One could even say that Wu Yuan was no longer enticed by most normal treasures.


    The strongest of the four robbers was only a first-stage Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, he was the most ordinary kind that had yet toprehend a Domain. He didn��t evene close to Jin Quan��s strength. What kind of noteworthy treasures could he possibly have?


    <i>Ah, I��ve finally found it. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes lit up as his gaze fell on a cluster of immortal slips in a ring storage artifact. <i>Knowledge is still the most important. After reading these, I��ll be able to understand this region better.</i>


    Continuing his search, Wu Yuan''s hand closed around a peculiar crystal stone. Releasing his grip, it floated in the air. It was crystal-clear, with a surface that shone with silver light. On the back, a waning moon was faintly engraved.


    <i>A Redmoon voidrealm jade. With this, I can ess the Redmoon Immortal Realm.</i> A smile spread across Wu Yuan��s features. This was exactly what he wanted the most.


    "Qiong Sea, we��re leaving," Wu Yuan dered.


    "Master, what about this flying boat?" Qiong Sea King was taken aback.


    "The flying boat is already damaged." Wu Yuan said indifferently. "Moreover, we don''t have a storage artifactrge enough to hold it. It''s too inconvenient to carry along."


    "Understood." Qiong Sea King nodded.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The man and beast quickly returned to their purple flying boat and headed towards Fengchuan City.


    With a rumble, the huge ck battleship plummeted.


    Not long after, a mortal cultivator stumbled upon the deserted battlefield. Soon, the news spread, quickly attracting a swarm of martial artists and even some Qi Sea cultivators in the area. A frenzy erupted as everyone began vying for the scraps of the battleship and shattered treasures left behind.


    This was the norm. What were mere trinkets to the elite were treasures worth fighting for to the lower-level cultivators. Many objects that were considered no better than mud in the eyes of cultivators, were considered natural treasures in the eyes of martial artists.


    ...


    The flying boat sailed through the sky, with Wu Yuan now more alert than ever after this encounter. It was only when they traveled tens of thousands of li without further trouble that his tension eased.


    <i>Finally, I��ve regained some calm. Redmoon voidrealm jade?</i> Wu Yuan yed with the crystal stone in his hand.


    There was only one piece, found in the storage artifact of that Golden Core cultivator.


    <i>Let��s give it a try.</i> Wu Yuan sent a thread of consciousness into the crystal stone.


    Soon, Wu Yuan felt his consciousness enter a mysterious ce. It seemed endlessly far away, yet all-epassing at the same time.

 Chapter 307: A Cultivators Second World

    <h4>Chapter 307: A Cultivator''s Second World</h4>


    Ever since Wu Yuan acquired the voidrealm jade, impatience had gnawed at him, and he had a strong urge to test it out immediately. However, his recent brush with death had left him wary, prompting him to swiftly depart with Qiong Sea King in tow.


    Typically, most raiding parties like the one he encountered were made up of loose cultivators. After ransacking through their belongings, he found no evidence of their affiliation with anyrge factions. Still, caution ensured a 10,000-year voyage.


    Unlike the tiny Middle Land, the Redmoon Immortal Continent sprawled across an expanse of unimaginable magnitude, making up an entire spacetime ne. ording to the information he gleaned from the immortal slip, its diameter stretched into the tens of billions of li.


    <i>A continent spanning tens of billions of li may not seem toorgepared to the cosmos of my previous life. Just one light year is already longer than it. But in reality, for a continent with a diameter of billions of li, the thickness of itsndmass should also be around tens of millions of li. And in terms of total matter, it could potentially rival that of a gxy. </i>


    The sr system had a maximum diameter of over a light year, but the sun ounted for more than 99% of its total matter, and the sun��s diameter was merely two million li!


    The two were simply not on the same scale.


    How many powerhouses would such a vast world produce? It was hard to tell. And the Redmoon Immortal Continent was merely the tip of the iceberg that was the Greenridge Macrocosm, nothing but one of the many spacetime nes that made up the macrocosm.


    Even the realm master was unfamiliar with the name of this immortal continent.


    <i>Based on the intel provided by this raiding party, Fengchuan City is not one of the rtively prosperous cities on the immortal continent. Amethyst Cradle cultivators are likely the strongest presence there, which is to be expected.</i> After reading through the jade slips and books, Wu Yuan made a deduction.


    Fengchuan City, spanning a million li radius ofnd, was home to tens of billions of humans. To many mortals, it was already an immortal paradise onnd. If an Amethyst Cradle Cultivator only sought a life of rxation and pleasure, they could establish their own haven on the vast immortal continent in the macrocosm.


    On the immortal continent, Amethyst Cradles could be considered powerhouses, and were worshiped as beings on the level of immortals and devils by countless mortals. However, in the vast macrocosm, Amethyst Cradle cultivators were nothing special.


    <i>With my current strength, it would prove troublesome if I encountered a rtively strong Golden Core Superior. I must tread carefully. </i>Wu Yuan had a clear understanding of his own strength.


    While he could fend for himself on the immortal continent, overconfidence could quickly lead to his downfall. Who knew when a super powerhouse might pop up and squash him to death?


    <i>In such a vast world,munication is also an important need among cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Transportation on the Blue in his previous life had evolved from domesticated horses to airnes, then starships. Communication evolved from letters and telegrams to the phone, the inte, and then the metaverse. All these advancements were driven by the need to share information and resources quickly.


    The same went for immortal cultivators.


    <i>Teleportation arrays provide a swift means for cultivators to travel between different regions and also expedite the transfer of treasures. This level of spatial maniption bears resemnce to the experimental ''Star Gate'' and ''Wormhole'' technologies of my previous life. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>And this voidrealm is in essence a superior version of the metaverse.</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze settled on the crystal stone in his hand.


    The Redmoon Immortal Realm was a high-grade voidrealm that served as a tform for countless cultivators all over the Redmoon Immortal Continent towork with each other, even if they were physically billions of li apart.


    With a mentalmand, a stream of Wu Yuan''s consciousness entered the voidrealm jade.


    ...


    Soon, Wu Yuan materialized soundlessly in a personal hall, simr to the one in the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Snow white robes automatically draped over his body.


    "Greetings, esteemed seeker of immortality," a gentle voice greeted him. Numerous light particles converged, and a radiant maiden in white robes, around 18 or 19 years old, materialized on one side of the hall.


    Wu Yuan''s eyebrows creased in surprise.


    "The voidrealm has identified that this is your first visit," the girl said with a smile. "I am your immortal realm guide. You may call me Little Moon."


    <i>Little Moon? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    "As per the immortal realm��s regtions, each user is required to confirm their physical appearance, facial features, name, etc on their first visit," Little Moon continued. "Please be reminded that your true identity cannot be confirmed by the voidrealm, thus we advise all users to provide information that closely mirrors reality, as discrepancies may impact future experiences within the voidrealm."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding, already familiar with this. In the macrocosm, arge-scale voidrealm that epassed an entire immortal continent maintained a close connection to the physical world. Most users chose to use their authentic identities, akin to the digital identity system in the metaverse of his previous life.


    However, this voidrealm operated on a far more sophisticated level and authenticated users via Soul Force, ensuring that one could not create alternate ounts. Each cultivator possessed a unique Soul Force, rendering it impossible to assume a different identity without detection even if they possessed a different body.


    <i>The Middle Land Immortal Hall is a low-grade voidrealm, so the realm master was able to manipte the voidrealm jade. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>But replicating it for a voidrealm that epasses an entire immortal continent?</i>


    Even an Archeldritch would struggle to create a new identity.


    Without dy, he created an avatar closely resembling himself in reality, only making subtle alterations to his appearance.


    "This is a gentle reminder that should you desire minor adjustments to your facial features and physique, you may do so for a fee of 10,000 catties of ethercrystal," Little Moon informed him ��considerately��.


    Wu Yuan��s cheek twitched. 10,000 catties of ethercrystal for a facelift? What a rip-off!


    "Please state your name." Little Moon inquired.


    "Li Xia," Wu Yuan said. This was a name he had thought of long ago, one that held great significance.


    Xia was the dawn of civilization in the Blue''s ancient history. The same character was also found in the Summerpeak World! [1]


    He left behind the Blue and Summerpeak, embarking on a journey into the unknown to seek immortality.


    <i>Furthermore, the ce I transmigrated to in the Middle Land was Li City.</i> [2]


    Wu Yuan''s gaze held a touch of nostalgia. <i>My martial arts journey began in Li City. Now, I shallmence my cultivation in the vast macrocosm with the name Li Xia.</i>


    <i>This time, the realm master won��t be able to criticize my naming skills. </i>Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia! You may now begin your journey in the Redmoon Immortal Realm," Little Moon smiled, "Please familiarize yourself with the ''Neer''s Guide'', ''Immortal Realm Rules'', ''Introduction to the Immortal Realm''... In total, there are eight virtual immortal slips."


    "Also, here��s a gentle reminder that as a first-time visitor, you are entitled to ninth-tier privileges for free, valid for one year."


    "Ninth-tier privileges are the most basic level, which limits the number of features you may ess in the immortal realm. To upgrade your privileges, please visit the Immortal Realm Grand Tower in any of the fifth-tier cities across the immortal continent to top up your ount with ethercrystal," Little Moon exined. "Lastly, I wish you a fruitful cultivation journey in the Redmoon Immortal Realm. May you swiftly ovee your tribtions and attain immortality. Have a pleasant day!"


    Little Moon��s figure then shimmered and dissolved into pinpricks of light. Before Wu Yuan, eight virtual immortal slips materialized, their crystalline beauty giving them a dreamlike quality.


    Wu Yuan began to peruse each immortal slip with keen interest. Thanks to the realm master��s intel, Wu Yuan already had a basic understanding of voidrealms.


    Hence, in just a quarter of an hour, Wu Yuan understood the ins and outs of the Redmoon Immortal Realm. It far surpassed the Middle Land Immortal Hall, offering a myriad of opportunities for cultivation and self-improvement.


    <i>One can undergo trials in the voidrealm? The immortal realm can simte an environment and its corresponding hazardous conditions from the real world, allowing cultivators to test their mettle and fortitude.</i>


    <i>There are lifelike mortal cities, and cultivators who enter them have all six senses and memories blocked, allowing them to immerse themselves in the mundane world. Only when they leave would they regain their memories.</i>


    <i>There are simtion workshops for pill refining and artifact forging. In the real world, each failure costs numerous precious materials. But in the voidrealm, one can fail and try again as many times as they wish. Once they are confident in their chances of sess, they can then proceed with the actual crafting in the real world.</i>


    <i>There are breakthrough simtions that allow one to perceive the entire process of a high-level cultivator��s breakthrough, thereby assisting them with their own breakthrough?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked.


    <i>There are specific recruitment venues where one can hire or join fellow cultivators across the immortal continent to take part in joint expeditions...</i>


    <i>There are specific knowledge hubs where one can gather information throughout the immortal continent...</i>


    <i>There is the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, where countless cultivators from all corners of the immortal continent vie for supremacy, and only the brightest geniuses are able to conquer it...</i>


    <i>There��s also the Cosmic Arena, where only the strongest survive to the end of a series of bloody matches.</i>


    <i>There are also artifact shops...</i>


    Wu Yuan found himself overwhelmed by the vast array of offerings. Now this was the world of immortal cultivators that he had envisioned.


    The path to immortality was not a primitive pursuit, the evolution of life did not equate to abandoning technology.


    <i>The immortal path is about harnessing the most fundamental principles of heaven and earth to craft the most exquisite and fulfilling life. </i>Wu Yuan felt a newfound rity.


    The voidrealm was a cultivator��s second world!


    <i>ording to the realm master, such immortal continent voidrealms are still not the top voidrealms. There exist voidrealms even more wondrous. </i>


    Yet, for Wu Yuan, the Redmoon Immortal Realm was grand enough to both broaden his horizons and spark high hopes for this second world of cultivators.


    "A high-grade voidrealmes with all sorts of features. Unfortunately, it��s pay-to-unlock." Wu Yuan smiled bitterly.


    Privileges were categorized into ten tiers. At the bottom, the tenth tier allowed only basic navigation, and no payment was required.


    Moving up to the ninth tier granted ess to various functions. But rtively premium functions such as pill refining and equipment forging simtions could only be unlocked in higher tiers.


    Ninth-tier privileges for 100 years cost ten catties of ethercrystal. Eighth-tier privileges for 100 years cost 50 catties of ethercrystal. Seventh-tier privileges for 100 years cost 250 catties of ethercrystal.


    A hefty price indeed!


    Wu Yuan finallyprehended why the raiding party possessed only one voidrealm jade. With such steep prices, it was unattainable for poorer qi refiners. Or perhaps, for many weaker qi refiners, it was unnecessary for them to enter the voidrealm at all.


    <i>Yet, it can amodate the entirety of the immortal continent ne, allowing countless cultivators to enter simultaneously andmunicate seamlessly despite being separated by vast distances. The expenses incurred to operate the Redmoon Immortal Realm must be substantial. It��s impossible to make it free of charge.</i>


    Just as the Middle Land constructed its own modest Middle Land Immortal Hall, most factions in the macrocosm would also establish smaller voidrealms that only epassed their territory.


    While the functions of such voidrealms were limited, fewer expenses were incurred. And most importantly, they could maintain their privacy.


    <i>The individual behind this Redmoon Immortal Realm should be none other than Immortal Redmoon. Every action taken here is witnessed by him. </i>Wu Yuan��s mind drifted. <i>Some powerful cultivators may not be willing to have their every move scrutinized.</i>


    <i>But I am a mere ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, an insignificant fry. Even if I stand right before Immortal Redmoon, he won��t spare me a nce. </i>Wu Yuan smiled wryly.


    To be considered a weakling was a gift in its own right. No one would take notice of him.


    <i>With the limitations of ninth-tier privileges, most functions were inessible to me. However, I can still ess the first floor of the library.</i>


    He only had a one-year free trial period and didn��t wish to squander it. He stored the virtual immortal slips with a wave of his hand.


    Then, Wu Yuan felt his surroundings transform. Suddenly, he was no longer within his personal hall, but out in a vibrant city.


    The entire ce was packed with pedestrians, and numerous shops lined each street. Above, flying boats zipped through the sky.


    As Wu Yuan observed the throngs of people adorned in various attire. He noted that some resembled demonic beasts, perhaps spirit beasts. All individuals emanated the same first-stage Golden Core aura.


    Yet, amidst the urban sprawl, a towering skyscraper that stretched into the clouds caught his attention, its grand facade bearing the title Twin Jade Library.


    <i>It seems I��ve been assigned to Twin Jade City. This means that my current physical location in the real world is under the jurisdiction of the second-tier city, Twin Jade City?</i>


    The immortal continent was vast, but the area within the virtual Redmoon Immortal Realm wasn��t as massive. Apart from some individually established subrealms, there were only hundreds of cities in total.


    Each city in the voidrealm represented the territory of a second-tier city in the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Upon entering the Redmoon Immortal Realm for the first time, one would be assigned to the second-tier city within whose jurisdiction their physical body currently resided.


    <i>A second-tier citymands a territory of one billion li in width at minimum. Such a vast ce is naturally home to arge poption and numerous cultivators.</i>


    With that, he crossed the threshold into the library.


    1. Refers to the Xia dynasty (��), the first dynasty in China. Summerpeak is tranted from Xia Shan (��ɽ). ?


    2. The word Li (��) means ��to leave�� ?

 Chapter 308: The Six Realms of the Immortal Path (1)

    <h4>Chapter 308: The Six Realms of the Immortal Path (1)</h4>


    As Wu Yuan stepped into the library, his breath caught in his throat. <i>It��s truly grandiose.</i>


    Looking up, his eyes roamed over the gigantic area enclosed within the building��s circr structure.


    The edifice was so tall that the upper levels of the building stretched beyond Wu Yuan''s field of vision. Each floor was packed with towering bookshelves, each shelf crammed with virtual immortal slips. The sheer number of books was unfathomable.


    Cultivators bustled about, their figures flitting between the shelves as they searched for books and disappeared in shes of light.


    <i>This library provides both private reading rooms andmunal reading rooms. Each cultivator is free to choose where they wish to read.</i>


    This was an advantage of the voidrealm over the physical world. Its virtual nature allowed for the creation of diverse spaces that catered to various needs, while space was a major constraint in the physical world.


    <i>The library��s height is deceiving. Though it appears to reach an infinitely high level, it isposed of only nine floors. One can only visit the levels corresponding to their privileges.</i>


    On the higher levels of the library, one could find ether arts, teachings, secret techniques, and the like that were publicly disseminated within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. While such teachings were ordinary, they catered to the masses of cultivators seeking to expand their knowledge and skills.


    This egalitarian approach embodied the ideology of ''everyone is a dragon''.


    <i>The books on the first floor are typically not too valuable. </i>Wu Yuan strolled over to a bookshelf, his eyes scanning the titles with practiced ease.


    <i>However, all I seek are the basics; knowledge of the sects and factions that span the Redmoon Immortal Continent, theyout of its administrative divisions, the locations of its cities and towns, etc. </i>Wu Yuan had a clear purpose foring here.


    Details such as the strength of the powerful individuals within each city��s jurisdiction, their abilities and cultivation levels, etc, were valuable information that required an organization to gather and update the intel consistently. Hence for such information, he would have to visit a specialized intelligence agency.


    But for a map detailing the distribution of cities?


    <i>ording to the realm master, many immortal continents have endured for hundreds of millions of years. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    <i>100 million years is an impossibly long time, and yet they remain unchanged, these administrative centers included.</i>


    Hence, such static information held little value in his eyes.


    His qi refiner self had a clear n for his time in the macrocosm. The first step was to understand the details of the macrocosm and establish a foundation. The second step was to join a powerful faction and tap into the resources of the faction to aid his cultivation progress.


    <i>The first book, ''Ten Million Years of Twin Jade City''?</i> Wu Yuan picked out a virtual immortal slip and injected his Soul Force into it, quickly reading through it.


    Cultivators did not read with their eyes but with their Soul Force. These virtual immortal slips took the form of books, but each one actually contained an enormous amount of text and images woven together.


    If tranted into a physical book in the real world, a single virtual immortal slip would contain hundreds of millions, if not billions, of words. The collection of data housed within the Twin Jade Library was immense beyond measure. Even the most diligent mortal would require many years to read the virtual immortal slip in Wu Yuan��s hands, let alone all the books in the library.


    But Wu Yuan was no longer an ordinary mortal. His mind functioned at an elerated pace, allowing him to process vast amounts of information in a matter of dozens of breaths. Given a little more time, he would be able topletely digest andprehend everything he read as well.


    <i>The evolution to a higher order of life is truly wondrous, the differences between transcendent cultivators and ordinary individuals are far from limited tobat power. It extends to every facet of existence, from cognitive speed to ingenuity. </i>


    Just as humans surpassed their primate ancestors with the advent of wisdom, so too were transcendent cultivators fundamentally different from mortals due to their mastery of spiritual qi and Soul Force.


    ...


    <i>So, the Redmoon Immortal Continent consists of three top-tier factions: Redmoon Immortal Hall, Bloodforge Devil Hall, and Myriad Axes Hall... The Redmoon Immortal Hall, the strongest of the three, holds dominion over more than 70% of the immortal continent. Its authority is unchallenged within the immortal continent.</i> Wu Yuan meticulously absorbed the relevant knowledge.


    <i>However, the Redmoon Immortal Hall does not have the resources to extend its reach across such a vast expanse. Only a third of its territory lies directly under its control, and the rest is parceled out to subordinate sects and families...</i>


    <i>Though I��m physically in the territory of the second-tier Twin Jade City, the actual distance between myself and the physical Twin Jade City is...600 million li! </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly and shook his head.


    Such a distance was far enough to make one shiver.


    Even if Wu Yuan flew at full speed without any breaks, it would still take him around ten months to reach his destination, let alone traveling by flying boat.


    <i>Ten months journeying across this boundlessnd, who knows what dangers lie in wait along the way?</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    He already encountered a raiding party trying to kill him and loot his treasures just a little more than 10,000 li into his journey.


    Normally, the most efficient means of transportation across thend was through teleportation arrays.


    <i>The Redmoon Immortal Hall only constructs teleportation arrays in cities of the fourth tier and above. The closest fourth-tier city to me is Starsword City, home to hundreds of millions of people. Within the city lies an official station of the immortal hall, guarded by powerful Void Refiner Eminences.</i>


    Beyond the Amethyst Cradle phasey the Void Refiner phase. This was knowledge that Wu Yuan had obtained from the realm master��s immortal slips long ago.


    There were six phases of qi refining and body refining that he knew of. The lower three phases of qi refining were Qi Sea, Golden Core, and Amethyst Cradle, while the upper three phases were Void Refiner, Divided Soul, and Tribtion.


    As for body refining, the six stages were Communion, Spiritual Body, Shambh, while the upper three phases were Elysian Field, Dharma Body, and Universe Architect.


    The Funan Sect, a prominent sect recognized by the immortal hall, was the most notable power within Starsword City.


    <i>It is not a difficult task to establish a sect within the Middle Land, but in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the Redmoon Immortal Hall rules over the vast continent. Any sect aspiring to take root must first gain the approval of the immortal hall, umting merits through contributions and demonstrating that they meet a minimum level of foundation and strength.</i>


    Attempting to erect a sect without the immortal hall''s acknowledgment was akin to inviting their wrath.


    <i>Just about any sect on the immortal continent is incredibly strong. The weaker factions are scarcely worthy of being called sects. Even the most modest of sects boast a Divided Soul powerhouse in their ranks. Furthermore, all sects can be viewed as affiliate members of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.</i>


    Memories of his previous life came flooding back to Wu Yuan.


    Within the Human Federation, numerous corporate giants normallypeted with each other and vied for dominance, but in times of crisis, they werepelled to heed the Federation''s directives.


    Simr dynamics yed out in the Redmoon Immortal Continent. On normal days,rge sects shed in bloody battles over coveted treasures, forming deep-seated grudges with one another. Immortal Redmoon wouldn��t bother intervening in such squabbles.


    However, any powerhouse in a sect that reached a certain level of cultivation automatically became a member of the Redmoon Immortal Hall, obligated to follow Immortal Redmoon''smands in times of need. Those who dared to defy his orders were killed. At the end of the day, thisnd belonged to Immortal Redmoon.


    <i>Simrly, no powerhouse is permitted to freely propagate their Faith on thisnd unless within their own designated fiefdom. The countless mortals are only allowed to worship the Taiyuan Divine Court and Immortal Redmoon.</i>


    It was evident that Immortal Redmoon ced great emphasis on Faith Incense.

 Chapter 309: The Six Realms of the Immortal Path (2)

    <h4>Chapter 309: The Six Realms of the Immortal Path (2)</h4>


    The more Wu Yuan delved into the information in the immortal slips, the more he marveled at the way these ancient factions upheld tradition. Their meticulous organizational structure appeared virtually wless.


    On one hand, by leveraging the Redmoon Immortal Realm and numerous cities, they effortlessly oversaw the entire Immortal Continent. On the other hand, through the allocation of fiefdoms and merits, they managed to appease the ambitions of numerous powerhouses, thereby preempting rebellions. And finally, all elite powerhouses were conscripted into the ranks of the Redmoon Immortal Hall!


    <i>On this immortal continent embroiled in eternal struggle with shes between sects and immortal families, only the Redmoon Immortal Hall reigns supreme. Each administrative city is like a nail that entrenches its power into the foundation of the continent. </i>


    <i>Not a participant, but a judge.</i>


    Such a tactic was truly impressive, with only one w. However, it was a w that could unravel the entire system.


    <i>Tomand such authority, one must possess unparalleledbat power to quell all opposition. </i>


    <i>The Immortal Redmoon has ruled over the immortal continent for countless eons, and his might is unfathomable. In times of dire need, he can also call on the Taiyuan Divine Court for aid. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    Though some of his knowledge was gleaned from books citing various sources, a significant portion was the result of Wu Yuan''s own analysis.


    Now, the veil of mysteries shrouding the Redmoon Immortal Continent was almost halfway lifted.


    <i>As for the Bloodforge Devil Hall and Myriad Axes Hall?</i> A slight furrow creased Wu Yuan��s brow.<i> They are seldom mentioned in the books, these two enormous factions are still a mystery to me.</i>


    In essence, with the immortal continent under the dominion of the Redmoon Immortal Hall, the presence of these two powerful factions was weak. And so, their absence in the public eye led to ack of information and records on their activities.


    ...


    <i>I journeyed to the immortal continent for the cultivation of my qi refiner self. </i>


    <i>The best and also most efficient path lies in joining a powerful faction, where I can swiftly acquire abundant resources, cultivation guidance, and tutge from renowned masters. There exist four avenues.</i> Wu Yuan analyzed.


    <i>Undoubtedly, the optimal route is to enter the Redmoon Immortal Hall directly. Unfortunately, the Redmoon Immortal Hall seldom epts new disciples, typically opting to recruit already matured powerhouses from various sects. Unless one is a peerless genius possessing unmatched talent, entry into the Redmoon Immortal Hall is impossible. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head with a hint of resignation.


    A peerless genius didn��t refer to just anyone who managed toprehend the Domain while in the Qi Sea phase. Rather, it referred to the kind of iparably dazzling monstrous prodigies who could shake countless people across the world with their talent.


    Wu Yuan felt that his talent was decent, but he wasn��t confident enough to im he could stand amongst such prodigies.


    <i>The second route is to enlist in the Redmoon Immortal Army, a force of cultivators under the directmand of Immortal Redmoon.</i>


    <i>The immortal army wields considerable influence across the continent, conquering numerous spacetime nes and worlds. They harbor countless treasures, teachings, and ether arts, and the barrier to entry is significantly lowerpared to the Redmoon Immortal Hall. However, the risks of service are great, with high casualty rates among its soldiers, and the restrictions imposed on its ranks are stringent.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Though the rewards were tempting, the dangers were equally great, making this path unappealing to Wu Yuan.


    <i>The third route is to join arge family and serve as a guest member within their ranks. </i>Wu Yuan contemted. <i>Yet, the level of support varies greatly among families, with some nurturing their guests wholeheartedly while others backstab them in the dark and aim to stifle their potential. Prudence will be paramount during the selection stage.</i>


    <i>And finally, the fourth and mostmon route is to join a sect. On the immortal continent, the majority of cultivators aspire to join a sect.</i>


    The strength and reputation of sects varied widely.


    <i>It��s simr to my former life. The disparity between working for a Fortune 500pany and a small local business right after graduation is enormous.</i>


    Of course, even the humblest sect was a behemothpared to Wu Yuan''s current standing.


    Wu Yuan had also acquired knowledge of the Hou Feng Tribe during its prime. Apparently, it was previously a sect rivaling the first-rate sects of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    <i>If I��m unable to gain entry into the Redmoon Immortal Hall, I must at least enter a first-rate sect, one that specializes in sword cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan quickly came to a decision.


    On the Redmoon Immortal Continent, more than one first-rate sect boasted a rich heritage in sword cultivation. While Wu Yuan had learned the names of some of these sects, their internal structures were aplete mystery to him. As for the disciple recruitment process and timing, he didn��t have the foggiest idea.


    The circumstances of the variousrge sects were in a state of constant flux, making it impossible to get a good grasp of them from the immortal slips on just one floor of the library.


    <i>The closest teleportation array is in Starsword City, but it lies more than tens of millions of li away. Even if I rush over at top speed, it will still take many days. Traveling via flying boat would lengthen the trip to half a month. If I make a pit stop at Fengchuan City, it will only take an additional day by flying boat.</i>


    Wu Yuan came to a decision after contemting his options. He would first visit Fengchuan City to upgrade his voidrealm privileges and gather vital intelligence. At the same time, he would purchase the necessary treasures and resources for his cultivation. Only when all preparations were in ce would he embark on the journey to Starsword City.


    <i>If I can break through to the Golden Core phase and upgrade all nine lifebound flying swords to fifth-grade spirit weapons, I��ll be able hold my own against top-tier Golden Core cultivators, barring the exceptionally strong ones. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes shone with anticipation.


    With such strength, he would feel far more confident roaming thend. Amethyst Cradle cultivators were rarely seen after all.


    ...


    Time went by as a fraction of Wu Yuan''s consciousness browsed the information stored within the Twin Jade Library. The majority of his consciousness, however, remained focused on cultivation and maintaining a vignt watch in every direction.


    The purple flying boat soared over tall mountains, untamed wilderness, and deserts. While skimming across a vastke that stretched for tens of thousands of li, they were attacked by Communion demonic beasts, who were swiftly driven off by the Qiong Sea King.


    He also encountered the Soul Force of others sweeping indiscriminately over his location multiple times. Wu Yuan chose to let them pass in peace.


    After two days went by without incident, the Qiong Sea King suddenly drew Wu Yuan''s attention to a distant city. "Master, look at that city," he eximed, pointing towards it. "Is that Fengchuan City?"


    "Fengchuan City?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened as he gazed in the direction indicated. On the horizon stood a sprawling metropolis, resplendent in its vibrant colors and adorned with countless towering structures and floating halls.


    The majestic city walls stretched endlessly in both directions, their immense size beyond the scope of human vision.


    <i>On the immortal continent, all fifth-tier cities span tens of thousands of li in length and width, each serving as a miniature, self-contained world.</i>


    <i>The Redmoon Immortal Hall is truly impressive. Even the lowest level cities under its direct governance are still constructed to such high standards.</i>


    The thick, ck walls of the city rose several li high, theirposition a mystery to him.


    Wu Yuan understood that these fifth-tier cities were not known as immortal cities among mortals for nothing. Their legacies were astonishingly long, some dating back millions of years, and housed tens of millions of people within its walls.


    The grand city walls were not just physical barriers preventing cultivators from trespassing, but were in fact arrays! They were abination of numerous arrays in one structure.


    While the strongest powerhouse of the Redmoon Immortal Army stationed in a fifth-tier city might only reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, the lethal traps within the city walls could eliminate even a Void Refiner with ease.


    This was what it meant to have a deep and profound foundation.


    Even if thends beyond the city wallsy in chaos, the Immortal Hall would just turn a blind eye to it. But within fifth-tier cities and above, strictws dictated that no cultivator may engage inbat without permission. The punishment for those who dared to defy this decree was death!


    This was how the Redmoon Immortal Hall established its authority on the immortal for billions of years �C it was carved out by the sacrifices of countless cultivators. No one dared to challenge their rule lightly.


    "Let��s proceed into the city," Wu Yuan dered with a smile, guiding the flying boat towards a designated passage in the city wall.


    As they approached, he observed the orderly flow of various flying boats and individuals entering and exiting the city through its numerous passages.


    Amidst the bustling activity, Wu Yuan''s unassuming purple flying boat slipped in unnoticed, blending seamlessly into the stream of traffic.

 Chapter 310: Fengchuan City Tu Family

    <h4>Chapter 310: Fengchuan City Tu Family</h4>


    The entryways into the city were incredibly wide, each one around ten li in diameter to amodate the arrival and departure ofrge flying boats and battleships.


    ck-robed figures maintained order at the entrance of each passageway. However, they were the minority, and most of the guards were actually puppets. These puppets handled everything from inspections to registrations with eerie efficiency. Some took on humanoid forms, others in beast forms, and several were constructed in odd shapes and sizes for specific functions.


    <i>As the intelligence reports suggested, puppets are the backbone of immortal cities. The immortals offload most of the routine work to them, and just have to supervise them.</i> Wu Yuan observed.


    Even mortals relied heavily on these puppets, what more the immortals themselves?


    Flying boats passed through the entryways one by one, went through inspection, and were then guided by various puppets to their designated areas. When it was Wu Yuan''s turn, he felt a strange, invisible ripple of energy scanning his flying boat and himself.


    <i>An inspection array, perhaps?</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    A humanoid puppet appeared before him, directing his flying boat down an empty passageway.


    <i>Why is no one else using this entrance?</i> Wu Yuan wondered, noticing that most boats turned to the left or right instead.


    <i>What��s going on? </i>Wu Yuan was confused.


    As his flying boat entered the city, Wu Yuan sensed an invisible force suppress his soul.


    <i>A soul suppression array? It limits the range of my Soul Force?</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    When sweeping through an area with Soul Force, one could perceive everything happening in that area. Naturally, the city would ce restrictions on it. In important locations withinrge sects, even those at the Yuan Soul level found their abilities limited.


    ...


    At the 87th entrance of Fengchuan City, within the military post of the immortal army, several figures were quietly cultivating in a spacious rest area.


    "Attention, a Golden Core cultivator has been detected aboard an eighth-grade flying boat. The Golden Core cultivator��s identity is unknown," a robotic voice suddenly echoed in the rest area.


    "Hmm?" one of the figures murmured, breaking their meditation.


    "A Golden Core cultivator? It''s been a long time since west encountered one," another figure remarked, their eyes widening in surprise.


    "An unfamiliar one at that, how did theye to our Fengchuan City?" a third figure questioned, rising from their meditation position.


    "Why didn��t they take the entrance for high-level cultivators?" The two ck-armored soldiers and two ck-robed figures were slightly taken aback by the announcement.


    "Let''s go, we need to greet them quickly."


    "Hurry up and notify the captain," another figure added, the four of them swiftly making their way out of the meditation chamber.


    This was part of their duty. As a fifth-tier city, the puppets and detection array would handle most of the city��s entry verification tasks, and only very few tasks would be personally handled by the stationed cultivators.


    The only exception was the arrival of a high-level cultivator.


    Whenever a Golden Core cultivator showed up, they were personally greeted out of respect. Different cities had different standards for what constituted ��high-level��. But for a city as ordinary as Fengchuan, a Golden Core cultivator was already considered high-level!


    As for the Amethyst Cradle realm? They were the top powerhouses within the territory of Fengchuan City!


    ...


    A low rumble echoed through the air as the flying boat slowlynded, guided by the puppet. Wu Yuan stepped out of the boat alongside Qiong Sea King, who was currently in his smallest form.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan was startled to find nearly ten figures waiting for him. The leader, a young man with a full head of silver hair and a squarish face, dressed in vibrant red robes, appeared to be in his 30s. Behind him stood soldiers in ck armor and figures in ck robes.


    "Greetings, Superior!" the group bowed to him in unison. Their booming shouts gave Wu Yuan a fright.


    However, Wu Yuan quickly realized that this was a typical ��wee ceremony'' in the various major cities of the Redmoon Immortal Continent for high-level cultivators.


    <i>The Fengchuan City''s inspection array��s detection abilities are no joke. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    Inspection arrays typically detected and measured one��s vital aura. Despite being only at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase, Wu Yuan''s vital aura was strong enough to rival a first-stage Golden Core cultivator. Hence, the inspection array identified him as a Golden Core cultivator.


    The silver-haired youth stepped forward with a warm smile. "Wee to Fengchuan City, Fellow Daoist. I am Tu Chi, the captain of the Fengchuan City Immortal Army.��


    "Thank you, Daoist Tu Chi," Wu Yuan replied with a bow, following the standard etiquette he had learned from studying the virtual immortal slips.


    Throughout the eons, the cultivators of the Redmoon Immortal Continent had developed their own set of social customs and etiquette. Among cultivators, power was the currency of respect, and it wasn��t a big deal if a stronger cultivator showed disrespect.


    But for Wu Yuan, a neer to this world, it was important that he maintained a facade and concealed his origins as a loose cultivator from a worldlet.


    Besides, Wu Yuan knew that most soldiers of the Redmoon Immortal Army stationed in fifth-tier cities were predominantly at the Qi Sea and Communion phases. To rise to the rank of captain, one had to have reached the Golden Core phase, and was not just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.


    "Fellow Daoist, I believe this is your first time in our Fengchuan City?" The silver-haired youth chuckled.


    "Yes, I am just passing through," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Haha, then I must provide you with a proper introduction to our city," the silver-haired youthughed, "Please follow me, Fellow Daoist."


    "One moment please," Wu Yuan shed a polite smile, then stowed the flying boat about 100 meters behind him with a wave of his hand.


    This sight elicited a hint of envy in the eyes of the ck-armored soldiers and other figures present.


    Golden Core cultivators were indeed of a different breed. Just howrge of a storage artifact would be needed to store such a massive flying boat?


    Wu Yuan and the silver-haired youth led the way, with the Qiong Sea King trailing behind, while the soldiers and custodians brought up the rear.


    The two chatted as they walked, the silver-haired youth providing Wu Yuan with various details about Fengchuan City, such as itsyout, entertainment venues, prominent families, and more. These were all insights that could not be obtained from the library. Wu Yuan made a mental note of each one.


    Finally, as they were on the verge of entering the city, the silver-haired youth halted, turning to Wu Yuan with a courteous smile. "Fellow Daoist, I hope you have a pleasant stay in Fengchuan City."


    "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist," Wu Yuan replied, cupping his hands respectfully.


    "By the way, is your jiaolong spirit beast at the ninth-stage Communion phase?" the silver-haired youth inquired with a casual tone.


    "That is correct," Wu Yuan affirmed, puzzled as to why he would suddenly bring up the topic.


    "Impressive," the silver-haired youthmended, "While such a spirit beast may not be of much use to us, obtaining a second jiaolong to pull a chariot alongside this one would certainly make for a striking sight when journeying across thend, haha!"


    "If there��s only one?" the silver-haired youth shook his head with a tinge of disappointment, "It somewhat dulls the grandeur."


    Wu Yuan merely smiled without responding, failing to grasp the other party''s intent.


    "Daoist Li Xia, would you be open to selling this jiaolong spirit beast to me? I am prepared to offer 1500 catties of ethercrystal," the silver-haired youth casually proposed, addressing Wu Yuan by the name he had provided during their exchange.


    Wu Yuan was caught off guard. So this was his objective.


    Behind the duo, Qiong Sea King��s eyes widened, and he red at the silver-haired youth.


    <i>This wretched kid, first he wants me to pull a cart, and now he wants to buy me?</i>


    The group of ck-armored soldiers and custodians following them were all astounded.


    1500 catties of ethercrystal? Heavens! An ordinary piece of sixth-grade spirit equipment often fetched only one catty of ethercrystal!


    "Haha, Daoist Tu Chi, you jest," Wu Yuan grinned, his voice warm and easy. "This azure jiaolong has been my ymate since I was young. Our bond runs deep and cannot be broken."


    His offer was rejected? The ck-armored soldiers and the custodians were shocked. It was already a very generous price.


    "Daoist Li Xia, I believe I have already shown you my sincerity," Tu Chi furrowed his brow slightly. "The value of a regr ninth-stage Communion spirit beast is merely 100 catties of ethercrystal, but due to the rarity of azure jiaolongs, I offered much more than the market rate."


    Wu Yuan smiled. He wasn��t wrong.


    In the macrocosm, a ninth-stage Communion spirit beast was not too expensive, but Qiong Sea King was an exception. With his sixth-degree immortal root and mastery of ether art, his strength was extraordinary.


    Furthermore, Wu Yuan had witnessed Qiong Sea King''s loyalty and dedication over the years. Why would he sell him off?


    Wu Yuan wasn��tcking ethercrystal either.


    "Daoist Li Xia, I��m willing to go up to 2000 catties of ethercrystal. What do you say?" Tu Chi''s gaze rested on Wu Yuan. "I��m only offering such a generous sum because of my fondness for collecting jiaolongs. Let us not be too greedy, Fellow Daoist."


    2000 catties of ethercrystal. The soldiers and custodians held their breath. Such wealth was enough to buy their lives.


    "I apologize." Wu Yuan shook his head gently. Without waiting for a reply, he took to the skies with Qiong Sea King following close behind, disappearing into the city.


    "Damn it!" The silver-haired youth''s expression was stormy, his voice dripping with venom. "Some ninth-degree immortal root trash dares to reject me?"


    The group behind him exchanged nces, understanding what the silver-haired youth meant. The inspection array had evaluated that Wu Yuan exuded the aura of a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root.


    If he were a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root, the array would have evaluated him as a fourth-stage Golden Core cultivator.


    If he were a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a fourth-degree immortal root, he would be evaluated as a fourteenth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. [1]


    Wu Yuan was evaluated to be a first-stage Golden Core cultivator, leading to two possible scenarios. Either he was among the weakest tier of first-stage Golden Core cultivators, or a Qi Sea cultivator with a remarkably powerful immortal root, with a vital aura equivalent to a higher cultivation phase.


    However, neither the silver-haired young man nor the ck-armored soldiers believed Wu Yuan could be such a prodigious talent. A third-degree immortal root was exceedingly rare.


    Even a second-tier city that ruled over hundreds of millions of square li rarely produced such a prodigy, let alone the fifth-tier Fengchuan City. And such a peerless prodigy just happened to visit Fengchuan City?


    <i>After going to great lengths, I��ve only managed to acquire three azure jiaolongs. If I can obtain this one to make a set of four and present it at the ancestor''s 3000th birthday, I am certain to earn his favor.</i> Tu Chi''s eyes gleamed with ambition.


    There was obviously a reason behind his desire to purchase the azure jiaolong. As a Golden Core cultivator, his status was very high among qi refiners. However, as a member of the Tu Family, one of the top three families in Fengchuan City with several Amethyst Cradle Reverends and a Shambh cultivator as their patriarch, his status paled inparison.


    Unless he managed to secure the support of his family, he was unlikely to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase in this life.


    "Yang Hui, stay back. The rest of you are dismissed," Tu Chi abruptlymanded.


    ��Understood.�� The group quickly scurried away to avoid the wrath of their irritated leader.


    Only the silver-haired young man and a ck-robed custodian remained.


    Without a sound, Tu Chi released his Golden Core mana to form a barrier around them, rendering it impervious to prying eyes or ears.


    "Captain," the ck-robed custodian murmured.


    "Mobilize the family''s power at once. Find out the location of Li Xia''s residence and the reason for his visit in my Fengchuan City. I want every detail of his movements and background," Tu Chi''s gaze turned icy. "If there is any indication of his departure from Fengchuan City, alert me through the Redmoon Immortal Realm immediately."


    "Understood. I shall attend to it promptly," the ck-robed custodian swiftly departed.


    1. not an actual stage (highest is ninth-stage), just a point of reference ?

 Chapter 311: Unexpected Change

    <h4>Chapter 311: Unexpected Change</h4>


    Fengchuan City stretched across an expanse of over 10,000 li in both length and breadth. Each of its main roads boasted an astonishing width, ranging from several li to a staggering ten li!


    Beyond the majestic structures and floating sky cities, thendscape extended as far as the eye could see, adorned with towering mountain ranges and verdant forests.


    Wu Yuan soared through the skies at a height of 100 zhangs alongside the Qiong Sea King, venturing deep into Fengchuan City via one of its main roads.


    asionally, cultivators would emerge from various buildings and estates, while hordes of puppets and mortal martial practitioners thronged the streets below. Their sheer numbers were nothing short of remarkable.


    "Master, you mentioned that Fengchuan City is a realm of immortals. Yet, it appears that the vast majority of its denizens are ordinary folk?" the Qiong Sea King asked, unable to contain his curiosity.


    Most of the individuals he observed thus far were mortals, and among the cultivators, almost all of them were at the Qi Sea phase.


    A Golden Core cultivator? They had encountered only one after flying for more than 100 li along the road.


    "What are you thinking?" Wu Yuan chuckled. "Indeed, Fengchuan City is an immortal city, governing and radius of a million li. It is said that one out of every ten cultivators within its territory lives in Fengchuan City itself."


    "However, it does not imply that all of the inhabitants within Fengchuan City are cultivators." Wu Yuan shook his head thoughtfully. "I estimate that there are only 200,000-300,000 cultivators residing in Fengchuan City on normal days."


    200,000-300,000? The Qiong Sea King��s eyes widened. That was a staggering figure.


    Wu Yuan smiled. This estimation was based on a variety of sources. Although there might be some margin of error, it wouldn��t be significant.


    The Middle Land with a radius of just tens of thousands of li had scarce resources, ack of teachings and inheritances, and no guidance from predecessors. Yet, it managed to produce nearly 100 Heavenly Rankers.


    In due time, Wu Yuan believed that the Middle Land would yield close to a thousand cultivators.


    As for Fengchuan City? This city was abundant in treasures, spiritual qi,prehensive teachings and inheritances, and its territory surpassed that of the Middle Land by hundreds of times.


    With over a million cultivators scattered throughout its territory, and numerous treasures and cultivators congregating here, Fengchuan City''s status as a cultivation hub was inevitable.


    Consequently, a popce of hundreds of thousands of practitioners was perfectly normal.


    "Master, doesn��t that mean there are tens of thousands of Golden Core cultivators in Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King eximed in astonishment. In his mind, the Middle Land couldn��t hold a candle to the macrocosm.


    "It��s not that exaggerated," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "In the Middle Land, one Golden Core cultivator is born among dozens of Heavenly Rankers."


    "In the macrocosm, the rich spiritual qi makes it easier to reach the Qi Sea phase, but advancing to the Golden Core phase is much more challenging," he continued. "Especially if one aims to reach the fourth-level Domain stage. In terms of Daoprehension, thete-stage Qi Sea cultivators of the Middle Land have all reached an incredibly high level.��


    Qiong Sea King quickly grasped what he meant. The cultivators of Middle Land were notcking in talent, but rather in external conditions. Those who could reach the Qi Sea phase in such a poor environment were far from untalented.


    "There should be nearly 10,000 Golden Core cultivators in Fengchuan City," Wu Yuan estimated. "And on a normal day, I estimate around 2000-3000 of them reside in the city."


    2000-3000 Golden Core cultivators? It sounded like a lot, but encountering one was still rtively rare given the size of the city.


    "That''s quite a lot." Qiong Sea King murmured.


    ��That��s why we need to keep a low profile,�� Wu Yuan smiled. "The strength of a Golden Core cultivator is not a big deal in the broader scope of the macrocosm. Yet, on the other hand, even a seemingly ordinary Qi Sea cultivator could possess Golden Core phase strength."


    ��I understand,�� Qiong Sea King nodded in agreement. "They might wield a puppet or an ethercrystal weapon, like the raiding party."


    Wu Yuan chuckled. Indeed, in the macrocosm, the distinction between Qi Sea and Golden Core cultivators was blurred due to the prevalence of powerful puppets and battleships.


    Unleashing the strength of the Golden Core phase was not difficult. There were powerful ethercrystal weapons capable of dispatching Golden Core cultivators as easily as ughtering chickens.


    Fengchuan Citymanded respect from all sides and deterred anyone from viting itsws. Was its strength derived from the Redmoon Immortal Army? No, it was due to their powerful array!


    This array was not under the direct control of the immortal army, but rather operated by abination of puppets and array spirits, ensuring it remained impervious to external interference.


    "Master, how many Amethyst Cradle Reverends reside in Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King inquired, his curiosity piqued.


    "Amethyst Cradle Reverends?" Wu Yuan paused to think for a moment. "There are probably a few dozen peak powerhouses in Fengchuan City."


    "So many?" Qiong Sea King''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    Daoprehension was not a requirement for advancing from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase. But the transition from the Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase required one to have a deep understanding of the Dao. Even so, the chances of a sessful breakthrough were slim.


    At the Amethyst Cradle phase, one''s abilities underwent a transformation. Ethercrystal weapons that could match an Amethyst Cradle cultivator��s power were extremely rare.


    "Keeping in mind that those in the Amethyst Cradle phase can live for 3000 years, while those in the Shambh phase can live for 10,000 years, this number is very small." Wu Yuan replied casually.


    ��Countless Qi Sea and Golden Core cultivators die on their cultivation journey, only a few survive to be high-level powerhouses.��


    "Normally, only one Amethyst Cradle Reverend is born from hundreds or even thousands of Golden Core cultivators," Wu Yuan stated.


    Wu Yuan idly toyed with a jade slip in his grasp, reading the information contained within. Tu Chi had given it to him, as was customary for all Golden Core cultivators arriving for the first time in Fengchuan City.


    Unlike immortal slips, jade slips were less sophisticated, and the information within was more vulnerable to damage, but it cost significantly less to craft.


    This particr jade slip included a basicyout of the city as well as its power distribution.


    <i>So it appears a quarter of Fengchuan City is under the control of the various Amethyst Cradle families, their estates sprawling across hundreds, even thousands of li, akin to miniature kingdoms.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Estates spanning such vast distances were unheard of in the Middle Land.


    <i>Another quarter of the city is divided between the Redmoon Immortal Army, Moonlight Hall, and Redmoon Immortal Realm.</i>


    The Redmoon Immortal Army served as the military force, the Moonlight Hall was a governmental agency, and the Redmoon Immortal Realm was the voidrealm organization. The three represented the official authority of the Redmoon Immortal Hall in Fengchuan City, and was naturally the strongestbined faction.


    <i>The remaining sectors are upied by shops belonging to various immortal families, grotto-heaven pavilions, battle towers, as well as residences of Golden Core families, grottos of loose cultivators, and even the headquarters of somerge sects.</i>


    The division ofnd was more or less simr across the Redmoon Immortal Continent. With this rough map in mind, navigating any city in the future would be much easier.


    <i>Hm? The Tu Family estate spans 300 li in length and breadth? Howrge. </i>Wu Yuan''s expression shifted slightly as he processed the information.


    The jade slip did not specify which families were Amethyst Cradle families, but those with residences exceeding 100 li in length numbered only a few dozen.


    300 li? Only four families had such vast holdings. The Tu Family was clearly a force to be reckoned with. It was most likely an Amethyst Cradle family, if not stronger.


    <i>I may have offended Tu Chi by turning down his offer earlier. But whether he hails from this Tu Family remains uncertain. </i>


    Despite the potential repercussions, Wu Yuan dismissed the matter. Would the other party actually get into a life-and-death fight with him over a mere ninth-stage Communion spirit beast? If that truly ended up happening, Wu Yuan would have to question how Tu Chi managed to cultivate to the Golden Core Phase. Only a fool would behave like that.


    <i>Moreover, so what if he��s from that Amethyst Cradle family? Not even Void Refiner or Elysian Field Eminences would risk transgressing the cityws. </i>Wu Yuan reasoned.


    "Where to next, Master?" inquired Qiong Sea King.


    "The Redmoon Immortal Tower," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. "Let��s get some rest in a grotto."


    Qiong Sea King nodded.


    The Redmoon Immortal Tower stood on the eastern side of the city. The city imposed limits on flight speeds and heights, hence the pair took longer than usual to cross the distance.


    Eventually, they arrived at an opulentpound. Though it was called a tower, thepound had a radius of 500 li, upying a huge area beyond the main tower.


    The area was filled with cultivators, but most would respectfully move to the sides of the road when passing by Wu Yuan, sensing his powerful aura. The sight of Qiong Sea King alone evoked a change in many expressions. A jiaolong spirit beast was beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.


    As they neared the threshold of the Redmoon Immortal Tower, Wu Yuan abruptly halted, his countenance darkening.


    "What��s the problem, Master?" Qiong Sea King inquired, noting the shift.


    "The teleportation array in the Middle Land," Wu Yuan uttered grimly. "It appears to have malfunctioned, rendering it unusable for teleportation."


    Qiong Sea King was taken aback.

 Chapter 312: Hypothesis, Sixth-Tier Privileges (1)

    <h4>Chapter 312: Hypothesis, Sixth-Tier Privileges (1)</h4>


    "Master, what do you mean?" Qiong Sea King''s astonishment was evident in his voice. "Did something crop up with the teleportation array in the Immortal Continent? Should we return to investigate?"


    The teleportation array mentioned by Wu Yuan was their sole gateway to the Summerpeak World. If it no longer functioned and the connection was severed, it implied that they were stranded here, unable to return to the Summerpeak World!


    "Don��t worry," Wu Yuan reassured him with a calm voice. "I��m deliberating on a solution. My physical refiner self is in the Middle Land, so it��s not an urgent matter. Let us enter the Redmoon Immortal Tower first. We��ll discuss it further within the grotto."


    "Okay," Qiong Sea King nodded.


    The duo entered the bustling Redmoon Immortal Tower, where the sight of numerous cultivators left the Qiong Sea King breathless.


    Despite the hubbub around them, Wu Yuan remainedposed.


    The Redmoon Immortal Tower was an establishment under the Redmoon Immortal Hall that provided grotto rental, artifact trading, and various other services for leisure and entertainment, all integrated into one ce.


    Fengchuan City had arge territory, and its poption of tens of millions was widely dispersed across thend. As a result, much of its territory was unpopted, instead filled with deste mountain ranges or other natural formations.


    On the contrary, the Redmoon Immortal Tower was a hive of activity. From high-end recreational venues to ordinary artifact stalls, it catered to every desire, including culinary delights and extravagant fireworks disys.


    Naturally, it was a money sink, attractingrge volumes of Golden Core Superiors and Qi Sea cultivators, with even the asional visit from Amethyst Cradle Reverends.


    If Fengchuan City was extremely safe, the Redmoon Immortal Tower was absolutely safe.


    A white-robed female attendant with impable posture and stunning beauty took the initiative to greet him with utmost respect. "Immortal Senior, is this your first time visiting the immortal tower?"


    ��Mm,�� Wu Yuan nodded faintly. Inwardly, he gave the Redmoon Immortal Tower a thumbs up.


    Within the immense courtyard beyond the main gate, a line of beautiful female attendants stood, greeting and bidding farewell to guests without pause. Though they were mortal martial artists, their looks and demeanor rivaled that of female immortal cultivators.


    Ordinary Qi Sea cultivators were ineligible to receive a personal wee, and among the attendants, the one who approached Wu Yuan stood out as the finest, bearing the aura of a Grandmaster.


    "I am Han Liu, an attendant of the immortal tower," the white-robed attendant introduced herself with a smile. "Does Immortal Senior have a destination in mind? If not, I can introduce you to some..."


    "No need," Wu Yuan declined, ��Take me to the Immortal Residence Pavilion.��


    "Immortal Senior is nning to rent a grotto?" Hanliu''s surprise was evident, but she remained respectful. "Please follow me."


    Yes, a grotto! The safety of Fengchuan City made it a sought-after spot for secluded cultivation among cultivators. This drove up the price ofnd in the city, leading to an absence of permanent mansions save for the Redmoon Immortal Hall''s official buildings.


    Amethyst Cradle families paid a steep price to lease expansive plots ofnd, their ownership contingent on the continued payment of ethercrystal whenever it was due.


    One could say that the size of an immortal cultivator family��s mansion was seen as a reflection of their strength and wealth, a matter of prestige. Thus, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but marvel at the size of the Tu Family''s estate. It was certainly not a typical Amethyst Cradle family.


    For foreign cultivators without a permanent residence, the only option was to rent a grotto. Fortunately, there were numerous property shops outside the Redmoon Immortal Tower that offered these amodations at rtively affordable prices. Of course, grottos within the immortal tower itself came at a much steeper cost, but Wu Yuan made the decision to splurge on this luxury.


    After hundreds of li, he finally arrived at a cluster of individual courtyard houses nestled amidst a towering mountain range. Each independent courtyard house spanned hundreds of meters in width and length, meticulously designed for its customers to appreciate the natural scenery, and filled with rich spiritual qi. Invisible barriers encased each courtyard house, shielding them from prying eyes and eavesdroppers.


    The term ��grotto�� was merely a formal name, as these abodes were far from anything resembling a cave in the mountains.


    "Immortal Senior," Han Liu addressed Wu Yuan with a respectful tone. "We have three grades of grottoes avable for rent here at the Redmoon Immortal Tower: ninth-grade, eighth-grade, and seventh-grade. The rental prices are ten, twenty, and one hundred catties of ethercrystal respectively, starting from one year. May I know your preference?"


    "I''ll opt for a ninth-grade grotto," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly.


    "Ninth-grade?" The attendant was slightly disappointed. The rental cost for a ninth-grade grotto was modest, not much higher than what one would find elsewhere. This resulted in a meagermission for her as well.


    "How many years does Immortal Senior intend to rent it for?" Hope flickered through her eyes as she posed the question. If Wu Yuan were tomit to a rental period of ten years or more, themission would still be quite substantial.


    "Just one year," Wu Yuan stated sinctly.


    The attendant��s expression stiffened slightly.


    Renting a ninth-grade grotto for only one year? This was unexpected.


    "Why? Is there an issue?" Wu Yuan''s gaze bore into her, causing the attendant��s heart to tremble. His stare was frightening.


    "There is no issue, Immortal Senior," the attendant in white responded respectfully. "Please follow me toplete the check-in process."


    Shortly thereafter, Wu Yuan handed over ten catties of ethercrystal and received a key token for the grotto. The payment included both the deposit and a year''s rent. He would return the token after a year, and the deposit would be refunded.


    Clutching the token, Wu Yuan made his way back to the front of the grotto.


    "Immortal Senior?" The attendant in white approached cautiously.


    Wu Yuan gave her a knowing smile, as though suggesting that he understood the attendant��s unspoken concerns. He calmly instructed, "Lead me on a tour of the Redmoon Immortal Tower."


    "A tour?" The attendant''s eyes sparked with anticipation. "Of course."


    In her experience, a tour often led to the purchase of treasures. Regardless of the type of treasures acquired, she would receive amission. Thus, the attendant in white eagerly obliged.


    However, over the next two hours, Wu Yuan''s true intentions became clear. He walked into every treasure pavilion within the Redmoon Immortal Tower, asking for the prices of numerous items and even negotiating with the store attendants.


    Yet, not a single purchase was made.


    As they arrived back at the grotto empty-handed, Wu Yuan appeared calm and rxed, showing no signs of fatigue.


    Han Liu, however, felt mentally drained. It was the first time feeling this exhausted in quite a while.


    "I hope Senior Immortal is satisfied with the tour? If there is nothing else, Han Li will be taking her leave." Though it was a struggle, the attendant in white maintained her professionalism and gave a polite smile.


    "Hold on," Wu Yuan said with a cheery smile.


    <i>Hold on?</i> The attendant felt speechless.


    All she wanted was to greet the next customer as soon as possible. If every customer was like Wu Yuan, she wouldn��t earn enough to make ends meet. How many years would it take for her to buy a Mortality Transcension Pill?


    As a Grandmaster, a Mortality Transcension Pill offered her a chance to advance to the Qi Sea phase.


    "Apany me to the Immortal Realm Grand Tower," Wu Yuan mentioned casually.


    "Very well." Although the attendant felt a tinge of bitterness, she dared not decline his request or reveal her true feelings.


    She understood all too well that some stingy cultivators relished bargaining over every little detail. Should she offend the other party, she would face dire consequences, perhaps even risking her life.


    In Fengchuan City, onlybat among immortal cultivators was prohibited, but there was now that forbade the killing of mortals.


    ...


    <i>A mere fifteen minutester. </i>


    <i>Within a concealed chamber in the Immortal Realm Grand Tower. </i>


    "Han Liu, you have made a significant contribution!" a rosy-cheeked middle-aged woman d in ck robes eximed with great enthusiasm, "Do you know that the senior you escorted just now topped up 10,000 catties of ethercrystal into his Redmoon Immortal Realm ount?"

 Chapter 313: Hypothesis, Sixth-Tier Privileges (2)

    <h4>Chapter 313: Hypothesis, Sixth-Tier Privileges (2)</h4>


    "What?" the white-robed attendant was somewhat dumbfounded.


    10,000 catties of ethercrystal? Was this a dream? She couldn''t help but remember the moment she had seen Wu Yuan off from the Immortal Realm Grand Tower. He had smiled and said, "It��s been tough on you."


    At that moment, she had smiled courteously, but deep down, she was begging for him to leave.


    Yet now?


    "Martial Aunt, what about me then?" Han Liu''s voice quivered slightly.


    10,000 catties of ethercrystal? For her, it was a sum beyond imagination.


    "Didn��t you mention that you were saving up for a Mortality Transcension Pill?" the woman in ck robes chuckled, "Tomorrow, I shall personally protect you and guide you through your breakthrough."


    Han Liu took a deep breath, her eyes brimming with longing. After nearly a decade in the Redmoon Immortal Tower, this day had finally arrived.


    At this juncture, Han Liu was also somewhat curious, ��Just who was that guest? He clearly possessed immense wealth, yet opted to reside in a ninth-grade grotto."


    Topping up 10,000 catties of ethercrystal into the immortal realm was a rare urrence in Fengchuan City. The average Golden Core cultivator had no way of producing such arge sum of ethercrystal all at once.


    "Remember, do not divulge this," the ck-robed woman stated sternly, "If discovered, it is a capital offense, and no one can save you."


    "Yes," Han Liu''s heart quivered.


    As attendants, they recited the confidentiality rules daily.


    ...


    Wu Yuan led Qiong Sea King back to his private grotto. The modest ninth-grade grotto had a radius of only 100 meters and a rtively sparse spiritual qi concentration. But despite its small size, the architecture was of a high standard, and could be considered rather luxurious.


    <i>The main difference between a ninth-grade grotto and a seventh-grade grotto lies in the concentration of spiritual qi and the size of the courtyard house. But neither will aid me in reaching the Golden Core phase. </i>Seated in the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Wu Yuan understood that this transition was ultimately dependent on the absorption of a substantial quantity of ethercrystal. Thus, Wu Yuan opted for the cost-effective ninth-grade grotto. The reason he still paid the premium to stay in the Redmoon Immortal Tower was due to its unparalleled privacy, which was exactly what he needed most. No other grotto shop couldpete in that aspect.


    <i>The barriers here will prevent any disturbances within the grotto from reaching the outside world, even a breakthrough to the Golden Core phase. </i>


    He was not too worried that the Redmoon Immortal Tower would spy on him. There was no need for them to risk their reputation over a small fry like him.


    ��Master?�� Qiong Sea King transmitted his voice over as he lounged in the courtyard in his shrunken state. To him, this courtyard was afortable size.


    ��Don��t worry. I��ll be able to obtain the Body Tempering Spirit Pill and the Six Extremities Liquid in two days at the earliest. These will greatly increase your chances of breaking through.�� Wu Yuan assured him via spiritual transmission.


    Qiong Sea King��s eyes lit up in excitement. ��Thank you, Master.�� He had waited a very long time for this day.


    ��Master, what about the teleportation array?�� Qiong Sea King inquired.


    ��There��s no need to worry about it.�� Wu Yuan replied reassuringly.


    Qiong Sea King nodded obediently.


    ...


    In the Middle Land, within the Fourth Eldritch Realm, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had a meeting with the realm master.


    "If I understand you correctly, Fang Xia attempted to activate the teleport array. The 3000 catties of ethercrystal were used up, but the process was met with failure?" the realm master murmured softly.


    Wu Yuan nodded. With a wave, a light screen materialized, disying the failed teleportation attempt Fang Xia had made. Several days after Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King had departed, Fang Xia had a change of heart.


    Seemingly persuaded by Qiong Sea King��s words before he left, he now sought to explore the Redmoon Immortal Continent, a desire that Wu Yuan was eager to facilitate. However, the attempted teleportation had unexpectedly failed.


    "I have scoured the library of the Redmoon Immortal Realm for information, but found none regarding such teleportation failures," Wu Yuan frowned. "Could it be that the issue lies with the teleportation array on the Redmoon Immortal Continent''s side?"


    His qi refiner self was currently hundreds of thousands of li from the teleportation array he arrived from and wouldn��t be able to return anytime soon.


    The realm master shook his head gently. "No. If the teleportation array malfunctioned, the array would not even activate, let alone consume the ethercrystal. It appears that an unseen power is obstructing the teleportation array."


    "An invisible blockade on the teleportation array?" Wu Yuan expressed his surprise.


    "This isn��t too surprising. The teleportation array utilizes the mysteries of space," the realm master exined. "If an object can be teleported over, it can also be blocked. The oue depends on which side has superior abilities."


    "Previously, you mentioned that the consumption of ethercrystal during the previous teleportation was inexplicably tenfold the usual amount. Factoring this new development, I suspect that the world we are in has been spatially sealed in its entirety," the realm master stated gravely.


    "Sealed space?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    He didn��t exactly understand what that meant.


    "That is to say, an array has been deployed to envelop this entire world, stabilizing the space and increasing the difficulty of teleportation," the realm master borated. "There exist numerous methods of achieving this, such as the World Seal Array and the Time-Space Prohibition."


    "Last time, your qi refiner self managed to break through the obstruction and escape. Perhaps in response to this, the other party reinforced the array, resulting in the failure of the recent teleportation attempt," the realm master hypothesized.


    "Realm Master, are you suggesting that a powerful faction is sealing the entirety of the Summerpeak World?" Wu Yuan was astounded. This news was far too mind-boggling.


    "This is merely conjecture," the realm master shook his head. "It is also usible that the space beyond the Summerpeak World is experiencing turbulent currents, rendering the space highly unstable and interfering with the connection between the two teleportation arrays."


    Wu Yuan nodded in contemtion. This was indeed a possibility. "Realm Master, what should I do now?"


    "I do not have an answer," the realm master admitted. "Your body refiner self is currently unable to leave Summerpeak through the teleportation array. You have two options: cultivate to the Shambh phase and gain the strength to leave the world on your own and then investigate the situation in outer space, or uncover the truth about the Summerpeak World with your qi refiner self."


    "If this is merely a coincidence, then all is well. However, if a powerful faction is indeed sealing Summerpeak World, you must be prepared," the realm master cautioned solemnly.


    Wu Yuan furrowed his brow. The Summerpeak World wasn''t particrlyrge,parable to thend area of Fengchuan City. But sealing a world and sealing a million li ofnd in radius werepletely different concepts.


    ...


    In Wu Yuan��s grotto within the Redmoon Immortal Tower in Fengchuan City, his qi refiner self pondered his options.


    "Cultivating to the Shambh phase would take decades for my body refiner self.�� Wu Yuan shook his head.


    The time frame was too long, and there were too many uncertain variables.


    "It may be better for my qi refiner self to seek answers. Resources and information are more readily essible within the macrocosm," Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed in determination. "First, I should attempt to gather information about Summerpeak World through the Redmoon Immortal Realm."


    With that, Wu Yuan sent a thread of consciousness into the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    ...


    "Wee back, Li Xia!" Little Moon''s melodious voice rang out in the personal hall.


    After Wu Yuan materialized within his personal hall, he wasted no time checking his personal ount information.


    As anticipated, the ethercrystal bnce section revealed a recent top-up of etherstone: 10,000 catties of ethercrystal, 0 catties of etherstone


    "Little Moon, upgrade my immortal realm privileges to the sixth tier," Wu Yuan dered without hesitation.


    "To upgrade your privileges to the sixth tier for 100 years, 1000 catties of ethercrystal will be required," Little Moon said. "Do you wish to proceed?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan confirmed.


    ��Subtracting 1000 catties of ethercrystal. Privileges upgraded. Your current ount bnce stands at 9000 catties of ethercrystal, 0 catties of etherstone," Little Moon conveyed.


    "At the sixth tier, you may gain ess to the fourth floor of the library, expand your personal hall to 100 li, and unlock the ninth-grade Amethyst Cradle phase simtion within your personal hall. Additionally, you are granted unrestricted entry into all public areas, along with the ability to engage in the highest level of pill refining, qi refining, andbat simtions with ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase strength..."


    In an instant, numerous virtual immortal slips materialized before Wu Yuan, each containing information regarding his sixth-grade privileges. He would need to read through them.


    Meanwhile, his personal hall which was previously around 100 meters in length and width underwent a significant transformation, expanding exponentially before his very eyes.

 Chapter 314: Purchasing Treasures

    <h4>Chapter 314: Purchasing Treasures</h4>


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s personal hall expanded to an incredible scale, turning into a massive cube of 100 li in length, breadth, and height. The surface of the entire cube gleamed with a metallic sheen that could barely be differentiated from actual metal.


    <i>This is a personalized space.</i> Wu Yuan realized. <i>It��s capable of replicating any material or setting from the physical world.</i>


    Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>The personal space that previously resembled a hall swiftly shifted into a range of snow-capped peaks, then transformed into an endless deste in. The sky above altered instantly, no longer a metal surface.


    Finally, Wu Yuan willed the space to replicate the terrain near Cloudhill and Cloud Capital. Everything, down to the smallest details of the countless buildings, was just as he remembered. This scenery was created from the projection of his memories.


    <i>How about the Blue?</i> A fleeting thought crossed Wu Yuan''s mind, but he swiftly quashed it. His transmigration was a secret that must not be divulged to anyone.


    <i>Though the environment can be simted, theposition of these materials remains a mystery to me. It is only a surface-level copy</i>, Wu Yuan observed, eyeing the vacant space nearby. <i>Can I adjust the damage threshold of this personal hall''s environment?</i>


    Wu Yuan pointed at the empty space and set the damage tolerance to normal.


    "Unlock ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase restrictions," Wu Yuan ordered, his voice reverberating across the space.


    <i>Boom! </i>A surge of power flooded Wu Yuan''s senses, apanied by a tidal wave of essentia and mana. From Wu Yuan��s perception, he was experiencing a seismic shift in his strength, magnified a thousandfold, perhaps even ten thousandfold!


    Though nothing more than a simtion, Wu Yuan found himself astounded. It felt tangibly real.


    <i>This is the mana of a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>Annihte!</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across thend below, then he released a st of essentia.


    <i>Boom!</i> The ground quaked as mountains crumbled, forests withered, the earth split, and citiesy in ruins, an apocalyptic scene unfolding before his eyes.


    <i>This is the power of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator? A mere burst of essentia cany waste to a hundred-li expanse?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked.


    He now understood why the personal space was confined to a mere 100 li in length �C to limit the destruction radius. If the area was expanded and he unleashed an arcane art with the power of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, the destructive force would escte to a catastrophic level.


    <i>A ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator can cross more than 1000 li in a single step and fly over tens of thousands of li in two breaths, let alone the distance they travel when inbat.</i>


    The transition from the Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase marked a qualitative transformation.


    <i>If I wish to practice arcane arts in the physical world, I��ll need to look for specific spaces suitable for experimentation. Furthermore, it takes time for such ces to be restored to normal. Yet here, I can reset the space over again and again.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    With a single thought, the world which was once a picture of ruin reverted to its former state.


    <i>I can even select opponents?</i> Wu Yuan quickly read through the virtual immortal slip, his interest piqued.


    Within the confines of a personal hall, one could designate opponents of varying strengths for virtual battles, a valuable form ofbat training. However, there were certain constraints he had to take note of.


    <i>The strongest opponent I can unlock is a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator, and I can only battle a maximum of ten opponents at once? And there are further restrictions?</i> Wu Yuan smiled bitterly.<i> If I want to unlock higher-level opponents, it seems I need to expend additional ethercrystal.</i>


    For example, to simte an opponent at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, one would need to pay 100 catties of ethercrystal. This was for a single opponent, for a period of 100 years.


    As he pondered this, Wu Yuan couldn��t help scanning through the other avable features. As expected, the unlocked privileges for pill refining and equipment forging simtions, as well as the opportunity to experience the virtual mundane world, were merely the basic functions.


    Want to enhance your experience? Then be prepared to part with more ethercrystal!


    <i>So, I spent 1000 catties of ethercrystal to unlock sixth-tier privileges, only to encounter yet another paywall?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head ruefully.


    It bore a resemnce to the practices of certainpanies within the Human Federation of his previous life.


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan vaguely understood the rationale behind it. If just one or two cultivators engaged in high-level voidrealm battles, it wouldn��t cost much. But given the numerous cultivators in the Redmoon Immortal Continent and the frequency of such battles, this was a massive drain on the voidrealm��s resources.


    <i>The Redmoon Immortal Realm has an extensive range of functions. I will take my time to explore them thoroughly in the days toe. At the very least, they can facilitate my familiarization with the intricacies of mana and ether at varying cultivation phases beforehand.</i>


    Though seemingly inconsequential at present, this early limatization would undoubtedly expedite future breakthroughs.


    <i>Sixth-tier privileges are sufficient for my current needs.</i>


    The constraints imposed on the eighth and seventh-tier privileges were notably restrictive, barring ess to numerous public areas and official establishments.


    Moreover, therge teleportation array on the Redmoon Immortal Realm remained off-limits.


    However, with sixth-tier privileges, Wu Yuan enjoyed unhindered ess to all public areas as well as all basic features of the immortal hall, with additional permissions avable for a supplementary fee.


    As for the higher-tier privileges? The benefits were marginal; for instance, the fifth-tier privileges were virtually identical to the sixth-tier in most aspects, save for an expanded personal hall epassing 1000 li in length and the ability to unlock sixth-stage Void Refiner phase simtion.


    But every 100 years, a hefty sum of 10,000 catties of ethercrystal would be required. Furthermore, even if Wu Yuan was willing to spend such a significant amount, he was unable to unlock fifth-tier privileges at the moment. This was because one requirement was reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase.


    With a mentalmand, a ck cloak wrapped around his body, veiling his features and leaving only his eyes visible. In a sh of light, his body vanished from his personal hall.


    Wu Yuan materialized on the street outside the magnificent Twin Jade Library, amidst a busy crowd of passing cultivators. However, this raised no rm.


    <i>I can always return to my personal hall from any location within Twin Jade City, but I cannot teleport from my hall to just any area.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Each time, I will return to my original departure point.</i>


    This was a rule of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    <i>Twin Jade City, though called a city, extends for millions of li, brimming with countless cultivators.</i>


    Wu Yuan wasn''t surprised. Any cultivator in Twin Jade City with some strength or abilities would have an immortal realm jade. The total number of cultivators gathered here was likely in the hundreds of millions.


    <i>It��s time to make a trip to the Redmoon Immortal Tower.</i> Wu Yuan rose to his feet and consulted the map of the immortal realm. Then, he flew towards the nearby small teleportation array.


    In the public areas of the Redmoon Immortal Realm, one��s physical constitution was standardized at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase. It didn��t matter whether one was a Qi Sea phase, Amethyst Cradle phase, or Void Refiner phase cultivator in real life.


    Simultaneously, flight speed within public areas was restricted.


    Thus, throughout Twin Jade City, numerous small teleportation arrays connected various sectors of the city.


    Moreover, at the city''s hearty arge teleportation array facilitating travel to other cities within the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Eighth-tier privileges granted ess to the small teleportation array, while ess to therge teleportation array necessitated sixth-tier privileges.


    ...


    In Twin Jade City of the Redmoon Immortal Realm, a virtual Redmoon Immortal Tower stood.


    It was an expansive edifice spanning tens of thousands of li and breathtakingly opulent, much more extravagant than its physical counterpart, and with far higher customer traffic.


    The tower boasted millions of virtual immortal shops, each one corresponding to that of a physical shop in the real Twin Jade City.


    Thus, if one sought a particr treasure, there was no need to make a personal inquiry; information could be confirmed through the Redmoon Immortal Realm, the transaction method established, and the exchangepleted seamlessly.


    Previously, Wu Yuan had spent numerous hours perusing a multitude of shops within the Redmoon Immortal Tower of Fengchuan City, verifying details about the treasures he was interested in.


    Now, having confirmed the information, he opted to make the purchase within the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Soon, Wu Yuan reached the Fengchuan branch tower of the virtual Redmoon Immortal Tower. He was shrouded in ck robes and kept his personal information hidden. Therefore, others could not identify Wu Yuan, only perceiving that he had sixth-tier privileges.


    A bored youth in ck robes standing by the shop entrance immediately perked up as he saw Wu Yuan approach.


    "Fellow Daoist, pleasee in," he greeted warmly.


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Tower, sixth-tier privileges were not umon. But for the Fengchuan branch tower, such a customer was considered a VIP, given its status as a fifth-tier city branch tower. Compared to the branch towers of third and fourth-tier cities, the difference was huge.


    Typically, only cultivators who lived in the local Fengchuan area would visit their branch due to the convenience of goods collection. How many cultivators in the entire Fengchuan City could afford sixth-tier privileges?


    "I would like to purchase treasures, in bulk," Wu Yuan stated quietly.


    "Esteemed customer, let us discuss this inside," the ck-robed youth quickly ushered him into a private room before leaving. After a moment, he returned with a white-robed elderly man.


    "Fellow Daoist, I am the senior manager of this store," the elderly man introduced himself with a smile. "We have a variety of offerings in our 728 high-end shops, with 1600..."


    "No need for details," Wu Yuan interjected in a cold voice. "One of my disciples was passing by Fengchuan City when he gained some insights and immediately went into closed-door meditation. He has provided me with a list of treasures he requires. I need you to deliver them to him as soon as possible.��


    "Take a look, and let me know if you can handle this transaction." With that, Wu Yuan turned over his palm and handed over a list.


    "Hm?" The white-robed elder peered at the list before him, his eyebrows arching in surprise. "So many rare metals?"


    Wu Yuan remained silent.


    Among the items listed, alongside the Body Tempering Spirit Pill and Six Extremities Liquid required by the Qiong Sea King, were 37 types of high-tier metals and eighteen special materials. Though the quantities were modest, each material was considerably valuable, and some were exceedingly rare.


    These materials were all essential for Wu Yuan to upgrade his lifebound flying sword, and he had previously ascertained their avability in the Redmoon Immortal Tower within the physical Fengchuan City.


    There existed two methods for upgrading a lifebound flying sword. One involved nurturing it within the qi sea, a process that was effective yet extremely slow. The other method involved feeding it with various metals and special materials, improving the lifebound flying sword to a near-perfect state, enabling it to advance to the next grade.


    This approach aligned closely with the requirements of the Dark Earth Sword Path. Feeding it random metals could spur growth, but it risked depleting the sword''s potential, potentially hindering further breakthroughs to higher grades.


    "We can manage this," the elder in white dered. "We happen to possess all these treasures. However, about the price?"


    "One price: 7000 catties of ethercrystal," Wu Yuan uttered softly, a figure he had meticulously calcted in advance.


    "Fellow Daoist, this sum..." the white-robed elderly man hesitated.


    "You will not suffer any losses. In fact, you��ll stand to make a profit. While many of these metals are expensive, few buyers exist. I am helping you clear out your inventory," Wu Yuan stated coolly. "If you are unwilling to ept this offer, it��s not an issue for me. When my disciple returns to the third-tier city, I can acquire these treasures there."


    The elderly man in white could only offer a rueful smile. "Fellow Daoist is indeed a veteran. Very well, we agree to this arrangement."


    "One more thing, all items must be gathered from shops under your supervision. Andstly, arrange for delivery of the items to my disciple��s location," Wu Yuan instructed.

 Chapter 315: Power Upgrade (1)

    <h4>Chapter 315: Power Upgrade (1)</h4>


    "I do not wish to see any incidents befall my disciple due to your inability to keep the transaction confidential," Wu Yuan warned with a chilling tone.


    The elderly man in white robes was taken aback by his icy stare, while the young man in ck robes trembled with fear. The intensity of Wu Yuan''s gaze was enough to convey the message that he was not to be trifled with.


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, all cultivators possessed a physical constitution at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase. However, the disparity in strength between individuals at the Divided Soul phase or Dharma Body phase, versus the Qi Sea phase, was immense. The overwhelming difference in soul power resulted in varying levels of intimidation and oppression, which manifested in one��s gaze or demeanor.


    Despite the protection offered to all cultivators within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, the sheer presence of powerhouses could still instill fear in others.


    "You have my assurance, Senior," the elderly man in white robes replied respectfully. "We staff of the Redmoon Immortal Tower abide by our rules and will not vite them." He had changed how he addressed Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded. "Alright. Let us proceed with signing the contract," he stated in a deep tone.


    The contract was signed by both parties with the immortal realm as witness. 7000 catties of ethercrystal was deducted from Wu Yuan��s ount, which were held in trust until thepletion of the transaction.


    Upon receiving the goods, Wu Yuan would transfer a password, consisting of a string of more than 1000 characters, to the delivery staff. After which, the elderly man in white robes would have to input the same password to withdraw the sum of ethercrystal.


    The entire transaction process was monitored and verified through the Redmoon Immortal Realm, ensuring the uracy and security of the exchange. Naturally, the immortal realm wasn��t doing this for free, and a five percent immortal realm tax was levied for this service, but it guaranteed the safety and privacy of the buyers to thergest possible extent.


    After finalizing the details, the elderly man in white robes and the young man respectfully bid farewell to Wu Yuan.


    "Manager, he?" the young man in ck robes couldn''t help but inquire.


    "At least at the Amethyst Cradle phase, if not stronger," the elderly man replied in a hushed tone. "Don��t involve yourself in the affairs of such formidable figures."


    "Stronger? Doesn��t that mean the Void Refiner phase?" the young man gasped.


    Even after cultivating for more than 100 years, he scarcely met such powerful individuals within the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Powerhouses had their own exclusive social circles!


    "Do your duties well. Procure the items as per the list from each shop, and ensure no information is leaked," the white-robed elderly man instructed quietly.


    "Understood," the young man in ck robes nodded repeatedly.


    Regardless of the rules of the Immortal Tower, he would never dare to provoke a disciple of such an immensely powerful being.


    ...


    Wu Yuan shifted his focus from the Redmoon Immortal Realm to the physical world and the grotto courtyard house.


    There should be no issues. Wu Yuan''s eyes fluttered open.


    Why did he go to such lengths? It was to adopt a guise to deceive others and avoid revealing his wealth.


    The Redmoon Immortal Tower boasted numerous treasure shops, each owned by different cultivators and managed as a whole by the tower itself. If Wu Yuan were to visit each shop to acquire treasures, he risked drawing the attention of those with ill intentions.


    Fengchuan City was highly secure and safe, but once Wu Yuan left its borders? He had no intention of staying here for an extended period.


    If I possessed the strength of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend, I wouldn��t fear others coveting my wealth. Unfortunately, I��ve yet to reach that level. Wu Yuanmented inwardly, shaking his head.


    Since hecked the strength, he had to keep a low profile.


    Several of the cultivation programs avable within the personal hall of the Redmoon Immortal Realm are rather effective for cultivation advancement. Once I''ve achieved proficiency in a technique within the voidrealm, I can easily apply it in the real world. Wu Yuan focused on cultivating.


    Wu Yuan split his consciousness, delegating the majority to practicing a variety of arcane arts in his personal hall within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. While most of the arcane arts he learned were ordinary ones, they could potentially exhibit extraordinary effects in critical moments. Furthermore, he was also able to familiarize himself with the application of essentia and mana during the process of arcane arts practice.


    asionally, he changed his configuration to the Spiritual Body phase, selecting several virtual opponents to practice his closebat techniques.


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan''s primary focus remained on umting essentia, striving to break through to the Golden Core phase at the earliest opportunity.


    ...


    Merely a dayter, within a secret chamber in the Redmoon Immortal Tower, an array oversaw the proceedings between both parties, creating a projection recording in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Wu Yuan and the ck-robed youth met in the physical world. However, Wu Yuan had a starkly different appearance from his avatar in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, a precaution to avoid getting recognized.


    "Fellow Daoist, here are the treasures your master has tasked us with procuring for you. Kindly inspect it," the ck-robed man assumed a deferential tone.


    "Mm, my master has apprised me of this," Wu Yuan smiled brightly as he epted the storage artifact and scanned its contents with his Soul Force. Upon confirming that there were no errors, he retrieved a long slip of paper densely packed with characters.


    "This is the immortal realm password, as ryed by my master," Wu Yuan handed it over.


    The man in ck received the slip. ��One moment please.��


    After a moment, the password was authenticated. With that, their transaction came to a close.


    Wu Yuan turned to leave with his treasures in hand.


    "Thank you for patronizing the Fengchuan branch tower. Should Fellow Daoist require further cultivation treasures in the future, do not hesitate to look for me," the man in ck respectfully bid him goodbye.


    Wu Yuan wasn��t worried about any potential prying from the Redmoon Immortal Tower. The tower upheld an impable reputation over the course of many years.


    Even if they were to disregard their reputation and probe into matters, this bit of treasure is hardly worth their while. Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly.


    A transaction involving 7000 catties of ethercrystal was a substantial one to him, yet inconsequential to the Redmoon Immortal Tower.


    ...


    Upon returning to his grotto courtyard house, Wu Yuan beckoned to Qiong Sea King with a smile. "Qiong Sea King. Look what I��ve brought back for you."


    With a wave, he presented a purple jade vial and a crystal vial containing a mysterious ck liquid.


    "This?" Qiong Sea King received the vials.


    Upon opening the jade vial��s stopper and catching a whiff of the content��s aroma, his eyes sparkled. "Body Tempering Spirit Pill?"


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan affirmed, "And within the crystal vial is the Six Extremities Liquid. With these two treasures, will you still encounter any obstacles during your breakthrough?"


    "Nope! I will no longer face any issues." Qiong Sea King was ted, "Master, the mere scent of the Body Tempering Spirit Pill makes me shiver all over."


    Wu Yuan chuckled.


    The Body Tempering Spirit Pill was invaluable for healing any old injuries of Communion cultivators and rejuvenating aging bodies. The Six Extremities Liquid, on the other hand, was a rare elixir aiding those in the Spiritual Body phase with their breakthrough.


    Thebined cost of these two items amounted to 3000 catties of ethercrystal. The dozen types of metal ores and materials had merely set Wu Yuan back 4000 catties of ethercrystal.


    Wu Yuan truly hoped that Qiong Sea King would break through sessfully. A Spiritual Body Spirit Beast could y a significant role as his assistant. And if he joined a sect in the future, he could leave the handling of any private matters to Qiong Sea King.


    It was simr to how the Middle Land Guards handled minor matters in the Middle Land while Wu Yuan focused on cultivation.


    Every powerhouse had their own followers, after all.


    "Qiong Sea King, feel free to pick a suitable spot in the courtyard house for your cultivation," Wu Yuan said, "These are the best treasures I can acquire in the short term. Seize this opportunity."


    "If you require anything else, do not hesitate to inform me," Wu Yuan instructed.


    "Thank you, Master," Qiong Sea King responded in a deep voice.


    He could barely wait to begin his breakthrough to the Spiritual Body phase

 Chapter 316: Power Upgrade (2)

    <h4>Chapter 316: Power Upgrade (2)</h4>


    After settling Qiong Sea King��s matters, Wu Yuan returned to the meditation chamber. With a mentalmand, he activated the array, raising an invisible barrier that enveloped the room he was in. There were a total of two privacy arrays. The first array covered the entire courtyard house, while the second only covered the meditation chamber, ensuring no aura fluctuations could escape.


    <i>Let��s begin. </i>Anticipation shed in Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A plethora of precious metal ores and special materials appeared around him, ranging from the size of a palm to the size of a bed. These treasures orbited around Wu Yuan.


    One after another, sword pellets flew out and transformed into fierce Dark Earth flying swords. The nine flying swords joined the other treasures in orbit around Wu Yuan.


    <i>Two of these flying swords are sixth-grade spirit weapons, while the others are seventh-grade. But they can barely be considered sixth-grade swords. I��ll reforge them to establish a stronger foundation.</i>


    <i>Hum~</i> As Wu Yuan employed the Sword Transformation Method in the ��Dark Earth Sword Path��, the lifebound flying swords quivered, releasing an invisible aura that epassed the surrounding treasures. This method allowed lifebound flying swords to feed off precious materials to evolve and grow stronger.


    As time passed, the metal ores and materials merged with the flying swords. Streams of light containing their essence flowed into the lifebound flying swords, and the discarded residue fell to the ground.


    Wu Yuan''s nine lifebound flying swords emitted a radiant glow, their sword intent growing more potent by the moment.


    <i>These swords are truly money swallowing beasts.</i> [1] Wu Yuan marveled as the treasures were rapidly devoured.


    In the macrocosm, seventh and eighth-grade spirit equipment was easily forged, just like industrial products mass-produced on an assembly line. Little to no technical knowledge was needed, thus they were hardly worth anything.


    Sixth-grade spirit equipment was slightly more valuable, but typically a sixth-grade flying sword could only be exchanged for one ethercrystal.


    However, fifth-grade spirit equipment and above saw a dramatic increase in value due to their materials. An increase in just one grade could lead to a price increase of ten times or nearly a hundred times.


    However, Wu Yuan had invested in treasures worth 4000 catties of ethercrystal to upgrade his nine lifebound flying swords from seventh to sixth grade, a sum that could have been used to purchase 4000 sixth-grade flying swords.


    Why such an extravagant expenditure? It was all to establish a perfect, wless foundation for his lifebound flying swords. By investing in the highest quality metal ores and materials, the sword could unleash the greatest possible power.


    <i>When I advance to the Golden Core phase, I��ll be able to upgrade all my lifebound flying swords to the fourth grade at once as long as I have enough treasures. </i>Wu Yuan felt emotional just thinking about it.


    The price, however, was exorbitant. After examining the costs of various metals and materials in the Redmoon Immortal Tower, Wu Yuan calcted that upgrading nine lifebound flying swords from sixth-grade to fifth-grade would require nearly 100,000 catties of ethercrystal. And to upgrade them all from fifth-grade to fourth-grade? It would demand at least a million catties of ethercrystal!


    It was a sum he simply could not afford.


    One had to understand that Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self had brought only 800,000 catties of ethercrystal to the Redmoon Immortal Continent, a majority of the total ethercrystal he owned. There were also many other considerations he had to keep in mind.


    It was precisely because the cost was so high that many sword cultivators couldn''t afford it, choosing a cheaper route to upgrade their lifebound flying swords, which ultimately stunted the development of their lifebound flying swords.


    Many Amethyst Cradle sword cultivators had second-grade spirit lifebound flying swords that possessed power nearing first-grade spirit equipment at most, unable to embody the ��one strike shatters allws�� ideal.


    As time passed, each lifebound flying swordpleted its upgrade, consuming the essence of the metals and materials until only the impurities were left.


    Finally, the meditation chamber fell silent.


    Wu Yuan exhaled deeply.


    <i>Even though they are all sixth-grade spirit flying swords, they don��t feel any inferior to fourth-grade spirit flying swords.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were feverish with excitement as he sensed the formidable power within each sword.


    The sharpness of each lifebound flying sword was terrifying enough to make any Golden Core cultivator take them seriously.


    <i>To enhance these flying swords once more, not only do I require treasures, but I must also break through to the next cultivation phase. </i>With a wave, Wu Yuan recalled the flying swords back into his qi sea.


    Immediately, he felt the burden of the flying swords on his qi sea. Despite possessing a third-degree immortal root, the weight of nine such powerful flying swords was a taxing load to bear.


    <i>The burden is heavy, and the cost of upgrades is high, but once I wield them in battle, it''ll all be worth it. </i>Wu Yuan did not regret his decision at all.


    Once he unleashed his nine lifebound swords, their power would be equivalent to nine fourth-grade spirit flying swords, a truly fearsome sight. Once they assembled into a sword array, their might would skyrocket even further.


    <i>If I encounter another ethercrystal weapon like thest time, I��ll be able to destroy it with my Nine Swords Array. </i>Wu Yuan felt a wave of satisfaction.


    <i>Previously, dealing with a powerful Golden Core cultivator was somewhat troublesome. But now? I can sweep through most Golden Core cultivators.</i>


    <i>Next, I will go into seclusion to break through to the Golden Core phase. Once I achieve this breakthrough...</i> Wu Yuan was looking forward to it.


    He was in no rush to join a sect. He would take things one step at a time, as always.


    With a wave, Wu Yuan cleared away the heap of metals, materials and impurities, leaving the meditation chamber pristine once more.


    Then, he continued to cultivate his essentia, hastening the expansion of his qi sea to its utmost limit.


    ...


    The Tu Family estate upied 300 li ofnd in width, resembling a miniature nation. More than 100,000 members of the Tu Family resided there, the majority of whom weremon folk.


    In truth, the Tu Family held dominion over vast territories within Fengchuan City, epassing several sixth-tier cities and boasting tens of millions of members. It was a prosperousrge family, and even the mortals living in the Tu Family estate were often high-ranking rtives within their family.


    Tu Chi, one of the dozens of Golden Core Superiors of the Tu Family, was granted a grand courtyard house spanning several li.


    "Li Xia took up residence in the Redmoon Immortal Tower and hasn��t left it for three months?" Tu Chi rified with his subordinate.


    "Indeed. I have stationed numerous spies disguised as passers-by to keep watch outside the Immortal Residence Pavilion, and ced puppets at each exit of the Redmoon Immortal Tower," the ck-robed figure reported. "However, we have yet to see any traces of Li Xia."


    Tu Chi felt a twinge of annoyance. If Wu Yuan had been residing in an ordinary grotto property, he could have easily spied on him with the assistance of the Tu Family and the Redmoon Immortal Army.


    But the Redmoon Immortal Tower? Even his Tu Family''s ancestor would have a hard time spying on anyone inside, let alone him.


    But as a Golden Core Superior, Tu Chi had much patience. To achieve his goal, he was willing to bide his time, even if it meant waiting for three years. However, with the birthday banquet fast approaching, time was of the essence.


    "Have there been any sightings of other azure jiaolongs?" Tu Chi inquired. If he could obtain azure jiaolongs elsewhere, he wouldn��t want to trouble Li Xia either. He couldn��t afford the dy.


    "None have been spotted in Fengchuan City at the moment," the block-robed figure sighed, shaking his head. "We attempted to procure one in the immortal realm, but the exorbitant prices proved prohibitive. The cheapest option would cost 18,000 catties of ethercrystal including the delivery to Fengchuan City."


    18,000 catties of ethercrystal? Tu Chi''s eyes widened in disbelief. While he could stomach paying 3000 catties of ethercrystal, tens of thousands of catties were simply beyond his means. He would have to sell off half of his treasures to afford such a sum.


    ��Hm? Captain, I have just received word that Li Xia has departed from the Redmoon Immortal Tower. From his direction, he appears to be leaving the city. Furthermore, their aura indicates that his azure jiaolong has entered the Spiritual Body phase!"


    "The Spiritual Body phase?" Tu Chi''s irritation gave way to tion.


    A first-stage Spiritual Body spirit beast was worth dozens of times more than one in the ninth-stage Communion phase. Among the three azure jiaolongs he had acquired, one was at the Spiritual Body phase. If he could pair them up, it would be a match made in heaven.


    "Swiftly tail them and do not let them slip away," Tu Chimanded in a hushed tone. "Summon Guest Fang Youlong without dy."


    1. Usually a humorous term for kids and pets, referring to the fact they cost a lot of money to maintain. See /r/DoesNotTrantements/126ghie/chinese_%E5%90%9E%E9%87%91%E5%85%BD_a_humorous_term_for_kids_and_pets/ ?

 Chapter 317: Black Sun

    <h4>Chapter 317: ck Sun</h4>


    <i>Swoosh! </i>A figure draped in green robes streaked through the air, alighting in the courtyard below. He was a middle-aged man with an elegant countenance, wearing a tall hat.


    He strode into the courtyard with wide steps.


    "Young Master Chi, you asked for me?" inquired the green-robed man with a gentle smile.


    "Haha, Brother Youlong, you��ve finally arrived," Tu Chi beamed and rose swiftly. "I was beginning to worry that you wouldn��t make it."


    "How could I decline Young Master Chi��s invitation?" replied the green-robed man with a smile.


    Tu Chi''s smile widened.


    "Young Master Chi, how is the situation? The messenger who delivered the invitation mentioned that Li Xia was preparing to depart," said the green-robed man.


    "Indeed," Tu Chi nodded. "My subordinates are tracking his movements and rying the updates via the Tu Family Immortal Hall."


    "Through the aggregated intelligence, it appears that Li Xia is only passing by Fengchuan City, thus he only stayed for a short while before leaving the city," Tu Chi disclosed.


    The Tu Family Immortal Hall was a voidrealm fashioned by the Tu Family. It was a very basic construct with a limited range, extending solely over Fengchuan City. Once an individual went physically beyond the city''s bounds, they would no longer be able to connect to it.


    Though inferior to the Redmoon Immortal Realm, it was free to use, and thus essible to the numerous ordinary cultivators within the Tu Family. It also facilitatedmunication and requests for aid.


    Managing the massive Tu Family was also markedly more convenient through this voidrealm.


    "Does he have any notable backing?" the green-robed man asked.


    "None that we know of," Tu Chi sneered. "He��s just a Golden Core cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root. It��s most likely a lucky breakthrough."


    "With such a weak immortal root, he cannot possibly be a sect disciple. As for whether he hails from arge family? Even if he does, he��s likely an unimportant wastrel of the family who doesn��t live in Fengchuan City," Tu Chi shook his head. "There is nothing to fear."


    The green-robed man nodded in agreement.


    Months prior, Tu Chi had approached him to ask for assistance, proposing a scheme that boiled down to one sentence �C loot and kill Li Xia!


    Looting demanded a careful assessment of the target��s strength level, resources, and background.


    "And in most instances of conflict between immortal cultivators, retribution is seldom sought," Tu Chi stated. "We are not preying on juniors, after all."


    If two parties at the same cultivation phase engaged inbat and one lost, it just meant they weren��t strong enough. This unspoken principle prevailed across the Redmoon Immortal Continent. After all, the immortal path was a struggle for resources and opportunities, a cruel pursuit of defying fate and seeking longevity.


    However, exceptions arose when direct disciples or favored bloodline descendants of certain super powerhouses perished, with some breaking this tacit agreement to take revenge, asionally ignitingrge-scale wars.


    "Very well, since there are no problems, I promise to lend my aid," dered the green-robed man.


    "With your involvement, our victory is assured," Tu Chi smiled. "Per our agreement, all spoils procured from Li Xia shall be yours, and I shall furnish an additional 300 catties of ethercrystal aspensation for your time."


    "However, the jiaolong must be kept alive. It will be mine," Tu Chi asserted.


    "Agreed. If you present an immortal pnquin pulled by four green jiaolongs at the grand elder''s 3000th birthday celebration, you will undoubtedly get into his good books," the green-robed man said admiringly. "With the family''s backing, your advancement to the Amethyst Cradle phase is just around the corner."


    "Haha, I shall not forget the assistance you��ve given me today when that timees," Tu Chi chuckled heartily. This was precisely his intention.


    "Time is of the essence. Let��s depart," Tu Chi said. "I will dispatch scouts to trail Li Xia. Once he is 10,000 li from the city, we shall strike."


    "Very well." The two Golden Core cultivators, apanied by around a dozen ck-robed followers, swiftly left the courtyard house, soaring towards the city gates in streaks of light.


    ...


    Wu Yuan waspletely oblivious to Tu Chi''s machinations, his encounter with the man upon entering the city merely a minor disagreement in his eyes. It was akin to two billionaires discussing a property worth millions, and then parting on sour terms. Nosting enmity or other grudges existed between them, and the notion of the situation escting to the point of no return seemed improbable.


    With several months having gone by since their disagreement, the thought that Tu Chi harbored the intention to loot and kill him never even urred to Wu Yuan.


    Furthermore, his soul was suppressed within the city, and Tu Chi''s subordinates made sure to shadow him cautiously from a distance through puppets. Hence despite Wu Yuan''s keen perception, he failed to detect the stealthy surveince.


    Apanied by Qiong Sea King, Wu Yuan left unhindered through the city gates. His Golden Core cultivation and Spiritual Body spirit beast granted him an air of authority, thus the guards of the Redmoon Immortal Army stationed at the gate treated him with utmost respect and courtesy.


    "Let��s go," Wu Yuan said, as he and Qiong Sea King departed from the city. Amid the vast wilderness and mountain ranges, they observed mortalsing and going, while cultivators soared through the skies.


    With a swift motion, they transformed into streaks of light, shooting towards Starsword City.


    When Wu Yuan first set foot on the immortal continent, he only had the limited knowledge imparted by the realm master through the immortal slips.


    However, as months passed, his understanding of this new world deepened. Despite appearing to be in secluded cultivation within the confines of the Redmoon Immortal Tower without any human interaction, Wu Yuan had been diligently learning about the Redmoon Immortal Continent via the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    After traveling more than 1000 li with Qiong Sea King, the Fengchuan City was now just a small speck in their vision.


    With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan summoned a ck battleship, around 130 meters in length, 40 meters in width, and 30 meters in height. An ancient and weighty presence emanated from the flying boat.


    "Master, is this the fourth-grade battleship you purchased called ck Sun?" Qiong Sea King''s eyes lit up. "It feels...extraordinary."


    "It is," Wu Yuan confirmed with a faint smile.


    Having done his research on the Redmoon Immortal Continent and surviving a raid attempt, Wu Yuan had invested in several artifacts from the Redmoon Immortal Tower, purchasing them through the Redmoon Immortal Realm. This was after his nine lifebound flying swords were fully upgraded.


    One of those items was the fourth-grade battleship flying boat they were currently riding, a costly purchase at 32,000 catties of ethercrystal.


    It was a staggering sum, considering a fourth-grade spirit flying sword was only worth 1000 catties of ethercrystal. The battleship was worth dozens of simr-grade artifacts.


    It was also after acquiring ck Sun that he realized he had underscored the value of the Yanqing Hall. It far exceeded a million catties of ethercrystal. With only minor repairs, the Yanqing Hall couldmand a price of ten million catties of ethercrystal.


    However, Wu Yuan had previouslycked a sufficientlyrge storage artifact to transport the hall. Furthermore, he had to safeguard the secret of the Middle Land teleportation array. Thus he had yet to find a way to store it. Now, with the connection between teleportation arrays severed, relocating Yanqing Hall became a distant dream.


    In truth, as a crucial piece of life-saving equipment, Wu Yuan considered the option of purchasing a higher-grade battleship, but he also had to take his own strength into ount.


    <i>With my current abilities, I can protect a fourth-grade flying boat battleship. Anything higher could easily draw unwanted attention.</i>


    Furthermore, there were no higher-grade battleships avable at the Redmoon Immortal Tower in Fengchuan City at the moment.


    While there were battleships priced at 50,000 catties and 80,000 catties of ethercrystal, they did not offer any qualitative enhancements. They were simplyrger. Qiong Sea King and he did not require that much space either.


    <i>I also have three talismans.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the three powerful auras emanating from the talismans floating in his storage artifact. These were also life-saving items that he had obtained, each costing tens of thousands of catties of ethercrystal and totaling over 100,000 catties of ethercrystal.


    The talismans were single-use only, but each held immense destructive power.


    <i>This is the true purpose of ethercrystal. If one possesses great wealth, one should convert it into strength. </i>


    There was no point holding onto ethercrystal unnecessarily. Strength was always the top priority.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s n, once he arrived at Starsword City, he would gradually exchange the remaining ethercrystal for cultivation treasures.


    Wu Yuan piloted ck Sun and swiftly took off with Qiong Sea King at his side. A low hum resonated as the ck battleship soared through the sky, faintly vibrating as it elerated to a speed of 20 li per second.


    Although the battleship was capable of greater speeds, it consumed more fuel the faster it moved. Thus, a bnce had to be struck to conserve ethercrystal.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, they reached a distance of 40,000 li from Fengchuan City, arriving at an enormouske spanning thousands of li.


    Wu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, roused from his meditative state by a sudden disturbance in his perception.


    <i>Such powerful spiritual qi fluctuations?</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Force expanded outward. He quickly determined that an astonishing burst of spiritual qi was approaching rapidly from behind.


    "It''s a battleship, moving at a remarkable speed, Master," the Qiong Sea King growled softly, his keen eyesight as a Spiritual Body cultivator outstripping Wu Yuan''s own.


    "A battleship?" Wu Yuan''s expression flickered with confusion.


    "The Tu Family," Qiong Sea King confirmed, "I saw their emblem on the battleship. They��re from the Fengchuan City Tu Family."

 Chapter 318: No Mercy (1)

    <h4>Chapter 318: No Mercy (1)</h4>


    "The Tu Family? The battleship��s emblem?" Wu Yuan''s expression darkened.


    During the past three months, after Qiong Sea King made his breakthrough, Wu Yuan acquired a Redmoon voidrealm jade from the Redmoon Immortal Tower for Qiong Sea King. However, his privileges only extended to the eighth tier for now.


    With ess to the Redmoon Immortal Realm, Qiong Sea King explored the library and numerous other locations throughout Twin Jade City. Thus, the Qiong Sea King had a fair understanding of the situation in Fengchuan City.


    <i>Could it be that Tu Chi truly intends to fight me over such a trivial matter?</i> Wu Yuan found the notion incredulous.


    He had been cautious during his stay in Fengchuan City, remaining within the confines of the Redmoon Immortal Tower and avoiding unnecessary interactions with others. The Tu Family? He only interacted with Tu Chi, and just that once.


    If it was truly an esction of that minor dispute, then considering the number of cultivators the Tu Family of Fengchuan City had offended over the years, how could the family persevere until today?


    <i>Or perhaps I possess something that Tu Chi deems worth the risk?</i> A thought flickered across Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Wu Yuan reacted quickly. The moment he sensed the disturbance, he switched over to manually controlling ck Sun with his Soul Force, propelling the flying boat battleship forward without sparing the fuel.


    <i>Boom! </i>ck Sun elerated, speed escting from 20 li per second to 30, 40, 60, 90... Within a few heartbeats, ck Sun reached its maximum speed of 130 li per second!


    This surpassed the top speeds of many ninth-stage Golden Core cultivators.


    "Master, the gap is widening." Qiong Sea King reported.


    Wu Yuan nodded gravely, his expression serious. Though he was confident in his strength, the other party hailed from an Amethyst Cradle family, and were the local big shots. What motive could they have for trying to catch up to him?


    If he were to eliminate them, it might attract the attention of the Amethyst Cradle Reverend.


    <i>With my current power, I��m in the top-tier of Golden Core Superiors. </i>Wu Yuan deliberated. <i>But I��m not yet prepared to face an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.</i>


    Amethyst Cradle cultivators were capable of overpowering Golden Core cultivators effortlessly.


    While it was not exceedingly umon for Qi Sea cultivators to challenge Golden Core Superiors, it was far more difficult for a Golden Core cultivator to challenge an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.


    Hence, Wu Yuan opted to avoid unnecessary conflict.


    ...


    On a bronze-hued battleship that cut through the air with astonishing speed, a young man with silver hair, Tu Chi, and a man in green robes, Fang Youlong, exchanged nces as their expressions shifted subtly.


    "What speed," Fang Youlong remarked solemnly, his voice tinged with doubt. "Master Tu, are you certain you did not misjudge him? Did you not im that Li Xia''s battleship is rated eighth-grade spirit equipment?"


    "But such velocity?" Fang Youlong gestured towards the disy on the control tform, showcasing the airspeed indicator.


    "It is, at the very least, a fourth-grade spirit flying boat, and definitely a top-tier one, valued at no less than 20,000 catties of ethercrystal," Fang Youlong stated in a grave tone.


    At the mention of 20,000 catties of ethercrystal, the faces of the nearby ck-robed followers twisted in shock. To them, this sum was beyond astronomical.


    "It is indeed fast," Tu Chi murmured as he gazed intently at the ck flying boat racing away from them. A hint of disbelief and reluctance shimmered in his eyes.


    Had he erred in his assessment? From his analysis, Li Xia was merely a weakling at the Golden Core phase that happened to make a lucky breakthrough. Yet, the flying boat he was on was far from ordinary.


    <i>Boom!</i> In a burst of speed, Tu Chi pushed the flying boat to its limits, reaching 120 li per second, which was slower than Wu Yuan��s. Though both flying boats were fourth-grade spirit equipment, his was clearly a notch inferior to ck Sun.


    Despite this, it made it challenging for Wu Yuan to shake them off for the time being.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two battleships streaked across the skies, causing tremors throughout the air and ground. One pursued, the other fled, the distance between them widening to nearly 2000 li as they raced away from Fengchuan City.


    "Master Tu, have you lost your senses? You are still bent on chasing him?" Fang Youlong''s brow creased slightly. "It is evident that Li Xiaes from a remarkable background. Furthermore, you cannot catch up to him."


    "By doing so, you are only further antagonizing him, and he will definitely guess that it is you," Fang Youlong voiced, his dissatisfaction evident.


    Initially, he believed Li Xia to be an insignificant nobody, thus he didn��t find looting him an issue. However, the current circumstances painted a starkly different picture.


    Fang Youlong was averse to unnecessary risks.


    "Youlong, we have already provoked him," Tu Chi responded in a subdued tone.


    "That is your doing, not mine," Fang Youlong retorted, his demeanorposed. "Young Master Chi, even if we fail to obtain this azure jiaolong, we will still have other opportunities."


    "The crux lies in our inability to catch up," Fang Youlong reasoned, shaking his head.


    From his understanding of Tu Chi, the youth might use unscrupulous means to get his way, but he knew when to advance and when to retreat.


    "We can catch up," Tu Chi asserted calmly. "As long as we maintain visual contact."


    "I have reached out to several seniors in Fenghai City and Nanchuan City through the Tu Family Immortal Hall. They will intercept him ahead," Tu Chi disclosed.


    "What?" Fang Youlong was taken aback, casting a scrutinizing gaze toward Tu Chi. The man was undeniably ruthless!


    The Tu Family was one of the toprge families in Fengchuan City, boasting branches in over a dozen sixth-tier cities.


    Their current trajectory meant they were headed right for Fenghai City and Nanchuan City, where Golden Core Superiors from the Tu Family were stationed.


    ...


    Within ck Sun, Wu Yuan''s gaze flickered with a hint of annoyance. <i>Even though it��s clear they cannot catch up, they��re still chasing me?</i>


    This Tu Chi truly wished to seek death so badly?


    <i>Calm yourself.</i> <i>In the pursuit of immortality, one must not allow anger and animosity to cloud their judgment. </i>Wu Yuan took a moment topose himself. <i>If they cannot catch up, why are they continuing to chase me?</i>


    <i>It just means that the Tu Family is confident that they can catch up. But why? </i>


    Did they have a method to increase their speed? But if they did, they should have employed it already.


    <i>Could there be an obstacle in my path ahead?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, his mind racing through the possibilities.


    Without hesitation, he altered ck Sun��s course, speeding off in a different direction. However, a flying boat, unlike a cultivator, struggled to navigate sharp turns at such high speeds.


    This gave Tu Chi ample time to close the distance between them.


    "You realized it?" Tu Chi''s voice dripped with madness as he taunted, "Hmph! There is no corner of Fengchuan City��s territory untouched by the Tu Family''s influence. Wherever you may flee, I will still stop you."


    Without hesitation, Tu Chi contacted the Golden Core cultivators of his family through the voidrealm. He was rtively strong for his age, and thus attained a high status within the Tu Family.


    ��Young Master Chi,�� Fang Youlong felt a twinge of concern, believing that Tu Chi was consumed by recklessness. There was no need for such extreme measures.


    But how could Fang Youlong understand Tu Chi''s thoughts and emotions?


    "We have already offended him," Tu Chi said, his gaze cold and calcting. "If we let him go now, he might retaliate in the future. Better to take advantage of his current weakness and eliminate him early. "


    ...


    <i>They��re still on our tail? I''ve already attempted to lose them, but they��re like rabid dogs refusing to let go.</i> Wu Yuan��s anger simmered beneath the surface.


    He didn''t seek conflict, but the Tu Family was seriously testing his patience.


    <i>Since you��re tired of living, I��ll send you on your way.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes glinted with a chilling resolve. "Qiong Sea."


    "Master, I am ready for battle," Qiong Sea King responded, his own fury matching Wu Yuan''s.


    "Mm. Steer the flying boat and be prepared to utilize the ethercrystal weapon when the time is right," Wu Yuan instructed.


    As a fourth-grade battleship, it was equipped with a powerful ethercrystal weapon that Wu Yuan had specifically chosen and further modified.


    Its destructive capabilities were remarkable, but it had its limitations, namely requiring a long period to umte energy, and having a limited variety of attacks.


    Nevertheless, its sheer power was unrivaled.


    Qiong Sea King assumed control of the battleship, directing his focus to the core of the flying boat, a concentrated sphere of light.


    With a faint tremor, the ck Sun began to slow, and the bronze-hued battleship rapidly closed the distance.


    The wind howled around them. Beneath them, the snow-coveredndscape stretched on, with mountains rising from the ground and a chill lingering in the air.


    The great variation in weather throughout the immortal continent could be traced to its diverse geography, with a range of environments epassed within a million li of Fengchuan City��s territory.


    Their pursuit of tens of thousands of li took them across varied terrains, fromkes to mountains, from deserts to grasnds.


    Such was the life of a cultivator, where battles and chases spanned vast distances, with some peak powerhouses capable of reshaping worlds in their conflicts.

 Chapter 319: No Mercy (2)

    <h4>Chapter 319: No Mercy (2)</h4>


    The two immense flying boats came to a halt, with a distance of dozens of li between them.


    With a resounding ng, the cabin doors swung open.


    "Tu Chi, I should have known it was you," Wu Yuan''s robes billowed, his pupils icy as he fixed his gaze on the silver-robed figure standing in the air and the green-robed figure behind him.


    <i>Ate-stage Golden Core cultivator?</i> Wu Yuan could only faintly sense their vital aura with his soul.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t ascertain their exact cultivation levels, merely making educated guesses.


    In theory, someone with a ninth-degree immortal root could progress to the Amethyst Cradle phase. But in practice, such an immortal root denoted little to no cultivation talent, sluggish progress, and was a formidable obstacle standing in the way of breakthroughs.


    Thus, most Golden Core cultivators had immortal roots hovering around the seventh-degree. And among those who reached the mid-stage Golden Core phase, very few possessed an eighth-degree immortal root.


    This was the reason why the higher one��s cultivation phase, the harder it became to battle someone from a higher cultivation phase. Those who could reach the higher cultivation phases in the first ce were all elites of their cohorts during lower cultivation phases.


    These two Golden Core cultivators were certainly not ordinary.


    "Yes, it��s me. It''s been a while, Daoist Li Xia," Tu Chi fixed Wu Yuan with a mocking gaze, transmitting his voice via essentia.


    One of the advantages of a powerful soul was the ability to conceal one��s aura, thus Tu Chi and Fang Youlong were unable to sense that Wu Yuan��s vital aura was far more powerful than before.


    "Where is your jiaolong spirit beast?" Tu Chi asked, scanning the surroundings.


    "So, it alles down to my spirit beast?" Wu Yuan locked eyes with Tu Chi.


    "Indeed! Your jiaolong spirit beast," Tu Chi continued, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "Li Xia, I don''t wish to make things difficult for you. Surrender your jiaolong spirit beast, and I will allow you to depart."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze narrowed.


    "Fellow Daoist, choose wisely. Though you may have some backing, this is Fengchuan City," Fang Youlong interjected coolly.


    Fengchuan City was the Tu Family''s domain.


    "Fengchuan City?" Wu Yuan''s frigid stare swept over Tu Chi and Fang Youlong, and he spoke deliberately, "Tu Chi, I am recording this and projecting it live to the Redmoon Immortal Realm. I��ve also reported it to my sect and family. I suggest that you depart promptly."


    "If you choose to fight, you will regret it," Wu Yuan stated impassively.


    Projection recording? Wu Yuan was indeed doing so, but it wouldn��t be of much use. The mention of his sect and family was just a bluff, a scare tactic.


    As expected, Tu Chi and Fang Youlong hesitated at Wu Yuan''s words. This was their greatest fear. The Redmoon Immortal Realm had various functions which made raiding extremely risky.


    When looting someone with influential connections, the risk of being identified was high unless a raider could eliminate their target before they had time to react.


    "When immortal cultivators battle, life or death is up to fate," Tu Chi stated, his tone icy. "I��ll give you onest chance. Surrender your azure jiaolong, and I will spare your life."


    Tu Chi had never intended to spare Wu Yuan. His only fear was that Wu Yuan, in his final moments, wouldmand the azure jiaolong to end its own life.


    "Very well, I willply..."


    <i>Boom! </i>Before Wu Yuan��s voice faded, he charged forward, crossing the distance between them in an instant. A wave of earthy-yellow qi streams enveloped him, as sword qi crisscrossed through the air.


    Simultaneously, nine beams of earthy-yellow light shot forth from Wu Yuan''s palm, piercing the sky and hurtling towards Tu Chi and Fang Youlong.


    Wu Yuan was unleashing his full power!


    For Wu Yuan, violence was always ast resort in any situation. But once the decision was made, he would show no mercy.


    <i>Kill!</i> Wu Yuan''s murderous intent was unstoppable.


    "Not good!" Tu Chi''s countenance shifted, retreating rapidly as a cascade of blue qi streams swirled around him, akin to a rushing river.


    <i>Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~</i> Silver artifacts resembling pirs floated up one by one, seamlessly melding with his Domain and transforming.


    "Tu Chi, you im that he is a first-stage Golden Core cultivator? Capturing him will be a walk in the park? This is at least a fourth-stage Golden Core cultivator!" Fang Youlong eximed, equally taken aback.


    The ferocity of Wu Yuan''s outburst was truly terrifying.


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, green qi streams erupted from Fang Youlong''s body, spreading across a radius of more than ten li. Simultaneously, a sizable cauldron began to expand rapidly, shielding his front as a hazy luminescence enveloped himpletely.


    The Domains of the three Golden Core powerhouses erupted simultaneously.


    Indeed! In these past few months, Wu Yuan had quietly advanced to the Golden Core phase, now capable of matching the weakest seventh-stage Golden Core cultivator in terms of essentia and mana.


    While he could mask his aura on normal asions, once he released his power, his true level would inevitably be detected.


    <i>Boom! </i>The collision of the three Domains reverberated through the air, resonating as if the very heavens and earth were shaking.


    It was one against two. Yet, Wu Yuan''s Domain and the earthy yellow qi streams overwhelmed all in their path. He held an indisputable advantage, fiercely pushing back the green and blue Domains.


    "What level is his Domain?" Tu Chi��s eyes widened in disbelief. ��I��ve already reached the third-level Domain stage."


    "We clearly have the upper hand in mana," Fang Youlong''s expression shifted to astonishment.


    Both cultivators, one at the seventh-stage Golden Core phase and the other at the eighth, possessed sixth-degree immortal roots. In terms of mana, they surpassed Wu Yuan and were consideredte-stage Golden Core cultivators.


    Yet in a sh of Domains, they couldn��t defeat him?


    This could only mean one thing: Wu Yuan''sprehension of the Dao was far superior, as his Domain��s strength greatly surpassed their own. Tu Chi finally realized the truth �C Li Xia was no weak Golden Core cultivator, he was a peerless genius!


    <i>After fifteen years of contemting the Dao, my Domain has already reached the seventh level. </i>Wu Yuan��s gaze was frigid.


    With his Terranean Body, reaching the Domain stage meant stepping through a threshold. As long as he cultivated methodically, hisprehension progress would continue to soar.


    In thest fifteen years, Wu Yuan had devoted himself entirely to cultivation. It was this deep umtion that allowed his progress to skyrocket now. Reaching the seventh level of the Domain stage waspletely normal.


    A Daoprehension level at the sixth-level Domain stage was required in order for one to construct their void amethyst cradle, transitioning to the Amethyst Cradle phase, or craft the mountains and rivers in their soul chamber, transitioning to the Shambh phase.


    Given sufficient time, Wu Yuan''s advancement to the Amethyst Cradle phase was inevitable.


    "Perish," Wu Yuan''s voice was cold as the nine lifebound flying swords under his control erupted into a dazzling disy. Streams of sword light swirled around him, and cryptic patterns shone on the swords with a terrifying divine glow, assembling them into a massive divine sword.


    Dark Earth Sword Array, second step: Nine Swords of Light. Though he had utilized this technique in the previous ambush, the power paled inparison to the current disy. This was because Wu Yuan was now at the Golden Core phase.


    With a resounding boom, the subtle earthy-yellow aura surrounded the sword of divine light. As though rending the heavens and cleaving the earth itself, the divine sword sliced through Tu Chi''s blue Domain like mere paper.


    Everywhere the divine light touched, the blue qi streams were obliterated, and silver pirs were shattered. A shockwave of incredible magnitude reverberated outward, engulfing everything within a hundred li, causing the earth to shake and the sky to tremble.


    ��No!�� Tu Chi could only watch in horror.


    In the blink of an eye, all of his attempts to counter the attack and protect himself were cut by that fearsome divine light. There was no time to react.


    <i>Boom!</i> The divine light washed over Tu Chi��s body. Despite the protection of his battle armor, the impact was too overwhelming, and he disintegrated into blood vapor in an instant.


    Tu Chi was dead!


    Wu Yuan was able to kill an eighth-stage Golden Core cultivator in just a single exchange.


    Fang Youlong stood frozen in shock, his mind reeling at the sight before him.


    <i>Flee! </i>His face drained of color as he bolted backward in a panic, a misty green light surrounding him and propelling him away as quickly as possible. He no longer harbored any thoughts of confronting Wu Yuan.


    <i>Flee? </i>Wu Yuan''s cold eyes locked onto him. Without hesitation, he gave chase. At the same time, the Nine Swords Array that previously resembled a sword of divine light now assembled into a new, strange formation. Instead of a sword, it was now far longer and thinner, resembling a giant needle!


    Wu Yuan flew as fast as he could, trying to catch up to Fang Youlong. Simultaneously, he pointed at his target. ��Go!��


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The sword array that looked like an elongated needle shot out instantly, its speed several times faster than the sword of divine light just now.


    The third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: The Sword Within Reach!

 Chapter 320: Unending Fued

    <h4>Chapter 320: Unending Fued</h4>


    The Dark Earth Sword Array consisted of ten steps. It originated from the Dark Earth Sword Path and was deeply connected to the ten forms of the Dark Earth. The two were closely rted, originating from the same source.


    Each step of the sword array corresponded to one��sprehension of the profundity of the Land. For example, to master the first step, Sword Array Assembly, a cultivator had to also reach the first level of the Domain stage.


    To sessfully cultivate the second step, Nine Swords Of Light, one had to reach the fourth level of the Domain stage. Furthermore, it also required one to have a robust soul and spend a considerable length of time on contemtion and practice.


    Once a practitioner had mastered the second step, they would be practically unmatched within the Golden Core phase. Meanwhile, mastering the third step, The Sword Within Reach, signified that one had a deep understanding of the profundity of the Land, inching closer to perfect control of a Domain.


    Consider Wu Yuan, for instance. Prior to his arrival at the Redmoon Immortal Continent, hisprehension of the Land''s profundity was deep, bolstered by a formidable soul. Yet, hisck of mana hindered him from executing the third step.


    It was only after his sessful advancement to the first-stage Golden Core phase in the Redmoon Immortal Continent that his mana capacity surged. Within his mana and soul, along with his deep umtion of insights, he could barely employ it, though still far from perfection.


    <i>If one can manifest The Sword Within Reach at the Golden Core phase, even just barely, it signifies that advancement to the Amethyst Cradle will not be an issue.</i> Wu Yuan understood this.


    The power of this array��s third step could even threaten an Amethyst Cradle Reverend. Very few Golden Core cultivators were able to reach this level.


    Initially, Wu Yuan had no intention of disying this move, which was his strongest attack. However, Fang Youlong''s swift escape forced his hand. He was ate-stage Golden Core cultivator who grasped the Wind Domain, and alsopletely outssed Jin Quan in strength.


    Fang Youlong fled in great haste, even employing treasures like speed talismans to boost his speed. Wu Yuan found it challenging to catch up, and he had no time to think of other tactics.


    ��Kill!�� His powerful soul focused on assembling his nine lifebound flying swords. Even though lifebound swords exerted a rtively lower burden on his soul, he could certainly feel the pressure at the moment.


    The nine swords converged to form a colossal needle-like sword, radiating a dazzling brilliance and enveloped in an earthy yellow aura. It seemed poised to pierce through the heavens.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The needle-like sword array tore through the sky at an inconceivable speed, closing in on Fang Youlong almost instantaneously. If the second step, Nine Swords Of Light, was the epitome of explosive power, the third step, A Sword Within Reach, showcased a unique utilization of the Land''s profundity.


    Thend was vast, but all was within reach.


    This was A Sword Within Reach, a sword array capable of traversing thend, integrating with its fluctuations to strike with precision.


    <i>So fast!</i> Fang Youlong who was burning his Golden Core��s essence to increase his speed was utterly terrified by the approaching strike.


    The vast macrocosm held countless inheritances, many of which belonged to the sword ss. Though he didn��t recognize the Dark Earth Sword Array, the warnings echoing in his soul could not be disregarded. And with the recent demise of Tu Chi still fresh in his mind, Fang Youlong knew he had to give his all in order to survive.


    <i>Shield!</i> Fang Youlong gritted his teeth. He understood that only by exerting his utmost effort did he stand a chance of making it out alive. In a heartbeat, metallic shield after metallic shield materialized out of thin air, forming a massive barrier around him.


    The colossal divine needle closed in, its speed and power reaching their peak. With power at the first-stage Golden Core phase,prehension at the seventh-level Domain stage, and soul at the Yang Soul level, Wu Yuan erupted with unfathomablebat power.


    The divine needle sword array closed in on Fang Youlong, piercing his Domain like tofu and shattering hisyers of shields upon impact. The ensuing explosion sent the massive shield fragments flying in all directions, and a powerful shockwave rippled outward.


    The divine needle continued its relentless advance, showing no signs of faltering despite the impact. Supported by Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, its force remained undeterred as it homed in on Fang Youlong.


    <i>Go! </i>Fang Youlong''s eyes zed with resolve as the massive cauldron at his feet soared into the air, expanding rapidly and exuding a menacing aura.


    <i>Boom~</i> A potent suction force targeted Wu Yuan''s sword array, pulling it toward the cauldron. This was his lifebound artifact. While the sword embodied the greatest offensive power in heaven and earth, the cauldron represented the pinnacle of defense in all of time and space.


    The sh between the strongest attack and the strongest defense unfolded in a split second.


    <i>Hold!</i> Fang Youlong sent out three talismans that detonated simultaneously, imbuing the cauldron with a sh of unprecedented brilliance.


    The swiftness of Wu Yuan''s strike had caught Tu Chi off guard, thus he had no time to react before he was killed.


    However, it was a different story for Fang Youlong.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>The divine needle and the colossal cauldron shed three times, the impact of each collision reverberating through the air and unleashing formidable shockwaves. The once-invincible needle began to fracture, while the cauldron trembled non-stop under the strain.


    <i>Boom! </i>Thest strike threw the cauldron backward, but the divine needle sword array also slowed, its essentiapletely depleted.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The sword array returned to Wu Yuan. Its essentia had to be replenished before it could be reassembled.


    "Activate! Kill!" Fang Youlong roared, his voice also echoing in the minds of the ck-robed figures on the bronze battleship. With Tu Chi dead, Fang Youlong naturally became the leader of this group.


    Without a sound, a dazzling crimson light cut through the sky, aiming directly for Wu Yuan; it was the ethercrystal weapon on the battleship!


    <i>There''s only one chance!</i> Fang Youlong stared at Wu Yuan, his eyes filled with desperation. From the moment Tu Chi fell, he knew he had gotten himself into serious trouble. This opponent was a huge menace!


    Fang Youlong had quite a few life-saving measures, like talismans, handheld ethercrystal weapons, battle puppets, etc. But they were useless here. These auxiliary methods would be effective against Qi Sea cultivators and a majority of Golden Core cultivators. But treasures that could y a role inbat betweente-stage Golden Core cultivators were extremely valuable!


    The treasures in Fang Youlong��s possession had limited effectiveness againstte-stage Golden Core cultivators. Ethercrystal weapons and talismans capable of ying Amethyst Cradle cultivators were far beyond the reach of most Amethyst Cradle Reverends.


    Fang Youlong was just a guest of a family, with no great background or fortuitous encounters to speak of. How could he obtain such a trump card? The only chance of winning he had was the ethercrystal weapon on the battleship. Though it took a long time to umte enough energy for a single burst, that single shot was perversely powerful.


    <i>As long as this blow catches someone off guard, even a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator will fall.</i> Fang Youlong stared at Wu Yuan. <i>There��s no doubt that you are strong, and the power of your sword array is incredible, but it also means that your body is extremely fragile.</i>


    Any slight contact with the shockwave of the attack would be enough to kill him. Hence, Fang Youlong was nning to take advantage of the moment Wu Yuan��s sword array ran out of essentia.


    <i>Boom! </i>The impact of the collision was seemingly devastating enough to destroy heaven and earth. The color of the sky changed, now intertwined with crimson red and earthy yellow.


    <i>This?</i> Fang Youlong��s eyes bulged in disbelief.


    What blocked his killing blow was not Wu Yuan employing some tactic, but ck Sun that was tailing close behind. Once the spiritual qi around the red battleship fluctuated, ck Sun took the initiative to strike!


    In the end, the two light beams from the battleships�� ethercrystal weapons collided head-on in the air, leading to an earth-shattering aftermath.


    After that sh, the battleships of both sides could no longer interfere with the battle.


    <i>Go.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was devoid of warmth as he infused his essentia into the nine lifebound flying swords.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> The flying swords glowed once more, soaring through the air and merging with the vibrations of thend. They shot towards Fang Youlong with a speed that was almost impossible toprehend, as though integrating into space itself.


    The gap between them was more than 100 li, but at the level ofte-stage Golden Core cultivators, such a distance was nothing.


    "Li Xia! If you end my life, you��ll be dering an unending feud with the Fengchuan Tu Family." Fear flickered in Fang Youlong''s eyes, the fear of death.


    His plea echoed across the sky andnd, amplified by his Domain, "Let me go. We can negotiate, I..."


    His voice was abruptly cut off as the divine light sword array tore through the sky, shattering his shield artifacts and piercing his body without hesitation.


    Fang Youlong was dead!


    Having lost their owner, the artifacts plummeted to the ground and the green Domain faded away.


    ��Unending feud?�� Wu Yuan''s eyes were chips of hardened ice, his voice tinged with madness. "I did not seek conflict with your Fengchuan Tu Family, but you forced my hand."


    "Whether I kill one or two, it makes no difference. Let��s see if your Amethyst Cradle ancestor can catch me."


    In a sh, Wu Yuan caught up with the retreating bronze battleship. Combining his Domain with essentia, he formed a colossal hand that seized the vessel and fiercely smashed it into the ground below.

 Chapter 321: Her Highness Haiyue

    <h4>Chapter 321: Her Highness Haiyue</h4>


    A resounding boom shook the air, as if the stars themselves were plummeting from the sky. As the colossal battleship hit the ground, the impact sent up ripples of shockwaves that spread far and wide.


    The ground quaked beneath the tremendous force, hurling rocks and dirt hundreds of zhangs into the air, with debris scattering across a radius of dozens of li. It was akin to a natural disaster.


    Yet, the bronze battleship took zero damage, its surface unmarred by a single crack, a testament to the exceptional quality of its construction and materials.


    <i>How durable.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with a cold light.


    Seventh or eighth-grade spirit flying boats couldn��t even hold a candle to this fourth-grade one in terms of sturdiness. The materials used in their construction were of vastly different calibers.


    If this battleship had an owner, Wu Yuan would still have been able to restrict its movements with his Domain, but throwing it around like this would be out of the question.


    But now, Tu Chi and Fang Youlong were no longer around, and the remaining ck-robed cultivators aboard the ship were merely at the Qi Sea phase. Though they could barely operate the ethercrystal weapon, fully controlling the battleship was beyond their capabilities.


    However, if they chose to hide within the ship like turtles in their shells, Wu Yuan would be hard-pressed to get them out in the short term. As for towing the flying boat with him and dealing with themter at his own pace? If there was enough time, Wu Yuan would naturally do so.


    <i>Unfortunately, time is not a luxury I can afford. Twote-stage Golden Core cultivators of the Tu Family are dead, this is no small matter.</i>


    There likely weren��t that many Golden Core powerhouses of this level within the Tu Family. Perhaps only ten? Twenty?


    How would the Tu Family react upon receiving the news? Would the Amethyst Cradle Reverend rush over immediately to seek vengeance? These uncertainties nagged at Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Just as I threatened Tu Chi and the other man with the Redmoon Immortal Realm, they could easily have ryed information about me before their demise.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind raced, pondering his next move.


    The conclusion he finally came to was �C flee as far as possible!


    "You should understand that I have the means to end every single one of your lives," Wu Yuan''s frosty voice cut through the air, loud enough that the ck-robed cultivators within the battleship could hear him.


    "You have two options," his tone remained cold and unwavering. "Either I break this flying boat open and eliminate you all, or you surrender willingly and I will spare your lives. You should understand that I never intended to kill them in the first ce."


    A stark ultimatum hung in the air.


    As the dust settled and everything fell silent, Wu Yuan fixed the battleship with a frigid stare. Yet in his heart, he silently counted the seconds. <i>One, two, three...</i>


    In this period of silence, Fang Youlong and Tu Chi��s treasures flew towards Wu Yuan in streaks of light.


    Once he reached the count of six, he prepared to store his newfound treasures and leave.


    At that moment, a sudden stir within the battleship caught his attention. The sealed hatch flung open, and a group of over ten ck-robed figures emerged, their expressions a mix of fear and trepidation.


    "Senior Li Xia, we wish to surrender," intoned the ck-robed elderly man leading the group, his hands raised towards the sky in a gesture of submission.


    "We wish to surrender," echoed the fearful ck-robed cultivators, their resolve shaken by the deaths of twote-stage Golden Core powerhouses. Even the ethercrystal weapon was useless against the enemy.


    The choice was clear �C to continue their resistance would mean certain death, while surrender offered a slim chance at survival.


    "Very well, I will uphold my word and spare your lives," dered Wu Yuan, his tone chilly as he effortlessly stowed away the massive bronze battleship, along with the spoils left behind by Tu Chi and Fang Youlong.


    "You,e with me," he ordered. With a mentalmand, the giant ethereal hand grabbed the ck-robed elderly man and lifted him up. As ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator, he waspletely powerless to resist.


    ��Let��s go!�� Bringing this captive along, Wu Yuan returned to ck Sun. Momentster, ck Sun elerated, hurtling towards Starsword City at breakneck speed.


    The ethercrystal consumption? In a race against time, ethercrystal was thest thing on Wu Yuan��s mind.


    The ten or so ck-robed figures left behind exchanged bewildered nces, feeling a little lost at Wu Yuan''s unexpected leniency.


    "Quick, report this to the family," one of them finally reacted.


    ��Yes, report this immediately.��


    ��We should enter the Tu Family Immortal Hall.�� The ck-robed figures immediately began sending a flurry of panicked messages and pleas for assistance.


    The threat issued by Wu Yuan was so menacing that even teetering on the brink of life and death, the ck-robed figures refrained from making any hasty actions, fearful of provoking his wrath.


    Unbeknownst to them, the Tu Family had already been alerted to the situation by Tu Chi��s demise.


    ...


    Within the flying boat, Wu Yuan split part of his consciousness to pilot the flying boat while the rest focused on interrogating the ck-robed elderly man before him. "Speak, why did Tu Chi wish to kill me so desperately?" he demanded.


    The ck-robed elderly man was clearly the leader among the ck-robed cultivators. Hence, Wu Yuan decided to capture him and extract information while on the move to get a clearer picture of the situation.


    For example, what was the root cause of the conflict? It would serve as a lesson during his future encounters with other cultivators.


    Furthermore, Wu Yuan sought to better understand the Tu Family''s strength. How many Amethyst Cradle Reverends did they have in their ranks? And how many Golden Core cultivators? To face an enemy effectively, one must know them inside out.


    The ck-robed elderly man gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice, "Senior Li Xia, you promised to spare our lives."


    "And I have kept that promise," Wu Yuan replied coolly. "You have two options: speak and live, or stay silent and meet your end right now!"


    ...


    As Wu Yuan continued to flee while interrogating the old man in the flying boat, the recording of the battle that ended in Tu Chi and Fang Youlong''s demise was already received by the Tu Family, automatically uploaded to the immortal realm upon their deaths.


    At the same time, within the Tu Family''s ancestral mansion, the lifemps representing the two Golden Core cultivators flickered out. This signified that both of their lives were lost.


    The Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators of the Tu Family received the news first, followed by the Tu Family''s upper echelons.


    "Tu Chi is dead?"


    "Even Fang Youlong is dead? Both of them had a high chance of reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase, yet their lives were cut short just like that." The upper ranks of the Tu Family were thrown into disarray.


    Despite the strength of the Tu Family, losing twote-stage Golden Core cultivators at once was a massive, unexpected blow.


    Soon, these upper echelons received notifications from the Redmoon Immortal Realm, and witnessed the projection of the final moments of the two Golden Core cultivators.


    This only deepened their shock.


    "Li Xia? Where did he emerge from?"


    "Does he truly have that much mana, or has he reached an extremely high level of the Domain stage?" The upper echelons of the Tu Family were left shocked. What could drive Tu Chi to provoke such a formidable adversary?


    "Per Fang Youlong''s final words, Li Xia is still within Fengchuan City''s boundaries. There may still be a chance to hunt him down.��


    "Should we pursue him?"


    "It��s obvious that Tu Chi was the one looking for trouble by trying to loot him and ended up losing his life. Are we to continue making trouble for others and tarnish our reputation further?" the Golden Core cultivators of the Tu Family deliberated.


    Many agreed that vengeance was not necessary. In battles on the path of immortal cultivation, life and death were up to fate. Furthermore, no matter how one looked at it, Wu Yuan was an innocent party in the matter.


    Even those who had originally been invited by Tu Chi to join the raid against Wu Yuan ceased their advance upon learning of his death.


    "Tu Chi has fallen?"


    "How could this be? Wasn''t the task supposed to be a walk in the park? Yet from the battle projection, Li Xia managed to dispatch Tu Chi within mere seconds. Just how powerful is this Li Xia?"


    "Going there now is equivalent to throwing our lives away," concluded the Golden Core cultivators, each secretly relieved at having avoided this disaster as they returned to the city.


    "Let��s await the decision from the ancestor."


    "There��s no rush."


    "Unless the ancestor personally steps in, we stand no chance of killing Li Xia," the Tu Family''s Golden Core cultivators unanimously agreed.


    Both Tu Chi and Fang Youlong had been ranked among the top twenty cultivators within the Tu Family.


    ...


    The Tu family, one of the toprge families in Fengchuan City, boasted a rock-solid foundation with three Amethyst Cradle cultivators and one Shambh cultivator among their ranks.


    In particr, the Shambh cultivator was an ancestor of the Tu Family, who possessed a lifespan of 10,000 years and had walked this world for nearly 3000 years. His strength acted as an anchor, enabling the Tu family to expand rapidly and rise to prominence.


    Tu Chi was a favored descendant of the ancestor. Hence, Fang Youlong had sent word to him first via the Redmoon Immortal Realm. The other three Amethyst Cradle Reverends were currently absent from Fengchuan City. Thus even though they received the news, they were unable to pursue Wu Yuan.


    This was the norm. Cultivators flocked to Fengchuan City to gain exposure to different experiences, trade and acquire treasures, and get ess to thetest news.


    But for the Amethyst Cradle cultivators, Fengchuan City was but a stepping stone. If they wished to join a sect or purchase treasures, they would venture to higher tier cities such as Starsword City or Twin Jade City. Thus, the only one who could immediately pursue and eliminate Wu Yuan was the ancestor of the Tu family, Tu Guanghe.


    But at this very moment, Tu Guanghe, who had just received the message, was currently stuck in the immortal army��s main hall within Fengchuan City, participating in an extremely important banquet with no way to excuse himself early.


    The Redmoon Immortal Army''spound upied a massive plot ofnd, and on this particr day, the main hall buzzed with extraordinary liveliness.


    In attendance were the eminent figures of Fengchuan City, each possessing significant influence whether due to their robust connections, official standing, or personal strength. But despite their ability to shake the very foundation of Fengchuan City with a stomp, they were all ordinary attendees of this gathering.


    "Daoist Tu, does something trouble you?" A melodious yet detached voice suddenly pierced the air from the seat of honor.


    In an instant, all eyes turned to Tu Guanghe, who was momentarily lost in thought.


    "Hmm?" Quickly snapping back to reality, Tu Guanghe rose to his feet with deference, "Your Highness Haiyue, please pardon my insolence."


    Seated upon the dais was not themander of the Fengchuan City Immortal Army. He was seated to one side. Instead, the seat was taken by a young woman garbed in silver armor, her hair bound tightly and her features wlessly sculpted, possessing a striking beauty. From her appearance, she looked around eighteen or neen years old. However, her eyes exuded a chilling aura!


    Even just seated there, it was enough for the Amethyst Cradle and Shambh powerhouses to feel a chill sweep over them, yet their gazes were still drawn irresistibly to her presence. She was truly a goddess of war!


    Yet, it was the shadowy figurepletely cloaked in ck robes, standing behind the silver-armored woman, that truly instilled fear in their hearts. He was mysterious and aloof, with only a pair of crimson eyes visible. However, the fiery emblem emzoned on his chest was enough to send tremors through their hearts.


    "Insolence?" The silver-armored woman intoned with a smile that failed to reach her eyes.


    ��Your Highness,�� A voice rang out, and a ck-robed elderly man rose to address the gathering with a smile, "It appears that Daoist Tu has received news of the recent deaths of twote-stage Golden Core cultivators from his family near the city."


    The elder''s smile widened, "I��m afraid that Daoist Tu isn��t interested in spending time here with Your Highness, but rather preupied with thoughts of revenge."


    Tu Guanghe''s countenance remained impassive, yet a glint of fury flickered within his gaze. This dratted Old Dong!


    As the only other family in Fengchuan City with the power to rival the Tu Family, the Dong Family��s rivalry with them hadsted close to 1000 years.


    "Is that truly the case, Daoist Tu?" inquired the silver-armored woman with a nonchnt air. "Are you telling me you need to take action personally for two Golden Core Superiors dying outside the city? No one else in your family is up to the task?"


    Before Tu Guanghe could respond, the ck-robed elderly man interjected, "Your Highness may not be aware, but the two who perished werete-stage Golden Core cultivators. Despite their extraordinary strength, their deaths urred with incredible swiftness. It is likely that the culprit possesses Amethyst Cradle phase strength."


    Tu Guanghe''s anger simmered. The top priority on his mind now changed from killing Wu Yuan to identifying the traitor within his own family.


    The Dong Family must have bought over a Golden Core cultivator from the Tu Family. Otherwise, how could he get the news so quickly?


    "Amethyst Cradle phase strength, you say?" mused the silver-armored woman with a glint of intrigue in her eyes. She chuckled, "Daoist Dong, you speak with such certainty. Do you possess a recording of the battle? Show it to me, I wish to have a look."

 Chapter 322: In The Palm Of One’s Hand

    <h4>Chapter 322: In The Palm Of One��s Hand</h4>


    "Your Highness, this?" The ck-robed elder of the Dong Family appeared uncertain, stealing a nce at Tu Guanghe from the corner of his eye, as if wary of causing offense.


    "What, are you unwilling?" The young woman in silver armor, seated at the head of the gathering, frowned slightly and let out a cold snort.


    All these big shots of Fengchuan City instantly felt a shiver run down their spines.


    "Dong Tie, Tu Guanghe," Themander of the immortal army��s Fengchuan City branch stood up and bellowed sternly. "What are you both ying at? It��s just a battle recording, not a request for you to share your families�� secret teachings. Are you nning to disobey themands of Her Highness Haiyue?"


    "Haha," the silver-armored woman smiled, "General Luo, there��s no need for this."


    Instead of relief, her smile instantly sent dread coursing through General Luo and Tu Guanghe��s veins, a fear that stemmed not from cowardice but from an understanding of the status she held.


    Her backing was immense, her power unmatched, her natural talent beyondprehension. Were it not for her making the rounds to inspect the cities, these Amethyst Cradle and Golden Core cultivators wouldn��t even qualify to be granted an audience with her.


    "Your Highness, please grant me one moment," Tu Guanghe spoke deferentially, recognizing that he had slighted Her Highness Haiyue. He understood the dire consequences he would face if he were to truly incur her wrath. With a word from her, the Tu Family could be brought to ruin.


    With a wave of his hand, numerous light particles converged, forming a three-dimensional projection depicting the intense battle between Wu Yuan, Tu Chi, and Fang Youlong.


    All eyes in the hall turned towards themotion. The woman d in silver armor nced over with a detached expression. To her, her visit to Fengchuan City was merely a routine task, part of a field trial to gain real-world experience. She viewed the recording as nothing more than a diversion in an otherwise mundane visit. Watching several Golden Core cultivators fight held no allure for her.


    <i>Hm?</i> A flicker of surprise danced across her dispassionate gaze when Wu Yuan unleashed the Nine Swords of Light, the second level of the Dark Earth Sword Array.


    "How intriguing," murmured the young woman d in silver armor.


    "What a powerful sword array."


    "His Domain is impressive.��


    "Fang Youlong and Tu Chi have reached a decent level of the Domain stage. Yet even with theirbined efforts, the opponent still overpowered them?"


    "This kid is quite decent. Given more time to cultivate, stepping into the Amethyst Cradle phase should pose no challenge for him," the big shots of Fengchuan City whispered among themselves.


    Amidst the discussions, an elderly man in white robes observed the scene with a hint of surprise. As the proprietor of the Redmoon Immortal Tower, he recognized the young man in the projection as Wu Yuan who previously took up residence in the tower.


    The matter of Wu Yuan making his recent breakthrough to the Golden Core phase in Redmoon Immortal Tower was unknown to others, but the immense fluctuations that had urred during the breakthrough process naturally alerted the Redmoon Immortal Tower��s staff.


    That young man was actually this strong?


    Furthermore, the old man identified the battleship that Wu Yuan had purchased at a single nce. Battleships of ck Sun��s grade were rarely purchased, and the purchase was personally verified by him.


    Suddenly, silence fell over the hall as the onlookers witnessed the white-robed youth''s sword array transform once more, culminating in an unbelievably swift and decisive strike that swept through the air and killed the fleeing Fang Youlong.


    With that, the recording came to an end.


    Murmurs instantly filled the room. "That final strike... it seemed to meld with the very fabric of space!"


    "Where did this youngster pop up from?"


    "His understanding of the Dao rivals that of many Amethyst Cradle cultivators, it��s even on par with our own." These distinguished figures of Fengchuan City were shocked.


    At first, they treated it as a skirmish among the younger generation, regarding Wu Yuan as nothing more than a junior. But with Wu Yuan''s final move, these influential figures understood that this young man had a 100% chance of advancing to the Amethyst Cradle phase in time. He was not to be underestimated.


    Upon witnessing the dreamlike sword light sh through the air, dispatching Fang Youlong, a spark of interest ignited in the silver-armored woman��s eyes.


    <i>The third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array. This boy��s mana capacity is not high, yet he managed to unleash the third step? How deep is hisprehension of the Land''s profundity? How powerful is his soul?</i> Her interest was piqued. <i>I wonder which sect nurtured this genius.</i>


    Indeed, at that moment, the woman in silver armor had already deemed Wu Yuan a genius.


    <i>To think I would find such a gem during a routine task.</i> A hint of longing stirred in her heart. <i>If I could get him to be my follower...</i>


    Though she had an esteemed status, a strong, loyal following was crucial for her to establish her own faction. In her eyes, these Amethyst Cradle cultivators were all unqualified. Though Wu Yuan was currently weak, she saw astonishing potential in him��potential that was well worth nurturing.


    <i>At the Golden Core phase, he can already grasp the third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array; his Daoprehension aptitude is decent. However, the length of time he has spent cultivating and the quality of his immortal root remains uncertain.</i> The silver-armored woman pondered.


    There was a difference between reaching such a level in fewer than 100 years of cultivation versus achieving it in 300-400 years. Thetter was stillbeled as a genius, albeit not nearly as brilliant. The degree of his immortal root was even more crucial.


    <i>As long as he has cultivated for less than 200 years and possesses an immortal root exceeding the sixth degree, he��s worth my investment.</i> The silver-armored woman came to a decision.


    With that, she nced over her shoulder at the ck-cloaked figure behind her, addressing the man with a slight smile, "Old Yu, I��ll be troubling you to make a trip down."


    The cked-robed figure nodded slightly. In a whisper of movement, a white-robed figure appeared beside him, donning a ck mask and exuding equally vigorous vitality. Their souls shared the same origins, blurring the line between them as if they were one.


    The sight caused a hush to fall over the hall. The gathering stared at the white-robed figure in shock, then the ck-robed figure who remained still.


    "Mana body!"


    "The legendary mana body!" The few Golden Core cultivators were perplexed about what just happened, but most of the Amethyst Cradle powerhouses present were members of sects and highly knowledgeable about cultivation. At this moment, the silver-armored woman''s authority was further solidified in their eyes.


    This was a mana body! Anyone who could cultivate a mana body was a super powerhouse who could dominate the immortal continent if they wished. Yet, he was just this silver-armored woman��s bodyguard?


    The figure in white vanished without a sound, leaving the hall without causing a single stir in the air, while the figure in ck continued to stand guard behind the silver-armored woman.


    "Daoist Tu, Daoist Dong," the silver-armored woman addressed them with a light smile, "Could you shed some light on the details of the young man in the recording, and how this altercation came about?"


    She turned her gaze to the others in the hall, ��Fellow Daoists, if you have any information at all, please share them with me.��


    She needed more information. Talent alone was not enough; character, origin, and various other factors all had to be taken into ount when making recruitment decisions. No matter how promising one''s abilities were, if their character was immoral, she was reluctant to extend an invitation to them.


    "Your Highness, I possess certain intel about him," the white-robed elder of the Redmoon Immortal Tower branch robes suddenly spoke up. "However, in ordance with the immortal tower��s regtions, Your Highness may only ess a portion of this information with your authority."


    "Very well, convey the relevant details to me through the Redmoon Immortal Realm," thedy d in silver armor chuckled.


    The elder nodded inpliance.


    With that, she sent a thread of consciousness into the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Just two secondster, the mirth on her facepletely vanished, reced with shock.


    Although her expression swiftly returned to normal, her momentarypse did not escape the notice of those present within the hall.


    This unexpected reaction piqued the interest of the Amethyst Cradle Reverends. What could provoke such a response from Her Highness Haiyue?


    Observing this, the ancestor of the Dong Family snickered faintly and cast a mocking nce in the direction of Tu Guanghe.


    While Tu Guanghe outwardly maintained hisposure, his emotions plummeted into turmoil.


    He was uncertain of Her Highness Haiyue''s intentions. However, given that the super powerhouse summoned his mana body over this seemingly small matter, it was unlikely that she had any ns to help the Tu Family take revenge.


    With that in mind, Tu Guanghe took the initiative to address the situation. "Your Highness, my knowledge on this matter is limited," he spoke respectfully. "However, based on what I understand..."


    He proceeded to recount what he knew, with thedy in silver armor listening intently.


    ...


    Approximately 200,000 li from Fengchuan City, a massive ck flying boat, stretching over 100 meters in length, zoomed through the air at an incredible pace. Within the flying boat, Wu Yuan quietly did some mental calctions.


    <i>The speed of Amethyst Cradle Reverends is truly remarkable. They��re able to fly thousands of li in a single breath. </i>


    <i>To think that the ancestor of the Tu Family is a ninth-stage Shambh cultivator. His speed must be even more frightening.</i>


    Just moments ago, Wu Yuan interrogated the ck-robed elderly man, extracting insider information on the Tu Family, such as how strong the Tu Family��s strongest member was.


    Upon learning that the cause of the raid was simply because Qiong Sea King was an appropriate birthday present, Wu Yuan wasn��t sure how to feel. Misfortune often arose from the most unexpected ces indeed.


    <i>Once I put a few thousand li between myself and the battleground, I should change course. If the Amethyst Cradle powerhouse is nning to capture me, he may have already reached the scene of the battle. His speed may be impressive, but he��s unaware of the direction I��m fleeing in.</i>


    Although there was a small chance that the Tu Family''s ancestor might not actively hunt him down, Wu Yuan refused to take any chances, sparing no effort to escape. If he made the wrong gamble, his fate was sealed.


    <i>As long as I leave the Fengchuan City��s territory, I can seek refuge in any fifth-tier city. The Tu Family can��t do much to me there.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes glinted with determination.


    Fengchuan City was the Tu Family''s home turf. Meanwhile, any fifth-tier city on the Redmoon Immortal Continent enjoyed protection from the immortal army, deterring Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivators from taking reckless actions unless they were tired of living.


    <i>The farther I get, the safer I��ll be.</i> Wu Yuan contemted silently.


    Abruptly, a strange humming noise resonated through the air, and an imperceptible power swept across the massive flying boat. In an instant, Wu Yuan sensed his very soul constrict, as if the space surrounding him had solidified entirely.


    It was not just Wu Yuan who experienced this phenomenon, but also Qiong Sea King, as well as the ck-robed elderly man who stood nearby in sheer terror.


    Simultaneously, the space around them congealed, freezing everything in ce��the flying boat, the wind, everything fell eerily silent, as if time itself had decelerated by a thousand times. Even the neurotransmitters in Qiong Sea King and the elderly man��s brains were affected, causing their thoughts to slow.


    Only Wu Yuan, bolstered by his powerful soul, managed to maintain his normal speed of thought amidst this unnatural stillness.


    <i>This? Who is it?</i> Wu Yuan gasped inwardly.


    What manner of strength was this? It was too terrifying!


    Amethyst Cradle phase? Shambh phase? No! Such cultivators might possess the power toy waste to worlds, but this level of control was beyond them.


    <i>ng~</i> The hatch of the flying boat suddenly swung open, revealing a figure d in white robes and donning a ck mask. His gaze swept over Wu Yuan and Qiong Sea King, his eyes radiating an aura of omniscience that sent shivers down Wu Yuan''s spine. It was as if those eyes held the entirety of existence within them, capable of peering into the very core of one''s being��an overwhelming presence that left Wu Yuan trembling involuntarily.


    The discrepancy between them was far too great, akin to the chasm between heaven and earth.


    "Yang Soul? Impressive, young one," the figure in white robes intoned in a soft, velvety voice.

 Chapter 323: I Pronounce You Innocent

    <h4>Chapter 323: I Pronounce You Innocent</h4>


    <i>Yang Soul?</i> Wu Yuan felt dazed. What level of being was this, that he could tell his exact soul level at a single nce?


    The soul was concealed within the upper dantian lobe. Unless two souls collided or an enemy soul invaded the upper dantian lobe, one��s soul level was nearly impossible to identify. Yet, in this instance, Wu Yuan felt as though everything was in the palm of this person��s hand. His soul was unharmed, suggesting no intrusion into his upper dantian lobe. And yet, he had beenid bare in an instant. The sheer magnitude of the gap between them was beyond hisprehension.


    <i>Void Refiner phase? Or perhaps the fabled Divided Soul phase?</i> A flurry of conjectures raced through Wu Yuan''s mind. Amethyst Cradle Realm? The likelihood was exceedingly slim.


    "Child, I shall release you from your constraints." The figure draped in white robes and wearing a ck mask spoke in a warm tone, "Her Highness Haiyue desires an audience with you. Return to Fengchuan City with me. Do not resist, do not struggle."


    Her Highness Haiyue? Who was that? Wu Yuan''s mind teemed with questions.


    In all his time exploring the physical world or voidrealm over the past months, he had never encountered someone of such stature.


    But one thing was certain �C any individual capable ofpelling this super powerhouse before him to address them as ''Her Highness'' must wield considerable influence.


    <i>Such a figure is actually present in Fengchuan City? Could she be a backer of the Tu Family?</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts were a tumultuous mess.


    He understood that his fate no longery in his own hands. Escape? Resistance? Right now, he was renderedpletely immobile. Even if he were able to unleash the three life-saving talismans, it would likely be futile against such an existence.


    A subtle ripple coursed through the air. Suddenly, the constricted atmosphere returned to normal, allowing him to control his physical body once more. Only moments before this, he had felt as though his entire body, including his blood and essentia, no longer heeded hismand, and even time itself hade to a standstill.


    "Junior Li Xia pays his respects to Senior." Wu Yuan bowed slightly, "May I know how I should address you, Senior? And what business does Her Highness Haiyue have with me?"


    When the time came to lower one��s head, one should lower their head. If he put up a stubborn resistance, he believed the man would have no issues squashing him to death. Moreover, backing down to a super powerhouse was not a disgrace.


    Staying alive was what mattered the most.


    "When the timees for you to know my name, you will naturally find out," the white-robed figure said lightly, "As for Her Highness Haiyue? Her current station is the general of the Starsword City branch of the Redmoon Immortal Army."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    The general of the Starsword City branch of the Redmoon Immortal Army? This was a figure with unparalleled authority within Starsword City.


    "Let��s go!" With a graceful wave, the masked figure brought Wu Yuan out of the flying boat.


    Then, reality seemed to warp as the flying boat, once a grand battleship, dwindled in size within the figure''s palm, eventually disappearing without a trace.


    Wu Yuan could hardly believe his eyes. After all, Qiong Sea King and the ck-robed elderly man were still on board the flying boat. Living beings could not be ced in storage artifacts.


    <i>Refining the void? He��s a Void Refiner Eminence?</i> If he wasn��t mistaken, this was an immensely powerful ability that qi refining super powerhouses could wield.


    An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, propelling him through a whirlwind of lights that seemed to flow backward in time. The world transformed rapidly around him. Even with his formidable soul, Wu Yuan could barely perceive the breakneck speed at which he was hurtling through space.


    In just two breaths, the world around him stabilized, revealing a sprawling city in the distance.


    <i>F-Fengchuan City?</i> Wu Yuan''s mind reeled.


    From his estimates, he had managed to flee 200,000 li from Fengchuan City. And yet, this white-robed figure transported him across this staggering distance in the span of two breaths?


    That was 100,000 li per breath, an average speed of 16,700 li per second! Such a flight speed was beyond terrifying.


    Without a doubt, this man was a true powerhouse among immortal cultivators.


    "Time to descend," the white-robed figure said. Without giving Wu Yuan a choice, the world around them shifted again, and Wu Yuan found himself standing in the center of a majestic hall.


    The masked, white-robed figure stepped forth, merging with the figure in ck behind the seat of honor, leaving Wu Yuan alone amidst a sea of scrutinizing gazes.


    <i>This ce?</i> Wu Yuan felt the weight of their collective gazes bearing down on him from all sides, their vital auras so powerful that his soul immediately screamed in warning. The intensity of their strength was like nothing he had ever encountered, far more than the strongest powerhouses he had met in his life.


    <i>Amethyst Cradles, so many of them in one ce.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes darted around, realizing that most of the individuals present were Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivators, more than ten in total.


    Only powerhouses at such a level could leave him feeling this threatened.


    However, Wu Yuan''s attention was not on the surrounding powerhouses but on the silver-armored woman in the guest of honor��s seat.


    Such exquisite beauty! Wu Yuan could attest that he had neverid eyes on a beautiful woman before, with features so close to perfection, as if handcrafted by the divine! d in silver armor, she exuded a gant and heroic aura.


    But her most prominent feature was her icy and piercing gaze. One nce from her caused Wu Yuan��s heart to tremble, and he no longer dared to meet her gaze again.


    She was akin to an ancient iceberg, timeless and unfathomable.


    <i>This silver-armored woman is a powerhouse, at least an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. </i>Wu Yuan deduced in an instant.


    Observing the seat arrangement, he paid his respects without hesitation.


    "Juniors Li Xia humbly greets Her Highness Haiyue," Wu Yuan paid his respects.


    The hall remained silent.


    "Li Xia? I see you are notcking in intelligence, recognizing me with just a nce." A melodious but cold voice rang out from the guest of honor��s seat.


    Wu Yuan lowered his head and listened attentively.


    "I have been made aware of your recent conflict with the Tu Family," the woman in silver armor stated, her gaze appearing to pierce through Wu Yuan��s mind, unveiling his secrets. "Tu Chi attempted to rob you of your spirit beast, a confrontation ensued, and you ended his life. Is this the truth?"


    ��Indeed,�� Wu Yuan nodded in confirmation.


    "Tu Guanghe," the woman��s gaze turned to an elderly man beside Wu Yuan.


    "Your Highness," Tu Guanghe rose and bowed.


    It was then that Wu Yuan realized that the man next to him was actually the ninth-stage Shambh phase ancestor of the Tu Family. No wonder his gaze felt different.


    "With my authority as the general of the Redmoon Immortal Army of Starsword City, I, Zhuo Haiyue, hereby pronounce you, Li Xia, innocent," the woman stated in a detached tone. "Furthermore, I dere that the Tu Family bears no responsibility in this matter. Both parties shall reconcile and forgive past grievances."


    "Do you ept this judgment?" Her gaze swept over Wu Yuan and Tu Guanghe.


    "I have no objections, Your Highness is wise," Wu Yuan replied softly. There was nothing he wanted more than to mend rtions with the Tu Family. He was still a new visitor to the Immortal Continent and had yet to align himself with any faction. He had no desire for conflict with an Amethyst Cradle family right off the bat.


    Moreover, from the evidence, it was clear that Tu Chi was acting independently and the Tu Family had little to do with his decision.


    "I have no objections," Tu Guanghe murmured, resigned to the oue. Naturally, he was frustrated, but what could he do? In front of Zhuo Haiyue, he dared not disy any discontent.


    "Then both of you shall make a vow in the name of True Saint Taiyuan," the woman instructed lightly.


    Tu Guanghe bowed his head obediently, while Wu Yuan remainedposed.


    Eldritch cultivators typically invoked the Eldritch Progenitor in their vows, and were then bound by karma as overseen by the progenitor. In the same way, the inhabitants of the Redmoon Immortal Continent were all subject to the authority of the Taiyuan Divine Court. Even Immortal Redmoon himself was a member. It was likely that True Saint Taiyuan was the highest authority within the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    As Wu Yuan and Tu Lianhe swore their oaths, a subtle force entered their bodies. However, the binding power was not constrictive.


    "The banquet shall continue. General Luo, you are in charge of the subsequent procedures," the young woman dered, rising from her seat.


    "Yes, Your Highness," General Luo acknowledged dutifully.


    "Li Xia," she addressed Wu Yuan directly, her voice light yetmanding. "Follow me."


    She exited the grand hall in a single stride, the ck-robed figure and a group of ten or so crimson-robed figures trailing behind her.


    Wu Yuan hastened to follow.


    It was only when the group vanished from view that the tension in the hall began to dissipate, reced by hushed murmurs of discussion.


    "Did Her Highness Haiyue take a liking to that Li Xia?"


    "That Li Xia is truly fortunate.��


    "We can only dream of being a follower of Her Highness Haiyue.��


    "Hmph! If you possessed such talent, perhaps she would take notice of you as well," the Amethyst Cradle powerhouses bantered.


    Only Tu Guanghe remained silent in the midst of the chatter, his expression dark. It was clear to all that Her Highness Hai Yue held Wu Yuan in high regard.


    During her inspection of Fengchuan City, only General Luo received a private audience as a matter of protocol. The other Amethyst Cradle powerhouses could not hope to meet her in a private setting.


    "Daoist Tu, it seems luck is not on your side this time," the old ancestor of the Dong Family gloated with a hint of satisfaction.


    "Mock me all you want," Tu Guanghe snorted. "Old Dong, I��ll be awaiting your death. Even if you were to die twice over, I��ll still outlive you."


    With that, Tu Guanghe departed from the hall.


    The color of the Dong Family ancestor''s face immediately darkened. That was indeed his greatest worry. The lifespan of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator was a mere 3000 years, while Shambh cultivators boasted a longevity of 10,000 years. If Tu Guanghe were a qi refiner, he wouldn��t have much longer to live. But as a Shambh cultivator, he was still young.


    "Hmph," the old ancestor of the Dong Family grumbled.


    ...


    Wu Yuan followed behind Zhuo Haiyue��s entourage as they departed from the Immortal Army��s main hall, soaring freely through the sky without any restrictions from the arrays. Their journey brought them swiftly to a sprawling and opulent estate, centered around a magnificent hall.


    Stepping into a side hall, Zhuo Haiyue beckoned to Wu Yuan. "Li Xia, sit," shemanded in a calm tone, assuming the host seat.


    "Your Highness, I..." Just as Wu Yuan was about to speak, a red-robed figure interrupted him.


    "Childe Li, if Her Highness instructs you to sit, you sit," the figure following closely behind him spoke. The person had an androgynous voice, and their figure was wrapped entirely in clothing that concealed their exact form, making it impossible to determine their gender.


    It wasn��t just this person, Wu Yuan could not make out the slightest detail of any of the individuals apanying the silver-armored woman.


    Abandoning formalities, Wu Yuanplied and took his seat.


    ��Li Xia, I hope you truly have no objections to me forcing your reconciliation with the Tu Family,�� Zhuo Haiyue said, her aura now slightly withdrawn as her gaze warmed towards him. This only enhanced her beauty.


    ��I have no objections,�� Wu Yuan said in a low voice.


    "You need not be so reserved; you are unlike the Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the hall just now," Zhuo Haiyue remarked casually.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted. What did she mean by that?


    "You only began cultivating a few decades ago, yet you��ve already reached the first-stage Golden Core phase, grasped the third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, and possess a formidable soul," Zhuo Haiyue looked down at Wu Yuan from her seat, continuing softly. "Your immortal root is extraordinary, at least of the fourth degree, along with exceptional Daoprehension aptitude and soul talent."


    "The future of those Amethyst Cradle cultivators cannot bepared to yours."


    Wu Yuan continued to listen, but inwardly he felt a storm of emotions. Wasn��t Her Highness Haiyue a little too overpowered?


    In just a moment, she had practically seen through him.


    "Your Highness, you have ttered me," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "There��s no need to be so shocked. I have watched the battle recording. The Dark Earth Sword Path is a powerful sword methodology indeed. Ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators may be unaware of it, but not me. As for your recent breakthrough, I learned about it from the Redmoon Immortal Tower."


    "I possess the authority to ess a certain level of confidential information from the Immortal Tower," Zhuo Haiyue stated matter-of-factly, causing Wu Yuan��s astonishment to grow even further.


    Authority within the Immortal Tower? Along with her position as the general of a second-tier city branch of the immortal army and the level of her bodyguard, Zhuo Haiyue''s status was so noble that it spoke for itself.


    "When I suggested that you mend rtions with the Tu Family, it was with your well-being in mind. As far as I know, you don��t stand to lose anything," Zhuo Haiyue remarked, her gaze fixed on Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. He had indeed not been disadvantaged in any way.


    "I do not like to mince words," Zhuo Haiyue continued coolly. "I''m doing this not because I have a good impression of you. I would like to extend an invitation for you to be part of my Immortal Guard."

 Chapter 324: Rejection

    <h4>Chapter 324: Rejection</h4>


    <i>Within the grand hall.</i>


    "As an immortal guard under me, you will gain countless resources, all sorts of precious treasures, and various cultivation methods. You can have them all," the silver-armored woman continued.


    "What a first-rate sect can offer, I can also offer. What a first-rate sect can''t offer, I can also provide."


    "In the future, once Iplete my Tribtion, achieve immortality, and rule over various spacetime nes, establishing an immortal continent or even an immortal nation, you too can be conferred a noble ranking and establish your own sect as my immortal guard," Zhuo Haiyue looked down at Wu Yuan, her cold eyes carrying a hint of tenderness and even expectation.


    Wu Yuan was a bit dazed. He had many guesses about what this beautiful and mysterious woman wanted to speak to him about. But inviting him to join her following was not one of them.


    Immortal guard? A protector?


    From what he could tell so far, this silver-armored woman, Zhuo Haiyue, seemed to have an immensely high status and was a significant figure even throughout the immortal continent.


    Though she was at the Amethyst Cradle phase, a super powerhouse that could summon a mana body was willing to heed hermands. It was clear she had an astonishing background.


    Her tone was also shockingly confident. What a first-rate sect couldn''t provide, she could?


    There were only a few dozen first-rate sects across the entire immortal continent, each with a profound heritage, a long history, and numerous powerhouses in every generation.


    ording to the information Wu Yuan found in the library, having a Tribtion cultivator in their ranks was just the minimum requirement for a first-rate sect. Many second-rate sects had more than one Tribtion stage cultivator, but they were still considered second-rate.


    Moreover, from the realm master, Wu Yuan knew how powerful the Hou Feng Tribe was in its prime. A first-rate sect was on the same level as the Hou Feng Tribe in its heyday.


    However, despite Zhuo Haiyue''s enticing words, Wu Yuan didn''t want to be an immortal guard or whatever. It was an instinctive aversion.


    "Your Highness Haiyue, forgive my ignorance, but what exactly are an immortal guard��s duties?" Wu Yuan asked respectfully.


    Even if he wanted to refuse, he needed to find a reasonable excuse to do so. Outright angering her was not wise.


    "Don''t worry, an immortal guard may include the word ��guard��, but it does not refer to a group of bodyguards or servants," Zhuo Haiyue said indifferently. "More urately, they are my followers."


    "They will pledge their loyalty to me. As of now, I am still in the midst of my cultivation journey. When I grow more powerful in the future and battle in various spacetimes, my immortal guards will join me in battle," Zhuo Haiyue said. "In return, I will provide you with abundant resources for your cultivation."


    "You may already have some background and received an inheritance," Zhuo Haiyue said. "But that is no issue. My existence is destined to surpass your backing."


    "As long as you don''t provoke an Archimmortal, I can settle a dispute with any enemy on your behalf, even if it''s a Tribtion High Immortal, as long as you are loyal to me," Zhuo Haiyue said with utmost seriousness.


    Wu Yuan was stunned. With the confidence in her tone, coupled with her previous actions, her identity was obvious �C a high-ranking official of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    The hall wentpletely silent.


    "Your Highness," Wu Yuan began in a low voice, "If I were to join the ranks of the immortal guard, would I have any chance of regaining my freedom in the future?"


    Zhuo Haiyue''s response was cool and detached, "I do not impose excessive restrictions on my subordinates, but as one of my immortal guards, you are required to take an oath of unwavering loyalty. Without my consent, you will not be able to leave the guard."


    "Moreover, why would you wish to leave? As my power grows, so too will the benefits bestowed upon my immortal guard, and therefore your personal benefits." Zhuo Haiyue looked down at Wu Yuan.


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. In other words, an immortal guard was just a different type of servant, one that enjoyed a position of prestige and power, but was bound in servitude nheless.


    Wu Yuan knew what his decision was.


    "Your Highness," Wu Yuan''s tone was neither deferential nor arrogant, "I am beyond grateful that you rescued me from the Tu Family''s wrath, but the role of an immortal guard is one I cannot ept."


    Before his final word faded, two crimson-d figures erupted in fury.


    "Impudent!"


    "The audacity to reject Her Highness''s offer!" The two figures standing beside Wu Yuan red at him with a chilling intensity, their wills pressing down on his soul, as though topletely suffocate him.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Their pressure crashed into Wu Yuan''s soul like tidal waves, causing it to tremble non-stop. Despite the overwhelming force, his will remained steadfast, and he endured the onught with gritted teeth.


    "You dare refuse me?" Each word from Zhuo Haiyue was a frosted dagger. "Joining my immortal guard is an honor sought by countless powerhouses. Yet you dare reject my invitation?"


    "Do you understand the consequences of your rejection?"


    "Death!" Zhuo Haiyue''s gaze bore into Wu Yuan, her eyes filled with a chilling intent that seemed to pierce his very essence, freezing him to the core.


    What terrifying oppression! Such immense killing intent.


    Wu Yuan realized that Zhuo Haiyue must have faced battles of unimaginable magnitude to attain such a powerful consciousness and unyielding will. Though she was only an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators couldn��tpare to her.


    "Li Xia, since I value your talent, I will offer you another chance." Zhuo Haiyue''s tone dropped several degrees colder. "Will you join my immortal guard?"


    "If you agree, you shall live. If not, you shall die." The word ''die'' hung heavy in the air, as though hammering into Wu Yuan''s heart, evoking a primal fear.


    <i>Since soft tactics failed, she switched over to coercion? Refusal to submit means death? </i>Wu Yuan''s mind raced. <i>This Zhuo Haiyue is actually this ruthless?</i>


    <i>If temporary submission leads to future freedom, then perhaps it is eptable. But to be a permanent servant?</i> Wu Yuan''s pride refused to allow him to ept such a fate. He didn��t mind lowering his head asionally, as it was inevitable in the world of cultivation.


    By joining a sect or aligning oneself with a faction, one had the chance to rise through the ranks one day to assume a position of leadership. As for being taken in by a master, one would eventually graduate from discipleship. But to be a servant, to surrender one��s agency to someone else?


    <i>Tolerating asional backing down for the sake of future growth is one thing. But if I submit for the sake of living today, I will be trapped as a servant for eternity.</i>


    <i>Once the role of a servant bes ingrained in my being, such an identity will be nearly impossible to shed. </i>Wu Yuan made his decision.


    If he could never hold his head high, then he refused to bow at all.


    ...


    Inside the grand hall, heavy killing intent continued to suppress Wu Yuan.


    "Choose, Li Xia," Zhuo Haiyue''s voice cut through the air, sharp and cold like a goddess of death, poised to strike at any moment.


    Under such pressure, even the average Amethyst Cradle cultivator would quiver in fear. Yet, Wu Yuan stood firm, his jaw clenched in defiance.


    "Your Highness Haiyue," his voice was strained but resolute. "If you wish to kill me, I will not resist. But if you wish for my servitude, I would rather die."


    A heavy silence settled over the room.


    Even the usually stoic ck-robed figure showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He didn��t expect Wu Yuan to persist under the threat of death.


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable.


    Death? He wasn��t afraid. When he set foot on the immortal continent, he knew the risk he was taking. In the pursuit of immortality, one had to be prepared for the worst. The path of immortal cultivation was littered with the bones of geniuses and powerhouses. How many of them died without anyone knowing?


    Dying as a speck of dust was the norm; dying in a ze of glory was a rare privilege.


    Suddenly, a peal ofughter broke the tense atmosphere. Zhuo Haiyue''s smile dispelled the murderous aura that had gripped the hall, returning everything to normalcy. Her cold gaze softened.


    "Li Xia, you have proven yourself worthy of my friendship," she dered.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, astonishment written across his face.


    Friendship? Truly, Her Highness Haiyue��s moods werepletely erratic. One moment she threatened him with death, the next, she wanted to be his friend.


    "I, Zhuo Haiyue, do notpel allegiance," her tone was gentler now, her eyes kinder. "Had you submitted willingly, you would have been weed into my ranks as an immortal guard."


    "But," she continued, her voice firm, "those who yield only under the threat of death will be killed. Only those brave enough to stand strong in the face of death will earn my respect, and are eligible to be my friends."


    "True friends," Zhuo Haiyue''s smile was warm.


    Wu Yuan offered a bitter smile in return. Truly, Her Highness Haiyue''s logic was... unconventional.


    "Thank you, Your Highness," Wu Yuan cupped his hands.


    He was no fool. If he could live, why would he seek death willingly?


    "Li Xia," Zhuo Haiyue''s tone was casual, "Which sect are you from? The Dark Earth Sword Path is a prevalent teaching, but most second-rate sects are unable to acquire it."


    A flicker of unease stirred within Wu Yuan. Was she probing for details?


    "Your Highness, I am unaffiliated with any sect," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I intend to join a sect on the Immortal Continent."


    This was his carefully considered response. If he fabricated a background? With the resources and influence at her disposal, she could easily uncover any falsehood. It was futile to deceive her; he might as well speak the truth.


    "No sect?" Zhuo Haiyue''s surprise was evident, but she smiled knowingly. "Do you have a master to guide you? It is no small feat to reach your level of cultivation without a renowned master."


    "I have no master," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Though the realm master had imparted some wisdom, he was not a true master. In matters of understanding the Dao and cultivation teachings, he relied solely on his own efforts.


    "Is that so?" Zhuo Haiyue''s voice was thoughtful.

 Chapter 325: He Is Quite Decent

    <h4>Chapter 325: He Is Quite Decent</h4>


    "I dare not deceive Your Highness," Wu Yuan stated calmly. "I truly have no master to speak of, and the only cultivation method I know of is the Dark Earth Sword Path."


    Even though he had inherited the knowledge of the Hou Feng Tribe, it was predominantly focused on the eldritch ss.


    In terms of qi refining, Wu Yuan indeed received little to no guidance. If he had stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter for qi refining, he wouldn��t have risked his life by venturing to the immortal continent at such a low cultivation phase.


    Furthermore, Wu Yuan did not fear investigations into his past. The Soul Split Secret Art, was a true self secret art. What was a true self? Apart from being connected in consciousnesses and memories, two true selves were entirely independent in every aspect.


    Not even the legendary Archimmortals could detect his other true self, let alone Zhuo Haiyue. Hence, as long as Wu Yuan remained silent, no one could perceive that he was merely a qi refiner self; at best, they could only specte.


    "Haha, since you��re honest with me, as a friend, I will not pry further," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled. "You mentioned that you wish to join a sect?"


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan affirmed with a slight nod.


    There was no need to conceal this fact. His qi refiner self hade to the Redmoon Immortal Continent with the precise purpose of joining a major faction, in order to gain better guidance.


    If he followed a typical methodical path, his qi refiner self would never measure up to his body refiner self.


    "Would you be willing to enlist in the Redmoon Immortal Army? With your talent, you could easily be a core member of the immortal army," Zhuo Haiyue proposed.


    If Wu Yuan were to join the immortal army, she believed she could gradually win him over.


    "Your Highness, I have considered this before, but the immortal army participates in battles too frequently for my liking," Wu Yuan gently shook his head. "At heart, I prefer quiet cultivation."


    This was simr to his younger days. Unless he depleted the blood-red mist and had no other choice, Wu Yuan seldom initiatedbat.


    Since embarking on the path of cultivation, Wu Yuan''s personality remained unchanged. If he could be stronger by choosing the path of lower risk, Wu Yuan did not mind doing so till the end.


    "Quiet cultivation? Li Xia, you are wrong. The challenge of staring death in the face, the exhration of surviving a deadly crisis, the satisfaction of vanquishing formidable foes one by one �C these are what stimte one''s potential the most and facilitate the swiftest progress," Zhuo Haiyue countered, shaking her head, seeming to reminisce on past experiences. "Only through enduring countless life-and-death ordeals can one achieve greatness."


    It was clear that this was Zhuo Haiyue''s path of growth. She had weathered numerous trials, defying death each time.


    "Your Highness, your talent is unparalleled, and providence favors you. Naturally, you can forge ahead through all obstacles. However, the vast majority who do the same sumb to death rather than emerge stronger," Wu Yuan spoke solemnly. "I acknowledge that providence does not favor me as much. When faced with adversaries, I have to give my all, but if I continually tread the line between life and death, I fear my demise is inevitable."


    Those who walk by the river inevitably get their shoes wet. The concept of tempering oneself through life-and-death trials, in Wu Yuan''s perspective, was akin to the adage that ''adversity can strengthen one''s resolve.''


    This adage wasn��t wrong. However, there were obviously other ways of increasing one��s strength, so why opt for the path of most suffering? That was simply masochistic!


    Adversity might fortify one''s resolve, but suffering would never lead to joy. In fact, too much was likely to warp one��s heart.


    "You disagree with me?" Zhuo Haiyue fixed her gaze on Wu Yuan. Her eyes were filled with an inscrutable blend of emotion, a flicker of anger dancing within them.


    Wu Yuan felt a pang of surprise at her reaction and spoke softly, "Your Highness, please forgive me."


    Zhuo Haiyue''sughter rang out unexpectedly, breaking the tension in the air. "Ah, I had promised to treat you as a friend. In friendship, there is no need for such formality. Don��t worry, I will not coerce you with my status."


    "Your Highness is kind," Wu Yuan replied respectfully, though he sighed inwardly.


    A friend? Did normal people have friends like this? If given a choice, he would flee at the first opportunity. Who could predict when she would change her mind and decide to kill him?


    "Whether trials of life and death or breakthroughs via quiet cultivation, they are simply the preferences of different individuals. This is a conflict of philosophies," Zhuo Haiyue remarked with a faint smile. "My mentor once told me, the myriad roads we tread all converge at the same summit. Follow your heart, and you shall ascend to the pinnacle."


    "If you do not wish to enlist in the immortal army, I will not force you to," she continued. ��Do you already have a sect in mind?"


    "Not yet. I seek a sect that specializes in the sword," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "The library in the immortal realm offered only cursory descriptions of the various sects. I cannot tell whether they are a good fit for me yet."


    Based on Wu Yuan''s n, he would bide his time until he reached Starsword City, where he could then gather more detailed information.


    "A sect specializing in the sword?" Zhuo Haiyue nodded thoughtfully. "Among the numerous first-rate sects in the immortal continent, several specialize in the path of the sword. With your aptitude and prowess, you should have no difficulty enrolling in one."


    "But the best cultivation environment is undoubtedly the Moonsilver World!"


    "Moonsilver World?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in confusion. He had never heard of it.


    "You wille to know of it in due course, once you join a first-rate sect," Zhuo Haiyue exined with a knowing smile. "The Moonsilver World is where the finest prodigies throughout the immortal continent and countless worlds gather, a crucible for the elite to prove their mettle. It is here that the Redmoon Immortal Hall nurtures its disciples."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. He had previously uncovered during his research that there existed a method for one to gain direct entry into the Redmoon Immortal Hall, a ce where only peerless geniuses were allowed entry. So, it was called the Moonsilver World.


    "However, one can only gain entry with an invitation from the Moonsilver World itself," Zhuo Haiyue stated, her head shaking slightly. "And to receive such an invitation, one must first establish a reputation for themselves."


    "Establish a reputation?" Wu Yuan pondered.


    "Joining other sects follows a simr principle," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "There are three methods of joining a sect. The first involves traveling to high-tier cities where numerousrge sects are situated. There, one can undergo the entrance assessment and, if sessful, be weed into the sect."


    Wu Yuan nodded. This was his original n.


    "The second method is the Entrance Selection which urs once every decade across the immortal continent. Large sects attend this event, recruiting disciples on arge scale. Often, Divided Soul Earth Immortals and Tribtion High Immortals will also attend to observe the examinees. If one disys outstanding talent during the selection, they may be directly recruited as a disciple."


    "The exposure and opportunities of this method far outweigh the first. Hence, many exceptional talents prefer to wait for the Entrance Selection," Zhuo Haiyue remarked with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    In the vast expanse of the immortal continent, Archimmortals were legendary figures that ruled over multiple spacetime nes, possessing nearly eternal lifespans. Were there any other living Archimmortals aside from Immortal Redmoon on the immortal continent? That remained unknown, at least to Wu Yuan.


    In reality, the abilities of Divided Soul and Tribtion cultivators were already close to unimaginable in many aspects, particrly their extraordinary longevity. As such, they were addressed as ''Immortal�� by the numerous immortal cultivators.


    Divided Soul cultivators were referred to as Earth Immortals, while Tribtion cultivators were known as High Immortals. Cultivators of these two phases were known as pseudo-immortals. Despite their lifespans, they encountered various challenges that hindered the attainment of true eternal life.


    To be epted as a disciple of a Divided Soul cultivator or Tribtion cultivator was the aspiration of countless cultivators.


    The Entrance Selection was therefore a significant event that garnered the attention of higher echelons from various sects. Participating in this event allowed individuals to showcase their talents on a grand stage that could otherwise go unnoticed in conventional sect recruitment processes.


    "Thest but most challenging method is to establish a reputation for oneself," Zhuo Haiyue exined with a smile. "Should your talent be recognized by the disciple recruiters across various sects, they will naturally extend invitations to you."


    "Therge sects are entities affiliated with the immortal hall, and are in fiercepetition with each other. Genuine talents are actively headhunted with promises of favorable conditions to entice them," Zhuo Haiyue borated.


    Wu Yuan now understood. Basically, it was to make a name for oneself! If one was famous enough, sects would vie for the opportunity to recruit such a talent. And if one''s abilities were exceptional enough, they might even capture the attention of the Moonsilver World.


    But the essential prerequisite to all of this was establishing a notable reputation.


    "Li Xia requests Your Highness''s guidance," Wu Yuan spoke earnestly, recognizing that Her Highness Haiyue already had an idea for him in mind. Otherwise, why would she divulge so much information to him?


    "As your friend, I am more than willing to assist you with joining a sect," Zhuo Haiyue stated with a smile. ��If you trust me, wait two days for me to wrap up my tasks here, then follow me back to Starsword City. I will take care of all the arrangements for you there."


    Wu Yuan stiffened slightly. Why was she suddenly being so nice?


    "Why, do you not trust me?" Zhuo Haiyue frowned slightly at Wu Yuan''s hesitation.


    "I haveplete trust in Your Highness," Wu Yuan responded respectfully. "Li Xia will dly follow your lead, if you permit it."


    Zhuo Haiyue could easily pinch him to death if she felt like it, thus Wu Yuan had little choice but toply with her wishes. As long as her demands didn��t cross his bottom line, he didn��t find any issue with lowering his head for the moment.


    "That��s more like it," Zhuo Haiyue gave a faint smile of approval. "Remain in Fengchuan City for the next two days. You will stay in the other courtyard house during this period."


    ...


    Zhuo Haiyue watched as Wu Yuan departed. Her attendants would naturally make arrangements for his stay.


    Within the grand hall, a crimson-robed figure beside Zhuo Haiyue revealed her face.


    "Why show such generosity to a mere Golden Core youngster?" she questioned, her tone tinged with disapproval. "Her Highness only epts three immortal guards, yet he dared to reject your offer. I would have eliminated him without a second thought."


    Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    "Third Sister, do not underestimate this youngster," another crimson-robed figure interjected in a deep voice. "Do you really think he has no backing?"


    The red-robed woman paused.


    "I care not for his background," Zhuo Haiyue said lightly. "No matter how powerful it is, can it rival me?"


    The red-robed figures all chuckled. Clearly, Zhuo Haiyue was quite easy-going when there were no outsiders.


    "Li Xia? To face death without fear is a disy of great courage. To hold firm to one''s beliefs without bending to the will of the powerful is a mark of true wisdom. But to know when to adapt and yield when necessary, that is a trait few possess." Zhuo Haiyue remarked, shaking her head slightly. "In all our travels, how many individuals like him have we encountered?"


    There was a moment of silence as everyone pondered her words.


    "Indeed, amidst the countless beings, there are bound to be those with simr qualities," Zhuo Haiyue conceded with a smile. "However, abination of such virtues with exceptional talent is beyond rare. Judging by the potential he has disyed, while yet to reach my level, he is undoubtedly a top-tier cultivator who could easily climb to the ranks of a core disciple in arge sect."


    "His talent is remarkable, and his character ismendable. I have great expectations for him," she stated candidly, her gaze sweeping over the assembled figures in crimson robes, who nodded in agreement.


    "A Divided Soul Earth Immortal may live for 90,000 years, while a Tribtion High Immortal can thrive for a million," Zhuo Haiyue mused softly. "Who knows, he might reach the Tribtion phase in the future. In that case, lending him aid today would be a small price to pay for his future assistance. "


    "The seeds sown today will yield bountiful harvests tomorrow. He cannot refuse," she dered firmly.


    Tribtion phase? The red-robed figures exchanged nces of surprise. They had not anticipated Zhuo Haiyue to hold Wu Yuan in such high regard. Tribtion cultivators were peak powerhouses of the immortal continent.


    Turning to the shadowy figure d in ck robes, Zhuo Haiyue posed a question. "Old Yu, what is your assessment of him?"


    "He is quite decent!��

 Chapter 326: Celestial Flying Boat

    <h4>Chapter 326: Celestial Flying Boat</h4>


    Within the confines of arge meditation chamber, a pristine jade tform gleamed with an ethereal light. Wu Yuan, seated in the lotus position on its surface, felt a profound sense of tranquility wash over him. His mind also seemed to unravel theplexities of the Dao at a faster rate.


    <i>The effects of this jade tform surpass even that of Reverend Qing Yan''s in the Yanqing Hall. </i>Wu Yuan was awed.


    While this was just one of the dozens of guest houses in the Redmoon Immortal Army��s outpost, every courtyard house was incrediblyvish.


    The true measure of luxury for an amodationy not in its outward appearance, but in the standard of its protective arrays, the abundance of spiritual qi, the quality of its jade tform, and numerous other intangible aspects.


    <i>Even a seventh-grade grotto of the Redmoon Immortal Tower pales inparison to this ce. </i>The Redmoon Immortal Army indeed lived up to its reputation.


    Even a fifth-tier city outpost was furnished with such superior cultivation conditions. One could only imagine the treatment provided to their top talents and powerhouses.


    <i>And to think, I am allowed to reside here for free.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head. <i>What in the heavens are Zhuo Haiyue��s intentions?</i>


    Previously, Wu Yuan was abruptly whisked from one ce to another with no idea of what was going on. But now that he had time to process his situation, he began to piece the puzzle together.


    <i>This Zhuo Haiyue is a high-ranking figure in the Redmoon Immortal Hall, currently overseeing the Redmoon Immortal Army in Starsword City, and happened to be conducting a routine inspection in Fengchuan City?</i>


    <i>The elimination of Tu Chi and the other man was somehow brought to the attention of the high-ranking officials in Fengchuan City.</i>


    <i>So, was it at Zhuo Haiyue''s behest that I was captured by that super powerhouse and brought here? </i>Wu Yuan spected.


    He soonrgely concluded that there was a 50% chance that the Tu Family''s Shambh cultivator might have caught up with him and killed him. Zhuo Haiyue��s swift intervention had allowed him topletely resolve this disaster.


    <i>Why did she help me?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, his brow furrowed in thought. <i>The first possibility is due to a sense of justice, that I was in the right as a victim of the raid. But violence on the path of immortal cultivation is an everyday urrence.</i>


    Though being in the right held little weight in the cutthroatpetition along the road to immortality, it somewhat justified her actions.


    <i>The second possibility is that she sees potential in me.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes narrowed in contemtion. <i>Did my abilities catch her eye, prompting her to consider me for recruitment?</i>


    Though she had stepped in to save him, Wu Yuan was not blind to the fact that he had been tested. Had he fallen short of her expectations, his fate might have been bleak.


    <i>Yet, she also spoke of aiding me further? Promising friendship?</i> Wu Yuan let out a quiet sigh.


    Such were the whims of those in power. Their emotions dictated their actions, and Wu Yuan was left with no choice but toply.


    <i>My strength is no match for hers. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.


    In the world of immortal cultivation, strength dictated all. If he possessed the power to eliminate Zhuo Haiyue with a single strike, no one would be able to say anything. Butcking both strength and connections, Wu Yuan had to follow her lead.


    <i>From an objective standpoint, perhaps she sees my strength as an asset she can make use of. But if she can truly assist me in gaining admission to a suitable first-rate sect, this could very well shape up to be a fortuitous turn of events.</i>


    As long as he took advantage of this situation, it was also an opportunity for him. The so-called fortuitous encounters did not alwayse in the form of treasures or cultivation teachings; sometimes, even seemingly minor help or guidance could have an incredible impact.


    <i>She couldn��t make me her servant, but for other matters, it��s difficult to extricate myself for the time being. </i>Wu Yuan made up his mind. <i>Let us see what Zhuo Haiyue can offer.</i>


    If it proved advantageous for him, Wu Yuan was willing to ept it. It was important to know when to advance and when to retreat. Unwavering stubbornness or arrogance would eventually lead to failure on the long path to immortality.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan received a message transmitted by several Qi Sea soldiers standing guard on the outside of the courtyard house.


    <i>The Dong Family''s ancestor seeks an audience with me? </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.


    Having roughly grasped the power dynamics in Fengchuan City, Wu Yuan knew that the Tu Family and Dong Family were the top families in the city. After a moment of deliberation, he made a decision. "I will not meet with him."


    He had no interactions with them, yet they sent an Amethyst Cradle ancestor to pay him a visit personally?


    <i>It could be a ploy to win me over to the Dong Family��s side, then use me as a weapon against the Tu Family. Or, an attempt to curry favor with Zhuo Haiyue through me.</i>


    Regardless of the intentions behind the visit, Wu Yuan did not wish to be entangled in their affairs.


    <i>I should continue my cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes, continuing to cultivate his essentia and mana, and expanding his qi sea.


    <i>During the Qi Sea phase, my cultivation speed was quite fast. But upon entering the Golden Core phase, the qi sea is magnified immensely, by a hundredfold or even thousandfold. The golden core is the condensed form of essentia, requiring a strong enough will andprehension to control it. </i>


    Hence, to reach the fourth stage of the Golden Core phase, one must reach the Domain stage of Daoprehension.


    At the Qi Sea phase, advancing one stage could take anywhere from several years to decades. However, in the Golden Core phase, one��s essentia and mana might not suffice to advance a single stage even with centuries of cultivation.


    <i>A deeperprehension of the Dao leads to greater control over the Golden Core, making it easier to condense. </i>Wu Yuan reflected. <i>A robust soul elerates the refinement of spiritual qi, thus expediting the cultivation process.</i>


    <i>I also have the support of the blood-red mist. </i>Wu Yuan sensed the dense mist swirling within his upper dantian lobe, around the majestic ck pagoda. His qi refiner self did not originally possess blood-red mist, but after killing Tu Chi and Fang Youlong, arge quantity of blood-red mist flooded out of the ck pagoda.


    <i>If all goes well, I anticipate reaching the ninth-stage Golden Core phase within 80 years. </i>Wu Yuan calcted.


    Without the blood-red mist, relying solely on ethercrystal would extend the timeline to a minimum of a century. This speed was impressive by all ounts, given that mostte-stage Golden Core cultivators spent 500 years or more striving to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase.


    <i>It is a shame that the blood-red mist cannot be shared between my two true selves. </i>Wu Yuanmented.


    Each of the two true selves harbored a ck pagoda in their upper dantian lobes, identical in form. Though their souls were intertwined and their consciousnesses united, the blood-red mist would only remain in the true self that had killed an opponent.


    ...


    <i>Outside the courtyard house.</i>


    "He is not willing to meet me?" The Dong Family''s ancestor stiffened.


    He had considered various possibilities. Wu Yuan might deny his request, or demand additional conditions. But to not meet with him at all? He didn��t expect this.


    "Reverend Dong, please leave," the guard soldier dered in a deep voice.


    "Mm, I understand." The Dong Family ancestor nodded. Despite his strength, he did not dare to act presumptuously in the Redmoon Immortal Army''s base and departed swiftly.


    <i>It appears I must consider an alternative approach. </i>The Dong Family ancestor muttered to himself.


    ...


    Time passed.


    As the general of the Redmoon Immortal Army in Starsword City, Zhuo Haiyue held immense authority. Just a few days into her inspection, she incited an upheaval in Fengchuan City.


    One Amethyst Cradle Reverend and eighteen Golden Core Superiors were investigated and executed for various crimes.


    Several Amethyst Cradle families, including the Tu Family, were dealt severe blows. Countless individuals were apprehended and met their end.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s method of ruling with an iron fist left the entirety of Fengchuan City on edge.


    However, all of this had little to do with Wu Yuan, who remained in seclusion. Three days after starting his quiet cultivation, he received a message from Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan soared out of the courtyard. Immediately, he saw dozens of figures waiting for him in the sky. Among them were many local Amethyst Cradle Reverends from Fengchuan City, and also Zhuo Haiyue and her retinue.


    All eyes were fixed on Wu Yuan as he flew over.


    "Your Highness Haiyue." Wu Yuan gave a slight bow.


    "Mm." Zhuo Haiyue nodded lightly. "Everyone is present, board the battleship."


    With a wave of her hand, a colossal battleship over 500 meters in length materialized in the sky.


    The entirely red battleship bore dense inscrutable patterns on its surface and emitted an ancient aura.


    Hovering in mid-air, the battleship''s intimidating presence caused the hearts of onlookers to quiver slightly.


    Undoubtedly, this was an ultra-high-grade battleship.


    "She can stow away such a colossal battleship?"


    "What arge storage artifact." Many Amethyst Cradle cultivators, including Wu Yuan, were taken aback.


    Therger the storage space of a storage artifact, the more challenging it was to stabilize the space, magnifying the difficulty of construction exponentially.


    Typically, the flying boats of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend were only around 200-300 meters in length. For instance, the Yanqing Hall, deemed exceptionallyrge among second-grade spirit flying boats, measured just over 100 zhangs in length, approximately 300-400 meters.


    Meanwhile, neither Wu Yuan, General Luo, Tu Guanghe, nor any others present took notice of a pair of eyes shimmering with a tinge of envy underneath a ck hood.


    <i>A celestial flying boat��when will I ever possess one?</i> The ck-robed figure sighed softly.


    Among the assembly, with the exception of Zhuo Haiyue herself, only he understood the power and worth of this battleship.


    "Enter,"manded Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Zhuo Haiyue led the way into the flying boat, followed by the figure cloaked in ck. A group of more than a dozen individuals in crimson robes and Wu Yuan followed closely.


    Without dy, the flying boat shuddered ever so slightly before vanishing in the blink of an eye.


    "We''ve already surpassed the array''s detection range," eximed General Luo less than one breathter, astonishment evident in his voice.


    The other Amethyst Cradle powerhouses were left in shock by the news. The Fengchuan City��s array was designed to cover a radius of 100,000 li. Could it be that Zhuo Haiyue''s flying boat battleship had traversed more than that in less than one breath?


    "We''re still within the immortal continent. If the flying boat leaves the continent and enters outer space, it will only get faster," an Amethyst Cradle Reverend marveled.


    ...


    The red flying boat raced across thendscape at an incredible pace, the dozen or so crimson-robed servants swiftly making arrangements for everyone on board.


    <i>In the main hall.</i>


    "Not bound for Starsword City?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "No, I received an urgent order yesterday to head to the first-tier Rising Dragon City," Zhuo Haiyue exined. "Our ns for establishing your reputation must wait. Furthermore, I don��t have much time to handle your affairs.��


    She paused for a moment before continuing with a gleam in her eyes, "After some thought, I believe the best method is the most direct one. I propose challenging the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."

 Chapter 327: On The Southmoon Island

    <h4>Chapter 327: On The Southmoon Ind</h4>


    "Challenge the Seven Star Luminaries Tower?" Wu Yuan''s brows furrowed in surprise. "Establishing my reputation in the Redmoon Immortal Realm?"


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, two particr ces stood out as popr topics of discussion among cultivators.


    One was the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, a ce that beckoned countless cultivators from the Redmoon Immortal Continent to test their strength.


    The other was the Cosmic Arena, where various powerhouses engaged in battles that determined victory or defeat, life or death. Wu Yuan''s time on the immortal continent was brief and he had yet to explore these two ces. However, he had heard a thing or two about them.


    "Yes, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower," Zhuo Haiyue said with a faint smile. "It is a ce that attracts all talented individuals across the continent, from those unaffiliated with sects like yourself to the prodigies of the Moonsilver World. Challenging it serves as both a path to fame and a means of tempering oneself."


    "The Seven Star Luminaries Tower is where you will find the elite of the Redmoon Immortal Realm," Zhuo Haiyue continued solemnly. "Li Xia, if you manage to clear a high level of the tower, your name will echo throughout the immortal continent."


    "Even if your performance is not exceptional, I will still be able to rmend you to various sects as long as you reach a certain level, greatly smoothing your path ahead," Zhuo Haiyue assured him.


    Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.


    "Have you never attempted it?" Zhuo Haiyue inquired suddenly.


    "No," Wu Yuan admitted with a shake of his head.


    "Then allow me to provide an exnation," Zhuo Haiyue offered. "Originally, I had nned to organize apetition open to the public. You would participate as my friend, showcasing your full prowess."


    "However, such an endeavor would be time-consuming and cumbersome."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "The Seven Star Luminaries Tower has its merits, but also its drawbacks," Zhuo Haiyue exined. "Firstly, ..."


    Soon, Wu Yuan understood.


    The Seven Star Luminaries Tower, also known as the Seven Stars Trial Tower or Seven Towers Challenge,prised seven trial towers, and each tower had its own entry requirements.


    Unlikebat in the real world, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower presented a level ying field, with each challenger given the same physical constitution and the same standard of artifacts. The voidrealm could only simte the external environment but not replicate the internal state of every cultivator. Thus, the tower tested for qualities likeprehension of the Dao,bat skills, Soul Force, and willpower, and disregarded factors such as immortal root degree or artifact grade.


    "In real-worldbat, strength discrepancies are clear," Zhuo Haiyue remarked with a smile. "Even if one makes a name for themself in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, sects will scrutinize aspects like immortal root degree beforemitting to training, unless one manages to clear a truly unbelievable level.��


    "Those with exceptionalprehension aptitude but weaker immortal roots, such as sixth-degree roots, may still be epted. Major sects are willing to invest heavily in strengthening such immortal roots."


    "However, individuals with very weak immortal roots, only eighth or ninth degree? Unless theirprehension aptitude is monstrous, the kind of genius that might not even appear once in 10,000 years, any sect will hesitate before investing in their training," Zhuo Haiyue concluded.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    Large sects recruited disciples based on abination of factors -prehension aptitude and immortal root being among the most crucial. A slight deficiency in either aspect could be overlooked, but if it significantly impeded progress, it would not be tolerated.


    If one possessed a ninth-degree immortal root, it wouldn��t matter how exceptional one��sprehension aptitude was. Their cultivation of mana would be pitifully slow. Without upgrading it to a sixth-degree immortal root at minimum, even breaking through to the Amethyst Cradle phase would remain a distant dream.


    It was a known fact that upgrading an immortal root by one or two degrees was rtively easy. However, the stronger one��s immortal root, the more difficult it was to further enhance it. Those with the weakest degrees of immortal roots were inherently disadvantaged. This was why Wu Yuan strove to establish the highest immortal root possible from the beginning.


    "Your immortal root is decent; you just have toplete a rtively high level of the tower," Zhuo Haiyue remarked nonchntly. "You''ve been cultivating for less than 100 years, correct?"


    Wu Yuan gave a small nod of confirmation.


    "Good. As long as youplete level twenty, you may secure a ce within a first-rate sect," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "However, do not underestimate the fiercepetition within the sect itself. Should you reach level thirty, I can advocate for your direct promotion to inner disciple status in a first-rate sect."


    "And if you ascend to level forty," Zhuo Haiyue added, "Mm. You may be directly appointed as a core disciple."


    Wu Yuan silently took note of the three levels mentioned.


    "Here is some information on the Seven Star Luminaries Tower." Zhuo Haiyue said, presenting an immortal slip. "Read through it and make preparations. In an hour, we will enter the Redmoon Immortal Realm where you will challenge the tower."


    One hour? Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment. So soon?


    As though reading his mind, Zhuo Haiyue��s tone turned serious. ��It��s just challenging a tower. The pursuit of immortality is fraught with peril. Learn to seize the moment and not put things off till tomorrow. How many tomorows will you have?"


    "Thank you for your advice, Your Highness," Wu Yuan acknowledged as he epted the immortal slip.


    As Wu Yuan read through the information, Zhuo Haiyue no longer interrupted him.


    <i>So, the seven stars refer to such a division, the first level, the second level?</i> A flood of information entered Wu Yuan��s mind, and he absorbed the details surrounding the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.


    Within the immortal slip were extensive textual descriptions, as well as numerous illustrations of the tower��s challenges. This information could not be easily obtained from the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    ...


    One hourter, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue simultaneously brought out their Redmoon voidrealm jades.


    "Remember to give it your allter. The greater the portion of soul consciousness you send into the voidrealm, the stronger your abilities in battle," Zhuo Haiyue advised.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. Previously, he was only interested in exploring the voidrealm and exchanging information, which didn��t require arge portion of his consciousness. But in a voidrealm battle, concentration was key.


    Soon, both consciousnesses entered the vast voidrealm world through the voidrealm jade.


    Wu Yuan opened his eyes and found himself in familiar surroundings near Cloud Capital. He had returned to his personal hall in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Suddenly, Little Moon��s gentle voice rang out, "Zhuo Haiyue has requested to add you as a contact. Do you ept?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Would you like to assign a status to your new contact?" Little Moon asked. "Daoist Partner, Love Interest, Best Friend, Senior Daoist, Ordinary Daoist, Acquaintance, Enemy, Nemesis... Assigning a status allows for quicker identification. It only costs one catty of ethercrystal to unlock this feature permanently."


    "Enough," Wu Yuan interrupted. "Just ept her request."


    While one catty of ethercrystal wasn''t much, Wu Yuan had no interest in such a feature.


    As voidrealm contacts, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue were able tomunicate with each other regardless of distance. However, this convenience came at a price.


    It cost one catty of etherstone to add one contact for a year, while 100 catties of ethercrystal provided permanent ess to this feature without limitations on the number of contacts added. Wu Yuan had chosen thetter long ago.


    As long as one was in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, paid features were unavoidable. This was one of the reasons why basic voidrealms were popr on the Immortal Continent. No sect or faction could tolerate the unsavory practices of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    After confirming his location with Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan left his personal hall and emerged onto the bustling streets of Twin Jade City. This particr street was extremely busy, frequented by many cultivatorsing and going. Not far in the distance stood the Redmoon Immortal Tower. Wu Yuan waited quietly on one side of the street.


    "It''s so lively here!"


    "This is a famous street in Twin Jade City. Many immortal shops and treasure pavilions in the physical world have established voidrealm counterparts here," replied another.


    "Look, a chariot just flew by!��


    "A chariot? Its owner must have incredibly high privileges. You need to unlock specific permissions to drive one, not to mention the considerable cost of buying one." Two white-robed cultivators chatted as they strolled along, marveling at their surroundings.


    It was their first time setting foot on this street, and they found everything to be quite novel.


    "Big brother, look, why is that guy standing by the side of the street like a fool?" One of them pointed out Wu Yuan in the distance.


    "He does look a bit foolish, he must be new to the voidrealm. When we first entered the voidrealm, we were way better than that." the two whispered knowingly, feeling a sense of superiority over the neer.


    Suddenly, a passage opened in the sky. Then, four majestic silver jiaolongs emerged into view, pulling a splendid chariot.


    "What a magnificent chariot.��


    "A silver jiaolong chariot costs one million catties of ethercrystal, and it��s only unlocked for only 1000 years.��


    "Look over there." The crowded street erupted into whispers and gasps as all eyes turned to the spectacle before them.


    In the physical world, a chariot pulled by four jiaolongs wasn��t a big deal. Most Amethyst Cradle cultivators were capable of obtaining. But in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, it was a symbol of immense power and wealth.


    A million catties of ethercrystal for a single chariot? Even a Void Refiner Eminence would be reluctant to pay such a price.


    With a roar, the four silver jiaolongs halted beside Wu Yuan, who spotted Zhuo Haiyue in the chariot. Dressed in silver armor, she exuded amanding presence of a war goddess, even more imposing than in reality.


    "Get in," Zhuo Haiyue ordered, her tone indifferent yet authoritative.


    With a graceful leap, Wu Yuan entered the chariot. This was only possible as Zhuo Haiyue had granted him riding permissions. Without it, he wouldn��t be allowed to board such an extravagant chariot at all.


    With a thunderous boom, the silver jiaolongs took off into the sky, disappearing from view and leaving the onlookers on the street dumbfounded.


    "Who was that?"


    "That jiaolong chariot driven by such a stunning beauty came here just to pick up that guy? I have never seen anyone so captivating, and she''s just his driver? Just how powerful is that white-robed young man?" The two white-robed cultivators werepletely shaken, quickly thanking their lucky stars that their earlier whispers had gone unheard.


    The chariot carrying Zhuo Haiyue and Wu Yuan soared swiftly into the air, and thendscape shifted rapidly before Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    In a heartbeat, a vast floating ind came into view. Numerous grand halls and buildings dotted the ind, their splendor unmatched. From time to time, flying chariots could be seen entering the ind.


    <i>What��s this ce?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    There was no mention of such a ce on the map of Twin Jade City.


    "This is Southmoon Ind, a ce where many young talents in the immortal continent gather," Zhuo Haiyue stated lightly. "Simr sky inds exist in the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Only those with the proper credentials in the real world can gain ess to this ce.��


    Wu Yuan grasped the situation immediately.


    Sixth-tier privileges granted one entry to all public spaces, but there were numerous private spaces tucked away in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Southmoon Ind was likely a gathering ce for influential figures across the vast immortal continent.


    Young talents? How young were they, exactly? Wu Yuan estimated that Zhuo Haiyue had already cultivated for centuries, yet she was considered very young among high level cultivators.


    "But Ick the necessary credentials," Wu Yuan interjected.


    "As I��ve said, you''re my friend. I''ve granted you the ess rights. You''ll discover many unexpected benefits of that in due time," Zhuo Haiyue reassured him with a smile. "Upon attaining the status of hereditary disciple of a sect, you''ll gain ess to the corresponding sky inds as well."


    Wu Yuan was inwardly amazed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The silver jiaolong chariot soared through the air,nding in the center of the ind, which was a giganticke.


    The centralke was turned into a grand banquet hall. Seats floated on its mesmerizing surface, and tables wereden with sumptuous fare and exquisite drinks.


    The gathering was filled with individuals of considerable strength, most appearing youthful, either indulging in food or drink, or engaging in conversation. It was evident that a feast of some sort was taking ce.


    As the silver jiaolong chariot drew near, exmations burst forth from the attendees.


    "It is Her Highness Haiyue!"


    "Her Highness Haiyue has arrived." The entire banquet hall on the water erupted inmotion as hundreds of eyes turned to the approaching chariot.


    With a graceful motion, Zhuo Haiyue stored the silver jiaolong chariot and led Wu Yuan to the front of the banquet hall. Seating herself naturally in the host seat, Zhuo Haiyue easily surveyed the room from her elevated vantage point.


    It was clear that Zhuo Haiyue was the individual with the highest status at this gathering.


    "Li Xia, you shall sit here," she gestured to the seat beside her.


    "Sit here?" Wu Yuan was shocked. A quick nce around the banquet hall revealed that this seat was reserved for only the most esteemed attendees, far beyond the reach of ordinary individuals.


    "Your Highness, is this appropriate?" Wu Yuan couldn��t help asking.


    "If I bid you to sit, then sit," Zhuo Haiyue''s expression tightened in response.


    Resigned, Wu Yuan nodded and sat down.


    The water banquet hall quieted down. All eyes turned to Wu Yuan with a mixture of astonishment and curiosity.


    Who was he? What gave him the right to sit next to Her Highness Haiyue?

 Chapter 328: Member Of A Prince-Rank Family

    <h4>Chapter 328: Member Of A Prince-Rank Family</h4>


    "Who is he?"


    "I don��t recognize him. I��ve never seen him on Southmoon Ind."


    ��Does anyone know who he is?�� The hundreds of cultivators gathered at the open-air banquet hall on the water discussed in soft murmurs.


    No one could identify Wu Yuan.


    "Li Xia.�� Zhuo Haiyue spoke quietly from the host seat. No one other than Wu Yuan could hear her voice. "Southmoon Ind is teeming with Amethyst Cradle cultivators."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged her words with a slight nod.


    The opulence of the banquet hall was not lost on him, but the pressure exerted by the attendees did not cause his soul much difort. Though he was a first-stage Golden Core cultivator, his soul strength matched, if not surpassed, that of the average Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    The gazes of this crowd paled inparison to Zhuo Haiyue��s. Whether in terms of status orbat strength, Zhuo Haiyue was certainly the most powerful individual at the gathering.


    <i>These Amethyst Cradle cultivators are certainly stronger than those of Fengchuan City who struggle to break through even after centuries, but they are far inferior to Zhuo Haiyue.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    The more he observed, the more he marveled at Zhuo Haiyue''s power. She was a true peerless genius.


    "Of course, each one of these cultivators hails from an influential background, whether it be a core disciple of arge sect, or direct descendent of a powerful lineage" Zhuo Haiyue exined, "Ordinary Void Refiner cultivators would hesitate to cause trouble for any one of them."


    Wu Yuan understood now.


    In summary, those who could gain entry to Southmoon Ind either had significant backing or formidable personal strength.


    ��But being a friend of mine is the greatest background one can have. I am your backer," Zhuo Haiyue said with a slight smile, "You need not fear them."


    Wu Yuan was rendered speechless by her words.


    Friend? Background? Wu Yuan had to admit that Zhuo Haiyue talked big, but she had the strength to back it up.


    "I have brought you here to acquaint you with this elite circle," Zhuo Haiyue continued, "Those gathered heree from various sects and factions. If you make a name for yourself here, word of your performance will swiftly reach the ears of the inspection halls of therge sects."


    Wu Yuan gave a small nod of acknowledgment.


    Therge sects on the immortal continent were all mighty forces in their own right, each with their own systems and special intelligence personnel collecting all manner of intelligence from far and wide.


    One earned their reputation through the recognition of others, not through self-promations.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," Zhuo Haiyue''s melodic but cold voice rang out clearly, echoing through the aquatic banquet hall. A hush fell over the hall as all eyes turned to her.


    "The person next to me is called Li Xia," Zhuo Haiyue gestured toward Wu Yuan with a hint of indifference. "He is a friend that I, Zhuo Haiyue, acknowledge. I ask that you treat him kindly during his future visits to Southmoon Ind."


    The impact of her words was immediate, like a boulder throwing the surface of a tranquil pond in disarray. The hall erupted into whispers and gasps of surprise.


    "A friend that Her Highness Haiyue personally acknowledges?"


    "Heavens!"


    Wu Yuan could sense the shift in attitude towards him. He instantly understood that beingbeled ''Zhuo Haiyue''s friend'' carried no ordinary weight and significance.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan understood that Zhuo Haiyue''s words were a sincere vouch for him, and she was treating him as a true friend.


    "Haha, Daoist Li Xia, greetings. I am Beibo Tao of the Great Yan Immortal Sect," a young man in ck armor took the initiative to introduce himself. He was handsome, with an extraordinary temperament.


    ��Greetings,�� Wu Yuan cupped his hands. Necessary etiquette and manners were indispensable in such circles. Moreover, the Great Yan Immortal Sect was a first-rate sect, and a widely renowned one.


    "Li Xia, Beibo Tao is a highly talented cultivator who reached the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase in just a few hundred years of cultivation. He is not only a core disciple of his sect but also a core disciple of the esteemed Marquis Beibo," Zhuo Haiyue provided additional context. "He may one day inherit the title of Marquis Beibo."


    "Your Highness is too kind," Beibo Tao humbly replied.


    "Daoist Beibo Tao is truly impressive," Wu Yuan remarked, genuinely taken aback.


    On the immortal continent, sects were categorized as first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate, with even the weakest third-rate sects being overseen by a Divided Soul Earth Immortal. How else could they establish a sect?


    Like sects, many cultivators established families of varying strengths, driven by the innate desire in all living beings to continue their bloodline lineage. The Redmoon Immortal Hall did not ce overly strict limitations on this practice.


    The truly powerful cultivator families were able to earn recognition from the Redmoon Immortal Hall in the form of noble titles and fiefs.


    The Immortal Hall granted only three ranks of noble titles: prince, marquis, and earl. Even the lowest rank of earl was highly influential. ording to immortal slips Wu Yuan had read in the library, being conferred the title of earl was a challenging feat, with 99% of Divided Soul Earth Immortals failing to receive it.


    And as for prince and marquis? Without question, they were all individuals who were Tribtion High Immortals. Prince-rank families were scarce in number, while marquis-rank families, though moremon, remained rare.


    "Brother Li Xia, which sect or family do you belong to?" Beibo Tao inquired with a light chuckle, recing the formal address of ��Fellow Daoist�� with the more endearing term of ��Brother��.


    "I am not affiliated with any sect," Wu Yuan responded with a smile. There was no reason to conceal this.


    "Ah, not from any sect? Brother Li Xia, which prince or marquis'' family do you hail from?" Beibo Tao asked curiously, slightly taken aback by Wu Yuan��s answer. "I have not heard of a Li Family holding either rank on our immortal continent."


    "He just entered the voidrealm for the first time a few days ago," Zhuo Haiyue interjected, frowning slightly. "Beibo Tao, that��s enough probing."


    "My apologies, Your Highness. I was merely curious," Beibo Tao chuckled before addressing Wu Yuan once more. "Brother Li Xia, I hope you can forgive me."


    Swiftly, Beibo Tao and Wu Yuan added each other as contacts, setting them as ��Ordinary Fellow Daoist�� status, before promptly excusing themselves.


    This was because a line had formed behind Beibo Tao. The banquet attendees were eager to introduce themselves and offer a toast to Wu Yuan, exuding overwhelming enthusiasm as they approached.


    Responding to each one with a smile, Wu Yuan swiftly took note of each person''s identity, adding them to his list of voidrealm contacts with practiced ease.


    Despite his rtively hands-off approach as the emperor of the Wu Empire for over a decade, Wu Yuan still made asional public appearances. While the two were not on the same level, the fundamental etiquette rules remained unchanged.


    As each guest engaged with Wu Yuan, his mysterious background became a topic of hot discussion among the young Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    "Does this Li Xia hail from other immortal continents?"


    "It is a possibility."


    "He��s also an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. He just entered the voidrealm for the first time a few days ago? How can that be? He must be a prodigy from another immortal continent, and his status is far from ordinary.��


    "Indeed, I��ve heard of a prominent prince-rank family from the Hunjiu Immortal Continent with the surname ��Li��.��


    "Given that Her Highness Haiyue treats him as her equal, his status cannot be ordinary.��


    The Amethyst Cradle cultivators from various sects and families quickly drew their own conclusions about his identity.


    Naturally, their gossip was heard by both Wu Yuan and Zhao Haiyue.


    <i>They think I��m from a prince-rank family of another immortal continent?</i> Wu Yuan found himself at a loss for words. Imagination could sometimes be a dangerous thing.


    Zhuo Haiyue merely chuckled, offering no furthermentary.


    Just as the festivities were gaining momentum, a thunderous boom echoed through the sky, heralding the arrival of a golden chariot soaring overhead.


    Pulled by four golden jiaolongs, the chariot exuded an undeniable aura of distinction. At one nce, it was evident that the neer held a special status.


    "His Highness Sixing has arrived.��


    "He��s also here?"


    "He must be here for Her Highness Haiyue. His Highness seldom visits Southmoon Ind on normal days." Excitement rippled through the banquet hall as whispers spread.


    Several female cultivators couldn''t help but show a hint of adoration.


    His Highness? Wu Yuan felt he was beginning to grasp the extraordinary significance of such a title on the immortal continent.


    Simultaneously, he noticed a change in Zhuo Haiyue''s countenance, her once-pleasant expression morphing into one of cold detachment.


    "The neer, known as Gu Sixing, is a member of the Gu Family, one of the four prince-rank families on the immortal continent. Among the younger generation of the Gu family, he ranks within the top three," Zhuo Haiyue''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Wu Yuan was inwardly startled. Indeed, when one joined different circles, the type of people one met was also different. While spending the past few months exploring the Redmoon Immortal Realm, Wu Yuan had primarily interacted with Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Yet upon arriving at Southmoon Ind, he found himself surrounded by elite disciples fromrge factions.


    The chariot descended and disappeared from sight. Stepping out onto the air was a man d in gleaming golden armor, his face chiseled like a work of art, and his eyes unwavering like that of a war deity. It was his boots, however, that drew the most attention.


    Each stride he took in the air sent shivers through the hearts of the onlookers, as if he stepped on their very hearts.


    Wu Yuan found himself secretly shaken by this disy. After all, this was the Redmoon Immortal Realm!


    Gu Sixing was undoubtedly a super powerhouse in reality.


    Even if he were only at the Amethyst Cradle realm, Gu Sixing would be one of the top figures in that cultivation phase.


    "Haha, Haiyue, what a pleasant surprise to see you here," Gu Sixing greeted with a smile. "Back then in the Silvermist Immortal Realm, I invited you to join me in the mundane world trial as my Mortal Daoist Companion. s, you declined, leaving me heartbroken for quite some time."


    Silvermist Immortal Realm? Wu Yuan had never heard of it. But he was familiar with the term ��Mortal Daoist Companion��. It was a trial that allowed one to temper their heart by temporarily blocking their memories and allowing one to experience different lives of mortals in the voidrealm, including growing up, marriage, having children, and aging.


    It was likely that this Gu Sixing had a romantic interest in Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>He dares to court Zhuo Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan inwardly shook his head, wholeheartedly admiring the man''s guts.


    "Gu Sixing, if your Dao Heart is fragile, go ahead and undergo more mundane world trials to strengthen it by yourself. Don��t involve me," Zhuo Haiyue stated coolly, her words creating a noticeable rift between them. She was obviously not interested in reciprocating his advances.


    ��Haha,�� Gu Sixing appeared not to mind, shifting his attention to Wu Yuan.


    "Haiyue, I have heard rumors about your new friend, Li Xia. But based on my information, it seems he is not affiliated with the Li Family of the Hunjiu Immortal Continent. You are still young, I hope you don��t get misled by others," Gu Sixing warned nonchntly.


    His words instantly sparked amotion among the gathering. The hundreds of guests in the banquet hall looked at each other. They thought they had guessed Wu Yuan''s identity, but now it seemed something was off.


    Wu Yuan remainedposed. It was clear that Gu Sixing harbored animosity towards him, a sentiment not lost on the observing crowd. Yet, none dared to intervene in the brewing conflict between the two nobles.


    Zhuo Haiyue remained seated at the head of the banquet hall, speaking calmly, "Did I ever im that Li Xia hailed from the Hunjiu Immortal Continent? He did not make such assertions either. He is simply my friend."


    Gu Sixing''s gaze bore into Wu Yuan, assessing him critically. "To earn your recognition, Haiyue, is no small feat," he remarked. "But I am curious about the abilities of this Daoist Li Xia. His background or lineage? It doesn��t appear remarkable. Strength? Judging by his soul, he isckingpared to a typical Amethyst Cradle cultivator. Could he be your new toy?"


    With a dismissive shake of his head, Gu Sixing continued, "Haiyue, to amuse yourself with a lowly ything is one thing, but why subject yourself to embarrassment by parading him around?"

 Chapter 329: He Has Yet To Reach 100 Years Old

    <h4>Chapter 329: He Has Yet To Reach 100 Years Old</h4>


    The moment Gu Sixing spoke, a hush fell over the entire banquet hall, disbelief etched on many faces.


    Indeed, there were lingering doubts about Wu Yuan''s identity, and it was not umon for others to share Gu Sixing''s suspicions. But silently pondering over such thoughts waspletely different from vocalizing them.


    "Gu Sixing!" To no one��s surprise, Zhuo Haiyue rose abruptly, her gaze frigid as she fixed him with a deadly stare, a palpable aura of lethal intent emanating from her.


    Obviously, Gu Sixing''s words had struck a nerve in Zhuo Haiyue. Were it not for the fact that they were in a voidrealm, she might have already attacked him.


    Wu Yuan furrowed his brow but remained silent. Gu Sixing''s status loomed too high; he was unwilling to provoke such an enemy over a mere argument. It was meaningless. The disparity in their statuses was ringly vast; just a word from the other party could spell disaster for him.


    "Gu Sixing! I will defeat you at the next Moonsilver Tournament." Zhuo Haiyue��s eyes zed with cold fury.


    "Haiyue, you indeed have the talent to achieve that. If you defeat me, I will only rejoice," Gu Sixing dered, his expression still unchanged.


    "Haiyue, remember this: I hope that you will be my Dao Companion, but that doesn��t mean I will only ever tter you and go along with your whims," he continued. "It doesn��t matter whether my earlier conjectures are true or false. I simply urge you not to forget that the blood of a prince-rank family runs through your veins."


    "Not everyone can ascend to your level," Gu Sixing added, his tone reminiscent of a sermon.


    Silence enveloped the room. Everyone was in a state of unease at the unexpected turn of events.


    "Gu Sixing, don��t lecture me. I am no longer the same naive girl I was in the past. Get your own affairs in order before giving unsolicited advice." Zhuo Haiyue retorted with a sneer. ��I acknowledge Li Xia as my friend because his temperament ispatible with mine, and his talent is unmatched.��


    "Unmatched talent? Him?" Gu Sixing shook his head with a smirk, his gaze drifting to Wu Yuan. "I fail to see where his purported talent lies."


    With Gu Sixing brazenly hurling insults to his face, Wu Yuan narrowed his brows slightly. Did he truly believe that this would help him gain favor with Zhuo Haiyue?


    The realm master had borne witness to countless prodigies of the Hou Feng Tribe, and he held Wu Yuan��s talent in high esteem. Even during the tribe��s prime, Wu Yuan would have been deemed the sort of top-tier genius who rarely appeared once every 10,000 years.


    Of course, that was only for his body refiner self. Although his qi refiner self was somewhat inferior, it was still considered top-tier.


    "Very well, if you insist on belittling Li Xia, I shall make you eat your words. I propose a bet," dered Zhuo Haiyue with icy determination. "I bet that Li Xia will sessfullyplete level 30 of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."


    A flurry of discussions erupted among the gathered cultivators.


    "Level 30!"


    "Li Xia should be an Amethyst Cradle cultivator with at least 100-200 years of cultivation. Completing level 30 of the two-star tower proves he has the potential to reach the Void Refiner phase. That is not bad at all."


    "Such talent would elevate him to the position of core disciple in any sect." The hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the banquet hall broke into discussion.


    As frequent challengers of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, they were well-acquainted with it. Completing level 30 was quite impressive. After all, Void Refiner cultivators were considered the backbone of the variousrge sects, and possessed earth-shattering power.


    Though most Amethyst Cradle cultivators present harbored potential for the Void Refiner phase, achieving a genuine breakthrough was a daunting task, let alone reaching a higher phase.


    "Level 30? No." Gu Sixing shook his head adamantly. "That merely signifies potential for the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase. Such a cultivation phase means nothing to those at our level. Unless the word ��immortal�� is included in one��s address, they aren��t worth much."


    "If Li Xia manages to clear level 40 of the Luminaries Tower, that would denote him as a genius. If so, I shall offer him a personal apology." Gu Sixing cast a pointed nce at Wu Yuan.


    An uproar ensued.


    "Level 40?"


    "Is this His Highness''s perspective?"


    "I might neverplete level 40 in my lifetime."


    "I''m afraid he''s not that strong, Li Xia doesn''t strike me as particrly impressive." Numerous Amethyst Cradle cultivators shook their heads skeptically.


    Complete level 40? It was extremely difficult. To reach that level demonstrated truly immense talent. So long as one''s immortal root was not too shabby, one had hope of advancing to the Divided Soul phase.


    At the Divided Soul phase, one would be addressed as ��Earth Immortal��. To bear the word ''immortal'' was a testament to just how powerful such a cultivation phase was.


    If the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase represented the threshold of super powerhouses on the Immortal Continent, then the Divided Soul or Dharma Body phase was the realm of the movers and shakers of the immortal continent, possessing great strength and influence.


    Their lifespan was measured in multiples of 10,000 years. If they so desired, they could establish their own sects, being revered by hundreds of millions of disciples in generations toe.


    "Gu Sixing." Zhuo Haiyue''s furious gaze bore into him.


    Level 40? She knew Wu Yuan''s strength; he might have the strength to clear it, but she was not entirely confident.


    "You dare not bet?" Gu Sixing shook his head. "Then forget it. How can one im to be a genius if they cannot evenplete level 40?"


    Level 40? Wu Yuan pondered.


    "I ept!" Zhuo Haiyue dered decisively, her tone icy. "I bet that Li Xia can conquer level 40 of the Luminaries Tower. What do you wager?"


    "Very well."


    "Let us keep the wager modest, so others don��t use me of bullying you." Gu Sixing gave a slight smile. "Let us bet 30 million catties of ethercrystal."


    "30 million catties of ethercrystal? Agreed." Zhuo Haiyue''s response was as cold as ice.


    30 million catties of ethercrystal? Not much? Wu Yuan''s heart raced. He was slowly understanding the perspective of these prince-rank family geniuses. 30 million catties of ethercrystal was a fortune that could drive any Amethyst Cradle Reverend crazy. Weaker Void Refiners would struggle to produce such a sum in one go. But for Zhuo Haiyue and Gu Sixing, it seemed like a mere fraction of their riches.


    ��30 million? The Highnesses are truly on a different level.��


    "Even if I sold all my treasures, I doubt I coulde up with that sum."


    "What a staggering amount."


    "Her Highness Haiyue has that much faith in Li Xia?"


    "It''s not about faith, it''s about saving face. Even if it were hundreds of millions of catties of ethercrystal, it wouldn��t matter much to the Highnesses?" The cultivators sighed emotionally, all feeling that their journey here was truly worthwhile.


    Despite being core sect members and elites ofrge families, they hadn��t cultivated for long, and the ie they could generate via normal means was far below millions of catties of ethercrystal.


    One had to understand that Reverend Qing Yan, an extremely strong Amethyst Cradle Reverend, only umted treasures worth tens of millions after countless years.


    Zhuo Haiyue and Gu Sixing didn''t even need a binding contract �� this amount of ethercrystal wasn��t enough to make them break their word.


    "Li Xia," Zhuo Haiyue addressed Wu Yuan.


    "Your Highness," Wu Yuan replied, rising to his feet.


    "Go begin the challenge. Share yourbat projection, conquer level 40, and make Gu Sixing eat his words," Zhuo Haiyuemanded.


    Gu Sixing simply chuckled and sat beside her, shaking his head.


    Wu Yuan nodded. Level 40?


    "Li Xia, thebat projection is typically kept private, but to secure invitations from variousrge sects, you must reveal yourbat prowess either way. Whether you broadcast it now orter won��t make a difference," Zhuo Haiyue''s voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded, not resistant to the idea.


    Reveal hisbat prowess? Some cultivators who spent countless years slowly cultivating preferred to conceal their trump cards, but Wu Yuan��s strength was rapidly advancing, and his abilities would only continue to grow. Additionally, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower only evaluatedbat skills, without ounting for his lifebound flying swords and immortal root.


    "Your Highness, I shall take my leave," Wu Yuan bowed before transforming into light particles and vanishing on the spot.


    Simultaneously, a buzzing sound filled the air as a projection materialized above the banquet, revealing a vast space where seven majestic towers floated. Wu Yuan stood within this space.


    "Erge the light screen," the Southmoon Ind��s officialmanded urgently. He had long noticed the activity stirring among the guests.


    The projection expanded, drawing the attention of everyone in the banquet hall. They could now watch him in action with crystal rity.


    The attendees eagerly awaited for him to begin. Would he conquer level 30? Or perhaps he would aplish the unimaginable bypleting level 40?


    ...


    <i>This is the Seven Towers World? </i>Wu Yuan marveled at the seven majestic towers that loomed in the distance, their silhouettes striking against the endless backdrop of space. In the depths of space, a myriad of stars twinkled, casting a familiar glow that reminded him of outer space in his past life.


    <i>Truly a sight to behold. </i>Wu Yuan��s heart was heavy with awe.


    This was his first visit to the Seven Towers World, a space that existed as a separate subrealm within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Those with eighth-tier privileges and above could ess the Seven Towers World and challenge the towers. However, those with eighth-tier privileges could only challenge it once every decade. Those with seventh-tier privileges could do so annually, while those with sixth-tier privileges, like Wu Yuan, were granted the opportunity thrice a year.


    The Seven Star Luminaries Tower beckoned to countless prodigies and powerhouses from across the immortal continent, all seeking to etch their names in history.


    <i>Although it is called ��Seven Towers��, only the first four are open in the immortal realm. </i>Wu Yuan recalled the information he had received from Zhuo Haiyue. The Seven Towers World was a unique and valuable opportunity.


    <i>As per my age, I am eligible to challenge the one-star tower. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze drifted towards the leftmost tower.


    As one progressed from the one-star to seven-star tower in the Seven Towers World, the difficulty of the challenges also rose. However, it was not that one had toplete the final level of one tower before continuing to the next tower. Any cultivator could only challenge a single tower at a given time based on their age. The purpose of this was to assess a cultivator''sbat talent andprehension aptitude.


    Only those under 100 years old were allowed to challenge the one-star tower.


    Only those 100 to 299 years old were allowed to challenge the two-star tower.


    Only those 300 to 999 years old were allowed to challenge the three-star tower.


    Only those 1000 to 2999 years old were allowed to challenge the four-star tower.


    Only those 3000 to 4999 years old were allowed to challenge the five-star tower.


    Only those 5000 to 9999 years old were allowed to challenge the six-star tower.


    Only those 10,000 years old and above were allowed to challenge the seven-star tower.


    Of course, because the Redmoon Immortal Realm only opened the first four towers, only those under 3000 years old were eligible to challenge it.


    For this reason, the seven towers weremonly recognized as the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.


    From the understanding of countless cultivators, only the most exceptional individuals of each age segment could clear the highest level of each tower, level 100.


    <i>Level 100? From the information,pleting level 40 indicates the potential of a Divided Soul Earth Immortal.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    <i>Level 100? It��s difficult to fathom! Let��s just challenge one level at a time. I��m curious to see what my limit is.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with ambition.


    He had spent decades cultivating, but never truly put his strength to the test in this manner.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light and entered the one-star tower.


    ...


    When Wu Yuan was seen entering the first Star Tower, the banquet hall at the center of Southmoon Ind erupted into chaos instantly.


    "What?"


    "The one-star tower?"


    "This Li Xia hasn��t cultivated for 100 years?"


    "But his soul clearly seemed to be at the Amethyst Cradle phase." The gathered crowd was taken aback.


    Unless one descended from a unique bloodline, reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase would require at least a century of cultivation, even with unmatched talent and exceptional external cultivation.


    Even if there existed a treasure that could drastically shorten the time taken to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, it would most likely destabilize one��s foundation.


    Furthermore, he possessed a soulparable to an Amethyst Cradle cultivator after less than a century of cultivation? It denoted astounding soul talent.


    "This?" Gu Sixing, who previously appeared fully confident, also disyed a subtle shift in his expression.


    "Gu Sixing, I forgot to inform you." Zhuo Haiyue said coolly, "Li Xia has yet to reach 100 years old, he only recently advanced to the Golden Core phase."


    The crowd was shocked upon hearing this. He had just reached the Golden Core stage? How was his soul already this strong at such a young age?


    It must be noted that in the early cultivation phases of a qi refiner, soul strength was crucial in battle, even more so than essentia and mana.


    "Hmph! He may be young, but a strong soul does not necessarily equate to a strong Domain. Furthermore, being young often corresponds to weaker practicalbat abilities." Gu Sixing stated coldly, "Level 40 isn��t so easily cleared."


    "Just get 30 million catties of ethercrystal ready." Zhuo Haiyue sneered.


    Gu Sixing''s expression darkened.


    "Li Xia is about tomence the challenge." Suddenly, someone pointed at the projection.


    Everyone turned their attention to the light screen, and the entire banquet hall quickly fell silent.

 Chapter 330: Sweeping Through Everything In His Path

    <h4>Chapter 330: Sweeping Through Everything In His Path</h4>


    The interior of the one-star tower of the Seven Towers World was a world where the earthy barren like a desert, with three suns aze in the sky above. Though it was only a simtion, it seemed as bright as day.


    <i>Though the space appears endless, the true battleground is confined to a 100-li radius. </i>Wu Yuan had just received an introduction from the tower spirit.


    <i>My physical constitution and mana reserves are aligned with the first-stage Golden Core phase (sixth-degree immortal root). </i>Wu Yuan noted the subtle changes to his body. In the voidrealm, this was the maximum power he could mobilize.


    With each level conquered, his injuries would be mended and his mana restored, returning him to his peak condition for each ensuing battle.


    <i>However, the Seven Towers World is truly interesting. Here, I am granted the full scope of my Domain��s abilities.</i> With a mentalmand, earthy-yellow qi currents enveloped him seamlessly.


    The appearance of his Domain was indistinguishable from the external world. It was simply incredible!


    <i>While my personal hall grants me ess to greater power, it is only a simtion of increased mana reserves, but fails to replicate the depth of Daoprehension. </i>Wu Yuan marveled silently. <i>But here, within the Seven Towers World, I can perfectly apply myprehension of the Dao.</i>


    It was a wless emtion. At least, Wu Yuan was unable to discern any difference between this world and the external world, a feat that surpassed hisprehension.


    <i>However, the Redmoon Immortal Realm is probably limited in its ability to simte advanced stages of Daoprehension. Hence, the restriction to the first four towers.</i> Wu Yuan realized, connecting the dots.


    Those who challenged the higher star towers had all cultivated for far longer and were naturally stronger. Simting their abilities in a voidrealm was naturally far more challenging.


    <i>In the external world, I��m able to wield my lifebound flying swords, which are both powerful and exert little burden on my soul and mana. But here, I cannot use them.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    This was a major handicap. Wu Yuan��s greatest advantagey in his powerful Soul Force that far surpassed that of other cultivators who cultivated for the same length of time.


    "Choose your weapon," intoned the tower spirit''s icy voice, resonating throughout the expansive world.


    An array of artifacts with varying aura strengths materialized before Wu Yuan.


    Flying swords, shields, armor, cauldrons, gourds, throwing knives, scythes, etc. All kinds of odd and varied artifacts were disyed, numbering as many as a thousand, epassing every conceivable type of equipment.


    <i>I can select any number of artifacts of any grade. However, the premise is that I can actually wield them.</i>


    It was a mistake to assume that a higher grade artifact was always the better choice. For first-stage Golden Core cultivators, save for their lifebound artifacts, fourth or fifth-grade artifacts were optimal. Third-grade artifacts were too taxing on their soul and mana.


    After some contemtion, Wu Yuan came to a decision. <i>My soul may be strong, but my mana iscking. High-grade artifacts are not my forte. Therefore, I shall prevail through sheer quantity.</i>


    With a swift motion, a multitude of flying swords materialized within Wu Yuan''s storage artifact. These had been sessfully refined, thus he could summon these swords with a mentalmand and wield them without impediment.


    In addition to the swords, he also chose armor, throwing knives, cauldrons, and various other artifacts.


    Soon, he was all set.


    <i>One-star tower record?</i> Wu Yuan read through the lines of unobtrusive text that appeared in mid-air.


    <i>One-star tower record:</i>


    <i>Silvermist Immortal Nation''s highest record: Level 81</i>


    <i>Redmoon Immortal Continent''s highest record: Level 76</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 100-million-year record: Level 68</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past million-year record: Level 67</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 10,000-year record: Level 61</i>


    <i>Over the countless eons, the highest levelpleted by the Silvermist Immortal Nation is only level 81?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked.


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent was under the jurisdiction of the Silvermist Immortal Nation. A single immortal continent was already incredibly vast, yet an immortal nation consisted of numerous immortal continents, collectively forming an incredibly powerful nation of immortals and countless living beings.


    Such an immortal nation developed over countless eons since its inception. Throughout its history, it saw the rise of countless powerhouses. Yet, even the most aplished among them had reached no further than level 81.


    As for the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the highest it had reached was only level 76, and its past 10,000-year record was only level 61.


    <i>It''s hard to imagine what level 100 is like.</i> From the records alone, Wu Yuan finally realized the difficulty of the one-star tower.


    No matter how confident he was, Wu Yuan didn''t think he would be the number one genius of the Redmoon Immortal Continent or the Silvermist Immortal Nation since their establishment.


    <i>Let''s go all out.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were filled with fighting spirit. <i>The path of a genius? </i>


    <i>My rise in the macrocosm starts today. </i>With that, Wu Yuan said, "Begin."


    One breathter, the air trembled as a ck jiaolong materialized. It emanated a powerful aura as it unfurled its wings, its eyes brimming with malice.


    <i>ck jiaolong? First-stage Spiritual Body phase?</i> Wu Yuan quickly assessed the creature''s strength. Its base strength was equal to his own.


    <i>Roar!</i> The jiaolong''s primal cry reverberated as it lunged toward Wu Yuan with astonishing speed, its wings slicing through the air like a de.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Without hesitation, Wu Yuan summoned 81 flying swords. Though this was just the first level, it was Wu Yuan��s first time challenging the tower, thus he decided to exercise caution.


    <i>Boom~</i> Earthy-yellow qi streams coalesced in the air as nine flying swords assembled to form the Nine Swords Array. A radiant divine light tore through the sky. The second step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: Nine Swords Of Light!


    The sword light cleaved through the jiaolong, severing its body into two. The two halves fell to the ground, blood spraying in its wake.


    <i>So weak?</i> Wu Yuan froze.


    It had yet to even grasp the Domain stage.


    "Level one,plete," the tower spirit��s voice rang out coldly. "Do you wish to proceed?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan affirmed.


    A wave of invisible energy swept over him, altering thendscape. The corpse of the ck jiaolong disappeared, reced with two ck jiaolongs.


    "Roar!" "Roar!" The creatures snarled as they charged towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Two swift and precise sword strikes dispatched them without hesitation, and Wu Yuanpleted level two.


    With each level Wu Yuanpleted, he faced one additional jiaolong, and the difficulty increased ordingly. However, these jiaolongs were significantly weaker than him.


    Even the nine jiaolongs at level nine had yet to reach the Domain stage, and weren''t much different from devil soldiers. It was hard for them to shake Wu Yuan''s Domain, let alone get close enough to kill him. All were wiped out.


    As he reached level ten, Wu Yuan soon detected the improved strength of the tower guardians.


    <i>Still ck jiaolongs in the Spiritual Body phase, but all of them have reached the first level of the Domain stage?</i> Wu Yuan observed.


    Though a ck jiaolong that had grasped a Domain could single-handedly rival nine of its kind on level nine, it posed no true obstacle to Wu Yuan. It just took a few more strikes of his swords.


    As he progressed through levels ten to neen, the number of ck jiaolongs continued to increase, yet their individual strength remained unchanged. Wu Yuan swept through everything in his path.


    Upon reaching level twenty, Wu Yuan''s gazended on a human cultivator.


    <i>A human cultivator? He alsoprehends the Land''s profundity, wields flying swords, and employs the Dark Earth Sword Array.</i> Wu Yuan noticed the changes in his opponent.


    <i>It almost seems like a reflection of myself. </i>The only difference was that the opponent''s Daoprehension and soul strength were far inferior to his own.


    "Attack!" Wu Yuan activated his sword array and flew into battle.


    ...


    ��He��s on level 20.��


    "He��spleting the levels at breakneck speed.��


    "His soul is certainly strong, able to manipte 81 fourth-grade flying swords at once." On Southmoon Ind, the Amethyst Cradle Reverends watching the battle through the projection sighed with emotion.


    Their strength surpassed that of Wu Yuan''s, but that was attributed to longer years of cultivation. If theypared their abilities when they were his age, they acknowledged that they wouldn��t measure up to Wu Yuan.


    "He''s now on level 23, facing a guardian who wields even more flying swords.��


    "Now he''s on level 26, facing two guardians. The difficulty will soon escte. Look, Li Xia is starting to struggle.��


    "Li Xia''s strength ismendable, but his Domain level seemscking. Passing level 30 may not be an issue, but level 40? That will be a challenge.��


    ��Indeed, level 40 of the one-star tower is notoriously difficult."


    "Even if I were to attempt the one-star tower now, I��d barely pass level 40.��


    The hundreds of Amethyst Cradle Reverends analyzed Wu Yuan��s strength as they watched the projection.


    But soon, the central banquet hall of Southmoon Ind fell silent once more.


    ...


    The guardian of level 30 of the one-star tower specialized in the Land Dao, at the sixth-level Domain stage. Inparison, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension was at the seventh-level Domain stage.


    Yet, when the guardian''s array formed by nine fourth-grade spirit swords shed with Wu Yuan''s 81 fourth-grade spirit flying swords, the oue was decided in an instant.


    <i>Incredible!</i> Wu Yuan marveled at the abilities of the Seven Towers World. <i>So, the Nine Swords Of Light can be utilized in this manner?</i>


    In the past, Wu Yuan had practiced and studied the sword methodology alone, without any guidance. He was basically fumbling around in the dark.


    These guardians, thoughcking in soul strength, excelled in sword array control.


    <i>I am not as skilled as them in manipting individual Nine Swords Arrays, despite being at the Domain stage as well. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    In essence, Wu Yuan''s sword array could not fully embody his Domain-stage Daoprehension because of his short cultivation history andck of guidance. Combat revealed one��s strengths and weaknesses.


    <i>Comprehend.</i> Wu Yuan focused on identifying his shorings while battling the guardians, rather than concentrating solely on defeating them. He constantly analyzed his ws and put what he learned into practice immediately, understanding thatbat was the greatest teacher.


    A flurry of thoughts and ideas flooded his mind, leading to rapid improvements in his swordsmanship.


    <i>These guardians are invaluable instructors. </i>Wu Yuan was filled with enthusiasm, hungry to learn more. <i>I must seize this opportunity.</i>


    After an intense battle spanning thousands of rounds, exhausting all of the guardians'' strategies, Wu Yuan finally killed them.


    ...


    Starting from level 30, the speed at which Wu Yuanpleted each level slowed.


    It wasn''t that he didn��t have sufficient strength, but he was enjoying the process of battling the guardians on each level, summarizing the learning points of each battle.


    Even so, none of the tower guardians were able to stop Wu Yuan''s advance.


    On level 39, Wu Yuan faced six sword cultivators at the sixth-level Domain stage. Nine Nine Swords Arrays merged as one, forming the Hundred Swords Array to sweep away his opponents.


    Level 39,pleted!


    <i>Continue to level 40.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were full of fighting spirit.


    He didn''t forget the bet between Zhuo Haiyue and Gu Sixing.


    ...


    The moment Wu Yuan unleashed the Hundred Swords Array, everyone in the banquet hall on Southmoon Ind found it hard to believe what they were seeing.


    Controlling 81 flying swords and merging 81 flying swords into one sword array were two entirely different concepts.


    "The Dark Earth Sword Array. The fact that Li Xia is able to form the Hundred Swords Array with so many fourth-grade spirit weapons proves that Li Xia''s understanding of the Dao has definitely reached the sixth-level Domain stage or higher,pletely capable ofpleting level 1 to 39 in one shot." someone sighed with admiration.


    Clearly, this person was knowledgeable about the Dark Earth Sword Array.


    "He is learning and improving with each battle!"


    "So strong."


    "It''s been a long time since we''ve seen such a sword genius." These Amethyst Cradle Reverends came from influential backgrounds and were highly knowledgeable. Ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators could notpare to them.


    But at this moment, they werepletely won over by Wu Yuan.


    Even without relying on Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan also had the qualifications to be granted entry into Southmoon Ind. Moreover, he was on par with the rtively stronger cultivators among them.


    "Gu Sixing, he��s about to challenge level 40." Zhuo Haiyue nced at Gu Sixing.


    Gu Sixing stared coldly at the projection, not saying a word.


    The projection depicted a ck-robed cultivator standing in front of Wu Yuan. When the nine flying swords behind him converged, the sky and earth changed color.


    "True Intent!"


    "The guardian on level 40 of the one-star tower has grasped the Land��s True Intent. It''s my first time seeing this."


    "Can Li Xia win? Can he pass level 40?" The crowd��s eyes were peeled to the light screen.

 Chapter 331: Erupt, Thousand Swords Array

    <h4>Chapter 331: Erupt, Thousand Swords Array</h4>


    <i>The Seven Towers World, level 40 of the one-star tower.</i>


    Gone was the vastnd, the battlefield now reced by a sea of clouds high in the sky, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see. The three suns overhead shone brighter than ever.


    Wu Yuan stood in mid-air, gazing into the distance at the figure cloaked in ck, whose vital aura was simr in strength to his own. Both were at the first-stage Golden Core phase, and their soul auras were not particrly strong.


    The guardian controlled only nine fourth-grade spirit flying swords, a paltry numberpared to the number of swords Wu Yuan wielded.


    However, the moment the nine flying swords emerged from the ck-robed figure, the world around them shifted in hue. A fierce surge of earthy-yellow qi streams swept across the sky, epassing an area spanning over 100 li, prompting a stark change in Wu Yuan''s expression.


    The strength of that Domain was simply overwhelming, far surpassing Wu Yuan��s Domain not only in strength but also in its expansive reach.


    Wu Yuan''s Domain could only cover a little over ten li without weakening. But this guardian? A full hundred li. His power was far greaterpared to the guardian on level 39, exceeding it by more than tenfold!


    In that instant, Wu Yuan realized the truth �C True Intent!


    At the Harmony of Man and Nature stage, one gained an initial perception of heaven and earth, tapping into its power. When one perceived the various types of heaven and earth''s power, and then delved deeply into a single type of power, one could harness the profundities of the specific Dao, shaping it into a Domain, and thereby reaching the Domain stage.


    The progression from the first level of the Domain stage to the ninth was a process of deepening one''sprehension of the specific Dao��s profundities.


    When one''sprehension reached a certain level, touching upon the essence of the Dao��s profundities, that was the stage of True Intent, the genuine intent of heaven and earth.


    When someone reached the True Intent stage, the power they could bring forth was staggering.


    <i>ording to the Archeldritch Divine Codex, once an individual��s Daoprehension reaches the True Intent stage, the Dao��s power they can harness rivals that of a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator, even without using any mana. </i>Wu Yuan locked eyes with the ck-robed guardian.


    This guardian hadprehended just a hint of the Land Dao��s True Intent. Though it was just a hint, it embodied the fundamental truth of heaven and earth, containing immense power.


    <i>The guardian who oversees level 40 of the one-star tower has already grasped the True Intent stage. Then what about level 50? Level 60? </i>This question weighed heavily on Wu Yuan''s mind.


    He couldn''t fathom what kind of monstrous prodigy could ascend to level 80 of the tower. After all, to even attempt the one-star tower, one must be under 100 years old.


    <i>I��ve only cultivated for a very short period. Right now, I am only 37 years old. If I continue to cultivate until 80 or 90, then re-attempt the tower, my chances of sess will be vastly different.</i>


    Time was an extraordinary power that could age the mighty and elevate the young into heroes.


    "Challenger, the fact that you can face me means that you are extremely strong among the billions of challengers,�� the figure in ck robes dered coldly, his features hidden beneath a mask. "But you are fated to fail here."


    "Is that so? Come, let��s see if you��re right," Wu Yuan responded with a steely gaze.


    He now understood why Gu Sixing had been so confident. Level 40 was indeed not easy to clear at all.


    The ck-robed figure said no more. With a deafening roar, the Dao Intent surged toward Wu Yuan, a force spanning hundreds of li crashing into him like a tsunami. The power contained within was unimaginable.


    <i>Assemble!</i> Gritting his teeth, Wu Yuanmanded the flying swords around him to formyers of protective arrays, their power magnified by his soul. Earthy-yellow qi streams merged with the arrays, strengthening them further.


    With an earth-shattering boom, the guardian''s overwhelming Domain crashed into Wu Yuan''s own.


    One side was an unstoppable wave, earthy-yellow streams manifesting as razor-sharp sword lights that cut through the atmosphere with deadly precision. On the other side, Wu Yuan stood firm like an immovable mountain, his soul, Domain, and flying swords melded into a shield of imprable defense.


    "By withstanding my Domain, you have proven yourself worthy of facing my sword.�� the ck-robed guardian dered, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan. The nine floating swords surrounding him suddenly sprang into action.


    With a low hum, the swords resonated, their surfaces adorned with intricate cryptic patterns that intertwined and merged together in a mesmerizing disy. In an instant, they coalesced into a solid, ancient divine sword, resembling a colossal needle.


    This third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: The Sword Within Reach.


    The guardian also mastered the Dark Earth Sword Array!


    With a sharp whistle, the divine sword shed through the air, empowered by his Domain. Swirling earthy-yellow currents enveloped the needle as it seemingly teleported across the sky, carving asting mark in its wake as it aimed straight for Wu Yuan.


    The speed of the attack was nothing short of terrifying.


    "Go!" Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with frigid determination as his Soul Force surged, summoning a flurry of flying swords that converged around him. 81 swords assembled to form a long, elongated divine sword resembling a needle, slicing through the sky with breathtaking speed.


    The two sword arrays shed in a thunderous boom, each one vying for dominance. One attacked, graceful and agile, its movements unpredictable yet somewhatcking in power. The other defended, unmoving as a mountain and less agile, yet the Hundred Swords Array formed by 81 flying swords was mighty and unyielding.


    They collided again and again, each sh fierce and unrelenting.


    "Break!" The ck-robed guardian''s voice was cold as ice, his masked gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. He sought to end the fight swiftly, yet his attacks were blocked every time.


    <i>Defend! Look for an opening. </i>Wu Yuan''s defenses held strong, his soul still brimming with power despite the onught. However, he was inwardly shocked.


    So this was True Intent. Though they both employed the same move and the opponent only wielded nine flying swords, the profundity of Dao imbued in his attacks was extraordinary, and itpletely suppressed his Hundred Swords Array.


    <i>When Dao Intent is grasped, one��s Domain is perfected. </i>With the repeated shes, Wu Yuan gradually perceived a wisp of True Intent of the Land��s profundities.


    Perception andprehension were different concepts. The feeling they gave Wu Yuan was alsopletely different.


    ...


    The shes between Wu Yuan and the guardian had the Amethyst Cradle Reverends in the Southmoon Ind on the edge of their seats. Bothbatants were only at the first-stage Golden Core phase, yet their battle had already reached the level of a fight between Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    The profoundness of the guardian''s sword array greatly surpassed that of many Amethyst Cradle Reverends, though hisck of mana prevented him from unleashing the full extent of his power.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuan, though slightly behind in hisprehension of the Dao��s profundities, managed to hold his ground with the Hundred Swords Array.


    ...


    Inside the one-star tower, the ck-robed guardian''s cold gaze pierced through Wu Yuan as he dered, "Your sword array is formidable. Even though your Daoprehension is inferior to mine, you��re still able to withstand my attacks. However, defense alone isn��t enough to win. I will now unleash my full power to end you."


    With a deafening boom, the sword array originally resembling a needle scattered, transforming into nine streams of light, each seemingly independent yet connected. Earthy yellow light condensed on the surface of the nine flying swords, causing them to shine with dazzling brightness and seemingly transforming the Domain.


    The sword array fragmented into nine, yet the speed of the nine flying swords did not wane, but instead intensified, gaining an edge of increased sharpness.


    <i>Swish! </i>The skies were aze with sword lights, no longer assailing from a singr direction, but now striking Wu Yuan simultaneously from all angles.


    The sh of sword arrays ensued, and Wu Yuan''s once impregnable Domain suddenly revealed numerous fissures. The mighty Hundred Swords Array began to sumb to the onught of the nine fearsome streaks of light, hinting at its impending copse.


    Wu Yuan''s expression darkened.


    <i>The nine swords of the array separated, yet remained united as one, their presence all-epassing.</i> Wu Yuan observed the swords dancing in the air.


    Atst, he understood. The guardian had employed the fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array: Light Of The Land!


    At this step, the Domain and the sword array melded seamlessly, expanding over a vast area rather than concentrating at a singr point. Endless sword lights nketed the area epassed by the sword array, resembling an embryonic form of a world of swords.


    At the fourth step, it seemed as if there were nine attack points within a single sword array, amplifying the power more than tenfoldpared to the third step. This spelled trouble!


    <i>I thought that my Hundred Swords Array was enough to withstand his attacks, wearing down his soul until victory was within reach.</i> Wu Yuan acknowledged that he had miscalcted.


    The guardian was far more formidable than he had anticipated. Relying on defense alone would prove futile.


    The Hundred Swords Array teetered on the brink of copse as the rain of sword lights sliced through his Domain with ease, draining its strength.


    <i>Re-assemble!</i> Wu Yuanmanded. Relying on his resilient soul, he fortified the faltering array, withstanding the barrage of sword lights.


    "Let��s see how many times you can block my strikes," the ck-robed guardian looked down at Wu Yuan, full of confidence. He didn��t believe he would lose at all.


    He was employing the fourth step of the sword array, and each sword light was no less powerful than the entirety of Wu Yuan''s Hundred Swords Array.


    It was nine against one; Wu Yuan''s struggle seemed futile.


    <i>I have to go all out!</i> Wu Yuan ground his teeth, releasing the full power of his soul, even the portion he had previously not revealed.


    Simultaneously, a dense swarm of flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan. As the swords floated, their sword qi crisscrossed through the air. Their numbers were staggering.


    Including the original 81 flying swords, Wu Yuan''s soul nowmanded a total of 729 flying swords. The weight of this unprecedented power bore down on him like a mountain, causing his soul consciousness to quiver. It was nearly unbearable.


    <i>Assemble! </i>Wu Yuan screamed internally, his consciousness wavering.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The flying swords began to move, intricate cryptic patterns arranging them in formation. In an instant, the 729 swords became one entity.


    A Thousand Swords Array!


    As more than 700 swordsbined into one, a colossal illusory sword 100 zhangs in length materialized in the sky like a towering needle, enveloping Wu Yuan inside.


    <i>Attack!</i> With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan directed the Thousand Swords Array toward the ck-robed guardian dozens of li away.


    Sword intent surged forth, tearing through the vast Domain imbued with True Intent as if it were mere paper.


    "The Thousand Swords Array? How is this possible?" The ck-robed guardian''s disbelief was palpable as he gritted his teeth and ordered, "Block it!"


    Nine sword lights zed through the sky like nine divine lights, attempting to intercept Wu Yuan''s attack.


    <i>ng!</i> In a single, fierce exchange, both sides collided nine times. The guardian''s flying swords were all sent spiraling off course. They were no match for the overwhelming power of the Thousand Swords Array.


    Wu Yuan''s assault was relentless, each strike delivering a forceful blow to the ck-robed guardian, who had no time to react as the strikes rained down upon his defenses, each filled one fierce and merciless.


    The air crackled with energy as Wu Yuan unleashed his strongest attack, his divine sword cutting through the sky. It sliced through the ck-robed guardian��s body without hesitation, leaving a stillness in its wake.


    As the chaos settled, Wu Yuan stood alone in the void, his face drained of color from the exertion of power.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia," the tower spirit''s voice rang out, breaking the silence. "You have sessfully cleared level 40 of the one-star tower. Your reward is a one-time True Intent perception experience of your choice."

 Chapter 332: Invitations From All Sides

    <h4>Chapter 332: Invitations From All Sides</h4>


    <i>True Intent perception experience of my choice?</i> Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in surprise.


    What was that?


    But soon, Wu Yuan found aprehensive exnation in his immortal path information interface, which appeared automatically after the Tower Spirit''s voice had spoken.


    He swiftly skimmed the contents.


    <i>The Seven Star Luminaries Tower is where innumerable talents from the Immortal Continent contend with each other. Clearing level 40 designates one as a true prodigy. Completing level 50 distinguishes one as a top-tier genius. But those who conquer level 60 are hailed as peerless prodigies, a rarity appearing less than once every 10,000 years? </i>


    <i>Only geniuses of such caliber are deemed eligible to receive the immortal realm''s reward and undergo a one-time True Intent perception experience. The details are as follows...</i>


    As Wu Yuan read through the information, he silently memorized it.


    <i>Such opportunities exist within the Redmoon Immortal Realm? No wonder prodigies from all factions are willing to challenge the tower. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    It never crossed his mind that such an opportunity was possible. The marvels of the voidrealm exceeded his expectations.


    <i>For every ten levels cleared starting from level 40, each challenger is granted a one-time opportunity?</i> Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    Such chances were extremely hard toe by. ording to the records of the one-star tower, the highest level cleared in the Redmoon Immortal Continent was just slightly above level 60.


    <i>To reach level 60 of the one-star tower is to be a peerless prodigy seldom born in 10,000 years across the entire immortal continent.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>But, such a peerless prodigy only receives three opportunities forprehension.</i>


    This was a gift from the Redmoon Immortal Realm to top-tier prodigies challenging the tower. Yet, this pertained solely to the one-star tower. Whether the two-star tower, three-star tower, or beyond granted simr rewards remained a mystery to Wu Yuan.


    <i>However, from the Redmoon Immortal Realm��s view, among those under 100 years old in the entire Immortal Continent, I am considered a prodigy?</i> Wu Yuan wondered.


    He was still far from being a peerless prodigy, having only cleared level 40, while the top-tier prodigies in the other spacetime nes could potentially reach level 70 or even 80.


    <i>Furthermore, given that this Seven Star Luminaries Tower is designed to epass 100 levels, theoretically, there ought to be peerless prodigies capable ofpleting them all.</i> Wu Yuan contemted inwardly.


    Even if they didn''tplete all 100 levels, they should be able toe close. Otherwise, why set 100 levels of difficulty?


    <i>Even if I cannot measure up to the top-tier prodigies of eons past, I will strive to approach their level as far as possible. </i>Wu Yuan vowed to himself.


    In the Middle Land, he undoubtedly reigned as the foremost prodigy, unrivaled by those of his age. However, heaven and earth was vast. He already fell short of the top-tier of prodigies in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, let alone the immense Silvermist Immortal Nation, or the entirety of the macrocosm.


    <i>Nevertheless, I am only 37 years old. When I return to challenge the tower in my 80s or 90s, who''s to say whether I��ll be able to shatter these records?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the air.


    The list of recordsy in the corner.


    "I wish to leave the one-star tower," Wu Yuan said.


    He did not continue to challenge the next level. Though he had gleaned some insights from the non-stop series of battles, he needed time to digest them. All breakthroughs required time.


    While it was possible for one��s strength to undergo a transformation while in battle, such urrences were exceedingly rare.


    <i>To employ the Thousand Swords Array, my soul expended a tremendous amount of energy. Even if I were to battle the level 40 guardian once more, there is no guarantee that I can defeat him a second time.</i> Wu Yuan understood his current condition well.


    The Thousand Swords Array was his ace in the hole. The Redmoon Immortal Realm could restore his virtual mana and physical state, but itcked the ability to alleviate the fatigue of Wu Yuan''s soul.


    <i>Level 40 is enough for now; there is always the option to revisit the tower in the future.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    ...


    The aquatic banquet hall on Southmoon Ind waspletely silent.


    Numerous Amethyst Cradle Reverends from various sects and families were left astounded when Wu Yuan employed the Thousand Swords Array to defeat the guardian.


    While Wu Yuan had breezed through more than 30 levels with rtive ease, no one could definitively assert his sess at level 40.


    Simr to the qualitative shift in difficulty from level 19 to level 20, the leap from level 39 to 40 was a huge hurdle.


    Those who conquered it were hailed as prodigies, while those who failed only had decent talent.


    "Li Xia is amazing."


    "Conquering level 40 of the one-star tower indicates he has the potential to be a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, worthy of a core position in any sect."


    "His Daoprehension may not have reached an extremely high level, but his soul is remarkably resilient."


    "When I attempted the one-star tower in my youth, I was never able to pass level 40." The Amethyst Cradle Reverends murmured among themselves.


    In their younger days, they too had challenged the one-star tower, yet the majority were unable toplete level 40. The number of them who passed level 40 could be counted on both hands.


    <i>He actually conquered level 40?</i> Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise. <i>I had my doubts about his sess.</i>


    It was only upon witnessing Wu Yuan unleash the Thousand Swords Array that Zhuo Haiyue was reassured of his victory.


    <i>From what Old Yu says, Wu Yuan''s soul aura appears rather youthful, likely not exceeding 50 years of age. </i>Zhuo Haiyue pondered. <i>This suggests room for further growth, and he could potentially conquer level 50 and beyond in the future!</i>


    Zhuo Haiyue realized she had stumbled upon a true gem.


    Progressing beyond level 40 andpleting level 50 were two distinct concepts.


    With this in mind, Zhuo Haiyue''s gaze settled on Gu Sixing, who stood aloof nearby. She transmitted her thoughts over, "Big Brother Gu, I will be troubling you once more."


    "Not at all, it''s a mutually beneficial arrangement; this Li Xia shows promise. Nurture him well, and he may be your trusted aide," Gu Sixing''s words resonated in Zhuo Haiyue''s mind.


    His tone was warm and soothing, like the way an elder brother spoke to his younger sister.


    ...


    A streak of dazzling light shed through the air, and Wu Yuan materialized in the banquet hall with a flourish.


    Subrealms like the Seven Towers World were considered special spaces within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Upon exiting these subrealms, individuals would find themselves back at the point of entry.


    <i>Everyone is observing me? </i>The moment Wu Yuan''s feet touched the ground, he sensed the intense scrutiny from all angles. Naturally, he knew why this was the case.


    As per the Redmoon Immortal Realm''s description of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, conquering level 40 of the one-star tower symbolized the potential to reach the Divided Soul phase, a feat that left many awestruck.


    Divided Soul cultivators, also referred to as Earth Immortals, were super powerhouses in the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Their longevity alone rivaled that of Dharma Body powerhouses, both boasting lifespans that spanned a staggering 90,000 years. It was an iprehensible length of time!


    Though the hundreds of Amethyst Cradle Reverends present were all elites of their factions, 99% of them would struggle to be Divided Soul Earth Immortal.


    "Your Highness Haiyue, I did not fail my duty. I have sessfullypleted level 40," Wu Yuan gave a slight bow.


    "Excellent," Zhuo Haiyue remarked with a smile, her gaze shifting to Gu Sixing. Her tone was cool andposed. "Gu Sixing, do you have anything to say?"


    Gu Sixing rose slowly to his feet. "Daoist Li Xia, my previous behavior was uncalled for. I ask for your forgiveness," Gu Sixing stated without a hint of resentment or anger.


    Wu Yuan nced at Gu Sixing. This man was someone who knew when to pull back, he didn��t just stomp off in a fit of rage.


    "I heard that you have yet to join a sect," Gu Sixing continued with a subtle smile. "Would you consider joining the Gu Family as an honored guest? We offer generous benefits and preferential treatment."


    A flicker of surprise danced in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    The Gu Family, a prince-rank family, wielded influenceparable to that of a first-rate sect, if not greater. After all, there were only four prince-rank families in the entire immortal continent.


    "Thank you for the offer, Your Highness, but I have no intentions of affiliating with the Gu Family at present," Wu Yuan responded promptly.


    After today''s events, he knew that his loyaltiesy with Zhuo Haiyue whether he liked it or not. When asked to choose sides, he could not afford to waver.


    "Very well. I wish you luck in finding a sect that suits your preferences," Gu Sixing replied amiably, redirecting his gaze to Zhuo Haiyue. "Haiyue, I will transfer the 30 million catties of ethercrystal to you at ater time."


    With that, Gu Sixing departed from the banquet hall in a single stride, his golden jiaolong chariot appearing and flying into the distance. It seemed as though he had no desire to continue staying there and losing face.


    "The irritating fellow has finally left," Zhuo Haiyue announced, her gaze sweeping across the gathering of Amethyst Cradle Reverends as a smile graced her lips. "Let us all raise our wine cups in honor of Daoist Li Xia."


    "Haha, to Daoist Li Xia," the Reverends chimed in unison.


    "With Daoist Li Xia''s talent, it is certain that he will achieve immortality and enjoy true longevity.��


    ��Congrattions, Daoist Li Xia.�� As the gathering made a toast to Li Xia, none dared reply to Zhuo Haiyue''s subtle dig at Gu Sixing. Even if they harbored any dislike towards Gu Sixing, none would openly criticize him.


    However, their admiration for Wu Yuan only grew stronger. Initially, he was relying solely on Zhuo Haiyue''s influence, thus many Amethyst Cradle Reverends looked down on him.


    But after sessfullypleting level 40 of the one-star tower, Wu Yuan''s own talent shone through, winning their respect.


    Unbeknownst to those gathered here, Wu Yuan was only 37 years old. Furthermore, he possessed a third-degree immortal root and had cultivated nine lifebound flying swords.


    Such remarkable qi refining talent would surely leave them bbergasted had they known.


    Just as the realm master said, although his qi refining self��s talent was slightly weaker than that of his body refiner self, it was still enough to be considered a prodigy in the vast macrocosm.


    Amidst the festive atmosphere filled with clinking wine cups, the ck-armored Beibo Tao approached Wu Yuan excitedly. "Brother Li Xia is truly remarkable. Your talent far surpasses mine."


    Wu Yuan offered a faint smile. "How can I help you, Daoist Beibo?"


    Beibo Tao replied with a chuckle, "I''ll be direct, Brother Li Xia. Rumor has it that you have yet to align yourself with any sect. Would you consider joining our Great Yan Immortal Sect? With your potential, I believe you��ll not only be a hereditary disciple of the sect, but there''s a high chance an immortal would ept you as a disciple."


    The notion sparked a flicker of interest in Wu Yuan''s mind. An immortal''s disciple? It was a rare opportunity indeed.


    Wu Yuan understood that only those who reached the Archimmortal level were true immortals, but achieving that was extremely difficult.


    Typically, those addressed as ��immortal'' referred to Divided Soul Earth Immortals or Tribtion High Immortals within the vast immortal continent. As for the Great Yan Immortal Sect, its reputation preceded it as a powerful sect. However, Wu Yuan had yet to consider his options.


    Suddenly, a seductivedy d in red robes interjected with augh, "Brother Beibo, your Great Yan Immortal Sect is indeed strong, ranking top five in the Immortal Continent. However, it��s famous for its arrays, while Li Xia is a sword cultivator. Are there any Divided Soul Sword Immortals in your sect?"


    Beibo Tao''s countenance shifted slightly. While formidable in its own right, the Great Yan Immortal Sectgged behind in swordsmanship among the first-rate sects.


    "Daoist Li Xia," a robust figure stepped forward, exuding confidence, "Would you consider joining our Thousand Origins Sword Sect? We are renowned as one of the top three sects across the immortal continent."


    "Daoist Li Xia, I..." Another cultivator quickly stepped forward.


    These Amethyst Cradle Reverends quickly approached Wu Yuan, each offering better conditions than thest.


    Overwhelmed by the slew of invitations, Wu Yuan finally understood what Zhuo Haiyue meant by establishing a reputation. Once he made a name for himself and garnered recognition and acim, it would no longer be a case of a sect selecting him, but rather him selecting a sect.


    Wu Yuan clearly understood that while these Amethyst Cradle Reverends were core members of various factions, they were still considered disciples of the younger generation. They didn''t truly have the power to dictate the benefits of joining their sect.


    However, they were all knowledgeable and could roughly determine what conditions their sect would offer based on the talent he had showcased. For these Amethyst Cradle Reverends, sessfully inviting a prodigy like Wu Yuan to join their sect was equivalent to making a significant contribution. Naturally, they would be rewarded for their efforts.


    Wu Yuan graciously deflected each offer withoutmitment.


    "Everyone," Zhuo Haiyue��s cold voice rang out, bringing the noisy banquet hall to a hushed standstill.


    All eyes shifted towards Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Daoist Li Xia has indeed expressed his desire to join a sect."


    She continued with a light tone, "For the foreseeable future, he shall be residing within the Zhuo residence in Rising Dragon City. Should your sect wish to extend an invitation, they are wee to visit him in Rising Dragon City."

 Chapter 333: Level 68

    <h4>Chapter 333: Level 68</h4>


    Everyone present at the banquet was an elite. Thus, they reacted swiftly to Zhuo Haiyue��s words, understanding that the reason for Zhuo Haiyue��s sudden appearance at Southmoon Ind today was to help Wu Yuan establish his reputation.


    However, the hundreds of Amethyst Cradle Reverends present were not surprised. Just as they hoped that Wu Yuan would join their ranks, Zhuo Haiyue too sought to win Wu Yuan over to her faction.


    "Haha! Your Highness may rest assured. Our Azure Dragon Sect lies closest to Rising Dragon City. I shall inform my sect elders immediately," an Amethyst Cradle Reverend dered with augh.


    "Exactly, a prodigy like Daoist Li Xia is destined to be highly sought after," another Amethyst Cradle Reverend chimed in.


    Laughter filled the air as the Amethyst Cradle Reverends spoke.


    "Very well. As long as everyone understands, all is good. Let the banquet continue," Zhuo Haiyue said with a faint smile.


    Although she was a noble highness, since those present were willing to give her face, she would naturally be courteous as well.


    As time passed, the Amethyst Cradle Reverends took the initiative to engage Wu Yuan in conversation. Though the scene appeared simr to their initial greetings, their attitudes had shifted fundamentally. Now, they showed genuine enthusiasm, because Wu Yuan had proven that he was qualified to stand with them.


    <i>Even if I rely on a backer, their backing may notst forever. Relying on oneself is the only way to garner true respect from others.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    While someone��s background and connections could instill fear, one might not necessarily earn sincere respect from others.


    Wu Yuan was willing to engage in conversation with these banquet attendees as well, recognizing that they hailed from variousrge sects across the immortal continent. Though not on par with Zhuo Haiyue and Gu Sixing, they were still powerful and influential figures.


    <i>At the very least, they surpass the ancestors of the Tu Family and Dong Family.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He had no intention of walking his cultivation path alone. Making friends from all sides and seizing opportunities to ascend to the peak �C this path was the smoothest one and also one that suited him.


    This was much like how Wu Yuan swiftly united the Middle Land, eliciting loyalty from all. While his strength yed arge role, it was his integrity and fairness that truly won hearts.


    The banquet carried on for nearly two hours.


    As the Amethyst Cradle Reverends dispersed, Wu Yuan boarded the Silver Dragon Chariot with Zhuo Haiyue, departing from Southmoon Ind.


    ...


    <i>Li Xia actuallypleted level 40 of the one-star tower. </i>Beibo Tao, d in ck armor, swiftly departed Southmoon Ind.


    <i>How long has Li Xia been cultivating for? ording to Her Highness Haiyue, it hasn��t been long since he stepped into the Golden Core phase. He��s likely only 60 to 70 years old.</i>


    <i>If he receives further guidance, he might be able to conquer level 50 of the one-star tower before the age of 100. </i>Beibo Tao contemted. He was well aware of the significance ofpleting level 50 of the one-star tower.


    Among the current generation of elite disciples in the Great Yan Immortal Sect, the number who aplished such a feat could be counted on two hands.


    <i>Even if he can��t conquer it, with Li Xia''s talent, he is destined to be a hereditary disciple.</i> Beibo Tao spected.


    <i>I must inform Master. </i>He left the Redmoon Immortal Realm without dy.


    ...


    <i>A soul capable of assembling a Thousand Swords Array... he is unquestionably a budding sword immortal.</i> The burly man swiftly departed as well.


    <i>How could the Thousand Origins Swords Sect overlook such a sword genius?</i>


    ...


    <i>Li Xia has the potential to be an immortal. Just by winning him over, it would be enough to strengthen our sect in the future.</i>


    <i>Once a sword cultivator reaches the peak of the Divided Soul phase, their attack power may rival that of a Tribtion High Immortal.</i>


    <i>Moreover, Her Highness Haiyue clearly favors him, and she is a future princess.</i>


    The Amethyst Cradle Reverends didn''t hesitate much, either reporting the news to their respective sects�� Inspection Bureaus, or directly requesting a meeting with the higher echelons of their sect.


    All of them understood the rarity of a prodigy such as Wu Yuan. They knew they would have to fight for his allegiance.


    At the same time, with the high-stakes bet between Gu Sixing and Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan��s act of conquering the tower became a massive spectacle.


    As word of the events on Southmoon Ind spread swiftly throughout the Redmoon Immortal Realm, they reached the ears of powerful figures and sects across the immortal continent.


    ...


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Realm nestled a first-tier city called Zhuo Star City. [1] A silver chariot flew overhead.


    "What a bustling city," Wu Yua remarked, peering down at the sprawling metropolis teeming with countless cultivators.


    It dwarfed the size of Twin Jade City at least tenfold, and immortal cultivators with powerful auras could be found on every street and corner.


    "The Redmoon Immortal Realm isposed of hundreds of second-tier cities, but only a few dozen first-tier cities like Zhuo Star City. These cities are naturally more prosperous, and correspond one-to-one with the physical world." exined Zhuo Haiyue with a slight smile. "Each one governs expansive territories that span billions of li and epass numerous affiliated worlds."


    "Hence, these cities are highly attractive to a majority of powerhouses."


    Wu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod.


    Within a first-tier city, power was not solely held by the Redmoon Immortal Hall but shared with first-rate sects and prince-rank families, who co-ruled the territory.


    Simrly, first-rate sects could recruit disciples from regions of territory under the immortal hall''s jurisdiction. Second-rate sects and marquis-rank families had no hope of dominating a first-ss city entirely.


    "By now, I believe you understand that I am a core member of the Zhuo Family, one of the four prince-rank families," Zhuo Haiyue stated casually. "To be precise, I am next in line to inherit the title of princess in my family''s lineage."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    He was familiar with the titles of the various nobles on the Redmoon Immortal Continent. This meant that Zhuo Haiyue could well be ordained as the next princess of the Zhuo family!


    "But do not be surprised. Every prince of the four prince-rank families only holds their title for a limited time, ranging from 10,000 to 90,000 years. The position is not automatically passed down from father to son, but rather the most worthy sessor is chosen."


    Zhuo Haiyue exined further, "The noble address is not exclusive to those from Immortal Redmoon��s bloodline. Every 1000 years, the four prince-rank families will select ten princelings or princesslings, all of whom are the most exceptional individuals from their respective families over the past millennium. The selection process is stringent, and only those under 3000 years old are eligible to be granted the title of prince or princess."


    Wu Yuan nodded. He now understood that this structured method of session was essential for maintaining the continued prosperity of the four prince-rank families.


    However, it was clear to him that Zhuo Haiyue was likely the most outstanding candidate in her generation within the Zhuo family.


    "Your Highness, I hope you can forgive me for sowing discord between you and Gu Sixing earlier," Wu Yuan suddenly said.


    Since Gu Sixing was also addressed as ��His Highness��, he was undoubtedly a princeling among the younger generation of the Gu Family.


    "You need not be concerned," reassured Zhuo Haiyue. "Gu Sixing harbors no ill will towards you."


    "In fact, he holds you in high regard," Zhuo Haiyue added, gazing at Wu Yuan. ��I hope you won��t mind his earlier attitude.��


    This revtion caught Wu Yuan off guard. Why would Zhuo Haiyue speak up for Gu Sixing? Did this mean there was no animosity between them?


    "Today, if not for my bet with Gu Sixing, your achievement ofpleting level 40 of the one-star tower would not have gained such attention," exined Zhuo Haiyue. "Thanks to his reputation, your fame has been solidified."


    Upon reflection, Wu Yuan agreed. Without Gu Sixing''s involvement, his feat, though impressive, would not have achieved legendary status.


    However, since Gu Sixing engaged in a bet against Zhuo Haiyue, the situation had shifted entirely. If a potential princeling from a prince-rank family were to lose a bet, word of it would instantly spread far and wide.


    "Your Highness, what about Gu Sixing?" Wu Yuan inquired, perplexed.


    "Some things are best left unknown," Zhuo Haiyue replied softly. "Just remember, Gu Sixing and I are not enemies, and he does not oppose you, understood?"


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Nevertheless," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled, "While the events of today may not propel you to fame across the immortal continent, the inspection bureaus and intelligence agencies of the various major sects should have taken notice of you."


    "The next step is simply to bide your time," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "You are wee to stay in Zhuo Star City within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. It is the stronghold of the main Zhuo Family and numerous powerhouses from my lineage congregate here. Whenever I enter the Redmoon Immortal Realm, I will take up residence within Zhuo Star City."


    Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude, "I will be troubling Your Highness then."


    "As I said, we are friends," Zhuo Haiyue said with a faint smile. "You have proven yourself admirably."


    "When we reach Rising Dragon City in the physical world, wait patiently for the invitations from the various sects," Zhuo Haiyue advised. "I predict that within two or three days, you will have multiple offers to consider. Do not rush into any decisions. Wait until the deadline is near, then choose the one that suits you best."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Choosing a sect was a big deal! Although technically allrge sects and families on the immortal continent were affiliated with the Redmoon Immortal Hall, and the top-tier powerhouses would eventually join the immortal hall, thepetition amongst factions was fierce.


    To join a sect and then betray it would result in being despised by all sides. No sect would willingly ept such a turncoat.


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, Zhuo Haiyue escorted Wu Yuan to an expansive estate and efficiently arranged for his lodgings. With everything in ce, Wu Yuan''s consciousness departed the Redmoon Immortal Realm, returning to the flying boat.


    ...


    <i>Has he departed? </i>Zhuo Haiyue stood in the main courtyard of the grand estate, feeling Wu Yuan''s consciousness leave the voidrealm.


    Taking a step forward, the scenery around her shifted dramatically. The once opulent and refined courtyard morphed into an endless space with seven majestic floating towers.


    It was the Seven Towers World.


    <i>It has been some time since Ist attempted it. Let us see how it goes this time</i>. Zhuo Haiyue muttered inwardly.


    After watching Wu Yuanplete level 40 of the tower in one go, she feltpelled to attempt it as well.


    Zhuo Haiyue took another step, entering the second tower from the left �C the two-star tower. Only cultivators aged between 100-299 were permitted to enter.


    The surroundings changed swiftly, a strange and fantasticalndscape unfolding before her, with lightning shing all around. She was now a great distance from the ground, with the three suns in the sky shining even brighter.


    "You have returned atst." In the distance, a stunning ck-robed woman materialized, her eyes chillingly cold.


    "Yes, I��m back. It has been a decade," Zhuo Haiyue replied with a faint smile.


    "Do you believe you can beat me?" the ck-robed guardian questioned, her voice as icy as her gaze.


    "Let��s find out," Zhuo Haiyue replied calmly.


    With a simple wave of her hand, an area of 10,000 li around Zhuo Haiyue was enveloped by a maelstrom of lightning, transforming it into a world of lightning.


    Thousands of thunderbolts resembling dragons unleashed their fury upon the ck-robed guardian.


    "Level 68,pleted!" Only two breathster, the voice of the tower spirit reverberated through the world.


    "Congrattions, Zhuo Haiyue, you have achieved the highest record in the two-star tower in the past one million years."


    "Next level," Zhuo Haiyue stated nonchntly.


    1. Same Zhuo as Zhuo Haiyue ?

 Chapter 334: I Shall Establish An Immortal Nation

    <h4>Chapter 334: I Shall Establish An Immortal Nation</h4>


    In the blink of an eye, the scenery shifted once more. This newfound location was unimaginably high above the ground. Below, an idyllic panorama unfolded, with majestic mountains and winding rivers painting a picturesque scene.


    Above, a vast expanse of outer space stretched out, its dimness punctuated only by the faint glow of stars. Far in the distance, three suns radiated with brilliant light.


    "In thest 100 million years, you are the first in the immortal continent to reach this level," a gentle voice echoed.


    Zhuo Haiyue stood in space, her gaze fixed on the woman in ethereal white robes in the distance.


    The guardians in previous levels were all ck-robed men who stood solemnly in rows, each more imposing than thest.


    Yet, this woman in white exuded a sense of calm and grace.


    "I will defeat you," Zhuo Haiyue dered, her expression resolute.


    Though both were first-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators, Zhuo Haiyue keenly felt the immense pressure radiating from her opponent.


    "I sincerely hope you can defeat me," the woman in white smiled gently, her voice soft. "In the billions of years since the inception of the Redmoon Immortal Realm, only six have managed to defeat me."


    "I hope you can be the seventh."


    Zhuo Haiyue was well aware of the six figures who had achieved this feat. They were the most distinguished figures born in the Redmoon Immortal Continent over the billions of years. The most formidable among them had garnered a reputation that spanned the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, earning even Zhuo Haiyue''s master''s profound admiration.


    "You specialize in lightning techniques, as do I. I will only make a single move. If you can withstand it, victory may be within your grasp," the woman in white said.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes narrowed slightly. Just one move?


    In the next moment, the woman in white extended her hand, a radiant bolt of lightning crackling at her fingertips. Then, she pointed it at Zhuo Haiyue.


    That lightning tore through the heavens, a force of nature incarnate.


    As the bolt was reflected in Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes, it struck her in the same instant, piercing through her body without resistance.


    She was defeated! There was no struggle, no resistance, just instantaneous defeat!


    "Level 70, unsessful," the tower spirit''s voice resonated throughout the world.


    Numerous points of light converged, and Zhuo Haiyue reappeared. The woman in white had vanished without a trace. As a guardian of the tower, she departed once the challenger failed.


    "Light!" There was no trace of discouragement in Zhuo Haiyue''s gaze, only a mixture of awe and longing. "This is not merely lightning, but true light!"


    "Tearing through the heavens as swift as the eyes can see, such is the speed of light." Zhuo Haiyue experienced a sudden epiphany.


    She knew that the increase in difficulty from level 69 to 70 was more than tenfold. It wouldn��t be easy to pass this level in a short time.


    <i>If I can conquer this level, myprehension of the Dao may be close to that of a Tribtion High Immortal. </i>Zhuo Haiyue realized.


    Lightning transformed into pure light! This marked the apex of mastery in the Lightning Dao, indicating that one was close topleteprehension.


    <i>But I still have a chance.</i>


    Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes traced the vast expanse of space, where the two-star tower records hung in the distance.


    <i>Two-star tower record:</i>


    <i>Silvermist Immortal Nation''s highest record: Level 83</i>


    <i>Redmoon Immortal Continent''s highest record: Level 74 </i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 100-million-year record: Level 69 </i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past million-year record: Level 69</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 10,000-year record: Level 69 levels.</i>


    Zhuo Haiyue paid little attention to the Redmoon Immortal Continent''s records, her focus fixed on the first line of text.


    <i>If level 70 is already this challenging, how difficult is level 83?</i> With a mentalmand, Zhuo Haiyue��s avatar dissipated into countless specks of light as she departed.


    ...


    Wu Yuan had caused quite a stir bypleting level 40 of the one-star tower. However, the news wasn��t too shocking. After all, there was an abundance of prodigies in the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    However, the update of the two-star tower''s record was a different story.


    "Level 69!"


    "Heavens! That mysterious prodigy surfaced once again? Previously, they progressed to level 67 in one go. Barely any time has passed, yet they��ve already reached level 69?"


    "Unbelievable."


    "He or she is the foremost genius in the entire Immortal Continent in the past hundreds of millions of years." The entire immortal continent was shaken, and countless geniuses felt a wave of inferiority wash over them.


    Whether it be the one-star, two-star, or the three-star and four-star towers, the strength of the guardians varied on the same level, yet the talent of the challengers evaluated remained consistent due to their differing lengths of cultivation.


    Reaching level 69? Such a feat had not been witnessed in the Redmoon Immortal Continent for a truly long time.


    However, the challenger concealed their identity, leaving all factions curious and eager to uncover the truth behind this mysterious genius.


    ...


    After leaving the Seven Towers World, she returned to Zhuo Star City within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Inside a luxurious and elegant courtyard, a figure in a ck cloak descended from the sky, moving with the grace of a dragon. His eyes,rge and bright, exuded an intimidating presence.


    "Greetings, Thirteenth Ancestor," Zhuo Haiyue greeted the visitor with a smile. She turned to the maidservants, ��You may leave.��


    ��Understood,�� came the obedient response as the group of maidservants scurried out of the room.


    They all knew the identity of the visitor. The title of ''ancestor'' within a prince-rank family carried significance beyond mere age or seniority.


    Before long, the courtyard was emptied.


    The ck-robed man couldn''t contain his curiosity any longer. "Haiyue, you��vepleted level 69 of the two-star tower?"


    "Mm," Zhuo Haiyue confirmed.


    "Incredible! Unbelievable!" the man eximed. "How old are you? You haven��t even reached 150."


    With admiration in his voice, he continued, "With your unmatched talent, in another century of cultivation, you could conquer level 70 or even higher."


    The way he looked at Zhuo Haiyue had shifted. In the past, he knew Zhuo Haiyue was extraordinarily talented, but he never thought she was this talented.


    "Perhaps," Zhuo Haiyue responded nonchntly.


    "Haiyue, why not publicize your aplishments? Although you are receiving guidance from an Astral Monarch, the Astral Monarch has numerous disciples, and you''re just one of them. As long as you make your achievement known, the family will definitely support you, and the immortal ancestor will likely summon you. This will greatly increase your chances of oveing your Tribtion and ascending to immortality," the man urged.


    "Thirteenth Ancestor, there is no need to announce it," Zhuo Haiyue rejected his suggestion with a shake of her head. "I made my decision the day my family abandoned me."


    The ck-robed man sighed. He understood her reasoning, but was powerless to change the situation.


    "Haiyue, the Fang Family may have been at fault in the past, but their mistakes do not warrant death. They have already paid a sufficient price," the ck-robed figure adopted a persuasive tone.


    "What price?" Zhuo Haiyue retorted, her expression twisted in ridicule. "Did the Fang Family''s immortal ancestor die? Or did those Tribtion High Immortals die?"


    The ck-robed man could only offer a bitter smile in response.


    "Thirteenth Ancestor, there��s no need to continue persuading me. My decision is final," Zhuo Haiyue dered, shaking her head resolutely. "Also, please inform the Elders Council that I will not vie for the title of princess, nor do I desire to inherit anything.��


    ��I will forge my own path as the founder of an immortal nation, traversing spacetime nes much like my master before me."


    "I once swore in the name of the True Saint to lead my immortal nation��s army into battle, eradicating everyst member of the Fang family," Zhuo Haiyue stated, her eyes glinting with a chilling resolve.


    "No one can stop me. No one!!"


    The ck-robed man shuddered inwardly. He knew the intensity of Zhuo Haiyue''s hatred buried deep within her heart, and understood her reluctance to reveal her full power.


    "Haiyue, establishing an immortal nation is an extremely difficult goal. You alone..." the man began, his tone hesitant.


    "No matter the obstacles, there is always a glimmer of hope," Zhuo Haiyue interjected, her head held high. "Just as no one anticipated a little girl to survive the Devilblood Thunder Trial decades ago."


    The ck-robed man fell silent. Her decision to take part in the Devilblood Thunder Trial earned her nothing but scorn from her family. However, in just a few dozen years, she defied all expectations, rising to a position of power that surpassed all the geniuses on the Immortal Continent in the past hundred million years.


    "Very well," sighed the ck-robed figure. "I shall abide by the Astral Monarch''s wishes and continue to safeguard your secrets. If you require anything, do inform me."


    "Thank you, Thirteenth Ancestor," Zhuo Haiyue replied, a faint smile gracing her features atst.


    The ck-robed man left Zhuo Haiyue''s residence and ascended into the skies. Peering down, he watched as her avatar faded away from the immortal realm.


    <i>The Fang Family?</i> He shook his head with a sigh. <i>You have no idea what kind of foe you have provoked.</i>


    <i>The prince-rank family is also made up of fools, blinded by petty gains and unwilling to take a hard stance.</i>


    He was cognizant of the whole situation, yet his hands were tied by the Astral Monarch��s decree. He could only watch helplessly as the Zhuo Family squandered a golden opportunity to rise.


    ...


    Night descended, shrouding thend in darkness. A red flying boat soared through the skies at an iprehensible speed.


    Within a meditation chamber onboard the massive flying boat, peculiar crystals were embedded into the walls, infusing the air with potent spiritual qi.


    <i>A prince-rank family certainly lives up to its reputation. Even the jade tform in a random chamber far surpasses the one in Yanqing Hall. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    Unbeknownst to him, he was currently on board a celestial flying boat of incalcble worth.


    <i>Today, I showcased my talent by challenging the one-star tower in the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Invitations from the variousrge sects on the immortal continent should being my way. I hope there��ll be one suitable for me. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>But is it enough to receive an invitation from the Moonsilver World?</i>


    After speaking with Zhuo Haiyue and several Amethyst Cradle Reverends, it was clear to Wu Yuan that the Moonsilver World was the top choice amongst the geniuses of the immortal continent. Receiving an invitation was a matter of great prestige.


    However, only peerless geniuses were admitted. Though he hadpleted level 40 the one-star tower, he was uncertain about his chances.


    <i>I mustn''t rush.</i> He reminded himself. <i>Patience is key.</i>


    Wu Yuan suddenly recalled another matter. <i>From Zhuo Haiyue''s words, Gu Sixing is not an adversary.</i>


    <i>Perhaps Zhuo Haiyue yed a double act?</i> he spected. <i>But why would a distinguished princeling like Gu Sixing agree to such a charade? If their bond is genuine, why maintain the facade of foes?</i>


    If his guess was right, this matter involved internal conflicts within the two prince-rank families.


    <i>Forget it, there��s no need to get myself involved.</i> Wu Yuan concluded. <i>It��s good that we aren��t enemies.</i>


    He was very reluctant to get into a dispute with a princeling from a prince-rank family. The resources at his disposal far surpassed Wu Yuan��s after all.


    <i>For now, I should focus on my cultivation.</i>


    <i>The Land��s profundity! Today''s battle was the first time I truly perceived the True Intent of the Land.</i> Wu Yuan began recalling the scene of the battle.


    His attempt at challenging the Seven Star Luminaries Tower had yielded significant gains. Wu Yuan slowly reflected and digested each move, incorporating these new insights into his own techniques.


    And it wasn''t just his qi refiner self. His body refiner self in the distant Summerpeak World was also fully engaged inprehension and cultivation.


    Though the two true selves had different bodies, their consciousness was shared. When cultivating, it was equivalent to two souls simultaneously deducing and understanding the profundities of the Dao.


    By learning from each other��s experiences, the overall efficiency ofprehension was greater than the sum of its parts.


    <i>It would be best to leave my one-time True Intent perception experience within the Redmoon Immortal Realm for a time after reaching the ninth-level Domain stage. </i>Wu Yuan had consulted Zhuo Haiyue on this.


    This experience was a rare opportunity.


    If he waited until he reached a bottleneck in his Daoprehension before proceeding with the perception experience, that would yield the best results. Perhaps, he might even be able to reach the True Intent stage in one go.


    Zhuo Haiyue chose to forgo the use of the teleportation array, opting instead to travel via flying boat the entire way. Nearly two days slipped by unnoticed.


    Wu Yuan was lost in his cultivation, the world around him forgotten. Then, a sudden jolt shook the flying boat.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Li Xia, we have arrived at Rising Dragon City. Step outside."


    <i>We��re here?</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes.


    In a sh, he emerged from the meditation chamber and came to the main hall of the flying boat. Zhuo Haiyue and the mysterious ck-robed man waited for him inside.


    <i>Rising Dragon City? </i>Wu Yuan looked through the flying boat''s translucent walls, toward the bustling city beyond.


    An immense wave of auras seemed to sweep towards him from that direction. This was a first-rate city, second only to Redmoon City in prestige across the Redmoon Immortal Continent.

 Chapter 335: Redmoon Across The Firmament

    <h4>Chapter 335: Redmoon Across The Firmament</h4>


    The most prosperous region of the Redmoon Immortal Continent was naturally the renowned Redmoon City, home to the legendary Immortal Redmoon himself.


    Following closely behind were dozens of first-tier cities scattered throughout the immortal continent, each holding sway over vast territories. It was a realm frequented by Divided Soul Earth Immortals, Tribtion High Immortals, and even powerhouses from other immortal continents of the immortal nation. Here, powerhouses were asmon as clouds.


    Compared to Fengchuan City, a wondrous immortal city in the eyes of countless mortals, Rising Dragon City was on apletely different level. The discrepancy between the two was staggering.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s celestial flying boat bypassed the city entrance, entering Rising Dragon City directly through the monitoring array.


    The city''s interior sprawled out before them further than the eye could see, prompting Wu Yuan to draw in a breath at the sheer expanse thaty before him. Sky cities and grand flying boats dotted thendscape, along with a plethora of cultivators with mighty auras.


    From Wu Yuan''s perception alone, he could sense numerous Amethyst Cradle cultivators within his field of vision.


    Yet, what struck Wu Yuan most was the absence of mortals within this grand city. Only cultivators, from the Qi Sea phase and above, roamed its streets. This was a true immortal city!


    "The first-tier cities of the immortal continent span one million li in length and width, and are established personally by Immortal Redmoon," Zhuo Haiyue said in a light voice. "This city houses hundreds of millions of beings, and that''s just counting the cultivators."


    "As for the mortals? They are only allowed to reside within the territories of the various sects, or inside shops and other private quarters. Mortals are not permitted to wander freely around these cities," Zhuo Haiyue exined.


    Wu Yuan found himself stunned by the sheer scale of it all. Hundreds of millions of cultivators in a city spanning one million li in length and breadth? This city was a crouching tiger, hidden dragon; no wonder it was so prosperous. [1]


    ��What��s that?�� His gaze drifted to a sight tens of thousands of li away. There, barely visible to him, a star of immense proportions hung in the sky. Its massive form waspletely red, and a faint, strange mist obscured its features but not its brilliance, making it hard to look at directly.


    The sight was awe-inspiring, evoking a sensation akin to standing on the moon and gazing back at Earth in his previous life.


    No, it was even more shocking than that.


    "That is a Redmoon Star," Zhuo Haiyue said, her voice barely above a whisper. "A sphere more than 20,000 li in diameter, rivaling the celestial bodies that reside in outer space."


    "From the naked eye, it appears the Redmoon Star is hanging in the sky some 300,000 li above the ground. But in truth, it is shielded byyers of arrays and exists within a separate spacetime dimension," Zhuo Haiyue exined further. "It serves as the stronghold of the Redmoon Immortal Army in Rising Dragon City, masquerading as a star while in reality, it is a powerful artifact fashioned by Immortal Redmoon at great cost."


    An artifact? Diameter exceeding 20,000 li? It surpassed even the Blue of his former life.


    Wu Yuan was only now beginning to grasp the nature of a true immortal artifact and the kind of abilities immortals could wield. Even a military outpost was an artifact akin to a celestial body, casting a subtle shadow over the entirety of Rising Dragon City.


    No matter where one stood within the city, the colossal red star was visible whenever one looked up.


    "Each first-tier city makes up part of the foundation of the immortal continent, therefore, a Redmoon Star is constructed above each one. It functions in tandem with the numerous arrays within the city to safeguard the city and subdue all within its vast territory."


    "With the Redmoon Star around, Rising Dragon City is nigh impregnable. Once activated, it is capable of eliminating a Tribtion High Immortal with ease. At full power, even an Archimmortal would bepelled to retreat." Zhuo Haiyue gazed into the distance, her voice soft.


    An Archimmortal would be forced to retreat? Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.


    "Without such might, how can onemand the loyalty and obedience of all factions and maintain dominion over this vastnd?" Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    It wasn��t an issue for Wu Yuan to learn about these facts. It was well-documented in history that many immortals had dared to challenge the Redmoon Star, only to meet their demise one after another. The renown of the Redmoon Immortal Army was steeped in the blood of countless immortals.


    As the flying boat soared above the city, its speed began to slow, allowing Wu Yuan to behold the city in its full glory and prosperity. This spectacle moved him, convincing him in heart and mind that this was, indeed, a city of immortals.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes widened as he caught sight of the colossal sky city looming in the distance. It towered hundreds of li high and stretched thousands of li long, its form resembling that of a dragon. The structure appeared as if a divine dragon was traversing the skies, its presence felt far and wide.


    It was definitely thergest sky city Wu Yuan had seen in Rising Dragon City, second only to the one on Redmoon Star. It was like a celestial body.


    "That is the Azure Dragon World, a stronghold of the Azure Dragon Sect," Zhuo Haiyue informed him. "Though it may seem to span only 1000 li, within its walls lies a grotto-heaven rumored to be tens of thousands of li in width."


    "The Azure Dragon Sect has two core bases, the first being its mountain gate headquarters, spanning tens of millions of li��the true heart of their power. The second core lies here in Rising Dragon City."


    "Without a doubt, Tribtion High Immortals are stationed in both locations," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "The territory under the jurisdiction of Rising Dragon City is under the shared governance of the Azure Dragon Sect and the Redmoon Immortal Hall."


    "While the Redmoon Immortal Hall may hold greater power," she added, "the Azure Dragon Sect remains the dominant force in local affairs, hence the word ��dragon�� in the city��s name."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan, and he couldn��t help recalling the enthusiasm of the Azure Dragon Sect''s core disciples at the Southmoon Ind banquet.


    "In this world, only the cities belonging to the four prince-ranked families remain unmonitored by a Redmoon Star, each governed independently," Zhuo Haiyue remarked coolly. "The other first-rate sects, for the most part, share their rule with the Redmoon Immortal Hall."


    Wu Yuan barely suppressed his astonishment. It seemed that the four prince-ranked families were even more powerful than first-rate sects.


    ...


    Thirty minutester, Zhuo Haiyue led Wu Yuan through the winding streets of Rising Dragon City, finally arriving at a grand mansion enveloped in mist, shielding the interior from prying eyes.


    "This is my family''s residence in Rising Dragon City," Zhuo Haiyue stated coolly. "In every major city across the immortal continent, you will find a base belonging to my family."


    Soon, the flying boat stopped in mid-air.


    "Her Highness Haiyue is here."


    "Hurry, go greet Her Highness." There were shouts, followed by streaks of light flying over from different parts of the estate.


    The hatch of the flying boat opened, and Wu Yuan followed Zhuo Haiyue out, stepping into the air.


    "Greetings, Your Highness." Over 10,000 figures emerged from different corners of the vast mansion, each bowing in reverence, the salutation echoing through the air.


    Wu Yuan found himself holding his breath at the sight.


    With a quick scan, he identified several Amethyst Cradle Reverends within the assembly, alongside two figures at the front whose auras surpassed the others significantly. Their mere presence seemed to warp the space around them like a ck hole.


    <i>Void Refiner phase! </i>Wu Yuan deduced instantly.


    While facing opponents in the Amethyst Cradle realm might pose a challenge, the disparity wasn''t as pronounced, nor did it evoke such intense pressure.


    Her family maintained two Void Refiner powerhouses at a single branch base year-round?


    In that moment, Wu Yuan gained a deeper understanding of the Zhuo Family''s power and influence.


    "Rise," spoke Zhuo Haiyue, her voice clear and regal, akin to a sovereign surveying her domain.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> The two Void Refiner realm experts approached her, bowing respectfully once more. "Your Highness, we have been informed of your arrival."


    "Mm," Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "I must make my way to the Redmoon Star, matters within the army require my attention."


    "Allow me to introduce my friend, Li Xia," she continued. "He will be residing here temporarily."


    Her gaze swept over them both. "Treat him with care. In the days ahead, emissaries from various sects will extend invitations to him. Exercise caution in my absence."


    "Yes, Your Highness," the two Void Refiner cultivators replied dutifully, casting curious nces at Wu Yuan.


    A friend of Her Highness? They were no strangers to the circles of nobility and understood Zhuo Haiyue''s nature. It was rare for her to refer to someone in such a manner. Moreover, her words suggested that this friend possessed extraordinary qualities, drawing the attention of various sects.


    "Li Xia," Zhuo Haiyue addressed Wu Yuan. "I will return in two days. My subordinates shall handle the invitations from the sects. After selecting the suitable ones, you can make a decision. If you have any thoughts, you can contact me directly through the immortal realm."


    "Thank you, Your Highness," Wu Yuan smiled. "Please attend to your duties with peace of mind."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded before departing in a streak of light, leaving behind the red-robed guards. Only the ck-robed figure trailed after her.


    <i>Redmoon Star.</i> Wu Yuan gazed at the crimson star hanging above. <i>When will I be able to create an artifact like that?</i>


    1. The phrase �Ի����� is an idiom that literally trantes to "crouching tiger, hidden dragon." It is used to describe a situation in which there are many talented or powerful people who are not yet known or recognized. ?

 Chapter 336: 4 Families, 32 Sects

    <h4>Chapter 336: 4 Families, 32 Sects</h4>


    In the past, Wu Yuan had only heard tales of the strength of Archimmortals. But today was his first time witnessing their power firsthand.


    Creating artifacts that resembled stars was but one ability of Archimmortals.


    "Childe Li Xia," a Void Refiner cultivator approached Wu Yuan with a smile. He was d in white robes and had a long face with a slender frame. "I oversee the residence of the noble family in Rising Dragon City. You may address me as Zhuo Qiuhong."


    "Childe Li Xia, I am Zhuo Yuansheng," another Void Refiner cultivator chimed in.


    Though their vital auras were majestic and vigorous, the two individuals maintained a respectful demeanor towards Wu Yuan, addressing him as ''Childe''. This gesture did not go unnoticed by Wu Yuan.


    "Li Xia greets Seniors," Wu Yuan responded. "Please, call me Li Xia."


    Wu Yuan was aware that he was leveraging Zhuo Haiyue''s influence, and was uncertain of how the Void Refiner cultivators truly felt about him. Taking advantage of a situation without overstepping his bounds was a delicate bncing act.


    The two Void Refiner cultivators exchanged a nce, feeling greatly relieved. As powerhouses who had cultivated for thousands of years, they naturally had their pride. Deep down, they were unwilling to bow to Wu Yuan. After all, from what they could tell, Wu Yuan was just an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.


    "Haha, Childe Li Xia need not be so considerate towards us," Zhuo Qiuhong said with a chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood. "As a friend of Her Highness, it is only fitting for us to address you as Childe."


    For the Void Refiner cultivators, the crux of the mattery in Wu Yuan''s attitude rather than his address. After all, for those capable of overseeing a base, such formalities didn��t bother them.


    Wu Yuan recognized that the two were honest about how they felt and decided not to press the issue.


    "Childe Li Xia, please follow us," Zhuo Yuan Sheng gestured with a smile. "Her Highness is set to return in two days, and we have been briefed ordingly. Please rest assured."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    The group proceeded deeper into the mansion, with Zhuo Yuansheng and Zhuo Qiuhong pointing out various features and exotic creatures along the way.


    Finally, they reached a serene courtyard.


    "Childe Li Xia, this will be your amodation for the next few days," Zhuo Yuansheng informed him. "I have sent you a contact request in the immortal realm as per Her Highness�� instructions. Once you have epted my request, I will provide you with the relevant information about the variousrge sects."


    "Let us know if you find any suitable ones. That way, if any faction you are interested in wishes to meet you directly, we can notify you promptly," Zhuo Yuan Sheng added.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    This arrangement was both logical and well-organized.


    "Childe Li Xia, please have a good rest. We shall take our leave now," Zhuo Yuansheng said.


    ...


    The courtyard was still, and the air was dense with spiritual qi. A multitude of maidservants had been prepared for Wu Yuan, a mix of ordinary women and female cultivators at the Qi Sea phase, each oozing with charm. It was clear that the arrangements were made with ulterior motives in mind.


    Yet, with a single order from Wu Yuan, the maidservants were dismissed from the courtyard house, leaving it eerily quiet. A beam of light shot out from Wu Yuan''s sleeve, expanding into the form of Qiong Sea King.


    Now that Qiong Sea King had reached the Spiritual Body phase, he possessed the ability to adjust his size at will, a trait that proved to be quite useful on their journey. Since leaving Fengchuan City, Qiong Sea King had been hiding within Wu Yuan''s robe.


    "Hehe. Master, even as a jiaolong, those human women earlier were truly gorgeous," Qiong Sea King remarked with a mischievous grin. "Such exquisite meat is delivered to your mouth, aren��t you going to eat it?"


    "Master, you have dedicated years to cultivation; it would do you good to unwind every now and then," Qiong Sea King prattled on.


    Wu Yuan shot him a stern nce. "If you cannot speak sensibly, then speak less."


    Qiong Sea King wilted under Wu Yuan''s gaze.


    "Master, are you considering joining a sect?" Qiong Sea King quickly changed the topic.


    Wu Yuan nodded affirmatively. "Mm. To walk the path of cultivation alone is akin to reinventing the wheel; it is unwise. Joining a reputable sect, with experienced seniors to guide you, lessens the risk of straying from the right path."


    "When you are weak, follow the lead of your seniors. When you are strong, then you may consider forging your own path," Wu Yuan exined. This was the philosophy he had always followed.


    Qiong Sea King nodded in agreement.


    "Don��t worry. As my spirit beast, you will reap the benefits of my affiliation with a sect," Wu Yuan assured with a smile.


    Qiong Sea King''s eyes sparkled with anticipation.


    "Master," Qiong Sea King spoke up, "Have you chosen which sect to join?"


    "I��ve yet to make a decision. I��ll need to go through the information avable before making my choice," Wu Yuan replied. "And even then, it is not a guarantee that I��ll be able to join the sect I desire. It also depends on whether they are willing to ept me."


    "Rest and cultivate at your own pace," Wu Yuan added with a smile. "There wille a time when you��ll need to y your role."


    "Yes," Qiong Sea King acknowledged.


    ...


    After chatting with Qiong Sea King, Wu Yuan entered the meditation chamber in the courtyard house and began cultivating.


    The cultivation of essentia and mana demanded patience and dedication; while it may be monotonous, itid the sturdy groundwork of one��s power.


    Many believed that how deeply oneprehended the Dao depended heavily on chance encounters and sudden epiphanies, yet it was the steady umtion of years of contemtion unseen by others that was the true key to mastery.


    Having an epiphany without understanding it thoroughly was akin to building a castle in the air. Sooner orter, the holes in one��s foundation would lead to the whole structure crumbling down.


    Genuine progress could only be achieved through the gradual umtion of knowledge and understanding.


    In the midst of his cultivation, Wu Yuan sent a strand of consciousness into the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Upon entering his personal hall, he received a notification from Little Moon.


    <i>Contact requests?</i> Wu Yuan confirmed that they were from Zhuo Yuansheng and Zhuo Qiuhong and swiftly epted.


    Soon after, he received two virtual immortal slips from Zhuo Yuansheng.


    <i>��3 Immortals, 4 Families, 32 Sects��, ��Myriad Schools of Thought��. </i>Wu Yuan silently read these virtual immortal slips in his personal hall. In a few moments, he realized the true value of these virtual immortal slips.


    <i>How detailed! </i>Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    The previous immortal slips he read in the library had only provided vague details about the variousrge sects and briefly introduced their backgrounds. As for the cultivation sses they specialized in, their top teachings, and notable experts? It was all left out.


    As for information concerning the four prince-rank families? There was barely any.


    Yet, these virtual immortal slips provided an in-depth exploration, chronicling the historical origins of each sect, events that led to their rise and fall, the peerless powerhouses they had produced since their establishment, and even their top-notch teachings. Everything was borated on in detail.


    There were even details about some of the current top-tier experts in each sect.


    <i>How detailed. A prince-rank family truly lives up to its name. If I were to buy this information on my own, it would probably cost more than 10,000 catties of ethercrystal.</i>


    Little did he know, this was actually information collected internally by the Zhuo Family and not avable for sale to the public.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan read through the intelligence, gaining a deeper understanding of the Redmoon Immortal Continent as a whole.


    <i>The three immortals refer to Astral Lord Redblood, Immortal Redmoon, and Archdeity Redaxe, the three leaders of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, Redmoon Immortal Hall, and Myriad Axes Hall respectively.</i>


    These were the top three factions of the immortal continent, with the Redmoon Immortal Hall as the indisputable number one faction.


    <i>So, other than the Redmoon Immortal Hall, the two other factions are recruiting peerless geniuses as well?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    While these two top-tier factions could extend invitations to potential disciples within the borders of the Redmoon Immortal Hall��s territory, they were not permitted to open up recruitment drives on arge scale. Those who received such invitations were invariably prodigies.


    <i>The Bloodforge Devil Hall inclines towards the savage path of the devils.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head. <i>As for the Myriad Axes Hall, it appears to specialize in body refining.</i>


    From their titles alone, one could get a general impression of these factions. Hence, Wu Yuan found himself less interested in the prospects offered by the Bloodforge Devil Hall and Myriad Axes Hall. Given the opportunity, he would much prefer to join the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    <i>The Gu, Fang, Heihe, and Zhuo families are the four prince-rank families.</i> Wu Yuan noted, learning the surnames of the four prince-rank families for the first time. In terms of power, the four prince-rank families surpassed even that of the first-rate sects.


    <i>Under the rule of the Redmoon Immortal Hall, there exist 32 first-rate sects, along with hundreds of second-rate and thousands of third-rate sects. </i>Through the two virtual immortal slips, Wu Yuan finally began to grasp the sheer scale of the size and power of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    If an individual wished to establish a second-rate sect, they had to be a Tribtion High Immortal at least, while one had to be a Divided Soul Earth Immortal at minimum to establish a third-rate sect.


    <i>On the immortal continent, powerhouses are asmonce as clouds. </i>


    Yet, from the virtual immortal slips, Wu Yuan gained a rough understanding that Divided Soul Earth Immortals and Tribtion High Immortals rarely showed themselves on the immortal continent. It seemed their battles unfolded elsewhere, far beyond the continent.


    The macrocosm stretched beyondprehension. The Redmoon Immortal Continent was just the tip of the iceberg that was the Greenridge Macrocosm. Thus, the various sects and factions of the immortal continent were known collectively as the 32 sects and myriad schools of thought.


    <i>Second-rate and third-rate sects rise and fall with the passing of time, their numbers in constant flux. But the first-rate sects have weathered the ages, rooted in extraordinarily profound foundations.</i>


    Yet, even the first-rate sects were not indomitable. ording to the records in the immortal slips, numerous first-rate sects were annihted 100,000 years ago, while two others ascended to prominence during the same period.


    <i>100,000 years ago? Is it a mere coincidence?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The deeper secrets of the immortal continent were as elusive to him as a cloud of fog.


    Nheless, Wu Yuan didn��t spend too much time pondering them. His focus remained on sifting through the various sects and factions, and selecting the one most suited him.


    ...


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye.


    d in silver armor, Zhuo Haiyue made her way straight to Wu Yuan��s courtyard house upon her return to the Zhuo Family estate. "Li Xia, I''m back,�� she announced.


    "Your Highness." Wu Yuan emerged from the meditation chamber.


    The two of them made their way to a pavilion.


    "Please, sit," Zhuo Haiyue said with a slight smile. It was obvious that she was in a good mood. She had likely received a bountiful harvest during her time at the Redmoon Star.


    As Wu Yuan sat down, she flicked her wrist, conjuring a spread of fine wine and delicacies, which she immediately began indulging in with great gusto.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback by her voracious appetite.


    "Don��t be rmed. Food is my greatest passion," Zhuo Haiyue exined with a smile. "There is nothing quite like savoring a delicious meal. For a good dish, I would dly pay 10,000 catties of ethercrystal."


    "Your Highness is truly uninhibited," Wu Yuan remarked sincerely.


    So, it turned out she was a foodie!


    "I have inquired with Zhuo Yuansheng and the others. In the past two days alone, a grand total of 116 factions have extended invitations for you to join their sects," Zhuo Haiyue stated with a smile.


    "116?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise. That many?


    "While the figure may seem high, only sixteen of them are first-rate sects. The rest fall into the category of second-rate sects," Zhuo Haiyue exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. It made sense.


    "What about the Redmoon Immortal Hall? Did they send an invitation?" Wu Yuan asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

 Chapter 337: The Strongest Sword Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 337: The Strongest Sword Immortal</h4>


    If it were possible, Wu Yuan hoped to join the Moonsilver World. After all, the most talented of geniuses required the best environment for cultivation in order to reach their fullest potential.


    "No," Zhuo Haiyue replied, leaving Wu Yuan slightly deted.


    "Li Xia. Your talent ismendable, but it has yet to reach the level of causing a stir in the immortal continent," Zhuo Haiyue remarked, shaking her head. "Do you have any idea how many disciples are currently enrolled in the Moonsilver World? Care to venture a guess?"


    "Perhaps a thousand?" Wu Yuan hazarded a guess. Having spent the past few days reading through the information on various factions, he was well aware that the number of official disciples inrge sects could reach tens of thousands. Once the outer disciples were factored in, the count could easily exceed millions.


    It stood to reason that the Moonsilver World, a ce designed for elite talents, should only have a few thousand disciples.


    "At present, there are only nine elite disciples in the Moonsilver World, and less than 30 ordinary disciples," Zhuo Haiyue disclosed.


    "So few?" Wu Yuan could not hide his astonishment.


    The Moonsilver World was known for selecting only peerless talents from all corners of the immortal continent.


    "Yes, the disciples of the Moonsilver World, as well as those in otherrge sects, are all under 3000 years of age," Zhuo Haiyue sighed. "In other words, the Moonsilver World only recruits a new disciple every few decades on average."


    "Furthermore, they would rather ept no new disciples at all than ept someone substandard. There have been times when centuries went by without a single new disciple being recruited," Zhuo Haiyue emphasized, fixing her gaze on Wu Yuan.


    Her message was clear. Despite his promising talent, Wu Yuan still had a long way to go before being considered for the Moonsilver World.


    This fact was underscored by his performance in the one-star tower. While Wu Yuan had to give his all just toplete level 40, the geniuses of the Moonsilver World could likelyplete level 50 or 60 without breaking a sweat.


    "Though you may not be eligible for the Moonsilver World, your talent is more than enough to secure you a spot in anyrge sect," Zhuo Haiyue reassured him. "You''ve acquainted yourself with various sects over the past few days. Do you have a preference? Has any particr sect caught your eye?"


    "I will let you know if a sect you are interested in has extended an invitation," Zhuo Haiyue stated.


    Ideally, both parties would express mutual interest.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    In truth, over the past few days, he had received numerous messages from Amethyst Cradle Reverends via the immortal realm.


    "Thousand Origins Sword Sect, Hundred Rivers Hall, Fierce Ocean Sword Sect," Wu Yuan listed three sect names, all of which were first-rate sects.


    Wu Yuan didn��t even consider second-rate sects. Being unencumbered by familial ties or other limitations, he naturally gravitated towards the strongest options avable.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "Indeed, while the Thousand Origins Sword Sect may not rank as highly in overall strength among the first-rate sects, they specialize in sword arts. Throughout the ages, they have produced numerous formidable sword immortals, earning them great respect and renown."


    "In contrast, the Hundred Rivers Hall stands among the top ten of all sects, boasting immense power and a rich heritage in the sword path," Zhuo Haiyue continued.


    "The Fierce Ocean Sword Sect, though slightly stronger overall than the Thousand Origins Sword Sect, barely scrapes into the top ten sects," Zhuo Haiyue remarked.


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    He was well-versed in these details and chose these three major sects after thorough research, finding them the most suitable for him.


    "However, only the Thousand Origins Sword Sect and the Hundred Rivers Hall have extended invitations to you," Zhuo Haiyue mentioned. ��The Fierce Ocean Sword Sect has not.��


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback. But after a moment of contemtion, he came to a realization. ��Could it be due to my specialization in the Earth Dao?��


    ��Indeed,�� Zhuo Haiyue said softly, exining, "The two greatest sword inheritances of the Fierce Ocean Sword Sect are based on the Water Dao and Fire Dao, whichplement each other well."


    "Thus, over countless years, the top-tier powerhouses of the Fierce Ocean Sword Sect are almost all Water Dao or Fire Dao specialists. Nowadays, this sword sect primarily recruits disciples who specialize in these two Daos."


    Wu Yuan found himself nodding in agreement.


    Each sect had its own unique strengths and weaknesses, along with its own distinct specialization. Though they were all sword cultivation sects, there were naturally slight differences in their methods.


    Moreover, he had chosen the Fierce Ocean Sword Sect as a fallback option.


    "If the Fierce Ocean Sword Sect does not see fit to ept me, then so be it," Wu Yuan shook his head. "What about the Thousand Origins Sword Sect and the Hundred Rivers Hall?"


    From Zhuo Haiyue''s words, both of them had extended invitations to him.


    "Among the two, the Hundred Rivers Hall boasts greater overall strength, with several Tribtion High Immortals in their midst. However, their expertise in the sword pales inparison to the Thousand Origins Sword Sect," Zhuo Haiyue exined solemnly, "You must choose between the two, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each."


    "Hmm," Wu Yuan pondered.


    It was difficult to find a perfect solution. Even if the Thousand Origins Sword Sect was considered weaker inparison, the fact that it stood as a first-rate sect meant its strength was undeniable.


    To Wu Yuan, both of these sects were behemoths.


    "The conditions put forth by these two sects are quite simr," remarked Zhuo Haiyue. "If you have established a sixth-degree immortal root, they will ept you as an hereditary disciple. If you have a fourth-degree immortal root, you will not only attain hereditary disciple status, but also be taken under the wing of a Divided Soul Earth Immortal."


    "Of course, there may be the rare Tribtion High Immortal willing to take on disciples, but such urrences arergely dependent on chance," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "After all, the Tribtion High Immortals are burdened with the pressure of their impending Tribtion, and are oftentimes disinclined to take on the responsibility of mentoring disciples."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding, finding that the conditions presented by the two sects aligned closely with his expectations. The status of hereditary disciple within these first-rate sects was highly coveted, with only a few hundred positions under usual circumstances. Furthermore, the position was apanied by unparalleled privileges.


    Additionally, bing a disciple of a Divided Soul Earth Immortal was equivalent to gaining a powerful backer. As Wu Yuan deliberated between the Thousand Origins Sword Sect and the Hundred River Pce, Zhuo Haiyue offered an unexpected suggestion.


    "Li Xia, while joining either of these first-rate sects would be beneficial, I believe there is an alternative worth considering."


    ��Oh?�� Wu Yuan was surprised. An alternative?


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Zhuo Haiyue stated simply.


    Wu Yuan��s confusion was evident. "Your Highness, this sect does not appear to specialize in swordsmanship."


    From his research, he learned that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect leaned towards body refinement. As for qi refining, itcked the same level of renown.


    "Indeed, when measured against the Thousand Origins Sword Sect, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect falls short in their swordsmanship aplishments," Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "However, I rmend this sect to you for three reasons."


    "I look forward to hearing your insights," Wu Yuan said. He knew the scope of Zhuo Haiyue''s knowledge far surpassed his own.


    "Firstly, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect stands as the strongest among the 32 sects, undisputedly holding the number one position," Zhuo Haiyue spoke with a serious tone. "Even the four prince-rank families pale inparison to the might of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Only the top three factions surpass it."


    "The strongest?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    The intelligence he had reviewed earlier only provided vague descriptions of the overall strengths of the various sects, without clearly indicating their exact ranking. But after some thought, he could understand why. Each of the first-rate sects had a long history and profound heritage. No one knew for sure what powerful cards they had kept hidden.


    "That is because a living Archdemon resides within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Zhuo Haiyue revealed.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment. An Archdemon? Was it true?


    The type of Archdemon mentioned by Zhuo Haiyue differed from the Archdemons of the Middle Land.


    For qi refiners, whether one specialized in the sword, array, alchemy or other sses, upon oveing their Tribtions and achieving immortality, they were referred to as Archimmortals, beings whose longevity was equal to that of the heavens.


    On the other hand, body refiners who were part of the demonic, blood devil body or other sses who sessfully constructed their universes were known as Archeldritch, Archdemon, Archdevil, Archdeity, and other such titles, cing them at a simr level.


    Wu Yuan had yet to hear of any first-rate sect with an Archimmortal-level powerhouse in their ranks. Clearly, his knowledge was iplete.


    "That Archdemon is immensely powerful," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head slightly. "His presence greatly bolsters the power of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect as a whole. The stronger a sect, the more abundant its cultivation resources. This is the first reason I urge you to consider joining."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Resources were indeed crucial. His lifebound flying swords would require increasingly precious treasures and materials the further they were upgraded.


    "The second reason lies in the fact that, while the sword ss inheritances within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect aren��t the most powerful, the strongest sword immortal of this era across the entire immortal continent is a member of this sect," Zhuo Haiyue stated solemnly. "Though he is only at the Tribtion phase, hisbat power rivals that of an Archimmortal."


    "A sword immortal whose strikes defy allws, renowned for his devastating attacks."


    "However, it is still unheard of for a Tribtion cultivator to match an Archimmortal," Zhuo Haiyue added softly. "Thanks to this sword immortal, the reputation of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect only continues to rise."


    Wu Yuan was left in awe at these revtions. The Dragon Star Immortal Sect was truly incredible.


    "How about the third reason?" Wu Yuan inquired eagerly.


    Zhuo Haiyue met his gaze and spoke, "The sword immortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect cultivates the Heaven and Earth Sword Path."


    In an instant, a surge of electric anticipation coursed through Wu Yuan''s mind. To think that he was cultivating the Heaven and Earth Sword Path!


    Zhuo Haiyue continued, "You are currently studying the Dark Earth Sword Path. Once mastered, you can progress to the Heaven and Earth Sword Path. The second and third reasons can thus bebined into one."


    "Perhaps the Thousand Origins Sword Sect and the Hundred Rivers Sect may boast a richer sword heritage, particrly the Thousand Origins Sword Sect, of which several Tribtion sword immortals are members."


    "However, within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, there is one individual best suited to be your mentor. On top of that, his sword inheritance is the most fitting one for you."


    "When ites to an inheritance, my advice is to choose quality over quantity," Zhuo Haiyue concluded.


    Wu Yuan waspletely convinced. Hadn''t his qi refiner self ventured into this new world in search of a superior mentor and inheritance?


    "Though, joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is not without its drawbacks."


    "The main challenge lies in convincing that Tribtion High Immortal to take you under his wing," Zhuo Haiyue warned. "Should he agree, the benefits will outweigh the risks."


    "However, if he declines, joining the Thousand Origins Sword Sect might be a better option."


    "After all, the Dragon Star Immortal Sectcks other Tribtion sword immortals and has few Divided Soul sword immortals."


    Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.


    Joining the Thousand Origins Sword Sect or Hundred Rivers Hall gave him a greater sense of security. On the other hand, joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was essentially a gamble on securing the mentorship of the Tribtion High Immortal. The rewards were great, but so too were the risks.


    "Li Xia, this is merely my suggestion. The decision ultimately lies with you," Zhuo Haiyue remarked. "When you''ve made your choice, drop me a message."


    As she prepared to depart, Wu Yuan interjected, "There��s no need, Your Highness. I have made my decision."

 Chapter 338: Probe

    <h4>Chapter 338: Probe</h4>


    "Oh? You''ve made your decision so quickly?" Zhuo Haiyue''s eyebrows rose in surprise. Joining a sect was not a decision to be made lightly. Prudence was of utmost importance.


    "I have chosen to join the Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Wu Yuan stated calmly.


    "Why?" Zhuo Haiyue''s curiosity was piqued.


    "If I am to learn from someone, I wish to learn from the strongest and most suitable teacher for me," Wu Yuan exined solemnly. "While the Thousand Origins Sword Sect and Hundred Rivers Hall have their strengths, they may not align with my own. Not every sect possesses the Heaven and Earth Sword Path."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in agreement. The Dark Earth Sword Path was a profound sword art, considered an orthodox path of the Earth sword, and not easily found in second-rate and third-rate sects.


    As for the Heaven and Earth Sword Path, it was a sword methodology even Archimmortals were eager to study and learn. It pointed directly to a Great Dao, so naturally, few sects possessed it.


    Zhuo Haiyue knew only the Moonsilver World and Dragon Star Immortal Sect possessed it. Other sects might not necessarily have it.


    "You should consider your decision carefully," Zhuo Haiyue advised. "With your talent, bing a disciple of a Divided Soul Earth Immortal in another sect will not be a challenge. But this may not be the case if you join the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. There is a chance that you will find yourself without a master to guide you."


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan smiled with a subtle nod. "Your Highness, I have faith in my abilities. If I can secure a ce as a disciple of the strongest sword immortal, that would be the ideal oue. If not, I will strive to be a disciple of another Tribtion High Immortal,"


    "The sword is but a vessel; the Dao is the foundation. Even without a sword immortal as a master, guidance from a Tribtion High Immortal will still be valuable." Wu Yuan said with a calm tone. This was the n he had decided on.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in approval. "Li Xia, since you are certain, then it is for the best. I will do everything in my power to assist you."


    "However, you must disclose the true degree of your immortal root first. This information is crucial," Zhuo Haiyue insisted seriously.


    The performance one showed in the Redmoon Immortal Realm was only one indicator of talent for sects to reference. A high level of Daoprehension was essential, but a strong immortal root was equally important.


    "Immortal root?" A trace of hesitation shed through Wu Yuan''s mind before he spoke, "Third degree."


    "Third degree?" It was Zhuo Haiyue''s turn to be taken aback, and a look of disbelief shed in her eyes. "Truly?"


    Wu Yuan nodded firmly. "Yes, Your Highness. When joining a sect, the truth about my immortal root will inevitablye to light. There is no point in me deceiving you about this matter."


    There was no point lying about something that would be exposed sooner orter.


    "Excellent." Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes brightened, a smile gracing her features. "I see now. No wonder the attack power you disyed during the fight with Tu Chi was so high, surpassing that of a typical Golden Core cultivator. This should be attributed to your powerful immortal root."


    "Alright. Based on yourprehension aptitude, your chances were around 10%. But with a robust immortal root to boot, your chances have now risen to 30%." Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    "30%?" Wu Yuan''s surprise was evident.


    "Yes, it will not be a challenge for you to gain entry into the Dragon Star Immortal Sect as a core disciple," Zhuo Haiyue remarked. "But whether you can catch the eye of that Tribtion sword immortal will depend on fate."


    "No matter how talented you are, it won��t matter if he��s unwilling to ept you as a disciple.��


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The decision to ept disciples ultimately rested in the master''s hands.


    "Look forward to good news," Zhuo Haiyue dered, rising to her feet. "With your talent, it would be a disservice if you did not make a mark in the world."


    "I am grateful, Your Highness," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    Despite the way Zhuo Haiyue treated him initially, Wu Yuan began to realize that she was not as authoritarian as he had assumed. Perhaps their ''friendship'' was akin to that of a superior and subordinate, but she did not impose her will on him.


    As they spent more time together, Wu Yuan felt that her concern for him was genuine. He always adhered to the principle of judging actions instead of intentions, and deep down, he was quite grateful to Zhuo Haiyue.


    After chatting a little more, Wu Yuan watched as Zhuo Haiyue departed.


    <i>The Dragon Star Immortal Sect? The strongest sect, with the strongest sword immortal?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Is this the sect I will be joining?</i>


    While not everything Zhuo Haiyue said was necessarily urate, a sect of such caliber, even if not the top among first-rate sects, certainly ranked within the top three.


    <i>Now, it all hinges on whether that sword immortal will ept me as a disciple. </i>He trusted that Zhuo Haiyue would not deceive him, given her high status and ess to valuable information.


    <i>Continue cultivating.</i> Wu Yuan reminded himself.


    Wu Yuan''s mind was not disturbed by his conversation with Zhuo Haiyue. Decades of dedication to cultivation had instilled an unwavering focus in him.


    <i>Whether it is a famous instructor or a prestigious sect, personal strength forms the bedrock. The stronger I be, the more confident I will be when facing whatever challenges lie ahead. </i>Wu Yuan harbored no doubts about this truth.


    ...


    As Zhuo Haiyue left Wu Yuan''s courtyard house, her smile disappeared, reced by her usual cold expression as she soared through the sky.


    Shended swiftly in the central hall of the estate, finding it deserted except for the red-robed bodyguards on duty. Without hesitation, she strode into the main hall.


    In a swift movement, a figure cloaked in ck materialized beside her, speaking softly, "Your Highness, how did it go?"


    "Li Xia did not try to deceive me. He openly admitted that his immortal root is of the third degree," Zhuo Haiyue replied impassively. "He��s honest at least."


    "What is your n, Your Highness?" the figure in ck inquired.


    "We will offer him our full support," Zhuo Haiyue murmured. "The sword immortal from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is nearing his ninth Tribtion, and there��s no guarantee of survival. With his only two disciples deceased, he likely seeks a worthy sessor before attempting his Tribtion."


    "Li Xia has appeared at the perfect timing, and fits the bill well," Zhuo Haiyue remarked.


    "Mm. His soul is resilient, his immortal root robust, and hisprehension aptitude exceptional. He has strong pride, and is a raw jade waiting to be polished into a powerful sword immortal. I believe he stands a good chance of gaining the favor of High Immortal Dong Yang." The figure in ck nodded in agreement.


    "However, Your Highness, are we truly going to assist him? The Dragon Star Immortal Sect did not extend an invitation, and the costs we��ll bear may be significant."


    It was never good to be too pushy in a sale, and the same could be said for joining a sect.


    There were no disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect at the banquet on Southmoon Ind a few days ago. But after the event, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had gotten the news yet did not extend an invitation to Wu Yuan, which was quite telling.


    Zhuo Haiyue shook her head knowingly. "Previously, they didn''t know Li Xia''s age and immortal root degree. Once they are aware of Li Xia''s true potential, how can they resist?��


    ��Old Yu, out of the six disciples under your tutge, I doubt any of them can match up to Li Xia in terms of talent."


    The figure in ck conceded, "Indeed, Li Xia is very decent."


    "Then we shall aid him," Zhuo Haiyue dered, looking at the old man in ck. "Old Yu, I understand your reservations. Even after enlisting the immortal army��s intelligencework, we are unable to confirm his origins. However, from the Redmoon Immortal Record, we know that he is a native being of the Redmoon Immortal Continent who isn��t from the bloodline of the Fang Family. That is sufficient."


    "A hero''s origin doesn''t matter," Zhuo Haiyue continued. [1]


    "By supporting him now,plications may arise, but they are hardly worth mentioning. But in the future, he might be a Tribtion sword immortal."


    "If he bes the next Sword Immortal Dong Yang," Zhuo Haiyue mused with a glint of anticipation in her eyes. "With him at our side, the Fang Family will crumble much more easily."


    "Even if he falls short of Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s level, reaching the Tribtion phase will still grant him a position of influence within the Dragon Star Sword Sect," Zhuo Haiyue concluded. "Perhaps it will lead to unexpected results."


    1. (Ӣ�۲��ʳ���) The proverb means that the worth of a person is not determined by their background or social status, but by their actions and character. ?

 Chapter 339: An Earth Immortal Descends

    <h4>Chapter 339: An Earth Immortal Descends</h4>


    Be the second Sword Immortal Dong Yang? The ck-robed figure sighed inwardly. How could it be that easy?


    How many tens of thousands of years did it take for the Redmoon Immortal Continent to produce a single Sword Immortal Dong Yang?


    In his estimation, Wu Yuan''s talent was not bad, but it paled inparison to that of Sword Immortal Dong Yang. Yet, he refrained from voicing his doubts, fully aware of the weight Zhuo Haiyue bore on her shoulders.


    As the leader of Zhuo Haiyue''s guard team, he only possessed the authority to make suggestions, but not decisions.


    "Since Your Highness has thought it through, I shall proceed as such," he said in a deep voice. "I will send Li Xia��s details to the Inspection Bureau of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and utilize our connection with Earth Immortal Qing Feng to maneuver within the sect."


    "Very well," Zhuo Haiyue responded with a slight nod.


    Though she had not revealed the full extent of her talent, the small fraction she had shown so far already propelled her into the top three elites of the Zhuo Family''s younger generation.


    The other major background she possessed also elevated her status significantly, allowing her to forge alliances far and wide.


    Within a few brief decades, she had forged connections with numerous sects and factions. While a majority were just superficial friendships, they could still prove helpful in times of need.


    ...


    <i>Within an opulent, top-of-the-line pavilion in Zhuo Star City.</i>


    A refined middle-aged man garbed in purple robes entered the hall with a genial smile. "Daoist Yu, it has been quite some time," he greeted.


    He was Qing Feng, a Divided Soul Earth Immortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. He had cultivated for only a few thousand years, yet his fame spanned the entire immortal continent. He was even viewed as a potential Tribtion High Immortal in the making.


    "Daoist Qing Feng, please, take a seat," the ck-robed figure gestured with a weing smile.


    As they settled in, the ck-robed figure swiftly outlined his intentions.


    "Rmending someone into the sect, is this someone Her Highness has high hopes for?" Qing Feng was slightly surprised. "Given Her Highness�� influence, securing admission for someone should not pose much of a challenge."


    The power held by Zhuo Haiyue was not lost on Qingfeng, despite her seemingly low cultivation phase as an Amethyst Cradle. Even as a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, he knew better than to cross her.


    "It��s not as simple as that. If it were merely an ordinary outer or inner disciple, I would not dare trouble you, Daoist Qing Feng,�� the ck-robed figure chuckled. ��Her Highness aspires to endorse this disciple for hereditary disciple status."


    "Hereditary disciple?" Earth Immortal Qing Feng was slightly taken aback. Then he slowly shook his head. "Hereditary disciples hold a pivotal position within any sect. Currently, our Dragon Star Immortal Sect has fewer than 1000 hereditary disciples, each of whom must be jointly approved by the veteran elders and custodian elders."


    "The decision is not mine to make," Qing Feng stated frankly, acknowledging his limitations.


    "Daoist Qing Feng, there��s no need for such concern, we have no intentions of making things difficult for you. Her Highness Haiyue does not practice coercion," the figure in ck robes said with a faint smile. "Let��s have a look at the details of the candidate first, shall we?"


    "Agreed," Earth Immortal Qing Feng replied, nodding.


    With a fluid movement, the figure handed over a virtual immortal slip to Earth Immortal Qing Feng, who wasted no time reading through its contents with his Soul Force.


    As he read the descriptions and watched the battle recordings, astonishment flickered in Earth Immortal Qing Feng''s eyes.


    "A third-degree immortal root,pleted level 40 of the one-star tower before the age of 50, and formerly a loose cultivator?"


    As a Divided Soul powerhouse, he understood the significance of these three details. This was indeed an unpolished jade! Since he could rise to such a level without guidance or training, one could only imagine the heights he could reach with proper mentorship within a sect. Even without mentioning anything else, a third-degree immortal root alone meant he already far surpassed the majority of cultivators.


    Setting down the virtual immortal slip, Earth Immortal Qing Feng couldn��t help but voice his doubts. "Daoist Yu, I hope you are not deceiving me. His name is Li Xia? Such potential, while not on par with Her Highness Haiyue, is still top-tier. Even if he is unable to enter the Moonsilver World, it should be a piece of cake for him to join any sect as a core disciple, right?"


    He was rather puzzled. With Li Xia''s talent and Zhuo Haiyue''s support, he could secure a ce as a hereditary disciple of the sect. Why go to him?


    "The information on Li Xia is genuine. As I said, I wouldn''t make it difficult for you." the ck-robed figure assured him with a smile. "However, he hopes to study under Sword Immortal Dong Yang."


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Earth Immortal Qing Feng''s surprise was evident.


    However, he quickly understood their intentions and furrowed his brow. "There may be a chance."


    "However, you must understand that news of Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s uing Ninth Tribtion has long spread," Earth Immortal Qing Feng informed the ck-robed figure. "Hence, many aspire to be his disciple, and the sect has seen its fair share of talented sword cultivator disciples over the years."


    ��Mm.�� The ck-robed figure nodded in understanding.


    He was naturally well aware of the situation. Powerhouses who were members of sects adhered to certain rules and obligations, unlike loose cultivators. Before facing their Tribtions, they often left behind inheritances or took on disciples who would go on to be their sessors.


    If a sword immortal like Dong Yang who could rival Archimmortals was on the lookout for a new disciple, how could it not garner attention? One could say that this matter had piqued the interest of allrge factions on the immortal continent. Many influential families had sent their members to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect with this particr goal in mind.


    "I can promise Her Highness that once Li Xia joins the sect, I will immediately put forth my rmendation," dered Earth Immortal Qing Feng. "This way, the abbot, elders, and even Ancestor Dong Yang can acquaint themselves with Li Xia��s profile at the earliest opportunity."


    "However," Qing Feng continued, "the ultimate decision of who Ancestor Dong Yang will choose as his sessor, and when that decision will be made, is beyond my control."


    "Haha, both Her Highness and Li Xia deeply appreciate your efforts," chuckled the figure in ck robes.


    Sometimes, all it took for a budding genius to shine was a single opportunity.


    Earth Immortal Qing Feng was actually just a safety arranged by Zhuo Haiyue for Wu Yuan, providing an alternative path to joining the sect in order to prevent the worst-case scenario.


    Without this intervention, Wu Yuan might go unnoticed by Sword Immortal Dong Yang no matter how prodigious his talent, and thus never be considered as a potential sessor.


    ...


    <i>Three days after meeting Zhuo Haiyue.</i>


    Wu Yuan sat in lotus position within the meditation chamber of the Zhuo Family''s residence in Rising Dragon City. There, he silently practiced the Dark Earth Sword Array.


    <i>Disperse!</i> Wu Yuanmanded, and earthy-yellow flying swords swirled around him like rivulets of water, each one emitting a brilliant light. Though they were controlled solely by his Soul Force and not infused with essentia, these swords held remarkable power.


    <i>Assemble! </i>Wu Yuan focused, and nine flying swords with particrly strong auras began to merge. Layers of cryptic patterns glowed, linking the swords and forming an illusory divine sword that extended ten zhangs in length �C The Sword Within Reach.


    <i>My lifebound flying swords may only be sixth-grade spirit weapons, but they possess the power of fourth-grade spirit weapons. If used as the core of the Thousand Swords Array, it would be far easier to sustain, ensuring it''sbat power won''t dip after just one strike.</i>


    <i>If they could be further upgraded, the Hundred Swords Array with these swords as the core could rival the Thousand Swords Array I deployed in the one-star tower.</i>


    Lifebound flying swords were like an extension of the arm. The effect of employing them as the core of an array was worlds apartpared to using ordinary sword artifacts.


    <i>Regrettably, after spending months in Fengchuan City and investing nearly 10,000 catties of ethercrystal in treasures and materials, the swords have only progressed to sixth-grade spirit weapons. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Given his current cultivation level, Wu Yuan could potentially upgrade them to fourth-grade spirit weapons as long as he acquired more resources. Then, when he released the nine swords together, their strength would be equivalent to second-grade spirit flying swords. Their power would gain a significant boost!


    <i>I��ve yet to upgrade my flying swords, but progress has been made on other fronts.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind was calm.


    A swirling aura of earthy yellow qi streams began to envelop him. The qi was incredibly dense, almost tangible, with a weight that seemed capable of bending the fabric of space itself.


    <i>The eighth level of the Domain stage is proving to be a formidable step up from the seventh. </i>Wu Yuan noted, sensing the shift in his power.


    Indeed! Wu Yuan had been spending the past few days meditating on his battles in the one-star tower along with his body refiner self. This eventually led him to a breakthrough, propelling him to the eighth level of the Domain stage.


    <i>Advancing further will bring me to the ninth level of the Domain stage. Then, I��ll redeem my reward from the one-star tower and experience a True Intent perception simtion.</i>


    Wu Yuan was looking forward to that day.


    Suddenly, an urgent message interrupted his thoughts. "Master Li Xia,e quickly. An Earth Immortal from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has arrived," the message from Zhuo Yuansheng was ryed to Wu Yuan through the courtyard array.


    The whole courtyard house was protected by an invisible array. Even Zhuo Haiyue couldn''t spy on Wu Yuan directly, she could only send a message through the array first and wait for Wu Yuan to exit the house.


    Of course, in case of an emergency, the Zhuo Family was also capable of forcefully disabling the array, but they wouldn''t normally do so.


    <i>It��s only been a few days, yet the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has already sent a representative? </i>Wu Yuan opened his eyes, surprise flickering in his gaze.


    An Earth Immortal? It seemed they were taking him very seriously!


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan emerged from his meditation chamber and took to the sky above the courtyard, following the direction indicated in Zhuo Yuansheng''s message.


    Wu Yuan swiftly reached the entrance of the main hall, where Zhuo Qiuhong, wearing white robes, hurried to greet him. "Childe Li Xia, you��re here.��


    "What��s the current situation?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect has reviewed your profile and extended an invitation to you," Zhuo Qiuhong replied. "An Earth Immortal from the sect in charge of recruiting new disciples is here to assess your potential. Upon a satisfactory evaluation, you will be a true hereditary disciple of the sect."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled with excitement. The moment he had been eagerly awaiting had finally arrived.


    "Her Highness is not around. It isn��t appropriate for her tomunicate directly with the cultivators of Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Zhuo Qiuhong continued. "However, she has informed us that she will monitor the situation here closely. If needed, you can seek assistance from her directly in the immortal realm."


    Wu Yuan nodded. He had to acknowledge that Zhuo Haiyue had considered everything thoroughly.


    "In addition," Zhuo Qiuhong added, "Her Highness mentioned that the Earth Immortal overseeing the assessment has also brought along other freshly recruited disciples. All of them possess exceptional talent. To achieve your objective, Childe, you must strive to be the most dazzling among them."


    The most dazzling among them? Wu Yuan pondered for a moment.


    Seeing that Wu Yuan understood, Zhuo Qiuhong refrained from further exnation. In truth, he didn''t understand what Wu Yuan''s objective was. He was merely repeating Zhuo Haiyue��s words.


    With that, Wu Yuan flew into the main hall, surveying the scene before him as hended.


    An elderly man in purple robes, emanating a powerful aura, upied the host seat, carefully attended to by Zhuo Yuansheng.


    Beside him were over ten individuals of varying aura strengths. Two of them exuded a formidable aura akin to Zhuo Yuansheng''s, likely Void Refiner cultivators as well. Meanwhile, the rest appeared to be younger, possibly in the Golden Core or Qi Sea phases.


    Wu Yuan instantly grasped the situation.


    "Childe Li Xia," Zhuo Yuansheng lifted his head as Wu Yuan approached, announcing in a loud voice. "This is Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    "Li Xia, your reputation precedes you. Your soul is indeed as powerful as they say." The elderly man d in purple robes spoke with a kindly smile, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan like a zing torch. His friendly demeanor exuded a warmth that made him easily likable.


    The other individuals in the hall, particrly the group of ten young immortal cultivators, couldn''t help but cast curious nces towards Wu Yuan.


    Throughout their journey here, they had heard many tales of his remarkable achievements. He was a prodigy that Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng couldn��t stop singing praises about. However, as they observed him now, they found Wu Yuan to be unremarkable, his vital aura appearing rather average.


    "Li Xia pays his respects to Senior Xiang Sheng," Wu Yuan greeted with a bow.


    The purple-robed elderly man exuded a frighteningly powerful vital aura unlike any Wu Yuan had encountered before. It radiated from him, as intense as the sun itself. Only the ck-robed figure guarding Zhuo Haiyue evoked a simr sensation.


    "Li Xia, there is no need for such formalities," the elderly man smiled. "The sect elders assembly has decided that you will be granted the status of hereditary disciple in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect as long as you pass my assessment."


    "What?"


    "Hereditary disciple?"


    "A direct hereditary disciple!" The expressions of the young immortal cultivators transformed. They thought their abilities were exceptional, yet they were merely inner disciples upon entering the sect.

 Chapter 340: Dragon-Phoenix Phenomenon (1)

    <h4>Chapter 340: Dragon-Phoenix Phenomenon (1)</h4>


    Numerous sects were established on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, yet their structures remainedrgely uniform.


    Disciples were typically those below the Void Refiner phase. Those who reached the Void Refiner phase were considered powerhouses of the immortal continent.


    Disciples were generally categorized into outer, inner, and hereditary disciples, representing the importance the sect ced on them. The difference of just one rank meant a world of difference in resources and influence within the sect.


    Apart from the hereditary disciples, there were also those fortunate enough to be personally mentored by immortals, a privilege that set them apart from the usual hierarchy of the sect.


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood as the top sect on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, boasting millions of disciples and dominion over billions of li of territories, making it a realm of boundless prosperity.


    Attaining the status of outer disciple was amendable achievement for many Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators. To be recognized as an inner disciple certified one as a prodigy.


    As for hereditary status? It was reserved for the top few hundred most exceptional talents within the sect. Such individuals were one-in-10,000 prodigies among their peers in the Golden Core or Amethyst Cradle phases.


    As a result, the newly enrolled disciples apanying the immortal looked at Wu Yuan with altered expressions. Their eyes brimmed with curiosity, skepticism, and above all, envy. Even the two Void Refiner powerhouses regarded him with a measure of interest.


    "No wonder the Earth Immortal personally made the trip here. His main purpose is to test this Li Xia, and just picked up these little fellows since they were on the way.�� The Void Refiner cultivatorsmunicated via telepathy.


    Within the sect, Void Refiners held the position of protectorates. Thus, they observed the proceedings with a detached demeanor. Having never met Wu Yuan before, and with neither personal grudges nor grievances with him, they maintained a neutral stance toward him. They weren��t concerned about whether he would go on to be a hereditary disciple.


    "What is the nature of the assessment, Senior?" inquired Wu Yuan respectfully.


    No matter which sect one joined, assessments were standard protocol, so Wu Yuan did not see it as a negative. On the contrary, he was eager to showcase his talent and skills.


    "The assessment will evaluate your immortal root," replied Xiang Sheng with a genial smile. "Brother Qing Feng spoke highly of your talents, and while I trust his judgment, certain protocols must be observed."


    The mention of Brother Qing Feng sparked a flicker of confusion in Wu Yuan''s eyes. Who was that? Since Xiang Sheng was a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, someone addressed by him as such was probably another Divided Soul Earth Immortal.


    As for the other disciples, they too did not recognize the name Qing Feng.


    Qing Feng��s name was well-known, but that was among the high level beings of the Immortal Continent. For the countless Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators on the vastnd, they wouldn��t have such knowledge.


    Only the two Void Refiner cultivators exchanged surprised nces. At that moment, their impressions of Wu Yuan also changed.


    He was someone rmended by Earth Immortal Qing Feng? Furthermore, their current location was a branch residence of the prince-ranked Zhuo Family? Spections began forming in their minds.


    A member of the Zhuo Family? The illegitimate child of some big shot?


    Either way, they knew without a shadow of a doubt that Wu Yuan was someone with a massive background.


    With a gesture from Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, a grand cauldron soared into the air.


    The cauldron, standing at two zhangs tall with three legs and a bronze-colored surface, was adorned with intricate carvings of flora and fauna, along with ever-changing scenes of mountains and rivers as if amodating all the myriad sceneries of the world. It was incredibly mystical.


    "Li Xia, this is the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations. Though it isn''t celestial grade, it is top-tier among spirion equipment. It can urately assess the immortal root, cultivation and age of those below the Void Refiner phase." Xiang Sheng exined.


    ��Please step inside.�� He motioned for Wu Yuan to enter the cauldron.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan responded respectfully, eyeing the cauldron with intrigue.


    Out of the nine grades of spirit equipment, first-grade items were the most precious, andmon Amethyst Cradle cultivators would find it hard to obtain one.


    However, for Void Refiners and immortals, spirit equipment was no longer sufficient for their needs. Instead, they wielded spirion equipment. These were extraordinarily powerful objects imbued with a hint of Dao resonance.


    And above spirion equipment, there were the legendary celestial equipment that could cultivate, ovee Tribtions, and upgrade themselves.


    Feeling assured that the Earth Immortal wouldn��t harm him, Wu Yuan flew into the cauldron. Inside, fog swirled around him turbulently.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan sensed waves of mysterious fluctuations probing his entire body, as if attempting to uncover his deepest secrets. Unfazed, he weed the scrutiny. The degree of his immortal root and other details pertaining to his talent were no secret.


    The ck pagoda was his greatest secret. But after everything he had experienced, he was confident that it would take more than this to detect its existence.


    Time drifted by.


    "Why isn''t anything happening?"


    ��What��s going on?�� The disciples observed the silent cauldron with furrowed brows.


    By now, it had been three to four breaths since Wu Yuan entered the cauldron.


    "This is strange," remarked a youth in brocade attire through telepathy. "When our immortal roots were assessed, the various phenomena manifested quickly and vividly."


    "My fifth-degree root manifested insects and birds," another disciple transmitted.


    "My fifth-degree immortal root manifested a flock of circling birds."


    "If I remember correctly, Brother Fei Lang''s immortal root is the strongest among us," interjected a red-robed young woman via telepathy. "Upon entering the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations, it manifested the scene of a rushing river, a rare urrence even among fourth-degree roots. He is almost certainly able to upgrade his root to a higher grade in the future."


    All eyes turned to Fei Lang, a striking figure adorned in mboyant attire that matched his devilish charm.


    Among the group of disciples, he had the greatest talent, and Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng saw the promise of a future hereditary disciple in him.


    Fei Lang fixed his eyes on the grand cauldron, transmitting his voice to the other disciples, ��I may have a fourth-degree immortal root, but everyone here is not bad either."


    "By right, given that Li Xia received such high praise from an immortal, he should at least possess a fourth-degree immortal root. But..." Fei Lang shook his head ever so slightly.


    "Looking at the current situation, forget a fourth-degree immortal root, I��m guessing he didn��t even establish a sixth-degree immortal root. He has most likely established an immortal root in the bottom three degrees."


    ��Haha. Is someone like that even worthy of bing a hereditary disciple of the sect?�� A sense of disdain crept into Fei Lang''s tone.


    The other disciples nodded in agreement. Their perception of Wu Yuan was less than favorable. All of them were heaven-blessed prodigies of their respective families and immortal cities, and had pride in their abilities.


    Yet, Wu Yuan, who did not appear particrly strong, was directly admitted as a hereditary disciple? Naturally, they were rather unwilling to ept this.


    Combined with Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng singing his praises, this result seemed to serve as evidence that Wu Yuan hadn��t gotten this far with actual talent and effort. Now, as they watched the possibility of Wu Yuan making a blunder, a sense of satisfaction crept over these disciples.


    <i>Hmph, admitting a hereditary disciple with a low-degree immortal root? Even if his background is as vast as the heavens, it''s still not possible.</i> Fei Lang muttered inwardly.


    Even if he was an Archimmortal��s son, shouldn��t he at least care about his dignity?


    It was just these disciples who harbored doubts. After a significant amount of time passed with no movement from the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations, the two Void Refiner Eminences disyed expressions of uncertainty.


    Since an Earth Immortal had praised him so highly, shouldn''t Wu Yuan possess a fifth-degree immortal root at least? While one��s immortal root did not dictate everything, if it was too weak, there would certainly be issues.

 Chapter 341: Dragon-Phoenix Phenomenon (2)

    <h4>Chapter 341: Dragon-Phoenix Phenomenon (2)</h4>


    But then, in a sudden burst of light, the cauldron came to life, spewing out clusters of fog and conjuring illusions of flowers, birds, fish, and insects that fluttered out into the air.


    ��A sixth-degree immortal root?" one disciple eximed in confusion.


    Before anyone could react, shadowy forms of exotic beasts emerged from the cauldron, their low growls echoing throughout the hall.


    "A fourth-degree immortal root?" Fei Lang was taken aback. This phenomenon was not inferior to his own.


    Then, with a thunderous roar and a piercing cry, a dragon and a phoenix spiraled out of the cauldron. Though mere illusions, these top-tier beasts exuded a power that left the disciples in awe.


    Although they were just phantasmal traces manifested by the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations, they were still the top-tier divine beasts. Their vast and imposing aura was strong enough to suppress entire worlds. Though just a trace of their aura was manifested, it caused the faces of the disciples to pale slightly.


    "A dragon��s roar and phoenix��s cry, a dragon-phoenix phenomenon?" The two Void Refiner cultivators exchanged astonished looks, recognizing the significance of this disy.


    A high-degree immortal root!


    "So this Li Xia possesses a third-degree immortal root," remarked one of the Void Refiner cultivators.


    "No wonder he was directly admitted as a hereditary disciple. Even if his Daoprehension aptitude is somewhatcking, there is still hope for him to be a hereditary disciple with his immortal root alone," the other Void Refiner cultivator added, his voice tinged with quiet surprise.


    They were well aware of the significance of a high-degree immortal root: it was the criteria to be an immortal!


    To reach the Void Refiner phase, one needed to establish a sixth-degree immortal root at minimum. To ovee the Tribtions and be an Archimmortal, one had to possess an immortal root in the top three degrees.


    With a weak immortal root, one��s journey to pseudo-immortality would be fraught with peril, let alone bing an Archimmortal.


    "A third-degree immortal root?"


    "These phenomena?" The disciples observed the various scenes in astonishment.


    Though they didn��t fullyprehend what it meant, they could still makeparisons.


    In contrast to the phenomena they had witnessed during their own assessments, the phenomena surrounding Wu Yuan were undeniably far more powerful, surpassing even that of Fei Lang, who was the strongest among them.


    <i>A third-degree immortal root? How can this be? He��s only at the Golden Core phase! </i>Fei Lang stared intently at the cauldron, struggling toe to terms with reality.


    <i>Hmph! A robust immortal root does not necessarily equate to high Daoprehension aptitude.</i> A sharp gleam flickered in Fei Lang''s eyes. <i>Just wait, I too shall be a hereditary disciple in due time.</i>


    With his extraordinary talent, he was naturally filled with ambition.


    <i>Hum~</i> The phenomena dissipated, and the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations returned to its normal state. Shortly after, Wu Yuan emerged from within.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully.


    "Haha, splendid! Earth Immortal Qing Feng was right, you do have a third-degree immortal root," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng expressed his delight. "With such an immortal root, your cultivation path is destined to be a smooth one, Li Xia."


    Initially apprehensive that Qing Feng''s appraisal of this junior might be exaggerated, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng now realized that it was, if anything, an understatement.


    <i>Under 50 years of age? He��s not even 40. </i>Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng mused to himself. <i>And such a robust soul? He��s truly an unpolished jade!</i>


    Immortal cultivators lived long lives. Though a few years�� difference in the length of time one spent cultivating seemed inconsequential, someone who could achieve a higher level of strength at a younger age was someone with higher Daoprehension aptitude. Even the slightest disparity would be magnified exponentially throughout the long years of cultivation!


    <i>While one may live a long life, the path to immortality is even longer. The swifter one progresses, the higher the chances of bing a Tribtion High Immortal or even an Archimmortal.</i> Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng observed Wu Yuan with great satisfaction.


    He harbored a strong loyalty to the sect, and genuinely wished for the sect to expand and thrive.


    "Li Xia, your talent is truly extraordinary," dered Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng as he rose to his feet, his voice solemn. "Upon entering our sect, you may be a hereditary disciple. This is the promise of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, witnessed by True Saint Taiyuan."


    "Do you ept the invitation to join the Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" he asked.


    A powerful surge of energy surrounded Xiang Sheng and Wu Yuan, a tangible sign of the oath of allegiance.


    "I, Li Xia, am willing to pledge myself to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. I swear by True Saint Taiyuan that I shall remain loyal and never betray the sect in this life." Wu Yuan intoned with reverence.


    Such oaths weremon when joining a sect. The importance of loyalty was emphasized above all else.


    Another invisible fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan and Xiang Sheng. Both felt as though they were bound by something from the heavens.


    <i>This oath binds the soul?</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    Regardless of the name Wu Yuan used, the oath held true. It was ludicrous to think that one could escape the binding of an oath by swearing under a false name


    <i>The heavens cannot be deceived, nor can the True Saint be fooled.</i> Wu Yuan was beginning to understand this with greater rity.


    <i>My body refiner true self.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner true self in the Summerpeak World did not noticeably feel the binding of the oath.


    <i>The one who��s joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is just my qi refiner self. </i>


    His body refiner self was still free. This made Wu Yuan realize how mystical having two true selves was.


    Suddenly, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng spoke. "Li Xia.��


    "Senior," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    "Haha, since you are now part of the sect, you need not address me as senior. Elder will suffice," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng chuckled.


    "Yes, Elder," Wu Yuan acquiesced.


    From what Wu Yuan understood of the hierarchical structure of first-rate sects, Void Refiner cultivators typically held the post of protectorate, while Divided Soul Earth Immortals often assumed the role of elders. As for Tribtion High Immortals, they upied positions of authority within therge sects, with titles such as ancestor, veteran elder, hierarch, and the like.


    ��You have passed the hereditary disciple assessment," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng began. "However, there are variations in the strengths of hereditary disciples as well. Not all are able to study under an immortal. I would like to witness yourbat prowess once more.��


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    Divided Soul or Dharma Body Earth Immortals had a lifespan of 90,000 years. Universe Architect or Tribtion High Immortals had even longer lifespans. As for the so-called hereditary disciples, one batch would fully graduate approximately every 1000 years. Hence, not all were able to secure the mentorship of an immortal.


    Bing a disciple of a Tribtion High Immortal was even more difficult.


    "If you do well in the practicalbat assessment, I can craft a morepelling rmendation to the elders and veteran elders, increasing your likelihood of an immortal epting you as a disciple," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng exined.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Practicalbat? Wu Yuan knew that he was talented. But being able to showcase his strength was also important.


    "Fei Lang," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng turned his gaze toward the handsome young man. "You, too, possess exceptional talent. Don��t you also aspire to be an immortal��s disciple?"


    "The two of you shall spar with each other."


    Fei Lang? Wu Yuan nced at the charming youth. His demeanor was extraordinary, and his aura denoted that he was at the Golden Core phase.


    "Elder, I am at the sixth-stage Golden Core phase," Fei Lang said. "In terms of cultivation, I likely surpass Brother Li Xia by a fair margin."


    "Li Xia is a first-stage Golden Core cultivator and is still young, not yet 50," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng remarked casually. "Once he reaches the same level of cultivation as you, sparring will bepletely unnecessary."


    His words elicited a collective change in the onlookers�� expressions, particrly the Void Refiner cultivators.


    Under 50? It was rare to see a Golden Core Superior at such a young age.


    Fei Lang''s face darkened. The meaning of Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s words was not lost on him. Once their cultivation levels aligned, he would be no match for Wu Yuan.


    <i>Hmph! So what if he has superior talent? His cultivation level is far inferior to mine. </i>Fei Lang��s eyes shed with cold determination. <i>Today, I shall teach you a good lesson.</i>

 Chapter 342: You Aren’t Weak, It’s Just That I’m Stronger (1)

    <h4>Chapter 342: You Aren��t Weak, It��s Just That I��m Stronger (1)</h4>


    "Both of you will spar in this Swirling Water World," dered the purple-robed Xiang Sheng. "This way, I can properly assess the oue and keep the impact of your battle contained."


    With a wave of his hand, a purple light shot forth. All eyes followed its path, witnessing as the fabric of space seemed to rupture, revealing a small world cloaked in mist.


    "A microcosm?"


    "A world artifact?" Everyone looked over curiously, and even Wu Yuan could not hide a flicker of surprise.


    Though storage artifacts fell under the category of world artifacts, their interior spaces were very small and their structures were wed,cking the spatial stability required for living beings to enter their confines.


    Aplete world artifact, on the other hand, was imbued with the essence of a true world, capable of containing life within its bounds. Such treasures were extremely rare and precious, surpassing even most top-tier spirion equipment.


    <i>Truly befitting of an Earth Immortal. </i>Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nce at Xiang Sheng.


    A world artifact had numerous uses. For instance, propagating Faith. Certain immortal cultivators, unable to evangelize within their territories, would cultivate beings within world artifacts to harvest the power of their Faith.


    <i>World artifact.</i> A look of envy flickered across the faces of the Void Refiner Eminences. Their abilities allowed them to manipte the void, but creating a stabilized space? That was beyond them.


    "Proceed.�� From his elevated position on the host seat, Xiang Sheng fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan and Fei Lang below. "Remember, to receive the tutge of the immortals, you must give your all and showcase the full extent of your skills."


    "There is only one condition: no external aid. No talismans, puppets, or ethercrystal weapons are permitted," he added gravely.


    "Understood," affirmed Fei Lang with steely resolve.


    "Understood," echoed Wu Yuan softly, his mind already strategizing.


    Give it his all? Wu Yuan understood that the oue of this battle wasn��t the most important part. What truly mattered was unveiling his capabilities, showcasing his strength and talent to prove his worth to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. If he did well, he might even attract Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s attention.


    <i>In the Redmoon Immortal Realm, I could only exhibit my soul strength and Daoprehension. As a loose cultivator without the guidance of a mentor, I barely scraped through level 40, but that��s hardly an eye-catching achievement.</i>


    <i>But! My strengths in my immortal root degree and nine lifebound flying swords.</i>


    For a sword cultivator, one��s potential hinged on one��sprehension aptitude, immortal root degree, and quantity of lifebound flying swords. Thetter two factors bore equal weight; a small number of lifebound swords would diminish one''s subsequentbat prowess, even if one possessed a robust immortal root.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> In a blur of light, Wu Yuan and Fei Lang entered the hazy Swirling Water World. They stood a distance apart, eyeing each other.


    ...


    "Who do you think will win between Fei Lang and Li Xia?" The apanying disciples watched the spectacle unfold in the Swirling Water World.


    "Li Xia possesses a stronger immortal root, but the Earth Immortal stated he is only at the first-stage Golden Core phase, whereas Fei Lang is at the sixth stage."


    "Fei Lang''s immortal root is only one degree lower than Li Xia��s. In terms of mana, Fei Lang surpasses Li Xia by four cultivation stages. He holds a huge advantage unless Li Xia has reached a high level of Daoprehension."


    "Elder mentioned that Li Xia has not been cultivating for long." These disciples discussed among themselves via Soul Force transmission.


    ...


    "Li Xia may be talented, but Fei Lang is no ordinary cultivator. His cultivation level is higher and his Daoprehension has reached the sixth-level Domain stage as well."


    "Could it be that Li Xia has grasped True Intent?"


    "A first-stage Golden Coreprehending True Intent? Preposterous!" The two Void Refiner Eminences from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect also conversed via telepathy.


    It was evident that both the apanying disciples and Void Refiner cultivators acknowledged Wu Yuan''s potential but doubted his ability to win the duel.


    The reason was simple: he was too young! Even the most monstrous prodigy required sufficient time to turn their potential into real strength.


    Fei Lang''s talent might be inferior, but he had dedicated himself to cultivation for over a century.


    ...


    Though the Swirling Water World couldn��t be considered expansive, only more than 100 li in radius, it provided sufficient space for Wu Yuan and Fei Lang to engage inbat at their level.


    Uponnding, Wu Yuan and Fei Lang sensed a peculiar purple light enveloping them.


    <i>What is this?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, detecting an unfamiliar fluctuation of energy within the purple glow.


    Fei Lang, too, was bewildered.


    "This purple light is the essential power of the Swirling Water World, capable of absorbing the full force of a strike from a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s voice resonated through the world. "Bear in mind, should it absorb enough force to y a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator, you will be deemed to have lost the duel."


    Wu Yuan and Fei Lang both understood that this was an additionalyer of protection.


    <i>This may seem unjust for the side with stronger defenses. But, it''s a rtively fair protective measure to ensure safety.</i>


    It made sense. Competition on the path to immortality was harsh and unforgiving, and some immortal cultivators chose to tread on the precipice of life and death in the pursuit of breakthroughs.


    However, fatalities should be avoided duringpetitions within a sect. To allow otherwise would be akin to condemning their disciples to death or lifelong disability each time they sparred. Which sect could afford to lose so many of its elite disciples? This would no longer be a test of strength, but rather a senseless act of violence!


    "Brother Fei Lang, I beg your pardon for any offense caused," Wu Yuan spoke with courtesy.


    "Li Xia, I won��t hold back. If you wish to save face, it would be wise to concede defeat early on," Fei Lang''s expression was chilly, his disdain for Wu Yuan evident.


    Li Xia��s talent was indeed impressive. His third-degree immortal root alone outshone the vast majority of prodigies. In this regard, Fei Lang admitted his inferiority.


    However, the words of Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had stoked the mes within him.


    From a young age, Fei Lang��s extraordinary talent earned him the favor of his family��s ancestors, enabling him to receive extensive training and cultivation teachings. On top of that, he had sessfully joined the prestigious Dragon Star Immortal Sect, and his next goal was to be recognized as a hereditary disciple and perhaps receive the tutge of an immortal.


    Just when he felt on top of the world, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s words dealt a severe blow to his ambitions, shattering his dreams like ss. How could Fei Lang stomach it?


    Wu Yuan was taken aback by Fei Lang''s hostility. There weren��t any grudges between them, why the attitude?


    But after some thought, he soon grasped the reason. It could be likened to a diligent child proudly showing off his aplishments to an elder, only to bepared to someone else and belittled for ��not being as good as them��, leaving the child seething with indignation.


    Fei Lang''s pride had been wounded. If their roles were reversed, Wu Yun felt that he too would struggle to maintain a cheerful facade. This was an inherent part of human nature.


    <i>Stubborn? Don��t worry, I��ll make you willingly admit defeat! </i>Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly.


    This matter concerned his future, and Wu Yuan had no intentions of being modest. The best way to respect an opponent is to defeat him with all your strength!


    ...


    "Tsk tsk, it appears that Fei Lang is dissatisfied," remarked one Void Refiner cultivator telepathically.


    "The elder is obviously trying to humble him, to remind him that there is always someone better than him out there.��


    "To be honest, I cannot fault Fei Lang for his reaction. If I were in his ce, I would be upset too." The two Void Refiner cultivators chatted.


    ...


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng remained unperturbed, casting asional nces at the Swirling Water World. The onlookers, including two Void Refiner cultivators, over a dozen disciples, and Zhuo Yuansheng, and Zhuo Qiuhong, observed the battle in silence.

 Chapter 343: You Aren’t Weak, It’s Just That I’m Stronger (2)

    <h4>Chapter 343: You Aren��t Weak, It��s Just That I��m Stronger (2)</h4>


    Though it seemed slow, the sh erupted the moment Wu Yuan and Fei Lang exchanged words.


    <i>Boom!</i> With a wave of Fei Lang��s hand, a flurry of zing red lights soared through the air. They were all array gs. In an instant, dozens of array gsnded, forming a vast web spanning dozens of li, engulfing the entire area in a fiery ze.


    Infernos raged, turning their surroundings into a realm of fire.


    <i>Array cultivator?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes widened with surprise. This was his first battle with a Golden Core array cultivator.


    "Kill!" Fei Lang''s figure was engulfed in swirling mes. With a single gesture, the array ignited, and countless fiery tendrils converged to form a massive fiery roc.


    The fiery roc let out a deafening cry. Then, it hurtled toward Wu Yuan at rming speed.


    <i>His reaction speed is so slow, allowing me to set up the array without any hindrance? You''ve already lost.</i> Fei Lang taunted Wu Yuan inwardly, believing that victory was already in the bag.


    The best way to deal with an array cultivator was to seize the moment the array was being assembled to unleash an all-out attack, securing victory in one swift strike. After all, an array harnessed heaven and earth��s power, which often exceeded the power one could unleash with mana alone.


    <i>I''ve given you enough face, granting you the opportunity to disy your abilities.</i> Wu Yuan calmly observed the fiery roc''s advance. <i>After all, if your strength iscking, my own talent won��t shine as brightly byparison.</i>


    As the fiery roc approached, Wu Yuan��s nine lifebound flying swords surrounded him, each enveloped in earthy-yellow qi streams.


    The fiery roc pped its wings and sped up.


    <i>Assemble!</i> With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan supported the nine lifebound swords with his soul, channeling his mana into them.


    Within a radius of more than ten li, vast earthy-yellow qi streams manifested and swirled around the swords, merging with them to form formidable sword qi.


    <i>Boom!</i> There was a resounding sh as Wu Yuan''s Sword Domain collided with the fiery roc, the two forces meeting like a zing meteorite striking the ground.


    The swords unleashed a barrage of strikes, stripping away the fiery roc''s mes with each sh. The roc only advanced five li before it waspletely wiped out by the Sword Domain.


    If failed to breach Wu Yuan''s defenses, let alone force him to yield.


    <i>What?</i> Surrounded by flickering mes, Fei Lang stared incredulously at Wu Yuan, unable toprehend the oue.


    The Swirling Water World fell silent. One side was engulfed in mes, while the other side was filled with unstoppable sword qi, abination of a Domain and lifebound flying swords.


    Neither side made another move.


    Within the hall, a profound silence fell. The Void Refiner cultivators were stunned as they watched the result of the exchange. The apanying disciples stood dumbfounded by what they just witnessed. Even Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, who had foreseen the oue, found himself taken aback. Wu Yuan seemed to be even stronger than he had imagined.


    The disparity in power was ringly evident. The fiery roc, Fei Lang''s full eruption of power after setting up the array in a fit of anger, had the speed and attack power of ate-stage Spiritual Body cultivator. Yet, it failed to prate even half of Wu Yuan''s Sword Domain.


    How absurd was that? One had to remember that Wu Yuan was a sword cultivator, whose fortey in attacking!


    Though his mana might have beencking, his impregnable defense attested to his overall strength.


    Once Wu Yuan unleashed his own offensive, there would be no stopping him.


    "Is it True Intent?"


    "Those who contemte the Earth Dao have strong defensive capabilities, but this level of defense is just absurd." The Void Refiner cultivators exchanged nces.


    Little did they know that this was the result of the fusion between Wu Yuan''s soul and his lifebound flying swords.


    In terms of Domain and mana, Wu Yuan had reached a level of strength beyond what he had shown in the one-star tower, and his soul was now able to unleash its full power.


    "Haha! Brother Fei Lang, I have withstood your strongest attack. Now brace yourself for my attack as well!" Wu Yuan''s voice boomed, resonating throughout the world. "If you can withstand this strike, I shall concede defeat."


    "You are too audacious." Fei Lang had initially considered conceding the match. He was not the kind of person who stuck to his guns no matter what. Recognizing the vast difference in their strengths, he didn��t mind admitting his loss.


    However, upon hearing Wu Yuan''s taunt, his rage was rekindled.


    Just one strike?


    <i>Though I may be weaker than you, there��s no way I can��t endure a single strike.</i> Fei Lang clenched his jaw, fixing Wu Yuan with a fierce re.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Another array was formed, engulfing his surroundings in mes. As an array cultivator, he could effortlessly deploy multiple arrays simultaneously.


    "Just one strike?"


    "This Li Xia seems a little too arrogant.�� The observing Void Refiner cultivators instinctively furrowed their brows.


    Arrogance wasn��t a trait appreciated among disciples.


    Then, Wu Yuan finally made his move.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In an instant, another 720 flying swords materialized within his Sword Domain, merging with the earthy-yellow qi streams. Each one was a fifth-grade spirit flying sword.


    These were treasures Wu Yuan had acquired at the Redmoon Immortal Tower in Fengchuan City. Coupled with the initial nine flying swords, they totaled 729.


    <i>Fourth-grade spirit weapons? A single one costs 1000 catties of ethercrystal. Constructing a Thousand Swords Array would require more than 700,000 catties of ethercrystal. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>However, a fifth-grade spirit flying sword only costs 100 catties of ether crystal. 720 swords only amount to 72,000 catties of ethercrystal.</i>


    Though they were fifth-grade weapons, their collective strength was now augmented by the nine lifebound flying swords that formed the core of the array. Furthermore, Wu Yuan��s Domain and mana were enhanced, rendering this Thousand Swords Array even more formidable than before in the one-star tower!


    <i>This?</i> Fei Lang''s pupils constricted in disbelief. The shock he felt was indescribable. <i>He can control so many flying swords?</i>


    There was no time for further contemtion.


    <i>Sword Array.</i> With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, the multitude of flying swords encircling him and blotting out the sky swiftly converged to form a colossal sword array, rapidlypacting in size. Eventually, a divine sword was formed, slicing through the air with a razor-thin edge akin to a long needle, encased in earthy-yellow qi streams.


    Though likened to a needle, the widest part of its cross-section was nearly a meter, and its length was over a staggering 100 meters.


    The third level of the Dark Earth Sword Array, ''The Sword Within Reach.''


    <i>Go!</i> Wu Yuan pointed forward, and the divine sword soared forth, engulfing the entire microcosm in sweeping sword qi.


    <i>Boom!</i> With startling speed, the divine sword collided with the multiple me arrays.


    <i>Block it.</i> Though feeling his heart shudder under the impact of Wu Yuan''s sword array, Fei Lang resolutely exerted his full effort to maintain control over his arrays. The mes surged, endeavoring to obstruct the earthy-yellow divine sword.


    However, the divine sword cleaved through theyers of mes with unstoppable force, the sharpness of the sword''s edge triggering explosions that dispersed the mes in an instant.


    In moments, the divine sword closed in on Fei Lang, its formidable sword intent and sheer power causing him to tremble instinctively.


    The disparity was overwhelming, he had no time to evade the attack.


    <i>Boom!</i> The earthy-yellow divine sword effortlessly breached the final defense of the array and hit Fei Lang''s body.


    <i>Hum~</i> Apanied by a flicker of purple light, Fei Lang vanished instantaneously.


    <i>Boom!</i> The earthy-yellow divine sword continued its trajectory into the distant mist, its power waning as if mired in a swamp.


    <i>Where did he go?</i> Wu Yuan was surprised.


    In the next moment, Wu Yuan, his imposing sword array, and the array gs left behind by Fei Lang all vanished, reappearing in the hall.


    Everyone in the hall looked at Wu Yuan with stunned expressions, struggling toprehend that such a devastating assault had been unleashed by a first-grade Golden Core cultivator.


    "I have been defeated," Fei Lang''s voice held a tinge of bitterness.


    From the instant Wu Yuan intercepted his fire roc, Fei Lang knew defeat was imminent. Yet, he didn��t expect to lose this miserably, unable to withstand even a single strike.


    "Brother Fei Lang, it is not that you��re weak. It��s just that I��m stronger," Wu Yuan remarked casually.

 Chapter 344: Peerless Genius

    <h4>Chapter 344: Peerless Genius</h4>


    How conceited! How arrogant! It was undeniably audacious of Wu Yuan to speak in such a manner. But as everyone in the hall recalled the overwhelming power he had just disyed, they grudgingly acknowledged that Wu Yuan had the prowess to back up his arrogance.


    Fei Lang, his handsome features contorted with a mixture of grief, anger, and humiliation, could do nothing but clench his jaw in silence. There was no disputing the fact that he had been thoroughly defeated.


    ��This Li Xia, with his pride and unparalleled talent, certainly lives up to the reputation of a sword cultivator. No wonder Her Highness values him so highly,�� Zhuo Yuansheng exchanged a knowing nce with Zhuo Qiuhong.


    Previously, they were somewhat puzzled by Zhuo Haiyue''s high regard for Wu Yuan, but this assessment helped shed light on it.


    "Is this the caliber of a hereditary disciple?"


    "Fei Lang is formidable enough, yet he was defeated in one move?" The apanying disciples were shocked by Wu Yuan''s power.


    "It''s no wonder Elder Xiang Sheng deemed him worthy of a personal visit," the two Void Refiner Eminences from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect chatted via telepathy. "No matter how strong his immortal root is, he��s only a first-stage Golden Core cultivator. Yet, the power of his sword strikes has reached the threshold of the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    In terms of attack power, he had reached the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    "That sword strike he exhibited wasn��t too profound, hence he shouldn��t haveprehended True Intent. Yet its sheer force was astonishing."


    "His mastery over such a powerful sword array speaks volumes about his soul��s strength. It��s unimaginably strong!��


    These Void Refiner cultivators were all highly knowledgeable and were able to urately analyze Wu Yuan''s capabilities. His Daoprehension had reached a high level in the Domain stage. While it had yet to reach the True Intent stage, it was not far off. His soul was very strong, and his immortal root was also extraordinary.


    While the Void Refiner cultivators could discern some of Wu Yuan''s abilities, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng was the only one who grasped the crux. <i>The nine flying swords he employed at the start were very unusual. They clearly looked like fifth-grade and sixth-grade spirit equipment, yet they could exert such power?</i>


    <i>Could they be lifebound flying swords?</i>


    <i>Yes, I wouldn��t have perceived it wrongly. Nine lifebound flying swords!</i>


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng didn''t just rely on direct observation. He was able to perceive a lot more details through the essence of the Swirling Water World.


    <i>By right, with a third-degree immortal root, he should have only been able to forge six, maybe seven lifebound flying swords. </i>Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng pondered. <i>Even though his soul is robust, it is only at the first-stage Golden Core phase. Was his soul already this strong when he first unlocked his qi sea?</i>


    The more Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng contemted, the more perplexed he grew. There were numerous contradictions. If Wu Yuan did not possess a powerful soul when he first opened his qi sea, he wouldn''t have been able to craft nine lifebound flying swords. However, if Wu Yuan did indeed have a formidable soul at the onset, then after decades of cultivating to advance to the Golden Core phase, his soul should have gotten even stronger.


    <i>It is not umon for gifted individuals to stumble upon great opportunities.</i> Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng reflected. <i>Providence and chance y a role in one''s strength, there is no need to overanalyze it.</i>


    <i>The only thing that matters is that this budding sword cultivator with unmatched talent now belongs to my Dragon Star Immortal Sect. </i>Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng felt a surge of excitement, though he maintained an outwardly calm expression.


    His assessment of Wu Yuan had risen to new heights - unmatched talent! To be described as unmatched denoted that one was truly the cream of the crop. With a robust immortal root, highprehension aptitude, a powerful soul, nine lifebound flying swords...if he wasn''t a budding sword immortal, then who was?


    Moreover, Wu Yuan��s confidence was akin to the sharpness radiating from a divine sword, poised to ovee all obstacles in its path. The more Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng observed Wu Yuan, the more he liked him.


    While others perceived Wu Yuan''s demeanor as arrogant, Xiang Sheng saw it as confidence. There was only a fine line separating the two.


    <i>Array cultivation, alchemy, talisman crafting, and so on, all require a steady heart and mind. Those specializing in these sses must learn to calm their minds and smooth out their edges.</i> Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng mused inwardly.


    This was why he got Wu Yuan to give Fei Lang a good beating. He hoped to temper Fei Lang��s sharpness and prompt introspection, thereby instigating real transformation.


    Sword cultivation was different. It was the ultimate path of killing, requiring a fearless and unhesitant heart that propelled one forward without faltering. When it is time to hold back, hold back. When it is time to show your edge, show it without fear.


    <i>It is no wonder Qing Feng spoke so highly of Li Xia, believing him suitable to be a disciple of the ancestor. </i>Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng thought. <i>I wonder if Ancestor Dong Yang shares the same sentiment towards Li Xia.</i>


    In his eyes, none of the current so-called sword cultivation prodigies in the sect could match up to Wu Yuan.


    As various thoughts swirled within Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s mind, he chose to keep the number of Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords a secret.


    Over the years, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had made formidable adversaries who, while unable to annihte the sect, would not hesitate to eliminate promising talents if given the chance. Hence, they would always conceal their peerless prodigies until they were strong enough to protect themselves.


    <i>We must return to the sect promptly. </i>Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng decided.


    ...


    "The winner of this match is Li Xia." Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng��s voice reverberated through the hall,cking any discernible emotion.


    It was as though Wu Yuan''s performance had just met his expectations, not exceeding them by much.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. He had already given his all. If his best was still not enough, well, there wasn��t more he could have done.


    "Fei Lang, even if you��re a prodigy, there will always be a greater prodigy out there. Do you understand this now?" Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng turned his gaze to Fei Lang.


    "I have learned my lesson," Fei Lang bowed his head humbly, contemting his own shorings.


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng gave a slight nod.


    Though Fei Lang''s talent paled inparison to Wu Yuan''s, he still had hope of bing a hereditary disciple as long as he cultivated diligently.


    "Li Xia," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng addressed Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan gave a respectful bow.


    "You possess great talent, having alreadypleted level 40 of the one-star tower at such a young age," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng remarked with a smile. "What sets you apart is your valor and decisive sharpness, both of which are crucial in a sword cultivator."


    "In thepetition along the immortal path, you must fight for and seize opportunities. Even if your strength and talent arecking, you must maintain confidence and never bow your head easily."


    "I trust that you will uphold this pride. Perhaps in time, you may rise to be a renowned sword immortal," Earth Immortal Xiang Shengmented.


    "I will keep these words in mind," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    Sword immortal? While a Divided Soul Sword Immortal and a Tribtion Sword Immortal both fell under the category of sword immortals, Wu Yuan aspired to surpass that��one who transcended the six phases of cultivation, an Archimmortal with a lifespan rivaling that of the heavens.


    "Very well, the test ends here. Li Xia, you have performed admirably," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng dered with a smile, rising to his feet. "Daoist Yuansheng, Daoist Qiuhong, I am grateful for your assistance."


    "It��s our honor, Senior," Zhuo Yuansheng and Zhuo Qiuhong replied respectfully.


    Though they were disciples of the prince-rank Zhuo Family, the power of their faction was overshadowed by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. On top of that, Xiang Sheng was a full-fledged Earth Immortal, they dared not act presumptuously.


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng smiled. "Since I��ve settled my matters here, it��s time to return to the sect. Li Xia, you will being with me."


    "Now?" Wu Yuan''s eyebrows rose slightly, a hint of surprise in his voice. They were leaving so urgently? He didn��t even have the chance to inform Zhuo Haiyue of this sudden development.


    "Yes, now," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s tone was firm. "Immortal cultivation waits for no one."


    "Do you have any unfinished worldly matters that need attending to? Don''t worry, for minor matters, the sect will arrange for someone to handle them after your enrollment."


    ��I understand.�� Wu Yuan could only obey.


    <i>They��re leaving right away?</i> Zhuo Yuansheng quickly spoke up, "Senior Xiang, perhaps it would be better to rest for a day before setting off."


    He sensed something amiss but didn''t know what it was. After all, it was a done deal that Wu Yuan would be joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    But Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng shook his head, replying without hesitation, "There is no need. Making this trip to the Zhuo residence to assess Li Xia wasn��t part of my original ns. The abbot is expecting my return. There are important matters that require my attention."


    The mention of the abbot silenced any further objections. That was an absolute powerhouse in strength and status, with numerous tasks on his te. Why would he pay attention to the recruitment of a few disciples?


    Zhuo Yuansheng and the others could only nod in agreement.


    "Alright," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng said with a tone of finality. "Li Xia,e with me to the sect headquarters."


    ��Understood.�� Wu Yuan nodded.


    Though unsure of the situation, he would justply for now. He would ry all the details to Zhuo Haiyue through the Redmoon Immortal Realmter.


    "Let us depart," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng dered, striding out of the hall.


    The two Void Refiner cultivators hurried to keep pace, along with Fei Lang and the other newly recruited disciples.


    "Elder," Wu Yuan spoke up suddenly, "I have a spirit beast at my amodation that has yet to join us. I ask for your patience." Qiong Sea King didn''t follow him to the hall.


    "A spirit beast?" Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng raised an eyebrow in surprise, but then chuckled. "Very well, tell it toe swiftly. I shall wait."


    This scene astonished the two Void Refiner cultivators. When these inner disciples were epted, they were not allowed to bring along their spirit beasts. Indeed, different people were treated differently.


    In a few moments, an azure jiaolong darted across the sky. Its body shrank as it swiftly approached Wu Yuan, bowing respectfully before Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng.


    Wu Yuan had already ryed the situation to Qiong Sea King.


    "A jiaolong? Its bloodline appears to be quite pure," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng remarked, casting a nce at Qiong Sea King. "Little jiaolong, it appears you understand proper etiquette. After you enter the sect with your master, be sure to seize the opportunities thate your way."


    "Thank you, Immortal," Qiong Sea King replied sincerely.


    Wu Yuan was stirred by his words. Opportunities? His thoughts shifted to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and Zhuo Haiyue''s mention of an Archdemon backing the sect.


    After Qiong Sea King paid his respects, he transformed into a streak of light and wound himself around Wu Yuan''s arm, concealing his form.


    "It is time," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng dered, as an invisible force surrounded Wu Yuan, Fei Lang, and the group of disciples. Soon, they flew out of the Zhuo Family''s estate, out of Zhuo Yuansheng and Zhuo Qiuhong��s perception range.


    "What should we do? Her Highness instructed us to keep watch, but he��s been taken away," Zhuo Yuansheng pondered.


    "He��s an Earth Immortal, and it��s within his authority to do so," Zhuo Qiuhong replied with a sense of resignation.


    Suddenly, Zhuo Qiuhong looked slightly surprised, ��I��ve received a message from Her Highness. She��s aware of the situation.��


    "She instructed us to transmit the recording of the battle between Wu Yuan and the Dragon Star Immortal Sect disciple to her through the Redmoon Immortal Realm immediately."


    ...


    <i>Shortly after.</i>


    <i>Within the courtyard of Zhuo Haiyue''s residence in Zhuo Star City of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.</i>


    d in silver armor, Zhuo Haiyue observed a projection alongside a mysterious figure cloaked in ck.


    The projection showed the confrontation between Wu Yuan and Fei Lang, as well as the oue of the Cauldron of 10,000 Manifestations�� evaluation.


    "Thirteenth Ancestor, what is your assessment?" Zhuo Haiyue asked.


    "That Xiang Sheng is quite astute," the burly man in ck remarked. "You may have misjudged this Li Xia."


    "Misjudged?" Zhuo Haiyue questioned, her brows furrowing slightly.


    "Did you not mention his potential to reach the Tribtion High Immortal phase?" the man asked.


    ��Mm,�� Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "Although he has onlypleted level 40 of the one-star tower, his young age suggests that he may conquer level 50 in due time. If he doesn��t die an early death, he is capable of reaching the Tribtion phase."


    The man shook his head with a smile. "In my estimation, this youngster has the potential to be an Archimmortal," he dered with conviction. "While he isn��t as talented as you, he deserves to be called a peerless genius."

 Chapter 345: The Top Sect Of The Immortal Continent

    <h4>Chapter 345: The Top Sect Of The Immortal Continent</h4>


    Potential to be an Archimmortal? Zhuo Haiyue''s pupils constricted slightly, a hint of incredulity creeping in. She had always trusted her judgment.


    "Observe carefully." The man smiled, gesturing towards the projection. It zoomed in on the first nine flying swords �C Wu Yuan''s nine lifebound flying swords.


    At the same time, a series of figures, symbols, and intricate cryptic patterns appeared beside the flying swords. These represented his analysis of the data.


    "Based on my calctions, Li Xia''s soul is powerful, but it��s only at the Yang Soul level. His sword array shouldn''t be this strong given that he has yet to grasp True Intent." The man in the ck cloak remarked.


    ��Along with Zhuo Yuansheng and Zhuo Qiuhong''s descriptions, the conclusion I��vee to is that Li Xia must have forged nine lifebound flying swords. That is the only possible reason for his strength."


    "Nine lifebound flying swords?" Zhuo Haiyue gasped in realization.


    She finally understood why the thirteenth ancestor had confidently dered that Wu Yuan had the potential to be an Archimmortal.


    "Then does that mean?" Zhuo Haiyue hesitated.


    "Mm," the man affirmed. "One��s immortal root and lifebound artifactsplement each other. With nine lifebound flying swords, the chances of this Li Xia upgrading his immortal root to the first-degree in the future are high."


    "Even if his Daoprehension might not rival the geniuses of Moonsilver World, his powerful immortal root will be able topensate for it," the ck-robed man added.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded, fully convinced by the thirteenth ancestor''s words.


    "Archimmortal potential?" she murmured, watching Wu Yuan in the projection. The divine sword cleaving through the sky was truly extraordinary.


    "But potential is just potential. The vast immortal continent has seen its fair share of geniuses with Archimmortal potential over the years. Every thousand years or so, a new batch emerges, yet how many of them make it to that level?" The ck-robed burly man shook his head slightly.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in agreement.


    Indeed! The dozens of disciples in the Moonsilver World were all exceptional, each one with the potential to reach the Archimmortal phase. Over the eons, countless peerless geniuses emerged one after another, reaching a sizable number.


    But over time, many faltered mid-way through their journey, with only a few reaching the Tribtion phase. To advance from the Tribtion phase to the Archimmortal phase, one had to endure countless trials and hardships.


    How many truly attained Archimmortalhood? Barely any!


    "The entire immortal continent takes countless eons just to produce a single Archimmortal," the ck-robed burly man sighed.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in silent agreement.


    Amongst the throngs of mortals and ordinary immortal cultivators, there was a prevalent belief that Immortal Redmoon was the only Archimmortal to exist on the immortal continent.


    Yet, those more knowledgeable, such as Zhuo Haiyue who was a disciple of an Astral Monarch, understood that the Redmoon Immortal Continent had produced several Archimmortal powerhouses throughout the ages.


    However, Immortal Redmoon reigned supreme over the immortal continent. Every Archimmortal that had emerged in preceding generations dared not challenge him, hence refraining from exhibiting their powers on the immortal continent.


    For instance, the Archdemon of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was a being on the level of an Archimmortal, yet his presence remained shrouded in obscurity. Many Tribtion High Immortals had never seen him.


    "The path to Archimmortality is fraught with obstacles, but no matter how unlikely, he still stands a chance," Zhuo Haiyue murmured softly. "No wonder Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng whisked Li Xia away in haste; he must have detected the signs."


    "Indeed, Li Xia''s talent may not guarantee him admittance to the Moonsilver World, but if someone reports it, there��s a possibility," the man in ck robes chuckled. "Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng quickly escorted him away to prevent this."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded subconsciously.


    Though all sects within the immortal continent fell under the purview of the Redmoon Immortal Hall, not all sects served as reserves for the Moonsilver World.


    The Moonsilver World constituted only a fragment of the Redmoon Immortal Hall''s influence. In ordance with Immortal Redmoon''s edicts, the Moonsilver World refrained from recruiting hereditary disciples from second-rate sects or above.


    "Li Xia shows promise, but once he is officially inducted as a hereditary disciple, the Moonsilver World is unlikely to use up one special recruitment slot on him. After all, only ten slots are allotted every 10,000 years," the man in ck robes remarked.


    Zhuo Haiyue absorbed his words.


    Whether Wu Yuan joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect or the Moonsilver World, it made no difference to her.


    ��A hidden dragon will soon soar into the sky. [1] From now on, he is beyond my influence," Zhuo Haiyue said softly. "I must devise an alternate strategy to win him over."


    "Do as you wish, Haiyue. However, bear in mind that not all will wee your friendship. Your previous tactics were too harsh, and it may have left a seed of resentment in his heart," the man in ck robes shook his head. "Act as you see fit, I shall take my leave.��


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The man��s avatar dissolved in a silken ribbon of light and departed.


    "A seed of resentment?" Zhuo Haiyue mused to herself as her avatar also dissipated from the courtyard.


    ...


    On the Redmoon Immortal Continent, a great distance from the Rising Dragon City, was a verdant paradise, adorned with numerous mountain ranges and ancient trees.


    In a sudden rush of movement, a colossal purple flying boat streaked through the sky at great speed.


    Within the confines of the flying boat, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng swept a stern gaze over the hundreds of disciples gathered before him, his aura exuding an invisible weight thatmanded attention.


    "Listen well, disciples. We have arrived at the sect''s headquarters," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s voice echoed through the hall.


    The majority of the disciples were at the Golden Core phase, with two at the Amethyst Cradle phase, and one at the Communion phase. This ratio was the norm, as the sects on the immortal continent primarily recruited disciples at the Golden Core phase.


    At the forefront of the assembly stood Wu Yuan, apanied by a burly figure d in heavy armor whose vital aura pulsating with undeniable strength. He was a body refiner.


    Nearly a full day had gone by since the group left Rising Dragon City. During this time, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had made stops in several second-tier and third-tier cities, recruiting disciples of varying talents and potential, including one individual who underwent a hereditary disciple assessment.


    Wu Yuan felt fortunate to witness the top-tier body refining geniuses of the immortal continent in action.


    As the assessment drew to a close, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s approval of the seventh-stage Spiritual Body cultivator was evident. Yet, Wu Yuan��s conclusion was that this new recruit was far from the level of his body refiner self! In terms ofbat power, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was in no way inferior to his qi refiner self.


    "We have arrived at the sect''s headquarters?"


    ��I don��t see a mountain gate.��


    "Where is it located?"


    The disciples looked puzzled, and even Wu Yuan turned to look. They all peered outside, but all they saw was a vast mountainous wilderness.


    Picking up on their uncertainty, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng shook his head, "Did you all really think the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is a mere mountain? As disciples of an immortal sect, you should expand your knowledge, lest you bring shame to the sect."


    "Remember this," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng intoned, "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is the top sect on the immortal continent. Our headquarters span sixteen million li in length and twelve million li in width."


    He swept his gaze across the disciples. "Such a vast territory naturally has more than a single entrance. The mountain gate of our sect cannot be entered at will. It is only opened during the sect-wide conference held once a decade."


    The disciples were stunned by this revtion. Wu Yuan was already aware of this, but he couldn''t help feeling awed by the sheer magnitude of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s headquarters. Its size was mind boggling.


    Keep in mind that a first-tier city was only approximately a million li in width. The size of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s headquarters surpassed that by hundreds of times.


    "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect boasts thergest headquarters among the 32 immortal sects of the immortal continent. It stands equal to the cities of the four prince-rank families," proimed Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng. "Moreover, the region extending two billion li in radius from our headquarters is the territory of our sect. Thisnd belongs to us permanently! Thews and decrees of the Redmoon Immortal Continent hold no sway here."


    "No other sect may recruit disciples within this area. Out of the 32 sects, this is unique to us. Only the four prince-rank families have a simr exception."


    "You are now disciples of the immortal sect. This is something you should take pride in."


    "Of course, the immortal sect boasts millions of official disciples and nearly tens of millions of outer sect members. Whether the sect can take pride in you rests entirely on your shoulders," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng stated. "Very well, outer disciples, prepare to disembark from the flying boat."


    1. (DZ����Ԩ) Used to describe someone who has been waiting for their opportunity to shine and who finally achieves their full potential. ?

 Chapter 346: One World, One Heir (1)

    <h4>Chapter 346: One World, One Heir (1)</h4>


    A rush of wind apanied the purple flying boat as it soared through the air. Then suddenly, the environment seemed to shift rapidly, as if the world was trembling.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The scenery transformed before their eyes, revealing a breathtaking vista.


    "What is this?"


    "It��s huge!"


    "How magnificent!"


    Wu Yuan, Fei Lang, and the burly male disciple could only gape in wonder at the spectacle unfolding around them as the flying boat traversed the skies.


    Beneath them, majestic mountains floated in mid-air, veiled in an aura of mystery and grandeur. Each peak was adorned with countless pces and structures, creating a majestic panorama of ethereal beauty.


    Waterfalls cascaded from one mountain to the next, connected by rainbow bridges that added to the otherworldly charm of the scene. Giant puppets toiled atop the peaks, while a multitude of flying boats of various sizes took off from the mountains, and groups of uniformed immortal cultivators soared through the air on flying swords.


    It was a vision of fantasy and splendor, a true immortal world brought to life.


    <i>These mountains...</i> Wu Yuan held his breath as he took in the sight of the countless floating mountains, numbering in the tens of thousands, if not more.


    It dawned on Wu Yuan, Fei Lang, and the others that the wilderness they had traveled through earlier was a mere illusion, concealing the true magnificence of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s headquarters.


    "The sect isrge, with millions of outer disciples, most of whom are at the Golden Core stage." Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng exined in a soft voice, "This makes unified instruction challenging. Thus, disciples are divided into groups. Our headquarters consists of hundreds of outer immortal cities. This is just one of many."


    "Every outer disciple is allocated a mountain peak residence," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng gestured towards the floating mountains, "Each peakes with mortal servants, Qi Sea cultivator attendants, Communion cultivator servants, and a plethora of puppets."


    "Even for outer disciples, the cultivation conditions here rival those of Amethyst Cradle ancestors in some fifth-tier cities," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng remarked casually.


    Wu Yuan and Fei Lang were rendered speechless. They were only now truly beginning toprehend the prosperity of the top sect in the immortal continent, and what it meant to be part of a true immortal sect.


    <i>And this is just for the outer disciples.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    He couldn��t help but imagine the amount of resources that went into supporting the millions of outer disciples within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. The financial, material, and manpower investments had to be immense!


    Yet upon reflection, Wu Yuan realized that though they were only outer disciples, they had all managed to reach the Golden Core phase, which was considered not bad by the standards of the vast immortal continent.


    Moreover, those who managed to pass the rigorous entrance exam were undoubtedly among the cream of the crop of Golden Core cultivators. How could their cultivation conditions be subpar? If they truly werecking, then perhaps the multitude of cultivators at the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle phases across the vast immortal continent would not be vying for the opportunity to join a first-rate sect.


    Wu Yuan also grasped the reasoning behind the massivend area upied by the sect headquarters.


    "All outer disciples are to alight here," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng instructed.


    As the hatch of the flying boat opened, the rich spiritual qi from outside flowed in.


    "How dense," one disciple murmured in awe.


    "The spiritual qi concentrated by my family��s spirit-gathering array can��tpare to this," another added, eyes wide with astonishment.


    The outer disciples, who had once felt a twinge of disappointment, now found themselves filled with anticipation. From what they could tell, treatment they would be receiving at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect exceeded their wildest imaginations.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Streaks of light darted across the sky, slowing as they approached the grand purple flying boat. These figures were all d in white and wore special badges on their chests. They were all Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    At the forefront stood an elderly man in ck robes, radiating an aura as intense as a sun. He was unmistakably a Void Refiner cultivator.


    "Greetings, Elder," the ck-robed man paid his respects, leading the Amethyst Cradle Reverends in a respectful bow.


    Acknowledging them with a slight nod, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng instructed, "All outer disciples are to leave the flying boat. The immortal city''s protectorates will attend to your needs."


    With respectful bows, the outer disciples filed out one by one.


    ...


    After the departure of the outer disciples, the purple flying boat pressed deeper into the sect headquarters. Here, Wu Yuan, Fei Lang, and theirpanions beheld the true interior of the immortal sect for the first time.


    Above them hung apletely ck celestial body held aloft in the firmament by innumerable ck chains.


    "That star was plucked from outer space by a sect predecessor a million years ago during his travels," exined Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng. "The power it contains is unimaginable, and observing and studying it offers insight into the Earth Dao, the Space Dao, and the Wood Dao."


    As Wu Yuan and the others looked at the star, a wave of vertigo washed over them.


    "Haha! To contemte the Star of Darkness, one must reach the True Intent stage, which is typically achieved at the Amethyst Cradle phase. Patience is key," chuckled Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, his demeanor warmer as he spoke with these inner disciples and hereditary disciples.


    Yet, his words left Wu Yuan and the other disciples in awe.


    Soon, those aboard the flying boat found themselves gazing at a crimson river suspended in the void, stretching endlessly. The unseen pressure emanating from it sent shivers down the spines of Wu Yuan and the other disciples.


    "This is the Redme River," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng exined. "Beneath its watery surface lies a boundless reservoir of me. If it erupts, it��s capable of reducing a Divided Soul Earth Immortal to ashes. It was crafted by a High Immortal predecessor of our sect, who shaped it from a world of mes. It is but a fragment of our sect''s defense array."


    By now, Wu Yuan and the others felt themselves growing numb from feeling shock after shock.


    Plucking stars! Forging worlds! The predecessors of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were truly remarkable. And from Xiang Sheng��s words, this was just one section of the sect''s defense array.


    <i>Even the Redmoon Star��s defense array in Rising Dragon City is most likely inferior to this.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    His horizons had broadened significantly. Now, he was truly beginning to understand what a fully developed immortal civilization was, and the kind of unimaginably mystical features it had.


    From the corner of his eye, Xiang Sheng observed Wu Yuan and the burly disciple. Under normal circumstances, he would not have gone to such lengths to show these disciples around. But with two exceptional hereditary disciples under his charge, he was willing to go the extra mile to impress upon them the sect''s might.


    For any sect, recruiting disciples was just the beginning. The next step was to instill in them a sense of loyalty. How best to achieve that? Beyond hospitality and education, showcasing the sect''s power was key.


    Who wouldn''t want their sect to stand tall and strong? It was simr to how one would wish for their parents'' sess.


    "What is that?" an inner disciple suddenly inquired, pointing toward a grand, sprawling city in the distance.


    It spanned over 10,000 li, prosperous beyond measure.


    "That is the residence of a Void Refiner Eminence," Xiang Sheng replied nonchntly.


    "Residence?"


    "Of a Void Refiner Eminence?" Wu Yuan and Fei Lang exchanged surprised nces.


    "Outer disciples can cultivate within the sect for up to 500 years; inner disciples for up to 1500 years. Body refiners are allowed double that time, after which, disciples must depart from the sect''s main headquarters," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng elucidated.

 Chapter 347: One World, One Heir (2)

    <h4>Chapter 347: One World, One Heir (2)</h4>


    "However, should one advance to the Void Refiner phase, they are granted an extension and allowed to continue their cultivation within the sect. Naturally, they must still heed the sect''s call for field trials or guard duties."


    Wu Yuan and Fei Lang nodded in understanding.


    Most new recruits of the sect started as outer disciples, while Amethyst Cradle cultivators were all inner disciples.


    While the Golden Core phase granted a 1000-year lifespan, an Amethyst Cradle cultivator enjoyed three times that. One could not expect to reside within the sect''s headquarters until they died of old age without achieving any breakthroughs.


    Not longter, Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng spoke abruptly, "All inner disciples, you��ve reached your destination."


    The flying boat hadnded in a grand immortal city, surrounded by numerous floating mountains. These mountains were evidently of superior build, each onerger than those in the outer cities, and fewer in number overall.


    The hatch of the flying boat opened once more. As the disciples disembarked, they were greeted by Void Refiner cultivators from the city.


    Before departing, Fei Lang transmitted his voice to Wu Yuan, "Li Xia, I will work hard. One day, I��ll make it to Dragon Star and challenge you once more."


    Wu Yuan replied with a smile, "I��ll be waiting."


    After interacting with him for a day, Wu Yuan came to see that Fei Lang was not malevolent, merely prideful.


    After bidding farewell to the inner and hereditary disciples, the two Void Refiner cultivators paid their respects to Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng before leaving the flying boat as well.


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng turned his attention to Li Xia and Kuang Long. "Li Xia, Kuang Long, only the two of you are left. Now, we will head for Dragon Star."


    As the hatch closed, the flying boat sped off into the sky.


    In reality, the headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was a fortress of unparalleled security, shielded by an intricatework of powerful defense arrays. A thick, mystical fog perpetually shrouded the area, obscuring vision and severely limiting visibility.


    Over countless years, the sect had meticulously bolstered its defenses with additionalyers ofplex arrays, each one adding a new level of protection. This continuous enhancement resulted in a nearly wless fortification, rendering the sect''s headquarters an impregnable stronghold against any potential threats.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Racing through the sky, the purple flying boat pierced through the denseyers of fog. After crossing a vast distance, it finally slowed to a stop.


    "We are nearing our destination," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng announced from the main hall of the flying boat, gesturing towards the expanse of space ahead. "Look."


    Intrigued, Wu Yuan and Kuang Long turned their gazes in the direction indicated.


    ��What a massive star," Wu Yuan murmured in awe.


    In the distance, a colossal blue loomed, shrouded inyers of clouds and fog, its size surpassing even the Redmoon Star in Rising Dragon City.


    This celestial body was none other than the legendary Dragon Star of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, steeped in countless tales throughout the immortal continent.


    "The Dragon Star is our sacred star, and the holiest sanctuary of our sect. Its existence represents the eternal glory of our sect, which has a history of hundreds of millions of years," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng spoke with an expression of reverence.


    Hundreds of millions of years was a length of time beyondprehension for Wu Yuan, whose own existence spanned mere decades.


    "Our sect decrees that only immortals may establish residences on Dragon Star," Xiang Sheng continued with a smile, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan and Kuang Long. "As hereditary disciples, you are the future pirs of our sect, destined for immortalhood."


    "Hence, your dwellings shall not be on terrestrialnds or floating mountains, but within the satellite worldlets of the Dragon Star," he revealed.


    "Satellite worldlets?" Wu Yuan and Kuang Long echoed in astonishment.


    Having read numerous texts, Wu Yuan was familiar with the concept. Coming from a distinguished background, Kuang Long also understood what satellite worldlets were.


    There were numerous satellite timespaces under the rule of the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Throughout history, countless worldlets were born in outer space.


    However, the notion of Dragon Star ruling over satellite worldlets left them both dumbfounded.


    <i>Where are these worldlets?</i> Wu Yuan peered in the direction of Dragon Star. But apart from the fog, he couldn��t see much else.


    ��These are your identity tokens.�� Xiang Sheng produced two shimmering tokens, inscribed with the characters for Dragon Star on one side and a blue-colored star on the other.


    "By deciphering these tokens, you will naturally be able to sense a connection with your respective worldlets. At the same time, your status as hereditary disciples of our sect will be solidified," Xiang Sheng exined with a smile. "With this, you shall gain ess to the Dragon Star Immortal Realm."


    "Only then will you understand the full extent of your privileges, authority, and duties as inheritors of our legacy."


    Wu Yuan and Kuang Long reached out and epted the tokens.


    "You may decipher them now," Xiang Sheng instructed.


    Normally, the process of deciphering a token was fast, but it took Wu Yuan more than ten breaths to seed.


    Xiang Sheng waited patiently as the information flooded into Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    <i>There.</i> Through the token, Wu Yuan��s attention was drawn to several specific spacetime regions surrounding Dragon Star. It looked as though these special regions led to unexplored depths.


    One of them stood out to him more than the rest, and Wu Yuan could even vaguely ��see�� a vast world that existed within that particr region, as well as the countless life forms that inhabited it. At the same time, he could faintly feel an incredibly powerful force enveloping him, instilling a sense offort within him.


    <i>This should be the power protecting the sect.</i> Wu Yuan deduced, realizing that by deciphering the token, he had gained the approval of the sect''s protective force, which now recognized him as a member of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Do you sense it?" Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng inquired with a smile. "Li Xia, that worldlet you perceive is the residence reserved for you by the sect. Everything within that world belongs to you."


    <i>A hereditary disciple has an entire world as their residence?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    <i>Mm? </i>Wu Yuan suddenly felt the presence of other immortal cultivators who had also deciphered simr tokens. They seemed to reside in the worldlets within those special regions.


    They were all hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect!


    The moment Wu Yuan sensed their presence, he noticed that the hundreds of hereditary disciples were also made aware of his presence. Immediately, they understood that two new hereditary disciples had arrived.


    ...


    The Dragon Star Immortal Realm was a voidrealm established by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. While it was not on the level of the Redmoon Immortal Realm, it still had its mystical qualities.


    Millions of disciples were active in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm. Unless they were in absolute seclusion, they would leave a trace of consciousness in the voidrealm whether they were cultivating or on expeditions.


    At the heart of Greendragon City, thergest metropolis in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, stood a towering mountain. Its four sheer, massive rock faces appeared as if they had been sculpted by the deft swing of a sword.


    Etched into these rock faces were names in shimmering gold, each representing the sect��s top elite disciples, all bearing the revered title of Heir.


    Suddenly, the Heir Cliff zed with a brilliant light. As the radiance faded, two new names emerged on the cliff��Li Xia and Kuang Long.


    "Who is Li Xia?"


    "A new hereditary disciple? Two in session."


    "I haven''t seen them before. They must be neers.��


    "They were directly admitted as hereditary disciples?" The million disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect in Greendragon City immediately learned the news.

 Chapter 348: Teachings, Wealth, Companions, and Location (1)

    <h4>Chapter 348: Teachings, Wealth, Companions, and Location (1)</h4>


    The blue Dragon Star, a celestial body approximately 100,000 li in diameter, loomed in the distant space, a million li above ground level. Its presence felt almost eternal, a constant fixture in space.


    Wu Yuan and Kuang Long stood next to Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng.


    "In this immortal slip, you will find essential information about our sect, including my contact details in both the Redmoon Immortal Realm and the Dragon Star Immortal Realm," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng said, passing Wu Yuan and Kuang Long an immortal slip each.


    The two epted the slips.


    "After deciphering the immortal slips and reading the information inside, you will gain a deeper understanding of the sect," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng continued. "Should you have further queries, do not hesitate to contact me through the immortal realms."


    "Thank you, Elder," Wu Yuan and Kuang Long chorused respectfully.


    Neither of them were fools. None of the outer disciples or inner disciples who previously joined them on the flying boat had received Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng��s immortal realm contact details. They both understood that Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng was extending a helping hand to them.


    "Alright, head to your respective residences," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng instructed. "Remember, joining the sect is merely the beginning. Dedicate yourselves to cultivation and do not ck off."


    "Your disciple status will be protected during the first Dragon Star Tournament you participate in. However, a poor showing may lead to a reduction in cultivation resources provided, as well as a loss of face."


    "Those who reach the higher echelons of the sect earn their position through merit," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng emphasized. "If you wish to rise above others, you must prove your worth."


    "By your second Dragon Star Tournament, failure to show progress may result in status demotion to inner disciple," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng warned. "As the one to induct you to our sect and guide you thus far, I do not wish to see this happen to either of you."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Elder," Wu Yuan and Kuang Long replied.


    Dragon Star Tournament? Wu Yuan wasn��t too sure what it meant, but he surmised that it likely involved some form ofpetition within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Very well, I shall depart now," Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng said. Stepping forth, he transformed into a streak of light and soared toward Dragon Star, leaving Wu Yuan and Kuang Long behind.


    The two exchanged a nce.


    "Senior Brother Li, what should we do now?" Kuang Long inquired, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice. "Fly to our residences? It seems to be hundreds of thousands of li from here."


    For outer, inner, and hereditary disciples, those of a lower status would address those of a higher status as ��Senior��, regardless of their cultivation level. For disciples within the same status, the hierarchy of disciples was defined by their admission time. Wu Yuan joined the sect one day earlier than Kuang Long, hence he became the senior brother.


    "Fly over?" Wu Yuan arched an eyebrow, chuckling. "How long would it take for us to cross that distance?"


    Given their flight speed of 100 li per second, it would take them about an hour just to reach the outskirts of their residences.


    Wu Yuan fixed his gaze on the huge expanse of space before them. "And this is just a fraction of the sect''s headquarters. I doubt they are expecting us to fly back and forth by ourselves. If that truly is the case, wouldn''t it take ordinary disciples dozens of days to get around the sect? There must be another way."


    "Let��s begin by deciphering this immortal slip," Wu Yuan suggested.


    "Mm," Kuang Long agreed with a nod.


    Kuang Long, a body refining prodigy with less than a century of training, had a straightforward personality. Despite meeting Wu Yuan just a day ago, he harbored no dissatisfaction about addressing him as ��Senior Brother,�� even though his own cultivation level was higher. The two got along quite well, forming a quick and easy camaraderie.


    In a matter of moments, Wu Yuan and Kuang Long deciphered the immortal slip and delved into its contents, absorbing the wealth of information stored inside. The information covered every facet of the sect, from rules and systems to detailed exnations of each region and various things to note for hereditary disciples.


    In just a few breaths, Wu Yuan memorized and processed the information. His understanding of the sect reached a new level, and the various structures set in ce by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect filled him with amazement.


    <i>No wonder it''s such a massive sect that has endured for hundreds of millions of years.</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently. <i>Many of these principles can also be applied to the Middle Land.</i>


    A quarter of an hourter, Kuang Long also finished assimting the knowledge. Opening his eyes, he saw Wu Yuan looking at him with a smile. Clearly, he was done reading a long time ago.


    "Senior Brother Li truly lives up to his reputation," he said admiringly. As a genius, he was naturally proud. But even so, he had great respect for Wu Yuan after learning of the events that transpired on Southmoon Ind.


    "Senior Brother, it seems we can use the sect''s authority to travel within its bounds," Kuang Long chuckled, his demeanor straightforward and sincere.


    ��Mm,�� Wu Yuan nodded. "As hereditary disciples, we can harness a level of power equivalent to the first-stage Void Refiner phase within the sect''s boundaries. Additionally, teleportation arrays have been established throughout the immortal cities and several spacetime regions."


    Kuang Long nodded in understanding. With these teleportation arrays, they could swiftly travel to various areas within the headquarters or to other important locations within the sect��s territory.


    "Very well, Junior Brother Kuang, let��s first make our way to our respective residences," Wu Yuan suggested with a smile. "We shall meet again in the immortal realm."


    "Agreed, until we meet again in the immortal realm," Kuang Long affirmed with a nod.


    And so, the two parted ways, transforming into streams of light. Guided by their tokens, they swiftly made their way toward their individual residences.


    ...


    Wu Yuan carefully mobilized a thread of power that protected the sect headquarters. Immediately, he felt an immense wave of power surging through his body, and his speed increased exponentially!


    <i>A flight speed of 12,000 li in a single breath, is this the flight speed of a Void Refiner cultivator?</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    It was equivalent to 2000 li per second, and this was just the first-stage Void Refiner phase!


    Soon, he found himself outside Dragon Star, in a space shrouded in wisps of fog. Through his identity token, Wu Yuan could ''see'' the entrance to another world. This entrance wasn��t too big, but it couldn��t be described by any unit of measurement. It seemed to twist and fold space in strange ways. Wu Yuan, who had yet toprehend the profundities of space, could not understand how it worked.


    It was only with the help of the immortal slip from Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng and the power granted by the sect that Wu Yuan was able to navigate to this strange worldlet.


    <i>Hum~</i> As space twisted, Wu Yuan stepped into the new world.


    The scenery around him shifted.


    <i>This ce?</i> Wu Yuan surveyed his surroundings, taking in the massive sky city before him. His Soul Force extended out, confirming that it spanned over 20 li.


    His eyes were immediately drawn to a temple, nked by rows of halls on either side. Beneath Wu Yuan��s feety the entrance to the sky city, and behind him loomed a massive spatial vortex leading back to the world outside.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>There was a flurry of movement as dozens of figures approached Wu Yuan from the distant structures and halls, each exuding a vibrant vital aura.


    They gathered swiftly before him, led by a middle-aged man in flowing white robes and an angr face. His eyes were bright and exuded a keen intelligence. He wore a badge above his breast engraved with a single blue line. If one observed it closely, it seemed to give off the impression of a vast river.


    The middle-aged man bowed toward Wu Yuan, "Lu Zhu pays his respects to the Heir."


    "We pay our respects to the Heir," echoed the dozens of figures who also wore white robes. Their badges were embellished with only a smattering of blue dots resembling raindrops, their vital auras notably weaker.


    Observing this, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but marvel inwardly. Though the immortal slip had given him a heads-up, witnessing it firsthand still felt unreal.


    The leader was an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, while the dozens or so individuals behind him were all Golden Core cultivators!


    They were the guardians of this worldlet, subordinates assigned by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect to Wu Yuan.


    Such treatment was customary for all hereditary disciples.


    "Custodian Lu, as I am new here, I will be relying on your help in the future," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Haha, you are too kind, serving the Heir is my duty," Lu Zhu replied, returning the smile.

 Chapter 349: Teachings, Wealth, Companions, and Location (2)

    <h4>Chapter 349: Teachings, Wealth, Companions, and Location (2)</h4>


    In truth, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Just a few days prior, Lu Zhu learned that he would be serving a disciple who had been directly admitted to the sect with hereditary status.


    This news had initially filled him with worry. Those talented enough to start off as hereditary disciples were often known for their arrogance, and were usually difficult masters to serve. How could they understand the struggles of their subordinates if they had never faced hardships?


    However, upon meeting Wu Yuan for the first time, Lu Zhu''s apprehensions were eased. His first impression was that this young disciple treated others with humility and respect.


    Lu Zhu turned and addressed the group of Golden Core cultivators behind him, ��All of you, listen up. Heir Li Xia is someone who joined the sect as a hereditary disciple. He is a peerless genius with the potential to rule this world for hundreds or thousands of years. In the future, he will reach the Void Refiner phase."


    "Follow his orders faithfully and do not betray his trust. If anyone is caught leaking information to outsiders... you should understand the consequences of breaking the sect''s rules," Lu Zhu spoke gravely.


    The authoritative pressure in Lu Zhu''s voice caused many of the Golden Core cultivators to shiver, though some couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement.


    Serving such a powerful hereditary disciple promised new opportunities and potential for growth for them as well.


    Wu Yuan observed the reactions of his new followers.


    ording to the immortal slip, these Golden Core subordinates were all disciples who had cultivated for more than 500 years. Meanwhile, Lu Zhu was an inner disciple who had cultivated for over 1500 years.


    ording to the rules, these disciples should have left the sect��s headquarters. However, they volunteered to stay on as first-ss or second-ss custodians, seeking avenues for further growth and breakthroughs.


    "Heir, please follow me," Lu Zhu gestured respectfully, leading Wu Yuan toward the hall in the distance. The group of Golden Core cultivators followed closely.


    ...


    "Heir, the sect has assigned me, along with 100 Golden Core cultivators, to serve as your followers or subordinates," Lu Zhu exined. "Followers are stationed in various locations throughout the world, so typically only around 60 individuals reside in the sky city at any given time."


    Wu Yuan walked alongside him, taking in the information.


    The immortal slip Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had given him only provided a general overview of how things worked. Wu Yuan had to figure out many details by himself


    "Heir, the sky city is not toorge, spanning only a few dozen li. Its main features are the meditation chamber and main hall. The meditation chamber is fitted with a customized jade tform, designated for your cultivation," Lu Zhu borated.


    "It is also protected by a defense array that, in conjunction with the world''s essence, forms a barrier. Even if the sect''s external array is breached, the sky city''s array can withstand attacks at the Earth Immortal level."


    Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. As a hereditary disciple and core member of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the sect indeed held him in high regard. His status wasparable to that of a Void Refiner cultivator.


    "Feel free to explore the meditation chamber at your leisure," Lu Zhu led Wu Yuan into the spacious central hall.


    Numerous light particles materialized and converged, forming an enormous map projection.


    "What is this?" Wu Yuan asked, curious.


    "The sky city is the core of the world. Through the monitoring array in the main hall, you can observe every corner and witness any event that unfolds in this vast world residence," Lu Zhu said with a smile. "The entire worldlet spans around 60,000 li in length and 30,000 li in width, and currently houses a poption of around 500 million."


    "Beyond the sky city, there exist three main sectors," Lu Zhu continued. "The first being the mortal residential area." He gestured to a sizable section on the map projection. "All mortals reside here, their residential area taking up about two-thirds of the entire world."


    "More than 99% of these individuals are mortals who have recently been transported to this world. Their primary function is to provide you with Faith Incense," Lu Zhu stated solemnly. "This will aid your cultivation."


    "Faith?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Yes, we utilize various methods to ensure they revere you and you alone," Lu Zhu exined. "However, unlike the external world, the inhabitants of these worldlets are generally weak, and the power of their Faith Incense is minimal."


    "However, as long as their devotion is unwavering and their numbers significant, the collective power of their Faith Incense can be substantial," Lu Zhu exined. "After all, it is extremely difficult to gather aparable number of living beings for Faith Incense harvesting outside this worldlet."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. It was indeed difficult!


    Across the vast immortal continent, various sects and families appeared topete fiercely for power and benefits, but the moment Faith Incense was involved, the Redmoon Immortal Hall showed no mercy.


    Any who dared propagate their Faith in the immortal continent were swiftly eradicated without hesitation.


    <i>When I reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, I will be able to perceive Faith Incense. At that time, I will make an attempt.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    "The second sector is the cultivation area," Lu Zhu pointed out the region on the map, "Here, you will find a variety of facilities such as pill refining furnaces, equipment forging cauldrons, talisman pools, etc."


    Wu Yuan studied the area. While smaller in size, this sector still spanned thousands of li in radius.


    "This sector was specially constructed by the sect at great expense," Lu Zhu said with a serious tone. "Many of the auxiliary treasures here are beyond the reach of even Void Refiner cultivators. As a hereditary disciple, you may explore them whenever you wish and cultivate any cultivation path that suits you. However, each path represents aplex journey, so it is crucial that you make your choice wisely."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    These satellite worldlets were created by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect for the exclusive use of hereditary disciples, hence only the finest amenities were provided, all dedicated solely for Wu Yuan''s personal use.


    ��Thest sector is the experimental zone.�� Lu Zhu smiled as he pointed the area out. "Around 10,000 li in width, this region is fortified by numerous arrays, making it impervious to destruction by Void Refiner cultivators. Here, you have the freedom to experiment with various arcane arts and arrays."


    "While immortal realms also allow for such experimentation, voidrealm simtions cannotpare to experiments in the physical world," she exined. "After each experiment, the zone will be swiftly reset to its original state by the arrays."


    "This is just a glimpse of what the world residence offers," Lu Zhu smiled politely. "For other matters regarding hereditary disciples, you may find more information in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm."


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.


    ...


    Over the next day, Wu Yuan wandered through the various sectors of his world residence. The mortal realm within this worldlet had developed to a certain level, with dozens of small nations vying for dominance and hundreds of families locked inpetition.


    He then proceeded to explore the cultivation and experimental sectors, testing each one out. Eventually, he had to concede that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had crafted a truly unparalleled cultivation environment for its hereditary disciples.


    The pill refining furnace was a top-tier quality spirion device that would drive numerous Void Refiner cultivators in the world outside into a frenzy. On top of that, a Heavenly Earthfire Vein was constructed, designed to be used inbination with the furnace, greatly increasing the sess rate of pill refining.


    <i>But unfortunately, giving all this to me is just a waste of resources.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. He was still in the early stages of cultivation, and already decided on the sword cultivation ss; he had no desire to be sidetracked by these other sses at present.


    Yet, for the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, such facilities were the minimum standard. Hereditary disciples could choose not to utilize them, the option to ess them was always open.


    <i>The path of cultivation is not just about talent. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>The external factors of teachings, wealth,panions, and location are equally crucial. </i>[1]


    He recognized the difficulty of providing such a cultivation environment, even for a first-rate sect like the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel that the instation of a mortal civilization was likely intended for more than just Faith harvesting.


    <i>Allowing hereditary disciples to observe the ebb and flow of a genuine civilization, from its early growth, development, rise, and then fall over the course of hundreds and thousands of years could greatly influence cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan pondered to himself.


    Of course, even the Dragon Star Immortal Sect only permitted their hereditary disciples to enjoy such a feature. They couldn��t afford to grant all inner and outer disciples the same privilege.


    <i>It has only been a few days. I��ve yet to hear any news from Sword Immortal Dong Yang. Does he not intend to take me on as his disciple? </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brow in contemtion.


    Environmental factors held significant importance, but a mentor was equally crucial.


    <i>Hmm? Zhuo Haiyue is looking for me?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly received a message via the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    Swiftly, he sent a strand of consciousness into the voidrealm.


    1. (�����µ�) A reference to the four conditions that are necessary for spiritual progress. Teachings usually refer to the Buddhist/Taoist teachings, which provide the foundation for spiritual practice. Wealth refers to the material resources that are necessary to support spiritual practice, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Companions refer to other spiritual practitioners who can provide support and guidance. Location refers to a ce where one can practice the teachings in peace and quiet. ?

 Chapter 350: The Power To Say “No” (1)

    <h4>Chapter 350: The Power To Say ��No�� (1)</h4>


    In Zhuo Star City within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, Wu Yuan appeared in a courtyard of the Zhuo Family residence. Several servants guided him courteously into the garden, where a pavilion stood a short distance from the entrance.


    "Li Xia, congrattions on your admittance into the Dragon Star Immortal Sect as a hereditary disciple," Zhuo Haiyue said, emerging from the pavilion with a warm smile.


    Wu Yuan arched an eyebrow.


    Today, Zhuo Haiyue was not d in her customary silver armor, but in flowing red robes. Her gaze, previously icy and domineering, now held a touch of feminine grace.


    She was still as stunning as ever. Yet, there was a noticeable shift in her demeanor. Where once she exuded an aura of intimidation, there was now a charm that captivated the hearts of men.


    "Your Highness," Wu Yuan gave a slight bow.


    "Haha, no need for formalities," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled, her delicate hands reaching out to support Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan stiffened at her unexpected touch, lifting his gaze to meet hers.


    Before him was a face of unparalleled beauty, with eyes so clear that they seemed to peer into the depths of his soul.


    But despite her allure, Wu Yuan��s heart remained unswayed. Everyone was innately attracted to beauty, but few powerful immortal cultivators lost their senses over mere infatuation.


    Wu Yuan straightened up.


    "As I have mentioned before, we are friends. There is no need for such formalities between us. From now on, you may address me as Haiyue."


    A flicker of confusion crossed Wu Yuan''s heart. Haiyue? Such an address denoted that they were equals.


    "Do not dwell on it too much," Zhuo Haiyue appeared to be speaking earnestly, with a slight smile. "I admire your character. Given your talent and personality, I believe you have the potential to rise to great heights within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    ��It is perfectly normal for us to interact as equals," Zhuo Haiyue continued. "Don��t forget, you are no longer a loose cultivator, but a hereditary disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    At this, Wu Yuan was immediately struck by a realization.


    Indeed! Bing a hereditary disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was equivalent to ascending to the heavens in a single step. He was destined to be a member of the elite circle of geniuses in the immortal continent.


    Wu Yuan also acknowledged that the shift in Zhuo Haiyue''s attitude stemmed not solely from his change in status, but also from their initial meeting.


    There were numerous other geniuses like him on the vast immortal continent, and even more when considering the other immortal continents of the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Wu Yuan was confident in his abilities, but he was also clear-headed and knew that he couldn��t be too arrogant.


    "Very well then, I will take the liberty of calling you Haiyue," Wu Yuan said with a slight smile, continuing to maintain a humble demeanor.


    Wu Yuan was acutely aware that his current standing was still far lowerpared to Zhuo Haiyue��s.


    Zhuo Haiyue responded with an enchanting smile, "That��s more like it."


    "I owe my admission into the Immortal Sect to your guidance and support, Haiyue," Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude earnestly.


    While it was possible that Wu Yuan could have secured a ce in arge sect on his own, bing a hereditary disciple of a top first-rate sect would have been a far more challenging endeavor without Zhuo Haiyue''s support. Hence, he acknowledged that her efforts yed a huge role.


    "It is not my doing,�� Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. "Your sess, whether in building your reputation or passing the sect''s recruitment assessment, ultimately depended on your own abilities."


    "The most important factor is your own strength. Only when you possess sufficient strength can my assistance truly be of value."


    Zhuo Haiyue continued, "No matter how capable I may be, your status as a hereditary disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect isn��t determined by me. It is your talent that impressed the upper echelons of the sect."


    Wu Yuan merely smiled in response.


    "Let us not talk about the past," Zhuo Haiyue changed the topic. "I invited you here today to celebrate this achievement. Shall we head to the Drunken Immortal Tavern?"


    And so, the two of them departed from the Zhuo residence in a silver chariot, making their way to the luxurious tavern in Zhuo Star City. The Drunken Immortal Tavern was arge establishment, bustling with guests and renowned for its exquisite delicacies.


    Along the way, they didn��t encounter any trouble. Upon arriving at the tavern, they were ushered into the Immortal Banquet Hall. They didn��t have to wait for long before tes of rare and exotic dishes wereid before them.


    "This is the liver of a Void True Dragon. This is the marrow blood of a Fire Phoenix. And this is the Blood Mineral Essence Fluid, a product local to a world governed by the Bloodforge Devil Hall..." Zhuo Haiyue introduced each delicacy with the expertise of a connoisseur, showcasing her profound knowledge of immortal cuisine.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan nodded along nkly. While he was well-versed in cultivation, his understanding of such matters wascking.


    ��This... must be incredibly costly." He couldn''t help butment.


    Even before mentioning anything else, a Void True Dragon was a True Dragon at the Elysian Field phase, how rare was that?


    "It��s not too expensive. This is the Redmoon Immortal Realm, not the real world. We are just tasting the vors, not eating the real thing, so the price is only one percent that of the real world, some even less." Zhuo Haiyue chuckled. "If these were real, my heart would ache for a long time after each meal. But in Redmoon Immortal Realm? It''s eptable."


    "And besides," Zhuo Haiyue added mischievously, "the ethercrystal spent on today''s celebration is not mine, but yours!"


    ��Mine?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback. When had he acquired such a wealth of ethercrystals? Though he didn��t know the true cost of the feast, calcting the prices of each dish based on one percent of the real-world prices, Wu Yuan estimated that this meal would cost at least a hundred thousand catties of ethercrystal, or even more.


    A momentter, Little Moon''s voice resonated within Wu Yuan''s mind. "Esteemed Li Xia, you have received 21 million catties of ethercrystal from Zhuo Haiyue in your immortal realm ount."


    It was a funds transfer message.


    "Haiyue, this?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    21 million catties of ethercrystal? Heavens! This was a staggering amount.


    "You��ve received it?" Zhuo Haiyue asked, a faint smile ying on her lips, "Do you recall my wager with Gu Sixing?"


    Wu Yuan nodded silently.


    "We won 30 million catties," Zhuo Haiyue said, "I have disbursed 9 million catties of ethercrystal on this feast, and the rest is yours."


    "That is too generous. And besides, you won the bet, not me," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan instructed Little Moon to return the amount to the sender.


    Soon, it was Zhuo Haiyue''s turn to be taken aback, "Why are you returning it to me?"


    "Haiyue," Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile, "An undeserved reward should not be epted. While this ethercrystal is indeed valuable, it does not rightfully belong to me. You should keep it."


    How could Wu Yuan not understand?


    The winner of the bet? Based on Zhuo Haiyue''s words after the event, it was highly probable that both parties were merely putting on a show, and Gu Sixing likely never sent her the 30 million.


    Furthermore, even if it was a genuine bet, it was Zhuo Haiyue who had ced the wager, and he was not part of it.


    Certainly, Wu Yuan would love to be rich. He had read the immortal slip, and the more he learned about the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the more he understood the principle of ethercrystal flowing out like water. The few hundred thousand catties of ethercrystal he possessed were woefully inadequate for his cultivation needs!


    However, Wu Yuan was well aware of one thing �� gifts from destiny came with a price tag.


    Was Zhuo Haiyue assisting him all this time out of pure friendship?


    Bullshit! If Wu Yuan genuinely believed so, then he was a fool!


    Previously, Zhuo Haiyue held the upper hand, and Wu Yuan��s life was in her palms. Thus, Wu Yuan could only go with the flow and follow her directives.


    Fortunately, the oue had been favorable. Therefore, Wu Yuan harbored a modicum of gratitude towards Zhuo Haiyue.


    Yet, this did not mean Wu Yuan let down his guard. Most importantly, Wu Yuan now had the power to say no.


    "We are friends," Zhuo Haiyue''s brow furrowed slightly.


    "True friendship is about mutual assistance, not one party giving time and time again while the other takes it for granted," Wu Yuan smiled, "I appreciate your aid thus far. If you require assistance in the future, simply ask, and I shall do my best to help. But there��s no need to discuss this sum of ethercrystal any further." Wu Yuan spoke candidly.


    "Very well, then I��ll be taking advantage of you this time," Zhuo Haiyue resumed her smile, "But as a friend, you must at least ept a modest congrattory gift."


    Soon, Wu Yuan received a message informing him that one million catties of ethercrystal had been deposited into his ount.


    "Alright, I''ll ept this gift," Wu Yuan chuckled, knowing that he would be slighting Zhuo Haiyue if he refused once more.


    Considering his current standing, this hefty sum was a generous gesture, but still within reason.


    "In the future, I may require your assistance and cooperation when venturing into extraterrestrial worlds. I hope you don��t reject my invitation then," Zhuo Haiyue smiled.


    "As long as you don��t find my strengthcking," Wu Yuan replied, meeting her smile with his own.


    Extraterrestrial worlds? Wu Yuan had no idea what they were. Nevertheless, he agreed without hesitation.


    "By the way, have you heard back from Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Zhuo Haiyue inquired, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes.


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "I see. Be patient for now. Sword Immortal Dong Yang is the strongest sword immortal born in the immortal continent in the past ten million years. Many covet his inheritance.��


    ��Once he ovees his ninth Tribtion, his strength would be elevated to unprecedented levels, possibly approaching that of Immortal Redmoon," Zhuo Haiyue exined.


    "Approaching Immortal Redmoon?" Wu Yuan was astonished.


    "Indeed," Zhuo Haiyue confirmed. "Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s strength is widely acknowledged. However, surviving the ninth Tribtion is difficult, with slim chances of sess."

 Chapter 351: The Power To Say “No” (2)

    <h4>Chapter 351: The Power To Say ��No�� (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan nodded. He was still limating to his new role within the immortal sect andcked a solid understanding of theter three cultivation phases. As for the ninth Immortal Tribtion, his knowledge remained rather vague.


    ��Actually, all you need to do is focus on building your reputation, much like you did on Southmoon Ind.�� Zhuo Haiyue suggested.


    "Building my reputation?" Wu Yuan mused.


    Indeed, it seemed like a practical approach.


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect extended an invitation for you to join them as a hereditary disciple as they��ve confirmed your age, strength, and so on, recognizing your potential," Zhuo Haiyue remarked.


    "There are a few probable reasons why Sword Immortal Dong Yang did not immediately ept you as his disciple. Perhaps he is currently assessing you without your knowledge. Or perhaps you have yet to meet his criteria for a sessor," Zhuo Haiyue added.


    "For centuries, rumors of Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s intentions to ept disciples have circted, but it has nevere to pass. This only goes to show that the current sword cultivation disciples of the sect do not meet his standards." Zhuo Haiyue continued.


    "Thus, as long as you disy enough talent and shine brightly as a prodigy, you may catch his eye."


    "It��s not necessary to meet all of Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s criteria," Zhuo Haiyue exined. "You simply need to be the strongest among your peers, the most dazzling genius in the younger generation of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. If you can achieve this, then you may very well be his chosen sessor."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled. Indeed, it was likely that Sword Immortal Dong Yang was looking for a sessor, and with the impending Immortal Tribtion looming, he had little time to waste on making his selection.


    In that case, Wu Yuan did not need to fulfill all of Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s requirements. All he had to do was rise above his peers in the sect and prove himself as the top genius of his generation. If he could do this, then he would be the prime candidate for his sessor.


    "Haiyue, I am grateful for your guidance," Wu Yuan expressed his thanks.


    "I wouldn��t consider this guidance," Zhuo Haiyue responded with a shake of her head. "Knowing what needs to be done is simple, but the execution is where the challenge lies. The younger generation of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is full of talented individuals. If you aspire to shine the brightest among them, dedication and hard work are essential."


    "Mm, I will work hard," Wu Yuan affirmed.


    Zhuo Haiyue then presented him with a virtual immortal slip resembling a book. "This is for you.��


    ��What��s this?�� Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    ��Here are details about the 34 Golden Core hereditary disciples and 648 Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples of your sect, excluding yourself. This information includes their backgrounds, mentors, lifebound artifacts, cultivation techniques, past battle recordings in the Dragon Star Tournament, and more. I believe it will prove beneficial to you."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Compiling such valuable intelligence must have taken a great deal of effort. And it happened to be precisely what he needed.


    "It��s just information. Do not reject it, unless you wish to waste my good intentions," Zhuo Haiyue stated with a shake of her head. "I only hope that your strength will mature swiftly."


    "Very well, I shall ept it," Wu Yuan replied after a moment of contemtion.


    As they continued to dine and converse, Wu Yuan had to admit that Zhuo Haiyue had impable taste. Each dish she ordered was delectable regardless of price.


    It was undeniably the most delicious meal Wu Yuan had ever eaten, and the vor of each delicacy was unforgettable.


    Of course, if Zhuo Haiyue was speaking the truth, the cost of this immortal feast was a staggering nine million catties of ethercrystal. It was almost equivalent to the entire fortunes of rtively weaker Void Refiner cultivators.


    After they finished their meal, Zhuo Haiyue bid him farewell.


    "Li Xia, I shall not keep you here any longer," she remarked. "As a hereditary disciple, you must be busy. We shall speak again when time permits. You will soon be introduced into the elite circles."


    With that, Zhuo Haiyue took her leave.


    <i>Does Zhuo Haiyue truly expect nothing in return? No, it��s more likely that her schemes are far grander than I imagined.</i> Wu Yuan pondered as he gazed at the virtual immortal slip in his hand.


    However, Wu Yuan was not afraid. If the soldierse, block them with generals. If the wateres, dam it with earth.


    <i>If the asion arises and I am capable of assisting her, it shouldn��t be a problem to lend her a hand.</i>


    He had no desire to live off the charity of others, but that did not mean he would blindly reject all assistance.


    <i>Let��s explore Dragon Star City.</i> Wu Yuan swiftly exited the Drunken Immortal Building and promptly left Zhuo Star City.


    Through the teleportation array, he made his way to Dragon Star City, a first-tier city within the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    ...


    In an elegant courtyard house of the Zhuo residence in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    "Your Highness, Li Xia has already departed for Dragon Star City," a ck-armored soldier respectfully informed Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Mm, you may leave," Zhuo Haiyue replied, waving her hand.


    The soldier quickly departed, leaving Zhuo Haiyue alone in the courtyard,


    Suddenly, a raspy voice spoke up, "Aren''t you going to inform him about Earth Immortal Qing Feng?"


    "Li Xia has a unique personality; he isn��t willing to owe me too much," Zhuo Haiyue said coolly. "However, this goes to show that his ambition is genuine, and his Dao Heart is the sort that believes grudges and kindness must be repaid in kind.��


    ��Twenty million catties of ethercrystal is no small sum for him, yet he refused outright. He is no ordinary individual." The raspy voicemented.


    "With his talent and character, I have high expectations for him," Zhuo Haiyue continued softly. "Thus, there is no need to reveal the matter regarding Earth Immortal Qing Feng to him. When the time is right, he will discover it on his own."


    "Hehe, I told you long ago that you should have used the Myriad Star Blood Soul Art to bind him as your servant," the raspy voice hissed.


    "In the long river of time and space, few servants, even those of great beings, ever rise to the level of super powerhouses," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. "Those with a subservient mentality struggle to ovee the challenges of the Immortal Tribtions."


    "You have traversed many spacetimes, but how many of your early ves ever became Archimmortals?" Zhuo Haiyue countered.


    The raspy voice fell silent.


    "I neither wish for his servitude under oath nor to enve him, because I desire his genuine willingness to help me," Zhuo Haiyue said softly. "Coercion often backfires, or leads to other undesirable oues."


    "Yet all external aid is secondary; my own abilities are still the most important," Zhuo Haiyue dered.


    "If I possessed my master''s power, would I still need to ask others for help?�� A hint of coldness shed in Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes. ��Prepare for Soul Forging."


    "Again? You underwent it justst month," the raspy voice eximed in astonishment.


    "If I cannot endure this bit of pain, how can I hope to get through the Immortal Tribtions in the future?" Zhuo Haiyue responded coldly. "Don��t worry, I will speak up when the pain bes unbearable."


    "You are truly insane!" the raspy voice chuckled. "But I like it!"


    ...


    Dragon Star City, a first-tier city under the rule of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and a benchmark for cities in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, was a prosperous virtual metropolis rivaling that of Zhuo Star City.


    After being transported here via teleportation array, Wu Yuan flew into the sky. His destination: the base of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect within the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    The sect��s base was not Dragon Star City itself, but a colossal ind above the city called Dragon Star Ind. essible only to the disciples of Dragon Star, this exclusive space opened by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was a sprawling expanse spanning thousands of li.


    This ind served as the singr stronghold of the sect within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, with countless disciples frequenting the ce and boasting more than ten entrances.


    As Wu Yuan approached the ind''s edge, a bustling scene unfolded before him, the area teeming with what seemed like thousands of immortal cultivators.


    Amidst the throng, dozens of figures flew over from one of the entrances, led by Lu Zhu who had been waiting for him.


    "Greetings, Heir," Lu Zhu and the other followers bowed respectfully.


    The sudden disy drew the attention of various immortal cultivators.


    "A hereditary disciple?"


    "Who is that? He''s managed to gather quite the following."


    "I''ve never seen him before. From his aura, he doesn��t seem too strong." Most of these immortal cultivators were outer and inner disciples.


    "It''s Li Xia!"


    "It''s Reverend Lu Zhu. I heard he has be Li Xia��s guardian." Some keen-eyed disciples recognized Reverend Lu Zhu.


    It should be noted that, while the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had millions of disciples, less than 100,000 inner disciples made it to the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Given the memory retention of immortal cultivators, recalling at least half of them wouldn''t be too difficult if they made the effort.


    "Apologies for the trouble." Wu Yuan smiled.


    "Haha, it��s no trouble at all. There are many privileges thate with ess to Dragon Star Ind, and this is your first time here." Reverend Lu Zhu chuckled, "Please follow me. I shall bring you on a tour of your mansion on Dragon Star Ind."


    "Alright." Wu Yuan nodded.


    The procession transformed into streaks of light, entering Dragon Star Ind through a passageway. As they passed by other disciples, many bowed in respect after sensing Wu Yuan''s aura and recognizing his status.


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the status of hereditary disciples was equivalent to that of Void Refiner protectorates. When outer and inner sect disciples passed by them, they all paid their respects.


    ...


    Nestled deep within Dragon Star Indy a sizable mansion. Its close proximity to the central region was proof that its master was someone of high status.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A ck-robed youth suddenly materialized in mid-air and shot straight into the mansion, calling out, "Bei Hua,e quick. Li Xia has arrived on Dragon Star Ind."


    "We��ve already dealt with Kuang Long. Now it''s Li Xia''s turn."

 Chapter 352: 100,000 Amethyst Cradle Reverands, 3000 Void Refiner Eminences

    <h4>Chapter 352: 100,000 Amethyst Cradle Reverands, 3000 Void Refiner Eminences</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A figure in pristine white robes soared out from the courtyard. It was a young woman with a divine sword slung on her back, clearly a sword cultivator. Her demeanor was extraordinary, like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, radiating sword intent.


    "Bei Hua, you��re here!" The ck-robed youth��s eyes lit up, a glint of admiration within his pupils.


    "Is it true that Li Xia has arrived?" The woman in white asked. Her gaze was sharp, with a trace of bloodlust.


    "Mm, I��ve just gotten the news. Reverend Lu Zhu is currently ushering Li Xia into Dragon Star Ind," the young man in ck ryed. "He��s most likely on the way to his mansion now."


    The woman in white nodded slightly.


    "Bei Hua, I know you aspire to be a disciple of Ancestor Dong Yang," the young man said. "From what I''ve gathered, Li Xia possesses remarkable talent and is also a sword cultivator. He may have the same goal as you."


    "Hmph," the woman snorted, her eyes ring with contempt. "Ancestor Dong Yang is no ordinary powerhouse. Not just any dog or cat is fit to be his sessor."


    "Exactly! I believe you are the most fitting candidate within the sect to inherit Ancestor Dong Yang''s legacy," the ck-robed young man fawned.


    The woman in white furrowed her brow.


    She aspired to be a disciple of Sword Immortal Dong Yang, but she was self-aware enough to recognize that achieving this goal was still a distant prospect.


    "Are you here to ask me to challenge Li Xia?" she asked.


    "Bei Hua," the young man began. "The Dragon Star Tournament is still more than ten years away. It''s customary for us to assess the neers and their strengths. Kuang Long has already been taught a lesson by Senior Brother Wen Qing, so he''s not a concern. But we know nothing about Li Xia. He could prove to be a formidable opponent."


    "As a fellow sword cultivator, I believe you��d like to meet him, thus I came to gauge your interest," he added with a smile.


    The woman in white nodded lightly.


    Sword cultivators were known for their thirst for battle, and the sect encouraged friendly matches among disciples. One could say that as long as no deaths were caused, the higher-ups would not intervene in spars between the hereditary, inner, and outer disciples, no matter how brutal they were.


    "Give me fifteen minutes. Then, we��ll go challenge this Junior Brother Li Xia together," the woman dered.


    The young man nodded. "Senior Brother Hei Lei will join us."


    "Excellent. But inform Hei Lei that I want to be the first to test Li Xia��s strength," the white-robed woman insisted.


    "Understood."


    ...


    Dragon Star Ind, a vast expanse stretching thousands of li, might not be consideredrge if ced in the physical world. But within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, it was positively massive.


    Veiled in thick fog, a plethora of invisible barriers isted various sectors, preventing anyone from spying in.


    Nevertheless, the area was packed with buildings, including halls and meticulously organized streets bustling with immortal cultivators traveling to and fro.


    Guided by Lu Zhu, Wu Yuan and his followers made their way deep into Dragon Star Ind.


    "It seems there are many immortal cultivators on this ind," Wu Yuan remarked, unable to contain his surprise. "It appears far more lively than the headquarters back in the physical world."


    "Indeed, it is rather crowded here," Lu Zhu remarked with a smile. "But Heir, you must understand that around ten million disciples from our sect arrive at Dragon Star Ind whenever they enter the Redmoon Immortal Realm."


    "Ten million?" Wu Yuan echoed, momentarily taken aback. So many?


    "It��s actually not much. In the physical world, the sect''s headquarters houses over six million official disciples, including outer disciples, inner disciples, and the like," Lu Zhu borated. "But in the voidrealm, even disciples who are required to graduate after exceeding the age limits are permitted to enter Dragon Star Ind."


    Wu Yuan quickly understood what he meant.


    "The sect''s headquarters in the real world is over 10 million li in length and breadth, thus when the millions of disciples are spread out among various regions, it creates a sense of spaciousness. The Dragon Star Ind is much smaller, only 1000 li in length and breadth. On top of that, it has more visitors, naturally giving rise to a busy atmosphere."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. The Redmoon Immortal Realm was a downscaled version of the physical world.


    The residences of Void Refiner cultivators extended across tens of thousands of li or more. Why? It was because they could travel thousands of li in a sh, and tens of thousands of li in one breath.


    A spacious residence with ample distance between each dwelling was essential to ensure that high-level cultivators could focus on their cultivation without worrying about their safety.


    If high-level cultivators stayed too close to each other, it would only put everyone on edge. Hence, in the physical world, the residences, protective arrays, halls, and other facilities of most high-level cultivators were designed to be spacious. Immortal cultivators typically preferred to live alone.


    In the voidrealm, however, such concerns were not an issue.


    "Heir, the residential distribution of Dragon Star Ind in the Redmoon Immortal Realm mirrors that of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, with each immortal sect member allocated an amodation," Lu Zhu borated as they traveled. "The ind is divided into four major sectors, while the Dragon Star Immortal Realmprises severalrge cities."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "The outermost region of Dragon Star Ind amodates outer disciples, while those further inward, such as the precincts we are currently passing through, houses the Golden Core inner disciples. These two groups make up arge portion of sect disciples," Lu Zhu continued.


    "Here, you will find the majority of taverns, immortal pavilions, treasure shops, and even the headquarters of the various enforcement halls."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. There were naturally intricate systems in ce for the sect to govern its vast territory and gather various cultivation resources.


    The enforcement halls, in particr, yed a crucial role in various aspects such as intelligence, trade, warfare, and exploration of different worlds. The responsibilities of these halls wereplex and diverse, and their members primarily consisted of outer and inner disciples at the Golden Core phase.


    As for the Amethyst Cradle disciples? Their status was higher, thus they took up higher level positions.


    "Ahead lie the residences of the Amethyst Cradle inner disciples. Each residence isrger, and there are fewer in total. The overall count of Amethyst Cradle powerhouses in the sect does not exceed 200,000." Lu Zhu exined.


    "So few?" Wu Yuan subconsciously questioned. The figure was far lower than his expectations.


    ��Few?�� Lu Zhu shook his head, "Heir, not everyone is a peerless genius like yourself. For the vast majority of outer and inner disciples, reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase is a daunting task.��


    ��Any disciple of our sect is an elite among their peers, but out of every ten Golden Core disciples, typically only one Amethyst Cradle Reverend is born."


    "Amethyst Cradle Reverends hold great power within small pockets of the immortal continent and y significant roles in warfare and exploration of various worlds," Lu Zhu continued.


    Wu Yuan found himself nodding involuntarily.


    Amethyst Cradle Reverends didn��t seem like much. However, one mustn��t forget that they were in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    When he first set foot in Fengchuan City of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, which held dominion over a territory millions of li in width and ruled over countless lives, the peak powerhouses there were Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    Simrly, during the heyday of the Summerpeak World, those at the pinnacle of power were Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    Most immortal cultivators saw a glimmer of hope to advance to such a level, but anything beyond that seemed near impossible.


    "In a sea of tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand cultivators, the birth of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend is a rarity," Lu Zhu said, "And bing a Void Refiner Eminence? That��s a feat achieved by fewer than one in ten million!"


    The gravity of those odds struck Wu Yuan deeply, sending a shiver down his spine. It was a sobering realization.


    "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is known for our 3000 Eminences. Each one is a super powerhouse in their own right, wielding incredible strength," Lu Zhu exined, "They are allocated residences in the depths of Dragon Star Ind.��


    ��Heir, though you are not a Void Refiner cultivator, your talents are unmatched and your status is on par with them. Your residence also lies within the Eminence District."


    Lu Zhu guided Wu Yuan further into the heart of the ind, where the residences grew grander and more opulent, while the atmosphere grew quiet. Only a select few sect disciples were granted ess to this exclusive area.


    Before long, they arrived at their destination.


    "Heir, this is your residence," Lu Zhu gestured towards a sprawling mansion that spanned several li, "Normally, if there are no matters for us to attend to, we will reside here whenever we enter the Redmoon Immortal Realm."


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the mansion below him.


    A mansion that upied several li might not seem ostentatious, but within the grounds of Dragon Star Ind, where the price ofnd was eye-watering, it was astonishinglyrge.


    It was a symbol of prestige, a representation of his standing within the sect. On regr days, if he wished to meet with someone in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, he could simply invite guests to his mansion.


    "Is that the Immortal Sea?" Wu Yuan suddenly pointed.


    More than ten li away was a vastke, shrouded in mist, with the vague outline of floating halls on the surface. It looked both luxurious and ethereal.


    "Yes, that is the Immortal Sea, the center of Dragon Star Ind," Lu Zhu affirmed, "The immortals of our sect live there when they enter the Redmoon Immortal Realm."


    "Those with residences in the Immortal Sea make up the true core of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the pirs upon which our sect stands." Lu Zhu continued.


    ��However, the exact number of immortals within our ranks remains a closely guarded secret,�� he shook his head slightly.


    Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully. For arge sect, Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle disciples, as well as Void Refiner Protectorates, were akin to the branches and leaves of a mighty tree. The tree''s lush foliage was naturally important and symbolized that it was thriving.


    But even if all its branches and leaves were pruned, it wouldn''t affect the life or death of the tree, it just wouldn''t be aesthetically pleasing.


    It was the immortals who formed the roots of their sect.


    "With your remarkable talent, Heir, it is inevitable that you will one day have your own hall within the Immortal Sea," Lu Zhuplimented.


    "There is no need to tter me," Wu Yuan replied humbly.


    Be an immortal? Even pseudo-immortals, including the weakest Divided Soul Earth Immortals, were mighty figures that he could not hope to contend with at his current level. One step at a time, he reminded himself.


    <i>Let��s head in.</i> As Wu Yuan entered the mansion, a flood of messages entered his mind. These were all authorization notifications from the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    As a hereditary disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he would automatically be granted various permissions once his identity was verified.


    <i>Besides Southmoon Ind and Dragon Star Ind, there are numerous other special inds within the immortal realm? I can enter some of them, while I have no ess to others.</i> Wu Yuan took note of the various levels of authority.


    These were all secrets that had eluded him in the past.


    Without dwelling too much on it, he made his way to the meditation chamber.


    <i>I should read through the information about the other hereditary disciples.</i> He retrieved the virtual immortal slip from Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Particrly the 30-plus Golden Core hereditary disciples. They will be my potentialpetitors in the Dragon Star Tournament a decadeter.</i>

 Chapter 353: Unburdened By Reputation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 353: Unburdened By Reputation (1)</h4>


    <i>The Amethyst Cradle cultivators make up the top one percent of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, making them the elites. Therefore, those who reach the Amethyst Cradle level are automatically designated as inner disciples. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Yet, among the more than 600 hereditary disciples, the vast majority were Amethyst Cradle cultivators, with only over 30 Golden Core cultivators.


    As for why this was so?


    <i>For hereditary disciples, reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase is not much of a challenge. When enough essentia is umted, a breakthrough is inevitable.</i> Wu Yuan was well aware of this fact.


    Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension had reached the eighth-level Domain stage, and the path to the Amethyst Cradle phasey unobstructed before him.


    Those who were chosen as hereditary disciples might start off weak, but it wasn��t difficult for them to progress to the sixth-level Domain stage as time passed. The true hurdley in reaching the True Intent stage.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan studied each Golden Core hereditary disciple; their histories and experiences, cultivation teachings, past battles, and more.


    The information wasplex, but Wu Yuan grasped andprehended it all within a few dozen breaths.


    <i>Of the 34 Golden Core hereditary disciples, 30 have already grasped the True Intent of a Dao.</i> Wu Yuan marveled.


    The hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect indeed lived up to their reputation.


    One had to understand that reaching the True Intent stage was difficult even for most Amethyst Cradle cultivators. The remaining four Golden Core hereditary disciples who had yet to reach the True Intent stage were rtively new entrants to the sect andcked the time and experience.


    <i>The Dragon Star Tournament takes ce once every 30 years. There��re thirteen years to go before the next one.</i> Wu Yuan calcted. <i>Meaning, I��m guaranteed to keep my hereditary disciple status for 43 more years.</i>


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, high positions were upied by the truly capable.


    Even if one attained hereditary disciple status upon entering the sect, this status was not permanent. Should one��s strength prove inadequate, demotion to an inner disciple was a very real possibility.


    However, newly inducted hereditary disciples were granted a buffer. Regardless of the oue of their first Dragon Star Tournament, their disciple status was protected.


    <i>The Seven Star Luminaries Tower challenge takes ce in the voidrealm, while the Dragon Star Tournament involves real-worldbat. Therefore, I must enhance every aspect of my strength. Ideally, I should make a dazzling impression in my first tournament.</i>


    Thirteen years was neither long nor short.


    Many Golden Core hereditary disciples chose to stall their cultivation at the ninth-stage Golden Core phase for an extended period to capitalize on the sect''s resources. However, the sect imposed a limit �C a Golden Core hereditary disciple must not exceed 200 years of age.


    <i>The most noteworthy is the cultivator who ced third in the Golden Core category during the previous Dragon Star Tournament. In just over a century of cultivation, he had reached the fourth-level True Intent stage. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Reaching the fourth-level True Intent stage indicated a profoundprehension of a Dao, rivaling even some Void Refiner cultivators. This disciple aplished this feat at the eighth-stage Golden Core phase.


    Over a decade had passed since then, and their overall strength would certainly have improved further


    "Heir, another hereditary disciple has arrived to see you," Lu Zhu suddenly sent a message to Wu Yuan. "His name is Kuang Long, and he regards you as his Senior Brother. It seems he joined the sect as a hereditary disciple alongside you."


    Communicating within the mansion via messages was quick and easy.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan replied to his message. "Please bring Junior Brother Kuang Long to the reception room promptly." He had also received a message from Kuang Long


    Soon enough, Kuang Long entered the mansion''s reception room.


    "Junior Brother Kuang Long," Wu Yuan greeted the burly man with a warm smile. Having entered the sect together, they naturally shared a closer bond than with the other disciples.


    "Senior Brother, you��ve finallye to Dragon Star Ind," Kuang Long chuckled. "I forgot to ask for your contact information previously."


    "Please have a seat, Junior Brother," Wu Yuan gestured.


    After escorting the guest in, Lu Zhu discreetly withdrew from the room. He understood that anyone capable of bing a hereditary disciple directly at admission was undoubtedly talented.


    As Kuang Long settled into his seat, he remarked, "The treatment we��re receiving in the immortal sect is truly astounding. The entire worldlet, and those mortals, it gave me a shock."


    "And then there are the nine treasurends. Though I have only skimmed through their descriptions, they are undeniably remarkable," Kuang Long continued. "And the cultivation teachings... the overall cultivation environment here is hundreds of times better than what I experienced back at home."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t suppress a chuckle. "Indeed, it is quite excellent."


    Coming from the family of a Void Refiner powerhouse, Kuang Long received highly favorable cultivation conditions as the most valued disciple of his generation. Nevertheless, they paled inparisonpared to that of the hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Senior Brother, have you visited the Dragon Star Immortal Realm yet?" Kuang Long asked.


    "Not yet," Wu Yuan shook his head. He had gleaned some information about it from an immortal slip. Having just joined the sect recently, he wasn''t in a hurry to visit it.


    "The features of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm are more basic than the Redmoon Immortal Realm. But in exchange, we have greater authority and resources," Kuang Long exined. "For instance, numerous sect disciples engage in fierce battles within the True Dragon Arena."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. Based on what he had read, the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, a voidrealm unique to their sect, was a high-grade voidrealm.


    "However, Senior Brother, you must be careful. Those veteran Golden Core hereditary disciples and rtively powerful inner disciples may issue you challenges," Kuang Long warned. "While there may not be severe consequences for losing, it can be rather embarrassing. I myself lost three rounds."


    "Oh? You lost?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    He had witnessed Kuang Long''s strength for himself. While it wasn��t on the level of some monstrous prodigies, it was still exceptional. In terms of Daoprehension, Kuang Long might even surpass him.


    "Mm, I was defeated twice by hereditary disciples and once by an inner disciple," Kuang Long sighed. "I also lost 30,000 catties of ethercrystal."


    Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    Losing a few matches was amon urrence. Among the million Golden Core inner disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the top contenders were not significantly weaker than the hereditary disciples.


    "Hm?" Suddenly, Wu Yuan furrowed his brows, then smirked. "Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives." [1]


    "Cao Cao? Who''s that?" Kuang Long was bewildered.


    "Nothing. Three hereditary disciples arriving here at the same time," Wu Yuan chuckled. "I suspect their intentions are not entirely pure. As junior brothers, we should go greet them."


    "Three of them? Perhaps they have been waiting for you to enter the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, and came here to challenge you the moment they received news of your arrival." Kuang Long frowned.


    Wu Yuan''s response was calm and collected. "Whether it proves to be a good or bad thing, there is no avoiding it."


    With a swift movement, the two of them left the hall and flew to the entrance of the mansion, where three imposing figures stood awaiting them. Lu Zhu was already there to receive them.


    The trio immediately noticed Wu Yuan and Kuang Long emerging from the mansion.


    "Senior Brother Gong Ling, Senior Brother Hei Lei, Senior Sister Bei Hua," Wu Yuan greeted them warmly. "As your junior brother, it is regrettable that I could not pay my respects earlier. I hope you can forgive me."


    Having received a message from Lu Zhu and perused the intelligence reports, Wu Yuan easily identified the three figures before him. The three were also unsurprised that he could identify them.


    "Haha, I��m afraid our sudden visit may have caught you off guard, Junior Brother. Please ept our apologies," Hei Lei remarked with a faint smile. He was a robust and bald man.


    "Junior Brother Kuang Long is also present," Gong Ling, a youth in ck robes, added with a smile that seemed to hint at some familiarity with Kuang Long.


    "I entered the sect at the same time as Senior Brother Li Xia, thus we are acquainted with each other. There is no need for concern, Senior Brother Gong Ling," Kuang Long responded coolly, his tone carrying a trace of underlying tension.


    "Senior Brothers and Sister, why note inside the mansion?" Wu Yuan suggested politely, not wishing to offend these hereditary disciples. As long as their lives weren��t cut short, all of them were destined for greatness.


    "There��s no need for us to enter the mansion," the young woman in white spoke with a cold voice. "Junior Brother Li Xia, I have heard of your prowess in sword cultivation. The rumors say that you attained hereditary disciple status directly upon induction into the sect. We, your senior brothers and sister, are keen to witness your abilities."


    "Thus, we invite you for a match in the True Dragon Arena," she added solemnly, the gazes of Hei Lei and Gong Ling also turning to focus on Wu Yuan.


    Their purpose ining here was clear��to gauge his strength.


    1. (˵�ܲ٣��ܲپ͵�) chinese idiom that trantes to ��speak of the devil and he appears.�� It means that as soon as you mention someone, they appear or happen to be nearby.


    The idiom is derived from a story in the Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the story, the warlord Cao Cao is discussing his ns for the future with his advisors. One of his advisors, Xun Yu, suggests that Cao Cao should attack the warlord Liu Bei. Cao Cao agrees with Xun Yu''s n and orders his troops to prepare for battle.


    As Cao Cao''s troops are preparing to march, a scout reports that Liu Bei''s army is approaching. Cao Cao is surprised by this news, as he had not expected Liu Bei to attack so soon. He asks his advisors how they knew that Liu Bei would be attacking. Xun Yu replies, "I didn''t know. I just said it, and he came." ?

 Chapter 354: Unburdened By Reputation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 354: Unburdened By Reputation (2)</h4>


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Realm''s arena?" Wu Yuan shed a cordial smile. "Even before entering the sect, I��ve already heard tales of Senior Sister Bei Hua''s talent for sword cultivation. The Frost Peak Sword Codex you practice is a top-tier teaching that one can cultivate to the Archimmortal phase, truly impressive."


    A glimmer of pride danced in the eyes of the young woman in white.


    Cultivating such powerful teachings was no easy feat. Many immortal cultivators of lesser aptitude would struggle to even grasp the basics.


    "Haha, I hear that Junior Brother Li Xia is also a sword cultivator. I believe you must cultivate an extraordinary sword codex yourself. How about a spar to test your skills?" Gong Ling, the ck-robed youth, urged.


    "Sparring is unnecessary," Wu Yuan declined with a shake of his head. "I am naturally a far cry from the likes of Senior Sister Bei Hua."


    "Why, is Junior Brother Li Xia shying away from a challenge? The True Dragon Arena is a voidrealm battlefield, there will be no risk to your life," the woman in white frowned, her gaze piercing. "Are you afraid of defeat, Junior Brother?"


    "I don��t fear defeat. The opportunity to witness Senior Sister''s prowess is indeed a rare opportunity, but there is little need for a battle guaranteed to end in defeat," Wu Yuan chuckled. "It won��t be toote topare our strengths at the Dragon Star Tournament, Senior Sister."


    His words left them all dumbfounded. Neither Gong Ling nor Hei Lei expected Wu Yuan to admit defeat without exchanging a single move with them.


    True geniuses almost always exuded unwavering confidence!


    Ordinarily, those who reached the hereditary disciple rank upon entering the immortal sect were individuals brimming with pride. Even in the face of certain defeat, they would fight tooth and nail to the end.


    "Junior Brother, as a sword cultivator, one must always forge ahead with courage," Gong Ling��s gaze bore into Wu Yuan. "With such a character, retreating at the sight of a strong adversary without even drawing your sword �C how can you aspire to be a sword immortal?"


    Her words reverberated through the air, eliciting a shift in the atmosphere as the expressions of everyone present changed.


    The previous invitation to spar could still be considered a friendly exchange of pointers between fellow sect disciples. Regardless of who won or lost, it would not disrupt the harmony between them. At least on the surface, it was socially eptable.


    But with these words, her intention was nowpletely different.


    She was essentially questioning Wu Yuan''s Dao Heart, attacking his values and beliefs!


    Contrary to what Hei Lei and others expected, Wu Yuan did notsh out at her. He remainedposed, maintaining a smile as he replied. "Senior Sister, your sword heart strays from the right path."


    "A sword immortal must forge ahead, cutting down the injustices that weigh upon the heart with every strike, yet it is not a path paved with recklessness," he continued with a chuckle.


    The onlookers exchanged nces, the underlying tension palpable.


    How could they not discern the nature of this exchange? It was a sh of sword hearts between two cultivators �C a battle of ideologies.


    "Are you asserting that my sword heart is incorrect?" A frigid gleam emanated from Gong Ling��s eyes as she fixed her gaze directly on Wu Yuan.


    Her personality resembled a divine de, sharp and intimidating.


    Yet Wu Yuan remained unperturbed and calmly responded, "If Senior Sister��s challenge today obstructs my immortal path, or crosses the bottom line of my Dao Heart, then even if I faced certain defeat or death, I would draw my sword and fight without hesitation!"


    "However, a mere sparring match has no meaning. If I were to face you now, I would lose without a fighting chance. Defeat and losing face do not concern me, but it would serve no purpose, and I will gain nothing from it. It��s just a waste of time." Wu Yuan shook his head. "Why should I partake in such a duel?��


    ��I am not interested." Wu Yuan chuckled, "Senior Sister, I bid you farewell."


    A profound silence ensued.


    They had not anticipated that Wu Yuan''s refusal would be so unequivocal and resolute, leaving Bei Hua with no room for argument.


    "Very well! I trust that Junior Brother Li Xia will not simply concede the match during the Dragon Star Tournament," the white-robed woman stated coldly. "After all, you will not be demoted to inner disciple status even if you lose."


    "Haha, Senior Sister, rest assured." Wu Yuanughed, "When the Dragon Star Tournament arrives, I will strive to take down your Frost Peak Sword Codex."


    The white-robed woman��s expression shifted slightly.


    "Then, I shall eagerly await your pointers, Junior Brother.�� The white-robed woman snorted icily before transforming into a streak of light and departing.


    Hei Lei and Gong Ling exchanged nces.


    "Junior Brother, we shall take our leave."


    "Farewell." The two cupped their hands and swiftly departed.


    Wu Yuan and Kuang Long were the only two left at the mansion''s entrance.


    "Senior Brother, by doing this, you have certainly offended Senior Sister Bei Hua." Kuang Long could not help but remark, "It��s just a sparring match. A defeat or two ismon for neers, it��spletely understandable."


    "She is unafraid of offending me, so why should I worry about offending her?" Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Kuang Long could only give a bitter smile.


    "Senior Brother, once you enter the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, you will surely receive challenges. Do you intend to reject them all?" Kuang Long asked.


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head. "In the short term, I will not visit Greendragon City even if I enter the Dragon Star Immortal Realm."


    Kuang Long regarded Wu Yuan with astonishment. He couldn''t shake the feeling that this Senior Brother Li Xia did not seem to y by the usual rules!


    "But if news of today''s events spreads, it may tarnish your reputation, Senior Brother." Kuang Long feltpelled to mention.


    "A tarnished reputation?" Wu Yuan offered a faint smile. "Can reputation be eaten? Can reputation make me stronger?"


    "Don��t be burdened by reputation, Junior Brother!"


    ...


    After sending Kuang Long off, Wu Yuan called Lu Zhu over.


    "Lu Zhu, I believe you saw what happened just now," Wu Yuan said with a sly smile.


    "Mm," Lu Zhu nodded. "I must confess, I am perplexed by your refusal to ept their challenge. Nevertheless, rest assured, Gong Ling, Bei Hua, and the other hereditary disciples will not speak of this incident unless they wish topletely offend you."


    "No!" Wu Yuan interjected, shaking his head. "I need you to spread the word of today''s events throughout the sect."


    "Spread it?" Lu Zhu faltered, taken aback by the unexpected request.


    "Mm, spread it far and wide, so that every disciple in the sect hears of it," Wu Yuan ordered with an air of nonchnce.


    Lu Zhu furrowed his brow in confusion.


    ��No need to inquire further,�� Wu Yuan dismissed. "Just do as I ask."


    "Very well," Lu Zhu acquiesced. He prided himself on being knowledgeable, but still couldn''t figure out what Wu Yuan was ying at.


    Even if he didn''t want to be burdened by reputation, he wouldn''t deliberately belittle himself, would he?


    ...


    Alone in his meditation chamber, Wu Yuan contemted the day''s events.


    <i>They say the disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect are hungry for battle, but I didn��t expect the other hereditary disciples to challenge me so soon after my arrival.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head faintly. <i>That Bei Hua is truly temperamental.</i>


    <i>Yet, if I were to engage her inbat, even in the voidrealm, the odds of victory would be slim, perhaps lower than ten percent.</i>


    Wu Yuan didn��t reject the challenge because he was a coward, but because he had other ns in mind.


    He had studied his opponents and recognized their strength. If he faced them now in the real world, he didn��t have the slightest chance of winning.


    <i>Challenges are only meaningful when one has strong rivals.</i> In Wu Yuan''s heart, there was not a single trace of fear, only a zing fighting spirit.


    His opponents were strong? Then he would defeat them all one by one!


    <i>To carve an unforgettable impression, one must first manipte expectations. Only by causing a stir now can I truly astound them all when I reveal my strength.</i>

 Chapter 355: Stirring Begins

    <h4>Chapter 355: Stirring Begins</h4>


    After digesting the information Zhuo Haiyue had provided him, Wu Yuan came to a realization. If he were topete in the True Dragon Arena, forget beating the 34 hereditary disciples, even the rtively stronger inner disciples who dedicated centuries to cultivation would be able to defeat him.


    <i>My soul may be resilient, but amidst the millions of disciples within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, who doesn��t have a trick or two up their sleeves? </i>Wu Yuan inwardly mused to himself.


    Even if he managed to beat a few disciples, so what?


    <i>Sooner orter, I am bound to lose, and it will be a number of consecutive losses. </i>Wu Yuan remained calm.


    His abilities had yet to undergo any substantial improvements since his previous performances.


    If Sword Immortal Dong Yang hesitated to take him as a disciple before, he still wouldn��t do so now.


    Deliberately showing vulnerability and disseminating rumors of being ''fearful ofbat'' would undoubtedly garner attention given that he was a hereditary disciple. It would also draw criticism and perhaps even mockery.


    <i>But, that is precisely what I need.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly. <i>Based on the intelligence at my disposal, numerous disciples are keen to embark on risking expeditions or duel with others in the True Dragon Arena as they��ve been stuck in their bottlenecks for too long.</i>


    <i>They seek external stimuli to awaken the primal life force within. However, I am unlike them. My cultivation period is still short, and I��ve yet to receive proper guidance.</i>


    <i>As long as I am granted time and immersed in the nurturing environment of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, my strength will burgeon rapidly.</i>


    <i>Taking risks to temper myself is unnecessary for now.</i>


    <i>Three years of silence, but once I make my move, it will shake the world!</i>


    <i>When I reach a cultivation bottleneck, or when the Dragon Star Tournament begins, I��ll showcase my full might, naturally subverting the public��s expectations and astounding the higher echelons.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    This, of course, was merely a temporary strategy. If his strength grew faster than expected, Wu Yuan wouldn��t mind building up his reputation sooner and solidifying himself as a peerless genius.


    ...


    As an inner disciple with nearly 2000 years of experience within the sect, Lu Zhu possessed a vast web of connections. Along with the help of the 100 Golden Core subordinates, the news quickly spread.


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect had many disciples, making it challenging for gatherings to take ce due to various reasons. However, the Redmoon Immortal Realm and the Dragon Star Immortal Realm allowed for swiftmunication and information exchange.


    Moreover, the hereditary disciples, the elite figures among millions of disciples, naturally drew significant scrutiny.


    Consequently, the incident at the entrance of the mansion on Dragon Star Ind involving Wu Yuan, Bei Hua, Gong Ling, Hei Lei, and Kuang Long began to circte rapidly among the disciples.


    "Refused a challenge?"


    "The newly inducted hereditary disciple, Li Xia, declined Bei Hua''s challenge to spar in the arena? He��s so timid? Normally, those who attain hereditary disciple status directly upon entering the sect should possess unmatched talent." Various disciples found their interest piqued as they discussed the matter fervently.


    "I��ve looked into him. This Li Xia is closely associated with the Zhuo Family''s Princessling Haiyue and has demonstrated his strength on Southmoon Ind. It is rumored that he has only reached the first-stage Golden Core phase. Despite his short cultivation period, he sessfully conquered level 40 of the one-star tower. His power is truly formidable.��


    Amidst the millions of disciples, some were well-informed, swiftly spreading the information they had gathered.


    "It makes sense."


    "With such strength, even if he ranks lowest among the Golden Core hereditary disciples, he still stands out among the million inner disciples. Why would he shy away from a challenge?"


    "He has talent, but his courage iscking."


    "He even found a bunch of excuses to decline Fairy Bei Hua''s challenge?"


    "The path to immortality is fraught with obstacles. There are no threats to one��s life in voidrealm duels, yet he hesitates to engage in battle? Can such a coward truly be called a hereditary disciple?"


    "Fear of defeat is not the issue. As long as one continues to make progress, they will eventually reach the pinnacle. But if one is too afraid to even step onto the battlefield, how can they scale the heights of the path to immortality?" Countless disciples debated, most of them filled with confusion and disdain towards Wu Yuan��s actions.


    In fact, many inner disciples added Wu Yuan as a contact and challenged him to a duel. However, all their invitations were rejected!


    This naturally sparked an even greater uproar. Even if only one-tenth of the outer and inner disciples heard of this matter, it still amounted to hundreds of thousands of disciples discussing the topic.


    ...


    "The news has been disseminated? By whom?" The white-robed Bei Hua soon received the news.


    She furrowed her brow slightly. As one of the parties involved, while she didn''t appreciate Wu Yuan''s character nor subscribe to Wu Yuan''s Dao Heart philosophy, she didn''t believe that Wu Yuan was intentionally avoiding a confrontation.


    As fellow sword cultivators, she could sense Wu Yuan''s unwavering resolve at the time. Therefore, despite how she personally felt about him, she didn''t think that Wu Yuan was in the wrong.


    No Dao is better or worse than another; the capable lead the way.


    Likewise, no sword heart is right or wrong. One simply needs to follow their heart to reach the pinnacle.


    "I did not spread it. Gong Ling and the others have no reason to do so either," Bei Hua furrowed her brow slightly, "Could it be that one of Li Xia��s followers leaked the information?"


    She was perplexed.


    ...


    It wasn��t just Bei Hua. Gong Ling, Hei Lei, and Kuang Long were also at a loss as to how the news had spread.


    Hei Lei even went as far as to send a separate message to Wu Yuan, concerned that Wu Yuan might suspect him of being the source of the leak.


    Of course, Wu Yuan paid him no mind, nor did he feel the need to provide an exnation.


    At the moment, Wu Yuan��s thread of Soul Force in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm was reading up on the cultivation methodologies practiced by the various hereditary disciples to gain a deeper understanding of them.


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm stood three prominent cities: Mirage Dragon City, Greendragon City, and Heavenly Dragon City.


    Greendragon City resembled the typical cities found in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, with a variety of residences, voidrealm taverns, immortal shopping pavilions, the Greendragon Arena, Heir Rankings, and others.


    Heavenly Dragon City, on the other hand, was essible only to cultivators at the Void Refiner phase and above.


    Mirage Dragon City served as a hub for various voidrealm trials and housed the Daoist Scripture Tower of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, drawing countless disciples seeking to participate in trials or learn various teachings.


    <i>I should take my time to understand each one, there��s no need to make a hasty decision. </i>Wu Yuan was currently exploring the Daoist Scripture Tower.


    As an ancient sect with a history spanning millions of years, one could only imagine the extensive collection of Daoist scriptures held within its walls �C each one a top quality teaching.


    To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools.


    Wu Yuan had only joined the ranks of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect a few days ago, and had yet to even meet a guidance instructor within the sect, let alone find a master. Thus, there was no rush.


    ...


    As word of Li Xia''s rejection of all challenges spread, it reached the ears of the higher echelons of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and even others beyond the sect.


    Following her assignment in Rising Dragon City, Zhuo Haiyue returned to Starsword City, under the jurisdiction of Twin Jade City, as part of her training.


    Beforepleting her trial task, Zhuo Haiyue was required to remain within Starsword City for the long term.


    "What? Li Xia declined all challenges? And he has yet to set foot in the Greendragon City of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm since entering the sect?" Zhuo Haiyue swiftly received the news.


    "Indeed," the ck-robed figure known as Old Yu confirmed. "Earth Immortal Qing Feng ryed this information to me."


    ��ording to Earth Immortal Qing Feng, the matter has stirred some debate within the sect, capturing the attention of several Earth Immortals.��


    "No need to worry. Li Xia''s refusal is likely due to his own deliberations," she continued with a chuckle, "Afraid of a challenge? When faced with my pressure, he disyed no fear of death. How could he tremble at the thought of defeat?"


    The figure in ck robes concurred with her assessment.


    A person with such willpower could not be cowed by death.


    "Advise Earth Immortal Qing Feng to offer guidance to Li Xia and steer him away from unnecessary detours," Zhuo Haiyue instructed, "As for the trivial matter of those challenges... the rules of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect have stood for hundreds of millions of years. They will not impede Li Xia''s personal cultivation journey."


    "Understood," the ck-robed figure nodded.


    ...


    The size of the Daoist Scripture Tower within Mirage Dragon City of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm rivaled that of the library in the Redmoon Immortal Realm''s Twin Jade City, perhaps even surpassing it.


    <i>On one of the floors.</i>


    <i>In terms of sword arts alone, there are more than a million teachings in the Daoist Scripture Tower. And this is just from a quick browse through the tower. </i>Wu Yuan was shocked.


    Truly remarkable! Only a sect with a history spanning over a hundred million years could gather so many. Even though Wu Yuan only had ess to simplified versions, the summaries provided were enough for him to recognize the extraordinary nature of each sword art teaching. All of them could be cultivated to the ninth-level True Intent stage!


    <i>These sword art teachings must have been crafted by the predecessors of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect throughout the ages or procured from external sources. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    This was the foundation of arge sect. It was nearly impossible for a single individual to replicate such a feat.


    <i>Yet, despite the plethora of sword teachings, only a few dozen manuals can be cultivated all the way till the Archimmortal phase. For the Tribtion-level manuals, there are around a thousand times more.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    The distinction between sword art teachings and sword manuals or codices was clear in his mind �C the former embodying the application of one��s Daoprehension on the sword path while thetter delved into techniques, mana cultivation, and even arcane arts.


    Each Archimmortal-level sword manual was a rare gem, coveted by many loose cultivators.


    <i>By right, a sect that has not produced a single Archimmortal-level sword immortal shouldn''t possess this many. Were they acquired from external sources by the sect''s Archdemon? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, his thoughts swirling.


    Wu Yuan had learned of the mysterious Archdemon in the sect from Zhuo Haiyue, but any discussion about it was conspicuously absent within the sect itself.


    It was as though this figure didn��t exist at all.


    <i>The Daoist Scripture Tower of the sect is filled with various teachings, epassing sword arts, saber techniques, evasion arts, equipment forging, alchemy, and more. </i>As Wu Yuan��s gaze swept over the wealth of knowledge, he pondered quietly. <i>But one cannot simply ess these teachings for free.</i>


    There were ess restrictions in ce, as well as dragon crystal requirements.


    <i>Dragon crystal serves as the internal currency of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Its use is even more widespread than ethercrystal within the sect.</i>


    <i>Within the sect, whatever ethercrystal can aplish, so too can dragon crystal. What ethercrystal fails to achieve, dragon crystal will be able to aplish.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes fell on the quantity of dragon crystals allotted to him �C ten million dragon crystals!


    This generous gift was bestowed upon every hereditary disciple upon joining the sect, a one-time reward. Should one desire more dragon crystals, the only way was to rely on their own efforts.


    Ten million may sound like a lot. Yet, Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted to the virtual immortal slip before him: ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��. An Archimmortal-level sword codex, the Dark Earth Sword Codex required ten million dragon crystals for theplete set, three million for the initial and middle segments, and 100,000 for the initial segment alone.


    In essence, the sect''s gift was barely enough for Wu Yuan to acquire theplete set of the Dark Earth Sword Codex.


    <i>With ten million dragon crystals, I could purchase multiple pieces of first-grade spirit equipment from within the sect. </i>Wu Yuan sighed silently.


    This indicated that the worth of one dragon crystal equated roughly to one catty of ethercrystal in the external world!


    Although it was feasible to convert one dragon crystal to one catty of ethercrystal through the sect, this was not the smartest usage of dragon crystals.


    <i>Using dragon crystals to buy treasures and cultivation artifacts from the sect is extravagant and not worth it. </i>Wu Yuan discerned.


    To obtain dragon crystals, there were primarily three avenues. The first waspleting various trial tasks for corresponding dragon crystal rewards. The second was achieving breakthroughs in the major cultivation phases such as Amethyst Cradle or Void Refiner. As a reward, the sect would grant a one-time gift of dragon crystals. Thirdly, exchanging ethercrystal directly for dragon crystals, wherein a treasure valued at ten catties of ethercrystal sponsored to the sect would yield a gift of one dragon crystal.


    In theory, a disciple with an ample supply of ethercrystal could exchange it for dragon crystal without limit.


    <i>Exchanging ethercrystal for dragon crystals to procure resources within the sect? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head in disapproval.


    It was a foolish and costly strategy.


    Wu Yuan recognized that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was systematically amassing ethercrystal treasures from its multitude of disciples through the third method.


    <i>Dragon crystals are best utilized for exchanging precious resources unattainable with ethercrystal.</i> Wu Yuan concluded.


    <i>I must obtain the Dark Earth Sword Path, starting with the initial and middle segments.</i>


    This would satisfy his current cultivation needs.


    <i>Hm? Earth Immortal Qing Feng is at my mansion to pay me a visit?</i> Wu Yuan was abruptly startled.


    An Earth Immortal was here?

 Chapter 356: Earth Immortal Qing Feng’s Guidance

    <h4>Chapter 356: Earth Immortal Qing Feng��s Guidance</h4>


    <i>Earth Immortal Qing Feng?</i> Wu Yuan was surprised.


    Naturally, he didn��t forget how Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had mentioned that ��Brother Qing Feng�� had spoken highly of his talents back when he assessed Wu Yuan in Rising Dragon City.


    Wu Yuan had been puzzled back then, wondering why such an important figure would rmend him.


    <i>Perhaps this was part of Zhuo Haiyue��s arrangements?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. He had long spected that Qing Feng might be an Earth Immortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    However, even as a member of the sect, Wu Yuan wasn��t qualified to know the names of the Earth Immortals yet.


    The title of Earth Immortal included the word ��immortal��. These were figures with extremely high statuses.


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect boasted arge number of powerhouses in their ranks at present with nearly 200,000 Reverends, most of whom were Amethyst Cradle cultivators and a small fraction of Shambh cultivators.


    <i>An Amethyst Cradle cultivator lives for 3000 years, while a Shambh cultivator lives for 10,000! </i>


    <i>As for the 3000 Eminences of the sect, Void Refiner cultivators live for 10,000 years, while Elysian Field cultivators live for 30,000 years.</i>


    With the passing of countless generations of cultivators, nearly a million Amethyst Cradle cultivators were produced in total. Yet, the number of Void Refiner Eminences emerging from the sect only numbered in the thousands. The odds of breaking through were extremely low.


    As for Earth Immortals?


    <i>Whether Divided Soul or Dharma Body Earth Immortals, they have amon lifespan of 90,000 years. The Earth Immortals within our sect are the product of 100,000 years of umtion. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Despite their longevity, their overall numbers were far lower than the Void Refiner Eminences.


    <i>On average, one hereditary disciple is added every few years, with at least tens of thousands of such hereditary disciples arising every 100,000 years.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head. <i>But how many can advance to be Divided Soul Earth Immortals?</i>


    Fewer than one in a hundred!


    No matter how talented one was; the treacherous trials on the path of cultivation imed the lives of countless immortal cultivators, geniuses included.


    This harsh reality was why few hereditary disciples aspiring to be disciples of immortals were actually epted. Most immortals paid little heed to hereditary disciples of the sect.


    <i>Meanwhile, Earth Immortal Qing Feng not only endorsed me previously, but has personally visited me today?</i> Wu Yuan wasted no time, transforming into a streak of light and darting out of his meditation chamber.


    He arrived at the spatial vortex atop his world residence, the gap bridging the two worlds.


    After receiving the order, Lu Zhu swiftly notified the numerous Golden Core followers, who quickly flew over from the sky city''s various sectors.


    <i>Buzz~</i> The spatial vortex rippled slightly, heralding the arrival of a refined, middle-aged man d in white robes. His gaze was gentle yet possessed a deep, prating quality that seemed to see through all before him.


    When Wu Yuan met his eyes, a profound shock seemed to shake his soul, plunging his world into darkness before returning to normal a momentter. His heart trembled with indescribable reverence.


    An Earth Immortal! This white-robed figure exuded a power more terrifying than Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, concealing boundless strength beneath his serene expression.


    "Disciple Li Xia pays his respects to Elder." Wu Yuan greeted him with a respectful bow.


    Lu Zhu, along with the other Golden Core followers, bowed in unison, their hearts filled with astonishment and awe.


    An Earth Immortal! Apart from the entrance selection once a decade and the Dragon Star Tournament held once every two decades, these ordinary disciples rarely had the opportunity to see a Divided Soul Earth Immortal in the flesh. And even if they did, they could only bow toward them from afar without exchanging words.


    "Li Xia, your soul isn��t bad at all!" Earth Immortal Qing Feng smiled at Wu Yuan. "Lead me to your hall. The rest of you may continue with your duties."


    "Of course." Wu Yuan replied, a wave of relief washing over him.


    With a swift movement, Earth Immortal Qing Feng flew ahead, followed closely by Wu Yuan, as they made their way into the central hall.


    <i>Earth Immortal seems to hold Heir Li Xia in high regard.</i> Lu Zhu thought. With a stern, low voice, he addressed the group of subordinates, "Did all of you see that? In the future, exercise caution whenever you act. Serving the Heir may very well lead to opportunities for you."


    "Understood." The numerous Golden Core followers echoed in unison.


    In recent days, Wu Yuan''s refusal to ept challenges had led to much criticism. As his followers, the various feedback and news they received left them feeling rather apprehensive. After all, their fate was tied to his.


    However, Earth Immortal Qing Feng''s attitude today gave them a sense of reassurance.


    ...


    Within the hall, Earth Immortal Qing Feng naturally assumed the host seat, while Wu Yuan stood respectfully at the side.


    "Li Xia, it was I who rmended you to the sect, prompting them to evaluate your abilities." Earth Immortal Qing Feng spoke with a gentle smile, appearing amiable.


    "I am grateful for Elder''s rmendation." Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude.


    "However, if we go further back, it was Her Highness Haiyue who provided me with your information." Earth Immortal Qing Feng chuckled.


    "I shall always remember Her Highness''s benevolence." Wu Yuan responded, inwardly a little surprised.


    So it was Zhuo Haiyue! Judging by Earth Immortal Qing Feng''s tone, it seemed that Zhuo Haiyue held a higher status than him.


    What could Zhuo Haiyue��s background possibly be? Wu Yuan''s curiosity deepened. It was evident that she was more than just a member of the Zhuo royal family. There seemed to be no end to her capabilities.


    "I have been informed of your assessment process by Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng," Earth Immortal Qing Feng said softly. "Your talent is truly exceptional, ranking among the top three, or possibly even the first, out of the millions of disciples in this generation."


    "I am honored by your praise, Elder," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    To be recognized among the millions of Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was a remarkable achievement. Being considered in the top three, or even potentially the first, was a highmendation indeed.


    "I speak only the truth, your talent has not gone unnoticed by the higher echelons of the sect," Earth Immortal Qing Feng chuckled.


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. It seemed that the elders had been keeping a watchful eye on him since his arrival at the sect, although not openly revealing their interest.


    "It is not surprising that you aspire to be a disciple of Ancestor Dong Yang. Every sword cultivator in our sect dreams of such an opportunity," Earth Immortal Qing Feng remarked. "However, the ancestor has his own considerations. He may have already reviewed your profile or observed you discreetly. I cannot say for certain."


    "The ancestor''s Ninth Tribtion may be approaching, but postponing it for several thousand years isn��t too abnormal."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    The Tribtion phase was the final phase before one became an Archimmortal. At this phase, one had an incredibly long lifespan where living for hundreds of thousands of years was not a problem.


    "Patience is key, focus on your cultivation within the sect. As long as you shine brightly enough, you will catch the attention of the ancestor," Earth Immortal Qing Feng advised.


    "Disciple will heed your words," Wu Yuan said.


    Everything he had mentioned so far echoed Zhuo Haiyue''s guidance.


    "In thest few days, you��ve gotten a good grasp of how the sect works. And even caused a stir," Earth Immortal Qing Feng chuckled.


    "I hope I have not caused any undue trouble, Elder," Wu Yuan felt a hint of unease.


    He was worried that his cleverness might have veered into recklessness, potentially fostering dissatisfaction among the higher-ups.


    "Fret not, as long as your actions do not contravene sect regtions, you are free to act as you see fit. There is no stiption stating that disciples who refuse challenges must face punishment," Earth Immortal Qing Feng reassured with a smile.


    "However, during the uing Dragon Star Tournament, you mustn��t shy away from a fight. Instead, strive to showcase your prowess."


    "Even if the Earth Immortals and High Immortals do not attend the tournament in person, the proceedings will be recorded and ryed to them. It serves as a crucial opportunity for immortals to select disciples," Earth Immortal Qing Feng borated.


    "Disciple will work hard," Wu Yuan replied solemnly.


    "I may not be skilled in swordsmanship, and I cannot offer you specific guidance on your cultivation," Earth Immortal Qing Feng began, his voice calm and measured. "However, I do have a couple of suggestions for you. You do not have to adhere to them strictly, but rather, consider them as a point of reference.��


    Wu Yuan listened attentively. This was probably the real reason why Earth Immortal Qing Feng was here.


    "Firstly, as a neer to the sect with limited strength, do not be impatient to exchange your dragon crystals for teachings or secret arts at the Archimmortal level," Earth Immortal Qing Feng advised. "Instead, explore the nine treasurends. Each treasurend is an immense treasure with profound origins, serving as the foundation of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Even many High Immortals cultivate while Visualizing the treasurends."


    "Do not get distracted. Being too greedy will lead to indigestion. Determine the treasurend that resonates with you the most, and focus your efforts on contemting it," he added.


    ��Understood.�� Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Secondly, your advantage lies in your soul and nine lifebound flying swords," Earth Immortal Qing Feng remarked with a slight smile.


    This revtion caught Wu Yuan off guard. He had never disclosed the number of lifebound flying swords he had to anyone.


    "Haha, don��t be surprised. Your abilities cannot escape the notice of Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng," Qing Feng chuckled. "It is precisely your lifebound flying swords that set you apart from the rest, garnering praise from the higher-ups. Otherwise, with your Daoprehension level and immortal root, your talent would hardly rank among the top three of the sect��s younger generation."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    That made sense. The hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect all had highprehension aptitude. As for immortal roots? Although a third-degree immortal root was rare, as far as he knew, a few disciples in each generation of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were able to establish it.


    "Other sword cultivators possess few lifebound flying swords andck soul strength. Thus, they are limited to cultivating only one sword codex, mastering mainly either offensive or defensive sword techniques. You, on the other hand, have the ability to cultivate two sword codices simultaneously," Qing Feng exined.


    "This advantage allows you to fully maximize your potential as a sword cultivator."

 Chapter 357: Multiple Gains

    <h4>Chapter 357: Multiple Gains</h4>


    "Cultivate two sword codices simultaneously?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise.


    A single sword codex was already immensely profound. To attempt two at once? The difficulty would increase exponentially!


    "There are some things you may not understand now, but as your strength grows, rity wille," Earth Immortal Qing Feng reassured him. "While lifebound flying swords possess formidable power, consider this: which is mightier, a handful of lifebound flying swords or millions of ordinary flying swords?"


    "It��s naturally the millions of ordinary flying swords," Wu Yuan said without hesitation.


    When amassed in sufficient numbers, the resulting sword array was truly fearsome. Even if nine lifebound flying swords were assembled into a sword array, it wouldn��t be able to withstand one created by such a massive number of ordinary flying swords.


    "Exactly," Earth Immortal Qing Feng nodded. "The function of the lifebound flying sword lies not only in its individual power, but also in its role as the core around which a sword array is assembled."


    "Assembling a sword array?" Wu Yuan mused thoughtfully.


    "Through eons of experimentation and research, sword cultivators have found that the most stable configuration for a sword array is often three lifebound flying swords," Earth Immortal Qing Feng exined. "Just as a triangle maintains bnce, a trio of lifebound flying swords can create a secure foundation for a sword array."


    "The ''Dark Earth Sword Array'' you cultivate, for example, follows the three by three sword array methodology, embodying the principle in nine swords," he continued.


    "When nine lifebound flying swords assemble in a single sword array, the resulting power surpasses that of an array based on three lifebound flying swords, but it can introduce vulnerabilities in attack and defense," Earth Immortal Qing Feng exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, he had experienced firsthand the drawbacks of the Dark Earth Sword Array in battle. When facing an opponent, the absence of lifebound flying swords by his side for defense left him dangerously exposed.


    If the enemy was weaker, it wasn��t too big an issue as he could protect himself with ordinary flying swords or artifacts. But if the enemy was powerful enough? They could exploit this weakness!


    "Thus, powerful sword cultivators believe that one must possess at least three lifebound flying swords in order to be considered a true sword cultivator," Earth Immortal Qing Feng remarked.


    "Meanwhile, those who possess six lifebound flying swords and cultivate dual sword codices��one offensive and one defensive��can be considered to have reached the threshold of a sword genius."


    "To reach the Archimmortal phase as a sword cultivator, one typically requires six lifebound flying swords to weather the Tribtion," he added.


    "You possess nine lifebound flying swords," Earth Immortal Qing Feng said with a hint of admiration. "This represents the pinnacle of sword cultivation aptitude, and means that you are capable of forming three stable sword arrays, each focused on either offense or defense, with wless precision."


    "There may be ways to upgrade your immortal root. But increasing the number of lifebound flying swords? Anything that is lifebound must be established at the same time as one��s immortal root.��


    "To cultivate them after one''s immortal root is established is a task tenfold or hundredfold more difficult than upgrading the immortal root itself."


    Qing Feng looked at Wu Yuan with a glint of anticipation in his eyes.


    One had to understand that Qing Feng was an Earth Immortal with immense power and status. Though he was well acquainted with Zhuo Haiyue, this did not mean he had to follow Zhuo Haiyue''smands.


    Previously, endorsing Wu Yuan had been a simple favor. As for why he was specifically giving Wu Yuan advice now? Apart from Zhuo Haiyue��s request, it was because Qing Feng saw great potential in Wu Yuan.


    "I see now," Wu Yuan remarked, his eyes brightening.


    In the past, he had been like a blind man trying to identify an elephant by touch alone. [1] Despite studying the initial segment of the Dark Earth Sword Codex, which covered sword arts, arrays, and essentia teachings, the level of insights they touched on was rtively shallow.


    Although he had read numerous scriptures, most of them contained onlymon knowledge. Though his nine lifebound flying swords were undeniably powerful, Wu Yuan always felt that there wasn��t a qualitative difference between them and arge number of ordinary flying swords.


    So it turned out that the secrety there.


    "Even with a strong soul, it would be exceedingly challenging to control a Thousand Swords Array made entirely out of ordinary flying swords, wouldn''t it?" Earth Immortal Qing Feng chuckled.


    Wu Yuan could not help but nod in agreement.


    It was akin to how he struggled to control a Thousand Swords Array when battling the level 40 guardian of the one-star tower. cing lifebound flying swords at the core of the array would make it much easier to control, as one��s thoughts were in sync with their lifebound flying swords.


    "With your soul, you should be able to separate the nine lifebound flying swords and form three Thousand Swords Arrays. Each array might be weaker than a single Thousand Swords Array with nine lifebound flying swords at the core. But when the three Thousand Swords Arrays are wielded in concert, your overall power will be enhanced and you will gain far greater flexibility inbat."


    Wu Yuan nowprehended the proper usage of lifebound flying swords.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Elder," Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude sincerely.


    Just a few words from the Earth Immortal had set him on the right path.


    "I neither contemte the Earth Dao nor specialize in sword cultivation, so I can only offer some pointers but not direct guidance," Earth Immortal Qing Feng stated with a smile.


    "If you wish to emerge victorious in your first Dragon Star Tournament, then besides contemting the profundities of the Dao, you must also strive to increase your essentia and mana. Most hereditary disciples have already reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase."


    "Additionally, you should endeavor to upgrade your lifebound flying swords and procure more powerful artifacts," Earth Immortal Qing Feng advised.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    The Dragon Star Tournament was a real-worldpetition, and as long as external means like puppets and ethercrystal weapons were not utilized, the sect would not intervene.


    Hence, mana and artifacts held great importance. A sword cultivator required a staggering quantity of flying swords to form multiple arrays. This necessitated a substantial amount of ethercrystal!


    ��It is thanks to fate that our paths crossed. I cannot offer you much. The most I can grant is one million catties of ethercrystal and ten million dragon crystals." Earth Immortal Qing Feng said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan��s jaw dropped. This was ��not much��?


    Immediately, he opened his mouth to protest.


    "Li Xia, this is just a small token from me to you as a senior. The direct disciples of Earth Immortals are granted far more substantial gifts," Earth Immortal Qing Feng intoned with a genial smile. "Just ept it."


    At that moment, the realm spirit of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm informed Wu Yuan that ten million dragon crystals and one million catties of ethercrystal had been deposited to his ount.


    "Remember, visit the nine treasurends, select one that resonates with you, and contemte it seriously. Then, choose two powerful sword codices��one offensive, one defensive," Earth Immortal Qing Feng advised. "As for the ethercrystal, utilize them to purchase artifacts, cultivate mana, and the like."


    "I look forward to you astounding everyone at the uing Dragon Star Tournament," Earth Immortal Qing Feng remarked as he rose from his seat. "I shall take my leave now."


    Before Wu Yuan could voice any objections, Earth Immortal Qing Feng took a single step and vanished, leaving no trace behind in the hall or even in Wu Yuan''s senses.


    Clearly, Earth Immortal Qing Feng had departed from Wu Yuan''s world residence.


    <i>This Earth Immortal Qing Feng is treating me a little too well.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    He understood well that the sect had its rules and did not freely dole out treasures to disciples. Regr disciples had to undergo various trial assignments to amass dragon crystals.


    But when it came to the disciples of immortals, how could the sect''s regtions stand in the way when the immortals themselves were inclined to bestow gifts?


    However, even after numerous generations, few hereditary disciples managed to catch the eye of the immortals.


    <i>Logically speaking, even if Earth Immortal Qing Feng saw potential in me, this level of generosity seems excessive. </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, sensing a discordance in the situation.


    Suddenly, a name popped into Wu Yuan''s mind��Zhuo Haiyue!


    <i>Is it her?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    epting this gift now was equivalent to creating a karmic thread.


    What was karma? It did not hinge on explicit promises, but rather on the cultivator''s internal convictions.


    <i>Take for example a devil who believes that causing harm is the right thing to do. It never entertains the idea of repaying kindness regardless of the goodwill received. It can make a bunch of promises without any intention of fulfilling them, remaining indifferent to it all.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.


    <i>Its cultivation will remain unaffected, perhaps even enhanced, as this devil is fortifying its Dao Heart. It might appear that a web of karmic threads is tying it down, yet in reality it is bolstering its strength.</i>


    <i>If one adheres to the principle of reciprocating kindness, then failing to do so upon receiving benevolence will lead to self-doubt, disrupt one��s Dao Heart, and consequently impede cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Karma and Dao Heart all stem from a single thought.


    It arises with a thought, and is extinguished with a thought. [2]


    <i>The heart of the strong is one thatbines knowledge and action. Kindness should be repaid, vengeance exacted tenfold. This is my Dao Heart, and it must be diligently upheld.</i>


    <i>If this is indeed Zhuo Haiyue''s doing, then if there��s an opportunity to repay this kindness in the future, I will seize it. </i>Wu Yuan felt a sense of tranquility within.


    It was not an obligation imposed upon him, as it was true that he sorely needed the ten million dragon crystals for his cultivation.


    Wu Yuan was not a rigid person. Furthermore, this gift hade from Earth Immortal Qing Feng; Wu Yuan merely spected on its origins. It wasn��t easy to decline such a gift.


    Wu Yuan thought it through. <i>Even if I choose to repay this kindness and return the favor in the future, it does not mean I must jeopardize my life for it. Should it demand such a sacrifice down the line, I will make sure to keep my distance from her.</i>


    The gifts from Zhuo Haiyue did not warrant risking his life.


    <i>I, Wu Yuan, act with a clear conscience!</i>


    ...


    <i>Why did her Highness Haiyue insist on sending it through me instead of giving it to Wu Yuan herself? And she even instructed me not to tell Wu Yuan.</i> Earth Immortal Qing Feng��s thoughts swirled as he soared through the sky towards the distant Dragon Star.


    ��Qing Feng!�� Suddenly, a cold voice echoed in his mind.


    ��Abbot.�� Qing Feng shivered and bowed in respect. A trace of unease crept into his heart.


    "Li Xia has great potential and is a sword prodigy that our sect rarely sees once in 10,000 years. The sect has its own training n for him, do not interfere anymore," the cold voice warned.


    "Also, do not get too close to Zhuo Haiyue. Although she is a disciple of an Astral Monarch, she is ambitious and has a deep enmity with the Fang Family. She might stir up a huge storm in the future."


    "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect fears no faction on the Immortal Continent, but we do not need to get involved in these disputes," the voice continued. "Although Li Xia joined our sect because of Zhuo Haiyue, he is a disciple of our sect, not a servant of Zhuo Haiyue.��


    "Keep in mind �C you are an elder of our sect before all else," the icy voice wasced with warning.


    Earth Immortal Qing Feng broke out in cold sweat.


    "Disciple acknowledges my error," Qing Feng hastily replied.


    "I believe you should know what must be done," the cold voice continued. "I hope that this will not ur again."


    "Understood," Earth Immortal Qing Feng replied respectfully, his heart pounding in his chest.


    With that, the cold voice vanished. Earth Immortal Qing Feng felt the suffocating tension in his spirit ease as the abbot''s Soul Force withdrew.


    <i>Both of us are addressed as ��immortal��, but the Tribtion phase...</i> Qing Feng shook his head.


    As an Earth Immortal, he held a high status within the sect. However, he knew that the Tribtion High Immortals, led by Sword Immortal Dong Yang and the abbot, were the ones who truly held the power. It was precisely because of their existence that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect could flourish for countless ages!


    <i>It seems that Li Xia has indeed caught their attention.</i> Earth Immortal Qing Feng realized.


    He vaguely understood the reason for it. One had to remember that there was only one Tribtion Sword Immortal within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    <i>I must inform Her Highness Haiyue.</i> His brows furrowed. He dared not defy the abbot''s wishes.


    From the moment he joined the sect, the abbot had been its leader. Even as he rose to prominence in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, bing a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, the abbot��s position had never changed.


    ...


    <i>Within a super mansion in Starsword City, in the stronghold of the Redmoon Immortal Army.</i>


    Emerging from seclusion, Zhuo Haiyue inquired, "He rejected it?"


    "Yes,�� Old Yu, d in ck robes, confirmed. ��Earth Immortal Qing Feng ryed that the sect''s highest echelons have given orders. They have their own ns for nurturing Li Xia and do not wish for any further interference."


    "He even returned all 100 million catties of ethercrystal," Old Yu added.


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect indeed lives up to its reputation. Their means are impressive," Zhuo Haiyue mused, shaking her head. "In that case, we shall refrain from further involvement. For now, let��s await Li Xia''s growth."


    Old Yu nodded slightly. He understood that Zhuo Haiyue, despite her impressive background, was still feeble in terms of personal strength. She was far from the level of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan remained unaware of the machinations behind the scenes.


    All he received was a message from the realm spirit of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    <i>The ethercrystal, dragon crystals, and guidance from Earth Immortal Qing Feng all represent the will of the sect, and their wish for me to mature swiftly?</i> Wu Yuan pondered as he read the news.


    <i>This supportes directly from the sect, and is unrted to Zhuo Haiyue? That''s good, the debt of gratitude is the hardest one to repay.</i>


    Regardless, as long as no one expected him to return the ethercrystal and dragon crystals, it was all good.


    <i>Let��s have a look around the nine treasurends of the sect.</i> Wu Yuan decided, following Earth Immortal Qing Feng��s advice.


    After sending a message to Lu Zhu, he made his way to the small teleportation array within his world residence.


    Due to the immense size of the headquarters, it established numerous small teleportation arrays to facilitate transport andmunication. The array in Wu Yuan��s residence could transport him directly to any of the nine treasurends.


    <i>First stop: The Immortal Ruins Mountain.</i>


    1. Used to describe a situation in which people have a limited understanding of something because they are only able to perceive it from their own perspective. In the story, a group of blind people are asked to describe an elephant. Each person touches a different part of the elephant andes up with a different description. The person who touches the trunk says the elephant is like a snake. The person who touches the leg says the elephant is like a tree. The person who touches the ear says the elephant is like a fan. And so on. ?


    2. Passage from ��Treatise on the Response of the Jade Emperor��. ��Arises with a thought�� means that a single thought can give rise to a karmic connection. Karma is thew of cause and effect. When we have a thought, we create a karmic connection with the object of that thought.


    ��Extinguished with a thought�� means that if we then have another thought that contradicts the first thought, we can extinguish the karmic connection. ?

 Chapter 358: The Nine Treasure Lands

    <h4>Chapter 358: The Nine Treasure Lands</h4>


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood for countless eons, amassing immeasurable wealth of knowledge and treasures over the years, making up its deep foundation.


    The nine treasurends each held a Daoprehension treasure, which could aid immortal cultivators in their study of the Dao.


    <i>The so called profundities of the Dao are in essence thews governing the order of heavens and earth. </i>Wu Yuan understood this.


    <i>Within heaven and earth, there exist wondrous objects that embody the essence of the Great Dao, manifesting itsws in a tangible way.</i>


    The so-called observation of all things and understanding the mind of heaven was essentially about seeking the resonance of the Dao in all things.


    Some precious Daoprehension treasures were invaluable, hastening one��s cultivation progress tenfold, even a hundredfold!


    How did the major sects manage to produce powerhouses continuously with each passing generation? These Daoprehension treasures yed a huge role.


    Throughout the ages, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had produced countless immortals who traversed various spacetime nes, some even venturing beyond the macrocosm, and returning with treasures to enrich the sect''s cultivation environment.


    Out of the numerous treasures procured, only nine were widely known, each regarded as a pir of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    The locations where these treasures resided were known as the nine treasurends within the sect. These were ces where generations of disciples, protectorates, and immortals gathered to study and contemte the treasures.


    <i>Immortal Ruins Mountain.</i> Wu Yuan emerged from the small teleportation array with a sense of anticipation.


    The array hung in the sky, offering a view of a distant crimson mountain peak, which towered 100 li high and spread 300 li wide. The body of the mountain was littered with crumbling halls, copsed walls, and other scattered ruins.


    At first nce, it looked like a mountain of ruins!


    Yet, Wu Yuan could feel a majestic and ancient aura emanating from the mountain, as if it had existed for countless ages.


    Immensely powerful invisible yet tangible waves of heaven and earth��s power radiated in all directions.


    As Wu Yuan beheld the mountain from afar, it felt as though he stood before a zing giant, an immortal being, an endless sea, the vast void... Numerous emotions surged within Wu Yuan''s heart in a single moment.


    <i>Indeed, Immortal Ruins Mountain, renowned as the foremost of the nine treasurends, evokes a myriad of emotions in every observer.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    <i>It is said that whether one seeks to grasp the mysteries of the five elements or to ponder the nature of Wind or Thunder, one cannot help but feel deeply moved.</i>


    <i>Countless revtions, an indomitable grandeur!</i> Wu Yuan held his breath in awe.


    The weight of the mountain''s presence was overwhelming.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan stepped forward and swiftly flew to a spot approximately 200 li from the mountain. After selecting a floating jade tform at random, he settled into the lotus position.


    The treasurend was surrounded by numerous floating jade tforms, each controble with arrays and numbering close to 100,000 in total. They enabled the various members of the sect to study Immortal Ruins Mountain from different angles.


    At present, thousands of immortal cultivators sat in quiet contemtion on floating jade tforms scattered around the mountain.


    Shrouded in a mysterious aura, their forms were visible but indistinct, a feature of the array that allowed each individual to concentrate fully onprehension.


    Each cultivator had full control over the protective array that had a one-li radius around their tform. Through the array, they could cordon off the area, forbidding other disciples from disturbing them without permission.


    <i>Now this is befitting of an immortal sect.</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze swept over the thousands of cultivators engrossed in meditation. Judging by their vital auras, the majority were at the Amethyst Cradle phase!


    ��A Golden Core cultivator?��


    ��Who is it?��


    ��A Golden Core cultivator dares to contemte the nine treasurends? Could it be a hereditary disciple? But I have never seen him before.�� Many nearby Amethyst Cradle cultivators cast surreptitious nces at Wu Yuan.


    The Dao should not be lightly imparted. Simrly, the Great Dao was difficult to articte. Not just anyone could contemte a Daoprehension treasure.


    Among the nine treasurends, the minimum cultivation requirement to contemte Immortal Ruins Mountain was quite low: the third-level Domain stage or the Yang Soul level.


    If one forcibly contemted it without a sufficiently strong foundation, it would be harmful rather than beneficial to one��s cultivation.


    ��It''s Li Xia, the newly admitted hereditary disciple who reportedly conquered level 40 of the one-star tower. Quite extraordinary.�� Some Amethyst Cradle disciples recognized Wu Yuan.


    "So it is.��


    "Apparently, he rejected all challenges from other Golden Core hereditary disciples.�� These Amethyst Cradle cultivators quickly learned more about him after exchanging information.


    However, no one disturbed Wu Yuan. After a brief discussion, these Amethyst Cradle cultivators quickly returned to their quiet cultivation and contemtion.


    <i>Legend has it that the Immortal Ruins Mountain is a mere fragment of a mysterious world from an ancient era. </i>Wu Yuan��s gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. <i>Even a single fragment of that mysterious world holds immense power, embodying the profundity of the Great Dao.</i>


    Wu Yuan focused on contemting it.


    Though the Immortal Ruins Mountain put intense pressure on his soul, he was able to withstand it without much difficulty. As time psed, various revtions flooded his mind.


    Three days passed.


    <i>An endless expanse of crimsonnd? A sea ofva stretching as far as the eye can see? And a square inch of a void?</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts coalesced.


    Gradually, these three distinct scenes materialized within his consciousness. These visions were not perceived through sight, but rather sensed through Soul Force. They were manifestations of the Dao resonance.


    <i>Do these varied scenes symbolize different Dao? The crimsonnd leans towards the profundity of the Land, yet it seems to hold the profundity of the Fire Dao as well.</i>


    <i>As for the other two? Though I can perceive them, they are more nebulouspared to the first scene.</i>


    Wu Yuan instinctively understood that if he wished to contemte the Immortal Ruins Mountain, it was best to do so following the path of the first scene he saw.


    <i>There��s no need to rush. This is just the first treasurend I��m visiting. I may possess an affinity for the Fire Dao, but whether toprehend it or not requires careful consideration. </i>Wu Yuan reflected.


    He didn��t mind contemting other types of Dao. Having read up more, Wu Yuan understood that the myriad Daos of heaven and earth were interconnected. None of them stood absolutely independent from the others.


    At times, by contemting more than one Dao, the convergence of multiple Daos could yield a synergy surpassing mere addition.


    However, it had to align with one''s nature.


    <i>The profundity of Space and the fabled Time Dao are extremely magical and powerful, but without adequate aptitude, contemting them forcefully would hinder progress. </i>


    The best path was the one that suited oneself.


    <i>Onwards to the next treasurend.</i> Rising to his feet, Wu Yuan departed, adhering to his initial n of visiting all nine treasurends before selecting the most fitting one.


    ...


    <i>Immortal Talisman Divine Stone.</i> Upon reaching the second treasure site, a colossal purple stone came into view.


    Measuring 100 li in length, width, and height, the divine stone was carved with dense, inscrutable patterns, each intertwining and merging, encapsting the profundities of countless Daos.


    <i>It is said that a predecessor of the sect once contemted this divine stone, then went on to craft an inconceivable talisman. </i>Wu Yuan marveled quietly.


    For three days, he studied it, only to find his soul wracked with exhaustion.


    <i>This treasurend is not suitable for me.</i> Wu Yuan rendered his verdict.


    ...


    <i>Star of Darkness.</i> Wu Yuan fixed his gaze on the distant celestial body that was bound by numerous interlocking chains in space.


    Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had led Wu Yuan��s group past this star when they first entered the sect. Back then, he had merely observed it from afar without contemting it properly.


    <i>To contemte the Star of Darkness, one��s Daoprehension must reach the True Intent stage. However, my resilient spirit allows me to contemte it, albeit barely. </i>Wu Yuan focused on studying Star of Darkness.


    The burden on his soul was immense, but he persisted, teeth clenched in determination.


    After only a single day, Wu Yuan gained some insights.


    <i>This Star of Darkness contains the profundity of the boundless Land converging into what seems like the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan felt that he had seen a side of Star of Darkness that differed from its superficial appearance.


    Perhaps it was this aspect of Star of Darkness that suited him, a pure manifestation of the Land''s profundity untainted by external influences.


    <i>If I continue to contemte the Star of Darkness, my understanding of the Land''s profundity will grow exponentially faster than through my own efforts alone.</i> Wu Yuan concluded, his excitement palpable.


    The Star of Darkness was more suitable for him than the Immortal Ruins Mountain.


    <i>It is one option. Let��s move on to the next one.</i> Wu Yuan decided to explore all nine treasurends before making a final decision.


    ...The Redme River flowed endlessly, a fiery ribbon snaking through thendscape.


    ...The Jianmu Root, once connected to the void, now stood as a broken remnant of the legendary Jianmu Tree that was said to epass the entire macrocosm. Though it had already withered, it still maintained a connection to the void, stretching 100 li in length.


    ...The Lightning Dragon w, a broken fragment of a beast w, crackled with boundless lightning. Each streak of lightning seemed to roar like a dragon as it shed through the sky. For millions of years, this w had contained the profundity of the Lightning Dao.


    ...


    Wu Yuan spent 26 days exploring seven of the nine treasurends, each one offering new insights into the Dao as he meditated on them. But for two treasures, he felt nothing but a disturbance to his soul, evidence that they were not suitable for him.


    <i>All these are treasures aiding in the understanding of the Dao. Some are beyond my understanding and prove unsuitable for me to cultivate, yet the power they hold is undeniable.</i>


    He was beginning to understand why the Dragon Star Immortal Sect dared im itself as the number one sect in the entire immortal continent. Their roots ran deep indeed!


    Each Daoprehension treasure, if revealed to the external world, would undoubtedly ignite fiercepetition among countless immortals. Yet, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect boldly disyed them within their sect, allowing their disciples to contemte them whenever they wished. It seemed they weren��t afraid of theft at all.


    <i>The eighth treasurend, Star Origin Soil.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled with anticipation. ording to the sect''s records, this treasurend was exceptionally effective in enhancing theprehension of the Earth Dao.


    As he emerged from the teleportation array and gazed into the distance, an expression of disbelief crossed his features.


    Before he could even get a good look at the treasurend, the ck pagoda nestled within Wu Yuan''s upper dantian had begun to tremble.

 Chapter 359: Once-In-A-Million-Years Genius (1)

    Chapter 359: Once-In-A-Million-Years Genius (1)


    <em>Hm?</em>Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted abruptly. The ck pagoda was shaking?


    Since he was first aware of the ck pagoda��s existence decades ago, Wu Yuan''s strength had improved by leaps and bounds, now nearly matching thebat power of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. But until now, he only knew two of its functions: unleashing a blood-red mist whenever he yed foes and fortifying his soul when he Visualized it.


    As for the ck pagoda itself? Wu Yuan''s soul was unable to get close to the ck pagoda at all, let alone find clues to its origins.


    Yet today, the ck pagoda was trembling for the first time.


    <em>This?</em>Wu Yuan acutely sensed that the ethereal ck pagoda within his upper dantian lobe was quivering slightly, as if exulting and leaping for joy.


    Nearly simultaneously in the distant Middle Land, within the Yanqing Hall in the western reaches of Zhong Continental City, a white-robed Wu Yuan meditating in a lotus position suddenly opened his eyes.


    <em>The ck pagoda within my body refiner self''s upper dantian lobe is also trembling?</em>Surprise flickered in his eyes.


    His two true selves did not cross paths nor interact at all save for the connection of their souls. Even the blood mist from past killings could not be shared between the ck pagodas. Thus, Wu Yuan had assumed the ck pagodas in his two selves to be entirely independent.


    <em>But now it seems the ck pagodas of the two true selves are mysteriously linked.</em>The white-robed Wu Yuan pondered.<em>Could it be because of the Star Origin Soil?</em>


    His body-refiner self immediately grew alert.


    ...


    <em>The source lies there.</em>Wu Yuan emerged from the teleportation array into a space filled with numerous jade tforms.


    Scores of immortal cultivators sat on the various floating jade tforms, each with strong vital auras.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze did not linger on these cultivators but honed in on the central object surrounded by the tforms.


    There sat an irregr rock, roughly ten li in length, resembling a meteorite with a metallic sheen on its surface. A potent oppressive aura emanated from it in all directions, causing the fluctuations of Earth Dao to pulse ceaselessly!


    Any rtively strong cultivator could sense that this was a treasure of the Earth Dao.


    <em>This Star Origin Soil caused the ck pagoda to tremble. Among the nine treasurends in the sect, it is one of the lower-ranked ones.</em>Wu Yuannded on a jade tform and observed it silently.


    What was the reason? Wu Yuan confirmed that the source of the ck pagoda��s tremors was none other than the Star Origin Soil. The two seemed to be connected in some inexplicable way.


    No other anomalies urred, but this alonepelled Wu Yuan to take it seriously.


    <em>The ck pagoda is an unimaginable enigma, closely linked to the Blue and my transmigration to the Middle Land.</em>Wu Yuan��s memories of his past life remained clear in his mind. He had never once given up on returning.


    <em>The ck pagoda has been the greatest key to my ascension. The origins of the Star Origin Soil are very likely connected to the ck pagoda.</em>Spections ran wild in Wu Yuan��s mind as he pondered.


    However, Wu Yuan knew better than to disclose the existence of the pagoda.


    Moreover, the Star Origin Soil was surrounded by an imperceptible barrier, preventing Wu Yuan from getting up close. He had no choice but to observe it from a distance and try toprehend its profundities.


    As he immersed himself in the study of the ordinary-looking Star Origin Soil, Wu Yuan''s soul perception underwent a transformative shift.


    He beheld an endless, towering star, suspended in the endless void. This star exerted immense gravitational force, drawing in meteor after meteor from the cosmos, each one hurtling towards it with increasing speed and ferocity, churning up dust over billions of li upon impact.


    <em>Boom! Boom!</em>The meteors descended in session, each one containing unfathomable profoundness. With every collision, the towering star quivered, yet it also expanded, growing more magnificent with each impact.


    It felt like both a fleeting moment and an eternity had passed simultaneously. Wu Yuan found himself immersed in the cascade of celestial bodies, unraveling the infinite profundities contained within the orbit of stars and falling of meteors.


    <em>The star''s surface stretches endlessly, attracting countless meteors with an unseen force... My perception has never been clearer.</em>Wu Yuan was amazed.


    He was able to ��see�� it with unparalleled rity. Compared to the phenomena he had perceived in the other treasurends, it was tenfold, even a hundredfold clearer.


    <em>The endless stars, the rotation of celestial bodies, all hold within them the boundless profundities of the Dao... The profundities of the Land I have grasped thus far merely make up a fraction of this.</em>Wu Yuan waspletely engrossed, unable to tear himself away.


    It wasn��t just his qi refiner self. The souls of his two true selves were connected. In a distantnd, his body refiner self began to contemte the Dao as well, his speed ofprehension outpacing that of his qi refiner self by at least tenfold.


    Countless profundities of the Land flooded his mind. With an innate Terranean Body, his body refiner self possessed an extremely high affinity for the Earth Dao, granting him exceptionalprehension aptitude.


    The phenomena of the Star Origin Soil perceived by his soul yed out in a continuous loop, again and again...


    ...


    In the space above the Star Origin Soil was a hidden spatialyer undetected by the countless Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle disciples below. Three jade tforms floated here, on which three figures with powerful auras sat in the lotus position. Their gazes pierced through the spatial barrier, observing the scene unfolding around the Star Origin Soil below.


    The vital aura of these figures rivaled that of Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng. In particr, the white-robed youth at the center exuded a sense of dominance surpassing even that of Earth Immortal Qing Feng.


    "Oh? That��s Li Xia, a disciple regarded quite highly by the High Immortals," remarked a purple-robed elderly man as his gaze fell on Wu Yuan.


    "Mm, I''ve heard of his exceptional talent," agreed a ck-robed elder. "He��s newly inducted into the sect, so he should be attempting to contemte the various treasurends to find one that suits him. The only question is whether the Star Origin Soil will be his choice."


    "The sect��s reports indicate his highprehension aptitude for the profundity of the Land, making it likely that he will select the Star Origin Soil," chuckled the purple-robed elderly man.


    "It��s not as simple as that," interjected the white-robed youth in the center, his voice cold andmanding. "Although the Star Origin Soil ranks near the bottom among the nine treasurends, it is far from weak. Its low ranking is due to the immense difficulty inprehending its mysteries."


    "It can be considered the most challenging of the nine toprehend," he continued. "Li Xia is just a Golden Core youngster. Even if he has shown promise in the Earth Dao, perceiving any phenomena will be no easy feat. The effectiveness of contemting the Star Origin Soil could very well pale inparison to other treasurends."


    The elderly man in purple robes nodded in agreement. "Indeed, he may only be able to grasp the Star Origin Soil''s mysteries when he advances to the Amethyst Cradle or Void Refiner phase."


    "I, on the other hand, believe he has the potential," chuckled the ck-robed elderly man.


    "Talent is but one factor. Rumor has it he dares not even enter the True Dragon Arena. With such a personality, how will he withstand the pressure posed by the Star Origin Soil?" questioned the white-robed youth, his skepticism evident. It was clear that he didn��t see Wu Yuan in a favorable light.


    The ck-robed elder fell silent, acknowledging the truth in the youth''s words. Despite his hopes for Wu Yuan, he understood the monumental challenge thaty ahead more than most as the guardian of the Star Origin Soil and an Earth Immortal who had cultivated it himself.


    "There��s no need to debate on this. Whether he seeds or fails, it has little to do with us," the purple-robed elder chuckled. "Let us simply observe and await the oue, the truth will be revealed in due time."

 Chapter 360: Once-In-A-Million-Years Genius (2)

    <h4>Chapter 360: Once-In-A-Million-Years Genius (2)</h4>


    Days went by.


    <i>I was wrong! Utterly wrong!</i>


    <i>No, it would be inurate to say that I was wrong. My previous understanding of the Land��s profundities merely touched on one tiny portion of the myriad Daos of heaven and earth. I have yet to grasp its full extent. </i>Wu Yuan��s mind waspletely engrossed in contemtion.


    Ten days had passed. Yet to Wu Yuan, it was merely a fleeting moment.


    As Wu Yuan perceived the phenomenon of falling meteorites again and again, the boundaries of hisprehension expanded further and further. He began to realize that there were many gaps in his knowledge.


    It was like studying mathematics. Many definitions and assumptions one learned in primary school were overturned in secondary school; these were overturned once more in university.


    <i>These are not mistakes. From different vantage points, the scenery may shift, but thendscape remains unchanged.</i> Wu Yuan understood this.


    He pressed on. The deeper he delved into contemtion, the more he sensed that within the seemingly simple phenomenon of falling meteoritesy an ineffable Dao.


    Time seemed to fly by as Wu Yuan cultivated, and before he knew it, he had spent 88 days in the Star Origin Soil treasurend, close to three whole months.


    <i>I understand now.</i> Wu Yuan had been cultivating non-stop throughout this period. His revtions did note in shes of epiphanies, but a gradual umtion of insights.


    <i>By designating one��s body as the core, representing a celestial body, one can naturally harness the same terrifying gravitational force, unleashing immense power.</i> Wu Yuan realized, his mind aze with newfound understanding.


    <i>The stronger the gravitational force, therger the celestial body grows, and thus the greater the gravitational force...</i> Wu Yuan sensed the descent of each meteor with acute awareness.


    <i>When the star grows to immense proportions, when its surface area reaches a herculean size and its force bes unstoppable, it willpel all matter of heaven and earth, all beings of the universe, to sumb to its gravitational pull! </i>Wu Yuan marveled, feeling as though he had stumbled upon a profundity that could barely be exined in words.


    The depth of this knowledge was staggering, its scope seemingly endless.


    <i>Boom!</i> As the realization dawned upon him, anomalies began to manifest around both his qi refiner self in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and his body refiner self in the Middle Land.


    It was as if his true selves had simultaneously transformed into miniature stars. Illusory meteors rained down on them, creating ripples of phenomena.


    Though illusory, they appearedpletely real!


    ...


    "This?"


    "How is this possible!" Above the Star Origin Soil, the three figures in another spatialyer werepletely taken aback, looking down incredulously at the scene below.


    Due to the array''s concealment function, other immortal cultivators couldn''t detect the phenomena surrounding Wu Yuan. However, as guardians of the treasurend, the three of them could observe the states of all visiting cultivators clearly.


    All of them could distinctly sense the changes in Wu Yuan''s aura.


    Wu Yuan was involuntarily producing an invisible gravitational pull just like a miniature star!


    At the same time, the Star Origin Soil that spanned across the void, silent for billions of years, also generated a faint gravitational pull. It was resonating with Wu Yuan!


    "Acknowledgement!"


    "He has induced the resonance acknowledgement of the Star Origin Soil? Heavens." The purple-robed elderly man couldn''t believe it. "What exactly has Li Xiaprehended? Even among the three of us Earth Immortals, only Xing Jiu managed to receive resonance acknowledgement."


    ��Li Xia?" Xing Jiu, the young man in white robes, was also shocked, staring at Wu Yuan below with aplicated look.


    Despite cultivating for less than 10,000 years, he was already among the top three Earth Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, a true peerless prodigy.


    However, it was only after contemting the Star Origin Soil for thousands of years and reaching the Void Refiner phase that he received its resonance acknowledgement.


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Haha, truly unbelievable." The elderly man in ck robes was thrilled: "I told you this Li Xia might be fated to cultivate the Star Origin Soil."


    "The fact that he was able to induce resonance implies that he has an unbelievable talent for this path. I can see why many High Immortals have high hopes for this young genius."


    "I can sense that hisprehension epasses the profundity of the Land, gravitational fluctuations, and other misceneous concepts mixed in." The elderly man in ck robes stared at Wu Yuan as if looking at an uncut jade,pletely ignoring the expressions of the young man in white robes and the elderly man in purple robe by his side.


    "We must report this immediately to the higher-ups, and notify the abbot and veteran elders!"


    ...


    In a small corner of the vast space adjacent to the Star Origin Soil, the aura Wu Yuan emanated began to fluctuate vigorously. The star he formed grewrger, reaching a perfect state and subtly influencing the space around him.


    It was truly astonishing. One had to understand that this process was not consciously guided by Wu Yuan. He did not imbue his mana into it at all. This was simply the Dao��s essence in operation.


    Unexpectedly, a shift urred in Wu Yuan''s Soul Force perception. The phenomenon of falling meteorites transformed suddenly.


    The star impacted by these meteorites grew farrger than all else, towering in the endless cosmos. Its brilliance was overwhelmingly radiant, exerting a dominance over time and space that seemed topel all things to submit to its will, its influence even reaching across spacetime nes.


    The star then erupted with a deafening boom, shaking the cosmos.


    "The evolution of celestial bodies, returning to the source, can shatter the heavens and the earth, traversing time and space. This is my realization. I call this the ��Celestial Body Law Codex��. Practice it diligently, and don��t ck off. Haha, my name is Great Eldritch Kua Fu!" The grand voice echoed from the endless expanse of stars, resonating through time and space, and deep into Wu Yuan��s heart.


    Then, inheritance information flooded into Wu Yuan''s memory and soul, etching itself indelibly into his mind.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two figures, one red and one ck, appeared in the sky above the Star Origin Soil.


    With their mighty presence, they seemed to stand at the center of heaven and earth, yet no disciple detected them.


    "Greetings to the Abbot and Veteran Elder." The young man in white robes, the old man in purple robes, and the old man in ck robes all bowed respectfully.


    As Earth Immortals, it was no question that they were powerful. But in front of these two neers, they werepletely overshadowed, their presence fading to the background. They were not on the same level at all.


    Among the two Tribtion High Immortals, only the middle-aged man in red robes nodded slightly in response, but the figure in ck armor didn''t pay any attention to them, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan below.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan was sitting in the lotus position on a jade tform, his body shrouded in a vast, ancient, and majestic aura.


    "Inheritance!"


    "It��s been 60 million years since our ancestor retrieved this Great Eldritch''s inheritance from outer space. Its secrets are finallying to light." The figure in ck armor stared at Wu Yuan, his eyes lit with excitement. "60 million years!"


    The ck-armored figure turned to look at the middle-aged man in red robes and lowered his voice, "Abbot, the heavens have blessed our Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    "This Li Xia is a rare peerless genius that may only appear once in millions of years within our sect. Throughout the entire immortal continent, or even the immortal nation, he is absolutely a genius that appears once in millions of years."


    "Tell Senior Brother Dong Yang that if he isn��t willing to teach him, I''ll teach him!" The voice of the ck-armored figure was firm, filled with determination.


    The middle-aged man in red robes had yet to respond when a cold voice rang out. "Who says I��m not willing to teach him? Old Hei��zi, such a fine uncut jade of a sword immortal will only be ruined in your hands."

 Chapter 361: Call Me Old Madman (1)

    <h4>Chapter 361: Call Me Old Madman (1)</h4>


    The figures d in ck armor and red robes swiveled their heads, directing their attention to the source of the voice.


    The white-robed youth Xing Jiu, the ck-robed elderly man, and the purple-robed elderly man did not hear the voice. However, they followed the gazes, implicitly understanding that another High Immortal from their sect had arrived.


    In the blink of an eye, an imperceptible wave swept over them, causing Xing Jiu and the other two Earth Immortals to vanish from their original position and reappear on a deste mountaintop. Bewildered, they exchanged nces of astonishment.


    "What?" Xing Jiu eximed.


    "This ce is approximately 300,000 li from the Star Origin Soil.��


    ��We were transported with nothing more than a single thought?"


    "What level of ability is this?" the purple-robed elderly man murmured in disbelief. Exchanging nces with the other two, he saw that they were equally taken aback.


    Though they had yet to reach the level of Tribtion High Immortals, they were still Divided Soul Earth Immortals, beings who could live for a staggering 90,000 years. Their strength was undeniable. Yet, without warning, the trio found themselves transported 300,000 li away.


    "Which High Immortal could have done this?"


    "The number of individuals who have reached such a level in our sect can be counted on two hands," the elderly man in purple robes remarked. "And to be drawn here by Li Xia, it must be..."


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang! It must be him," the ck-robed elderly man eximed.


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Xing Jiu, the white-robed youth, turned to the distant treasurend, his eyes shimmering with admiration.


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Sword Immortal Dong Yang was a living legend. His years of cultivation dated back countless eras, cing him among the oldest of High Immortals within the sect. With each passing day, his strength grew, shattering barriers and ascending to new heights.


    He was the mightiest sword immortal the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had ever produced. Across the vast immortal continent, he was the top sword immortal of the current era, killing countless foes with his sword.


    "Li Xia''s talent is truly extraordinary. At the Golden Core phase, he has already received the treasure��s acknowledgment. On top of that, he is a sword cultivator. Perhaps Sword Immortal Dong Yang will take him in as a direct disciple," the ck-robed elderly man chuckled.


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang has never taken in a direct disciple. He has only ever epted two nominal disciples," the elderly man in purple robes reminded them.


    "A direct disciple of Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Xing Jiu sighed softly, his gaze betraying a hint of jealousy, though he no longer belittled Wu Yuan. Despite his pride, he acknowledged Wu Yuan''s superior talent. Back when he was in the Golden Core phase, his talent was far behind Wu Yuan.


    <i>However, the path of cultivation is treacherous. Even if he bes Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s disciple, so what? He��s only at the Golden Core phase. Who knows if he��ll encounter some danger and die young? </i>Xing Jiu mused inwardly.


    Although he wasn��t too pleased with Wu Yuan, he naturally wouldn��t voice it openly.


    "The High Immortal likely moved us away as he doesn��t wish to meet us. Let us return to our residences for now. The veteran elder and the abbot will inform us of any new developments," the ck-robed elderly man suggested.


    The three departed swiftly.


    ...


    In the space above the Star Origin Soil, Xing Jiu, the ck-robed elderly man, and the purple-robed elderly man vanished without a trace.


    Then, a figure in white robes materialized soundlessly. With his long hair billowing behind him, he bore the countenance of a noble young master in his thirties, his features as pristine as jade. Yet, the sharp sword intent passively emanating from him sent shivers down the spines of the ck-armored and red-robed figures.


    He was like a divine de capable of rending worlds asunder or obliterating thempletely if he so wished. Even as Tribtion High Immortals, they found themselves sorelycking inparison.


    "Abbot," the white-robed figure smiled as he greeted the middle-aged man in red robes with a respectful nod.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, you have finally arrived," the middle-aged man chuckled.


    The neer was none other than High Immortal Dong Yang.


    "Dong Yang, I address you as ��Senior Brother�� as a mark of respect," the ck-armored figure red, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Don��t push your luck. Stop calling me Old Hei��zi all the time."


    "Among the High Immortals of our sect, the only one older than me is you," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied nonchntly. "If you don��t like me calling you Old Hei��zi, then pray tell, what should I call you?"


    "Most refer to me as Old Hei. Given our simr ages, it is fitting," the ck-armored figure retorted through gritted teeth. [1]


    "I prefer Old Hei��zi," Sword Immortal Dong Yang stated coolly. "Why, do you take issue with that? Either ept it quietly or challenge me to a match."


    The ck-armored figure found himself at a loss for words.


    Challenge him to a match? He had faced off against the white-robed youth hundreds of times before, but the oue had always been the same �C defeat. Moreover, the gap between their strengths only continued to widen with each fight.


    ��Hmph! Fighting is all you know. Even though you''re hundreds of thousands of years old, you still act like a youngster,�� the ck-armored figure huffed disdainfully.


    "My heart remains youthful, just as my sword has yet to rust," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied casually. "Old Hei��zi, if you can''t speak well, then speak less.��


    The ck-armored figure bristled, preparing to retort.


    "Brother Dong Yang, Brother Hei Yuan," The man in red robes finally spoke, a bitter smile on his face. "Aside from the immortal ancestor, you two are the most senior members of our sect. Your bickering has alreadysted hundreds of thousands of years, let��s not argue over the same topics again."


    "How about we observe Li Xia first?" The man in red robes gestured towards Wu Yuan below.


    Strange phenomena were still swirling around Wu Yuan. His body seemed to transform into a star, his aura pulsating vigorously.


    "Right! Dong Yang, if my memory serves me right, you should have received Li Xia''s profile long ago. This budding young talent should not go unguided. If you are unwilling to take him in, then I will help myself to him,�� High Immortal Hei Yuan said.


    "Do you possess the necessary qualifications to teach him?" Sword Immortal Dong Yang questioned, eyeing him with a haughty look. "How many Earth Immortals have you produced out of the hundreds of disciples under your tutge?"


    "Of course I am well equipped to teach him," High Immortal Hei Yuan retorted, his gaze steely. "I��ve contemted the Star Origin Soil for hundreds of thousands of years and am the veteran elder of this cultivation lineage. Mentoring a Golden Core kid is hardly a challenge to me."


    "Star Origin Soil? What you��veprehended so far is only the profundity of the Land, and by extension the profundity of the Earth," Sword Immortal Dong Yang countered, eyeing Wu Yuan below. "Do you understand what Li Xia has grasped?"


    "He��s just inherited a Great Eldritch��s legacy, that��s all. It��s just one of many powerful inheritances within our sect," High Immortal Hei Yuan replied, furrowing his brow. "The immortal codices andw codices are superficial; the true core lies in understanding the Dao."


    The man in red robes observed silently from the side. As the abbot, everyone in the sect respected him due to his position. But when it came to the path to immortality, power took precedence.


    He understood that the two oldest High Immortals in the sect were fighting over a disciple.


    <i>It��s rare for a Golden Core cultivator to attract the attention of Earth Immortals.</i> The man in red robes mused to himself. <i>Yet this Li Xia has several ancient High Immortals vying to be his master.</i>


    However, he understood that this was the norm. Such ridiculous prodigies were a precious find. For High Immortals seeking to pass down their inheritance, an opportunity like this was not to be missed.


    "Old Hei��zi, after all these years of studying the Star Origin Soil, do you truly believe the Great Eldritch inheritance is so simple?" Dong Yang shook his head. "Why would the immortal ancestor leave it here for millions of years?"


    "Li Xia did not only grasp the two Lesser Laws of the Land Dao and Gravity Dao, but the Celestial Body Dao!��


    The Celestial Body Dao is one of the cornerstones of the Great Dao of Earth, a Dao that holds unimaginable power. He has already stepped through the initiate threshold of this Dao."


    "If he continues on this trajectory, he may one day rival even me," Dong Yang stated calmly.


    1. Dong Yang calls him �Ϻ���, which is equivalent to Old ckie, while Hei Yuan wants to be called �Ϻ�, Old ck. ?

 Chapter 362: Call Me Old Madman (2)

    <h4>Chapter 362: Call Me Old Madman (2)</h4>


    His words shocked both High Immortal Hei Yuan and the red-robed middle aged man.


    Rival Sword Immortal Dong Yang? One had to understand that the power Dong Yang wielded was on par with an Archimmortal!


    "The Celestial Body Dao?" High Immortal Hei Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise. He had yet to grasp it himself, but as a powerhouse who delved into the Great Dao of Earth, he knew about the Celestial Body Dao. Very few powerhouses were able to truly cultivate this Dao.


    "Dong Yang, can you instruct him?" High Immortal Hei Yuan couldn''t help asking. "I don��t truly want to snatch a disciple from you. It''s just that a diamond in the rough must be polished properly, lest its brilliance go to waste."


    "Should we seek guidance from the immortal ancestor?" High Immortal Hei Yuan proposed.


    "He is a Sword Cultivator, and I am more than capable of teaching him," Sword Immortal Dong Yang responded coolly. "As for the Celestial Body Dao? I have not fullyprehended it, but..."


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>With a swift motion, Sword Immortal Dong Yang conjured a miniature star in the palm of his hand. The star appeared small, yet it seemed to hold a boundless expanse and deep profoundness.


    The moment the star appeared, High Immortal Hei Yuan and red-robed figure tensed up, sensing that it posed a lethal threat to them.


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, you?" The red-robed man was bbergasted. "You��ve actually grasped it?"


    "It was merely a stroke of luck," Sword Immortal Dong Yang dismissed it tly.


    "The heavens are truly smiling upon our sect," the red-robed man eximed excitedly. "The immortal ancestor will surely be beyond ted to hear of this."


    "There��s no rush." Sword Immortal Dong Yang shook his head. "Wait til I have surpassed the Ninth Immortal Tribtion before informing the immortal ancestor. If I fail, there is no need to tell him about this."


    "However, before facing the tribtion, I will train Li Xia properly and impart everything I��ve learned in this lifetime to him," Sword Immortal Dong Yang gazed down at Wu Yuan below.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan fell silent.


    <i>What a freak, I have no idea how he cultivates. </i>High Immortal Hei Yuan sighed inwardly.


    However, he no longer objected. Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s strength was far superior to him, beyond his imagination. Even whenpeting in his strongest aspect, he still lost to Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, when do you n to hold the master-disciple ceremony? Will it be conducted publicly?" the red-robed man inquired.


    As the leader of many High Immortals in the sect, his influence held sway throughout the immortal continent. The news that Sword Immortal Dong Yang was epting a disciple would undoubtedly unleash a massive storm if announced publicly.


    ��There��s no rush. Li Xia disys remarkable talent and possesses a strong soul. His Dao Heart appears to be pure as well. Truly, he is a prodigy that a sect hardly encounters once in millions of years," Sword Immortal Dong Yang murmured. "Yet, talent is but one facet. His character holds equal importance."


    "I shall keep a close eye on him and subject him to further tests."


    "Furthermore, it appears he carries some secrets." A sly grin tugged at the corner of Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s lips.


    "Secrets?" The middle-aged man in red robes was startled.


    "Fret not, it won��t bring harm to our Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Sword Immortal Dong Yang reassured. "Abbot, continue treating Li Xia as per usual and refrain from disrupting his routine. I have my own ns."


    "Alright." The middle-aged man in red robes nodded.


    Though he didn��t know what Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s was nning, no one else in the sect was better qualified to raise a sword cultivator than Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    "Dong Yang, I know I sound nosy, but I hope you don��t squander such a promising talent," High Immortal Hei Yuan interjected.


    "Fear not, Old Hei''zi." Sword Immortal Dong Yang cast a nce in his direction. "Soon, your disciples and grand disciples will tremble the moment my disciple unsheathes his sword."


    "Quality over quantity!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In the blink of an eye, Sword Immortal Dong Yang vanished from his position.


    "You!" High Immortal Hei Yuan fumed.


    He enjoyed teaching disciples, and throughout the ages, he had mentored over ten direct disciples, and hundreds of nominal disciples. As for the number of grand disciples he had, he didn��t bother keeping count.


    "That damned Dong Yang. May you never find a Daopanion in this lifetime!�� High Immortal Heiyuan seethed, vanishing in a sh.


    The middle-aged man in red robes chuckled at this exchange before departing.


    ...


    Wu Yuan stood on a jade tform adjacent to the Star Origin Soil, his powerful and majestic aura now returned to its usual state.


    As he opened his eyes, his pupils reflected his disbelief and shock. It wasn��t only his qi refiner self. Even his body refiner self in the distant Middle Land looked shaken.


    <i>��The Celestial Body Law Codex��. Drawing upon the principles of the evolution of celestial bodies, Great Eldritch Kua Fu? The inheritance of a Great Eldritch is actually hidden within this Star Origin Soil?</i> Wu Yuan felt his heart quivering.


    This was no ordinary inheritance orw codex.


    A Great Eldritch! From the inheritance memories of his body refiner self, Wu Yuan understood that such a being was even stronger than a typical Archeldritch.


    Even throughout the vast river of time and space, they were titanic figures.


    <i>I wonder what connection exists between this Great Eldritch Kua Fu and the Kua Fu of the myths and legends in my previous life? </i>[1] Unable to find an answer, he decided not to dwell on it.


    <i>Thisw codex is truly remarkable. </i>Wu Yuan marveled, perceiving the profound imprint left on his soul.<i> The inheritance memories of my body refiner self pale inparison.</i>


    Visions of falling meteorites yed out before his mind''s eye with a thought, each scene vivid and clear. In particr, thest voice he heard lingered within his soul, itsmanding and passionate tone deeply affecting him.


    <i>Due to the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos of my body refiner self, I received many powerful ether arts, but they are merely arts, not epassing the true Dao or Laws. </i>He understood this truth well.


    While his inheritance memories included various teachings, most only taught the application methods. The few that delved into Daoprehension required diligent study and contemtion.


    The Celestial Body Law Codex inheritance he had recently acquired, however, was different.


    This inheritance contained the spiritual imprint of Great Eldritch Kua Fu, providing clear guidance along the correct path. Wu Yuan could feel himself progressing steadily under its influence.


    While thew codex might not be the strongest in terms of purebat prowess, it elerated Wu Yuan��s breakthroughs, allowing him to deepen his Daoprehension.


    <i>The Dao is the foundation. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes burned with fervor. <i>The Celestial Body Law Codex allows me to contemte the Dao at a far faster rate than if I were to contemte the Star Origin Soil.</i>


    He gazed at the Star Origin Soil in the distance. It operated via thews of nature, containing the profundity of Earth. But could itpare to the profound knowledge etched within the deepest part of his soul by the Celestial Body Law Codex?


    Certainly not!


    <i>Throughout the countless ages, I��m guessing barely anyone within the sect has managed to obtain the ��Celestial Body Law Codex�� inheritance. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>But the Star Origin Soil can serve as a guide for generations of disciples within our sect.</i>


    He grasped the distinction between the two. The presence of the Star Origin Soil here was akin to a public lecture, essible to all at any time and ce.


    On the other hand, the Celestial Body Law Codex was more akin to private tutoring, providing personal mentorship.


    <i>Celestial Body!</i> Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand, conjuring a faint glowing thread of light imbued with boundless power.


    <i>The so-called Celestial Body Dao likely epasses the entirety of the Land Dao. </i>Wu Yuan reflected.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan��s head snapped up abruptly, his startled gaze fixed on a grimy, ck-robed old man who had seemingly materialized out of thin air not far from him.


    <i>How? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    The protective array surrounding the jade tform had not been triggered at all. How had this figure managed to sneak in undetected?


    Furthermore, upon initial inspection, Wu Yuan sensed no aura emanating from the stranger. He seemed nothing more than amon mortal.


    Who was he?


    "You may refer to me as Old Madman," the disheveled old man grinned, his teeth stained a yellowish hue.


    1. Kuafu (�丸) is a giant in Chinese mythology who wished to capture the Sun. He was a grandson of Houtu ?

 Chapter 363: Expensive Sword Codex

    <h4>Chapter 363: Expensive Sword Codex</h4>


    Old madman? The figure standing before Wu Yuan was cloaked in tattered robes that had clearly not seen water or soap in ages. The man had wild, unkempt hair and a knotted beard that reached down to his chest. His physical appearance was equally ugly, and calling him Old Madman was not a misnomer in the slightest.


    "Junior Li Xia greets Senior," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, not daring to underestimate the old man.


    This was one of the sect''s nine treasurends, protected by various measures without any securitypses for eons. Yet here stood this old man, having breached its defenses without so much as an rm going off.


    What level of cultivation did he possess? Void Refiner phase? Divided Soul phase? Or perhaps even more formidable? Wu Yuan dared not hazard a guess.


    The old man''s appearance and manner of dressing held little weight in Wu Yuan''s eyes. He knew that many immortal cultivators of considerable age paid little heed to such matters.


    Just as Wu Yuan traveled through the Middle Land in the past, some powerful immortal cultivators might also decide to cultivate their worldly hearts in the mundane world, assuming guises in various lowly positions. They might pose as beggars, boatmen, woodcutters, or even tavern waiters for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, fully immersing themselves in their chosen roles.


    "Hehe, you''re a polite kid," the unkempt old man chuckled. "But as I''ve said, call me Old Madman."


    "Junior dares not," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    "You dare not?" The unkempt old man fixed him with a piercing stare. "I said to call me Old Madman, so call me Old Madman."


    Wu Yuan paused. This ck-robed old man did seem to border on lunacy.


    "You refuse?" The unkempt old man��s eyes betrayed a hint of displeasure.


    "Old Madman," Wu Yuan cautiously addressed him.


    "That''s more like it," the unkempt old man cackled. "Since our paths have crossed, it must be fate. How about inviting this old madman to take a seat?"


    "Please, have a seat," Wu Yuan offered, relinquishing his ce on the jade tform.


    Even after observing him, the old man was aplete mystery to Wu Yuan.


    "Forget it, let''s both stand," the unkempt old man waved, causing the floating jade tform to glide to the edge of the space.


    Wu Yuan''s eyelid twitched.


    Though the jade tform appeared to float freely in the air, it was actually anchored in ce by the array surrounding the Star Origin Soil. It was supposed to be immovable!


    Who was this strange unkempt old man, and what was his purpose here?


    "I know you have questions," the old man grinned, revealing two rows of yellowed teeth. "I won''t leave you hanging. I was drawn here because you obtained the Great Eldritch��s inheritance."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Don��t be surprised, did you think the sect was unaware that Star Origin Soil ced here holds an inheritance?" The unkempt old man chuckled. "Teachings may be easily obtained, but the mental imprint of the inheritance is actually Dao resonance left by the original owner. It diminishes each time the inheritance is imparted. Thus, the sect naturally values it highly."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in realization.


    The sect had known all along about the Great Eldritch��s inheritance held within the Star Origin Soil.


    However, Wu Yuan felt a sense of reassurance from the old man''s words, and understood that he was likely a super powerhouse of the sect.


    "I sense the aura of a sword cultivator about you," the unkempt old man observed. "Show me your strongest sword art."


    His strongest sword art? Coupled with the old man''s previous words, Wu Yuan had an inkling of the reason behind his visit.


    "Senior, thank you for your instruct..." Wu Yuan began.


    "No, call me Old Madman," the unkempt old man''s expression turned serious.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan agreed, "Then, Old Madman, please guide me."


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Three flying swords materialized before Wu Yuan and swiftly assembled into a small sword array.


    "There��s no need to worry about injuring me or restraining your power," the unkempt old man assured.


    With a nod, Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Swish!</i> The sword array transformed into a slender divine sword, the third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array - The Sword Within Reach.


    The divine sword moved gracefully, devoid of essentia or mana. It looked like a falling star, seemingly subdued, but the power it exhibited upon impact was immense.


    As it sliced through the sky, it left a lingering sword scar in its wake.


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>The divine sword split into three, circling around Wu Yuan.


    "Senior, what do you think?" Wu Yuan inquired in a low voice.


    "So it��s the ��Dark Earth Sword Array''. I haven��t seen it for some time," the old man chuckled. "At your age, being able to disy the third step is indeed impressive."


    Wu Yuan felt rather proud.


    Even Amethyst Cradle cultivators might not be able to disy the third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array.


    "However, this technique is nowhere near your strongest. It barely touches half of your Daoprehension," the old man observed.


    "What? I haven''t even tapped into half of my Daoprehension?" Wu Yuan was astonished.


    On the path of immortal cultivation, the Dao was the foundation, while techniques were the application.


    To reach greater heights, one must deepen theirprehension of the Dao, but only through proper application could one unleash the full potential of the power it contained.


    "Since you can contemte the Star Origin Soil, it means you have reached a high level ofprehension. So why do you still follow the sword codex so rigidly?" The unkempt old man shook his head, "The moves in the sword codex merely contain the profundity of the Land. It does not mean you are restricted to utilizing the Land��s profundity in its execution."


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    "You must understand that what you are currently contemting is the Celestial Body Dao, which also originates from the Great Dao of Earth��s Essence. [1] As they share the same origins, the two are fundamentally the same," the unkempt old man exined. "If you can use the Land��s profundity to exhibit the Dark Earth Sword Array, why can''t you use the Celestial Body Dao to unleash the same array?"


    A bitter smile formed on Wu Yuan''s face.


    Techniques are merely applications of the Dao. Be it sword arrays, alchemy, talismans, or the like, they were just vessels. This principle was understood by all, yet actualizing it was a daunting task, far easier said than done.


    "Li Xia, observe closely," the old man suddenly instructed. "I shall demonstrate a single sword strike. How much youprehend from this strike depends entirely on your own capabilities."


    Without dy, the old man extended his finger, pointing to the air. Sword lights materialized out of nothingness, initially simple lines, yet swiftly merging together.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan looked on with intense focus.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The sword lights fused, forming a needle-like beam that tore through the sky. It looked like a meteorite crashing to the ground, or a shooting star streaking across the sky, embodying the might of a celestial body��s explosion��unpredictable and boundless.


    <i>The sword of Celestial Bodies embodies the movement of celestial bodies.</i> Wu Yuan marveled, utterly captivated.


    Though both disyed the third step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, the sword art exhibited by the old man far surpassed Wu Yuan''s.


    <i>The profoundness of the Dao contained within each sword light may seem shallow, but its collective disy actually yields such unbelievable power. </i>Wu Yuan realized in awe.


    Comparing the old man''s swordy to his own was likeparing the brilliance of the moon to the glow of a firefly.


    After more than ten breaths, the sword lights dissipated, bringing Wu Yuan back to reality. The old man stood beside him, a grin on his face.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Wu Yuan bowed sincerely, deeply impressed by the old man.


    It was a remarkable sword art.


    While the Celestial Body Law Codex guided Wu Yuan in understanding the Celestial Body Dao via the Great Eldrich��s Dao resonance, it was incrediblyplex, resembling a vague outline too profound to fully grasp.


    Wu Yuan had only just begun to scratch the surface, yet already had many questions.


    The old man''s sword demonstration, on the other hand, was a visual exnation of the concepts for a novice, as though breaking each step down for Wu Yuan toprehend more easily.


    <i>The more deeply oneprehends the Dao, the greater one��s mastery over techniques, naturally enabling one to grow stronger.</i>


    <i>Likewise, continuous exploration of sword arts inadvertently leads to many insights, enhancing one��sprehension of the Dao.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    The Dao was the theory, technique was the application. Both were essential, for only together could one tread the true path of immortal cultivation.


    "Focus on understanding this sword strike in conjunction with the sword codex," the unkempt old man instructed solemnly. "Return to the Star Origin Soil in a month''s time. If your cultivation progresses well, I will demonstrate more techniques."


    "But if your progress falls below expectations, there will be no second chance."


    "I will give my all," vowed Wu Yuan earnestly.


    He understood that the old man intended to mentor him for an extended period. Yet the identity of this figure remained a mystery.


    Wu Yuan surmised that he was at least an Earth Immortal, or perhaps even a Tribtion High Immortal within the sect. Regardless, this was a rare opportunity not to be wasted.


    "Right, since you are contemting the Celestial Body Dao, go learn the ''Star Ruins Sword Codex''. Since you possess sufficient lifebound flying swords, you will be able to execute sword arts from both codices simultaneously," instructed the old man.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan dutifullymitted the ''Star Ruins Sword Codex'' to memory.


    With that, the unkempt old man disappeared, and the jade tform at the far end of the space returned to its original position.


    <i>He came and left without a trace. </i>Wu Yuan had no idea how the dirty old man in ck robes had left, just as he hadn''t noticed how he hade.


    <i>I wonder which senior from the sect it was. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    One thing was certain �C the old man harbored no malice, even going to great lengths to impart his wisdom. That single sword strike alone was worth dedicating a good amount of time to contemte.


    <i>I��ll return to the grotto ande back in a month. </i>Wu Yuan was filled with eager anticipation and a burning fighting spirit.


    He knew that he needed to push himself and show sufficient improvement if he wanted to continue receiving guidance from the mysterious senior.


    With that, Wu Yuan left.


    Having received the teachings of the Celestial Body Law Codex, Wu Yuan could study directly from the Dao resonance left by the Great Eldritch Kua Fu. It was far more effective than contemting the nine treasurends.


    Using the teleportation array, Wu Yuan swiftly returned to his residence.


    ��Heir," Lu Zhu and arge group of Golden Core cultivators flew over to greet him as he arrived.


    "You may attend to your duties. No one is to disturb me,"manded Wu Yuan before entering the meditation chamber without dy.


    As he cultivated, he separated a thread of consciousness, which entered the Dragon Star Immortal Realm and made its way to the Daoist Scripture Tower within Mirage Dragon City.


    There, he swiftly located the information he sought.


    The initial and middle segments of the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex�� cost three million dragon crystals in total.


    The ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� cost one million dragon crystals for the initial segment, ten million dragon crystals for the middle segment, and 50 million for the final segment.


    <i>How exorbitant! </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes widened as he looked at the cost. The prices far exceeded his estimations, and it was far more expensive than the Dark Earth Sword Codex.


    But after doing a quick check, he learned that this was the number one sword codex among the dozen or so sword codices in the sect.


    After a brief moment, Wu Yuan came to a decision.


    "I wish to redeem the initial and middle segments of the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��, as well as the initial segment of the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex��," he dered.


    1. Author uses Earth Dao, Great Dao of Earth, and Great Dao of Earth��s Essence interchangeably. ?

 Chapter 364: Greater Law

    <h4>Chapter 364: Greater Law</h4>


    <i>Based on the description of the Star Ruins Sword Codex, only those who have reached the Amethyst Cradle phase have the potential to grasp the initial segment of the codex.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>It is profound enough for most Void Refiner Eminences to cultivate.</i>


    As for the middle segment? Even most Tribtion High Immortals might not be able to understand it fully.


    <i>I am only an initiate in the Celestial Body Dao. The initial segment of the codex will suffice for my current needs. </i>Wu Yuan deliberated.


    The exorbitant price of the middle segment, a staggering ten million dragon crystals, was beyond his reach at the moment. Though he had received Earth Immortal Qing Feng��s gift, Wu Yuan possessed only twenty million dragon crystals in total.


    While seemingly a substantial sum, this was the sect''s allocation to a hereditary disciple for hundreds of years'' worth of cultivation. Acquiring more dragon crystals in the future would prove far more challenging.


    <i>I must spend it wisely. Once I have fully studied the initial segment of the Star Ruins Sword Codex, my strength will undoubtedly increase. It won��t be toote to redeem the middle segment then. The surplus dragon crystals can be traded for other treasures.</i>


    "Hereditary disciple Li Xia, you are redeeming the initial and middle segments of the Dark Earth Sword Codex and the initial segment of the Star Ruins Sword Codex, totaling four million dragon crystals. Do you confirm?" A solemn voice reverberated in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "I confirm," Wu Yuan affirmed quietly.


    "Four million dragon crystals have been deducted, your bnce is now sixteen million dragon crystals. The relevant teachings have been transmitted to your personal hall," the resonant voice intoned. "Bear in mind that these teachings are not to be divulged to others."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan acknowledged.


    Upon his induction into the sect, he had sworn a corresponding oath that he would not disclose the sect��s teachings without permission.


    With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan was instantly transported from Mirage Dragon City to his personal hall. It was very vast, even more so than his personal hall in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    <i>The Dragon Star Immortal Realm may seem inferior to the Redmoon Immortal Realm, but the main features remain unchanged. </i>Wu Yuan observed as he surveyed his surroundings.


    As a hereditary disciple, he enjoyed superior privileges, with ess to simtions for equipment forging, pill refining, talisman crafting, and the creation of ethercrystal weaponry��all at no cost.


    <i>Teachings.</i> With a mentalmand, a colossal light screen materialized before him, disying a detailed inventory.


    As he selected ''teachings'', the two sword codices Wu Yuan had just acquired appeared on the light screen. He gently tapped them with his fingertip. Numerous light particles converged to form two huge crystal clear books. They were virtual immortal slips.


    <i>Everyrge sect on the immortal continent stores all sorts of teachings within its Daoist Scripture Tower in its corresponding voidrealm, unless it is on the brink of extermination.</i>


    All factions on the immortal continent, whetherrge or small, would build corresponding Daoist Scripture Towers. Some voidrealms were simple with only basic functions, while others were intricate andprehensive.


    <i>Let��s have a look at the ''Dark Earth Sword Codex''. </i>With a thought, Wu Yuan��s Soul Force entered the first virtual immortal slip.


    In an instant, a deluge of information flooded Wu Yuan''s mind, abstruse beyond measure, equivalent to billions of words if transcribed.


    <i>In the Middle Land, the Heavenly Rankers im the Dao cannot be casually imparted. Yet, they can��t even exin what the Harmony of Man and Nature is clearly.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Unable to exin something clearly? It simply implies ack of skill!


    On the Redmoon Immortal Continent, whether it was the True Intent or higher stages, it could all be exined by great experts, let alone the Harmony of Man and Nature.


    Of course, rity did not equate toprehension. At most, it could only reduce the difficulty ofprehension, and immortal cultivators still needed to cultivate diligently to improve their understanding.


    <i>The initial segment of the ''Dark Earth Sword Codex'' epasses essentia cultivation methods at the Qi Sea phase and the Golden Core phase.</i>


    <i>It contains the relevant sword forms, sword array methods, and various other techniques. In particr, it only includes the first three steps of the sword array. </i>Wu Yuan absorbed the information transmitted by the virtual immortal slip.


    Having already obtained the initial segment from the realm master, Wu Yuan was able to understand it quickly. He also noticed subtle differences in some details, but understood that no secret art or teaching remained unchanging. Each generation of experts inheriting the manual imparted their own insights, enriching it. However, this did not affect the overall methodology.


    <i>If I am fortunate enough to fullyprehend the ''Dark Earth Sword Codex'' in the future, I can incorporate my unique understanding and insights when passing it on to the sect��s future disciples.</i>


    The Dark Earth Sword Codex was based on the Land Dao.


    <i>Since I��ve decided to study it, I must strive to forge my own path, incorporating my understanding of the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    Analyzing the first three steps of the sword array from a different perspective yielded valuable insights.


    <i>After a short while.</i>


    <i>The middle segment of the Dark Earth Sword Codex.</i> As Wu Yuan continued to process the information from the immortal slip, he found it increasingly profound andplex.


    Though he couldn��t understand it at first, he didn��t fret, diligently memorizing all the details from the inheritance first forter contemtion.


    Finally, after memorizing the entirety of the first virtual immortal slip, Wu Yuan felt a sense of dizziness creeping over him despite his strong soul.


    <i>No wonder the realm master only gave me the initial segment. Even if he had the middle segment in his possession, I wouldn��t have been able to cultivate it at the time.</i> He shook his head slightly.


    The sheer volume of information was almost too much for his soul to bear.


    <i>However, processing the middle segment of the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex�� has deepened my understanding of this sword codex.</i> Though Wu Yuan had only memorized the information once, it provided him with numerous newfound insights.


    At least, it shed light on the path of immortal cultivation he was to walk.


    After a brief rest, Wu Yuan began to process the initial segment of the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex��. The information in the virtual immortal slip surged into his mind like a tide. Though the quantity of information was not as massive as the Dark Earth Sword Codex, it was moreplex and profound.


    Upon processing the inheritance, Wu Yuan finally realized why this sword codex was so expensive and difficult to grasp.


    <i>This Star Ruins Sword Codex is basically a simplified version of the Celestial Body Law Codex, or in other words, an exnation of the Celestial Body Dao through the application of the sword.</i> Wu Yuan was shocked.


    The same Dao could manifest inpletely different ways in the hands of different immortal cultivators. Though the core principles remained the same, the outward appearances were vastly different.


    Without a doubt, the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� was well suited for Wu Yuan.


    <i>If the ��Celestial Body Law Codex�� is the general outline forprehending the Celestial Body Dao, then the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� is the detailed exnation of the Celestial Body Dao through the path of the sword, guiding me step by step in understanding.</i> Wu Yuan immersed himself in the codex, slowly beginning to unravel itsplexities.


    The ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� was considered one of the top-tier teachings of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, yet few disciples had chosen to redeem it over the years.


    Even if protectorates or elders chose to study this sword codex, most relegated it to an auxiliary cultivation method, rather than focusing on it as their main cultivation path.


    The reason was simple��it was too challenging.


    The Great Dao of Earth��s Essence, one of the Great Daos of heaven and earth��s essence, was incredibly profound, epassing countlessws and profundities.


    If one couldprehend the Celestial Body Dao, a core facet of the Great Dao of Earth��s Essence, it meant that one was close toprehending the Great Dao of Earth��s Essence.


    After countless generations of disciples and eons of existence, only a rare few within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had gained a rudimentary understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. As for fullyprehending it, not a single person had managed to aplish it!


    In fact, throughout the vast expanse of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, across endless eras, not a single being had achievedpleteprehension of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Naturally, the Star Ruins Sword Codex, though highly valued, remained an insurmountable challenge for most immortal cultivators. Most couldn��t even reach an initiate threshold of understanding.


    <i>The Star Ruins Sword Codex is the most suitable path for me. By studying these sword arts, I will gain an understanding of the Dao from the techniques, deepening my understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. </i>Wu Yuan made his decision.


    He understood that the higher the level of his Daoprehension, the more quickly he would gain mastery over the sword arts. Advancing his sword arts would aid in hisprehension of the Dao.


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao, or the Celestial Body Law as it is sometimes called, is considered an Intermediate Law.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself, delving into the deeperyers of knowledge within the codex.<i> Theplete Celestial Body Law epasses three Daos: Land Dao, Gravity Dao, and Earth Origin Dao.</i>


    Within heaven and earth, in the vast expanse of time and space, numerous Daos intertwined as they operated, serving as the foundation of heaven and earth.


    The Essences of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, etc, were the most profound Great Daos, also known as Greater Laws.


    Each Greater Law could be divided into many Intermediate Laws, and each Intermediate Laws could be divided into numerous Lesser Laws. Numerous interwoven Lesser Laws formed aplete Greater Law.


    <i>Every immortal cultivator''s ultimate goal is toprehend a Great Dao.</i> Wu Yuan understood this clearly.


    How difficult was it?


    <i>Countless Tribtion High Immortals struggle to fullyprehend a Lesser Law. If Ipletelyprehend the Celestial Body Dao?</i>


    If he couldprehend an Intermediate Law, oveing his Tribtions and bing an Archimmortal would be a breeze!


    One could only imagine how difficult it was.


    <i>Every skyscraper is built from the ground up. Let��s take things one step at a time.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind remained steady.


    When he first arrived in the Middle Land, he encountered numerous challenges. However, he faced each obstacle with patience, oveing them one by one. Now, in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, he applied the same method.


    <i>I shall tap into the power of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect to fuel my rise. I must work hard to meet the expectations of that mysterious Senior.</i>


    Wu Yuan began another session of cultivation.


    Apart from his routine daily essentia cultivation, Wu Yuan dedicated himself entirely to contemting the Dao.


    Guided by the Star Ruins Sword Codex and the Celestial Body Law Codex, he contemted the Dao��s profundities step by step.


    Simultaneously, he attempted to interpret the sword techniques within the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex�� with the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao epasses three Lesser Laws, but I cannot advance myprehension of all of them evenly. I should focus on the profundity of the Land as my core. </i>Wu Yuan understood the importance of staying within his limits.


    Every individual had their own strengths and weaknesses. For him, he had remarkable aptitude in the Land Dao. His ability to inherit the legacy of Great Eldritch Kua Fu was intimately linked to hisprehension of the Land��s profundities.


    Naturally, he strived to leverage his existing strengths, augmenting them even further!


    Time slipped away as Wu Yuan engrossed himself in cultivation. Before he realized it, a month had passed.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan departed from the world residence and hurried toward the Star Origin Soil, arriving swiftly at the same jade tform as before.


    He activated the array, isting the space within one li of the tform.


    Without warning, the same unkempt old man materialized before him, wearing a sly grin as he regarded Wu Yuan. "You''re quite punctual, kid."

 Chapter 365: Freak

    <h4>Chapter 365: Freak</h4>


    "Since I have an appointment with you, I dare not bete, Senior," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Senior? I told you to call me Old Madman," the filthy old man scowled, "If you don''t change the way you address me, don''t me me for getting angry."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback, realizing that this mysterious senior was indeed serious.


    "Old Madman," Wu Yuan reluctantly acquiesced.


    "Hehe, that''s more like it," the grubby old man chuckled, "Remember, I''m guiding you solely because you have received the Great Eldritch''s inheritance. Forget senior and junior, or superior and inferior."


    "Here, there��s only the Dao, don''t let anything else bother you."


    Wu Yuan faintly grasped the meaning behind the unkempt old man''s words.


    Addressing each other as equals could help reduce his concerns.


    "Alright, enough of that. You''ve had a month to internalize the Star Ruins Sword Codex, and you should have deepened your understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. Now, demonstrate what you haveprehended through the sword," the unkempt old man instructed, "You may harness your essentia and unleash your power to its full extent."


    "However, keep in mind that this space is limited to one li in radius, so control the range of your outburst."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan responded solemnly.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s entire demeanor shifted. If he resembled a nobleman in ck robes before, he now emanated the aura of an indomitable swordsman.


    He exuded a chilling sword intent, something he had subconsciously cultivated after studying the Dark Earth Sword Codex and the Star Ruins Sword Codex.


    His sword intent was sharp yet restrained, weighty, and majestic!


    "Old Madman, take my strike." Three lifebound flying swords materialized before Wu Yuan, aligning themselves to form a small-scale sword array.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As the array assembled, it resembled a de slicing through the heavens, evoking a sense of grandeur akin to the unstoppable force of a plummeting meteor!


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Simultaneously, sword lights manifested out of thin air, resembling a torrential river of des.


    They surged towards the decrepit old man.


    "Oh? Is this the fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, Light Of The Land?" The eyes of the disheveled old man gleamed brightly.


    "Go!" The unkempt old man pointed, unleashing a beam of light from his finger. The beam shot forth with overwhelming might, akin to a needle piercing through the chaff, aimed directly at Wu Yuan''s sword array.


    As the two sides collided, the solitary beam of light abruptly bifurcated into nine. Each of the nine sword lights surged forward, swiftly neutralizing the sword lights spawned from Wu Yuan''s sword array.


    A deep rumble echoed through the air as the array formed by three of Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords copsed. They tumbled through the air before righting themselves, leaving streaks of light in their wake as they circled back to his side.


    The light beam shooting out from the grubby old man''s finger suddenly dissipated as well, and space regained its calm.


    "This?" Wu Yuan was in disbelief as he reyed their previous sh in his mind.


    Over the past month, both of Wu Yuan��s true selves had dedicated themselves to studying the two sword codices.


    With the Celestial Body Law Codex as guidance and the previous demonstration by the grubby old man, he had made significant progress. Now, he could even sessfully execute the fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, Light Of The Land. One had to understand that only those who reached the True Intent stage were able to exhibit this technique.


    Yet, the unkempt old man effortlessly dismantled it just by pointing at it. Moreover, Wu Yuan could clearly perceive that the old man did not utilize any high-level profundities of the Dao. The move he had executed was also Light Of The Land.


    "You are improving quickly, but you��re only barely able to execute the fourth step," the old man remarked with a serious expression, shaking his head. "You are too rigid. Do you understand why the fourth step is known as Light Of The Land?"


    Wu Yuan subtly shook his head in response.


    "The ''light'' in this context refers to sword light, symbolizing a deep understanding of the sword and the profundity of the Land. It no longer needs to be tied to the sword array itself," the old man exined. "Instead, you must integrate the profundity of the Land into your sword technique, dispersing sword lights throughout the Domain, filling itpletely."


    "As for your execution? Those extraneous sword lights may take form, but theyck power..." the old man shook his head. "Observe."


    With that, the old man raised his hand once more, unleashing a brilliant strand of sword light that resembled a shooting star, seemingly rending the void. At the same time, more strands of sword light followed, cutting through space with precision.


    It was a breathtaking disy, blurring the line between illusion and reality for a fleeting moment. Perhaps, one could argue that all those sword lights were indeed real.


    "This?" Wu Yuan��s eyes were wide with wonder,pletely captivated.


    This was the true Light Of The Land!


    ...


    After more than ten breaths, Wu Yuan finally snapped out of his reverie. All he could think of was that the old man''s swordy contained many profound lessons.


    "Thank you, Old Madman," Wu Yuan said, his voice filled with respect.


    He hade to understand that the old man''s demonstration was his way of guiding him.


    The old man chuckled. "You had your opportunity to attack, now it��s my turn. Don��t try to evade it."


    With a flick of his finger, beams of light burst forth, weaving together to form a construct of sword lights that stretched across the sky. It resembled a, hurtling towards Wu Yuan.


    The force it contained was absolutely formidable.


    "This?" Wu Yuan''s expression shifted slightly. Without hesitation, he released three lifebound flying swords, activating the Light of the Land once more in an attempt to dismantle the approaching sword.


    A cacophony of shes reverberated. The strands of sword light from Wu Yuan''s array were obliterated upon impact, yet the relentless sword continued its advance.


    In a flurry of motion, six more lifebound flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan, each one exuding powerful auras. He had no time to summon any more swords.


    With three swords per array, two sword arrays connected like colossal grinding stones, encasing Wu Yuan within their protective embrace.


    The sword descended, its lethal sword lights stabbing or slicing Wu Yuan''s sword arrays.


    A thunderous explosion echoed through the air as Wu Yuan''s sword arrays were subjected to an unprecedented impact. They veered on the brink of copse, yet continued to withstand the assault with incredible sturdiness, evoking the solidity of a rock.


    A full three breaths passed!


    <i>Boom! </i>The two sword arrays formed by Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swordspletely copsed. His expression betrayed a flicker of concern.


    The onught was too swift, too close forfort.


    Wu Yuan could only watch helplessly as the sword loomed ominously overhead. If it trulynded, he would bepletely annihted.


    Then in a blink, the oppressive sword dissipated into nothingness, restoring tranquility to the once tumultuous space.


    ��What a pity, I thought you��d be able to hold on for four breaths, but you couldn''t make it past three," the old man shook his head.


    "Sorry, I��ve disappointed you," Wu Yuan replied, a tinge of bitterness in his smile.


    Four breaths? It had taken Wu Yuan everything to hold on for just three.


    "You may have fallen slightly short, but you managed to reach the initiate threshold of the Star Ruins Sword Codex, gaining a rudimentary understanding of and executing Solid As A Rock to a passable degree," the unkempt old man shook his head.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    Passable? Theplicated contents of the Star Ruins Sword Codex could be categorized into five main steps.


    The first step, Solid As A Rock.


    The second step, Immovable As A Mountain.


    The third step, Sword Of The Land.


    The fourth step, Body Of A Star.


    The fifth step, Darkness Returns To Ruin.


    These five steps emphasized defense, each representing a progressively deeper understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. Attaining the fifth step was a significant milestone, indicating that one was nearing fullprehension of the Celestial Body Dao.


    "Li Xia, watch this strike closely." The old man moved, and sword lights appeared.


    His presence immediately transformed, exuding an unwavering and majestic aura.


    <i>This is Solid As A Rock?</i> Wu Yuan observed in awe.


    Though it was the same technique, the difference in power was staggering.


    Moreover, the unkempt old man''s swordy fully conveyed the profundity of the Celestial Body Dao, instantly sparking numerous epiphanies in Wu Yuan''s mind and resolving numerous questions that had arisen during his one month of study.


    ...


    A whileter, Wu Yuan came back to his senses, feeling nothing but absolute admiration for the unkempt old man.


    When the other party demonstrated the first sword strike, Wu Yuan still had his doubts. But when the second sword strike was demonstrated, they melted away.


    The old man''s demonstration seemed off-handed, but in reality, he had seen through all the ws of Wu Yuan''s swordsmanship. These strikes addressed them with great precision, showing him exactly how to make up for his own shorings without the slightest deviation.


    Such insight and understanding of swordsmanship were simply unimaginable. Just how powerful was this immortal cultivator?


    "Old Madman, I..." Wu Yuan began to speak.


    "There��s no need to speak. You have decentprehension aptitude, and you��ve been cultivating diligently. I suppose you barely meet my expectations." The unkempt old man shook his head and said, "I''ll give you a little guidance. Don��t ck off."


    "Come see me again in a month."


    Without waiting for Wu Yuan''s response, the old man disappeared without a trace, as if everything that happened just now was an illusion.


    <i>A true expert! Is he a senior from the sect? </i>Wu Yuan was stunned.


    He was just too powerful. It looked as though he had only demonstrated two strikes, but in fact, he had analyzed all the weaknesses of Wu Yuan��s swordsmanship.


    <i>I mustn��t dy. I should head back now and continue to contemte the sword codices.</i> Wu Yuan left the jade tform immediately, quickly returning to his world residence.


    ...


    <i>Where did this freake from?</i> The unkempt old man stood in the air, his gaze distant, as if piercing through millions of li of space, watching Wu Yuan practice his swordsmanship.


    <i>Based on his physical characteristics, he should have a stronger affinity for the Wood Dao. But unexpectedly, his progress inprehending the Celestial Body Dao and Earth Dao is surprisingly fast. So fast that it''s shocking.</i> The unkempt old man frowned.


    <i>Moreover, his soul seems to be growing rapidly.</i>


    <i>Even though he only has a third-degree immortal root, he managed to forge nine lifebound flying swords... and his specific origins cannot be traced. All I can confirm is that he first appeared in the fifth-tier city, Fengchuan City.</i>


    <i>Is he the reincarnation of a great being? Or an incarnation? Or does he have other true selves? Is this just his qi refiner self?</i>


    The dirty old man thought of another possibility:<i> If this is his qi refiner self, then perhaps it was only created after his body refiner self grew rtively strong, and his body refiner self has an extremely high affinity for the Land Dao.</i>


    Only this could exin the powerful soul, lifebound flying swords, affinity for the Earth Dao, and other aspects that did not conform tomon sense.


    <i>There��s no rush. It has only been a few months since he entered the sect. With the passing of time, any secrets he is keeping will gradually be revealed.</i> The old man wasn��t too fixated on it. <i>Since he has joined my Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he is naturally a disciple of my sect.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a step, he disappeared.

 Chapter 366: The Price Of Lifebound Flying Swords

    <h4>Chapter 366: The Price Of Lifebound Flying Swords</h4>


    <i>Within Wu Yuan��s world residence, in the sky city meditation chamber.</i>


    <i>That mysterious senior is truly incredible. </i>Wu Yuan sat on a jade tform in the lotus position, silently recalling the two sword strikes demonstrated to him earlier, deeply analyzing them.


    The level of mastery Old Madman disyed surpassed that of a Void Refiner Eminence or a Divided Soul Earth Immortal. Normal cultivators found it hard to even get startedprehending the Celestial Body Dao, let alone reach a level high enough to give Wu Yuan pointers.


    <i>Could he be a Tribtion High Immortal? </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently, his brow furrowed in contemtion. <i>But which one?</i>


    Tribtion High Immortals were the foundation of a sect. Consequently, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect kept their numbers and identities confidential, undisclosed to ordinary disciples.


    <i>He guided me as a mentor would guide a pupil.</i> Wu Yuan��s expression was thoughtful. <i>Why did he not take me under his wing as a disciple? Is there a test I must pass, or are there other considerations at y?</i>


    Wu Yuan''s mind raced with possibilities. Was he Sword Immortal Dong Yang? He couldn��t tell. Since the other party didn��t mention his identity, Wu Yuan dared not risk offending him by prying too deeply.


    <i>This is a rare opportunity! Such guidance might not evene by once in a millennium. </i>Wu Yuan reflected. <i>Without the guidance of this mysterious senior, I would never have redeemed the Star Ruins Sword Codex.</i>


    The quality of one��s teachings mattered far more than quantity.


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension aptitude, my qi refiner self is decent when ites to understanding the Land Dao, yet falls short of the top tier</i>. Wu Yuan acknowledged.


    Daoprehension aptitude was derived from the soul, body, and personal experiences.


    The body of his qi refiner self was created from a Star Embryonic Body. After reading up on it in the sect''s Daoist Scripture Tower, Wu Yuan understood that the Star Embryonic Body naturally had an affinity for the Wood Dao, and as its power grew, it would gradually develop an affinity for the Space Dao.


    The soul of his qi refiner self originated from his body refiner self, endowing it with immense talent forprehending the Earth Dao.


    <i>An individual��s talent is not fixed.</i> Wu Yuan acknowledged. <i>A sudden change in one��s characteristics can alter one��s attributes, such as when my body refiner self��s body evolved into the Terranean Body, enhancing my aptitude for the Land Dao.</i>


    <i>The stronger the soul, the keener the perception of the workings of heaven and earth, thereby enhancing one''s talent.</i>


    <i>Likewise, diverse life experiences can mold one''s heart and influence talent. Some individuals grow stronger with each challenge, while others may falter and never recover.</i> Wu Yuan contemted in silence.


    When it came to his qi refiner self��s talent, Wu Yuan knew he was not among the best. He only stood out due to his nine lifebound flying swords.


    But if he were tobine them with his body refiner��s talent?


    <i>My body refiner self is naturally beloved by the Land. With the Land Dao as my primary focus, supplemented by myprehension of the Gravity Dao and Earth Origin Dao, I should be able to quickly grasp the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    The Celestial Body Dao was an Intermediate Law, promising a strength greater than the Land Dao once fullyprehended.


    <i>With the guidance of the Great Eldritch��s mental imprint in the ��Celestial Body Law Codex��, along with the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� and the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��, as well as the mentorship of the mysterious senior, in 1000 years...no! In just 100 years, my strength will undergo a massive transformation. By then, I may be able to gain a firm footing on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, and perhaps begin to find ways to establish a connection with the Middle Land.</i>


    Bing a disciple of arge sect was just the beginning. So what if he was talented? He still wasn��t a true powerhouse. Golden Core cultivators and Amethyst Cradle cultivators might seem powerful, reaching a level above countless mortals. But on the vast immortal continent, they were just insignificant characters.


    Only by reaching the Void Refiner phase could one be considered to have achieved something.


    And to truly roam the Greenridge Macrocosm with its myriad spacetime nes, possessing an almost eternal lifespan? One had to be an Archimmortal.


    <i>The path to Archimmortality is fraught with challenges. One Archimmortal is born out of countless Tribtion High Immortals. </i>Wu Yuan contemted.<i> I must seize this opportunity and work hard!</i>


    The Greendragon City within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm served as a gathering ce for millions of disciples. The city was bustling with activity, as countless disciples who were scattered across the real world rarely had the chance to meet.


    The Dragon Treasure Tower was a treasure pavilion endorsed by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Simr to the Redmoon Immortal Tower, it contained a plethora of treasures.


    Many disciples of the sect preferred to conduct their buying and selling of treasures at the Dragon Treasure Tower, finding it more cost-effective and efficient.


    This exchange of goods also served as a means to fulfill their sect assignments. As disciples of the sect, they enjoyed the resources of the sect. In return, those who cultivated in the sect for a rtively long period would be assigned various tasks. One could earn rewards bypleting sect assignments. On the other hand, if one failed toplete an assignment, some of their existing sect benefits would be removed.


    <i>In an attic of the Dragon Treasure Tower.</i>


    "Heir Li Xia." A white-robed elderly man respectfully greeted. His aura was extraordinary, and the badge on his chest showed that he was an Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    Several other white-robed custodians, all Golden Core practitioners, were also present, their attitudes exceedingly respectful.


    Within the sect, Amethyst Cradle Reverends who exceeded the age limit of discipleship in the sect served as first-ss custodians, while Golden Core Superiors served as second-ss custodians, handling various misceneous matters.


    "Mm, how is progress?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "As per your instructions from the previous visit, we have prepared the treasures. Here is the list." With a wave of the white-robed elder��s hand, a light screen materialized.


    Wu Yuan scanned the extensive list of items on the light screen, consisting of thousands of materials, most of which were metal ores or minerals. There were also some special treasures, such as strange liquids, medicinal objects, and so on. There were a total of 2126 types.


    "Heir, most of the metals and minerals do not cost much individually, but in suchrge quantities, it adds up to a significant quantity of ethercrystal," the white-robed elderly man exined. "The total price for these items is 1,620,000 catties of ethercrystal."


    "Furthermore, these 45 special items can only be acquired with dragon crystals. Given the quantity specified, it totals to 4,520,000 dragon crystals," the elder added respectfully.


    The numbers alone caused the hearts of the Golden Core cultivators behind the white-robed elderly man to shiver. This was an astronomical sum to them.


    The four million dragon crystals alone, if exchanged for ethercrystal, were equivalent to more than 40 million catties of ethercrystal.


    Forget Golden Core cultivators, even 99% of Amethyst Cradle Reverends would turn green with envy at such wealth.


    "No problem. Deduct the amount from my ount. But for the 1,620,000 catties of ethercrystal, I would like to use one million catties from my Redmoon Immortal Realm ount. Will there be an issue?" Wu Yuan asked indifferently.


    "There��s no problem. I will contact you through the Redmoon Immortal Realm," the white-robed elderly man agreed to his request with a smile.


    The Redmoon Immortal Realm was recognized by allrge sects.


    Swiftly, the transaction between the two parties was finalized within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm. Wu Yuan''s dragon crystals and ethercrystal were deducted as agreed.


    "Congrattions, Heir," the elderly man in white robes remarked with a smile. With the deal having gone through sessfully, he was naturally pleased. "With these treasures, your strength will undoubtedly burgeon to new heights."


    "In three days, our Dragon Treasure Tower will deliver the treasures to your world residence. Please be present to receive them," the elder informed him with a smile. "If you are looking to purchase treasures again in the future, doe to me for the best prices."


    ��Mm,�� Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    In terms of cost, the Dragon Treasure Tower offered prices lower than itspetitors, but more importantly, it offered greater security and confidentiality.


    Wu Yuan was convinced that the higher-ups in the sect were already privy to the secret of his nine lifebound flying swords, but as long as he refrained from dealing with external parties, other factions were unlikely to specte about it.


    Though he had yet to offend anyone in the Redmoon Immortal Realm, Wu Yuan knew that one should always be vignt.


    <i>While I may not have provoked anyone directly, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has its enemies. </i>


    Where there were people, there were bound to be hidden agendas and power struggles. Though the various sects on the immortal continent appeared to stand united with the Redmoon Immortal Hall, the truth was that they engaged in both overt and covertpetition, with some factions eager to eliminate rising talents from rival sects.


    Any trades with the Dragon Treasure Tower would be overseen by the sect. Thus, any potential mistakes could be easily rectified, given Wu Yuan''s status as a hereditary disciple.


    "Very well, I shall take my leave now," Wu Yuan announced before promptly exiting the Dragon Treasure Tower, vanishing from sight.


    Within the tower, the white-robed elderly man gestured and the light screen dissipated. The voidrealm contract that had just been signed was also stored away.


    "As expected of a hereditary disciple. Didn��t Li Xia just join the sect recently? Yet, he possesses such a huge fortune?" A custodian at the Golden Core phase with cropped hair couldn''t help but voice his astonishment. "What does he n to do with all those treasures?"


    "I heard that he is a sword cultivator. If he requires so many metals and minerals, he must be upgrading his lifebound flying sword," the elderly man in white robes guessed, his voice soft. "Or perhaps, he is crafting a powerful artifact."


    The Golden Core second-ss custodians nodded in agreement. They had witnessed countless transactions in the Dragon Treasure Tower and were not easily impressed.


    "I heard that Heir Li Xia is quite timid. Despite joining the sect several months ago, he has yet to set foot in the True Dragon Arena," mentioned another Golden Core custodian. "To possess such wealth despite such a personality?"


    This news had spread like wildfire. After all, there were only a few dozen Golden Core hereditary disciples in the sect, thus each one naturally drew much attention.


    "Enough idle chatter," the elderly man in white robes frowned. "Remember, regardless of what the future holds for Li Xia, he is currently a hereditary disciple. Don��t gossip about him."


    "Furthermore, none of you are to leak any details of today��s transaction. I believe I need not exin the consequences," the elder stated coldly.


    "Yes."


    "Understood."


    "Rest assured, we are well aware of the rules. We were just having a casual chat," the Golden Core custodians felt their hearts tremble.


    ...


    Afterpleting his purchase, Wu Yuan made his way back to his personal hall, a space of vast proportions.


    ��My current bnce.�� Wu Yuan turned his attention to a huge projection hovering before him, disying two lines of information.


    Ethercrystal (catties): 380,000


    Dragon crystal: 11,480,000


    <i>It won''tst long.</i> Wu Yuan pondered, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the figures before him.<i> I still have half of my initial dragon crystals. As for ethercrystal, apart from these 380,000 catties, I only have a few hundred thousand left from the realm master. </i>


    However, those hundred thousand catties of ethercrystal were meant for essentia cultivation.


    <i>However, the materials I acquired should be sufficient to upgrade all nine lifebound flying swords to fourth-grade spirit in one go. </i>


    The Dragon Star Tournament was fewer than thirteen years away. In this uingpetition, one��s Daoprehension, technique proficiency, artifact grades, and mana cultivation yed arge role in their final ranking. He had to make progress quickly.


    <i>Upgrading them to fourth-grade spirit flying swords is just the first step.</i> Wu Yuan��s thoughts raced.<i> When I reach the seventh-stage Golden Core phase and seek to upgrade them to third-grade spirit equipment, the sum required will be magnitudes greater than what I have spent now. </i>


    <i>Even a Void Refiner Eminence would balk at the cost.</i> Just thinking about it gave Wu Yuan a headache.

 Chapter 367: Eight Years Pass In A Snap

    <h4>Chapter 367: Eight Years Pass In A Snap</h4>


    On the path to immortality, one would experience both gains and losses. Consider fourth-grade spirit flying swords. Typically, purchasing one would only cost a few thousand catties of ethercrystal. Even those crafted with special materials wouldn��t cost more than ten thousand catties of ethercrystal.


    Yet, Wu Yuan had to spend tens of millions of catties of ethercrystal on treasures to upgrade his nine lifebound flying swords to the fourth grade. Why?


    <i>To improve their potential!</i>


    There were various ways to nurture one��s lifebound flying swords. Some required little investment, just slightly more than refining an ordinary artifact, but the downside was that the lifebound swords would be limited in both power and potential. It would be increasingly challenging to upgrade them to spirion equipment in the future.


    However, this was themon path for most ordinary sword cultivators. After all, to upgrade a lifebound flying sword to the spirion equipment level, one needed to be a Void Refiner Eminence at minimum.


    For most sword cultivators, advancing to the Amethyst Cradle phase was already a great achievement, let alone aiming for higher cultivation phases.


    As for the slightly better methods of nurturing lifebound flying swords, the flying swords would reach a sufficiently powerful level, but their potential would still be limited, making it difficult to upgrade to the celestial equipment level in the future.


    This was the path that many powerful immortal cultivators were forced to go with. After all, the further one advanced in their cultivation, the higher the cost of nurturing their lifebound flying swords.


    However, Wu Yuan was ambitious.


    He nurtured his lifebound flying swords bybining what he learned from the ��Star Ruins Sword Codex�� and ��Dark Earth Sword Codex�� with other aspects he had found from his research within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, culminating in a near-ideal nurturing method.


    Furthermore, he had forged nine lifebound flying swords, allowing him to exert immense power. Since they were intimately connected to him, they also consumed little mana and mental energy when wielded.


    But likewise, the cost was high.


    <i>The path I''ve chosen may not be the most optimal one, but it is the limit of my capabilities.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    By persisting on this path, when he upgraded his lifebound flying swords to the spirion equipment level, they might already be able to rival celestial equipment.


    Everything about this path was great, except for one thing �C the cost!


    <i>In the future, upgrading a single lifebound flying sword to third-grade spirit weapons will require tens of millions of catties of ethercrystal. And from third grade to first grade, it would cost over a billion for a single sword. </i>Wu Yuan sighed internally.


    On top of that, he had nine of them!


    A Void Refiner Eminence would likely despair at such a situation. Even a Divided Soul Earth Immortal would struggle to gather such wealth.


    This was why Wu Yuan took a chance on the teleportation array and sought to join arge faction. Only by relying on others could he grow quickly and fulfill his potential as a sword cultivator!


    <i>An investment of one billion catties of ethercrystal or one hundred million catties of ethercrystal is substantial to most individuals. Most Void Refiner Eminences or Divided Soul Earth Immortals wouldn��t be able to afford such costs. For the sect, however, such a sum is merely a drop in the vast ocean of resources they possess. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head in contemtion.


    For its hereditary disciples, the sect was willing to prepare resources worth tens of millions of catties of ethercrystal. Over the generations, how much did they invest in their hereditary disciples?


    There were also tens of millions of ordinary disciples. Even though the quantity of resources needed for each disciple was small, the total sum was still eye-watering!


    Over the course of billions of years, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had umted a vast amount of wealth and treasures, and its foundation was extremely strong.


    <i>Obtaining the Great Eldritch inheritance was enough to attract the attention of the mysterious senior and prompt him to guide me. </i>


    <i>Once I unveil more of my abilities, the sect will undoubtedly invest in my cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan understood his shorings �C his origins were a mystery!


    During his enrollment into the Cloudstride Sect in his youth, his ancestry was well-documented and his loyalty was unquestioned, allowing him to earn the full trust and support of the sect.


    In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he was granted the status of hereditary disciple and seemingly treated well, but as for whether he would receive more resources? The sect was likely still in the process of screening his background to decide whether it was worth it.


    For any faction, loyalty was the primary consideration.


    ...


    Time flowed by.


    After joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Wu Yuan caught the attention of some individuals in several small circles, but in the grand expanse of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, it was merely a footnote.


    Even within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, hereditary disciples like Wu Yuan hardly made an impression on the Divided Soul Earth Immortals or Tribtion High Immortals.


    Thus, Wu Yuan was left to his own devices without interference. With that, he dedicated himself to secluded cultivation within the sect.


    He cultivated his essentia and mana while also refining minerals and materials to nurture his lifebound flying sword. Along the way, he also acquired more flying sword artifacts.


    But above all, he delved deep into the study of the sword.


    He pored over the two sword codices, guided by the imprint within the Celestial Body Law Codex to unravel the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao. And each month, he received pointers from the unkempt old man.


    In the first two years, the unkempt old man deemed Wu Yuan cking�� or ��mediocre��. But gradually, that assessment shifted to ��satisfactory��, ��adequate��, and ��not a waste of my time��.


    In the end, the old man pronounced him ��quite proficient��.


    Such praise was proof of the remarkable progress Wu Yuan had made.


    In a blink, eight years slipped away since Wu Yuan''s induction into the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    The sky city in Wu Yuan��s world residence remained as it had for the past eight years. Even if tens of thousands or even millions of years went by, little would change within the worldlet.


    d in ck robes, Wu Yuan stood at the edge of the sky city, gazing out over the world below. His Soul Force, merging with the array that spanned the world, reached out to every corner of his residence. The vast mundane worldy at his feet, fully under hismand.


    <i>It appears small, but within this tens of thousands of li lie countless tales of heroism and viiny. The chaos of warring states, the birth of great generals and talents, the fall and rise of empires.</i>


    For the past eight years, Wu Yuan had spent his leisure time observing the mundane world in his world residence, watching the various states of the human realm.


    The more he observed, the more emotions arose, and the more resilient Dao Heart became.


    Abruptly, a gust of wind swept through the area.


    "Master." A sturdy man d in green armor soared towards Wu Yuan from a distance, bowing respectfully.


    "Qiong Sea, have you limated to your new environment?" Wu Yuan chuckled.


    The burly figure before him was none other than Qiong Sea King, who was now cultivating transformation techniques.


    Eight years prior, when Wu Yuan first joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he had extended a helping hand to Qiong Sea King, aiding him in both his admission and acquisition of transformation techniques and its rted teachings.


    After three years, Qiong Sea King sessfully passed the sect''s rigorous assessment, earning the status of an outer disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and embarking on his cultivation journey here.


    However, Qiong Sea King had another role as well �C that of Wu Yuan''s spirit beast, setting him apart from the ordinary outer disciples.


    "I��m getting used to it," Qiong Sea replied with a grin. "Master, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is so much more exciting than the Middle Land. The immortal city I��m staying in alone houses tens of thousands of jiaolong disciples."


    Wu Yuan smiled in amusement.


    While the human race dominated the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the various races maintained peaceful rtions, with many sects weing demonic cultivators into their ranks.


    Some sects even boasted demonic cultivation as their main cultivation focus.


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, individuals with the bloodline of the jiaolong were prevalent, and it was the sect with the most jiaolong members across the immortal continent.


    Wu Yuan was no longer the fledgling neer of eight years ago. Having read numerous texts from the sect''s archives, he formted his own theories.


    Immortal ancestor! Could it be that the mysterious Archdemon behind the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was a jiaolong, perhaps even a True Dragon?


    After all, there had to be a reason behind the sect''s name �C ''Dragon Star''.


    "Train diligently. The sect is a treasure trove of opportunities for jiaolongs," Wu Yuan stated, "As long as you work hard, reaching the Shambh phase may not be unattainable. There��s not much more I can help you with. Your sess ultimately depends on your own efforts."


    "I understood," Qiong Sea King affirmed solemnly.


    He understood that joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was an immense opportunity for him, akin to ascending to the heavens in one leap. Furthermore, he had Wu Yuan as his backer.


    Throughout the years, Qiong Sea King had closely followed Wu Yuan on his journey, allowing him to grasp how Wu Yuan had changed.


    In contrast to eight years past, Wu Yuan''s strength had grown significantly. Not only did his essentia and mana undergo continuous improvements, but there was a clear transformation of his demeanor from the inside out.


    Back then, Wu Yuan was akin to the edge of a divine sword, radiating a sharpness that could not be ignored.


    Presently, it was as though the sword was sheathed. When at rest, he exuded a weighty presence akin to a mountain. Yet, his asional disys of sharpness left onlookers in shock at his might.


    Nheless, as the Dragon Star Tournament had yet to begin, and Wu Yuan had yet to unveil the full extent of his abilities within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, the countless disciples remained unaware of his true strength.


    "Master, the Dragon Star Tournament is less than five years away. When the timees, those who underestimate you will be in for a surprise," Qiong Sea King said confidently, brimming with admiration.


    His reverence for Wu Yuan was unwavering.


    "In for a surprise?" Wu Yuan shook his head calmly, "The Dragon Star Tournament will be a physical match. My essentia cultivation is still merely at the third-stage Golden Core phase. It��s still too soon for that."


    "Master, you��re still young. You��ve already reached the third-stage Golden Core phase before fifty. At this rate, you may even ascend to the Amethyst Cradle phase before eighty," Qiong Sea King murmured in awe, "It��s truly remarkable. I am still at the first-stage Spiritual Body phase."


    "Haha," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    The progress of a body refiner naturally unfolded at a slower pace.


    While the advancement of a qi refiner might proceed at a swifter pace, Wu Yuan felt content with his progress so far, advancing from the first-stage Golden Core phase to the third stage within a span of eight years.


    Currently, five years remained.


    Wu Yuan envisioned himself reaching the fourth-stage Golden Core phase at least by the time the Dragon Star Tournament rolled around.


    "Alright, continue your cultivation," Wu Yuan instructed.


    "Yes," Qiong Sea King nodded happily. As an outer sect disciple, he was granted his own mountain, so why did he always linger around Wu Yuan''s residence?


    As Wu Yuan''s spirit beast, he was granted the privilege of utilizing certain cultivation resources within Wu Yuan''s world residence, which offered an environment far superior to his own mountain.


    Wu Yuan watched as the Qiong Sea King departed.


    <i>My essentia cultivation progress can be considered quite fast. This is an evolution of life. It��s only natural that it needs to be taken one step at a time to understand the changes bit by bit.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    His power had undergone aplete transformation. Over the course of eight years, his nine lifebound flying swords had all gradually evolved into fourth-grade spirit weapons. His swordsmanship had also seen significant improvement.


    Despite receiving some inheritances a few decades ago, he hadrgely been figuring things out on his own. With the external cultivation conditions improving more than tenfold since he joined the sect eight years back, his talent in the Celestial Body Dao now shone brightly.


    <i>It''s a shame that the ck pagoda has remained inactive since the time I received the inheritance.</i> Wu Yuan sighed softly.


    The ck pagoda had shown no activity since then, and Wu Yuan still didn''t understand why.


    <i>In regards to the fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array, Light Of The Land, I can confidently say that I have achieved full mastery. But how should I go about grasping the fifth step?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, gazing at thend beneath him.


    The Dark Earth Sword Array consisted of ten steps, each increasing inplexity as the cultivator progressed.


    The transition from the fourth to the fifth step marked a qualitative shift.


    Suddenly, a flicker of surprise crossed Wu Yuan''s features, swiftly followed by unbridled tion.


    <i>Excellent! My body refiner self has finally seeded in gaining an initial grasp of the advanced ether art: True Celestial Body.</i>

 Chapter 368: Advanced Ether Art

    <h4>Chapter 368: Advanced Ether Art</h4>


    Within the Middle Land World, amidst the towering peaks west of the Zhong Continental City, was a region shrouded in perpetual mist and clouds. It waspletely enveloped by an array spanning hundreds of li.


    Wu Yuan was still unable to understand the reason behind the severed connection of the teleportation array, hence he continued to exercise caution. While his qi refiner self ventured afar, his body refiner self remained in the Middle Land, dedicating most of his time to quiet meditation within the Yanqing Hall and asionally spending time with his family.


    After all, the teleportation array stood as the sole proven passage between the Middle Land and the greater world beyond!


    The meditation chamber within the Yanqing Hall was spacious and mostly empty. Here, a young man with short-cropped hair sat atop a jade tform in the center, his torso bared to reveal skin as smooth and pale as fine jade, muscles sculpted with precision akin to a master craftsman''s hand.


    Massive waves of vital aura surged around him. Strings of cryptic symbols formed, wove, and concentrated on his flesh. This ever-growing tapestry of cryptic patterns strengthened his vital aura, which grew vast and limitless.


    It was as if he was undergoing a metamorphosis of life itself!


    The mere pressure exuded by his body was so terrifying that if a Qi Sea immortal cultivator stood before him at that moment, they would fall to their knees in worship.


    As the cryptic patterns continued to manifest, Wu Yuan, seated in the lotus position, felt a subtle transformation take hold. His skin acquired a faint bronze hue. The mysterious cryptic patterns branded into his flesh, his muscture, and blood. His body began transforming from the most fundamental level, and his physical strength continued to rise!


    <i>Celestial Body. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes were closed in serene contemtion, his heart still save for one lingering image.


    A star��a radiant beacon in the vast expanse of void.


    Boundless pressure emanated from that sovereign of the cosmos. Wu Yuan��s consciousness was immersed in Visualization.


    As he meditated, he gained numerous insights into the various profundities of the star, each realization causing new intricate cryptic patterns to form on his body.


    This scene of the cosmos was precisely the imprint of the advanced ether art: True Celestial Body from the inheritance memories.


    Ether arts served as the foundation of a body refiner��s power, the reason they could dominate worlds. It was a powerful ability that required the integration of various parts of one��s body. This put a heavy burden on the cultivator��s body. Furthermore, one had toprehend the profundities of various ether arts. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for a body refiner to learn a new ether art.


    The first ether art that Wu Yuan''s body refiner self learned was Eldritch Form, which could greatly enhance his overall strength.


    After stepping into the Spiritual Body phase, his body and soul chamber were further strengthened, allowing him to learn more and stronger ether arts.


    <i>If I only had fourth or fifth-degree eldritch tattoos, I would only be able to cultivate one basic ether art upon reaching the Spiritual Body phase. But with second-degree eldritch tattoos, I can not only cultivate another basic ether art, but also an advanced ether art.</i>


    The levels of ether arts could be categorized into basic, advanced, and grand!


    Grand ether arts were pursued even by Archeldritches, who would focus on cultivating and studying them over many years. Each grand ether art, when practiced to its extremes, could allow one to dominate numerous spacetimes.


    If one managed to make some progress in advanced ether arts, they would far surpass those who could only execute basic ether arts, astonishing others with their power.


    Ordinary body refiners struggled to cultivate even a single ether art.


    Meanwhile, thanks to Wu Yuan��s eldritch inheritance, he had ess to numerous ether arts, providing him with a multitude of options.


    After deliberating with the realm master for thest few years, Wu Yuan chose to cultivate the ��True Celestial Body��.


    <i>Advanced ether arts contain insights into the soul chamber, body, and the profundities of the Dao, and must not be casually cultivated. To cultivate the True Celestial Body to full mastery, one must understand the Celestial Body Dao at a deep level.</i>


    This advanced ether art greatly suited him.


    <i>Above all else, this is a self-preservation and defense-oriented ether art.</i>


    <i>Little ck excels in speed and movement techniques. If I cultivate an ether art that focuses on defense, it will greatly improve our self-preservation abilities when webine our strengths to face enemies!</i>


    Having been through so much, Wu Yuan became increasingly aware that staying alive was the most important thing on the path of cultivation. Only by staying alive could one achieve their goals! Once dead, everything was in vain.


    Wu Yuan had chosen to cultivate the True Celestial Body long ago. Yet despite his deep understanding of the Celestial Body Dao and robust immortal root, it took him several years to grasp it at a rudimentary level.


    Time passed.


    <i>Boom! </i>With the emergence of the ether art��s cryptic patterns, Wu Yuan''s entire being trembled. His musculoskeletal structure, blood, flesh, and every aspect of his being evolved and strengthened. His bones grew sturdier and his muscles grew tougher!


    His internal organs strengthened and his skin turned as durable as protective armor. Rtively weak spirit weapons wouldn''t even leave a mark on his skin...


    While he had yet to make a breakthrough in his eldritch ether and cultivation phase, the cultivation of the advanced ether art had caused a monumental transformation in Wu Yuan''s body refiner self.


    It felt like he was evolving into a higher life form.


    This processsted for ten whole days!


    <i>I have finally seeded.</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes slowly, his pupils appearing brighter than before. Without hesitation, he summoned a heavy earthy-yellow battle saber into his hand.


    <i>Let��s test it out.</i> Wu Yuan gripped the saber with his right hand, channeling all his power into it.


    The de sliced through the air, striking his left arm heavily.


    The resilient skin on his arm split open, revealing a visible wound. Blood spilled freely.


    A surge of eldritch ether emanated from him, and the wound on his hand quickly healed.


    <i>Haha! Even though I exerted my full power and wielded a third-grade spirit saber, my strike only left a shallow wound. </i>Wu Yuan smiled with satisfaction.


    His body refiner had reached the fourth-stage Spiritual Body phase. Thebination of his strength and the saber''s power could easily shatter even low-grade spirit equipment.


    His body had now be a fortress, nearly imprable to harm.


    <i>When I don the eldritch armor, my defense will be unparalleled among those of the same phase. </i>Wu Yuan''s excitement was palpable.


    Even though he knew advanced ether arts were powerful, he was still shocked by its effects when he actually cultivated one. With this, his strength had multiplied several times over.


    Sword cultivators relied on their lifebound flying swords and sword arrays, and were known to excel in killing. Meanwhile, body refiners were known as war deities due to their mastery of ether arts.


    <i>For a sword cultivator, each upgrade of their lifebound flying swords requires arge number of treasures. Meanwhile, the cultivation of this True Celestial Body does not require additional treasures, at least for the first three levels.</i>


    It was only upon reaching the fourth level that he needed the core of a star to temper his body.


    However, Wu Yuan was not worried about that at all. Typically, those cultivating the fourth level were at the Elysian Field phase. Currently, he had just cultivated the first level.


    One step at a time.


    <i>ording to the teachings, when one reaches the pinnacle of the True Celestial Body, one will transform into a Heavenly Star, where body, soul, and spirit be perfectly fused as one, unshakeable. </i>Wu Yuan felt a strong yearning in his heart.


    The thought of what such power would entail was beyond Wu Yuan''s imagination. It was a true advancement of one��s body towards a celestial body.


    <i>The second level is still beyond my current level of understanding. But even the first level has proven to greatly increase my physical strength.</i>


    Wu Yuan rose to his feet.


    It was time to put his body to the test.


    Though he was still at the fourth-stage Spiritual Body phase, Wu Yuan sensed that the power he could unleash had grown to an even more frightful degree.


    <i>However, this ether art seems to take a toll on both my body and soul chamber. </i>Wu Yuan analyzed.


    Cultivating another ether art would not be an easy task.


    <i>For my third ether art, I will cultivate the Four-Armed Form. </i>Wu Yuan quickly made up his mind.


    This was an attack-based ether art. Though it was a basic ether art, it couldter evolve into the advanced ether art: Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form, and the grand ether art: Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor.


    <i>But to cultivate the Four-Armed Form, I must first reach the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase.</i> Wu Yuan chose caution over haste.


    The strain on his soul chamber from cultivating the True Celestial Body was immense.


    Just as how heavy stress could cause a structure to copse with the slightest added load, exceeding the body and soul chamber''s limit when cultivating ether arts could lead to the copse of the soul chamber.


    By then, regrets would serve no purpose once the damage was done.


    With a graceful step, theyer of dirt on Wu Yuan''s form disintegrated, then white robes draped over him, granting him an air of authority.


    Beneath the robes, the earthy-yellow eldritch armor clung to his body like a second skin.


    As Wu Yuan emerged from Yanqing Hall, A dark streak of light streaked towards him, coiling around his arm before lifting its head.


    "Master," Little ck chirped eagerly, ��You��ve mastered the True Celestial Body?"


    Wu Yuan nodded with a faint smile. "The first level."


    "Ah, as expected of Master. You are so much more amazing than me," Little ckmented with a sigh. "I''ve cultivated the basics of Deity Step long ago, but I��ve yet to grasp Realm Crossing after all these years."


    "Take your time, there''s no rush," Wu Yuan reassured, stroking Little ck''s head gently.


    Realm Crossing was an advanced ether art for enhancing the movement of either a pair of legs or wings, greatly surpassing Deity Step.


    Once sessfully cultivated, the already incredible agility and speed of the Teng Snake would only grow more terrifying. At that time, even an Amethyst Cradle Reverand would have a hard time capturing it.


    "Are we heading to the Xin Continent, Master?" Little ck inquired.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. "The spiritual tide approaches, more fierce than any previous one in history. The Spiritless Region has been rapidly receding. The passage to the Xin Continent is about to open, and no one knows what will happen next."


    ��As the ruler of the Middle Land, it is my duty to monitor the area frequently.�� Wu Yuan said in a deep voice.


    Little ck gave a small nod, a glint of determination in its eyes.


    It did not fully grasp the concept of responsibility. All it knew was that wherever Wu Yuan went, it would follow.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan and Little ck soared into the sky. The array below them activated, and streams of light entered the mist.


    <i>With four puppets guarding the area, it should be fine. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Wu Yuan rode the Teng Snake, streaking through the air towards the Xin Continent with incredible speed. In a single breath, it could cross nearly 1000 li.


    Below them, thend stretched endlessly, filled with bustling life and rising smoke from houses.


    <i>For more than two decades since the establishment of the Wu Empire, the world has been at peace. I can only hope that the uing spiritual tide will not be too harsh, and that we have the capacity to endure whateveres.</i>


    <i>However, it may also afford me the opportunity to explore the world beyond the Middle Land, to see what the Summerpeak World is like.</i>


    <i>Perhaps, I will discover alternate paths to leaving the Summerpeak World. </i>

 Chapter 369: Defending Against The Spiritual Tide

    <h4>Chapter 369: Defending Against The Spiritual Tide</h4>


    The Middle Land, a vast expanse spanning nearly a hundred thousand li in radius, dwarfed the world residence of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner true in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    The oceans spanned an evenrger area.


    Allowed to popte without restraint, a myriad of living beings called thisnd home. Following the cmity wrought by the worm devil, the once glorious Great Jin fell. The Wu Empire rose in its ce, unifying the entire Middle Land, and ushering in a peace unlike any seen before.


    Thanks to the establishment of the Daoist Scripture Tower in the Middle Land Immortal Hall and the proliferation of powerful teachings, the once battered immortal cultivators of the Middle Land experienced a remarkable resurgence.


    Martial artists emerged in abundance and Heavenly Rankers made frequent appearances.


    <i>The Arctic King and Hai Feizhang have both advanced to the Golden Core phase in session. The Rain Hierarch and the Sword Hierarch have ascended to the mid-stage Qi Sea phase. </i>Wu Yuan rode atop the Teng Snake, soaring high above the expansive Middle Land.


    In the eight years since his qi refining self''s departure, the Middle Land had undergone significant changes.


    Excluding Wu Yuan, there were now three Golden Core cultivators and numerouste-stage Qi Sea cultivators who graced thend.


    The tally of immortal cultivators surpassed a hundred and the ranks of martial arts Grandmasters swelled with each passing day.


    <i>Even Little Yi has advanced to the level of martial arts Grandmaster.</i>


    His younger sister, Wu Yijun, possessed rather exceptional talent. With Wu Yuan''s guidance and her own tireless cultivation, she became a martial arts Grandmaster before forty years of age.


    While such talent was average in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, it was top tier in the Middle Land. Wu Yuan had no doubt that his sister would one day be a qi refiner.


    <i>Regrettably, the Middle Land has yet to produce a body refiner in the past two decades.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    His promise to the realm master to revive the Hou Feng Tribe lingered in his mind.


    Eldritch warriors were the bedrock of the eldritch lineage. In Wu Yuan''s grand vision, he aspired to transform the Summerpeak World into a cornerstone for reviving the Hou Feng Tribe''s legacy. The Middle Land served as his current stronghold.


    Bing a body refiner demanded exceptional physical attributes, a requirement that eluded most martial artists.


    Much like in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the number of body refiners paled inparison to qi refiners.


    <i>Nevertheless, with the advent of the spiritual tide, the concentration of spiritual qi is steadily on the rise. The potential of the new generation is markedly superior. I am confident that the Middle Land will soon produce new body refiners. </i>Wu Yuan felt hopeful for the future.


    Immortal cultivators enjoyed lengthy lifespans. He could afford to wait.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s arrival went unnoticed.


    Little ck��s body had reached enormous proportions, but it restrained its size to a hundred meters in length.


    The distance between the Zhong Continent and the Xin Continent was over a hundred thousand li. Ordinary martial artists would spend years making the trip by boat. But with Little ck, the journey took less than a quarter of an hour.


    The vast ocean and boundlessnd came into Wu Yuan''s view.


    <i>The Xin Continent.</i>


    His body refiner self had visited this continent twice over the past years. The first time, he sought to survey the entirety of the Middle Land, striving to eliminate potential hidden threats in order to prevent another cmity akin to the worm devil disaster.


    His second visit urred three years ago. It was then that the spiritual tide began to show signs of its approach.


    "Master, the spiritual qi concentration across the Xin Continent has notably increased," Little ck''s voice echoed within Wu Yuan''s spirit.


    ��Mm," Wu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod, sensing the change as well.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The Xin Continent sprawled over a massive area, surpassing even thendmass of the Middle Land in size. Towering ancient trees reached towards the heavens, while undting mountain ranges stretched across the horizon. Countless beasts roamed through their natural habitats, and sporadic ruins dotted thendscape.


    With Wu Yuan''s powerful Soul Force, which could extend nearly two hundred li, he asionally detected traces of human martial artists'' activities.


    Grandmaster martial artists often frequented the various immortal relic sites scattered throughout the Xin Continent.


    Although Wu Yuan had previously explored dozens of these relic sites during hisst visit, he had gained little from the experience. What Grandmasters deemed as treasures were now hardly worth a thought to him.


    "Master, the guard tower is within sight," Little ck informed him as its massive form descended swiftly, piercing through the clouds.


    An endless expanse of wilderness spread out beneath Wu Yuan, with a towering metal structure standing prominently. Reaching nearly a kilometer in height, the tower was a colossal behemoth.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Little ck''s form rapidly shrank, coiling around Wu Yuan''s arm. Wu Yuan then transformed into a streak of light andnded on the top floor of the tower.


    "Young Master, you have arrived." A middle-aged man in white robes emerged from the main hall on the top floor of the tower, bowing respectfully to Wu Yuan.


    It was none other than Fang Xia.


    "Old Fang, there��s no need for formalities," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    "Young Master, you are the ruler of the Middle Land, and your strength far surpasses mine. It is only right that I bow to you," Fang Xia replied with a smile.


    "You mentioned that the spiritual tide has intensified?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Yes," Fang Xia nodded gravely, gesturing into the distance. "Young Master, focus your senses in that direction.��


    Wu Yuan followed Fang Xia''s gesture and gazed towards the horizon, where the Xin Continent extended into the depths beyond.


    It should be noted that Wu Yuan and Fang Xia��s current position was hundreds of thousands of li deep into the Xin Continent.


    "Spiritual qi," Wu Yuan murmured under his breath.


    "Indeed," Fang Xia confirmed with a solemn nod. "Young Master, this region was once close to the Spiritless Region, and spiritual qi was scarce. Further in, you will find yourself in the true range of the Spiritless Region."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    The Spiritless Region was not visible to the naked eye but could be felt through one��s senses.


    It was a vast region devoid of spiritual qi. Thus, immortal cultivators were unable to replenish their mana there and had to rely solely on their own reserves if they wished to venture into it.


    Once their mana ran out, they would face great danger.


    Of course, Wu Yuan believed that the dangers within the Spiritless Region went beyond the depletion of mana.


    Otherwise, one could theoretically traverse through the region as long as they brought along a sufficient supply of ethercrystal.


    However, the Middle Land had no corresponding records of the situation within the Spiritless Region, so its perils remained unknown.


    "It is this particr stretch of the channel," Fang Xia pointed out, his expression grim. "The concentration of spiritual qi here exceeds past levels. Current levels are high enough to allow immortal cultivators unrestricted passage."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze lingered on the distant mountains and terrain, which did not appear any different from other regions to the eye.


    However, he knew that this area spanning approximately a thousand li in width, and an unknown length, was a special channel that foreign immortal cultivators invaded several times throughout history. It was from this very point that the immortals arrived in the Middle Land.


    "Are the monitoring arrays in operation?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "They have been set up as requested. I have established a total of fifty-two monitoring arrays in this area," Fang Xia confirmed, a smile ying on his lips. "Coupled with the two puppets under yourmand patrolling the area, it would prove challenging for even a Golden Core cultivator to slip through undetected."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod of approval.


    The Yanqing Hall was protected by eight fourth-grade guardian puppets, each with incrediblebat power. The strongest among them could rival a ninth-stage Spiritual Body cultivator (ninth-degree immortal root).


    However, these puppets were not true living beings, unable to draw in the spiritual qi of heaven and earth on their own. The amount of energy they consumed duringbat was also exceedingly high.


    Fortunately, Wu Yuan possessed an ample supply of ethercrystal, sufficient to sustain the functioning of eight guardian puppets.


    Typically, four puppets stood guard in the Yanqing Hall, while two protected Cloud Capital. The remaining two, at Wu Yuan''s direction, apanied Fang Xia to the depths of the Xin Continent to guard against theing of immortals.


    "Old Fang, I shall take charge here for the next few years," Wu Yuan dered.


    "Young Master, you?" Fang Xia was taken aback.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan affirmed with a gentle nod. "From historical precedence, a spiritual tide typicallysts three to five years. Although this one may be nearing its end, it is precisely at this juncture that our vignce must not wane."


    Fang Xia nodded in agreement.


    Ever since themencement of the spiritual tide three years prior, he had maintained a vignt watch on the passage. Despite his advancement to the second-stage Golden Core phase, Fang Xia recognized that he was rtively weak among Golden Core cultivators.


    ording to their n, Fang Xia was the first line of defense. In case of an immortal cultivator''s arrival, he was to immediately request Wu Yuan''s assistance through the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Young Master, will this hinder your cultivation?" Fang Xia asked, concerned. "Your cultivation should be your top priority."


    "It won��t," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head. "Changing my cultivation environment once in a while is beneficial to me."


    For a body refiner like Wu Yuan, the location of his cultivation practice was of little importance. The jade tform in the Yanqing Hall''s meditation chamber was decent, but with his strong Dao Heart, its impact on his cultivation was minimal.


    Furthermore, after many years of secluded cultivation to learn the advanced ether art: True Celestial Body, Wu Yuan��s body refiner self was reaching a bottleneck in strength.


    Wu Yuan''s next focus, apart from routinely contemting the Dao, was on cultivating ether. This process required time, but had no requirements on one��s external environment.


    "Old Fang, thank you for your efforts. Return to the Middle Land and take a well-deserved break," Wu Yuan said with a smile, "Just leave your Clone Gu here to oversee the array."


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was unable to control the array.


    "Very well," Fang Xia replied, a grin spreading across his face, "It has been too long since I have truly kicked back and rxed. Thedies at the Drunken Moon Pavilion have most likely changed by now. I wonder if Lonely Moon, Autumn Dust, and Winter Frost are still there..."


    Wu Yuan chuckled and shook his head. However, he recognized that this was what Fang Xia took pleasure in. One couldn��t force their values on someone else.


    Before long, Fang Xia departed, leaving his Clone Gu behind to manage the array.


    Wu Yuan then came to the highest point of the guard tower, sitting cross-legged on the open tform beneath the starlit sky.


    From this vantage point, Wu Yuan''s keen eyes could easily observe scenes thousands of li away.


    <i>With my current strength, few can beat me below the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. He was confident in his abilities.


    With his mastery of two ether arts alone, he could kill weaker Golden Core cultivators with a casual smack.


    As for whether an Amethyst Cradle Reverend would appear?


    <i>No Golden Core cultivator has ever appeared in previous spiritual tides. Even with the passage of thousands of years and the development of the Summerpeak World, the likelihood of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend being born remains slim.</i>


    <i>Nevertheless, all possibilities must be considered.</i>


    The only thing Wu Yuan could do was to continue strengthening himself.


    <i>If my Daoprehension advances to the next stage, I will not need to shy away from facing an Amethyst Cradle Reverend. </i>Wu Yuan gazed up at the sky, contemting.


    <i>As for the Celestial Body Dao, how can I progress to the next level? Despite guidance from the senior on multiple asions, a breakthrough still eludes me.</i>


    <i>Myprehension of the Land��s profundity has reached the ninth-level Domain stage.</i>


    <i>It��s time for me to visit the Redmoon Immortal Realm to undergo my True Intent perception experience. </i>


    <i>Mm, before that, I should challenge the Seven Star Luminaries Tower once more.</i>

 Chapter 370: The One-star Tower Revisited

    <h4>Chapter 370: The One-star Tower Revisited</h4>


    The Dragon Star, located at the heart of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s headquarters, resembled a scene from a fantastical painting. It boasted numerous grand mansions, each installed with meticulous and strict privacy measures.


    On the Dragon Star, mortals and immortal cultivators coexisted. However, mortals and low-level immortal cultivators only resided within the various mansions.


    Each mansion was owned by an individual of extremely high status �C an immortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. They were the pirs of the sect.


    Deep within one of the grandiose mansions sprawled a long mountain range. Beneath a cascading waterfall nestled a pavilion.


    Two figures lounged on ornate chairs, delicately sipping tea.


    "Xing Jiu, now that you''vepleted your assignment of watching over the treasurend, it''s time for you to rx and unwind," remarked a man d in gleaming silver armor, his frame lean, with two azure horns protruding from his brow like those of a dragon.


    "Guarding the treasurend was my time to rx," responded Xing Jiu, draped in a pristine white robe, his presence exuding a majestic and otherworldly charisma.


    "Qing Yu, I came to pay you a visit so we could reminisce about the good old days," chuckled Xing Jiu. "In the future, our paths may diverge, and meeting up again may prove difficult."


    "Oh? And why is that?" the silver-armored man asked, a perplexed expression clouding his features.


    "I am embarking on a journey to the Blood Mountain ne," Xing Jiu stated lightly. "This trip may take a thousand years or even tens of thousands of years. Separated by numerous spacetimes, I might be beyond the range of the Silvermist Immortal Realm, makingmunication a challenge."


    "The Blood Mountain ne? That��s a ce where even hell devils show up, where powerhouses from the Immortal Court and eldritches sh. It��s a bloody and cruel battlefield!" the man in silver armor eximed. "Is this a field trial of your own choosing, or?"


    "I chose it willingly," Xing Jiu replied with a faint smile, lifting his tea cup to his lips and savoring its vor.


    The silver-armored man stood dumbfounded, before shaking his head. "I salute your courage!"


    "The Dragonbone Ancient Realm you ventured into years ago is no less perilous than the Blood Mountain ne," Xing Jiumented with a smile. "I recall it vividly. Back then I was just an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, while you already were a Divided Soul Earth Immortal."


    Earth Immortal Qing Yu had cultivated for a far longer length of time than him.


    "The two cannot bepared. There was a reason I had to visit the Dragonbone Ancient Realm no matter what," stated Earth Immortal Qing Yu, shaking his head.


    "But the Blood Mountain ne is a different beast altogether, steeped in savagery and bloodshed. Your talent is exceptional, Xing Jiu, and you have yet to reach your full potential. The High Immortals did not coerce you either; there is no need for you to subject yourself to such a cruel ce."


    "Cruel?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu smiled wryly.


    "You are as stubborn as ever!" Earth Immortal Qing Yu shook his head.


    When Xing Jiu first joined the sect, his brilliance and character earned him the favor and appreciation of Earth Immortal Qing Yu, who then went on to guide him. In time, both had be mentors and friends to one another.


    However, Qing Yu no longer attempted to dissuade him. Those who could ascend to the level of Divided Soul Earth Immortal were individuals of exceptional determination and resolve, not easily swayed.


    "Then I wish you sess and a safe return," Earth Immortal Qing Yu raised his tea cup in a toast, a smile ying on his lips. "If your determination holds true, perhaps in ten thousand years, our sect will boast one more High Immortal, and you��ll enjoy a lifespan of a million years."


    "High Immortal?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu clinked his cup with Qing Yu''s, a slight smile on his face. His aspirations were clear.


    Though both were addressed as immortals, the gap between a Divided Soul Earth Immortal and a Tribtion High Immortal was vast, whether in terms of status or strength.


    ��Hm?�� Suddenly, Earth Immortal Qing Yu raised an eyebrow as if struck by some news.


    "What is it?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu asked casually.


    "Since I��ve been bored in the sect recently, I decided to take on the task of overseeing the Dragon Star Immortal Realm," Earth Immortal Qing Yu said with a smile. "My main area of responsibility is the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."


    Earth Immortal Xing Jiu nodded slightly.


    Apart from the major issues that had to go through the abbot and the veteran elder High Immortals, the Earth Immortals handled most matters within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "A hereditary disciple named Li Xia recently joined the sect. He has been identified as a rare talent to be invested in," Earth Immortal Qing Yu continued. "He rarely visits the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, but I��ve gotten word that he is preparing to challenge the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."


    "This will be his first attempt at the tower since joining the sect eight years ago."


    Surprise flickered in Xing Jiu''s eyes. "Li Xia? The one who rejected all challenges from other hereditary disciples?"


    "Are you familiar with him?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu seemed taken aback.


    Earth Immortal Xing Jiu nodded. How could he not be aware?


    Their encounter at the Star Origin Soil had left asting impression on him. But as the matter concerned the Great Eldritch''s inheritance, the abbot decreed that the news was not to be leaked. The three Earth Immortals present that day naturally did not defy his orders.


    "This Li Xia is certainly mysterious," noted Earth Immortal Qing Yu, his brow furrowed in contemtion. "He has never revealed his abilities in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, yet the High Immortals took notice of him soon after he entered the sect."


    "I heard hepleted level forty of the one-star tower in one go. I wonder how far he will go this time."


    "Perhaps he will give us a pleasant surprise," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu chimed in with a chuckle.


    "A pleasant surprise? I pray it doesn��t turn out to be a dreadful shock," Earth Immortal Qing Yu replied, shaking his head in concern.


    Xing Jiu merelyughed in response.


    Observing hispanion''s demeanor, Earth Immortal Qing Yu''s expression grew more somber as he voiced his doubts. "Xing Jiu, from your expression, I��m guessing you have some insider information?"


    With an air of feigned mystery, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu replied, "He has only just begun to challenge the seven-star tower. Why don''t we go see for ourselves?"


    "Very well," Earth Immortal Qing Yu agreed. "We have the time to spare, after all."


    The two each sent a strand of consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Realm.


    At their level, their souls were powerful enough to split into tens of thousands of strands of consciousnesses at any time.


    ...


    Besides the three major cities, numerous unique voidrealm spaces also existed within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, such as the True Dragon Arena and the Seven Towers World.


    The Seven Towers World was a boundless space sprinkled with countless twinkling stars. Here, seven majestic towers lined up in a row.


    Clothed in ck robes, Wu Yuan gazed out at the towers in the distance.


    <i>I would never have guessed that a Seven Towers World also exists within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>ording to the introduction, all data received by the Seven Star Luminaries Tower in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm is seamlessly updated in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.</i>


    In other words, any record broken within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm would be reflected in the Seven Towers World of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    <i>It appears the Seven Towers World isn��t as simple as I thought.</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>It is able to bridge different voidrealms.</i>


    <i>Furthermore, all factions regardless of size respect it as a form of assessment and encourage their disciples to challenge it.</i>


    It was both mysterious and unique.


    <i>Eight years prior, I had to strain myself to conquer level 40. </i>In a sh, Wu Yuan flew toward the one-star tower.


    <i>Let��s see which level I��ll be able to conquer today!</i>


    Wu Yuan went straight into the one-star tower.


    ...


    In the Seven Towers World, one''s standing was not determined by their cultivation level, but by their age. The age of those who entered the tower was automatically detected.


    The moment Wu Yuan entered the one-star tower, he was instantly brought to level forty-one, bypassing the lower levels he had already conquered.


    <i>Record.</i>


    Above the endless sea of clouds and mist, Wu Yuan turned to a faintly illusory light screen, scanning the words disyed.


    <i>One-star tower record:</i>


    <i>Silvermist Immortal Nation''s highest record: Level 81</i>


    <i>Redmoon Immortal Continent''s highest record: Level 76</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 100-million-year record: Level 68</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past million-year record: Level 67</i>


    <i>Immortal Continent''s past 10,000-year record: Level 61</i>


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s highest record: Level 71</i>


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s current record: Level 52</i>


    <i>The record within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm has two additional linespared to the Redmoon Immortal Realm. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>However, the current record is far lower than the other records above.</i>


    Wu Yuan understood the reason for this. The so-called current record referred to the best performance among disciples under the age of one hundred in the one-star tower.


    <i>Those who can conquer level sixty are an extremely rare breed even throughout the Immortal Continent, true peerless prodigies. It may take ages for a single one to emerge. Passing level fifty is already no small feat.</i>


    Conquering level forty was enough for Wu Yuan to secure a ce as a hereditary disciple in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    It was worth noting that for smaller sects, their hereditary disciples in the Amethyst Cradle phase might never have the ability to surpass level fifty of the one-star tower even with thousands of years of cultivation.


    <i>While I may not be able to break the records above, I can strive to beat the current record of the sect.</i> Fighting spirit surged within Wu Yuan.


    After eight years of silence, it was time to show some prowess.


    With a step, he flew toward the guardian a hundred li away.

 Chapter 371: Level 47, Conquer!

    <h4>Chapter 371: Level 47, Conquer!</h4>


    All guardians and challengers of the one-star tower had their cultivation level fixed at the first-stage Golden Core phase (sixth-degree immortal root).


    Of course, if a body refiner challenged the tower, they could adjust their avatar��s configuration to the first-stage Spiritual Body phase instead. The impact wasn��t significant.


    "It has been a long time since I��vest seen you," the ck-robed guardian spoke with an air of indifference. "You''ve been absent for eight years, I assume you must be feeling confident."


    "You remember me?" Wu Yuan''s surprise was evident.


    He began to realize that the Seven Towers World was far moreplex than he had assumed. The guardians seemed to possess a high level of intelligence, akin to artifact spirits.


    "Naturally. I am the guardian of levels forty to forty-nine," the ck-robed guardian stated nonchntly. "The only difference is that the strength I exhibit grows with each level, and I may even control multiple bodies inbat. Only on level forty-nine will I reveal my full power."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded. "Today, I shall test your strength."


    "You look confident," the ck-robed guardian''s expression remained impassive. "I remember you well; your soul radiates great power. However, if your understanding of the Dao has not deepened, you might not even pass level forty-one, even with your strong soul."


    "Remember, the difficulty spikes every ten levels within the one-star tower, but you shouldn��t underestimate the increase in difficulty between each level."


    <i>Boom!</i> Before thest word faded, the nine flying swords behind the ck-robed guardian shot forward simultaneously.


    The world around them shifted in hue, and fierce earthy-yellow currents engulfed thendscape for hundreds of li around!


    This was also True Intent, yet the power unleashed was several times greater that of level forty.


    "Assemble!" the ck-robed guardian pointed from afar. Within the expansive Domain, intricate cryptic patterns formed on the surfaces of the nine swords. They whirled and merged to form a faintly illusory, yellow divine sword with a mighty aura.


    "Kill!"


    <i>Boom! </i>The yellow divine sword, infused with the True Intent of the Land, streaked across the sky like a bolt of lightning, unleashing a barrage of sword lights within the Domain that nketed the sky above Wu Yuan.


    The fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array �C Light Of The Land!


    <i>This is the true Light Of The Land, executed with the pure profundity of the Land. </i>Wu Yuan beheld the strike in awe.


    This step was formidable, embodying theplete True Intent of thend.


    ��Myprehension of the Land��s profundity has only reached the ninth-level Domain stage, paling inparison to you.�� Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with a faint smile. "Unfortunately for you, what I have grasped is not the pure profundity of the Land."


    "I hope this strike of yours doesn��t disappoint me."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In the blink of an eye, eighty-one earthy-yellow flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan in a tightly packed swarm.


    These swords did not attack, instead transforming into streams of light as they moved with practiced precision, intertwining and assembling into an array.


    <i>Celestial Body! Solid As A Rock!</i> Wu Yuan gave a mental order.


    <i>Boom!</i> A vast and radiant surge of earthy-yellow qi streams seamlessly integrated with the eighty-one flying swords to create a formidable sword array encircling Wu Yuan.


    The aura it exuded was majestic and wless, as if the very fabric of space itself was on the verge of crystallization.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan seemed to transform into a huge rock, unshakable, immovable!


    The ��Star Ruins Sword Codex��, which consisted of five steps, was in fact an exnation of how to execute the Star Ruins Sword Array using the principles of the Celestial Body Dao. The first step was Solid As A Rock.


    As the Star Ruins Sword Array formed, a thunderous rumble echoed through the air as the ck-robed guardian''s powerful volley of sword lights reached a distance of just ten li from Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s Domain harmonized with the sword array, enveloping the same expanse of ten li.


    As though mired in a swamp, the sword lights that entered Wu Yuan''s Domain struggled against an unseen resistance, their speed decreasing at a visible rate.


    Yet the core of the sword array,posed of nine flying swords, maintained its sharpness, piercing through several li of space and aiming squarely for Wu Yuan.


    Unfazed, Wu Yuan did not move, only offering a knowing smile. "Oh? You managed to breach half of my star Domain."


    "Rotate!�� The interlocking swords thatposed the enormous Star Ruins Sword Array began to move, resembling a rotating millstone ten li in radius.


    In an instant, an explosive force reverberated throughout the area, as the ck-robed guardian''s sword array found itself besieged from all directions.


    In moments, it copsed.


    "What manner of sword array is this? He hasn��t evenprehended True Intent!" the ck-robed guardian eximed, his expression contorting in confusion.


    But before he could ponder further, a deafening rumble filled the air.


    <i>Boom!</i> The Star Ruins Sword Array enveloped Wu Yuan��s body, descending upon the ck-robed guardian like a celestial body hurtling towards the earth.


    Unlike the adaptable and agile Dark Earth Sword Array, the Star Ruins Sword Array��s main purpose was defense. Hence, its offensive capabilities were simple and straightforward: a direct smash. Yet, its immense power made it unstoppable.


    "Escape!" the robed guardian cried out as he retreated, hastily abandoning his nine flying swords to conjure a new array in a desperate bid to defend himself.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>The sh was akin to a collision between a small car and a colossal truck. The Star Ruins Sword Array emitted a blinding brilliance as it overwhelmed the guardian''s feeble defenses, crushing the new array in an instant.


    ��Not good.�� Realizing the gravity of the situation, the ck-robed guardian attempted to flee.


    "Escape?" Wu Yuan''s voice was cold andmanding. "Pull!"


    With a resounding boom, a terrifying gravitational force enveloped everything in a hundred-li radius, restricting the ck-robed guardian��s movements and drawing him inexorably closer to his opponent.


    "No!" the guardian cried out as he felt the invisible force pulling him towards Wu Yuan, impeding his flight.


    With the distance between them closing rapidly, the guardian had no time to summon another sword array.


    Moreover, the battlefield was confined to a limited space. Even if he could fly hundreds of li into the distance, where could he hide?


    The Seven Towers World inherently favored the side with the stronger offense.


    <i>Bang!</i> The Star Ruins Sword Array smashed into the guardian like an unstoppable steamroller, obliterating him in a blinding sh of light.


    Peace settled over the space once again.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia, on passing level forty-one of the one-star tower," the voice of the tower spirit resounded.


    The shimmeringyers of sword light surrounding Wu Yuan faded away.


    <i>Too feeble. He couldn''t even withstand my Star Ruins sword array, let alone dismantle it. Truly disappointing.</i>


    Even if the guardian couldn��t breach his defense, he should at least be able to endure it! What a shame. The guardian of level forty-one was no match for Wu Yuan in both offense and defense.


    <i>As for the Land Dao, I have only reached the ninth-level Domain stage ofprehension. </i>Wu Yuan sighed. <i>However, I have also begun contemting the Gravity Dao and Earth Origin Dao.</i>


    These three Daos whenbined formed the Celestial Body Dao. Though Wu Yuan''sprehension of the Celestial Body Dao was only at the Domain stage, it was an Intermediate Law, hence the power he could unleash rivaled that of the True Intent stage of a Lesser Law!


    <i>Haha, these guardians are weaker than I anticipated. Let us see how far I can go.</i>


    Wu Yuan dered, "Continue, level forty-two!"


    ...


    In a space beyond Wu Yuan''s perception within the Seven Towers World, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu and Earth Immortal Qing Yu observed the unfolding battle.


    "Remarkable indeed! He has actually grasped the profundities of multiple Daos?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu marveled. "Thest move he executed seemed to contain the profoundness of Gravity."


    "Mm," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu gave a faint nod, offering no furtherment.


    The profoundness of Gravity?


    "Qing Yu, how many levels do you believe Li Xia can conquer?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu asked with a grin.


    "Based on his current disy of strength, reaching level forty-seven or forty-eight should be within his capabilities," Earth Immortal Qing Yu evaluated. "However, conquering level forty-nine should be challenging."


    "Is that so?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu chuckled. "Let us wait and see."


    "Oh?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu''s gaze sparkled. "Could he still be hiding some cards?"


    The two Earth Immortals continued watching, their high status granting them the authority to witness the hereditary disciples'' trials in the Seven Towers World.


    ...


    On level forty-two of the one-star tower, two guardians whoprehended the True Intent of the Land still failed to breach Wu Yuan''s Star Ruins Sword Array.


    After several shes, Wu Yuan unleashed the gravity pull technique, swiftly closing in on the two guardians and dispatching them!


    ...Level forty-three was also conquered with brute force!


    Level forty-four...


    Level forty-five...


    ...


    Level forty-nine was defended by three guardians, theirbat power stronger than any others he had faced before.


    "Challenger, you are indeed strong," the three ck-robed guardians spoke in unison, their voices as cold as ice.


    "Defeat me, and you may proceed to challenge level fifty," they dered, their wordsced with an air of challenge.


    Though it appeared as if three separate guardians stood before him, they were in fact controlled by a single consciousness.


    "Come then!" Wu Yuan called out, his fighting spirit fully ignited after conquering the previous eight levels. "Let me witness your true strength."


    The three guardians employed their sword arrays and Domains, synchronizing as one as they aimed their attacks at Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The power they unleashed was overwhelmingly strong.


    "Good move!" Eighty-one flying swords materialized, forming a protective Star Ruin Sword Array around Wu Yuan.


    Like a giant rock standing firm against the crashing waves, Wu Yuan stood his ground, unwavering in the face of the onught.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    But this time, the oue was not the same as the previous eight levels. The three guardians attacked with unprecedented ferocity, the three sword arrays attacking from three different angles.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s Star Ruins Sword Array showed signs of copse.


    "Challenger, you will lose," the ck-robed guardians taunted, a glint of frenzied madness in their eyes as they pushed the limits of their power. The three sword arrays surged.


    "Haha, good. I thought I would have to reach level fifty to test my full strength. But now, I see you are worthy of my respect.�� Wu Yuan met their challenge head-on, his eyes zing with battle fervor.


    A massive swarm of flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan, blotting out the sky with their sheer numbers.


    "Thousand Swords Array, assemble!" Wu Yuan''s gaze was fiery, pouring all his might into the array.


    Even though his soul had grown several times stronger after eight years, he still had to strain himself to deploy a Thousand Swords Array.


    <i>Rumble~</i> In an instant, precisely 729 swords converged into a massive and densely packed array.


    The collective might of ninebined Hundred Swords Arrays surpassed the strength of a single Hundred Swords Array by far more than ninefold.


    <i>Hiss~ </i>As the Thousand Swords Array took shape, the streams of earthy-yellow qi seemed to freeze, causing the once rapid movements of the three divine swords to slow significantly.


    Subsequently, an overwhelming pressure crushed the trio of divine swords from all sides, causing a spider web of cracks to form along their surfaces.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The three sword arrays crumbled.


    The countenances of the three guardians shifted in unison.


    "Hold! Explode!" Battle intent zed in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he stood amidst the sea of swords, resembling a deity of war.


    With a single thought, the sword array that previously epassed a radius of ten li detonated, unleashing an onught of razor-sharp force in all directions.


    A deluge of sword lights erupted!


    The most powerful attack of the Star Ruins Sword Array - Star Explosion!


    Nearly a thousand swords enveloped the sky and earth, relentless and swift. Wherever the swords flew, Wu Yuan''s Domain reached, swiftly sweeping across the entire battleground.


    "No!" The three guardians bellowed in desperation, their struggles proving futile as the attack bore down upon them. Their hastily formed defensive sword arrays were obliterated in an instant, their bodies pierced through without mercy.


    They vanished.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia, you havepleted level forty-nine of the one-star tower," the tower''s spirit intoned with a hint of a smile.


    "Continue to level fifty." Wu Yuan dered.


    He vanished from his position.


    ...


    <i>Within the special observation area.</i>


    "Is a peerless prodigy about to emerge from our Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu murmured, his eyes wide with astonishment.


    Earth Immortal Xing Jiu''s gaze burned with intensity as well.

 Chapter 372: Domination Through Brute Force

    <h4>Chapter 372: Domination Through Brute Force</h4>


    Wu Yuan��s deployment of the Hundred Swords Arrays and his achievement of clearing eight levels in one go merely piqued the interest of the two Earth Immortals.


    However, when Wu Yuan unleashed the Thousand Swords Array at level forty-nine, the two Earth Immortals were truly shocked.


    ��To execute this sword array and unleash its power, one must possess a deep understanding of the Dao, a substantial reserve of mana, and be able to handle a significant burden on the soul," Earth Immortal Qing Yu solemnly stated.


    "Being able to assemble a Hundred Swords Array is already impressive. The Thousand Swords Array? His soul must be remarkably resilient!" Earth Immortal Qing Yu eximed. "Even among Amethyst Cradle Reverends, his abilities are rather decent."


    "He is indeed strong," nodded Earth Immortal Xing Jiu.


    When he first saw Wu Yuan, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu looked down on him somewhat. His pride and stubbornness led him to believe that Wu Yuan''s reluctance to spar with other hereditary disciples was a mark of cowardice.


    However, when Earth Immortal Xing Jiu witnessed Wu Yuan receiving the Great Eldritch inheritance, his opinion of him underwent a slight shift.


    And today, observing Wu Yuan conquer level after level of the one-star tower firsthand, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu was convinced. ��Li Xia may be unwilling to spar with other hereditary disciples not out of timidness, but rather because he simply finds it not worthy of his time.��


    ��This sword array appears to contain the profundities of both the Land and Gravity.�� Earth Immortal Qing Yu mused, furrowing his brow. "He has managed to merge them seamlessly."


    Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, prompting him to exim, "It''s the Celestial Body Dao! What he has showcased must be the Star Ruins Sword Array."


    Earth Immortal Xing Jiu smiled. It was indeed rare to witness the Celestial Body Dao in battle.


    "Xing Jiu, since you contemte the Earth Dao, you must have recognized this long ago, no wonder you were so certain of his performance," Earth Immortal Qing Yu shook his head. "The Celestial Body Dao, how unbelievable! A youngster at the Golden Core phase is able to step through the threshold of an Intermediate Law?"


    "Truly unbelievable," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu echoed the sentiment.


    Though both of them were Earth Immortals, their main cultivation revolved around Lesser Laws. The Intermediate Laws remained a distant horizon, a realm they had barely scratched the surface of.


    Earth Immortal Xing Jiu had high expectations for Wu Yuan, but he had never imagined that in just eight short years, Wu Yuan would be able to disy such astounding power.


    "Li Xia is undeniably a genius, his talent surpassing not only mine but also his fellow hereditary disciples of the same generation," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu softly conceded. "The only question is how far can he go in the tower?"


    "I predict he can conquer level fifty-one or fifty-two," Earth Immortal Qing Yu spected, rubbing his dragon horn.


    "Mm," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu concurred, his judgment aligning closely with hispanion''s.


    The two Earth Immortals continued to observe the unfolding battle. With their status, they could watch all fights below level sixty in the one-star and two-star towers within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    Level fifty of the one-star tower ascended beyond the earthly realm into outer space. The radiant light of distant stars illuminated the darkness, casting a surreal glow.


    <i>Is this level fifty? Where is the guardian?</i> Wu Yuan scanned his surroundings, finding nothing but emptiness and silence.


    Suddenly, countless points of light converged hundreds of li away, and a figure in a ck robe appeared.


    His vital aura was only at the first-stage Golden Core phase, but the pressure he gave off was extremely terrifying.


    <i>What a powerful soul.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes narrowed.


    He could feel that the soul of this guardian was abnormally powerful, much stronger than the guardian of level forty.


    "To stand before me, your strength ismendable," the ck-robed guardian suddenly spoke.


    "Out of the thirty-five Golden Core hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, only thirteen are under a hundred years old. You are the third and also youngest to reach me," the guardian in the ck robe solemnly said. "Look back thousands of years, you are the youngest."


    "The youngest?" Wu Yuan grinned.


    One had to be under a hundred years old to challenge the one-star tower, and most of the thirty-five Golden Core hereditary disciples in the sect were already over a hundred years old.


    To make it to level fifty of the one-star tower at forty-five years old? It was indeed difficult.


    "I''m here to break the records,�� Wu Yuan''s eyes were alight with determination. "My goal is not just to stand in front of you, but to defeat you and be the number one Golden Core hereditary disciple of this generation."


    "Defeat me?" The guardian in ck robes gave a slight smile. "Then show me your strength."


    Before his voice faded, the guardian waved his hand, and streams of earth-yellow qi that glowed with starlight surged around him. At the same time, flying swords whizzed through the sky like a tempest. Eighty-one flying swords instantly formed a mighty sword array surrounding him.


    It was also Solid As A Rock, the first step of the Star Ruins Sword Array.


    <i>Sure enough!</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He had long noticed that the guardians copied his techniques. When he previously executed the Dark Earth Sword Array, they did so too, albeit with variations in power.


    With him employing the Star Ruins Sword Array, the current guardian also adjusted his moves to copy him.


    His overall power was much stronger than the previous guardian.


    <i>Every ten levels, the difficulty esctes. </i>Wu Yuan��s heart zed with battle fervor.


    This was the pride of a man.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A multitude of swords soared through the sky, swiftly assembling into a massive Star Ruins Sword Array encircling Wu Yuan.


    It was a Hundred Swords Array as well!


    The instant the two arrays took shape, they hurtled towards each other simultaneously.


    The Dark Earth Sword Array was capable of long-range strikes, swiftly reassembling even after copse.


    On the other hand, the Star Ruins Sword Array employed more brute force tactics. Apart from the area-of-effect Star Explosion technique, the other offensive maneuvers were geared towards close-quartersbat.


    This sword array was primarily designed for self-defense, with offensive capabilities serving as a secondary function.


    Wu Yuan and the guardian both invoked the Star Ruins Sword Array, both executing the Hundred Swords Array form. The sword arrays seemed to condense space into a solid entity.


    <i>Boom~</i> The two were like miniature stars, each spanning ten li in diameter, colliding repeatedly, sending shockwaves through space.


    In the blink of an eye, they shed more than ten times.


    Wu Yuan''s Star Ruins Sword Array began to fracture, hinting at imminent copse. Conversely, the guardian''s array remained steady.


    <i>His soul is strong, yet still inferior to mine. However, his understanding of the Dao surpasses mine significantly.</i> Wu Yuan deduced.


    Each step of the Dark Earth Sword Array rose inplexity, with multiple minor stages in between.


    The Star Ruins Sword Array was simr. If two people executed Solid As A Rock, but one was at the first-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao while the other was at the ninth-level Domain stage, how could their strengths beparable?


    Based on Wu Yuan''s knowledge, the level forty guardian of the one-star tower should have reached the fourth-level True Intent stage of the Land Dao.


    This was already impressive.


    It was worth noting that most Amethyst Cradle cultivators struggled to reach such a Daoprehension level.


    "Challenger," the voice of the ck-robed guardian echoed through space via essentia, "if this is all you''ve got, it��s better to surrender early."


    <i>Boom! </i>The sword array, resembling a miniature star, pressed forward with overwhelming force. Though it appeared slow, its momentum was unstoppable.


    This was the Celestial Body Dao �C majestic, overwhelming, and unstoppable. The epitome of brute force oveing technique.


    "Thousand Swords Array, assemble!" Wu Yuan unleashed his power in full, understanding that without deploying the Thousand Swords Array, victory against this guardian would be impossible.


    <i>Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! </i>Countless flying swords rushed forth like a river. Encircling Wu Yuan, they emitted fluctuations of the Celestial Body��s profundities.


    In the blink of an eye, 648 flying swords assembled into eight Hundred Swords Arrays, which thenbined to form an immense Star Ruins Sword Array of unparalleled size and might!


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension, I may beckingpared to you. But when ites to controlling flying swords, I am nine times stronger. I refuse to believe I cannot defeat you.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze zed with determination.


    <i>Boom! </i>The colossal sword array advanced, transforming into a miniature star with a diameter of approximately thirty li, colliding fiercely with a smaller star.


    One star had a diameter of ten li. The other, thirty li.


    Though the difference seemed insignificant, the volume differed by a factor of twenty-seven, representing a significant gap in power!


    <i>Boom! </i>The collision shook heaven and earth, smashing the tenacious smaller star backward. Sections of cryptic patterns within the star broke off, causing countless flying swords to disperse.


    "Assemble!" The ck-robed guardian��s expression remainedposed, yet his eyes glinted with ferocity.


    The miniature star reformed and crashed into Wu Yuan''s Star Ruins Sword Array without hesitation.


    "Attack!" Controlling a Thousand Swords Array, Wu Yuan had a definitive advantage and faced the collision fearlessly. Once more, the overwhelming star smashed forward, nearly shattering the miniature star.


    Again, the ck-robed guardian re-assembled the sword array, refusing to give up.


    <i>You may resist for now, but each dispersal and re-assembly of the sword array depletes your essentia significantly. I doubt you can endure much longer. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes turned frigid.


    Both challenger and guardian had limited essentia.


    <i>Boom!</i> The third sh!


    <i>Boom!</i> The fourth!


    <i>Boom!</i>... After a total of thirty-six brutal collisions, the guardian''s mana was depleted entirely, sumbing to Wu Yuan''s sword array.


    Level fifty, passed!


    "Congrattions, Li Xia, you havepleted level fifty of the one-star tower. The reward is a one-time True Intent perception experience of your choosing. You have umted two in total," the voice of the tower spirit resounded.


    <i>Another one? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    He had yet to undergo this True Intent perception experience, but ording to Zhuo Haiyue''s exnation and the sect''s information, its effects were remarkable.


    "Continue to level fifty-one!"


    Wu Yuan vanished from the space.


    ...


    <i>In that special observation space.</i>


    "As expected, he emerged victorious," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu eximed.


    "He''s quite ruthless!" Earth Immortal Qing Yu remarked, "This Li Xia, though not as well-versed in the Dao as the guardian and somewhat inflexible in his techniques, managed to prevail with his powerful soul."


    "This is domination through brute force," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu chuckled. "For someone in the Golden Core phase, possessing such a strong soul is rare."


    ��In real-worldbat, peerless geniuses with first or second-degree immortal roots can unleash incrediblebat prowess even if their grasp of the Dao iscking," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu exined. "With a weak immortal root, one will struggle to defeat an opponent at a higher cultivation phase even with a deep understanding of the Dao."


    Earth Immortal Qing Yu nodded in agreement.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Suddenly, two more figures materialized in the observation space, their auras no less powerful than that of Earth Immortal Qing Yu and Earth Immortal Xing Jiu.


    "Qing Yu, you��re here so early?" a purple-robed man chuckled.


    "We have been observing the battle the whole time," Earth Immortal Qing Yu said. "Why are you here?"


    "We received word from the sect spirit that a hereditary disciple has challenged the one-star tower, setting a record as the youngest disciple toplete level fifty in tens of thousands of years. Furthermore, he contemtes the Earth Dao, so naturally, we came to witness his battle," another white-robed woman smiled.


    Only Earth Immortals or higher had ess to the observation space.


    "Are you considering taking him under your wing?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu chuckled. "Nevertheless, this Li Xia is truly a rare unpolished gem."


    He easily discerned that the two were intending to take Wu Yuan as their disciple.


    Immortals typically did not take on disciples, not due to ack of willingness, but rather the scarcity of exceptional talents.


    "Lie Shan, Long Hong, don��t bother entertaining the thought of epting Li Xia as a disciple," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu gently shook his head. "Neither of you are qualified."

 Chapter 373: Eight Years of Silence, Then A Resounding Impact

    <h4>Chapter 373: Eight Years of Silence, Then A Resounding Impact</h4>


    "What?"


    "We''re not qualified?" Earth Immortal Lie Shan and Earth Immortal Long Hong were taken aback, their voices carrying a hint of disbelief.


    "Xing Jiu, what is the meaning of this?" Earth Immortal Lie Shan questioned Xing Jiu''s intentions. He was dressed in purple robes, and exuded an air of power and authority. "Are you nning to take Li Xia as your disciple? Shouldn''t the choice be up to Li Xia himself?"


    Earth Immortal Long Hong, d in white robes, also looked somewhat confused.


    "Xing Jiu, rify your words," urged Earth Immortal Qing Yu, attempting to diffuse the tension. He knew Xing Jiu''s prideful nature all too well.


    "I have no intention of taking a disciple," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu shook his head resolutely. "But someone else has alreadyid im to Li Xia."


    With that, he simply gestured upwards.


    The expressions of Earth Immortal Lie Shan and Earth Immortal Long Hong shifted slightly, understanding the implication behind Xing Jiu''s words.


    "Which veteran elder is it?" Earth Immortal Lie Shan inquired in a hushed tone, evidently unwilling to give up just yet.


    "Do not press the matter further," Xing Jiu cautioned. "I am not allowed to disclose the details. All I can say is that Li Xia is deeply involved in highly confidential sect secrets. If you don''t believe me, you can give it a try. I can guarantee that the sect will not approve it."


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect encouraged its immortals to take on disciples, but they had to go through the necessary application procedure. Under normal circumstances, as long as the disciple was willing, the sect would approve it.


    Upon hearing Xing Jiu''s words, the Earth Immortals were taken aback, including Earth Immortal Qing Yu.


    He knew that Earth Immortal Xing Jiu was proud and aloof, but he had a reputation for honesty. Since he said Li Xia was involved in the sect��s secrets, then it must be true.


    "Lie Shan, Xing Jiu is preparing for an expedition and will not be taking on disciples. There��s no need for him to deceive you. Since you are both here, let��s watch Li Xia''s progress and see how far he can go." Earth Immortal Qing Yu suggested.


    Earth Immortal Lie Shan and Earth Immortal Long Hong exchanged a nce before nodding.


    In fact, before receiving the notification, they had no idea who Li Xia was. As Earth Immortals with long lifespans, many of them didn''t pay attention to the hereditary disciples.


    "He has passed level fifty-one." Earth Immortal Xing Jiu suddenly said, "He''s about to start challenging level fifty-two."


    ...


    On the fifty-second level, a series of explosions echoed, disrupting the stillness of space.


    Wu Yuan immediately invoked the Star Ruins Sword Array, unleashing a Thousand Swords Array in a fierce sh with the ck-robed guardian.


    Their attacks met head-on, revealing the stark gap in their strengths.


    "Fall!" Wu Yuan''s attacks were relentless, his celestial body thirty li in diameter overwhelming his opponent.


    The battle ensued with repeated collisions, each strike a brutal disy of power.


    After nearly fifty intense shes, Wu Yuan''s assault shattered the guardian''s Star Ruins Sword Array, and he emerged victorious.


    Wu Yuan was filled with fighting spirit. ��I��ve reached the current record. Continue to level fifty-three!"


    ...


    In the special observation space, four Earth Immortals observed the battle.


    "He has grasped the Celestial Body Dao?" The surprise of the newly arrived Earth Immortal Lie Shan and Earth Immortal Long Hong were evident.


    As fellow contemtors of the Earth Dao and highly knowledgeable powerhouses, they quickly recognized it. They originally thought that Wu Yuan hadprehended one of the Lesser Laws to a high level. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be an Intermediate Law.


    "Now, do you see what I meant?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu asked, prompting nods of acknowledgment from Lie Shan and Long Hong.


    Such a rare genius was destined for greatness, likely to be epted as a disciple by a High Immortal.


    ��Li Xia was able to conquer level fifty-two, but he was clearly struggling. I doubt he will be able to pass the next level," Earth Immortal Qing Yu caressed his dragon horn as he made his prediction.


    ...


    "Win! I must win!" Wu Yuan, his eyes feral with obsession for victory, finally emerged triumphant after a grueling battle against the guardian of level fifty-three.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia, you have set a new record in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect," the tower spirit''s voice was now friendlier, its attitude toward Wu Yuan clearly warming.


    "Continue!" Wu Yuan dered.


    ��Let��s see how many levels I can conquer." His eyes brimmed withpetitive fire.


    For eight years, Wu Yuan had endured patiently, turning away all challenges and keeping his true strength hidden. Naturally, he knew all about the rumors circting within the sect. But he had endured it all, biding his time.


    He understood only absolute power could quell the doubts of others and catch the attention of Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    Today marked the beginning of his rise, the first step of carving out a name for himself.


    After years of silence, he was going to make a resounding impact.


    ...


    In the observation space, the number of Earth Immortals watching the battle had increased to six, their attention piqued by recent developments.


    "Qing Yu, it seems your judgment was inurate," Earth Immortal Lie Shan chuckled with amusement.


    "How did he win? It defies reason! Has he been concealing his true power?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu struggled to ept the reality before him.


    Considering Earth Immortal Qing Yu''s sharp perception, he should''ve gotten an urate assessment of Wu Yuan''s strength, especially after witnessing numerous battles.


    "Li Xia''s soul is even stronger than I thought. He has been masking his true abilities," Earth Immortal Qing Yu remarked, a glint of intrigue in his eyes.


    ...


    On level fifty-three, Wu Yuan continued his intense sh with the guardian.


    The battle seemed to unfold like a carefully scripted drama; After a bitter and arduous fight, Wu Yuan emerged victorious once more.


    At this juncture, the Earth Immortals could discern a pattern: each of Wu Yuan''s battles appeared perilous and hard-won, yet he cunningly concealed his true power.


    "He''s assimting the guardian''sbat experience!" Earth Immortal Qing Yu marveled. "His understanding of the Dao falls short of the guardians so he��s gaining experience and growing with each battle.��


    ...


    On level fifty-four, space stretched endlessly, bathed in starlight.


    Wu Yuan immediatelyunched into battle against the guardian.


    <i>It��s only four levels higher, yet the guardian''s Daoprehension has markedly improved, hisbat techniques more fluid. </i>Having cleared more than ten levels in one go, Wu Yuan keenly observed the increase in the guardian''s strength.


    <i>The guardian of level fifty-four is far stronger than his predecessor on level fifty.</i>


    <i>Both are able to execute Solid As A Rock, but this guardian��s sword array is truly as immovable as a rock.</i> Wu Yuan analyzed, absorbing every detail of their battle.


    Since the guardian also invoked the Star Ruins Sword Array, Wu Yuan felt as though he was looking at a reflection of himself.


    Through shing with a mirrored version of himself, the gaps in his understanding of the Dao were made clear to him.


    In terms of Daoprehension level, Wu Yuan knew that passing level fifty would be tough. Yet, why was he so confident that he would set a new record?


    Naturally, it was because of his soul!


    <i>Eight years ago, my qi refiner self was just created and my soul had yet to recover fully. But now, after eight years of diligent nourishment and daily Visualization of the ck pagoda, my soul has progressed greatly.</i>


    In terms of soul strength, his present-day qi refiner self surpassed even his body refiner self.


    Thousand Swords Array? Wu Yuan could assemble one with minimal difficulty.


    Under the precise control of his strong soul, Wu Yuan''s sword array possessed a terrifying edge, nigh unbeatable in the Golden Core phase.


    <i>It��s about time.</i> Wu Yuan decided, sensing that his opponent had exhausted all tactics.


    His eyes turned cold. <i>It��s time to defeat you.</i>


    A flurry of flying swords enveloped Wu Yuan''s form, earthy-yellow qi streams interwoven with intricate cryptic patterns, swiftly converging to create a colossal, near-tangible divine sword.


    The moment the divine sword materialized, it plunged forward.


    A thunderous boom echoed as the divine sword streaked through the heavens, leaving a trail of sword light.


    The fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array �C Light Of The Land!


    "What? Another Thousand Swords Array?" The guardian could scarcely believe his eyes.


    However, there was no time for astonishment. The Dark Earth Divine Sword had already reached him.


    With a resounding rumble, the Dark Earth Divine Sword descended, nearly shattering the guardian''s miniature star.


    Before the ck-robed guardian could react, another massive miniature star descended forcefully, causing the guardian''s already fragile miniature star to rupture.


    Shockwaves rolled through the air as the guardian''s form dissipated into nothingness.


    <i>It doesn��t matter how high your Daoprehension level is. Without reaching a critical threshold of qualitative transformation, you are unable to unleash its full strength without sufficient mana and a resilient soul. </i>Wu Yuan contemted with rity.


    During the early cultivation phases of a qi refiner, a robust soul provided one with an iparable advantage.


    With an invisible fluctuation, the records in the distant light screen altered once more.


    "Continue to level fifty-five!" Wu Yuan��s voice rang out. Then, he vanished once more.


    ...


    Within the observation space, there were now a total of eleven figures.


    "He won again?��


    "Two Thousand Swords Arrays? Heavens, isn��t this Li Xia��s soul a little too strong? Is he really a Golden Core cultivator?" The Earth Immortals present were all dumbstruck.


    His soul talent appeared to transcend the realm of geniuses.


    "Given the strength of his soul, it is no surprise that heprehends the Dao at such a rapid pace," interjected Earth Immortal Lie Shan.


    "Nonsense!" another Immortal scoffed. "Li Xia''s soul may be remarkable, but it is just one factor contributing to his incredible Daoprehension aptitude."


    ��Those Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples may boast stronger souls than him, but can they match the speed of his Daoprehension?"


    The other Earth Immortals murmured their agreement, thoroughly convinced.


    Time went by.


    "He��s conquered level fifty-five!"


    "Level fifty-six!"


    "Level fifty-seven! Though he won, it was a close call."


    As Wu Yuan continued to break the records, the number of Earth Immortals gathered to witness his feats grew to twenty-seven.


    Such a turnout was truly remarkable. Dozens of Earth Immortals gathering to watch a Golden Core disciple challenge the one-star tower?


    While not all present were looking to take him as a disciple, their discerning eyes quickly recognized Wu Yuan''s exceptional talent. To witness the ascent of a peerless genius was a rare urrence even in their lengthy lives.


    "He��s about to lose!"


    "The two guardians on level fifty-eight are able to overwhelm him with their joint efforts," the Earth Immortals conversed amongst themselves.


    And so, under the scrutiny of numerous eyes, the miniature star formed by a sword array crumbled, and Wu Yuan��s winning streak was broken at level fifty-seven.


    "To have achieved such strength after only eight years in the sect?"


    "ording to Xiang Sheng''s reports, he has not even reached fifty years old. It��s unbelievable!"


    "Not yet fifty, and he has conquered level fifty-seven?"


    "He undoubtedly has the potential to surpass level sixty in the future," the Earth Immortals marveled.


    Time passed.


    It wasn��t just the Earth Immortals engrossed in discussions. The records of the Seven Towers World had always been the benchmark of the peerless geniuses, attracting considerable attention.


    And now, a new record for the one-star tower in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had been set! It surpassed the previous record by a significant margin, and the challenger was not yet fifty years old. It was highly possible that he would go on to set an even higher record.


    Perhaps, he might even break the longstanding million-year records of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and the entire immortal continent!


    Like a tempest, this news was swiftly disseminated throughout the Dragon Star Immortal Realm and the Redmoon Immortal Realm''s Dragon Star Ind.

 Chapter 374: Who Dares Spar With Me (1)

    <h4>Chapter 374: Who Dares Spar With Me (1)</h4>


    Within the headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, nestled on the colossal Dragon Star, stood a mansion that sprawled like a small world in its own right.


    Within a grand hall, a refined middle-aged man sat cross-legged on a jade tform,ughing heartily. "Haha, well done! Those fools who mocked me before must be eating their words now."


    Hisughter carried beyond the walls of the hall, causing a stir among the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators stationed outside. What could have brought such joy to this immortal?


    "When Li Xia declined the challenges from the hereditary disciples, the gossip spread, and I became the subject of mockery for vouching for Li Xia."


    The refined middle-aged man was none other than Earth Immortal Qing Feng.


    "Back then, those ignorant fools who didn��t know the whole picture dared say it was a mistake on my part to endorse Li Xia''s admission into our sect," Earth Immortal Qing Feng shook his head.


    The fools he referred to were none other than Earth Immortals of equal standing to him.


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect��s territory spanned a vast space, and they reigned over numerous worlds. It was the birthce of countless immortals throughout the ages.


    Where there were people, there were conflicts. In the absence of external threats,petition among the immortals would inevitably arise!


    The lofty immortal ancestor paid no heed to the squabbles among Earth Immortals and High Immortals. Immortals were alwayspeting, whether for resources or influence.


    "It��s only been eight years since he joined the sect, and he has already conquered level fifty-seven. What an unbelievable prodigy! He is certainly eligible to enter the Moonsilver World now," Earth Immortal Qing Feng marveled.


    He was unaware that Wu Yuan had inherited the Great Eldritch legacy. Had he known, his astonishment would have reached new heights, elevating his appraisal of Wu Yuan even further!


    Nheless, he was aware that Wu Yuan possessed nine lifebound flying swords. This was something ordinary sword cultivators could only dream of.


    "At this pace, he is likely to clear level sixty of the one-star tower in the future," Earth Immortal Qing Feng predicted with his years of umted knowledge.


    Though the one-star tower purportedly had a hundred levels, the final twenty were more moonshot goals, and immortal cultivators were scarcely expected to actually clear them.


    The most formidable leap in difficultyy between level fifty-nine and sixty! Clearing level fifty-nine before the age of one hundred was a feat reserved for the top-tier geniuses.


    Clearing level sixty would elevate one to the status of a peerless genius, someone with the potential to reach the Archimmortal level.


    "The Daoprehension level of the level fifty guardian is equivalent to the fourth-level True Intent stage."


    Earth Immortal Qing Feng made a sweeping gesture, and a projection of Wu Yuan��s battles in the one-star tower materialized before him.


    "The two guardians of level fifty-eight possess a Daoprehension level at the sixth-level True Intent stage, whereas the guardians of level sixty possess a Daoprehension level at the ninth-level True Intent stage."


    It was truly frightening.


    At theter stages of Daoprehension, each increase in level was like a huge chasm.


    To advance to thete-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, one mustprehend True Intent. To advance to the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase, aside from the immortal root prerequisites, one had to reach the seventh-level True Intent stage of Daoprehension.


    This was the minimum requirement.


    In other words, a majority of Void Refiner Eminences might not be able to clear level sixty of the one-star tower if their souls weren��t strong enough topensate for theircking Daoprehension.


    As for level seventy? Earth Immortal Qing Feng did not expect Wu Yuan to clear it at all. It was simply far too difficult. Such a monstrous genius had yet to be born in the Redmoon Immortal Continent in hundreds of millions of years.


    "However, the likelihood of clearing level sixty is high," Earth Immortal Qing Feng smiled.


    "The abbot''s foresight is as unparalleled as ever, he was actually able to identify Li Xia''s potential from the beginning."


    "Mm," Earth Immortal Qing Feng pondered briefly. "Given the abbot''s directive, I will refrain from informing Zhuo Haiyue; the news will reach her in due time.��


    Though he wanted to maintain a good rtionship with Zhuo Haiyue, Earth Immortal Qing Feng understood that his rootsy within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    "This Li Xia is truly a monster."


    "Is it true that he has yet to reach fifty years old?" Rumors concerning Wu Yuan began circting among the Earth Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect in no time.


    "A monstrous prodigy. Our sect has not witnessed such talent in years."


    "He��s indeed impressive," many Earth Immortals marveled. Having trodden the immortal road from a weak, low-level cultivator to their current level themselves, they understood the difficulty of clearing level fifty-seven.


    "Don��t overestimate him. After observing his fights, his Daoprehension seems to hover around the third or fourth-level True Intent stage, not particrly deep.��


    ��He relied solely on his robust soul to clear level fifty-seven. Whether or not he can clear level sixty remains uncertain," a skeptical Earth Immortal interjected.


    ��Old Ghost, stop being so stubborn. We all know that you didn''t think highly of Li Xia before and now you''re being pped in the face."


    "You''ve been pped in the face many times, one more time doesn��t make a difference, Old Ghost."


    "A resilient soul is also a form of talent. On top of that, he is still young and only joined the sect eight years ago. As long as the sect nurtures him well over the next few decades, breaking the past ten thousand-year record of the immortal continent is an entirely usible feat," other Earth Immortals promptly countered.


    The Earth Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect engaged in spirited discussions. While disagreements arose, the prevailing sentiment leaned towards optimism regarding Wu Yuan.


    As high-ranking figures within the sect, the Earth Immortals naturally hoped that the sect would prosper, as long as it didn��tpromise their individual interests.


    ...


    The numerous satellite worldlets surrounding Dragon Star were residences of the hereditary disciples, the cream of the sect''s talent in thest one thousand years.


    <i>In one of these worldlets, on a training ground stretching nearly ten thousand li.</i>


    A figure sighed, "I lost again.��


    Kuang Long now stood several dozen zhangs tall. His top was bare, muscles rippling as he towered over the earth below. "I got defeated by another inner disciple in the True Dragon Arena."


    His personality was unlike that of Wu Yuan''s. Having received the best training since youth, he was someone with great pride in his abilities. And as a body refiner, his nature leaned towardsbat, leading him to frequent the True Dragon Arena.


    In thest eight years, he battled both Golden Core hereditary disciples and inner disciples, even facing off against some Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    He had some wins and some losses, making great progress overall.


    <i>The Dragon Star Immortal Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the number one sect on the immortal continent. </i>Kuang Long thought to himself. <i>Talented and powerful individuals are a dime a dozen, far surpassing the cities of my homnd.</i>


    Considered a genius from an early age, he found himself humbled by the superior talents of his peers after arriving at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    <i>Battles conducted in the True Dragon Arena are voidrealm battles. </i>


    <i>I have recently broken through to the eighth-stage Spiritual Body phase. In the uing Dragon Star Tournament, my low ether reserves will be a disadvantage.</i> He shook his head ruefully. <i>My first Dragon Star Tournament is sure to end in defeat. </i>


    <i>However, as a new disciple, I can still retain my hereditary disciple status even if I lose. I must work hard.</i> Determination zed in Kuang Long��s eyes.


    <i>It is not defeat that should be feared, but the crippling of the heart.</i>


    <i>I must be strong enough by the second Dragon Star Tournament. That��s the only way I can maintain my hereditary status.</i> Kuang Long resolved in silence.


    <i>One firm step at a time. I will strive to be the strongest among the Golden Core and Spiritual Body hereditary disciples, and then break through to the Shambh phase.</i> He had his ambitions as well.


    Even in a sect brimming with geniuses, Kuang Long had faith in his abilities.


    <i>Hm? Senior Brother Jiu Xiao sent me a message? </i>His thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

 Chapter 375: Who Dares Spar With Me (2)

    <h4>Chapter 375: Who Dares Spar With Me (2)</h4>


    Kuang Long had sparred with numerous hereditary disciples since joining the sect. With his straightforward character, he made quite a few friends.


    Jiu Xiao was a Shambh hereditary disciple, a fellow body refiner with great strength.


    Kuang Long''s consciousness entered the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, quickly checking the content of the message, "Golden Core hereditary disciple Li Xia has passed level fifty-seven of the one-star tower, setting a new current record!"


    Kuang Long''s eyes widened.


    <i>Li Xia? It��s him?</i> Kuang Long remembered the ck-robed youth who had entered the sect with him.


    Back then, they had a decent rtionship. However, as time passed, they no longer met as often, each focusing on cultivation. On top of that, they followed different cultivation paths, leading to minimal interaction in recent years.


    <i>Level fifty...seven? Heavens! </i>Kuang Long struggled to believe what he was reading. <i>He hasn��t cultivated for long, and he��s far younger than me! How can this be?</i>


    <i>I''ve only just reached level forty-two. </i>Kuang Long��s thoughts were in disarray.


    ...


    The news of Wu Yuan clearing level fifty-seven of the one-star tower spread, causing waves ofmotion among the Golden Core hereditary disciples.


    <i>Redmoon Immortal Realm, Greendragon City, the Hereditary Disciple Tower.</i>


    Despite being called a tower, it was actually an enormousplex. Aside from a few custodians and attendants, only the sect''s hereditary disciples were allowed entry. It served as a meeting ce in the voidrealm for the sect''s hereditary disciples.


    On this day, the Hereditary Disciple Tower was bustling with activity. More than ten figures gathered within one of the halls.


    "Unbelievable! Level fifty-seven? That''s beyond incredible!" eximed a youth in purple robes, his disbelief evident. "I''ve been cultivating for over a century, and even I doubt I could clear it."


    "Stop howling like a ghost, Long Tao. None of us here can clear it either. " A silver-armored woman spoke coldly. "Out of the thirty-plus Golden Core hereditary disciples, only six have cleared level fifty."


    At these words, the others grew even more despondent.


    They were all Golden Core hereditary disciples.


    While the sect''s outer and inner disciples, as well as higher echelons, marveled at Wu Yuan''s astounding talent, these Golden Core hereditary disciples felt immense pressure upon hearing the news.


    That was because they had all challenged Wu Yuan to a duel in the past.


    And this was the reason they were gathered here today.


    "Truly, the ignorant are fearless," remarked a golden-armored youth, his voice tinged with resignation. "Li Xia wasn��t shying away from a match with us. He simply didn��t want to waste his time."


    He turned his gaze towards a woman in white nearby and added, "Bei Hua, if memory serves me right, you were the first to challenge him."


    The attention of the group shifted to the woman in white.


    Bei Hua furrowed her brow. "So what if I was? Is it not the norm for disciples to pit their skills against one another?"


    Gong Ling who was seated beside them interjected, "Everyone, Li Xia is a new disciple. No matter his strength, he will not be demoted in status given that this is his first time participating in the Dragon Star Tournament.��


    Then, he smiled, ��You need not worry about losing face. After all, the Dragon Star Tournament is a real-world battle.��


    "From my understanding, Li Xia entered the sect at the first-stage Golden Core phase. Now, he has likely advanced to the second or third stage at most. His mana reserves are far smaller than ours."


    ��Our advantage in mana will surely allow us to overpower and defeat him!"


    "Mm, indeed," came the murmured agreement.


    "The Dragon Star Tournament is a real-world battle.��


    "Li Xia won��t be able to win so easily. At least, he won''t be able to suppress us in his first Dragon Star Tournament." The Golden Core hereditary disciples discussed softly among themselves.


    Ever since they received the news, they knew that as long as Li Xia remained alive, their brilliance was destined to be overshadowed by this rising star.


    Yet, the pride that came with their status as hereditary disciples left them unwilling to be bested by a neer in his first tournament. It was a prospect too humiliating to ept.


    However, their thoughts were interrupted by a sudden exmation.


    "What''s this? I��ve received a challenge request," a voice eximed with surprise. "It��s from Li Xia, he��s challenging me to a duel in the True Dragon Arena."


    "What?" gasped another disciple. "I��ve received a challenge as well."


    "Me too."


    "I��ve received one as well." Soon, all fourteen hereditary disciples found themselves invited to a match in the True Dragon Arena.


    Every single challenge had been issued by Wu Yuan alone!


    "Li Xia dares challenge all of us singlehandedly? Wang Yu informed me that she did not receive a challenge request," a golden-armored woman shook her head. "Those Li Xia has sent challenges to are the same ones who have challenged him before."


    "He certainly bears grudges," the disciples muttered, feeling a sense of helplessness.


    They had not anticipated this turn of events. In just eight years, Li Xia had risen to a level of strength that none could have foreseen.


    "Bad news," Gong Ling''s expression shifted abruptly. "Word of Li Xia''s challenge has spread throughout the sect. The audience at the True Dragon Arena has swelled to tens of thousands and continues to grow."


    "He has challenged fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples."


    "I''ve received numerous inquiries from friends asking how I n to respond to the challenge." The hereditary disciples each had their own informationworks.


    "Li Xia is already waiting at the True Dragon Arena," a ck-cloaked hereditary disciple surveyed the group before speaking deliberately, "After stepping onto the arena tform, he issued a single question, ''Who is willing to spar with me?''"


    There was a moment of silence. The fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples exchanged wordless nces.


    "''Who is willing to spar with me?�� How polite!" Bei Hua��s voice rang out, "What he truly means to say is ��Who dares spar with me?''"


    "This is a sure-lose battle."


    "Whoever is willing to go, whoever dares to go..." Bei Hua, her gaze sweeping the room, announced coolly, "must be prepared for a humiliating oue."


    "It began with me, and it shall conclude with me!"


    "I will take up the challenge." Bei Hua departed the hall swiftly, heading towards the True Dragon Arena.


    The remaining thirteen hereditary disciples fell into silence.


    "Everyone, Bei Hua has dared to answer the challenge. Are we truly more cowardly than her?" Gong Ling rose to his feet, speaking in a low voice, "It is just a loss."


    "Losing to Li Xia is no dishonor."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Gong Ling departed as well.


    "Haha, let''s fight. We can''t be like Li Xia. Challenges are part of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect��s tradition. We aren��t risking our lives anyway. Let''s go."


    "I refuse to believe that a kid who��s not even fifty years old can be such a monstrous prodigy."


    "Let��s go!" The group of Golden Core hereditary disciples, spurred on by the challenge, rose in unison and made their way toward the True Dragon Arena.


    ...


    The True Dragon Arena was a special spacetime within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, essible only through a specific passage in the Greendragon City.


    On this day, tform 892 of the True Dragon Arena drew a crowd of tens of thousands of onlookers.


    In just a quarter of an hour, the number of spectators swelled to a staggering thirty thousand. Virtual avatars crowded on all four sides of the tform, their eyes fixed on the figure seated in meditation in the center.


    "I heard Li Xia challenged fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples!��


    "What a power move."


    "These disciples once challenged Li Xia. Senior Brother Li Xia is just counter-challenging them." The crowd of inner and outer disciples discussed.


    Such actions were highly offensive, thus simr events were a rare urrence within the sect. Yet, none dared to question Wu Yuan''s decision.


    Suddenly, a figure cloaked in white materialized out of thin air at the edge of the arena.


    "They��re here!"


    "A hereditary disciple actually stepped up to the challenge? Such a battle can only end in defeat."


    "It''s Bei Hua. They say she was the very first person to challenge Li Xia all those years ago." The spectator stands erupted in a cacophony of excitement.

 Chapter 376: Vetoed (1)

    <h4>Chapter 376: Vetoed (1)</h4>


    In an instant, the woman in white advanced a hundred li, arriving before Wu Yuan on the arena tform.


    At this moment, tens of thousands of eyes watched the two figures intently.


    "Senior Sister Bei Hua, it has been too long," Wu Yuan gracefully rose to his feet and greeted her with a smile.


    Inwardly, he was a little startled.


    He had expected Senior Sister Bei Hua to decline the challenge, just as he himself had in the past. Normally, one wouldn��t willingly ept a challenge with no chance of victory. Furthermore, it waspletely optional.


    "Junior Brother Li Xia," Bei Hua addressed him, looking at Wu Yuan with aplicated gaze.


    Bei Hua couldn''t help but recall Wu Yuan��s words during their first encounter �C "A sword immortal must forge ahead, cutting down the injustices that weigh upon the heart with every strike, yet it is not a path paved with recklessness.��


    "Junior Brother, you have your own sword path and Dao Heart," Bei Hua spoke softly, each word carefully chosen. "But my Dao Heart remains unshaken."


    "My heart is firm. My sword will forge the path ahead. No matter where my heart may lead me, I will never have regrets, not even in death!" Bei Hua''s determined voice resounded throughout the arena.


    With each word, her voice grew calmer. By the time she uttered thest word, Bei Hua''s aura and gaze had returned to a state of tranquility, devoid of anyplexities.


    A flicker of surprise shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes as he sincerelymended, "You indeed exemplify the essence of a sword cultivator, and a true hereditary disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    While Bei Hua might not be Wu Yuan��s match in sheer strength, her Dao Heart was no less firm than his.


    "Good! Sister Bei Hua, as a show of respect for your dedication to the sword path, I shall unleash my full strength." Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    What began as a way to garner recognition had transformed into genuine respect for his opponent from the bottom of Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Inpetitions between disciples, one��s life was never truly at stake.


    With that, the battle erupted.


    While all eyes were on thebatants, the actual sh was over in a mere moment.


    After assembling the Star Ruins Sword Array, Wu Yuan trapped Bei Hua within a gravitational field. Then, the array assembled into the form of a star, smashing into her.


    After just one exchange, Wu Yuan emerged victorious!


    Although the battle was swift, the sword array disyed by Wu Yuan was so powerful that it left all spectators deeply shocked.


    Assembling a thousand Swords Arrayposed of fourth-grade spirit flying swords, with a mana level fixed at the first-stage Golden Core phase in the voidrealm, was a feat that seemed unbelievable to most sect disciples.


    His Daoprehension and soul strength must have reached frightening levels.


    Even though the disciples did not have ess to the battle recording of Wu Yuan conquering the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, they could perceive his overwhelming dominance and power from this one exchange.


    A hereditary disciple with a hundred years of experience in the sect couldn''t withstand a single blow from Wu Yuan.


    And this was just the beginning.


    One after another, the hereditary disciples Wu Yuan challenged stepped up, only to be swept away without being able to put up the slightest resistance. Even the strongest among them could only endure two strikes from his sword array.


    Fourteen victories in a row!


    Soon, allbatants left the arena, but this short series of battles had left tens of thousands of spectators breathless. All of them understood that they were witnessing the rise of a powerful genius within the sect.


    As for Bei Hua, Gong Ling, and the hereditary disciples who knew defeat was inevitable but still faced it valiantly, Wu Yuan was deeply moved by them.


    <i>To go where the heart leads, one will never have regrets, not even in death.</i>


    <i>Being able to stand out among millions of disciples to be hereditary disciples of the sect, their Dao Hearts are indeed extraordinary. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Yet, despite his admiration for them, Wu Yuan remained steadfast on his own path and goals. He wouldn��t hesitate to strike down any who dared obstruct him.


    ...


    First, he shattered the existing record for the one-star tower of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, setting a new one five levels higher in one go.


    Then, in the True Dragon Arena, he fought fourteen consecutive battles, defeating fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples. Tens of thousands of disciples who watched the matches rapidly spread the news.


    "Genius!"


    "A peerless genius."


    "Haha, despite cultivating in this sect for more than a thousand years, I have never witnessed such brilliance. Truly remarkable!"


    "In sword cultivation, one strike shatters allws. He cut up those hereditary disciples as effortlessly as dicing fruits and vegetables."


    "It is said that Li Xia is still quite young, only eight years have gone by since his entry into the sect. As long as his life isn��t cut short, his future aplishments are bound to be extraordinary."


    Li Xia''s name swiftly spread among the disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. And soon, the countless disciples recognized him as the indisputable top genius of the current generation within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    <i>In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect headquarters, within Wu Yuan��s world residence.</i>


    <i>I have given it my best shot.</i> Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on a jade tform within the meditation chamber.


    Despite stirring up this huge storm, his heart remained serene.


    Everything had unfolded as he had nned. Given the reports from Lu Zhu and the others, the results exceeded his expectations!


    The reason for this was clear.


    <i>Over these eight years, my strength has grown even more than I had anticipated.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.


    Take, for example, his Daoprehension progress. One had to remember that his body refiner self had evolved into a Terranean Body. It was considered a top-notch body forprehending the Land''s profundities.


    How else could Wu Yuanplete level forty of the one-star tower on his very first attempt, despite theck of guidance?


    His qi refiner self also received guidance from the Celestial Body Law Codex. And with the pointers from the mysterious senior, his soul grew ever stronger.


    In just eight brief years, Wu Yuan made huge strides forward.


    <i>With two true selvesprehending the Dao in unison, I am progressing at a staggering pace.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    He could see why so many immortal cultivators aspired to cultivate two true selves.


    ��Whether building my reputation or showcasing my talents, I have done everything I could.�� Wu Yuan murmured quietly. "If Sword Immortal Dong Yang is still unwilling to ept me as his disciple, then there is nothing more I can do."


    Throughout these eight years, both his qi refiner and body refiner selves had cultivated diligently, never cking off.


    Wu Yuan had no regrets.


    <i>The guardians of the tower employed either the Dark Earth Sword Array or the Star Ruins Sword Array. There is much I can learn from them. </i>Wu Yuan pushed aside all extraneous thoughts and settled into a calm state.


    While clearing level after level without pause, Wu Yuan gained numerous insights, yet time constraints prevented him from assimting them properly.


    In the aftermath of a battle, reflection was crucial.


    <i>After digesting thesebat insights, I will head to the Redmoon Immortal Realm to undergo a True Intent perception experience.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    With that, Wu Yuan shut off his six senses and instructed Lu Zhu not to disturb him.


    As per usual, he allowed no external distractions to break his focus, unless it was a matter of utmost importance.


    The influx of messages he received via the Redmoon Immortal Realm and the Dragon Star Immortal Realm went unanswered. Wu Yuan couldn��t be bothered with them.

 Chapter 377: Vetoed (2)

    <h4>Chapter 377: Vetoed (2)</h4>


    While Wu Yuan cultivated in seclusion, word of his feats spread like wildfire, reaching beyond the confines of the sect.


    The Heavenly Dragon City in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm was reserved solely for Void Refiner Eminences, serving as a gathering ce for the higher echelons of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Hovering above the city was a grand and ancient bronze temple, its presencemanding attention.


    The sect��s Void Refiner Eminences and Earth Immortals would look at this temple with a mixture of reverence and longing whenever they passed by.


    This temple was the Veteran Elders Hall, a ce of legend among the sect''s disciples. Only the sect��s veteran elders were allowed entry. And only Tribtion and Universe Architect level immortal cultivators were eligible to be veteran elders.


    Within the bronze temple, a colossal oval table stretching approximately a hundred meters in length and thirty meters in width stood in the center, nked by towering bronze chairs on either side.


    Save for the grand bronze throne at the head of the table, the remaining chairs were of a smaller stature and lighter hue.


    At the present moment, the bronze throne remained unupied, while numerous figures already took their ces on the smaller chairs.


    Among them were High Immortal Hei Yuan and the red-robed abbot.


    If Earth Immortals like Qing Feng and Xiang Sheng were present, they would recognize this gathering as the legendary Veteran Elders Assembly.


    "With thirteen veteran elders in attendance, more than half of the attendees are present. The Veteran Elders Assembly shall herebymence," remarked the red-robed middle-aged man seated on the chair to the right of the bronze throne.


    His gaze swept across the assembly of powerhouses.


    Though he wasn��t the strongest of the veteran elders, as the abbot, he was undeniably the nominal leader of the Dragon Star Sect.


    ��We have convened today for a simple reason: Li Xia," the red-robed man began in a low voice.


    "Li Xia is under fifty years old, a sword cultivator at the third-stage Golden Core phase. He established a third-degree immortal root, and has forged nine lifebound flying swords.��


    The final mention of nine lifebound flying swords immediately surprised many of the veteran elders who were unfamiliar with the situation.


    This was rare!


    "His soul is incredibly robust, and the rate of his soul��s growth is astonishing. Currently, it is on par with a sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator," the red-robed man continued.


    "He first contemted the Land Dao, then inherited Great Eldritch Kua Fu''s Celestial Body Law Codex from the Star Origin Soil and beganprehending the Celestial Body Dao. In eight years, he has reached the fourth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao."


    "He has cleared level fifty-seven of the one-star tower."


    "Based on a holistic assessment, his talent ranks within the top three of all Golden Core disciples in the past ten million years.��


    ��Throughout the billions of years of our sect��s history, his talent ranks in the top ten. And over thest hundred million years of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, within the top hundred," the man in red dered solemnly. "If anyone has a contradicting opinion, please raise it now."


    He was met with silence.


    "At present, the full extent of Li Xia''s talent, including the possession of the Great Eldritch inheritance and his ownership of nine lifebound flying swords, remains undisclosed. Consequently, the various factions have based their evaluation of Li Xia on iplete information," remarked the man in the red robe. "Yet, even the publicly avable information is more than enough to prove his remarkable talent."


    "There is a ny-nine percent probability that the Moonsilver World will conduct an assessment to determine his eligibility for special recruitment," the red-robed man stated.


    "From our judgment, the likelihood of his eptance is one hundred percent.��


    ��Therefore, I propose that we formally petition the Immortal Hall to allow us to officially designate Li Xia as a disciple of our sect. In return, we willpensate them with the corresponding divine crystal deducted from our sect��s contribution." he proimed with gravity.


    Many of the veteran elders furrowed their brows.


    "Abbot, the Moonsilver World is subordinate to the Immortal Hall. If they insist on recruiting a disciple, even first-rate sects of the immortal continent will find it difficult to convince them to withdraw their decision," dered a veteran elder veiled in a shroud of ck mist, his voice resonating with authority.


    "We could pay the price to prevent the Moonsilver World from recruiting him, but the cost is exorbitant, a staggering three hundred cubic meters of divine crystal.��


    "Such a quantity of divine crystal is enough to drive a Divided Soul Earth Immortal mad."


    "Even for us, mustering such wealth is no easy task. It could fetch over a hundred pieces of high-grade spirion equipment. Is it truly worth expending it all to keep a mere Golden Core disciple in our sect? Perhaps we should give this decision more thought," the veteran elder shrouded in ck mist suggested.


    For beings of their level, ethercrystal held little value. Only the fabled divine crystal was precious enough to entice them.


    The words of the veteran elder enveloped in a ck shroud struck a chord with many of the other veteran elders.


    "Indeed, Li Xia��s talent is exceptional, but history has shown us countless geniuses who fell short of fulfilling their potential." An elderly man d in purple robes spoke coldly.


    "Most of us here did not start as top talents of our generation. But step by step, we overcame countless trials and tribtions to reach our current level."


    "If Li Xia has already reached the Void Refiner phase, I might consider the sect''s investment justified."


    "However, he is only at the Golden Core phase. The risks are too great, and the possibility of an untimely death is high," the purple-robed elderly man shook his head. "I disagree."


    "I disagree as well."


    "Even if we keep him, what then? Even if he does grow to maturity, he will eventually have to join the immortal hall, just like us.��


    "On the other hand, if he enters the Moonsilver World, the immortal hall willpensate the sect. He will still bebeled as a former member of the Dragon Star Immortal Sectbel, and when he bes a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, we can invite him to rejoin the sect."


    The veteran elders expressed their opinions, most of them objecting to the proposal.


    The middle-aged man in red robes sighed inwardly, feeling helpless.


    He understood why the veteran elders opposed the idea��the stakes were high, and they were reluctant to give up their interests.


    The divine crystal contribution that the sect offered to the Redmoon Immortal Hall could be exchanged for corresponding precious items.


    The amount contributed was umted through generations. It was also a result of the hard work of numerous veteran elders present.


    "Veteran Elders, while the divine crystal contribution is important, we must also consider Li Xia''s talent," the red-robed elderly man spoke softly.


    "He has the potential to be the next Senior Brother Dong Yang. If wepare their talent at the same age, Li Xia may even surpass him."


    "It''s not the same. Senior Brother Dong Yang''s journey was one of steady growth, culminating in his position as the top sword immortal in the immortal continent. How can Li Xiapare?"


    "I disagree."


    "How about we negotiate with the immortal hall?" Some elders suggested, but the majority remained opposed.


    Sometimes, it was even more difficult to convince someone to give up their interests than it was to move their hearts.


    "Very well, let us proceed to the final vote," the red-robed middle-aged man sighed. "All veteran elders, please state your position��in favor or against."


    "In favor," he stated.


    "Against!"


    "Against!"


    "In favor," High Immortal Hei Yuan dered.


    "Against."


    "Against."


    ...Each veteran elder voiced their stance, following the rules set by the immortal ancestor. Abstaining from the vote was not allowed.


    "Thirteen veteran elders, four in favor, nine against��the proposal is rejected," the middle-aged man announced, disappointment evident in his tone.


    Despite his hopes, the oue was not in his favor.


    As he prepared to conclude the meeting, he was suddenly interrupted.


    "The oue is invalid!" a cold voice pierced the air. "As First Veteran Elder, I hold the right to veto the rejection of this proposal."

 Chapter 378: Dong Yangs Concerns

    <h4>Chapter 378: Dong Yang''s Concerns</h4>


    As the words echoed through the air, a long-haired, white-robed figure materialized on the chair to the left of the bronze throne.


    He had the refined appearance of a nobleman, and exuded a frighteningly powerful sword intent even though they were in a voidrealm.


    As his piercing gaze swept across the room, the hearts of the veteran elders quivered.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang." The middle-aged man in red robes rose and offered a slight bow.


    Though he held the title of abbot, the position of the first veteran elder often held more weight within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    This was because the title of first veteran elder was awarded to the individual who wielded the greatest strength in the sect.


    Moreover, Sword Immortal Dong Yang was the strongest High Immortal within the sect in thest hundreds of millions of years, and the most ancient one in the current generation.


    "First Veteran Elder." Ten High Immortals of varied auras rose and paid their respects.


    In terms of strength, Sword Immortal Dong Yang reigned supreme.


    In terms of seniority, he was also the oldest.


    By the time most of these veteran elders had first joined the sect, Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s fame already resounded throughout the immortal continent. Who would dare challenge his authority?


    Silence enveloped the room.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, what a surprise to see you at this gathering." High Immortal Hei Yuan remarked with a smirk.


    Among those present, he alone was qualified to disregard formalities.


    His strength was not the greatest among the High Immortals, but he was the second eldest after Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    "You may sit." Sword Immortal Dong Yang said coldly.


    Only then did the various veteran elders take their seats.


    The purple-robed elderly man shared a knowing look with the others who had voted to reject the proposal.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, while you hold the title of first veteran elder, the sect has its protocols. You may have a veto vote, but there are limits to..." The elderly man in purple spoke up boldly.


    "Shut up! Jin Yan, I am not blind to your schemes." Sword Immortal Dong Yang fixed an icy gaze on the elderly man.


    "The uing auction at the immortal hall will feature the Soulfrost Spiritual Liquid, and you n to bid for it with the sect''s divine crystal contribution, am I right?"


    At this, the faces of several veteran elders shifted uneasily.


    Indeed, this had been their intention.


    The sect''s divine crystal contribution to the Redmoon Immortal Hall was a substantial sum, yet there were rules in ce, limiting their freedom to mobilize these resources.


    Three hundred divine crystals was no small change! Few veteran elders were willing to make such a sacrifice.


    "Hmph! It seems you''ve all conveniently forgotten. The immortal ancestor refrains from meddling in the sect''s affairs. For the past one million years, I have been leading our forces in numerous spacetime wars. It is through these efforts that we''ve secured our im to those cosmic crystal veins," proimed Sword Immortal Dong Yang, his voice tinged with ice.


    "In these past one million years, more than half of the divine crystal contributions to the sect came from my efforts alone!"


    "Do you even have the right to discuss the protocols with me?" Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s gaze turned frigid.


    The elder in purple robes bowed his head, unable to meet his eyes.


    The power of a single super powerhouse was indeed remarkable. Undeniably, the contributions Sword Immortal Dong Yang had made to the sect in thest ten thousand years outweighed those of all the other High Immortalsbined.


    "I am prepared to serve the sect for its overall prosperity, not for the benefit of any particr one of you."


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s tone grew even more frigid. "You are all High Immortals now, yet you still expect the sect to spoonfeed you? The sect has already done enough for you. If you want treasures, go out and fight for them."


    "This time, I will let it slide."


    "But next time, if a simr incident urs, I will not hesitate to throw all of you into the Hungry Ghost Demonic Array to temper your Dao Hearts," Sword Immortal Dong Yang stated with cold indifference.


    The High Immortals dared not make a sound. They understood that Sword Immortal Dong Yang was fully capable of acting on his threat.


    In the eyes of the sect''s disciples, the veteran elders were equals. However, only the veteran elders themselves were aware of the truth.


    Apart from High Immortal Hei Yuan and the abbot, Sword Immortal Dong Yang had no regard for anyone else.


    He was a being nearly reaching the Archimmortal level. In a direct confrontation, he alone could overpower all other High Immortals in the sect.


    It was just that in thest tens of thousands of years, Sword Immortal Dong Yang showed up far less frequently within the sect due to his preparations for his Ninth Immortal Tribtion.


    "Abbot, revise the voting," Sword Immortal Dong Yang directed his gaze towards the middle-aged man in red robes.


    The abbot nodded and dered solemnly. "I propose that that sect deducts the required divine crystal contribution, ensuring Li Xia is officially a permanent disciple of the sect."


    "Veteran elders, cast your votes, in favor or against," the man in the red robe continued, "I am in favor."


    "In favor!"


    "In favor."


    "In favor."


    ...


    "In favor."


    "In favor," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said.


    "Fourteen veteran elders, unanimously in favor," the middle-aged man in red robes smiled, "We shall immediately move forth with the proposal."


    ��Hmph.�� Sword Immortal Dong Yang departed immediately.


    The remaining veteran elders exchanged nces.


    "Haha, you may choose not to heed my advice, but don��t provoke Dong Yang. He is not like me," High Immortal Hei Yuan chuckled, "Consider what Dong Yang''s biggest concern is right now. And you still think you can throw Li Xia out?"


    With that, High Immortal Hei Yuan also departed from the hall.


    "Sessor!"


    ��So Senior Brother Dong Yang is interested in Li Xia and wishes to take him as his direct disciple?" The purple-robed elderly man nodded with a look of ��understanding��.


    ��I see now.��


    "Sigh, if we had known this earlier, we wouldn''t have had to go through all that.��


    "Since Senior Brother Dong Yang did not step in this whole time, we all assumed he didn''t see Li Xia��s potential," the other veteran elders all chimed in, their voices filled with ��realization��.


    The middle-aged man in red robes let out a small sigh.


    Did these veteran elders truly not know? Of course they did! They were simply pretending to be muddle-headed, betting on the fact that Sword Immortal Dong Yang would stay out of the picture.


    ...


    Outside the Heavenly Dragon City, within a chaotic spacetime that the sect''s regr protectorates and elders had no ess to, a streak of light descended from above, revealing the figure of High Immortal Hei Yuan.


    Fixing his gaze on a young man in white in the distance, he chuckled, "Hehe. Don''t be upset, Dong Yang. This is not at all unusual."


    "I''m not upset," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied, turning to face High Immortal Hei Yuan before casting his eyes toward the towering Heavenly Dragon City in the distance.


    His gaze wasplex.


    "Unlike me, they are young and hungry for resources. It''s to be expected," High Immortal Hei Yuanmented, a knowing smile on his face.


    "If it were for less precious resources, I��m sure they would not have objected."


    "Hungry? With their current attitudes, they stand no chance against the Nine Tribtions," Sword Immortal Dong Yang snorted coldly.


    "Not everyone is like you. Over countless eons, the immortal continent has only produced one of you." High Immortal Hei Yuan shook his head.


    "You��re actually willing to brave the Ninth Immortal Tribtion just to perfect your immortal root. Most normal High Immortals who sessfully ovee the Seventh Immortal Tribtion already consider it a miracle."


    "Those who ovee the Seventh Immortal Tribtion are also Archimmortals," High Immortal Hei Yuan chuckled.


    "Yet, those are the weakest Archimmortals. A deficient immortal root would make the path ahead far more difficult," Sword Immortal Dong Yang frowned.


    "But still, you will be an Archimmortal!"


    "Even if you are merely a Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal, you will still be a being that rarely emerges from the immortal continent in a million years," High Immortal Hei Yuanughed.


    "As for a Ninth-Tribtion Archimmortal? It has been hundreds of millions of years since a new one was born in the Immortal Continent."


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang fell into a pensive silence.


    Certainly, the path of Nine Tribtions was the most difficult of all.


    "Should you seed, your strength will rival that of the immortal ancestor, and your potential will know no bounds. You may even surpass the Hall Master and ascend to the Astral Monarch level in time," High Immortal Hei Yuan spoke with deep emotion.


    "I still have a long way to go. The Ninth Tribtion... I��m not confident," Sword Immortal Dong Yang murmured softly.


    "Throughout the ages, how many have been confident that they could ovee the Ninth Tribtion?" High Immortal Hei Yuan shook his head.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang kept silent.


    "Do you truly wish to take Li Xia under your wing? I saw no indication of your intent." High Immortal Hei Yuan shifted the conversation abruptly. "Those youngsters, they were likely betting on this."


    "Did you really think you could spy on me sessfully?" the Sword Immortal Dong Yang asked nonchntly.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan was taken aback. Then, a sudden realization dawned on him. "Have you been secretly mentoring Li Xia?"


    A rare smile crossed Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s lips.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan quickly asked, "Are you still not nning to announce it?"


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang remained silent.


    "You are worried about something?" High Immortal Hei Yuan pondered.


    "Li Xia is very talented, but I have made too many enemies, some of whom are at the Archimmortal level. I have quite a few mortal enemies as well," Sword Immortal Dong Yang sighed lightly.


    "Archimmortal-level foes?" High Immortal Hei Yuan was astonished. If this news ever got out, it would surely cause a massive stir.


    "How have I not heard of this before?" High Immortal Hei Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Do you have the ability to intervene?" Sword Immortal Dong Yang nced at him. "Even if you were aware, would it make a difference?"


    High Immortal Hei Yuan was left speechless.


    "Fret not, as long as I am here, no one will dare make a move," Sword Immortal Dong Yang assured nonchntly. "As long as the immortal ancestor is around, our sect remains untouchable."


    "These grudges are mine alone."


    "However, if news of me taking a disciple is publicized, one who��s at the Golden Core phase, my enemies will have ample opportunity to strike him down," Sword Immortal Dong Yang shook his head slightly.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan understood his predicament.


    While some High Immortals or Earth Immortals might hesitate to act due to the backing of the powerful Dragon Star Immortal Sect, an Archimmortal would not be deterred in the least.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan was also inwardly impressed by Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s strength, which most likely surpassed the rumors. He had to be extremely confident in his self-preservation methods to dare challenge other Archimmortals.


    "What are your ns?" High Immortal Hei Yuan asked.


    "I shall ask the immortal ancestor for a promise," Sword Immortal Dong Yang stated calmly. "Also, should I meet my end during my Ninth Tribtion, I hope you will watch over Li Xia."


    "Haha, don��t worry!" High Immortal Hei Yuan chuckled. "My only hope is to witness our sect thrive and prosper, and that Li Xia grows strong and powerful. There��s nothing I desire more than this."


    "Mm," Sword Immortal Dong Yang responded with a slight nod.


    Whether he believed the High Immortal''s assurances remained a mystery.


    ...


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect was the unofficial number one among the thirty-two first-rate sects on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, its standing highly prestigious.


    Countless factions on the vast immortal continent kept a watchful eye on the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    The rapid ascent of Wu Yuan��s prowess in such a brief span of time naturally drew the attention of many intelligence departments.


    His name and profile swiftly circted among the variousrge factions of the immortal continent, catching the notice of some prominent figures.


    Wu Yuan was still in the Golden Core phase, not yet a powerhouse, and the likelihood of him reaching the Divided Soul or Tribtion phase in the future was quite slim, given the many prodigies who had their lives cut short over the ages.


    But such extraordinary talent was worth the attention of the various factions. As long as he survived in the years toe, he would undoubtedly rise to be a renowned sword immortal, known throughout the immortal continent.


    ...


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Realm was a mysterious ce with numerous floating inds.


    <i>Within a grand hall.</i>


    "Mountain Master," Zhuo Haiyue, d in silver armor, respectfully bowed towards the white-robed old man who materialized out of thin air.


    "Haiyue, there is no need for such formalities," the white-robed old man smiled.


    Though he was a High Immortal, he was well aware of Zhuo Haiyue''s distinguished background. It was one that he could not match.


    "Mountain Master, why did you summon me here?" Zhuo Haiyue asked with a perplexed look.


    "Did you help a sword cultivator named Li Xia gain entry into the Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" the white-robed old man asked.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded, her mind swirling with confusion.


    Unlike some of the otherrge factions, she had not received word yet. The timeframe was too brief, and Earth Immortal Qing Feng had not sent her any updates.


    "Not long ago, he conquered level fifty-seven of the one-star tower," the white-robed old man revealed with a grin.


    Zhuo Haiyue was startled. "Truly? Level fifty-seven?"


    "Yes, indeed, here is the corresponding battle recording," the white-robed old man summoned a projection with a wave of his hand.


    Zhuo Haiyue began watching it intently. Once it ended, she was thoroughly convinced.


    "You should be able to discern that Li Xia has crossed the threshold of the Celestial Body Dao, but his sess in passing level fifty-seven isrgely attributed to his exceptional soul talent," the white-robed old man nodded.


    "I believe you are already familiar with his other details, so I shall not repeat them. He has not even reached fifty."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded, understanding what he meant.


    Regardless of how Wu Yuan managed it, once he seeded, it was all that mattered. And besides, Wu Yuan was very young.


    Furthermore, Zhuo Haiyue was aware that Wu Yuan possessed nine lifebound flying swords.


    "The World Master has instructed us to assess Li Xia. Should he pass, the special recruitment process will be initiated," the white-robed old man announced. "Therefore, I shall require your assistance."

 Chapter 379: The Dao Temple

    <h4>Chapter 379: The Dao Temple</h4>


    "Special recruitment?" Zhuo Haiyue''s brows furrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before sheposed herself.


    The Moonsilver World selected only the most exceptional talents from the entire Immortal Continent. Typically, only one individual was recruited every few decades.


    If a genius was already affiliated with a sect, the Moonsilver World typically no longer considered them for recruitment, adhering to the regtions established by the ruler of the Immortal Continent, Immortal Redmoon.


    Every ten thousand years, the Moonsilver World extended only ten special recruitment invitations to prodigies who were existing disciples of other sects. In return, the Redmoon Immortal Hall wouldpensate their former sects. Thus, the chances of receiving such an invitation were extremely low.


    Zhuo Haiyue recognized that while Li Xia''s Daoprehension speed made him an eligible candidate for the Moonsilver World, it might not suffice for special recruitment. But if his soul talent was factored in? That was enough for him to make the cut!


    Compared to the Moonsilver World''s nine elite disciples, Wu Yuan''s overall talent was unmatched, save for Zhuo Haiyue herself. As for the other twenty or so ordinary disciples, their talent paled inparison.


    "Mountain Master, how can I help?" Zhuo Haiyue inquired.


    "We know that you are on good terms with Li Xia. So, we would like you to contact him and inform him of the benefits of joining the Moonsilver World," the white-robed elderly man exined. "Should you seed, it shall count as apleted assignment, and you will be rewarded ordingly."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "Understood, I will give it a try."


    For her, it made little difference whether Wu Yuan remained in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect or was transferred to the Moonsilver World.


    "Mm, give it your all..." the elder began. But his expression shifted abruptly mid-sentence.


    "Mountain Master?"


    "Haiyue, there''s no need for you to convince Li Xia any longer," the elder murmured with a bitter smile.


    Confusion clouded Zhuo Haiyue''s gaze.


    The elder exhaled heavily. "Moments ago, word arrived from the Immortal Hall: Dragon Star Immortal Sect has paid three hundred divine crystals to officially secure Li Xia as a permanent disciple."


    "Unless the divine court intervenes, the Moonsilver World will be forced to drop the matter here," the elderly man shook his head.


    "Three hundred divine crystals?" Zhuo Haiyue''s shock was palpable.


    Such an enormous sum was enough to purchase an Earth Immortal''s life! Yet they gave it up just to keep Li Xia? It was unbelievable.


    "This is truly a rare urrence. Even among the dozens of first-rate sects in the entirety of the immortal continent, such a decision is scarcely made once in tens of thousands of years," the elderly man in white robes shook his head. "It appears that this Li Xia is involved in secrets even we do not know of."


    "Haiyue, I apologize for the disturbance," the old man in white robes smiled.


    "No trouble at all," Zhuo Haiyue replied graciously. "However, I believe I have an inkling as to why the Dragon Star Immortal Sect would go to such lengths."


    "Oh?" the white-robed elder inquired, his interest piqued.


    "Li Xia is a sword cultivator, and from my deductions, he likely possesses nine lifebound flying swords," Zhuo Haiyue swiftly recounted the events leading up to Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng''s assessment of Wu Yuan.


    The elderly man was stunned as he listened.


    "If I had known sooner, I would have surely reported it to you, Mountain Master," Zhuo Haiyue said. "But at that time, he had already joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. His performance was also not eye-catchingpared to now."


    In other words, Li Xia was unqualified for special recruitment in the past.


    "It��s not your fault. Your intel is already valuable," the elderly man in white robes reassured her with a smile. "It seems that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect holds him in high regard. They will likely invest in his training as much as the Moonsilver World would."


    "Alright. I shall take my leave," the elderly man in white robes departed swiftly.


    For the old man in white robes, if he was able to recruit Wu Yuan to theMoonsilver World. that would naturally be a positive oue. If he was unable to recruit him, it wasn��t a huge loss to him either.


    To the enormous Redmoon Immortal Hall, the Moonsilver World was a core organization, with the Dragon Star Immortal Sect considered an affiliated entity.


    Ultimately, the immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect would go on to join the immortal hall, albeit in less important positions due to the rtively lower trust built between them and the organization. But, there was no essential difference.


    Watching the Mountain Master take his leave, Zhuo Haiyue couldn''t help but feel a sense of disbelief. <i>In just eight years, Li Xia has grown to such a level?</i>


    Not yet fifty years old, yet he cleared level fifty-seven of the one-star tower!


    <i>My fortune is great indeed. The youth I chanced upon several years ago is actually this talented?</i> Zhuo Haiyue shook her head in amazement.


    Initially, her aspirations for Wu Yuan were limited to bing a Tribtion Sword Immortal in the future, a goal fraught with uncertainty but still within reach.


    As for bing an Archimmortal? It seemed far-fetched. Throughout the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the emergence of a new Archimmortal typically took hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of years.


    And yet, considering Wu Yuan''s recent achievements, the prospect of him bing an Archimmortal was not entirely out of reach.


    <i>His talents are still somewhat inferior to mine. Once he bes a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal, hisbat power as a sword cultivator might rival that of an Archimmortal. </i>


    <i>If he is willing to assist me, it would be a huge help.</i>


    Seeking answers, Zhuo Haiyue sent a message to Wu Yuan.


    Soon, a reply from Little Moon arrived, stating, "The individual you are attempting to contact is currently in a special condition and unable to read your message."


    <i>Special condition? </i>Zhuo Haiyue was surprised, but decided to leave a message regardless.


    Then, she departed from the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    ...


    The higher echelons of the sect and the Moonsilver World, where the top-tier geniuses of the immortal continent gathered, each made their moves.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan was currently in a special space within the Redmoon Immortal Realm, unaware of the chaos he had caused.


    <i>Is this the Dao temple?</i> Surveying the empty space, he saw strange lights and shadows dancing around.


    Numerous lights obscured his vision, making it difficult to see beyond a certain distance. Wu Yuan refrained from acting impulsively.


    Guided by the spirit of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, he had arrived at the Dao Temple for the True Intent perception experience.


    This seemed to be a mysterious ce within the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Yet, Wu Yuan had a feeling that this ce might not be part of the Redmoon Immortal Realm at all.


    Because, his soul was unable to leave.


    <i>What should I do? </i>Wu Yuan looked around.


    Suddenly, the raging and chaotic lights before Wu Yuan parted to both sides, revealing a clear path.


    At the end of the space was a moderately sized temple. It exuded an ancient aura, as if it contained boundless Dao resonance.


    Just looking at it from afar filled Wu Yuan''s heart with an instinctive reverence. He vaguely understood that this might be the Dao Temple.


    "Come," a deep voice suddenly resounded in Wu Yuan''s ears.


    Next, a beam of light enveloped Wu Yuan. The scenery around him changed, and he was deposited on the za in front of the temple.


    The temple door was firmly shut.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan looked at it, perplexed.


    Countless points of light converged, turning into the figure of an old man d in white robes. Seated in lotus position on a jade tform beneath him, his hair and beard were pure white, exuding an ancient aura.


    At first nce, he appeared to be a mortal, yet when Wu Yuan''s gaze met the old man''s, a sense of calm washed over his heart.


    "Greetings, Senior," Wu Yuan spoke with respect.


    Wu Yuan was uncertain whether the figure before him was a living being or a spirit, so he simply acted on instinct.


    "I see you know your manners, young one," a smile graced the old man''s face. "You may call me Yuan Gu."


    "Senior Yuan Gu," Wu Yuan greeted.


    "Arriving at the Dao Temple at such a tender age ismendable," the old man said. His smile was warm, his gaze prating, as if peeling away theyers of Wu Yuan''s innermost secrets.


    Wu Yuan feltpletely exposed before him, as if he were naked.


    "You have umted two points. Thus, you may choose to experience a Lesser Law inheritance twice, or an Intermediate Law once," the old man exined.


    Wu Yuan looked at him nkly.


    "Senior, could you borate?" Wu Yuan asked with a polite smile, a bit anxious that the old man might take offense.


    "Have a look," the old man did not seem to mind the question. With a gesture, he conjured a light screen before Wu Yuan.


    After reading through the information on the screen, Wu Yuan finally understood what was going on.


    For every ten levels of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower cleared starting from level forty, the Dao Temple would award one point.


    These points could be exchanged for Daoprehension simtion opportunities!


    <i>One point was required to undergo a Lesser Law perception experience once.</i>


    <i>Two points were required to undergo an Intermediate Law perception experience once.</i>


    <i>Five points were required to undergo a Greater Law perception experience once.</i>


    <i>Thirty points were required to undergo an iplete Great Dao Essence perception experience once.</i>


    Wu Yuan was inwardly stunned.


    He grasped the concepts of the Intermediate and Greater Laws, but he had never heard of an iplete Great Dao Essence.


    All he knew was that it came with a hefty cost in points: thirty!


    <i>On average,pleting level eighty of each star tower would grant five points. One will have toplete level eighty from the one-star to the six-star tower to umte thirty points.</i> Wu Yuan swiftly calcted.


    Such a feat was near-impossible. A genius of such caliber could rarely be found in the Redmoon Immortal Continent, or even the entirety of the Silvermist Immortal Nation in hundreds of millions of years.


    This realization only served to emphasize the value of the points awarded by the Dao Temple.


    <i>Completing level sixty before I reach a hundred years old shouldn''t be too challenging. As for level seventy, there is a sliver of hope.</i> Wu Yuan cautiously assessed, not daring to set his sights on conquering level eighty of the one-star tower.


    Ambitions should be lofty, but ns must remain grounded in reality.


    In other words, before his hundredth year, he would earn a minimum of three points, and a maximum of four.


    ��Would you like to experience a Lesser Law or an Intermediate Law?�� the white-robed old man asked with a friendly smile. "If you are uncertain, you may depart for now and return to the Dao Templeter once you''ve made your choice."


    After careful consideration, Wu Yuan dered solemnly, "I choose to experience an Intermediate Law."


    Lesser Law? His only options were the Land Dao, Gravity Dao, and Earth Origin Dao. Among them, hisprehension of the Law of Land was the deepest, while he could only be considered an initiate for thetter two.


    But Wu Yuan understood that his foundationy in the Celestial Body Dao.


    No matter which Lesser Law simtion he chose to experience, it would easily lead to an imbnce in the progress of the threews, affecting the Celestial Body Dao.


    On the contrary, experiencing the Celestial Body Dao simtion could promote the simultaneous progression of the three Lesser Laws.


    "Very well," the white-robed old man agreed without objection, maintaining his amiable demeanor. "I observed that you specialize in the Celestial Body Dao during your battles in the one-star tower. Would you like to choose the Celestial Body Dao?"


    ��Yes,�� Wu Yuan nodded affirmatively.


    "All right. Enter the Dao Temple. You will naturally understand," the white-robed old man gestured towards the ancient temple in the distance.


    With a loud rumble, the gates opened. Countless rays of light shone out from behind, so dazzling that Wu Yuan could hardly open his eyes.


    Following that, with a mere flick of the old man��s hand, Wu Yuan was effortlessly hoisted into the air and sent straight into the temple.


    Then, the gates closed shut, looking the same as before, as though nothing had ever happened.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The elder in white robes gestured once more, conjuring a colossal light screen.


    Within the radiant screen, a multitude of names appeared, their intricately written characters spanning the width of the screen.


    Among them was the following: ��Li Xia of the Silvermist Immortal Nation. Requirements for second-tier elite status met. Eligible for recruitment into the divine court headquarters.��


    A momentter, the light screen vanished.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan stepped into the Dao Temple, he found himself bathed in a glowing light that captivated his entire being, leaving no room for any other thoughts to intrude.


    Of course, only his qi-refining self was truly lost in this ethereal experience, while his body-refining self, in the distant Middle Land, still maintained a thread of awareness amidst the strange enchantment.


    A resonant hum filled the air, and Wu Yuan felt as though he had been transported to the vast cosmos.


    A brilliant star hung in outer space, pulsing with the majestic, never-ending fluctuations of the Dao.


    <i>A star?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. The purpose of his presence in this ce had disappeared from his mind.


    Driven by an inexplicable urge, he drew closer to the radiant star, only to witness a dazzling sword light streaking across the space above.


    The sight of it stirred a wellspring of profundities within him, flooding his thoughts.


    <i>What a profound strike.</i> Wu Yuan breathed. <i>The depth of the Dao��s profundity contained within this sword art seems shallow, yet it holds the power to stir one��s heart.</i>


    An overwhelming wave of emotion threatened to engulf him, and his eyes welled up with tears.


    Before he had time to continue pondering, another brilliant stream of sword light flew from the star.

 Chapter 380: We Meet Again

    <h4>Chapter 380: We Meet Again</h4>


    <i>This strike?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was immediately drawn to it.


    If the previous strike embodied a power that moved one''s heart, then this strike was one of absolute dominance!


    The overpowering aura that hit him head-on caused Wu Yuan''s heart to palpitate.


    <i>These two strikes are of the same Dao level, both containing the profundity of the Celestial Body Dao at the initiate level, but they exin it from two different ways. </i>Wu Yuan instinctively did his utmost to absorb andprehend the profundities of these two strikes.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Before he could think further, another sword light flew out from the huge celestial body, containing a gentle power. Yet, this gentle strike was equally sharp.


    Just like that, sword lights flew one after another, each strike following the previous one in a never-ending series.


    The moving strike, the domineering strike, the gentle strike, the joyful strike, the wrathful strike, the lonely strike, the sincere strike...


    Countless sword lights revolved around Wu Yuan, allowing him to experience the different outward manifestations of the same Dao. These sword lights interpreted the Celestial Body Dao from different angles.


    Wu Yuan immersed himself in it, and his two true selves both exerted their full effort to contemte the strikes.


    It seemed like only an instant had passed, yet also a long, long time.


    <i>Boom! </i>The surrounding sword lights suddenly dissipated, followed by another sword light shing through the cosmos from the star.


    <i>It''s also a moving strike.</i>


    Wu Yuan was already in tears, his thoughts influenced by the sword intent of this strike. <i>But the profundity of the Dao it contained has surpassed my Daoprehension level.</i>


    This was a higher level of the moving strike.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> As expected, one sword light after another appeared, quickly surrounding Wu Yuan.


    It was almost a repeat of what had just urred. The only difference was that this time, the sword lights were even more profound, more mysterious.


    Wu Yuan quietly contemted each streak of sword light.


    Time passed.


    <i>These sword lights must be at the True Intent stage. </i>Wu Yuan continued to study these sword lights.


    Though it took great effort, he also made incredible progress. Even with the Celestial Body Law Codex as his guide, he had never before perceived the profundity of the Celestial Body Dao so clearly, from such diverse angles.


    Time blurred into an indistinguishable haze.


    <i>These sword lights are even more profound, I can''tprehend them, I don''t understand! </i>The profundities of the sword lights finally reached a level that Wu Yuan could not understand at all.


    They were too profound.


    Wu Yuan had spent eight years contemting the Celestial Body Dao, but eight years were merely enough to gain an introduction to the vastness of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Trying to contemte these countless profound sword lights was like attempting to decipher a heavenly scripture. Wu Yuan was clueless about where to start.


    <i>Remember these fluctuations!</i>


    <i>Remember. </i>Wu Yuan quickly changed his train of thought. He stopped attempting toprehend. Instead, he tried to mimic them, striving to imprint these various fluctuations of sword techniques deep into his heart, etching them deep into his soul!


    He fought to keep them from being forgotten.


    After reading the same book a thousand times, one would eventually begin to understand what was written. The same applied toprehending the sword. As long as one remembered and imitated it repeatedly, one would eventually make progress.


    Time passed.


    The profundities of the Celestial Body Dao contained within those streaks of sword light became even more profound and vast, to the point where Wu Yuan could barely hope to remember those various sword fluctuations. The gap was just toorge, the difficulty too high.


    Yet Wu Yuan did not give up. He simply continued to contemte them with a still mind.


    For him, even if the understanding eluded him, even if he couldn''t remember, merely experiencing it once would leave an intangible impact on his soul that wouldst a lifetime.


    Sword lights began to fly out one after another, growing increasingly profound.


    By now Wu Yuan had lost track of time entirely. Even his body-refining true self in Middle Land was entirely engrossed in the endless series of sword lights.


    He only felt that his understanding of the sword path was constantly evolving. Moreover, he felt an epiphany-like transformation in his understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. It seemed as ifprehending the Dao was nothing more than this.


    Finally, thest sword light tore through the boundless cosmos.


    <i>Boom! </i>That enormous star exploded with a thunderous roar. Countless meteorite fragments and magma flew in all directions. As they interacted with each other, countless fluctuations of the Celestial Body Dao also intertwined, creating an incredible ��scroll of Dao��.


    <i>What? </i>Wu Yuan was utterly shocked.


    What a scene this was.


    The endless fluctuations of the Celestial Body Dao made Wu Yuan feel ashamed. What heprehended was merely a superficialyer of the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>Perfect, wless! This is the ultimate exnation of the Celestial Body Dao, containing all the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    It was too shocking. The endless profundities of the Dao surged into Wu Yuan''s mind, filling his heart.


    For the first time, Wu Yuan was vividly seeing the full appearance of the Celestial Body Dao. It was vast, majestic, and towering.


    Without a sound, Wu Yuan''s consciousness disappeared from this spacetime.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan instantly grew alert. Both his qi refiner self and body refiner self were equally awake.


    <i>I?</i> Wu Yuan was somewhat dazed. But at that moment, an endless stream of sword profundities surged into his mind.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but immerse himself in it.


    After a moment, Wu Yuan was finallypletely awake.


    "Senior." His gaze fell on the elderly man in white robes, sitting in lotus position on the jade tform. The man was still smiling, his expression as kindly as ever.


    "The Dao Temple holds supreme profundities." The white-robed elder smiled, "Each individual contemtes different Daos, and due to the variations in their life experiences, the visions they perceive differ as well."


    "But in the end, it all leads you toprehend the most essential fluctuations of a Dao��s profundities, providing guidance with your cultivation." The white-robed elder said.


    Wu Yuan listened, thoughtful.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help taking one more look at the now-sealed gates. It was too incredible, ten or even a hundred times clearer than the guidance of the Celestial Body Law Codex.


    It went straight into the depths of his soul.


    "The effect of the Dao Temple''s guidance is astonishing, but in essence, it''s no different from many other Daoprehension treasures." The white-robed elder said, "To truly understand and grasp the vast profundities of the Dao, you will need to depend on your own efforts."


    "Don''t just remain on the surface, immerse your heart inprehension and control it." The white-robed elder advised.


    "I will keep this in mind, Senior." Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.


    He understood that this perception experience was like a dream. It seemed clear at the moment, but if he didn''t spend time delving into it and studying the details, he would eventually forget everything!


    "It''s time to send you off. Remember, for every ten levels of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower you clear, you gain a point. With enough points, you can return here." The white-robed elderughed, "Work hard, don''t ck off!"


    "Onest thing. If you can clear level eighty of any star tower, you''ll earn an extra point; if you can clear level ny, you''ll earn an extra ten points."


    "If you can clear level one hundred, you''ll get an extra hundred points!"


    Before Wu Yuan could react, the old man waved his hand, and with an invisible ripple, Wu Yuan was swept away from the mysterious Dao Temple.


    ...


    <i>In the headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, inside the meditation chamber within Wu Yuan��s world residence. </i>


    <i>I was directly sent out of the Redmoon Immortal Realm?</i> Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. With a quick Soul Force scan, he filled in the gaps in his mind. <i>Only two days have passed in that mysterious Dao Temple?</i>


    Yet to Wu Yuan, it felt as if a far longer time had passed.


    <i>This is truly magical! Its effectiveness is many times that of the Celestial Body Law Codex. </i>Wu Yuan marveled quietly.


    As he recalled what had happened, Wu Yuan still felt astonished.


    <i>The Seven Star Luminaries Tower is essible from both the Dragon Star and Redmoon voidrealms, but the Dao Temple can only be essed through the Redmoon Immortal Realm.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>During my time in the Dao Temple, the ce felt strangely real.</i>


    <i>Was the Dao Temple really created by Immortal Redmoon? </i>Wu Yuan was skeptical.


    Archimmortals were very powerful.


    <i>But, even if Immortal Redmoon has fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao, could he enable immortal cultivators to perceive it so clearly?</i> Wu Yuan found it hard to believe.


    It was too miraculous.


    He thought back to the Redmoon Immortal Realm, where the highest tower one could challenge was the four-star tower, and thest three towers were merely for show.


    <i>This Dao Temple could very well have been set up by the Silvermist Immortal Nation, or even the Taiyuan Divine Court. </i>Wu Yuan hypothesized. <i>The Redmoon Immortal Realm is just a medium or a gateway to enter.</i>


    <i>The Seven Star Luminaries Tower, the Dao Temple... No wonder the major sects encourage their disciples to challenge it. This is indeed a massive opportunity, yet it is given to countless immortal cultivators. A move of such magnitude, blessing countless lives, must have a significant motive behind it.</i>


    Wu Yuan swiftly suppressed these chaotic thoughts. There was no need to concern himself with the secrets behind it.


    <i>What I need to do is seize these opportunities and continually strengthen myself. </i>Wu Yuan recognized this.


    Once he was strong enough, many secrets would be naturally revealed to him.


    <i>Continue cultivating. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his mind.


    Both his true selves began to recall the scenes from the Dao Temple and study them.


    For Wu Yuan, every wasted breath was still a form of wastage. He needed to digest these insights in the shortest time possible.


    ...


    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.


    It was only then that Wu Yuan managed to digest the first portion of his insights and broke his meditation. With a mentalmand, two strands of consciousness quickly entered the Dragon Star Immortal Realm and the Redmoon Immortal Realm respectively.


    As soon as he entered, Wu Yuan received numerous notifications, with countless messages pouring in, most from other inner disciples and hereditary disciples.


    Some were from Void Refiner Eminences of the sect, wanting to make acquaintances with Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s Soul Force quickly browsed through these countless notifications. He skimmed over most of them, responding to a few.


    <i>Hmm? Zhuo Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan noticed Zhuo Haiyue''s message.


    Coming to a quick decision, Wu Yuan extended an invitation to Zhuo Haiyue, inviting her to be a guest at his private residence on Dragon Star Ind.


    In hardly a blink of an eye, Wu Yuan received a response.


    <i>Online?</i> Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile, that term immediatelying to mind.


    Under normal circumstances, most immortal cultivators left a trace of their consciousness in the voidrealm for quickmunication.


    "To Dragon Star Ind." Wu Yuan departed from his personal hall.


    Dragon Star Ind, covering thousands of li in radius, was massive. Normally, only disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect could enter it.


    But high-ranking individuals, like the hereditary disciples and the Void Refiner Eminences, had their ownrge-scale residences with extensive privileges, such as inviting guests directly into their residences.


    Of course, outsiders didn''t have the privilege to wander around Dragon Star Ind and could only stay within these residences.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>A woman d in silver armor materialized out of thin air within the spacious mansion.


    "Haiyue, it''s been a while," Wu Yuan, d in ck robes, greeted the silver-armored woman full of heroic spirit.


    "Li Xia, it has been a long time indeed. This is my first visit to Dragon Star Ind," Zhuo Haiyue replied with a smile.


    The two exchanged smiles.


    "Greetings, Your Highness Haiyue," Lu Zhu, apanied by numerous Golden Core followers, bowed respectfully.

 Chapter 381: Thirty Trillion Catties of Ethercrystal

    <h4>Chapter 381: Thirty Trillion Catties of Ethercrystal</h4>


    "Lu Zhu, you all may leave," Wu Yuan dismissed.


    "Yes." Lu Zhu respectfullyplied, leading the numerous Golden Core cultivators away. They understood that Wu Yuan had an important guest to attend to.


    "Was that Her Highness Haiyue? The first princessling of the Zhuo Family? Her aura is truly extraordinary," one of them murmured once they had withdrawn to a safe distance.


    "Exactly! Even the Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples show utmost respect when they meet Her Highness Haiyue. I wonder who she��ll choose as her Daopanion in the future? She''s like a real fairy."


    "The Heir addressed her as ''Haiyue''. That''s truly impressive," the Golden Core cultivators whispered excitedly amongst themselves.


    Zhuo Haiyue was well-known amongst the disciples of therge sects across the Immortal Continent.


    Born into a prince-rank family and blessed with natural talent, she was a figure of high esteem.


    "Enough chatter. Remember, no one must know about Her Highness Haiyue''s visit," Lu Zhu reprimanded quietly, "The Heir is currently acknowledged as the top talent of the sect, and he is targeted by many powers."


    "As his attendants, we must act with caution," Lu Zhu added.


    "Understood," the Golden Core subordinates echoed.


    In the past few years, their spirits were dampened due to Wu Yuan��s continuous refusal of challenges. As his followers, they couldn''t help feeling inferior when they met the followers of other hereditary disciples.


    However, these past few days, their morale had improved significantly.


    ...


    "Haiyue, I apologize on their behalf," Wu Yuan said with a slight smile.


    "It''s no matter," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head, "I''m used to the looks and the whispers behind my back whenever I travel across the Immortal Continent, it''s all normal. I never bother with the gossip. There��s no point in trying to control it."


    "It''s fine as long as they don��t do it in front of me," Zhuo Haiyue added with a smile, "I have killed many who criticized me to my face."


    She stated it nonchntly.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, understanding that this was simply Zhuo Haiyue��s decisive nature.


    "Let''s proceed to the hall," Wu Yuan said.


    "Sure, I''m keen to see what kind of voidrealm mansion the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has prepared for its hereditary disciples," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    They entered the main hall together, its opulence evident.


    A tableden with delectable gourmet dishes was already prepared.


    "Oh?" Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes sparkled.


    "Haha, I remember you''re quite the foodie. Thest time we gathered in Zhuo Star City, I noticed you seemed to have a preference for meat. So, I took the liberty of having some meat dishes prepared. I hope you enjoy them," Wu Yuanughed.


    "I''m quite pleased," Zhuo Haiyue said, her smile radiant.


    She didn''t have many hobbies in life, but eating good food was certainly the top one. It was closely rted to her unique past experiences.


    They both took their seats.


    "I saw that your status was set to special recently. Were you in seclusion, or did you visit the Dao Temple?" Zhuo Haiyue asked, leisurely enjoying her meal.


    "The Dao Temple," Wu Yuan admitted, with no attempt to conceal the truth.


    Such an opportunity was avable to anyone who managed to reach a certain level of the Seven Towers World. There was no need to keep it a secret.


    "Mm, the Dao Temple is indeed a treasure trove of opportunities. You must have reaped a good harvest," Zhuo Haiyue smiled.


    "But I heard that you were surprisingly ruthless. You did not challenge the Seven Towers World for the past eight years and even turned down challenges from other hereditary disciples in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, staying silent the whole time.��


    "Your sudden rise was startling, to say the least," Zhuo Haiyueughed. "Even I was taken aback when I heard the news."


    Wu Yuanughed, "Isn''t this exactly what you advised me to do? To make a name for myself?"


    "You''ve made quite the impression. Your sudden rise has probably left the higher-ups in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect dumbfounded," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help butugh.


    Thinking about it, this was indeed a possibility. No one in the sect had ever cleared seventeen levels at once in the past million years, especially at such a young age.


    Furthermore, there had been much controversy surrounding the challenger.


    Wu Yuan didn��t let the criticism affect his actions, but that didn''t mean he didn''t care at all. These were two separate matters!


    Having a steadfast Dao Heart didn''t mean swallowing all his anger and resentment.


    <i>Whether theyugh at or scorn me, whether I feel joy or anger, none of these external emotions will affect my actions. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    This was true freedom.


    "However, I heard you challenged those fourteen hereditary disciples, defeating them all. That''s quite a p in their faces, stepping on them to elevate yourself," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head andughed, "There was really no need for that."


    "If they make me ufortable, why should I go out of my way to make themfortable?" Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Zhuo Haiyue was left speechless.


    Why did Wu Yuan challenge those fourteen hereditary disciples? Apart from further enhancing his reputation, he also wanted to clear his mind.


    Repay kindness with kindness, and take revenge for grudges too!


    An eye for an eye was Wu Yuan''s creed.


    "The voidrealm only tests one��s understanding of the Dao and their soul. You can crush them easily there," Zhuo Haiyue��s lips curled up in a smile, "As for the Dragon Star Tournament? I''m afraid your cultivation hasn''t caught up yet."


    "From what I know, several of the Golden Core hereditary disciples from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect have third-degree immortal roots, while the rest have fourth-degree immortal roots."


    "Do you think you can win?" Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes twinkled as she looked at Wu Yuan.


    "In eight years, I''ve grown this much. In another five years, who knows what level I''ll reach?" Wu Yuan said calmly, "Even if I lose, it''s no big deal. I''ll just win the next round."


    "Haha." Zhuo Haiyueughed, "Li Xia, what I admire most about you is yourposure and courage."


    "Actually, the reason behind my visit here is to y the middleman," Zhuo Haiyue said.


    "Middleman?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "As you know, I''m part of the Redmoon Immortal Army, but I am also a member of the Moonsilver World," Zhuo Haiyue revealed.


    "Your story has spread far and wide, reaching the top echelons of the immortal continent. Many factions have taken notice, including the high-ranking members of Moonsilver World, hence they wish to extend a special recruitment invitation to you."


    "They are aware of our rtionship, so they want me to act as the intermediary," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan casually nodded.


    Ever since he became a hereditary disciple, he had ess to previously restricted information through the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Naturally, he checked out Zhuo Haiyue''s profile.


    She was the number one genius of the Moonsilver World!


    Regarded as the top genius of the current generation on the immortal continent, Zhuo Haiyue was rumored to have cultivated for over a hundred years and cleared level sixty of the two-star tower.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan understood the implications of the special recruitment invitation from the Moonsilver World.


    "So, you truly n to y the middleman?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.


    "There��s no need," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head.


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect has already paid the price of three hundred divine crystals to decline the special recruitment invitation from Moonsilver World. Unless summoned by the divine court headquarters, you��ll continue to cultivate quietly within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect." Zhuo Haiyue exined the situation.


    "Three hundred divine crystals?" Wu Yuan wasn��t too sure what the value of a divine crystal was.


    "A divine crystal is a precious treasure used by immortals, with a wide variety of applications. One divine crystal is equivalent to one cubic meter of divine crystal, estimated to be worth about a hundred billion catties of ethercrystal," Zhuo Haiyue nced at Wu Yuan. "Three hundred divine crystals is equivalent to thirty trillion catties of ethercrystal!"


    "Moreover, converting divine crystal into ethercrystal isn''t difficult, but converting ethercrystal into divine crystal? Very difficult!"


    "For therge sects on the immortal continent, divine crystals are considered strategic resources," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head wistfully.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in shock. He felt as though someone had just mmed a heavy hammer into his chest.


    Thirty trillion catties of ethercrystal?


    Good heavens!


    "You find it unbelievable? I thought the same when I first heard it. Such a massive sum of wealth is enough to make most High Immortals green with envy," Zhuo Haiyue sighed.


    "I��m actually worth that much?" Wu Yuan shook his head.


    How frightening. Such titanic wealth could be used to purchase countless treasures! Even for the enormous Dragon Star Immortal Sect, this shouldn��t be an amount that could be overlooked.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s knowledge,te-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators had a worth of around a few million catties of ethercrystal.


    Void Refiner Eminences, on the other hand, could possess wealth in the billions of catties of ethercrystal.


    Thirty trillion? This was an absolutely mind-boggling amount that even a Divided Soul Earth Immortal would go crazy for. No wonder Zhuo Haiyue said she was surprised.


    "Li Xia, circumstances have changed. You are now a genius only found once in hundreds of thousands of years in the entire immortal continent. Broaden your perspective," Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    "You are indeed not worth this many divine crystals right now, but the Dragon Star Immortal Sect is betting on your future."


    "They believe the benefits you will bring to the sect in the future far outweigh three hundred divine crystals," Zhuo Haiyueughed, "There''s also a possibility that Sword Immortal Dong Yang sees that your value exceeds this amount."


    "After all, three hundred divine crystals are difficult for an ordinary High Immortal to produce at once, but for Sword Immortal Dong Yang, it''s nothing," said Zhuo Haiyue, "He has umted countless treasures in the past million years alone."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    High Immortals, powerful and long-lived, naturally umted astonishing wealth and treasures. Their worth could be hundreds, if not thousands of times greater than an Earth Immortal''s.


    Wu Yuan calmed himself down. Although the sect had paid such a high price for him, it didn''t mean they would give him that many treasures. After all, he was merely at the Golden Core phase.


    "However, the sect has yet to speak to me about this, and Sword Immortal Dong Yang shows no signs of taking me as his disciple," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    He thought back to the mysterious senior who had guided him periodically.


    In reality, Wu Yuan held immense admiration for the old man��s aplishments in the Celestial Body Dao. If he was willing to be Wu Yuan��s master, Wu Yuan would dly take it.


    It was a pity that the mysterious senior only provided guidance and never discussed the subject of epting disciples.


    "No signs yet?" Zhuo Haiyue was taken aback as well, frowning, "That shouldn''t be the case.��


    ��Given the enormous price the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has paid, logically speaking, they shouldn''t ignore you. They should be providing you with their finest resources and instructors to nurture you."


    "But if Sword Immortal Dong Yang doesn''t take you as his disciple, relying on those Third or Fourth-Tribtion High Immortals in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect would only dy your growth." Zhuo Haiyue shook her head.


    "Third-Tribtion High Immortals? Is the strength of High Immortals divided by the number of tribtions they have ovee?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "Yes," Zhuo Haiyue nodded, "whether it''s the Tribtion phase or Universe Architect phase, they''re also divided into nine stages."


    "To progress in cultivation, besides umting mana, one also has to ovee the Immortal Tribtions. Those who ovee it, live. Those who don''t, die."


    "Only after surviving a tribtion can one advance a cultivation level."


    "Moreover, High Immortals have reached the endpoint of beings that have yet to transcend lifespans. Thus, there are subtle limits imposed on them by heaven and earth. Every 180,000 years at most, they must face a Tribtion."


    "Therefore, the so-called million-year lifespan does not necessarily mean a High Immortal lives for a million years." Zhuo Haiyue chuckled.


    "One must survive at least five Immortal Tribtions to extend their lifespan to that limit. One must survive their seventh Immortal Tribtion to be an Archimmortal."


    "Therefore, a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal already stands at the pinnacle of the vast immortal continent."

 Chapter 382: Kid, Would You Like To Be My Disciple

    <h4>Chapter 382: Kid, Would You Like To Be My Disciple</h4>


    "A Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal, that��s the pinnacle of the immortal continent? Those who survive the seventh tribtion can be Archimmortals." Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    He had looked into rted information in the sect��s records and knew that it was extremely difficult to produce an Archimmortal. At least on the surface, the entire sect hadn''t produced an Archimmortal in hundreds of millions of years.


    However, over the course of hundreds of millions of years, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had produced thousands of High Immortals.


    "Haiyue, did you just say that Sword Immortal Dong Yang is an Eighth-Tribtion High Immortal? By your words, he should have already be an Archimmortal." Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    Wu Yuan wasn��t too clear about the secrets surrounding High Immortals and Archimmortals.


    "Indeed! With Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s unparalleled talent, he could have be an Archimmortal hundreds of thousands of years ago if he so wished," Zhuo Haiyue said. "But he chose an extremely difficult path��the Ninth-Tribtion Immortal Path."


    "Countless powerful High Immortals dare not attempt it, choosing to be Archimmortals just after passing the Seventh Tribtion."


    "Looking across the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation over the eons, the number of powerhouses who have walked this immortal path can be counted on two hands. [1] As for the Redmoon Immortal Continent? Not a single one." Zhuo Haiyue shook her head.


    "Not a single one?" Wu Yuan was shocked.


    Over the endless years, the immortal continent should have produced a batch of Archimmortals, but not a single one could walk the Ninth-Tribtion Immortal Path?


    "What is this Ninth-Tribtion Immortal Path?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "It''s a test by the heavens. If one chooses to be an Archimmortal after oveing the Seventh Tribtion, they would be a Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal, the most ordinary of all Archimmortals. Although one could live for a hundred million years, it''s not guaranteed that one would truly live forever." Zhuo Haiyue was clearly well-versed with these secrets.


    "They eventually have to undergo the Eighth and Ninth Immortal Tribtions. Only bypleting the Ninth Tribtion can one truly live as long as heaven and earth." Zhuo Haiyue said.


    "If that''s so, why would Sword Immortal Dong Yang choose to undergo them in such a short span of time?" Wu Yuan didn''t understand.


    If it was only a matter of time before one had to undergo their Tribtion, why not wait untilter to attempt it, when they had rued greater strength?


    "When an individual undergoes the Eighth and Ninth Immortal Tribtions at the High Immortal phase, the Tribtions they face are also weaker. Furthermore, there''s no need to waste countless years before advancing to the next phase, allowing them to make far greater future achievements." Zhuo Haiyue exined.


    "However, even though the Tribtions are weaker, High Immortals are also much weaker, so the rtive difficulty is even greater, at least ten times harder."


    "Throughout history, only the most powerful and determined High Immortals dare to choose the Ninth-Tribtion Immortal Path."


    Wu Yuan understood.


    The path of a Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal was easy at first but difficultter, and one could live a carefree, unfettered life for a hundred million years.


    The path of a Ninth-Tribtion High Immortal was difficult at first but easyter. A single misstep could spell death, but once sessful, their power would rapidly surpass a Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal.


    The best choice depended on the individual.


    "Throughout history, ny-nine percent of all Archimmortals are Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortals," Zhuo Haiyue said, "Li Xia, do you understand what I mean?"


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang is stronger than many Archimmortals?" Wu Yuan blurted.


    "It��s hard to say, a High Immortal has a smaller mana pool, but his understanding of the Dao might surpass many Archimmortals," Zhuo Haiyue replied. "When epting disciples, the most important thing is to provide guidance in Daoprehension."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Indeed! On the path of cultivation, the Dao was the foundation. With a deep understanding of the Dao, advancement in other areas followed naturally.


    "The number of Eighth-Tribtion High Immortals recorded to exist in the immortal continent is miniscule. This is why I suggested that you join the Dragon Star Immortal Sect," Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan. "As a sword cultivator, if Sword Immortal Dong Yang is willing to mentor you, it��s far more valuable than being taught by those Archimmortals from the Moonsilver World."


    "After all, there are no Archimmortal-level sword immortals in the Moonsilver World."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Zhuo Haiyue had indeed considered the matter thoroughly.


    "Normally, given your astounding talent and the heavy price paid by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Sword Immortal Dong Yang should have epted you as his disciple," said Zhuo Haiyue.


    "But if he declines and another High Immortal steps in to mentor you? It would pale inparison to the opportunities offered by the Moonsilver World," Zhuo Haiyuemented, shaking her head. "It could impede your progress instead of fostering it."


    Wu Yuan fell into deep thought.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s words made sense.


    "The sect has treated me well," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "As a friend, I��m only here to tell you the truth," Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "What you wish to do and how you��d like to proceed, that''s up to you."


    "I can''t help you much from here on," Zhuo Haiyue said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    When he was a nobody in the past, Zhuo Haiyue could pull some strings to help him from time to time.


    But now? Zhuo Haiyue''s influence might be vast, but she was only an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, her resources were limited and it was harder for her to lend him a hand.


    "You''ve done a lot for me already," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    Without her, he would have been forced to take many detours.


    Although he hadn''t be Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s disciple as of yet, who could predict the future?


    The two continued chatting for a while more.


    Unlike before, Wu Yuan''s ess rights and abilities had increased after bing a member of the Dragon Star Immortal Hall, leading to an expansion of his perspective and knowledge.


    Combined with the confidence gained from conquering level fifty-seven of the one-star tower, it could be argued that both of them were now true equals, both outwardly and inwardly.


    "Li Xia, there''s something I must confess." Zhuo Haiyue suddenly turned serious, "There��s another reason I''ve been helping you, aside from admiring your courage and wishing to befriend you. It is a personal agenda of mine."


    "Oh? Personal agenda?" Wu Yuan''s expression remained unchanged as he patiently awaited her exnation.


    "I have a deep-seated grudge with a powerful faction. In the future, if I gain enough power, I will start a great war." Zhuo Haiyue said earnestly. "So, one of the reasons I helped you was because I hoped you would lend me your support once you grew stronger."


    "So that''s how it is. And here I thought you were a saint." Wu Yuan chuckled.


    "You''re not angry?" Zhuo Haiyue furrowed her brow in confusion.


    "What��s there to be angry at?" Wu Yuan shook his head. "Everyone has their own motivations and agendas. Even parents, when dealing with their children, often have personal biases."


    "If you arepletely selfless, then you are a saint. But how many saints are there in the world?"


    "I, Li Xia, judge actions, not intentions. You have my gratitude for your help," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "You need not worry, even though I do not know who your enemy is. If you choose to seek revenge in the future, I will help you within my abilities."


    "Your word is enough, thank you." Zhuo Haiyue lifted her cup, draining it in one gulp.


    Wu Yuan mirrored her action with a smile.


    With the matter resolved, the invisible barrier between them was lowered significantly, and they felt a subconscious closeness.


    "Alright, Li Xia, I won''t take up any more of your time. We can catch up again when we have the time," Zhuo Haiyue stood up. "If you run into any issues that you cannot deal with through Dragon Star Immortal Sect, let me know."


    "Mm, if there''s really something, I won''t be shy to ask," Wu Yuan didn''t hold her back. "I''ll walk you out."


    Given their current rtionship, there was little need for unnecessary pleasantries.


    Watching Zhuo Haiyue leave Dragon Star Ind, Wu Yuan stood in the air above his mansion, lost in thought. <i>The force that even Zhuo Haiyue refers to as a ''powerful faction'' must be at least a first-rate sect, isn''t it?</i>


    If it were a weaker faction, Zhuo Haiyue would probably have already wiped them out by now, given that she could alreadymand Earth Immortals to do her bidding.


    <i>In the future, if I am strong enough, what''s wrong with helping her to clear this karma? </i>Wu Yuan didn''t mind at all.


    Being strong enough meant bing an Earth Immortal at least, something that would only happen thousands of yearster. Why worry about the future now?


    On the contrary, on this long path of immortal cultivation, having a good friend with a strong background was not a bad thing and could bring many unexpected benefits.


    For example, if Zhuo Haiyue hadn''t told him, Wu Yuan wouldn''t have known that the sect had paid a price of three hundred divine crystals.


    ...


    <i>In the Redmoon Immortal Realm, above Zhuo Star City.</i>


    <i>My feud with the Fang Family is a secret to most, but the higher-ups of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect may be aware of it. </i>Zhuo Haiyue tread in the air, overlooking the colossal city below. <i>Li Xia will know sooner orter.</i>


    Her two previous attempts at persuasion had failed.


    With Li Xia''s talentsing to light and his status skyrocketing, Zhuo Haiyue could imagine that it wouldn''t be long before Li Xia received the full support of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Should she continue to keep things hidden?


    No! Zhuo Haiyue chose to be frank, yet subtly concealed a few things. For example, she did not mention the Fang Family.


    <i>However, given Li Xia''s intelligence, he wouldn''t have a hard time guessing. Despite that, he still agreed right away?</i> Zhuo Haiyue quietly mused.


    She greatly admired Wu Yuan.


    A promise was more than enough; she didn''t expect Li Xia to risk his life to help her.


    <i>Hm, the trial assignment is here?</i> Zhuo Haiyue nced down and frowned slightly, <i>Bloodforge?</i>


    <i>They want me to participate in a Bloodforge Battle?</i>


    <i>Hmph! This bunch of idiots from the Fang Family, they��re trying to kill me through my affiliation with the Moonsilver World?</i> Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes turned icy. <i>Do they really think I have no means of revenge now?</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Zhuo Haiyue moved swiftly, darting into the vast mansion of the Zhuo Family.


    ...


    Several more days went by.


    Themotion caused by Wu Yuan challenging the Seven Star Luminaries Tower gradually subsided, but the higher-ups of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect remained silent.


    <i>Still no good, huh? How high are Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s demands? </i>Wu Yuan stood in the Sky City of the world residence, overlooking the vast mundane world below.


    To say Zhuo Haiyue''s words had no effect on him would be a lie.


    <i>Let''s go! I need to meet the senior first. </i>


    He had an appointment with the mysterious senior today for his usual tutorial session.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan arrived at an empty jade tform beside the Star Origin Soil and activated the array.


    An invisible force enveloped him, isting the area within a li.


    Suddenly, a filthy elder materialized out of nowhere, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, "Boy, you''re punctual."


    "I wouldn''t dare keep you waiting, Old Madman," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    The two were now very familiar with each other.


    In private, Wu Yuan would call the filthy elder ''Senior'', but when they met face to face, he had grown ustomed to addressing him as ��Old Madman��, as per his request.


    "Hmm, respecting elders and nurturing the young is a tradition that must be upheld," Old Madman nodded, "It''s been a month. Based on what you��ve learnt from the two sword codexes, attack me."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Over the course of eight years, both had formed a fixed routine.


    First, Wu Yuan would initiate an attack, employing the Dark Earth Sword Array. Then, Old Madman would counterattack with the Dark Earth Sword Array while Wu Yuan defended with the Star Ruins Sword Array. Finally, Old Madman would provide pointers for each technique respectively.


    <i>Whoosh! Boom! </i>Swords lights sliced through the sky, both offensive and defensive techniques executed at an extremely fast pace.


    Old Madman gave Wu Yuan pointers for improvement, and Wu Yuan learned earnestly.


    Soon, the tutorial session came to a close.


    "Not bad, kid. Both your Dark Earth Sword Array and Star Ruins Sword Array have significantly improved from a month ago." Old Madman eyed Wu Yuan.


    He then chuckled, "Your performance today is far better than when you stormed the one-star tower. Have you been to the Dao Temple?"


    His guess hit the mark.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    He trusted Old Madman greatly. Over the past eight years, although Wu Yuan had not formally be his disciple, Wu Yuan regarded the old man as his teacher in his heart.


    The Dao could not be transmitted lightly. Wu Yuan was deeply grateful for his devoted instruction on sword techniques.


    "It seems you''ve gained a lot from it. Did youprehend the Land Dao or the Celestial Body Dao?" Old Madman casually asked.


    "Celestial Body Dao." Wu Yuan replied.


    "Good choice." Old Madman nodded. "You have great aptitude for the Celestial Body Dao. You should follow the path that suits you best."


    "However, the insights from the Dao Temple cannot be digested in a short time. They will subtly influence you. It��s more appropriate to cultivate diligently for at least a hundred years before undergoing the perception experience again." Old Madman added.


    Clearly, Old Madman was very familiar with the Dao Temple.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded, silently taking note.


    A hundred years? To undergo the perception experience of the Celestial Body Dao from the Dao Temple once, he had to earn two points.


    That was enough of a challenge for Wu Yuan.


    "Kid, I bet you''ve been pretty confused these days." Old Madman grinned. "Despite the chaos you''ve caused, no higher-up from the sect has spoken with you. It''s as if they''ve forgotten you. You must be dissatisfied, eh?"


    "I wouldn''t dare." Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "It''s only human to harbor dissatisfaction. If I were you, I would feel the same." Old Madman chuckled, "Besides, that little miss Zhuo Haiyue probably told you about the failed special recruitment from the Moonsilver World."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback, but quickly regained hisposure. Indeed, it was hard to keep such a matter under wraps.


    "The higher-ups in the sect did have a cultivation n for you, but I''ve temporarily halted them all." Old Madman chuckled.


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    "Old Madman, why?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Your talent is decent. There are only two people in the sect who can teach you without wasting your talent. One is my junior brother Dongyang, and the other is me." Old Madman chuckled, "Kid, I''ll ask you now."


    "Would you like to be my disciple?"


    1. the actual raws was ��can be counted on two hands��. But the actual number was revealedter, and no, you can��t count it on two hands ?

 Chapter 383: A Masters Far-sighted Plans For His Beloved Disciple

    <h4>Chapter 383: A Master''s Far-sighted ns For His Beloved Disciple</h4>


    Be his disciple? Wu Yuan''s heart jolted.


    Was it finally time? Yet, a shred of doubt arose in Wu Yuan''s heart. Old Madman referred to Sword Immortal Dong Yang as his junior brother?


    Wu Yuan didn''t know how many High Immortals were in his sect. But as far as he knew, Sword Immortal Dong Yang was one of the oldest High Immortals in the sect.


    Old Madman was even older than him?


    "Senior," Wu Yuan said solemnly, "You have given me the grace of your teachings, and I am deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart. I am honored and willing to be your disciple."


    "However," Wu Yuan changed the topic, "Discipleship is a significant matter. I cannot blindly ept someone as my master without knowing their true identity."


    Despite various signs indicating that Old Madman was a powerful High Immortal from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Wu Yuan dared not gamble on it.


    After all, this was about acknowledging a master! A master was like a father. Given how serious Old Madman was when he posed the question, he certainly intended to take Wu Yuan as his direct disciple.


    How could Wu Yuan not be cautious? He had to confirm the other party''s identity.


    "Hahaha, good, you didn��t let the situation cloud your judgment." Old Madmanughed, "You can call me Nan Yin. I am a sect guardian. You''ll understand what that means when you grow strong."


    "Besides Sword Immortal Dong Yang, the abbot, and a few others, few in the sect know of my existence."


    "In terms of power, I should be second only to Junior Brother Dong Yang in the sect," the Old Madman chuckled.


    Wu Yuan was shocked.


    Nan Yin? He hadn''t heard of him before.


    Sect guardian? Wu Yuan had no idea what it meant, but he quickly surmised that Old Madman must be a hidden powerhouse of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, unlikely to show himself until the sect was on the brink of extermination.


    No wonder he was so mysterious.


    "Senior Nan Yin," Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, "I respect you, but all I have is your word, and there''s no way for me to verify it."


    Wu Yuan mostly believed him, but still had some doubts. Could it really be such a coincidence?


    "Send a strand of your consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, and you''ll understand," the Old Madman chuckled, unbothered by Wu Yuan��s skepticism. [1]


    Wu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then immediately sent a strand of his consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    Wu Yuan had just arrived at his personal hall in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, when he saw countless lights converging, forming a human figure.


    Old Madman then materialized in his personal hall.


    "This? Senior Nan Yin?" Wu Yuan was utterly shocked.


    This was the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm. ording to the rules of the immortal voidrealm, even a High Immortal had no right to forcibly enter someone''s personal hall.


    Yet Old Madman was standing in front of him?


    "Don''t be surprised, the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm is controlled by the sect, naturally, special privileges are afforded to a select few," Old Madman smiled, "Sword Immortal Dong Yang, the abbot, and I have administrative authority over the Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    Wu Yuan got it.


    Old Madman was akin to the manager of the immortal voidrealm.


    "I believe you," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    The scene before him left him with no choice but to believe that Old Madman was a mysterious High Immortal of the sect with extremely high status.


    His name was Nan Yin?


    <i>Hum~ Hum~ </i>Both of their consciousnesses withdrew from the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm simultaneously.


    ...


    <i>Within the jade tform space that spanned a li in radius, adjacent to the Star Origin Soil.</i>


    "Senior," Wu Yuan spoke respectfully.


    "Before you make your decision, let me rify something," the Old Madman chuckled. "The reason Sword Immortal Dong Yang refuses to take you as a disciple isn''t due to yourck of talent, but because of the Dao."


    "Dao?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Although he has some understanding of the Earth Dao, his forte is not the Celestial Body Dao. In this aspect, I am the foremost expert in the sect," Old Madman stated.


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. So that was the case.


    Moreover, Old Madman was right. His insight into the Celestial Body Dao was indeed extraordinary, far beyond Wu Yuan''s imagination.


    After all,prehending an Intermediate Law was extremely difficult. Many Earth Immortals might not even reach the initiate threshold, let alone have the ability to guide someone else.


    "Of course, there are other reasons why Dong Yang is not willing to ept you as his disciple," the Old Madman continued. "With your talent, I suspect you joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect to pursue discipleship under Dong Yang, am I right?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    There was no need to hide this fact.


    "However," Wu Yuan voiced out. "Sword Immortal Dong Yang is indeed powerful, but in my view, Senior, you are a better fit for me."


    Just as masters chose their disciples, disciples also chose their masters.


    Perhaps Sword Immortal Dong Yang was stronger, but he had ignored Wu Yuan��s existence the whole time, clearly looking down on him.


    Wu Yuan had his pride too.


    Old Madman, on the other hand, had mentored him for eight years and possessed a profound understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. Wu Yuan was truly willing to learn cultivation from him from the bottom of his heart.


    "Alright! Let me make it clear beforehand. I am a sect guardian, so even if I take you as a disciple, it cannot be revealed, and you must not mention my identity to anyone." Old Madman said.


    "Also, I made some mortal enemies during my expeditions in my early years, so it''s best if we keep our rtionship a secret."


    "Keep our rtionship a secret?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly, "I understand."


    In other words, do not let anyone know that he is a disciple of Nan Yin.


    "I have to get the abbot''s approval to take in a disciple. Follow me." Old Madmanughed and waved his hand.


    Immediately, their surroundings warped around them.


    When everything settled down, Wu Yuan scanned the area. He realized they had already arrived in an iparably magnificent grand hall, reaching tens of thousands of zhangs high and even wider.


    At the end of the hall, arge statue of a coiled, meditating azure dragon was enshrined, nearly ten thousand zhangs long, like a small mountain. The statue''s aura was vast and lofty, causing Wu Yuan''s heart to tremble instinctively.


    What a terrifying aura.


    And at this moment, under the azure dragon statue, a middle-aged man in red robes stood. Although his aura was strong, it was extremely gentle like warm sunlight, giving off afortable sensation.


    The man in red robes seemed to have been waiting for a long time.


    "Abbot." Old Madman greeted with a chuckle.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The middle-aged man in red robes turned around and smiled, "Senior Brother Nan Yin, has Li Xia agreed to be your disciple?"


    The gaze of the red-robed man fell on Wu Yuan.


    "Disciple Li Xia pays his respects to the abbot." Wu Yuan bowed and greeted him.


    <i>What a terrifying gaze. </i>Wu Yuan��s heart trembled, feeling as if he was beingpletely seen through.


    The abbot truly lived up to his reputation as a powerful High Immortal and a leader of the sect.


    "Dispense with the formalities." The middle-aged man waved his hand, and an invisible force lifted Wu Yuan into the air.


    "Li Xia has agreed." Old Madman chuckled, "Abbot, you can''t go back on your word. It was Sword Immortal Dong Yang who didn''t want to ept Li Xia."


    "Mm." The man in red robes nodded, looking at Li Xia, "Li Xia, I have seen your profile,bat recordings from the one-star tower, and so on. You are, without a doubt, the top Golden Core disciple in the long history of our sect."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    The top? He wondered if the abbot was exaggerating.


    "The sect''s higher echelons initially intended for you to acknowledge Sword Immortal Dong Yang as your master, but for various reasons, Veteran Elder Nan Yin might be more suitable. He is a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal, and an extraordinarily powerful individual, far surpassing ordinary High Immortals."


    "He has never taken a disciple before, and now wishes to find a sessor. Acknowledging him as your master would not be any less beneficial for you."


    "A Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    Didn��t that mean he was only one step away from bing an Archimmortal?


    While perhaps not as prestigious as Sword Immortal Dong Yang who could rival Archimmortals, he excelled at the Celestial Body Dao, which made up for much of the difference.


    Besides, a master willing to mentor and care for him was far more important.


    "Alright, I''ll ask you onest time, are you willing to acknowledge Veteran Elder Nan Yin as your master?" The man in red robes asked.


    "I am willing." Wu Yuan dered solemnly.


    "Then, let us perform the master-disciple ceremony in front of our immortal ancestor." As he spoke, the man in red robes bowed slightly toward the statue of the azure dragon.


    Old Madman seated himself on a jade tform.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan knelt and prostrated, "Disciple Li Xia pays respects to Honored Master."


    He then kowtowed three times.


    "Haha, very good." Old Madman revealed a slight smile, "I, Nan Yin, finally have a disciple. From today onwards, you will be my first direct disciple, and probably the only one."


    "Rise.��


    Wu Yuan stood up.


    "Congrattions, Senior Brother, on acquiring such a fine disciple," the middle-aged man in red robes smiled and cupped his hands.


    In a sudden motion, Old Madman threw a green token over, "Catch, Disciple."


    Without missing a beat, Wu Yuan quickly caught it.


    The green token gleamed with a metallic sheen. The characters ��azure dragon�� were engraved on its front, and thendscape of a myriad rivers and mountains was etched on its back.


    It seemed ordinary. Yet, Wu Yuan could instinctively feel an ancient and profound aura emanating from the token within his grasp.


    "This Star Dragon Token is a gift from the immortal ancestor," Old Madman said. "Consider it my first gift to you."


    "Immortal ancestor?" Wu Yuan asked thoughtfully.


    "These are matter you��ll naturally learn once you be an Earth Immortal, but there shouldn��t be anything wrong with telling you ahead of time," said the red-robed man, "The immortal ancestor is the only Archimmortal of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect! An eternal Archimmortal!"


    "The immortal ancestor is the core of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect," he added with gravity.


    "Archimmortal?" Wu Yuan feigned surprise, but inwardly, it was as expected.


    "From now on, the fact that you are my disciple will only be known by you, me and the abbot," Old Madman said.


    "Outside the sect, you can call yourself a nominal disciple of the immortal ancestor with this token to avoid revealing your identity as my disciple."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan responded respectfully, despite the confusion swirling within him.


    Was all this caution really necessary?


    "Senior Brother Nan Yin, you may take Li Xia with you to your residence," the man in the red robe said.


    The Old Madman nodded.


    With a wave of his hand, he and Wu Yuan simultaneously vanished from the hall.


    Only the red-robed man remained.


    Without a sound, a young man dressed in white, his face as handsome as jade, appeared, looking out of the hall. His gaze seemed to prate the space, reaching far into the distance.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, why go through all this trouble?" The man in red robes spoke softly, "You could ept Li Xia as your disciple directly, as long as no information is leaked."


    "No! My enemies are Archimmortals. I must be as cautious as possible." The young man in white calmly said, "As a master, I must consider my disciple��s safety. Why would I want him to attract a host of powerful enemies the moment he acknowledges me as his master?"


    "Now that I have this token from the immortal ancestor, and a furtheryer of protection with Nan Yin''s identity, the chances of other factions associating Li Xia with me are slim." The young man in white said. "Has Nan Yin''s identity been fabricated yet?"


    "Mm." The man in red robes nodded, "Nan Yin is an Earth Immortal who disappeared from the sect years ago. We only need to forge thest part of his traces. It''s not a difficult task."


    The young man in white slightly nodded, "Should I fail to survive my Immortal Tribtion, Li Xia will naturally learn of all this when he bes an Earth Immortal. Only then will he have the strength to protect himself."


    "Senior Brother, you will definitely ovee the ninth Immortal Tribtion!" The man in the red robe said seriously.


    "Haha, thank you for the well wishes."


    "I''ll be going ahead to teach my disciple." The young man in white smiled, "I''ve never truly taught a disciple before. I should experience the joy of being a master."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The young man in white drifted away.


    1. To avoid confusion, I''ll be updating "immortal realm" to "immortal voidrealm". Apologies in advance if I miss a few instances here and there. ?

 Chapter 384: Leave It To Your Master

    <h4>Chapter 384: Leave It To Your Master</h4>


    As the world spun, Wu Yuan found that he was no longer in the grand temple. His eyes darted around, soaking in the new,pletely different environment.


    Lush mountains, clear waters, and numerous exotic creatures roaming freely across thend came into view. Aside from a floating sky city, the vast expanse showed no traces of civilization.


    To his side was Nan Yin, in his usual disheveled appearance.


    ��Master, where are we?�� Wu Yuan asked.


    ��Dragon Star is a sacred treasure of the sect left here by our immortal ancestor. It is connected with the entire sect''s headquarters as one entity, and even an Archimmortal cannot make it budge," Nan Yin chuckled.


    "Therefore, many Earth Immortals and High Immortals from our sect have established their residences here on Dragon Star. Everything within a thousand li radius is my residence."


    "This residence is a restricted area on Dragon Star, separated by an invisible barrier. Apart from Sword Immortal Dong Yang and the abbot, no one knows about it," Nan Yin added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In short, Nan Yin''s residence afforded him a great deal of privacy.


    "I''ve authorized direct ess between your world residence and my residence. From now on, you may visit me here directly via your teleportation array. But you must stay here, don''t go wandering around Dragon Star." Nan Yin smiled.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan replied.


    Only the immortals of the sect could freelye and go from Dragon Star. As for the disciples of immortals, they could only stay in their master��s residence.


    "Also, in the case of an emergency, you can contact me via the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm," Nan Yin instructed.


    "What about the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "You won''t be able to contact me there," Nan Yin smiled, "The Redmoon Immortal Hall must not know of my existence, so I have never essed the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan responded, feeling a sense of shock.


    Indeed! Despite its subordinate status to the Redmoon Immortal Hall, a powerful sect backed by an Archimmortal would not be entirely loyal.


    In Wu Yuan''s eyes, the rtionship between Redmoon Immortal Hall and Dragon Star Immortal Sect was akin to that between a ruling nation and its vassals.


    "Follow me," High Immortal Nan Yin instructed, darting towards a distant hall.


    Wu Yuan hastily trailed behind him.


    The main hall was magnificent and grandiose, but its interior was simply furnished. Save for a few jade tforms, it was devoid of any objects.


    "My disciple, sit down," High Immortal Nan Yin directed.


    They both took their seats opposite each other.


    "Do you know why I''ve cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years without taking in a single disciple?" High Immortal Nan Yin inquired with a smile.


    "I do not," Wu Yuan admitted, shaking his head.


    "My forte lies in the Celestial Body Dao. However, too few disciples within our sect are able to reach the initiate threshold ofprehending this Dao. Even if they do, most of them are already at the Void Refiner phase or perhaps, Earth Immortals," High Immortal Nan Yin sighed.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, this was something he was aware of.


    The Lesser Laws, Intermediate Laws, and even the Greater Laws, were not separate entities. They intertwined, forming theplete profundities of heaven and earth.


    Novice immortal cultivators could only scratch the surface of the Dao due to their weak souls while just starting out on their cultivation journey.


    As their understanding deepened, they would naturally advance from Lesser Laws to the threshold of Intermediate Laws. Only the depth ofprehension varied.


    "Your talent is on par with Sword Immortal Dong Yang, and surpasses even mine. On top of that, you have received the inheritance of the Celestial Body Law Codex from Great Eldritch Kua Fu. Over these eight years, I have not only mentored you but also observed your every move," High Immortal Nan Yin stated with a chuckle.


    "Whether it be your talents, determination, or character, I am very satisfied, hence my decision to take you on as my disciple."


    "It is rare to find a student as exceptional as you," High Immortal Nan Yin stated.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Every move?


    But soon, he understood. Given the administrative power of High Immortal Nan Yin within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm and his position as a sect guardian, he likely wielded immense authority within the sect.


    "However, there is still something I am unsure about," High Immortal Nan Yin paused.


    "Even with your exceptional talent, you hadn''t stepped foot through the threshold of the Celestial Body Dao back at the Star Origin Soil. By right, you shouldn''t have received the inheritance so early."


    "You have to understand that this inheritance has been kept within the Star Origin Soil for tens of millions of years." High Immortal Nan Yin said with a seemingly casual tone.


    Yet, Wu Yuan''s mind was thrown into chaos upon hearing this.


    Indeed! It was indeed strange that he had been selected to receive the Celestial Body Law Codex back then. Wu Yuan spected that it should have been due to the ck Pagoda.


    But there was another possibility �� eldritch!


    Wu Yuan��s body refiner true self possessed a Terranean Body and a second-degree eldritch root, while the soul of his qi refiner self originated from his body refiner self. However, all these were just Wu Yuan''s conjectures.


    After receiving the Celestial Body Law Codex and finding no hidden traps inside after cultivating it for years, Wu Yuan no longer thought too deeply about it.


    "Also, your mentor has four points I��m uncertain about.��


    "The first one is your origin. The sect has traced your origin before, but the earliest record we found of you was in the fifth-tier city, Fengchuan City. Beyond that, we could not find anything, and could only confirm that you are indeed a living being of the Redmoon Immortal Continent through the Redmoon Immortal Record." High Immortal Nan Yin said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan''s mind grew increasingly chaotic.


    Whenrge sects or immortals took in disciples, it was only natural that they would perform a thorough background check. Loyalty was an important value for any faction.


    "Secondly, after carefully examining your body, I believe you should have the strongest affinity for Wood Dao." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "But you have chosen toprehend the Earth Dao, and even showed incredible aptitude for the Celestial Body Dao."


    "Thirdly, the number of your lifebound flying swords. Even though you only have a third-degree immortal root, you possess nine lifebound flying swords. Could it be that upon reaching the Qi Sea phase, your soul had already reached the level of Yang Soul?"


    "Fourthly, the Dark Earth Sword Codex is an Archimmortal-level sword codex. Although there are some copies in cirction, it''s not widely spread. Thus, you likely have an existing master." High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled. "Disciple, can you rify some of your master''s doubts?"


    Wu Yuan felt a tremor through his heart.


    Too terrifying! True to his title as a High Immortal, he had seen through Wu Yuan almostpletely, each sentence hitting the nail on the head.


    "Everyone has secrets, my disciple, I''m not trying to force them out of you," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly, "It''s just that my Seventh Immortal Tribtion is drawing near."


    "Failure is highly probable."


    "You''re my only direct disciple, thus for the sake of our sect, I must rify some things." Nan Yin chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, "At the very least, you need to tell me where youe from."


    <i>Thump~</i> Wu Yuan left the jade tform and immediately knelt.


    "Master, it''s not that your disciple intentionally hid this information." Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, speaking in a low voice. "It''s just that there are some things I��m unsure about as well. Due to my worries, I dared not share them with anyone."


    "Unsure, dare not share?" Nan Yin kept smiling, "Is it because your body refiner self is part of the eldritch lineage and skilled in the Land Dao?"


    <i>Boom!</i> It struck him like a thunderbolt!


    Wu Yuan didn''t show any emotions, but his heart was already churning with waves of shock.


    This! This! How could it be so urate?


    Wu Yuan thought he had hidden this secret extremely well, never once leaking a hint. As far as he knew, even an Archimmortal shouldn''t be able to uncover such a secret.


    Apart from the shared consciousnesses between his two true selves, the connection between them in other aspects weakened as time passed.


    "Haha, it seems that I��ve guessed correctly." High Immortal Nan Yin seemed to perceive the violent fluctuations in Wu Yuan''s emotions.


    "Master is wise." Wu Yuan bowed his head, his mind in turmoil.


    He didn''t know where to begin.


    "I can''t read your mind, I just guessed from various clues," Nan Yinughed, "Don''t worry, the eldritch lineage is rare on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, but not nonexistent."


    "Furthermore, for more than a hundred thousand years, in the river of time and space, the Immortal Court and the Eldritch lineage have continued their endless conflict, but our Taiyuan Divine Court remains a neutral force. You needn''t worry about that," High Immortal Nan Yin said with a smile.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.


    His biggest worry had been that the Redmoon Immortal Hall and the Eldritch lineage were opposing forces.


    Neutrality was a great oue!


    However, High Immortal Nan Yin��s other statement gave Wu Yuan a shock. For more than a hundred thousand years, the Immortal Court and the Eldritch lineage had been in constant war?


    He remembered the words the realm master once said, about the great war a hundred thousand years ago, which was probably between the Immortal Court and the Eldritch lineage.


    Now, it seemed that was the truth.


    "Now, can you tell me about your background?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked with a grin.


    "Yes. My name is Wu Yuan, Ie from the Summerpeak World," Wu Yuan responded honestly, "I grew up in the Middle Land... Eventually, my qi refiner self arrived at the Redmoon Immortal Continent through a teleportation array. I believe you''re aware of the rest."


    Wu Yuan swiftly recounted the general history of his life, but kept three things hidden.


    First, the matter of the Blue.


    Second, the ck pagoda.


    Third, the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos.


    As for everything else, he spoke the truth. This was the decision Wu Yuan had reached after wracking his brain in that short amount of time.


    Continue keeping everything a secret? That would be mocking High Immortal Nan Yin''s intelligence.


    But to reveal everything? Wu Yuan hesitated to do that as well. The ck pagoda likely involved an immense secret, and heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos were also extremely rare.


    "I see. The Summerpeak World? I''ve never heard of it. Seems like it''s a satellite worldlet under the immortal continent''s jurisdiction," High Immortal Nan Yin murmured, nodding slightly.


    He was an existence who could rival an Archimmortal. Even though he couldn''t read Wu Yuan''s thoughts directly, he could tell whether Wu Yuan was lying or not just by sensing the changes in Wu Yuan''s soul.


    "By the looks of it, your body refiner self has even greater talent than your qi refiner self. You even have a second-degree eldritch root," High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    "Master," Wu Yuan''s heart tightened.


    "Rest assured, no matter which true self, all of them are you, there is no difference. Moreover, having multiple true selves is a good thing," High Immortal Nan Yinughed.


    "To create a new true self, external objects are not the most important. The key is the strict criteria regarding the soul."


    "Among Amethyst Cradle cultivators, fewer than one in ten thousand can achieve this. Even most hereditary disciples in our sect do not have two true selves."


    "But you sessfully created one during the Spiritual Body phase? Truly frightening," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head in awe.


    His affection for Wu Yuan grew even more. Who didn��t like an excellent disciple? He was very satisfied with Wu Yuan to begin with. And now, Wu Yuan''s talent had once again surpassed his expectations.


    Second-degree eldritch root? He knew very well what that meant.


    "Give me the coordinates of the teleportation array in Fengchuan City, as well as detailed information about the Summerpeak World. I will make a trip to Fengchuan City," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "I will mobilize the power of the sect to search for clues about the Summerpeak World."


    "Leave this matter to me. However, the immortal continent is vast, with countless satellite worldlets, and our sect alone has over ten thousand satellite worldlets under our rule."


    "Therefore, the investigation will definitely take some time."

 Chapter 385: Your Master Will Not Let You Down

    <h4>Chapter 385: Your Master Will Not Let You Down</h4>


    "There are so many worldlets?" Wu Yuan was somewhat surprised. He had initially presumed that there wouldn''t be such a considerable number of simr worldlets.


    "Indeed." High Immortal Nan Yin nodded. "The Redmoon Immortal Continent contains aplete world essence, and under the rules of the operation of worlds, countless worldletse into being and perish. This is normal."


    "Typically, first-rate sects generally control a few thousand worldlets. Many second-rate and third-rate sects control far fewer worldlets; a few dozen to a hundred is already considered pretty good." High Immortal Nan Yinughed.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "However, within the Immortal Continent, the ones who truly control arge number of worldlets are the three major factions: Redmoon Immortal Hall, Bloodforge Devil Hall, and Myriad Axes Hall."


    High Immortal Nan Yin sighed, "Especially Redmoon Immortal Hall and Bloodforge Devil Hall, I estimate each of them controls millions of worldlets."


    "Millions of worldlets?" Wu Yuan was stunned.


    During his time in the sect, he had learned that the size of these worldlets varied, ranging from hundreds of thousands of li to tens of millions of li.


    Each of them could sustain arge number of inhabitants. Although each worldlet was notrgepared to the overall territory controlled by the top-tier sects, their sheer numbers gave rise to sizable poptions. Talented individuals could emerge from them, and they also served other special purposes.


    "The Summerpeak World... Although I haven''t heard of it, it seems it was swept up in the war a hundred thousand years ago?" The High Immortal Nan Yin mused.


    "That battle engulfed more than half of the Greenridge Macrocosm. However, our Taiyuan Divine Court took a neutral stance and only took minor damage."


    "So, it shouldn''t be hard to find."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly. It seemed that his master knew a lot about the great war back then.


    "Your body refiner self is extremely talented. Staying in a worldlet is somewhat wasteful." The High Immortal Nan Yin said, "If I manage to secure a safe passage, your body refiner self can join the sect as well, gaining a better cultivation environment."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded faintly.


    To say that he didn''t have any reservations would be a lie. However, facing the pressure from High Immortal Nan Yin, Wu Yuan had no choice.


    The High Immortal''s methods were unfathomable.


    Lie? A single lie required many more to cover up, and sooner orter, it would be exposed. What would High Immortal Nan Yin think then?


    Wu Yuan repeatedly weighed his options, finally choosing to hide only his deepest secrets, putting his trust in High Immortal Nan Yin.


    In the end, Wu Yuan didn''t think he had anything worth being spied on for.


    The inheritance of the Hou Feng Tribe? What a joke! When it came to strength, even the Hou Feng Tribe at its peak was nothingpared to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, let alone a Fourth Eldritch Realm on the brink of copse.


    "The two true selves share a single consciousness, thus, theirprehension of the Dao is shared," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "As for ether arts, soul chamber construction, dharma body cultivation, and other aspects unique to body refiners, I am unable to teach them to you. You must figure these out on your own. The sect has relevant teachings and the cultivation experiences of predecessors, and you can redeem them with dragon crystals."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Qi refiner, body refiner. These were twopletely separate paths. The further one progressed, the greater the difference, hence, his master couldn''t provide him specific guidance in body refining.


    "What I can teach you is the Dao! The path of qi refining." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Although you are my only disciple, do not expect me to give you a load of treasures for free," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "I have plenty of treasures. Whether or not you can receive them depends entirely on your abilities. I''ve always disliked those who merely stretch their hands out, waiting for gifts to fall into them." High Immortal Nan Yin continued.


    "If you have the ability to acquire something, fight for it. This will be the case in the future."


    "While you are in the earlier phases of your cultivation journey, I will establish a cultivation n for you. But once you reach theter phases, you must rely on yourself. Even if I perish during my Tribtion in the future, most of my treasures will be sent to the sect''s treasury," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Understood, I will work hard," Wu Yuan said.


    He knew this was how many powerful immortals trained their disciples, using various methods to encourage their disciples.


    Rewarding a disciple without them needing to lift a finger? Such coddling would only serve to fosterziness within the disciple. Only with motivation would one strive for greater strength.


    It was simr to the unspoken rules of the Redmoon Immortal Continent. If a disciple died in a high-risk trial, their seniors and master wouldn��t even bat an eyelid.


    Such was the cruel reality of thepetition along the immortal path.


    "Since we havepleted the master-disciple ceremony, I shall grant you a treasure." High Immortal Nan Yin flipped his palm, revealing arge, crystalline gem in his hand.


    It was a purple, somewhat transparent cuboid, and appeared practically untainted. In terms of beauty, it was without a doubt the most exquisite treasure Wu Yuan had ever seen.


    "What is this?" Wu Yuan held his breath.


    "It is known as divine crystal." High Immortal Nan Yin smiled, "I believe that little miss Zhuo Haiyue has already exined its value to you."


    "Divine crystal?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Of course, he remembered. It was a treasure even immortals deeply coveted.


    "One cubic meter of divine crystal is worth a hundred billion catties of ethercrystal." High Immortal Nan Yin casually stated, "This small piece here is worth about one billion catties of ethercrystal."


    Wu Yuan''s heart pounded.


    One billion catties of ethercrystal?


    From what his master had said, this was his wee gift?


    "Ordinary divine crystals contain such pure and concentrated spiritual qi that an Amethyst Cradle cultivator would only harm themself trying to absorb the spiritual qi within."


    "But for this small piece of divine crystal, I''ve set up a miniature array. It will allow you to absorb the spiritual qi safely." High Immortal Nan Yin instructed, "From now on, cultivate your essentia with this. It shouldst up until the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "Remember, do not sell it. It should only be used to cultivate essentia," High Immortal Nan Yin emphasized.


    "It will speed up your cultivation several times fasterpared to ethercrystal. With that, you''ll have more time toprehend the sword and the Dao."


    "Master, are you truly willing to spend one billion catties of ethercrystal just for me to reach the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase several times faster? Isn''t that a bit extravagant?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but protest.


    One had to understand that ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators typically possessed about a million catties of ethercrystal in overall wealth.


    "This is the first lesson I will impart to you. Do not make the mistake of thinking you have all the time in the world due to your lifespan. On the immortal path, every moment counts. The sooner you advance to the Amethyst Cradle, then the Void Refiner phase, the better," High Immortal Nan Yin cautioned, shaking his head. "In time, you will understand."


    "Furthermore, broaden your horizons. You are my only direct disciple. Evenpared to some Archimmortal disciples, your status is not much inferior to theirs," Nan Yin chuckled.


    "After all, those Archimmortals with their long lives tend to focus more on themselves. Over the many years, they take on many disciples and must treat them equally. It''s hard for them to devote themselves to nurturing a certain disciple."


    "But you are different. You are my only disciple. As long as you prove yourself, I won''t disappoint you," Nan Yin smiled.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded firmly, warmth spreading in his heart.


    He could feel his master''s ambitiousness, as well as his high expectations for him.


    "Catch," Nan Yin tossed the small crystal to Wu Yuan, who quickly caught it.


    "The second matter is Daoprehension." Nan Yin continued, "You should continue to focus mainly on studying the Star Ruins Sword Codex. Among the Lesser Laws of the Celestial Body Dao, prioritize the Land Dao."


    Wu Yuan nodded. This was what he had been doing all along.


    "But, in addition to the two sword codices, I want you to cultivate the ''Extended Life Sword Codex''," Nan Yin dered.


    "The Wood Dao?" Wu Yuan was momentarily stunned.


    While he wasn''t very familiar with the sect''s Archimmortal-level sword codices, he knew their names and had a general idea of their nature.


    "That��s right," Nan Yin confirmed. "The ''Extended Life Sword Codex'' is a sword codex that interprets the Wood Dao and contains its profundity."


    "Your qi refiner self is actually fairly talented in the Wood Dao, but its potential has yet to be revealed," Nan Yin said. "You should take advantage of this."


    "Master, didn��t you say that our lifespan is limited, so we should devote all our efforts to studying a single Dao?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking.


    "That''s a mediocre way of thinking," High Immortal Nan Yin tutted. "In cultivation, one must give it their all. However, you must remember this: everything under heaven and earth, the Great Dao, all are interconnected. Now stands alone."


    "I asked you toprehend the Wood Dao as I have bigger ns for you. When you grow stronger in the future, you will naturally understand," High Immortal Nan Yin continued.


    "Of course, if your progress in the Wood Dao is indeed slow even after contemting it for a while, you can always choose to give it up then."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan responded,mitting the ''Extended Life Sword Codex'' to memory.


    He felt that his master wouldn''t deceive him. But,prehending the Earth Dao and the Wood Dao? Wu Yuan couldn''t help but mutter, "At this rate, I��ll be a civil engineer." [1]


    "Next, until the moment you advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase, or reach the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, your cultivation routine remains the same. Come to me once a month for guidance," High Immortal Nan Yin, instructed.


    "When you first begin toprehend a Dao, thest thing you want is to lose your way. You can��t go wrong following in the footsteps of sessful Archimmortal seniors."


    "When your power gradually increases and you reach the True Intent stage, then you may try forging a sword path best suited to yourself," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    If one couldn��t even walk steadily, trying to run was folly.


    No matter how talented one was, one must still learn from their seniors in the beginning. Only after umting enough experience could one truly find their own path.


    "In the following years, I only ask that you fulfill two objectives," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Number one, take first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament!"


    "If you win first ce, I will reward you an extra one hundred million catties of ethercrystal on top of the regr rewards from the sect," High Immortal Nan Yin, said. "You may use them for your cultivation needs."


    Wu Yuan��s breath caught.


    One hundred million catties of ethercrystal? The usage of the piece of divine crystal worth a billion catties of ethercrystal was limited to mana cultivation. However, there was no such limitation to these one hundred million catties of ethercrystal.


    He could think of plenty of uses for them. For instance��upgrading his lifebound flying swords.


    "Number two, conquer the higher levels of the one-star tower. At present, you are forty-five years old."


    "Before sixty, if you clear level sixty of the one-star tower, I will reward you with thirty million dragon crystals or a hundred million catties of ethercrystal!"


    "Before you turn a hundred, each level you clear from level sixty-one onward entitles you to another thirty million dragon crystals or a hundred million catties of ethercrystal."


    "If you can pass level seventy, I will reward you with a one-off bonus of ten billion catties of ethercrystal." High Immortal Nan Yin said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes went wide as saucers.


    Before sixty? Before a hundred? His master was indeed a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal! Such rewards were far more generous than those granted by the sect.


    Ten billion catties of ethercrystal was a fortune capable of driving many a Void Refiner Eminence mad.


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan would only reach the Amethyst Cradle phase at most when he was a hundred. It was more than enough for him to splurge.


    "My disciple." High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan''s dumbfounded expression, shing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Remember, if you perform well, I won''t let you down."


    "Master, what if I make it to level eighty?" Wu Yuan asked with bated breath.


    High Immortal Nan Yin paused, and spat out a word. "Scram!"


    ...


    Watching Wu Yuan leave through the teleportation array, High Immortal Nan Yin revealed a smile.


    <i>This kid. Hardly grown out his hair yet, but his ambitions aren��t small. Level eighty?</i>


    <i>Even your master only made it to level sixty-seven back in the day.</i>


    1. so the term used is ��ľ���� which is a standard term for civil engineering. ��: earth, ľ: wood, ����: engineering. Geddit? ?

 Chapter 386: Five Years Later (1)

    <h4>Chapter 386: Five Years Later (1)</h4>


    From the teleportation array in the sky city, Wu Yuan swiftly exited Dragon Star, returning to his world residence.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Lu Zhu and the Golden Core followers sensed his return and flew over one after another to pay their respects to Wu Yuan.


    Curious, Lu Zhu asked, "Heir, didn''t you just depart for the Star Origin Soil not long ago? However, ording to the teleportation array''s message, it seems you returned from Dragon Star?"


    As the steward of the world residence, he was granted a high level of ess and could look into many matters. After all, how could he manage the world residence without this level of authority at least?


    "I was summoned by my master," Wu Yuan said, a light smile on his face. "Thus, I returned from Dragon Star. In the future, I will be visiting Dragon Star frequently."


    "Master? Dragon Star?" Lu Zhu''s eyes lit up. "Heir, have you been epted by an immortal as their disciple?"


    Even though he had anticipated this, hearing it confirmed from Wu Yuan himself still stirred his excitement. The other Golden Core followers were overjoyed as well.


    Over the years, it seemed as though Wu Yuan hadn''t paid much attention to them. However, the higher Wu Yuan climbed in status, the more substantial the indirect benefits they would receive, not to mention the various rewards the sect offered.


    "Something like that," Wu Yuan chuckled. "However, I''m still only a nominal disciple."


    "Nominal disciple?" Lu Zhu was taken aback.


    "Alright, that��s enough questions. I''m going to cultivate," Wu Yuan said, then flew into the hall, leaving behind a puzzled Reverend Lu Zhu and a group of Golden Core followers.


    "Reverend, what''s going on?" A Golden Core follower couldn''t help but ask, "With the Heir''s talent, how can he only be a nominal disciple?"


    Recently, there had been a flurry of rumors surrounding Wu Yuan.


    "Indeed, that shouldn''t be the case."


    "The Heir is a sword cultivator. Even Ancestor Dong Yang did not take him in as his disciple, shouldn��t he at least be a direct disciple of a different High Immortal?"


    Reverend Lu Zhu shook his head, "I''m not sure."


    "Alright, everyone is to head back for now." Reverend Lu Zhu instructed.


    Just a few dayster, the doubts of Reverend Lu Zhu and the Golden Core followers in the world residence were finally resolved.


    "A disciple of the founding ancestor?"


    "The founding ancestor?"


    "Legends say that our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is known as the number one sect of the immortal continent because the founding ancestor is still alive. Having lived for hundreds of millions of years, he��s definitely an Archimmortal."


    "No wonder the Heir said that he''s just a nominal disciple."


    "In terms of status, a nominal disciple of an Archimmortal is still much higher than a direct disciple of a High Immortal. After all, an Archimmortal is an eternal being." Reverend Lu Zhu and the group of Golden Core followers werepletely stunned when they received the news.


    Immediately after, they were filled with tion, especially Reverend Lu Zhu.


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan had no family to rely on. Thus, he was considered a cultivator without any backing. Now that he had be the disciple of an Archimmortal, he would naturally establish his own faction within the sect as he grew stronger in the future.


    And who would be his most trusted follower? Lu Zhu would definitely be one of the top candidates.


    ...


    "Disciple of the immortal ancestor?"


    "Though he��s only at the Golden Core phase, he has already been epted as a disciple. It might just be nominal for now, but in the future, once he advances to the Earth Immortal phase, there��s a chance that he��ll be a direct disciple of the ancestor."


    "With Li Xia''s talent, it''s unsurprising." Almost every High Immortal and Earth Immortal in the whole Dragon Star Immortal Sect received the news.


    "It''s been a million years since the immortal ancestorst took in a disciple."


    "With the support of the immortal ancestor, Li Xia is destined to be the new leader of the sect as long as he matures." Even those immortals in the sect who didn''t pay much attention to Wu Yuan before were now taking the initiative to learn who he was.


    They knew all too well the significance of being a disciple of the immortal ancestor. Moreover, Wu Yuan exhibited astonishing talent.


    ...


    ��The founding ancestor of the sect is still alive?"


    "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect still has a living Archimmortal?" All the disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were inplete uproar upon hearing this news.


    In reality, the sect did not deliberately try to hide the fact that the Archimmortal was alive. However, Archimmortals held extremely high positions and rarely diverted their attention to the happenings on the immortal continent.


    The asional bits of relevant news that came out were perhaps already tens of thousands of years old or even older. In that span of time, many generations already went by in the mortal world.


    These rumors eventually faded away among the ordinary disciples with the long passage of time, naturally causing many of the weaker immortal cultivators to doubt whether the Archimmortal was still alive.


    But this time, because of Wu Yuan, that ancient Archimmortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was once again brought to the attention of the world.


    ...


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang didn''t take him as a disciple?"


    "It was the Archimmortal who took him in instead? As a nominal disciple?" Zhuo Haiyue was surprised when she heard this news.


    "That��s fine as well. That old dragon is not ordinary." Zhuo Haiyue was well aware of his strength. He was definitely one of the top existences on the immortal continent.


    ...


    "The old True Dragon took in a disciple?"


    "His name is Li Xia? Just a nominal disciple? But his talent is not bad." The news of the Archimmortal taking in a disciple spread like wildfire.


    The intelligence departments of the top-tier factions didn''t dare hide this information, quickly transmitting the news to their higher-ups.


    On the Redmoon Immortal Continent, countless Archimmortals had been born throughout the endless years. Yet, few had ever revealed their true powers.


    "The luck of the old True Dragon isn''t half bad. He founded a sect, barely manages it, yet a host of formidable youngsters keep popping up from it."


    "In thest million years, they first had Dong Yang, and now Li Xia? Both sword cultivators?"


    "Li Xia? Just a kid in the Golden Core phase, still wet behind the ears. Who knows when his life will be cut short?" Several ancient beings conversed amongst themselves.


    "Dong Yang, now that''s a force to be reckoned with."


    "Indeed. Anyone who dares to tread the path of Nine Tribtions is truly extraordinary. Dong Yang��s talent didn''t shine too brightly in the early days, but he grows more terrifying as time goes by. I suspect he''s just as powerful as us now."


    "If he sessfullypletes the Nine Tribtions, well, another Archimmortal who''ll shake the immortal nation will be born from our Redmoon Immortal Continent." These ancient beings mainly discussed Dong Yang��s future.


    Li Xia? They merely took note of him.


    To these ancient beings who had lived for countless eras, what kind of peerless genius had they not seen?


    Forget Wu Yuan who only made it through level fifty-seven of the one-star tower, they had even seen monstrous prodigies who managed to clear level seventy or eighty of the one-star tower.


    After all, even the Silvermist Immortal Nation was but a small part of the Greenridge Macrocosm. Geniuses? The vast heaven and earth nevercked geniuses.


    Only the truly powerful were worth their attention.


    ...


    Because of his induction as a ''nominal disciple of an Archimmortal'', another frenzy was stirred within the sect and the entire immortal continent, but Wu Yuan remained indifferent to themotion.


    <i>Inside the meditation chamber of his world residence.</i>


    <i>The news sure spread far. The sect actually made it public? </i>Wu Yuan received a flood of messages via both the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm and the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    Most of them were congrattory messages, such as those from Zhuo Haiyue and some sect disciples such as Kuang Long.


    Even some hereditary disciples ofrge sects that he first met on Southmoon Ind sent their congrattions.


    <i>Even Gu Sixing sent me a congrattory message? Did he get my contact information from Zhuo Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan wondered, shaking his head helplessly.


    He harbored no resentment towards Gu Sixing, understanding that his actions during their initial encounter were merely an act. However, they were ultimately strangers. They hadn''t even met in the real world.


    <i>This is what it means to be an overnight sensation. </i>Wu Yuan sighed.


    Even clearing level fifty-seven of the one-star tower hadn''t caused this big of amotion.


    One could only imagine the level of influence and intimidation of an Archimmortal.


    <i>Unfortunately, it''s all a facade. I am not an Archimmortal''s disciple. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>My master is just a High Immortal.</i>


    High Immortals and Archimmortals were worlds apart.


    <i>However, if the immortal ancestor agreed to it, he must have seen something in me at least. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Though not a true disciple of an Archimmortal, since he was a disciple of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, their Archimmortal ancestor was naturally his backing.


    <i>Even a mountain backing me might crumble. So what if I am an Archimmortal��s disciple? What matters most is my own strength. </i>Wu Yuan maintained a coolposure.


    One could only rely on oneself, not anyone else.


    Bing a disciple only changed one''s status, not one''s strength. With all external noise blocked out, Wu Yuan calmed his mind and resumed his cultivation.


    ...


    <i>In Mirage Dragon City of the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, within the Daoist Scripture Tower.</i>


    <i>The ��Extended Life Sword Codex�� is also divided into initial, middle, and final segments.</i> Wu Yuan found this out once he looked up the rted information. <i>The initial segment costs one million dragon crystals, the middle segment costs ten million, and the final segment costs fifty million?</i>


    In an instant, Wu Yuan determined that this ��Extended Life Sword Codex�� was probably on the same level as his own Star Ruins Sword Codex.


    Both were among the top sword teachings within his sect, incredibly profound and significantly more challenging than most Archimmortal level sword codices.


    After a brief moment, Wu Yuan made his decision.


    "I''ll take the initial segment," Wu Yuan dered.


    The initial segment would only cost him a million dragon crystals, an expense he could bear.


    Wu Yuan had his own considerations.


    <i>I must cultivate the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��, so it��s no big issue to purchase both the initial and middle segments. But this ��Extended Life Sword Codex�� ultimately epasses the profundity of the Wood Dao. I wonder how strong my affinity for the Wood Dao is? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, apprehensive.


    Although he trusted his master''s judgment, it was never a bad thing to stay cautious.


    If he found thatprehending it was too difficult, Wu Yuan would simply give up, allowing his two true selves to fully focus on the Celestial Body Dao.


    In the end, he had the greatest affinity for the Celestial Body Dao. Hence, Wu Yuan had some doubts regarding the ��Extended Life Sword Codex��, and was only acting on his master''s orders.


    <i>If I can cultivate it sessfully, that would be ideal. But if I fail, the only loss would be a million dragon crystals, an amount I can bear. </i>Wu Yuan thought it through.


    "You are redeeming the initial segment of the ��Extended Life Sword Codex�� for one million dragon crystals. Do you confirm?" a cold voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s ear.


    "Confirm," Wu Yuan responded.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan continued to sift through teachings within the Daoist Scripture Tower.


    "Next, I''ll redeem the Soul teaching ''Sword Soul Sourcelight''." Wu Yuan made his choice �C a set of soul teachings.


    "You are redeeming the initial segment of the ''Sword Soul Sourcelight'' for one million dragon crystals. Do you confirm?" The voice echoed once more.


    "Confirm."


    ...


    Soon after, within his personal hall, Wu Yuan absorbed the information within the virtual immortal slips, memorizing the initial segments of both the ''Extended Life Sword Codex'' and ''Sword Soul Sourcelight'' teachings.


    Memorizing them was just the beginning. Only by truly cultivating them to the initiate threshold could he justify the dragon crystals spent.


    ...


    <i>Although Master made it sound nice, he didn��t give me any extra ethercrystal or dragon crystals.</i> Wu Yuan felt somewhat helpless.


    He didn��t have much ethercrystal or dragon crystals remaining.


    That small piece of divine crystal was highly valuable, worth a billion catties of ethercrystal! Yet, Wu Yuan dared not sell it. He needed it to cultivate his essentia and mana.


    Moreover, his master had made it clear that it was not to be exchanged for other treasures. Wu Yuan naturally did not dare defy his orders.


    <i>I should take it slow for now. At least, until I cultivate to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, my demand for ethercrystal won''t be too high.</i> Wu Yuan thought silently.


    What was the most resource-consuming aspect of his qi refiner self? His lifebound flying swords!


    With Wu Yuan''s immortal root, once he reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, he could attempt to upgrade his lifebound flying swords to third-grade spirit weapons.


    Wu Yuan had chosen to take the optimal path for his lifebound flying swords. The total cost of the minerals and special materials required was staggering. Even hundreds of millions of catties of ethercrystal might not suffice.


    <i>I must train hard. Once I clear level sixty of the one-star tower, not only will the sect reward me, but Master will also grant me a hundred million catties of ethercrystal.</i> Wu Yuan couldn��t wait.

 Chapter 387: Five Years Later (2)

    <h4>Chapter 387: Five Years Later (2)</h4>


    Time slipped away.


    With the small piece of divine crystal gifted to him from High Immortal Nan Yin, Wu Yuan saved a significant amount of time on essentia cultivation, spending only a day or two each month on it. Such efficiency was astonishing, several times higher than before.


    <i>A typical Golden Core Superior would need three to five hundred years to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core through the gradual refinement of spiritual qi from heaven and earth.</i>


    <i>If I spend more than half of my life cultivating mana, where am I going to find time toprehend the Dao?</i>


    <i>Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, hereditary disciples have spirit-gathering arrays, coupled with ethercrystal, enabling them to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase in about a hundred years.</i>


    Reaching the ninth-stage Golden Core phase in a hundred years was considered very fast.


    <i>But utilizing divine crystal? I estimate that in another ten to fifteen years, I could reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase.</i> Wu Yuan calcted.


    This speed was astonishing, much quicker than his body refiner self cultivating ether with the Luminous Immortal Soil. After all, the cultivation progress of a body refiner was inherently slower.


    <i>At the True Dragon Arena, I defeated those hereditary disciples. I bet Bei Hua, Gong Ling and the others still hold a grudge.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.<i> I��m sure they��re looking forward to defeating me at the Dragon Star Tournament.</i>


    The Dragon Star Tournament was a real-world battle, a test of an individual��sprehensive strength. Wu Yuan''s biggest weakness was his short cultivation time, leading to a smaller pool of essentia and mana.


    <i>I have five years left. Even if I don''t manage to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, cultivating up to the sixth or seventh stage should be no problem.</i> Wu Yuan brimmed with confidence.


    Only two or three stages behind in cultivation? The gap wasn''t toorge.


    Moreover, in terms of immortal root, Wu Yuan was stronger than most hereditary disciples. And by then, the mana gap between him and other Golden Core hereditary disciples would shrink even further.


    ...


    With the aid of the divine crystal, Wu Yuan saved a great deal of time on mana cultivation. He never cked off, using every second toprehend the Dao, study the sword, and cultivate secret arts.


    With the ''Celestial Body Law Codex'' as his core focus, the ''Dark Earth Sword Codex'' and ''Star Ruins Sword Codex'' as supplementary techniques, along with monthly guidance from High Immortal Nan Yin, Wu Yuan''s progress in the Land Dao and Celestial Body Dao was frighteningly fast.


    On the other hand, Wu Yuan ran into numerous difficulties whileprehending the ''Extended Life Sword Codex''. Even reaching the initiate threshold had him stumped.


    <i>It''s too hard. Although I can��t say that I��ve made zero progress in the Wood Dao, the speed ofprehension is just too slow. </i>Wu Yuan felt helpless.


    As his master had said, his qi refiner self did indeed have an aptitude for the Wood Dao. As long as he tried to perceive the profundity of heaven and earth slightly, he could sense the ��green�� heaven and earth''s power.


    It was clear to him, much clearer than the other heaven and earth''s powers. Butpared to the power representing the Earth Dao, it was too vague.


    Furthermore, the ''Extended Life Sword Codex'' was truly profound, and even the introductory part left Wu Yuan confused.


    <i>Three monthster.</i>


    "Master, if I continue to contemte this, I''m afraid it will take decades to merely reach the initiate threshold, let alone the Domain stage," Wu Yuan expressed his concerns to High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Furthermore, this will consume arge portion of my time. If I were to dedicate this time to delving deeper into the Celestial Body Dao, my advancement in that Dao would be elerated even further."


    "Should I give up on this path?"


    "Haha, a few decades to reach the initiate threshold? Don''t rush," High Immortal Nan Yinughed. "As long as you can get to the threshold within a hundred years, it''s not long at all."


    "A hundred years?" Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.


    For Wu Yuan, who had only lived for a little over forty years, a hundred years was a considerable length of time.


    "Master, if I give it my all, I might be able to clear level seventy of the one-star tower," Wu Yuan couldn''t help but say, "But if I divert my efforts to contemting the Extended Life Sword Codex, I fear my chances would be very slim."


    To be honest, Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    ��My foolish disciple, do you truly believe your master would wish you harm?" High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled and shook his head. "While I did set a goal for you, it was merely to encourage diligent cultivation, not to demand that you conquer a specific number of levels in the one-star tower."


    "Is conquering an arbitrary number of levels important?" High Immortal Nan Yinughed, "I know, clearing level seventy or even eighty indeed proves that you are a peerless genius."


    "But the one-star tower only allows individuals under a hundred years old to challenge it. The path to immortality is long, there''s plenty of time, don''t be too anxious."


    "Some geniuses are born with great talent, highprehension aptitude, and influential origins, so they progress very rapidly at first, butter they lose steam," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "On the other hand, some powerhouses are unimpressive at first. Their progress is steady and solid instead of racing for a moment of glory. As they cultivate to theter phases, their progress grows faster. And ultimately, they reveal their unparalleled might."


    "Which one do you want to be?" High Immortal Nan Yin smiled at Wu Yuan.


    "Disciple naturally wants to be the second kind," Wu Yuan said in a low voice.


    Cultivation was a marathon, starting fast did not mean being the first to reach the finish line, many fast starters even abandoned the race halfway.


    "I naturally have a reason for asking you to contemte the Extended Life Sword Codex. What you need to do is to contemte it with your full effort," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Your body refiner self contemtes the Celestial Body Dao, while your qi refiner self contemtes the Extended Life Sword Codex."


    "If this path is indeed a dead-end, I will naturally let you know when the time is right."


    "Come, perform the sword arts of the three major sword codices in order. Let''s see how much progress you have made this month," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Swiftly, he performed the sword techniques from the ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��, ��Star Ruins Sword Codex��, and ��Extended Life Sword Codex��, aiming his attacks at High Immortal Nan Yin.


    The Dark Earth Sword Array unfolded, bold and unrestrained, its sharpness unending.


    The Star Ruins Sword Array, like a star itself, returned all to the source �� an exquisite art with deceptive simplicity.


    The Longevity Sword Array, no, it could not be considered a sword array, for Wu Yuan could not even create a Domain from it. However, he showcased the subtle brilliance of the sword art.


    High Immortal Nan Yin intercepted each one, pointing out where the ws in each executiony.


    At that moment, Wu Yuan realized that his master not only possessed profound insights into the Celestial Body Dao, but could also spot his shorings from a much higher perspective.


    It was the same for the Wood Dao as well, he could offer guidance without any difficulty.


    "Go. Reflect on what you learned and do not ck off," High Immortal Nan Yin instructed.


    ...


    Wu Yuan swiftly returned to his world residence. Though he didn��t quite understand why his master insisted that he study the ��Extended Life Sword Codex��, one of Wu Yuan''s virtues was that he listened to advice!


    <i>Anyway, it will take time toprehend, so I might as well give it my all. A hundred years? I��ll just listen to Master. </i>Wu Yuan shook off his reluctance, suppressing his distractions.


    He split out a portion of mental energy, which fully focused on contemting the Extended Life Sword Codex. Although progress was slow, he still took steady steps, breaking down difficulties one by one, persistently advancing towards the Domain stage.


    In addition to studying the sword andprehending the Dao, Wu Yuan also split out part of his mental energy to cultivate the ��Sword Soul Sourcelight��, an extremely powerful and mysterious soul teaching.


    <i>My soul is strong. Logically, I should be able to practice some soul secret arts.</i>


    <i>On the path to immortality, one should focus on strengthening theirbat prowess, especially their killing move.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Among immortal cultivators, prodigies were rare. The norm was to excel in one particr area, reaching an unmatched level. However, this did not include defensive tactics.


    <i>With my nine lifebound flying swords, I have more than enough for both offense and defense. However, my soul remains undefended. </i>Wu Yuan contemted.


    <i>All my past adversaries were merely Golden Core cultivators. But in the future, my enemies will be Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, or even higher.</i>


    Powerful immortal cultivators had a plethora of techniques in their arsenal, soul techniques being one major category, with many super powerhouses specializing in soul destruction attacks.


    <i>It is alright if I do not excel in soul attacks, but my soul��s defense cannot be weak; I mustn��t let others easily disrupt my soul.</i> This was Wu Yuan''s decision.


    He had also obtained the approval of his mentor, High Immortal Nan Yin.


    In the end, he settled on the soul teaching known as ��Sword Soul Sourcelight��, divided into first source realm, second source realm... all the way up to ninth source realm!


    <i>If I can cultivate to the ninth source realm, forming nine sword soul lights, I will even be able to withstand the soul attacks of an Archimmortal.</i> Wu Yuan began diving into the teaching.


    He was deeply impressed. The ��Sword Soul Sourcelight�� was powerful, but also extremely difficult to cultivate. Ordinary Golden Core Superiors simply could not grasp it.


    Fortunately, Wu Yuan was a sword cultivator, and his soul was extremely strong.


    <i>Such powerful secret arts are difficult to cultivate, it has to be done gradually. </i>Wu Yuan was not in a rush.


    He knew that many powerful immortals often spent thousands, even tens of thousands of years, just to cultivate a single immortal secret art.


    Time flowed by.


    In the blink of an eye, more than five years went by.


    Altogether, thirteen years had passed since Wu Yuan had joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ...


    <i>The Summerpeak World.</i>


    Deep within the vast and boundless Xin Continent stood an imposing guard tower, a thousand meters tall.


    A figure draped in white robes sat silently atop the tower.


    "Young Master, standing guard here no longer serves much of a purpose," a middle-aged man also dressed in white robes stood nearby.


    It was none other than Fang Xia.


    "The spiritual tide has reached its zenith," Fang Xia says in a deep voice. "All original Spiritless Regions, from the Xin Continent to the four oceans of the Middle Land, havepletely disappeared."


    "Indeed. Who would have thought that the spiritual tide wouldst for eight years? The spiritual qi of heaven and earth is growing increasingly concentrated. The Spiritless Region that originally separated the Middle Land from the other regions of the Summerpeak World haspletely vanished under this unprecedented spiritual tide," Wu Yuan rose to his feet, shaking his head in a helpless gesture.


    Maintaining a lookout at the Xin Continent no longer held any meaning.


    "Is the warning array of the Middle Land all set up?" Wu Yuan asks.


    "Mm," nodded Fang Xia, evidently excited. "Young Master, with the advanced array diagrams you''ve provided me, the task of array construction has be at least ten times easier. The guard array is now fully deployed, covering the entire Middle Land."


    "That''s good. Let''s head back to the Middle Land."


    ��The other regions of the Summerpeak World must have sensed the surge of the spiritual tide and the disappearance of the Spiritless Regions. Whether it''s a blessing or a curse is still unknown," says Wu Yuan.


    "My qi refiner self is currently trying to figure out a solution in the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Don''t worry."


    Fang Xia nodded in understanding.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two of them swiftly left the Xin Continent, heading for the Middle Land.


    <i>The Dragon Star Tournament is also imminent.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self soared high into the sky at top speed.

 Chapter 388: Greetings To His Majesty

    <h4>Chapter 388: Greetings To His Majesty</h4>


    For Wu Yuan who was always immersed in cultivation, thirteen years went by in a snap, with little changes to his life.


    However, for the Middle Land, it was a period of earth-shattering transformations.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> With their incredible speed, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia soon returned to the Middle Land from the Xin Continent.


    A bustling port city came into view. At the same time,rge ships docked or set off, with a few particrly colossal ones transporting flying boats.


    ��It''s been a year since Ist returned. These mortal flying boats seem to have be moremonce," Wu Yuan observed, spreading out his Soul Force.


    With the strength of Wu Yuan��s Soul Force, he could now scan a radius of four hundred li around him with a thought, easily gathering a plethora of information.


    "Indeed." Fang Xia smiled, "Young Master, it''s now the 28th year of Immortal Wu. The people all say that the advancements in the 28 years since the Wu Empire��s establishment areparable to the progress of the past 2800 years. This is all thanks to you."


    "The number of mortal flying boats in cirction throughout the Middle Land has reached the thousands, usedrgely for transportation of goods and passengers."


    "All this is possible due to the equipment forging information you provided," Fang Xia sincerely said.


    Wu Yuan couldn��t help but smile.


    Indeed, the lives of countless mortals on the Redmoon Immortal Continent were extremely prosperous. Equipment like flying boats and puppets were widely used, greatly liberating mortals from manualbor.


    Equipment-forging teachings for such tools were not secret in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, but instead openly disseminated throughout the entire immortal continent.


    As a hereditary disciple, Wu Yuan was granted a high level of authority. With a little effort, he could collect arge amount of information, and then spread it throughout the Middle Land via his body refiner self.


    Simrly, he acquired numerous techniques and manuals on martial arts, pill refining, talismans, arrays, swords, sabers, coordination arrays, and so on.


    Countless secret techniques from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect that received little attention were all transported to the Middle Land by Wu Yuan, where they were considered immortal secret arts.


    Under Wu Yuan''s guidance and the support of numerous qi refiners, the civilization of the Middle Land began developing into a true immortal path civilization at astonishing speed.


    "Indeed, my actions made a difference. But it was more so due to the changes of this world," Wu Yuan said softly.


    "Thesest eight years, the spiritual tide has surged in full force. The spiritual qi of the Middle Land has gotten several times more concentrated, nearly reaching one-tenth that of the Redmoon Immortal Continent. This is why the operation of numerous flying boats and puppets can be supported."


    "Yes, the spiritual tide. It has its pros and cons," Fang Xia nodded.


    The most important element required for the establishment of an immortal path civilization was energy.


    Whether it be the creation of a spirit-gathering array or the formation of etherstone veins and spirit veins, it required the enrichment of the world��s spiritual qi.


    If it weren''t for the spiritual tide, the development of the Middle Land would not have progressed at such a rapid pace, even with the teachings brought over by Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two of them quickly traveled from the Dong Continent to the Jiang Continent. Along the way, they observed prosperous cities, breathtaking mountains, and vast rivers.


    "The number of martial artists has multiplied," Wu Yuan suddenly remarked.


    "Of course, since the establishment of the Wu Empire, many teachings were disseminated. Coupled with the rich spiritual qi, the number of martial artists has skyrocketed," Fang Xia chuckled.


    "Now, among the new generation of youths, the chances of bing a third-rate martial artist is nearing one in ten by our estimation."


    One in ten? Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    On the Redmoon Immortal Continent, ordinary people could be second-rate or even first-rate martial artists as long as they practiced hard.


    This was due to the spiritual qi nurturing the body and strengthening it.


    They pressed on.


    Finally, an enormous city came into view, with a floating hall in the sky above the city. The city stretched hundreds of li in every direction, housing tens of millions of people!


    It was the capital of the Wu Empire, thergest city in the Middle Land �C Cloud Capital.


    After three decades of development, the Cloud Capital expanded to nearly ten times the size of the old Cloudhill City. Apart from the mighty Cloud River still flowing eastward, few traces of the past were still visible.


    Beside the Cloud Capital was Eight-Sided Cloudhill, now cluttered with buildings and halls. Shrouded in mist, the mountain gave off an ethereal vibe.


    Nearby, numerous mountain peaks had sprung up, all encircling the most massive mountain �C Archeldritch Mountain!


    ��What a prosperous scene.�� Wu Yuan smiled faintly, feeling quite satisfied.


    His qi refiner self managed to achieve some aplishments within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Yet his feelings for the Middle Land ran far deeper.


    ��Young Master, this is your empire.�� Fang Xia bowed slightly with a smile, ��Your name is worshiped by billions in the Middle Land. All revere and believe in you.��


    ��Once you break through, I believe you will be able to sense the Faith Incense.�� Fang Xia stated solemnly.


    Wu Yuan nodded faintly, a hint of expectation in his heart.


    Faith Incense? This was a resource that even the Taiyuan Divine Court valued greatly, it yed an extraordinary role.


    <i>What a pity, my qi refiner self has only recently reached the seventh-stage Golden Core phase.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. <i>I''m afraid it might take some time before I step into the Amethyst Cradle phase. </i>


    The transition from the ninth-stage Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase represented a leap in the order of life.


    Even if a cultivator��sprehension of the Dao reached a high level, they often needed to umte power and remain at the same phase for a while.


    ��Old Fang, I��m going to see my mother. Send an order to all members of the Middle Land Guard: two hourster, we will hold a Middle Land Conference.�� Wu Yuanmanded.


    ��Yes.�� Fang Xia nodded.


    Even though Wu Yuan had never taken action over the decades, Fang Xia could sense Wu Yuan��s transformation. After all, he was the closest to Wu Yuan and the second strongest in the Middle Land.


    Twenty-eight years ago, he simply felt that Wu Yuan was very strong. But now, Wu Yuan��s presence was not the least bit inferior to the realm master. The two were on apletely different level from him.


    Thus, Fang Xia did not dare to put on a superior attitude.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Wu Yuan headed towards the imperial city of the Cloud Capital.


    Though called the imperial city, it was actually empty. After all, Wu Yuan didn��t have any descendants and was always in secluded cultivation.


    The entire imperial city was practically controlled by the empress dowager and the eldest princess.


    Having not seen his mother for nearly a year, Wu Yuan naturally felt concerned.


    <i>Mother is over sixty years old. Although she has been nourished by many treasures and her body is on par with a Grandmaster, her health has still greatly deteriorated. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    <i>Treasures are limited in the Middle Land. Even if I can obtain more treasures in the future, the usage of these treasures may be dependent on the user��s condition. One day, my mother will inevitably reach the end of her lifespan.</i>


    <i>When my body refiner self grows stronger, I will also leave Summerpeak World. This rtionship will ultimatelye to an end.</i>


    All Wu Yuan could do was strive to increase the lifespans of his loved ones.


    <i>?Perhaps the immortal path is heartless, but when I act, all I want is to have no regrets.</i>


    ...


    "The Middle Land Conference?"


    "Is His Majesty presiding over it personally?"


    "Quick, enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall immediately! His Majesty hasn''t presided over a Middle Land Conference for several years now, this must be something important." A flood of messages quickly spread from the Cloud Capital to all areas of the Middle Land.


    One by one, the immortal cultivators received the news.


    ...


    Two hourster, Wu Yuan dined with his mother Wanqin. Simultaneously, a strand of his consciousness entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    When he first entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Wu Yuan was awestruck by it.


    However, time changes everything. Entering the Middle Land Immortal Hall now, Wu Yuan could easily pick out the ws of this voidrealm.


    <i>A voidrealm constructed with the Amethyst Cradle of an Amethyst Cradle qi refiner is indeed quite crude.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>In the future, if my qi refiner self reaches the Amethyst Cradle phase, I must reconstruct it.</i>


    The voidrealm, magical as it was, was indeed fascinating. But fundamentally, it was a core ability of qi refiners. Starting from the Amethyst Cradle phase, one could attempt to construct a voidrealm.


    After gathering extensive intel, Wu Yuan spected that voidrealms as magical as the Dragon Star Immortal Realm and Redmoon Immortal Realm were likely constructed by Archimmortals.


    <i>Within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, in the Conference Hall.</i>


    Nearly two hundred figures were gathered, each exuding an extraordinary aura. They were all Heavenly Rankers from the Middle Land, most of whom had surfaced in the past twenty years.


    Their positions indicated their strengths. The further back, the weaker.


    Everyone waited in silence.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Numerous light particles converged, and a figure in white robes appeared atop the high throne.


    His expression was indifferent, and even though he was in the voidrealm, his soul aura was undeniable.


    However, his eyes were his most terrifying feature. His gaze alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of several immortal cultivators.


    "His Majesty!"


    "Back in the day, His Majesty was only in his early twenties when he yed Emperor Jin, who was in the Golden Core phase. Almost thirty years have passed, how powerful must His Majesty be now?" The immortal cultivators were all brimming with excitement.


    All of a sudden.


    "We pay our respects to His Majesty!" The four veteran elders, Fang Xia, Arctic, Hai Feizhang, and Mountain Devil chorused.


    "We pay our respects to His Majesty." Hundreds of immortal cultivators simultaneously bowed in respect.


    Decades of amassed power silenced all opposition in the Middle Land. Even figures like Arctic and Hai Feizhang were now fully submissive.


    "You may sit," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the nearly two hundred figures below. His voice is indifferent, but itnded in the ears of all cultivators, carrying an absolute authority.


    Everyone sat down.


    "Fang Xia," Wu Yuan ordered calmly.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Fang Xia rose and moved to Wu Yuan''s side, first bowing to him, then turning to the rest. "Today''s assembly is in regards to the spiritual tide."


    A murmur rippled through the crowd.


    With a wave of his hand, Fang Xia revealed a massive light projection, drawing everyone''s attention.


    It was a map of the Middle Land and the four oceans.


    "For thousands of years, our Middle Land has been isted, surrounded by Spiritless Regions on all sides. As everyone understands, they are near impossible to traverse," says Fang Xia solemnly.


    "But in the past eight years, the spiritual tide has surged in full force, and the Spiritless Regions at the furthest reaches of the four oceans havepletely disappeared."


    "The passageways previously crossed by immortals from outside the Middle Land have alsopletely opened."


    "Thus, as His Majesty spected, our Middle Land might already be connected with other regions of the Summerpeak World," Fang Xia continued.


    "The spiritual tide shows no signs of abating and there is a high probability that the next immortal epoch will begin."


    Arctic, Hai Feizhang, and other immortal cultivators listened quietly.


    This spiritual tide had persisted for eight years, causing great changes to the world.


    As individuals qualified to participate in the Middle Land Conference, they were all top echelons of the Middle Land. Naturally, they were already privy to such a level of information.


    "As per His Majesty''s orders, firstly, we need to establish a warning array that spans across the Middle Land and the Four Seas."


    "We need arge number of immortal cultivators to guard the array bases at various locations," Fang Xia said.


    "Once any changes ur or foreign cultivators are spotted, avoid conflicts as far as possible and immediately notify everyone through the immortal hall. We must prevent a situation like the worm devil''s appearance from happening again."


    "Secondly, we must assemble scouting teams. These teams will embark on expeditions across the four oceans and the Xin Continent, venturing into unexplored territories of the Summerpeak World."


    "Rather than waiting on death''s door, we should strike first."


    "Who here is willing to volunteer?" Fang Xia''s voice was low and solemn as his eyes swept over the immortal cultivators, each lost in their own thoughts.


    Exploration? Perhaps it was dangerous. but it could also bring unforeseen opportunities.


    ...


    The meeting that concerned the fate of the Middle Land went on for nearly two hours.


    In the end, some volunteered while others were chosen. Twenty immortal cultivators in total, divided into five teams, set out to explore the regions beyond the Middle Land.


    ...


    Time passed.


    Within three days, the appointed teams, carrying numerous life-saving treasures, departed from the Middle Land one after another.


    "Young Master, there''s no need for excessive worry. The Middle Land may have given rise to a peerless genius like you, but other regions in the Summerpeak World might not be as fortunate," Fang Xia reassured him, his confidence apparent.


    In its prime, the peak powerhouses in the Summerpeak World had only reached the Amethyst Cradle phase after all.


    "Hm." Wu Yuan nodded lightly. As one��s power grew, so too would their confidence.


    In truth, he had already ventured deep into the Middle Land and the four oceans.


    As for farther regions? They were beyond the reach of Middle Land Immortal Hall''s connective range. Therefore, Wu Yuan had refrained from further exploration.


    "Hm? Master is looking for me?" Wu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then a hint of joy crossed his features. "Does he have news about the Summerpeak World?"


    "After all these years, my master has finally found it?"

 Chapter 389: Eternal Sun Immortal World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 389: Eternal Sun Immortal World (1)</h4>


    For five years, Wu Yuan had devoted himself to cultivating in seclusion. Although a part of his body refiner self diverted some attention to the affairs of the Middle Land, ny-nine percent of his mental capacity was still dedicated to cultivation.


    All this time, he had been waiting eagerly for any news from his master.


    High Immortal Nan Yin had said it would take some time, but it had taken a full five years. Throughout this period, Wu Yuan didn��t dare to pester him with more questions.


    <i>Heavenly Dragon City, in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    A vast mansion, a hundred li in length and width, stood amidst the iparably beautiful scenery, which was even more breathtaking than reality.


    In contrast to reality, where the four seasons changed, the climate within the voidrealm was perpetually as pleasant as spring.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>d in a ck robe, Wu Yuan appeared out of thin air in the middle of the mansion.


    Scanning his surroundings, he muttered under his breath, "So, this is Master''s mansion in the Heavenly Dragon City?"


    This was Wu Yuan''s first visit to Heavenly Dragon City.


    As a disciple of High Immortal Nan Yin, he was granted the privilege of entering the Heavenly Dragon City. However, his ess was limited only to his master''s residence.


    "My disciple,e over here." A gentle voice echoed from a distant, massive hall.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In an instant, Wu Yuan flew into the hall. The hall was extremely rugged in style and simply decorated. Furnishings were nearly non-existent.


    <i>It''s simr to Master��s residence on Dragon Star. Has Master lived like this for hundreds of thousands of years?</i>


    <i>Such a rustic feel without any care for appearances. He is a true ascetic. No wonder Master became a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal.</i> Wu Yuan thought quietly.


    These past five years, with his status as a ��nominal disciple of an Archimmortal��, his perspective had broadened. Thus, he understood the power of a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal well.


    Among High Immortals, less than one in a hundred could survive their sixth Immortal Tribtion.


    Some died while on expeditions, but a majority of High Immortals perished under the recurring onught of Immortal Tribtions.


    Immortal Tribtions were far from easy to ovee, each one a heavy ordeal.


    Of course,pared to the Eighth-Tribtion High Immortal Dong Yang, his master was indeed much weaker.


    "Master." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "You��re here, sit." Even in the voidrealm, High Immortal Nan Yin still kept up his disheveled appearance, with his signature row of yellow teeth revealed each time he grinned.


    Wu Yuan sat down.


    In terms of soul strength, he was weaker than High Immortal Nan Yin. Yet, just sitting there, he was like a mountain, exuding an unshakeable aura.


    Compared to five years ago, Wu Yuan''s aura had grown more restrained and profound.


    This was a reflection of his deeper understanding of the Celestial Body Dao, which subtly coincided with Wu Yuan''s temperament and character �� he could act boldly and go wild when necessary, but for the most part, he remained inconspicuous and exercised caution.


    "Li Xia, this is your first time at my residence in Heavenly Dragon City, right?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked with a grin.


    He had never epted a disciple before Wu Yuan. In terms of both talent and character, he was greatly satisfied with Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan was like a sharp divine sword kept in its scabbard, steady without losing its sharpness.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    "How do you find it?"


    "It��s huge! Enormous." Wu Yuan said without hesitation.


    Things were differentpared to five years ago.


    For five years straight, Wu Yuan maintained regrmunication with his master. High Immortal Nan Yin also took good care of him, providingprehensive guidance and mentorship, akin to a father.


    And as such, the bond between master and disciple was extraordinarily strong. This was why Wu Yuan felt at ease in front of his master.


    "Haha," High Immortal Nan Yinughed, "Alright. First, update me on your body refiner self��s situation over these past five years."


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded and began, "Since the spiritual tide began eight years ago, spiritual qi has be increasingly abundant... Now, the Spiritless Region that once isted Middle Land haspletely disappeared. It''s likely that pathways to other regions of the Summerpeak World have been opened."


    "But I didn''t dare act rashly. I simply sent some Qi Sea immortal cultivators to scout these unexplored regions, hoping to gather some information about them," Wu Yuan quickly exined.


    "Hmm, it��s good that you didn''t do anything foolish," High Immortal Nan Yin nodded in approval. "Listen carefully to what I''m about to say, and don��t panic."


    Wu Yuan felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Was something wrong?


    "Over the past five years, I''ve tried numerous methods to obtain information on the worldlets in the Redmoon Immortal Continent from the Redmoon Immortal Hall. I narrowed my search to those present a hundred thousand years ago," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "There were more than hundreds of thousands of worldlets to sieve through."


    Wu Yuan gasped in surprise.


    It sounded simple, but it likely wasn''t that easy. These worldlet were territories of various major factions. Who would willingly share them?


    "But none of them were a match," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "In the end, I contacted a friend of mine who is an immortal residing in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, and only then was I able to find information on the Summerpeak World from the immortal world''s data bank.��


    "Eternal Sun Immortal World?" Wu Yuan was shocked, "Master, you have friends in the immortal world?"


    "What, you''re looking down on your master?" High Immortal Nan Yin red at him. "Just so you know, I''ve been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Although I''ve never ventured beyond the macrocosm, I''ve roamed the numerous immortal worlds within it and even some ruined realms. Naturally, I''ve made quite a few friends."


    "Yes, yes, you''re amazing," Wu Yuan hurriedly replied, giving a smile of ttery.


    However, his heart was still pounding. The Eternal Sun Immortal World!


    After bing High Immortal Nan Yin''s disciple, Wu Yuan''s ess rights increased, and he inadvertently stumbled upon some intelligence about the macrocosm.


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent, aplete spacetime ne, was just a part of the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    The territory of the immortal nation was vast, epassing countless spacetime nes and spacetimes, and was home to a myriad of mighty beings. Over the eons, countless Archimmortals were born, and life proliferated endlessly.


    Yet, the Eternal Sun Immortal World was one of the cores of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm. Even a powerful entity like the Silvermist Immortal Nation was just one of the many immortal nations under the Eternal Sun Immortal World''s rule.


    "Master, that worldlet is rted to the Eternal Sun Immortal World?" Wu Yuan was stunned and slightly confused.


    The Summerpeak World, a tiny worldlet, had ties to such a far-reaching ce?


    "Normally, the rise and fall of a single worldlet doesn��t concern the immortal world," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head, "Considering the vast expanse of the immortal world, which consists of billions of worlds, births and copses of worlds aremonce urrences."


    "Having failed to find any trace of the Summerpeak World through the Silvermist Immortal Nation''s channels, I was forced to resort to this."


    "However, with the help of my friend in the immortal world, I was lucky enough to find it."


    "The Summerpeak World indeed belongs to my Redmoon Immortal Continent," High Immortal Nan Yin said gravely. "The only issue is, the Summerpeak World is a Bloodforge World controlled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall. It fell under their control eighty thousand years ago."


    "Controlled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall? One of the three major factions of the immortal continent?" Wu Yuan''s expression changed slightly.


    He understood. No wonder his master told him not to panic.


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall! It was one of the most powerful factions in the entire immortal continent. Was the Summerpeak World controlled by such an entity? How could he not worry?


    "Wrong. The Bloodforge Devil Hall is indeed one of the top three forces on the immortal continent. But to be more precise, the Bloodforge Devil Hall here is just a Redmoon Immortal Continent division." High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly.


    "The real Bloodforge Devil Hall is a colossal entityparable to the Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    Wu Yuan''s face changed.


    They were that powerful? How vast is the Eternal Sun Immortal World? It controlled countless worlds, spacetime nes, and produced countless powerhouses.


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall was actually this powerful? Comparable to the entire immortal world?


    "You should know that we are all subordinates of the Taiyuan Divine Court." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    This could be seen from the widespread propagation of Faith to themon folk in the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    "The divine court has existed for countless ages, and is a significant force in the river of time and space.��


    ��Whether it''s the Eternal Sun Immortal World or the Bloodforge Devil Hall, they are both part of the divine court. They stand on the same side." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "However, the two forces have different ruling schools of thought. The Eternal Sun Immortal World, along with the Redmoon Immortal Hall, generally follows the ''everyone is a dragon'' ideology, which includes improving the lives of mortals, widely promoting participation in the voidrealm, spreading teachings on arge scale, and recruiting disciples among countless sects," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    The so-called "everyone is a dragon" ideology could be summarized as ensuring the basic living standards for most sentient beings while casting a wide to ensure the upward mobility of the majority.


    As long as one was talented and strong enough, theoretically, one could continuously raise their status within the system of the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    "The Bloodforge Devil Hall is different. This faction practices the Asura Devil path, an extremely brutal ideology." High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly.


    "The powerhouses in this path are mostly bloodthirsty and insane."


    "Killing is their way of life. Just like hell devils, countless beings under their rule engage in deadly fights, stimting the most primitive evolutionary forces of life." High Immortal Nan Yin sighed.


    "Any powerhouse who believes in the Asura Devil path has risen to their position by stepping on the bones of countless other powerhouses."


    Wu Yuan''s heart sank into turmoil.


    "��Everyone is a dragon�� is the most gentle, while the ��Asura Devil path�� is the most radical. As for the eldritch lineage that most agree on as the first school of thought, it is a path somewhere in the middle.��


    "Disciple, I currently have no solution for this issue."


    "If your world was under the control of a sect, or even the Redmoon Immortal Hall itself, I would be able to find a way," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "At the very least, bringing your body refiner self out wouldn��t be an issue."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    "However, the Bloodforge Devil Hall has its own system. Their powerhouses rarely show up on the immortal continent. Unless they are venturing into other realms or spacetimes, both sides rarely encounter each other."


    "And outsiders are prohibited from interfering with the Bloodforge Worlds controlled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall." High Immortal Nan Yin stated helplessly, "To gather this information about the Summerpeak World, I required the help of someone from the immortal world."


    "The Redmoon Immortal Hall has no records of it, so we can''t determine the specific coordinates of the Summerpeak World."


    "Perhaps an Archimmortal might be able to resolve this issue by paying a massive price, but there��s nothing I can do."


    "Although the immortal ancestor is an Archimmortal, he roams many spacetimes all year round, it''s impossible for him to pay such a huge price for your body refiner self and your family." High Immortal Nan Yin sighed.


    Wu Yuan understood.


    This matter involved the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Trying to take someone away from them? It was difficult, as difficult as ascending to heaven!


    At least, his master who was a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal couldn��t do it.


    More crucially, the specific spacetime coordinates of Summerpeak World were still unknown.


    "You were most likely able toe to the macrocosm via the powerful teleportation array thanks to a gap in the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s seal," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "But given the power of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the same mistake won''t happen twice."


    "That is why your second teleportation attempt failed," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "The entire world has likely been sealed off."


    Wu Yuan finally understood what he was implying.


    For the time being, a reunion of his two true selves was impossible.

 Chapter 390: Eternal Sun Immortal World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 390: Eternal Sun Immortal World (2)</h4>


    "Master, what should my body refiner self do?" Wu Yuan asked with a hint of worry.


    This not only involved his body refiner self, but also the safety of the entire Middle Land where his family and numerous friends resided.


    The first person Wu Yuan thought of seeking help from was his master. If he could get information about the Summerpeak World, he might be able to give Wu Yuan some advice on how to proceed.


    "The situation is grim, but it''s not beyond redemption," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "First of all, you need to understand that even though the Bloodforge Devil Hall follows the philosophy of the Asura Devil path, it doesn''t mean they are as chaotic and bloody as the devils."


    "No matter how insane they be, they are still a human faction and are part of the Taiyuan Divine Court."


    "The devil path and devils are two different concepts," High Immortal Nan Yin stated.


    Wu Yuan nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.


    That was true! Perhaps the system of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was a brutal and bloody one, but it was still primarily run by the human race. A chaotic system was better than no system.


    "Secondly, for thousands of years, there has been no trace of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s interference in the Summerpeak World," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "Therefore, by my estimation, the whole Summerpeak World has not been regarded seriously by the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "The so-called Spiritless Region might be a natural state of the Summerpeak World, formed by special rules to restore itself andply with the rules of world operation."


    "It wouldn''t be difficult for an average Void Refiner Eminence to set up a Spiritless Region," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "These are your opportunities."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "What you need to do is to seize the time you have and quickly understand the current situation of the Summerpeak World," High Immortal Nan Yin advised. "Then, make the most beneficial choice for yourself."


    "Power is still the key."


    "The main focus of the Bloodforge Worlds under the Bloodforge Devil Hall is to train new powerhouses."


    "As long as you are strong enough and you don''t rebel against the Bloodforge Devil Hall, there''s no reason for the Bloodforge Devil Hall to reject a genius like you.��


    ��You have every hope of keeping your people safe," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "The Bloodforge Devil Hall is a true force to be reckoned with. If you manage to join them, I believe you will grow much stronger."


    Wu Yuan understood what he meant.


    He had to gain rity over the situation and avoid rashly resisting the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Also, he needed to bide his time and weigh his options. If an opportunity presented itself, joining the Bloodforge Devil Hall wasn''t entirely out of the question.


    "Master, if I join the Bloodforge Devil Hall, won''t my identity be exposed? Will that put our sect at risk?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "First off, the ovep between the two factions is minimal," High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    "Secondly, if you were at the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phases when you cultivated your two true selves, you''d be easily recognized."


    "But you cultivated your two true selves during the Spiritual Body phase. As time passes, the differences between your two true selves will only grow."


    "Once you are able to refine the void, then learn some secret arts, even someone at my level might not be able to tell that you have two true selves even if both stand right in front of them," High Immortal Nan Yinughed.


    "In the endless expanse of time and space, many powerful individuals have multiple true selves swearing allegiance to different forces, yet they''ve never been exposed over billions of years."


    Wu Yuan listened in astonishment.


    Having two true selves could lead to such amazing possibilities?


    "I''ve never exposed your body refiner true self to the sect, not even to the abbot. You must not reveal it either," High Immortal Nan Yin warned. "Simrly, you should keep your qi refiner self a secret on your body refiner self��s side."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    The matter of his two true selves was known only to his master, Qiong Sea, Fang Xia, and the realm master, so keeping it under wraps wouldn''t be challenging. After all, it wasn''t something one would deliberately mention.


    Who would have thought that someone could create a new true self at the Spiritual Body phase?


    "Of course, if pushes to shove and it gets exposed, it might not necessarily be a bad thing," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "It would only further prove your extraordinary talent."


    "At the end of the day, the Eternal Sun Immortal Realm and Bloodforge Devil Hall are both members of the Taiyuan Divine Court," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "And the leaders of the two powers are not at odds."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    Right, if one zoomed out from the ceaseless battles betweenrge sects and factions, and thepetition for treasures and interests among countless immortal cultivators, one would see that everyone was part of the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    The prerequisite, of course, was being able to ascend to that lofty height.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Master." Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude.


    "No need for thanks, I��m sorry that I can��t be of any help." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    "Master, you''ve already done plenty," Wu Yuan earnestly said.


    Wu Yuan dared not hope that his master would oppose the vast Bloodforge Devil Hall for his body refiner self. That wouldn''t be a wise move.


    Even though it was just an immortal continent division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, there was likely an Archimmortal stationed here. That was far more than what his master could contend with.


    The difference between a High Immortal and an Archimmortal was like heaven and earth.


    "This is also a test for you, if you can ovee this crisis, it will be beneficial to your growth." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Crises and disasters were not a good thing. But if one was destined toe, then he had to strive to ensure it ended with the best possible oue.


    "Another matter I want to discuss is the Dragon Star Tournament," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "There''s less than a month left."


    "ording to the rules, only thirty-two Golden Core hereditary disciples will keep their disciple status, the rest will all be demoted to inner disciples." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The Dragon Star Tournament was a brutalpetition. Do you have strength and capability? A background? The guidance of seniors? Lots of treasures?


    Anything goes! All that mattered was the final result of the battle.


    Perhaps it wasn��t fair. After all, each Golden Core hereditary disciple differed in age, experience, and upbringing. But it evaluated all by one singr criterion: the strong rise, the weak fall. This was also the consistent doctrine of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    ��In the past thirty years, six Golden Core disciples have been promoted to the status of hereditary disciple. As per the usual rules, you six will directly advance to the top thirty-two," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "So, whether you win or lose, none of you need to fear being demoted to inner disciples."


    "Meanwhile, those hereditary disciples seniors will have to fight andpete against hundreds of the most outstanding inner disciples selected from a pool of millions."


    "In the end, only the strongest twenty-six will be able to advance to the top thirty-two," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "Thus, the other Golden Core hereditary disciples will not be weak."


    Wu Yuan listened.


    He was fairly clear about these rules.


    "As for the other hereditary disciple freshmen, such as Kuang Long who joined the sect with you, they can only hope that they won''t lose too badly," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "But this is not something you should be concerned about. What you need to do is to secure the first ce."


    ��I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.


    First ce? He had to take it!


    "Don''t be careless." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head, "You''ve only reached the seventh-stage Golden Core phase. There''s still a gap between you and the other Golden Core hereditary disciples."


    "But I have a third-degree immortal root," Wu Yuan piped up.


    "Among the dozens of Golden Core hereditary disciples, there are several others with third-degree immortal roots," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Though third-degree immortal roots are rare, some can still be found in each generation among the millions of disciples in the sect."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    He was right! Third-degree immortal roots were extremely rare, one in a million.


    However, Golden Core cultivators who qualified to join the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were all quite outstanding. And those selected from these millions of disciples to participate in the tournament? There were naturally some real prodigies among them.


    "Having a strong immortal root doesn''t necessarily mean they have a highprehension aptitude," High Immortal Nan Yin stated.


    "Among the many Golden Core hereditary disciples in our sect, there are three you should be particrly wary of."


    "All three of them have cleared at least level fifty of the one-star tower. They��re not too far behind you in terms of Daoprehension aptitude. Moreover, as cultivators with third-degree immortal roots, they not only have the advantage in mana, but also in the power of their lifebound artifacts."


    "In fact, that little fellow called Xing Luo just cleared level fifty-four of the one-star tower, which is quite impressive," said High Immortal Nan Yin.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Level fifty-four? In just five years, he conquered two more levels. His talent was not bad at all.


    Wu Yuan thought that the match was nothing to worry about, but now he was starting to feel a hint of pressure. Of course, it was just a hint.


    "The Dragon Star Tournament is just a minor test for you," High Immortal Nan Yin seemed to sense Wu Yuan''s indifference andughed. "Ten years from now, countless sects from all over the Immortal Continent, along with the Moonsilver World, will jointly hold the Moonsilver Tournament!"


    "The Moonsilver Tournament held once every hundred years is the ultimate showdown for the young Golden Core cultivators of the entire immortal continent. Prodigious disciples from allrge sects will participate."


    "Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect has ten slots for the tournament. That will be your real test," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    "But if you can''t evene in first within our sect, what are you going to the Moonsilver World for? You''ll just embarrass us!"


    "The Moonsilver Tournament?" A glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He had naturally heard of it. It was one of thergest events in the entire immortal continent, consisting of the Golden Core Battle and Amethyst Cradle Battle.


    Eachrge sect and the Moonsilver World would send their top disciples topete and fight for glory.


    The rewards were staggering.


    "Go now, prepare well." High Immortal Nan Yin instructed, "Put your full effort into it. Come back in seven days to receive another tutoring session."


    Wu Yuan bowed respectfully before leaving.


    ...


    After departing from the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sat in the meditation chamber within his world residence.


    All was silent.


    <i>Who would''ve thought that the Summerpeak World is under the control of the Bloodforge Devil Hall? And they turned out to be that powerful. </i>Wu Yuan sighed. <i>Even my master is helpless.</i>


    Wu Yuan now understood why the first teleportation attempt had consumed such arge quantity of ethercrystal.


    He also understood the threat faced by his body refiner self and the beings of the Middle Land.


    <i>I''m too weak. If my body refiner self had the power of an Elysian Field cultivator, I could hold my own in the Summerpeak World. At the very least, I would have far more options.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.


    Unfortunately, despite the rapid progress of his body refiner self, not much time had passed, and he was only at the sixth-stage Spiritual Body phase.


    <i>Strength! I need more strength.</i>


    <i>The n for my body refiner self must be amended. As for my qi refiner self... I must strive hard to not disappoint my master.</i>


    <i>First, I muste out on top in the Dragon Star Tournament.</i>


    Wu Yuan continued his usual cultivation routine.


    Days passed, and the Middle Land remained peaceful.


    Apart from one tutoring session with his master, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self spent all his time in closed-door cultivation.


    In the blink of an eye, just one day remained until the once-in-thirty-year Dragon Star Tournament.

 Chapter 391: Sword Intent Tempest

    <h4>Chapter 391: Sword Intent Tempest</h4>


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Sect headquarters, training grounds of Wu Yuan��s World Residence.</i>


    <i>My progress has greatly sped up with Master��s guidance. </i>Wu Yuan stood in the air, silently reviewing what he learned twenty days ago. Every piece of advice from his master allowed Wu Yuan to reap significant benefits.


    It was simply because High Immortal Nan Yin was on a whole other level. He could see through Wu Yuan��s every move and action. There was nothing Wu Yuan could hide from him.


    <i>They are the same moves, yet when Master executes them, his sword intent is practically omnipresent, making it impossible to trace his whereabouts. His movement technique also makes him highly agile and elusive.</i>


    The gap was huge.


    <i>Compared to Master, my sword techniques are stillcking. </i>Wu Yuan quickly suppressed the various thoughts in his mind.


    Such a huge gap was only natural. But Wu Yuan believed that step by step, he could also reach his master''s level of effortless mastery someday.


    <i>At the Dragon Star Tournament, the Golden Core hereditary disciples I''ll face will likely all be ninth-stage Golden Core cultivators. </i>


    <i>Their mana pools will berger than mine, especially Xing Luo and the other two. I believe their lifebound artifacts have already reached the level of third-grade spirit equipment as well.</i>


    Apart from Wu Yuan, there were seven other Golden Core hereditary disciples in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect who were capable of clearing level fifty of the one-star tower.


    Among these seven, three Golden Core hereditary disciples possessed third-degree immortal roots��Xing Luo, Chen Chuan and Hao Shanjing.


    They were Wu Yuan''s greatest rivals.


    Once a third-degree immortal root cultivator reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, they could refine their lifebound artifacts to the level of third-grade spirit weapons.


    The transition from fourth-grade to third-grade spirit equipment was a qualitative change.


    <i>My advantage lies in a stronger soul and a greater number of lifebound artifacts. </i>Wu Yuan was well aware of this. <i>The only issue is my smaller mana pool.</i>


    Possessing more lifebound artifacts,plemented by numerous auxiliary ones, naturally led to greater mana consumption in battle.


    <i>So, if it reallyes down to it, I cannot afford to drag out the fight. Every battle must be resolved swiftly and decisively.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    If he found himself at a stalemate, that would be troublesome. As the fight dragged on, his mana would eventually get depleted, and he would be like amb awaiting ughter.


    Wu Yuan didn''t believe he could defeat these Golden Core hereditary disciples just by controlling artifacts with his Soul Force.


    One had to remember that these hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were all peerless geniuses, all capable of fighting Amethyst Cradle Reverends even at the Golden Core phase.


    They were not weak. It was just that Wu Yuan was too strong, which gave off the impression that the other Golden Core hereditary disciples were less gifted.


    <i>When the soldierse, block them with generals. No matter who my opponent is, all I need to do is defeat them.</i> Wu Yuan''s fighting spirit soared.


    <i>I refuse to believe that anyone can withstand my Thousand Swords Array.</i>


    Strength brought confidence.


    <i>Swords, to me.</i> Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Nine sword pellets flew out from the qi sea in an instant, separating from his skin and flesh.


    After transforming at breakneck speed, nine dazzling flying swords orbited around Wu Yuan. Torrent of earthy-yellow qi streams swirled around them. All of them were fourth-grade spirit flying swords, exuding formidable sword intent.


    As his lifebound artifacts, Wu Yuan painstakingly refined them with all his heart and soul. Currently, the power of these nine fourth-grade spirit flying swords wasparable to that of second-grade spirit weapons.


    <i>Go.</i> With another mentalmand, nearly a thousand flying swords appeared, nketing the sky.


    They were all fourth-grade spirit flying swords as well.


    On the des of the swords, cryptic patterns of the Earth Dao were carved, increasing their power. They are perfectly suited for Wu Yuan, all purchased from the Dragon Treasure Tower over the years.


    These 729 fourth-grade spirit flying swords cost more than seven hundred thousand catties of ethercrystal.


    Practically all of Wu Yuan''s remaining ethercrystal was exhausted, and he even had to sell off some of his older treasures.


    Wu Yuan also spent about six hundred thousand dragon crystals to purchase two sets of sword arrays, eachposed of seven hundred and twenty-nine des.


    These two sword arrays were even more precious, so precious that ordinary outer disciples could not acquire them; they could only be redeemed with dragon crystals.


    Their power was also stronger.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Each of his nine lifebound flying swords led eighty swords. Countless earthy-yellow Celestial Body cryptic patterns materialized. On the surface of each flying sword, Celestial Body cryptic patterns also appeared, emitting radiant light.


    In the blink of an eye, nine Hundred Swords Arrays were formed. Though separate from one another, they were subtly connected, firmly protecting Wu Yuan at the center.


    Nine Hundred Swords Arrays,bined into a Thousand Swords Array.


    <i>Star Domain.</i> Wu Yuan activated the power of the Domain with a thought, instantly merging the nine Hundred Swords Arrays into one.


    In an instant, a radiant Star Domain was formed, emitting vast sword intent! It looked like a miniature world of swords.


    This was the fifth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array �� Sword Intent Tempest!


    <i>Activate!</i>


    With a single stride, a vast wave of sword intent immediately engulfed him. The Thousand Swords Array that covered several dozens of li abruptly expanded, swiftly covering a radius of three hundred li.


    Within three hundred miles, only a tempest of sword intent could be seen, Wu Yuan''s position could hardly be spotted.


    Simultaneously, the Hundred Swords Arrays merged into one, forming a series of terrifying divine swords.


    Nine divine swords zipped about at maximum speed, appearing and disappearing like phantoms within the massive sword array, showing a terrifyingly sharp edge that would make the hearts of any onlooker tremble.


    Thissted for six breaths.


    <i>Boom!</i> As a figure descended from the sky, the sword array dissipated. The raging sword intent calmed down, and hundreds of sword lights quickly converged, returning to Wu Yuan''s side.


    <i>Sword Intent Tempest. Now that I��ve reached the fifth step, it''s fair to say that I''ve made a small aplishment.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    <i>In terms of pure Daoprehension, I''m no weaker than those seven Golden Core hereditary disciples.</i>


    The Dark Earth Sword Array consisted of ten steps.


    Theoretically, to grasp the fifth step, Sword Intent Tempest, the minimum requirement was to reach the fourth-level True Intent stage.


    That was the Daoprehension level of the level fifty guardian of the one-star tower.


    But that was merely the initiate threshold of proficiency, and only possible in theory.


    To form a sword array consisting of nearly a thousand flying swords with a single thought like Wu Yuan? That was nothing short of a dream.


    Even if they met the minimum criteria for Daoprehension level, many Golden Core cultivators couldn''t execute it. Why? They didn��t have enough mana!


    The reason why Wu Yuan could do it, apart from his high Daoprehension level, was due to his powerful soul. If his soul wasn''t strong enough, he wouldn''t be able to execute it either.


    <i>Five years ago, when I challenged the one-star tower, my Daoprehension was slightly weakerpared to the guardian of level fifty. It was all thanks to my powerful soul that I was able to bulldoze my way through.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    And now? Even without the power of his soul, Wu Yuan knew he could easily defeat the level fifty guardian.


    <i>However, I still have a way to go before clearing level sixty.</i> Wu Yuan silently shook his head.


    Over the past five years, he had made the asional attempt.


    A year ago, he made it through level fifty-eight, only to fail at fifty-nine.


    If he tried again now? Wu Yuan estimated that he could get through level fifty-nine, but there was still a considerable gap between his current level and the guardian of level sixty.


    <i>I need to put in the effort. My master has challenged me to conquer level sixty before I reach the age of sixty. It should be quite a challenge. </i>Wu Yuan continued to study the sword codex.


    Guided by the Celestial Body Law Codex, along with the mentorship of his master, Wu Yuan progressed at a rapid pace.


    Simr to the other Golden Core hereditary disciples, starting from level fifty, clearing a single level could take over a decade.


    Time passed.


    <i>Hm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. He had just received a message from the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm. It was a message that could not be ignored.


    Wu Yuan immediately began to read it.


    "Hereditary disciple Li Xia, the Dragon Star Tournament held every thirty years by the sect is about tomence. Please arrive at the Hereditary Disciple Tower in Greendragon City of the immortal voidrealm in two hours." The message was from Earth Immortal Xu You.


    Earth Immortal Xu You was in charge of managing the hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Over thest decade, Wu Yuan had met him numerous times within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, and was well-acquainted with him.


    This was the norm. Meeting in the real world? With disciples scattered everywhere, it was too difficult. Meeting in the voidrealm was far more convenient.


    <i>Hm? Kuang Long is here to meet me? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile, sending a strand of his consciousness into the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>Within a gigantic mansion on Dragon Star Ind in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    This was Kuang Long''s mansion. As a hereditary disciple, his mansion was as vast as Wu Yuan''s, but theyout and furnishing could be adjusted ording to each disciple��s preferences.


    Wu Yuan��s avatar materialized at the mansion��s entrance.


    "Greetings, Heir."


    "Greetings, Heir. The two Golden Core followers at the door hurriedly bowed with utmost respect, recognizing Wu Yuan at a nce.


    Moreover, within Dragon Star Ind, each individual��s identity was publicly disyed.


    "Heir Li Xia, Heir Kuang Long has prepared a banquet. You may proceed directly to the main hall," one of the Golden Core followers respectfully informed him.


    Wu Yuan responded with a slight nod and strode forward.


    Along the way, the Golden Core followers who served under Kuang Long bowed respectfully to him.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia is here."


    "Great Senior Brother has arrived."


    "Senior Brother Li Xia."


    Upon arriving at the main hall, the five figures already present all rose to their feet. Their gazes were locked onto Wu Yuan, and their enthusiasm was palpable.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia, please take a seat." The burly Kuang Long said warmly, making an inviting gesture.


    Wu Yuan swept the room with a nce. Six jade tforms were arranged in a circle, none appearing more prominent than the others. He took his seat. [1]


    On each jade tform was a low tableden with exquisite wines and gourmet dishes.


    "Shi Yun, Qing Guang, even if Kuang Long, Luo An and the others address me as ��Senior Brother, you two are my seniors by order of seniority. Why are you addressing me as ��Senior Brother�� too?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia, we only entered the sect a few years before you,�� Shi Yun, a bald-headed youth, shook his head.


    "Once Senior Brother takes first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament, you will naturally be the senior brother of all Golden Core disciples."


    "He is right. Senior Brother Li Xia, we are just changing your address a bit earlier, that��s all." Qing Guang, a handsome man dressed in purple robes, added.


    Wu Yuan gave a rueful smile.


    Among hereditary disciples, seniority was determined by the order in which they joined.


    There was only one exception��the first-ce winner of the Dragon Star Tournament! Once a disciple seized first ce, regardless of when they entered, they became the Great Senior Brother of their peers.


    The six disciples gathered here all became hereditary disciples in thest ten to twenty years, and were exceptionally talented. They could be considered fellow freshmen, naturally forming a tighter bond with each other.


    Moreover, since it was their first Dragon Star Tournament, there was littlepetitive pressure, so their mindsets were rtively rxed.


    But most importantly, there was Kuang Long, a seemingly rugged but extremely socially adept hereditary disciple.


    Over the years, Wu Yuan declined most of Kuang Long''s frequent banquet invitations. But the few times he did attend, he got to know some of the hereditary disciples. At least, he could recall their names and roughly understood their personalities.


    Everyone ate and drank as they chatted away.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia, I��ll be honest with you. Even though we all advanced straight to the top thirty-two ces, we are all well aware that five of us are just here to make up the numbers. The first battle will undoubtedly end in defeat for us," said Kuang Long with a grim voice.


    "You are the strongest among us. Do you have the confidence to seize first ce?" Kuang Long��s eyes were fixed on Wu Yuan.


    Immediately, Shi Yun, Qing Guang, and the others couldn��t help but look over, somewhat curious to hear his answer.


    "First ce?" Wu Yuan savored the fine wine in his cup, smiling faintly, "Is that even up for debate?"


    1. Actual raws trante to ��he chose the seat in the center.�� But if it��s a circle, where��s the center? Unless there are five seats surrounding one? ?

 Chapter 392: Dragon Star Tournament (1)

    <h4>Chapter 392: Dragon Star Tournament (1)</h4>


    "Haha, Senior Brother Li Xia indeed lives up to his reputation."


    "He''s got guts."


    "First ce! Senior Brother Li Xia will surely take first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament." The five hereditary disciples all broke into smiles. Their excitement was palpable.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia." Kuang Long''s voice was low, "We all became hereditary disciples the moment we entered the sect, and all of us consider ourselves geniuses. To be honest, even if other Golden Core hereditary disciples defeat us, we still won��t ept that we are inferior to them."


    "We onlyck time," Kuang Long added.


    Shi Yun, Qing Guang, Luo An, and the others all nodded in agreement.


    Geniuses were filled with pride. The uing Dragon Star Tournament was a guaranteed loss for them. The gap in their ages and length of cultivation was just too wide.


    Time held an incredible power.


    From Wu Yuan��s understanding, Kuang Long was the strongest among the five. Despite joining the sect rtivelyter, he was already extremely powerful when he entered.


    However, under normal circumstances, it would be hard for him to make it to the top 32. After all, the Golden Core hereditary disciples were the most outstanding disciples selected from millions of Golden Core disciples by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    And among those present, the weakest was Luo An who had just turned thirty. He was much younger than Wu Yuan, how strong could he possibly be with just a short length of cultivation?


    Even in the next Dragon Star Tournament thirty yearster, Luo An would likely still find it difficult to be a hereditary disciple with his own strength.


    ��Senior Brother Li Xia, you are the only one whose superiority we are willing to acknowledge," Kuang Long said with augh. His eyes shone brightly, and he seemed truly sincere.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia, you are younger than us, yet you��ve already achieved so much," Qing Guang said. Her eyes gleamed, and her figure was enchantingly beautiful.


    "Alright, thanks for your well wishes." Wu Yuan smiled, "I believe that by the time the next Dragon Star Tournament rolls around, all of you will have umted enough strength."


    Wu Yuan was well aware of why everyone was behaving this way. For one, all of them were about the same age as him, fostering a sense of closeness. Secondly, it was his strength and status: an unparalleled genius, and an Archimmortal��s disciple.


    Anyone with a brain would realize that, as long as his life was not cut short, he was destined to rise to greatness in the future.


    How many immortals emerged from the ranks of hundreds and thousands of hereditary disciples over countless generations? Most hereditary disciples would only reach the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase at most, or even die prematurely.


    Hence, Kuang Long, Shi Yun, and the others naturally wanted to befriend Wu Yuan. In the future, when Wu Yuan rose to the upper ranks of the sect, they might reap unexpected rewards.


    Of course, mixed in with the ttery and interest, there might also be genuine feelings. Who could say for sure?


    Take for example Qing Guang, an exceptional beauty with an extraordinary temperament. Her intentions towards Wu Yuan were clear to everyone present.


    But Wu Yuan didn''t show a hint of interest.


    <i>As long as I continue to remain strong, suchpliments and friendliness will continue. Why should I bother discerning what''s real and what''s not?</i> Wu Yuan downed his drink.


    In the blink of an eye, an hour passed.


    ��Time is almost up, let''s continue with the banquet, but remember to send a strand of your consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.��<i> </i>Kuang Long reminded them.


    "Mm."


    "Let''s go." Everyone present nodded in agreement.


    With their strength, maintaining their consciousnesses in two voidrealms simultaneously was a piece of cake, which was why Kuang Long had chosen to hold the banquet in the Redmoon Immortal Realm �C the banquet wouldn��t be interrupted.


    ...


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, Greendragon City.</i>


    The Hereditary Disciple Tower was a sprawlingplex. With few hereditary disciples, the tower rarely received visitors. Consequently, only a handful of custodians and servants remained stationed here throughout the year.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan, Kuang Long, Shi Yun, Qing Guang, and the others entered the main hall of the Hereditary Disciple Tower.


    It was a ce of immense proportions. Extending over ten li in length and several li wide, it could easily amodate tens of thousands of people.


    "It��s crowded." Luo An murmured quietly.


    Wu Yuan and the others looked around as well. They could see hundreds of figures within the main hall, most of whom had strong souls.


    Amethyst Cradle! Most of them were Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples.


    "There are moreing."


    "It''s the Golden Core hereditary disciple, Li Xia!"


    "Which one is Li Xia?"


    "Is that Li Xia? It''s my first time seeing him. He certainly has an extraordinary air." The hundreds of hereditary disciples who had arrived earlier turned to look at the neers.


    Most of their gazesnded on Wu Yuan.


    Li Xia! After entering the sect thirteen years ago, he was taken as a disciple by an Archimmortal.


    The numerous protectorates and elders recognized him as the foremost genius of the sect in thest hundreds of thousands of years.


    To be honest, many powerful Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples were not necessarily convinced that Wu Yuan''s meteoric rise was justified. Many peerless geniuses started out dazzling, but they didn''t necessarily continue to shine.


    Of course, with all eyes on them, these Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples didn''t trouble Wu Yuan. Instead, many greeted him.


    After all, even those unsatisfied with Wu Yuan wouldn''t be foolish enough to offend him, not unless their interests were threatened.


    Wu Yuan responded to each one politely.


    The number of Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples far exceeded the Golden Core hereditary disciples. Yet, their strength was not to be underestimated. Each one was a formidable adversary.


    Soon after, Wu Yuan and his group arrived at the front of the main hall. More than twenty individuals had already gathered there, their soul auras noticeably weaker. They were Golden Core hereditary disciples.


    "Li Xia has arrived."


    "Li Xia." All the Golden Core hereditary disciples turned their gazes toward Wu Yuan, each one showingplicated expressions. A few stepped forward to greet him.


    During the Dragon Star Tournament, Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle disciplespeted separately. Thus, everyone present was seen as directpetition.


    Wu Yuan too, was observing these Golden Core hereditary disciples.


    In total, there were twenty-seven individuals, all cing in the top thirty-two from thest Dragon Star Tournament.


    And the other five Golden Core hereditary disciples? They had already advanced to the Amethyst Cradle phase, and were naturally no longer participating in their category.


    "Xing Luo, Chen Jing, Hao Shanjing, Ku Fang, Dong Shan..." Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the seven figures that posed a threat to him in the tournament.


    In terms of Daoprehension, these seven were able to clear level fifty of the one-star tower.


    Of course, six of them were already over a hundred years old, and were challenging the two-star tower, a significantly tougher challengepared to the one-star tower.


    From their progress in the towers, he could roughly gauge their strengths.


    <i>Chen Jing. Reached level forty-three of the two-star tower, equivalent to level fifty-three of the one-star tower. Specializes in array cultivation. Has been cultivating for over 120 years.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze drifted over a woman dressed in purple robes.


    She had a pleasant face but her appearance fell short whenpared to Qing Guang.


    The path of array cultivation was bizarre, and cultivators of this ss excelled at turning the tables on stronger opponents.


    "Junior Brother Li Xia, if I happen to be your opponent, please show mercy to your senior sister," Chen Jing said with a slight smile.


    "Senior Sister, you jest. During thest Dragon Star Tournament, you imed third ce," Wu Yuan chuckled with a shake of his head. "I have long heard of your mastery of arrays. This time, you might just im first ce."


    "Haha," Chen Jing shook her head. Then, she gave a sigh of resignation, "Whether it��s you or Junior Brother Xing Luo, I don''t have the confidence to say I��ll win."


    Wu Yuan smiled but said nothing more.


    <i>Xing Luo.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted to a young man in white robes.


    His eyes were closed, his expression serene. It was as if he hadn''t heard the exchange between Chen Jing and Wu Yuan. This was Xing Luo!


    Before Wu Yuan arrived, Xing Luo was the universally acknowledged top prodigy of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    <i>Eighty-nine years old, same age as Kuang Long. Cleared level fifty-four of the one-star tower</i>. Wu Yuan recalled his profile. <i>A young appearance, yet a character as profound as water. Also an artifact cultivator.</i>


    Wu Yuan had heard of Xing Luo before.


    The one-star tower only permitted entry to those below a hundred years of age.


    As for the hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, entry was restricted to those under two hundred.


    Quite a few Golden Core hereditary disciples had cleared level fifty of the one-star tower �C a total of seven. Yet, the majority were overaged. Their skills wereparable to those who cleared level fifty-four of the one-star tower.


    Xing Luo was the only exception.


    <i>This Xing Luo has a third-degree immortal root and is rumored to have cultivated seven lifebound artifacts. He might just be my greatest adversary.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.


    If they were the same age, Wu Yuan wouldn��t be afraid. But, having started cultivating farter, he was naturally cautious.


    Artifact cultivation referred to choosing artifacts as one''s lifebound objects. To some extent, sword cultivation also fell under this category.


    <i>Hao Shanjing.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on a bulky man d in bronze armor, towering over three meters tall. He resembled a small mountain.


    Hao Shanjing was a body refiner, at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase. He had a third-degree immortal root, and cleared level forty-two of the two-star tower.


    He had mastered several ether arts, and his full strength was terrifying once unleashed.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s intelligence, if it weren''t for Chen Jing restraining him with her array, resulting in his early elimination, he wouldn''t have dropped out at the top sixteen during thest Dragon Star Tournament.


    Thirty years had passed since then, and Hao Shanjing had undoubtedly grown stronger.


    "Junior Brother Li Xia," Hao Shanjing greeted with a beaming smile, his chubby cheeks giving him the look of a simple and honest fool.


    "Hello, Senior Brother Hao," Wu Yuan returned the greeting with a smile.


    Anyone who thought him a fool was the real fool.


    As for the other Golden Core hereditary disciples? Wu Yuan observed each one, but assessed that they barely posed a threat to him.


    ...


    As time passed, all Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples and Golden Core hereditary disciples gathered.


    A ck-robed figure appeared out of thin air. He had a stern, long face and exuded a mighty aura. His gaze swept over all the hereditary disciples in the main hall.


    "Greetings, Elder."


    "Greetings, Elder." All the hereditary disciples including Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, and the entire hall quieted down.


    "In the uing Dragon Star Tournament, the Amethyst Cradle Battle and the Golden Core Battle will be held simultaneously," Earth Immortal Xu You announced indifferently.


    "After preliminary screening and registration, a total of over 9,600 Amethyst Cradle inner disciples are eligible to participate in the Dragon Star Tournament."


    "There are a total of 792 Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples. You willpete with these Amethyst Cradle inner disciples for the 840 Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciple positions."


    "Arrive punctually at the sect gate tomorrow at noon. Laters will be considered to have forfeited, understood?" Earth Immortal Xu You''s voice was cold.


    "Understood." Several hundred Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples chorused.


    Wu Yuan, Xing Luo, and other Golden Core hereditary disciples listened quietly.


    Not everyone was eligible to participate in the Dragon Star Tournament. Even if a disciple voluntarily signed up, they had to be strong enough.


    Among the tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the sect, those who met the criteria for participation often numbered less than ten thousand.


    "As for you thirty-three Golden Core hereditary disciples."


    "The six newly admitted hereditary disciples will advance directly to the top thirty-two ces.��


    ��The remaining twenty-seven hereditary disciples will battle with over eight thousand Golden Core inner disciples selected from more than a million. You will vie for the remaining twenty-six Golden Core hereditary disciple positions." Earth Immortal Xu You''s voice was cold and detached. "Do you understand?"


    "Understood." Wu Yuan and the others responded in unison.


    Silence fell.


    "Remember this, maintaining your hereditary disciple status is the first step." Earth Immortal Xu You spoke coldly. "If you wish to receive mentorship from an immortal, or obtain more rewards of ethercrystal and dragon crystals, then fight!"


    "Do not settle for top 840 of the Amethyst Cradle disciples or top 32 of the Golden Core disciples. Instead, strive to take the top ten or even first ce!"


    "The better you perform, the more rewards the sect will grant you," Earth Immortal Xu You spoke indifferently. "The respective tournament rules have been transmitted to each of you via the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm."


    "You may disperse."

 Chapter 393: Dragon Star Tournament (2)

    <h4>Chapter 393: Dragon Star Tournament (2)</h4>


    The hereditary disciples left the hall one after another. Wu Yuan returned to his personal hall in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>The tournament rules are reallyplicated.</i> Wu Yuan scanned the long andplex list of rules.


    Over eight thousand inner disciples and twenty-seven hereditary disciples were all vying for twenty-six hereditary positions in the heirdom trial. Thus, the rules were naturallyplex.


    <i>In six days, heirdom trials will end. Then, the ranking battles will begin?</i>


    As new hereditary disciples, Wu Yuan, Kuang Long, and the others would participate directly in the ranking battles.


    The rules for the ranking battles were simple. Thirty-two hereditary disciples, paired up in twos for a match. The winner advanced to the next round...thirty-two became sixteen, sixteen became eight, until the ultimate winner emerged.


    Every battle continued until a clear winner and loser was determined. Though brutal, one couldn��t criticize it.


    <i>The reward for first ce is 30 million catties of ethercrystal and 10 million dragon crystals? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>If I add the 100 million catties of ethercrystal from my master?</i>


    He would be rich overnight.


    If he could seize it, Wu Yuan needn''t worry about his qi refiner selfcking cultivation resources till stepping into the Amethyst Cradle.


    <i>First ce! No one can stop me. </i>Wu Yuan was fully driven.


    Wealth moves the hearts of men! If it doesn''t move, well, it must be insufficient funds. More money is needed.


    ...


    <i>Other hereditary disciples yearn for a master, but I already have one.</i> Xing Luo, the young man in white, sat in his residence.


    <i>But ording to Master��s words, I just need to make it into the top four? I can��t beat Li Xia? Hmph! </i>A coldness lingered in Xing Luo''s eyes.


    <i>Even my master underestimates me? Li Xia is talented but I''ve been cultivating for decades longer. I don''t believe I can''t defeat him.</i>


    Geniuses were always proud. Xing Luo, who was taken in as a direct disciple by an Earth Immortal at a young age, indeed had every reason to be proud.


    ...


    <i>Last time, I only came in third. Could it be that I''ll get stuck in third ce again?</i> Chen Jing might be a woman, but her stubborn character made her no pushover.


    <i>No! I must set up a stronger array. I must defeat Xing Luo and Li Xia, especially Li Xia. Defeating an Archimmortal''s disciple? This time, there will definitely be more elders watching.</i>


    ...


    <i>Heh, I doubt anyone expects me to ce first. </i>Hao Shanjingy down on the earth. A massive nt entwined in countless vines was next to him.


    <i>Finally, I��ve sessfully cultivated this advanced ether art. I''d like to see who can withstand my strikes.</i>


    <i>Li Xia? Sword cultivation is the greatest attack ss? Body refiners are the true deities of war!</i>


    <i>As an Archimmortal''s disciple, he��s certainly the center of attention. If I defeat him, I might even be taken under the wing of an elder or even a veteran elder.</i>


    <i>Once I seize first ce, I will break through to the Shambh phase. That is when my power will undergo a massive surge.</i> Hao Shanjing''s ambitions were boundless.


    ...


    Each peerless genius had their own aspirations. Some wished to break into the top thirty-two, others aimed for the top sixteen. Meanwhile, those like Kuang Long and Shi Yun hoped to avoid a crushing defeat.


    For the millions of Golden Core disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, and even the many Amethyst Cradle Reverends, the Dragon Star Tournament was a grand event.


    "Let''s watch the tournament!"


    "Haha, even if we can''t participate, we can still learn a thing or two."


    "This is Li Xia''s first time participating in the Dragon Star Tournament. I reckon many immortals from our sect will be watching him closely." Countless disciples spected.


    The Dragon Star Tournament was a real-world battle. The Amethyst Cradle and Golden Core heirdom trials were held simultaneously in multiple worldlets.


    The countless disciples of the sect could watch the battles via the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm. [1]


    Time passed.


    On day two, the heirdom trial continued without pause.


    ...


    <i>This Xing Luo also cultivated lifebound flying swords? Three of them?</i> Within his residence, Wu Yuan watched the battle via the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    He focused on Xing Luo, Chen Jing, and Hao Shanjing.


    In a way, it was an advantage for the new hereditary disciples, enabling them to get a head start on understanding their opponents�� abilities.


    <i>The Fire Dao? The Law of Congration? Possessing the power of corrosion? </i>Wu Yuan observed Xing Luo''s battle.


    So far, he had only revealed three lifebound flying swords. After assembling them into a Hundred Swords Array, it swept through all his opponents on the battlefield.


    Every Golden Core disciple was defeated. Not a single one could withstand a strike from him.


    ...


    Wu Yuan turned his attention to Chen Jing.


    Compared to Xing Luo, Chen Jing was no less powerful. Around her, numerous streams of water transformed into massive jiaolongs, crushing all that stood in her way.


    Mountain after mountain copsed, and thend was ripped apart. The world turned upside down.


    This was far beyond the level of a Golden Core cultivator. Even an Amethyst Cradle cultivator would struggle to cause this level of destruction.


    Even when dozens or hundreds of Golden Core disciples joined forces, they couldn''t withstand her array attack.


    <i>This is just a portable array. </i>Wu Yuan slightly frowned. <i>When ites to the ranking battles, she might deploy a fixed array. Dealing with her will be tricky indeed. </i>


    Array cultivation was generally known for being difficult to deal with.


    <i>But it still has its weaknesses.</i> As Wu Yuan watched Chen Jing, numerous battle tactics formed in his mind.


    Other Golden Core hereditary disciples might have their own goals, such as showing off their abilities in hopes of catching the eye of the immortal, who would be willing to take them in as a disciple.


    But for Wu Yuan, there was only one goal �C to win!


    ...


    "Get lost!" With a roar of rage, Hao Shanjing''s arm burst to life, sprouting massive tendrils of thick vines that blotted out the sky,shing out furiously.


    The earth shattered with a thunderous rumble.


    The vines resembled a gigantic dragon, stretching hundreds of li and unleashing a terrifying surge of power, instantly overpowering the array formed by six Golden Core cultivators in the distance.


    In an instant, the six Golden Core inner disciples were defeated, turning into six streaks of white light before vanishing from the worldlet.


    Although the Dragon Star Tournament was a real-world battle, the battlefield itself was a controlled worldlet managed entirely by the sect, ensuring the safety of each participant. While injuries were possible, fatalities were not.


    ...


    <i>How strong! A type of nt?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.<i> Hao Shanjing��s lifebound spirit nt is a force to be reckoned with.</i>


    Body refiners often chose lifebound life forms over objects. However, few chose spirit nts. Apart from some legendary nt life forms, most spirit nts possessed low intelligence and limited potential.


    Nheless, it was undeniable that spirit nts had certain advantages. For example - gargantuan size, and immense vitality!


    <i>This Hao Shanjing has a profound understanding of the Wood Dao. What kind of ether art does he practice? He has a third-degree immortal root, capable of cultivating an advanced ether art. To what extent has he cultivated it? </i>


    Wu Yuan quickly realized that this Hao Shanjing could very well be a formidable enemy.


    As a body refiner himself, Wu Yuan knew that it was rare for individuals to take this cultivation path, and it was difficult for them to achieve great sess.


    But once they rose in level, theirbat abilities were incredibly powerful. In life-and-death battles, even sword cultivators would avoid getting within their attack range.


    Body refiners could make hundreds, even thousands of mistakes, but sword cultivators could not afford a single one.


    ...


    The Golden Core heirdom trial of the Dragon Star Tournament was a six-day long trial due to the sheer number of participants.


    In the end, only the strongest twenty-six were left standing!


    Them, along with Wu Yuan, Kuang Long, and four other new hereditary disciples, were the new generation of Golden Core hereditary disciples.


    Of the original twenty-seven Golden Core hereditary disciples, eight were ruthlessly eliminated.


    Meanwhile, Xing Luo, Chen Jing, Hao Shanjing, and four other disciples widely acknowledged for their strengths made it through the elimination round. No one knew whether they had received deliberate protection from the higher echelons.


    The participants were given no time to rest. The end of the heirdom trial was immediately followed by the release of the ranking match-up schedule.


    The moment the match-ups were released, it set the million Golden Core disciples abuzz.


    ��Poor Kuang Long, his first match is against Hao Shanjing. It will be a showdown between body refiners."


    ��His bad luck is nothingpared to Dong Shan. He was rumored to make it to the top eight, but his first battle is against Li Xia, the one everyone believes is the strongestpetitor!"


    ��That��s nothing. Haven��t you all noticed? ording to the schedule, barring any surprises, Li Xia��s quarterfinal opponent is most likely Xing Luo.��


    ��And no matter which one of them wins, they��re highly likely to face Chen Jing in the semifinals!��


    ��Hao Shanjing, on the other hand, won��t meet any of the top three until the final battle."


    ��Was this randomly assigned?" The Golden Core disciples couldn��t stop themselves from questioning the schedule.


    They couldn��t believe the match-ups. It was too much of a coincidence; almost as if it was designed to pit the strongest hereditary disciples against each other.


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan��s world residence.</i>


    <i>Excellent!</i> By now, Wu Yuan had also received the list of match-ups. A hint of fighting spirit ignited with him.


    <i>To seize first ce, I will need to defeat Xing Luo, Chen Jing, and Hao Shanjing in sequence?</i>


    <i>Mm, Dong Shan, who cleared level forty of the two-star tower, is not weak either.</i> Wu Yuan smirked. <i>Is this a test from the sect?</i>


    <i>That��s fine too. I��m definitely getting that reward.</i>


    ...


    <i>Within the main hall of the sect on Dragon Star.</i>


    "Li Xia, your sect isn��t the one trying to make things difficult for you, it''s your master," the middle-aged man in red robes looked at the match-up list in his hand and smiled helplessly.


    Held once every thirty years, the Dragon Star Tournament had been held hundreds of times over ten thousand years. Generally, it was managed by an Earth Immortal.


    Why would he, the abbot, need to pay attention to it?


    But this tournament was different, someone had put forth a request.


    ��How can my reward be imed so easily?�� the young man in white robes smiled lightly. "My disciple, if you want to seize first ce, you must defeat the strongest of your peers."


    The middle-aged man in red robes shook his head and chuckled, putting down the list.


    ...


    Half a day passed, and the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battle began as scheduled.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan left his world residence, heading for his match location��Immortal City 83.


    ��May the Heir achieve a resounding victory!" Reverend Lu Zhu led the many Golden Core disciples in a respectful chorus.


    "Haha, alright." With augh, Wu Yuan flew into the teleportation array.


    "Immediately enter the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm to watch the fight! We must cheer for the Heir." After bidding farewell to Wu Yuan, Lu Zhu gave the order to the Golden Core disciples behind him.


    ...


    The entire Dragon Star Immortal Sect consisted of hundreds of immortal cities, housing millions of disciples.


    Every immortal city was immense in scale. On any regr day, Immortal City 83 was home to tens of thousands of Golden Core disciples and countless servants, but today, the city was busier than ever.


    Within the vast arena, over a million spectators had gathered. Among them, the sect disciples alone numbered in the tens of thousands. The rest were followers of the disciples.


    Although one could observe the fight through the voidrealm, there were also many who preferred to witness it in person.


    It wasn��t just the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle disciples. The number of sect protectorates and even immortals secretly observing the match was not low at all.


    Many people wanted to witness the strength of the Archimmortal��s disciple.


    1. Checked the raws and this is correct. It should be broadcasted in both voidrealms ?

 Chapter 394: Overwhelming Victory

    <h4>Chapter 394: Overwhelming Victory</h4>


    The colossal spherical arena with a radius of four hundred li waspletely shrouded by a massive array. Crowded on all sides were rows upon rows of seats.


    At full capacity, it could amodate a billion spectators if everyone were to squeeze in.


    However, given that the sect��s Golden Core disciples were individuals with high statusespared to the rest of the immortal continent, such a seating arrangement was naturally inappropriate.


    Moreover, there were numerous Amethyst Cradle Reverends, even some Void Refiner Eminences who had arrived in their true bodies.


    Therefore, each and every spectator seat was extremely spacious and luxurious.


    And with the vision of the Golden Core Superiors and Amethyst Cradle Reverends, they could easily observe the entirety of the spherical arena.


    Moreover, these sect disciples could also send their consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Realm to watch the matches.


    The voidrealm provided the best viewing experience,plete with real-time corresponding technique exnations andmentaries.


    Due to therge number of participants in the Dragon Star Tournament''s Amethyst Cradle ranking battles, their battle was scheduled after the Golden Core battles.


    Therefore, at this moment, everyone''s attention was on the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battles.


    The first round of the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battles consisted of sixteen matches, which would take ce one by one in the arenas of Immortal City 83.


    And without a doubt, the most highly anticipated participant was Wu Yuan. He was scheduled to participate in the first match!


    "Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battle, best sixteen of thirty-two, first match! Dong Shan versus Li Xia!" The Void Refiner Protectorate in ck robes floated high above the battleground. His voice was cold, echoing throughout the vast arena.


    ��In thest two Dragon Star Tournaments, Dong Shan kept his status as a Golden Core hereditary disciple."


    "He is a ninth-stage Spiritual Body cultivator who has cleared level forty of the two-star tower." The ck-robed Protectorate introduced the first contender.


    Within the arena, over a million spectators listened.


    Within the voidrealm, more than eight million spectators listened.


    Upon hearing the words ��level forty of the two-star tower��, countless Golden Core disciples and many Amethyst Cradle Reverends wore expressions of astonishment.


    Even among the Amethyst Cradle Reverends, such a level of Daoprehension was top-tier.


    Simultaneously, a multitude of light screens materialized in the arena, each depicting scenes of Dong Shan in the heirdom trial.


    Domineering! Violent! A pair of fists, at times as heavy as a mountain, at times morphing into sharp ws.


    His prowess in closebat was incredibly ferocious, truly unleashing his power.


    ��The other contender��Li Xia!"


    "Merely fifty years old, he has already conquered level 58 of the one-star tower. A seventh-stage Golden Core cultivator, he is so talented that many dub him the number one genius of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect in hundreds of thousands of years." The voice of the Void Refiner Eminence rose in intensity.


    However, no projection of Li Xia��s battle appeared on the light screen because Wu Yuan never participated in the heirdom battle to begin with.


    To be precise, since joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect over a decade ago, Wu Yuan had never truly fought with other immortal cultivators.


    Challenging the Seven Star Luminaries Tower? That was merely a battle in the voidrealm, not a real-world fight, it didn''t count.


    "Who will win this first battle?"


    In an instant, the Void Refiner Eminence vanished, reced by two figures who materialized in the spherical arena, instantly capturing the attention of the onlookers.


    The two contenders looked at each other from a distance.


    <i>Who will win? </i>This thought rose in the minds of countless spectators. Judging from the introductions, the strengths of both contenders seemedparable.


    "Li Xia has a higher Daoprehension level, but his mana pool is smaller."


    "Dong Shan''s attacks are very fierce."


    "Li Xia stands a greater chance of winning." Those immortals in the sect observing the match from afar quickly made their judgment.


    ...


    Inside the arena, the ck-robed Wu Yuan stood high in the air. He emanated a sharp aura reminiscent of a divine sword, waves of sword intent rippling outwards.


    <i>There is an invisible barrier surrounding my body. If I suffer an attack exceeding the power of the ninth-stage Golden Core level, it will instantly be judged as my defeat.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    This barrier covered a radius of ten meters around him. Formed with the support of the arena array, it could withstand an attack of a Void Refiner Eminence at full strength. This ensured Wu Yuan''s safety.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan received a reminder not to use any external objects, such as ethercrystal weapons, purchased talismans, purchased medicinal pills, and so forth.


    In the air six hundred li away stood a burly man in ck armor, with ancient bronze skin and a robust vital aura �� Dong Shan.


    "Li Xia, I know you are strong. But rest assured, I will do my best to defeat you!" Dong Shan stared intently at Wu Yuan.


    The crowd of Golden Core cultivators observing the battle might not understand.


    But Dong Shan knew himself well. Defeating Wu Yuan? The chances were slim.


    "I respect your efforts." Wu Yuan smiled slightly. His robes fluttered, his raging sword intent unabated.


    <i>Boom! </i>Dong Shan made his move. Earthy-yellow qi streams enveloped his body, spreading for hundreds of li.


    His body instantly transformed into a hundred-zhang tall giant, and his speed skyrocketed beyond three hundred li per second! His aura reached its peak.


    A normal ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator had a flight speed of approximately one hundred li per second. However, Dong Shan was clearly not an ordinary Spiritual Body cultivator.


    He was an undeniable genius, capable of confronting those in the Amethyst Cradle and Shambh phases.


    Why did the arena have a diameter of eight hundred li? It was because the top-tier geniuses at the Golden Core and Spiritual Body phases needed such a space forbat. Any smaller, and it��d be difficult for them to unleash their full power.


    ��Earth Dao? Seems like you haveprehended the Primal Dao.�� Wu Yuan revealed a hint of a smile.


    The Primal Dao and Land Dao were both parts of the Earth Dao and considered Lesser Laws. But if one couldprehend them at a profound level, their power would be unfathomable.


    <i>Celestial Body! </i>Hovering in the sky, Wu Yuan summoned numerous flying swords. Simultaneously, a myriad of flying swords appeared, interlocking across the sky.


    With three lifebound flying swords as the core, 726 fourth-grade spirit flying swords as support, and the Celestial Body Domain as the guide, a sphere-shaped Thousand Swords Array, about ten li in diameter, was formed in the blink of an eye.


    Earthy-yellow qi streams swirled around the array, which resembled a miniature star.


    The first step of Star Ruins Sword Array �C Solid As A Rock!


    <i>Boom!</i> As soon as the miniature earthy-yellow star was formed, the star began to expand wildly in all directions, apanied by dazzling earthy-yellow qi streams.


    <i>Kill!</i> Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate at all. With his powerful soul as support and nearly Amethyst Cradle-level essentia flowing into him, he erupted with full strength.


    Even a lion hunting a rabbit gave its all.


    <i>Boom!</i> The Domains of the two powerful fighters collided. Both were Domains of the Earth Dao. It was like a collision of two meteors, sending endless shockwaves in all directions.


    Sword lights filled the sky, instantly shredding Dong Shan''s Domain into pieces.


    The gap between them was outrageouslyrge.


    <i>How could this be?</i> Dong Shan''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The terrifying divine sword, formed by eighty-one flying swords and bathed in a frightening earthy-yellow hue, appeared out of nowhere from the miniature star.


    Quick as a sh, it shot straight for Dong Shan.


    "Scram!" Dong Shan bellowed, throwing a punch with a force so strong, it resembled a supernova.


    The punch headed straight for the earthy-yellow divine sword.


    <i>ng! Boom!</i>


    The earthy-yellow divine sword neared the point of fracturing, its surface covered in countless cracks as if it was about to disintegrate.


    In this head-on sh, Dong Shan likewise quickly retreated, instantly moving hundreds of li back, his face turning slightly red.


    Cracks began to appear on the surface of his arm, with beads of blood seeping out. His entire arm seemed ready to explode. Waves of ether surged out, healing his injuries.


    He gritted his teeth, feeling a chill run down his spine. Just one strike had almost been too much for his arm and fist to handle.


    "Don''t run!" Wu Yuan growled, and the miniature star he created by merging the Celestial Body Domain with the sword array began to move.


    It was as if a star was hurtling directly towards Dong Shan.


    Dong Shan''s massive body began pulsing with light. Instantly, his figure elerated, moving as swiftly as the wind.


    He managed to avoid Wu Yuan''s attack by a hair''s breadth.


    <i>Deity Step ether art? Or some other speed-boosting ether art?</i> Wu Yuan instantly judged. This was amon type of ether art.


    <i>Disperse!</i> With a single thought from Wu Yuan, the Star Ruins Sword Array, that was originally spread across hundreds of li, suddenly surged and expanded, quickly enveloping the sky in all directions.


    In the blink of an eye, it increased to three hundred li. The entire arena was only eight hundred li in diameter.


    The collision of two vast Domains was fierce. Although Dong Shan gave his all, his Domain was weakening at an rming rate.


    The vast Celestial Body Domain and countless sword lights circting around attacked him mercilessly from all directions.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Just as Dong Shan was about to flee again, he felt a terrifying force pulling at him,ing from Wu Yuan��s direction.


    His speed slowed drastically, and Wu Yuan closed the distance like a bolt of lightning.


    <i>What?</i> Dong Shan''s expression changed drastically. He had never encountered any immortal cultivators whoprehended the Celestial Body Dao.


    Facing this strange situation, he steeled his heart, and a cold light shone in his eyes.


    Swinging his fists, his mountain-like body suddenly began charging towards Wu Yuan like a mighty eagle. His ws shed menacingly, tearing open the Celestial Body Domain.


    In the blink of an eye, he had charged dozens of li into the Celestial Body Domain.


    Since fleeing was impossible, he decided to stop fleeing.


    Moreover, this was a one-on-one confrontation. Constant evasion would eventually lead to defeat.


    <i>Your attack was exactly what I was waiting for. </i>Wu Yuan merely smiled.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Countless flying swords appeared once again within the Celestial Body Domain surrounding Wu Yuan, nketing the sky.


    Finally, they assembled into nine gargantuan divine swords.


    Each earthy-yellow divine sword was formed from eighty-one flying swords, constituting a Hundred Swords Array; nine Hundred Swords Arraysbined to form a Thousand Swords Array.


    Another Thousand Swords Array emerged.


    The Dark Earth Sword Array''s fifth step �C Sword Intent Tempest!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Nine swords pierced through the air, their movements seemingly unrted but in reality intertwined, furiously attacking Dong Shan from all directions.


    <i>Not good!</i> Dong Shan tried to dodge, but he was in the Domain controlled by Wu Yuan. Even if he used his Deity Step ether art, it would be hard topletely avoid it.


    How swift was the speed of a flying sword?


    ��Shatter!�� Dong Shan swung his fists.


    Fists as ws! As sabers! And even as hammers!


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Hundreds of blows were exchanged at lightning speed. Dong Shan strained every nerve to block the sword array��s attacks.


    Devastating shockwaves swept out in all directions, and the entire arena seemed on the verge of exploding.


    Of course, that wouldn��t actually happen. With the array''s added stability, even a Void Refiner Eminence would not be able to damage the arena at all.


    During the 163rd exchange, an earth-colored divine sword broke through Dong Shan''s barrier of w rays,nding a blow on his chest.


    The vital qi within his entire body roiled uncontrobly.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Another divine sword shed past, ruthlessly aiming directly at his neck.


    A sh of light, and the mountain-like Dong Shan disappeared instantly from his original location, leaving only the thousands of flying swords surrounding Wu Yuan. Their sword intent was overwhelming.


    "The winner of the first match is Li Xia!" A deep voice reverberated throughout the vast arena.


    At this moment, the countless immortal cultivators watching the match were all dumbstruck, unable to believe their own eyes.


    Most people had anticipated the oue of this battle. Yet, few imagined that it would be this one-sided.


    The gap in strength between the two contenders was enormous.


    Dong Shan had shown his immensebat power in the heirdom trial. Yet, before Wu Yuan, he was utterly powerless to fight back!


    "Li Xia!"


    "He''s too strong."


    "He��s controlling thousands of flying swords. From what I see, they''re all at least fifth-grade spirit weapons."


    "He only started cultivating a few decades ago?" Countless Golden Core disciples were shocked. They had never seen such a powerful Golden Core sword cultivator.


    "Master! Haha, this is my master." On one of the spectator seats, the burly Qiong Sea King roared excitedly, "First ce! My master will definitely take first ce."


    He shouted wildly, but none of the Golden Core disciples seated nearby said anything. They were still immersed in the recent battle.


    "Is Li Xia really this powerful?"


    "Wasn''t it said that his mana pool was smaller than ours?"


    "Controlling two Thousand Swords Arrays at once? You call this a small mana pool?" The expressions of Xing Luo, Chen Jing, Hao Shanjing, and other hereditary disciples all shifted.

 Chapter 395: Unshakeable (1)

    <h4>Chapter 395: Unshakeable (1)</h4>


    The corresponding technique exnations of the Dark Earth Sword Array and the Star Ruins Sword Array within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm allowed Xing Luo, Chen Jing, Hao Shanjing, and the others to quickly identify Wu Yuan��s techniques despite their own inability to recognize them.


    The number of sword array steps one could execute was dictated by the depth of one''s Daoprehension.


    Apart from that, the forms and number of arrays one could deploy were also determined by one��s mana, soul, and the quality of the flying swords. Someone who could assemble a Hundred Swords Array might not necessarily be able to form a Thousand Swords Array.


    <i>Dong Shan is not weak at all. If I confront him in a head-on battle, I''m afraid he surpasses me in terms of attack power.</i> Chen Jing''s mind raced.


    <i>Right, there is no need for me to fight him head-on. I must use the array to trap Li Xia tightly and then slowly exhaust him.</i>


    <i>Once I drain his manapletely, the battle will be over, just like how I defeated Hao Shanjingst time. </i>Chen Jing made a quick decision.


    In the previous tournament, she was able to deplete Hao Shanjing��s ether with her array until he lost.


    <i>But Li Xia''s first hurdle is still Xing Luo.</i> Chen Jing thought to herself. <i>What exactly is Xing Luo''s seventh lifebound artifact? It remains a mystery.</i>


    ...


    <i>How powerful.</i> Hao Shanjing''s eyes widened, burning with fighting spirit. <i>Two Thousand Swords Arrays, how fierce!</i>


    <i>Looks like I��ll have to use my strongest move to defeat this Li Xia.</i> Hao Shanjing licked his lips in anticipation.


    He couldn''t wait to fight Wu Yuan!


    ...


    <i>Dong Shan might not be my match, but he is still a very powerful body refiner! </i>Xing Luo frowned. <i>This Dark Earth Sword Array of Li Xia��s, even if it is a Thousand Swords Array, it should not be so powerful in theory. How did he unleash such power from it?</i>


    <i>He has a third-degree immortal root, but is only at the seventh-stage Golden Core phase. In terms of mana, he is two stages weaker than me; his lifebound flying swords should also be weaker than mine. Why is he so powerful?</i>


    He didn''t understand.


    <i>In a head-on sh, I''m no match for this Li Xia. </i>Xing Luo''s eyes turned cold.<i> I must find another way.</i>


    <i>I guess I��ll have to do that. </i>Xing Luo made his decision.


    <i>Mm, I��m up next. </i>Xing Luo''s eyes shed. An instantter, he flew out of the meditation chamber.


    The thirty-two participants of the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battle gathered in the arena''s meditation chamber, where they could watch the battle through the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    Once their turn arrived, they would receive a notification.


    ...


    "It''s his soul!" Above the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, an independent space had been created.


    In this space, powerful beings were currently holding a feast, each of them exuding immense power. The one sitting in the host seat was the red-robed abbot.


    "This Li Xia, his soul is very strong. He likely ranks quite highly even among Amethyst Cradle cultivators." A long-haired, middle-aged man in ck robes who sat on his right remarked. "He is indeed worthy of his status as an Archimmortal��s disciple! Abbot Wu, I must congratte your Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    "Haha." The red-robed abbotughed. "Mountain Master Xu, you tter us. Li Xia is still very young. Compared to the peerless geniuses of the Moonsilver World, he''s still quite immature."


    The long-haired middle-aged man in ck robes was a High Immortal from the Moonsilver World. He had an extremely high status, thus the abbot of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect personally attended to him.


    Besides the abbot, several High Immortals and numerous Earth Immortals were also present.


    "A powerful soul allows him to control more artifacts, and also boosts the power of the artifacts he controls." Mountain Master Xuughed, "Li Xia has a great chance of taking first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament."


    "With his rate of progress, he''ll surely shine in the Moonsilver Tournament."


    Suddenly, his gaze focused, and his lips curled into a smile. "Abbot Wu, that youngster must be Xing Luo, he��s quite extraordinary indeed."


    "Ha, they''re all good-for-nothing kids," the red-robed abbot chuckled.


    He understood why Mountain Master Xu was here. Because of the missed opportunity with Li Xia, he decided to watch the Dragon Star Tournament to screen for any other peerless geniuses in the sect worthy of special recruitment.


    Xing Luo was the second most talented prodigy in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect after Wu Yuan.


    "He won, Xing Luo won."


    "Not bad! Not bad at all!" Mountain Master Xu chuckled. ncing at the red-robed abbot, he lifted his cup, "Come, Abbot Wu, let''s drink."


    "Let''s drink." Abbot Wu smiled and raised his cup.


    ...


    <i>He won. Just like before, Xing Luo defeated his opponent with a single move. Qing Guang is far too weakpared to him.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    As soon as he stepped off the tform, he chose to return to the meditation chamber to watch the battle. Unfortunately, he wasn��t able to uncover most of his uing opponents�� secrets.


    <i>I��ll continue to rest for now. </i>Wu Yuan closed his eyes and meditated, quietly cultivating to recover his mana and soul power.


    Controlling such arge number of flying swords consumed the invisible power of the soul. The so-called mental fatigue was the exhaustion of mental energy.


    Under normal circumstances, immortal cultivators had no need for sleep because their souls were strong enough to continuously replenish their mental energy.


    Of course, if the mind was exhausted to the brink of copse or the soul was severely damaged, one would fall into a deep sleep.


    ...


    ��The third battle of the first round, Chen Jing versus Shi Yun.��


    The oue of the battle was no surprise. Though Shi Yun possessed immense talent, she had only trained in the sect for a little over twenty years, appearing somewhat weak in front of Chen Jing. Eventually, Chen Jing won with ease.


    Time flew by.


    Apart from a few matches where the disparity in strength was toorge, most contenders were closely matched.


    Moreover, it was widely known that the audience turnout for this year��s Dragon Star Tournament was not like the previous years. Not only were numerous disciples watching the tournament, but also many of the sect''s Void Refiner protectorates, and immortals.


    Therefore, the Golden Core hereditary disciples who participated were all desperate to win, making each battle an exhrating spectacle.


    As each round concluded, the winners were determined.


    Next up was the sixteenth battle of the first round��Kuang Long versus Hao Shanjing!


    "Kuang Long? He��s just a new hereditary disciple."


    "It��s a guaranteed defeat for him."


    "Hao Shanjing is recognized as one of the strongest hereditary disciples, and the order of the matches is greatly in his favor. He has a high chance of making it to the finals." This was the general sentiment among disciples, including Wu Yuan, Chen Jing, and others.


    This battle ended as everyone anticipated, with Hao Shanjing''s victory. However, their battle itself left everyone astounded.


    The underdog, Kuang Long, demonstrated unprecedented strength, activating two advanced ether arts in session. Then, he unleashed his ultimate move �C Yang Thunder True Intent!


    From the get-go, Kuang Long managed tond a surprise attack on Hao Shanjing, sending him flying. Only then did Hao Shanjing react, employing his ether art attack and defeating Kuang Long!


    "Amazing!"


    "Comprehending True Intent and practicing multiple ether arts? Kuang Long''s rate of progress is terrifying. He''s already able to stand firm among the Golden Core hereditary disciples."


    "Truly worthy of granted his direct hereditary disciple status." Numerous disciples remembered Kuang Long''s name.


    They were certain that Kuang Long would shine brightly in the next Dragon Star Tournament. Of course, that would be thirty years from now.


    At this point, the first round of sixteen matches was over. The top sixteen Golden Core cultivators in this Dragon Star Tournament were decided.

 Chapter 396: Unshakeable (2)

    <h4>Chapter 396: Unshakeable (2)</h4>


    The second round of matches would begin six hours after the end of the first round. The specific order of the matches was also officially announced.


    As for the countless immortal cultivators watching the fight? Even the weakest Golden Core cultivators could easily wait for six hours, so nobody left their seats.


    "The first fight of the second round is between Xing Luo and Li Xia."


    "Who will win?"


    "Xing Luo was previously hailed as the sect''s current top genius. Li Xia, who reced him, is acimed as a genius that the sect only sees once every hundred thousand years."


    "Two geniuses shing?"


    "Neither has reached a hundred years old."


    "Li Xia''s advantage lies in natural talent, while Xing Luo��s lies in his longer cultivation period," countless spectators debated among themselves, bubbling with excitement.


    Without a doubt, the face-off between Xing Luo and Li Xia sparked the most discussion out of the eight battles.


    It was a match that drew everyone��s interest.


    "My master will definitely win! Why? Because he''s my master!" Qiong Sea King was exuberant.


    His smug attitude irked many disciples around him. But no one dared speak up.


    <i>Hmph, you think I��m arrogant?</i> Qiong Sea King was unfazed by the res, busy boasting about his master to a group of jiaolong disciples.


    A substantial number of jiaolong disciples lived within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, and the dragon lineage prospered within the sect.


    Of course, many disciples were annoyed by Qiong Sea King''s attitude, but even more disciples wanted to get acquainted with Qiong Sea King, hoping to meet Wu Yuan through him.


    "Haha, looking to meet my master? Wait until after the Dragon Star Tournament," Qiong Sea King brushed them off, clear about his priorities.


    ...


    Six hours flew by.


    The highly anticipated first match of the second round finally arrived: Li Xia versus Xing Luo.


    As the Void Refiner Eminence supervising the battle departed, Wu Yuan, dressed in ck robes, and Xing Luo, d in white, simultaneously appeared in the spherical arena.


    All eyes were on them.


    Both Wu Yuan and Xing Luo blocked out all external distractions, focusing only on their opponent.


    <i>What a strong soul.</i> Wu Yuan observed Xing Luo carefully.


    Their prior encounters had all taken ce within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm. This was their first face-off in the real world.


    Upon meeting him face to face for the first time, Wu Yuan noted that Xing Luo was no ordinary cultivator.


    Even though his outward appearance was simr to any other cultivator, his soul aura was immensely powerful. It gave Wu Yuan the sense that he was a lethal threat!


    "Li Xia." Xing Luo stared back at Wu Yuan.


    The youth in ck robes seemed older than him, yet in reality, Wu Yuan was decades younger.


    Still, Wu Yuan��s natural talent was frightening. Clearing level fifty-eight of the one-star tower proved his deep understanding of the Dao and mastery of superiorbat techniques.


    But his true strength was revealed in his battle at Dong Shan. Merely fifty years old, yet his soul was strong enough to control two Thousand Swords Array effortlessly.


    <i>I can''t win in a head-on battle. I must use my ultimate technique. His soul is strong, but even an Amethyst Cradle cultivator would struggle to withstand my killing blow. </i>Xing Luo thought.


    Though he had mastered his ultimate move many years ago, he had never disyed it in a real match.


    <i>I will defeat him!</i> Wu Yuan''s fighting spirit soared.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Instantly, two top geniuses at the Golden Core phase unleashed their power.


    One invoked the Celestial Body Domain! The other invoked the Congration Domain!


    As both Domains formed, the two figures simultaneously summoned a barrage of flying swords that filled the sky, each forming a Thousand Swords Array.


    The Thousand Swords Array, the pinnacle of sword cultivation, was the true marker of a powerful sword cultivator.


    A Ten Thousand Swords Array? It was far tooplex, and the difficulty of assembling one was high. Besides, if one possessed such a powerful soul, they might as well form a Thousand Swords Array with higher grade swords.


    <i>Boom! </i>Like a sh between two powerful sword immortals, an earth-shattering collision ensued.


    One was as heavy as a mountain, solid as a rock. Countless flying swordsbined with the Domain, resembling a miniature star.


    The other was fiery and fierce, possessing an astonishing corrosive power that spread in all directions.


    Neither side held back.


    <i>Boom!</i> Both fighters were enveloped within the sword arrays, shing time and again.


    This was true sword cultivation.


    A person controlling a single flying sword to kill enemies thousands of li away? That was also sword cultivation, but it was the kind of sword cultivation mortals envisioned in their imaginations.


    True sword cultivation involved beheading people from thousands of li away, while also controlling thousands of flying swords, assembling them into a sword array that swept away all enemies.


    In the blink of an eye, the two sides shed hundreds of times.


    Inside Wu Yuan''s Star Ruins Sword Array, countless flying swords trembled and shook, showing signs of strain.


    <i>The Congration Dao is so powerful? His sword array is tightly assembled. </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils narrowed slightly, somewhat surprised.


    The Daos of the five elements each had its strengths.


    The Earth Dao was most adept at defense. Therefore, when Wu Yuan attacked, he often relied on overwhelming momentum to crush his opponents. His attackscked sharpness and prability.


    The Fire Dao, on the other hand, was adept at explosive bursts. No one could match its surging explosiveness, not even the Metal Dao or Thunder Dao.


    Thus, when Wu Yuan and Xing Luo shed time and again and neither was at a disadvantage, it actually meant that Xing Luo was weaker.


    Yet, Wu Yuan��s sword array, which was clearly more durable and refined, was surprisingly showing signs of copse first? This was highly abnormal.


    <i>My mana pool may be smaller, resulting in ack of power unleashed by my artifact. But my soul is stronger,pensating for many shorings. </i>Wu Yuan frowned. <i>Things will be made clear soon.</i>


    He was somewhat confused.


    <i>Rumble! </i>Xing Luo seized the opportunity to attack without any hesitation.


    The massive sword array surged forward abruptly. Simultaneously, three massive cauldrons, arranged in a triangle formation, came into view.


    "It''s the cauldron!"


    "With three cauldrons, one can form a Three Talents Cauldron Array. Such defense is absolutely unparalleled," numerous spectators stared wide-eyed.


    The cauldron! In the vast heaven and earth, this object held a special meaning, representing the strongest defense. Yetpared to the sword, it was far more difficult to forge.


    Forging three cauldrons was truly an unimaginable feat.


    <i>Cauldrons?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    He could feel the surging energy radiating from the threerge cauldrons. They were anything but ordinary, most likely Xing Luo''s lifebound artifacts.


    <i>For offense, I have three lifebound flying swords; for defense, I have three lifebound cauldrons. My seventh lifebound artifact, an array diagram, serves as the foundation. Once I integrate the swords and cauldrons into one via the array diagram, my sword array will naturally be extremely sturdy. </i>Xing Luo was full of confidence. This was his trump card.


    Integrating six lifebound flying swords was easy. Butbining swords and cauldrons? Although they were both lifebound artifacts, they werepletely different objects. Integrating them together was extremely challenging.


    But Xing Luo managed it, because, the seventh lifebound artifact he chose was an array diagram. He studied multiple cultivation sses, amalgamating them into a formidable whole.


    "This ultimate move was originally meant for Chen Jing. Li Xia, I��ll be testing it out on you." Xing Luo propelled his massive sword array forward, charging at Wu Yuan within the wavering Star Ruins Sword Array.


    "Haha, good! Xing Luo, you''re powerful. If you only had three or even six lifebound flying swords, I might not be your match."


    "You deserve to face my full strength." Wu Yuan''s eyes were filled with fighting spirit.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Six more sharp flying swords with overwhelming auras emerged at his side. All of them were lifebound flying swords.


    The six lifebound flying swords then joined the Thousand Swords Array.


    <i>Boom~</i> Wu Yuan''s previously shaky Thousand Swords Array transformed. The speed of the swords increased, and the array��s overall power surged dramatically.

 Chapter 397: Nine Swords Unleashed, The Final Battle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 397: Nine Swords Unleashed, The Final Battle (1)</h4>


    "He''s going to lose."


    "Li Xia''s strength is still a notch weaker. They''re both employing Thousand Swords Arrays, but he''s no match for Xing Luo. His defenses are on the verge of copse." The audience observing the match from the viewing stands or within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm discussed heatedly amongst themselves.


    They might be weaker than the fighters, but could still roughly make out how the situation on the battlefield was turning out.


    <i>Master, lose? That��s not possible.</i> Qiong Sea King watched the match with razor-sharp focus.


    After decades of following Wu Yuan, he hade to view him as an unbeatable force among his peers.


    Notably, having conquered level fifty-eight of the one-star tower, Wu Yuan had already proven his prowess.


    <i>The seventh artifact of Xing Luo��s is actually an array diagram? It coordinates the attacks and defense of the seven artifacts seamlessly. </i>Watching the battle through the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, Chen Jing turned pale.


    Xing Luo had hidden his abilities well. Even during thest Dragon Star Tournament, Xing Luo hadn''t revealed his array diagram.


    Of course, Xing Luo was younger and weaker during the previous tournament. Even if he had revealed his strategy with the array diagram then, he wouldn''t have won.


    <i>Interesting. Designating an array diagram as the core, and then integrating swords and cauldrons, the stability of the sword array has increased tenfold, greatly improving defense. How interesting. </i>Hao Shanjing watched the match intently.<i> Even if Li Xia were to deploy two Thousand Swords Arrays, I suspect he would still lose.</i>


    <i>Within that special observation space.</i>


    "Haha, I never expected Xing Luo to study so many paths simultaneously �C array, sword, artifacts. They may be varied, but work together perfectly in battle," Mountain Master Xu chuckled. "Thisbination array, I''ve never seen it before. He probably created it himself."


    "Yes, Mountain Master is right."


    "Xing Luo''s strength surpasses Li Xia''s." A few Earth Immortals from the Moonsilver World readily agreed.


    "Abbot Wu, what do you think?" Mountain Master Xu asked with a hint of a smile. "The one who will take the first ce might just be Xing Luo."


    "Xing Luo is not bad at all," Abbot Wu responded mildly, his gaze falling onto the arena below.


    Suddenly, he smiled and said, "However, Mountain Master Xu, it seems a bit early for you to draw conclusions. The situation has changed again."


    "Hm?" Mountain Master Xu was taken aback.


    "Something��s amiss."


    "Look at Li Xia��s sword array. How is its power so intense? It has stabilized again."


    "How strange, the power of the sword array is burgeoning." The expressions of the other High Immortals and Earth Immortals turned to astonishment.


    "Nine lifebound flying swords?" Mountain Master Xu''s gaze tightened, catching onto something.


    Abbot Wu couldn''t help but smile.


    For him, whether Xing Luo or Wu Yuan won was irrelevant. However, he enjoyed the flustered look on Mountain Master Xu��s face.


    After all, which sect would be willing to have their members constantly poached away by Moonsilver World?


    At this moment, those immortals weren��t the only ones staring at the scene in shock, but also the countless spectators inside the arena and through the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>Within the spherical arena.</i>


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The colors of the sky and earth transformed as the two great sword arrays shed fiercely, colliding over and over again.


    Earthy-yellow qi flows and turbulent mes swept through the air, but neither could establish dominance.


    <i>How is this possible? This! This! </i>Xing Luo stiffened, staring in absolute shock at the massive sword array surrounding Wu Yuan that resembled a celestial body. <i>Nine...nine lifebound flying swords?</i>


    As one of thebatants, he was able to sense it clearly. After dozens of consecutive shes, he could tell that there were nine flying swords with exceptionally strong auras within Wu Yuan''s massive sword array.


    Within his realm of understanding, lifebound flying swords were the only exnation.


    Nine of them? For many weak sword cultivators, cultivating three lifebound flying swords was a tough challenge, let alone six. Those who managed it were hailed as top-tier geniuses.


    Starting from three lifebound flying swords, every additional sword only increased the difficulty of cultivation.


    But likewise, for every extra lifebound flying sword summoned, one''s strength would also surge dramatically.


    Wu Yuan was unable to use his lifebound flying swords in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, hence he could not clear level fifty-nine. He only felt confident that he could conquer it recently.


    If he could wield nine lifebound flying swords? Wu Yuan felt that even challenging level sixty was a possibility. At least, he might be able to stand his ground.


    <i>Nine swords! How is that possible? Unless he has the legendary innate first-degree immortal root, it''d be hard to cultivate nine lifebound flying swords even with a second-degree root.</i> [1] Xing Luo was unspeakably shocked.


    He fancied himself a genius, managing to cultivate seven lifebound objects after exhausting countless methods.


    "After entering the sect thirteen years ago, I spent the majority of my time in secluded cultivation, especially after upgrading my nine lifebound flying swords to the fourth grade. This is the first time I''ve unleashed them all," Wu Yuan transmitted his voice with a smile.


    Their conversation could not be heard by anyone else.


    In terms of equipment quality, Xing Luo''s seven lifebound treasures were all third-grade. Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords were slightly inferior.


    However, when nine lifebound swords were integrated into one sword array, the grade gap could basically be disregarded.


    Two to three was a qualitative leap, just as eight to nine was also a qualitative change.


    "Li Xia." Xing Luo��s heart still pounded with shock as he extended his Soul Force. He could barely sense Wu Yuan''s position.


    Forging nine lifebound flying swords was a legend among sword cultivators. It was just a step below the legend of the first-degree immortal root!


    Immortals who lived for tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years, might see such geniuses once or twice in their entire lives. But for Xing Luo, those were nothing but myths.


    "Li Xia, your talent is truly unimaginable. No wonder you were taken in as a disciple by our founding ancestor." Xing Luo''s heart burned with a desire for battle.


    When legends be reality, bing your opponent?


    "Quit ying defense, that isn��t what sword cultivators excel at. You can''t block me just by defending," Xing Luo growled. "Attack! Even if you are to lose, let me witness just how strong the strongest sword cultivators in legends really are."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly, sensing Xing Luo��s unprecedented thirst for battle.


    This was not hostility; they were all martial brothers under the same sect. It was not a fight to the death, but apetition. Therefore, there was no enmity between them.


    "As you wish, Xing Luo." Wu Yuan conveyed his agreement via Soul Force.


    <i>Boom!</i> The Star Ruins Sword Array, which previously resembled a miniature star, transformed.


    Countless flying swords shifted positions. The originally cohesive and wless Star Ruins Sword Array dispersed in a split second, dividing into nine Hundred Swords Arrays.


    Each Hundred Swords Array vaguely formed a massive, earthy-yellow divine sword, with sword aura spanning hundreds of li.


    Nine earthy-yellow divine swords were subtly connected, flying around Wu Yuan. Numerous powerful strands of soul consciousnesses merged into the nine Hundred Swords Arrays.


    <i>What incredible power. </i>Wu Yuan felt a little emotional. His soul acted like a hand, manipting this power.


    Dark Earth Sword Array, fifth step �C Sword Intent Tempest!


    Each divine sword was powerful enough to rival a Thousand Swords Array of the fourth step, and there were nine divine swords in total.


    <i>Go!</i> Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The Celestial Body Domain rapidly expanded.


    The divine swords cried out as they soared, one of them crossing the vast sky with a frightening speed. It left behind asting sword scar in the air, aiming directly for Xing Luo.


    <i>Assemble! Hold! </i>Xing Luo''s pupils turned red with strain. His soul operated at full force, supporting his seven lifebound artifacts as he put up his strongest defense.


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>Countless sword lights roared. Hundreds of flying swords, wreathed in brilliant mes, blocked the earthy-yellow divine sword.


    The divine sword was like a sharp spear, piercing through the sky.


    Loud booming sounds echoed as essentia exploded. Even light seemed to distort. The countless flying swords were struck and scattered.


    The earthy-yellow divine sword tore a hundred-li long rip in the Congration Domain before its power was exhausted.


    But Xing Luo had no time to catch his breath.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Another earthy-yellow divine sword arrived in an instant. Following the previous divine sword''s path, it easily crossed the hundred li and stabbed one of the huge cauldrons.


    <i>Hum~</i> There was a low explosion as the cauldron shook and trembled. The cryptic patterns connecting the Three Talents Cauldron Array began to show cracks.


    <i>Not good</i>. Xing Luo felt his mind shake. He raced to stabilize the Three Talents Cauldron Array, draining his essentia and mana.


    <i>Boom!</i> Another divine sword howled, striking the Three Talents Cauldron Array.


    <i>Boom!</i> Earthy-yellow divine swords streaked across the sky, relentlessly raining down like a meteor shower.


    These divine swords were all part of a single entity, each one a crushing force; their overwhelming sword intent andyers of oppressive sharpness leaving Xing Luo gasping for breath.


    <i>Rumble!</i> As wave after wave of divine swords assaulted Xing Luo, who couldn''t evade them, the Three Talents Cauldron Array, supposedly the strongest defense, finally crumbled apart under the onught.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Another divine sword whistled out.


    "Li Xia, you''ve won this battle, but I''ll work hard to beat you in the next Dragon Star Tournament." Xing Luo''s determined words resounded in Wu Yuan''s ears.


    <i>Swoosh~</i> The divine sword swept past. Less than a millisecond after being hit, Xing Luo turned into a white light and disappeared from the arena.


    Only Wu Yuan remained.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Countless flying swords circled back, and Wu Yuan swiftly collected them.


    <i>The next Dragon Star Tournament? </i>Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    <i>Considering my current cultivation speed, after the Moonsilver Tournament ends in ten years and a brief consolidation period, I''ll move on to the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i>


    Many Golden Core hereditary disciples would certainly be demoted to inner disciple status if they rushed their advancement to the Amethyst Cradle phase due to their short length of cultivation.


    Therefore, some hereditary disciples dyed their transition until they were two hundred. Normally, they would cultivate until they reached 120 to 130 years old to solidify their immortal roots.


    But for Wu Yuan? Once he fully perceived the unique profundity of a perfect Golden Core, he wouldn''t dy at all, charging straight into the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Thirty years? It was too long!


    <i>But this Xing Luo was much stronger than I initially thought. If he hadn''t encountered me, he could have potentially taken first ce. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Xing Luo was young yet incredibly powerful. He deserved to be called a peerless genius, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Even if he failed to conquer level sixty of the one-star tower, his talent still shone brightly.


    Wu Yuan quickly retreated through the arena��s passage after packing up all his artifacts.


    "The first battle of the second round, Xing Luo versus Li Xia, Li Xia wins!" the voice of the Void Refiner Eminence supervising the tournament reverberated across the arena.


    ...


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Xing Luo is even stronger than the previous champion, but he still lost?"


    "Xing Luo isn��t weak; Li Xia is simply stronger," the crowd discussed the battle spiritedly, all astounded by the oue.


    Before the battle began, most of them predicted Wu Yuan would win. After all, Wu Yuan''s performance in the first battle was incredible. What''s more, he was the top performer in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.


    Unexpectedly, Xing Luo demonstrated unprecedented strength right from the start. And yet, Wu Yuan still defeated him.


    He did not resort to any tricks, relying solely on his divine swords to bombard Xing Luo''s sword-cauldron array, utterly destroying it.


    It was the epitome of ''one strike shatters allws''.


    No matter how unwilling one might be, they had to admit defeat!


    "Li Xia, the number one genius of the sect! Number one!"


    "Even Xing Luo couldn''t stop him. Can anyone else? Chen Jing? Or Hao Shanjing?"


    "Unstoppable!"


    "Even a few thousand years ago, there wasn��t anyone as strong as Li Xia among our sect''s Golden Core cultivators."


    "Golden Core Great Senior Brother." Numerous disciples from the sect discussed, the vast majority already convinced that Wu Yuan would im the top spot.


    They even started chanting ��Golden Core Great Senior Brother��.


    Indeed, the strength that Wu Yuan disyed was significantly greater than the other Golden Core hereditary disciples. They were simply not on the same level.


    ...


    "Unbelievably powerful."


    "Junior Brother Li Xia is too overpowered. During his final move, I believe he showcased nine lifebound flying swords."


    "It might be." In the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, hundreds of Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples gathered in the Hereditary Disciple Tower, discussing amongst themselves.


    Their matches woulde after the Golden Core disciples, hence they had time to watch the fights.


    These Amethyst Cradle disciples were all shocked by the battle between Wu Yuan and Xing Luo.


    "If both of them were in the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, Junior Brother Xing Luo could probably break into the top two hundred in the Amethyst Cradle ranking battle."


    "Junior Brother Li Xia could at least break into the top fifty." The Amethyst Cradle disciples couldn''t help but sigh.


    Too strong. These hereditary disciples had trained for hundreds of years, some more than a thousand.


    But Xing Luo and Wu Yuan? One had only trained for eighty-nine years, the other even fewer at fifty years.


    The gap was too wide.


    1. innate first-degree immortal root = first-degree immortal root established at the time of transcendence (Qi Sea/Communion phase). Non-innate = immortal root upgraded to this degree inter cultivation phases. ?

 Chapter 398: Nine Swords Unleashed, The Final Battle (2)

    <h4>Chapter 398: Nine Swords Unleashed, The Final Battle (2)</h4>


    Within the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm was a mysterious ce filled with undting mountain peaks and inds. This was the Moonsilver World''s base in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    Within a gigantic hall, seven super powerhouses were seated, watching a projection of the battle between Wu Yuan and Xing Luo.


    "Li Xia''s rate of improvement is off the charts, rmingly fast."


    "Other than Haiyue, I��m afraid no one in my Moonsilver World can beat Li Xia when ites to talent."


    "He is indeed talented, eligible to join divine court headquarters." The super powerhouses discussed among themselves.


    "Let''s move on to Xing Luo." Mountain Master Xu spoke. "I propose a special recruitment for him. I won''t go into the details, let''s vote right away. I��m in favor."


    "I object."


    "I��m in favor."


    "I object."


    "I object."


    "I object."


    "I��m in favor."


    "Four votes against, three in favor, the proposal does not pass." The old man in white robes sitting at the host seat said calmly. "Mountain Master Xu, sorry to trouble you."


    "No worries." Mountain Master Xu didn''t mind.


    He thought highly of Xing Luo, but the Moonsilver World only had ten special recruitment slots every ten thousand years, so they had to be ultra selective.


    Xing Luo''s performance had reached the standard of the Moonsilver World��s normal recruitment criteria, but it was not up to the special recruitment standard!


    ...


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, tens of millions of viewers, including arge number of followers, continued discussing the battle between Wu Yuan and Xing Luo excitedly.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan had already returned to the meditation chamber.


    <i>Who would have thought that I''d be forced to deploy all nine lifebound flying swords? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    <i>I figured that assembling two Thousand Swords Arrays with three lifebound flying swords each, one for offense, one for defense, was enough to deal with any opponent.</i>


    But Xing Luo was just too powerful. During their head-on confrontation, Wu Yuan felt that his defenses were somewhat insufficient.


    One must never underestimate any opponent.


    <i>My understanding of the Dao isn''t deep enough. If I had advanced to the seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao, then I could hold my ground even if the sword array isn��t specialized for defense, even with only three lifebound flying swords. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Sadly, this was easier said than done. As an Intermediate Law, the Celestial Body Dao was much harder toprehendpared to the pure Land Dao.


    At present, Wu Yuan had yet to reach the fifth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>I should rest.</i> Wu Yuan started cultivating silently.


    ...


    Time flowed by and the bouts went on.


    After the epic sh between Wu Yuan and Xing Luo, the battles that followed seemed dull inparison.


    Soon enough, the third round of the Dragon Star Tournament came around, and Wu Yuan was once again participating in the first battle, meeting his third opponent since the start of the Dragon Star Tournament.


    This was his weakest opponent of all, having failed to conquer level forty of the two-star tower. Moreover, it was also someone Wu Yuan was well acquainted with �C Bei Hua.


    "Li Xia, I''m not your match, but I''ll never concede voluntarily. Defeat me with your strongest power." The young woman in white dered.


    Wu Yuan granted her wish.


    After assembling a Thousand Swords Array, he defeated her in one move!


    ...


    The four battles in the third round were uneventful. Wu Yuan, Chen Jing, Hao Shanjing - three acknowledged top talents - all won their battles with ease.


    Thus, the top four finalists in the Golden Core hereditary disciples ranking battle were decided.


    The first match of the fourth round, Wu Yuan versus Chen Jing, was a spectacle that drew all eyes.


    After all, Chen Jing had made a name for herself. In thest tournament, she was ranked third. After which, she underwent another thirty years of grueling cultivation.


    "Senior Sister Chen Jing is a force to be reckoned with. On top of that, it has been another thirty years. She might even be stronger than Xing Luo."


    "Li Xia will likely face a difficult battle." Many of the outer and inner disciples spected.


    However, the fight was a shocking one.


    Wu Yuan unleashed his full strength, assembling a Thousand Swords Array with his nine lifebound flying swords. Then, it only took three strikes to defeat Chen Jing.


    "How is this possible?��


    "Senior Sister Chen Jing lost?" A wave of disbelief swept across the disciples. Many found it hard toprehend the scene before their eyes.


    They believed that Chen Jing would win. After all, Chen Jing, who had been on par with Xing Luo before the Dragon Star Tournament, had won her first three rounds without breaking a sweat.


    Yet she lost to Wu Yuan?


    ...


    "It��s not surprising."


    "Li Xia''s attacks are too fierce. Xing Luo''s defense was strong enough, and the Three Talents Cauldron Array held the sword array steady, managing to withstand dozens of Wu Yuan''s strikes."


    "In array cultivation, the arrays are often set up in advance to plot ambushes, carefully considering the geography and spatial trajectories of attacks."


    "Chen Jing? Her arrays are exquisite, but the Dragon Star Tournament imposes many restrictions on the array materials she can use, so she cannot fully showcase her abilities."


    "It��s natural that she would lose to Li Xia." The crowd of immortals watching the fight didn''t find it surprising.


    Array cultivation, talisman cultivation, artifact cultivation, and other cultivation sses were at a disadvantage in straightforward, head-on confrontations like the Dragon Star Tournament, as they could not make preparations in advance.


    Array cultivators usually set up arrays before battles. Going head-to-head with sword cultivators and setting up arrays on the spot? Only a fool would do that.


    Talisman cultivators also typically prepared a wide variety of powerful talismans ahead of time, ready to unleash them all once the battle began.


    ...


    In the second battle of the fourth round, the burly Hao Shanjing effortlessly defeated his opponent with just one ether art, just as he had in previous rounds.


    "The finals."


    "Whoever wins will be the new Golden Core Great Senior Brother."


    "Hao Shanjing sure has it easy. Li Xia fought back-to-back battles with Dong Shan, Xing Luo, and Chen Jing, knocking down powerful opponents one by one before reaching the finals."


    "Hao Shanjing? He breezed through every battle until now."


    "The final battle should''ve been between Xing Luo and Li Xia." Countless spectators engaged in discussion.


    The general sentiment was that Hao Shanjing barely had to exert any effort. Compared to Hao Shanjing''s performance, Xing Luo was clearly a notch superior.


    ...


    <i>Within the special observation space.</i>


    "Abbot Wu, the match-ups don��t seem well nned." Mountain Master Xu noted with a chuckle, "Xing Luo and Li Xia should''ve been separated."


    "Only then would the final battle be thrilling enough when they meet atst, capable of igniting the fighting spirit of countless disciples!" Mountain Master Xumented.


    "Patience, Mountain Master Xu." Abbot Wu nonchntly responded.


    "Oh? Could it be that this Hao Shanjing possesses some sort of special ability?" Mountain Master Xu expressed his curiosity.


    ...


    Amidst the ongoing discussions of countless spectators, six hours swiftly passed.


    The fifth round of the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battle, the final match between Li Xia and Hao Shanjing, was finally here.


    Countless eyes focused on the spherical arena.


    Two figures appeared on either side of the arena. One was a man d in billowing ck robes. He stood in mid-air, his divine sword-like aura erupting towards the sky.


    The other towered over three meters tall. d in bronze armor, he was imposingly muscr.


    They stood facing each other from afar.


    <i>Hao Shanjing.</i> Wu Yuan stared at the figure hundreds of li away. The figure��s body was fully covered in armor and his gaze was subdued.


    <i>Hm? This Hao Shanjing, he''s not an easy opponent.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he felt an invisible aura of dominance radiating from his opponent.


    It was a sensation he had never experienced before.


    Even Xing Luo, who was very powerful, did not pose as much of a threat as the present Hao Shanjing.


    <i>Hao Shanjing is stronger than Xing Luo? </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself inwardly.


    A Golden Core cultivator stronger than Xing Luo? Such odds were fewer than one in a million!


    "Junior Brother Li Xia." Hao Shanjing stared at Wu Yuan. He was entirely covered in battle armor, with only his eyes visible.


    With a booming voice, he announced, "I thought I could easily secure first ce in this Dragon Star Tournament. I never believed Xing Luo or Chen Jing to be worthy opponents."


    He did notmunicate using Soul Force. Instead, he projected voice throughout the arena via his mana.


    Immediately, there was a buzz of surprise. Everyone looked at Hao Shanjing in shock.


    Such arrogance?


    The expressions of Xing Luo and Chen Jing, who were watching the battle from the sidelines, immediately darkened. He didn��t consider them worthy opponents?


    "But you are strong! You are truly powerful!" Hao Shanjing fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan. "In all honesty, Junior Brother Li Xia, I''m not entirely certain I can defeat you. Regardless, I can''t afford to hold back my true strength when facing you."


    "Feel free to unleash your full power, Senior Brother Hao Shanjing," Wu Yuan responded indifferently. "You won��t have many opportunities left to call me your junior brother."


    Wu Yuan''s words were equally audacious.


    At that moment, both Hao Shanjing and Wu Yuan were acutely aware of their unshakeable conviction to win �C a belief no words could sway.


    No further words were exchanged.


    <i>Boom! </i>Hao Shanjing was the first to act. His body instantly began to swell, his vital aura escting violently.


    It rose to a level stronger than any previous duel. Much stronger!


    Following that, countless vines sprouted from his body. An overwhelming torrent of intertwined green and red qi streams flooded everything in a hundred li.


    A horrifying pressure enveloped the entire spherical arena, 800 li in diameter.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    So powerful! Just from his vital aura alone, Hao Shanjing was the strongest Golden Core opponent Wu Yuan had encountered thus far. There was noparison.


    "This?"


    "Hao Shanjing?"


    "Heavens! Even an Amethyst Cradle cultivator''s aura wouldn''t be much stronger, would it?" Countless onlookers were shocked, especially those watching in the real world.


    The overwhelming feeling from one''s primal instincts couldn''t be faked.


    In the special observation space, the numerous immortals who initially looked indifferent now showed astonished expressions.


    "The Longevity Dao!"


    "It''s actually the Longevity Dao. He''s only at the Spiritual Body phase, yet hisprehension level has surpassed the initiate threshold." Mountain Master Xu looked on in shock.


    His eyes zed, as though beholding a precious piece of uncut jade.


    "The Longevity Dao," Abbot Wu stated calmly. As the sect''s abbot, he had knowledge of all the sect''s affairs, whetherrge and small.


    He naturally had his reasons for arranging the matches in such an order.


    From the judgment of the sect''s upper echelons, Xing Luo was a genius, but he wasn��tparable to Hao Shanjing, let alone to Wu Yuan.


    At this moment, within the arena, the fierce battle between the two peerless geniuses began.

 Chapter 399: Golden Core Great Senior Brother (1)

    <h4>Chapter 399: Golden Core Great Senior Brother (1)</h4>


    Spectatorsunched into fierce debates as they watched the battle unfold, yet none of this affected the twobatants in the arena.


    <i>This...this aura?</i> Though Wu Yuan was unclear as to why Hao Shanjing��s aura had suddenly spiked, there was no denying the rm bells going off in his head, warning him that this individual posed a deadly threat.


    Without a doubt, in his current state, Hao Shanjing could unleash far more power than Xing Luo.


    Numerous tendrils encased him, erging his body to an incredible size, towering over a kilometer high.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan wasn''t even two meters tall, it was like a giant battling a dwarf.


    <i>ording to my intel, Hao Shanjing onlyprehended the Wood Origin Dao in thest Dragon Star Tournament. But now? I''m afraid it''s not that simple. </i>Wu Yuan made a quick assessment.


    The Wood Dao, a Greater Law, was no less broad in scope or profound in depth than the Earth Dao, epassing numerous Lesser Laws and Intermediate Laws.


    The Hao Shanjing that Wu Yuan was currently battling against was worlds apart from the Hao Shanjing he had seen in the battle recordings.


    This could only mean that Hao Shanjing had concealed a significant portion of his strength in the past.


    However, despite Wu Yuan''s knowledge, hecked experience in life-and-death fights with high-level immortal cultivators, and thus was unable to identify it right away.


    <i>These tendrils, Hao Shanjing''s aura...why do they feel so familiar? </i>This thought shed across Wu Yuan''s mind.


    But he couldn''t afford to spend too much time pondering.


    The moment Hao Shanjing unleashed his power, the final battle began.


    Wu Yuan acted instantly. Nine lifebound flying swords with formidable auras appeared, while countless flying swords rained down like a torrential downpour.


    With the nine lifebound flying swords as the core and the Hundred Swords Array as the body, 729 fourth-grade spirit flying swords erupted with power simultaneously.


    Countless Celestial Body cryptic patterns shone, and in an instant, the color of the world changed as he formed a Domain, covering a radius of hundreds of li.


    Sword qi rampaged and the earthy-yellow qi currents howled as Wu Yuan''s aura also soared to its peak.


    The fifth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array �C Sword Intent Tempest.


    ��A sword cultivator with nine lifebound flying swords? What a peerless prodigy. It''s a pity that you do not possess a first-degree immortal root, Li Xia. Otherwise, you could take a shot at bing the legendary supreme sword cultivator.�� Hao Shanjing''s voice resounded as the huge vines shot out.


    Each vine extended for tens of li, with green and red Domain qi currents swirling around it.


    At this moment, Hao Shanjing seemed like a huge nt spirit, yet retained the vitality of a living creature of flesh and blood.


    <i>Boom!</i> The two Domains collided.


    <i>In terms of our Domains, I��m only slightly superior?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    He understood that he had encountered serious trouble.


    One had to understand that when the strength of two immortal cultivators was close, qi refiners often had an absolute advantage in domain strength due to the boost from their essentia and artifacts.


    <i>Such a strong Golden Core cultivator is indeed rare. By defeating you, I can truly take pride in my abilities.</i> Wu Yuan''s battle intent was equally stoked.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>As Wu Yuanmanded the massive Dark Earth Sword Array to exert more force on Hao Shanjing, the sh of Domains intensified.


    At the same time, three earthy-yellow divine swords spiraled like a twisted braid, cutting through the sky.


    "Come!�� Hao Shanjingughed loudly.


    His one-kilometer-tall body moved, as though he was a real giant. At the same time, the massive vines growing out of his body, resembling lengthy dragons, whipped toward the three iing yellow divine swords.


    The vines covered an overwhelminglyrge area. Combined with the Domain, the divine swords were unable to bypass them.


    <i>Can''t avoid an obstacle? Then sh it.</i> Wu Yuanmanded his divine swords to charge straight into the tangled vines.


    As the divine swords sliced across the sky, the intertwining vines that filled the air were instantly cut down.


    One after another, huge sections of chopped vines fell incessantly.


    However, their velocity began to slow against the overwhelming siege of vines. By the time they reached Hao Shanjing, they were nearly spent, perhaps only retaining a mere fifth of their original power.


    "Scram!" A broad, sturdy saber materialized in Hao Shanjing''s enormous palm, radiating endless killing intent as he shed it mercilessly through the air.


    <i>ng~</i> The sh of saber and sword sent the three earthy-yellow divine swords flying back.


    One of them bore countless cracks, appearing on the brink of shattering apart.


    <i>What?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback, his eyes solemn. He gritted his teeth. <i>You may block me once, but let''s see how many of your vines I can cut, and how long your Beast Fusion state willst!</i>


    As a fellow body refiner, Wu Yuan knew what was happening all too well.


    His body refiner self experienced a power boost each time he fused with the Teng Snake, but once the Teng Snake was injured, it would take a while to recover.


    The same applied to Hao Shanjing who chose a lifebound nt. These vines were merely weapons in his Beast Fusion state.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The three earthy-yellow divine swords returned to the sword array.


    Then, another trio of divine swords shot forth, following the same previous trajectory tounch another assault on Hao Shanjing.


    By right, the second wave of attack should be met with less resistance.


    <i>Rustle~</i> However, to Wu Yuan''s surprise, the huge vines, which had clearly been severed earlier, seemed toe back to life as they fell, integrating back into the undamaged vines with astonishing speed.


    Immediately after, the broken vines grew back at an unbelievable rate, recovering to their original state. Then, theyshed out at the three approaching earthy-yellow divine swords, greatly reducing their power.


    The divine swords were easily blocked by Hao Shanjing once more.


    <i>Spiritual flesh and blood? An undying body?</i> Wu Yuan''s expression subtly changed. <i>This Hao Shanjing, he''s only at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase, how could he have reached this level? Did he cultivate some special ether art?</i>


    If well integrated with one''s unique traits, even basic ether arts could unleash iparable terror, rivaling even advanced or grand ether arts.


    It was just like the True Celestial Body cultivated by his body refiner self. Whenbined with the Celestial Body Dao heprehended, the power he could unleash was shocking.


    ...


    "What kind of technique is this?"


    "How did Hao Shanjing achieve it? Although it��s a nt life form, this regeneration ability is a little too exaggerated, right?" A flurry ofments erupted from the spectators.


    "He''s just at the Spiritual Body phase, yet the vines severed from him can autonomously integrate back into his body?" Even the many Amethyst Cradle Reverends found it hard to fathom.


    <i>In that special observation space.</i>


    "The Longevity Dao, one of the three Intermediate Laws of the Wood Dao. Even among the many Intermediate Laws of heaven and earth, it''s still the greatest for recovery." Mountain Master Xu eximed.


    "Moreover, judging from the wood spirit Hao Shanjing has nurtured, his immortal root is likely extremely strong."


    "Hao Shanjing��s performance is indeedmendable." Abbot Wu said nonchntly.


    "Li Xiaprehended the Celestial Body Dao, and now Hao Shanjing hasprehended the Longevity Dao." Mountain Master Xuughed. "Abbot Wu, your Dragon Star Immortal Sect truly is brimming with talent. It��s enough to make others green with envy."


    "Haha, you tter me, Mountain Master Xu." Abbot Wu replied with a faint smile.


    "Abbot Wu, who do you think will win?" Mountain Master Xu asked casually, but his eyes remained fixed on Hao Shanjing.


    "What do you think?" Abbot Wu reclined backfortably, seemingly indifferent to the oue.


    "It��s hard to say. The Celestial Body Dao is known as the strongest Dao in defense." Mountain Master Xu chuckled.


    "It''s just a pity that Li Xia is a sword cultivator, a ss that is slightlycking in durability. If it were the Nine Great Cauldrons, he could truly be impervious to allws, standing undefeated among his peers."


    Abbot Wu nodded slightly.


    The artifact most suited for Earth Dao cultivators was the cauldron, which emphasized defense.


    The Dao most suited for the flying sword was the Metal Dao, focusing on ughter and pration force.


    "Of course, although Li Xia is a sword cultivator, applying the Celestial Body Dao to his defenses allows him to put up a strong defense, and his attacks are just as powerful." Mountain Master Xu chuckled, "Let''s wait and see."


    ...


    Countless spectators argued about who they thought would win or lose.


    <i>Meanwhile, inside the spherical arena.</i>


    "Li Xia, admit defeat, you cannot stop me," Hao Shanjing''s voice thundered.


    His massive body moved, surprisingly quick for his frame. Gripping a war saber in his hand, he lunged toward Wu Yuan.


    It was as though a mountain was in motion. With every stride Hao Shanjing took, he covered hundreds of li with terrifying speed. Each time hended, the ground shuddered.


    The entire spherical arena was only eight hundred li in diameter. The distance between the two was approximately 550 li.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Wu Yuan made his move as well. Without hesitation, divine swords of earthy yellow hue whistled, piercing the vast sky as they streaked toward Hao Shanjing.


    <i>Cling~ Cling~ Cling~</i> For every attack he received, Hao Shanjing would first obstruct the strike with a dense cluster of vines, then follow up with a counter strike with his saber, scattering those earthy yellow divine swords.


    His power was overwhelming!


    Finally, after both parties collided dozens of times in lightning-fast exchanges, Hao Shanjing almost closed the distance. The waves of sword qi formed by the Celestial Body Domain could not stop him at all.


    "Kill!" Hao Shanjing''s spat.


    With a sudden motion, countless vinesshed out in all directions, clearing all obstacles in his path. At the same time, he shed fiercely with his saber, aiming directly at Wu Yuan.


    If this saber strikended, Wu Yuan was done for.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s sword array transformed, and the nine earthy-yellow divine swords formed by the Hundred Swords Array dispersed.


    Endless earthy-yellow qi streams surged. Celestial Body cryptic patterns appeared, linking and extending.


    In the blink of an eye, what was once a Thousand Swords Array was nowpressed into a miniature star, swirling with an earthy-yellow aura. Wu Yuan was enveloped within.


    This tiny star,pressed to the extreme, merely spanned a li in diameter. Formed with 729 flying swords, including nine lifebound flying swords, its defensive strength was unimaginable.


    Star Ruins Sword Array��Solid As A Rock.


    <i>Boom~</i> A saber, capable of cleaving worlds, struck fiercely at the small star. As it sliced through space, it almost seemed to freeze it in ce.


    A terrifying shockwave rippled out.


    <i>Crack~ Crack</i>~ The surface of the starprised of countless flying swords caved in considerably, and theyers of cryptic patterns within the qi streams bore countless cracks.


    As the horrifying shockwaves rippled in every direction, the force was transmitted into the interior of the tiny star.


    <i>Boom~</i> As the tiny star was repelled, it attempted to leverage the momentum to escape. However, an overwhelming number of vines quickly wrapped around it, slowing it down.


    "Kill!" Hao Shanjing roared in fury, the thrill of the battle coursing through his veins. His colossal body moved, brandishing his saber for another strike.


    Just one strike was enough to send Star Ruins Sword Array to the brink of copse. Hao Shanjing believed that a few more strikes was all that was needed to fully destroy the Star Ruins Sword Array.


    By then, Wu Yuan who was hiding inside would surely die.


    This was a body refiner, the toughest and strongest, whose strength shattered allws.

 Chapter 400: Golden Core Great Senior Brother (2)

    <h4>Chapter 400: Golden Core Great Senior Brother (2)</h4>


    Suddenly, above the miniature star, ayer of nebulous rosy light shone. The rosy light expanded, covering a vast area.


    Hao Shanjing felt a terrifying, invisible force pressing down on his massive body, pulling him in the opposite direction of Wu Yuan''s escape route. His speed was reduced abruptly. It was all extremely bizarre.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The saber barely missed its mark. The aftershocks only brushed against the surface of the miniature star, failing to damage it. The vines, too, were greatly affected.


    <i>Gravity? Celestial Body Dao!</i> Hao Shanjing realized.


    He had long known that the Celestial Body Dao was as profound as the Longevity Dao.


    Among the three Lesser Laws of the Celestial Body Dao was the Law of Gravity, which was incredibly strange yet effective when applied skillfully.


    All beings and objects were affected by gravity. Legend had it that if one could thoroughlyprehend the Gravity Dao, one could tear and obliterate an enormous star from the firmament with a mere thought.


    The Celestial Body Dao excelled at defense, yet it wasn��t just durable. Through the Gravity Dao, one could limit the enemy''s speed or divert attacks. These were also part of defensive tactics.


    "Kill!" Without any hesitation, Hao Shanjing charged at Wu Yuan again, only to be met with another invisible force pulling him back, reducing his speed.


    Hao Shanjing had the advantage in mana and unleashed several ether arts. Even if hisrge size somewhat slowed him down, his speed was still terrifying, slightly faster than Wu Yuan.


    However, the repeated gravitational distortions made it impossible for him to catch up with Wu Yuan. He roared in fury and frustration, but Wu Yuan wasn��t affected in the least.


    asionally, he caught up, but the dy was too long, allowing the miniature star to recover enough to withstand a couple more strikes.


    "Li Xia, if you��re capable, don''t run, fight me head-on!" Hao Shanjing roared in anger.


    "Running away is a skill too," Wu Yuan''sughter rang out, "If you''re capable, catch up to me first."


    ...


    "He can''t catch up."


    "Though Hao Shanjing''s offense is fiercer and his defense is ridiculously strong, Li Xia''s tactics are more strange. Neither side can gain the upper hand," many spectators realized.


    In the world outside, such fights often ended in a stalemate, with one side fleeing and the other unable to pursue.


    But this was the Dragon Star Tournament. A winner must be determined.


    "The only option is to drag it out and see whose mana runs out first," many discerning immortal cultivators judged.


    A war of attrition in the Dragon Star Tournament? This was extremely rare, indicating the two sides were evenly matched.


    "Haha, this is exciting."


    "Hao Shanjing is strong enough. As a body refiner, he lives up to their reputation as war deities. His attack power can even outmatch a sword cultivator! Amazing."


    "In terms of Daoprehension, Hao Shanjing might be slightly superior."


    "But the Celestial Body Dao is better at defense and allows for a greater variety of tactics."


    "The battle between the Longevity Dao and the Celestial Body Dao, a sh between two Intermediate Laws. Is it truly just a fight between two Golden Core youngsters? It''s been a million years since we''ve watched such an epic battle in our Dragon Star Immortal Sect," many of the sect��s immortals sighed in awe.


    At the Golden Core phase, the majority of cultivators could reach the seventh or eighth-level Domain stage of a Lesser Law.


    Reaching the True Intent stage? That was a one-in-ten-thousand top-tier genius.


    And someone like Xing Luo, who reached the fourth or fifth-level True Intent stage before a hundred years old, was considered one of the top-tier geniuses in the entire immortal continent, qualifying to enter the Moonsilver World.


    As for reaching the initiate threshold ofprehension for an Intermediate Law? This was no longer a simple matter of Daoprehension speed. It required talent, opportunity, and luck. Being able toprehend the Intermediate Law at such a young age meant that one��s future was limitless.


    Such individuals were rare even throughout the Redmoon Immortal Continent. On average, only one such genius would emerge every few hundred thousand years.


    "The odds are in Li Xia''s favor," Mountain Master Xu judged. "Although he employed many artifacts, his soul is strong, and with his lifebound flying swords as the core, his mana consumption is not high."


    "Hao Shanjing is able to exhibit such strength due to his ether art. Once his vital ether is exhausted, he won''t be able to withstand Li Xia''s counter-attack." Mountain Master Xu shook his head, and the observing immortals nodded in agreement.


    They were highly knowledgeable and could understand the situation in the arena clearly.


    In terms of burst power, a body refiner was stronger than a sword cultivator. But once their ether was exhausted, a body refiner''s strength would decline significantly, making them inferior to a sword cultivator.


    One had stronger bursts, the other had more endurance.


    ...


    <i>Within the spherical arena.</i>


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Hao Shanjing charged at Wu Yuan again and again, but under the invisible gravitational constraints, it was difficult to catch up.


    Of course, given Hao Shanjing��s terrifying strength, Wu Yuan dared not make any changes to the sword array.


    Once the ''Star Ruins Sword Array'' was disassembled, the gravitational power wouldn''t be as strong without the miniature star as the core.


    Suddenly, Hao Shanjing stopped.


    "Haha, Li Xia, you are indeed strong. I never thought you would push me this far." Hao Shanjing held the heavy saber in his hand, his eyes filled with an intense battle lust. Giant vines, like tentacles, extended several li into the distance.


    "Take my final move!" Hao Shanjing''s eyes glowed, staring intently at Wu Yuan. "If you can withstand it, I will concede."


    "Show me what you''ve got," Wu Yuan said coldly. "If you don''t bring it out soon, you can start calling me Senior Brother."


    The victor would be the Golden Core Great Senior Brother.


    "Haha!" Hao Shanjing''sughter echoed as his massive form began to shrink, followed by the swift retraction of his vines. However, his vital aura spiked.


    In the blink of an eye, Hao Shanjing''s towering body returned to its normal size, only three meters tall, and the once all-epassing vines had vanished. However, his vital aura had reached an unprecedented level.


    <i>Boom! </i>Hao Shanjing moved.


    Like a meteor piercing through the firmament, he dashed towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Gravity pulled him to the side, but it barely reduced his speed.


    <i>What? Over five hundred li per second? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes widened, his heart about to leap out of his chest.


    What kind of speed was this?


    One had to understand that Hao Shanjing��s speed was previouslyparable to a first-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root, barely reaching a speed of three hundred li per second. Under the limitations of the gravitational pull, it was only slightly over two hundred li per second.


    It was already quite terrifying. But now? It more than doubled.


    Wu Yuan''s attempt to limit Hao Shanjing��s speed with gravity distortion was almostughably ineffective.


    With such speed, his strength most likely skyrocketed as well. In all likelihood, he could shatter the miniature star with a single saber strike.


    <i>It��s the advanced ether art, Life Burn! This Hao Shanjing has grasped the Longevity Dao!</i> With this technique,bined with Hao Shanjing��s previous power burst, Wu Yuan finally recognized his opponent��s abilities.


    Life Burn, as the name suggested, was an ether art that burned one��s lifespan!


    This ether art put a huge strain on the soul chamber. Few people cultivated it as each usage of the technique drained one��s vital essence.


    Only those who practiced the Longevity Dao had no fear. With their powerful vital essence and exceptional recovery abilities, their bodies couldpensate for the side-effects. However, each time they employed this move, it was still a gamble with their lives on the line.


    <i>With a third-degree immortal root, one can cultivate two basic ether arts and one advanced ether art upon reaching the Spiritual Body phase. </i>Wu Yuan now understood that his opponent had prepared this as his trump card.


    "He��s fast!"


    "Hao Shanjing." At this moment, countless spectators felt their blood boiling with excitement as they kept their eyes glued to the battle.


    Too fast, too fierce!


    Such explosive speed caused the expressions of some weaker Amethyst Cradle Reverends to shift involuntarily.


    "Life Burn! He actually staked all his vital ether on such a gamble."


    "For a Spiritual Body cultivator, this ether art is still too strenuous to employ."


    "Can Li Xia withstand it?" The many immortals watched the battle in anticipation.


    Could he withstand it? If Wu Yuan could, he would win. If he couldn��t, he would lose.


    ...


    The moment Wu Yuan understood what his opponent��s move was, he immediately retreated. At the same time, he slowed down his opponent with gravity pull.


    On top of that, countless flying swords filled the sky, immediately merging with the pre-existing Star Ruins Sword Array.


    The scene of thousands of flying swords left all spectators, including the immortals, dumbstruck.


    In the blink of an eye, three miniature stars, about one li in diameter, materialized around Wu Yuan. He stood in the center, the stars revolving around him.


    Each miniature star was made up of 729 flying swords, with three lifebound flying swords as the core. Three Thousand Swords Arrays.


    <i>Die!</i> Wu Yuan''s face turned beet red as he strained his soul to its limits, relying on sheer will to hold everything together.


    Due to insufficient soul strength andck of multiple lifebound flying swords, ordinary sword cultivators would not typically assemble more than one Thousand Swords Array. It was far too difficult to control multiple Thousand Swords Arrays simultaneously.


    But Wu Yuan had a total of nine lifebound flying swords. As Earth Immortal Qing Feng had said, Wu Yuan could control three Thousand Swords Arrays while battling his enemies. This was Wu Yuan''s strongest move.


    However, for Wu Yuan, who was still at the Golden Core phase, controlling two Thousand Swords Arrays was already a strenuous task, almost pushing his limits.


    Three arrays? Even with Wu Yuan''s strong will and soul, it took everything he had.


    <i>I dared not use my full power before as it''s a one-shot deal. If I don��t manage to defeat my enemy after executing it, then it''s over for me. If a match is a sure win, why risk it?</i> Wu Yuan eyes burned with battle fervor.


    <i>But now, Hao Shanjing activated Life Burn. I honestly don''t have much confidence that I can block it. Let''s see whose ultimate move is stronger.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s thought processing speed was thousands of times faster than an ordinary man. By the time he counter-attacked, Hao Shanjing was still dozens of li from him.


    Three miniature stars formed, arranging themselves in a trident formation. Then, they smashed toward Hao Shanjing with unmatched ferocity.


    Three Thousand Swords Arrays vaguely formed the Three Talents Sword Array.


    The distance between them was too small. Even Hao Shanjing, a peerless genius with incredible battle awareness, could not avoid it.


    "Kill!" Hao Shanjing roared angrily, raising his saber high. Since it was unavoidable, he would split the three miniature stars.


    At the moment when the two sides made contact, Wu Yuan roared inwardly. <i>Explode!</i>


    His soul could no longer maintain the stability of the three miniature stars, teetering on the brink of copse.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The three miniature stars detonated, and the flying swords charged in all directions. Sword qi crisscrossed through the air.


    The strongest strike of the Star Ruins Sword Array �C Star Explosion!


    "What?" Hao Shanjing was instantly stunned. At such a close distance, the overwhelming flying swords and sword lights immediately engulfed him.


    <i>Rumble~</i> At his peak state, Hao Shanjing could have held on. But after prolongedbat, along with the execution of Life Burn, he onlysted a moment.


    With a hum, Hao Shanjing transformed into a streak of white light, disappearing from where he stood, transported away by the array.


    If he had remained behind? It meant certain death!


    The moment the three miniature stars exploded, Wu Yuan��s mind went nk, as though on the verge of cking out. He could only watch helplessly as the sword lights that shrouded the sky enveloped him.


    He too was unable to avoid it.


    With a hum, Wu Yuan vanished the moment the sword qi touched his body, disappearing from the spherical arena.


    With a rumble, the flying swords and sword qi swept across the entire arena. Such a fearsome move left all spectators with gaping mouths.


    Soon, the arena��s array restored the battlefield back to normal, and the chaos calmed down.


    However, the arena was now devoid ofbatants. Only thousands of flying swords remained, scattered haphazardly across the ground.


    Countless spectators scrutinized the arena. No one was left? This meant bothbatants had sustained ��fatal�� injuries and were directly transported out of the arena.


    So, who won?


    "The final match of the Golden Core hereditary disciple ranking battle, Li Xia versus Hao Shanjing! The victor is Li Xia!" An announcement echoed throughout the vast arena.


    "The title of Golden Core Great Senior Brother of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect belongs to Li Xia!"

 Chapter 401: Special Recruitment

    <h4>Chapter 401: Special Recruitment</h4>


    "Golden Core Great Senior Brother, Li Xia." The booming voice echoed within the arena, heard by countless Golden Core cultivators watching the fight.


    This title did not grant any tangible benefits. Instead, it was a badge of honor. It meant that one was the strongest among tens of millions of Golden Core disciples within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, an indisputable honor earned through countless battles.


    <i>Master is the best! Golden Core Great Senior Brother.</i> Qiong Sea King squirmed with excitement, his eyes sparkling with admiration and awe.


    <i>Even in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, filled with countless mighty powerhouses and millions of Golden Core cultivators, Master is still undoubtedly the best!</i> Qiong Sea King grinned.


    And Wu Yuan also had a powerful body refiner self in the distant Middle Land.


    <i>I need to work harder to keep up with the Master''s pace. Even if Master decides to annul our contract in the future, I must strive to dy it for as long as possible.</i> The thought shed across Qiong Sea King''s mind.


    It was an issue he had considered long ago. When he first signed the master-servant contract, he was rather reluctant. But now? He felt the contract duration was too short.


    Just fifty years? It should have been five hundred years at least!


    <i>Master is extraordinarily talented and might be an immortal in the future. Only with Master''s assistance can I hope to reach the Shambh phase.</i> Qiong Sea King had a clear understanding of his own abilities.


    Could he reach Shambh on his own? The chances were slim. He had to continue following Wu Yuan.


    "First ce! The Heir indeed secured first ce. Haha, this is wonderful!" Lu Zhu and the group of Golden Core followers were equally thrilled.


    "Senior Brother Li Xia really became the Golden Core Great Senior Brother." Shi Yun, Qing Guang, and others sighed with admiration.


    Truth be told, when Hao Shanjing unleashed his full power, most of them didn''t hold much hope for Wu Yuan. But in the end, Wu Yuan defeated Hao Shanjing.


    "Golden Core Great Senior Brother."


    "Li Xia."


    "How many years has it been since Senior Brother Li Xia joined the sect? Thirteen years. He''s only fifty years old."


    "Unbelievable."


    "Among the hundreds of Dragon Star Tournaments in thest tens of thousands of years, Senior Brother Li Xia might just be the youngest Golden Core Great Senior Brother." The countless Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle disciples discussed.


    Most of them did not particrly like or dislike Li Xia. After all, most hadn''t even met Wu Yuan. However, people always enjoyed witnessing the rise of young heroes.


    Moreover, on his road to first ce, Wu Yuan sessively defeated Xing Luo, Chen Jing, and Hao Shanjing. He battled his way to the top, no shortcuts taken.


    With his strength, he had conquered the hearts of all disciples. Even some sect disciples who didn''t care for Wu Yuan, like Bei Hua and Gong Ling, had to admit that Wu Yuan certainly deserved the title of Golden Core Great Senior Brother.


    After the intense battle between Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing, the uing Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciple ranking battle didn��t seem nearly as exciting.


    ...


    <i>Inside the Hereditary Disciple Tower of Heavenly Dragon City in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    "Both are terrifyingly strong. That Hao Shanjing must haveprehended the legendary Longevity Dao, which is an Intermediate Law."


    "Two Golden Core cultivatorsprehended Intermediate Laws?"


    "Among our hundreds of Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples, only our Great Senior Brother has grasped an Intermediate Law. But it took him over eight hundred years to achieve it." The group of Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples remained in shock, filled with awe and regret.


    "If they both possessed the mana of the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase or ninth-stage Shambh phase, they could probably make it into the top thirty of the Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciple ranking battle."


    "I seriously wonder how they cultivate." These Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciples were deeply shaken.


    If they faced off against Wu Yuan or Hao Shanjing in a voidrealm battle, most of them would not be a match for either of the two.


    ...


    <i>Inside a spacious meditation chamber in the rest area of the arena.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The burly Hao Shanjing and Wu Yuan appeared one after the other in two small teleportation arrays.


    Following that, countless rain-like dropletsnded on their bodies.


    <i>Sofortable. </i>Wu Yuan��s soul was so exhausted it felt on the verge of falling apart.


    As the droplets seeped into his skin, his fatigue rapidly eased. His soul power also quickly recovered. Even the mana in his qi sea was quickly replenished.


    <i>What a miraculous treasure.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself, automatically circting his mana internally to absorb the energy from the liquid.


    <i>I''ve won first ce.</i> Wu Yuan smiled as he received the notification.


    At the same time, the rewards of ten million dragon crystals and thirty million catties of ethercrystal were deposited into his ount. This was the sect''s reward for the first-ce winner of the Dragon Star Tournament.


    <i>I suppose I''ll have to personally ask Master for his reward.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly, delighted with his newfound wealth.


    Lifting his head, the first thing he saw was Hao Shanjing sitting in lotus position within the teleportation array across him.


    "Li Xia," Hao Shanjing also lifted his head.


    Their gazes met.


    A trace of unwillingness lingered in Hao Shanjing��s eyes.


    "Li Xia, had I unleashed Life Burn from the beginning and conserved some of my strength, you wouldn��t have been able to defeat me," Hao Shanjing stated in a low voice.


    "Unfortunately, there are no what-ifs," Wu Yuan chuckled. "Moreover, even if I didn��t invoke Star Explosion, are you so sure you could have broken through the defense of the Three Talents Sword Array?"


    Hao Shanjing fell silent.


    Was he sure? Of course not! After all, the defense formed by the three Thousand Swords Arrays was immensely sturdy. The arrays were subtly connected as one and imbued with the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.


    "I will defeat you at the Moonsilver Tournament," Hao Shanjing growled.


    "There''s no rush, we still have plenty of time," Wu Yuanughed. "I''ve only been in the sect for thirteen years. Ten yearster, my power will have reached new heights."


    "Furthermore, my mana would have increased by then. Do you still think you can defeat me?" Wu Yuan smirked. "Don''t let me down."


    Hao Shanjing''s pupils contracted.


    Indeed, the most frightening aspect of Wu Yuan was his extremely short period of cultivation. Even though Hao Shanjing was also gifted, he had cultivated for over a hundred years.


    "Hao Shanjing, there��s something that��s been on my mind for a while," Wu Yuan suddenly spoke.


    "What is it?" Hao Shanjing asked in a low voice.


    A hint of a smile appeared on Wu Yuan''s face. "Shouldn''t you start addressing me as Great Senior Brother?"


    ...


    Above the spherical training ground, the spectators in the special observation space continued to discuss the recent battle.


    "Li Xia''s soul can actually support three Thousand Swords Arrays?"


    "Could he be close to reaching the peak of the Yang Soul level?"


    "Hao Shanjing is truly powerful, practicing multiple ether arts and grasping the Longevity Dao. Going back thousands of years, our Dragon Star Immortal Sect never witnessed such a Spiritual Body cultivator."


    "But Li Xia is stronger."


    "Li Xia has nine lifebound flying swords. Coupled with his powerful soul, he can just barely sustain three Thousand Swords Arrays with his Golden Core mana."


    "There''s a reason why Li Xia was taken as a disciple by the founding ancestor."


    "In the future, once Li Xia bes a High Immortal, I fear he will be another Sword Immortal Dong Yang." The immortals were deeply shocked by this battle.


    "It''s hard to say. Both Li Xia and Hao Shanjing are still young. They will have to go through many hardships to be Earth Immortals, let alone Archimmortals."


    "They are still only Golden Core cultivators. When they reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, they will have to take on trial assignments and truly fight with their lives on the line." The immortals sighed.


    It wasn��t that they were not optimistic about Li Xia and Hao Shanjing��s futures. But in their long lives, they have seen numerous shining talents perish in one disaster after another.


    The path to immortality was tough. If one secluded themselves from the world, forget bing an Archimmortal, they might not even reach the Earth Immortal or High Immortal level at all.


    "Abbot Wu, there''s something I would like to discuss with you in advance." Mountain Master Xu suddenly started with a smile, "I hope you won''t be upset."


    Immediately, the immortals turned to him.


    "Mountain Master Xu, feel free to speak." Abbot Wu responded with a smile.


    "Just now, the eight Mountain Masters of my Moonsilver World passed a resolution," Mountain Master Xu spoke with an apologetic expression. ��We decided on the special recruitment of Hao Shanjing into the Moonsilver World. The application has been submitted."


    Abbot Wu smiled without saying a word.


    The faces of the twenty-odd immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect showed varying degrees of dissatisfaction.


    They were ustomed to simr events, but to poach so brazenly? How could they befortable with this?


    "Abbot Wu, apensation of thirty divine crystals has been delivered to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s treasury in the immortal hall,�� Mountain Master Xu said in a low voice. ��The purpose of my Moonsilver World has always been to unearth top-tier geniuses for the immortal hall. That''s my duty, I hope for your kind understanding."


    Thirty divine crystals? Displeasure spread across many of the sect immortals�� faces.


    Those in the know were aware that the sect paid a price of three hundred divine crystals to ensure Wu Yuan''s permanent membership in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Haha," Abbot Wu suddenly burst intoughter. "Mountain Master Xu, what are you saying? We are all members of the immortal hall, why distinguish between ��us�� and ��them��?"


    "The best geniuses need to be raised under the best conditions to truly fulfill their potential.��


    ��Hao Shanjing is indeed extraordinarily talented. With hisprehension of the Longevity Dao, our Dragon Star Immortal Sect would only hold him back if he remained here. The Moonsilver World is far more suitable for him," Abbot Wu said with a smile.


    There was no trace of anger in his expression, as if he very much approved of this matter.


    "Abbot Wu is right, we are all members of the immortal hall, there is no distinction between us." Mountain Master Xuughed. "So, I have a rather bold request: would the Dragon Star Immortal Sect be willing to transfer Xing Luo to the Moonsilver World?"


    Silence fell.


    This time, the immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect immortals could no longer conceal their anger. This was too much.


    No sect could refuse a special recruitment request. But the Moonsilver World only opened ten special recruitment slots every ten thousand years.


    However, an additional rule of the Redmoon Immortal Hall stated that a sect may voluntarily transfer its disciples to the Moonsilver World as long as they met the minimum requirements for standard entry.


    "Mountain Master Xu, is this your request, or the World Master''s?" Abbot Wu had a wry smile on his face.


    "Abbot Wu jests. Why would the World Master concern himself with such trivial matters?" Mountain Master Xu said with a chuckle.


    "Since this isn''t a request from Fang Rong, then get lost!" A cold voice suddenly rang out.


    The smile on Mountain Master Xu''s face froze, revealing a trace of displeasure. Yet a secondter, fear shed through his eyes.


    Silently, a gant young man in white robes, with straight eyebrows and shining eyes, appeared in the sky.


    Standing there, he was like a divine sword piercing the heavens and earth. He radiated a sharpness that caused every immortal present to avert their eyes, not daring to look at him directly.


    Silence enveloped the space.


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Mountain Master Xu''s face stiffened. He swallowed subconsciously as fear gripped his heart.


    He never expected to provoke this deity of death.


    "Xu Feng, I��ll give you five breaths. Take your men and leave my Dragon Star Immortal Sect," the young man in white robes said coldly, "Otherwise, I don''t mind taking your head off your neck and bringing it to Fang Rong."


    Mountain Master Xu stood up, but under Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s pressure, he couldn��t stand straight, forced to crouch slightly.


    "Dong Yang, I am a High Immortal from the Moonsilver World." Mountain Master Xu gritted his teeth, "My visit here is in ordance with the immortal hall''s..."


    "One breath!", spat the young man in white robes, his eyes several degrees colder.


    Mountain Master Xu��s pupils contracted.


    "Abbot Wu, I shall take my leave." Mountain Master Xu bowed slightly. With a wave of his hand, an invisible force wrapped around the Earth Immortals that apanied him here.


    In a sh, they disappeared from the space.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, why offend him unnecessarily?" The red-robed Abbot Wu stood up. Smiling bitterly, he continued, "We can handle these minor sect affairs by ourselves. Senior Brother, you should focus on your secluded cultivation and prepare for the Immortal Tribtion."


    "If I was unaware, then that��s one thing. But since I was aware, I can''t turn a blind eye," said the white-robed youth coldly. "Relying on Fang Rong��s backing is one thing. But he dares strut about in my Dragon Star Immortal Sect?"


    "The death of Junior Sister Heng Qiu years ago was rted to him." A hint of murderous intent shed through the eyes of the white-robed youth.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, we can''t make baseless usations," said Abbot Wu with a bitter smile.


    He knew Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s temperament well.


    "Evidence? When have I, Dong Yang, ever needed evidence to act?" the white-robed youth shook his head and sneered, "Once I sessfully ovee the Tribtion, he will be the first one I kill!"


    "I would like to see if Fang Rong dares to fight me then."


    <i>Swish! </i>The white-robed youth disappeared into the sky, leaving behind a helpless Abbot Wu and a group of Earth Immortals who had their mouths agape.


    Most of these Earth Immortals had only ever heard of the name of Ancestor Dong Yang, with very few having met him.


    "No one is to leak word of today''s incident," said Abbot Wu in a low voice.


    "Understood." The numerous Earth Immortals of the sect respectfully replied.

 Chapter 402: Strategic Foresight

    <h4>Chapter 402: Strategic Foresight</h4>


    Within the participant resting area of the arena, Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing swiftly recovered their strength with the aid of the spiritual liquid before getting up and departing.


    Outside the rest area, arge crowd of disciples, including Kuang Long, Shi Yun, and others, had gathered. Lu Zhu and arge group of Golden Core followers had also rushed over from the world residence, and Qiong Sea King had hurried over. In total, there were hundreds of people in the crowd.


    With the Amethyst Cradle hereditary disciple ranking battle about to begin, the majority of spectators had yet to leave the viewing stands. Otherwise, the crowd of people wishing to meet Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing would have been farrger.


    "They''reing out."


    "Great Senior Brother!"


    "Senior Brother Li Xia is too formidable!" The moment Kuang Long, Qing Guang, and the others saw Wu Yuan step out of the meditation chamber, they quickly swarmed over.


    "Master." Qiong Sea King simply elbowed his way through, making his way to the front, "I knew you''d take first ce. No matter where you��re ced, even in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, you''re the strongest Golden Core cultivator."


    "Heir." Lu Zhuughed, "Some might have doubted your capabilities before. But after this battle, not only will your fame echo throughout the sect, it will likely even spread to all therge sects on the immortal continent."


    "The Moonsilver Tournament willmence soon. By then, you will most likely be the hot favorite of the Golden Core Moonsilver Battle," Lu Zhu said.


    Wu Yuan gave a wry smile. The hot favorite? Not necessarily.


    His battle with Hao Shanjing showcased their abilities, but geniuses like Xing Luo and Chen Jing would grow even stronger by then.


    Furthermore, monstrous prodigies from the Moonsilver World as well as peerless geniuses from other sects would make their appearances.


    Of course, Wu Yuan was not particrly worried. How many true geniuses would be willing to remain stagnant at the Golden Core phase for hundreds of years? That was tantamount to destroying one��s future.


    The Dao was the internal foundation, while mana was the external foundation.


    Only when one''s Daoprehension reached a certain level could they control their abundant mana, allowing them to achieve seamless breakthroughs in mana cultivation.


    Simrly, the higher one��s mana cultivation level, the stronger the soul, the clearer one��s understanding of the nature of all things in heaven and earth, and the faster the speed of Daoprehension.


    Cultivators who couldprehend True Intent (Lesser Law) at the Golden Core phase were one in a hundred thousand.


    But at the Amethyst Cradle Reverend phase, grasping True Intent (Lesser Law) was a normal progression, no longer extraordinary. Apart from the fact that cultivators at higher phases were the most talented of their peers during their earlier cultivation phases, it also was also closely rted to one��s soul and mana.


    For Wu Yuan, he was only waiting for the Moonsilver Tournament to end, after which he would prepare to step into the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    "Thank you all for your support. I would like to invite everyone to join me at the Dragon Treasure Tower for a celebratory feast," Wu Yuan dered loudly.


    "Haha, let''s feast until we''re sated."


    "Senior Brother''s victory is worthy of celebration," the crowd responded in agreement, with no one refusing the invitation.


    Due to the immense size of the sect and varied schedules of each individual, sect members oftenmunicated in the voidrealm. Physical gatherings were exceedingly rare.


    Swiftly, the crowd clustered around Wu Yuan, and they flew toward the distant teleportation array.


    ...


    "I lost," Hao Shanjing shook his head slightly, watching Wu Yuan and the others depart.


    He didn��t feel much reluctance in his heart. It was a fair fight, and he had lost, simple as that.


    Since his induction into the sect, he had lost many battles, but always kept his spirits high. Each time, he would strive to surpass his opponent.


    Today, his mindset remained the same as well.


    Suddenly, Hao Shanjing felt the scene around him change, as if the world was shifting. Everything grew blurry, then a figure in red robes appeared before him.


    "Abbot," Hao Shanjing immediately bowed in respect.


    The fact that heprehended the Longevity Dao was a secret known only to a few. The majority of the sect''s immortals, protectorates, and countless disciples only found out when it was revealed in histest battle. The top echelons of the sect, however, were already privy to it.


    "Hao Shanjing, how many years have you trained with the sect?" Abbot Wu, dressed in red robes, looked down at the burly figure.


    Hao Shanjing was substantiallyrger in size than him. Yet, when the two stood together, it was Abbot Wu who gave off the impression of an insurmountable mountain, towering and majestic.


    "Master, I have been part of the sect for over sixty years. Thanks to the sect''s nurturing, I have made some achievements," Hao Shanjing replied respectfully.


    "There''s no need for such formalities," Abbot Wu responded with a smile.


    Only then did Hao Shanjing rx slightly.


    "Do you remember what I said to you when you first grasped the Longevity Dao?" Abbot Wu asked with a smile.


    "I remember," Hao Shanjing nodded. "You said you would find me a suitable teacher, but I had to give my all at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and secure first ce."


    "I��m ashamed to have disappointed you, Abbot," Hao Shanjing replied with a bitter smile.


    "Haha, I am very satisfied with your performance. Why would I be disappointed with you?" Abbot Wuughed. "Your battle with Li Xia could have swung in either direction."


    "Do not feel inferior to Li Xia. Li Xia''s strength is not only attributed to his innate talent but also the guidance of our founding ancestor. You, on the other hand, have been navigating your path alone," Abbot Wuughed.


    Hao Shanjing nodded, a trace of pride in his eyes.


    He had walked his cultivation path alone, stepping through the initiate threshold of the Longevity Dao in just over a hundred years. He knew that he had given his all.


    "The sect has prepared the same rewards for both you and Li Xia," Abbot Wu said with a smile. "Also, I have found a teacher for you."


    Hao Shanjing''s eyes lit up.


    "In ten days, I will send you to the Moonsilver World. There, a High Immortal or perhaps even an Archimmortal who has achieved deep insights into the Longevity Dao will take you as their disciple," Abbot Wu dered.


    Hao Shanjing was dazed for a moment, then his expression shifted abruptly.


    " Abbot, I swear I have no thoughts of betraying the sect," Hao Shanjing started to kneel.


    However, an invisible force stopped him and held him upright.


    "Rx, I am not using you of betrayal. Your transfer to the Moonsilver World was already nned out by the sect''s highest echelons." Abbot Wu said with a smile. "I told you to give it your all in the Dragon Star Tournament so that you would demonstrate your capabilities to the immortals in the Moonsilver World."


    "That��s why they sent you a special recruitment invitation." Abbot Wu added with a slight smile. "Otherwise, if you followed your original n to transition quietly to the Amethyst Cradle phase, the Moonsilver World would not take notice of you, let alone extend a special recruitment invitation."


    "But why, Abbot?" Hao Shanjing was increasingly perplexed.


    "Everything is for your benefit." Abbot Wu stated with a sigh. "Within our sect, there are a few immortals who have grasped the Longevity Dao, but their understanding is not profound enough to guide you. Allowing them to mentor you would be a waste of your talents."


    "Only in the Moonsilver World can you obtain sufficient resources and guidance to unveil your potential. There, Archimmortals and High Immortals with great understanding of the Longevity Dao reside." Abbot Wu asserted. "Your departure is for your own good."


    Abbot Wu seemed genuinely sincere. His voice had a captivating quality, as if it were infused with a charm spell.


    "But what about the sect?" Hao Shanjing remained puzzled.


    "The original mission of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is to empower each disciple. If we had suitable instructors avable, I would be unwilling to let you leave. Unfortunately, we don''t have any," Abbot Wu replied with a smile.


    "Besides, be it the Moonsilver World or the sect, they all ultimately belong to the immortal hall. At the end of the day, your growth is our utmost priority."


    "I am indebted to the sect, and have no way to repay this kindness. If I achieve sess in my cultivation in the future, I will do everything in my power to repay this debt." Hao Shanjing felt moved.


    After decades of nurturing by the sect, he had developed a profound attachment to it. He never anticipated that the sect would willingly transfer him out.


    "Haha, there''s no need for repayment." Abbot Wuughed. "In the future, when you be an Earth Immortal and graduate from discipleship, you can always rejoin the sect once more. If you gain sufficient strength, you may even be the First Veteran Elder of the sect."


    "As long as you are willing, the sect wees you back at any time." Abbot Wu chuckled, "Do not bear any burdens or baggage in your heart."


    "Disciple understands. Thank you, Abbot Wu. I am grateful for all the sect has done." Warmth spread through Hao Shanjing''s heart.


    Soon, Abbot Wu watched Hao Shanjing leave, and the smile on his face faded significantly.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> An elderly man in purple robes appeared out of thin air.


    "Abbot, you actually took the initiative to let Hao Shanjing go?" the elderly man in purple robes asked softly.


    "I have carefully observed his nature. He''s exceptionally independent, and well aware of his talents." Abbot Wu replied softly.


    "In the future, he may aspire to be an Earth Immortal or even a High Immortal, but without a mentor, he may not make any truly great achievements."


    "Within the sect, indeed there is no suitable immortal to guide him. Instead of waiting for Hao Shanjing to understand all this, harbor dissatisfaction, and consequently resent the sect, it''s better to let him go willingly.��


    ��The sect can benefit, and we can maintain a friendly rtionship." Abbot Wu stated calmly, "In the future, perhaps he''ll be willing to return to the sect. If not, it isn��t a huge loss for us."


    "But if he does rejoin us, the Moonsilver World will simply be helping our Dragon Star Immortal Sect cultivate an immortal for free. Why not?" Abbot Wu shook his head.


    "Abbot, you indeed possess strategic foresight," the purple-robed elderly man chuckled.


    "Let''s go."


    ...


    The banquet at the Dragon Treasure Towersted over four hours. After it ended, the crowd dispersed, with most preparing to watch the hereditary disciple ranking battle.


    Wu Yuan, along with his entourage of followers, returned to his world residence.


    Before he could enter the meditation chamber, his eyes narrowed slightly.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan had received a message from his master: Come to Dragon Star quickly.


    He gave an order to Lu Zhu before making his way to the teleportation array.


    Soon after, Wu Yuan arrived at his master''s residence on Dragon Star.


    The ce was still as serene as ever, with clear springs and lush hills. Aside from the giant floating hall, nothing had changed.


    High Immortal Nan Yin wore his usual dirt-covered attire. He lounged in a deck chair outside the hall,zily basking in the sunlight with his eyes half-closed. He appeared utterly content.


    "Master." Wu Yuan flew forward, bowing respectfully.


    "Did you win?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked.


    "I won."


    "Not bad, that Hao Shanjing kid is quite strong. When I set this goal for you five years ago, I didn''t have much hope that you would win this battle." High Immortal Nan Yinughed heartily, "This shows that over the past five years, your strength has improved significantly, and you haven''t been cking off."


    "It''s all due to Master��s guidance." Wu Yuanughed.


    "Don''t tter your master, I never buy into that kind of thing." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head, "How do you feel about your battle with Hao Shanjing?"


    "He''s very strong." Recalling the recent battle, Wu Yuan spoke in a low voice, "The Longevity Dao is indeed worthy of being an Intermediate Law. Whether it''s recovery or vitality, it''s frighteningly powerful. If my soul wasn��t stronger than his, I''d probably have lost this battle."


    Indeed, Wu Yuan had relied heavily on his stronger soul to win. In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan guessed that he was probably at a disadvantage.


    "It��s good that you recognize this," High Immortal Nan Yin said with an ambiguous smile. "Any other thoughts?"


    Wu Yuan hesitated before replying, "Master, Hao Shanjing''s saber technique feels somewhat familiar to me, as if I''ve seen it somewhere."


    "But I can''t seem to remember," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "It��s only natural that you find it familiar," High Immortal Nan Yin grinned, exposing a row of yellow teeth. "I have been constantly urging you toprehend the Longevity Dao, how could you not find it familiar?"

 Chapter 403: Masters Advice (1)

    <h4>Chapter 403: Master''s Advice (1)</h4>


    "Master has been urging me to cultivate it?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    When did he cultivate the Longevity Dao?


    But a momentter, Wu Yuan came to a realization. "Is it the Extended Life Sword Codex?"


    Over the years, besides contemting the Celestial Body Dao, his master had only asked him to study Extended Life Sword Codex. And this was also a sword codex of the Wood Dao.


    "Correct." High Immortal Nan Yin nodded with a smile: "When you reach a high level of mastery in the Star Ruins Sword Codex, you naturally understand that you are in the process ofprehending the Celestial Body Dao."


    "Likewise, as you study the Extended Life Sword Codex, you will subconsciously step through the initiate threshold of the Longevity Dao. However, this only happens when you reach a high level of mastery, which is far from easy."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    The Extended Life Sword Codex inheritance was profoundlyplex. Apart from the most superficialyer of understanding, he merely memorized the rest, unable to grasp the deeper profundities at all.


    Dao codex inheritances were different from that of manual inheritances. If one did not approach a sufficiently deep level of understanding about the Dao, one wouldn��t be able to do more than sense those mysterious fluctuations of the Dao.


    These past few years, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self spent a great deal of time trying to understand the Extended Life Sword Codex, yet progress crawled along at a pitifully slow pacepared to that of the Celestial Body Dao. Up till now, he had yet to reach the initiate threshold.


    "Master, the Longevity Dao is powerful, but it''s not superior to the Celestial Body Dao, right?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "If both are cultivated to the highest level, they areparable." High Immortal Nan Yin smiled and said: "The Daos of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, and so forth, and the mysterious Space, Time, Lunar, Sr, Life, Death, etc, are all Greater Laws. There is no superiority or inferiority between them, it all depends on the user''s understanding and application."


    "Of course, among the numerous Greater Laws, the most mysterious are Time and Karma. But few immortal cultivators canprehend them and only a handful of great beings can apply them."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly. He understood that his master was providing him with a detailed exnation.


    "Each Greater Law is vast and profound, even a Ninth-Tribtion Archimmortal cannotprehend one fully." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and said, "Several Intermediate Laws are interwoven and fused to form a Greater Law ."


    "Take the Celestial Body Dao for example. It is a subsidiary Intermediate Law of the Earth Dao. Meanwhile, the Longevity Dao is a subsidiary Intermediate Law of the Wood Dao."


    "These Intermediate Laws can likewise be further divided into numerous Lesser Laws." High Immortal Nan Yin exined.


    "Lesser Laws are like small streams flowing down a mountain. Multiple streamsbine to form a small river, which represents an Intermediate Law. Several rivers converge to form arge river, which represents a Greater Law."


    "Where numerous mighty rivers merge, ultimately forming the expansive ocean, lies theplete Dao of heaven and earth," High Immortal Nan Yin remarked, casting a nce at Wu Yuan. "What you''ve grasped thus far is merely a small droplet within this vast ocean."


    Wu Yuan fell into deep thought. At this moment, he had a clearer understanding of theplete Dao of heaven and earth. It was truly boundless.


    "Don''t set your sights too high. There��s no need to consider mastering theplete Dao of heaven and earth. If you can master a single stream, fullyprehending a Lesser Law, you already have the potential to be an Archimmortal." High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.


    "If you can fullyprehend an Intermediate Law, your name will resound throughout the length and breadth of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm."


    "If you can fullyprehend a Greater Law? Haha! In the long river of time and space, countless beings will praise your name and spread tales of your deeds throughout the ages." A subtle hint of desire shed in High Immortal Nan Yin''s eyes.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    He was beginning to realize how difficult it was to fullyprehend a Lesser Law. After all, the Redmoon Immortal Continent was so immense. Yet it took a million years to produce a single Archimmortal.


    "Master, in that case, why would you encourage me to split my attention into two Daos?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but question. "Although my qi refiner self has some talent in the Wood Dao, overall, it is far inferior to my body refiner self''s talent in the Earth Dao."


    Among his two true selves, his body refiner self had much greater Daoprehension aptitude, as well as greater potential. The heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos were not just for show.


    Naturally, endowed with a second-degree immortal root, Wu Yuan was already close to the stuff of legends.


    Moreover, after arriving at the immortal continent, he received the Celestial Body Law Codex from the Great Eldritch Kua Fu, stepping through the initiate threshold of the Celestial Body Dao. His speed of Daoprehension quickened even further.


    "Firstly, I do not want to waste your natural aptitude for the Wood Dao," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly. "The strength of your qi refiner self��s soul should have surpassed that of your body refiner self by now."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    "The qi sea is innately more suited for nurturing the soul," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "You established a third-degree immortal root, so don��t worry. Your aptitude for the Wood Dao is equally astonishing, it simply hasn''t been revealed yet."


    "As the strength of your qi refiner self��s soul grows, your talent for the Wood Dao will shine even brighter."


    "Utilizing your qi refiner self toprehend the Earth Dao? You will only be able to exhibit one-tenth of its strengths."


    "It��s equivalent to utilizing your body refiner self toprehend the Wood Dao. Will it go smoothly?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked with a knowing smile.


    Wu Yuan pondered over his words.


    Indeed, up until now, the efficiency of his qi refiner self��sprehension of the Celestial Body Dao might not even be a fifth of that of his body refiner self.


    The consciousnesses of both souls were connected. Therefore, there was no difference whether the Celestial Body Law Codex was contemted by the soul of his qi refiner self or body refiner self.


    "But, Master, I haven''t been able to grasp the Extended Life Sword Codex yet," Wu Yuan said.


    High Immortal Nan Yin broke into a chuckle. "Hao Shanjing practiced for more than a hundred years before he grasped it, and even then, many immortals in the sect were amazed by his progress."


    "You have only practiced for a few years and didn��t receive any remarkable Wood Dao inheritance, yet you expect to grasp it already?"


    "Your affinity for the Celestial Body Dao is ridiculously strong, but when ites to the Wood Dao, you aren''t much better than Hao Shanjing. The only advantage is your stronger soul." High Immortal Nan Yin evaluated.


    "Amethyst Cradle cultivators have a lifespan of three thousand years, and Void Refiner cultivators have a lifespan of ten thousand years. You''re still young, having only cultivated for a short time. Don''t rush."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Indeed, the path of cultivation was long. Getting a good start was important, but perseverance over the long run was even more so.


    "The second reason is the integration of earth and wood," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "Subsidiary Daos of the Earth Dao, especially the Celestial Body Dao, excel at defense; while the Longevity Dao, derived from the three Lesser Laws of Eternal Spring, Spiritual Evolution, and Wood Origin, is best at recovery.


    "Every powerhouse whoprehends the Longevity Dao possesses extraordinary vitality."


    "In the future, once you have reached a certain depth ofprehension in both paths andbine them, your defensive abilities will rise to an incredible level, and your self-preservation abilities will strengthen beyondprehension." High Immortal Nan Yin''s voice was soft, yet filled with power.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Combine different Daos?


    "There��s nothing surprising about this," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "The myriad Daos of heaven and earth naturally interact with each other. They are not absolutely independent. For instance, within the Wood Dao, there''s a Lesser Law known as the Primal Dao."


    "Following the Primal Dao, you can also reach the threshold of the Strength Dao, an Intermediate Law of the Earth Dao on par with the Celestial Body Dao."


    "In other words, the Primal Dao is a part of both the Wood and Earth Daos."


    "Furthermore, to fullyprehend the Wood and Earth Daos, you must understand the Lesser Law of Spatial Dimensions, which is also a part of theplete Space Dao." High Immortal Nan Yin exined.


    "The Greater Laws are interwoven with each other, naturally allowing forbinations."


    Wu Yuan was starting to understand.


    The Celestial Body Dao was more rigid than flexible. The Longevity Dao was more flexible than rigid. By cultivating both paths simultaneously, one could achieve a bnce of rigidity and flexibility, creating the ultimate defense. And it so happened that his two true selves had the corresponding affinities.


    <i>Am I really going to be a civil engineer?</i> Wu Yuan muttered inwardly.


    Civil engineers as experts in defense. It made sense! [1]


    "There are some other reasons that you''ll eventuallye to understand in the future," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "If you didn''t have the talent, I wouldn''t force it on you. But since you do, don''t waste it."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan responded respectfully. He knew his master was nning for his future.


    "Still..." Wu Yuan hesitated, "Master, I am a sword cultivator but the sword codex I''m cultivating specializes in defense. Will this...?"


    "What, worried your attack isn''t strong enough?" High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "There''s no absolutely dominant Dao. Whether it��s the Celestial Body Dao or Longevity Dao, whenprehended to extreme depths, one can effortlessly break allws with sheer power."


    "Moreover, why does it matter whether your attacks are strong?"


    "When you face the Immortal Tribtions, you''ll understand. Only by living, is there hope; only with sufficient self-preservation ability, can you hope to be an Archimmortal." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    He had no choice but to admit that his master was right. Only by staying alive was there hope.


    "By the way, I��ve heard that Hao Shanjing has been specially recruited by the Moonsilver World." High Immortal Nan Yin said, "In a few days, he will leave for the Moonsilver World."


    "Special recruitment?" Wu Yuan was stunned at first. But a momentter, he nodded. "That makes sense. Given that he��s able to step through the initiate threshold of an Intermediate Law at the Golden Core phase, along with a third-degree immortal root, he''s qualified for special recruitment."


    From what Wu Yuan knew, one would have toprehend a Lesser Law to an extremely high level to hope to cross the threshold into the Intermediate Law. Those who could achieve it were mostly Divided Soul Earth Immortals.


    Most Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators had yet to cross the threshold of an Intermediate Law.


    Of course, this did not mean they were weak. If one did not understand an Intermediate Law at an extremely profound level, its absolute power was still inferior to a Lesser Law.


    The fact that he was able to step through the initiate threshold of an Intermediate Law at the Golden Core phase indicated that, barring any untimely demise, his future aplishments were certain to be remarkable.


    "What, no thoughts on this?" High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    "None. The sect must have its considerations for letting him go." Wu Yuan smiled lightly. "Besides, even if I went to the Moonsilver World, I''m afraid those instructors can��tpare to Master."


    "When I first joined the sect, it was of my own volition, not forced upon me by others," said Wu Yuan.


    Cause and effect. Wu Yuan did not regret joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Rest assured. I''ve said that I won''t let you down. Even if Hao Shanjing joins the Moonsilver World and gains all sorts of resources, you need not envy him," High Immortal Nan Yin smiled. "I promised that if you won first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament, I''ll reward you with a hundred million catties of ethercrystal."


    A momentter, Wu Yuan received a notification and a glimmer of joy shed through his eyes.


    A hundred million catties of ethercrystal had been deposited into his ount in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm. He could withdraw the physical item from the sect''s treasury and purchase all the treasures he required through the Dragon Treasure Tower.


    "Thank you, Master." A sense of jubtion filled Wu Yuan''s heart.


    With this, he had gained a total of 130 million catties of ethercrystal and ten million dragon crystals from the Dragon Star Tournament.


    Wealth could solve almost all worries!


    1. �� = earth, ľ = wood, �� = brother. Putting them together, ��ľ�� is a term of endearment referring to civil engineers or construction workers. ?

 Chapter 404: Masters Advice (2)

    <h4>Chapter 404: Master''s Advice (2)</h4>


    "Your rewards for challenging the one-star tower remain the same. How much you can obtain from me depends on your abilities," High Immortal Nan Yin stated.


    "Given your current cultivation speed, in four or five years, you should be able to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase. But don''t rush, take some time to consolidate your cultivation."


    "Transitioning from the Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase is a leap in the order of life. Thepletion of each cultivation phase represents a type of extremity in the operation of heaven and earth. Take some time to understand it. It will be beneficial for you," High Immortal Nan Yin instructed.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    He had long understood this from his research.


    When one reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase, the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, it was not a good idea to break through to the next phase the moment it became possible.


    "Of course, don��t drag your feet either. I suggest that you break through after the Moonsilver Tournament is over," High Immortal Nan Yin advised.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The Moonsilver Tournament would take ce a decadeter. By then, Wu Yuan would be just sixty years old. If he was already prepared to step into the Amethyst Cradle, such progress exceeded his expectations.


    "The Moonsilver Tournament ten years from now will be the final test for you at the Golden Core phase," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "By then, your opponents won''t be limited to our sect, and will include top-tier geniuses from the entire immortal continent."


    "The Moonsilver Tournament restricts participants to individuals under 150 years old. So, many Golden Core geniuses intentionally halt their progress for some time, just to partake in the Moonsilver Tournament."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback as he listened.


    150 years old? Geniuses like Hao Shanjing and Xing Luo would undoubtedly grow much stronger if they trained for a few more decades.


    "Even though our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is touted as the top sect on the immortal continent, there are thirty-two first-rate sects, along with countless second-rate sects, third-rate sects, and countless other beings. Thus, some formidable geniuses do asionally emerge," High Immortal Nan Yin exined.


    "As far as I know, in recent years, some peerless geniuses have emerged throughout the immortal continent. Their talents are on par with Hao Shanjing��s, but their power surpasses him."


    "Stronger than Hao Shanjing?" Wu Yuan was quietly astonished.


    But he felt that it was understandable. Hao Shanjing had been specially recruited not due to his power, but because he had stepped through the threshold of the Longevity Dao, showcasing massive potential.


    As for his power? If Xing Luo were to train for another thirty years, he would likely be able to defeat the current Hao Shanjing.


    "Also, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Silvermist Immortal Nation will also dispatch a group of top-tier geniuses to participate in the tournament," High Immortal Nan Yin continued.


    "The Silvermist Immortal Nation?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    His knowledge of the Silvermist Immortal Nation was limited to its name. He knew that the immortal nation was immensely vast, and that the entire Redmoon Immortal Continent was just a small fraction of its territory.


    "The immortal nation is vast, teeming with powerhouses and Archimmortals. The Silvermist Immortal Nation directly governs around 3300 immortal continent nes and indirectly governs another 2600," High Immortal Nan Yin softly said.


    "The Redmoon Immortal Continent is but one of the numerous spacetime nes that are part of its territory."


    Wu Yuan��s eyes widened at this revtion.


    So, the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation controlled roughly six thousand immortal continents? It was an enormity beyondprehension.


    And if the immortal nation was this big, what about therger immortal world?


    Wu Yuan finally understood why his master said the immortal world was vast and boundless.


    "Immortal Redmoon is an incredibly powerful Archimmortal. The overall strength of the entire Redmoon Immortal Continent is among the strongest in the thousands of immortal continents within the immortal nation," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "It is precisely for this reason that the immortal nation often sends talented individuals to participate in the Moonsilver Tournament. Their aim is simple: suppression. To unt their might to the Redmoon Immortal Hall," High Immortal Nan Yin sighed.


    "The Silvermist Immortal Nation controls numerous spacetime nes across its vast territory, which naturally produces plenty of prodigies. Even the weakest of those who have been selected to enter the Silvermist World are at Xing Luo��s level."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, lost in thought.


    In the Redmoon Immortal Continent, someone like Xing Luo ranked in the top tier. But whenpared to the entire immortal nation? He barely stood out.


    "Of course, from another perspective, it serves to remind the prodigies of Redmoon Immortal Continent that there is always a higher mountain beyond, and they should not let their egos get too inted," High Immortal Nan Yin added.


    "My disciple, in terms of strength, you are no worse than those few Golden Core prodigies in the Moonsilver World, ranking in the top tier across the entire immortal continent. In terms of talent, you are also top-tier within the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    "The only thing youck is time. I estimate that you will be one of the youngest participants," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.


    "But I expect you to make it into the top ten. If you do so, I shall reward you with a hundred million catties of ethercrystal. Break into the top three and I''ll reward you with three hundred million catties of ethercrystal," High Immortal Nan Yin said, a hopeful glint in his eyes as he looked at his apprentice.


    Wu Yuan was deep in thought.


    Top ten? Third ce?


    "Master, what if I im first ce in the Moonsilver Tournament?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "First?" High Immortal Nan Yin paused. Stroking his chin, a smirk spread across his face. "My disciple, if you can take first ce, not only will the Redmoon Immortal Hall grant you additional gifts, but I will also prepare a great treasure for you."


    "A truly great treasure."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. If his master called it a great treasure, it must be extraordinary.


    "Master, I will work hard," Wu Yuan solemnly said.


    High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    Treasures? To him, other than a few treasures necessary for oveing his Tribtion, everything else was expendable.


    If Wu Yuan showed sufficient dedication, he wouldn''t hesitate to offer him more. As long as Wu Yuan maintained his fierce determination, that was all that mattered.


    After all, treasures and rewards were just a means to an end.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>High Immortal Nan Yin waved his hand, and a light screen materialized out of nowhere. The projection was filled with lines of text and detailed introductions.


    "What is this?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "If you want to take first ce in the Moonsilver Tournament, you can��t keep cultivating with your usual methods," High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled. "Moreover, after cultivating for over ten years, you haveid a good foundation. From now on, we will change things up."


    "As you��ve seized first ce in the Dragon Star Tournament, you will receive special privileges from the sect treasury. The first is this Dragonsoul Crystal Bead," High Immortal Nan Yin pointed to the first item.


    "Only the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle champions of the Dragon Star Tournament are eligible to redeem it, and it may only be redeemed once in an individual��s lifetime."


    "It is a special treasure unique to our sect, brought here from a mysterious ce by our ancestor."


    "Even the geniuses of the Redmoon Immortal Hall can''t get their hands on it," High Immortal Nan Yin stated. "This Dragonsoul Crystal Bead has little effect on immortals, but for you youngsters, it is an invaluable treasure, a blessing from the ancestor for the young talents of the sect."


    Wu Yuan listened and silently noted it down.


    A special treasure brought back by the founding ancestor?


    The founding ancestor was the only Archimmortal of the sect. He had lived for more than hundreds of millions of years, and was both ancient and powerful.


    "The second are these fifty-eight sword arts, which are all at the Void Refiner level," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "Among them, thirty-six incorporate the Earth Dao, and twenty-two incorporate the Wood Dao. You should redeem and practice all of them."


    "Void Refiner level?" Wu Yuan was astonished.


    "Master, I am practicing an Archimmortal level sword codex. Why should I redeem these Void Refiner level secret arts?" Wu Yuan voiced his confusion.


    One must understand that Wu Yuan��s current Daoprehension level was almost on par with an average Void Refiner cultivator.


    "Every art has its strengths and weaknesses. The Star Ruins Sword Codex and the Dark Earth Sword Codex are good, but even they are not fullyprehensive," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    "Over the long years, the sect has gathered numerous sword codices, numbering in the millions. These Void Refiner level sword codices I��ve chosen for you are all near the pinnacle of this level, each focusing on different aspects."


    "Contemte them, understand them, and digest them thoroughly!"


    "Synthesizing the strengths of numerous sources will help you solidify your foundation. It will also help you rify some of the simpler profundities of the Dao." High Immortal Nan Yin instructed.


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    If the Celestial Body Law Codex was the outline, then the Star Ruins Sword Codex and the Dark Earth Sword Codex were the core textbooks. And the dozens of sword arts his master instructed him to redeem were equivalent to practice books.


    High Immortal Nan Yin began introducing these sword arts to Wu Yuan one at a time, focusing in particr on the thirty-six that incorporated the Earth Dao.


    As for those that incorporated the Wood Dao? He instructed Wu Yuan to redeem them first but hold off on studying them for the moment. After all, Wu Yuan hadn''t even reached the initiate threshold of the Extended Life Sword Codex yet. The level of these sword arts and teachings was too profound for him.


    "How is your body refiner self faring in the Summerpeak World?" High Immortal Nan Yin inquired.


    "Nothing unusual has happened for now." Wu Yuan shook his head, "Over the past month, I dispatched some of my subordinate immortal cultivators to scout the regions beyond the Middle Land.��


    ��We have found three small civilizations simr to ours. However, none of them matches up to Middle Land. We haven''t found a truly powerful immortal path civilization yet." Wu Yuan said honestly.


    This past month, Middle Land had not undergone any significant changes.


    With the disappearance of the Spiritless Regions, the five exploration teams dispatched by the Middle Land had reported back to them.


    The three newly discovered civilizations were not located far from them. The closest was just a few hundred thousand li away, and the furthest was just over a million li. One of these civilizations had producedte-stage qi sea cultivators. As for the other two, barely any qi refiners had emerged at all.


    "Don''t rush, and don''t panic." High Immortal Nan Yin nodded, "These are likely previously isted civilizations."


    ��From what I��ve gathered so far, the Summerpeak World should have previously been categorized as ''under recovery'' ording to the standard assessment of the Bloodforge Devil Hall." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "''Under recovery''?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "The intention behind these so-called Bloodforge Worlds isn''t to convert them into battlegrounds for the massacre of their inhabitants," stated High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Instead, it''s about exploitation and collection of resources. Besides cultivation resources, the immortal cultivators born in these worlds are also considered resources - human resources!"


    "Just like farming, thend needs to be fertile for a good harvest. Summerpeak was heavily damaged, akin to pollution. Thus, the Bloodforge Devil Hall either had to pay a huge price to restore the Summerpeak World or wait for the world''s essence to recover gradually."


    "I suspect that the Bloodforge Devil Hall chose thetter. ording to the information I acquired, the Summerpeak World might lookrge with a diameter of tens of millions of li. However, it is just a tiny worldlet in the eyes of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, which controls countless worldlets under its rule." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Naturally, it''s not worth the Bloodforge Devil Hall spending too many resources on. Waiting tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years before reusing the worldlet isn��t much of an issue for Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Investing always involved a return ratio. The Bloodforge Devil Hall naturally wouldn''t take unprofitable actions.

 Chapter 405: Masters Advice (3)

    <h4>Chapter 405: Master''s Advice (3)</h4>


    "The probability of there being powerhouses from the Bloodforge Devil Hall stationed within Summerpeak World is low. At most, there might be other native civilizations in Summerpeakparable to the Middle Land," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "However, as the Summerpeak World recovers, it''s highly likely that powerhouses from the Bloodforge Devil Hall will appear."


    "Go with the flow," High Immortal Nan Yin advised. "With your talent, you have the potential to rise within the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    He felt a heavy burden within his heart. Although the Bloodforge Devil Hall did not truly consist of devils and followed some sort of systematic order, it adhered to the Asura Devil Path, which waspletely different from the current ruling system of the Middle Land.


    What would the future bring? Wu Yuan had no clue.


    "It''s a pity that the Bloodforge Devil Hall has strict rules. They have numerous internal fights but absolutely do not allow external interference. Moreover, the powerhouses of this faction have very little interaction with those from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Most of the time, they only meet on some spacetime battlefields, where more often than not, they end up fighting," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    "I have acquaintances among the immortals of the immortal world, but none from the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "If the Summerpeak World belonged to any faction from the Redmoon Immortal Hall or even the Silvermist Immortal Nation, I would have been able to find a way to secure it," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.


    "Master, you have already done so much for me," Wu Yuan said in a low voice.


    Ever since learning about the news five years ago, Wu Yuan had also done his own research into the Bloodforge Devil Hall, gaining some understanding into this powerful faction.


    The main Bloodforge Devil Hall was an enormous faction on the same scale as the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    The Myriad Axes Hall, subordinate to the Silvermist Immortal Nation, was a faction smaller than the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    Meanwhile, the powerhouses of the Devil Hall rarely made appearances on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, mainly keeping to the immortal continents they upied.


    Simrly, even immortals found it difficult to get in contact with the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    "Even if the immortal ancestor intervenes, the most we can do is get them to allow your body refiner self to leave the Summerpeak world," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "But to extract the entire Summerpeak World? I doubt he can do it, it would vite the bottom line of the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    Wu Yuan nodded subtly.


    Transferring a worldlet under the Redmoon Immortal Hall��s jurisdiction to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was like altering the boundary of two provinces within a nation. The impact was minimal, and thus wasn��t too difficult a request. After all, they were all members of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    But to make such a request to the Bloodforge Devil Hall?


    It would be akin to adjusting the territorial boundary between tworge nations. Perhaps a single de of grass, a mountain, or a waterfall held little tangible value, but their symbolic significance was monumental. The probability of a sessful negotiation was far lower.


    <i>I��m afraid this will require the help of the powerhouses from the divine court��s headquarters. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Only the Taiyuan Divine Court was superior to the Bloodforge Devil Hall and the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation, which were both members of the divine court.


    However, the Taiyuan Divine Court was an enormous entity spanning the vast river of time and space. Why would they help him?


    <i>If I��m the only one leaving the Summerpeak World, my master might find a way even if the price is steep. </i>Wu Yuan was aware of this. <i>But what about the others in the world of the Middle Land? </i>


    Billions of sentient beings lived there. Wu Yuan''s family, friends, subordinates, and so on, were all inhabitants of that world.


    Even an Archimmortal couldn''t remove the Middle Land from the Summerpeak World.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan dared not hope that his master or the sect''s immortal ancestor would pay such a high price for him. He wasn''t worth it yet.


    <i>Right now, I have nothing of value to offer to my master or the sect. All I have is potential. </i>Wu Yuan dared not ask for too much.


    Making constant demands would only annoy them. If he angered his master, the losses would outweigh the gains.


    <i>I''ll have to rely on myself. I refuse to believe that my body refiner self can''t find a way to survive. </i>Wu Yuan decided.


    It was better to depend on oneself than others.


    ...


    After leaving Dragon Star, Wu Yuan went straight back to the meditation chamber in his world residence.


    With a thought, a strand of consciousness entered the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>Mirage Dragon City</i>.


    <i>I''ll first redeem all the sword art manuals that Master mentioned. </i>Wu Yuan made up his mind and quickly began to search them up.


    "Heir Li Xia, you are redeeming a total of fifty-eight sword art manuals for 3.67 million dragon crystals. Do you confirm?" A gentle voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Wu Yuan slightly frowned. It was rather expensive, given that they were only at the Void Refiner level.


    However, thinking back to his master''s words, they were all top-tier manuals of this level.


    Wu Yuan paused for a brief moment, then dered, "Confirm.��


    ...


    Returning to his personal hall, he immediately saw the dense swarm of virtual immortal slips hovering in mid-air. Each of these virtual immortal slips was a sword manual.


    Wu Yuan began to study the inheritances one by one.


    <i>How unexpectedly impressive. The Gravity Dao can be utilized in this way?</i>


    <i>The profundity of the Land!</i>


    <i>Stars, returning to the source...this sword technique is worth it! How extraordinary!</i>


    Information from the sword inheritances flowed through his mind one after another.


    It was an eye-opening experience for Wu Yuan.


    These sword arts were not too profound. With a little contemtion, Wu Yuan could understand about 30-40% of the techniques, and even 60-70% for some.


    But he had to admit, his master indeed knew what he was talking about. Each of these sword manuals had its unique aspects.


    Some expounded onbining the profundities of the Dao from novel angles, while others detailed the wless execution of a sword art. Then there were those that seamlessly integrated the basics with profound insights.


    <i>They are indeed worth every dragon crystal spent.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled.


    Just by reading through these inheritances once, he had resolved many of his previous conundrums whileprehending the Dao.


    <i>Sometimes, a change in perspective can lead to breakthroughs. The same goes for Daoprehension.</i>


    Wu Yuan believed that with the help of these sword manuals, his growth would surely elerate.


    Two hourster, he fully memorized all fifty-eight sword arts.


    Wu Yuan then essed the sect''s treasury from the voidrealm.


    Ordinary treasures could be purchased at the Dragon Treasure Tower, but the sect''s treasury held special treasures that were nearly impossible to purchase with ethercrystal alone. These were unique treasures painstakingly collected by the sect.


    Before long, Wu Yuan spotted the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead his master had mentioned.


    <i>Dragonsoul Crystal Bead: Special treasure. Absorbing the Dragonsoul within greatly nourishes the soul. </i>


    <i>Redemption requirement: Ten million dragon crystals.</i>


    <i>Special requirement: Limited to the winner of the Dragon Star Tournament. This item may only be redeemed once.</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly skimmed through the description.


    It could be summarized in three words - Good! Very good!


    <i>Ten million dragon crystals. How expensive.</i> Wu Yuan grumbled inwardly.


    Still, he didn''t hesitate to redeem them. Since it was his master��s instruction, it was most likely the right move.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that this Dragonsoul Crystal Bead wouldmand its weight in divine crystals if ced for sale in the Silvermist Immortal Nation or even the Eternal Sun Immortal World. It was a truly rare treasure.


    In the entire Redmoon Immortal Continent, only the Dragon Star Immortal Sect possessed it. Ten million dragon crystals? It was practically free.


    <i>It will be delivered to my world residence within three days?</i> Watching ten million dragon crystals deducted from his ount, Wu Yuan felt a pang in his chest.


    His newly acquired rewards, gone in an instant.


    <i>Once I reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, I can upgrade my lifebound flying sword to third-grade spirit weapons. I must prepare in advance.</i>


    Wu Yuan swiftly headed for the Dragon Treasure Tower in Greendragon City and began to purchase the necessary treasures.


    130 million catties of ethercrystal was an astronomical figure for a Golden Core cultivator, yet just enough to refine nine lifebound flying swords to the third grade. It was just barely enough for Wu Yuan��s needs.


    ...


    Days flew by.


    As Wu Yuan started to use his newly acquired resources to further strengthen his qi refiner self''s power, news about the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s Dragon Star Tournament spread rapidly across the immortal continent.


    When Wu Yuan challenged the one-star tower, there was no broadcast of the battle recordings. Furthermore, voidrealm battles were not real-world battles, thus they hadn��t garnered much attention.


    Comparatively, when Wu Yuan became the ''nominal disciple of the Archimmortal'', it created a greater sensation.


    As for the Dragon Star Tournament, it was a grand event with tens of millions of spectators, if not more.


    During the final showdown between Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing, both employed Intermediate Laws, engaging in head-on shes. With such disys of power, news of the battle spread like wildfire.


    ...


    Inside a vast hall, a base of the Moonsilver World located in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm, seven figures convened.


    A massive light screen projected the intense battle between Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing.


    "All six of you, watch closely. They are merely sect disciples, while you are the talents of my Moonsilver World. On top of that, their cultivation periods are extremely short." Mountain Master Xu coldly stated. "Do you think you can defeat them?"


    Silence filled the air.


    "Think hard, all of you. The Moonsilver Tournament is only a decade away. I do not wish to see everyst one of you fail to get into the top ten," Mountain Master Xu said coldly, striding out of the grand hall.


    The six Golden Core geniuses were left behind, exchanging nces.


    "I''m not confident that I can beat any of them. They''re too strong. How did these Golden Core cultivators step through the threshold of Intermediate Laws?" A youth in ck robes shook his head.


    "I heard that Hao Shanjing has been specially recruited. He will be joining us soon."


    "I consider my strength to be on par with theirs, but breaking into the top ten of the Moonsilver Tournament? The Silvermist Immortal Nation will send ten geniuses," another middle-aged man in white robes shook his head.


    "Great Senior Brother, what about you? Are you confident?" A young woman in white robes asked, looking towards the young man in red armor standing the furthest away.


    "Great Senior Brother." The rest turned their gazes toward the young man in red armor, their eyes filled with admiration.


    He was indisputably the strongest among the six.


    "Defeating the two of them won��t be hard. However, this Li Xia has only cultivated for fifty years, while I''ve been cultivating for over 130 years," the young man in red armor spoke lightly, "Even if I win, it''s nothing to be proud of."


    "Everyone should focus on cultivating. For the Amethyst Cradle battle, we have Senior Sister Haiyue."


    "But for the Golden Core battle, our opponents are not only Li Xia and Hao Shanjing, but also the top geniuses from the Silvermist Immortal Nation." The young man in red armor walked out of the grand hall.


    "They are our real opponents."

 Chapter 406: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (1)

    <h4>Chapter 406: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (1)</h4>


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent was vast and boundless. Apart from the main ne with a diameter in the tens of billions of li, it also epassed millions of worldlets.


    These worldlets varied in size, with the smallest having an internal diameter of just hundreds of thousands of li, and thergest nearing a hundred million li.


    The capacity of each individual worldlet to harbor life was no match for the main ne of the immortal continent. However, amidst the countless worldlets teeming with lives, frighteningly talented geniuses would asionally be born throughout the ages.


    The Rainbow River World was a super worldlet with an internal diameter of about sixty million li, subordinate to the Hundred Rivers Hall.


    The Hundred Rivers Hall was one of the thirty-two first-rate sects on the immortal continent, with its overall strength ranked in the top ten.


    In the heart of Rainbow River Worldy a river that was truly one-of-a-kind. It was vast and splendid, glowing with seven vibrant colors. This river flowed through the entire worldlet, and the world was named after it.


    Positioned directly above the middle section of the river was a floating hall.


    <i>Boom~</i> Without warning, a gigantic wave rose up from the river, spanning hundreds of li wide.


    A bare-chested figure soared into the sky, reaching a hundred li in a single leap.


    Hended heavily on the metallic floor of the hall��s za, causing the ground to shake. Crimson liquid resembling blood sttered onto the ground.


    He was a young man with short red hair, holding arge poleaxe taller than himself. Fresh blood dripped from the de.


    "Congrattions, Sageling! You''ve killed another Shambh trial taker. This is the 10th Shambh powerhouse you have killed." Two Void Refiner Eminences in red robes stepped forward with smiles.


    "Hm." The young man with the poleaxe nodded, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "This Shambh opponent was somewhat weak. Prepare a stronger one next time."


    With that, he strode purposefully towards the hall��s interior.


    The two Void Refiner Eminences exchanged a bitter smile.


    Shambh cultivators were already a rare sight, let alone those who possessed just the right amount of power and hadmitted serious crimes. The young man was truly giving them a tall order.


    However, they could only reply, "Understood."


    "Sageling, the Dragon Star Tournament of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect has just ended," one of the Void Refiner Eminences suddenly brought the topic up.


    "Oh? The Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" The poleaxe-wielding youth paused, ncing at the Void Refiner Eminence. "I remember they have a disciple called Li Xia, right? He even got taken in as an Archimmortal��s disciple."


    The two Void Refiner Eminences couldn''t help but chuckle.


    They knew the Sageling��s character well��focused onbat and cultivation. Though he was only at the Golden Core phase, he had already revealed terrifying talent!


    He was regarded highly by many immortals, and even specially invited to train in the Rainbow River World��one of the most important worldlets of Hundred Rivers Hall.


    "Yes, Li Xia became an Archimmortal''s disciple over five years ago," one of the Void Refiner Eminences said. "In this Dragon Star Tournament, Li Xia exhibited immense strength.��


    ��He has nine lifebound flying swords and is able to control three Thousand Swords Arrays formed solely of fourth-grade spirit flying swords," added the other Void Refiner Eminence.


    "What? Nine lifebound flying swords?" The previouslyposed youth suddenly halted, spinning around. "Is that true? Show me the battle recording."


    Even though he was a Golden Core cultivator, he was highly knowledgeable. From what the two had said, he could tell that Li Xia was truly formidable.


    The Void Refiner Eminence quickly nodded. "Sageling, please observe."


    With a wave of his hand, a massive light screen projection appeared, revealing the battle scene between Wu Yuan and Hao Shanjing.


    Without a word, the youth watched the recording from beginning to end, studying it meticulously.


    "They are both very strong," the youth muttered.


    "Yes, ording to the information we''ve collected, both of them areprehending Intermediate Laws. They''re extremely talented," a Void Refiner Eminence stated.


    "Overall, Li Xia poses a much greater threat. He has cultivated for a shorter period and doesn��t seem to have reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase. In another ten years, his power will grow much stronger. Plus, he has the guidance of an Archimmortal."


    "As per the hall master''s words, Li Xia''s power in ten years could rival that of a sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root," the Void Refiner Eminence stated.


    "In terms of overall strength, there''s an eighty percent probability that he''ll be stronger than Zhuang Liang from the Moonsilver World."


    The youth listened in silence.


    He knew that the sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle referred to the most ordinary caliber of cultivator: those with sixth-degree immortal roots, and Daoprehension at the ninth-level Domain stage.


    Reaching such a power level at the ninth-stage Golden Core phase was truly horrifying.


    "Send a request to the hall master on my behalf. Inform him that I wish to participate in the Bloodforge three years from now," the youth suddenly spoke.


    "Sageling, do not act rashly."


    "Absolutely not, Sageling." The expressions of the two Void Refiner Eminences changed simultaneously.


    They didn''t expect the information about Li Xia to agitate the Sageling to such a degree.


    "Protectorates, are you worried that I won''t survive the Bloodforge?" The youth smirked. "I know participating in the Bloodforge is a huge risk, but I heard that Zhuo Haiyue shot to fame through a Bloodforge and even got epted as an Astral Monarch''s disciple."


    "I''m confident in my abilities, but I know my strength well. My current strength is around the same level as Zhuang Liang''s. We both cleared level fifty of the two-star tower. Can I suppress Li Xia ten years from now? The chances are slim," the youth stated gravely.


    "He is only fifty years old, and he''s likely to make clear progress every year. Who knows how far he��ll go ten years down the road? Thirteen years ago, he was only able to conquer level forty of the one-star tower. Now, he could probably conquer up to level fifty-nine."


    "If I want to defeat him, I have no choice but to take some special measures." The poleaxe-wielding youth said, "I''ve heard that the Bloodforge Devil World is a very unique ce."


    The two Void Refiner Eminences shared a pained smile, unsure of how to dissuade him.


    Their duty was simply to protect him. Providing cultivation guidance was beyond their purview.


    In terms of the breadth of knowledge and extent of ess to certain secret information, they might not be as well-informed as the axe-wielding youth.


    "Su Yu." A mere momentter, a gentle voice rang out. Countless specks of light converged and a figure d in ck robes appeared before the youth.


    "We pay our respects to the hall master." The two Void Refiner Eminences bowed in unison.


    "Hall Master." The youth also kept his poleaxe and bowed low.


    The neer was none other than the master of the Hundred Rivers Hall, one of the top echelons of this vast sect.


    "Su Yu, I hear you wish to participate in the Bloodforge? Do you understand what the Bloodforge entails?" The hall master of the Hundred Rivers Hall looked down at the youth, a prodigious talent that the sect could rarely produce once in ten thousand years.


    "I have a general understanding. It''s the most brutal trial organized by the Bloodforge Devil Hall. They enlist countless beings from their Bloodforge Worlds to survive the harsh natural environment of the battlefield andpete with other participants." The poleaxe-wielding youth calmly said.


    "Only the strongest, and the luckiest, can hope to emerge alive. And only those who survive have the privilege of receiving training from the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Likewise, as part of the Taiyuan Divine Court, we, the immortal cultivators of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, can also apply to participate in the Bloodforge." The youth said, "However, one must obtain at least ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens to leave the trial alive."


    It was clear that he had done his research ahead of time.


    "Correct! One Blood Devil Token represents the life of one Bloodforge participant. In other words, for you to emerge alive, at least tens of thousands of immortal cultivators must fall by your hands." The hall master of the Hundred Rivers Hall said softly.


    "With your strength, you have at least a fifty percent chance of surviving. But from what I��m hearing, it seems you wish to fight for the ultimate opportunity?"


    "Topete for the ultimate opportunity, you need to umte at least one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens to qualify for participation, and you mustpete with the strongest talents from countless worlds."


    "The participants of each Bloodforge are not limited to the immortal continent division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but the entire Bloodforge Devil Hall." The hall master looked at the youth. "It''s a forceparable to the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World, filled with countless prodigies. It is a faction that��s both cruel and savage."


    The youth listened quietly.


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World was an unbelievablyrge faction, making up an entire immortal world. The scale of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was self-evident. Each time the Bloodforgemenced, countless participants joined the trial. How many of them emerged alive each time?


    "The journey of cultivation is a solitary one. The Bloodforge is harsh, with a significant risk of perishing, yet if one seeds, immense benefits await."


    "If you have truly made up your mind, I will send your application to the Redmoon Immortal Hall," the hall master looked at the youth and said softly. "I will give you some time to think it over. Let me know your decision within a year."


    He wouldn''t stand in the way of the youth''s decision. Afterall, one''s path could only be determined by oneself.

 Chapter 407: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (2)

    <h4>Chapter 407: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (2)</h4>


    With that said, the hall master of the Hundred Rivers Hall was about to retract his Soul Force from the voidrealm when he was interrupted by the youth.


    "Hall Master, I��ve already made my decision." Firm determination was etched in the youth��s eyes. "I want to participate in this Bloodforge."


    The hall master was taken aback.


    A momentter, his face softened. "Good! I look forward to the day ten thousand years from now, when a peerless hero from my Hundred Rivers Hall shakes the Immortal Continent."


    With that, the hall master��s avatar vanished into thin air.


    "Bloodforge?" The young man muttered, hoisting his poleaxe up and proceeding deeper into the hall.


    The two Void Refiner Eminences exchanged nces, their hearts thundering in their chests.


    "How decisive!"


    "Others are forced to join the Bloodforge, begging to escape but to no avail. Yet the Sageling willingly volunteered for it?"


    "Let''s hope the Sageling can make it out alive."


    ...


    Starsword City was a fourth-tier city. A true immortal city, it was home to countless immortal cultivators and epassed a vast area.


    <i>Inside an enormous mansion within the Redmoon Immortal Army''s quarters.</i>


    "Old Yu." Zhuo Haiyue, d in silver armor, shook her head slightly, "I bet you never imagined that the kid from years back would turn out this strong."


    "Haha, indeed." Old Yu, shrouded in ck robes,ughed, "I thought he was promising back then, but I only expected him to reach the criteria for the Moonsilver World��s standard entry at most."


    "Little did I expect that in just over ten years, Li Xia has grown so much, astounding everyone with his talent." Old Yu dered sincerely.


    It was Old Yu who first recognized Wu Yuan''s potential years ago.


    "The stronger he is, the better." Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "Old Yu, in half a year, the trial assignment will end, and we will have to return. Thank you for your help during this time.��


    "You havepleted your mundane world trial with flying colors," Old Yu replied with a smile, "It''s been an honor to apany you for over a decade."


    He was well aware of Zhuo Haiyue''s talent and status.


    "Hm. After returning to the Moonsilver World, I will first head to the immortal nation to meet my master. Then, I will join the Bloodforge," Zhuo Haiyue said in a low voice.


    "You still intend to go?" Old Yu frowned, "Your Highness has already participated in the Golden Core Bloodforge. ording to the rules, you can forgo participating in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge."


    "Moreover, the Bloodforge is a trial meant for the geniuses of Bloodforge Devil Hall. It shouldn''t have anything to do with our Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    As a powerhouse from the immortal nation, Old Yu knew this well. The Eternal Sun Immortal World and Bloodforge Devil Hall were both subordinate to the Taiyuan Divine Court in the wider macrocosm and were technically allies.


    However, it did not mean that the immortal nations and immortal continents under each of their jurisdictions shared friendly rtionships.


    On the contrary, due to differing ideologies and conflicts of interest, intense battles were the norm, and asionally even Archimmortals would perish.


    "Mm. I have the right to decline." Zhuo Haiyue spoke softly, "However, I have consulted with my master in the Eternal Sun Immortal Realm. There is a reason I must participate no matter what."


    Old Yu nodded, no longer trying to dissuade her.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s master was an Astral Monarch, a great existence even within the macrocosm.


    To intervene was to overstep his boundaries.


    "Will you meet with Li Xia?" Old Yu changed the topic.


    "There��s no need. I sent him a congrattory message. That''s enough." Zhuo Haiyue smiled, "When the Moonsilver Tournamentes around, we will meet again."


    "After the Moonsilver Tournament ends, it will be time to step into the Void Refiner phase."


    ...


    The Dragon Star Tournament of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had a great impact on the immortal continent, but it was mostly limited to the younger generation of various sects, especially with the Moonsilver Tournament imminent.


    The top talents of the major sects and factions naturally paid full attention to their futurepetitors. As a result, through this battle, the names Li Xia and Hao Shanjing were etched into the minds of countless Golden Core cultivators and Amethyst Cradle cultivators on the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Of course, the group of powerhouses that truly stood at the peak of the immortal continent, like the Earth Immortals, High Immortals, and even Archimmortals, paid far less attention.


    In particr, the Archimmortals had seen too many talents in their long lives. Only a shockingly brilliant, truly unbelievable genius was worth their time. For example, someone who cleared level eighty of the one-star tower!


    Wu Yuan only caught the attention of the Archimmortals previously because he was taken as a nominal disciple by an Archimmortal.


    It was due to a change in status, not his talent.


    However, among the many Archimmortals, there were always exceptions.


    The Silvermist Immortal Nation ruled over more than six thousand immortal continents in different spacetime nes, and even spatialyers. It was not just a simplendmass or expanse of cosmos.


    Even Earth Immortals found it difficult to travel between different immortal continents with their own strength.


    Within a different spatialyer, far from the Redmoon Immortal Continent,y a gigantic immortal continent.


    Deep within this immortal continent was a world where countless beings lived. Numerous mortals and even immortal cultivators faced a sacred me, chanting prayers.


    These myriad beings were all worshiping the same idol, generating the mysterious Faith Incense.


    At the center of the world stood a majestic temple, with divine pirs towering more than a thousand li high on both sides.


    A figure cloaked in crimson sat regally on the throne. His piercing gaze shone bright, and the space around him seemed to distort.


    "Great Immortal Ancestor! As per your instructions, we have been monitoring the Dragon Star Immortal Sect in the Redmoon Immortal Continent." A figure draped in ck robes knelt on the ground, "Recently, Li Xia, the genius who was taken in as a nominal disciple by Archimmortal Long Xing, gave a brilliant performance during the tournament." [1]


    "He''s making rapid progress in the Celestial Body Dao and even revealed nine lifebound flying swords."


    "ording to our assessment, his talent is so great that it tops this generation across the entire immortal nation." said the figure in the ck robe respectfully.


    "Sword cultivation? The Celestial Body Dao?" The figure in the crimson robes pondered. "Are you sure he''s Long Xing''s disciple, and not that bastard Dong Yang''s disciple?"


    His voice seemed to carry an invisible power, exerting pressure on the spirit of the ck-robed figure and causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.


    The ck-robed figure was well aware of the grudge between his immortal ancestor and Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    "We are absolutely certain," the figure in ck robes responded respectfully. "We have investigated the matter from various angles and have yet to find any evidence indicating that Li Xia has any rtion to Dong Yang."


    "Hmph! I don��t believe it. That old dragon is too crafty, when did he ever take a sword cultivator as a disciple?" The towering figure in crimson robes snorted coldly.


    "Everyone knows Dong Yang is adept at the Metal Dao, but I know that his powers in the Earth Dao are not weak."


    He could not forget that sword strike during their battle a hundred thousand years ago. That single strike had brought down entire stars. If not for Dong Yang''s small mana reserves, he would have fallen to that strike!


    "What should we do, Immortal Ancestor?" The figure in ck robes asked nervously. "Shall we assassinate this Li Xia?"


    "No need. I will take action myself and kill this Li Xia." The figure in crimson robes decided. "The greater his talent, the more uneasy I am. I don''t believe Dong Yang can resist making such a bright genius his sessor."


    ��An Archimmortal��s disciple? He may deceive others, but not me." The crimson-robed figure��s eyes were filled with extreme hatred.


    In that great war, he lost the most crucial opportunity of his life.


    ��Take action personally?" The figure in ck robes was shocked. "Immortal Ancestor, surely it��s unnecessary for you to step in for a mere Li Xia. Launching an attack on the Redmoon Immortal Continent is equivalent to dering war on Archimmortal Redmoon and Archimmortal Long Xing."


    He was well aware of Archimmortal Redmoon and Archimmortal Long Xing��s strengths. His immortal ancestor was weaker than them.


    "There��s no need to worry. I serve under the Astral Monarch. What can Archimmortal Redmoon do to me?" The figure in crimson robes scoffed dismissively. "Long Xing? His true body has already left the Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    "As for Dong Yang? I won''t send my true body. It''s a good chance to test his abilities, to see how far he is from oveing the Ninth Tribtion."


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A red-robed figure shrouded in mes appeared out of thin air outside the temple. He was equally imposing and emanated endless radiant light.


    <i>Crack!</i> A fissure stretching tens of thousands of li opened within space, tearing heaven and earth apart. The fiery red-robed figure took one step and entered the crack.


    1. Dragon Star is the trantion of Long Xing ?

 Chapter 408: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (3)

    <h4>Chapter 408: Metamorphosis Of The Soul (3)</h4>


    "Mana body?" The figure in ck robes was taken aback.


    Upon reaching a high cultivation level, a qi refiner could create a mana body, while a body refiner could create an ether body.


    Whether it was a mana body or an ether body, both possessed terrifyingbat power nearlyparable to one��s true body.


    Even if they died in battle, they could be recreated. However, apart from losing the treasures they carried, creating them anew was also terribly troublesome.


    At this moment, the figure in ck robes gained a deeper understanding into the depth of resentment between his immortal ancestor and Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    Perhaps, it was not merely a feud over a treasure.


    ...


    Wu Yuan vaguely knew about the upheaval he had caused during the Dragon Star Tournament, and how countless immortal cultivators from various factions now remembered his name.


    However, he didn''t care. Golden Core Great Senior Brother? It was just a title, and titles were worthless.


    After days of secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan finally received the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead.


    <i>In the sky city of Wu Yuan��s world residence.</i>


    A figure that exuded a powerful aura emerged from the massive vortex in the distance. From the moment he appeared, it seemed as though he was the center of the world.


    "Greetings, Elder," Lu Zhu led many Golden Core followers in a respectful greeting.


    "Earth Immortal Xu You," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    The visitor was Earth Immortal Xu You, who was responsible for managing the numerous hereditary disciples of the sect.


    There were few High Immortals in the sect. Thus, Earth Immortals usually managed these affairs.


    "Li Xia," Earth Immortal Xu You smiled. He was usually silent and serious, treating other hereditary disciples sternly. But when facing Wu Yuan, he was very courteous.


    "This is the treasure sent from the sect''s treasury, and it can only be delivered by me," Earth Immortal Xu You transmitted his voice. "Please verify it. After checking that everything is in order, confirm that you��ve received it in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm."


    With that, Earth Immortal Xu You waved his hand, and a storage ring appeared in front of Wu Yuan, hovering in the air. A mystical aura pervaded the air.


    Wu Yuan sent a strand of Soul Force into the storage artifact.


    He had done his research on the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, thus hepleted the verification quickly and put away the storage artifact.


    "Many thanks, Elder Xu You," Wu Yuan smiled, inwardly heaving a sigh of relief.


    This was, after all, a treasure worth millions of dragon crystals, and its real value was far higher.


    "Hmm, I know you are eager to test it out. Go ahead, I shall take my leave," Earth Immortal Xu You smiled and turned to depart.


    Wu Yuan watched as Earth Immortal Xu You exited the worldlet via the same passage.


    Unable to contain his excitement, Wu Yuan darted into the meditation chamber within the hall and activated the defense array immediately.


    Meanwhile, his group of followers remained in ce, exchanging bewildered expressions.


    "Reverend, what do you think Elder Xu You gave the Heir?" a Golden Core follower couldn''t help asking.


    "It must be a precious treasure. Ordinary items are usually delivered by Amethyst Cradle Reverends, while rare treasures are delivered by Void Refiner Eminences."


    "Something that an elder must personally deliver? Huhu!" The group of Golden Core followers buzzed with spection.


    "Silence." Reverend Lu Zhu��s stern voice cut through the chatter, his brows furrowed, "The hereditary disciple is kind and doesn��t reprimand you, but that doesn��t mean you can act recklessly. This matter is not to be leaked by anyone."


    "I do not want a repeat of what happened with Li Shanguang."


    The group of Golden Core followers immediately fell silent.


    For over a decade, Li Shanguang had been a fellow Golden Core follower. But recently, it was discovered that he had been bought off, betraying many secrets to external parties.


    Wu Yuan wasn��t too concerned about that. After all, his true secrets were far beyond the knowledge of these Golden Core followers.


    However, Lu Zhu was infuriated beyond measure, personally executing Li Shanguang and forcing all Golden Core followers to witness the act.


    It was a warning to them all.


    ...


    <i>Inside the meditation chamber.</i>


    <i>So this is the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead.</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on the jade tform, his gaze fixed on the floating sphere.


    It was approximately the size of a fist, withyers of hazy purple liquid swirling within it. It was mesmerizingly beautiful, and Wu Yuan felt his heart stirring with emotions as he observed it.


    On the sphere''s surface, countless illusions materialized, resembling True Dragons frolicking about. Somehow, it ignited an instinctive desire in Wu Yuan to devour it.


    <i>Dragonsoul? Legend has it that the sect''s immortal ancestor is a True Dragon, and this Dragonsoul Crystal Bead is a special product of the True Dragon race. </i>Wu Yuan wondered.


    A pure-blooded True Dragon was innately incredibly powerful. They could effortlessly reach the Dharma Body phase, Divided Soul phase, and ovee the Tribtions to be Archimmortals. Their talents far surpassed that of the human race.


    Qiong Sea, who merely possessed a trace of the True Dragon bloodline, easily reached the ninth-stage Communion phase in the Middle Land, and his rate of progress was unmatched by ordinary demonic beasts.


    <i>ording to the introduction, this Dragonsoul Crystal Bead is a treasure that fortifies the soul, but one must reach the Yang Soul level to absorb it?</i> Wu Yuan recalled the various precautions for refining the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead.


    First, the user��s soul must reach the Yang Soul level, the stronger the better. Second, once the user��s soul reached the Yuan Soul level, its effects were insignificant.


    In simple terms, the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead and divine crystal shared simr effects; one rapidly boosted mana cultivation, while the other swiftly augmented the soul.


    <i>My qi refiner self can now extend my Soul Force across six hundred li.</i> Wu Yuan thought. <i>I wonder how much assistance this Dragonsoul Crystal Bead can provide me.</i>


    He calmed his mind and extended his Soul Force toward the bead. Following the instructions he had read, he swiftly started to crack the seal on the surface of the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead. This seal kept the Dragonsoul inside from dispersing.


    A full quarter of an hour passed.


    <i>Let''s begin.</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Force permeated into the interior of the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead, quicklying into contact with the free-floating liquid that exuded an ethereal light and manifested the illusions of dragons.


    The moment his Soul Force touched it, the mysterious liquid within the bead began to dissolve rapidly. At the same time, Wu Yuan''s soul began to strengthen at an astonishing rate.


    "What a marvelous treasure," Wu Yuan murmured, holding his breath in awe.


    As his soul grew stronger, his Soul Force expanded, and his perception of the world around him grew increasingly clear. The current speed of his soul��s progression was ten, even a hundred times faster than when he Visualized the ck pagoda.


    This left Wu Yuan somewhat in disbelief.


    After all, the advancement of one��s soul and mana was akin to a person��s increase in height. No matter how fast one grew, there was generally a limit to it. But at this moment, his soul was transforming dramatically.


    <i>Something''s strange! </i>Wu Yuan quickly sensed something amiss. The power of the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead seemed to work in tandem with the ck pagoda.


    <i>With the help of the Dragonsoul, the effects of Visualizing the ck pagoda appear to have greatly improved. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    The Dragonsoul was like a catalyst!


    His spection was not wrong. In the history of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, some geniuses had obtained the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead, but none had been able to enhance their soul as quickly as he had.


    Six hundred li... seven hundred li... eight hundred li... In a mere day, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force range expanded several times over, skyrocketing from six hundred li all the way to a thousand li.


    <i>A thousand li, I have reached the peak of the Yang Soul level. </i>A surge of joy swept through his heart.


    A Soul Force range of one thousand li was the benchmark of a peak Yang Soul.


    Normally speaking, it was a huge challenge for a cultivator at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase to reach this step.


    <i>Hum~</i> Through Visualizing the ck pagoda, his soul continued to absorb the special power contained in the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead.


    Although the range of his Soul Force no longer increased, Wu Yuan could sense his soul growing even stronger.


    Another two days passed as Wu Yuan immersed himself in the strengthening of his soul.


    <i>Boom! </i>Out of nowhere, it was as if the big bang erupted within him. A core emerged within his once ephemeral soul. This powerful and profound force now had a backbone.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan felt his perception of heaven and earth change. His senses seemed to be in the throes of a seismic shift.


    <i>Soul Will! My soul has finally advanced from the Yang Soul level to the Soul Will level.</i>

 Chapter 409: A Peerless Genius In The Middle Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 409: A Peerless Genius In The Middle Land (1)</h4>


    During the early soul levels, from the Yin Soul, the Settled Soul, to the Conscious Soul, the soul was rtively weak. At these levels, the soul would slowly gain strength, and the level of control one could muster gradually improved.


    Once it reached the Soul Perception level, one''s thought processing speed greatly increased, allowing one to multi-task and marking the true beginning of stepping onto the immortal path. The majority of Qi Sea cultivators and Golden Core cultivators were at this level.


    At the Yang Soul level, one was capable of driving the great power of heaven and earth. The range of one��s Soul Force perception greatly expanded, and one gained the ability to possess weak creatures.


    Generally, cultivators at the Amethyst Cradle phase could reach this level. When Wu Yuan first arrived at the immortal continent, he was capable of rapidly processing such arge quantity of information mainly due to his powerful soul.


    Once the Yang Soul reached its perfected state, one reached the Soul Will level.


    Quantitative changes led to qualitative changes.


    <i>Once the soul reaches the Soul Will level, one gains a significant increase in perception range.</i> Wu Yuan thought. He felt his soul, which was originally only able to extend a thousand li in all directions, rapidly expanding to tens of thousands of li.


    With a single thought, he could observe everything happening in a ten-thousand-li-radius! This was Soul Will.


    <i>Secondly, the rity of perception has been enhanced.</i>


    He focused carefully. Besides the countless ever-changing scenes within ten thousand li, he could sense the operation of heaven and earth''s power and the flow of spiritual qi. It was as if he was looking down on the world from a higher dimension, giving him a feeling of detachment.


    <i>Soul Will allows one��s perception to prate beyond the surfaceyer of sensation into the deeperyers, pointing directly to the source. With this, most arrays or concealment methods will be useless against me.</i> Wu Yuan understood this.


    Just as how controlling heaven and earth''s power allowed one to distort light, rendering one invisible to the naked eye, arrays operated based on the profundities of heaven and earth, preventing one��s Soul Force from prating the boundary of the array and perceiving what was inside.


    If there was a shield, there would also be a spear.


    Under the scrutiny of Soul Will, ordinary concealment methods were all useless. Those who reached this soul level could easily perceive a person''s specific mana cultivation level, age, and soul level.


    Take Old Yu, Zhuo Haiyue��s bodyguard. Why was he able to see through some of Wu Yuan��s secrets? It was because of Soul Will.


    All in all, Soul Will was an ultra-enhanced version of the Yang Soul. Though fundamentally unchanged in every aspect, it was an overall upgrade.


    <i>Many Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators are only able to develop Soul Will some time after breaking through. My qi refiner self is still at the Golden Core phase, yet it has already reached this level.</i>


    Wu Yuan found it all somewhat surreal.


    Strengthening the soul was not easy, yet it was of utmost importance. The soul was especially fundamental to the strength of a qi refiner.


    The advancement of the soul generally relied on nourishment by the qi sea or the soul chamber, aided by Daoprehension.


    Of course, there were also external treasures that could enhance it. However, at higher soul levels, treasures capable of strengthening the soul became increasingly scarce and precious, and had many limitations to their usage.


    The Dragonsoul Crystal Bead was very valuable, but it typically only improved the soul to the peak of the Yang Soul level.


    Breaking through from Yang Soul to the Soul Will level? If one relied solely on the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead, the possibility was low.


    <i>The ck pagoda truly is an inconceivable treasure. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Over the past ten years or so, the rapid enhancements of his qi refiner self''s soul could be attributed to the continuous progress he made in cultivation, insights into the Dao, and the strength of his immortal root. But the main reason was his daily Visualization of the ck pagoda.


    Simr Soul Visualization techniques existed within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and were practiced by ordinary disciples. However, those legendary Soul Visualization teachings created by Archimmortals were less than a tenth as effective as the ck pagoda.


    <i>The intangible influence of the ck pagoda magnified the effect of the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead several times at least, allowing me to reach the Soul Will level in one push. </i>Wu Yuan concluded after some contemtion.


    The ck pagoda had three main functions. The first was to enhance his cultivation. By killing enemies of simr strength, it would produce blood-red mist, but Wu Yuan had not used this function for a long time now. His body refiner self could not find that many strong opponents, and his qi refiner self didn''t need it.


    <i>This is the disadvantage of joining a sect. My lifestyle appears unfettered, but the abbot and my master are probably watching me in secret.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Even if they are doing so out of good intentions, it also limits my actions.</i>


    All strength was derived from a source. By consuming spiritual qi within ethercrystal and divine crystal for cultivation, Wu Yuan could go from the first-stage Golden Core phase to the ninth stage in just ten or twenty years.


    If he tapped into the blood mist function as well, he might be able to shorten this time period, but it would easily attract the curiosity and scrutiny of the senior members of the sect.


    Before he fully understood the origin of the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan dared not reveal its existence.


    Of course, his current cultivation progression was already rapid. Faster? The effect wouldn''t be as significant, given that his qi refiner self''s soul was already unimaginably strong.


    The second function of the ck pagoda was to strengthen the soul. From Wu Yuan''s understanding, this was the greatest function of the ck pagoda. The soul yed a crucial role in his incredible Daoprehension speed.


    The third function was to defend his soul.


    <i>However, sufficient blood mist is needed to activate the soul defense function. I''m still in the sect, so there''s no rush. </i>Wu Yuan deliberated.


    When the Moonsilver Tournament ended and he stepped into the Amethyst Cradle phase, he would temper himself through life-or-death trials. At that time, he would fully utilize the ck pagoda��s three major functions.


    <i>Soul Will.</i> With a mentalmand, a dense swarm of flying swords appeared in the meditation chamber, filling the vast space in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A total of 2187 fourth-grade flying swords swiftly assembled into three Thousand Swords Arrays, even without the infusion of mana.


    <i>It��s much easier than before.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>The power of my attacks has increased by about thirty percent.</i>


    Thirty percent wasn''t much. When the soul reached the level of Soul Will, the enhancement in pure power wasn''t much, far less than when one advanced to the Yang Soul level.


    The power of the artifacts themselves constituted a greaterponent to overall attack power. The stronger the artifacts, the stronger the output.


    <i>However, the duration that I can maintain my sword array has increased.</i> A smile tugged at the corners of Wu Yuan''s mouth. <i>If employing three Thousand Swords Arrays was previously my ultimate move that should not be executed lightly, it is now simply a regr technique. I can now withstand the mental exhaustion from keeping the burst state active while battling opponents for far longer.</i>


    From Wu Yuan''s estimation, even if over two thousand fourth-grade spirit flying swords were all upgraded to the third grade, he could still sustain the array, albeit barely.


    It was terrifyingly powerful!


    <i>If I encounter Hao Shanjing again, it won��t take much to defeat him. </i>Wu Yuan concluded. <i>Taking first ce in the Moonsilver Tournament probably wouldn''t be hard either.</i>


    <i>With my soul at this level, I might even be able to clear level sixty of the one-star tower.</i>


    But after a brief moment of reflection, Wu Yuan decided that there was no need to show off.


    His soul talent was strong, but a Golden Core cultivator developing Soul Will? This was not something the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead could exin; it ran contrary tomon sense. Once exposed, it might result in unforeseen problems.


    <i>There''s no rush. I��ll wait until my Dao Comprehension reaches a higher level, then challenge level sixty of the one-star tower. It won��t be toote then.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    It wouldn��t be wise for him to casually expose the fact that he had reached the Soul Will level. At most, he would let his master know. Knowing that Wu Yuan had both the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead and a body refiner self, his master might ��deduce�� some usible exnations without too much skepticism.


    <i>The biggest benefit of my soul��s level-up is my speed of Daoprehension. </i>Wu Yuan realized as he perceived the ��green�� heaven and earth''s power.


    It was at least five times clearer than it had been in the past! That was the advantage of a strong soul.


    Many Amethyst Cradle cultivators cultivated for hundreds of years at the Golden Core phase, yet failed to grasp the True Intent of a Dao. Yet they were able to achieve it after advancing to the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Why? Because their souls had grown stronger.


    By the same logic, as one progressed in theirprehension of each Dao, reaching the True Intent stage and even Dao Field stage, the difficulty of making breakthroughs increased exponentially.


    Take for example the Land Dao. If one were to state that advancing from the first to second level of the Domain stage was a challenge with a difficulty rating of one, then progressing from the first to the second level of the True Intent stage had a difficulty rating of one thousand


    As for advancing from the first to second level of the Dao Field stage, the difficulty rating would skyrocket to one million.


    Yet, some peerless geniuses were able to achieve breakthroughs in a span of thousands to tens of thousands of years.


    Why? This was because as they progressed through the cultivation phases, and their souls grew stronger, their overall Daoprehension aptitude also improved, elerating their Daoprehension progress at theter phases.


    Of course, even someone with the best Daoprehension aptitude would eventually hit a bottleneck, especially when breaking through to the next stage. Besides innate talent, one also needed the right opportunities and a dose of good luck.


    <i>Bottlenecks are something I��ll only have to consider in the future. At least, the efficiency of my qi refiner self��sprehension of the Wood Dao should reach one-third that of my body refiner self��sprehension of the Earth Dao.</i> Wu Yuan thought eagerly.


    In the past, it didn��t even reach one-tenth. After all, his mind-bogglingprehension speed of the Earth Dao was not only due to the aptitude of his body refiner self but also the guidance of the Celestial Body Law Codex and his master��s pointers.


    But now, with a breakthrough in his soul level, Wu Yuan��s Wood Daoprehension efficiency immediately soared more than tenfold.


    <i>In six years at most, and one at least, I should be able to reach the initiate threshold of the Extended Life Sword Codex.</i> Wu Yuanposed himself.


    If this news were to get out, it would surely astonish countless people. Once he reached the initiate threshold of the Extended Life Sword Codex, it meant that Wu Yuan had grasped the basics of the Longevity Dao.


    A Golden Core cultivator that could step through the threshold of an Intermediate Law was already a top-tier genius in the entire immortal nation.


    Toprehend two Intermediate Laws at the same time, and make rapid progress in both?


    Even Wu Yuan scarcely dared to imagine it.


    <i>At least, in terms of my rate of improvement, I should be able to give Zhuo Haiyue a run for her money. Perhaps, I could try clearing level seventy of the one-star tower.</i> A sense of yearning took root in Wu Yuan��s chest.


    After his soul metamorphosed, Wu Yuan felt that he had hope of conquering level seventy of the one-star tower before turning a hundred. Otherwise, his chances were slim to non-existent.


    <i>With a stronger soul, my practice of Sword Soul Sourcelight will also get more efficient. Given enough time, I can definitely hope to advance to the fourth source realm or even the fifth source realm.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a smile.


    <i>I��ll also be able to cultivate another offensive-type soul secret art. When the timees to face off against these Golden Core cultivators or even Amethyst Cradle cultivators, I might be able to kill them with a single thought.</i> Wu Yuan was aware of some particrly powerful soul secret arts.


    Of course, killing an Amethyst Cradle cultivator with a single thought was no easy feat.


    <i>There��s no rush. On the path of cultivation, one should aim high but remain grounded. Comprehending the Dao is the key. It won��t be toote to practice other secret arts after grasping the Longevity Dao.</i>


    Wu Yuan stilled his mind and began to wholeheartedly study the Extended Life Sword Codex.

 Chapter 410: A Peerless Genius In The Middle Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 410: A Peerless Genius In The Middle Land (2)</h4>


    <i>Summerpeak World, the Middle Land.</i>


    <i>The talent of my qi refiner self is finally about to blossom.</i> Far away in the Summerpeak World, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self revealed a slight smile.


    Two true selves shared one consciousness.


    In the past, his qi refiner self��s startling disys of skill were mainly the result of his body refiner self��s Daoprehension aptitude, which was merely applied by his qi refiner self.


    <i>What a pity, apart from a single consciousness, shared memory, and interconnected Daoprehension, the two true selves differ greatly in other aspects.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    While the soul of his qi refiner self underwent a transformation, the soul of his body refiner self changed very little, his current Soul Force range still below five hundred li. It would take his body refiner self a few more years to reach the Soul Will level.


    Of course, in terms of overall talent, the body refiner self was still slightly superior.


    <i>My qi refiner self resides within Dragon Star, on the Immortal Continent. Protected by my master, I can cultivate in peace for a while.</i> Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.


    <i>As for the current situation in the Summerpeak World?</i>


    It had been more than a month since the disappearance of the Spiritless Regions.


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self dared not to leave the Middle Land, allowing only scouting teams to carry out expeditions and bring back intelligence. This enabled him to gain a better understanding of the overall situation in Summerpeak.


    Five civilizations had been discovered so far. Some were established on a single, massivendmass while others were on an archipgo. Their poptions ranged from hundreds of millions to tens of billions, but nonepared to the Middle Land.


    Under Wu Yuan''s orders, no one was to disturb these civilizations. Only observation and intelligence gathering were conducted.


    So far, no abnormalities had been detected.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly. <i>Fang Xia is looking for me?</i>


    With a thought, a strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness entered the Middle Land Immortal Hall, arriving directly in the Conference Hall. Fang Xia had been waiting for some time.


    "Young Master." Fang Xia bowed slightly.


    "What''s the matter?" asked Wu Yuan.


    "Something has happened to the team scouting in the direction of the Xin Continent. Of the four soulmps, three have been extinguished and no news has been received," Fang Xia said solemnly.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted.


    The soulmp, also known as the lifemp, was tied to the soul of an immortal cultivator.


    After receiving an immense quantity of information, intelligence, and teachings from Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, Fang Xia had crafted some low-grade soulmps.


    Although their effective range was limited, it spanned the entire Summerpeak.


    "There are only three possibilities when a soulmp is extinguished," Wu Yuan said in a soft voice.


    "First, they have fallen. Second, they voluntarily cut off contact. Third, they teleported to an extremely distant ce, which automatically severed their connection with the soulmps."


    There was no doubt that the first possibility was the most likely one.


    "This team consisted of four immortal cultivators. The soulmps of three of them went out instantly," Fang Xia said quietly. "Chances are, they were instantly killed by a powerhouse, at least ate-stage qi sea cultivator."


    "Out of the five teams, the other four have returned afterpleting their scouting mission. Only the team heading in the direction of the Xin Continent did not return, and now more than half of them have died."


    "Young Master, I specte that there exists a rather strong immortal path civilization on the other side of the Xin Continent, possibly one stronger than us," Fang Xia said seriously, "And they might bear hostility towards us."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    From the historical immortal epochs, he could make several deductions. This was just further confirmation that a strong immortal civilization existed beyond the Xin Continent.


    Hostility? That might not be the case. The Summerpeak World served as a Bloodforge World. For all they knew, there was a base of the Bloodforge Devil Hall lying on the other end of the Xin Continent.


    "Spread this news to all the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land Guard. Order all personnel in charge of the monitoring array throughout the Middle Land to heighten their vignce. As soon as there��s news, report it immediately," Wu Yuan said calmly.


    "Understood," Fang Xia nodded.


    "Seven days. If no emergencies ur within seven days..." Wu Yuan said softly, "I will personally scout the area beyond the Xin Continent."


    "Young Master, you''ll go personally?" Fang Xia was taken aback, "Wouldn''t it be better to send my clone to scout ahead first?"


    "There��s no need. No matter what dangers there are, we must face them eventually," Wu Yuan shook his head, then chuckled.


    "Old Fang, I''m not being arrogant here. With my current strength, even if there are powerful civilizations in the Summerpeak World, few enemies can actually threaten me."


    Although the Summerpeak World was vast, it had only just begun to recover. Could an Amethyst Cradle cultivator have emerged in this short span of time? Wu Yuan needed to know.


    ��If it��s just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, I can crush them with one p.�� Wu Yuan stated calmly, his voice filled with unwavering confidence.


    Even if he met an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, he could still put up a fight. The oue would not be decided that easily.


    "Understood." Fang Xia responded respectfully.


    In his early twenties, Wu Yuan was capable of killing Jin Quan, a cultivator at the Golden Core phase.


    Nearly thirty years had passed, just how powerful had Wu Yuan be? This was a mystery that all beings of the Middle Land were curious to find out.


    ...


    Once the scouting team was annihted, the entire Middle Land went on high alert.


    Southeast of the Middle Land, about four million li away,y a vastndmass with a winding and meandering coastline. The width of this continent exceeded a million li.


    This ce was home to over a hundred billion living beings. An abundant immortal path civilization had flourished over thousands of years, producing countless immortal cultivators.


    On the eastern part of the continent, majestic mountain ranges undted, and numerous pavilions and towers nestled within the mountain peaks. Numerous immortal cultivators flew to and fro on their swords.


    This was the Huoyan Sect, one of the three major immortal path sects on the continent.


    Today, the atmosphere within the magnificent main hall of the sect was unusually tense.


    "Elders, I believe you have all received the message from our ancestor," A silver-robed elderly man sat on the host seat, speaking slowly.


    "Our Summerpeak World''s spiritual qi has fully recovered to its original levels. ording to the requirements of the higher world, our Summerpeak World will officially join the other Bloodforge Worlds."


    "I believe you''ve all read the information. All three of our sects must send a sufficient number of Qi Sea and Golden Core cultivators for the trial," the silver-robed elder''s gaze swept over the other elders in the hall.


    "Otherwise, once the wrath of the higher world descends upon us, it will be more than we can bear."


    The elders looked at each other.


    "Sect Leader, it''s not that we''re unwilling," a purple-robed elderly man frowned. "But they��re expecting the Summerpeak World to supply a thousand Qi Sea cultivators and thirty Golden Core cultivators? Where are we supposed to find that many?"


    "Qi Sea cultivators? That''s manageable. But Golden Core? The Golden Core cultivators of our three great sects and other loose cultivatorsbined don��t even add up to a hundred individuals," the purple-robed elderly man shook his head. "Are you suggesting that we elders should join the trial?"


    As Golden Core cultivators, all of them had lofty statuses on the continent. Why would they willingly participate in the notoriously brutal Bloodforge?


    Historically, almost no Golden Core cultivators who participated in the Bloodforge lived to tell the tale.


    "I have thought of a solution," a white-robed elder sitting on the side of the hall suddenly spoke.


    "Oh? Elder Yun, do tell," the silver-robed elderly man asked in response.


    "We might not have enough cultivators among our three sects. But now, the forbidden regions have vanished. ording to our previous investigations, our Summerpeak World consists of sixty-three indigenous civilizations and countless demonic beasts in the expansive oceans," the white-robed elder said quietly.


    "We could capture arge number of Qi Sea cultivators from these indigenous civilizations to make up the numbers. As for Golden Core cultivators, we can start by capturing the known Golden Core and Spiritual Body demonic beasts."


    "And among these indigenous civilizations, nine are particrly strong. A thousand years ago, they were already able to produce qi refiners. After developing for over a thousand years, they might have produced Golden Core cultivators."


    The white-robed elder waved his hand.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A massive light screen appeared, showing the projection of a vast map. Most of the map was taken up by a gigantdmass, along with some inds scattered throughout the oceans.


    Some of these inds couldn��t exactly be considered small. If Wu Yuan and Fang Xia were here, they would quickly notice that one of therge inds on the map was shaped just like the Middle Land.


    There was also arge ind to the Northwest, its coastline strikingly simr to the Xin Continent.


    "Based on the previous agreement by the three great sects, once the world��s spiritual qi was restored, inds number three, six, and nine, would all fall under my Huoyan Sect''s jurisdiction," the white-robed elder stated softly. "These three inds are easily home to billions of people."


    "Especially ind number three." The white-robed elder pointed at an ind, which was unmistakably the Middle Land. "It has the highest probability of producing Golden Core cultivators."


    "With this in mind, I estimate that the three great sects should be able to meet the quota for Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators without much problem," the white-robed elderly man proposed with a smile. "What do you think?"


    "Mm, sounds good. With this, we can live peacefully for another five hundred years."


    "It sounds feasible."


    "I''ve always wanted to deal with those Golden Core demons." The elders all voiced their agreement.


    They understood that capturing arge number of Golden Core cultivators was akin to going to war. This task was not as easy as it sounded. There was a good chance that some of the Golden Core cultivators among them would fall, perhaps even arge number of them.


    Butpared to the Bloodforge which meant certain death, they were all willing to attempt this alternative method.


    "I��ve just received some news," an elderly man in silver robes suddenly spoke up. "Sect Elder Mo from Huang Ind caught a scouting team from ind number three."


    "He killed three of the four Qi Sea cultivators and captured one alive. We''ve obtained quite a bit of information about ind number three. Apparently, they call their ind the Middle Land."


    "This ind civilization has over a hundred Qi Sea immortal cultivators and at least three Golden Core cultivators," the silver-robed elderly man said with a smile. "Moreover, these Golden Core cultivators have all made their breakthroughs in the recent decades."


    "Elder Yun''s suggestion seems highly feasible indeed," said the silver-robed elder.


    "Broke through in the past several decades?"


    "Haha, good!"


    "The strongest among them should be at the third-stage Golden Core phase at most."


    "How strong can an indigenous civilization be?" The elders in the hall rxed. They were all aware of the difficulty of advancing through each stage of the Golden Core phase.


    "But we must not be careless." The expression of the silver-robed elder subtly changed as he continued in a low voice.


    "Sect Elder Mo just received thetest news. The strongest individual in the Middle Land is a peerless genius named Wu Yuan. In his early twenties, he was capable of ying a Golden Core cultivator. Now, almost three decades have passed and his current strength is unknown."


    Silence nketed the room.


    All the Golden Core elders present looked at him with widened eyes, finding it hard to believe. Could someone in their early twenties really y a Golden Core cultivator?

 Chapter 411: Reverend Huo Yan (1)

    <h4>Chapter 411: Reverend Huo Yan (1)</h4>


    ��He killed a Golden Core cultivator in his early twenties? How did he do it?�� A ck-armored youth seated at the edge of the gathering asked, his tone icy cold.


    The crowd of elders turned toward the silver-robed elder, their faces mirroring their shock. This was beyond their imagination.


    ��We intercepted the expedition team from the Middle Land. Sect Elder Mo eliminated three and interrogated thest. However, he refused to budge, and we��ve yet to pry open his lips. Sect Elder Mo is currently on his way back.�� The silver-robed elder spoke in a grave tone.


    ��The information we��ve gathered is solely from the jade slips and books found in their storage artifacts.��


    ��ording to their historical records, we know that Wu Yuan, a peerless genius from the Middle Land, killed the founding emperor of the Jin Empire, a Golden Core cultivator, twenty-eight years ago. Furthermore, Wu Yuan has several Golden Core cultivators as his subordinates.��


    ��Subsequently, he unified the Middle Land, founding the Wu Empire. All immortal cultivators in the Middle Land are required to swear fealty to him and join the Middle Land Guard, which is a unified force.��


    ��The Middle Land''s total poption is close to ten billion, as for the specifics about their powerhouses, the qi refiner is still keeping silent, so we can��t extract any information for now,�� the silver-robed elderly man shook his head.


    Everyone listened in silence.


    ��The ability to kill a Golden Core at twenty, even if just a first-stage Golden Core cultivator, proves his monstrous talent,�� the ck-armored youth said calmly. "If we estimate his rate of progress, he should currently be at the third-stage Golden Core phase. There''s a fifty percent chance he''s at the mid-stage Golden Core phase." [1]


    "As for him reaching thete-stage Golden Core phase? The odds are slim."


    Many elders nodded in agreement. Progressing through each stage of the Golden Core phase was not easy. The mere umtion of mana took up a great deal of time for an average Golden Core cultivator.


    A mid-stage Golden Core cultivator was already incredibly powerful. To reach the fourth-stage (mid-stage) Golden Core phase, one had to reach the Domain stage of Daoprehension. This was a difficult hurdle for many Golden Core cultivators.


    In the entirety of the Huoyan Sect, there were thirty-five Golden Core elders, but only twelve had reached or surpassed the mid-stage Golden Core phase. As for thete-stage Golden Core phase? Only four achieved it.


    ��You can��t calcte his strength based on the normal progression rate,�� the silver-robed sect leader of the Huoyan sect scanned the crowd of elders from the host seat. ��ording to the current intel, the ruins of an ancient sect have likely been uncovered in the Middle Land."


    ��What?��


    "Ruins of an ancient sect?"


    "Is that true?" Astonishment filled the eyes of the previously calm Golden Core elders.


    They all knew what uncovering the ruins of an ancient sect implied.


    "Sect leader, could you borate?" The white-robed Elder Yun asked.


    "The civilization in the Middle Land is strong. ounting for poption ratio, the number of immortal cultivators born on this ind is close to half that of our Summerpeak maind," the elder in silver robes said.


    Waving his hand, a light screen appeared, disying densely packed lines of text. "This is all the information collected by Sect Elder Mo. You can take a closer look."


    The elders immediately noticed how detailed the information was.


    "These immortal cultivators carry Spirit Nurturing Pills? And they know specialized pill refining techniques? How is that possible?"


    "They even have teachings that can be cultivated all the way to the Amethyst Cradle level? It would take an Amethyst Cradle Reverend to create such teachings, right?"


    "They have specialized battle talismans crafted in the Golden Core phase. But how did they research this in such a short time?"


    "Inconceivable."


    "Preliminary deductions suggest that the Middle Land civilization''s equipment forging, pill refining, and talisman crafting standards are at least on par with our three great sects, if not stronger."


    "I��ve just browsed through our previous reports on the Middle Land civilization in the library. A thousand years ago, my Huoyan Sect and the Sta Consortium arrived at the Middle Land via a channel in Huang Ind. Very few qi refiners were present then. Yet, they were able to prosper to such a degree in just a thousand years? It doesn''t make sense."


    "Given the limited territorial area and sparse poption, such rapid progress is illogical," the Golden Core elders discussed among themselves, quickly reaching a consensus.


    While civilizations could indeed undergo a revolution, leading to explosive development, it ultimately boiled down to two factors - resources and poption size!


    Perhaps a civilization could asionally produce a monstrous genius who could attain incredible power just by cultivating independently.


    However, a single person could not support an entire civilization.


    Without sufficient resources, it would be impossible to support the progress of an immortal path civilization in aspects such as equipment forging, pill refining, and other areas. Making advancements in these disciplines required an arduous series of trial and error.


    Likewise, without a sufficientlyrge poption, it was impossible for so many martial artists gifted in immortal cultivation to be born.


    A thousand years? Given the Middle Land''s resources, it shouldn''t have developed this quickly under normal circumstances.


    "Moreover, ording to the information we''ve gathered, the development of the Middle Land was quite normal before Wu Yuan''s rise," the elderly man in silver robes stated. "Everything changed when Wu Yuan rose to power. He established a voidrealm, built a Daoist Scripture Tower, and spread countless teachings."


    "The Middle Land��s pace of development only went into full-throttle after this. Martial arts Grandmasters appeared in droves, and immortal cultivators were born one after another."


    "We are still not clear about the specifics," he continued. "But Sect Elder Mo and I have made a preliminary deduction. There''s a ny percent chance that this Wu Yuan discovered the ruins of a powerful ancient sect."


    "With the relics he uncovered from the ruins, he unified the Middle Land and promoted its development."


    "It should be on par with the two ancient sect ruins on the Summerpeak maind." The silver-robed elder''s eyes gleamed subtly. "My fellow elders, you should understand what this means."


    "Haha, of course we do."


    "Ancient sect relics."


    "These ruins must contain a great number of treasures, maybe even some rare and valuable resources." The Golden Core elders were visibly excited.


    Just like the Middle Land, the Summerpeak maind only gradually recovered a few thousand years ago as well. Thus, the Huoyan Sect only had a four-thousand-year history.


    Why did the progression of the Summerpeak maind far surpass the Middle Land during its early stages of development, to the point where it produced so many high-level immortal cultivators today?


    Aside from greater resources and poption, the most crucial factor was the discovery of two relic sites of ancient sects.


    Six thousand years ago, these two relic sites were uncovered, leading to a rapid birth of Golden Core cultivators on the Summerpeak maind. This sparked a ferocious war, leading to the fall of countless immortal cultivators. In the end, the three great sects were the final victors.


    Aided by the arrival of cultivators from the higher world, the entire Summerpeak maind maintained its stability till today.


    These Golden Core elders were all upper echelons of the Summerpeak maind. Naturally, they understood the treasures one might acquire from an ancient sect''s ruins.


    Of course, the numerous Golden Core cultivators of the Huoyan Sect didn''t know that although Wu Yuan had received what was left of Reverend Qing Yan��s treasures, the trueprehensive inheritance was lost.


    Wu Yuan had gained several inheritances from the Fourth Eldritch Realm as well, but many were iplete.


    There were no actual ruins of an ancient sect in the Middle Land.


    Many cultivation methods, pill refining techniques, equipment forging techniques, and so on, were obtained from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    However, all matters rted to Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self werepletely sealed off in the Middle Land long ago. Even the detailed reports of his battle with Jin Quan were wiped out by Wu Yuan to conceal the fact that he employed qi refining techniques.


    No one knew about his rtionship with the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, not even Fang Xia.


    Fang Xia only knew that Wu Yuan had joined arge sect in the immortal continent, but which one specifically and what exactly was he doing there? He didn''t know at all.


    Wu Yuan never told anyone that he was the disciple of an immortal, or gaining fame in the immortal continent.


    His own family and the remaining powerhouses in the Middle Land all believed that Wu Yuan had never left the Middle Land in the past few decades.


    Right from the beginning, Wu Yuan adhered to his master''s suggestion: treat the qi refiner self and the body refiner self as two separate individuals.


    Only by keeping their connection a secret could each of his true selves y their roles more effectively in the future.


    It was just like how some great beings with two true selves joined two different super factions. Yet even after billions of years, no one knew that they had another true self.


    The powerhouses of the Huoyan Sect, however, had no interaction with the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Moreover, the Spiritless Regions had only dissipated recently.


    Unless Wu Yuan''s body refiner self also left the Middle Land, such a possibility would never ur to them.


    ...


    After some time, the elderly man in silver robes presented the huge quantity of intelligence collected to the elders present, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the Middle Land.


    <i>Two hourster.</i>


    ��Fellow Elders, based on our present intelligence, the overall strength of Middle Land civilization is estimated to be equivalent to a second-rate faction on the continent." the silver-robe elderly man stated.


    The gathered elders listened attentively.


    The three great sects ruled over the Summerpeak maind, while numerous inds that dotted the oceans surrounding the maind were the territories of demonic beasts and several smaller factions.


    These factions, all led by loose Golden Core cultivators, were hard to eradicate unless the sect ancestors made their move.


    As the three great immortal sects checked and bnced each other, these second-rate sects were able to continue existing.


    "There is a ny percent chance that the Middle Land civilization has unearthed the ruins of an ancient sect."


    "They possessrge quantities of precious spirit equipment, possibly even third-grade spirit equipment." The elderly man in the silver robe continued, "At least, they have a fair quantity of ethercrystal and numerous teachings."


    "Teachings are crucial," the elder in silver robes stated solemnly, "If our Huoyan Sect wishes to surpass the other two great immortal sects, we must build a stronger foundation."


    The umtion of teachings was of utmost importance to any immortal path civilization.


    "The Middle Land civilization has produced at least a hundred Qi Sea cultivators, and at least three Golden Core cultivators," the elderly man in silver robes continued. "If we capture them all, the issue of the Bloodforge quota shortage would be partially solved."


    Many Golden Core cultivators nodded in agreement.


    The higher world demanded a total of a thousand Qi Sea cultivators and thirty Golden Core cultivators.


    The quota set for the Huoyan Sect was three hundred Qi Sea cultivators and ten Golden Core cultivators. The Middle Land civilization alone could already fill a third of the quota.


    "Now, there are three possible ns we can choose from. The first n is assimtion," dered the elderly man in silver robes. "The Middle Land��s territory is one-tenth of our Huoyan Sect''s. It��s not too small, and home to billions of living beings."


    "Moreover, it has decent overall strength, so we can attempt to cooperate with them, integrate the Middle Land into our Huoyan Sect, and grant Wu Yuan the position of sect elder."


    "In this way, without resorting to force, we can acquire all of Middle Land, and even all the treasures from the ruins of the ancient sect."


    The elders fell into a pensive silence.


    "Sect Leader, cooperation is not a bad idea," the young man in ck armor shook his head. "But how big is Wu Yuan��s appetite? Will he be satisfied? Forget everything else, would Wu Yuan be willing to hand over the ancient sect��s relics?"


    "Moreover, after we establish a cooperative rtionship, will we still send immortal cultivators from the Middle Land to participate in the Bloodforge?"


    "Finally, with Wu Yuan''s talent, will he turn the tables on us once he grows stronger and assimte our Huoyan Sect instead?" the young man in ck armor fired off his concerns in one breath.


    1. mid-stage = fourth to sixth-stage,te-stage = seventh to ninth-stage ?

 Chapter 412: Reverend Huo Yan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 412: Reverend Huo Yan (2)</h4>


    The elders began to debate among themselves.


    Clearly, most of the Golden Core elders were not keen on assimtion.


    In their view, if they could capture the Middle Land''s immortal cultivators and force them to participate in the Bloodforge, then collectively divide up the treasures acquired from the Middle Land, that would be the best option.


    "The second n is war. Crush the Middle Land with overwhelming strength and capture their cultivators, then send them to participate in the Bloodforge," said the elderly man in silver robes. "If this n seeds, all their treasures will be enjoyed by our Huoyan Sect alone."


    "However, I must remind you that Wu Yuan is extraordinarily talented and in possession of the treasures acquired from the ancient sect. Thus, within the next few decades, we estimate that he has a thirty percent chance of reaching thete-stage Spiritual Body phase.��


    ��Furthermore, they have several Golden Core cultivators in their ranks," said the silver-robed elderly man solemnly. "Once conflict breaks out, we will be risking our lives as well."


    "Thus, the third n is alsounching a war, but allying with the other two great sects to jointly attack the Middle Land," the elderly man in silver robes continued.


    Each of the three ns had their pros and cons.


    "Wu Yuan,te-stage Spiritual Body phase? That��s unlikely. The umtion of ether alone requires a lengthy period. Even if his Daoprehension speed is fast, he''s probably only at the third or fourth-level Domain stage," spoke a Golden Core elder.


    "Exactly. Progressing through the Qi Sea phase or Communion phase is easy, but upon reaching the Spiritual Body phase, things are no longer that simple."


    "When he killed a Golden Core cultivator years ago, he must have relied on the treasures left by the ancient sect. There��s a high probability that his strength will only reach the mid-stage Spiritual Body phase at most," the elders in attendance began to speak one after another.


    The silver-robed elderly man sighed inwardly.


    He knew that many elders had already made their choices. If this was any other time, they might consider the possibility of assimtion and peaceful negotiation.


    But now that they were facing a Bloodforge? Few would chooseplete assimtion.


    <i>So be it, how strong can a genius from some tiny ind be?</i> The silver-robed elder also made his decision.


    He was once a follower of the ancestor, so he was rather knowledgeable. But at the end of the day, the Huoyan Sect was one of the ruling factions of Summerpeak maind, ustomed to the obedience of their subjects for thousands of years. How open-minded could they be?


    Even if they knew the Middle Land was no ordinary ind, the upper echelons of the Huoyan Sect were still inclined to force rather than peaceful resolution.


    The three great immortal sects of Summerpeak didn''t even like cooperating with each other, let alone with the tiny Middle Land.


    "We will now proceed with the voting," the silver-robed elderly man dered.


    Soon, the results were out.


    "Out of the twenty-six elders present, two favor the first n, eighteen favor the second, and six favor the third," the elder in silver robes announced in a deep voice, "We will execute the second n."


    The higher echelons of the Huoyan Sect had not only chosen to wage war, but to fight alone.


    The silver-robed elderly man knew without a doubt that this was due to the ancient sect''s relics.


    The elders were not willing to share them with the two other great immortal sects. After all, with more participants joining the war, the spoils of war would also be divided up into small portions.


    <i>Hm? </i>Suddenly, the silver-robed elder��s expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his calm, "Fellow Elders, the ancestor has summoned me."


    "The ancestor?"


    "How did the ancestor know about this? Our meeting hasn��t even ended yet."


    "What''s going on?" The gathering of elders expressed their confusion.


    The elder in silver robes scanned their reactions.


    Although the ancestor seemed indifferent to the sect''s affairs and had handed all decision-making power to him, there were elders who had a direct line of contact with the ancestor.


    "I shall take my leave." The elder in silver robes stepped into a meditation chamber behind the grand hall, retrieving a special voidrealm jade.


    The entire piece of jade was a faint blood-red color.


    <i>Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.</i> The elderly man in silver robes sighed quietly, recalling the scene when he entered it a few years ago.


    It was a bizarre world filled with countless immortal cultivators, far beyond his imagination.


    The small voidrealm owned by Huoyan Sect was no match for the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm - it was likeparing scrap metal to gold.


    <i>Enter.</i> He sent his Soul Force into the voidrealm jade in front of him.


    In an instant, he found himself in a mysteriousnd.


    <i>In the Redmoon Continent of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, inside an ordinary city.</i>


    The Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm was a vast and boundless voidrealm created by the Bloodforge Devil Hall for its countless subordinate immortal cultivators.


    The Redmoon Continent, on the other hand, was where the immortal cultivators of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division were stationed.


    <i>In an enormous mansion within the city.</i>


    The silver-robed elderly man appeared on awn. Not far from him stood a ck-robed youth, his robes engraved withplex blood-colored cryptic patterns.


    "Reverend," the silver-robed elderly man greeted, reverence shing in his eyes.


    He knew all too clearly that the Huoyan Sect was able to establish itself as the dominant presence in the Summerpeak maind and the head of the three great immortal sects all thanks to this ck-robed youth �C Reverend Huo Yan!


    The Reverend was also the first Amethyst Cradle cultivator of the Huoyan Sect, and had cultivated for over a thousand years.


    Even in the higher world, he was someone with a certain degree of status.


    All three immortal sects in the entire Summerpeak maind boasted an Amethyst Cradle ancestor, but only Reverend Huo Yan had truly joined the higher world.


    Even though Reverend Huo Yan did not reside in the Summerpeak World, the other two great immortal sects dared not offend the Huoyan Sect.


    "Follow me," said Reverend Huo Yan softly.


    "Yes," the silver-robed elder replied respectfully.


    The two of them, one leading and the other following, proceeded swiftly along the mansion''s corridor.


    Along the way, the elderly man saw several figures in ck robes emitting powerful auras. He understood that these were cultivators from the higher world.


    The higher world was unfathomably powerful. The Summerpeak World was just one of countless worlds under its rule.


    Reverend Huo Yan might be unrivaled in the Summerpeak World, but he was nothing more than an ordinary member of the higher world.


    They came to a standalone building and entered a meditation chamber.


    "Sit," Reverend Huo Yan pointed to one of the two jade tforms, then sat down.


    The silver-robed elder hastily sat down.


    "Ying Quan," Reverend Huo Yan nced at the silver-robed elderly man, speaking indifferently. "I hear there��s an ind called the Middle Land, of which we found evidence of a suspected ancient sect��s ruins. There��s a prodigy named Wu Yuan?"


    "Correct," the silver-robed elderly man answered.


    "Give me a detailed report," Reverend Huo Yan ordered.


    "Understood." With no intentions of withholding any information, the silver-robed elder swiftly recounted every detail.


    Reverend Huo Yan did not interrupt him, listening quietly.


    After a while, the silver-robed elder finished his narration.


    "You may take everyst treasure in the Middle Land," Reverend Huo Yan spoke softly, "I only have one requirement: spare no effort to kill Wu Yuan."


    "Inform the other elders of the sect, once the task ispleted, I''ll gift the sect an additional thirty thousand catties of ethercrystal," Reverend Huo Yan spoke nonchntly.


    "You shall be themander of this operation. If you seed, I''ll grant you an opportunity to cultivate in the higher world once," Reverend Huo Yan looked at the silver-robed elderly man.


    He knew he had to make a promise, as only then would the silver-robed elderly man go all out. After all, he was currently bound by the rules of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Returning to the Summerpeak World was extremely difficult for him.


    "A chance to cultivate in the higher world?" The elderly man''s eyes lit up.


    Thirty thousand catties of ethercrystal? It wasn��t enough to move him. He was already a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator, a top-tier powerhouse in the Summerpeak maind, and also the sect leader. No matter how many catties of ethercrystal he was given, it wouldn��t make that much of a difference.


    But if he could visit the higher world, that was a different story. It meant a chance to break through to the Amethyst Cradle stage!


    "Ancestor, I will do my best." The elderly man in silver robes pushed down the excitement in his heart.


    He had waited for this opportunity for hundreds of years. He knew how tough it was for a Golden Core cultivator like him to get a chance to cultivate in the higher world.


    The mostmon method was to participate in the Bloodforge. But the likelihood of dying was far too high, and he was unwilling to take the risk.


    "Ancestor, if you wish to kill Wu Yuan, you could simply send him to participate in the Bloodforge." The elderly man in silver robes suggested.


    "No!�� Reverend Huo Yan shook his head, "Ying Quan, you must kill him. Also, keep Wu Yuan��s existence a secret from the other two great immortal sects as far as possible."


    ��Right, I permit you to use the sect��s guardian weapon I brought backst time.�� Reverand Huo Yan stated indifferently, ��Do not hold back, you must seed in one go.��


    ��The guardian weapon?�� The elderly man in silver robes was taken aback.


    He could sense the ancestor��s determination.


    ��Understood.�� The elderly man in silver robes didn''t dare to question the ancestor. "I, Ying Quan, will not fail my mission, Wu Yuan will be eliminated in one go."


    "Mm." Reverend Huo Yan made a dismissive gesture.


    The silver-robed elderly man bowed respectfully, his avatar fading into nothingness as his consciousness left the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    Only Reverend Huo Yan remained, seated on the jade tform.


    "Some native brat yed a Golden Core cultivator at just twenty years old?" Reverend Huo Yan murmured to himself, "And even unified the Middle Land so quickly."


    "He even established a unified empire and earned the devotion of the people?"


    From the reports made by the Huoyan Immortal Sect, he quickly deduced Wu Yuan''s ultimate goal �C to propagate Faith! He wasying the groundwork for his future advancement.


    "Such a top-tier genius harbors great ambitions. If I allow you to continue maturing, the chances that you��ll reach the Shambh phase are high." Reverend Huo Yan''s eyes turned cold. "If I send you to participate in the Bloodforge, you might even survive."


    "I''ve been plotting to make the Summerpeak World mine for nearly a thousand years."


    "Out of the one hundred thousand merits required by the devil hall, I''ve umted eighty thousand. Afterpleting two more missions, I can return to Summerpeak and freely propagate Faith."


    "I cannot give you any opportunities."


    It wasn��t that Reverend Huo Yan did not consider aiding Wu Yuan, but the risk was too high.


    This was a rising genius whose strength was already nearing his own. Moreover, he knew nothing about Wu Yuan. It wouldn��t be the least bit surprising if Wu Yuan turned against him in the future.


    Moreover, Reverend Huo Yan had cultivated for over a thousand years. Even if he treated Wu Yuan as an investment and helped him out now, how long did he have to wait before he could cash his returns?


    He didn��t have much time left for his own breakthrough.


    On the contrary, based on Reverend Huo Yan''s predictions, once Wu Yuan broke through, the battle to gain the Faith of Summerpeak World would be imminent.


    <i>It��s too bad, but you have to die. Once I''ve umted enough merits, the Faith of billions of living beings in the Summerpeak World will serve as fertilizer, allowing me to step into the Void Refiner phase. </i>


    He wasn''t the least bit worried that his subordinates might fail to kill Wu Yuan.


    With the entire Huoyan Secting out in full force along with the power of the guardian weapon, even an actual Amethyst Cradle Reverend would die if he wasn''t careful. Killing a Spiritual Body cultivator who had only cultivated for fifty years was hardly an issue.


    ...


    Dozens of Golden Core cultivators gathered in the Huoyan Sect.


    "Per the ancestor''s instructions, apart from Elder Yun and seven others who are to guard the sect, the other twenty-six elders will apany me to the Middle Land." the elderly man in silver robes spoke in a low voice.


    "Our mission is to kill Wu Yuan and capture all other immortal cultivators in the Middle Land."


    "Understood!" chorused the dozens of Golden Core elders.


    They turned into dozens of light streaks, shooting into the sky toward the Middle Land.

 Chapter 413: A Shambhala Cultivator Arrives (1)

    <h4>Chapter 413: A Shambh Cultivator Arrives (1)</h4>


    <i>The Huoyan Sect.</i>


    Apanying the twenty-eight Golden Core cultivators to war were six hundred Qi Sea cultivators, all of whom were at the mid orte stages of the Qi Sea phase.


    As the top immortal sect of the entire Summerpeak maind, the Huoyan Sect ruled over a poption of eighty billion, their territory spanning a radius of hundreds of thousands of li.


    The Huoyan Sect had over four thousand Qi Sea cultivators under itsmand. Though they assigned six hundred of them to this mission, it was only a small fraction of their military force. However, they were all elites among the Qi Sea cultivators.


    Their mission was to act as a wide, capturing the Qi Sea immortal cultivators of the Middle Land after the sect elders had killed Wu Yuan.


    "War?"


    "A war against an indigenous civilization?"


    "Do we really need to mobilize a force of this size? We��re even deploying dozens of Golden Core elders." These Qi Sea cultivators were curious.


    "With such a military force, we could wage a war against the other two great sects."


    "This will be a walk in the park!"


    "The more Qi Sea cultivators we capture and send to the Bloodforge, the fewer of us will need to participate." These Qi Sea cultivators discussed the uing war, fully motivated to give their all.


    Firstly, the sect would be rewarding them for every Middle Land cultivator they captured. Secondly, the pressure of the Bloodforge quota loomed above them. All these Qi Sea cultivators knew that if they didn��t capture enough indigenous immortal cultivators, they would be the ones making up the numbers.


    Rebel against these orders? Against the overwhelming power of the higher world, no one could muster the thought of rebellion. Compliance was the only way to survive.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In a grand disy of might, over six hundred immortal cultivators from the Huoyan Sect swiftly departed the headquarters.


    "Elder Yun, we won��t run into any trouble during this battle, right?" Watching them disappear into the horizon, a purple-robed elderly man who remained in the headquarters asked somewhat nervously.


    "There shouldn��t be any trouble," the white-robed Elder Yun shook his head. "Even if Wu Yuan possesses heaven-defying power after acquiring the relics from the ancient sect, he will only be able to muster Spiritual Body-level strength.


    ��His only chance of survival is to escape immediately. Otherwise, with the sect leader leading a coordination array, we stand a fighting chance even against Reverend Jing Shan or Daoist Long," Elder Yun analyzed. "Not to mention, the sect leader and others have brought along the sect''s guardian treasure.


    ��No matter how mind-blowing Wu Yuan''s abilities are, can he possibly reach the Shambh phase in just a few decades?" Elder Yun asked.


    The elders couldn��t help but nod, their anxiety melting away.


    Exactly! It was simply unthinkable for one to reach the Shambh phase at fifty. This was just not humanly possible.


    "Follow your orders and manage the array bases. In four days to a week, the sect leader and the others will send us updates via the immortal voidrealm." Elder Yun instructed.


    "At the current moment, the sect is practically unguarded. Although the ancestor��s existence deters the Sta Consortium and Jingshan Sect from attacking us, we must nheless exercise caution."


    "Understood." The Golden Core elders nodded and quickly dispersed.


    The Huoyan Sect had fourte-stage Golden Core cultivators in their ranks. Three joined the expedition to the Middle Land. Naturally, the eight elders who remained in the sect were led by Elder Yun, who was at the eighth-stage Golden Core phase.


    ...


    The Summerpeak maind, thergest continuousndmass of the Summerpeak World, was home to more than two hundred billion humans over thousands of years of history.


    Apart from more than dozens of medium sized factions, there also existed numerous demonic beasts and demonic cultivators.


    Undeniably, the three most powerful factions were the Huoyan Sect, Sta Consortium, and Jingshan Sect. Theyid im over thergest territories, the highest quality etherstone mines, and the biggest poptions.


    The Huoyan Sect was widely acknowledged as the top immortal sect thanks to Reverend Huo Yan. Yet, the Sta Consortium and the Jingshan Sect were no pushovers either.


    The Sta Consortium of the Middle Land was actually a branch of this very organization, and was established by immortal cultivators from the Summerpeak maind.


    However, a thousand years had passed since the two interacted, and the Sta Consortium in the Middle Land was now fully integrated into the Middle Land Guard.


    Meanwhile, the Sta Consortium of the Summerpeak maind continued to exist as one of the three great sects.


    The Sta Immortal Voidrealm was a rudimentary voidrealm constructed by the Sta Consortium. Despite its simple functionalities, its connection range covered the entire Summerpeak World.


    <i>In a mysterious ce within the Sta Immortal Voidrealm, inside an enormous hall. </i>


    "Overseer," A figure cloaked in ck robes bowed respectfully, "I am currently en route to the Middle Land with the sect''s forces. It''s four million li away, and I estimate it will take us fewer than three days to arrive."


    "Following Reverand Huo Yan''s orders, we must kill Wu Yuan during this battle."


    "This information is only known to the Golden Core elders. The Qi Sea immortal cultivators only know that they need to capture immortal cultivators from the Middle Land. They are not aware of Wu Yuan��s existence." He lowered his head deferentially.


    Who would have expected that he, a Golden Core Elder of the mighty Huoyan Sect, would turn out to be a spy nted by the Sta Consortium?


    "Hahaha, well done. That brat Ying Quan indeed has some cunning tricks up his sleeve. But did he really think that he could deceive me by capturing some indigenous immortal cultivators?" A deep, powerful voice echoed through the grand hall.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A colossal draconic head materialized, its long whiskers fluttering. At the end of the hall sat an enormous ck jiaolong, akin to a mountain in size.


    The aura the ck jiaolong radiated was terrifying. The figure shrouded in ck robes was a Golden Core cultivator, yet appeared insignificant before it.


    This ck jiaolong was none other than Daoist Long, the oldest powerhouse in the Summerpeak maind. He was the first Amethyst Cradle-level cultivator that emerged from the Summerpeak World since the great war, living for over four thousand years �C a Shambh cultivator!


    Over four thousand years, he established the Sta Consortium, subtly manipting the politics of the maind. Even with the birth of sessive Amethyst Cradle Reverends, no one could shake his position.


    "Branch Master, what should I do?" the figure in ck robes asked respectfully.


    "Don''t worry, you don��t have to expose yourself. Continue your cultivation and focus on your duties as an elder of the Huoyan Sect." Daoist Long��s booming voice echoed throughout the hall, "I only require you to provide updates on your route and location."


    "Disciple understands," the figure in ck robes responded.


    "Good. You may carry on. Inform me once your team has crossed Huang Ind," Daoist Long instructed in a deep voice.


    "Yes," the figure in ck robes departed, leaving Daoist Long��s avatar alone in the hall.


    "Huo Yan! Oh, Huo Yan! What grand ambitions you have.��


    "The higher world clearly stated that one could gain merits and treasures by reporting the discovery of talented individuals. A genius who could kill a Golden Core cultivator at twenty years old, how rare is that?" Daoist Long''s monologue resonated throughout the hall, "I''m afraid such a genius rarely emerges from our Summerpeak World once in ten thousand years."


    "Your n is obvious. You''re afraid that Wu Yuan will contest your Faith once he matures. The higher world strictly forbids the arbitrary propagation of Faith." He wasn��t worried that others would overhear him. He was the master of the Sta Immortal Voidrealm.


    With a thunderous rumble, Daoist Long��s massive body swam through the air.


    "Huo Yan, if you yed it straight, I wouldn''t bother with you. I''ve already outlived your master. Outliving you won��t be too difficult. But you just had to invade my Sta Consortium��s territory." A chill flickered in Daoist Long''s eyes.


    "You want to earn great merits, be the ruler of Summerpeak, and propagate Faith. Where does that leave me then?"


    "Ha, during that ambush back then, I almost managed to kill you. I��m sure you are dying to take revenge."


    Daoist Long lived for thousands of years, experiencing much over the centuries. However, he was never able to be an official member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Yet, as a Shambh powerhouse, he kept in contact with some members of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, paying a price in exchange for them keeping tabs on Reverend Huo Yan''s actions.


    He could roughly guess at Reverand Huo Yan''s intentions.


    "Wu Yuan? There are no grudges or grievances between us. On the contrary, if I help him today, he may be taken in by the Bloodforge Devil Hall in the future, rising in strength and status. Then, even if he bes the master of Summerpeak, he has no reason to kill me," Daoist Long thought aloud.


    From his perspective, the biggest problem at hand was Reverend Huo Yan. Wu Yuan was just a little fellow who had only been cultivating for a few decades. He would pose a threat eventually, but it would take a few hundred years at least.


    <i>Moreover, by reporting the discovery of such a genius to the devil army, I might even earn some extra rewards.</i> Daoist Long thought to himself.


    There were three paths to bing a member of Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    The first was to participate in a Bloodforge. If one made it out alive, they would naturally be an official member, just like Reverend Huo Yan.


    The second was to be recruited due to one��s talent.


    The third was to earn merits by making contributions.


    Daoist Long, a Shambh powerhouse, was considered an external member of Bloodforge Devil Hall, but he had never dared to participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge.


    Merits? Holed up in the Summerpeak world, what contributions could he make?


    At this moment, Wu Yuan was a walking treasure chest of merits!


    "I��ll go to the Middle Land to meet this Wu Yuan. Let��s see what he''s truly made of," Daoist Long decided.


    His true body had already left hisir. As a Shambh powerhouse, he had incredible self-preservation abilities. He had survived a battle with Reverend Huo Yan years ago relying on this ability coupled with hiding in hisir.


    Wu Yuan? Just a youngster a few decades old. At most, he was only at thete-stage Spiritual Body phase. How powerful could he be?


    So Daoist Long was not afraid in the slightest.

 Chapter 414: A Shambhala Cultivator Arrives (2)

    <h4>Chapter 414: A Shambh Cultivator Arrives (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom~</i> Hundreds of li above the ocean waves, a ck jiaolong over a kilometer long cruised forward.


    <i>Howfortable. Previously, the forbidden regions isted various parts of the Summerpeak World, restricting our activities to a radius of three million li from the maind. </i>Daoist Long looked down upon the vast ocean beneath him.


    <i>Now that the world��s essence has recovered, the entire world is open for exploration. </i>Daoist Long felt exhrated.


    In his eyes, the entire Summerpeak seemed so small, like a prison.


    But the Bloodforge Devil Hall had rules. Unless one was a formal member, they were not allowed to leave their native world.


    Having witnessed the strength of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, Daoist Long dared not escape.


    A thousand years ago, the Sta Consortium had sent immortal cultivators to the Middle Land, so Daoist Long easily obtained information about the Middle Land''s location.


    Daoist Long raced forward with great speed, passing by the immortal cultivators of the Huoyan Sect.


    At full speed in their burst state, Shambh powerhouses could travel thousands of li in a single breath. Four million li was nothing.


    Less than two hourster, the extensivendmass that was Huang Ind was nothing more than a faintly visible speck in the distance.


    <i>This must be the Middle Land.</i> Daoist Long��s colossal figure shrank rapidly to a hundred li in length.


    Simultaneously, he distorted the light around him to conceal himself, and began his descent.


    <i>Hm? There are flying boats here? Mortals are operating flying boats?</i> Daoist Long immediately understood that the Middle Land was no ordinary ce.


    In an instant, Daoist Long''s Soul Force dispersed over a wide area, and all information and events within hundreds of li swiftly poured into his mind.


    One town after another...numerous immortal cultivators...countless conversations... A torrent of information rapidly flooded Daoist Long''s brain.


    This was a truly terrifying ability of high-level immortal cultivators. Resources were not required to gather intelligence before invading a weak civilization. It could be aplished simply with their powerful Soul Force. Within the range of their Soul Force, no secrets could be hidden.


    <i>The Middle Land civilization and Wu Yuan, how impressive.</i>


    <i>Monitoring arrays have been set up along all entry points. It seems they were prepared in advance. Golden Core cultivators would likely find it hard to evade detection.</i>


    In just a few breaths, Daoist Long obtained a general impression of the entire Middle Land civilization, far more detailed than the information provided by the elder of the Huoyan Sect.


    <i>They most likely unearthed the ruins of an ancient sect.</i> Daoist Long concluded.


    From these disseminated teachings alone, he could roughly determine that this was the case.


    However, Daoist Long wasn��t too concerned. He was well aware that the peak powerhouses of these so-called ancient sects were only Amethyst Cradle Reverends.


    After a hundred thousand years, most of the treasures had probably rusted or decayed. How powerful could they be after so much time had passed?


    For Golden Core cultivators, these could be considered great treasures. But for someone like him who stood at the peak of the Summerpeak World, the treasures of Amethyst Cradle Reverends meant very little.


    At least, in his Soul Force perception, the objects utilized by the beings of the Middle Land were just novelties and weren��t of much use.


    <i>I��ll go meet Wu Yuan right away. He should be situated in the heart of Middle Land civilization, the Cloud Capital. </i>Daoist Long thought to himself.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>He quickly headed in the direction of the Cloud Capital in the Jiang Continent.


    The arrays he encountered along the way failed to detect his presence.


    Shambh cultivators, while inferior to the Amethyst Cradle Reverend in some auxiliary abilities, were still far superior to Golden Core cultivators.


    ...


    <i>The Jiang Continent, Cloud Capital, the Middle Land Guard Headquarters.</i>


    When the team scouting the region beyond the Xin Continent was wiped out, the entire Middle Land Guard raised its alert level to the highest degree.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self stored the Yanqing Hall and the teleportation array away, leaving the Zhong Continent and returning to the Jiang Continent.


    After years of waiting, and then learning about the Bloodforge Devil Hall from High Immortal Nan Yin, Wu Yuan had given up on the idea of leaving Summerpeak by himself.


    Firstly, he couldn''t do it. Secondly, even if he could escape, what about his friends and family? And the rest of the Middle Land?


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan''s memory was integrated with that of his body��s predecessor. To him, the Blue in his past life was home, but the Middle Land was also home!


    When he faced the worm devil catastrophe previously, Wu Yuan couldn''t just turn a blind eye to the plight of his fellow inhabitants of the Middle Land. Back then, he told the realm master, "I am also Wu Yuan of Middle Land."


    During that battle, Wu Yuan led the charge, fighting till the end. Now, facing a possible uing disaster, how could Wu Yuan, who had be the leader of Middle Land, turn tail and run?


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan��s meditation chamber on Archeldritch Mountain.</i>


    <i>As expected, body refiners are not very proficient in soul cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self sat in lotus position, quietly cultivating.


    <i>My qi refiner self easily reached the initiate threshold of ''Sword Soul Sourcelight'' and has now cultivated to the third source realm. Yet, my body refiner self has not even fully reached the first source realm.</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    His qi refiner self resided safely in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, so he could focus onprehending the Dao.


    But his body refiner self was different - he could only rely on himself!


    Therefore, besidesprehending Dao, Wu Yuan ced great importance onbat teachings. He invested a great deal of time and effort to cultivate ether arts to a high level.


    Simrly, Wu Yuan also greatly valued soul teachings. Body refiners were naturally resistant to soul attacks. However, with gains, there were also losses, and this meant they were not very proficient at cultivating soul teachings.


    Although it was partly due to a weak soul, talent was also an important reason.


    <i>Old Fang, Arctic, and Hai Feizhang, all three of them have returned to Cloud Capital. </i>Wu Yuan pondered as he cultivated.<i> I wonder what lies at the other end of the Xin Continent...</i>


    <i>Buzz~</i> An invisible yet overwhelmingly powerful Soul Force swept across the world. In an instant, it swept through hundreds of li, across Cloud Capital and over Archeldritch Mountain!


    <i>Hmm? A Yang Soul? An unfamiliar one?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes instantly turned ferociously sharp.


    The formidable soul within his body erupted forth with power.


    <i>Boom~</i> A Soul Force equally grand and powerful swept out from Wu Yuan, dispersing across a radius of hundreds of li.


    The two great Soul Forces collided.


    In a split second, Wu Yuan locked onto the origin of the powerful Soul Force �� a ck jiaolong in the air three hundred li away, radiating an endless and robust vital aura.


    Shambh!


    Wu Yuan waspletely shaken. He had never expected that the first foreign immortal cultivator to arrive would be a Shambh powerhouse.


    <i>Roughly equivalent to a fifth-stage Shambh cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root.</i>


    Wu Yuan had encountered many powerful Shambh cultivators in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Thus, he was able to gauge the opponent''s approximate cultivation level.


    However, for a body refiner, cultivation was only one aspect. One��s Daoprehension, artifacts, ether arts, and more, all held equal importance.


    Some seemingly insignificant immortal cultivators were actually hiding immense power. For example, Wu Yuan��s body refiner self was capable of unleashing power at the Shambh level.


    <i>However, judging solely based on Soul Force strength, it shouldn''t be too strong.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his mind racing.


    In shes between powerful immortal cultivators, especially when neither party knew each other''s capabilities, both sides would analyze their opponents�� strengths rapidly from the moment of contact.


    Knowing yourself and the enemy is the key to victory.


    "Fellow Daoist, I believe this is our first meeting. May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit to the Middle Land?" Wu Yuan transmitted his voice via Soul Force.


    Without absolute certainty, he wouldn''t act rashly.


    But at the same time, Wu Yuan''s voice echoed in the minds of Fang Xia, Arctic, and Hai Feizhang, "Activate the defensive array immediately. A Shambh powerhouse has arrived. Notify the Middle Land Guard to be on full alert!"


    "What?"


    "Shambh?"


    "The legendary Shambh?" Fang Xia, Arctic, and Hai Feizhang were all momentarily stunned, not expecting such a powerful figure.


    A Shambh powerhouse! With their individual strength, obliterating the entire Middle Land would be a piece of cake.


    However, despite their panic, Fang Xia and the others were able to sense Wu Yuan''sposure, which slightly eased their anxiety as they activated the array.


    <i>Hum~ </i>A hazy glow quickly enveloped the area within a thousand li of the Cloud Capital.


    This was the upgraded defensive array constructed over the past decade, capable of withstanding multiple full-force attacks from an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.


    At least, the aftermath of a battle between cultivators at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase would barely impact the region within the array.


    Wu Yuan didn��t expect the array to halt an Amethyst Cradle, only that his loved ones in the Cloud Capital wouldn��t be caught up in the aftershocks of the battle.


    "Little ck, get ready," Wu Yuanmunicated through his spirit.


    "Master, don''t worry." Little ck was brimming with battle intent. "A fifth-stage Shambh cultivator? If ites down to a fight to the death, the oue is uncertain."


    These days, Little ck had been staying by Wu Yuan��s side. The full potential of eldritch warriors could only be unleashed when apanied by their lifebound eldritch beast.


    <i>Boom! </i>In a sh, Wu Yuan departed from the meditation chamber and traversed hundreds of li instantly. Fierce winds buffeted him as he stood high in the sky.


    ...


    At this altitude, one was nearing the Heavenly Lightning Stratum of the Summerpeak World, where thunder and lightning would asionally spawn from air.


    Yet, this lightning would do nothing more than tickle a Shambh cultivator.


    At this moment, Daoist Long cared little for these bolts of lightning, as he was still reeling from the shock of the terrifying Soul Force that had erupted just moments ago.


    In terms of power, it was on par with his own! Yet, he waspletely unfamiliar with it.


    Who could it be? Was there a hidden Amethyst Cradle Reverend in the humble Summerpeak World? Or another Shambh Reverend?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A figure d in white appeared, moving with a speed matching that of a typical Shambh cultivator. He soared across the sky, covering hundreds of li in mere moments,ing face to face with him.


    <i>Ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase? Such a powerful soul. Was it you?</i> Daoist Long''s pupils contracted slightly, his gaze fixated on the white-robed young man before him.


    So young, yet he radiated an overwhelmingly intense vital aura.


    Although he couldn''t pinpoint the youth��s age, his instincts told him that the young man in front of him was probably very young.


    He had no idea that Wu Yuan was actually at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase. It was his strong eldritch root that gave his vital aura an overwhelming vigorousness.


    "Are you Wu Yuan?" Daoist Long asked.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    He had no qualms about revealing his name. The other party had already arrived at his doorstep and called out his name. He must have gathered a great deal of information.


    Trying to conceal his identity would just be a waste of time.


    "Fellow Daoist, how may I address you?" Wu Yuan stared at the Daoist Long. His expression was indifferent, but a hint of frost lingered deep in his eyes.


    Wu Yuan was prepared to strike. So what if he were at the fifth-stage Shambh phase? As long as something posed a threat to the safety of the Middle Land, Wu Yuan would not back down without a fight.


    After decades of cultivation, Wu Yuan''s strength was not what it used to be. In terms of overall strength, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was a lot stronger than Hao Shanjing.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, you are truly an unrivaled prodigy, ten times or even a hundred times more talented than what the reports mentioned."


    "After just a few decades of cultivation, your soul has reached the Yang Soul level." Daoist Long cracked a smile, "My name is Long Guang. You can call me Daoist Long. Ie from the Sta Consortium of the Summerpeak maind. I am the overseer of the Sta Consortium and also an affiliate member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "The Sta Consortium that Imand is the origin of your Middle Land''s former Sta Consortium."


    "The Bloodforge Devil Hall... Hm, you probably aren''t familiar with this faction."


    "I bear no ill intent toward you, on the contrary, I am here to save you." Daoist Long, shaking his massive draconic head with a smile, "An army of cultivators from the Huoyan Sect is on its way to annihte your Middle Land."


    "I came here to give you an advance warning. You should be thanking me."


    In Daoist Long''s initial n, as long as Wu Yuan''s talent proved up to standard, he would take him away directly.


    As for the others in Middle Land? He spared no thought for their salvation. Daoist Long had no intention of shing with the Huoyan Sect.


    However, his perspective changed upon witnessing Wu Yuan''s cultivation level, speed, and formidable soul, as well as the massive array on the ground below.


    And there was also Wu Yuan''s attitude towards himself. Showing no fear in front of a Shambh cultivator? If he wasn��t foolhardy, there had to be something he was basing his confidence on.


    In a short span of time, Daoist Long realized that Wu Yuan��s talent and power might go beyond his imagination. The Summerpeak World might have just given birth to an unimaginable genius.


    In a sh, Daoist Long changed his strategy��befriend Wu Yuan and incite a fight between him and the Huoyan Sect!


    <i>Overseer of the Sta Consortium? Affiliate member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall?</i> Wu Yuan kept his face emotionless, but massive waves stirred within his heart.


    Was it finally here?


    "Daoist Long, I believe youe with good intentions," Wu Yuan said calmly. "But how am I to trust you?"

 Chapter 415: A Storm Is Brewing (1)

    <h4>Chapter 415: A Storm Is Brewing (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan took Daoist Long''s words with a grain of salt. Thetter''s mysterious arrival and unknown background aroused his suspicion.


    Moreover, the moment this Daoist Long arrived, he unleashed his Soul Force right away, tantly sweeping through the Middle Land. Such behavior was deemed offensive among immortal cultivators.


    It was only when Wu Yuan showed himself that Daoist Long seemed amicable. Did hee here out of pure goodwill? Wu Yuan instinctively doubted that.


    Of course, Wu Yuan also surmised that the other party might not necessarily have ill intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn''t start with spreading his Soul Force but a direct attack.


    As Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced, his final conclusion was that Daoist Long showed goodwill because of the strength he exhibited.


    Nevertheless, facing an immortal cultivator suspected to be at the fifth-stage Shambh phase (sixth-degree immortal root), Wu Yuan wasn''t keen on a fight unless absolutely necessary.


    In terms of base ether, there was a difference of ten stages between them! This gap was so wide that most ordinary immortal cultivators would already plunge into despair.


    A difference of two or three stages was already a vast gap, let alone ten stages.


    As one progressed along the cultivation path, fighting opponents at higher phases than oneself became increasingly challenging.


    A Qi Sea cultivator that could go toe-to-toe with a Golden Core cultivator was a one-in-ten-thousand prodigy. Meanwhile, if a Spiritual Body cultivator were to battle a Shambh cultivator? The difficulty multiplied a hundredfold!


    Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self stood among the elite Golden Core cultivators on the Redmoon Immortal Continent. His body refiner self was even more formidable, having practiced several ether arts and possessing a powerful lifebound eldritch beast.


    Yet even so, facing amon fifth-stage Shambh phase cultivator, Wu Yuan was still not absolutely confident that he could win. The disparity in foundations was too vast. Once they engaged inbat, life or death was uncertain.


    On the path to immortality, one must learn to respect the strong and curb one��s arrogance.


    Wu Yuan was oblivious to the current affairs of the Summerpeak World. Thus, he feared invoking the wrath of a powerful faction. After all, this was a Bloodforge World ruled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    "Daoist Long Guang." Wu Yuan continued to speak, "It''s not that I''m unwilling to trust you, but ever since the Spiritless Regions dissipated, I��ve no longer beenpletely ignorant of the external world."


    Wu Yuan swiftly changed the subject, "You''re an affiliate member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall and an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. Why didn''t you participate in the Bloodforge and be an official disciple?"


    This was Wu Yuan''s way of telling Daoist Long that he was not a clueless native and warning him not to treat him like a fool.


    Of course, making such a statement also carried a risk for Wu Yuan. While Wu Yuan might know some affairs surrounding the Bloodforge Devil Hall, he knew very little about the rest of the Summerpeak World.


    "You know about the Bloodforge Devil Hall?" Daoist Long was slightly surprised, feeling a bit astonished.


    Wu Yuan gave a nonmittal smile but didn��t respond.


    "Indeed, the forbidden regions have disappeared for some time, and this world is vast. With your strength, you must have been observing the Summerpeak maind in secret," Daoist Long smiled. "It shouldn��t be surprising that you��ve heard of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. I��ve underestimated you."


    Wu Yuan remained silent.


    At this moment, speaking more could lead to more mistakes. Waiting for the other party to fill in the gaps was the best option.


    "So Fellow Daoist, I��m guessing you learned all this through some Golden Core cultivators from the Summerpeak maind?" Daoist Long inquired.


    Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile, "How else?"


    Daoist Long assumed a ''just as I thought'' expression.


    "Given your knowledge of the Summerpeak maind, you should understand that the Sta Consortium, Huoyan Sect, and Jingshan Sect each have different ways of doing things," Daoist Long chuckled. "The Sta Consortium that I established has been rtively harmonious for more than four thousand years."


    "However, the Huoyan Sect is quite domineering. After all, its leader, Reverend Huo Yan, is a formal member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    With just a few words from the other party, Wu Yuan was able to gather a lot of information, such as the fact that Reverend Huo Yan was a member of the Devil Hall, and that there were three great sects on the Summerpeak maind.


    It could basically be deduced that Reverend Huo Yan was probably stronger than Daoist Long, making him the number one powerhouse on the Summerpeak maind.


    The Summerpeak maind, named after Summerpeak, saw the birth of several Amethyst Cradle Reverends and Shambh cultivators, making it the main region of civilization after the recovery of the Summerpeak World.


    "Daoist Long. The Huoyan Sect may be domineering, but the Middle Land has no grudge against them." Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly, "You mentioned their army is on its way to attack us. Why is this so?"


    This was the key.


    "Hahaha." Daoist Long let out a halfugh, half smirk, "Daoist Wu Yuan, you have unified the Middle Land, promoting and mythologizing your personal deeds in preparation for propagating your Faith."


    Wu Yuan maintained hisposure, but inside, he was taken aback. Daoist Long, a Shambh powerhouse, was indeed sharp.


    "It''s not just me who''s noticed. Although Reverend Huo Yan is residing in the higher world, he has always paid close attention to Summerpeak. He is trying to be the ruler of Summerpeak and has earned many merits to achieve this. As of now, he is not far from sess." Daoist Long said.


    "Once he bes the ruler of Summerpeak, he will have the right to propagate Faith in Summerpeak. With the help of Faith Incense, his chances of bing a Void Refiner will greatly increase."


    "I believe four qi refiners who were scouting the region beyond the Xin Continent have lost contact with you." Daoist Long smiled knowingly.


    Wu Yuan remainedposed, but his heart pounded in his chest. He didn��t expect this Daoist Long to know such details.


    "Three of the four were in by Mo Lu, a Golden Core cultivator from the Huoyan Sect who''s tasked with guarding the Huang Ind passage. Huang Ind is what you call the Xin Continent." Daoist Long swiftly ryed the intelligence he had acquired. "One was taken alive."


    "It was through gathering intelligence from these four individuals that the Huoyan Sect knew about the current situation in the Middle Land."


    "They''ve also discovered Daoist Wu Yuan��s existence," Daoist Long continued."As well as your pursuit of Faith."


    "The boost that Faith Incense provides to the cultivation of powerful immortal cultivators is quite significant."


    "Ultimately, under Reverend Huoyan��s orders, the entire Huoyan Sect has moved out, even bringing out their sect''s guardian treasure," Daoist Long shook his head.


    "To be honest, while I believe in your strength, that sect''s guardian treasure is something even I am reluctant to face. Winning the battle won��t be easy.��


    Evidently, despite his shock at the strength Wu Yuan demonstrated, Daoist Long never considered that Wu Yuan could defeat him. The difference in foundations was too vast.


    Daoist Long resided in Summerpeak, thus the scope of his knowledge was limited. He waspletely unaware of the heights a peerless genius who could cause a sensation in an immortal continent could reach.


    "Daoist Long, these matters are the Huoyan Sect''s secrets, right?" Wu Yuan asked softly. "How do you know about them?"


    Daoist Long smiled: "I am the first Shambh cultivator of the Summerpeak maind. Naturally, I have my ways."


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, although I was somewhat impolite earlier, I haven''t sought a single de of grass or stalk of grain from the Middle Land since my arrival," Daoist Long shook his head.


    "You don''t have to be so wary of me. Confirming my words is quite a simple matter."


    "First, make a trip to the Huoyan Sect. Several of your Qi Sea subordinates were killed. With some investigation, you will certainly find traces of their deaths."


    "Second, in another two or three days, the massive army of immortal cultivators from the Huoyan Sect will invade the Middle Land. By then, you will naturally understand that the Huoyan Sect is an enemy, not a friend." Daoist Long said candidly.


    Wu Yuan fell into contemtion.


    Indeed! Firstly, Daoist Long did not make any moves against him. Secondly, in two or three days, the truth or falsehood of his words could be verified.


    However, Wu Yuan was not entirely sure, wondering if this was just a stalling tactic from the other party. Could it be that they didn''t have the confidence to capture him at the moment and were just trying to trick him with a yarn?


    But most critically, Wu Yuan didn''t have the confidence to capture Daoist Long, otherwise, why would there be so much unnecessary talk?


    Just the way the other party casually extended his Soul Force was reason enough tounch an attack.


    "Daoist, I appreciate your goodwill," Wu Yuan stated in a low voice. "But, why are you helping me? You''ve been investigating the Middle Land and should understand my intentions. If I be powerful in the future, I will also seek to unify Summerpeak and propagate Faith."


    "Unify Summerpeak? At our level, a little power doesn��t mean much. Why should it matter to me if you unify Summerpeak in the future? It''s not like you''re forcing me to a dead end." Daoist Long chuckled.


    "But Reverend Huo Yan is different, I have a mortal grudge against him. If he breaks through, I will undoubtedly die. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."


    "I''m helping you, Wu Yuan, in the hopes that you will defeat Reverend Huo Yan in the future, solving one of my worries," Daoist Long said candidly. "At least, you won''t repay kindness with enmity, right?"


    "From what I understand about the situation in the Middle Land, Fellow Daoist is not such a person." Daoist Long fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan.


    This was his strategy �C helping Wu Yuan, openly and honestly, without hiding his motives. In this way, both parties could truly trust each other.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    At this moment, he believed about sixty percent of Daoist Long''s words.


    "Fellow Daoist, please provide your guidance," Wu Yuan requested directly.


    "Time is short. Some of the information you have gathered may not beplete," said Daoist Long. "Here is myprehensive intelligence on the whole of Summerpeak and the detailed information about the Bloodforge Devil Hall. As a token of my goodwill, I offer this to you free of charge." With a wave of his hand, an immortal slip floated out.


    Wu Yuan reached out to receive it.


    His Soul Force surged into it, and instantly, a wealth of information flooded his mind. The details were extensive, covering the current state of Summerpeak maind, the rough territorial divisions of the three great immortal sects, and a basic description of numerous second-rate factions.


    There was information about experts from the Huoyan Sect and Jingshan Sect, estimations of the power levels of the two Amethyst Cradle Reverends: Reverend Huo Yan and Reverend Jing Shan, along with their previous battle records and so on.


    Of course, the most crucial part was the information concerning the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    <i>Bloodforge? Three years from now? The world was previously in a state of ruin, so few resources could be collected. Now that the world has recovered to its original state, they will be reverting to its usual protocols?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback. <i>The ruler of Summerpeak? The World Master of Summerpeak?</i>


    In less than a breath��s time, Wu Yuan had absorbed and analyzed the flood of information, providing him with a deep understanding of his current situation.


    If he had only believed sixty percent of Daoist Long''s words before, now, he believed ny percent.


    After all, it was easy to fabricate a story or two, but to create such detailed and logical information? And the projections of the battles involving the Amethyst Cradle Reverends? The difficulty of faking all that would be astronomical.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I will be sure to repay your kindness in the future," Wu Yuan expressed his heartfelt gratitude.


    This information saved him a great deal of time and effort.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, I��m not doing this solely for you," Daoist Long chuckled, attempting to build a stronger rapport. "Reverend Huo Yan is ourmon enemy. By helping you, I am confronting him."


    At first, he thought Wu Yuan, ate-stage Spiritual Body cultivator, wouldn��t be too strong. Thus, his initial n was to impart teachings to him. He was prepared to abduct Wu Yuan right away and slowly win him over.


    But upon meeting him, he realized Wu Yuan''s power could rival a first-stage Shambh cultivator. Imparting his teachings seemedughable. So, the ''friendship route�� was his only option.


    That was why Daoist Long chose toy all his cards on the table, striving for Wu Yuan''s friendship.


    So far, it seemed to be working quite well. As for the cost? This bit of intelligence was precious in Wu Yuan''s eyes, but to Daoist Long, it was as useless as chicken ribs.


    <i>Amon enemy? </i>Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly, not taking the bait.


    Though he believed Daoist Long��s words to be ny percent true, Wu Yuan still hoped to avoid a war with the Huoyan Sect.


    After all, the gap in military might between the entire Middle Land and Huoyan Sect was too vast. He was their only hope for victory.

 Chapter 416: A Storm Is Brewing (2)

    <h4>Chapter 416: A Storm Is Brewing (2)</h4>


    "So, based on the intelligence you��ve given me, I have two choices now?" Wu Yuan asked straightforwardly.


    "Correct," Daoist Long nodded, "The first choice is to immediately meet with the World Inspector. I can vouch for you. As long as you disy sufficient talent, you��ll be able to join the Bloodforge Devil Hall as an official member without much difficulty."


    "Once you''re an official member, it would be hard for Reverend Huo Yan to deal with you via direct methods."


    Wu Yuan quietly pondered his words.


    Bing an official member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was not easy. The hall only took in a limited number of members, thus only those with enough strength and talent could hope to join. Even someone like Daoist Long, who had cultivated for 4000 years, still didn''t qualify.


    "The second choice is to leave Middle Land with me and take refuge in my Sta Consortium. Wait there for three years before participating in the Bloodforge," Daoist Long continued.


    "The Bloodforge is extremely brutal and the chances of death are high, but given your strength, I believe you are very likely to survive."


    "Once sessful, your status would skyrocket to a level much higher than an ordinary member. You may even earn special training privileges." Daoist Long exined.


    He had learned about the Bloodforge, so he knew some of its rules. But for thousands of years, Daoist Long dared not participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge.


    ��Both of these choices require me to leave the Middle Land for some time. While I��m gone, what will happen to the people of the Middle Land?" Wu Yuan asked, his voice heavy.


    He had not forgotten that an army from the Huoyan Sect was on their way.


    "You can take a few loved ones with you. They can easily be relocated to my Sta Consortium," Daoist Long said as a matter of course.


    "I''m talking about the Middle Land, all the inhabitants of the Middle Land," Wu Yuan stated, looking at Daoist Long.


    If Wu Yuan was willing to save only a few friends and rtives and abandon the rest, then he wouldn��t have chosen to fight during the worm devil catastrophe.


    "The Middle Land? Naturally, you��ll have to leave it behind."


    "Rest assured, even if the Huoyan Sect takes over the Middle Land, they won��t resort to a mass killing spree. At the very most, they��ll wipe out one-tenth of the poption," Daoist Long said naturally.


    Wu Yuan shuddered at the thought.


    One-tenth? That was hundreds of millions of lives.


    "Can''t we fight?" Wu Yuan asked solemnly. "ording to your information, Reverend Huo Yan is currently residing in the higher world, unable to return here."


    Reverend Huo Yan was a figure Wu Yuan was deeply wary of.


    "Fight?" Daoist Long��s eyes widened. "Daoist Wu Yuan, I said I would help you, but that doesn''t mean I��m willing to get into a sh with the Huoyan Sect''s army."


    "Indeed, they can''t harm me. But once Reverend Huo Yan gets the news, he will do everything in his power to return, and that would be truly troublesome." Daoist Long shook his head.


    Wu Yuan squinted slightly. "Daoist Long, I��m not asking you to step in on my behalf."


    "I will defend Middle Land and fight the Huoyan Sect��s army."


    "You? Defend Middle Land?" Daoist Long��s eyes bulged, as if he had just heard something ridiculous.


    "Even a genuine Amethyst Cradle cultivator risks death when going against a sect''s army, let alone you, a Spiritual Body cultivator. No matter how strong you are, you can only match up to a first-stage Shambh cultivator at most." Daoist Long shook his giant draconic head.


    He felt he was acting in Wu Yuan''s best interests.


    "We must at least try," Wu Yuan murmured.


    The army of a powerful sect? He had yet to fight one before.


    "Try? This is a matter of life and death." Daoist Long felt his frustration mounting, "Daoist Wu Yuan, don''t overestimate yourself." He felt that Wu Yuan was somewhat arrogant.


    "Daoist Long, I cannot abandon my homnd. If that''s the case, I would rather die," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Forget the army of the Huoyan Sect, even if the Reverend Huo Yan himself were to attack, Wu Yuan would choose to stay and fight with all his might.


    Some things were simply non-negotiable.


    "Are you really going to fight? Even if you die, you have no regrets?" Daoist Long asked, sensing Wu Yuan''s unyielding determination.


    Everyone had their own obsessions.


    "Even if it means death, I have no regrets," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, you are indeed admirable," Daoist Long took a deep breath, shaking his head and sighing, "But, I have my difficulties. I am truly unable to take action against the Huoyan Sect''s army. Over the next few days, I will wait outside the Middle Land."


    "If you change your mind and wish to leave before the war, you can send me a message."


    With that, Daoist Long waved his hand, tossing a messaging artifact to Wu Yuan, who caught it.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "I shall take my leave now." Daoist Long sped his ws. With a swish of his tail, he was already hundreds of li away.


    "Old Fang, immediately send a message to the Middle Land Guard and convene a meeting," Wu Yuan gave the order to Fang Xia.


    ...


    Within the conference room of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, gigantic light screens projected row after row of data and information.


    Hundreds of immortal cultivators gathered to read the details.


    "This is the current situation of the Summerpeak World," Wu Yuan briefly exined the intelligence had just acquired.


    "Three great immortal sects with thousands of cultivators, and also the Bloodforge Devil Hall in the higher world, reigning over all of Summerpeak," Wu Yuan slowly continued.


    The two hundred cultivators from the Middle Land listened wide-eyed. They hadn��t imagined the Summerpeak World to be so expansive and prosperous.


    Compared to the Summerpeak maind, the Middle Land seemed to be nothing more than an ind.


    "We are not inferior to the sects of Summerpeak maind in terms of the standard of our teachings. Rather, our teachings are superior," Wu Yuan eyed the immortal cultivators, "However, the Wu Empire was established not long ago, and our foundationcks depth. Because of this, we have attracted their envy."


    "The Huoyan Sect''s army ising, expected to arrive in three days. There are over twenty Golden Core cultivators, and six hundred mid andte-stage Qi Sea cultivators," Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Their purpose is to capture us and send us to the Bloodforge to die in their ce."


    A mixture of astonishment, shock, and fear filled the room.


    The news Wu Yuan brought was like a bolt from the blue.


    Such a force was too powerful for Middle Land to handle. How many cultivators were there in the entire Middle Land? And what was their average cultivation level? Theirbined strength was likely only a tenth of the enemy''s!


    "Everyone is to proceed to their posts. Activate the monitoring array in full effect, especially those facing the Nan Continent, Qiong Continent, South Ocean, Dong Continent, and Feng Continent. The Huoyan Sect''s army is likely to arrive from these directions."


    "I will be stationed at the Min Continent. As soon as any activity is detected, message me immediately," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the cultivators, his terrifying aura causing their hearts to tremble.


    At the same time, a hint of instinctual reverence arose within them. After decades, Wu Yuan had be a legendary figure.


    "There''s no need to worry about this war. You have me." Wu Yuan said with finality before disappearing from the conference room.


    Words were useless. It was power that spoke.


    ...


    <i>In the air above the Archeldritch Mountain.</i>


    "Your Majesty!"


    "Your Majesty."


    "Young Master." Fang Xia, along with Arctic, Hai Feizhang, and two other Golden Core cultivators, all bowed respectfully to Wu Yuan.


    "Inform all regions to send their elite talents to Cloud Capital."


    "You three, safeguard Cloud Capital."


    "All Heavenly Rankers, except those in charge of the monitoring array, should return to Cloud Capital," Wu Yuanmanded, issuing orders one after another.


    The three of them listened respectfully, executing each order in a prompt fashion.


    "Your Majesty, once the battlemences, are we really watching it through the projection?" Hai Feizhang couldn''t help but ask.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan spoke softly. "I haven''t shown my strength for decades, there are likely many in the Middle Land who doubt my abilities. Plus, the Huoyan Sect is teeming with powerhouses. To instill faith and fighting spirit in the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land Guard, I must reveal enough power."


    Everyone felt enlightened.


    Wu Yuan had another thought he didn''t voice: the creators of cults would often fabricate various false miracles to instill belief in their devotees.


    Only by revealing power and establishing his authority could Wu Yuan further deepen the devotion of the inhabitants of the Middle Land. Once he broke through in the future, he would be able to acquire greater Faith.


    Swiftly, Arctic and Hai Feizhang departed, leaving Wu Yuan and Fang Xia behind.


    "Old Fang." Wu Yuan looked at Fang Xia, "I''ve ced the Yanqing Hall at the base of Archeldritch Mountain and have given you the necessary ess permissions."


    "Make arrangements to send my kin in first. Should I fail, hide inside," Wu Yuan exined. "As long as you have sufficient ethercrystal to sustain its operation, even a real Amethyst Cradle cultivator will find it incredibly difficult to break into the Yanqing Hall."


    "Understood," Fang Xia solemnly responded, "Young Master may rest assured."


    He understood that Wu Yuan was trying to limit potential distractions.


    Daoist Long and numerous immortal cultivators of the Middle Land did not believe Wu Yuan could defeat the Huoyan Sect alone.


    However, Fang Xia was one of the few who held unshakeable faith in Wu Yuan''s capabilities.


    ...


    After all preparations were in ce, Wu Yuan left Cloud Capital and headed to the Min Continent.


    A vast, boundless oceany before him, its ceaseless waves crashing against the shore.


    Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on a boulder. His Soul Force extended to its maximum range, covering six hundred li with no corner left unexplored.


    In the same vein, hundreds of monitoring arrays strewn across the Middle Land were all activated.


    <i>ording to Daoist Long, the Huoyan Sect''s forces are likely to head straight for the Min Continent. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Choosing to station himself at the Min Continent was a calcted move.


    <i>Time to cultivate. </i>Wu Yuan silently meditated.


    The stronger he became, the more confidence he would have when facing the impending danger.


    <i>If they really want to start a war, they��d better not me me when things go south. </i>A chill flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he swiftly regained hisposure, unfazed by the uing conflict.


    In a blink of an eye, three days passed.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed open, a glint of surprise flickering within.


    Within the range of his Soul Force, he sensed a vast army encroaching upon the Middle Land.


    There were dozens of figures with powerful auras, each at least as strong as Fang Xia. Around six hundred were at the Qi Sea phase.


    Daoist Long''s words wereing true.


    <i>They''re here.</i> Wu Yuan gazed into the distance. With his keen eyesight, he could clearly see the scene six hundred li away despite the gloomy weather.


    Through the Middle Land Immortal Hall, all the immortal cultivators of Middle Land had received the news.


    Dark clouds were rolling in. A storm was brewing.

 Chapter 417: Suppressing Shambhala (1)

    <h4>Chapter 417: Suppressing Shambh (1)</h4>


    "Trouble''sing," Wu Yuan pensively furrowed his brow.


    With his keen eyesight, he could clearly discern that the hundreds of immortal cultivators approaching were subtly assembling an array. From their formation, they seemed ready to deploy the array at any moment.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, his speed skyrocketing to 150 li per second.


    A power boost often enhanced all aspects of a cultivator, such asbat awareness and speed, and not just offensive capabilities.


    A ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator (ninth-degree immortal root) had a flight speed of roughly a hundred li per second. The average first-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator had a flight speed of around three hundred li per second.


    150 li per second was far from Wu Yuan��s top speed, but he believed it was enough to intimidate the opposition.


    Since it was unclear whether they were friend or foe, concealing some power and only revealing it at crucial moments was a wise move.


    War? If possible, Wu Yuan hoped to avoid one.


    <i>I''ll find out whether Daoist Long was telling the truth or not soon.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Why didn''t he leave the Middle Land to ambush the invaders on their way there? It was because he was uncertain about Daoist Long''s words.


    What if they were trying to lure him away from the Middle Land?


    So, Wu Yuan chose to wait and see. However he wanted to minimize the impact of the battle on the Middle Land, thus he chose to delegate the air space above the ocean near the Middle Land as the battleground.


    ...


    Over the vast ocean, ominous clouds gathered.


    Hundreds of figures were speeding over, moving at a speed of ten li per second. Such a pace was challenging even for mid-stage Qi Sea cultivators.


    It was none other than the army of the Huoyan Sect.


    The group seemed scattered, yet they were linked together by a massive array. The array guided and protected them, surveying their surroundings. Thus, their journey of several days was not a difficult one.


    As for the twenty-seven Golden Core cultivators leading the group, they lookedpletely rxed.


    "With the disappearance of the forbidden regions, we��re able to witness the true size of our Summerpeak World," a young man in ck armor remarked.


    "Indeed, it is vast. Summerpeak spans millions of li. With this, we can expand our territory more than tenfold, and the resources we can gather will also increase," a woman in purple robes replied.


    In the past, the range of activity of the Summerpeak maind��s inhabitants was limited to a radius of three million li. This only ounted for one-tenth of the Summerpeak World''s territory.


    "Xiang Gao, we��ve almost reached the Middle Land. Remain vignt, this is a civilization capable of producing Golden Core cultivators," a ck-robed elder reminded them.


    "Rest assured, Elder Mo," the ck-armored young man named Xiang Gao smiled. "Our Huoyan Sect hase out in full force. With more than twenty of us elders joining hands, along with the sect��s guardian treasure, we can hold our own even against Reverend Jing Shan or the Old Loach."


    "Exactly! Together, we can easily tten a tiny Middle Land."


    "A tiny ind dares to call itself Middle Land?"


    "Let''s march straight to the so-called Cloud Capital." The Golden Core elders chatted among themselves, without a trace of nervousness or fear.


    One couldn��t me them. From their understanding, someone born on an ind simply couldn��t possibly be strong enough to threaten them. Moreover, as elders of the Huoyan Sect for many years, they were ustomed to their lofty statuses.


    The elderly man in silver robes flying at the front of the group remained silent. His mind was filled with thoughts.


    <i>I must kill Wu Yuan once and for all.</i> Ying Quan, the elderly man d in silver robes and the sect leader of the Huoyan Sect, mused inwardly.


    If he seeded, the rewards would be immense. He had dreamed of getting an opportunity to visit the higher world for ages.


    <i>Hm? </i>The elderly man''s pupils constricted. A momentter, he roared, "Assemble the array!"


    "The array?"


    "What?" The previously rxed Golden Core elders were taken aback. However, numerous drills as well as the quick reaction speed of Golden Core cultivators enabled them to respond in an instant.


    There was a thunderous rumble as a massive array disk appeared beneath the silver-robed elder. Twenty-seven Golden Core cultivators were cloaked in ayer of hazy ck mes. Countless flowing light threads materialized.


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, a colossal figure took shape, standing a kilometer tall and stretching five li long, radiating an overwhelming aura.


    It had eight talons, each resembling a massive w, striding through the air with imposing might. Each of its four arms were several kilometers long and brimmed with strength. Most strikingly, its entire body was engulfed in ck mes, causing the ocean within a hundred-li radius to boil instantly and sending steam surging skyward.


    <i>Rumble~</i> A massive flying boat appeared out of thin air, and the hundreds of Qi Sea cultivators quickly gathered aboard.


    It only took a second for the Huoyan Sect''s massive army to switch from ''marching mode'' to bat readiness''.


    An imposing beast of me emerged from the array. A flying boat, immense beyond belief, also appeared.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The water and water vapor parted to either side by an unseen force.


    A figure in white robes stepped through the gap, his clothes billowing behind him. With every step, one could feel an overwhelming weight.


    The white-robed figure halted, facing the beast of me a hundred li away calmly. "Are you Daoists from the Huoyan Sect?" he asked.


    His voice echoed through heaven and earth.


    ...


    <i>Inside the Conference Hall of the Middle Land Immortal Hall.</i>


    Figures materialized, all avatars of immortal cultivators from various regions of the Middle Land. They had received the message and quickly arrived at the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    At this moment, a massive light screen appeared in the Conference Hall. It disyed a projection of the scene from Wu Yuan''s perspective.


    Above the boundless ocean, the white-robed figure was in a standoff with the gigantic beast shrouded in me.


    Fang Xia, Arctic, Hai Feizhang, Mountain Devil and over a hundred Middle Land immortal cultivators watched the scene in the projection. The tension in the air was palpable. They all knew that the destination of the battleground was not far away. It was right above the South Ocean.


    "Is that the army of the Huoyan Sect? Their battle array is terrifying!" Fang Xia and Hai Feizhang, Arctic and Mountain Devil exchanged nces.


    They were either Golden Core cultivators or Spiritual Body cultivators, and each of them was highly knowledgeable. Through the projection, they could feel the terrifying power of the fiery beast. It was dozens, hundreds of times greater than their own array.


    "His Majesty!"


    "Has His Majesty gone to confront the enemy?"


    "Can we win?" Many immortal cultivators of the Middle Land watched anxiously.


    Ever since the Middle Land Conference a few days ago, they had been in a state of constant worry. However, they did not erupt into a panic thanks to their firm belief in Wu Yuan.


    But at this moment,pared to the fiery beast that caused the seawater to boil, the white-robed figure seemed so small.


    "Big Brother." In the Conference Hall, an unassuming woman in green stared at the projection. She was not particrly good-looking, but she had a sense of toughness about her. She seemed extremely nervous at the moment.


    She was Wu Yijun, and had just be a qi refiner not long ago. She wasn��t too talented, but her character was excellent. She had been cultivating and adventuring in the Middle Land, never gettingcent just because of her brother''s status.


    "Wu Yuan." Bu Yu and Huan Jian both watched the light screen anxiously. Both of them had already stepped into the mid-stage Qi Sea phase, and due to their statuses, their positions in the Middle Land Guard were second only to a few Golden Core/Spiritual Body powerhouses.


    ...


    In the sky above the ocean, nearly ten thousand li from the Min Continent, a huge ck jiaolong leisurely coiled in the air, looking on from far away.


    <i>They��re here. This Wu Yuan really is bold. </i>Daoist Long muttered to himself. <i>Swaggering straight into the enemy��s army?</i>


    As a Shambh powerhouse, his physique was strong. With his vision, as long as there were no obstacles, he could easily see objects tens of thousands of li away.


    Watching a battle ten thousand li away wasn��t an issue for him.


    This was the difference between a qi refiner and a body refiner. Qi refiners had a stronger soul, and the range and rity of their Soul Force were greater.


    Body refiners had better vision, and could even attain the ability to peer through distorted space by learning Deity Eye at higher cultivation phases.


    Each had their strengths.


    <i>But, Wu Yuan''s flight speed is impressive. </i>Daoist Long noted. <i>He��s this fast even without employing ether arts. If he does, he might rival the weakest first-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator.</i>


    That was his judgment. He wasn��t belittling Wu Yuan. In fact, the ability to fight an enemy at a higher cultivation phase was a feat reserved for top-tier geniuses, something rarely witnessed.


    <i>I just hope he survives.</i> Daoist Long sighed, seriously doubting Wu Yuan''s chances of victory.


    There was barely any chance of winning. The entire Huoyan Sect had shown up, ready to strike a decisive blow, leaving Wu Yuan no room to retaliate.


    In Daoist Long''s view, Wu Yuan''s only hope for survival was to flee with him at the first chance.


    Confront them in battle? The likelihood of dying exceeded ny percent.


    Daoist Long chose to remain here just in case Wu Yuan actually survived. If he lived, it proved Wu Yuan''s potential and power, showing that he was more than worth the investment.


    Having lived for thousands of years, Daoist Long had sufficient patience. He wouldn��t miss any chance to topple Reverend Huo Yan from his position.


    <i>However, knowing it''s impractical yet still going ahead with it is such foolish behavior.</i> Daoist Long sighed. <i>Though, it is alsomendable.</i>


    He watched the battle from afar.


    ...


    Above the sea, the Huoyan Sect formed a killing array with twenty-seven Golden Core cultivators within moments. They had already spotted Wu Yuan.


    "Such a powerful vital aura."


    "Stronger than the usual ninth-stage Spiritual Body cultivator, it seems. He has a strong immortal root."


    "He knows about us? How did he find out?"


    "Such a powerhouse exists in the small Middle Land? Is it Wu Yuan?"


    "Wu Yuan? Could he really have cultivated to the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase at fifty years old?" The numerous Golden Core cultivators of the Huoyan Sectmunicated with each other.


    They were somewhat shocked, their minds filled with confusion. However, they showed no fear.


    The ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase? Even if it were a Shambh cultivator, they had little to fear once they assembled their array.


    "Are you a powerhouse of the Middle Land? Why are you blocking the path of the Huoyan Sect''s army?" The voice of the massive fiery beast echoed, resounding through heaven and earth.


    It was the silver-robed elderly man, Ying Quan, who spoke. In an array, there was typically only one lead controller. Although he had doubts about the identity of the white-robed figure before his eyes, he still decided to observe a little longer.


    "My name is Wu Yuan, I am the ruler of the Middle Land." Wu Yuan''s voice was calm. "I have heard of the Huoyan Sect, the number one immortal sect of the Summerpeak maind, but I do not know why you havee to the Middle Land. What business do you have here?"


    Wu Yuan knew there was no point hiding his identity, thus he admitted it directly. If the Huoyan Sect really came to kill him, a battle was inevitable. If it would happen sooner orter anyway, there was no use dying it.

 Chapter 418: Suppressing Shambhala (2)

    <h4>Chapter 418: Suppressing Shambh (2)</h4>


    "Is it really Wu Yuan?"


    "It''s him!"


    "Indeed, in the entire Middle Land, he might be the only one with such astonishing talent."


    "At just fifty, he��s already at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase, and it seems he has a fourth-degree immortal root." Hushed discussions broke out among the Golden Core elders of the Huoyan Sect, their voices filled with shock, jealousy, and even murderous intent.


    Many of them had cultivated for hundreds of years, yet only reached the third-stage Golden Core phase.


    "He actually knows about our Huoyan Sect? He seems to know quite a bit."


    "This Wu Yuan, is he waiting here on purpose? Could he have known in advance that the Huoyan Sect wasing to kill him?" More cultivators from the Huoyan Sect grew wary.


    He knew they wereing, yet dared to wait for them here. He was either foolish or relying on something.


    However, how could someone who rose to power from an indigenous civilization and made advance preparations to propagate his Faith be a fool?


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, since you know about the Summerpeak maind, you should also know about the Bloodforge Devil Hall." The enormous fiery beast spoke again.


    "We are here on the orders of the Bloodforge Devil Hall to invite you to join the Devil Hall. Please return with us to the Summerpeak maind, where an Amethyst Cradle Reverend from the Devil Hall will meet you." Ying Quan spoke without hesitation.


    He didn''t know what gave Wu Yuan his confidence, but that didn''t stop him from trying a different approach. If he could trick Wu Yuan into entering the sect, killing him would be easy.


    "Under the orders of the Bloodforge Devil Hall?" Wu Yuan smiled lightly. Standing high in the sky, he casually taunted, "Aren''t you here to kill me under Reverend Huo Yan��s orders?"


    Silence fell.


    The Golden Core cultivators from the Huoyan Sect were stunned. How did this Wu Yuan know everything?


    In an instant, a multitude of thoughts filled their minds. Was there a traitor among the Golden Core elders?


    But how could that be possible? Wu Yuan was only fifty years old, while most of these Golden Core elders had been cultivating in the sect for hundreds of years.


    Furthermore, the forbidden regions had just disappeared. How could he have nted a traitor?


    It wasn��t just the Huoyan Sect. Even the immortal cultivators from the Middle Land Immortal Hall were dumbstruck. In their eyes, their ruler was growing increasingly unfathomable.


    "Furthermore." Wu Yuan suddenly spoke again, "Those subordinates of mine who were scouting beyond Huang Ind, were they killed by Elder Mo Lu of your Huoyan Sect?"


    By now, the minds of the Huoyan Sect��s cultivators were inplete chaos. With this, how could he possibly be bluffing?


    The fiery beast fell silent. The only sounds were the howling of the gale through the sky and the surging waves.


    "Wu Yuan," the fiery beast finally spoke once more. "Since you know all this, then you understand my Huoyan Sect''s determination. As a sign of respect for your talent, I will give you a chance to kill yourself!"


    "My Huoyan Sect promises that we shall not harm the mortals of Middle Land, nor your mortal family."


    "Otherwise, when the great war begins, the Middle Land will be destroyed." The fiery beast''s voice was icy cold, no longer concealing his true intentions.


    They wanted him tomit suicide? Using his mortal family to threaten him?


    A chill shed in the depths of Wu Yuan''s eyes, a surge of anger burning in his heart. It had been a long time since he had felt such rage.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan realized that Daoist Long''s words were true. The Huoyan Sect was really after his life.


    "You want my life?" Wu Yuan''s eyes grew colder. His principles had never changed: kindness or enmity was repaid tenfold!


    <i>All of you can go to hell!</i>


    "Little ck, Beast Fusion!" Wu Yuanmanded through spiritual transmission.


    "Yes, Master, let''s kill them all," Little ck could hardly contain its murderous intent.


    Teng Snakes were bloodthirsty and savage by nature. Thus, only the Eldritch Progenitor could subdue the first of the Teng Snakes.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan, who had been wearing a smile, suddenly erupted with power. His body, which was shorter than two meters tall, grew rapidly.


    Three zhangs! Five zhangs! Ten zhangs! A hundred zhangs!


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan had be a hundred-zhang tall giant, no longer insignificant in size before the immense fire beast.


    At the same time, his vital aura skyrocketed and his body was enveloped inyers of earthy yellow armor.


    A pair of ck wings erupted from his back, the feathers glowing with a metallic sheen, each one deadly sharp.


    Basic ether art: Eldritch Form!


    Lifebound eldritch beast �C Beast Fusion!


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuanpleted his transformation. With a p of his wings, he shot up like an earthy yellow mountain, flying toward the ming beast.


    <i>Boom! </i>The massive earthy yellow qi streams roared, crashing into everything within a hundred li. The ocean shook violently, waves churning and frothing.


    "What?"


    "So powerful? This is bad."


    "Wu Yuan has such power?" Wu Yuan''s sudden outbreak frightened the dozens of Golden Core cultivators from the Huoyan Sect.


    The terrifying surge of vital aura was unmistakably real, nearly reaching the Shambh phase!


    "Kill!" Although shocked, Sect Leader Ying Quan of the Huoyan Sect, being a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator, was incredibly quick to react.


    He instantly piloted the grand array. At the same time, the massive flying battleship retreated.


    <i>Boom!</i> The eight legs of the gigantic fiery beast began to move, each stride causing the air to tremble. It headed straight towards Wu Yuan.


    In less than a fifth of a second, they collided.


    "So what if you are talented? Die!" The four massive arms of the beast were wrapped in fire, brimming with immeasurable force.


    Like four pirs of heaven, their surfaces glowed with a silvery hue. Clearly, it was wearing an artifact.


    It threw a fierce punch toward Wu Yuan.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan was slightly weakerpared to the beast, but he quickly executed another technique. Another pair of arms appeared from his body.


    Basic ether art: Four-Armed Form!


    Ever since he grasped True Celestial Body, an advanced ether art, Wu Yuan had begun contemting the ether art: Four-Armed Form.


    Among the three ether arts he had learned so far, Eldritch Form gave him an overall boost in power. Once employed, speed, attack, and defense would all be slightly enhanced.


    True Celestial Body, on the other hand, mainly boosted his defense.


    Only Four-Armed Form was a true offensive secret art, even though it appeared to be a basic ether art. As his cultivation improved, he could even progress to the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form, and even further��the Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor!


    Each of his four arms was like a war saber. They eclipsed the sun, colliding with the fiery beast��s arms.


    Four sabers against four fists.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The earth-shattering explosion, like two stars colliding, formed a terrifying shockwave, instantly stirring up giant waves. Water surged in all directions, creating terrifying tsunamis.


    "A mere..." Just as the fiery beast was about to speak, its expression turned fearful. "Impossible!"


    Wu Yuan��s power was overwhelming. Each of his saber-hands carried the profundities of the Law of the Celestial Body, its sharpness slicing through the air. Moreover, Wu Yuan wielded four of those saber-hands!


    In terms of foundation, after the simultaneous activation of the Beast Fusion and Eldritch Form, Wu Yuan was very close to an ordinary first-stage Shambh cultivator (sixth-degree immortal root). He was two levels weaker than the fiery beast.


    However, once he demonstrated his Four-Armed Form, his attack power skyrocketed.


    Even among the tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Wu Yuan was among the top hundred in terms of Daoprehension aptitude.


    How could these Golden Core cultivatorspare?


    <i>Boom!</i> In a head-on sh, Wu Yuan''s slightly smaller frame didn''t budge an inch. But the me beast was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the water. The ssh generated towering waves, and the ground trembled faintly.


    Numerous cracks appeared on the surface of the fiery beast''s body.


    "What?"


    "Good heavens." From the nearby battleship, hundreds of Qi Sea cultivators were standing agog, staring in disbelief at the unfolding scene.


    Dozens of Golden Core elders of the sect working together were sted away in the very first exchange?


    <i>In the sky ten thousand li away. </i>


    <i>This? Well done, Wu Yuan! Well done!</i> Daoist Long was equally shocked, staring at the scene.


    The distance was toorge and he couldn��t hear what was going on, but he saw everything clearly.


    In a head-on confrontation, Wu Yuan took the absolute upper hand.


    <i>Even I may not be able to aplish this. </i>Daoist Long was both shocked and wary. He finally understood why Wu Yuan was so audacious.


    Strength! It was because of his formidable strength that Wu Yuan could act so recklessly.


    ...


    At this moment, within the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Fang Xia, Arctic, Mountain Devil, and the other Middle Land immortal cultivators were staring at the light screen in shock.


    Wu Yijun was equally stunned. Her brother''s strength had reached such a terrifying level?


    ...


    Afterying low for decades, Wu Yuan��s outburst could only be described as earth-shattering, leaving all the spectators in astonishment.


    For the Middle Land, it felt like their ruler was even stronger now, stronger beyondprehension.


    As for the Huoyan Sect, they were terrified.


    The fiery beast emerged from the sea, its gigantic eyes were fixated on Wu Yuan, filled with disbelief.


    Only through a head-on confrontation could they understand Wu Yuan��s true strength. In just fifty years, he managed to obtain such terrifying strength? Given more time, how strong would he be?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The fiery beast staggered back abruptly. In its palm was a colossal divine bow that towered hundreds of zhangs high.


    The bow had no strings, its body aze with unending mes.


    The fiery beast held the bow with three hands, its other arm mimicking the position of a bowstring. Instantly, the boundless spiritual qi from heaven and earth surged.


    A crystal-clear, translucent arrow of me materialized, ethereal yet so real, pointing straight at Wu Yuan.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    Warning bells went off in Wu Yuan��s mind, as though he was a mortal being watched by a savage beast.


    ��This?�� The spectators in the Middle Land Immortal Hall instinctively tensed up.


    "Heavenly me Bow! It''s finally out," Daoist Long, thousands of li away, stared at the gigantic divine bow.


    He was well aware of the bow''s power. It was the guardian treasure of the Huoyan Sect.


    The Divine me Array, coupled with the Heavenly me Bow, was the reason for the Huoyan Sect''s unshakeable standing on the Summerpeak maind. Even without Reverend Huo Yan��s presence, the Huoyan Sect maintained its formidable influence.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan moved, his wings pping. In an instant, several illusions formed, charging straight towards the fiery beast.


    "Go!" The fiery beast held the bow, notched the arrow, and let it fly, all in one seamless motion.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A dazzling arrow of fire tore through the sky in an instant, its terrifying trail appearing to rip heaven and earth in half.


    Ignoring the illusory shadows, it struck Wu Yuan!

 Chapter 419: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (1)

    <h4>Chapter 419: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (1)</h4>


    The raging ocean churned and frothed.


    <i>The Divine me Array is a relic unearthed by our sect from the ruins of an ancient sect thousands of years ago. It was damaged back then, but the ancestor repaired it. It can amodate a minimum of twelve Golden Core cultivators and a maximum of thirty-six.</i> The sect leader of the Huoyan Sect, Ying Quan, fixed a steely gaze on Wu Yuan��s position.


    He couldn��t wait to get rid of Wu Yuan once and for all


    <i>The Heavenly me Bow is the sect��s guardian treasure that our ancestor found in the higher world hundreds of years ago. When wielded by the Divine me Array, the twoplement each other perfectly. </i>


    <i>If a battle takes ce in the sect''s headquarters, a single arrow is enough to obliterate weaker Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators given the synchronicity between the Heavenly me Bow and the sect��s defensive arrays.</i>


    <i>Even when taken outside the sect, out of the range of the defensive arrays, the power unleashed should still be enough to injure the Old Loach.</i>


    <i>This Wu Yuan is just a Spiritual Body cultivator. Even if he does have heaven-defying talent, can his defensespare to the Old Loach? One arrow should be enough to injure him seriously.</i> Sect Leader Ying Quan of the Huoyan Sect looked on.


    Inside the fiery beast, the Golden Core cultivators were also full of anticipation, operating the array with all their might.


    Kill Wu Yuan! In this battle, the Huoyan Sect had pulled out all the stops. Although Wu Yuan''s strength exceeded their expectations, they were confident that they could win. This assurance was rooted in the power of the Heavenly me Bow.


    "Can His Majesty withstand it?"


    "That divine bow, that arrow of mes." Those spectating the battle in the Middle Land Immortal Hall, including Fang Xia, Mountain Devil, and Hai Feizhang trembled.


    They all had a feeling that if this arrow hit them, they would be killed instantly.


    The immortal cultivators of the Middle Land held their breath, watching the projection intently.


    <i>Back then, when I forcibly stormed the Huoyan Sect, I was greatly injured after getting struck by three arrows and had to flee in a panic. </i>Thousands of miles away, Daoist Long sighed.<i> Wu Yuan��s attacks are domineering, but how many arrows can he withstand?</i>


    The Heavenly me Bow. This was the ace up the sleeve of the Huoyan Sect''s army.


    ...


    Each spectator had a different thought.


    Yet, as the one facing the enemy head-on, a sense of surprise welled up in Wu Yuan. In a sh, he understood that this divine bow must be the guardian treasure of the Huoyan Sect that Daoist Long had mentioned.


    It was indeed terrifying. With the arrowhead pointed at him from afar, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel a jolt of panic. The fiery beast gave him no time to think, loosing the arrow immediately.


    The Heavenly me Arrow was already on its way. Dodge? Wu Yuan��s instincts told him that it was impossible. This was locked onto his soul.


    <i>This is probably the Huoyan Sect''s strongest weapon, their trump card. As long as I can withstand it, I can win! </i>Wu Yuan steeled his resolve.


    Can''t dodge? Then don''t bother.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> With fingers clenched, his four huge fists were like war hammers, converging and striking at the arrow shrouded in mes.


    The Heavenly me Arrow whistled, tearing the Celestial Body Domain which spanned nearly a hundred li open, and collided with the four hammer-like fists.


    <i>Bang~</i> Like a giant rock being struck by a terrifying force, Wu Yuan felt his two pairs of arms tremble. He was sent flying backward uncontrobly.


    The formidable impact made his body tremble faintly, on the verge of breaking apart.


    Wu Yuan��s body rolled for hundreds of li, only stopping when his foot fiercely stomped on the air. His vital qi was in turmoil, and shock filled his heart.


    It was too strong!


    Ever since Wu Yuan embarked on his path of cultivation, he had never experienced such a horrific force. Even his True Celestial Body could not remain entirely unscathed after the strike.


    <i>Fortunately, I just advanced my True Celestial Body to the second step not long ago, and thus could barely withstand it.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>If I were still at the first step, I would have taken significant damage even if I could withstand it.</i>


    At this moment, ether surged within Wu Yuan, rapidly repairing the numerous fractures in the cryptic patterns. This was the True Celestial Body!


    For ordinary ether arts, one could cultivate it as long as one had sufficient ether. But the stronger the ether art, the higher the Daoprehension requirement.


    Although ''True Celestial Body'' was only an advanced ether art, it required an extremely deep understanding of the Celestial Body Dao, which was exceptionallypatible with Wu Yuan.


    Having cultivated it to the second step, it was almost on par with the first step of some grand ether arts in terms of power alone. Quite terrifying.


    <i>In terms of defense, I have the Celestial Body Domain, and the True Celestial Body. I don''t believe you can kill me.</i> Fighting spirit roared within Wu Yuan.


    Initially, the choice to cultivate a true body ether art was for the sake of self-preservation. Wu Yuan''s self-preservation ability was much stronger than his offensive abilities.


    ...


    "He withstood it."


    "Fantastic!"


    "His Majesty looks fine. I knew it! How can a group of Golden Core cultivators possibly kill His Majesty?" The Middle Land Immortal Hall was ecstatic.


    <i>He doesn''t appear to have suffered major injuries.</i> Daoist Long was quite startled.


    This was a powerful move capable of wounding him. Yet Wu Yuan appeared to have taken it much better than him, at least on the surface. It was strange and somewhat unsettling.


    <i>This Wu Yuan is not to be trifled with.</i> Daoist Long muttered under his breath, a sense of caution instinctively rising within him.


    ...


    "What? He''s unharmed?"


    "Wu Yuan''s strength... it''s this formidable? His attack strength can be attributed to his Daoprehension, but to withstand the Heavenly me Arrow?" The faces of the twenty Golden Core cultivators who coordinated to assemble the Divine me Array were filled with disbelief.


    Thebination of the Heavenly me Bow and the Divine me Array was their strongest move. Yet it couldn''t harm Wu Yuan, let alone severely injure or even kill him.


    <i>The Heavenly me Arrow couldn''t even hurt him much, let alone severely wound him? </i>Ying Quan��s face was a deathly pallor, and a trace of fear rose in his eyes. <i>His attack is as powerful as that Old Loach, and his defense is even stronger?</i>


    Equal offense, and stronger defense. Didn��t it mean that Wu Yuan''s overall strength surpassed that of Daoist Long?


    <i>Impossible! He''s only at the Spiritual Body Phase. That Old Loach might have a weak immortal root and only made it to the Shambh phase due to luck, but he��s still a sixth-stage Shambh cultivator. </i>Ying Quan stared at Wu Yuan, noticing the faint cryptic patterns on his body��s surface.


    <i>It''s an ether art, definitely a very terrifying ether art.</i> Ying Quan deduced. <i>Kill! He must be killed!</i>


    The stronger Wu Yuan was, the more fearful Ying Quan grew. Such a monstrous prodigy, if allowed to survive today, would soon grow beyond their control. Even if their ancestor returned, he might not be able to handle Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The fiery beast hovered high in the sky. As it drew the bowstring once more, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth converged.


    Once again, a terrifying Heavenly me Arrow howled into the air.


    If one arrow wasn��t enough, then make it two!


    If two arrows weren��t enough, then make it three!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>One arrow followed another, forming a continuous stream of fire in the air before the Heavenly me Bow.


    In an instant, it transformed into a river of fire, all aimed towards Wu Yuan. In the blink of an eye, eight arrows appeared! Including the first arrow, a total of nine arrows were loosed.


    At this moment, the once grand and imposing aura of the fiery beast seemed to shrink, theyer of ck mes on its body thinning out. Evidently, each usage of the Heavenly me Bow also put a major strain on the fiery beast.


    ��Nine arrows?�� The immortal cultivators in the Middle Land Immortal Hall all felt a shiver in their hearts.


    One arrow was terrifying enough, let alone a session of eight arrows.


    <i>Nine arrows? That''s ruthless. The Huoyan Sect must be feeling cornered by Wu Yuan. </i>Daoist Long was even more rmed.


    He didn''t think he could handle nine arrows without severe consequences.


    <i>Wu Yuan''s defenses are strong, is it an advanced ether art? I wonder how much ether it consumes. </i>Daoist Long''s eyes were sharp.


    He was a Shambh cultivator. Naturally, he understood the biggest weakness of a peerless genius like Wu Yuan: his Daoprehension progress might be rapid, but his ether reserves were notrge enough.


    The stronger the ether art, the greater the strain on the soul chamber once it was activated, and therger the consumption of ether.


    ...


    <i>Nine arrows in session? </i>Wu Yuan gritted his teeth. The remaining eight arrows whistled towards him, yet his morale did not falter.


    His will to fight grew even stronger!


    <i>You want to drain my ether? Let''s see if you can oust me. </i>Wu Yuan''s massive body stirred, his wings trembling.


    Evasion was impossible, thus he did not back down. Unable to retreat, he chose to face the attacks head-on.


    Wu Yuan swung his four arms as if they were four terrifying sabers, and the vast and magnificent Celestial Body Domain spread out.


    The surface of his eldritch armor shone brightly as ether surged into it, pushing its defensive capabilities to its limits.


    <i>Hum~</i> An invisible gravitational force tried to pull in the eight Heavenly me Arrows in the opposite direction, but like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, the effect was minuscule.


    Soon, the second Heavenly me Arrow collided violently with Wu Yuan''s four enormous arms.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~ Boom~ Boom~ </i>In the blink of an eye, there were eight consecutive collisions.


    Wu Yuan did not use his third-grade spirit saber. After cultivating his True Celestial Body to the second step, the robustness of his body was almost on par with fourth-grade spirit equipment.


    His four arms worked in harmony, their effectiveness as weapons even surpassing sabers.


    His soul chamber operated at maximum capacity, forcefully pouring ether into his arms at full speed, pushing the power of his Four-Armed Form ether art to its limits.


    The Heavenly me Arrow was an illusory attack, not a physical one, yet it contained terrifying power.


    The second Heavenly me Arrow struck.


    Wu Yuan was sted backward. Immediately it was followed by the third Heavenly me Arrow, causing his four arms to tremble incessantly.


    The fourth arrow... fifth arrow...By the time the seventh Heavenly me Arrow struck, Wu Yuan''s skin, which was covered with countless cracks, finally shattered with a loud crash.


    His four arms exploded violently, blood sttering everywhere. Yet, Wu Yuan''s eyes remained resolute, absent of any hint of fear.


    <i>Boom!</i> The eighth Heavenly me Arrow hit Wu Yuan square in the chest, the terrifying impact causing his body to tremble violently, as if he were about to explode.


    Wu Yuan gritted his teeth through the pain of losing his arms, his eyes still filled with unyielding will.


    Seven consecutive attacks. Even the surface of his eldritch armor was marred with countless cracks.


    As fourth-grade spirit battle armor, it could regenerate from minor damages with ether, but if it took multiple heavy blows in quick session, it would shatter just the same.


    Then, the ninth Heavenly me Arrow descended.

 Chapter 420: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 420: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (2)</h4>


    <i>Hiss!</i> A colossal flying snake appeared out of nowhere, spreading its wings and blotting out the sun. It blocked thest Heavenly me Arrow with its colossal body.


    <i>Boom~</i> The divine arrow exploded, opening a wound dozens of meters long on the snake��s belly. The wound was so deep that one could see bone, and blood flowed profusely. The snake was seriously injured by the attack.


    "Little ck, you didn''t have to. This arrow wouldn''t have killed me." A hint of red rose in Wu Yuan''s eyes, killing intent welling up in his heart.


    How deep was the bond they had formed over the years? The bond he had with Little ck was deeper than with Fang Xia, Bu Yu, and many others, second only to his mother and sister. Little ck was unequivocally Wu Yuan''s most trustedpanion in his heart.


    Wu Yuan hadn''t given any orders; Little ck had voluntarily stepped into the fray. All to shield his master from this terrifying blow.


    "Master, I have my eldritch armor and Veiled Serpent Plume. I won''t die. But you must not be injured again. Otherwise, your ether art foundation will be significantly damaged and recovery will be troublesome," Little ck''s voice had weakened significantly, yet it still resonated with a murderous intent, "Master, kill them all."


    <i>Buzz~</i> With a swift motion, Little ck''s massive form shrunk before merging back into Wu Yuan��s body.


    But Wu Yuan could feel it; the support provided by Little ck in the Beast Fusion state had greatly diminished.


    Ether circted, and the wounds on Wu Yuan''s body rapidly healed. His four arms, previously torn apart, regenerated.


    After reaching the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase, along with Wu Yuan''s strong immortal root, one could say that as long as his head and soul chamber remained intact, he could rapidly recover from any injury as long as his ether wasn''t exhausted.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan Celestial Body Domain surrounded him, and his momentum did not falter.


    <i>He''s not dead? </i>Inside the fiery beast, Ying Quan was bbergasted. He couldn��t believe that he wasn��t able to kill a Spiritual Body cultivator despite unleashing nine Heavenly me Arrows with the array��s full might.


    Furthermore, that giant snake that showed up at the end blocked what would''ve been a devastating blow to Wu Yuan. This was not within his expectations.


    <i>Flee!</i> After only a brief moment of hesitation, the fiery beast turned tail and fled as swiftly as lightning. The flying boat hovering in the sky also began to retreat.


    Escape was the only option! Ying Quan was well and truly petrified by Wu Yuan��s strength.


    Nine consecutive Heavenly me Arrows depleted over seventy percent of Wu Yuan''s ether, but the twenty or so Golden Core cultivators in the divine me array were also greatly weakened. The power of the coordination array was significantly diminished as well.


    And Wu Yuan? Despite being injured and drained of most of his ether, he had not suffered a fatal wound. As long as he retained some ether, he could quickly recover hisbat power.


    Furthermore, as a body refiner, even if all his ether was exhausted and he couldn��t employ ether arts, he still had a powerful physique that could erupt with astonishingbat power.


    If not for this, how could a body refiner be called a god of war? Hence, it was not surprising that Ying Quan chose to flee.


    <i>Flee? </i>Wu Yuan maintained the three ether arts. The ether within his body was consumed voraciously. His wings shook behind him, emitting a hazy light.


    Wu Yuan''s speed instantly soared to an unimaginably horrifying extent, far surpassing the fiery beast.


    Advanced ether art��Realm Crossing!


    "This?" Ying Quan turned pale.


    "This speed?" The other Golden Core cultivators from the Huoyan Sect werepletely dumbfounded.


    They had never witnessed such terrifying flight speed. Even their own ancestor would likely only be able to reach this speed at most.


    <i>This? In terms of speed, he''s almost caught up with me. How many ether arts has he cultivated?</i> Daoist Long, watching the battle from afar, was also shaken.


    The lifebound spirit beasts raised by ordinary qi refiners were generally very weak. Such lifebound spirit beasts usually only possessed an immortal root of the lower three degrees.


    In terms of rarity, such a powerful lifebound Teng Snake was probablyparable to immortal cultivators with a first-degree immortal root.


    One had to understand that lifebound Teng Snakes usually had a fourth-degree immortal root.


    But over the years, both Wu Yuan and Little ck made rapid progress.


    Although Little ck was inferior to cultivators with the same immortal root degree as it shared its soul chamber with Wu Yuan, cultivating an advanced ether art more thanpensated for it.


    Of course, it could only cultivate one advanced ether art at the moment.


    A regr body refiner at the Spiritual Body phase with a third-degree immortal root could cultivate two basic ether arts, and one advanced ether art.


    But this ether art, Realm Crossing, was an upgrade of the basic ether art Deity Step, and a movement technique that specialized in speed. Combined with the Teng Snake''s talent, it was as if a tiger grew wings, almost reaching the level of a grand ether art.


    Legends said that when Realm Crossing was cultivated to its peak, one could traverse a vast world in one step, treating the boundless void as if it were t ground.


    Realm Crossing wasn��t of much use in the frontal battle earlier, so Wu Yuan did not reveal it. But now, in pursuit?


    "Die!" Like a bolt of lightning, Wu Yuan caught up in less than a breath.


    With his four arms nearly restored, he charged forward. Like divine sabers, they shed at the fiery beast''s chest.


    To kill the enemy, aim for the head, but to dismantle a coordination array, one must target the chest first. Usually, the array''s core and the lead array controller were located there.


    "Damn it!" The fiery beast was forced to counter, reluctantly swinging its four arms to meet Wu Yuan.


    "Wu Yuan, let��s have a ceasefire, we can talk it out," Ying Quan urgently transmitted his voice. "Please, let��s stop fighting."


    Wu Yuan turned a deaf ear to the urgent pleas.


    Ceasefire? First, they ughtered his scouting team, and then, their army marched to his doorstep. Yet, once they couldn��t win, they wanted a ceasefire? As if he would agree!


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i>


    The two sides shed like lightning, collisions echoing again and again.


    With Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension, his battle skills were far beyond Ying Quan��s.


    The fiery beast was weakened significantly after using the Heavenly me Bow continuously. Every collision sent the fiery beast flying. The terrifying shockwaves prated the array, injuring Golden Core cultivators within and further shrinking the beast��s aura.


    <i>Boom~ </i>Another massive collision.


    Wu Yuan''s saber-hand evaded a limb of the fiery beast and cut deep into its chest with an eerie precision.


    <i>Rip~</i> The seemingly sturdy chest of the fiery beast was instantly sliced open by the saber-hand. A massive cavity formed, akin to a gutted animal.


    A dense eruption of spiritual qi spurted out from the beast��s chest, revealing the terrified Golden Core cultivators inside.


    <i>Boom!</i> Another chopnded on the fiery beast. Like a battle saber, it shed through its body, instantly striking the Golden Core cultivators in its path.


    <i>St~ St~ St~</i>


    The bodies of six Golden Core cultivators exploded. All of them died on the spot!


    Even Ying Quan, a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator and sect leader of the Huoyan Sect, died in the strike. His face was still contorted in shock and fury.


    In closebat, a qi refiner couldn��t withstand a single strike from a body refiner.


    <i>Rumble~</i> At this point, the so-called Divine me Arraypletely copsed, revealing the twenty-one surviving Golden Core cultivators inside.


    All of them wanted nothing more than to flee. Facing Wu Yuan, their will to fight hadpletely evaporated.


    <i>Suppress!</i> With a thought from Wu Yuan, the vast Celestial Body Domain expanded, shrouding heaven and earth. An irresistible force pulled the fleeing Golden Core cultivators back, as if they were mortals caught in a dark whirlpool.


    Forget escape, some of the weaker Golden Core cultivators were even swept towards Wu Yuan by the flickering, earthy-yellow qi currents.


    "No!"


    "We were wrong, we shouldn��t havee to the Middle Land."


    "How can a Spiritual Body cultivator amass such immense power in just a few decades?"


    "What monstrous prodigy has our Huoyan Sect provoked?" Despair seeped into each and every Golden Core cultivator of the Huoyan Sect. They werepletely powerless to resist.


    Wu Yuan''s killing intent did not falter in the least. Since they chose war, there would be no mercy.


    Each palm strike was like a de ray, each one signifying the fall of a Golden Core cultivator.


    His qi refiner self could kill a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator with his Domain alone. However, the ether of his body refiner self could not bebined with his Domain.


    Despite his fierce closebat skills, his long-range attacks were much weaker, barely able to kill a novice Golden Core cultivator.


    At the moment, no one in the Huoyan Sect''s army could withstand Wu Yuan.


    Such was the fate of immortal cultivators. The weak could form arrays to resist the strong, but without an array, no matter how great their numbers, struggling was futile.


    Finally, Wu Yuan single-handedly annihted sixteen Golden Core cultivators, sweeping clean all mid-stage andte Golden Core cultivators.


    Only eleven early-stage Golden Core cultivators from the Huoyan Sect remained, shivering as they fought desperately to escape from the Domain. Yet, they are trapped inyers of earthy yellow qi currents, unable to break free.


    Wu Yuan finally ceased his attacks.


    "Listen up. Relinquish ownership over all your artifacts and hand them over. Then, seal your own qi seas. If you do so, I may spare your lives and send you to the Bloodforge. You might stand a chance of survival there.�� Wu Yuan said coldly. "If you still dare to resist, it means you choose death."


    ��I will give you one breath''s time to make your decision!"

 Chapter 421: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (3)

    <h4>Chapter 421: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (3)</h4>


    One breath, six seconds.


    Sure enough, upon hearing the lifeline Wu Yuan threw them, the eleven Golden Core cultivators began to show a hint of hesitation.


    "Damn you, Wu Yuan!��


    ��You want to sacrifice us to the Bloodforge? Just wait till our ancestor returns..."


    <i>Swoosh! </i>A saber-hand fell. The two Golden Core cultivators were instantly grounded to pulp mid-curse.


    Refuse to submit? Then die!


    "There��s still nine of you left. Half a breath remains." Wu Yuan''s voice was icy.


    The wind howled. At this moment, the nine surviving Golden Core cultivators felt an unprecedented chill, realizing Wu Yuan fully intended to kill them if they disobeyed. There was no room for negotiation.


    "I''m willing," a Golden Core cultivator with a long beard said bitterly. Immediately, he handed over several storage artifacts. At the same time, his vital aura quickly faded, the result of sealing his own qi sea.


    Most Golden Core cultivators would learn such self-sealing arcane arts, but almost all never thought that they would use it one day.


    "Old Hei, by doing this, you..." Another Golden Core cultivator red at him.


    <i>Swoosh~ </i>Wu Yuan shed downward, and his body exploded in an instant.


    "Eight left, make your choice," Wu Yuan''s voice was cold as ice. "I''m not patient. Hesitate again, and I''ll send you all to your graves."


    Without any alternative, the remaining eight Golden Core cultivators all chose to surrender, each handing over their storage artifacts and sealing their qi seas.


    Although their chances of surviving the Bloodforge were incredibly slim, it was still a glimmer of hope, better than resisting and dying immediately.


    Each of these Golden Core cultivators had strong wills and were all elites among men. But in the face of life and death, most of them chose to scrape by.


    "You dare deceive me with a fake seal? You think I��m clueless about qi sea sealing arts?" Wu Yuan suddenly pointed to a white-robed Golden Core cultivator, his voice frosty.


    The expression of the white-robed cultivator changed immediately, revealing a hint of despair, "Sir Wu Yuan, please..."


    <i>Boom~</i> The saber-hand chopped down, and he was turned into blood mist. Dead!


    This scene finally crushed thest bit of courage in the seven surviving Golden Core cultivators. When they looked at Wu Yuan, only fear remained in their eyes.


    "Remember! Disobedience means death! Deception also means death!" Wu Yuan''s cold voice echoed through the air. "Want to live? Then obey!"


    With a thought, Wu Yuan��s Domain swept through the air, confiscating all the remaining treasures of the immortal cultivators.


    Inside one of the storage artifacts, Wu Yuan discovered the Heavenly me Bow.


    <i>Quite a treasure, I''ll take a closer lookter. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, not rushing to inspect these treasures.


    With a grand sweep of his hand, he seized the seven Golden Core cultivators, who had no resistance left in them.


    Up to this point, the twenty-seven Golden Core cultivators who joined the Huoyan Sect''s expedition to the Middle Land had either died or been captured. Not a single one escaped.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze then turned to a flying boat hundreds of li away. It was desperately trying to escape. However, it was too slow.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a p of his wings, Wu Yuan crossed hundreds of li in an instant. In just two seconds, he caught up.


    "Stop!" With a thought, he trapped the flying boat within his Domain. As though it was stuck in a swamp, the flying boat��s movements grew sluggish. This flying boat wasn''t too powerful.


    "Come out, or die!" Wu Yuan looked down at the massive flying boat, his voice cold andmanding like a heavenly deity.


    Inside the flying boat, hundreds of Qi Sea phase immortal cultivators hid, trembling in fear.


    They were scared out of their wits. With the sect''s lofty Golden Core elders dead or captured, what chance did they have?


    In their hearts, Wu Yuan''s power wasparable to the sect''s ancestor, if not stronger. Resist? It was a one-way ticket to death!


    In a blink, these six hundred Qi Sea cultivators chose to surrender, disembarking from the flying boat in an orderly fashion. No one dared to resist.


    Immediately, Wu Yuan stowed away the flying boat.


    With a horde of Qi Sea phase cultivators in tow and seven Golden Core powerhouses in his grip, Wu Yuan sped toward the Min Continent.


    Just before entering the Min Continent, Wu Yuan nced at the farthest reaches of the horizon.


    It appeared that nothing was there. However, with Wu Yuan''s powerful soul and keen eyes, he could faintly sense a powerful presence thousands of li away.


    <i>Daoist Long, you haven��t left? </i>A hint of frostiness shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Wu Yuan felt a trace of gratitude toward Daoist Long. Regardless of the jiaolong��s intentions, he had indeed been of help.


    However, Wu Yuan remained cautious, always wary of these foreign, mysterious high-level cultivators.


    The other party didn''t reveal himself, so Wu Yuan naturally didn''t intend to start a battle with him.


    <i>I''ve been badly weakened. If ites to a fight to the death, I''m afraid I won''t be a match for him.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. He didn''t want to provoke the other party either.


    For Wu Yuan, the most pressing matter was to quickly return to Cloud Capital and utilize the blood-red mist he had recently acquired to quickly recover from his injuries.


    Once he regained his peak strength, he wouldn��t have to fear anything.


    ...


    <i>In the Middle Land Immortal Hall''s Conference Hall.</i>


    "The Huoyan Sect''s army has beenpletely annihted. I''ve captured seven Golden Core and six hundred Qi Sea cultivators. We''re about to reach Cloud Capital." Wu Yuan calmly announced, his eyes sweeping across the two hundred cultivators of the Middle Land.


    "We''ve won a great victory, but stay alert, don''t let your guards down."


    "Understood." The cultivators responded respectfully.


    "Fang Xia, Arctic, Mountain Devil, get ready to receive the prisoners. I''ll be there soon." Wu Yuan instructed.


    "Yes." Fang Xia, Arctic, Mountain Devil, Hai Feizhang and others bowed respectfully. In an instant, Wu Yuan''s figure vanished from the Conference Hall.


    Instantly, the entire Conference Hall erupted into a frenzy of discussion.


    "Too strong!"


    "His Majesty is truly invincible."


    "His Majesty must have reached the legendary Shambh phase, possessing the power to unite Summerpeak.�� The immortal cultivators of the Middle Landunched into debates.


    The fight they had just witnessed was on a whole other level.


    Not only did Wu Yuan sessfully hold off the attack of the Huoyan Sect''s army, but he even suppressed them with overwhelming power, killing powerful Golden Core cultivators one after another.


    "Big Brother, you are too strong." Wu Yijun was equally astonished. She had only heard that her big brother was strong, but how strong was he exactly? This was a mystery to the Middle Land.


    But today, Wu Yuan had won the hearts of the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land, and her admiration for her brother grew even stronger.


    ...


    <i>Tens of thousands of li away, in the skies.</i>


    <i>He wiped them out. All the mid-stage andte-stage Golden Core cultivators have been killed, the rest captured. None escaped. How powerful! </i>Daoist Long sighed deeply.


    He realized that Wu Yuan was not an indecisive person. On the contrary, he was a person who was resolute and decisive.


    It made sense, those who rose rapidly to power were seldom gentle.


    <i>He may not fully trust me. </i>Daoist Long contemted. <i>He is greatly weakened at the moment. If I visit him now, it will only raise his suspicions.</i>


    <i>I��ll wait for three days. He can visit me when he��s ready.</i> After a moment''s thought, Daoist Long sent a message to Wu Yuan through the token he had gifted him, requesting to meet on an ind at the edge of the Min Continent in three days.


    Soon, Daoist Long received a swift reply. First, Wu Yuan agreed to the meeting; second, he expressed his gratitude.


    <i>Heh, that��s enough for me.</i> Daoist Long grinned. <i>This Wu Yuan is indeed talented, but perhaps a little too talented.</i>


    The more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it felt. In all his years, he never imagined a Spiritual Body cultivator could reach such a level.


    <i>This Wu Yuan, I��m guessing he doesn��t have a fourth-degree immortal root. How could such a terrifying ether art be a basic ether art? </i>Daoist Long was somewhat incredulous. <i>Could it be a third-degree immortal root?</i>


    A third-degree immortal root. For him, it was nothing short of a myth.


    Daoist Long himself only established a seventh-degree immortal root, and was considered a bottom-tier Shambh cultivator.


    <i>Such a peerless genius has been born in Summerpeak. Whether it''s a blessing or a curse is yet to be known. </i>Daoist Long mused inwardly. <i>At least for now, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for me.</i>


    <i>Huo Yan must have received the news. But I wonder, what can you do?</i> A sweet sense of satisfaction swept over Daoist Long.


    He had been at odds with Reverand Huo Yan for so long, always at the losing end.


    Today, he finally felt a sense of triumph.

 Chapter 422: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (4)

    <h4>Chapter 422: Summerpeak, Wu Yuan (4)</h4>


    <i>Millions of li away, on the Summerpeak maind.</i>


    Only seven Golden Core cultivators and a single Spiritual Body phase cultivator remained In the grand hall of the Huoyan Sect. A deathly silence pervaded the assembly.


    "They''re all dead!" The lone Spiritual Body cultivator broke the silence bitterly.


    "The sect master and thete-stage elders, they''re all dead." Fear consumed the Golden Core elders.


    Just as all immortal cultivators in the Middle Land had watched the sh between Wu Yuan and the Huoyan Sect��s army through the voidrealm, the remaining other higher-ups of the Huoyan Sect also viewed the battle in real-time on the distant Summerpeak maind.


    Wu Yuan learned about the existence of the Huoyan Sect''s voidrealm from Daoist Long. Thus, he understood that their sect possessed a voidrealm formunication spanning the entire worldlet.


    Unless a surprise attack wiped out the entire army immediately, or overwhelming force instantly killed the army, they were bound to receive reports about the incident.


    This, too, was why Wu Yuan never intended to hide his own strength from the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land.


    It would make little sense for his enemies to know of his strength while his own subordinates didn''t.


    The power Wu Yuan disyed deeply shocked the remaining eight elders of the Huoyan Sect.


    The Divine me Array along with the Heavenly me Bow were simply swept aside? What kind of enemy was this!?


    "How can a Spiritual Body cultivator be this strong?" The onlyte-stage Golden Core elder, Elder Yun, shook his head, his voice filled with bitterness.


    "Elder Yun, should we report this to our ancestor?" One of the Golden Core elders couldn''t help but ask.


    "There��s no need to report it." Elder Yun shook his head with a sigh, speaking solemnly, "The ancestor is already aware of the oue of this battle, and has issued an order for us to escape from the Summerpeak maind immediately."


    "We are to hide and wait for the ancestor to return, then we''ll return to the sect." Elder Yun''s voice was low, his gaze sweeping over the elders present.


    "Hide?" The elders of the Huoyan Sect were all stunned.


    "Otherwise? This Wu Yuan has a grudge against our Huoyan Sect, he''s already killed a dozen or two of us, do you think he''ll show mercy?" Elder Yun shook his head, "Only eight of us are left. With his power, he can easily break through our mountain gate."


    "As long as we flee, it��ll be tough for him to find us given the size of Summerpeak."


    "The ancestor is a cultivator from the higher world. He is currently looking for a way to deal with Wu Yuan, but we need to act quickly. With the speed that Wu Yuan exhibited in hisst burst, he can reach our location in two hours." Elder Yun said grimly.


    The other seven elders all turned pale. Two hours?


    In less than a quarter of an hour, the eight remaining elders of the Huoyan Sect had fled the headquarters, some even leaving the Summerpeak maind entirely.


    Arge number of Qi Sea immortal cultivators from the Huoyan Sect also started to flee in panic.


    At this point, the news could no longer be covered up. Daoist Long even hinted to his subordinates to spread the details of the battle throughout the Summerpeak maind.


    This news shook the whole Summerpeak maind.


    Wu Yuan''s name left countless immortal cultivators throughout the entire maind dumbstruck. They all understood that another peak powerhouse had been born in the Summerpeak World �C Wu Yuan!


    ...


    In a spacetime region far from the Summerpeak World, majestic halls hung suspended in space, with many creaturesing and going from the buildings.


    Standing on the nk of the hall cluster, one could overlook the vast cosmos. This expanse of space was home to innumerable worlds, each rivaling the size of Summerpeak World.


    These worlds adhered to some immutable cosmic rule, continuously rotating in motion.


    On the outskirts of the hall cluster stood an inconspicuous hall.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A young man in ck robes swiftly descended, arriving outside the hall. This pce was strangely calm, devoid of any puppet soldiers on patrol.


    "Protectorate! I, Huo Yan, have urgent matters to discuss," the ck-robed youth respectfully bowed, his voice deep as it echoed into the pce.


    A moment of silence.


    "Huo Yan, why are you here instead of cultivating and patrolling?" A cold voice retorted.


    "Protectorate, I have an urgent matter to report that could earn you great merits," Reverend Huo Yan humbly bowed his head.


    "Earn great merits?" The cold voice scoffed, "You are a mere Amethyst Cradle, what could you possibly do to earn me great merits?"


    "Speak," the cold voice continued, "If you are deceiving me, you will pay dearly."


    "I dare not deceive you, Protectorate." Reverend Huo Yan respectfully replied, "I heard that the High Immortal is troubled over the selection of Bloodforge Seeds."


    "Indeed. But what does this have to do with you?" the cold voice asked, "Don''t tell me your skills have greatly improved and you are capable of bing a Bloodforge Seed?"


    "I am incapable of such a feat." Reverend Huo Yan quickly replied, "However, I am from the Summerpeak World, which I believe you are aware of."


    "Ah, that ruined world, it seems to have just recovered." the cold voice replied nonchntly.


    Immortal cultivators had excellent memories. Although he didn''t pay much attention to Reverend Huo Yan, he was still aware of Huo Yan''s general background.


    "Yes. I have just received a message from a sect disciple in the worldlet." Reverend Huo Yan respectfully said, "A peerless genius has been born in the Summerpeak World."


    "Though he is a Spiritual Body cultivator with only fifty years of cultivation, he appears to possess a third-degree immortal root, withbat prowessparable to a fifth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator!" Reverend Huoyan dered. "I presume, he qualifies to be a Bloodforge seed?"


    "What?"


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A man dressed in purple robes flew to the entrance of the hall in an instant. His aura was powerful, and his eyes gleamed with fervor as his gaze locked onto Reverend Huoyan, "Is everything you spoke of true?"


    "Without a shadow of a doubt. This is the battle projection. Protectorate, please observe." Reverend Huo Yan promptly responded.


    He waved his hand.


    <i>Swish~</i> Countless points of light converged, forming a huge light screen. The disy showed Wu Yuan battling the grand army of the Huoyan Sect.


    The purple-robed man quietly watched the recording.


    When the sect leader of the Huoyan Sect was in, the projection ended.


    "Indeed, a monstrous prodigy. Only fifty years of cultivation? He��s more than qualified to be a Bloodforge seed, there''s even hope for him to be a seed of the first-tier division. However, isn''t he an enemy of your Huoyan Sect?" The purple-robed man asked with an ambiguous smile.


    An immortal continent division was a second-tier division. An immortal nation division was a first-tier division.


    With his sharp mind, he could swiftly infer Wu Yuan��s strength from the attacks unleashed by the army of the Huoyan Sect.


    "Protectorate is wise." Reverend Huoyan''s forehead was beaded with sweat.


    "No worries. Now I understand why you are in such a hurry to return to the Summerpeak World, turns out you want to eliminate this great enemy."


    "Unfortunately, our Bloodforge Devil Hall has its rules. Your application was denied by the other protectorates, not me." The purple-robed man said indifferently.


    ��I understand." Reverend Huoyan respectfully replied.


    "You''ve got guts, and you''re ruthless. Seeing that you can''t kill him, you��re hoping the Bloodforge will do the trick? My Bloodforge Devil Hall is perfect for cold-blooded people like you," the purple-robed man looked down at Reverend Huo Yan, "But aren''t you worried he''lle back alive?"


    "With his talent, if hees back alive, you''re likely doomed."


    "I can''t return to Summerpeak. If he joins the Devil Hall and gains a higher status, I''m just as dead," Reverend Huo Yanughed bitterly, "Protectorate, I��ll be honest. This is my only option."


    "I hope you will save me, Protectorate." Reverend Huo Yan bowed deeply.


    "Save you? My Bloodforge Devil Hall has always abided by the principle of ��every man for himself��. We do things by the book," the purple-robed man shook his head, "ording to the rules, the Devil Hall will reward you for providing this information."


    "If he passes the evaluation, I estimate that you��ll earn at least one hundred thousand merits, up to a million," the purple-robed man said.


    "However, you��ll have to settle your grudge with him by yourself. Life or death, as long as it''s ording to the rules of my Devil Hall, it''s all the same."


    "By the way, what''s his name?" the purple-robed man asked.


    "Wu Yuan," Reverend Huo Yan replied.


    "Wu Yuan? Never heard of him, but he''s exceptionally talented," the purple-robed man muttered, "Summerpeak, Wu Yuan."

 Chapter 423: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (1)

    <h4>Chapter 423: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (1)</h4>


    "Alright, Reverend Huo Yan, I''m aware of this matter now."


    "Perhaps this wasn��t your original intention, but as long as Wu Yuan from Summerpeak passes the Bloodforge Seed evaluation, you will be rewarded with merits.�� The purple-robed man said, "At that time, what you wish to do is entirely up to you."


    "I don''t care who lives between you and Wu Yuan. But, if he passes the evaluation and the High Immortal rewards me for this contribution, I''ll remember this favor." The purple-robed man gazed down at Reverend Huo Yan, "In the future, if you need my assistance with minor matters, feel free to ask."


    "There��s only one thing you must remember: don''t harbor any thoughts of killing Wu Yuan; you can only pray that he dies in the Bloodforge." The purple-robed man spoke indifferently.


    "I understand." Reverend Huo Yan bowed his head respectfully.


    From the moment he decided to report this matter to the protectorate, he understood that he would no longer be able to kill Wu Yuan via direct methods.


    The protectorate didn''t care whether Wu Yuan lived or died. All that mattered was filling the Bloodforge Seed quota. If he could help the High Immortal solve this problem, that would be a great contribution rendered.


    "You are dismissed." The purple-robed man waved his hand.


    Reverend Huo Yan departed without dy.


    Once Reverend Huo Yan left, a smile surfaced on the purple-robed man''s face. <i>What a turn of fortune. To think merits would fall into myp, it''s like a pie dropping from the sky.</i>


    As he contemted, the purple-robed man waved his hand, and a light screen projection appeared, showcasing the recent battle between Wu Yuan and the Huoyan Sect''s army.


    The purple-robed man watched the recording over and over again, thoroughly confirming what he saw.


    <i>This is an unbelievable genius. At the Spiritual Body phase, hisbat power can rival a fifth or sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator? </i>The purple-robed man muttered to himself in awe.


    Among the official members of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division, Reverend Huo Yan was considered a member of the lowest tier. On the other hand, the purple-robed man had a decent status, enjoying considerable freedom and ess to a wealth of information.


    He recognized the rarity of such a genius.


    <i>Among the million Golden Core disciples we''ve raised over the past century in the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division, I fear none are as formidable as him</i>. The purple-robed man marveled in silence. A Bloodforge Seed? <i>With such strength, he more than qualifies to be a Bloodforge Seed of the first-tier division.</i>


    When he told Reverend Huo Yan that there was merely a chance that Wu Yuan would be a first-tier division Bloodforge Seed, it was a bluff.


    <i>If I don''t deceive him, there might be trouble in the future.</i> The purple-robed man smiled, a trace of desire in his eyes. <i>I can only hope that this Wu Yuan will sessfully pass the evaluation and be a first-tier division Bloodforge Seed, and even �� a Bloodforge King!</i>


    A Bloodforge King �� that was a legend!


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division hadn''t seen a Golden Core genius achieve this honor in all of its existence.


    The purple-robed man only entertained the thought briefly. He didn''t dare get his hopes up. It was too difficult.


    "At least, he has to survive the Bloodforge." The purple-robed man murmured, "If he dies, it��s all over."


    "If he dies, I��ll gain a few million merits at most as the one to endorse him. If he survives and walks out of the Bloodforge alive, bing a High Immortal in the future, I could earn billions of merits or even more."


    Just the thought of it made the purple-robed man quiver with excitement.


    Billions of merits, if exchanged for ethercrystal, would amount to tens of billions of catties of ethercrystal.


    This was a sum that would drive most Void Refiner Eminences mad. It could rival the wealth of some weaker Divided Soul Earth Immortals.


    Such was the Bloodforge Devil Hall, rewards and punishments were clear.


    Of course, the purple-robed man snapped out of his daydream soon enough. He understood that even if Wu Yuan survived the Bloodforge, the chances of bing a High Immortal were slim. On top of that, who knew how long it would take? He might not even live to see that day.


    "At least, as long as his profile is reported and he passes the evaluation, millions of merits will be mine," the purple-robed man smirked.


    Millions of merits, worth billions of catties of ethercrystal!


    This alone would be enough to make him rtively wealthy among the Void Refiner Eminences.


    "Hmm. In the future, if Wu Yuanes out alive, I will assign that Huo Yan a difficult trial assignment and send him to his death. That should count as doing Wu Yuan a favor." Another thought shed through the purple-robed man''s mind.


    Remembering Reverend Huo Yan��s favor? Lending him a hand? These were just words to appease the other party. From beginning to end, the purple-robed man was only thinking about his own interests.


    "I should go meet the High Immortal." The purple-robed man did not hesitate any longer.


    With a swift movement, he flew out of his hall, heading deep into the hall cluster.


    Although it seemed like a group of halls, it was actually a region of ovepping spacetimes, simr to a congregation of worldlets.


    As a Void Refiner cultivator, he had a decently high status. With a token in hand, he made his way smoothly to a majestic hall after a quarter of an hour.


    Powerful puppet soldiers stood guard around the hall. Their eyes were cold, scanning all directions.


    "Halt, stop right there!"


    "Stop." The soldiers shouted, brandishing their weapons as though encountering an enemy.


    "High Immortal, I beg your pardon but I have good news to report," the purple-robed man called out, his voice as calm as deep water.


    He''d been in such situations plenty of times before and knew the default behavior of these puppet soldiers.


    The puppet soldiers exchanged nces. After a moment, one of the leaders spoke, "Protectorate Rao Jin, please wait."


    If it were an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, they''d have been kicked out by now. However, Rao Jin was a protectorate, and not just any protectorate, but one the High Immortal trusted highly. Furthermore, he hade with good news. Naturally, he had the right to request these soldiers to pass on the message.


    In no time at all, the two soldiers who had entered the hall flew back out.


    There was a low hum, and an invisible force enveloped the towering hall, as if cutting it off from the world outside.


    With a thunderous rumble, the hall doors swung open. The light inside was dim, barely revealing whaty within.


    "Rao Jin, what''s the good news you have for me?" a voice echoed from within the hall, indifferent and ancient.


    The voice seemed to echo directly within the purple-robed man''s spirit, stirring within him involuntary thoughts of submission and reverence.


    "High Immortal," the purple-robed man knelt, his voice a low rumble, "I''ve confirmed a piece of news. Within the Summerpeak World under your rule, a peerless genius has been born. He has cultivated for a mere fifty years, yet already reached the Spiritual Body phase, his powerparable to those at the fifth or even sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. With his talent, he is definitely a suitable candidate for the Bloodforge Se..."


    "Is his name Wu Yuan?" the indifferent voice suddenly interrupted him just as he was about to go into further detail.


    Rao Jin, was taken aback. How did the High Immortal know?


    "Is he?" The High Immortal''s indifferent voice carried a hint of displeasure.


    "Yes," the purple-robed man said, his head bowed.


    "There''s no need to go over his profile again. Two days ago, the Protectorate Xiong Yuan already reported Wu Yuan��s rough profile to me. Just now, he added some crucial updates," the aloof voice echoed from the hall.


    "He''s currently making efforts to get in touch with Wu Yuan for talent verification, there''s no need for your interference."


    The purple-robed man was stunned!


    Two days ago? Had someone beaten him to it?


    But how could this be possible? There was only one official member of the devil hall in the Summerpeak World.


    Could it be that Reverend Huo Yan had passed the news to other protectorates too? It seemed unlikely.


    In an instant, a myriad of thoughts shed across the purple-robed man''s mind.


    Suddenly, he thought of a possibility.


    "Are you listening?" The indifferent voice carried a hint of coldness, "Furthermore, do not obstruct Xiong Yuan''s actions, do you understand?"


    "Yes," the purple-robed man regained hisposure, replying respectfully.


    However, his downcast eyes were filled with reluctance. The merits within his grasp flew away just like that?


    Just ten breaths ago, he was fantasizing about the ways he would improve his cultivation once he earned millions of merits. But now, it was all lost.


    "Anything else? If not, you may leave," The indifferent voice spoke again. "Next time, if you wish to share my burden, do your homework first."


    "Understood," the purple-robed man responded through gritted teeth.


    He knew that today''s incident had somewhat displeased the High Immortal. In the High Immortal''s eyes, he was tantly trying to steal the credit.


    The purple-robed man bowed respectfully, then swiftly left.


    Soon, he returned to his own hall.


    <i>Damn that Xiong Yuan, daring to steal my merits? </i>The purple-robed man stood in the great hall, growing angrier the more he thought about it.


    Not only did he receive no merits, but the High Immortal was now unhappy with him.


    "No! I can''t me Xiong Yuan! It��s that damned Reverend Huo Yan! He clearly received the news earlier, yet he didn��t inform me sooner." The more the purple-robed man thought, the angrier he grew.


    Go look for Xiong Yuan? In terms of strength, Xiong Yuan was superior, a formidable body refiner who even held a higher status than him. Now, he had even made a massive contribution in the High Immortal��s eyes.


    Rao Jin was helpless against him. The only one he could me now was Reverend Huo Yan.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In a sh, the purple-robed man left his hall, heading straight for Reverend Huo Yan''s residence.

 Chapter 424: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (2)

    <h4>Chapter 424: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (2)</h4>


    <i>In Reverend Huo Yan''s small courtyard house.</i>


    <i>Reporting it was thest resort. The only way to deal with this unsolvable problem. </i>Reverend Huo Yan was deep in thought, his chest full of reluctance.


    If there was another way, he wouldn��t have given Wu Yuan the opportunity to enter the Bloodforge.


    Indeed, the Bloodforge was cruel, with a high probability of death. But everything had its advantages and disadvantages. The Bloodforge was also an excellent training ground.


    Many geniuses of the Eternal Sun Immortal World voluntarily signed up to enter the Bloodforge Battle in order to hone themselves.


    In his youth, Reverend Huo Yan had carved a bloody path out of the Bloodforge, bing an official member of the devil hall and the strongest powerhouse in the Summerpeak World.


    However, the terrifying power Wu Yuan unleashed during the battle over the South Ocean of the Middle Land shattered all his dreams.


    <i>Damn it.</i> The more Reverend Huo Yan thought, the more helpless he felt, sighing inwardly. <i>If I had known Wu Yuan was this powerful, I wouldn''t have forced his hand.</i>


    But how could he have known that the small Summerpeak could give rise to such a monstrous prodigy?


    In his original estimations, Wu Yuan''s talent was just decent, destined to be an obstacle to his acquisition of the Faith from Summerpeak��s inhabitants.


    <i>No matter. I can only pray that he won��t survive the Bloodforge. </i>Reverend Huo Yan mused inwardly, a glimmer of desire in his eyes. <i>That way, I can gain arge amount of merits as the one to rmend him, and even be the master of Summerpeak.</i>


    "Huo Yan! What a fine mess you''ve made!" A furious roar suddenly rang out, followed by a purple-robed man appearing in the hall. It was the protectorate.


    "Protectorate?" Reverend Huo Yan was taken aback, giving his visitor a puzzled look.


    <i>Pa!</i> The purple-robed man pped him across the face. Reverend Huo Yan had no time to react, and the pnded squarely on his face.


    The terrifying force sent Reverend Huo Yan flying, crashing into a huge pir like a shooting star. He then fell heavily to the ground.


    "Protectorate?" Reverend Huo Yan was bewildered, but he sensed the raging anger of the purple-robed man. Suppressing the pain in his body, he struggled to his feet and spoke in a low voice, "I am unaware of any mistakes I may have made. I hope Protectorate can enlighten me."


    "Enlighten you? Enlighten your ass!" The purple-robed man roared, striking out with another vicious p.


    <i>Pa!</i> Another fierce p sent Reverend Huo Yan flying, mming heavily to the ground. One side of his face was a bloody pulp.


    The injury was only superficial, hardly anything serious to the Amethyst Cradle Reverend, but it filled Reverend Huo Yan with fear. He had never seen the protectorate this angry.


    "If you had reported Wu Yuan��s case immediately, would Xiong Yuan have beaten us to it? Would the High Immortal be displeased with me?" The purple-robed man thundered, his voice echoing around the great hall. He red daggers at Reverend Huo Yan, "You really deserve to die."


    "You''ve cost me too much."


    Reverend Huo Yan''s mind was in turmoil as he pieced together what was happening, opening his mouth to try to exin himself.


    "In five years, you will go to the Blood Mountain ne Battlefield," the purple-robed man said coldly. "Never show your face again."


    With that said, the purple-robed man turned and left.


    Reverend Huo Yany on the floor, his body soaked in blood. It was a pitiful sight.


    The purple-robed man��s roar still echoed in his mind, especially his final words.


    "The Blood Mountain ne? The most terrifying battlefield between devils and immortals in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm?" Reverend Huo Yan''s heart trembled.


    "What should I do? What should I do?" Reverend Huo Yan panicked.


    He was considered powerful among Amethyst Cradle cultivators. But the battlefield of devils and immortals? An Amethyst Cradle cultivator was no more than cannon fodder there! Survivors were few and far between. It was hardly easier than enduring the Bloodforge.


    "Why? How did ite to this?" Reverend Huo Yan sunk to the ground in despair, his eyes bloodshot and filled with anguish.


    Through blood, sweat, and tears, he had wed his way to his current status.


    To obtain the position of ruling over Summerpeak, he had weathered countless perils and dangerous field trials. Sess was well within his grasp.


    Yet in an instant, he was destined for the interdimensional battlefield.


    ��Don''t give up, there''s still a chance, there''s a chance," Reverend Huo Yan muttered to himself repeatedly.


    ...


    In the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, within an enormous hall, a grand feast was in full swing.


    "Haha, wonderful!"


    "I was able to receive the High Immortal''s praise all thanks to you, Long Guang." A burly man sat in the host seat.


    His table wasden with a feast of meats, an ostentatious disy.


    "It��s all thanks to the protectorate''s guidance over the years that I got the opportunity," a ck-robed middle-aged man responded with a ttering smile.


    It was Daoist Long��s human form.


    He was not part of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but as an Amethyst Cradle Reverend, he was considered a peripheral member with some privileges.


    Over the years, in order to deal with Reverend Huo Yan, he had secretly sided with a protectorate of the devil hall, and had made many allies among the Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators of the devil hall.


    Of course, among the many Amethyst Cradle and Shambh subordinates under Protectorate Xiong Yuan, Daoist Long was but a small, insignificant figure.


    However, he knew how to spot and seize opportunities.


    Upon his first arrival in the Middle Land, he chose to report Wu Yuan''s information after getting an initial gauge of his power. He was gambling on the fact that Reverend Huo Yan wouldn''t report it.


    While Wu Yuan battled the army of the Huoyan Sect, he had sent the live projection to Protectorate Xiong Yuan via the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm at the earliest opportunity.


    "You''ve done well," Protectorate Xiong Yuan grinned. "Once Wu Yuan passes the evaluation, your merits will be awarded immediately."


    "Additionally, considering your great contribution, I''ll use my influence to make you an official member of the devil hall," Protectorate Xiong Yuan promised with a smile.


    He knew what Daoist Long wanted.


    "Thank you, Protectorate." Daoist Long''s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he had waited a thousand years for.


    If he remained stuck in the Summerpeak World for another few thousand years, he would truly lose all hope for a breakthrough.


    Only by leaving Summerpeak and entering the devil hall as an official member would he be able to receive certain opportunities.


    Back in the Summerpeak World, Daoist Long was merely an unremarkable individual, one of the first batch of cultivators to reach the Golden Core/Spiritual Body phase.


    But through fearless adventuring and exploring, taking opportunities, along with a bit of luck, he finally became a Shambh cultivator.


    "The High Immortal has given me ample time, a full month," Protectorate Xiong Yuan stated. "So, I don''t want to forcibly pressure Wu Yuan.��


    ��If such a peerless genius survives the Bloodforge, he is destined to soar to great heights. In the future, when he holds a high position in the devil hall, offending him will do none of us any good."


    Daoist Long nodded slightly, sharing the same thoughts.


    "I will give you ten days to convince Wu Yuan to meet me voluntarily."


    "Tell him that as long as he agrees to be a Bloodforge Seed, I''ll do my best to fulfill any request of his." Protectorate Xiong Yuan smirked, "Additionally, bait him with benefits, understand?"


    ��Mm.�� Daoist Long nodded, "I understand."


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan nodded, knowing how shrewd Daoist Long was. Despite his mediocre cultivation talent, he was quite efficient at handling matters.


    "Of course, don��t always be sopromising." Protectorate Xiong Yuan said in a low voice, "If he is truly unwilling to listen, make him understand that he has no choice."


    "Mm." Daoist Long respectfully replied, "Wu Yuan has obsessions, but he also has weaknesses, I believe he wille to face reality."


    "That''s good," Protectorate Xiong Yuan nodded in satisfaction.


    "Come, let��s continue drinking!"


    ...


    <i>Summerpeak World, the Middle Land.</i>


    Wu Yuan was entirely clueless as to what was happening in the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    He had rushed back to Cloud Capital immediately.


    First, he handed over the seven early-stage Golden Core cultivators and six hundred Qi Sea cultivators to Fang Xia, Mountain Devil, Hai Feizhang, and the others to keep a watch on.


    All of them had their qi seas sealed. Although Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was unable to execute the Qi Sea sealing art, his qi refiner self was extremely proficient in it. Therefore, no one could deceive him.


    He then confiscated all treasures from these immortal cultivators, including those hundreds of Qi Sea cultivators, not leaving a single one behind.


    "The Bloodforge Battle calls for our Summerpeak World to provide thirty Golden Core cultivators and a thousand Qi Sea cultivators," Wu Yuan dered. "I n to propose to fill the quota with the immortal cultivators of the Huoyan Sect. I shall hold a meeting with the other two great sects of the Summerpeak maind to discuss the matter."


    "Understood," Fang Xia, Hai Feizhang, Arctic, and the others nodded in agreement.


    After Wu Yuan''s exnation, they all came to understand just how formidable the Bloodforge Devil Hall was. It was far beyond anything the Summerpeak World could resist.


    Therefore, the orders issued by the Bloodforge Devil Hall must be obeyed!


    Why did Wu Yuan kill all of the mid-stage andte-stage Golden Core cultivators of the Huoyan Sect?


    Apart from harvesting some blood mist, it was also to eliminate potential threats. No one had to remind Wu Yuan of this.


    After receiving the information from Daoist Long, his qi refiner self in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect began to thoroughly research all information rted to the Bloodforge Battle.


    He clearly understood that the chances of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator or above surviving the Bloodforge were high.


    As for early-stage Golden Core cultivators? The odds of them surviving the Bloodforge alive were less than one in ten thousand!


    Wu Yuan never showed mercy to enemies that posed a threat. He wiped out Great Jin, ughtering the powerful martial artists of the Jin royal family.


    The same treatment applied to the Huoyan Sect.


    If they posed no threat? Wu Yuan would not mind letting them go. He had his own principles and bottom line. He was not a mindless, bloodthirsty brute.

 Chapter 425: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (3)

    <h4>Chapter 425: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (3)</h4>


    After entrusting some matters to Fang Xia and the others, Wu Yuan returned to the meditation chamber on Archeldritch Mountain.


    <i>In the silent meditation chamber.</i>


    <i>These treasures are just regr items for Qi Sea immortal cultivators, like medicinal pills, talismans, and the like. </i>Wu Yuan quickly sorted through the numerous treasures.


    Over ny-nine percent of the treasures were quite ordinary.


    <i>They are of no use to me, and their usefulness to Fang Xia and the others is minimal. However, they can strengthen the foundation of the Middle Land Guard.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    In recent decades, immortal cultivators in the Middle Land had been emerging inrge numbers, and various cultivation resources were in short supply, especially artifacts, ethercrystal, and so on.


    The treasures harvested from this war were enough to greatly alleviate the shortage for many years.


    <i>Meanwhile, these treasures can be considered high quality and are useful for Fang Xia and the others.</i> Wu Yuan toyed with the storage artifact in his hand.


    Those ced within it were at least fifth-grade spirit equipment, all confiscated from the Golden Core cultivators of the Huoyan Sect. They had a total estimated value of nearly ten thousand catties of ethercrystal.


    But to his qi refiner self, it wasn��t much at all


    It was just a pity that the Middle Landcked treasures. Hai Feizhang and Arctic were both Golden Core cultivators, yet they were still using sixth-grade spirit equipment.


    <i>The most important treasure is still this Divine me Array.</i> Wu Yuan put away the storage artifact and waved his hand.


    A fire-red array disk engraved with numerous cryptic patterns appeared, along with a total of twenty-six sparkling array beads. Whenbined, they formed aplete array.


    <i>How exquisite, even if my qi refiner self were to craft an array, he probably wouldn''t be able to forge something of this quality. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    It wasn��t that his qi refiner self was inferior to Reverend Huo Yan. It was just a matter of difference in ss specialization.


    <i>At least twelve people are needed to activate the array, and up to thirty-six can be amodated. So, there are nine array beads left in the headquarters of the Huoyan Sect? </i>Wu Yuan contemted.


    This was easy enough to deduce.


    <i>Ate-stage Qi Sea cultivator can barely decipher the controls. It takes a Golden Core cultivator to fully unleash the power of the array beads. </i>Wu Yuan pondered carefully.


    If controlled by the Middle Land��s immortal cultivators, only a small fraction of its power could be harnessed.


    <i>The present-day Middle Land can''t even gather twenty-sevente-stage Qi Sea cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The Middle Land suffered heavy losses during the worm devil disaster.


    Although the number of immortal cultivators had multiplied over the past few decades, the vast majority were still early-stage Qi Sea cultivators.


    <i>However, with Fang Xia leading the array and cooperating with manyte-stage Qi Sea cultivators, they should be able to rivalte-stage Golden Core cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan spected silently.


    He then turned his palm over.


    A three-zhang tall, fiery-red divine bow appeared. It was the guardian treasure of the Huoyan Sect, known as the Heavenly me Bow.


    <i>An ethercrystal weapon,bined with an array. With Old Fang''s strength, they should be able to unleash power close to that of an Amethyst Cradle expert. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Initially, Fang Xia''s talent was not considered strong among the many Heavenly Rankers in the Middle Land. But over the centuries, his talent had blossomed.


    Now, Fang Xia who was ate-stage Golden Core cultivator at the second-level Domain stage, remained the second strongest in the Middle Land after Wu Yuan. He was also greatly trusted by Wu Yuan.


    Not long after, Wu Yuan summoned Fang Xia and handed over the various treasures. After he left, the meditation chamber was quiet once again.


    <i>Finally, I can focus on cultivating.</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position. These trivial matters didn��t consume much of his mental energy.


    The ether in his body healed his injuries continuously, and after killing arge number ofte-stage Golden Core cultivators, the blood-red mist that had been absent from his upper dantian lobe for a long time surged out of the ck pagoda.


    Blood-red mist flowed along the dantian channels, merging into the soul chamber and every part of the body, circting at full speed.


    <i>The speed of ether refining is truly remarkable, surpassing even my expectations. Recovery from injuries is now swifter than ever, taking just a single daypared to the previous ten.</i> Wu Yuan felt a sense of satisfaction.


    Having emerged victorious against a formidable foe, Wu Yuan found himself in possession of a substantial quantity of blood-red mist.


    <i>The concentration of the blood mist appears to have risen. </i>He noted as he surveyed the blood mist enveloping the ck pagoda. <i>Could this be attributed to the growing strength of my enemies?</i>


    The blood-red mist had undergone two notable transformations.


    The first urred after Wu Yuan killed a Communion devil soldier, resulting in a marked increase in the mist''s concentration.


    The second metamorphosis urred following his defeat of the worm devil!


    While there was no discernible qualitative shift in the blood mist at present, there was a marked increase in concentration.


    <i>I must be strategic when selecting enemies to ensure I obtain blood mist. Killing foes that are too weak will not yield the desired results. </i>Wu Yuan contemted. <i>The stronger the opponent, the denser the blood mist will be.</i>


    The sight of the ck pagoda filled Wu Yuan with curiosity and awe. It was truly a remarkable treasure.


    <i>My qi refiner self is monitored by the sect''s higher echelons and has ess to divine crystals, I must be cautious in using the blood mist to elerate my cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan reflected. <i>However, my body refiner self does not face such restrictions.</i>


    <i>Before, it would have taken a dozen years to advance from the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase to the ninth-stage using only the Luminous Immortal Soil.</i>


    <i>Now, with the blood mist, I expect to reach the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase within three years at most. </i>He eagerly anticipated that day.


    With his cultivation progressing at such a rapid pace, Wu Yuan knew that his body refiner self would soon advance to the Shambh phase.


    The only uncertaintyy in whether the blood mist would be enough to sustain his cultivation for the next three years. He could feel his consumption of the blood mist increasing with each advancement in his cultivation level.


    Moreover, the blood mist had various uses, such as restoring ether, enhancing his endurance in battles, and bolstering soul defense.


    <i>Not to worry, that is a concern for another time. The blood mist I possess now should suffice for my current cultivation needs.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>Let us wait until we meet Daoist Long before making any decisions.</i>


    Wu Yuan remained acutely aware of the looming threat posed by Reverend Huo Yan. As an Amethyst Cradle Reverend who had survived a Bloodforge, his power was not to be underestimated.


    Though currently residing in the distant Bloodforge Devil Hall, the news of what had happened might just prompt his swift return to the Middle Land in a fit of rage.


    <i>In any case, should Reverend Huo Yan return, I must be prepared to fight him with all I have. </i>Wu Yuan resolved himself. It was a decision born out of necessity.


    In the face of such a formidable foe, there was no room for hesitation. The only course of action was to strengthen himself as much as possible.


    Yet, as Daoist Long had pointed out, the journey back to Summerpeak was a tedious and time-consuming one for Reverend Huo Yan.


    As time flowed on, Wu Yuan devoted himself to silent cultivation. The Luminous Immortal Soil and the blood mist worked in harmony,pelling the ether vortexes in his soul chamber to rotate at an impressive pace.


    Meanwhile, Little ck swam leisurely through the vast etherke within his soul chamber, tending to its wounds.


    <i>Hm? Not good. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes betrayed a tinge of dread, as thoughing face to face with a truly terrifying presence.


    "Master, is something the matter?" Little ck inquired, attuned to every shift in Wu Yuan''s emotions.


    "All is well here. The problem is on my qi refiner self��s side," Wu Yuan replied through gritted teeth as he closed his eyes gently.


    ...


    <i>The Redmoon Immortal Continent, headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.</i>


    Spanning millions of li, the sect had safeguarded their headquarters with intricate arrays for centuries, rendering it off-limits to Earth Immortals. Even the most daring High Immortals refrained from venturing into their territory, knowing the dangers that awaited any intruders.


    Yet, the Archimmortals were an exception to this rule. As lofty existences, they were a force to be reckoned with.


    Today, an Archimmortal arrived at the outskirts of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s headquarters.


    Hovering three million li above the ground of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, a figure cloaked in crimson robes lingered. It was a ce out of reach to most Void Refiner Eminences.


    Their presence alone seemed to overshadow the brilliance of the sun and moon, casting a shadow over the heavens. The very fabric of space bent and twisted around them.


    <i>Li Xia? A mere Golden Core kid, yet you��re able to prompt a great Archimmortal toe here to kill you. Though you��re done for, you should feel proud of yourself.</i>


    <i>Dong Yang? I don''t care if you are his master, I hate sword cultivators, especially the sword cultivators of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect</i>. The eyes of the figure in red robes were cold as he looked down below.


    Suddenly, between his brows, a third eye opened. It was icy, chilling, and seemed to be able to prate all illusions.


    <i>Li Xia, where are you?</i> Killing intent surfaced in his heart.


    <i>Oh? There you are. </i>

 Chapter 426: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (4)

    <h4>Chapter 426: An Immortal Falls In One Strike (4)</h4>


    Throughyers of spatial barriers, he ''saw'' the figure hidden in that other world.


    As the red-robed figure prepared to unleash a deadly move, an ice-cold voice pierced through the endless cosmos. "Huo Gao, you dare to encroach upon my Dragon Star Immortal Sect? You must be tired of living."


    The figure��s pupils contracted.


    Dong Yang?


    Immediately, he felt a bone-chilling coldness enveloping his whole body, prating deep into his spirit, and causing his heart to tremble instinctively.


    Then, the red-robed figure saw it. "What is this?"


    In the endless vastness of space, shrouded in endless arrays, the headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect suddenly emitted a dark gray light.


    At a nce, this light was inconspicuous and slow-acting.


    But in reality, the endless spiritual qi of the entire Dragon Star Immortal Sect rushed into it in just an instant.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>It turned into a terrifying sword light spanning millions of li, as if the entire heaven and earth was being cut in half, aiming directly at the figure in red robes.


    ...


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan��s world residence, in his meditation chamber.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s eyes were wide open, his heart trembling.


    He never thought that even hiding in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he would encounter an attack. Especially not such a terrifying one.


    Just now, as Wu Yuan was fully immersed in studying the Extended Life Sword Codex, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    Vaguely, he felt an incredibly terrifying presence observing him, filled with hostility.


    It was so terrifying that just the attention from the unknown source made Wu Yuan''s soul tremble and shiver, even though it was as powerful as a Void Refiner Eminence��s.


    Wu Yuan was renderedpletely helpless, unable to seek help at all. He couldn''t even move his body or think at normal speed.


    The difference in the order of lives was toorge. He only knew that the neer was definitely an unimaginable super powerhouse, far surpassing an Earth Immortal!


    <i>At least a High Immortal, maybe even an Archimmortal!</i>


    <i>An eternal Archimmortal! </i>This was the only thought left in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Just as Wu Yuan thought he was doomed, a furious voice echoed throughout the entire heaven and earth.


    "Huo Gao, you dare to encroach upon my Dragon Star Immortal Sect? You must be tired of living!"


    It echoed through every corner of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, all the worldlets, all the residences. Everyone heard it at once.


    And this roar, like a protective umbre, instantly dispelled the gloom that shrouded Wu Yuan''s mind, returning him to normal.


    "This? Who is it? Who saved me? Is it the sect''s immortal ancestor?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but look up.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t see what was taking ce in the world outside. But he could sense that the eyes that had been watching him throughyers of space had disappeared.


    "I survived? How did I provoke such a terrifying powerful figure?�� Wu Yuan felt a wave of fear and coldness in his heart, along with deep unease.


    ...


    Wu Yuan was plunged into deep worry, not knowing the cause or the oue of the event.


    As that burst of rage echoed throughout the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the entire sect was instantly in uproar. Countless sect disciples and protectorates all looked up at the sky, but they saw nothing out of the ordinary.


    Only the Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the sect could see the epic battle unfolding in the space above the sect��s headquarters through the sect''s arrays and various secret arts.


    <i>Boom! </i>Endless surging mes raged wildly across millions of li of space. A majestic figure stood within the boundless mes, his aura vast and endless.


    "It''s an Archimmortal!"


    "An Archimmortal is attacking our Dragon Star Immortal Sect?"


    "Definitely an Archimmortal. It��s an immortal body manifestation." The Earth Immortals and High Immortals held their breath as they watched.


    That ferocious and terrifying aura shook the spirits of all spectators, including Abbot Wu, High Immortal Hei Yuan, and others.


    Yet, these Earth Immortals and High Immortals also saw a figure in white standing in space.


    His body appeared small. Yet, just standing there, he looked like a divine sword spanning heaven and earth.


    At the same time, chains spanning millions of li firmly restrained the majestic fiery figure.


    "Dong Yang. You��re just a Tribtion cultivator. You think you can kill me?" The majestic fiery figure roared, "Release me, or today, your Dragon Star Immortal Sect will face a great disaster."


    "A mana body dares to be so arrogant?" The figure in white wasn��t the least bit bothered, his voice cold.


    ��So what if you��re an Archimmortal? You��re not the first Archimmortal to die at my hands, nor will you be thest. Since you dare intrude into my Dragon Star Immortal Sect, I''ll cut down your mana body first.�� The figure in white spoke with indifference.


    As the final syble dropped, sword lights tore through the sky and earth with a terrifying force, seemingly capable of cutting through anything in their path.


    The convergence of countless sword lights created a spectacle akin to a world of swords, all surging and crashing toward the majestic figure made of mes.


    "Begone!" The majestic ming figure bellowed, as mes erupted from him and two divine pirs materialized in his hands.


    The sh that followed was deafening, with each collision between sword lights and pirs causing explosions and ripples in space, spreading across millions of li.


    The impact was so immense that it could have destroyed vast stretches ofnd and space matter if not for the protective array surrounding the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and the battlefield��s remote location.


    A worldlet like Summerpeak could hardly withstand the aftermath of their strikes!


    The majestic ming figure retorted, "Dong Yang, a mere High Immortal like you cannot defeat me. I have wandered the immortal nation for countless years."


    Layers of ominous ck mes, capable of warping the very fabric of space, emerged and surged toward the intricate chains that bound them.


    As the mes licked the chains, they began to melt at visible speed. These chains were created with arcane arts, unable to withstand the mes�� destructive power.


    With a swift movement, a divine sword materialized in his hand, its gleaming surface reflecting the deadly intent in his eyes.


    "I meant to save this strike for the Ninth Tribtion," dered Sword Immortal Dong Yang, his voice as cold as the de. "Today, you shall be my test subject!"


    With a series of swift motions, the divine sword split into seven smaller swords, each radiating a different aura of power, including earthy-yellow, green, and fiery-red.


    As they merged back into one, a golden divine sword appeared, crackling with restrained energy.


    The sword, unleashed with a silent fury, flew towards the colossal ming figure that loomed millions of miles away.


    One moment, it was right before Sword Immortal Dong Yang. The next moment, it disappeared into the distance, piercing through the void and leaving a visible crack in its wake.


    With a deafening boom, the golden sword cleaved the towering figure into two halves without resistance. Then, a cascade of sword lights erupted from the broken form. The figure exploded into me, its destructive power consuming everything in its path.


    At this moment, more than a hundred Earth Immortals and High Immortals from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood in awe and disbelief.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s power was nothing short of astonishing. None had fathomed just how formidable he truly was until that very instant.


    With a single stroke of his sword, an Archimmortal had fallen. The mes that had once stretched for millions of li were finally extinguished, revealing a massive withered branch that emitted a potent aura, stretching a hundred li in length.


    Suddenly, countless lights converged, revealing an illusory figure draped in red robes. It appeared to be an incarnation.


    "Return my treasure," the figure demanded angrily.


    Dong Yang''s expression remained impassive as he responded, "If your true body dares to step out of the Silvermist ne and face me, I will dly return it to you."


    The figure hesitated, clearly unwilling to face Dong Yang in person.


    The power of the mana body nearly matched that of the true body, and risking his demise was not a chance the figure was willing to take.


    "You don��t dare?" Dong Yang''s voice rang out.


    "Then get out of my sight!" With a wave of his hand, an invisible sword qi sliced through space, eradicating the incarnation before him.


    He then effortlessly retrieved the withered branch.


    Silence fell as the surging sword qi enveloped him.


    "All of you, heed my words!" Sword Immortal Dong Yang scanned the vast expanse of space hundreds of millions of li around him.


    The space appeared empty, but in reality, the immortal consciousnesses of numerous immortals were surveying the area. They were all Archimmortals quietly watching things unfold.


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent, vast as it was, was not sorge that those at the level of Archimmortals would miss such an intense sh. They were all spectating the battle via their immortal consciousnesses.


    ��I, Dong Yang, have traversed countless spacetimes over millions of years. The Eighth Tribtion couldn''t stop me, and the Ninth Tribtion won��t be enough either. No Tribtion can hinder my path to immortality.�� His voice echoed with undeniable authority, piercing through the heavens and resonating throughout the earth.


    "Tell the others. If they seek a challenge, then bring it on!" he dered. "But should anyone dare harm a disciple of my Dragon Star Immortal Sect, I will not rest until justice is served, even if it takes eons. Today, only Huo Gao��s mana body has fallen, but in the future, he shall meet his end by my sword."


    With a step, Sword Immortal Dong Yang vanished without a trace. All that was left were the lingering sword lights that spread millions of li into the distance, speaking volumes of his power and will to all the Archimmortals present.

 Chapter 427: The Name Dong Yang (1)

    <h4>Chapter 427: The Name Dong Yang (1)</h4>


    Confronted with Dong Yang��s imposing figure, along with the lingering sword lights and sword intent in the air, a sense of dread crept into the hearts of all onlookers.


    A single strike was capable of ying an Archimmortal. How potent was that sword intent?


    The observing Archimmortals�� consciousnesses silently dissipated, none responding to Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s words.


    Yet, this abrupt sh was bound to cause a massive uproar on the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    It had been a long time since Archimmortal-level powerhouses openly engaged in battle on the immortal continent.


    ...


    "Are there other Archimmortals observing?��


    "The immortal consciousnesses of Archimmortals can cross billions of li in an instant. The Redmoon Immortal Continent may be vast, but it is not beyond the reach of an Archimmortal''s perception."


    "Dong Yang''s disy of power is truly awe-inspiring."


    "To y an Archimmortal with a single stroke is unbelievable."


    "From what Ancestor Dong Yang''s said, it seems he has in other Archimmortals before." Shock and disbelief ran through the Earth Immortals as theymunicated through their Soul Wills.


    In their eyes, the Archimmortals were lofty beings. Even the weakest Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal could rule a sect for billions of years.


    The weakest Archimmortal could y a Fifth-Tribtion High Immortal or a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal with ease.


    Yet today, they witnessed a miracle: a High Immortal ying an Archimmortal with a single sword strike!


    <i>Inside the main hall of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.</i>


    "The power of a mana body is not inferior to one��s true self. Among countless immortals in heaven and earth, most of those on expeditions are mana bodies.��


    "If one is able to y the mana body of an Archimmortal, it is akin to possessing the ability to y the Archimmortal themself."


    "Throughout the history of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect, when have we ever produced such a heaven-defying existence?"


    "Forget the sect, such a monstrous High Immortal has never emerged throughout the billion-year history of the Redmoon Immortal Continent. I am well-versed with the history of the immortal continent."


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang is practically invincible below the Archimmortal level." A group of Tribtion High Immortals from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect gathered in discussion, equally awestruck.


    An abrupt voice interjected them. "That��s why I felt it was quite brave of you to challenge Senior Brother Dong Yang back then."


    A hush fell over the crowd as they turned their gaze towards the figure in ck robes, exchanging wordless looks.


    "Senior Brother Hei Yuan." The elderly man in purple robes who had once opposed Dong Yang��s opinion now gave a bitter smile, "we did not know the true extent of Senior Brother Dong Yang''s strength."


    "Now that you know, make sure to stay obedient," remarked High Immortal Hei Yuan with a sardonic smile. "You should understand that with Senior Brother Dong Yang''s might, once he ovees his Ninth Tribtion, Immortal Redmoon himself may struggle to keep him in check."


    The group of High Immortals nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, despite his smaller mana reservespared to his opponent, Sword Immortal Dong Yang was still able to kill him in one strike.


    Once he crossed the Ninth Tribtion, his mana would undergo a transformation, propelling his strength to unparalleled heights.


    At that time, he would undoubtedly ascend to the pinnacle of the immortal continent!


    "Enough," interjected a voice. "Senior Brother Dong Yang''s formidable strength is an asset for our sect," asserted the red-robed Abbot Wu. "However, with his strength leaked at this critical period as his Tribtion approaches, the number of prying eyes will surely increase."


    "If there are no pressing matters, return to the sect and remain vignt of external threats," instructed Abbot Wu.


    "Understood." The crowd of High Immortals bowed slightly.


    Once the abbot issued such orders, these High Immortal veteran elders generally wouldn''t refute them, as there was little need to.


    ...


    <i>Dragon Star.</i>


    Atop a towering mountain peak, millions upon millions of broken flying swords were densely embedded into the ground, their sword qi shrouding the entire peak.


    From a distance, the mountain resembled a divine sword.


    At the pinnacle of the sword-covered peak stood an ancient hall.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A handsome, white-robed figure of remarkable bearing materialized, stepping onto the hall grounds as if from thin air.


    Inside the hall, the wind leaked in from all directions. The only object was a colossal jade tform in the center.


    In the palm of the white-robed youth��s hand was a withered branch.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> With a stride, he settled atop the jade tform.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang silently contemted the earlier conflict, a glint of frost lingering in his eyes. <i>Huo Gao, I��m not sure whether to call you brave or stupid.</i>


    <i>How dare you intrude upon my Dragon Star Immortal Sect, seeking the life of my disciple?</i>


    <i>You��re truly asking for death! </i>Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s heart seethed with murderous intent.


    The ying of a mere mana body could not quell his wrath. At the same time, a trace of trepidation clung to Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    <i>If I had not left a strand of consciousness on my disciple��s body, I might only have sensed the attack after his death.</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s gaze turned icy.


    He had made too many enemies along his journey of cultivation. Many of them were mortal nemeses, and all were exceedingly formidable.


    After all, thosecking in power had long since met their end at his hands.


    Thus, the selection of disciples was a matter of utmost caution for Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    However, he still underestimated the lengths his foes would go to. Huo Gao could not confirm that Wu Yuan was his disciple, but he came straight for him nheless.


    This turn of events left Sword Immortal Dong Yang feeling somewhat helpless.


    <i>This was not part of my n, but no matter. It should serve as a warning to those who would dare trespass the sect��s headquarters.</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang muttered inwardly to himself.


    Based on his original n, he had no intention of unleashing his strength just yet, but Huo Gao''s actions crossed his bottom line. In a fit of anger, he struck him down.


    <i>And as for this treasure, an immortal treasure of Wood''s Essence? Astral Monarch Silvermist was rather generous to bestow it upon a nominal disciple.</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang toyed with the withered branch in his grasp.


    He knew that this withered branch was of great importance to most Archimmortals. But to Astral Monarch Silvermist? It was merely an ordinary treasure. Giving it away to a nominal disciple was nothing special.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang pondered.<i> I had originally prepared a different treasure for my disciple, but this one is far more effective, aiding him on his path much more swiftly.</i>


    <i>Mm. Huo Gao, consider this a token ofpensation to my disciple from you.</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s gaze turned cold. <i>It will serve as a parting gift. In exchange, when I kill you, I''ll make it quick.</i>


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang had no intention of returning the treasure. Return? That word is not in his dictionary.


    His life had always been defined by his overbearing and arrogant nature.


    If some Archimmortals were to learn that he nned grant such a valuable treasure to a youngster in the Golden Core phase, they would surely cry ��What a waste!��


    ...


    The Silvermist Immortal Nation, ruling over six thousand immortal continents, was home to countless beings. At its heart was the Silvermist ne, the very core of the entire nation.


    Within the ne was a vast world resembling a realm of mes, and sacred fire pervaded the space.


    Countless beings resided here, from ordinary folk to immortal cultivators, all kneeling and chanting day and night.


    At the center of this world stood a towering pce.


    "Curse the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, curse Dong Yang, curse them all!" A furious roar reverberated throughout the grand pce, causing the very foundations to tremble.


    Upon the ornate throne at the pce''s end, a figure d in crimson robes rose to his feet, his form wreathed in swirling ck mes. As the figure trembled with anger, the power of the mes distorted the space around him.


    ��That was the only treasure bestowed upon me by my master. I constructed my mana body around it, and its strength even surpasses even my true self.��


    "It��s the key to my ascension. Whether guidance on progressing to the next level or the chance to transcend the Ninth Tribtion, everything relies on it!" Huo Gao howled, his heart heavy with both sorrow and frustration.


    He had considered all sorts of possibilities. The worst one he could think of was getting chased away by Sword Immortal Dong Yang and having to make a humiliating escape, just like the old days.


    But being killed outright? He��d never imagined it. Yet that was the harsh reality. Faced with the enraged Sword Immortal Dong Yang, Archimmortal Huo Gao was unable to put up any sort of resistance, killed instantly.


    ��What should I do now?�� Archimmortal Huo Gao sank into deep thought.


    To obtain another treasure of simr caliber was as hard as ascending to heaven.


    ��Seek my master? No! Master has countless nominal disciples. Although I have be an Archimmortal and hold a rtively high status, I''m still not highly regarded by the master," Archimmortal Huo Gao shook his head, dismissing the thought.


    "Besides, given the master''s character, he would never intervene in the recovery of a lost artifact."


    He was the one whounched an unprovoked attack on the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. In battles among Archimmortals, the Astral Monarchs rarely intervened unless an Archimmortal truly perished.


    "Damn it! How can Dong Yang be that strong?" Archimmortal Huo Gao shuddered at the memory of that piercing sword, its sharpness prating deep into his spirit.


    The intensity of that strike remained etched in his mind, Throughout the long ages, he had fought countless Archimmortals, but none of them could execute such a sword strike. The power it contained was simply unfathomable.


    "He''s already this fearsome before ascending to the Archimmortal level? Once he ovees his Tribtion, he may immediately rival the Astral Monarchs." Archimmortal Huo Gao''s unease deepened.


    Though the loss of the treasure weighed heavily on him, his life remained intact. But if Sword Immortal Dong Yang became an Archimmortal?


    "How can he be this powerful? He was barely noticeable when he was an Earth Immortal, yet he grew increasingly stronger over time. Now, he could probably be regarded as the top High Immortal in the history of the Redmoon Immortal Continent. He could even make his mark in the history of the immortal nation!" Archimmortal Huo Gao gritted his teeth.


    The level of Dong Yang''s monstrously prodigious talent exceeded his imagination.


    "But wait, with such talent, his Ninth Immortal Tribtion will also be unimaginably strong. I don''t believe you can ovee it!" Archimmortal Huo Gao growled with rage.


    "Even if you seed, your overbearing attitude will catch up to you eventually. I don''t believe your luck canst forever." The more Archimmortal Huo Gao thought about it, the angrier he became.


    As his anger reached a boiling point, Archimmortal Huo Gao stomped his foot. ck mes erupted, reducing the majestic pce to dust with a single strike.


    The overwhelming force radiated for billions of li, prompting countless beings to prostrate in fear.

 Chapter 428: The Name Dong Yang (2)

    <h4>Chapter 428: The Name Dong Yang (2)</h4>


    The Redmoon Immortal Hall, the ruling power, towered high above the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Several dozen first-rate sects with profoundly deep foundations each controlled vast and expansive territories.


    Yet, in the eyes of countless generations of immortal cultivators on the Immortal Continent, the four great prince-rank families held a slight edge in powerpared to many first-rate sects.


    Zhuo Star City, a first-rate city, was the stronghold of the Zhuo Family.


    Within the city was a mysterious ce where trees flourished, creating an unending forest. Yet, it was devoid of any living beings, making for a truly eerie sight.


    On a tall mountain in the South, a colossal tree stood, stretching for hundreds of li.


    Beneath it, a middle-aged man d in starry robes chuckled softly. "Old Zhuo, do you not find this Dong Yangd a tad presumptuous?"


    "Oh? Is that so?" The silver-robed elderly man referred to as ''Old Zhuo'' smiled faintly, leisurely pouring tea. "Have a taste. It''s a novel blend I''ve been cultivating for over a million years."


    "Oh? Let me try it." The middle-aged man in starry robes raised the tea cup, his eyes lighting up. "Impressive! Truly delightful, it possesses a distinct vor."


    The pride in the elderly man''s gaze amplified.


    "Nevertheless, while the taste is exquisite, it strays too far from the essence of tea," the middle-aged man in starry robes remarked.


    The smile on the elderly man''s face faltered.


    "Old Zhuo, nting tea leaves isn��t a strength of yours," the middle-aged man in starry robes set down the cup.


    The countenance of the elderly man remained serene. With a flick of his hand, the tea set on the wooden table disappeared.


    "Speak, what brings you here?" The silver-robed elderly man said lightly. "I know your character, you wouldn''t visit without a reason."


    "Old Zhuo, I''ll be frank with you," the middle-aged man in starry robes said solemnly, "Dong Yang��s strength is already extraordinary. Once he bes an Archimmortal, will there be any ce left for us? I suggest we strike when he''s attempting his Ninth Tribtion..."


    "Stop!" The silver-robed elderly man suddenly interrupted, fixing his gaze on hispanion. "Old friend, I will take it that you��re just here for tea today. I don''t wish to hear anything else, and I haven''t heard anything either. Now that you��ve finished your tea, it��s time for you to leave.��


    The middle-aged man''s eyes narrowed in surprise at Zhuo''s direct dismissal.


    "But Old Zhuo, I''m doing this for your..." the man in starry robes attempted to persuade him.


    "I''m better off tending to my tea leaves here," the silver-robed elderly man responded indifferently. "While Dong Yang''s strength is formidable, Redmoon doesn��t seem the least bit worried. There is no cause for concern on our part."


    "This Redmoon Immortal Continent ultimately belongs to Redmoon, not us. Please go." The silver-robed elderly man closed his eyes, reclining leisurely in his lounge chair.


    The man in starry robes frowned slightly, but with little choice, he rose to his feet. He warned softly, "You will regret this decision, Old Zhuo."


    With that, he vanished beneath the towering tree.


    "Regret?" The silver-robed elderly man opened his eyes, murmuring to himself. "After enduring the Nine Tribtions and gaining eternal freedom with much difficulty, I��m not about to hasten towards death now."


    "Dong Yang? Hmph! If you''re so capable, go kill him yourself. If Redmoon isn''t in a hurry, why should I fret?" The silver-robed elderly man shook his head slightly. "The knowledge that his Ninth Tribtion presents a chance to kill him is one thing, but what if the attempt fails? Wouldn''t I just be inviting trouble?"


    "Instead of tea, I should nt some vegetables."


    "Yes, I��ll nt a hundred thousand li of crops and harvest them ten thousand yearster." A hoe appeared in the grasp of the silver-robed elderly man.


    Lazily, he flew off into the distance.


    ...


    Redmoon City, the heart of the vast Redmoon Immortal Continent, stretched nearly a hundred million li in radius. It was an immense and endlessly prosperous city, inhabited by countless beings.


    The reason for its colossal territory was that Redmoon City was the core of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    A Redmoon Star with a million-li diameter hung millions of li above Redmoon City, its presence appearing almost eternal. It emitted an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire Redmoon City.


    At this moment, three figures were leisurely strolling in the skies above the Redmoon Star.


    If Redmoon City was the heart of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, then this Redmoon Star was the core of the heart.


    Without permission, neither Earth Immortals nor High Immortals could fly above this Redmoon Star.


    In other words, those who could freely fly above the Redmoon Star were those who wielded the true power within the Redmoon Immortal Hall, the highest of echelons.


    Among the three, the leader was a bald dwarf-like figure with a height of only one meter. He was d in ck armor, with short and stout limbs. At first nce, he seemed quiteical, except for his eyes which radiated a feeling of endless warmth. One would instinctively feel a sense of closeness to him.


    Apanying him were two others: a graceful woman d in white robes, and a burly man in silver armor with four eyes.


    "Fang Rong, have there been many inquiries regarding Dong Yang?" the bald dwarf-like man asked casually.


    "Indeed." The woman in white robes nodded, "Many Archimmortals keeping a low profile within the immortal continent havee asking about him, seemingly hoping to understand where you stand on the matter, Hall Master."


    "Hall Master." The burly man with four eyes spoke up, his voice deep and resonant, "This battle has caused a big stir. Many Astral Lords within the immortal nation have received word and are paying close attention."


    The dwarf-like man nodded thoughtfully. "It is to be expected. Dong Yang''s power has left a deep impression, no doubt causing unease among many."


    "What shall we do, Master?" the white-robed woman inquired, her eyes reflecting concern.


    "We shall do nothing," the dwarf-like man dered with a hint of finality. "We shall simply await Dong Yang''spletion of his Ninth Immortal Tribtion."


    The woman in white robes and the four-eyed man in silver armor shared a nce.


    "Master," the man in silver armor broke the silence, unable to contain his curiosity, "Huo Gao''s prowess is renowned even among the Archimmortals. To eliminate him with a single strike signifies Dong Yang''s strength may rival that of many Astral Lords. After he undergoes his Immortal Tribtion and his mana transforms, his power will..."


    "If he survives, his power will ce him among the top ten Astral Lords within the immortal nation," the bald, dwarf-like man interjected casually. "He��ll be strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Even that old True Dragon won''t be his match."


    Both the woman in white and the four-eyed man were taken aback by this revtion.


    Top ten? The immortal nation was vast, with countless Archimmortals umted over the endless years. But those who held the title of Astral Lord were undoubtedly the cream of the crop.


    To rank among the top ten of such elite beings marked Dong Yang as one of the most terrifying Archimmortals.


    Archimmortal Redmoon, a top-tier being among the numerous Archimmortals of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, shook the immortal nation for endless ages with his power. Few dared to challenge him.


    "I saw the sword strike he executed," the bald dwarf-like figure chuckled lightly. "Although I didn''t see it entirely, I could tell his ambitions are grand. The Ninth Immortal Tribtion he''s about to undergo will be the most terrifying sort. Thest time I��ve seen such an extraordinary character was millions of years ago, from the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation."


    "However, Dong Yang''s chances of sess are high," the bald dwarf sincerely said.


    There seemed to be a hint of admiration in his voice.


    "Hall Master, should we not intervene?" the woman in white asked.


    "If you want to die, go by yourself. Don''t drag me into it," the bald dwarf said tly.


    The woman recoiled at his words. As a regr Archimmortal, how could she dare intervene alone? In terms of power, she was far inferior to Huo Gao.


    "Do you two know why over these years, despite Dong Yang recklessly traversing numerous spacetimes and nes, offending countless enemies, even killing the offspring of an Astral Monarch, no Astral Monarch-level entities havee forward to deal with him?" the bald dwarf asked softly.


    "I do not know."


    "I don''t understand." The elegant woman in flowing white robes and the sturdy man d in silver armor both admitted, shaking their heads in unison.


    Their confusion mirrored the sentiments of countless Archimmortals within the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Indeed! Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s prowess was undeniable, his potential awe-inspiring as he rose in strength with a brilliance that outshone the stars. Furthermore, he was backed by a True Dragon of the Astral Lord level.


    Yet, amidst the expanse of the immortal nation, the Astral Monarchs stood supreme, rulers of vast realms, capable of sending tremors through any immortal continent with a mere stamp of their feet.


    Even the ruler of the Silvermist Nation respected these Astral Monarchs.


    "If Dong Yang sessfully ovees the Tribtion, he would most likely be given the opportunity to meet with the great Immortal Sovereign," the bald dwarf-like man whispered. " It is rumored among us Astral Lords that he is a nominal disciple of an Immortal Sovereign."


    This news struck the white-robed woman and the four-eyed man in silver armor like a thunderbolt. Leaving them in a daze.


    Immortal Sovereign? How was that possible? They couldn''t believe it.


    An Immortal Sovereign was the ruler of an immortal world!


    "No one knows if it''s true, but all rumors hold a grain of truth, thus none of the Astral Monarchs dare cause trouble for him," the bald dwarf-like man murmured. "Yet whether he is a disciple of an Immortal Sovereign is inconsequential now."


    "The Redmoon Immortal Continent is our territory, no one can wrest it away."


    "If he emerges from the Immortal Tribtion alive, the odds of him ascending to the ranks of the Astral Monarchs after eons are exceedingly high."


    "Should he truly reach that level, the tiny Redmoon Immortal Continent will not have room for such a great immortal. Why worry?" The bald dwarf man breathed, "It all hinges on whether he can survive the Ninth Immortal Tribtion."


    ...


    The sh above the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, where Sword Immortal Dong Yang killed an Archimmortal��s mana body in one strike, sent shockwaves across the immortal continent and greater immortal nation.


    Some restless factions and powerhouses paused their actions. The oue of Dong Yang��s Ninth Immortal Tribtion weighed heavily on the minds of all top-tier factions.


    Should Dong Yang ovee his Ninth Immortal Tribtion, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood to gain immeasurable power and prestige. However, failure meant not only his demise but also grave consequences for the sect, despite the protection of the True Dragon immortal ancestor.


    Naturally, all of this was unrted to the still feeble Wu Yuan.


    Within the meditation chamber of his world residence, it took Wu Yuan nearly half a day to soothe his nerves and worries.


    Atst, his heart settled.


    This sensation was unlike that of a fight to the death. In a battle, one could still exert some influence over their fate; even in death, one wouldn''t feel as utterly helpless.


    This sense of powerlessness, of despair, no one could take it withplete indifference.


    <i>What kind of entity could bypass the sect��s arrays, almost killing me with a nce? </i>Wu Yuan was still puzzled.


    In this half a day, the sect was calm, with no movement at all. Any discussions in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm about the resounding shouts had quickly subsided.


    It was as if no one hade specifically to attack him, and it was all just an illusion of Wu Yuan''s.


    But Wu Yuan couldn''t shake that feeling of unease.


    <i>Hm? My master is summoning me?</i> Wu Yuan was slightly surprised to receive a message from High Immortal Nan Yin. <i>It��s not yet time for our next tutorial session, why would he suddenly summon me?</i>


    <i>Could it have something to do with the attack just now?</i> Wu Yuan wondered.


    He dared not dy.


    Quickly, Wu Yuan activated the teleportation array and arrived at High Immortal Nan Yin''s residence.


    A hall floated in the air amidst the lush, deserted mountains.


    "Master." Wu Yuan flew into the hall, bowing respectfully.


    High Immortal Nan Yin still had his usual unkempt appearance.


    Through their numerous meetings over the years, Wu Yuan had grown ustomed to his master''s attire.


    "Mm, it seems you''re fine. Oh?" High Immortal Nan Yin''s eyes brightened suddenly, revealing his yellowish teeth. "No wonder the Archimmortal��s ambush didn''t seem to affect you at all, you have cultivated Soul Will."


    "Haha, well done! Very good." High Immortal Nan Yin seemed pleased that Wu Yuan had managed to reach the Soul Will level.


    "Archimmortal attack?" Wu Yuan was shocked. It was indeed an Archimmortal?


    "Don''t tell me you didn''t notice it at all." High Immortal Nan Yinughed.


    "I did sense it, but the mysterious entity appears to have been stopped before they could trulyunch their attack," Wu Yuan replied respectfully, "Thank you for saving me, Master."


    "Don''t thank me." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head like a rattle drum, "I''m not capable of saving you from an Archimmortal."


    "It wasn��t Master?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    In Wu Yuan''s mind, the only one who could save him so quickly and had the strength to do so would be his master.


    "It was Sword Immortal Dong Yang." said High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    It was him?

 Chapter 429: The Name Dong Yang (3)

    <h4>Chapter 429: The Name Dong Yang (3)</h4>


    This sword immortal was someone Wu Yuan had only heard of but never met. When he first joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, he had hoped to be his disciple. Unfortunately, the sword immortal didn''t ept him.


    "He didn��t just stop the intruder." High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled, "In a fit of rage, Sword Immortal Dong Yang fought Archimmortal Huo Gao and even killed him."


    "Killed an Archimmortal?" Wu Yuan was stunned, finding it hard to believe.


    That was an Archimmortal, a great Archimmortal!


    "Shocked?" High Immortal Nan Yin sighed, "Even I find it astounding. Sword Immortal Dong Yang is indeed formidable, his strength has reached a mind-boggling level, I fear he''s almost on par with the immortal ancestor."


    Wu Yuan nodded instinctively.


    The immortal ancestor was an Archimmortal, while Sword Immortal Dong Yang could y Archimmortals. He might even be more formidable than the immortal ancestor.


    "Of course, that was just the Archimmortal''s mana body." High Immortal Nan Yin added with a chuckle.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan nodded in understanding, though he couldn''t help but add, "I heard that the strength of a mana body isparable to an immortal��s true self."


    ording to the records Wu Yuan had looked through, once one reached the level of a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, they could cultivate a mana body.


    Most immortal cultivators were only willing to send their mana bodies on risky expeditions. Rarely anyone would risk putting their true self in danger.


    If the mana body perished, a new one could be created by the true self. But if the true self perished, death was certain.


    "Killing an Archimmortal''s mana body is incredibly difficult, and it''s even harder to kill a true Archimmortal." High Immortal Nan Yinughed, "Immortals are all cunning. Their true selves often hide in secret locations, likeirs and so on. They don��t reveal themselves casually."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod.


    He began to think about his two true selves cultivating a mana body and an ether body respectively in the future, which could be dispatched to fight simultaneously. That would be truly terrifying.


    "You were lucky to be saved by High Immortal Dong Yang this time round. Don��t forget it." High Immortal Nan Yin earnestly advised.


    "I will remember this debt," Wu Yuan nodded seriously. "Master, should I meet Sword Immortal Dong Yang in person to thank him?"


    "There''s no need." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head, "Sword Immortal Dong Yang has been in seclusion for a long time. He would not have emerged if he hadn''t sensed the aura of an Archimmortal."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, finding it usible.


    "Master, why would an Archimmortale after me, a mere Golden Core cultivator?" Wu Yuan couldn''t contain his curiosity.


    An Archimmortal! ording to his master, only the mana body of this Archimmortal had been eliminated. Didn��t this mean that there was a possibility of another attack? Who wouldn''t be worried? Naturally, Wu Yuan wanted to understand the reason behind the ambush.


    "There is no reason," High Immortal Nan Yin sighed. "This Archimmortal is an enemy of Sword Immortal Dong Yang. He probably suspected that you are Dong Yang''s disciple, hence he came here to kill you."


    "After all, your performance has been very brilliant," High Immortal Nan Yin smiled.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    How deep did his hatred run? An Archimmortal had actually stooped so low as to try to kill a little fledging like him over a mere suspicion?


    Wu Yuan didn''t know whether he should feel proud or cry.


    <i>Archimmortal Huo Gao? </i>Wu Yuan recited in his mind, remembering this name.


    A flicker of deadly intent red within Wu Yuan. The sensation of teetering on the edge of life and death, it had been so long since he had experienced it.


    It was almostical for him, a Golden Core cultivator, to harbor killing intent towards a great Archimmortal. After all, how many immortal cultivators could truly rise to the level of Archimmortals?


    <i>Even the smallest insect feels wrath, and the tiniest bird dreams of greatness. Who can say how far I can go, what limits I cannot surpass?</i>


    Inspired by the legendary feats of Sword Immortal Dong Yang, Wu Yuan felt a yearning deep within him. <i>Sword Immortal Dong Yang is a role model to all who walk the path of the sword, slicing through Archimmortals with a single stroke!</i>


    Though he had not witnessed the epic battle between Sword Immortal Dong Yang and the Archimmortal, just the mere thought of it ignited a fire within Wu Yuan.


    Defying the heavens and ying an Archimmortal! What an awe-inspiring feat.


    "Don��t stand there daydreaming. And don��t worry," High Immortal Nan Yin remarked with a smile. "After this conflict, few will dare spy on our Dragon Star Immortal Sect."


    "Though an Archimmortal''s mana body can regenerate after death, it would take them millions of years to cultivate a powerful one, so there''s no need to worry too much."


    Millions of years? Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished.


    Only an Archimmortal, with their seemingly unlimited lifespan, could afford to wait so long.


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang has expressed his desire topensate you for this ordeal," High Immortal Nan Yin said as he revealed a withered branch in his palm.


    What is this?" Wu Yuan��s eyes widened in surprise.


    At first nce, the branch appeared to be nothing more than a dried piece of wood, perhaps chopped off from a dead tree.


    Yet, upon closer inspection, Wu Yuan could feel a faint but undeniable surge of vital aura emanating from it. It was as if the branch was not withered at all, but rather brimming with vitality.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan could sense that the withered branch contained a mysterious profundity of the Dao. It felt strangely familiar and profound.


    "The profundity of the Wood Dao," Wu Yuan figured it out.


    Over the years, he had studied the Extended Life Sword Codex. Although he hadn''t truly mastered it, he had gleaned some insights. At least, it was discernible to some degree.


    "No, it''s not just the profundities of the Wood Dao, there''s another mysterious profundity," Wu Yuan faintly sensed a fierce and fiery energy that seemed on the verge of erupting from the branch. Yet, it remained concealed and subdued.


    "The core is still the profundities of the Wood Dao," Wu Yuan''s consciousness immersed into it.


    The more he perceived, the more mystical the withered branch seemed. It was undoubtedly a great treasure.


    "Disciple, do you sense it?" High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    Wu Yuan nodded firmly.


    "The worth of this withered branch isparable to that of a piece of celestial equipment," High Immortal Nan Yin stated with a bright smile.


    Celestial equipment? Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment as his heart raced.


    In Wu Yuan''s understanding, above first-grade spirit equipmenty spirion equipment, categorized as low, mid, and high grades.


    High-grade spirion equipment was considered a great treasure, capable of driving even an Earth Immortal to madness.


    As for celestial equipment? In most sects across the Redmoon Immortal Continent, any celestial artifact was significant enough to be a heirloom treasure of the sect.


    "He��s giving such a treasure to me?" Wu Yuan blurted.


    "Yes, this is Sword Immortal Dong Yang��s way ofpensating you," High Immortal Nan Yin said with a sigh, "It''s much better than the treasure I originally prepared for you."


    "With this treasure, your cultivation will progress much more smoothly."


    "This treasure has two uses. First, it can help you upgrade your lifebound flying swords. This branch contains the essence of Wood. As your lifebound flying swords absorb this essence, they will be able to establish stronger foundations," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan listened.


    "Second, this withered branch will greatly aid you when you create your mana body in the future. Moreover, it contains the profundities of the Longevity Dao," High Immortal Nan Yin said with a smile. "By contemting it, you''ll gain far more than contemting the various treasurends of the sect."


    Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.


    Even though he only observed it for a short while, he sensed that this withered branch was a top treasure of the Wood attribute.


    "Hold on to it, but you are not allowed to bring it out of the world residence for now," High Immortal Nan Yin ordered. "Once you have reached the initiate threshold of the Longevity Dao and begin to refine it, you��ll be able to conceal its aura. Then, you may carry it with you."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan said in a low voice, finding this arrangement entirely reasonable.


    Although he was safe within the sect, a treasure on par with celestial equipment, once exposed, could attract the envy of many immortals.


    There was no guarantee that none of the sect''s immortals would take their chances.


    The main reason they didn��t betray the sect was because the benefits didn��t outweigh the losses. No matter how strict the rules of the sect were, traitors still arose throughout history whether due to treasures, breakthrough opportunities, or other special reasons.


    "Take it," High Immortal Nan Yin casually tossed the withered branch to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan caught it and tried to keep it in his storage artifact. However, it wouldn��t go in.


    "The artifact''s level is too high, ordinary storage artifacts can''t hold it," High Immortal Nan Yin reminded him. "After you are able to refine it, you��ll be able to store it in your qi sea."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded, inserting the withered branch in his inner armor.


    "How is your body refiner self doing at Summerpeak?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked.


    Wu Yuan swiftly reported all the incidents that had urred within Summerpeak in the past few days to High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "A bit reckless, but indeed, you had no choice," High Immortal Nan Yin sighed. "But I must remind you, if Reverend Huo Yan trulyes after you, don''t resist if you can''t fight."


    "When it''s time to flee, you must flee," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at his disciple.


    Wu Yuan nodded, but he remained silent.


    Flee? If he fled, Middle Land would certainly fall. Of his friends, family, and seniors, few would likely survive.


    "As long as you��re alive, there''s hope.�� High Immortal Nan Yin abruptly changed the topic, "But ording to your intel, there should be others from the Summerpeak World who have also joined the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Therefore, if you want to fight Reverend Huo Yan and preserve the safety of the Middle Land, the best method is to join Bloodforge Devil Hall and be the ruler of Summerpeak, or even the World Master of the Summerpeak World," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "The ruler of Summerpeak?" Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    ording to the rules of Bloodforge Devil Hall, bing the ruler of a worldlet would allow one to propagate Faith as they wish. But one still had to deliver resources on time, including manpower.


    Bing a World Master, on the other hand, was almost equivalent to being an independent lord.


    As long as the World Master lived, the entire world would be free from the interference of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. However, the path to bing a World Master was extremely difficult.


    It was simr to the Redmoon Immortal Continent, where numerous sects might appear powerful on the surface, but those who truly obtained a permanent fief, free from any intervention from the Redmoon Immortal Hall, were limited to the four prince-rank families and the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    The same rules applied within the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Bing the World Master of a worldlet might not be as difficult as establishing a first-rate sect, but it was not something a typical Void Refiner cultivator could achieve.


    "I will strive to be the ruler of Summerpeak," Wu Yuan solemnly dered.


    Facing the Bloodforge Devil Hall, this was the best path Wu Yuan could take.


    "If news of your battle at Summerpeak reaches the Bloodforge Devil Hall, you must be careful." High Immortal Nan Yin warned, "The Bloodforge Devil Hall will surely demand your participation in the Bloodforge Battle."


    "Be mentally prepared."

 Chapter 430: Prepared For All Possibilities (1)

    <h4>Chapter 430: Prepared For All Possibilities (1)</h4>


    "The Bloodforge Battle?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    He had learned a bit about it through the sect��s intelligence. However, he wasn''t too clear about the details. After all, little information about the Bloodforge Devil Hall was publicly avable in the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    It was thanks to Wu Yuan��s status as an ��Archimmortal��s disciple'' that he was granted ess to some confidential information.


    "The Eternal Sun Immortal World we are part of believes in the ideology that ''everyone is a dragon''."


    "Therefore, our disciples are trained with non-violent methods. Whether it''s the voidrealm battles in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, or real-worldbat in the Dragon Star Tournament and Moonsilver Tournament, various protective measures are in ce to prevent serious injuries." High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Even if we do open participation for life-or-death trials, each one is selected for a targeted purpose, and we never force any sect members to participate against their will. We wouldn''t risk putting our top geniuses in dangerous situations without thorough discussion."


    Wu Yuan listened.


    Indeed, the various protective measures of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were veryprehensive.


    Even so, once a cultivator stepped into the Amethyst Cradle, repeated life-or-death trials resulted in the deaths of many elite sect disciples.


    The path of cultivation was inherently cruel. Without undergoing life-or-death trials, one couldn''t reach the end of the road.


    "The Bloodforge Devil Hall believes in the Asura Devil path. What''s the core of this ideology? Practicalbat!" High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly, "Little to no protection during practicalbat, expeditions, and tempering."


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    Little to no protection?


    "Isn''t the probability of death sky-high?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Shockingly high." High Immortal Nan Yin said softly, "As far as I know, the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s Redmoon division would allocate countless worlds and vast territories to the many Archimmortals and High Immortals under theirmand. These powerhouses train and raise arge number of disciples."


    "These numerous disciples fight each other, undertaking one perilous expedition after another. In the end, the winners are the survivors." High Immortal Nan Yin said. "And the Bloodforge Battle is the most crucial one of all."


    "The Bloodforge Battle is split into the Golden Core Battle and the Amethyst Cradle Battle, and takes ce once every hundred years."


    "Once every hundred years?" Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    From what he knew, the next Bloodforge Battle was just three years away.


    "The Bloodforge Battle is brutal and bloody."


    "The greater the potential of the participant, the higher the demands set by the Bloodforge Devil Hall." High Immortal Nan Yin fixed his gaze on his disciple, "If you participate, you''ll be expected to seize ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens at least, given the potential you��ve shown."


    "Or perhaps, a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens."


    Wu Yuan was shocked.


    He knew that if geniuses from the Eternal Sun Immortal World volunteered to participate and their application was approved, they were required to seize ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens at minimum.


    Meanwhile, participants from the Bloodforge Devil Hall only needed ten Blood Devil Tokens.


    Reverend Huo Yan was lucky to survive the Bloodforge Battle while at the Golden Core phase years ago.


    One Blood Devil Token represented killing one Bloodforge participant. A hundred thousand tokens represented the deaths of a hundred thousand immortal cultivators.


    "The Bloodforge Battle is known far and wide throughout the Greenridge Macrocosm as the most cruel talent grinder," remarked High Immortal Nan Yin with a heavy heart. "Despite its cruelty, the rewards that await those who survive are bountiful indeed."


    "The Asura Devil path''s existence and prevalence within the boundless river of time and space is no mere coincidence. The Abyss hell devils stand as one of the top forces in all of time and space."


    "The brink of death has the power to awaken a person''s life force to its fullest potential."


    "However, the toll is steep, with countless talents lost in the grinding process," High Immortal Nan Yinmented with a somber tone. "That is why many factions oppose this ideology."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    These conflicting philosophies all fell under the umbre of the Great Dao Battle, embodying the wills of the peak powerhouses in heaven and earth.


    Right or wrong didn��t exist in the Great Dao Battle, only the strong and the weak.


    To be strong was to be correct!


    "Besides greatly stimting one��s potential, the Bloodforge Battle attracts numerous talents for an even more critical reason," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "The venue of the Bloodforge Battle, known as the Bloodforge ne, also called the Bloodforge Devil World, holds great opportunities in its depths. Some of these opportunities are even coveted by Archimmortals."


    "Even Archimmortals desire them?" Wu Yuan was increasingly shocked.


    Archimmortals! Across the entire Redmoon Immortal Continent, a genius would appear only once every hundreds of thousands or millions of years. And in this same span of time, how many immortal cultivators would be born?


    One could say that Archimmortals were extremely rare and noble beings.


    "Of course, among these numerous opportunities, only a few could pique the interest of Archimmortals. But even the worst of opportunities is equivalent to obtaining a piece of top-grade spirion equipment. The decent ones areparable in value to celestial equipment," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Celestial equipment? Although Wu Yuan understood that acquiring a treasure of equal value to celestial equipment was significant, he didn''t believe just any genius could obtain it.


    Celestial equipment were items that could drive Earth Immortals to madness, and make High Immortals green with envy.


    Such rewards were more than enough to attract swarms of prodigies topete for them.


    "Topete for the ultimate opportunity of the Bloodforge ne, the prerequisites are to win one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens and survive to the end," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan silently nodded.


    One hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens? What a demanding requirement!


    Those participating in the Bloodforge Battle were living immortal cultivators, not puppets. None of them would surrender without a fight, surely struggling to theirst breath.


    Yet from a different perspective, one could say that it wasn��t too far fetched.


    "Disciple, given your talent, it won��t be a stretch for you to be a member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall directly without being drafted," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "It is also possible for you to volunteer for the Bloodforge as a disciple of the devil hall."


    "As far as I know, the top-tier geniuses within the Silvermist World of the Silvermist Immortal Nation often volunteer to participate in the Bloodforge," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "Their goal is none other than the ultimate opportunity of the Bloodforge."


    "Volunteer to take part? For the opportunity of the Bloodforge?" Wu Yuan understood.


    Those who could represent the Silvermist Immortal Nation were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among millions of immortal cultivators. They had to be incredibly powerful.


    Even if weaker cultivators at the same cultivation phase formed an array with an array disk akin to the Divine me Array, it would likely take dozens of them topete with just one such genius.


    If theycked an especially powerful array, relying only on the most basic Coordination Arrays? Someone like Wu Yuan��s body refiner self, could easily match hundreds, if not thousands, of cultivators at the same level.


    If they were scattered, he could ughter them with ease. So, the odds of such a peerless genius dying in battle were actually not that high.


    "As for how your body refiner self will proceed from here, I��ll leave the choice to you. I can only provide some advice," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan. "Just remember this, if you''re truly forced into the Bloodforge Battle, give it your all! A crisis could also be an opportunity."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan said solemnly. After his master''s exnation, coupled with the information he had previously obtained, he now had a rough idea of his next steps.


    "There''s another matter I��d like to discuss, it��s regarding your identity," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "Previously, you weren��t too famous, and your body refiner self was not exposed, so no one would connect the dots."


    "But as your strength grows and you rise in status within the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the devil hall will undoubtedly investigate your background."


    "Your qi refiner self has already be quite a well-known figure in the Redmoon Immortal Continent and will only continue to grow stronger over time," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "Even if the powerhouses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall haven''t noticed you all this time, your talent will be brought to their attention sooner orter."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    Indeed. If he were just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, they would never make the connection between his two true selves. Even with the methods of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, it would be hard for them to uncover his identity.


    However, if he showed off his talents and rued fame, there was a high chance that they would uncover the simrities once theypared his two true selves.


    "The Bloodforge Devil Hall and our Eternal Sun Immortal World are both under the divine court. Thus, even if your true self is exposed, the consequences won��t be fatal. At least, you won''t be seen as a traitor because of this," High Immortal Nan Yin spoke.


    "But right now, you are too weak. There is no guarantee that some powerhouses won��t get ideas. An Archimmortal could kill you with nothing more than a thought."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He might show impressive potential now, but his actual power was indeed too weak.


    "Therefore, before you are able to protect yourself, you need to hide your past. I have prepared this for you," High Immortal Nan Yin said, flipping his palm. "Have a look."


    In his hand was an immortal slip.


    "This?" Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment before reaching out to ept it. His Soul Force probed into it.


    Immediately, a massive quantity of information surged into his mind.


    A moment passed.


    "Master, will this work?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, somewhat doubtful yet shocked.


    "By making an open deration, you can fool them for a while. Once you grow strong, there will naturally no longer be a need for this," High Immortal Nan Yin smiled and said, "Remember, you are now Li Xia, the strongest person in the Nine Summers World.��

 Chapter 431: Prepared For All Possibilities (2)

    <h4>Chapter 431: Prepared For All Possibilities (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    The contents of the immortal slip were simple. It detailed a brand new identity that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had created for him. ording to this new identity, he was born in a small worldlet called the Nine Summers World, and after reaching the Golden Core phase, he arrived at the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Every facet of his life, from the moment of his birth to the inheritance of the Dark Earth Sword Codex, and every step of his growth and breakthroughs, was meticulously documented.


    And ording to the immortal slip, a High Immortal from the sect who was proficient in illusion arts personally visited the Nine Summers World, employed illusion arts to nt memories directly into the minds of all the beings in this small worldlet, and even forged many relics.


    In a nutshell, unless an Archimmortal or higher-level powerhouse personally investigated Wu Yuan��s past, no one would see any reason to question it.


    Meanwhile, based on Li Xia''s fabricated profile, he was two years older than Wu Yuan, distinguishing it from his Summerpeak true self��s identity.


    "We will have your spirit beast, Qiong Sea, consume a special treasure that helps him undergo a bloodline evolution, changing his appearance entirely. He will also be made to vow never to reveal any secrets about Summerpeak," stated High Immortal Nan Yin.


    Qiong Sea was the only w in Li Xia''s fabricated identity, which was now duly rectified.


    "Sorry for the trouble, Master," Wu Yuan felt grateful. These matters might not be difficult for a High Immortal, but they required both time and effort toplete. Furthermore, they had to be done withplete secrecy. This only showed High Immortal Nan Yin''s meticulousness.


    "Haha, it''s nothing. You are my only disciple, and I have no descendants," High Immortal Nan Yinughed. "Who else would I worry about if not you? I hope to see you make a name for yourself in the immortal continent with your sword, your fame echoing through the entire immortal nation and immortal world."


    "I will definitely work hard," Wu Yuan solemnly replied, feeling his master''s love and expectations. Naturally, his motivation to cultivate grew stronger.


    "I have obtained a special arcane art that will help you to conceal your identity. You can study it in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "In addition, you may redeem ether arts, saber codices, and the like as needed by your body refiner self within the sect. I will restrict ess to your redemption history as well. Apart from the abbot and a few others like Sword Immortal Dong Yang, no one will know."


    "Alright, that''s all for now, you may leave. Come see me again when it��s time for your next tutorial session," High Immortal Nan Yin dismissed Wu Yuan.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan stood up, bowed, and left.


    ...


    Upon returning to his world residence, Wu Yuan entered the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm right away. Inside his personal hall, a book-like virtual immortal slip floated, glistening and sparkling in the light.


    "Browse." Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand. His Soul Force swiftly processed the intelligence within the virtual immortal slip, and information flooded into his mind.


    What stood out was a method �C ��Nine Soul Change��.


    It had only one effect �C inducing the soul''s aura to gradually undergo subtle changes through cultivation. The changes might not be huge, but they were practical.


    <i>To immortal cultivators, the appearance of the physical body means nothing.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Any immortal cultivator could change their appearance at will. Physical appearances didn��t mean much.


    Once qi refiners reached the Void Refiner phase, they essentially discarded the physical body to a certain extent.


    In fact, after his qi refiner self arrived at the Redmoon Immortal Continent, his appearance had undergone many changes, looking markedly different from his body refiner self.


    Over the years, his qi refiner self and body refiner self had changed greatly in terms of their temperaments. No one would associate one with the other through looks alone.


    To immortal cultivators, the only unique identifier was the soul!


    <i>The only thing the two true selves share is consciousness. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>The souls? The core remains the same, but their external appearances will change over time.</i>


    It was much like twins. Essentially identical, but with age, their appearances gradually differed.


    Under Wu Yuan''s deliberate control over the years, the soul aura of his two true selves were different in almost every aspect.


    The qi refiner self was more mboyant and aggressive. Meanwhile, the body refiner self had a more restrained temperament.


    <i>Once the two selves start cultivating'', each progressing in different directions, even Master and Fang Xia may not recognize that they are me. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    It was crucial to hide the truth of his two true selves to ensure his own safety. Even if one true self fell in battle, there would still be another true self surviving, unbeknownst to the enemy.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Without hesitation, Wu Yuan''s two true selves began to cultivate simultaneously, one in the Middle Land of Summerpeak World, the other at the sect headquarters in the Redmoon Immortal Continent. Each evolved in different directions ording to their soul qualities.


    A regr Qi Sea or Golden Core cultivator would certainly find cultivating the ��Nine Soul Change�� extremely difficult.


    However, even the weaker soul of Wu Yuan��s body refiner self was top tier among the cultivators of the Amethyst Cradle. Naturally, cultivating the technique wasn��t difficult.


    In just one day, his body refiner self achieved some sess, cultivating ��Nine Soul Change�� to a small extent, while the qi refiner self made significant progress.


    <i>Right now, the difference is already substantial. With more time, when the body refiner self makes even greater progress with this technique, it''ll be even more unrecognizable. </i>Smiles appeared on both of Wu Yuan''s true selves.


    ��Nine Soul Change�� wasn''t an ether art, it couldn��t contribute to one��sbat power. But as a special type of secret art, it could y a significant role in certain situations.


    After cultivating ��Nine Soul Change��, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self retrieved a withered branch from his inner armor, silently perceiving it.


    <i>This withered branch is indeed an ultimate treasure. Just by lightly perceiving it, I��m able to understand the ��Extended Life Sword Codex'' much more clearly, and my progress is faster than before. In some time, I should be able to gain a preliminary grasp of the ''Extended Life Sword Codex''.</i> Wu Yuan could feel how much his master cared for him.


    He was grateful to Sword Immortal Dong Yang, but it couldn��tpare to what he felt toward his master.


    Wu Yuan intuitively felt that the reason why Sword Immortal Dong Yang was willing to grant him such a treasure despite being unrted to himself, was likely due to his master.


    <i>Understand it, refine it, then gradually absorb the Wood''s essence within the withered branch to strengthen my lifebound flying swords.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was clear.


    The main limiting factor was the expansion of his mana reserves. Once he reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, he would be able to upgrade his lifebound flying swords.


    Wu Yuan had spent over a hundred million catties of ethercrystal to purchase arge amount of precious metals and materials, whichplemented the withered branch immortal treasure.


    He believed that his nine lifebound flying swords would reach far more powerful levels than he had nned.


    <i>The Moonsilver Tournament is still ten years away. My mana has not yet reached the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and I have not reached the initiate threshold of the ��Extended Life Sword Codex��. There is no rush. One step at the time. </i>Wu Yuan plotted the path ahead for his qi refiner self.


    The main gist was: cultivate in seclusion. As for the redemption of saber codices from the sect��s Daoist Scripture Tower mentioned by his master, Wu Yuan had his own considerations.


    <i>If the saber codices I choose are too weak, they will not make a big difference to my strength. If they��re too strong, my body refiner self will have trouble exining it to the Bloodforge Devil Hall when the timees.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    This might not be something that High Immortal Nan Yin hadn��t considered. However, Wu Yuan did not fully reveal everything about the Summerpeak World to High Immortal Nan Yin, keeping some information to himself.


    Although he was sincerely grateful to his master, Wu Yuan was rational enough not to reveal all his secrets.


    <i>No rush. My body refiner self is strong enough now. Even if I redeem a saber codex, it will not make much of a difference to my strength in the short term.</i> Wu Yuan made a decision. <i>I��ll redeem a powerful saber codex from the Bloodforge Devil Hall after joining it.</i>


    That was Wu Yuan''s n. By then, the teachings that his body refiner self needed could be directly obtained from the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, another two days passed.


    <i>Summerpeak World, South Ocean of the Middle Land.</i>


    Less than a thousand li from the Min Continenty a small, deserted ind which was only a few li in diameter.


    On one side of the ind''s beach was a colossal ck jiaolong leisurely sprawled on the sand, allowing the waves top against its mighty body.


    Beside it stood a man in green robes, a middle-aged figure with worry etched on his face. He paced back and forth along the beach, ncing northward from time to time.


    That was the direction of the Middle Land.


    "Jing Shan," the ck jiaolong rumbled, "Can you stop pacing? It''s giving me a headache. You''ve cultivated for thousands of years, and you''re the founder of a sect. Can''t you be a bit moreposed?"


    The man in green robes was none other than a peak powerhouse of Summerpeak maind��Reverend Jing Shan.


    He was the master of the Jingshan Sect, one of the three great immortal sects of the Summerpeak maind.


    "Senior Long, how can I not be anxious?" Reverend Jing Shan shook his head, "Wu Yuan''s choice will affect the future of Summerpeak World.��


    ��You established a rtionship with him early on. But what about me? Now that the Huoyan Sect is facing the threat of annihtion, who knows whether he''ll target my Jingshan Sect in the future?" Reverend Jing Shan wrung his hands.


    "What''s the use of fretting?" Daoist Long swung hisrge head around.


    Everything wasing along nicely. Moreover, he was favored by Protectorate Xiong Yuan, and close to bing a formal member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Naturally, he had nothing to worry about.


    "Senior Long, is Wu Yuan really as strong as you say? Did Protectorate Xiong Yuan truly make that promise?" In his nervousness, Reverend Jing Shan began asking one question after another.


    "Of course it''s true, Jing Shan. I watched you grow up. Would I lie to you?" Daoist Long shook his head. "If I wanted to deceive you, there would be no need for me to pass the news to you."

 Chapter 432: Prepared For All Possibilities (3)

    <h4>Chapter 432: Prepared For All Possibilities (3)</h4>


    Reverend Jing Shan fell silent. Pass the news?


    The Huoyan Sect had broken out in a massivemotion, with countless Huoyan Sect immortal cultivators fleeing for their lives, leaving their sect headquarters deserted. How could such news be concealed?


    All the immortal cultivators across the Summerpeak maind had already spread the news of the battle that erupted in the Middle Land far and wide. It was only after Reverend Jing Shan received the report that he went to question Daoist Long.


    Yet Daoist Long acted as though he took the initiative to spread the news?


    However, Reverend Jing Shan couldn''t be bothered to correct Daoist Long, there was no point.


    For hundreds of years, the Sta Consortium and Jingshan Sect had joined hands to keep the Huoyan Sect in check and suppress Reverend Huo Yan��s rise.


    "Senior Long, Wu Yuan promised toe today, why hasn''t he arrived yet?" Reverend Jing Shan couldn��t stay silent for long. "Why don''t we head straight to Cloud Capital in the Middle Land?"


    "If he said he''lle, then he''lle. Even if he really doesn''t show up, we can just leave tomorrow." Daoist Long responded in a deep voice.


    "Remember, the protectorate of the devil hall and even the great immortals are all looking forward to receiving Wu Yuan."


    "Once he survives the Bloodforge, his status will skyrocket. By then, unifying Summerpeak will be a piece of cake for him." Daoist Long said.


    Reverend Jing Shan fell silent once more. This was his main concern.


    Once Wu Yuan rose to power and unified Summerpeak, what would happen to the Jingshan Sect?


    The Sta Consortium was established by Daoist Long to gather cultivation resources. He was the founder of the organization, and even if it fell in the future, Daoist Long might not be too heartbroken.


    One might use a tool for a long time, but if it broke, then so be it.


    On the contrary, Reverend Jing Shan grew up in the sect, receiving teachings from the older members of the sect, andter became the sect leader, developing a deep sense of belonging to the sect. Naturally, he wouldn''t want to see the sect destroyed.


    "He��s here." Daoist Long gazed north, his enormous draconic eyes scanning the distance. He had received a message from Wu Yuan through the token.


    "Where?" Reverend Jing Shan began looking around.


    All he saw was the vast blue sky and boundless sea, with not a soul in sight.


    With Reverend Jing Shan''s keen eyesight, he could easily see what was happening in the Middle Land thousands of li away.


    Suddenly, a streak of light cut across the vast sky without a sound, rapidly approaching them from thousands of li away. In a single breath, he had almost reached the ind.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> It was a man cloaked in a white robe, his aura concealed. At first nce, he appeared quite ordinary, but the more one looked at him, the more extraordinary he seemed, possessing a maic quality.


    The figure in white robes slowly descended.


    "Daoist Long, sorry to keep you waiting." Wu Yuan smiled slightly and turned his gaze to the middle-aged man in green robes standing to one side.


    He could sense his aura �C Amethyst Cradle! He was most likely a sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator (sixth-degree immortal root).


    Of those who could advance to the Amethyst cradle phase, more than ny percent had sixth-degree immortal roots or stronger.


    After all, while there were no fixed criteria to advance from the Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase, weaker immortal roots often meant inferior talent. Their Daoprehension aptitude was unlikely to be high, making breakthroughs naturally difficult.


    On the other hand, cultivators with first-degree or second-degree immortal roots were only able to establish such strong immortal roots due to special reasons. Even if their Daoprehension aptitudes were somewhat weak, they were still top-tierpared to most immortal cultivators.


    "I��ve just arrived too," Daoist Long lifted his head and smiled. "Allow me to introduce my good friend, Reverend Jing Shan, the hierarch veteran elder of the Jingshan Sect."


    "Reverend Jing Shan," Wu Yuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    He wasn��t surprised. In the whole Summerpeak World, there were only a few peak powerhouses. The information he had received from Daoist Long mentioned him.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Reverend Jing Shan was inwardly shocked by Wu Yuan��s overpowering aura and smiled. "I heard about your remarkable feat of defeating the mighty Huoyan Sect��s army. Even thebined forces of the Divine me Array and the Heavenly me Bow could not defeat you."


    "I am truly in awe of you," Reverend Jing Shanughed, his demeanor growing increasingly humble.


    "You tter me, Reverend Jing Shan," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    He didn''t know Reverend Jing Shan well. However, in the absence of conflict, Wu Yuan didn''t mind being courteous.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, don''t be modest. The whole Summerpeak maind is singing praises of your heroic deeds," Daoist Long ttered with a smile, his draconic beard swishing with each word, "The remaining Golden Core elders of the Huoyan Sect have all fled overnight, and arge number of Qi Sea immortal cultivators are scattered."


    "The entire territory of the Huoyan Sect is in chaos.��


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan was slightly stunned.


    In the past few days, he had been busy with the cultivation of his two true selves and hadn''t been paying much attention to the affairs of the Summerpeak maind.


    "Now that we''re all here, let''s talk business," Daoist Long said with a chuckle.


    Wu Yuan saw no reason to refuse but remained silent. When dealing with Daoist Long, he harbored a sense of gratitude mingled with wariness.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, Reverend Jing Shan and I spent hundreds of years formting a strategy to deal with Reverend Huo Yan," Daoist Long said, "But we are weak, and never dared to confront him directly."


    "In a way, if it weren''t for Reverend Huo Yan''s inability to return to Summerpeak at will, we wouldn''t have a ce to stay," Daoist Long sighed.


    "Huo Yan��s strength far surpasses ours," Reverend Jing Shan added.


    "He��s that strong?" Wu Yuan asked quietly.


    "Mm," Daoist Long nodded solemnly, "Reverend Huo Yan may only have a sixth-degree immortal root, but he is an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator. I''m sure you understand what this means, Daoist Wu Yuan."


    "Eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase?" Wu Yuan''s pupils shrank slightly.


    This time, he was in real trouble!


    The transition from the sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase to the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase was a qualitative shift.


    One would simply need to deduce a Lesser Law to the seventh-level Domain stage and wait for their mana to umte before naturally stepping into the Amethyst Cradle stage.


    But to transition from the sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase to the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle? One must reach the True Intent stage, and this step was incredibly challenging.


    Take the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, for instance. Out of millions of Golden Core disciples, fewer than a hundred couldprehend the True Intent of a Dao within a century or two. All of them had the potential to be hereditary disciples.


    Among the two hundred thousand Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, only about twenty to thirty thousand, barely a tenth, managed toprehend the True Intent of a Dao.


    And this was within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. For the rest of the world, the percentage was even lower.


    Wu Yuan hadn''t expected that the Summerpeak World would give birth to such a powerful Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    <i>The might of an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator''s manabined with True Intent Daoprehension is enough to overpower me.</i> Wu Yuan realized instantly that he stood no chance in a head-on confrontation.


    Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan shared a nce.


    Both were incredibly astute. Despite Wu Yuan''s attempts to hide it, they still caught the fleeting surprise and anxiety in his eyes. They had him cornered!


    "Wu Yuan, don''t worry too much." Daoist Longughed, "We won''t just stand by and watch you lose to Reverend Huo Yan."


    "Reverend Huo Yan is a formal member of the devil hall and can''t return here easily. Even if he applies to leave right away, he needs to wait ten days before returning ording to the rules." Daoist Long said.


    "Ten days?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    So that meant he only had seven days left?


    "Reverend Huo Yan is strong himself, but what I''m more worried about is his ability to tap into his connections from the devil hall." Reverend Jing Shan said solemnly, "He has spent many years in the devil hall, and inviting a few friends over would be easy for him."


    Upon hearing this, the tension in Wu Yuan''s heart tightened further.


    One Reverend Huo Yan was challenging enough. How could those worthy of bing official members of the Bloodforge Devil Hall be weak?


    If it really came down to that, forget protecting the Middle Land, even Wu Yuan himself would be hard-pressed to survive.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan seemed to realize something. He abruptly raised his head, respectfully addressing Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan. "May I have your advice on this matter, Seniors?"


    If they truly had no chance of winning, these two apex powers of the Summerpeak World wouldn''t have sought him out. They wouldn''t be so calm and collected.


    <i>Yes, Reverend Huo Yan is formidable, but I suspect he isn''t as formidable as they''re making him out to be. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>It��s hard for the powerful inhabitants to leave the Bloodforge Worlds, but it��s equally difficult for strong outsiders to enter.</i>


    Reverend Huo Yan, a powerhouse of the Summerpeak World, already found it this difficult to return. How much more difficult would it be to invite other powerhouses into the worldlet?


    These two were exaggerating.


    A certain type of person came to mind��a provocateur!


    They typically blew things out of proportion to instill fear and urgency. Then only revealed their true intentions when they gained their victims�� trust!


    "We can''t stop Reverend Huo Yan," Reverend Jing Shan sighed. "We''d like to help you, but we''re powerless. At most, we can provide some information."


    "Please let me know if there is any way, I implore you," Wu Yuan quickly responded, as though trying to suppress his panic.


    "It should be enough," Reverend Jing Shan''s voice echoed in Daoist Long''s mind.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan," Daoist Long suddenly said. "I might have a solution, but I''m not sure if you''d be willing to agree."


    "Please, speak your mind."


    "The source of Reverend Huo Yan''s power and influence is his status as a full-fledged member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall," Daoist Long said in a low voice. "With the devil hall standing behind him, we can''t touch him."


    Wu Yuan knew he was telling the truth.


    "The best solution is for you, Fellow Daoist, to join the Bloodforge Devil Hall," Daoist Long finally brought up the main point.

 Chapter 433: Prepared For All Possibilities (4)

    <h4>Chapter 433: Prepared For All Possibilities (4)</h4>


    "Reverend Jing Shan and I can''t enter the devil hall, our talents and abilities are inadequate. But with your talent and abilities, you could easily join the devil hall. After that, even Huo Yan will find it tough to deal with you."


    "Furthermore, when you rise to a position of power in the future, killing Huo Yan would take nothing more than a word from you," Daoist Long said solemnly.


    "Join the devil hall?" Wu Yuan seemed stunned, a look of struggle on his face.


    "Wu Yuan, the internalpetition in the Bloodforge Devil Hall is brutal. It may not align with your Dao Heart," Reverend Jing Shan began gravely.


    "But we have no choice! We are born in the Bloodforge World. It''s our destiny," Reverend Jing Shan sighed, shaking his head. "Compared to you, bing a formal member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall is difficult for us."


    Wu Yuan nodded silently.


    The location of one��s birth often determined their path. If one was born in the Bloodforge World under the rule of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, and aimed to rise in strength? Then one must follow the pathid out by the devil hall. There was no other way.


    "For survival, for my homnd, I am willing to join the Devil Hall," Wu Yuan said in a low voice, "But, how do I join? I don''t know how to join the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan exchanged a look, but didn''t speak immediately.


    Wu Yuan knew what they were thinking.


    "As long as you are willing to help me, it doesn��t matter what you need, just say it," Wu Yuan took the initiative. "If it''s within my abilities, I will do my best to fulfill it."


    Wu Yuan didn''t believe the two before him were just trying to help him out of kindness. In this world, everything boiled down to the exchange of interests.


    There was surely an ulterior motive behind Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan painting such a doomsday scenario and putting up this whole performance in front of him.


    "Fellow Daoist, you worry too much. It''s not that we''re unwilling to help, there are indeed two major reasons," Daoist Long said solemnly. "The first is that once you join the devil hall, your status will undergo a meteoric rise, and you''re bound to unify Summerpeak."


    "We''re fine with that. But what will be of our Sta Consortium and Jingshan Sect?" Daoist Long shook his head. "We must consider our disciples and their future."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. The crux of the mattery here.


    "What do both of you suggest?" Wu Yuan threw the question back, not offering an answer.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, we know you''re bound to propagate Faith in the future." Reverend Jing Shan said softly, "We won''t obstruct you, and can even assist you in propagating Faith across the Summerpeak maind."


    "There''s just one thing. We hope that when you unify Summerpeak, you can spare the Jingshan Sect and its territories, allowing it to carry on its legacy." Reverend Jing Shan said sincerely.


    "What concerns could I possibly have with that?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help butugh. "Reverend Jing Shan, you''re overthinking it. This is no issue at all. I''m happy to agree."


    A bird in the hand is worth ten in the forest.


    For Wu Yuan, joining the devil hall as soon as possible and resolving his current troubles were the priorities.


    As for conquering the Summerpeak maind? For the current Wu Yuan, that seemed too far off.


    Moreover, since Reverend Jing Shan had already promised to concede the propagation of Faith, Wu Yuan didn��t see the need to ask for more.


    "What about Daoist Long?" Wu Yuan turned to Daoist Long.


    "I can offer you the entire Sta Consortium." Daoist Long said with a grin. "Just one thing, I hope that if you be a Sageling of the devil hall, you can recruit me as your follower."


    "Follower?"


    Now, it wasn''t just Wu Yuan who was surprised.


    Reverend Jing Shan was likewise stunned. This was not at all what they had previously discussed.


    Wu Yuan, however, quickly regained hisposure, realizing something. He thought of Lu Zhu.


    "Alright, I don''t know what Daoist Long is thinking." Wu Yuanughed, "But I can promise you that if I ever hold a high position in the devil hall, I will fulfill the promise I made today."


    "Fantastic." Daoist Long couldn''t help but smile.


    The Sta Consortium? Ruling over the Summerpeak maind? He didn''t value any of these. In his mind, these were just material possessions that he could discard without a second thought. They didn''t affect him personally.


    What he yearned for was to reach a higher level in the future, to be more powerful, and even to be an existence at the Elysian Field phase.


    However, Daoist Long knew his own limitations. If he relied on himself? Even if he became a formal member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, his chances would be incredibly slim.


    Daoist Long had determined that Wu Yuan was the great opportunity he was waiting for.


    <i>Three thousand years ago, I bet everything on one expedition, and finally reached the Shambh phase.</i> Daoist Long sighed quietly. <i>Now, I''m betting everything again, hoping that by following Wu Yuan, I can reach a higher level.</i>


    What he was gambling on was the chance to stay by Wu Yuan��s side during his rise before his own lifespan reached its end. By doing so, some unnecessary treasures Wu Yuan casually tossed to him might just help him break through.


    Moreover, Daoist Long understood that such opportunities were rare. The kind that could only be stumbled into but not sought. Now that Wu Yuan had yet to make his name, pledging his allegiance was still effective.


    In the future? Those moring to join Wu Yuan would be as numerous as fish crossing the river. Why would Wu Yuan need an average Shambh like him?


    "Fellow Daoist," Daoist Long stated gravely, "Our worries and considerations are secondary. The key factor here is you."


    "Me?" Wu Yuan blinked in surprise.


    "Yes," Daoist Long nodded, "Do you know about the imminent Bloodforge Battle? All Golden Core disciples nurtured by the entire devil hall will be drafted."


    "All of them?" Wu Yuan��s pupils contracted slightly.


    "Exactly, not a single one will be spared," Daoist Long added, "And not just disciples, but also arge number of the Golden Core and Qi Sea cultivators from various worlds will be required to participate."


    "If you join the Bloodforge Devil Hall at this time, you must participate in the Bloodforge Battle," Daoist Long''s voice deepened.


    "The Bloodforge Battle is ruthless. With your strength, survival shouldn''t be difficult. You may even stand out. However, it remains extremely dangerous. Even a prodigy can perish in the Bloodforge," Daoist Long stated.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod.


    With innumerable geniuses from countless worlds gathered, unless one reached the level of a monstrous prodigy, anyone could die.


    "So, you need to think it through whether you wish to participate or not," Daoist Long looked at Wu Yuan, a glint of expectation in his eyes.


    Although Protectorate Xiong Yuan had given him explicit orders, he didn''t want to force Wu Yuan into it. Doing so would likely result in Wu Yuan bearing a grudge against him, something Daoist Long hoped to avoid.


    He contemted for a moment.


    "I will participate," Wu Yuan smiled, "The Bloodforge Battle is dangerous, but my odds of surviving are still high."


    "If I stay in Summerpeak, I will undoubtedly die when Reverend Huo Yan arrives," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    There was no choice! From Wu Yuan''s perspective, a battle against Reverend Huo Yan would undoubtedly end in his defeat, and the Middle Land''s destruction would follow soon after.


    However, he stood a fair chance of survival by participating in the Bloodforge.


    "Excellent!" Daoist Long nodded, "If you''ve made up your mind, it''d be best if you apany us to the devil hall today."


    "Today?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Yes, the sooner the better. If we take too long, Reverend Huo Yan might return and wreak havoc once the ten days are up," Reverend Jing Shan warned.


    "If you wish to protect the Middle Land, the best way is to achieve the status of a Bloodforge Seed."


    "As a Bloodforge Seed, you''d hold a position equivalent to a protectorate. At that time, you can order the devil hall to protect the Middle Land. Even Reverend Huo Yan would not dare to defy themand of the devil hall."


    "If you miss this chance, it will be toote for regrets," Reverend Jing Shan shook his head.


    Bloodforge Seed? Wu Yuan took note of the term.


    "I understand that you''re young and most likely still have loved ones who are alive, there must be things you''re concerned about," Daoist Long smiled.


    He flipped his palm, presenting ten blood-red voidrealm jades.


    "This?" Wu Yuan looked at them.


    "These are the voidrealm jades of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, but only the lowest level ones," Daoist Long exined. "You can hand these voidrealm jades to your loved ones. In the future, you can contact them in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm."


    "The Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm is able to facilitatemunication between worlds."


    "In the future, when you be an official member of the devil hall, you��ll be able to send them far more voidrealm jades, and even higher-level ones." Daoist Long assured. "Communication will not be a problem."


    Wu Yuan was fascinated.


    The voidrealms created by Amethyst Cradle and Void Refiner cultivators could not span two worlds. Once someone left a worldlet, contact was lost.


    Yet, voidrealms like the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm and Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm could disregard these obstructions. They were obviously of superior grade.


    "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, we will safeguard the Middle Land," Daoist Long, standing nearby, chimed in with a grin. "As long as Reverend Huo Yan doesn''t intervene, we can handle any other threats. If you still have any doubts, we can swear an oath."


    Havinge this far, Wu Yuan was already fully convinced by Daoist Long and Daoist Jing Shan��s words. Seeing their urgency, his suspicions grew. But it was inappropriate to inquire.


    "Alright. Please wait six hours. After six hours, we will head to the Bloodforge Devil Hall together," Wu Yuan dered.


    "Sure."


    "No problem!" Daoist Long and Daoist Jing Shan had no objections.


    They both understood Protectorate Xiong Yuan��s orders. Reverend Huo Yan? He''d never return to Summerpeak.


    They were only worried that new problems might arise during this dy, hence they urged Wu Yuan to head for the Bloodforge Devil Hall as soon as possible.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan swiftly rushed back to the Middle Land.


    ...


    In a spacetime far from the Summerpeak World, amidst a sprawlingplex, stood a majestic hall.


    "High Immortal." Protectorate Xiong Yuan, a bear-like figure, knelt in respect. "I''ve received a response from Wu Yuan. He will arrive at the devil hall within twelve hours."


    "Good." A detached voice echoed from the hall, "Once they arrive, initiate the Bloodforge Seed practical assessment."


    "The other fools ridiculed me for years, I hope Wu Yuan won''t disappoint me."

 Chapter 434: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (1)

    <h4>Chapter 434: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (1)</h4>


    "High Immortal, this Wu Yuan will not disappoint you," Protectorate Xiong Yuan stated solemnly. "With his strength, he has every right topete for a ce as an Immortal Nation Division Bloodforge Seed."


    "At the very least, he is unmatched amongst the millions of Golden Core disciples in my Redmoon division," Protectorate Xiong Yuan added, his voice brimming with confidence.


    It was clear that Protectorate Xiong Yuan had unwavering faith in Wu Yuan after Daoist Long''s detailed introduction and his own scrutiny of the battle footage.


    "Unmatched? At present, our Redmoon division has over eighty Bloodforge Seeds, all Immortal Continent Division Bloodforge Seeds, that is, second-tier Bloodforge Seeds," the detached voice responded, a hint of skepticism in its tone.


    "I have watched Wu Yuan''s battle footage, and he is indeed very impressive. However, over the long years, I only believe what I see with my own eyes," the voice continued, its words measured. "I hope his strength corresponds with his performance in the projection."


    "You may carry on."


    "Understood." Protectorate Xiong Yuan bowed respectfully and withdrew.


    ...


    In the Summerpeak World, within the Cloud Capital of the Middle Land, a family had gathered in the Imperial City.


    "Leaving the Summerpeak World, not certain for how long? Perhaps hundreds, thousands of years? And so soon?" His mother Wanqin''s voice trembled, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    For decades, she had led a privileged life as the Empress Dowager of the Wu Empire, her worldview broadened by experience.


    Although shecked martial talent, Wu Yuan had expended many treasured resources, enhancing her physical constitution to be on par with a Savant expert.


    Despite being over seventy, Wanqin looked barely different from a woman in her forties at first nce.


    However, no matter how broad her worldview, Wanqin was, in the end, just an ordinary elderly woman. How could she be willing to send her only son far away in her old age?


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. He had no choice!


    His initial n was to wait until his mother passed away, which was around the time his body refiner self was expected to step into the Shambh phase. Then he would leave the Summerpeak World, roaming far and wide.


    While your parents are alive, do not travel far away. If you must travel, have a n to ensure they are cared for.


    Perhaps this wasn''t the most conducive way of life for cultivation, but sometimes, it was the choice with the least regrets. However, life was unpredictable. Who could have foreseen the drastic changes in Summerpeak World?


    "Mother, even big brother is helpless," Wu Yijun, his little sister, stood to the side, speaking in a low voice. "The Bloodforge Devil Hall is an unimaginable force. Their methods are on the level of immortals and devils, we can''t defy them."


    She had just stepped into the Qi Sea phase, but being Wu Yuan''s sister, her status in the Middle Land was naturally high, granting her ess to high-level information.


    "Mother, things aren''t as bad as you think," Wu Yuan said, forcing a smile. "When I join the Bloodforge Devil Hall, I will be highly valued and granted an important status. This will give me more chances to obtain miraculous treasures that could extend your life."


    "In the future, I will find a way to send back treasures to increase your lifespan," Wu Yuan looked at his mother, his eyes filled with determination.


    For powerful immortal cultivators, extending the life of a mortal was not difficult. But the workings of heaven and earth followed rules and restrictions.


    The lifespan limit of most mortals was two hundred years, and the treasures required to achieve this were extraordinary. At least, they couldn''t be found in the Summerpeak World.


    Want a longer lifespan? Then one must undergo a transition in the order of life, reaching the Qi Sea or Golden Core phase. Then, one didn''t have to rely on external treasures. Relying on oneself was still the best.


    As far as Wu Yuan knew, if he wanted to turn his mortal mother who was utterly talentless in martial arts into a Qi Sea cultivator, the price was too steep even for a Void Refiner cultivator. If she desired to reach the Golden Core phase? Even a High Immortal would struggle. Even legendary, supreme beings couldn''t possibly turn a mere mortal into an immortal.


    If onecked talent and didn''t work hard enough, relying solely on external treasures, there would ultimately be a limit and an end. Such was the brutal reality of the path to immortality.


    One person''s ascension could benefit their friends and family, but ultimately, one couldn''t help them ascend to the heavens.


    Wu Yijun alsoforted her, "Mother, Big Brother is not leaving only for himself, but for you, and for the entire Middle Land."


    "I understand, I''m not senile yet. A man''s legacy is built upon his aplishments in the world beyond his home. But..." Wanqin sat on the chair, shaking her head, her voice tinged with regret. "After all these years, none of you have married or bore offspring."


    Wu Yuan and Wu Yijun stiffened. Then they both burst intoughter.


    Indeed, Wu Yuan''s rapid growth made it impossible for any woman in the Middle Land to catch his eye. As for Wu Yijun? Having looked up to her brother since childhood and trained relentlessly, she was now one of the youngest Heavenly Rankers in the Middle Land. How many men could catch her eye? Hence, the siblings remained unmarried till now.


    Wanqin merely voiced her concerns without truly obstructing Wu Yuan''s journey. Although she was a mortal, she knew a little about the world of immortals and devils, and understood that Wu Yuan''s choice was the right one. She also understood that her son was already someone who stood among deities, not bound by thews of the mundane world.


    After bidding their mother farewell, Wu Yuan and Wu Yijun returned to Archeldritch Mountain, and activated the array.


    "Little Yi, take these," Wu Yuan pressed two storage artifacts into his sister''s hand. "They''re yours now."


    Wu Yijun blinked in surprise, epting the artifacts and probing them with her Soul Force.


    A momentter, she gasped in astonishment, her eyes wide. "Big Brother, all these treasures...they''re for me?"


    The treasures inside the storage rings were worth tens of thousands of catties of ethercrystal, along with several thousands of catties of ethercrystals. For Wu Yijun, who was only at the second-stage Qi Sea phase, this was an unimaginable fortune.


    "Yes, they''re for you," Wu Yuan nodded, smiling. "You''re my only sister. Who else would I give them to? I''d originally nned to give them to you over a period of time, but it can no longer wait."


    "The other treasures are for your cultivation. If any prodigies arise in our n in the future, you can nurture them depending on the situation," Wu Yuan added.


    Over the past few decades, Wu Yuan and his sister had no children, but the Wu n flourished, with a steady stream of martial artists springing up, including several Grandmasters.


    Wu Yijun listened, understanding that her brother was making his final arrangements.


    "As for the ethercrystal, aside from your own cultivation needs, they are primarily for powering the two Golden Core puppets," Wu Yuan exined. "You''ve already imed ownership over the puppets. From now on, they will secretly guard you and our Wu n."


    "Okay," Wu Yijun nodded, her voice soft but resolute.


    Of the eight Golden Core puppets, Wu Yuan had only ever revealed six to the public. These were handed to the Middle Land Guard. But he had kept the existence of thest two a secret. After Wu Yijun became a qi refiner, he gave them to her for safekeeping. This was Wu Yuan''s arrangement for his family.


    "I will hold a Middle Land Guard conference and announce the decree of session. You shall inherit the throne," Wu Yuan said, stroking Wu Yijun''s hair. "My empress."


    "Me, the empress?" Wu Yijun''s eyes widened in shock. "But the chieftain, the grand elder...they have their ambitions."


    She never expected that her brother would pass the throne to her.


    "I''ll let Fang Xia assume the position of Alliance Leader. As for the throne of the Wu Empire, you take it," Wu Yuan said indifferently. "I''ve never cared about the ambitions of Wu Mao or Wu Qiming. In this world, martial power rules."


    "I will make a decree. The entire Teng Snake Guard will follow your orders."


    "Those people of the Wu n...they won''t be able to stir up any discontent," Wu Yuan stated tly, his voice carrying an edge of finality.


    The hearts of men were malleable. Over decades, two massive political factions had formed around Wu Mao and Wu Qiming, all eyeing the throne of the Wu Empire.


    Everyone knew that Wu Yuan was a cultivator and would definitely abdicate in the future. Plus, Wu Yuan had no heirs. Therefore, many within the Wu n had attempted to adopt Wu n descendants under Wu Yuan''s name in the hope of future session.


    What a pity, this was never in the cards for Wu Yuan.


    "Little Yi, there aren''t many people in Middle Land who truly matter to me. Aside from our mother, the only person I care for is you," Wu Yuan softly said. "Bing the empress is also a test for you. If you wish, you can serve for two hundred or three hundred years, it''s up to you."


    "In the future, if I unify Summerpeak, you can rule over all of Summerpeak if you wish," Wu Yuan said with a smile, painting her a bright picture of the future.


    Wu Yijun held her breath. She had never thought that far ahead.


    "If anyone within the Wu n dares to defy your orders, just kill them all," Wu Yuan said, his voice cold. "With the Teng Snake Guard under yourmand, and your own martial prowess, I believe that the Middle Land Guard, led by Fang Xia, won''t make things difficult for you. However, you should respect the Golden Core cultivators."


    "If you encounter difficulties, endure them first. I''ll take care of the problems when I return," Wu Yuan instructed.


    "Mm," Wu Yijun nodded, listening attentively.


    She was no simple maiden either; after decades of honing, her skills were first-rate. Only in the presence of her elder brother did she behave like a little girl.


    "However, we need to be prepared for any eventuality. Take this token." Wu Yuan flipped his palm and handed her Daoist Long''s token. "Daoist Long is a friend of mine, I''ll inform him about you."


    "If you encounter a problem in the Middle Land that you can''t solve, seek him out. He''ll know what to do."


    "If it doesn''t work, we''ll cleanse the whole Middle Land and start over." A sh of coldness passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Though he possessed the Bloodforge Immortal Realm''s voidrealm jade, it required the power of the Golden Core phase to use it. Hence, no one in the Wu n could use it.


    Wu Yuan did leave a piece for his sister, Wu Yijun, but how many years would it take before she could make use of it? Even a hundred years would be a conservative estimate.

 Chapter 435: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (2)

    <h4>Chapter 435: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (2)</h4>


    After making arrangements for his family, Wu Yuan summoned Fang Xia. He had already informed Fang Xia of the general situation through the Middle Land Immortal Hall.


    "Old Fang, I''m leaving the entirety of the Middle Land in your hands now," Wu Yuan said, looking at Fang Xia. "The six Golden Core puppets, the Yanqing Hall, the treasury of the Middle Land Guard, and everything else��I''m entrusting it all to you."


    Fang Xia was one of the people Wu Yuan trusted most in the Middle Land, second only to his family.


    In terms of strength, Fang Xia was also the only genius in the Middle Land whom Wu Yuan believed had hope of reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase. One had to reach a high Daoprehension stage to advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Wu Yuan had left some means of protection for his sister just as a precautionary measure. In a real face-off, Wu Yijun would be no match for Fang Xia.


    "Young Master, the Bloodforge Devil Hall is fraught with danger, and the path to immortality is harsh. You must take care on this journey," Fang Xia asserted. "If you be the future ruler of Summerpeak, it will benefit the entire Middle Land. If you were to fall, we alone could not protect the Middle Land. The minor matters in the Middle Land can be left to me. I''ll report regrly to you through the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. Fang Xia''s judgment had always been spot on, and this time was no different.


    Fang Xia dered solemnly, "I shall continue to implement the existing strategies, making preparations for your future Faith propagation. I will also consult with the empress on all matters."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly again. He trusted Fang Xia.


    "Old Fang, my power isn''t much in the vast Bloodforge Devil Hall. I''ve only managed to join due to my talent, which has drawn some attention. I still have to participate in the Bloodforge Battle, where life and death are uncertain," Wu Yuan stated slowly. "So, for a short while, I won''t be able to return to Middle Land."


    He continued, "It may take decades, or a century, but once my position in the Bloodforge Devil Hall is high enough, I''ll find a way to help you. I''ll do everything in my power to help you reach the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "If the Middle Land wants to unify Summerpeak and be truly powerful, depending solely on me won''t be enough," Wu Yuan added. "Help me tell Arctic and Mountain Devil: I trust you more than the others. Everyone, cultivate hard, protect the Middle Land, and don''t disappoint me."


    "I, too, won''t disappoint you." Wu Yuan looked at Fang Xia. These were his heartfelt words. It was also a promise, or perhaps a drawing of a cake, to put Fang Xia and the others at ease.


    Fang Xia nodded in response.


    ...


    Although he had told Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan that he needed six hours, Wu Yuan actually spent far more than that toplete his arrangements.


    Once again, Wu Yuan found himself alone, retracing his steps across the regions of the Middle Land - the Jiang Continent, the Chu Continent, the Min Continent, the Zhong Continent... He returned once more to the Huang Relic, the site of the historic battle against the worm devil.


    He traversed all thirteen continents.


    <i>It''s time to leave. In my previous life, I lived fewer than thirty years in the world of the Blue. </i>Wu Yuan returned to the Cloud Capital, overlooking the bustling scene below, as he mused silently. <i>In this life, I''ve spent more than thirty-five years living in the Middle Land.</i>


    When it came to his emotions, Wu Yuan''s attachment to the Middle Land was in no way inferior to his affection for the Blue civilization of his past life. This departure was different from when his qi refiner self had left.


    His two true selves were one in mind. When his body refiner self remained in the Middle Land, it felt as though he had never left. Naturally, fewer emotions were evoked. But this time...


    <i>The Summerpeak World is a Bloodforge World. Even if my qi refiner self bes a High Immortal, I would still find it difficult to set foot in the Summerpeak World.</i>


    <i>And as for my body refiner self, not long after my departure, I would have to participate in the Bloodforge Battle. This time, it is unknown whether I live or die. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Despite his confidence in his own abilities, he was aware of the brutality of the Bloodforge Battle.


    Who could guarantee their survival? Even if he managed to survive and return to Summerpeak, when would that be? Things may have already changed beyond recognition.


    <i>Let''s go! I''ve done what I can. In a lifetime, there are only separations and reunions. Each time we part, we never know when we''ll meet again, or if we''ll meet again at all.</i>


    <i>So in this life, it''s impossible to have no regrets, I only strive to have no remorse.</i> Wu Yuan knew he had done his best.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan stilled his swirling thoughts and flew toward the Min Continent, his speed not particrly swift. He wanted to get onest good look at thend he had guarded for decades.


    "Master, don''t worry, I''ll be with you every step of the way!" Little ck shrank in size, curling up on Wu Yuan''s arm, its tiny eyes wide with anticipation. It was giddy with excitement.


    As a snake, Little ck was cold-blooded. It was heavily dependent on Wu Yuan but held no deep attachments to the other residents of the Middle Land. Moreover, it had long yearned to venture out and experience the vast and tumultuous world it knew only from its inheritance memories.


    "Yes, I have you by my side," Wu Yuan said with a grin. "Let''s go on this journey together, my brother, and see for ourselves what this so-called Bloodforge Devil Hall has in store for us. Who could possibly stand in our way?"


    In the spring of year 3261 of the Eastern Martial calendar, also known as the 29th year of the Immortal Wu era, Wu Yuan, founder and emperor of the Wu Empire and ruler of Middle Land, left the Middle Land.


    That year, the billions of citizens of the Immortal Wu Empire weed their second ruler��Empress Wu Yijun. The Middle Land Guard also greeted its second Alliance Leader��Fang Xia.


    However, whether it was the Wu Empire or the Middle Land Guard, they both adhered to their existing missions.


    Wu Yuan''s prestige did not wane with his departure. Instead, with each passing moment, his reputation grew, until it reached the level of myth!


    ...


    After leaving the Middle Land, Wu Yuan rendezvoused with Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan. Together, they headed South across the ocean, crossing a distance of six million li and cutting through the Summerpeak maind.


    Finally, within the ocean, a considerablyrge floating hall appeared within Wu Yuan and Daoist Long''s view.


    "What''s that?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, our Summerpeak World has only just recovered. The devil hall has been controlling our world remotely instead of governing it directly. They have delegates stationed in Summerpeak and built a teleportation array here," Daoist Long exined with a smile. "This teleportation array directly leads to the Redmoon division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively. He had a general gist about the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but many details still eluded him.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Several figures flew out from the distant floating hall, each exuding an extraordinary aura. All of them were Golden Core cultivators.


    Leading them was an elderly man in ck robes, a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator. They wore uniform ck armor, appearing solemn.


    "Reverend Long Guang, Reverend Jing Shan." The elderly man in ck robes bowed slightly, then turned to Wu Yuan with a smile. "This must be Daoist Wu Yuan mentioned by the higher world."


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, this is Superior He Feng, responsible for supervising the entire Summerpeak World and guarding the teleportation array," Daoist Long introduced.


    "Daoist He Feng." Wu Yuan greeted him with a smile, showing no disrespect. He Feng''s personal strength was hardly worth mentioning, but he had a special status, representing the authority of the Bloodforge Devil Hall in the Summerpeak World.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan''s strength is overwhelming, his talent far surpasses us. You have the potential to be a Sageling of the devil hall, and even to attain immortality," the elderly man in the ck robe chuckled. "We only hope that when the timees, you will look after us a bit."


    As an elite figure who survived a Bloodforge Battle, the elderly man in ck robes looked down on ordinary Golden Core cultivators. In his heart, he even belittled Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan slightly.


    But Wu Yuan? Having heard a thing or two, he didn''t dare to underestimate him.


    "Alright, the protectorate is waiting on the other terminus of the teleportation array. Daoist Wu Yuan, let''s not waste any more time," the elderly man in the ck robe said. "Let''s set off as soon as possible."


    "Sure." Wu Yuan agreed without hesitation.


    "Daoist Wu Yuan, we can only apany you up to this point." Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan spoke in session.


    They were not official disciples of the devil hall and could not use the teleportation array without special reasons. Leaving the Summerpeak World on their own? That was a death sentence!


    "I hope you two will take good care of my homnd," Wu Yuan cupped his hands. "In the future, I will certainly repay your kindness."


    "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist." Reverend Jing Shan responded.


    "The Middle Land will face no harm," Daoist Long added. "I will further spread your deeds within the Sta Consortium."


    Shortly after, the teleportation array was activated. A beam of light shot skyward from within the hall, and Wu Yuan''s presence disappeared without a trace.


    Hovering above the sea outside the floating hall, Reverend Jing Shan heaved a sigh of relief. "Senior Long, we''ve finallypleted our mission."


    "Our mission is indeedpleted. But..." Daoist Long sighed softly, worry visible in his eyes, "The wait has only just begun."

 Chapter 436: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (3)

    <h4>Chapter 436: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (3)</h4>


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall loomed as an unfathomable, vast power, rivaling the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World in its might.


    Its influence stretched across the Greenridge Macrocosm, with branches established in countless immortal nations and continents.


    Within the spacetime territorymanded by the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division stood as a formidable force. Though merely a secondary branch, it stood shoulder to shoulder with the Redmoon Immortal Hall, recognized as one of the continent''s top three factions.


    The Redmoon division''s reach extended beyond thendmasses in the immortal continent, epassing several vast, special worldlets. The majority of disciples from the devil hall were picked from the millions of worldlets under their control.


    While the Redmoon Immortal Hall held sway over the maind of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the Bloodforge Devil Hallmanded nearly eighty percent of its numerous satellite worldlets. Theplex task of managing these millions of worldlets fell to numerous immortals, each overseeing their own domain.


    Among these worldlets, the Origin Blood World stood out as a colossal sphere, boasting a maximum diameter of about two hundred million li. This wasn''t a natural formation by heaven and earth, but a world crafted by an Archimmortal of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    It served as a specialized training ground for disciples from various worldlets, housing millions of Golden Core cultivators and a substantial number of Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    In the lead-up to the Bloodforge Battle, the number of Golden Core cultivators within the Origin Blood World swelled to truly staggering proportions. Ten massive teleportation arrays operated ceaselessly across its expanse.


    Teleportation Array Six towered a thousand li high, suspended in the air like a monolithic sentinel.


    Stern voices echoed through its vast chambers: "Take your positions. Ready your identity tokens and im ownership with your souls. Those who disobey will face death."


    "In the Bloodforge Battle, your token represents your life. Losing it means losing your life."


    "Remain in ce. Await themand to proceed to the Bloodforge waiting area."


    The immense teleportation array hall was divided into sectors, over half of which stood barren.


    The upied sectors brimmed with a sea of immortal cultivators, their attire as varied as their origins. Humans dominated the crowd, interspersed with demonic cultivators and even a handful of beings in demonic beast form.


    Each sector housed hundreds, even thousands of immortal cultivators. The majority were at the Qi Sea phase, with a smaller group at the Golden Core phase. Amethyst Cradle cultivators were conspicuously absent.


    One sector stood out, packed to bursting with over ten thousand cultivators. Among them, several hundred Golden Core practitioners could be seen. This single sector''s poption rivaled dozens of othersbined.


    Amidst the throng, a blue-robed woman stood among hundreds of Golden Core cultivators. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she surveyed her surroundings. "Senior Brother, is this the legendary Bloodforge World?"


    Around her were a dozen figures in matching attire. These figures upied the heart of the group. The surrounding cultivators regarded them with reverence, tacitly acknowledging their superior status.


    A bald youth in blue robes, seated in lotus position, replied softly, "No, ording to our master, this is the Origin Blood World. We''ll wait here for three years until geniuses from countless worlds gather. Then, we''ll enter the Bloodforge World together."


    His status seemed to be the highest, and he appeared to have a deep understanding of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    "Wait for three years?" A purple-robed elderly man spoke in a low voice. "Isn''t that excessive, Senior Brother? Why did our sect rush to send us here? We could have continued our training at the sect for a few more years."


    Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group of Golden Core cultivators.


    The bald youth''s gaze swept over them. "Didn''t you hear what our ancestor said? We are all ninth-stage Golden Core cultivators. By arriving early, we secure ample time to undertake the Dark Star challenge once we enter the sector base. Each level cleared brings rewards. Conquer the fourth level, and we''ll reap substantial benefits."


    He continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "Some of these treasures can be brought into the Bloodforge World, greatly improving our chances of survival."


    The blue-robed woman who had spoken first gritted her teeth. "But surely a year''s advance would suffice?"


    "Foolish!" The bald youth shook his head. "By then, countless Golden Core cultivators from millions of worlds will have arrived. Tens of millions will be applying for the Dark Star challenge. How long would we have to wait for our turn? The Bloodforge Battle mightmence before we even get a chance."


    The ten or so cultivators d in blue robes nodded. As carefully nurtured disciples of their sect, they had been privy to a wealth of information in advance.


    Another Golden Core cultivator spoke up, confusion evident in his voice. "Senior Brother, how much longer must we wait? We''ve been here for over a day already."


    "Patience," the bald youth replied coolly. "Our goal is to seize a hundred Blood Devil Tokens. We aim not just to be disciples of the devil hall, but to join the elite ranks. Only then will our chances of ascending to Amethyst Cradle cultivators substantially increase."


    Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Golden Core cultivators gleamed with excitement.


    Of the countless worldlets under the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s rule, most Golden Core cultivators were unwilling participants in the Bloodforge Battle, conscripted by force.


    Yet many elite cultivators chose to join willingly, seeking to carve a bloody path to power and im the devil hall''s resources for themselves. The Bloodforge Battle was both a trial and an opportunity.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, the distant fog that hung over the space dissipated, revealing more than a dozen figures emanating powerful auras.


    At their forefront stood a figure in blood-red robes. He exuded an aura of absolute dominance, as if the very axis of heaven and earth pivoted on his existence. It was a sight that made hearts tremble.


    "Great Senior Brother, who are they?" The blue-robed cultivators couldn''t help but look up in awe.


    "I sense they''re far more powerful than our ancestor," one whispered, fear evident in his voice.


    It wasn''t just them. Throughout the hundreds of sectors surrounding Teleportation Array Six, hundreds of thousands of immortal cultivators gazed upward, their eyes wide with fear and wonder.


    The gap was too huge. It was a fundamental difference in the order of life.


    In that moment, another shocking scene unfolded. The dozens of Amethyst Cradle Reverends stationed throughout the teleportation array �C the very ones overseeing these cultivators �C simultaneously bowed in respect. "Greetings, Immortal."


    Immortal?


    Countless Qi Sea and Golden Core cultivators looked up, eyes bulging in shock, fixed upon the figure in blood-red robes. The word echoed in their minds, leaving them speechless.


    Immortal!


    Legends of immortals ran rampant throughout the multitude of worldlets, yet they remained mere tales for most.


    Throughout the endless flow of time, the vast majority of worlds had failed to produce a single immortal. At least, not one of the hundreds of thousands of immortal cultivators who had arrived via the teleportation array in the Origin Blood World had ever seen an immortal in the flesh.


    Even the dozen ninth-stage Golden Core cultivators from therge sect looked on in utter amazement. They had never seen an immortal either.


    Their sect''s ancestor, the strongest being ever born in the history of their vast world, had barely stepped into the Void Refiner phase. A Void Refiner cultivator and an immortal, though seemingly separated by just one phase, were as fundamentally different as heaven and earth.


    "What is an immortal doing here?"


    "I don''t know."


    "This is my first time seeing an immortal."


    Questions raced through the minds of the countless immortal cultivators preparing for the trial. Even the dozens of Amethyst Cradle cultivators from the Bloodforge Devil Hall were equally puzzled.


    Immortals, typically aloof and distant, rarely graced these teleportation arrays with their presence.


    Just then, a dazzling beam of light shot up from the center of the colossal teleportation array, catching everyone''s attention.


    "Has another world sent someone over?"


    "I wonder which world it is, and how many immortal cultivators they''ve sent."


    "Wait! It''s just one, wearing a white robe."


    "Just one person?" The eyes of many immortal cultivators widened in disbelief.


    One immortal cultivator? How feeble must such a world be, to send only a single Golden Core cultivator to the Bloodforge Battle?

 Chapter 437: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (4)

    <h4>Chapter 437: First Entry Into The Devil Hall (4)</h4>


    A swarm of Amethyst Cradle cultivators suddenly surrounded the white-robed young man, escorting him directly to the figure in blood robes. They bowed respectfully.


    The man in blood robes smiled, his voice smooth as silk. "Wu Yuan, I am Pu Yang."


    Wu Yuan returned a slight bow. "Greetings, Immortal Pu Yang."


    Inwardly, he sighed with relief. Initially, he felt some apprehension, fearing Daoist Long''s ims regarding the Bloodforge Devil Hall were untrue. However, the presence of an immortal personally greeting him assuaged his fears. After all, if an immortal wished him harm, such borate deception would be unnecessary.


    "Good," Immortal Pu Yang continued, his eyes gleaming. "I''vee under the High Immortal''s orders to conduct the initial assessment. Wu Yuan, your vital aura reveals an incredibly strong immortal root - likely third-degree. Your soul is equally impressive."


    The surrounding Amethyst Cradle cultivators listened with trembling hearts. A third-degree immortal root? To them, it was the stuff of legends.


    Pu Yang chuckled. "It seems Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s information was urate. Regardless of your performance in the Golden Core Dark Star evaluation, as long as you swear an oath to the Taiyuan Divine Court, you qualify as an elite disciple of my Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Here is your token." With a casual flick of his wrist, Immortal Pu Yang materialized a token and sent it floating towards Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan grasped it, feeling its weight. "Thank you, Immortal."


    Pu Yang turned to address another figure. "Xiong Yuan, I leave him in your care." Then, to Wu Yuan: "From now on, follow Protectorate Xiong Yuan. Remember, give it your all. Don''t disappoint the High Immortal."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Don��t disappoint the High Immortal? Even though he was new to this ce and did not fully understand the situation, Wu Yuan had previously interacted with Daoist Long and several others.


    Thus, he vaguely grasped theplex power dynamics at y within the Bloodforge Devil Hall. High Immortals ruled over numerous worlds, engaging in fierce overt and covert battles. Their subordinates also shed with each other. He had likely just been assigned to a High Immortal��s camp.


    In a blink, Immortal Pu Yang led his subordinates and quickly departed, leaving behind a burly man d in ck armor and a few Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    The man in ck armor stepped forward, his smile seemingly honest. "I am Xiong Yuan. Follow me to the Dark Star Spacetime. Once you''vepleted level seven, I''ll exin everything in detail."


    "Let��s go." Protectorate Xiong Yuan led the Amethyst Cradle cultivators and flew off into the distance.


    Wu Yuan quickly followed.


    Dark Star? Wu Yuan was clueless, but since he was in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, he could only obey.


    "Farewell, Immortal."


    "Farewell, Protectorate." The dozens of Amethyst Cradle cultivators guarding this space all bowed respectfully.


    The scene left the hundreds of thousands of waiting immortal cultivators in shock. Though they couldn''t hear the conversation, the visual spectacle spoke volumes.


    Whispers rippled through the crowd: "That person is only at the Golden Core phase."


    "He��s a Spiritual Body cultivator with a powerful aura, but no matter how strong, he��s still just a Spiritual Body cultivator."


    "He isn''t wearing the attire of a devil hall disciple, he must be a neer."


    "A neer arriving at the devil hall for the first time, and an immortal personallyes here to greet him?"


    What they witnessed today was beyond their understanding.


    Among the group of blue-robed Golden Core cultivators, one couldn''t contain his curiosity. "Senior Brother, do you know who that is?"


    The blue-robed bald youth''s eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and fear. "A peerless genius. Likely the sort of prodigy our ancestor spoke of - the most monstrous talent among millions. His status in the devil hall might rival a Void Refiner Protectorate."


    "If he can rival a protectorate now, he has a chance of bing an immortal in the future."


    He continued solemnly, "Memorize his soul aura. If you encounter him in the Bloodforge Battle, keep your distance."


    The other cultivators exchanged shocked nces. Their Senior Brother had never behaved like this before.


    A timid voice piped up, "How powerful can he be, Senior Brother?"


    "I estimate that if we don''t form an array, ughtering thousands of us alone won''t be a problem for him," the blue-robed bald youth replied gloomily.


    Silence fell as the implications sank in. One man, capable of ughtering tens of thousands of them effortlessly?


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan and Protectorate Xiong Yuan soared ahead.


    Four Amethyst Cradle cultivators trailed behind, yet their faces were devoid of any trace of discontent, their hearts free of dissatisfaction.


    Before they set out, Protectorate Xiong Yuan had informed them that the individual they were about to receive was a hopeful contender for the title of first-tier division Bloodforge Seed, a peerless genius.


    They naturally understood what that implied. The greatest of top-tier geniuses!


    Just now, an immortal descended in person for a preliminary assessment, further confirming this.


    "Wu Yuan, Long Guang and Jing Shan have already reported your information to me, and I have passed it on to High Immortal Wu Tian." Protectorate Xiong Yuan said.


    "High Immortal Wu Tian values you very much. He hopes that you can be a Bloodforge Seed." Protectorate Xiong Yuan stated.


    "Bloodforge Seed?" Wu Yuan''s face was filled with confusion.


    "The Bloodforge Battle is not just a simple trial, it will also attract the attention of countless high-ranking individuals from my Bloodforge Devil Hall." Protectorate Xiong Yuan exined.


    "The so-called Bloodforge Seed is a disciple with immense power and potential. They will receive an extra life in the trial."


    "Ordinary participants, once defeated in battle, are doomed to death. But the first time Bloodforge Seeds are defeated in battle, they will be moved to a safe area, with a chance to start over." Protectorate Xiong Yuan said.


    "After all, geniuses of this caliber are rare. Even though the Bloodforge Devil Hall is cruel in its tempering process, it also has its considerations."


    "A chance to start over?" Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened.


    Naturally, he must strive for such an important opportunity.


    "However, the devil hall has stringent criteria for the selection of Bloodforge Seeds," Protectorate Xiong Yuan stated.


    "In our Redmoon division, a total of thirty-six High Immortals are responsible for raising disciples, with millions of worldlets under theirmand. They have trained over a million Golden Core disciples."


    "In the uing Bloodforge Battle, our Redmoon division alone will send over a hundred million Golden Core participants."


    Over a million? Over a hundred million Golden Core cultivators?


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan was not overly surprised. After all, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, just one of the many sects on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, already had tens of millions of Golden Core disciples, what more the Bloodforge Devil Hall?


    Wu Yuan also understood the difference between these figures. The former million disciples were nurtured directly by the Bloodforge Devil Hall, and their abilities were likely stronger on average.


    The recruited hundred million Golden Core cultivators were likely loose cultivators, with varying abilities.


    ��Despite such immense numbers of Golden Core cultivators, we have only managed to select just over eighty Bloodforge Seeds at the Golden Core phase," Protectorate Xiong Yuanmented. "As for High Immortal Wu Tian, he has yet to select a single one."


    "Not even a single one?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    He suddenly understood why High Immortal Wu Tian valued him so highly, even going so far as to send an Earth Immortal to assess him.


    <i>The Bloodforge Devil Hall likely requires these High Immortals to select a certain number of elite disciples every hundred years. This must be one of their assessment criteria.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Disciples had their hardships, but those in the upper echelons had their own troubles too.


    Given the philosophy of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, how could the high-ranking individuals be allowed to have it easy?


    <i>With over eighty Bloodforge Seeds, it means that on average, each High Immortal is able to send just over two. But, not having selected even a single Bloodforge Seed as the Bloodforge Battle draws near, High Immortal Wu Tian��s reputation is likely at stake.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    But, how difficult was it to be this so-called Bloodforge Seed?


    "To be a Bloodforge Seed, there''s only one criterion �� outstandingbat power," Protectorate Xiong Yuan said, "You must pass the Dark Star assessment."


    "Once you''ve passed level seven, you can be a Bloodforge Seed."


    Dark Star assessment? Level seven? Wu Yuan listened in silence.


    Time passed as Wu Yuan followed Protectorate Xiong Yuan.


    After a teleportation array transfer, they arrived in an entirely different space.


    "Wu Yuan, look, there is the Dark Star." Protectorate Xiong Yuan pointed into the distance.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze followed. In the endless space, he saw a huge dark red star with a diameter of over a million li, emitting a chilling aura of blood.


    From the naked eye, he could make out arge number of immortal cultivators lining up to enter the Dark Star.

 Chapter 438: Earth-shattering (1)

    <h4>Chapter 438: Earth-shattering (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment as he beheld the colossal star spanning over a million li.


    In terms of size, it far surpassed ordinary stars ands. After all, the Blue which nurtured all life in his previous life did not even reach three million li in diameter. The Dragon Star of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect was just over a hundred thousand li in diameter.


    However, it wasn��t the star''s immensity that sent tremors through Wu Yuan''s heart. He was no longer the greenhorn who just left Summerpeak.


    His years on the Redmoon Immortal Continent had exposed him to wonders beyond imagination, including encounters with more than one High Immortal. The treasurends of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had each been extraordinary in their own right as well.


    Moreover, the ��Celestial Body Law Codex�� that Wu Yuan obtained contained the mental imprint of a Great Eldritch. Although only a strand, it was inconceivably powerful.


    Despite all this, the dark red star before him stirred a primal fear in his soul, as if he faced a monstrous beast capable of devouring existence itself.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan, observing Wu Yuan''s reaction, nodded approvingly. "You sense it, don''t you? Impressiveposure for your first glimpse of the Dark Star. Many Golden Core cultivators would be on their knees, paralyzed with terror by now."


    "It takes a while to get used to it." Protectorate Xiong Yuan continued.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    This Dark Star was indeed extraordinary, far more powerful than the Redmoon Star he had previously seen.


    "In my Bloodforge Devil Hall, there is an ancient saying: the Dark Star is dyed red with blood," Protectorate Xiong Yuan��s eyes flickered to Wu Yuan''s face.


    "Dyed red with blood?" Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the Dark Star, its dark red color lending it an even more fearsome appearance.


    "Wu Yuan, have you heard of the Redmoon Immortal Hall?" Protectorate Xiong Yuan suddenly changed the topic.


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Daoist Long mentioned it. It is a super faction that rules the mainndmass of the Redmoon Immortal Continent and is said to be stronger than the Devil Hall."


    Daoist Long had indeed mentioned this.


    The powerhouses from the Redmoon Immortal Hall and Bloodforge Devil Hall rarely crossed paths, but both acknowledged the other''s existence.


    "Haha, it is only stronger than the Redmoon division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall." Protectorate Xiong Yuanughed, "The strength of the entire devil hall is beyond your wildest imagination. It canpete with a whole immortal world."


    ��Surprise�� flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes at this ��revtion��.


    "To assess the strength of its disciples, the Redmoon Immortal Hall has a so-called Seven Star Luminaries Tower in the voidrealm where the avatars of challengers engage in battle with its guardians." Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s tone dripped with contempt.


    "Even in real-world fights, various safeguards are implemented, all in the name of preventing disciples from getting hurt."


    His lip curled in a sneer. "In truth, it''s mere weakness, a fear of confronting death. Their immortal cultivators are like children raised in honey jars, sheltered from the harsh realities of the world. Their chances of sessful breakthrough are pitiful, most simply squandering cultivation resources."


    As Wu Yuan listened, he was taken aback.


    So this was how the powerhouses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall viewed the immortal cultivators of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    "Our Bloodforge Devil Hall emphasizes realbat. Every battle is a dance with death," Xiong Yuan gestured towards the distant star. "Battles on the Dark Star unfold in the physical world, each challenge carrying the risk of permanent demise. Countless disciples have perished there over the eons."


    <i>Risk of permanent demise? </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    The Bloodforge Devil Hall''s reputation for brutality was well-earned. Even a simple internal disciple assessment carried lethal risk, showing the cruelty of their training process.


    "Only when faced with the imminent threat of death does one''s life potential truly awaken," chuckled Protectorate Xiong Yuan.


    ��Furthermore, it serves as a stern lesson for countless disciples, teaching them not to recklessly challenge the Dark Star with blind arrogance."


    "It also serves as a warning to all disciples to n before they act. If they die, they die," Protectorate Xiong Yuan solemnly added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slowly. The more he cultivated, the more he understood the saying ''only by living can one have everything''.


    "Protectorate, rest assured, I will be careful and make it out alive." Wu Yuan said softly.


    "I believe in you." Protectorate Xiong Yuan smiled, "The Dark Star is divided into the Golden Core Dark Star and Amethyst Cradle Dark Star. The purpose of the Origin Blood World is to raise disciples at the Golden Core phase."


    "This is the Golden Core Dark Star. Survive the challenge, conquer sufficient levels, and a bounty of resources and privileges will be yours."


    "There''s no age limit, only a limit on one��s cultivation level: you must be at the Golden Core phase to take on the challenge."


    "The whole Golden Core Dark Star consists of twenty levels in total. Clear level four, and you''ll be considered an elite disciple of the Origin Blood World. Clear level six, and you''ll be recognized as a core disciple. Clear level seven, and you''ll be a Bloodforge Seed."


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan looked at Wu Yuan, "That is to say, in the current Origin Blood World, out of the million Golden Core disciples directly nurtured by the devil hall, only slightly more than eighty have cleared level seven of the Dark Star."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    The sharpening of the chopper doesn��t dy the chopping of wood. All of this was crucial information he had not known about previously.


    "Wu Yuan, as long as your battle recording wasn��t fabricated, you should easily clear level seven with your strength," Protectorate Xiong Yuan said earnestly. "Aim for the top spot in the current generation�C it''s within your reach. The High Immortal has ced great faith in you. Don''t disappoint him."


    "Once you be a Bloodforge Seed, or even take the first ce, the High Immortal will surely reward you handsomely," Protectorate Xiong Yuan stated. "Moreover, if you aspire to hold a high position in the devil hall and seek a wealth of cultivation resources, then make sure to demonstrate your full capabilities."


    "I''ve heard that you value your homnd greatly? Although our Bloodforge Devil Hall is strict, we are also generous to those who prove their strength," Protectorate Xiong Yuan smiled.


    "As long as you''re strong and talented enough, you could very well be the ruler of Summerpeak, or even the World Master."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile. Another drawing of a cake!


    However, while an ordinary Golden Core cultivator might find it hard to swallow Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s huge cake, Wu Yuan felt hopeful.


    "Protectorate Xiong Yuan, what''s the highest level that a Golden Core disciple from the Redmoon division has cleared to date?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    The Golden Core Dark Star consisted of twenty levels in all. To be a Bloodforge Seed just by clearing level seven, it meant the difficulty level posed by the Dark Star was high.


    In the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, where each tower consisted of one hundred levels, passing level fifty was considered an extraordinary feat.


    "You''ll find out once you''re inside," Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Come, follow me down."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Six figures swiftly soared toward the massive Dark Star in the distance, its colossal entrance spanning a thousand li graduallying into focus. Even with Xiong Yuan''s Elysian Field phase strength, the journey took considerable time.


    Ten queues stretched before the entrance, each filled with numerous immortal cultivators.


    "So many people." Wu Yuan swept his gaze over the crowd, estimating their numbers to exceed ten thousand.


    "Within the Dark Star, there are ten battle spaces, capable of amodating ten cultivators simultaneously," Protectorate Xiong Yuan exined with a smile.


    "Ordinarily, a Golden Core cultivator would only attempt it once every year or two. Hence, on regr days, the queue isn''t this long."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "However, with the Bloodforge about to begin, cultivators from millions of worldlets have started to arrive," Protectorate Xiong Yuan continued. "These newly-arrived Golden Core cultivators also have the right to attempt it, with one chance each year."


    "Each sessful level clear grants the challenger a reward. Understandably, this draws huge crowds of cultivators. In the final months before the Bloodforge, the queues may swell to over a million cultivators," Protectorate Xiong Yuan chuckled.


    A million Golden Core cultivators? Wu Yuan''s mind reeled at the staggering figures.


    "The more attempts, the more deaths. Historically, before every Bloodforge Battle, a vast number of Golden Core cultivators don��t even make it to the Bloodforge itself, dying on the Dark Star instead," Protectorate Xiong Yuan said.


    "Here is the information on each level of the Dark Star. Take it." With a wave of his hand, he handed a jade slip to Wu Yuan.


    "Thank you, Protectorate." Wu Yuan epted it and began to examine it straight away.


    Soon, Wu Yuan formted a n in his mind.


    "Let''s go, I''ll escort you in," Protectorate Xiong Yuan gripped Wu Yuan''s shoulder, propelling them towards the entrance at breathtaking speed.


    The overwhelming force left Wu Yuan with no chance to resist. Elysian Field Eminence could contend with a Void Refiner Eminence with their physical strength alone. How could a Spiritual Body youngster like Wu Yuan possibly resist?


    "Protectorate, shouldn''t we queue?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "The High Immortal is eagerly waiting for you to bring him good news. Queue? What queue?" Protectorate Xiong Yuan retorted, leading Wu Yuan into the Dark Star.


    Their actions drew the ire of the thousands of Golden Core cultivators waiting in line, their grumbles of discontent rising like a wave:


    "Why does he get to cut in line?"


    "I''ve never seen that Spiritual Body cultivator before."


    "Why don''t they have to queue?"


    "Why aren''t the Amethyst Cradle Reverends stopping them?"


    Sharp rebukes cut through theints:


    "Silence! That''s a Void Refiner Protectorate; he has the right to bring someone in directly. After living in the Origin Blood World for so long, you still don''t understand the rules?"


    "All of you had better shut up. Want to skip the line? Fine, invite a Void Refiner Protectorate or clear level seven."


    "Quiet." More than ten Amethyst Cradle Reverends materialized in the air, their growls echoing ominously.


    Furthermore, quite a few Amethyst Cradle enforcers brandished special whips,shing out at the noisiest Golden Core cultivators. Pain silenced the queue, as Wu Yuan and Xiong Yuan vanished into the depths of the Dark Star.

 Chapter 439: Earth-shattering (2)

    <h4>Chapter 439: Earth-shattering (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan and Xiong Yuan traversed hundreds of li through a passage, finally emerging onto a vast floating za. Towering walls of gleaming metal stretched in all directions, spanning a thousand li.


    At the far end of the za stood ten small teleportation arrays, each one clearly leading to a different challenge zone.


    Over a dozen Amethyst Cradle cultivators maintained order, their watchful eyes scanning the area. Among them stood a Void Refiner Eminence in white robes. The man''s aura was palpable, radiating an intimidating power.


    "Xiong Yuan," the white-robed elder chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "What brings you here?"


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan responded with a grin, his tone light but purposeful. "Old Luo, I''ve got a task to handle. Thisd here, Wu Yuan, I hope you can arrange an early run through the Dark Star for him."


    The elderly man''s gaze shifted to Wu Yuan, who stood respectfully to the side. His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Oh? An early run? Just joined our devil hall, have you?"


    Members of the devil hall could perceive each other''s identity tokens. The white-robed elder, a supervisor of the Dark Star, was intimately familiar with the exceptional talents in the Origin Blood World. Wu Yuan''s face, however, drew no recognition. This could only mean one thing �C he was a recent addition to their ranks.


    "Protectorate Luo��s insight is indeed remarkable," Wu Yuan said, bowing slightly.


    The elder waved off thepliment. "Spare me the ttery. Since Protectorate Xiong Yuan brought you here personally, you must be quite capable." His voice took on a matter-of-fact tone. "Head to Teleportation Array Nine. Thest challenger just died in there, which actually saves us the trouble of teleporting him out."


    <i>Thest challenger just died in there? Is he trying to intimidate me? </i>Wu Yuan mumbled inwardly. Outwardly, he maintained hisposure, bowing once more.


    "Understood!" With a fluid motion, Wu Yuan crossed dozens of li in an instant, stepping into Teleportation Array Nine. A brilliant sh of light engulfed him, and he vanished from sight.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan chuckled, a hint of reproach in his voice. "Old Luo, there''s no need to scare the youngster."


    The white-robed elder remained unperturbed. "If this small scare is enough to shake his confidence, I doubt he''ll survive the Bloodforge Battle," he stated calmly. His eyes narrowed as he continued, "Now tell me, where did you fish him up from? You seem to value him highly. He should be capable of clearing level five, no?"


    The elder''s voice took on a contemtive tone. "I sense a strong vitality from his body, a fourth-degree immortal root perhaps? His soul seems quite formidable too."


    He shook his head, tempering his initial assessment. "Nevertheless, a strong immortal root doesn''t mean much. He appears rather young; his Daoprehension should only be fairly average. I hope he doesn''t fail toplete level five at least."


    It was clear the elder didn''t think highly of Wu Yuan. In his eyes, the boy was simply too young.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Level five? Old Luo, just you wait and see. This time, you''re in for a real surprise."


    Intrigue flickered in the elder''s eyes. "Oh? So confident? Could it be that this is a top-tier genius High Immortal Wu Tian discovered, capable of clearing level seven?"


    Xiong Yuan''s smile widened, but he offered no further exnation.


    Astonishment crept into the elder''s voice. "He''s really that strong?" He knew Protectorate Xiong Yuan was not one for empty boasts.


    With a wave of his hand, the elder conjured a shimmering light screen before them. It projected a vivid image of Wu Yuan within the Dark Star, visible only to the two of them. The Amethyst Cradle custodians and Golden Core disciples preparing for their turn had no ess to this.


    "Not even sixty? So young," the elder murmured, subtly surprised. He could only get a general estimation of Wu Yuan''s age before. But within the Dark Star, he could perceive Wu Yuan''s information in greater detail.


    "He is indeed very young," Protectorate Xiong Yuan smiled. He had long read through the intel provided by Daoist Long regarding Wu Yuan��s profile.


    A sense of relief washed over him. This confirmed that Wu Yuan had been truthful about his age, at least.


    "He''s about to begin," the white-robed elder announced, his attention fixed on the projection.


    ...


    Inside the Dark Star, Wu Yuan materialized in a spherical space roughly a thousand li in diameter. Blood-red metallic walls enclosed the area. Despite this, the entire space was as bright as daylight, making it all the more eerie.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes scanned his surroundings, the Star Spirit''s voice still echoing in his mind. <i>Level one?</i> He thought, taking in the bizarre environment.


    He quickly recalled the rules: The ��levels�� were merely categories of power, not physical floors. All battles across the levels would take ce in this singr, enclosed sphere.


    The use of ethercrystal weapons, overpowered talismans, and other external weaponry was strictly forbidden during the fight.


    Most crucially, after each level''s battle concluded, the challenger had the option to leave thebat space.


    However, choosing to continue meant epting a deadly risk: In the first half a breath �C roughly three seconds �C from the start of the next fight, surrender was not an option. It was victory or death.


    <i>In other words, if I can''tst even three seconds on a level, I''m as good as dead,</i> Wu Yuan thought grimly. Three seconds hardly seemed like a long time, but for cultivators of their caliber, hundreds of lethal exchanges could ur in a single second.


    Now Wu Yuan understood why so many disciples of the Bloodforge Devil Hall perished in the Dark Star. Unlike the Seven Star Luminaries Tower his qi refiner self challenged, where failure meant another attempt, here it was a one-shot deal.


    When challenging the Dark Star, one must only fight battles they were confident of winning, always prepared to meet death.


    Taking a deep breath, Wu Yuan announced, "Star Spirit, begin the battle." His words rippled through his invisible Domain.


    An unseen pressure descended upon the entirebat zone. Right after, countless droplets of obsidian liquid materialized from thin air. They coalesced rapidly, forming a figure d in dark, forbidding armor. In one hand, it clutched a massive shield; in the other, a wicked saber gleamed. The figure''s gaze, visible through its helm, was as cold as ice, fixed unwaveringly on Wu Yuan.


    "Die!" The armored figure''s roar echoed through the space as it shot forward like a bullet, its speed increasing with each passing moment.


    Wu Yuan, however, merely frowned slightly and stood his ground, unmoving.


    As the armored figure crossed into the hundred-li radius around Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan��s eyes shed. "Suppress!" hemanded.


    At his mentalmand, a surge of earthy yellow qi streams erupted from nowhere. They roared through the air, taking on the form of sinuous, earthy dragons as they charged towards the armored figure.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Like a barrage of lightning strikes, the earthy yellow dragons engulfed and annihted the armored figure in mere moments. The actual battle hadsted no more than half a breath.


    Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed as he observed the aftermath. <i>The ck liquid is gone? A first-stage Spiritual Body cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root? He can''t even control a Domain?</i>


    He shook his head slightly. <i>Level one is easy indeed. Even Old Fang could easily clear this level.</i>


    A cold, disembodied voice echoed through thebat space. "Congrattions, Wu Yuan, for passing level one of the Golden Core Dark Star. Do you wish to rest?"


    Wu Yuan knew that, as per the rules, each challenger was allowed a rest of one hour after each level to restore essentia, ether, and mental energy before proceeding to the next level.


    "No need. Next level," Wu Yuan dered in a low, determined tone.


    ...


    Outside the Dark Star, the white-robed elderly man stared in shock at the projection. "Such a powerful Domain, capable of ughtering a Golden Core cultivator?" he eximed, hisposure momentarily shaken.


    "What do you think?" Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s grin widened, a hint of pride in his voice.


    The elderly man''s eyes remained fixed on Wu Yuan within the projection. "He has definitely reached the True Intent stage," he muttered.


    He knew that clearing the first level wasn''t particrly difficult. Any Golden Core cultivator with some experience could manage it. But to not even move an inch, killing the guardian with only one''s Domain? That was a feat worthy of note.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan was a body refiner. Ether couldn''t enhance his Domain, generally making it weaker than a qi refiner''s. One could only imagine how profound Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension must be to ovee this inherent disadvantage.


    The white-robed elder turned to Protectorate Xiong Yuan, his voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity. "Xiong Yuan, where did you find this monstrous prodigy? Under sixty years old and he''s alreadyprehended the True Intent of a Dao? Moreover, hisprehension of the Dao probably exceeds the first-level True Intent stage."


    He continued, his tone thoughtful, "His cultivation has also reached the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase, hasn''t it? Even if he can''t make it through level seven, he''ll definitely pass level six. Give him a few more decades, and he''ll definitely be a Bloodforge Seed."


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan''sughter rang out. "A few more decades? Old Luo, watch carefully. You are about to understand what it means to be called a peerless genius."


    The elderly man in the white robe was taken aback, but quickly turned his attention back to the projection.


    As he watched, a look of utter shock spread across his weathered face.

 Chapter 440: Earth-shattering (3)

    <h4>Chapter 440: Earth-shattering (3)</h4>


    Within the battle space of the Dark Star, a low rumble echoed as ck liquid materialized from thin air once again. It coalesced swiftly, forming another ck-robed guardian. Unlike its predecessor, this entity was no longer a body refiner, but a qi refiner.


    With a sharp whistle, dozens of flying swords streaked towards Wu Yuan, their des glinting ominously.


    <i>Fourth-stage Golden Core phase? </i>Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly. The vital aura and mana pool he sensed were based on a sixth-degree immortal root, the most ordinary kind among Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators and Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    "Little ck, go!" Wu Yuanmanded.


    A ck blur shot out from his left arm, transforming into a gigantic serpent hundreds of zhangs long. Its scales gleamed like polished obsidian as it unfurled its massive wings, blotting out the artificial sky of the battle space.


    "Kill!" Little ck''s voice resonated with unbridled excitement. It had been far too long since itst experienced such a life-or-death battle. As a descendant of ancient savage beasts, the thrill of blood-soakedbat ran deep in its veins.


    Its wings trembled, and like a bolt of midnight lightning shing through the sky, Little ck''s speed soared to terrifying heights.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! I</i>ts two wings, sharp as giant sabers, instantly sent the flying swords careening off course and sliced clean through the ck-robed guardian.


    The twobatants were simply not on the same level. With a sickening st, the guardian met instant death.


    Level two, cleared!


    ...On level three, Little ck stepped in once more, clearing it with the same ease as before.


    ...On level four of the Dark Star, the guardian''s power skyrocketed to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and his Daoprehension had reached the sixth-level Domain stage. Such strength would be considered formidable within the Golden Core phase, a one-in-a-thousand talent.


    Yet in this battle, Little ck dispatched the guardian of the fourth level in a mere ten moves, without even unleashing its ether art.


    ...Level five was another increase in difficulty. While the guardian''s Daoprehension remained at the sixth-level Domain stage, its mana now rivaled that of a Golden Core cultivator with a fourth-degree immortal root. In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, such an entity would rank among the top tier of inner disciples.


    Little ck finally unleashed its ether art. The moment it cast its advanced ether art, Realm Crossing, its speed skyrocketed once more.


    The increase in velocity brought with it a formidable boost in attack power. After three consecutive, bone-shattering collisions, the guardian fell.


    "Master, how exhrating! Truly exhrating!" Little ck eximed, its voice bubbling with childlike enthusiasm.


    Wu Yuanughed, understanding the source of Little ck''s tion. Teng Snakes innately craved battle, and for decades, both of them had remained in the Middle Land with no worthy opponents. Even Fang Xia couldn''tst two moves against it.


    The constant need to conceal its existence had left Little ck feeling isted and restless. Now, the Bloodforge Devil Hall was finally satisfying Little ck''s primal desire forbat.


    <i>The natural talent of Teng Snakes is truly incredible</i>. Wu Yuan mused inwardly as he watched Little ck''s speed escte to its peak.


    Teng Snakes were naturally favored by the Wind Dao. Much like how Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was naturally a Terranean Divine Body, the Teng Snake could be considered a natural Wind Dao Body.


    Moreover, the Daoprehension aptitude of a lifebound eldritch beast was intrinsically linked to its master''s strength. The more powerful and talented the master, the greater the potential increase in the beast''s strength.


    Over the past few decades, Little ck had not only umted vast amounts of mana but also delved deep into the contemtion of the Gale Dao, a Lesser Law, reaching the eighth-level Domain stage ofprehension. While it might not match up to a peerless genius, it could certainly rival an ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    Furthermore, Little ck possessed a third-degree immortal root. Though currently only at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase, its strength was nothing short of extraordinary.


    ...


    At the entrance to the Dark Star, the elderly man in white robes, Old Luo, stared at the light screen projection in utter disbelief. Even Protectorate Xiong Yuan, who was already aware of Wu Yuan''s strength, found himself shocked as he watched the same projection.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan had known Wu Yuan was powerful, but to clear level five of the Dark Star with just his spirit beast? It seemed impossible. If his spirit beast was this formidable, what untold power did Wu Yuan himself possess?


    "Impossible!" Old Luo eximed, hisposure shattered. He turned to Protectorate Xiong Yuan, his eyes wide. "Where did this Wu Yuane from? What manner of lifebound spirit beast is this?"


    Little ck, shielded by the dual concealment effects of eldritch armor and the Veiled Serpent Plume, remained unidentifiable as a Teng Snake based on appearances alone.


    "I don''t know," Protectorate Xiong Yuan admitted, shaking his head.


    Old Luo shot him a skeptical re. "You''re still hiding things from me at this point?"


    "I truly don''t know," Protectorate Xiong Yuan insisted, a bitter smile crossing his face. "I knew Wu Yuan was formidable, but I didn''t expect him to be this powerful."


    "He''s too strong," Old Luo muttered, more to himself than to Xiong Yuan. "His spirit beast alone is this powerful, executing advanced ether arts. It must have a third-degree immortal root at least. Wu Yuan hasn''t even reached the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase? Unbelievable."


    "Once he activates Beast Fusion and trulyunches an attack, he can definitely clear level ten," Old Luo continued, his voice filled with awe.


    "He''s not even sixty years old? A peerless genius indeed." The elderly man shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I''ve never seen a genius like this before. This is a genius destined to make history."


    Old Luo had seen cultivators clear level ten of the Dark Star before, but none so young. After all, he had only been supervising the Golden Core in the Dark Star for a mere thousand years or so.


    "In the past, I only read about such geniuses in ancient texts. Now, I''m witnessing one in the flesh." The elderly man in white stared at the light screen projection, his voice filled with anticipation. "Level six. I refuse to believe his spirit beast is strong enough to clear it alone."


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan fell silent, his gaze fixed on the light screen. Before Wu Yuan set out to challenge the Dark Star, he had worried that the young cultivator wasn''t as strong as the reports suggested. But now? He suspected that Wu Yuan was hiding his true power.


    ...Level six of the Dark Star.


    The guardian of this level was once again a body refiner, but his power was on apletely different scale.


    The moment he shed with Little ck, the guardian unleashed an astonishing level of strength. While hisprehension of the Dao remained at the sixth-level Domain stage, his mana capacity approached that of a first-stage Shambh phase cultivator (sixth-degree immortal root).


    From afar, Wu Yuan''s face tightened as he watched the battle unfold. <i>A ninth-stage Spiritual Body cultivator with a second-degree immortal root. </i>


    For immortal cultivators, the closer their strength approached the limit of a cultivation phase, the harder it became to increase it further.


    Consider an average Golden Core cultivator. Once their mana reached the ninth stage, they could only increase their strength through Daoprehension and the study of secret arts.


    Time was limited, talent was limited. Therefore, there was a limit to how much one��s strength could be increased.


    Wu Yuan finally understood why level seven of the Dark Star was the assessment for Bloodforge Seed candidates. Level six alone was already a formidable challenge.


    <i>The strength of the guardian on level six has reached the level of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator.</i>


    <i>If one can clear level six of the Dark Star, it would mean they have reached the threshold of the Amethyst Cradle phase in power. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, such strength is close to that of the hereditary disciples.</i>


    <i>Little ck is in trouble.</i>


    This was a colossal hurdle. The ability to battle opponents from higher cultivation phases had always been exclusive to peerless geniuses.


    As Wu Yuan had predicted, Little ck initially held its own against the guardian. But when the guardian unleashed three ether arts simultaneously, its power skyrocketed, and Little ck found itself immediately on the defensive, losing ground rapidly.


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension, Little ck is superior, but the constraints of being a lifebound eldritch beast make it difficult for it to practice multiple ether arts.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. <i>If I had advanced to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, Little ck would have a fighting chance. But now?</i>


    The gap in their foundations is too vast.


    "Little ck,e back," Wu Yuanmunicated through spiritual transmission.


    Little ck growled and shook its wings, seeming reluctant, but it obedientlyplied, swiftly retreating to Wu Yuan''s side. Its enormous body rapidly shrank and merged into Wu Yuan, ready to perform Beast Fusion.


    "You''ve been relying on your lifebound spirit beast to get this far. Now, die!" The towering hundred-zhang-tall guardian roared, wielding its saber and charging ferociously at Wu Yuan.


    "Is that so?" Wu Yuan grinned, extending his palms. His hands, white as the finest jade, began to grow dramatically. Both arms instantly stretched to hundreds of zhangs long, sweeping across the sky.


    Eldritch Form! True Celestial Body! Two grand ether arts erupted simultaneously, their power radiating through the battle space.


    A body refiner was known for their massive physique. For those Archeldritches and Archdeities who rivaled Archimmortals, their bodies could easily rival a worldlet in size, capable of turning heaven and earth upside down with a mere flick of a finger.


    Wu Yuan, despite being only at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase, could practice multiple ether arts and easily expand his body when he unleashed his power.


    <i>Size is synonymous with power! </i>Wu Yuan thrust both palms forward. They expanded with a thunderous boom. Two raging streams of earthy yellow qi flowed like dark clouds, one left and one right, striking the iing guardian at a startling speed.


    "Get lost!" The guardian roared, swinging its saber in defense.


    <i>Bam!</i> It was as easy as swatting a mosquito. Wu Yuan pped his palms together, smacking the guardian to death in an instant.


    <i>Weak.</i> Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly. Amethyst Cradle level strength? When Wu Yuan fully unleashed his power, he could kill an enemy at this level with a single p.


    "Next level.��


    ...


    Back at the entrance, Old Luo stammered in shock, hisposurepletely shattered. "This! This! This! Impossible! It shouldn''t be!"


    "Based on his foundation and ether capacity, Wu Yuan should be outssed," the elderly man muttered, hardly able to believe his eyes. "How could he kill the guardian with a single p?"


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan shook his head, equally incredulous. "It''s the ether art. The ether art that Wu Yuan exhibited is more powerful. Could it be a grand ether art?"

 Chapter 441: Earth-shattering (4)

    <h4>Chapter 441: Earth-shattering (4)</h4>


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan, being a body refiner himself, could appreciate Wu Yuan''s moves with a discerning eye. "But the most crucial aspect is his Daoprehension. I estimate it has reached the fifth or sixth-level True Intent stage," he remarked, his voice tinged with awe.


    The significance of this achievement wasn''t lost on either man. The fifth or sixth-level True Intent stage was a Dao Comprehension level beyond the reach of ny-nine percent of Amethyst Cradle cultivators. And Wu Yuan? He was merely a seventh-stage Spiritual Body cultivator.


    Both men continued watching the light screen projection. As anticipated, the guardian of level seven manifested as a first-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator at the seventh-level Domain stage. He could exhibit thebat prowess of a true Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    Yet, after a few exchanges, Wu Yuan dispatched the guardian with a single, earth-shattering p.


    Level seven, cleared!


    The light screen abruptly turned gray, cutting off their view. The elderly man in white robes shook his head. "With our authority, we cannot viewbat projections beyond level seven. Truly, a peerless genius. After this battle, he''s destined to soar through the ranks."


    "Hehe," Protectorate Xiong Yuan chuckled, his emotions a turbulent mix of astonishment and delight. For him, the stronger Wu Yuan was, the better.


    "Old Luo, it''s time to pass the news along, isn''t it?" Protectorate Xiong Yuan grinned.


    The old man in white robes muttered, "You must be thrilled. A Bloodforge Seed has finally emerged in High Immortal Wu Tian''s camp."


    "Enough grumbling, just pass it on," Protectorate Xiong Yuan urged.


    As dictated by the rules, news of a new Bloodforge Seed''s selection must be conveyed to the thirty-six High Immortals in charge of disciple training, as well as the other Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds.


    Soon, the elderly man in white robes broadcasted the news: A new Golden Core Bloodforge Seed under High Immortal Wu Tian, named Wu Yuan, has been selected.


    The news reached the eighty-six Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds and thirty-six High Immortals simultaneously.


    Just as he finished passing along the message, his eyes bulged, "He''s advanced this fast? Impossible!"


    "What''s going on?" Protectorate Xiong Yuan asked, momentarily taken aback.


    A heartbeatter, a smile spread across his face, and he erupted intoughter. "Well done! Very well done!"


    The source of their shock and tion was clear - Wu Yuan''s name had appeared on the Dark Star Leaderboard, iming third ce! In an astonishingly brief span, he had stormed through levels eight, nine, and ten of the Dark Star, and was now challenging the eleventh level.


    The elderly man in white robes spoke gravely. "In the past century, the Origin Blood World has trained millions of disciples. Although there are over eighty Bloodforge Seeds, only two peerless geniuses have managed to advance past level eleven of the Dark Star. I wonder if Wu Yuan can make it through."


    Unable to witness the battle projection directly, they could only rely on updates from the leaderboard to track Wu Yuan''s progress beyond level ten.


    "Old Luo, I believe you should pass along the message," Protectorate Xiong Yuan teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.


    The rules were clear - whenever a Bloodforge disciple advanced past level ten of the Dark Star, the supervisors were required to ry the news. It was their duty.


    "No rush," the elderly man responded calmly. "This Wu Yuan has exceptional abilities. We can wait until he finishes challenging level eleven before passing on the message. Once he advances, he''ll be on par with the other two peerless geniuses of the Origin Blood World."


    "Do as you please," Protectorate Xiong Yuan replied, his demeanor rxed. To him, as long as Wu Yuan became a Bloodforge Seed, he had fulfilled the expectations of the High Immortal.


    Anything beyond that? That was up to Wu Yuan''s performance.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the heart of the Origin Blood World, within District One, stood Mansion One.


    This wasn''t merely a residence; it was a symbol of supremacy. The million Golden Core disciples scattered across the Origin Blood World were divided into ten districts, with those in District One being the cream of the crop, each a top-tier genius. All of them were Bloodforge disciples.


    The individual residing in Mansion One held the distinction of being the strongest among the million Golden Core disciples.


    The rules of the Origin Blood World were brutally simple, disregarding differences in age, mana, or cultivation. Any Bloodforge disciple could challenge the master of Mansion One, with victory granting not only the right to reside there but also substantial rewards.


    <i>Inside the mansion.</i>


    ��There are only three years left before the Bloodforge Battle begins.��


    ��I must strive harder, I can''t let Grandfather down.�� A young girl, dressed only in a sheer white garment, sat in the lotus position on a jade tform, her bare feet untainted by dirt or blemishes.


    Her eyes were extraordinarily lively, and her porcin-doll face held a hint of maturity that belied her age.


    "Grandfather, I''ll definitely return with honor, revitalize our family, and personally annihte the Thousand Origin Gate."


    The memory of her grandfather risking everything to send her into the Bloodforge Devil Hall years ago, under the oppressive shadow of the Thousand Origin Gate, burned bright in her mind. For years, the fate of her entire family had remained a mystery, shrouded in uncertainty and fear.


    It wasn''t until decadester, as her power grew and her status in the Bloodforge Devil Hall rose, that she learned the harsh truth - her entire family had been reduced to servants by the Thousand Origin Gate, with many losing their lives in the process.


    Her rising influence had provided some protection for her family, deterring further oppression from the Thousand Origin Gate. But the humiliation of her family, the ache of separation from her kin - how could she ever forget that?


    <i>In this Origin Blood World, no Golden Core cultivator is my match. Shui Heng is currently my equal in strength, but he has been training for over 150 years. I have only trained for a hundred. In a few more years, I will undoubtedly surpass him.</i>


    <i>I am the strongest in the entire Redmoon division. However, this is just the beginning. The Bloodforge Battle brings together thousands of second-tier division geniuses from across the immortal nation. I''ve heard of some who have even cleared level fourteen of the Dark Star.</i>


    A fire burned in her eyes as she concluded. <i>My strength is not enough. I need to get stronger. I must not only acquire a Bloodforge opportunity but strive to seize the best one.</i>


    She was none other than Bai Li, the peerless genius who currently ranked first in the Golden Core phase of the Origin Blood World. Her prowess was legendary, having cleared level eleven of the Dark Star.


    <i>In three years, I must make further progress.</i> Bai Li mulled, her brow furrowed in concentration. <i>I need to cultivate the Law of Wind to a higher level and strive to clear level twelve of the Dark Star. Once I pass level twelve, I can receive even more treasures.</i>


    <i>However, to clear level twelve of the Dark Star, I need to attain thebat power of the fourth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.</i> Bai Li gritted her teeth.


    Her immortal root was of the third degree, and her mana had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core phase. Her Daoprehension stood at the fourth-level True Intent stage. Further breakthroughs were extremely challenging.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Suddenly, Bai Li received a message from the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm. Her eyes snapped open in surprise, a trace of confusion flickering across her pupils. She sent a tendril of Soul Force into the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm and began reading the message.


    <i>It''s a message from the supervisor of the Dark Star. Hm? There''s a new Bloodforge Seed named Wu Yuan? </i>Bai Li nced at it, initially dismissive.


    A Bloodforge Seed? In the Origin Blood World, regr Bloodforge Seeds could tackle up to level seven or eight of the Dark Star, a feat that made them the cream of the crop among millions in the Golden Core phase. But to Bai Li, a peerless genius who stood at the top, they posed no threat. She was confident she could obliterate them with a single move.


    However, momentster, as Bai Li had returned to her deep cultivation, another message from the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm interrupted her focus.


    <i>Another message from the Dark Star overseer? Could it be that another Bloodforge Seed has been selected? Or has someone cleared level ten of the Dark Star?</i> Curiosity piqued, she entered the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm to check the message.


    The contents were brief but earth-shattering: "Bloodforge Seed Wu Yuan has conquered levels eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve of the Dark Star, and is now attempting level thirteen."


    Bai Li was struck dumb. If memory served her right, this Wu Yuan had only just be a Bloodforge Seed.


    She began investigating immediately.


    <i>So it''s his first time in the Origin Blood World? His first attempt at challenging the Dark Star, and he''s already stormed through thirteen levels? </i>Bai Li felt tidal waves of emotion crashing inside her. <i>Where did this monstere from?</i>


    Yes, at that moment, there was only one word in Bai Li''s mind - monster!


    ...


    In a spacetime within the vast cosmos, a string of structures sprawled across the space, with a grand hall standing in the center.


    Within this hall, heartyughter resonated.


    "Haha, excellent! Well done!" The voice boomed, rich with satisfaction. "Just over fifty and he''s cleared up to level thirteen of the Dark Star? After a few more decades of cultivation, how many levels will he clear? This is going to send shockwaves even among the Archimmortals."


    "My Redmoon division hasn''t seen the likes of such a monstrous prodigy in tens of millions of years. I, Wu Tian, am truly fortunate to have such a peerless genius under mymand."


    Hisughter took on a triumphant edge. "Haha, that bunch of fools is alwaysughing at me. This Bloodforge Battle, it''s my turn to mock them. A Bloodforge King? It will be difficult! But there''s hope of producing a Bloodforge Marquis at least."


    The puppet soldiers stationed around the hall exchanged bewildered nces, unable toprehend the sudden outburst of mirth from their great High Immortal.


    However, they all understood one thing with crystal rity �C the High Immortal was very, very pleased.

 Chapter 442: An Astral Lord Descends (1)

    <h4>Chapter 442: An Astral Lord Descends (1)</h4>


    In District One of the Origin Blood World, not far from Mansion One, stood an opulent mansion. This was the residence of Shui Heng, the second-ranked genius of the Origin Blood World.


    Shui Heng was a formidable body refiner with a second-degree immortal root and mastery over powerful ether arts. However, his Daoprehension aptitude was merely average, leaving him a hair''s breadth behind Bai Li in overall power.


    <i>He cleared level twelve?</i> Shui Heng stood within a worldlet within his mansion. Spanning tens of thousands of li in radius, the worldlet served as his personal training ground for honing secret arts.


    Shui Heng cut an impressive figure, his long blue hair cascading down his back, framing a face that seemed chiseled from marble. His physique, honed to perfection, radiated power. Yet, at this moment, his striking features were marred by a look of profound shock.


    <i>Where did this genius spring from? How could he be so strong?</i>


    Shui Heng knew all too well how difficult a task it was to clear level twelve. He had attempted it twice, tasting bitter defeat both times. Even now, the prospect of conquering it seemed like a distant dream.


    <i>He''s challenging level thirteen? And he hasn''t failed yet?</i> A strand of Shui Heng''s consciousness sifted through the information from the Dark Star supervisor in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    The fact that Wu Yuan hadn''t yet failed spoke volumes �C even if his power wasn''t sufficient to ovee level thirteen, it was close.


    <i>I wonder how old this Wu Yuan is. Has he crossed a hundred years of age?</i> Shui Heng sighed.<i> If he hasn''t, then with such talent, he is worthy of being a first-tier division Bloodforge Seed!</i>


    <i>Who would''ve thought that our Redmoon division could produce such a monstrous prodigy? </i>Shui Heng felt he was dreaming.


    Unlike Bai Li, Shui Heng had a significant background, hailing from a powerful family. The ancestor of his family was an Earth Immortal from the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    As the most favored junior of the family in the past ten thousand years, he had ess to far more information and secrets than ordinary Golden Core cultivators.


    He knew the intricate hierarchy of the Bloodforge Devil Hall - how their Redmoon Division, a second-tier division, answered to the first-tier Silvermist Division, a colossus rivaling the Silvermist Immortal Nation itself.


    The Silvermist Immortal Nation consisted of about six thousand immortal continents. Meanwhile, the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall held sway over more than five thousand second-tier divisions. The number of exceptional cultivators produced within their territory was beyondprehension.


    To qualify as a second-tier Bloodforge Seed, one had to clear level seven of the Golden Core Dark Star. The Redmoon Division alone boasted over eighty such prodigies. Thus, one could only imagine the number produced by the Silvermist division.


    As for first-tier Bloodforge Seeds? To qualify, one must clear level fourteen of the Dark Star. ording to Shui Heng''s knowledge, only a handful existed within the entire Silvermist division. On average, a single first-tier Bloodforge Seed would emerge from hundreds of second-tier divisions.


    <i>Even if this Wu Yuan doesn''t qualify as a first-tier Bloodforge Seed, is still among the top of the top-tier geniuses.</i> Shui Heng shook his head, a rueful smile ying on his lips. <i>Being in the same division as such a genius is truly unfortunate.</i>


    Unlike the shocked Bai Li, Shui Heng maintained a semnce of calm. After all, Bai Li had already surpassed him. Was there much difference between second and third ce?


    Moreover, he understood that there would always be someone stronger out there.


    ...


    It wasn��t just Bai Li and Shui Heng. The entire District One of the Origin Blood World, including its eighty-plus Bloodforge Seeds, was in an uproar.


    Conquering level seven of the Dark Star meant possessing Amethyst Cradle level power, qualifying one as a Bloodforge Seed.


    Levels seven, eight and nine of the Dark Star represented a negligible difference in power, and more than ny percent of the Bloodforge Seeds were stuck within these three levels.


    "He''s too strong!"


    "Before this, I thought Bai Li''s strength was insane enough, but this Wu Yuan beat her by a significant margin."


    "It''s horrifying!"


    "You guys should know that Wu Yuan made it to level thirteen in one breath. Look, how long was the gap between the news of him clearing level seven and him clearing level twelve? What does this tell you?"


    "He sailed through the first twelve levels, not even breaking a sweat."


    "How heaven-defying!"


    "I''ve checked the records. The leaderboard of the Origin Blood World changes every hundred years, thest genius to clear level twelve appeared six hundred years ago."


    "Thest genius to cross level thirteen did so two thousand years ago."


    "Thest time someonepleted level fourteen? That would be six thousand years ago."


    "We might stand a chance against Bai Li and Shui Heng, but against Wu Yuan? We would probably be obliterated in one move." This sobering realization silenced many.


    The strength that Wu Yuan disyed had far surpassed their own, to the extent that they lost the courage topete with him.


    Fighting beyond one''s cultivation phase was something only one in tens of thousands of Golden Core cultivators could achieve


    One could say that these Bloodforge Seeds were extremely talented. Butpared to Wu Yuan, they were nothing more than trash!


    ...


    While the emergence of a new Bloodforge Seed always drew attention, clearing level twelve was the stuff of legends. However, to the true upper echelons of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon division, even such feats usually warranted little more than passing interest. In their long lives, they had seen countless talents at this level.


    But today was different.


    Above the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm''s Redmoon City, within a special space, stood an imposing temple.


    With the temple were two rows of eighteen massive metal seats, nking a blood-colored throne at the far end.


    One by one, figures materialized on the seats, their auras pulsing with unimaginable power. Their eyes, reflecting the weight of countless millennia, fixed upon a giant light screen that had materialized in the center of the temple.


    The projection detailed Wu Yuan''s progress through the Golden Core Dark Star, apanied by a stream of intelligence:


    Age fifty, seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase, second-degree immortal root...appears toprehend the Celestial Body Dao, reaching the fifth-level Domain stage...


    Lifebound spirit beast excels in speed and appears to have practiced an advanced ether art specializing in speed bursts. Possibly a third-degree immortal root...


    It was clear that some of this information had been gathered before Wu Yuan began challenging the Dark Star, while the rest was deduced during his battles.


    In no time, over thirty shadowy figures had appeared on the thirty-six enormous chairs.


    "What a monstrous prodigy!"


    "Where did he spring from? Wu Tian, where did you find him?"


    "Fifty years old and his strength has already reached this level? How heaven-defying!"


    "A Bloodforge Seed? His potential is immense. Among the first-tier Bloodforge Seeds, he''s probably at the top." The super powerhouses couldn''t mask their shock.


    "If he keeps up his training for another hundred years, he might even clear level seventeen."


    "He''s too young."


    "Despite his young age, his current strength is formidable."


    A young man in ck robes lounged on one of the chairs, a self-satisfied smirk ying on his lips. "This Wu Yuan is under mymand," he announced, pride evident in his voice. It was High Immortal Wu Tian.


    Evidently, the shadowy figures inside this temple were High Immortals from the Redmoon division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, responsible for nurturing disciples at the Golden Core phase.


    All thirty-six High Immortals were present. They had seen countless geniuses in their lives, even ones on the level of Bai Li and Shui Heng. But someone as heaven-defying as Wu Yuan?


    "I have lived for over three hundred thousand years and managed the Origin Blood World for over a hundred thousand years. This is the first time I''ve seen such a prodigy," a muscr High Immortal stated, his voice thick with amazement.


    "His showdown with the guardian of level thirteen has reached its climax."


    "A victor will soon be decided. Will he be able to defeat him?"


    "Once he clears level thirteen, level fourteen will be next."


    "Passing level fourteen means meeting the standard of a first-tier Bloodforge Seed." The thirty-odd High Immortals from the temple were all transfixed by the battle projection.


    Clearing level twelve meant Wu Yuan''s strength was within the top few thousand of the Silvermist Division.


    If he could get through level thirteen, it meant Wu Yuan had the potential to rank among the top thousand of the Silvermist Division.


    The difference was significant.


    ...


    Inside the Golden Core Dark Star, on level thirteen, the battle had reached a fever pitch.


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!" The ck-robed guardian''s roars echoed through the space, sounding like millions of voices howling in fury.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Over a thousand flying swords filled the sky, forming a river of gleaming metal. They coalesced into nine massive rocs, their bodies wreathed in mes that resembled phoenix feathers. These fiery constructs streaked across space with deafening cries, relentlessly assaulting Wu Yuan.


    The nine ming rocs, each formed by assembling a Hundred Swords Array, subtly interwove their power to form aplete Thousand Swords Array.


    It was clear that the guardian was an incredibly powerful Amethyst Cradle sword cultivator, his Daoprehension and mana capacity formidable even among those at the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    <i>Boom! </i>The nine massive fire rocs, their bodies reaching temperatures that distorted the very air around them, surged towards Wu Yuan in a tsunami of mes.


    <i>Ssss~</i> The scorching waves caused Wu Yuan''s earthy-yellow qi streams to crumbleyer byyer, unable to stem the relentless tide.


    <i>Huff! </i>Four arms swung through the air, Wu Yuan''s palms as ominous as looming storm clouds. His palm techniques shed against the fiery phoenixes, each strike sending tremors through their ming bodies and causing the mes to scatter unsteadily.


    Yet in just an instant, the phoenixes would recover to their peak power, their nine forms intertwining in an endless dance of destruction.


    <i>The True Intent stage of the Phoenix Dao,bined with the mana of the Amethyst Cradle phase to form a Thousand Swords Domain. How terrifying.</i> Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, pushing his body to its limits.


    He had already engaged in over a hundred exchanges with this guardian, yet still struggled to close the distance.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan was far superior - he estimated that the guardian had just grasped the True Intent stage.


    However, the gap in their foundation was substantial. The guardian was at the fifth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase (sixth-degree immortal root), while Wu Yuan was merely at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase. In terms of overall strength, the guardian even surpassed Daoist Jing Shan from the Summerpeak World.


    Wu Yuan''s ability to hold on till now was entirely due to the explosive power of his basic ether arts: Eldritch Form and Four-Armed Form, and the defenses of the True Celestial Body, a grand ether art. However, he couldn''t maintain such a stalemate indefinitely.


    <i>With the True Celestial Body, I can hold on for a while, but once my ether is exhausted, my strength will diminish greatly.</i> Wu Yuan understood this clearly.


    Qi refiners, once out of mana, were likembs waiting for ughter. But it took a considerable length of time to deplete one''s manapletely.


    Body refiners, with their formidable physical prowess, could unleash terrifyingbat power, but their ether consumption was extremely rapid. Once drained, they could no longer maintain their peak strength.


    Each one had its own merits.


    Wu Yuan had conquered the first twelve levels so quickly without much rest because he hadn''t consumed any ether. But now, faced with this formidable opponent, he knew he had to take a risk.


    <i>Since my body refiner self has joined the Bloodforge Devil Hall, I must showcase my power. The higher the level I clear, the better, for my homnd, and for myself.</i> A touch of madness kindled in Wu Yuan''s eyes.

 Chapter 443: An Astral Lord Descends (2)

    <h4>Chapter 443: An Astral Lord Descends (2)</h4>


    <i>The greatest weakness of a qi refiner is his body. As long as I kill his true self, even the Thousand Swords Array will naturally disperse.</i>


    Promptly, Wu Yuan changed his tactics. Abandoning his previous tit-for-tat approach, he fortified his defenses. The synergy of his three ether artsbined with his Domain dramatically strengthened his defense.


    The ck-robed guardian''s sword array, once a formidable threat, now seemed to lose its bite. Even with four fire rocsbining their attacks, they failed to breach Wu Yuan''s defense.


    A sh of killing intent gleamed in the guardian''s eyes as he snarled, "Defend all you want. No matter how strong your defense is, can you withstand my attacks?" With a sharp gesture, hemanded, "Kill."


    The guardian''s strategy was calcted. His Thousand Swords Array drained his mana reserves rapidly, taxing both mind and soul. Unable to gauge Wu Yuan''s endurance while confident in his own strength, he chose to intensify his attacks, gambling on overwhelming force.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Two more colossal fire rocs materialized, their piercing shrieks heralding a renewed assault on Wu Yuan''s defenses.


    As the pressure mounted, Wu Yuan steeled himself. <i>This is the moment of truth.</i>


    "Little ck! Now!" Wu Yuan''s voice rang out.


    In an instant, Little ck''s internal ether surged. Obsidian wings, shimmering with power, erupted from Wu Yuan''s back. He felt the subtle cadence of Little ck harmonizing with the wind, an exquisite and elegant symphony of power.


    Advanced ether art��Realm Crossing!


    Just as sword cultivators relied on lifebound flying swords to amplify their attacks, body refiners could harness the might of their spirit beasts. If their spirit beasts were powerful enough, they could y a critical role in battle.


    With Beast Fusionplete, Wu Yuan unleashed his strongest outburst.


    Seizing the moment when his opponentmitted fully to the attack, Wu Yuan sprung his trap. He didn��t wait until his opponent sent all nine fire phoenixes out. That was unrealistic.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan��s form blurred into a whirlwind, streaking across the battlefield with preternatural speed.


    A fire phoenix intercepted him, its zing form a wall of me.


    "Scram!" Wu Yuan roared. A heavy saber materialized in his grasp, its de cleaving the air with lethal precision.


    <i>Rip~ </i>The phoenix''s form shattered, itsponent swords scattering like leaves in a gale. The creature reeled away and plummeted to one side.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two more strikes followed, swift and merciless. Wu Yuan, his strength fully unleashed, soared like a titanic roc. He dismantled two more phoenixes, evaded a third, and rocketed towards the ck-robed guardian.


    This was his window of opportunity. Had the guardian maintained a defensive stance with five phoenixes while attacking with four, Wu Yuan''s defeat might have been sealed. But the guardian, driven by worry that the Thousand Swords Array might not suffice to subdue Wu Yuan before his mana was drained, hadmitted fully to an aggressive stance. This gambit had thinned his defenses and left him exposed.


    A flicker of shock crossed the guardian''s eyes as he attempted to retreat��but his speed was no match for Wu Yuan''s furious advance.


    Yet, the guardian was not one to yield easily. Fire phoenixes converged from all directions, ast-ditch effort to halt Wu Yuan''s charge. If three to five phoenixes worked together, they could gain the upper hand. But one or two alone? They stood no chance.


    Wu Yuan''s saber and palms shattered their assaults, relentlessly closing the gap.


    As defeat loomed, the guardian roared with chilling resolve, "I will not lose, I won''t!" A buzzing wave of energy rippled through the air, aimed directly at Wu Yuan''s soul��a desperate soul attack.


    <i>Boom! </i>The impact was like a colossal hammer smashing down. An ordinary Spiritual Body cultivator would have been paralyzed for a moment. The guardian could then follow up with a relentless attack by the phoenixes,pletely entrapping them.


    But Wu Yuan''s formidable soul, honed further by secret arts, barely trembled. The attack didn��t affect him at all.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan''s voice thundered as he closed the final distance. His palm swelled immensely, like a mountain casting its shadow over the guardian.


    <i>Bang!</i> As the shields serving as the guardian��sst line of defense scattered in disarray, Wu Yuan��s gargantuan palm mmed down, obliterating the ck-robed figure on impact.


    Level thirteen, cleared!


    "Congrattions, Wu Yuan. You have cleared level thirteen. Do you wish to continue?" The star spirit''s voice rang out, a newfound warmth coloring its tone.


    When speaking to stronger challengers, the Dark Star Spirit''s attitude would change.


    "No," Wu Yuan replied, knowing his limits. Attempting the fourteenth level would be pure masochism. Besides, Wu Yuan was well aware that this was a real fight without safety measures, caution was paramount.


    <i>Hum~ </i>A ripple of invisible energy enveloped Wu Yuan, and he vanished from the battlefield.


    ...


    The news of Wu Yuan''s triumph spread like wildfire through the Origin Blood World. The top-tier geniuses were in a frenzy, their shocked exmations echoing:


    "He cleared level thirteen?"


    "Good heavens!"


    "He really conquered it?"


    At this point, there was no longer any need for the Dark Star supervisor to pass on the news. On the Dark Star leaderboard, thetest information about Wu Yuan was already updated.


    He hadpleted thirteen levels, leaving his peers in the dust. Even Bai Li and Shui Heng, previously hailed as peerless geniuses, had only managed to clear level eleven. The gap between them was startlinglyrge.


    ...


    <i>In a special space within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm. </i>


    Thirty-odd High Immortals watched the projection in awe. Wu Yuan''s ability to withstand the guardian''s soul attack and vanquish him in one fell swoop left them astounded.


    He withstood it directly? Just how powerful was his soul?


    One had to understand that the biggest difference between the challengers and the guardiansy in their foundation.


    If the difference in mana capacity wasrge, it often meant that the gap in soul power would be equally vast. A strong Daoprehension aptitude didn��t necessarily corrte with the strength of one��s soul.


    "Such a powerful soul at only fifty years old? Unbelievable!"


    ��The Dao heprehends should be the Celestial Body Dao, and his understanding of its profundities is not shallow. For his age, it''s nothing short of miraculous."


    "Heaven-defying talent."


    "A second-degree immortal root, a powerful soul, and outstanding Daoprehension. He''s virtually wless��an almost perfect body refiner." These High Immortals were thoroughly impressed by Wu Yuan''s performance.


    In spite of their lifespans measured in tens or hundreds of thousands of years, they had never witnessed such raw potential. None could evene close.


    The only ones who could surpass him were some monstrous prodigies eons ago that existed only in literature and myths.


    In theory, even with Wu Yuan''s strength, it would be difficult for him to rank within the top hundred of the Silvermist Division.


    After all, the entire Silvermist Division epassed thousands of second-tier divisions, teeming with geniuses. Among them were dozens who had conquered level fourteen of the Dark Star, and even more who had cleared level thirteen.


    Wu Yuan could be said to have barely scraped through level thirteen.


    However, in terms of age, each and every one of these prodigious talents who had conquered levels thirteen and fourteen of the Dark Star was older than Wu Yuan.


    "Wu Yuan is the youngest among this batch of Golden Core and Spiritual Body cultivators in the entire Silvermist division to pass level thirteen."


    "The youngest."


    "Nevertheless, while his abilities still fall short, he can still earn the title of Bloodforge Marquis. At least, as long as he''s cautious, the odds of him dying in the Bloodforge Battle are quite low." These High Immortals all had high clearance levels and were able to ess some information from the Silvermist Division. They quickly drew their conclusions.


    For ordinary Golden Core cultivators, the Bloodforge Battle was a nightmare; a bloody free-for-all involving countless Golden Core cultivators from billions of worlds.


    But for a peerless genius like Wu Yuan? The risk of death was significantly lower.


    "What a pity!" High Immortal Wu Tian suddenlymented in a loud voice, shaking his head in regret.


    "What pity?"


    "Wu Tian, Wu Yuan is already in your camp, what is there toment about?" The High Immortals in the temple were bewildered, all somewhat puzzled.


    "I just find it a shame that Wu Yuan has only cultivated for fifty years. If he participated in the battle at the age of 150, now that would have been something." A look of unwillingness rose on High Immortal Wu Tian��s face. "Then perhaps, a Bloodforge King would be born."


    There was half a breath of silence.


    "Wu Tian, you''re pushing it too far!"


    "Screw you!"


    "Damn you Wu Tian, I��ve seen some shameless people, but none canpare to you." The High Immortals allughed and gave him a mock scolding.


    <i>Hum~</i> Just then, the grand throne at the end of the temple suddenly shone with brilliant light. Countless points of light converged, forming a towering, indistinct figure.


    The figure��s face was blurry, but their aura was immense.


    The dozens of High Immortals teasing Wu Tian immediately turned serious, standing up in unison and bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Astral Lord."


    Astral Lord! A great Astral Lord had arrived.


    ��I have just received news that another peerless genius with hope of taking the Bloodforge King has emerged within my Redmoon Division.�� The booming voice of the hazy figure echoed throughout the great hall.


    All the High Immortals listened.


    "Astral Lord," High Immortal Wu Tian suppressed his excitement and respectfully reported, "This genius, named Wu Yuan, is a candidate I have selected."


    "Well done." The hazy figure peered down, "I will soon descend from the Silvermist Division to bring this Wu Yuan to the Astral Lord Hall."


    "A talent that appears once every ten million years is worth my descent."


    "Understood." Many High Immortals respectfully bowed.


    With that, the hazy figure disappeared.


    A momentter, the hall boiled over with excitement.


    "Heavens, the Astral Lord will descend!"


    "Over the hundreds of thousands of years I��ve lived, I have never seen the Astral Lord. He will be personally making a trip from the Silvermist Division?"


    "The great Astral Lord is said to be an existence that stands at the pinnacle of Archimmortals."


    "It is said that more than one Archimmortal has fallen at the hands of the Astral Lord."


    "It''s said that the Astral Lord isparable with Archimmortal Redmoon in terms of age," these High Immortals buzzed with excitement.


    With their high standing in the Redmoon Division, they had all encountered Archimmortals. There was more than one Archimmortal in the Redmoon Division.


    But an Astral Lord? They were not worthy of meeting one. All Astral Lords were Archimmortals; but most Archimmortals were not qualified to be called Astral Lords.


    "Astral Lord."


    "This Wu Yuan truly is my lucky star. Thanks to him, I��m able to meet an Astral Lord?" High Immortal Wu Tian''s eyes sparkled.

 Chapter 444: Yin Hes Expectations (1)

    <h4>Chapter 444: Yin He''s Expectations (1)</h4>


    <i>Within the hall of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    "Wu Tian, you lucky dog! After the Bloodforge Battle ends, you''re buying us all drinks," one High Immortal chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mirth.


    "Absolutely! I''m so jealous," another chimed in with a yful smirk.


    High Immortal Wu Tian red at them as he retorted, "Lucky? Bah! Discovering a prodigy like Wu Yuan proves the worlds under my purview are expertly managed."


    "Oh, stuff it already!"


    "Don''t y coy after hitting the jackpot."


    "Sure, ordinary Bloodforge Seeds might reflect our management, but a freak of nature like Wu Yuan? That''s pure, unadulterated luck that he was born in your territory at this time." The High Immortals'' teasing voices echoed through the hall, their wordsced with good-natured ribbing.


    Given their broad knowledge and perspective, they knew there were three main factors for the birth of a monstrous prodigy.: a vast poption base, sufficient time, and luck.


    Wu Tian''s chest puffed with pride as he dered, "Fine, fine. Once this Bloodforge Battle wraps up and we have a breather, drinks are on me."


    "Ha! We''re going to bleed Wu Tian''s wallet dry this time!"


    "I''ll be counting the days."


    To the myriad Amethyst Cradle and Void Refiner cultivators in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the High Immortals might seem embroiled in constant conflict.


    Yet in reality, that was all superficial. As long as their core interests weren''t at stake, a camaraderie actually existed among these powerful beings.


    ...


    On a colossal floating za within the Dark Star, ten small teleportation arrays stood, fronted by a singr, special array.


    <i>Buzz~</i> With a sh of light, Wu Yuan''s form materialized within the array. His aura, once steady and controlled, now roiled chaotically. It was clear that Wu Yuan��s energy was severely drained after the consecutive battles on the Dark Star, especially thest level.


    A gentle voice suddenly filled the vast za and echoed down corridors stretching for hundreds of li. "Congrattions, Wu Yuan, for setting the current record of the Golden Core Dark Star!" The star spirit��s voice resounded throughout the entire interior of the Dark Star.


    In that instant, the attention of everyone present��from the Amethyst Cradle custodians to the thousands of immortal cultivators waiting in line��snapped to Wu Yuan. A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.


    They wouldn''t receive any special messages from the supervisor of the Dark Star, so unless they were constantly monitoring the Dark Star Leaderboard, they wouldn''t get thetest updates.


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "The current record?" The cultivators rushed to check the leaderboard in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    "Level thirteen!"


    "Heavens above." A chorus of gasps and exmations erupted as countless eyes locked onto Wu Yuan, still standing within the array. The atmosphere crackled with a mixture of awe and disbelief.


    "That''s him��Wu Yuan."


    "Wu Yuan? How utterly terrifying... level thirteen." The gazes fixed upon him transformed, filled now with a newfound respect and a hint of fear.


    <i>This? The current record holder? </i>Wu Yuan, caught in this sudden spotlight, felt a mix of amusement and difort, not knowing whether tough or cry. Of course, he knew he had set a new record, but this public acim was unexpected.


    Having cleared level thirteen, Wu Yuan was acutely aware of the Silvermist Division''s historical records in the Golden Core Dark Star. The all-time high��level neen��stood unchallenged for a billion years. Whether due to its insurmountable difficulty or the reluctance of geniuses to linger at the Golden Core phase, level twenty remained unconquered.


    Suddenly, the white-robed elderly supervisor of the Dark Star and Protectorate Xiong Yuan materialized before Wu Yuan.


    "Protectorate Luo, Protectorate Xiong Yuan," Wu Yuan began, lowering his head in a respectful bow.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>With lightning reflexes, both men sidestepped, and an invisible force gently restrained Wu Yuan, halting his gesture mid-motion.


    "Ho ho, Sageling Wu Yuan, please, such formalities are unnecessary," the white-robed elder chuckled, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "If anything, we should be the ones paying our respects to you."


    "Sageling?" Wu Yuan blinked in surprise.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s face split into a wide grin. "Remember what I told you, Wu Yuan? In the Bloodforge Devil Hall, power and potential open all doors. The title of Sageling is reserved for the brightest of talents."


    His voice took on a more serious tone as he continued, "There are two paths for a Golden Core disciple to earn the Sageling title. First, conquer level fourteen of the Dark Star, bing a first-tier Bloodforge Seed. Second, seize the title of Bloodforge Marquis in the Bloodforge Battle."


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan borated, "Ordinary Bloodforge Seeds, or second-tier Seeds, stand on par with Void Refiner Eminences. But a Sageling? Their status rivals that of an Earth Immortal. Even a Protectorate must show deference when greeting one."


    Wu Yuan shook his head humbly. "I''ve yet to earn this honor."


    He had met neither criterion.


    "It''s merely a matter of time," Protectorate Xiong Yuan reassured him, his smile unwavering. "At fifty years old, you''ve already conquered level thirteen. The sky''s the limit for you. Barring an untimely demise in the Bloodforge Battle, the Sageling title is all but assured."


    His eyes gleamed as he added, "And who knows? The status of Deviling might not be beyond your reach."


    "Deviling?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in confusion.


    The term ''Sageling'' he could grasp��his qi refiner self had encountered references to it in reports from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. But ''Deviling''? This was uncharted territory.


    Xiong Yuan''s expression turned thoughtful. "Truthfully, my knowledge of Devilings is limited to legends. In all the ages of our Redmoon Division, no Deviling has ever emerged, and even Sagelings are few and far between."


    His tone shifted to one of urgency. "Come, Wu Yuan. The High Immortal awaits, and has sent word urging me to bring you without dy."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. A meeting with a High Immortal wasn''t entirely unexpected; he knew both the Redmoon Immortal Hall and the Bloodforge Devil Hall ced immense value on nurturing exceptional talents.


    It reminded him of his qi refiner self''s experience at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. Upon receiving the Great Eldritch��s inheritance, he immediately caught the attention of his master and the abbot. Now that he thought about it, it was the same principle.


    After all,pared to his qi refiner self, his body refining was more dazzling, disying even greater potential.


    <i>In the eyes of the higher echelons at the Bloodforge Devil Hall, I''m just an indigenous youngster, relying only on myself for cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>A second-degree immortal root, clearing level thirteen of the Dark Star by age fifty?</i>


    If he were a High Immortal of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, he''d probably be shocked too. So, Wu Yuan wasn''t surprised.


    "Old Luo," Xiong Yuan said, turning to the white-robed elder, "the High Immortal''s growing impatient. We must depart now, but we''ll catch up another time." He cupped his hands in a formal gesture.


    The elderly man in white robes chuckled, his eyes crinkling with genuine warmth. "Go forth. It is my honor to witness the ascension of Sageling Wu Yuan."


    The stark contrast in the elder''s attitudepared to their first encounter wasn''t lost on Wu Yuan. Clearly, he now acknowledged that Wu Yuan was qualified to be a Sageling.


    <i>The ancient adage is true indeed �C when I am weak, malice abounds. When I am strong, kindness follows wherever I look. </i>Wu Yuan reflected silently.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Protectorate Xiong Yuan swiftly whisked Wu Yuan away.


    "Is that Wu Yuan?"


    "Memorize his aura!"


    "If you cross paths with him in the Bloodforge Battle, flee immediately. He alone could take on a hundred thousand of us."


    "While we aim for ten to a hundred Blood Devil Tokens, a peerless genius like him sets his sights on hundreds of thousands, even millions!"


    "Pray we don''t encounter him." The voices of Golden Core cultivators trailed behind them, a mixture of awe and trepidation coloring their words.


    Coming across such a monstrous prodigy in the Bloodforge Battle was their worst nightmare.


    After themotion at the entrance of the Dark Star, the news of Wu Yuan''s extraordinary feat��clearing level thirteen of the Dark Star��spread like wildfire among the million Golden Core cultivators of the Origin Blood World.


    Soon, the entire Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall buzzed with excited discussions and wild spections.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Protectorate Xiong Yuan and Wu Yuan entered a small teleportation array and arrived at a superrge teleportation array.


    Four majestic spatial mithril towers, each stretching over a thousand li, loomed before them like ancient, immovable mountains. The sheer power emanating from the structure was palpable.


    Surprisingly, the traffic here was sparse, a stark contrast to the bustling teleportation array Wu Yuan had first encountered upon his arrival.


    "Teleportation array?" Wu Yuan''s voice carried a note of confusion. "Protectorate, aren''t we bound for District One?"


    Xiong Yuan''s lips curved into a knowing smile. "We''ll reach our destination soon enough. Did you think the High Immortal resided within the confines of the Origin Blood World?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "While our Redmoon Division hasn''t taken over the entire immortal continent, we rule over numerous spacetimes," Xiong Yuan exined. "The Origin Blood World, vast as it is, serves merely as a training ground for Golden Core disciples. Amethyst Cradle disciples, the devil army, and various special locations are scattered across different spacetimes."


    His voice took on a reverent tone as he continued, "Our destination is the core spacetime of the Redmoon Division��the Redmoon Devil Hall."


    "Redmoon Devil Hall," Wu Yuan repeated,mitting the name to memory.


    They entered the teleportation array, joining a group of more than ten Amethyst Cradle cultivators who had been waiting.


    In a brilliant sh of light, they vanished from the Origin Blood World, hurtling towards their destination.


    ...


    They emerged into a breathtaking expanse of outer space, filled with countless stars and massive worlds that rotated like celestial marbles. At the far reaches of this cosmic vista, a dazzling halo zed, its radiance illuminating the entire space.


    The halo seemed to exert an invisible authority over the entire space, its presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating.


    Suspended in the void, not far from where they stood, was a dense cluster of halls.


    "This... this is the Redmoon Devil Hall?" Wu Yuan''s voice was barely above a whisper as he stepped out of the teleportation array alongside Protectorate Xiong Yuan.


    They stood at the edge of a vast za, Wu Yuan''s eyes wide with wonder as he took in the cosmic spectacle before him.


    It became clear that only Wu Yuan and Protectorate Xiong Yuan had disembarked at this particr terminus; the others who had shared their journey earlier were bound for different destinations, and not headed for the Redmoon Devil Hall.


    "Your first glimpse of the boundless outer space, I see," Protectorate Xiong Yuan remarked, his own gaze sweeping over the distant stars. His voice carried a hint of nostalgia as he added, "I was even more overwhelmed than you when I first beheld this sight. Who would have thought that beyond the confines of a small worldlety such an immense cosmos?"


    Wu Yuan nodded silently, still processing the sheer scale of what he was witnessing. The contrast between a worldlet, or even the maind of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, and this vast expanse of outer space was staggering.


    "This region of space falls within the spacetime boundary of the Redmoon Immortal Continent," Protectorate Xiong Yuan exined, his arm sweeping out. "Do you see that distant halo of light?"


    Wu Yuan''s gaze was drawn inexorably to the edge of space.


    "That," Xiong Yuan continued, "is where the maind of the Redmoon Immortal Continent lies. ording to the High Immortal, the distance from here to the Redmoon Immortal Continent is beyondprehension. Even an Archimmortal, flying at top speed, would take over ten thousand years to reach it."


    "Over ten thousand years?" Wu Yuan''s heart trembled at the implication.


    The sheer scale of it all began to sink in. This vast expanse was merely a fraction of the Redmoon Immortal Continent''s territory. For the first time, Wu Yuan truly grasped the immensity of a single immortal continent. It seemed to stretch on into infinity.


    No wonder his master had said that the entire immortal continent was actually a vast ne, not just a mere maind. The maind, he realized,prised less than one ten-thousandth of the entire spacetime scope of the immortal continent.


    Yet, in terms of material mass, the maind made up over ny percent, while more than ny-nine percent of the entire ne''s space was vacant.


    "Don''t overthink it either," Xiong Yuan chuckled, noticing Wu Yuan''s awestruck expression. "Archimmortals don''t rely solely on flight for their travels. Those distant worlds you see? They''re worldlets born from the fundamental operations of the immortal continent ne."


    His voice softened as he added, "And among them is your homnd world."

 Chapter 445: Yin Hes Expectations (2)

    <h4>Chapter 445: Yin He''s Expectations (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept upward. Worldlet after worldlet dotted the inky expanse, most resemblings surrounded by barriers. They bore an uncanny resemnce to naturally-born celestial bodies, and it was hard to tell which was which. Further afield, they blended seamlessly into the tapestry of stars ands, indistinguishable from the natural stars ands themselves.


    "Come," Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s voice cut through Wu Yuan''s thoughts. "When you''ve grown stronger, you''ll have ample time to learn more at your leisure."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The pair hurried along a corridor, approaching the innerplex of halls.


    As they walked, Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s voice took on a hushed tone. "The Bloodforge Devil Hall spans a vast area; each mansion contains its own independent space, some even housing entire worlds. Every cultivator above the Amethyst Cradle phase is granted such a mansion."


    He gestured towards the heart of theplex. "The deeper we go, the grander the mansions be, with greater functionalities and privileges. And at the very center, that''s where you''ll find the legendary Astral Lord Hall, said to house the supreme Astral Lord himself."


    Wu Yuan''s step faltered, his mind reeling. "Astral Lord?"


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Our entire Redmoon Division bows to the Astral Lord''s will. Rumor has it that while multiple Archimmortals serve in our division, there is only ever one Astral Lord."


    Wu Yuan listened, inwardly shocked.


    Astral Lord? It sounded terrifying.


    As they progressed deeper into theplex, they passed numerous Amethyst Cradle and Void Refiner powerhouses. Each moved with purposeful haste, yet none impeded Wu Yuan and Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s path.


    "Remember, without orders, you must not trespass into the immortals'' mansions," Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s voice took on a cautionary edge. "They''re all located in the inner city, guarded by puppet soldiers."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    So far, they were following that rule.


    A full quarter hourter, they arrived at a mansion that dwarfed all others they had passed.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze locked onto a figure standing in the za before the mansion. d in ck armor that seemed to devour light, the man exuded an aura so domineering it made the air itself heavy and difficult to breathe. His smile, meant to be weing, only served to heighten the sense of barely restrained power.


    Seeing him, Wu Yuan felt as though he was facing the abbot of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. One exuding tyranny, the other serenity.


    <i>How terrifying.</i> Wu Yuan inwardly eximed, <i>Among the powerhouses my qi refiner self has encountered, neither Earth Immortal Xu You nor Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng can hold a candle to him.</i>


    <i>Only Abbot Wu can rival him. He��s a true High Immortal.</i> Wu Yuan deduced.


    As for his master? High Immortal Nan Yin had barely shown any of his true power in Wu Yuan��s presence.


    "Greetings, High Immortal," Protectorate Xiong Yuan bowed deeply. He turned to Wu Yuan, a hint of urgency in his tone. "Wu Yuan, pay your respects."


    "Wu Yuan greets High Immortal Wu Tian," Wu Yuan bowed deeply.


    Lowering his head was certainly the right action.


    The High Immortal''s voice, when it came, was surprisingly warm. "No need for such formality. Rise." A hint of a smile yed at the corner of his mouth as he regarded Wu Yuan, an expression that sent a shock through Protectorate Xiong Yuan. In all his years in the sect, he had never seen the High Immortal smile.


    Wu Tian''s gaze shifted to Protectorate Xiong Yuan, his voice cooling noticeably. "Xiong Yuan, you''ve done well. Wait here; I''ll send word if needed."


    "Understood," Xiong Yuan replied with a nod.


    "Wu Yuan,e with me," With a wave of his hand, Wu Tian enveloped Wu Yuan in an invisible force. In the blink of an eye, both vanished, leaving Protectorate Xiong Yuan alone with his thoughts.


    <i>It was just my wishful thinking. </i>Protectorate Xiong Yuan sighed quietly, shaking his head. <i>The High Immortal wasn''t smiling at me, but at Wu Yuan.</i>


    <i>But where exactly is the High Immortal taking Wu Yuan?</i> Protectorate Xiong Yuan felt puzzled.


    ...


    As the world blurred around him, Wu Yuan''s mind went nk for a moment. Darkness engulfed him, followed by an intense burst of light. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing before a majestic hall.


    High Immortal Wu Tian stood beside him.


    The entire hall was ancient and imposing, yet fundamentally indistinguishable from the one belonging to High Immortal Wu Tian.


    Above the grand entrance, a que bore the mark of a star.


    A star? Wu Yuan was internally puzzled.


    High Immortal Wu Tian''s voice, warm with pride, broke the silence. "Wu Yuan, you''ve outdone yourself, far surpassing my expectations. In thest ten million years of the Redmoon Division��s history, you are indeed the top Golden Core genius."


    "High Immortal, you tter me," Wu Yuan quickly responded.


    The top genius of thest ten million years? Wu Yuan felt thebel was more than he could bear.


    A chuckle escaped High Immortal Wu Tian''s lips. "This is what the Astral Lord himself said. If he deems it so, who are we to argue?" His expression sobered. "Come, it''s time you met him."


    The revtion hit Wu Yuan like a physical blow. His current location was none other than the Astral Lord Hall! He was about to meet the ruler of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon Division.


    Such a super powerhouse wanted to meet him?


    Wu Yuan felt instinctively nervous.


    Even if this Astral Lord wasn��t as powerful as Archimmortal Redmoon, he was undeniably a formidable being among the Archimmortals.


    Sensing Wu Yuan''s nervousness, Wu Tian''s voice softened. "Stay calm, be respectful, and all will be well." The trace of anxiety in the High Immortal''s own tone did little to assuage Wu Yuan''s fears. After all, forget Wu Yuan''s shock, even High Immortal Wu Tian himself had never met the Astral Lord before.


    High Immortals had lifespans of a million years. Yet for entities like an Astral Lord, each expedition or mission they embarked on could take a million years, so theirck of opportunities to interact was only normal.


    As they approached the entrance, a figure materialized from the shadows. d in ck armor, the guard''s gaze swept over them with icy precision. "High Immortal Wu Tian?" His voice, devoid of emotion, sent a shiver down High Immortal Wu Tian''s spine.


    "Yes," High Immortal Wu Tian nodded.


    "Enter. The Astral Lord awaits." With those words, the guard closed his eyes. His aura faded, then vanished. Now, he looked like a mere object.


    <i>A puppet?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked. The other party didn��t even ask for his identity, clearly not perceiving him as a threat.


    As they crossed the threshold, an invisible aura enveloped them. The hall''s interior was simple, its grandeur centered on the towering figure that dominated its heart.


    Standing six meters tall, d in dark red battle armor etched with cryptic patterns, the Astral Lord''s presence was overwhelming. He stood like the axis of heaven and earth, casting a shadow over the surroundings and drawing Wu Yuan''s gaze to him involuntarily.


    Wu Yuan''s body trembled involuntarily, his gaze lowered in instinctive deference. This towering figure was unquestionably one of the mightiest beings he had ever encountered in his life. Even the mental imprint of Great Eldritch Kua Fu paled inparison to the raw power emanating from this being.


    Of course, it wasn''t that Kua Fu was weak, but that was, after all, just a mental imprint. But the person standing before him now was a genuine super powerhouse!


    High Immortal Wu Tian fared little better, beads of sweat forming on his brow.


    The silence was broken by a gentle voice. "The powerhouses of the devil hall should not bow their heads lightly." As if by magic, the oppressive aura dissipated.


    In an instant, the figure in dark red battle armor now felt like an ordinary powerhouse, radiating warmth.


    "High Immortal Wu Tian pays his respects to the Astral Lord," Wu Tian intoned, bowing respectfully.


    "Wu Yuan pays his respects to the Astral Lord," Wu Yuan echoed, marveling at the being before him. This, he realized, was what it meant to stand in the presence of a supreme being. He was likely a super powerhouse among the Archimmortals themselves.


    "Wu Tian, stand aside," the figure in dark red armormanded softly. "Wu Yuan, rise."


    As theyplied, the Astral Lord''s gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "You may address me as Astral Lord Yin He or Archimmortal Yin He."


    Yin He? Wu Yuan quietly noted.


    Yet, the casual introduction sent a jolt through High Immortal Wu Tian, its significance not lost on him. The fact that the Astral Lord introduced himself to Wu Yuan by his real name at their first meeting was a testament to the high regard he held for Wu Yuan.


    "I''ve observed yourbat footage," Yin He continued, his voice carrying a hint of approval. "Your foundation is solid, befitting an eldritch cultivator. And your spirit beast... the Teng Snake, if I''m not mistaken."


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Astral Lord is wise." He was impressed but not surprised by the Astral Lord''s insight. After all, the eldritch armor and Veiled Serpent Plume might be able to deceive Amethyst Cradle cultivators and Void Refiner cultivators, but a great Astral Lord?


    Moreover, through his qi refiner self, Wu Yuan knew that eldritch cultivators were only despised among those of the Immortal Court. The Taiyuan Divine Court simply considered them a cultivation sect that they didn��t frequently interact with.


    "With such talent, you must have had some extraordinary experiences, do you mind sharing them?" Astral Lord Yin He asked, seemingly an offhanded question.


    Yet, Wu Yuan''s heart tightened.


    This question appeared casual, but that might not be the case. Of course, this could be a probe into his past, which was normal. Any faction would certainly want to do a background check on a top genius before taking them in.


    "Responding to the Astral Lord, I was born in the Middle Land of the Summerpeak World. In my youth, I received an inheritance from an eldritch family tribe, known as the Fourth Eldritch Realm," Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate toy it all out.


    There was no need to hide the things that couldn��t be hidden!


    Besides, Wu Yuan knew that the treasures and inheritances of the Fourth Eldritch Realm might tempt those at the Amethyst Cradle phase, but meant little to Void Refiner cultivators.


    To an Archimmortal? The treasures of the Fourth Eldritch Realm were nothing more than a joke!


    Wu Yuan hardly concealed anything, including the matters of the worm devil.


    There were only two things he kept secret. The first was the existence of his qi refiner self. The second was the fact that he received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos; he was adamant that he trained in the Fourth Eldritch Realm and established a second-degree eldritch root due to his immense talent.


    As he finished, Yin He nodded approvingly. "Hmm, you''re not lying. Your talent is indeed extraordinary, Wu Yuan. To grasp the Celestial Body Dao by yourself on an isted ind in a worldlet, to cultivate such a formidable soul... you are, without doubt, the foremost prodigy our Redmoon Division has seen in ten million years." Astral Lord Yin He smiled. "And now, you''ve arrived at the Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Once nurtured by the devil hall, I believe your strength will flourish even faster."


    "I trust you will give your all in the uing Bloodforge Battle and contend for the title of Bloodforge King," Astral Lord Yin He slowly said.

 Chapter 446: The Second Intermediate Law (1)

    <h4>Chapter 446: The Second Intermediate Law (1)</h4>


    ��Bloodforge King?" Wu Yuan blinked in surprise.


    The title of Bloodforge Marquis was familiar to him due to Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s exnation of Sagelings. But Bloodforge King? This was entirely new territory.


    Nearby, High Immortal Wu Tian''s face betrayed a flicker of shock. As a High Immortal, he fully grasped the weight carried by the title of Bloodforge King.


    Wu Yuan turned to the imposing figure before them, his voice cautious but curious. "Astral Lord, what exactly is a Bloodforge King?"


    Despite his confidence, the title itself didn��t seem easy to obtain at all. He dared not make any hasty promises.


    One''s ambitions should be lofty, but one''s feet must remain firmly nted on the ground.


    Astral Lord Yin He''s warm voice filled the air, "You''ve only just entered my Bloodforge Devil Hall, so it''s natural that you''re not fully versed in the intricacies of the Bloodforge Battle."


    "The Bloodforge Battle is divided into two categories: Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle."


    "The Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle isn''t your immediate concern, but it''s worth exining for context. In essence, it''s a sh of all the Amethyst Cradle cultivators from over a thousand first-tier divisions and more than four million second-tier divisions of the entire Bloodforge Devil Hall. The scale..." Astral Lord Yin He''s voice deepened, "...is beyond your wildest imagination."


    Wu Yuan stood transfixed, his mind reeling from the sheer magnitude of it all.


    This revtion was staggering. The Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, a force that rivaled the Redmoon Immortal Hall, was but one of over four million such divisions?


    Amethyst Cradle cultivators far outlived Golden Core cultivators. The number of peerless geniuses they must have umted over the eons... The very thought sent a shiver down Wu Yuan''s spine.


    Astral Lord Yin He continued, "The Amethyst Cradle battle is considered the ultimate battle of the geniuses within the entire Bloodforge Devil Hall. Any prodigy who rises to prominence in this battle can rightfully im a ce among the top-tier geniuses of the entire macrocosm."


    Wu Yuan nodded, his face a mask of solemn understanding.


    "In terms of scale, participation in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle is not significantly smaller," Astral Lord Yin He added, his tone matter-of-fact. "Given the sheer abundance of Golden Core cultivators, this is only natural."


    "For instance, my Redmoon Division alone expects to gather billions of Golden Core cultivators for the uing Bloodforge."


    "The Golden Core Bloodforge Battle sees an estimated participation of over five hundred billion cultivators. However, the number of survivors is not expected to exceed five billion. The rest arepletely wiped out." The Astral Lord''s voice remained as calm as a stillke, but the gravity of his words hung heavy in the air.


    Wu Yuan''s heart thundered in his chest. The brutal reality of the Bloodforge Battle finally sank in �C a casualty rate exceeding ny-nine percent.


    "Due to the overwhelming number of participants, the Golden Core Bloodforge Battles are conducted separately by each first-tier division," Astral Lord Yin He exined, his piercing gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "This means your opponents are those from the thousands of second-tier divisions under the Silvermist Division. Their overall strength, while formidable, won''t be entirely beyond yourprehension."


    The Astral Lord''s eyes glinted with knowing. "You''ve challenged the Dark Star. You should have some understanding of this, yes?"


    Wu Yuan nodded slowly, "I do."


    His mind raced back to the wealth of historical records within the Golden Core Dark Star. All such information was publicly avable.


    Silvermist Division historical record: level neen


    Redmoon Division historical record: level sixteen


    Silvermist Division current record: level sixteen


    Redmoon Division current record: level thirteen


    "I''ve reviewed your battle recordings," Yin He stated. "Based on my assessment of your current power, you should rank between the top 200 to 300."


    Wu Yuan nodded again. This evaluation aligned with his own self-assessment.


    Among the 500 billion Golden Core cultivators participating in the battle, ranking in the top 300 was a one-in-a-billion achievement �C a truly terrifying level of strength.


    Looking across the vast expanse of the immortal nation, his power ced him firmly among the top-tier of Golden Core cultivators.


    "But remember," Astral Lord Yin He cautioned, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "it won''t only be the geniuses of my Bloodforge Devil Hall participating in the Bloodforge Battle. A significant number of prodigies from the Silvermist Immortal Nation will also be joining the fray."


    The Astral Lord''s face twisted slightly, "I''m reluctant to admit it, but due to the sheer disparity in poption, the Silvermist Immortal Nation is capable of producing several times, even dozens of times more geniuses than my Devil Hall."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but let out a silent sigh. The importance of territory in cultivating talent was undeniable.


    It reminded him of how the Redmoon Immortal Hall, upying the vast maind of the immortal continent ne, consistently produced far more peerless geniuses than the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon Division.


    This was a reality that no one could change.


    "While only a select few geniuses from the immortal nation will be participating in the trial, the truly exceptional among them are in no way inferior to the top-tier geniuses of our devil hall. In some cases, they may even be stronger."


    The Astral Lord''s gaze bore into Wu Yuan as he delivered his assessment. "Taking these additional factors into ount, given your current strength, you will likely rank around the 500th ce in the Bloodforge Battle." His voice softened slightly. "Your chances of iming the title of Bloodforge Marquis are considerably high."


    "The title of Bloodforge Marquis is bestowed upon Golden Core cultivators who rank within the top 800. This ranking is determined by two factors: the number of Blood Devil Tokens acquired and performance in the ultimate opportunity challenge."


    "Your Blood Devil Tokens count represents the number of opponents you''ve killed. The more you y, the more tokens you umte, and the greater your chances during the ultimate opportunity challenge."


    Astral Lord Yin He''s gaze intensified as he continued. "The ultimate opportunity challenge is a test of not just raw strength and luck, but also talent." His eyes seemed to pierce through Wu Yuan. "Talent! That is your key topeting for the title of Bloodforge King."


    "However, there can be only one Bloodforge King." His voice rang with solemnity. "Only the cultivator who ranks first in the Bloodforge Battle can im the coveted title of king."


    Wu Yuan fell into a contemtive silence.


    Top 800? Wu Yuan believed in his strength and talent. Naturally, he aspired topete for the title of Bloodforge Marquis.


    But Bloodforge King? Even with Wu Yuan''s unwavering confidence, he dared not im he could defeat all the peerless geniuses in the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Even in terms of raw talent, he might not necessarily stand at the pinnacle of his generation across the entire immortal nation.


    After all, the Silvermist Immortal Nation was a realm of unimaginable vastness, epassing over six thousand immortal continents and countless beings. Who could say how many peerless geniuses lurked within its borders?


    "Astral Lord." Wu Yuan chose the path of honesty, shaking his head slightly. "Frankly, acquiring the Bloodforge Marquis title is within my capabilities, but the Bloodforge King?" He met Astral Lord Yin He''s gaze, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. "I don''t have that level of confidence."


    Admitting hisck of certainty to the Astral Lord felt akin to an employee confessing their inability toplete a task to their superior. How could he not feel a twinge of anxiety?


    Wu Yuan''s tension was palpable, and even High Immortal Wu Tian nearby appeared slightly uneasy, fearing that this admission might provoke the ire of the great Astral Lord.


    To their surprise, Astral Lord Yin He''s face broke into a warm smile. "Haha! Good," he chuckled. "If you had told me you were confident, I would have doubted my own judgment."


    Wu Yuan released a breath he didn''t realize he''d been holding, relief washing over him.


    "However," Yin He''s tone shifted, a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes, "as long as you can qualify for the ultimate opportunity, there is still a sliver of hope for sess." The Astral Lord''s smile held a hint of mystery. "When I speak, I never shoot without aiming."


    Who was Astral Lord Yin He? Among the countless Archimmortals within the Silvermist Immortal Nation, he stood at the pinnacle. A peerless powerhouse who had lived through countless years, he possessed a deep understanding of the secrets behind the Bloodforge Battle.


    True, in terms of raw strength, Wu Yuan was not at the top. But in terms of potential? He was undoubtedly top-tier. Moreover, Yin He had detected a special quality in Wu Yuan that set him apart.


    "Don''t be discouraged," Yin He said. "There are still three years remaining. Cultivate diligently in the devil hall for this time, and I believe your strength will most certainly improve." His smile widened slightly. "When the timees, you will see a genuine possibility of seizing the title of Bloodforge King."


    Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, his voice firm. "Understood. I will do my utmost."


    Internally, Wu Yuan harbored doubts, but Astral Lord Yin He''s confident tone made it impossible for him to voice further skepticism.


    <i>Hope of seizing the title of Bloodforge King? </i>High Immortal Wu Tian couldn''t hide his surprise.


    The title of Bloodforge King was not easily won. Statistically, among the over five thousand second-tier divisions under Silvermist, it would be the Redmoon Division''s turn to im the title only once every 500,000 years or so.


    But reality was far moreplex. Each time, numerous geniuses from the immortal nation would participate in the battle, further diminishing the odds.


    As a result, thest time the Redmoon Division had seized the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King was over two million years ago. Thest time before that? A staggering three million years in the past.


    If Wu Yuan were to cultivate for another century, his strength would increase greatly. In that case, High Immortal Wu Tian would consider it a real possibility. But at this moment? Hope seemed faint, almost negligible.


    Historically, a Bloodforge King was forged primarily through bloodshed, with the ultimate Bloodforge opportunity challenge ying only a minor role. In fact, 99% of Bloodforge Kings had been peerless geniuses ranked within the top ten in umted Blood Devil Tokens.


    A Bloodforge King emerging from beyond the hundredth ce in terms of Blood Devil Tokens umted? In the past hundreds of millions of years of recorded history, such an event had never urred in the millions of Golden Core Bloodforge Battles held by the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Astral Lord Yin He''s voice cut through Wu Tian''s thoughts. "Remember, I cannot guarantee whether the Astral Monarch will ept you as a disciple if you win the Bloodforge King title." A smile yed at the corners of his mouth. "But, I will personally rmend you to the other Astral Lords in my Bloodforge Devil Hall who excel in the Celestial Body Dao. They will take you in as a disciple."


    Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in puzzlement.


    Meanwhile, a sh of envy crossed High Immortal Wu Tian''s face. An Astral Lord taking Wu Yuan as a disciple? Even he, a High Immortal, had no hope of bing a nominal disciple to an Astral Lord.


    For an Astral Lord to take on a disciple, one of two conditions had to be met: either they were extraordinarily fond of the disciple''s character, or the disciple was truly a peerless genius. Clearly, Wu Yuan fell into thetter category.


    "Additionally," Astral Lord Yin He continued, "I promise you this: If you win the Bloodforge Marquis title, I shall grant you the position of World Master of Summerpeak."


    The Astral Lord''s eyes seemed to glow as he spoke his next words. "If you be the Bloodforge King, even if you should perish in the future, I will still protect your family and bloodline for a million years."


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath, his heart racing at the implications of these promises.


    Even though he knew that the Astral Lord might be painting an overly optimistic picture, those who were true masters of such enticement could make others believe that anything was possible, as long as they wanted it badly enough.


    At the very least, the prospect of bing the World Master of Summerpeak alone made it worthwhile for Wu Yuan to strive for the Bloodforge Marquis title with every fiber of his being.


    Wu Yuan''s resolve crystallized. <i>For the remaining three years, I will focus fully on cultivation.</i> <i>My qi refiner self in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect may not be participating in the Bloodforge Battle, but I mustn��t ck off. I must strive to step through the threshold of the Longevity Dao.</i>


    Once Wu Yuanprehended two Intermediate Laws, and if he could sessfullybine them, his strength would experience a monumental surge.


    "I will do everything in my power to assist you over the next three years," Astral Lord Yin He said. "As a reward for sessfully clearing level thirteen of the Dark Star, I will grant you three million merits. You may use them however you see fit for your cultivation."


    The Astral Lord''s gaze swept over Wu Yuan''s form. "Furthermore, I notice you are only at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase. I will provide you with a resource called Terrasource Sun Fluid, which is perfectly suited for your current state. Absorb it diligently, and you should be able to reach the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase before the battle begins."


    "Lastly, I will grant you a teacher."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise. "A teacher?"


    With a wave of Astral Lord Yin He''s hand, countless points of light converged in the air. They swirled and coalesced, forming a shadowy figure enveloped in ck robes at the far end of the grand hall.


    The neer exuded a chilling aura of death. An almost palpable killing intent emanated from his form, as if he were the very embodiment of a god of ughter.


    "This is Astral Lord Chen Deng from the Silvermist Division," Astral Lord Yin He''s voice was soft. "He is proficient in the Celestial Body Dao and stands as my equal."


    Both Archimmortal Wu Tian and Wu Yuan bowed deeply. "Greetings, Astral Lord Chen Deng."


    Inwardly, both were struck with awe. Another Astral Lord?


    Chen Deng''s voice was somber, tinged with an eerie quality. "Yin He, this young cultivator must be the Wu Yuan you spoke of."


    As Chen Deng''s piercing gaze fell upon Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan felt his heart quiver instinctively.


    "Indeed," Yin He nodded, turning to face Wu Yuan."Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Chen Deng has nearlyprehended the Celestial Body Dao in its entirety. I sought him out specifically for your benefit."


    "For the next three years, he will tutor you once a month, a total of thirty sessions."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    Indeed, he had his master''s guidance, but his master was only a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. How could thatpare to a great Astral Lord?


    The magnitude of this gesture wasn''t lost on Wu Yuan. He realized that Astral Lord Yin He must have paid an enormous price to secure these personal tutoring sessions with Astral Lord Chen Deng.


    Yin He''s voice softened. "I''ve done everything within my power to aid you, Wu Yuan. But your eventual growth, and whether you can seize the title of Bloodforge King, will ultimately depend on your own efforts."


    Wu Yuan bowed deeply. "Understood. Thank you, Astral Lord."


    Then, Wu Yuan turned to face Astral Lord Chen Deng in the distance. He bowed again, "I will be troubling you, Astral Lord Chen Deng."


    Astral Lord Chen Deng responded with a slight nod, "In one month''s time, my incarnation will visit your mansion to begin your instruction."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "I have exined all you need to know for now," Astral Lord Yin He''s voice rang out. With a casual wave of his hand, an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan and High Immortal Wu Tian. "You may take your leave."


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan and Wu Tian found themselves transported outside the shrine.


    Within the shrine, only Astral Lord Yin He and Astral Lord Chen Deng''s incarnation remained, their gazes meeting across the vast expanse of the hall.


    "Well?" Yin He''s voice carried a hint of amusement. "What are your thoughts?"


    Chen Deng''s response was measured. "The boy shows promise. He does indeed qualify to be my nominal disciple. However, whether I take him as my disciple will depend on how events unfold."


    "At the very least, we must wait until the Bloodforge Battle concludes."


    Astral Lord Yin He Yin He''s voice was soft, "Very well, do as you see fit. We are friends, after all. You are the only person I��ve rmended him to. You should be aware that his talent far surpasses that of the average Bloodforge King. A suitable sessor isn''t easily found."


    "I am well aware," Chen Deng replied, his voice betraying no emotion.


    Within the entire Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, only one Bloodforge King emerged every century.


    And Wu Yuan? His talent was nothing short of extraordinary, potentially the most promising cultivator to emerge from the Redmoon Division in ten million years.


    In Astral Lord Yin He''s seasoned eyes, Wu Yuan could rightfully be considered a once-in-a-millennium prodigy throughout the entire Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.

 Chapter 447: The Second Intermediate Law (2)

    <h4>Chapter 447: The Second Intermediate Law (2)</h4>


    After departing from the Astral Lord Hall, High Immortal Wu Tian led Wu Yuan back to his own hall, where Protectorate Xiong Yuan had been awaiting their return.


    Wu Tian''s voice was soft butden with expectation as he addressed Wu Yuan. "The Astral Lord has ced high hopes on you, Wu Yuan. He even went so far as to invite an Astral Lord from the Silvermist Division to mentor you. You must dedicate yourself fully to your cultivation; do not disappoint him. If you require anything for your cultivation, don''t hesitate to inform me."


    The High Immortal''s tone became more reassuring as he continued, "I''ll oversee the affairs of your homnd world, so you needn''t concern yourself with such matters. Your sole focus should be on your cultivation."


    Wu Yuan nodded. "Thank you, High Immortal. I won''t let you down."


    Wu Tian''s voice took on a more instructional tone. "Also, once you enter the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, you''ll receive battle records of all the geniuses who''ve conquered level thirteen of the Dark Star from the entire Silvermist Division. This is by the Astral Lord''s decree. Remember to go through them."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan affirmed.


    ...


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan, though unaware of their encounter with the Astral Lord, couldn''t help but notice the unusually courteous way High Immortal Wu Tian treated Wu Yuan, almost as if he were his own flesh and blood. This observation prompted Xiong Yuan to adopt an increasingly deferential attitude towards Wu Yuan, his words now tinged with a hint of ttery.


    The two bid farewell to Wu Tian and departed from the Redmoon Devil Hall, making their way back to the Origin Blood World and heading straight for District One.


    District One upied a rtively modest area spanning just ten thousand li in width, and typically housed only a few dozen to a few hundred Bloodforge Seeds year-round. The arrival of Protectorate Xiong Yuan and Wu Yuan quickly drew curious gazes and hushed whispers.


    "Is that really Wu Yuan?"


    "It must be. He''s the spitting image of the person in those images circting in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm."


    "Such a powerful aura.��


    "Commit his soul aura to memory. If you ever cross paths with him in the Bloodforge Battle, make sure to give him a wide berth." The gathered Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds nodded in agreement.


    They all prided themselves as geniuses. But facing Wu Yuan? They didn��t even have the courage to put up a fight.


    A keen-eyed observer noted, "He''s heading towards Mansion One. The one Bai Li is residing in."


    "Of course he is," another retorted. "With Wu Yuan''s strength, where else would he go but Mansion One?"


    Power prevailed above all else. This belief was ingrained deep within the bones of the members of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    As they approached Mansion One, a girl d in white greeted them with a disarming smile. "I am Bai Li. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Junior Brother Wu Yuan."


    Wu Yuan returned the greeting with a respectful nod. "Senior Sister Bai Li."


    Thanks to Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s briefing along the way, Wu Yuan had a rough understanding of the Bloodforge Seeds in the Redmoon Division, particrly Bai Li and Shui Heng. He wasn''t fooled by Bai Li''s innocent facade; he knew all too well the steel thaty beneath her gentle exterior. She was, without a doubt, a top-tier genius.


    Curiously, Wu Yuan noticed the absence of the other renowned genius, Shui Heng.


    Bai Li''s voice was honeyed as she spoke, but Wu Yuan detected a hint of resignation beneath her words. "Junior Brother Wu Yuan, given your strength, it''s only fitting that you reside in Mansion One. I won''t embarrass myself by challenging you; the mansion is yours."


    Wu Yuan''s response was polite but firm. "I appreciate your understanding, Senior Sister."


    He was beginning to grasp the unwritten rules of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Here, power spoke louder than words, and one imed the benefits they deserved without hesitation. Modesty? It would only be perceived as weakness.


    Protectorate Xiong Yuan''s voice carried a hint of amusement as he prepared to take his leave. "If everything is settled, I''ll be on my way. Wu Yuan, take your time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. All the information you need about the Bloodforge Devil Hall can be found in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm. If you have any questions, don''t hesitate to seek me out."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    In the blink of an eye, Protectorate Xiong Yuan vanished.


    After bidding farewell to Bai Li, Wu Yuan strode purposefully into Mansion One. He was greeted by a group of Qi Sea phase servants, who bowed respectfully, well-ustomed to the changing of the mansion''s masters.


    Outside, Bai Li watched Wu Yuan enter the mansion, her eyes clouded with a mix of emotions. She had called this ce home for over a decade, and now...


    She lingered for a moment, lost in thought, beforeunching herself into the sky. Within moments, she alighted before another grand mansion.


    Gone was her delicate facade, reced by a chilling tone as she announced, "Xi Xin, I''ve taken a fancy to your mansion. Get out."


    This was the harsh reality of District One. Beyond Mansion One, ownership of all other residences was determined solely by strength. The strong chose, and the weakplied.


    ...


    <i>Inside the meditation chamber of Mansion One.</i>


    Wu Yuan paid little heed to themotion his arrival had caused throughout the Redmoon Division. He was currently focused on sending a strand of consciousness into the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    This voidrealm was a wonder to behold, containing everything one could imagine��from a towering Daoist Scripture Tower to marketces where all sorts of treasures could be acquired. All transactions and activities within the Bloodforge Devil Hall could be conducted here.


    <i>Time to acquaint myself with the rules of this ce.</i> Wu Yuan thought, deciding to start by perusing the multitude of virtual immortal slips provided in his personal hall.


    As the hours slipped by, Wu Yuan absorbed the wealth of information, gaining a clearer and deeper understanding of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. This was truly a formidable and fiercelypetitive superpower.


    A glimmer of determination shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he contemted his path forward. <i>For now, my focus must be on self-improvement, continuously growing stronger within the Bloodforge Devil Hall, striving to be the strongest of my generation. One day, I will ovee my Tribtions and be an Archeldritch.</i>


    If an eldritch warrior sessfully overcame their Tribtions, they became an Archeldritch.


    His first order of business was clear: exchange the merits gifted by Astral Lord Yin He for a saber codex suited to his needs. This was Wu Yuan''s most fervent desire.


    Only by cultivating a sufficiently powerful saber codex of the Celestial Body Dao could he fully unleash the potential of his body refiner self.


    The Daoist Scripture Tower within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm was a treasure trove of knowledge, housing an array of teachings and secret arts that dwarfed even the vast collection of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect by nearly tenfold. This alone spoke volumes about the astonishing depth and reach of this superpower.


    Of course, Wu Yuan''s privileged status as a Bloodforge Seed granted him ess to redeem virtually any teaching he desired.


    As he browsed through the redemption requirements for numerous teachings, Wu Yuan made a rough estimate: one merit in the Bloodforge Devil Hall was approximately equivalent to a hundred catties of ethercrystal, more than ten times the value of the same number of dragon crystals in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    <i>Celestial Body Dao, saber codex. </i>After careful consideration, Wu Yuan finally settled on an exceptionally powerful saber codex��the ''Starsunder Saber Codex''.


    This was a truebat methodology. The entire saber codex was divided into nine steps, each centered around eight key moves: Starsunder, Scorching Sun, Earth Burial, Star Tread, Limitless, Ten Thousand des, Vast Land, and Rising Tide of Stars.


    Each distinct move embodied a unique approach to navigating variousbat situations, offering profound insights into the mindset of the codex''s creator.


    Among the eight key moves, there was no hierarchy of strength; each possessed its own merits and applications.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened as he saw the price. <i>Just the first six steps of the Starsunder Saber Codex require five hundred thousand merits?</i> He shook his head in disbelief.


    The cost was staggering. To redeem the entire saber codex would require a mind-boggling five million devil hall merits.


    After a moment of careful deliberation, Wu Yuan decided to redeem only the first six steps. It was more than enough to upy his cultivation efforts for the foreseeable future.


    ...


    And so, Wu Yuan began delving into the teachings of the Starsunder Saber Codex.


    Unbeknownst to him, amand was being issued to Protectorate Rao Jin: "Amethyst Cradle Reverend Huo Yan identified a peerless genius but failed to report his discovery, viting the hall''s rules. He hasmitted a capital offense and is to be executed immediately!"


    "Understood." Protectorate Rao Jin''s voice quavered as he received the order.


    He had been keeping a close eye on Wu Yuan, fully aware of the extent of the young cultivator''s brilliance. It far surpassed even his wildest expectations.


    But he hadn''t anticipated that Reverend Huo Yan''s punishment would be enacted with such swiftness and finality.


    Capital punishment? With the ordering directly from the higher echelons of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the terrified Reverend Huo Yan didn''t even attempt to resist. He was executed on the spot.


    After all, with both a Void Refiner Eminence and an Elysian Field Eminence carrying out the order, what hope did an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle Reverend like Huo Yan have of resisting?


    And just like that, Reverend Huo Yan, once the mightiest being in the Summerpeak World, met his end without so much as a whimper.


    ...


    When news of Reverend Huo Yan''s death reached Wu Yuan through Protectorate Xiong Yuan, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn''t expected that the enemy he once feared most, an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivator, would perish so quietly, so unceremoniously.


    This stark reality only further impressed upon Wu Yuan the merciless nature of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, concrete evidence would have been required before ate-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator could be sentenced to death. Of course, if Wu Yuan had taken action himself, that would have been a different story entirely.


    <i>This is the true power of status</i>. Wu Yuan mused inwardly, his eyes turning cold as ice. <i>I didn''t even have to lift a finger, and an enemy of mine is dead. Here in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, I must remain ever vignt to ensure I don''t meet the same fate as Reverend Huo Yan.</i>


    A sense of urgency filled him. <i>I have to get stronger. If I''m strong, the Middle Land won''te to any harm. If I die and my qi refiner self is unable to return, disaster may befall the Middle Land.</i>


    Days went by in a sh.


    Wu Yuan engaged in dialogue with several Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds and swiftly established connections with various Amethyst Cradle cultivators and Void Refiner Eminences within the Bloodforge Devil Hall. He integrated himself into theplex hierarchy of the devil hall with remarkable speed.


    Gradually, his cultivation progress in the Bloodforge Devil Hall found its rhythm, with the Celestial Body Law Codex as the core and the Starsunder Saber Codex as support.


    Compared to the Dark Earth Sword Array and Star Ruins Sword Array, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self found the Starsunder Saber Codex more aligned with his natural inclinations.


    The two true selves were, after all, distinct entities with their own unique characteristics.


    Every month, like clockwork, Astral Lord Chen Deng''s incarnation would materialize at Wu Yuan''s mansion to guide him through the Starsunder Saber Codex.


    Initially, Astral Lord Chen Deng''s demeanor was aloof and indifferent, seemingly unmoved by Wu Yuan''s prodigious talent. "This saber codex suits you well. Cultivate it diligently," he would say, his tone neutral.


    But a mere three monthster, his attitude underwent a dramatic shift.


    <i>How can his progress be so rapid? It''s beyond belief. </i>Astral Lord Chen Deng found himself truly taken aback by Wu Yuan''s advancement in the Celestial Body Dao.


    Despite his initial reservations, Chen Deng had to admit that instructing a disciple of Wu Yuan''s caliber was a rare joy. He began to mentor the young cultivator with increased fervor and dedication.


    This heightened level of instruction only served to elerate Wu Yuan''s already impressive progress.


    ...


    <i>My master guided me inprehending the Celestial Body Dao through the ''Dark Earth Sword Codex'' and the ''Star Ruins Sword Codex'', approaching it from a sword-centric perspective that better suits my qi refiner self.</i>


    <i>The guidance from Astral Lord Chen Deng, however,es from the perspective of the saber codex.</i>


    <i>With both forms of instruction at my disposal, my two selves are able to cross-verify principles and put them to the test. </i>As his soul grew stronger, Wu Yuan felt his progress along the path of the Celestial Body Dao surge forward at an unprecedented pace.


    He shattered through various bottlenecks, solving difficulties one after another with seeming ease.


    <i>A monster! This Wu Yuan, he''s an uncut gem of immeasurable value! </i>Astral Lord Chen Deng found himself increasingly astounded by his pupil''s progress. <i>How can he be merely a once-in-a-million-year talent from the Redmoon Division?</i>


    <i>Has the entire Redmoon Division ever produced such an outstanding talent in its hundreds of millions of years of existence?</i>


    <i>Unbelievable. His progress is elerating even further. </i>Despite his disbelief, Astral Lord Chen Deng couldn''t deny the rapid improvements unfolding before his very eyes.


    He seriously considered taking Wu Yuan as his formal disciple.


    But caution prevailed. <i>Hold on, there''s no need to rush. Let''s wait until the Bloodforge Battle concludes.</i>


    ...


    Time passed. Wu Yuan''s two true selves��one in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the other in the Bloodforge Devil Hall��engaged in intensive cultivation. They engaged in constant cross-verification of insights, working in tandem toprehend the profundities of the Dao.


    In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.


    <i>In the world residence of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect headquarters, within the arcane arts experimental zone, tens of thousands of li wide.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self hovered in mid-air.


    <i>Condense!</i>


    In an instant, a tidal wave of vibrant green qi streams surged around him, their sheer force seeming to reach the very heavens.


    Each stream of this green energy resembled a resilient vine or unbreakable chain, pulsating with vibrant vitality as they encircled Wu Yuan in an intricate, swirling dance.


    Then, with a suddenness that seemed to catch the very air by surprise, a flying sword materialized. It streaked across the sky, cutting throughyers of green qi streams. A sh of potent sword intent surged forth, resolute and unstoppable!


    <i>With this strike, I have finally stepped through the initiate threshold of the ��Extended Life Sword Codex��.</i> Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips.


    <i>The Longevity Dao, I have finally grasped it. Master said that if I could break through before the age of a hundred, it would be good enough. Yet here I am, not even fifty-three years old.</i>


    <i>The Longevity Dao is the second Intermediate Law I haveprehended.</i> Wu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, which sparked with anticipation and curiosity.


    <i>Once these twows converge, to what heights will my strength soar?</i>

 Chapter 448: The Number One Prodigy of the Immortal Nation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 448: The Number One Prodigy of the Immortal Nation (1)</h4>


    Although Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self was considered one of the top-tier geniuses of the era on the immortal continent when it came to Daoprehension talent, he still paled inparison to his body refiner self.


    Thetter, blessed with an innate Terranean Body, stood as a first-rate prodigy throughout the storied history of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had the privilege of guidance from several reputable masters. With guidance from the Celestial Body Law Codex, an inheritance left by the Great Eldritch Kua Fu, his progress naturally zoomed along at breakneck speed.


    However, after his qi refiner self obtained the mystical Dragonsoul Crystal Bead, his soul underwent a transformation, reaching the Soul Will level. This metamorphosis dramatically enhanced his Daoprehension speed, narrowing the gap between his two selves.


    Thus, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self managed to keep pace, grasping the Extended Life Sword Codex in a mere decade.


    <i>When the Lesser Laws of Eternal Spring, Spiritual Evolution, and Wood Origin arebined, they form the Intermediate Law of Longevity.</i> Wu Yuan reflected inwardly.


    These three Lesser Laws were all considered separate specializations and far from easy toprehend.


    Wu Yuan had long since crossed the initiate threshold of the Wood Origin Dao, but wasn��t particrly adept at the Spiritual Evolution Dao or Eternal Spring Dao. Only now did he truly reach the initiate threshold level.


    Wu Yuan was clear that no matter which Greater Law he contemted, the fundamentals were those numerous Lesser Laws; numerous Lesser Laws intertwined to form Intermediate Laws, and many Intermediate Laws merged to form aplete Greater Law.


    <i>Among the numerous Intermediate Laws within the Wood Dao, the Devouring Dao excels in offense but is exceedingly rare, while the Longevity Dao excels in recovery. </i>Through studying the Extended Life Sword Codex, he understood this clearly.


    Above all, the Longevity Dao excelled in recovery, followed by resilience. Among those whoprehended the Wood Dao to a high degree, the Longevity Dao was the mostmonly studied Intermediate Law.


    For instance, the Extended Life Sword Codex leaned inherently towards defense rather than offense.


    <i>However,prehending it is only the first step. Simultaneously executing Lesser Laws and Intermediate Laws belonging to the same Greater Law is rtively easy, but true integration? Extremely difficult. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>And if they belong to different Greater Laws? True integration is a fool''s dream!</i>


    At least, none of the numerous books Wu Yuan had read mentioned that different Greater Laws could be integrated.


    Of course, Wu Yuan''s goal was not true integration, but a subtle fusion. As long as he could unleash greater power due to the reaction of the twoing together, that was enough for him.


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao is proficient in defense, yet overly rigid andcking in resilience. While the Longevity Daocks rigidity, yet is highly resilient.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind was filled with longing.<i> Oncebined in execution, my defensive power?</i>


    It would be catapulted to new heights, at least several times stronger than now.


    <i>Once my qi refiner self deploys a Thousand Swords Array of the Star Ruins Sword Array, those at the same cultivation phase as me can bombard my defenses as much as they want. It will be extremely difficult for them to break through.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>Master''s ns are truly visionary.</i>


    Only after truly stepping through the threshold of the Longevity Dao did Wu Yuan understand his master''s intentions back then.


    <i>Without an affinity for the Wood Dao, forcibly pursuing it is indeed not worthwhile, potentially wasting hundreds or thousands of years without aplishing anything.</i> Wu Yuan silently noted. <i>But with such aptitude, I ought to pursue it.</i>


    <i>Next, both true selves will continue to study the Longevity Dao and the Celestial Body Dao, each carving out some time to ponder methods tobine the twows. </i>Wu Yuan silently nned.


    While the execution of thebinedws wouldrgely apply tobat, boosting his overall strength, each true self would naturally develop differentbat techniques due to their unique strengths.


    <i>But one thing ismon</i>. Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile. <i>Byprehending the Longevity Dao and integrating it into my qi sea and soul chamber, both my essentia and ether recovery rates will see a significant improvement.</i>


    Different Daos excelled in different aspects.


    <i>However, at the moment, there''s another troubling matter.</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    <i>Currently, ��Li Xia�� is already a top-tier genius of the younger generation in the Redmoon Immortal Hall. ��Wu Yuan�� is also considered top-tier in the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.</i>


    <i>The identity of Li Xia has been somewhat concealed, and the soul auras and other identifiable characteristics of both true selves are vastly different.</i>


    <i>However, age can only be slightly altered, not drastically changed. If both true selves are found to demonstrate the Daoprehension level and contemte the same Daos? And reside in the same immortal continent? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It was too much of a coincidence. If he were weak, it wouldn��t be an issue. The immortal continent was vast, teeming with countless beings, and the weak were not worth deliberate investigation and scrutiny.


    But Wu Yuan''s talent shone like a beacon. If he wanted to obtain sufficient cultivation resources, then concealing his brilliance was not possible.


    The more time went by, the more attention he would attract.


    <i>Perhaps a High Immortal might not discern the rtion between the two true selves, but what about an Archimmortal? Or even those great existences beyond Archimmortals? </i>Wu Yuan could not say for sure.


    After all, his two true selves had only been separated for a few decades. Even though they had each grown over time and cultivated the Nine Soul Change secret art, they were far frompletely independent. It was possible that some supreme beings might recognize their connection.


    Wu Yuan''s mind shed back to that fateful moment years ago when an Archimmortal''s gaze hadnded on him, seeking to end his life through the fabric of spacetime. That event had shaken him to his core, making him acutely aware of his own insignificance in the grand scheme of things.


    <i>Though the Bloodforge Devil Hall and Eternal Sun Immortal World are both under the Taiyuan Divine Court, I gained their trust because I swore allegiance without hesitation.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    The binding of oaths was critical.


    Being a member of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, Wu Yuan naturally wasn''t afraid to swear allegiance to Taiyuan Divine Court, having already done so once at Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    <i>However, looking at the current situation, there are still some discrepancies. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>Once exposed, would it be a blessing or a curse?</i>


    Try as he might, he couldn''t arrive at a satisfactory answer.


    <i>Forget it. Let''s ask Master, his perspective and knowledge far surpass mine.</i> Wu Yuan decided to consult High Immortal Nan Yin.


    When in doubt, seek guidance from seniors.


    ...


    <i>Dragon Star, High Immortal Nan Yin��s residence.</i>


    "Do not reveal yourself," High Immortal Nan Yin immediately dismissed Wu Yuan''s idea of revealing his secret. He stated softly, "Do you remember what the biggest advantage of having two true selves is?"


    Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in momentary confusion before understanding dawned. "Self-preservation," he answered.


    "Correct. In this vast heaven and earth, with powerhouses as numerous as clouds, do you recall why your master wanted you to learn the Longevity Dao?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked rhetorically, chuckling, "Because it��ll improve your self-preservation ability."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "Always remember this phrase: only by living, can you have everything."


    "Look around you now; you have many peers as rivals, many powerful predecessors, and in the future, countless juniors will rise in power," High Immortal Nan Yin said calmly. "You may oupete them temporarily, but can you do so for a lifetime?"


    Nan Yin''s expression softened slightly, a hint of a smile ying at the corners of his mouth. "But as long as you keep living, a billion yearster, when you look back, you''ll see that most of those once dazzling powerhouses and geniuses are gone.��


    "Only those who survive will be remembered by the powerhouses of the future generations as the foremost powerhouses of their era."


    "You don''t have to be the strongest, but strive to be the longest-lived," High Immortal Nan Yin smiled at his disciple.


    Wu Yuan listened in awe, gaining a clearer understanding of his master''s philosophy.


    "If you reveal your cards now, yes, everyone will be blown away by your talent. Stepping through the thresholds of two Intermediate Laws and cultivating two true selves this early, how impressive is that?" High Immortal Nan Yin remarked.


    "One could say, looking across the history of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, you''re a monstrous prodigy seen once every hundred thousand or a million years."


    ��It is likely that all the Astral Lords would scramble to take you as their direct disciple. Even Astral Monarchs mighte forward and join them," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "It might seem glorious for a moment, but you would lose your biggest trump card."


    "Later, if hostile forces wish to eliminate you, they''ll target both your true selves," High Immortal Nan Yin stated solemnly.


    Wu Yuan listened quietly. He understood what his master meant.


    "Your master can lead you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Exposing yourself won''t significantly change the resources you can obtain, just as your current rate of progress isn''t much slower than direct disciples of Astral Monarchs."


    "Cultivating for less than sixty years, yet you''ve already stepped through the thresholds of two Intermediate Laws," High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s guidance," Wu Yuan said sincerely.


    Throughout these decades of cultivation, High Immortal Nan Yin, who showed him the way forward, was undoubtedly the greatest help to Wu Yuan.


    "You''ve been diligent, that is the key." High Immortal Nan Yin grinned, showing off a row of yellow teeth, "I suggest that your body refiner self doesn��t reveal the profundities of the Wood Dao unless absolutely necessary."


    "Why?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    In Wu Yuan''s view, his qi refiner self had a more stable cultivation environment, and it seemed harmless to hide some of his strength.


    But his body refiner self at Bloodforge Devil Hall needed to earn merits and status through blood-soaked battles. Why should his body refiner self hide his strength?


    "Silly boy, it''s exactly the opposite of what you think," High Immortal Nan Yin nced at Wu Yuan, "Our Eternal Sun Immortal World nurtures disciples more gently, thus you��ll face fewer life-and-death trials and it''s much safer. You can reveal all your strength without worrying."


    "But it''s different for your body refiner self. Facing life-and-death battles time after time, there might be some traps waiting for you, it''s best to hide part of your strength," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "That way, the enemy will underestimate you, and you''ll be able to surprise them at critical moments."


    Wu Yuan understood.


    "Secondly, the upper echelons of the Bloodforge Devil Hall aren��t foolish. If your body refiner self, with a Terranean Divine Body, suddenly reveals a strong aptitude for the Wood Dao, wouldn''t they be curious?" High Immortal Nan Yin smiled.


    ��But it''s different for your qi refiner self. Even if a High Immortal were to scrutinize you closely, they would detect your aptitude for the Wood Dao."


    "Besides, even if someone is curious about your talent for the Celestial Body Dao, what of it? Your master and the sect will cover for you, and if necessary, the immortal ancestor will intervene."


    "So, your qi refiner self doesn''t need to hide his abilities too much," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Of course, I''m not saying your body refiner self can''t exhibit the Longevity Dao; you could cultivate some inconspicuous, self-preserving powerful ether arts thatbine the twows, to be used at critical moments to as a life-saving measure," High Immortal Nan Yin instructed.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.


    He waspletely convinced by his master.

 Chapter 449: The Number One Prodigy Of The Immortal Nation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 449: The Number One Prodigy Of The Immortal Nation (2)</h4>


    High Immortal Nan Yin said lightly, "Go on then. From now on, I will guide you in both the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao whenever you visit."


    "Oh? Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    In previous years, although his master had asionally elucidated on the Extended Life Sword Codex, he had never systematically taught the Longevity Dao. After all, Wu Yuan had not truly reached the initiate threshold then, and excessive guidance would have been as futile as watering a seed before it sprouted.


    Not long after, Wu Yuan took his leave.


    High Immortal Nan Yin reclined in his chair, which creaked softly beneath him. His face bore a contemtive expression as he muttered to himself, "This youngster...Themotion he stirred up was hardly a small one."


    News of Wu Yuan, a peerless genius from the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon Division, had already spread like wildfire throughout the division. Consequently, many powerhouses from the Redmoon Immortal Hall had caught wind of him.


    Ordinary High Immortals and Earth Immortals might not pay much heed, given the minimal ovep and mutually exclusive territories between the two major factions. Furthermore, they were not adversaries, their paths rarely crossing.


    But because of Wu Yuan, High Immortal Nan Yin naturally kept a vignt eye on the unfolding events.


    "I didn''t think my disciple would turn out to be a peerless genius who seems even more formidable than myself," Nan Yin mused, his eyes closed as if in deep contemtion.


    "No rush. Let''s wait a few hundred years more, until my disciple truly has the power to protect himself and find his own way. It won''t be toote to face the Ninth Immortal Tribtion then."


    Over the decades, High Immortal Nan Yin''s fondness for his disciple Wu Yuan had only grown.


    ...


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan''s two true selves, each positioned within a differentrge faction, cultivated diligently. The only difference was that his qi refiner self now received guidance on the Longevity Dao from High Immortal Nan Yin.


    <i>Master''s guidance is incisive, directly addressing the root; it feels like his understanding of the Longevity Dao might be on par with that of the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan marveled.


    In fact, Wu Yuan had begun harboring suspicions two years prior. For over two years, his two true selves had received guidance from both High Immortal Nan Yin and Astral Lord Chen Deng on the Celestial Body Dao.


    What shocked Wu Yuan was that the level of mastery demonstrated by his master was in no way inferior to Astral Lord Chen Deng. In some aspects, his guidance was actually superior.


    At the time, Wu Yuan wondered: <i>Could it be that my master''sprehension of the Celestial Body Dao isparable to Astral Lord Chen Deng? But Astral Lord Yin He once said that Astral Lord Chen Deng is a super powerhouse that specializes in the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    Meanwhile, High Immortal Nan Yin was just a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. The disparity in their strength was massive.


    Ultimately, Wu Yuan could only conclude that his master was simply a better teacher. But now, with High Immortal Nan Yin demonstrating a remarkable mastery of the Longevity Dao, it naturally left Wu Yuan even more astonished. High Immortal Nan Yin''s image grew increasingly unfathomable in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Everyone says High Immortal Dong Yang is formidable, but my master might be extremely terrifying too. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently, his admiration for his master growing even stronger.


    To reach such profound levels ofprehension in several Intermediate Laws simultaneously?


    ...


    The guidance from two distinguished teachers, the joint contemtion by two true selves, and the continual growth of the soul resulted in Wu Yuan''s strength progressing at an increasingly astonishing rate.


    <i>In the Origin Blood World of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon Division. </i>


    Wu Yuan��s worldlet mansion sprawled across tens of thousands of li. Within this vast space, a shadowy figure cloaked in ck robes stood in the air, his presence ethereal and terrifying, resembling a deity of ughter. It was none other than Astral Lord Chen Deng��s incarnation.


    "Wu Yuan, try again," Astral Lord Chen Deng spoke softly.


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self hovered in the air, his entire form encased in ck battle armor. Only his eyes were visible.


    Not far from him stood a towering metal puppet wielding a saber. It was amon type ofbat puppet in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but this particr one was a first-grade puppet. It possessed the strength of a ninth-stage Shambh cultivator, butcked in the expression of Daoprehension.


    "Kill!" The towering hundred-zhang-tall metal puppet possessed a spirit, and had been programmed to attack Wu Yuan with full force. Its icy gaze locked onto its target.


    <i>Boom! </i>The metal puppet erupted with immense force, darting through the air like a bolt of ck lightning. It covered hundreds of li in an instant, its saber raised high.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The de cleaved through the air, tearing through the sky as if intending topletely shatter the heavens themselves.


    "Haha, bring it on." Wu Yuan''sughter rang out. In an instant, he executed three ether arts, transforming into a giant a hundred zhangs tall. With the Four-Armed Form, he now possessed four arms, each hand wielding a ck saber.


    "Star Tread!" Without Beast Fusion, Wu Yuan dodged the perilously close strike like a phantom.


    At the same time, he swung two arms, each holding a saber. "Starsunder! Scorching Sun!"


    One saber strike seemed to rupture stars, ferocious and swift, tapping into the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao. The other saber strike was like a zing sun sweeping across the sky, boldly striking wide and far!


    In a heartbeat, he unleashed two different moves.


    "Not good!" The metal puppet seemed slightly startled, its programming struggling to keep up with Wu Yuan''s onught. It was fast, but its saber skills were far inferior to Wu Yuan''s, leaving it no choice but to withstand the two strikes head-on.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> Two lightning-fast collisions rang out, and the metal puppet was instantly sent flying, its massive form tumbling through the air.


    But the metal puppet was constructed to be highly sturdy. It steadied itself in the air with one foot and charged towards Wu Yuan, saber aimed directly at him. This strike was precise and ruthless!


    "Haha, Earth Burial! Limitless!" Wu Yuanughed heartily, his voice echoing across the vast space. Amidst the shing de rays, he conjured three phantoms, effortlessly meeting the strike.


    It seemed like a direct block, but in reality, he redirected most of the puppet''s force into the surroundings, frustrating the metal puppet to no end.


    "Vast Land!" As Wu Yuan''s phantoms crisscrossed and then merged in an instant, a powerful de ray swept across the heavens.


    A saber rose, as if closing the heavens. A saber fell, as if splitting the earth.


    Mighty and swift, it struck the metal puppet, smashing it into the ground below with a thunderous crash. Debris flew, and the ground cracked open with numerous fissures, throwing up waves of mud and dirt several li high.


    "You may stop now," said Astral Lord Chen Deng, who had been watching the battle.


    With a thunderous rumble, the metal puppet emerged from the depths of the earth, a visible crack on its chest rapidly healing. It flew to Astral Lord Chen Deng''s side and bowed respectfully.


    Wu Yuan also deactivated his ether art and retracted his saber, returning to his normal height before approaching Astral Lord Chen Deng.


    "Instructor Chen," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    With Astral Lord Chen Deng''s repeated guidance over the years, Wu Yuan felt deeply grateful to him.


    "Very good," Chen Deng''s voice carried a hint of approval. "You have grasped the second step of the Starsunder Saber Codex, andprehended the conception of all eight moves."


    "Your strength has increased significantly over the past two years," Astral Lord Chen Deng spoke slowly. "Having defeated a first-grade puppet, you may now try tackling level fourteen of the Dark Star. Even if you don''t seed, you''re nearly there."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    In these past two years, his body refiner self had made remarkable progress in the application of the Celestial Body Dao, far surpassing his past capabilities.


    Challenging level fourteen of the Dark Star? If he was forced to rely solely on the Celestial Body Dao, Wu Yuan still wasn''t confident he could do it.


    But if asked to re-challenge the guardians of level thirteen, Wu Yuan felt he could easily defeat them now.


    "I''ve given you all the guidance I can. How far you go in the Bloodforge Battle is up to you," Astral Lord Chen Deng looked intently at Wu Yuan.


    "Your talent is extraordinary, don''t end up dying in there. My expectations for you aren��t as high as Astral Lord Yin He��s, but just remember one thing:e back alive," Astral Lord Chen Deng''s voice seemed indifferent, yet it carried his concern for Wu Yuan.


    No one stood beyond the reach of emotions. After dozens of tutorial sessions, Astral Lord Chen Deng had also grown fond of Wu Yuan, a respectful and diligent student.


    "Understood. I will definitelye back alive," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    When he looked up again, Astral Lord Chen Deng��s incarnation had already disappeared without a sound.


    <i>These super powerhouses are always so elusive. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head, his gaze falling on the metal puppet beside him.


    "Master." The metal puppet began to tense up again.


    "Come on, let��s continue!" Wu Yuan grinned, "I haven''t had enough yet."


    As the years passed, Wu Yuan gradually came to understand the philosophy of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    To them, real-worldbat was a full-spectrum stimtion of the potential of one��s soul, spirit, and flesh. It brought about evolutionary stimuli far more intense than that of voidrealm battles.


    The only w��one faced a high chance of death.


    <i>Faced with the pressure of death, individuals are indeed able to unleash terrifying potential. </i>Wu Yuan realized clearly.


    However, unlike ordinary immortal cultivators, Wu Yuan had one advantage��two true selves.


    <i>One true self undergoes life and death trials, but the experiences benefit both true selves. </i>Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    <i>Only three months left until the Bloodforge Battle. I must make the most of the time and cultivate well.</i>


    Wu Yuan resumed his duel with the metal puppet, identifying the shorings of his saber techniques throughbat.


    ...


    As the Bloodforge Battle drew near and Wu Yuan focused on his cultivation, a message swept through the Redmoon Immortal Continent like a hurricane. It even captured the attention of many factions across the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    ��What?��


    ��The mysterious genius who set the immortal continent record in the two-star tower is Zhuo Haiyue? Wasn''t it said she only cleared level sixty-five?��


    Wu Yuan too caught wind of the news, and was equally shocked. ��She cleared level seventy of the two-star tower?��


    The leap in difficulty from level sixty-nine to seventy was like jumping from earth to heaven. It was even greater than the step from level fifty-nine to sixty in the one-star tower!


    "Exactly!" Kuang Long who had rushed to inform Wu Yuan about the news was filled with emotion, "Great Senior Brother, from what I can remember, you are acquainted with this Zhuo Haiyue, right? She''s hidden her capabilities too well."


    "Everyone knows she''s a genius, but who could have imagined she''d be this formidable?"


    "She hasn''t even cultivated for two hundred years, yet already cleared level seventy of the two-star tower, even reaching level seventy-three this time. It��s heaven-defying!"


    "The second-ranked Amethyst Cradle genius in the Moonsilver World, who has been cultivating nearly a hundred years longer than her, only just cleared level sixty-four," Kuang Long sighed.


    Wu Yuan was astounded.


    How vast was the gap between level sixty-four and seventy-three? It was not something time alone could bridge.


    "Great Senior Brother, I heard that Zhuo Haiyue is now ranked first in the two-star tower across the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    "She''s now dubbed the number one genius of the immortal nation," Kuang Long couldn''t help saying.


    The number one genius of the immortal nation? A spark of light shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.

 Chapter 450: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (1)

    <h4>Chapter 450: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan was well aware of the news surrounding Zhuo Haiyue, universally acknowledged as the foremost prodigy of the Moonsilver World and touted by many as the top genius of the entire immortal continent, dazzling others with her brilliance.


    Princessling of the Zhuo Family, and the first in line of session to the title of Princess. With only a little over a century of cultivation, she challenged level sixty-five of the two-star tower of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower,parable to level seventy-five of the one-star tower in difficulty. To be precise, she was over 160 years old.


    That was what Wu Yuan knew about her. As for the mysterious genius Kuang Long spoke of, Wu Yuan had heard about them numerous times, as they had caused quite a stir on multiple asions across the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Over a decade ago, this genius had raised the two-star tower��s current record from level sixty-seven to sixty-nine in one go. One had to understand that throughout the billion-year history of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, the highest record of the two-star tower was only level seventy-four.


    Yet, this mysterious prodigy never revealed their identity, leading to countless spections.


    Previously, both Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue had shown ster performances that shook thends, but neither was recognized as the foremost genius of the immortal continent.


    Why? Simply because the talent of this mysterious genius surpassed them all by an overwhelming margin.


    And just a few hours ago, this mysterious figure made a move once more, effortlessly conquering the arduous level seventy and continued all the way to level seventy-three. Subsequently, they revealed their identity��Zhuo Haiyue!


    Naturally, this caused a storm, sending tremors across the immortal continent. Countless immortal cultivators heard the news, setting the entire Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm abuzz with discussion.


    Regardless of what the higher-ups thought, Zhuo Haiyue rapidly became recognized as the greatest prodigy in the history of the immortal continent. Some even considered her the number one genius of the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation!


    This was because, despite the over six thousand immortal continents within the current Silvermist Immortal Nation, the only individual in this era to have cleared level seventy of the two-star tower was Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Zhuo Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan drew a deep breath.


    He felt a mix of shock and disbelief.


    <i>Calcting the timeline, sixteen years ago, around the time I first arrived at the immortal continent, Zhuo Haiyue cleared level sixty-nine of the two-star tower.</i> <i>In just sixteen years, she cleared levels seventy to seventy-three? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Such a rate of progress was mortifying.


    If one were to calcte Zhuo Haiyue��s rate of progression, it was not one bit slower than Wu Yuan��s, perhaps even faster. This was because the leap from level sixty-nine to seventy was a qualitative one. Conquering this single level was more difficult than progressing from level one to sixty-nine. Yet, Zhuo Haiyue achieved this in just sixteen years.


    ��Great Senior Brother, what do you think?�� Kuang Long, seeing Wu Yuan��s slightly dazed expression, couldn��t help himself from asking. ��This Zhuo Haiyue has stolen the title of number one genius of the immortal continent from you.��


    ��What are you thinking?�� Wu Yuan chuckled and patted Kuang Long��s head: ��What stolen title? With her rate of progress, she��s rightly the top genius of the immortal nation, not someone I canpare with.��


    ��No! It��s not the same,�� Kuang Long shook his head. ��I��ve discussed this with Shi Yun and Qing Guang; Zhuo Haiyue had better cultivation conditions from childhood, whereas you, Great Senior Brother, started in a worldlet. In terms of progress, you��re not any less remarkable. If given the same resources, you��d surely outshine Zhuo Haiyue,�� Kuang Long asserted confidently.


    ��Kuang Long, do you believe your own words?�� Wu Yuan asked with a half-smile, ��A genius like that cannot simply be nurtured into existence.��


    Kuang Long was momentarily stunned, then gave an embarrassed smile.


    ��Alright, it��s time for you to head back. Zhuo Haiyue is my friend, there��s no need to console me.�� Wu Yuan smiled and sent Kuang Long out of his residence in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>I don��t understand. She clearly possesses such strong abilities yet refuses to reveal it. </i>Now alone, Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Could it be due to her enemy?</i>


    Wu Yuan remembered that Zhuo Haiyue once mentioned she had a mortal enemy and hoped that he could assist her when she sought revenge in the future. However, Zhuo Haiyue never disclosed who this enemy was.


    <i>If she fears the enemy, why reveal her abilities today? Could it be that she no longer needs to take precautions against them?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, somewhat confused.


    After thinking it over, Wu Yuan decided to send Zhuo Haiyue a congrattory message, without prying further.


    <i>She��s caused such amotion this time. The Bloodforge Battle and the Moonsilver Tournament are all imminent, I''m afraid she��s now the center of attention in the immortal nation, it might take a while before she sees my message. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    But merely two breathster, Wu Yuan''s eyes sharpened. <i>Hm?</i>


    He had received a response from Zhuo Haiyue, simple and straightforward: "Thanks, let''s strive hard together."


    Wu Yuan grinned, but he didn��t disturb Zhuo Haiyue any further.


    <i>Her performance has shocked the world. However, it has indeed taken some pressure off me. </i>Wu Yuan smiled slightly.


    <i>No matter how brightly I shine, I''m afraid it''ll be hard to surpass her.</i>


    The taller a tree grew, the more likely it was to be blown down by the wind. But if there were two tall trees, they were not as conspicuous.


    At least, Wu Yuan was amazed at the pace of Zhuo Haiyue��s progress, effortlessly outpacing the peerless geniuses of her generation on the immortal continent and leaving them in the dust.


    <i>The speed of my progress is also the result of many great opportunities, like the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, the Great Eldritch inheritance, and the guidance of many distinguished teachers. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>To achieve such a rate of progress, Zhuo Haiyue must��ve also had some great fortuitous encounters.</i>


    Without great opportunities, how could one surpass countless fellow immortal cultivators?


    <i>As my master said, if my qi refiner self has the strength to take on a challenge, then I should go forth and showcase my strength. There��s no rush.</i>


    <i>The fusion of the two Intermediate Laws is still iplete. When I can truly execute it perfectly, it won��t be toote to challenge the tower then.</i> A hint of yearning also flickered in Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    Wu Yuan had always kept the Dao Temple in mind. The next time he could earn points was clearing level sixty of the one-star tower.


    Aside from that, everyone yearned for fame. Although Wu Yuan was not hung up on fame and fortune, there were no downsides to leaving his mark on the history of the immortal continent, especially if he was given the chance to do so. At times, fame could also be converted into benefits.


    <i>Continue cultivating.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self left the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm, going into secluded cultivation.


    It wasn��t just Kuang Long who came looking for him. Many friends and seniors from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect asked how he felt about Zhuo Haiyue��s situation.


    Wu Yuan replied to each one.


    <i>Many seem to think I would be depressed by this? </i>Wu Yuan chuckled as he cultivated.


    He understood his friends�� thoughts. Originally, Wu Yuan��s brilliance was not dimmer than Zhuo Haiyue��s. In fact, he shone somewhat brighter, and was hailed as the ''number one genius of the immortal continent.''


    But now? That title was no longer his.


    And for the foreseeable future, Wu Yuan, Hao Shanjing, and a host of peerless geniuses from the immortal continent, would all live in Zhuo Haiyue��s shadow.


    For hundreds of thousands of years, Sword Immortal Dong Yang, a single man with a sword, overpowered countless High Immortals across the immortal continent. All of them cowered before him.


    And now, this era belonged to Zhuo Haiyue. Already an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, she was truly starting to shine on her own.


    <i>The number one genius of the immortal nation? Shadow?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.<i> A truly strong person doesn��t care how strong others are. All that matters is that one continues to surpass oneself.</i>


    ...


    While Wu Yuan remained unaffected by this storm, focusing on cultivating in seclusion, the very person who had triggered this storm, Zhuo Haiyue, was right at the center of it.


    Within the Moonsilver World in Redmoon City was a huge mansion spanning over thousands of li, filled with countless natural wonders.


    "Haiyue, why expose yourself like this?" A ck-robed man walked alongside a silver-armored woman through a corridor, a helpless expression on his face.


    "Thirteenth Ancestor," Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "You must have heard of my decision to participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle."


    "You are too reckless," the ck-robed man shook his head. "It was the family��s mistake that led to you participating in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, but at least you survived."


    "The Golden Core Bloodforge Battle isn��t too brutal. Anyone with some strength has hope of survival. But as far as I know, there are no weaklings in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle."


    "The number of participants from the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall rarely exceeds ten thousand, but each one has at least reached the True Intent stage and the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase." The man in ck robes said.


    "If you cultivated for another hundred years, I wouldn��t question your decision. But you want to go now?"


    "That''s a trial that countless geniuses from the entire Bloodforge Devil Hall join, with over four million participants from the second-tier divisions alone. Each one is more terrifying than thest, many of whom have cultivated for four to five hundred years.��


    ��Many of them are clearly ready to advance to the Void Refiner phase, but they hold themselves back, just so they can rise meteorically in the Bloodforge Battle."


    "It''s said that in terms of Daoprehension, there are at least hundreds within the devil hall who have the strength to clear level seventy of the two-star tower," the man in ck robes said in a low voice.


    "I already know all this! Indeed, it��s dangerous, but there are reasons why I must go," Zhuo Haiyue spoke softly. "I may not be the strongest, but I still have a chance to im the title of Bloodforge Marquis at least."


    "Moreover, this is an order from my master."

 Chapter 451: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (2)

    <h4>Chapter 451: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (2)</h4>


    The man in ck robes immediately fell silent.


    An order from her master? Although he was a High Immortal with a high position within the immortal continent, he was nothing more than a firefly to the bright moon that was Zhuo Haiyue��s master.


    Perhaps Zhuo Haiyue was lying, but the man in the ck robe couldn''t possibly verify this with her master.


    "Fine. I get that you want to join the Bloodforge Battle, but what does that have to do with revealing your identity?" the man in the ck robe asked.


    "The Fang Family has received the news ande forth to apologize, capturing all the murders who killed your parents. Right now, they are just awaiting yourmand."


    "The murderers?" A cold smile appeared on Zhuo Haiyue��s face. "What about the one who gave the order back then?"


    The ck-robed man��s face stiffened slightly.


    "Murderers? They''re just tools." Zhuo Haiyue shook her head slightly, calmly stating, "I don��t care about the lives of these tools. What I want is the extinction of the Fang Family."


    "Haiyue," the man in ck robes said anxiously, "you��re pushing the Fang Family too far. Enough is enough."


    "Pushing? I am indeed pushing them. When they��re panicked, they��ll expose their weaknesses," Zhuo Haiyue��s voice was emotionless. "Yet they can do nothing against me."


    The man in the ck robe felt helpless.


    "Thirteenth Ancestor, tell the family: however you choose to handle this matter is up to you, but it has nothing to do with me," Zhuo Haiyue suddenly smiled. "After all, I will be leaving the immortal continent in a short while."


    "Leaving?" The man in the ck robe was taken aback. "To where?"


    "The immortal world." Zhuo Haiyue said calmly, "My master has already reached the immortal world, and soon, he will proceed to the divine court headquarters for his assignment. Thus he has summoned us, his nominal disciples."


    "I will join the Bloodforge Battle directly from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Once it��s over, I��ll follow my master to the divine court headquarters."


    "The day I return to the immortal continent will be the day the Fang Family meets their demise." A trace of coldness flickered through Zhuo Haiyue��s eyes.


    In that instant, the elderly man understood her intentionspletely: because she was leaving soon, Zhuo Haiyue no longer cared. She made her record public, leaving the Fang Family anxious and fearful, yet unable to do anything.


    The Fang Family might be powerful, but their influence was limited to the immortal continent. In the scope of the entire immortal nation, they were insignificant.


    And the divine court headquarters? The Taiyuan Divine Court ranked as a top force in the endless river of time and space, able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the Immortal Court and the Eldritch Court.


    How could the Fang Family possibly intervene?


    "By disying such open aggression, aren��t you worried the Fang Family might sacrifice an Archimmortal to kill you?" the man in the ck robe couldn��t help but say.


    The Moonsilver World might be safe, but if an Archimmortal was willing to pay the price, killing Zhuo Haiyue wouldn��t be difficult.


    "Don��t worry. Even if that immortal ancestor of the Fang Familyes, it won��t matter," Zhuo Haiyue suddenly looked up, a slight smile on her face. "Senior Brother hase to pick me up."


    "Senior Brother?" The man in ck robes was startled for a moment, then looked up.


    Soundlessly, a figure in purple robes stood in the air, his aura vast. Though the figure stood only about three meters tall, his presence loomedrger than life, as if he were a colossus straddling the world.


    All fell silent.


    "Little Junior Sister, by Master��smand, I��vee to pick you up," the figure in purple robes boomed, his voice echoing across heaven and earth.


    "Thank you, Master. Thank you, Senior Brother Heng Dan," Zhuo Haiyue bowed slightly, as docile as a ��girl next door��.


    The man in ck robes stood stock still, his pupils constricting.


    Heng Dan? A certain legendary being came to mind.


    "Zhuo Fengmao greets Astral Lord Heng Dan," the man in ck robes gave a respectful bow, his voice trembling slightly.


    "Hmm." The figure in purple robes nodded slightly, barely giving the man in ck robes a second nce.


    High Immortal? He had roamed the macrocosm for tens of millions of years, ughtering countless such weaklings. They were hardly worth remembering.


    ...


    Time flowed by.


    <i>Within the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Redmoon Division, inside Wu Yuan��s mansion in the Origin Blood World.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> de rays flickered, some overwhelmingly powerful, others sinister and vicious, some bizarre and unpredictable, some as fleeting as the wind.


    Wu Yuan moved like a phantom.


    "Kill!" The giant metal puppet roared without much enthusiasm, swinging its saber as it chased after Wu Yuan.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan didn��t need to employ any particrly powerful ether arts. Despite the vast difference in their base strengths, he yed the metal puppet like a fool, each sh leaving the puppet helpless to resist.


    The fight between the two hadsted a long time.


    "Master, my ethercrystal is exhausted, I concede," the resigned voice of the metal puppet rang out as its ferocious expression faded and it stopped attacking.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Wu Yuan also ceased attacking and flew to the metal puppet��s side.


    "Master, your movement techniques have grown even more frightening," the metal puppetmented, shaking its head helplessly.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Indeed, after years of practicalbat and practicing the saber techniques from the Starsunder Saber Codex, especially Star Tread, his movement techniques had improved significantly.


    Speed and movement techniques were often mentioned together, yet they were not the same.


    Little ck''s ether art, Realm Crossing, raised its flight speed to an extreme degree, allowing it to make close-range dodges, and move in unpredictable ways.


    But speed and agility weren��t the be-all and end-all of movement techniques.


    <i>The best movement technique is one that allows the user to execute the profundity of the Dao in the shortest time duringbat, using the least energy and mana. </i>Wu Yuan had a clear understanding of movement techniques.


    The higher one��s maximum speed, the better. But in closebat, speed wasn��t the most important thing, but rather the suitability of the movement technique.


    It was just like teachings and secret arts; the stronger ones weren��t necessarily better. It was those that suited oneself that were the best.


    "Master, with only a month left until the Bloodforge Battle, should we try level fourteen of the Dark Star?" the metal puppet asked in a deep voice. "With your strength, Master, I reckon there''s a fifty percent chance you��ll make it through."


    "No need!" Wu Yuan shook his head. "I''ve obtained what I needed; clearing subsequent levels will only draw the attention of the Silvermist branch''s top-tier geniuses to myself. This will bring me no benefits, only disadvantages."


    ��It��s better to keep things as they are now," Wu Yuan grinned. "They all think I''m just a second or third tier genius. The other top-tier geniuses won''t be too wary of me either."


    "Then once the Bloodforge Battle begins, I��ll strike them hard," a murderous glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Repeatedly sparring with the metal puppet,bined with the approaching Bloodforge Battle and the looming threat of death, ignited Wu Yuan''s primal battle lust!


    "You may rest," Wu Yuan said.


    "Understood." The metal puppet quickly departed, leaving Wu Yuan alone.


    <i>Over the next month, I��ll calm my mind and prepare for the Bloodforge Battle.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>With the treasures from Astral Lord Yin He and the blood mist, my ether has rapidly umted to the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase in the past few years.</i>


    The ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase was fundamentally stronger than the seventh-stage.


    This pace of cultivation wasn''t considered too fast. Without the Terrasource Sun Fluid from Astral Lord Yin He, it would take at least four years for him to reach the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase relying only on the blood mist and Luminous Immortal Soil.


    The Terrasource Sun Fluid was tens to hundreds of times more precious than Luminous Immortal Soil, and far more effective.


    <i>I reached the peak of the Spiritual Body phase half a year ago.</i> Wu Yuan reflected silently. <i>But after reaching the peak of the Spiritual Body phase, one needs to spend some time deeply consolidating their insights.</i>


    <i>Despite the imminent arrival of the Bloodforge Battle, it''s best not to rush into the Shambh phase. This will be more beneficial for me in the long run. A few yearster, after the Bloodforge Battle is over, I will then proceed to break through.</i>


    <i>My body refiner self will proceed with quiet cultivation. </i>


    A glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>My qi refiner self has finally achieved an initial level of sess inbining and unleashing the two Intermediate Laws.</i>


    <i>It''s time to challenge the one-star tower.</i>


    ...


    <i>In the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, in a special space where the Seven Star Luminaries Tower resided.</i>


    A figure in ck robes appeared out of nowhere, standing in the void like a divine sword, his aura fierce and unstoppable��it was none other than Wu Yuan.


    <i>Seven Star Luminaries Tower. </i>Wu Yuan gazed at the distant towers.


    <i>Let''s go!</i>


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Wu Yuan headed directly into the first tower.


    The space transformed around him, revealing a vast expanse of outer space. Below was a, and starlight filled the space above.


    Wu Yuan stood in the space, swiftly selecting the weapons he needed.


    Challengers of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower could choose any weapon they liked, in any quantity they wished. The premise was that one had sufficient strength to wield them.

 Chapter 452: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (3)

    <h4>Chapter 452: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (3)</h4>


    After making his preparations, Wu Yuannded on a light screen, which showed the various records of the one-star tower:


    Silvermist Immortal Nation''s highest record: Level 81


    Immortal Continent''s past 100-million-year record: Level 68


    Immortal Continent''s past million-year record: Level 67


    Immortal Continent''s past 10,000-year record: Level 61


    Dragon Star Immortal Sect��s highest record: Level 71


    Dragon Star Immortal Sect��s current record: Level 58


    <i>I may have set the sect''s current record, but it is nothing much now.</i> Fighting spirit burned in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>It''s been many years since Ist challenged the tower.</i>


    <i>With the Bloodforge Battle approaching, let''s see how far I can go this time.</i>


    "Tower spirit. Begin!" Wu Yuan''s voice echoed across this expanse of outer space.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The colors of the world shifted, and countless points of light converged in the distance, swiftly forming a figure in ck robes.


    The one-star tower challenge officially began!


    ...


    The moment Wu Yuan officially started challenging the tower, many Earth Immortals and even High Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were immediately notified. These included Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, Earth Immortal Xu You, High Immortal Hei Yuan, and Abbot Wu. These individuals either had a stake in Wu Yuan��s progress, or were keenly interested in this junior disciple.


    <i>It''s been years since hest challenged the tower. He''s finally back?</i> In the sect��s grand hall, Abbot Wu��s lips curled up. <i>I wonder if Li Xia will give us a surprise this time.</i>


    He deliberated briefly before sending a message to Sword Immortal Dong Yang. Unfortunately, there was no response.


    <i>Senior Brother Dong Yang.</i> Abbot Wu shook his head. With a mentalmand, he sent a thread of consciousness into a special observation space within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Upon his arrival, Abbot Wu was surprised to find that the ce was already packed with four High Immortals and over twenty Earth Immortals, all waiting to watch Wu Yuan challenge the one-star tower.


    Such a crowd of spectators was quite rare! It was clear that Wu Yuan was regarded highly within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Abbot." Numerous High Immortals and Earth Immortals greeted him, swiftly offering the best seat to Abbot Wu, who naturally took it without hesitation.


    Many Earth Immortals conversed amongst themselves in hushed whispers.


    "It��s quite a turnout." Abbot Wu chuckled.


    "Just two months ago, that little girl from the Zhuo Family burst onto the scene, shocking the immortal continent," High Immortal Hei Yuan stated with a smile. "Li Xia, who was recognized by many in the sect as the number one peerless genius of the immortal continent in his generation, was instantly overshadowed."


    "Now that he''s finally challenging the one-star tower, it��s naturally receiving quite a bit of attention. Though he''s been taken in as a disciple by the immortal ancestor, we still care deeply about him," High Immortal Hei Yuan added.


    "Exactly!"


    "It''s not easy for the sect to produce a peerless genius." The other High Immortals chuckled.


    Abbot Wu''s gaze swept over these High Immortals and Earth Immortals.


    He was well aware of their thoughts, especially the Earth Immortals: Li Xia, the Archimmortal��s disciple, was likely to be the future leader of the sect. Naturally, they wished to foster good rtions with him.


    ��It��s starting.��


    "Level fifty-nine won��t stop Li Xia. With his talent and years of secluded cultivation, he''s bound to have made significant strides." Many immortals from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect watched keenly.


    The battle began swiftly and concluded just as quickly. Wu Yuan merely deployed a Thousand Swords Array, which assembled into a terrifying divine sword, sweeping away three opponents in one fell swoop.


    "What a formidable divine sword."


    "His strength has increased substantially."


    "He''s progressing much faster than Chen Jing and the others."


    "Extraordinary. Li Xia seems to have advanced further in the Celestial Body Dao since the Dragon Star Tournament," many Earth Immortals eximed in admiration, discussing among themselves.


    In their view, Wu Yuan''s progress was astonishingly swift.


    "Abbot, do you think he can clear level sixty?" High Immortal Hei Yuan frowned slightly. "I have a feeling that tackling level sixty could prove difficult for him."


    "He won''t make it!" Another white-robed elderly High Immortal shook his head and sighed, "Perhaps our expectations were too high. Compared to Zhuo Haiyue, Li Xia''s innate potential does indeed fall short."


    "Li Xia possesses immense talent, yet, he''s still a long way from being the top genius of the immortal nation," another High Immortal added.


    As High Immortals, their perceptions were exceptionally sharp. At a nce, they could tell that given his current strength, Wu Yuan''s chances of clearing level sixty of the one-star tower were extremely slim��in fact, nearly impossible!


    "Quiet down," Abbot Wu frowned slightly. "The guardian of level sixty of the one-star tower is at the eighth-level True Intent stage, akin to a Void Refiner or an Elysian Field Eminence in Daoprehension."


    "Advancing from the sixth-level True Intent to the seventh is a huge leap. How old is Li Xia? It''s not surprising if he can''t make it through," Abbot Wu stated calmly.


    "Falling short of Zhuo Haiyue''s performance isn''t unexpected either, but that doesn''t mean Li Xia is weak. It''s just that Zhuo Haiyue is too dazzling."


    "Let''s just watch," Abbot Wu said in a low voice.


    The few High Immortals nodded. As keenly perceptive as they were, they could sense that even though Abbot Wu seemed to be making excuses for Li Xia, there was a hint of regret in his tone.


    Given Li Xia''s talents, if he had been born in almost any other era of the Immortal Continent, he could have been the best of his generation once he matured!


    s, he was born in the same era as Zhuo Haiyue.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan was already shing with the guardian of level sixty inside the one-star tower.


    ...


    Level sixty of the one-star tower marked the benchmark for peerless geniuses. Only by surpassing it could one be termed a peerless genius ording to definition.


    In thest ten thousand years of the Redmoon Immortal Continent''s history, the highest anyone had ever reached in the one-star tower was level sixty-one. One could only imagine the difficulty ofpleting level sixty.


    In the current era, not one prodigy under a hundred years from any faction on the Redmoon Immortal Continent had managed to surpass level sixty of the one-star tower.


    Among the various factions, it was widely believed that Wu Yuan had a great chance of surpassing level sixty, but definitely not at his current age!


    However, once Wu Yuan defeated the guardian of level fifty-nine, he was destined to face a fierce battle against the guardian of level sixty.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The ck-robed guardian instantly sprang into action, his surroundings swirling with hundreds of fourth-grade flying swords. Each flying sword carried the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.


    The swords spread far apart yet remained intricately connected. Cryptic patterns emerged, instantly forming a vast expanse of sword qi that stretched across thousands of li, enveloping Wu Yuan entirely.


    It was like a kingdom of swords!


    The terrifying sword intent made Wu Yuan''s eyes sharpen with realization as he slowly uttered four words: "Dark Earth Sword Domain."


    The sixth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array��Dark Earth Sword Domain!


    Wu Yuan finally understood why level sixty was a near insurmountable barrier for the top-tier geniuses of the immortal continent. Clearing it was indeed extremely difficult.


    At the Domain stage, cultivators could harness the power of heaven and earth to form their Domain. Advancing to the True Intent stage indicated a profound understanding of a Dao.


    Beyond True Intent, asprehension of the Dao deepened and insights were umted, cultivators could eventually form their own field of the Dao��the Dao Field stage!


    Unlike forming a Domain, there was no need to harness the power of heaven and earth when creating a Dao Field. Everything within the range of an immortal cultivator''s Dao Field fell under their control. They possessed the ability to strip weaker cultivators of their perception of heaven and earth��s power.


    Why was it impossible to harness heaven and earth''s power in the Fourth Eldritch Realm? Because at the heart of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, a Dao Field Array was engraved, forming a miniature Dao Field.


    The level sixty-one guardian naturally wasn��t at the Dao Field stage. In fact, more than ny percent of Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators failed to grasp a Dao Field.


    However, the Dark Earth Sword Domain was a nascent Dao Field formed by thebination of Daoprehension with flight.


    "Challenger. Throughout the immortal continent of today, few are able to stand before me. And you are the youngest among them. Though you will be defeated at my hands, you should take pride in yourself," the ck-robed guardian said with an indifferent voice.


    "Defeat?" Wu Yuan sneered, "Do you think you can defeat me just by suppressing me with a sword domain? Go on, show me whatever tricks you have."


    <i>Boom~ </i>Flying swords filled the sky. 729 flying swords instantly merged with the vast earthy-yellow qi streams.


    In the blink of an eye, a miniature celestial body with a diameter of about ten lipletely enveloped Wu Yuan��the Star Ruins Sword Array!


    Under the oppression of the Dark Earth Sword Domain, this miniature celestial body was already thergest Wu Yuan could maintain.


    "Very good." The ck-robed guardian was not annoyed in the slightest. He said lightly, "Today, I will teach you that there will always be someone out there stronger than you."


    <i>Rustle~</i> Out of the hundreds of flying swords originally spread over a thousand li to form the sword domain, nine of them suddenly merged together. Countless cryptic patterns of the Dao manifested as mana surged, forming a nearly real divine sword about ten zhangs long.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The divine sword whistled. Within the sword domain, it moved with an eerie speed, darting through hundreds li and appearing in front of Wu Yuan''s miniature celestial body in an instant.


    Terrifying speed! Heart-stopping sharpness!


    Even from a hundred li away, the terrifying sharpness of this divine sword still made Wu Yuan''s hair stand on end!

 Chapter 453: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (4)

    <h4>Chapter 453: Twin Stars Of Redmoon (4)</h4>


    Wu Yuan gritted his teeth. <i>I may not be able to deploy such a lethal sword array, but I��ve studied both the Earth and Wood Dao. I don''t believe you can break through mybination of Earth and Wood.</i>


    He had only dared to take on this challenge because of his faith in his abilities. He was betting on thebination of earth and wood.


    With a thunderous boom, Wu Yuan simultaneously stimted the fluctuations of two Daos: the fifth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao, and the first-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao.


    "Assemble!" hemanded.


    In that instant, Wu Yuan''s soul, powerful enough to have reached the Soul Will level, fully empowered the 729 flying swords.


    Before their eyes, strands of green light and vine-like chains materialized on the surface of the celestial body. These ethereal connections linked the flying swords that were previously bound only by cryptic patterns, uniting them as a single, formidable entity.


    With a piercing whoosh, the ten-zhang-long divine sword struck!


    Shield and sword collided in a cataclysmic sh!


    <i>Boom!</i> The impact was terrifyingly intense. The miniature celestial body shuddered and reeled backward, the myriad flying swords thatposed the array trembled violently, and a massive dent marred its once-smooth surface.


    Yet, against all odds, the miniature celestial body held firm. The countless chains linking the flying swords impeded the earthy-yellow divine sword''s advance.


    A hundred meters in, the divine sword lost its momentum, unable to advance even a hair''s breadth further.


    "Scram!" Wu Yuan roared. Before his chest, a terrifying divine sword materialized��another Thousand Swords Array. It struck the guardian��s divine sword with an earth shattering boom!


    The guardian''s divine sword, now devoid of momentum, was sent hurtling back by the impact. Meanwhile, the previously dented miniature celestial body rapidly knitted itself whole, its surface smoothing out as if the damage had never urred.


    "Haha, blocked it!" Wu Yuan''s confidence swelled, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.


    He knew that if he had deployed the Star Ruins Sword Array with the Celestial Body Dao��s principles alone, the array would have crumbled before the opponent''s sword domain.


    In a contest of raw power, Wu Yuan would not be the guardian''s match either. His Dark Earth Sword Array, formidable as it was, still fell short. The reason was simple: the gap in Daoprehension levels was too vast.


    The leap from the sixth-level True Intent stage to the seventh was a quantum shift, akin to the monumental transition from the Domain stage to True Intent stage. It was a hurdle that had trapped countless cultivators at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.


    However, by weaving in the principles of the Wood Dao, the defense of the Star Ruins Sword Array had soared to unprecedented heights.


    "Attack!" Wu Yuan bellowed, his newfound confidence spurring him to action. He drove the miniature celestial body forward, plunging headlong into the opponent''s sword domain that stretched over a thousand li.


    The guardian in ck robes couldn''t mask his shock. "Your defense is this strong?" he spat through gritted teeth. "You may withstand my attack once, but can you withstand it ten times? A hundred times?"


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Nine flying swords assembled once more, coalescing into a divine sword that struck Wu Yuan''s miniature celestial body with earth-shattering force.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! I</i>n the vast expanse of outer space, a series of frightening collisions ensued. It was less a battle and more a beating��one enduring the hits, the other delivering them with relentless fury!


    The Dark Earth Sword Domain engulfed the entire region of space. At any point within its range, nine flying swords could assemble to unleash a devastating attack. It was an ability that defied prediction, striking from everywhere and nowhere at once!


    Yet Wu Yuan''s miniature celestial body perfectly protected him. The synergy of earth and wood was like a huge turtle shell, easily deflecting the flying swords'' repeated assaults.


    Simultaneously, the miniature celestial body transformed into an unstoppable force. Like a rhinoceros charging into a pack of wolves, it rampaged fearlessly, repeatedly bearing down upon the alpha wolf��the ck-robed guardian.


    The guardian found himself forced to retreat time and again, his attacks rendered futile against Wu Yuan''s impregnable defense.


    It was clear that in this sh of contradictions, the shield held the undeniable advantage.


    <i>Haha, civil engineering, this is true civil engineering, utterly impregnable. </i>Wu Yuan exulted,pletely immersed in the terrifying power born from thebination of earth and wood.


    Over the years, his qi refiner self had tirelessly experimented with countless methods to integrate the principles of the Wood Dao into his sword array. After countless failures and setbacks, he had finally achieved a breakthrough.


    <i>Defense is the best offense.</i> Wu Yuan mused as he effortlessly resisted the guardian''s repeated attacks while relentlessly pursuing him.


    Unfortunately, the gap in Daoprehension, coupled with the oppressive nature of the sword domain, meant that Wu Yuan simply couldn''t close the distance. The guardian remained frustratingly out of reach. Thus, the battle dragged on, bing a test of endurance.


    Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced as he fought. <i>I need not fear. My soul is strong, maintaining only a small sword array. Though it is a Thousand Swords Array, most of it is driven by Daoprehension, consuming minimal mana.</i>


    <i>Moreover, the Longevity Dao amplifies my mana recovery rate several times overpared to other cultivators. </i>


    <i>Although the Dark Earth Sword Domain is formidable, it covers a vast range. The guardian needs to repeatedly assemble flying swords to attack, each strike draining a substantial amount of mana.</i>


    Even so, the battle raged on for over an hour. Eventually, the inevitable urred��the guardian''s mana reserves were exhausted, no longer able to maintain the sword domain.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan''s voice rang out with finality as he drove the sword array forward. The miniature celestial body charged at the guardian like a meteor smashing into a helpless rock.


    <i>Bang!</i> In a blinding sh, the guardian was instantly annihted by countless sword lights, his form disintegrating into nothingness.


    "Congrattions, Li Xia. You have cleared level sixty of the one-star tower," the voice of the tower spirit rang out, a hint of admiration coloring its usually neutral tone.


    "You have set the current record of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, earning a one-time True Intent perception experience."


    "Next level!" Wu Yuan dered. <i>Let''s see just what sort of attack is able to break through my civil engineering.</i>


    ...


    In the special observation space of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, a heavy silence had fallen.


    As Wu Yuan, encased by the miniature celestial body, finally exhausted the guardian''s mana and cleared the level, all the immortals watching were struck dumb.


    A fifty-five-year-old (actually fifty-three) passing level sixty of the one-star tower? It was a feat that hadn''t urred in the Redmoon Immortal Continent for hundreds of millions of years.


    Even in the broader context of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, while there were plenty of individuals under a hundred years old who had conquered level sixty, it had been more than ten thousand years since an immortal cultivator under sixty had achieved such a feat.


    The scene they had just witnessed was nothing short of revolutionary, aplete shock to everyone present.


    One could say that even those from the sect who looked favorably upon Wu Yuan, like Abbot Wu and High Immortal Hei Yuan, hadn''t dared to hope that Wu Yuan would actually clear level sixty. The task had seemed insurmountable, the slim chance of sess barely worth considering.


    Expecting Wu Yuan to catch up to Zhuo Haiyue was just too unrealistic.


    However, the most shocking aspect wasn''t merely that Wu Yuan hadpleted the level, but the manner in which he had done so��through pure, unadulterated defense!


    The silence stretched on, each immortal lost in their own thoughts.


    "Such terrifying defense," an Earth Immortal finally broke the silence, his voice filled with awe. "A defense so formidable, even ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators would likely fail to breach it!"


    "He''s just a Golden Core cultivator," another chimed in, disbelief evident in their tone. "Such a defense is simply outrageous."


    "He''s clearly a sword cultivator, known for their powerful attacks. Yet he passed level sixty of the one-star tower by relying on defense?" At this moment, the immortals from the sect found themselves grappling with the absurdity and bizarreness of the situation.


    Geniuses? They had seen plenty throughout the ages. But such a peculiar, paradoxical scene? Never before had they witnessed anything quite like it.


    "It''s another Intermediate Law." Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the murmurs of disbelief. All heads turned towards the source.


    There stood a figure clothed in pristine white, as splendid as the finest jade, radiating an intense aura thatmanded attention.


    "Greetings, Senior Brother Dong Yang," the assembled High Immortals and Earth Immortals chorused, bowing respectfully.


    A hint of fervor could be seen in the eyes of the Earth Immortals, their admiration palpable.


    Even Abbot Wu inclined his head slightly, a gesture of deep respect.


    After his legendary feat of cutting down an Archimmortal with a single strike a few years prior, Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s status within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had skyrocketed to astonishing heights. He now stood on a pedestal nearly as lofty as that of the immortal ancestor himself.


    While the immortal ancestor remained an elusive figure, one most of the sect''s High Immortals had neverid eyes upon, Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s might had been impressed upon them all.


    "Senior Brother Dong Yang, are you saying that Li Xia has grasped another Intermediate Law?" Abbot Wu''s voice betrayed his disbelief.


    "Indeed, it''s the Longevity Dao," Sword Immortal Dong Yang confirmed, his gaze fixed on the distant battle scene of level sixty-one.


    He continued softly, "Perhaps Li Xia''sprehension of any single Dao hasn''t reached a particrly high level. But consider the Earth and Wood Daos��one excels in defense, the other in recovery. Thebination of these two Intermediate Laws has elevated his defense to this extraordinary level."


    "Combined with his formidable soul that empowers the flying swords, nothing short of a true sword Dao Field can hope to shake his defense." Sword Immortal Dong Yang said quietly.


    "He has been taught well indeed! Our Dragon Star Immortal Sect finally has a peerless genius who might make a name for himself across the entire immortal nation. In terms of raw talent, he''s not inferior to Zhuo Haiyue."


    A faint smile yed across Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s lips. "A lone shining star? No, this era of the Silvermist Immortal Nation will be the era of the twin stars of Redmoon."


    With those words hanging in the air, Sword Immortal Dong Yang vanished without a trace.


    The dozens of immortals stood rooted to the spot, shock evident on their faces. Their minds echoed with Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s final promation��the era of the twin stars of Redmoon.

 Chapter 454: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarchs Disciple (1)

    <h4>Chapter 454: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarch''s Disciple (1)</h4>


    In the special observation space within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm, the words of Sword Immortal Dong Yang reverberated in the minds of Abbot Wu, High Immortal Hei Yuan, and the other Earth Immortals and High Immortals.


    Twin stars of Redmoon?


    An Earth Immortal chuckled. "Who would''ve thought even Veteran Elder Dong Yang would be drawn here? He''s about to undergo his Tribtion, and yet, he still has the mind to care about this little Li Xia fellow?"


    "Li Xia is also a sword cultivator," another Earth Immortal responded, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It''s only natural for Veteran Elder Dong Yang to pay attention to him."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Over a dozen figures materialized out of thin air in the observation space. Some were Earth Immortals and others were High Immortals, but all were the top brass of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    "Abbot, you were all here already?" One of them called out.


    Another, barely containing his excitement, burst out, "Did Li Xia really make it past level sixty of the one-star tower? Seriously? How long has he even been cultivating?" The newly arrived Earth Immortals and High Immortals bombarded their peers with questions, their voices ovepping in a cacophony of disbelief and excitement.


    Clearly, they had rushed over after receiving the news.


    Abbot Wu''s eyes glowed with anticipation. "That''s right. Li Xia has already cleared level sixty of the one-star tower and is currently challenging level sixty-one. From what we''re seeing, he might even clear level sixty-one."


    "Incredible!"


    "It''s true; he''s currently fighting the guardian of level sixty-one." The new arrivals kept their eyes peeled on the light screen.


    The battle unfolding was a sight to behold �C Wu Yuan''s miniature star holding firm against the guardian''s relentless assault.


    As they watched, it became clear that the twobatants were locked in a stalemate. The guardian of level sixty-one, though slightly stronger than its predecessor, couldn''t breach Wu Yuan''s defense.


    A newly arrived High Immortal couldn''t contain his amazement. "Incredible, under sixty years old and he''s already cleared level sixty of the one-star tower?" His voice trembled with emotion. "His talent must rank among the top three peerless geniuses of the immortal continent in thest million years or more!"


    No one dared to contradict his words. The Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were visibly shaken. They had marveled at Wu Yuan��s talent during the Dragon Star Tournament, but this time they were truly shaken, the full extent of his terrifying potential finally dawning on them.


    "Our Redmoon Immortal Continent hasn''t seen anyone clear level sixty of the one-star tower in over six thousand years."


    "Indeed, it''s been a long time. Even Zhuo Haiyue, despite her peerless talent, wasn''t that dazzling in her early years."


    "I just checked. Currently, in the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation, less than a hundred individuals have cleared level sixty of the one-star tower. On average, only one person among dozens of immortal continents can clear level sixty. The highest current record of the immortal nation is level sixty-seven." One High Immortal spoke solemnly. [1]


    Their high authority granted them ess to vast amounts of information from numerous channels, and the more they discovered, the more astounded they became. Across the entire immortal nation, those peerless geniuses who had cleared level sixty of the one-star tower were mostly in their eighties or nies.


    Those under sixty? Wu Yuan was the only one.


    As the implications sank in, the Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect realized the true magnitude of Wu Yuan''s achievement.


    Someone like Xing Luo, clearing over level fifty of the one-star tower at nearly a hundred years old, was considered a top-tier genius in the Moonsilver World.


    Before reaching a hundred years old, clearing level fifty of the one-star tower made one a top-tier genius of an immortal continent, with only dozens to a hundred such geniuses per era (100 years). Clearing level sixty? Such peerless geniuses would rank in the top hundred of the entire immortal nation.


    And Wu Yuan was still so young! The difference between clearing level sixty at fifty-something years old versus at ny-something was astronomical.


    While the future remained uncertain, Wu Yuan''s current performance suggested that the entire immortal nation might only see such a monstrous prodigy once in tens of thousands of years.


    For an immortal continent, it might take hundreds of millions of years to produce such a prodigy.


    Abbot Wu''s face broke into a smile as he spoke. "These past months, the immortal continent has been abuzz with rumors that Zhuo Haiyue is a monstrous prodigy, a once-in-a-hundred-million-year talent who could rival or even surpass Ancestor Dong Yang, a peerless genius that only appears once in a hundred thousand years throughout the immortal nation."


    His eyes sparkled with pride as he continued, "But now, another monstrous prodigy has emerged from our Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the greatest genius in the sect''s history��Li Xia."


    "His terrifying talent is definitely on par with Zhuo Haiyue," Abbot Wu concluded, his smile widening.


    "Absolutely!"


    "Peerless genius."


    "Li Xia can stand shoulder to shoulder with Zhuo Haiyue. The immortal ancestor is an incredible teacher." The other High Immortals and Earth Immortals chimed in.


    Their hearts had all been conquered by Wu Yuan''s talent.


    "Now, let''s see how many levels Li Xia can pass."


    "Pure defense!"


    "Combining two Intermediate Laws, how extraordinary." The High Immortals and Earth Immortals of the sect looked on, eagerly awaiting the final oue.


    But they knew that no matter which level he stopped at, the difference was negligible.


    ...


    Inside the one-star tower, in the boundless expanse of outer space, Wu Yuan was locked in fiercebat with a ck-robed guardian.


    To call it fierce was an understatement��it was more urate to say he was taking a beating!


    Towering celestial bodies collided violently, the impacts sending shockwaves rippling through the fabric of space itself. Yet, for all the fury of the assault, Wu Yuan couldn''t even touch the guardian.


    <i>Stand firm!</i> Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, focused on maintaining the miniature celestial body. <i>Relying on the turtle shell I''ve cultivated, let''s see who can oust whom.</i>


    It wasn''t that he hadn''t considered attacking, but after a quick analysis, Wu Yuan knew his chances of winning through offensive measures were too low. He had to y to his strengths.


    As he endured the relentless assault, Wu Yuan''s mind raced, analyzing the situation. <i>Intermediate Laws are extremely difficult to grasp, but once you do, the power of the first-level Domain stage isparable to the first-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law. </i>he mused inwardly.


    Celestial Body Dao, fifth-level Domain stage. Longevity Dao, first-level Domain stage.


    <i>Individually, neither level of Daoprehension canpare to the guardian of level sixty. But whenbined, their defensive power rivals the ninth-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law. If I were to unleash an attack, it might even match the seventh-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law.</i>


    Wu Yuan understood well thatprehending the Dao grew exponentially harder the further one progressed.


    Drawing from numerousw codexes like the Dark Earth Sword Codex and the Star Ruins Sword Codex,bined with his personal experience, he had developed a theory:


    Assuming a constant rate of Daoprehension, and that advancing from the first-level Domain stage to second-level Domain stage of a Lesser Law took one year, then getting from the first-level True Intent stage to second-level True Intent stage would take at least a thousand years.


    And advancing from the first-level Dao Field stage to second-level Dao Field stage would take at least a million years.


    At this rate, fullyprehending a single Dao would take over ten billion years!


    And this rate of progress didn''t ount for the time spent breaking through bottlenecks, such as advancing from ninth-level Domain stage to the True Intent stage, or from ninth-level True Intent stage to the Dao Field stage. Hence, most immortal cultivators would never finishprehending a Law before their lifespan ended.


    The path of the Laws was indeed arduous, and the profundities of heaven and earth truly vast and boundless. These were not empty words.


    With time, immortal cultivators generally saw their aptitudes rise as their souls strengthened, speeding up their Daoprehension rate. However, many powerful immortal cultivators would still end up trapped in bottlenecks, despairing as they reached the limits of their lifespan.


    It didn''t matter if one was a peerless genius. If one isted themselves, refusing to undergo trials to improve, they would eventually fade into obscurity and perish in the Immortal Tribtions.


    <i>To advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase, one must reach the seventh-level Domain stage of Daoprehension.</i>


    <i>To advance to the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, one must reach the True Intent stage of Daoprehension.</i>


    <i>To advance to the Void Refiner phase, one must reach the seventh-level True Intent stage of Daoprehension.</i>


    <i>And to be a Divided Soul Earth Immortal, one''s Daoprehension must reach the Dao Field stage.</i>


    <i>My understanding of the two Intermediate Laws may only be at the Domain stage, but it is equivalent to the True Intent stage of Lesser Laws. </i>Whenbined, their power is exponentially greater.


    <i>Plus, my powerful soul supports and enhances my abilities. Without forming a true sword Dao Field, even a sword array driven by ninth-level True Intent wouldn''t shake me!</i>


    <i>This guardian has only reached the eighth-level True Intent stage ofprehension. Let''s see how you n to break through my defenses. </i>Wu Yuan''s confidence was unshakeable.


    Thebination of Earth and Wood was the killing move of his qi refiner self, forming the strongest shield!


    "Kill!" The ck-robed guardian''s eyes were as cold as ice as he triggered the Dark Earth Sword Array again and again, directing divine swords towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The two shed repeatedly, the impacts resonating through spce. Neither could gain the upper hand, locked in a stalemate.


    One couldn''t afford to stop maintaining the miniature celestial body, and the other couldn''t drop the Dark Earth Sword Domain. It was just a matter of who could hold out longer.


    The seemingly dull battle actually highlighted how evenly matched they were, or perhaps how formidable Wu Yuan''s defense truly was.


    The battle raged on for nearly a full hour.


    Finally, the grueling match ended with the ck-robed guardian exhausting his mana, and Wu Yuan emerged victorious.


    <i>That was close! My mana is down to less than twenty percent. If the guardian were any stronger, I''d deplete more mana maintaining the Star Ruins Sword Array, and I would''ve lost.</i> This thought shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. <i>My defense isn''t strong enough.</i>


    If his defense was truly sturdy enough, his array would be able to weather the guardian''s frenzied attacks without costing him so much mana.


    "Next level!" Wu Yuan''s voice rang out.


    He pressed on to level sixty-two.


    Unlike the Dark Star, where realbat was involved and one needed to know when to stop if victory wasn''t assured, battles in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower were virtual ones. This allowed Wu Yuan to charge ahead without hesitation until his ultimate defeat.


    ...


    Back in the observation space, excitement rippled through the gathered immortals.


    "Victory!"


    "He''s made it past level sixty-one."


    "Li Xia still has energy left. He''s just matched the immortal Continent''s past 10,000-year record. Amazing." The group of immortals in the observation space were all smiles.


    The battle had been extremely prolonged, but no one had wanted to leave. In fact, more immortals of the sect hade to watch after getting word, drawn by the historic nature of the event.


    Seeing Wu Yuan finally defeat the guardian of level sixty-one, these High and Earth Immortals were both stunned and awed. He had matched the immortal continent''s past 10,000-year record!


    Abbot Wu smiled. "Now, let''s see if Li Xia can set a new ten-thousand-year record of the immortal continent."


    Many immortals nodded, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Set a new record! Given the number of decades he had left to challenge the one-star tower, Wu Yuan was destined to set record after record.


    High Immortal Hei Yuan grinned. "The news has already spread throughout the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm and the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm."


    "There are many immortal cultivators focused on the Seven Star Luminaries Tower''s records. With the sect''s current record being shattered, people are bound to notice."


    "Li Xia took over an hour each to pass level sixty and sixty-one."


    "The storm Zhuo Haiyue stirred wasn''t small. This time, the waves Li Xia will stir up won''t be small either."


    "With the immortal ancestor, Ancestor Dong Yang, and now a rising star like Li Xia, our Dragon Star Immortal Sect is bound to prosper," many Earth and High Immortals discussed joyfully, their voices a chorus of optimism and pride.


    While lower-level disciples might worry about internalpetition, these High Immortals and Earth Immortals knew that only a sect that was strong overall would bring greater benefits to its individuals.


    When you can''t be the leader yourself, then follow the leader!


    1. Level 81 is the historical record ?

 Chapter 455: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarchs Disciple (2)

    <h4>Chapter 455: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarch''s Disciple (2)</h4>


    While Wu Yuan was still challenging level sixty-two in the one-star tower, news of Li Xia clearing level sixty spread like wildfire, captivating the attention of the upper echelons across various factions throughout the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    The resultingmotion far surpassed the buzz generated by Wu Yuan''s victory at the Dragon Star Tournament. Back then, Wu Yuan had been dazzling, true, but he was merely considered a once-in-tens-of-thousands-of-years genius on the immortal continent��impressive, but not unprecedented. Moreover, his youth meant his future remained uncertain.


    However, conquering level sixty of the one-star tower was fundamentally different. Now, Wu Yuan had truly ascended to the level of peerless geniuses, his brilliance eclipsing countless young prodigies across the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    While there were indeed Golden Core geniuses on the immortal continent capable of surpassing level sixty, they were all over a hundred years old.


    ...


    "What? Li Xia has passed level sixty of the one-star tower?" Xing Luo, Hao Shanjing, and other geniuses of their generation were utterly stunned, their faces a mix of disbelief and awe.


    Hao Shanjing, in particr, felt the weight of this revtion most keenly. <i>Too fast.</i> <i>How could his progress be so swift? When we crossed swords years ago, his Daoprehension stillgged behind mine.</i>


    Hao Shanjing looked incredulous. <i>Now, he''spletely surpassed me. I''m still stuck at the sixth-level Domain stage, struggling to break through.</i>


    He was cultivating the Longevity Dao, knowing that if he could only shatter the bottleneck between the sixth-level and seventh-level Domain stages, he could swiftly advance to the Elysian Field phase.


    ...


    In the Moonsilver World, Mountain Master Xu chatted with an elderly man in white robes.


    "Unbelievable," Mountain Master Xu breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. "A few years ago, during the Dragon Star Tournament, I merely thought Li Xia formidable. Who could have foreseen him clearing level sixty of the one-star tower in the blink of an eye?"


    The white-robed elder nodded, his long beard quivering as he spoke. "How heaven-defying indeed! And at such a tender age! Li Xia is undoubtedly the most phenomenal prodigy to challenge our immortal continent''s one-star tower in at least the past hundred million years. He bears the potential to reach level seventy."


    A wistful sigh escaped Mountain Master Xu''s lips. "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect is truly blessed by fortune. What a pity that our Moonsilver World couldn''t recruit such a monstrous prodigy back then."


    ...


    "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect truly enjoys great providence!"


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang dominated the immortal continent for hundreds of thousands of years, casting a long shadow over his peers. Even across the vast expanse of the immortal nation, he remained one of the mightiest High Immortals for millennia."


    "And now this Li Xia emerges, even more dazzling and extraordinary than the young Sword Immortal Dong Yang was in his prime. Could it be that we''re witnessing the birth of another legend, a second Sword Immortal Dong Yang?"


    "Zhuo Haiyue cleared level seventy of the two-star tower at over 160 years old and Li Xia conquered level sixty of the one-star tower at just over fifty. In terms of raw talent, they stand on nearly equal ground."


    "It''s premature to draw conclusions. Zhuo Haiyue''sprehension of the Dao runs unfathomably deep, surpassing even many Earth Immortals. Her potential has already begun to blossom in earnest. Wu Yuan''s future, bright as it may seem, remains shrouded in uncertainty."


    "Throughout the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation, Li Xia now stands as the only peerless genius who can truly rival Zhuo Haiyue in this era."


    ...


    As the upper echelons of various factions across the immortal continent buzzed with spection and excitement, the much-anticipated update to the Seven Star Luminaries Tower record finally appeared in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    The highest record for the one-star tower in the past ten thousand years, previously stagnant at level sixty-one, had been shattered. The new benchmark: level sixty-two.


    The record setter��Li Xia.


    The news exploded across the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm like wildfire, and discussions were no longer confined to the upper echelons of major factions.


    "He reached level sixty-two already?"


    "That''s beyond insane.��


    "I firmly believe Li Xia''s talent is not inferior to Zhuo Haiyue''s! Are such monstrous prodigies appearing in clusters now?"


    "Nonsense! Zhuo Haiyue cleared level seventy of the two-star tower. How can Li Xia possiblypare?"


    "You''re the one spouting nonsense! How can you discuss talent while ignoring age? By that logic, isn''t Zhuo Haiyue''s talent inferior to those ancient High Immortals?"


    These debates raged like wildfire, consuming the attention of not just the higher echelons and elite disciples ofrge sects, but even the billions of ordinary Golden Core phase and Amethyst Cradle cultivators scattered across the vast expanse of the immortal continent.


    Many who had paid little heed to the Moonsilver Tournament now knew that the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had produced a peerless genius named Li Xia.


    This was the day Li Xia''s name truly echoed across every corner of the immortal continent, etching itself into the minds of millions of immortal cultivators.


    ...


    <i>In the Moonsilver World, within a meditation chamber nestled in the heart of Zhuo Haiyue''s supermansion.</i>


    Zhuo Haiyue sat in perfect stillness, draped in white robes, her long hair cascading like a midnight waterfall. Strands of lightning danced around her, intertwining to form a cocoon of crackling energy. Her aura pulsed with a strength that far transcended the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    "Originally, I had nned to cultivate for another century before iming the title of Bloodforge King with absolute certainty," Zhuo Haiyue murmured to herself. "But I didn''t anticipate Master being assigned a task at the divine court��s headquarters."


    Her brow furrowed. "The divine court��s headquarters lies at the other end of the river of space and time, separated from the Greenridge Macrocosm by near-infinite spacetime. Once I depart, who knows when I''ll return? It could be millennia, or even tens of thousands of years hence."


    Determination hardened her voice as she concluded, "I can''t afford to wait any longer. The Saint Scripture Mark must not be exposed."


    Zhuo Haiyue closed her eyes, her consciousness diving deep into the vast and mysterious space of her upper dantian lobe. There, coiled in majestic repose,y a massive purple divine dragon. It slumbered, its long whiskers hanging beneath its chin like strands of living lightning. Upon closer inspection, one would realize the dragon wasposed entirely of countless tiny bolts of electricity, a being both holy and terrifying in its majesty.


    "Just one mark isn''t enough. Far from enough. This time, I must seize the Bloodforge opportunity and obtain theplete Thunder Saint Mark."


    A cultivation n took shape in her mind.


    Behind the rise of every peerless genius, especially those whose names echoed across space and time, there usuallyy great fortuitous opportunities!


    <i>Hmm?</i> Suddenly, Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes snapped open, alert and focused. The lightning that had enveloped her body rapidly receded, and her overwhelming aura calmed.


    She rose gracefully, her white robes shimmering and transforming into silver battle armor. With purposeful strides, she left the meditation chamber and entered the main hall of her mansion.


    There, lounging casually in a seat, sat a man d in robes of deep purple.


    Zhuo Haiyue offered a slight bow. "Senior Brother Heng Dan, you sought me?"


    She was acutely aware of the purple-robed man''s power. He was one of the most formidable disciples under their master, renowned for his lethal skills. In terms of raw strength, he rivaled Archimmortal Redmoon, standing as one of the preeminent Archimmortals in the entire immortal nation.


    "Indeed," Senior Brother Heng Dan replied with a light smile, his words punctuated by hearty bites of his meal. "I recall you once mentioned helping a youngster named Li Xia?"


    "Yes," Zhuo Haiyue nodded.


    She understood that Master had dispatched Senior Brother Heng Dan not merely as an escort, but to conduct aprehensive assessment of her cultivation progress over the past decades. Naturally, every significant action she had taken during this period had to be reported.


    "I''ve just received word that he has cleared level sixty-two of the one-star tower," Astral Lord Heng Dan''s grin widened. "In terms of raw talent, he might not be far behind you."


    "Level sixty-two of the one-star tower?" Zhuo Haiyue couldn''t entirely mask her surprise.


    She knew Wu Yuan''s intelligence dossier well and had a rough grasp of his age. In an instant, her mind shed back to that unremarkable young man in ck robes she had encountered years ago. How could he have be so formidable in the blink of an eye?


    "His feats have already spread across the Silvermist Immortal Realm like wildfire," the purple-robed man continued, his smile never wavering. "Many Archimmortals and Astral Lords are turning their attention to him. The Dragon Star Immortal Sect is indeed blessed with providence. First Dong Yang, and now him."


    "Attention?" Zhuo Haiyue''s heart clenched involuntarily, and she couldn''t help but ask, "Will he be in danger?"


    The man in purple robes gave Zhuo Haiyue a peculiar look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Junior Sister, why such concern for him?"


    "It''s not like that," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head, her voice carefully neutral. "We''ve had some interactions in the past, so I was merely curious. If Senior Brother finds it inconvenient to answer, please disregard my question."


    "Danger is unlikely," the purple-robed man said with a faint smile. "After all, that ce is their of Long Xing, that Old Loach. Besides, Dong Yang is currently stationed there, and his strength nearly rivals my own. When he goes berserk, even I would think twice before provoking him. He may have many enemies, but after Huo Gao''s mana body fell, I doubt anyone would dare to challenge him now."


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang? His strength is close to yours?" Zhuo Haiyue''s pupils contracted, betraying her shock.


    "Indeed," the purple-robed man said calmly. "Master has mentioned him before. He has always been a terrifying figure with an unshakeable Dao Heart. Each and every cultivator who dares tread the path of a Ninth Tribtion High Immortal is far from ordinary."


    "The key is, he has almost seeded."


    "When he was young, he may not have been as dazzling as you or Li Xia, but the further he advanced, the more terrifying he became. Now, he might well be the strongest High Immortal in the entire immortal nation," the man in purple robes sighed, a hint of awe in his voice.


    "Master once said that once he ovees the Ninth Tribtion, he has the highest hope of breaking through next in the immortal nation."


    Zhuo Haiyue listened in stunned silence.


    "Alright, Junior Sister," the man in purple robes said, his tone shifting to one of business. "Besides discussing Li Xia, I also wanted to inform you that Master has sent word back, expressing satisfaction with your cultivation progress over the past decades."


    His smile returned as he continued, "In three days, we will depart for the Eternal Sun Immortal World''s main world. After all, you still need to participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle."


    "Before the battle, you must pay your respects to Master, so we mustn''t dy.��


    "Understood," Zhuo Haiyue nodded.


    She bowed respectfully and took her leave, returning to her meditation chamber. Once inside, she assumed a lotus position, her mind working furiously to process the information she had just received.


    With a thought, she extended a thread of consciousness into the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm, swiftly obtaining thetest news on Wu Yuan''s progress in the one-star tower.


    <i>He cleared level sixty-three and failed at level sixty-four?</i> Zhuo Haiyue''s shock was palpable. <i>Over a decade ago, he barely cleared level forty.</i>


    The leap in progress seemed almost unbelievable. His advancement was blindingly fast, matching, if not surpassing, her own meteoric rise.


    <i>I''ve progressed this rapidly due to the fortuitous encounter of obtaining the Saint Scripture Mark in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle. </i>Zhuo Haiyue mused internally. <i>Could Li Xia have stumbled upon a simr opportunity?</i>


    She couldn��t figure it out.


    After a moment of deep contemtion, Zhuo Haiyue made a decision. She sent an invitation to Wu Yuan, inviting him to meet her in Zhuo Star City within the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.

 Chapter 456: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarchs Disciple (3)

    <h4>Chapter 456: Are You Willing To Be An Astral Monarch''s Disciple (3)</h4>


    <i>In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect headquarters, within Wu Yuan''s world residence.</i>


    <i>I still lost!</i> Wu Yuan strode through the sky, his gaze sweeping over the mundane world sprawled beneath him.


    Over the past ten years, the entire world had begun to worship Wu Yuan. Statues of him dotted thendscape below., along with countless stories and legends about his exploits circting among themon folk.


    These were the fruits of the efforts of Lu Zhu and his Golden Core followers.


    <i>The guardian of level sixty-four turned out to be adept in the Metal Dao. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Too ruthless!


    Among the five elements, the Earth Dao excelled in defense, with Wood Dao following closely behind. Metal and Fire Dao reigned supreme in offense. The Metal Dao''s edgey in its prating sharpness, while the Fire Dao''s strength was its explosive fury.


    After Wu Yuan conquered four consecutive levels, the one-star tower''s guardians seemed to grow wise to his tactics, thus assigning a guardian adept in the Metal Dao on level sixty-four.


    Though unable to shatter Wu Yuan''s miniature celestial body outright, the guardian''s divine swords assembled from sword arrays proved devastatingly effective. Their razor-sharp assault drained Wu Yuan''s mana at an rming rate, ultimately leading to his downfall.


    <i>When my understanding of the Celestial Body Dao deepens to the sixth-level Domain stage, and myprehension of the Longevity Dao reaches the third or fourth-level Domain stage, theirbined might should create a defense rivaling a Lesser Law��s Dao Field. Then, I should be able to withstand such an onught.</i>


    From levels sixty-one to sixty-nine, the guardians'' strength didn''t increase dramatically. Yet, upon reaching a certain point, even the slightest enhancement in power became a Herculean task.


    Suddenly, the air beside Wu Yuan shimmered, and a disheveled figure materialized. The neer casually munched on a banana.


    "Master!" Wu Yuan eximed, startled by the unexpected appearance.


    He was eating a banana?


    High Immortal Nan Yin tossed the banana peel below. "You seem rather rxed, strolling about after breaking through level sixty-three," he remarked.


    Wu Yuan admitted honestly, "Disciple was reflecting on the earlier battle. I couldn''t withstand the guardian''s attack."


    "I observed your fight," High Immortal Nan Yin said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "There were no major issues; it''s simply that yourprehension of the Dao isn''t deep enough yet." He paused, stroking his unkempt beard thoughtfully. "However, had you been fighting in your true body and armed with your nine lifebound flying swords, you could have endured it."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement, recognizing the vast difference between utilizing his nine lifebound flying swords as the core for the Earth-Wood Daobination versus relying on ordinary flying swords.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''s eyes twinkled. "This time, you''ve caused quite a stir. The entire immortal continent is abuzz with talk of your feats." He chuckled, revealing his yellowed teeth. "Even the abbot and the veteran elders were left ck-jawed by your performance."


    A smile tugged at Wu Yuan''s lips as he imagined the dumbfounded expressions on the faces of the abbot and High Immortal Hei Yuan. Indeed, his recent aplishments had sent shockwaves through the immortal continent, far surpassing the impact of his previous performances.


    "Although your current performance is slightly inferior to Zhuo Haiyue''s," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, his tone thoughtful, "you can still be considered a peerless genius that appears once in tens of thousands of years in the Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    He fixed Wu Yuan with a piercing gaze. "But remember, you''re still young. Your future holds many uncertainties. The brilliance of many peerless geniuses tends to dim as they age."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the wisdom in his master''s words. He understood that talent was not unchanging. Some fortunate individuals underwent transformative experiences that reshaped their mental state, soul, or body, leading to dramatic shifts in their innate abilities.


    Conversely, many once-brilliant geniuses faded into mediocrity as they advanced through cultivation phases.


    Such urrences were far from rare. Even in the Blue civilization of his previous life, tales of wasted prodigies andte bloomers abounded.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''s voice took on a more optimistic tone. "Overall, if an ordinary High Immortal has a one in a thousand chance of bing an Archimmortal, you have at least a one in ten chance. Should you seed, you are destined to be a formidable Archimmortal." His grin widened. "It''s no wonder that many super powerhouses have taken a keen interest in you."


    Wu Yuan''s eyebrows rose in surprise as his master continued, "Many powerhouses intend to take you in as a direct disciple."


    "Take me in as a direct disciple?" Wu Yuan echoed, his mind reeling at the implications.


    Nominal disciples weremonce, often little more than a title. Many ancient beings had amassed thousands, even tens of thousands of such disciples over the long years. Masters invested little energy in nominal disciples, and if such a disciple were to betray their master, it was typically of little consequence.


    Direct disciples, however, were an entirely different matter. A direct master assumed the role of both teacher and father figure, shouldering the responsibility of charting the best path forward for their disciple and investing all avable resources in nurturing their potential.


    Wu Yuan reflected on how High Immortal Nan Yin had poured considerable time and treasures into his development over just a few short decades.


    Simrly, if a direct disciple betrayed their master, they would be shunned by all powerhouses and find it difficult to gain the trust of others.


    After all, if one could betray their direct master, what wouldn''t they dare to do? Naturally, every powerhouse exercised extreme caution when epting direct disciples.


    "Though not much time has passed," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "over ten Astral Lords have already sent messages to the sect, including Archimmortal Redmoon. These Astral Lords are among the strongest in the immortal nation, all surpassing our own immortal ancestor in power."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn''t anticipated that clearing level sixty of the one-star tower would cause such amotion.


    "They are eager to ept you as a disciple not only because you broke through level sixty, but also because you have simultaneously entered the threshold of two Intermediate Laws. Moreover, these Laws belong to different Greater Laws," High Immortal Nan Yin exined with a smile. "This is where you trump even Zhuo Haiyue."


    As understanding dawned on Wu Yuan, he began to realize that the cultivation path arranged by his master was far more extraordinary than he had initially believed.


    "I have rejected all those messages on behalf of the immortal ancestor." " High Immortal Nan Yin added.


    Wu Yuan''s surprise was evident, but he found that he wasn''t particrly upset by this revtion. He had received guidance from an Astral Lord-level powerhouse before, one supposedly proficient in the Celestial Body Dao. Yet, in his estimation, he didn''t seem any better than High Immortal Nan Yin - perhaps even slightly inferior.


    <i>A powerful teacher? No matter how strong the teacher is, they can''t pass their power to me directly. What''s crucial is their teaching ability. </i>In Wu Yuan''s estimation, High Immortal Nan Yin''s ability to teach was undoubtedly first-rate, not at all inferior to an Astral Lord.


    With deep respect, Wu Yuan bowed to his master. "You are my only master," he dered, his voice filled with sincerity.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''sughter echoed through the air. "Haha, no need to worry, I am not angry," he reassured his disciple. "I am not the type to hinder a disciple''s future."


    His eyes softened as he continued, "A disciple need not be inferior to the master, and the master need not surpass the disciple. Some peerless geniuses rise rapidly and surpass their teachers. This is normal," he smiled warmly. "Besides, isn''t it a teacher''s wish to raise a disciple stronger than themselves?"


    Wu Yuan was stunned; he hadn''t expected his teacher to hold such a progressive view.


    "So, if you wish to learn from a better master, I will not stop you," High Immortal Nan Yin said, his voice filled with genuine care. "I refused because these Astral Lords are stillcking."


    Wu Yuan nodded, finding himself in agreement with his master''s assessment. As for background? He had the backing of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, with Sword Immortal Dong Yang and the immortal ancestor presiding over it. It was no weaker than relying on an Astral Lord.


    "It is not difficult for me to refuse these Astral Lords. However, there is one particr supreme entity whose request I find it hard to decline directly. After careful consideration, I decided to seek your opinion," he said, fixing his gaze on Wu Yuan.


    "My opinion?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    His master had even declined Archimmortal Redmoon''s request; who could be more daunting to refuse?


    "A great being beyond the Archimmortal level��Astral Monarch Su Qing," High Immortal Nan Yin said slowly. "One of the thirteen Astral Monarchs of the Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    "Astral Monarch?" Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted.


    With the knowledge he acquired after joining the sect, he had vaguely heard of Astral Monarchs.


    "Only the most powerful Archimmortals are qualified to be bestowed the title of Astral Lord by the immortal world," High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly."Meanwhile, great beings beyond the Archimmortal level are qualified to have their names inscribed at the divine court headquarters and granted the title of Astral Monarch."


    "The Silvermist Immortal Nation is vast andmands over six thousand immortal continents, with Archimmortals as numerous as clouds. But over endless ages, there have only been thirteen Astral Monarchs."


    Wu Yuan held his breath. A quick mental calction revealed that there were likely several Archimmortals in the Redmoon Immortal Continent alone, and perhaps tens of thousands in the entire immortal nation. Yet, throughout the entire history of the immortal nation, only thirteen Astral Monarchs had been born. How incredibly rare!


    "Each Astral Monarch possesses unparalleled power," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "They are peerless giants dominating the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, and their names are known across countless spacetime nes. It''s difficult for the immortal nation to produce even one Astral Monarch every hundred million years."


    His eyes gleamed as he added, "If he is willing to ept you as a disciple, even as a nominal disciple, you might be a direct disciple in the future. A nominal disciple of an Astral Monarch is far more prestigious than a direct disciple of an Astral Lord."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.


    While there might be hundreds or even thousands of Astral Lords throughout the immortal nation, the thirteen Astral Monarchs stood as the true movers and shakers. Their statuses were worlds apart.


    "This Astral Monarch Su Qing, who has fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao, is quite suitable to be your teacher," High Immortal Nan Yin said, his gaze fixed intently on Wu Yuan. "Just as a master chooses their disciple, a disciple also chooses their master. The Astral Monarch will not force you. If you wish to be his disciple, I will send back a reply of agreement."


    Wu Yuan''s heart raced at the prospect. An instinctual impulse to agree rose within him. After all, over the course of a hundred million years, perhaps several hundred geniuses like him would appear throughout the immortal nation. But not a single Astral Monarch might be produced in that same span of time.


    Bing a disciple under such a figure was an extremely rare opportunity, especially one who had fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao.


    Yet, reason made Wu Yuan pause. He bowed respectfully to his master, his voice filled with sincerity. "Master, I would be lying if I said I am not tempted. However, you are like a father to me. I will leave the final decision to you."


    Seeing Wu Yuan''s stance, a mysterious smile spread across High Immortal Nan Yin''s face.

 Chapter 457: I Will Await You In The Divine Court Headquarters (1)

    <h4>Chapter 457: I Will Await You In The Divine Court Headquarters (1)</h4>


    "Disciple, if you trust your master, then do not take Astral Monarch Su Qing as your master." There was a hint of a smile on High Immortal Nan Yin��s face.


    Wu Yuan''s expression was calm as he nodded, "Yes, I will follow Master''s decision."


    It would be a lie to say he didn��t feel the least bit disappointed. After all, this was an existence that shook the entire immortal nation. If he could be his disciple, it would be equivalent to gaining an unrivaled backer.


    But given the bond they had built up over the years, Wu Yuan had deep trust in his master. He believed his master wouldn''t harm him.


    "Foolish boy," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan and chuckled. "Don''t worry, there are some things I can''t tell you now, but in the future, your master will not disappoint you."


    "In time, you will understand that you made the right choice today."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan felt slightly reassured. He had great faith in his master.


    "The Bloodforge Battle is about to begin," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan. "It should only be a month away. Does your qi refiner self n to participate?"


    "Qi refiner self?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "The Bloodforge Devil Hall''s territory is much smaller and the number of beings under its rule is limited. Thus the standard of its geniuses is significantly lower than that of our Eternal Sun Immortal World." said High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Someone like you would rank around the top twenty or thirty challengers of the one-star tower within the Silvermist Immortal Nation. But among geniuses under a hundred years old in the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, you would likely rank in the top ten, if not the top five in terms of Daoprehension level alone," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    Indeed! After years of sparring, Wu Yuan realized that the overall strength of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was almost certainly weaker than the Eternal Sun Immortal World. At least, the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was much weaker than the Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    Of course, it was still a dozen times stronger than other factions like the Dragon Star Immortal Sect or the Zhuo Family. It was only weak inparison to the entire Redmoon Immortal Hall.


    Simrly, the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was inferior to the Silvermist Immortal Nation whether in terms of the number of geniuses or experts in its ranks.


    "But Master," Wu Yuan was puzzled. "There are no age restrictions for participating in the Bloodforge Battle. Thus there are some Golden Core geniuses in the Bloodforge Devil Hall who have been cultivating for over a hundred years."


    "Haha, those in the true top-tier of peerless geniuses won''t stay in the Golden Core phase for that long," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head with a smile. "Like Zhuo Haiyue, who entered the Amethyst Cradle phase before a hundred years old. Your qi refiner self will probably enter the Amethyst Cradle phase at sixty or seventy."


    "Someone who is talented enough won''t remain stagnant at the Golden Core phase for long, but will instead break through quickly. With a stronger soul, one��s Daoprehension speed will also increase," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.


    "Those peerless geniuses who can grasp a Dao Field in just a few hundred years wouldn''t stay at the Golden Core phase for long. So, those who have been cultivating for two to three hundred years at the Golden Core phase are limited in strength. At most, they will only be slightly stronger than you are now."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod.


    "Few true geniuses of the Silvermist Immortal Nation will actually choose to participate, probably less than twenty percent," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "There will likely be a batch that has reached the ninth-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law) in Daoprehension. But those at the Dao Field level? There might not be more than five."


    "I estimate that if your qi refiner self participates, you will rank very high in the Bloodforge Battle. As long as you don''t encounter a monstrous prodigy who hasprehended a Dao Field, you will be fine," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan listened carefully.


    This was in line with his own expectations. His master''s acuity was as sharp as ever.


    "So, if you want to participate, I won''t stop you," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "That is the territory of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, and many Astral Lords of the devil hall will be watching. No one will y dirty tricks."


    "Whether you go or not, the choice is yours," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "If you want to go, I will send in your application to the Redmoon Immortal Hall. There''s still a month left, it��s plenty of time."


    He awaited Wu Yuan''s answer.


    "No!" Wu Yuan shook his head lightly, "Master, if it��s up to me, I don''t even want my body refiner self to participate. Yes, the Bloodforge Battle poses little danger to me, but it is too bloody and brutal. Among the billions of Golden Core and Spiritual Body cultivators participating, over ny-nine percent will fall!


    ��Honestly, I don''t want to go through that," a trace of killing intent shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes, "But my body refiner self has no choice. I must carve a path of survival."


    Wu Yuan never considered himself a good person, but he had his own moral standards and bottom lines. He killed when necessary, but he rarely killed indiscriminately.


    Wu Yuan inherently felt some resistance to participating in the Bloodforge Battle, but his body refiner self had no choice.


    Hearing Wu Yuan''s exnation, High Immortal Nan Yin could not help but smile.


    "Furthermore," Wu Yuan continued, "In terms of overall strength, my body refiner self is slightly stronger than my qi refiner self. If any significant opportunities arise, my body refiner self should seize them. If I fail to obtain anything, then it��s just fate."


    High Immortal Nan Yin nodded lightly. "Alright, since you havee to a decision, I won''t force you."


    "The Bloodforge Battle willst for two years. During these two years, stay within the sect and try not to go out. Just wait patiently for the Moonsilver Tournament to begin," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    "You are not far from the ninth-stage Golden Core phase. Take this time to reflect and review your insights deeply. After the Moonsilver Tournament ends in seven years, you should advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    After watching his master leave, Wu Yuan returned to the meditation chamber in the sky city. With a thought, he sent out two threads of consciousness, one into the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm and the other into the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    In an instant, more than a thousand messages flooded in, ny-nine percent of which were congrattory messages. Most were from friends within the sect.


    Over the years, with Wu Yuan''s rapid rise in power and status, the old grudges between himself and other hereditary disciples who challenged him when he first entered the sect had long dissipated.


    All of Wu Yuan��s peers now regarded him as a friend, treating him warmly. Bei Hua and Gong Ling were now very courteous whenever they encountered Wu Yuan in the voidrealm.


    In addition to the messages from numerous friends, there were also congrattory messages from several Earth Immortals and High Immortal elders.


    However, one particr message stood out.


    "Zhuo Haiyue?" A wisp of a smile appeared on Wu Yuan��s face.


    The reason he challenged the one-star tower this time was in no small part due to her provocation.


    With a thought, he sent a reply to Zhuo Haiyue. As expected, only a few breathster, he received another message from her.


    <i>In such a hurry to see me?</i> Curiosity shed through Wu Yuan��s mind as he quickly headed to Zhuo Star City in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    Though separated by billions of li in reality, it took him but an instant to arrive at his destination in the voidrealm.


    With great familiarity, Wu Yuan arrived at Zhuo Haiyue''s residence where a steward was already waiting at the door.


    Along the way, all the servants respectfully saluted him, but there was something different in their eyes when they looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Is that?"


    "Li Xia."


    "The peerless genius from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect?"


    "Yes! It��s said his talent isparable to Her Highness." These servants, immortal cultivators at the Golden Core phase, whispered among themselves.


    Though only a short time had gone by, Wu Yuan''s name had already spread far and wide.


    Soon, he came to a pavilion where Zhuo Haiyue was already waiting with a table of delicacies prepared.


    "Haiyue, long time no see," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Sit," Zhuo Haiyue smiled.


    Wu Yuan sat down. They treated each other like old friends reunited after a long time, without any formalities.


    "I bet you heard quite a few people talk about you along the way," Zhuo Haiyue teased with a smile.


    "They all say I��m the only genius on this immortal continent thates close to you, but I��m still not quite at your level." Wu Yuan replied with a chuckle.


    "That��s because you��re still young. People tend to venerate the past and disparage the present"," Zhuo Haiyue said wistfully. "When I was your age, I wasn''t nearly as impressive."


    That was the truth.


    "A brief spark doesn��t mean much; consistent growth is far more important," Wu Yuan said, smiling. "Haiyue, let��s not beat around the bush. You were eager to see me, what��s the matter?"


    "Then I''ll be straightforward." Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "I��ll be leaving the immortal continent in three days."


    "Leaving the immortal continent?" Wu Yuan was startled. "To visit your master''s ce?"


    Wu Yuan knew Zhuo Haiyue was a nominal disciple of an Astral Monarch.


    "Yes, I��ll be following my master, but not to his domain," Zhuo Haiyue said. "Instead, we''re going to the Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    "The immortal world?" Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted.


    The vast territory governed by the Eternal Sun Immortal World ovepped with countless spacetimes, seemingly boundless.


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent, strictly speaking, was also part of the Eternal Sun Immortal World��s territory.


    However, when immortal cultivators spoke of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, they were usually only referring to the core region that was enveloped by its essence.


    It was also one of the core regions of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm.


    "The immortal world is just a transit point. After staying there for a few years, my master will bring me to the divine court headquarters at the other end of the river of space and time," Zhuo Haiyue said softly. "I estimate it will take thousands or tens of thousands of years before I return."


    "Of course, if I perish on the path of cultivation, I will never return," Zhuo Haiyue added with a slight smile, sipping her wine.


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    "Divine court headquarters? The legendary ce where the True Saint resides?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking.


    "Indeed," Zhuo Haiyue nodded slowly. "Whether it is the Eternal Sun Immortal World or the Bloodforge Devil Hall, they are merely small factions under the divine court. There are countless worlds in the river of space and time, but the influence of the divine court spreads across many of these spacetime macrocosms."


    "It is one of the top forces in the river of space and time!"


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    He had only a hazyprehension of the boundless river of space and time, a concept that felt too remote and abstract. The Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters? That was even further beyond his grasp. It was only when he took oaths or journeyed through thends, observing the Faith of countless beings, that he would momentarily think of it.


    "Will going to the divine court headquarters benefit your cultivation?" Wu Yuan couldn''t resist asking.


    "Haha, Li Xia, it seems you truly do not understand," Zhuo Haiyue burst intoughter. "Well, it makes sense. You are under the tutge of an Archimmortal, but I fear there are many things no one will share with you."


    "The divine court headquarters is not fixed in one ce but exists in a higher order of spacetime. ces like the Seven Star Luminaries Tower we challenge, or the Dao Temple we visit for Daoprehension simtions, are all projections by the divine court across many macrocosms," Zhuo Haiyue exined. "Their source is none other than the divine court headquarters."


    Wu Yuan felt a sense of awe along with a slight epiphany.


    "The divine court headquarters is incredibly wondrous. For instance, the Bloodforge Battles by the Bloodforge Devil Hall��it''s rumored that the venue of the ultimate opportunity selection is not located within the Bloodforge Devil World, but instead somewhere controlled by the divine court headquarters," Zhuo Haiyue shook his head. "Of course, that''s just a legend; the truth is unknown."


    <i>Not within the Bloodforge Devil World? </i>Wu Yuan noted silently.


    Perhaps his talent and reputation were approaching Zhuo Haiyue''s, but in terms of perspective and knowledge, he had to admit that he was still far behind.


    But that didn''t matter.


    "The divine court headquarters is a sacrednd for cultivation," Zhuo Haiyue said. "At various points in time, the divine court will summon countless geniuses born from its many subordinate forces."


    "Of course, the timing is not fixed. And unless one is a peerless genius, one will not be summoned."


    "Your talent, even if not as strong as mine, is not far off," Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan. "Our talents are considered exceptional even within the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World, the top of our era."

 Chapter 458: I Will Await You In The Divine Court Headquarters (2)

    <h4>Chapter 458: I Will Await You In The Divine Court Headquarters (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Top of the Eternal Sun Immortal World? He had never thought about this. After all, the Eternal Sun Immortal World was too vast, with countless beings and too many geniuses.


    The bit of talent he had probably meant nothing in the Eternal Sun Immortal World. But ording to Zhuo Haiyue, he was considered decent within the Eternal Sun Immortal World?


    <i>That makes sense.</i> Wu Yuan pondered inwardly. <i>If my talent was truly that poor, an Astral Monarch wouldn''t have invited me to be his disciple.</i>


    "Do not belittle yourself, but do not grow arrogant either," Zhuo Haiyue sighed.


    "Far too many geniuses have emerged throughout history, many of whom were ten times or a hundred times stronger than us."


    "You cleared level sixty-three of the one-star tower. Do you remember the immortal nation''s highest record for the one-star tower?"


    "I remember," Wu Yuan nodded. "Level eighty-one."


    "Indeed." Zhuo Haiyue nodded with a look of reverence. "That feat was achieved by the most astonishing genius in the immortal nation''s history, named Luo Gu. He cleared level eighty-one of the one-star tower at under a hundred years of age."


    "Clearing level eighty-one of the one-star tower is equivalent to clearing level seventy-one of the two-star tower."


    "In other words, what I managed to achieve today is close to what Luo Gu achieved at just one hundred years old," Zhuo Haiyue shook his head. "How vast is the disparity?"


    "The immortal nation''s highest record for the two-star tower was also set by him, at level eighty-three!"


    "Though I still have over a hundred years left to challenge it, I can tell you right now that my chances of clearing level eighty of the two-star tower are nearly nonexistent," Zhuo Haiyue sighed.


    "Luo Gu is the most terrifying genius in the immortal nation''s history, and even in the history of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he is among the very top! His talent surpasses ours by more than tenfold."


    "He rose in a ze of glory, oveing nine Immortal Tribtions within ten thousand years to be a being surpassing Archimmortals."


    Wu Yuan was shaken.


    Previously, he was only aware of the highest recorded levels of the one-star and two-star towers, but he never imagined the legendary figure who achieved them.


    No wonder! No wonder the immortal continent''s records were so far behind the historical records.


    "But what if I told you that in the distant divine court headquarters, peerless geniusesparable to Luo Gu emerge in every generation?" Zhuo Haiyue suddenly smiled. "And not just one, but a whole group?"


    Wu Yuan listened, dumbfounded.


    Every generation? And a whole group of them?


    ��The divine court headquarters is home to the greatest of peerless geniuses from across the endless river of space and time, with treasures beyond your wildest imagination and geniuses as numerous as clouds,�� Zhuo Haiyue said.


    ��We are geniuses, but we are merely the type of genius that appears once in tens of thousands of years in the immortal nation.��


    ��In the billions of years of the immortal world��s history? In the endless ages since the establishment of the divine court? We are nothing!��


    Wu Yuan��s breath caught.


    Today, he conquered level sixty-three of the one-star tower, and his name spread across the immortal continent, with countless beings and even immortals singing his praises. Undeniably, there was a sliver of pride in Wu Yuan��s heart.


    But Zhuo Haiyue��s words were like a bucket of cold water, drenching Wu Yuan to his core and forcing him toe face to face with his insignificance.


    Silence fell.


    Zhuo Haiyue did not speak further, waiting for Wu Yuan to digest her words.


    After a while, Wu Yuan asked slowly, "What are the pinnacle geniuses in the history of the Divine Court like?"


    He went straight for the highest standard in history!


    ��The pinnacle?�� Zhuo Haiyue was momentarily stunned, then smiled. ��I��m not entirely sure. I once asked my master, and he only gave me one response.��


    ��The Seven Star Luminaries Tower. Clearing all one hundred levels of its seven towers grants one the right to leave their name on the eternal Luminary Ranking of the divine court headquarters!��


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    Only those who had truly attempted the Seven Star Luminaries Tower understood its difficulty.


    Level one hundred? Forget the two-star tower or three-star tower, even for the current one-star tower, Wu Yuan could only hope toplete level seventy. As for level eighty? He didn��t even dare dream of it!


    ��Li Xia, I��m not telling you all this to discourage you, but because of your talent and our friendship,�� Zhuo Haiyue said. ��I hope you do not lose yourself in the fame of being a genius.��


    ��You have the talent to be an Astral Lord or even an Astral Monarch! Do not squander it.��


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan nodded.


    Zhuo Haiyue��s words had indeed given him a good wake-up call.


    This bit of talent he had was nothing in the endless river of space and time.


    ��That is why I chose to follow my master to the divine court,�� Zhuo Haiyue said solemnly. ��Only whenpeting with the topmost geniuses across the river of space and time can one realize that there are always others more talented than you.��


    ��Only then can one understand the vastness of heaven and earth!�� Zhuo Haiyue��s words rang with conviction.


    Wu Yuan felt Zhuo Haiyue��s ambition and determination. It was truly extraordinary.


    ��I am a little older than you right now. But in a thousand or ten thousand years, we will be considered geniuses of the same generation,�� Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.


    ��If you have the chance to head to the divine court headquarters one day, I will be waiting for you there.��


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    This statement felt slightly odd.


    ��Don��t misunderstand.�� Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. ��The path of immortality is long. My heart is set on the Dao, but on this lonely quest, having a friend from my homnd apany me is something I long for.��


    ��Alright.�� Wu Yuan smiled as a spark of ambition grew in his chest. ��Then you shall take the lead. In the future, I will follow in your footsteps and join you at the divine court headquarters.��


    ��Cheers, to the path of immortality.�� Zhuo Haiyue smiled, raising her wine cup.


    ��To the path of immortality.�� Wu Yuan clinked his cup against hers.


    Both drank it all in one go.


    ��Additionally, there is something else I must tell you.�� Zhuo Haiyue put down her cup and said slowly, ��Beware of the Fang Family.��


    ��Fang Family?�� Wu Yuan was first surprised, then understood. ��Is the Fang Family your enemy?��


    The Fang Family was one of the four prince-rank families of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    ��Yes.�� A sh of hatred crossed Zhuo Haiyue��s eyes. ��The Fang Family and I are mortal enemies.��


    ��In the past, your name was not as prominent, thus the Fang Family wouldn��t care about you. But now, they will no longer overlook our friendship,�� Zhuo Haiyue said.


    ��I am heading to the divine court headquarters, where the Fang Family cannot touch me, but you are different. You may have the backing of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and no direct enmity with the Fang Family, but still, be cautious,�� Zhuo Haiyue said solemnly.


    ��Hmm, I will be careful,�� Wu Yuan nodded, taking note of the matter.


    ��This parting will be a long one,�� Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan. ��Li Xia, don''t let me leave you too far behind.��


    ��You must strive hard as well. Perhaps when we next meet at the divine court headquarters, I will have surpassed you,�� Wu Yuan replied, also looking at Zhuo Haiyue.


    The two exchanged smiles.


    It was the mutual appreciation between fellow cultivators.


    ...


    After chatting with Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan''s consciousness departed from the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>So, this vast heaven and earth is so expansive, with so many geniuses. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes sparkled with newfound determination.<i> </i>


    <i>I once thought the immortal continent was immense, butpared to the river of space and time, it seems so small.</i>


    <i>Level eighty-three of the one-star tower? Level one hundred?</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>Since someone in history has achieved it, it proves that it is not impossible.</i>


    <i>Luo Gu? At the very least, I must work towards this goal. </i>


    <i>Next, after my qi refiner self reaches the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, I should not rush to upgrade my lifebound flying swords, but instead fully focus on Daoprehension.</i>


    Wu Yuan decided to abandon part of his previous cultivation n.


    <i>I mustprehend the Longevity Dao to a higher level, and also work onbining the two Intermediate Laws to a greater extent.</i>


    <i>As for my body refiner self, I will validate mybat skills in the Bloodforge Battle, while simultaneously contemting the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    <i>Bloodforge King?</i> Wu Yuan allowed a seed of ambition to take root.


    The entire Bloodforge Battle was set tost two years.


    For an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, two years of cultivation might not yield significant progress. But how long had Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self been cultivating since his soul transformed? Barely three years.


    Another year or two of cultivation, and Wu Yuan''s mastery of the Longevity Dao would reach new heights.


    If he could effectivelybine the two Daos, his body refiner self''s strength would surge dramatically. By then, he might stand a chance at iming the title of Bloodforge King.


    <i>I must work hard!</i> Wu Yuan calmed his mind, delving into deep cultivation.


    Days passed.


    <i>On the Redmoon Immortal Continent.</i>


    With Zhuo Haiyue''s departure and Wu Yuan in secluded cultivation, the uproar caused by their performance in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower gradually faded, and was only mentioned asionally in conversations.


    This was the norm.


    In the blink of an eye, fewer than ten days remained until the Bloodforge Battle began.


    ...


    In a region of spacetime far from the Redmoon Immortal Continent, there stood another vastnd no less grand than the maind of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    On this continent, a grand temple stood. Surrounding the temple was a rushing, mighty river that flowed around the temple. Each drop of water appeared to weigh a thousand jun. [1]


    <i>Inside the temple.</i>


    ��He declined my invitation?�� An elderly man with golden-yellow skin, towering a hundred zhangs high, sat on the throne. He was clothed in ck robes.


    He was Astral Monarch Su Qing, one of the thirteen Astral Monarchs of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, possessing boundless power and awe-inspiring might.


    ��A mere Dragon Star Immortal Sect dares to offend you, and a Golden Core brat dares to reject your invitation.�� A white-robed elderly man bowed respectfully, speaking in a deep voice, ��Great Astral Monarch, should we punish them?��


    1. 1 jun = 30 catties ?

 Chapter 459: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (1)

    <h4>Chapter 459: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (1)</h4>


    "Punish?" The elderly man with golden skin, draped in ck robes, sat upon an ornate throne. His voice boomed through the vast chamber, tinged with a hint of mirth.


    "Just as the master chooses their disciple, the disciple also chooses their master," he continued. "If I were to extend an offer for discipleship yet punish them for rejecting, the other Astral Monarchs would mock me once the news spreads. Such pettiness is beneath me."


    The elderly man in white robes bowed deeply, his voice filled with reverence. "Indeed, you are right, Astral Monarch. It''s the Dragon Star Immortal Sect thatcks discretion. They fail to recognize this blessing from you. How many High Immortals in this vast immortal world yearn to earn even a nce of your favor?"


    "It matters not," the golden-skinned elderly man replied, his voice carrying an otherworldly quality. "The Dragon Star Immortal Sect kept this matter private, so it remains unknown to others. I only considered taking Li Xia as a disciple because his talent aligns with my path."


    He waved a hand dismissively. "But he refused, so let it be. Do not dwell on this matter further."


    "Understood," the white-robed elder nodded, his brow furrowed in contemtion. "In this vast immortal nation, hundreds of talents like Li Xia and Zhuo Haiyue emerge every hundred million years. As for geniuses with slightly inferior talent, their numbers are ten to a hundred times greater. Yet, of these so-called prodigies, ny-nine percent will never ascend to the ranks of Archimmortals."


    His voice took on a tone of undisguised ttery, "But you, Astral Monarch, are an eternal existence. Your radiance illuminates the vast realms." Though it was ttery, his words rang with truth.


    Indeed, over countless eras, only thirteen Astral Monarchs had emerged from the entire immortal nation. Each had witnessed the rise and fall of innumerable peerless geniuses throughout their long years.


    Thus, while Wu Yuan''s disy had enticed many Astral Lords to vie for his discipleship, only one of the thirteen Astral Monarchs, Su Qing, had deigned to consider taking him as a disciple��and even then, merely as a nominal one.


    A direct disciple? Generally, unless it was the type of monstrous prodigy that appeared once in ten million years within an immortal nation, a direct disciple of an Astral Monarch was often an Archimmortal themselves.


    Even Zhuo Haiyue, despite her incredible talent, was only a nominal disciple of another Astral Monarch.


    The golden-skinned elder''s eyes suddenly focused. "By the way, how many geniuses from my territories will be participating in this Bloodforge Battle?"


    The white-robed elder straightened, his voice crisp and precise. "From the various sects and subordinate forces across 189 immortal continents, a total of over seven thousand have registered for the battle. Among them, more than six thousand are Golden Core cultivators, with over a thousand at the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    The Bloodforge Battle was organized by the Bloodforge Devil Hall and the majority of participants were cultivators from the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Meanwhile, most participants from the Eternal Sun Immortal World were geniuses and their numbers were limited, so they made up the minority of participants.


    Astral Monarch Su Qing ruled over nearly two hundred immortal continents, yet only a few thousand geniuses had applied to participate. On average, each immortal continent sent merely a few dozen participants.


    "Any promising ones?" The Astral Monarch asked, his tone casual. The Bloodforge Battle, urring once every century, did not particrly concern him. But since it was near, he decided to inquire.


    The white-robed elder replied respectfully, "Among the Golden Core cultivators, twenty-six youngsters show potential to im the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis."


    "Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis? Mediocre," the golden-skinned elderly man shook his head, disappointment evident in his voice. "If they cannot im the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King, their potential isckluster at best." His piercing gaze settled on the elder. "And the Amethyst Cradle cultivators?"


    The elder''s voice faltered slightly. "The two most promising youngsters might break into the top ten thousand. With fortune on their side, they could potentially im the title of Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis."


    He lowered his head, avoiding the Astral Monarch''s gaze, anticipating the response.


    "Too weak!" Monarch Su Qing''s voice thundered through the chamber. "Such vast territories cannot even produce a single Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis?"


    "I have disappointed you, Astral Monarch," the white-robed elder bowed deeply.


    Yet in his mind, calctions raced. The title of Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis was exceptionally prestigious, even surpassing that of the Golden Core Bloodforge King!


    While a Golden Core Bloodforge King merely reigned supreme among Golden Core cultivators of a single immortal nation (first-tier division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall), the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle spanned the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World. Those who broke into the top eight hundred were, without exception, the top-tier geniuses of their era in the macrocosm.


    One had to remember that the Eternal Sun Immortal World consisted of over 1200 immortal nations, with the Bloodforge Devil Hall having an equal number of first-tier divisions. It was incredibly vast!


    While Astral Monarch Su Qing''s territory was expansive and teeming with life, thus asionally producing formidable geniuses, under normal circumstances, it took thousands or tens of thousands of years to have even a chance at producing an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis.


    Astral Monarch Su Qing''s voice cut through the elder''s thoughts, a hint of cold indifference in his tone. "Ry my decree: Any who can secure a ce in the top five of the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, or the top five thousand in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle, shall be epted as my nominal disciple. You may take your leave."


    "Yes, Astral Monarch!" The elderly man in white robes brightened. This was a reward of epic proportions!


    He bowed deeply once more before swiftly exiting the temple, leaving the vast hall empty save for Astral Monarch Su Qing.


    As silence settled over the chamber, Su Qing''s brow furrowed in contemtion. "My contemtion of Destiny seems to vaguely point me towards epting a disciple," he murmured to himself. "In this era, at least within the immortal nation, Li Xia appears the most suitable candidate for me."


    A sigh escaped his lips. "What a pity. Then I shall seek another disciple."


    Suddenly, Su Qing''s eyes gleamed with a hint of frost, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Dong Yang? If not for the fact that you''re backed by an Immortal Sovereign, how dare you reject me so brazenly? I will see just how long a mere High Immortal like you can maintain such arrogance."


    Indeed, if not for Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s influence, how could the Dragon Star Immortal Sect dare to refuse his request to take in a disciple?


    ...


    This was a world of immense proportions, lush and verdant, with majestic sky cities floating amidst the clouds.


    At its center, thousands of figures stood in silent anticipation, their eyes fixed on the elderly man in white robes hovering before them.


    His voice, infused with divine authority, rang out across the gathered crowd. "Have I made myself clear? Break into the top five of the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle! Break into the top five thousand of the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle." His aura was terrifying, as if a deity was looking down upon the mortal realm.


    "Those who achieve this will be epted as the Astral Monarch''s disciple."


    "Yes!" A chorus of voices erupted, tinged with unconcealed excitement. Over seven thousand Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators stood straighter, their eyes zing with determination.


    It was crucial to understand that those from the Eternal Sun Immortal World must obtain at least ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens to leave the trial alive. Hence, only those with considerable strength and ability dared to participate in the brutal Bloodforge Battle. Without confidence, who would willingly step into such perilous waters?


    ...


    This scene was not unique to the territories under Astral Monarch Su Qing. Across the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation and numerous other immortal nations within the boundless Eternal Sun Immortal World, simr gatherings were taking ce.


    On countless immortal continents, Archimmortals and High Immortals alike issued final orders to the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators in their territories participating in the Bloodforge Battle.


    This centennial event was considered the most rigorous and severe trial bybat across the entire Greenridge Macrocosm. Even top-tier factions from other parts of the macrocosm paid close attention, gathering valuable intelligence.


    ...


    While only a select few geniuses from the many immortal nations and continents of the Eternal Sun Immortal World were participating in the trial, the situation differed within the territory of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Countless cultivators at the Qi Sea and Golden Core phases, whether willingly or under duress, began rushing from myriad worldlets to the Origin Blood World of their respective divisions at astonishing speeds, making their final preparations.


    ...


    <i>In a second-tier division under the Silvermist division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, within an ultrarge mansion in the Origin Blood World.</i>


    This was Mansion One, signifying that its upant was the most formidable genius in the entire second-tier division.


    Within the mansion''s expansive training ground, a tall, square-jawed figure in resplendent purple robes hovered in the void, his keen eyes fixed on the intense battle unfolding below.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Hundreds of metallic puppets, each wielding gleaming sabers, shields, or spears, swarmed from all directions towards a ck-robed youth at the center.


    The speed of these constructs was terrifying, each one at least at the Shambh phase (sixth-degree immortal root).


    Such formidable base strength, even with shallow Daoprehension, was enough for them to unleash devastating power. The sight of 120 metallic puppets acting in unison was truly frightening. Even a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator could be torn apart by them in an instant.


    "Suppress!" The ck-robed youth''s voice rang out, sharp and clear.


    <i>Boom! </i>An overwhelming aura erupted from his form, followed by the emergence of vibrant green qi streams. Each stream resembled a de imbued with terrifying power.


    The qi streams spread out rapidly, instantly repelling the hundred metallic puppets and drastically reducing their speed. In a sh, a shadowy figure, ghostly and swift, darted through the chaos.


    The ck-robed youth leaped out from the encirclement of metallic puppets, his movements fluid and graceful. Then, he raised his gaze to meet the eyes of the figure in purple robes.


    "Haha, well done! You may stop now," the purple-robed figure called out, a smile of satisfaction ying across his lips.


    Instantly, the hundred metallic puppets halted their assault.


    "Archimmortal," the ck-robed youth bowed slightly.


    The purple-robed figure''s voice filled with pride as he addressed the young cultivator. "Ao Qi, your talent is truly terrifying. You now stand first on the Dark Star Leaderboard in the Silvermist Division, the only one to have conquered level sixteen."


    "Having grasped an Intermediate Law under the Wind Dao, you are undoubtedly the cultivator with the highest speed in the entire Bloodforge Battle."


    Ao Qi listened calmly, his face an impassive mask. Over the past hundred years, such praises had bemonce.


    The Archimmortal''s tone grew more serious. "By rights, you should have broken through to the Amethyst Cradle phase long ago. But for the title of Bloodforge King, you have endured decades of waiting. This battle is yourst chance!" His eyes bore into Ao Qi''s. "If you fail, you cannot afford to wait another hundred years; you must advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase. Do you understand?"


    "I understand," Ao Qi nodded, his eyes filled with a burning drive. "I will do my utmost to im the title of King."


    The Archimmortal continued, "Besides the dozens of peerless geniuses who have cleared level fourteen of the Dark Star Leaderboard, there is another individual you must pay close attention to."


    He paused before uttering two words: "Wu Yuan."


    "Wu Yuan?" Ao Qi repeated, his brow furrowing slightly as information about this individual surfaced in his mind��a prodigy with mere decades of cultivation, yet already having passed level thirteen of the Dark Star.


    The Archimmortal borated, "He cannotpare to the two incredible prodigies born in the Silvermist Immortal Nation��Li Xia and Zhuo Haiyue. But among the many second-tier divisions under the Silvermist Division, it is acknowledged by numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords that Wu Yuan is the most talented individual of this era within the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Silvermist Division!"


    His gaze intensified as he locked eyes with Ao Qi. "Compared to you, he onlycks time."


    Ao Qi''s jaw tightened, his voice resolute as he responded. "Most talented? Archimmortal, I understand your meaning. I will show him that the title of Bloodforge King is acquired through strength."


    The purple-robed figure nodded in satisfaction. As the Archimmortal responsible for nurturing the disciples of this second-tier division, the ck-robed youth before him was the most monstrous prodigy he had trained in a million years.


    He knew well that peerless geniuses were always proud and would not submit to anyone easily. If you wanted their submission? Then you had to defeat them thoroughly.


    In life-and-death battles, age and talent mattered not��only raw, unbridled strength.


    The victor was king!

 Chapter 460: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (2)

    <h4>Chapter 460: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (2)</h4>


    The Silvermist Immortal Voidrealm, with coverage spanning over six thousand immortal continents, was wondrous beyondpare. It was able to connect all spacetime territories within the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Ordinary Void Refiners were not qualified to ess the Silvermist Immortal Voidrealm.


    Within a secluded space of this immortal voidrealm, two figures hovered in the air.


    A white-robed youth, his face deceptively childlike, faced off against a ck-robed middle-aged man whose expression was cold and detached.


    Both were controlling an immense number of flying swords. Their respective sword domains shed in a dizzying disy of skill and raw power, hacking and shing with reckless abandon.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The sky itself seemed to shudder as countless flying swords, imbued with the principles of unseen Laws, formed Dao Fields. The resulting explosions of power seemed to twist the very fabric of space, each burst of sword qi traversing a thousand li in the blink of an eye.


    Every collision was brutal. Suddenly, the white-robed youth''s eyes shed with a hint of madness. "Die!" he snarled, his voice dripping with bloodlust.


    A blinding eruption of golden qi streams burst forth from behind him, empowering his flying swords. The amplified power of his sword domain shattered his opponent''s defenses in an instant.


    With a sound like tearing silk, a small, dazzling golden sword, its aura sharp enough to slice through space, pierced the ck-robed middle-aged man''s head. He fell, his own sword domain copsing.


    In that moment, the chaotic battlefield vanished, leaving only the white-robed youth hovering in the air.


    "Not bad," a voice intoned. A figure d in ck armor materialized, his piercing gaze fixed upon the white-robed youth.


    The white-robed youth bowed respectfully. "Master," he greeted.


    The ck-armored figure''s voice was soft, "Your attacks have grown incredibly formidable. Now, if you attempt level sixty of the two-star tower, you might just seed."


    "Your talent is still no match for Zhuo Haiyue. But in another era, you would be the top prodigy in the immortal nation given your age."


    The young man in white robes listened silently, acknowledging the truth in his master''s words. Zhuo Haiyue''s talent was indeed in a league of its own.


    "You are fortunate that you are only at the Golden Core phase and won��t bepeting with Zhuo Haiyue," the ck-armored figure continued. "You''ve been in quiet cultivation all this time, waiting for an opportunity. Now, that opportunity hase."


    "If you advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase and participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle, your chances of bing a Bloodforge Marquis are extremely slim. Conversely, participating in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle offers you greater hope of iming the title of Bloodforge King. I hope you won''t disappoint me."


    "Understood," the young man nodded solemnly.


    "Have you reviewed the intelligence I sent?" the ck-armored figure asked. "Who do you see as your opponent?"


    The white-robed youth responded immediately, "First, Ao Qi. His talent is exceptional, and he has cultivated for a long time. In terms of sheer power, he should be my greatest rival."


    "Second, Wu Yuan. He is the most talented individual from the Bloodforge Devil Hall. In the trial stage, he will likely suffer. But when ites to the ultimate opportunity challenge, he will have a significant advantage."


    "Third, Dongfang Guanghong. His strength..."


    The young man proceeded to list over a dozen names, clearly having studied all the intelligence in detail and identified all potential opponents.


    A flicker of disappointment crossed the ck-armored figure''s eyes. He shook his head. "Wrong. With your power, your only opponent is yourself!"


    ...


    Throughout the vast expanse of the Silvermist Immortal Nation''s territory, countless geniuses who had chosen to participate in the trial seized every precious moment to train, each striving to push the boundaries of their strength.


    The Bloodforge Battle promised more than mere bloody trials or coveted titles. What truly mattered was the ultimate opportunity.


    <i>Bloodforge Devil Hall, Redmoon Division, Origin Blood World.</i>


    <i>In Mansion One, within thebat training area.</i>


    "Celestial Body!" A figure in white robes hovered in the air, silent and still. He did not use any mana, appearing extraordinarily mysterious.


    <i>Buzz~ buzz~</i> Streams of earthy-yellow light swirled around the figure, coalescing into a miniature celestial body.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>It vanished, reced by nine distinct miniature celestial bodies orbiting his form.


    A smile yed across the figure��s lips. ��Nine celestial bodies... the Land... Celestial Body... No wonder it''s said that at the seventh-level True Intent stage, a hint of Dao Field characteristics is manifested." His voice carried a note of satisfaction.


    "After years of arduous training, along with guidance from two teachers, myprehension of the Land Dao has progressed smoothly. And finally, myprehension of the Celestial Body Dao has reached the sixth-level Domain stage."


    "On the eve of the Bloodforge Battle, the strength of my body refiner self has increased yet again."


    The sixth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao was equivalent to the sixth-level True Intent stage of the Land Dao.


    This young man in white robes was, of course, Wu Yuan.


    "Only one day remains," Wu Yuan murmured to himself. "With the power my body refiner self can unleash, I''ll still have to strive hard to make it into the top ten."


    He had coborated with his master toe up with a n. To obscure any connection between his qi refiner and body refiner selves, he resolved to avoid revealing any techniques that applied the Longevity Dao unless faced with a life-or-death situation. At least, not inbat!


    <i>I''ve made several attempts to integrate the profundities of the Longevity Dao into the True Celestial Body over thest several months. </i>


    <i>The True Celestial Body is inherently about restrained bursts of power. Even an Archimmortal would find it hard to discern how much power is actually imbued in the attacks.</i>


    His body refiner self did not attain its current strength solely because of his deep Daoprehension. Crucially, it stemmed from his ether arts cultivation and his robust immortal root.


    From what Wu Yuan understood, those peerless geniuses with incredibleprehension aptitude mostly had third-degree immortal roots. Second-degree immortal roots? Those were truly rare!


    Of course, individuals who possessed them existed. In the vast expanse of heaven and earth, opportunities were everywhere, and among billions of immortal cultivators, there were indeed those who established innate second-degree immortal roots.


    However, those like Wu Yuan who had both strongprehension aptitude and powerful immortal roots were exceedingly rare. At least, within the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation, such individuals are scarce.


    "Even the top ranker of the Dark Star, Ao Qi, is a body refiner with a third-degree immortal root," Wu Yuan murmured, recognizing the massive advantage his powerful immortal root granted his body refiner self.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed, his concentration broken.


    <i>Hm? There��s news from the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm?</i> Intrigued, he immediately directed a thread of his consciousness to investigate.


    <i>It��s about the Bloodforge Battle?</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes flickered as he opened the message.


    The content of the message wasn��tplicated, mainly detailing the rules of the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle.


    A mix of emotions yed across Wu Yuan''s face. "How cruel," he whispered.


    The Bloodforge Battle that Wu Yuan would be participating in was hosted by the Silvermist division, involving over five thousand second-tier divisions. It was estimated that the number of participating Golden Core cultivators would reach a staggering 580 billion!


    This is was a real-world battle divided into two major stages��blood devil trial and ultimate opportunity challenge.


    The battlefield for the blood devil trial, a special spacetime known as the Bloodforge ne, was located within the Greenridge Macrocosm and spanned a spherical space with a diameter of about a hundred million li.


    The rules were strict: except for one''s lifebound artifacts, no external treasures could be brought in. Instead, numerous treasures would appear randomly in thebat space, such as flying swords, battle sabers, battle armor, shields, and even coordination array disks that required multiple immortal cultivators to activate.


    However, these finished artifacts wouldn��t be very powerful, at best reaching third-grade.


    Additionally, arge number of precious materials for pill refining and equipment forging would appear, allowing one to create powerful talismans and ethercrystal weapons.


    In other words, no external items were allowed on the battlefield. But inside, there was ample time and resources for pill refining experts, equipment forging experts, and array experts to shine.


    <i>Such rules aren��t favorable to a peerless genius like me; they benefit ordinary immortal cultivators more</i>. Wu Yuan thought.


    No matter how talented, each participant was still just a single individual. Whether a ninth-stage Golden Core or ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator, the strength of a single human was finite.


    If those countless ordinary participants were capable of creating an array like the Divine me Array, the power they could unleash would be terrifying, enough to contend with the top-tier geniuses.


    Of course, given the mana capacity of the Golden Core phase, the chances that one could forge such an array disk were very slim.


    <i>Additionally, one must consider another possibility: a peerless genius leading arge group of immortal cultivators in a coordination array. The power unleashed would be even more terrifying.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    At the first stage, each participant would be constantly monitored through the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm to ensure absolute fairness. It was also for convenience when calcting one��s Blood Devil Token count.


    Blood Devil Tokens weren��t actual tokens, but virtual tokens calcted under each participant''s name in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    ��I get to start off with a thousand Blood Devil Tokens?�� Wu Yuan murmured to himself.

 Chapter 461: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (3)

    <h4>Chapter 461: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (3)</h4>


    Blood Devil Token rules:


    Ordinary participants begin with a single Blood Devil Token and must obtain ten to qualify for departure.


    Elite participants, those who have cleared level four of the Dark Star, start with ten Blood Devil Tokens and must obtain one hundred to qualify for departure.


    Immortal nation participants start with a thousand Blood Devil Tokens and must obtain ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens to qualify for departure.


    Second-tier Bloodforge Seeds start with a thousand Blood Devil Tokens, are granted one retry opportunity, and must obtain ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens to qualify for departure.


    First-tier Bloodforge Seeds, those who have cleared level fourteen of the Dark Star, start with ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens, are granted one retry opportunity, and must obtain a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens to qualify for departure.


    <i>The stronger the participant, the higher the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s demands. But the requirements for participants from the Silvermist Immortal Nation are indeed harsh.</i>


    Participants from the Silvermist Immortal Nation were ssified as second-tier Bloodforge Seeds, regardless of strength.


    <i>As for the rules for seizing Blood Devil Tokens? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed as he continued to read the message; this was the crux of the matter.


    The first stage of the Bloodforge Battle would pit billions of immortal cultivators against each other in a grand melee.


    The rules were simple: by ying an opponent, one could acquire a tenth of the fallen''s total Blood Devil Tokens, in addition to their initial allotment.


    For instance, if an ordinary participant had amassed one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens, Wu Yuan, upon ying this participant, would receive ten thousand and one Blood Devil Tokens.


    However, if a first-tier Bloodforge Seed had umted one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens, Wu Yuan would reap twenty thousand Blood Devil Tokens for the kill.


    <i>The more Blood Devil Tokens one possesses at the outset, the more alluring a target they be.</i>


    How long would it take to umte one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens from ordinarybatants alone?


    To amass a significant number of Blood Devil Tokens, one must hunt down and y peerless geniuses.


    <i>These rules are clearly designed to motivate countless immortal cultivators to hunt down Bloodforge Seeds and participants from the immortal nation. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, eyes fixed on the final section of the message.


    The duration of the first stage of the Bloodforge Battle is one year.


    Ordinary and elite participants who seize ten and one hundred Blood Devil Tokens respectively meet the requirements to leave the battlefield after seven months. Thereafter, they may be outer disciples or other official disciples of the devil hall.


    All other participants may only leave at the end of the one-year period.


    By seizing one thousand Blood Devil Tokens, one is qualified to be an elite disciple of the devil hall.


    By seizing ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens, one is qualified to be a core disciple of the devil hall, equivalent to a Void Refiner Protectorate (geniuses from the immortal nation must reach this level).


    By seizing one hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens, one is qualified to participate in the second stage �C the ultimate opportunity challenge.


    By seizing one million Blood Devil Tokens, one is granted direct ess to the ultimate opportunity and qualified to be a direct disciple of a High Immortal.


    By seizing ten million Blood Devil Tokens, one is granted direct ess to the ultimate opportunity and bestowed the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis, directly entering the final secret vault, and qualified to be a disciple of an Archimmortal.


    By seizing one billion Blood Devil Tokens, one is bestowed the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King, granted direct ess to the final secret vault, and qualified to be a disciple of an Astral Lord.


    Note: At the end of the one-year period, those who fail to acquire the required Blood Devil Tokens for departure will be eliminated!


    ...


    As Wu Yuan finished reading the entire message, a weight settled in his chest. His mind''s eye conjured vivid images of billions of Golden Core cultivators shing in a cataclysmic battle, leaving behind mountains of corpses and seas of blood.


    This was no mere voidrealm battle; this was real-worldbat, with real consequences.


    <i>High Immortal Wu Tian had warned that ny-nine percent of immortal cultivators would perish. But even this estimate might be an optimistic one</i>. Wu Yuan thought to himself, a chill running down his spine.


    He could foresee the desperate struggle of ordinary participants as they acquired their first ten or hundred Blood Devil Tokens. Once they met their quota, they would do everything in their power to avoid further conflict, clinging to survival until the end of the sixth month when they could finally depart.


    At the end of the sixth month, a mass exodus of ordinary participants would ur, leaving behind only the most formidable contenders.


    For the geniuses and stronger participants, however, a different strategy would unfold.


    <i>In the initial six months, countless weak participants would provide easy targets, making it rtively simple to amass arge number of Blood Devil Tokens. But once thetter half of the year rolls around?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Those who dare to remain would likely possess strength approaching the Amethyst Cradle level.</i>


    The remaining opponents would prove far more challenging to deal with. As the trial progressed, the death rate would rise dramatically.


    Ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens? For a genius of Wu Yuan''s caliber, it wasn''t an insurmountable goal.


    But to seize a million Blood Devil Tokens, one would need to embark on a relentless massacre from the very beginning to have any hope of achieving such a staggering number.


    As for one billion Blood Devil Tokens? Wu Yuan dismissed the notion after a single nce. The number was simply too astronomical.


    Even if one were to y an ordinary participant every second without pause for an entire year, it still wouldn''t suffice.


    As for hunting peerless geniuses?


    Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line. <i>Peerless geniuses are limited in number, and they would be difficult to locate. Even if a peerless genius manages to umte ten million Blood Devil Tokens, ying them would only yield a million.</i>


    To reach that number, one would have to kill a thousand such peerless geniuses. The mere thought of it struck Wu Yuan as utterly unrealistic.


    The purpose of setting such an outrageous benchmark was clear: to inform the countless geniuses that those who could achieve it were more than qualified to be a Bloodforge King.


    Even so, it would require immense effort and a year of ceaselessbat and bloodshed just to have a chance at gathering ten million Blood Devil Tokens.


    <i>I must give it my all!</i> Wu Yuan resolved, his eyes glinting with determination. <i>At the very least, I''ll strive to seize a million Blood Devil Tokens and ultimately be a Bloodforge Marquis.</i>


    The first stage was fundamentally about survival.


    Wu Yuan harbored no delusions of achieving the rank of Bloodforge King; everything depended on the process.


    <i>However, even if it''s just a million Blood Devil Tokens, I must still give it my all.</i> A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Kill! Carve a path of survival through the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.</i>


    This was Wu Yuan''s nature. He might not revel in killing, but neither did he shy away from it. Having embarked on this path, he would cut down anyone who stood in his way!


    ...


    Time marched inexorably onward. As the moment approached, Wu Yuan''s heart grew calm.


    It wasn''t just Wu Yuan. Throughout the various Origin Blood Worlds under the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, countless figures stood packed together.


    All 580 billion Golden Core cultivators were waiting.


    The truly powerful ones, like Wu Yuan, Ao Qi, Bai Li, and Shui Heng, maintained theirposure, silently storing up their battle intent.


    The fairly strong contenders, including many second-tier Bloodforge Seeds and over ny percent of the immortal nation''s participants, strategized on how to embark on a killing spree while avoiding the top-tier geniuses.


    And the vast majority of ordinary participants trembled with anxiety, fervently praying for good fortune and hoping they wouldn''t encounter any overwhelmingly powerful beings upon arrival.


    In essence, the stronger one was, the more confident they felt; the weaker, the more fear gripped their hearts!


    But such were the rules of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Born within the dominion of the devil hall, there was but one path to tread��battle!


    Even the longest wait would eventuallye to an end.


    "Wu Yuan, leave your residence and prepare for battle." A faint voice echoed abruptly in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes opened, breaking his deep meditation.


    It was Astral Lord Yin He��s voice.


    "Little ck, are you ready?" Wu Yuan smiled, rising to his feet, and nced down at the small ck serpent coiled around his arm.


    "I''m ready. Kill! Kill!" Little ck''s eyes gleamed. "Master, kill to your heart''s content! Let the corpses pile high, and the blood flow like seas! Tread upon the bones of countless beings and forge your name as the Bloodforge King!"


    "Where did you learn such words?" Wu Yuan shook his head, a wry chuckle escaping his lips.


    After a final, meticulous check, he discarded all external treasures, including his eldritch armor, saber, Veiled Serpent Plume, ethercrystal, and more. The rules were clear: no treasures were allowed.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a swift motion, Wu Yuan flew out of his mansion, quickly arriving outside. There, he saw the other geniuses of District One, including Bai Li and Shui Heng.


    "It''s Wu Yuan."


    "Wu Yuan has arrived."


    "Wu Yuan!" Dozens of Bloodforge Seeds, already gathered outside their mansions, turned to look at Wu Yuan, their eyes filled with a mixture of reverence and trepidation.


    Compared to Wu Yuan, their strength was leagues apart. Even top talents like Bai Li and Shui Heng knew they couldn''t withstand more than a few moves against Wu Yuan in a real battle.


    "Everyone, let''s go." Wu Yuan said softly. He took the lead, soaring into the vast sky outside District One.


    The other Bloodforge Seeds followed suit.


    ...


    What did it look like when over a billion beings, all Golden Core cultivators, gathered in one ce?


    Stretching for thousands of li, as far as the eye could see, the space was filled with an endless sea of people. Each one emitted an immensely powerful aura, far beyond mortals.


    In various regions of the space, even the Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators maintaining order seemed insignificant before the overwhelming number of immortal cultivators.


    Ants might be small, but when billions gather, they could unleash a catastrophic force.


    If billions of Golden Core cultivators unified their power to cast an arcane art, the resulting power would make even a Divided Soul Earth Immortal retreat in fear.


    Suddenly, an invisible pressure descended, instantly enveloping the vast heaven and earth. The once morous space fell silent.


    A billion Golden Core cultivators looked up toward the figure at the edge of the space, about six meters tall and d in dark red battle armor. Standing in the air, it seemed as if the whole of heaven and earth was beneath his feet.


    nking him were a dozen fearsome figures, though inferior in power, their auras still enough to make the participants quake.


    Further away stood thousands of figures, each with a formidable presence. They were Earth Immortals at least.


    "Greetings to the Astral Lord." Thousands of immortals bowed respectfully.


    Astral Lord Yin He had arrived.


    But among the billion Golden Core cultivators, few showed any sign of respect.


    Respect? With a life-and-death battle imminent, and most destined to fall, did status matter? Many Golden Core cultivators no longer cared.


    So what if an Astral Lord was a great being? It could not make them lower their heads. Of course, this was partly because Astral Lord Yin He did not force the billion Golden Core cultivators to kneel with his power.


    "The Bloodforge Battle!" Astral Lord Yin He finally spoke, his voice resonating through heaven and earth, causing the very fabric of space to tremble.


    To the many immortals, it was iparably majestic. But to the billion Golden Core cultivators, it felt warm, like the guidance of a kindly elder. A final benediction before the storm.


    "May you return alive."


    No lengthy speeches, no grand ambitions, Astral Lord Yin He simply offered the most sincere blessing to the billions of Golden Core cultivators �C return alive!


    "Set forth!" The figure in white robes beside Astral Lord Yin He stepped forward. His voice was cold, echoing a million li into the distance.


    <i>Boom~</i> Countless mysterious talismans materialized out of thin air around the space where more than a billion Golden Core cultivators were gathered. They emitted a faint purple glow.


    As though a fuse had been lit, the countless purple talismans instantly began linking with each other, forming a web of energy that enveloped the billions of cultivators within.


    <i>Buzz~</i> In the sky, a massive vortex with a diameter of over ten thousand li tore into existence.


    <i>Swish! </i>An invisible force took hold, instantly sweeping millions of Golden Core cultivators into the spatial vortex. They had no chance to resist.


    Then the next batch followed, and another million flew into the vortex. One batch after another was sucked in.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, more than a billion immortal cultivators in the space vanished without a trace, leaving it deste and eerily silent.

 Chapter 462: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (4)

    <h4>Chapter 462: Bloodforge, One Billion Blood Devil Tokens (4)</h4>


    "Astral Lord." The immortals'' gazes were drawn to the Astral Lord, their eyes brimming with reverence and a hint of curiosity.


    For most of the High Immortals and Earth Immortals present, this was their first glimpse of an Astral Lord.


    "Proceed to the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm to observe the battle," the Astral Lordmanded.


    This scene yed out simultaneously across thousands of second-tier divisions under the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Afterward, numerous Earth Immortals and High Immortals from the thousands of divisions began entering the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, preparing to observe the battles.


    However, Earth Immortals and High Immortals were only authorized to observe ordinary participants from their divisions; they couldn��t monitor the Bloodforge Seeds from their own divisions, let alone those of other divisions.


    Of course, the Blood Devil Token rankings were visible to all. Through the leaderboard, they could roughly gauge the performance of the top-tier geniuses.


    ...


    Within a special space of the Silvermist ne in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, tens of thousands of seats stood in neat rows. Many were already upied by figures of varying appearances, each exuding an aura of immense power.


    The diversity of these beings was striking. Some radiated heat like living furnaces, while others emanated a bone-chilling cold. A few were shrouded in ck robes, while others appeared eerie and sinister. Some carried themselves with an air of wild, untamed dominance.


    Despite their differences, one thing united them all �C each was a great being,manding respect across vast spacetime territories.


    "Yin He, you''ve arrived. I hear you''ve discovered quite a formidable young talent this time. Wu Yuan, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, that''s his name. Wu Yuan possesses... decent talent."


    "Haha, you''re here as well!"


    "Chen Deng! It''s been ages.��


    "He hasn''t observed a Golden Core Bloodforge Battle in over ten thousand years."


    "Indeed, it has been far too long," Astral Lord Yin He and Astral Lord Chen Deng were among the notable figures in this assembly, their seats positioned near the front.


    It was evident that only Archimmortal-level powerhouses of the Silvermist Division were granted ess to this exclusive space.


    ��It��s Meng Jie. Astral Lord Meng Jie has arrived.��


    ��Meng Jie, what luck!�� Instantly, more than half of the Archimmortals in the special space turned to look at the purple-robed figure that appeared out of thin air.


    "Meng Jie, your Ao Qi is the strongest contender this time."


    "Ao Qi cleared level sixteen of the Dark Star. Truly impressive. He has the potential to be an Archimmortal.��


    ��Remarkable indeed. He��s poised to be the Bloodforge King!�� The Astral Lords in the front row spoke in rapid session, their words ovepping in their eagerness to engage with the purple-robed figure.


    Though all present were Archimmortals, a clear hierarchy existed. The Astral Lords formed their own inner circle, while the ordinary Archimmortals who hade to observe the battle mostly conversed in hushed tones among themselves. The distinction between the two groups was as stark as night and day.


    "It''s hard to say for certain," Astral Lord Meng Jie replied with a mysterious smile. "Impressive as Ao Qi may be, Wu Yuan''s talent surpasses him by more than a mere notch. Once they reach the second stage, it''s quite possible he''ll overtake Ao Qi and im the title of Bloodforge King."


    Astral Lord Yin Heughed. "Haha, Astral Lord Meng Jie, surely you jest. Wu Yuan still has a long road ahead of him. I''m merely hoping Ao Qi will show him mercy."


    The Astral Lords continued their banter.


    After a full hour passed, a gentle yet pervasive voice suddenly echoed through the special space. "Honored Archimmortals and Astral Lords, the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle is about tomence."


    "We will project in real-time the top ten thousand geniuses ranked by Blood Devil Token number!"


    "Additionally, if any Archimmortal or Astral Lord wishes to focus on a particr participant, you may do so at any time."


    In an instant, tens of thousands of small projections materialized in the air. Within them, the initial top ten thousand geniuses were disyed, ranked by their Blood Devil Token count.


    Simultaneously, a massive list appeared, ranking the first-ranked participant all the way down to the millionth.


    With the mental processing speed of an Archimmortal, monitoring tens of thousands of projections while tracking the ranking of a million participants was hardly difficult. Not a single detail would escape their notice.


    <i>And so it begins.</i> Astral Lord Yin He effortlessly scanned through the myriad projections. In an instant, he locked onto one particr figure among them. <i>Wu Yuan.</i>


    Under normal circumstances, the supervision of the centennial Golden Core Bloodforge Battle required only a single Archimmortal. It was part of their duty. Most of the time, Astral Lords wouldn��t bother watching battle at all.


    This time, however, was different. About a hundred Astral Lords from the thousands of divisions under Silvermist had chosen to attend. Their presence wasrgely motivated by having promising disciples participating in the battle.


    For Astral Lord Yin He, there was only one reason for him to be here��Wu Yuan.


    <i>Don''t disappoint me. He</i> thought silently, his gaze fixed on the projection.<i> At the very least, you need to break into the top hundred in the first stage. Your final ranking should reach the top twenty.</i>


    Bloodforge King? In truth, Astral Lord Yin He harbored no expectations of Wu Yuan seizing that title. The young cultivator''s period was simply too short.


    Aim high, and you may fall somewhere in the middle; aim for the middle, and you''ll often fall to the bottom. Everything he had told Wu Yuan back then was merely to motivate him to strive with all his might towards bing the Bloodforge King.


    Set your sights high but keep your feet on the ground.


    ...


    The Bloodforge ne was the creation of a super powerhouse of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Within ity three thousand worlds, each capable of hosting a first-tier division''s Golden Core Bloodforge Battle.


    Among these, the Bloodforge World numbered 893 belonged to Silvermist.


    Wu Yuan''s consciousness stirred. <i>This is really ufortable.</i> He thought, finding himself suspended in darkness after entering the spatial vortex. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he waited, unable to move, his thoughts sluggish.


    After what felt like an eternity but was in reality only an hour, an icy voice reverberated through Wu Yuan''s mind, "All participants are in position. The Bloodforge Battle will nowmence."


    With those words, Wu Yuannded on the ground. Immediately, he swept his gaze in all directions.


    He found himself in a vast, winding cavern passage that stretched as far as the eye could see. The cave''s cross-section was roughly circr, with a diameter of about thirty thousand li!


    The cavern walls were studded with massive crystals that emitted light, banishing shadows and making the vast cave as bright as day.


    Scattered across the walls were numerous pits and crevices of varying depths. Some were shallow indentations, while others yawned open, theoreticallyrge enough to conceal arge group of immortal cultivators.


    <i>My Soul Force remains unaffected</i>. Wu Yuan noted with relief. <i>The spatial pressure here is simr to that of the Origin Blood World.</i>


    He quickly extended his Soul Force, probing his surroundings.


    Nine hundred li!


    Years of diligent Visualization of the ck pagoda had paid off, elevating the strength of his body refiner self''s soul to nearly the peak of the Yang Soul level.


    Meanwhile, a strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness remained tethered to his personal hall within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    Though he couldn''tmunicate with the outside world, he could receive battlefield directives. Most crucially, he could monitor his Blood Devil Token ranking:


    Blood Devil Tokens: 1000


    Rank: 593,422 (tied)


    <i>There must be over 400,000 second-tier Bloodforge Seeds in the entire Silvermist Division, and more than 180,000 participants from the immortal nation.</i>


    This was information he hadn''t known before.


    <i>This Bloodforge Battlefield world is a spherical space with a diameter of one hundred million li, internally connected by numerous tunnels, each with a diameter of thirty thousand li. </i>Wu Yuan recalled.


    The walls of the caverns were indestructible. At the very least, even with first-stage Amethyst Cradle phase strength, it would be extremely difficult to cause any significant damage. And even if damaged, the walls would automatically repair themselves over time.


    Simultaneously, a vast array of weapons, artifacts, and precious materials would randomly appear throughout the countless tunnels of the Bloodforge World.


    Therefore, the process of the Bloodforge Battle was actually quite simple.


    Participants had to navigate thebyrinthine tunnels, using their Soul Force, vision, or other special means to search for opponents and eliminate them.


    As time progressed, thebat region of the Bloodforge World would steadily shrink, forcing the surviving participants into ever-closer proximity.


    <i>It''s like a battle royale.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly, his mind shing to an old, popr game in his previous life.


    As these thoughts raced through his mind, a terrifying surge of spiritual energy erupted over a thousand li away. Looking up, he saw two figures already locked in a frenzied, intense battle.


    <i>Hm?</i> Almost simultaneously, Wu Yuan noticed the rankings on the Blood Devil Token leaderboard begin to fluctuate. The positions of many geniuses began to rise rapidly, a clear indication that the ughter had begun in earnest.


    <i>It has started.</i> A trace of bloodlust shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. In a blur of motion, he darted toward the two figures engaged in battle a thousand li in the distance.


    Even without employing any ether art or Beast Fusion with Little ck, Wu Yuan could cover over two hundred li per second with his physical body alone. As he moved, he elerated further.


    In an instant, the two battling figures noticed his approach and turned pale with fear. "Not good, it''s a Bloodforge Seed!"


    "You sensed me?" Wu Yuan grinned, a predatory gleam in his eyes.


    Within the Bloodforge Battlefield, whenever a Bloodforge Seed or an immortal nation participant came within six hundred li of an ordinary participant, their presence would be detected.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan''s speed was nearly at the first-stage Amethyst Cradle level.


    "Then there''s no need to hide. Little ck, Beast Fusion." At hismand, a pair of obsidian wings instantly materialized behind Wu Yuan. With a slight vibration, his speed soared to five hundred li per second.


    By then, the two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators had only managed to flee a mere hundred li.


    Their efforts were futile in the face of Wu Yuan''s overwhelming speed. In less than half a breath, Wu Yuan closed the distance.


    <i>Don''t me me. </i>He thought coldly. <i>If you must me someone, me this damned ideology. </i>His eyes were hard, devoid of mercy as he moved without hesitation.


    His wings shed like sabers, instantly slicing through the two Golden Core cultivators.


    Their bodies exploded in a gruesome disy, blood and viscera sttering the cavern walls. They had no power to resist, not even a chance to struggle.


    For Wu Yuan, killing ordinary Golden Core cultivators was now as effortless as swatting flies.


    <i>Two Blood Devil Tokens. </i>He observed the ranking with detached interest.


    However, what truly caught his attention was the blood mist being released from the ck pagoda.


    <i>This Bloodforge Battle, with its insane scale of ughter, will generate an unimaginable amount of blood mist. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    <i>Hm? </i>Spreading his Soul Force once more, he instantly sensed a Golden Core cultivator hiding six hundred li away.


    <i>Trying to hide?</i> Wu Yuan charged directly at his new target.


    As he barreled straight toward his quarry, several Golden Core cultivators further away took flight in terror, fleeing madly in all directions.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan roared, showing no mercy as he unleashed a storm of blood and carnage within the tunnel.

 Chapter 463: Kill! Leaving A Trail Of Blood (1)

    <h4>Chapter 463: Kill! Leaving A Trail Of Blood (1)</h4>


    A streak of ck light sliced through the air with breathtaking speed, hurtling directly into a small cave no more than a hundred li in diameter.


    Violent spiritual qi fluctuations erupted from the cave, apanied by a series of terrified screams. Two figures frantically bolted out from different exits, their faces contorted with fear.


    "Run!"


    "It''s a second-tier Bloodforge Seed." Their eyes were wide with terror.


    They fled desperately, but their efforts were futile. They had barely covered a hundred li when the streak of ck light burst from the cave, moving at nearly ten times their speed. In a heartbeat, it closed the distance between them.


    Its wings glinted like razor-sharp sabers.


    "No!" One of the fleeing participants, a sturdy man encased in ck armor, roared in defiance.


    His body swelled, muscles bulging beneath his armor as he swung his saber with immense force. The de cleaved through the air, aimed at the iing streak of light. An imposing earthy-yellow aura radiated from his entire being.


    Ether Art! Earth Domain!


    In a battle involving billions of Golden Core cultivators, his strength ranked in the top five percent.


    <i>Wham!</i> The streak of light effortlessly evaded his saber, its wings striking his body with precision.


    <i>Thwack!</i> The impact sent him flying, his skin splitting open as blood gushed forth.


    <i>Still alive?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered.


    Without hesitation, his hand expanded to a thousand zhangs, sweeping across dozens of li to m into the armored man once more.


    <i>Wham! </i>Unable to withstand the overwhelming impact, the armored man''s body exploded into a fine, crimson mist.


    He was dead.


    <i>One more.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted to the other escaping figure in the distance. In a sh, he closed the gap.


    The second cultivator met the same grisly fate as the first.


    <i>How easy. </i>Wu Yuan mused, his expression a mask of indifference. <i>Many of these cultivators are only at the early-stage of the Golden Core phase, merely here to offer up Blood Devil Tokens.</i>


    <i>This armored man was ate-stage Golden Core cultivator and a body refiner, his strength was pretty decent.</i>


    Had he not crossed paths with Wu Yuan, the armored man might have survived the next six months.


    "What a pity," Wu Yuan murmured, his heart remaining cold and detached.


    His gaze swept across the expansive passageway stretching thirty thousand li in width. Though called a cave, it was a world unto itself, so vast that its wrinkled walls resembled mountain ranges.


    The passage walls were dotted with countless small caves, ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred li in diameter, interconnected like abyrinth.


    <i>The entire Bloodforge Battlefield is essentially an incredibly vast, three-dimensional space resembling an ant nest,</i> Wu Yuan realized. <i>The Soul Force range of most Golden Core cultivators is typically only dozens of li.</i>


    In short, if all Golden Core participants chose to hide until the end, locating them would be a difficult task.


    Of course, that didn''t include those with extraordinarily strong souls, like Wu Yuan himself. With a mere thought, he could scan everything within a nine-hundred-li radius. His search efficiency dwarfed that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators by hundreds, if not thousands of times.


    In areas where Wu Yuan had scouted with his Soul Force, few could hope to evade his notice.


    Yet, even though there were 580 billion participants, they were scattered across a spherical battlefield with a diameter of a hundred million li.


    <i>Blood Devil Tokens</i>. Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand, and the thread of consciousness he left in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm instantly retrieved the corresponding information.


    Blood Devil Tokens: 1542


    Rank: 832


    <i>In one day, I''ve advanced hundreds of thousands of li, ughtering hundreds of immortal cultivators, But most were just ordinary participants; killing them only yielded one Blood Devil Token each. Only two were elite participants. </i>Wu Yuan felt somewhat helpless.


    If not for his relentless ughter of other participants, how could he have umted this many Blood Devil Tokens? It was easy for him to obtain the Blood Devil Tokens of ordinary participants, but it was highly inefficient.


    <i>If I could find a Bloodforge Seed or an immortal nation participant, that would be far more satisfying. </i>A trace of killing intent shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Killing one would yield at least a thousand Blood Devil Tokens. Killing ten would allow him to meet the requirement of ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens.


    <i>Judging by the ranking, those with three to five thousand Blood Devil Tokens must have defeated other Bloodforge Seeds or immortal nation participants. </i>Wu Yuan deduced. <i>But Ao Qi and Dongfang Hongguang, these first-tier Bloodforge Seeds, aren''t ranked very high.</i>


    <i>Could it be that they haven''t encountered particrly strong opponents, like in my situation? </i>Wu Yuan spected.


    In fact, Wu Yuan''s guess was correct. Though the Bloodforge Battle was rtively fair, the starting positions of the top-tier geniuses were not actually randomized. Rather, they were deliberately dispersed to avoid early collisions among top-tier geniuses and to prevent weaker participants from taking advantage of the situation.


    In simple terms, the stronger one was, the weaker the participants in their starting location.


    However, as time passed, thebat space would gradually shrink. With the top-tier geniuses making their way through the passages, they would eventually encounter.


    <i>Moreover, the weaker participants are starting to band together. </i>Wu Yuan observed, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the two participants he had just in, then the cave that had served as their temporary refuge.


    Earlier, these eight participants had gathered not to fight, but to discuss forming an alliance.


    It only took one day!


    Faced with the pressure from the top-tier geniuses, countless ordinary participants realized that mutual killing was futile; they must band together to survive the first six months. Otherwise, they''d be picked off by top-tier geniuses one at a time.


    <i>Go ahead. I was afraid you wouldn''t cooperate. </i>Wu Yuan chuckled.


    Without powerful array disks, groups of dozens or hundreds of Golden Core cultivators could only form ordinary arrays.


    If he were a second-tier Bloodforge Seed with strength barely reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase, handling such arge group of participants at once would be difficult.


    But for Wu Yuan? It didn''t matter whether ten or a hundred teamed up; even a thousand participants posed no real threat to him.


    <i>A flock of sheep can''t defeat a lion. </i>Wu Yuan was that lion.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan surpassed ordinary participants by arge margin; in terms of foundation, he had reached the minimum baseline for Shambh; in terms of ether arts, he was also top-tier!


    While other participants searched for the artifacts dropped throughout the trial grounds, Wu Yuan didn''t bother.


    Why? First, choosing to focus on increasing his killing rate would yield far more artifacts, granting him a wider array of choices and a higher chance of obtaining suitable equipment.


    Moreover, the True Celestial Body Wu Yuan had cultivated through thebination of two Intermediate Laws had strengthened his body to a levelparable to fourth-grade spirit equipment.


    And this was just from him harnessing the Celestial Body Dao, without unleashing the Longevity Dao inbat.


    <i>Kill! Even with just the Celestial Body Dao, let''s see who can stop me. </i>Wu Yuan''s battle intent soared.


    The passage stretched thirty thousand li wide, with new passages branching off every million li, and countless small caves. Thisbyrinthine structure made the battlefield incrediblyplex.


    But Wu Yuan didn''t care about routes, acting as he pleased.


    Found a participant? Kill!


    Encountered ten participants teamed up against him? Kill!


    Even if a hundred participants gathered to oppose him, Wu Yuan charged headfirst into their midst with unbridled arrogance


    Time went by.


    Wherever Wu Yuan tread, battles raged as mana surged like a tempest. Blood sttered the ground, and heads rolled with each decisive strike.


    The tally of Blood Devil Tokens under his name soared, propelling his rank ever higher with each opponent encountered.


    Most importantly, within his upper dantian lobe, the blood mist swirling around the ck pagoda reached an unprecedented volume, surging and umting without end.


    ...


    The Bloodforge Battle, the highlight of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, naturally drew attention from countless powerhouses across various divisions.


    From the high and mighty Archimmortals to the High Immortals and Earth Immortals of various divisions, and even numerous Void Refiner and Amethyst Cradle cultivators��all watched the trial intently.


    When it came to true geniuses like the Bloodforge Seeds, immortal cultivators (those below the Archimmortal phase) had no right to witness the participants'' battles directly. This applied to High Immortal Wu Tian as well. All they could see was the constantly shifting Blood Devil Token rankings.


    "Wu Yuan is quite ruthless!"


    "He entered the top thousand on the ranking right from the start, and his Blood Devil Token count is consistently on the rise. He''s overwhelmingly strong."


    "It''s a shame we can''t witness his battles firsthand." A sea of immortal cultivators had gathered in the Redmoon Division��s observation space in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    "Haha, I was the one who discovered Wu Yuan," Protectorate Xiong Yuan boasted loudly, puffing out his chest with pride. "Look, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count has increased again!"


    Numerous Void Refiner and Elysian Field protectorates nodded, their eyes never leaving the ever-changing numbers on the leaderboard.


    It was truly astonishing. Every few breaths to a quarter of an hour, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count would change, a testament to his non-stop killing spree.


    "His rank has risen again. He''s now in the top three hundred!" someone eximed. A Blood Devil Token rank in the top three hundred was already a dazzling achievement, especially considering the billions of participants.


    "His Blood Devil Token count has surpassed five thousand."


    "And it''s only the third day," a Void Refiner protectorate marveled, unable to hide his admiration. "At this rate, umting ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens should be a breeze for him."


    ...


    In another observation space, High Immortal Wu Tian couldn''t wipe the smile off his face as he boasted to a group of High Immortals. "Look, Wu Yuan is indeed impressive."


    "At the start, not many strong participantsnded in the vicinity of the top-tier geniuses. Therefore, the geniuses umted fewer Blood Devil Tokens at first, and their ranks weren''t high."


    "Now, all of the top fifty are first-tier Bloodforge Seeds."


    "Even in such a scenario, Wu Yuan''s rank continues to soar," High Immortal Wu Tian grinned, his pride evident. "When the duels between geniuses begin, he could very well break into the top hundred."


    The surrounding High Immortals nodded, their expressions thoughtful. They understood the patterns of Bloodforge Battles well, having witnessed the event many times. The top-tier geniuses would gradually gain momentum, ranking higher and higher as the battle progressed until they left the other participants far behind.


    "At the very least, it seems likely that our Redmoon Division will produce a Bloodforge Marquis this time. That''s a good thing."


    "Bai Li is also doing well. She''s already entered the top ten thousand. With time, she may eventually break into the top thousand."


    "Shui Heng is a bitcking, unfortunately."


    These High Immortals of the Redmoon Division constantly checked the rankings, confirming the standings of the geniuses under their respectivemand.


    ...


    The Eternal Sun Immortal Realm was an extremely high grade voidrealm with coverage that spanned the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    With a special temple, a young man in white robes gazed intently at two enormous light screen projections before him.


    The first light screen disyed the rankings of the Silvermist Division''s Golden Core Bloodforge Battle.


    The other light screen monitored a single participant �C Wu Yuan.


    "Not bad at all," he murmured.


    ...


    In the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, within the observation space of the Silvermist Division, a group of Archimmortals watched the projections closely.


    "Some of the geniuses that ranked in the lower rungs are making a strong push!"


    "These first-tier Bloodforge Seeds are all performing admirably."


    "There aren''t any duels between geniuses yet, so these top-tier geniuses have yet to suffer losses."


    "The top-tier geniuses from the Silvermist Immortal Nation are also quite formidable." These Archimmortals casuallymented.


    A silver-haired woman turned to Astral Lord Yin He with a smile. "Yin He, your Wu Yuan is indeed fierce and ruthless.��


    "He''s not bad," Astral Lord Yin He replied, though he couldn''t hide the smile tugging at his lips.


    Clearly, he was very pleased with Wu Yuan''s performance.

 Chapter 464: Kill! Leaving A Trail Of Blood (2)

    <h4>Chapter 464: Kill! Leaving A Trail Of Blood (2)</h4>


    Time flowed on.


    In the blink of an eye, twelve days had passed��a mere fleeting moment for Archimmortals.


    "Hm?" The silver-haired woman suddenly perked up, "Yin He, that little fellow in your camp is about to encounter trouble. Look, judging by his path, he should meet them soon."


    "Indeed. A thousand immortal cultivators working in concert, with a makeshift array. Quite formidable," Astral Lord Yin He nodded gently.


    "You''re not worried?" The silver-haired woman''s surprise was evident in her voice. "Though Wu Yuan is formidable, he''s only cleared level thirteen of the Dark Star. Even a peerless genius who has cleared level fourteen would find it challenging to contend with a thousand immortal cultivators working together."


    Astral Lord Yin He chuckled, "Just watch. At least, it won��t pose any threat to his life."


    "Fair enough," the silver-haired woman conceded with a nod. "His lifebound spirit beast is a Teng Snake, renowned for its speed. He should be able to escape without issue."


    It wasn''t only the silver-haired woman and Astral Lord Yin He who noticed. With their mental processing speed, the Archimmortals in the observation space could effortlessly monitor over ten thousand light screens simultaneously. Naturally, they all noticed the imminent confrontation between Wu Yuan and the massive army of immortal cultivators.


    ...


    <i>In Bloodforge World 893, Silvermist Division.</i>


    Within a passage, halfway up a mountain peak stretching thousands of li high, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a massive boulder.


    <i>The opponents I��m encountering are getting progressively stronger. It''s bing harder to find immortal cultivators working alone.</i> Wu Yuan pondered quietly.


    Maintaining his Soul Force for extended periods,bined with continuousbat, was exceedingly taxing on the mind. Thus, whenever Wu Yuan sensed that more than a third of his mental energy had been depleted, he would pause to rest, ensuring he remained at peakbat readiness.


    Even when catching a rabbit, a lion uses all its strength.


    Though Wu Yuan was confident, considering himself among the top participants in the entire Bloodforge Battlefield, he dared not grow careless.


    <i>Twelve days of continuous battle have significantly advanced myprehension of the Celestial Body Dao,</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>Indeed, real-worldbat is the best teacher. </i>


    Each time one engaged in real-worldbat and survived, the memories and scars from each battle were permanently etched into one''s mind��an experience that voidrealm duels could never replicate.


    At the very least, Wu Yuan had seen tremendous progress in his mastery of the Celestial Body Dao over thest twelve days.


    But while the grind of life-or-death battles could unlock a person''s potential, most would eventually sumb to it.


    The path to triumph is paved with the bodies of the fallen. Only a few would survive to the end. Strength and luck were both essential.


    <i>Blood Devil Tokens. </i>With a thought, Wu Yuan checked his Blood Devil Token ranking within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm:


    Blood Devil Tokens: 10223


    Rank: 189


    <i>I''ve in over three thousand immortal cultivators, yet still rank in the hundreds?</i>


    Such relentless bloodshed had cloaked him in an aura of malevolence.


    To kill one is a crime!


    To kill ten thousand makes one a hero!


    To ughter nine million, that is to be a hero among heroes.


    <i>These immortal cultivators all died by my hands.</i> Wu Yuan reflected. <i>In a worldlet, a Golden Core cultivator could be considered a great expert. Yet here, they fall like weeds.</i>


    Such was the harsh reality of the immortal path.


    Golden Core phase? Amethyst Cradle phase? Sessive generations and billions of lives were but the small price the Bloodforge Devil Hall paid to raise the strong.


    <i>Blood mist.</i> His soul phantom residing in his upper dantian lobe gazed up at the towering ck pagoda.


    After ughtering thousands of immortal cultivators, an unimaginably dense quantity of blood mist swirled around the ck pagoda, emanating a chilling ck light.


    <i>Still not at the limit?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered.


    Since stepping into the Spiritual Body phase, the blood mist had never reached saturation due to ack of opponents at the same phase as him. Even the battle with the Huoyan Sect''s army resulted in the deaths of only a few dozen Golden Core cultivators.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing the distance.


    The Bloodforge World was as bright as day. There were no obstructions, allowing Golden Core and Spiritual Body cultivators to see thousands of li into the distance.


    Even observing a scene tens of thousands of li away posed little difficulty for them.


    As for Wu Yuan? His physique and soul had reached the threshold of the Shambh phase, allowing him to see even further and with greater rity.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Over a thousand immortal cultivators had formed arge array hundreds of li in width. Shrouded in a subtle glow, they advanced boldly, making no effort to conceal themselves, radiating sheer arrogance.


    <i>So they think their numbers make them invincible? </i>Wu Yuan stood up, a cold glint in his eyes. <i>Over a thousand?</i>


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Without hesitation, Wu Yuan took to the skies, his wings ring as he soared, heading straight for the massive group of immortal cultivators.


    Within the Bloodforge Battlefield, Wu Yuan constantly maintained his Beast Fusion state, his speed reaching about two hundred li per second.


    "Someone''sing."


    "He��s fast, heading right for us."


    "Who is he?" Instantly, someone in the group spotted Wu Yuan, raising the rm.


    Everyone turned to look, their speed not faltering in the slightest.


    "Kill! It��s a second-tier Bloodforge Seed.�� When Wu Yuan was about six hundred li away, they could sense his aura.


    ��A mere second-tier Bloodforge Seed dares act so conceitedly?��


    ��Kill him!��


    ��Yes, let��s kill him and show these so-called geniuses that it��s a fatal mistake to look down on us.�� Many of the participants began to shout.


    This group was mostly made up of ordinary participants. It was first formed when a few small teams joined forces, but as their numbers grew over time, so did their confidence.


    In their view, even if their opponent was a genius, few could withstand thebined assault of over a thousand Golden Core cultivators.


    ��Everyone, heed mymand. Do not leave the range of therge array. Form smaller arrays and attack!�� The man at the forefront, dressed in ck robes, issued an order. He was themander of this force and also its strongest member.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Golden Core cultivators couldmunicate at lightning speed. In a blink, over a thousand immortal cultivators rapidly split up and assembled nine arrays that took the form of massive beasts. All of them were covered in a purple luminescent glow.


    The nine beasts were spaced a hundred li apart, connected by a faint, intangible link, forming an even stronger array.


    ��Aaaawooo~��


    ��Kill!�� Six of the beasts, some resembling rocs, some like divine dragons, and others like ck tortoises, glowed as they charged toward Wu Yuan from various directions. The remaining three beasts took a rear position,unching abined soul attack.


    <i>No matter how peerless a genius you are, how strong can your soul be? Each array is formed by over a hundred immortal cultivators, and theirbined soul attack is more terrifying than that of a typical Amethyst Cradle cultivator. </i>The ck-robed leader was filled with confidence.


    <i>Buzz~</i>


    <i>Whoosh~</i>


    <i>Boom~ </i>The three soul attacks instantly invaded Wu Yuan��s upper dantian lobe from a thousand li away.


    But how strong was Wu Yuan��s soul? Furthermore, he cultivated ��Sword Soul Sourcelight��. He withstood all the attacks, only trembling slightly.


    <i>Soul attack?</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes turned icy. Of all things, he feared soul attacks the least.


    Even if he encountered an overwhelmingly powerful soul attack, he had the ck pagoda as his final defense.


    ��Not good.��


    ��He endured it?��


    ��He��s unharmed?�� The three beasts that hadunched the soul attack all paled, sensing that something was amiss.


    This opponent��s soul was so formidable, yet he dared to charge right at them��could he possibly be weak?


    <i>Let''s do this.</i> Wu Yuan confronted the first enemy, a beast resembling a roc. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full power.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan transformed into a hundred-zhang tall giant with four arms, holding a saber in each hand.


    The four sabers were all third-grade spirit weapons, meticulously selected by Wu Yuan from his spoils of war during thest ten days of relentless ughter. Out of all the loot he had obtained, these were the mostpatible weapons for him.


    ��Starsunder!�� With a single swing, he executed the first move of the Starsunder Saber Codex, the most fundamental yet the single most powerful one in terms of burst power and prability.


    <i>Swish!</i> The de ray tore through the sky, resonating with the fluctuations of the Celestial Body Dao, its speed and power escting to terrifying levels.


    ��Roar!�� The roc wed fiercely at Wu Yuan, the attack sharp and deadly.


    <i>Rip!</i> In a single exchange, the head of the colossal roc was shed off its body, the two halves falling to the ground, the residual force from the de ray annihted dozens of Golden Core cultivators within the array.


    ��Ah!��


    ��Run!��


    ��It��s a first-tier Bloodforge Seed.�� The surviving Golden Core cultivators from the roc array fled in panic as dread gnawed at their insides. It had only taken two strikes��one to parry the w and another to prate the roc��s most vulnerable point, tearing through their array.


    ��Kill!�� Wu Yuan swung his four sabers.


    <i>Boom!</i> de rays shed through the sky, slicing apart two more colossal beasts, the arrays copsing with a thunderous crash.


    ��Your arrays are too weak,�� Wu Yuan snorted, rampaging through the army of immortal cultivators.


    A massacre ensued!


    As each de ray lit up, Wu Yuan��s Blood Devil Token count skyrocketed, and blood mist poured out of the ck pagoda.


    ��Run!��


    ��Quick, run, it��s a first-tier Bloodforge Seed.��


    ��It��s the type with a chance to break into the top hundred.��


    ��We can��t block him.�� The once imposing army of immortal cultivators quickly disbanded, fleeing in all directions.


    <i>Too strong! The power of that saber technique...</i> The ck-robed youth at the forefront stared fixedly at Wu Yuan, his blood running cold with terror.


    <i>Saber technique, wings... It��s Wu Yuan. But didn��t they say he only cleared level thirteen of the Dark Star?</i>


    <i>Such power, he��s definitely capable of clearing level fourteen.</i>


    <i>Run!</i> The ck-robed youth began to flee for his life.


    ��Did I say you could leave?�� Wu Yuan brandished his sabers. With a p of his wings, his speed soared to its peak, shooting straight toward the ck-robed youth.


    Wu Yuan had long noticed that this army was led by the ck-robed youth, whose vital aura was noticeably stronger than the others.


    ...


    ��So strong.��


    ��He could break into the top hundred.��


    ��He has the strength to clear the level fourteen of the Dark Star. Wu Yuan is truly formidable. His talent is terrifying.�� Within the observation space of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, thousands of Archimmortals from the Silvermist Division all took notice of Wu Yuan��s eruption of power.


    Though a total of eight hundred cultivators would earn the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis, their strengths varied greatly.


    Could the cultivator ranked 2nd and the one ranked 800th truly be considered equals?


    Level fourteen of the Dark Star was the threshold. Ranking in the top hundred of the first stage was a benchmark.


    Generally, the few dozen first-tier Bloodforge Seeds from the Silvermist Division,bined with the top-tier geniuses among the hundreds of thousands of participants from the immortal nation, made up over a hundred top-tier geniuses, all capable of clearing level fourteen of the Dark Star.


    Wu Yuan had previously drawn attention mainly because of his young age. But when it came to his actual strength, few Archimmortals believed Wu Yuan could break into the top hundred rank during the first stage.


    Most only estimated that he might break into the top hundred in the second stage given his talent.


    But with this outburst, Wu Yuan was immediately acknowledged by all Archimmortals as someone belonging to the highest tier of strength among the participants.


    <i>Excellent.</i> Astral Lord Yin He broke into a smile. <i>So he was hiding his strength all along? This rascal.</i>


    <i>With such strength,bined with his talent, could it be... he truly has a chance at iming the Bloodforge King title?</i>

 Chapter 465: The Strongest Golden Core Cultivator (1)

    <h4>Chapter 465: The Strongest Golden Core Cultivator (1)</h4>


    <i>Within the Bloodforge World 893, the Silvermist Division.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s wings fluttered slightly, his speed skyrocketing as he swiftly closed in on the ck-robed youth.


    Despite the youth��s frantic attempt to escape, the distance between them was now less than a hundred li.


    <i>Damn it! Why does Wu Yuan have to chase me of all people? </i>The ck-robed youth was filled with denial and anger. <i>I only have one life, and there are only a few peerless geniuses who can clear level fourteen of the Dark Star.</i>


    <i>There are probably fewer than two hundred of such individuals throughout the entire Bloodforge Battlefield, so why did I have to encounter him?</i> The ck-robed youth gritted his teeth.


    Despair welled up in his heart.


    <i>No! I must not die, absolutely not.</i>


    <i>I must survive the blood devil trial, enter the second stage, and seize the ultimate opportunity. I haven''t be an immortal yet. </i>In the face of death, numerous thoughts shed through the ck-robed youth''s mind.


    "Wu Yuan! Stop!" In a panic, the ck-robed youth urgently transmitted his voice through essentia. "Spare my life. My array and equipment forging skills are top-notch. I can help you craft extremely powerful arrays."


    "As long as you let me live, I will help you and follow you from now on."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan continued to close the distance rapidly.


    "Equipment forging? Arrays?" Wu Yuan smiled sardonically, responding with his Soul Force.


    "Yes!" The ck-robed youth felt a glimmer of hope upon hearing Wu Yuan''s response and quickly added, "Your strength is unparalleled, but you may not be the absolute strongest person in the entire Bloodforge Battlefield, right? If you encounter other terrifying beings like Ao Qi or Dongfang Hongguang, you will still be in great danger."


    "But with me, as long as you can gather enough precious materials and grant me sufficient time, I can craft high-grade arrays. Then, you canmand other participants, massively enhancing your power." The ck-robed youth hurriedly pleaded his case.


    Yet, his thoughts were a whirlwind of calctions.


    Craft arrays? No! He merely wanted to buy time and find the right opportunity to escape.


    "What you say sounds so appealing, so enticing," Wu Yuan revealed a smile, showing a row of gleaming white teeth. "But unfortunately,pared to the powerful array you speak of, I am more interested in your Blood Devil Tokens. After all, you��re an immortal nation participant!"


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s wings fluttered slightly and he elerated to a terrifying speed. Swinging his four arms, the four sabers cut through the sky.


    "No!" The youth''s expression changed drastically. Countless green qi streams shot out from his back, followed by a wave of silver needles.


    Countless silver needles swarmed Wu Yuan��s towering figure, each one terrifyingly sharp.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> A frenzy of de rays shed, instantly scattering the overwhelming silver needles. Only a few pierced through, striking Wu Yuan.


    <i>nk~ nk~ nk~</i> However, they were like ordinary silver needles stabbing into reinforced steel tes, unable to prate his skin.


    "What?" The youth''s eyes widened in horror.


    <i>Boom!</i> By now, Wu Yuan had already arrived before him. Four heart-stopping de rays descended, one heavy and vast, one swift as lightning, and one bizarre and unpredictable. [1] This was Wu Yuan at full power.


    <i>Whizz~ Whizz~</i> Havingprehended a Lesser Law under the Wind Dao to the True Intent stage, the ck-robed youth��s movements were agile and unpredictable. However, he only managed to dodge twice. In terms of absolute speed, he was far too slowpared to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A de ray swept past, slicing through his neck. Even though his neck was protected by spirit battle armor, the impact still turned his body into a bloody mist.


    Up till the moment of his death, the ck-robed youth was filled with resentment. He knew that dying was a possibility, but never thought it would happen to him this soon.


    <i>1162 Blood Devil Tokens added. </i>Wu Yuan observed the changes in his ranking within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    It was a very impressive number, hisrgest addition of Blood Devil Tokens in thest twelve days.


    <i>He had 1006 Blood Devil Tokens initially? That''s pretty good. These immortal nation participants are all quite powerful.</i> A thought shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>To withstand a few moves from me, his strength must have bordered on the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i>


    Ordinary ninth-stage Golden Core cultivators couldn''t withstand even one move from Wu Yuan.


    With such a strong immortal root, Wu Yuan could almost be considered on par with Shambh cultivators. Coupled with his deep Daoprehension, he was rtively strong even among Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    If dozens or hundreds of these Golden Core cultivators utilized powerful arrays like the Heavenly Fire Array, they might be able to put up some resistance against Wu Yuan.


    But if they were scattered? Facing Wu Yuan, they were merelymbs to the ughter.


    <i>I wonder which first-rate sect this genius hailed from.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Such a genius would be ranked in the top tier of any first-rate sect in the immortal continent. Yet he died here without a sound. This was the cruelty of the Bloodforge Battle, where each participant walked on the edge of life and death.


    And over the past ten days, one immortal cultivator after another fell, as if constantly reminding Wu Yuan of the harshness of the immortal path. This Bloodforge Battle required him to exercise even more caution than usual.


    With Wu Yuan''s mental processing speed, these thoughts arose and vanished near instantly. He waved his hand, collecting the numerous artifacts dropped by the ck-robed youth. He had yet to determine the usefulness of these artifacts, so Wu Yuan decided to take them with him for now.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan pped his wings, transforming into a stream of light as he went on to ughter the other immortal cultivators fleeing in all directions.


    Over a thousand immortal cultivators had joined this army. In the end, under Wu Yuan''s relentless pursuit, the group of nearly 1200 immortal cultivators was reduced to half their original number.


    Simrly, the news that Wu Yuan possessed the strength of a first-tier Bloodforge Seed quickly spread across this region of the Bloodforge Battlefield. It was the ck-robed youth who had spread this news before his demise.


    Wu Yuan was unaware of this. But even if he knew, he couldn��t care less.


    <i>I can gather a significant amount of blood mist by killing ordinary participants, but the rate at which I''m umting Blood Devil Tokens is slowing down. How long will it take to reach a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens? Or even a million? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes held a trace of battle intent. <i>I need to hunt geniuses.</i>


    <i>If I hunt Bloodforge Seeds and immortal nation participants, each kill will earn me a thousand Blood Devil Tokens.</i>


    Wu Yuan decided to speed up his pace, no longer taking the time to search one area thoroughly, but instead flying linearly and scouting other regions.


    This was very bold behavior. Without absolute confidence in one��s strength, most participants would never dare to attempt this. But it just so happened that Wu Yuan had full confidence in his own strength.


    As the days passed, Wu Yuan began to encounter other second-tier Bloodforge Seeds and immortal nation participants. Once they were within six hundred li, they could sense each other''s presence. Therefore, whenever Wu Yuan encountered them, he would unleash his full power.


    One powerful participant after another fell under his four sabers, causing his Blood Devil Token count to truly skyrocket. Every defeat of a Bloodforge Seed or immortal nation participant yielded at least a thousand Blood Devil Tokens.


    ...


    "Too ruthless!"


    "Wu Yuan��s ranking has never stopped climbing. Each time the rankings are refreshed, his Blood Devil Token count increases by over a thousand. He must have defeated other geniuses."


    "He''s quite ruthless."


    "The disciples I sent have already been killed. I wonder if Wu Yuan was behind it."


    In the Silvermist Immortal Voidrealm, there was a special, vast, observation space. Earth Immortals, High Immortals, and even Archimmortals from various factions of the Silvermist Immortal Nation coulde here to observe the trial.


    Unlike the powerhouses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, those from the Silvermist Immortal Nation could only see the Blood Devil Token rankings, using it to determine if the geniuses they sent to the Bloodforge Battlefield had fallen.


    As a genius already attracting considerable attention, Wu Yuan drew even more notice as his Blood Devil Token ranking continued to rise.


    "He has broken into the top hundred."


    "Truly impressive! He broke into the top hundred only slightly after Ao Qi. It''s only been over twenty days."


    Numerous immortals from the Silvermist Immortal Nation all took note of the name ��Wu Yuan��.


    They all believed that if Wu Yuan didn''t fall in the future, he was destined to be a super powerhouse of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s Silvermist Division.


    ...


    ��He��s really going wild.��


    ��How bloodthirsty.��


    ��Already breaking into the top hundred. That was swift, much faster than I anticipated.��<i> </i>High Immortal Wu Tian��s eyes were wide as he stared at the leaderboard.


    Then, he grinned andughed. ��Haha, excellent. This is fantastic news."


    "Wu Yuan''s true power likely exceeds level thirteen of the Dark Star."


    "Indeed, his Blood Devil Token count is increasing at a ridiculous speed, not at all like a genius ranked in the hundreds of the Dark Star." Some High Immortals questioned.


    They could not watch the battle footage. However, given how often Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count changed, they were able to deduce that he was far stronger than what he had previously shown.


    Without such strength, how could he kill so many geniuses?


    1. Idk about thest one lol. ?

 Chapter 466: The Strongest Golden Core Cultivator (2)

    <h4>Chapter 466: The Strongest Golden Core Cultivator (2)</h4>


    <i>Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, Silvermist ne, Archimmortal observation space. </i>


    "In terms of strength, Wu Yuan should be able to rank around the 100th ce. For his age, this is already an iparably dazzling aplishment."


    "Yes, indeed."


    "He''s very strong. Hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is deep, though not yet at the seventh-level Domain stage. He can''tpete with the top-tier geniuses." The Archimmortals conversed, each sharing their opinions.


    The breadth of their knowledge and experience was exceedingly vast.


    Youngsters like Wu Yuan, Ao Qi, or Bai Li who were at the Golden Core or Spiritual Body phases generally only reached the True Intent stage (Lesser Law), even with high Daoprehension aptitude.


    Almost no secrets could escape their eyes.


    "In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan is only slightly stronger than other geniuses whopleted level thirteen of the Dark Star. What truly makes him formidable is his immortal root and his spirit beast."


    "His ether arts are also quite remarkable."


    "Wu Yuan is abat-type genius," many of the Astral Lords sitting at the front concluded.


    Daoprehension was crucial. But many factors determined one��s overall strength, including immortal root,bat awareness, Daoprehension, and artifacts.


    Undoubtedly, aside from Daoprehension, Wu Yuan excelled in all other aspects, ranking among the very top in the entire Bloodforge Battlefield.


    In reality, these observing Archimmortals were unaware that Wu Yuan was alsoprehending the Longevity Dao. Thus in terms of Daoprehension, he would also rank among the very top.


    Time flowed by.


    In the blink of an eye, more than a month went by since the Bloodforge Battle began.


    Within a passageway of the Bloodforge Battlefield, tens of thousands of li wide, was an unremarkable cave. The cave further branched off into several winding passageways only a few dozen li wide, leading to the unknown.


    Wu Yuan was seated in lotus position here, quietly meditating.


    His Soul Force spread out in a radius over three hundred li, and he remained constantly on high vignce.


    <i>How tiring.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    It was truly exhausting! Such unending, strenuous life-or-death battles would wear anyone down, not just physically and mentally, but spiritually. It was the weariness of ughter, of one life after another perishing before his eyes.


    <i>In less than two months, I''ve killed nearly ten thousand immortal cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes lightly.


    This sort of merciless carnage was something he had never experienced before, whether in his past life or present one.


    Wu Yuan had never cowered in the face of bloodshed. From the day he single-handedly crushed the Vicious Tiger Gang in Li City, his heart had hardened, turning as cold as ice.


    Upon embarking on the path of cultivation, killing became routine. Along this journey, ughter wasmonce. Wu Yuan didn''t relish killing, but when he had to strike, he was never one to hold back.


    However, the Bloodforge Battle still deeply impacted Wu Yuan''s spirit.


    ��A voidrealm duel is iparable to taking a real life.�� Wu Yuan murmured to himself, "Even if a voidrealm duel feels real, deep down, I know it''s fake. Because it''s fake, I don''t think too much into it."


    "The Bloodforge Battle, however, involves killing in the true sense of the word. Even someone as powerful as me, who doesn��t facing life-threatening dangers, can still get shaken by witnessing death repeatedly." Wu Yuan''s spirit underwent many changes.


    He felt as though he was experiencing a form of baptism.


    "Perhaps this is one of the reasons the Bloodforge Devil Hall holds these cruel Bloodforge Battles," Wu Yuan mused. "No wonder Protectorate Xiong Yuan once said that immortal cultivators from the immortal nation are cowardly. He wasn''t referring to strength, but rather the spirit."


    Wu Yuan thought of Zhuo Haiyue. She had survived the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle and returned, rising to great heights and bing a disciple under an Astral Monarch.


    After a long period of contemtion, Wu Yuan vaguely understood.


    The Asura Devil path of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was neither about killing for the sake of killing, nor finding joy in ughter. Those who did so were madmen and devils.


    What was Asura? It was the understanding of one''s Dao Heart and the unwavering pursuit of one''s goals, undisturbed by external circumstances.


    If the goal is to save a world, then save that world.


    If the goal is to destroy heaven and earth, then even if the heavens copse and endless souls perish, one��s resolve still remains unshaken!


    This was Asura!


    "Where does my Dao Heart lie?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ponder.


    Protecting his family? Guarding his n? Perhaps. But Wu Yuan knew that these were just a part of his life''s goals, not the end goal.


    A vague insight dawned on him; though not fully formed, he knew what to do now.


    "I dislike ughter. If given a choice, I wouldn��t kill." Wu Yuan''s eyes turned cold, "But I shouldn''t disdain ughter."


    "ughter is just a means to an end. Don''t let the means affect the heart; stay true to my path." Wu Yuan resolved.


    With this rity, any lingering doubts dissipatedpletely.


    "Current ranking." As he contemted, Wu Yuan checked the Blood Devil Token ranking in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    Blood Devil Tokens: 96542


    Rank: 78


    Since his meteoric rise into the top hundred, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count continued increasing rapidly, but the rise in ranking slowed. Sometimes, it even dropped.


    Clearly, it wasn��t just Wu Yuan wreaking havoc in the Bloodforge Battlefield; those top-tier geniuses in the top two hundred were also on mass killing sprees.


    Of course, the universally acknowledged strongest participant, Ao Qi, had already broken into the top ten and was climbing toward first ce at astonishing speed.


    <i>After nearly two months, aside from a few groups consisting of a hundred to a thousand immortal cultivators, most of the weaker participants are likely dead.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    <i>Only one out of ten, perhaps only one out of a hundred have managed to survive.</i>


    Initially, he could easily locate other participants after spreading out his Soul Force. But now? He once went an entire hour without finding another participant.


    <i>On one hand, it��s getting harder to find participants and those still alive are generally stronger.</i> <i>On the other hand, the remaining participants each hold far more Blood Devil Tokens.</i>


    Overall, the speed of which he umted Blood Devil Tokens wouldn''t differ by much.


    As Wu Yuan was contemting, a powerful wave of Soul Force swept over him, instantly colliding with Wu Yuan''s Soul Force.


    <i>Mm?</i> Wu Yuan reacted without hesitation, striking right away.


    <i>Boom~</i> Two Soul Forces shed, but Wu Yuan''s Soul Force barely had the upper hand.


    <i>Yang Soul?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed, a hint of wariness rising.


    Over these months, he had encountered tens of thousands of immortal cultivators, but this was his first encounter with a Yang Soul-level participant.


    Before Wu Yuan could ponder further, an ethereal golden divine sword ripped through the air at terrifying speed, zipping through the winding cavern passage towards him.


    Its speed was beyond Wu Yuan''s expectations.


    The fierceness of the golden sword and sharpness of the sword qi caused Wu Yuan''s heart to tremble involuntarily.


    In an instant, two words emerged in his mind��sword domain.


    This was the Metal Sword Domain. [1]


    "Begone!" Wu Yuan roared furiously.


    With a mentalmand, his body transformed, reaching a height of a hundred zhangs with four arms.


    Ether Art: Eldritch Form!


    Ether Art: Four Armed Form!


    Four sabers appeared simultaneously in his broad hands. de rays interwove, instantly forming a near-perfect defense.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! ng!</i>


    The golden divine sword struck four times in session, each blownding heavily, but Wu Yuan''s de rays grew faster with each strike. Paired with the Celestial Body Domain spreading around him, he managed to block them.


    At the final strike, an immense force was transmitted through the saber, causing Wu Yuan to stagger backward uncontrobly, crashing heavily into the cave wall.


    The incredibly sturdy wall now bore huge cracks.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Though the momentum of the golden divine sword was spent, the array showed no signs of crumbling. It withdrew.


    In this direct confrontation, Wu Yuan had the lower hand.


    <i>What a strong Soul Force, what a terrifying divine sword.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sharpened, his mind now on high alert.


    This was undoubtedly the most fearsome opponent he had encountered since entering the Bloodforge World.


    No! Wu Yuan had never faced a stronger Golden Core cultivator in his entire cultivation journey. This was the first time meeting someone who could suppress his body refiner self in closebat!


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s Soul Force erupted instantly, covering a vast area.


    A momentter, he sensed a young man in white robes hovering in the air three hundred li away. Everything in a thousand li radius around him was enveloped by the Metal Sword Domain.


    <i>It''s him!</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    From the opponent''s strength and attire, he had already deduced his identity: Silvermist Immortal Nation��Gao Yun!


    This was a peerless genius who had conquered level fifty-nine of the two-star tower.


    In terms of overall strength, he surpassed Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    1. More specifically, a Lesser Law under the Greater Law of Metal. But this is how the author termed it, so I left it as such. ?

 Chapter 467: Eighth Place! Changes In The Black Pagoda! (1)

    <h4>Chapter 467: Eighth ce! Changes In The ck Pagoda! (1)</h4>


    Among the hundreds of thousands of geniuses participating from the Silvermist Immortal Nation, some stood out brilliantly.


    Peerless geniuses who had conquered level sixty of the one-star tower or level fifty of the two-star tower were specially marked, their information coted and sent to various divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Wu Yuan had also perused the list of top-tier geniuses from the immortal nation, identifying over forty who posed a threat to him.


    The Seven Star Luminaries Tower categorized challengers by age, not cultivation phase.


    Those under a hundred years old were only able to challenge the one-star tower.


    Those between 100 and 299 years old were only allowed to challenge the two-star tower.


    This was fundamentally different from the Dark Star, which categorized challengers by cultivation phase.


    The overall difficulty of the two-star tower was a notch higher than the one-star tower; the difficulty of level sixty of the one-star tower was equivalent to level fifty of the two-star tower.


    Generally speaking, anyone who could conquer these levels had achieved a Daoprehension at or above the seventh-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law),parable to the Daoprehension level of a Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivator.


    For the peerless geniuses from the Bloodforge Devil Hall, those who could clear level fourteen of the Dark Star typically had a simr level of Daoprehension.


    <i>This Gao Yun.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes were apprehensive.


    <i>Though he only has a third-degree immortal root, he managed to reach level fifty-nine of the two-star tower. Even if it was due to a mighty soul, it still indicates that he has certainly reached the ninth-level True Intent stage of a Law under the Metal Dao, nearing the Dao Field stage.</i>


    At the ninth-level True Intent stage, one��s Daoprehension could rival Void Refiner or Elysian Field powerhouses.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s intelligence, Gao Yun onlyprehended the Searing Aurum Dao, a Lesser Law. However, a Lesser Law wasn��t necessarily weaker than an Intermediate Law; the determining factor was how deeply oneprehended that Dao.


    Transitioning from the True Intent to the Dao Field stage was an evolution. Even for peerless geniuses, this step was immensely challenging, which was why High Immortal Nan Yin previously mentioned that the probability of geniuses at the Dao Field stage appearing in the Bloodforge Battle was extremely low.


    Once one grasped a Dao Field, it signified that as long as one''s immortal root wasn''t among the bottom three degrees, one could smoothly cultivate to the Divided Soul or Dharma Body phase, earning the title of immortal.


    <i>Moreover, his soul is likely approaching the peak of the Yang Soul level, no weaker than ate-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator. </i>The more Wu Yuan pondered, the more wary he became.


    <i>A powerful soul provides an overwhelming advantage for qi refiners, especially in the early stages.</i>


    With his overall strength, he should be able to conquer level sixteen of the Dark Star.


    <i>Within the Bloodforge Battlefield, Gao Yun is publicly acknowledged as the strongest Golden Core cultivator.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind churned.


    Perhaps there were stronger contenders hiding in the shadows, but as far as what the public knew, Gao Yun was the strongest. Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self would likely be defeated in a face-off against him.


    In reality, this wasn''t the first time Wu Yuan had encountered a genius with a powerful soul.


    Indeed, constant Visualization of the ck pagoda strengthened Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s soul. However, after discussions with his master and Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan understood that the ck pagoda might be a great opportunity, but it was far from invincible. In this vast, boundless heaven and earth, there could be opportunities far greater than the ck pagoda.


    Consider Zhuo Haiyue, whose name was obscure in her early years but experienced a meteoric rise after her hundredth birthday. In just a few decades, she became a once-in-ten-thousand-year genius of the immortal nation. How could there not be any significant opportunities involved in her ascension?


    In this vast heaven and earth, peerless geniuses who rose to prominence all had their fortuitous encounters; it was just that others remained unaware of their experiences.


    It was just like Wu Yuan��s two true selves. Apart from those he trusted, who knew he possessed another true self?


    <i>Even within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, there exist treasures like the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead; what about other powerful factions?</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>Upon learning that my qi refiner self reached the Soul Will level, my master was astonished but not incredulous.</i>


    Why? Because history had seen the appearance of geniuses ten, hundred, or even ten thousand times more monstrous than Wu Yuan.


    For example, those who could conquer level one hundred of the one-star tower before the age of a hundred! Or those with the legendary innate first-degree immortal roots or first-degree eldritch roots.


    The more Wu Yuan''s horizons expanded, the more he realized his own insignificance, and his awe at the enormity of heaven and earth grew.


    <i>In the immortal world, my talent might be considered top-notch of this era. But in the grand scope of time and space, it��s nothing.</i> A spark of battle intent glinted in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>But at least, this Gao Yun''s talent and fortune should not surpass mine. It��s just that he��s been cultivating for longer.</i>


    All these thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind in an instant.


    <i>Boom!</i> With a p of his wings, Wu Yuan shot out of the cave in a sh, simultaneously applying the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.


    As Wu Yuan ascended into the sky, he saw over a thousand golden flying swords spread out over a thousand li, forming a Metal Sword Domain. The pressure of this sword domain limited Wu Yuan''s Celestial Body Domain to merely a li in radius. The difference was astounding!


    However, Wu Yuan wasn��t surprised; qi refiners held an absolute advantage in domains due to their mana. Moreover, the opponent''s Daoprehension was far superior to his, given that he only harnessed the Celestial Body Dao.


    The two top-tier geniuses stood two hundred li apart, facing each other.


    "Seeing that you can withstand my attack; your strength is impressive indeed." Gao Yun''s voice carried a hint of coldness. "But your Daoprehension hasn''t reached the True Intent stage... You must be Wu Yuan!"


    Top-tier geniuses were limited in number, and aside from a few asional surprises, their information was publicly known.


    Wu Yuan''s hallmark traits were his sabers and Teng Snake wings in the Beast Fusion state. As for appearance and robes? Those could change and were unimportant.


    "Gao Yun, others say your strength rivals that of Ao Qi, but I see you''re still far from it." Wu Yuan''s voice was icy. "Moreover, you''ve disturbed my rest."


    "Rest? Wu Yuan, this is the Bloodforge Battlefield." Gao Yun shook his head slightly. "ording to the intelligence, you''ve cleared level thirteen of the Dark Star, but from your saber technique just now, you can most likely surpass level fourteen."


    "You can only consider yourself unlucky that you��ve encountered me. Talent is just talent; only true strength is real."


    "From your Blood Devil Token rank, it appears you haven''t used up your retry yet." A glint of frost appeared in Gao Yun''s eyes. "I shall help you on your way."


    Immortal nation participants had only one chance. Death meant the end!


    But Bloodforge Seeds of the Bloodforge Devil Hall had one retry opportunity; even if they were defeated, they would be teleported away to safety. However, they had to start afresh with their Blood Devil Token count at zero.


    This was how the Bloodforge Devil Hall protected its genius disciples. However, if they were still killed despite the extra life, it indicated that theycked strength or luck.


    If you died, you died. Even a genius like Wu Yuan was no exception to this. Such were the rules of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    "Retry?" Wu Yuan licked his lips, a crazed gleam in his eyes. "I''ll send you on your way first."


    <i>Boom!</i> His wings fluttering slightly, Wu Yuan lunged straight towards Gao Yun, tearing throughyers of the sword domain in a sh.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Behind Gao Yun, a pair of wings also appeared, and he retreated swiftly with his movement techniques.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Of the 729 flying swords spread across the air, eighty-one swiftly assembled into the form of a golden divine sword.


    "Go!" Gao Yun flicked his finger.


    The golden divine sword responded immediately, shooting towards Wu Yuan.


    A sword domain mimicked a Dao Field. One could manipte any eighty-one flying swords within a Thousand Swords Array to form a divine sword, its power rivaling the full force of a Thousand Swords Array.


    If it were a Hundred Swords Array, then any Nine Swords Array within the sword domain could emte the power of the Hundred Swords Array.


    The golden divine sword whistled through the air.


    <i>What a sharp sword intent.</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished. <i>No wonder the Metal Dao is famed for its attack power. It��s truly extraordinary.</i>


    Each Greater Law had its specialty. The Earth Dao excelled in defense; the Wood Dao in recovery; the Fire Dao in explosive attacks, ideal forrge-scale offense. The Metal Dao had the highest piercing attack, excelling in single-target fights.


    <i>This Gao Yun has mastered his control over flying swords to perfection, truly agile.</i> Thoughts flickered through Wu Yuan''s mind, yet he didn''t hesitate.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> With a slight tremor of his wings, he activated his Four-Armed Form, wielding a saber in each hand. A myriad of de rays filled the sky, intercepting the lightning-fast golden divine sword.


    <i>ng! ng~ ng!</i> Saber and sword collided repeatedly.


    The divine sword was swift and versatile, striking as quickly as lightning.


    Wu Yuan stepped back under the relentless assault of the golden divine sword, yet his stance remained unyielding like a towering mountain, and his saber defense showed no ws.


    His saber was like a mountain, each strike swift as the wind! Through sheer tenacity, he managed to exhaust the power contained within the golden divine sword, forcing it to retreat.


    <i>Terrifying, his attacks are even stronger than my qi refiner self��s.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>However, if my qi refiner self goes all out on defense, I should be able to hold my ground easily.</i>


    His qi refiner self could unleash the Earth Dao and Wood Dao. Meanwhile, his body refiner self could only exhibit the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>What an impressive saber technique, and his strength?</i> Gao Yun also frowned slightly, analyzing Wu Yuan''s power through the divine sword.


    Wu Yuan had to exert tremendous effort just to block each strike. The muscles of other body refiners would have distorted under such repeated impact. Then, he would be able to break through their defenses easily and slice them apart. But Wu Yuan held his ground.


    ��You may block me once. But can you block me forever?�� Gao Yun''s eyes grew cold as he focused.


    Mana surged forth. Another eighty-one flying swords swiftly assembled into a golden divine sword, slicing through the sky towards Wu Yuan.


    ��Kill!�� Wu Yuan swung his four battle sabers, treading on air. Each footfall seemed to make the fabric of space tremble.


    Gao Yun��s form shed, and he dodged the attack.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>


    And so, the two sides shed again and again. Each collision of saber and sword seemed to rend heaven and earth asunder, terrifying shockwaves radiating in all directions.


    Wu Yuan repeatedly attempted to close the gap. Yet, the divine swords were able to form at any point within the sword domain, effortlessly blocking him each time.


    In every head-on sh, the fearsome golden divine sword managed to send Wu Yuan flying. It could be said that Gao Yun held the upper-hand in this duel, as if toying with Wu Yuan. Yet, no matter how agile the golden divine sword, it couldn''t break through Wu Yuan''s saber defense.


    In short, Gao Yun couldn��t turn his advantage into victory.


    <i>Attacks of the Metal Dao are indeed terrifying; his divine sword always follows the lead of his lifebound flying swords. </i>


    <i>Furthermore, Gao Yun is highly skilled in movement techniques. Even if I unleash the Longevity Dao, defeating him will prove difficult.</i> This was Wu Yuan��s first time meeting a top-tier genius in the Bloodforge Battlefield.


    His opponent was truly worthy of being called the strongest Golden Core cultivator.

 Chapter 468: Eighth Place! Changes In The Black Pagoda! (2)

    <h4>Chapter 468: Eighth ce! Changes In The ck Pagoda! (2)</h4>


    <i>His defenses are barely holding up against my repeated sword strikes. Logically, he should be heavily injured, spending vast amounts of vital ether to recover. He shouldn''t be able to sustain his defense for long.</i> Gao Yun also frowned. <i>Maintaining thisrge sword domain consumes an immense amount of mana on my end.</i>


    He had believed that defeating Wu Yuan would be a walk in the park, but reality proved otherwise.


    ��Gao Yun, both of us are at an impasse. There��s no point continuing. Farewell.�� Wu Yuan suddenly retreated.


    With the ether art Realm Crossing, his speed soared to a terrifying level. His wings tore throughyers of golden qi streams like dual sabers. In a blink, Wu Yuan nearly broke out of the sword domain.


    ��Trying to escape?�� Gao Yun''s face darkened as he sped up, his movements as swift as a phantom.


    With Wu Yuan suppressed by the sword domain, Gao Yun was not one bit slower than him.


    <i>Swish~</i> Another golden divine sword stabbed forward, forcing Wu Yuan to turn and parry with his saber once again.


    ��Gao Yun, stop wasting your efforts. You can''t defeat me.�� Wu Yuan��s voice resonated like a great bell, echoing through heaven and earth.


    Blood mist poured into his soul chamber in a frenzy, generating vital ether at astonishing speed.


    One had to understand that Wu Yuan��s soul chamber was already powerful due to his second-degree immortal root. With the support of the blood mist, coupled with the Longevity Dao, his ether recovery speed was ten times faster than ordinary body refiners, making him unafraid of attrition battles!


    Most importantly, the True Celestial Body was primarily a defense-type advanced ether art!


    Wu Yuan couldn��t harness the Longevity Dao for external moves. However, he integrated part of its profundities into the True Celestial Body, turning his physique as resilient as high-grade spirit equipment, nearly indestructible. This was why Wu Yuan could hold his ground so easily.


    At the moment, he only executed the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao in his saber techniques. If he integrated the profundities of the Longevity Dao? Wu Yuan��s defense would be truly wless.


    His confidence to traverse the battlefield with impunity stemmed from his belief in his invincible defense. Not even Gao Yun could injure him!


    ��Kill.�� Gao Yun remained calm, continuing to maintain the sword domain, repeatedly forming divine swords and striking Wu Yuan.


    After thousands of rounds of exchangessting nearly a quarter of an hour, Gao Yun finally gave up. The battle left a trail of destruction spanning tens of thousands of li.


    ��Haha, Gao Yun, we��ll settle this if we meet again at the ultimate opportunity challenge.�� Wu Yuan pped his wings, soaring skyward. Soon, he disappeared from Gao Yun��s sight.


    <i>This Wu Yuan is a formidable foe. </i>Gao Yun felt apprehensive. <i>But how do I defeat him? </i>


    He felt a headacheing on. Though his Daoprehension was deeper, his movement techniques superior, and his attacks stronger, he couldn��t defeat Wu Yuan.


    The waves of de rays each time Wu Yuan swung his four arms formed an imprable shell, just like a giant tortoise.


    <i>There��s only one Wu Yuan. I refuse to believe the other geniuses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall are as formidable as him.</i> Gao Yun flew off in another direction.


    In his mind, the threat Wu Yuan posed was second only to Ao Qi.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan and Gao Yun were both top-tier geniuses, the numerous factions monitoring the ranking were unable to watch their battle and remained unaware of the result.


    However, the Bloodforge Immortal Realm��s observation space was lively with discussion. As Archimmortals, they could observe any participant they wished. And indeed, this battle became the focal point of attention.


    One was the current number one genius of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s Silvermist Division, though young and not too powerful yet.


    The other was a famous peerless genius with a long cultivation history, acknowledged as the strongest Golden Core cultivator in the Bloodforge Battlefield.


    The oue of their sh defied the expectations of ny-nine percent of the spectating Archimmortals.


    ��Gao Yun was not holding back at all. His powerful sword domain was able to suppress Wu Yuanpletely, yet he couldn��t win?��


    ��Wu Yuan��s defense is simply absurd.��


    ��He rendered Gao Yun helpless.��


    ��In terms of attack power, Gao Yun is likely the strongest in the entire Bloodforge Battlefield.��


    ��If even he can��t defeat Wu Yuan, who can?�� Countless Archimmortals discussed the result of the battle, marveling at Wu Yuan��s strength.


    The Astral Lords sitting at the front were just as interested in the topic.


    ��Wu Yuan is this strong, yet he hasn''t cleared level fourteen? Yin He, you��ve hidden your cards well,�� Astral Lord Meng Jie smiled.


    ��Haha, he still has a long way to go before reaching Ao Qi��s level,�� Astral Lord Yin Heughed. ��Wu Yuan only trumps him in immortal root degree.��


    Whileughing, he exchanged nces with Astral Lord Chen Deng beside him. Both had a hint of puzzlement in their eyes.


    Wu Yuan had never disyed such heaven-defying defense in the past. It made him practically invincible among his peers.


    A strong offense enabled one to kill their enemies, but strong defense ensured one��s survival.


    ��Yin He, Wu Yuan��s second-degree immortal root is extraordinary. But ultimately, it is not a first-degree immortal root,�� an Astral Lord joined the conversation. ��His Daoprehension is average, yet his defense is so formidable. His body must be extremely resilient.��


    ��Indeed, I agree.��


    ��That��s the only way he can withstand repeated strikes from the divine swords.��


    ��He must��ve mastered a physical ether art perfectly suited for him, its power is nearly at the grand ether art level.�� The Astral Lords gave various opinions.


    Though they couldn��t see the involvement of the blood mist or Longevity Dao, they could deduce parts of the truth from the overall battle. These went unnoticed previously because none of Wu Yuan��s opponents had forced him to take such extreme measures for defense. Only Gao Yun managed to do so, allowing the Archimmortals to deduce part of his hidden abilities.


    ��In terms of offense, Wu Yuan has reached the standard of level fourteen of the Dark Star at best. He��s unlikely to be in the top hundred.��


    ��But in terms of defense, he��s definitely in the top five, perhaps even first!��


    ��His defense is unbelievable. As long as he isn''t besieged by a group of peerless geniuses, he has nothing to fear.��


    ��From aprehensive analysis, he stands a real chance of breaking into the top ten of the Blood Devil Token rankings!�� The Archimmortals and Astral Lords concluded.


    ��With Wu Yuan''s talent, once he breaks into the top ten of the Blood Devil Token rankings, he has a high chance of surpassing others in the second stage and iming the title of Bloodforge King.��


    ��Indeed, the probability is high.��


    ��His chances of iming the king''s title are second only to Ao Qi and Gao Yun, slightly higher than Dongfang Hongguang and the others.��


    This battle prompted the Archimmortals and Astral Lords to recalibrate their predictions of the final rankings.


    Wu Yuan leapt to third ce.


    ...


    As the days went by, the situation on the Bloodforge Battlefield unfolded just as the Archimmortals and Astral Lords had predicted.


    Once in a while, a participant would reveal a hidden ability, emerging as a new peerless genius. But in general, among the hundred over peerless geniuses participating from the Bloodforge Devil Hall and Silvermist Immortal Nation, Ao Qi and Gao Yun shone the brightest. Following closely behind was Wu Yuan.


    After his battle with Gao Yun, Wu Yuan continued his unstoppable rampage, sweeping through numerous powerful foes and umting Blood Devil Tokens without stopping. His ranking climbed steadily from fiftieth to fortieth, then to twentieth!


    By the end of the fourth month of the Bloodforge Battle��smencement, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count had surpassed five hundred thousand and he was ranked in eighteenth ce.


    Then, Wu Yuan encountered the second peerless genius since the trial began��the peerless genius Long Shan, who had cleared level fourteen of Dark Star.


    The two shed for nearly two entire hours, with Wu Yuan pursuing Long Shan for a million li before defeating him, forcing him to use up his retry chance.


    This battle pushed Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token ranking up to fifteenth ce.


    Just six dayster, Wu Yuan faced another peerless genius from the Silvermist Immortal Nation, Shuang Luanxing, who had great potential to clear level fifteen of the Dark Star.


    The two engaged in a fierce battle, and Wu Yuan ultimately left the fight without much effort.


    When the Bloodforge Battle entered its sixth month, Wu Yuan met the fourth peerless genius, Zhen Nong from Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    This battle was a brutal affair that darkened the skies and shook the earth. In the end, Wu Yuan relied on his formidable defense to kill (exhaust) his opponent, propelling his Blood Devil Token ranking into the top ten.


    ...


    ��This Wu Yuan, didn��t they say he wasn��t that strong?��


    ��Even if he was hiding his strength, I thought he would only be able to clear level fourteen of the Dark Star at best. But breaking into the top ten means he definitely has the strength to clear level fifteen.��


    ��Such a monstrous prodigy.��


    ��He possesses such terrifying strength after only cultivating for a few decades?��


    Wu Yuan''s entry into the top ten truly shocked the various factions of the immortal nation and the divisions of the devil hall watching the Bloodforge Battle.


    Tenth ce was already an astonishing rank. It signified that one''s strength was among the pinnacle of all peerless geniuses.


    ...


    ��Top ten! Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count is in the top ten.�� The immortals of the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall erupted into a frenzy.


    Wu Yuan''s fierce outburst had given them a huge shock, and his ranking continued to increase each time the leaderboard was refreshed!


    Moreover, with the surge in Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token ranking and the sudden demise of several peerless geniuses, it was clear to all that Wu Yuan had defeated and killed other peerless geniuses.


    This was the most startling part of it all. Although there were many peerless geniuses on the Bloodforge Battlefield, the majority were cautious and unwilling to engage with other top-tier opponents lightly.


    Those who dared fight other peerless geniuses were extremely confident in themselves. For instance��Gao Yun and Ao Qi!


    The two had imed the first and second rank in Blood Devil Tokens respectively, because they had each defeated and killed four or five peerless geniuses.


    Each peerless genius defeated would yield at least tens of thousands of Blood Devil Tokens.


    Naturally, their rankings soared.


    ...


    <i>Within the Bloodforge Battlefield, in a vast passageway tens of thousands of li wide.</i>


    ��Die!�� Wu Yuan''s figure shed, attacking a seemingly empty, folded mountain range a hundred li away.


    ��It''s Wu Yuan.��


    ��Run!�� Three figures fled in terror.


    Those who managed to survive until now mostly had sharp instincts.


    Wu Yuan''s relentless ughter over the past six months had been witnessed by countless participants. Combined with his consistently high ranking, he was undeniably one of the most famous peerless geniuses on the battlefield.


    After several shes, the three participants who had been lucky enough to survive until now were all killed by Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan hovered in mid-air, a thread of consciousness checking on his ranking within his personal hall in the Bloodforge Immortal Realm.


    Blood Devil Tokens: 943,332


    Ranking: 8


    <i>Not far from a million Blood Devil Tokens. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>But it''s almost the seventh month.</i>


    Once the seventh month began, any remaining ordinary participants would likely depart from the battlefield. Once that happened, he would need to search for other geniuses to increase his rank.


    <i>Ten million Blood Devil Tokens? It��s impossible.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, <i>But I must collect one million Blood Devil Tokens at least.</i>


    <i>If I can achieve this, it would save some trouble. Moreover, maintaining a high ranking would greatly improve my chances of ultimately iming the Bloodforge King title. </i>Thoughts flickered through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>ording to Astral Lord Yin He and the others, I have a huge advantage in the second stage.</i>


    <i>Hm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes widened suddenly. A flicker of astonishment and joy shed through his pupils!


    <i>The ck pagoda?</i>


    After killing those three participants, Wu Yuan sensed that the blood mist filling the region around the ck pagoda seemed to have reached some sort of limit. The mist was so dense that it looked nearly pure ck.


    <i>Boom! </i>The entire ck pagoda began to tremble violently.


    Abruptly, its gates opened for the first time.

 Chapter 469: Celestial Divine Body (1)

    <h4>Chapter 469: Celestial Divine Body (1)</h4>


    <i>The gates of the ck pagoda? They''re opening?</i> Wu Yuan''s mind churned.


    Though he remained calm outwardly, his heart was in turmoil. This had never happened before.


    Wu Yuan''s meteoric rise wasn''t only due to his own efforts, but also thanks to guidance from the Fourth Eldritch Realm Master, Fang Xia, High Immortal Nan Yin, and others.


    His sess was also inextricably linked to the ck pagoda. Without the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan could still be a qi refiner or even a body refiner. Given centuries of cultivation, he might even reach the Golden Core phase. However, he wouldn''t have survived the worm devil catastrophe.


    With the ck pagoda and Wu Yuan''s own diligence, he had climbed unimaginable heights, rapidly rising above the masses.


    His qi refiner self was recognized as a peerless genius that only appeared once in ten thousand years in the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    <i>Over the past decades, I''ve tried various methods to uncover the ck pagoda''s secrets, but to no avail.</i> Countless thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    A ck pagoda also hovered in the upper dantian lobe of his qi refiner self. After his soul reached the Soul Will level, he tried to interact with it, but achieved nothing. His soul essence couldn��t even get close to it at all. [1]


    His body refiner self tried integrating his blood mist with the colossal ck stone pir atop the ck pagoda. However, it only caused the stone pir to emit a blood-red glow.


    The blood-red light had formidable soul defense capabilities and defense functions. Back then, he survived the worm devil''sst-ditch attack thanks to the ck pagoda''s stone pir protecting his soul.


    But beyond that, Wu Yuan''s attempts to trigger new functions were fruitless.


    <i>As for reaching the critical limit of the blood mist? </i>Wu Yuan sensed the dense, nearly-ck blood mist around the ck pagoda, surging like a tide.


    During the battle against the worm devil, he killed countless devil soldiers. At one point, the ck pagoda stopped releasing more blood mist, meaning he had reached the saturation limit of blood mist at that time.


    However, the pagoda did not show any abnormalities at that time, let alone the gates opening.


    <i>Could it be that I was too weak in the past? Now that I have evolved to a higher order of life, the blood mist capacity of the ck pagoda has increased?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>By reaching new critical limits, I can trigger the ck pagoda''s hidden abilities?</i>


    Following the worm devil catastrophe and his subsequent breakthroughs, his external conditions no longer allowed for rampant killing to obtain more blood mist.


    Furthermore, since Wu Yuan''s two true selves reached the Golden Core phase and Spiritual Body phase, killing those in the Qi Sea phase or Communion phase wouldn''t produce blood mist from the ck pagoda.


    Based on the previous patterns of the ck pagoda, he needed to defeat opponents ofparable strength to release blood mist.


    Missing the right external conditions, along with misconceptions of the previous results, led to Wu Yuan subconsciously assuming that reaching the blood mist��s saturation point granted no additional benefits. Thus, he never attempted it.


    That was, until this Bloodforge Battle.


    Given the conditions of the trial, Wu Yuan embarked on a true killing spree, ughtering over ten thousand immortal cultivators, including many peerless geniuses. This relentless carnage caused the ck pagoda to spew blood mist incessantly.


    The current volume of blood mist in his upper dantian lobe was ten times more than the total he had umted in the past. Much to Wu Yuan''s surprise, the ck pagoda''s blood mist output seemed limitless.


    But after killing thousands of immortal cultivators without any changes taking ce, Wu Yuan stopped paying attention to the blood mist, believing that it was merely an increase in capacity. That was until today, when the blood mist seemed to reach a certain limit, triggering the opening of the ck pagoda��s gates!


    In that instant, countless thoughts raced through Wu Yuan''s mind, leading to various spections.


    <i>Boom~ </i>In his upper dantian lobe. The gates at the ground level of the ck pagoda swung open, resembling a massive vortex, akin to the awakening of a gluttonous beast.


    The boundless, dense blood mist surrounding the ck pagoda immediately surged into it,


    <i>This! </i>Wu Yuan''s soul essence observed the changes unfolding in shock.


    So far, none of these changes affected Wu Yuan''s soul essence.


    <i>Blood mist originates from the ck pagoda, so why is it now absorbing it back?</i> Wu Yuan wondered.


    He didn''t understand.


    The blood mist had originally flowed out from the windows of the upper levels of the ck pagoda. Now it was being devoured by the entrance at the base.


    <i>It seems the ck pagoda''s absorption of the blood mist will take some time. Will it absorb everything?</i> In the real world, Wu Yuan scanned his surroundings.


    Everything was silent.


    <i>Let''s find a secluded ce for now. Once the ck pagoda finishes absorbing the blood mist, I��ll study what changes have urred. </i>Wu Yuan decided. <i>Also, it''s a good time to rest.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan moved swiftly, covering thousands of li in mere moments. Then, he darted into an inconspicuous cave passage.


    Following that, Wu Yuan made his way through thebyrinthine tunnels randomly, traveling over ten thousand li in total before he finally came to a stop.


    <i>This should be enough to throw off any pursuer. </i>Wu Yuan nced around. <i>I��m about four hundred li below the passage at the ground-level.</i>


    <i>Apart from those with very strong souls like Gao Yun, no one should be able to detect me.</i>


    Gao Yun was acknowledged as the strongest Golden Core cultivator among the 580 billion participants. How many immortal cultivators had souls powerful enough to match Gao Yun''s?


    Moreover, Wu Yuan''s soul was exceptionally powerful. As long as it wasn��t a monstrous prodigy at the Soul Will level, he would be alerted the moment anyone probed him with their Soul Force.


    Wu Yuan sat in lotus position and waved his hand, setting up an array to restrict his aura within a radius of dozens of li. The array was one of his spoils of war. Though not particrly sophisticated, it could still hinder ordinary Golden Core cultivators.


    But for true geniuses? It was of little use. Wu Yuan was merely going through the motions.


    Then, Wu Yuan closed his eyes, appearing to adjust his breath, though more than ny percent of his mental consciousness was focused on his upper dantian lobe. Only a small part remained vignt of his surroundings.


    <i>Still absorbing blood mist?</i> Wu Yuan waited patiently, both anxious and excited. He wasn��t certain about what sort of transformation the ck pagoda might undergo.


    But past experiences suggested that everytime the ck pagoda underwent a change, it brought immense benefits to him.


    ...


    "What is Wu Yuan doing?"


    "Resting, perhaps."


    "He hasn''t been fighting for long; he shouldn''t need to rest yet." Being one of the hottest participants, Wu Yuan''s sudden odd behavior naturally drew notice from many Archimmortals and Astral Lords.


    However, these Astral Lords and Archimmortals simply took note of it briefly, soon turning their focus to other geniuses.


    Such urrences weren''t rare on the Bloodforge Battlefield. asionally, geniuses would go into seclusion for days after a sudden epiphany during battle. The longest period of seclusion they had seen was a month. Thus, Wu Yuan''s actions weren''t particrly strange.


    <i>Could he have gained a sudden epiphany during battle?</i> Astral Lord Yin He and Astral Lord Chen Deng paid close attention to Wu Yuan.


    However, separated by spacetimes and observing him through the Bloodforge Immortal Voidealm''s projection, they couldn''t discern Wu Yuan''s true state.


    ...


    In the depths of the Bloodforge Battlefield, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position for two hours. His brow twitched, but his eyes remained closed.


    <i>It��spletely absorbed?</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was entirely focused on his upper dantian lobe, where his soul essence was staring in bewilderment at the towering ck pagoda.


    At this moment, everyst wisp of blood mist had vanishedpletely from the mysterious space within his upper dantian lobe. Only the ck pagoda remained standing, its gates on the ground level wide open.


    Wu Yuan felt that the ck pagoda had undergone some mysterious transformation, though he couldn''t pinpoint what it was. It was all very strange.


    <i>The ck pagoda''s gates are still open. Is it inviting me in? </i>This thought naturally surfaced in his mind. Or perhaps it was sheer curiosity. Wu Yuan was indeed incredibly curious about the ck pagoda.


    <i>Let''s go! </i>Wu Yuan''s soul essence attempted to enter the ck pagoda.


    Unlike all his previous attempts, there was no obstruction or resistance from the ck pagoda, as if it hadpletely lifted its barriers.


    Wu Yuan easily stepped through the ck pagoda''s gates, heading inside.


    From the outside, the ck pagoda seemed enormous. However, the inside wasn��trge at all. From Wu Yuan��s estimations, the hall had a radius of merely a dozen zhangs.


    The eight pitch-ck walls were made of unknown materials, yet incredibly smooth. At the center of the hall stood a crystalline jade tform, looking extremely out of ce.


    <i>A jade tform inside the ck pagoda? </i>Wu Yuan murmured to himself, taken aback.


    One must understand that this was not the world outside; he was within the ck pagoda of his upper dantian lobe, his consciousness present in the form of his soul essence.


    Wu Yuan��s gaze fell on the jade tform. Though the hall waspletely silent and still, he could almost hear a near imperceptible voice whispering in his ear to ��sit on it.''


    ''Sit on it. That is a treasure. Something good will happen when you sit on it,'' the formless voice was imbued with a strange power, subtly influencing Wu Yuan.


    Even someone as mentally strong as Wu Yuan was unknowingly drawn toward the jade tform.


    He sat down. The moment he did, a cool sensation emanated from the jade tform, instantly clearing Wu Yuan��s mind. He jolted in surprise.


    <i>What happened? How did I end up sitting here? </i>A trace of fear instinctively arose in Wu Yuan��s heart.


    How terrifying. That invisible guidance, where did that powere from? He did not notice anything from start to end.


    <i>This ck pagoda is too strange. </i>Wu Yuan thought, preparing to stand and leave the ck pagoda.


    At that moment, countless points of light converged without a sound, and a ck, four-legged beast appeared within the hall.


    It resembled a ck panther, but with two pairs of eyes that gleamed with ancient wisdom. It appeared less like a mere beast and more like an entity embodying boundless knowledge. Its gaze was fixed intently on Wu Yuan.


    <i>A living being? Is this ck pagoda a physical object? Does it have a master?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned, thoughts racing.


    He had spected endlessly about what he would find inside the ck pagoda, but he had never imagined it would be this.


    1. soul essence refers to the soul phantom ?

 Chapter 470: Celestial Divine Body (2)

    <h4>Chapter 470: Celestial Divine Body (2)</h4>


    ��Wu Yuan, do not panic.�� The four-eyed beast spoke. It seemed to sense Wu Yuan''s thoughts. Its voice was gentle, calming Wu Yuan��s turbulent emotions.


    ��I am the Spirit of the Origin Pagoda. You may call me Origin Spirit. I appeared because you awakened me.��


    ��Origin Pagoda?�� Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    ��The Origin Pagoda is what you call the ck pagoda.�� The four-eyed spirit beast spoke softly, ��It has had many names: Ancestral Pagoda, Ancestral Hall, Ancient Pagoda, and so on. They are merely different names.��


    Wu Yuan listened quietly, absorbing all the information.


    The Origin Pagoda? He had never heard of it, nor did he understand where it came from.


    ��Origin Spirit, can you tell me why this Origin Pagoda appeared in my upper dantian lobe?�� Wu Yuan asked, ��What is its history, and what will it mean for my future?��


    ��These are all questions you must ask yourself. I do not know.�� The four-eyed spirit beast��s voice remained gentle, ��I can no longer remember anything, only chaos.��


    ��However, there is one thing I am certain of��this ck pagoda you are in is not real.�� The four-eyed spirit beast said, ��I am not truly myself either.��


    ��Not real, could it be an illusion?�� Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    ��Not an illusion either,�� the four-eyed spirit beast replied.


    ��I don��t understand,�� Wu Yuan shook his head.


    It was neither real nor an illusion? Was there something that existed between reality and illusion? To Wu Yuan, this was too profound.


    ��Your thoughts are your reality. You may simply consider this Origin Pagoda to be real.�� The four-eyed spirit beast said.


    Wu Yuan was speechless for a moment. Then what was with all that nonsense earlier?


    The four-eyed spirit beast remained silent as well, its two pairs of eyes fixed on Wu Yuan.


    It made Wu Yuan��s heart jitter.


    ��Origin Spirit, you im to know nothing. What do you want me to do?�� Wu Yuan finally couldn''t hold back his question.


    ��Choose.�� The four-eyed spirit beast uttered.


    Wu Yuan was startled.


    ��You have unlocked the first level of the Origin Pagoda. Thus, ording to the Origin Pagoda Contract, you shall receive a gift from it,�� the four-eyed spirit beast said.


    ��What gift?�� Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    ��Dao, root, artifact.�� The four-eyed spirit beast spoke softly, ��Of these three gifts, you may receive one.��


    ��But remember, you may only ever receive one direct bestowal from the Origin Pagoda.�� The four-eyed spirit beast said.


    Wu Yuan waspletely baffled.


    Origin Pagoda? Origin Spirit? What was all this? And the four-eyed spirit beast seemed to know nothing else.


    However, Wu Yuan was only confused for a moment before quickly calming down.


    Thoughts of the mysterious Dao Temple he had essed through the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm and the Seven Star Luminaries Tower came to mind.


    He also remembered what Zhuo Haiyue had once mentioned: whether it was the Seven Star Luminaries Tower or the Dao Temple, they were merely projections from the divine court headquarters across various spacetimes.


    The source was the divine court headquarters.


    <i>There ck pagodas in both my body refiner self and my qi refiner self... could it be that they are all projections of the Origin Pagoda from the source across endless spacetimes? </i>Wu Yuan boldly spected.


    He felt that this possibility was close to the truth.


    <i>If it is true, then this so-called Origin Pagoda is on the same level as the Taiyuan Divine Court��s headquarters?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    Whether it was a person or an object, this conclusion was astounding.


    The Taiyuan Divine Court, ruling countless spacetime territories, was a top-tier faction in the vast river of space and time.


    <i>Even if it isn��tparable, the Origin Pagoda is still likely an incredible treasure. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>At the very least, it allows one to strengthen the soul through Visualization and generate blood mist without any limit... I have never heard of any other object with such features.</i>


    This was something unattainable even for ordinary Archimmortals or Astral Lords.


    <i>Therefore, this choice is extremely crucial. </i>Wu Yuan remembered the four-eyed spirit beast''s words, that the pagoda would only ever grant one gift.


    The four-eyed spirit beast waited patiently without urging him.


    ��Origin Spirit, what is the difference between Dao, root, and artifact?�� Wu Yuan asked.


    ��I do not know.�� The four-eyed spirit beast replied, ��Your choice will determine your opportunity. Fate is unpredictable.��


    Wu Yuan found its words obscure, but he understood one thing: the four-eyed spirit beast offered no advice, only three choices.


    <i>Root? Does it mean immortal root? Or something else?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Artifact? Does it mean gifting me an artifact? Or some special treasure?</i>


    <i>Dao? Is it simr to the Dao Temple, granting me a special Daoprehension simtion experience? </i>Wu Yuan��s mind ran wild with spections.


    ��Dao!�� After much contemtion, Wu Yuan finally made his choice. ��The Dao is the foundation. Though I do not understand what this is, I choose Dao.��


    He decided to gamble!


    ��The Dao is never wrong.�� The four-eyed spirit beast smiled slightly, ��A final word for you: gaining often means losing. Destiny is always fair.��


    ��The origin of all beings, the Origin Pagoda stands unique.��


    Then, before Wu Yuan could react, the four-eyed spirit beast dissolved into countless points of light and vanished without a sound.


    Wu Yuan found that he was no longer inside the ck pagoda. He had somehow been transported outside.


    ��Origin Spirit?�� Wu Yuan��s soul essence instinctively looked back.


    The distant ck pagoda remained unchanged. The gates at the base of the ck pagoda were sealed, as if they had never been opened.


    It felt like everything that just happened was nothing more than a dream.


    If not for the disappearance of the blood mist that had previously pervaded his entire upper dantian lobe, Wu Yuan would have doubted his own senses.


    <i>Gaining often means losing. Destiny is always fair.</i> Wu Yuan pondered these words, <i>The origin of all beings, the Origin Pagoda stands unique.</i>


    He could somewhat grasp it, but not exactly. After all, he still didn��t understand what the Origin Pagoda truly was.


    <i>So where is my gift? The so-called ��Dao��?</i>


    Wu Yuan��s soul essence attempted to fly towards the ck pagoda, but the invisible barrier was back in ce, preventing him from approaching it.


    <i>Damned four-eyed beast, why can��t you just exin things clearly?</i> Wu Yuan grumbled inwardly.


    He scanned through his entire upper dantian lobe to make sure he hadn��t missed anything out.


    Suddenly, the distant ck pagoda trembled slightly. Then, arge quantity of earthy-yellow mist surged out. It was infused with some special, mighty power, circling around the ck pagoda.


    ��What?�� Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The strange, earthy-yellow mist streamed out of the ck pagoda, leaving the upper dantian lobe entirely and seeping through Wu Yuan''s four limbs and internal organs, rapidly infiltrating every corner of his body.


    His head, heart, arms, legs, internal organs, meridians... As the earthy-yellow streams assimted into them, Wu Yuan''s body began undergoing a transformation.


    Etched on the surface of each molecule in his body were countless earthy-yellow cryptic patterns. These were cryptic patterns of the Land Dao.


    Through these cryptic patterns, Wu Yuan was able toprehend the profundity of the Land with ease. They were the reason his body was a Terranean Divine Body.


    But at this moment, as the earthy-yellow mist prated his body, the cryptic patterns of the Land Dao began to transform silently��one after another, new earthy-yellow patterns emerged, brilliant and crystalline. These countless tiny patterns emitted dazzling light.


    An invisible fluctuation rippled through Wu Yuan.


    <i>This! This fluctuation.</i> With Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension level, he sensed the peculiar fluctuation almost instantly��Vast! Solid! Primitive! It seemed infinitely distant, yet infinitely close to his spirit and soul.


    It was the fluctuation of the Celestial Body Dao!


    <i>Essence! It is the essence of the source of the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes widened, incredulous. <i>I can perceive it so clearly? </i>


    It was too clear! Since Wu Yuan had a Terranean Divine Body, and the Land Dao was part of the Celestial Body Dao, his perception of the Celestial Body Dao was rtively clear.


    If not for this, how could he have progressed so swiftly?


    But now, through the cryptic patterns in his body, Wu Yuan''s consciousness sensed the fluctuation of the Celestial Body Dao with a rity far surpassing before, multiple times over. It was a rity that made his heart tremble.


    Just by perceiving it slightly, Wu Yuan felt that many of his previous conundrums regarding the Celestial Body Dao were effortlessly resolved.


    <i>I understand now. This is the ��Dao�� gift, a gift not of Daoprehension, but a strengthening of my body''s essence. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    <i>If my original body evolved to a Terranean Divine Body after receiving heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, then now, it has evolved to a Celestial Divine Body. </i>


    <i>My efficiency inprehending the Celestial Body Dao will be multiple times��no! Ten times of what it used to be!</i> Wu Yuan''s heart pounded with excitement.


    <i>In the past, I wasn��t able to progress quickly inprehending the Celestial Body Law Codex due to the difficulty of perceiving the Celestial Body Dao''s fluctuation.</i>


    <i>But now, with the Celestial Body Law Codex as guidancebined with my Celestial Divine Body''s innate aptitude, my Daoprehension efficiency will increase tenfold! </i>Wu Yuan finally grasped the magnitude of this opportunity.


    Whether it was the Terranean Body or the Celestial Body, both could be called Dao Bodies.


    A Dao Body represented an unimaginably strong affinity for a particr Dao and was exceedingly rare.


    For instance, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had remarkable talent in the Wood Dao, but it still couldn''t be considered to possess a Dao Body.


    From what Wu Yuan knew, throughout the Silvermist Immortal Nation, across thousands of immortal continents, there might not even be a single cultivator with a Dao Body in an entire era (one century).


    In the texts Wu Yuan had perused, the term Dao Body colloquially referred to someone with a strong affinity for a Lesser Law. With this as a foundation, most could easily step into the threshold of an Intermediate Law.


    As for possessing a high innate affinity for an Intermediate Law?


    <i>Unheard of.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind shook. <i>Celestial Divine Body? Celestial Dao Body? This is undoubtedly a heaven-defying opportunity.</i>


    Wu Yuan, with his Terranean Body, two true selves cooperating to contemte the Dao, and powerful soul, was already considered a once-in-ten-thousand-year genius in the immortal nation.


    <i>Now, my aptitude for the Celestial Body Dao is at least five to ten times stronger than before! </i>Wu Yuan''s heart burned with ambition. <i>What heights will I reach?</i>


    There was never a shortage of diligent people. It was opportunities that were in short supply.


    <i>The Origin Pagoda? Though I don''t fully understand what the ck pagoda is, I''ve now gained this incredible opportunity.</i> Wu Yuan quickly calmed himself. <i>Next, I must strive to unleash the potential of the Celestial Divine Body.</i>


    Even if a great opportunityes your way, if you don''t work hard, you will still end up average.


    Only those with determination, perseverance, and top-tier talent, coupled with some luck, had hope of bing unrivaled powerhouses, shaking the river of space and time.


    <i>I must work hard! Step by step, steadily.</i>


    A gleam appeared in Wu Yuan''s eyes<i>. First, I must seize the title of King in this Bloodforge Battle.</i>

 Chapter 471: Breakthrough! Whos The True King? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 471: Breakthrough! Who''s The True King? (1)</h4>


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self��s aptitude was previously only considered the pinnacle of a single era in the immortal nation.


    It was thanks to his formidable soul and the guidance of the Celestial Body Law Codex


    that he shone so brilliantly.


    After all, the immortal nation was vast, with over six thousand immortal continents teeming with countless beings. Each era typically saw the birth of numerous cultivators with second-degree and third-degree immortal roots.


    There were several disciples with third-degree immortal roots in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect alone.


    Among these geniuses with second and third-degree immortal roots, it wasn''t umon for one or two to possess an innate Dao Body. However, it was usually just a Lesser Law Dao Body.


    <i>The strength of one��s immortal root isn''t directly proportional with one��s Daoprehension talent.</i> Wu Yuan knew this well. <i>The immortal root represents the foundation of one��s mana; and generally, the stronger one��s foundation, the greater one��s Daoprehension aptitude. </i>


    In short, those with extraordinary Daoprehension aptitude were unlikely to have weak foundations. For instance, Ao Qi and Gao Yun both possessed third-degree immortal roots. There was a positive corrtion between the two aspects.


    However, a genius with a second-degree immortal root didn��t necessarily have stronger Daoprehension aptitude than one with a third-degree immortal root.


    <i>Only those with the strongest immortal roots and exceptional Daoprehension aptitude are considered top geniuses. </i>Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    For example��Zhuo Haiyue! Though he had never seen Zhuo Haiyue in action, Wu Yuan knew that Zhuo Haiyue had a second-degree immortal root.


    In terms of potential, Zhuo Haiyue far exceeded that of his qi refiner self, whose Daoprehension was the result ofbining the hard work of both his qi refiner and body refiner true selves.


    <i>In the past, my two true selves had to work together just to keep up with Zhuo Haiyue. </i>Wu Yuan quietly sensed the fluctuations of the Celestial Body Dao. <i>But now?</i>


    In a single era, it was normal for one or two cultivators to establish Dao Bodies in an immortal nation, most of which only aligned with a Lesser Law.


    <i>A Dao Body that perfectly aligns with an Intermediate Law? </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>The difficulty of establishing one is second only to establishing the legendary first-degree immortal root. </i>


    It was said that a cultivator with an innate first-degree immortal root always established a Dao Body perfectly aligned with an Intermediate Law. This union of supreme immortal root and Daoprehension aptitude represented the pinnacle of a being nurtured by heaven and earth, embodying the biological limit of such existence.


    Pinnacles were, by nature, hard to reach.


    An innately established first-degree immortal root was not just a legend within the immortal continents, but across the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    <i>At least, I haven''t heard of anyone establishing an innate first-degree immortal root in the Eternal Sun Immortal World over the past tens of thousands of years. </i>


    <i>Perhaps there are some in the headquarters of the Taiyuan Divine Court, where many peerless geniuses from the vast river of space and time congregate. </i>


    However, those were legends!


    As for upgrading one''s immortal root in the future? From what Wu Yuan knew, it was possible to gradually upgrade one''s immortal root to a first-degree immortal root with the advancement of one''s cultivation phase, but it would never be as miraculous as an innate first-degree immortal root.


    <i>My current talent is almost on par with someone who possesses an innate first-degree immortal root. </i>Wu Yuan silently contemted the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao, absorbing each insight with insatiable thirst.


    For the first time, Wu Yuan felt thatprehending the Celestial Body Dao was truly effortless.


    <i>Bloodforge King. As Astral Lord Yin He mentioned, the higher the ranking, the better the final rewards and opportunities. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.<i> If I do not tap into the Longevity Dao, I stillg behind Ao Qi and Gao Yun.</i>


    With defense, he could ensure survival, and survival came first. But to kill the enemy, one must use offense.


    At the very least, if Wu Yuan continued to hunt down those Bloodforge Seeds and the immortal nation''s participants, his Blood Devil Token rank would only hover around the top ten in the next six months. That was as far as his strength went.


    <i>Top five? Not very likely.</i> Wu Yuan quickly dismissed the idea.<i> ording to records from previous Bloodforge trials, participants ranked in the tens and hundreds typically begin to form alliances as thepetition advances, aiming to defend themselves from the top-tier geniuses.</i>


    Almost all of the top twenty rankers aimed to clinch the Bloodforge King title, while most second and third-tier geniuses were content to ��lie t�� once they secured ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens. [1]


    After all, they had no hope of iming the title of Bloodforge King. Securing the title of Bloodforge Marquis was sufficient; why risk everything?


    With Wu Yuan''s rtively weak attack, it would get increasingly harder to seize Blood Devil Tokens en masse.


    <i>Moreover, the second stage is likely to involve direct confrontations with other peerless geniuses.</i> Wu Yuan also understood this well.


    Talent was crucial for the ultimate opportunity challenge stage, but strength was equally important.


    <i>Alright! </i>Wu Yuan made his decision, a gleam flickering in his eyes.


    <i>Over the next five months, I''ll focus on contemting the Celestial Body Dao. With my current rate ofprehension, five months would be equivalent to four or even five years of my past self��s progress.</i>


    <i>I have a good chance of reaching the seventh-level Domain stage, or even higher. </i>


    Of course, there was no way to be absolutely certain of this. Although advancing to the seventh-level Domain stage from the sixth-level was not as significant a jump as transitioning from the Domain stage to True Intent stage, or from True Intent to Dao Field, it was still a barrier one had to ovee.


    Given two to three years, Wu Yuan would definitely be able to break through. Five months?


    <i>Let��s just give it a try. </i>As Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, he began to meditate on the profundities epassed within the Starsunder Saber Codex, Dark Earth Sword Codex, Star Ruins Sword Codex, and Celestial Body Law Codex.


    It was to the extent that his qi refiner self temporarily abandoned studying the Longevity Dao, dedicating its full concentration toprehending the Celestial Body Dao.


    ...


    Ten days flew by. As July arrived, the numerous ordinary participants and elite participants in hiding breathed sighs of relief.


    "We survived!"


    "Time to leave."


    "Let''s go." The ordinary cultivators who managed to meet their minimum Blood Devil Token quota quickly chose to leave the trial grounds.


    For them, these six months had been a nightmare. They had witnessed innumerable immortal cultivators fall. But in the end, they survived.


    "I never wanted to participate in the Bloodforge Battle, but the damned sect forced me to. Haha, now, I survived and qualify to be a disciple of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Once I cultivate to the Amethyst Cradle phase, I will return and kill them all."


    "Finally, I qualify to be a disciple of the Devil Hall."


    "Having survived, this is my opportunity. I must seize it and reach the Amethyst Cradle phase." The participants from countless worlds harbored a range of thoughts and emotions. While some immortal cultivators sumbed to madness, others maintained theirposure.


    "It''s time to leave."


    "Let''s go."


    "With ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens, I qualify to leave; as for a hundred thousand? That''s too difficult."


    "The uing battles will be more brutal, with no weaklings left." Many weaker second-tier Bloodforge Seeds and participants from the immortal nation also wisely chose to leave.


    A hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens? The ultimate opportunity? It sounded tempting and alluring. But after enduring six months of bloody ughter, many so-called geniuses had sobered up. There was always someone stronger out there.


    These geniuses, who were famous in their immortal continents and second-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, realized they were far from the top-tier geniuses of the entire immortal nation.


    In just one day, more than two billion participants chose to leave.


    When the day ended, fewer than three hundred million remained.


    Indeed, in six months, out of 580 billion participants, only over two billion survived. This was the most brutal of bloodbaths.


    "Kill!"


    "I don''t believe I can''t make it into the top hundred." Those who remained behind were mostly confident in their strength.


    "I''ll continue to fight."


    "Damn it, if not for getting defeated by Wu Yuan, I would have collected enough Blood Devil Tokens long ago. Now, I only have a little over eight thousand." Some participants gritted their teeth. They were strong but had been defeated and needed to start from scratch.


    "It''s too hard."


    "I''ve struggled so much just to seize eight Blood Devil Tokens. Where can I find the remaining two?"


    "I have only eighty tokens. What should I do?" The remaining billion-plus participants were mostly ordinary cultivators.


    Most of them had hidden away from the start, avoiding the bloody chaos, and were fortunate enough to survive until now.


    Unfortunately, they hadn''t met the minimum Blood Devil Token quota to leave the Bloodforge Battlefield. And after a year, those who did not meet the minimum quota would be eradicated.


    On the Bloodforge Battlefield, one could hide, but not forever.


    1. From wikipedia: Lying t (��ƽ) is a Chinese ng neologism that describes a personal rejection of societal pressures to overwork and over-achieve, such as in the 996 working hour system, which is often regarded as a rat race with ever diminishing returns. Aka reject the hustle culture. ?

 Chapter 472: Breakthrough! Whos The True King? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 472: Breakthrough! Who''s The True King? (2)</h4>


    <i>On the third day of the seventh month</i>.


    "All participants are required to reach the designated area within a month. The battlefield will be reduced to a spherical region with a diameter of thirty million li. The specific region has been sent to your personal space in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm. Those who fail to arrive at the designated area within one month will be eradicated."


    All surviving participants received the message simultaneously.


    As the number of participants dwindled, the battlefield started shrinking rapidly.


    ��Damn it!��


    ��We''re doomed.�� Countless weaker participants gritted their teeth and began a long journey of migration, knowing full well that it would only get harder from here on. Yet the desire to survive kept the billion-plus remaining participants from giving up.


    Wu Yuan naturally received the news while in the cave, but he only nced at it briefly before losing interest. He was already within the designated region of the battlefield.


    <i>Lucky me. I walked right into the final battleground.</i> Wu Yuan mumbled inwardly, then closed his eyes and continued cultivating.


    Hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao was exceptionally smooth.


    ...


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Dragon Star, High Immortal Nan Yin��s residence.</i>


    ��How are you progressing this fast? You��ve gotten even faster than before.�� High Immortal Nan Yin looked at his disciple with astonishment. ��Your sword array has a hint of a sword domain.��


    ��At this rate, you will soon reach the seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao.��


    ��I had some epiphanies in the Bloodforge Battlefield,�� Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self said respectfully.


    Wu Yuan had no ns to tell his master about the ck pagoda��s anomalies. For one, there was little meaning. Secondly, everyone had secrets. The matters rted to the ck pagoda, especially the recent encounter with the Origin Spirit, were too significant, and Wu Yuan didn��t want to divulge everything.


    ��Alright, keep working hard,�� High Immortal Nan Yin nodded.


    ��Master, I have a request,�� Wu Yuan said earnestly, ��I hope you can guide me once every half a month for some time.��


    ��Half a month?�� High Immortal Nan Yin was stunned at first, thenughed, ��Little rascal, starting to boss your teacher around.��


    ��I wouldn��t dare,�� Wu Yuan quickly bowed his head.


    High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head with a smile, ��The reason I set our sessions to once a month is so that you will gain something new during each session given yourprehension aptitude. That is the most optimal frequency for resolving your doubts.��


    ��Half a month? You are indeed progressing much faster now, once every half a month it is. Your teacher will just have to work a bit harder,�� High Immortal Nan Yin nodded.


    Wu Yuan soon left happily.


    Time flew. In a blink, another month went by, and High Immortal Nan Yin mentored Wu Yuan twice more.


    <i>This kid is progressing way too quickly.</i> High Immortal Nan Yin��s shock grew. <i>This rate of progress is more than ten times faster than mine back then. At this pace, he��ll be able to reach level seventy of the one-star tower. No! At least level seventy-five.</i>


    High Immortal Nan Yin always had great confidence in himself and was extremely proud of his abilities. However, the progress his disciple made in just a month or two still managed to scare him.


    <i>Something��s not right. It must be due to his intense experiences in the Bloodforge Battlefield; this shouldn��t be his normal state.</i> High Immortal Nan Yinforted himself.


    Every master hoped their disciple performed well. But when their talent reached an absurd level, it got a little frightening.


    Even High Immortal Nan Yin started questioning himself.


    ...


    Wu Yuan��s body refiner self remained deep in a corner of the cave, fully immersed in hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao and making rapid progress.


    Meanwhile, the ughter on the Bloodforge Battlefield grew more frantic. The Blood Devil Token count of the top-tier geniuses continued to grow, and arge number of peerless geniuses were either forced to use up their retry or were killed.


    ��What��s up with Wu Yuan?��


    ��Why is his Blood Devil Token rank dropping so much?��


    ��From the eighth, it has already fallen to over twenty. His Blood Devil Token count hasn��t moved, what��s going on?�� The various factions of the Silvermist Immortal Nation and numerous divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall who had been keeping an eye on Wu Yuan were puzzled.


    ��Other peerless geniuses are fighting desperately, striving to raise their rank, aiming for the title of Bloodforge King.��


    ��Ao Qi and Gao Yun have already gone berserk.��


    ��What��s going on with Wu Yuan?�� The discussions in the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall grew.


    Some were even a bit annoyed.


    ��He fought his way up to eighth ce. He can clearly continue to raise his rank, and even has the potential to reach the top five.��


    ��So why did he stop?��


    ��Could it be that he��s afraid of death?�� Many Earth Immortals and even High Immortals criticized him, feeling quite displeased.


    If Wu Yuan hadn��t given them hope in the first ce, it would��ve been fine. But raising their hopes and then dashing them?


    ��Ranking in the twenties, he still has a chance to im the Bloodforge King title.��


    ��He no longer stands a chance. With just a little more than two months left in the Bloodforge Battle, his rank will continue to fall if he keeps hiding like this out of fear, possibly down to the fifties, or even the hundreds.�� Many immortals shook their heads, feeling extremely disappointed.


    Even High Immortal Wu Tian furrowed his brow.


    ��What is Wu Yuan up to?�� High Immortal Wu Tian was anxious. He badly wanted to know the reason, but could not observe the battle.


    ...


    <i>Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, Silvermist ne, Archimmortal observation space. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s odd actions naturally drew the scrutiny of many Archimmortals, who were all puzzled.


    ��Cultivating?��


    ��He seems to be contemting the Dao.��


    ��Could he be nning to advance to the seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao in just a few months?�� Many Archimmortals inwardly shook their heads.


    It was unrealistic.


    ��This Wu Yuan.�� Astral Lord Yin He also frowned, staring Wu Yuan who was sitting in lotus position on the light screen, ��If he kept fighting, he��d still have a good chance at bing the Bloodforge King.��


    ��But at this crucial moment, he��s being stubborn? Going off to train?�� Astral Lord Yin He shook his head.


    His evaluation of Wu Yuan dropped a notch in his heart.


    In the eyes of many Archimmortals and Astral Lords, realbat was the best teacher.


    After a period of life-and-deathbat, it was reasonable for one to spend a day or two briefly reviewing any new insights before diving back into life-and-deathbat. That was the best path for cultivation. However, Wu Yuan had spent far longer than that.


    ��Calm down, Yin He. What��s the difference between a Bloodforge Marquis and a Bloodforge King?�� Astral Lord Chen Deng smiled from the side, ��Is it really that important to us?��


    ��Wu Yuan��s performance isn��t bad either, don��t be too harsh,�� Astral Lord Chen Deng smiled.


    ��Mm.�� Astral Lord Yin He nodded, ��I��m not being harsh, it��s just that he can clearly do better.��


    ...


    <i>What��s Wu Yuan up to?</i> Gao Yun scoured passage after passage, finding and killing one participant after another.


    He had been keeping an eye on the Blood Devil Token rankings.


    The Archimmortals watching from outside the battlefield knew how fearsome Wu Yuan was, but most of the participants only knew that Wu Yuan was strong.


    Only a select few who had personally fought Wu Yuan knew of his formidable defense. Gao Yun was one of them. He had long recognized Wu Yuan as his greatest obstacle to bing Bloodforge King.


    <i>His ranking has fallen to seventy-eighth, and there��s been no change in his Blood Devil Token count.</i> Gao Yun frowned.


    He didn��t believe someone as ruthless as Wu Yuan would be a coward.


    <i>Forget it. It��s a good thing that Wu Yuan��s rank is dropping. I��ll have one lesspetitor to worry about. </i>Gao Yun stopped thinking about Wu Yuan.


    <i>With Wu Yuan out of the picture, my only rival is Ao Qi. </i>Relying on his powerful soul, Gao Yun scouted passage after passage.


    Currently, the battlefield had shrunk to a diameter of ten million li, a thousand times smaller from the start. Fewer than ten million participants remained alive.


    ...


    The world outside was a cacophony of noise, but Wu Yuan, fully immersed in contemting the Dao, remainedpletely unaware.


    As the days passed, each doubt he resolved brought him closer to the seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    In the blink of an eye, only a month and a half remained until the end of the first stage.


    In the cave that had been undisturbed for months, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, surrounded by countless earth-yellow qi streams.


    Even heaven and earth''s power was faintly suppressed by these qi streams.


    <i>Boom! </i>At that moment, a terrifying surge of soul consciousness erupted from Wu Yuan, spreading in all directions.


    A thousand li! Three thousand li! Five thousand li! Ten thousand li!


    Everything within a ten-thousand-li radius was within Wu Yuan��s perception��every de of grass, every shadowy cave... allid bare.


    <i>My understanding of the Celestial Body Dao��s profundities has reached a new height. </i>Wu Yuan sensed the monumental changes within himself.


    Yes, it was Soul Will!


    Half a year of bloody battles had baptized his spirit, further fortifying his soul. The evolution of his aptitude, connecting with the essence of the Dao, nourished his soul, strengthening it even further.


    On top of that, he Visualized ck pagoda consistently.


    Most importantly, this single-minded focus unknowingly enabled his body refiner self''s soul to break through the Yang Soul limit, stepping into the level of Soul Will.


    Reaching the Soul Will level, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension sped up once more. In just one day, Wu Yuan��s remaining doubts werepletely resolved.


    <i>This is it. Seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao! The nascent form of Dao Field.</i>


    An ethereal earth-yellow glow enveloped Wu Yuan,pletely isting everything within from the world outside. Even the omnipresent heaven and earth''s power was faintly repelled.


    Wu Yuan was in absolute control of everything within the light.


    <i>Just over a month left? Ny-second? </i>Wu Yuan stood up, checking his Blood Devil Token rank.


    A fierce battle intent shed in his eyes, and his lips curled up. <i>Time to get moving and show them all who the true king is!</i>


    Wu Yuan waved his hand, putting away the array. As he walked out of the cave, he spread out his Soul Force, epassing a ten-thousand-li radius.


    Instantly, he detected several participants.

 Chapter 473: Unstoppable Conquest (1)

    <h4>Chapter 473: Unstoppable Conquest (1)</h4>


    Only a month and a half remained until the end of the first stage of the Bloodforge, the blood devil trial.


    If Wu Yuan only broke through to the seventh-level Domain stage of Daoprehension, he honestly had no confidence in raising his ranking back to the top ten. There wouldn��t be enough time for him to make aeback.


    However, Wu Yuan''s soul had reached the Soul Will level. With just a thought, he could probe everything within a radius of ten thousand li. One had to remember that Soul Force did not extend in a line or ne, but a sphere!


    <i>An ordinary Golden Core cultivator can probe an area of a few dozen li in radius. Let��s say their efficiency is one. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shed. <i>Someone like Gao Yun, whose soul has reached the Yang Soul level, has an efficiency of five hundred.</i>


    <i>As for me, at least one hundred thousand!</i>


    If someone was hiding deep in a cave? The average depth of the caves along the passage was only three to four hundred li, and the deepest part was generally only a thousand li deep.


    As for the width? Each passage had a maximum diameter of only thirty thousand li. As long as Wu Yuan flew through the passage, he could basically sense everything clearly, unlike some other top-tier geniuses who had to repeatedly probe the area to search for targets.


    This was what gave Wu Yuan his confidence.


    <i>Right here.</i> Within Wu Yuan''s Soul Force, the intricate andplex passages in the underground caves were clearly visible, as if he was studying a maze.


    With a thought, he analyzed the fastest route.


    The key was that Wu Yuan''s Soul Force was far stronger than that of the other participants. They had no idea that Wu Yuan had already detected them with his Soul Force.


    "Little ck!" ck wings unfurled from Wu Yuan��s back. Like a streak of ck light, he darted through the dark,plex cave passage.


    "Someone is approaching."


    "It''s a second-tier Bloodforge Seed." Realization dawned on threebatants gathered in the gloomy cave. Instantly, they stood up, drawing their weapons.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan stormed right in. The cave resembled an elliptical sphere with a maximum diameter of about 400 li.


    "Fellow Daoist, you seem to be in the wrong ce." The threebatants spread out to engage Wu Yuan.


    Two of them were qi refiners, wielding a variety of artifacts such as flying swords, shields, and cauldrons.


    The third was a young man in ck armor. He stood at the front, a battle axe in his hand.


    "Not at all, this is the right ce," Wu Yuan replied with a slight smile, "You participants of the immortal nation are exactly who I''m looking for."


    Participants from the immortal nation who chose to hide underground rather than continue fighting had undoubtedly umted a substantial number of Blood Devil Tokens, at least a hundred thousand.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan attacked without hesitation, transforming into a hundred-zhang giant, simultaneously deploying his three ether arts.


    At the same time, Little ck executed the ether art: Realm Crossing.


    Simultaneously, a hazy earthy-yellow light enveloped everything in hundreds of li, nearly epassing the entire cave.


    "Seventh-level True Intent stage!"


    "Nascent Dao Field. It��s a first-tier Bloodforge Seed."


    "It''s Wu Yuan!"


    "Run." The three participants from the immortal nation finally recognized Wu Yuan from hisbat tactics.


    While appearances and clothing changed frequently, one��s soul aura andbat tactics were extremely difficult to alter.


    Unfortunately, it was already toote!


    "Die!" Wu Yuan stepped onto the air. The four sabers he swung were like four rainbow lights tearing through everything in their way.


    With Little ck��s assistance, Wu Yuan''s movement technique reached a terrifying speed. On top of that, Domain suppression was in effect.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The de ray fell, unstoppable, knocking the battle axe out of the hands of the ck-armored youth, who was also dozens of zhangs tall.


    With another sh, the youth was sent flying. Blood flew as he crashed hard into the ground, his body nearly exploding.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan charged directly at another opponent, a woman in purple robes. Her face was delicate, the sort that easily stirred sympathy in others.


    But right now, her face was filled with terror as she frantically tried to defend herself with her flying sword.


    <i>Whoosh! ng! Boom~</i> The de ray swept across. There was a series of collisions followed by a burst of blood mist.


    The woman in purple robes fell.


    "One down, two to go." Wu Yuan turned to another qi refiner who managed to get hundreds of li away.


    Under Domain suppression, the speed of the qi refiner dropped significantly.


    "How can he be so strong?"


    "It''s over." The two remaining survivors were inplete despair.


    They had met their Blood Devil Token quota long ago but didn''t leave the Bloodforge Battlefield as they wanted to fight for the ultimate opportunity.


    But now, they wanted nothing more than to leave the battlefield.


    Unfortunately, the rules of the Bloodforge Battlefield were clear, if there were other participants within a thousand li, one may not leave the battlefield.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan swung his four arms, each holding a saber enveloped with a hazy glow.


    In a mere few breaths, he slew the remaining two without mercy.


    As thest one fell, Wu Yuan stood amidst the wreckage in the cave, his body quickly returning to its normal size. He couldn''t be bothered to pick up the artifacts left behind by the three.


    <i>Their strength wasn��t too shabby. I suspect they all have the power to clear level nine or ten of the Dark Star, equivalent to the second or third-stage of real Amethyst Cradle cultivators.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Such strength was quite impressive. Unfortunately for them, they crossed paths with Wu Yuan, who was capable of challenging level fifteen, or even sixteen of the Dark Star.


    The power Wu Yuan gained after his Daoprehension breakthrough was terrifying beyond belief!


    With his Celestial Body Daoprehension at the seventh-level Domain stage,bined with his powerful immortal root, Wu Yuan believed he could rank within the top twenty or even top ten in the entire Bloodforge Battlefield in terms of attack power.


    His already heaven-defying defenses also grew even more fearsome.


    Furthermore, once Wu Yuan activated Realm Crossing in his Beast Fusion state with Little ck, practically no one would be able to escape his pursuit unless theyprehended the Wind Dao or Thunder Dao to the seventh-level True Intent stage or higher.


    <i>Hmm? I''ve climbed back to the eighty-ninth rank. </i>Wu Yuan grinned, checking his new Blood Devil Token count.


    Blood Devil Tokens: 982,674


    Rank: 89


    <i>Not bad, just about what I expected! Each of the three contributed over ten thousand Blood Devil Tokens to me.</i>


    <i>How satisfying.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes held a hint of battle intent. <i>Now, among those still on the Bloodforge Battlefield, a small fraction are rtively weaker participants who haven''t gathered enough Blood Devil Tokens. The rest have over ten thousand, or even over a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens.</i>


    <i>Kill! Let��s see if there��s anyone on the Bloodforge Battlefield who can stop me now. </i>Wu Yuan��s heart zed with fighting spirit.


    Spreading his wings, he turned into a streak of light, darting out of the cave.


    He extended his Soul Force, enveloping everything in thousands of li. Soon, he found more participants in hiding, sixteen of them this time. Wu Yuan chose once again to unleash ughter.


    Probe with Soul Force, select targets, kill!


    His Blood Devil Token count surged!


    His upper dantian lobe, previously emptied of blood mist, once was quickly refilled.


    <i>I need to umte more blood mist before battling with Gao Yun or Ao Qi. </i>Wu Yuan had a foolproof n in his heart.


    What did those with strong defenses fear most? Encountering multiple waves of attacks!


    In a prolonged, continuous battle, no matter how slowly one��s ether was consumed, there woulde a point when it was exhausted. Thus, the blood mist��s ability to recharge ether was crucial for Wu Yuan!


    Moreover, Wu Yuan was keen to umte blood mist to its limit to determine if the ck pagoda would undergo any special changes once more.


    As time went by, no one could escape detection by Wu Yuan''s Soul Force, nor could anyone withstand Wu Yuan''s saber, regardless of how many participants gathered.


    It didn��t matter whether it was a group of geniuses ranked in the ten thousands working together or a peerless genius ranked within the top thousand. Wu Yuan''s response was the same �C kill anyone in his path!


    ...


    <i>Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, observation space of the Redmoon Division.</i>


    Arge number of Void Refiners like Protectorate Xiong Yuan, as well as numerous Earth Immortals and High Immortals, were all staring at the Blood Devil Token leaderboard.


    "Wu Yuan."


    "Wu Yuan has made his move, his Blood Devil Token count has just broken one million!" cried out an Earth Immortal in shock.


    In an instant, all eyes were drawn to the name that ranked close to the top - Wu Yuan!


    Wu Yuan had been the center of attention in the observation space since the battle started.


    Everyone hoped that the participants of their respective divisions would perform well. The better the performance, the greater the benefits they received, and the more prestige they would gain.


    The three most dazzling peerless geniuses of the Redmoon Division were Wu Yuan, Bai Li, and Shui Heng.


    Among them, Bai Li had already been in by a peerless genius from the immortal nation.


    Shui Heng barely broke into the top ten thousand, struggling desperately to survive, while Wu Yuan seemed to be wasting away in thest few months, his rank constantly dropping.


    But a skinny camel was still bigger than a horse. Even though his rank kept dropping, Wu Yuan was still ced among the top hundred, and remained one of the most dazzling participants in the Silvermist division.


    "His Blood Devil Token count is moving again."


    "Did he kill another participant?"


    "He''s now ranked eighty-seventh."


    "Barely any time has passed."


    "After resting for a few months, is Wu Yuan finally making his move?" Nearly ten thousand spectators in the observation space began to stir with excitement.


    Was Wu Yuan about to let loose once more?


    <i>After just ten breaths.</i>


    "His Blood Devil Token count has risen again."


    "Wu Yuan is back to massacring."


    In the span of just one day, thousands of spectators in the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall transitioned from excitement to stunned silence, then to holding their breaths. And finally, to numbness!


    The reason? Every few moments to a quarter of an hour, Wu Yuan��s Blood Devil Token count would jump up a notch. This indicated that Wu Yuan was on a relentless killing spree, a frenzied massacre! One after another, the other participants were falling under his saber.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token rank also rose at an astonishing speed.


    Seventy! Sixty! Fifty! Forty!


    In one day, Wu Yuan had climbed from the nies back into the top thirty, and his rank was still skyrocketing at an rming rate.


    The surge in his Blood Devil Token count was unparalleled and spectacr. Even Ao Qi and Gao Yun, recognized as the strongest participants, only managed to increase their Blood Devil Token count by less than a tenth of his over the same period. Wu Yuan was unstoppable.


    "Bloodforge King!" Standing at the front, High Immortal Wu Tian��s eyes shone as he eximed. "Wu Yuan, the Bloodforge King!"


    There was a moment of silence.


    "King!"


    "King!"


    "Wu Yuan, the Bloodforge King!" The entire observation space erupted.


    Even these immortals, revered and powerful figures among countless cultivators, were finally shaken by Wu Yuan''s terrifying outburst.


    The Bloodforge Battle took ce fairly frequently, once every hundred years. Most immortals had witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of Bloodforge Battles. Yet in their eyes, Wu Yuan''s performance was nothing short of miraculous.


    With his exceptional talent and young age, he erupted with astonishing power at the onset of the battle, charging forward fearlessly and securing a ce in the top ten.


    Just as all eyes were on him, he seemed to lose his drive, his performance falling into decline.


    Then, as Bloodforge Battle neared its conclusion and everyone thought there would be no major upsets, Wu Yuan burst onto the scene once again.


    With unprecedented speed, he was heading straight for the ultimate first ce!


    A miracle.


    It was a heart-stopping miracle!


    ...


    The countless spectators in the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall were shocked yet wild with excitement, all cheering for Wu Yuan.


    Meanwhile, the spectators from the other thousands of second-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, and even those from the countless factions of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, were simply dumbfounded.


    "Too exaggerated."


    "How could his Blood Devil Token count rise so quickly?"


    "Absurdly fast."


    "This is abnormal."


    "The blood devil trial will end soon. Even though the battlefield was reduced to around ten million li, the number of participants also drastically decreased. Normally, finding even a single participant would prove extremely challenging."


    "Even if Wu Yuan had all the strength in the world, he would still need to find all those participants to acquire their Blood Devil Tokens." Many spectators from various factions were puzzled.


    Seeing their ''genius disciples'' fall to Wu Yuan, some immortals from the immortal nation began to hurl usations, iming that the trial was rigged.


    However, few paid them any attention. The Bloodforge Battle had been held hundreds of millions of times without error, how could it be rigged?


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan''s stunning performance astounded them all.


    "Why do I feel that Wu Yuan''s talent is not any worse than Zhuo Haiyue and Li Xia of the immortal nation?" Finally, a High Immortal couldn''t help but voice his thoughts.


    This immediately garnered nods of agreement.


    "Yes, his power is terrifying."


    "Wu Yuan is unquestionably a peerless genius that the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s Silvermist Division only sees once in a hundred thousand years."

 Chapter 474: Unstoppable Conquest (2)

    <h4>Chapter 474: Unstoppable Conquest (2)</h4>


    "A hundred thousand years? No! In our Silvermist Division, his talent ranks among the top three in the past million years." Astral Lord Yin He��s robust voice resonated, his eyes sparkling with light.


    <i>Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, Silvermist ne, Archimmortal observation space.</i>


    At this moment, tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Astral Lords were all watching Wu Yuan''s mind-blowing performance!


    While the Earth Immortals and High Immortals could only make spections, these Archimmortals and Astral Lords were able to observe the entire battlefield.


    They understood why Wu Yuan was able to go on such a rampage, umting staggering numbers of Blood Devil Tokens in such a short time.


    "Soul!"


    "His soul is terrifying. A body refiner, merely in his fifties, has reached the Soul Will level? Remarkable," an Astral Lord couldn''t help but exim.


    "If I remember correctly, it''s been over two million years since a Spiritual Body cultivator from our Silvermist Division was able to reach the Soul Will level."


    "Mm, indeed."


    "Once in a while, a Golden Core cultivator will be able to reach the Soul Will level. Qi refiners are more adept in the aspect of soul cultivation."


    These Archimortals and Astral Lords had immensely long lives, their experiences and perspectives far surpassing those of Earth Immortals and High Immortals.


    Yet, they were still amazed by Wu Yuan''s performance. Considering his age, he possessed extremely fearsome talent.


    "His Daoprehension aptitude is also exceptional. Despite his youth, he has reached the seventh-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao."


    "And he has a second-degree immortal root."


    "What Yin He said is quite urate. ''Once in a hundred thousand years'' isn''t enough to describe him. Among the geniuses that have emerged from our Silvermist Division in the past one million years, he''s in the top five at least." These Archimortals and Astral Lords made their assessments.


    "I remember that the Silvermist Immortal Nation recently produced two peerless geniuses, Zhuo Haiyue and Li Xia."


    "Yes, those two are indeed dazzling."


    "Compared to them, Wu Yuan isn''t far behind. He can be considered a peerless genius of the same caliber." The Archimortals discussed amongst themselves.


    Compared to the Silvermist Immortal Nation, the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Silvermist Division was weaker in terms of overall strength. The standard of geniuses they produced was also lower.


    Therefore, when considering the past million-year history of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, Zhuo Haiyue and Li Xia��s talents would rank in the top twenty, perhaps top ten at most.


    But Wu Yuan could be considered one of the top five, or even top three talents in the past million-year history of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Silvermist Division.


    "Wu Yuan has broken into the top twenty of the Blood Devil Token rankings."


    "His killing efficiency is far greater than Ao Qi''s. As long as he''s willing to keep killing, taking first ce won''t be difficult."


    "He''s got enough time."


    To the many Archimmortals and Astral Lords in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, Wu Yuan might not be the strongest in the whole Bloodforge Battlefield, but with the breakthrough of his soul, the range of his Soul Force gave him an overwhelming advantage.


    And the soul was, after all, a part of one''s strength.


    ...


    While the spectators were shocked by Wu Yuan''s performance, the peerless geniuses in the Bloodforge Battlefield who paid close attention to the Blood Devil Token rankings also noticed Wu Yuan''s astonishing performance.


    Just two days after Wu Yuan''s resurgence, he re-entered the top ten of the Blood Devil Token rankings, and showed no signs of slowing down.


    "He''s really aiming for first ce!"


    "How did he do it?"


    "Could it be that the other participants are lining up for him to kill them?" These peerless geniuses were both shocked and puzzled.


    ...


    <i>In a passageway.</i>


    A young man in ck robes cut through the sky at an astonishing speed, his body faintly surrounded by green qi streams. He swept his Soul Force through his surroundings, looking for other participants.


    <i>Wu Yuan! </i>As he watched the rankings, a hint of fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.


    <i>The Archimmortal once said that you pose a great threat. I didn''t believe it at the time. How strong can a guy who has only been cultivating for a few decades be?</i>


    <i>It turns out that you really are the biggest threat.</i>


    ...


    <i>Ranked sixth now? </i>


    <i>ughtering so quickly?</i> Gao Yun controlled his flying swords, hunting down severalbatants.


    At the same time, a strand of his consciousness checked the changes on the leaderboard. Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count skyrocketed without stopping.


    <i>Did he make a breakthrough in his soul? </i>Gao Yun remembered the moment their Soul Forces collided during hisst sh with Wu Yuan.


    He was a qi refiner and had cultivated for far longer. Yet during that collision of souls, he took the lower hand.


    <i>But even if you have made a breakthrough in soul level, how did you dispose of those ranked in the top hundred so effortlessly?</i> Gao Yun noticed that several peerless geniuses ranked in the top hundred had either been killed by Wu Yuan or forced to use up their retry opportunity.


    There was no doubt about it.


    <i>You have grown stronger. </i>Gao Yun''s eyes shimmered with a cold light. <i>But no one can stop me. No one!</i>


    <i>The title of Bloodforge King is mine.</i> A burning desire filled Gao Yun''s heart.


    ...


    As days passed, Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count continued to increase, breaking directly into the top five! Then four!


    Third! Second!


    On the sixth day of Wu Yuan''s resurgence, his Blood Devil Token count surpassed Ao Qi, taking over as the new first ce on the Blood Devil Token leaderboard.


    From start to finish, this journey was nothing short of a miracle.


    Countless spectators were in an uproar.


    In the long history of the Silvermist Division''s Bloodforge Battles, there hadn''t been such a thrilling event in a very long time.


    After reaching first ce, Wu Yuan��s killing streak did not falter, and his Blood Devil Token count continued to surge, quickly widening the gap between himself and his rivals, Ao Qi and Gao Yun.


    Days slipped by.


    In a blink, only half a month was left until the end of the blood devil trial, the first stage of the Bloodforge.


    Within a passageway in the center of the battlefield, atop a folded mountain range, the wind howled. The vast earth was a deste, endless expanse.


    Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, silently regting his breathing.


    For a month, he had been indulging in a killing spree.


    Battle after battle with talented individuals, especially those with peerless geniuses ranked in the top hundred, served as rare opportunities for him to temper himself, elerating his progress ofprehending the Celestial Body Dao.


    In between the battles, Wu Yuan also deeply contemted his saber techniques, striving to integrate the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao into it.


    <i>Getting closer and closer to ten million Blood Devil Tokens, I never thought I would actually get this far.</i> Wu Yuan thought. He checked his Blood Devil Token count.


    Blood Devil Tokens: 9,436,635


    Ranking: 1


    This was an absurd number. The more than nine million Blood Devil Tokens represented countless participants dying at Wu Yuan��s hands.


    It was worth noting that the second-ce Ao Qi decided not to continue with his killing spree after some time. His Blood Devil Token count was just above four million.


    Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count was more than double that of Ao Qi''s, a testament to Wu Yuan��s frantic ughter over the past month.


    <i>I��ve killed tens of thousands of participants, including quite a few peerless geniuses. </i>A chill shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes and he shook his head slightly. <i>It''s a pity that no new anomalies urred after the blood mist reached its limit.</i>


    Opportunities only came by once! However, this one opportunity was wondrous enough to make Wu Yuan tremble.


    <i>I��m rather unlucky. I��ve yet toe across Ao Qi, Gao Yun, and the others thus far.</i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    Wu Yuan had shown no restraint when he went on his murderous rampages. Yet, the vast Bloodforge Battlefield was simply toorge, or perhaps some invisible influence prevented these peerless geniuses from crossing paths.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils narrowed abruptly. His Soul Force, maintained at a range over thousands of li, picked up on a participant passing by.


    This participant was flying at an incredible speed.


    <i>Who is this? Ah, it''s him! </i>A sh of excitement and fighting spirit flickered across Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>Finally, I''ve been waiting far too long.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan suddenly stood, soaring into the sky. Without hesitation, he unleashed his terrifying aura, sending waves of spiritual qi rolling outward.


    This was the quickest way to attract an enemy��s attention.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Guided by his Soul Force, Wu Yuan charged straight toward his opponent.


    With their keen eyesight, everything in a distance of thousands of li was clear to them.


    Thousands of li away, the ck-robed young man, who was originally flying at high speed while probing his surroundings, hade to a stop. A gale howled, and the young man''s ck robes pped in the wind.


    Upon seeing Wu Yuan, he didn''t flee like the other participants. Instead, he looked like he had just found his prey. A joyful expression appeared on his face.


    "Wu Yuan! After a long and fruitless search, I found you without even trying. You came to me yourself," the ck-robed young man growled, his entire body enveloped in a hazy green light.


    His speed then surged as he bolted towards Wu Yuan.


    In just a few breaths, the two peerless geniuses halted about three hundred li apart from each other, fixing their gazes on one another.


    "Ao Qi?" Wu Yuan''s deep voice echoed out.


    "Wu Yuan?" The cold, icy voice of the ck-robed youth answered, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuan.


    "Ao Qi, this is our first meeting, isn''t it?" Wu Yuan''s voice was filled with fierce determination. "Defeating you is my ticket to obtaining ten million Blood Devil Tokens."


    "Good, I was thinking the same thing." Ao Qi''s eyes burned with intensity. "After defeating you, the rest are not even worth mentioning."


    "There will be no one left to stand in my way of iming the Bloodforge King title."


    From just a short exchange of words, these two peerless geniuses felt each other''s unwavering determination and resolve.


    There was no need for more words. A great battle was about to begin!


    At this moment, thousands of Archimmortals and Astral Lords in the observation space of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm watched the uing battle with intense focus.


    This battle was, without a doubt, the most significant one in the history of Bloodforges.


    It was a direct confrontation between the first and second rankers. More importantly, it was a fateful collision between the current leading contenders from the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. The oue of this battle would determine the final Bloodforge King.


    "Attack!" Ao Qi burst into action, transforming into a hundred-zhang-tall giant. He was engulfed in an ethereal green light, with three heads and eight arms sprouting from his body. His aura instantly intensified.


    Advanced ether art �C Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form!


    Ayer of hazy green light enveloped Ao Qi, and a wave of green qi streams crashed towards Wu Yuan.


    "Haha, attack!" Wu Yuan also exploded into action, unleashing four advanced ether arts. Wielding four sabers, he charged towards Ao Qi with a battle cry.

 Chapter 475: Climactic Battle, Bloodforge King (1)

    <h4>Chapter 475: Climactic Battle, Bloodforge King (1)</h4>


    Three hundred li separated the two sides, but for peerless geniuses of their caliber, a single flicker of movement could bring them face-to-face.


    And with them heading straight for each other, it didn��t take longer than an instant for Wu Yuan and Ao Qi to sh, their domains being the first to collide.


    A thunderous rumble echoed as a hazy, earthy light shed with an ethereal green one, thetter subtly gaining the upper hand. However, the earthy-yellow light still protected Wu Yuan without faltering.


    As body refiners, neither Wu Yuan nor Ao Qi excelled in domains. Hence, superiority was determined by who had a deeper Daoprehension.


    It was obvious that Ao Qi, who hadprehended an Intermediate Law within the Wind Dao to the ninth-level Domain stage, had a more terrifying domain.


    However, the Celestial Body Dao��s greatest strengthy in defense, and there was no fundamental difference between the seventh-level Domain stage and the ninth-level Domain stage. Thus when the two shed, Wu Yuan��s defenses held.


    Furthermore, for those who fought in closebat like war gods, domains were just an auxiliary measure and rarely determined the oue of a battle.


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>Ao Qi, assuming the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form, wielded six sabers and two shields in his eight arms.


    The six sabers whistled as they shed towards Wu Yuan.


    In the vast heavens and earth, special profundities mysteriously coalesced with the sword and the cauldron, making them incredibly powerful and hence, popr. For instance, the flying sword was the mostmon attack-type artifact wielded by qi refiners and sword cultivation was a major ss.


    However, body refiners often preferred weapons such as sabers, axes, and spears, which allowed them to unleash their power in more a more straightforward manner.


    The six sabers, applying the profundities of the Wind Dao, were swift and unpredictable.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i>


    ��Scorching Sun.�� Wu Yuan who wielded four sabers did not choose to defend. Instead, he immediately responded with an aggressive move from the Starsunder Saber Codex.


    The support of four ether arts elevated Wu Yuan''s power to an extremely terrifying level. He chose to fight saber with saber, going head-to-head with his opponent!


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> de rays flooded the air like a raging torrent, engulfing heaven and earth. The terrifying aftermath of the battle caused the colors of the world around them to shift.


    How terrifying was a close-quarters fight? In a single face-off, both sides shed dozens of times.


    Soon, Wu Yuan was sent flying by a dazzling de ray, his body mming into the earth like a meteor, causing the ground to shake and stirring up a cloud of dust.


    Ao Qi hovered in mid-air, his power overwhelming.


    <i>Such a fast and strange saber technique!</i> Wu Yuan was shocked. He was uninjured, but his vital qi churned within him.


    This head-to-head collision quickly made Wu Yuan realize something: <i>I can only invoke the Celestial Body Dao when attacking, putting me at an absolute disadvantage. I''m no match for him.</i>


    In terms of Daoprehension, his opponent was significantly stronger, not to mention the Wind Dao leaned more toward offense, and his saber technique was also more formidable.


    In terms of ether art, his opponent''s advanced ether art: Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form, was an offensive-type secret art. Once unleashed, it was far more powerful than his own Four-Armed Form.


    Fortunately, Wu Yuan won in terms of ether capacity, so the gap wasn''t too outrageous.


    <i>This Ao Qi couldpete with Gao Yun for the title of participant with the strongest attack power in the Bloodforge Battlefield.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>However, what I excel at is not offense.</i>


    Body refiners with second or third-degree immortal roots could only cultivate one advanced ether art at the Spiritual Body phase. Hence, their choice of ether art was of utmost importance.


    The Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form excelled in attacks. The True Celestial Body, however, excelled in defense.


    Wu Yuan decided to sh head-on Ao Qi simply to measure how wide the gap in their attack power was.


    <i>Now that that��s confirmed, it''s time to use thebat methods I excel at.</i> Wu Yuan pped his wings, his movements elusive.


    Roaring, he charged toward Ao Qi once more.


    Even though Little ck''sprehension of the Wind Dao wasn''t deep, its mastery over the advanced ether art: Realm Crossing was not to be underestimated.


    <i>As expected of Wu Yuan. With a second-degree immortal root andprehension of the Celestial Body Dao, he sure can take a hit. </i>Ao Qi was equally astonished.


    With his power, a single sh would either kill or severely injure a typical Spiritual Body cultivator. But Wu Yuan seemed unscathed.


    <i>Since heprehends the Celestial Body Dao, he must have cultivated a true body type advanced ether art. </i>Ao Qi deduced.


    There were few all-rounders on the path of cultivation. Cultivators mainly strove to focus on their strengths, maximizing their advantages.


    <i>Defense? Constant defense consumes a great deal of ether. I refuse to believe you can withstand my attacks forever.</i> Ao Qi was filled with determination. <i>Even if you''re a tortoise shell, I''ll break you open.</i>


    He lunged at Wu Yuan, unleashing the saber technique with greater ferocity.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Seemingly endless de rays lit up the passage as the two peerless geniuses shed once again.


    Both were body refiners employing saber techniques. Yet, their methods and the auras they evoked werepletely different.


    Ao Qi''s saber technique was frighteningly fast, each sh following thest. His de rays were either as ghostly as shadows, swift as the wind, or fluid as water. His strikes were relentless, as though he was showing the world how terrifying saber techniques could be.


    On the contrary, Wu Yuan''s saber technique was summed up by one word��steady! The four sabers rotated, not attacking, but weaving a web of de rays that gave a sense of solidity, like an unbreakable towering wall.


    No shy moves, just a touch of ingenious simplicity.


    His solid defense blocked Ao Qi''s eerie de rays. Even when the de rays asionally broke through Wu Yuan''s defense andnded on his body, he remained unperturbed.


    Immovable as a Mountain! Body Of A Star!


    <i>I refuse to believe you can block me.</i> Ao Qi didn��t slow his attacks in the slightest, convinced he held the upper hand.


    In a life-or-death fight between body refiners, the aggressor often held the upper hand, the odds more often than not in their favor. Being on the offensive often indicated greater strength.


    <i>I refuse to believe you can keep this up. Take your time, we��re just getting started. </i>Wu Yuan remained as calm and unshakeable as a mountain.


    Even in the previous battles, he had relied on bouts of attrition to defeat and kill several peerless geniuses who were not adept at concealment techniques.


    He had the blood mist to replenish his ether, the Longevity Dao to improve his recovery rate, and the True Celestial Body for protection. Furthermore, his immortal root was stronger, his ether more abundant!


    With all these factorsbined, Wu Yuan estimated that his ether replenishment rate should be at least ten times that of Ao Qi. A battle of attrition? He hardly feared it.


    <i>He who wins at defense, wins the battle. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was like the saber technique he employed �C Immovable as a Mountain.


    ...


    In the observation space of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, thousands of Archimortals and Astral Lords watched the climactic showdown between Wu Yuan and Ao Qi. Neither side disappointed them.


    "Both are doing very well. Ao Qi, recognized as the top contender from the Bloodforge Devil Hall even before the Bloodforge Battle, is the favorite to be the Bloodforge King."


    "He fought fiercely all the way, sweeping all opposition, truly deserving the title of genius."


    "Wu Yuan is equally formidable. He''s not even half Ao Qi''s age, but has made rapid progress and is now ranked first in Blood Devil Token count."


    "One excels at offense."


    "The other excels at defense!" The Astral Lords and Archimortals watching the battle were all impressed.


    "This battle is indeed the climactic showdown of the Bloodforge Battle. Both of them are doing very well."


    "Battle of the kings!"


    "The attacker has reached the pinnacle of strength within the Spiritual Body phase, a level of near-perfection that can''t be exceeded unless he breaks through to the True Intent stage. Ao Qi''s saber skills are already immacte."


    "Wu Yuan''s saber defense is not wless, but his foundation is too profound and unshakeable, utterly terrifying." These Archimmortals and Astral Lords could not help but give genuine praises. Even with their high standards, it was rare to witness such a sh of geniuses.


    Indeed! To them, Spiritual Body cultivators were all just naive youngsters. Yet even in their naivety, they were capable of unleashing such power, signifying that both contenders had enormous potential.


    "Who will win?"


    "Meng Jie, Yin He, these two youngsters are from your territories, don''t you have any thoughts?" The other Astral Lords watching the battle broke into discussion. As for the oue of this battle, they each had their predictions.


    "The one most likely to win is Ao Qi," Astral Lord Yin He took the initiative to speak. "Wu Yuan indeed has a stronger immortal root, but in such an intense battle, a prolonged defense will eventually copse. Moreover, he is constantly under attack, his ether consumption is much greater."


    "Indeed! Ao Qi has the absolute upper hand, the probability of him winning is indeed higher." The other Astral Lords couldn''t help but voice their opinions.


    It was quite clear that they were expecting Ao Qi toe on top. In their view, no matter how tough Wu Yuan''s defense was, his immortal root was only one degree stronger, yet his ether consumption was twice as fast. How could he win?


    Astral Lord Meng Jie just smiled, not uttering a word.


    A quarter of an hourter, Astral Lord Meng Jie''s smile vanished. The expressions of the other Astral Lords and Archimmortals also underwent considerable changes.


    "He''s still holding on?"


    "Despite the drain on his ether, Wu Yuan can still hold on? Without showing any signs of fatigue?" These Astral Lords and Archimmortals were all stunned.


    They prided themselves on their discernment, yet now, they found themselves unable to gauge Wu Yuan''s condition.


    They knew Wu Yuan��s fortey in defense, but never imagined that he could keep it up to such an extent, it was simply heaven-defying.


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.


    "He''s going to lose."


    "Ao Qi probably can''t hold on any longer. In such an extended battle, the depletion of his ether must be immense."


    "But Wu Yuan still hasn��t shown any signs of fatigue?" These Astral Lords and Archimmortals were all somewhat dumbfounded as they watched the scene projected on the light screen.


    The tenacity Wu Yuan disyed exceeded their understanding.


    "Could it be that Wu Yuan used some special treasure?"


    "Impossible!"


    "That''s the Bloodforge Battlefield, what sort of treasure could allow Wu Yuan to cheat while evading detection? No such thing has happened in endless years." An Astral Lord quickly refuted this idea.


    However, Wu Yuan��s heaven-defying performance also convinced these Astral Lords and Archimmortals that he likely acquired some special ability from a fortuitous encounter that allowed him to fight prolonged battles.


    ...


    On the Bloodforge Battlefield, the battle between Wu Yuan and Ao Qi had reached its climax.


    The more Ao Qi fought, the more frightened and ufortable he felt.


    Wu Yuan gave him an unsettling feeling. The power behind Wu Yuan��s saber technique was limited. Yet, despite facing his six sabers and asionally making mistakes, Wu Yuan managed to withstand the relentless barrage of attacks.


    As they fought, Ao Qi stowed his two shields, opting to wield sabers with all eight arms, and escting the pressure. Yet, despite this intensified assault, Wu Yuan continued to hold his ground.


    They fought on, bathed in blood.


    Wu Yuan''s True Celestial Body was sturdy, but it took a battering over and over again, and he consumed a colossal amount of ether to heal his injuries.


    Yet by employing numerous ether arts, Ao Qi was draining his ether at a rapid pace too.


    <i>Why? Why isn��t Wu Yuan''s ether depleted yet? </i>Ao Qi was engulfed by a howling tempest, a hint of mania in his reddened eyes.


    Wu Yuan had truly frightened him.


    In the beginning, he was full of confidence. His attacks were far stronger than Wu Yuan''s. Even with less ether, he should theoretically have the upper hand.


    But as the battle continued, Wu Yuan remained calm and unyielding, his four sabers alternating to shield his body. His defense was as sturdy as a tortoise shell.


    Ao Qi couldn''t break this shell. And now, he had less than thirty percent of ether left!


    As for Wu Yuan?


    <i>Life-and-deathbat is indeed thrilling! How exhrating!</i> Wu Yuan was fully engaged in this battle, his fighting spirit growing stronger with each passing moment.


    Despite being at a disadvantage, he seemed to have the upper hand.


    <i>Wu Yuan still shows no sign of running out of ether. What a monster. </i>Ao Qi was truly beginning to despair.


    <i>My battle with Wu Yuan has been going on for quite some time. The effects of our sh have spread over tens of thousands of li, causing a massive disturbance. Undoubtedly, many powerful participants are now watching us. I can''t afford to expend all my ether on Wu Yuan. </i>A thought shed across Ao Qi''s mind.


    Having only thirty percent of one''s ether remaining was an exceedingly perilous state to be in on the Bloodforge Battlefield. Realizing that the situation was bleak, he made a decision.


    <i>Retreat! </i>Ao Qi instantly retreated at high speed, increasing the distance between him and Wu Yuan.


    His voice was full of reluctance, "Wu Yuan, how much ether do you have left?"

 Chapter 476: Climactic Battle, Bloodforge King (2)

    <h4>Chapter 476: Climactic Battle, Bloodforge King (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan was still caught up in the intense battle, on the backfoot and just barely holding his ground.


    That''s when he heard Ao Qi''s question.


    "How much do you think I have left?" Wu Yuan threw back, cracking a grin.


    Then, he lunged forward in a sudden movement, wings slicing through the sky as fast as lightning.


    "You think you can just fight or leave whenever you want?" Wu Yuan swung his saber, charging at Ao Qi.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> de rays crossed, and Ao Qi leveraged the momentum to retreat again.


    Shrouded underyers of green light, his speed skyrocketed to extremes as he backed off.


    "Wu Yuan, I refuse to ept defeat! It''s not you I lost to, it''s your ether!" Ao Qi''s voice echoed through heaven and earth, full of bitter resentment.


    <i>Refuse to ept defeat?</i> Wu Yuan grinned.


    He obviously understood Ao Qi''s thoughts, anyone else in his ce would probably feel the same.


    <i>But, why should I care if you ept it or not? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes held a hint of excitement. <i>The one who ran away in the end, was you.</i>


    One��s endurance in battle was a strength too.


    With this in mind, Wu Yuan''s voice echoed through his domain for thousands of li, "Ao Qi, it''s not your fault you can''t persevere, don''t me yourself."


    Ao Qi��s face colored slightly, but he didn''t respond.


    <i>Ao Qi is hailed as the top body refiner on the Bloodforge Battlefield, but in a real fight to the death with me, he''s the one who would die. </i>Wu Yuan cracked a grin again.


    He didn''t pursue because he simply couldn''t catch up. Ao Qi was a peerless genius whoprehended the Wind Dao, Wu Yuan had no hope of catching him if he wished to flee.


    Even if Little ck aided him by employing the ether art Realm Crossing, it wouldn��t make a difference.


    <i>Hmm, my ether reserves have also dropped to fifty percent. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself, <i>If I run into another peerless genius in the top ten at this time, it would be quite dangerous.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s ether consumption rate was nearly twice that of Ao Qi, but he still had more ether leftover.


    <i>Let''s go. I need to find a ce to recover my ether first.</i> With his Soul Force scouting the way, Wu Yuan quickly left the area.


    He detected quite a few peerless geniuses who had sensed the intense battle fluctuations and rushed over to watch.


    If his ether reserves were full, Wu Yuan wouldn''t mind ughtering a few. But now, replenishing his ether took precedence.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>With a p of his wings, Wu Yuan quickly burrowed into a cave, his presence disappearing from the area.


    "He won!"


    "The one who had thestugh was actually Wu Yuan?"


    "Wu Yuan beat Ao Qi?"


    "Ao Qi retreated on his own, clearly conceding defeat." Many of the peerless geniuses secretly watching the battle were somewhat shocked.


    Ao Qi was a peerless genius who had cleared level sixteen of the Dark Star! He was considered the most likely participant to take the title of Bloodforge King.


    Although Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token rank skyrocketed, taking first ce with a massive lead, many geniuses still remained skeptical of Wu Yuan''s actual strength. After all, Wu Yuan was young, significantly disadvantaged in terms of cultivation timepared to those peerless geniuses.


    That was, until this battle!


    Wu Yuan went head-to-head with Ao Qi, refusing to back down, and forced Ao Qi to retreat. Regardless of the process, the oue was undeniable. Ao Qi was defeated. Wu Yuan won!


    "With Ao Qi defeated, who else can possibly stop Wu Yuan?"


    "Gao Yun? Dongfang Hongguang? Their Blood Devil Token rankings are still inferior to Ao Qi. They can''t defeat Wu Yuan!"


    "Wu Yuan!!"


    "Wu Yuan is the youngest among the top hundred Blood Devil Token rankers, his talent is undisputedly ranked first."


    "In terms of power, Wu Yuan defeated Ao Qi."


    "In terms of the Blood Devil Token ranking, he is first by a huge margin."


    "The king."


    "There��s a ny-nine percent probability that he��ll be the next Bloodforge King." The Bloodforge Battle had reached a point where many peerless geniuses were no longer fighting each other, but forming alliances for self-preservation.


    Hence, news spread rapidly. Many peerless geniuses hade to ept that Wu Yuan was destined to be the Bloodforge King.


    ...


    "There''s no dispute anymore."


    "First in the Blood Devil Token ranking! First in talent!"


    "Besides Wu Yuan, who else can contend for the Bloodforge King title? No one." The tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Astral Lords watching the battle in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm had essentially reached a consensus.


    Even Astral Lord Meng Jie sincerely remarked, "There''s no shame in losing. Even though we don''t know how Wu Yuan did it, a loss is still a loss."


    Instantly, the Archimmortals and Astral Lords burst intoughter.


    In the history of the Bloodforge Battle, this was the first time the battle for Bloodforge King was concluded even before the first stage drew to a close.


    ...


    Deep within an underground cavern spanning hundreds of li in the Bloodforge World, Wu Yuan was seated in lotus position on a massive boulder.


    <i>Hum~</i> A hazy, earthy-yellow glow enveloped Wu Yuan. Strands of this light connected with the fluctuations of the Celestial Body Dao, exuding an astonishing power


    After a long while, Wu Yuan exhaled and opened his eyes, a trace of joy in his gaze. <i>Life and death battles are indeed thrilling, and indeed greatly promote cultivation.</i>


    A century of seclusion was not as effective as a single battle. This was a popr saying among immortal cultivators, showing the potential that a life-and-death struggle could unleash.


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao is solid as a rock. My saber should be the same. </i>Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    His battle with Ao Qi had taught him many lessons. His defense was broken again and again, allowing de rays tond on his body. This helped Wu Yuan realize his own oversights.


    Moreover, this battle seemed simple, but Wu Yuan gave it his all, not letting down his guard from start to finish. In a moment of carelessness, his opponent might be able to dismantle his defenses, and the all-epassing de rays would fall. Not even his True Celestial Body could withstand it.


    True body ether arts were not about withstanding enemy attacks while standing still. Rather, it was about increasing one��s tolerance for mistakes. Where one originally had no room for error, asional mistakes were permissible once one a true body ether art was cultivated. In this way, one��s chances of survival and vitality would naturally increase tenfold.


    <i>Time to get moving. One Ao Qi had such a great effect on me, what if I fight several more peerless geniuses?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes glinted with a hint of yearning.


    The pressure of facing a qi refiner in battle wasn''t as intense. Closebat was still the best!


    After resting for a day, Wu Yuan emerged once again, traversing through the Bloodforge World in search of peerless geniuses to fight.


    ...


    "Bu Qu, let''s battle." Wu Yuan descended from the heavens like a mighty roc,unching an attack on a plump elderly man who was in deep meditation.


    <i>Wu Yuan? Flee! </i>Upon seeing Wu Yuan, the chubby elderly man''s face paled and he opted for escape. He had heard rumors that even Ao Qi stood no chance against Wu Yuan.


    "Haha, run? Do you think you can escape?" Wu Yuan roared withughter, swooping in like a gale, and sending a de ray to chase down the elderly man.


    With Little ck by his side, Wu Yuan''s movement technique was definitely first-rate among the many peerless geniuses, even if it wasn��t considered the top tier.


    "Damn it, ahhhhhh!" The chubby elderly man, Bu Qu, gritted his teeth and exploded into action, his body swelling in size and his aura expanding.


    Advanced ether art: Deity Form.


    It was an advanced version of the basic ether art: Eldritch Form, and immensely powerful, somewhat simr to the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form Ao Qi employed.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> On one side, de rays howled, on the other, palm strikes filled the sky.


    After a prolonged, intense battle, which saw them fighting while on the move, the peerless genius ranked 56th on the Blood Devil Token list, Bu Qu, was defeated after a grueling chase of over a hundred thousand li.


    <i>Retry?</i> Wu Yuan looked at the chubby elderly man as he disappeared. A chuckle escaped his lips. <i>With so little time left, do you have enough to start over?</i>


    This battle had increased Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count by nearly two hundred thousand.


    ...


    And so, Wu Yuan rampaged with reckless abandon, wielding his saber in the Bloodforge Battlefield, seeking one opponent after another. In doing so, he honed his saber technique.


    He attacked mercilessly, fighting to the death without retreating. Even when faced with a joint attack of three to five peerless geniuses, he did not back down, obliterating these so-called genius teams with brute force.


    Wu Yuan''s Blood Devil Token count continued to climb, finally breaking through ten million and once again making the countless spectators boil with excitement.


    Ten million Blood Devil Tokens! Though not a legendary feat, it hadn''t happened in several decades within the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    A billion Blood Devil Tokens? Now that was a legendary feat. It was a benchmark, only theoretically achievable.


    Acquiring ten million Blood Devil Tokens was extremely difficult to aplish. But, Wu Yuan did it.


    ...


    In the final stages of the blood devil trial, Wu Yuan wentpletely berserk with ughter.


    By chance, he encountered the super genius ranked fourth in Blood Devil Token rank��Dongfang Hongguang, a peerless genius second only to Wu Yuan, Ao Qi, and Gao Yun in fame.


    Upon meeting, both sides immediately erupted in a violent battle.


    In the end, Wu Yuan emerged victorious. Dongfang Hongguang''s ether was exhausted, and he was forced into a dead end. Escape was not an option.


    Although he still had a retry opportunity, there was only one day left. There was far from enough time for him to seize a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens.


    "You can leave!" Wu Yuan let Dongfang Hongguang go.


    "Why?" Dongfang Hongguang was taken aback.


    "It''s pointless now." Wu Yuanughed heartily as he left.


    Indeed, it was pointless. With all that incessant killing, the blood mist had once again reached its storage limit. However, no anomalies urred.


    As for his Blood Devil Token count? Wu Yuan had already surpassed twelve million. Adding a few hundred thousand more couldn��t even be considered the icing on the cake.


    Besides, Wu Yuan knew that Dongfang Hongguang was highly valued by the devil hall. Since there was no need to kill, then so be it.


    This was not Wu Yuan''s kindness, but his nature. To follow one''s heart is to walk the path of Asura.


    <i>I am the king of the Bloodforge Battlefield. I have the power to show mercy. </i>Wu Yuan''s strength gave him enough confidence to continue searching for other peerless geniuses.


    Dongfang Hongguang was left with a puzzled look on his face.


    "He actually let Dongfang Hongguang go?"


    "He has the strength to do so. If he wants to kill, he kills. If he wants to let someone go, he lets them go. Do you have a problem with that?"


    "Wu Yuan, you monstrous prodigy." The Archimmortals and Astral Lords chatted andughed. Wu Yuan''s actions only made them smile.


    Finally, the blood devil trial whichsted for a year came to an end.


    "Participants who have fulfilled their Blood Devil Token quota but failed to acquire one hundred thousand tokens will now be teleported away. Ten, nine... one!" A cold voice echoed in the ears of countless participants, throughout the entire Bloodforge Battlefield.


    Soon, arge group of participants were enveloped by an invisible force. After which, they left the Bloodforge World with regret.


    "Participants who have failed to fulfill their Blood Devil Token quota will now be eliminated!" The cold voice rang out again: "Three, two..."


    "No!"


    "Don''t!"


    "Give me another chance, I don''t want to die, please!" Countless talents from the Bloodforge Devil Hall who were forced to use their retry opportunity but failed to meet their quota, or those who hid themselves throughout the trial, all panicked at this moment.


    "...One!" As the cold voice fell, an invisible wave enveloped the entire Bloodforge Battlefield. Over a million participants died simultaneously, their howls of despair cut short.


    Countless Archimmortals and Astral Lords silently observed this scene. Over the long years, they had seen too many of such scenes.


    Indeed, it was cruel, but this was the rule of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Only through life and death, iron and blood, would one truly understand the truth of death and be a super powerhouse.


    "A total of 1482 people will now enter the second stage. Get ready. Ten, nine, eight...one." The cold voice rang again, every participant who met the criteria could hear it clearly.


    An invisible power enveloped them all at the same time. Without a sound, these participants disappeared.


    Thus, the Blood Devil Token ranking was finalized.


    Wu Yuan ranked first!


    And in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, the group of Archimmortals and Astral Lords in the observation space could no longer monitor the proceedings.


    "They''ve all gone to the Bloodforge Spacetime."


    "That''s controlled by the divine court headquarters. Forget us, even the devil hall can''t spy on it." These Archimmortals and Astral Lords discussed.


    Suddenly, the icy voice reverberated once more across the deserted Bloodforge Battlefield.


    "Preliminary estimates indicate that in Bloodforge Battlefield Number 893 (Silvermist), Wu Yuan takes the lead in the Blood Devil Token rankings with over ten million tokens.��


    ��He qualifies for the title of Bloodforge Marquis of the Golden Core, while simultaneously meeting the minimum requirements for the Bloodforge King title."


    "Wu Yuan also ranks first in theprehensive talent assessment." This cold voice echoed simultaneously in various observation spaces within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm''s Redmoon ne.


    Furthermore, it resounded in the ears of numerous Archimmortals, Astral Lords, and countless spectators who were only able to watch the rankings.


    "Wu Yuan shall hereby be directly granted the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King.��

 Chapter 477: Yin Hes Gift (1)

    <h4>Chapter 477: Yin He''s Gift (1)</h4>


    <i>The Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    Within the Redmoon Division��s observation space, nearly ten thousand spectators gathered.


    "Wu Yuan, the top Blood Devil Token ranker."


    ��Ten million Blood Devil Tokens, that''s outrageous! When was thest time our Redmoon Immortal Hall produced such a monstrous prodigy?��


    ��His talent is unmatched, and he stands a strong chance at clinching the title of Bloodforge King.��


    ��Too bad we��ll have to wait at least half a year for the results.�� The numerous protectorates, Earth Immortals, and High Immortals of the Redmoon Division were engaged in heated discussion.


    The Redmoon Division was incredibly vast and had its share of internal factional disputes. But at this moment, they all felt a sense of pride at Wu Yuan''s achievements.


    Suddenly, they heard a cold voice echoing throughout the observation space: "Wu Yuan shall be directly granted the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King.��


    The previously bustling observation space fell silent.


    An instantter, it was in uproar once again.


    "Unbelievable."


    "They announced it right away? Bloodforge King? Wu Yuan was granted the title of Bloodforge King directly?��


    ��Bloodforge King!��


    ��Wu Yuan! The King.��


    ��The second stage has just begun, thepetition shouldn��t even have started yet, yet he has already imed the king��s title?�� The spectators in this observation space were thrilled.


    They might hold lofty statuses in the eyes of countlessmoners, but they too had emotions.


    With Wu Yuan''s explosive disy of strength and the astonishing achievement of obtaining the title of Bloodforge King at the very beginning of the second stage, they couldn''t help but lose theirposure.


    "Bloodforge King? Over the long history of my Redmoon Division, there have been quite a few, but to dere it right as they enter the second stage? Too rare."


    "In thest billion years, such a situation has never urred among the Bloodforge Kings from my Redmoon Division."


    ...


    "What?"


    "King?" This news echoed simultaneously in thousands of observation spaces in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    The factions that upied these observation spaces were subordinates under the Silvermist Division, and the spaces were specifically opened for viewing Bloodforge Battles.


    "He was directly awarded the title of Bloodforge King?"


    "Isn��t that a bit too much?"


    "Even if he is ranked first in Blood Devil Token number and talent... talent is ultimately fleeting. Among the historically recognized Bloodforge Kings, most of them went through thepetition of the second stage before they were finally confirmed."


    "Terrifying." The countless observers from the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall were stunned.


    Wu Yuan''s previous performance proved his incredible talent, but being directly bestowed the title of Bloodforge King was nothing short of miraculous.


    Of all events, miracles were the most memorable, forever etched in one��s mind.


    "It''s unbelievable, but he truly deserves it."


    "Yes! He was given the title shockingly quickly, but overall, this isn��t surprising."


    "As the first in Blood Devil Token count and talent rankings, if he doesn''t be the Bloodforge King, who will?" Countless observers from various second-tier divisions were shocked at the speed of the announcement.


    However, there were very few, almost none, who doubted its legitimacy.


    The reason was simple. If Wu Yuan didn��t take the title, then which of the other thousand-plus geniuses fighting in the Bloodforge Battlefield under Silvermist Immortal Nation would?


    "They''re not worthy."


    "If Wu Yuan doesn''t get it, who will? Ao Qi? Gao Yun? No! They have no right!" numerous spectators eximed.


    ...


    It wasn��t just the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Many factions within the Silvermist Immortal Nation were also paying close attention to the Bloodforge Battle.


    The announcement left them all stunned.


    "Taking the title of the Bloodforge King directly?"


    "The Bloodforge Spacetime is a mysterious ce controlled by the divine court headquarters. There''s no chance of error. Since they''ve recognized Wu Yuan��s worth, it means that Wu Yuan''s potential far exceeds other geniuses, by a thousandfold, or even ten-thousandfold."


    "Just how talented is this Wu Yuan?" Many Archimmortals and Astral Lords couldn''t help but wonder.


    "Could he be stronger than Zhuo Haiyue, Li Xia, and the others?"


    "It''s very likely."


    ...


    In the Silvermist ne of the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, the Archimmortals and Astral Lords from the devil hall were also filled with astonishment.


    "Directly granted the title of king?"


    "When was thest time something like this happened?" These Archimmortals and Astral Lords couldn''t help but discuss.


    "Reviewing the history of our Silvermist Division, thest instance of the title being granted directly dates back to ten million years ago." A well-versed Astral Lord quickly provided an answer.


    Ten million years? Even for the enormous Silvermist Division of the Devil Hall, this was a long span of time, enough for countless Archimmortals to emerge.


    One could imagine just how rare such an event was.


    "Could it be that Wu Yuan is a once-in-a-million-year genius of the entire Silvermist Division? His performance doesn''t seem that exaggerated."


    "It''s very strange."


    "But one thing''s for sure, the Bloodforge Spacetime never makes mistakes."


    "Astral Lord Yin He, Wu Yuan is under yourmand, don''t tell me you know nothing about the extraordinary abilities he has been hiding?" Astral Lord Meng Jie couldn''t help but question Astral Lord Yin He.


    Astral Lord Meng Jie has high hopes for Ao Qi before the Bloodforge. His strength was unparalleled, and his performance was outstanding. But then, he encountered the monstrous prodigy named Wu Yuan.


    "Haha, how can I speak of such matters casually? There''s no need for you to worry too much," Astral Lord Yin He responded nonchntly.


    Inwardly, he was just as puzzled. What hidden talents did Wu Yuan possess? When they first met, he hadn''t sensed that Wu Yuan was concealing any great secrets.


    <i>Could it be that my judgment was off?</i> Astral Lord Yin He began to doubt himself.


    <i>s, Wu Yuan has now entered the Bloodforge Spacetime, it''s impossible to probe too deep into it.</i> Astral Lord Yin He thought. <i>Besides, it''s normal for a genius to have some secrets.</i>


    <i>The greater his talent, the better.</i>


    Astral Lord Yin He continued conversing with other Astral Lords while patiently waiting for the oue of the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    Meanwhile, within the Redmoon Devil Hall in the physical world, Astral Lord Yin He once again arrived at the Astral Lord Hall and summoned the excited High Immortal Wu Tian.


    "Astral Lord." High Immortal Wu Tian greeted respectfully.


    He felt a slight unease in his heart. Though Wu Yuan had seized the title of Bloodforge King, the Bloodforge Battle was not yetpletely over. Why did the Astral Lord summon him?


    "Do you know that Wu Yuan has just seized the title of Bloodforge King?" Astral Lord Yin He towered over High Immortal Wu Tian as he asked.


    "I am aware," High Immortal Wu Tian said seriously. "It was announced as soon as they entered the second stage."


    "From what I know, this is extremely rare. Wu Yuan might be even more talented than we imagined," High Immortal Wu Tian hurriedly blurted in a single breath.


    "Hm," Astral Lord Yin He nodded with satisfaction. "Wu Yuan''s talent is indeed very frightening, even I find it hard to predict."


    High Immortal Wu Tian was taken aback. What did the Astral Lord mean?


    "The Bloodforge Spacetime granted Wu Yuan the title of king directly. This will not end just because Wu Yuan bes a king," Astral Lord Yin He said slowly. "On the contrary, this is only the beginning."


    High Immortal Wu Tian was momentarily puzzled. The beginning? What did that mean?


    "Prepare yourself, neither you nor our Redmoon Division can hold onto Wu Yuan," Astral Lord Yin He said softly.


    "Can''t hold onto him?" High Immortal Wu Tian was taken aback, blurting out, "Could it be that the Silvermist Division wants to take him away?"


    ��But, isn''t the Silvermist Division onlyposed of Archimmortals? What use would a youngster at the Spiritual Body be over there? What benefits could he possibly bring them?" High Immortal Wu Tian was confused.


    Although Bloodforge Devil Hall and Eternal Sun Immortal World were massive factions, their ruling methods are different.


    Take for instance the Silvermist Division of the Devil Hall and the Silvermist Immortal Nation. On the surface, they appeared to be on the same level.


    However, apart from assigning vast territories to its powerful underlings, allowing each one to preside over their own, the Silvermist Immortal Nation also ruled over several territories directly.


    The Silvermist Division of the Devil Hall was different. They had devolved power directly to thousands of second-tier divisions. As for the first-tier divisions? They merely absorbed the Archimmortals from all the major divisions. The first-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall did not directly rule over lower tier territories.


    "Not the Silvermist Division." Astral Lord Yin He shook his head slightly.


    "Not the Silvermist Division?" High Immortal Wu Tian was first stunned, then his eyes widened in shock, "The Devil Hall''s headquarters? Are they going to nurture Wu Yuan?"


    As a High Immortal, he wasn''t as knowledgeable as an Archimmortal, but he was extremely familiar with most usual protocols of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    "Astral Lord, in the past, we��ve always selected a batch of top-tier cultivators from the Amethyst Cradle to participate in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle." High Immortal Wu Tian began.


    "The headquarters of the Devil Hall often recruits geniuses directly from the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle, and the geniuses they recruit mostly break through to the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase swiftly."


    "With Wu Yuan''s talent, he will surely be noticed if he participates in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle. He is bound to head to the headquarters of the Devil Hall in the future."


    "However, that would be one or two hundred years from now at least," High Immortal Wu Tian said, puzzled.


    A couple of centuries were enough for them to aplish many things.

 Chapter 478: Yin Hes Gift (2)

    <h4>Chapter 478: Yin He''s Gift (2)</h4>


    ��That only applies to ordinary geniuses," Astral Lord Yin He said softly.


    "When ites to top-tier geniuses, the devil hall headquarters always intervenes directly."


    "Wu Yuan was granted the title of Bloodforge King directly by the Bloodforge Spacetime. Even though he is just a Golden Core Bloodforge King, the implications are immense," Astral Lord Yin He exined.


    High Immortal Wu Tian was stunned. As a High Immortal, his perspective was limited as many confidential secrets were beyond his ess.


    "Astral Lord, what are your ns?" High Immortal Wu Tian asked respectfully.


    "If we still had hundreds of years, we could slowly nurture Wu Yuan and strengthen his sense of belonging to our Redmoon Division," Astral Lord Yin He said softly.


    "In this way, even if Wu Yuan is transferred to the headquarters of the devil hall in the future, it will be greatly beneficial for us. Right now, we will not stand to gain much."


    High Immortal Wu Tian nodded slightly.


    If Wu Yuan was transferred to the headquarters centuries from now, merely the merits of training him in the Redmoon Division would grant them considerable rewards from the headquarters.


    The immortal cultivators from major divisions, especially high-level immortal cultivators like them, required precious resources for cultivation, all of which were bestowed by the devil hall headquarters.


    The Bloodforge Devil Hallprised over four million second-tier divisions. If the Redmoon Division didn��t manage to produce sufficient geniuses or failed to umte enough merits, the headquarters would not bother supporting them, let alone bestow rewards.


    This was why High Immortal Wu Tian valued Wu Yuan so highly.


    However, if Wu Yuan was recruited by the devil hall headquarters immediately, the headquarters would certainly conduct a review. Given the short time the Redmoon Division spent training Wu Yuan, they would hardly earn any merits.


    "In the future, Wu Yuan��s aplishments might be enormous." Astral Lord Yin He said softly. "So, even if he leaves for a distantnd, we must maintain a good rtionship."


    "The fact that his homnd world has always been under our Redmoon Devil Hall is a huge advantage."


    "I understand." High Immortal Wu Tian nodded repeatedly.


    He understood that peerless geniuses like Wu Yuan that only appeared once every tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years in the Silvermist Division would easily make it to the High Immortal phase as long as they didn��t die young. In time, they were almost certain to be Archimmortals.


    Indeed, the Immortal Tribtions were challenging and varied from person to person. The stronger one was, the more difficult the Immortal Tribtions.


    But it also depended on the individual. For a genius like Wu Yuan, once he reached that step, the probability of him oveing the Immortal Tribtions was extremely high.


    He even had hope of bing an Astral Lord in the future, provided he doesn''t fall on the path of cultivation. Historically, most geniuses did not make it to the end of their cultivation journey.


    Although Archimmortals had long lifespans, they also faced numerous tribtions, making it hard to achieve true eternal life. Only Astral Lords truly managed to aplish it.


    Astral Lord Yin He was the only Astral Lord within the Redmoon Devil Hall.


    "First, prepare a gift. As soon as Wu Yuan returns, present it to him," Astral Lord Yin Hemanded. "It will serve as a congrattory gift from our Redmoon Division."


    High Immortal Wu Tian listened intently.


    "Second, appoint Wu Yuan as the World Master of the Summerpeak World," he continued. "He shall govern the Summerpeak World."


    High Immortal Wu Tian nodded in agreement; this was a promise they had made long ago. Moreover, they were simply bestowing the title of World Master for a worldlet, not separating the worldlet from the devil hall. Thus, they were not breaking any rules.


    "Thirdly, I''ve reviewed Wu Yuan''s files in detail," Astral Lord Yin He continued, "Wu Yuan is someone who deeply cherishes his family. He is young and still has mortal family members.


    ��Send a Millennium Lifespan Fruit to his mother," Astral Lord Yin He spoke slowly, "and invest in nurturing his sister. Our aim is to guide his sister toward the Amethyst Cradle phase in the future."


    High Immortal Wu Tian was astounded by the n.


    He was well aware of Wu Yuan''s situation. In this past year, the Redmoon Devil Hall had covertly amassed detailed intelligence on the Summerpeak World.


    In the mortal realm, a lifespan of two hundred years is the limit. However, the Millennium Lifespan Fruit could transform a mortal''s body, granting them a lifespan of a thousand years. It was an inconceivably precious item.


    This precious item had many uses, and even High Immortals would be reluctant to use it merely to extend a mortal''s lifespan.


    As for nurturing Wu Yuan''s sister to the Amethyst Cradle phase? The costs were rtively smaller.


    Those who could be immortal cultivators through their own efforts had a certain level of talent. As long as they helped her progress step by step and invested some resources in her growth, nurturing her to the Amethyst Cradle phase wasn��t too difficult.


    At least, with the abundant resources of the Redmoon Devil Hall, it could be done without much effort.


    "I shall take care of these matters immediately," High Immortal Wu Tian acknowledged.


    "Good, you may proceed!"


    High Immortal Wu Tian hastily withdrew, leaving only Astral Lord Yin He standing in the majestic temple. His gaze was distant, as if in deep thought.


    <i>Over hundreds of millions of years, this is the seventy-second one I''ve helped. Wu Yuan, you have the greatest talent among them, don''t let me down.</i>


    Astral Lord Yin He enjoyed supporting the younger generation. Of course, only those with immense talent, the sort that stood a chance of bing an Archimmortal, could catch his eye.


    As for ordinary High Immortals like High Immortal Wu Tian? If not for Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Yin He wouldn''t even bother to meet him.


    ...


    After the top participants from the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle entered the mysterious Bloodforge Spacetime, no one received any updates about their situation.


    But with a number of participants returning alive from the battlefield, along with the cirction of the Blood Devil Token rankings and the matter of Wu Yuan being directly bestowed the title of the Bloodforge King, this Golden Core Bloodforge Battle became known to all as a special one unlike the others.


    It was destined to be mentioned by all beings within the spacetime boundary of the Silvermist Immortal Nation for millions, or tens of millions of years.


    Wu Yuan''s fame skyrocketed, truly echoing throughout the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation. His fame was so great, it soon caught up to the likes of Zhuo Haiyue and Li Xia who came before him. In the hearts of countless participants, Wu Yuan''s talent was implicitly even greater than Zhuo Haiyue or Li Xia��s.


    "Zhuo Haiyue? When she participated in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, was she as dazzling as Wu Yuan?"


    "Li Xia? He''s slightly older than Wu Yuan, if he participated, could he be stronger than Wu Yuan?" Within the Silvermist Immortal Nation, countless powerhouses discussed.


    And soon, as Wu Yuan''s fame grew, people were shocked to discover that he was actually from the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Even though they belonged to two different factions, they were all located within the same immortal continent.


    "The Redmoon Immortal Continent has produced three peerless geniuses in the same era? Each one of them could shake the entire immortal nation."


    "Incredible."


    Therefore, the Redmoon Immortal Continent was in the spotlight for a while. After all, it was difficult to produce a single peerless genius of such caliber. Three at the same time? The odds were too low.


    "Li Xia and Wu Yuan are somewhat simr, their ages are close, and they both have grasped the Celestial Body Dao."


    "Li Xia has alsoprehended the Longevity Dao."


    "Wu Yuan obviously has much greater aptitude for the Celestial Body Dao."


    "There are a limited number of Intermediate Laws. Although the paths are somewhat simr, it''s not strange." This doubt was quickly drowned in the sea of debates.


    In the eyes of outsiders, Li Xia from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had trained in the sect for decades, rising to prominence step by step.


    Comparing him to Wu Yuan from the Bloodforge Devil Hall? From the information gathered, there was no link between the two.


    ...


    <i>Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Dragon Star, High Immortal Nan Yin��s Residence.</i>


    "Master." Wu Yuan''s qi refiner bowed respectfully.


    "You''ve heard all the discussions these days, haven''t you?" High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.


    "Mm. Master, you have prepared for this well in advance." Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self paid attention to the news in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm, and naturally noticed this.


    "Your performance this time was truly terrifying. A directly conferred Bloodforge King is something we haven''t seen in a long time," High Immortal Nan Yin remarked pensively.


    Wu Yuan wore a look of helplessness. In truth, he was also rather bewildered.


    "How is your body refiner self faring in the Bloodforge Spacetime?" High Immortal Nan Yin inquired, "What opportunity did you obtain?"


    "Master, it''s not that I don''t want to tell you about it. But I have yet to seize any opportunity, and there are also some things I can''t say." Wu Yuan replied with a bitter smile.


    "I want to speak about them, but I cannot," Wu Yuan shook his head, "It''s as if there''s an invisible force restricting me, making it impossible for me to ry the information."


    "I understand now," High Immortal Nan Yin nodded, "Just like the legends say, this so-called Bloodforge Spacetime is a ce that must not be spoken of."


    A ce that must not be spoken of? Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Since this is the case, I won''t pry further," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly, "Seize the best opportunity you can."


    "Such opportunities don''te by often."

 Chapter 479: A Breakthrough In The Bloodforge Spacetime (1)

    <h4>Chapter 479: A Breakthrough In The Bloodforge Spacetime (1)</h4>


    "Yes, Master, I will do my best. If there are no other matters, I will take my leave." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully and slowly retreated.


    High Immortal Nan Yin��s gaze followed Wu Yuan until he disappeared from the teleportation array.


    <i>Bloodforge Spacetime?</i> High Immortal Nan Yin��s thoughts drifted as memories from his early years flooded back.


    He had never been to the Bloodforge Spacetime. It was a missed opportunity.


    <i>However, fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. Without that experience, I wouldn��t have met my master. </i>High Immortal Nan Yin thought.<i> My disciple appears to harbor a great secret.</i>


    High Immortal Nan Yin understood many things thatmon High Immortals and Earth Immortals did not.


    <i>Nevermind. No one likes having others pry into their secrets. Who doesn��t have a secret or two? One cannot be too demanding.</i>


    <i>Let''s see what sort of benefit my disciple will obtain from the Bloodforge Spacetime. However, the Bloodforge King... the opportunity he obtains will probably be mediocre.</i> High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and closed his eyes.


    Right now, he had more important matters to attend to.


    ...


    The Bloodforge Spacetime was a special spacetime within the Greenridge Macrocosm. It was not controlled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but rather under the direct control of the Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters.


    At this moment, this vast and immeasurable spacetime was not on the same ne or dimension as normal spacetime.


    In one unassuming corner of the spacetime was a ck metallic za, surrounded by a vast expanse of blood-red mist. Over a thousand figures were scattered throughout the za.


    Wu Yuan, Ao Qi, Gao Yun, and Dongfang Hongguang, and other peerless geniuses from the Silvermist ne, each sat on individual jade tforms.


    "Why do I feel like myprehension speed when meditating here has increased significantlypared to the world outside?"


    "Exactly! The jade tform in my sect specifically crafted for core disciples like me can''t even match a tenth of the effects of this one."


    "What a magical world."


    "Myprehension efficiency and cognitive speed have improved greatly." A few geniuses muttered among themselves.


    <i>This Bloodforge Spacetime is truly surreal. </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on one of the jade tforms, his mind teeming with the profundities of the Dao.


    Countless thoughts and ideas collided in his mind. Insights arose at an overwhelming rate, augmenting Wu Yuan''s understanding of the Celestial Body Dao at a staggering pace.


    It should be noted that Wu Yuan''sprehension speed of the Celestial Body Dao was already astonishing after evolving to the Celestial Divine Body.


    It increased even further when his soul reached the Soul Will level.


    And now under these special circumstances? Though he just broke through to the seventh-level Domain stage, Wu Yuan felt he was not far from the eighth level.


    If others found out about his rate of Daoprehension, they would surely be in awe.


    <i>We get to meditate for three months to digest what we learned during our battles in the past year? I shouldn��t waste this special environment. </i>Wu Yuan thought back to when they first arrived.


    Back then, they were teleported from the blood devil battlefield to this mysterious spacetime by an invisible force.


    It was a strange environment with blood-red mist filling their surroundings. However, it was distinctly different from the blood mist emitted by the ck pagoda.


    Soon after they arrived, a cold voice rang out, "Visiting the Bloodforge Spacetime is a rare opportunity for you. Meditate for three months, then the ultimate opportunity challenge will begin. Time is short, do not waste it."


    As the voice faded, the jade tforms appeared.


    Wu Yuan and Ao Qi were startled, yet they didn''t dare to challenge the legendary ce known as Bloodforge Spacetime, obediently sitting down to cultivate.


    The moment they began to cultivate, they noticed the uniqueness of the Bloodforge Spacetime. It was far easier toprehend the Dao here than in the world outside.


    Their cultivation speeds increased by numerous times, and even their thoughts had noticeably sped up.


    Overjoyed, the thousands of peerless geniuses dove deeper into cultivation. None of them were willing to squander such a rare opportunity.


    Wu Yuan also began to contemte the Dao seriously.


    <i>A ce that must not be spoken of? I wanted to tell my master about the Bloodforge Spacetime, but found myself unable to utter a word. There is no oath restricting me, yet I can''t speak of it at all.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    It was very peculiar, as if an invisible force was binding him.


    Wu Yuan, shocked by this experience, could only regard the Bloodforge Spacetime with newfound reverence. The vast heaven and earth, the endless river of space and time, held many unfathomable secrets.


    <i>I should continue cultivating.</i> Wu Yuan focused on his cultivation. At the same time, his qi refiner self focused on contemting the Longevity Dao within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Days turned into weeks, and almost a month passed by.


    Suddenly, a massive wave of aura rolled through the ck metal za. It was a Dao fluctuation! A very pure, and utterly terrifying aura.


    "Hm?"


    "What''s happening?" In an instant, the thousands of geniuses turned to the source of the Dao fluctuation.


    It was Gao Yun, who sat at the very front. His body was faintly enveloped in ayer of golden light. The swirling light contained a glimmer that caused their hearts to palpitate.


    That glimmer was light manifested by the Dao.


    Wu Yuan, Ao Qi, Dongfang Hongguang, and the other top-tier geniuses felt goosebumps as theyid eyes on that light. It filled them with fear.


    "It''s the light of a Dao Field."


    "A true Dao Field."


    "Heavens! Has Gao Yun unwittingly reached the Dao Field stage of the Metal Dao?" The thousands of geniuses present were dumbfounded and shocked, some even envious and jealous.


    Dao Field! As one advanced through the Daoprehension stages, progress grew increasingly difficult.


    When it came to transitioning from the first to the second-level True Intent stage, breakthroughs could theoretically be achieved with enough time.


    Meanwhile each pivotal transition, from the sixth to seventh level, presented a bottleneck that required a stroke of luck to ovee.


    As for breaking through the major stages? That was a significant bottleneck!


    Countless Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators were stuck at the ninth-level True Intent stage, unable to take the final step despite tens of thousands of years of cultivation.


    Yet, he was able to reach the Dao Field stage at the Golden Core/Spiritual Body phase? What a frightful thought.


    High Immortal Nan Yin had initially predicted that peerless geniuses who could deploy Dao Fields were unlikely to appear in the Bloodforge Battle. And indeed, neither Ao Qi nor Gao Yun had grasped a Dao Field then.


    <i>He broke through?</i> Ao Qi was equally shocked, his expressionplicated.


    In terms of strength, he was only slightly superior to Gao Yun, and the two could be considered evenly matched.


    The reason for his higher Blood Devil Token ranking was purely due to his powerful physique as a body refiner. He didn''t need to use ether arts against ordinary fighters and was skilled in prolonged battles, which allowed him to suppress Gao Yun, whose soul was stronger but needed to meditate constantly to recover his mana.


    Of course, in terms of endurance, Ao Qi admitted he was inferior to Wu Yuan.


    <i>He broke through to the Dao Field stage?</i> Wu Yuan also noticed the change in Gao Yun''s aura, but didn''t find it too surprising.


    Gao Yun and Ao Qi were all top-tier geniuses of an era from an immortal continent. It was within expectations that they reached the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law within two to three hundred years.


    However, starting from the first-level Dao Field stage, each subsequent level represented a chasm the width of heaven and earth.


    Upon one��s ultimate breakthrough to the ninth-level Dao Field stage, one��s insights culminated in a fullyprehended Dao.


    Fullyprehending a Lesser Law was the prerequisite to oveing the Seventh Immortal Tribtion.


    <i>Dao Field. After getting stuck on this step for more than ten years, I��ve finally broken through. I should go inform Master, he will surely be overjoyed. </i>Gao Yun opened his eyes, a hint of joy on his face. Unconsciously, he had broken through in the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    But a momentter, the excitement on his face diminished slightly.


    <i>At present, I''m probably ranked first among these thousand-over geniuses in terms of strength. </i>Gao Yun nced at Wu Yuan.


    <i>It''s a pity that the breakthrough came toote. If I had broken through earlier, Wu Yuan wouldn''t have imed the first ce in Blood Devil Token rankings. </i>Gao Yun sighed internally.


    What was missed was missed. There was no point moping about it.


    Perhaps, the other prodigies in the Bloodforge Spacetime were not aware that Wu Yuan had imed the title of Bloodforge King, but Gao Yun did.


    The creation of two true selves was not exclusive to Wu Yuan. Gao Yun also had a body refiner self, but it was nowhere near as monstrous as Wu Yuan.


    Through the connection of his two true selves, he received the news long ago.


    <i>Forget it. What will be, will be. Perhaps I''m not destined to be the Bloodforge King.</i> Gao Yun shook his head slightly, suppressing the joy in his heart, and continued to practice diligently.


    He too understood the importance of this opportunity.


    Moreover, after breaking through to the Dao Field stage, he truly experienced the vastness and profundity of a Dao. It was like a small stream flowing into arger river.


    <i>I should strive to break through to the second-level Dao Field stage within a thousand years, the third level within three thousand years, and the fourth level within eight thousand years. </i>Gao Yun set new goals for himself.


    To be a High Immortal, one must deduce a Lesser Law to the fourth-level Dao Field stage.

 Chapter 480: A Breakthrough In The Bloodforge Spacetime (2)

    <h4>Chapter 480: A Breakthrough In The Bloodforge Spacetime (2)</h4>


    Meanwhile, off to the side, Ao Qi was nning his next move. <i>I must work hard. Wu Yuan and Gao Yun have a better chance of taking the Bloodforge King title than I do, especially Wu Yuan.</i>


    <i>But in this world, nothing is absolute. I must not lose hope. </i>Ao Qi was also cultivating with all his might, furiouslyprehending the profundities of the Dao and hoping that countless profundities could coalesce to form a Dao Field.


    To be a peerless genius, talent was only one aspect. More crucial was the effort one put forth and the refusal to squander that innate potential.


    One might choose to rely on their talent, indulge in pleasure, and think, "It''s okay to rx now; I can always work hardter," believing there was plenty of time. However, once time ran out, it was toote for regrets.


    ...


    Time flowed by. Blood-red mist drifted through the space, surrounding this seemingly unchanging, metallic za.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly three months passed.


    The effects of a year of bloody battles then three months of cultivation under the Bloodforge Spacetime��s special environment, were equivalent to five or ten years of ordinary cultivation for most geniuses.


    Naturally, some geniuses had breakthroughs, and quite a few had leaped from the sixth-level True Intent stage to the seventh-level True Intent stage.


    However, Gao Yun was still the only one who broke through to the Dao Field stage. After all, fewer than ten peerless geniuses had reached the ninth-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law).


    <i>Finally, I''ve broken through.</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.


    With a thought, ayer of hazy earthy-yellow light enveloped his body. It seemed no different from the past. Yet, Wu Yuan could sense the disparity in power. There was a significant increase.


    Eighth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao!


    <i>The final month of frenzied fighting in the Bloodforge Battle had a great impact on me. </i>Wu Yuan quietly reflected. <i>My soul has made another breakthrough.</i>


    Coupled with the Bloodforge Spacetime��s special environment, in just three to four months, his progress was equivalent to five years of arduous cultivation prior to the Bloodforge Battle. Reaching the eighth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao wasn��t surprising.


    <i>At this rate of cultivation, even if I leave the Bloodforge Spacetime, I''ll reach the ninth-level Domain stage within a year or two.</i>


    There was no significant bottleneck from the seventh-level Domain stage to the ninth.


    <i>But getting to the True Intent stage will be a challenge. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    As an Intermediate Law, breaking through to the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao was even more difficult than breaking through to the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    This was because one had to integrate insights from three Lesser Laws to reach the True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.


    <i>One step at a time. At least now, I have taken another step forward. </i>Wu Yuan scanned the other geniuses, but his thoughts were on his qi refiner self.


    <i>It��s been almost two years. My qi refiner self has been cultivating tirelessly. Without realizing it, I��ve reached the second-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao.</i>


    In terms ofprehension efficiency, he was progressing far slower in the Longevity Daopared to the Celestial Body Dao. Keep in mind that the earlier stages of a Dao were the easiest toprehend.


    However, he had no choice. His body refiner self was much more talented than his qi refiner self. The body refiner self had evolved into a Celestial Divine Body. With his soul making another breakthrough, the gap between the talents of the two selves was even more pronounced.


    <i>I wonder if my qi refiner self can unlock the first floor of the ck pagoda? </i>


    The thought had asionally crossed Wu Yuan��s mind in the past days.


    However, his qi refining self was only at the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and temporarilycking the conditions to attempt it.


    <i>I��ll wait until my body refiner self leaves, then think of a solution.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    However, he wasn��t too confident that the attempt would work. After all, the Origin Spirit had stated that the ck pagoda would only grant him one gift.


    While his two selves acted independently, their consciousness was singr. Ultimately, they were still the same person.


    Days flew by in a sh.


    "Three months are up, Daoprehension ends here." Suddenly, the same cold voice echoed across the za, and the meditating prodigies were simultaneously pulled to their feet by an invisible force.


    Their jade tforms disappeared from underneath them.


    "What?"


    "Time has run out? What a pity, if only I had a little longer." Many of the prodigies sighed with regret.


    For them, such a rate ofprehension was simply astonishing.


    Soundlessly, a towering woman shrouded in white robes appeared in mid-air.


    She stepped on empty space, her jade-like eyes looking down at the scene below. Her face was covered, but a glimpse of her strikingly beautiful visage made them tremble. Her aura instinctively stirred people''s hearts.


    <i>What a fearsome woman, who is she?</i> Wu Yuan was secretly taken aback.


    He thought he had a strong will, yet facing the woman in front of him, he still felt an uncontroble tremor run through his heart. He couldn''t gauge the depths of the woman��s strength just by her appearance alone.


    Despite Wu Yuan''s mighty soul and Dao Heart, he was still affected, let alone the other peerless geniuses present.


    "Number 893, Silvermist, a total of 1482 people," the woman in white suddenly spoke, her voice icy as it echoed through spacetime. "First, congrattions. The ultimate opportunity challenge will soonmence."


    "ording to the rules, we should first determine the Golden Core Bloodforge King among you."


    "However, there''s no need for that this time." The woman in white said indifferently, "Where is the king, Wu Yuan? Step forward."


    "Where is the king, Wu Yuan?" Her words echoed throughout space.


    Save for a few geniuses who seemed to have already gotten the news, the expressions of the other geniuses were all perplexed.


    As for Ao Qi, his face was filled with disbelief.


    "Junior is here." Wu Yuan stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant.


    "To be granted the title of king directly is quite impressive." The woman in white looked down at Wu Yuan, a hint of softness in her cold eyes.


    "This time, out of 1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, three were directly granted the title of king. This is a particrlyrge number. You are one of them."


    Wu Yuan nodded. Inwardly he was shocked.


    1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings? It must refer to all the Golden Core Bloodforge Kings from the thousand-plus first-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Wu Yuan now understood why it was said that the worth of an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis was greater than that of a Golden Core Bloodforge King.


    Not only were there more Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, but the participants were all geniuses of around one or two hundred years of age. Meanwhile, Amethyst Cradle cultivators generally cultivated for a longer time, producing more peerless geniuses, andpetition was more intense.


    However, being directly granted the Golden Core Bloodforge King title was proof of Wu Yuan''s talent. In the entire macrocosm, he stood at the pinnacle of his era.


    "You will enter the king''s passage directly, strive hard." The woman in white said softly, ��However, what you obtain depends on strength and luck. If your luck iscking, your opportunity might be inferior to a Bloodforge Marquis."


    Without waiting for Wu Yuan''s response, the woman in white robes waved her hand. An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, and he disappeared right on the spot.


    The geniuses were all left dumbstruck. They had beenpletely ignored.


    "Wu Yuan ranked first in Blood Devil Token count in your Bloodforge Battlefield. In terms of overall talent, he is also first. Therefore, he was directly granted the title of king," The woman in white spoke with a cold voice, her gaze sweeping over the geniuses. "Are there any objections?"


    Dead silence.


    These geniuses weren''t stupid, the mysterious woman in white was clearly a powerhouse of the Bloodforge Spacetime. Who would dare to provoke her?


    Moreover, they were just shocked that Wu Yuan was directly awarded the title of king, but none questioned the legitimacy of this selection. Wu Yuan��s strength had thoroughly convinced them all.


    "Next, you geniuses willpete for the 799 Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis positions. But rest assured, upon entering the second stage, there will be no risk of death," the woman in white robes said slowly.


    "Competition is about strength as well as luck. If your luck is extraordinary, you may obtain an incredible opportunity.�� The woman in the white robe seemed to recall something, "In thest Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, there was a previously insignificant genius who ended up obtaining a Legendary opportunity."


    "Now, let thepetition begin..."


    ...


    As Ao Qi, Gao Yun, Dongfang Hongguang and the other geniuses fought for the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis, Wu Yuan was standing bewildered in a void.


    Apart from a blood-red jade tform before him, he was surrounded by nothingness.


    "Have a seat." A voice, cold and somewhat haunting, rang out. "The lives and souls of those sacrificed in the Bloodforge cannot sustain the cultivation of too many peerless geniuses."


    "However, it can provide enough sustenance for a few chosen geniuses to cultivate for several months."

 Chapter 481: Gathering Of Kings, Overlord Hall (1)

    <h4>Chapter 481: Gathering Of Kings, Overlord Hall (1)</h4>


    "Who''s there?" Wu Yuan immediately scanned his surroundings.


    This confined space was enveloped in an unsettling darkness. Wu Yuan remained cautious and alert, not daring to make any reckless moves.


    <i>Swish~</i> Countless white lights converged rapidly, forming the woman in white robes. Her face was veiled beneath her robes, her features barely discernible.


    "Senior." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "Wu Yuan." The white-robed woman looked at Wu Yuan. Under her robes, her eyes held a hint of approval. "You have done well."


    "You are too kind, Senior." Wu Yuan responded.


    "Bloodforge Spacetime has never been stingy when rewarding our geniuses." The white-robed woman stated calmly, "The jade tform provided for your use in the past three months contained a fraction of animus, amassed by numerous cultivators. Thus, it was able to promote your cultivation."


    <i>Animus? What''s that? </i>Wu Yuan wondered.


    However, he had a strong feeling that their reason for gathering all those participants in the Bloodforge Battlefield might not be that simple as they proimed.


    Could it be that they were raising gu? And those who died were nothing but nourishment?


    The woman��s words sparked a flurry of spection in Wu Yuan''s mind, but he had no answers, only guesses.


    "Your guess is not wrong." The white-robed woman seemed to know what Wu Yuan was thinking, or perhaps she was just exining her words, "The sole reason for creating the Bloodforge ne, and constructing the massive Bloodforge Devil Hall, if traced back to its roots, is all because of Bloodforge Spacetime."


    "The first purpose is to continuously harvest the animus of numerous immortal cultivators. The soul of one Golden Core or Spiritual Body cultivator is equivalent to that of billions of ordinary lives." The woman in white stated nonchntly, "The second purpose is to screen and raise talents."


    Wu Yuan''s scalp tingled as he listened.


    This was explosive news, the type of confidential information that ordinary cultivators would nevere across.


    In a single Bloodforge Battle, they could harvest hundreds of trillions, even quadrillions of Golden Core and Spiritual Body cultivators.


    The Bloodforge was held once in a century. How many lives did they im in ten thousand years? A million years?


    The exact span of existence of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was unknown to Wu Yuan, but he was certain that this ancient faction had been around for at least a billion years.


    At this moment, the Bloodforge Spacetime seemed like a gluttonous beast to Wu Yuan, swallowing the lives of countless immortal cultivators over endless eons.


    It was an untold multitude of deaths in the truest sense!


    This revtion was brutal and bloody... yet undeniable.


    <i>No wonder! There are obviously better, more logical methods to recruit members, but the Bloodforge Devil Hall intentionally chose the cruelest path.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    <i>Thepetition is merely a facade. Leading countless immortal cultivators to their deaths, the endless ughter, that is their ultimate purpose!</i>


    At this moment, Wu Yuan further grasped why this faction called themselves a ��devil hall��. It was indeed a hall of devils!


    "Senior, why tell me all this?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll leak the secret once I leave?"


    "Leak the secret?" The white-robeddy shook her head as though finding him amusing. "This isn''t a secret. Within the Greenridge Macrocosm, almost all truly eternal immortals know about it."


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    "Of course, arge portion of animus returns to the Bloodforge Spacetime. This is a necessary condition for opening the Bloodforge Spacetime. The small remainder is used to reward our talents," the white-robeddy spoke softly.


    "There are additional rewards for those directly granted the title of king."


    "That is the Bloodforge Jade tform." The white-robeddy pointed at the blood-red jade tform. "Its effects are several times more potent than the jade tform you previously meditated on. The animus contained within is incredibly concentrated."


    "In the next three months, the other geniuses willpete for the Bloodforge King and Bloodforge Marquis titles. During this time, you may cultivate here in peace. This is a reward given to those bestowed the title of king."


    As Wu Yuan listened, his gaze fell onto the Bloodforge Jade tform beneath him. It was a deep crimson, as if steeped in the fresh blood of countless participants.


    "In three months, the majority of the first-tier divisions would have selected their kings," the woman in white robes spoke indifferently, "Then, all the Golden Core Kings will gather, and the Battle of Kings will begin."


    "Battle of Kings?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    He had not heard anything about a battle of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings.


    "You will know the rules of the battle when the timees. How well you do depends on strength, as well as providence," the white-robed woman spoke softly.


    "Providence is elusive and unpredictable, even those whoprehend Destiny cannot fathom it. Therefore, strength is of utmost importance."


    "Besides you, the two other kings directly granted the title have already begun to receive their rewards."


    "You may choose whether or not you wish to ept this reward,�� the woman in white robes spoke indifferently. Then, she turned into countless points of light and dispersed.


    "Senior, Senior," Wu Yuan called out, but there was no response.


    After ncing around in the darkness, Wu Yuan tentatively took a few steps forward.


    It was like stepping on t ground. Yet, he was stunned to find that no matter which direction he walked in, he would return to the starting point.


    <i>It should be an advanced application of the Space Dao. </i>Wu Yuan guessed inwardly.


    The Space Dao was mystical and powerful. For the current Wu Yuan, the Space Dao was too distant a concept. It was far too early to think aboutprehending it.


    <i>Usually, only Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivators can hope to touch the surface of such a Dao. </i>


    This was what he had read in various texts.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze fell once again on the Bloodforge Jade tform.


    <i>Should I use it? </i>A hint of hesitation shed across his heart. The Bloodforge Jade tform was stained with far too much bloodshed.


    However, it was just a fleeting feeling.


    Soon, Wu Yuan sat down in the lotus position.


    <i>Hm?</i> Wu Yuan instantly noticed that his thought process was substantially enhanced.


    At the same time, he could perceive the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao with far greater rity.


    <i>The senior was right. </i>A hint of joy appeared in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>Three months? Myprehension efficiency is at least twice or thrice as fast as before.</i>


    This period of time seemed short. But for a peerless genius, the path of cultivation was a race against time. Momentum was everything.


    <i>Bloodforge? It''s not my doing, I was just thrown into this game, how can I control destiny?</i> Wu Yuan gently shook his head, feeling no burden.


    In truth, his heart, while not exactly demonic, did indeed bear many simrities to the Asura philosophy.


    <i>The immortal path, the pursuit of longevity, the pursuit of eternity, it is inherently a fight for opportunities, this is my opportunity. Battle of Kings?</i>


    These were the Bloodforge Kings from other first-tier divisions. In terms of strength, they were probably not inferior to Ao Qi and Dongfang Hongguang. They might even beparable to Gao Yun after his breakthrough, or even stronger!


    The top-tier Golden Core geniuses of the entire Bloodforge Devil Hall would gather for the battle. It was bound to be extremely intense.


    <i>I have three months to cultivate.</i> Wu Yuan stilled his mind, devoting his entire being to understanding theplexities of the Celestial Body Dao.


    His rate ofprehension was so terrifyingly swift it was almost unbelievable. Countless profundities of the Dao flooded his mind.


    <i>Land, Gravity, Earth Origin. </i>As Wu Yuan focused on cultivating, he felt closer to the three Lesser Laws than ever before.


    The three Lesser Laws converged, blending into each other, together forming theplete path of the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>Myprehension progress over these three months will likely be equivalent to ten years of effort before the Bloodforge Battle.</i>


    It was dozens of times faster.


    Of course, this was mainly due to the effects of the Bloodforge Jade tform.


    If he only relied on his soul in conjunction with the Celestial Divine Body, his efficiency would only increase by tenfold at most.


    Shoving away all other thoughts, Wu Yuan threw himselfpletely into cultivation.


    ...


    Time went by.


    Every half a month, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self would make a trip to the Dragon Star to consult with his master, High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "You''veprehended it so quickly?"


    "Show me your understanding of the Celestial Body Dao with your sword technique." High Immortal Nan Yin was truly shocked. "At this speed, you''re almost at the ninth-level Domain stage, aren''t you?"


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. "During my time in the Bloodforge Spacetime, I made some progress."


    "Go ahead." High Immortal Nan Yin waved his hand.


    <i>Another monthter.</i>


    "You''ve reached the ninth-level Domain stage?" High Immortal Nan Yin leapt from his chair, a trace of disbelief in his eyes. "In just half a year, you''ve progressed from the sixth-level Domain stage to the ninth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao?"


    Such progress was simply staggering.


    Do keep in mind, this was the Celestial Body Dao, an Intermediate Law, not some Lesser Law. Even if it were a Lesser Law, such progress was still considered incredible.


    <i>A true monstrous prodigy. If my disciple continues to progress at this rate... </i>High Immortal Nan Yin found it unbelievable.


    <i>Zhuo Haiyue? No! He could totally rival the historic top genius of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, Gu Luo.</i>


    Gu Luo was a legendary figure!


    For billions of years, he was the undisputed number one genius in the Silvermist Immortal Nation, and hister achievements were immense. He was a true monstrous prodigy throughout his life.


    And yet, High Immortal Nan Yin felt that Wu Yuan had the potential to rival Gu Luo.


    Of course, this was just a fleeting thought.


    After all, Wu Yuan had only shown such performance over a few short months. Gu Luo, on the other hand, was such a monstrous prodigy for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of years, creating endless legendary feats in the immortal nation.


    <i>Even so, this thought actually came to mind.</i> High Immortal Nan Yin couldn''t help but smile.


    Wu Yuan''s rate of progress had prompted such a thought to form in his mind. How much longer would he continue teaching? A hundred years? A thousand years?


    <i>Originally, I thought I would have to spend ten thousand years teaching him. Now, it seems that won��t be necessary. </i>High Immortal Nan Yin revealed a smug grin. <i>I do have a knack for mentoring disciples.</i>


    <i>Everyone says it��s difficult to mentor disciples. What''s so hard about this?</i>


    ...


    A thousand years in the mortal realm was but a moment on the immortal path.


    Three months? For Wu Yuan who was fully engrossed in cultivation, it seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.


    ��It��s time to wake up,�� a cold voice echoed.


    <i>Boom~ </i>An unseen force prompted Wu Yuan to open his eyes involuntarily.


    Following that, he found himself floating. The Bloodforge Jade tform beneath him had vanished without a trace.


    His gaze drifted into the distance. There, the white-robed woman stood. He had no idea when she had appeared.


    ��Has it been three months already?�� Wu Yuan murmured regretfully.


    While his qi refiner self sought advice from his master within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect periodically, his body refiner self remained isted from worldly affairs.


    <i>In just three months, I''ve jumped from the eighth-level Domain stage to the ninth-level Domain stage, gradually approaching the True Intent stage. If I could keep this pace for a year...</i>


    Of course, it was just wishful thinking.


    He didn''t understand the principles of the Bloodforge Jade tform, but it was only made avable to the three Bloodforge Kings directly bestowed the title, not every Golden Core Bloodforge King.


    The cost was unlikely as simple as the woman in white had made it seem.


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan asked, "Senior, dare I ask, is there any way I could continue using the Bloodforge Jade tform?"


    The woman in white smiled, but her face was obscured by her robe.


    ��There is!�� The woman in white said calmly, ��Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Kings will receive a year''s worth of time to cultivate on the Bloodforge Jade tform.��


    "A year? The Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge King?" Wu Yuan muttered.


    Seizing the title of Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge King was far more challenging than that of Golden Core Bloodforge King. However, the reward was indeed generous; a whole year''s time.


    "Wu Yuan, the Bloodforge Kings of all other 1160 first-tier divisions have been decided," the white-robed woman said softly. "Along with the three of you pre-appointed kings, that makes a total of 1163."


    "The Battle of Kings is about to begin."


    ��Your identities will be kept anonymous during thepetition. Take these robes. When you put it on, it will conceal your soul aura," the white-robed woman gestured.


    A set of blood-red robes flew out, which Wu Yuan promptly caught and put on. He was surprised to discover that the robes indeed had the ability to shield his soul aura.


    "Each participant is identified by a randomly generated number. Yours is 850," the white-robed woman said softly. "That is, you will be the 85th batch of participants to challenge the Overlord Hall.��


    <i>850? As long as it��s not 250. </i>[1] Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Overlord Hall? Wu Yuan had never heard of it.


    "Remember, in this Battle of Kings, no one knows the real identity behind the number. Other Golden Core Bloodforge Kings have no way of knowing what your number is. The Bloodforge Spacetime will also keep it absolutely confidential." The white-robed woman looked at Wu Yuan, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You have nothing to worry about."


    Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    The white-robed woman in front of him seemed to have seen through his secret... But not even the Astral Lord had noticed anything.


    "Let''s go." The white-robed woman waved her hand. An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, and the two of them disappeared from the area.


    1. By calling someone 250, pronounced er bai wu, you��re basically saying that they��re an idiot or making a fool of themself. ?

 Chapter 482: Gathering Of Kings, Overlord Hall (2)

    <h4>Chapter 482: Gathering Of Kings, Overlord Hall (2)</h4>


    In a mysterious space stood a vast circr metal za about ten li in diameter. It was a perfect replica of the za where Wu Yuan hadnded previously.


    Hundreds of figures draped in blood-red robes already upied the za, their numbers growing by the second.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan materialized silently in a nondescript corner of the za, his gaze swiftly scanning the sea of robed figures.


    All of them bore the exact same aura.


    Wu Yuan instantly understood �C every single one of these people were Bloodforge Kings of various first-tier divisions.


    Not a single one of them spoke, remembering the words of the white-robed woman: don''t reveal your identity!


    Wu Yuan also remained silent, waiting patiently.


    In a matter of moments, all 1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings had assembled on the za.


    "Firstly, congrattions on making it to the Overlord Hall," A cold voice resonated across the za. The woman in white appeared out of thin air, hovering high above.


    As she looked down upon the Bloodforge Kings, no one dared meet her gaze.


    "The Bloodforge Spacetime bestows a certain opportunity upon each participant who arrives here," the white-robed woman said slowly, her voice echoing across the za. "However, such opportunities are limited and difficult to attain."


    "These opportunities range in rarity from Ordinary, Moderate, Superior, Mystic, Legendary, Overlord.��


    Everyone listened quietly, etching her words in their memory.


    ��The mostmon Bloodforge participants who enter the Bloodforge Spacetime can only obtain Ordinary opportunities.��


    ��Even the humblest Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis can hope for a Moderate opportunity at least, and a Legendary one at most." The white-robed woman spoke indifferently, her gaze sweeping over the figures d in red.


    These shrouded figures were indistinguishable from one another.


    "As for you Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, you can expect at least a Superior opportunity, with a chance to obtain an Overlord opportunity."


    "However, the opportunity you end up with will depend on your strength and luck." The white-robed woman pointed into the distance.


    The gazes of the Bloodforge Kings followed her finger.


    There, a massive light screen appeared in the space, disying numerous lines of text:


    <i>First stage: Ordinary, Moderate, Superior</i>


    <i>Second stage: Moderate, Superior, Mystic</i>


    <i>Third stage: Superior, Mystic, Legendary</i>


    <i>Fourth stage: Mystic, Legendary, Overlord</i>


    <i>Fifth stage: Legendary, Overlord</i>


    <i>Sixth stage: Overlord</i>


    The Bloodforge Kings nced at each other, puzzled.


    "These are the rewards for the six stages of the Overlord Hall." The white-robed woman slowly exined, "Depending on the stage you reach, you may seize a corresponding opportunity."


    "If you can''t even pass the first stage, then you can only expect a Superior opportunity."


    "If you pass the third stage, there''s a chance that you��ll obtain a Legendary opportunity, though the chances are very slim."


    "A Legendary opportunity would benefit all of you greatly," the white-robed woman said softly. "As long as your life isn��t cut short, you��ll easily be an Astral Lord in the future."


    Under their robes, the eyes of the Bloodforge Kings lit up with fervor.


    Astral Lord? How vast was a single immortal continent? Yet, a single Astral Lord might not emerge over hundreds of millions of years.


    How many peerless geniuses emerged from the immortal continent over the long years? On top of that, many of them only revealed their potential at the Amethyst Cradle phase or Void Refiner stage.


    Geniuses abounded, but talent was just talent, achievement was a separate thing altogether.


    The vast majority of geniuses perished mid-way.


    If obtaining a so-called Legendary opportunity could help one easily be an Astral Lord, it was unimaginably valuable.


    <i>Legendary opportunity?</i> Wu Yuan murmured.


    He suddenly thought of a person��Zhuo Haiyue.


    Zhuo Haiyue participated in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle a century ago. At that time, she wasn��t too well known and barely managed to seize the title of Bloodforge Marquis.


    But after the Bloodforge Battle, she rose in fame, bing a recognized peerless genius of the immortal continent, leaving the other geniuses behind in the dust.


    Eventually, she became the universally recognized number one genius of the immortal nation, her brilliance blinding!


    <i>Could it be that Zhuo Haiyue is the genius Senior mentioned, the one who seized the Legendary opportunity?</i> Wu Yuan quietly spected.


    He could not be sure, it was just a guess. But judging from the time and growth trajectory, it fit.


    "If you clear the fourth stage, you will obtain a Mystic opportunity at least. With that, you stand a high chance of bing an Archimmortal."


    ��There is even a slim chance that you will obtain an Overlord opportunity. However, the probability is extremely low." The white-robed woman said indifferently, "Clearing the fourth stage is a difficult challenge."


    "If you clear the fifth stage, you will obtain a legendary-level opportunity at minimum...Hmm, it''s been a long time since a peerless genius who can clear the fifth stage has appeared."


    "Give it your all."


    "If you clear the third stage, you may consider this challenge a sess." The white-robed woman spoke faintly.


    Passing the third stage could mean obtaining a Superior, Mystic or Legendary opportunity.


    "You have ten breaths to prepare." The woman in white said coldly, "After which, the Overlord Hall will open."


    "You will be transported ten at a time, starting from Number 1." The woman in white closed her eyes.


    Each robed figure was deep in thought, their hearts filled with desire.


    Mystic? Legendary? Overlord?


    <i>Superior opportunity? As a Bloodforge King, I am destined to obtain a Superior opportunity at minimum. But those Bloodforge Marquisese surely aim to obtain Legendary opportunities. I, a king, must surely aim higher.</i>


    <i>Overlord opportunity? That��s unrealistic. I must try my best to seize a Mystic opportunity. I must make it to the third stage at least.</i>


    <i>Fight!</i>


    <i>The Legendary opportunity is my goal. Even the Astral Lord praised my talent. </i>These thoughts shed through the minds of the Golden Core Bloodforge Kings.


    All of them were peerless geniuses who fought their way to the top of an immortal nation. All of them held their heads high.


    Even knowing that this so-called Overlord Hall was no easy challenge. They were still filled with ambition.


    <i>Is it going to be a test of strength? ording to my knowledge, most of the Bloodforge Kings from each first-tier division have either second or third-degree immortal roots, and an understanding of the Lesser Law at the ninth-level True Intent stage.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Those who had broken through to the Dao Field stage were ultimately few and far between.


    However, these Bloodforge Kings had several months to cultivate in the Bloodforge Spacetime. Perhaps some peerless geniuses like Gao Yun had stepped into the Dao Field stage.


    <i>From what the white-robed woman said, I can go all out.</i> There was a hint of yearning in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>The Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao inbination... Even if it fails to reach the first-level Dao Field stage in power, the gap should not be too big.</i>


    <i>On top of that, my immortal root is strong. In a full-out, life or death confrontation, my strength should ce me within the top ten of these thousand plus Golden Core Bloodforge Kings. </i>Wu Yuan contemted.


    Wu Yuan had never seen other Bloodforge Kings in action, thus he was not entirely confident. He was just making an approximate estimation.


    <i>I should strive to pass the third stage, and do my best for the fourth. </i>Wu Yuan set a goal for himself.


    The fifth and sixth stages? It was unrealistic to aim for them.


    <i>Give it my all, and leave the rest to fate.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    He finally understood what the white-robed woman meant.


    One could only pass the fifth and the sixth stages if their strength was at the peak of their cultivation level. Otherwise, whatever one obtained was highly dependent on luck.


    "Ten breaths of time are up." The white robed woman suddenly opened her eyes. "Numbers 1 to 10, enter the Overlord Hall."


    <i>Boom!</i> A massive hall appeared behind the white-robed woman, with exactly ten entrances in the form of spatial vortexes.


    The inside of each vortex was hazy and unclear.


    "Enter in numerical order." The white-robed woman coldlymanded.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Ten figures in blood-red robes flew out from the crowd of thousands and sequentially entered the vortexes.


    <i>Buzz~Buzz~ </i>As these blood-robed figures entered, the same text appeared above each vortex �C None!


    <i>A quarter of an hourter.</i>


    <i>Buzz~ </i>The text above the sixth vortex changed to Stage One, while the others remained at None.


    One after another, the text above the other vortex entrances also changed to Stage One.


    Shortly after, the text above the sixth vortex bounced to Stage Two. Quickly, the text above the other vortexes also changed to Stage Two.


    But it didn''tst long.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> From the sixth vortex, a disheveled figure in blood-red robes flew out,nding heavily on the ground.


    He staggered to his feet.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> In a blink of an eye, figures in blood-red robes flew out one by one from the other nine vortexes, each more disheveled than thest.


    At this point, all ten Bloodforge Kings were eliminated.


    "All of you cleared the second stage. You have a glimmer of hope of acquiring a Mystic opportunity," the white-robed woman said expressionlessly. "Wait on the sidelines for now."


    The ten Bloodforge Kings exchanged nces, then bowed respectfully and stepped aside.


    The thousands of Bloodforge Kings who had yet to enter the Overlord Hall felt their hearts tighten.


    Not a single one of the ten made it past the third stage?


    "Numbers 11-20, enter in order," ordered the white-robed woman once more, and another group of red-robed Bloodforge Kings flew into the vortexes.


    Not long after, they were also eliminated one after another, all only making it past the second stage.


    Just like this, group after group proceeded into the hall, each group consisting of ten kings.


    Out of all eight groups, seventy-eight participants passed the second stage, two only passed the first stage.


    The number of participants who cleared the third stage? Zero!


    Such a horrific elimination rate left all Bloodforge Kings who had yet to challenge the hall on edge.


    One could argue that a single group was too small a sample size, but the failure of eight whole groups was enough to prove the immense difficulty of passing the third stage.


    "Numbers 81 to 90, proceed." The woman in white robes issued hermand.


    The challenges ended quickly.


    "Number 83 passed the third stage. You have a slim chance of obtaining a Legendary opportunity, with a high probability of obtaining a Mystic opportunity." The woman��s voice softened somewhat. ��Not bad."


    Immediately, the thousands of Bloodforge Kings present memorized Number 83. Someone who could pass the third stage had to be ridiculously strong.


    Before the challenge had begun, all thousand-plus Bloodforge Kings had been filled with confidence. But as batch after batch of Bloodforge Kings failed, the remaining participants began to face reality. It was clear that passing the third stage was a truly remarkable feat.


    "Yes." The Bloodforge King known as Number 83 was clearly excited, and quickly retreated to the side.


    Time passed.


    Batches of Bloodforge Kings entered the Main Hall, but one by one, they were stuck at the second stage.


    After half a day, more than eight hundred Bloodforge Kings challenged the Overlord Hall, but only six managed to pass the third stage!


    The number of participants who cleared the fourth stage? Still zero.


    The high elimination rate made every Golden Core Bloodforge King acutely aware of the formidable challenge posed by the Overlord Hall.


    The title of Overlord was indeed justified.


    "Participants 841 to 850, proceed to the Overlord Hall in order." The white-robed woman''s voice remained indifferent. However, her gaze subtly swept over the unremarkable figure entering the tenth vortex.


    Wu Yuan, Participant Number 850.

 Chapter 483: Full Outburst, Legendary (1)

    <h4>Chapter 483: Full Outburst, Legendary (1)</h4>


    ��Another batch has gone in.��


    ��This batch will likely get stuck at the second stage as well. It''s too hard, I''ve tried everything but still couldn��t clear the third stage.��


    ��How difficult. I wonder what kind of freaks actually managed to get through the third stage.�� The Golden Core Bloodforge Kings that already challenged the Overlord Hall began interacting with each other telepathically.


    Naturally, none of them were foolish, keeping the discussion to the difficulty of the Overlord Hall itself without venturing into other topics that might reveal their identities.


    Moreover, in their view, no one made it past the third stage. How amazing could their opportunities be? Even if they were really exposed, it wouldn''t be a big problem.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Ten geniuses numbered 841 to 850 each entered a vortex.


    Wu Yuan was among them.


    The woman in white robes simply nced at them and didn''t say anything more.


    ...


    This was a mysterious spacetime. An immense void stretched in all directions, faintly veiled in mist, rendering it impossible to discern the end of the emptiness.


    In the middle of the void was a passageway around a thousand li wide. The ground of the passage was constructed with a unique, ck metal.


    <i>Hum~</i> Wu Yuan appeared in the middle of the passageway. The moment his foot touched the passage, he felt its solid construction.


    <i>I wonder what sort of material this ck metal is.</i> Wu Yuan mumbled inwardly.


    Following that, he swept his gaze around.<i> So this is the Overlord Hall? It''s quite special.</i>


    The void around him was vast and endless.


    Simrly, the vast passage ahead stretched into immeasurable depths. From what he could see, it seemed to span tens of thousands of li.


    Any further? It was unclear. A faint invisible force prevented him from seeing whaty at the end of the passage.


    <i>What exactly is the Overlord Hall��s test?</i> Wu Yuan wondered. It had been quite a while since he entered.


    <i>Will I be able to pass the third stage? </i>He felt somewhat nervous.


    Wu Yuan didn''t dare hope that he could clear the fourth stage, as over eight hundred Bloodforge Kings before him had already demonstrated the difficulty of challenging the Overlord Hall.


    The fourth stage? Only the strongest among over a thousand Bloodforge Kings would stand a chance!


    Although Wu Yuan was confident in thebined power of the two Daos, there was still a slight gap between his current level and the first-level Dao Field stage (Lesser Law).


    Hence, the goal Wu Yuan set for himself was quite realistic �C to pass the third stage and strive to get as far as he could in the fourth.


    <i>But when Zhuo Haiyue participated in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle years ago, she was just over sixty and only managed to secure the title of Bloodforge Marquis. How did shee across a Legendary opportunity? </i>A hint of confusion shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Buzz~</i> Suddenly, countless points of light converged, and a giant light screen with several lines of text materialized beside Wu Yuan:


    <i>The difficulty of the Overlord Hall��s test is adjusted for the challenger''s age and mana cultivation. The older and higher the challenger��s cultivation level, the greater the difficulty.</i>


    <i>After analysis, the challenger is over fifty years old, but not yet sixty, at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase. Comprehensive difficulty coefficient: fourteen.</i>


    <i>The test is divided into six major stages, and each stage is subdivided into two parts: practicalbat, and Dao Heart willpower!</i>


    <i>You may choose any number of spirit equipment and artifacts of the third-grade and below from the weapons rack.</i>


    <i>If you pass the fifth stage, you will obtain a Legendary opportunity at minimum... If you pass the sixth stage, you can gain an Overlord opportunity. With that, you will stand a great chance of bing an Astral Monarch or an Immortal Sovereign in the future.</i>


    <i>Go! Kill all opponents who stand in your way.</i>


    <i>Showcase your talents to the fullest. The greater your talent, the more precious the opportunity you will receive.</i>


    With Wu Yuan��s Soul Force, he understood everything in an instant.


    <i>The trial''s difficulty is determined by age and cultivation level? </i>Wu Yuan''s first reaction was astonishment, which quickly turned into excitement.


    Excellent! Perfect!


    If it was about absolute power, Wu Yuan could only match those peerless geniuses who had been cultivating for one or two hundred years. The length of time he had spent cultivating was too disadvantageous.


    But a test divided by age? It was simr to the one-star tower.


    Wu Yuan was confident. His power far exceeded the majority of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings his age.


    Put simply, this Overlord Hall mainly evaluated talent; power wasn''t the main focus.


    <i>Before my body evolved into a Celestial Divine Body, I was considered a top-tier genius in the immortal world. Now, having cultivated in the Bloodforge Spacetime for several months...</i> Excitement flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes


    <i>Throughout the entire immortal world, can any of my peers stillpete with me in talent?</i>


    <i>I must give it my all. </i>Wu Yuan��s hopes of seizing the Legendary and Overlord opportunities were reignited.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan finally understood how Zhuo Haiyue managed to seize the Legendary opportunity a hundred years ago.


    <i>At around sixty years old, she was able to seize the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis. Even if it was a close call, she couldn''t have been weak. She must have reached the fifth or sixth-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law) at least. </i>


    <i>Within the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation, such talent would be considered first-rate.</i>


    As long as her providence was favorable enough, obtaining a Legendary opportunity wasn��t out of the question.


    The ultimate opportunity obtained by Bloodforge Kings was determined by their performance in the Overlord Hall.


    As for Bloodforge Marquises? He didn''t know how their opportunities were determined.


    <i>Providence is crucial.</i>


    <i>In terms of power, Gao Yun is probably stronger than most Golden Core Bloodforge Kings here. But he only broke through after cultivating in the Bloodforge Spacetime, plus he ran into me. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    That was providence!


    Providence was elusive and indescribable, yet undoubtedly real.


    Some rode on the winds of favorable providence, sailing smoothly through life. Others with unfavorable providence, faced setbacks at every turn.


    <i>Of course, providence is just supplementary. Real strength matters more. If Gao Yun truly had absolute strength, he would have reached the Dao Field stage long ago, and swept his way through the entire battlefield.</i>


    Soon, Wu Yuan��s eyes fell upon a huge weapons rack at the side of the passage. It was truly enormous, nearly a hundred li long and wide.


    It was densely packed with countless weapons, all radiating strong auras �C sabers, flying swords, shields, spirit battle armor, spears, cauldrons, and so on.


    From sixth-grade to third-grade spirit equipment, it had everything one could imagine!


    <i>A third-grade spirit saber, Earth attribute. </i>Wu Yuan quickly selected four sabers as well as a set of third-grade spirit battle armor.


    Aside from these, he chose no other weapons.


    "Reminder, you must start the test within ten breaths. Those who fail to do so will be disqualified immediately," a cold voice suddenly rang out.


    Five breaths, that was thirty seconds.


    <i>Let''s go, I shouldn��t dy any longer.</i> After a moment of deliberation, Wu Yuan picked up a storage wrist guard, and added several more shields and sabers to it.


    Free items should not be wasted. What if the battles ahead were too intense, damaging his sabers and armor? Recements were important.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan moved, diving into the passage like a fish into water.


    "Stage One, Test One: Combat Test. Kill a hundred guardians! Complete the test in one hour. You may not leave the test passage.�� A cold voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    A momentter, shadowy figures d in ck armor appeared in the corridor, each radiating an intense aura.


    There were a full one hundred figures.


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    Each of these figures had a mechanical demeanor, just like puppets.


    Among them, ny figures possessed an extremely powerful vital aura, their bodies muscr and holding closebat weapons �C sabers,rge shields, battle axes, staffs, etc. They were obviously body refiners.


    The remaining ten had much smaller frames, surrounded by sharp flying swords.


    <i>Ny body refiners? Ten qi refiners?</i> Wu Yuan assessed.


    He couldn��t gauge their strength from outer appearances alone. He could only make a vague judgment that they were at the ninth-stage Golden Core or Spiritual Body phases with sixth-degree immortal roots.


    "Kill!" The ck-armored man standing at the front roared, swinging his saber and ferociously pouncing towards Wu Yuan.


    At the same time, his figure ballooned to a height of thirty zhangs. Just by taking a single step on the metal floor, thend seemed to tremble. His aura was astonishing.


    "Kill!" "Kill!" The body refiners, each exhibiting ether arts, roared and charged mercilessly towards Wu Yuan.


    At the same time, the ten qi refiners each summoned eighty-one flying swords. Countless swords swarmed toward Wu Yuan like a hailstorm.


    One hundred powerful cultivators joined hands, unleashing a powerful assault even without any array.


    <i>Block!</i> With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, a hazy earthy-yellow light instantly enveloped everything in a thousand li, covering most of the guardians.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> Streaks of earthy yellow light descended, imbued with terrifying power, drastically slowing the momentum of the body refiners.


    Clearly the suppression effects of a ninth-level Domain had a potent effect on ordinary cultivators at the Spiritual Body phase.


    "Little ck, Beast Fusion, attack!"


    Wu Yuan immediately took action, transforming into a hundred-zhang giant. With a slight flutter of his wings, he turned into a streak of light and charged into the fray.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>de rays whistled. Those body refiners, each armed with various weapons, were felled like timber, either cleaved in half or exploding.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A torrent of flying swords came sweeping over.


    "How slow." Wu Yuan moved slightly, easily dodging the flying swords. Following that, he unleashed another de ray.


    In a few short breaths, Wu Yuan swept away ny towering body refiners. And the ten qi refiners? They were quickly cut down one after another.


    The fallen guardians quickly melted into the ground, their weapons dissolving.


    Soon, the passage fell silent.


    <i>I passed the practical test of the first stage so easily? </i>Wu Yuan found it hard to believe. <i>These guardians only had a sixth-degree immortal root, and their Daoprehension was probably just at the third or fourth-level Domain stage (Lesser Law).</i>


    In terms of immortal root, Wu Yuan surpassed them by four degrees.


    When it came to ether arts and Daoprehension, there was noparison. The gap between the two sides was so vast that crushing them was inevitable.


    "The practical test is cleared, please advance nine thousand li to proceed to the Dao Heart test location. Advance one thousand li through the test area to clear the stage." The cold voice said.


    Without any hesitation, Wu Yuan quickly followed the directions, plunging right into the test of Dao Heart willpower.


    On the outside, there was no difference between this ce and the previous passage.


    An invisible wave of soul power descended. It was not sharp, not aiming to obliterate Wu Yuan''s soul. But like a giant hammer, it came smashing down hard.


    Yet, Wu Yuan''s soul remained unfazed.


    Too weak. It was like a rubber hammer trying to shatter a ton of steel, was it possible?


    Wu Yuan sped through the required distance of a thousand li, crossing it in less than a breath.


    Stage one, cleared!

 Chapter 484: Full Outburst, Legendary (2)

    <h4>Chapter 484: Full Outburst, Legendary (2)</h4>


    Merely a dozen breathster, Wu Yuan easily swept away a hundred guardians in the second stage after unleashing his full power.


    They were not too different from the hundred guardians in the first stage.


    <i>The strength of the guardians has increased significantly, but their Daoprehension only reaches the eighth or ninth-level Domain stage. Too weak.</i>


    Wu Yuan knew early on that the difficulty was adjusted for his age and cultivation level, but he didn''t expect it to be this easy.


    After all, over eight hundred Bloodforge Kings had gone through the test before him. Among them, more than ten failed to pass the second stage.


    <i>Those who didn''t pass the second stage are likely Golden Core cultivators who have been cultivating for two hundred years, yet refuse to break through to the next phase.</i> Wu Yuan spected. <i>The older they are, the stronger the guardians they encounter.</i>


    Wu Yuan hesitated only slightly before transforming into a streak of light and charging into the Dao Heart willpower test area. Just like the previous stage, it was a soul attack, though its power was greatly enhanced.


    But Wu Yuan��s greatest strength was none other than his soul! These soul attacks felt like nothing more than an itch.


    Stage two, cleared.


    ...


    At stage three, the strength of the hundred guardians truly surged, each reaching the fourth-level True Intent stage. On top of their formidable strength, they worked in harmony to take down Wu Yuan.


    This did put a bit of pressure on Wu Yuan, but not more than that.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan still only exhibited the ninth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao. Countless de rays danced. One by one, the body refiners fell.


    With the difference in immortal root degrees and Daoprehension levels, along with Wu Yuan''s heaven-defying defense, the overwhelming attacks raining down on his body had no effect on him at all.


    On the other hand, these body refiners couldn''t block his attacks at all.


    Ultimately, after some time, Wu Yuan killed the hundred guardians and once again passed through the Dao Heart willpower test area.


    Stage three, cleared!


    "Continue." Wu Yuan was filled with fighting spirit. He didn''t expect the test of the so-called Overlord Hall to be this easy.


    <i>Perhaps, I might really get through the fifth stage and even the sixth stage.</i> A bold idea popped into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    He believed that the Legendary opportunity was within his grasp.


    "Stage Four." Wu Yuan turned into a streak of light and rushed deeper into the passage.


    However, it wasn��t that the test was easy. Rather, he was far too strong.


    The third stage guardians were already frighteningly strong, each capable of unleashing the base strength of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. With a hundred of them working together, even a typical Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis wouldn''t be able to emerge victorious.


    On top of that, this test was administered to cultivators in their fifties or sixties.


    ...


    In the za outside the Overlord Hall, silence reigned.


    Over a thousand Golden Core Bloodforge Kings stood stock-still, intently looking at the words ��Third Stage�� above the tenth vortex entrance.


    "So fast."


    "Too fast. Did he breeze through the third stage too?" These Bloodforge Kings were utterly stunned.


    The text above the other nine vortexes still disyed ''First Stage''.


    He was two whole stages ahead!


    The six Bloodforge Kings who had previously made it through the third stage did notplete their stages much faster than the other Golden Core Bloodforge Kings in their group.


    Time passed.


    The Golden Core Bloodforge Kings numbered 841 through 849 beganpleting the second stage and began the third.


    One after another, the participants failed and were eliminated.


    <i>Buzz~</i> Just then, the text above the tenth vortex suddenly changed - Fourth Stage!


    Uproar ensued.


    "The fourth stage?"


    "Heavens, how could anyone pass it?"


    "Impossible!"


    "Number 850, who is he?" Thousands of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings stared at the words with bulging eyes.


    Even those who had passed the third stage were somewhat incredulous. They thought they were already immensely talented. Yet there was still a long way to go before they could clear the fourth stage.


    Without a doubt, this peerless genius, Number 850, had a talent far surpassing the majority of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings.


    "Can he break through the fifth stage?" A Bloodforge King blurted out.


    No one responded!


    Everyone waited with bated breath for the results of Number 850''s test.


    Not long after, the other nine Bloodforge Kings in the group were eliminated one by one. Only the tenth vortex remained upied.


    Clearly, Number 850 was still in the midst of challenging the fifth stage.


    Silence fell over the space.


    ...


    Inside the Overlord Hall, deep within the passage, the fifth stage began.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> de rays swept through space.


    <i>Kill! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes reddened with bloodlust as he immersed himself into the thrill of battle.


    Hazy earthy-yellow light and a faint green glowbined to unleash overwhelming power.


    Celestial Body Dao! Longevity Dao!


    With two Intermediate Laws working in concert, Wu Yuan erupted forth with unprecedented strength, almost rivaling the Dao Field stage.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The body refiners each exuded a robust aura, their bodies surrounded by a hazy radiant glow.


    Immediately, theyunched a fierce attack on the towering Wu Yuan. Each saber strike tore through the sky; each hammer blow capable of submerging a small plot ofnd.


    It was a massive assault.


    During the fourth stage, all one hundred guardians reached the ninth-level True Intent stage in Daoprehension of a Lesser Law, while their immortal roots were at the sixth-degree. Each one rivaled a Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis.


    With one hundred of them teaming up, even Wu Yuan took a considerable amount of time to eliminate them all.


    At that time, Wu Yuan realized that oveing the fifth stage would be extremely difficult.


    Just as he had anticipated, the strength of the one hundred guardians increased again in the fifth stage. Although their Daoprehension did not improve, their immortal roots rose to the fourth-degree.


    In terms of power, any one of the guardians here could match the likes of Ao Qi and Dongfang Hongguang.


    When it came to individual strength, Wu Yuan was several times stronger than any guardian once he went all out. One on one, he could easily annihte them.


    But once a hundred of them joined forces? It was a total nightmare!


    "Starsunder!"


    "Scorching Sun!"


    "Vast Land!"


    "Ten Thousand des!" Wu Yuan pushed his saber technique to the limit, his de rays either unpredictable, swift as lightning, or as heavy as a mountain.


    With each sh, he injured one body refiner after another!


    Likewise, these body refiners did not appear to fear death. They attacked Wu Yuan relentlessly, the power imbued in their weapons equally fearsome.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Those incredibly sharp flying swords whistled as they stabbed towards Wu Yuan.


    Their moves were intricate and bizarre! The overall strength of those ten qi refiners was only a notch below that of Gao Yun before he broke through.


    Even for Wu Yuan, facing them was extremely precarious, he exerted all his strength to dodge their attacks. His ether was draining at an extremely fast rate.


    Another de ray swooped past, another body refiner crumpled to the ground, another guardian died.


    <i>Hold on! Kill!</i> There was a maniacal look in Wu Yuan''s eyes, the blood mist churning vigorously as it worked to keep his ether from depleting.


    His entire soul chamber operated at full speed, maintaining his ether reserves!


    <i>Thud! Rip! Crash!</i> One by one, the guardians fell, while Wu Yuan''s ether reserves continued to drop.


    If it were an ordinary body refiner, their ether would likely have been exhausted by now.


    <i>Kill!</i> Wu Yuan fought with all his strength, blood sttering all around him. The blood from the body refiners quickly dissolved.


    However, some blood remained, it was Wu Yuan''s.


    <i>Sixty percent of ether left!</i>


    Another body refiner fell!


    <i>Fifty percent. </i>


    Of the ny body refiners, only forty-nine were left, and the pressure on Wu Yuan finally began to ease.


    <i>Forty percent ether. </i>


    Thirty-three body refiners remained; The time between each death shortened noticeably.


    <i>Thirty percent. </i>


    Eleven body refiners remained. At this moment, the power of the flying swords wielded by the ten qi refiners increased by a notch.


    Earlier, when the body refiners besieged Wu Yuan, they didn''t have much room to wield their strength.


    Once Wu Yuan''s ether dropped to the final ten percent, only ten qi refiners remained. With that, qi-refiner guardians were plunged into an inescapable nightmare.


    Fight? They couldn��t withstand Wu Yuan''s saber.


    <i>Boom! Stter~ </i>As a de ray cut through the sky, thest qi refiner was instantly torn apart, blood sttering across the sky.


    The passage finally quieted down.


    <i>Only half a percent left. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    That was too close forfort. As long as the disparity in strength wasn''t insurmountable, it could bepensated for with sheer numbers. This was a lesson Wu Yuan fully grasped through this battle.


    Suddenly, special raindrops fell from the sky,nding on Wu Yuan��s body. As he absorbed them, his ether started to recover.


    This was the grace of the Overlord Hall, ensuring that challengers could maintain their peak power at every stage.


    Less than a quarter of an hour passed.


    <i>Time to try the sixth stage, the final stage.</i> Wu Yuan had no confidence in passing thest stage.


    If it weren''t for the blood mist resupplying his ether reserves continuously, the guardians at the fifth stage would have beaten Wu Yuan to death; He may not even have been able to kill a third of them.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Wu Yuan flew deeper into the passage.


    ...


    <i>In the za outside the Overlord Hall.</i>


    The words above the tenth vortex changed to Fifth Stage.


    Commotion ensued once more.


    "The fifth stage?"


    "This! This!"


    "Out of over eight hundred people, only six passed the third stage, but he passed the fifth stage? Heavens!"


    "He''s on a whole other level."


    "Where did hee from? Is his talent hundreds, thousands of times greater than ours?" These Bloodforge Kings felt as though they were losing their sanity.


    One had to remember that they were the most powerful Golden Core prodigies from the Bloodforge Devil Hall in thest century. Those who passed the third stage could already be considered top talents of the macrocosm. Yet Number 850 surpassed them by two major stages, how monstrous was this talent?


    Suddenly, a figure in blood-red robes was sted out from the vortex, falling heavily to the ground, covered in fresh blood. With the application of ether, his injuries began to heal rapidly.


    Number 850 failed to pass the sixth stage.

 Chapter 485: Full Outburst, Legendary (3)

    <h4>Chapter 485: Full Outburst, Legendary (3)</h4>


    "He finally failed, who is this Number 850?" The Golden Core Bloodforge Kings sighed in relief.


    Though passing the fifth stage was a mind-boggling feat, it was still within their realm of understanding; throughout the endless years, simr monstrous prodigies have also been born before.


    But passing the sixth stage? That was too ridiculous!


    The thousands of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings watched the figure as they stood up, their hearts filled with envy and jealousy!


    By passing the fifth stage, he could obtain a Legendary opportunity at least. And there was a small chance he would get the Overlord opportunity!


    Though the woman in white didn''t specifically mention what the Overlord opportunity was, it was definitely much more powerful than the Legendary opportunity.


    ...


    ��Number 850, not bad."


    "You have exceeded my expectations by making it through the fifth stage. You have secured a Legendary opportunity at minimum," the woman in white robes eyed Wu Yuan, her brows twitching, as if trying to decipher his secrets.


    "Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan replied respectfully, grasping the unsaid meaning in her words.


    Normally, Wu Yuan would only manage to clear the fourth stage. The fifth stage? Impossible!


    It was only with the blood mist, and by pushing himself to his absolute limit, that Wu Yuan had narrowly passed the fifth stage. As for the test of his soul that came after, he got through it with ease.


    But the sixth stage? Wu Yuan had utterly failed. Every guardian he faced was stronger than himself.


    There was no need for a siege. Just two or three guardians working together were enough to defeat Wu Yuan in two moves.


    Wu Yuan estimated that all guardians of the sixth stage had reached the Dao Field stage, and all of them possessed second-degree immortal roots.


    One hundred of them working together? Wu Yuan couldn''t fathom what sort of genius could get through such a terrifyingbination in their fifties or sixties.


    <i>Perhaps, one would need to be a monstrous prodigy who could clear level ny or hundred of the one-star tower. </i>Wu Yuan sighed quietly.


    It was too challenging.


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan felt great satisfaction. Clearing the fifth stage meant he''d have a Legendary opportunity at least.


    ...


    Time went by.


    Batches of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings continued to enter the Overlord Hall and begin their tests.


    Perhaps motivated by Wu Yuan, the performance of the hundreds of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings who came after him was markedly better.


    Many managed to clear the third stage. And even more astonishing, there emerged a peerless genius who cleared the fourth stage, drawing everyone''s attention!


    <i>Number 1066, his talent is likely not inferior to mine. </i>Wu Yuanmitted this number to memory.


    Without the aid of the blood mist, Wu Yuan would have been eliminated at the fourth stage.


    Passing the fourth stage signified terrifying talent. Throughout the entire macrocosm, he was undoubtedly top-tier!


    Finally, thest batch of Golden Core Bloodforge Kingspleted their tests, and the Battle of Kings drew to a close.


    "Very good!"


    "All of you are truly outstanding," the white-robed woman looked down at the 1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, a hint of a smile surfacing on her icy face.


    "One passed the fifth stage, one passed the fourth stage, and eleven passed the third stage."


    "May you obtain the opportunities you seek.��


    ��More importantly, don��t forget that you can join the Bloodforge Battle again once you reach the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase. As long as you be an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis, you will be eligible to enter the Overlord Hall."


    "However, you may only participate once per major phase. Even if you have multiple true selves, only one is allowed to participate." The white-robed woman''s gaze swept down.


    Everyone listened.


    Participate in the Bloodforge once more after reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phase? This notion stirred some excitement among the Golden Core Bloodforge Kings.


    They were all the strongest Golden Core cultivators selected from each first-tier division.


    Once they broke through, the probability of bing an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis in the future was extremely high.


    However, almost everyone''s attention was on Wu Yuan. All of them had one thought in mind �C Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge King!


    Even though there was still a long time to go, in the eyes of these Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, iming the title of Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge King was just a matter of time for Wu Yuan with his burgeoning talent. He was far too talented.


    Naturally, these Golden Core Bloodforge Kings were still unaware of Wu Yuan''s identity, everything was just conjecture.


    "Now, go select your opportunities. It''s time to test your providence," the woman in white said softly, "Remember, the best opportunity is the one that suits you."


    With that said, waves of invisible power instantly enveloped every single Bloodforge King, including Wu Yuan. Immediately after, they all vanished from the spot.


    <i>The fifth stage?</i>


    <i>It''s been a long time since one has emerged. </i>The woman in white robes murmured to herself. <i>I wonder if it will be enough to satisfy the Overlord.</i>


    <i>I''ve been waiting in this Bloodforge Spacetime for far too long.</i> The woman in white robes sighed inwardly. <i>Do I really have to wait till a monstrous prodigy who can pass the sixth stage shows up?</i>


    <i>However, this Wu Yuan is quite strange. From what I could observe, he should only be able to clear the fourth stage at most, but in the end, he was able to clear the fifth stage. </i>The white-robed woman shook her head slightly.


    She couldn''t observe the situation inside the Overlord Hall. Therefore, she could only guess.


    ...


    This was a vast and strange area. A scattered array of ancient and profound artifacts, each radiating a faint glow, hovered in mid-air. Apart from that, darkness swallowed everything.


    Wu Yuan only felt a momentary dizziness before he found himself in this strange space. His gaze swept across his surroundings.


    <i>What is this ce?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly, his heart thudding.


    Each item suspended in mid-air might only exuded a trace of imposing pressure, but whenbined, the force they collectively generated was way beyond what a mere Spiritual Body youngster could withstand.


    "As you have cleared the fifth stage, you are eligible for a Legendary opportunity, and even stand a chance of obtaining an Overlord opportunity," the cold, indifferent voice rang out once again in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "The opportunities originate from the items you see."


    "You may choose the artifact most suitable for yourself. Just state its number," the voice coldly instructed Wu Yuan about the rules.


    He would be the one making the choice?


    <i>So it does rely on luck.</i> Wu Yuan muttered inwardly.


    He scanned through the array of artifacts. Each one was incredibly mighty and unique.


    With his current discernment abilities, he couldn''t tell which ones were stronger or weaker.


    <i>I''ll look through all of them. </i>Wu Yuan decided. Keeping a safe distance, he carefully examined each item.


    Some were fragments of swords, shiny and new.


    Some were ancient books with ripped covers.


    Some were jade slips.


    Some were talismans.


    There were nearly a hundred of these items, but only a few were artifacts, the rest were all sorts of oddities, seemingly left here at random.


    But Wu Yuan did not dare to belittle any object, opting to take his time to select the best option.


    Soon, Wu Yuan had looked through every avable item.


    <i>There are ny-one items in total, representing ny-one opportunities I may pick from. However, among these items, those that represent Overlord opportunities are likely limited to just two or three, or perhaps only one.</i>


    If the probability of selecting an Overlord opportunity was high, he might stand a chance even if he made a haphazard choice. But if that were really the case, what was the point of attempting to clear the sixth stage?


    This was Wu Yuan''s guess.


    It was simr to how passing the third stage theoretically gave one the hope of obtaining a Legendary opportunity. But in reality, how many could actually obtain it?


    <i>What item should I choose?</i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    His qi refining self was unable to consult his master''s opinion, thus he could only rely on his own judgment.


    He deliberated for a long while.


    <i>I can''t make out much from each object. If I select one blindly, the probability of failure is very high. Perhaps I could try examining them with my spirit, with my Soul Force. I should be able to perceive whether something ispatible with myself.</i>


    Apatible choice was unlikely to be the wrong one.


    Standing in ce, Wu Yuan released his invisible Soul Force, spreading it out to cover the treasures representing his potential opportunities.


    He dared not touch the treasures with his Soul Force, only observing and carefully sensing them from a distance.


    Although the item had equally strong auras, there were subtle differences between each one.


    Time passed.


    <i>Among these treasures, there are four that my soul resonates faintly with. These should be the ones most suitable for me. </i>Wu Yuan perceived.


    The first one was a piece of bone, etched with the traces of time.


    The second was an earthy-yellow saber.


    The third was a nearly withered sapling, its leaves yellowing. He couldn��t tell what species of tree it was.


    The fourth was a crystal clear triangr prism. He couldn��t detect much from its appearance alone.


    After perceiving the objects with his full focus, he could sense that these four objects held a mysterious allure for him, faintly attracting his attention.


    <i>The best opportunity is the one that suits me. Though the exact levels of these treasures are unknown, they are at least Legendary opportunities. </i>Wu Yuan stepped forward, traversing the void.


    He quickly arrived at the first object �C a bone fragment.


    Although the bone was white, it faintly shimmered with a blood-red glow, as though it was a living creature about to awaken. It emanated a peculiar and chilling aura.


    <i>This bone... </i>Wu Yuan closely observed the fragment.


    The more he studied it, the more he felt an odd sensation from within the bone, a hint of a surging life force on the verge of bursting out.


    Out of nowhere, an irresistible urge to touch it seemed to take hold of his mind. Unconsciously, he began to reach his hand out.


    Just as he was about to make contact, the previously quiet ck pagoda trembled violently.


    <i>Boom!</i> An eruption of endless blood-red light flooded Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    It seemed to act like a warning, or a barrier,pletely enveloping Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, protecting Wu Yuan''s soul in the center.

 Chapter 486: Hint Of Black In The Spacetime Rift (1)

    <h4>Chapter 486: Hint Of ck In The Spacetime Rift (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s soul essence was bathed in an endless crimson glow.


    Previously entranced by the white bone, Wu Yuan snapped back to reality in an instant.


    <i>This? What happened to the ck pagoda? </i>Wu Yuan waspletely stunned.


    He sensed that the ck pagoda was behaving abnormally. However, it was different from the time he faced the death throes of the worm devil. Back then, the stone pir at the top of the ck pagoda had absorbed the blood-red mist before proceeding to protect his soul.


    But this time, the swirling blood mist around the ck pagoda showed no signs of disturbance. The stone pir remained still, as if nothing had ever happened.


    It was only when Wu Yuan was about to touch the white bone that the ck pagoda seemed to sense something and reacted autonomously, sort of like a stress response.


    <i>Moreover, these rays of light?</i> Wu Yuan carefully sensed them, feeling the terrifying power contained in the glow.


    It was different from the light produced by the blood mist. Instead, it seemed more like a sort of will, a power that originated from the ck pagoda.


    "Danger! Extreme danger! Stay away!" Waves of intangible fluctuations were transmitted from the ck pagoda to Wu Yuan.


    The message was simple, but the implications were serious.


    <i>Danger? Isn''t this white bone an opportunity? How can it be dangerous? Is this a warning from the ck pagoda?</i> Wu Yuan was taken aback, and a trace of confusion shed through his mind.


    But when Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the bone once more, he was startled to find that it was no longer a white bone.


    Instead, the object was now an ominous, crimson red bone. It seemed poised to shed blood at any moment, as if stained with endless sins.


    Simply casting his nce upon this bone sent shivers of dread coursing through Wu Yuan''s heart. It was the type of fear that crept right into the depths of his soul.


    That bloody bone seemed to represent the Original Sin, or the bottomless Abyss, ready to consume and devour Wu Yuan upon contact, leaving nothing behind.


    <i>Despite the protection of the ck pagoda and the blood mist, my soul still feels suffocated. </i>Wu Yuan trembled.


    <i>This bloody bone is far more terrifying than Huo Gao, the Archimmortal who once tried to kill me.</i>


    Just a faint ripple of aura from the bloody bone sent waves of despair crashing over Wu Yuan.


    This was undoubtedly the most terrifying object Wu Yuan had ever encountered.


    <i>What is this thing? Is this an opportunity of the Bloodforge Spacetime?</i> Wu Yuan felt chills in his heart.


    The bloody bone before his eyes was far too eerie.


    If he didn��t have the ck pagoda to protect and warn him, if he had touched that crimson bone, what would the consequences be? Wu Yuan dared not imagine.


    <i>I should stay away.</i> Wu Yuan made an instant decision. He closed his eyes, fearful of even looking at the bloody bone as he backed away.


    At this moment, as if sensing Wu Yuan''s withdrawal, the previously silent bloody bone suddenly radiated a horrifying crimson light.


    Simultaneously, a bloodthirsty, sinister will was released from the bone fragment, invading Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    <i>Hm? </i>A flicker of fear shed through Wu Yuan��s pupils. But before he could process it, he lost consciousness.


    The gap in consciousness between them was toorge.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The crimson light that shrouded Wu Yuan seemed to be provoked, growing agitated.


    At the same time, the ck pagoda within his upper dantian lobe stirred. The doors at the base of the tower opened, sucking in Wu Yuan''s soul essence.


    On one side was the terrifying crimson will. On the other was the vast and magnificent crimson light!


    Both were crimson, yet fundamentally different.


    At this moment, a silent collision unfolded. This collision was not on the physical level, but on a higher dimension - mental will.


    It was formless and intangible, and could hardly affect the physical ne. Yet its power was terrifying and direct.


    The impact of the collision radiated out of Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, into the void, causing the other treasures to tremble and wail!


    Whether it was the ck pagoda or the crimson bone fragment, the power of their wills far surpassed these so-called Legendary opportunity items.


    <i>Rumble~</i> In the dim light, it seemed as if the entire void was trembling.


    ��Kill! Forge blood! Forge the heavens! Forge the earth! Forge yourself!" The deranged will released from the crimson bone fragment suddenly erupted with power once more.


    <i>Boom!</i> Facing the explosive st of the crimson bone fragment, the crimson glow emitted by the ck pagoda began to shrink. It was clearly outmatched.


    In the blink of an eye, the terrifying crimson will hadpletely invaded Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, subtly tainting this mysterious dwelling ce of Wu Yuan''s soul.


    The entire lobe turned a deep crimson color!


    ��Ahhh!�� Wu Yuan��s eyes shot open, and he let out a roar of anger.


    His eyes burned crimson, brimming with boundless rage and an insatiable thirst for ughter. It was as though he was controlled by the will from the crimson bone fragment.


    <i>Buzz~</i> The terrifying crimson will broke through eachyer of defense, finally touching and tainting the ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    <i>Boom~</i> The moment it touched the ck pagoda, a massive rift in space suddenly opened.


    No, it was not merely a rift. It was a descent from a higher, more profound level of spacetime, crushing the spacetime where the crimson bone fragment resided.


    The rift appeared to be only hundreds of li long, but withyers of spacetime ovepping, it extended countless li.


    In the endless darkness at the end of the spacetime rift, a stalwart structure loomed. It appeared ck in color...


    As the rift in spacetime opened, an overwhelming and majestic aura surged forth, crushing everything in its path, as if the will of the heavens themselves was descending.


    <i>Crack~ Rumble~</i> The crimson will instantly crumbled in the face of this grand aura, quickly disintegrating.


    Wu Yuan ceased struggling and roaring, lowering his head. He had passed out again.


    <i>Crack~</i> When this grand aura crashed down, a visible crack appeared on the bone that was the source of the crimson will.


    This crimson bone trembled non-stop, seemingly begging for mercy.


    However, the majestic will emanating from the other side of the spacetime rift ignored its pleas, continuing to bear down oppressively.


    <i>Crack~ Crack~</i> Faced with this terrifying sh of wills and pressure, more cracks spiderwebbed throughout the surface of the crimson bone.


    Just as it was about to be fractured apart, an invisible force picked up two so-called Legendary opportunity items and hurled them towards Wu Yuan.


    One was the nearly withered sapling. The other was the crystalline, iparably beautiful triangr prism, casting a faint silvery shimmer.


    Once they touched Wu Yuan��s body, they disappeared without a trace.


    Only then did the will aura emanating from the end of the spacetime rift cease its oppression, retracting its pressure silently.


    Immediately, the spacetime rift began to close. This special void then finally regained its tranquility.


    Except for the loss of two Legendary opportunity items, a still unconscious Wu Yuan, and a crimson bone riddled with countless fissures on its surface, this particr spacetime had not changed at all. As if nothing had ever happened.


    <i>Ancestors...it hasn��t been destroyed, it isn��t sleeping...it''s still there! It''s still there!</i>


    A trail of intermittent consciousness flowed along the surface of the crimson bone.


    Within these waves were emotions of shock and boundless fear!


    ...


    <i>Within the Bloodforge Spacetime.</i>


    <i>Is it finally over? </i>The white-robed woman hovered above the ck metal za. Hidden beneath her robes, her eyes were filled with terror.


    <i>What just happened? Why do I feel like the whole Bloodforge Spacetime was about to be torn apart just now? </i>Fear pulsed through her heart.


    She would never forget that fleeting sensation from a moment ago.


    <i>Just now, the aura of the Overlord seemed to awaken. It appears to have assessed Wu Yuan. Judging from the initial tremors, Wu Yuan should be able to receive the Overlord opportunity.</i>


    But whether one received an opportunity also depended on whether the opportunity fit the receiver.


    <i>Upon receiving the Overlord opportunity, Wu Yuan will eventually mature into a primal soul. Combined with the existing primal souls, this will significantly enhance the chances of the Overlord''s revival.</i>


    <i>How did things turn out like this? </i>A touch of fear lingered in the woman''s eyes. <i>What kind of heaven-defying existence descended just now?</i>


    <i>Why do I feel like the aura of the Overlord is far weaker than before?</i>


    As the overseer of the day to day affairs of Bloodforge Spacetime, the white-robed woman understood the most important purpose of its existence.


    If the Overlord were topletely vanish, then the entire Bloodforge Spacetime would cease to exist.


    Her existence would also be meaningless.


    <i>Huh?</i> Her eyes shed with shock as a message from the Overlord''s will jolted her out of her thoughts.


    The message was simple: Send Wu Yuan away!


    <i>Send Wu Yuan away?</i> The white-robed woman''s pupils constricted. It was just four words, yet the implications were severe. It wasn��t just as simple as sending him out of the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    <i>This Wu Yuan, could it be... even the Overlord...</i> Various possibilities shed through the white-robed woman''s mind. The more she thought, the more terrified she became.


    She was acutely aware of the vastness of the endless river of space and time, of the many unknown mysteries that lurked within the endless eons.


    The Overlord was a majestic and supreme being. His glory once illuminated countless macrocosms, and innumerable beings chanted his true name.


    But after encountering that disaster, he had still been slowly walking towards his final demise for billions of years.


    The immense offerings of animus had only dyed this process slightly.


    <i>Wu Yuan still hasn''t emerged? There must be a reason behind the Overlord��s message.</i>


    <i>I can''t enter the Overlord hall. First, I should send the other cultivators away. </i>


    With a thought, she began to conjure incarnations identical to her true body. They appeared in different areas of Bloodforge Spacetime and started to send away those who had chosen their opportunities one by one.

 Chapter 487: Hint Of Black In The Spacetime Rift (2)

    <h4>Chapter 487: Hint Of ck In The Spacetime Rift (2)</h4>


    In the Greenridge Macrocosm,yers of spacetime ovepped, containing tens of millions of immortal continent nes.


    New spacetime worlds were constantly created and opened, and numerous worldlets were being constantly born and destroyed.


    The so-called macrocosm symbolized the concept of infinite worlds. No one could truly count exactly how many worlds there were in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    The Taiyuan Divine Court, a top power renowned throughout the endless river of space and time, had numerous branches rooted in various macrocosms. These branches formed many subsidiary forces, collectively supporting the glory of the divine court headquarters.


    In the sprawling Greenridge Macrocosm, the core power of the Taiyuan Divine Courty in the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    Yet, the macrocosm was vast, and wars were waged between countless factions. The Eternal Sun Immortal World and Bloodforge Devil Hall were but one of many factions within the macrocosm. There were factions that rose to power within the macrocosm, dominating a part of it.


    And just like the Taiyuan Divine Court, other top-tier major factions from the endless river of space and time could make their way in.


    For instance, the Immortal Court.


    And also, Eldritch! A name passed down since the earliest of times.


    Eldritch was a word that had many meanings. It represented a type of mentality, a cultivation sect, and even a massive force that shook the vast river of space and time.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World is such a top-tier major faction of the Eldritch lineage within the Greenridge Macrocosm. In terms of overall power, the Cang Feng Eldritch World was not much weaker than the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    The core sector of the Cang Feng Eldritch World was an incredibly vast world, transformed from an immortal continent. It was a ce with boundless mountains and rivers.


    This vast world was inhabited by countless robust figures with profound auras and rugged attire, many among whom were colossal giants hundreds or even thousands of zhangs tall.


    The majority of cultivators in the Eternal Sun Immortal World were qi refiners, and body refiners were the minority.


    But in this core location of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, a sacred cultivation ground for eldritch cultivators, body refining was the mainstream cultivation path. More than half of the cultivators here were body refiners.


    This world was at least a hundred timesrger than a single immortal continent, if not more.


    At the center of the world was a massive city, equally bustling with numerous floating halls.


    Countless eldritch cultivators lived here. Those who could establish halls in Cang Feng City were Archeldritch-level existences at least.


    Atop the colossal city loomed countless undting hall clusters, swarming with scores of formidable warriors on patrol. Each exuded an indomitable aura, the embodiment of the majesty of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    <i>Inside one towering hall.</i>


    ��Eldritch Sovereign, you summoned me?�� A burly man d in ck armor respectfully bowed to the imposing throne at the end of the grand hall.


    On that throne sat a middle-aged man d in beast hide, his top bare.


    His face was marked with a saber scar, and his aura was overwhelmingly aggressive. But the most terrifying characteristic of the man was his golden eyes.


    "Hou Qu." The man��s booming voice echoed through the hall. "I recall that there was a decently talented High Eldritch named Hou Feng under yourmand?"


    The burly man in ck armor was taken aback. Hou Feng? A High Eldritch?


    He was a super powerhouse governing an eldritch divine nation. In terms of power and fame, he was renowned throughout the macrocosm and was respectfully dubbed as Astral Monarch by numerous powerful eldritch cultivators, Archeldritches, and Archimmortals.


    There were numerous Astral Lords and countless Archimmortals under hismand. Why would he specifically pay attention to a mere High Eldritch?


    However, as an Astral Monarch, the burly man in ck armor naturally possessed an exceptional memory. He could even remember events from eons ago.


    After a brief moment of recollection, a not too distant memory came to mind �C a casualty list.


    "Eldritch Sovereign, I do remember such a High Eldritch. He was indeed remarkable, a Sixth-Tribtion High Eldritch." Hou Qu, the Astral Monarch, said respectfully. "He had once established a small tribe and began a lineage of descendents in his name."


    "However, over a hundred thousand years ago, countless worlds were engulfed in the great war that erupted between my Eldritch World and the Immortal Court. The Hou Feng Tribe was swept into it, and the entire immortal continent they resided in was annihted, leading to the tribe''s downfall.��


    ��Even Hou Feng himself fell in war with the Immortal Court''s army.�� The Astral Monarch said broodingly.


    As he recounted the war from a hundred thousand years ago, a hint of lingering dread flickered within his eyes. That war...


    Even for a mighty entity like him, it was a catastrophe.


    Countless eldritch cultivators, immortal soldiers and generals met their end in that disaster. The fighting even affected the other superpowers of the macrocosm.


    The battle between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Immortal Court was simply too ferocious.


    ��Mm, the information is urate.�� Seated on the throne, the man d in beast hide spoke lightly, ��I have a task for you.��


    ��Eldritch Sovereign, what are your orders?�� The Astral Monarch asked respectfully.


    ��A budding talent has just emerged in the Bloodforge Devil Hall by the name of Wu Yuan. Currently, he''s at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase.�� The man in beast hide spoke softly, ��He''s an eldritch warrior, with a second-degree immortal root.��


    ��He rose to prominence after acquiring a tiny portion of the Hou Feng Tribe''s inheritance.��


    Hearing this, the Astral Monarch felt puzzled.


    Ninth-stage Spiritual Body? Too weak. For entities like them, even a body refiner at the Elysian Field phase could be said to have barely set foot on the path of cultivation.


    Moreover, he emerged in the distant Bloodforge Devil Hall, a major faction that wasn''t exactly on good terms with them.


    ��He��s currently participating in the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, and has even won the title of Bloodforge King.�� The man in beast hide said nonchntly, ��But that''s nothing special.��


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded in agreement.


    Bloodforge King? Even an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge King was an insignificant being to an entity like an Astral Monarch.


    A genius was just a genius, not a true powerhouse.


    Even if one was a peerless genius, they would have to face numerous trials and tribtions to be an Astral Lord or an Astral Monarch.


    "However, Wu Yuan has just seized a Legendary opportunity in the Bloodforge Spacetime."


    "Legendary opportunity?" The Astral Monarch Hou Qu was slightly surprised.


    He might be an eldritch cultivator. But after living for billions of years, interacting with various factions in the macrocosm, he had heard of the wonders of Bloodforge Spacetime.


    Those Ordinary, Moderate and Superior opportunities were nothing. Even Archimmortals wouldn''t look twice at them.


    However, starting from the so-called Mystic opportunities, it was a different story. Those were enough to spark envy in many High Immortals and even Archimmortals.


    As for Legendary opportunities? They were even more rare and special!


    "I''ve decided to take him in as my disciple. I would like you to make a trip to the Eternal Sun Immortal World on my behalf," said the man d in beast hide, his voice cool and detached. "He''s still weak, so keep this matter under wraps."


    "A disciple?" The Astral Monarch was taken aback.


    The Eldritch Sovereign was a super powerhouse that had ruled the Cang Feng Eldritch World for endless ages, standing at the peak of the entire macrocosm.


    Perhaps the leaders of other major factions in the macrocosm, like the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Bloodforge Devil Hall, would be on par with the Eldritch Sovereign. But they were at best on the same level.


    Such a great existence taking on a disciple? It was undoubtedly a huge deal that would shake the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World and attract the attention of numerous factions.


    "It''s merely a nominal disciple," the man in beast hide said indifferently.


    A nominal disciple? At present, he was at the Spiritual Body phase. Naturally, he would only be a nominal disciple. But once he overcame the Immortal Tribtions in the future and became an Archeldritch, he would naturally be promoted to direct disciple status.


    Moreover, if an Archimmortal-level being was taken in as a nominal disciple, this signified that the Eldritch Sovereign was not too invested in that disciple��s growth.


    But to be taken in as a nominal disciple before oveing the Immortal Tribtions? Even if such an individual was weak, who knew what the Eldritch Sovereign��s future ns for them were?


    Therefore, even Astral Monarchs were typically unwilling to offend such individuals.


    <i>Even if he has obtained a Legendary opportunity, it''s still just an opportunity. No one knows how far he will go. What makes Wu Yuan so special that the Eldritch Sovereign would be interested to take him in?</i> Thoughts fluttered around Astral Monarch Hou Qu��s mind.


    As an Astral Monarch, he was highly knowledgeable, and had ess to many secrets.


    "Eldritch Sovereign, Wu Yuan obtained a great opportunity of the Bloodforge Spacetime. I fear the Bloodforge Devil Hall ces immense importance on him. Am I to head to Eternal Sun Immortal World to snatch him?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu couldn''t help but question


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu wasn��t the least bit worried about abducting Wu Yuan. If it was an order, he would execute it.


    However, he was concerned about straining rtions between the two great factions.


    The Eldritch World and the Immortal Court were embroiled in constant warfare, while parties like the Eternal Sun Immortal World and Bloodforge Devil Hall remained neutral. Neither side wanted to drag other great factions into their conflict.


    "Of course I won''t have you snatch him," the man d in beast hide said nonchntly. "Don''t worry, just head directly to the Redmoon Immortal Continent. It��s under themand of the Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    "I''ve alreadymunicated with the Devil Sovereign. No one will stand in your way," the man in beast hide stated.


    "Understood, I''ll head there right away." Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded, his worries put to rest as he swiftly departed from Cang Feng City.


    He tore through spacetime, heading towards the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    <i>Within the hall.</i>


    <i>Even though Wu Yuan obtained a great opportunity, the Bloodforge Devil Hall proactively chose to send him over? What are their real intentions?</i> The man in beast hide pondered after sensing Hou Qu''s departure.


    <i>Nevertheless, the Eldritch Court has confirmed that there is no issue with Wu Yuan himself. They do not make mistakes... I just hope this Wu Yuan doesn''t disappoint me.</i> The man in beast hide stood up.


    His decision behind taking in a disciple was motivated by his own reasons and objectives, not because of Wu Yuan''s talent.


    Even if he learned about Wu Yuan''s Celestial Divine Body, so what? Having seen countless peerless geniuses during his endless tenure in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, he was not easily impressed.


    <i>The Voltari Temple.</i> A hint of murderous intent shed in his golden eyes, coupled with a slight worry.


    The Voltari Temple was the Immortal Court''s official subordinate faction in the macrocosm.


    The conflict between the Eldritch lineage and the Immortal Court was unceasing, with no end in sight. These two mighty powers had waged war for countless eons, with their subordinate forces shing across various macrocosms in the river of space and time.


    The losses on both sides were colossal!


    In some macrocosms, the lineage of the Eldritch had the upper hand, while in others, the Immortal Court prevailed.


    There was no doubt that the Voltari Templepletely dominated the Cang Feng Eldritch World in their battles within the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    Because of this, the birth of even one more superpower was a blessing for the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    ...


    <i>In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect on the Redmoon Immortal Continent.</i>


    <i>Inside the silent meditation chamber of Wu Yuan''s world residence.</i>


    <i>What��s happening to my body refiner true self?</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sat in a lotus position, a trace of fear in his heart.


    The consciousness of both true selves was singr, but their souls were separate. Therefore, his qi refiner self was unaware of his body refiner self''s situation; he could only sense that the body refiner self was still alive, just unconscious.


    <i>I was in the midst of choosing an opportunity when that bone fragment suddenly turned blood-red. Thest thing I remember is the ck pagoda emitting a crimson light.</i> A hint of worry pulsed through Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    He couldn��t remember what his body refiner self experienced or how he acted after that. Then, his body refiner self suddenly fell into aa. It was eerily strange.


    <i>Let��s just wait a little longer. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself, his heart queasy.

 Chapter 488: Hint Of Black In The Spacetime Rift (3)

    <h4>Chapter 488: Hint Of ck In The Spacetime Rift (3)</h4>


    Days went by, but his body refiner self had yet to wake up.


    Despite his helplessness, Wu Yuan chose not to seek his master��s advice after careful consideration.


    Firstly, many matters urring in the Bloodforge Spacetime simply couldn��t be shared with outsiders.


    Secondly, even if he could tell his master about his predicament, what help could his master provide? Given his master��s strength, it was highly unlikely that he could solve Wu Yuan��s problem, just as he was unable to save Wu Yuan��s body refiner self years ago. With his body refiner self trapped in the Bloodforge Spacetime, the chances were even lower.


    <i>Let��s just wait for now. The Bloodforge Spacetime has stood for countless eons. Yet, I��ve never heard of a single slip up</i>. Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    He forced himself to calm down and wait patiently.


    ...


    In the Bloodforge Spacetime, batch after batch of top-tier geniuses selected their opportunities, and were sessively sent back to their respective first-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. From there, they returned to their own second-tier divisions.


    <i>Redmoon Division of the Devil Hall, Origin Blood World.</i>


    Numerous immortals were gathered here, all looking up at the huge spacetime vortex. Of the many immortals, High Immortal Wu Tian was the most expectant.


    "Where is Wu Yuan?"


    "It''s been a full day."


    "Bai Li has fallen, Shui Heng did not reach the requirement of a hundred thousand Blood Devil Tokens. As for the other surviving participants, they''ve long returned to the Origin Blood World."


    "Wu Yuan is the only one left."


    "He is the Golden Core Bloodforge King. Usually, selecting an opportunity only takes an hour or two. I''ve heard that the Golden Core Bloodforge Marquises from other second-tier divisions have mostly returned."


    "Wu Yuan hasn''t returned yet?" These immortals were all puzzled.


    Based on past experiences, Wu Yuan should have returned by now.


    They were all awaiting his arrival, nning to hold a grand celebration for him. After all, it was a rare asion to have a Golden Core Bloodforge King from their division, and on top of that, he was granted the title directly.


    Throughout the past one hundred million years of the Redmoon Devil Hall��s history, he was the only prodigy to achieve this. Meanwhile, the lifespan of High Immortals was only in the hundreds of thousands of years.


    However, the final deadline had yet to arrive. Thus, despite their doubts, the immortals of the Redmoon Devil Hall, including High Immortal Wu Tian, did not dare to disturb Astral Lord Yin He.


    Unbeknownst to the numerous Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the Redmoon Devil Hall, their nearly eternal leader, Astral Lord Yin He, was currently ensnared in a state of profound shock and unwillingness.


    <i>In a spacetime ne far from the Redmoon Immortal Continent.</i>


    Here, a grand golden temple stood, surrounded by endless mes that illuminated the world.


    "What?"


    "Astral Monarch, how can this be?" Previously standing respectfully to the side, Astral Lord Yin He nearly jumped up in his frantess, questioning the Astral Monarch repeatedly.


    "What kind of monstrous prodigy is Wu Yuan? How can we hand him over to the Cang Feng Eldritch World so easily?"


    "Once he matures, it''s practically guaranteed that he''ll be a seventh-grade Archimmortal at least, potentially even standing shoulder to shoulder with you, Astral Monarch." Astral Lord Yin He was basically pleading at this point.


    "As long as you take him in as a disciple, he will definitely be a great asset for you once he grows up. Even if he can only be a nominal disciple, it''s still fine." Astral Lord Yin He continued urgently, "Chen Deng has always wanted to ept him as a disciple, but I��ve been stopping him all this time."


    Astral Lord Yin He was naturally anxious. The amount of resources he had invested into Wu Yuan was not small, but it wasn��t too significant to him. What he truly cared about was Wu Yuan himself.


    If Wu Yuan was amon peerless genius, Astral Lord Yin He would be too bothered.


    Why did the true eternal Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs seldom ept disciples? Because it was meaningless!


    Take for example those so-called second-tier Bloodforge Seeds, or a genius like Bai Li who had cleared level eleven of the Golden Core Dark Star.


    Even if they didn��t perish midway, their ultimate aplishments after cultivating for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years, would just be bing ordinary High Immortals.


    One had to understand that even seemingly ordinary High Immortals were dazzling geniuses in their youth for a time.


    Only those with the potential to be formidable High Immortals such as Sword Immortal Dong Yang were treated with importance by the Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs. As for the rest? It wasn��t worth their time. To them, a million years passed in the blink of an eye.


    However, for those with the potential to be Archimmortals, like first-tier Bloodforge Seeds, these eternal existences naturally treated them differently, cing great importance on them.


    How many Archimmortals had the Redmoon Devil Hall produced over endless years? To Astral Lord Yin He, every additional Archimmortal under hismand was an immense asset, capable of ying a crucial role at key moments.


    Once they became Astral Lords or Astral Monarchs, they were even more valuable as manpower.


    ��Yin He, I understand where you areing from." Seated at the head of the golden temple was a towering figure. He overlooked the scene below, his voice booming, "But, this is amand from the headquarters of the devil hall. It��s amand from the Devil Sovereign himself!"


    "None of us can oppose his orders. Wu Yuan must be sent away." The towering figure slowly said, "You need not argue about this anymore."


    "The Devil Sovereign personally issued the order?" Astral Lord Yin He was shocked.


    The Devil Sovereign! The entire Bloodforge Devil Hall was vast beyond measure, with over four million second-tier divisions, and numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords in their ranks.


    Even so, the Devil Sovereign was an eternal existence presiding over the Bloodforge Devil Hall for billions of years, ensuring its foothold in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    Such a great presence actually took notice of Wu Yuan?


    <i>What has Wu Yuan done topel the Devil Sovereign to issue an edict?</i> Astral Lord Yin He couldn''tprehend it.


    Even he, a dignified Astral Lord with immense power and status, had only met the Devil Sovereign once when he first ascended to his position.


    "Go back and wait patiently." The towering figure at the end of the golden temple said, "Soon, an Astral Monarch from the eldritch world will arrive to escort him over. I suspect the Eldritch Sovereign and the Devil Sovereign have struck a deal to take Wu Yuan on as a disciple."


    "The Eldritch Sovereign wants to take him in as a disciple?" Astral Lord Yin He was shocked.


    "You may leave."


    "Understood." Astral Lord Yin He dared not argue further. He bowed respectfully and obediently exited the temple.


    ...


    An unknown length of time passed in the Bloodforge Spacetime, as if a hundred years went by in slumber.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s body-refiner self finally woke up groggily, his soul feeling like it was about to explode.


    An unprecedented headache wracked his brain. It was extremely painful!


    <i>What happened to my body-refiner self? Wasn''t I just in the Overlord Hall choosing from the treasures?</i> Wu Yuan was in unbearable pain.


    It was as if someone had knocked him unconscious with a heavy hammer, and he had just regained consciousness.


    He hadn''t experienced this in a long time, at least not since he had embarked on the path of cultivation.


    Almost instantly, the consciousness of his two true selves merged back into one. Wu Yuan quickly assessed his physical condition, but he found nothing abnormal after a thorough check.


    His soul was just a little weak.


    <i>Was I attacked by someone? But I''m in the Bloodforge Spacetime. And I��ve justpleted the Overlord Hall��s test. Who would dare attack me? Even an Archimmortal couldn''t, right? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head in disbelief, murmuring to himself. <i>Could it be a sh between the ck pagoda and that mysterious bone fragment?</i>


    <i>And I got caught in the cross-fire?</i>


    For some reason, he couldn''t quite remember the events leading up to this. All Wu Yuan could clearly recall was being transported by the white-robed woman into the opportunity selection area, along with the process of him going through the Overlord Hall��s test.


    It was unsettling.


    <i>I wonder if the ck pagoda has been exposed.</i> A trace of worry shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. <i>But at least I''m not dead.</i>


    "Wu Yuan, you''re awake," a gentle voice suddenly rang out.


    "Senior." Wu Yuan, regaining a bit of alertness, stood up and bowed slightly to the white-robed woman.


    Only then did he have the strength to nce around.


    It was the same ck metallic za. But now, it waspletely empty.


    "You''ve been asleep for nearly a month," the white-robed woman softly said, "All the Bloodforge Kings have left after choosing their opportunities."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    Although his body refiner self was unconscious, his qi refiner self was awake all this time, naturally aware of how much time had passed.


    "Senior, what happened to me?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, a trace of unease in his heart.


    "What? Haven''t you noticed?" The woman''s expression was hidden, but her voice carried a hint of amusement, "You are very lucky, you have received two Legendary opportunities."


    "Two? Legendary opportunities?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. He had no recollection of this at all.


    "Inspect yourself carefully," the white-robed woman instructed.


    Intrigued, Wu Yuan immediately began examining himself, and quickly found two new items lying quietly in his soul chamber.


    There was a luscious little sapling, its roots extending into the soul chamber and drawing from its vital ether. Unbelievably, Wu Yuan hadn''t noticed it until now.


    Additionally, a silver, triangr crystal prism was gently suspended above a vortex of ether. It bobbed up and down with the currents of the ether.


    Those were the two items Wu Yuan had sensed earlier, which were highlypatible with him.


    However, upon sensing them, Wu Yuan felt they were both shrouded in mystery, their depths unfathomable.


    <i>I didn''t get an Overlord opportunity? But getting two Legendary treasures is not bad.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his heart calm.


    He still had many questions. But after some thought, Wu Yuan understood.


    As a small fry at the Spiritual Body phase, he was hardly worth the Bloodforge Spacetime''s attention. If they wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as flipping their palm!


    "Wu Yuan, now that you''re awake, I''ll send you back to the Redmoon Immortal Continent," the white-robed woman said, a hint of a smile in her voice.


    A flicker of suspicion crossed Wu Yuan''s mind. Was she not going to exin why he had fallen unconscious? And the ck pagoda, did she really not notice it?


    But if the white-robed woman didn''t offer an exnation, Wu Yuan didn��t dare probe too much either. The more questions, the more mistakes. It was better to leave as soon as possible.


    "Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The white-robed woman gave a slight nod, and with a wave of her hand, an invisible force engulfed Wu Yuan, and he vanished from the spot.


    <i>Finally, this cursed star has been sent away. </i>The white-robed woman murmured, a hint of fear and confusion in her eyes. <i>What exactly is behind him?</i>


    <i>Even the Overlord is reluctant to provoke it.</i>

 Chapter 489: By The Orders Of The Eldritch Sovereign (1)

    <h4>Chapter 489: By The Orders Of The Eldritch Sovereign (1)</h4>


    At the heart of the Origin Blood World within the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the colossal spatial vortex remained open.


    However, therge group of Earth Immortals who had gathered here had dispersed, even High Immortal Wu Tian and his group had left.


    Only several Void Refiner or Elysian Field Protectorates who were under orders continued to wait here.


    Suddenly, a figure d in white robes exited the spatial vortex, arriving in the Origin Blood World.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The huge spatial vortex began to close.


    "Wu Yuan is back." An astute Void Refiner Protectorate noticed the abnormality in the spatial vortex, and quickly spotted Wu Yuan.


    "Wu Yuan! The Golden Core Bloodforge King."


    "Bloodforge King." The other Void Refiner or Elysian Field Protectorates cheered.


    Without making a breakthrough, protectorates of the devil hall would not live past thirty thousand years old.


    Therefore, witnessing the birth of a new Golden Core Bloodforge King from the Redmoon Division was usually only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if it even urred at all.


    In this Bloodforge Battle, Wu Yuan vanquished allpetition, achieving first ce in Blood Devil Token ranking, and by some miracle, was anointed king.


    His name rang throughout the Silvermist Division of the devil hall.


    These devil hall protectorates were naturally beyond excited. He was the pride of the entire Redmoon Devil Hall, and they could now grandly boast about him in front of the protectorates from other second-tier divisions.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>One after another, figures with powerful auras appeared, all of them Earth Immortals or High Immortals from the devil hall. They had rushed over as soon as they received the news.


    "Wu Yuan is back."


    "Excellent job."


    "Congrattions, Golden Core Bloodforge King."


    "It��s time to celebrate, let''s have a victory banquet!" Numerous immortals from the Bloodforge Devil Hall swarmed him. Their faces were alight with smiles, behaving as if they were old friends of Wu Yuan��s. None showed any air of superiority.


    Deep down, they all knew that Wu Yuan was destined to soar to the heavens with his current talent.


    Once he matured, he could easily be a great figure among High Immortals, and might even ovee the Tribtions to be an Archimmortal.


    Facing this bunch of enthusiastic High Immortals, Wu Yuan merely went through the motions half-heartedly.


    Firstly, his stay in the Bloodforge Devil Hall was extremely brief, just three years, and he was not familiar with these High Immortals.


    Secondly, Wu Yuan��s mind was still upied with his experiences in the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    "Wu Yuan, you''ve brought honor to our Redmoon Devil Hall," said High Immortal Wu Tian, appearing at the scene.


    As Wu Yuan''s immediate superior, he beamed with joy, stepping forward. "A directly anointed Golden Core Bloodforge King. In the billion-year history of our Redmoon Devil Hall, such an urrence is rare indeed!"


    "You''ve achieved so much in just a few decades of cultivation."


    "In terms of reputation, you''ve already eclipsed Zhuo Haiyue and Li Xia from the Silvermist Immortal Nation. You��re well on your way to bing the top prodigy within the spacetime boundary of the Silvermist Immortal Nation."


    "Your name has spread across thousands of second-tier divisions under the Silvermist Division," sighed High Immortal Wu Tian. "As for our Redmoon Devil Hall? For the next billions of years, countless juniors will mention your name."


    Wu Yuan gave a wry smile.


    Billions of years? It was just a title, and couldn��t directly improve his strength. But on second thought, he found it amusing. Humans pursued fame and fortune, and even immortals were not exempt.


    "Let''s go. The Devil Hall has prepared a grand victory feast for you," said High Immortal Wu Tian with a grin. "After the feast, you will receive various rewards."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "Let''s go!"


    "Let''s go."


    <i>Whooosh! Whooosh! </i>High Immortal Wu Tian and Wu Yuan led the way, nked by a multitude of High Immortals, thousands of Earth Immortals, and swarms of protectorates.


    The massive group flew towards the colossal hall at the edge of the world �C the venue of the victory banquet.


    The main purpose of the Origin Blood World was to train the devil hall��s Golden Core disciples.


    However, after each Bloodforge Battle, over ny percent of the hundreds of millions of Golden Core cultivators from millions of worldlets would perish.


    There was still plenty of time before the next Bloodforge Battle, providing a rare moment of respite for the numerous protectorates and Earth Immortals of the devil hall.


    "High Immortal, these Qi Sea cultivators..." Wu Yuan pointed at an area below, where countless grottos housed an immeasurable number of Qi Sea cultivators.


    At a nce, they seemed to number in the billions.


    "These individuals are gathered from various worldlets. However, they are too weak to participate in the Bloodforge Battle," High Immortal Wu Tian casually said. "So, we select arge number of elite disciples and those with high potential from them for rigorous training."


    "In every Bloodforge Battle, the millions of Golden Core cultivators directly raised by the devil hall are selected from these Qi Sea cultivators."


    "In a hundred years'' time, we will filter those who have exhibited sufficient potential." High Immortal Wu Tian stated.


    Wu Yuan finally understood why the Bloodforge Devil Hall not only required some Golden Core cultivators from the Summerpeak World, but also requested arge number of Qi Sea cultivators.


    "What about those who are unable to exhibit sufficient potential?" Wu Yuan casually asked.


    "Naturally, they should die, what��s the point of keeping such trash?" High Immortal Wu Tian shook his head. "If they are still unable to step into the Golden Core phase before the Bloodforge Battle, they''ll be sent into the Bloodforge ne first."


    "No one can survive." High Immortal Wu Tian said it so naturally.


    Wu Yuan was stunned for some time. He thought back to the words of the white-robed woman in the Bloodforge Spacetime, and the incredible abilities of the Bloodforge Jade tform.


    <i>So, the Bloodforge Spacetime not only harvests the animus of the Golden Core cultivators, but also ten times the number of Qi Sea cultivators. </i>Wu Yuan quietly sighed.


    His understanding of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s cruelty deepened.


    <i>What''s the ultimate goal of harvesting such gargantuan quantities of animus over so many years? </i>The thought crossed Wu Yuan''s mind.


    The group soon entered the devil hall.


    ...


    The victory banquetsted a day and night, during which Wu Yuan was the absolute star of the show.


    Halfway through the feast, several Archimmortals of the devil hall joined in the festivities as well. Although they were just ordinary Archimmortals, their statuses far surpassed High Immortals, bringing the feast to its zenith.


    Strangely, Astral Lord Yin He did not show up, which puzzled Wu Yuan slightly.


    After the feast, High Immortal Wu Tian escorted Wu Yuan back to District One, which was nearly deserted.


    "Bai Li is gone, Shui Heng survived." High Immortal Wu Tian informed him softly.


    Bai Li? Wu Yuan paused, involuntarily recalling the willful and ambitious girl who seemed to harbor grand aspirations.


    Having cleared level eleven of the Dark Star, it was no exaggeration to call her a genius. If she hadn��t died on the battlefield, she could have be a High Immortal in tens of thousands of years without much difficulty. But she had died silently on the Bloodforge Battlefield, just like that.


    <i>Once dead, even the greatest ambitions, talents, and achievements all turn to dust.</i> Wu Yuan''s tumultuous spirit gradually calmed down.


    <i>All that is simply reduced to a topic of conversation, and eventually disappears with the wind. </i>A sense of cold rationality grew in Wu Yuan''s spirit, and he felt as if his spirit was baptized once again.


    First and foremost, survive! As long as you''re alive, there''s hope.


    A Dao Heart must be constantly refined to grow stronger.


    This Bloodforge Battle had not only dramatically increased Wu Yuan''s power, but also served as a rite of passage for his spirit.


    "Wu Yuan, you must prepare. The devil hall headquarters will likely summon you," High Immortal Wu Tian said with a grin. "Moreover, when you imed the title of Bloodforge King, the Astral Lord already decreed you the World Master of Summerpeak World."


    "The other rewards will be bestowed upon your arrival at the devil hall headquarters," High Immortal Wu Tian stated.


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded, soaring into his mansion.


    High Immortal Wu Tian watched as Wu Yuan entered the meditation chamber, muttering to himself. <i>How odd. The Astral Lord promised he would attend the banquet and even bring avish gift for Wu Yuan.</i>


    <i>Why hasn''t he arrived? And he hasn''t mentioned preparing an extra gift?</i> High Immortal Wu Tian shook his head slightly.<i> I can''t figure it out.</i>


    Astral Lord Yin He naturally wouldn��t divulge orders from the Devil Sovereign to a mere High Immortal. Thus, High Immortal Wu Tian remained oblivious.


    ...


    In the meditation chamber of his mansion, Wu Yuan sat down in lotus position, his mind still grappling with Bai Li��s death, as well as the silence that pervaded District One.


    <i>Of over eighty second-tier Bloodforge Seeds, only a little over twenty made it back alive. Of the more than one hundred million Golden Core cultivators who participated in the trial, less than a million survived.</i>


    These were the final figures of the Bloodforge Battle, which he learned of at the banquet.


    How cruel! Even the so-called geniuses had a staggering casualty rate nearing eighty percent. All from a single Golden Core Bloodforge Battle.


    <i>This is the path to immortality under the rule of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s master. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    The struggle for immortality was unthinkably brutal.


    Scores of disciples from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect also perished while carrying out various assignments, the cruelty of it all no less severe.


    However, the methods used by the Bloodforge Devil Hall were far more inhumane.


    <i>Though it''s presented as tempering, their true goal is to harvest animus.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, suppressing his swirling thoughts.


    He began to ponder his own situation.


    <i>The Bloodforge Battle has ended. My body refiner self is about to head to the devil hall headquarters. I wonder what awaits me there.</i>


    <i>But after consolidating my foundation for a while, I should be able to step into the Shambh phase.</i>


    Once he stepped into the Shambh phase, his strength would surge drastically.

 Chapter 490: By The Orders Of The Eldritch Sovereign (2)

    <h4>Chapter 490: By The Orders Of The Eldritch Sovereign (2)</h4>


    <i>These two treasures are Legendary opportunities?</i> Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, sensing the two items in his soul chamber.


    His Soul Force condensed, and a soul avatar manifested in the soul chamber, which was now hundreds of times more expansive than when it was first created. The massive vortexes of vital ether churned.


    His entire soul chamber felt like a small world, or ake. In thiske, a small verdant tree, brimming with life, had taken root beneath the surface. Its yellowing leaves had not yet fully recovered, but there was a significant improvement.


    <i>ording to the white-robed woman, a Legendary opportunity can support a prodigy��s advancement to the Astral Lord level?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    He dared not underestimate the abilities of an Astral Lord.


    Regardless of the attitude of the High Immortals at the banquet, who treated him as equals, and how the Earth Immortals and protectorates showed him deference, Wu Yuan''s mind was clear.


    Talent was talent, strength was strength.


    Any Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase could squish him like a bug.


    As for an Astral Lord? That was a being who ruled an immortal continent for hundreds of millions of years.


    In other words, the one-in-a-hundred-million-year geniuses of the Redmoon Immortal Continent might never be Astral Lords.


    <i>This tiny sapling.</i> Wu Yuan examined it carefully with his Soul Force.


    He quickly noticed something unusual �C it hadn''t merged with the soul chamber. Rather its roots were anchored in the void, silently absorbing vast quantities of vital ether.


    <i>Fascinating. Does this sapling naturally have a high degree of control over space? </i>Wu Yuan realized the sapling''s uniqueness.


    He thought of a legendary tree �C Jianmu!


    ording to the legends, Jianmu grew in the endless river of space and time, with roots extending into different spacetimes and dimensions, connecting different macrocosms, spacetime nes, and so on.


    Through Jianmu, one could swiftly traverse from one macrocosm to another. It was incredibly mystical.


    <i>This little sapling of mine shares some simrities with the legendary Jianmu. </i>Wu Yuan sensed quietly. <i>And it seems that it has chosen me as its master?</i>


    Despite his inability to control this sapling, Wu Yuan felt himself increasingly aligning with its essence as it absorbed his vital ether to grow.


    <i>My soul chamber feels somewhat sturdier.</i> Wu Yuan noticed the changes in his soul chamber.


    ��Master! Master, I suspect this sapling is the Boundary Tree recorded in my inheritance memories.�� Little ck, who was roaming in the etherke of his soul chamber, suddenly spoke up.


    It, too, possessed vast inheritance memories, some of which Wu Yuan had yet to learn of.


    "Boundary Tree?" Wu Yuan was momentarily taken aback.


    "Correct." Little ck nodded, "Master, ording to my inheritance memories, the Boundary Tree is a branch of the Jianmu species."


    "Throughout the endless ages, only a few Jianmu have ever existed in the river of space and time."


    "Just like how there is only one Progenitor of my Teng Snake lineage."


    "Jianmu possesses spirit, like a true sentient being. Among them, some have cultivated great powers, and their power was legendary in ancient times.��


    ��Over time, they separated some of their branches and roots and cultivated them, resulting in the emergence of the Universe Tree, Boundary Tree, World Wood, and many other subspecies." Little ck continued.


    "The Jianmu lineage is famous among spirit flora."


    Wu Yuan felt enlightened. This was all information he had no idea about until today.


    As Little ck continued describing the characteristics of the Boundary Tree, Wu Yuan was ny percent confident that the sapling before his eyes was indeed the Boundary Tree.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan''s two true selves began to research the Boundary Tree in both the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm and Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.


    Combined with Little ck��s intel, Wu Yuan truly understood the value of the Boundary Tree derived from Jianmu.


    Forget ordinary immortal cultivators; beings like Archimmortals or Astral Lords traveled between numerous worlds and lived for eons. Yet, how many of them had seen a Jianmu?


    <i>The Jianmu is the Progenitor of spirit flora. Its status is as lofty as the Teng Snake Progenitor who followed Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Containing a trace of the Jianmu''s essence, the Boundary Tree could be considered an ultimate treasure. It would be challenging to find a single one in the whole Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    After all, Wu Yuan was merely at the Spiritual Body phase. Not to mention theck of other treasures, even if there were some powerful and terrifying treasures, their usage as the foundation for the Shambh phase depended on whether his soul chamber could hold them.


    <i>A Boundary Tree sapling? A Legendary opportunity lives up to its reputation.</i> Wu Yuan was overjoyed. <i>This Boundary Tree will make the perfect Shambh foundation and will greatly benefit me in countless years toe.</i>


    <i>In the future, the chances of upgrading my soul chamber��s immortal root from second to first degree will greatly increase.</i>


    Transitioning from the Spiritual Body phase to the Shambh phase was a major advancement.


    The top priority of a Shambh cultivator was for their soul chamber to evolve into a shambh, where cryptic patterns would be inscribed in the shambh''s geography, and integrated into the foundation.


    This is a qualitative change.


    If those with weak immortal roots found apatible treasure, they could upgrade their immortal root degree when they advanced to the Shambh phase.


    An Amethyst Cradle cultivator needed a sixth-degree immortal root at least in order to be a Void Refiner cultivator.


    So, the step from the Spiritual Body phase to the Shambh phase was especially important.


    <i>Upgrading an immortal root from the bottom three degrees is easy. From the middle three degrees, it gets more challenging. And the top three degrees?</i>


    Upgrading them was as tough as ascending to the heavens.


    But with the Boundary Tree as the foundation, even if he didn��t manage to upgrade his eldritch root to the first degree, it was the best foundation Wu Yuan could have in preparation for the future.


    <i>I must nurture it well. In the future, with the help of the Boundary Tree, my Shambh will be more stable and powerful. Once I cast Shambh Reflection, forming the Shambh Domain, it probably won''t be much weaker than an Amethyst Cradle cultivator''s domain.</i> Wu Yuan expected.


    Domains were a typical weakness of Body refiners. Only the Shambh Domain could make up for it.


    <i>In the next few years, I must nurture this Boundary Tree well, so that it gradually adapts to my soul chamber.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the triangr crystal prism.


    There were countless intricate patterns on the surface of the crystal, simr to cryptic patterns, yet they contained minute ether fluctuations.


    Wu Yuan studied it with his Soul Force.


    Mysterious! Unfathomable! Even with Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, he could not understand the surface patterns or delve into its internal profundities.


    Deciphering it was equally impossible. It was impossible to im ownership.


    Infuse ether? This triangr crystal prism was incredibly beautiful, but it didn��t absorb any ether, simply drifting about quietly in theke.


    The two of them made numerous attempts to uncover its secrets.


    "Boss, I don��t get it," Little ck honestly admitted after some time.


    Wu Yuan dug through numerous virtual immortal slips from the Daoist Scripture Tower in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm and Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, but couldn��t find anything.


    <i>If I can��t see through it at all, it must be an ultimate treasure. It likely isn��t any less precious than the Boundary Tree. </i>Wu Yuan concluded.


    Since he couldn��t identify or understand it, he would leave it there for now.


    ...


    Days passed.


    The ripples of the Bloodforge Battle gradually subsided, and the massive Bloodforge Devil Hall was set in motion once more, preparing for the next blood-drenched trial.


    This was the very purpose of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s existence.


    Astral Lord Yin He did not meet with Wu Yuan, and there were no summons from the devil hall headquarters.


    Wu Yuan was d for the respite, and both of his true selves fully immersed themselves in cultivation.


    The Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, whichsted less than two years, was finally over. However, the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle was still ongoing.


    <i>Half a month after Wu Yuan''s return.</i>


    <i>Origin Blood World.</i>


    Today, the entire Teleportation Array One that stretched for thousands of li was entirely cleared. No one was permitted to enter or exit.


    Over a hundred figures waited silently, each one emanating a powerful aura. Most notably, the eight figures leading the group possessed a hint of Dao resonance.


    At the forefront of the group was none other than Astral Lord Yin He.


    He waited patiently, his eyes closed.


    ��The Astral Lord himself is here, and eight of the twelve Archimmortals havee. Who are we here to wee?��


    "No idea."


    "What about you, Wu Tian? Among us, you''re the closest to the Astral Lord."


    "How would I know?" The hundred or so figures standing in orderly lines were all High Immortals,municating telepathically.


    The majority of Archimmortals and High Immortals from the Redmoon Devil Hall were summoned to the small Origin Blood World today.


    Even Astral Lord Yin He had personally arrived to lead the team.


    <i>Buzz~ </i>Afar, Teleportation Array One suddenly emitted a blinding light, causing all the High Immortals present to tense up.


    Astral Lord Yin He, whose eyes were still closed, furrowed his brows, while the eight Archimmortals behind him shared his nervousness.


    Their guests had arrived!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> With a sh, two figures appeared outside the teleportation array.


    One of them was dressed in red robes, radiating a chilling aura of relentless killing intent.


    The other, a burly figure, was d in ck battle armor. He emitted a fierce aura that pervaded the entire space.


    Just standing there, the High Immortals felt breathless, and the eight Archimmortals sensed their hearts palpitating.


    Such formidable auras.


    At this moment, the entire Origin Blood World seemed to shudder, as if it might crumble at any moment.


    ��Greetings to Astral Monarch Pei He and Astral Monarch Hou Qu,�� Astral Lord Yin He bowed respectfully.


    ��Greetings to Astral Monarch Pei He and Astral Monarch Hou Qu,�� the other Archimmortals and High Immortals also bowed respectfully, their emotions whipped into tumultuous waves.


    The High Immortals finally understood who they were waiting for: Astral Monarch Pei He!


    Unlike the Silvermist Immortal Nation which had thirteen Astral Monarchs, the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall had only two!


    And one of them was Astral Monarch Pei He.


    He also held another title �C leader of the entire Silvermist division, ruler of more than a thousand second-tier divisions.


    "It��s an Astral Monarch!"


    "Among the thousands of immortal continents, it may take more than a hundred million years to produce a new Astral Monarch." These High Immortals were beyond thrilled.


    Under normal circumstances, High Immortals of a division would nearly never have the opportunity to meet an Astral Monarch.


    Their excitement tipped over.


    However, the hundreds of High Immortals and eight Archimmortals were all slightly puzzled. Why were two great Astral Monarchs suddenly visiting the Origin Blood World?


    "Brother Hou Qu, would you like me to summon him?" Astral Monarch Pei He asked with a smile, disying exceptional politeness.


    This scene shocked Astral Lord Yin He, the eight Archimmortals, and everyone else.


    Astral Monarch Pei He, known for his ruthlessness, was a fearsome figure among the many Astral Monarchs in the macrocosm!


    But at this moment, he was extremely courteous. This Astral Monarch Hou Qu had to be terrifyingly powerful.


    "No need, I should go greet him personally." Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. Having been dispatched here under orders, he naturally knew what to do.


    "He is not too far."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu headed straight for District One, followed by Astral Monarch Pei He, with many immortals from the Redmoon Division hastily trailing behind.


    By now, many immortals had begun to form their conjectures, but most were still in disbelief.


    Two Astral Monarchs were going to receive a puny Spiritual Body cultivator?


    They arrived swiftly in the airspace above Mansion One in District One.


    "Come out, Wu Yuan, our young friend." Astral Monarch Hou Qu spoke, his voice booming but not overbearing, echoing throughout the mansion.


    Not only were the multiple High Immortals and Archimmortals dumbstruck by this scene, even Astral Lord Yin He, who had anticipated this, felt a shiver of surprise.


    Young friend? The great Astral Monarch referred to Wu Yuan as ''young friend''?


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of light shot out of the meditation chamber. It was none other than Wu Yuan, his face a mask of bewilderment as he stared at the figures standing in the air.


    His stomach knotted.


    Good heavens! What matter could possibly warrant the presence of so many High Immortals and Archimmortals? Even Astral Lord Yin He was merely following behind?


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the two leading figures, his heart pounding in apprehension.


    "Wu Yuan pays... " Wu Yuan was about to bow.


    "Haha!" Astral Monarch Hou Quughed heartily. "Wu Yuan, our young friend, I am Astral Monarch Hou Qu from Cang Feng Eldritch World."


    "I havee today under the orders of the Eldritch Sovereign to escort you to the Cang Feng Eldritch World."


    Dead silence.


    All the High Immortals and Archimmortals stood stunned. They naturally knew of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, a behemoth on par with the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    Eldritch Sovereign?


    <i>Cang Feng Eldritch World? Where is that? </i>Wu Yuan waspletely clueless. <i>Under the orders of the Eldritch Sovereign? Who is that?</i>

 Chapter 491: Plucking A World With One Hand (1)

    <h4>Chapter 491: Plucking A World With One Hand (1)</h4>


    The Greenridge Macrocosm was an expansive and boundless realm, where powerful forces shed incessantly. Yet, within this tumultuous expanse, the territory of the Eternal Sun Immortal World remained peaceful and undisturbed.


    Wu Yuan, a Golden Core/Spiritual Body level youngster who had only started cultivating decades ago, had never needed to concern himself with other great forces of the macrocosm.


    After all, apart from this journey to the Bloodforge Spacetime for the Bloodforge Battle, he had never left the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    Wu Yuan knew that the eldritch lineage existed within the Greenridge Macrocosm, but not the specific name of the subordinate faction.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World? Wu Yuan had genuinely never heard of it.


    As for the Eldritch Sovereign? He was clueless.


    However, Wu Yuan was still startled. <i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu?</i>


    Astral Monarch! He naturally knew what a lofty status that was.


    Previously, his qi refiner self made waves in the immortal nation, and Astral Monarch Su Qing had wanted to take him as a disciple, but he was refused by High Immortal Nan Yin.


    ording to High Immortal Nan Yin, within the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation, only thirteen Astral Monarchs had ever been born over eons. One could only imagine how high a status they had.


    Wu Yuan believed that the Astral Monarchs from the immortal nation were most likely the big shots, the high-ranking figures of the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    <i>Astral Monarch Pei He, who rules over the entire Silvermist Devil Hall, is definitely one of the Bloodforge Devil Hall''s highest echelons. Yet, he��s so polite, so this Astral Monarch Hou Qu must be no ordinary individual. </i>Several thoughts raced through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Yet, a dignified Astral Monarch, an absolute super powerhouse, was under orders toe and pick him up?


    Good heavens!


    With a bit of deduction, Wu Yuan realized that this supposed Eldritch Sovereign must be an unimaginable, heaven-defying existence.


    <i>Didn''t High Immortal Wu Tian say he was going to take me to the Devil Hall headquarters? </i>Wu Yuan''s mind whirled. <i>Why did an Astral Monarch suddenly arrive to take me to the Cang Feng Eldritch World? How did the Eldritch Sovereign find out about me?</i>


    Though a bit befuddled, Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly worried.


    If it were bad news, these two honorable Astral Monarchs would not be speaking to him with such a pleasant attitude.


    He was ny-nine percent sure that it was good news, and not just good, but great!


    "Wu Yuan, there''s no need for worry." Astral Monarch Pei He, noticing Wu Yuan''s confusion, gave a reassuring smile, "The Cang Feng Eldritch World is a force even more powerful than my Bloodforge Devil Hall - a top-tier major faction in the whole macrocosm."


    "You are an eldritch cultivator, one gifted beyond measure. Heading to the Cang Feng Eldritch World would be most beneficial for your cultivation." Astral Monarch Pei Heughed, "In the future, you may belong to Cang Feng Eldritch World, but you will always be a part of the Bloodforge Devil Hall - that will never change."


    Wu Yuan was utterly bbergasted, but he understood.


    It seemed that Bloodforge Devil Hall was nning to send him to Cang Feng Eldritch World? An eldritch world was probably on par with an immortal world!


    But how could Bloodforge Devil Hall be so kind-hearted? He had just obtained two Legendary opportunities and disyed extraordinary talent. Why was the Bloodforge Devil Hall willing to let him go?


    "What?"


    "Wu Yuan is leaving the Bloodforge Devil Hall? And joining the Cang Feng Eldritch World?"


    "What''s going on?"


    "This... This can''t be happening, right? It is one thing if Wu Yuan were heading to the devil hall headquarters, but why join the Cang Feng Eldritch World?" Disbelief written all over the eight Archimmortals and hundreds of High Immortals�� faces.


    Their gazes instinctively turned to Astral Lord Yin He.


    High Immortal Wu Tian, in particr, had been counting on Wu Yuan''s meteoric rise. As his direct High Immortal superior, Wu Yuan''s sess would bring him substantial merit.


    But he was leaving already?


    It was the same story for the other immortals of the Redmoon Devil Hall. With Wu Yuan''s unparalleled talent, there was a high chance of him rising in status, and they stood to benefit.


    However, Astral Lord Yin He''s demeanor was as calm as ever. Standing quietly behind the two Astral Monarchs, he ignored the gazes of numerous immortals from Redmoon Devil Hall, as if he had epted the situation.


    There was a deathly silence.


    "Astral Monarchs," Wu Yuan rapidlyposed himself, "Although I am an eldritch cultivator, I am a disciple of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Will leaving for the Cang Feng Eldritch World... be improper?"


    Wu Yuan was not a fan of the Bloodforge Devil Hall��s rules. But at least, they valued him highly and selectively nurtured him.


    What would things be like in the Cang Feng Eldritch World? Everything was unknown.


    "Haha, Brother Pei He." Astral Monarch Hou Quughed, looking at Astral Monarch Pei He, "It seems Wu Yuan still has some concerns, could you allow me to have a private conversation with him?"


    "Brother Hou Qu, you jest." Astral Monarch Pei He responded, "Wu Yuan will soon be a member of the eldritch world, you may do as you please."


    "He is still a disciple of your devil hall, it is only right that I ask for your permission." Astral Monarch Hou Qu replied with a smile.


    With that, Astral Monarch Hou Qunded before Wu Yuan. With a wave of his hand, an invisible force enveloped a hundred-meter radius of space around them, impervious to prying eyes and ears.


    The powerhouses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall could only wait patiently.


    "Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan tried to bow, but was taken aback when an invisible force held him up.


    "Since I call you my young friend, there''s no need for formalities." Astral Monarch Hou Quughed, "And don''t call me Astral Monarch or Senior. Just call me Brother Hou Qu."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Brother Hou Qu?


    A super-powerhouse, an Astral Monarch that ruled over countless immortal continents, with an army of Archimmortals at their beck and call, asked Wu Yuan to address him in such a manner?


    The implications needed no further exnation.


    Wu Yuan was well aware that even with his dazzling talent, most Archimmortals and Astral Lords felt his chances of bing an Astral Monarch were slim to none.


    "I dare not," Wu Yuan replied respectfully. "I implore Senior to elucidate."


    "Ah, those who emerge from the Taiyuan Divine Court are somewhat rigid," Astral Monarch Hou Qu sighed with a hint of helplessness, shaking his head with a smile. "Wu Yuan, did you receive heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos?"


    Wu Yuan was instantly taken aback.


    Heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos? How did Astral Monarch Hou Qu figure it out?


    It should be noted that one did not necessarily need heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos to sessfully establish a second-degree eldritch root.


    "Don''t worry, across endless spacetimes, the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos are usually granted by the great Eldritch Progenitors. When the Eldritch Progenitors disperse their consciousness across the countless worlds, they naturally perceive your existence," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed. "So, from that moment on, the Eldritch Court knew of you."


    Wu Yuan was stunned, his heart pounding with surprise.


    No wonder it was said that Eldritch Progenitors held the authority to control the will of heaven and earth.


    "Eldritch Court?" Wu Yuan was confused.


    "The Eldritch Court is a ce established by the Eldritch Progenitors. It is also a ce countless eldritch cultivators from numerous macrocosms aspire to," said Astral Monarch Hou Qu with augh.


    "The Eldritch Court is a top-tier faction throughout the river of space and time. In terms of strength, it surpasses the Taiyuan Divine Court. Only a few top-tier factions like the Immortal Court can rival it," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said proudly. "The Eldritch Court is also one of the oldest major factions centered around humanity since the creation of heaven and earth."


    Wu Yuan quietly listened.


    He seemed to glimpse an ancient power. An entity that has stood at the pinnacle of the river of space and time, despite the vast expanse of ages.


    "My Cang Feng Eldritch World, also known as the Cang Feng Tribe, is the Eldritch Court��s constituent faction in the Greenridge Macrocosm," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined. "My Cang Feng Eldritch World alone is one of the seven most powerful entities in the Greenridge Macrocosm, unsurpassable in its might."


    <i>Seven major factions?</i> Wu Yuan silently noted.


    In the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, there were seven major factions on the level of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, Eternal Sun Immortal World, and Bloodforge Devil Hall?


    "You must have a lot of thoughts and conjectures in your mind," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said in a gruff and hearty voice.


    "The Eldritch Sovereign was aware that you obtained a great opportunity from the Bloodforge Spacetime. Thus, he made a deal with the Bloodforge Devil Hall. He sent me here specifically to fetch you and bring you back to the Cang Feng Eldritch World."


    These were the words that the Eldritch Sovereign had instructed Astral Monarch Hou Qu to say. As for the matters behind the scenes of the Bloodforge Spacetime? There was no need to inform Wu Yuan about them.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    The Eldritch Sovereign was aware of everything that he had experienced in the Bloodforge Spacetime?


    "Astral Monarch Hou Qu," Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, "What kind of existence is the Eldritch Sovereign?"


    "The Eldritch Sovereign is one of the heads of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. He holds a position equivalent to that of the head of the whole Eternal Sun Immortal World and the hall master of the Bloodforge Devil Hall," Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. "Across the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, he is absolutely one of the peak existences."


    Wu Yuan held his breath.


    Indeed! He was an extraordinary existence on par with the head of the whole Eternal Sun Immortal World?


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World reigned over over a thousand immortal nations. And every immortal nation had thousands of immortal continents.


    A quick calction would reveal that the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World probably ruled over five to six million immortal continents, given that the number of second-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall alone exceeded four million. And the devil hall could rival the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World wouldn''t be weak either, the number of its Archimmortal-level powerhouses likely exceeded ten million.


    The Eldritch Sovereign��s position was unimaginably lofty. Such an extraordinary existence had specifically sent an Astral Monarch to fetch him?


    Wu Yuan took a deep breath.


    "I presume you have some idea of why I��m here now," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. "The Eldritch Sovereign sent me here because he wishes to take you as his disciple."


    "A nominal disciple," he added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his heart pounding.


    A nominal disciple? Even as a mere nominal disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign, one''s status surpassed that of a direct disciple of an Astral Monarch.


    Just by observing Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s demeanor, he could glean several clues.


    The Eldritch Sovereign! Was he truly epted under the tutge of such a heaven-defying existence?


    Indeed, it was a monumental opportunity. Inparison, the two Legendary opportunity treasures obtained from the Bloodforge Devil Hall paled inparison to acquiring the status of ''disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign''.


    <i>A Legendary opportunity can only smooth my path to bing an Astral Lord, granting me some hope of bing an Astral Monarch. But being taken under the wing of an Eldritch Sovereign? </i>


    Bing an Astral Lord? No! The Eldritch Sovereign must have seen potential in him to be an Astral Monarch. Otherwise, Wu Yuan would hardly be worth his time.


    "Wu Yuan, you are currently a nominal disciple because your strength is stillcking," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed, "But once you ovee the nine Immortal Tribtions and be an Astral Lord, you will naturally be promoted to direct disciple status."


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    In the eyes of such a heaven-defying existence like the Eldritch Sovereign, only someone who had survived the Immortal Tribtions could truly be considered to have matured.


    "Astral Monarch Hou Qu, you mentioned oveing nine Immortal Tribtions? Isn''t it seven?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Ordinary High Eldritches only need to survive seven Tribtions to establish an Archeldritch body," Astral Monarch Hou Qu shook his head, "But among the direct disciples under the Eldritch Sovereign, almost all have ovee nine Immortal Tribtions, directly bing an Astral Lord."


    "Among the hundreds of direct disciples under the Eldritch Sovereign, apart from those who died young, the majority of them ultimately became Astral Monarchs." Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, "Quite a few of them have achieved power approaching that of the Eldritch Sovereign himself, making a name for themselves."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Impressive! As expected of disciples mentored by the Eldritch Sovereign, truly extraordinary. The majority of them became Astral Monarchs?


    After some thought, it made sense. Within the Redmoon Immortal Continent and Silvermist Immortal Nation, it was rare for Tribtion/Universe Architect cultivators to ovee nine Immortal Tribtions. Such prodigies belonged to the absolute top-tier of geniuses.


    But for the disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, it was just the norm.

 Chapter 492: Plucking A World With One Hand (2)

    <h4>Chapter 492: Plucking A World With One Hand (2)</h4>


    <i>This is a monumental opportunity!</i> Wu Yuan was more convinced than ever that this was an unprecedented chance. Though he appeared to be a nominal disciple, in reality, he was treated as a direct disciple.


    "Wu Yuan," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile, "The Eldritch Sovereign mentioned that just as a master chooses his disciple, the disciple also chooses his master. If you don''t wish to go to the Cang Feng Eldritch World, you don''t have to. Are you willing?"


    "Of course I''m willing," Wu Yuan replied immediately.


    Not only immortal cultivators but even Archimmortals and Archeldritches would likely leap at such an opportunity.


    With an Eldritch Sovereign as his teacher, his chances of bing a super powerhouse multiplied tenfold, a hundredfold.


    "Good," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled.


    In truth, the Eldritch Sovereign had never instructed him to ask Wu Yuan if he was willing. From what he understood of the Eldritch Sovereign��s words, Wu Yuan had to go, willing or not.


    However, Astral Monarch Hou Qu thought it best if Wu Yuan followed willingly. After all, he doubted that a young man in the Spiritual Body phase would pass up such an opportunity.


    "Since you''re willing, let''s prepare to depart immediately. It will take us two days to get back to the Cang Feng Eldritch World from here," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile.


    "Two days? That long?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    "You think that��s long?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled, shaking his head with an amused expression. "Wu Yuan, it seems the inheritance you received isn��t the best. Your knowledge of the macrocosm is severelycking."


    "Let me put it this way. If an Archimmortal were to rely solely on flying through outer space with their body, they still wouldn��t reach the Cang Feng Eldritch World in a billion years," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    A billion years and still not reach it? That sounded impossibly exaggerated!


    "Of course, when Archimmortals travel, they generally don''t rely solely on flight. That''s far too slow," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued with augh. "But even with some special methods, it''s quite normal for Archimmortals to spend decades or even centuries on journeys within the macrocosm."


    "As for outside the macrocosm?"


    "Mmm, Archimmortals aren''t qualified to leave the macrocosm," said Astral Monarch Hou Qu, shaking his head. "Even for entities like me, we generally wouldn''t leave the macrocosm unless under special circumstances."


    "The entire river of space and time is so unimaginably vast and boundless that a single macrocosm is but a drop of water in the entire river of space and time," Astral Monarch Hou Qu mused.


    Wu Yuan was left in awe, increasingly aware of the vastness of the heavens and earth, and his own insignificance.


    "Alright, Wu Yuan, you don''t need to think too much about it now. These matters are far beyond you at the moment," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed. "All you need to do right now is cultivate well and be an Archeldritch as soon as possible."


    Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.


    Archeldritch? That was on the same level as an Archimmortal.


    A question suddenly floated into Wu Yuan��s mind: if the macrocosm was this vast, then how did the Bloodforge Spacetime manage to transport countless immortal cultivators from various spacetimes in such a short time?


    The methods they used must be beyond Wu Yuan''s wildest imagination.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked, "Once we leave, it''s hard to say how many years will pass before you can return. Is there anything you need to handle before we go?"


    "Anything?" Wu Yuan thought for a moment and hurriedly responded, "Astral Monarch, I have a mortal mother and a sister, along with arge n. They all live in a small worldlet..." Wu Yuan quickly voiced his concerns.


    His qi refiner self could train at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect; there was no need for him to join his body refiner self in the Cang Feng Eldritch World. What truly worried him was his family.


    "A worldlet?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded. "The Eldritch Sovereign has already considered this point. Rest assured, I''ll handle it."


    <i>Handle it? How exactly?</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    He was about to leave and might not return for many years. The Eldritch Sovereign''s so-called consideration probably meant arranging for the Bloodforge Devil Hall to take care of them.


    But that could never make up for the regret of leaving them behind.


    "Let��s leave it at that for now," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said. "There are some matters you will need to pay attention to after you enter the Cang Feng Eldritch World, and I��ll exin them to you gradually on the way."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu waved his hand, dissipating the invisible barrier. Then, he brought Wu Yuan to Astral Monarch Pei He.


    "Brother Pei He, Wu Yuan has agreed." Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled, "I have to report back to the Eldritch Sovereign. Time is of the essence. We��ll be off to Summerpeak World now."


    "No worries!" Astral Monarch Pei He nodded, his gazending on Wu Yuan. He mustered a smile. "Wu Yuan, when you get to the Eldritch World, train hard and don''t forget about our Bloodforge Devil Hall."


    "Wu Yuan dares not forget the kindness of the Devil Hall," Wu Yuan respectfully replied.


    Even if you are leaving an organization, it��s still good to maintain a polite attitude.


    "Brother Hou Qu, since you''re proficient in the Space Dao, you should take charge," Astral Monarch Pei He chuckled. "Bring my disciples and grand disciples along; help them broaden their horizons."


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded. His gaze swept over Astral Lord Yin He and the numerous Archimmortals and High Immortals. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Do not resist."


    The words had barely left his mouth when an invisible force enveloped the space, followed by a fluctuation of power.


    Everyone, including Wu Yuan, vanished from the Origin Blood World.


    ...


    This was an endless expanse of outer space, where a massive elliptical world hung suspended.


    The entire world was enveloped in a solid barrier, with vast qi streams flowing across its surface. At a nce, the longest width of the world stretched nearly twenty million li.


    With another fluctuation, Astral Monarch Hou Qu, Astral Monarch Pei He, Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Yin He, and a multitude of Archimmortals and High Immortals simultaneously appeared in the space.


    All of them caught sight of the colossal world in the distance.


    "What are we doing here?"


    "I don''t know."


    "What a terrifyingmand of space. In an instant, we were transported here, far from the devil hall." These Archimmortals and High Immortals were both puzzled and astounded, utterly clueless.


    Wu Yuan was equally dumbfounded, his gaze inevitably drawn to the massive world in the distance.


    Among countless worldlets, this one probably ranked among thergest.


    Standing in this void, Wu Yuan could feel an invisible force shielding him, protecting him from the erosive power of outer space.


    "Wu Yuan, over there, that''s the Summerpeak World," stated Astral Monarch Hou Qu, his voice resonating through the vacuum of space.


    "Summerpeak?" Wu Yuan felt a surge of surprise, and his gaze involuntarily swept over the colossal world in the distance.


    This was the first time Wu Yuan was seeing the Summerpeak World from an outsider''s perspective. This was a world that nurtured countless life forms��a cradle of life.


    Having studied numerous texts, Wu Yuan knew all too well: the number of stars in the vast cosmos was beyondprehension, stretching into infinity. Yet the birth of life was a rarity.


    It was akin to the environment of the universe of the Blue in his past life.


    Only those innumerable worldlets, also known as hospitable worlds, birthed the majority of life forms over the long eons.


    "Wu Yuan, your family and friends all reside in the Summerpeak World, am I right?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded subconsciously.


    He had justmunicated with Fang Xia via the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm earlier that day, so he knew the situation within the Summerpeak World.


    "That simplifies things." Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. Hisrge eyes, like copper bells, focused on the immense world in the distance.


    Suddenly, he stretched out his right hand. His palm was wide and powerful. As he reached out, his hand began to expand.


    In the astonished eyes of Wu Yuan and the other High Immortals and Archimmortals, his hand swelled to millions of li in size in the blink of an eye. A thin silvery glow enveloped his hand. It gleamed brilliantly, looking iparably majestic.


    The colossal hand swung, seeminglynguid, but fiercely swift in actuality.


    <i>Boom! </i>Outer space seemed to quiver as the mighty hand thrust directly into a higher dimension. Cracks in spacetime emerged at the tips of his fingers.


    This sight left Wu Yuan and hispanions utterly astonished. It was terrifying beyond belief! The massive hand obscured half of outer space.


    <i>Boom!</i> The giant silver hand fiercely clutched at nothingness. Tugging back, the vast expanse of outer space began to contract like a foldable table.


    The world with a width exceeding 20 million li began to move.


    Then, Astral Monarch Hou Qu pressed the space under his massive hand. Silently, the vast Summerpeak World started to shrink at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    Eventually, when the widest section of the world was reduced to a few hundred thousand li, Astral Monarch Hou Qu gently picked it up with his giant hand.


    Before long, the Summerpeak World vanished.


    "This?" Wu Yuan was startled and bewildered. The Summerpeak World was gone just like that! Was it destroyed? Was this what the Eldritch Sovereign meant by ��considering this point��?


    The High Immortals and Archimmortals were simrly shocked. An entire worldlet could fit in the palm of his hand. What kind of heaven-defying divine power was this?


    With a single hand, he plucked the world from its orbit!


    "Haha, I haven''t lost my touch," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, shaking his head as he turned his gaze to Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan, what do you think? I''ve stored the entire Summerpeak World in my spacetime. Once we reach the Cang Feng Eldritch World, I''ll extract it and simply position it on a new world orbit."


    "Your family and friends will not be affected in the slightest."


    Wu Yuan��s mind was blown.


    Were these the Eldritch Sovereign��s instructions? To pluck the entire Summerpeak World directly and migrate it to the territory of Cang Feng Eldritch World?


    The most Wu Yuan had ever considered was the relocation of the living beings of the Middle Land. He didn��t dare imagine relocating the whole Summerpeak World.


    "Pei He, I need to report back to the Eldritch Sovereign, so I won��t linger here any longer. I��ll take my leave now," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, turning to Astral Monarch Pei He.


    "Haha, take care, Brother Hou Qu," Astral Monarch Pei Heughed. "We shall meet again when the opportunity arises."


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded.


    "Wu Yuan, let''s go." With a wave of his hand, Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Wu Yuan vanished from the space, leaving only faint spacetime ripples. Only Astral Monarch Pei He could perceive their trail.


    The immortals of Bloodforge Devil Hall were left looking at each other in shock.


    Today, having witnessed the otherworldly power of an Astral Monarch, their horizons had been properly broadened.


    <i>Wu Yuan? </i>Astral Monarch Pei He shook his head slightly, then gave his orders, "Everyone, back to your posts. From now on, stop spreading stories about Wu Yuan."


    "And absolutely no one is to leak information about Astral Monarch Hou Qu..."


    "Yes." The immortals responded respectfully.

 Chapter 493: Cang Feng Eldritch World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 493: Cang Feng Eldritch World (1)</h4>


    <i>Rip!</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu tore space apart, stepping into a spatial tunnel. Wu Yuan followed behind him, enveloped and protected by an invisible barrier.


    In the blink of an eye, the originally calm void twisted before his eyes, then suddenly seemed to boil, with countless fragments shing and colliding.


    It was a bizarrendscape, like bubbles bursting one after another. Brilliant lights and vibrant colors flowed past them like a river filled with countless ss shards.


    The countless tiny fragments made Wu Yuan''s heart skip a beat.


    "Space is divided into manyyers: the Material Spatial Layer, the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, the Turbulent Spatial Layer, the Vacuum Spatial Layer, and so on."


    "Usually, the innumerable living beings inhabit the Material Spatial Layer, the shallowestyer and the most stable one, suitable for living beings to breed and fight," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile. "But it also has the most constraints. A flight speed of 3.6 million li per breath is the limit allowed by thews of heaven and earth."


    His exnation seemed intentional.


    <i>3.6 million li per breath?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    One breath was six seconds. Thus, this speed was effectively the speed of light! The speed of light was the ultimate limit allowed in the Material Spatial Layer by thews of heaven and earth.


    "The flight speed of an Archimmortal can generally approach or reach the limit of speed in the Material Spatial Layer," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod.


    Indeed. Earth Immortals could fly 90,000 li per breath. It wasn��t hard to imagine Archimmortals reaching the limit of speed allowed by heaven and earth.


    "Do you have any idea how vast heaven and earth truly is?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu mused, "Forget about the endless river of space and time. If an Archimmortal wished to get from one end of the Greenridge Macrocosm to the other, it would take them ten billion years if they relied solely on normal flight through the Material Spatial Layer."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    It would take ten billion years for an Archimmortal relying on flight to cross the entire Greenridge Macrocosm?


    In other words��


    <i>The entire Greenridge Macrocosm, the boundary of spacetime enveloped in its essence, spans a maximum width of ten billion light years?</i> Wu Yuan shuddered.


    Ten billion light years? This was the spacetime expanse of a macrocosm?


    "What, do the numbers scare you?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled, "In a macrocosm, more than 99.9% of its spacetime regions are empty. Each immortal continent and immortal nation is separated by immense distances."


    "Typically, Archimmortals relying on flight can traverse the spacetime expanse of an immortal continent in tens of thousands of years."


    "If an Archimmortal relied on flight, they would take tens of millions of years to traverse the spacetime expanse of an immortal nation," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued, "Wu Yuan, here''s some information on the distribution of power in the macrocosm; take a look."


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu waved his hand.


    Instantly, a flood of intelligence poured directly into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    With his powerful soul, Wu Yuan processed the information, which detailed the top-tier major factions, immortal nations, and summarized information about the entire macrocosm.


    <i>This! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes widened.


    He was properly scared stiff.


    In the past, he only knew that each immortal continent and immortal nation was vast, and that the Greenridge Macrocosm was unimaginably immense, but he was never able to visualize it.


    Now, through the intel provided by Astral Monarch Hou Qu, Wu Yuan finally understood.


    The Redmoon Immortal Continent''s core was the maind spanning tens of billions of li, where most of the continent''s beings lived.


    But the spacetime region influenced by the Redmoon Immortal Continent''s ne essence extended about thirty thousand light years, epassing millions of worldlets and hundreds of millions of stars.


    The spacetime regions influenced by the essences of different immortal continents were separated by vast distances, ranging from tens of thousands to millions of light-years.


    Because of this, the spacetime territory of an immortal nation, formed by thousands of immortal continents, could reach a maximum width of tens of millions of light years.


    And each immortal nation was separated by hundreds of millions of light years. Therefore, the scope of the entire macrocosm exceeded ten billion light-years!


    An incredibly staggering figure.


    <i>So, the so-called immortal world and eldritch world don''t rule over a unified spacetime essence. Rather, they rule over the territories upied by various smaller factions.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Each immortal continent and immortal nation had its own ne essence, and was considered aplete entity. An immortal nation epassed several immortal continents.


    Yet, the overall ne essences of 1200 immortal nations, spanning billions of light-years and making up the spacetime territory of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, was not unified.


    <i>So, the entire macrocosm has approximately 5,500 immortal nations. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    He had a newfound understanding of the Greenridge Macrocosm. It was an endlessly vast spacetime.


    <i>Just one macrocosm is already so grand and vast, with countless beings, countless powerhouses and innumerable stories over eons.</i> Wu Yuan felt his scalp tingle. What<i> about the endless river of space and time?</i>


    The macrocosm was just a drop in the river of space and time?


    Its vastness exceeded Wu Yuan''s imagination.


    Wu Yuan suddenly thought of something. <i>The Blue civilization... Perhaps, it lies in some obscure spacetime region within the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    But, with the Greenridge Macrocosm so vast, spanning tens of billions of light-years, how could he find an inconspicuous Blue? It was too difficult.


    After all he had been through, Wu Yuan sensed that the ck pagoda was deeply entangled in all this, likely the mastermind behind his transmigration from the Blue to the Middle Land.


    "Astral Monarch, do Archimmortals typically rely on flight to cross such vast immortal continents and immortal nations?"


    "Haha, of course not," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled.


    "The Material Spatial Layer is too stable. So, one must enter a higher spatial dimension."


    "In higher dimensions, everything converges, offering a bird''s-eye view of lower spatial dimensions."


    "For example, we are now in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer," Astral Monarch Hou Qu gestured. "Those countless spatial fragments could tear apart a Divided Soul/Dharma Body cultivator."


    Wu Yuan held his breath.


    Divided Soul or Dharma Body? That would be Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches.


    "Ordinary Archimmortals, or some extremely powerful High Immortals, can enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    "It may seem like we are traveling through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer at light speed, but when reflected onto the Material Spatial Layer, it equates to ten thousand times the limit of speed under heaven and earth��s rules."


    "Ten thousand times the limit of speed?" Wu Yuan was shocked.


    If an Archimmortal traveled one light year in the higher-dimensional Fragmentary Spatial Layer, upon descending to the Material Spatial Layer, it was equivalent to traveling ten thousand light years?


    Their speed would be a staggering ten thousand times the speed of light.


    "But..." Wu Yuan started to speak.


    Warping at a million times the speed of light sounded incredibly fast, but it was nothingpared to the vast, boundless spacetime of the immortal continent or the immortal nation.


    At such a speed, it would still take a million years to traverse the entire macrocosm.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Suddenly, the space around the passage, once filled with countless turbulent fragments, twisted into countless threads, their movements serene.


    The threads rippled, emitting a dazzling array of colors. It was beautiful.


    <i>What?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted. Those threads felt overwhelmingly dangerous.


    "Wu Yuan, I know what you are thinking," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile. "Traveling through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer will still take a long time when crossing vast regions of spacetime."


    "So, we must enter an even higher dimensional spatialyer, namely the Turbulent Spatial Layer where we currently are."


    "The speed at which we cross the Turbulent Spatial Layer, once reflected in the lower dimensional Material Spatial Layer, is multiplied hundreds of millions of times," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined with a smile.


    Hundreds of millions of times? That was to say��it was equivalent to traveling at hundreds of millions of times the speed of light!


    "Ordinary Astral Monarchs, when on expeditions or travels, usually proceed through the Turbulent Spatial Layer," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile. "But, it''s still too slow."


    "The Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Redmoon Immortal Continent are separated by billions of light years. An ordinary Astral Monarch would take decades to traverse that distance on their own," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile. "That''s why the Eldritch Sovereign sent me."


    As Wu Yuan pondered this, the countless threads and ripples that were previously visible in the spatial passage around Wu Yuan and Astral Monarch Hou Qu vanishedpletely.


    The void around them fell into a deathly silence, turning into a realm of nothingness! The silence was absolute, as if they had stepped into an unknownnd.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned.


    ��We are now in the Vacuum Spatial Layer, a higher spatial dimension than the Turbulent Spatial Layer,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined with a smile.


    ��This ce is three spatial dimensions above the Material Spatial Layer. Once reflected onto the lowest dimension, it expands a trillion times!��


    ��That means, traveling at the speed of light in the Vacuum Spatial Layer is equivalent to moving at a trillion times the speed of light in the Material Spatial Layer. Crossing the entire Greenridge Macrocosm will only take a few days.��


    ��The teleportation arrays established by various forces across the multiple immortal continents and immortal nations work through the inscription of cryptic patterns that allow passage through the Vacuum Spatial Layer, where speeds are so fast that traveling between close distances seems instantaneous,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued.


    Wu Yuan was shaken to his core.


    Three spatial dimensions higher, speeds were a trillion times faster?


    This was beyond hisprehension.


    Wu Yuan understood that to enter the so-called Vacuum Spatial Layer, one either needed immense power or a profound understanding of the Law of Space.


    ��However, teleportation arrays have many ws.�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, ��To truly navigate the endless river of space and time, you must rely on your own ability to enter the Vacuum Spatial Layer.��


    ��Otherwise, traveling through the endless river of space and time would take you a terrifyingly long time.�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled faintly.


    ��Only a few among the Eldritch Sovereigns, Immortal Sovereigns, Devil Sovereigns, and Astral Monarchs can achieve this.��


    ��And I happen to be one of them.��


    Wu Yuan came to a realization.


    No wonder the Eldritch Sovereign had chosen Astral Monarch Hou Qu toe and fetch him. In terms of his speed of travel across the vast spacetime, Astral Monarch Hou Qu was likely on par with many Eldritch Sovereigns and Immortal Sovereigns.

 Chapter 494: Cang Feng Eldritch World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 494: Cang Feng Eldritch World (2)</h4>


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan thought of another matter, "Astral Monarch, is there a higher spatial dimension above the Vacuum Spatial Layer?"


    ��Naturally. In fact, you''ve experienced it as well." Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled, "The Bloodforge Spacetime you entered is a special, mysterious area within the macrocosm. It makes use of this higher spatial dimension to mass teleport trillions of immortal cultivators across countless worlds."


    Wu Yuan was stunned. So that was how they did it.


    The methods used by Bloodforge Spacetime to teleporting countless immortal cultivators involved a higher spatial dimension beyond the Vacuum Spatial Layer?


    No wonder, even though countless worlds were separated by hundreds of millions or even billions of light years, they could simultaneouslynd in the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    It truly was an incredible divine ability.


    "The seven major factions of the macrocosm each have numerous astral teleportation arrays linking between their vast territories," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    "However, there are no direct teleportation arrays connecting different major factions."


    "And the highest spatial dimension that these astral teleportation arrays reach is onlyparable to mine," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said proudly.


    Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.


    He still didn''t fully understand the significance of traversing higher spatial dimensions. However, he realized that just based on travel speed alone, Astral Monarch Hou Qu was likely a very special existence among the countless Astral Monarchs in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    At the very least, once he slipped into the Vacuum Spatial Layer, ordinary Astral Monarchs wouldn''t be able to enter after him, let alone find him. They could forget about fighting or killing him.


    "As you gradually break through to higher spatial dimensions, space will continuously contract," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, looking at Wu Yuan. "However, in any higher spatial dimension, even in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, no matter can be created."


    "Matter only originates from the Material Spatial Layer."


    "So, whether it''s for breeding life, forging treasures, adventuring, or battling, everything takes ce within the Material Spatial Layer," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    Higher spatial dimensions sounded mystical, but all of them had their foundations in the Material Spatial Layer. That dimension was the foundation of all things, the origin.


    "Haha, Wu Yuan, I��m telling you all this just to broaden your horizons," Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. "Once youprehend the Law of Space, everything will naturally be clear."


    "In the future, you might even be able to step into the Vacuum Spatial Layer on your own," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed.


    Wu Yuan could only muster a wry smile.


    That was something even ordinary Astral Monarchs couldn''t achieve.


    "Focus on your meditation for now. We��re still billions of light-years from our destination, so this trip will take over a day," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued, "I''ll call you when we''re close."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded.


    He immediately sat down in lotus position.


    He was surrounded by nothingness,plete darkness, and profound silence, but Wu Yuan knew that Astral Monarch Hou Qu was rapidly advancing through the higher spatial dimension with him.


    Crossing billions of light years in just a day or two? Even the thought of it was simply mind-boggling.


    <i>Higher spatial dimension? Continuous contraction of space?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, <i>However, the concept of voidrealms and spiritual transmissions are equally mystical.</i>


    The Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm was able to effortlessly connect all beings inhabiting the territory of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, spanning billions of light years.


    <i>Countless beings from millions of divisionsmunicating without any dy, what a marvel. </i>


    <i>Likewise, the distance between my two true selves keeps growing, but their connection remains unhindered. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He couldn''t understand it!


    The more he learned, the more Wu Yuan felt that this vast heaven and earth held too many unimaginable mysteries, withws of matter operating beyondprehension.


    Before today, Wu Yuan had never heard of higher spatial dimensions!


    <i>Time to train. Even in this Vacuum Spatial Layer, my perception of the Dao is not hindered at all.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the essence of the Law of Celestial Bodies.


    He began to meditate quietly.


    <i>Redmoon Immortal Continent, Dragon Star Immortal Sect, Dragon Star, High Immortal Nan Yin''s residence.</i>


    "What?" A look of stunned disbelief crossed High Immortal Nan Yin''s features. "You��re saying, an Astral Monarch from the Cang Feng Eldritch World arrived and took your body refiner self away?"


    "And they told you it was a deal between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Bloodforge Devil Hall? They are sending you to the Cang Feng Eldritch World?"


    "And an Eldritch Sovereign will ept you as his disciple?" High Immortal Nan Yin fired off a series of questions.


    "Yes, this is all true." Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self nodded repeatedly.


    Not long after his body refiner self left with Astral Monarch Hou Qu, his qi refiner self decided to reveal the truth to his master after some deliberation. Thus, he hurriedly paid a visit to High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Did he mention which Eldritch Sovereign?" High Immortal Nan Yin quickly asked.


    Wu Yuan shook his head.


    A thought crossed his mind: it seemed there were multiple Eldritch Sovereigns within the Cang Feng Eldritch World?


    "Master, what should I do?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Let me think, let me think," High Immortal Nan Yin responded quickly, even someone of his stature was momentarily dazed.


    The news had struck him too hard.


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had astounded everyone during the Bloodforge Battle by being directly bestowed the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King. His performance and feats had spread throughout the upper echelons of the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    High Immortal Nan Yin was well aware of this and had his own spections.


    For instance, he anticipated that an Astral Monarch would ept Wu Yuan''s body refiner self as a disciple, or that Wu Yuan''s body refiner self would go to the devil hall''s headquarters for training.


    Instead, Wu Yuan ended up drawing the attention of an Eldritch Sovereign from the Cang Feng Eldritch World. High Immortal Nan Yin never saw thising.


    That was an Eldritch Sovereign! A being on par with the leader of the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World, ruling over eight hundred eldritch divine nations. His brilliance spread across billions of light years of spacetime.


    "Give me a moment," High Immortal Nan Yin suddenly closed his eyes.


    Wu Yuan quietly waited at the side, pondering the situation as well.


    Being epted as a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign was an unparalleled opportunity, so Wu Yuan agreed without a hint of hesitation. Missing this chance would most likely be his biggest regret for an awfully long time.


    But what about High Immortal Nan Yin?


    For decades, High Immortal Nan Yin had been nothing but dedicated to his development, offering genuine guidance, and the two had a deep bond. Thus, Wu Yuan didn''t want to see Master Nan Yin saddened.


    Time trickled by.


    <i>A full fifteen minutester.</i>


    "Disciple," High Immortal Nan Yin opened his eyes, a flicker of surprise deep within them as he gazed at Wu Yuan.


    "Master."


    "I have just consulted with a... powerful Senior I know," High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly.


    "Senior?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    For Master Nan Yin to call someone a powerful Senior, they had to be at least an Archimmortal, possibly even an Astral Lord.


    "This Senior is an Astral Monarch," High Immortal Nan Yin said.


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Astral Monarch? His master actually knew a super existence like an Astral Monarch and could see them at such short notice?


    ��What? It��s fine for an Astral Monarch toe pick you up, but I can��t know one?�� High Immortal Nan Yin red.


    Wu Yuan smiled wryly, ��Master, that��s not what I meant.��


    ��Let''s get to the point.�� High Immortal Nan Yin''s expression turned serious again. ��This Senior is trustworthy and has connections with the super powerhouses in the Bloodforge Devil Hall. I��ve told him about your situation.��


    ��Based on his advice, I have consolidated three rmendations for you.��


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    ��First, your qi refiner self should never participate in any future Bloodforge Battle.�� High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. ��The reason the Bloodforge Devil Hall sent you away is only partly because of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. The other part has to do with your performance during thest Bloodforge Battle.��


    ��If you join the Bloodforge again, it will be dangerous.��


    ��Never participate in the Bloodforge Battle?�� Wu Yuan was stunned.


    He didn��t understand.


    In Wu Yuan��s n, given another century of cultivation, his qi refiner self would probably reach the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. He could definitely join the next Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle.


    But ording to his master, this path was now cut off.


    ��Second, unless absolutely necessary, never reveal the connection between your two true selves,�� High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly.


    ��Preservation of lifees first. Unless that Eldritch Sovereign sees through it, do not reveal it.��


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    This was also something he had considered. If he could avoid exposing this secret, then he would.


    ��Thirdly, from now on, you can gather any intelligence as you see fit,�� High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly, his gaze locked onto Wu Yuan. ��But under no circumstances should you ask me about any information rted to your body refiner self.��


    ��From now on, I will only address you as Li Xia and will never inquire about your body refiner self again. This is for the best.��


    ��Your two true selves, apart from your own consciousness, must bepletely distinct in every other aspect,�� High Immortal Nan Yin emphasized with utmost seriousness.


    Wu Yuan was momentarily stunned.


    His master��s words seemed unusually grave, as if he had sensed that Wu Yuan wasn��t taking this seriously enough.


    ��You foolish boy,�� High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and sighed. ��The Cang Feng Eldritch World you��re about to enter is nothing like our Eternal Sun Immortal World.��


    Wu Yuan froze.


    ��Do you know what are the major factions in Greenridge?�� High Immortal Nan Yin asked.


    ��Greenridge Immortal World, Eternal Sun Immortal World, Bloodforge Devil Hall, Cang Feng Eldritch World, Voltari Temple, Destion Divine Court, and the Eight Mountains Alliance,�� Wu Yuan rattled off in one breath.


    All this intel was provided by Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    ��Correct,�� High Immortal Nan Yin nodded. ��But do you know the distinctions among these seven major factions?��


    Wu Yuan shook his head lightly.


    ��Among the seven major factions, only the Greenridge Immortal World is a native major faction, and thergest of the seven,�� High Immortal Nan Yin exined.


    ��The other six are all backed by top-tier major factions from the river of space and time. For instance, our Eternal Sun Immortal World and Bloodforge Devil Hall both originate from the Taiyuan Divine Court.��


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    These were details he already knew.


    ��The Cang Feng Eldritch World, ruling over eight hundred eldritch divine nations, originates from the Eldritch Court; the Voltari Temple, ruling over a thousand immortal nations, originates from the Immortal Court.�� High Immortal Nan Yin dered solemnly, ��These two powers, like our Eternal Sun Immortal World, are second only to the Greenridge Immortal World in scale.��


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    Among the seven major factions of the macrocosm, the Greenridge Immortal World was the mightiest, controlling nearly forty percent of the spacetime.


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World, Cang Feng Eldritch World, and Voltari Temple were closely matched, each holding over ten percent of the territories.


    As for the Bloodforge Devil Hall, Destion Divine Court, and the Eight Mountains Alliance, their overall strength was significantly weaker, upying only a few hundred immortal nations each.


    ��The other five powers, thoughpetitive, are rtively peaceful.�� High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and sighed, ��Only the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Voltari Temple are different.��


    ��The Eldritch Court and Immortal Court behind them have been engaged in a relentless war through the ages, with each conflict shaking the river of space and time.��


    ��The Cang Feng Eldritch World and Voltari Temple also sh within the macrocosm.��


    ��The great war of a hundred thousand years ago engulfed the spacetime of over a thousand immortal nations, with the two powers fighting with insane ferocity, and countless Archimmortals and Archeldritch dying in the process.�� High Immortal Nan Yinmented, ��Even many Astral Monarchs perished.��

 Chapter 495: Cang Feng Eldritch World (3)

    <h4>Chapter 495: Cang Feng Eldritch World (3)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s heart trembled.


    Many Astral Monarchs perished? It was truly madness.


    ��Every few million to a hundred million years, a gruesome war erupts between these two forces.�� High Immortal Nan Yin said, ��asionally, powerhouses from the Eldritch Court or Immortal Court arrive from other macrocosms.��


    ��The mes of war can easily consume half the macrocosm. Each immortal nation will be thrown into turmoil, and the mainds of the immortal continents nearly shattered.�� High Immortal Nan Yin sighed.


    Wu Yuan held his breath as he listened.


    Though he hadn��t witnessed it firsthand, he could visualize the sheer destruction and violence.


    ��So, in our Eternal Sun Immortal World, no matter how dazzling your talent shines, the worst threat you could face is an Archimmortal from an enemy sect.�� High Immortal Nan Yin emphasized.


    ��But from the moment you step into the Cang Feng Eldritch World, as long as you reveal your talent, your name will be on the hit list of the Voltari Temple."


    "The brighter you shine, the more terrifying and crazed the Voltari Temple��s assassination methods will be."


    "There has been more than one instance in history where a super powerhouse from the Voltari Temple stormed into the training grounds of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, massacring their young geniuses," High Immortal Nan Yin said solemnly.


    "And likewise, the Cang Feng Eldritch World will do whatever they can to assassinate the emerging top-tier geniuses from Voltari Temple."


    Wu Yuan shuddered. He understood what his master was trying to say. Once his identity as an Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple was exposed, and given his weak strength, he would be the perfect target for the Voltari Temple''s assassins.


    If his body refiner self died, at least his qi refiner self would still live.


    But if both were exposed, the super powerhouses from the Voltari Temple would likely attempt to annihte himpletely through karma.


    "Nothing is absolutely confidential; once you speak of it, it can be leaked," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "Your body refiner self is inherently an eldritch cultivator."


    "Being epted as a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign is a great opportunity. I understand your reluctance to refuse such a temptation."


    "So, I just ask one thing of you: do not leak this secret. From now on, you are only Li Xia. You have no body refiner self. Understood?" High Immortal Nan Yin said sternly.


    "Yes, I am just Li Xia," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Caution was the key to survival. The more cautious you are, the longer you live.


    "Additionally, you don''t need to participate in the Moonsilver Tournament," High Immortal Nan Yin suddenly shook his head. "Nurture your qi sea for a while longer and then break through."


    "Don��t participate in the Moonsilver Tournament?" Wu Yuan was shocked.


    "It doesn''t make much sense. Your body refiner self can already seize the Golden Core Bloodforge King title. Participating in the Moonsilver Tournament won''t sharpen you any further," High Immortal Nan Yin dered.


    "There��s no need to waste any more time. You can choose to break through whenever you wish.��


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded without hesitation.


    "Alright, you can go now," High Immortal Nan Yin issued the order. "Return in three days for your next tutoring session."


    Wu Yuan bowed respectfully and departed.


    <i>My disciple.</i> High Immortal Nan Yin mused inwardly, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. <i>Just what did he do in the Bloodforge Spacetime that is a secret even to me</i>?


    <i>The Bloodforge Devil Hall is eager to send him to the Cang Feng Eldritch World at the first opportunity and the Eldritch Sovereign wants to take him as a disciple right away?</i> High Immortal Nan Yin couldn''t fathom it.


    He knew too well the stringent requirements Eldritch Sovereign-level beings had for epting disciples.


    Daoprehension was but one aspect. There were also considerations of character and many other factors.


    <i>How many years has it been? Not even twenty.</i> High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head slightly, feeling as though he were dreaming.


    Though Wu Yuan was still rtively weak, his rapid growth and knack for causing a stir made even High Immortal Nan Yin''s heart race with trepidation.


    <i>However, Master said that when the time is right, I should bring Wu Yuan to meet him? </i>High Immortal Nan Yin pondered silently.


    When was the right time? It wasn''t specified.


    <i>Forget it, no need to think about it anymore. With an Eldritch Sovereign as his master, Li Xia''s speed of progress will increase even more. </i>High Immortal Nan Yin suddenly smiled.<i> It''s an honor to be teaching the same disciple as an esteemed Eldritch Sovereign.</i>


    With that, High Immortal Nan Yin dismissed any further thoughts.


    ...


    <i>The Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple fought with such ferocity?</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self returned to his world residence, continuing to ponder High Immortal Nan Yin''s words.


    The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.


    <i>Strive toprehend the Longevity Dao. Skip the Moonsilver Tournament. That works too. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    After the baptism of the Bloodforge Battle, the Moonsilver Tournament seemed like child''s y to Wu Yuan, with little significance.


    Moreover, if his qi refiner self went all out, how many in the Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators in the Silvermist Immortal Nation could be his match?


    <i>The macrocosm is vast, and within the endless river of space and time, countless top-tier geniuses exist.</i> Wu Yuan recalled the ounts from Zhuo Haiyue and the intelligence from Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    He was beginning to truly grasp the immensity of heaven and earth.


    With that, he no longer confined his perspectives and goals to a single immortal continent or immortal nation.


    If he were topete, he wouldpete with the top-tier geniuses of the macrocosm or the endless river of space and time.


    <i>I should nurture and consolidate my qi sea for a while longer. Once I have upgraded all my lifebound flying swords, I''ll step into the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i> Wu Yuan contemted.<i> Once I��ve reached the Amethyst Cradle phase, I will leave the sect and embark on expeditions.</i>


    <i>When that happens, I��ll try to umte blood mist to its limit again. Maybe... just maybe, the ck pagoda will open again. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    Wu Yuan was in no rush to step into the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Many peerless geniuses chose to break through from the Golden Core phase to the Amethyst Cradle phase early, aiming to strengthen their souls andprehend the Dao more swiftly.


    For Wu Yuan, his soul was already too powerful. Even if he broke through, the nurturing effects of the Amethyst Cradle on his soul would be negligible.


    <i>Aim to clear level seventy of the one-star tower as soon as possible.</i> Wu Yuan still yearned to im the rewards of the Dao Temple.


    After clearing level sixty of the one-star tower, he had earned one point. By clearing level seventy, he could visit the Dao Temple once more.


    ...


    In the mysterious and unfathomable Vacuum Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self remained in lotus position, meditating.


    "Wu Yuan, wake up," a powerful voice echoed in his mind.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, and he stood up.


    "We''re approaching the core region of the Cang Feng Eldritch World��the Cang Feng Continent," Astral Monarch Hou Qu announced.


    Silently, the once dark and empty surroundings began to ripple with countless threads of shimmering light.


    Wu Yuan instantly understood that they had descended from the Vacuum Spatial Layer to the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Soon, the threads that once resembled a flowing stream began to roil violently. Countless fragments of spacetime churned. They had descended to the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    They continually descended from higher spatial dimensions to lower spatial dimensions.


    Finally, the countless fragments of spacetime vanished without a trace, and an endless, vast continent was unveiled before Wu Yuan.


    <i>Such rich spiritual qi, such prosperous cities.</i> Wu Yuan stood beside Astral Monarch Hou Qu, looking down from above.


    The vastnd stretched beyond the eye. Built on thend was a city of boundless prosperity. It a thousand, no, ten thousand times more bustling than any first-tier city on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, teeming with countless immortal cultivators.


    With just a nce, Wu Yuan spotted many immortals.


    The spiritual qi there was even more concentrated.


    "This is the Cang Feng Continent, the core of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. It''s more than a hundred times the size of a usual immortal continent, and its stability is magnified by hundreds, if not thousands of times," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    "Cang Feng City spans hundreds of millions of li, forming the core of Cang Feng Continent and serving as the sacrednd of eight hundred eldritch divine nations."


    "Many Astral Monarchs, Astral Lords, Archimmortals, and Archeldritches from the eight hundred eldritch divine nations in the eldritch world cultivate in seclusion within Cang Feng City year round," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued.


    "See those floating halls? Those are the dwellings of Archimmortals and Archeldritches at least."


    "Within the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, Cang Feng City ranks among the top five sacred cultivation sites."


    Wu Yuan gazed at the seemingly unending floating halls. A rough estimate showed that there were at least a million of them.


    A million Archimmortals/Archeldritches? All gathered in a city spanning hundreds of millions of li? No wonder it was known as the legendary sacred cultivation grounds of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm. Its reputation was well-deserved.


    "Let''s go, I��ll take you to meet the Eldritch Sovereign." Astral Monarch Hou Qu said.


    Their speed skyrocketed as they soared through the sky above Cang Feng City.


    Clouds and mist obstructed their path, but Astral Monarch Hou Qu advanced relentlessly, dispersingyer afteryer of mist until an expanse of sprawling halls unfolded before Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Figures flitted between the halls, vanishing into the clouds. Every one of them exuded formidable auras, clearly of Archimmortal and Archeldritch calibers.


    Simultaneously, amidst the endless halls, squads of armored soldiers patrolled vigntly.


    Among the countless halls, four stood out, towering and magnificent, each dominating a corner of thend.


    "Remember to be respectful when you meet the Eldritch Sovereign," Astral Monarch Hou Qu advised. "The Eldritch Sovereign may wish to take you as a disciple, but it hasn''t been decided yet."


    Wu Yuan nodded obediently.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu led Wu Yuan onward.


    "Astral Monarch."


    "Greetings, Astral Monarch Hou Qu." Along the way, powerhouses paid their respects, and even the armored soldiers bowed.


    Clearly, an Astral Monarch held an exceedingly high status in Cang Feng City.


    Finally, Astral Monarch Hou Qu arrived before the most imposing hall on the left, shrouded in a faint purple mist.


    Two ck-armored soldiers stood guard, their auras immensely powerful, rivaling that of Astral Lord Yin He.


    Astral Lords, guarding a door? Wu Yuan gawked inwardly.


    Then he noticed that the two ck-armored guards at the gate wore proud expressions. Clearly, not every Astral Lord had the privilege of guarding the Eldritch Sovereign��s residence.


    Upon seeing Wu Yuan and hispanion, one of the ck-armored guards smiled. "Astral Monarch Hou Qu." His gaze fell on Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan?"


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "The Eldritch Sovereign is expecting you. Head straight to the hall. The Eldritch Sovereign is waiting for you."

 Chapter 496: Three Disciples Of The Eldritch Sovereign (1)

    <h4>Chapter 496: Three Disciples Of The Eldritch Sovereign (1)</h4>


    <i>Outside the towering hall.</i>


    ��Wu Yuan, since the guards have said so, go on in and meet the Eldritch Sovereign. I won��t apany you,�� said Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    ��Understood.�� Wu Yuan nodded, feeling a tinge of nervousness in his heart.


    How could he not be nervous? From the intelligence provided by Astral Monarch Hou Qu, Wu Yuan knew that an Eldritch Sovereign was an existence that shook the entire macrocosm for endless ages.


    Even within the ancient Eldritch Court, an Eldritch Sovereign was a high-ranking figure. Looking across the river of space and time, they were super powerhouses.


    Wu Yuan took a deep breath and started up the steps into the hall.


    The two Astral Lords guarding the entrance merely smiled, without any hint of mockery.


    They had guarded this ce for over tens of millions of years, and had seen countless so-called important figures lose theirposure when meeting the Eldritch Sovereign.


    Plenty of them were far more nervous than Wu Yuan.


    ...


    The hallways were empty, devoid of a single soul, yet Wu Yuan could feel an invisible power guiding him forward.


    Eventually, he arrived at a colossal hall at the end. Looking in, he had an unobstructed view of its vast interior.


    <i>Hmm? Three people? </i>Standing at the entrance of the hall, Wu Yuan immediately noticed three figures inside.


    But soon, his gaze was fixed on the three-meter-tall figure at the far end of the hall.


    He was dressed in beast hide, with a long face and short hair, his hands reaching past his knees. At first nce, he seemed quite peculiar. Yet, an invisible aura emanated from him, giving one a sense of peace and tranquility.


    The more Wu Yuan looked at him, the more he felt that the man, though only three meters tall, seemed to loom immensely tall, while he himself became infinitely insignificant.


    He didn''t merely seem like a figure at the center of heaven and earth; rather, it felt as if he had be heaven and earth itself.


    As for the two figures beside him, Wu Yuan could sense their immense power. One of them was even stronger than a typical High Immortal. However,pared to the man in beast hide, they were worlds apart.


    "Wu Yuan,e over," the man in beast hide spoke, his voice warm yet strong.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>An invisible force immediately lifted Wu Yuan and carried him into the grand hall, gently setting him down before the man d in beast hide.


    At that moment, the two figures waiting at the side fixed their gazes on Wu Yuan.


    The young man in white robes wore a faint smile. The young man in ck robes looked on with a mix of curiosity and inexplicable wariness.


    Who were they? Wu Yuan had no idea, but he was certain they weren''t Archeldritches or Astral Lords, and definitely not Astral Monarchs.


    "Wu Yuan greets the Eldritch Sovereign," Wu Yuan knelt and performed a respectful kowtow.


    In the presence of the great Eldritch Sovereign, proper respect was mandatory.


    "Wu Yuan, you may rise," the man''s voice remained gentle, his gaze shifting to the two figures beside him. "You two, leave for now. I''ll call for youter."


    "Yes, Master," the young men in white and ck respectfully bowed and quickly withdrew.


    Master? Were they all disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign? Wu Yuan dared not dwell on it for too long and promptly stood up.


    In the grand hall, only Wu Yuan and the man d in beast hide remained.


    "Wu Yuan, I''ve seen your performance in the Bloodforge Battle. Not bad, you��re decisive in your kills," the man in beast hide said softly. "Your Daoprehension talent is mediocre, but your soul and Dao Heart are quite decent."


    <i>Mediocre Daoprehension talent?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    If anyone else had said that, Wu Yuan would surely be indignant.


    Yet facing the man in beast hide, he couldn''t find the courage to rebut��this was an Eldritch Sovereign, a figure who had witnessed countless peerless geniuses over endless centuries.


    "I see you''re not convinced when I said your Daoprehension talent is mediocre?"


    The young man in beast hide smiled faintly.


    "You��ve stepped into the threshold of two Intermediate Laws at a young age. Yourprehension of the Celestial Body Dao can be said to have reached a decently high level."


    "Across the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, among the geniuses born in the past century within the seven major factions, you rank in the top hundred. Zhuo Haiyue of the Redmoon Immortal Continent is about on par with you," the young man in beast hide remarked lightly.


    Wu Yuan felt a twinge of pride.


    Top hundred? This was the entire macrocosm, spanning billions of light-years in spacetime. And he was among the top hundred of peerless geniuses in thest century.


    "But so what?" The young man in beast hide smiled faintly. "On a scale of a hundred years, you are a top-tier genius."


    "But what about a thousand years? Ten thousand years? Even millions of years?"


    "I have presided over the Cang Feng Eldritch World for nearly ten billion years. Within my Cang Feng Eldritch World alone, countless geniuses have been born in this period, and those who can match you and Zhuo Haiyue number in the millions." The young man in beast hide looked down at Wu Yuan, a hint of amusement in his eyes.


    Wu Yuan waspletely dumbfounded.


    Millions? Though it seemed incredible, upon careful thought, it made sense.


    If the macrocosm produced one peerless genius each year, over a billion years, that amounted to a billion peerless geniuses. Ten billion years, that was ten billion.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World consisted of eight hundred eldritch divine nations, covering more than a tenth of the macrocosm''s spacetime territory. Once he did the calctions, even millions was likely an understatement.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan finally understood why even though his qi refiner self appeared so dazzling, few Astral Monarchs in the immortal world intended to take him in as their disciple.


    These eternal beings had seen too many of such simr geniuses over the years.


    <i>But back then, my body had yet to evolve to a Celestial Divine Body.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    It had been less than a year since the transformation, and its true power had yet to be revealed.


    "Over billions of years, I''ve taken on a thousand direct disciples; now, only a little over a hundred remain, most have perished," the man in beast hide said.


    "In terms of talent, specifically Dao Comprehension aptitude, the direct disciples I''ve taken in were almost on par with that monstrous prodigy in Silvermist Immortal Nation''s history, Luo Gu. Some even far surpassed him."


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    Luo Gu? Of course he had heard of that man; that was the most monstrous prodigy in Silvermist Immortal Nation''s history, the one who set the record of level eighty-one in the one-star tower.


    Even with all his confidence, Wu Yuan dared not im he could break Luo Gu��s record in the one-star tower. The gap in strength was too vast!


    Though his body refiner self had made tremendous strides in the Bloodforge Battle, the difficulty of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower increased exponentially. His current qi refiner self would likely struggle to get past level seventy.


    "Wu Yuan, your advantage is your youth. Being young means infinite future possibilities. Perhaps, one day, you will surpass your senior brothers and sisters," the man in beast attire said calmly, "But as of now, among the more than a thousand direct disciples I''ve taken in, your talent is at the bottom."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded, his expression unchanging.


    But inside, he felt a pang of disappointment. In the past, whether in the Middle Land, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, or the Bloodforge Devil Hall, he was always the undisputed top genius.


    Yet,pared to the monstrous prodigies that the Eldritch Sovereign had nurtured over billions of years, his current self was indeed insignificant, pathetically weak.


    ��Wu Yuan, there are three reasons I am taking you as my disciple,�� the man in beast hide said with a slight smile.


    He could naturally sense Wu Yuan''s emotional shifts. Genius? He had seen plenty of monstrous prodigies who only appeared once every hundred million years in the macrocosm.


    But talent was one thing. Achievements were another.


    Geniuses were often arrogant, so he made sure to ruthlessly break Wu Yuan''s pride, humbling him so he would focus on his cultivation.


    However, the man in beast hide also understood that teaching a disciple was akin to raising a child; criticism alone was just as harmful.


    ��First, your soul and Dao Heart, though still under-developed, are strong for your age,�� the man in beast hide looked at Wu Yuan. ��This is your advantage.��


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. So, he did have some standout qualities.


    ��Second, you possess two true selves, and your qi refiner self has an extraordinary foundation, with overall talent nearing a cultivator with a non-innate first-degree immortal root,�� the man in beast hide said with a faint smile. ��Having an extra true self opens up countless possibilities.��


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    The Eldritch Sovereign could tell?


    ��Haha. Kid, before you arrived, I knew little about you. But the moment I saw you, I could glimpse most of your past,�� the man in beast hide smiled faintly.


    ��Divining the future? That''s beyond me. But retracing the past from a higher spatial dimension, that I can achieve.��


    Wu Yuan''s heart trembled as he listened.


    Divining the future? Retracing the past? As expected of an Eldritch Sovereign, a being at the peak of the entire macrocosm.


    "Fortunately, your two true selves have not been exposed," the man in beast hide smiled faintly, "The Taiyuan Divine Court won''t expose your identity."


    "As long as you don''t go to the Taiyuan Divine Court��s headquarters, the divine court won''t pursue the matter."


    "Don��t go to the divine court headquarters?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "Haha, do you think the Taiyuan Divine Court is just any ce? It''s a top-tier faction branching across the river of space and time in many macrocosms," the man in beast hide smirked.


    "By bing my disciple, you have essentially be a core member of the Eldritch Court. Why would the divine court headquarters bestow its most precious resources upon you?"


    "Of course, even if you cultivate in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, or be a nominal disciple under some Immortal Sovereign or Astral Monarch, the divine court headquarters won''t interfere."


    ��They will give me that much face, at least."


    Wu Yuan nodded along. Indeed, these top-tier factions didn��t suffer fools. Numerous immortal cultivators had two true selves, but how many could hold high positions in different major factions like Master Nan Yin mentioned?


    "I have helped you obscure your past. Even powerful beings would find it difficult to peer into it from now on," the man in beast hide said.


    "Usually, the cultivation of two true selves is something body refiners only achieve at the Shambh phase."


    "Your qi refiner self made a name for himself when your body refiner self was still at the Spiritual Body phase. With that, together with my help concealing your past, the Voltari Temple will have a very slim chance of discovering their connection."


    "Under no circumstances should you reveal it to anyone," the man in beast hide said, "In this way, even if exposed, it would be long into the future. By then, I trust you''ll have the strength to protect yourself."


    "Thank you, Eldritch Sovereign," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    In just a day or two, he''d already been shaken to his core. The abilities of these great beings were beyondprehension.


    "Remember the name ��Voltari Temple��. Nearly a third of your fallen Senior Brothers and Sisters died at the hands of the Voltari Temple," the man in beast attire spoke, a rare flicker of anger shing in his eyes at the mention of ''Voltari Temple.''


    A third? Wu Yuan was secretly astonished.


    All of the Eldritch Sovereign''s disciples were peerless geniuses with countless mystical powers and terrifying self-preservation abilities. Yet so many still perished.


    "You are an eldritch cultivator who has received heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. And now, you''ve be my disciple," the man in beast hide continued slowly, "Therefore, the war against the Voltari Temple and the Immortal Court behind it is a responsibility you must naturally bear."


    "How much you receive, is how much you must give."

 Chapter 497: Three Disciples Of The Eldritch Sovereign (2)

    <h4>Chapter 497: Three Disciples Of The Eldritch Sovereign (2)</h4>


    "Understood," Wu Yuan responded respectfully.


    War with the Immortal Court? If given a choice, Wu Yuan naturally didn��t want to provoke such a force.


    But there were trade-offs for everything. If he wished to be a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, could he afford to be hesitant? The path of immortality was a fight for opportunities.


    "Your third advantage is the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos," the man in beast hide said softly. "Heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos are not umon, but ny-nine percent are bestowed by Great Eldritches. You were personally bestowed your tattoos by an Eldritch Progenitor."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod.


    He recalled the scene from years ago, that incredible existence standing in the endless void��Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.


    "Upgrading an immortal root to the first degree isn''t difficult. But an innate first-degree immortal root is a legendary feat, even throughout the entire macrocosm," the beast-attired man said indifferently.


    "In the Cang Feng Eldritch World, only three individuals with innate first-degree eldritch roots have emerged in the past ten billion years."


    "On average, one appears every few billion years."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    In the entire eldritch world, it took billions of years for one to be born?


    "So, receiving eldritch tattoos directly from the Eldritch Progenitors is incredibly rare. It signifies that the Eldritch Progenitor favors you, improving your providence.


    ��With strong providence, your cultivation will be smooth sailing. Your chances of encountering opportunities and treasures will increase and the probability of death will decrease. This is providence, intertwined with the inscrutable Destiny Dao," said the man in beast hide.


    "The bestowed tattoos tether you to the Eldritch Progenitor in mysterious ways, something that even countless Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs can only dream of."


    Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.


    He never imagined that heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos could have such effects.


    Providence was invisible and intangible, yet extremely important.


    As for being directly tethered to the Eldritch Progenitor? Wu Yuan was skeptical.


    Throughout endless ages, there must have been others with heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. There was no way he was the only one.


    "Inheritance memories exist in many forms. The inheritance memories contained within heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos are top-tier, filled with numerous teachings. There should be no shortage of grand ether arts," the man in beast hide said.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded earnestly.


    "For ordinary forces, acquiring even one grand ether art is a challenge, but you can choose from a multitude of grand ether arts," the man in beast hide gazed at Wu Yuan.


    ��Until you create your own ether art, they are more than enough for your usage."


    Wu Yuan subconsciously rubbed his head.


    He had never thought about these things, but upon reflection, the inheritance memories of heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos were indeed precious.


    Aside from the teachings, it also included hundreds of grand ether arts, and countless advanced and basic ether arts.


    The ether arts in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s library didn��t even make up a hundredth of what he had received from the inheritance.


    This was why Wu Yuan��s body refiner self had continued to remain in the Middle Land. With ample teachings for his body refiner self, the desire to join a powerful faction wasn''t strong.


    "Of course, talent and providence aside, it''s your own strength that matters most," the man in beast hide said, staring at Wu Yuan. "Even mighty Eldritch Progenitors can fall; nothing is eternal."


    "Wu Yuan. Today, I, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, offer to take you as my nominal disciple. Will you ept?"


    "When you ovee your Tribtions and be an Archeldritch, you may be promoted to direct disciple," the man in beast hide dered.


    Archeldritch? Kua Chi? Was that the Eldritch Sovereign''s name?


    Wu Yuan immediately knelt and kowtowed, "Master, Disciple Wu Yuan pays his respects."


    "Good! From today, you are my 1321st disciple," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled, then sighed. "And the 114th still alive."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    He knew that he was a nominal disciple. But in reality, he was akin to a direct disciple.


    Many Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs in the Cang Feng Eldritch World might be nominal disciples under an Eldritch Sovereign, but it was only in name.


    "There aren''t many rules for those under my tutge. The rules of the eldritch world and the Eldritch Court are the same as my own," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "Just remember two things."


    "First, time waits for no one. Do not waste it."


    "Second, the Immortal Court must be eradicated if the Eldritch Court is to survive. Make it your life''s mission to obliterate the Immortal Court," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi dered.


    Wu Yuan respectfully replied, ��I will remember your words."


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. He didn''t truly expect Wu Yuan to remember everything right now, but over the many years toe, he believed Wu Yuan would naturallye to fully recognize the greatness of the Eldritch Court, and the eldritch!


    "Of your hundred-plus senior brothers and sisters still alive, 101 are Astral Monarchs,�� the man in beast hide said. ��Ten are Astral Lords."


    Wu Yuan marveled.


    He was indeed an Eldritch Sovereign, every disciple taught by him was so formidable, the vast majority being Astral Monarchs.


    No! Including himself, there were 114 alive, but thebined count of Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs was only 111.


    "You possess inheritance memories, so there��s no need for me to grant you any additional ether arts,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    ��In the future, you will need to create your own ether arts. So, before you step into the Universe Architect phase and be High Eldritch, I will grant you sixty Dao Temple points,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    ��Our Eldritch Court has its own Dao Temple, simr to the Taiyuan Divine Court."


    "How you use the points is up to you. However, each time you ept an inheritance, there must be a gap of at least a hundred years." [1]


    "Of course, if you are capable enough to earn points through your own efforts, use them as you wish. As your teacher, I won��t interfere."


    Wu Yuan felt his heart pounding with excitement.


    What a generous offer, truly befitting the status of an Eldritch Sovereign. Just a word from him and Wu Yuan was granted sixty points.


    The Eldritch Court was an even mightier force than the Taiyuan Divine Court. The Dao Temple of the Eldritch Court would surely be just as impressive.


    "Second, as long as you break through a mana cultivation phase, you will be granted divine crystal elixir," said Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "Divine crystal elixir is the essence of divine crystal. It will help you with phase breakthroughs, allowing you to advance swiftly without any hindrance."


    "For someone like you, once you step into the Shambh phase, ascending from the first-stage Shambh phase to the ninth-stage Shambh phase should only take a year," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said nonchntly.


    A year? From the first-stage Shambh phase to the ninth-stage Shambh phase? Wu Yuan nearly forgot how to breathe.


    Wu Yuan knew that ordinary Shambh cultivators, even with an abundant supply of ethercrystal, typically needed two or three hundred years of umtion.


    If they relied solely on absorbing spiritual qi, it would usually take two or three thousand years!


    But by bing a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, he could reach the ninth-stage Shambh phase in just a year, saving him a great deal of time.


    All the extra time could be spent on Daoprehension.


    The Dao was the root.


    "Third, before your Celestial Body Dao reaches the Dao Field stage, I will have one of your senior brothers guide you in your cultivation once a year," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s gaze shifted into the distance. "They''re here."


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i> Two figures descended from the sky, the white-robed and ck-robed youths who had previously left. They bowed respectfully. "Master."


    "This is your junior brother, Wu Yuan," said Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "Junior Brother Wu Yuan," the white-robed youth cupped his hands, smiling warmly. "My name is Jiang Huan, I��m a few years your senior."


    "Junior Brother Wu Yuan," the ck-robed youth beside him cupped his hands too. "My name is Chang Hong."


    "Senior Brother Jiang Huan, Senior Brother Chang Hong," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    He vaguely felt that the white-robed youth was more friendly. As for the ck-robed youth, his attitude seemed somewhat perfunctory.


    "You are the only three disciples of mine who have yet toplete the Immortal Tribtions," the Eldritch Sovereign said, his gaze sweeping over the trio.


    The three disciples stood respectfully before the Eldritch Sovereign.


    "Wu Yuan, your Senior Brother Jiang Huan has cultivated for over six hundred thousand years,pleted eight Immortal Tribtions, and has fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao," said the Eldritch Sovereign.


    "From now on, he will guide you inprehending the Celestial Body Dao."


    "Fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao?" Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Completing eight Tribtions? That didn''t surprise him. Astral Monarch Hou Qu had mentioned that disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign often overcame nine tribtions when they reached the Universe Architect phase (High Eldritch).


    However, fullyprehending the Celestial Body Dao? That was terrifying!


    <i>In terms of power, this Senior Brother Jiang Huan is likely even more formidable than Sword Immortal Dong Yang. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Once someone fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao and overcame the Immortal Tribtions, they could quickly be an Astral Monarch.


    All Astral Monarchs fullyprehended an Intermediate Law.


    "Wu Yuan, your Senior Brother Chang Hong has cultivated for over six thousand years and hasprehended an Intermediate Law to the first-level Dao Field stage," the Eldritch Sovereign said softly.


    "Currently, at the Earth Immortal/Earth Eldritch level of the Origin Eldritch Field, he is the absolute number one."


    "Across the eight hundred eldritch divine nations, your Senior Brother Chang Hong should be the top Earth Immortal/Earth Eldritch in terms of power."


    Wu Yuan held his breath as he listened.


    Deducing an Intermediate Law to the first-level Dao Field stage was equivalent to fullyprehending a Lesser Law. This meant that he had the potential to be an Archimmortal.


    Yet, this Senior Brother Chang Hong had only cultivated for over six thousand years and was still just an Earth Eldritch.


    Given several hundred thousand more years, there was a good chance that he would reach the same heights as Senior Brother Jiang Huan.


    Truly, the disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign were all monstrous prodigies!


    But Wu Yuan vaguely understood that these two senior brothers were prodigies that the Cang Feng Eldritch World would hardly see once in a million years.


    At least, they far outshone himself and Zhuo Haiyue.


    "My expectations for the three of you are the same," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi spoke softly. "Ovee the Immortal Tribtions, step into the True Eldritch phase, and acquire the title of Astral Monarch."


    "Ultimately, strive for the Mystic Eldritch phase."


    "As of now, no one under my tutge has reached the Mystic Eldritch phase. Your Ninth Senior Brother is the closest." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi dered.


    Ninth Senior Brother? Wu Yuan didn''t understand, but he saw a glimmer of admiration in the eyes of Senior Brother Jiang Huan and Senior Brother Chang Hong.


    Clearly, this Ninth Senior Brother he had yet to meet was the strongest disciple under Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "A True Eldritch is an Astral Monarch? A Mystic Eldritch is an Eldritch Sovereign?" Wu Yuan noted this down mentally; it was something he hadn''t known before.


    "Jiang Huan," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi called.


    "Master." The white-robed youth stepped forward.


    "You are the oldest among the three. To teach others is also to teach yourself. Instruct your junior brother well. When the time is right,plete your Ninth Immortal Tribtion." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, "Now, lead your junior brothers back to the Archeldritch World."


    "As for the rest, you know what to do."


    "Rest assured, Master." The white-robed youth replied respectfully, "I will not disappoint you."


    "Junior Brothers, let''s go." The white-robed youth smiled, soaring out of the hall.


    Chang Hong and Wu Yuan hurried to follow.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi watched his three disciples depart.


    <i>Wu Yuan? </i>He shook his head slightly. Truly mysterious. <i>With my abilities, I can faintly glimpse into higher dimensions of spacetime. An ordinary High Eldritch cannot hide his past from me.</i>


    <i>But I can''t trace Wu Yuan''s origins? Is there a great power obstructing his past? Who could it be?</i>


    <i>Is it the Eldritch Progenitor? </i>The Eldritch Sovereign pondered, baffled.


    1. receive inheritance = undergoprehension simtion of a Dao ?

 Chapter 498: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (1)

    <h4>Chapter 498: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i> Jiang Huan, the white-robed youth, led the way, and Wu Yuan and the ck-robed Chang Hong followed behind. The trio swiftly departed the hall.


    After passing through a corridor, they soon arrived at a small teleportation array not far from the hall.


    The array was entirely silver, towering a hundred li high. Its surface was engraved with countless cryptic patterns, and it exuded an air of mystery.


    ��A teleportation array?�� Wu Yuan hesitated slightly.


    ��Junior Brother,�� Jiang Huan spoke gently, as though Wu Yuan was his younger brother. ��ording to our master��s tradition of teaching disciples, we will first head to the Origin Eldritch Field.��


    Origin Eldritch Field? Wu Yuan grew even more puzzled.


    ��Junior Brother, I��m guessing you didn��t grow up within the eight hundred eldritch divine nations,�� Chang Hong suddenly chimed in.


    ��No,�� Wu Yuan shook his head.


    There was no need to hide it.


    In the Bloodforge Spacetime, he was known only by a code number, his true identity unknown to outsiders.


    However, the news of his outstanding performance in the Bloodforge Battle within the Silvermist Division had spread across the Silvermist Immortal Nation��s territory, spanning tens of millions of light years. Numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords would have received the news.


    Even the Devil Sovereign had heard a thing or two.


    If the Voltari Temple wanted to investigate him, they could certainly find out��there was no way to hide it.


    Master Kua Chi hadn��t asked him to conceal his name either.


    ��In the Eldritch World, whether it��s among the eight hundred eldritch divine nations or the four million eldritch continents under their rule, every eldritch tribe is registered under an incredibly sophisticated genius selection mechanism, which identifies individuals with a certain level of talent.�� Senior Brother Jiang Huan exined.


    ��For instance, those at the Spiritual Body or Golden Core phase who can pass level seven of the Eldritch Deity Tower or have a second-degree eldritch root, will be directly sent to the Origin Eldritch Field to receive the finest training in the entire eldritch world.��


    "The Eternal Sun Immortal World and Destion Divine Court headquarters have numerous subordinate factions, making the selection of disciples highly cumbersome and bureaucratic. However, it is not the case for us." Jiang Huan patiently exined.


    "Our Eldritch World is considered the most united among the seven major factions of the macrocosm."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but marvel inwardly.


    This talent selection system was closer to the ideology that "everyone is a dragon" than the Eternal Sun Immortal World. It wasn''t the "primitive cultivation�� school of thought Wu Yuan had imagined.


    In the Eternal Sun Immortal World, countless subordinate factions and immortal nations shed constantly over resources, with numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords each harboring their own agendas.


    Many geniuses were suppressed internally, and some were even killed.


    However, Wu Yuan also understood that even if the Cang Feng Eldritch World was truly united, it was likely more out of external pressures than an intrinsic aversion to internal conflict.


    War!


    <i>The war with the Voltari Temple, which hassted for eons without end, requires the Cang Feng Eldritch World to produce a steady output of new powerhouses.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    External pressure demanded unity from the Cang Feng Eldritch World. If they weren''t united and strong enough, the Cang Feng Eldritch World might have been destroyed long ago.


    Likewise, one could assume that the Voltari Temple was also strongly united.


    "The Eldritch World has established several worlds within the Cang Feng Continent, known as the Origin Eldritch Fields," Jiang Huan patiently exined.


    "The Origin Eldritch Fields are training bases for the geniuses of our Eldritch World."


    Wu Yuan suddenly understood, and he couldn''t help but think of the Fourth Eldritch Realm.


    Back then, the Fourth Eldritch Realm was merely a new eldritch training base of the Hou Feng Tribe, and the Hou Feng Tribe was just a tribe on an eldritch continent bordering the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation.


    He had perused the astral territorial chart of the entire macrocosm and found out that the Redmoon Immortal Continent was adjacent to the Cang Feng Eldritch World, right on the edge of the immortal world.


    If it weren''t for that, it wouldn��t have been dragged into the devastating war between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple back then.


    "There are a total of five Origin Eldritch Fields: the First Origin Eldritch Field, the Second Origin Eldritch Field, the Third Origin Eldritch Field, the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, and the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field," Jiang Huan exined.


    "The First Origin Eldritch Field is a training ground for Tribtion/Universe Architect prodigies like myself."


    "The Second Origin Eldritch Field gathers all the Dharma Body/Divided Soul geniuses of the Eldritch World, such as Junior Brother Chang Hong."


    "The Third Origin Eldritch Field is for Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators."


    "The Fourth Origin Eldritch Field is for Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators."


    "The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field is where all the Spiritual Body/Golden Core cultivators selected by the eldritch world are gathered," Jiang Huan smiled. "Junior Brother, the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field is where you will be going."


    Wu Yuan nodded, unable to hide his awe.


    As the core training ground of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the level of organization was indeed impressive, categorizing talents by cultivation level into five distinct fields.


    <i>Moreover, even High Immortals and High Eldritches are merely considered geniuses in training?</i> Wu Yuan marveled internally. This truly was one of the top powers of the entire macrocosm.


    In other ordinary sects, like the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, reaching the Void Refiner phase would earn one the title of protectorate. After which, one was required to be self-reliant. The sect would also gradually reduce the amount of treasures and resources allocated for one��s cultivation. They simply couldn''t afford it.


    But clearly, at the core of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, even High Immortals and High Eldritches were still considered disciples, dedicating most of their energy to cultivation.


    <i>Only by oveing the Immortal Tribtions and bing an Archeldritch or True Eldritch can one be considered a true pir of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    Different factions treated their talents in vastly different ways.


    "Junior Brother, we are all disciples of our master. He will bestow upon us various cultivation treasures, but generally, we must strive to do well in the Origin Eldritch Field," Senior Brother Jiang Huan said with a smile.


    "Our master''s gifts are just one aspect. Don''t growcent because of them. If you want more resources, you must work hard!"


    "Thank you for your counsel, Senior Brother," Wu Yuan said respectfully. He knew very well that Senior Brother Jiang Huan was one of the most terrifying geniuses in the entire Eldritch World.


    Though he called him ��Senior Brother��, Jiang Huan would quickly ascend to be an Astral Monarch the moment he overcame his Tribtion.


    Moreover, as someone who was teaching him in ce of their master, Jiang Huan deserved utmost respect.


    "Junior Brother Chang Hong, are you heading straight back now, or would you like to check out our Junior Brother��s ce?" Jiang Huan turned his gaze to Chang Hong.


    "No need, Senior Brother, I��m heading straight back." The ck-robed youth Chang Hong cast a cold nce at Wu Yuan, "Little Junior Brother, our Senior Brother is kind-hearted and avoids saying things that might pressure you."


    "But I, too, am your Senior Brother, and I''ll give you some earnest advice. Although outsiders do not know we''re disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, we must be clear of this ourselves."


    "Ordinary geniuses of the Eldritch World might choose to break through when opportunities arise or when their cultivation time is up, and no one will question them."


    "But for us disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, starting from the Shambh phase, there are two unspoken criteria to meet if you wish to break through." Chang Hong said coldly.


    "Senior Brother, please borate," Wu Yuan maintained a calm exterior.


    "First, you must be the undisputed top genius of your present Origin Eldritch Field," Chang Hong said.


    "Second, you must achieve the legendary-rank in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield at the corresponding level."


    "Only by meeting these two conditions can you break through and enter the next Origin Eldritch Field," Chang Hong said with a frosty expression.


    "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Senior Brother, I''m heading back now. If you need anything, just call me." Chang Hong cupped his hands toward Jiang Huan and then stepped directly into the teleportation array.


    In a burst of light, the ck-robed Chang Hong disappeared without a trace.


    "Little Junior Brother, don''t mind Senior Brother Chang Hong''s attitude. That''s just his personality, and besides, he is indeed different from you," Jiang Huan said with a smile.


    "I can sense that Senior Brother Chang Hong bears no ill will toward me," Wu Yuan shook his head and then asked curiously, "How are we different?"


    "Mm." Jiang Huan smiled, "Chang Hong was born in a worldlet."


    "Due to the Immortal Court''s wars, the worldlet was destroyed. He barely escaped death, struggling through countless hardships before he was chosen for the Origin Eldritch Field."


    "From the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, then the Third, he rose to fame step by step. At each stage, he reached the legendary-rank on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, ughtering countless foes and making his name known across many war zones.


    "Deep in his heart, he despises those with noble bloodlines."


    "Ultimately, he was epted as a disciple by our master, which is why he values this identity immensely," Jiang Huan continued with a smile. "But you and I, we were taken in as disciples at the Spiritual Body phase."


    "We don''t know your origins, but Junior Brother Chang Hong likely guesses that you''re not from the eldritch world. You might be a bloodline descendant of some super powerhouse, maybe even from another macrocosm."

 Chapter 499: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (2)

    <h4>Chapter 499: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan suddenly understood.


    No wonder.


    This Senior Brother Chang Hong was truly admirable; to rise from the bottom to this point after so many struggles, he must have endured unimaginable hardship.


    His peculiar personality was understandable.


    Personality didn��t matter on the immortal path. Some arrogant or entric individuals came to possess extraordinary strength by following their own hearts.


    "I''m also from a worldlet," Wu Yuan shook his head, "I��m afraid Senior Brother Chang Hong is mistaken."


    "Oh?" A trace of surprise shed in Jiang Huan''s eyes, then he smiled, "No matter."


    "We will all be under the same master for theing eons. A small misunderstanding won''t matter; it will be resolved," Jiang Huanughed.


    "Senior Brother, what is this Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield that Senior Brother Chang Hong mentioned?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Don''t rush. You''re only at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase now. Train for some time and reach the ninth-stage Shambh phase. It won��t be toote to venture there then," Senior Brother Jiang Huan smiled. "For the specifics, once you''ve settled into the eldritch world, I��ll exin more."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Let''s go to the Origin Eldritch Field," Jiang Huan stepped into the teleportation array, and Wu Yuan quickly followed.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>A brilliant light shot skyward, and in an instant, the two figures vanished from the teleportation array.


    <i>Buzz~ </i>The space around them flickered. Wu Yuan felt everything blur, and suddenly, a colossal hall appeared before him.


    The hall towered thousands of li high. Even the hundred-li tall teleportation array seemed insignificant within it. It was also mostly empty.


    "Astral Monarch Hou Qu." Jiang Huan stepped out of the teleportation array with a smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting."


    Wu Yuan followed suit.


    "Haha, Jiang Huan, you''re too kind." Astral Monarch Hou Qu, d in battle armor, chuckled, his gaze settling on Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan, young friend, we meet again."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Little Junior Brother, Astral Monarch Hou Qu is the manager of the five Origin Eldritch Fields, so he will be the one to inform you of the details regarding your entry," Jiang Huan said with a smile. "Once you enter the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, we''ll keep in touch there if needed."


    "A year from now, I''ll visit your eldritch residence to guide you," Jiang Huan added.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    With that, Jiang Huan re-entered the teleportation array and vanished, leaving Wu Yuan alone with Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    "Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    "Now that you are officially the Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple, you needn''t bow to me when we meet. I can''t bear such courtesy," Astral Monarch Hou Qu grinned.


    "However, to avoid detection by the Voltari Temple, the identities of the Eldritch Sovereigns'' disciples are kept secret until they undergo their Tribtions. You must not reveal your status," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said sternly. "If you do, you''ll be doomed to certain death."


    ��Certain death?�� Wu Yuan felt a jolt of fear.


    ��Indeed!�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu sighed, ��Each disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign is a monstrous prodigy. If left to grow, they usually reach my level. Some, even more terrifying.��


    ��Therefore, once the Voltari Temple knows of you, they are willing to pay a high price to take your life,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu said. ��Even if you hide in the eldritch world, they have some heaven-defying means of assassinating you across spacetime using destiny and karma.��


    Wu Yuan held his breath.


    Could it really be that terrifying?


    ��Of course, the cost of such attacks is exorbitant,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. ��Unless absolutely necessary, the Voltari Temple wouldn''t use them.��


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    ��From now on, you are an earth-tier member of the Fifth Eldritch Field.�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled.


    ��Earth-tier member?�� Wu Yuan felt puzzled.


    ��The Fifth Eldritch Field is a gathering ce for Spiritual Body/Golden Core geniuses. The maximum breakthrough age is 150,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined. ��But the eldritch world is vast, spanning billions of light-years, so the number of geniuses is still immense, over a hundred thousand.��


    ��A hundred thousand?�� Wu Yuan was slightly stunned. ��All with Daoprehension at the seventh-level True Intent stage or second-degree eldritch root?��


    ��Yes.�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. ��After all, this ce gathers peerless geniuses from eight hundred eldritch divine nations, so the numbers are naturally high.��


    ��Yet, these numbers are still not the highest. The Fourth Eldritch Field, with an age limit of 500 years, umtes hundreds of thousands of geniuses.��


    ��And in the Third Eldritch Field, with an age limit of two thousand years, there are nearly a million geniuses.��


    ��The Second Eldritch Field, with an age limit of ten thousand years, has over two million geniuses.��


    ��By the time you reach the First Eldritch Field, where all your peers are High Eldritches and High Immortals, training for hundreds of thousands of years is normal. So, even with many geniuses falling along the way, there are still tens of millions of geniuses umted over the years.�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled.


    ��And this is just the umtion over a million years. Generation after generation, over billions of years, countless geniuses have emerged from the eldritch world, many bing legendary figures who shake countless worlds.��


    Wu Yuan nodded and took a deep breath.


    Indeed, this ce was worthy of being one of the sacred cultivation grounds of the entire macrocosm, far surpassing the Redmoon Immortal Continent and Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    Moreover, he truly realized what sort of monstrous prodigies his two senior brothers were.


    Senior Brother Chang Hong, after eight thousand years of cultivation, had be the undisputed strongest in the Second Eldritch Field.


    Senior Brother Jiang Huan was the number one among millions of High Immortals and High Eldritches in the First Eldritch Field.


    He also grasped the meaning behind his Master''s words. On a scale of billions upon billions of years, his current achievements were indeed hardly worth mentioning.


    <i>But every super powerhouse starts from the bottom, climbing step by step to greatness.</i>


    <i>Did Master ept me as a disciple for other reasons? Does he think my talent is inferior to that of my senior brothers and the hundreds or thousands of senior brothers and sisters that came before? </i>Wu Yuan harbored a burning determination in his heart.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t refute his Master''s words because his current performance was indeedcking.


    <i>However, I will take every step with determination, striving to be the strongest of this era, and eventually stand among the most monstrous prodigies in history.</i> A deep yearning flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    When his Master called his talent ��mediocre��, Wu Yuan felt a twinge of disappointment.


    After all, these words came from a powerhouse who had presided over the eldritch world for billions of years, yet they fueled Wu Yuan''spetitive spirit even more.


    "With countless geniuses taking up vast resources, even the eldritch world finds it challenging to nurture them all," Astral Monarch Hou Qu remarked with a smile, "And thepetition is relentless."


    "The Origin Eldritch Field recognizes only talent and strength, not status. The most precious resources are reserved solely for peerless geniuses," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    "Thus, among the countless talented disciples of the Five Origin Eldritch Fields, there are three ranks: Ordinary, Earth-tier, and Heaven-tier."


    "In the Fifth Eldritch Field, out of over a hundred thousand peerless geniuses, there is only one Heaven-tier member, and only a hundred Earth-tier members," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined.


    "Of course, asionally, we recruit terrifying geniuses and grant them the Earth-tier rank directly."


    "The number of Earth-tier members fluctuate with each Origin Eldritch Field. Generally, their numbers increase with each increase in field level, but in each Origin Eldritch Field, there is only one Heaven-tier member."


    "To be a Heaven-tier member, there''s only one path: defeat all your rivals. Be the absolute first, unrivaled in your field!" Astral Monarch Hou Qu dered solemnly. "Truly invincible among your peers."


    "If you can im the top spot in an eldritch field, you''ll likely be among the top in the entire macrocosm, if not the very first, at least in the top five."


    "Take your two Senior Brothers, for example. One is now a heaven-tier disciple in the Second Origin Eldritch Field, and the other in the First Origin Eldritch Field," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Senior Brother Chang Hong had implied that from the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field onward, as a disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign, he had to be a Heaven-tier member, the strongest in his field, to qualify for a breakthrough.


    It was a daunting task!


    The further he advanced, the harder it would get. To be the top in the First Eldritch Field meantpeting with the peerless geniuses of the eldritch world umted over millions of years.


    <i>Difficult, but a good challenge. I will cross each checkpoint.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>Starting from the Fourth Eldritch Field? No! From the Fifth Eldritch Field onward, I will be the first.</i>

 Chapter 500: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (3)

    <h4>Chapter 500: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (3)</h4>


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled faintly. He naturally sensed the shift in Wu Yuan''s thoughts and understood his intentions.


    He was not surprised. Which disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign wasn''t ambitious or driven by lofty goals? Yet, having goals was one thing, achieving them was another.


    ��Your homnd has been moved into the satellite world orbit of the Cang Feng Continent and is protected by a world-defense array. Its safety is assured,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu dered.


    ��From now on, you can visit your homnd via the teleportation array on your continent residence.��


    ��Understood,�� Wu Yuan felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    He had been worried about his family.


    ��Let''s go to your continent residence.��


    <i>Whoosh!</i> An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, and the two swiftly left the towering hall.


    What greeted Wu Yuan''s eyes was an expansive, boundless world, reminiscent of outer space yet extraordinarily bright.


    It was a world of unparalleled brilliance, where colossalndmasses, each spanning over ten thousand li in diameter, floated in the endless space.


    On thesendmasses, numerous halls and pavilions could be faintly seen.


    asionally, many flying boats could be seen skimming through the space.


    ��This is the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, over a hundred million li in diameter.��


    ��Fifty thousand void continents were created here. Each one serves as a base for one genius; it can amodate the cultivation of up to fifty thousand geniuses,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined with a smile. ��Currently, the Fifth Eldritch Field houses about thirteen thousand geniuses.��


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The grandeur of the eldritch world was evident; indeed, it was a top-tier faction in the macrocosm!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu led Wu Yuan forward, quickly elerating��one hundred thousand li per second, two hundred thousand li per second. They soon reached the speed of light.


    The surrounding space subtly twisted. In theory, upon reaching this speed, one could enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer or higher spatial dimensions.


    But Wu Yuan was surprised to discover that he still maintained this speed.


    Just a few dozen breathster, Astral Monarch Hou Qu led Wu Yuan to a space above a vast void continent. Below, they could clearly see the hazy light enshrouding the space.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Over a dozen figures shot up from the continent. All of them were d in battle armor, moving extremely quickly, and stopped before Wu Yuan and Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    ��Astral Monarch!�� the leading woman, d in red robes that clung to her seductive figure, respectfully greeted.


    ��Greetings, Astral Monarch.�� The other dozen figures also bowed respectfully, each in utter shock.


    What matter could bring a great Astral Monarch here?


    ��From today onwards, this Spiritual Body cultivator named Wu Yuan will be the master of this void continent,�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu dered, ��He will be a direct Earth-tier member in the Fifth Eldritch Field.��


    ��Swear your loyalty to him.��


    Wu Yuan? Earth-tier member?


    The dozen figures were all incredibly shocked. They knew what it meant for someone to be granted the title of Earth-tier member upon entering the Origin Eldritch Field: a true peerless genius.


    ��I, Cen Jiang, swear upon heaven and earth to serve Wu Yuan as my master, or face soul annihtion! Eternal damnation, never to reincarnate! May the supreme Eldritch Progenitor bear witness to my oath.�� the leading red-robed woman pledged.


    ��I, Li Ren��


    ��I, ...�� The dozen figures behind hurriedly made their vows in turn.


    Immediately, over a dozen intangible fluctuations descended upon the seductive woman in red robes and herpanions, while Wu Yuan felt a faint yet undeniable connection to them.


    ��Master,�� the woman, Cen Jiang, respectfully bowed to Wu Yuan.


    "Master." The dozen figures behind her echoed in reverence.


    "Astral Monarch, what is this?" Wu Yuan stammered in shock.


    He could feel it��these dozen figures were no ordinary beings. Each one exuded power far beyond his own.


    "An Earth Immortal servant, twelve Void Refiner servants��this is the first benefit of being an Earth-tier member," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined with a smile. "From today on, they will be absolutely loyal to you."


    "Rest assured, I hand picked them all. They each have the potential to break through. Once they do, their worth will skyrocket."


    Wu Yuan was stunned, gazing at these individuals. It felt surreal.


    Servants? Absolute loyalty to him?


    "You��ll need some followers to help you handle matters," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued. "Don��t feel guilty; they were captured by the eldritch world from the Immortal Court. If they hadn''t be servants, they would have faced certain death."


    "Bing servants was their voluntary choice," Astral Monarch Hou Qu assured him.


    "Indeed," the red-robed Cen Jiang, spoke respectfully. "Master, the eldritch world gave me two choices: death or living as a servant."


    "This was a choice we were willing to make."


    Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, growing more aware of the brutal war between the Eldritch Court and the Immortal Court.


    Anyone who had yet to ovee their Tribtions was insignificant in this colossal conflict.


    "Wu Yuan, this is your identity token. It��s also a voidrealm jade. Decipher it, and you will officially be an Earth-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, granting you ess to the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm," Astral Monarch Hou Qu exined, tossing a token to Wu Yuan.


    "Hm." Wu Yuan caught it.


    His soul surged into the token, leaving an aura imprint. Almost instantly, a torrent of information flooded his mind.


    All of it pertained to the Fifth Eldritch Field.


    ��''Wu Yuan, I have now informed you of the main points. Cen Jiang is knowledgeable about the Origin Eldritch Field. If you have any questions, you can ask her, or contact me through the eldritch voidrealm. In a day, I''ll construct a teleportation array in your homnd. You can visit it then." Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    "Thank you, Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "No need for thanks," Astral Monarch Hou Qu replied with a smile. "Sometimes, status is both an advantage and a burden. Keep striving."


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    With that, Astral Monarch Hou Qu vanished, drifting away like a whisper in the wind.


    ��Master, follow me,�� Cen Jiang said with a demure smile, her figure mesmerizing yet her expression pure and innocent.


    <i>She truly is a rare beauty.</i> Wu Yuan couldn''t help butpliment her inwardly. Those who could be Earth Immortals were all extraordinary in some way.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i> The group rapidly descended to the continent below, where countless halls came into view.


    ��Master, the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field''s geniuses do not rely on Faith, so there aren''t many mortal beings here. The void continent is rather small, with only two significant locations,�� Cen Jiang exined.


    ��One is the Essence Tower.�� Cen Jiang pointed to a towering structure on one side of the continent. The tower stood about a hundred li tall. It was entirely purple and sprawled over thend, dominating thendscape.


    ��This tower also serves as a meditation chamber, greatly aiding in Daoprehension,�� Cen Jiang said. ��It''s where the eldritch world has invested the most resources.��


    ��The second is the Experiment Realm. The Experiment Realm is a separately created world, spanning roughly a million li. It is designed for you, Master, to test various techniques in the real world,�� Cen Jiang continued. ��To reach the Experiment Realm, you must go through the Essence Tower.��


    ��Other teachings, disciple interactions, voidrealm battles, and such are conducted within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.��


    ��Lectures by Archimmortals, Astral Lords, and real-worldbat sessions are held in the Origin Eldritch Continent at the heart of the entire eldritch world.��


    ��For duels between geniuses, match-betting, or the purchase and trading of treasures... all these take ce on the Origin Eldritch Continent,�� Cen Jiang said with a smile. ��If there are matters you''re unable to attend to personally, we can handle them for you.��


    ��We will all be stationed here. In the future, when you ascend to higher Origin Eldritch Fields, we will follow you, until our deaths,�� Cen Jiang vowed respectfully.


    ��I have heard that from the Shambh phase onwards, I��ll be taking on expeditions that may endanger my life. For all you know, I''ll die at the Shambh phase," Wu Yuan half-joked.


    That line caused the expressions of his gathered servants to change drastically. Cen Jiang whispered, "If Master dies, then we shall all follow you in death."


    That stunned Wu Yuan. Immediately, he realized that things weren''t so simple. If he died, would it mean that all his servants must die too?


    "Haha, rx. I, Wu Yuan, am not so easily killed." Wu Yuanughed, striding toward the distant Essence Tower.


    Suddenly, he halted, pointing ahead. "What is that?"


    There, a colossal mountain rose from the earth, towering at least tens of li high. The one side of the mountain was as smooth as a mirror.


    On the mirror-like surface, giant characters appeared.


    Heaven-tier: Mu Xia


    Earth-tier: Ling Xian, Guang Hanqing, Bu Jiang, Liu Shengquan, Yin Lie... Wu Yuan.


    "That''s the Heaven and Earth Rankings that appear on every void continent, announcing the names of all heaven-tier and earth-tier members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field," Cen Jiang exined with a smile.


    "Why are there only forty-two earth-tier members?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking, "I remember being told there are a hundred earth-tier members in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field."


    "They''ve all broken through." Cen Jiang replied, "The Heaven and Earth Tournament urs every twenty years, selecting new heaven-tier and earth-tier members."


    "Typically, geniuses who can reach the earth-tier are mostly at the Dao Field stage of Daoprehension. Only a rare few are at the ninth-level True Intent stage."


    "Progress at the Dao Field stage is exceptionally slow. So, once someone reaches the earth-tier, unless they''re extremely young, most will choose to break through without lingering too long," Cen Jiang said.


    "And when a heaven-tier member breaks through, the subsequent earth-tier members will move up in sequence."

 Chapter 501: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (4)

    <h4>Chapter 501: The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field (4)</h4>


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, feeling the pressure.


    Even in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, where the cultivators were all at the Spiritual Body/Golden Core phase, almost all Earth-tier members were at the Dao Field stage of Daoprehension.


    But with over a hundred thousand geniusespeting for a hundred spots, it made sense. This was indeed the core of the eldritch world.


    "The Heaven and Earth Rankings are the focus of countless geniuses in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field." Cen Jiang smiled, "The top-tier geniuses of the entire Fifth Origin Eldritch Field are most likely aware of your existence by now."


    "With less than three years until the next Heaven and Earth Tournament, I imagine many of those top-tier geniuses will want to test your strength, to see if you��re qualified to be an earth-tier member."


    "Qualified?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Eldritches are inherentlybative; thirst for battle is in their bones," Cen Jiang said. "Countless geniuses in the eldritch world risk everything to be an earth-tier member."


    "Now that you have taken one spot without going through a single fight, many geniuses will naturally be dissatisfied," Cen Jiang said.


    "But you needn''t concern yourself. When the Heaven and Earth Tournamentes, show them your strength."


    Wu Yuan gave a bitter smile.


    Show them his strength? With his current power, aiming for first ce in the Heaven and Earth Tournament would be exceedingly difficult.


    <i>In the Bloodforge Spacetime, when I managed to clear the fifth stage of the test, my talent appeared dazzling to others, but it was all because I was the youngest. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>In terms of absolute strength, among the thousand Golden Core Bloodforge Kings in that spacetime, I was probably only in the top ten.</i>


    The geniuses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall couldn''tpare to those of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Among the countless Golden Core geniuses in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, there might be dozens who hadprehended a Dao Field.


    <i>But I wonder if anyone has achieved the second-level Dao Field stage</i>? Wu Yuan mused.


    Each level of the Dao Field stage represented a monumental obstacle. Each breakthrough meant a significant surge in power.


    Achieving a breakthrough was extremely difficult. Many High Immortals, who were geniuses in their youth, spent hundreds of thousands of years without reaching the ninth-level Dao Field stage.


    ...


    After speaking with Cen Jiang for a while, Wu Yuan had a solid understanding of the entire Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and the benefits of being an earth-tier member.


    After that, Wu Yuan flew directly to the Essence Tower.


    The Essence Tower was the core facility for every member of the eldritch world, where they spent most of their time in secluded cultivation.


    The Experiment Realm, which was inessible to outsiders, was essed through the Essence Tower.


    As for the void continent itself? In truth, most of it remained in a primitive state, while a small fraction housed numerous leisure facilities.


    The eldritch world did not forbid its disciples from seeking pleasure. How one cultivated was their own choice.


    The main hall of the Essence Tower was a world within a world.


    Inside was apletely spherical space, about fifty-five li in diameter, with countless cryptic patterns etched on all sides.


    At the center of the spherical space was a floating silver jade tform.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>As Wu Yuan stepped into the space, he felt his spirit resonate with an ethereal rity, bing incredibly serene.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Hended deftly on the silver jade tform.


    In just a few breaths, Wu Yuan''s eyes widened, a flicker of astonishment in his gaze.


    <i>How magical. My perception of the Dao is so vivid.</i>


    It was worth noting that Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension was already quite profound. But as he sat in lotus position on the jade tform, Wu Yuan realized how truly marvelous the Essence Tower was.


    <i>It is around twenty percent as effective as the Bloodforge Jade tform. </i>Wu Yuan roughly estimated.


    It seemed far less potent, but the Bloodforge Jade tform had strict conditions and time limits for its use. Whereas the countless geniuses of the eldritch world were able to use the Essence Tower freely, each being allocated their own.


    <i>Building these numerous Essence Towers must have consumed a vast portion of the eldritch world��s resources. </i>Wu Yuan thought, his eyes scanning his surroundings.


    He could sense that the countless cryptic patterns seemed to be some sort of consumable resource.


    As he cultivated, the cryptic patterns would gradually dissipate.


    <i>No matter. This is for the eldritch world��s higher echelons and Master Kua Chi to worry about.</i> Wu Yuan calmed his mind and began training quietly.


    He needed to thoroughly explore the effects of the Essence Tower.


    ...


    While Wu Yuan was experiencing the effects of the Essence Tower for the first time, he had no idea that the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field of the Cang Feng Eldritch World was in utter chaos.


    ��Earth-tier member?��


    ��Without going through the Heaven and Earth Tournament, he became an earth-tier member right after entering the eldritch world? Where did hee from?��


    ��No idea, never heard of him.��


    ��Among the 800 eldritch divine nations, across millions of eldritch continents, even the top genius of a typical eldritch continent can''t get into the eldritch field. Those slightly stronger geniuses will surely be well-known.��


    The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field had over a hundred thousand geniuses. Most had servants under theirmand.


    Even if only a small fraction of servants tracked the Land Rankings, once they noticed a new name, it spread instantly across the entire Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    ��I don��t ept this.��


    ��No matter how much of a genius he is, he should climb his way up from the status of an ordinary member, proving himself with strength.��


    ��Where did this Wu Yuane from?��


    ��Challenge him!��


    ��Challenge him!�� Many geniuses of the eldritch world roared. This was the tradition of the eldritch lineage.


    ��Challenge my ass. I checked. Wu Yuan hasn��t even entered the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field yet. How are you going to challenge him?�� A genius swiftly retorted.


    ��What about the Origin Eldritch Continent? Has anyone seen him?��


    ��He just became an earth-tier member; he probably hasn��t even been there yet.��


    ��Let��s wait. He can dy for now, but not forever.��


    ��So what if he��s an earth-tier member? Rank doesn��t represent strength.�� Many of the peerless geniuses of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field were unconvinced.


    Those who had alreadyprehended a Dao Field but still hadn��t be earth-tier members yet were particrly dissatisfied.


    Talent? Too elusive.


    Rank? Bloodline? The eldritch lineage would never acknowledge that.


    These peerless geniuses of the Origin Eldritch Field only recognized strength!


    ...


    Once the heaven and earth rankings of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field were updated, this news not only spread among the countless geniuses of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    One had to understand that the Origin Eldritch Field was the core genius training grounds of the eldritch world, and it was closely monitored by other major factions.


    Especially the Voltari Temple.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World spanned billions of light years of spacetime and consisted of millions of eldritch continents.


    The distances between different eldritch continents and nations were unimaginably vast.


    The distances between typical eldritch divine nations ranged from hundreds of millions to nearly a billion light-years. Even mighty beings like Eldritch Sovereigns could not monitor them all.


    About thirty million light years away from the closest eldritch divine nation was an expanse of space with fews, as if it were an empty zone within a deeperyer of space.


    Yet, there existed a vast nation here, inhabited by numerous immortal cultivators.


    <i>Inside a towering temple.</i>


    "Investigate!"


    "Find out immediately!"


    "Directly bing an earth-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, this Wu Yuan must be a monstrous prodigy that recently emerged in the Cang Feng Eldritch World."


    "But why is there no information on him in our intelligence database? Investigate!" A furious roar echoed within the temple. "If we can''t find it in the eldritch world, then check the territories of other major factions."


    "His origins, his teachings, his cultivation methods, his weaknesses, his personality analysis... find out everything."


    The group of High Immortals trembled in fear. They naturally understood why the Astral Monarch was so furious.


    Just one genius from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, even an earth-tier member, wasn��t a big deal.


    Even an earth-tier member from the First Origin Eldritch Field was insignificant and posed little threat to the immense Voltari Temple.


    However, this current situation represented a grave dereliction of duty. It indicated that the intelligence system of the Voltari Temple was woefully outdated, failing to effectively monitor the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    <i>A full quarter of an hourter.</i>


    "Astral Monarch, we''ve discovered something."


    "Not long ago, during the Bloodforge Battle held by the Bloodforge Devil Hall, a peerless genius named Wu Yuan imed the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King. His performance in the Bloodforge Spacetime remains unclear," a High Immortal suddenly reported.


    "This peerless genius Wu Yuan, byprehensive analysis, ranks among the top one hundred talents of the macrocosm."


    "He is also an eldritch cultivator and possesses a Teng Snake as his spirit beast."


    "There''s a ny percent chance that this Wu Yuan is the same person. The odds of such a simrly named peerless genius appearing simultaneously in the macrocosm are nearly zero."

 Chapter 502: I, Wu Yuan, Accept Them All (1)

    <h4>Chapter 502: I, Wu Yuan, ept Them All (1)</h4>


    <i>Inside the temple. </i>


    "Oh? The Golden Core Bloodforge King of the Bloodforge Battle?"


    At the far end of the temple, a deity-like figure in purple robes frowned slightly. "Get hisbat footage and conduct aprehensive talent assessment. I want his sequence number."


    <i>Buzz~ </i>The enormous light screens projected in front of the purple-robed figure began swiftly shing through the massive quantity of data collected on Wu Yuan, includingbat footage and other intelligence.


    It also included the growth trajectories of other geniuses from the eldritch world.


    Talent assessment was based on facts and figures, not imagination. The Voltari Temple and Cang Feng Eldritch World had battled for trillions of years across spacetime territories spanning billions of light years.


    The amount of intelligence and data each side collected on the other was unimaginable!


    The pressure to survive,bined with the support from the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court, made the two great factions superior to the Eternal Sun Immortal World in many aspects.


    Time passed.


    "Astral Monarch. Based on Wu Yuan''s performance in the Bloodforge Battle, aprehensive assessment ces his assassination sequence at 1848." A ck-robed, bald High Immortal respectfully reported.


    "So high?" The purple-robed figure was puzzled.


    The Voltari Temple strived to collect as much intelligence and information as possible on members of the five Origin Eldritch Fields from Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Based on their talent, they were added to an assassination list. The smaller the sequence number, the higher the threat level, and the more urgent it was to eliminate them.


    "Astral Monarch, the entire assassination list currently includes 14,592,894 individuals, most of whom are High Immortals and High Eldritches, all from the First Origin Eldritch Field," the ck-robed, bald High Immortal respectfully said.


    "These High Immortals and High Eldritches may not have been too well-known in their early years, but surviving life-and-death trials time and again indicates their strong providence."


    "Once they be Archimmortals or Archeldritchs, they''ll pose a great threat to our temple. Therefore, High Immortals and High Eldritchs generally rank higher in the assassination list."


    ��Wu Yuan is just a Spiritual Body cultivator. Yet he is ranked around one thousand. A bit high, isn''t it?�� Someone asked.


    ��Talent-wise, this Wu Yuan isn''t dazzling. He would normally be ranked over ten thousand on the assassination list.�� The ck-d, bald High Immortal replied, ��But the strange thing is, despite his average talent, he was specially recruited by the Cang Feng Eldritch World and became an earth-tier member. It''s rare.��


    ��So, we suspect he harbors secrets beyond our understanding.�� The bald High Immortal continued.


    ��Therefore, his hidden abilities contributed heavily to his score. His final assassination ranking is set at 1848.��


    The over ten million individuals on the Voltari Temple''s assassination list were all peerless geniuses who were still alive in the Cang Feng Eldritch World in thest million years.


    To rank around one thousand, it meant he was the number one genius of the Cang Feng Eldritch World in an era (one hundred years).


    ��Hm, fair enough. But with such talent, his chances of bing an Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple are slim. There are too many geniuses with simr talent.�� The figure in purple robes said indifferently, ��ce him in the third tier and monitor him closely.��


    ��We can��t assassinate him while he��s at the Spiritual Body phase. When he reaches the ninth-stage Shambh phase, he should join the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield for his first field trial.��


    ��Yes.�� The ck-d, bald High Immortal responded respectfully.


    For different tiers of geniuses, their assassination methods varied ordingly. The Voltari Temple didn��t expect to kill all the geniuses of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    ��Our top priority is still the number one ranked Jiang Huan.�� The figure in purple robes said coldly, ��Thest assassination attempt failed; four Archimmortals were killed by him, a heavy loss. He must have fullyprehended an Intermediate Law.��


    ��Revise the n. I will ask the Immortal Sovereign to retrace his past from a higher spacetime dimension, to judge possible future locations for close monitoring.�� The figure in purple robes said coldly, ��I do not wish for another Astral Monarch to emerge in the Cang Feng Eldritch World.��


    ��Understood.�� The group of High Immortals below responded respectfully. They were merely analysts, not directly involved inbat.


    ...


    <i>Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, Wu Yuan''s void continent</i>


    <i>Inside the Essence Tower, within a spherical space of about fifty-five li in diameter.</i>


    <i>Buzz~</i> Dazzling streaks of earthy yellow light flickered, swirling around Wu Yuan.


    Countless rays converged, faintly forming innumerable,plex cryptic patterns, each pattern brimming with the profundities of the Dao.


    <i>Daoprehension truly gets harder the deeper you go.</i>


    <i>My understanding of the Celestial Body Dao is already deep, my perception of the Dao exceptionally clear, and I have the Essence Tower aiding me.</i>


    <i>But as an Intermediate Law, the operating principles still feel like a tangled mess to me. I��m still far from breaking through from the ninth-level Domain stage to the True Intent</i> stage. Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Three days!


    Since entering the Essence Tower, he had been meditating for three days, yet still couldn''t figure out how to go about breaking through to the True Intent stage.


    <i>I have not umted enough insights. Gao Yun could break through to the Dao Field stage because he had many years of umtion, and fought numerous battles on the Bloodforge Battlefield. The final push was the special environment of Bloodforge Spacetime. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    As for Wu Yuan?


    Since the Bloodforge Battle began, he had made breakthroughs rapidly, and only just reached the ninth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Even with the Celestial Divine Body, this bottleneck was a difficult obstacle. There were too many gaps in his understanding.


    <i>It��s still too early.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He was only fifty-five years old.


    <i>My master gave me sixty Dao Temple points. For now, I should check out the Dao Temple of the Eldritch Court.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    After obtaining the identity token and acquiring a wealth of information from it, along with his earlier knowledge, Wu Yuan had a good understanding of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    With a thought, a strand of consciousness entered a mysterious ce��the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm!


    It was thergest, moreprehensive voidrealm in the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World, its scale and features far surpassing the Redmoon Immortal Realm.


    <i>Inside his personal hall.</i>


    <i>It appears to simte reality with a hundred percent likeness, but there are subtle differences. </i>Wu Yuan swiftly adjusted his personal appearance and pondered deeply.


    This was his first time entering such a high-grade voidrealm. Even the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm paled inparison.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t pinpoint the exact differences in these voidrealms. But he could sense that the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm felt more realistic.


    <i>It almost makes it hard to distinguish between virtual and reality.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across various parts of the personal hall.


    There were also various virtual immortal slips introducing its features.


    <i>Earth-tier disciple treasures, cultivation teachings, ether art, Eldritch Deity Tower, Fifth Origin Eldritch Treasure Shop, Archimmortal teachings...</i> Wu Yuan browsed through them.


    The information was overwhelminglyplicated. However, every member of the Origin Eldritch Field had to go through it.


    <i>I��ve gotten the gist of it; I''ll go over it in depthter.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes gently, his avatar calling out, "Dao Temple."


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan felt his soul tremble slightly. Following that, he sensed his consciousness rapidly leaving the personal hall, hurtling toward an extremely mysterious and distant ce.


    Years ago, when he first visited the Dao Temple of the Taiyuan Divine Court, Wu Yuan was baffled, finding it all incredibly magical.


    But now? Wu Yuan felt a sense of familiarity.


    He sensed his surroundings morphing into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow, transforming into countless threads of light, then into an empty void, and finally, even the void seemed to vanish... This was an unfathomable ce.


    <i>It''s a projection from a higher spatial dimension.</i> Wu Yuan had a vague insight. <i>The Dao Temple is located in an extremely high spatial dimension, far beyond the Vacuum Spatial Layer.</i>


    <i>So, starting from the higher spatial dimension, descending in dimensions and expanding divergently until one reaches the Material Spatial Layer, this expansion can affect an unfathomablyrge region��tens of billions of light years? Hundreds of billions of light years... or even the entire river of space and time?</i> Wu Yuan shuddered at the mere thought.


    The endless river of space and time was constantly converging in higher spatial dimensions? Whaty at the very top?


    This was merely Wu Yuan''s spection after his journey through higher spatial dimensions, but his current power and knowledge were far too limited to grasp the full picture.


    <i>It��s just that I am merely a strand of consciousness, not in my real body. Could it be that pure consciousness can also break through to higher spatial dimensions?</i> Countless ideas swirled through Wu Yuan��s mind.


    It was too mysterious. Too many aspects were involved, and Wu Yuan could only specte.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Silently and without warning, Wu Yuan''s consciousness arrived in front of a towering ck pagoda.


    It was ancient and massive, suspended in the void. The Dao resonance radiating from it involuntarily gave rise to a feeling of reverence in any observer��s heart.


    This feeling wasn��t directed at anyone, but towards the Great Dao.


    However, while perceiving the mysterious Dao resonance, a thread of doubt sprouted in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Because, the ck pagoda before him bore a certain resemnce to the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, not in appearance, but in that intangible aura.


    <i>Could the Origin Pagoda be rted to the Dao Temple of the Eldritch Court?</i> This thought suddenly shed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Just as Wu Yuan was pondering, an invisible force enveloped him, instantly bringing him before the pagoda. The closer he got, the more imposing the pagoda seemed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Countless points of light converged, forming a massive light screen projection. On the projection were numerous characters, recording a few simple lines:


    <i>Awarded points: 60</i>


    <i>Earned points: 0</i>


    <i>Note: Awarded points can only be used once every hundred years; earned points have no restrictions on usage.</i>


    <i>Master didn''t lie to me, he awarded me sixty points.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his gaze sweeping over the points redemption rules at the bottom.


    It was very simple.


    <i>One point toprehend any Lesser Law once.</i>


    <i>Two points toprehend any Intermediate Law once.</i>


    <i>...</i>


    <i>One hundred points toprehend aplete Essence Great Dao once. </i>Wu Yuan was slightly stunned.


    The redemption criteria were simr to those of the Taiyuan Divine Court. Only thest one was new.


    <i>The Dao Temple of the Taiyuan Divine Court can only simte theprehension of an iplete Essence Great Dao, but here, you canprehend aplete one? </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>Essence Great Dao?</i>


    By the literal meaning, it probably meantprehending the most fundamental essence of heaven and earth.


    <i>It��s too distant for me, the points Master awarded aren''t enough to experience it even once. </i>Wu Yuan smiled slightly. <i>But it''s enough for me to experience the Celestial Body Daoprehension simtion thirty times.</i>


    <i>If I experience the simtion once every hundred years, it��s enough tost me three thousand years ofprehension.</i>


    Moreover, Wu Yuan could still obtain points through normal means, and redeem them for moreprehension simtion opportunities.


    ��Would you like to redeem your points for a simtion opportunity?" A cold voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, "If not, leave immediately."


    "Yes! Redeem the awarded points for oneprehension simtion of the Celestial Body Dao.�� Wu Yuan promptly spoke. ��Confirm.��


    ��Confirmed. Deducting two awarded points. Entering the second floor of the Dao Temple.�� The cold voice spoke again.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan saw his points drop from 60 to 58, and the floating light screen before himpletely vanished.


    The second floor of the ck tower opened.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan flew straight in.

 Chapter 503: I, Wu Yuan, Accept Them All (2)

    <h4>Chapter 503: I, Wu Yuan, ept Them All (2)</h4>


    Though the Dao Temples of the two top-tier factions had different exteriors and reception methods, the experiences were simr.


    In a blink, Wu Yuan was entirely immersed in the simtion, his consciousness descending once more before that towering celestial body.


    This time, it wasn��t a sword technique that appeared, but a saber technique! Countless de rays filled the sky.


    <i>Saber! Starsunder Saber Codex.</i> Wu Yuan was fully absorbed. <i>Saber, my body refiner self excels in the saber, and this is indeed the saber technique.</i>


    <i>Compared to thest time I received the Dao Temple''s inheritance, my currentprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is much deeper, and my efficiency has vastly improved. The results should be better this time. </i>Wu Yuan was intoxicated in the experience.


    The countless ambiguities he had regarding the advancement from the ninth-level Domain stage to the True Intent stage were cleared up one at a time.


    ...


    The Dao Temple��s guidance was almost akin to the essence of the Dao. Wu Yuan felt his rity of perception soar tenfold, a hundredfold. Countless insights into the Dao rose in his mind, filling Wu Yuan with genuine joy.


    To hear of the Dao in the morning is to die content at nightfall. [1]


    Finally, as thest de ray sliced through the void, it severed the thread of Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    <i>Crash~ </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness broke off, snapping back to reality. He scanned his surroundings and found himself back in his personal hall within the eldritch voidrealm.


    <i>How mystical, iprehensible. The power of this Dao Temple is truly miraculous.</i> Wu Yuan marveled, realizing even the Celestial Divine Body paled inparison.


    The Celestial Divine Body merely sharpened Wu Yuan''s perception, like using a telescope to see a distant mountain clearly. But the Dao Temple allowed one to step inside and touch it firsthand. They were two entirely different concepts.


    <i>However, this opportunity is incredibly rare. My master granted me just thirty chances.</i> Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Thirty chances? Countless geniuses would kill for even one.


    <i>After experiencing this simtion of theplete Celestial Body Dao, I must quickly review my insights and remember as much as I can. </i>Wu Yuan knew this well. <i>Otherwise, as time passes, many insights will gradually fade.</i>


    It was like dreaming; clear as day upon waking, but without conscious effort to remember or write it down, it would soon be a blur.


    Wu Yuan''s strand of consciousness left the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    He continued to immerse himself fully in the profundities of the Celestial Body.


    ...


    Days turned into weeks. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.


    In the spherical space of the Essence Tower, Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.


    <i>I''ve reached my limit. Celestial Body, ninth-level Domain stage.</i>


    <i>When I first stepped into the ninth-level, I was still confused about numerous aspects. But after visiting the Dao Temple, I''ve trulyprehended the Celestial Body Domain. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled. <i>Even myprehension of the Gravity Dao and Earth Origin Dao have reached the True Intent stage in one go.</i>


    Hisprehension of the Land��s profundities had long reached the True Intent stage. However, he had to fuse the three Lesser Laws at the same stage before achieving the corresponding stage in the Celestial Body Dao.


    This step was a bottleneck. It was like studying an ancient text��understanding a single character was easy, understanding a single sentence was harder, and fullyprehending and reciting the entire piece, let alone tranting it to other ancient texts, was extremely difficult...


    <i>To break through the bottleneck. There are usually three paths. </i>


    <i>The first path is persistence��continually contemting and grinding until you break through.</i> Wu Yuan thought silently.


    <i>The second path is to temporarily ignore it and continueprehending the three Lesser Laws. As my understanding of the three Lesser Laws deepens, myprehension of the Celestial Body Dao will naturally advance to the True Intent stage... but when that will happen remains uncertain.</i>


    <i>The third path...</i>


    <i>Time is running out. </i>A gleam shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>Only three years remain until the next Heaven and Earth Tournament.</i>


    <i>If I can break through to the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, there''s still a glimmer of hope. If I can''t break through? There won''t be any hope at all. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The further one advanced through the Origin Eldritch Fields, the fiercer thepetition grew due to the umtion of geniuses. Obtaining the Heaven-tier title grew increasingly challenging.


    <i>Let''s give it a try! But before that, I need to return to the Summerpeak World. </i>Wu Yuan stood up and flew out of the Essence Tower.


    Not far from the Essence Tower was arge teleportation array.


    Through this teleportation array, Wu Yuan could travel to the Origin Eldritch Continent, the Fifth Origin Eldritch Temple where Astral Monarch Hou Qu resided, and dozens of other regions... including the Summerpeak World.


    ...


    Migrating a world. To Astral Monarch Hou Qu, it was a trivial task, but to the entire Summerpeak World, it was a cataclysmic change.


    Thus, Wu Yuan was originally filled with worry, but upon returning to the Summerpeak World, he realized his concerns were unfounded.


    Everything was perfectly fine, and in fact, even better than before. The spiritual qi was more abundant and the world more peaceful overall. There wasn''t the slightest disturbance.


    <i>High above the ocean.</i>


    "Master," a seductive woman in red robes flew over.


    "Cen Jiang?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    ��Master, this is one of my incarnations, which possesses the mana capacity of the Amethyst Cradle level.��<i> </i>Cen Jiang smiled and said. ��It''s difficult for foreign Void Refiner cultivators to enter this worldlet, as they must suppress their mana.��


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly; it was the worldlet''s essence that repelled them.


    "Master, rest assured, I understand your situation and will handle everything in Summerpeak properly," Cen Jiang smiled, "I''ll rebuild all of Summerpeak swiftly, erasing the traces of the previousrge sects."


    "In the end, all beings in the Summerpeak World wille to ce their faith in you."


    "Master, your family can rest assured as well," Cen Jiang smiled.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    Time passed.


    After traveling through the entire Summerpeak World once more, Wu Yuan had to admit that Cen Jiang was indeed impressive, and had the potential to be a High Immortal. Everything was organized with great meticulousness.


    The high-ranking figures like Fang Xia and Arctic had epted the integration of the world into the Cang Feng Eldritch World as their new reality. Fang Xia, in particr, was ecstatic.


    The Fourth Eldritch Realm, which was previously on the brink of copse, had also been repaired by Cen Jiang.


    As for the Summerpeak maind? When Summerpeak was relocated, Reverend Jing Shan was residing here, so he came along with the other inhabitants. His response to the current situation was one of delight.


    Only Daoist Long was absent.


    ��He left the Summerpeak World after bing an official member of the Bloodforge Devil Hall?�� Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, feeling helpless.


    Back then, he had made a promise to Daoist Long. But now, that promise now seemed destined to be broken.


    ��This is destiny,�� Wu Yuan shook his head. Who could have predicted that the Eldritch Sovereign would suddenly take him as a disciple?


    Compared to Daoist Long, Reverend Jing Shan had initially lost the opportunity to join the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Yet, fortune turned in his favor and he came to the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    As a fellow native of Wu Yuan''s homnd, Reverend Jing Shan would be trusted more than other outsiders, and the guidance from Cen Jiang would benefit him immensely.


    After spending a day with his family in the Summerpeak World, Wu Yuan returned to the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, his lingering worries finally dissipated.


    <i>My heart is at peace. Next, it��s time to test the third breakthrough path.</i> With a thought, Wu Yuan entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm and departed from his personal hall.


    ...


    The Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm was the highest grade voidrealm in the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World. Countless immortals from the many eldritch divine nations and eldritch continents were gathered here. Thus, many special voidrealm nes were established.


    The Fifth Origin Eldritch ne was the main gathering ce of the hundred thousand plus geniuses of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field. Though called a ne, it wasn''t toorge.


    After all, not too many people gathered here. Only slightly over ten thousand geniuses were active here year-round. For a peerless genius, splitting a strand to consciousness and stationing it here was a breeze.


    In the very center of the entire ne was a tower bustling with activity.


    "Old Devil, you''ve cleared level neen of the Eldritch Deity Tower? That''s not fair! I''m still stuck on level eighteen. Sigh."


    "So what? I''ve been training for over ten more years than you. Clearing level neen is only natural."


    "The Eldritch Deity Tower starts off easy, but from level seventeen onward, the difficulty skyrockets. Almost all of us Fifth Origin Eldritch Field disciples are stuck here."


    "Very few have passed level twenty-one." A group of Origin Eldritch Field members with diverse appearances and auras chatted amongst themselves.


    "That''s obvious. Passing level twenty-one meansprehending the Dao Field of a Lesser Law. Someone like that has the potential to be an earth-tier member."


    "Speaking of earth-tier members, has anyone ever seen that direct earth-tier disciple, Wu Yuan?"


    "Nope!"


    "I��ve never seen him during the Archimmortal''s lectures at the Origin Eldritch Continent."


    "Never heard of him."


    "He doesn''t seem to have entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm either." These Fifth Origin Eldritch Field members were deep in conversation.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Suddenly, a streak of light shed through the center of the tower, and a young man in white robes appeared out of thin air, a slight smile on his face.


    Instantly, he drew the attention of everyone around him.


    "Appearing directly from the center of the tower, is he a new disciple of the eldritch world?"


    "No! I checked his aura. It''s Wu Yuan! That earth-tier member, Wu Yuan, it''s him!"


    "Wu Yuan? That coward Wu Yuan?"


    "A direct earth-tier member."


    There were over a thousand members gathered in the tower. Originally, most of them did not pay much attention to the figure in white robes. After all, new members asionally joined the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field. It was quite normal. On average, thousands of members joined and left each year.


    But when the name ''Wu Yuan'' was mentioned, the ce instantly erupted.


    For the past month, Wu Yuan''s reputation had spread throughout the entire Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, with countless genius disciples branding him a coward.


    "Wu Yuan, I challenge you!" a towering giant, over ten meters tall, growled.


    "Haha, a challenge? Challenges are what the weak request from the strong, but is Wu Yuan strong? I don''t think so. Wu Yuan, I demand a fight with you."


    "Wu Yuan, if you''re a man, ept my challenge." In an instant, the entire tower was in an uproar.


    At least a hundred disciples shouted at Wu Yuan, most of them challenging him to a fight, inviting him to battle, or seeking a spar.


    However, their voices were mostly filled with disdain.


    <i>Just as Cen Jiang said, it seems that most of the genius disciples of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field are dissatisfied with me.</i> Wu Yuan chuckled. <i>Perfect.</i>


    "Everyone. I, Wu Yuan, ept all your challenges!" Wu Yuan''s voice rang out, echoing through the tower.


    1. From Lao-tzu��s Taoteching, Red Pine��s Trantion. ?

 Chapter 504: Talent Is Not Just About Dao Comprehension (1)

    <h4>Chapter 504: Talent Is Not Just About Dao Comprehension (1)</h4>


    In the hall of the tower, nearly a thousand Origin Eldritch Field geniuses fixed their gazes on Wu Yuan.


    The echoes of challenges and invitations to spar reverberated through Wu Yuan''s ears.


    <i>Just as Cen Jiang said, the cultivators of the eldritch lineage are under constant pressure to battle. Thus they are generally more hotheaded and aggressive.</i>


    <i>For glory, they will fight the heavens and the earth, not stopping until death. They only recognize strength, nothing else. </i>Wu Yuan recalled his exchanges with Cen Jiang.


    Cen Jiang, once an immortal cultivator of the Voltari Temple, was captured and chose to be a servant to survive. However, she had studied the eldritch lineage deeply.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World was different from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. The Eternal Sun Immortal World was rtively peaceful overall, with less external pressure but fierce internal strife, so not all peerless geniuses received the best training.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World wasn��t the same. Eons of unending war and immense casualties led to the establishment of a talent selection system that was entrenched into the deepest levels of society.


    For this group of geniuses from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, the concept of morality instilled in them from childhood was��fairness! Fairness! Absolute fairness!


    From a noble bloodline? Offspring of a powerhouse? Come from a great background?


    It didn��t matter if Wu Yuan was a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign or even a direct descendant of an Eldritch Progenitor. Being given the rank of an earth-tier member without disying his strength would still earn him scorn. Origin Eldritch Field geniuses only recognized strength.


    <i>Normally, geniuses from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field can go on to be High Eldritches or High Immortals, and logically speaking, by the time their numbers umte in the First Origin Eldritch Field, the number of geniuses should reach a billion.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.<i> So why are there only a little over ten million in the First Origin Eldritch Field?</i>


    This was because more than ny-nine percent would perish along the way. Most died while embarking on a series of life-or-death trials or on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    One had to understand that any genius from the Origin Eldritch Field was, on average, the top genius from dozens of eldritch continents. Yet the probability of dying before maturity was still terrifyingly high.


    This was something they learned to ept from childhood.


    The extremely high possibility of their future demise led the geniuses from the Origin Eldritch Field to care little about lineage, only acknowledging the strong.


    If Wu Yuan showed the strength of an earth-tier member upon entering the Origin Eldritch Field, the discussions would be much quieter.


    But he spent nearly a month in quiet cultivation. In the culture of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, this only marked him as a weakling and a coward.


    And cowards did not deserve resources.


    <i>Back at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the other hereditary disciples only provoked me due to interests, and only a few hereditary disciples challenged me. Ordinary disciples fear the hereditary disciples, so none dared to provoke me directly.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>But these geniuses from the Origin Eldritch Field challenge me not just for their own benefit, but the thirst for glory �C the glory of defeating an earth-tier member!</i>


    Over a hundred thousand geniuses. Only once every twenty years were they given the chance topete for a hundred earth-tier member slots, how difficult is that?


    And normally, among the five Origin Eldritch fields,petition for earth-tier member status in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field was the least fierce.


    "Wu Yuan, are you serious?"


    "You will ept challenges from all of us?"


    "Really?" Among the nearly one thousand geniuses of the Origin Eldritch Field, only a few vocalized their challenges, but Wu Yuan''s response still gave them a slight surprise.


    They too were skeptical, was Wu Yuan bluffing, or did he truly have the strength?


    "Of course." Wu Yuan grinned, "Previously, I didn''t enter the Origin Eldritch Field because I was at a critical moment of cultivation. Now that I''m out, if you wish to challenge me, I will naturally ept."


    "However. I have one condition; I will not engage in voidrealm battles." Wu Yuan shook his head, "I will only ept real-worldbat."


    Real-world battle? The elites of the Origin Eldritch Field exchanged uncertain nces. Usually, their spars and duels took ce within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm as they were located on different void continents.


    Real-world battles took ce asionally, but were not a daily affair for these prodigies.


    "Wu Yuan, you want to use us to sharpen yourself. Clever n," a sharp voice suddenly cut through the air.


    "Exactly. But battling me is also a chance for you to improve. It''s mutual," Wu Yuan grinned. "Besides, most of you are ordinary disciples; losing to an earth-tier member like me isn''t shameful."


    "On the contrary, if you win, you��ll have defeated an earth-tier member. What an honor."


    These words sent a flicker through the eyes of the previously indifferent geniuses, as if deep in thought.


    Indeed, fighting Wu Yuan would only benefit them, there were no drawbacks.


    "Wu Yuan, you want real-world battles, but with so many of us, how do we fight?" a woman asked coldly.


    "One battle a day," Wu Yuan smiled. "I n to ept a total of one thousand challenges."


    One battle a day allowed for sufficient rest and reflection. And a thousand battles wouldst nearly three years.


    This was the idea Wu Yuan had after his discussions with Cen Jiang, leveraging the glory-driven nature of the Origin Eldritch Field prodigies.


    He would sharpen himself throughbat.


    "One battle a day?"


    "A thousand battles?"


    ��Does this Wu Yuan intend to hone his skills through realbat until the Heaven and Earth Tournament?�� These former geniuses of the Origin Eldritch Field might be impulsive, but that stemmed from their nature and Dao Heart, not from ack of intelligence.


    After a brief moment of thought, they grasped Wu Yuan''s n.


    ��Everyone, you may also share this news with other disciples of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field. Feel free to challenge me,�� Wu Yuan said with a smile. ��Just send a formal request for a duel.��


    ��The location is the Eldritch Battle tform on the Origin Eldritch Continent.��


    ��Remember, I will only ept one thousand challenges.�� With a grin, Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, shooting out from the tower.


    He began roaming around the Fifth Origin Eldritch ne. After all, this was his first visit to this voidrealm ne.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s announcement to ept all duel invitations spread like wildfire among the tens of thousands of geniuses in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    ��A duel invitation?��


    ��He wants to use me as his whetstone? Dream on!��


    ��So confident��did he truly grasp a Dao Field? Or has he reached the True Intent stage of the Intermediate Law?��


    ��Who cares about his level?��


    ��Haha, the sharpening is mutual. Battling an earth-tier member benefits me too.��


    ��I��ll challenge him and crush him without mercy.�� The geniuses discussed fervently, and the chatter about Wu Yuan being a coward quickly diminished.


    To the powerhouses of the eldritch lineage, defeat was just a temporary disgrace; they could alwayse back stronger. Cowardice was the only thing truly despised.


    The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field was teeming with geniuses; even if only a tenth of them heard the news, it would still number in the thousands.


    ...


    <i>In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within his personal hall.</i>


    <i>Treasure rewards.</i> Wu Yuan scanned the myriad of information disyed on the light screen before him, all detailing the benefits for the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field��s heaven-tier and earth-tier members.


    For instance, a one-time reward of Earth Immortal and Void Refiner servants.


    For instance, a reward of one thousand divine crystals.


    For instance, Faith (to be harvested in the future) from ten worldlets (ten thousand li in width each).


    But all these rewards were mere add-ons. Even a thousand divine crystals, a significant sum for ordinary High Immortals, meant little to earth-tier members of the Origin Eldritch Field.


    What really caught Wu Yuan''s attention was the final reward:


    Heaven-tier members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field may select one suitable Semi-Legendary root establishment treasure, limited to one time.


    Earth-tier members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field may select one suitable True Mystic root establishment treasure, limited to one time.


    These root establishment treasures would form the foundation of one��s Shambh or Amethyst Cradle.


    <i>Semi-legendary root establishment treasures, though not as amazing as the Boundary Tree, are still extremely high tier, impossible for ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators to obtain.</i>


    <i>Such treasures could easily elevate a third-degree immortal root to a second-degree immortal root, and push a second-degree immortal root closer to the realm of a non-innate first-degree immortal root.</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    He wasn''t surprised by the Cang Feng Eldritch World��s generous rewards.


    Even the top-tier Golden Core cultivators in the Bloodforge Devil Hall had a good chance of obtaining a Mystic opportunity within the Bloodforge Spacetime.


    How much more powerful was the Cang Feng Eldritch World?


    This exined why some top-tier geniuses in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field were willing to dy their breakthroughs for decades.


    <i>Still, it is clear that even in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, obtaining a True Legendary opportunity is exceedingly difficult.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Unfortunately, I could only identify the Boundary Tree.</i>


    The other silver crystal prism remained inscrutable.


    <i>Fight! Let''s see if I can seize this Semi-Legendary treasure.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    With a mentalmand, he turned the light screen off.


    Typically, after reaching the peak of each cultivation phase, one would need to spend some time consolidating their insights. Wu Yuan had only been at the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase for two years and thus needed a few more years before he could break through.


    But, what if he failed to take first ce?


    <i>Then it proves that I��m not destined to acquire the treasure. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>And I''ll break through right away.</i>


    Wait another twenty years? Wu Yuan was unwilling to dy that long.


    "Cen Jiang." Wu Yuan gave another mentalmand, and the light screen projection dissipated.


    A red-robed figure appeared in the hall.


    "Master, in one day, you have already received 3,600 challenge requests," Cen Jiang reported respectfully. "All challengers are ordinary disciples, with no earth-tier members."


    "Hmm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly. It was within his expectations.


    The eldritch lineage enjoyed fighting, but only a few were willing to spar with him for mutual improvement.


    As for the earth-tier members? Their Daoprehension had all reached the Dao Field stage.


    The fact that they still lingered in the fifth eldritch realm usually meant they had only one goal��heaven-tier!


    They had to win the Heaven and Earth Tournament to earn the heaven-tier title and acquire the Semi-Legendary treasure. Otherwise, if the title was handed to them just because they were next in rank, they didn��t feel qualified to deserve it.


    Therefore, genuine earth-tier members wouldn''t pay much attention to Wu Yuan.


    "Following your instructions, I have gathered reports from the past decade," Cen Jiang said. "From there, I have identified the top one thousand individuals in strength."


    "Here''s the list." With a flick of her wrist, a massive light screen appeared, disying exactly one thousand names.


    "Excellent," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Without hesitation, he swiftly selected the challenge requests from these one thousand names, all in an instant.


    "Master, although these challengers are ordinary disciples, those confident enough to challenge you are strong," Cen Jiang couldn''t help but say. "I suspect some have evenprehended an Intermediate Law to the True Intent stage."


    She had a rough idea of Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension level through their exchanges.


    "What, afraid I''ll lose?" Wu Yuan smiled.


    "Master, you are an earth-tier member. Losing to ordinary disciples would harm your reputation," Cen Jiang remarked.


    "Reputation? It can''t feed me." Wu Yuan smiled. "But more importantly, if I don''t discard thisughable need to save face now, there''s a chance I won''t even retain my earth-tier status during the Heaven and Earth Tournament three years from now."


    "Now that would be truly disgraceful."


    Cen Jiang was momentarily stunned.


    "I''m going to train now," Wu Yuan said, and with a thought, he left the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    To Wu Yuan, being an Eldritch Sovereign��s disciple or an earth-tier member was just an additional identity of his.


    Inparison, he valued the improvement of his strength more.

 Chapter 505: Talent Is Not Just About Dao Comprehension (2)

    <h4>Chapter 505: Talent Is Not Just About Dao Comprehension (2)</h4>


    The next day, Wu Yuan took the teleportation array on the void continent, heading directly to the Origin Eldritch Continent. This Origin Eldritch Continent was also known as the Fifth Origin Eldritch Continent.


    Typically, the geniuses of the Origin Eldritch Field wouldn''t invite other geniuses to their void continent residences. Thus, the spars between geniuses, purchase of treasures, and even the Heaven and Earth Tournaments, all took ce on the Origin Eldritch Continent.


    The entire continent spanned over ten million li in diameter.


    Calling the Eldritch Battle tform a tform was an understatement; it was a colossal structure over thirty thousand li in diameter, shaped like a massive dome, with numerous spherical battle spaces inside, each over two thousand li in diameter.


    Outside one of these spherical battle spaces, more than a thousand members of the Origin Eldritch Field were gathered.


    "Wu Yuan has arrived."


    "That''s Wu Yuan. He doesn''t seem to be part of a powerful bloodline of an eldritch divine nation, but his vital aura is incredibly strong."


    "He''s got a second-degree eldritch root." Every member of the Origin Eldritch Field fixed their attention on Wu Yuan, sensing his formidable vital aura.


    Their expressions turned serious.


    The immortal roots of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field members had yet to undergo upgrades, but most were selected for their strong Daoprehension aptitudes, and their eldritch roots were generally third-degree.


    As for second-degree roots? Less than one-tenth possessed them.


    <i>There��s quite the crowd. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over these Origin Eldritch Field geniuses. He didn''t linger long, stepping directly into the Eldritch Battle tform.


    Today was the first battle, naturally drawing much attention.


    "Hou Xuezhen, it''s up to you now."


    "Go! Face him."


    "Hurry! If Wu Yuan''s title is undeserved, give him a good beating. Show him the consequences of not living up to his title."


    "I''m going." A towering man in ck armor, over six meters tall, growled in a low voice and also headed into the Eldritch Battle tform.


    ...


    Inside the Eldritch Battle tform, Wu Yuan and the towering man in ck armor stood thousands of li apart, facing each other from a distance.


    <i>Those who dare to challenge me would typically have a decent level of strength. After a round of filtering by Cen Jiang, those remaining should be in the top-tier of power at the Golden Core phase, with the potential topete for the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King. </i>Wu Yuan silently watched his opponent.


    <i>I will only use the Celestial Body Dao. Hopefully, they��ll be able to give me some pressure.</i>


    If hebined the Earth and Wood Daos, Wu Yuan would be able to put up a fight even against someone who hadprehended the first-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law


    In the Bloodforge Spacetime, Wu Yuan relied on thebination of two Daos toplete the test, and due to his young age, he barely made it through the fifth stage with immense difficulty.


    "Wu Yuan." The burly man in ck armor stared intently at Wu Yuan. In a low voice, he said, "I hope you are strong enough; otherwise, defeating you won''t bring me any honor."


    "I hope you don''t disappoint me," Wu Yuan smiled slightly.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan moved instantly, radiating a terrifying aura as a pair of ck wings sprouted from his back. He transformed into a colossal hundred-zhang giant, his speed elerating to its peak.


    It was a speed that made the entire sphericalbat space tremble.


    "Kill!" The burly man in ck armor also unleashed his power, employing multiple ether arts.


    A gigantic green snake appeared on his back, flicking its forked tongue.


    Different lifebound spirit beasts resulted in different supporting abilities when performing Beast Fusion.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>Four arms swung, and de rays covered the sky.


    The sabers were just ordinary third-grade spirit equipment, a prerequisite for fairbat.


    In an instant, the two war deities collided.


    ...


    Hundreds of Origin Eldritch Field members watched the battle.


    "It''s the Celestial Body Dao. Wu Yuan has grasped an Intermediate Law, the Celestial Body Dao," an observer swiftly recognized.


    "His saber technique is swift and wless!"


    "The ninth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao rivals the ninth-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law."


    "His ether arts seem overwhelmingly powerful. Hou Xuezhen is clearly outmatched."


    "What a terrifying defense. Look, his saber strikes are relentless. The most crucial thing is, with every collision, he seemspletely unscathed." These Origin Eldritch Field members, with Daoprehension nearly rivaling Earth Immortals, had incredibly keen perceptions and quickly analyzed Wu Yuan��s abilities.


    ...


    <i>A few dozen breathster. </i>


    <i>Swish~</i>A fearsome de ray shed past, hacking through the skull of the green serpent.


    Blood sttered.


    Another stroke, and the ck-armored powerhouse, Hou Xuezhen, was sent flying like a meteor, crashing heavily into the wall at the edge of the sphericalbat space. A violent tremor reverberated.


    "Vital aura has dropped to thirty percent. Hou Xuezhen loses," a cold voice suddenly echoed, "Wu Yuan wins!"


    <i>Buzz~</i> An invisible force generated by the array enveloped Wu Yuan and Hou Xuezhen, preventing either from making any further moves.


    Body refiners possessed immense life force and engaged in closebat. Consequently, a threshold of thirty percent vital aura was set. Dropping below this mark automatically signified a loss.


    In a fight between a body refiner and a qi refiner, if the distance between the twobatants shrunk to ten meters, it typically resulted in an immediate loss for the qi refiner.


    "Hou Xuezhen, thank you." Wu Yuan cupped his hands.


    Immediately, he transformed into a streak of light and dashed out of thebat space, quickly disappearing.


    <i>That saber was truly heavy��so heavy and ruthless. No matter how many times I tried to block it, I just couldn''t hold it off. </i>Hou Xuezhen''s eyes flickered, thinking about the battle just now.


    He thought his defense was wless, but in mere moments, he was crushed head-on by Wu Yuan.


    ...


    "Did Hou Xuezhen really lose the battle?"


    "Hou Xuezhen has a second-degree immortal root and hasprehended a Lesser Law to the ninth-level True Intent stage. In our Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, that ces him in the top thousand in strength, yet he still lost." The news of this fight spread rapidly through the hundreds of spectators.


    "Wu Yuan''s strength isn''t bad."


    "If he''s young, it makes sense to promote him directly to earth-tier membership."


    "He''s not as weak as I imagined."


    In just one battle, most members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field acknowledged Wu Yuan''s strength.


    "Mm, he does have some strength. Maybe he is talented enough, but he''s still not qualified to be an earth-tier member."


    "Hisbat prowess is fierce, but he still hasn''t grasped the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao." Some members of the Origin Eldritch Field still disdained Wu Yuan.


    These were mostly geniuses who had reached the True Intent stage (of an Intermediate Law) or were extremely confident in their own abilities, believing themselves stronger than Wu Yuan, yet were still ordinary disciples. Naturally, they felt indignant.


    Only the truly strong deserved their respect.


    ...


    <i>Indeed, real-worldbat is necessary.</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position inside the Essence Tower, carefully reflecting on the day''s events.


    <i>After half a year of training in the Bloodforge Spacetime, and another round ofprehension simtion in the Dao Temple, my foundation is solid.</i>


    <i>What I need to do now is identify the ws in my saber techniques through battle and constantly reflect on my progress. </i>


    <i>Once everything has reached a certain level of perfection, sess wille naturally.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled as he flew directly towards the Experiment Realm.


    Unable to break through a bottleneck? That means you''re still not strong enough!


    ...


    On the third day, Wu Yuan''s opponent was a formidable one, almost as strong as Hou Xuezhen.


    After a fierce battle, Wu Yuan emerged victorious once again.


    The fourth day...fifth day...


    For forty-two consecutive days, Wu Yuan faced a new opponent each day, pushing his saber skills, which were already at the ninth-level Domain stage, to unprecedented heights.


    With his strong immortal root and powerful ether arts, he crushed his adversaries, achieving forty-two straight victories.


    With that, his name resounded among the geniuses of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    "Wu Yuan''s strength is probably unmatched at the True Intent stage (Lesser Law)!"


    "He''s steady."


    "In every battle against those with simr Daoprehension levels, no one has been able to defeat him so far."


    "Wu Yuan is abat genius, exceptionally adept at battle." Most members of the Origin Eldritch Field acknowledged Wu Yuan as a powerhouse who excelled in battle.


    With equal Daoprehension levels, it was nearly impossible to defeat him.


    ...


    On the fifty-third day, Wu Yuan lost.


    His opponent unleashed terrifying power right from the start. Though only a Lesser Law of the Metal Dao, hisprehension had reached the Dao Field stage, forcing Wu Yuan to retreat again and again.


    Defend? The opponent''s swordsmanship was too fast and fierce to block. Even with the continuous restoration from the blood mist, it wasn''t enough.


    His loss was a foregone conclusion.


    "Wu Yuan, being an earth-tier member requires true strength. You have potential, but you''re stillcking. Go back and train for another twenty years." His opponent dered, "Remember my name, Xiang Lin."


    "I''ll remember," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile.


    ...


    <i>The pressure of an opponent at the Dao Field stage (Lesser Law) is too overwhelming. His strength might even surpass Gao Yun��s after his breakthrough.</i> Wu Yuan immediately headed back to the Essence Tower and carefully reflected on the battle.


    Victory or defeat, Wu Yuan didn''t take it to heart at all.


    ...


    Time flew by, and nearly two years had passed in a blink.


    During this period, Jiang Huan arrived at the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field to guide Wu Yuan once on theprehension of the Celestial Body Dao. Other than that, Jiang Huan did not speak much with him.


    Apart from sparring andprehending the Dao, Wu Yuan would asionally return to the Summerpeak World to take a break.


    ...


    <i>Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, First Origin Eldritch ne, inside a personal hall. </i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A figure in ck robes floated into the hall.


    "Senior Brother," the ck-robed figure greeted respectfully.


    "Chang Hong, what brings you here today?" Jiang Huan, dressed in white robes, stood up and smiled.


    "Senior Brother, aren''t you going to do something to control our junior brother?" the ck-robed figure frowned.


    "Control?" Jiang Huan smiled slightly, "Control what?"


    "Little Junior Brother has sparred with ordinary disciples over seven hundred times in the past two years, losing nearly twenty matches," Chang Hong shook his head. "This is nothing but a humiliation to our master and to us as senior brothers."


    "Humiliation?" Jiang Huan still smiled calmly, "Junior Brother, you''ve grown obsessed. You should be aware of Little Junior Brother''s age."


    "The opponents he''s lost to are all older than him, most of them have been cultivating for over a hundred years. In terms of Daoprehension aptitude, Little Junior Brother is already considered the best in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field," Jiang Huan smiled.


    "Only in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field," Chang Hong frowned. "We are disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, our standards should naturally be ten to a hundred times higher than other members of the Origin Eldritch Field. Moreover, in the uing Heaven and Earth Tournament, he might be demoted to an ordinary member."


    "Junior Brother, you are too obsessed." Jiang Huan said calmly, "Some geniuses are dazzling right from the start."


    "Some geniuses, however, can calm their emotions, remain unfazed by honor or disgrace, continuously umting insights and breaking through. Their progress might be slower, but they will shine brighter and brighter the further they go."


    "Yes, your Daoprehension aptitude is terrifying, much greater than Little Junior Brother, and even more impressive than I was at your age," Jiang Huan smiled.


    "Senior Brother, I''m not trying topete with you," Chang Hong couldn''t help but say.


    "There��s no need to exin." Jiang Huan shook his head, looking at Chang Hong, "Let me ask you this: imagine it were you in Little Junior Brother''s shoes. You��ve just been epted as a disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign, facing the pressure of being demoted to an ordinary disciple in the Heaven and Earth Tournament."


    "Could your heart remain as calm as Little Junior Brother''s?"


    Chang Hong stiffened.


    "Talent isn''t just measured by the speed of Daoprehension," Jiang Huan said softly.


    "Go back, Junior Brother, and remember the advice I''ve given you previously."


    "Only when you are able to let go of the shackles of being an Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple, will you truly have a chance to surpass me."

 Chapter 506: Celestial Body True Intent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 506: Celestial Body True Intent (1)</h4>


    Several years passed since the Summerpeak World, spanning tens of millions of li in diameter, was relocated to the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    The world followed its new trajectory without an issue. Under Cen Jiang''s guidance, many powerful teachings were disseminated to the masses, and the world thrived.


    Even the Fourth Eldritch Realm was reopened, and new disciples were recruited into the Hou Feng Tribe. Bit by bit, the tribe was rebuilt in the truest sense of the word in the Summerpeak World. In a sense, Wu Yuan had fulfilled his promise to the realm master.


    <i>In the Middle Land, on a tall mountain range in the Huang Continent.</i>


    Here, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position.


    <i>Years ago, it was here that Iprehended a Domain. Then, together with Daoist Wan Xing and Emperor Dong Pan, we eradicated the devil''sir in a decisive battle.</i> Wu Yuan��s spirit grew calm.


    When he first began battling the other geniuses from the Origin Eldritch World, Wu Yuan would fight daily, then retreat to the Essence Tower to cultivate. But with each battle, Wu Yuan sensed something amiss.


    He had be somewhat impatient, too eager to break through.


    So, Wu Yuan returned to Summerpeak World. This was his homnd, where his soul naturally resonated with the world''s essence.


    Although itcked the Daoprehension boost from the Essence Tower, Wu Yuan''s spirit felt more rxed.


    <i>Bnce is the key; there��s no need to rush. Haste makes waste. </i>Wu Yuan��s spirit was now incredibly serene.


    Although he had won most of the seven hundred battles, he had lost dozens of them as well. Those he lost to were the top ordinary-tier disciples. In terms of strength, they could allpete for earth-tier membership in the Heaven and Earth Tournament.


    Currently, many disciples of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field believed he did not deserve to be an earth-tier member.


    Several Senior Brothers and even his master might have already formed opinions about his slow progress.


    <i>But so what? In my previous life, I started learning martial artste. Who had faith in me? But step by step, over a decade, I became a martial arts Grandmaster.</i>


    <i>When I first arrived in the Middle Land, I didn''t rush to show off my talents.</i>


    <i>When I first joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, I was merely a decent talent. Yet step by step, over decades, I became the number one genius across the entire Redmoon Immortal Continent and even the entire Silvermist Immortal Nation. Only Zhuo Haiyue canpare to me.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart never wavered. <i>And eventually, I will surpass her.</i>


    The Eldritch Sovereign, an unbelievably mighty existence, had tried to shake Wu Yuan��s self-esteem.


    But as Wu Yuan reflected on the Eldritch Sovereign''s words over time, he didn��t allow them to break his resolve. Instead, they only served to strengthen his spirit.


    <i>I will walk my own path. When I grow strong one step at a time, climbing to the pinnacle, all rumors and doubts will naturally vanish into thin air.</i> Wu Yuan stood up.


    <i>It��s time for today��s battle.</i>


    Wu Yuan soared into the sky, quickly leaving the Huang Continent.


    ...


    Days passed by.


    <i>The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field. </i>


    Not too far from the edge of a void continent stood a towering mountain.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Two figures, one in white and one in red robes, slowly approached the mountain. Immediately, they spotted a young man in white robes sitting in lotus position atop the peak.


    His eyes were closed.


    "Senior Jiang, Master is right there." Cen Jiang shot a nervous nce at the young man in white robes ahead, fully aware of how terrifying he was.


    To rank first among millions of High Immortals and High Eldritches in the First Origin Eldritch Field meant hisbat prowess was unimaginably fearsome. In the entire macrocosm, he was one of the top existences below the Archeldritches.


    "Should I inform Master of your arrival?" Cen Jiang asked nervously, "Master has mostly been away recently, either returning to his homnd after each battle or wandering across the void continent."


    "He rarely stays in the Essence Tower, sometimes staying in one ce for an entire day," Cen Jiang said.


    "No need to inform him," Jiang Huan smiled, watching Wu Yuan in the distance, "It��s fine; let��s wait here."


    Cen Jiang obediently nodded, but secretly wondered what was the rtionship between her master and Jiang Huan. Master and disciple? Or something else?


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Standing atop the mountain, a saber suddenly materialized in Wu Yuan��s hand. Then, de rays shed.


    The de rays carried no mana aura, and Wu Yuan didn''t unleash overwhelming physical strength, but each one was brilliant.


    They even began to affect the surrounding environment.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Jiang Huan''s eyes lit up slightly, revealing a smile. <i>This Little Junior Brother.</i>


    <i>This? </i>Cen Jiang was also stunned, finding it hard to believe. <i>The aura of Dao?</i>


    She knew very well what this implied.


    <i>This time, Master''s evaluation of Little Junior Brother will surely rise significantly.</i> Jiang Huan thought to himself.


    ...


    If Wu Yuan truly went all out during those seven hundred battles, he might not have lost to those who hadprehended a Dao Field.


    But he always held back, only limiting himself to the Celestial Body Dao and umting experience through countless real-world battles.


    Two years had passed, and Wu Yuan��s spirit grew ever more serene.


    In the beginning, he might have been forcibly suppressing his power, but as time went by, he got used to this new state. It was as if he was undergoing a transformation, truly achieving a state of detachment from external possessions or personal achievements, gaining ever-clearer insight into his own heart.


    Forge his own path! The opinions of others didn''t matter.


    On top of that, he had the guidance of two teachers. He had to admit, even though Senior Brother Jiang Huan only guided him once, his expertise was indeed more profound than Master Nan Yin.


    Combined with his previous umtion of experiences, and his rise in talent brought about by the Celestial Divine Body, Wu Yuan broke through bottlenecks that would take other top-tier geniuses of the macrocosm decades to cross in just two short years.


    Today, as the mountain wind caressed him, he entered a special state. He felt as if he were truly back on the eve of the decisive battle against the worm devil.


    His heart was aze, yet increasingly tranquil.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan��s saber shed through the void once more. Countless earthy yellow qi streams gathered, and the de rays coalesced into a miniature star about ten li in diameter, which then exploded with tremendous force.


    The de rays scattered a thousand li around him.


    <i>Starsunder! This is the true Starsunder Saber.</i> Wu Yuan��s eyes shone brightly; this sh seemed to unleash two years of pent-up emotions.


    His desire to prove himself erupted!


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao is wless and excels at protection. A sphere has intrinsically no ws or weaknesses, capable of maximum defense against external impacts. </i>Wu Yuan fully understood, truly grasping the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>However, the Dao is never extreme. At its peak, defense has a facet of offense as well. In the past, I overly pursued defense. But in truth, to truly grasp the Celestial Body True Intent, one must understand the facet of celestial body explosions. The switch between offense and defense urs in an instant.</i>


    <i>Buzz~ </i>A massive wave of Dao fluctuations descended, enveloping Wu Yuan in a hazy, earthy yellow light.


    In that moment, Wu Yuan stood there like the very embodiment of the Dao itself.


    <i>This is an Intermediate Law. Though it��s merely the manifestation of True Intent, its power is no less than a Lesser Law''s Dao Field.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    This level of Daoprehension was enough to support his cultivation to the Divided Soul and Dharma Body phases; many Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches trained for tens of thousands of years to reach this level of Daoprehension.


    <i>Celestial Body True Intent! He truly grasped the True Intent of an Intermediate Law?</i> Cen Jiang was shocked beyond belief, with a hint of excitement. <i>Master, Master is truly incredible!</i>


    Grasping the True Intent of an Intermediate Law after cultivating for just a few decades? What level of talent was this?


    <i>My Little Junior Brother hailed from a worldlet, and during the Bloodforge Battle, he was only at the sixth or seventh-level Domain Stage of the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Jiang Huan smiled.


    <i>In just three or four years, heprehended Celestial Body True Intent. Such progress, though not as fast as Junior Brother Chang Hong, isn''t much slower than I was back then.</i>


    <i>The most important aspect is his mindset. No wonder Master took him as a disciple.</i> Jiang Huan thought to himself.


    Jiang Huan might just be a High Eldritch, but as the top genius of the First Origin Eldritch Field and a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, his authority and status wereparable to many Astral Monarchs.


    So, uncovering Wu Yuan''s background was a piece of cake for him.


    <i>Different Daos have their strengths, but none are absolutely skewed to one stat.</i>


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao excels at defense, but that doesn''t mean it can��t be used in a fearsome offense.</i> Immersed in cultivation, Wu Yuan became increasingly aware of this.


    Layers of earthy yellow light faded away. The hazy, formless Dao aura also dissipated, and everything on the void continent returned to tranquility.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan finally noticed the two figures standing nearby, and his heart skipped a beat. <i>Senior Brother?</i>


    Ah, that��s right. It was about time for his annual tutoring session with his Senior Brother, but he had been so engrossed in his training, he had forgotten all about it.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan shot into the air. "Cen Jiang, you may head back for now. I''ll call for you if I need anything."


    "Understood," Cen Jiang replied respectfully and quickly departed.


    Though she was a servant bound by oath under the Eldritch Progenitor��s witness, and theoretically couldn''t betray any secrets, one could never be too careful.


    Once she was gone, Wu Yuan finally greeted Jiang Huan respectfully, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior Brother."


    "No worries," Jiang Huan smiled. "Seeing my Little Junior Brother break through is a joyous asion. After two years of frustration, breaking through must feel incredible, right?"


    "Yes, it does," Wu Yuan smiled slightly. "But I don''t feel frustrated. In fact, I''m grateful to my opponents."


    "Grateful?" A hint of curiosity crept into Jiang Huan��s expression.


    "I asked them to challenge me so we could sharpen each other. Ultimately, it led to my breakthrough. Of course, I should be grateful to them," Wu Yuan said sincerely.


    Perhaps most of the other members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field initially treated him with a poor attitude, but Wu Yuan felt no anger. At times, he even enjoyed this culture.


    Their emotions were pure. If they thought you were good, they treated you well. If not, they didn''t. Everything was out in the open, with no hidden agendas.


    Besides, Wu Yuan understood that those members of the Origin Eldritch Field weren''t targeting him personally but rather his status.


    Objectively speaking, even if Wu Yuan had gone all out before histest breakthrough, he might not have been able to keep his rank as an earth-tier member, so the discontent was understandable.


    "Will youplete the remaining battles?" Jiang Huan asked.


    "Yes, since I��ve already agreed to fight, I must see it through," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. "Besides, although these battles will no longer be a challenge for me, they are still a form of tempering for my opponents."


    "Sometimes, you have to be the one helping others grow."


    Jiang Huan nodded lightly, increasingly impressed by his Little Junior Brother.


    "Little Junior Brother, with your fighting prowess, iming the heaven-tier title should be no problem," Jiang Huan said with a smile.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up, then he felt puzzled, "No one in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field has reached the second-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law?"


    Advancing one level in the True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law or the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law boosted one��s strength significantly.


    "asionally," Jiang Huan replied with a smile. "But such geniuses usually break through quickly instead of lingering too long."


    "At least, there aren��t any right now. Moreover, with yourbat skills, you could give them a run for their money even if you did meet them," Jiang Huan said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The second-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law wasn''t a qualitative change from the first level, thus the gap was still surmountable.


    "Little Junior Brother, Master will be very proud that you��ve achieved this at fifty-something years old," Jiang Huan said.


    "I��m still not as amazing as you two were back then," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Haha, it''s different," Jiang Huanughed. "Talent isn��t static; it changes with one''s mindset and immortal root. Especially at major bottlenecks, one''s mindset bes crucial."


    "I trust Master��s judgment. In the future, you have the potential to catch up to or even surpass me," Jiang Huan smiled.


    "Let''s go. It''s time you learned to cultivate this way," Jiang Huan said, turning towards the Essence Tower.


    Wu Yuan quickly followed. His heart warmed with the genuine care Senior Brother Jiang Huan showed him.


    At this moment, he truly felt like a Little Junior Brother.

 Chapter 507: Celestial Body True Intent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 507: Celestial Body True Intent (2)</h4>


    Like the previous matches, the 786th sparring match was held inside the colossal sphericalbat space.


    <i>Swish! Swish!</i> Four de rays tore through the sky, instantly gathering countless streams of earthy yellow light, forming four miniature stars that erupted violently.


    The terrifying explosion force caused the space to tremble.


    The two enormous sword arrays of his opponent, resembling water dragons, were instantly torn to shreds by the fearsome de rays.


    Rain poured from the sky and countless flying swords plummeted.


    Wu Yuan stood like a war god amidst the cascading waters, his aura overwhelming, the qi streams around him exuding formidable power.


    "Wu Zun, do you wish to continue?" Wu Yuan''s voice boomed, brandishing fourbat sabers in his four arms, looking incredibly ferocious.


    In the distance, the Golden Core qi refiner named Wu Zun waspletely stunned. His killing moves were dismantled in just two exchanges?


    Wu Zun had watched Wu Yuan battle multiple times before. He thought he��d be able to put up a bloody fight at least, but now? The gap was too vast.


    "I concede," Wu Zun shook his head helplessly, sincerely admitting, "Brother Wu Yuan, you''re incredible, grasping the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao. With yourbat prowess, few can stand against you."


    "Good match," Wu Yuan said, cupping his hands with a smile.


    He transformed into a streak of light, shooting out of thebat space.


    At this moment, the hundreds of members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field watching from the sidelines were all struck dumb with shock.


    They had anticipated that Wu Yuan would win. After all, in the over seven hundred battles previously, Wu Yuan had long proven hisbat prowess one duel at a time.


    If the Daoprehension of his opponent was at a simr level, Wu Yuan was sure to win!


    But no one expected that Wu Yuan would win this battle so decisively, achieving an overwhelming victory.


    "Celestial Body True Intent!"


    "Wu Yuan has broken through."


    "After honing himself through over seven hundred battles, he actually broke through just before the Heaven and Earth Tournament?" The spectators found it unbelievable.


    Quickly, this news spread among the hundred thousand members-plus of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Now, apart from the Origin Eldritch Field members who had challenged Wu Yuan, even the dozens of earth-tier members turned their attention to him.


    Because, Wu Yuan, who hadprehended the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao, now posed a threat to their positions.


    Throughout the entire Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, the top ten thousand geniuses all had the power topete for the title of Golden Core Bloodforge King.


    But the quality of the earth-tier members in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field was much higher than Golden Core Bloodforge Kings.


    Firstly, the eldritch world had a significantly higher number of geniuses, and secondly, the number of earth-tier member slots was ten times fewer than the number of Golden Core Bloodforge Kings selected.


    Typically speaking, one mustprehend either the True Intent of an Intermediate Law or the Dao Field of a Lesser Law to have a shot at bing an earth-tier member. And their immortal root, ether arts, arcane arts, and soul could not be weak either.


    In the past, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension was rtively shallow. Now, with his sudden breakthrough, he naturally drew attention.


    ��No need to panic. Wu Yuan just broke through. His grasp of Celestial Body True Intent might only be rudimentary. No matter how skilled he is in battle, I estimate he can only stay at the earth-tier."


    "Reaching the heaven-tier? No chance!" The members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field debated, subconsciously believing Wu Yuan wasn''t strong enough.


    After all, he had just broken through, and the Heaven and Earth Tournament was imminent.


    But Wu Yuan ignored the external chatter. He continued to fight daily, methodically honing himself.


    Following a structured regimen, he trained in saber techniques, meditated in the Essence Tower, and roamed the Summerpeak World...


    The result was��victory! Victory! Victory!


    He won every battle decisively.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan''s saber techniques were refined to near perfection. It was as if he had entered a special state, and his strength constantly improved.


    Every day, he made progress. Though the daily increments were small, umted over time, his improvement was terrifying.


    ...


    <i>The Eldritch Battle tform.</i>


    For the 879th battle, Wu Yuan fought Nong Bai.


    This battle garnered immense viewership, and the number of spectators in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field soared from hundreds to nearly two thousand.


    This was because Nong Bai had alreadyprehended a Lesser Law to the Dao Field stage, possessing the strength topete for earth-tier membership, and was recognized as a peerless genius.


    But this battle caught everyone by surprise.


    Wu Yuan came out swinging, attacking Nong Bai head-on in a frenzy. The fight was nothing short of a maelstrom of violence, ether hemorrhaging without pause!


    But in the end, Wu Yuan, relying on the formidable defense of his true body ether art and the assistance of blood mist, defeated Nong Bai!


    The battle waspletely one-sided, finally igniting Wu Yuan��s hope of reaching the heaven tier.


    Yes, among the numerous disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, he was still considered rtively weak. But that was because every disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign was a once-in-a-million-year genius in the entire macrocosm!


    Members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, though also geniuses, were far from the level of such monstrous prodigies.


    ...


    In the 892nd battle, Wu Yuan once again defeated a member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field who had reached the True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law. This time, Wu Yuan''s victory was crisp and clean!


    The gap inbat power was even greater than when he defeated Nong Bai.


    This was because, in just one month, Wu Yuan''s saber techniques had grown even more terrifying. Under the cascading de rays, his offense and defense were impable and unstoppable.


    Victory!


    This battle truly shook the hundred thousand-plus geniuses in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Wu Yuan had consecutively defeated two geniuses, who had the potential to be earth-tier members, with an overwhelming advantage.


    He truly showcased his terrifying prowess and talent, proving, at the very least, that he genuinely had the potential to break into the heaven tier.


    ...


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within the Fifth Origin Eldritch ne, stood a hall.


    "Terrifying."


    "Where did this Wu Yuane from? His progress is unbelievably rapid."


    "Could he be a terrifying genius destined to challenge the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field''s heaven-tier member?" A dozen geniuses gathered here. They were all earth-tier members, and the topic of discussion was naturally the rising star, Wu Yuan.


    "Mu Xia, you''re a heaven-tier member, do you not have anything to say?" someone asked.


    "What is there to say?" A white-robed young man, exuding a noble elegance, slowly smiled, "I only became the so-called heaven-tier member because those ahead of me broke through, and I moved up in rank. The true heaven-tier members are born through the Heaven and Earth Tournament."


    "Wu Yuan? Everything will be decided in battle."


    ��Heaven-tier, huh. Strength is what matters. If he surpasses us in strength, then he is heaven-tier. What''s there to discuss?" The white-robed young man stood up, smiling, "Everyone, I advise you to stop discussing him."


    "Rather than hoping for weaker opponents, it��s better to strive for greater strength. As long as you be the strongest, you are naturally heaven-tier."


    "I''m leaving." The white-robed youth''s avatar vanished, his soul consciousness already departing from the voidrealm.


    ...


    Regardless of the external mor, Wu Yuan focused solely on his training, ustomed to this quiet cultivation lifestyle.


    One battle after another ended!


    Once the thousandth battle concluded, Wu Yuan swiftly defeated his opponent, uttering a final, "Thank you for the match." Then, he left the sphericalbat space.


    By now, the other members of the Origin Eldritch Field had already grown used to Wu Yuan��s victories; in thest hundred or so battles of the thousand challenges, Wu Yuan had swept away all opponents.


    Whether they were body refiners or qi refiners, regardless of their Daoprehension, no matter their immortal root,or how long they had been cultivating, Wu Yuan swept all challengers in his path!


    So, when the thousandth battle ended, Wu Yuan had unknowingly be one of the top favorites for the Heaven-tier member in the uing Heaven and Earth Tournament.


    At this moment, with only about three months left until the next Heaven and Earth Tournament, Wu Yuan received a piece of news that took him by surprise.


    <i>Summerpeak World, the Middle Land. </i>


    "Old Fang, have you really decided?" Wu Yuan��s gaze fell on Fang Xia. Fang Xia, dressed in a white robe, looked very schrly.


    Beside him stood Mountain Devil and Arctic.


    "Yes, Young Master," Fang Xia nodded with a smile, "Now, Young Master is already a peerless genius in the entire macrocosm, and a core member of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, with status and power beyond our imagination."


    "Senior Cen Jiang has also managed the Middle Land very well. We are no longer needed here," Fang Xia said, "So, we would like to venture out into one of the eldritch continents."


    "Isn''t quiet cultivation good?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    There were even immortals to provide them guidance here.


    "Your Majesty, we are not you," Mountain Devil said in a deep voice, "Our talents are limited. Although the immortals provide us with guidance, it is too profound for us toprehend fully.��


    ��We have kept all the recordings of their teachings. But if we only shut ourselves away, breaking through to the Amethyst Cradle might still be extremely difficult."


    "By venturing on expeditions, perhaps we mayck teachings and resources, but that feeling of toeing the line between life and death might just bring back the old thrill of adventure, and help us progress faster." Mountain Devil grinned, his body towering even in human form.


    <i>Expeditions?</i> Wu Yuan scanned the trio.


    The three individuals before him had each received significant help from Wu Yuan. Yet, time was short. As of now, Fang Xia had only reached the fifth-stage Golden Core phase, and the other two were just at the fourth stage.


    Such a cultivation level was insignificant in the vast macrocosm.


    "I''ve given you many treasures before, and now you have the teachings of the eldritch world," Wu Yuan said. "I have my own opinions on this, but your path of cultivation isn��t walked by me. I won''t say more."


    "If you need anything, contact me through the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm," Wu Yuan added. "Remember, do not expose the existence of Summerpeak."


    "Understood."


    "Rest assured, Young Master. We''ve already sworn an oath in the Eldritch Progenitor��s name," Fang Xia, Arctic, and the Mountain Devil replied respectfully.


    Shortly after, Cen Jiang made the arrangements, and the three quietly left Summerpeak World. They were headed to an eldritch continent not far from the Cang Feng Continent. The vast eldritch continent wasrge enough for them to roam to their heart��s content.


    <i>They''ve all left! When will we meet again, if ever? </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Expeditions, even in the rtively safer eldritch continents, were fraught with danger for Golden Core cultivators. Any slight misstep could lead to their demise. But such was the path of cultivation.


    <i>This journey is long, with many stops and starts. Time flows on, bringing separations and reunions. </i>Wu Yuan sighed. <i>In the end, how many will reach the end of the Great Dao?</i>


    The Great Dao was an arduous path, and immortality hard to attain.


    With the passage of time, countless creatures turned to dust; even Wu Yuan dared not im he could reach the end of the immortal path.

 Chapter 508: Celestial Body True Intent (3)

    <h4>Chapter 508: Celestial Body True Intent (3)</h4>


    After seeing Fang Xia and the others off, Wu Yuan returned to the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and sat down in lotus position inside the Essence Tower.


    <i>Less than three months remain until the Heaven and Earth Tournament. In terms of raw power, I now rank among the top ten out of a hundred thousand-plus geniuses in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>But, figures like Mu Xia, Ling Xian, and Guang Hanqing are likewise exceptional geniuses. Though their talents are not on par with mine, they have the advantage of longer cultivation periods.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Time had its own unfathomable power.


    In another twenty years, Wu Yuan was confident he could easily defeat these top-tier geniuses of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    It was a pity that he didn''t have the luxury of time.


    <i>Although I can''t exhibit the Longevity Dao, my True Celestial Body is abination of two Intermediate Laws, boasting incredible defense, plus I have the blood mist.</i> Wu Yuan mulled over his strategy.


    If possible, he preferred not to use the blood mist. It was too easy to expose himself.


    <i>These dozens of earth-tier members, who were already earth-tier two decades ago, might just have broken from the first-level Dao Field stage (Lesser Law) to the second level. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Should any of them break through, it would spell trouble for him.


    <i>I can''t control what others do. All I can do is strive to get stronger myself. </i>


    Splitting out a strand of consciousness, Wu Yuan entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Eldritch Deity Tower World.</i>


    This was a mysterious ce, meant for the strongest in the entire eldritch world to test their mettle and showcase their talents.


    <i>Eldritch Deity Tower.</i> Wu Yuan gazed into the distance at the ck pagoda.


    Its silhouette was reminiscent of the tower in the Dao Temple of the Eldritch Court. But itcked the Dao resonance of the ck pagoda.


    Wu Yuan knew very well that this so-called Eldritch Deity Tower was simr to the Seven Star Luminaries Tower. Both conducted voidrealm battles and primarily tested one��s Daoprehension.


    However, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower was divided into seven towers based on age, revealing the most monstrous prodigies at each stage.


    But the Eldritch Deity Tower was a singr construct��any powerhouse from the eldritch world, from High Eldritch/High Immortal to the Spiritual Body phase and even the Communion phase, all challenged this one tower.


    <i>The Eternal Sun Immortal World isn''t worried about exposing their geniuses; they have no particrly hostile forces opposing them anyway.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>But factions like the Cang Feng Eldritch World likely prefer not to reveal too much.</i>


    It was simr to how the names of the Eldritch Sovereign��s disciples would never be made public until they reached the Archimmortal phase, especially not before bing a High Eldritch or a High Immortal.


    "Let''s give it a try." Wu Yuan strode into the Eldritch Deity Tower.


    <i>Two hourster. </i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan flew out of the Eldritch Deity Tower, shaking his head and muttering to himself. <i>So difficult! I barely got to level twenty-three, and even level twenty-two was a tough one to pass. </i>


    <i>But it was exhrating! Here, I don��t have to worry about my secrets getting exposed. Unleashing two Daos at once is indeed far more satisfying than just using the Celestial Body Dao alone. </i>


    The Eldritch Deity Tower consisted of a total of forty levels!


    Only those below the Archimmortal/Archeldritch phase were allowed to challenge it, and the difficulty level rose with each level.


    <i>I gained 6 Dao Temple points, enough to exchange for three Daoprehension simtion opportunities. </i>Wu Yuan''s lips curled into a slight smile.


    Clearing levels five, ten, seventeen, and twenty of the Eldritch Deity Tower would each yield 1 Dao Temple point.


    Starting from level twenty-one, the difficulty would skyrocket, granting 1 point per floor.


    Wu Yuan cleared level twenty-two but failed at twenty-three. Thus, he ended with a total of 6 points.


    <i>Time waits for no one, let��s visit the Dao Temple now.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    His consciousness plunged straight into the mysterious Dao Temple.


    It was the fastest method Wu Yuan knew of that could deepen his Daoprehension in a short time.


    <i>The sixty points bestowed by my master can be used only once every hundred years?</i> Wu Yuan understood why this was so.


    To fully benefit from the Dao Temple''s guidance, one must first gather enough questions and umte deep personal insight.


    <i>Moreover, to gain, one must give. The Dao Temple is so miraculous that each simtion experience probablyes at a great cost, a cost we haven''t paid because the Eldritch Court bears it on our behalf. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    The Dao Temple brimmed with mystical secrets.


    Nearly three years had passed since Wu Yuan��sstprehension simtion.


    Coupled with reaching the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, now was the time he yearned to grasp the profundities of the Dao most; the effects of experiencing the full Celestial Body Dao wouldn''t disappoint.


    Soon, Wu Yuan��s consciousness arrived at the Dao Temple of the Eldritch Court, and a light screen projection appeared:


    Awarded Points: 58 (temporarily unavable)


    Earned Points: 6


    ��I want to use my earned points to redeem a Celestial Body Daoprehension experience," Wu Yuan said decisively.


    Immediately, the points were deducted, and the light screen dissipated.


    The second floor of the ck tower opened and Wu Yuan flew inside.


    ...


    Wu Yuan began a round ofprehension simtion in the Dao Temple.


    Meanwhile, in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, a special ne was already in an uproar because of him. In a temple, several figures were in heated discussion.


    "At fifty-eight years old, he has already passed level twenty-two of the Eldritch Deity Tower!"


    "Usually, one needs to reach the second-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law to stand a chance of passing level twenty-two."


    "Monster!"


    "I cannot watch his exactbat footage in the Eldritch Deity Tower, but I have investigated Wu Yuan''s profile. From his participation in the Bloodforge Battle to the time he cleared level twenty-two of the Eldritch Deity Tower, only five years have passed." a giant d in golden armor roared, gesticting wildly with his arms.


    "In terms of progression speed, it��s enough to ce him in the top hundred among the tens of millions of geniuses across the five Origin Eldritch Fields."


    "Top hundred! A true rarity," the golden-armored giant eximed excitedly, "With such talent, he has the potential to be a heaven-tier member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field in the future."


    ��On top of that, he hails from a worldlet. I''ve been tracking Wu Yuan''s growth trajectory. The further he progresses, the faster he improves. I feel that in hundreds of thousands of years, he could be another Jiang Huan," the giant in golden armor rattled off in one breath.


    The mention of "Jiang Huan" finally caused the other eight people present to lose their patience.


    "Old Dong, shut up already!"


    "This Wu Yuan is indeed formidable, showing promise to im the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field''s heaven-tier title by his fifties."


    "His progress is swift, and in terms of talent, he ranks within the top hundred of the five Origin Eldritch Fields. But topare him to Jiang Huan?"


    "He��s still a long way off."


    "Jiang Huan is a monstrous prodigy rarely seen in the macrocosm for tens of millions of years," the others quickly dismissed.


    Evidently,paring him to Jiang Huan had struck a nerve.


    As Archeldritches overseeing the Eldritch Deity Tower, they''ve seen countless geniuses, but Jiang Huan still left them in awe, for Jiang Huan had conquered the Eldritch Deity Tower in its entirety!


    "Haha, let''s not talk about Jiang Huan," the giant in golden armorughed it off. "I was just making aparison. Let''s focus on Wu Yuan. It��s fine to report him to the higher-ups, right?"


    "Yes, report it."


    "Implement Tier Three information protection and karma defense, further fortify his void continent."


    "I agree."


    "Agreed," the nine Archeldritches present quickly reached a consensus.


    Indeed, Wu Yuan��s feat of clearing level twenty-two of the Eldritch Deity Tower had impressed them.


    Though he still couldn''tpare to Jiang Huan, he was certainly among the top tier of the tens of millions of geniuses in the five Origin Eldritch Fields.


    The Voltari Temple targeted monstrous prodigies from the Cang Feng Eldritch World for various assassinations, but the higher the costs of the assassination, the more cautious they were.


    Simrly, the Cang Feng Eldritch World took different levels of measures to protect geniuses of varying calibers.


    The highest level of protection was reserved for the heaven-tier member of the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    Next in line were the heaven-tier members of the Second Origin Eldritch Field and the earth-tier members of the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    Following them were other young, yet monstrously prodigious talents, such as the newly discovered Wu Yuan.


    Time went by.


    ��Nine Inspectors,�� a cold voice suddenly echoed, ��your request for Tier Three Protection for Wu Yuan has been denied by the Astral Monarch.��


    ��Why?��


    ��Why was it not approved?��


    ��Though young, his talent is undeniable. If left unprotected, the Voltari Temple could easily take him out,�� the inspectors voiced their concerns in unison.


    ��The reason for the rejection is because Wu Yuan has already been granted Tier Two protection.�� the cold voice continued. ��There��s no need for Tier Three protection.��


    The nine inspectors fell silent at once.


    ...


    Unaware of the storm he had stirred by challenging the Eldritch Deity Tower, Wu Yuanpleted hisprehension simtion session at the Dao Temple. Then, he returned to the Essence Tower to continue his cultivation.


    Time passed, and Wu Yuan��s strength continued to soar, aided by another tutoring session by Senior Brother Jiang Huan.


    Finally, Wu Yuan, deep in his secluded cultivation, received a summons from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Hall.


    <i>The Heaven and Earth Tournament will be held in three days on the Origin Eldritch Continent?</i>

 Chapter 509: Heaven Tier, Meeting Master (1)

    <h4>Chapter 509: Heaven Tier, Meeting Master (1)</h4>


    A strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, rapidly absorbing the intel about the Heaven and Earth Tournament.


    <i>It��s a real-world battle consisting of two rounds. </i>


    <i>For the first half a month, over a hundred thousand ordinary memberspete, with the top hundred ordinary disciples advancing from the first round.</i>


    <i>Then, they face off with the existing heaven-tier and earth-tier members in the second round.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    In other words, Wu Yuan could skip the first round and jump straight into the second round in half a month.


    Wu Yuan recalled the strand of consciousness.


    <i>Starsunder Saber Codex, fourth step. </i>Wu Yuan continued to study the codex. de rays formed from countless beams of light transformed.


    Advancing from the ninth-level Domain stage to the first-level True Intent stage posed an immense bottleneck, requiring luck, opportunities, sudden epiphanies and other factors for a breakthrough��it was a qualitative leap!


    But progressing from the first-level True Intent stage to the third-level True Intent stage was a quantitative umtion of insights. Theoretically, with daily effort, even the least talented individual could eventually reach the third-level True Intent stage.


    Wu Yuan had gained tremendous insights from the Dao Temple. With guidance from Master Nan Yin and Senior Brother Jiang Huan, along with the mental imprint from the Celestial Body Law Codex, Wu Yuan''s progress over the months was astounding.


    Though still a long way before reaching the second-level True Intent stage, hisprehension had deepened significantlypared to when he first broke through.


    Wu Yuan''s evolving spirit and mentality,bined with the exceptional rity of Dao perception brought about by his Celestial Divine Body, allowed him to disy incredible power.


    ...


    <i>Half a monthter. </i>


    ��We wish Master the best of luck in bing the heaven-tier member.�� Cen Jiang, along with twelve Void Refiner servants, stood respectfully beside the teleportation array, speaking in unison.


    They had high hopes for Wu Yuan.


    They were once immortal cultivators from the Voltari Temple''s territories, but to survive, they chose to be servants. It could be said that their Dao Hearts had been tarnished, and their chances of ascending to Archimmortality in this life were nearly zero.


    However, it also showed their thirst for life! And now, their destiny was bound with Wu Yuan''s. The stronger Wu Yuan became, the better their futures would be.


    "Haha. Everyone, await the good news." Wu Yuan stepped into the teleportation array. A beam of light shot into the sky, and he disappeared instantly.


    "Earth Immortal, can Master do it?" a Void Refiner servant couldn''t help asking.


    "He can!" Cen Jiang replied softly, "Master is the most monstrous prodigy I''ve seen in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field in over a thousand years."


    ...


    The Origin Eldritch Continent spanned tens of millions of li, of which many regions were sparsely inhabited.


    But the core Eldritch Battle tform was already packed with people. Over eighty thousand members of the Origin Eldritch Field had gathered here, most of whom hade to witness the event.


    The Heaven and Earth Tournament was a grand event for each Origin Eldritch Field.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan emerged from the teleportation array, flying over at high speed.


    "Wu Yuan!"


    "Is that Wu Yuan? He''s Wu Yuan?"


    "I''ve heard of him but never seen him. Someone mentioned he was a genius from the spacetime territories of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation, invited to join our eldritch world."


    "He''s strong. I heard he''s still very young." Almost in unison, tens of thousands of members of the eldritch field turned their gaze towards Wu Yuan.


    Some were in awe, others curious, some doubtful; some expressionless, some smiling.


    But very few showed jealousy. This was the lineage of the eldritch; they revered the strong. After a thousand grueling battles, Wu Yuan��s formidablebat prowess had conquered the hearts of most Origin Eldritch Field members.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuannded lightly before the Eldritch Battle tform.


    Here, over a hundred figures had gathered. Some were former heaven-tier and earth-tier members, while others were ordinary disciples who had fought their way into the second round. Among them were several peerless geniuses who had once crossed swords with Wu Yuan, like Nong Bai.


    "Wu Yuan."


    "Wu Yuan has arrived." The hundred-odd figures turned their heads to look, their eyes filled with apprehension and curiosity, and in some, a burning desire to fight.


    Wu Yuan was already acknowledged as someone in the top ten, if not top five, of strength.


    As Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd, he spotted an old acquaintance. His lips curled into a grin. Striding forward, he greeted, "Xiang Lin, my brother, we meet again."


    "Wu... Wu Yuan?" Xiang Lin wasn''t particrly tall and managed a forced smile.


    "You defeated me before and told me to remember you," Wu Yuan said, his expression incredibly sincere. "Of course I��ll remember you. Honestly, I have to thank you for stimting me, or I wouldn''t have broken through."


    "This time, let''s battle once more," Wu Yuan''s eyes seemed to ze with battle intent.


    Xiang Lin''s face was bitter. Fight Wu Yuan? He had no confidence at all.


    But previously, when Wu Yuan was epting one thousand battles, he was the first to defeat him and had told Wu Yuan to ''remember me'' before leaving.


    It seemed Wu Yuan had taken that to heart.


    ...


    Shortly after thest person arrived, a streak of light shed through the air and appeared above the Eldritch Battle tform.


    It was a muscr man in silver armor, with short hair and a scarred face, exuding an incredibly fierce aura. His presence was formidable.


    "Astral Lord."


    "Astral Lord." In an instant, the crowd of tens of thousands around the Eldritch Battle tform all respectfully saluted.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu managed the five Origin Eldritch Fields, but the specific affairs of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field were managed by this Astral Lord.


    Perhaps in the future, many Archeldritch and Archimmortals might emerge among these tens of thousands of members from the Origin Eldritch Field. But for now, their status couldn''tpare to the Astral Lord.


    Geniuses were still just geniuses.


    "Rise," the silver-armored giant''s voice boomed, resonating through the heavens and earth. His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering on Wu Yuan.


    As the overseer of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, he didn''t know Wu Yuan''s exact background, but he knew Wu Yuan was under Second-Tier Protection, an extraordinarily rare privilege.


    Ordinarily, the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field cycled through a batch of geniuses every hundred years, and it was rare to see someone receive Second-Tier Protection once in over ten thousand years.


    "The second round of the Heaven and Earth Tournament, a total of 143 contestants," the silver-armored giant announced, his voice ringing in everyone''s ears.


    "The rules remain simple. Round-robin battles. Each contestant must face every other participant once. Victory earns you one point, defeat earns you none. Ultimately, the contestant with the highest points bes the heaven-tier member."


    "Those ranked 2nd to 101st be earth-tier members."


    "In case of tied points, the ranking will be determined by a direct battle," the silver-armored giant''s voice was cold.


    "Remember, cultivation resources are limited. Only by bing an earth-tier member or even a heaven-tier member can you obtain the best root establishment treasures from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.��


    ��Otherwise, when you move on to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, you will have to undertake risky missions topensate for your immortal root ws."


    "Ten battles will be held a day. The second round will conclude in fifteen days," the silver-armored giant said coldly, "Allbat spaces of the Eldritch Battle tform will be opened. Refer to the matchup roster to confirm your opponent."


    "Let the battles begin!"


    <i>Swish~</i> A massive light screen appeared, disying a dense list of names and contestant matchups. Each contestant could find their opponent.


    <i>My opponent for the first battle. </i>Wu Yuan quickly found his name. <i>It''s Mu Xia?</i>


    Mu Xia was the current heaven-tier member. Though he had risen to this tier due to his position in the ranking, it clearly indicated that among the dozens of prior earth-tier members, he was likely the strongest.


    "Wu Yuan." d in a white robe, Mu Xia also smiled as he looked over: "I''ve been looking forward to this battle."


    "So have I." Wu Yuan smiled in return.


    He sensed no malice from Mu Xia.


    Before long, apart from the participant who had a bye, the other 142 participants entered their respective battle spaces, including Wu Yuan and Mu Xia.


    Nearly a hundred thousand Origin Eldritch Field members had chosen the battle spaces they wished to watch. The most anticipated battle was naturally the duel between Wu Yuan and Mu Xia.


    One was the current heaven-tier member. The other, thetest monstrous prodigy to emerge from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    The battles swiftly began.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! </i>


    An overwhelming blue torrent, seemingly as vast as an ocean,pletely engulfed the nearly two-thousand-li battle space.


    Flying swords, like terrifying aquatic dragons, roared ferociously. Their whiskers fluttered, attacking Wu Yuan from all directions.


    Such an earth-shattering disy of power was enough to make any ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator quiver in fear.


    "Haha, bring it on!" Wu Yuan instantly transformed into a hundred-zhang giant. Four arms extended, and four dazzling de rays burst forth.


    A hazyyer of starlight diffused.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Water dragons shed, de rays howled, and both sides erupted in a terrifying confrontation.


    One attacked!


    One defended!


    "Mu Xia, your sword array cannot make me budge." Wu Yuan stood in the air, immovable as a mountain, his voice booming through heaven and earth. "If your attacks cannot shake me, you are doomed to lose!"


    "Exterminate!"


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The de rays around Wu Yuan instantly transformed, growing overwhelmingly violent in a split second.


    Water dragons were shredded and countless flying swords scattered wildly. Wu Yuan''s speed grew faster as his movements turned phantom-like.


    With a slight beat of his wings, he charged towards Mu Xia.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Mu Xia''s form melded into the ocean, merging with the water again and again, dodging Wu Yuan''s ambush. Water was formless, unpredictable.


    This battlested for over an hour, the longest among the seventy-two matches.


    Their Daoprehension levels were simr, with Mu Xia slightly stronger, both nearing the second-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.


    But in the end, Mu Xia was still defeated!


    His mana was exhausted, and he conceded.


    Just as Wu Yuan had said, in battles against someone at the same cultivation phase, if his opponents�� full-force attacks couldn''t shake his defense, defeat was certain for them.


    "Mu Xia has been defeated."


    "Unbelievable defense, astounding endurance, Wu Yuan!" This battle left tens of thousands of spectators in awe.


    In this sh of titans, Wu Yuan emerged victorious.


    "No one can stop Wu Yuan now," dered the silver-armored giant, observing the battle alongside several Archimmortals.


    And the oue? It was as the silver-armored giant had predicted.


    Time flowed by. One battle after another concluded.


    Half a monthter, Wu Yuan achieved a record of 142 consecutive victories.


    In 8 of the 142 battles, Wu Yuan exhausted his opponents'' ether or mana before clinching victory. But no matter the method, Wu Yuan relied on his own strength.


    Unquestionably, he became the new heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    The true strongest member.


    ...


    Among the five Origin Eldritch Fields, the First Origin Eldritch Field was treated with the most importance.


    This was because countless geniuses over hundreds of thousands of years were gathered here; even its earth-tier members, upon passing their Tribtions, could be Astral Lords.


    The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field was regarded with the least importance, but Wu Yuan''s rise to the heaven tier drew significant attention from the higher-ups of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    "Wu Yuan?"


    "He''s not even sixty years old yet."


    "In terms of aplishments for his age and considering his performance in the Bloodforge Spacetime, his rate of progress is astonishing."


    "As long as he doesn''t die prematurely, it''s certain that he''ll be an earth-tier member of the First Origin Eldritch Field in the future."


    Many higher-ups in the Eldritch World were unaware that Wu Yuan had already been taken in as a disciple by an Eldritch Sovereign.


    But that did not stop them from thinking highly of Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 510: Heaven Tier, Meeting Master (2)

    <h4>Chapter 510: Heaven Tier, Meeting Master (2)</h4>


    <i>Within the Second Origin Eldritch Field, on a void continent.</i>


    <i>Oh? My Little Junior Brother has actually imed the Heaven-tier title? </i>Chang Hong, who was in secluded cultivation, received the news.


    <i>I really underestimated him. As expected, my judgment is still far inferior to Senior Brother''s.</i> Chang Hong sighed inwardly. A hint of a smile appeared. <i>This is fine too.</i>


    <i>At least his current performance won''t tarnish our master''s reputation.</i> Chang Hong shelved all thoughts about Wu Yuan and resumed his cultivation.


    He bore no ill will towards Wu Yuan personally. It was just that he previously thought Wu Yuan wasn��t worthy of bing a disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign due to his weak talent and strength.


    ...


    The Cang Feng Continent, vast and expansive, spanned hundreds of billions of li. Within this vast continent were different spatialyers and many hidden worlds.


    One such hidden world had a diameter of over a hundred million li. It was inhabited by countless demonic beasts with bizarre appearances, most of which had extremely low intelligence and were exceedingly savage, killing each other and even devouring their own kind.


    Yet, there were a few demonic beasts that were exceptionally docile.


    On a stretch of barrennd, wild grass swayed in the wind. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sat in lotus position, the gentle breeze bringing him an inexplicable sense of tranquility.


    <i>The deduction of Life.</i>


    <i>But the lives I create either cannot reproduce normally or cannot generate sentient intelligence. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pondered deeply.


    His powerful immortal consciousness effortlessly enveloped the entire world, observing the movements of countless lives.


    <i>Swish! </i>Countless points of light converged, forming a dark-robed phantom.


    "Master." The dark-robed phantom bowed respectfully.


    ��What��s the matter?�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked softly.


    As one of the rulers of the eldritch world, his subordinates were powerful and numerous; most matters were delegated to them.


    The ck-robed phantom before him was in charge of internal intelligence within the eldritch world.


    ��It��s about Wu Yuan, the disciple that you took in recently,�� the ck-robed phantom said respectfully, ��He has applied for a root establishment treasure and requested to be a member of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.��


    ��Oh?�� Kua Chi��s brows furrowed slightly. ��Is that all? Follow the standard procedures. There��s no need to give him special treatment just because he��s my disciple.��


    He felt a twinge of displeasure in his heart. He was currently at a crucial moment in his cultivation.


    ��Sovereign, under normal circumstances, there would be no issue. But he has just be a heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and is requesting a Semi-Legendary root establishment treasure.�� The ck-robed shadow continued respectfully.


    ��Moreover, he is asking for a qi refiner type treasure. I thought it was inappropriate and decided to report this to you.��


    ��Heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field?�� Kua Chi was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised. ��He arrived in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field just over three years ago.��


    ��Yes.�� The ck-robed shadow nodded.


    He wasn��t surprised in the least, as he considered it normal for a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign to progress so rapidly.


    In fact, Wu Yuan��s progress seemed a bit slow to him.


    ��No problem. I understand. There��s no need to worry about this matter. You may leave,�� Kua Chimanded.


    ��Yes.�� The ck-robed shadow respectfully acknowledged and swiftly dissipated.


    On the deste in, only Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remained.


    <i>In just over three years, he''s be the heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field?</i> With a mere thought, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi unleashed his immense immortal consciousness, diving deep into the Cang Feng Eldritch Realm.


    What kind of existence was he? His immortal consciousness could easily descend from a higher spacetime dimension upon any region of an immortal continent��s spacetime territory.


    Swiftly, he ''saw'' it, scenes of Wu Yuan''s battles over the years, his contemtion of the Dao, everything flowed with the passage of time. All of it, he grasped in his mind.


    <i>Unexpectedly, I misjudged him. I had thought it would take thousands, if not tens of thousands of years, for this Wu Yuan to show his edge.</i> A slight smile was revealed on Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s face.


    <i>But his spirit and mentality have transformed unexpectedly. Not bad at all.</i>


    <i>Breaking through the bottleneck of an Intermediate Law''s True Intent stage so easily, his Daoprehension aptitude is even better than I imagined.</i> Kua Chi pondered silently.


    <i>Longevity, Celestial Body... coupled with his immortal root, let''s give him a chance. Though difficult, he might just seed.</i> Kua Chi, an Eldritch Sovereign of unparalleled knowledge who had mentored countless disciples, knew well that Daoprehension was only one facet of talent.


    Some peerless geniuses advanced rapidly at the start, but as they faced greater bottlenecks, their progress slowed.


    Among his numerous disciples, which one wasn''t a monstrous prodigy?


    The most monstrous reached the Astral Monarch phase in under a hundred thousand years, how extraordinary was their talent?


    But even after trillions of years, they were still stuck at the final step, unable to be Sovereigns.


    Yet, some geniuses progressed steadily, step by step, eventually surpassing others to be the strongest.


    <i>Eldritch Sovereign Jing Yu.</i> Kua Chi''s thoughts turned to this being within the eldritch world.


    In the beginning, he was quite unremarkable. He couldn''t catch anyone''s eye; he couldn''t even be an earth-tier member in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    But he kept progressing, eventually bing an earth-tier member in the First Origin Eldritch Field, though his performance couldn��t be considered dazzling.


    He overcame his Tribtions to be an Astral Lord and, after tens of millions of years, finally became Astral Monarch.


    Yet, over trillions of years, he quietly broke through to be an Eldritch Sovereign, and was now the strongest Eldritch Sovereign in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, surpassing even Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi in strength.


    High Daoprehension aptitude was indeed crucial; greatly increasing the chances of bing an Astral Lord or Astral Monarch.


    But while Daoprehension aptitude could be quantified, providence, spirit, willpower, and other factors were elusive. Some individuals who appeared to progress slowly still stood a chance of bing super powerhouses.


    <i>Moreover, my little disciple here isn''t exactly slow in his Daoprehension progress either. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled faintly.


    He��d initially taken in this disciple due to the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. But Wu Yuan''s performance had greatly satisfied him, far exceeding his expectations.


    After a moment of deliberation, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sent a message to Astral Monarch Hou Qu, "Hou Qu, bring Wu Yuan to see me.��


    ...


    <i>In the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, inside the Essence Tower.</i>


    <i>The other rewards and resources thate with being a heaven-tier member are secondary; the key is this Semi-Legendary treasure.</i> Wu Yuan thought silently, sitting in lotus position. <i>I hope this application gets approved.</i>


    Why did Wu Yuan crave this treasure so much?


    His body refiner self already had the Boundary Tree; it was hard to find a better root establishment treasure. Even the Eldritch World might struggle to provide one.


    But it was different for his qi refiner self. Upgrading his third-grade immortal root to a second-grade one while breaking through the normal way was nearly impossible.


    <i>Moreover, even if the application goes through, I��ll still need to visit Astral Monarch Hou Qu.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Visit his master? Although he was Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s disciple, Wu Yuan had no means of contacting him, and could only reach Senior Brother Jiang Huan or Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    <i>Buzz~</i> Suddenly, a colossal aura descended, enveloping the entire void continent.


    Immediately, a voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, ��Wu Yuan."


    "Astral Monarch Hou Qu?" Wu Yuan was slightly startled.


    Wu Yuan shot out of the Essence Tower immediately.


    At that moment, Cen Jiang and other Void Refiner servants felt the aura too. They left their respective posts, trembling in fear as they knelt. The unseen pressure was terrifying.


    "Astral Monarch." Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    The visitor was indeed the burly Astral Monarch Hou Qu d in battle armor.


    "Come with me." With a wave of his hand, Astral Monarch Hou Qu enveloped Wu Yuan in an invisible force, and the two swiftly departed from the void continent, leaving behind a group of bewildered servants.


    "Back then, it was the Astral Monarch who personally brought Master here. Barely any time has gone by, and the Astral Monarch is meeting Master again?"


    "Could it be that Master is a disciple of the Astral Monarch?"


    "It��s possible." Several Void Refiner servants whispered among themselves.


    "Shut up, all of you," Cen Jiang hissed.


    She, too, was puzzled, sensing that her master was incredibly mysterious.


    First, Jiang Huan, whose status rivaled the Astral Monarchs, frequently visited this continent residence.


    And now, the Astral Monarch had summoned their master again?


    ...


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu enveloped Wu Yuan in his power as they traveled.


    "Wu Yuan, your performance is impressive. Bing a heaven-tier member so quickly, even if it''s only within the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, is still a rare achievement," Astral Monarch Hou Qu praised with a smile. "The Eldritch Sovereign gave me explicit orders to bring you to meet him."


    "Master?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Indeed, this hardly ever happens. Haha, actually, the Eldritch Sovereign rarely intervenes in his disciples'' affairs. He mostly gives them free reign to forge their own paths. Your Senior Brother Jiang Huan was also left in the Origin Eldritch Field for hundreds of years before being summoned again," Astral Monarch Hou Quughed. "You are an exception."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    He vaguely guessed that the master''s summons might be rted to the root establishment treasure he applied for.


    Before long, they arrived.


    This time, Astral Monarch Hou Qu did not take Wu Yuan to the temple but instead tore through multiple spaces, arriving at a vast, deste world.


    <i>So many demonic beasts. </i>Wu Yuan immediately noticed the extraordinary nature of this world.


    Swiftly, the twonded on a broad prairie where Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, d in beast hide, sat calmly on the grass.


    Not far away, a few demonic beasts roamed.


    "Eldritch Sovereign," Astral Monarch Hou Qunded and greeted respectfully. "I��ve brought Wu Yuan."


    "Master," Wu Yuan also greeted respectfully.


    "Hou Qu, there''s something I need your assistance with," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said softly, taking out a storage bracelet with a flip of his hand, "Take this treasure and head to the Redmoon Immortal Continent once more."


    "Don''t let anyone know of this. I''ve sent you the specific instructions through the eldritch voidrealm. You may leave now," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chimanded bluntly.


    "Understood," Astral Monarch Hou Qu responded respectfully, though still somewhat confused. He epted the storage bracelet and swiftly departed from this world. [1]


    Wu Yuan was left alone with Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "The storage bracelet contains the root establishment treasure I selected for your qi refiner self," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a faint smile.


    "One Semi-Legendary treasure, perfectly suited for your qi refiner self."


    1. decided to leave it as that hahaha ?

 Chapter 511: Shambhala, Amethyst Cradle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 511: Shambh, Amethyst Cradle (1)</h4>


    A gentle breeze blew through the deste ins. In the distance, a mountain range undted. Countless demonic beasts grazed leisurely, their heads bowed low, depicting a tranquil image akin to a painted scroll.


    ��You must have obtained the Legendary opportunity treasure in the Bloodforge Spacetime, haven��t you?�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi inquired.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    How did his master find out about that as well?


    ��I know more than you imagine, and the waters of the Bloodforge Spacetime run deeper than you think,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi subtly smiled, ��However, under normal circumstances, the opportunity treasure you obtain should resonate with your being.��


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    In the treasure realm of Bloodforge Spacetime, of the nearly hundred treasures present, only four resonated with him.


    However, the bone fragment he encountered then resembled a terrifying entity. It had triggered the ck pagoda to demonstrate its power, and then Wu Yuan fell into a stupor.


    When he awoke, he had strangely found two opportunity treasures in his possession.


    ��Show it to me,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chimanded.


    ��Yes.�� Wu Yuan nodded. Since his master already knew, there was no need to conceal it further.


    <i>Whizz! Whizz!</i> With a mentalmand, two streaks of light flew out from Wu Yuan''s body. One was a small tree sapling, its entire body a lush green. Its vital aura was not strong, but the Life essence aura it emanated was iparably pure.


    The other was the mysterious silver triangr prism crystal.


    ��Hm? There��s two?�� Initially indifferent, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi paused in surprise, giving Wu Yuan a second nce.


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan responded matter-of-factly.


    ��The infamously stingy Bloodforge Spacetime was generous enough to give you two Legendary treasures? That''s unusual,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi chuckled.


    The Bloodforge Spacetime gave Wu Yuan so many treasures only to send him away in the blink of an eye?


    It appeared as if Wu Yuan was a gue they couldn��t wait to get rid of.


    "I have no idea," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "These two treasures of yours." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s gaze fell on the two treasures, "This is a Boundary Tree, a young one. It''s rare, but not particrly valuable."


    "Not valuable?" Wu Yuan was taken aback, eximing, "Master, this is a Boundary Tree sapling."


    "So what if it''s a Boundary Tree sapling?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi chuckled, "Correct, such a treasure would be incredibly precious in the hands of ordinary immortal cultivators. Even your average Archimmortal or Astral Lord would find it impossible to obtain such a treasure through conventional means.


    "A small sect like the one your qi refiner self belongs to would never get their hands on such a root establishment treasure.


    "But to me, it''s nothing more than a sapling," Kua Chi continued indifferently. "Now, if it were a mature Boundary Tree, that would be interesting."


    Wu Yuan was rendered speechless.


    He understood now. It was not that the Boundary Tree sapling wasn''t valuable, but to Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, it was ordinary.


    At different levels of power, one had different perspectives.


    To Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, who stood at the peak of the macrocosm, mere scraps from him were priceless bounties to Archimmortals or Astral Lords.


    Not to mention a small fry like himself.


    "The Boundary Tree sapling is just barely considered a Legendary treasure, but it''s the best among the root establishment treasures and very suited for you," Kua Chi exined.


    "The hint of essence power it contains will make your future advancement to first-degree eldritch root much easier. The earlier you prepare, the better."


    Wu Yuan was all ears.


    First-degree eldritch root? In theory, every breakthrough in a cultivation phase came with the possibility of upgrading one''s immortal root.


    On one hand, the stronger one��s power, the harder it was to upgrade the root.


    It was just like a building, it was possible to reinforce the foundation when construction justmenced, but the taller the building got, the harder it was to make changes to the base.


    On the other hand, the stronger and closer to perfection the immortal root, the harder it was to upgrade it further.


    At least, unless one established an innate first-degree immortal root, it was extremely difficult to possess a first-degree immortal root at the Amethyst Cradle stage. This was only theoretically possible, and even Legendary treasures wouldn��t be of much use.


    "Certain Legendary treasures are the best treasures you can use at your current level. More powerful ones? You wouldn''t be able to handle it," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "When ites to your qi refiner self, the nine Lifebound Flying Swords are your most formidable asset. 99% of individuals with second-degree immortal roots do not have such an advantage."


    "However, if your qi refiner self wants to upgrade your third-degree immortal root to a first-degree immortal root, you have to take it step by step. The item I''ve selected for you contains a trace of Wood essence, while not as precious as the Boundary Tree, it is more gentle. It''s better suited for you than what you chose for yourself," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan expressed his heartfelt gratitude.


    This was the advantage of having a master, someone able to guide him on the best path while he was still weak,ying the best foundation.


    "As for your other Legendary treasure," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi casually nced at the triangr prism crystal, which emitted no special aura.


    At first nce, it was unimpressive, nowhere near as amazing as the Boundary Tree.


    However, the moment Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s eyes fell on it, he couldn''t move his gaze away. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, and after several moments, he gave a slight smile, "Good! Very good!"


    "Wu Yuan. Indeed, it''s a treasure that suits you. This is providence, as if you''ve received divine blessings," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said emotionally.


    Wu Yuan was stunned, and countless thoughts raced through his mind.


    Even the Boundary Tree didn''t receive such high praise from the master. Could it be that this seemingly mundane silver prism crystal was an ultimate treasure far surpassing the Boundary Tree?


    "The Boundary Tree is somewhat useful for me. But this," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pointed at the silver prism crystal and smiled, "This, ispletely useless to me."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Completely useless? Then why was his master so pleased?


    "But even a hundred, no, a thousand Boundary Tree saplings wouldn''t be worth this treasure," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi solemnly stated. "It''s enough to drive countless Archimmortals and Astral Lords mad."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    It was that valuable? Enough to drive countless Archimmortals and Astral Lords crazy?


    "Logically, the Bloodforge Spacetime should only allow you to use it once. Why give you the original item?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "But since it''s in your hands, it''s your providence. And it''s my Eldritch Court''s providence too."


    Wu Yuan was even more baffled.


    Use it once? This silver triangr prism crystal had a usage limit?


    "This is known as the ''True Spatial Domain Tome'' which contains a unique inheritance. This was forged by a great, ancient being, who poured his heart and soul into it." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand, and the silver prism crystal fell into his palm.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi slowly said, "Your qi refiner self has received the mental imprint of the Celestial Body Law Codex, right?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "The Celestial Body Law Codex was disseminated by a great being of our Eldritch Court, Kua Fu. However, the mental imprint it contains is very weak. As time goes on, the guidance it provides you will weaken." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said softly.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Indeed, ever since he advanced to the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, he could feel the guidance from the Celestial Body Law Codex weakening rapidly.


    Or perhaps, it wasn''t that the guidance of the Law Codex was weakening, but rather his understanding of the Celestial Body Dao was growing stronger.


    "This True Spatial Domain Tome is simr to the ��Celestial Body Law Codex��. It''s an inheritance treasure. However, receiving a single inheritance opportunity from this book is hundreds of times more valuable than the Celestial Body Law Codex." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, "And this is the original, its value is countless times more precious than a single inheritance opportunity."


    ��Its inheritance can be continually passed down through the endless passage of time."


    Wu Yuan instantly understood. The Celestial Body Law Codex his qi refiner self received was a one-time opportunity. Yet, it was already extremely precious!


    It was ced in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect by the immortal ancestor and could only be passed down to each individual once. Countless Void Refiner Protectorates and Earth Immortal Elders from each generation yearned to receive it, but most could not.


    The True Spatial Domain Tome was the original, and could continuously pass down its inheritance?


    One could say that this silver prism crystal could serve as the cornerstone of a great faction. Its value was unimaginable.


    Wu Yuan also understood why his master said it was useless to him.


    For someone of his master��s level, such inheritance guidance likely had little to no effect.


    "It takes at least ten million years for the True Spatial Domain Tome to condense the imprint of that powerful being," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, "So, it can only be inherited once every ten million years."


    "Now, it can be used once. After you use it, pass it to me for safekeeping," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "In the future, if you ovee your Tribtions and want it back, I will return to you. If you don''t need it then, I won''t take advantage of you, I will swap it for a treasure of simr value."


    "Are you willing?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    Given his character, it was rare for him to ask Wu Yuan directly.


    "I am willing," Wu Yuan respectfully replied.


    Was it really a choice? His master was just asking him out of courtesy.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan didn''t think his master would deceive him; it was meaningless. If his master wanted to, he could forcibly take it from him.


    Besides, inheriting it once was enough. What was the point of holding onto it?


    After ten million years? He had only lived for a few decades, who knew what would happen after ten million years?


    However, Wu Yuan was also puzzled. Such an ultimate treasure, capable of being passed down through generations, was given to him so easily by Bloodforge Spacetime?


    "Initially, I thought your chances ofpleting the path I��ve nned for you were less than 10%," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "But with the True Spatial Domain Tome, you now have a 10% chance."


    A 10% chance?


    Wu Yuan was confused. What was his master talking about?

 Chapter 512: Shambhala, Amethyst Cradle (2)

    <h4>Chapter 512: Shambh, Amethyst Cradle (2)</h4>


    "Wu Yuan, I''ve re-examined your past and your cultivation over the past three years. You''ve done better than I expected," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi spoke softly. "Your Daoprehension progress isn''t fast. Even with the Celestial Divine Body, you can only be considered average among the many top peerless geniuses."


    "Among your many Senior Brothers, almost all of them have an Intermediate Law Dao Body."


    "A few have even cultivated two true selves, both of which have an Intermediate Law Dao Body, equivalent to dual Intermediate Law Dao Bodies." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    Indeed, his potential was top-notch in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, far ahead of everyone else. But among the millions of geniuses in the five Origin Eldritch Fields, his talent would probably only rank within the top hundred.


    "However, your Daoprehension speed is only one aspect of your talent. Some of your Senior Brothers became Astral Lords right after oveing their Tribtions. But after billions of years, they are still stuck at the Astral Lord level, unable to break through. This has nothing to do with their speed of Daoprehension."


    "Your mentality is quite good, much better than your Senior Brother Chang Hong," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "Even under pressure, your spirit can still remain calm, never wavering, walking your own path.


    "This is good. With such resilience, your cultivation journey will be rtively stable, and when facing bottlenecks, it will be easier for you to break through," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly.


    When he first took Wu Yuan under his wing, he habitually tried to dete this new disciple��s pride, to temper his character.


    But after observing him for a while, he found that this little disciple was not at all arrogant. There was no need to test or hone his temperament any further.


    "Thank you for thepliment, Master," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "Wu Yuan, for every disciple under my tutge, before they ovee their Tribtions, I will give them a chance to attempt a path of great power," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "However, few have seeded. Of the two most sessful, one is your Third Senior Brother, but sadly, he has fallen."


    "And the second one, is your Ninth Senior Brother, who now possesses power close to a Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan felt a glimmer of hope as he listened.


    His master would give them a chance?


    "I gave the same opportunity to your Senior Brother Chang Hong and Senior Brother Jiang Huan," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "However, your Senior Brother Chang Hong failed outright.


    "Your Senior Brother Jiang Huan took the first step. Though he has yet to reach the end of this path, what he has achieved so far has already enabled him to im the title of the current Number One High Eldritch, ying Archimmortals as if ughtering chickens."


    Hearing this, waves of excitement stirred in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Senior Brother Jiang Huan could y Archimmortals as if ughtering chickens? How powerful he must be, and this was just partial sess?


    "Now, I''m giving you the same opportunity," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, flipping over his palm.


    In his palm, a crystalline silver sphere appeared, its surface covered in countlessplex cryptic patterns and emanating mysterious fluctuations.


    "What is this?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Once your body refiner self breaks through to the ninth-stage Shambh phase, split your focus between contemting the Celestial Body Dao as well as this," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi softly said.


    "I''ll give you three hundred years. In the next three hundred years, if you can reach the initiate threshold, it means you have the aptitude for it."


    "Within three hundred years, if you gain nothing, then don''t force it. Continue studying the Celestial Body Dao as usual, and in the future, you can still be an Archeldritch," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "If youprehend something from it,e see me again."


    <i>Three hundred years?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    It sounded like a long time, but from his two senior brothers, he understood that the further along one��s cultivation path, the harder it was to make new aplishments.


    "Furthermore, I know you have ambitions to venture out on expeditions. But after you reach the ninth-stage Shambh phase, start learning various ether arts first. Only after you''ve made progress should you venture out. In particr, you must properly consider your choice of grand ether art," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi advised.


    "I understand." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Once he advanced to the Shambh phase, being a body refiner with a second-degree immortal root, his soul chamber would strengthen further, allowing him to learn an additional advanced ether art and a grand ether art.


    Any grand ether art was immensely powerful, ying a key role in fights against opponents from higher cultivation phases. Obviously, he had to make a careful decision.


    "Sharpening the chopper does not dy the task of chopping wood. The Voltari Temple would have set their sights on you by now," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "In the eldritch world, you''re safe. But once you leave the Cang Feng Continent, you''ll face countless dangers."


    "This is the divine crystal elixir, take it with you. When you''re about to leave the eldritch world,e see me again." With a flip of his hand, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sent a jade vial flying towards Wu Yuan.


    "Understood." Wu Yuan respectfully replied as he caught the jade vial.


    In an instant, a gust of invisible energy engulfed Wu Yuan, along with the Boundary Tree and the silver light sphere, causing them all to vanish from the ins.


    <i>Who would''ve thought. When that person fell back then, I spent countless years in the Cang Feng Eldritch World searching for Space Tomes. After much painstaking effort, I managed to collect two. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s mouth curled up in a smile. <i>And now my disciple has managed to get one more!</i>


    With a wave of his hand, a corner of the previously calm space was torn open, revealing a mysterious hidden space. Within this dark realm were numerous powerful artifacts radiating strong auras.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A silver, triangr crystal prism flew in, swiftlynding next to two other simr prisms.


    They made up the foundation of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    <i>Having gained such a great benefit, I should properly consider this disciple��s future. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi didn''t like owing favors, even to his disciples.


    With this in mind, he gave a mentalmand, "Hou Qu,e back."


    "I''ve forgotten something, take it with you."


    ...


    <i>The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, inside the Essence Tower of Wu Yuan��s void continent.</i>


    <i>Just one thought, and Master sent me all the way back here?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the silver sphere in front of him.


    <i>Master took the triangr prism crystal but didn''t say when I could ept the inheritance.</i>


    <i>This silver sphere can lead me onto an incredibly powerful path? What path? </i>Wu Yuan questioned silently.


    His master didn''t make it clear. But Wu Yuan understood that this was just an opportunity. The talents of his many senior brothers and sisters were notcking, but many failed to grasp the opportunity. The difficulty must be unimaginably high.


    <i>Let''s try.</i> Wu Yuan began carefully observing the silver sphere, sensing the special nature of the countless silver cryptic patterns. They contained the Dao resonance, and were incredibly mysterious!


    A full day passed.


    <i>I''ve gained nothing, I can''t understand it at all. </i>Wu Yuan frowned, feeling as if he was trying to read a heavenly scripture.


    It was impossible to understand!


    <i>No, that��s not right. Master said that it''s not toote for me toprehend it after reaching the ninth-stage Shambh phase. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>There must be a reason for him to say that. Let''s step into the Shambh phase first.</i>


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes.


    Within the expansive soul chamber, waves of vital ether surged, and a colossal Teng Snake meandered through. A verdant sapling also floated atop the ether.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Countless light points converged, and Wu Yuan''s soul avatar materialized within this soul chamber.


    "Master," Little ck immediately sensed the arrival of Wu Yuan''s soul.


    "Hmm, Little ck, I''m about to step into the Shambh phase and engrave the shambh, get ready," Wu Yuan instructed.


    "Got it. Master, you''re finally going to break through?" Little ck''s excitement was palpable.


    It knew that its Master had a profound Daoprehension. Wu Yuan could have broken through long ago, but to contemte the transformation of life, he had opted to dy his transition from the ninth-stage Spiritual Body phase a little longer.


    <i>Celestial Body, True Intent, the soul chamber transforms into shambh.</i> Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand, and his soul immediately activated the operation of the soul chamber.


    <i>To form shambh.</i>


    <i>Rumble~</i> A massive quantity of vital ether immediately began to churn, forming vortexes and quickly condensing into streams of even more refined vital ether.


    Wu Yuan had reviewed the steps to transition from the Spiritual Body phase to Shambh phase countless times.


    <i>Swoosh~</i> Inside Wu Yuan��s body, droplets of crystal clear divine crystal elixir flew out from the jade vial.


    Each drop of divine crystal elixir contained unimaginable energy, quickly pouring into Wu Yuan''s skin, before being absorbed by the soul chamber through the meridians.


    Why was divine crystal elixir precious? Because it was the essence of all matter created by heaven and earth. Even an Archeldritch or Archdeity would face no hindrance when trying to absorb it. Converting it into vital ether or essentia/mana posed no burden at all.


    Even in the Origin Eldritch World, over ny-nine percent of geniuses couldn''t acquire divine crystal elixir. Most simply used divine crystals for cultivation.


    Within Wu Yuan''s soul chamber, streams of pristine ether emerged, dozens of times purer than ever before.


    Even with the divine crystal elixir, it took a full two hours for all the ether within the soul chamber to be refined.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan felt as if his soul chamber was about to explode, unable to withstand the surging vital ether.


    <i>Explode!</i> Wu Yuan��s soul guided the vital ether.


    <i>Boom!</i> Like the creation of heaven and earth, the all-epassing vital ether erupted. The entire soul chamber underwent a world-shaking transformation.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>The soul chamber, originally an actual space, swiftly expanded, forming andscapeplete with vastnds,kes, mountains, canyons, soil, and so on. Thendscape spanned a thousand li in radius.


    <i>I heard that when a cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root breaks through, the shambh will only be a hundred li in radius.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Meanwhile, when someone with a legendary innate first-degree immortal root breaks through, they will form a shambh of 5500 li.</i>


    5500 li represented a kind of limit, a sort of level of perfection under the operation of heaven and earth.


    Only a cultivator with a first-degree immortal root could achieve this.


    <i>It��s a pity that thendscapecks spirituality.</i> Wu Yuan''s soul avatar wandered through thendscape.


    Thisndscape was quite vast, but there was no life, not even nts. Everything seemed dead and deste.


    Only by stepping into the Elysian Field phase would one��s internal shambh undergo a fundamental transformation, but it would still be uninhabitable.


    Starting from the Shambh phase, the Elysian Field phase, Dharma Body phase, and Universe Architect phase, were all steps of the internal shambh��s transformation process.


    Only after oveing the Tribtions and bing an Archeldritch would thendscape be entirely real, independent of heaven and earth.


    <i>But the stronger the power within the shambh inside the body, the stronger the oppression from heaven and earth, and the greater the rejection. </i>Wu Yuan could already vaguely sense it.


    Invisible power from heaven and earth was slowly eroding the essence of the shambh within his body.


    This erosion was very weak, like a slow-acting poison. Yet, Wu Yuan couldn''t stop this erosion process, he couldn''t even slow it down.


    <i>The essence of the shambh within my body will bepletely eroded in ten thousand years? </i>Wu Yuan did a quick estimation.


    The internal shambh was unique to body refiners and under their absolute control!


    Just as the human body rejected and killed foreign cells, to the vast heaven and earth, its rules applied to every corner of the universe. Sensing that it can''t control the internal shambhs of body refiners, it naturally rejected, suppressed, and eroded them.


    Those at the Elysian Field phase and the Dharma Body phase had strong bodies, and were almost unkible. Theoretically, their lifespan could reach unimaginable lengths.


    Yet, why was their lifespan only limited to thirty thousand and ny thousand years respectively?


    Essentially, it was the result of heaven and earth constantly eroding the shambh within the body!


    <i>I must be an Archeldritch, and the shambh in my body must be real, self-regted and wless. Only then can I resist the erosion and oppression of the vast heaven and earth.</i> Wu Yuan understood this clearly. <i>And only then can I truly live a long life.</i>

 Chapter 513: Shambhala, Amethyst Cradle (3)

    <h4>Chapter 513: Shambh, Amethyst Cradle (3)</h4>


    <i>Boundary Tree.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the small sapling in the distance.


    Over the years, he had nurtured it in his soul chamber, and had long established a connection with it.


    One should understand that the jianmu was a supreme entity, but as a branch of the tree, the Boundary Tree itself did not have intelligence.


    At least, the Boundary Tree sapling had no wisdom, only the instincts of nts and trees.


    <i>Shambh, Boundary Tree, unify! </i>With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan nted the Boundary Tree into the barren earth.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Instantly, the Boundary Tree began to grow rapidly. Being a natural spirit nt, it excelled at adapting to various spaces. Even if the shambh were iplete, it could still enhance the overallndscape.


    <i>Boom!</i> The divine crystal elixir appeared, and was swiftly converted into vast and powerful vital ether.


    As the ether was infused, the Boundary Tree grew even stronger, further expanding the shambh.


    One thousand li, one thousand five hundred li, two thousand li... Eventually, the internal shambh stabilized at 3600 li.


    Simultaneously, the Boundary Tree also grew to a height of a hundred li, its branches lush and leaves plentiful. Its roots prated every corner of thendscape.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A vast ocean of vital ether surrounded the Boundary Tree.


    "Boss, this is amazing!�� The gigantic Teng Snake roamed about, swimming through the ocean or resting on the towering Boundary Tree.


    Wu Yuan''s soul avatar couldn''t help but smile.


    Other creatures couldn''t live in the internal shambh, but Little ck, a native creature, adapted to it perfectly.


    <i>Moreover, starting today, a trace of Little ck''s animus will reside in the internal shambh, irremovable. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Even if it''s killed in the world outside, it can still be reborn in the internal shambh time after time.</i>


    Of course, there were many limits imposed on this ability. For instance, if the lifebound eldritch beast was killed and its body not recovered, reviving it would take a very long time.


    ...


    Exhaling, Wu Yuan opened his eyes, his aura stronger than ever before. The vital ether was driving his body''s evolution.


    <i>Right now, my physical strength alone isparable to those at the third or fourth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. </i>


    <i>If I unleash my ether arts and employ my saber technique with Celestial Body True Intent, I could definitely massacre a whole group of Amethyst Cradle cultivators!</i>


    Before the breakthrough, Wu Yuan was already strong enough topete withte-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    Even though he just broke through to the first-stage Shambh phase, he was already a force to be reckoned with. Such was the terrifying nature of a peerless genius.


    <i>There''s no hurry to head to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field. </i>Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes. <i>What I need to do next is use the divine crystal elixir to gradually advance my shambh��s transformation till the ninth-stage Shambh phase.</i>


    <i>Also, I should cultivate the ether arts to higher levels and carefully consider which two ether arts I should cultivate next, especially my choice of grand ether art.</i>


    Under normal circumstances, after reaching the ninth-stage Shambh phase, one would usually wait a hundred years before choosing to break through. This was the case even with a high Daoprehension level.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self continued his cultivation inside the Essence Tower.


    Meanwhile, billions of light-years away on the Redmoon Immortal Continent, night fell over the vast headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Hum~ An invisible yet powerful force approached, seemingly existing in a different spatialyer. It did not trigger any warnings from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s arrays.


    It infiltrated right up to the core of the sect, near Dragon Star.


    "Who''s there?" Suddenly, a terrifying surge of soul power erupted violently from Dragon Star.


    Immediately after, sword light red, its brilliance piercing the heavens.


    <i>Boom~ </i>The entire sky above Dragon Star Immortal Sect trembled faintly. In an instant, all the Earth Immortals and High Immortals on Dragon Star Immortal Sect felt the disturbance.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Is an enemy invading our sect?" Numerous Earth Immortals and High Immortals grew extremely vignt, activating arrays to investigate the disturbance while sending messages to each other.


    But the next moment, everyone received a message from Abbot Wu: "There''s nothing to worry about. It''s just Ancestor Dong Yang trying out his sword art, and identally losing control."


    Many Earth Immortals and High Immortals remained suspicious, but as there were no more abnormalities, they all quieted down.


    ...


    <i>Above the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, in a solidified space that outsiders could not peer into.</i>


    ��The renowned Sword Immortal Dong Yang is indeed extraordinary. If I didn''t have the upper hand in mana, I wouldn''t have been able to trap you,�� the burly Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled nonchntly.


    "Sir, which Astral Lord are you? Why have youe to our Dragon Star Immortal Sect?"


    A youth dressed in white robes questioned with icy eyes.


    His heart was filled with unease; this neer��s power was too terrifying.


    With just a single move, he was trapped here, isted in this space. Even his strongest sword strike couldn''t break through the barrier.


    This mysterious powerhouse''s mastery of the Space Dao had reached an unimaginably high level. It was definitely an Astral Monarch.


    Astral Lord? Even a peak powerhouse like Astral Lord Redmoon wouldn��t be able to leave him feeling so helpless, without an ounce of hope for victory.


    "My young friend Dong Yang, I can assure you that my visit is without malice." Astral Monarch Hou Quughed, "Ie from the Cang Feng Eldritch World on orders."


    "Hm? Cang Feng Eldritch World? On orders?" Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s pupils contracted slightly.


    He had some guesses as to why this Astral Monarch was here.


    "The Sovereign has spoken." Astral Monarch Hou Qu flipped his palm, revealing a storage bracelet. He said, "I believe you know who this item is for."


    An instantter, the storage bracelet appeared silently before Sword Immortal Dong Yang, a move that was nearly impossible to defend against.


    <i>Vacuum Spatial Layer?</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang suppressed the surprise in his heart.


    He finally understood this person��s abilities, and more importantly, what they meant.


    "Haha, my young friend Dong Yang, you also have a Sovereign backing you. I don''t wish to offend you." Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. "Since I��ve delivered the item, I''ll take my leave."


    "I hope that when we have a round of drinks in the future, you won''t hold today''s events against me."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu disappeared in an instant, and the invisible force that originally isted this space also dissipated in an instant.


    <i>Astral Monarch! An Astral Monarch adept at Space Dao? Who could it be?</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang wondered.


    As far as he knew, throughout the vast macrocosm, there were many Astral Monarchs with their own specialties, but those adept at Space Dao and able to enter the Vacuum Spatial Layer were few and far between.


    Each one was an existence that other Astral Monarchs dreaded, with a level of fame that resounded through the macrocosm.


    After all, these were beings capable of entering higher spatial dimensions at will,pletely capable of toying with beings of the same cultivation phase.


    They were capable ofunching attacks from a higher dimension!


    ...


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan''s world residence in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.</i>


    <i>My body refiner self has stepped into the Shambh phase, and is currently pushing for the transformation of the shambh while contemting the silver sphere, yet the profundities within the sphere remain elusive.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self thought to himself while traversing through space, silently observing the scenery below.


    Suddenly, the fabric of space rippled, and an unkempt elderly man stepped out from within.


    "Master." Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up as he quickly bowed in respect.


    "You little rascal, you''ve given this old master of yours a hard time. I''ve been roughed up quite a bit," growled High Immortal Nan Yin, baring his teeth.


    Wu Yuan paused.


    Roughed up?


    "Here, take this." High Immortal Nan Yin waved his hand, and a storage bracelet shot out,nding in front of Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan paused again.


    "Master, isn��t this the thing my..." Wu Yuan began.


    "Silence." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head slightly, lowering his voice, "Some things are better left unsaid. We both know what''s going on, and that��s enough. There��s no need to say it out loud."


    "I won''t ask you what��s inside. You shouldn''t say anything more either."


    "If you need my help with anything,e find me," High Immortal Nan Yin stated, his form slowly fading away from the spatialyer.


    <i>High Immortal Nan Yin seems to have quite a good understanding of the Space Dao. </i>Wu Yuan mused, holding the storage bracelet.


    <i>But, wasn��t it supposed to be delivered by Astral Monarch Hou Qu? Could it be... High Immortal Nan Yin got beaten up by Astral Monarch Hou Qu? </i>Wu Yuan was taken aback, yet couldn''t suppress the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.


    <i>Let''s see what treasure Master Kua Chi has prepared for me.</i>


    With a swift motion, Wu Yuan gripped the storage bracelet and bolted back into the meditation chamber.


    Sitting in lotus position, Wu Yuan''s powerful Soul Force surged, rushing into the bracelet, causing the soul restriction on the bracelet''s surface to dissolve rapidly.


    Finally, inside the storage bracelet, Wu Yuan saw a vibrant green nt seed which emanated a potent vital aura, as well as a jade vial. Uncorking the vial, an extremely rich spiritual qi diffused into the open.


    <i>Divine crystal elixir?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled.


    He didn''t expect Master Kua Chi to have prepared some for his qi refiner self as well.


    Quickly sealing the jade vial, Wu Yuan''s gaze fell onto the green seed.


    <i>So this is the root establishment treasure Master Kua Chi has prepared for my qi refiner self? A Semi-Legendary treasure? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He scrutinized the green nt seed. Initially, he could only sense the strong vital aura it emitted.


    But soon, it stirred a craving within Wu Yuan''s spirit and body, an insatiable desire to swallow the seed.


    Suddenly, an invisible force shot out from the green seed and rushed into Wu Yuan''s mind. Immediately, a torrent of information burst forth.


    <i>Greenmist Crystal Wood?</i> Wu Yuan quickly understood the message left by Master Kua Chi within the seed. <i>A Wood essence treasure.</i>


    <i>Once I step into the Amethyst Cradle phase, my qi sea will transform, and I should ce it within the qi sea? Follow the corresponding teachings to learn the process of transformation?</i>


    Wu Yuan was lost in thought for a moment.


    The information left behind by Master Kua Chi was extremely detailed. Each step was outlined meticulously; just a single nce made Wu Yuan feel as if he had experienced it all firsthand.


    <i>There''s no need to wait any longer. My body refiner self has broken through and I can''t find a better treasure than this Greenmist Crystal Wood. If I don''t break through now, then when? </i>


    There were less than two years left until the Moonsilver Tournament, but that didn''t hold much meaning for him.


    The Daoprehension levels of his two true selves were the same, and his qi refiner self was incredibly powerful. Once he unleashed his power, forget same-phase geniuses from the Silvermist Immortal Nation, even the top Golden Core phase geniuses in the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World might not be a match for Wu Yuan.


    <i>My body refiner self is being watched by the Voltari Temple, I can''t afford to act recklessly whilecking strength.</i>


    <i>But no one is targeting my qi refiner self. Once I step into the Amethyst Cradle phase and cultivate for a bit, my qi refiner self should go on some expeditions.</i>


    Anticipation shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>I should check whether the ck pagoda also works for my qi refiner self.</i>

 Chapter 514: Destiny Voidscape, The Purification Of Faith (1)

    <h4>Chapter 514: Destiny Voidscape, The Purification Of Faith (1)</h4>


    <i>Inside the world residence, within the meditation chamber.</i>


    <i>Qi sea! </i>Wu Yuan focused intently on the mysterious ce within his body that appeared real yet felt slightly illusory. Within this qi sea, streams of essentia and mana flowed steadily around a brilliantly shining Golden Core, polished to its absolute limit.


    The ninth-stage Golden Core phase! The pinnacle of the qi sea.


    Simultaneously, nine lifebound flying swords, shrunk into sword pellets, revolved around the Golden Core, resembling nine miniature silver pills.


    This qi sea differed from the soul chamber. The soul chamber, originating from the lower dantian lobe, was derived from flesh and blood, a true space opened within the body capable of storing items. As the shambh transformed step by step, it would eventually turn into a real world.


    Meanwhile, the qi sea, originating from the middle dantian lobe, straddled the line between reality and illusion.


    It appeared to reside within Wu Yuan''s body, yet it wasn''t entirely inside. It was partially located in an unknown ce.


    <i>As the soul chamber transforms step by step into the shambh, one reaches the Shambh phase. Simrly, when the qi sea transforms into the amethyst cradle, it signifies one��s transition to the Amethyst Cradle phase. </i>


    These two phases were immensely important junctures of the two cultivation systems, from which many magical-like abilities stemmed.


    Three days passed.


    Wu Yuan finally finished iming ownership over the Greenmist Crystal Wood.


    <i>Time to break through. </i>He had consolidated his insights long enough; it was time to move on from the ninth-stage Golden Core phase. As High Immortal Nan Yin had said, he had been ready to break through for a while now. There was no need to dy any longer.


    However, as wonderful as a third-degree immortal root might be to other cultivators at the Amethyst Cradle phase, Wu Yuan had always been unsatisfied. The earlier a strong immortal root was established, the better.


    Now that he had acquired and owned the Greenmist Crystal Wood, a semi-legendary treasure, the time was ripe.


    With a buzz, the Greenmist Crystal Wood flew into his qi sea. Under themand of Wu Yuan''s powerful soul, it merged directly into the dazzling Golden Core.


    <i>Boom!</i> In the next instant, the previously calm essentia suddenly erupted, followed by the explosion of the Golden Core, which released its majestic power. It was as if an explosion on a universal scale was taking ce. However, this explosion unfolded in an orderly manner.


    <i>Condense!</i> Wu Yuan''s soul, working in tandem with the Dao''s profundities, observed every detail of the qi sea''s explosion, controlling it with precision.


    Why must one be at the seventh-level Domain stage to enter the Amethyst Cradle phase with confidence? If one''s Daoprehension was not deep enough, they would lose control during the explosion process in the first step and perish.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>His mana, already close to the level of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, swept across the vast qi sea in an instant. This immense power then struck the sky above the qi sea, piercing through it!


    <i>Rip~ </i>This mysterious, vast sky was instantly shredded open, revealing a hole. Hazy purple light shone through, and an invisible yet mysterious force quickly calmed the boiling qi sea.


    Streams of purple light illuminated a new world that stretched endlessly in all directions, disappearing into the void. The purified essentia gathered below to form ake, its surface glowing with hazy purple light.


    On theke, Wu Yuan''s soul sat, bathed by the rays of purple light shining through the mysterious hole in the sky. He felt an unprecedentedfort and warmth!


    <i>Breaking the barrier between real and virtual, linking the qi sea to the Destiny Voidscape. </i>Through this mysterious small hole, Wu Yuan faintly glimpsed that vast and mysterious ce, as if an endless ocean was flowing past.


    These strands of purple light were merely the drips of power seeping out from this endless ocean. And it was this mysterious power that had constructed the foundation of the amethyst cradle.


    <i>The amethyst cradle is light as a feather. Through the Destiny Voidscape, I can easily extend my Soul Force.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    Wu Yuan''s soul proceeded to merge with these strands of purple light, not to enhance the soul, but to imbue it with a mysterious trait��the trait of the Destiny Voidscape!


    Finally, Wu Yuan''s soulpletely metamorphosed, adapting to the strands of purple light. His Soul Force obediently entered the mysterious Destiny Voidscape through the small hole.


    In the real world, there were the Material Spatial Layer, the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, and higher spatial dimensions. Regardless of the spatial dimension, it fundamentally existed.


    Yet, how could two true selves be connected across the endless space, ignoring distance? Why was the voidrealm so inscrutable?


    All of it stemmed from consciousness, the soul. On the flip side of the real world, there existed a virtual world��the Destiny Voidscape!


    This was a higher dimension of consciousness, also known as a higher void dimension.


    <i>If one is powerful enough andprehends the Law of Space, one can ascend to higher spatial dimensions</i>. Wu Yuan thought.


    <i>Only with a strong soul, along with the amethyst cradle as the foundation and nourishment from the Destiny Voidscape, can one''s consciousness easily enter the Destiny Voidscape.</i>


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Through the small gap, Wu Yuan''s consciousness entered the vast, mysterious Destiny Voidscape.


    <i>Boom!</i> With this small gap as the nucleus, a monumental power began to expand rapidly. Eventually, it expanded to a radius of hundreds of li.


    <i>The size of the Voidspace that immortal cultivators establish in the Destiny Voidscape is rted to the Amethyst Cradle and soul.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    A cultivator with a normal third-degree immortal root usually only established a Voidspace of about thirty to forty li. The fact that Wu Yuan could establish such arge one was all due to his strong soul.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh!</i> Suddenly, wisps of green grass sprouted in the Voidspace that Wu Yuan had just established. Then, the entire Voidspace continued to expand outward.


    In just a moment, the Voidspace expanded to cover three hundred li. The power it could absorb from the Destiny Voidscape also increased.


    The Voidspace began to nourish itself, causing the Amethyst Cradle, located in real space, to expand further. The mana it nurtured grew stronger and more refined!


    <i>Second-degree immortal root.</i> Wu Yuan could already feel the transformation of his own immortal root. Silently, the third-degree immortal root had been upgraded to the second-degree.


    It appeared effortless, but in reality, it was because Wu Yuan''s soul was strong enough, and the Greenmist Crystal Wood was sufficiently effective.


    <i>At present, I''ve only opened up the most superficialyer of the Voidspace, which can be considered the Surface Void Layer, </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    <i>To truly enter the higher void dimensions, one typically needs to be an Archimmortal. One would need to be an extremely powerful High Immortal at least to have a chance of sess.</i>


    The Destiny Voidscape represented the virtual side of the real heaven and earth. The real and the virtual intertwined, opposing andplementing each other, embodying the fundamental power of heaven and earth.


    Within the vastness of heaven and earth, the animus of all living beings were housed in the boundless Destiny Voidscape, originating from the endless River of Destiny.


    Without the real world, the Destiny Voidscape could not exist. Yet without the Destiny Voidscape, the existence of the real world would be meaningless.


    Throughout the long ages, countless qi refiners had established their Voidspaces. Essentially, they merged their consciousness into the Destiny Voidscape, gradually gaining control over its power.


    The process of continuously merging with the Destiny Voidscape would gradually unlock the essence of heaven and earth.


    This process would not be obstructed by heaven and earth. On the contrary, it would be weed by the boundless essence of heaven and earth.


    This was because the Voidspace established by a qi refiner was a part of the Destiny Voidscape. The stronger they became, the stronger and more stable the Destiny Voidscape would be.


    <i>Body refiners seek to control a real world independently and determine their own destiny. Therefore, they are repelled by heaven and earth.</i> Wu Yuan thought silently. <i>Qi refiners, on the other hand, merge with the Destiny Voidscape, gradually mastering the profundities of its essence.</i>


    A path independent of heaven and earth.


    A path merging with heaven and earth.


    Twopletely different routes ultimately led to different results, and the means of forging them naturally also differed.


    Numerous miraculous abilities were made possible within the Voidspace.


    ...


    <i>Voidspace reflection.</i> With a thought, Wu Yuan felt his consciousness spread effortlessly across the entire Voidspace. After which, it was reflected onto reality.


    The Voidspace, initially only three hundred li wide, rapidly expanded to thirty thousand li in width once reflected in the real world.


    This real-world region spanning thirty thousand li waspletely within the range of his Soul Force, as if he was personally there.


    <i>This is just the Surface Void Layer</i>. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <i>If I truly enter a higher void dimension, even if it''s just the firstyer, my consciousness can spread across three million li once projected into reality.</i>


    The higher void dimension expanded greatly once reflected onto reality. And this was just the firstyer; there were still higheryers.


    How were some great beings able to learn of the various secrets throughout the vast spacetime with a thought, their immortal consciousness even covering the entire macrocosm? Was it really their Soul Force traveling through the Material Spatial Layer?


    Of course not! In essence, their consciousness entered an extremely high dimension of Destiny Voidscape, which then expanded as it descended to lower dimensions, reflecting an inconceivablyrge region of the real world.


    Knowing of everything that was happening in the macrocosm with a single thought; this was no exaggeration.


    <i>Body refiners have powerful bodies and can form the Shambh Domain. They can shatterws with pure strength, making it easier for them to break through to the higher dimensions.</i>


    <i>As for qi refiners, their consciousness originates from the Voidspace. Like the roots of a tree, they can easily break through to the higher void dimensions. This grants them astonishing perceptual abilities that allow them to kill others across endless spacetimes through karma and destiny!</i> Wu Yuan understood the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems.


    What people called the infinite expanse of spacetime referred solely to the Material Spatial Layer, not the higher void dimensions.


    Perhaps, a mere two steps in the higher spatial dimension, once reflected onto the real world, was equivalent to crossing billions of li of spacetime.


    Almost all great beings of qi refining sects were adept at karma and destiny, due to the creation of their Voidspaces in the higher void dimensions.


    <i>Body refiners are repelled and suppressed by heaven and earth. Due to their rtively weaker perception, they are rarely aware of any destiny-based threats. They may seem full of vitality, but their probability of death is rtively higher.</i>


    <i>Thus in this vast heaven and earth, the powerful qi refiners grow in numbers, and over ny percent of those who ovee the Immortal Tribtions are Archimmortals, </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    Even in the eldritch world, qi refiners might only ount for fifty to sixty percent of immortal cultivators in the initial cultivation phases, but in the end, the number of Archimmortals made up more than eighty percent of the Archimmortals and Archeldritch born.

 Chapter 515: Destiny Voidscape, The Purification Of Faith (2)

    <h4>Chapter 515: Destiny Voidscape, The Purification Of Faith (2)</h4>


    <i>Flying Sword!</i> With a mere thought, a lifebound flying sword emerged from the amethyst cradleke. Guided by Wu Yuan''s Soul Force, it effortlessly soared out of the meditation chamber, slicing through the air for thousands of li, then ten thousand, and finally thirty thousand!


    Wu Yuan marveled at the terrifying ability of a qi refiner. <i>Where the Voidspace is reflected in reality, the flying sword artifact may reach.</i>


    In legends, when a sword immortal struck, they could y enemies thousands of li away. However, some great qi refiners were said to be capable of killing foes hundreds of millions or even billions of light-years away in the blink of an eye.


    Of course, the farther the artifact traveled, the weaker its power became. Once it exceeded the range of the Voidspace''s reflection, it would lose its powerpletely.


    <i>An ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root should only have a Voidspace of about ten li. That''s roughly a thousand li when reflected into the real world.</i>


    A thousand li was the typical attack range of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator''s artifact.


    Exceptionally powerful cultivators, like those with third-degree immortal roots, were capable of striking targets thousands of li away.


    And Wu Yuan? His attack range was a staggering thirty thousand li. His lifebound flying swords could maintain their immense power, striking any enemy within tens of thousands of li!


    It was safe to say that with this ability alone, Wu Yuan could be considered a formidable powerhouse among many second-degree immortal root cultivators.


    ...


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s attention was drawn to the space above the Voidspace. Within that vast and unfathomable River of Destiny, strands of white silk-like threads began to materialize. They reached directly into the Voidspace, subtly rendering it more stable. These strange threads of power, although individually weak, possessed remarkable strength when umted.


    After a moment of contemtion, Wu Yuan identified the phenomenon. <i>This is... Faith!</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Through the Destiny Voidscape, his consciousness faintly perceived countless figures praying devoutly - old women, children, adults... Some figures were incredibly vague, while others appearedparatively distinct. There were billions of them!


    <i>No wonder I couldn''t perceive this when I first reached the Shambh phase. It turns out it was because my consciousness hadn''t entered the Destiny Voidscape.</i>


    He quickly grasped that only by perceiving the Destiny Voidscape could one receive the power of Faith. Every Amethyst Cradle cultivator could do it, an ability inherent to qi refiners. Among body refiners, only a few could aplish this feat.


    <i>The power of Faith is truly magical.</i> Wu Yuan thought.<i> It can elerate my soul''s growth and recovery, and my perception of the Dao seems clearer. </i>He rapidly discerned various uses for this newfound power.


    Though it seemed miraculous, Wu Yuan also recognized its drawbacks. <i>This power of Faith is actually the collective will of countless beings, resonating with the River of Destiny, contributing their power to me. But this power ultimately belongs to them; it contains their wishes and prayers.</i>


    He understood that absorbing a little was fine, but overindulging could entangle one in countless threads of karma, tainting the purity of one''s own soul.


    <i>It''s a double-edged sword. Only when one is strong and resolute enough can they suppress the countless regrets and lingering thoughts that apany the power of Faith.</i>


    As time ebbed away, Wu Yuan absorbed the power of Faith, tirelessly dispelling those thoughts. It was a slow and delicate process.


    Suddenly, an unseen force swept over Wu Yuan''s spirit and soul, rushing through the small gap between the Amethyst Cradle and the Voidspace, then sweeping through the entire Voidspace.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The innumerable thoughts contained within the unrefined power of Faith instantly dispersed. The Faith was now incredibly pure, no longer imbued with any thoughts or wishes.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly, a touch of shock emerging. <i>The ck Pagoda! Merely absorbing a bit of the blood mist has purified so much Faith?</i>


    One had to understand that his qi refiner self had scarcely any blood mist left in his upper dantian lobe. The blood mist consumed just now was even less than a hundredth of the remaining mist. And yet, it continued to process the power of Faith.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes sparkled. <i>Even most ordinary immortal cultivators dare not absorb the power of Faith inrge quantities, only taking it in slowly. But if I have enough blood mist, I can absorb it continuously.</i>


    <i>Once assisted by the power of Faith, the progression speed of my qi refiner self will skyrocket. The Daoprehension speed of my qi refiner self is much slowerpared to my body refiner self. But if assisted by the power of Faith...</i>


    <i>At the very least, myprehension of the Longevity Dao will be elerated several fold. My qi refiner self won''t be left far behind. </i>Wu Yuan thought, his heart pounding with excitement.


    However, he recognized two prerequisites: First, there had to be sufficient blood mist! Second, there had to be ample Faith.


    <i>Currently, I am only at the Amethyst Cradle phase, and the speed at which I can assimte the power of Faith is limited. The Faith I''m acquiring from the world residence, Summerpeak World, and my body refiner self is sufficient for the time being. The only concern is the blood mist. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    It didn''t seem to consume much. However, the cumtive amount required for the continuous purification of Faith was still shocking.


    <i>That''s fine as well. I had initially nned for my qi refiner self to venture out on expeditions. Now, I have an additional source of motivation.</i> A cold glint shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>First, I''ll use the divine crystal elixir to propel my mana cultivation to the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase in one breath.</i>


    From the first-stage to the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, the changes to the Voidspace were limited. After all, Wu Yuan''s Voidspace was already terrifyinglyrge. However, the Amethyst Cradle would grow increasingly vast, umting power for the next expansion of the Voidspace.


    ...


    Time flew.


    <i>Dragon Star, High Immortal Nan Yin''s residence.</i>


    "Second-stage Amethyst Cradle phase? How long has it been?" High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan in utter disbelief.


    It was too astonishing. Not even a month had passed since theirst meeting, yet Wu Yuan had advanced from the ninth-stage Golden Core all the way to the second-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Such a rapid pace of mana progression was downright inconceivable.


    "Did that person grant you a special treasure to assist your cultivation?" High Immortal Nan Yin couldn''t help but ask.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    He was well aware that Master Nan Yin might not consider divine crystals precious, but divine crystal elixir? Extremely so. Ordinary Astral Lords and Archimmortals would be reluctant to give any to their disciples.


    Only Master Kua Chi, an Eldritch Sovereign of the eldritch world, standing at the peak of the macrocosm, wouldn''t think much of such a treasure.


    "How much longer will it take for you to reach the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase? Three years? Five years?" High Immortal Nan Yin couldn''t resist asking.


    "Ten months," Wu Yuan replied calmly.


    High Immortal Nan Yin: "..."


    "It seems the legends are true," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and smiled. "A disciple under the mentorship of a Sovereign doesn''t need to waste time umting mana in their early phases."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile in response.


    "Haha, that��s fine. You''re now standing on a higher stage and your progress is indeed beyond my expectations," High Immortal Nan Yin sighed. "If you were to take on the one-star tower now and go all out, what level do you think you can reach?"


    "Between seventy-four and seventy-seven, I guess," Wu Yuan spected.


    He knew long ago that the guardian of level seventy of the one-star tower was at the first-level Law True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.


    "At least level seventy-four?" A glimmer passed through High Immortal Nan Yin''s eyes. He knew all too well the difficulty of this level.


    "Do you want to give it a try?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked.


    "No need," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "The other one is already dazzling enough. I need to keep a low profile; there''s no need to stand out."


    High Immortal Nan Yin gave a slight nod, aware that ��the other one�� Wu Yuan was referring to was the body refiner self.


    "In another twenty years, I will attempt level seventy of the one-star tower and earn some Dao Temple points," Wu Yuan grinned.


    "Mm," High Immortal Nan Yin nodded slightly, stating, "With your rate of progress, there''s a chance that you might break Luo Gu''s one-star tower record in the future."


    "Let''s take it one step at a time. Even if I truly possess such capability, there''s no need to break the record..." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Level eighty of the one-star tower was no easy challenge. Even if one reached the third-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Dao, there was still a high chance of failure. Thus, Wu Yuan was not very confident.


    "Is there anything you need help with?" High Immortal Nan Yin inquired, sensing that his disciple''s sudden visit meant business.


    "I have the ability to clear level seventy of the one-star tower," Wu Yuan suddenly smiled. "ording to the promise you made back then, I should be getting some gifts from you."


    It was the promise High Immortal Nan Yin had made when they first met.


    "You sly little thing, asking for rewards before you''ve even attempted it," High Immortal Nan Yin rolled his eyes, but saw that Wu Yuan remained unfazed, still grinning.


    "Fine, fine. You leave me no choice," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and chuckled. "Alright then, since you''ve stepped into the Amethyst Cradle phase, I''ll help you once."


    "Sword Immortal Dong Yang gave you a withered branch previously. For now, I won''t give you the reward I promised you back then. But I''ll prepare another batch of treasures for you that will allow you to fully upgrade your lifebound flying swords into first-grade spirit equipment," High Immortal Nan Yin dered.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. His lifebound flying swords were currently at the third-grade spirit equipment level. Should he upgrade them all to first-grade spirit weapons via the most optimal pathway, the cost would be astronomical!


    It could easily cost hundreds of billions of catties of ethercrystal, a sum that would make countless Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators green with envy, even leaving many Earth Immortals heartbroken.


    If it were his body refiner self? Naturally, he wouldn''t mind; a single divine crystal could easily be exchanged for hundreds of billions of catties of ethercrystal. But his qi refiner self? He didn''t have that many treasures.


    "As your master, I can only help you this much," stated High Immortal Nan Yin. "In addition, I will grant you a set of mid-grade spirion artifacts. It''s not particrly expensive, only about ten billion catties of ethercrystal, but it is very suitable for you. This is my gift to you for stepping into the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "Thank you, master," Wu Yuan responded respectfully, gratitude swelling in his heart.


    He knew very well that Master Nan Yin was not on par with Master Kua Chi. But emotionally, Wu Yuan felt closer to Nan Yin.


    "Once you reach the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, what are your ns? Continue cultivating in seclusion?" High Immortal Nan Yin inquired.


    "No. Master, I n to venture into the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield," said Wu Yuan, "To experience life and death battles."


    "The Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield?" High Immortal Nan Yin''s brow furrowed. "Even if you wish to go on expeditions, there''s no need to choose something so challenging right from the start. You can start with exploring some worldlets, realms, ancient ruins and the like."


    A smile unexpectedly tugged at the corners of Wu Yuan''s mouth.


    On the immortal continent, the expeditions that immortal cultivators went on varied widely. Some might delve into newly discovered worldlets, where they might find precious treasures or even the world spirit.


    Some realms were even more magical. Many were established and left behind by Archimmortals, Archeldritch, and Archdeities, with treasures galore.


    Naturally created realms were equally fascinating. And some ancient ruins, like ruins of sects or battlefields between immortals and devils, might also hold treasures.


    These exploration sites varied in danger levels. But Wu Yuan didn''t really need treasures, or rather, the treasures he yearned for couldn''t be found in ordinary regions. His goal was��blood mist! And the most convenient way to harvest blood mist was, of course, on battlefields.


    "Throughout the entire macrocosm, many battlefields of immortals and devils have been established, such as the Blood Mountain ne, which was a battlefield established to suppress the devil race," High Immortal Nan Yin persuaded. "The lower-level battlefields there are more suitable for you."


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "It''s the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield I want to join. Master, please rest assured, I won''t be rash.


    "The one I n to go to is Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36. I won''t be a genius from the eldritch world, just an unremarkable immortal cultivator from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Not many people would care about me," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

 Chapter 516: Transformation In Power (1)

    <h4>Chapter 516: Transformation In Power (1)</h4>


    "Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36?" High Immortal Nan Yin furrowed his brow slightly, "In the entire macrocosm, there are fifty-four Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields in total. Out of them, thirty-six are entry-level battlefields. Number thirty-six is one of the most dangerous."


    A smile crept onto Wu Yuan''s face.


    That''s right! The long war waged between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Voltari Temple saw no signs of slowing down, with countless immortal cultivators killing each other.


    During the decisive battle a hundred thousand years ago, countless immortal continents were transformed into battlefields. However, on most days, there were usually only fifty-four active Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields.


    There was one high-level battlefield, seventeen mid-level battlefields, and thirty-six entry-level battlefields.


    In terms of danger level, the mid-level battlefields wereparable to the Blood Mountain ne where the cultivators of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation often ventured on expeditions. For an ordinary Earth Immortal or Earth Eldritch, it was extremely dangerous.


    As for the high-level battlefield? That was the greatest battlefield of the macrocosm, and the most intense one.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s knowledge, Senior Brother Jiang Huan was invincible on the high-level battlefield, iming the lives of more than one Archimmortal.


    "Master, the entry-level battlefield is restricted to those at a maximum cultivation level of the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase," Wu Yuan smiled, "Even if many break through to the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase after entering the battlefield, their overall strength won''t be too outrageous."


    "Although I just broke through, I believe my Daoprehension level ces me in the top tier of the entire macrocosm," Wu Yuan grinned.


    High Immortal Nan Yin offered a helpless smile.


    Indeed, Wu Yuan just broke through and still couldn��tpare to the top Amethyst Cradle geniuses who had been cultivating for hundreds of years in the seven major factions. But at least, he wasparable to the top-tier Amethyst Cradle cultivators in typical immortal continents and even immortal nations.


    Furthermore, the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield wasn��t a ce meant for showdowns between geniuses, but a gathering of trillions of immortal cultivators taking part in trials. The probability of actually encountering a super genius was rather low.


    "It��s still dangerous," High Immortal Nan Yin warned.


    "Master," Wu Yuan smiled, "Expeditions are inherently risky. If there''s no danger, how can I strive to improve myself? How can I break through life''s limits?"


    High Immortal Nan Yin sighed inwardly.


    How could he not understand? He too, had braved through the same perils, experiencing numerous brushes with death to gain his current strength.


    Yet, when it came to his only direct disciple, he was instinctively filled with worry. After all, Wu Yuan, despite his frightening talent, was still too green, having only cultivated for a few decades. There were too many dangers that could pose a threat to him.


    "Alright! My disciple, since you''ve made up your mind, your master will no longer dissuade you. The path from novice to maturity inevitably involves life and death. How can one see a rainbow without weathering a storm?" High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.


    "Regarding the treasures for upgrading your lifebound flying swords, I will arrange for someone to deliver them to you soon. However, when you reach the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, remember to visit me. I have some instructions for you."


    "Understood. Then, I''ll take my leave first." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, then quickly left the residence via the teleportation array.


    Sensing Wu Yuan depart, High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly.


    <i>Sigh! He hasn''t even left yet, but I��m already filled with worry.</i>


    ...


    Upon returning to his own residence, Wu Yuan continued cultivating with the divine crystal elixir.


    <i>Boom!</i> The influx of purified spiritual qi transformed into rolling waves of essentia, expanding the amethyst cradleke within him in width and depth.


    The pool of amethyst cradle mana that Wu Yuan could manipte also grew increasinglyrge.


    "Fourth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase achieved. Continue." Wu Yuan muttered under his breath.


    His soul now was extraordinarily strong, fully capable of channeling different quantities of essentia to cultivate numerous aspects.


    <i>The Dark Earth Sword Array is my main attack technique. But in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, powerhouses are plentiful. Large groups of powerhouses will gather,unching joint offensive assaults. </i>Wu Yuan knew this very clearly.


    <i>Hence, I should now focus on cultivating the Star Ruins Sword Codex and the Extended Life Sword Codex. Survival is paramount.</i>


    <i>Furthermore, to conceal my identity during battle, the Longevity Dao should form the core of my techniques, supplemented by the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    Just as Wu Yuan was deep in thought, a strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm received a message from the Sect Spirit.


    "Amethyst Cradle Hereditary disciple Li Xia, the sect''s veteran elders have decided to grant you a status equivalent to a sect elder. From today onwards, you may freely ess all sect teachings, secret codices, and secret arts. You are no longer required to redeem them with dragon crystals."


    The message was sinct, yet its meaning was profound.


    <i>Did Master help me? I don''t need dragon crystals anymore?</i> A smile blossomed on Wu Yuan��s face. <i>That''s good. From here on out, I can freely learn all these teachings and secret codices from the sect.</i>


    Wu Yuan understood the reason for this.


    The sect introduced dragon crystals to encourage disciples to take risks and discourage them from cking off. But for Wu Yuan who was under the tutge of an Eldritch Sovereign, these restrictions no longer held much significance. The teachings he could learn through the Origin Eldritch Field were even more precious and superior.


    Besides, the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm��s coverage only spanned the spacetime territory of one immortal continent. Once he ventured to the distant Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, he would be unable to learn secret arts through the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>Even though located in a higher void dimension, the projection range of an Archimmortal��s Voidspace can only extend to the size of a single immortal continent. </i>Wu Yuan had finally understood how voidrealms were constructed.


    The source of it all was a Voidspace. The underlying principles were incrediblyplex. Yet, the actual operation was not difficult. By following the detailed process, one could construct it.


    Wu Yuan himself could also build a small, simple voidrealm based on his own Voidspace, which could cover a range of tens of millions of li.


    <i>Once I leave the sect, I won''t be able to study the sect''s secret arts. So, I should pick and choose carefully now, and try to memorize as much as I can. </i>Wu Yuan shed a grin.


    He redeemed theplete teachings of the ��Extended Life Sword Codex��, ��Star Ruins Sword Codex��, ��Dark Earth Sword Codex��, ��Sword Soul Sourcelight�� and others, memorizing them along with many other sword arts, saber codexes, and so on.


    Being greedy and biting off more than one can chew would naturally lead to issues down the line. Thus, Wu Yuan did not actually cultivate all the sword arts and sword codexes. Most of what he had redeemed was only for reference.


    ��Archimmortal Array Scrolls��, ��Divine Treasure Identifier��, ��Crystal Search Mountain River Methodology��, ��Devil Worm Cultivation Codex��, ��Ten Thousand Puppets Mind Control Methodology�� and more than a dozen auxiliaryw codices were also redeemed by Wu Yuan, who spared a bit of his attention to study them.


    One need not master these supplementary techniques when on expeditions, but one could not bepletely ignorant of them.


    Take arrays for example. When faced with a superrge-scale array, one didn��t need to understand it thoroughly, but if one couldn��t even discern its grade, that was dangerous.


    <i>Arrays are actually quite interesting. </i>Wu Yuan murmured, immersed in the study of arrays.


    In essence, arrays involved borrowing heaven and earth��s power,bining it with the geography of mountains and rivers, Dao patterns, and so on, and then unleashing terrifying power.


    Wu Yuan''s understanding of the Dao was deep enough, so it wasn��t difficult for him to learn some ordinary arrays. Theoretically, if one had the Daoprehension insights of an Astral Lord or Archimmortal, one could easily set up formidable arrays. This is the advantage of reaching a higher cultivation phase.


    ...


    ��Soulshake Seal�� was a technique to coalesce the user��s soul into a massive seal, which would be ruthlessly mmed into the enemy��s soul, causing their soul to wobble and thus interfering with their ability to cast arcane arts or manipte flying swords.


    ��Soul-extinguishing Needle�� was a technique to refine the user��s soul into a needle, aimed to annihte the enemy''s soul directly, achieving a silent and stealthy kill.


    Wu Yuan obtained these two soul techniques.


    These two soul attack techniques were widely practiced in manyrge sects, and were not difficult to cultivate.


    However, being widely practiced and easy to cultivate didn��t mean they are weak. On the contrary, if these two soul attack techniques were cultivated to a profound degree, their power could reach terrifying levels.


    <i>If I continue to cultivate peacefully in the sect, I don''t have to practice these offensive techniques, but in the world outside, they are indispensable.</i> Wu Yuan cultivated with utmost seriousness.


    His goal was just to make some progress. His powerful soul wasparable to a Void Refiner Eminence��s. Once he employed Soulshake Seal, even with just a rudimentary grasp of the technique, Wu Yuan believed even a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator would be affected, making it a key technique in group battles.


    However, Wu Yuan focused far more on the ��Sword Soul Sourcelight�� techniquepared to the two soul attack techniques.


    This soul defense technique was something he began practicing soon after joining the sect. It was divided into nine source realms, to which he devoted himself to cultivating.


    Time passed. When Wu Yuan advanced to the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, he finally cultivated ��Sword Soul Sourcelight�� to the fourth source realm.


    <i>Fourth source realm, I can easily withstand a soul attack from an ordinary Void Refiner Eminence. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Theoretically, with his Daoprehension and soul, he could cultivate to the fifth source realm.


    However, even though sudden epiphanies and rapid breakthroughs may ur whenprehending the Dao, the practice of secret arts required one to decipher countless Dao cryptic patterns and umte their profundities, a task of constant grinding.


    Wu Yuan wouldn��t be able to reach the fifth source realm of Sword Soul Sourcelight in a short time.


    <i>It��s enough. In the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, the chance of encountering an Earth Immortal-level soul attack is very low.</i> Wu Yuan thought, not too worried.


    ...


    At this moment, the Dragon Treasure Tower sent overrge batches of treasures sessively, all precious items for upgrading lifebound flying swords.


    It was obvious that they were all instructed to be delivered by his master, High Immortal Nan Yin.


    <i>Refine them! Refine them!</i> Wu Yuan started upgrading his lifebound flying swords without any hesitation.


    His lifebound flying swords were bottomless pits when it came to money. For ordinary sword cultivators that only had one or two lifebound flying swords and did not seek to maximize the future potential of their swords, they could generally manage to finance their swords�� upgrades until the Golden Core phase.


    But upon reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase, this grew increasingly difficult. After all, a single first-grade flying sword already possessed terrifying power and was incredibly expensive. Even the mostmon one would cost millions of catties of ethercrystal to purchase.


    As for lifebound flying swords? To upgrade a single one to first grade, the minimum cost was tens of millions of catties of ethercrystal, and saving on costs meant limiting the sword''s potential.


    And for someone like Wu Yuan?


    <i>Nine swords! The total value of the treasures Master has sent likely exceeds 600 billion catties of ethercrystal. </i>Wu Yuan marveled quietly. <i>And that''s not even counting that precious withered branch treasure from before.</i>


    The cost was unimaginably high! The path to bing the strongest sword cultivator was paved with wealth.


    Only a powerful High Immortal like Nan Yin would be willing to pay such a price for his only direct disciple. Normal Earth Immortals were reluctant to do so for their disciples, unable to afford it.


    <i>I will not let my master down.</i> Wu Yuan vowed, throwing himself into cultivation, feverishly refining the treasures and upgrading his lifebound flying swords.


    Third-grade spirit flying sword, second-grade spirit flying sword... his nine lifebound flying swords became increasingly powerful, inching towards first-grade spirit flying swords.

 Chapter 517: Transformation In Power (2)

    <h4>Chapter 517: Transformation In Power (2)</h4>


    <i>In the training ground of the world residence.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>A silhouette flickered. Instantaneously, hundreds of illusory figures materialized in the vast space. Soon after, these illusory figures dispersed one after another like dreams or bubbles.


    <i>The Celestial Body Dao as the core, and the Longevity Dao for support. This ��Celestial Phantom�� is really difficult to learn.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    <i>Continue!</i> He resumed his training.


    ''Celestial Phantom'' was a set of teachings he selected from the sect��s repository. It was a powerful teaching that enhanced movement skills, and was highlypatible with himself. [1]


    In a one-on-one fight, or during sect contests, the importance of movement skills was somewhat diminished. This was because a winner had to be determined, coupled with spatial constraints.


    But when adventuring outside, movement skills were extremely important! This was even more so for a qi refiner.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan abruptly stopped, a hint of joy shed in his eyes. <i>My body refiner self has finally reached the limit of the ninth-stage Shambh phase.</i>


    His two true selves broke through, one after the other. The body refiner self, taking the lead, naturally reached his objective first.


    <i>I should carefully study the silver sphere bestowed by my master.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self halted, preparing topletely immerse himself in contemtion.


    ...


    <i>Inside the Essence Tower, in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self sat in lotus position.


    Compared to more than a year ago, his vital aura had increased by more than a hundredfold, mighty and unbounded. His internal shambh had expanded from the initial 3600 li to a breadth of ten thousand li.


    The Boundary Tree, towering several hundred li high, was thriving, its rich vital aura permeating the space. The existence of the Boundary Tree greatly stabilized his internal shambh.


    Surrounding the Boundary Tree was the vast ocean of vital ether. Little ck frolicked within it, its form remarkablyrge, nearly ten li in size.


    <i>Ninth-stage Shambh phase! Little ck, too, has unknowingly reached the ninth-stage Shambh phase.</i> Wu Yuan felt the surging power within his body.


    He could probably annihte a thousand li stretch of rivers and mountains with a single punch.


    <i>Even some small stars would probably explode with a punch from me.</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly amazed.


    He increasingly understood why Shambh cultivators could freely roam the macrocosm. It was simply because their bodies were immensely strong. Even when traversing the void with their physical bodies, they could ignore most dangers.


    <i>My shambh. </i>Wu Yuan turned his attention inward to his shambh. Aided by the Boundary Tree, his vital ether recovered at a much faster speed.


    <i>ording to my research, the internal Shambh of a powerhouse with a typical second-degree eldritch root is usually about five thousand li in width. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>One with a first-degree immortal root often reaches sixteen thousand li.</i>


    Yet, Wu Yuan''s internal Shambh stretched for ten thousand li, a feat that could only be described as pushing the limits of the second-degree eldritch root. This was the power of the Boundary Tree!


    Among the treasures body refiners used to establish their shambh��s foundation, the best ones could stabilize and expand actual space.


    As for the root establishment treasures used by qi refiners, the optimal ones could bolster the soul and influence their Voidspace, like the Greenmist Crystal Wood.


    <i>Body refiners focus on their own bodies, yet their sensitivity to destiny and heaven and earth is somewhat diminished. </i>Wu Yuan gazed up at the roof of the Essence Tower.


    <i>Even though my body refiner self''s soul is top-tier among Shambh cultivators, I can only vaguely sense the Destiny Voidscape. I can''t even truly enter the Surface Void Layer of the Destiny Voidscape. </i>Wu Yuanmented silently.


    He was bing more conscious of the differences between the two major cultivation systems.


    Though body refiners seemed full of vitality, the long road of immortal cultivation was fraught with deadly trials. A weaker premonition of danger meant a higher likelihood of death.


    <i>It is no wonder that throughout the long years from the time of heaven and earth''s inception, the qi refining system has be the mainstream cultivation system.</i> Wu Yuan thought. <i>It''s easier and the risk of death is lower too.</i>


    Of course, body refiners also had their own advantages, such as being able to cultivate a second true self!


    <i>The two true selves need to support and assist each other to walk further on the path of immortal cultivation. </i>


    Wu Yuan flipped his palm, revealing the silver sphere gifted to him by Master Kua Chi.


    <i>Master Kua Chi said that I can try to study it once I reach the ninth-stage Shambh phase.</i> Wu Yuan stared at the silver sphere.


    The intricate cryptic patterns were extremely fine. Even with Wu Yuan''s vision and powerful soul, it was hard to get a clear view of each individual pattern.


    Over the past year, he had made several attempts. Eventually, he faintly sensed that the silver sphere seemed to emit strands of vital aura. However, he couldn''tprehend it.


    After pondering briefly, a thought flickered across Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Let''s try embedding it in the internal shambh. </i>


    His chest glowed, then swallowed the silver sphere.


    ...


    <i>Hum~</i> A silver sphere materialized out of thin air at the center of his vast internal shambh.


    In the next instant, it started to expand rapidly as if it had been forciblypressed for a long time.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    To Wu Yuan��s immense surprise, the silver sphere ultimately transformed into a silver sphere with a diameter of a hundred li.


    Like a miniature star, it hung above his internal shambh, its surface shimmering with a hazy silver glow, giving it an air of sanctity.


    <i>What? What is happening?</i> Numerous thoughts raced through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    But with his current knowledge, he quickly understood a thing or two.


    <i>In the world outside, the silver sphere is constrained and bound by the unseen pressure of heaven and earth? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>Meanwhile, the rules of my internal shambh have not been perfected. My shambh cannotpletely ignore the rules of heaven and earth, but by reaching the ninth-stage Shambh phase, I have gained a certain level of resistance. When the silver sphere is ced here, the effects of restriction are reduced by more than half. That is enough to reveal its true form.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s soul avatar looked up to see that the numerous silver cryptic patterns, which had originally been too small and tightlypressed to make out, had now been magnified by hundreds of millions of times!


    Atst, Wu Yuan could see them clearly. They were mysterious, profound, and inscrutable. Countless mysterious threads of cryptic patterns intertwined with an uncanny precision, leaving him in awe and shock!


    He had never seen such profound Dao cryptic patterns. They were akin to an insurmountable holy mountain, instinctively inspiring a sense of reverence and worship in him.


    <i>Somehow, even the cryptic patterns of the Celestial Body Dao seem far lessplex than these silver cryptic patterns? </i>Wu Yuan was shocked.


    He vaguely understood why his master had said that if he could walk this path, he would be incredibly powerful. How could it not grant him immense power?


    <i>These cryptic patterns?</i> Wu Yuan observed and perceived them in great detail, attempting to decipher them.


    He believed that his master wouldn��t give him a hopeless task.


    <i>Three hundred years?</i>


    At the moment, Wu Yuan couldn''t make heads or tails of theseplex cryptic patterns. Compared to the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao that Wu Yuanprehended, it was thousands, if not tens of thousands of times moreplex. There were innumerable threads, and he had no idea where to start.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan could feel that the countless cryptic patterns formed on the silver sphere maintained a sort of equilibrium. If the equilibrium copsed, and the sphere exploded, the resulting force unleashed would be truly hair-raising!


    <i>Can''t understand? Then break it down! Trace it! Read a book a thousand times, and its meaning will be self-evident. The same is true for these profound Dao cryptic patterns.</i>


    Wu Yuan wholeheartedly immersed himself in contemtion. A series of illusory cryptic patterns materialized around his soul avatar, formed by him tracing a small part of the patterns.


    Time passed.


    One day, two days... eight days...


    Just as Wu Yuan was beginning to doubt himself and thought about changing his approach, several freshly traced cryptic patterns suddenlybined into one, and the fluctuations of a familiar Dao spread.


    <i>This?</i> A mix of surprise and joy shed across Wu Yuan��s eyes.<i> Is this...the manifestation of the Celestial Body Dao��s profundities?</i>


    <i>Swoosh! </i>His gaze instantly fell upon the silver sphere a hundred li in diameter. Among the densely packed cryptic patterns, many sections seemed strangely familiar.


    Celestial Body Dao! Celestial Body cryptic patterns!


    <i>The cryptic patterns on this silver sphere include the Celestial Body Dao? Is it just a part, or the entirety of the Celestial Body Dao? </i>A vague notion of understanding bloomed within Wu Yuan.


    He now saw why his master was willing to give him this opportunity. Perhaps it was because he had reached the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao so quickly.


    <i>If it only contains a part of the Celestial Body Dao''s profundities, that''s one thing. </i>Wu Yuan gazed up at the enormous silver sphere. <i>But if it contains theplete Celestial Body Dao...that��s unimaginable.</i>


    <i>I have a deep understanding of the Celestial Body Dao. Now, I will gradually extrapte from the nodes I��veprehended to other cryptic patterns.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    It was just like tranting the text of an unknown civilization, if one didn��t understand it at all, naturally there was no way to get started. But if one could decipher some of the key words, then there was hope to further decipher other texts through the corrtion and frequency of subsequent and following words.


    Daoprehension was the same. The beginning was always the hardest part. But once someone gained a rudimentary understanding and obtained a thread of clues, one would certainly see results as long as one studied hard.


    Time passed.


    Three dayster, Wu Yuan was even more astounded.


    <i>There aren��t just the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao, but also the Longevity Dao among this silver sphere''s cryptic patterns.</i> Wu Yuan was in disbelief.


    Due to his limited understanding of the Longevity Dao, he hadn''t noticed this at the beginning. But as he delved deeper into the extraptions and insights, Wu Yuan naturally stumbled upon this revtion.


    <i>It''s not just the Celestial Body Dao or Longevity Dao, there are other cryptic patterns that don''t belong to either of these two Intermediate Laws, appearing far more profound. </i>Wu Yuan felt a chill running through him. He was thoroughly shaken by what he was seeing.


    The Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao were both intricate and extensive Intermediate Laws, vast beyond measure. Each fell under different Greater Laws.


    Logically, merging them should not be possible.


    For example, Wu Yuan might be able to simultaneously apply the principles of two Daos, but he was merelybining their effects, rather than truly integrating the two.


    It was like the armies of two different countries cooperating in a battle. Hidden agendas were bound to exist, making it easy for one to undermine the other.


    If they could fuse into one, acting as a single unit, theirbined strength would skyrocket.


    <i>This certainly is an inconceivable path. </i>Wu Yuan marveled, shaken to his core.


    <i>A single Intermediatew is already overwhelmingly powerful, once fullyprehended, one can be an Astral Monarch.</i>


    The fusion of several Intermediate Laws from different Greater Laws? It was downright terrifying. Just the thought of it was enough to send shivers down Wu Yuan''s spine.


    However, after some pondering, Wu Yuan realized the arduousness of this path. Take the Celestial Body Dao. Fusing just three Lesser Laws from the same source was already extremely challenging, let alone the fusion of several Intermediate Laws of different sources? [2]


    <i>But once this path is sessfully traversed, the power one would gain is beyondprehension.</i> Wu Yuan felt his heartbeat quicken with excitement, as if he had just seen a whole new path open before his eyes.


    Three hundred years just to reach the initiate threshold.


    <i>I must give it my all.</i> Wu Yuan was filled with motivation.


    ...


    In a blink of an eye, nearly a year passed. It was almost two years since Wu Yuan''s two true selves stepped into Shambh phase and the Amethyst Cradle phase respectively.


    <i>Headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, within the training grounds of Wu Yuan��s world residence.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Flying swords whizzed past, their sword qi enveloping the sky for thousands of li. The colors of the world changed, as if this were a vast world of swords.


    Not far away was a pile of waste, stacked as tall as a mountain. These were the scrap materials left after upgrading his lifebound flying swords, their essencespletely absorbed.


    <i>The upgrading of my nine lifebound flying swords isplete. </i>Wu Yuan stood in the air, murmuring to himself. <i>The Moonsilver Tournament has ended? It doesn��t concern me.</i>


    <i>Mm, I��ve made some progress in many arcane arts. Time to head to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. </i>Wu Yuan put away his nine lifebound flying swords and soared into the sky, heading to Dragon Star.


    1. Changing movement technique -> movement skill, as it does not refer to a particr technique but rather overall agility stats ?


    2. source should refer to a Greater Dao ?

 Chapter 518: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (1)

    <h4>Chapter 518: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (1)</h4>


    Dragon Star, spanning over a hundred thousand li, remained unchanged since Wu Yuan''s first visit. High Immortal Nan Yin''s super mansion stood as imposing as ever.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan materialized from the teleportation array, his eyes immediately drawn to an unkempt elderly man hovering in the air.


    <i>How unusual, Master isn''t lying down today. </i>Wu Yuan thought. In his memory, each time he visited his master for a tutoring session, High Immortal Nan Yin would always be reclining on a chair.


    "High Immortal," Wu Yuan greeted as he glided closer, bowing respectfully.


    "You''ve arrived?" High Immortal Nan Yin turned, his face devoid of its usual yful demeanor. Instead, a profound solemnity etched his features.


    Wu Yuan started, taken aback by the deep, ocean-like eyes that met his. Was this truly his master?


    "Over these past two years, your strength has grown with each visit," High Immortal Nan Yin began, his voice soft yet resonant. "Your grasp of the Longevity Dao has reached the fifth-level Domain stage. Yourprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is also progressing steadily."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    Indeed, the boost from Faith Incense''s power had propelled his qi refiner self to remarkable heights in the Longevity Dao.


    At present, he had reached the fifth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao and the first-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Coupled with his rapidly umting mana, Wu Yuan''sbat power far surpassed that of two years prior.


    In fact, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self now dared to challenge an average Void Refiner cultivator. Only with such power could he confidently embark on expeditions.


    "My disciple," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, his voice low and measured. "When a sect member begins to venture on expeditions, it typically marks a graduation of sorts from discipleship."


    "Master," Wu Yuan responded softly.


    Indeed, while disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign typically reached the Archeldritch/Archimmortal phase before graduating, in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, attaining the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase often sufficed for graduation as an immortal''s disciple. Beyond this point, masters rarely intervened in their disciples'' fates or chosen paths.


    "Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 lies boundless spacetimes away," High Immortal Nan Yin exined, his tone grave. "Moreover, it''s a world jointly controlled by the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple. Should you encounter danger there, I, your master, will be powerless to assist you."


    He paused, his eyes flickering with an emotion Wu Yuan couldn''t quite ce. "Therefore, before you graduate, I shall grant you several treasures."


    With a wave of his hand, High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "First, a set of flying swords from the same source." [1]


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The air above High Immortal Nan Yin was suddenly filled with nearly a thousand flying swords, their presence blotting out the sky. Each sword radiated a terrifying aura, embodying the sturdiness of Celestial Body and the tenacity of Longevity. Their sword qi intertwined in a mesmerizing dance of power.


    "This?" Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly. His trained eye immediately recognized these as first-grade spirit equipment.


    "729 first-grade spirit equipment flying swords, all from the same source," High Immortal Nan Yin exined. "Theybine the profundities of the Celestial Body and Longevity Daos, allowing you to unleash both simultaneously. I believe they will reach their full potential in your hands."


    "Master," Wu Yuan protested, overwhelmed by the gift''s magnitude, "you must have treasured this set of artifacts for a long time."


    A regr first-grade spirit flying swordmanded a price of one million catties of ethercrystal. With over seven hundred swords, under normal circumstances, the cost would approach a staggering one billion catties of ethercrystal.


    Moreover, these swords shared the same source and were imbued with the profundities of two Intermediate Laws. This would double their value at least. Conservatively estimated, this set of swords would fetch no less than three billion catties of ethercrystal.


    To High Immortal Nan Yin, however, such wealth was but a trifle.


    For context, an ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivator''s total wealth hovered around a few hundred million catties of ethercrystal. Possessing a billion catties of ethercrystal marked one as rtively affluent.


    Typical Divided Soul/Dharma Body cultivators had fortunes ranging from several hundred billion to a trillion catties of ethercrystal.


    A regr, low-grade spirion artifact usually cost between one to two hundred million catties of ethercrystal.


    High Immortal Nan Yin, a Sixth-Tribtion immortal with hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation, possessed wealth far surpassing that of an ordinary High Immortal.


    To him, billions of catties of ethercrystal were mere pocket change.


    Case in point: upgrading Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords had required materials worth hundreds of billions of catties of ethercrystal.


    Nevertheless, such a cohesive set of artifacts from the same source was considered the pinnacle of first-grade spirit equipment and incredibly rare. Even Earth Immortals would struggle to amass such a collection.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''s palm turned, revealing a golden tower that seemed to shimmer between reality and illusion. It radiated an aura of majesty and power.


    "This is the Soul Calming Golden Tower, an artifact that protects the soul," High Immortal Nan Yin exined. "I''m aware of your formidable soul, but remember, the soul is the foundation of all. Once damaged, it''s beyond repair."


    His eyes locked with Wu Yuan''s as he continued, "With the Soul Calming Golden Tower, coupled with your practiced soul defense secret arts, you need not fear soul attacks in Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36."


    Wu Yuan bowed deeply, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Master." Waves of warmth surged through his heart.


    Though Wu Yuan knew the Soul Calming Golden Tower was of little use for him given that he had the ck pagoda, his master''s thoughtfulness touched him profoundly.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''s palm turned once more, revealing an azure talisman that hovered in the air. Its surface was etched with countless cryptic patterns, exuding an aura of vast, untamed power. "This talisman is known as the Void Divine Talisman," he said.


    "Void Divine Talisman?" Wu Yuan echoed, his curiosity piqued.


    "Indeed. You may know it by its other name: the Light Speed Talisman," High Immortal Nan Yin exined. "Once activated, it will propel your flight speed to nearly the speed of light,sting for three breaths.


    "In those three breaths, you should be able to escape millions of li away. Even if Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivators give chase, you should be able to slip away to safety."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    The Void Divine Talisman''s reputation was indeed well-established. Achieving light speed was a feat beyond the reach of typical Earth Immortals or Earth Eldritches.


    "Lastly, take this token," High Immortal Nan Yin said, his palm turning once more to reveal a peculiar jade stone.


    Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Voidrealm jade?"


    "This is a voidrealm jade of the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm," High Immortal Nan Yin exined. "With this token, you''ll automatically receive a new identity as a member of the Huo Cang Region. It''s an identity I''ve crafted for you. Rest assured, no one will be able to trace it to your real identity.


    "All relevant information has been transmitted to your personal hall in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. Review it at your leisure. You may choose any name you wish upon your first entry into the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm."


    Wu Yuan stood stunned. Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm?


    He knew that voidrealms were constructs of high-level qi refiners, built within their own Voidspace. As such, their scope was inherently limited. Even the Silvermist Immortal Voidrealm could only epass the spacetime territory of the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    However, voidrealms like the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm and Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm were on a different level. They spanned the entire macrocosm, allowingmunication across a spacetime territory of billions of light-years.


    Ordinary Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches from the Redmoon Immortal Continent couldn''t even dream of entering the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, let alone bing disciples.


    "Master, is this... legal?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, his voice tinged with concern.


    High Immortal Nan Yin''s eyes shed, his beard quivering with indignation. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think me so unreliable?"


    A smile broke across Wu Yuan''s face. "Haha, that''s a relief then." His expression sobered as he continued, "With all these treasures you''ve bestowed upon me, Master, I vow to return safely."


    "Enough, enough. I''ve given you all I can. The rest is up to you," High Immortal Nan Yin said, making a shooing gesture. "Now go, and don''t you dare die out there!"


    He turned away, no longer meeting Wu Yuan''s gaze.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes misted over, moved by his master''s evident concern. How could his master not be worried? The path of immortality was littered with fallen cultivators. Perhaps this farewell would be theirst.


    Such partings were not unfamiliar to Wu Yuan, having experienced several throughout his life. Yet, High Immortal Nan Yin had lived for hundreds of thousands of years. His knowledge and experiences likely dwarfed Wu Yuan''s by a hundredfold, if not a thousandfold.


    "I shall take my leave," Wu Yuan said, bowing solemnly. He turned and flew directly into the teleportation array, vanishing without a trace.


    High Immortal Nan Yin remained motionless, lost in thought. <i>My disciple has grown; it''s time to let him go. Cmity and fortune are two sides of the same coin. Perhaps it''s time for me to face my own Tribtion.</i>


    ...


    Before visiting his master, Wu Yuan had meticulously packed all his treasures and necessities, ensuring nothing was left behind. Thus, upon leaving Dragon Star, he didn��t return to his world residence, teleporting directly to the sect''s mountain gate.


    <i>This is my first time at the mountain gate. </i>Wu Yuan stepped out of the teleportation array, gazing upon the towering structure before him.


    Though called a mountain gate, it more closely resembled the mythical Heaven''s Gate. Its grandeur seemed boundless to mortal eyes, its borate design serving a more decorative purpose than practical use.


    <i>Everyone loves a spectacle, it seems. Even immortals are no exception.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself as he leapt into the air.


    He swiftly made his way towards the massive teleportation array situated a few hundred li from the mountain gate.


    The internal teleportation arrays of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were intentionally isted from externalworks to prevent infiltration by hostile powers.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan broke throughyers of clouds, descending slowly. The area around the teleportation array bustled with activity, immortal cultivatorsing and going, most of them disciples of the sect.


    Wu Yuan cast onest nce at the vast expanse of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect behind him, the Dragon Star itself no longer visible.


    Decades had passed since he first set foot on the Redmoon Immortal Continent. He had spent most of that time within his sect, and it was fair to say that Wu Yuan felt a stronger connection to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect than he ever had to the Cloudstride Sect.


    "Hurry up! The teleportation array to Redmoon City is about to be activated. If you don''t make haste, you''ll have to wait for the next one," called out a distant guard, an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.


    "I''ming!" Wu Yuan called back.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan darted into the array, joining dozens of cultivators already inside, most of them at the Golden Core stage. Sensing the powerful aura emanating from Wu Yuan, most instinctively took a step or two back.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As the teleportation array shed with brilliant light, Wu Yuan and his fellow passengers vanished from sight.


    1. source here should refer to Dao(s) ?

 Chapter 519: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (2)

    Chapter 519: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (2)


    Redmoon City stood as the heart of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, its sprawling expanse home to a staggering number of immortal cultivators.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The city boasted hundreds of teleportation arrays. Some connected directly to first-rate sects and first-tier cities, while others wererge-scale teleportation arrays capable of transporting users to distant immortal continents.


    There was even a teleportation array leading to the Silvermist Continent, the very core of the Silvermist Immortal Nation. The sheer scale of Redmoon City''s connections spoke volumes about its prosperity and influence.


    Amidst this bustling metropolis, Wu Yuan moved with purposeful steps. He had taken care to disguise himself, blending seamlessly into the throngs of immortal cultivators despite possessing a vital aura that nearly matched that of a Void Refiner cultivator.


    He navigated the city''s vibrant streets calmly. Having been to Cang Feng City, Redmoon City''s grandeur did not leave too shocking an impact.


    A thought urred to Wu Yuan as he walked: yingrge numbers of powerful immortal cultivators will be challenging in other expedition sites.


    It wasn''t a question of power �C even if he possessed the strength, the circumstances did not allow for it.


    While life and death was a matter left to fate, killing a powerful immortal cultivator with solid backing could incur the wrath of their seniors. Wu Yuan sighed, acknowledging the harsh realities of the world of exploration.


    The most suitable ce for me is still the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. This ce, created and tightly controlled by two major factions, offered a unique opportunity. Here, one could kill without fear of repercussion, regardless of the body count.


    Though dubbed a battlefield, it served as a crucible where countless immortal cultivators could temper themselves in life-or-death scenarios.


    Much like the Bloodforge Battle, even cultivators from the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation lineage are permitted to participate.


    Wu Yuan recalled the intelligence he''d gathered. Of the seven major factions, the other five can apply or even directly enlist to join the battle. However, they''re restricted to the entry-level and mid-level battlefields.


    The reasoning was simple yet pragmatic. The entry-level and mid-level battlefields were popted by immortal cultivators. No matter how many fell, it would hardly affect the rtionships between the upper echelons of each major faction.


    But the high-level battlefields, dominated by Archimmortals and Astral Lords, raised the stakes exponentially. Too many casualties there could easily ignite a war between major factions.


    Hence, the other five major factions were not allowed to participate in the high-level battlefields.


    As Wu Yuan understood it, among the seven major factions, those from the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation, Bloodforge Devil Hall, Eight Mountains Alliance, and Destion Divine Court typically aligned themselves with the Eldritch Court, represented by the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Conversely, most immortal cultivators from the Greenridge Immortal World tended to side with the Voltari Temple.


    The two camps kept each other in check.


    This delicate bnce of power revealed the underlying biases of the seemingly neutral major factions in the macrocosm.


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World leans more towards the Eldritch Court. Wu Yuan concluded.


    This alignment exined why Master Kua Chi allowed him to let his qi refiner self remain a part of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation.


    Before heading to the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation, I should see what Master has left for me in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. Wu Yuan made his way towards the enormous teleportation array at Redmoon City''s far end.


    A single strand of his consciousness entered the voidrealm jade, arriving at the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    This ce seemed even more distant and inscrutable than the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm. It gave Wu Yuan a simr feeling to when entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    ��


    Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, Wu Yuan��s personal hall.


    A core member of the Huo Cang Region? A member of an Astral Monarch''s core territory? Master managed to secure such a status for me? Wu Yuan was taken aback as he looked through the information his master had sent him.


    The content was simple: Hide your identity.


    The Huo Cang Region, epassing nine immortal continents, was directly governed by a powerful Astral Monarch, Astral Monarch Huo Cang, and produced numerous powerhouses generation after generation.


    Because the region was under the Astral Monarch��s direct rule, all internal news and information was strictly controlled. It was difficult for outsiders to obtain information about the Huo Cang Region, allowing it to raise many geniuses in secret.


    This was the new identity that High Immortal Nan Yin had prepared for Wu Yuan. Someone with neither a high nor low status.


    Unremarkable, yet an individual most people would not dare to offend casually.


    Name? Wu Yuan pondered for a moment, then quietly said, "From today onwards, I shall be Ming Jian."


    Ring, homophonic with bright! [1]


    Shadow de Wu Yuan.


    Bright Sword Li Xia. [2]


    Head to the gathering ce of the Huo Cang Region��s immortal cultivators, join a team there, then send a team application to the Cang Feng Eldritch World, before proceeding to Battlefield 36 together? Wu Yuan read the information left by his master.


    In this manner, I stand out less and it''s safer in the initial stages.


    Wu Yuan understood his master��s intentions. Battlefield 36 was the territory of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. Who would treat an ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator with importance? If his qi refiner self were to charge in recklessly, perhaps he might be thrown into a dangerous area right from the start.


    But as a member of the Huo Cang Region, things would be different. He would be considered a direct subordinate of an Astral Monarch, thus the Cang Feng Eldritch World would treat him with greater importance.


    Just how vast is Master''swork? He��s residing in the immortal continent, yet he could even secure me the identity of a core member of an Astral Monarch''s territory?


    Wu Yuan couldn��t understand how his master did it!


    Forget it. Master has always been mysterious. Let''s head to the Huo Cang Region.


    Wu Yuan quickly arrived at the massive teleportation array in Redmoon City and handed over hundreds of catties of ethercrystal. The crowd here had thinned out quite a bit.


    The spacetime territories of different immortal continents spanned hundreds of thousands to millions of light years. The cost of traveling between them via teleportation was naturally exorbitant.


    Ordinary Golden Core cultivators couldn��t afford it, and even most Amethyst Cradle cultivators would wince at the cost.


    ��


    Wu Yuan made several transfers during his journey to the Huo Cang Region.


    Meanwhile, in a separate ne of the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, two figures stood within a towering shrine.


    One was d in white robes, exuding an aura as pure as jade. The other burned brightly like fire, resembling a deity.


    "Senior Brother Huo Cang, my apologies for the trouble," the youth in white robes said, a smile gracing his face.


    "Ha, we''re fellow disciples under the same master, there��s no need to mention it. Junior Brother Dong Yang, in all these hundred thousand years, this is the first time you''ve asked for my help," the figure, as magnificent as a deity, spoke with a booming voice, "Moreover, it''s a trivial matter. I��m your disciple��s Senior Uncle after all. There was no need for you to make a personal trip."


    "It''s only right," Sword Immortal Dong Yang chuckled.


    "Haha, Junior Brother, ovee your Tribtion soon," the figureughed, "None of your Senior Brothers managed to walk the path of our master, only you managed to obtain a portion of his inheritances."


    "Everyone says that Jiang Huan is a once-in-a-million-year genius of our Greenridge Macrocosm. In my view, Junior Brother, you are by no means inferior to Jiang Huan."


    "We��re walking different paths, there��s noparison," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled faintly, "Alright, Senior Brother, I''ll be going ahead."


    ��


    After two transfers within a span of two hours, Wu Yuan arrived at the Huo Cang Immortal Continent, located more than ten million light years from the Silvermist Immortal Continent.


    This was an Astral Monarch��s territory.


    The teleportation array here was gargantuan, spanning ten thousand li and bustling with immortal cultivators. One could asionally spot an Earth Immortal or two.


    Truly befitting of an Astral Monarch''s stronghold. Wu Yuan thought in awe as he walked out through one of the passages, surveying the scene below.


    "Childe Ming Jian!" A ck-armored figure called out from a distance. His aura was incredibly domineering.


    "Huo Cang Army? Earth Deity?" Wu Yuan recognized the badge on the chest of the ck-armored figure and sensed the powerful vital aura radiating from him.


    Earth Immortal was an honorific for Divided Soul cultivators. Earth Eldritch and Earth Deity were honorifics for body refiners who had reached the Dharma Body phase.


    The Huo Cang Army was the core military force under themand of Astral Monarch Huo Cang.


    Given that this Earth Deity before him had managed to join their ranks, his strength was certainly extraordinary.


    "You know me?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "Haha, I identified you via your voidrealm jade��s aura. This voidrealm jade originated from our Huo Cang Region. The general ordered me to wait here to wee you, Childe." The burly man in ck armor smiled, a hint of respect in his voice.


    "Please follow me, Childe. The Huo Cang Reserve Army is ready."


    General? Huo Cang Reserve Army? Wu Yuan blinked, perplexed.


    Swish! The burly man in ck armor flew off. Wu Yuan had no choice but to follow. Facing a powerful Earth Deity, he dared not resist.


    However, a strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness was already swiftly gathering information about the Huo Cang Army within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    Reserve Army Soldiers - Amethyst Cradle/Shambh Cultivators.


    Reserve Army Commanders - Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators.


    Regr Army Soldiers - Earth Immortals/Earth Deities.


    Commanders - High Immortals/High Deities.


    Generals - Archimmortals/Archdeities.


    ording to this ck-armored soldier, a general of the Huo Cang Army, an Archimmortal, ordered him to escort me? A wave of unease swept over Wu Yuan.


    Did his master steal someone''s voidrealm jade? Or did his master truly have such an extensivework?


    The first possibility is unlikely. My master wouldn''t harm me. Wu Yuan pondered. But my master is only a Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal.


    If it were Sword Immortal Dong Yang, I could understand. But how did my master do it? Wu Yuan was at a loss.


    A Sixth-Tribtion High Immortal with such a great influence?


    ��


    The Huo Cang Army, stationed on the Huo Cang Immortal Continent, had high standards for its recruits. Thus, it was a gathering ce for the strong. Those who could join the Huo Cang Army were far from ordinary, and all members were true elites and geniuses.


    At this moment, the Huo Cang Reserve Army��s camp sprawled across tens of millions of li.


    On the eastern side of the camp was a towering, superrge teleportation array that stretched for thousands of li.


    Beside the teleportation array were around three hundred Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, standing in groups of twos or threes. Each one of them was d in silver armor, emanating an extraordinary aura. These groups were all engrossed in hushed discussions.


    In one corner.


    "Big Brother, you should have been the one to lead our team into Battlefield 36," a burly man said with a hint of frustration, "In terms of strength, you definitely rank in the top hundred among the millions in the reserve army."


    "You��ve already passed the necessary tests, yet half an hour before departure, they suddenly inform us of a switch inmander?"


    "Where did this so-called Ming Jian spring up from? I��ve never heard of him! None of the strong Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivators go by such a name!" ranted the burly man.


    "Shut up! This is the decision of the High Immortals, what right do we have to object?" A silver-armored young man with a noble demeanor furrowed his brow, "Also, stop referring to him as Ming Jian. Call him ��Commander��."


    "Don''t forget the rules of the Huo Cang Army," the silver-armored youth said coldly.


    The burly man seethed in silence, yet no longer uttered another word.


    "Brother Pei He," a bearded, burly man spoke in a low rumble, "You were previously chosen to take on the role of Commander due to your superior strength and mastery of arrays."


    "In the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, our chances of surviving and returning from this dangerous assignment are much higher under your leadership."


    "But this Ming Jian?" The bearded man shook his head, "I suspect he might be some pampered privileged young master, whom we��ll have to protect instead."

 Chapter 520: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (3)

    Chapter 520: Commander Of The Huo Cang Army (3)


    "So what if that''s the case?" A frosty woman retorted coldly, "As per the Huo Cang Army��s rules, if the Commander falls, we all face severe punishment. Even if we are in danger, we have to risk our lives to protect him."


    "Enough of this squabbling. The higher-ups must have their reasons. Maybe he''s a powerful cultivator?" Another bald youth shook his head, "We are all captains here. Keep up military morale. Once we enter the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, we''ll still need to rely on coordination arrays to fight."


    "Powerful?" The first man to voice his discontent scoffed, "The well-known Amethyst Cradle and Shambh powerhouses are limited in number. Could this guy be stronger than our big brother? You believe that?"


    Suddenly, a cold voice rang out, "Silence! The Earth Deity has arrived."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The hundreds of Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators looked up.


    Everyone quickly fell into line, and the six captains dispersed immediately.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! The ck-armored Earth Deity descended rapidly with Wu Yuan by his side, standing before the three hundred Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators.


    "Attention, everyone." The ck-armored Earth Deity''s voice was frosty as his gaze swept over the reserve soldiers, "This man beside me is your new Commander, Ming Jian!"


    "Greetings, Commander." The three hundred Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators bowed in unison.


    "Remember, if the Commander dies, you will be deemed to have failed the assignment and will face third-degree punishment," the Earth Immortal��s voice boomed. "Understood?"


    "Yes." Hundreds of Amethyst Cradle soldiers stifled their feelings of injustice, not daring to express the slightest dissatisfaction.


    This was the Huo Cang Army! The weak were just sacrificial pawns for the strong.


    "Huo Cang Reserve Army Commander?" Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the hundreds of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators.


    "Draw your sword." The ck-armored deity looked at Wu Yuan, his voice echoing in his mind, "ording to the orders from above, you are to lead this team onto the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    "They will follow your orders under martialw. You just need tomand the army and kill any enemies. If you encounter insurmountable danger, act as you see fit."


    Wu Yuan, as astute as he was, understood instantly. Leading a team of the Huo Cang Army was not just to conceal his identity, but to provide himself with hundreds of cannon fodder.


    Act as you see fit? In other words, if it came down to a life or death situation, let these soldiers take the fall, and he would take the opportunity to escape.


    "Six captains, step forward." The ck-armored soldier barked coldly, "Inform yourmander of your names."


    "Pei He, reporting to themander." The silver-armored, handsome young man bowed slightly, his face calm.


    "Zhang Shan��" The burly man''s salute was casual, his dissatisfaction evident.


    "Bing Roushui��" The icy woman''s voice was emotionless.


    "Lie Shier��" The bald youth showed a slight smile, his salute the most respectful.


    The six captains saluted one after another. From their attitudes, Wu Yuan had already gleaned a good deal of information.


    These six team leaders seemed to harbor some dissatisfaction towards him. Likewise, the hundreds of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators also appeared somewhat disgruntled.


    However, Wu Yuan couldn''t care less. He wasn��t considering going solo at this point.


    After all, despite the inconvenience of working together with hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators, theirbined strength meant greater safety.


    No matter how confident I am, safetyes first in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    When it came to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, he dared not be careless. It might be an entry-level battlefield, but for an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, it was akin to entering a dragon''s den or a tiger''sir.


    "Alright, Ming Jian." The ck-armored Earth Deity said in a low voice, "Lead the team through the teleportation array directly to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36."


    "I have already inputted the coordinates into the teleportation array."


    "Mmm, understood," Wu Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the six captains. "The six of you, lead your teams and follow me."


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Following their team captains, hundreds of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators entered the enormous teleportation array one after another.


    Whoosh! A pir of light rose to the sky, and the 301 Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators within the teleportation array vanished without a trace.


    ��


    In a deste space, hundreds of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators gathered, surrounded by dim starlight. It seemed as though they were still standing in the same spot.


    After some time.


    "Captain, how long will this teleportation transfer take?" an Amethyst Cradle soldier asked. "The Earth Immortal mentioned that it will take some time, but it feels like we''re not moving at all."


    The other Amethyst Cradle cultivators started to feel uneasy. Yet they dared not make any rash moves.


    "It should take several more hours, I guess." The silver-armored young man named Pei He replied with a hint of uncertainty.


    "We are currently in the Vacuum Spatial Layer." A faint voice chimed in, "The Huo Cang Immortal Continent is nearly three billion light years from the entrance of Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 located in the Blood Eldritch Immortal Continent."


    "It''ll probably take around a day and a half to teleport there."


    The Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators all stared at Wu Yuan, who was sitting in lotus position at the front of the group, gazing into the pitch-ck void ahead.


    There was a moment of silence.


    "Commander, what is the Vacuum Spatial Layer?" The bald youth named Lie Shier asked curiously.


    "Space has multipleyers. We live in the Material Spatial Layer..." Wu Yuan began with a smile.


    Swiftly, he recounted what Astral Monarch Hou Qu had once told him, along with some of his own understanding, to the hundreds of soldiers.


    All the soldiers listened in astonishment. Most had never left their military garrison. How could theyprehend the vastness of the macrocosm, let alone the differentyers of space?


    Pei He, Lie Shier, Zhang Shan, Bing Roushui, and the other captains exchanged nces, and silently reached a consensus - to temporarily obey.


    Thismander called Ming Jian seemed to have some real skills. At the very least, his knowledge and perspective greatly surpassed theirs.


    ��


    Unfazed by the many thoughts of these captains and ordinary soldiers, a hint of excitement stirred deep within Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    I finally understand. It''s Space, it''s the cryptic patterns of Space. Wu Yuan recalled the scene just a moment ago, when the fluctuations of the teleportation array carried them, passing through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer and Turbulent Spatial Layer in an instant.


    He only caught a fleeting sight of those chaotic spatial fragments. Yet he could feel the simrities between them and the faint Dao fluctuations from the cryptic patterns on the silver sphere.


    Wu Yuan was immediately certain �C they were cryptic patterns of Space.


    Space was far more mysterious than the sevenmon Laws of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Thunder. Space was everywhere, yet it was the hardest toprehend! Its power was also astonishing.


    The Vacuum Spatial Layer is an extremely high spatial dimension. I can''t sense a single ripple of spatial fluctuation. Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He gently closed his eyes, continuing to contemte the Longevity Dao.


    ��


    Celestial Body, Longevity, Space. In the distant Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was still fully engrossed in contemtion. Sadly, his progress was frustratingly slow.


    I can understand a very small part of the Celestial Body Dao. I canprehend just a hint of the Longevity Dao. The Space Dao? As cryptic as a heavenly scripture. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, theyers of cryptic patterns were simply too profound.


    He was at his wit''s end.


    Normally, Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators could perhaps apply some principles from thews of heaven and earth. Butprehending it remained utterly unrealistic.


    Forget it, at least I can confirm that these cryptic patterns are rted to the profundities of Space.


    I still have three hundred years left. Ny percent of my focus will be dedicated to studying the Celestial Body Dao, and the remaining ten percent will continue to trace these cryptic patterns. Wu Yuan swiftly made a decision.


    The Celestial Body Dao was his foundation. As Master Kua Chi once said, even if he couldn''t understand the profundities of the silver sphere, as long as he couldprehend the Celestial Body Dao, he could still be an Astral Monarch. This path was just as viable.


    Moreover, if I canprehend the Celestial Body Dao and the Longevity Dao to an extremely high level, I will also be able to understandrger sections of cryptic patterns on the silver orb. Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    If it were that easy toprehend, his master wouldn��t have given him three hundred years.


    Wu Yuan didn''t aim to reach the heavens in a single stride.


    ��


    The fifty-four Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields were all located at the spacetime boundary between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple.


    And Battlefield 36, in terms of fighting intensity, was second to none among the many entry-level battlefields.


    That was because this battlefield was located in the Blood Eldritch Immortal Continent where a special treasure known as Fire Ethercrystal was produced. It possessed many mystical qualities.


    In a bid to harvest Fire Ethercrystal, the two major factions dispatchedrge numbers of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators to this battlefield, making the fighting all the more ruthless.


    At opposite ends of the battlefield were the main camps of the two opposing major factions. The one set up by the Cang Feng Eldritch World was called the Blood Eldritch Temple.


    The temple was vast, housing arge number of super powerhouses and nearly ten thousand teleportation arrays. It was designed for easy transportation from countless immortal continents and eldritch continents, immortal nations, and eldritch divine nations throughout the macrocosm.


    One of the teleportation arrays shed with light.


    Over three hundred figures flew out from the teleportation array, uniformly armored. With their powerful aura, the expressions of the other immortal cultivators on the za shifted, and they retreated in a hurry.


    "It''s an army."


    "They must all be sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators at least. Where did this armye from? It must be dispatched from some major faction, right?"


    "It''s not from an eldritch divine nation." The immortal cultivators passing by all looked over, but none dared toe too close.


    With hundreds ofte-stage and mid-stage Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators gathered, it was naturally a great show of strength. After all, cultivators had to be at the Amethyst Cradle phase when they first entered the entry-level battlefield.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Two figures flew across the square,nding in front of Wu Yuan and his team, their auras considerably powerful.


    "I presume you''re the reserve soldiers of the Huo Cang Army. Which one of you is themander?" The man in white robes at the front gently smiled.


    His aura was mighty, a Void Refiner cultivator.


    "I am." Wu Yuan responded.


    "Good, your application to join the battlefield has already been approved. Please follow us. After a day''s rest, we''ll brief you on the battlefield conditions and you''ll be teleported to a war base on the immortal continent." The man in white robes smiled.


    "Alright." Wu Yuan and the others nodded in agreement.


    nked by two white-robed Void Refiner Eminences, Wu Yuan led the Huo Cang soldiers, soaring towards the other end of the za.


    ��


    On one side of the za was a tall tower. Standing in the main hall, one could survey the scene in the za below.


    "I told you, this ethercrystal vein has just been discovered," a ck-robed youth asserted. "I need to enlist a team to assist me."


    "An Shu, with your authority, you may onlymand a team of six hundred," the middle-aged man in white at the end of the hall frowned. "Your team has already been decimated thanks to your actions.


    "If you want help, either ask other members of the Origin Eldritch Field for assistance, or invite a foreign military team! Either way, this is beyond my authority."

 Chapter 521: Assault Mission Invitation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 521: Assault Mission Invitation (1)</h4>


    <i>Inside the hall.</i>


    "Authority this, authority that! Is that all you know?" The ck-robed youth spat, his teeth clenched in frustration. "Give me two teams, and I''ll take this Fire Ethercrystal vein. You��ll still get your precious merits."


    The white-robed middle-aged man frowned, his voice calm but firm. "An Shu, youck the authority to mobilize more soldiers. You should understand that. I can only arrange a standard patrol."


    "Hm?" An Shu��s gaze shifted across the vast za below. His eyes brightened as he pointed. "What about that team down there? They look like elite troops."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The white-robed middle-aged man flew over in an instant, ncing down. "Hold on, let me check."


    He closed his eyes slightly, sending a thread of consciousness into the voidrealm. After a moment, he opened them again. "I��ve got it. That team is from the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation. They''re a seventh-rank unit," the man said, opening his eyes. "I believe they meet your requirements."


    "In my experience overseeing za 54, no more than two elite teams show up here each day."


    "Your vein can''t wait that long, can it?" the white-robed man asked with a chuckle.


    An Shu shot him a sharp re.


    Normally, finding a vein was difficult, but once discovered, excavation was straightforward.


    "This is a foreign military team with high authority. If you can persuade them, I��ll arrange for their transfer to the war base where you��re stationed," the white-robed man offered.


    "Alright. I��ll be relying on you, then." An Shu nodded before darting out of the hall, heading towards the distant za.


    ...


    Following two white-robed Void Refiner cultivators, Wu Yuan and his group entered another massive za that stretched for nearly a thousand li.


    Immortal cultivators were scattered across the za, numbering well into the tens of thousands, all in the Amethyst Cradle or Shambh phases.


    Most were in the early or mid-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, withte-stage cultivators making up less than one percent. In Wu Yuan��s group, however, nearly a hundred werete-stage Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators��a terrifyingly high ratio.


    As Wu Yuan��s group arrived, they immediately drew the attention of countless cultivators in the za. One could tell they were an elite force at a nce.


    Wu Yuan, Pei He, Lie Shier, and the restnded one after another, gathering in low-voiced discussions.


    "Commander Ming, please wait here. There are many war bases on this battlefield, andbatants are only teleported once a day," the lead Void Refiner Eminence said in a low voice. "The next teleportation willmence in four hours."


    "There will be a detailed briefing about the battlefield soon. Pay close attention," he added.


    The other Void Refiner Eminence waved his hand, and numerous voidrealm jades flew out,nding in front of each immortal cultivator.


    "These are voidrealm jades from our Cang Feng Eldritch World. Imprint your aura onto them and keep them activated during battles," the Eminence instructed solemnly. "This is the only way to verify your kill count and battle achievements, which will determine your ethercrystalurels after the battle."


    "The voidrealm jade is a single-use item. Only with it can you return here via the teleportation array at the war base."


    Wu Yuan, Pei He, and hundreds of their soldiers received the voidrealm jades, each imprinting their aura upon it.


    With that, the two Void Refiner Eminences swiftly departed.


    "Commander, there are so many people here," Lie Shier, the bald young man, remarked, his voice carrying a hint of awe. "This is just one waiting area, yet there are already tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators. I''ve heard there are thousands of these waiting areas."


    "Does that mean tens of millions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators enter Battlefield 36 every day? That''s terrifying," Lie Shier added, shaking his head slightly.


    Wu Yuan smiled faintly, casting a nce at him. After spending a little more than a day together, Wu Yuan had earned the eptance of the six captains, at least superficially, by demonstrating a glimpse of his capabilities.


    Lie Shier, in particr, seemed eager to cozy up to him, always taking the initiative to ask questions.


    "It isn��t much," Pei He responded in a low voice. "You have to understand, for any eldritch or immortal continent, it��s not difficult to muster tens of millions��perhaps even a hundred million��Amethyst Cradle cultivators."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth of Pei He''s words.


    The Dragon Star Immortal Sect alone boasted one to two hundred thousand Amethyst Cradle disciples. And the Redmoon Immortal Continent, with its dozens of first-rate sects, countless smaller ones, the powerful Redmoon Immortal Hall, and numerous worldlets, could easily gather tens of millions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    "A single battlefield sees tens of millions of new Amethyst Cradle participants each day. Over the course of a year, that��s billions of cultivators," Pei He continued in a low voice.


    "There are thirty-six battlefields in total, so that��s around a hundred billion Amethyst Cradle cultivators. That''s equivalent to the total number of Amethyst Cradle cultivators from thousands of eldritch continents."


    "And how many eldritch continents does the Cang Feng Eldritch World have? Millions." Pei He shook his head slightly. "This rate of participation doesn��t even match the production of new Amethyst Cradle cultivators."


    "Plus, those who participate aren��t just from Cang Feng Eldritch World. At least ten percent are immortal cultivators from other major factions."


    The group was left awestruck by this revtion. Some of the regr Amethyst Cradle soldiers appeared dumbfounded.


    Billions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators entering a single battlefield each year? The number, whenbining both camps, likely approached ten billion. The brutal ughter that unfolded in such numbers was almost unimaginable.


    "Remember, our mission is to survive for three years!" Pei He��s deep voice rang out, snapping everyone back to attention. "At the same time, everyone must obtain at least ten thousand ethercrystalurels."


    The soldiers of the Huo Cang Army listened intently, absorbing his words.


    Over the past day, Wu Yuan had learned that Pei He was originally appointed as themander of this team before Wu Yuan''s arrival. His strength was impressive, and among ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators, Pei He was considered very powerful, fully capable of stepping into the Void Refiner phase.


    Only Wu Yuan��s arrival had demoted Pei He to the role of a captain.


    Though Pei He''s actions could be seen as an attempt to usurp power, Wu Yuan didn��t mind. ording to his own ns, once he grew more familiar with the battlefield, he would strike out on his own.


    After all, Wu Yuan wasn��t just here for the ughter; he sought to temper himself in this harsh environment.


    Time passed, and the number of immortal cultivators arriving in the za steadily increased, eventually nearing twenty thousand.


    Several fully formed teams appeared, but the Huo Cang Army unit led by Wu Yuan remained the most eye-catching. Clearly, the higher echelons of the Huo Cang Army had assigned Wu Yuan the real elites.


    ...


    Soon, there were only two hours left till teleportation.


    "Everyone!" A thunderous voice suddenly echoed through the air, immediately drawing everyone��s attention.


    A burly man in ck armor soared into the sky, his imposing presencemanding the entire za. His aura rippled out, enveloping the space like a storm. He was an Elysian Field cultivator.


    "First of all, wee to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, the most brutal entry-level Battlefield," the ck-armored man dered, his deep voice resonating. "I��m here to exin the situation on the battlefield."


    "Our Cang Feng Eldritch World calls Battlefield 36 the Blood Eldritch Battlefield. Both sides have a main base."


    "The scope of the battlefield includes the Blood Eldritch-Immortal Continent at its core and the surrounding space��a total distance of dozens of light years."


    He waved his hand, and above the za, light points converged, forming a colossal battlefield projection. The entire map of the battlefield materialized before their eyes.


    The immortal continent, with a diameter of over a hundred billion li, appeared tiny on this map, like a small ind adrift in a vastke.


    Thousands of light points dotted the map, densely concentrated on the continent.


    "What are those light points?" a cultivator asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.


    Rumors about Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield swirled outside, but few secrets were ever revealed.


    "Those are war bases. They will be your main focus," the ck-armored man said solemnly.


    "As you can see, countless red and white points intersect. The red points are our eldritch world''s war bases. The white points belong to Voltari Temple."


    "Both sides have three thousand war bases each, with a thousand located on the continent. In this confined region,rge numbers of immortal cultivators fight to the death each day. It��s the most contested area of the battlefield."


    "In the vast expanse of outer space, along the sections where gxies converge, lie the remaining two thousand war bases of each camp."


    "Each war base is equipped with defensive arrays and teleportation arrays. Every day, batches of immortal cultivators are transported to their respective war bases through these teleportation arrays," the ck-armored man continued, his tone grave.


    "Your task is to defend the war bases, search for Fire Ethercrystal veins, and hunt down enemies. If you gain a significant advantage, destroy the enemy��s war bases."


    The immortal cultivators listened attentively, their expressions thoughtful.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan remained calm.


    Utilizing his authority in the Origin Eldritch Field, his body refiner self had already gathered far more detailed intelligence than what the ck-armored man was sharing.


    To put it simply, both sides deployed vast numbers of immortal cultivators to different war bases without end. Intense battles broke out around these bases.


    <i>For the two major factions, this isn��t a true war, but for countless Amethyst Cradle cultivators, it is the cruelest hell. </i>Wu Yuan thought somberly


    Over endless years, countless lives had ended here.


    <i>But for me, perhaps it''s a cultivation paradise.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.

 Chapter 522: Assault Mission Invitation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 522: Assault Mission Invitation (2)</h4>


    Through the ck-armored man��s exnation, the tens of thousands of immortal cultivators in the za gained a deeper understanding of the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    Suddenly, beams of light materialized from thin air, illuminating each cultivator. There were only three colors: white, blue, and gold. The majority were bathed in white light, a smaller group in blue, and only a select few��less than one-twentieth, including Wu Yuan and his group leaders��stood beneath golden beams.


    "What does this mean?"


    "What''s happening?"


    "Do the colors indicate the war bases we are assigned to?" whispered the cultivators.


    The ck-armored man��s voice cut through the murmurs, "White beams have been assigned to a specific war base. You��ll need to meet the ethercrystalurel requirement to move to a different base.��


    ��Blue beams may choose from a list of suggested bases, but remember. There is a limit to the number ofbatants teleported to each war base per day. Firste, first served."


    ��Golden beams have full autonomy to select any war base.�� The ck-armored man intoned, "Remember, send your application through your personal hall in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm."


    ��Make your decision within the hour. After that, you��ll be teleported to your war base, and the earliest you may return is more than a year from now."


    With that, the ck-armored man shot into the sky, disappearing in a streak of light.


    The za erupted into conversation. Those who dared to participate in the war weren''t fools. They could all discern that the color coding system was clearly a categorization of power!


    And the team led by Wu Yuan was evidently formidable.


    "Which base will that team choose?"


    "No idea."


    "I heard each war base is like a mini-battlefield. If one side is too weak, it��ll be overrun."


    "I want to follow them. With their strength, we��d have the upper hand." Many eyes were fixed on Wu Yuan��s team, some even approaching them for information.


    But the Huo Cang Army was disciplined. Years of military training kept them silent, awaiting Wu Yuan��smand.


    "Commander, which war base are we heading to?" Pei He asked, breaking the silence. "Should we go to a base on the maind or in outer space?"


    "The bases are concentrated on the maind, with more powerful participants gathered there." The burly Zhang Shan voiced, quite eager, "We will rack up ethercrystalurels faster."


    "But it��s also more dangerous," Bing Roushui countered coolly. "I suggest we start in outer space for the first year. It��s safer, and once we��re limated to the battlefield, we can move to the maind."


    "I think..." The captains each gave their opinions before turning to Wu Yuan for the final decision.


    As Wu Yuan weighed the options, a steady voice called out, "Friends, I invite you to Outer Space War Base 1294."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of ck light descended from the sky, heading straight for Wu Yuan��s group. It was a young man in ck robes.


    His eyes were spirited, his vital aura vigorous. He was obviously astute, easily sensing that Wu Yuan and the captains were the strongest in the entire team.


    All of them were at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase or ninth-stage Shambh phase.


    "Who are you?" Wu Yuan asked calmly. He felt a hint of threat from the young man in ck robes.


    It was the first time since leaving the Redmoon Immortal Continent that he felt threatened by an Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    A powerhouse! The young man in ck was definitely a super powerhouse in the Amethyst Cradle phase, the type that could fight beyond his cultivation phase.


    "My name is An Shu," the young man replied with a grin. "I��m an eighth-rank fighter in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. I believe you understand what that means."


    An Shu made his profile public, allowing Wu Yuan, Pei He, and the others to verify his rank through their voidrealm jades.


    A wave of astonishment rippled through the group. Even the hundreds of stoic soldiers from the Huo Cang Army couldn''t help but take a few more looks at the ck-robed young man, their expressions filled with astonishment.


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the powerhouses of the battlefield valuedbat achievements above all else. Strength alone was insignificant; it was the number of formidable foes one killed that truly mattered. The more enemies defeated, the greater the ethercrystalurels, leading to an incremental rise in ranking and a proportional increase in one''s rights and privileges.


    The fighters with the lowest kill count were first-rank fighters. As they killed more enemies, they would ascend to the second and third ranks, and continue upward to be ninth-rank fighters, legendary-rank fighters, and finally, king-rank fighters��each rank represented a significant leap in prestige and power.


    Wu Yuan, Pei He, and the other immortal cultivators in the za were merely first-rank fighters.


    Reaching the third rank was a monumental feat, typically requiring the ughter of hundreds of Amethyst Cradle Cultivators.


    Achieving the sixth rank demanded even greater bloodshed��thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators had to fall by one��s hand.


    As one climbed higher in rank, the difficulty increased exponentially. An eighth-rank fighter was undeniably a super powerhouse, having ughtered numerous opponents in the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phases.


    <i>An eighth-rank fighter? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, curiosity piqued.


    Could he be a member of the Origin Eldritch Field? With such formidable strength, he could easily gain entry into the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, bing one of its powerhouses.


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self began investigating immediately. However, no such person existed!


    There were two possibilities. First, this person had yet to join the Origin Eldritch Field. Second, this person was using a false name, much like Wu Yuan''s alias, Ming Jian.


    ��Fellow Daoist An Shu, your strength is formidable," Wu Yuan remarked with a frown. "You could match our entire team with your strength alone. Why invite us?"


    Wu Yuan was genuinely curious. Super fighters of this caliber generally disliked joining forces with others, and if they did, they usually teamed up with those on the same level.


    Leading an army? It might appear grand and safer, but it wasn��t conducive for ambushes and hunting targets. Sometimes, it could even be a burden.


    "I can''t tell you what my purpose for you is just yet." An Shu shook his head. "However, if you''re willing to obey mymands for the next year, I''m willing to offer a hundred million catties of ethercrystal."


    Suddenly, silence reigned.


    Many soldiers in the Huo Cang Army lit up at the offer. A hundred million catties of ethercrystal? It wasn''t much for a super genius like Wu Yuan, but for the average Amethyst Cradle cultivator, it was quite significant.


    One had to understand that on average, each of them would get hundreds of thousands of catties of ethercrystal.


    However, this sum of ethercrystal couldn''t sway Pei He, Zhang Shan, or Lie Shier. Instead, they immediately grew wary.


    This person was so powerful, yet he was seeking help. That reeked of grave danger.


    "Is it a protection or assault mission?" Wu Yuan asked suddenly.


    The question made An Shu pause. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he chuckled, "It seems like you know a thing or two, Fellow Daoist. How should I address you?"


    "Ming Jian," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Since Daoist Ming Jian understands, I won''t hide it from you," An Shu nodded. "It''s an assault mission, but I can''t disclose more specifics."


    "You must sign a contract," An Shu added without hesitation.


    So what if Wu Yuan knew it was an assault mission? The exact target location was unspecified, and the area covered by each war base was extensive.


    "One billion catties of ethercrystal!" Wu Yuan dered.


    An Shu froze.


    "500 million catties of ethercrystal, and we will help you strike the target. We can promise to hold off five first-stage to second-stage Void Refiner cultivators," Wu Yuan stated with a faint smile. "Another 500 million catties of ethercrystal, and we can help you hold the fort for a year."


    Pei He, Lie Shier, Zhang Shan, and the rest were dumbstruck, staring at Wu Yuan in disbelief.


    A billion catties of ethercrystal? Even they felt their hearts tremble. Such a fortune was enough to tempt any Void Refiner Eminence. Even if this sum was split among hundreds of soldiers, each person would still receive a substantial amount.


    "Daoist, your asking price is too high," An Shu frowned.


    "Not at all," Wu Yuan replied indifferently. "I know the eldritch world''s rating for our team is only seventh-rank, but our collective strength may surpass your imagination."


    A flicker of surprise passed through An Shu''s eyes. He pondered for a moment.


    "Alright," An Shu said solemnly. "However, I need you to sign a contract first. I can only deliver the ethercrystal uponpletion of each task."


    "Pay half upfront," Wu Yuan quickly added. "That''s our bottom line."


    An Shu was taken aback.


    He didn''t expect to encounter such a tough negotiator. Almost every condition pressed on his limits. Clearly, Wu Yuan was very familiar with the market rates.


    After a moment of silence, An Shu finally said in a low voice, "Fine, I agree. I only hope you won''t disappoint me, Daoist Ming Jian."


    "Don''t worry," Wu Yuan replied casually. "Let''s sign the contract in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm."


    Soon, Wu Yuan and the three hundred soldiers of the Huo Cang Army, including Pei He, had all signed the employment contract with An Shu, receiving 250 million catties of ethercrystal upfront.


    "Regr soldiers get five hundred thousand catties of ethercrystal each. The six of you get ten million each; the rest goes to me, all upfront," Wu Yuan distributed the funds. "Once the second task ispleted, the second disbursement will follow the first."


    No one objected, not even Zhang Shan. They all knew that without Wu Yuan, they could never have negotiated such a lucrative deal. They likely would have epted 200 or 300 million catties of ethercrystal.


    And now, whether they were ordinary soldiers or captains, everyone was extremely satisfied with this bounty of ethercrystal that they had received before even engaging in battle.


    In reality, Wu Yuan didn��t mind giving up his portion of ny million catties of ethercrystal to his team. He wasn��tcking in ethercrystal, after all.


    But Wu Yuan knew that if he took nothing for himself, he would break the unspoken rules and make his soldiers uneasy. Rules were important!


    "Daoist Ming Jian," An Shu spoke in a deep voice, "I''ll be waiting for you outside Outer Space War Base 1294."


    "I hope you are as strong as you im." With that, the young man in ck robes turned into a streak of light and departed.


    "Commander, are you confident? Will there be danger?"


    "Can our team hold off five Void Refiner cultivators?" The six captains expressed their concerns one by one.


    They were confident in their own abilities, but the power gap between the Amethyst Cradle phase and the Void Refiner phase was vast. Even with their coordination arrays, they didn''t have much confidence.


    "If I say we do, then we do," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "As for danger? We''re here for war��where could we possibly go that wouldn��t be dangerous?"


    "Don��t worry!"


    Pei He, Lie Shier, and the other four captains exchanged nces but could do nothing more than suppress their worries.


    At the same time, their image of Wu Yuan was bing increasingly mysterious and unfathomable in their minds.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan, along with hundreds of his subordinate immortal cultivators, selected the agreed war base.


    Soon, it was time.


    The ck-armored man arrived at the za once more, his voice thunderous: "Everyone, prepare to teleport."


    "Ten, nine, eight... two, one! Initiate teleportation!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, the entire za erupted with light. Countless beams crisscrossed, instantly engulfing nearly twenty thousand Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    As the beams of light faded, the entire za was left barren.

 Chapter 523: First Battle In Outer Space (1)

    <h4>Chapter 523: First Battle In Outer Space (1)</h4>


    The immortal continent��s essence stretched across tens of thousands of light years, yet the battlefield itself spanned a mere hundred light years in diameter.


    And so, in no time, Wu Yuan, Pei He, Yu Zhuo, and tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators arrived at the war base''s teleportation array.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh~</i> Spacetime rippled slightly, and the white light faded.


    ��There are a lot of neers today,�� someone remarked.


    ��Quite a few indeed,�� another voice agreed.


    ��By my estimates, around twenty thousand.��


    ��That��s quite a crowd,�� voices chimed in, the murmur of conversation swelling around them.


    Wu Yuan and his group stepped out of the teleportation array, finding themselves in a grandiose hall that sprawled beyond their field of vision and stretched for tens of thousands of li!


    The hall was filled with immortal cultivators scattered about, a scene simr to the za they had departed from.


    The decor was opulent and the crowd muchrger, probably numbering around one hundred thousand. Their attire was diverse, clearly all participants in the war.


    Every now and then, cultivators could be seen leaving the hall via a massive passage.


    ��A Void Refiner Eminence?��


    ��And a Dharma Body powerhouse,�� Soldiers of the Huo Cang Army noticed this


    immediately, their expressions filled with shock.


    ��What��s so surprising?�� Pei He cut in, his voice cool. ��To be abatant, one must be an Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivator. But after some time on the battlefield, those with enough strength naturally break through.��


    ��If it��s time for you to break through, there��s no issue with doing so here,�� he continued, his tone serious. ��But once you return to the Eldritch Blood Temple from the war base, you won''t be allowed back onto the entry-level battlefield. And even if you do break through, due to the battlefield''s environmental suppression, you��ll only reach the third-stage Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase at most.��


    The group nodded in understanding. Wu Yuan listened, already familiar with these rules, which is why he had mentioned Void Refiner Eminences during his earlier negotiations with An Shu.


    Apart from the top-tier geniuses from major factions, those who truly dominated the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields were the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    The top-tier geniuses from all major factions had a tacit understanding��only when one could ughter Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses while still in the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase could they be considered a true super genius.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Several ck-armored figures flew over, their overwhelming aura revealing them as ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivators. They were from the Blood Eldritch Temple��s defense army, tasked with maintaining order, not participating directly in battle.


    ��Wee to Outer Space War Base 1294,�� the leading armored soldier announced, his voice booming. ��You should already know the war base''s tactical situation, so I won��t repeat it. If you wish to join the battle directly, you may leave the war base through the passage on the right. Remember, within one day, you must not remain within thirty million li of the war base, otherwise you��ll face a deduction in ethercrystalurels.��


    ��If you wish to rest, you can proceed to the main hall or meditation chambers. You are given ten free rest days each year. After which, usage of the main hall will cost ten ethercrystalurels per day, and a hundred catties per day for usage of the meditation chamber,�� the soldier continued, his tone low. ��The choice is yours. I hope you all return alive.��


    With that, the armored soldiers departed, leaving the participants to decide their next move. These rules had already been transmitted to all participants�� personal halls through the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm��this was merely a reminder.


    Among the tens of thousands of immortal cultivators, the majority chose to temporarily enter the za, which soon grew lively.


    ��We��re recruiting.��


    ��Our team is skilled in array formations, a surefire way to stay alive.��


    ��Our captain is a super powerhouse with Daoprehension at the seventh-level True Intent stage. He can hold his own against a Void Refiner Eminence.�� The voices of Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators echoed through the hall.


    Some of these recruiters approached the stronger-looking participants, inviting them to join their teams. It was clear that many in the massive main hall were not here to rest, but to seek allies.


    ��An array typically requires the cooperation of dozens of cultivators to unleash its might,�� Lie Shier, standing nearby,mented softly. ��Unless someone is extremely confident in their abilities, they usually wouldn��t dare go solo.��


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    On the battlefield, there were no limits on the size of a single group��it was entirely possible to gather thousands, even tens of thousands, of immortal cultivators for a grand assault.


    However, in outer space, such arge-scale operation would scare off distant enemies, lowering the kill rate. Moreover, for mostbatants, their purpose foring to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was tempering.


    Yes, there was safety in numbers, but the effectiveness of the training would be almost zero.


    As far as Wu Yuan��s body refiner self knew, teams usually consisted of a few to dozens of immortal cultivators, rarely exceeding a hundred. Teams with over a hundred participants were typically formed only for major operations.


    ��Let��s go,�� Wu Yuanmanded, and his team immediately entered the passage.


    From beginning to end, no one invited Wu Yuan��s team to join them. The look they gave off suggested they were formidable, a well-trained military battalion. It was clear that this team was alreadyplete, so no one wasted their time trying to recruit them.


    ...


    The passage to the war zone was hundreds of li wide and stretched over ten thousand li long, protected by powerful arrays at regr intervals. Wu Yuan and his team proceeded along this passage, joining a few thousand others entering the space war zone in the first wave.


    At the end of the passage, a gigantic holographic light screen shimmered, guarded by several ck-armored soldiers who scrutinized each war participant passing through.


    ��Good luck, make it back alive,�� one of the ck-armored soldiers repeated as he sent each soldier off.


    ��Stay close,�� Pei Hemanded as they approached the screen.


    Leading hundreds of soldiers, Wu Yuan stepped directly through the light screen.


    <i>Hum~ </i>An invisible force propelled them forward, their speed escting to a hundred li per second as they swiftly departed the war base.


    ...


    In the boundless outer space, giant rogues, varying in size from a few dozen li to hundreds of li, hung suspended, visible to the naked eye. Thergest among them was a star with a diameter of several thousand li.


    However, in this vast expanse, the most eye-catching object was a dark red with a diameter exceeding a hundred thousand li. The��s surface was etched with dense metallic cryptic patterns, exuding a ferocious and terrifying aura.


    Wu Yuan and his troops were stationed in this stretch of space, approximately three hundred thousand li from the dark red, close enough to see the entire clearly.


    ��This is a war base? This is clearly a war fortress,�� Zhang Shanmented, his voice tinged with awe. ��Is it even possible to breach such a fortress?��


    The hundreds of soldiers turned their heads to look, immediately feeling somewhat stunned. Everyone knew outer space was vast and boundless, but for this group, including Wu Yuan, it was their first venture into such an expanse.


    ��Typically, a single battle star like this cannot possibly be breached by those in the Amethyst Cradle or Void Refiner phases,�� Wu Yuan exined slowly. ��However, during a major battle, the battle stars of both camps would only activate their arrays. One side is empowered by the array, the other is suppressed by it.��


    ��In such a scenario, if the defending side is too weak or the attacking side has legendary-rank fighters or even king-rank fighters, there is hope of breaching the battle star,�� Wu Yuan continued, his voice lowering. ��Legendary-rankers and king-rankers are the powerhouses who can fight thousands of enemies single-handedly.��


    Everyone was left in awe.


    ��Of course, that��s just what the legends say,�� Wu Yuan added with a wry smile. ��This is why the Blood Eldritch Temple dispatches arge number of participants to various war bases��to ensure no war base is too vulnerable to breaches.��


    Pei He, Zhang Shan, Lie Shier, and the others exchanged nces. The more time they spent with Wu Yuan, the more they appreciated his broad perspectives and vast knowledge.


    ��Let��s move! Unless a major battle breaks out, there will be no enemies within a radius of thirty million li of the war base. We��re not allowed to linger here,�� Wu Yuan said, waving his hand. Instantly, an enormous battleship over a hundred zhangs long materialized before them.


    ��A first-grade spirit battleship?��


    ��This...��


    ��This battleship must be worth nearly a hundred million catties of ethercrystal. Themander must truly have a formidable background,�� one of the soldiers remarked, astonished.


    Even Pei He didn��t possess such a treasure. Battleships of this standard were usually only owned by Void Refiner cultivators.


    ��Get in,�� Wu Yuan instructed, ncing over at the hundreds of soldiers. ��An Shu has sent us the spatial coordinates. He obviously has other means to enter the war zone in advance.��


    ��Move out.��


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Hundreds of soldiers, led by six captains, swiftly boarded the battleship, standing in formation as per their usual military drills. Wu Yuan took his ce in the main hall of the battleship.


    In no time, the hatches were closed, ethercrystal was infused, and the battleship quickly took off, reaching speeds of a thousand li per second.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The thousands of warriors who had just left the war base disappeared into outer space like a drop of water vanishing into the sea.


    The battleship''s color began to shift, swiftly camouging with the surrounding darkness of space. It was now extremely inconspicuous.


    ��What speed,�� a soldiermented, watching the battleship��s monitoring array.


    ��Approximately six thousand li per breath,�� Bing Roushui replied indifferently. ��At full speed, a first-grade spirit battleship can reach thirty thousand li per breath, but the ethercrystal consumption will be equally astronomical. Six thousand li per breath is the regr cruising speed.��


    ��Usually, one wouldn��t see so many meteorites or celestial bodies in outer space. What you��re seeing is an artificial battlefield created by the two major camps,�� Bing Roushui added, her voice low.


    ��Rest well, everyone. Ourmander is powerful and knows what he��s doing. With such a first-grade spirit battleship, even a Void Refiner cultivator will find it impossible to breach the ship in a single attack,�� Bing Roushui stated.


    ��At the same time, adjust your mindset as soon as possible and read up on the relevant information to educate yourselves. We are no longer in the Huo Cang Region now, but the perilous Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.�� Her gaze swept over the soldiers, many of whom shivered at her words.


    Indeed, their strength might be decent, but they were neers to this war, and thatck of experience put them at a disadvantage.


    Wu Yuan, however, remained calm. This was his first time participating in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, but through his body refiner self, he had essed ssified information, preparing him for whaty ahead.

 Chapter 524: First Battle In Outer Space (2)

    <h4>Chapter 524: First Battle In Outer Space (2)</h4>


    Time slipped away as Wu Yuan manned his battleship, navigating through outer space.


    After dodging rogue after rogue, traversing nearly ten million li, they finally arrived at an unremarkable rogue and slowed to a stop.


    "Daoist An Shu," Wu Yuan''s powerful Soul Force swept through space. With a range of thousands of li, itpletely enveloped the rogue.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Two figures shot out from the rogue, streaking across the void before swiftlynding in front of the battleship.


    One was a young man d in ck robes. The other was a short, red-robed Amethyst Cradle cultivator.


    A glint of surprise flickered in both of their eyes. The power of Wu Yuan''s Soul Force was undeniable.


    "Soul Will?" An Shu muttered, his tone doubtful


    "I can''t say for certain, the probability of him reaching the Soul Will level is not high." the red-robed cultivator rumbled in a deep voice, ��However, with their help, we can hold them off. Our chances of winning this battle will increase significantly."


    "Who would have thought you''d find such a powerful team in just one day?" The red-robed cultivator chuckled.


    "It was luck," An Shu''s eyes sparkled with relief. He had been worried that Wu Yuan wouldn''t keep his promise, but seeing Wu Yuan''s timely arrival with his formidable team, An Shu felt his anxiety ease. With such a powerful ally, their chances of victory had greatly improved.


    Suddenly, a ck metal puppet flew out of the spirit battleship,nding gracefully before An Shu and the red-robed cultivator.


    The puppet''s eyes gleamed as it spoke, "Daoist An Shu, I am Ming Jian."


    "Daoist Ming Jian," An Shu responded, taking the initiative to introduce hispanion, "This is myrade, Gong Shujie, an expert in puppet maniption and a seventh-rank fighter."


    "A seventh-rank fighter?" Wu Yuan, who controlled the metal puppet, nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Impressive."


    Gong Shujie smirked, his eyes gleaming with a mix of respect and challenge. "Fellow Daoist, you don��t seem weak either, especially when you canmand such an elite team."


    "And you even own a first-grade spirit battleship," Gong Shujie added, his tone admiring as he recognized the quality of the flying boat at a nce.


    "We''re pressed for time. Let''s talk on the go," An Shu said as he gestured toward his battleship. "Daoist Ming Jian, your puppet can board my vessel. I''ll exin the situation on the way."


    The metal puppet nodded in agreement.


    Wu Yuan had purchased hundreds of simr puppets, all at the Golden Core level. They were not worth much ethercrystal, and were primarily used for scouting andmunication.


    While Golden Core-level puppets and ethercrystal weapons were affordable, the price increased exponentially at the Amethyst Cradle level. As for the Void Refiner or Elysian Field level? The cost was staggering.


    Soon, An Shu summoned his own first-grade spirit battleship, leading Gong Shujie and Wu Yuan��s puppet aboard.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two battleships took off in session, their speeds skyrocketing to several thousand li per second as they plunged deeper into outer space.


    ...


    Inside An Shu''s battleship, Wu Yuan��s metallic puppet emitted a low hum as it processed the information. "A 900 million li away? A Fire Ethercrystal vein?" Wu Yuan''s voice carried a note of surprise.


    After their brief exchange, Wu Yuan finally understood An Shu''s purpose for hiring his team��to conquer a.


    "In our war zone, two major camps are constantly vying for control, their influence extending into the vast reaches of outer space," An Shu exined, his tone solemn. "Space is boundless, making it incredibly difficult to locate a specific ce. Most battles ur ons."


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.


    Millions of stars ands dotted this expanse, scattered across billions of li. Each varied in size, with diameters ranging from tens of thousands to millions of li. In this unique environment,s were extraordinarily sturdy.


    Among these celestial bodies were certains with naturally urring ore veins. Upon mining these veins, one could extract Fire Ethercrystal. These veins formed rapidly and were extremely valuable, serving a wide range of purposes.


    Over the years, whenever a Fire Ethercrystal vein was discovered, it sparked fiercepetition among powerhouses from both camps, eachpeting for control.


    "This star is located in a remote region, yet the Fire Ethercrystal vein here is massive," An Shu stated, his voice heavy with significance. "Once excavated, its total value will exceed ten billion catties of ethercrystal."


    An Shu''s eyes met the puppet''s glowing gaze. "Once the mission is aplished, you will get an additional ten percent of the Fire Ethercrystals mined, on top of the original hiring price."


    Both Ming Jian and Gong Shujie nodded slightly.


    "Nine hundred million li," An Shu continued, his voice steady. "At a cruising speed of eighteen thousand li per breath, we''ll arrive in less than three days. Ming Jian, I will cover the extra ethercrystal expenses."


    "Okay," Wu Yuan agreed without hesitation.


    With the battleship''s cruising speed tripled, the ethercrystal consumption would increase tenfold. Covering nine hundred million li at such a speed would consume a significant amount of ethercrystal.


    "Try to avoid battles along the way, and stay clear of mains andmon battlegrounds," An Shu advised.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two battleships raced forward at breakneck speed, the void around them a blur. However, with the sheer number of stars and rogues, it was impossible to avoid them all.


    Wu Yuan, Pei He, An Shu, and the others asionally sensed intense fluctuations of spiritual qi, indicating that immortal cultivators shed frequently across the battlefield.


    But the intimidating sight of the two first-grade spirit battleships was enough to deter any potential threats.


    In the blink of an eye, three days passed.


    "Stay away from the core area of the battlefield," An Shu instructed. "Only twenty million li left to the target. Proceed along route nine, using the rogues to hide our tracks."


    "Be on high alert.��


    ...


    This was a red, over a hundred thousand li in diameter. The wind howled as it swept across its rugged surface, carrying grains of sand that skittered over rock.


    A massive canyon carved into the''s surface concealed a flying boat over a hundred zhangs long, docked near the entrance to an enormous cave.


    Deep within the cave, a multitude of puppets, alongside numerous Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators, were tirelessly excavating massive quantities of rock.


    Inside the flying boat, four figures stood in silence. The leader was a tall man who seemed to be forged from rock itself, his presence as imposing as a mountain.


    The other three wore purple robes. Two were women, and the third was a man with numerous purple scales growing along his face, a single horn protruding from his head.


    "Gu Zhong, I''ve eliminated another scouting team," a voice as cold and hard as rock rumbled from the stone-like man. "How much longer until this Fire Ethercrystal vein is fully mined?"


    "Patience, Daoist Shi Jing," the man with the purple scales responded with a slight smile. "You know very well how tough these rocks are. Mining them will take time."


    "Four more days. We''ve been at it for seven days. Another four, and we''ll be done. Then we can return to the battlefield and regroup," the purple-robed man stated confidently.


    "Once this job is finished, the four of us will split at least two billion catties of ethercrystal," he added.


    Shi Jing, the stone-like man, nodded in agreement.


    Suddenly, one of the two silent purple-robed women, who wore a silver mask, abruptly stood up. Her eyes were icy, her voice low andced with warning. "Someone ising. They''ve passed the monitoring array I set up on Route 16."


    With a wave of her hand, a light screen projection appeared, disying two first-grade spirit flying boats speeding past.


    "It''s him. That Eldritch Court punk. We let him escapest time, yet he dares to return?" A dangerous glint shone in the purple-robed man��s eyes as he turned to Shi Jing. "Weren��t you eager to take down that eldritch genius? He''s here."


    "Oh? Are you sure?" Shi Jing''s eyes lit up, the thrill of the hunt evident in his expression.


    "Certainly. I��ve fought him before. He''s a genius who has reached the ninth-level True Intent stage," the purple-robed man confirmed. "If not for his mastery of the Law of Wind, which allowed him to escape so quickly, I would have killed him then." [1]


    "Haha," Shi Jing chuckled darkly. "Ninth-level True Intent? Law of Wind? I wasn''t herest time, but this time, let me tear him apart. I love killing geniuses."


    "Ninth sister, how much longer?" the purple-robed man asked the woman in the silver mask.


    "Fifteen minutes," she replied curtly.


    "Good. We''ll confront them directly in outer space. Remember, don''t rush. Wait until they enter the array''s range, then annihte them," the purple-robed manmanded, his tone aloof.


    "Mm.��


    "Great! More merits for us.��


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>With a swift motion, the single-horned, purple-robed man stowed the battleship, leaving the four powerhouses exposed to the harsh elements of the��s surface.


    The raging wind, reaching speeds of hundreds of li, didn''t faze them in the slightest.


    Soon, hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators emerged from the massive cave, each bowing respectfully.


    "Let''s go. Head to Array 4," the purple-robed manmanded with a wave of his hand.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Hundreds of figuresunched into the sky, streaking toward outer space.


    ...


    Beyond the, countless rogues and space debris floated aimlessly. Hundreds of thousands of li away,s with diameters of tens of thousands of li drifted along their orbits.


    Numerous array disks and array gs had been discreetly nted on various rogues and meteoroids. These arraysy dormant, their power hidden, unnoticed by most.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two flying boats �C Wu Yuan and An Shu''s battleships �C approached the silently, now moving at a speed of hundreds of li per second.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Suddenly, every rogue within a span of ten thousand li erupted in bursts of light.


    The arrays were activated!


    Countless azure qi streams surged over the two battleships, submerging them and the surrounding expanse of outer space.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Terrifying rays fired from the arrays, mming into the two first-grade spirit battleships, causing them to lurch and roll violently. Their speed dropped drastically as they struggled against the onught.


    ...


    Inside the battleship, Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open the moment the array was activated.


    "Enemy attack! Form the battle array," Wu Yuan''s urgent voice echoed in the ears of Pei He, Lie Shier, and the three hundred soldiers under hismand.


    In the other battleship, the short figure in red robes also opened his eyes, sensing the imminent danger.


    "Battle array!" Light radiated from Pei He''s silver battle armor as he coordinated with the fifty-four Amethyst Cradle cultivators around him, their silver battle armors merging to form a single, cohesive entity.


    <i>Rumble~</i> A miniature, lifelike jiaolong materialized, its scales shimmering silver, its whiskers bristling with energy.


    The fifty-five Amethyst Cradle cultivators were now enveloped within the protective embrace of the silver jiaolong.


    <i>Buzz! </i>Around Wu Yuan, a barely perceptibleyer of earthy yellow light flickered to life. This protective aura expanded, enveloping the entire flying boat.


    <i>Boom!</i> The array''s powerful attacknded, causing the flying boat to shake violently and roll through the void.


    But thebined defenses of the flying boat and the protective yellow light absorbed the brunt of the impact, leaving the crew unharmed.


    "Out!" Wu Yuanmanded, his voice ringing with authority.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>The hatches of the two flying boats burst open.


    The array outside tore through the vast emptiness of space.


    1. should be a Lesser Law of the Wind Dao ?

 Chapter 525: Its The Strong Ones I Want To Kill (1)

    <h4>Chapter 525: It''s The Strong Ones I Want To Kill (1)</h4>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "Go!" Pei He roared, leading the jiaolong array formed by the fifty-five Amethyst Cradle cultivators and charging out of the battleship.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In quick session, Bing Roushui, Yu Zhuo, and Lie Shier each led thirty-five Amethyst Cradle cultivators, forming various battle arrays. Some transformed into silver dragons, others into rocs, and some into four-legged beasts, each array manifesting as a formidable creature.


    Zhang Shan and Shi Ji, both body refiners, each led eleven Shambh cultivators. Their bodies glowed faintly with silver light as they merged into one, forming a massive four-armed humanoid warrior.


    Two other powerful ninth-stage Shambh powerhouses simrly led their teams of Shambh cultivators, forming equally imposing battle arrays.


    <i>Boom~ Boom!</i>


    Four Shambh battle arrays charged out from the battleship, pushing back the arrays�� attacks with the sheer force of their Shambh Domains.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s team unleashed their power. Inside the flying boat, only two Shambh cultivators and eighty-five Amethyst Cradle cultivators remained, along with Wu Yuan himself.


    The soldiers of the Huo Cang Army looked towards Wu Yuan.


    "Don''t worry," Wu Yuan reassured them calmly.


    If ordinary Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators participated in a battle at this level without forming a battle array, it was tantamount to suicide.


    <i>Indeed, they are all well-trained. Even though it''s their first battle, they know what to do.</i> Wu Yuan thought as he extended his Soul Force.


    His consciousness resided in the Surface Void Layer of the higher void dimension, allowing him to perceive everything within a radius of thirty thousand li with ease.


    Along with his Soul Will, Wu Yuan had detected the enemy ambush through his Soul Force even before the attack wasunched. Yet, he had remained silent, letting his battleship enter the enemy array''s range.


    <i>Array? </i>Wu Yuan observed quietly. <i>The space war zone is under a subtle suppression effect. The spiritual qi in space thin, weakening the array��s power.</i>


    There were numerous categories of arrays. Those like this fixed one had their power limited within the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, thus the power they unleashed was dampened.


    The victor would not be determined through arrays alone.


    <i>There are over a hundred Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Three of them emit highly threatening auras. </i>Wu Yuan''s powerful Soul Force expanded through the Destiny Voidscape, locking onto the auras of his targets thousands of li away one by one.


    Even with their arrays as cover, his opponents werepletely exposed within the range of Wu Yuan''s Soul Will. This was what made a powerful qi refiner so terrifying.


    Body refiners excelled at resisting various dangers with their strong physical bodies, while qi refiners leveraged the higher void dimensions to sense, foresee, and even kill enemies directly through karma. Both had their strengths.


    <i>But there seems to be an even more powerful presence lurking around. </i>Wu Yuan squinted, vaguely sensing something.


    Either the opponent''s soul is stronger than Wu Yuan''s, or it was a higher-order existence.


    <i>Elysian Field phase? Or Void Refiner phase?</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly. <i>This An Shu is quite reckless, rushing over without checking the strength of his opponent.</i>


    <i>However, it��s precisely the strong opponents that I want to kill.</i>


    <i>If I kill a Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivator, the amount of blood mist released would surely be abundant.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with a trace of cold light. <i>And it should be enough to promote me directly to a sixth-rank fighter.</i>


    ording to the rules of the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield:


    The reward for killing a first to sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivator was one thousand ethercrystalurels.


    The reward for killing a seventh to ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivator was three thousand ethercrystalurels.


    The reward for killing a Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivator was one million ethercrystalurels.


    To earn the title of a third-rank fighter, one must obtain one hundred thousand ethercrystalurels, equivalent to ying a hundred ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    To earn the title of sixth-rank fighter, one must umte one million ethercrystalurels.


    To earn the title of ninth-rank fighter, one must umte one hundred million ethercrystalurels.


    And the legendary-rank title? That required a staggering one billion ethercrystalurels!


    As for the king-rank title, the ethercrystalurel requirements were the same as the legendary-rank, with one additional criterion: leading an army to conquer a war base in a major battle and being the greatest contributor to victory. A true king on the battlefield!


    In Wu Yuan''s n, his qi refiner self was here to temper himself, aiming to be a ninth-rank fighter at least.


    But if he merely slew Amethyst Cradle cultivators, how long would that take? The umtion of blood mist followed the same logic. Searching for targets was an incredibly tedious task.


    Therefore, Wu Yuan decided to target those who had broken through to be Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivators during their time on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    <i>The constant pressure of death, coupled with the vast numbers of Amethyst Cradle cultivators, leads to an astonishingly high emergence rate of powerhouses on the battlefield.</i> A chilling light flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    As he was pondering, a terrifying battle erupted outside the battleship!


    ...


    <i>Boom!</i> Ayer of hazy green light spread out over several thousand li as An Shu stood in outer space, his aura mighty.


    The moment he encountered the enemy, he charged out of the battleship and unleashed his domain, blocking the array''s radiance.


    It was a domain at the ninth-level True Intent stage, a rudimentary Dao Field.


    <i>Arrays? How vignt. I deliberately took a detour, yet in less than ten days, so many arrays have beenid out. Seems like they are well-prepared. </i>An Shu��s gaze was icy cold.


    <i>But this time, I��m not alone. I''ve brought a whole group of helpers. Let''s see who will win.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A swarm of flying swords emerged, encircling him. Their sword qi was all-epassing, their aura immensely powerful.


    "An Shu, this is no easy opponent," Gong Shujie called out in a hoarse voice.


    <i>Hum~ Hum~ Hum~ </i>Around him, towering battle puppets appeared one after another.


    These puppets resembled warriors from ancient myths and legends. Several puppet serpents emitted electric sparks as they encircled Gong Shujie. Overall, he looked like a force to be reckoned with.


    Puppet cultivation was a major sub-ss of equipment forging cultivation. It was rted to arrays, extremely difficult to learn, and even harder to master. But once sessful, one could unleash terrifying power.


    "Prepare for battle."


    "Battle array."


    "The enemy is in that direction." Pei He, Lie Shier, Bing Roushui, and the others formed eight battle arrays, appearing just as powerful as Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators.


    Battle arrays, essentially mobile arrays, enabled arge number of immortal cultivators to fight as one against stronger enemies with the help of array talismans. [1]


    However, the more array controllers and the higher their cultivation, the more difficult it was to form a mobile array, and the greater the weaknesses.


    The strongest member of this Huo Cang Army team, Pei He, could lead fifty-five Amethyst Cradle cultivators to form a silver dragon array, while the other captains could only lead thirty-six Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    While qi refiners had versatile essentia, body refiners did not, making it far harder for them to form battle arrays. It was already a remarkable feat for twelve Shambh cultivators to form a battle array.


    "Themander hasn''t left the ship yet? And where are the two other teams?" The moment Pei He, Lie Shier, Bing Roushui, and the others formed their battle arrays and rushed out of the battleship, they noticed that Wu Yuan had not led the other Amethyst Cradle cultivators out of the battleship.


    "Engage the enemy first," Wu Yuan''s calm voice echoed in their minds. "But don''t rush, there are stronger foes among the enemy."


    Their hearts skipped a beat. Stronger?


    By now, Pei He and the others had noticed the wave of enemies surging over amidst the arrays. But how did Wu Yuan know that there were stronger enemies?


    "Since he��s bold enough to return, he must certainly be confident. He��s even brought an elite army, and a puppet master?" The single-horned man in purple robes stood in the air.


    Hazy fiery-red qi streams merged with the seven huge cauldrons surrounding him. Flying swords revolved around him, emitting an intimidating radiance.


    Fights between peerless geniuses usually didn��t involve arrays. There were great advantages to arrays, but also drawbacks.


    Beside the purple-robed man stood two gigantic, six-armed warriors in ck armor. These were battle arrays led by the two women in purple robes, consisting of sixty-four Amethyst Cradle cultivators each.


    The two sides faced each other from a distance.


    "Kill!" The purple-robed man moved.


    Stepping on a cauldron, he propelled himself at a speed of over a thousand li per second. At the same time, he unleashed his domain.


    "Kill!"


    The two six-armed warriors roared as they charged forward, brandishing their weapons. They closed the distance with terrifying speed, radiating powerful auras.


    An Shu growled, his eyes narrowing. "Last time, I fought alone and lost. This time, you won''t win." Pouring his essentia into his flying swords, they immediately gained a power boost. The swords swirled around him, forming giant winged serpents.


    On closer inspection, it became clear that these serpents were actuallyposed of countless flying swords, assembled with meticulous precision. This was a Thousand Swords Array!


    The nine serpents moved as one, their sinuous forms intertwining within An Shu''s Domain. Yet, each serpent was a Hundred Swords Array.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The colossal winged serpents collided with the massive cauldrons, the impact resonating like thunder. The force of the sh sent shockwaves through the battlefield.


    Among the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, only a few rare geniuses had advanced to the ninth-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law. The two powerful domains, each bearing the semnce of a Dao Field''s might, were now locked in a brutal struggle for dominance.


    "Kill!" Gong Shujiemanded. Hundreds of puppet warriors marched forth, each armed with shields and sabers, their eyes burning with a mechanical fury as they charged toward the single-horned, purple-robed young man.


    These puppet warriors possessed power and speed on par with a seventh-stage Shambh cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root.


    Under Gong Shujie''s control, they could even channel the profundities of certain Laws in their attacks. Their sheer numbers made them a significant threat.


    "Get lost!" the purple-robed man spat coldly. Two cauldrons whirled around him with immense power, crashing through the wave of puppet warriors like meteors. Yet, despite his efforts, the puppets surged forward relentlessly, undeterred by the attacks.


    An Shu and Gong Shujie coordinated their attacks on the purple-robed young man, forcing his cauldrons back.


    ...


    The battlefield was a cacophony of explosions and shing weapons as Pei He and Lie Shier led their troops into battle against the two giant six-armed warrior arrays.


    "Die!" one warrior roared, while the other shouted, "Kill!" The six-armed warrior arrays wielded four sabers and two shields each, their saber techniques precise and powerful.


    One of the battle arrays was surrounded by a shimmering green light, while the other was enveloped in fiery red mes, signaling that their controllers had reached the seventh-level True Intent stage of Daoprehension.


    The massive silver dragon array led by Pei He roared, its deadly ws swiping at one of the warrior arrays. The sh was intense. Though the power of Pei He''s array was slightly weaker, he had also reached the seventh-level True Intent stage, allowing him to hold his ground.


    "Kill!" Among the Shambh battle arrays, one was led by Zhang Shan. They charged into battle with a roar, one swinging a saber, the other a war hammer, ready to assist Pei He.


    <i>Whoosh! Rip!</i> The six-armed warrior array��s saber technique was swift and unpredictable, evading Zhang Shan''s saber andnding a vicious strike on his Shambh battle array.


    A massive wound was torn open, but it healed rapidly. This was a strength of Shambh battle arrays. Though typically weaker than their Amethyst Cradle counterparts, their defense and vitality were unparalleled.


    "Hold them off!" Bing Roushui, Shi Ji, Yu Zhuo, and the others charged forward to confront the other six-armed warrior array. In terms of Daoprehension, Bing Roushui and the others were only at the sixth-level True Intent stage.


    The leap from the sixth-level True Intent stage to the seventh-level True Intent stage was vast, representing a critical threshold for many Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Once this milestone was reached, it meant they had fulfilled a criteria to be Void Refiner Eminences.


    It was fair to say that the battle arrays formed by Shi Ji and the others were far inferior to the six-armed, ck-armored warrior arrays.


    However, they had the advantage of numbers.


    1. changed portable arrays to mobile arrays ?

 Chapter 526: Its The Strong Ones I Want To Kill (2)

    <h4>Chapter 526: It''s The Strong Ones I Want To Kill (2)</h4>


    On the brutal Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, both sides knew that defeat meant death. With their strengths closely matched, neither could im victory in the short term.


    "Damned Immortal Court cultivators, I��m going to kill you all!" An Shu growled, then spat a mouthful of fresh blood.


    The blood was a vivid crimson and charged with a mysterious aura, seeping into his flying sword. The sword array responded with a surge of power.


    "An Eldritch Blood Art? Hmph!" The purple-robed man scoffed. The horn atop his head shimmered with an eerie light, casting a divine aura that amplified his already imposing presence.


    One was a prodigy from the Eldritch World, the other was a prodigy from the Voltari Temple. Both wielded powerful secret arts and artifacts.


    "Shi Jing, are you just going to stand there and watch? If you don��t act soon, there won��t be any part of the ore vein left for you!" The purple-robed man��s voice boomed across the battlefield, resonating through the void for tens of thousands of li.


    An Shu and Gong Shujie exchanged nces, their expressions tightening. Did this man have allies they were not aware of?


    A chill ran down their spines as Pei He and Lie Shier remembered Wu Yuan''s warning. Were there truly hidden enemies?


    Laughter echoed from the distance. "Haha! I thought you could hold out longer."


    Thousands of li in the distance, a rogue exploded, and a massive figure appeared, standing roughly three thousand zhang tall.


    The figure was humanoid with eight arms, and his skin resembled rock. He was d in ancient ck armor adorned with countless cryptic patterns.


    His aura was suffocating, and as he emerged, a wave of fiery energy swept across the battlefield, enveloping thousands of li in an instant.


    Layer uponyer of phantom images materialized around the figure��rivers, mountains, canyons��all encircled by endless mes, giving him the appearance of a fiery deity. Though his Shambh Domain had yet to reach them, the heat was already unbearable for An Shu and Gong Shujie.


    "Elysian Field phase, second-stage?" An Shu��s pupils constricted in shock. He could handle newly advanced first-stage Elysian Field cultivators in a one-on-one battle, but the current stalemate left his group in a precarious position.


    "It''s an Elysian Field cultivator.��


    ��We''re in danger." Fear gripped Pei He, Lie Shier, and Bing Roushui as they realized the gravity of their situation.


    The strength that Pei He��s battle array could exhibit was barely at the threshold of the Void Refiner/Elysian Field.


    <i>Boom!</i> Shi Jing, who had been concealing his aura, finally revealed his power. As an Elysian Field cultivator, even An Shu hadn��t sensed his presence when he stayed hidden, but once he unleashed his power, his strength was unmistakable.


    "Kill!" Shi Jing��s towering body stepped into the void, covering thousands of li with each stride, and in a few shes, he reached Gong Shujie.


    The inferno zed around him, and with massive war hammers in each of his eight arms, Shi Jing unleashed a flurry of attacks that sent the puppet warriors and serpents flying. He was an unstoppable force.


    Though his Daoprehension was at the seventh-level True Intent stage, and his immortal root was only fifth-degree, as an Elysian Field powerhouse, his base strength was overwhelming.


    "Die!" Shi Jing��s savage expression twisted as he set his sights on Gong Shujie. "Young puppet master, it''s an honor for you to die at my hands."


    Each swing of Shi Jing��s warhammers seemed to tear space apart, and Gong Shujie was forced back with every exchange. Unintentionally, they had drifted close to the hovering first-grade spirit battleship.


    Suddenly, the hatch of the battleship burst open. A majestic surge of aura, equal in intensity to Shi Jing''s, exploded outward, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.


    An Shu, the purple-robed man, Pei He, Shi Jing, and the others turned toward the battleship, only to see it disappear. In its ce stood an equally towering, four-armed, silver-armored titan wielding four divine swords. It was an Amethyst Cradle battle array.


    "I was worried you��d run if I showed my power earlier, so I held back," said the titan, a smirk on its face. It was Wu Yuan, leading the battle array. The aura radiating from Wu Yuan''s array was overwhelming, second only to Shi Jing, who had employed multiple ether arts. The strength of this array was far greater than any of the others.


    "Thousand zhangs? This power... It''s the pinnacle of an Amethyst Cradle battle array, formed by eighty-one Amethyst Cradle cultivators."


    "A peak Amethyst Cradle array."


    "How long has Commander Ming Jian spent studying the coordination array? Yet he''s alreadypletely mastered it?"


    Pei He, Lie Shier, Bing Roushui, Yu Zhuo, and the others were stunned. The silver armor they wore acted as array gs, facilitating immediate array formation.


    But an array formed by eighty-one Amethyst Cradle cultivators working in unison? Theplexity was simply mind-boggling!


    They knew Wu Yuan had a broad perspective and sound judgment, and suspected that he had considerable strength as well. Yet, they never thought he would be this powerful.


    "What a powerful Amethyst Cradle battle array!"


    "Impressive."


    "Ming Jian has been hiding his true strength all this time? Just how powerful is he?" An Shu and Gong Shujie were initially upset with Wu Yuan for not taking action, but now they were filled with surprise.


    To lead such a strong battle array, his strength had to be incredible.


    "A peak Amethyst Cradle array?"


    "How could there be so many strong fighters hidden on that battleship? I couldn''t sense any vital auras from it just a moment ago."


    "I didn''t notice it? Did someone mask their aura?" The expression of the man in purple robes shifted.


    A possibility came to mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine.


    "A peak Amethyst Cradle array?" Shi Jing stood tall, his gaze locked onto the giant figure in silver armor wielding the divine swords.


    He felt that this armored giant posed an immense threat to him. However, his dignity as an Elysian Field powerhouse prevented him from retreating without a fight.


    <i>Eighty-one Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Is this the limit of the silver-armored giant array? </i>Wu Yuan sensed the array��s overwhelming power.


    This was his first timemanding an Amethyst Cradle battle array. The moment he took control, he understood why a real peerless genius would prefer to fight alone.


    The battle array��s power was the collective power of the Amethyst Cradle cultivators operating the array. But it wasn��t a simple addition of their mana, and it had its limits.


    The power unleashed by a peak Amethyst Cradle battle array was equivalent to the first-stage Void Refiner cultivator with a sixth-degree immortal root, only two stages above Wu Yuan.


    Moreover, unlike a fixed array, the battle array was a unified entity, capable of moving freely. Within, numerous arrays wereyered on top of each other. Array controllers would find it difficult to manipte arge number of artifacts at will, thus limiting ranged attacks.


    <i>To unleash the true power of a battle array, the best way is through closebat! Pei He and Lie Shier have all chosen to fight in close quarters.</i>


    <i>Weaklings gather in battle arrays to avoid being massacred.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>But for a peerless genius, the battle array is somewhat redundant.</i>


    <i>However, this cloaks my true strength and identity. And it��s more than enough to kill a second-stage Elysian Field cultivator!</i> Wu Yuan moved subtly, perfectly controlling the entire battle array.


    Four massive divine swords rose!


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan exploded into action. His towering body was enveloped in a faint yellow glow, which turned into a silvery light, piercing through heaven and earth.


    He lunged directly at the rock-like Elysian Field powerhouse.


    "So fast."


    "This speed?" Pei He, Lie Shier, Bing Roushui and the others were taken aback. That instantaneous burst speed definitely reached two thousand li per second.


    "So fast."


    "This aura?" Both Gong Shujie and An Shu were equally astounded.


    An Shu could also lead a peak Amethyst Cradle battle array, but its burst speed would be far slower than Wu Yuan''s. One had to keep in mind that heprehended the Law of Wind.


    Two thousand li per second!


    Previously, Shi Jing''s relentless attack on Gong Shujie had brought them right next to the battleship. So, in an instant,


    Wu Yuan charged into Shi Jing''s Shambh Domain.


    <i>So fast?</i> Shi Jing was also inwardly surprised, but he remained undeterred. <i>Seems like another peerless genius. Exactly the type I need to kill.</i>


    <i>Rumble~</i> The mes that epassed everything within three thousand li red, transforming into fire dragons that bore down on Wu Yuan.


    Shambh cultivators were capable of forming Shambh Domains around their bodies. And upon reaching the Elysian Field level, the internal Shambh transformed further, growing even more powerful, hence it was also known as the Elysian Field.


    "Elysian Field?"


    "If it were a Elysian Field cultivator with a second-degree immortal root, I might bother putting in some effort. You?" Wu Yuan''s gaze was icy.


    <i>Boom! </i>The boundless mana of the giant array surged violently, harnessing the essence of the Celestial Body Dao.


    The True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao!


    <i>Boom! </i>The Dao Field and Elysian Field collided.


    Wu Yuan��s speed, which was originally suppressed, once again skyrocketed.


    <i>Not good! It''s a Dao Field! It''s a peerless genius who hasprehended a Dao Field! Why am I so unlucky? Run!!</i> Shi Jing''s stomach plummeted.


    A cultivator who couldprehend a Dao Field at the Spiritual Body/Golden Core phase was rarely born in tens of thousands of immortal continents. They were the topmost peerless geniuses.


    A cultivator who couldprehend a Dao Field at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase was also a rare genius even in hundreds of immortal continents.


    Run? It was toote to retreat.


    "No!" Shi Jing howled in desperation, wielding his eight warhammers. His power surged as he tried to block Wu Yuan��s attacks.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> At this moment, four streaks of earthy yellow sword light descended, each as powerful as a star��s explosion, yet fluid and never-ending.


    They cut across space!


    <i>Bang! Bang!</i> Both parties shed, each attack imbued with unimaginable might.


    In the blink of an eye, dozens of exchanges passed. Wu Yuan''s swordy grew faster, heavier, and eerily relentless.


    Meanwhile, Shi Jing felt increasingly desperate. He knew he was fighting a losing battle, unable to withstand Wu Yuan''s swordsmanship.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Suddenly, a trail of sword light left an indelible mark in space.


    A warhammer of the towering, rock-like giant, slipped from his grasp. One of his arms was severed and sent flying!


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Another streak of sword light swept across, instantly decapitating Shi Jing''s colossal figure.


    <i>St!</i> His massive body was split down the middle by a stroke of the sword.


    "No!" Shi Jing''s head took flight, still screaming. "An Elysian Field body is undying, I will not die, I will not die!"


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>His fragmented body transformed into beams of light, shooting off into the distance.


    With the power to rejuvenate from a single drop of blood, it could be said that Elysian Field powerhouses did not have a single weakness from head to toe.


    "Undying body?" Wu Yuan''s eyes were icy.


    With a mentalmand, nearly a thousand third-grade spirit flying swords materialized around him, forming an immenselyrge sword domain in an instant.


    Sixth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array��Dark Earth Sword Domain.


    This sword domain was imbued with the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao. Sword qi nketed the space, effortlessly covering thousands of li.


    All the fragmented parts of Shi Jing''s body were suppressed within the domain, reducing his speed drastically.


    <i>Swish! </i>Countless sword lights howled. Numerous flying swords formed Celestial Body divine swords, further tearing Shi Jing''s body apart.


    In one breath, Shi Jing''s towering body was reduced to nothing, all the vital ether contained in his body,pletely exhausted!


    Shi Jing, an Elysian Field powerhouse, was dead!


    If a body refiner could maintain their defenses, ensuring their body remained in one piece, they could withstand a prolonged assault. Even a fight over three days and nights wasn''t a problem.


    But once their body was torn apart, no matter howrge their pool of vital ether, they wouldn��t be able to hold on for long.


    <i>A fifth-rank fighter? 500,000 ethercrystalurels?</i> Wu Yuan received a message from the Eldritch Blood Temple. However, he remained calm.


    In terms of foundation, Wu Yuan was somewhat weaker even while leading a battle array. But in terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan far surpassed Shi Jing.


    Among Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension was considered mid-tier. Killing a regr second-stage Elysian Field powerhouse? That was hardly a challenge!


    <i>A few have escaped? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the space.


    At this moment, the single-horned, purple-robed man, initially brimming with confidence, was now fleeing in terror, while An Shu chased him with a sword array.


    <i>Boom! </i>With a swift movement, Wu Yuan elerated to his utmost speed, lunging towards the man in purple robes.

 Chapter 527: The Slaughter Commences (1)

    <h4>Chapter 527: The ughter Commences (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The horned man in purple robes fled desperately, nine spirit cauldrons surrounding him as he unleashed their full power, sweeping across the vast expanse of space.


    However, An Shu was faster. As a peerless genius who hadprehended the Wind Dao and honed his skills as a sword cultivator, An Shu''s movement skills and attacks were fearsome beyond measure.


    "Scum of the Immortal Court, stay right there!" An Shu growled, his body suddenly glowing with countless azure cryptic patterns that burst with light, spreading thousands of li across the sky. They lent a boost to the winged serpents, which roared and sped up even further.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The nine winged serpents, assembled from flying swords, violently struck the spirit cauldrons in a series of deafening collisions. They swept across the skies, shattering rogues into countless fragments, shaking the very fabric of space.


    One of the winged serpents broke through the barrier of cauldrons, opening its gaping maw to chomp down on the purple-robed man. Its teeth were forged from innumerable sword lights, gleaming with deadly intent.


    "Curse you, eldritch!" the man in purple robes snarled, pressing his palms together as countless beams of light shot out. Then, he ripped his horn from his head, sending blood sttering across space.


    In an instant, the massive horn and beams of lightbined as one, forming a giant cone that he thrust toward the roaring winged serpent.


    <i>Boom~ </i>The impact was cataclysmic! The giant cone pierced through the winged serpent with tremendous force, causing it to explode into countless flying swords that scattered in all directions.


    Blood trickled from the corner of An Shu''s mouth. The sword array had shattered in a single blow; even his lifebound flying swords had taken damage. As a result, his mind also suffered bacsh.


    "Damned eldritch! One-on-one, how could you be my match?" the man in purple robes roared in fury. The cone, formed from his horn, swept across the vast expanse like a colossal spear, aided by the spirit cauldrons as it sent the remaining winged serpents flying.


    "Ha! You may be stronger than me, but only by a bit. And I''m not alone. You''re doomed," An Shuughed manically, blood dripping from his lips, his expression turning deranged.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>With the infusion of essentia and augmentation from the domain, the winged serpents roared and continued their relentless assault on the purple-robed man. This time, they no longer shed head-on but instead impeded him, drastically reducing his speed.


    "Senior Brother!��


    ��Save me!" Two desperate cries echoed through the battlefield. They came from the two six-armed Amethyst Cradle battle arrays.


    Pei He and Lie Shier fought with all their might, taking on the two Amethyst Cradle battle arrays.


    The tide of battle was decisively turned when Gong Shujie, the puppet master, joined the fray. His humanoid puppet warriors, numbering in the hundreds, each as strong as a Shambh cultivator, overwhelmed the Amethyst Cradle arrays. The six puppet serpents far surpassed the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase in power, making them an unstoppable force.


    <i>No! I''m so close topleting my trial mission. I cannot die here! It shouldn''t end like this! </i>The purple-robed woman leading one of the six-armed Amethyst Cradle battle arrays went berserk, her eyes filled with a desperate will to live.


    She was a genius of the Immortal Court with a high Daoprehension level and was on the cusp of breaking through to the Void Refiner phase. But the Immortal Court had its rules��no breakthroughs were allowed on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. She could only fight with the base power of the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle level.


    Originally, once the Fire Ethercrystal vein was fully mined, they could return to the Immortal Court. But no one expected to encounter such a terrifying opponent��a peerless genius who hadprehended a Dao Field. In the Immortal Court, each one was renowned and formidable.


    "Roar~" Suddenly, a puppet serpent lunged, taking a strike from the Amethyst Cradle battle array''s saber before biting down hard on the battle array''s body.


    <i>Rip~ </i>The serpent��s bite tore a huge gash in the battle array, exposing the terrified Amethyst Cradle cultivators within.


    This strike was the final straw that broke the camel''s back. The already severely damaged Amethyst Cradle battle arraypletely fell apart. Panic ensued as the cultivators operating the array scattered in all directions, desperate to flee.


    "Run!"


    "Get out!"


    "Flee!" The cries of the fleeing cultivators filled the air, but Pei He, Zhang Shan, and Bing Roushui showed no mercy.


    "Run?"


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    "Kill! Let��s earn those ethercrystalurels." They relentlessly hunted down and ughtered the retreating Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    "Roar~"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The puppet serpents swam through space, tearing the Amethyst Cradle cultivators limb from limb. Even the genius at the seventh-level True Intent stage of Daoprehension failed to escape, quickly meeting his end.


    Of the two six-armed Amethyst Cradle battle arrays, one was destroyed, leaving only the other. Surrounded by enemies, its position became increasingly untenable.


    ...


    Battles on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield often took time to erupt, but once they did, they usually ended swiftly��unless the two sides were evenly matched.


    The purple-robed man, who had been in frenzied flight the entire time, sensed the predicament of his two junior sisters. He knew one had already fallen, and the other wouldn''tst much longer.


    <i>Junior Sister! </i>The man in purple robes felt a pang of sorrow. <i>We promised to return to the Immortal Court together, to ascend to Archimmortality together!</i> But he had no time to grieve.


    Wu Yuan, his power now fully unleashed and his path unimpeded, closed the distance in an instant. Sword light streaked across the sky.


    <i>Boom~</i> Sword met cauldron in a colossal sh. The once unyielding spirit cauldrons were sent flying, unable to withstand Wu Yuan''s divine sword. The man in the purple robe coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    A cauldron, capable of stabilizing the void and harmonizing with the unique profundities of heaven and earth, possessed extremely high defense and stability. But when the power gap became too vast, it no longer mattered.


    "Give up resistance. It��ll make your death easier." Wu Yuan stepped through space as if walking onnd, swiftly closing in and thrusting his sword forth. Further supported by the Celestial Body True Intent, it felt as if the heavens were copsing.


    "You should be the one to die!" the young man in purple robes raved madly, sensing hisst junior sister''s demise.


    <i>Boom! </i>A fearsome light gathered around the gigantic cone. As if piercing through the heavens, it shed with Wu Yuan''s divine sword.


    <i>Boom! </i>An unimaginably catastrophic collision ensued, the shockwaves rippling across outer space.


    Wu Yuan,manding the Amethyst Cradle battle array, stood firm in the void. Meanwhile, the immense cone shattered, revealing the horn within, now marred by a faint crack.


    The young man in purple robes spat blood once more, his soul essence gging. This was his strongest lifebound artifact, something he only used in critical situations. Its power was immense, but once damaged, the bacsh was severe.


    "No! You lowly bunch of scum, get out of my way!" The man in purple robes struggled to control the spirit cauldrons, trying to fend off the winged serpents.


    But as Wu Yuan''s oppressive Celestial Body Domain bore down, apanied by sword lights that tore through the sky, there was no escaping his defeat and demise.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Another sword light tore through space, piercing straight through the body of the youth in purple robes. The sword lights scattered, reducing his body to oblivion. All that remained was a pile of ownerless artifacts.


    With the battle concluded, outer space regained its calm.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i>


    "Commander!"


    "Commander."


    Eight towering figures rushed forward, filled with immense excitement��Pei He, Lie Shier, Yu Zhu, and the others. They surrounded Wu Yuan, their eyes burning with fervor and admiration.


    "Commander, we underestimated you," Pei He said deeply, his eyes alight with reverence. "It is our honor to follow you."


    "Exactly. From today onwards, we��ll follow you wherever you go," Zhang Shan said with a wide grin. The other captainsughed, their spirits high.


    With this battle, their hearts were truly conquered by Wu Yuan. With just one Amethyst Cradle battle array, he had effortlessly ughtered an Elysian Field powerhouse. How terrifying was that?


    He was undoubtedly a peerless genius who could y enemies of higher cultivation phases alone. Following such a genius, their chances of survival and the speed at which theypleted their assignment would greatly increase.


    "Remember, never reveal my identity. The fact that I joined the team at thest minute must be kept secret. I am just a member of the Huo Cang Army," Wu Yuan''s voice echoed in the minds of all the Huo Cang Army soldiers.


    "Roger."


    "Understood," Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others responded in kind.


    All of them had their suspicions. Themander likely hailed from the core of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, a peerless genius hiding his identity to temper himself on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    ...


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>After clearing the battlefield, An Shu and Gong Shujie transformed into two streams of light, rushing over to join Wu Yuan.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, you have my admiration!" An Shu''s tone was now markedly more respectful. "With your strength, you��d likely rank among the top thousand members of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field in the Cang Feng Eldritch World."


    "Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps a peerless genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World?" An Shu ventured cautiously.


    Wu Yuan merely smiled, offering no response.


    "An Shu, it��s best not to pry," Gong Shujie interjected with a chuckle. "With Daoist Ming Jian''s strength, he''s undoubtedly one of the top figures on this battlefield��invincible and unrivaled. On top of that, hemands an army."


    "Teaming up with Daoist Ming Jian to y enemies is truly our good fortune," Gong Shujie continued with a grin. "An Shu, let''s make haste to the Fire Ethercrystal mine before the crust shifts and buries it again."


    "Haha, yes." Seeing Wu Yuan''s silent smile, An Shu realized he had breached a taboo and quickly changed the subject. "This area is quite remote. Though our battle was intense, it''s unlikely other teams wille to investigate."


    "Let��s go inspect the Fire Ethercrystal mine," An Shu suggested.


    "Daoist An Shu, please lead the way," Wu Yuan said, still smiling.


    "Let��s move!"


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> Without disbanding their battle array, they transformed into streaks of light, diving toward a distant star tens of thousands of li away.


    In the distance, a first-grade spirit battleship followed them, carrying several nonbatant Shambh/Amethyst Cradle Huo Cang Army soldiers.


    ...


    Within the Blood Eldritch Temple, a towering hall buzzed with activity as countless light screens disyed data and images. ck-armored soldiers moved purposefully through the space.


    "Attention, a sixth-rank fighter has just emerged from Outer Space War Base 1294, named Ming Jian."


    Several figures standing before one of the screens focused intently on the text and data analysis disyed. "He killed an Elysian Field powerhouse."


    "He also took down a genius from the Immortal Hall."


    "Ming Jian is likely not a native of the Cang Feng Eldritch World; he hails from the Huo Cang Army of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Keep him under close watch."


    ...


    <i>At the same time, in a simr hall on the other end of the Blood Eldritch Immortal Continent.</i>


    This was the base of the Voltari Temple, also bustling with activity. Here, many geniuses had gathered.


    "The Amethyst Cradle genius Gu Zhong, a member of the Immortal Hall, has fallen."


    "The Elysian Field cultivator Shi Jing has also fallen."


    "The killer is suspected to be the same person, likely a peerless genius who hasprehended a Dao Field (Lesser Law)."


    "Monitor him closely."


    "The location is Outer Space War Base 1294." In this towering hall, vast amounts of information were also beingpiled and analyzed.

 Chapter 528: The Slaughter Commences (2)

    <h4>Chapter 528: The ughter Commences (2)</h4>


    On the wind-swept surface of a deste, two battleships hovered above a massive crater.


    "The remaining Amethyst Cradle cultivators and their puppets have beenpletely annihted," Gong Shujie reported with a satisfied smile.


    "They excavated nearly two-thirds of the mine. Only one-third remains, but we''ve seized all the Fire Ethercrystals they mined. They basically did all the hard work for us," An Shu added with a grin.


    He turned to Wu Yuan, his expression sincere. "Daoist Ming Jian, we owe you for this. Without your help, we wouldn''t have survived, let alone won this battle."


    "Indeed," Gong Shujie nodded in agreement.


    "It was ourbined efforts that led to victory," Wu Yuan replied, his smile calm and assured.


    "Gong Shu, how many more days until the mine is fully excavated?" An Shu inquired.


    "Four days," Gong Shujie responded. "My puppets are working around the clock."


    Wu Yuan and the others listened as Gong Shujie exined.


    Why bring a puppet master? The ore-richs had extremely unusual structures. They were incredibly sturdy, with high surface gravity. Even the full-force strike of a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle powerhouse would only create arge crater.


    Excavating the ore manually would have been an arduous and time-consuming task. But Gong Shujie��s humanoid puppets, though not particrly strong inbat, excelled at mining.


    "The total value of the Fire Ethercrystals mined from this vein, if sold to the Blood Eldritch Temple, is around thirteen billion catties of ethercrystal," Gong Shujie continued.


    Thirteen billion catties of ethercrystal! The mere mention of such an immense fortune made Pei He, Lie Shier, and the other captains�� hearts race. It was a sum vast enough to make even Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses envious.


    Of course, Pei He, Bing Roushui, and the others remained silent. They knew that, firstly, mines of this caliber were extremely rare, and secondly, without Wu Yuan, they couldn��t havepeted for such a high-tier Fire Ethercrystal mine.


    So, they all looked to Wu Yuan.


    Before Wu Yuan could speak, An Shu spoke up with a smile. "Daoist Ming Jian, I''ve thought it over. For the spoils of war from defeating the enemies, you should take fifty percent, and Gong Shujie and I will each take twenty-five percent."


    "Also, our previous agreement is void. The deposit paid earlier need not be returned, but we should adjust the allocation of the Fire Ethercrystals from the mine."


    "I''ll take forty percent, you and your team take forty percent, and Gong Shujie takes twenty percent."


    He proactively offered a better deal.


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    "No problem," Gong Shujie said with a smile.


    This Fire Ethercrystal vein��s location was provided by An Shu, and Wu Yuan''s team was crucial to their victory. Gong Shujie felt that taking twenty percent was quite fair.


    As for Wu Yuan, obtaining treasures worth billions of catties of ethercrystal was an opportunity he had no reason to refuse.


    ...


    With four days needed to fully excavate the Fire Ethercrystal mine, their next task was naturally guard duty. They had to deter other powerhouses coveting the mine.


    Pei He, Gong Shujie, and the others quickly set up monitoring arrays around the mine and in space.


    Wu Yuan made an agreement with Pei He, Lie Shier, Zhang Shan, and the others that all battle spoils would be split sixty-forty. Wu Yuan would take sixty percent, and they would take forty percent.


    None of the soldiers opposed Wu Yuan''s proposal; in fact, they felt the conditions were overly generous.


    After all, given Wu Yuan''s immense power, the spoils of war he could obtain on his own would be valued at a staggering amount. Taking forty percent seemed meager byparison, but it could very well be more than they��d gain hunting alone.


    Most importantly, it was safe. With a top-tier expert like Wu Yuan leading them, their chances of surviving the battlefield were significantly higher.


    In the core meditation chamber of the first-grade spirit battleship, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, deep in thought.


    <i>Killing an Elysian Field powerhouse and ying a genius from the Immortal Hall yields the same rewards? </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>Both rewarded me with five hundred thousand ethercrystalurels.</i>


    Wu Yuan reviewed the detailed breakdown of ethercrystalurels. Of theurels awarded for killing the two formidable opponents, half went to the eighty Amethyst Cradle cultivators who coordinated with him to form the array.


    <i>In other words, the Blood Eldritch Temple''s rewards are based on the opponents�� strength levels. For Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, as long as they can unleash Void Refiner/Elysian Field power, they are considered Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators and rewards would be increased ordingly.</i>


    <i>It makes sense. If the rewards weren��t significant, who would risk hunting these geniuses?</i>


    And from just one battle, Wu Yuan earned a reward of one million ethercrystalurels, directly advancing to a sixth-rank fighter��a rank that countless Amethyst Cradle cultivators yearned for but couldn��t reach.


    <i>Still too slow. This time, I encountered several formidable experts, yet I didn��t umte much. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>What if I only encounter Amethyst Cradle cultivators?</i>


    Even if he managed to kill them all, it might still not be enough. Who knew when he would umte one hundred million ethercrystalurels and be a ninth-rank fighter?


    The Blood Eldritch Temple''s ethercrystalurels were a meager reward. But with a higher rank, one could exchange ethercrystalurels for special rewards.


    For example, upon bing a ninth-rank fighter, every ten million ethercrystalurels awarded could be exchanged for one Dao Temple point, up to ten points. This was Wu Yuan��s aim.


    <i>On the other hand, I��ve harvested plenty of blood mist. </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, quietly sensing the blood mist swirling in his upper dantian lobe. Thick tendrils coiled around the ck pagoda.


    <i>Killing an Elysian Field powerhouse yields as much blood mist as ying two or three hundred cultivators at my cultivation phase.</i> Wu Yuan estimated the maximum quantity of blood mist that could be stored in his upper dantian lobe.


    He pondered silently. <i>To reach the upper dantian lobe��s limit, I��d need to kill thirty to forty Elysian Field powerhouses or tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators.</i>


    This didn��t include the continuous depletion of blood mist used to purify the power of Faith.


    <i>Through battles of life and death, I can obtain blood mist, use it to purify the power of Faith. At the same time, I can test out my techniques and verify what I��ve learned through each battle. </i>Wu Yuan''s mouth curled into a smile. <i>This trip to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was the right choice.</i>


    <i>Not to mention, the two major factions have yet to discern my true strength and identity.</i>


    <i>Even if they do, so what? I��m a genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. The Voltari Temple won��t target me too relentlessly, nor would they dispatch their top-tier geniuses to hunt me. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had done his research and understood the unspoken rules of the battlefield.


    If a genius from the Cang Feng Eldritch World was too eye-catching and ruthless, they''d quickly be a target of the Voltari Temple.


    Wu Yuan calmed his mind and continued toprehend the Longevity Dao.


    The purified power of Faith was incredibly mysterious. It merged into his soul, continuously strengthening and transforming it.


    This was a long-term process that would elerate Wu Yuan''sprehension speed.


    ...


    Four dayster, on the''s surface, hundreds of figures gathered at the entrance of a massive pit.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, here are the Fire Ethercrystals we agreed upon. Please check them," An Shu said, waving his hand and tossing several storage artifacts towards Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan caught them effortlessly and quickly inspected their contents.


    Upon confirming their uracy, Wu Yuan grinned. "Daoist An Shu, much obliged." This wealth amounted to a few billion catties of ethercrystal.


    With his strength and status, obtaining vast sums of wealth in the future wasn��t beyond Wu Yuan��s reach. However, the wealth earned through his own efforts felt far more satisfying than that bestowed by his masters and elders.


    "If thanks are due, it should be from me," An Shu smiled. "Daoist Ming Jian, Gong Shujie and I n to return to the war base to deliver the Fire Ethercrystals. Will youe with us?"


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I n to hunt for a while longer."


    Return to the war base? Even if the first-grade spirit battleship traveled at full speed, it would still take six or seven days for a round trip covering nearly a billion li. Wu Yuan was unwilling to waste such time.


    "Alright, then we''ll depart first," An Shu said with a smile. "When we return to the war base, let''s meet up if time permits."


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The parties then separated. An Shu and Gong Shujie headed towards the war base, while Wu Yuan led his team aboard the first-grade spirit battleship, departing from the in the opposite direction of An Shu and his group.


    ...


    <i>Inside the battleship.</i>


    "Commander, even if we are to hunt enemies, why couldn��t we travel together for a while longer and separate at the core of the war zone?" Pei He asked, puzzled.


    The other captains and soldiers shared his confusion.


    "Look," Wu Yuan waved his hand.


    A massive light screen projection appeared before everyone.


    It disyed two massive light points and countless smaller ones, with a zone marked in red.


    "These two light points represent the war bases of the two major camps in this expanse of outer space, roughly five billion li apart," Wu Yuan exined. "The millions of smaller light points represent ore-richs."


    Everyone listened attentively.


    "The red zone at the center of the two war bases is the most intense battle zone," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "The closer we are to our war base, the more allies we have, making it safer, but that also means fewer enemies."


    "Conversely, as we move closer to the Voltari Temple''s war base, the likelihood of encountering enemies increases."


    "It seems dangerous, but our killing efficiency will skyrocket," Wu Yuan continued calmly. "Operating near the enemy''s war base for a year could yield the same results as ten years of activity near our own war base."


    A few simple sentences from him left Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others speechless. At that moment, they realized that theirmander was a little too bold, and in fact somewhat unhinged.


    ughtering the enemy right at their doorstep?

 Chapter 529: The Name Ming Jian (1)

    <h4>Chapter 529: The Name Ming Jian (1)</h4>


    A first-grade spirit battleship cruised through the vast expanse of space, cutting through the void at a speed of three thousand li per second.


    The interior of the ship was immense, capable of housing over a thousand individuals. At this moment, the main cabin was filled with ordinary soldiers of the Huo Cang Army, each silently meditating.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan and his six captains gathered in the battleship''s control center, their faces illuminated by the glow of the holographic disys.


    "Commander, isn��t this too dangerous?" Lie Shier asked, his voice low and tinged with concern. "ording to the areas mapped, the war zones are typically categorized as Safe, Ordinary, Danger, and Death Zones, with the exception of major wars."


    He paused, ncing at the others before continuing, "The Safe Zones are areas near our war bases or on the fringes of the war zone��nos, no Fire Ethercrystal veins. In the Ordinary Zones, ore-richs are scarce, and rtively few powerhouses venture there."


    "The Danger Zones epass the central star belt, which has a high density of stars ands. In these zones, one might encounter a every few million or tens of millions of li, increasing the chances of discovering ore veins, which in turn attracts many powerhouses."


    "The we just mined was in an Ordinary Zone, not even a Danger Zone," Lie Shier pointed out, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Wu Yuan. "But the coordinates you��ve set, Commander, are deep within a Danger Zone, bordering on a Death Zone."


    The room fell silent as the others turned their gazes to Wu Yuan, their uncertainty mirrored in their eyes.


    Wu Yuan met their stares with a calm smile. He understood their worries��after all, even the strongest among them, Pei He, was not yet at the level of a Void Refiner.


    Together, the three hundred soldiers of the Huo Cang Army could barely hold their own against a peerless genius like An Shu. While theirbined strength was formidable, it was far from enough to dominate the battlefield.


    At the pinnacle of the entire Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield stood a group of monstrous prodigies from each major camp who hadprehended a Dao Field (Lesser Law), some even reaching the second or third-level Dao Field stage!


    There was a tacit understanding between the two major camps, especially between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple.


    Peerless geniuses who hadprehended a Dao Field had to remain at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase to stay on the battlefield. Even if they were on the verge of breaking through, they had to leave the battlefield before proceeding with the advancement.


    In essence, Battlefield 36 was under the supervision of these two major camps, who encouraged countless juniors topete and undergo tempering in life-or-death battles.


    In a sense, it was a normalized, weaker version of the Bloodforge Battle. If one could dominate the entire battlefield and ughter at will while at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase, no one would object.


    Of course, some ordinary geniuses, those whose Daoprehension reached the eighth or ninth-level True Intent stages and whose cultivation reached the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase, could also be incredibly formidable.


    As for Wu Yuan''s strength, he was undoubtedly among the pinnacle of powerhouses in the entire Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. Apart from the top hundred monstrous prodigies at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase from each major camp, he feared no one.


    Combining the eighteen entry-level battlefields, there were tens of thousands of war zones, each spanning over a hundred billion li of space. The chance of encountering such peerless geniuses? Slim to none!


    "I understand your concerns," Wu Yuan finally spoke, his voice steady. "For three years, you may choose to follow me if you''re willing."


    He leaned forward slightly. "But you should know that with my strength, the so-called Ordinary Zones offer no opportunities for me to temper myself."


    Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others exchanged nces, acknowledging the truth in Wu Yuan''s words.


    "It will be more dangerous to follow me," Wu Yuan continued. "The locations I''ve selected are less than three hundred million li from the enemy''s war base.


    ��As long as we defeat a few waves of enemies, the news will spread. Undoubtedly, arge horde of powerhouses will swarm our way, seeking to besiege and hunt us down.��


    Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "It will be extremely dangerous, but the speed at which we��ll acquire treasures and our efficiency of earning ethercrystalurels will also increase several fold.


    "It��s your choice. If you wish to follow, obey mymands. If not, then Pei He will takemand, and you can venture into the Ordinary Zones yourselves, where the danger levels are much lower."


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the six captains, waiting for their decision.


    To be honest, after half a month, Wu Yuan had grown fond of them. This group of Huo Cang Army soldiers had straightforward personalities, simr to the geniuses of the Eldritch World.


    But Wu Yuan had his own path, his own ideas, and he wouldn''t let other factors interfere with his cultivation.


    Pei He, Yu Zhuo, and the others exchanged nces.


    "Commander, I''ll follow you," the bald Lie Shier dered, grinning. "Fortune favors the bold. Besides, with your strength, it''ll be hard for you to find a worthy opponent on the battlefield, Commander."


    "I will follow as well," Pei He added calmly, "but Commander, I''ve decided that once we reach the target location, I''ll break through to the Void Refiner phase first."


    "Alright." Wu Yuan nodded. Pei He''s Daoprehension level barely met the criteria for advancing to the Void Refiner phase, but if he could break through, his strength would increase significantly, making him a valuable asset.


    "I will follow as well."


    "Follow the Commander."


    In the end, the six captains reached a consensus, all agreeing to follow Wu Yuan to one of the most dangerous areas of this battlefield, an area adjacent to a Death Zone.


    Why was it called a Death Zone? It was a ce where long-term survival was almost impossible, as evaluated by the Blood Eldritch Temple.


    "Haha, don''t worry," Wu Yuanughed. "You will not regret the choice you��ve made today."


    "Yes, Commander." Pei He, Lie Shier, Bing Roushui, Yu Zhuo, and the others smiled.


    One could say that this was the moment they truly started to regard Wu Yuan as theirmander.


    ...


    "Pei He, Lie Shier and with Shi Ji, take your teams and board a first-grade spirit battleship. Proceed five thousand li to my left."


    "Bing Roushui, Yu Zhuo, and Zhang Shan, take your teams and proceed five thousand li to my right."


    "This way, our search radius will increase significantly." Wu Yuan quickly issued his firstmand.


    Wu Yuan had acquired numerous treasures from the Elysian Field powerhouses and Immortal Hall geniuses he had killed, including three first-grade spirit battleships. Now, he had Pei He and Bing Roushui each takemand of one.


    Communication within the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was inconvenient. The team Wu Yuanmanded only possessed voidrealm jades to enter the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    As for the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, their voidrealm jades were confined to personal halls, limited to viewing intelligence reports from the Blood Eldritch Temple and the fighter ranking leaderboard. Communication and many other functions were restricted.


    However, with Wu Yuan''s abilities, crafting a simple messaging artifact to transmit messages over a range of tens of millions of li was easy.


    "Search thoroughly, and if you encounter an enemy or ambush, notify the others immediately.


    "We��ll stay within a maximum distance of a hundred thousand li. If ambushed, the other two teams can arrive within six seconds." Wu Yuan had thought through every detail.


    Acting alone would slightly reduce search efficiency and make it tricky to conceal his identity.


    <i>Each time I kill an opponent, it will be tracked by the Voltari Temple through the voidrealm. If I single-handedly kill all my enemies, I��ll appear too terrifying, too dazzling, and soon draw attention, </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>They might even send some geniuses to eliminate me.</i>


    Although unafraid, Wu Yuan wasn''t eager to sh with the Immortal Court��s geniuses so soon.


    <i>I��ll take it slow. First, I should umte blood mist to its limit and see if I can unlock a new function of my qi refiner self��s ck pagoda, just like my body refiner self. </i>Wu Yuan had a clear n.


    This was the current primary goal. Tempering was secondary. There was no need to court disaster.


    ...


    Traveling about three hundred million li daily, it would take over ten days to reach the target location ording to Wu Yuan''s n.


    However, Wu Yuan''s team didn''t avoid the rtively dangerous areas; instead, they actively sought out regions where powerhouses congregated. Naturally, the journey was anything but peaceful. Within a day, they encountered an ambush.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!" Pei He and Shi Ji led the charge out of the spirit battleship.


    Wu Yuan, Bing Roushui, and their team swiftly followed suit.


    "So strong?"


    "This! All Amethyst Cradle battle arrays?" The ambushing team was instantly thrown into despair.


    In mere seconds, Wu Yuan''s group easily annihted the team of fewer than twenty Amethyst Cradle cultivators. None were spared.


    ...


    This was only the beginning. As the team gradually entered the star belt in the Danger Zone, nearing the enemy base, the frequency of battles skyrocketed. The strength of the enemy teams also grew increasingly formidable. However, most of these encounters were easily resolved.


    Wu Yuan and his team spread out their Soul Force to search for enemy immortal cultivators. Once discovered, Wu Yuan would lead his team in offensive strikes. Through the battles initiated, he umted blood mist, and amassed ethercrystalurels.


    In the end, after about fifteen days and seventeen battles, Wu Yuan and his team reached the target location.


    The dozen or so battles along the way were mostly easy. Only one was challenging��a sh with a team led by a Void Refiner Eminence. In that battle, Wu Yuan unleashed the full power of the battle array to secure victory.


    Overall, the journey was rtively smooth.


    ...


    Under a dark red star, atop a massive rogue, three battleships hovered.


    Inside one of the ships, a massive light screen disyed a dense map of star markers. A small section was highlighted in blue.


    "Next, we will operate within this thirty-million-li area." Wu Yuan pointed to the blue zone, designating their operational area.


    This was just a few hundred million li from the Immortal Court��s war base.


    It was one of the main routes taken by countless immortal cultivators of the Immortal Court traveling through the star belt. With enemies aplenty, one could quickly umte ethercrystalurels��as long as one was strong enough.


    Of course, this was also extremely dangerous.


    ...


    Time flowed on.


    As Wu Yuan��s team operated in this area, they quickly became the target of many Immortal Court teams seeking to surround them.


    The reason was simple: in the entry-level battlefields, few trulyprehended a Dao Field.


    Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses were often the top elites, and only their teams dared to roam freely in such perilous regions. Peerless geniuses? Most of them had full confidence in their strength, and chose to venture alone.


    Thus, to a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse��s Soul Force, a team like Wu Yuan��s, consisting of so many Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators without a single Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse, looked like a fat sheep just waiting to be ughtered. Naturally, it attracted the attention of many powerhouses.


    However, once these powerhouses attempted an ambush or assault, they would soon be plunged into shock and despair once Wu Yuan unleashed his power, leading the Amethyst Cradle battle array. He was too formidable!


    When Wu Yuanmanded the Amethyst Cradle battle array, its base strength could rival the first-stage Void Refiner phase. Though it was limited to closebat, unable to unleash lifebound flying swords or a Thousand Swords Array, Wu Yuan��s power was terrifying enough with his profound Daoprehension.


    Void Refiner phase? Elysian Field phase? As long as they hadn��tprehended a Dao Field, Wu Yuan could defeat them all, and even kill some!


    Of course, when encountering the asional two or three Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses teaming up, some would always manage to escape.


    And some Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses whoprehended the Wind Dao were also difficult for Wu Yuan to chase down once they focused solely on fleeing, and he ended up watching them escape.


    After each battle, Wu Yuan would lead the team in a swift retreat, restoring their mana and rekindling their battle spirit before seeking enemies and tempting ambushers again.

 Chapter 530: The Name Ming Jian (2)

    <h4>Chapter 530: The Name Ming Jian (2)</h4>


    Time flowed on.


    Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators could find themselves spending anywhere from years to centuries in entry-level battlefields.


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan had already roamed this battlefield for nearly two years.


    In these two years, he had experienced over a hundred battles, bothrge and small. Simply put, he had swept through all opposition, killing every enemy that crossed his path. The only difference was in the number of adversaries he vanquished each time.


    More than twenty Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, along with countless Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, perished by his hand. One could say that Wu Yuan had be the undisputed king of this battlefield.


    It was important to note that many powerhouses from the Immortal Court��s camp, who roamed the battlefield long-term, had established methods tomunicate and share information. Add to this the powerhouses who managed to escape Wu Yuan��s wrath, and it was no surprise that his reputation spread quickly.


    Wu Yuan��s fame spread rapidly from Outer Space War Base 1294.


    ��He��s secretly a peerless genius.��


    ��He hasprehended the Celestial Body Dao to the True Intent stage. His power is terrifying, truly a top-tier genius.��


    ��And yet, he shamelessly leads arge group of ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators, pretending to be weak.��


    ��His strength is beyond frightening.��


    ��We can��t match him. My two brothers and I��two first-stage Void Refiner cultivators and one second-stage Elysian Field cultivator��were utterly defeated by him alone. Both my brothers died in that battle.�� The Immortal Court powerhouses active in this region of the battlefield all knew of Wu Yuan''s terror.


    ��Avoid that region.��


    ��Avoid that passage, do not provoke him.�� Gradually, these Immortal Hall powerhouses reached a consensus, unwilling to challenge him any further.


    This, however, led to a rapid decrease in Wu Yuan��s team��s efficiency in umting kills.


    Meanwhile, the Eldritch Court powerhouses at Outer Space War Base 1294 also learned of Wu Yuan''s name from the fighter ranking leaderboard.


    ��Ming Jian!��


    ��In less than two years, he has risen from a first-rank fighter to a ninth-rank fighter! He must be one of the top peerless geniuses who hasprehended a Dao Field.��


    ��To be a ninth-rank fighter so swiftly, he surely has the potential to reach legendary rank.��


    ��Ming Jian.�� The name was memorized by countless immortal cultivators of the Eldritch Court on this battlefield. Each legendary-rank fighter was truly a legend.


    A ninth-rank fighter was already formidable, representing near-invincibility among Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators.


    However, what truly shook the countless immortal cultivators on this battlefield, etching the name ��Ming Jian�� in their minds, were his subsequent actions.


    ��Kill! The Immortal Hall��s immortal cultivators are avoiding us? They��re making detours around us? Then we will invade the so-called Death Zone.


    ��Kill our way through. Stop a hundred million li from their war base,�� Wu Yuan ordered his team.


    A hundred million li; that was truly akin to ughtering them at their doorstep.


    In just two days, Wu Yuan led his team in over fifty battles, killing three Void Refiner/ Elysian Field powerhouses, as well as thousands of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh immortal cultivators. This stirred a massivemotion.


    Then, as though realizing such actions would utterly enrage the Immortal Hall, he led his team in a hasty retreat, fleeing more than a billion li before stopping.


    ...


    <i>Inside the battleship.</i>


    ��Commander, are we taking a break?�� The once ice-cold Bing Roushui now smiled at Wu Yuan.


    Of course, she still maintained her icy demeanor towards others, including Pei He, who had just advanced to the Void Refiner phase.


    ��Mm.�� Wu Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the five individuals before him. ��In these two years, we have gained much, but also suffered significant casualties.


    ��Next, let��s rest for a while and each reflect on and consolidate what we��ve learned.


    ��Roushui, you��ve reached the seventh-level True Intent stage. If you wish to break through to the Void Refiner phase, you may do so,�� Wu Yuan instructed.


    ��Yes, Commander,�� Bing Roushui respectfully replied.


    Wu Yuan nodded and turned, entering the meditation chamber within the battleship. Pei He, Bing Roushui, and the other three remained behind.


    ��Old Bing, do you have a crush on themander? Wanna be his Daopanion?�� The bald youth, Lie Shier, grinned as he teased.


    ��Shut up. No one will think you��re mute just because you don��t speak,�� Bing Roushui��s tone was as frosty as ever. ��I just admire the Commander, that��s all.��


    ��The Commander is indeed formidable,�� Pei He sighed emotionally.


    ��Yeah.��


    ��Inconceivably strong. I never imagined an Amethyst Cradle-level cultivator could be this powerful,�� Yu Zhuo and Shi Ji couldn��t help but voice their thoughts.


    In the past two years, Wu Yuan had disyed his abilities time and again, his terrifying strength inspiring genuine awe and admiration from them.


    "s, Zhang Shan still met his end," Shi Ji suddenly sighed.


    Two years had passed, during which they had engaged in hundreds of deadly battles. Even though Wu Yuan''s strength was astonishing and he provided much support, their opponents grew stronger with each encounter, leading to significant casualties within the team.


    After all, the desperate counterattacks of some Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses were incredibly fearsome.


    Of the initial three hundred soldiers of the Huo Cang Army, only 252 remained. Even Zhang Shan, who was at the ninth-stage Shambh phase, had perished in a dreadful battle.


    "The deceased are gone. As those who have survived, our task is to strive to be stronger," Pei He said solemnly. "When we return, we must take care of his family."


    "Indeed."


    "We cannot allow his family to be bullied," the other captains nodded in agreement. This was a promise they had made long ago.


    After hundreds of years of military life, coupled with the recent life-and-death struggles, the bonds between them ran deep.


    "I''ll go break through first. Only then can I be of greater help," Bing Roushui said as she entered a room.


    As one continually pushed their limits in consecutive life-and-death battles, the probability of an Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivator making a breakthrough was very high.


    ...


    Inside the meditation chamber, which measured ten zhangs in diameter, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a jade tform.


    <i>The consecutive life-or-death battles and consistent reflection after each encounter have truly increased my efficiency in Daoprehension. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>In merely two years, I��ve advanced to the seventh-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao, not far from the eighth-level Domain stage. I��ve also made progress in the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    Indeed, with constant tempering throughbat, coupled with the support of Faith, Wu Yuan had unknowingly broken through the bottleneck between the sixth-level and seventh-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao.


    Wu Yuan believed that within ten years at most, he could advance to the ninth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao. In terms of progression, it wouldn''t be much slower than the Celestial Body Dao.


    If others learned about his speed of progress, they would be utterly astonished.


    But Wu Yuan had always remained patient. For the past two years, besides honing himself in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, neither his qi refiner self nor his body refiner self had made any remarkable moves.


    <i>Stay low-key, develop myself.</i> This was Wu Yuan''s current guiding principle.


    However, despite his rapid progress in the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao, his body refiner self made very little headway in deciphering the cryptic patterns on the silver sphere. In fact, one could say there had been no progress at all.


    <i>If it were purely the Space Dao, I might still grasp a thing or two, given enough time.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    But the unique cryptic patterns on the surface of the silver sphere were a fusion of Celestial Body, Longevity, Space, and other Daos. The more he studied them, the more Wu Yuan understood why his many senior brothers and sisters, each brilliant in their own right, struggled to tread this path. It was simply too profound.


    <i>However, the greatest gain from two years of life-and-deathbat in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield is not Daoprehension, but blood mist, which has finally reached the limit that the ck pagoda can bear. </i>Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, switching his main focus to his soul essence which resided within the upper dantian lobe.


    Wu Yuan''s primary purpose for applying to join the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was to umte blood mist. However, whether due to possessing two true selves or having broken through to a higher level, it took him two whole years to aplish it.


    In the past two years, Wu Yuan''s umted ethercrystalurels had exceeded one hundred million, earning him the title of ninth-rank fighter.


    Only then did he reach the blood mist��s saturation point. One could only imagine the extent of killing needed to reach his goal.


    At this moment, an unprecedented quantity of blood mist permeated his upper dantian lobe. Yet, the gate at the base of the ck pagoda did not open as Wu Yuan had anticipated. Instead, it was the stone pir at the top of the pagoda that emitted a brilliant yet somewhat eerie light.


    <i>Buzz~</i> Countless strands of blood mist began to flow like streams, continuously pouring into the stone pir, tainting its surface with a faint crimson hue.


    <i>What��s happening? The blood mist has reached the saturation limit, yet the ck pagoda shows no change. Instead, the stone pir is absorbing the blood mist. </i>Wu Yuan''s soul essence observed, not daring to act rashly.


    First, Wu Yuan knew the stone pir was also a special treasure, particrly adept at soul defense. He was unsure why it was absorbing the blood mist.


    Second, Wu Yuan was uncertain if the stone pir at the top of the ck pagoda was part of the pagoda itself, and was unsure if it was the ck pagoda absorbing the blood mist.


    However,pared to the abnormal behavior of the ck pagoda in his body refiner self, the stone pir''s absorption of the blood mist was exceedingly slow.


    Why did Wu Yuan retreat after days of intense battle right outside the Immortal Court��s war base?


    Apart from not wanting to thoroughly enrage the Immortal Court, the more crucial reason was that the blood mist had reached its limit, causing the ck pagoda''s stone pir to react, and Wu Yuan did not wish to be distracted.


    <i>I��ll wait for the changes to bepleted, investigate what this phenomenon means, then resume hunting enemies.</i> Wu Yuan waited silently.


    At the current rate, it would take six days to fully absorb the blood mist.


    After two years of brutalbat, the blood mist Wu Yuan umted in his upper dantian lobe was dense beyond belief. If used solely for Faith purification, it wouldst for him ten thousand years at the current depletion rate.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan and his team hid behind an inconspicuous rogue between the Danger Zone and Ordinary Zone, quietly cultivating.


    <i>Immortal Court camp, Outer Space War Base 1294.</i>


    The entire battle star was divided into several levels. The first level was where the Immortal Court soldiers resided; entry to the second level was restricted to Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses; and the third level, thergest, was where Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators gathered.


    At this moment, outside the superrge teleportation array on the second level, six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses had gathered, each exuding extraordinary auras.


    They all waited quietly.


    Suddenly, light shed, and a ck-armored figure emerged from the teleportation array. Though he was merely at the Shambh phase, he exuded a subtle domineering aura.


    "Greetings to His Highness Feng Sheng."


    "Greetings to His Highness Feng Sheng." The six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses greeted the ck-armored figure with utmost respect.


    "No need for formalities." The ck-armored young man spoke softly, his gaze icy. "By the order of the Immortal Hall, I am here to kill the Eldritch Court''s ninth-rank fighter Ming Jian."


    "Where is he now?"

 Chapter 531: The First Origin Blood Droplet (1)

    <h4>Chapter 531: The First Origin Blood Droplet (1)</h4>


    "Your Highness Feng Sheng," an elderly man in red robes spoke with deep respect. Among the six Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses present, he was the smallest in stature, yet his aura was the most formidable.


    "ording to the intelligence gathered by our war base, Ming Jian''s team has likely distanced themselves from our Immortal Court��s war base," the red-robed elder continued, his tone steady. "For the past two days, we''ve found no trace of them. Based on our analysis, it seems Ming Jian has temporarily retreated and is now in hiding."


    "Hiding?" The ck-armored youth, addressed as His Highness Feng Sheng, frowned slightly, a glint of irritation in his eyes. "I rushed here from the Immortal Hall specifically to take care of him. Could it be that my arrival was leaked, and he��s avoiding a confrontation with me?"


    "The news of Your Highness''s arrival is top secret and could not have been leaked," the elderly man replied confidently. "However, Ming Jian has been engaged in continuousbat for two consecutive years. Judging by the intensity and frequency of his battles, it��s unlikely he has returned to the Eldritch Court''s war base."


    "There are two possibilities. One, he has returned to his camp��s war base to recuperate. The other is that he realizes he''s been too reckless and is now avoiding confrontation with our Immortal Court, waiting for the storm to pass before emerging again." The elderly man stated.


    The other Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses nodded in agreement.


    "Continue," His Highness Feng Shengmanded, his voice cold butposed.


    "Please observe, Your Highness." The elderly man, Yin Hou, waved his hand, conjuring a giant projection of a map disying the war bases of both camps.


    The projection was marked with numerous light points, red lines, and purple regions.


    "These light points indicate the locations where our cultivators have recently shed with Ming Jian," Yin Hou exined. "They form a line, showing the path he took in retreat."


    "If Ming Jian hasn��t returned to his camp��s war base, there''s a seventy percent chance he''s still hiding in this purple region," Yin Hou pointed to the shaded area.


    The edge of this purple region coincided precisely with where Wu Yuan was currently meditating.


    "There''s a twenty percent chance he followed this red line," Yin Hou continued, "and a ten percent chance he followed the second red line."


    "If he has indeed escaped back to the Eldritch Court''s war base, we��ll have no choice but to wait for him to reappear," Yin Hou concluded, his tone respectful.


    "What��s your name? You seem very familiar with the situation of this battlefield. How long have you been stationed here?" His Highness Feng Sheng��s sharp gaze fell on the elderly man.


    "My name is Yin Hou. Including the time before I broke through to the Void Refiner phase, I��ve been operating around this war base for nearly two hundred years," Yin Hou said, a hint of pride swelling in his chest.


    Two hundred years was a considerable amount of time to spend on an entry-level battlefield, especially at the same war base.


    "Good. I believe you know the environment of this battlefield like the back of your hand. You will lead the tracking team," His Highness Feng Sheng dered. "If you can locate Ming Jian and y him, the credit will be yours."


    Though Feng Sheng��s strength was formidable, he wasn��t adept at tracking targets in this new environment. To find and kill Ming Jian, he needed someone who knew the intricacies of the region.


    "Thank you, Your Highness." Yin Hou��s excitement was evident in his voice. "I will give it my all."


    "You five," His Highness Feng Sheng said, stepping out of the teleportation array and sweeping his gaze over the five other Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. "If this mission is a sess, each of you will receive a reward of two million ethercrystalurels. This is a reward directly granted by the Immortal Hall."


    "Additionally, once we y Ming Jian, the spoils of war will be divided, with each of you getting half a percent." His Highness Feng Sheng��s words hung in the air.


    In an instant, the eyes of the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, including Yin Hou, gleamed with greed.


    Half a percent of the spoils? Two million ethercrystalurels?


    It might not sound like much at first, but they all knew that killing a fellow Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse typically yielded only about a million ethercrystalurels.


    Over the past two years, Ming Jian��s team had in dozens of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses and tens of thousands of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, amassing treasures beyond imagination.


    Half a percent? That could exceed their entire fortunes!


    Initially, they were simply acting on orders, but now they were driven by interest.


    As for whether they would seed? None of them doubted their victory.


    After all, besides the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, they had a peerless genius from the Immortal Hall, Feng Sheng. The Immortal Hall wouldn''t send him if they weren��t certain of his sess.


    <i>With these incentives, I don��t have to worry about them cking off.</i> His Highness Feng Sheng thought, his confidence unwavering.


    Among the tens of thousands of geniuses at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase, his strength ranked in the top hundred.


    Ming Jian? He��d never heard of him, but if sharing some spoils could make his task easier, Feng Sheng wouldn''t mind.


    ...


    Shortly after, His Highness Feng Sheng led the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses onto a battleship, silently departing the war base.


    They headed in the direction Wu Yuan had taken, quickly beginning their hunt.


    Time passed.


    "It��s been eight days. We''ve found nothing despite thoroughly searching this area, though we��ve killed many immortal cultivators from the Eldritch Court," Feng Sheng mused, his voice devoid of anger as he turned to Yin Hou.


    The Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was vast, making pursuit a daunting task. Besides tracking skills, luck yed an even greater role.


    "Yin Hou, what��s your assessment?" His Highness Feng Sheng asked, his tone expectant but calm.


    "Ming Jian��s past actions suggest that even if he returned to the war base, he wouldn��t avoid battles along the way. He would fight his way back," Yin Hou responded respectfully, his voice steady.


    "I��m ny percent sure he��s hiding in this region," Yin Hou pointed to a specific area on the star map.


    "A hundred million li radius? It would take half a day just to cross this distance," His Highness Feng Sheng muttered, shaking his head. "Searching this way won��t work."


    "We��ll wait. If he��s hiding to avoid the heat, he will eventually resurface," His Highness Feng Sheng decided, his voice firm. "Once he acts, we��ll receive a message from the war base and make our way over."


    "Understood.��


    The hunting team quietly assumed their positions in space on the edge of a cluster of ore-richs, biding their time.


    They were like predators lurking in the shadows, their fangs hidden, ready to strike the moment their prey revealed itself.


    ...


    About sixty million li from the hunting team led by His Highness Feng Sheng, three battleships were docked on an inconspicuous rogue.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A powerful vital aura erupted, spreading over a hundred thousand li before quickly receding.


    Fortunately, this expanse of outer space was deste, and apart from the Huo Cang Army team, no one sensed the fluctuation.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The vital aura surged again as Bing Roushui emerged from the hall, her demeanor colder and more focused than before. "I��ve finally stepped into the Void Refiner phase."


    "Congrattions on your breakthrough," Pei He smiled, his eyes warm.


    The captains were close, having sworn to break through together. They had endured countless trials, and seeing a friend seed brought genuine joy to their hearts.


    "Advancing to the Void Refiner phase is no small feat," Lie Shier chuckled, though a hint of envy colored his tone.


    "No need to envy Sister Bing. Our Daoprehension is already at the sixth-level True Intent stage," Yu Zhuo chimed in. "With time, we all have the potential to break through." Yu Zhuo was the most reserved among the captains.


    "Where��s themander? Is he still in seclusion?" Bing Roushui asked.


    "No," Pei He shook his head. "Themander sent a message asking for our patience for a few more days."


    "Alright," Bing Roushui nodded. "As for the trial mission, wepleted it long ago. Waiting a few more days won��t hurt."


    Their trial mission required them to meet the ethercrystalurel quota and survive on the battlefield for three years.


    "Alright, Roushui, since you''ve seeded, I��ll resume my watch," Pei He said with a smile, leaving the battleship in a streak of light.


    As Void Refiner Eminences, their Soul Wills could scan vast regions, ideal for routine patrols.


    ...


    The captains continued their conversation.


    Meanwhile, in a meditation chamber deep within the battleship, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, his eyes closed, a mixture of surprise and confusion across his features.


    <i>A blood droplet?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    In his upper dantian lobe, more than ny percent of the dense, ocean-like blood mist had dissipated.


    Wu Yuan��s soul essence gazed in astonishment at a blood-red, crystal-clear drop of blood suspended before the ck pagoda pir.


    The blood droplet was small, only the size of a fist, yet it emitted an incredibly dense soul aura. Wu Yuan��s soul essence instinctively yearned to devour it!


    This single drop of blood was the result Wu Yuan had been waiting for all these days.


    He had initially thought that in six or seven days, the ck pagoda''s stone column would absorb all the blood mist, but as the days passed, the rate of absorption slowed.


    In the end, it did notpletely devour the blood mist.


    When the stone column reached its limit of absorption, its entire body turned almost blood-red, and then, just a few breaths, the blood-red color converged into a single point and flew out, forming this single drop of blood.


    Origin Blood Droplet, nourishes the soul? Wu Yuan��s gaze lingered on the drop of blood as a message was conveyed to him.


    The message only stated its name and effects, with no further details.


    <i>Truly bizarre.</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly. <i>When the blood mist of my body refiner self reached saturation, I encountered that mysterious Origin Spirit, leading to a transformation of my Daoprehension aptitude,ying the foundation for quickly grasping the True Intent of the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    <i>But when the blood mist reached its saturation point in my qi refiner self, the ck pagoda didn��t show any abnormalities, and the base of the pagoda remained closed. Instead, this mysterious Origin Blood Droplet appeared.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, perplexed.


    The results werepletely different. Was this due to the different cultivation systems of his true selves, or due to differences in cultivation levels? There was no way to know.


    <i>In the future, before my body refiner self breaks through to the Elysian Field phase, I must enter the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>I must umte the blood mist to its limit and try again.</i>


    Ever since his body refiner self had broken through to the Shambh phase, the blood mist had never been umted to its limit.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan did not act rashly; instead, he continued to experiment and soon discovered that he could move the so-called Origin Blood Droplet freely within his upper dantian lobe. It responded to his thoughts effortlessly.


    <i>Having separated from the ck pagoda''s stone column, this Origin Blood Droplet is now under my control, just like the blood mist? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    The message from the Origin Blood Droplet suggested it would likely be greatly beneficial to his soul.


    <i>Let��s try it. So far, the ck pagoda has yet to harm me.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    His soul essence remained in a lotus position as he maneuvered the Origin Blood Droplet until it hovered above his soul essence��s head. Then, with a steady breath, Wu Yuan released his control. To his surprise, the Origin Blood Droplet was drawn by an invisible force.


    <i>Drip!</i> It directly fell onto Wu Yuan��s soul essence.

 Chapter 532: The First Origin Blood Droplet (2)

    <h4>Chapter 532: The First Origin Blood Droplet (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Like a drop of ink spreading through water, the Origin Blood Droplet instantly dispersed, its blood-red light saturating Wu Yuan''s soul essence.


    The soul essence contained the vast majority of a qi refiner''s soul; it was the very core of a qi refiner. At higher cultivation levels, a qi refiner could theoretically abandon their physical body and still achieve rebirth with just their Yuan Soul.


    In that moment, Wu Yuan felt his soul ravenously absorbing the power of the Origin Blood Droplet as it dispersed within his essence. His spirit felt purified and liberated, while his soul experienced an iparable sense of rxation.


    <i>The perception range of my soul.</i> Wu Yuan noticed with astonishment the rapid transformation of his soul, as his Soul Will expanded over an increasingly vast range.


    At the same time, his soul��s perceptive abilities grew more acute. One��s rity of perception with Soul Will was more than ten times sharper than one��s Soul Force at the Yang Soul. Ordinary mind confusion arrays would now be utterly ineffective against Wu Yuan, and more than ny-nine percent of the secrets within the Material Spatial Layer wereid bare before him.


    It was precisely because of his powerful Soul Will that Wu Yuan dared to rampage freely across the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. Now, with the Origin Blood Droplet��s power merging into his being, Wu Yuan could clearly feel his soul��s perception range steadily expanding, nearing the peak of the Soul Will level. At the same time, he could perceive his environment with far greater rity.


    After what seemed like an eternity, the power contained in the single Origin Blood Droplet was finally exhausted, and the rapid transformation of Wu Yuan''s soul ceased.


    <i>This! This...! </i>Wu Yuan, who had been closely monitoring the changes in his soul, felt waves of shock ripple through his heart.


    <i>Soul Will. </i>His soul��s perception range had leaped from just over thirty thousand li to more than eighty thousand li! The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.


    One had to understand that even when Elysian Field powerhouses gradually nurtured their souls to the peak of the Soul Will level, their souls�� perception range typically reached just around one hundred thousand li.


    In the early phases of cultivation, many treasures could assist in strengthening the soul, but as one advanced, progress became exceedingly difficult, relying mostly on the slow umtion of time.


    During the Bloodforge Battle, Wu Yuan had encountered a few Golden Core cultivators at the Spiritual Body phase who had reached the Yang Soul level. However, in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, where peerless geniuses were asmon as clouds, those who had reached the Soul Will level were exceedingly rare.


    The reason? Their cultivation periods were too brief. Without special opportunities, even the most exceptional geniuses needed more time to reach the next soul level. As a result, many peerless geniuses had souls that were not significantly stronger than those of other cultivators at the same cultivation phase.


    For instance, in the Origin Eldritch Fields and Immortal Halls, it was rare for peerless geniuses to advance to the Soul Will level before reaching the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase unless they had extremely rare and special constitutions.


    <i>Theoretically, the further one progresses, the harder it bes for the soul to surpass the mana cultivation phase. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    Soul Will at the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase.


    Yuan Soul at the Divided Soul/Dharma Body.


    This was practically set in stone!


    Even the demanding Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had praised Wu Yuan for his strong soul.


    <i>The so-called Origin Blood Droplet is at least a hundred times more potent than the Dragonsoul Crystal Bead.</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    Even ordinary Archimmortals and Astral Lords could not easily obtain Dragonsoul Crystal Beads, and something a hundred times more precious was beyond imagination.


    Perhaps only someone at Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s level would have such treasures, but whether they could be used by Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators was another question entirely.


    It was best to give the right treasure to the right person.


    <i>I��ve been visualizing the ck pagoda day and night, inducing non-stop transformation of my soul. This advantage grows more prominent the further I progress. </i>Wu Yuan was deeply shaken. <i>ording to my earlier estimations, it would have taken at least several decades for my soul to advance from to the peak of Soul Will</i>.


    Yet in less than a day, a single Origin Blood Droplet had saved him at least thirty years of Visualization effort.


    <i>Now, in terms of soul strength, I��m probably not inferior to those ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivators who have been cultivating for seven to eight thousand years. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    A soul perception range of over eighty thousand li meant he was close to the peak of the Soul Will level.


    <i>Soul enhancement is just one aspect.</i> Wu Yuan continued to reflect. <i>There��s also a change in the rity of perception.</i> Wu Yuan felt his Soul Will perfectly harmonizing with the world.


    Within the range of his soul��s perception, every thread of spiritual qi, every strand of heaven and earth''s power beneath the surfaceyer of space, and the chaotic yet perfectly woven profundities of the Dao were all crystal clear��more than ten times clearer than before.


    <i>I can control and sense everything in the Material Spatial Layer within the range of Soul Will. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    Beneath the stable surface of space, he sensed a surging, boundless, and terrifying power��a force capable of tearing apart the entire Material Spatial Layer.


    <i>It is the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.</i> Wu Yuan immediately confirmed, growing increasingly astonished. <i>At the Soul Will level, I can sense the Fragmentary Spatial Layer? This is characteristic of a Yuan Soul!</i>


    To step into the higher Fragmentary Spatial Layer with one��s physical body using mana was extremely difficult, usually achievable only by Archimmortals.


    But to merely sense it? Even Earth Immortals or High Eldritches might detect it, though they could not yet step into it. Sensing it alone was already unattainable for most.


    <i>At the peak of the Soul Will level, my soul has acquired a hint of a Yuan Soul��s characteristics. Even if it cannot bepared to a true Yuan Soul, it''s still astonishing.</i> Wu Yuan marveled at the wondrous changes in his soul.


    The Origin Blood Droplet was truly an ultimate treasure, surpassing even Wu Yuan''s wildest imagination.


    <i>I feel my perception of the Celestial Body Dao��s essence growing ever clearer.</i> Wu Yuan noted as his Soul Will melded perfectly into the Material Spatial Layer, his perception bing even more distinct.


    <i>I can even faintly sense the presence of the Space Dao��s essence. </i>When he calmed his mind, he could feel mysterious powers he had never detected before.


    Why was the Space Dao so elusive? Daos like Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Thunder formed the foundation of all things. Their profundities were naturally observed through their workings of heaven and earth, making them easier toprehend.


    Of course, being easy to grasp did not mean these Daos were weak. Any Dao, if fullyprehended, led to great achievements.


    But why was the Space Dao so difficult to grasp? It was too enigmatic, epassing and supporting all Daos. Only with space''s existence could all matter exist.


    The heavens and earth operated perfectly and stably, with no tangible trace of the Space Dao. Naturally, ordinary immortal cultivators couldn��t even sense its existence. How could oneprehend it?


    Generally, one had to reach the level of an Earth Immortal or Earth Eldritch, advance to the Yuan Soul level, and sense the existence of Space to hope to grasp the Space Dao.


    <i>But at merely the Amethyst Cradle phase, I have sensed the presence of Space��s essence through my Soul Will, which now contains additional characteristics of the Yuan Soul. Though faint, I have perceived it. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with hope.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan truly saw the possibility of passing Master Kua Chi''s test within three hundred years.


    <i>However, though I can barely sense the existence of higher spatial dimensions and the essence of the Space Dao, it is too vague. </i>Wu Yuan immediately furrowed his brow.


    In theory, he couldprehend it, but who knew how long it would take to meet his master''s requirements? A hundred years? A thousand years?


    Understanding the Space Dao��s profundities was just the beginning. [1] One then had to attempt to integrate multiple Daos to truly grasp the cryptic patterns of the silver sphere.


    As he contemted, Wu Yuan''s soul essence gazed upon the distant stone column atop the ck pagoda. After it was saturated with blood mist, the stone column of the ck pagoda had produced an Origin Blood Droplet.


    <i>Is it limited to just one drop, or can it be produced without limit, like the blood mist?</i> Wu Yuan wondered. The Origin Blood Droplet was likely the concentrated essence of the blood mist.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t understand the principle behind the production of the Origin Blood Droplet, nor could he control the ck pagoda��s stone column. He had only one way to verify it��collect more blood mist!


    <i>If I can umte blood mist, reaching the upper dantian lobe��s carrying limit once more, I will naturally know if Origin Blood Droplets can be produced without limit. </i>Wu Yuan resolved himself to find out.


    He would continue his ughter on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    <i>My Soul Will is strong, but I��ve yet to familiarize myself with it. </i>Wu Yuan silently cultivated. <i>Once I am ustomed to my Soul Will��s power, I''ll begin the hunt.</i>


    From start to finish, Wu Yuan never considered that his previous reckless actions would make him a wanted target of the Immortal Court.


    In fact, with Wu Yuan rapidly rising in rank over the past two years, the Immortal Court had likely tried to dispatch powerhouses to kill him. The most brutal battle was when four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses attacked their team; Zhang Shan had died in that battle, and the fighting was fierce on both sides.


    Yet Wu Yuan didn''t care if they targeted him. He just kept killing anyone who stood in his path.


    Should a genius from the Immortal Hall descend? Wu Yuan had only one response��kill them without hesitation!


    Years of training in the Origin Eldritch Field and tempering on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield had strengthened Wu Yuan''s heart immensely, giving him extreme confidence in his strength. Even if the top genius of the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase from the Immortal Hall came, he wouldn��t back down without a fight.


    ...


    Another two days passed.


    "Have you all rested well?" Wu Yuan asked as he emerged from the meditation chamber, his gaze sweeping over the gathered five captains.


    The invisible pressure emanating from his calm gaze caused even Pei He and Bing Roushui, both Void Refiner cultivators, to shiver subtly, not to mention the others.


    Pei He and Bing Roushui exchanged a nce, a hint of astonishment in their eyes. Though they didn''t understand what changes Wu Yuan had undergone, they felt that his strength had grown even more terrifying.


    "Commander, we��ve rested more than enough," Pei He smiled. "In fact, we''ve been getting a little restless."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Bing Roushui. "Roushui, I see you��ve broken through."


    With a wave of his hand, an artifact flew out,nding in front of Bing Roushui. "This is your congrattory gift, take it," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    Bing Roushui epted it and, upon a quick inspection, was slightly surprised: "Commander, this?"


    "Haha, don��t mind it. When Pei He broke through, I also gave him a gift. Just a few pieces of spirion equipment," Wu Yuan smiled slightly. "With spirion equipment, you��ll be able to fully utilize your Void Refiner phase strength."


    These pieces of spirion equipment were all spoils of previous battles.


    "Yes," Bing Roushui said respectfully.


    "I will also prepare a gift for anyone else who breaks through," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the other three captains.


    "Let''s go, it��s time to hunt." Wu Yuan gave the order, eager to verify if he could form a second Origin Blood Droplet.


    Soon, three battleships silently left the.


    ...


    <i>Six hourster.</i>


    Within a massive battleship, seven figures sat in lotus position, patiently waiting for many days.


    Suddenly, the elderly man in red robes, Yin Hou, opened his eyes. His pupils shed with excitement. "They''ve appeared. Your Highness, Ming Jian��s team has appeared."


    "They have just annihted an ordinary team; the war base has sent the news."


    In an instant, the other six figures all opened their eyes. His Highness Feng Sheng, who was sitting to one side, also opened his eyes. Lightning seemed to dance within his pupils.


    "Moreover, the team they just annihted is only sixteen million li away from us!" Yin Hou eximed animatedly.


    1. Not the entire Greater Law, referring to subsidiary Laws ?

 Chapter 533: Outburst! Sword Domain Shatters All Techniques (1)

    <h4>Chapter 533: Outburst! Sword Domain Shatters All Techniques (1)</h4>


    "Sixteen million li?"


    "That close?" The excitement quickly spread to the other five Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    They had anticipated being hundreds of millions, if not billions, of li from their target. Unexpectedly, it was only sixteen million li!


    "Sixteen million li is still quite a distance," Feng Sheng remarked, standing up with aposed demeanor. "Our battleship would take some time to reach him even at full speed, and there''s a significant chance he''ll slip away." He turned his sharp gaze to the elderly man in red robes. "Yin Hou, based on your judgment, which route will Ming Jian take after this?"


    "Your Highness, please observe," Yin Hou replied as he waved his hand, conjuring a vast star map projection marked with eight potential routes.


    "Ming Jian has remained within the predicted range instead of returning to the Eldritch Court war base. His continued ughter suggests a high probability��over ny percent��that he will press on rather than retreat," Yin Hou dered solemnly.


    Feng Sheng and the others nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, if Ming Jian had intended to return to the war base, he would have done so long ago, leaving the Danger Zone far behind.


    "He��s likely to continue hunting in this Danger Zone to minimize his risk," Yin Hou said in a low tone. "However, there''s a slim chance that, given Ming Jian''s disregard for safety, he might charge into the Death Zone again."


    The room fell into a contemtive silence.


    "Yin Hou, what do you propose?" Feng Sheng asked, his voice calm.


    "We wait!" Yin Hou uttered.


    "Wait?"


    "Keep waiting?" The suggestion left the others momentarily stunned.


    "Yes, wait," Yin Hou affirmed. "If Ming Jian makes another move, we can deduce his subsequent direction from his trail of battles, narrowing down the eight predicted routes to two. It would be far more effective to pursue him then."


    "If we move now, we might head in the wrong direction. It��s wiser to stay here and be ready to move out," Yin Hou continued.


    After a moment of consideration, Feng Sheng gave a decisive nod. "We''ll follow Yin Hou''s proposal. There��s no need to rush. The more reckless Ming Jian bes, the more careless he will be. Then, we will strike him down."


    "Continue waiting," Feng Shengmanded, sitting down with an air of unhurried confidence.


    It wasn��t long before their patience paid off. Just twelve hourster, several of them, too distracted to meditate, opened their eyes simultaneously.


    "Ming Jian has struck again!"


    "This time, the battle urred twenty-four million li from us," Yin Hou reported, standing abruptly with disbelief flickering in his eyes. "This Ming Jian is a madman��aplete madman! He��s heading straight toward our Immortal Court''s war base."


    "He��s actually charging into the Death Zone! Absolutely insane," Yin Hou said in a low voice, as if he couldn''t believe Ming Jian''s audacity.


    On the light screen, he drew a line between the two coordinates of Ming Jian''s battles. Extrapting it further, it intersected with the Immortal Court��s war base.


    "Excellent! His madness will lead him to destruction," Feng Sheng said, a predatory smile spreading across his face as his eyes gleamed with killing intent. "Yin Hou, calcte the optimal interception point based on his route and speed."


    ��Right away.�� Without wasting a moment, Yin Hou swiftly performed the calctions, and a red area appeared on the star map projection.


    "As long as Ming Jian doesn''t deviate from course, there��s a ny percent chance we��ll intercept him within this million-li area if we leave now," Yin Hou said, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency. "The estimated time to interception is four hours."


    Feng Sheng didn��t hesitate. With a mentalmand, the previously hovering spirion battleship lurched forward as it elerated �C two thousand li per second, three thousand, five thousand. It shot forward at full throttle.


    A first-grade spirit battleship typically maintained speeds of a thousand li per second, and was capable of reaching three thousand li per second if one chose not to spare any fuel. Higher speeds? That necessitated burning the ship''s essence.


    But a spirion battleship couldfortably cruise at five thousand li per second, easily breaking ten thousand li per second at full speed, with defenses far surpassing those of a spirit equipment battleship.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan led his team forth, oblivious to the deadly hunting party closing in on them.


    In less than four hours, the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses aboard the spirion battleship were fully armed and ready for battle. Only Feng Sheng remained seated in lotus position, his eyes closed in deep concentration.


    "Your Highness, Ming Jian''s team is engaging another group," Yin Hou''s eyes brightened. "They''re just over a million li ahead of us."


    "He��s very close." Yin Hou''s voice was urgent.


    Just over a million miles? Feng Sheng''s eyes snapped open.


    <i>Buzz~ </i>The battleship shimmered, and its surface seamlessly blended into the surrounding space, camouging itself against the vastness of outer space.


    A million li ahead, lights flickered intensely against the dark expanse, clearly marking the site of a fierce battle.


    A battleship in stealth mode, employing methods like light distortion, was difficult for even Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators to detect from a million li away.


    But once a battle erupted, things were different. Even ignoring the actual battle, the violent fluctuations of heaven and earth��s power and spatial vibrations alone would allow any Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse within a million li to sense them clearly.


    "Your Highness, we should approach, but reduce our speed to avoid detection as much as possible," Yin Hou advised, his excitement barely contained.


    "Mm." Feng Sheng stood, his eyes now sharp and serious.


    The battleship slowed to three thousand li per second, creating minimal spatial disturbances as they rapidly closed the gap.


    ...


    Far out in space, tens of thousands of li away, Wu Yuan��s team was busy cleaning up the aftermath of their battle.


    "Battles are a breeze with themander around. Nearly a hundred Amethyst Cradle cultivators, wiped out with ease," Lie Shier said with augh, leading the Amethyst Cradle battle array as they swiftly collected the spoils.


    The other captains, like Shi Ji and a few others, were also busy on the battlefield.


    Since Pei He and Bing Roushui had advanced to the Void Refiner phase, they no longer led the Amethyst Cradle battle arrays, opting instead to fight independently.


    High above the battlefield, Wu Yuan, Pei He, and Bing Roushui hovered, surveying their surroundings.


    "Commander, are we really heading into the Death Zone?" Pei He asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Our killing efficiency may increase in the Death Zone, but it''s far too dangerous. We��re being reckless. Our previous incursion likely angered the Immortal Court."


    Wu Yuan smiled, shaking his head slightly. "Our team is not small, Pei He. If we don''t enter the Death Zone, where else can we gather so many ethercrystalurels?"


    "The Death Zone carries risk, but staying in the Danger Zones or Ordinary Zones will slow us down," Wu Yuan continued calmly.


    Most Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses wouldn''t dare to make such bold moves, but Wu Yuan wasn''t afraid. In fact, he weed the challenge.


    <i>I will storm the Death Zone.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his resolve hardening.


    "Commander, it��s safer to remain on the edge of the Death Zone," Pei He persisted, trying to convince him. "Charging too close to the war base could provoke the Immortal Court into sending their geniuses after us."


    Bing Roushui remained silent, sharing Pei He��s concerns but choosing to trust Wu Yuan��s judgment.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan��s usuallyposed expression suddenly shifted as he turned, eyeing the depths of space they had just crossed. His eyes narrowed, a hint of killing intent surfacing. "Pei He, we might not need to enter the Death Zone after all."


    "Perhaps the Immortal Court''s geniuses are already here," Wu Yuan said quietly.


    His Soul Will had a vast perception range of eighty thousand li and was attuned to the Material Spatial Layer, allowing him to detect even the faintest spatial disturbances caused by an enemy''s battleship.


    Thus, though the spirion battleship was still over two hundred thousand li away, Wu Yuan already sensed the spatial fluctuations it caused.


    So soon, and moving at such speed? Wu Yuan quickly deduced that this approaching group had surely detected the battle that had just ended. Yet, they came without hesitation. Either they were overconfident or dangerouslypetent.


    "Hm?"


    "What? They��ve arrived?" Pei He and Bing Roushui exchanged stunned nces, following Wu Yuan��s gaze.


    But there was nothing there. The vast expanse of space was utterly calm.


    Both had recently advanced to the Void Refiner phase, but their Soul Will sensing range was limited to about ten thousand li. Even in a higher void dimension, their range wouldn��t be much greater.


    Still, after hundreds of life-and-death battles, they trusted Wu Yuan implicitly.


    "Prepare for battle!"


    "Enemies." Pei He and Bing Roushui immediately sent the alert to Lie Shier, Shi Ji, and the others.


    "What?" Shi Ji, Yu Zhuo, Lie Shier, and the rest, who had just begun to rx after the earlier battle, instantly went on high alert.


    Without hesitation, they equipped their weapons and formed their battle arrays.


    Six battle arrays turned into streaks of light, converging on Wu Yuan''s location. The team assembled with precision and speed.


    "Where are the enemies?"


    "Where are they?" Shi Ji and Yu Zhuo scanned the surroundings but saw nothing.


    But they soon noticed Wu Yuan standing in the void, eyes half-closed, waiting in silence. This scene quickly calmed everyone, and they realized the enemy had not yet arrived.


    <i>Boom!</i> A few breathster, space trembled slightly as a massive battleship materialized before their eyes. Its overwhelming presence sent a wave of dread through them.


    "A spirit battleship?"


    "No! It��s a spirion battleship," Pei He��s voice trembled with urgency.


    Their expressions shifted in an instant. A spirion battleship? Even the most basic model was worth tens of billions of catties of ethercrystal.


    Such a vessel was typically owned by Earth Immortals or Earth Eldritches��a clear indication that the neers were far from ordinary.


    Swoosh~ The battleship vanished as quickly as it had appeared, reced by seven powerful figures who transformed into streaks of light. They halted three thousand li away, each radiating intense killing intent.


    "Void Refiner phase! Elysian Field phase!"


    "Six of them!"


    "Six Void Refiner-level powerhouses," Pei He, Bing Roushui, and Lie Shier��s faces drained of color.


    In the past two years, their most brutal battle had been against four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. They had won, but it had been a pyrrhic victory.


    Since then, Bing Roushui had broken through to a higher level, but her power was still not fully stabilized.


    Facing six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses in a life-and-death struggle, even if they emerged victorious, the cost in lives would be unbearable.


    Most of the group focused on the six enemies before them, but Wu Yuan��s gaze remained fixed on a seemingly unremarkable figure d in ck armor. A sense of immense danger radiated from him.


    He was the true threat.

 Chapter 534: Outburst! Sword Domain Shatters All Techniques (2)

    <h4>Chapter 534: Outburst! Sword Domain Shatters All Techniques (2)</h4>


    A genius from the Immortal Hall?


    ��This battle will be tough. Themander is formidable, but he can��t defeat all the enemies alone. We must hold off the Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses and create an opportunity for him.�� Pei He muttered.


    Bing Roushui nodded, her eyes icy as a cold aura enveloped her. ��Understood.��


    Lie Shier growled, his voice low and filled with a feral edge. ��Let��s kill! We haven��t faced a true disaster in thest two years. This is it.��


    Over two hundred soldiers of the Huo Cang Army braced themselves for a desperate battle.


    <i>Boom! </i>Suddenly, the seemingly unremarkable youth d in ck armor exploded into action, moving to the front.


    In a sh, he transformed into a towering ck-armored giant with eight arms. Though he was only at the Shambh phase, his presence was as terrifying��if not more��than the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses behind him.


    Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others swallowed hard at the sight.


    Before they could react, a surge of unimaginably powerful lightning bolts erupted from the ck-armored youth, enveloping everything within a radius of ten thousand li.


    The crackling lightning surrounded him, giving him the appearance of a thunder god with an unstoppable aura. Even the six Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses suddenly seemed insignificant.


    ��Dao Field!�� Pei He��s pupils contracted as he realized what he was seeing.


    ��He��s clearly a Shambh cultivator. Domains shouldn��t be his strength, yet his Dao Field is so terrifying. He��s definitely not just at the first-level Dao Field stage but likely at the second-level,�� Bing Roushui said, her voice tinged with despair.


    ��An Immortal Hall genius!��


    ��And one of the top-tier geniuses.��


    Though they had expected heavy casualties, Pei He, Lie Shier, and Bing Roushui had initially believed they could put up a fight. But now, only despair remained.


    A top-tier genius from the Immortal Hall? In the vast macrocosm, such a genius would be nearly invincible among peers, capable of easily killing enemies from higher phases. And he was apanied by six Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses?


    Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others understood that the Immortal Court must have sent this overwhelmingly powerful force to eliminate them once and for all.


    ��We can��t stop them,�� someone whispered, their voice quivering with fear.


    ��It��s over,�� Lie Shier muttered, his eyes flickering with despair.


    ��I have no regrets,�� Pei He said, his eyes shining with a manic gleam. ��Even if we hadn��t followed the Commander into the Death Zone, we would still face challenges and tribtions.��


    ��Kill!�� he shouted. ��Give it our all to kill as many as possible!��


    At this moment, over two hundred Huo Cang Army soldiers, filled with despair yet also resolute, formed a protective circle with Wu Yuan at the center.


    Escape? They were facing a peerless genius skilled in lightning, and most of them were just ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators. How many of them would manage to escape?


    ��Ming Jian, your antics end here. I, Feng Sheng, will be your guide to the afterlife!�� Feng Sheng, having cast multiple ether arts, spoke coldly as he gazed at the distant figures in the void.


    His gaze fell directly on Wu Yuan, sensing that his aura was the strongest.


    ��Kill!�� Feng Sheng roared as his vast Thunder Dao Field spread out like countless thunder dragons.


    ��Kill!�� came the answering cries from the four Void Refiner Eminences and two Elysian Field powerhouses as theyunched their attacks, wielding artifacts and casting ether arts.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The seven powerhouses wasted no time, forming a semicircle and attacking Wu Yuan��s group.


    ��Ten thousand li! Ice and snow!�� Bing Roushui unleashed an arcane art. Layers of ice spread across ten thousand li and collided with the approaching lightning.


    For a moment, both sides were evenly matched. Though the Thunder Dao Field was strong, without any mana support, it couldn��t suppress a Void Refiner Eminence��s domain-type arcane art.


    ��mes!��


    ��Annihte!�� Two of the Immortal Court��s Void Refiner Eminences unleashed stronger arcane arts.


    Overwhelming mes descended, shattering theyers of ice. The temperature of outer space seemed to rise dramatically as a sea of mes and lightning surged from all directions, crashing toward Pei He, Lie Shier, Shi Ji, and the other Amethyst Cradle and Shambh warrior arrays.


    ��Kill!�� Pei He��s voice wasced with desperation as flying swords circled around him, and a gigantic bell appeared.


    Shi Ji and Lie Shier��s faces reflected a sliver of despair and unwillingness as they recognized the mismatch in strength between themselves and their opponents.


    ��Kill!�� Feng Sheng, now a ck-armored giant wielding eight sabers in his eight arms, bellowed as he closed the distance, only a thousand li away.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>A series of flying swords materialized in the space surrounding Wu Yuan. Earthy-yellow qi currents rolled and sword lights streaks coalesced.


    The lights then surged outward, exploding like a bomb and sending shockwaves in all directions.


    At this point, the remainingyers of ice dissipated. At the same time, mes and lightning swelled, rushing toward the Huo Cang Army��s team at incredible speed.


    Almost simultaneously, the flying swords interlinked to form an earthy-yellow divine sword.


    <i>Boom! </i>The divine sword flew toward Feng Sheng, who had just split the sword domain��s qi currents in two.


    ��Kill!�� Feng Sheng roared in anger, his eight sabers swinging with full force.


    <i>Bang! Bang! </i>A series of violent collisions ensued, shockwaves rippling through space, causing countless cracks to appear on the surface of the earthy-yellow divine sword.


    Meanwhile, Feng Sheng was forced to retreat, continuously blocking the divine sword��s strikes. His advance came to aplete halt, unable to move a single step forward.


    ��How is this possible?�� Feng Sheng��s voice was filled with shock as he fixed his gaze on the figure in outer space, surrounded byyers of sword qi.


    It wasn��t just him. At this moment, whether the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses from the Immortal Court��s camp or Pei He, Lie Shier, Shi Ji, and the others, they all stared in disbelief at the scene.


    Wu Yuan stepped into space. Around him, nine divine swords with terrifying auras hovered. Although their descked edges, their presence was enough to make anyone��s heart tremble.


    Nine spirion flying swords! No, nine first-grade spirit lifebound flying swords, nurtured to perfection. Their power in Wu Yuan��s hands surpassed even that of low-grade spirion artifacts, approaching mid-grade spirion artifacts.


    <i>This is the true Celestial Body Sword Domain. </i>Wu Yuan thought as he sensed the vastness of the sword domain. However, the most chilling sight was the 720 interconnected first-grade spirit flying swords floating in space. Each sword��s aura was incredibly fearsome, all first-grade spirit equipment.


    This sword domain was constructed from nine lifebound flying swords and 720 first-grade spirit equipment from the same source. Through Wu Yuan��s Voidspace, his sword domain epassed a massive area with a single thought.


    In the expanse of space,yers of ephemeral sword qi enveloped Pei He and the others while simultaneously engulfing Feng Sheng and the six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses alongside him.


    This was the full outburst of Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self, excluding any power from tapping into the Dao��s profundities. Within this sword domain, Void Refiner arcane arts, Shambh Domain, or Thunder Dao Domain were annihted.


    ��What?��


    ��Those flying swords?��


    ��I...��


    ��Is this the Commander��s real strength?�� Pei He, Bing Roushui, Yu Zhuo, and Shi Ji were already dumbfounded.


    Just those threads of sword qi were enough to pose a deadly threat to ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivators.


    ��What?��


    ��This Ming Jian?��


    ��This sword domain? Where did such a peerless geniuse from? Could he be the top Amethyst Cradle genius in the Eternal Sun Immortal World?�� The six Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses were terrified.


    ��We shouldn��t havee,�� said Yin Hou, the elderly man in red, his previous confidencepletely shattered.


    The power of the suspended flying swords, acting as nodes of the sword domain, sent shivers down their spines. Any single one of those flying swords could threaten the life of a Void Refiner Eminence, and this boundless sword domain had already enveloped them. They had walked into it themselves.


    <i>No. This shouldn��t be! This Ming Jian, is this his true strength?</i> Feng Sheng��s confidence was now reced with shock and... fear.


    <i>Nine swords? This is a truly wless Amethyst Cradle sword domain; does he have a first-degree immortal root?</i>


    <i>That can��t be! I haven��t heard of someone with a first-degree immortal root emerging in the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Moreover, how can an Amethyst Cradle cultivator control so many first-grade spirit flying swords? Even a Void Refiner Eminence might struggle with that. </i>Feng Sheng��s mind was in chaos,pletely terrified. He no longer believed victory was possible.


    <i>To form such a sword domain, his Daoprehension might surpass mine. Is it the second-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao? Or the third-level?</i> Feng Sheng stared intently at Wu Yuan.


    <i>If my soul hadn��t undergone a transformation, reaching the peak of Soul Will, I wouldn��t have been able to fully unleash the power of this set of flying swords from my master. </i>Wu Yuan thought, his mind remaining calm.


    Why did he dare act with such arrogance? Even if the top geniuses of the Immortal Hall came after him, Wu Yuan had the confidence to fight them. Why? Because he trusted his strength.


    In terms of Daoprehension, even if Wu Yuan unleashed both Daos, their power would only barelypare to the third-level Dao Field stage (Lesser Law).


    Some of the top geniuses at the Amethyst Cradle and Shambh phase from the Immortal Court might have reached the fourth-level Dao Field stage.


    Of course, that was just a possibility. Transitioning from the third-level to the fourth-level Dao Field stage was another qualitative change, and even many High Immortals who had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years only reached the fourth-level Dao Field stage.


    However, with a second-degree immortal root, an unparalleled soul, and nine lifebound flying swords, Wu Yuan��s actualbat power was unbelievably strong.


    Facing Feng Sheng? Wu Yuan hadn��t even fully tapped into the profundities of the Daos and still held back some strength. But it was enough.


    <i>Feng Sheng? A genius ranking in the top hundred Amethyst Cradle cultivators of the Immortal Hall?</i> Wu Yuan smiled slightly. <i>Six Void Refiner-level cultivators? You should feel honored to die in my sword domain!</i>


    <i>Boom!</i> The Celestial Body Sword Domain erupted. Flying swords moved, faintly harnessing the essence of the Celestial Body Dao.


    <i>Swish! Swish! </i>Countless sword lights shed through space.


    ��Block it!��


    ��No, spare me!��


    The six Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses immediately sensed the danger and began fending off the sword lights attacking them from all directions. But their struggle was futile.


    <i>Boom!</i> The sword lights filled the sky, annihting everything in their path, instantly turning four Void Refiner Eminences into ashes.


    They were dead!


    The bodies of the two Elysian Field powerhouses were shed apart. Though they tried to resist, they were continually broken down by the endless sword lights, depleting their vital ether. Death was imminent for them.


    ��It��s just you left, Feng Sheng,�� Wu Yuan said, his gaze falling on Feng Sheng, who was still struggling bitterly.


    His power was indeed astonishing. Swinging his eight sabers, he cut through countless sword lights like a river of des. The strength of the Immortal Hall��s geniuses was evident.


    ��Struggling is useless, just die,�� Wu Yuan��s voice was calm.


    He stepped forward as if strolling through a courtyard. Simultaneously, the nine lifebound flying swords around him sliced through the sky. Like nine stars, they descended as one!

 Chapter 535: King-Rank Power (1)

    <h4>Chapter 535: King-Rank Power (1)</h4>


    <i>In terms of mana foundation, Ig three or four stages behind regr Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. However, once I apply understanding of the Dao��s profundities, his power experiences a massive boost. Through my sword array, the power I can unleash is tenfold theirs. </i>Wu Yuan wasn��t surprised that he could annihte six Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses with just a flick of his fingers.


    When he unleashed his might, it was nothing short of earth-shattering.


    In terms ofbat power, after upgrading his immortal root, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self was no less powerful than his body refiner self. In fact, with the aid of the nine lifebound flying swords, it was slightly stronger, especially in the aspect of domains.


    Killing a few early-stage Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators was hardly a challenge for him.


    <i>Senior Brother Jiang Huan, a High Eldritch, can y Archimmortals as easily as ughtering chickens. As one progresses to higher cultivation phases, killing higher-phase enemies bes increasingly difficult. The fact that I can kill a few Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators while still at the Amethyst Cradle phase isn��t anything to be proud of. </i>Wu Yuan didn''t feel that what he��d done was some extraordinary feat.


    He had long set a clear goal: to rise in strength step by step, matching his two senior brothers, and eventually bing the most dazzling disciple under Master Kua Chi. Perhaps one day, he would even stand shoulder to shoulder with Master Kua Chi!


    <i>However, if I rely solely on the sword domain without fully harnessing the Dao��s profundities, I still can''t kill Feng Sheng.</i>


    The sword domain he currently unleashed applied the full extent of the Longevity Dao��s profundities he hadprehended, along with the first-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Combining the two Daos, his overall Daoprehension level was slightly stronger than the second-level Dao Field stage of a single Lesser Law, but not yet at the third-level Dao Field stage. If he went all out, he could match the third-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    <i>The strength I exhibited in today��s battle should ce me in the top hundred or even top ten of the macrocosm''s Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators. Even if I hide my identity, I''ll certainly attract the attention of intelligence agencies from various factions.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    To umte blood mist, he knew he had to engage in ughter and bloodshed.


    Ninth-rank fighter? No! Wu Yuan estimated that his ethercrystalurels would soon reach the legendary rank, or even higher.


    The ns for his two true selves were clear. His body refiner self would never reveal the profundities of the Longevity Dao. His qi refiner self could disy both Daos, though he would intentionally limit his Celestial Body Daoprehension to a level weaker than his body refiner self.


    <i>I��ll hide it for as long as I can.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his eyes growing cold. <i>The Immortal Court will only know that I''m a peerless genius from the Huo Cang Region.</i>


    Li Xia? What rtion could such a person have to him?


    To date, Li Xia��s breakthrough to the Amethyst Cradle phase hadn��t been made public, and few in the sect knew Wu Yuan had left.


    Withyers of cover-ups stacked on top of each other, the possibility of someone making the connection between his two true selves was very small. After all, quite a few peerless geniusesprehended the Celestial Body Dao across various factions.


    At this moment, Feng Sheng, in a state of panic, was swinging his war saber desperately, struggling to escape as lightning streaked around him.


    Each de ray left a gash thousands of li long in space, shattering the sword lights capable of injuring Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. The sword domain couldn��t harm him at all.


    Lightning continuously sparked from Feng Sheng��s body as his aura erupted, increasing his speed from two hundred li per second to six hundred li per second. If not for Wu Yuan keeping him suppressed within the ten-thousand-li sword domain, Feng Sheng��s strength would have allowed him to break out of the domain��s range multiple times.


    It could be said that if Wu Yuan relied solely on the sword domain, he could only suppress Feng Sheng. To kill him? He would have to wait until Feng Sheng��s vital ether was depleted.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The nine lifebound flying swords converged to form an earthy-yellow divine sword.


    As the divine sword took shape, its terrifying sword intent emerged. A strand of sword qi shot through outer space, as though splitting the very heaven and earth. The entire expanse of outer space seemed to change in hue.


    <i>This! This!</i> Feng Sheng was utterly terrified. He continued to strengthen his defenses, not daring to face the sword head-on.


    ��What terrifying sword intent.��


    ��This? Are these flying swords controlled by themander all mid-grade spirion artifacts?�� Pei He, Bing Roushui, Lie Shier, and Yu Zhuo��s faces turned pale.


    Even knowing that the divine sword wouldn��t strike them, its sword intent alone was enough to make most Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses tremble.


    ...


    "Feng Sheng is finished!"


    "He''s dead."


    Within a hall of the Voltari Temple on Battlefield 36, three Archimmortal-level beings observed the battle projection before them, watching Feng Sheng��s current plight.


    A peerless genius from the Fourth Immortal Hall of the Immortal Court had been ordered to kill the enemy. Naturally, the Voltari Temple paid close attention to him.


    When Wu Yuan unleashed his power, killing six Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators, Feng Sheng had immediately called for help.


    The entire entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield was, in reality, under the supervision of the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Voltari Temple.


    At the very least, once a battle broke between immortal cultivators, both camps could instantly investigate the situation through the voidrealm.


    Peerless geniuses at the Dao Field stage couldn��t break through to the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase and go on a rampant massacre due to this tacit understanding.


    Why did no one break it? Because, once broken, the other camp would immediately find out.


    The moment these peerless geniuses unveiled their might, they would swiftly be noticed by the enemy camp. If they acted too recklessly and arrogantly, they would be targeted.


    It was just like how Feng Sheng was ordered to kill the arrogant ninth-rank fighter, Ming Jian. However, he unexpectedly hit a wall.


    "Nine swords? They are likely lifebound flying swords," one Archimmortal said in a deep voice. "His Daoprehension level isn''t too high, roughly on par with Feng Sheng��s."


    "Yes, his Daoprehension level ces him among the top hundred of the Immortal Hall."


    "But his immortal root is heaven-defying. A peerless genius at the third-level Dao Field stage (Lesser Law) has an eighty percent chance of losing to him in a life-and-death battle." The three Archimmortals of Voltari Temple concluded.


    "To defeat Ming Jian with absolute confidence, it would require a genius ranked in the top ten of the Immortal Hall."


    "Report it. Such a peerless genius must be investigated thoroughly. We��ll wait for the decision from the higher-ups." The three Archimmortals reached a consensus.


    They were only responsible for supervising Battlefield 36. However, the three Voltari Temple Archimmortals didn��t realize that Wu Yuan was not even revealing his full strength.


    ...


    "King-rank strength."


    "This Ming Jian already possesses the strength of a king-rank fighter." Almost simultaneously, at the Blood Eldritch Temple, the headquarters of the Eldritch World in Battlefield 36, four Archeldritches received a notification from the Monitoring Spirit. They immediately watched the battle, quickly analyzing it.


    "He has the strength to obtain the king-rank title, but whether he ultimately obtains the title depends on his actual performance and willingness to continue ughtering."


    "Indeed."


    "But Feng Sheng is dead for sure."


    "He can''t escape." The four Archeldritches smiled, naturally pleased to eliminate a genius from the Immortal Court.


    "Have we found anything about his background?" the lead Archeldritch in purple battle armor asked.


    "No, we can only ascertain he hails from the Huo Cang Region of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. However, our intelligence database has no record of a corresponding Amethyst Cradle peerless genius named Ming Jian," another female Archimmortal quickly responded.


    "That''s normal. Perhaps he��s a peerless genius secretly raised by the Eternal Sun Immortal World," the purple-armored Archeldritch stated.


    "The Eldritch World��s regtions state that any peerless genius with legendary-rank strength must be reported. Report it. We��ll let the higher-ups decide," the purple-armored Archeldritchmanded.


    The other Archeldritches and Archimmortals nodded. While surprised by Wu Yuan��s strength, they weren��t overly shocked.


    Legendary-rank? King-rank? Throughout their long lives, they had seen many monstrous prodigies.


    Moreover, despite Ming Jian��s brilliance, he was a genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, here to temper himself on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. In the future, he would have little to do with the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Of course, this was because they were unaware of Wu Yuan''s true age; otherwise, they wouldn''t be soposed.


    ...


    The upper echelons of both camps were merely spectators, watching the battle through the voidrealms. Neither side would intervene.


    This was thew of the battlefield.


    Forget the battles between two Amethyst Cradle phase geniuses, even in high-level battlefields, where monstrous prodigies of Jiang Huan��s caliber shed, neither side would interfere much.


    This was what it meant to temper oneself in battle!


    Intervene? That would break the mutual understanding between both sides at the highest level, likely causing a rapid esction in the war. In the worst-case scenario, perhaps the Sovereign-level beings might take action personally, triggering a grand war!

 Chapter 536: King-Rank Power (2)

    <h4>Chapter 536: King-Rank Power (2)</h4>


    <i>In an expanse of outer space within Battlefield 36.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The divine sword descended, its sword qi spanning a thousand li as it struck Feng Sheng.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s killing intent was at its peak.


    Bound by the rules of the battlefield and his duty as a member of the Eldritch Court, Wu Yuan had no intention of sparing his opponent.


    Dark Earth Sword Array, Seventh Step��Sword Roves The Void!


    The divine sword, like a roving dragon, was heavy and deless, yet unstoppable in its trajectory.


    <i>No! I, Feng Sheng, haven''t yet be an Archdeity. I can''t die here! </i>Madness zed in Feng Sheng''s eyes as he stared down the divine sword with a re intense enough to cleave space itself.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Eight arms swung, unleashing de rays that filled space.


    Lightning erupted around Feng Sheng in endless torrents as he fought with everything he had.


    The river of des and the divine sword collided in an instant.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> The impact was like two celestial bodies crashing head-on, unmatched in its devastation.


    Feng Sheng''s de rays managed to block the tip of the divine sword, but the immense force within the sword sent him flying, his bones on the verge of shattering under the pressure.


    <i>Boom~</i> The divine sword struck again, another direct collision sending Feng Sheng reeling. The power that coursed through his saber caused his skin to crack.


    They shed fifteen times in quick session. Feng Sheng��s vital ether struggled to keep up with the healing of his wounds as new ones opened faster than old ones could close. His eight arms could no longer withstand the relentless assault, and several of his sabers flew from his grasp. Blood soaked his entire body.


    <i>Pch~</i> The divine sword cut through a hundred li of space, its brilliant light severing four of Feng Sheng''s arms and half of his chest.


    "No!" Feng Sheng��s defiance red onest time, his eyes brimming with unwillingness.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Endless sword lights engulfed himpletely, shredding his body into countless pieces.


    It took three full breaths before everything calmed, and theyers of sword lights dissipated.


    All that remained were eight sabers, a set of battle armor, and other artifacts.


    Wu Yuan received a notification about his ethercrystalurel rewards.


    The Immortal Hall genius, Feng Sheng, was dead.


    <i>Killing a top-tier genius of the Immortal Hall is truly difficult.</i> Wu Yuan thought with a slight frown. <i>If I were to face a monstrous prodigy at the fourth-level Dao Field stage, victory would be far from certain.</i>


    He wondered if the Immortal Hall would dare send one or two of their monstrous prodigies. Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with cold intent.


    If they came, another battle it was.


    Wu Yuan was unclear about the standards of Voltari Temple��s Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses; he only knew those of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Typically, those who had cultivated for only two or three hundred years and already reached the first-level Dao Field stage at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase were considered extraordinary; currently, there were thousands of such geniuses in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    As for those at the second-level Dao Field stage? Only a few hundred existed in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Third-level Dao Field stage? There were only twenty or thirty of them.


    Fourth-level Dao Field stage? Often just one or two, and in lesspetitive eras, sometimes none.


    <i>My body refiner self, relying solely on myprehension of the Celestial Body Dao at the True Intent stage, has a good chance of bing a stable earth-tier member in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>Heaven-tier? Only if I go all out.</i>


    In the five Origin Eldritch Fields, thepetition to be a heaven-tier member grew increasingly fierce the higher one��s cultivation level


    ...


    Wu Yuan waved his hand, collecting the artifacts left behind by Feng Sheng and the six other Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. Then, he swiftly gathered the numerous first-grade spirit flying swords and lifebound flying swords.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In a sh, he traversed a thousand li of space and appeared before Pei He, Lie Shier, and the others.


    At this moment, Pei He, Bing Roushui, Lie Shier, and over two hundred ordinary soldiers of the Huo Cang Army had yet to recover from their shock.


    It couldn��t be helped. To them, the powerful Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators had been reduced to ashes in an instant, and a legendary genius of the Immortal Hall had been in effortlessly.


    Perhaps, to the long-lived Eldritch Sovereigns and Astral Monarchs who had seen countless geniuses, the strength Wu Yuan disyed wasn��t too exaggerated.


    But to Pei He and the others, Wu Yuan seemed like a hero stepping out of myth!


    "Commander, are you perhaps a direct disciple of Astral Monarch Huo Cang?" Lie Shier couldn��t help but ask. "Or one of the core geniuses of the immortal world?"


    "Shier," Pei He immediately interrupted.


    "Shier, shut your mouth," Bing Roushui scolded as well.


    Lie Shier fell silent, realizing he had spoken out of turn. How could such a peerless genius reveal his secrets with so many eyes on him?


    "Commander, Shier is straightforward and doesn��t always think before speaking. Please don��t mind him," Pei He said respectfully.


    "It��s fine. When the timees, you will know. But for now, I am just yourmander." Wu Yuan smiled.


    His words eased some of Pei He and Bing Roushui��s worries.


    After spending two years together, they hade to trust Wu Yuan greatly and knew his character well. However, Wu Yuan��s sudden disy of power instilled a newfound reverence in them.


    "All aboard the battleship; let��s return to the war base," Wu Yuan suddenly announced with augh.


    "What? Aren��t we going to the Death Zone?" Pei He and Bing Roushui asked, surprised.


    "I just killed an Immortal Hall genius. If we continue, the Immortal Hall might send even stronger geniuses. Though I don��t fear them, it will be troublesome," Wu Yuan exined, stillughing. "So, let��s head back for now."


    "Hm, that sounds good."


    "Let��s go back," Pei He and Bing Roushui readily agreed, their initial worries dissipating.


    In thest battle, they had been nothing more than dead weight. If the Immortal Court sent even more terrifying geniuses and Wu Yuan couldn��t hold them off, it would spell total disaster for them.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A spirion battleship sped through space at ten thousand li per second, its terrifying speed deterring ordinary teams that noticed it. Meanwhile, weaker teams couldn��t even attempt to intercept it.


    Inside a meditation chamber, Wu Yuan inspected his spoils.


    <i>These six Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators barely have any artifacts, worth only two to three billion catties of ethercrystal in total. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>How poor.</i>


    Such meager treasures were insignificant to his qi refiner self now.


    After two years of ughter, his qi refiner self had umted treasures worth over a hundred billion catties of ethercrystal, nearing the wealth of newly ascended Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches.


    <i>These Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators might be poor, but Feng Sheng is truly worthy of being called a genius of the Immortal Court.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    He had just finished inspecting Feng Sheng��s treasures. Among them were eight battle sabers, battle armor, and a dozen other spirion equipment. Their total value reached two billion catties of ethercrystal.


    There were also some cultivation items and peculiar treasures that Wu Yuan estimated were worth over ten billion catties of ethercrystal. The value of this spirion battleship definitely surpassed ten billion as well.


    <i>These treasures and wealth don��t mean much to me.</i> Wu Yuan thought. <i>The truly valuable items are just these two.</i>


    Wu Yuan closed his eyes slightly.


    His Soul Will entered a storage artifact, revealing a small mountain of crystals inside��divine crystals!


    <i>Sixty-three standard units of divine crystals. </i>Wu Yuan marveled. <i>This is the real windfall I��ve been waiting for since I entered the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.</i>


    One divine crystal was worth a hundred billion catties of ethercrystal.


    These sixty-three divine crystals had a total value of 6.3 trillion catties of ethercrystal, more than ten times what Wu Yuan had umted over the past two years.


    This was a colossal sum of wealth.


    Many powerful Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches might umte only a few to a few dozen divine crystals over tens of thousands of years unless they ventured on risky expeditions.


    <i>My body refiner self can rely on Master Kua Chi and doesn��t have to worry about this, but my qi refiner self can��t always depend on Master Nan Yin.</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    <i>Not to mention, once I break through to the Void Refiner phase, just upgrading my lifebound flying swords to spirion artifacts will cost an astronomical amount.</i>


    A lifebound flying sword was a bottomless money pit!


    Even if Wu Yuan invested all his current wealth into upgrading it, it would only barely reach the level of a low-grade spirion artifact.


    <i>Let��s take it slow. It��ll be at least another hundred years before I break through to the Void Refiner phase. </i>Wu Yuan closed his eyes gently, but his Soul Will remained focused on thest item.


    This item was also found within the same storage artifact as the divine crystals.


    It was an entirely azure token, crystal-clear like jade, and it exuded an incredibly rich vital aura, akin to a spirit fruit.


    On the back of the azure token, arge, lush tree was engraved, bearing abundant fruit. Though it was merely a carving, when Wu Yuan''s Soul Will focused on it, the tree seemed almost alive, truly mystical.


    On the front of the token was a special ancient script that Wu Yuan did not recognize. Yet, the characters contained Dao''s resonance, effortlessly conveying their meaning��Immutable!


    <i>The legendary Immutable Token? </i>Wu Yuan murmured, his eyes gleaming.

 Chapter 537: Bronze Immutable Token (1)

    <h4>Chapter 537: Bronze Immutable Token (1)</h4>


    In the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan sat cross-legged, studying the mysterious token he had just retrieved from the storage artifact.


    <i>Immutable Token? This material is fascinating.</i> Wu Yuan murmured, as he ran his fingertips over the token. It felt warm andforting, with a texture so inviting that it was difficult to let go once he held it in his hand.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A strand of essentia shot from his fingertip, wrapping around the azure token. The essentia surged with a violent burst of power, attempting to break the token in two.


    Yet, despite the terrifying force��capable of incinerating everything within a hundred li��the azure token remained unmoved. Not a single mark marred its surface.


    <i>Could it be... a genuine article?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened slightly.


    He had heard many rumors about this token, but he also knew that imitations and forgeries weremon. A genuine piece was extraordinarily rare, obtainable only through great providence and fortune.


    <i>If it��s truly an Immutable Token, I wonder what level it is. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself, gently closing his eyes.


    <i>Hum~ </i>His Soul Will stirred, probing the token, eager to unravel its mysteries. However, there seemed to be a barrier around this azure, jade-like token, resisting the intrusion of his Soul Will. He could only infiltrate it slowly.


    <i>Just as the legends say, the Immutable Token is special. Ordinary Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivators, with their weak souls, find it hard to prate and im ownership. Naturally, they can''t ess its internal information.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>As long as one isn��t recognized as the owner, one cannot ess the Immutable Land via the token.</i>


    Time passed as Wu Yuan��s Soul Will pierced through the token, like a needle threading throughyers of cloth. Each advance drained his soul and mental strength massively. Yet, the more arduous the process, the more excited Wu Yuan became, as it only served to prove the token''s authenticity.


    Beads of sweat glistened faintly on Wu Yuan''s forehead, yet he felt no fatigue as he continued to delve deeper into the token, only heightened excitement.


    Finally, his soul subtly trembled, as if reaching some sort of limit.


    ��Immutable Token, owner recognition process initiated! Mana cultivation detection: ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, ownership criteria met! Ownership cancetion condition: death!" A series of mechanical voices echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Boom!</i> Before he could react, a vast stream of information poured into Wu Yuan''s mind. The influx was so fierce that he was momentarily dazed, but with his formidable soul, he quickly regained rity and began assimting the information.


    <i>I��ve obtained the most basic Bronze Immutable Token? That makes sense. Higher-level Immutable Tokens would be beyond my current ability to use. </i>He thought, processing the data.


    <i>The macrocosm coordinates point to the White Sea Immortal Continent of the Greenridge Immortal World... After arriving near the coordinates with the token, it will automatically teleport the holder to the Immutable Land.</i>


    <i>Once the token holder leaves the Greenridge Macrocosm, the Immutable Token will disappear automatically. If one doesn��t arrive at the coordinates within thirty years of iming the token, it will vanish as well.</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly at the information.


    In the past, he had no knowledge of the Immutable Token, nor were there any records avable on such secretive matters.


    However, since his body refiner self started training in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, he had been granted extremely high clearance within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm as a nominal disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign,parable to an Astral Lord. Thus, Wu Yuan had often consulted various records and read numerous texts, which asionally mentioned the Immutable Tokens.


    This was a highly mysteriousnd of opportunity within the Greenridge Macrocosm. With its secretive nature and powerful opportunities, it was a ce of great allure.


    When Wu Yuan first read about the Immutable Land, he thought it would be nice to obtain an Immutable Token. But it was just a thought.


    After all, the Immutable Token was too mysterious; even the intelligence collected in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm contained only sparse descriptions and no detailed information about it.


    Unexpectedly, in a strange twist of fate, his qi refiner self found an Immutable Token in the storage artifact of an Immortal Hall genius after killing him.


    <i>Was it really just a coincidence? Or perhaps, as Master Kua Chi said, the fact that I��ve been bestowed heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos proves I possess great providence.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>A person with great providence might not possess immense strength initially, but they will receive advantages in many aspects.</i>


    Providence, though invisible and intangible, was extremely important. Of course, even those with great providence could die if they were reckless. Providence was merely a form of aid.


    <i>I��ll get my body refiner self to gather more information</i>. Wu Yuan decided, closing his eyes gently.


    Meanwhile, in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, his body refiner self had already begun gathering information on the Immutable Token within the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    In the past, he had only asionally seen descriptions of the Immutable Token but had never specifically collected rted information.


    Soon, Wu Yuan amassed arge quantity of detailed intelligence about the Immutable Land, gaining a deeper understanding of the token in front of him.


    <i>I see now.</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself.


    The Immutable Land appeared to be a treasure trove set up by a powerful entity, holding unpredictable and elusive opportunitiesparable to Bloodforge Spacetime in terms of its mysterious nature.


    Both belonged to the Greenridge Macrocosm''s six top-tier realms, each holding special significance and unique opportunities.


    Only Golden Core/Spiritual Body participants or Amethyst Cradle/Shambh participants of the Bloodforge Battle had the chance to enter the Bloodforge Spacetime. In a sense, the entrance to the Bloodforge Spacetime was controlled by the Bloodforge Devil Hall.


    But the Immutable Land was different. In terms of opportunities, it might not surpass the Bloodforge Spacetime, but it was more mysterious and unique. Where was it located? How did one enter it? These were all uncertain.


    Given that the word ''Immutable'' was in its name, and that even the strongest factions couldn''t control it, the Immutable Land naturally had unique features.


    <i>At least, from the public intelligence I can ess in the eldritch voidrealm, none of the seven top-tier factions can control this so-called Immutable Land.</i> Wu Yuan muttered.


    With his Astral Lord-level clearance, Wu Yuan had ess to a good deal of confidential information.


    Over the eons, special Immutable Tokens would asionally appear in the vast macrocosm, divided into Bronze, Celestial Iron, and Divine Jade levels.


    ording to the intelligence, none of these levels were better or worse than the other; instead, they represented the cultivation level requirements to enter the Immutable Land.


    These Immutable Tokens seemed to appear at random without warning or signs. Perhaps, an Immutable Token would suddenly appear while an immortal cultivator was meditating. Perhaps, an Immutable Token would emerge during a battle between two immortal cultivators.


    <i>For holders of the Bronze Immutable Token, the minimum cultivation requirement to enter is the Spiritual Body/Shambh phase, and the maximum is the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    However, in the intelligence of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, there was no mention of a thirty-year limit.


    <i>I must enter within thirty years? Both my true selves advanced to this cultivation phase less than ten years ago. Normally, one would remain at this phase for a hundred years, at least eighty. </i>Wu Yuan considered. <i>Which means, I can''t wait until I reach a higher cultivation phase before entering.</i>


    There were two main considerations Wu Yuan had.


    <i>First, the level of danger. ording to the intelligence, entering the Immutable Land presents a risk of death. It is rtively dangerous. One thing is certain��the stronger one is, the lower the chance of death.</i>


    <i>Second, the magnitude of the rewards.</i>


    Risk must be proportional to reward. If the risk was extremely high, with a death rate over ny percent, and the rewards were merely some spirion equipment, Wu Yuan wouldn''t risk it. But if there were heaven-defying treasures or special fortuitous encounters, taking some risks would be worth it.


    <i>No rush. The library in the eldritch voidrealm doesn''t have enough information on the Immutable Land, but the Eldritch Sovereign must know a thing or two. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>I��ll wait for Master to summon me, then ask him about it.</i>


    <i>I still have thirty years left before the deadline. I don''t believe Master won''t summon me even once during this period. If he doesn��t, I''ll ask Senior Brother or Astral Monarch Hou Qu. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Deep down, Wu Yuan was reluctant to reveal the news of obtaining the Immutable Token to others, as it might bring more harm than benefit.


    As for the Eldritch Sovereign? At his level, he probably wouldn''t care about some Immutable Token.


    <i>If it truly doesn''t work out, then I��ll go explore it twenty yearster. I may still be at the Amethyst Cradle phase then, but my power will have grown significantly stronger. </i>Wu Yuan made his decision.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a wave, Wu Yuan stowed away the Immutable Token, then stepped out of the meditation chamber and entered the battleship��s main hall.


    In the main hall, hundreds of soldiers had gathered. At the forefront sat five captains, including Pei He and Bing Roushui.


    The moment they saw Wu Yuan emerge, hundreds of eyes turned toward him, filled with curiosity, reverence, and admiration.


    ��Commander, you��re out of seclusion,�� Pei He said, standing up respectfully.


    ��No need to stand, sit down,�� Wu Yuan replied with a smile, gesturing for Pei He to sit, which he did immediately.


    Wu Yuan took his seat on the jade tform at the front.


    ��Everyone.�� Wu Yuan felt the intense gazes on him and smiled slightly. ��Although you haven��t asked, I believe you��ve all noticed that I have another identity.��


    Pei He, Bing Roushui, and the others nodded. They weren��t fools; they had their suspicions from the start. But in the past, although Wu Yuan was formidable, he wasn��t that heaven-defying.


    But now, after witnessing the recent battle, they realized his true strength was beyondprehension, marking him as a top-tier genius. Such a genius could never have emerged from the Huo Cang Army.


    ��Previously, I didn��t want to reveal my identity and attract the attention of the higher echelons of both camps,�� Wu Yuan continued. ��However, this time, I had no choice but to unleash my power.��


    All the Huo Cang soldiers listened intently.


    ��Now that my identity and strength are exposed, there��s little point in hiding anymore,�� Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. ��Moreover, I have my own training ns ahead.


    ��Besides, your trial missions are practicallyplete, and I believe I��ve fulfilled my duty as yourmander.


    ��So, when we return to the war base, I will leave, and Pei He will take over as your Commander,�� Wu Yuan announced.

 Chapter 538: Bronze Immutable Token (2)

    <h4>Chapter 538: Bronze Immutable Token (2)</h4>


    ��Leave?�� Bing Roushui��s voice trembled with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.


    Lie Shier, Shi Ji, and the others stood in stunned silence, their disbelief palpable.


    ��What are you all thinking?�� Pei He suddenly scolded, turning to face them. ��Themander killed Feng Sheng, a top-tier genius of the Immortal Court, like it was nothing. Ourmander is undoubtedly one of the top Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, a peerless genius.��


    He paused before continuing somberly. ��To have followed him for two years is already a rare honor. If we continue to follow him, it would only dy our progress and be of no help to him either. It��s mutually detrimental. We each have our own paths to walk.��


    The crowd quickly understood that Pei He was right.


    Following Wu Yuan, they would develop a dependency on him.


    Facing weaker foes? Knowing there��s no life-threatening danger, how could they improve?


    Facing foes only Wu Yuan could handle? They��d merely be a burden.


    Yet, a sense of reluctance lingered in their hearts. After all, following a super powerhouse made life on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield much easier.


    Wu Yuan smiled faintly at their reactions.


    A peerless genius? If his qi-refiner self were in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he would indeed rank among the top-tier geniuses, likely within the top ten of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators in power.


    ��All right. It will take a few days to return to the war base,�� Wu Yuan said, smiling. ��During that time, anyone whoprehends the Earth Dao cane to me for guidance.��


    His Daoprehension,parable to that of an Earth Immortal, made guiding Amethyst Cradle-level cultivators a simple task.


    ��Guidance? Themander is granting you an opportunity,�� Pei He said in a low voice ��Aren��t you going to thank him?��


    ��Thank you, Commander,�� the Amethyst Cradle-level soldiers who were studying the Earth Dao quickly bowed, unable to hide their excitement.


    For centuries, most of them had cultivated in istion. Seeking guidance from a Void Refiner Eminence wasn��t easy.


    In their eyes, Wu Yuan��s ability to unleash such terrifying power at the Amethyst Cradle phase meant his Daoprehension must have reached incredible depths. And now, they had the chance to learn from him.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan��s spirion battleship sped through the vastness of space, the major forces of the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple swiftly mobilized their intelligenceworks to investigate his background.


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, a majestic pce stood within a specially created ne.


    "Astral Monarch." Four Archeldritches bowed deeply, their expressions tinged with curiosity.


    These four were responsible for monitoring Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, and they couldn��t help but wonder what matter warranted a sudden summons from the Astral Monarch.


    ��This concerns the intelligence you submitted previously regarding Ming Jian of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. We��ve received a response,�� announced a figure shrouded in endless ck fog, seated atop a towering throne.


    The four Archeldritches were taken aback. A response? No matter how much Ming Jian stood out, he was merely an Amethyst Cradle genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Why would the Astral Monarch take special interest in this, even giving them a response?


    As Archeldritches, their vast knowledge and experience quickly led them to realize that Ming Jian must be far more significant than they had initially assumed.


    ��First, swear an oath in the name of the Eldritch Progenitor that you shall not disclose any information about Ming Jian,�� the figure in the ck fogmanded, his voice deep and resonant.


    The four Archeldritches, now more astonished than ever,plied without hesitation.


    The Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm was an enigmatic ce��though a voidrealm, numerous elements felt incredibly real. Here, even an oath sworn in the name of the Eldritch Progenitor would bind them by destiny.


    ��No battle recordings, identity spections, or intelligence deductions about Ming Jian are to be leaked,�� the figure in the ck fog continued nonchntly. ��Treat him ording to normal procedures��neither favoring nor distancing.��


    ��Yes,�� the four Archeldritches replied in unison.


    ��Astral Monarch, we can keep this secret, but what about the Voltari Temple? They��re likely to investigate Ming Jian��s identity as well,�� asked one of the Archeldritches, d in purple battle armor.


    ��That��s up to the Voltari Temple,�� the figure in the ck fog responded calmly. ��Remember, no matter whatmotion Ming Jian causes, regard him as merely a genius of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation. Do not spread his exploits, nor deliberately conceal them.��


    ��Understood,�� the Archeldritches replied, beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation.


    ��Dismissed.��


    ...


    The core of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, known as the Cang Feng Continent, was a realm teeming with special demonic beasts. In the vast wilderness, countless demonic creatures roamed contentedly.


    ��Eldritch Sovereign, there is a report from the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield regarding your disciple Wu Yuan,�� a shadowy figure, shrouded in ck fog, appeared. ��I have ordered strict regtion of the rted information to ensure no leaks.��


    ��Wu Yuan?�� Sovereign Kua Chi��s brow arched slightly as he remained seated in the midst of the wilderness, quickly scanning the transmitted report.


    ��Understood,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi replied indifferently. ��Also, as per protocol, send this report to the Eternal Sun Immortal World, and then withdraw.��


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The figure wrapped in ck fog vanished in an instant.


    <i>His progress is quite good; he appears to have reached the seventh-level or eighth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused to himself, though he didn��t dwell on it further.


    Wu Yuan��s progress, while slightly beyond expectations, wasn��t particrly extraordinary.


    To Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, unless Wu Yuan embarked on that special path or fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao within tens of thousands of years, he was no different from most of his other disciples.


    ...


    <i>In the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, within a specially created space bustling with immortal cultivators.</i>


    <i>In a vast hall on the third floor of the highest seven-story tower.</i>


    ��Ming Jian?��


    ��He disyed powerparable to a king-rank fighter on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.��


    ��Hisbat prowess is phenomenal, his strength formidable, and most importantly, he��s suspected of possessing nine lifebound flying swords. Among the younger generation in the immortal world, his immortal root alone is unparalleled.��


    ��He doesn��t belong to the core circle of our Eternal Sun Immortal World.��


    ��Based on our intelligence, considering the number of lifebound flying swords and his Daoprehension level, his traits align most closely with Li Xia of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, though their age and cultivation don��t match.��


    ��ording to the intelligence, Li Xia is still a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, given Li Xia��s previous rate of progress, his Daoprehension shouldn��t have reached this level as of yet.�� Six Archimmortals debated the matter.


    They were responsible for intelligence acquisition in the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    Suddenly, a cold voice echoed through the hall. ��Intelligence Division 93 of the Sixth Jurisdiction, heed your orders.��


    ��Yes,�� the six Archimmortals immediately bowed with utmost respect, facing the throne at the end of the hall.


    ��Ming Jian, also known as Li Xia of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, is a peerless genius of our younger generation in the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Information regarding him is ssified under Tier Two Confidentiality��not to be disseminated or investigated,�� the cold voice dered.


    ��Understood,�� the six Archimmortals responded, inwardly shocked.


    From the vast amount of intelligence they had gathered, they now had a clear understanding of the situation.


    Geniuses as dazzling as Li Xia or Ming Jian were rare, emerging only once in centuries across the entire macrocosm.


    Hearing the higher authorities confirm this only deepened their shock. This meant that the genius Li Xia from the Silvermist Immortal Nation had be nearly invincible in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    In the past, Li Xia had been considered merely a top-tier genius of an era within the immortal world. But now, based on his performance in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, Li Xia could potentially clear level seventy-five of the one-star tower, perhaps even higher.


    And how old was Li Xia? Only sixty-four years old�Cpreviously disguised by the sect to appear two years older.


    Such terrifying progress was simply unimaginable. He even had a chance of surpassing level eighty of the one-star tower before reaching a hundred.


    In the million years of recent history in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, there had been few prodigies of such monstrous talent.


    The gap between him and the most monstrous prodigies in history was minimal.


    ...


    <i>Who would have thought that my disciple would be this talented?</i>


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang stood on a tall hill within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, looking at the report in his hand.


    <i>In just three or four years, his progress seems to have gotten even faster than Luo Gu��s.</i>


    He found it hard to believe��it seemed almost too exaggerated.


    Just four years after stepping into the Amethyst Cradle phase, he was already invincible on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield?


    <i>Is it because the Eldritch Sovereign teaches him well, or is he just naturally gifted?</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang muttered to himself.


    Very soon, he made a judgment��Wu Yuan��s natural talent was simply extraordinary.


    <i>At this rate of progress, perhaps my disciple will surpass me in the future. </i>Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled to himself.


    He had requested Astral Monarch Huo Cang to handle the rted intelligence matters.


    As they investigated further, the major factions would quickly specte that Ming Jian was likely Li Xia. After all, the simrities in their characteristics were undeniable.


    Thus, the Eternal Sun Immortal World did not publicly deny this matter.


    <i>By not denying their rtion, the Voltari Temple would likely only specte that Ming Jian and Li Xia are core figures of our immortal nation, without linking them to Wu Yuan.</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang saw through the situation clearly.


    <i>Over-concealment will only arouse suspicion.</i>


    ...


    As a top-tier faction of the macrocosm that had battled the Cang Feng Eldritch World for endless ages, and even held a slightly dominant position, the Voltari Temple��s intelligence capabilities were unquestionable.


    Within just two days, orders from the Voltari Temple''s higher echelons quickly reached the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.


    ��We have found no relevant intelligence on Ming Jian in the database of geniuses from the Huo Cang Region and the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    ��Based on the Eternal Sun Immortal World��s database, the individual closest to Ming Jian��s characteristics is Li Xia from the Silvermist Immortal Nation, but there is a significant difference in talent assessments.


    ��The Eternal Sun Immortal World is concealing information. It is currently uncertain whether Li Xia is still in the Silvermist Immortal Nation.


    ��Based on our current evaluation, there''s a seventy percent probability that Ming Jian is a peerless genius meticulously nurtured in secret by the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation.


    ��There��s a thirty percent probability that Ming Jian is Li Xia. Given Li Xia''s age, he would definitely be one of the most valued geniuses in the Eternal Sun Immortal World,parable to the first ten members of the Cang Feng Eldritch World in the assassination sequence.


    ��Issue the order: do not provoke! As long as Ming Jian does not engage in king-rank battles or deliberately kill our Immortal Hall geniuses, do not target him.��


    Other than those from the Origin Eldritch Field, the Voltari Temple would not deliberately target top-tier geniuses of other major factions unless their actions were too extreme.


    Such peerless geniuses were hard toe by for their respective factions, and killing them would easily provoke the factions into conflict with the Voltari Temple.


    Of course, if Ming Jian specifically hunted the Immortal Hall geniuses or frequently attacked their war bases, the Voltari Temple wouldn''t hesitate to go all out to kill him!


    Moreover, should Ming Jian��s bloodlust lead to excessive carnage, resulting in him being surrounded and killed by a horde of immortal cultivators, he would have no one to me but himself.


    This was an unspoken understanding among top-tier factions.


    From beginning to end, the Voltari Temple never linked Ming Jian or Li Xia to Wu Yuan, who was number 764 on the Eldritch assassination list.


    Following the Heaven and Earth Tournament in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, Wu Yuan��s rank rose slightly on the Voltari Temple��s assassination list.


    ...


    Wu Yuan remained oblivious to the chaos unfolding outside the battlefield.


    Dayster, he led over two hundred Huo Cang soldiers back to the war base. It had been two years since they hadst returned.


    In space, about ten million li from the war base, Wu Yuan gathered the soldiers of the Huo Cang Army that had fought with him over the past few years.


    ��Pei He, Bing Roushui, brothers and sisters,�� Wu Yuan began with a slight smile. ��There are many eyes inside the war base, so let��s part ways here. If fate permits, we shall meet again.��


    ��Safe travels, Commander,�� Pei He said solemnly.


    ��Safe travels, Commander,�� Bing Roushui''s eyes shimmered with emotion.


    ��Safe travels, Commander,�� over two hundred Huo Cang soldiers echoed, their voices filled with respect and admiration.


    They had only spent two years together, but in that time, they had grown to genuinely admire and respect Wu Yuan.


    ��Haha,�� Wu Yuan chuckled, waving off their formalities. Without another word, he flew into the spirion battleship, which quickly took off.

 Chapter 539: Arriving At The Mainland (1)

    <h4>Chapter 539: Arriving At The Maind (1)</h4>


    <i>On the battleship.</i>


    <i>I hope I��ll meet Pei He, Rou Shui, and the others again someday. </i>Wu Yuan smiled faintly, pushing the memories of the past two years to the depths of his heart, no longer dwelling on them.


    Wu Yuan had long grown ustomed to such experiences; the path of immortality was long and winding, with life and death ever uncertain, partings and reunions inevitable.


    <i>ording to the intelligence gathered by my body refiner self in the eldritch voidrealm, the higher echelons of both camps will be closely watching for talents who unleash extraordinary power on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>These past few days should have given the two camps enough time to react.</i>


    On the way back to the war base over thest few days, Wu Yuan avoidedbat as much as possible to prevent exposing his trail.


    <i>The eldritch world is unlikely to take any abnormal actions, and even if the Eternal Sun Immortal World is aware of my actions, they can��t do anything to me as long as I haven��t returned.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    <i>Moreover, with Instructor Nan Yin''s connections, he might already know of my performance.</i>


    Wu Yuan had his suspicions about Instructor Nan Yin.


    A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal was an extremely powerful existence among High Immortals; of the dozens of High Immortals in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal would undoubtedly rank among the top five.


    Yet, they wouldn��t normally possess such a vastwork of connections.


    <i>Master said he once concealed his identity and wandered the world. Perhaps he encountered some super powerhouses and forged these extensive connections?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Or is Master hiding his true strength, and is actually a nominal disciple of some Astral Monarch?</i>


    Initially, Wu Yuan did not find Instructor Nan Yin particrly special. Butter, as his own horizons broadened, especially after interacting with Astral Lord Yin He, Astral Lord Chen Deng, Senior Brother Jiang Huan, and others, Wu Yuan became increasingly aware of Instructor Nan Yin''s formidable abilities; at the very least, his attainments in the Celestial Body Dao seemed no less than those of an Astral Lord.


    This made Wu Yuan increasingly suspicious.


    <i>Or could it be... that Instructor Nan Yin is actually an incarnation of the immortal ancestor of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect? </i>This was the possibility Wu Yuan found most usible.


    It fit on all fronts. He had Astral Lord-level strength, living long enough to forge a vastwork of connections. After concealing his true strength, he publicly dered Wu Yuan a nominal disciple under the tutge of the ''immortal ancestor''.


    As for Instructor Nan Yin being Sword Immortal Dong Yang? Wu Yuan had also considered this, but quickly dismissed it due to the low probability.


    He had never met the Sword Immortal Dong Yang, and the image of the Sword Immortal Dong Yang passed down in the sect''s legends differed vastly from Instructor Nan Yin''s appearance. They were clearly two different individuals.


    Most importantly, the legendary Sword Immortal Dong Yang wasn��t known for expertise in the Celestial Body Dao.


    ...


    <i>No matter how great the disturbances in the Eternal Sun Immortal World or the Eldritch World, my life isn��t at risk.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>My only concern is the Voltari Temple; I don''t know if they''ll dispatch more geniuses from the Immortal Hall.</i>


    After doing his research in the eldritch voidrealm, Wu Yuan was well aware that if his performance was too outrageous, the Voltari Temple would not hesitate to send a steady stream of its most talented disciples at his cultivation phase to deal with him.


    This was the primary reason for Wu Yuan''s hasty departure.


    <i>My qi refiner self may not fear the Immortal Hall geniuses from the Voltari Temple, but I have no need to provoke them either. Why incite their wrath?</i> Wu Yuan''s lips curved into a faint smile.


    <i>If they want to target me, they��ll have to find me first.</i>


    ...


    The battleship traveled at three thousand li per second, slicing through the void silently and deftly avoiding rogues of various sizes.


    It swiftly approached a dark crimson with a diameter of over a hundred thousand li.


    <i>The war base</i>. Within the battleship, Wu Yuan gazed at the.


    Countless ore-richs popted the boundless expanse of outer space, some thousands of timesrger than the war base. Yet none of thoses could exude the overwhelming pressure that this crimson did.


    It was like a colossal slumbering beast. The myriad cryptic patterns on the crimson''s surface seemed unremarkable, but collectively they seemed to contain unspeakable power.


    <i>Legend has it that during great wars, king-rank fighters lead armies to assault the enemy��s war base?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    A king-rank fighter��s strength? Even if there were ten or a hundred more Wu Yuans, he felt he would be instantly annihted if this war base unleashed its full might.


    Fortunately, during the so-called great wars, war bases would only activate their basic arrays.


    <i>I haven''t heard a great war erupting in Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 in these two years.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    A great war typically erupted when the power disparity on a battlefield grew too lopsided.


    <i>Hum~</i>


    "Greetings, ninth-rank fighter Ming Jian. Wee back to the war base. Please follow the guiding power into the passage." Wu Yuan''s avatar within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm''s personal hall received this transmission.


    Immediately after, Wu Yuan sensed an invisible force guiding his battleship, pulling the ship swiftly into a channel.


    The war base had six visible passages - four entrances and two exits.


    <i>The passage I��m entering seems different from those used by most fighters.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over another passage below, where quite a fewbatants were entering, some flying and some aboard battleships.


    ...


    <i>Is this the second floor of the war base?</i> Wu Yuan strode out of the battleship, surveying the vast za thousands of li away.


    It was now empty and deserted,pletely unlike the bustling scene he had witnessed on his previous arrival. The ce was eerily silent.


    "Esteemed ninth-rank fighter," a ck-armored soldier in standard battle regalia approached, smiling. "Wee back to the war base. Since this is your first time on the second floor, allow me to provide an introduction."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded lightly, epting the offer.


    Every war base had three floors. The first was where mostbatants rested. The second was restricted to only seventh-rank fighters and above or Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators. The third floor was reserved for the stationed troops.


    "Wow! Is that a spirion battleship?" An exmation rang out nearby.


    Wu Yuan turned to see two figures descending from a distance. One was a white-robed youth with his hair bound in a braid, his robe adorned with mysterious patterns. The other was a purple-armored middle-aged man with dark skin and cold eyes, maintaining half a step behind the youth. He appeared to be the youth��s bodyguard.


    <i>An Amethyst Cradle cultivator as the master, a Void Refiner cultivator as the bodyguard? They must be from influential backgrounds, here on a trial mission. </i>Wu Yuan surmised.


    "Brother! Are you here on a trial mission too? I��m Fu Zha. To own a spirion battleship, your background must be impressive, brother. I wish I could afford one," the white-robed youth called out loudly, his tone overly familiar.


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback. He had never heard of this Fu Zha. Smiling faintly, he replied, "It does look impressive, but I haven��t examined it closely. I seized it in battle."


    "It truly is impressive. A spirion battleship can reach a maximum speed of... What? You seized it?" Fu Zha''s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Wu Yuan. "You, an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, did it yourself?"


    "Indeed." Wu Yuan nodded calmly, turning to the ck-armored soldier. "Please lead me to my residence."


    "Yes, follow me." The soldier nodded and flew through a corridor.


    Wu Yuan followed without sparing Fu Zha another nce.


    "So arrogant?" The white-robed youth muttered under his breath.


    "Young Master," the purple-armored man beside him finally spoke, his voice deep. "His disyed name is Ming Jian."


    "Ming Jian? What about it?" The white-robed youth frowned.


    "Young Master, you should at least check the fighter ranking leaderboard." The purple-armored man shook his head. "Ming Jian is a ninth-rank fighter. And he went from first-rank to ninth-rank in just two years. Rumors say he has the strength of a legendary-rank fighter."


    "What?! First to ninth-rank in two years?" The white-robed youth''s eyes bulged. "Even faster than my brother? No wonder he''s so arrogant."


    "A top-tier genius from the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field?" The youth eximed loudly.


    The purple-armored man could only shake his head at his young master��s behavior.


    "It''s fortunate we didn''t offend him, or my brother would beat me senseless if he found out." The youth shook his head. "Just casually strolling around and we run into such a formidable figure."


    "How scary! I��m going back to the manor."


    ...


    As they traveled through the corridor, spanning over ten thousand li, they passed numerous sprawling manors, each upying a vast area. asionally, Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses could be seening and going.


    "It''s Ming Jian."


    "So that''s Ming Jian?" These Elysian Field powerhouses recognized Wu Yuan almost instantly through the information disyed on their voidrealm jades. All of them looked on in shock.


    Perhaps Ming Jian''s name had yet to spread across the entirety of Battlefield 36, but within Outer Space War Base 1294, he was famous.


    In fact, even the Amethyst Cradle ck-armored soldier guiding Wu Yuan sneaked nces at him from time to time, clearly well-informed of his exploits despite not being abatant himself.


    Soon after, the soldier gestured toward a manor spanning dozens of li below. "Fighter Ming Jian, this is your manor. Once inside, you will have full control of the residence. Upon activating the arrays, none may enter without your permission."


    "Additionally, as a ninth-rank fighter, you may use this manor free of charge �C a special privilege."


    "You can review its other functions within your personal hall in the eldritch voidrealm. I won''t borate further," the soldier concluded.


    Wu Yuan nodded. "Thank you."


    The soldier saluted and swiftly departed.


    <i>Rather courteous.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly and transformed into a stream of light, shooting into the manor below.


    Within were pavilions and towers, with meditation chambers and other cultivation facilities.


    The environment was exquisite, undoubtedly one of the most luxurious manors in the war base, superior to most others on the second floor.


    Yet there were no servants.


    "Esteemed ninth-rank fighter Ming Jian, you are now the master of this manor." Information flowed into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    He swiftly took full control of his new residence.


    <i>Different ranks, different treatment. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>Ordinary fighters unwilling to spend ethercrystal can only endure the hardships on the first floor.</i>


    Privileges were earned through strength. Only those who had ughtered countless Immortal Court cultivators could ascend to the rank of a ninth-rank fighter. Such preferential treatment was only natural.


    He walked into a meditation chamber, surveying his surroundings. The chamber was impressive, yet it paled inparison to the Essence Tower. Shaking his head, Wu Yuan assumed the lotus position, quickly essing his personal hall in the eldritch voidrealm.


    As a ninth-rank fighter, he had substantial privileges in two key areas.


    First, he could exchange ethercrystalurels for special resources prepared exclusively by the eldritch world, items that couldn''t be purchased with any amount of ethercrystal in the external world. Second, he could sell his battlefield spoils to buy standard artifacts like spirion battleships, arrays, battle puppet constructs, flying swords, and more.


    Within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Wu Yuan scanned the light screen before him. <i>My ethercrystalurels.</i>


    Fighter: Ming Jian


    Rank: Ninth


    umted ethercrystalurels: 136,323,000 (1 billion needed to advance to legendary-rank fighter).


    Remaining ethercrystalurels: 136,323,000.


    <i>With just over a hundred million ethercrystalurels, there aren��t many treasures I can purchase. </i>Wu Yuan smiled bitterly.


    The ethercrystalurels earned on the battlefield were entirely different from ordinary ethercrystal.


    Wu Yuan browsed through the items avable for redemption, marveling at the unique options before him. There were opportunities to enter exclusive realms, chances to receive guidance from Archimmortals and Astral Lords, and treasures that anyone in the cultivation world would covet.


    For instance:


    Semi-Legendary root establishment treasure: one billion ethercrystalurels


    Legendary root establishment treasure: 3 billion ethercrystalurels


    <i>Ridiculous. 3 billion </i>ethercrystalurels<i>?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>Just how many immortal cultivators would I have to kill to obtain that many?</i>


    The difficulty was apparent. He would definitely be targeted relentlessly by the Voltari Temple.

 Chapter 540: Arriving At The Mainland (2)

    <h4>Chapter 540: Arriving At The Maind (2)</h4>


    After a moment, Wu Yuan browsed through the entire catalog, feeling as if his eyes had been opened to a world of treasures he had never encountered before.


    "Redeem 10 Dao Temple points," Wu Yuan finally spoke.


    "One hundred million ethercrystalurels will be deducted, exhausting your entire exchange quota. Confirm?" The indifferent voice echoed in his personal hall.


    "Confirmed," Wu Yuan replied without hesitation.


    He had meticulously nned how he would use his ethercrystalurels. Ordinary treasures, special items, and opportunities to enter certain realms were all valuable, but they were still within reach through other means, especially given the strength and status of his body-refiner self. But the Dao Temple points? Those were extraordinarily difficult to acquire.


    After bing Master Kua Chi''s disciple, he had only been granted sixty Dao Temple points. Each point was invaluable.


    "One hundred million ethercrystalurels deducted, Dao Temple ess granted. ess will be revoked once points are exhausted," the voice informed him. "You may enter the Dao Temple as long as you are within the macrocosm and holding the voidrealm jade."


    Immediately after, Wu Yuan saw that his ethercrystalurels had dropped by one hundred million, but he wasn��t too hung up on it. Thoseurels were earned to enhance his strength, after all.


    <i>Let��s give it a try. In both Dao Temples of the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Cang Feng Eldritch World, I chose the Celestial Body Dao simtion. This time, I should choose the Longevity Dao. </i>Wu Yuan thought, feeling a surge of anticipation.


    Though his qi-refiner self''s soul was powerful, bolstered by Faith, his progress on the Longevity Dao had been slowerpared to the Celestial Body Dao in recent years. The primary reason was simple: he had never encountered a particrly special opportunity while cultivating the Longevity Dao, only proceeding methodically.


    With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan felt his consciousness leave his personal hall, swiftly arriving at a mysterious location within a higher spatial dimension.


    The Eldritch Court''s Dao Temple! The higher spatial dimension was reflected onto the endless river of space and time.


    As with previous visits, the Dao Temple didn��t seem to connect the dots between Wu Yuan''s two true selves, calcting their point tallies independently.


    In the midst of the mystical illusory realm stood a towering ck pagoda. Wu Yuan found himself standing in the za before it.


    "I want to experience the Longevity Daoprehension simtion," Wu Yuan stated directly.


    "Two points deducted, eight remaining," the indifferent voice responded, and the second floor of the pagoda slowly opened.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan flew straight in.


    In past Celestial Body Dao simtions, he had observed celestial bodies, perceiving myriad saber arts imbued with the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao. But the Longevity Dao simtion was entirely different.


    <i>The origin of life! </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness immersed itself fully in the simtion. He felt as though he had be a tiny seedling, experiencing the wonders of growth��rain and dew nourishing him, sunlight warming him, nts flourishing around him.


    It seemed like only an instant, yet also decades passed.


    He lived as an infinitesimal nkton, a gazelle sprinting across a boundless prairie, and a bird freezing to death in winter...


    Cycle after cycle of life.


    Wu Yuan lived those lives yet remained an observer, unable to unleash any secret arts. He lost himself in the simtion, overwhelmed by these unprecedented sensations that illuminated the Longevity Dao''s profundities.


    The so-called longevity was simply to live a long life!


    "Awaken!" A faint voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind, pulling his consciousness back.


    He left the ck pagoda, still feeling dazed. The myriad versions of life he had just experienced surged through his mind.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness exited the Eldritch Court''s Dao Temple.


    ...


    <i>The Longevity Dao! Unfolding the profundities of life. </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, his eyes brimming with tears.


    His mind remained engrossed in contemtion, lost in the insights he had gained. It took him a long time to pull himself out of this trance.


    After what felt like an eternity, Wu Yuan finally regained his focus.


    <i>Although I haven��t broken through to the next stage, I have a clear sense of how to proceed from the seventh-level Domain stage to the ninth-level, and even break through to True Intent. </i>Wu Yuan''s mind buzzed with rity.


    The profundities of the Longevity Dao were not just the ineffable, elusive profundities of heaven and earth. They were deeply intertwined with the evolution and growth of myriad lives.


    <i>However, as Nan Yin Master said, the Longevity Dao is part of the Wood Dao. But why do I feel it has a connection to the legendary Life Dao?</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced.


    The Life Dao was profoundly unfathomable, something that even ordinary immortal cultivators could hardly grasp. Wu Yuan had only heard of it, never witnessing anyone able to cultivate it. Even High Immortals seemed to struggle with deciphering its profundities.


    Days passed, nearly ten in total, with Wu Yuan remaining immersed in this state of deep contemtion, continuously umting insights into the Longevity Dao and breaking through previous barriers.


    On the tenth day, Wu Yuan received a notification.


    "Esteemed ninth-rank fighter Ming Jian, a general from the war base wishes to meet you. He has arrived outside your residence," the message was sent directly to him via the eldritch voidrealm.


    In the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan exhaled and opened his eyes.


    <i>A general from the war base?</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly in puzzlement. <i>Here to visit me? For what reason?</i>


    After a moment��s thought, Wu Yuan left the meditation chamber and made his way to the reception hall of the manor.


    "Hahaha, our young friend Ming Jian, it is my great honor to have a peerless genius like yourself join the war base Imand," greeted a portly elderly man in crimson armor. His smile deepened the folds of fat on his face, giving him a ferocious look.


    As an Earth Immortal, such a respectful attitude was unusual.


    Two Void Refiner soldiers in ck armor nked him.


    "General Tao, you''re too kind. I can hardly be called a genius," Wu Yuan replied coolly. "May I ask why the General hase to see me so suddenly?"


    "Hahaha. I see that our young friend is straightforward, so I won��t beat around the bush," General Tao chuckled. "Your strength is formidable. You must be one of the Eternal Sun Immortal World''s core peerless geniuses, correct?... Of course, I won''t pry into your background."


    "I have an opportunity for you to earn a tremendous amount of ethercrystalurels. Would you be interested?"


    "A tremendous amount of ethercrystalurels?" Wu Yuan maintained a neutral expression. "What opportunity?"


    For a general of a war base to call it ''tremendous'', it had to involve at least tens of millions of ethercrystalurels.


    "Hunting," General Tao said with a grin.


    Wu Yuan paused, then understood.


    "You should know that some super geniuses and Elysian Field-level powerhouses from the Immortal Court camp have been running rampant across the battlefield, killing our fighters indiscriminately and causing grievous losses," General Tao exined. "In response, we dispatch experts to hunt down their top experts, especially those geniuses at the Amethyst Cradle level."


    "I wish to invite you to be a hunter for our war base."


    "I''ll provide intelligence, notifying you of the tracks of top experts on this battlefield through the eldritch voidrealm," General Tao continued, his smile widening. "You just need to hunt them down."


    "If the hunt is sessful, you will receive bonus ethercrystalurels in addition to the usual rewards," General Tao''s eyes gleamed with anticipation.


    Wu Yuan understoodpletely now.


    Over the past two years, he had been the one hunted. The Immortal Court camp must have sent numerous teams after him, finally resorting to sending their Immortal Hall genius, Feng Sheng, when all else failed. But they were all defeated by him.


    And now, the Eldritch Court faction was inviting him to be a hunter instead?


    "General Tao, after roaming through the battlefield for years, I wish to cultivate in seclusion for now. Allow me to consider it," Wu Yuan responded calmly.


    "Haha, very well," General Taoughed. "Then I won''t disturb your cultivation. I''ll take my leave first. Once you''ve made up your mind, you cane to me directly."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Soon, General Tao left with his two subordinates.


    <i>Hunting?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, activating the array to seal off the entire manor before returning to his meditation chamber.


    ...


    On the third floor of the war base stood an enormous hall��the general''s residence.


    "General, will Ming Jian agree?" one of the ck-armored soldiers asked.


    "Highly likely," General Tao replied confidently. "From what I''ve observed of his actions, he enjoys killing. With such a great opportunity, how could he refuse?"


    The ck-armored soldiers nodded in agreement.


    "Hahaha, let''s wait and see. Once he agrees, he''ll go hunt the top experts from the Immortal Court camp," General Tao said with augh. "When that happens, our camp will easily gain an overwhelming advantage in this war zone."


    "But if Ming Jian''s actions grow too frenzied, it might prompt the Immortal Court to send experts to assassinate him," one of the soldiers remarked with concern.


    With their level of authority, they could only view Wu Yuan''s ethercrystalurel count, not witness the battles directly. They were unaware that the Immortal Court camp had already attempted to eliminate him.


    "If he gets killed, then it just means his strength is inadequate," General Tao said indifferently. "As long as he helps us remove some obstacles, that''s enough."


    He was merely an Earth Immortal, and the higher-ups had never given him any specific instructions.


    The soldiers nodded in agreement.


    <i>But just three dayster.</i>


    "General!"


    "General, bad news!" A ck-armored soldier burst into the hall in a panic.


    "What is it?" General Tao frowned.


    "Ming Jian has just activated the teleportation array with his authority as a ninth-rank fighter and teleported to Maind War Base 93," the soldier reported hurriedly.


    General Tao froze, teacup still in hand.


    Ming Jian had left?


    ...


    <i>A mere Earth Immortal wants to use me as a spear to hunt the Immortal Court''s experts?</i>


    <i>Unfortunately, I have no interest in that. </i> Wu Yuan thought with a trace of disdain as he stepped out of the teleportation array, immediately noticing the throng of immortal cultivators in the corridor outside.


    Their numbers far exceeded those of Outer Space War Base 1294.


    <i>Indeed, it is just as the intelligence reports described. The maind is the true heart of this battlefield, where the fighting is most intense. Most major decisive battles also take ce on the main continent.</i>


    <i>Within this continent less than a hundred billion li wide, the two camps have established a total of four thousand war bases, with an enemy base every few billion li on average.</i>


    <i>In terms of powerhouse density, it averages dozens of times that of the outer space war zones. The area just a few million li from the war base is as dangerous as the Death Zones in the outer space war zones.</i>


    <i>I��ll be able to umte blood mist much faster here.</i>


    <i>At the same time, if I don''t intentionally hunt powerhouses, the chances of the Immortal Court targeting me are minimal.</i> Wu Yuan strode down the corridor, leaving the war base behind.

 Chapter 541: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (1)

    <h4>Chapter 541: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (1)</h4>


    All war bases had simryouts and structures, so Wu Yuan moved through the exit passage with practiced ease.


    Tworge teams were leaving with Wu Yuan, one of them a sizable force of around a hundred people. The other team consisted of slightly more than sixty people.


    Most within these groups were below the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, with no more than three-tenths at the seventh-stage and above.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> After flying thousands of li along the passage, the throng of hundreds of cultivators arrived at the exit, patiently awaiting the opening of the gate.


    The passage gate opened at regr intervals.


    "Fellow Daoist, are you alone?" The voice came from a bald, broad-shouldered man leading one of the teams. He was d in loose robes and carried arge saber on his back. His tone was casual as he addressed Wu Yuan.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "Fellow Daoist, I sense that your cultivation is at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. Are you nning to head out to the maind alone?" A purple-robed cultivator from the other team spoke up, seemingly holding a high position in his team.


    Instantly, many in the two teams turned to look at Wu Yuan, their expressions a mix of curiosity and doubt. A ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator, going solo?


    "What''s wrong with being a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator?" Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    "Fellow Daoist, you must have just arrived from an outer space war base, right?" The bald man asked. "The maind is different from the outer space war zones. Outer space is vast and sparsely popted, and battles aren''t intense, only erupting every few days on average. But on the maind, you might encounter several battles in a single day."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s smile deepened slightly. Intense battles? Perfect.


    "So it''s not advisable to operate alone on the maind," the bald man continued, his expression earnest. "I''m Yan Quan, leading a group of brothers on an expedition. Fellow Daoist, if you don''t mind, would you like to join my group?"


    Join their group?


    "Thank you for the offer, Fellow Daoist," Wu Yuan replied with a polite nod. "But I''m used to traveling alone. I��m not fond of joining groups."


    Wu Yuan didn''t find it surprising that these people hadn''t recognized him.


    Possessing a voidrealm jade allowed one to sense the aura of one��s allies within a ten-thousand-li range, as well as their names. But it didn''t disy cultivation information.


    At any given war base, ninth-rank fighters were rare, but across the entire battlefield, they were not umon. The constant flow ofbatant batches meant that most people only paid attention to the high-ranking experts at their own base.


    Unless someone was a legendary-rank or king-rank fighter, few would pay attention to a singlebatant.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had just arrived at Maind War Base 93 and hadn''t killed any enemies yet, so he wasn''t included in this war base''s ranking.


    "Very well, I hope to meet you again at the war base," Yan Quan said, offering a courteous smile.


    ��Big Brother, why bother persuading a dead ghost? He''s made his choice," muttered the tall, thin youth standing beside Yan Quan.


    "Shut up," Yan Quan snapped, his frown deepening. Then, he turned back to Wu Yuan with an apologetic smile. "Fellow Daoist, please excuse my subordinate''sck of manners."


    "It''s fine," Wu Yuan responded calmly, though his gaze lingered briefly on the thin youth.


    The youth''s defiant re didn''t escape his notice. He was a third-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator


    "Daoist Yan Quan," Wu Yuan remainedpletely unperturbed, calmly asking, "do you know how often this exit gate opens?"


    "Generally, it opens once a thousand people are gathered," Yan Quan exined, his smile returning. "Aside from the new batches of fighters arriving here each day, there usually aren''t enough people to reach that number, so under normal circumstances, it opens once every two hours."


    Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully. It was a different system from the outer space war bases he was used to.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, two streams of ck light shot over from afar at an astonishing speed.


    "What''s going on?"


    "It hasn��t been two hours yet." Yan Quan, the thin youth, and the hundreds of gathered cultivators were puzzled.


    Normally, unless the time interval or number of waitingbatants was met, the soldiers wouldn''t open the exit gate.


    "Daoist Ming Jian."


    "Haha, Daoist Ming Jian, why didn��t you tell us you wereing? The general only learned of your arrival from the message from the eldritch voidrealm," the two Void Refiner ck-armored soldiers smiled, striding towards Wu Yuan and cupping their hands in greeting.


    This scene left the others gaping in astonishment. Void Refiner soldiers greeting an Amethyst Cradle cultivator with such respect? In their experience, the Void Refiner soldiers at war bases were arrogant and rarely showed them any courtesy.


    And what was that they heard? General? They knew that a general was at least an Earth Immortal. Who was this ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivator that even a General specially took note of?


    "Thank you for the trouble," Wu Yuan smiled calmly, unfazed by the attention.


    "No problem," one of the Void Refiner ck-armored soldiers smiled. Then, he turned to address the others, his expression turning cold. "Listen up, all of you. The exit gate will open soon. Line up properly, don''t rush."


    The hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators stood in shocked silence, none daring to make a sound.


    Soon, the previously sealed exit gate flickered with countless cryptic patterns, rapidly transforming into a nearly transparent light screen.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, please go ahead," the taller Void Refiner soldier said, stepping aside to allow Wu Yuan to pass.


    "Thank you," Wu Yuan''s form shed and he shot through the light screen in a stream of light, swiftly leaving the war base.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Afterward, over two hundred Amethyst Cradle cultivators poured through the light screen one after another. This included the tworge teams, followed by three smaller teams who had hurried over just in time.


    Yan Quan led his hundred-odd team into the sky, the boundless expanse ofnd stretching out below them. But there was no trace of Wu Yuan. He had vanished as swiftly as he had appeared.


    "Big brother, did I cause trouble?" The thin youth asked apprehensively, his earlier bravado gone. "That Ming Jian earlier seemed rather influential."


    "Don''t worry, he didn''t seem petty," Yan Quan replied, though his brow remained furrowed with concern.


    "Big brother, I''ve checked," said the white-robed woman beside them, her voiceced with shock. "On the overall battlefield ranking, there''s someone named Ming Jian among the top one thousand fighters. He''s a ninth-rank fighter!!"


    A profound silence fell over the group.


    "Ninth-rank?" Yan Quan muttered, astonished. "He''s likely a peerless genius from the Origin Eldritch Field. No wonder he dares to act alone."


    "The privileges of a ninth-rank fighter, of course.��


    ...


    <i>It''s so vast.</i> Wu Yuan stood in the air. The light around him distorted, concealing his form as he blended perfectly into heaven and earth.


    This only prevented distant observers from seeing him, though in close proximity, Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators had methods to pierce such illusions.


    Wu Yuan looked down at the boundless expanse ofnd stretching endlessly beyond sight. <i>The entire continent is nearly a hundred billion li wide?</i>


    This immensendmass was dotted with war bases��around four thousand in total.


    It could be said that the two camps deployed millions or even billions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators into bloody battles each day. Through tempering in the fires of life-and-death battles, powerhouses were forged.


    The battlefield was rugged and uneven, with towering mountain ranges spanning thousands of li, their jagged peaks slicing through the sky. These natural barriers could easily block a powerhouse''s line of sight, creating countless opportunities for ambush and gueri warfare. Perfect for battle.


    <i>Now this is a battlefield suited for me. </i>Wu Yuan grinned, a thrill of excitement coursing through him. <i>It seems I''ll be able to reach the saturation point of blood mist very soon.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan''s appearance changed. No longer the white-robed youth, he now took on the form of a middle-aged man in crimson robes, his features entirely different.


    <i>My allies can see my name through the voidrealm jade''s aura, but my enemies cannot. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>The Voltari Temple investigated my identity through the voidrealm''s battle recordings.</i>


    If forced to go all-out, unleashing all his abilities and skills like the nine lifebound flying swords, his identity would naturally be exposed. There might be only two or three other Amethyst Cradle cultivators with such strength across the entire battlefield.


    But as long as his enemies weren''t too powerful, some third-grade spirit flying swords would suffice. He could avoid revealing an overwhelmingly monstrous level of power, keeping his true identity secret. The Voltari Temple wouldn��t be able to identify him with such few clues.


    <i>Let''s begin.</i> Wu Yuan chose a path at random, his eyes flickering as he activated the Spirit Eye arcane art. Instantly, the terrain hundreds of millions of li away came into focus.


    At the same time, his Soul Will spread out in a radius of nearly a hundred thousand li, sweeping the area for any signs of life.


    Wu Yuan traveled leisurely through the skies at a speed of five hundred li per second, scouting for enemies along the way.


    He did not summon his spirion battleship as it was far too conspicuous, making it inconvenient to conceal his form.


    Less than a quarter of an hourter, he sensed something.


    <i>Hm? Twelve Amethyst Cradle cultivators? Even tiny mosquitoes are meat.</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Will locked onto them instantly.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan immediately elerated, charging over.


    ...


    Within the vast mountain range, a team of twelve seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators cautiously probed their surroundings as they traveled on foot, each suppressing their aura as much as possible.


    Aste-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators, they were confident enough to form a small team of just slightly more than ten people. But with the maind teeming with immortal cultivators, they dared not let down their guards for even a moment.


    "Be careful, everyone." The leader, a massive man standing nearly six meters tall, his body covered in ck scales, spoke quietly. His voice was shrill, a strange contrast to his imposing physique. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, missing nothing.


    The ck-robed woman following behind him spoke up, "Big Brother, we''ve been walking through this mountain range for two days now. Nothing abnormal has happened so far. Moreover, our battle puppets are always scouting ahead, so the probability of encountering an enemy attack should be..."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Out of nowhere, six terrifying earthy-yellow rays of light appeared, tearing through the sky.


    When they first appeared, they were still thousands of li away, but in the next instant, they had already reached the group.


    "No!" The burly leader��s eyes widened in shock and fury, a battle saber materializing before his chest


    <i>Squelch! Squelch!</i> A symphony of grisly sounds erupted as des tore through flesh and sinew. Bodies ruptured in a macabre disy, sending sprays of crimson mist and viscera into the air.


    The six rays of light swept through the air in an instant, then returned to Wu Yuan. Following them were arge number of artifacts, either intact or shattered.


    Twelve Amethyst Cradle cultivators were dead!


    <i>Continue!</i> In the skies, Wu Yuan put away the artifacts and continued probing for enemies, following his original direction.

 Chapter 542: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (2)

    <h4>Chapter 542: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (2)</h4>


    Half a dayter, Wu Yuan abruptly halted, his gaze locking onto a canyon a hundred thousand li away.


    <i>Four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses?</i> Wu Yuan could vaguely sense the powerful, unrestrained auras emanating from the canyon.


    <i>Good. It��s been half a day, and I''ve only killed a hundred or so Amethyst Cradle cultivators. My efficiency is too low. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. B<i>ut the blood mist I��ll gain from killing one Void Refiner-level powerhouse is equivalent to hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators.</i>


    <i>There are four of them here. Excellent.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a step forward, Wu Yuan shrouded himself in his Soul Will, suppressing his aura as he silently approached the canyon.


    Within the canyon, nearly a hundred cultivators were brazenly celebrating.


    "Drink!"


    "Come, Daoist Gao Jin, drink. We owe this victory to you. Without you, how could we have killed that Void Refiner Eminence?"


    "Yes, it��s all thanks to Daoist Gao Jin and Daoist Qi Pu. Come, drink." The three Void Refiner Eminences and one Elysian Field powerhouseughed and chatted as they drank exquisitely brewed immortal wine.


    More than eighty Amethyst Cradle cultivators were also partaking in the celebration, their guards apparently down.


    An ordinary Amethyst Cradle team would need to be extremely cautious while venturing on the maind. But a team led by four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses was an exceptionally powerful force. They had few reasons to be wary or retreat, so they weren��t overly concerned.


    <i>Hm?</i> Gao Jin, the Void Refiner Eminence sitting in the host seat, suddenly sensed something. His head snapped up. "Enemy!"


    <i>Boom! </i>Gao Jin instantly sprang into action. Sheets of crystalline ice erupted from his fingertips, unfurling in rippling waves of jade-green brilliance. In an instant, everything within ten thousand li waspletely enveloped in countlessyers of ice.


    In this frozen world, the temperature plummeted rapidly.


    "Enemy?"


    "An enemy?" The other three Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses also stood up, their vast Soul Wills surging outward.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In the sky above, an area with a hundred-li radius remained untouched by theyers of ice. At the center of this anomaly stood a crimson-robed figure, his face obscured.


    Though only at the Amethyst Cradle phase, the strands of earthy-yellow light circting around him repelled the encroaching frost.


    "Amethyst Cradle phase."


    "Dao Field!"


    "He''s a peerless genius from the Origin Eldritch Field." The expressions of the four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses changed simultaneously.


    They understood all too well what it meant to encounter an opponent who hadprehended a Dao Field. They were even more cognizant of the Origin Eldritch Field, a ce that nurtured peerless geniuses on par with those of the Immortal Hall��prodigies with the potential to be High Immortals at least.


    As for the dozens of Amethyst Cradle cultivators, they were gripped by terror.


    "I''m not from the Origin Eldritch Field," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Sir." Gao Jin stood up, his icy gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "No matter who you are, we don''t wish to provoke you. Please leave."


    Although confident in his strength, Gao Jin preferred to avoid the trouble of facing such a mysterious, peerless genius.


    "Hahaha, you don''t want to provoke me?" Wu Yuan''s smile widened. "This is the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. How can provocation be avoided?"


    "Since I''vee, you only have two choices: either fight and kill me, or be killed by me." Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed as he looked down at them.


    "Arrogant!"


    "Such an arrogant brat." Gao Jin, Qi Pu, and the other two Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses were instantly enraged. Those who dared to wander the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield for extended periods no longer cowered in the face of death.


    "Kill!" Gao Jin roared, and five massive cauldrons materialized around him, apanied by hundreds of flying swords that screeched as they charged toward Wu Yuan.


    "Kill!"


    "Soul attack." The other two Void Refiner powerhouses did not hesitate tounch soul attacks, their usual move against peerless geniuses.


    Peerless geniuses might have formidable battle prowess, and their Daoprehension might be deep, but their souls were not necessarily powerful.


    <i>Hum~ Whoosh~ </i>Two different soul attacks, formless and soundless, pierced the sky and infiltrated Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    Here, Wu Yuan''s soul essence sat in lotus position. Above his head hovered a golden tower, which radiated brilliant light upon detecting the attacks.


    It effortlessly dispelled the soul attacks from the two Void Refiner Eminences.


    This was a soul spirion artifact, the Soul Calming Golden Tower, bestowed by High Immortal Nan Yin.


    <i>Soul attacks?</i> Wu Yuan remained unfazed.


    The ck pagoda didn��t need to do anything. With just Sword Soul Sourcelight and the Soul Calming Golden Tower, he could withstand any soul attacks below the Earth Immortal phase.


    In the next instant, Wu Yuan struck.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A stream of earthy-yellow light appeared. Initially only a few li wide, it suddenly expanded like a canopy. Countless flying swords screeched as they shot out in all directions!


    It was as if the heavens themselves were being torn apart. Layer afteryer of frost was annihted, closing in on the cultivators.


    <i>This? Not good!</i> Gao Jin paled. As the one controlling the domain, he was most sensitive to its changes.


    Before Wu Yuan''s sword domain, Gao Jin''s ice domain crumbled pathetically.


    And one had to remember that Wu Yuan was at a mana disadvantage, which meant his Daoprehension far surpassed theirs.


    "Flee!" Gao Jin instantly retreated, intending to escape.


    The other three Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, though half a beat slower, also fled in different directions.


    "Flee?" Wu Yuan looked down.


    His Soul Will extended across an eighty-thousand-li radius.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The sword domain burgeoned, and arge number of flying swords converged, forming four blindingly bright earthy-yellow divine swords.


    "Go!" The four divine swords moved, each shing through the sky.


    Like bolts of lightning, they tore toward the fleeing Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    A momentter, the area fell still once more. The canyon was now half-copsed.


    A crimson streak of light tore through the sky, vanishing as swiftly as it had appeared.


    ...


    "Warning!"


    "Amethyst Cradle cultivator with estimatedte-stage Void Refiner power. Comparingbat imagery, the individual is likely the ninth-rank fighter, Ming Jian." In the main hall of the Voltari Temple on Battlefield 36, the monitoring division swiftly received the relevantbat imagery.


    "Monitor him closely!"


    "Ming Jian seems to have changed his outward appearance, but hisbat tactics cannot be disguised. Each time he faces a formidable opponent, he is forced to unleash his full power."


    "Track the location he showed up at." A flurry ofmands was issued, though they amounted to little more than ''monitor.''


    The Voltari Temple''s higher echelons had already given the order��so long as Ming Jian didn��t go berserk, he need not be dealt with.


    And what constituted ''berserk''? Usually, it referred to waging a ''king''s war''��leading a massive force to assault a war base.


    <i>Another batch in!</i> Wu Yuan shifted back into the guise of an elderly man in ck robes.<i> Indeed, my killing efficiency is much higher on the maind.</i>


    For powerful immortal cultivators, only their soul aura was truly unique. Outward appearances were mere illusions, changeable at will, with hardly any ws.


    To be an immortal cultivator was to be a master of transformation.


    <i>When facing Void Refiner opponents, I shouldn��t unleash my lifebound flying sword in every battle.</i> Wu Yuan decided. <i>Otherwise, there''s no challenge at all.</i>


    He partook in ughter not only to umte blood mist and earn ethercrystalurels, but also to hone himself!


    ...


    Days passed one after another.


    For ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators, venturing into the maind war zones was usually a journey of no return, with nine out of every ten perishing. Even Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses had to tread carefully.


    Yet Wu Yuan found it all rather pleasant.


    A group of Amethyst Cradle cultivators? He crushed them effortlessly.


    A single Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse? He often dispatched them using only a few dozen third-grade spirit flying swords.


    When facing three to five Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, he would typically engage them for half a day, testing out his techniques before finishing them off with first-grade spirit flying swords or his lifebound flying swords.


    In short, he swept through everything in his path, leaving a trail of carnage! None could withstand his full power. In truth, even half his strength was enough for him to dominate all foes.


    To avoid being tracked by the Immortal Court, Wu Yuan never followed a fixed route or stayed in one area. When the mood struck, he might linger, indulging in wanton ughter, or suddenly vanish and reappear thousands of li away.


    After every ten days to half a month of nonstop battle, he would retreat to the nearest war base to reflect, meditate, and quietlyprehend the Dao for a time.


    The blood mist umted, and his Daoprehension steadily improved.


    His ethercrystalurel count on the battlefield-wide leaderboard soared. After just half a year, his cumtive ethercrystalurels approached four hundred million!


    "This Ming Jian has been on a relentless killing spree."


    "He''s gone mad with bloodlust."


    "asionally, geniuses from the Origin Eldritch Field will join the battlefield, reaching the legendary or king ranks, but few have ever rampaged like him." In the Blood Eldritch Temple, the four Archimmortals and Archeldritch overseeing Battlefield 36 were shocked.


    They had been secretly observing Wu Yuan all along. But what they didn''t know was this: While the top ten peerless geniuses of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field might match Wu Yuan in raw power, most fell far short in terms of soul strength.


    In terms of enemy-hunting efficiency, none could match even a tenth of Wu Yuan��s abilities.


    ...


    Deep within a vast mountain range, a massive caverny hidden. A spirion battleship took up the entire space.


    Even if a peerless genius of the same cultivation phase tried to ambush him, they wouldn��t be able to breach the ship��s defenses in a short time.


    <i>In the meditation chamber of the battleship.</i>


    <i>Haha, it��s just as I predicted.</i>


    <i>The ck pagoda pir has begun to absorb the mist again. The Origin Blood Droplet isn''t a one-time treasure but can be continuously generated, just like blood mist. </i>Wu Yuan sat in a lotus position, sensing the activity within his upper dantian lobe.


    His heart brimmed with excitement and joy!


    If a single Origin Blood Droplet had such miraculous effects, what about two Origin Blood Droplets?


    Previously, in the outer space war zone, it had taken nearly two years for him to umte the blood mist to its saturation point, even with the assistance of Pei He and Bing Roushui.


    But this time, after just half a year of killing enemies alone on the maind, the blood mist had already reached the upper dantian lobe''s maximum capacity.


    <i>This time, the pir''s absorption rate is clearly faster. </i>Wu Yuan quickly discerned.


    He devoted a fraction of his attention to observing this process. Meanwhile, the vast majority of his mental energy remained focused on quietly deducing the profundities of the Longevity Dao, striving to break through the bottleneck of the eighth-level Domain stage.


    <i>Endless cycle of life, the source of Wood returns to one... Once I reach the ninth-level Domain stage, it won��t be long before I grasp the True Intent of the Longevity Dao.</i> Wu Yuan remained calm.


    Over the past half a year, through constant battle and contemtion,bined with the Dao Temple inheritances, his mastery of the Longevity Dao had been advancing at an astonishing pace.


    Now, with the Longevity Dao alone, Wu Yuan could rival the most elite geniuses of his age in the Origin Eldritch Field.

 Chapter 543: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (3)

    <h4>Chapter 543: Ten Years, Birth of a Monster (3)</h4>


    <i>Several dayster.</i>


    <i>Hum~</i> The second Origin Blood Droplet slowly rose from the ck pagoda pir, its mysterious aura mesmerizing to behold.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a thought, Wu Yuan directed the Origin Blood Droplet above his immensely powerful soul essence.


    <i>Drip! </i>The droplet fell, merging swiftly with his soul essence.


    <i>Boom~</i> Wu Yuan instantly felt his soul suffused with unprecedentedfort as his soul essence began to expand and transform at an rming rate.


    After what felt like an eternity, Wu Yuan''s consciousness fully awakened from that intoxicating state. His powerful Soul Will swept outward, vast and mighty.


    Everything within a 120,000-li radius fell under his perception.


    <i>This? 120,000 li? How is this possible? </i>Wu Yuan was stunned, finding it hard to believe.


    ording to his understanding, the absolute limit of one��s Soul Will perception range was a 100,000-li radius, an insurmountable boundary.


    It was an immutable rule of the workings of heaven and earth. In all the intelligence Wu Yuan had gathered, in every ancient text he had studied, there had never been a single exception.


    It was like how mortals could only live up to a thousand years at most, no matter how many treasures they consumed to extend their lifespan. Those at the Shambh phase lived a maximum of ten thousand years, and High Immortals and High Eldritches lived a million years at most.


    These were the rules of heaven and earth.


    Even Archimmortals, Archeldritches, and Astral Monarchs had to abide by the rules of heaven and earth''s workings, unable to break them.


    <i>But my Soul Will...</i> Wu Yuan��s heart trembled as he perceived everything with perfect rity.


    His current range was 120,000 li, without the slightest error!


    <i>Can the Origin Blood Droplet break the limits set by heaven and earth?</i> Wu Yuan��s mind swirled with shock and awe.


    At this moment, he truly grasped the uniqueness of the Origin Blood Droplet, something far beyond any ordinary treasure he had ever encountered.


    It was worth noting that even the Boundary Tree, a so-called legendary root establishment treasure praised by Master Kua Chi, still adhered to heaven and earth��s rules.


    <i>This means the Origin Blood Droplet is far more heaven-defying and powerful than the Boundary Tree or any so-called legendary treasures.</i>


    <i>It also suggests that even Master Kua Chi would find it nearly impossible to break the rules of heaven and earth''s workings.</i> Wu Yuan began to realize the terrifying nature of the ck pagoda.


    This was a genuine ultimate treasure. A supreme artifact.


    <i>I must keep this a secret. It is crucial for my survival. </i>Wu Yuan''s mind steadied, though cold sweat began to form on his back. <i>I��ve never revealed the existence of the ck pagoda before, and that was the right choice. Moving forward, I must be even more cautious about never letting it slip.</i>


    In the past, Wu Yuan had only thought of the ck pagoda as a mysterious treasure. He never imagined it could be so heaven-defying.


    <i>Moreover, based on what the Origin Spirit had said before, the ck pagoda in my upper dantian lobe doesn��t seem to be the true ck pagoda, yet it��s already this heaven-defying? </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>How unimaginably powerful must the true ck pagoda be?</i>


    Wu Yuan quickly weighed his options.


    <i>First, I cannot reveal the secret of the ck pagoda��s existence.</i>


    <i>Second, I cannot disclose that my Soul Will has surpassed heaven and earth��s limits. Otherwise, I won''t be able to exin it. This goes far beyond what exceptional soul talent can ount for. </i>Wu Yuan understood the vast difference between the two.


    It was like a mortal growing to two meters tall by the age of ten��that could be exined by good genes and talent. But if someone grew to a hundred meters tall by the age of ten, that went far beyond what talent alone could exin.


    Simrly, a heaven-defying High Immortal withbat prowess rivaling an Astral Lord or even an Astral Monarch was theoretically possible. But if a High Immortal lived for ten million years, that couldn''t be chalked up to talent.


    <i>I''m only at the Amethyst Cradle phase. If my soul could transform into a Yuan Soul or even split into multiple Yuan Souls, all of that could be exined by talent and fortuitous encounters. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>But for my Soul Will to have a perception range of 120,000 li before evolving into a Yuan Soul?</i>


    <i>If this were to leak out, I fear even Master Kua Chi would stop at nothing to uncover the truth. </i>Wu Yuan��s heart had fully regained its calm.


    Therefore, he had to restrain the power of his Soul Will, keeping it at the limit of 100,000 li!


    <i>Moreover, in terms of the quality of my Soul Will, it far surpasses that of ordinary ninth-stage Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.</i> Wu Yuan sensed his formidable soul power, astonishingly vast and powerful.


    As his Soul Will swept through the void, he felt the surging torrents of power behind the Material Spatial Layer more distinctly. His perception of space had deepened!


    <i>In terms of how clearly one can perceive higher spatial dimensions, I fear even the Yuan Souls of Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches would not surpass me by much. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    He truly realized the wondrous nature of the Origin Blood Droplet.


    During his youth, the blood mist had gradually transformed his body, ultimately forging an incredibly powerful physique, allowing him to establish a second-degree eldritch root.


    But the Origin Blood Droplet had gradually transformed his soul to an inconceivable level, even breaking the limits of heaven and earth''s workings.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan stood up and walked out of the spirion battleship, storing it in his storage artifact with a wave of his hand.


    <i>If a second Origin Blood Droplet can be formed, surely a third could be too! The second was already so miraculous. Once my soul merges with a third or fourth droplet, will it undergo further transformation?</i> Wu Yuan��s heart stirred with anticipation.


    Breaking the limits of heaven and earth��this was a heaven-defying opportunity that couldn��t be missed.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan burst out of the mountain range, his powerful Soul Will immediately spreading out to cover a radius of 100,000 li.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan began a new round of tempering and hunting, adhering to one principle��restraining the range of his Soul Will.


    ...


    Years passed.


    Geniuses from various top-tier factions usually roamed the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield for a few years to several decades.


    Wu Yuan had likewise roamed the maind of Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 for ten years.


    Now, twelve years had passed since he arrived at the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, and he had reached the age of seventy-two.


    During thest ten years, Wu Yuan constantly changed his appearance and relied on his powerful Soul Will to pick and choose his fights. Thus, very few powerhouses from both camps recognized him.


    However, the name Ming Jian still resounded throughout Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, and nearly allbatants who arrived there remembered his name.


    Moreover, his name spread to many other Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields.


    On the public Battlefield Ranking Leaderboard within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, his name was prominently disyed:


    First: Ming Jian, legendary-rank fighter, cumtive ethercrystalurels: 2.9 billion


    Second: Wang Jianmu, legendary-rank fighter, cumtive ethercrystalurels: 1.3 billion


    ...


    Ming Jian had not only met the requirements of a legendary-rank fighter, but far exceeded them. His cumtive ethercrystalurels were more than double that of the second ce fighter.


    In fact, among the hundred-plus legendary-rank fighters currently participating across all eighteen Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields, Wu Yuan was undisputedly first. Far ahead of the others!


    Moreover, his cumtive ethercrystalurels continued to skyrocket at a rate of two to four hundred million ethercrystalurels per year, showing no signs of stopping.


    Killing a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse only gave a reward of one million ethercrystalurels. One could only imagine how many powerhouses he had killed in over ten years.


    It had reached the point that countless powerhouses from the Immortal Court camp on Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 actively fled the maind in terror.


    "Heaven-defying."


    "This Ming Jian is too frightening."


    "Legendary-rank fighter? Even among the historical king-rank fighters, has anyone ever obtained such an outrageous cumtive ethercrystalurel count?"


    "Such frenzied killing, won''t it warp his spirit?"


    "Warp his spirit? His Dao Heart is probably as solid as bedrock, unmoved by billions of kills. Such a powerhouse, once fully grown, will be absolutely terrifying."


    "Monster!"


    "How is he killing so quickly? Historically, those who umted over two billion ethercrystalurels took thirty to a hundred years to reach that number."


    "How long did it take him?" The Earth Immortals, High Immortals, and even Archimmortals responsible for monitoring the battlefield in the Cang Feng Eldritch World were all stunned.


    "In the nearly ten billion years since the eighteen entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields were established, among the trillions ofbatants, the highest ethercrystalurel record set by our Eldritch Court��s camp is 3.1 billion."


    "That was a monstrous prodigy who cultivated for several hundred years andprehended an Intermediate Law to the sixth-level True Intent stage."


    "I wonder if Ming Jian can break this record."


    "Breaking it is just a matter of time; it all depends on whether he wants to or not." The Eldritch Court camp had reached a consensus: this Ming Jian must have an extremely powerful soul, otherwise, his killing efficiency wouldn��t be so terrifying.


    ...


    Although this matter didn��t shake the entire macrocosm, it still caused quite a stir. Many super powerhouses from the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Eternal Sun Immortal Nation began to pay attention to Ming Jian, remembering this name.


    Naturally, the Eternal Sun Immortal World paid even closer attention. The upper echelons of various factions in the macrocosm all knew that Ming Jian hailed from the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    "Who is he?"


    "Never heard of him."


    "With such strength and killing efficiency, he''s definitely one of the most monstrous prodigies and must be carefully nurtured."


    "Also, we should notify him to stop. The Voltari Temple must be frantically trying to hunt him down by now. We can��t let him die." Some super powerhouses from the Eternal Sun Immortal World discussed the matter privately. However, they still didn��t know Wu Yuan��s true identity, only able to make some educated guesses.


    After all, Ming Jian hadn��t left the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield yet, so naturally, various factions found it difficult to intervene.


    ...


    "Kill him!"


    "This is humiliating."


    "How can we allow an Amethyst Cradle cultivator to kill at will? The Eldritch Court camp��s ethercrystalurel ranking is a kill-count ranking. If he breaks the record, it represents our Voltari Temple''s ipetence!" The Astral Monarch from the Voltari Temple responsible for the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields roared.


    The Archimmortals overseeing Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 trembled.


    The moment Wu Yuan��s ethercrystalurels exceeded two billion, the Voltari Temple was immediately notified. They had abandoned their original n to leave him alone and began preparing to hunt him down again.


    Furthermore, three of the top ten strongest Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses from the Immortal Hall were dispatched to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, along with a group of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    They searched the battlefield for a full three years! Yet, in the end, they still came up empty-handed.


    Ming Jian��s whereabouts were elusive, as if he could predict the future. Each time he went on his killing sprees, he avoided these powerful hunting teams.


    No matter how angry the upper echelons of the Voltari Temple were, they could only suppress it.


    ...


    <i>The maind of Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36.</i>


    Hundreds of li underground, beneath an unremarkable grass in, a spirion battleship was docked.


    <i>When the eleventh Origin Blood Droplet merged with my soul, my soul seemed to reach the limit of growth.</i> Wu Yuan sat quietly on the jade tform.


    A hint of anticipation stirred in his heart.


    <i>Will the twelfth Origin Blood Droplet allow my Soul Will to break through and transition to the Yuan Soul level?</i>

 Chapter 544: Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribulation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 544: Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion (1)</h4>


    For ten years, Wu Yuan rampaged through the maind of Battlefield 36, but he wasn��t driven by the pursuit of ethercrystalurels. His sole objective was to umte blood mist to its saturation point repeatedly, forming Origin Blood Droplets.


    The ck pagoda''s stone pir never failed him, generating the droplets each time without exception.


    The first ten Origin Blood Droplets transformed Wu Yuan''s soul over and over again, expanding his perception range from over a hundred thousand li to over five hundred thousand li.


    By the time the eleventh droplet was formed, it seemed as though his Soul Will''s perception range had reached its upper limit. Even as his soul continued to strengthen, the range remained at 550,000 li, though it did enhance his rity in perceiving higher spatial dimensions.


    <i>Soul Will perception range of 550,000 li. In the grand scheme of things, this might be another limit imposed by the workings of heaven and earth</i>. Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    After breaking through the original Soul Will perception limit of 100,000 li, Wu Yuan, upon calming down from his initial shock and excitement, made a preliminary judgment: having broken through the first shackle of the workings of heaven and earth, he would likely soon face the second shackle.


    <i>As long as one is born in heaven and earth, without having reached the legendary Nirvana phase, one remains bound by these constraints</i>. Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>It��s just that,pared to countless immortal cultivators in history, I''ve shattered one more constraint.</i>


    Thus, when he continued his ughter and condensed the twelfth droplet, Wu Yuan understood that he was faced with two possible paths.


    One path was to break through the Soul Will shackle, evolving his soul into a higher-level Yuan Soul.


    The other path was for his Soul Will to surpass heaven and earth��s limit once more, continuing to expand��six hundred thousand, seven hundred thousand li��until he reached another of the heaven and earth''s boundaries.


    <i>This act of breaking through the limitations of heaven and earth is both an opportunity and a tribtion.</i> Wu Yuan vaguely realized.


    He firmly recalled what the Origin Spirit had said: to gain something, one must lose something; the world is always fair.


    <i>I know nothing about the Origin Blood Droplets or the ck pagoda. All I can do is seize every opportunity to strengthen myself.</i> Wu Yuan was clear on this point. <i>As my strength grows, all veils will fall away</i>.


    <i>Drip</i>~ The twelfth Origin Blood Droplet fell onto Wu Yuan''s soul, spreading through his soul essence like ink in water, causing his entire being to radiate waves of blood-colored light.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Like the final straw that breaks the camel''s back, or the bucket of water that breaches a dam, when the power of the Origin Blood fully permeated Wu Yuan''s soul essence, it began to boil.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Endless blood-colored light erupted from Wu Yuan''s soul essence, blooming with boundless, magnificent radiance.


    Simultaneously, waves of strange soul light spread out in all directions��twelve in all.


    <i>What?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly surprised, feeling the waves of scorching light spreading out. But he didn��t act rashly, simply observing the process.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The waves of soul light converged, and then Wu Yuan''s soul essence began to undergo a strange transformation. The once unified soul essence began to split mysteriously.


    In his upper dantian lobe, twelve soul essences bearing Wu Yuan��s likeness materialized, each with a different form.


    One Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position, a faint smile on his face, resembling a great sage who hadprehended the ways of the world.


    Another seemed to be holding an indistinct saber, like a cavalier from the martial world.


    Another appeared to be lying on the ground, snoring loudly.


    Yet another had a face contorted in pain, as if experiencing some great suffering.


    One more beamed with happiness, utterly immersed in it.


    In the blink of an eye, twelve soul Wu Yuans were fully formed. They appeared like separate entities, yet they were subtly connected, forming aplete whole. Together, they constituted Wu Yuan''splete soul essence.


    <i>Twelve forms. All forms are me.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension had approached that of a High Immortal, and with a strong Dao Heart and vast knowledge, he instantly realized that these twelve soul essence avatars represented twelve different experiences and emotions from his life.


    The satisfaction ofprehending the Dao, the unrestrained thrill of ughter, the pain and helplessness of facing the death of loved ones, the happiness of bonding with family and friends... As these thoughts took hold, countless memories from the past surged into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Boom! </i>The myriad emotions he had suppressed throughout his life could no longer be contained. Like a flood breaching a dam, theypletely engulfed Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    Externally, Wu Yuan sat in a lotus position.


    Meanwhile, within the upper dantian lobe, the twelve soul consciousnesses were immersed in different illusory realms.


    ...


    <i>The supreme Dao is without form, yet it is the source of all that exists. The true Dao cannot be confined to any single definition, for it defies verbal description.</i> Wu Yuan felt as if he had be an ascetic, a Daoprehender.


    He wandered across the vast earth, observing the changes of heaven and earth, experiencing the vicissitudes of the human world, personally perceiving, touching, andprehending the operation of the vast Dao in the world. It was truly marvelous.


    To hear of the Dao in the morning is to die content at nightfall��Wu Yuan waspletely immersed in this sensation of deciphering the profundities of heaven and earth,prehending the intricacies of the Great Dao, unable to extricate himself.


    One year, two years, three years... Whether it was fame or fortune, the positions of generals or ministers, all these became passing clouds in his eyes, not worth a fraction of the Great Dao��s importance.


    <i>My heart is devoted to the Dao; the Dao is me. </i>Wu Yuan was wholly absorbed in it.


    ...


    <i>Once I enter the martial world, tears well up; Roaming to the ends of the earth, I shall not return. </i>Another of Wu Yuan''s soul essences unknowingly transformed into a cavalier of the martial world.


    Here, there were no qi refining or body refining secret arts, only martial arts!


    Wu Yuan became a peerless saber master, roaming the vastnds with his long saber by his side. He traveled across thousands of li, traversing rivers and mountains.


    When he desired a drink, he indulged with abandon, making friends along the way.


    When he encountered injustice, he drew his saber and rose to action. Offending a major sect? Kill!


    Kill until the wealthy and powerful trembled, kill until great sects were exterminated, kill until the evil in the martial world disappeared... He believed not in worldly fairness, but in the moral scale within his heart. If something didn��t conform to this scale, he killed without hesitation.


    Immersed in the martial world, free and unfettered, Wu Yuan seemed to forget his past, losing himself in this new lifestyle.


    ...


    <i>Kill! Kill! Kill... Heaven and earth is unfair, I will tear heaven and earth asunder. </i>Here, Wu Yuan transformed into a terrifying devil.


    This was his heart of ughter, his devilish thoughts and desires. With no other thoughts or emotions to suppress them, his killing intent erupted without restraint.


    He killed beyond the world, until heaven and earth lost color and the sun and moon dimmed. Countless living beings fell under his de.


    Unlike the cavalier who drew his de for justice, this Wu Yuan was consumed by a devilish killing intent��killing simply for the sake of killing. He walked the path of ughter, nurturing a heart steeped in blood.


    ...


    In arge vi, a gentle and quiet intellectual woman oversaw the nanny and chef as they carefully prepared dinner.


    "Little Yuan, you''re back," the woman, appearing to be in her early thirties, turned around, her faint smile warm as she looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s heart trembled.


    "Uncle! Uncle! You''re finally back! Where have you been these past years?" A four or five-year-old girl, wearing a white princess dress with cheeks still plump with baby fat, came bouncing down the stairs.


    "Uncle, take me flying! I want to fly." She grabbed Wu Yuan''s arm and started swinging it yfully.


    "Sister, Little Lu," Wu Yuan whispered, stunned.


    His eyes moistened as long-sealed memories surged into his mind like a tidal wave. Decades had passed, and Wu Yuan thought he had long forgotten, but now, faced with this scene, he realized he had never forgotten.


    Never!


    The sister who had supported and raised him, and his adorable niece��they were once the people he protected with all his heart.


    <i>Zhuangzi''s butterfly dream? Was I just in a grand dream?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, already feeling right at home in this environment. This was the life he had once dreamed of.


    "Mother! Little Yi," a young Wu Yuan called as he walked through the bustling streets of Li City, carrying his young sister on his back.


    "Dear, look, Little Yuan has grown up; he can carry Little Yi now," a gentle woman smiled, tugging the sleeve of the man beside her.


    "Haha, indeed! Our Little Yuan has grown up. He will surely be a powerful martial artist in the future," the burly manughed heartily, his face bright with pride.


    Wu Yuan grinned, starting to jog as he shouted, "Little Yi, we''re flying! Taking off!"


    As he ran, his eyes moistened.


    Wu Yuan was never just Wu Yuan of the Blue; his soul also incorporated the memories of that young man from the Middle Land. They were equally a part of him.


    Deep in his heart, there was a longing for his father and a desire for his family''s happiness.


    The death of his father in battle was the greatest regret and sorrow buried deep within the memories of the Middle Land''s Wu Yuan.


    But in this world, there was no sh between Cloudstride and Great Jin, no raging fires of war, no great cmities��only the warmth of family.


    ...


    Twelve versions of Wu Yuan, twelve different forms, fell intopletely distinct illusory realms almost simultaneously. Each illusory realm targeted the most fundamental desires and weaknesses of the different avatars, fulfilling them in such a way that made them unwilling to awaken.


    One by one, the twelve avatars gradually sumbed. Wu Yuan was alsopletely immersed.


    <i>To be human is to have desires and weaknesses. </i>


    <i>To be human is to have the most primal kinds of longings. </i>


    <i>A strong Dao Heart and unshakable determination only exist because one hasn''t encountered something that can shatter the Dao Heart. </i>Threads of Wu Yuan''s consciousness struggled to resist.


    Though he wasn''t clear on what he was about to face, his instincts told him that he couldn''t sumb to it��he had to stay awake. If he kept sinking deeper until those threads of determinationpletely dissipated, it would likely be the end of each avatar.


    And when the twelve avatars dissipated, it would mean death.


    However, breaking free was too difficult. The illusory environments were too real, unbelievably real��they were his most heartfelt desires.


    <i>Twelve avatars, twelve illusory realms, isn''t this what I''ve been pursuing?</i>


    <i>Let go of the self. These dreams that might take ages to achieve are all being realized one by one. How is this different from reality?</i> Wu Yuan''s avatars were equally unwilling to leave these illusory realms.


    When an illusion was perfected, it became no different from reality.


    One day, two days, three days in the world outside might be one year, two years, three years, or even decades in the illusory realms. The flow of time in the illusory realms where the twelve avatars resided was drastically different.


    As for Wu Yuan, adding up his past and present lives, how long had he lived in total? Not even a hundred years! His consciousness was already starting to blur, increasingly unable to distinguish between illusion and reality.


    Time passed.


    In the world outside, several months had gone by.


    ...


    "There''s no trace of Ming Jian. Where did he go? There have been no more killings, and nothing on the monitoring array."


    "Could he have left the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield?" The Archimmortals and Archdeities of the Immortal Court camp wondered.


    However, the four Archeldritches and Archimmortals in the Blood Eldritch Temple knew very well that Ming Jian hadn''t left; it was just that he hadn''t deactivated the monitoring function of the voidrealm jade, so they didn''t know his specific situation. They could only confirm that Ming Jian was still alive and still on the maind.


    "Could he be in seclusion for a breakthrough?"


    "He should know the rules��he can''t advance to the Void Refiner phase, or he''d be directly removed from the battlefield."


    "Isn''t he allowed to have a breakthrough in Daoprehension?"


    "He��s already invincible on the battlefield. If he breaks through in Daoprehension, who knows how terrifying he��ll be."

 Chapter 545: Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribulation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 545: Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion (2)</h4>


    Heaven and earth was vast, the macrocosm boundless. Yet, no one knew that Wu Yuan was facing a terrible tribtion. Even his body refiner self could only vaguely sense it, powerless to help.


    This was a tribtion! To gain, one must pay.


    For most immortal cultivators, when their soul level advanced from Soul Will to Yuan Soul, the process was a straightforward breakthrough without special trials. But for those who defied the limits of heaven and earth, the price was enormous.


    If it were someone of Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s level, having lived through endless ages, they would naturally understand that this was a legendary type of tribtion �C Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion!


    A sword was sharpened on a whetstone. Without an absolutely strong Dao Heart and unwavering will, one was not worthy of wielding the terrifying power granted through Apotheosis.


    Only a strong heart could harness such power. Only by oveing the tribtion could one continue to advance toward the next stage after Apotheosis.


    If one failed to ovee the tribtion? Then they would be reduced to ashes.


    ...


    <i>Deep underground of Battlefield 36, in the meditation chamber of the spirion battleship.</i>


    Wu Yuan sat in a lotus position, his vital aura dangerously feeble, as if a powerful life had lost its spirit. When the soul dissipated, the body naturally died.


    At this moment, in his upper dantian lobe, Wu Yuan''s twelve avatars each had extremely weak auras.


    The Daoprehender sat quietly on the mountainside of a towering peak, overlooking a world of twinkling lights below. A gentle breeze caressed his skin.


    <i>So, this is the end of Daoprehension. Is this the true nature of the profundities of heaven and earth? How blissful. In this vastnd, perhaps no one else canprehend the principles of heaven and earth to my level. </i>Wu Yuan''s face lit up with happiness.


    This was the contentment of believing he had fullyprehended the Great Dao.


    <i>Six hundred years of time, six hundred years ofprehending the Dao. I immersed myself in contemtion, deciphering all profundities. If I so wished, I couldpletely reshape this world and turn it into my ideal world.</i> Wu Yuan had reached an unimaginable level ofprehension.


    He calmly observed this world.


    Six hundred years of Daoprehension.


    <i>What a pity! It''s all illusory in the end.</i> A mysterious smile appeared on Wu Yuan''s face.


    <i>Everything is false. I pursue the Dao to fully grasp the principles of heaven and earth, and I enjoy the process of contemting the Dao. But what my heart truly desires has never been Daoprehension itself. This illusion cannot rece my true abilities.</i>


    <i>Moreover, the Daoprehended here is ultimately illusory! </i>Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The world he had lived in for six hundred years crumbled, transforming into countless memory streams that poured into Wu Yuan''s soul avatar.


    ...


    <i>I killed until corpses piled high like mountains and blood flowed like seas. I killed until heaven and earth turned crimson.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s towering figure sat on a majestic throne, dressed in blood-red robes, radiating endless killing intent as he looked down upon the blood-colored world below.


    Even heaven and earth faintly took on a blood-red hue.


    <i>Killing was never the goal. It''s just a means.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was clear. <i>Killing is not my desire. Whether I kill trillions of beings or destroy world after world, nothing can shake my spirit.</i>


    <i>My spirit has never been controlled by primitive desires for killing.</i>


    <i>When I feel killing is necessary, no one can stop my saber.</i>


    <i>When I feel killing is unnecessary, even if ten thousand people despise me, I will still leave with a smile.</i>


    <i>The heart of ughter is not my true heart; it cannot control me.</i>


    <i>Rumble~ </i>This world of bloodshed shattered.


    ...


    And so, the heart of Daoprehension, the heart of ughter, the heart of lust, the heart of gluttony, the heart ofziness��various illusions stemming from Wu Yuan''s experiences began to shatter, and his soul aura strengthened rapidly.


    His vital aura was also quickly recovering.


    All hearts contained good thoughts, evil thoughts, and devilish thoughts. Each being had ambitions andziness. Countless desires intertwined to form a living, breathing existence.


    All living beings had desires and emotions. Without desires and emotions, that wasn��t life, but a rock.


    In the vast heaven and earth, it is precisely because living beings had desires and emotions that they became malicious and evil. Yet, it also led to their diverse natures.


    <i>How one turns out depends entirely on their inner heart. Those with strong hearts don''t eliminate their desires but control them! They harness each desire, harness the impulses in their hearts.</i>


    <i>Only thus can one''s inner heart remain unshakable. Only thus can the spirit be radiant and immortal through endless years.</i>


    Why was it so difficult for most Archimmortals to achieve true immortality? The most crucial reason was that their spirits couldn''t withstand the erosion of endless years. As they grew weary, their Dao Hearts would ultimately copse and perish.


    They didn''t die from external causes, but from within.


    Time was a knife that killed without a trace.


    Only the strongest Dao Heart could withstand being worn down over time, tracing back to the birth of time itself, and glimpsing the final endpoint of time...


    Illusions shattered one after another. Finally, only three remained.


    <i>The heart of strength, the heart of familial love...</i> As the other illusions were shattered, Wu Yuan could clearly perceive that the final three illusions were false.


    One illusion was the constant pursuit of strength, the chase for greater power, different from the heart of Daoprehension or the heart of ughter.


    The heart of Daoprehension was about seeking knowledge; the heart of ughter was about releasing one��s repressed thoughts of violence.


    One illusion was the scene of his previous life, apanying his sister as she aged, watching his niece grow up, marry, and have children...


    One illusion was the scene of a perfect, happy family from his current life. He was trapped in happiness, unable to extricate himself...


    These were the most difficult illusions to break, the most terrifying obsessions deep within Wu Yuan''s heart. They formed the driving force of Wu Yuan''s Dao Heart.


    However, there are two sides to every coin; motivation could also be shackles. If one acted out of emotion, one could also be constrained by emotion.


    Year after year, it became increasingly difficult for Wu Yuan to break free from these frighteningly strong shackles, the bindings growing ever tighter.


    The moment he lost himselfpletely in these illusions, it would trigger a chain reaction.


    Of the twelve avatars, if even one avatar couldn''t awaken from their illusion, it would ultimately lead to an imperfect soul and a scattered Dao Heart.


    This was the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion��a de of heaven that struck at the greatest monstrous prodigies.


    Days passed in the world outside. Yet, Wu Yuan remained trapped in the three illusions. Even though he was aware that everything before him was false, he was still unwilling to leave.


    They were just too real, and he was too content. This was what he had pursued for nearly a hundred years across his past and present lives, yet still hadn''t achieved.


    <i>Lose myself? It''s just... I really... don''t want to leave!</i>


    In the illusion of the Blue, Wu Yuan and his sister had both grown somewhat old, and their family was a peaceful and happy one.


    Another Spring Festival had arrived.


    Wu Yuan sat on the sofa, watching his sister, who despite having a nanny, still busied herself in the kitchen.


    Watching the group of children ying andughing, a smile appeared on Wu Yuan''s lips.


    He went to his sister in the kitchen.


    "Little Yuan, go sit down. It''ll be ready soon," his sister smiled gently.


    Even though they had grown old, she still called Wu Yuan ''Little Yuan.''


    "Sis, after I leave, I��m guessing you��ll miss me a lot, won��t you?" Wu Yuan suddenly smiled.


    "What are you talking about? Where are you going?" his sisterughed.


    "Sis, actually, I''ve always missed you too. I missed you so much." Wu Yuan smiled as he looked at his sister, whose hair had begun to gray.


    Faint tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.


    "Little Yuan, what''s wrong with you today? Are you sick?" His sister put down herdle, looking at Wu Yuan with apparent confusion.


    "Sis, actually, I have so many things I want to tell you."


    "It''s just... you''re ultimately not real." Wu Yuan spoke gently to his sister, who looked somewhat flustered and at a loss.


    "Thank you for these decades."


    "Sis, when I was little, I always made you worry. I didn''t expect to suddenly disappear when I turned twenty-something and make you sad again."


    "What��s false can''t rece what��s real."


    "But I''ve heard that legendary great beings can trace the past in higher spacetime dimensions, reversing the flow of time... One day, I will definitely, definitely reach Master''s level, and even surpass it!" Wu Yuan said calmly, yet with unshakeable conviction.


    "I will make all of this real."


    "Real!" Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, his face covered in tears.


    Boom~


    It wasn��t just this illusion. The avatars in the other illusions were experiencing a simr situation.


    Silently, the three illusions dissipated simultaneously. The twelve avatars fully merged, and Wu Yuan''s soul immediately began to undergo an unprecedented transformation.


    <i>Rumble~</i> His soul began to expand, and his Soul Will��s range increased rapidly.


    Apart from Wu Yuan''s soul, his Dao Heart and will began to transform, growing stronger.


    <i>A hundred years of past and present lives, constantly tempering and reflecting on myself, along with countless acts of ughter. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was incredibly calm.


    <i>The strength of my Dao Heart was originally close to or evenparable to many Earth Immortals.</i>


    But now?


    The twelve illusions were false, yet they were also real experiences. Tens of thousands of years'' worth of tempering had been umted through these trials, each targeting the desires of the human heart.


    <i>Now, even trials meant to test the Dao Heart of High Immortals wouldn''t be able to shake me in the slightest.</i> Wu Yuan''s inner heart was serene.


    His soul expanded rapidly, pushing against an invisible boundary until it finally reached a certain limit.


    Strands of radiance began to emanate from his soul essence, and Wu Yuan felt his Soul Will''s perception range surge.


    One million li, two million li, three million li...


    <i>Yuan Soul radiance!</i> Wu Yuan understood. He realized that his soul had finally stepped into a level that many Earth Immortals took tens of thousands of years to achieve��Yuan Soul!


    A level that truly seized control from heaven and earth.


    <i>Even after reaching the Yuan Soul level, many Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches, can generally only perceive a range of one million li at first, reaching three million li upon perfecting their Yuan Soul. </i>Wu Yuan''s Soul Will spread out in a sh, then quickly retracted. <i>Yet my Yuan Soul has a range of 3.6 million li from the beginning.</i>


    It could be said that, in terms of soul strength alone, Wu Yuan could already rival many Earth Immortals. This wasn��t just because of the Origin Blood Droplet. It was more because Wu Yuan had passed the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion.


    Wu Yuan was also beginning to truly understand the meaning of ''external objects are only aids.'' One could only rely on oneself to ovee tribtions and tests. If he had failed this tribtion, he would still have died, even with the ck pagoda.


    <i>My heart cannot be shaken. I will realize everything in the illusions.</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself, thest traces of tears vanishing from his eyes.


    As Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul transformation waspleted, strands of Yuan Soul power began to prate through the narrow entrance above the Amethyst Cradle, probing into the ethereal and unfathomable Destiny Voidscape, and sensing the Voidspace he had opened.


    The Voidspace was the source, while the soul was the root.


    <i>Boom~</i> With the influx of surging power from the Yuan Soul, the Voidspace, which had theoretically reached its limit, began a new round of frenzied expansion.


    Three hundred li, three hundred and thirty li, three hundred and sixty li... the Voidspace continued to expand, slowly but steadily.


    This expansion was not supported by any external objects, driven solely by Wu Yuan''s powerful Yuan Soul.


    Like a strong man effortlessly pushing a wall of mud that seemed immovable to a child, the process was smooth and easy.


    <i>Soul Will cannot budge the Voidspace, but a Yuan Soul can sense higher virtual dimensions��a qualitative change.</i> Wu Yuan grasped this crucial point.


    Time passed.


    In the vast, unfathomable Surface Void Layer of the Destiny Voidscape, the small Voidspace opened by Wu Yuan slowly expanded.


    After what felt like an eternity, Wu Yuan''s Voidspace finally reached its limit��550 li!


    This seemed like a constraint of heaven and earth. No matter how hard Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul power pushed, it couldn''t surpass this boundary.


    As the Voidspace reached its limit, those mysterious purple strands of power caused the Amethyst Cradleke, which had already reached the peak of the second-degree immortal root, to begin expanding frantically.


    Strands of even purer Amethyst Cradle mana gushed from theke''s center.


    <i>Amethyst Cradle transformation?</i>

 Chapter 546: First-Degree Immortal Root (1)

    <h4>Chapter 546: First-Degree Immortal Root (1)</h4>


    <i>Is this a further evolution of the amethyst cradle, or have I truly upgraded it to a first-degree immortal root?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty and excitement.


    Wu Yuan understood that seemingly equivalent immortal roots could possess subtle differences. While he was confident in the strength of his Voidspace, he dared not im to have reached the limit of a second-degree immortal root.


    Soon, however, the changes in his amethyst cradle space left Wu Yuan with no doubt.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Initially, just a few strands of purified mana emerged from the center of the amethyst cradleke, but as streams of purple energy from the expanded Voidspace seeped into the amethyst cradle space, it rapidly underwent a dramatic transformation.


    <i>The Voidspace is evolving, nourishing the amethyst cradle and transforming the immortal root.</i> Wu Yuan realized, both awed and overwhelmed.


    He had envisioned his breakthrough to a first-degree immortal root many times, aware of the numerous challenges involved. Even Master Kua Chi would find it difficult to provide direct assistance.


    A first-degree immortal root represented a pinnacle of life''s evolution, an incredibly difficult threshold to cross.


    From what Wu Yuan knew, most of his senior brothers and sisters only achieved this breakthrough at the Earth Immortal or Earth Eldritch phase.


    In fact, a few senior brothers and sisters hadn��t managed to break through even when facing their Immortal Tribtions, attempting them with only a second-degree immortal root.


    The earlier one broke through, the greater the benefits.


    <i>I wonder if any of Master''s disciples upgraded their immortal roots to the first degree at the Amethyst Cradle phase</i>. Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    He couldn��t be entirely certain, given that over the long ages, the Cang Feng Eldritch World had seen cultivators with innate first-degree immortal roots.


    Upgrading to a first-degree immortal root at the Amethyst Cradle phase? It was undoubtedly rare, but perhaps not unheard of.


    <i>Regardless, at least in this aspect, I''m among the forerunners of my thousand-plus senior brothers and sisters.</i> Wu Yuan allowed himself a small smile.


    In the decades sinceing under his Master''s tutge, Wu Yuan had never dared to cken his efforts, even with tremendous progress in the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao.


    While he might be considered top-tier among the current generation of prodigies, too many monstrous prodigies had emerged throughout history.


    Only now did Wu Yuan dare to think that, in terms of upgrading his immortal root to the first degree, he was among the fastest in the long river of the macrocosm''s history.


    However, what Wu Yuan didn''t know was that the most astounding aspect wasn��t the first-degree immortal root. It was the evolution of the Yuan Soul.


    The immortal root? It was merely a byproduct of the Voidspace''s evolution.


    <i>Hum~</i> Mysterious energies began spontaneously remodeling Wu Yuan''s amethyst cradle space, deepening and expanding the amethyst cradleke. The Amethyst Cradle mana grew increasingly powerful.


    <i>This feels wonderful. </i>Wu Yuan genuinely felt waves offort wash over him as his entire amethyst cradle space rapidly expanded to its limit.


    Theke formed by Amethyst Cradle mana also reached its limit��550 li in diameter.


    Wu Yuan vaguely understood that the amethyst cradleke he controlled had reached its current maximum size.


    It was just as how a Soul Will range of 550,000 li was a kind of limit under the operation of heaven and earth''s rules, difficult to surpass.


    <i>Indeed, as the legends say, the size of the Voidspace determines the size of the amethyst cradleke it can project. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Therger the amethyst cradleke, the more mana it could umte.


    The higher the degree of immortal root, the purer and more abundant the mana, leading to an increase in both quality and quantity.


    <i>Now, in terms of mana capacity alone, the gap between me and an ordinary first-stage Void Refiner cultivator is small, just a difference of one or two stages.</i> Wu Yuan smiled.


    To fight above one''s cultivation level, a strong immortal root was essential. Otherwise, the disparity in mana could be tens or hundreds of times greater. Even with superior Daoprehension, victory would be difficult.


    Earth Immortals, with their powerful and abundant mana, could casually unleash an arcane art that engulfed everything in 100,000 li without requiring profound Daoprehension.


    How terrifying was that? No matter how formidable an Amethyst Cradle cultivator might be, faced with a thousandfold mana difference, they would be instantly reduced to ash.


    <i>My immortal root has reached perfection</i>. Wu Yuan''s soul essence, residing in his upper dantian lobe, could feel the nourishing power from the amethyst cradleke.


    His spirit grew increasingly at ease, and even his soul seemed to grow stronger as the Amethyst Cradle mana surged into his meridians throughout his body.


    <i>Rumble~</i> As Wu Yuan limated to his first-degree immortal root, streams of heaven and earth''s power suddenly manifested around his body, initiating a direct transformation of his physical form.


    A mysterious aura instantly enveloped Wu Yuan.


    <i>What''s this? </i>Wu Yuan swiftly noticed countless mysterious Dao patterns forming on his flesh at the particle level.


    Starting from the flesh in his limbs, it rapidly reached his waist and abdomen, then extended directly to his head and brain. The entire transformation seemed gradual, but in reality, it progressed very quickly,pleting the transformation of Wu Yuan''s entire body in just over ten breaths.


    Wu Yuan was powerless to stop this change.


    This transformation didn��t simply strengthen his body, but seemed like a bestowal from the heavens, a gift from the essence of the Dao. A kind of favor granted to the newly born first-degree immortal root.


    <i>My perception of Wood''s Essence has be much clearer. </i>Wu Yuan had experienced simr changes before, thus he realized it in just a few breaths.


    His heart filled with excitement. <i>The core change is in the Wood Origin Dao!</i>


    <i>My body can now be called a Wood Origin Dao Body.</i>


    The Longevity Dao epassed three Lesser Laws��Eternal Spring, Spiritual Evolution, and Wood Origin.


    The Wood Origin Dao Body was a Lesser Dao Body.


    <i>ording to the information I''ve gathered, even if one upgrades their immortal root to the first degreeter in life, it''s impossible to nurture a Dao Body if there are innate deficiencies. Yet I''ve cultivated a Wood Origin Dao Body. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with confusion. <i>Could it be... because I upgraded it at the Amethyst Cradle phase?</i>


    While a Lesser Dao Body couldn��tpare to an Intermediate Dao Body, it was still incredibly rare. Any Dao Body represented immense potential.


    Wu Yuan pondered deeply on Master Kua Chi''s words �C the earlier the breakthrough, the greater the benefits.


    <i>No matter. Whatever the reason, being able to break through is a great benefit.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes held a hint of anticipation. <i>In terms of Dao Body potential, my qi refiner self indeed can''tpare to my body refiner self. My body refiner self has alreadyprehended the second-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao.</i>


    Indeed, over the decade, his body refiner self had broken through to the second-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao while in secluded cultivation.


    This rate of progress was incredibly terrifying.


    In the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, even the top dozen or so Amethyst Cradle prodigies were mostly stuck at the third-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law after cultivating for three to four hundred years.


    Of course, this was inseparable from Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self constantly tempering himself through battles.


    The consciousness of his two true selves was linked. When his qi refiner self applied the Celestial Body Dao in battle, it was equivalent to his body refiner self tempering himself.


    <i>Now, with Wood Origin Dao as the core, and my soul and the power of Faith as support, even if the Dao Body''s potential is somewhat inferior, myprehension of the Longevity Dao won''t be much slower than that of the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan was full of confidence.


    Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, spreading out his powerful Yuan Soul. Of course, he maintained it within a 100,000 li range.


    <i>My Yuan Soul might notpare to High Immortals, but it''s far stronger than ordinary Earth Immortals. </i>Wu Yuan felt he could thoroughlyprehend all the profundities within the Material Spatial Layer in a range of 100,000 li.


    He perceived the various powers of heaven and earth, alongside a multitude of Dao fluctuations formed by the workings of heaven and earth, converging into different insights.


    <i>No wonder they say that once a cultivator reaches the Yuan Soul level,prehending the various Daos of heaven and earth bes increasingly easy. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Perceiving the profundities of heaven and earth with a Yuan Soul was countless times clearer than with a Yang Soul or Soul Will; they simply weren��t on the same level.


    <i>Now, even if I were toprehend some of the Lesser Laws under the Fire Dao, Metal Dao, Thunder Dao, and others, I could probably grasp their basic profundities quickly. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    He now understood why Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches could step into the threshold of Intermediate Laws rtively easily.


    With a strong enough Yuan Soul, the difficulty of perceiving and deducing the profundities of heaven and earth drastically decreased.


    <i>What''scking in one aspect is made up for in another; crossing the initiate threshold is easy, but reaching profound levels is extremely difficult. </i>Wu Yuan marveled at these various Daos, but wouldn��t pursue them.


    For his qi refiner self,prehending the Longevity Dao was the right path.


    With a thought, the power of his Yuan Soul grew within the 100,000 li range, quickly sensing the surging power concealed behind the Material Spatial Layer��the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    With a soft hiss, Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul prated the higher spatial dimension on his first attempt.


    The stability of the Material Spatial Layer was reced by the chaotic turmoil of the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, where countless spatial fragments shed, dispersing infinite forces like a tempestuous river in perpetual motion.


    His Yuan Soul could only cling to the surface of this dimension, unable to venture deeper.


    Wu Yuan knew that if he dared to dive deeper into the higher spatial dimension, the immense force generated by the collision of spatial fragments would easily tear his Yuan Soul apart.


    <i>The power of the Yuan Soul is ultimately ��virtual��, easily permeating the Destiny Voidscape, but prating into higher spatial dimensions? It��s difficult.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    To truly explore these higher dimensions, it would be more reliable to rely on one��s mana and physical form��things constituted by matter, grounded in ��reality��.


    <i>Still, the extraordinary sensation of merely brushing against the surface of this spatial dimension is unlike anything I��ve ever experienced.</i>


    The rity of spatial fluctuations here was a hundred times greater than in the Material Spatial Layer.


    <i>No wonder they say that only Earth Immortals have a chance ofprehending the profundities of Space.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    It was like trying to swim; even with perfect talent, physique, and lung capacity, if one couldn''t touch water, it would be impossible to learn.


    Only by cultivating a Yuan Soul did one even qualify to attempt this.


    <i>My aptitude for the Space Dao may not be the strongest. </i>Wu Yuan thought, feeling a spark of excitement.<i> But with my powerful Yuan Soul, my perception of Space��s essence is already quite clear. I now have the qualification toprehend the Law of Space.</i>


    He knew progress might be slow, but the fact that he had gained this qualification was a significant step forward.


    <i>From now on, I''ll use eighty percent of my energy to continue deducing the Longevity Dao, and twenty percent toprehend the Law of Space, starting from the aspect of True Spatial Domain.</i> Wu Yuan analyzed.


    Theplete Space Dao was a Greater Law, immensely powerful and slightly stronger than even Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and the rest. And it, too, was divided into numerous Intermediate Laws and Lesser Laws.


    Wu Yuan did not expect to master the Space Dao in a short time; that was too unrealistic. However, he remembered the True Spatial Domain Tome that he handed to his Master for safekeeping. If he were to receive that inheritance in the future,prehending the True Spatial Domain Dao would naturally be much easier.


    <i>I��ll give it a try for now. </i>He resolved. O<i>nce I''ve gained some insights into the Space Dao, I''ll then attempt to decipher the cryptic patterns on the silver sphere. </i>Wu Yuan kept his original intention firmly in mind.


    His ultimate goal inprehending the Space Dao was to decipher the cryptic patterns on the silver sphere��s surface and then pass his Master''s test.

 Chapter 547: First-Degree Immortal Root (2)

    <h4>Chapter 547: First-Degree Immortal Root (2)</h4>


    Time flowed on.


    After breaking through to the Yuan Soul level and upgrading his immortal root, Wu Yuan didn''t rush to continue killing but instead cultivated at a steady pace.


    Sharpening the axe doesn��t dy the chopping of wood.


    Wu Yuan adapted to his newly upgraded immortal root, reattempting various arcane arts and cryptic patterns. Simultaneously, he strove with all his might toprehend the Longevity Dao, attempting to break through to the True Intent stage.


    After ten years of tempering on the maind, he made progress in both the Celestial Body Dao and the Longevity Dao, which was currently at the ninth-level Domain stage, just a hair''s breadth away from the True Intent stage.


    With this transformation of his Yuan Soul and the establishment of the Wood Origin Dao Body, Wu Yuan naturally yearned toplete the breakthrough in one go.


    Moreover, his qi refiner self once again visited the Eldritch Court''s Dao Temple through the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, receiving another round of inheritance of the Longevity Dao.


    In the blink of an eye, several more months passed.


    In the meditation chamber of the spirion battleship, Wu Yuan was surrounded by streaks of mottled green light.


    <i>I''ve even gained some insights into the profundities of the Space Dao, but I''m still stuck at the limit of the ninth-level Domain stage of Longevity, unable to break through.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly and opened his eyes.


    Despite his utmost efforts, he was just one step short, but this single step was an insurmountable chasm��visible, yet impossible to cross.


    <i>Back then, my body refiner self fought hundreds of battles against opponents of the same level, tempering myself for years before breaking through</i>. Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>My qi refiner self''s talent has improved, with the enhancements of the soul and Faith power, but it''s on par with my body refiner self at most.</i>


    <i>If the two work in istion, I might not be able to break through even after ten years. </i>


    Breaking through major bottlenecks was extremely arduous, requiring not just the so-called aptitude brought about by a Dao Body but also the impetus of the inner heart brought about by various experiences.


    If one could be an Archimmortal by burying oneself in cultivation, there wouldn''t be so many immortal cultivators risking their lives on dangerous expeditions.


    Thinking of this, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but recall the various illusions his twelve avatars experienced. During those repeated immersions, he struggled to prevent the copse of his Dao Heart and avoid losing himself. In the end, he had managed to endure it.


    <i>It was a tribtion, but also an opportunity, transforming my spirit and forging an unshakable Dao Heart and will. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>And now, if I want toprehend the True Intent of Longevity, I need a simr kind of impetus, be it in spirit or Dao. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his spirit, clearing away the sense of defeat from failing to break through.


    This was the path of immortal cultivation. Even with extraordinary talent, there were always bottlenecks and predicaments; there was no smooth-sailing route to immortality.


    <i>I can''t continue cultivating in seclusion. </i>Wu Yuan decided, standing up. His form shifted, his robes transforming into blood-red garments as an intangible aura of killing intent spread from him.


    The world of ughter Wu Yuan experienced in the illusion was as vivid as if he had lived through it personally.


    With a wave of his hand, he stored away the spirion battleship.


    <i>Boom! </i>The reinforced ground split beneath him as Wu Yuan shot into the sky. Thendscape below remained unchanged��vast mountains and endless rivers stretching out before him.


    After billions of years of war, the maind of the battlefield was never altered. Even if battles left it damaged, an invisible force would repair it, returning it to its original state. This world, in essence, was an artificially created trial ground.


    <i>First, I''ll try once more to umte blood mist to its saturation point, to see if I can still produce an Origin Blood Droplet.</i> Wu Yuan mused, looking down at the vast continent.


    <i>Secondly, I''ll suppress my strength, using only the Longevity Dao to engage in battle with the powerhouses on the maind.</i>


    <i>Just like when I broke through in the Celestial Body Dao, I��ll use these powerhouses as whetstones to temper myself. </i>His thoughts were crystal clear.


    ...


    After nearly a year of secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan once again began to roam the maind. His Soul Will spread out for a hundred thousand li, but his Yuan Soul was now too powerful, his perception of space incredibly sharp.


    He could sense the slightest fluctuations in spiritual qi tens of millions of li away, though he couldn��t determine the specifics of the battles taking ce.


    However, to Wu Yuan, it didn��t matter. Was there anyone on the entire maind who could make him retreat? As long as he sensed spiritual qi fluctuations that weren��t too far away, he would immediately rush over.


    ...


    <i>Two monthster.</i>


    Between two vast mountain ranges, in a canyon spanning thousands of li, two forces were engaged in fiercebat.


    "Haha, kill them!"


    "These Eldritch Court scum, several of them are eldritch warriors, no doubt about it."


    "ughter them all." More than ten Amethyst Cradle and Shambh battle arrays, all from the Immortal Court camp, exuded tremendous auras and battle intent, exerting pressure on six battle arrays from the Eldritch Court camp.


    High in the sky, three Void Refiner Eminences from the two camps fought an incredibly intense battle.


    The Eldritch Court had only one Void Refiner Eminence, his body wreathed in mes, spreading throughout the sky and earth. Chains transformed into fire dragons,shing out in all directions as he fought with overwhelming might.


    However, his opponents were two Void Refiner cultivators. One employed ice arcane arts, filling nearly twenty thousand li withyers of ice, pushing back against the mes. The other manipted numerous sword arrays, which howled like dragons as they closed in for the kill time and again.


    The two worked together, easily suppressing the lone Void Refiner Eminence from the Eldritch Court.


    "Die!"


    "No one can save you." The two Immortal Court Void Refiner Eminences stared intently at the bald giant as he struggled desperately.


    "Ahhhh!" The muscr giant, his body wrapped in chains, roared in anger. He tried to repel his enemies, but the sword array repeatedly obstructed him.


    "Damn it! Damn it!" The giant��s heart filled with unwillingness. As a Void Refiner Eminence, if he fled alone, he might have a chance of escaping. But if he fled, the hundred Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators in the six battle arrays would certainly die.


    Yet, what difference did it make whether he retreated or not? Whether inbat power or overall army strength, his force was at an absolute disadvantage.


    <i>I, Yan Quan, finally reached the Void Refiner phase after numerous trials. Will I truly die here today?</i> This thought shed through the bald giant''s mind. He seemed to vaguely see his death approaching.


    Suddenly, a green light spread soundlessly across heaven and earth, followed by countless vines materializing and growing wildly,shing out and shattering theyers of frost. These vines were created from mana and the power of heaven and earth, containing unimaginable might.


    A figure in blood-red robes appeared in the void, surrounded by the vines.


    Arcane art��Void Myriad Vines!


    Just as body refiners could cultivate ether arts with heaven-defying power, qi refiners could also cultivate powerful arcane arts as their cultivation levels rose. Even without any artifacts to enhance them, these arcane arts still possessed terrifying might.


    Wu Yuan''s cultivation time was insufficient, and he hadn''t mastered many arcane arts, nor had heprehended them deeply. But with his vast mana capacity and high level of Daoprehension, his arcane arts were no less formidable than the high-level arcane arts painstakingly cultivated by many Void Refiner Eminences.


    His powerful arrival instantly drew the attention of all thebatants.


    "Amethyst Cradle cultivator?"


    "An Amethyst Cradle cultivator dares to interfere in a battle between Void Refiner Eminences?"


    "Seeking death." The dozen or somanders of the Immortal Court''s battle arrays sensed Wu Yuan''s aura and dismissed him as a threat.


    Yes, his aura was strong, but ultimately, he wasn��t at the Void Refiner phase. Fighting enemies from higher cultivation phases? It didn��t seem umon, but that was because most of Wu Yuan��s interactions were with the top-tier geniuses of the macrocosm. Those who could truly fight across phases were actually extremely rare.


    However, while the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators of the Immortal Court were confident, the two Void Refiner Eminences were wary.


    "Where did hee from?"


    "His arcane arts are powerful, and his Daoprehension level is high. He should be at the ninth-level Domain stage. Is he a genius from the Origin Eldritch Field?" The two Immortal Court Void Refiner Eminencesmunicated telepathically. They didn��t recognize Wu Yuan.


    "Ming Jian?"


    "It''s Ming Jian!"


    "We��re saved! It��s him! He hasn��t left the maind? We haven��t heard news of him in so long."


    "Haha! There��s hope for victory yet." The immortal cultivators on the Eldritch Court''s side were boiling with excitement.


    They had seen Wu Yuan''s name through the voidrealm jade.


    "Ming Jian?" The bald giant, Yan Quan, stared at the blood-robed figure in the sky in disbelief.


    Years ago, they had met briefly. Later on, he heard tales of Ming Jian��s exploits time and again, his feats bing a legend across the entire Battlefield 36. Yet they never met again.


    Who would have thought that today, when he was facing great cmity and on the verge of death, he would meet this man once more?


    <i>Is this destiny?</i> This thought shed through Yan Quan''s mind. Then, he erupted with power. Sparing no cost, theyers of me-wreathed chains grew even more powerful.


    ...


    <i>Yan Quan?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the bald giant. With his exceptional memory, of course he remembered him.


    However, to Wu Yuan, Yan Quan was merely a passing acquaintance in his life. He hadn''te here to save him; he was purely attracted by the battle��s fluctuations.


    <i>Two Void Refiner cultivators. I can test my techniques. </i>He thought. With a mentalmand, two enormous seals appeared before Wu Yuan.


    With a tter, the two great seals flew out. Countless green Dao patterns glowed, covering their surfaces, harnessing the Longevity Dao��s essence. This instantly caused the seals'' power to surge, and their size increased dramatically, like two mountains.


    Spirion artifact��Mountain Transformation Seal.


    This was amon spirion artifact, one of the spoils of war Wu Yuan had obtained from ying many Void Refiner Eminences. But this seemingly ordinary artifact unleashed inconceivable power in Wu Yuan''s hands.


    "Not good!"


    "Block it!" The two Void Refiner Eminences of the Immortal Court were taken aback. One controlled a sword array, while the other manipted countless shards of ice, instantly transforming into two roaring ice dragons that streaked across the sky.


    <i>Boom!</i> Arcane arts and artifacts collided in the sky, unleashing terrifyingly powerful shockwaves that reverberated for thousands of li on both sides.


    With each sh, the two mountain-like seals battered the sword array and the ice dragons, forcing them to struggle desperately and retreat step by step.


    This scene left the two Void Refiner Eminences incredulous. Two against one, yet they were still at a slight disadvantage.


    "Kill!" Yan Quan erupted with power. Dozens of chains condensed into a ming staff that he thrust forward with overwhelming might.


    This disy of power immediately forced the Void Refiner Eminence controlling the sword array to turn back and defend, blocking Yan Quan''s attack.


    The Void Refiner Eminence controlling the ice dragons was forced to face the pressure of Wu Yuan��s attacks alone, his position instantly turning precarious.


    After just a few exchanges, the two great seals suddenly pped together, sandwiching one of the ice dragons in between and crushing it.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>One great seal suppressed the other ice dragon, while the other seal flew towards the Void Refiner Eminence whose arcane art had been nullified. Under Wu Yuan''s powerful control, the seals moved with terrifying speed.


    <i>Thud! </i>The great seal descended, shattering the body of the Void Refiner Eminence who couldn''t react in time.


    He was dead!


    "Flee." Seeing this, the other Void Refiner sword cultivator immediately transformed into a streak of light, fleeing for his life.


    Yan Quan exerted all his strength but couldn��t stop him from escaping.


    "Flee? Why bother?" Wu Yuan sighed, shaking his head slightly as his fingertip moved. "Go!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A blurred streak of light tore through the sky, piercing ten thousand li and shattering the sword arrays.


    <i>St!</i> As the light streaked past, the Void Refiner Eminence''s body instantly turned to blood mist. He was dead!


    <i>I had intended to kill you with the Longevity Dao.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>You forced me to use my lifebound flying sword.</i>


    At Wu Yuan''s current strength, once he exerted his full power, killing a few ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators was as easy as cutting vegetables.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The artifacts left behind by the two Void Refiner Eminences transformed into streaks of light and flew into Wu Yuan''s hands. He quickly put them away.


    "Daoist Ming Jian." Yan Quan flew over.


    "Haha, our meeting is a matter of fate. Cherish your life and live it well." Wu Yuan merelyughed and soared into the sky as a streak of blood-red light.


    Yan Quan watched as he left, dumbfounded.


    <i>So this is what a peerless genius is like?</i> Yan Quan sighed inwardly, but his gaze fell on the numerous Amethyst Cradle battle arrays from the Immortal Court camp in the distance, fleeing in panic.


    "Kill!" Yan Quan charged towards them.


    ...


    <i>Two months have passed. I''ve experienced quite a few battles and killed dozens more Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. Though I''ve made some progress, ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators can hardly give me any pressure.</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly as he flew through the air.


    Even deliberately suppressing his own strength, when he knew that there wasn��t the slightest danger to his life, it naturally failed to stimte his life potential. The pressure of a life-or-death crisis was irreceable and impossible to simte. In short, the opponents in the entire entry-level battlefield were already too weak for the current Wu Yuan.


    <i>It''s indeed time to leave the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. However, before I go, I should make onest attempt. </i>


    <i>I wonder if those peerless geniuses sent to hunt me from the Immortal Court are still here. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes glinted with light.


    <i>Perhaps it��s time to send the Immortal Court a grand gift!</i>

 Chapter 548: The Beginnings Of A Legend (1)

    <h4>Chapter 548: The Beginnings Of A Legend (1)</h4>


    While rampaging and ughtering across the maind over the past decade and more, Wu Yuan detected numerous powerful teams with his Soul Force. Among them were Amethyst Cradle geniuses who posed a serious threat to him. Without a doubt, they were all Immortal Hall prodigies.


    Each encounter made it clear to Wu Yuan that his frenzied killing had once again drawn the attention of the Voltari Temple, which had dispatched these Immortal Hall geniuses to hunt him down.


    <i>Though I��m taking steps to conceal my identity, I have no choice but to reveal my techniques and lifebound flying swords when facing powerful opponents. These battles inevitably expose me, which leads to the Voltari Temple detecting my trail.</i> Wu Yuan recalled. <i>So these Immortal Hall geniuses are repeatedly attempting to capture me?</i>


    Back then, although he was aware of this, Wu Yuan was reluctant to provoke the Voltari Temple''s geniuses. With his powerful Soul Force, he repeatedly evaded the hunting parties from the Immortal Court camp.


    <i>But now that I n to leave the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, there''s naturally no need to hold back anymore. Before I go, let''s have a grand finale. </i>A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Moreover, these Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators are hardly able to put up a fight; the tempering effect is far worse than I imagined.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.<i> I need stronger opponents.</i>


    He had no choice but to seek out the Immortal Hall geniuses for battle.


    Wu Yuan was unsurprised to encounter a bottleneck in his Daoprehension. The primary reason was his short cultivation period.


    Bottlenecks could be broken with time, fortuitous opportunities or epiphanies, or shattered under the pressure of life-and-death experiences.


    <i>The bottleneck between the ninth-level Domain stage and the True Intent stage of the Longevity Dao can trap countless ninth-level Void Refiners even up till the end of their lifespans, ten thousand years.</i>


    <i>How long have I been stuck? Hardly any time at all.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It was just like his body refiner self in the past. In terms of Daoprehension talent, he was on par with his qi refiner self which was being empowered by Yuan Soul and Faith power. Yet, to break through the bottleneck of the Celestial Body True Intent stage, it still took several years of bloody battles.


    <i>In terms of Yuan Soul strength, those High Immortals are not inferior to me in the slightest. Some are even stronger than me, and their Daoprehension talent isn��t poor. Yet after cultivating for hundreds of thousands of years, many have onlyprehended an Intermediate Law to the fourth or fifth level of the True Intent stage.</i>


    <i>At least, looking at everyone under a hundred years old in the entire macrocosm, I should now be far ahead as the number one. I��m not at all weaker than Senior Brother Jiang Huan when he was my age. It��s enough to rival the most monstrous prodigies in history. </i>Wu Yuan had ample confidence.


    His body had only recently evolved into a Wood Origin Dao Body, and his Yuan Soul transformation had urred just months ago. The further he advanced along his cultivation path, the faster his rate of progress would naturally be.


    With a swift motion, Wu Yuan vanished into space.


    <i>Next, I must verify if the ck pagoda��s stone pir can still condense Origin Blood Droplets.</i>


    <i>During this period, I mainly ughtered Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. Now, there''s no need to discriminate between the weak and strong. Let the great massacre begin.</i>


    ...


    Within a vast mountain range, panic gripped nearly a hundred Amethyst Cradle and Shambh cultivators.


    "The Elysian Field powerhouse is dead."


    "Run." They fled in terror, but sword light filled the sky and earth, massacring them all.


    ...


    "It''s Ming Jian!"


    "Has Ming Jiane to save us?" A group of Eldritch Court cultivators gasped, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.


    Locked in a brutal battle with a team from the Immortal Court camp, they suddenly found themselves saved as vines appeared, covering the sky and unleashing carnage in every direction.


    ...


    "Ming Jian, these are our merits. You can''t steal them!" Two Void Refiner Eminences from the Eldritch Court camp gnashed their teeth but didn��t dare approach.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Not far away, sword lights filled the sky,pletely obliterating the Elysian Field powerhouse. Countless sword lights dissipated, leaving only a streak of blood-colored light shooting into the distance.


    ��Apologies, I��ll leave the treasures to you, but I��ll be taking the head,�� Wu Yuan��s faint words echoed in their ears.


    The two Eldritch Court Void Refiner Eminences felt helpless. After a bloody battle, they had just managed to suppress the Immortal Court��s Elysian Field powerhouse. Who would have thought that the legendary super genius Ming Jian would suddenly arrive?


    Not only was the Immortal Court��s Elysian Field powerhouse utterly defenseless, but the two Eldritch Court Void Refiners were also equally helpless to stop Wu Yuan from swooping in to steal their kill. They simply couldn��t afford to provoke him. They were not on the same level.


    ...


    Scouting his surroundings with his Soul Will, Wu Yuan charged ahead, and whenever he revealed his prowess, it immediately sparked a series of terrifying ughters. His blood mist umted rapidly, and his ethercrystalurel count soared.


    ��Ming Jian has started his reckless butchery again.��


    ��That man... he��s back.��


    ��For over a year, there was no trace of him. I thought he had stopped.��


    ��In the past two months, his ethercrystalurel count didn��t climb too quickly, but now it��s suddenly started to surge.��


    ��It seems that during this time, he was just in seclusion cultivating.�� Countless powerhouses throughout the Eldritch Court camp noticed Wu Yuan��s rapidly climbing ethercrystalurel count.


    It was too terrifying! This meant that Wu Yuan initiated dozens, if not hundreds, of battles almost every day, unleashing uncontrolled mayhem on the battlefield.


    <i>Just half a monthter.</i>


    ��Three billion ethercrystals!!��


    ��In thest one billion years, among the eighteen entry-level battlefields, he��s the second Eldritch Court powerhouse to surpass three billion ethercrystalurels.��


    ��Ming Jian, the strongest legendary-rank fighter.�� Countless participants from the Eldritch Court camp looked up to him with admiration and near reverence.


    To earn the title of legendary-rank fighter, one had to umte one billion ethercrystalurels. This requirement was not easy to meet, but each passing generation saw peerless geniuses who managed to reach this standard.


    But three billion ethercrystalurels was an unimaginable number. It required not only immense strength but also a long enough time.


    Ming Jian had umted over three billion ethercrystalurels in just over ten years, a feat that in itself was legendary.


    It wasn��t just thebatants who took notice. The numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords overseeing the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, and even the lofty Astral Monarchs, were all paying attention to Ming Jian.


    Perhaps he was a powerhouse from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, but he had forged such a terrifying record while representing the Eldritch Court camp.


    At this time, countless participants and even many immortals from the eldritch world were all thinking about one thing��could he break the highest ethercrystalurel record?


    ...


    "Kill him!"


    "At least, we must stop him. We absolutely cannot allow him to set a new record." An Astral Monarch from the Immortal Court camp roared.


    Seeing that Ming Jian was on the verge of creating a new record, the Voltari Temple could no longer sit still. They began to mobilize their forces in full.


    "Those currently participating in the other seventeen entry-level battlefields who are ready to advance to the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase, proceed to Battlefield 36,plete your breakthrough, and join forces to hunt down Ming Jian."


    "Immediately!"


    Within the Voltari Temple headquarters'' spacetime was the Immortal Hall, the training grounds of their geniuses.


    Those who resided in the Fourth Immortal Hall were all Amethyst Cradle and Shambh geniuses. Almost simultaneously, those who ranked in the top hundred received a mission notification.


    <i>Trial Mission: Head to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 and y Ming Jian, abatant from the Eldritch Court camp. </i>


    <i>Sessfulpletion rewards: 10,000 divine crystals and 20 Dao Temple points.</i>


    <i>Note: Ming Jian has in Feng Sheng and is about to set the highest kill record in the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields.</i>


    <i>Note: ording to avable intelligence, Ming Jian is suspected to possess a first-degree immortal root, with nine lifebound flying swords. He excels in the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao, with the former reaching the first-level True Intent stage and thetter at the ninth-level Domain stage... His soul is also extremely powerful. It is rmended that at least five geniuses team up to confront him.</i>


    The trial mission content was simple, yet it instantly stirred up a storm in the Fourth Immortal Hall.


    ��Ming Jian?��


    ��I��ve heard of him. They say Teng Duo, Yan Dan, and An Heng went to hunt him down, but none seeded.��


    ��Feng Sheng was no weaker than us in strength, yet he still died at Ming Jian��s hands. This Ming Jian is not to be trifled with.�� A group of top-tier geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall gathered, discussing among themselves.


    ��Let��s kill him!��


    ��Even if we can��t defeat him individually, there��s no way he can stop us if we team up.��


    ��Though he��s a dual-Dao genius, he hasn��t reached the True Intent stage in both Intermediate Laws. He��s not invincible, just possessing a powerful immortal root and being extremely skilled inbat.��


    ��Kill him!��


    ��The reward of 10,000 divine crystals and 20 Dao Temple points��how long would it take us to umte that on our own?��


    Many Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses from the Immortal Hall coveted the rewards. Moreover, it also represented a form of glory.


    Most of these Immortal Hall geniuses already knew that many high-level figures were paying attention to this battle. If they could sessfully y Ming Jian, they might catch the eye of the upper echelons and be taken as disciples by some super powerhouse.


    It was worth noting that even among the top hundred peerless geniuses of the Fourth Immortal Hall, most hadn''t been epted as personal disciples by Astral Monarch-level beings.


    ��Kan Gao, are you going?��


    ��I��m in!��


    ��Let��s go together. Even if we can��t defeat him, we should be able to ensure our survival by joining forces.��


    ��It��s a perfect opportunity for some tempering inbat!��


    Swiftly, the geniuses of the Immortal Hall began departing from the distant Voltari Temple headquarters, making their way to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36.


    Arge number of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators from other battlefields who were ready to break through to the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase also headed for the same destination.


    In just a few days, there was a huge spike in the number of powerhouses arriving at Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, especially on the maind.


    Just as the Eldritch Court��s ethercrystalurel record couldn��t be kept secret from the Voltari Temple, the Voltari Temple��srge-scale mobilization couldn��t be concealed either.


    ...


    "Let��s wait and see."


    "Will Ming Jian retreat in the face of difficulty, withdrawing from the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield to preserve his life? Or will he rise to the challenge, carving a bloody path through the Immortal Court''s encirclement, achieving a legendary feat? It all depends on him." Many high-level figures from both camps were focused on Wu Yuan''s next move.


    On the Cang Feng Eldritch World��s side, whether due to instructions from the highest echelons or because Ming Jian was a powerhouse from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, they didn''t dispatch Origin Eldritch Field geniuses or powerhouses to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36.


    It appeared that they had great faith in Wu Yuan, waiting for his sh with the Immortal Court camp.


    Indeed, the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase might be considered a low cultivation level. But Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators could also aplish legendary feats for their phase.


    Without a doubt, if Ming Jian could still break the highest kill record under such difficult circumstances, it would be a new legend, a tale sung by countless future generations across the macrocosm.


    The epess of such a legend would far surpass breaking the so-called one-star tower record or Eldritch Deity Tower record. After all, this was forged through countless bloody battles.

 Chapter 549: The Beginnings Of A Legend (2)

    <h4>Chapter 549: The Beginnings Of A Legend (2)</h4>


    Days passed one by one.


    <i>Just over a monthter.</i>


    "He��s not stopping. Ming Jian is still on the maind, despite the Immortal Court dispatching hordes of powerhouses. They can''t halt his killing spree."


    "Still as elusive and unrivaled as ever."


    "He��s closing in on 3.1 billion ethercrystalurels!"


    "Only 20 million left to go."


    "Ming Jian is truly astonishing."


    "I knew he wouldn''t disappoint us."


    When Wu Yuan��s ethercrystalurel count reached the three billion mark, the Eldritch Court camp buzzed with excitement, especially those from the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Eons of relentless conflict had etched a deep-seated hatred for the Voltari Temple into their bones, alongside their belief that eliminating the enemy was their sacred duty.


    As Ming Jian''s ethercrystalurels continued to increase, the powerhouses felt as though they were right there with him, hearts pounding with excitement. They all eagerly hoped that Ming Jian would carve a bloody path through the encirclement of Immortal Hall geniuses.


    However, when only 10 million ethercrystalurels remained to break the highest record in 10 billion years, his progress suddenly halted.


    "What��s going on?"


    "Has he stopped killing? With just 10 million left, it should only take him three days at most, given Ming Jian��s efficiency."


    "Could it be that he��s afraid?" An uproar surged through the Eldritch Court camp. They were all curious, puzzled, and confused.


    ...


    "Where exactly is this Ming Jian?"


    "He was clearly active in this area, yet dozens of teams couldn''t find him at all."


    "No matter how strong his soul is, it can��t possibly have evolved to a Yuan Soul, right?"


    "He hasn��t initiated another battle. We''ve checked the site of hisst sh, but there''s no trace of him." Many peerless geniuses and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses from the Voltari Temple felt a wave of helplessness as they scoured the battlefield in vain.


    ...


    In an inconspicuous mountain range on the maind, deep within a vast cave, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on a jade tform inside his spirion battleship.


    <i>These people are truly naive, still searching for me? </i>Wu Yuan''s thoughts were clear as he meditated.


    Amidst the constant battles, his Soul Will scanned his surroundings continuously, easily detecting the movements of Immortal Hall geniuses, yet he chose to avoid them.


    The reason Wu Yuan could sit here peacefully was simple: his Yuan Soul enveloped everything.


    Even if the Soul Will of a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse swept by, it wouldn��t detect him. This was one of the wonders of the Yuan Soul.


    As for the highest kill record on the battlefield, Wu Yuan had never cared about it. Records were illusory; only strength was real. It was like how he had the confidence to clear level 79 of the one-star tower yet never attempted it. There was no need��apart from drawing the attention of his enemies, there were no other benefits.


    Why had he stopped when there were only 10 million ethercrystalurels to go? The reason was simple: the blood mist had once again reached saturation.


    <i>Nothing is happening. </i>Wu Yuan silently observed.


    In his upper dantian lobe, the blood mist had umted to its saturation point, yet neither the ck pagoda nor the stone pir atop it reacted.


    <i>Twelve Origin Blood Droplets, strengthening my soul time and again, even breaking the limits of heaven and earth��s rules, </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>I had a feeling there would be a limit to this limit-breaking.</i>


    His soul couldn''t grow stronger indefinitely. Indeed, his hunch was confirmed.


    <i>Twelve Origin Blood Droplets, just enough to transform my soul into a Yuan Soul. Perhaps there are some kind of rules at work here too.</i> Wu Yuan pondered but couldn''t fully unravel the mystery.


    Regarding the ck pagoda, he knew a bit about its origins and had made some guesses, but he had only scratched the surface of its mysteries. The vast majority of its secrets remained shrouded in fog, seemingly waiting for him to explore.


    <i>At least, it seems my qi refiner self won��t receive any further gifts from the ck pagoda at the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i> Wu Yuan reflected. <i>I just don��t know if my body refiner self can form another Origin Blood Droplet by umting blood mist to its saturation point?</i>


    Wu Yuan wasn��t very confident. Based on past experiences, the ck pagoda''s effects on his qi refiner self and body refiner self seemed to differ.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Suddenly, Wu Yuan��s pupils contracted slightly as a flicker of surprise passed through them. <i>Master Kua Chi has summoned me?</i>


    This caught Wu Yuan off guard. It wasn��t his body refiner self being summoned, but his qi refiner self, and he was to meet his master in his personal space within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. This was the message his body refiner self had just received.


    ...


    With Wu Yuan��s two true selves cultivating the soul secret art to this day, one could say that from outward appearances alone, it was nearly impossible to tell they were both him. At least, neither the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm nor the Eldritch Court��s Dao Temple could tell.


    <i>In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within his qi refiner self��s personal hall.</i>


    Countless motes of light converged, and the silhouette of a man in beast hide appeared in the hall. His aura was ethereal, carrying no pressure, yet he seemed to stand at the infinitely distant edge of heaven and earth.


    "Master." Wu Yuan''s qi refiner avatar bowed respectfully.


    "This is the first time I''ve met with your qi refiner self, isn��t it?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked down at his little disciple. "And in the voidrealm, no less."


    "Master." Wu Yuan bowed again, feeling a slight tightening in his chest. Even in the voidrealm, his master��s gaze seemed to possess an inconceivable power, as though able to pierce through his secrets.


    "Your growth over these past ten-plus years has been quite impressive," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remarked lightly. "One could say it has far exceeded my expectations."


    Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    Far exceeded? This was high praise, especially from a sovereign-level existence.


    "Even your senior brothers Jiang Huan and Chang Hong didn��t shine as brilliantly as you during their younger days," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "I wouldn��t darepare myself to my two senior brothers," Wu Yuan replied softly.


    "What''s this talk of daring? Strong is strong, weak is weak," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a faint smile. "There��s no need for modesty at a time like this. Where has your killing intent and arrogance from dominating the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield gone?"


    "Thank you for your guidance, Master," Wu Yuan nodded lightly, epting the rebuke.


    Indeed, Eldritch cultivators didn��t seem to favor modesty; they preferred straightforwardness and direct action.


    "Master, why have youe to see me?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "The Voltari Temple has now mobilized arge number of Immortal Hall members and a great many Void Refiner-level cultivators to encircle and annihte you. Are you afraid?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked lightly.


    "I��m not afraid!" Wu Yuan shook his head. "I am confident I can handle it."


    "Good." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded in satisfaction. "Here��s an intelligence dossier on the top-tier geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall. It��s all information gathered by the eldritch world''s intelligence department. You may peruse it."


    Whoosh~ A virtual immortal slip materialized in the air.


    Wu Yuan was slightly stunned.


    ��I have only one task for you: break that kill record," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed. "Kill as many enemies as possible, and y those Immortal Hall geniuses. Reveal the full extent of strength and talent of your qi refiner self."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Don��t worry about your safety. I will make all the necessary arrangements," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a mysterious smile. "As long as you break the record, the result will certainly not disappoint you."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded, harboring some guesses in his mind.


    "Do you have any questions for me?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.


    "Master, I obtained a Bronze Immutable Token," Wu Yuan hurriedly inquired. "How should I handle it?"


    Leaking news of the Bronze Immutable Token to others might invite disaster, but Wu Yuan trusted that Master Kua Chi wouldn��t go that far.


    "A Bronze Immutable Token?" A sh of surprise crossed Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes. "How much time is left before the deadline?"


    "Less than twenty years," Wu Yuan answered honestly.


    "Hmm, there��s still time. No need to rush," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded slightly. "Wait until your qi refiner self leaves the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, then seek an opportunity to venture forth.


    In a few days, I��ll provide you with some intelligence about the Immutable Land. Though it��s fraught with danger, with your talent and strength, you might be able to obtain a great opportunity. Go and attempt it."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan��s heart settled somewhat. As expected, his master had some intelligence about the Immutable Land that he couldn��t ess.


    "Is there anything else?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Mm." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. "I��ll give you special authority. From now on, both of your true selves will be able to contact me directly through the eldritch voidrealm. If you��re in danger, you can seek me. However, I hope that barring major issues, you��ll be able to resolve things on your own."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded slightly before his form dispersed into countless motes of light.


    ...


    Wu Yuan stood still in his personal hall for some time, pondering.


    <i>Master must have a reason for suddenly appearing and tasking me with breaking the kill record. However, since Master has promised protection, there��s no need for further misgivings.</i>


    At the same time, Wu Yuan sensed the change in his master��s attitude toward him.


    <i>The first time I met Master, when I became his disciple, he didn��t really value me much. The second time, when I imed the heaven-tier title in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and acquired the True Spatial Domain Tome, he treated me with more importance.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>And this time, I��ve obtained the right to see Master at any time.</i>


    <i>Perhaps I''ve truly gained Master��s recognition in a meaningful sense.</i>


    Wu Yuan��s gaze fell on the virtual immortal slip beside him. He lightly tapped it with his fingertip, and it disyed its contents.


    Wu Yuan swiftly browsed through it, gaining a clearer understanding of the strength of this generation��s top geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall.


    After a while, he memorized it all.


    <i>It��s time to act. </i>A glint of killing intent shed through Wu Yuan��s eyes. <i>You want to kill me? We''ll see who��s the one doing the killing. The blood of the Immortal Hall geniuses will pave my road to bing number one on the battlefield.</i>


    With that thought, Wu Yuan��s consciousness retracted from the voidrealm, returning to his main body. Following that, he put away his spirion battleship and left the cave.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan flew through the air, his Soul Will spreading out and maintaining a range of about a million li.


    <i>With my killing efficiency, I fear various forces have already determined that my soul has evolved to the Yuan Soul level. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was calm. <i>In that case, I��ll disy the soul power of one who has just reached the Yuan Soul level.</i>


    He scouted his surroundings as he advanced.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan abruptly halted.


    Just a million li to his left, his Soul Will picked up on an incredibly powerful team, consisting of three Amethyst Cradle cultivators, eight Void Refiner cultivators, and four Elysian Field cultivators.


    <i>Judging by their attire and aura, that��s the peerless genius Teng Duo, ranked in the top ten of the Immortal Court. I��ve encountered him once before. As for the other two, their strength is likely no worse than Feng Sheng��s. </i>Wu Yuan��s gaze turned cold. <i>I��ll start with you.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan moved, charging over at high speed.

 Chapter 550: Today, I Stand Here, Battling All Who Come (1)

    <h4>Chapter 550: Today, I Stand Here, Battling All Who Come (1)</h4>


    This was a vast wilderness, with sparse vegetation. In one corner, arge spread of food wasid out on the ground, and more than ten powerful figures were gathered, eating and drinking heartily.


    Twelve Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, each with extraordinary auras, could only sit on either side of the true main individuals partaking in the feast��three Amethyst Cradle cultivators. One of them, about ten meters tall and covered in ck scales, looked humanoid but was more beast-like, clearly not a true human.


    The other two, one in a golden robe and the other in silver, were both human and extremely handsome. Despite their striking appearances, these Amethyst Cradle cultivators subtly deferred to the ck-scaled powerhouse as their leader.


    "Teng Duo, are we just going to sit here eating and drinking?" The golden-robed youth asked gruffly, a note of impatience in his voice. "The other teams are frantically searching throughout the maind. If they find Ming Jian first, we''ll miss out on all the merits and rewards."


    "That''s right!" The silver-robed youth added in a shrill voice. "We two brothers came to you because you were among the first to arrive at Battlefield 36 and know it best. We were counting on you to lead us to Ming Jian, not just sit around."


    "Jin Ming, Yin Ming." Teng Duo, the ck-scaled cultivator, tore arge piece of meat with his teeth and took a big swig of immortal wine before responding calmly. "Why are you in such a hurry to find Ming Jian?"


    "Yes, the other teams are all frantically searching for Ming Jian, but has anyone found him in over ten years? They''re all fools." Teng Duo shook his head disdainfully. "I''m feasting because I don''t want to waste my effort."


    "So, we just wait here?" The golden-robed youth frowned, his concern evident.


    "Wait?" Teng Duo shook his head slightly. "You should know that the entire Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield is under the effects of invisible restrictions. Even some powerful talisman artifacts, ethercrystal weapons, and other special items can''t be used."


    Jin Ming and Yin Ming both nodded.


    Numerous rules and constraints were implemented on entry-level battlefields. It was simr to how the stars ands in outer space war zones were all artificially created. How could ordinary stars withstand fights between these powerhouses?


    "Let me be frank," Teng Duo continued. "Over these years, I''ve carefully observed Ming Jian''s movements. I''m certain he must have detected me in the past."


    "However, his soul is extremely strong, with perception and detection methods far surpassing mine. He must have purposely avoided me. And it��s not just me��Yan Dan and An Heng were likely deliberately avoided by him too." Teng Duo''s gaze swept over the two youths. "What does this mean? It means he''s not absolutely confident that he can defeat us."


    Jin Ming and Yin Ming both nodded.


    "Though he killed Feng Sheng, Feng Sheng wasn''t a match for us two. Since he doesn��t dare fight you either, his strength should be on par with yours at most," Jin Ming said in a low voice.


    They all knew Teng Duo''s strength��he was definitely among the top ten, or even top five, in the Fourth Immortal Hall. He was an extremely formidable individual.


    "So, there''s no need to run around aimlessly. Just sit here." Teng Duo said with a smile. "Whether we encounter Ming Jian or not is purely up to luck."


    "One possibility is that he initiates a battle not far from us. Another possibility is that he activelyes looking for us. However, I doubt he��ll dare toe after us," Teng Duo said confidently. "With the three of us joining forces, plus a group of Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses, he''ll just take a detour if he encounters us."


    "So, it''s up to luck." Teng Duo continued wolfing down his meal, seemingly unbothered.


    Jin Ming and Yin Ming exchanged a nce, sensing that something was off.


    Luck? Purely relying on luck? Wasn��t this just giving up?


    Teng Duo naturally sensed the change in their emotions and snorted coldly to himself.


    Giving up? He had no choice. Anyone faced with this situation would give up.


    A goal within reach could ignite one��s fighting spirit; but after tracking Ming Jian for years and being constantly toyed with by him, his confidence was long gone.


    Teng Duo had already made up his mind. After muddling through this trial mission for a few more months, he would just return to the Immortal Court. Whoever wanted those unattainable rewards could go for it.


    Yin Ming had just arrived recently and was still full of fighting spirit. "Teng Duo, I feel like just waiting isn''t very..."


    <i>Boom!</i> The world suddenly changed colors. Streams of earthy yellow qi intertwined with green light crashed down like a tidal wave. Countless vines grew out of thin air,shing down like giant snakes.


    "Get lost!"


    "Seeking death." Before Teng Duo, Jin Ming, and Yin Ming��the three peerless geniuses��made a move, the eight Void Refiner Eminences who had been sitting quietly on the side erupted into action.


    A barrage of immensely powerful arcane arts manifested simultaneously.


    Fire dragons and lightning covered the sky! Huge earthen shields rose up, along with surging waves of power.


    The eight Void Refiner Eminences coordinated their attacks well, easily shredding the vines and sting apart the descending domain thousands of li wide.


    They all stood up, ring angrily at the sky.


    Above them, giant snake-like vines coiled around a figure in blood-red robes, who looked down upon them like a heavenly god.


    He was like a divine sword spanning heaven and earth, his sharp eyes sweeping over Teng Duo, Jin Ming, Yin Ming, and the other twelve Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    A deathly silence fell over the battlefield.


    "Who are you?" Teng Duo stood up, narrowing his eyes. His long tail trailing on the ground beneath his body shook with barely contained fury.


    "Aren''t you looking for me? I''m here." The figure in blood-red robes, Wu Yuan, shed them a brilliant smile.


    "Ming Jian?" An Elysian Field powerhouse''s pupils constricted in shock.


    "It''s Ming Jian? Yes, it can only be Ming Jian."


    "Celestial Body Dao at the True Intent stage, Longevity Dao at the Domain stage��only he could withstand the arcane arts of us eight Void Refiner Eminences." The dozen or so powerhouses from the Immortal Court camp felt as though they had awakened from a dream, their eyes zing with excitement but also wariness.


    Roaming the battlefield for over ten years, Ming Jian''s reputation was forged through bloodshed, alongside the over three billion ethercrystalurels he had acquired in the process. Innumerable Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators had fallen by his hand.


    Who didn��t know his name?


    Even though their leader, Teng Duo, was one of the Immortal Hall��s top-tier geniuses, the twelve Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses were still extremely nervous.


    This was a reputation earned through ughter. In the vast macrocosm, which supreme powerhouse hadn��t forged their illustrious name through killing?


    "Jin Ming, Yin Ming, what did I say? Sometimes, there��s no need to try so hard. See, luck is on our side." Teng Duo grinned, his earlier doubts seemingly forgotten.


    Jin Ming and Yin Ming exchanged another nce, speechless. What would the other teams, still running around searching for Ming Jian, think if they saw this?


    "Ming Jian!" Teng Duo fully straightened up, his scales flexing, making his body appearrger as he looked up at Wu Yuan. "I really didn''t expect you to deliver yourself to our doorstep. Very good, it seems you''re quite confident."


    "As a show of my respect for you, I will personally remove your head." Teng Duo stared intently at Wu Yuan, licking his chin with his tongue. His eyes brimmed with killing intent, his entire body tense with anticipation.


    "Teng Duo? A top ten genius of the Fourth Immortal Hall?" Wu Yuan also revealed a smile. "Too bad. If all the top ten geniuses joined forces against me, I might feel some pressure."


    "But just you alone, plus the two rookies beside you and a bunch of weaklings? Killing you won''t be very satisfying." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, as if disappointed by theck of challenge.


    "Courting death."


    "Damned Ming Jian."


    "Today, we kill him." Jin Ming, Yin Ming, and the twelve Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses instantly flew into a rage. They knew Wu Yuan was powerful, but they were also confident in their own strength.


    "What, not convinced?" Wu Yuan revealed a cold smile. "Then show me your strength. If your strength is insufficient, you can all die."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Without further words, a series of sharp flying swords appeared around Wu Yuan.


    Then, like a cosmic explosion, earth-yellow qi streams billowed out, entwining with those terrifying flying swords.


    "Kill!" Teng Duo roared. Green lights materialized around him, which then erupted. Huge throwing knives manifested, flying toward Wu Yuan.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The sword domain and knife domain instantly collided. Countless throwing knives and flying swords, each carrying their respective Dao profundities, shed like two worlds colliding.


    The terrifying shockwaves radiated for tens of thousands of li, as if threatening to destroy heaven and earth.


    <i>Crack~ Boom! Boom! </i>In just one exchange, the powerful knife domain Teng Duo had deployed showed signs of copse.


    ��How is this possible?" Teng Duo couldn''t believe it.


    As a cultivator with a second-degree immortal root and mastery of the Wind Dao at the third-level Dao Field stage, augmented by powerful throwing knives and arcane arts, he believed his domain was nearly unbeatable.


    "Nothing is impossible." Wu Yuan''s eyes were icy, his expression unshaken.


    He had only employed the first-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, paired with the ninth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao. In terms of Dao application, he was slightly outmatched by Teng Duo.


    But his first-degree immortal root mana, nine lifebound flying swords, and 720 first-grade spirit flying swords,bined with Wu Yuan''s terrifying Yuan Soul, more thanpensated for the gap.


    If this couldn''t suppress the opponent''s domain, it would be nothing short of a joke.


    "Suppress!" Wu Yuan''s internal essentia and mana burst forth, flooding each flying sword with immense power.


    The sh between the sword domain and the knife domain quickly tipped in Wu Yuan''s favor.


    "Arcane arts!"


    "Attack! Bolster Teng Duo''s domain, and crush Ming Jian''s sword domain." Jin Ming, Yin Ming, and the others were stunned by the sheer force Wu Yuan had unleashed. They never imagined Teng Duo would be on the brink of defeat after just one exchange. But they didn��t hesitate.


    While only one domain could exist in a given space, the power of arcane arts could be stacked. A torrent of various arcane arts merged with the copsing knife domain, hammering Wu Yuan''s sword domain in a desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle.


    For a moment, the tide of battle seemed about to turn.


    <i>Celestial Body! Longevity! Evesting Earth and Wood! </i>With a mere thought, Wu Yuan unleashed another formidable arcane art.


    Within the sword domain, ethereal great trees sprouted from thin air. Each tree seemed capable of anchoring space itself. They fortified Wu Yuan''s sword domain, which stood firm under the onught, showing no sign of crumbling.


    The two sides were locked in a tense stalemate.


    ...


    The Voltari Temple Voidrealm had a coverage spanning the entire macrocosm.


    In a secluded space within the voidrealm, nearly a thousand Astral Lords and Archimmortals, and even two Astral Monarchs had gathered. These were the immortals overseeing the battlefield, their eyes fixed on the battle unfolding in the light screen projection.


    It was a sh at the level of Amethyst Cradle and Void Refiner cultivators.


    Initially, these Astral Lords, Archimmortals, and Astral Monarchs watched with calm detachment. But as they witnessed Wu Yuan deploy his expansive sword domain while simultaneously casting one powerful arcane art after another��single-handedly suppressing three Amethyst Cradle-phase geniuses and eight Void Refiner Eminences working in concert��their expressions shifted.


    "This is absurd."


    "It must be a first-degree immortal root, and nine lifebound flying swords. Could he have established the legendary innate first-degree immortal root?"


    "Deploying the sword domain while casting arcane arts requires an enormous amount of soul power. How strong must his soul be?"


    "Where on earth did hee from?"


    "His Daoprehension isn''t exceptionally deep, but in terms ofbat prowess, how many hundreds of millions of years has it been since the Voltari Temple has seen such a monstrous Amethyst Cradle cultivator?"


    Not only were the Astral Lords and Archimmortals shocked, but even the two Astral Monarchs exchanged nces, both disying a trace of astonishment.


    They had witnessed countless peerless geniuses. But one with such a solid foundation? This was unprecedented!


    Even if the Voltari Temple''s most monstrous prodigies in history with innate first-degree immortal roots were present, they would likely be suppressed by Ming Jian given the same level of Daoprehension.


    "It��s turning into a melee."


    "It''s starting."


    "In a melee, he will be at a great disadvantage." The Astral Lord Archimmortals watched with rapt attention, their tension palpable.


    If they lost this battle, it could be said that the entire Voltari Temple would be powerless against this Ming Jian on the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields.

 Chapter 551: Today, I Stand Here, Battling All Who Come (2)

    <h4>Chapter 551: Today, I Stand Here, Battling All Who Come (2)</h4>


    "How terrifying!"


    "Ming Jian��s strength seems to have surged again."


    In a secluded space within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Archimmortals, Archeldritches, and even four Astral Monarchs were observing the battle with growing astonishment.


    "Inconceivable."


    "This is abat genius who has mastered two Daos. I''m afraid no one in our eldritch world''s Fourth Origin Eldritch Field can match him," an Archeldritch remarked, unable to contain his awe.


    No one refuted him.


    "The melee has begun, and those four Elysian Field powerhouses have unleashed their burst state. A melee is not favorable for qi refiners."


    Concern appeared on the faces of many Archimmortals and Archeldritches, but their expressions soon morphed into shock.


    "This!"


    "How is this possible?" Even the four Astral Monarchs disyed disbelief, as if they had witnessed something monstrous.


    Amid them, a figure shrouded in ck robes observed with barely concealed joy. <i>The Law of Space! It''s the Law of Space! The Eldritch Sovereign will be overjoyed when he learns of this.</i>


    ...


    On Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, the battle between Wu Yuan and Teng Duo, along with their allies, had reached a boiling point.


    Realizing that the sh of domains and arcane arts would not secure victory, the four Elysian Field powerhouses formed an array. Like meteors streaking across the sky, they charged into Wu Yuan''s sword domain, targeting him directly.


    Simultaneously, Jin Ming and Yin Ming��peerless geniuses whose Daoprehension had reached the second-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law��unleashed several powerful spirion artifacts, attacking Wu Yuan with full force.


    The Immortal Court camp was pulling out all the stops.


    "Haha! Bring it on," Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with battle fervor, though his demeanor remained calm andposed.


    The flying swords in the sword domain assembled into a series of terrifying earthy-yellow divine swords. This included all nine of his lifebound flying swords.


    Wu Yuan, too, was going all out.


    Typically, sword cultivators would reserve one or two lifebound flying swords for self-defense during critical moments in battle. Sending them all out was unthinkable.


    "Kill!" One of the Elysian Field powerhouses, deflecting attack after attack from the sword domain, closed in on Wu Yuan, his battle saber slicing a thousand li across.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s form blurred, and within the chaotic, turbulent sky, multiple silhouettes of him appeared simultaneously.


    Each silhouette seemed as real as his true body, making it impossible to distinguish between them.


    This was the ��Celestial Phantom�� art, a technique Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had been cultivating. With a touch of the profundities of Space, it became even more elusive and unpredictable.


    This allowed Wu Yuan to narrowly avoid the vicious de ray.


    Six of the nine lifebound flying swords, along with six Hundred Swords Arrays, maintained the sword domain��s stability, suppressing Teng Duo and the eight Void Refiner Eminences.


    "Kill!" Three lifebound flying swords led three Hundred Swords Arrays, forming three terrifying divine swords.


    Two of these divine swords held off Jin Ming and Yin Ming''s attacks, while the third divine sword targeted the four Elysian Field powerhouses.


    "Block it!"


    "There are four of us!" The four Elysian Field powerhouses joined forces, each brandishing their weapons to defend against the assault.


    Boom! Out of nowhere, a mysterious and inexplicable wave descended like a great hammer, violently striking the souls of the four Elysian Field powerhouses.


    Soul secret art �C ��Soulshake Seal.��


    Of the three soul secret arts Wu Yuan had cultivated����Soulshake Seal,�� ��Soul Destruction Needle,�� and ��Sword Soul Sourcelight����his progress in ��Sword Soul Sourcelight�� was the greatest, followed closely by ��Soulshake Seal,�� though neither had reached a particrly profound level.


    However, with Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul power, nearly that of a High Immortal, the effect was terrifyingly potent.


    <i>Qi refiners all possess powerful souls, making it difficult to affect them; Teng Duo and the others surely have soul defense spirion equipment.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was ice-cold. <i>Only these four Elysian Field powerhouses, who have just broken through, probably haven��t even reached the Soul Will level yet.</i>


    Elysian Field powerhouses, with their soul, will, and physical body united as one, usually had strong soul defenses, though they were not adept at soul attacks.


    Wu Yuan was gambling on the possibility that these four had only recently achieved their breakthroughs and might not have solidified their Soul Will.


    After all, Elysian Field powerhouses typically required hundreds of years of secluded cultivation to establish a solid foundation.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Just as Wu Yuan had anticipated, three of the four Elysian Field powerhouses looked like they were struck by lightning, their gazes momentarily unfocused. Only one managed to resist, barely maintaining his rity.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The divine sword streaked through the sky like a dragon roving through the void, leaving a deep, enduring mark in its wake.


    As the sword tip neared one of the Elysian Field powerhouses, it exploded like a supernova, unleashing the terrifying power contained within.


    One sword pierced through the bodies of three Elysian Field powerhouses, the erupting sword lights causing their bodies to explode.


    <i>Bang~</i> The aftershocks from the divine sword��s attack sent thest conscious Elysian Field powerhouse flying, blood gushing from his mouth.


    <i>Hum~ Boom~</i> The three Elysian Field powerhouses whose bodies had been torn apart struggled in vain, their fragmented forms attempting to reassemble.


    "Die." Wu Yuan��s killing intent surged.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Endless sword light rained down, nketing the sky as it shredded their remains, rapidly draining their vital ether.


    In the blink of an eye, the three Elysian Field powerhouses were utterly destroyed, falling from the sky.


    <i>His soul attack is terrifying. We can''t withstand it. </i>The lone remaining Elysian Field powerhouse panicked, attempting to flee.


    With a sickening thud, the divine sword tore through the sky with matchless power, as if to pierce the heavens themselves. It sent his great hammer flying before piercing straight through his skull.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The sword domain''s radiance once again nketed the sky.


    With a ripping sound, the divine sword whirled back, slicing through the Elysian Field powerhouse''s body in a sh, tearing himpletely apart.


    As his body was rent asunder, his fate was sealed.


    ...


    The battle raged with unrelenting ferocity. Teng Duo''s power was undeniable, and the eight Void Refiner Eminences fought with everything they had. Jin Ming and Yin Ming, too, disyed the battle prowess of true peerless geniuses.


    However, Wu Yuan alone unleashed a powerful sword domain and multiple arcane arts, fighting as if many powerhouses were united in one body.


    Most critically, his movement skill was incredibly refined, requiring few artifacts for protection. This allowed him to face fifteen opponents by himself while maintaining the absolute upper hand.


    This was the advantage of having a powerful immortal root and a strong soul. A strong immortal root meant abundant mana, enabling the use of arcane arts and artifacts without concern for mana depletion. Meanwhile, a strong soul enabled perfect multitasking.


    "Your turn," Wu Yuan''s voice was filled with unyielding battle intent.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The lifebound flying sword leading the divine sword array tore through the sky and descended.


    When the four Elysian Field powerhouses perished, the battle��s oue was already sealed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The divine sword swept through unimpeded, piercing the skulls of two Void Refiner Eminences. With their soul essence destroyed, they died.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Deprived of the support of two Void Refiner Eminences, the knife domain that had been resisting the sword domain finally began to copse.


    <i>Flee! </i>Overwhelmed by terror, Teng Duo was the first to retreat, fleeing like a gale at breakneck speed.


    "We can��t win. Retreat."


    "Quickly, go!"


    Jin Ming, Yin Ming, and the six Void Refiner Eminences reacted a beat slower, frantically scattering in all directions.


    "Flee?"


    "Teng Duo might escape, but can the rest of you?" Wu Yuanughed.


    Now, nothing could restrain his sword domain��s overwhelming might.


    <i>Boom! </i>With his nine lifebound flying swords as the core, the vast sword domain fully erupted, spreading in all directions.


    Fifteen thousand li...twenty thousand li...thirty thousand li!


    In mere moments, as Wu Yuan stood in the sky, his massive sword domain engulfed a radius of thirty thousand li,pletely enveloping everyone but Teng Duo.


    "What?"


    "A thirty-thousand-li sword domain?"


    "This!" The six Void Refiner Eminences fleeing in different directions instantly despaired as terrifying sword lights streaked across the sky, sweeping over them. All of them perished.


    Only Jin Ming and Yin Ming still struggled desperately to survive, not holding back any strength as they fled in opposite directions.


    Defeating them with his sword domain alone would prove difficult.


    <i>I''ll pick you.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Wu Yuan''s form shed like lightning as he pursued Jin Ming, his feet treading the air as he swiftly closed in.


    As for Yin Ming, he was fortunate enough to break out of the sword domain. Unable to alter his brother''s fate, he pushed down the grief in his heart and fled into the distance.


    Sword lights rippled through the air as Wu Yuan arrived before Jin Ming, three earthy-yellow divine swords orbiting his body like silent sentinels.


    Jin Ming, his face twisted in desperation, still clung to his artifacts, struggling against the inevitable.


    "Ming Jian," Jin Ming gritted his teeth, his eyes locking onto Wu Yuan��s with a mixture of fear and defiance. "Spare me, and I''ll give you all the treasures I carry."


    "You may kill those Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators, but you can''t kill me. I''m a genius of the Immortal Hall," Jin Ming pressed urgently, grasping at any thread that could save his life.


    "You''re a genius of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. There''s no need to make the Voltari Temple your mortal enemy," Jin Ming added, a glimmer of hope shing in his eyes as he attempted to reason with his opponent. In his view, since Wu Yuan hadn''t killed him outright, perhaps he was reluctant to make him an enemy.


    "Enmity?" Wu Yuan''s voice dripped with cold amusement. "This is the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. Whether you kill me or I kill you, it��s all within the rules."


    The sneer on his lips sent a chill down Jin Ming��s spine. He stood stunned, his mind reeling as he realized there was no escape.


    "The reason I didn''t kill you immediately is simple," Wu Yuan continued coldly. "I know the Archimmortals and Archdeities of the Immortal Court''s War Temple are surely watching this battle." His gaze bore into Jin Ming��s, as if staring at the many Archimmortals and Archdeities of the Voltari Temple observing through the voidrealm.


    "I, Ming Jian, now tell you this," Wu Yuan dered.


    "You can notify those teams hunting me of my coordinates," he continued, his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity. d in blood-red robes, Wu Yuan seemed to radiate an endless killing intent. "Today, I''m not going anywhere.


    I''ll wait right here to battle all whoe.��


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a final, decisive motion, the three divine swords streaked across the sky. Jin Ming��s cry of rage and despair was cut short as his artifacts were sent flying, and the des sliced clean through his body.


    Jin Ming was dead!


    ...


    In the observation space of the Voltari Immortal Voidrealm, hundreds of Archimmortals, Astral Lords, and Astral Monarchs sat in stunned silence.


    Wu Yuan''s arrogant roar still echoed in their ears: "Today, I''ll wait right here to battle all whoe!"


    In the observation space of the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, a simr silence reigned. None of the Archeldritches or Archimmortals had expected such audacity from Wu Yuan.


    <i>How audacious. </i>The figure shrouded in ck robes quietly praised, a hint of admiration in his voice. <i>Truly worthy of being the Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple. He''s already broken the highest kill record.</i>

 Chapter 552: Breakthrough, Earth and Wood Abnormaly (1)

    <h4>Chapter 552: Breakthrough, Earth and Wood Abnormaly (1)</h4>


    In the special observation hall, the ck-robed figure remained invisible to all but the three Astral Monarchs, concealed from the gaze of the other Archimmortals and Archeldritches.


    As his eyes fell upon three Astral Monarchs, the surrounding light distorted, ensuring none of the others could perceive his presence.


    ��Sir," The three Astral Monarchs immediately rose, bowing slightly in deference.


    Despite all sharing the title of Astral Monarch, their statuses varied greatly. These three, tasked with overseeing the mid and entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields, were among the least prominent of their peers.


    They were acutely aware of the formidable power and status of the ck-robed figure standing before them, who controlled the entire intelligencework of the Eldritch World, marking him as one of the top Astral Monarchs in strength and influence.


    "This Ming Jian has broken the billion-year battlefield record, rendering a significant contribution. He should be granted the rank of king," the ck-robed figure''s voice was otherworldly.


    The three Astral Monarchs listened intently.


    King? Typically, a fighter needed to umte one billion ethercrystalurels and lead a great army to breach an enemy war base to earn such a title. However, Ming Jian��s invincibility on the battlefield and his record-breaking kills made it reasonable to warrant this title.


    "Moreover, this battle has demonstrated the might of our Eldritch Court camp. It should be widely publicized to boost the morale of the entire eldritch world," the figure continued.


    "Understood," the three Astral Monarchs replied in unison.


    While a peerless genius breaking a kill record in the entry-level battlefields might not shift the broader bnce of power between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple, publicizing it would undoubtedly bolster morale.


    Thepetition between the two great powers had raged for endless years, spanning from minor skirmishes in small worldlets to grand battles in vast immortal nation nes. The conflict extended from the battles of Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle geniuses to duels between top powerhouses.


    This was an all-epassingpetition from the microscopic to the macroscopic level, each side striving to umte small victories to build unstoppable momentum toward ultimate victory.


    On arger scale, the war between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple spanning trillions of years was just a fragment of the endless warfare between the Eldritch Court and the Immortal Court. Yet, both sides fought with relentless determination, understanding that every advantage, however small, mattered.


    The fact that Ming Jian broke the kill record was a testament to the Eldritch Court''s growing advantage on the entry-level battlefields.


    "Sir, should we recall Ming Jian?" one of the Astral Monarchs asked cautiously.


    "Recall?" The ck-robed figure shook his head slightly. "He is ultimately not a genius of our eldritch world. Whatever choice he makes is his own business.


    If the Eternal Sun Immortal World wishes to recall him, they will notify us.


    Your only concern should be ensuring that the Voltari Temple adheres to the rules and does not bully the weak. We established the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, and we must uphold its rules," the ck-robed figure said softly.


    "Beyond that, everything depends on Ming Jian himself. If he dies, it will be the Eternal Sun Immortal World that will have cause for outrage."


    The three Astral Monarchs understood the implicit meaning.


    If the Immortal Court amassed a force of geniuses and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, and Ming Jian chose to fight to the death without retreating, his demise would be seen as a natural consequence of battle, with no one to me. Furthermore, there was a deeper implication: if Ming Jian were to fall, it would likely escte the conflict between the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Voltari Temple.


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World��s decision to send most of its immortal cultivators to the Eldritch Court camp for tempering already spoke volumes.


    The hatred between these factions, built up over long ages, would only deepen until it eventually erupted in full.


    ...


    In the observation hall of the Voltari Temple Voidrealm, the atmosphere was starkly different. The Archimmortal Astral Lords exchanged uneasy nces, none daring to speak.


    If Wu Yuan had simply broken the record through gradual umtion of kills, it might have been easier to ept. But he had annihted their hunting squads and imed the top spot with undeniable dominance, an oue that was deeply humiliating.


    Should other Archimmortals or Astral Lords of the Voltari Temple hear the news, they might discuss how ��the younger generation of the temple can��tpare to ours��, or ''the youngsters these days arecking'', without giving it much further thought.


    After all, the rise of one or two Amethyst Cradle phase geniuses from the Eternal Sun Immortal World had no significant impact on them. Even a prodigy like Jiang Huan, capable of challenging Archimmortals, wouldn��t affect the broader situation or shift the overall bnce of power.


    But the Archimmortals and Astral Lords present in this observation space couldn��t remain indifferent. They were responsible for the mid and entry-level battlefields, ensuring that the Immortal Court camp maintained superiority in these areas. Yet, an opponent from the Eldritch Court camp had shattered the billion-year kill record, an event that starkly highlighted their ring ipetence!


    "This is a disgrace!" Finally, the silver-robed Astral Monarch, one of the two seated at the highest position, spoke with icy anger. "I will request the Immortal Sovereign for ten thousand years of service as penance."


    "I will do the same," the other Astral Monarch added, his voice equally resolute.


    The atmosphere in the great hall grew even more oppressive, the tension palpable. Even a needle falling would likely make the nearly one thousand Archimmortals and Astral Lords jump.


    Those directly responsible for supervising Battlefield 36 felt their hearts pounding with such intensity that it threatened to burst from their chests. If even the two Astral Monarchs overseeing the entire Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield were voluntarily epting punishment, how could they expect any leniency?


    "And you Archimmortals responsible for supervising the entry-level battlefields will be penalized with fifty thousand years of service," the silver-robed Astral Monarch dered coldly.


    Not a single Archimmortal dared to object.


    "The Archimmortals responsible for supervising Battlefield 36 will participate in Battlefield 1 as fighters for a million years before they may return," the silver-robed Astral Monarch issued the final punishment.


    The faces of those Archimmortals drained of color. Among the dozens of Eldritch-Immortal battlefields, Battlefield 1 was the most terrifying, a high-level battlefield. Throughout history, how many Archimmortals had fallen there? Even many Astral Lords had perished.


    Fighting for a million years in such a ce meant facing a death probability exceeding fifty percent.


    "Understood," these Archimmortals responded, their voicesced with resignation. At least they hadn��t been sentenced to immediate death.


    As for the other Archimmortals, they felt a wave of relief wash over them. Everyone knew that the me didn��t rest solely on these few Archimmortals, but someone had to be held ountable for the loss in what could be considered the most crucial entry-level battle in ten billion years.


    With the punishments dispensed, the next matter at hand was determining their strategy for dealing with Ming Jian.


    "This Ming Jian," the silver-robed Astral Monarch began, his voice resonating with cold fury, "no matter which Astral Monarch or Immortal Sovereign of the Eternal Sun Immortal World he serves under, he must be punished for daring to provoke our Voltari Temple like this.


    At the very least, as long as he remains on the battlefield, we must do everything in our power to deal with him.


    His strength is formidable, but an Amethyst Cradle cultivator dominating the battlefield unchallenged? That is uneptable.


    Ry my order: the remaining twenty-one teams on the maind are to gather as quickly as possible, unite, and eliminate him.


    Furthermore, increase the bounty for killing Ming Jian to ten thousand divine crystals and twenty Dao Temple points."


    ...


    As the higher echelons of the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court camps began coordinating their responses, news of Ming Jian breaking the highest kill record spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves across the eighteen entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields.


    Every participant in the Eldritch Court camp received this news in their personal hall within the eldritch voidrealm.


    "Ming Jian?"


    "A peerless genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World broke the billion-year ethercrystalurel record?"


    "The ethercrystalurel record��that��s the kill record!"


    "3.2 billion ethercrystalurels! How many powerhouses from the Immortal Court camp did he kill?"


    "That��s equivalent to single-handedly ughtering millions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators!"


    "And he did it in just over ten years."


    "Unbelievable!"


    "The eldritch world is directly granting him the title of king. It��s been announced across the entire battlefield."


    "Ming Jian is the most extraordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator I��ve ever seen!"


    "King-rank fighter." The trillions of participants across the eighteen entry-level battlefields buzzed with fervent discussion.


    Even for those who couldn��t fully grasp the magnitude of 3.2 billion ethercrystalurels breaking the billion-year entry-level battlefield kill record was enough to exin everything.


    One billion years��a span of time so vast it made even Archimmortals tremble. More than 99% of Archimmortals didn��t live to a billion years of age.


    ...


    "What?"


    "Teng Duo, Jin Ming, Yin Ming, and their team of over a dozen Void Refiner-level powerhouses actually lost?"


    "How is that possible?" The news rippled through the many geniuses of the Fourth Immortal Hall like a shockwave.


    Their first reaction was disbelief. Yes, Teng Duo wasn��t the strongest in the Fourth Immortal Hall, but with their team��s configuration, even the number one genius of the Fourth Immortal Hall would struggle to defeat them.


    Yet they had been soundly defeated by Wu Yuan.


    Swiftly, dozens of geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall, along with numerous Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, descended upon Battlefield 36. TAll of them received detailed intelligence.


    "First-degree immortal root!"


    "Confirmed first-degree immortal root, soul suspected to have reached the Yuan Soul level. All fighters must possess soul defense spirion equipment to participate in the battle against Ming Jian." This news left these peerless geniuses from the Immortal Court dumbfounded.


    A first-degree immortal root, dual Intermediate Laws, and a Yuan Soul?


    "This is the most monstrous type of genius, one that might not appear even once in a million years across the entire macrocosm."


    "Innate first-degree immortal root?"


    "His Daoprehension aptitude isn��t overly terrifying. The most monstrous prodigies in history, like Chang Hong of the eldritch world, spent hundreds of years cultivating at the Amethyst Cradle phase to reach the sixth-level True Intent stage of a single Intermediate Law."


    "No, judging by his rapid progress in the Longevity Dao, this Ming Jian��s cultivation period is likely not long��probably no more than 200 years."


    "Regardless of his age, just in terms of soul��Yuan Soul at Amethyst Cradle phase? In the past billion-year history of the macrocosm, this Ming Jian is likely among the absolute top, at least in the top ten."


    "We��re dealing with one of the top geniuses in history?" This realization weighed heavily on the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses of the Immortal Hall.


    Indeed, they were all geniuses, the cream of the crop selected by the Voltari Temple from millions of immortal continents, each capable of defeating enemies at higher phases. Barring premature death, they were almost certain to be Archimmortals.


    But even among geniuses, there were differences. Ming Jian was one who could contend with the most monstrous prodigies in the long history of the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    "Kill him."


    "Whether for the rewards or for the glory of our Voltari Temple, we must kill him." The Immortal Hall geniuses were equally incensed by Ming Jian��s final, arrogant words.


    Their upbringing had instilled in them an unyielding loyalty to the Immortal Court and a deep-seated hatred for their enemies, cultivated over trillions of years of war.


    "One-on-one, we��re no match for him."


    "Let��s join forces."


    "With dozens of us united, plus over 300 Void Refiner-level powerhouses, we��ll overwhelm him. He can��t possibly have enough mana to defeat us all."


    "Kill!"


    Quickly, the Immortal Hall geniuses who had been scattered across the maind battlefield began to converge on a single point. Once they were fully assembled, they wouldunch an all-out assault on Ming Jian��s location.

 Chapter 553: Breakthrough, Earth and Wood Abnormaly (2)

    <h4>Chapter 553: Breakthrough, Earth and Wood Abnormaly (2)</h4>


    While the vast majority of Immortal Hall geniuses were filled with righteous indignation and burning with the intent to kill Wu Yuan, some within their ranks were merely pretending to share the sentiment.


    Among them was Teng Duo, who had barely escaped with his life. Blending into the crowd, he muttered to himself. <i>A bunch of fools. The higher-ups are fools, and those under them are no better. Ming Jian, who had previously avoided direct confrontation, dared appear before me and initiate a battle. His strength must have greatly increased.</i>


    <i>He''s a scheming fox. Would such a sly person provoke us so arrogantly if he didn��t have the power to back it up?</i>


    Despite these thoughts, Teng Duo struggled to believe that Wu Yuan could truly face off against dozens of Immortal Hall geniuses alone. After all, if Wu Yuan had such incredible power, why had he allowed Teng Duo to escape in their previous encounter?


    However, Teng Duo had already been frightened out of his wits by Wu Yuan.


    <i>When we engage, I''ll act ording to the situation.</i> His gaze shifted to the red-eyed, silver-robed demonic youth in the distance.<i> That fool Yin Ming, still nursing resentment and seeking revenge for his brother��s death? </i>


    <i>Hmph, when it came to fleeing, you weren��t any slower than me.</i> Teng Duo sneered internally.


    Without hesitation, he stealthily moved to the rear of the formation, ready to slip away at the first sign of danger. His mastery of the Wind Dao meant few among this group of geniuses could match his speed of escape.


    ...


    While the upper echelons of the two major camps were shaken and billions of participants were in an uproar, Wu Yuan remained mostly unaware of the chaos he had caused.


    After collecting the spoils of war from over ten Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses and Jin Ming, Wu Yuan darted to a location about a million li away from where the battle had taken ce. There, he burrowed several hundred li deep into the earth, the deepest the unseen rules of the battlefield would allow.


    Though he had seemed arrogant in provoking the Immortal Court camp, Wu Yuan wasn��t foolish enough to stay in ce and wait for them.


    If the enemy gathered a vast army of millions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators and tens of thousands of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses to besiege him, Wu Yuan would flee without hesitation.


    With his Soul Will covering a range of a million li, he could easily monitor the situation above ground, while remaining virtually undetectable himself.


    As he sat in lotus position within the meditation chamber of his spirion battleship, Wu Yuan reflected on his master''s instructions. <i>Master instructed me to perform well and showcase the full extent of my qi refiner self��s talent.</i>


    Yet, he knew better than to reveal everything. <i>I shouldn��t fully unleash the Celestial Body Dao unless absolutely necessary.</i> Wu Yuan had always adhered to the principle of keeping an ace up his sleeve.


    Why hadn��t he been able to deal a blow to the newly formed Soul Will of the Elysian Field powerhouses with the ��Soulshake Seal�� secret art?


    The answer was twofold: first, Wu Yuan had not spent much time cultivating the secret art, thus had yet to reach a high level; second, and more importantly, he had only revealed a small fraction of his Yuan Soul strength, equivalent to a soul that had just evolved to the Yuan Soul level.


    <i>My Yuan Soul is nearly as powerful as that of a High Immortal. If I unleashed its full power, I could probably destroy Void Refiner-level powerhouses with average souls and no soul defense treasures just by executing the ��Soul Destruction Needle�� art, which I��ve barely grasped</i>.


    Yet, doing so would be too abnormal, and the observing Archimmortals and Astral Lords would quickly deduce that Wu Yuan''s soul strength had already surpassed that of ordinary Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches.


    <i>I should listen to Master, but notpletely. After all, even though Master Kua Chi sensed my Yuan Soul, he probably never imagined my Yuan Soul would be this powerful.</i> Wu Yuan mulled over his master��s advice.


    After oveing the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, Wu Yuan had realized that his Yuan Soul was not much different from ordinary Yuan Souls as long as he didn��t unleash its full power.


    Besides generating multiple Yuan Soul lights, Yuan Souls could inherently perceive strengths and weaknesses.


    <i>If the Immortal Court camp continues to send small teams of geniuses, they deserve to suffer heavy losses. Hopefully, they��ll give me a chance to demonstrate my abilities.</i>


    As he pondered silently, shes of insight began to crystallize in Wu Yuan''s mind. He continued to converge and reorganize his innumerable insights into the Longevity Dao.


    There was a reason Wu Yuan dared to act so arrogantly while hiding part of his strength.


    The intense life-and-death struggle with Teng Duo, Jin Ming, and the others, coupled with the repeated use of sword domain, arcane arts, and movement techniques, had put extreme pressure on Wu Yuan. A single mistake could have meant death, as the body of a qi refiner was incredibly fragile.


    But while treading the line between life and death, coupled with his previous umtion of insights that left him just a hair''s breadth from breakthrough, Wu Yuan unconsciously grasped a fleeting inspiration.


    <i>The endless cycle of life... the eternal spring of all living beings! </i>Wu Yuan thought, a revtion dawning upon him. <i>The Longevity Dao isn��t about pursuing an explosive burst of life force, but rather a kind of endless, continuous vitality...</i>


    As Wu Yuan''s understanding deepened, the myriad profundities of the Lesser Laws under the Longevity Dao began to converge into one.


    A surging Dao aura silently enveloped Wu Yuan, and countless green vines materialized around him, pulsing with more vitality and vigor than before. A hazy green light radiated from these vines, enveloping Wu Yuan��s body in a soft glow.


    At that moment, unbeknownst to anyone, a peerless genius who had reached the True Intent stage of two Intermediate Laws at the Amethyst Cradle phase was born here in the depths of the earth.


    ...


    Having just grasped the True Intent of the Longevity Dao, countless insights flowed through Wu Yuan��s mind. He seized the moment, delving deeper into his understanding.


    Time seemed to stretch, both long and short, as the hazy Dao aura around Wu Yuan slowly dissipated, leaving only the illusory vines hovering around him.


    <i>Longevity True Intent.</i> Wu Yuan mused, feeling the astonishing power coursing through him. <i>Toprehend Longevity True Intent in just seventy years... this speed is probably close to some of those monstrous prodigies with a Longevity Dao Body</i>. He was quite pleased with his progress.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride at his aplishments in two Daos.


    <i>In thest few decades, I��ve improved step by step. In terms of Daoprehension speed, my former and current senior brothers and sisters probably can''t match me now.</i>


    Previously, after gaining sufficient authorization, Wu Yuan had done extensive research into his master''s other disciples.


    Most of them were qi refiners, unable to possess two true selves. In the grand scheme, this was heaven''s gift to body refiners who struggled with perceiving the Destiny Voidscape.


    However, even among the few senior brothers and sisters who primarily cultivated body refining, the talent of their qi refiner selves was mostly inferior to Wu Yuan''s own.


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension talent, either of my two true selves could approach the level of those top monstrous prodigies in history. Combining their talents, I��m definitely at the pinnacle.</i>


    Such talent was already terrifyingly formidable. All he needed was time to fully convert that talent into tangible power.


    <i>If I��m able to exhibit such power when solely applying the True Intent of Longevity when manifesting a Domain, what about when the two True Intentsbine?</i> Once this thought entered his mind, Wu Yuan immediately set out to test it.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Ayer of hazy earth-yellow light appeared, merging with the original green glow.


    Normally, the domains of two immortal cultivators were ipatible, but the domains of a single cultivator, originating from the same source, could be oveid and manifested together.


    <i>Although both are only at the first-level True Intent stage in power, oveying them should lead to a level stronger than a single Intermediate Law at the third-level True Intent stage... </i>Wu Yuan understood the potential ofbining two True Intents or Dao Fields. He could easily obtain such knowledge from the eldritch voidrealm.


    But as the Longevity True Intent and Celestial Body True Intent ovepped, something unexpected urred��the two True Intents merged perfectly, without the slightest w, amodating each other seamlessly.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>The power of Wu Yuan��s domain surged, and the vines seemed to draw nourishment from the earth, their strength exploding! They began to look far more realistic, as if they were about to burst forth from the earth.


    If not for the limited space in the meditation chamber, Wu Yuan believed that this eruption would surely shatter the earth.


    <i>This! What''s going on? </i>Wu Yuan was stunned, unable toprehend how thebination of the two True Intents had produced such a special change.


    The power of the domain before him was now far stronger than that of a single True Intent��more than tenfold stronger.


    <i>The domain bes real.</i> Wu Yuan realized, his sharp insight quickly piecing together the truth. <i>This power can only be achieved at the fourth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.</i>


    <i>But how is this possible?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, still reeling from the revtion. <i>The Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao don��t belong to the same Greater Law.</i>


    He knew that the essence of heaven and earth was vast, with various Daos governing different aspects.


    When Daos of different sourcesbined, their overall power increased, but not dramatically. For Daos of the same source, oncebined or even fused, their power could grow ten or hundredfold.


    The Celestial Body Dao, for example, epassed the Lesser Laws of Gravity, Land, and Earth Origin.


    Even for the Land Dao, which Wu Yuan hadprehended the deepest, he had only reached the ninth-level True Intent stage, while for Gravity and Earth Origin, he had only reached the second-level True Intent stage. Yet, they all originated from the same source!


    Wu Yuan��s body refiner self had devoted ny-nine percent of its energy to integrating the profundities of these three Daos. Once perfectly fused, the three Lesser Laws evolved into the Intermediate Law of the Celestial Body, and its power had immediately surged!


    If I hadprehended the two Intermediate Laws of Celestial Body and Force, both of which are part of the Earth Dao, I would be able to disy immense power just bybining them, even without fusion. Wu Yuan thought, his mind racing.


    <i>But the Longevity Dao is part of the Wood Dao, and the Celestial Body Dao is part of the Earth Dao. Can these two True Intents also bebined?</i>


    Although Wu Yuan found it hard to believe, he ultimately had to entertain a possibility: the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao might originate from the same mysterious Greater Law! This Greater Law was definitely neither Earth nor Wood.


    <i>Back then, Master Nan Yin insisted that my qi refiner selfprehend the Longevity Dao... </i>Wu Yuan recalled a scene from years ago. At this moment, he vaguely understood Master Nan Yin''s deeper intentions.


    Wu Yuan��s thoughts were interrupted as his Soul Force detected something. <i>Hmm? Are they finally here?</i>

 Chapter 554: Renowned Across The Macrocosm (1)

    <h4>Chapter 554: Renowned Across The Macrocosm (1)</h4>


    The process of Wu Yuan''s breakthrough was swift. The true time-consuming aspecty in the days of cultivation preceding his advancement to the True Intent stage. Having alreadyprehended the Longevity Dao to the ninth-level Domain stage, he needed only a spark of enlightenment during battle to propel him forward in one seamless breakthrough.


    <i>In just two days, they''ve all rushed over. They sure are fast.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    His Soul Will, actively maintained within a radius of one million li, quickly detected the formidable team from the Immortal Court approaching his position.


    In fact, over the past two days, several teams had crossed through Wu Yuan��s perception range, though most were rtively weak. Thergest of these groupsprised merely dozens of Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    However, as Wu Yuan was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough and the blood mist had reached its saturation point, he chose not to act. Having already shattered the kill record, there wasn��t much point in further confrontation.


    But now, this iing team was different. The imposing auras of its members were impossible to ignore.


    <i>41 Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, 327 Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators. Quite the massive team. </i>Wu Yuan observed through his Soul Will.


    <i>Hmm, Teng Duo is among them, but despite his strength, he��s at the very back? Could those Amethyst Cradle cultivators be stronger than Teng Duo?</i> Wu Yuan found it hard to believe.


    Teng Duo, with a second-degree immortal root and Daoprehension at the third-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law, was already a top-tier genius within the Amethyst Cradle phase under normal circumstances.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s intel, no Amethyst Cradle genius in this era hadprehended the fourth-level True Intent of an Intermediate Law, whether in the Origin Eldritch Field or the Immortal Hall.


    Even in the Third Origin Eldritch Field, where countless Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators had trained for millennia, fewer than a hundred had reached the fourth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law. The threshold between the third and fourth levels of True Intent was notoriously difficult to cross.


    <i>In the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, producing even one Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivator who hasprehended the fourth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law would take thousands of years. </i>Wu Yuan had learned this from historical cultivation records.


    Knowing this, Wu Yuan was confident that his talent ranked among the most elite in the history of the macrocosm from the day he overcame the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion. His abilities wereparable to those of Luo Gu and Senior Brother Jiang Huan, if not superior.


    <i>Yan Dan and An Heng are at the forefront? </i>Wu Yuan noticed two familiar faces, both geniuses he had previously detected on the maind with his Soul Will. In terms of strength, both ranked in the top ten within the Fourth Immortal Hall.


    In the beginning, Teng Duo, Yan Dan, and An Heng each led a squad to Battlefield 36 to capture Wu Yuan. Unfortunately, they couldn��t find any trace of him.


    <i>Teng Duo must be frightened of me now, unwilling to take the lead.</i> Wu Yuan thought, smiling. Some cultivators were naturally cautious.


    <i>The Voltari Temple truly spared no expense.</i> Wu Yuan reflected. <i>Though not an overwhelming army, they certainly didn��t hold back on dispatching Immortal Hall geniuses.</i>


    Wu Yuan was certain that, after thest battle, the Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators confronting him this time had likely all developed Soul Wills. As for those dozens of geniuses? Their protective artifacts would only be stronger.


    <i>The Voltari Temple''s higher-ups probably feared that sending too many would scare me off. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    For this battle, the initiative was entirely in Wu Yuan��s hands. Whether to fight or flee was up to his whims.


    <i>The Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao both stem from the same mysterious Greater Law; this is undoubtedly good news. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes gleamed. <i>Afterward, I��ll seek verification from my two Masters.</i>


    <i>For now, let��s handle the immediate threat. </i>Wu Yuan sensed that the vast iing army of the Immortal Court was nearing the previous battleground.


    <i>Before my breakthrough, I��d have no hope of winning against so many peerless geniuses without unleashing my Yuan Soul��s power. </i>Wu Yuan smiled, eyes gleaming with killing intent. <i>But now? This is perfect!</i>


    <i>Master wants me to showcase my talent, so I��ll use your blood to demonstrate my aptitude for the Longevity Dao.</i> Wu Yuan stowed away his spirion battleship, activated voidrealm surveince, and exited the cave.


    Although his qi refiner self was a member of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, given a perfectly justifiable opportunity, Wu Yuan didn��t mind ying a few more geniuses from the Voltari Temple.


    The more such geniuses he killed, the fewer future Archimmortals or Astral Lords would join the ranks of the Voltari Temple, thereby increasing the odds of the Cang Feng Eldritch World��s ultimate victory.


    ...


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within a special observation space, a group of Archimmortals, Archeldritches, and several Astral Monarchs gathered. With their prowess, splitting their focus to observe the battle was effortless.


    News of Ming Jian breaking the entry-level battlefield kill record had piqued the interest of many Archeldritches and Archimmortals from the eldritch world. Now, over three thousand Archeldritches and Archimmortals were observing the battle in real time.


    "It has begun."


    "Ming Jian has appeared."


    "Ming Jian is still on the maind. Is he truly going to fight?��


    "With his power, the Voltari Temple��s forces won��t be able to stop him from leaving if they��re weak." When the images appeared on the massive light screen, the observation space buzzed with discussion.


    But soon, the Archeldritches and Archimmortals were stunned.


    "What? Is that Teng Duo? And so many others?"


    "Of the Immortal Hall��s top hundred geniuses, nearly half have joined the battle, plus hundreds of Void Refiner-level cultivators!!"


    "Can Ming Jian win?"


    "Is he really nning to fight? Is he mad?" Some Archeldritches and Archimmortals were puzzled.


    They didn��t care whether Ming Jian lived or died. At the end of the day, he wasn��t a genius from the eldritch world. But the news of Ming Jian breaking the kill record had just been publicized. If he was killed shortly after that by dozens of Immortal Court geniuses, it would be trulyughable.


    "Let��s watch and see."


    "Such peerless geniuses are prideful and won��t retreat without a fight."


    "With Ming Jian��s strength, he should survive even if things go south." Over three thousand Archeldritches and Archimmortals shared the same thought.


    ...


    In the Voltari Temple Voidrealm��s observation space, the atmosphere was different.


    "Ming Jian has appeared."


    "He��s really here, bold indeed. Kill him."


    "Kill him." Nearly a thousand Archimmortals from the Voltari Temple muttered under their breaths, their gazes filled with malice.


    As the cause of their punishment, it was only natural that they harbored unadulterated resentment toward Wu Yuan.


    ...


    The higher echelons of both factions observed the battlefield through the voidrealm, yet neither side intended to break the rules. Everything was to be settled within the boundaries of the rules.


    In the end, Ming Jian was a peerless genius of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. No matter how dazzling his performance, it wasn��t worth starting a war between the Voltari Temple and Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    <i>Battlefield 36, on a vast deste in.</i>


    After two days, the damage and destruction from the previous sh had already been automatically repaired by the battlefield.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>41 Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses and 327 Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators all transformed into streaks of light, swiftly approaching.


    "Where is Ming Jian?"


    "Haven��t found him. Where could he be? Is he toying with us?"


    "His soul is strong. It��s likely a Yuan Soul, with a vast perception range. Perhaps after seeing our numbers, he got scared and fled..." The hundreds of powerhouses of the Immortal Court discussed amongst themselves.


    But soon, they halted in their tracks, falling silent.


    <i>Swish!</i> A streak of blood-red light tore across the sky, revealing a red-cloaked figure sixty thousand li in the distance. He gazed down at them with cold eyes.


    "He��s still here! It��s Ming Jian."


    "It��s him."


    "Truly audacious. Even after seeing our numbers, he dares to wait here alone?" The dozens of geniuses and hundreds of powerhouses from the Immortal Court camp burst intomotion after a brief silence.


    Their eyes were all fixed on Wu Yuan.


    Only a few geniuses and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses sensed the immense danger posed by Wu Yuan, maintaining their vignce.


    The two sides didn��t exchange words; there was no need.


    "Kill!" Dongli Zhen, the number one genius of the Fourth Immortal Hall in this era andmander of the team, gave the order!


    <i>Boom! </i>Dozens of geniuses from the Immortal Hall, and hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators, transformed into streaks of light, charging toward Wu Yuan.


    Yin Ming, whose strength was average among these geniuses, was one of the fastest.


    <i>A bunch of fools. Even after seeing our overwhelming numbers, Ming Jian dared to take his stand. He must be confident in his survival. This reckless bunch. </i>Teng Duo, despite being one of the strongest, lingered at the back with the Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses, ready to run at the slightest sign of trouble.


    Even if there was only a one percent chance that Wu Yuan could win, Teng Duo wasn''t willing to take that risk.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Sixty thousand li wasn��t far for Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses. In just a few breaths, they had closed the distance, stopping only ten thousand li from him.


    Wu Yuan, cloaked in red robes and surrounded by nine lifebound flying swords, quietly watched them from afar.


    <i>The time hase. Peerless geniuses? Today, I, Wu Yuan, will y them all.</i> His gaze turned icy cold.


    A genius? A dead genius was no genius.


    ��Kill!��


    <i>Boom!</i> Massive cauldrons materialized around Dongli Zhen, erupting into a maelstrom of fire. A tidal wave of searing heat and blinding light surged forward.


    "Go!" An Heng, one of the top ten peerless geniuses of the Immortal Hall,manded. Golden lights erupted from his body, spreading out over ten thousand li. Within the golden glow, countless swords interwove, instantly forming a massive sword array.


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, the two prodigies of the Immortal Hall, positioned nearly ten thousand li apart, simultaneously deployed their domains,unching a devastating attack on Wu Yuan.


    "Attack!" At the same time, 36 Amethyst Cradle cultivators and 307 Void Refiner Eminences spread out in formation. Not a single one of them was a weakling. They collectively unleashed a barrage of arcane arts that nketed the sky, bombarding Wu Yuan.


    Without assembling a proper array, the arcane arts executed by hundreds of cultivators interfered with each other, yet theirbined might was still terrifyingly potent, capable of overwhelming any ordinary ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan suddenly erupted like a supernova. His flying swords materialized, moving with blinding speed. The massive Thousand Swords Array expanded rapidly��one hundred li, one thousand li, three thousand li!


    In the blink of an eye, the Star Ruins Sword Array, resembling a celestial body, covered an area three thousand li wide. This array was renowned for its defensive capabilities.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Almost simultaneously, ayer of hazy green light spread from within, permeating every part of the celestial body until it reached the surface, merging with the entire structure. It was as if the celestial body had transformed from earthy yellow to a pale green.


    If one could peer inside, they would notice countless green threads resembling vines intertwined with the earthy-yellow aura emanating from each flying sword, forming an intricatework. The entire star formed by the sword array no longer appeared illusory but almost tangible!


    Wu Yuan stood protected at its very core.


    <i>Rumble!</i> A fiery dragon and a golden sword array, two powerful domains, were the first to crash against the array, followed by hundreds of arcane arts raining down.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Countless waves of essentia and mana shed, and myriad Laws of the Dao collided, their shockwaves reverberating a hundred thousand li into the distance, yet seemingly to no effect.


    It was like a massive waterfall crashing against an unyielding boulder��water sshing wildly, impressive in sight and sound, yet unable to make the boulder budge even slightly.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The overwhelming arcane arts slowly dissipated, while the domains of fire and golden light each upied a section of the space, continuing their relentless assault.


    However, the celestial body, three thousand li in diameter, stood firm, suffering only slight indentations on its surface. Even those were rapidly repaired, as if the great collision had been nothing but an illusion.


    "What?"


    "Impossible!"


    "How could Ming Jian withstand thebined might of hundreds of us alone?" In an instant, Dongli Zhen, Teng Duo, Yan Dan, An Heng, and the other peerless geniuses, along with the hundreds of Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators, were utterly dumbfounded!


    They knew Ming Jian was powerful, surpassing any one of them in strength. They also understood that Ming Jian must have a reason for his confidence.


    But they had only expected Ming Jian to execute some high-level movement skills or other special means to fight while retreating, dying for a while before withdrawing��that would have been extraordinary enough.


    Yet with their own eyes, they witnessed Ming Jian standing alone in the air, his sword array resembling a celestial body directly withstanding thebined assault of hundreds of Amethyst Cradle geniuses and Void Refiner-level cultivators.


    What sort of outrageous defense was this?


    Theirbined attack was capable of crushing ordinary ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivators, yet he had withstood it with ease.


    Without a doubt, Ming Jian''s strength had far surpassed that of a ninth-stage Void Refiner. An Amethyst Cradle cultivator disying power beyond a ninth-level Void Refiner?

 Chapter 555: Renowned Across the Macrocosm (2)

    <h4>Chapter 555: Renowned Across the Macrocosm (2)</h4>


    "How could such a monstrous prodigy exist?"


    "How is this possible!"


    "He withstood a joint attack of hundreds by himself?" In the Voltari Temple Voidrealm, a group of Archimmortals and Archdeities were in an uproar, their eyes fixed in disbelief on the projection before them.


    Wu Yuan''s strength had exceeded even their wildest expectations.


    "Dual Intermediate Laws at the True Intent stage."


    "This..."


    "We''re in trouble." The highly knowledgeable Astral Monarchs immediately grasped the gravity of the situation, their expressions shifting from shock to apprehension.


    They understood what this meant all too well. At this moment, they seemed to foresee the rise of an unparalleled powerhouse whose name would soon echo throughout the macrocosm.


    ...


    "He blocked it?"


    "How? It would take someone close to an Earth Immortal''s strength to achieve that, right?" The Archeldritch and Archimmortals observing from the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm were equally stunned. The scene unfolding before them defied all expectations.


    "Longevity True Intent stage, Celestial Body True Intent stage!"


    "He��sprehended the True Intent of two perfectlypatible Intermediate Laws." Several Astral Monarchs from the eldritch voidrealm were equally shocked, their disbelief evident.


    "He has won." The figure shrouded in ck robes revealed a faint smile, eyes gleaming with tion. "After billions of years, the Eldritch Sovereign will finally have another true sessor."


    He knew that Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had taken many disciples, but those truly worthy of being called sessors among his direct disciples numbered fewer than ten. Among those, only a handful had achieved true greatness. Wu Yuan had the potential to join them.


    The battle within Battlefield 36 raged on unabated, with the higher echelons of both camps watching closely through the voidrealms.


    <i>As expected, I��m able to withstand itpletely. The leap from the third to fourth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law is akin to the transition from the third to fourth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law��a qualitative transformation</i>. Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Each Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law was a realm unto itself, with the third to fourth and sixth to seventh levels marking significant leaps.


    The third-level Dao Field stage was the standard Dao proficiency of ate-stage Earth Immortal. The fourth-level Dao Field stage, however, was the standard Dao proficiency of a First Tribtion High Immortal.


    With a thunderous roar, Wu Yuan sprang into action, propelling his massive celestial sword array toward the side engulfed in endless mes. His target��Dongli Zhen!


    <i>In terms of base mana, I''m nearly at the first-stage Void Refiner phase; in Daoprehension, I rival a First Tribtion High Immortal; as for artifacts, my nine lifebound flying swords are each close to mid-grade spirion artifacts, plus I have another 700-plus first-grade spirit equipment flying swords��surpassing most Void Refiner cultivators. </i>Wu Yuan reflected calmly. <i>While mybat power may not quite match an Earth Immortal''s, it''s not far off.</i>


    Historically, the most exceptional Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators could each unleash power on par with Earth Immortals.


    Compared to them, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehensiongged by two levels, but his stronger immortal rootpensated for it, leaving his overallbat strength only slightly below the Earth Immortal threshold.


    Nevertheless, such power was unrivaled among his peers in this era of the Greenridge Macrocosm. Even facing a group of the top geniuses selected from hundreds of millions of immortal continents, along with hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators, he could still dominate them in battle!


    <i>Rumble~</i> The colossal celestial body sword array surged forward, bulldozing its way through all obstructions. Theyers of mes in its path felt like nothing more than tickles, utterly failing to impede its advance.


    "Attack!" A dazzling barrage of arcane arts and countless artifacts rained down upon the advancing celestial body, their panicked fury reflected in the chaotic assault.


    Yet it was like water striking a boulder��barely slowing the celestial body''s inexorable advance, unable to make it budge in the slightest. Most crucially, the speed of this celestial body was terrifyingly swift.


    Soon, the massive celestial body was only three thousand li from the Immortal Court camp��s team. The geniuses and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses clustered around Dongli Zhen.


    "Kill!" More than ten Elysian Field powerhouses gritted their teeth and joined forces, swiftly transforming into giants thousands or tens of thousands of zhangs tall, charging toward the celestial body.


    With sickening crunches and thunderous booms, their bodies were obliterated in an instant, like eggs crushed beneath a boulder.


    All perished in a single moment!


    <i>With such a gap inbat power, and no array for support, did you truly think you could obstruct me? </i>Wu Yuan''s heart turned cold.


    When the disparity in strength reached a certain point, numbers became meaningless.


    Wu Yuan''s current power was not far from that of a true Earth Immortal. Meanwhile, these Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators were merely at the earliest stage of their phase.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuanmanded his sword array, pressing on with the assault.


    Seeing the instant annihtion of over ten Elysian Field powerhouses, panic set in.


    "Flee!"


    "Run!" The Immortal Hall geniuses and over a hundred Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses finally broke rank, all thoughts of fighting abandoned as they scattered in all directions, transforming into streaks of light.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, the group centered around An Heng likewise dissolved without a fight, beginning their frantic escape.


    "Retreat!"


    "Hurry!" Among the hundreds of fleeing light streams, a ck blur outpaced them all! In fact, it had begun its flight even before thest of the Elysian Field powerhouses had fallen.


    <i>I don''t need to be stronger than you��I just need to be faster. </i>Teng Duo thought in a panic as he fled with all his might.


    <i>Escape?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, a cold smile ying on his lips.<i> This is precisely what I''ve been waiting for.</i>


    With a thunderous rumble, the three-thousand-li celestial body sword array suddenly shifted. Ayer of hazy green and earthy yellow light descended, enveloping a hundred thousand li of space.


    An Earth Immortal had a domain range of ten thousand li with Daoprehension alone. With mana infusion, they could easily cover a hundred thousand li of space.


    High Immortals had a domain range of over a hundred thousand li of space with Daoprehension alone.


    Of course, without High Immortal-level mana to reinforce it, and with Wu Yuan having just stepped into this level, his vast domain was spread thin, and its power greatly diminished. Even killing a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse would prove challenging.


    But at the very least, it slowed the dozens of fleeing Immortal Hall geniuses and hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    Dongli Zhen, An Heng, and the other top-tier geniuses unleashed their full power in desperate flight. Each could burst forth with strength equivalent to the fifth or sixth-stage Void Refiner phase.


    <i>All of you can die now! </i>Wu Yuan''s speed was now unmatched. His nine lifebound flying swords coalesced into a sword array, forming nine terrifying divine swords that orbited within thirty thousand li of his body. This was the limit of Wu Yuan''s Amethyst Cradle mana''s influence.


    Then, the nine divine swords howled across the heavens, resembling nine cultivators surpassing the ninth-stage Void Refiner phase unleashing their power simultaneously, striking in different directions.


    "No!"


    "Mercy!"


    "Ming Jian, spare us!"


    "ughtering us all is tantamount to making an enemy of our Voltari Temple!" The Immortal Hall geniuses cried out in terror and despair.


    "You came to kill me; thus you should have been prepared to be killed," Wu Yuan replied coldly, unmoved.


    Sword lights carved through the void, producing stomach-turning sts and shearing cracks. Nearly every stroke imed the life of an Immortal Hall genius or Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse. None could withstand his strikes!


    Even the Shambh geniuses and Elysian Field powerhouses could only withstand a few more strikes with their formidable vitality.


    Wu Yuan''s ughter proceeded at a blistering pace. He made no effort to pursue any particr genius, nor did he deliberately choose his victims. He simply kept killing.


    "He''s gone mad!"


    "This Ming Jian truly has no fear of our Voltari Temple!" The Immortal Hall geniuses of the Voltari Temple despaired, fleeing for their lives.


    Yet no matter how swiftly they fled, they could not escape the vast reach of those divine swords. Thirty thousand li? It would take them two breaths just to fly that distance.


    Nine swords swept across the air!


    As for the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses? They no longer bothered to beg for mercy, focusing solely on escape. After all, if Wu Yuan dared to ughter a group of Immortal Hall geniuses, why would he spare them?


    Eight breathster, the battlefield finally fell silent.


    "Dongli Zhen is dead."


    "An Heng has fallen!"


    "Yan Dan perished as well."


    "Of the top ten geniuses, four took on the mission, and only Teng Duo survived." The dozen or so Immortal Hall geniuses and scores of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses who had narrowly escaped immediately boarded their spirion battleships and fled.


    Their only wish was to put as much distance as possible between themselves and that terrifying deity of death.


    Heavens above! They were all peerless geniuses, yet against Wu Yuan, it had been nothing short of a one-sided massacre.


    The air was littered with debris from the battle. Powerful equipment and storage artifacts floated amidst the carnage, silent testaments of the conflict that had just taken ce.


    <i>27 Immortal Hall geniuses, 254 Void Refiner-level powerhouses. Hmm, not bad, I killed the majority. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself as he floated in the air, countless flying swords returning to him. One by one, he collected the scattered artifacts.


    Wu Yuan made no move to pursue the fleeing geniuses of the Immortal Hall. There was no need for further threats or boasts; his performance had spoken volumes. His enemies were defeated, their spirits broken. That was enough.


    Twenty-seven peerless geniuses, all ranked within the top hundred of the Fourth Immortal Hall, had fallen in a single battle, ughtered by Wu Yuan alone, along with hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    The magnitude of his aplishment was unprecedented, a feat unmatched in the billion-year history of the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields.


    With a sweeping motion, Wu Yuan gathered all the treasures, not bothering to inspect them individually.


    <i>This battle will likely be spoken of for countless ages by future participants of the entry-level battlefields.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    Though fame was of little consequence to him, the thought of leaving his mark in history was intriguing.


    <i>It''s time to depart. </i>He thought, his gaze turning to the horizon. <i>There''s nothing left worth challenging in this entire entry-level battlefield. I doubt the Voltari Temple will dare send any more geniuses. My performance in this battle should be enough to satisfy Master Kua Chi.</i>


    With a blur of motion, Wu Yuan retracted his domain, which had spread across a hundred thousand li. He deactivated the voidrealm surveince function.


    After a quick nce at the map of the maind, he transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the nearest battlefield war base.

 Chapter 556: Renowned Across the Macrocosm (3)

    <h4>Chapter 556: Renowned Across the Macrocosm (3)</h4>


    In the special observation space within the Voltari Temple Voidrealm, a deathly silence reigned.


    The atmosphere was thick with tension, as the assembled Archimmortals and Archdeities dared not utter a single word.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the silver-robed Astral Monarch seated on the highest throne broke the silence.


    "Send out the order for all Immortal Hall geniuses to return to the Fourth Immortal Hall immediately. Also, abandon any further pursuit of Ming Jian."


    "Understood," several Archimmortals responded respectfully.


    All the Archimmortals and Archdeities understood �C the Astral Monarch had conceded defeat. The mighty Voltari Temple had no recourse against Ming Jian within the confines of the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield rules.


    Moreover, these Archimmortals and Archdeities knew that the Cang Feng Eldritch World would certainly make this battle public.


    Ming Jian, having carved his legend from the blood and bones of numerous Immortal Hall geniuses, would be renowned throughout the Greenridge Macrocosm, much like the monstrous prodigy Jiang Huan from the eldritch world not long ago.


    Furthermore, once Ming Jian left the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, the Voltari Temple would be powerless to pursue or kill him. With his unmatched talent, he was certain to attract the attention of the highest echelons within the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    So long as he survived, there was a 99% chance he would ascend to be an Astral Monarch-level powerhouse of the Eternal Sun Immortal World��perhaps even more.


    ...


    In stark contrast, the special observation space within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm was a cauldron of excitement and jubtion. The atmosphere buzzed with exhration as the Archimmortals and Archeldritches celebrated the oue.


    "Haha, excellent!"


    "He did well!"


    "Ming Jian ughtered that group of Immortal Hall weaklings like they were nothing more than chickens��a truly inconceivable genius."


    "Ming Jian is still very young, but once he matures, he might rival Jiang Huan. His potential to be an Astral Monarch in the future is high."


    "Indeed, he''s truly terrifying."


    "Who would have thought that the Eternal Sun Immortal World would produce such a monstrous prodigy?" The Archimmortals and Archeldritches continued their animated discussions, their voices echoing with admiration.


    Their hearts had all been utterly conquered by Wu Yuan''s heaven-defying performance.


    Jiang Huan had sent shockwaves through the eldritch world over the past several hundred thousand years, hailed as the number one genius of the current generation in the macrocosm, suppressing the younger generation of the Voltari Temple.


    And now, Ming Jian��merely at the Amethyst Cradle phase and with an uncertain future��was already beingpared to Jiang Huan by these seasoned Archimmortals and Archeldritches.


    One could imagine the shock this battle had delivered them.


    Though Ming Jian was a member of the Eternal Sun Immortal World��a fact some of the Archimmortals and Archeldritches found regrettable��the satisfaction they felt from this victory was undeniable.


    "Spread word of this battle. Let all corners of the macrocosm know of the Voltari Temple''s miserable defeat,"manded the Astral Monarch on the highest seat.


    ...


    Typically, the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields did not draw much attention. Even if a king-rank fighter emerged, it was usually only the Archimmortals, Archeldritches, and Archdeities in charge of the battlefield who took notice.


    This was akin to how most Astral Monarchs of the Bloodforge Devil Hall paid little attention to the Bloodforge Kings of Bloodforge Battles��let alone the super powerhouses of other great powers.


    In the eyes of the lofty, practically eternal Astral Monarchs, these were merepetitions among juniors. Over the long years, they had seen too many geniuses rise, fall, and fade into obscurity.


    But asionally, there were exceptions. And this was one such instance.


    Ming Jian had not only shattered the billion-year kill record of the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields but had also faced hundreds of enemies alone, ughtering dozens of peerless geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall and hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. His unparalleled talent had been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.


    A genius of this caliber was rare even in a million years across the entire macrocosm. It was no surprise that his name quickly caught the attention of many high-level figures within the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple.


    As the news spread, it also captured the interest of numerous super powerhouses in the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    "Amethyst Cradle phase, yet unleashing power close to an Earth Immortal?"


    "How old is he?"


    "Two Intermediate Laws at the True Intent stage? Longevity True Intent and Celestial Body True Intent?"


    "Ming Jian!"


    "He is undoubtedly the number one genius of our Eternal Sun Immortal World''s current era! Evenpared to the hundreds of thousands of High Immortals and High Deities in the Divine Hall, he is unquestionably first! Even in the divine court headquarters, he would be among the very best!"


    "What��s his background?"


    "It''s not clear yet." The news piqued the interest of many Astral Monarch-level super powerhouses within the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    Ordinary geniuses were beneath their notice. Even those with the potential to be Archimmortals or Astral Lords were of minimal consequence to them. But a monstrous prodigy who was almost certain to be an Astral Monarch? That was enough to prompt action.


    However, when these Astral Monarchs inquired further, they found no trace of Ming Jian��s background. No faction had any record of him.


    But soon, the information that ��Ming Jian is a soldier from the Huo Cang Region�� surfaced.


    Astral Monarch Huo Cang was an extremely powerful existence among Astral Monarchs. Yet, the Eternal Sun Immortal World was vast and boundless, with no shortage of equally powerful Astral Monarchs.


    "Huo Cang Region? Huo Cang, is he a genius under yourmand?" Many Astral Monarchs quickly sent inquiries to Astral Monarch Huo Cang.


    ...


    The Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, thergest and most advanced immortal voidrealm of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, was a ce of incredible mystery, with an interior that seemed to stretch into infinity.


    Countless immortals from millions of immortal continents interacted with each other actively here.


    At the highest point of the immense Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm stood several majestic immortal halls, suspended in the void as if they had existed since the dawn of time.


    Inside one of these grand halls, rows of slumbering, towering divine generals stood vigil on either side of the vast chamber.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A white-robed figure flew into the hall, his aura extraordinary, his appearance as handsome as jade��undoubtedly one of the finest, most elegant childes. A soaring sword intent emanated from him.


    He came to the center of the hall.


    "Disciple Dong Yang pays respects to Master, wishing Master longevity as enduring as heaven and earth." Sword Immortal Dong Yang bowed respectfully.


    "Dong Yang, it''s been a long time since west met, hasn''t it?" From the end of the throne, a voice rumbled forth��a voice like the roar of heaven and earth.


    A ck-robed figure stood there, a figure so imposing it seemed as though the heavens and earth themselves had descended.


    Before him, even the powerful Sword Immortal Dong Yang seemed diminutive.


    "Thest time I visited Master''s immortal hall was 260,000 years ago," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied respectfully.


    "I''ve kept you waiting on the sidelines. Do you harbor any resentment?" The ck-robed figure''s gaze bore down on him.


    "I dare not," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied, his voice respectful yetposed. "Master''s guidance aimed to set me directly upon the path of the Greater Law. It was my own foolishness that squandered your painstaking efforts."


    The ck-robed figure��s voice remained steady, but there was a hint of approval in his tone. "Indeed, you did waste my efforts. Yet you did not disappoint me entirely. Against all odds, you forged your own path��one no less impressive than what I had envisioned for you." He paused, then added with deliberate slowness, "To walk one''s own road... that ismendable."


    "Thank you, Master." Sword Immortal Dong Yang felt a flicker of excitement stir within him. He had waited 260,000 years to hear those words.


    "I summoned you here not only because of your own affairs but also concerning your disciple, Li Xia," the ck-robed figure continued. "You have carved your own path and, it seems, trained an exceptional disciple as well."


    "The credit should go to Li Xia''s natural talent," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied modestly, his tone sincere.


    The ck-robed figure��s voice rumbled like distant thunder. "You must be aware of his recent exploits."


    "Indeed." Sword Immortal Dong Yang nodded, unable to hide his amazement. "Senior Brother Huo Cang informed me. Even I, as his Master, am utterly astounded by his achievements."


    When Astral Monarch Huo Cang had ryed the news, Sword Immortal Dong Yang had found it nearly impossible to believe.


    Had Wu Yuan cultivated for centuries, such aplishments would have been less surprising. But Sword Immortal Dong Yang knew the truth that others did not��Wu Yuan had only cultivated for mere decades. Thus, the news had shaken him to his core.


    <i>My disciple''s insights into the Celestial Body Dao were already remarkable. But toprehend the Longevity Dao to the True Intent stage in just a few decades? How did he manage such a feat?</i> Sword Immortal Dong Yang had no idea.


    For both of a cultivator��s true selves to possess such extraordinary talent was almost unheard of. This kind of transformation in talent was terrifying, leaving Sword Immortal Dong Yang to suspect that his disciple must have encountered some inconceivable opportunity.


    "He is the direct disciple of Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi," the ck-robed figure intoned, his voice reverberating with power. "Moreover, as an eldritch cultivator, he is destined to never earn the full trust of the divine court headquarters."


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang listened attentively.


    "However," the figure continued, his tone softening almost imperceptibly, "he is your disciple, which makes him my grand-disciple. You and your Senior Brother Huo Cang are to retrieve him and bring him directly to the Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    "As you wish," Sword Immortal Dong Yang replied, understanding the implications. It seemed his Master intended to personally guide Wu Yuan''s cultivation from this point forward.

 Chapter 557: Fifteen Greater Laws (1)

    <h4>Chapter 557: Fifteen Greater Laws (1)</h4>


    In the heart of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, within a special, independent realm,y an endless deste in.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sat in lotus position amidst the windswept grasnds, unperturbed by the fierce gales that ttened the vegetation around him.


    Countless demonic beasts roamed the area, yet none dared to disturb him. Strangely, many of the creatures seemed drawn to him, disying an unusual affection despite their fearsome nature.


    Kua Chi��s eyes scanned the intelligence report in his hand. <i>Ming Jian? A King-rank fighter of the entry-level battlefield?</i> He mused silently. <i>I wasn''t mistaken back then. Of his two true selves, the body refiner self showed greater potential��not only possessing heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos but also a Celestial Body Dao Body.</i>


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had mentored over a thousand disciples, many of whom possessed Intermediate Law Dao Bodies. Yet, he couldn��t help but acknowledge the formidable nature of Dao Bodies at this level. Among the many nurtured by heaven and earth, there were only subtle differences between each type.


    <i>But now, it seems my disciple''s qi refiner self isprehending the Longevity Dao at an astonishing pace, keeping perfect stride with his body refiner self.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi furrowed his brow. <i>Why is this?</i>


    As one of the peak powerhouses of the Greenridge Macrocosm, Kua Chi knew that such strength was never a matter of coincidence. There was always a reason, a deeper mystery to uncover.


    <i>If Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self truly possessed such incredible natural talent, the fame of ''Li Xia'', his previous identity, would not have been limited to a single immortal nation.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi understood this clearly.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self��s raw talent, before entering the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, should have been on par with the likes of An Heng and Dongli Zhen, both of whom Wu Yuan had in. Perhaps even slightly inferior.


    Yet now, after a mere seventy years of cultivation, Wu Yuan had achieved a level of prowess that was nothing short of monstrous. It was truly astounding.


    <i>Observing his performance, it seems he has upgraded his immortal root to the first degree? To undergo such a metamorphosis at the Amethyst Cradle phase, coupled with nine lifebound flying swords and a Daoprehension rivaling those with Intermediate Law Dao Bodies... </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pondered. <i>How different is this from an innate first-degree immortal root?</i>


    An innate first-degree immortal root represented the pinnacle of talent, and Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self hade remarkably close to that benchmark.


    <i>Such a dramatic transformation in such a short time? And this is just his qi refiner self. Ifbined with his body refiner self? </i>Kua Chi shook his head slightly.


    Among the countless disciples he had taken on over his long years, Wu Yuan''s talent would likely rank in the top ten.


    Yet, Kua Chi did not ce Wu Yuan higher, not because other disciples were superior, but because Wu Yuan was still too young. His future was uncertain, and Kua Chi''s evaluation was naturally tempered by this fact.


    <i>With such extraordinary aptitude, it''s no wonder even the Eldritch Court has taken notice from afar. The Eldritch Progenitor, perhaps? </i>Kua Chi recalled his first attempt to retrace the past of this disciple. Upon reaching the beginning, he encountered a formless resistance. He also thought of how urgently the Bloodforge Devil Hall had sent Wu Yuan to him back then.


    <i>It''s likely that this disciple of mine is involved in some heaven-shaking secret.</i> Kua Chi concluded, though he wasn��t overly concerned.


    So what if there was some great secret? This was the Greenridge Macrocosm, after all. Besides, if there truly was some terrifying mystery, the supreme Eldritch Progenitor wouldn''t stand idly by.


    <i>Still, this Bei You certainly likes to fish in troubled waters.</i> Kua Chi shook his head slightly. <i>So be it.</i>


    <i>Ming Jian... it''s time I met this disciple of mine. </i>Kua Chi closed his eyes.


    A strand of his consciousness had already entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    ...


    The world outside buzzed with excitement, and Ming Jian''s name spread throughout the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields, reaching the ears of top echelons in various top-tier major factions across the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    Rumors swirled that the Eternal Sun Immortal World had produced another monstrous prodigy named Ming Jian.


    But soon after, the highest echelons of the Eternal Sun Immortal World issued a decree, forbidding any Astral Monarch-level entities within the immortal world from investigating Ming Jian''s background.


    They also cracked down on numerous intelligence operatives from various factions, and themotion gradually subsided.


    As for the connection between Li Xia and Ming Jian? Indeed, quite a few factions harbored such suspicions. However, the vast disparity in talent disyed by the two identities gave them pause.


    Coupled with the Dragon Star Immortal Sect''s denial, iming that Li Xia had yet to break through to the Amethyst Cradle phase, and the implicit protection from the Eternal Sun Immortal World''s upper echelons, the matter was left unresolved in the absence of concrete evidence.


    Of course, the core reason was that the Eternal Sun Immortal World maintained a neutral stance within the macrocosm, without any absolute enemies.


    Thus, neither the Voltari Temple, the Greenridge Immortal World, nor other top-tier factions were willing to expend significant resources and effort to uncover Ming Jian''s origins. After all, what would it matter even if they did? Could they kill Ming Jian?


    For the various top-tier factions, knowing that Ming Jian possessed exceptional talent and confirming his allegiance to the Eternal Sun Immortal World was sufficient.


    Meanwhile, the turbulence in the external world had no impact on Wu Yuan. After all, no one knew his specific identity within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, so there was no one to harass him.


    In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since Wu Yuan slew a group of Immortal Hall prodigies.


    At the heart of the eldritch camp''s territory in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 stood the majestic Blood Eldritch Temple. The structure hovered over thendscape, its presence both awe-inspiring and ominous.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> An inconspicuous teleportation array shed with light, and a figure d in ck robes emerged.


    <i>I''m back.</i> Wu Yuan stepped out of the array, his gaze sweeping over the throngs of immortal cultivatorsing and going in the distance.


    Few paid much attention to Wu Yuan, for he had already applied to withdraw from the battlefield, so his voidrealm jade profile was deactivated.


    At the very least, ordinary participants couldn''t directly ascertain Wu Yuan''s identity or name. As for his appearance? Wu Yuan had long since grown ustomed to altering his features as a habit.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A streak of light shed from afar, and an elderly man wearing official white robes appeared before Wu Yuan, a smile tugging at his lips.


    "Esteemed King-rank fighter," the white-robed elderly man bowed slightly, speaking in a low voice only the two of them could hear.


    This scene drew surprised nces from quite a few immortal cultivators nearby. After all, in their perception, this white-robed elderly man was clearly an Earth Immortal. An Earth Immortal, bowing to an Amethyst Cradle cultivator?


    "Please Senior, that��s too much," Wu Yuan quickly responded. "How about simply addressing me as ��young friend��?"


    "I don''t have that privilege," the white-robed elderly man smiled warmly. "I''ll take the liberty of calling you Childe if I may."


    The elderly man was well aware of Wu Yuan''s strength, which already approached his own. How could he possibly address such a monstrous prodigy as an equal?


    A ripple of Earth Immortal-level mana shielded their conversation from eavesdroppers as the white-robed elderly man continued, "Childe Ming Jian, you''ve applied to withdraw from the battlefield as well as redeem a Legendary treasure, is that correct?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded. Since he was preparing to leave, it was only natural that he��d use up all his ethercrystalurels.


    "The redemption of a Legendary treasure is of great significance, so the Archeldritch specially instructed me to receive you," the white-robed elderly man exined. "Please, Childe, follow me."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    Without another word, they moved, the two instantly transforming into streaks of light as they swiftly passed throughyer uponyer of invisible barriers, ascending to the higher levels of the Blood Eldritch Temple.


    The entire temple stood tall in the void, majestic and boundless. Wu Yuan had only previously visited the ground floor, but this time, as they passed through barrier after barrier, he began to grasp just how vast the Blood Eldritch Temple truly was. There were dozens of levels, each one more imposing than thest.


    Were it not for an Earth Immortal leading the way, even with Wu Yuan''s privileges as a King-rank fighter, it would have been impossible for him to enter these areas that could be considered forbidden grounds.


    As they ascended over twenty floors, clearing the security measures on each one, quite a few Void Refiner, Elysian Field, and even Earth Immortal cultivators along the way cast curious nces at Wu Yuan, but none spoke up.


    Finally, the white-robed elderly man led Wu Yuan to the entrance of a rather spacious hall.


    "Childe Ming Jian, please enter. The Archeldritch awaits within the hall," the elderly man said respectfully.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan, harboring no suspicions, stepped into the hall.


    The vast chamber waspletely empty, save for a single ck-robed figure standing at the far end.


    As he stood there, he emanated a strange aura of darkness, as if the brightly lit hall had been plunged into endless shadow.


    <i>Beyond the Archeldritch level?</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    He was no longer his old, naive self. The immense power of his Yuan Soul and Daoprehension meant that, subconsciously, Wu Yuan didn''t particrly fear Earth Immortals or even High Immortals.


    As for Archimmortals and Archeldritches? Though their strength was indeed formidable, capable of obliterating Wu Yuan with a wave of their hand, they couldn��t evoke the same fear in him.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s form flickered as he appeared in the middle of the hall, bowing respectfully. "Ming Jian pays his respects to Senior."


    "My name is Astral Monarch Xue Ying. You may call me Xue Ying," the ck-robed figure said, turning to face Wu Yuan. Though his features remained obscured beneath his hood, an inexplicable warmth and goodwill radiated from him, enveloping Wu Yuan in an aura of reassurance.


    "Junior dares not," Wu Yuan quickly replied, instinctively lowering his gaze.


    An Astral Monarch allowing Wu Yuan to address him directly by name?


    "Fear not," Xue Ying continued, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You are the disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign. Your senior brothers and I address each other as equals. In the future, we will have many more opportunities to work together."


    Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat. Who exactly was this Astral Monarch Xue Ying?


    "Wu Yuan, there''s no need to be surprised," Xue Ying said, as if reading his thoughts. "Here, no one can eavesdrop on our conversation."


    "Moreover," Xue Ying added with a smile, "the Eldritch Sovereign himself should be speaking with you soon."


    Wu Yuan was stunned for a moment.


    In the next instant, Wu Yuan was startled to discover that Xue Ying''s words were true. Without a sound, the presence of Master Kua Chi materialized within his personal hall in the eldritch voidrealm.


    ��Senior,�� Wu Yuan barely opened his mouth to speak when Xue Ying interjected, "Go and meet the Eldritch Sovereign first. All will be clear."


    Wu Yuan nodded.

 Chapter 558: Fifteen Greater Laws (2)

    <h4>Chapter 558: Fifteen Greater Laws (2)</h4>


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Wu Yuan stood within the personal hall of his qi refiner self, bowing respectfully. "Master," he greeted.


    "I see you''ve met Astral Monarch Xue Ying," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remarked, his form shimmering like a mirage, his smile enigmatic.


    Wu Yuan nodded, his mind swirling with questions.


    "No need to be perplexed," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued. "Xue Ying is the chief of intelligence of our Cang Feng Eldritch World. The Dao heprehends is a unique one, and you''ll work with him often in the future.


    Among the many Astral Monarchs in the eldritch world, only he knows about your two true selves with certainty. Even Hou Qu merely has suspicions,cking concrete proof."


    Wu Yuan''s surprise deepened. The chief of intelligence for the entire eldritch world? With a moment''s reflection, one could quickly understand how high Xue Ying''s status was. Undoubtedly, he ranked among the top Astral Monarchs.


    "I''vee here to discuss several matters with you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, his gaze steady on his disciple. "Your performance in the entry-level battlefield exceeded my expectations."


    "It was all thanks to your guidance, Master," Wu Yuan replied humbly.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s lips curved in a faint smile. "First, I must inform you that Astral Monarch Huo Cang is on his way. He will escort your qi refiner self to the heart of the Eternal Sun Immortal World to meet another Immortal Sovereign named Bei You."


    "Immortal Sovereign Bei You?" Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with confusion. He had never heard this name before.


    "He is one of the peak powerhouses in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, with power rivaling my own," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "He also bears another title��you may address him as Grandmaster."


    "What? Grandmaster?" Wu Yuan��s shock was palpable.


    His mind raced. Could it be that Master Kua Chi was Bei You''s disciple? No, that didn''t seem right.


    In a sh of insight, Wu Yuan realized��this Immortal Sovereign Bei You must be Master Nan Yin''s master. It was the only possibility that made sense.


    And yet!


    <i>Something doesn''t add up.</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts tumbled over each other. <i>Master Nan Yin is a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. How could he possibly be the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign? Even Archimmortal Long Xing wouldn''t qualify.</i>[1]


    If Bei You��s status matched Master Kua Chi��s, most of his disciples would surely be Astral Monarchs.


    A High Immortal as a disciple? Such a person would have to be an unparalleled monstrous prodigy among High Immortals, truly destined to be an Astral Monarch themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn��t be worthy of bing an Immortal Sovereign��s disciple.


    Was Master Nan Yin truly such a figure?


    Yet, in that moment, Wu Yuan understood why Master Nan Yin��s connections were so vast and his Daoprehension so profound. To think, he was actually the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign!


    <i>Master Nan Yin has hidden his true background well. </i>Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    Another thought struck him. <i>But how could Master Nan Yin, with such an identity and power, have never revealed even a hint of it before?</i>


    Wu Yuan found it hard to believe.


    In that instant, a possibility he had previously dismissed entirely resurfaced in his mind...


    "Wu Yuan," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi suddenly spoke.


    "Yes, Master."


    "Your qi refiner self possesses extraordinary talent. Immortal Sovereign Bei You will nurture you. This recent disy of your abilities was partly for his benefit," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "Though you cannot be a core member of the Taiyuan Divine Court, your connection to Immortal Sovereign Bei You cannot be broken.


    Your qi refiner self once swore allegiance to the Taiyuan Divine Court. In a sense, I stole you from his grasp," Master Kua Chi said with a wry smile.


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "When you go, remember this: your qi refiner self is a member of the Eternal Sun Immortal World," Master Kua Chi continued slowly. "Immortal Sovereign Bei You is your grandmaster, but you are not a core member of the divine court headquarters.


    Oaths are rtive, mainly affecting your Dao Heart," Master Kua Chi added.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, beginning to grasp his Master''s meaning.


    "This approach is primarily to protect your qi refiner self," Master Kua Chi exined. "By being a core member of both major factions, the likelihood of the Voltari Temple targeting your qi refiner self diminishes greatly.


    Therefore, remember: apart from your other Master and Immortal Sovereign Bei You, do not let anyone else know about your two true selves."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    "The second matter concerns the Bronze Immutable Token in your possession," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Initially, I had intended for your qi refiner self to venture on the expedition. However, I��ve observed that your qi refiner self��s immortal root has been upgraded to the first degree," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi stated lightly.


    "Master has keen insight," Wu Yuan replied, wondering how he would exin himself.


    "Excellent." Contrary to Wu Yuan''s expectations, Master Kua Chi didn��t inquire further. Instead, he said, "Now that you have a first-degree immortal root, sending your qi refiner self would be somewhat wasteful. The gains might be minimal."


    "Is the Immutable Land rted to one''s immortal root?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "Soon, I will transmit the relevant information to your body refiner self. You''ll understand then," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "My rmendation is for your body refiner self to hold the token and venture there."


    "I��ll follow your guidance, Master," Wu Yuan agreed readily. It made no difference to him which of his true selves went.


    "But Master, the Immutable Token is already bound to my qi refiner self. Will it work for my body refiner self?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    Though his two true selves shared one consciousness, their souls were distinct.


    "Rest assured," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly. "The wonders of the Immutable Land surpass your imagination. It will recognize you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "The third matter concerns the Legendary artifact you wish to redeem.


    What we call ''Legendary'' is merely so for those at the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle phases," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "You have 3.2 billion ethercrystalurels. I''ve already instructed Astral Monarch Xue Ying to bring an artifact.


    Exchange all your ethercrystalurels for this artifact. It will be more than worth the price. In a sense, you can consider it my reward to your qi refiner self," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Yes, Master," Wu Yuan nodded.


    He had been wondering which artifact he should redeem. Now it seemed his Master had already nned and prepared for it.


    This was perfect; Wu Yuan naturally trusted his master''s judgment.


    "Additionally, I must remind you. For qi refiners, the greatest advantage of a first-degree immortal root over second or third-degree roots is the ability to refine and wield stronger lifebound artifacts at earlier phases," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "I will provide you with a detailed list of treasures needed for the optimal evolution pathway to upgrade a first-grade spirit flying sword to the spirion equipment level.


    However, it��s up to you to obtain these treasures," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said slowly. "I will only offer guidance, not additional treasures."


    "Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    He understood what Master Kua Chi meant.


    The path was lit, but he must walk it himself.


    Still, Wu Yuan felt a surge of excitement. It was well established that as cultivators progressed, Amethyst Cradle cultivators with second or third-degree immortal roots, like those with fifth or sixth-degree roots, could only evolve their artifacts into first-grade spirit equipment at most.


    To upgrade an artifact to the spirion equipment level? One must reach the Void Refiner phase.


    <i>So, a first-degree immortal root has this special feature.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Upon reflection, it made sense. A first-degree immortal root represented perfection. Even a non-innate first-degree immortal root possessed extraordinary properties.


    "Later, hand the Bronze Immutable Token to Astral Monarch Xue Ying, and he will give you the artifact I��ve prepared," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "That concludes our business. For the next few days, wait at the Blood Eldritch Temple. When Astral Monarch Huo Cang arrives from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, your qi refiner self will leave with him," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "If anything urgent arises, inform me at once."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Is there anything else?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.


    "Master, do the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao originate from the same Greater Law?" Wu Yuan seized the opportunity to ask this question that had gued him for days.


    Even his body refiner self, doing his research in the eldritch voidrealm, had uncovered only fragments of information.


    "I see the perfectbination of two True Intents has led you to this insight," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remarked, a hint of approval in his voice. "Indeed, they do stem from a single Greater Law."


    Wu Yuan''s heart thundered in his chest.


    "In the vast tapestry of heaven and earth, nine fundamental Greater Laws stand out: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Space, and Time," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    ��Nine is the pinnacle of numbers, representingpleteness," he continued. "These nine Greater Laws remain distinct, rarely ovepping. They are the focus of countless immortal cultivators and even immortals in their pursuit of Daoprehension."


    Wu Yuan listened intently, absorbing each word. Some of this information was familiar, while other parts were entirely new. It was clear that as his power grew, his master deemed him ready to receive higher-level knowledge.


    "Each Greater Law can be divided into several Intermediate Laws, and these, in turn, branch into numerous Lesser Laws," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi borated, his voice measured. "Toprehend a Dao to the Dao Field stage signifies a deep mastery of its profundities. Even a single Lesser Law is unfathomably profound.


    Fullyprehending one Lesser Law forms the foundation of an Archimmortal. Those who reach the pinnacle of Archimmortals are granted the title of Astral Lord and can effortlessly live for billions of years, barring untimely deaths," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    "Fullyprehending an Intermediate Law typically leads to bing an Astral Monarch. Such beings are super powerhouses, high-ranking figures in various factions across the macrocosm," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "Those whomand aplete Greater Law earn the right to be called Sovereigns," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes met his disciple''s. "Whether Eldritch Sovereign, Immortal Sovereign, Devil Sovereign, or Deity Sovereign��regardless of cultivation system or faction��they are uniformly known as Sovereign-level.


    Sovereigns stand at the apex of the entire macrocosm. They are the leaders of the seven top-tier factions, though a few reclusive Sovereigns exist��true supreme beings whom none dare provoke.��


    Wu Yuan listened, awe-struck. So Master Kua Chi''s level was collectively known as Sovereign-level, requiring mastery of a Greater Law?


    "The workings of heaven and earth, the interweaving of all things, the unity of all Daos��this is the true essence of theplete Dao of heaven and earth," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "Thus, beyond the nine mostmon Greater Laws, when certain Intermediate Laws merge, they can create special Greater Laws," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi revealed.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. Special Greater Laws?


    "There are six special Greater Laws," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, his voice slow and deliberate. "The Lunar Dao, the Sr Dao, the ughter Dao, the Death Dao, the Life Dao, and the Karma Dao. In total, there are fifteen Greater Laws in heaven and earth.��


    Wu Yuan''s mind reeled at this revtion. So, beyond the ninemon Greater Laws, there were six special ones.


    "The six special Greater Laws are moremonly explored by Astral Monarchs, with many attempting toprehend them," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued. "However, few Archimmortals contemte them."


    "As for immortal cultivators? Throughout endless ages, few have even reached their initiate thresholds," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi added.


    "The Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao you''veprehended, ifbined with mastery of the Intermediate Law of Space, would merge into one. Add to that the profundities of Life, and you''d have theplete Life Dao," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s voice softened, his gaze intent.


    "This is the path I walk, and also the path your other master initially envisioned for you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s gaze settled on Wu Yuan. "Your progress has surpassed even our greatest expectations."


    <i>So, by grasping aspects of the Law of Earth, the Law of Wood, and the Law of Space, then contemting the profundities of Life, one canprehend the Life Dao? </i>Wu Yuan''s understanding crystallized.


    Truly, the myriad Daos of heaven and earth were interwoven, inseparable.


    1. Long Xing = Dragon Star ?

 Chapter 559: Path Of The Supreme Genius (1)

    <h4>Chapter 559: Path Of The Supreme Genius (1)</h4>


    In the past, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi often spoke of the interweaving nature of the myriad Daos of heaven and earth, their boundaries blurred and indistinct.


    At the time, Wu Yuan struggled to grasp the full meaning of those words. But now, understanding blossomed within him. He realized that even thebination of Intermediate Laws from seemingly disparate sources could yield wondrous and unexpected results.


    <i>Master Kua Chi has fullyprehended the Life Dao?</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently, awe filling his heart.


    He knew thatprehending a Greater Law in its entirety was an immense challenge. It was no wonder that in the vast expanse of the macrocosm, only a handful of Sovereign-level beings existed. Each Sovereign was a true hegemon.


    "Master, the cryptic patterns on the surface of the silver sphere you gave me��do they include the profundities of the Life Dao?" Wu Yuan asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.


    "Indeed," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. "Should you manage to decipher those cryptic patterns, it would signify that you��ve attained the True Intent stage of the Life Dao.��


    ��In terms of power, the first-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao alone isparable to a fullyprehended Lesser Law," he added.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened at this revtion. The might of a Greater Law was truly staggering��even at the True Intent stage ofprehension, it rivaled theprehension of an Archimmortal.


    Upon reflection, it made perfect sense. The progression from Lesser to Intermediate to Greater Laws represented fundamental shifts in understanding, each a quantum leap beyond thest.


    "My disciple," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued, "countless beings across heaven and earth recognize the immense power of Greater Laws. Yet, have you ever wondered why so few immortal cultivators choose to walk this path?"


    Wu Yuan shook his head. "Please enlighten me, Master."


    "Consider your body refiner self," Kua Chi said with a smile. "Have you noticed how, as yourprehension of the Celestial Body Dao deepens, it bes increasingly challenging to grasp other Laws?"


    Wu Yuan nodded, realization dawning. "Yes, and my qi refiner self experienced something simr after grasping the True Intent of Longevity. Even with enhanced perception, progress in other Daos seemed to slow dramatically."


    This phenomenon persisted even as Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul grew more powerful.


    "This process is known as Dao Assimtion," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "As weprehend the Daos, are we not also being shaped by the essence of the Daos of heaven and earth? The deeper one delves into any particr Dao, the more deeply it influences us. Our very souls are subtly transformed, often without our awareness."


    "This effect bes exponentially more pronounced once a Dao is fullyprehended," he continued, his tone measured. "At that point, one''s Yuan Soul imprint bes eternally branded onto the essence of that Dao, magnifying the impact of Dao Assimtion a thousandfold."


    Wu Yuan listened in stunned silence. It was akin to a pristine white sheet of paper��the more it was stained, the less room there was for subsequent changes.


    "Imagine focusing solely on a Lesser Law, pursuing it to its ultimate conclusion and reaching the Archimmortal phase," Kua Chi borated. "At that point, attempting to integrate other Lesser Laws to form an Intermediate Law bes a Herculean task��perhaps a thousand times more difficult than if one had cultivated multiple Lesser Laws in parallel from the beginning."


    Wu Yuan''s heart pounded as the implications sank in. No wonder!


    This was why the most brilliant geniuses in history often crossed the threshold of Intermediate Laws early in their journeys. By fusing Lesser Laws from the outset, they minimized the effect of Dao Assimtion. This was a much smoother pathpared to fullyprehending a single Lesser Law and then integrating it with other Lesser Laws in the future.


    "Remember this well," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi cautioned. "For each of the Lesser Laws you areprehending, do not progress too far beyond their corresponding Intermediate Laws. For instance, now that you''ve reached the second-level True Intent stage in the Celestial Body Dao, ensure that your progress in the corresponding Lesser Laws doesn''t exceed the ninth-level True Intent stage."


    Wu Yuanmitted his master''s words to memory.


    "For you, Wu Yuan,prehending individual Lesser Laws topletion is merely a matter of time," Kua Chi continued. "The true challenge lies in their fusion. The more powerful the Dao, the more difficult the integration bes."


    "I understand, Master," Wu Yuan replied solemnly, nodding his head in acknowledgment.


    "Just as Archimmortals struggle to be Astral Monarchs," Kua Chi went on, "an Astral Monarch who fullyprehends a single Intermediate Law early on will face immense difficulties should they attempt to fuse other Intermediate Laws into a Greater Law. Your many senior brothers and sisters, each a peerless genius in their own right, all find themselves stymied by this final hurdle."


    As Wu Yuan listened intently, the full scope of his master''s message became clear: to achieve the swiftest, most stableprehension of a Greater Law��to pave the way to the Sovereign level��one must cross the threshold of Greater Laws as early as possible.


    Yet even contemting such a path was enough to make Wu Yuan''s head spin. If fusing three Lesser Laws into an Intermediate Law was already a formidable challenge,bining multiple Intermediate Laws into a cohesive whole seemed nigh impossible. The difficulty would increase by orders of magnitude, perhaps ten thousandfold or more.


    Indeed, among his thousand-plus senior brothers and sisters, it seemed that not a single one had yet seeded in fully grasping a Greater Law.


    "Everyone knows that earlyprehension of Greater Laws is the ideal path," Kua Chi said. "Yet those who seed are vanishingly rare.��


    ��Among your senior brothers and sisters, only two��one at the Elysian Field phase and one at the Dharma Body phase��have managed to grasp the True Intent of the Life Dao," he continued, fixing Wu Yuan with an intense gaze.


    "However, neither was able to fullyprehend the Life Dao before reaching the million-year limit of their lifespans. In the end, they had no choice but to break through and be Astral Monarchs."


    "A million years?" Wu Yuan echoed, surprise coloring his voice.


    He knew that High Immortals and High Eldritches could live for a million years��the absolute limit for ordinary beings under thews of heaven and earth.


    "To be an Archimmortal, one must fullyprehend a Lesser Law. To be an Astral Monarch, one must fullyprehend an Intermediate Law," Kua Chi exined patiently.


    "Even if one''s Daoprehension reaches the sixth or seventh-level Dao Field stage of the Life Dao, far surpassing ordinary Astral Monarchs, ascension to the Archimmortal level remains impossible withoutpleteprehension."


    Wu Yuan nodded slowly, piecing together the implications of his master''s words.


    Only by fully grasping aplete Dao could one''s Yuan Soul leave its imprint upon the fundamental essence of that Dao, gaining the acknowledgment of heaven and earth and achieving true immortality.


    Yet the moment a Dao was fullyprehended, the effects of Dao Assimtion would descend in full force, an ever-present shadow. From that point onward, integrating other Daos would be exponentially more challenging, making it nearly impossible to break through that final bottleneck.


    "Therefore, the optimal path," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi dered, his tone solemn, "is to cultivate all the Lesser Laws associated with a Greater Law to the ninth-level Dao Field stage within a million years, without fullyprehending any of them. Then, fuse them to form three Intermediate Laws, again cultivated to the utmost limit without achievingplete mastery.


    Finally, when that crucial moment of inspiration strikes, one canprehend everything in a single, magnificent breakthrough, directly grasping the entirety of the Greater Law.


    And then!" Kua Chi''s voice rose, "once the Greater Law is fullyprehended, after weathering nine Immortal Tribtions, one can ascend directly from High Immortal or High Eldritch to the Sovereign level, bypassing the Archimmortal and Astral Monarch levels entirely."


    Wu Yuan listened in awe, his heart racing with a mixture of trepidation and longing.


    A million years, nine Tribtions, then immediately leaping to the pinnacle of the macrocosm as a Sovereign? What peerless genius wouldn''t yearn for such a future?


    "Toprehend a Greater Law within a million years," Kua Chi continued, his voice low, "this path is known throughout the river of space and time as the path of the Supreme Genius."


    "Those who seed," he said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Wu Yuan, "are forever counted among the ranks of the greatest geniuses across all of spacetime."


    Wu Yuan held his breath. The path of the Supreme Genius? Throughout all of spacetime?


    "Master, has anyone in the history of our Greenridge Macrocosm ever seeded in this endeavor?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "No," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi replied simply.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Neither I nor any of the other Sovereigns in our macrocosm achieved this feat," Kua Chi admitted, shaking his head. "We all became Astral Monarchs first, then advanced step by step. In my case, after a million years, I only reached the third-level Dao Field stage of the Life Dao Field before facing my ninth Immortal Tribtion."


    Wu Yuan nodded slowly, processing this information.


    The third-level Dao Field stage of the Life Dao? That surpassed the aplishments of geniuses who had mastered an entire Intermediate Law. Clearly, his master had been one of the most dazzling talents of his era.


    It was often said that the higher one climbed, the more difficult it became to defeat opponents from higher levels. Every supreme expert had once been a world-shaking genius in their youth, after all.


    "I don''t expect you to fullyprehend the Life Dao within a million years," Kua Chi said. "However, I do hope you can surpass your Senior Brother Jiang Huan and perhaps match the achievements of your Third and Ninth Senior Brothers in their time."


    Wu Yuan listened in silence, his mind churning with thoughts. He couldn''t argue with such expectations, given that no one in the entire history of their macrocosm had ever aplished such a feat.


    Yet, despite the impossibility of it all, his heart still burned with desire. The path of the Supreme Genius? Even if there were no precedents in their macrocosm''s history, why couldn''t he strive to be the first? A man could dream, after all. By aiming for the heavens, one might at least reach the mountaintops.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, with his unfathomable cultivation, could easily perceive the thoughts of his disciple, even within the voidrealm. Yet, he did not rebuke Wu Yuan; instead, a small smile flitted across his face.


    All true geniuses possessed ambition, and it was that grand ambition and burning desire that fueled their limitless drive.


    "You share a significant advantage with your Third and Ninth Senior Brothers," Kua Chi said thoughtfully. "Unlike your other senior brothers and sisters, you possess two true selves, both with exceptional talent."


    "If one tries toprehend different Intermediate Laws with only one true self, one would have to battle the effects of Dao Assimtion. Simrly, if another true self possesses weaker aptitude, it will slow down overall progress."


    "However, with separate true selves and separate souls, linked only by consciousness, the impact bes negligible. Coupled with supreme talent across the board, this presents the greatest advantage," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    Wu Yuan listened intently, a sudden rity washing over him. He finally understood why his master had spoken of giving him an opportunity when he imed the heaven-tier title in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    It was likely due to Wu Yuan''s two true selves each excelling in different areas, with his qi refiner self being reasonably strong as well.


    "Even so, you will still face a difficult challenge��the Space Dao," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi��s voice grew solemn, resonating with an underlying gravity.


    "Space and Time are two very special Greater Laws. They form the foundation of all things and are thus least affected by the Dao Assimtion influence of other Daos."


    "But the influence, however small, still exists. With only two true selves, as you delve deeper into the Longevity and Celestial Body Daos,prehending the Space Dao will be increasingly difficult for you."


    Wu Yuan absorbed these words, pondering deeply. The Space Dao was difficult toprehend? At the very least, with his powerful Yuan Soul, he should find it easier than other cultivators of the same level.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s voice cut through Wu Yuan''s thoughts, "My expectations for you are threefold.


    First,prehend the silver sphere��s cryptic patterns before you reach 300 years of age, crossing the threshold of the Life Dao.


    Second, grasp the True Intent of the Life Dao within 3,000 years.


    Third, reach the Dao Field stage of the Life Dao within 300,000 years.��


    Three requirements, each more demanding than thest.


    "I will do my utmost, Master," Wu Yuan replied solemnly.

 Chapter 560: Path Of The Supreme Genius (2)

    <h4>Chapter 560: Path Of The Supreme Genius (2)</h4>


    A smile yed on Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s lips. "Previously, I gifted you sixty points as a wee gift. But I haven''t given you any rewards for reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase. So, I shall bestow you a gift.


    Both of your true selves may visit the Dao Temple twice each to experience a perception simtion of the Life Dao.


    Furthermore, your body refiner self may request the inheritance of the True Spatial Domain Tome at any time," Kua Chi added.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Master."


    He quickly calcted��experiencing a Greater Law simtion at the Dao Temple cost five points each time. Four visits equated to twenty merit points. It might not seem like much, but it was an incredibly practical gift.


    As for the True Spatial Domain Tome��s inheritance? Once he received it, it would act as a beacon in the darkness, likely improving his efficiency inprehending the Space Dao significantly.


    "I''ve shown you the path and provided the resources. Whether you seed now depends on you," Kua Chi''s voice grew stern. "I hope you won''t disappoint me."


    With those words, Kua Chi dissolved into countless motes of light and vanished.


    "Farewell, Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    ...


    Wu Yuan stood in the center of the vast Blood Eldritch Temple, his eyes closed.


    Astral Monarch Xue Ying waited patiently nearby.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s eyes snapped open, and he smiled. "Astral Monarch, I apologize for keeping you waiting."


    "No matter," Astral Monarch Xue Ying��s face remained hidden, but a hint of amusement tinged his voice. "I presume the Eldritch Sovereign has told you everything."


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded, waving his hand. The Bronze Immutable Token flew towards Astral Monarch Xue Ying, who caught it effortlessly.


    "Wu Yuan, this is the treasure the Eldritch Sovereign prepared for you. Catch," Xue Ying opened his palm, revealing a sphere of intense emerald light. It radiated an overwhelmingly powerful aura that made even Wu Yuan feel slightly threatened.


    The fist-sized emerald sphere floated toward Wu Yuan, hovering in front of him before he swiftly stored it away.


    "Wu Yuan, now that I��ve delivered the treasure to you, my task isplete. I''ll take my leave," Xue Ying said with a smile.


    "I''ve instructed the Archimmortals and Archeldritches here to let you meditate in this hall for the next few days. They''ll notify you when Astral Monarch Huo Cang arrives."


    "If you need anything, you can contact me directly through the eldritch voidrealm. I��ve granted you the corresponding permissions," Xue Ying added.


    "Thank you for your trouble, Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    Though their statuses were simr in theory, Wu Yuan knew that true power was what mattered. He was, after all, just an Amethyst Cradle cultivator. Humility was crucial.


    With that, Astral Monarch Xue Ying''s form gradually merged with space until hepletely vanished, leaving Wu Yuan alone in the vast hall.


    Left alone in the vast hall, Wu Yuan exhaled and flew to the far end of the chamber, plopping down on the steps beneath the throne.


    <i>Master''s visit was likely due to my exceptional performance. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>Directing me to the path of the Life Dao?</i>


    The Life Dao, a Greater Law. The path was indeed incredible, but throughout the endless ages of the macrocosm, countless peerless geniuses had been born, yet none had walked it topletion in one go.


    <i>I''ll have to work hard, taking it step by step. Master sees potential in me. In terms of Daoprehension talent, Dao Heart, and soul, I excel in every aspect. I must give it my all. </i>Wu Yuan resolved.


    At this, Wu Yuan smiled again. As his strength and talent grew, he could feel that the level of care and attention he was receiving also grew.


    Now, he even had a direct line of contact with the head of intelligence of the entire Eldritch World.


    <i>Next, I''ll wait for Astral Monarch Huo Cang to arrive. I wonder what Immortal Sovereign Bei You of the Eternal Sun Immortal World is like.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. He felt no particr aversion towards the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Furthermore, it was safer to separate his two true selves.


    <i>A couple of days isn��t enough time for me to visit the Dao Temple and receive the Life Dao inheritance. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself, flipping his palm.


    The emerald sphere he had stored earlier materialized in his hand. Its aura was overwhelming, enough to frighten an ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator, but Wu Yuan''s soul was far from ordinary.


    <i>Three billion ethercrystalurels umted over more than ten years in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, all exchanged for this treasure?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>And Master said it was worth more than the price. I''ll examine it first to see what kind of treasure it really is.</i>


    Focusing his thoughts, Wu Yuan��s Soul Force surged into the emerald sphere.


    Swiftly, he sensed the incredible power of the essence contained within the sphere. It far surpassed any artifact he had ever encountered.


    So-called spirion artifacts paled inparison to this emerald sphere before him.


    <i>This... this artifact? </i>Wu Yuan was stunned as he carefully probed its essence.


    Countless intricate Dao patterns were embedded within it. Just imprinting his vital aura upon the artifact was an extremely difficult task.


    Six hours went by.


    With a soft hum, the overwhelming aura radiating from the emerald sphere was finally withdrawn. The sphere then transformed into an irregrly shaped emerald object about the size of a fruit pit, its surface covered in countless fine Dao patterns. A mysterious aura was emitted from it.


    Simultaneously, a flood of information surged into Wu Yuan''s mind. He quickly absorbed it. This was the information obtained after imprinting his vital aura, detailing the usage of the artifact.


    More time passed.


    <i>I see.</i> Wu Yuan smiled, his gaze tinged with disbelief. <i>So it''s actually a Dao Treasure.</i>


    <i>Though it''s only the mostmon type, it''s still incredibly precious. </i>Wu Yuan felt a rush of excitement.


    Artifacts were ssified into spirit equipment, spirion equipment, and celestial equipment. Spirit equipment was divided into nine grades, while spirion and celestial equipment were categorized as low, mid and high grades.


    Even a low-grade celestial flying sword, the most ordinary of celestial equipment, would cost over a thousand divine crystals. Ate-stage Earth Immortal would find it hard to acquire one with their entire fortune. Generally, only High Immortals could afford celestial equipment.


    As for mid-grade celestial equipment? Most were powerful artifacts used by Archimmortals.


    Each piece of celestial equipment possessed terrifyingly powerful abilities. When unleashed, their power could easily impact a million li radius of space.


    With his current level of authority, Wu Yuan naturally knew all this information.


    All the aforementioned artifacts essentially belonged to the category of equipment. Even celestial equipment, powerful as it was, gained its tremendous power through the forging of the artifact and the engraving of numerous cryptic and Dao patterns.


    Dao Treasures, however, were a special type of treasure distinct from celestial equipment. Most Dao Treasures were not manually engraved with cryptic or Dao patterns. Instead, they were naturally formed from the essence of the Dao.


    Indeed! The core of Dao treasures contained either a fragmented orplete Dao essence. Not all were suited forbat, but most possessed unique properties.


    <i>The Myriad Woods Dao Treasure. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    This artifact held a partial essence of the Longevity Dao, iplete yet still mystical in its power. In terms of value, it far surpassed mid-grade celestial equipment, perhaps even rivaling high-grade celestial equipment.


    <i>The withered branch Master Nan Yin gifted me previously is also a Dao Treasure, but it pales inparison to this Myriad Woods Dao Treasure.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    The Myriad Woods Dao Treasure served two primary functions.


    First, Wu Yuan could study andprehend the partial Longevity Dao essence, elerating hisprehension of the Longevity Dao.


    Second, when channeling power through it during the process of casting arcane arts, significantly less mana was consumed while the potency of the arcane art increased noticeably.


    <i>Very practical. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>Previously, to cast arcane arts, I had tomune with the ethereal Dao essence and expend vast amounts of mana.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s excitement grew. <i>But with this Myriad Woods Dao Treasure, even my basic arcane arts might rival those cast by Void Refiner Eminences wielding formidable spirion equipment.</i>


    <i>And as myprehension deepens, the power of this Myriad Woods Dao Treasure will continue to grow. Thus, the mana saved can be used to maintain my sword array for longer periods. </i>Wu Yuan concluded, feeling a surge of confidence.


    The Myriad Woods Dao Treasure held great auxiliary value even for Archimmortals. For Wu Yuan at his current level, its worth was immeasurable.


    <i>Three billion ethercrystalurels for a Myriad Woods Dao Treasure? A worthwhile exchange</i>. Wu Yuan deemed the transaction more than favorable.


    This Dao treasure would serve Wu Yuan well into his Earth Immortal phase, perhaps even to the High Immortal phase.


    <i>I must keep this secret. </i>Wu Yuan cautioned himself. <i>If word gets out, even Archimmortals might be tempted. Dao treasures can only be obtained through luck.</i>


    Wu Yuan calmed his mind and began to contemte the Myriad Woods Dao Treasure.


    Progress was slow. After all, Wu Yuan had only just grasped the True Intent of Longevity, barely scratching the surface of theplete Law of Longevity.


    A single Dao treasure could take an Archimmortal tens of thousands of years to fullyprehend, so Wu Yuan harbored no illusions of quick mastery. He simply hoped to glean as much insight as possible. This process of study was, in itself, a form of cultivation for Wu Yuan.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan cultivated quietly within the Blood Eldritch Temple, a day passed in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Suddenly, the thread of consciousness Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had left in his personal hall within the eldritch voidrealm received a message. His eyes lit up. <i>The list of treasures needed for my lifebound flying swords�� evolution.</i>


    This was what Master Kua Chi had promised him earlier.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan''s avatar within the eldritch voidrealm selected the virtual immortal slip that had appeared before him.


    A light screen projection materialized, disying a wealth of information about various treasures.


    It included their names, quantities required, visual representations, and the order in which they should be refined. It was extremelyplex.


    The perfect evolution of a lifebound flying sword was no simple task. The leap from first-grade spirit equipment to spirion equipment represented a monumental threshold.


    This list was the result of countless eons of experimentation within the Cang Feng Eldritch World, representing the optimal evolution pathway.


    <i>So many rare materials, and so expensive.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself as he perused the list, calcting the costs and feeling the pressure mount.


    <i>Nine swords! In total, it will cost 1,200 divine crystals?</i> The figure was astronomical. It seemed excessive for the transformation of first-grade spirit equipment into spirion equipment. Even many High Immortals would find it hard to afford such an expense.


    <i>When I return to the Eternal Sun Immortal World, I''ll need to find a way to sell off all my previous spoils of war.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    Despite over a decade of ughtering enemies on the battlefield and defeating numerous Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses, the truly valuable items he obtained were few.


    The real prizes he obtained came from the final battle, where he had in over twenty Immortal Hall prodigies, each possessing a trove of precious artifacts.


    As Wu Yuan pondered which treasures to keep and which to sell, a message from the Blood Eldritch Temple interrupted his thoughts: "Young Master Ming Jian, Astral Monarch Huo Cang has arrived at the Blood Eldritch Temple. Pleasee to the main hall immediately."


    Astral Monarch Huo Cang had arrived.

 Chapter 561: The Sole Sovereign of Space (1)

    <h4>Chapter 561: The Sole Sovereign of Space (1)</h4>


    <i>He arrived quite swiftly, considering the distance.</i> Wu Yuan mused as he rose, departing the hall without dy.


    Outside, the same elderly man in white robes who had previously escorted Wu Yuan stood at the entrance, ��Childe Ming Jian,�� he greeted with a slight bow.


    Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You''re still here?"


    The elderly man chuckled softly. "I''ve been at your service these past few days, Childe Ming Jian. The Archeldritch has sent word. Please, follow me."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In a blur, two streaks of light shot upwards, ascending to the higher floors of the Blood Eldritch Temple.


    ...


    At the temple''s highest floor, a vast space stretched out like an endless void. Six figures stood waiting. Four were the Archimmortals and Archeldritches overseeing Battlefield 36.


    Normally, these four managed the temple, but now they watched nervously as two figures approached from a distance. One figure was d in pristine white robes, the other in ck garments that seemed to flicker like mes.


    "Astral Monarch Huo Cang is a renowned figure from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, known for his terrifying power."


    "And the High Immortal apanying him?"


    "I��m not sure, but their status seems simr. They both give me an extremely dangerous feeling."


    "Could it be some peerless genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World?" The Archimmortals and Archeldritches whispered among themselves.


    They could easily crush an ordinary High Immortal. For a High Immortal to pose a threat to them despite the vast mana gap between the High Immortal and Archimmortal phases meant the white-robed figure��s Daoprehension likely rivaled or even matched that of an Astral Monarch.


    This person must be one of the absolute top-tier geniuses!


    Suddenly, two streaks of light��one ck, one white��flew in from the distant corridor, entering the vast hall.


    "Childe Ming Jian has arrived," the white-robed Earth Immortal announced respectfully, head bowed.


    Wu Yuan flew directly to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the six figures before settling on two at the far end.


    One wore white robes, exuding an ethereal aura, while the other radiated intense heat, like a deity forged from fire.


    It was the white-robed figure that captured Wu Yuan''s attention. His appearance and bearing were different, but the glint in his eyes was familiar.


    Wu Yuan��s heart trembled. How could Wu Yuan forget the bond they had forged over decades as master and disciple? Yet he hesitated, scarcely daring to believe it.


    "Ming Jian pays his respects to the Seniors," Wu Yuan said, bowing respectfully.


    "Ming Jian, I am Astral Monarch Huo Cang. Come with us back to the immortal world," said the deity-like figure in ck robes, smiling.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan responded with a nod.


    "Thank you all for your assistance," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said, his gaze sweeping the four Archimmortals and Archeldritches. "We��ll be taking him now."


    "Farewell, Astral Monarch," the four figures bowed slightly.


    Astral Monarch Huo Cang nodded and waved a hand. An invisible force lifted Wu Yuan, cing him by the side of the white-robed High Immortal.


    Without triggering the temple��s security mechanisms, ripples spread through the air around them, and the trio vanished from the temple.


    "As expected of Astral Monarch Huo Cang��he bypassed the temple''s defenses entirely."


    "An Astral Monarch who hasprehended the Qiankun Dao far surpasses other Astral Monarchs in spatial traversal."


    "For an Astral Monarch toe personally, this Ming Jian must be the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign from the Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    "Indeed, with his talent, he is worthy." The four Archimmortals and Archeldritches discussed among themselves, feeling somewhat envious.


    Bing the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign at the Amethyst Cradle phase?


    Even they, as Archimmortals, struggled to be disciples of an Astral Monarch, let alone an Immortal Sovereign.


    ...


    The surrounding space distorted and fragmented into shimmering threads, before fading into nothingness.


    An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan and the High Immortal, shielding them from the corrosive energies of the spatial void.


    "The Vacuum Spatial Layer?" Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered with surprise.


    "Haha, Junior Brother Dong Yang, your disciple is sharp. No wonder Master wants to see him personally," Astral Monarch Huo Cangughed. Though imposing in stature, he exuded a refined martial air rather than brutish strength.


    Dong Yang? Disciple?


    Even with his earlier suspicions, hearing Astral Monarch Huo Cang''s confirmation sent waves of shock crashing through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Master Nan Yin was really High Immortal Dong Yang?


    "What''s the matter, silly boy? Still doubting your Master?" The white-robed Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled gently.


    Though his voice had changed, it was unmistakably that of High Immortal Nan Yin.


    "Your disciple is slow-witted and failed to recognize Master earlier," Wu Yuan said respectfully, suppressing his inner turmoil. "I beg Master''s forgiveness."


    "Oh? Junior Brother Dong Yang, your disciple didn''t recognize you just now?" Astral Monarch Huo Cangughed.


    "My apologies, Senior Brother. I��ve made a fool of myself," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled and exined, "As you know, I previously angered Master and went into seclusion alone, making many enemies. So after taking Ming Jian as my disciple, I didn''t tell him the truth."


    "I understand," Astral Monarch Huo Cang nodded. "At the time, none of us fellow disciples dared to help you.��


    ��But now that you��ve returned to Master��s tutge, those old foes pose no threat," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said imperiously. "Our Bei You lineage is one of the top powers in the immortal world."


    "Until I pass the Ninth Immortal Tribtion, I must rely on myself," Dong Yang replied with a faint smile. His gaze shifted to Wu Yuan. "As for my disciple, I hope Senior Brother will look after him once I��m gone."


    "We are brothers, there��s no need to make distinctions. Your disciple is like my own," Astral Monarch Huo Cang assured.


    "Ming Jian, thank your Senior Uncle," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said softly.


    Look after him once I''m gone?<i> </i>Wu Yuan felt confused, but he respectfully obeyed, "Many thanks, Senior Uncle."


    "Haha, since you''ve called me Senior Uncle, of course I''ll take care of you. In the future, if you need anything, juste find me," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said magnanimously.


    "But work hard. Don��t disgrace your master. Among your grandmaster��s many disciples, your master was the most rebellious��yet also the most brilliant," Astral Monarch Huo Cang remarked.


    Wu Yuan was astonished. The most brilliant among Immortal Sovereign Bei You��s disciples?


    Though his master was a powerful High Immortal, shouldn��t a Sovereign have numerous Astral Monarch disciples?


    "Ming Jian, meditate in lotus position for now. It will be a while before we reach the Bei You Realm," Sword Immortal Dong Yang instructed.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded, sitting cross-legged.


    But soon after, Wu Yuan received a notification. Someone was requesting to speak with him in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>In Wu Yuan''s personal hall within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    After he epted the request, countless motes of light coalesced into a white-robed figure before Wu Yuan. The figure smiled warmly.


    "Master," Wu Yuan bowed deeply.


    "Haha, it��s just us here, no need for formalities," Sword Immortal Dong Yangughed. "But I see you didn��t prepare a lounge chair for your Master?"


    "Of course, Master. Please, take a seat," Wu Yuan waved, summoning a lounge chair��identical to the one High Immortal Nan Yin used to recline on.


    The unspoken understanding between master and disciple was unmistakable.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang leaned backfortably on the chair, grinning at Wu Yuan who stood nearby.


    It was as if they had returned to their days on Dragon Star.


    Warmth spread through Wu Yuan��s heart. Though he had epted Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi as his master, when it came to emotional bonds, there was noparison to the decades spent with High Immortal Nan Yin.


    This was a connection forged over time. In Wu Yuan''s life, it held irreceable significance.


    "You guessed correctly. Nan Yin was merely a role yed by my mana body," Dong Yang revealed with a smile. "Nan Yin means a secret hard to discuss.�� [1]


    "Master��s efforts are deeply appreciated. I will never forget them," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    "I��ve made many enemies, some quite difficult to eliminate," Dong Yang exined. "At the time, your grandmaster had not yet allowed me to return to the sect. To ensure your safety, I resorted to this method."


    Wu Yuan listened closely.


    He had already deduced some of this from the conversation between Astral Monarch Huo Cang and his master earlier.


    "Master, were you expelled from Grandmaster��s tutge?" Wu Yuan asked hesitantly.


    By all rights, a nominal disciple of an Immortal Sovereign shouldn��t have found themselves in such circumstances.


    After all, the Eternal Sun Immortal World wasn''t like the Cang Feng Eldritch World, where disciples of Eldritch Sovereigns had to keep their identities secret before oveing their tribtions to avoid assassination by the enemy faction.


    Dong Yang smiled faintly. "More or less. Do you know much about your grandmaster?"


    "I don��t," Wu Yuan admitted. Until now, he knew little about Immortal Sovereign Bei You, save for his name.


    "Your grandmaster, Immortal Sovereign Bei You, is one of the most formidable Sovereigns in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm," Dong Yang began. "While his power in directbat isn��t necessarily unrivaled, his self-preservation ability is unmatched.


    Should he so desire, no other Sovereign in the macrocosm could track his whereabouts. Even his domain, the Bei You Realm, is a true forbidden zone. If he wills it, no other Sovereign can locate it, let aloneunch an attack."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in astonishment. It was that exaggerated?


    Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Does grandmaster''s Bei You Realm exist in an extremely high spatial dimension?" Wu Yuan asked. It was the only possibility he could fathom.


    "Clever boy. Your time under the Eldritch Sovereign��s tutge has broadened your perspective," Sword Immortal Dong Yang chuckled. "You''re correct. Immortal Sovereign Bei You is the only Sovereign in the entire macrocosm who has fullyprehended the Space Dao."


    "In terms of spatial mastery, he is undefeated." Sword Immortal Dong Yang shook his head slightly. "When ites to self-preservation, no one can find him if he wants to stay hidden."


    "As for escape speed, your Master Kua Chi is on par with Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Astral Monarch Hou Qu, perhaps marginally faster," Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined with a smile. "But your grandmaster, Immortal Sovereign Bei You, can physically traverse higher spatial dimensions. In mere dozens of breaths, he can appear anywhere within the macrocosm."


    Dozens of breaths? Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.


    The Greenridge Macrocosm spanned a diameter of ten billion light years. From the perspective of the Material Spatial Layer, this meant that Immortal Sovereign Bei You could traverse billions of light-years in a single second. What a truly unfathomable ability!


    "Thus, he can roam the river of space and time, leaving his mark in different locations," Sword Immortal Dong Yang continued. "Among the fifteen Greater Laws, the Law of Time is universally acknowledged as supreme. Yet, throughout the entire river of space and time, those who have fully mastered it are few and far between."


    "Second only to the Law of Time is the Law of Space," Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined. "It is equally challenging toprehend."


    "Since the birth of our macrocosm, your grandmaster Bei You has been the sole Sovereign of Space."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He began to grasp the uniqueness of Immortal Sovereign Bei You. With such unparalleled self-preservation and escape abilities, which Sovereign would dare provoke him?


    As this thought crossed his mind, Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon Master Dong Yang. How had he managed to be a disciple of such an extraordinary being? And why had he been expelled from his tutge?


    1. Original line: ��������������֮��. Nan Yin��s name is ����, �� meaning South and �� meaning hidden. It sounds the same as ���� (nan yin), short for ����֮�� which means a secret hard to discuss ?

 Chapter 562: The Sole Sovereign of Space (2)

    <h4>Chapter 562: The Sole Sovereign of Space (2)</h4>


    As if sensing Wu Yuan''s confusion, Sword Immortal Dong Yang spoke. "Just as Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi selects disciples with the potential toprehend the Life Dao, or at least one of the three Intermediate Laws of Life, your Grandmaster Bei You does the same," Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined with a wane smile.


    "He chooses disciples with the goal of guiding them to fullyprehend the Space Dao."


    "In my younger days, I showed considerable aptitude for the Space Dao," Sword Immortal Dong Yang reminisced. "However, due to various circumstances, I ultimately chose not to continue down that path."


    "Instead, I used my foundation in the Space Dao to pivot to the Life Dao, sessfully grasping the Domain stage of the Life Dao. Naturally, this incurred your grandmaster''s wrath. He has a domineering nature and dislikes when disciples defy him." A hint of nostalgia flickered in Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s eyes, as if reliving a day from 260,000 years ago.


    Wu Yuan listened intently, sensing Master Dong Yang''s rebellious spirit. Even when an Immortal Sovereign pointed the way, he chose his own path.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan began to understand why he had never heard of Master Dong Yang excelling in the Celestial Body or Longevity Daos.


    In his early years, Master Dong Yang was renowned for his Space sword techniques and Metal sword techniques.


    "Your grandmaster grew displeased with me and ceased summoning me.


    Over the next several hundred thousand years, I endured numerous trials and made some progress in the Life Dao. It was only recently that your grandmaster epted me back," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan listened. His master��s words epassed hundreds of thousands of years of his past, hinting at the countless experiences he must have endured.


    "Initially, your grandmaster paid little attention to you," Sword Immortal Dong Yang looked at Wu Yuan. "After all, you are already a core member of the Eldritch Court."


    "Yes, Master Kua Chi mentioned that to me," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "However, this time, you disyed talent in the Space Dao while still at the Amethyst Cradle phase, which piqued his interest," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled.


    "The Law of Space... it''s nearly impossible to discern one''s aptitude for it before reaching the Divided Soul Dharma Body phase. Yet you''ve shown promise at the Amethyst Cradle phase."


    Wu Yuan understood now. So, Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s interest in meeting him stemmed from his early disy of affinity for the Space Dao.


    "Don''t worry too much. The Eternal Sun Immortal World is part of the divine court headquarters, but we maintain our independence. Besides, your grandmaster''s desire to nurture you has nothing to do with the divine court," Sword Immortal Dong Yang reassured. "When you go to the Bei You Realm, you won''t be forced to enter the Divine Hall."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    The Divine Hall was where the Eternal Sun Immortal World trained its core talents. However, due to the rtively littlepetition in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, its scale and cultivation resources were far less than those of the Origin Eldritch Field or Immortal Hall.


    "Your growth rate has far exceeded my expectations, and your talent surpasses mine when I was your age," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled. "You''ve grasped both the Celestial Body True Intent and Longevity True Intent in less than a century."


    "I believe you''ll be able to grasp the Life True Intent within a few thousand years at most."


    Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    Master Dong Yang''s assessment aligned closely with Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s expectations.


    "When you meet your grandmaster, he will undoubtedly guide you on the path of the Space Dao," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said. "Your talent in the Space Dao might be exceptional.


    Your Master Kua Chi, on the other hand, surely expects you to pursue the Life Dao.


    But let me offer you some advice �C whether you ultimately choose the Life Dao or the Space Dao, listen to your heart.


    Heed the words of the powerful, but don''t blindly follow them. Follow your own path, and you''ll have the potential to go further," Sword Immortal Dong Yang gazed at Wu Yuan.


    "Only with passion in your heart can you reach the pinnacle. Without dedication, it''s difficult to walk a path to its end."


    "Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan replied solemnly, recognizing that Sword Immortal Dong Yang was speaking from personal experience.


    He found himself agreeing with Master Dong Yang''s philosophy.


    "Master, how far have you progressed in yourprehension of the Life Dao?" Wu Yuan couldn''t resist asking.


    "Not very far, still a long way from fullyprehending it," Sword Immortal Dong Yang shook his head.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Just the seventh-level Dao Field stage," Sword Immortal Dong Yang added. [1]


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    ...


    Time flowed on, and more than a day passed in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The surrounding space underwent a dramatic transformation as they rapidly descended from the Vacuum Spatial Layer to the Material Spatial Layer.


    Soon, the sight of a vast, boundless world greeted Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    "Is this the Bei You Realm?" Wu Yuan curiously surveyed the world below, its expanse seemingly endless, stretching beyond the limits of his vision. It had to span tens of billions of li at least.


    "The entire Bei You Realm, in terms of size, isparable to the Redmoon Immortal Continent. It''s not particrlyrge," Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In terms of size, the Cang Feng Continent was thergest physicalndmass he had ever seen, spanning hundreds of billions of li across. In terms of area, it could rival hundreds of immortal continents.


    "I possess a token that allows me entry. Otherwise, even an Astral Monarch has no way of entering," Astral Monarch Huo Cang smiled. "Junior Brother, Ming Jian, let''s go visit Master right away."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Astral Monarch Huo Cang led Sword Immortal Dong Yang and Wu Yuan, swiftly traversing the space to the very center of the Bei You Realm�Ca mountain range stretching over a million li.


    The mountain range floated more than ten million li above the ground, withyer uponyer of intricate formations, resembling a colossal dragon swimming through the void.


    This vast mountain range was dotted with numerous pavilions, terraces, and halls, yet there were few immortal cultivators in sight.


    "Your grandmaster has taken many disciples. To date, he has epted over ten thousand," Astral Monarch Huo Cang exined with a smile. "Of course, nearly ny percent have perished. Not many have be Astral Monarchs. As for third, fourth, and fifth generation disciples, there are even more. In total, the number likely exceeds ten billion."


    Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.


    Over ten thousand disciples? More than ten billion? Compared to Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, this Immortal Sovereign Bei You truly lived up to the reputation of epting disciples far and wide, teaching without discrimination.


    "Of course, while there are many disciples in our lineage, few truly gain your grandmaster''s recognition and the right to establish a grotto in the Bei You Mountain. Apart from us second-generation disciples who have sessfully ovee our Tribtions, only a few hundred third and fourth-generation disciples have established grottos," Astral Monarch Huo Cang exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    From this perspective, only those who had earned the right to establish a grotto in the Bei You Mountain could truly be considered disciples of the Bei You lineage.


    The three swiftly entered the mountain range.


    From afar, the mountain range appeared teeming with halls and pavilions, yet as they drew near, the scarcity of cultivators became apparent.


    Silence pervaded the air.


    "Though we''ve carved out grottos here, the vast majority of disciples spend their time roaming the world outside," Sword Immortal Dong Yang remarked with a chuckle. "Take your Senior Uncle Huo Cang, for instance. He''s established a vast immortal nation, ruling over it."


    "Brother, that''s called carrying on the sect''s legacy," Astral Monarch Huo Cang retorted with a re.


    Layer uponyer of security barriers lined their path. But naturally, these posed no hindrance to the trio. Finally, they arrived before an imposing hall at the heart of the mountain range.


    Two divine generals stood guard here, their auras overwhelmingly powerful �C both Archdeities.


    "Senior Uncle," they greeted respectfully, bowing to Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Sword Immortal Dong Yang. Clearly, they were third-generation disciples.


    Their gazes then fell upon Wu Yuan.


    "Greet your Senior Brothers," Sword Immortal Dong Yang instructed Wu Yuan.


    "Greetings, Senior Brothers," Wu Yuan promptlyplied.


    "Haha! This must be Junior Brother Ming Jian," the taller, lean Archdeity smiled. "We''ve heard tales of your exploits. You''ve brought great prestige to our Bei You lineage. In time, you''ll surely ascend to the Astral Monarch level."


    Their intelligencework was impressively thorough.


    "Come, let''s enter," Astral Monarch Huo Cang urged. The three swiftly crossed the corridor and entered the grand hall.


    Within the hall, a solitary figure in ck robes sat upon a jade tform. He appeared to be a middle-aged man with a square jaw, his aura ethereal and profound, as if he were the physical manifestation of the vast heaven and earth.


    Wu Yuan''s heart remained calm. Having met Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, encountering other Sovereign-level beings no longer rattled him as much as before.


    "We pay our respects to Master," Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Sword Immortal Dong Yang bowed reverently.


    "I pay my respects to Grandmaster," Wu Yuan followed suit.


    "Mm." On the jade tform, Immortal Sovereign Bei You opened his eyes, his gaze falling directly upon Wu Yuan.


    In the next instant, a flicker of surprise shed across his pupils. However, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.


    "Huo Cang, Dong Yang, you may withdraw. I have matters to discuss with Ming Jian alone," Immortal Sovereign Bei You spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.


    "Yes, Master," Though puzzled, Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Sword Immortal Dong Yang dared not disobey and swiftly retreated.


    In the hall, only Wu Yuan and Immortal Sovereign Bei You remained.


    "Your Apotheosis Yuan Soul�Cyou achieved this breakthrough on the entry-level battlefield?" Immortal Sovereign Bei You inquired nonchntly. "For one so young to weather the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, your Dao Heart must be extraordinary."


    Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat in shock.


    Heavens! Even Master Kua Chi hadn''t detected his Apotheosis Yuan Soul, yet this Grandmaster Bei You discerned it at one nce?


    Of course, Wu Yuan couldn''t be certain of Master Kua Chi''s true capabilities. After all, Master Kua Chi had never met his qi refiner self in the flesh.


    "There��s no need for astonishment or concern," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled faintly. "The stronger one bes, especially after establishing a Voidspace and internal shambh, the more one unconsciously obscures traces of their past and destiny. This makes tracing them increasingly difficult.


    An Apotheosis Yuan Soul ys a particrly important factor in this. Other Immortal Sovereigns attempting to trace your past timeline would struggle to glimpse a fraction of it.


    However, I have mastered the Space Dao. Space and Time are inseparable. In terms of past retracing and future divination, I stand unrivaled in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled. "Thus, you cannot escape my perception. But once you truly be a High Immortal, even I will find it challenging."


    Wu Yuan listened in silent awe, marveling at the inconceivable abilities of an Immortal Sovereign who had mastered the Space Dao.


    "No wonder Kua Chi took you as his disciple. Your natural talent is indeed exceptional. Throughout the long ages since the inception of this macrocosm, among countless prodigies, you rank among the top," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled.


    "You may be a core member of the Eldritch Court. However, you have addressed me as Grandmaster, so I shall, in that capacity, offer you the same opportunity as your other Senior Uncles."


    1. Yes, I checked, holy hell ?

 Chapter 563: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (1)

    <h4>Chapter 563: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (1)</h4>


    <i>In the capacity of my grandmaster?</i> Wu Yuan was bewildered.


    He vaguely sensed that this was different from what he had anticipated.


    "In simple terms," Immortal Sovereign Bei You began, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan, "if you ept this opportunity, you will officially be a third-generation disciple of my Bei You lineage, bearing the responsibilities thate with it."


    "Rest assured," Immortal Sovereign Bei You continued with a slight smile, "the Bei You lineage does not ovep with the Taiyuan Divine Court. While I am considered part of the core of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, I am merely an affiliate member of the divine court, not part of its inner circle."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. "Grandmaster, you''re only an affiliate member?"


    For a Sovereign-level being to be just an affiliate member? This designation clearly referred to status, not power.


    "What, did you think the divine court headquarters could control us Sovereigns?" Bei You chuckled softly. "Each Sovereign is a pinnacle existence in the macrocosm, a figure of unparalleled brilliance who has risen above countless others."


    "Even the divine court can only seek to win us over," Bei You exined. "I joined the divine court after bing a Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "I''m actually one of the more agreeable ones," Bei You continued. "Take Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling from the Greenridge Immortal World, for instance. He refuses to submit to any major faction, existing independently within the vast river of space and time. [1] He upies thergest territory in the macrocosm,manding numerous powerful subordinates. He implicitly sides with the Immortal Court, but does not submit to it. Even the Eldritch Court can do nothing about him.��


    Wu Yuan listened intently, his mind reeling. Truly, Sovereigns were beings of immense power and influence.


    <i>Given that the Greenridge Macrocosm is named after Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling himself, he must be extraordinary. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    The vast heaven and earth held countless secrets. In the Greenridge Macrocosm alone, countless powerful beings had emerged over endless ages, locked in constant struggle, with innumerable entanglements.


    The powerhouses and factions that had endured to this day were all exceptional in their own right.


    "So, you needn''t worry about futureplications with the divine court," Bei You assured him. "The oath you swore in your youth is an ordinary one. Unless you receive significant benefits from the divine court, its binding power will be weak. You only need to give as much as you receive �C that is karma."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, understanding that everything bnced out. To receive was to owe.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but think of the ck pagoda. He had gained so much on this journey. What would he have to give in return?


    "Of course, by not bing a core member of the divine court, you also won''t receive many benefits from it," Bei You continued. "For example, you won''t be able to enjoy the numerous resources avable to core disciples of the Divine Hall."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Fewer benefits meant fewer responsibilities to shoulder. In the future, if the Taiyuan Divine Court called for aid, he could choose to ignore it.


    "You''ve be a disciple of Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, and you''ve made progress in both the Celestial Body and Longevity Daos," Bei You observed. "Your primary goal must be toprehend the Life Dao."


    "The Life Dao is extraordinary," he continued. "The six special Greater Laws each have their unique aspects. Your Master Kua Chi, for instance, is known as the Undying Sovereign among the macrocosm''s Sovereigns. He''s incredibly difficult to deal with in directbat, giving other Sovereigns severe headaches."


    <i>The Undying Sovereign? </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself. Was that Master Kua Chi''s alias?


    "But undying doesn''t mean truly unable to die," Bei You said casually. "No matter how difficult, he can still be killed.


    After the Time Dao, the strongest Dao is the Space Dao.


    My alias is Shadowless. Few other Sovereigns in the macrocosm can trace my whereabouts.


    If I so choose, I can infiltrate any corner of the macrocosm, any pocket of spacetime, and kill anyone below Sovereign level that I wish to eliminate," Bei You stated matter-of-factly. "I can ess the most secure areas of the Cang Feng Eldritch World or the Voltari Temple."


    Wu Yuan listened, dumbfounded.


    The Shadowless Sovereign? Truly heaven-defying.


    A barely perceptible smile tugged at Bei You''s lips, clearly enjoying Wu Yuan''s expression.


    What he said wasn''t wrong - he could indeed break into the core region of any major faction. However, whether he could safely escape afterward was another matter entirely.


    "The fact that you could easily grasp the profundities of the Space Dao right after your soul evolved to a Yuan Soul, even if it''s an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, speaks volumes about your aptitude," Bei You continued.


    "If you''re willing, you have the potential to fullyprehend the Space Dao in the future. Eventually, you might even fullyprehend Spacetime... This path is far broader than the Life Dao you''ve been pursuing," Bei You exined.


    Wu Yuan only felt that Bei You''s ability to paint an enticing picture of the future was truly remarkable, far surpassing Master Kua Chi''s. [2]


    "Of course," Bei You added, "the best cultivation path is the one that suits you. If you didn''t have an aptitude for the Space Dao, I wouldn''t even bother meeting with you, let alone try to persuade you. Once you truly step through the threshold of the Space Dao, you''ll naturally understand its power."


    "The Law of Space is indeed extraordinary," Wu Yuan admitted sincerely.


    If nothing else, just witnessing how Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Astral Monarch Huo Cang could freely traverse the macrocosm through applying the principles of the Law of Space was enough to inspire envy.


    "The opportunity I''m offering you will likely allow you to progress further along the Space Dao. And this chance is something that only I, the only Sovereign of Space in the entire macrocosm, can provide you."


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath. An opportunity that only Immortal Sovereign Bei You could offer?


    "If you don''t ept it, I''ll give you a gift and send you out of the Bei You Realm," Bei You said with a smile. "The choice is yours."


    After a moment''s hesitation, Wu Yuan asked, "Grandmaster, if I choose to ept this opportunity, must I pursue the Space Dao?"


    "No." Bei You replied calmly. "If you hade a million years ago, you wouldn''t have had the option to defy me. However, what happened with your master has taught me much."


    "Master?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    "Many of my disciples, like your Senior Uncle Huo Cang, have achieved great things in the Space Dao. Yet to this day, my lineage has failed to produce a second Space Sovereign," Bei You exined evenly.


    "Your Master Dong Yang defied my wishes, but after tens of thousands of years, his chances of breaking through to be a Sovereign have greatly increased.


    The path to bing a Sovereign ultimately varies from person to person. The path isid out before you, but you must choose for yourself." Bei You smiled.


    Bei You didn''t mention that this was an agreement between him and Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi. Neither of them would interfere with Wu Yuan''s future path.


    "In that case, I willingly ept," Wu Yuan replied without hesitation.


    To master the Law of Life, one must firstprehend the Law of Space. And when it came to achievements in the Law of Space, who in the macrocosm could surpass Immortal Sovereign Bei You?


    With his guidance, Wu Yuan was destined to progress faster and more steadily along the Space Dao.


    Bei You gestured, and several streams of light flew out, interweaving to envelop Wu Yuanpletely.


    <i>Rumble! </i>Even with his powerful Yuan Soul, Wu Yuan felt his mind shudder. A thunderous explosion followed, and aplex tidal wave of information flooded his consciousness.


    This vast sea of knowledge was so overwhelming that Wu Yuan couldn''t spare a thought for anything else.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan seemed to ''see'' a sort of power concentrated at a singr point, spreading out in the darkness of the void. Then, that power exploded, instantly transforming into countless scenes.


    The vast heaven and earth were thus created, and the fundamental powers of heaven and earth �C Metal, Wood, Water, and others �C were born from this.


    "Spacetime is the primordial Dao essence; Space is the foundation for all existence; Time gives meaning to all things and all Daos. Without Spacetime, all is illusory... Qiankun, True Domain, Spatial Rift..." A flood of information converged.


    Countless insights washed over Wu Yuan. It was as if Wu Yuan had personally witnessed the various profundities of the Law of Space, both hazy and clear, incredibly bizarre!


    It felt like a long time passed before Wu Yuan regained his senses.


    He now understood that this was Immortal Sovereign Bei You''sprehensive guidance on the Law of Space.


    It was incredibly detailed. One part dealt with the profundities of various Lesser Laws of the Space Dao, while another part provided an overview of the entire Space Dao.


    However, Wu Yuan''s current understanding of the Space Dao was still superficial, so he could only memorize everything for now.


    Seeing Wu Yuan open his eyes, Bei You spoke, "This inheritance can be considered a ''Compendium of the Law of Space��."


    "While it may notpare to the so-called ''True Spatial Domain Tome'' or ''Law of Qiankun Tome'' in terms of guidance for specific Intermediate Laws, it is moreprehensive and provides a more solid foundation," Bei You exined. "Additionally, I will prepare a portion of Fire Divine Gorge Brew for you."


    "Thank you, Grandmaster," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    The True Spatial Domain Tome might be excellent, but it was far too rare. Even with an original copy, one could only receive its inheritance once every ten million years.


    "For the next hundred years, you will cultivate in the Bei You Mountain Range," Bei You instructed.


    "Within a century, if you canprehend any Intermediate Law of Space to the True Intent stage, I''ll take it that you��ve passed my test," the Immortal Sovereign Bei You said coolly. "Come see me again when you''ve reached that stage."


    "You may go now. After bidding farewell to your master, proceed to the Immortal Belvedere. I''ve already made arrangements."


    Bid farewell to Master? Wu Yuan''s mind raced, recalling his master''s earlier words. He bowed respectfully, "Yes, Grandmaster."


    Though uncertain of the Immortal Belvedere''s location, Wu Yuan figured it wouldn''t be difficult to find. He could always ask his master for assistance too.


    1. Qing Ling = Greenridge ?


    2. The Cake-painting Dao is strong in this novel. ?

 Chapter 564: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (2)

    Chapter 564: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (2)


    After leaving the grand hall, a deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed within the chamber, "Master, do you truly intend to give this youngster a portion of the Fire Divine Gorge Brew? You only obtained a small amount after a desperate battle beyond the universe. Even most of your direct disciples haven''t received such a gift."


    The voice continued, tinged with concern, "This Ming Jian, despite his extraordinary talent, is still too young and inexperienced. The chances of him reaching his full potential are slim. Using it on him might be wasteful."


    Talent? The immortal path was treacherous and filled with obstacles. How many monstrous prodigies had fallen along the way? Super powerhouses often hesitated to expend precious resources on disciples who were still in the early phases of cultivation.


    "I understand," Immortal Sovereign Bei You replied with a calm, measured tone. "Think of this Fire Divine Gorge Brew as mypensation to his Master. I owe much to Dong Yang, and his departure is fraught with uncertainty."


    Bei You gazed into the distance, lost in thought. "I can see that his only true concern is his disciple. Consider it a gesture from me, as his Master."


    A moment of silence hung in the air before Bei You spoke again, "Go and get it done."


    "As you wish," the deep voice responded before falling silent, its presence retreating from the grand hall.


    ��


    Outside the hall, Astral Monarch Huo Cang''s voice cut through the air with a mix of surprise and admiration, "Oh? He bestowed you a portion of the Fire Divine Gorge Brew? Not bad, Ming Jian. It seems your grandmaster thinks highly of you. You must work hard."Sword Immortal Dong Yang looked equally surprised, his gaze shifting to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan, however, was bewildered. He had been focused on the ��Compendium of the Law of Space��, but now from Astral Monarch Huo Cang''s reaction, this mysterious ''Fire Divine Gorge Brew'' seemed even more precious and mystical?


    "Silly boy," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled, noticing the confusion on Wu Yuan''s face. "That inheritance is indeed valuable. In the entire macrocosm, only our Master could casually hand it out. Even other Sovereigns would struggle to do so.


    Moreover, Disciple, you must understand this: the Dao cannot be imparted lightly.


    The act of imparting teachings incurs karma. The more powerful the methodology taught, the more terrifying the karmic bacsh can be. That''s why even Eldritch Sovereigns rarely take on disciples over the long years.


    Your Grandmaster, though he appears to ept many disciples, only takes on one every few tens of thousands of years on average." Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "However, no matter how precious this inheritance is, all of us second-generation disciples possess it. Yet, how many have truly broken through?" Sword Immortal Dong Yang sighed. "Barely one in a hundred can grasp even a single Intermediate Law of Space. In the end, sess depends on oneself.


    The Fire Divine Gorge Brew, on the other hand, is an incredibly precious treasure. Even Sovereigns find it somewhat useful, and for us, it''s a great treasure. For you, it''s practically priceless, beyond quantifying in divine crystals," Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s smile returned. "Even consuming a small amount will subtly transform you.


    When you reach the Immortal Belvedere, work hard. Don''t disappoint your Grandmaster''s expectations."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly. He could feel his Master''s care and concern.


    "Junior Brother, let''s go see Master. You''ll have plenty of timeter to chat with your disciple," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said with a teasing smile.


    "Alright. Ming Jian, wait here. I''ll be back shortly," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said, his smile gentle and reassuring.


    Wu Yuan nodded, waiting outside the hall.


    ��


    Wu Yuan didn''t have to wait long. In less than a quarter-hour, Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Sword Immortal Dong Yang emerged from the grand hall.


    As they stepped out, Astral Monarch Huo Cang cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Junior Brother, your journey ahead will be a dangerous one. I wish you sess and look forward to celebrating your return with drinks in the Huo Cang Region."


    "I appreciate your well wishes, Senior Brother," Sword Immortal Dong Yang nodded firmly.


    Astral Monarch Huo Cang turned to Wu Yuan, his grin wide and encouraging. "Junior Nephew, work hard. If you need anything after leaving the Bei You Realm, you can contact me through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded ambiguously.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Astral Monarch Huo Cang transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the distance.


    "Master," Wu Yuan looked up at Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    "There are some things I need to tell you, but that can wait for now. First, follow me to a certain ce," Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s smile was soft yet mysterious. "Enter the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. I''ve already given you the specific coordinates. Juste over."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, a strand of consciousness already entering the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    In the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, within the Silvermist ne, was a special space only a thousand li in width.


    <em>Whoosh~</em> Wu Yuan and Sword Immortal Dong Yang appeared out of thin air. With a single nce, Wu Yuan took in his surroundings �C a space dotted with various halls and pavilions.


    "Master, where are we?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "This is a space specially opened by our Dragon Star Immortal Sect within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. Only High Immortals can enter this ce," Sword Immortal Dong Yang''s voice was low. "However, from now on, you''ll be able toe here as well."


    "Me? Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" Wu Yuan��s thoughts raced as he began to piece together what was happening.


    "Come with me, we��re meeting two people," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said, leading Wu Yuan swiftly toward the furthest reaches of the space.


    Within a secluded pavilion, two figures awaited their arrival. One was d in red robes, a figure familiar to Wu Yuan��Abbot Wu.


    The other figure wore azure robes, his face slightly aged, with two horns crowning his head. His aura was ethereal andmanding, far surpassing that of Abbot Wu.


    "Abbot, Immortal Ancestor," Sword Immortal Dong Yang greeted with a bow, his tone respectful yet casual.


    Indeed, this was within Wu Yuan''s expectations.


    "Dong Yang."


    "Dong Yang, you''ve arrived," Abbot Wu and the elderly man in azure robes stood up as Sword Immortal Dong Yang and Wu Yuan approached.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled as he introduced Wu Yuan. "This is my disciple Li Xia, also known as Ming Jian, who broke the kill record of the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefields."


    "Li Xia pays respects to the Abbot and the Immortal Ancestor," Wu Yuan bowed to each one in turn.


    But Abbot Wu quickly stepped aside, avoiding the bow, and the elderly man in azure robes also half-dodged the gesture.


    "Dong Yang has returned to the Immortal Sovereign''s tutge, and you, Li Xia, have also gained the Immortal Sovereign''s recognition as a third-generation disciple. Your status is equal to mine, so there''s no need for such formalities," the elderly man in azure robes said kindly. "You can simply call me Long Xing."


    The man was Archimmortal Long Xing, the founder of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, and a being whose power rivaled that of an Astral Lord.


    "That''s absolutely uneptable," Sword Immortal Dong Yang quickly interjected, his tone firm. "No matter how amazing Li Xia''s talent or strength, he remains a member of our sect. We must not neglect proper etiquette."


    Archimmortal Long Xing smiled, a hint of helplessness in his expression.


    Wu Yuan stood quietly, taking everything in. It was clear that his master held an extremely high position within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, perhaps even on par with the Immortal Ancestor himself.


    "Immortal Ancestor," Sword Immortal Dong Yang continued, "Li Xia is currently cultivating in the Bei You Realm. When his cultivation bears fruit, he will certainly return to the sect. At that time, if he makes any mistakes, please guide him."


    "Guide? I''ll certainly do my best to assist him," Archimmortal Long Xing smiled warmly.


    "Abbot, Li Xia''s identity needs to be kept secret for now. I''ll have to trouble you with this matter," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said, his tone serious.


    "Haha, rest assured," Abbot Wu smiled, turning to Wu Yuan with a twinkle in his eye. "Li Xia, from now on, you''re a special veteran elder of our sect, ranking above all other elders. If there''s anything the sect can do for you, just let me know."


    Special veteran elder? Wu Yuan nodded slightly, not cing much importance on the title. It was just an elder position, nothing significant.


    He understood his master''s intentions. Though hecked strength, his status and potential already ced him among the highest echelons of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    As time passed, the group continued their conversation, exchanging information and forging connections. Wu Yuan also exchanged contact details with Abbot Wu and Archimmortal Long Xing.


    ��


    As the four conversed within the immortal voidrealm, Sword Immortal Dong Yang simultaneously rode a cloud, leisurely flying above the Bei You Mountains with Wu Yuan in tow.


    "Archimmortal Long Xing possesses the strength of an Astral Lord. However, he was previously a loose cultivator without backing, so he''s always kept a low profile. His straightforward nature has led him to roam other immortal nations and dangerousnds for years," Sword Immortal Dong Yang exined to Wu Yuan. "His fame is rather modest."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Even with the power of an Astral Lord, Long Xing didn��t im a particrly vast territory. Indeed, he was quite low-key.


    "As for Abbot Wu, he''s young but already a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal. He''s considered the most promising candidate to be an Archimmortal in this generation of the sect," Sword Immortal Dong Yang continued. "By introducing you to the two of them, I��m cing a responsibility on your shoulders. I hope you won''t resent me for this."


    Wu Yuan was momentarily taken aback. Responsibility?


    "Years ago, I had no intention of taking on a disciple, but by chance, I saw potential in you.


    Your rapid growth has brought me great joy," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled, his eyes filled with pride. "I originally thought it would take you over a thousand years to mature, but now it seems you no longer need my guidance.


    Thus, it''s time for me to seek my own path."


    Wu Yuan listened intently, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.


    "I''m about to leave the Greenridge Macrocosm to venture into an incredibly distant realm," Sword Immortal Dong Yang gazed at Wu Yuan, his voice tinged with emotion. "It''s fraught with danger, with an extremely high chance of death."<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    Sorry for the dy!</blockquote>

 Chapter 565: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (3)

    <h4>Chapter 565: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (3)</h4>


    "Leave the Greenridge Macrocosm?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but exim in shock. "Master, why not wait until after you''ve undergone your Tribtion?"


    In Wu Yuan''s mind, considering Master Dong Yang''s immense strength, it shouldn''t be too difficult for him toplete his Ninth Immortal Tribtion. By then, he might even ascend to the rank of Astral Monarch, with his power increasing exponentially.


    Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled softly. "After undergoing my Tribtion, it will be much harder for me to fullyprehend the Law of Life. You understand this principle, don''t you?"


    "If I were to cultivate methodically," Dong Yang continued, "I wouldn''t be able to fullyprehend the Life Dao before my million-year lifespan limit. Once I undergo the Tribtion, my hope of breaking through bes even more remote."


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. For a High Immortal, reaching the seventh-level Dao Field stage of the Life Dao was already an extraordinary achievement, seemingly not far from the ninth-level Dao Field stage. But who could predict how long it would take to break through even one more level? Let alone the final step?


    Throughout the vast macrocosm, among the numerous Astral Monarchs, every single one was once a peerless genius in their youth, many on par with Jiang Huan. Yet, how many could break through their shackles to be a Sovereign?


    "This is your Master''s final gambit," Dong Yang said with a calm smile. "If I seed, I''ll have hope of fullyprehending the Life Dao. If I fail, I might perish. I''ve roamed the world for nearly a million years, rising from obscurity step by step, living an unfettered life and even defying my master''s orders. But I''ve always focused on my own path, with no regrets.


    Previously, my only worries were you and the sect. Now, I no longer need to worry about you, so only the sect remains."


    Dong Yang''s tone grew more somber. "I don''t expect you to feel the same way about the sect as I do, but if the sect ever faces a great cmity, I hope you''ll lend a hand if you can."


    "Yes, Disciple will keep this in mind," Wu Yuan nodded heavily, feeling the weight of his master''s words. From Dong Yang��s tone, it seemed like he was offering his ''final words.''


    Gratitude welled up in Wu Yuan''s heart. Without Master Dong Yang''s guidance, he wouldn''t have grown so rapidly.


    "Years ago, I promised to give you an important treasure. It''s time I fulfilled that promise," Dong Yang said, flipping his palm to reveal a ck ruler about an inch tall, its surface covered in countless cracks and patterns.


    It appeared ordinary at first nce, but a subtle probe revealed the dense fluctuations of Space emanating from it, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly.


    "This is the Void Rift Ruler, the most precious treasure I''ve acquired during my years of solitary exploration. As long as you have some understanding of the fluctuations of Space, you can activate a basic level of its power. It''s a top life-saving treasure, a special type of celestial equipment.


    The Void Divine Talisman I gave you previously is, in a sense, a weakened, one-time-use Void Rift Ruler.


    In the future, you can slowly familiarize yourself with it," Dong Yang instructed. "Though it has no formal equipment rating, in terms of value, it could be considered among the finest celestial equipment.


    Astral Monarchs might not care for it, but its special abilities will certainly tempt countless Archimmortals and Astral Lords. So don''t reveal it carelessly."


    Among the finest celestial equipment? The Void Divine Talisman was just a rudimentary, one-time-use Void Rift Ruler? As far as Wu Yuan knew, a single Void Divine Talisman was worth at least hundreds of divine crystals��a life-saving item for many Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritch.


    Wu Yuan observed the Void Rift Ruler. It was probably no less valuable than the Myriad Woods Dao Treasure, perhaps even more precious.


    "Master, if this treasure is so valuable, don''t you need it?" Wu Yuan asked, his concern genuine. "If you need it, you shouldn''t give it to your disciple."


    Dong Yang chuckled softly. "It was somewhat useful to me before, but your grandmaster has just gifted me other treasures, so I no longer need the Void Rift Ruler."


    Suddenly, Dong Yang pointed to a vast, undting courtyard in the distance. "We''ve arrived at the Immortal Belvedere."


    "Disciple, this is all your master can do for you now. The path ahead is yours to walk alone." Dong Yang smiled, his eyes filled with affection and a touch of reluctance.


    Childless throughout his life, Dong Yang regarded Wu Yuan as both a disciple and a son. Otherwise, why would he treat him with such care and attention?


    "Master, take care," Wu Yuan''s voice quivered as he knelt, his eyes reddening slightly.


    Dong Yang''sughter rang out, light and carefree. "Haha, foolish child, a great man should not act like a little boy. Work hard. In due time, when both us master and disciple be Sword Sovereigns, now that would make for a legendary tale across the entire macrocosm."


    With that, Sword Immortal Dong Yang took a step forward and drifted away, his figure silently disappearing from Wu Yuan''s sight.


    "Farewell, Master," Wu Yuan whispered, remaining kneeling as his master''s presence faded.


    ...


    After a long while, Wu Yuan finally stood up, his heart now calm.


    <i>Master has gone to seek his own path. And I, too, must continue walking mine.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan flew towards the massive courtyard nestled among the distant mountains.


    Master and disciple had parted ways, not knowing when they would meet again.


    <i>So this is the Immortal Belvedere? </i>As Wu Yuan arrived before the enormous courtyard, stretching for hundreds of li, he took in the breathtaking scenery.


    The entire Bei You Mountain range was saturated with incredibly dense spiritual energy.


    The trees surrounding the courtyard, even the random weeds and saplings, would be considered spiritual nts and celestial flora in the outside world.


    "Haha, you must be Junior Nephew Ming Jian," a gentle voice rang out from the courtyard, followed by a sh of light.


    A portly, bejeweled middle-aged man appeared at the courtyard entrance, his small eyes twinkling with warmth and a beaming smile on his face.


    At first nce, he resembled a cunning merchant from the mortal world, yet there was something undeniably weing about him.


    "Senior, who might you be?" Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, unsure of the man''s identity.


    The plump middle-aged man smiled kindly. "I am Astral Monarch Gu Lai, a disciple of the Immortal Sovereign. Since you''re Junior Brother Dong Yang''s disciple, you can call me Senior Uncle Gu Lai.


    I don''t like roaming the world outside and mostly remain in the Bei You Realm, so the Immortal Sovereign ordered me to manage the Immortal Belvedere."


    "Ming Jian pays his respects to Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan said with deep respect.


    As expected of an Immortal Sovereign, even a random disciple was an Astral Monarch. But from another perspective, one probably wouldn''t catch an Immortal Sovereign''s eye without reaching the level of Astral Monarch.


    "Mm, follow me inside," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said as an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, guiding him into the vast courtyard.


    <i>Hmm? </i>The moment they stepped inside, Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes.


    "You''ve sensed it?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai smiled knowingly. "The Immortal Sovereign hasid special restrictions within the Immortal Belvedere. No matter how strong you are, how abundant your mana, or how robust your body, as long as you haven''t be an immortal, your power will be limited to the first-stage Golden Core phase. Your vital aura will be simrly suppressed."


    "Likewise, no matter how deep yourprehension of other Daos, unless you''ve fully grasped an Intermediate Law, you won''t be able to manifest it here, even if you''ve fullyprehended a Lesser Law.


    Here, you can only perceive and harness the Law of Space," Astral Monarch Gu Lai exined, his tone even.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, marveling inwardly.


    As expected of an Immortal Sovereign, even the restrictions heid down had such extraordinary effects!


    Within the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan couldn��t detect any other Daos. It was as if the myriad Daos had vanished, leaving only the Law of Space. Surprisingly, his perception of its fluctuations was even sharper here than it was outside.


    "As your Senior Uncle, I''ll first guide you through the various areas of the Immortal Belvedere. Follow me," said Astral Monarch Gu Lai, motioning for Wu Yuan to follow.


    Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    The two made their way through the courtyard, following the winding paths for several li until they came upon a series of individual courtyards. There were over a thousand private courtyards in total, each modest in size.


    "Any courtyard with a visible barrier is upied and thus off-limits to you," Astral Monarch Gu Lai exined as they walked.


    "There are others here?" Wu Yuan asked, surprised.


    "Of course," Gu Lai replied with a chuckle. "The Immortal Belvedere is a sacred ground for our Bei You lineage. Those with exceptional talent in the Space Dao are sent here. This ce is renowned throughout the macrocosm as the premier sanctuary forprehending the Law of Space.


    Those who make little progress are expelled after a few centuries, while those who advance rapidly may even earn an audience with the Immortal Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, absorbing the information.


    This was the domain of Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s lineage. How many disciples did Immortal Sovereign Bei You have? It seemed that a considerable number of immortal cultivators were sent here.


    This also revealed something else��the Bei You lineage was indeed distinct from the rest of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, seemingly existing on the fringes of the immortal world''s core.


    It was simr to how the disciples of Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi trained directly in the Origin Eldritch Fields.


    "You can choose a courtyard for yourselfter. As for the Fire Divine Gorge Brew, I''ll have it delivered to you as scheduled," said Astral Monarch Gu Lai.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan replied respectfully, recognizing the need to maintain a proper decorum.


    He could tell that Astral Monarch Huo Cang and his master were close, to the point where his master had entrusted him to Huo Cang''s care.


    But this Astral Monarch Gu Lai? That wasn''t necessarily the case, so he naturally had to act more respectfully and avoid any discourtesy.

 Chapter 566: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (4)

    Chapter 566: First Visit To The Immortal Belvedere (4)


    "Come with me," said Astral Monarch Gu Lai, leading Wu Yuan swiftly past numerous courtyards and towering pavilions.


    They arrived at a vast za over ten li in diameter. In the center stood an enormous stele, its surface alive with flowing, cryptic patterns that shimmered in the light.


    Around the za''s perimeter, over a thousand immortal cultivators were seated in lotus position, deep in meditation.


    These cultivators were as diverse in appearance as they were in origin. Some wore white robes, others ck; some appeared youthful, while others were elderly. There were even a few with the unmistakable features of demonic beasts. But within the Immortal Belvedere, everyone''s vital aura and Yuan Soul were suppressed.


    Wu Yuan could not discern their exact cultivation levels, only sensing vaguely that most were immortals.


    "Junior Nephew, do you know why our Immortal Belvedere dares to im the title of the macrocosm''s top sanctuary forprehending the Law of Space?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai asked with a smile.


    Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "It''s because of that stele, known as the Qiankun Divine Stele," Astral Monarch Gu Lai exined. "The Immortal Sovereign created it with his supreme divine abilities. This stele provides guidance to those who contemte it. The stronger one''s grasp of the Law of Space, the greater its effect, making progress far swifter than cultivating independently.


    Training here for a few thousand years allows most immortal cultivators to make the equivalent of tens of thousands of years of progress if they had contemted the Law of Space elsewhere.""Incredible," Wu Yuan murmured, astonished. Was it really that miraculous?


    "Senior Uncle, doesn''t that mean many Archimmortals and Astral Lords can quicklyprehend the Space Dao and be Astral Monarchs of Space?" Wu Yuan couldn''t resist asking.


    "What are you thinking?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai chuckled and shook his head. "While the Qiankun Divine Stele is extraordinary, it''s not that absurdly powerful.


    It has two major limitations. First, the longer one spends contemting it, the weaker its guiding effect bes. You��ll see the best results in the first few thousand years.


    Second, it can only guide you inprehending the fundamentals of the Law of Space. For the integration of Laws, you must rely on yourself.


    To fully grasp an Intermediate Law, let aloneprehend aplete Greater Law, one must break through bottlenecks on their own. External aids offer little help," Astral Monarch Gu Lai sighed.


    Wu Yuan nodded, understanding.


    By mastering an Intermediate Law, one could be an Astral Monarch. If it were that easy, the Silvermist Immortal Nation wouldn''t have only thirteen Astral Monarchs after countless ages.


    The same applied toprehending Greater Laws. Whether it was Master Kua Chi or Ancestral Master Bei You, each had taken on numerous peerless geniuses as disciples, yet none had be a Sovereign to this day.


    "Junior Nephew, approach the Qiankun Divine Stele and leave your aura imprint," Astral Monarch Gu Lai instructed. "This will allow the stele to guide yourprehension based on your current understanding of the Law of Space. The guidance differs for each individual."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan flew swiftly along the path between rows of jade tforms where the immortal cultivators meditated, rapidly approaching the Qiankun Divine Stele.


    As he neared the stele, many of the meditating cultivators opened their eyes to observe him.


    "Who is he?"


    "I''ve never seen him before. Today isn''t an open recruitment day, is it? Could he be specially admitted for his extraordinary talent?"


    "He was personally escorted by Astral Monarch Gu Lai. His background must be significant."


    "What do you think hisprehension level will be?"


    "Hard to say, but to be brought here by an Astral Monarch, it must be at least level seven or eight, right?" The cultivators whispered among themselves.


    Most of them were from the Bei You lineage and also made efforts to socialize, so they were quite familiar with one another.


    Many of them paid close attention to Wu Yuan.


    Of course, due to the invisible suppression within the Immortal Belvedere, these cultivators couldn''t determine Wu Yuan''s exact cultivation level.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>As he approached, Wu Yuan sensed an invisible force, causing him to halt involuntarily.


    The divine stele stood about ten meters tall. He stopped about sixty meters away from it, having passed the jade tforms closest to the stele.


    <em>Leave a mental imprint? </em>Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes.


    His Soul Force surged out, swiftly reaching the Qiankun Divine Stele. The moment it made contact, an invisible force instantly pulled Wu Yuan''s consciousness into a mysterious realm.


    ��


    Wu Yuan felt his vision blur as this sliver of consciousness found itself in a dark, tunnel-like world. There was nothing here, only a passage about a hundred li wide stretching into the distance.


    <em>What? </em>Wu Yuan was bewildered. Wasn''t he supposed to be leaving a mental imprint on the stele? Where was this ce?


    "Control a battle avatar with a strand of consciousness and y the enemy. Here, you can only utilize the Law of Space," a cold voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s ears.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> Wisps of mist appeared in the distant passage, swiftly coalescing into towering figures. Each wielded a different weapon, roaring with murderous intent.


    <em>Is this... a test? Simr to the Overlord Hall? </em>Wu Yuan instantly realized what sort of ce this was.


    The difference was that the Overlord Hall involved real-world battle and did not restrict one��s application of any Dao. Here, it was a virtual battle of consciousness, and he was limited to employing only the profundities of Space.


    <em>The power of this body is equivalent to the first-stage Golden Core phase? </em>Wu Yuan mused inwardly, but didn��t hesitate to give a mentalmand.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> Dozens of flying swords materialized nearby, circling around Wu Yuan.


    He could only control about fifty ordinary flying swords.


    <em>Even my Yuan Soul��s power is restricted?</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    This ce purely tested one''s grasp of the Law of Space.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan controlled the fifty-odd flying swords, but with his shallowprehension of the Law of Space, he couldn''t even form a sword array. He could only crudely send them charging forward.


    He met the first misty warrior head-on. The figure roared, swinging its warhammer.


    <em>Boom! Boom! </em>With just two strikes, many of Wu Yuan''s flying swords were sent veering off course.


    <em>sh!</em> A flying sword suddenly sliced across the warrior''s neck but only cut halfway through.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise. It got stuck?


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>More towering warriors charged forward, their speed astonishing, their movement techniques exquisite.


    It was as if they were traversing along traces of the Dao in space, almost instantly surrounding Wu Yuan.


    A de ray shed, viciously cleaving through Wu Yuan''s form. With that single strike, Wu Yuan''s avatar instantly disintegrated.


    ��


    Wu Yuan opened his eyes on the za before the Qiankun Divine Stele, shaking his head with a wry smile.


    It wasn''t that these towering warriors were too strong, but rather that he was far too weak in the Space Dao. To be honest, he had barely stepped across the threshold of the Spatial Dimension Dao.


    "What?"


    "Only the first level?"


    "So weak? His mastery of the Space Dao is barely beyond the threshold."


    "How could someone with such rudimentary Daoprehension be allowed to train at the Immortal Belvedere?"


    "Was he truly brought here by Astral Monarch Gu Lai himself?"


    "Could he be the Astral Monarch��s secret..."


    Murmurs filled the air as the cultivators in the za, previously deep in meditation, stirred with curiosity and skepticism.


    Their eyes were fixed on the information disyed beside the divine stele.


    It wasmon knowledge that only those who had achieved significant progress in the Law of Space and demonstrated exceptional aptitude were granted entry to this ce. Without such qualifications, one had no right to be here.


    Even within the Bei You lineage, earning a spot to cultivate at the Immortal Belvedere was extremely prestigious. Ordinary Archimmortals and Astral Lords would struggle to secure even a single position for their disciples.


    "Silence!" Themanding voice of Astral Monarch Gu Lai cut through the air like a de.


    In a blur of motion, he appeared beside Wu Yuan, his gaze sweeping across the crowd of cultivators.


    How frightening was an Astral Monarch''s gaze? The assembled cultivators fell silent immediately.


    "Listen carefully," the Astral Monarch''s voice rang out coldly. "This individual is named Ming Jian, a third-generation disciple who has already earned the recognition of the Immortal Sovereign.


    If his name and deeds are unknown to you, I suggest you educate yourselves promptly.


    He has reached the Amethyst Cradle phase in less than a century of cultivation," Astral Monarch Gu Lai continued. "If any among you believe your talent surpasses Ming Jian''s, you are wee to speak with me."


    A profound silence settled over the za.


    Amethyst Cradle phase? Less than a century of cultivation? These two simple statements sent shockwaves of astonishment through the gathered cultivators.


    Even those who had never heard of Ming Jian before now looked at Wu Yuan with newfound awe and respect.

 Chapter 567: Fifteen Years Of Progress (1)

    <h4>Chapter 567: Fifteen Years Of Progress (1)</h4>


    On the za before the Qiankun Divine Stele, over a thousand immortal cultivators stared at Wu Yuan, their eyes wide with astonishment.


    Just moments earlier, they had dismissed his talent, believing him to be an Earth Immortal or perhaps a High Immortal.


    But now, everything had changed. An Amethyst Cradle cultivator, with only a century of cultivation, grasping the Space Dao? Even though his understanding was shallow, it spoke of an inconceivable aptitude.


    At the very least, among the thousand-plus cultivators present, 99% were immortals. Less than ten were at the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase. As for those at the Amethyst Cradle phase? Not a single one.


    One had to understand that these cultivators were considered to possess a first-rate aptitude for the Space Dao across the vast macrocosm.


    For a moment, the za fell silent.


    "Ming Jian." Astral Monarch Gu Lai nodded with satisfaction before turning to Wu Yuan with a smile. "Come, let me show you the other areas."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    In a sh, the two figures vanished from the za, heading deeper into the Immortal Belvedere. Only then did hushed discussions erupt among the cultivators.


    "So that''s Ming Jian?"


    "I''ve never heard of him."


    "I think I''ve heard rumors. They say he''s invincible on the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields, with power rivaling an Earth Immortal. I didn��t expect him to be from our Bei You lineage."


    "He''s universally acknowledged as one of the top ten monstrous prodigies below the Archimmortal phase in the entire macrocosm."


    "It''s him!"


    "Only a hundred years of cultivation? Terrifying." The cultivators exchanged information, quickly exining Wu Yuan''s achievements to those who weren��t aware.


    Soon, they all understood just what kind of figure Wu Yuan was. Even without knowing his aplishments, the mere fact that he was a ��third-generation disciple acknowledged by the Immortal Sovereign�� was enough to inspire awe in these disciples.


    Throughout endless ages, countless disciples had joined the Bei You lineage. Tens of thousands of Archimmortals had emerged from them, yet those who gained the Immortal Sovereign''s acknowledgment and became formal disciples numbered fewer than a thousand among those still living.


    In the eyes of these thousand cultivators, though Wu Yuan was only at the Amethyst Cradle phase, his status wasparable to an Astral Lord, if not higher.


    ...


    "Junior Nephew, don''t worry too much," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a gentle smile.


    ��The Divine Stele Test purely evaluates one''sprehension of the Law of Space. You didn��t clear the first level because you''ve only just stepped through the initiate threshold.


    At your age, simply crossing the threshold of the Space Dao is already incredibly impressive." Gu Lai chuckled, patting his belly.


    "In the millions of years I''ve managed the Immortal Belvedere, fewer than ten Amethyst Cradle cultivators have been sent here. You''re the youngest among them and the only third-generation disciple.


    Of the other Amethyst Cradle cultivators sent here, most were eventually taken as disciples by Master."


    Wu Yuan smiled in response.


    "Typically, disciples who are permitted to cultivate at the Immortal Belvedere are Earth Immortals or High Immortals who have cultivated for thousands or tens of thousands of years," Gu Lai exined.


    "Are there any who have cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "Not at present." Gu Lai shook his head. "Generally speaking, one''s aptitude for the Space Dao bes apparent upon reaching the Divided Soul or Dharma Body phase. They are then gradually selected and sent to the Immortal Belvedere, where they can stay for a maximum period of three thousand years.


    It''s virtually unheard of for someone to cultivate for hundreds of thousands of years before showing affinity for the Space Dao and being sent here.��


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. So that was how it worked.


    "Senior Uncle, how many levels does the Divine Stele Test have?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "The Divine Stele Test consists of forty levels in total," Gu Lai replied. "To pass level ten, one mustprehend a Lesser Law to the ninth-level Domain stage.


    To pass level twenty, one mustprehend a Lesser Law to the ninth-level True Intent stage.


    To pass level thirty, one mustprehend a Lesser Law to the ninth-level Dao Field stage.


    Passing level thirty-one requirespletely mastering one Lesser Law.


    Passing level forty requirespletely mastering an Intermediate Law."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The tests set by various major factions werergely simr. This Divine Stele Test was akin to the Eldritch Deity Tower in the eldritch world, withparable difficulty at equivalent levels.


    The main difference was that the Immortal Belvedere''s Divine Stele Test only allowed the use of the Law of Space.


    "The Divine Stele Test offers two major benefits. First isbat experience. Your opponent will be tailored to your Daoprehension, engaging you inbat to help you address your weaknesses and progress faster," Gu Lai exined. "Second, the higher the level you reach, the better the rewards you''ll receive when you leave the Immortal Belvedere."


    <i>Rewards?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. No one had mentioned that to him before.


    Still, it would be at least three thousand years before he''d need to worry about that.


    "Senior Uncle, what��s the highest level of the Divine Stele Test that cultivators here typically reach?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Most are able to pass level ten. Those who can pass level twenty are rare," Gu Lai replied. "After all, they''ve only cultivated for a few thousand years."


    "That low?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    In the Second Origin Eldritch Field, peerless geniuses who had cultivated for a few thousand years could generally pass level twenty-seven of the Eldritch Deity Tower. Senior Brother Chang Hong had even passed level thirty.


    "Junior Nephew, the Law of Space is different from ordinary Laws like Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire. It''s extremely difficult toprehend and incredibly powerful. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be only one Sovereign of Space in the entire macrocosm," Gu Lai exined with a smile.


    "Of course, monstrous prodigies like you might be able to fully master an Intermediate Space Law after cultivating for hundreds of thousands of years."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his understanding deepening.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> After passing through a series of interconnected pavilions, Wu Yuan finally followed Gu Lai to another za. Here stood row upon row of massive stone walls.


    With Wu Yuan''s keen eyesight and vast experience, he quickly discerned that these were no ordinary stone walls. They were made of an incredibly precious ore, likely one of the materials used in forging celestial equipment. The stone walls alone were worth a fortune.


    However, what truly caught Wu Yuan''s eye were the countless cryptic patterns etched into the face of each stone wall. They seemed profoundly mysterious. Over a thousand stone walls stood in neat rows.


    Several hundred cultivators were presently gathered in this za.


    Wu Yuan and Gu Lai didn''t approach, so they naturally didn''t attract much attention.


    "This is the Immortal Belvedere''s second treasure site after the Qiankun Divine Stele �C the Space Law Ground," Gu Lai said, pointing at the stone walls. He smiled and added, "Junior Nephew, take a look and see if you can spot any differences."


    Wu Yuan obliged, studying the stone walls.


    Though hisprehension of the Space Dao was still shallow, all Daos were interconnected. With Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension rivaling that of a High Immortal, he could still detect some clues.


    Soon enough, he spoke. "Each stone wall seems to be inscribed with a Space secret art. And the difficulty appears to increase as I go further."


    Observing the closest stone walls, Wu Yuan merely found them profound. But as his gaze traveled further, even looking from afar made his mind reel and his vision blur. Clearly, the level of profundity far exceeded his imagination.


    At the same time, the vast majority of those studying the stone walls were concentrated in the front half of the grounds.


    "You''re correct. These cryptic pattern stone walls are divided into three stages. The first stage consists of 330 stone walls," Gu Lai exined with a smile. "They all expound upon the six Lesser Laws of Space.


    The second stage consists of 165 stone walls, exining the three Intermediate Laws of Space.


    The third stage consists of 55 stone walls. Each one of these stone walls exins an application of theplete Space Dao.


    Every stone wall contains secret arts personally collected or created by the Immortal Sovereign. They are incredibly precious and represent the culmination of his efforts.


    The secret arts contained within aren''tbat-oriented, but they''re extremely suitable for guiding one through theprehension of Space��s profundities.


    Different secret arts are suitable for cultivators with different temperaments andbat styles, even with the same level of Daoprehension.


    You may study any of these secret arts from the stone walls, but don''t be greedy. Find two or three that best suit you," Gu Lai advised.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    He understood the principle of not biting off more than he could chew. Moreover, many of these secret arts weren''t meant forbat, but for guiding his Daoprehension.


    "With the guidance of the Qiankun Divine Stele, the stone walls�� secret arts, and the special environment of the Immortal Belvedere conducive forprehending the Space Dao, the Immortal Belvedere has ultimately be one of the sacred cultivation grounds of the macrocosm." Gu Lai continued.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, silently marveling.


    As expected of a ce established by an Immortal Sovereign. There were manyplementary aspects that maximized the cultivation potential of the disciples under his tutge.


    "Junior Nephew, I��ve shown you the essential areas of the Immortal Belvedere. For the rest, I��ll provide you with a voidrealm immortal slip. Study it at your leisure. Inform me once you''ve chosen your residence.


    Henceforth, I''ll deliver a portion of Fire Divine Gorge Brew to you monthly, for a hundred times, to support your cultivation.


    Wu Yuan��s eyes widened in surprise. "Monthly? Wasn��t it supposed to be just a single portion?"


    He was certain he hadn''t misheard what the Immortal Sovereign had said.


    Astral Monarch Gu Lai��s deep, rumblingughter echoed through the hall, like the resonance of distant stars. "That��s one portion by an Immortal Sovereign��s standards. Its potency far exceeds what you can absorb at once. It must be divided into a hundred portions, allowing your body and soul to evolve steadily. Slow absorption yields far better results."


    Wu Yuan��s expression shifted as realization dawned.


    "Junior Nephew, the Immortal Sovereign has high hopes for you. Don��t disappoint him." Astral Monarch Gu Lai��s tone softened, a warm smile gracing his face. "I��ll take my leave now."


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan replied respectfully


    With a nod, Astral Monarch Gu Lai turned and departed.


    Typically, the routine orientation of new disciples every hundred years was a task managed by several Archimmortals.


    As an esteemed Astral Monarch, he wouldn''t have personally received a third-generation disciple if not for Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s specific instructions.


    ...


    Once Astral Monarch Gu Lai left, Wu Yuan wasted no time. He essed the voidrealm immortal slip within the immortal voidrealm, gaining a deeper understanding of the Immortal Belvedere.


    After careful consideration, he selected a spacious residence. While itcked servants, it was otherwise simr to the Origin Eldritch Field. In particr, the jade tform in the meditation chamber stood out for its impressive efficacy.


    Settling into his new role within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, Wu Yuan''s thoughts wandered to the identities he now juggled.


    <i>So, I am known as ''Ming Jian'' here in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, in addition to ''Li Xia''? </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>Was this arranged by Ancestral Master Bei You?</i>


    Spection had long swirled among various factions, with some believing that Ming Jian and Li Xia were the same person. However, none had confirmed it. Even within Bei You��s faction, only a select few Astral Monarchs were aware of the truth. Publicly, he remained Ming Jian.


    <i>This works in my favor. </i>Wu Yuan thought, a smile creeping onto his face. <i>I can use my ��Ming Jian�� identity to challenge the Seven Star Luminaries Tower within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    Of course, he had no intention of making the attempt just yet.


    <i>If I were to attempt it now, I''m confident I could reach level eighty. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>However, besides drawing unwanted attention, it wouldn��t achieve much.</i>


    Generally,prehending a Lesser Law to the third-level Dao Field stage was enough to reach level eighty of the one-star tower.


    But to reach level ny? That requiredprehension of a Lesser Law to at least the sixth-level Dao Field stage.


    And as for the level one hundred? Only those who hadprehended a Lesser Law to the ninth-level Dao Field stage could hope to achieve that.


    This was the main reason why Immortal Sovereign Bei You held Wu Yuan in such high regard. The talent he disyed was even more extraordinary than the legendary Luo Gu in the past.


    <i>If I were to focus solely onprehending the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao, I might reach level ny of the one-star tower before turning a hundred.</i> Wu Yuan wondered.


    But there wasn��t much meaning in that.


    <i>In the future, whether I pursue the Space Dao or the Life Dao, I mustprehend the True Spatial Domain.</i>


    Before making significant progress in the Space Dao, the deeper heprehended the two Intermediate Laws, the harder it would be to fuse them into aplete Greater Law in the future.


    Perhaps for ordinary immortal cultivators, thoroughlyprehending one Intermediate Law would be cause for great joy. After all, how many geniuses throughout history had be Astral Monarchs?


    But Wu Yuan, supported by not one but two Immortal Sovereigns and possessing extraordinary natural talent, aimed far higher.


    <i>Greater Law! Master Dong Yang was able toprehend the Life Dao to the seventh-level Dao Field stage in mere hundreds of thousands of years. I mustn''t fall behind.</i>


    <i>In theing years, my qi refiner self will temporarily ceaseprehending the Longevity Dao.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    Within the Immortal Belvedere, it was impossible to further his understanding of the Longevity Dao anyway.


    <i>My body refiner self will continue to study the profundities of the Celestial Body while simultaneously deciphering the cryptic patterns of Life within the silver sphere.</i>


    <i>I''ll strive to integrate myprehension of True Domain, Longevity, and Celestial Body. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>I must enter the threshold of the Life Dao as soon as possible.</i>


    <i>For now, my body refiner self will go on to receive the True Spatial Domain Tome��s inheritance.</i>

 Chapter 568: Fifteen Years Of Progress (2)

    <h4>Chapter 568: Fifteen Years Of Progress (2)</h4>


    In the distant Cang Feng Eldritch World, the elite Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators from across the eldritch world had gathered in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    A decade had passed.


    Wu Yuan��s body refiner self had already adapted to the environment, forming friendships with many talented individuals from the Origin Eldritch Field.


    His reputation grew quickly. Merely disying hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao at the second-level True Intent stage earned him the recognition of many members of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, who regarded him as a future heaven-tier member of the field.


    Within the Essence Tower on the void continent, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, suspended mid-air. A silver triangr prism crystal floated above his head��the True Spatial Domain Tome.


    Streams of knowledge surged into his mind, the flood of information rich with cultivation guidance pertaining to the True Spatial Domain. Meanwhile, an intangible mental imprint slowly manifested in his consciousness.


    In a matter of days, the transfer of the inheritance wasplete, and the mysterious True Spatial Domain Tome dissipated.


    <i>So this is the True Domain Dao.</i> Wu Yuan��s body refiner self felt a sh of rity, as though a veil had been lifted from his understanding.


    Having received the Compendium of the Law of Space from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, along with the True Domain Law Codex, Wu Yuan now had an in-depth grasp of how to go aboutprehending the Law of Space, especially the Law of True Domain.


    <i>The Law of Space epasses three Intermediate Laws: Spatial Rift, Qiankun, and True Domain. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>The Spatial Rift Dao excels in attacks, also known as spatial fissuring, and is hailed as one of the most formidable Intermediate Laws for offense.</i>


    <i>The Qiankun Dao, also known as spatial fluctuation, excels in evasion. Astral Monarch Hou Qu and the others are so formidable because they''ve mastered theplete Qiankun Dao.</i>


    <i>The True Domain Dao, also known as spatial domain, is supreme in domain creation, hailed as one of the strongest Intermediate Laws for domain maniption.</i>


    Each of the three Intermediate Laws of Space was extraordinary, each uniquely powerful. Once unified to form theplete Space Dao, the result was naturally terrifying, subtly surpassing almost all other Greater Laws.


    <i>These three Intermediate Laws are formed by the fusion of six Lesser Laws. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    The six Lesser Laws of Space: Spatial Trace, Dimensional de, Spatial Dimension, Spatial Tide, Void Shift, and Spatial Fracture.


    The Spatial Rift Dao was the fusion Dimensional de, Spatial Fracture, and Spatial Dimension.


    The Qiankun Dao was the fusion Spatial Trace, Void Shift, and Spatial Dimension.


    The True Domain Dao was the fusion of Spatial Trace, Spatial Tide, and Spatial Dimension.


    <i>The Qiankun Dao and True Domain Dao have much inmon, while the foundation of the entire Space Dao is Spatial Dimension. </i>Wu Yuan reflected.


    <i>My first task is to contemte the Spatial Dimension Dao. Then, I��ll tackle the other Lesser Space Laws. Finally, I��ll attempt to fuse them and see which path suits me best. </i>Wu Yuan decided.


    The True Domain Dao was critical for both the Greater Laws of Space and Life. But the Qiankun Dao was equally desirable to Wu Yuan.


    From what he understood, mastering the Qiankun Dao would make one nearly invincible in the vast macrocosm, difficult for even Immortal Sovereigns to y.


    ...


    With the shared consciousness between true selves, the moment Wu Yuan��s body refiner self acquired the True Domain Law Codex, it was as if his qi refiner self obtained it as well.


    With his nid out, Wu Yuan��s two true selves began cultivating. His progress was startlingly fast, especially for his qi refiner self.


    His Yuan Soul had an acute sensitivity to the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. Guided by the True Domain Law Codex, the Compendium of the Law of Space, and the Qiankun Divine Stele, Wu Yuan��sprehension of the Spatial Dimension Dao advanced at an rming rate.


    A monthter, in the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan sat in his residence, staring at the me-like liquid in front of him.


    <i>So this is the Fire Divine Gorge Brew. </i>Wu Yuan carefully consumed it.


    Immediately, a surge of power erupted within him. His soul felt as if it were boiling, his body straining to contain the overwhelming energy. Waves of mystical power merged into his being, both soul and body.


    <i>My perception of Space has sharpened.</i> Wu Yuan could feel it at once.


    He marveled at the brew��s potency. No wonder even Astral Monarchs coveted this treasure.


    From the voidrealm immortal slip Astral Monarch Gu Lai had provided, he knew the Fire Divine Gorge Brew had two primary effects. First, it heightened sensitivity to the essence of Space��s fluctuations. Second, it gradually transformed both the soul and body.


    <i>This Fire Divine Gorge Brew is divided into a hundred doses, with each dosesting a month. That gives me nearly nine years.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    <i>After nine years, continued use would diminish its effects. Simrly, the guiding effect of the Qiankun Divine Stele would weaken over time.</i>


    <i>Unless my Yuan Soul evolves, these next nine years will be the prime time to make progress. I cannot afford to waste a single moment.</i> Wu Yuan plunged into cultivation with renewed determination.


    His progress was astonishing. In less than a year, Wu Yuan found himself grappling with an impossible truth.


    <i>Have I truly reached the seventh-level Domain stage of Spatial Dimension without realizing it?</i>


    Even with the wealth of resources at his disposal, such rapid advancement would leave most immortal cultivators speechless.


    Having mastered the Spatial Dimension Dao to such a profound extent, Wu Yuan turned his attention to the other Lesser Laws of Space.


    With breathtaking speed, he soon reached the initiate threshold for the Spatial Trace Dao, Spatial Tide Dao, and Void Shift Dao.


    Even Wu Yuan was taken aback by how quickly he progressed.


    <i>Could it be that I have an innate affinity for the Space Dao?</i> He mused.


    But it wasn��t long before Wu Yuan encountered his first hurdle. His attempts toprehend Dimensional de and Spatial Fracture were significantly slower.


    After some thought, Wu Yuan understood. <i>Among the three Intermediate Laws of Space, the True Domain Dao suits me best, followed by the Qiankun Dao. The Spatial Rift Dao, however, is the leastpatible with my nature.</i> He concluded.


    He adjusted his approach swiftly. Most of his focus would now be dedicated to unraveling the profundities of the True Domain Dao, with some attention given to the Qiankun Dao.


    These two Daos shared many simrities, differing only in the addedprehension of Void Shift.


    As for the Spatial Rift Dao? Wu Yuan set it aside without hesitation. His mental energy was finite, after all.


    <i>I��ll wait until I��ve mastered the True Intent of both True Domain and Qiankun.</i> He decided, mind racing with possibilities.


    In stark contrast to his varying aptitudes for the three Intermediate Laws of Space, Wu Yuan''s aptitude for the three Intermediate Laws of the Life Dao was uniformly exceptional.


    The path forward was clear.


    His decision to continue cultivating the Qiankun Dao stemmed from a desire to enhance his ability to evade danger. Master Dong Yang��s words echoed in his mind: survival must always take precedence.


    ...


    <i>Three years after Wu Yuan entered the Immortal Belvedere.</i>


    ��Ming Jian has cleared level eleven of the Divine Stele Test!"


    "Inconceivable!"


    "To progress from level one to level eleven in just three years? What manner of talent is this? And he��s only at the Amethyst Cradle phase!" The nearly two thousand cultivators training alongside him were left dumbfounded.


    Clearing level eleven indicated reaching the True Intent stage of a Lesser Law. For most Lesser Laws, this was unremarkable. But for the notoriously difficult Law of Space? It was nothing short of miraculous.


    ...


    Six years into his stay at the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan cleared level fourteen of the Divine Stele Test, causing an even greater stir.


    ...


    In his ninth year, Wu Yuan shattered all expectations, conquering level seventeen. His terrifying rate of progress astonished not only his peers but also drew the attention of Astral Monarch Gu Lai.


    "Master," Astral Monarch Gu Lai reported, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Junior Nephew Ming Jian hasprehended Spatial Trace, Spatial Dimension, Spatial Tide, and Void Shift to the True Intent stage. And it��s only been nine years.


    Such progress... In all my millions of years at the Immortal Belvedere, no, even in the past billions of years of the immortal world''s history, I doubt there has ever been such a monstrous prodigy.


    Junior Nephew Ming Jian is clearly an unparalleled genius in the Space Dao," Astral Monarch Gu Lai concluded.


    At the far end of the divine hall, Immortal Sovereign Bei You listened silently.


    "Leave him be," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said dismissively. "Inform me when he has crystallized the True Intent of an Intermediate Law."


    "As youmand," Astral Monarch Gu Lai replied.


    ...


    <i>In Wu Yuan''s meditation chamber, within his private residence at the Immortal Belvedere.</i>


    <i>Four Lesser Laws, all at the first-level True Intent stage. Moreover, the power of the synergy between the three Lesser Laws is equivalent to that of the seventh-level True Intent stage of a single Lesser Law.</i>


    This was merely the result of theirpatibility. Once fused to the first-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law, the power would increase tenfold, rivaling the first-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law. The fusion of Laws was the key topensate for their individual weaknesses.


    <i>The foundation isid. Now, it��s time to select a few secret arts and begin fusing these Laws. </i>Wu Yuan decided, rising from the jade tform and leaving his residence.


    ...


    Not long after, Wu Yuan had selected several suitable secret arts and began cultivating them in earnest.


    Empowered by the transformative power of the Fire Divine Gorge Brew and honed by nine years of rigorous cultivation, Wu Yuan��s Yuan Soul had grown increasingly powerful.


    Even without the Fire Divine Gorge Brew, hisprehension of the Space Dao remained fast, slowing only slightly.


    However, the process of fusing the Laws was exponentially more difficult than mastering individual Lesser Laws.


    Undeterred, Wu Yuan pressed forward, his progress steady and deliberate.


    Time passed like a flowing river, and another six years slipped by.


    Fifteen years had passed since Wu Yuan first entered the Immortal Belvedere. He was now eighty-eight years old.


    <i>Less than four years remain until the thirty-year deadline of the Immutable Token.</i> Wu Yuan mused, opening his eyes slowly.


    <i>My body refiner self should prepare to depart. But before I leave, I must participate in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field��s Heaven and Earth Tournament.</i>

 Chapter 569: Heaven and Earth Tournament

    <h4>Chapter 569: Heaven and Earth Tournament</h4>


    Twenty years had passed since Wu Yuan had advanced to the Amethyst Cradle and Shambh phases, and thirty years since thest Heaven and Earth Tournament in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field held its Heaven and Earth Tournament every twenty years, a rtively high frequency. By contrast, the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, where Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators typically trained for longer periods, hosted its tournament only once every fifty years.


    <i>Thirty years have flown by in the blink of an eye. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>In another fifty years, I''ll step into the Void Refiner and Elysian Field phases.</i>


    Wu Yuan had advanced rapidly to the ninth stage of his current phase, outpacing other prodigies in the Origin Eldritch Field. His speed wasrgely due to the divine crystal elixir bestowed by his master.


    But such rapid advancement came with its own risks. With each dramatic leap in the order of life, time was needed to digest one��s insights and adapt to new power levels, lest unforeseen issues arise. This was particrly crucial in the early stages, where carelessness could lead to dire consequences.


    At the Spiritual Body/Golden Core phase, once a cultivator reached the ninth stage, they typically spent a decade consolidating their cultivation. At the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase, the consolidation period was even longer��at least a century, with eighty years being the absolute minimum.


    <i>I''ll break through as soon as Iplete the minimum necessary consolidation period.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    In both the Origin Eldritch Field and the Immortal Hall, many geniuses spent three or four centuries in the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase. This was firstly because their mana cultivation progressed slower than Wu Yuan''s, and secondly due to their desire topete for the first-ce rewards.


    For such geniuses, spending extended periods in a cultivation phase was normal. But Wu Yuan had no intention of stalling his progress.


    <i>Without other matters to attend to, my qi refiner self should continue secluded cultivation in the Immortal Belvedere, focusing onprehending the Law of Space.</i> He thought.<i> I''ve made significant progress in several Lesser Laws of Space.</i>


    <i>I''ve also sessfully stepped into the thresholds of the True Domain Dao and Qiankun Dao. </i>Wu Yuan reflected, gently closing his eyes.


    With a mere thought, he became acutely aware of his surroundings in the meditation chamber.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Fifty-five phantoms materialized from thin air, each indistinguishable from Wu Yuan��s real body.


    Even a typical Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivator would struggle to differentiate between the real and illusory with their Soul Force.


    As the phantoms dissipated with a soft hum, Wu Yuan reappeared in the corner of the chamber. But to assume this was the real Wu Yuan would be a mistake.


    <i>Poof!</i> The figure dissolved like a mirage, and the true Wu Yuan materialized back in his original position. The intery of reality and illusion was dizzying.


    <i>Dream bubbles, ovepping voids.</i> Wu Yuan murmured. <i>The seventh-level Domain stage of True Domain is truly remarkable.</i>


    Indeed, after advancing hisprehension of four Lesser Laws of Space to the first-level True Intent stage, it took Wu Yuan merely six years to fuse the Intermediate Law of Space, True Domain, to the seventh-level Domain stage.


    This rate of progress was nothing short of terrifying. Many Earth Immortals and High Immortals would struggle to match Wu Yuan''s pace, even after millennia of cultivation in the Immortal Belvedere.


    Even ounting for numerous external factors, Wu Yuan''s speed of advancement was still extraordinary.


    <i>Third-level Domain stage of Qiankun.</i> Wu Yuan closed his eyes again, sensing countless subtle spatial fluctuations in the tranquil void around him.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>He took a step, and the world seemed to blur. In an instant, he appeared at the meditation chamber''s entrance, as if he had teleported. Yet he knew this was a rudimentary application of the Qiankun Dao, still far from profound.


    <i>I haven''t grasped the Spatial Rift Dao yet.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    For his age, simultaneously grasping two of the three Intermediate Laws of Space was already a remarkable achievement.


    <i>With the aid of the Space Dao, though my progress in the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao haven��t been significant, my overall strength has greatly increased.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    If he were to face his qi refiner self from fifteen years ago, Wu Yuan was confident he could force it into a corner and y it within dozens of exchanges. In terms of movement skill and speed, Wu Yuan had reached an entirely new level.


    <i>However, in a true life-or-death battle, I''d still struggle against a newly advancedEarth Immortal. </i>Wu Yuan acknowledged the challenge of fighting across major phase boundaries.


    Wu Yuan''s performance was exemry on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, yet there was still a gap between his power and the Earth Immortal level. Now, with further advancements in Daoprehension, his full power barely reached the Earth Immortal level. The disparity in base mana was too great.


    <i>My progress in the True Domain Dao has been swift. If I continue my current progress, I should be able to grasp True Domain True Intent in a few more decades. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    Meeting Immortal Sovereign Bei You��s requirements within a century of cultivating in the Immortal Belvedere posed little difficulty.


    <i>Once I grasp True Domain True Intent, harmonizing it with Celestial Body True Intent and Longevity True Intent, the power yielded would beparable to the seventh-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.</i>


    <i>This was merely the harmony of Daos. If perfectly fused to form Life True Intent, the resulting power would be terrifying, rivaling aplete Lesser Law.</i>


    At that point, even with only Amethyst Cradle phase mana, Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension would allow him to dominate battles against Earth Immortals. However, this path was the most arduous one.


    <i>My body refiner self has toiled for over a decade, yet still hasn''t crossed the threshold of the Life Dao.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head, feeling a bit helpless.


    When his qi refiner self first began making rapid progress in the Law of Space, Wu Yuan had fantasized himself quickly mastering it, then proving himself to Master Kua Chi.


    Soon, he realized he had been overly optimistic. His body refiner self, whileprehending the Celestial Body Dao, also studied the silver sphere, attempting to decipher the profundities of itsyered cryptic patterns.


    Wu Yuan could recognize bits and pieces of the silver cryptic patterns when isted, identifying them as Dao profundities from the Celestial Body Dao, Longevity Dao, or True Domain Dao.


    But once fused, they became as iprehensible as a heavenly scripture, leaving Wu Yuan baffled as to how certain Dao patterns could even bebined.


    It was like learning English in his past life. He could recognize individual letters, but once countless letters formed different words, and countless words formed an essay...


    <i>Fusing three seeminglypatible Intermediate Laws is a thousand times more difficult than merging three Lesser Daos into one Intermediate Law. </i>Wu Yuan truly grasped the challenge of this path.


    He understood why so many powerhouses had failed to walk this road to its conclusion. And he realized why Master Kua Chi had given him three centuries to cross the initiate threshold. It was not without reason.


    This path was difficult. Terrifyingly so. More importantly, even after crossing the threshold, one''s power in the initial stages would likely fall short of thebined might of several Intermediate Lawsprehended to a high level.


    In simpler terms,prehending Greater Laws was extremely challenging and time-consuming, with little power to show for it in the beginning stages.


    Only those with exceptional talent and perseverance could hope to umte strength slowly, eventually surpassing others.


    This path was difficult at first but grew easier over time. The further one walked, the smoother it became.


    <i>Before attaining Archimmortality, High Immortals only have a lifespan of a million years. Many High Immortals might spend their entire lives trying toprehend a Greater Law, yet fail to reach the True Intent stage and struggle to survive the Seventh Tribtion.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head. <i>Only peerless geniuses should attempt this path.</i>


    <i>There''s no rush. First, I''ll continue fusing the three Lesser Laws of Space, striving to advance to the True Intent stage of the True Domain Dao.</i>


    <i>Then, with three Intermediate True Intents stacked, I might find more opportunities toprehend the Domain stage of the Life Dao.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self calmed his mind and resumed cultivation.


    The Qiankun Divine Stele only guided one��sprehension of the six Lesser Laws of Space, offering little help in fusing thews.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self continued his secluded cultivation.


    Meanwhile, far away in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the central region of the Origin Eldritch Continent of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field was bustling with activity.


    Over two hundred thousand members of the Origin Eldritch Field had gathered, their gazes fixed on several hundred figures in the distance.


    Today marked the second stage of the Heaven and Earth Tournament. Over the past few dozen days, two hundred preliminary candidates had been selected from tens of thousands of ordinary disciples.


    "73 earth-tier members. 200 preliminary candidates, totaling 273 participants," a muscr man surveyed the scene below from mid-air.


    He was the Astral Lord responsible for managing the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field. Among the gathered figures was an inconspicuous white-robed figure. It was none other than Wu Yuan.


    As a former heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, Wu Yuan had automatically been granted earth-tier status upon advancing to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Over the past thirty years, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had experienced much, dominating the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield unchallenged before entering the Immortal Belvedere for cultivation.


    His body refiner self had maintained a much lower profile, focusing on Daoprehension and cultivating various ether arts. He was so low-key that many in the world outside had forgotten ''Wu Yuan''s'' existence.


    The burly Astral Lord''s voice thundered, "You��ve all graduated from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, so you know the rules. I��ll keep it brief."


    "This is a round-robin tournament! Winners gain one point, losers zero. The one who ranks first will be the new heaven-tier member."


    His voice resonated through the crowd. "Those who rank from 2nd to 101st will form the new batch of earth-tier members."


    The Fourth Origin Eldritch Field only had one hundred earth-tier member slots, just like the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    "You already know the match-ups and order of battles. Go and make your preparations," the Astral Lord stated as the distant Eldritch Arena hummed to life.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan and the other participants transformed into streaks of light, swiftly entering their designated battle spaces within the massive arena.


    The battle spaces in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field were far more expansive, each with a diameter of over ten thousand li.


    Over twenty thousand spectators eagerly chose their preferred battles to watch, their excited chatter filling the air.


    "Who do you think will im the heaven-tier title this time?"


    "Probably Chu Deng. He was second in thest Heaven and Earth Tournament, just shy of bing the heaven-tier member."


    "True, his Daoprehension has already reached the third-level True Intent stage, and his immortal root is incredibly strong."


    "Long Zun has a good chance too."


    "What about Fairy Xi Nan? She''s an unparalleled swordswoman. I believe her power is the most formidable." Countless disciples of the Origin Eldritch Field debated.


    Their discussions centered on the brightest stars of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    These disciples, who typically spent their days immersed in intense cultivation, rarely had the opportunity to gather for such an asion. Unless they were embarking on dangerous expeditions or high-stakes adventures, the Heaven and Earth Tournament was one of the few events that drew their collective attention.


    The birth of a new heaven-tier member was a spectacle none wanted to miss.


    "What about Wu Yuan? Have you all forgotten about him?"


    "Thirty years ago, at just sixty years old, he imed first ce in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field. Who knows how powerful he''s be after another thirty years?" Many disciples mentioned Wu Yuan''s name.


    Many of these disciples were neers to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, and the memory of Wu Yuan��s victory still lingered fresh in their minds.


    "Wu Yuan? I''ve heard of his strength. Comprehending the second-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao before a hundred years old is impressive, but iming the heaven-tier title? Unlikely!"


    "He won��t make it."


    "Staying in earth-tier shouldn''t be a problem for him though."


    "Wu Yuan is likely the most talented individual in the entire Origin Eldritch Field, but he��s too young. He might stand a chance in the tournament after the next, or perhaps by the next one."


    "Advancing from second-level to third-level True Intent stage isn''t easy.�� Their whispers were filled with skepticism, though none could deny Wu Yuan''s talent. Even those who hadn''t witnessed his skills firsthand had heard the stories.


    However, the idea of Wu Yuan, with less than a century of cultivation, triumphing over geniuses who had trained for three or four centuries seemed far-fetched.


    It was worth noting that the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field boasted around twenty top-tier geniuses who had already reached the third-level True Intent stage.


    As their debates simmered, the first round of battles erupted within the vastbat spaces.


    ...


    The first round of battles concluded swiftly, somesting mere seconds, others stretching to a quarter hour at most.


    "As expected, Chu Deng is formidable. His Hydrome Staff is terrifying, like a spear capable of tearing through space itself."


    "Long Zun��s great hammer is equally horrifying."


    "Lady Xinan''s swordy remains breathtakingly beautiful. I felt like I could lose myself in its grace."


    "Long..." Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of thousands of disciples, over a dozen highly anticipated top-tier geniuses showcased their prowess.


    The geniuses of the Origin Eldritch Field typically relishedbat, so their abilities were usually well-known.


    "Wu Yuan won too. His strength is quite impressive."


    "Indeed. He might even rank within the top fifty, though he��s clearly still a step behind Chu Deng and the others."


    "Still, his progress at such a young age is astounding.�� Wu Yuan''s presence hadn''t gone unnoticed.


    None dared to underestimate him. After all, when the other two hundred or so participants were Wu Yuan''s age, most of them were still members of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Time marched forward, and round after round of battles concluded.


    ording to the tournament rules, twenty rounds would take ce each day, with the second stage of the Heaven and Earth Tournamentsting a total of fourteen days.


    By midday, the eighteenth round had arrived.


    "Chu Deng��s next opponent is Wu Yuan.��


    "Interesting. The acknowledged strongest of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field versus the number one genius?"


    "What��s so interesting? Wu Yuan is bound to lose." Though a handful of disciples leaned in to observe the match, their expectations of a sudden upset were low.


    Based on the previous seventeen rounds, it seemed like Wu Yuan was destined for defeat.


    ...


    Inside thebat space, Wu Yuan and Chu Deng stood at opposite ends, facing each other from a distance. Wu Yuan��s white robes fluttered gently in the air, pristine as jade, while Chu Deng stood d in ck armor, exuding the aura of a war god.


    Both eldritch warriors were at the ninth-stage Shambh phase, their vital auras swirling like storms around them.


    "Wu Yuan? Long Zun mentioned you," Chu Deng said, his voice like rolling thunder. His gaze bore into Wu Yuan, his eyes like bronze bells. "I know of your feats. You''re talented, no doubt. But your time to take the heaven-tier title hasn��te yet. I��ve waited a hundred years, and this is my third tournament."


    "Chu Deng," Wu Yuan replied calmly, "Let me give you a piece of advice. The heaven-tier title can never be achieved by simply waiting."


    "Oh?" Chu Deng''s eyes narrowed. "Then show me what you''re capable of. But let me also give you some advice: strength isn��t proven by words."


    <i>Boom! </i>Chu Deng''s form shifted, instantly growing to a height of a thousand zhangs. Nine arms sprouted from his body, giving him an eerie appearance, and his vital aura soared to frightening levels.


    Grand ether art �� Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor!


    In his nine arms, he wielded two shields, two sabers, and five staffs!


    With equal ferocity, Wu Yuan also morphed, transforming into a thousand-zhang giant with three heads and eight arms that held four shields and four sabers!


    Advanced ether art��Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form.


    As second-degree eldritch root cultivators at the Shambh phase, they could each cultivate one grand ether art. Clearly, Wu Yuan hadn''t focused on overly powerful offensive secret arts.


    "Take my strike!" Chu Deng roared, his attack as swift and devastating as the copse of heaven. His five long staffs cracked through the air while two war sabers howled in unison.


    Wu Yuan��s calm eyes zed with sudden, intense killing intent. "Kill!" His voice rang out as his sabers and shields moved in concert to meet Chu Deng''s strike head-on.


    The might he disyed was no less terrifying than Chu Deng''s.

 Chapter 570: Preparations Before Setting Off (1)

    <h4>Chapter 570: Preparations Before Setting Off (1)</h4>


    The sh erupted with explosive intensity, Chu Deng��s Hydrome Staff sweeping through the air like a furious torrent. mes and water coiled around him, amplifying his strikes with a primal ferocity.


    Wu Yuan, however, stood unyielding. His saber and shield moved with precision, each motion measured, deflecting the force of Chu Deng��s savage attacks as if they were nothing more than gusts of wind against a mountain.


    For a moment, neither seemed able to gain the upper hand, locked in a fierce and evenly matched exchange.


    The sight left the tens of thousands of spectating Origin Eldritch Field members in stunned disbelief. Most had anticipated a one-sided battle, with Chu Deng holding an overwhelming advantage. But instead, the two appeared evenly matched?


    It was widely acknowledged that Chu Deng was one of the strongest members of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, a top contender for the heaven-tier title.


    <i>This Wu Yuan?</i> Even the muscr Astral Lord observing the fights from above revealed a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    As the overseer of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, he kept a close eye on its top geniuses, and Wu Yuan had been a point of interest.


    Still, in his estimations, Wu Yuan wasn��t supposed to be ready to vie for heaven-tier status until the next Heaven and Earth Tournament.


    Within the battle space, Chu Deng��s expression hardened. ��If you can withstand this, then try the third step: Merciless Hydrome!�� he roared, releasing his full power.


    His nine arms shifted, and the sabers and shields he wielded vanished, reced entirely by long staves.


    Compared to spears, staves sacrificed sharpness for crushing force - ideal for smashing! One strike could shatter heaven and earth. How formidable were nine staves striking as one? For a moment, he seemed topletely overwhelm Wu Yuan.


    ��Haha! Bring it on!�� Wu Yuanughed, his saber technique transforming in response. His earlier violent strikes became fluid and restrained �C the seventh move of the Starsunder Saber Codex: Vast Land!


    His shields moved like clockwork, synchronizing with the strikes of his de rays to create an imposing earthen barrier.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Their lightning-fast collisions shook the air, yet the stalemate continued, neither able to gain a clear advantage.


    Chu Deng held a slight edge. But Wu Yuan, though on the defensive, showed no signs of faltering. His defense was watertight, giving his opponent no openings to exploit.


    Their battle raged with savage intensity.


    As time passed and other fights concluded, nearly all eyes turned to focus on this sh.


    Chu Deng continued his relentless assault while Wu Yuan maintained his imprable defense.


    Before they knew it, thousands of exchanges had gone by. The other hundred-plus battles had all ended, leaving only this final confrontation.


    By now, all participants and spectators watched in stunned silence, utterly captivated.


    In terms of offense, Chu Deng had attacked without holding anything back, yet still could not ovee Wu Yuan. Instead, his own vital ether was rapidly depleting with each sessive strike.


    Wu Yuan, in contrast, stood like an unshakable mountain peak. The synergy between his sabers and shields seemed wless.


    An entire hour passed.


    Suddenly, an invisible force enveloped the battle space, freezing bothbatants mid-strike.


    ��Chu Deng, vital ether depleted beyond 80%. Defeated. The victor of this battle is Wu Yuan.�� A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the air.


    Chu Deng''s eyes flickered red, seemingly dazed and unable to ept his loss. There was only one heaven-tier member. In this brutal tournament, losing even one battle made the possibility of iming the heaven-tier title nearly impossible. For him, aeback would require nothing short of a miracle.


    ��Chu Deng, good match,�� Wu Yuan said with a faint smile before transforming into a streak of light and entering a nearby meditation chamber. He had to quickly replenish his ether before the next round began.


    Chu Deng stood motionless for a full breath, his gaze distant.


    ��I lost,�� he muttered softly. ��I really lost.�� His figure blurred as he, too, transformed into light, disappearing into another meditation chamber.


    The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, the match both unfair and fair. Unfair in that he had maintained the upper hand throughout. Fair in that he had indeed failed to defeat Wu Yuan, and one''s vital ether levels were itself a measure of strength.


    Outside, the crowd of over 100,000 Origin Eldritch Field members erupted in a cacophony of excitement.


    ��What an upset! Chu Deng lost on the very first day.��


    ��Definitely didn��t see thating. Damn, I wasted a divine crystal betting he''d win the heaven-tier title."


    ��Serves you right for gambling.��


    ��How did Wu Yuan beat him? He was on the defensive the whole time, yet wore Chu Deng down?"


    "You fools clearly never saw how Wu Yuan won in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field years ago. Back then, he relied on his insane defense to frustrate a group of earth-tier members until they wore themselves out."


    "The Celestial Body Dao��s forte lies in defense. In terms of defense, Wu Yuan is likely the strongest. The others are in trouble."


    ��Even Chu Deng couldn��t defeat him. Who can stop Wu Yuan now?��


    "He''s cultivated for less than a century? This is his first time participating in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field''s Heaven and Earth Tournament, yet he''s already aiming for heaven-tier?" Countless spectators marveled.


    Eldritch cultivators respected strength above all. At this moment, in the hearts of these Origin Eldritch Field members, Wu Yuan was undoubtedly one of the strongest of their generation.


    "Truly heaven-defying."


    "Before reaching a hundred years old, I had only grasped the first-level True Intent stage. This Wu Yuan has likely reached the third-level True Intent stage."


    "What kind of cultivation speed is this?"


    ��Being born in the same era as such a genius is truly demoralizing.�� Among the crowd, the dozen or so geniuses still aspiring to the heaven-tier title now felt their scalps tingle.


    They had all witnessed the battle just now. None were confident they could defeat Wu Yuan.


    ...


    From above, the muscr Astral Lord narrowed his eyes. <i>Less than a century of cultivation, and he��s reached the third-level True Intent stage of Celestial Body? His progress is even faster than before.</i>


    <i>He might not yet rival prodigies like Chang Hong and Jiang Huan, but if he keeps this up, he��s sure to earn a spot in the top ten of the First Origin Eldritch Field.</i> He sighed, musing to himself. <i>I��ll need to report this.</i>


    <i>Heaven-tier? His chances are high</i>. The muscr man shook his head.


    To im the heaven-tier title of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field in less than a century of cultivation? Such a genius emerged fewer than once every 100,000 years.


    ...


    <i>A pity I can only use the Celestial Body Dao.</i> Wu Yuan thought as he sat cross-legged atop a jade tform. A strange power flowed into his body, steadily replenishing his vital ether.


    Over the past fifteen years of secluded cultivation, half his body refiner self��s efforts went into researching the fusion of True Domain, Ten Thousand Longevity, and Celestial Body Daos.


    Unknowingly, hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao had advanced to the third-level True Intent stage.


    This was the terrifying potential of the Celestial Body Daobined with a powerful soul. His rate of progress had surged once more.


    While his body-refiner self couldn''t match his qi refiner self in sheerbat power, he could easily dominate the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field''s geniuses if he went all out. In fact, it would be simpler than when he had annihted that group of Immortal Hall geniuses years ago.


    <i>But the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao alone are enough for now.</i> I need to stay under the radar. Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>I can reveal my full strength after bing a High Eldritch.</i>


    Once he reached that level, even if the Voltari Temple noticed something suspicious and targeted him, it would be exceedingly difficult for them to kill him through karma across spacetime.


    <i>Still, choosing to cultivate the grand ether art - Great Eldritch Divine Body wasn''t a mistake. </i>Wu Yuan reflected.


    For the past thirty years, he had pondered over the ether arts to cultivate.


    At the Shambh phase, one could cultivate a single grand ether art. After careful consideration, Wu Yuan had chosen the Great Eldritch Divine Body, an advanced form of the True Celestial Body that could strengthen and empower the physical form, turning it akin to an artifact.


    Grand ether arts were each considered ''great divine abilities''. Even Archeldritches and Archdeities chose them with utmost care.


    Those with second or third-degree immortal roots could cultivate at most two, the limit their soul chamber could withstand. Even those with first-degree immortal roots were limited to three.


    Each grand ether art was profound and abstruse. If one failed to cultivate it to great heights or it was notpatible with oneself, its power might not even match an advanced ether art.


    To fully master the Great Eldritch Divine Body grand ether art, one had to fullyprehend the Life Dao, which aligned perfectly with Wu Yuan''s path.


    Combining and extrapting from the Celestial Body and Longevity Daos, Wu Yuan easily reached the third step of mastery in just a few decades.


    His body was now nearly as tough as second-grade spirit equipment. How could someone like Chu Deng hope to injure him?


    <i>Unless their Daoprehension reaches the fourth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law or fourth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law, no one will be able to stop me.</i>


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.


    Wu Yuan went through more than two hundred rounds ofbat. Though several battles seemed to be hard-fought struggles, they required little effort on his part in reality.


    Finally, Wu Yuan imed the title of heaven-tier member of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field with an undefeated record of 272 victories, ranking first.


    For the highest echelons of the Eldritch World, such as Astral Monarch Xue Ying and Astral Monarch Hou Qu, who were privy to Wu Yuan��s true identity as the Eldritch Sovereign''s disciple, this oue was expected.


    Yet, for those unaware of his background, it caused quite a stir. Many Astral Monarchs took note of his name.


    "Quite impressive."


    "His rate of progress is terrifying. Within 300 years, he should have a chance to break through to the fourth-level True Intent stage of Celestial Body."


    "He might notpare to Jiang Huan or that monstrous prodigy Ming Jian from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, and he''s slightly behind Chang Hong, but his potential is remarkable."


    "In the future, he might reach our level." Many Astral Monarchs of the Eldritch World shared their opinions.


    ...


    ��Oh, Little Junior Brother has imed the heaven-tier title of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field?" Jiang Huan also received this news, revealing a faint smile.


    Over the years, Jiang Huan had continued to guide Wu Yuan annually and he was pleased with his junior brother��s rapid progress.


    ...


    "Not yet ny years old, and he''s already reached the third-level True Intent stage of Celestial Body?" Wu Yuan''s other Senior Brother, Chang Hong, was equally shocked upon receiving this news.


    Clearly, Wu Yuan''s cultivation speed had exceeded his imagination.


    ...


    The vast Cang Feng Eldritch World stretched endlessly. In the dark expanse of outer space far from any eldritch continents was a realm hidden from the Material Spatial Layer.


    "This Wu Yuan��keep a close eye on him!��


    "His rate of progress is showing an elerating trend. As the Astral Monarchs predicted earlier, there must be some secret behind his transfer from the Eternal Sun Immortal World to the Eldritch World years ago."


    "Raise his rank on the assassination list to number eighteen. Begin preparations."


    "He''s cultivated for less than a century, so he shouldn''t have advanced to the Elysian Field phase yet. Now that he��s imed the heaven-tier title, he��ll likely begin venturing out on expeditions."


    "Once his whereabouts are discovered, initiate the assassination strategy." TThe Voltari Temple, being the faction most concerned with the Eldritch World''s movements, naturally wouldn''t overlook this news. They began to monitor Wu Yuan even more closely.


    For a Shambh cultivator to be ranked eighteenth on the assassination list was a sign that the Voltari Temple regarded him with utmost seriousness.

 Chapter 571: Preparations Before Setting Off (2)

    <h4>Chapter 571: Preparations Before Setting Off (2)</h4>


    Wu Yuan iming the title of heaven-tier member of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field caused no smallmotion, sparking a massive wave of discussion particrly in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    However, no one connected Wu Yuan with Ming Jian. After all, the Daos they disyed were not the same. And in terms of performance, Ming Jian''s talent was far, far superior.


    A monstrous prodigy suspected of possessing a first-degree immortal root was Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self? Almost no one would believe it. The probability was too small.


    <i>In the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, on Wu Yuan''s void continent, inside the Essence Tower.</i>


    <i>I underwent a simtion of the Law of Life in the Dao Temple, which gave me some insights. My understanding of the True Domain Dao has advanced further, but my grasp of the Law of Life is still very vague</i>. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    With the Heaven and Earth Tournament concluded, he immersed himself once again in cultivation.


    Faced with a bottleneck in the Life Dao, Wu Yuan chose to visit the Dao Temple, using up one of the opportunities Master Kua Chi had given him.


    However, reality taught Wu Yuan that the Dao Temple was only able to guide immortal cultivators in their cultivation, simr to the Qiankun Divine Stele of the Immortal Belvedere. It was not omnipotent.


    <i>Law of Life, Life.</i> Wu Yuan strove to recall andprehend what he had learned, then deduce new insights. Yet, he didn��t make much progress.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered, and in a sh, he flew out of the Essence Tower. Not far away stood the red-robed Cen Jiang and several Void Refiner Eminences, who were waiting respectfully for him.


    "Master, the treasures you instructed me to collect from the Origin Eldritch Continent are all here," Cen Jiang said, flipping her palm to present several storage artifacts. "These are the treasures, please inspect them, Master."


    Wu Yuan epted them, probing them with his Soul Force. The storage artifacts were sealed by restrictions on their surfaces, requiring the corresponding method to remove them. Wu Yuan, having purchased the treasures through the eldritch voidrealm, naturally knew the method to undo the restrictions.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan imed ownership of the four storage artifacts, imprinting them with his vital aura, while also conducting an initial inspection of the treasures within. Everything seemed to be in order.


    "Very well, you may go now," Wu Yuan said, before transforming into a stream of light and flying back into the Essence Tower.


    Cen Jiang and the others remained behind.


    "Earth Immortal, what do you think Master purchased? Back at the Origin Eldritch Continent, a High Immortal came to deliver the goods," one of the Void Refiner Eminences whispered inquisitively. "It must be some great treasure."


    "Don''t be such a bbermouth," Cen Jiang frowned. "Remember, as servants, we must be absolutely loyal to our master. Master''s potential is astounding, and he is destined to be an Archimmortal or even a great Astral Monarch in the future.


    There must be many in the world outside who wish to pry into Master''s secrets. Don''t say I didn''t warn you." Cen Jiang''s gaze swept over the three Void Refiner Eminences behind her, the threat in her eyes clear.


    "Understood," the three Void Refiner Eminences said solemnly.


    They had all sworn oaths, ensuring their absolute loyalty. Yet, secrets could still be unintentionally leaked, even without deliberate intent.


    ...


    Inside the Essence Tower, Wu Yuan stood in midair rather than sitting in lotus position, gazing at the four storage artifacts before him.


    Silently, a multitude of artifacts floated in the void, including battle armor, helmets, boots, arm guards, sabers, shields, chains, and more.


    <i>Aplete set of high-grade spirion artifacts, 62 pieces in total. This cost about 100 divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He began to im ownership one item at a time. To do good work, one must first sharpen one''s tools. Since he was about to embark on a risky expedition, Wu Yuan naturally had to make thorough preparations.


    Whypete for the heaven-tier title? Because, for an individual that had previously obtained a Legendary root establishment treasure, the reward for bing a heaven-tier member of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field was 20,000 divine crystals.


    This was a fortunerge enough to incite envy in many High Immortals. Wu Yuan could purchase a vast array of treasures with this wealth.


    Artifacts? For Wu Yuan, high-grade spirion artifacts were the limit. The vast majority of Earth Immortals only possessed one or two high-grade spirion artifacts as their main battle artifacts, how could they be as extravagant as Wu Yuan?


    As for celestial equipment? Even a low-grade celestial artifact would cost over a thousand divine crystals. With Wu Yuan''s current mana, even if he did own a celestial artifact, he couldn''t unleash much of its power.


    Swiftly, he imed ownership over all the high-grade spirion artifacts, several of which were specially prepared for Little ck.


    "Master, what wonderful treasures! Wonderful treasures indeed!" Little ck was quite excited.


    Its previous artifacts like the Veiled Serpent Plume were no longer suitable given its current strength. With high-grade spirion battle armor and wing guards, Little ck would be free to unleash as much power as it had.


    <i>The high-grade spirion artifact, Purple Cloud Lock, for guarding the soul. 300 divine crystals. </i>Wu Yuan examined the illusory purple chain before him.


    Soul artifacts were different from ordinary artifacts. To unleash their power, one''s soul had to be powerful enough.


    Fortunately, after decades, although Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s soul was far inferior to his qi refiner self��s, it had still reached the peak of the Soul Will level. High-grade spirion artifacts were good enough.


    Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>With this, I can withstand ordinary soul attacks using soul defense secret arts and my soul itself. For slightly stronger soul attacks, I''ll rely on the Purple Cloud Lock. And for major crises, I''ll count on the ck pagoda''s stone pir.</i>


    In Wu Yuan''s view, it was best to avoid revealing the secret of the ck pagoda unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, he made advance preparations.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The illusory purple chains shot forth, swiftly entering the upper dantian lobe and encircling his soul essence.


    Soul artifacts were constructed with special materials that were able to enter the upper dantian lobe.


    Wu Yuan sensed the battleship stored within one of the storage artifacts. <i>The high-grade spirion battleship, Neb Warship, cost about 500 divine crystals.</i>


    This too was a life-saving treasure, fueled by ethercrystal. When pushed to its limits, it could reach a maximum speed of 120,000 li per second. As long as he hid inside, even a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse would be unable to harm him. At full power, its top speed could outpace even ordinary Earth Immortals.


    <i>Two Void Divine Talismans, totaling 1000 divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan swiftly imed ownership of these two treasures he had purchased.


    Though he had gained some insight into the Space Dao, he was still far from traveling at light-speed. For now, these Void Divine Talismans were an excellent life-saving measure.


    Besides the battleship and artifacts, Wu Yuan had also acquired mobile arrays, medicinal pills for detoxification, talismans for killing enemies in special environments, as well as some eldritch poisons and special weapons. [1]


    Wu Yuan had considered every contingency.


    He carefully examined and imed ownership of each item. The more techniques and trump cards at his disposal, the greater his chances of survival when facing powerful enemies in the future.


    <i>The most important treasure.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the final storage artifact.


    With a mentalmand from him, a figure in purple robes emerged,nding before Wu Yuan. Her features were exquisite and beautiful, her skin smooth and pale as snow, eyes tightly closed. She seemed alive, yetcked a certain vitality and liveliness.


    Wu Yuan''s Soul Force surged forth, swiftly studying the purple-robed puppet''s inner core, removing the restrictions and iming ownership.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The previously dormant purple-robed figure suddenly opened her eyes, which were cold as ice. As her gaze swept over Wu Yuan, her aura retractedpletely, her expression softening.


    "Greetings, Master," the purple-robed woman said respectfully.


    "From today on, you shall be called Shadow Moon," Wu Yuan smiled, a name he had long decided upon.


    "Yes," Shadow Moon nodded. "Shadow Moon vows to protect Master''s safety with all her might, unto death."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Shadow Moon was a powerful puppet, skilled in the Wind Dao, with base mana rivaling a ninth-stage Earth Immortal and Daoprehension on par with high-level Earth Immortals. She was powered by divine crystals.


    In essence, when Shadow Moon unleashed her full power, her strength could match a ninth-stage Earth Immortal, easily ying ordinary Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches.


    She was the trump card Wu Yuan prepared for himself after careful consideration.


    Shadow Moon possessed immense strength, absolute loyalty, and independent thought. Unlike ordinary puppets, there was no need to manually control her in battle.


    Thus, her price was unimaginably high, costing Wu Yuan a full 12,000 divine crystals. To ensure Shadow Moon''sbat effectiveness, Wu Yuan also spent an additional 2,000 divine crystals to replenish her mana.


    In truth, most of Wu Yuan''s current wealth had been invested in Shadow Moon, but the results were undeniable. At the very least, Wu Yuan could now face anything below a High Immortal with confidence.


    As for High Immortals? Wu Yuan harbored no illusions about contending with them now. The gap in base mana was far too vast, making it unrealistic. At most, he could attempt to escape using treasures like the Void Divine Talisman.


    <i>With all these methods at my disposal, despite being merely at the Amethyst Cradle phase, the Immutable Land of the Bronze Immutable Token shouldn''t be able to trap me, right?</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    Converting all his wealth into items that could exert real power �C this was the right decision.


    ...


    Days passed as Wu Yuan gradually deciphered and familiarized himself with each treasure within the Essence Tower.


    The overall strength of his body refiner self steadily increased.


    In the blink of an eye, two months had passed since the Heaven and Earth Tournament of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    After informing Cen Jiang and the others that he would be entering closed-door cultivation in the Essence Tower and was not to be disturbed by anyone, Wu Yuan disguised himself as an ordinary Shambh cultivator and quietly left the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field and the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    <i>First stop, Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 42.</i> Wu Yuan set his target destination.


    For over a decade, he had been eager to test out the hypothesis that umting blood mist to its saturation limit could prompt the ck pagoda to produce an Origin Blood Droplet.


    Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 42 was also an entry-level battlefield.


    ...


    "Greetings, Fighter Thousand Mountains. Wee to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 42," greeted a tall and imposing ck-armored soldier.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Thousand Mountains was truly a good name!


    ...


    The various entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefields werergely simr. Wu Yuan, already familiar with the environment due to his qi refiner self��s experience, didn''t hesitate, directly heading to the maind of this battlefield.


    Thus began his body refiner self''s journey of ughter, fundamentally no different from his qi refiner self''s years ago.


    The only difference was that his killing efficiency was much lower. However, this ��lower efficiency�� was only rtive to his qi refiner self.


    <i>A year and a halfter.</i>


    <i>Within a vast mountain range on the maind of the battlefield.</i>


    "Fighter Thousand Mountains, congrattions on bing a ninth-rank fighter. You have gained the following privileges..." Wu Yuan received a notification from the eldritch voidrealm. Yet, he felt no joy.


    <i>As expected, the Origin Blood Droplet seems unique to my qi refiner self. Even with blood mist umted to its limit, there are no further changes to my body refiner self. </i>Wu Yuan observed the vast sea of blood mist in his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>Since I can''t generate Origin Blood Droplets, there''s little point in staying on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.</i>


    <i>It''s time to head for the Greenridge Immortal World.</i>


    1. portable array -> mobile array ?

 Chapter 572: Greetings, Childe Shadow Blade (1)

    <h4>Chapter 572: Greetings, Childe Shadow de (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self visited Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 42 with several objectives. The first was to attempt to induce the ck pagoda''s stone pir to generate an Origin Blood Droplet.


    After all, surpassing the limits of the Yuan Soul to achieve Apotheosis was an extraordinary feat, elevating his soul power far beyond that of others at the same level.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had reason to suspect that his qi refiner self''s rapid progress in the Law of Space was not only due to the boost from the power of Faith and his natural talent, but also rted to the Apotheosis Yuan Soul.


    As for Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, with his soul already at the peak of the Soul Will level, a single Origin Blood Droplet should be enough for a breakthrough.


    Unfortunately, he failed to achieve this goal.


    <i>The ck pagoda continuously facilitates the strengthening of my body refiner self''s physique. Whether it was initially establishing a second-degree eldritch root, orter evolving into the Celestial Divine Body when given the three choices, they all essentially strengthened the body. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>Meanwhile, the ck pagoda of my qi refiner self rapidly strengthens the soul. It generated Origin Blood Droplets after a sufficient degree of ughter, fortifying my soul to an unbelievable level.</i>


    <i>The qi refiner self''s first-degree immortal root? Merely a byproduct of the soul evolving to an Apotheosis Yuan Soul.</i>


    Wu Yuan had an epiphany �C the ck pagodas of his two true selves were focused on enhancing their respective strengths. For his qi refiner self, the focus was on the soul. For his body refiner self, the focus was on the physique.


    <i>At the Spiritual Body phase, my body refiner self received a great opportunity; at the Amethyst Cradle phase, my qi refiner self received a great opportunity. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Does this mean my body refiner self will have to wait until the Elysian Field phase for another opportunity from the ck pagoda?</i>


    These were merely Wu Yuan''s spections and deductions about the ck pagoda. There were many mysteries that still awaited further exploration.


    Besides researching the ck pagoda''s wonders, the other two purposes foring to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield were to umte blood mist andplete trial tasks.


    <i>Looking across the entire macrocosm, the only ce where I can safely umte blood mist without risk is the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. </i>


    Venturing to the Greenridge Immortal World held many uncertainties, and replenishing blood mist might prove difficult, so Wu Yuan naturally had to make thorough preparations.


    As for the trial tasks? The reason was simple - the Origin Eldritch Field periodically issued trial tasks to its talented disciples. Some trial tasks were optional, while others were mandatory.


    For example, one mandatory task was: be a seventh-rank fighter in an entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield. This was an ordinary trial task.


    Fourth Origin Eldritch Field members at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase were required toplete a minimum of ten ordinary trial tasks or one elite trial task. This requirement was set by the eldritch world.


    If one failed toplete the trial task requirements before breaking through to the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase? Then they would not qualify to enter the Third Origin Eldritch Field.


    Bing a seventh-rank fighter posed some difficulty for ordinary Fourth Origin Eldritch Field members. A single misstep could lead to their deaths.


    Completing ten such tasks consecutively? Each task was a life-and-death ordeal. Even with the numerous abilities possessed by Origin Eldritch Field geniuses, many died while carrying out their missions.


    For this reason, the vast majority of Origin Eldritch Field geniuses would spend several hundred years consolidating their foundation before breaking through to the next cultivation phase.


    Starting from the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, batch after batch of geniuses were screened, tempered, and eliminated.


    Nine out of ten geniuses would perish on the path to bing an Archimmortal. Those who ultimately survived were destined to be existences with remarkable strength and providence.


    <i>The eldritch world isn��t looking to produce ordinary Archimmortals who die out every hundred million years, but eternal Astral Lords and powerful Astral Monarchs who can endure through the ages.</i> Wu Yuan''s understanding of the eldritch world''s objectives deepened.


    His feelings on these matters grew more profound.


    <i>For ordinary Origin Eldritch Field members,pleting ten ordinary trial tasks poses great difficulty. But for me? I can break through as soon as my body reaches the minimum age requirement.</i> Wu Yuan grinned.


    Among the many trial tasks, one elite trial task was to be a ninth-rank fighter in an entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield. Once sessful, there would be no need toplete individual ordinary trial tasks anymore.


    <i>Let''s go back to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field. </i>Wu Yuan stood up.


    He headed straight for the nearest war base.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan entered the teleportation array, his body refiner self sent a thread of consciousness into a special ne within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    <i>Within a small sub-realm.</i>


    "Sir," a red-robed figure with an indiscernible face bowed respectfully.


    "Have all the information, intelligence, tokens and so on that I requested been prepared?" Wu Yuan asked casually as he sat down on a chair.


    This was Wu Yuan''s personal hall in the Blood Shadow ne of the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. The Blood Shadow ne was managed by Astral Monarch Xue Ying. [1] It was the core intelligence hub of the entire Eldritch World.


    As a nominal disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, he possessed level five authority, allowing him to freely ess vast amounts of intelligence and mobilize many resources.


    It was worth noting that ordinary Archimmortals typically had level eight or nine authority, Astral Lords generally had level six authority, and even most Astral Monarchs only had level four authority. Level five authority was already extremely high.


    "Everything has been prepared," the red-robed figure said respectfully. "Here is the summary of intelligence on the Greenridge Immortal World, and here is the intelligence on the White Sea Immortal Continent..."


    A voidrealm immortal slip materialized before Wu Yuan. He tapped it with his finger, quickly scrolling through to review the contents. The entrance coordinates provided by the Bronze Immutable Token were located in the White Sea Immortal Continent of the Greenridge Immortal World.


    He had previously looked into some of this intelligence, but clearly the information gathered by the Blood Shadow ne was even more detailed.


    "The Greenridge Immortal World is one of the seven top-tier factions in the macrocosm, and widely acknowledged as the strongest. It rules over two thousand immortal nations, upying over one million immortal continents. Nearly 40% of the macrocosm''s spacetime territory is upied by the Greenridge Immortal World..." Wu Yuan swiftly perused the contents.


    The Greenridge Immortal World was vast and immense. In terms of territory alone, the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Voltari Templebined still fell short, and that was with the support of the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court behind them respectively. One could imagine how prosperous the Greenridge Immortal World was.


    The vast expanse of territory and the passage of countless years had naturally given rise to a thriving cultivation civilization and the emergence of formidable experts.


    While the Greenridge Immortal World was united when facing external threats, internal strife was also severe �C even worse than the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    As for the White Sea Immortal Continent, it was one of the rtively powerful immortal continents among the million-plus in the Greenridge Immortal World. It was jointly ruled by six major sects, each backed by an Astral Lord. The six major sects all hadrge groups of Archimmortals in their ranks.


    <i>The situation is somewhat simr to the Redmoon Immortal Continent.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    When he first arrived at the Redmoon Immortal Continent years ago, Wu Yuan was unclear about the details.


    But after his qi refiner self rose to a high position in the Bei You faction and gained ess to higher-level intelligence, he came to understand why the four prince-rank families and Dragon Star Immortal Sect of the Redmoon Immortal Continent held such lofty statuses �C it was because they had Astral Lord-level powerhouses presiding over them.


    The thirty-two first-rate sects on the Redmoon Immortal Continent all had Archimmortals behind them as well.


    However, Archimmortal Redmoon was the top existence among Astral Lords, suppressing all sides with his power, which led to the Redmoon Immortal Hall��s overwhelmingly dominant position as the ruler of the immortal continent.


    Inparison, the power disparity between the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent was not obvious. They all answered to an immortal nation above them, but internally they vied against each other.


    The intelligence also included detailed introductions to the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent, as well as the numerous powerful figures within their ranks. It even introduced the famous Void Refiner/Elysian Field and Amethyst Cradle/Shambh geniuses from each sect etc.


    One could imagine how detailed this intelligence was. If not for the Blood Shadow ne, Wu Yuan would not have been able to obtain it, at least not with his own abilities.


    ��Sir, the spacetime coordinates you requested correspond to a special world called the Thunder Marsh World on the White Sea Immortal Continent. Historically, an Astral Monarch once resided there, leaving behind many treasures and a powerful array covering the entire world. This gave rise to the world��s unique characteristics, leading to the emergence of many Thunder Dao treasures...


    The Thunder Marsh World is jointly controlled by the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent. Our intelligence operatives are unable to infiltrate the world, and the next time the six major sects will open it for exploration is six months from now.


    Therefore, we have created the following identity for you, Sir. This allows you to enter the Thunder Marsh World with the Longstar Immortal Sect��s team...


    Here are the precautions to note of...


    Regarding the relevant identity tokens, White Sea Immortal Voidrealm Jade and so on, please inform us of your location, Sir, and we will have them delivered." The red-robed figure exined with utmost politeness.


    Wu Yuan nodded with satisfaction.


    Years ago, when his body-refined self acquired the Bronze Immutable Token, why didn''t he rush there right away? After reviewing the spacetime coordinates, he realized there was no opportunity to enter.


    The only exception would be if someone like Astral Monarch Hou Qu took Wu Yuan in. But why would Astral Monarch Hou Qu do such a favor for him?


    What was a trial task? To Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, it meant requiring Wu Yuan to rely on his own abilities and mobilize the resources he could tap on to reach the coordinate location and enter the Immutable Land.


    If he relied on his elders and asked for help with everything, how could that be called a trial?


    The reason for dying it until now was that after making inquiries, he learned that the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent would gather groups of immortal cultivators to enter the Thunder Marsh World during this period. Wu Yuan could blend in among them to enter the world.


    "Have all the tokens sent to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field," Wu Yuan quickly informed the location. "I will arrange for someone to retrieve them."


    "Understood," the red-robed figure said respectfully.


    ...


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan quietly returned to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, ordered Cen Jiang and the others to retrieve the tokens, and swiftly departed again after collecting them.


    There was no need for additional preparations. Before his body refiner self went to Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 42, Wu Yuan had already prepared everything he needed. Thus, he departed without hesitation.


    Within the vast Cang Feng Eldritch World, Wu Yuan''s authority granted him ess to all superrge teleportation arrays. Thus, after just two days and some adjustments to his appearance, Wu Yuan reached the border between the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    His reason for passing through the Eternal Sun Immortal World was simple.


    <i>Trial participants from the Greenridge Immortal World join the Immortal Court camp in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. From the perspective of the entire macrocosm, the Greenridge Immortal World is also subtly aligned with the Immortal Court. Though they have yet to engage in an all-out war with the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the underlying tensions are not insignificant. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself, well aware of this fact.


    However, while the Eternal Sun Immortal World leaned towards the Eldritch Court faction, there was no direct conflict between the Eternal Sun Immortal World and Greenridge Immortal World.


    The rtionships between the seven top-tier factions were exceedinglyplex.


    1. Xue Ying = Blood Shadow ?

 Chapter 573: Greetings, Childe Shadow Blade (2)

    <h4>Chapter 573: Greetings, Childe Shadow de (2)</h4>


    <i>Once I leave the eldritch world, I��ll have to depend entirely on my own abilities to tread the path ahead. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>The Greenridge Immortal World is teeming with powerhouses. As a mere Shambh cultivator, despite being called a monstrous prodigy, my strength is still quite weak in the grand scheme of things. Even a moderately powerful High Immortal could easily annihte me.</i>


    <i>Everything will hinge on my own capabilities. I must exercise utmost caution.</i>


    <i>This journey is unlike the Heaven and Earth Tournament or Dragon Star Tournament, which posed no real danger. Nor is it like the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield or Bloodforge World, with their various restrictions and rules in ce. </i>Wu Yuan reminded himself silently.


    Perhaps he might encounter a super powerhouse in a foul mood, who could obliterate billions of lives with a mere wave of their hand, and Wu Yuan would be unlucky enough to be in his range.


    Or he might face an Amethyst Cradle or Void Refiner enemy with astonishing trump cards, wielding talismans or divine crystal weapons capable of ying Earth Immortals. This was a true expedition with his life on the line.


    <i>If I die on this journey, my qi refiner self won''t be able to cultivate a new body refiner self</i>.


    Unlike his ether body or mana body, once his true self perished, it could not be brought back to life.


    With a massive saber strapped to his back, bald head, and beast hide garments, Wu Yuan cut an imposing figure as he strode into the superrge teleportation array amidst the flow of people.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>As a dazzling pir of light rose, Wu Yuan was transported to the spacetime territory of the Greenridge Immortal World.


    ...


    <i>Six dayster.</i>


    <i>White Sea Immortal Continent, Longstar City.</i>


    As the main city of one of the six major sects of this immortal continent, it was a bustling ce home to trillions of immortal cultivators.


    Void Refiner and Elysian Field powerhouses, rarely seen elsewhere on the immortal continent, could asionally be spotted walking along the streets here.


    In terms of scale and prosperity, Longstar City was only slightly inferior to Redmoon City of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.


    In the southern region of Longstar City, a massive cluster of floating halls spanning hundreds of li in radius hovered ten thousand li high. asionally, immortal cultivators could be seening and going.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A ck streak of light shed by and came to a stop.


    <i>After more than ten teleportation transfers and six days of travel, I''ve finally arrived.</i> Wu Yuan halted, his gaze sweeping over the nearby hall. Then, he flew directly towards the main gate.


    Though the enormous hallplex appeared to allow anyone to enter and exit, even a cursory probe revealedyer uponyer of security arrays. This was clearly a ce of great importance.


    Numerous guards could be seen patrolling the perimeter of the halls. Of course, these were mainly Spiritual Body/Golden Core cultivators. Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators were considered elites on any immortal continent, enjoying respectable status.


    "Daoist, please halt!"


    "Stop right there." Two cold voices rang out in session.


    The guard captains at the gate were both Amethyst Cradle cultivators. Though only at the second or third stage of the Amethyst Cradle phase, they showed no fear upon sensing Wu Yuan''s ninth-stage Shambh phase strength.


    "Please inform your superiors that someone from Autumn Lake Hall has arrived," Wu Yuan said calmly.


    Autumn Lake Hall was the background of Wu Yuan''s fabricated identity. It was a fairly renowned faction in the Greenridge Immortal World, ruled by an Astral Monarch.


    "Autumn Lake Hall?" The two guard captains exchanged nces, having never heard of it.


    "One moment." One of the captains entered the hallplex.


    Swiftly, a white-robed elderly man at the Void Refiner phase flew out from the main gate, a smile already on his face before he arrived, "Might you be Childe Shadow de from Autumn Lake Hall? My deepest apologies for failing to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Childe Shadow de."


    The two Amethyst Cradle captains were taken aback by the sight. Who could this visitor be to warrant such courtesy from a Protectorate?


    "Senior, you may simply address me by name," said Wu Yuan.


    "Haha, how could I dare to address the noble Childe Shadow de so casually?" The white-robed elderly man smiled.


    In his eyes, Autumn Lake Hall was a power beyond the imagination of the Longstar Immortal Sect. Even an ordinary disciple there held extremely high status in the external world.


    "Senior, I''vee to the Longstar Immortal Sect merely to participate in the Thunder Marsh trial. My status is unimportant," Wu Yuan shook his head. "You may simply call me Shadow de."


    "Very well. This way please, Childe Shadow de," the white-robed elderly man agreed verbally, though his form of address remained unchanged. "This Thunder Marsh expedition will be led by an Earth Immortal. I am the Protectoratemander of Team 3. Childe, you shall apany my group."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan had no objections and casually asked, "May I inquire as to Senior''s name?"


    As long as he could enter the Thunder Marsh world, the specific team he joined was irrelevant.


    "Chi Chang," replied the white-robed elderly man.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two of them flew through the hallplex.


    Before long, they arrived at an area with numerous courtyards separated by walls. The scenery was serene, with gently flowing streams, giving the ce the atmosphere of an immortal''s abode.


    "Childe Shadow de, besides yourself, my team will also include trial participants from other immortal continents," Chi Chang smiled. "We shall officially depart in three days. Please make yourselffortable at the Hundred Jades Courtyard for now. I''ll notify you when it is time for the team to assemble."


    "This is the token key for the residence. Please keep it safe, Childe," Chi Chang produced an ess token and handed it to Wu Yuan.


    "With this token, you may freely enter and exit Frostlight Hall. Feel free to explore the city, Childe. Our Longstar City has its own unique culture.


    I''ll send detailed information about the Thunder Marsh world via the immortal voidrealm. You can peruse it at your leisure."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Soon after showing Wu Yuan to his residence, Chi Chang departed. Wu Yuan used the token to enter the residence.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two white-robed figures flew over from afar, arriving at the residence next to Wu Yuan''s. It was a man and a woman, both stunningly good-looking.


    <i>Both Void Refiners? Around the third or fourth-stage Void Refiner phase? </i>With his immensely powerful soul, Wu Yuan easily sensed their auras.


    Such cultivation levels were already quite exceptional within an immortal continent.


    <i>Are they trial participants from other immortal continents?</i> Wu Yuan spected silently.


    From appearances alone, he could only discern their approximate mana cultivation phase. As for true strength? That was harder to judge.


    Wu Yuan entered the courtyard house.


    "Shambh phase?"


    "Staying at Hundred Jades Courtyard, also a foreign trial participant?" The two Void Refiner Eminences naturally sensed Wu Yuan''s aura as well, feeling rather surprised.


    If he were a native disciple of the Longstar Immortal Sect, he wouldn''t be staying at Hundred Jade Courtyard, but living within the sect itself.


    But he was from another immortal continent, yet only at the Shambh phase? That was quite rare.


    "He must be from a powerful faction," the two Void Refiner Eminences instantly concluded,mitting Wu Yuan''s soul aura to memory.


    ...


    <i>The environment here is decent.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself as he settled into the meditation chamber of his residence and began cultivating quietly.


    ...


    Time flowed on, and in the blink of an eye, two days had passed.


    <i>Inside an immortal city within the Longstar Sect. In arge hall.</i>


    "Elder Chi, can''t we kick out that bastard Nie Le? I feel sick just looking at him," a young woman in green robes frowned.


    "Young Mistress, he''s the son of a veteran elder. He specifically requested to join Team 3 this time. We can''t refuse," the white-robed Chi Chang said with a bitter smile. "Actually, Young Mistress, bing Daopanions with him might not be such a bad..."


    "Elder Chi, please don''t try to persuade me anymore." The green-robed young woman shook her head. "My Daopanion must be a true powerhouse or genius. Otherwise, how does it benefit me?


    Nie Le? If he weren''t the son of a veteran elder, forget about cultivating to the sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, he''d probably struggle to get to the Amethyst Cradle phase at all," a hint of disgust shed in the green-robed young woman''s eyes. "He''ll never reach the Void Refiner phase in this lifetime."


    Chi Chang couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    "Elder Chi, do we have the information on all six foreign trial participants?" inquired the young woman in green robes.


    "Indeed, we do." Chi Chang waved his hand, conjuring a floating light screen projection disying names and cultivation descriptions.


    "All Void Refiner phase... wait, why is there a ninth-stage Shambh cultivator? Shadow de?" The green-robed woman''s eyes flickered with confusion as she scanned the list.


    "Young Mistress. Don''t underestimate this Shadow de. He''s an official member of Autumn Lake Hall, the most influential among the six foreign participants." Chi Chang smiled. "His personal strength may becking, but he likely possesses trump cards capable of obliterating Void Refiner cultivators."


    "Autumn Lake Hall?" The green-robed woman was clearly unfamiliar with the name.


    "It''s a massive faction on par with the Ling Huan Immortal Nation," Chi Chang reminded her.


    A flicker of astonishment crossed the green-robed woman''s eyes. She knew of the Ling Huan Immortal Nation, a force hundreds or thousands of times mightier than the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    "Such a formidable background?" the green-robed woman mused to herself.


    After a moment''s contemtion, she asked, "Elder Chi, tonight when the group assembles, will there be a banquet at Frostlight Hall for all disciples and Protectorates?"


    "Correct," Chi Chang nodded.


    "I see." The green-robed woman nodded slightly with a thoughtful expression.


    ...


    Frostlight Hall, a key location for Longstar Hall to host foreign visitors, was equipped with various entertainment facilities. Today, the grand banquet hall was lively, filled with hundreds of immortal cultivators.


    Upon arriving at the banquet pavilion, Wu Yuan found it already teeming with immortal cultivators. The vast majority were Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivators.


    "This way, Childe Shadow de," a maidservant respectfully guided Wu Yuan to the VIP section at the front of the hall.


    Several immortal cultivators were already seated there. Apart from one green-robed youth at the Amethyst Cradle phase, the rest were all Void Refiner cultivators.


    "Who is he?"


    "Never seen him before."


    "He must be from another immortal continent, here for the Thunder Marsh trial. But he��s only at the Shambh phase?" Many Amethyst Cradle disciples of the Longstar Immortal Sect whispered among themselves. They were all rather curious.


    "Daoist Shadow de, we meet again," smiled the white-robed, otherworldly young man beside him.


    "You must be Daoist Yun Ya," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    The six foreign trial participants had all received each other��s profiles. Wu Yuan, as the sole Shambh cultivator, was the easiest to identify.


    "This is my Daopanion, Yun Ling," the white-robed young man introduced the woman in white beside him.


    As time passed, the six gradually conversed and grew familiar with one another.


    Yun Ya, Yun Ling, and the others didn''t look down on Wu Yuan for being the weakest. Instead, they treated him with considerable respect, convinced that he must have some powerful background.


    Meanwhile, more and more people gathered in the hall.


    "The six of us are all foreign trial participants. Who is that teal-robed youth?" Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the figure in the opposite corner.


    There were seven people in the VIP area. Wu Yuan was the only Shambh cultivator, while the teal-robed youth''s vital aura seemed even weaker than Wu Yuan''s, despite him deliberately suppressing his aura.


    Suddenly, two figures entered the hall. The leading figure was Chi Chang, a ninth-stage Void Refiner. Following closely behind was a beautiful woman in purple robes with an enchanting figure. Beneath her pure exteriory an alluring charm.


    "It''s Fairy Mu Xin."


    "Mu Xin has arrived." The hall quickly fell silent as hundreds of Amethyst Cradle cultivators turned their gaze to the purple-robed woman. Clearly, Mu Xin was quite well-known within the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    "Haha, Mu Xin, you''ve finallye. Do you know how long we''ve been..." The teal-robed youth, who had been sitting silently to one side, stood up with a beaming smile and stepped forward to greet her.


    But to everyone''s surprise, the beautiful purple-robed woman named Mu Xin merely nodded calmly before walking directly to Wu Yuan.


    With a smile, she said, "Greetings, Childe Shadow de. Elder Chi has spoken of you often. Today, I finally have the pleasure of meeting you in person."

 Chapter 574: Thunder Marsh World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 574: Thunder Marsh World (1)</h4>


    This scene sent ripples of surprise through the crowd. Hundreds of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators below looked over in astonishment.


    It was widely known that there were several foreign trial participants, five of which were Void Refiner Eminences. Yet Mu Xin had chosen to greet a mere Shambh cultivator first? In a way, this seemed to confirm Wu Yuan''s prestigious background.


    "Daoist Mu Xin, you tter me," Wu Yuan responded coolly as he rose to his feet.


    Mu Xin? He had never heard of her before this moment. But based on her grand entrance alone, Wu Yuan could deduce that Mu Xin likely held a top-tier position among the Amethyst Cradle cultivators of the Longstar Immortal Sect, perhapsparable to the elite hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    As for her captivating beauty? Merely skin-deep. And the air of seduction Mu Xin exuded, capable of enticing ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators? To Wu Yuan, whose Dao Heart rivaled that of High Immortals after surviving the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, it was nothing more than a joke.


    Sensing the calm in Wu Yuan''s gaze, Mu Xin''s lips curled into a smile, her charm intensifying. "Shadow de, you truly are extraordinary."


    Internally, she was quite surprised. She was used to the hereditary disciples of her sect finding it difficult to remainposed in her presence. However, Wu Yuan disyed no sign of being affected in the slightest. After all, one''s eyes were the windows to the soul.


    Unconsciously, her impression of Wu Yuan rose a notch.


    Suddenly, the youth in luxurious teal robes let out a cold snort, casting a nce at Wu Yuan before returning to his seat with a stony expression.


    Wu Yuan swept a thoughtful look over him before calmly taking his own seat.


    Afterwards, Chi Chang introduced the other trial participants one by one. At the end, Chi Chang introduced the teal-robed youth �C Nie Le.


    "Nie Le is the son of a veteran elder. I hope you all can offer him assistance if possible once we enter the Thunder Marsh World," Chi Chang said with a smile.


    "Of course."


    "Certainly." Yun Ya, Yun Ling and the others responded in kind, extending goodwill towards Nie Le. Wu Yuan gave a slight nod as well.


    This only served to further displease Nie Le, his expression growing colder. Chi Chang was essentially implying that he was a wastrel with powerful connections, even if that was the truth.


    At that moment, a muscr man d in ck armor flew into the hall, heading straight for the VIP area. His aura was incredibly formidable, drawing the gazes of all present. He was an eighth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, a powerful body refiner.


    His arrival caused Chi Chang and Mu Xin''s expressions to flicker briefly before they smiled and greeted him, "Protectorate Fang."


    "Elder Fang." Nie Le''s face lit up with delight.


    "Young Master." The ck-armored man bowed slightly to Nie Le before turning to Chi Chang. "Protectorate Chi, as not all six foreign trial participants are Void Refiner-level cultivators, a spot has opened up. Therefore, the veteran elder has ordered me to protect the Young Master as he ventures into the Thunder Marsh World."


    "Haha, excellent! Please, have a seat, Protectorate Fang," Chi Chang responded with a beaming smile, his bodynguage quite weing.


    The ck-armored man took a seat beside Nie Le.


    As time passed, most of the immortal cultivators set to enter the Thunder Marsh World had arrived, and the banquet officially began.


    Throughout the feast, Mu Xin frequently raised her cup to Wu Yuan, her gestures filled with unmistakable admiration.


    This sight ignited a quiet fury in Nie Le''s heart. He had pursued Mu Xin for decades, yet never received such treatment. On rare asions, Mu Xin might offer him a faint smile, but she was mostly indifferent to him.


    "Elder Fang, what exactly is this Shadow de''s background?" Nie Le coldly transmitted his voice.


    "He is a formal disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall. Young Master would do well not to offend him," the ck-armored man replied via transmission. "I''ll send the information we have on the Autumn Lake Hall to you.


    From my observations, Shadow de shows no interest. Young Master need not be overly concerned," the ck-armored man advised.


    He understood his young master''s desire to be Daopanions with Mu Xin. Mu Xin was not only bewitchingly beautiful, but also formidable in her own right. Her Daoprehension level was so advanced that she could already step into the Void Refiner phase.


    "The Autumn Lake Hall is truly so formidable?" Nie Le''s consciousness skimmed through the information in his voidrealm.


    He was shocked by the Autumn Lake Hall''s might, but it only upset him further. In terms of strength, Wu Yuan clearly surpassed him. In terms of background, a formal member of the Autumn Lake Hall was likely not far behind the son of a High Immortal.


    And now, Mu Xin seemed quite taken with Wu Yuan.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly four hours passed. As Chi Chang delivered some final words of encouragement, the Amethyst Cradle and Void Refiner cultivators began to disperse. Nie Le and the ck-armored man rose as well.


    Suddenly, a calm voice echoed in Nie Le''s mind. "Daoist Nie Le, I am Shadow de."


    <i>Hmm?</i> Nie Le''s brow furrowed slightly as he looked towards Wu Yuan.


    He saw Wu Yuan smiling and raising a cup in his direction, an action that only confused Nie Le further.


    What was he up to?


    "Daoist Nie Le, I am but a dedicated cultivator. My purpose foring to the White Sea Immortal Continent is to explore the Thunder Marsh World. Once our expedition isplete, I will naturally return to Autumn Lake Hall," Wu Yuan calmly conveyed through voice transmission.


    "As for Mu Xin? I care not for her. I hope you won''t be swayed by provocations. I have no wish to antagonize you, but neither should you view me as an enemy.


    For this journey, we are both members of the same team of the Longstar Immortal Sect. We arerades." With a smile, Wu Yuan set down his cup.


    He turned and departed, leaving behind a dumbfounded Nie Le who stood in a daze, seemingly lost in thought.


    "What''s the matter, Young Master?" the ck-armored man asked in a low voice.


    "Elder Fang, you were right." Nie Le suddenly spoke, his tone even. "There''s no point in provoking Shadow de."


    "I''m d you understand, Young Master." The ck-armored man''s face broke into a smile. His greatest concern had been Nie Le antagonizing Wu Yuan in the Thunder Marsh World.


    Though a mere ninth-stage Shambh cultivator, any formal disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall was likely not someone to be trifled with.


    ...


    <i>In a meditation chamber within the Hundred Jades Courtyard.</i>


    <i>As expected, where there are people, there is strife.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Matters of the heart are truly the most vexing.</i>


    Having experienced much, Wu Yuan''s understanding of human nature was incredibly deep. After a moment''s reflection, Wu Yuan had grasped the situation.


    <i>This Mu Xin, there''s a ny percent chance she intends to use me as a spear, leveraging the Autumn Lake Hall''s reputation to draw fire?</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>She and Chi Chang seem unwilling to have Nie Le and Protectorate Fang join the expedition?</i>


    <i>There''s a minuscule chance she''s truly smitten with me at first sight? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    The probability was far too low. Powerful immortal cultivators all possessed strong Dao Hearts and understood that outward appearances were merely skin-deep, inconsequential. How many would fall in love so easily?


    Even if charm techniques were employed, they would only stir carnal desires, not true emotions! Love and lust were fundamentally different.


    However, whether Mu Xin had ulterior motives or genuine feelings, Wu Yuan harbored not the slightest interest. He had no desire to get involved in unnecessary conflict.


    Wu Yuan had but one goal �C reaching the coordinates of the Immutable Land��s entrance!


    <i>I hope that Nie Le keeps a cool head. Otherwise, it doesn��t matter who stands in my way. I will kill them all.</i> A sh of cold indifference passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Having experienced years of carnage on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield and survived the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, his Dao Heart was nigh unshakeable. Amidst all matters, only the pursuit of the Dao mattered!


    After perusing various intelligence reports, Wu Yuan understood that once they sessfully entered the Thunder Marsh World, the chances of encountering High Immortal-level powerhouses would decrease.


    As for Archimmortals?


    <i>On an immortal continent, there may be as few as several dozen Archimmortals or as many as over a hundred, but most would be out adventuring. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>Besides, as long as one doesn''t perform too outrageously, why would one attract the attention of Archimmortals?</i>


    In behemoth factions like the Cang Feng Eldritch World or the Voltari Temple, ordinary Archimmortals were indeed unremarkable, their numbers countless. But on a single immortal continent, Archimmortals were still greatly revered and considered immensely powerful.


    ...


    <i>Half a dayter.</i>


    Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, Yun Ling, and the other three trial participants joined Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and the rest of Team 3 �C over three hundred Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators in total �C as they assembled at a designated location.


    Shortly after, all six teams from the Longstar Immortal Sect,prising thousands of immortal cultivators, gathered in a teleportation array under the orders of an Earth Immortal.


    In an instant, they were transported to the outskirts of the mysterious Thunder Marsh World.


    ...


    Untold ages ago, an Astral Monarch chose the Thunder Marsh World as his abode. At great cost, he had expanded a small worldlet into a vast territory spanning billions of li, shielding it within a formidable thunder array.


    Though the Astral Monarch eventually perished, the Thunder Marsh World endured, its defense array continuing to function.


    The Thunder Marsh Worldy beyond the maind of the White Sea Immortal Continent.


    Suspended in the endless void of outer space, an imposing temple stood. Suddenly, a violent ripple of heaven and earth��s power surged, apanied by a brilliant sh of light.


    Six teams,prising thousands of cultivators, emerged from the teleportation array into the star-studded expanse of outer space.


    Even the weakest among these immortal cultivators were Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, with the ability to survive in the harsh environment of outer space.


    "Is that the Thunder Marsh World?"


    "It''s enormous. I''ve never seen such a vast worldlet.��


    "Neither have I," Whispers echoed throughout the groups as thousands of immortal cultivators gazed in astonishment at the looming hundreds of millions of li away.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes were simrly drawn to the spectacle.


    Despite the immense distance, the sheer scale of the Thunder Marsh World made it appear deceptively close, upying nearly half their field of vision. Even to the naked eye, the entire world seemed shrouded in ayer of dark clouds, crackling with countless bolts of lightning.


    "Remain silent and wait here,"manded the Earth Immortal named Qi He, d in crimson robes as he hovered in space.


    His gaze swept across the assembled cultivators, instantly silencing the crowd.


    As an Earth Immortal, he possessed the power to annihte all the thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators present with a single strike, should he so desire.


    "These are the talismans that will allow you safe passage into the Thunder Marsh World," Qi He intoned dispassionately. "Remember, they are single-use items. You must exit the Thunder Marsh World within six months at most."


    With a wave of his hand, thousands of glowing talismans materialized before the cultivators.


    The crowd hurriedly imed their tokens.


    Wu Yuan epted his, inwardlying to a realization as to why no one attempted to breach the Thunder Marsh World without the aid of the six major sects.


    The first reason was that the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent had established a barrier around its perimeter.


    The second reason was that over countless eons, the Archimmortals of the six major sects had repeatedly explored the Thunder Marsh World, gaining detailed information at great cost.


    At the very least, they could now produce a steady supply of talismans. Without these talismans? Entering the Thunder Marsh World would be a near-certain death sentence.


    The defense arrayid down by an Astral Monarch, even after the passage of untold ages, still retained its terrifying power.

 Chapter 575: Thunder Marsh World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 575: Thunder Marsh World (2)</h4>


    In a matter of hours, onerge group after another materialized in outer space.


    The six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent seemed to have sent roughly equal numbers of cultivators.


    <i>Eachrge group led by an Earth Immortal, apanied by dozens of Void Refiner Eminences, and thousands of Amethyst Cradle cultivators? </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    He observed them closely, aware that any of these individuals could potentially be obstacles. However, the presence of Earth Immortals made Wu Yuan hesitant to extend his Soul Will too brazenly, lest he draw unwanted attention.


    Atst, with a final burst of light from the temple''s teleportation array, thousands more figures emerged.


    With this, all six groups, one from each major sect and each led by an Earth Immortal, had assembled.


    The wait was mercifully brief.


    The six Earth Immortals simultaneously took flight, swiftly approaching the Thunder Marsh World. Six brilliant beams of light shot skyward, piercing the vast thunderclouds.


    A deafening rumble shook heaven and earth as the Thunder Marsh World itself seemed to tremble, clearly a result of the six Earth Immortals activating the outer barrier.


    "Prepare yourselves.��


    "Move out!"


    "The trial begins now." The Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators from each major sect issued their final reminders before transforming into streaks of light, hurtling towards the Thunder Marsh World.


    Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, and the others followed closely behind. The multitude of Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators brought up the rear.


    "Daoist Shadow de, I''ll see you in the Thunder Marsh World," Yun Ya called out to Wu Yuan with a smile as they flew.


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded, returning the smile.


    Over the past few days, his interactions with Yun Ya and Yun Ling had been the most agreeable. Their rtionship could be considered the closest.


    "Don''t forget about me, Childe Shadow de," Mu Xin, flying not far ahead, suddenly turned back, winking at him.


    Wu Yuan nodded, responding perfunctorily.


    "We''re about to enter.��


    ��Let''s hope we don''t encounter any thunder beast elites. That would be troublesome."


    "We should gather up and join forces as soon as possible."


    "Everyone, let��s make it out alive." The sixrge groups, including dozens of trial participants from other immortal continents, gave words of encouragement to each other as if they were good old friends.


    Yet, how much was genuine, and how much was mere pretense?


    The numerous disciples from each major sect likewise exchanged words before entering.


    Swiftly, as Wu Yuan and the others drew ever closer to the Thunder Marsh World, an invisible force suddenly enveloped the surrounding space.


    In an instant, this overwhelming energy caused the tens of thousands of immortal cultivators in the area to vanish without a trace.


    Even the six Earth Immortals disappeared.


    This expanse of outer space fell silent once more.


    ...


    A spatial ripple engulfed Wu Yuan, blurring his surroundings. When reality solidified once more, he found himself amidst a rugged mountain range stretching as far as the eye could see.


    Vegetation was sparse, and the mountains towered impossibly high, many reaching thousands of li into the sky.


    Beneath his feety muddy earth. Overhead, ominous storm clouds nketed everything, asional shes of lightning illuminating their depths.


    All around him, not another soul could be seen.


    <i>The talisman must have triggered the array, transporting us inside randomly. Where is everyone else? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, his gaze sweeping across thendscape.


    He extended his Soul Will, probing outward.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed as he sensed an invisible force suppressing his abilities, drastically reducing the range of his Soul Will. He could now only perceive an area of about thirty thousand li - pitifully smallpared to his usual reach.


    Simultaneously, the oppressive energy permeating the world intensified, making even flying far more difficult.


    <i>As expected of a world extensively modified by an Astral Monarch at great cost. </i>Wu Yuan mused as he sprang into motion.


    In a sh, he soared upward, but barely ascended a thousand li before his view was still obstructed by the distant peaks.


    Suddenly, a thunderous boom erupted from the storm clouds above.


    It seemed as if countless bolts of lightning had coalesced within the roiling mass, and a terrifying bolt of energynced downward. The devastating attack hurtled straight for Wu Yuan!


    With a calm expression, Wu Yuan summoned a saber to his hand. A de ray sliced through the air, colliding violently with the descending lightning.


    <i>Boom! </i>The sh of energies produced a deafening explosion. Countless arcs of electricity flowed through Wu Yuan''s weapon and engulfed his entire body.


    Yet when the dazzling disy subsided, Wu Yuan stood unscathed, as if nothing had transpired. The thunderbolt''s aftermath clearly posed no threat to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Just as the reports stated. Ascending a thousand li above the ground level triggers lightning capable of threatening sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators. Ascending three thousand li summons bolts that could fell even those at the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.</i>


    Ascending ten thousand li would trigger lightning potent enough to annihte even a ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator.


    <i>These endless mountain ranges effectively partition the vast earth. </i>Wu Yuan observed with a slight shake of his head.


    Few dared to scale the towering peaks to their summits. The first danger of the Thunder Marsh World was the thunder array enshrouding the colossal realm, spanning a maximum diameter of six hundred million li.


    <i>Let''s scout the area first to pinpoint my location. </i>Wu Yuan decided, transforming into a streak of light as he ran across the ground, racing towards the horizon. <i>Then I''ll navigate to the location of the spacetime coordinates.</i>


    In outer space, Wu Yuan could easily elerate to a thousand li per second. But under the Thunder Marsh World''s invisible suppression, his speed topped out at roughly five hundred li per second. Moreover, he dared not elerate recklessly, maintaining a cautious pace of two to three hundred li per second.


    As he journeyed onward, majestic mountain ranges twisted and intersected, constantly diverting Wu Yuan from his original direction. His gaze could only prate around several hundred thousand li, perhaps a million at most. This left Wu Yuan momentarily disoriented.


    However, with his incredible memory, he could effortlessly recall every path traversed. Given enough time, he would naturally be able to triangte his precise location by cross-referencing the intelligence reports.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan halted abruptly, his Soul Force fanning out to detect three immortal cultivators rapidly approaching his position.


    <i>Sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivators?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with confusion. <i>What could drive them to such haste?</i>


    Logically, having just arrived in the Thunder Marsh World, there was no need for such urgency even if one was treasure hunting.


    The endless mountains and undting terrain obstructed Wu Yuan''s line of sight, but when the three purple-robed figures frantically appeared in his vision, he finally understood the reason for their frenzied flight.


    Dozens of four-legged beasts pursued the purple-robed figures, howling and roaring as they gave chase at extreme speeds. Each of the beasts'' bodies crackled faintly with lightning.


    Now merely thousands of li apart, Wu Yuan''s keen vision could clearly discern even the fur on the creatures'' hides.


    <i>Thunder beasts? Able to evade Soul Force detection? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    The Thunder Marsh World''s second danger��thunder beasts!


    Even an ordinary thunder beast possessed Shambh-level strength, while some elites that had undergone evolution could unleash power rivaling the Elysian Field phase.


    Crucially, neither Soul Force nor Soul Will could detect these thunder beasts'' presence. Only by drawing near could one sense the fluctuations in spiritual qi or spot them with the naked eye.


    However, Wu Yuan swiftly assessed the dozens of thunder beasts before him. Judging from their build and speed, they were all ordinary type beasts.


    "Hm? It''s Childe Shadow de! Childe Shadow de, save us! Save us!" The lead purple-robed man''s eyes lit up upon spotting Wu Yuan.


    The other two were equally ted.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The three men shot toward Wu Yuan as if they''d found their savior.


    <i>Disciples of the Longstar Immortal Sect? All from Team 3?</i> Wu Yuan had already recognized them.


    With his phenomenal memory, effortlessly recalling the soul auras of over ten thousand members from the six major sects was child''s y. Not to mention, they had dined together at the same banquet.


    Though Wu Yuan had never conversed with them directly, these Longstar Immortal Sect disciples remembered him vividly.


    <i>Three sixth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivators facing dozens of thunder beasts��no wonder they''re running. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    The gap of thousands of li was closed in an instant.


    The three Longstar Immortal Sect disciples rushed behind Wu Yuan for protection, while the dozens of formidable thunder beasts, each over thirty meters long, chased them.


    "Roar~�� The thunder beasts'' eyes glowed a faint red as they fixed their gazes on Wu Yuan at the forefront, charging straight for him. Their legs pounded the earth, causing the vast terrain to tremble subtly.


    They were beasts ofbat born of the Thunder Marsh World, possessing little intelligence beyond their instinct to kill.


    Wu Yuan stood his ground, shaking his head slightly.


    <i>Shing! </i>He suddenly drew his saber, his legs coiling with power before he exploded forward, unleashing only the strength of an ordinary ninth-stage Shambh cultivator.


    <i>Boom! </i>He instantly transformed into a thousand-zhang giant. Eight arms materialized, each grasping a saber, his aura overwhelming.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!" The dozens of thunder beasts bellowed as they charged to meet him.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A tempest of de rays ignited, channeling the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.


    The de rays struck with blinding speed, unerring uracy, and crushing force! There was no need to even invoke his domain.


    <i>Squelch~ </i>Wu Yuan''s footwork flowed gracefully, evading the thunder beasts as his de rays shed.


    In a single exchange, he decapitated or or cleaved the bodies of dozens of thunder beasts. Blood sprayed through the air.


    <i>Thud! Thud! Thud!</i> The thunder beasts'' massive forms continued their momentum, tumbling for hundreds of li before finally lying still.


    Atst, silence fell.


    <i>Though these thunder beasts are truly extraordinary,pared to true Shambh cultivators, their heads remain a fatal weakness.</i> Wu Yuan observed, shaking his head.


    While these thunder beasts boasted impressive speed and strength, theirbat prowess fell far short of body refiners of the same level. Their ability to conceal their presence, however, was truly terrifying.


    "This��!"


    "So powerful."


    "Childe Shadow de? Foreign trial participants are truly in a different league." The three Longstar Immortal Sect disciples who had narrowly escaped with their lives stood ck-jawed in awe.

 Chapter 576: Thunder Beast Diagram, Mysterious Artistic Conception (1)

    <h4>Chapter 576: Thunder Beast Diagram, Mysterious Artistic Conception (1)</h4>


    A hazy, earthy-yellow radiance emanated from Wu Yuan, spreading in all directions and enveloping an area hundreds of li wide.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The thunder beasts'' bodies were torn apart by an invisible force, releasing crystalline stones that gleamed with a watery luster.


    Under the maniption of Wu Yuan��s domain, these stones flew towards him and orbited around his body.


    <i>Thirty-two Thunder Beast Stones.</i> Wu Yuan reached out and grasped one of them.


    It was an entirely purple crystal, with mysterious Dao patterns faintly visible on its surface. If one observed carefully with Soul Force, one would notice shes of lightning within the stone.


    <i>What a magical stone.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly, sensing the power contained within. It was as if a bolt of lightning was trapped inside.


    These Thunder Beast Stones were a specialty of the Thunder Marsh World. They were used in a wide array of applications, from crafting lightning talismans and ethercrystal weapons, to constructing arrays.


    A single third-grade Thunder Beast Stone from an ordinary thunder beast was worth over a thousand catties of ethercrystal.


    A second-grade Thunder Beast Stone from a thunder beast elite was worth ten million catties of ethercrystal. It was quite precious, enough to drive any Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivator mad with desire. A thunder beast elite''s strength was equivalent to the sixth-stage Elysian Field phase at least.


    There were even legendary first-grade Thunder Beast Stones produced by thunder beast kings whose power rivaled Earth Immortals. A single one was worth over a hundred billion catties of ethercrystal, making it one of the top treasures in the entire Thunder Marsh World. Even Earth Immortals would covet them.


    Of course, given Wu Yuan''s wealth which surpassed many High Immortals, even first-grade Thunder Beast Stones weren''t particrly enticing to him.


    <i>Still, these thunder beast life forms are quite peculiar.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself, gazing into the distance.


    The corpses of the thunder beasts, originally tens of zhangs long, were rapidly dissolving. Soon, no trace would remain.


    <i>ording to the reports, thunder beasts are special life forms without intelligence, born from Thunder Beast Stones. These Thunder Beast Stones are the core of each thunder beast.</i>


    This type of special life form was something Wu Yuan had never encountered before. Normally, even after death, life forms would leave behind corpses. These thunder beasts felt more akin to warrior puppets in Wu Yuan��s perception.


    Curious, Wu Yuan carefully examined the Thunder Beast Stone in his hand, probing its interior with his Soul Force to uncover its secrets.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Three streaks of light rushed toward Wu Yuan.


    "Childe Shadow de."


    "Thank you for saving us, Childe." The three rescued Longstar Immortal Sect disciples flew over, bowing respectfully to Wu Yuan.


    Their gazes couldn''t help but drift to the dozens of Thunder Beast Stones orbiting Wu Yuan, a glimmer of envy shing in the depths of their eyes. With their strength, obtaining dozens of Thunder Beast Stones would be extremely difficult. Usually, they could only hunt them one by one.


    How could they match Wu Yuan''s effortless feat?


    Of course, they understood that given the power Wu Yuan had just disyed, he could likely rival true Elysian Field powerhouses. Defeating opponents of higher phases? The entire Longstar Immortal Sect couldn''t produce a single genius of this caliber.


    ��Haven''t you encountered people from other sects?�� Wu Yuan asked casually as he waved his hand to put away the Thunder Beast Stones.


    Out of the nearly twenty thousand immortal cultivators entering the Thunder Marsh World, the Longstar Immortal Sect only ounted for one-sixth of the total number. Logically, the chances of them meeting should be rtively low. Yet they all happened to be from Team 3.


    "Childe Shadow de," the only female disciple among the three smiled, "Our token auras are simr, so even with random teleportation, we''d mostly be sent to the same region of the Thunder Marsh World. Thus, encountering each other early on is a normal urrence."


    "This allows disciples from the same sects or teams to quickly gather in one ce. Otherwise, why bother dividing into several teams beforehand?" the purple-robed man in the lead also exined with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded, understanding now.


    "While traveling here, did you create a map of the region?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "Yes, we did."


    ...


    The Thunder Marsh World was vast and boundless. ording to Longstar Immortal Sect��s intelligence, it was divided into three major regions: the Outer Region, Inner Region, and Core Region.


    The closer to the center, the more dangerous it became, with a higher chance of encountering thunder beast elites or even thunder beast kings. However, the probability of finding treasures also increased correspondingly.


    Time passed.


    Although Wu Yuan''s strength was astonishing, he wasn''t in a rush. As they journeyed onward, they encountered numerous Longstar Immortal Sect disciples along the way. Most of them were from Team 3.


    After exchanging information, these disciples generally chose to follow Wu Yuan. They also encountered disciples from other sects from time to time, but everyone tacitly agreed not to fight.


    Killing wasn''t forbidden in the Thunder Marsh World, and the world array made ordinary immortal continent-wide or immortal nation-wide voidrealms inessible. Individuals could onlymunicate via the Greenridge Immortal Voidrealm, thus ordinary disciples couldn''t send messages out.


    But without major treasures at stake,rge-scale killing rarely broke out. As for the asional thunder beasts they encountered? They were mostly in by the Longstar Immortal Sect disciples. Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered with the asional lightning-type treasures they found, such as spiritual nts or special ores. He let the sect disciples take them all.


    Four days passed.


    They traversed thirty million li through winding, undting mountain ranges, though the total discement was probably only millions of li.


    <i>On a grass in.</i>


    "Daoist Shadow de, judging by your strength, you probably won''t be content with just exploring the Outer Region. Bringing along these burdens has slowed our pace considerably," the handsome youth in white robes, Yun Ya, transmitted his voice.


    Beside him was his Daopanion, Yun Ling.


    "What do you suggest, Daoist Yun Ya?" Wu Yuan responded.


    Yesterday, the team led by Wu Yuan encountered Yun Ya and Yun Ling, and they decided to travel together.


    "Based on the map information we''ve gathered so far, we''re currently in Area 163 of the Outer Region," Yun Ya said. "If we continue forward, we should soon see this area''s stone wall Dao patterns. After crossing a mountain range, we can enter the Inner Region."


    "The Inner Region is where things will be truly life-threatening for us. At that point, we could team up to proceed," Yun Ya smiled, appearing quite sincere.


    <i>Team up? Inner Region?</i> Wu Yuan nodded with a smile. "Let''s wait until we reach the stone wall Dao patterns and observe them before deciding."


    "Alright," Yun Ya agreed.


    He understood Wu Yuan''s thoughts. Like them, most trial participants from other immortal continents hade for the stone wall Dao patterns.


    <i>Stone wall Dao patterns?</i> Anticipation rose in Wu Yuan��s heart.


    Besides the numerous thunder beasts and lightning-type treasures, why did the Thunder Marsh World attract countless powerhouses over millions of years? It was because of the stone wall Dao patterns scattered throughout the world! They were left behind by that Astral Monarch.


    <i>ording to the intelligence I''ve gathered, that ancient Astral Monarch Wan Lei was extraordinarily powerful, definitely among the top Astral Monarchs.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>The Thunder Marsh World he painstakingly created is very special.</i>


    Wu Yuan had the guidance of two Sovereigns, both of whom stood at the peak of the macrocosm, and their strength far surpassed Astral Monarchs. But they weren''t necessarily superior in every aspect.


    Take the Space Dao, for instance. Most Sovereigns relied on ''shatteringws with brute force'' to match the speed of Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Astral Monarch Huo Cang in higher spatial dimensions. In terms of their understanding of the Space Dao, they fell far short.


    <i>Most importantly, these Thunder Beast Stones alone are quite special.</i> Arge portion of Wu Yuan''s soul consciousness constantly observed the dozens of Thunder Beast Stones he had stored within his internal shambh.


    Since obtaining them days ago, Wu Yuan had studied them carefully, even using his vital ether to pulverize these Thunder Beast Stones.


    When all the lightning spiritual qi dissipated, what remained were only iplete,plex, and mysterious Dao pattern diagram fragments formed by the power of lightning, emitting mysterious fluctuations.


    Within his internal shambh, the Boundary Tree''s branches spread wide, its leaves lush. Little ck sprawledzily on a massive tree trunk.


    Wu Yuan''s soul avatar sat in lotus position beneath the tree, silently deciphering the thirty-two fragments of Dao pattern diagrams floating in the void before him.


    <i>Thunder! They''re all Thunder Dao cryptic patterns. </i>Wu Yuan carefully analyzed them.


    Since his qi refiner self��s soul had evolved to a Yuan Soul, he had unknowingly gained some insight into various other Daos. Although his understanding was shallow and he had never intentionally contemted them before, discerning some of their profundities was not an issue.


    <i>No, it''s not just Thunder, there''s also... Fire. The profundities of the Law of Fire are present, albeit few.</i> Wu Yuan pondered, his confusion deepening.


    Each Dao pattern diagram before him was crude, yet unfathomably profound. These qualities were not mutually exclusive.


    <i>Thunder and Fire... perfectly fused together. But why do these core Dao patterns of the Thunder Beast Stones seem somewhat simr to the Life Dao patterns?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    This was precisely why Wu Yuan, after initial analysis, ced such great importance on these Thunder Beast Stone patterns, and even looked forward to the stone wall Dao patterns. They felt somewhat familiar to him!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> An enormous silver sphere materialized beside the Boundary Tree, covered in countless cryptic patterns.


    In terms ofplexity, the core Dao patterns formed by these Thunder Beast Stones were not even one-millionth asplex as the cryptic patterns on the surface of the silver sphere!


    The most fundamental profundities of the Dao contained within each was entirely disparate.


    One involved Thunder and Fire. The otherbined Earth, Wood, and Space. Yet whenpared, they inexplicably gave Wu Yuan a strange sense of simrity, as if they shared amon origin. Naturally, this astounded Wu Yuan.


    <i>This shouldn''t be possible. Neither the intelligence I''ve gathered nor Master Kua Chi''s guidance can be wrong.</i> Wu Yuan furrowed his brow. <i>The Life Dao isposed of the three Intermediate Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain.</i>


    It had no connection to the Greater Laws of Thunder and Fire.


    <i>But where does this feeling of simritye from?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. But unable to find an answer, he suppressed his doubts.


    He continued to observe, seeking to findmonalities in an attempt toprehend the profundities of Life. After all, the threshold of the Life Dao was incredibly difficult to step through. Even now, Wu Yuan had yet to find any opportunity to reach the initiate threshold of the Law of Life.


    These thirty-two crude Thunder Beast Stone Dao patterns were an exciting discovery for Wu Yuan. He naturally didn''t want to miss any potential chance toprehend the Law of Life.


    It was worth noting that Wu Yuan originally had no interest in the Thunder Marsh World.


    <i>No need to rush. Take it slow.</i> Wu Yuan had ample patience.

 Chapter 577: Thunder Beast Diagram, Mysterious Artistic Conception (2)

    <h4>Chapter 577: Thunder Beast Diagram, Mysterious Artistic Conception (2)</h4>


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, Yun Ling, and the others led over thirty Amethyst Cradle cultivators another ten million li inward. Finally, they arrived at one of the most important locations in Area 163 of the Outer Region.


    This ce resembled a canyon, seemingly no different from the winding mountain ranges elsewhere, but on one side of the canyon stood an enormous stone wall, towering and stretching for a hundred li.


    As they entered the canyon, an invisible pressure weighed heavily on their hearts, filling them with a sense of unease.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, and the others descended,nding in the center of the canyon.


    Besides them, there were two other groups of immortal cultivators from different sects in the central area.


    "It''s the Phoenix Immortal Sect."


    "And the Soaring Feather Immortal Sect''s team."


    "So these are the stone wall Dao patterns? How incredible, I''ve only ever heard of them, never seen them before."


    "We must try toprehend them." The dozens of disciples from the Longstar Immortal Sect whispered among themselves.


    Before entering the canyon, they had been on high alert, fearing an ambush. But upon arriving here, they all rxed, as did the immortal cultivators from the other two sects.


    This was because the location of the stone wall Dao patterns was a restricted area in the Thunder Marsh World! Thunder beasts could not invade this location, and fighting was likewise prohibited!


    Those who vited this rule would undoubtedly perish.


    Once a battle broke out here, it would trigger the release of lightning bolts from the array. A single strike was enough to kill a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse.


    This was a lesson learned through the blood and lives of countless adventurers over billions of years. Wu Yuan and the others were well aware of this.


    In short, any area with stone wall Dao patterns was a safe zone.


    "What terrifying pressure."


    "It''s just as the legends say, these Thunder Beast Diagrams hold the teachings of the ancient Astral Monarch Wan Lei," Yun Ling looked up, breaking into a stunningly beautiful smile.


    One side of the canyon wall was incredibly smooth, exuding an ancient and archaic aura, with waves of terrifying pressure enveloping the area.


    On the wall, countless mysterious patterns were etched, perfectly converging to form a massive,plete Dao pattern diagram!


    At first nce, the entire Dao pattern diagram on this stone wall resembled a crouching thunder beast, its head slightly raised, as if ready to leap forward at any moment.


    "These stone wall Dao patterns are also known as Thunder Marsh patterns or Thunder Beast Diagrams." Yun Ya clicked his tongue in admiration. "Junior Sister, although our chances ofprehending their profundities are low... we should still try to contemte them."


    "Mm." Yun Ling nodded.


    "What about you, Daoist Shadow de?" Yun Ya looked towards Wu Yuan, sighing, "These Thunder Beast Diagrams are the greatest treasure in the entire Thunder Marsh World.


    Legend has it that the ancient Astral Monarch Wan Lei was one of the most powerful Astral Monarchs in the Greenridge Immortal World. His strength was immense, ranking at the pinnacle, and it''s said these Thunder Beast Diagrams contain his teachings."


    "Thunder Beast Diagrams?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "There are 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams in total." Yun Ya smiled, "Legend has it that if one canprehend even a small fraction of their profundities, bing an Archimmortal or Astral Lord would be a walk in the park.


    Because of this, over countless ages, many immortal cultivators from various immortal continents havee here seeking to contemte them, like us.


    Unfortunately, these Thunder Beast Diagrams are far too mysterious and profound. Even after trillions of years, we��ve never heard of anyone learning any world-shaking divine abilities from them. So, as time passed, fewer and fewer explorers visit this ce.


    Now, it''s mainly the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent whoe toprehend them." Yun Ya sighed wistfully, "My junior sister and I have only heard rumors, and since we''re both studying thunder techniques, we applied to our sect toe and try our luck."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently. He was already aware of this information.


    Throughout the long ages, there were many powerful legacies simr to this relic left behind in the vast macrocosm, just like the nine treasurends within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.


    Naturally, the Thunder Marsh World left behind by an Astral Monarch held considerable allure, but no one had truly unraveled its mysteries.


    <i>Or perhaps, those immortal cultivators who truly gained an inkling of insight into its profundities never spoke of it openly. </i>Wu Yuan casually sat down on a patch of grass, silently pondering. <i>For example��myself!</i>


    Seeing Wu Yuan walk to the side, Yun Ya didn''t pay much attention. He and Yun Ling also found their own spots and began attempting toprehend the patterns.


    Anyone arriving here for the first time would naturally give it a try.


    ...


    <i>This stone wall Dao pattern diagram, this so-called Thunder Beast Diagram, actually holds such wonders. </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, looking up at the diagram, his eyes filled with ��curiosity and confusion��.


    In reality, tremendous waves of excitement were surging through Wu Yuan��s heart. Beforeing to the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan hadn''t taken it too seriously, even after learning some of its secrets. After all, how powerful could the legacy of an Astral Monarch be? He had merely regarded the Thunder Marsh World as the entrance to the Immutable Land.


    But upon truly entering the world, Wu Yuan first noticed the simrities between the core patterns of the Thunder Beast Stones and the patterns on the silver sphere. Then, when he trulyid eyes on the Thunder Beast Diagrams, he was taken aback once more.


    <i>The crude Dao patterns of the Thunder Beast Stones merely make up one-millionth of this Thunder Beast Diagram! No! Not even one millionth. </i>Wu Yuan gazed at the enormous Thunder Beast Diagram.


    Other immortal cultivators might only sense a tiny fraction of the profundities of Thunder, Fire, Earth, Space, and so on, but Wu Yuan was different.


    His perspective was extremely high, and with just a bit of contemtion, he understood that this Thunder Beast Diagram contained not only the profundities of Thunder and Fire, but also the Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain that he was currently studying.


    <i>I see. How could ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators or Void Refiner cultivatorsprehend these Thunder Beast Diagrams? Their perspectives are too low, they''re not qualified.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart quivered with excitement.


    At this moment, within Wu Yuan''s internal shambh, countless points of light began to gather beside the enormous silver sphere, forming an incrediblyplex diagram.


    It was a Thunder Beast Diagram, yet it only copied the appearance andcked the terrifying pressure. Comparing the two, Wu Yuan discovered that when magnified, the cryptic patterns throughout the silver sphere bore striking simrities to those of the Thunder Beast Diagram. In some ces, they were even identical.


    <i>The silver sphere''s patterns are moreplete, unified, and fluid. </i>Wu Yuan mused, drawing on years of studying the sphere.


    Though he hadn''t unraveled the profundities of the Life Dao, he had grown quite familiar with it.


    <i>This Thunder Beast Diagram seems iplete, far less whole than the silver sphere''s patterns... Yet it contains a deeper level of Dao insights, embodying a mystical artistic conception that brings the beast to life!</i> Wu Yuan''s mind raced.


    His understanding of various Intermediate Laws and Life Dao patterns allowed him to perceive the image''s profound nature. Other immortal cultivators would only sense its imposing aura and struggle to grasp any insights.


    <i>Compared to the silver sphere, this Thunder Beast Diagram, though seemingly cruder, feels more... correct. Its mysterious artistic conception seems to truly embody the profundities of Life.</i> Wu Yuan''s realization left him not just shocked, but in disbelief.


    After all, the silver sphere was a gift from Master Kua Chi, a Sovereign of Life, while these Thunder Beast Diagrams were merely left behind by an Astral Monarch.


    <i>Could it be that the true profundities of Life aren''t simply the convergence of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain cryptic patterns...but also epass the profundities of Thunder, Fire, and other Daos? </i>Wu Yuan quickly hypothesized.


    It was a bold theory. The fusion of aspects from the three Greater Laws was already incredible. To include even more? The very thought made Wu Yuan tremble.


    <i>Compared to the Thunder Beast Diagram in reality, what I''ve simted in my internal shambh is mere surface-level patterning,cking the deeper Dao profundities and that ineffable artistic conception! </i>Wu Yuan swiftly realized. <i>That artistic conception is also absent from the silver sphere.</i>


    Form was external. The inner Dao profundities and artistic conception were the true core.


    Now, gazing up at the Thunder Beast Diagram, Wu Yuan felt as if he were witnessing a powerful creature about to leap into action. This artistic conception wasn''t just profoundly mysterious. It carried a trace of realism.


    <i>Real life.</i> Wu Yuan had an epiphany. <i>The Thunder Beast Stones harvested from the ordinary thunder beasts I slew must contain a fraction of this Thunder Beast Diagram��s profundities, thus they are able to manifest Thunder Beast life forms. A mere fraction is enough to create Shambh-level thunder beasts. If aplete Thunder Beast Diagram were the source... How powerful would such a thunder beast be?</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    The difference between the two was surely beyond measure.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Within his internal shambh, cryptic patterns manifested around Wu Yuan''s soul essence, embodying the Intermediate Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain.


    <i>The artistic conception of real life! </i>This time, Wu Yuan didn''t attempt to directlybine the patterns following those on the silver sphere as he had before.


    Instead, he used these three Intermediate Laws as a foundation, trying to mimic the mysterious artistic conception of the Thunder Beast Diagram. This artistic conception, in a sense, was the manifestation of profound Laws.


    In simpler terms, Wu Yuan suspected that the Thunder Beast Diagram contained something even more mysterious than the Law of Life itself...


    <i>If I could grasp even a fraction of the Thunder Beast Diagram''s artistic conception, it would likely makeprehending the Law of Life far easier.</i> Wu Yuan realized.


    It was like learning anguage. Studying the Law of Life through the silver sphere was like learning written characters in istion, naturally difficult; but grasping this artistic conception was like immersing oneself in thenguage''s environment. Once limated, learning the corresponding writtennguage woulde much more naturally.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan tried again and again, failing each time. Grasping the artistic conception seemed simple in theory, but it was like fruit hanging from the highest branches, visible yet out of reach. To pluck it, one needed adder of sufficient height.


    <i>No, that''s not it! None of this is right. This Thunder Beast Diagram is centered on the profundities of Thunder and Fire, with Longevity, Space, and others merely as support. It doesn''t align well with the three Intermediate Laws I''ve been studying. </i>Wu Yuan quickly realized.


    Thedder he was using simply wasn''t tall enough!


    <i>I mustprehend the Laws of Thunder and Fire to an extremely profound level. Only then might I hope to crystallize this mysterious artistic conception. </i>Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.

 Chapter 578: You’re Just A Decoy (1)

    Chapter 578: You��re Just A Decoy (1)


    <em>To pursue this mysterious artistic conception by delving into the Laws of Lightning or Fire... that would be a grave misstep.</em> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Though he yearned to grasp its secrets, he remained clear-headed, refusing to lose sight of his true goal.


    <em>The purpose of unraveling this enigmatic artistic conception is to gain insights that would help me breach the threshold of the Law of Life �C aw that epasses Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain.</em> Wu Yuan understood this with crystal rity.


    If one could fullyprehend this mysterious artistic conception, it might lead to unimaginable power �C a path to the pinnacle. Yet Wu Yuan knew the pursuit of raw strength alone might not be the most suitable path for his nature.


    <em>Thunder and Fire are not my forte. </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <em>Nor do they resonate with me.</em>


    Wu Yuan''s passiony in unraveling the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao. He found himself captivated by the concept of ��returning to the source��, much like in his early years when he would spend decades at a time exploring the profundities of the Land. His swift progress stemmed from his total immersion in these studies.


    The Longevity Dao, with its endless vitality, often brought an involuntary smile to Wu Yuan''s face as he contemted it. He reveled in that sensation of vibrant life force.


    Simrly, the Space Dao left Wu Yuan in awe of its vast, unfathomable nature. This allowed him to grasp the Lesser Law of Spatial Dimension with unparalleled speed.


    Yet his progress in Spatial Fracture and Dimensional degged far behind, advancing at a far slower pace.At his core, Wu Yuan did not relish violence. He preferred quiet cultivation to constantly pushing himself through life-or-death ordeals.


    Though his natural talents had set him on the path of immortal cultivation, those same talents often reflected one''s inner nature. Only by following one''s heart could one continuously break through bottlenecks.


    Even during his time on the Bloodforge Battlefield and Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, Wu Yuan typically withdrew once his objectives were met.


    <em>The path most suited to oneself is invariably the best path. </em>Wu Yuan reflected silently.


    Take Senior Brother Jiang Huan, for instance. Surely he was aware of the Law of Life? Yet he had chosen to fullyprehend the Law of Celestial Body instead.


    For Wu Yuan, the Thunder Dao and Fire Dao did not currently align with his inner nature. Attempting toprehend them would be an exercise in futility. A thousand years of contemtion might not yield the same results as a mere decade spent on the Celestial Body Dao or Longevity Dao.


    <em>Having learned that this Thunder Beast Diagram demands mastery of Thunder and Fire, I can only set it aside for now. </em>Wu Yuan decided, abandoning this particr path.


    It was worth noting that the Thunder Marsh World contained more than just this single diagram.


    <em>I should seek out other Thunder Beast Diagrams. Perhaps not all of them embody the same artistic conception.</em>


    With a deep breath, Wu Yuan collected his thoughts and rose to his feet. His gaze shifted to find Yun Ya and Yun Ling smiling at him from a short distance away. They seemed to have been patiently waiting for him to finish his contemtion.


    "Yun Ya, my apologies for the dy," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    Though this period of meditation seemed brief, two days had actually passed.


    "No need for apologies. We''ve justpleted our session of contemting the diagram as well," Yun Ya sighed. "While we gained some insights, they were minimal. That''s why we''ve decided to venture into the Inner Region. The stone walls there bear seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams per area."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    Over countless eons, various factions had thoroughly explored the world. From the intelligence gathered, the Outer Region contained a total of 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams. These diagrams were scattered across different areas, with only one diagram per location.


    The Inner Region, however, was divided into five major areas, each housing seventy-three diagrams.


    As for the Core Region? It contained all 365 diagrams in theirplete form.


    In essence, the more dangerous the area, the more concentrated the distribution of diagrams.


    "While each Thunder Beast Diagram has a unique appearance, the projected images in our reports only capture their general form," Yun Ling exined with her melodious voice. "Only by standing before the actual stone walls can one sense their spiritual resonance and the profundities of the Dao they contain."


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan agreed. "That was my thought as well."


    Had he not already encountered a Thunder Beast Diagram, he might have been content to leave things be.


    But having witnessed one and sensed its profound nature, Wu Yuan would not rest until he found an artistic conception that resonated with him among the 365 diagrams. At the very least, he needed to see them all.


    Moreover, based on the ovep between the entry coordinates for the Immutable Land and the map of the Thunder Marsh World, the entrancey at the border between the Inner and Core Regions.


    "Daoist Shadow de, why don''t you join us?" Yun Ya extended an invitation to Wu Yuan.


    "With the three of us traveling together, it would certainly be safer," Yun Ling added with a smile.


    "Agreed," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Traveling in a group, especially with two Void Refiner cultivators, would resolve most potential issues and help conceal his true strength.


    Some immortal cultivators might have reservations, but Wu Yuan wasn''t overly concerned. He had enough confidence to handle most dangers.


    ��


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, and Yun Ling formed a team and departed from the area with the Dao pattern diagram.


    Following a mountain range that stretched for millions of li, they entered the Inner Region.


    The dozens of cultivators from the Longstar Immortal Sect, as well as those from the other two major sects, chose not to follow.


    The Inner Region? For these Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, unless they were extremely confident or possessed ultimate life-saving treasures, most would limit their explorations to the Outer Region.


    In the Outer Region, thunder beast elites appeared only asionally. But in the Inner Region, thunder beast elites were far moremon. asionally, even thunder beast kings would appear, forcing even Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators to exercise caution.


    ��


    The five major areas of the Inner Region were incredibly vast, but the mountain ranges on either side grew increasingly tall, reaching heights over 30,000 li.


    With the array of the Thunder Marsh World in effect, even Earth Immortals dared not attempt to surpass such heights, fearing that they would be struck by heavenly lightning.


    The mountain ranges were separated by less than a thousand li, casting the ins of the valley floor into deep shadow. Light barely prated the gloom. The air was damp and the ground muddy.


    "These mountain ranges are incredibly sturdy. I''ve tried digging through them, but after about a hundred li, it bes nearly impossible to continue any further. There must be an array reinforcing them," Yun Ya shook his head. "So our only option is to slowly navigate through the valleys and across the mountain ranges."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    He hadn''t attempted such excavation himself, but since the Longstar Immortal Sect''s intelligence reports hadn''t mentioned any shortcuts, he assumed there were none to be found.


    The three of them flew cautiously between the mountain ranges, moving quietly.


    In the Inner Region, though their Soul Force range seemed unrestricted, the special nature of the thunder beasts meant they couldn''t detect them in advance.


    <em>So this is the work of an Astral Monarch. A single array heys down can drive the evolution of an entire world, granting it such inconceivable properties.</em> Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    Upon arriving in this vast Thunder Marsh World and witnessing its peculiarities, Wu Yuan became increasingly aware of the gulf between himself and super powerhouses.


    <em>Other Archimmortals and Astral Lords respect me, and many Astral Monarchs treat me courteously because of my talent and the Sovereign��s backing. </em>Wu Yuan reflected.


    <em>But talent is only useful when realized. As for having powerful backers? That''s merely throwing one''s weight around. In a true face-to-face battle, a ninth-stage Earth Immortal could annihte me with a single move.</em> Wu Yuan pondered quietly.


    <em>I must be cautious. Although most of the dangers in this Thunder Marsh World aren''t likely to prove fatal and I have numerous trump cards up my sleeve, I must remain vignt.</em>


    <em>Only by staying alive can I achieve anything.</em>


    ��


    "Let''s take this passage."


    "The terrain of the Outer Region in the Thunder Marsh World remains constant. But in the Inner Region, apart from the five major areas with stone wall Dao patterns, the mountain ranges are constantly shifting under the effects of the array."


    "We can only use our sense of direction to gradually approach the areas with the stone wall Dao patterns."


    Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, and Yun Ling continued to navigate through various mountain passes and valleys.


    ��


    <em>Swish!</em> "Kill!" With a sweep of her hand, Yun Ling sent several golden beams of light streaking across the sky, instantly slicing apart more than ten thunder beasts.


    As they pressed onward, they encountered no other immortal cultivators, but asionally ran into ordinary thunder beasts. Yun Ya and Yun Ling dispatched these with ease.


    <em>It seems Yun Ya''s true specialty isn''t the Thunder Dao, but rather the Wood Dao. And this Yun Ling excels in the Metal Dao? </em>Wu Yuan quickly noticed this point and pondered it thoughtfully.


    Both had onlyprehended Lesser Laws, but appeared to have reached the ninth-level True Intent stage, which was considered quite decent among Void Refiner cultivators.


    ��


    On one side of a dark valley, at the base of a mountain range, was an enormous cavern. Within its vast expanse dwelled countless thunder beasts, each dozens of zhangs long. Among them were several dozen over a hundred zhangs in length, emanating overwhelmingly powerful auras.


    The cave was undoubtedly a terrifyingir of thunder beasts. Most of the beastsy sprawled across the cavern floor in deep slumber, with only a few weaker ones yfully scuffling about. Their intelligence was rudimentary at best, barely matching that of a human toddler.


    Suddenly, a low growl reverberated from the depths of the cave, its fearsome resonance stirring up galesced with flickering lightning.


    "Roar~"


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!" The sleeping thunder beasts stirred awake, one by one opening their eyes and responding with their own rumbling calls.


    Eventually, every thunder beast in the cavern had awakened.


    "Roar~" The growl from the cave''s depths suddenly transformed into a thunderous bellow, as if issuing amand to charge.


    In an instant, over a hundred thunder beasts roared without hesitation, then surged forward in a stampede, some flying, others sprinting, all moving with lightning speed as they burst out of the cave and into the canyon.


    ��


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> Two figures in white robes and one muscr man carrying a saber on his back skimmed along the ground, flying at a speed of three hundred li per second.


    "I reckon we''re getting close. We just need to find one more mountain range cutting across our path," Yun Ling said with a smile. "We''ve been quite fortunate so far, not encountering a single thunder beast elite..."


    Wu Yuan and Yun Ya nodded in agreement, all three of them visibly rxing.


    Suddenly, a rumbling tremor shook the earth, as if some massive entity was about to approach.

 Chapter 579: You’re Just A Decoy (2)

    Chapter 579: You��re Just A Decoy (2)


    "Hmm?"


    "What''s happening?" Yun Ya and Wu Yuan, with their incredibly keen senses, immediately detected something amiss and halted.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Yun Ling darted upward, soaring a hundred li into the sky in a sh. From that vantage point, she could see far into the distance.


    Upon realizing whaty ahead, all color drained from her face, her voice distorting to a shriek: "Run!"


    <em>Boom!</em> Without hesitation, Yun Ling''s body shimmered with golden light as she unleashed her full power, transforming into a golden streak that shot back towards herpanions.


    "This is bad!"


    "Let''s go!" Though Wu Yuan and Yun Ya didn''t understand what was happening yet, they didn''t hesitate to transform into streaks of light themselves.


    They dashed forward, following Yun Ling''s lead.


    Wu Yuan even grew to a height of a hundred zhangs, a pair of wings materializing on his back. His speed skyrocketed to an astonishing level, barely slower than Yun Ya. This disy of speed caused even Yun Ling to show a hint of surprise.It was worth noting that Yun Ya was a fourth-stage Void Refiner cultivator, while Yun Ling was at the fifth stage.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! </em>The three of them unleashed their burst state, each sh of movement carrying them over a thousand li. However, the winding canyon passages, even at their widest, were barely more than a thousand li across, preventing them from reaching their maximum speed.


    When it came to movement skill, there were two types of speed: One was maximum speed, which required time for eleration to build up and could only be achieved in straight-line flight. The other was instantaneous burst speed inplex terrain.


    Clearly, the second type of speed was much slower than the first.


    But the thunder beasts, born in the Thunder Marsh World, were perfectly adapted to this environment. Their body structures were ideally suited for exerting power in these particr conditions, allowing them to reach terrifying speeds.


    "Roar!"


    <em>Boom! Boom!</em>


    In just two breaths, the earth trembled as Wu Yuan, Yun Ling, and Yun Ya caught sight of the massive thunder beasts roaring and charging towards them. Their bodies flickered with lightning, like giant thunderbolts given form. There were more than twenty of them!


    The distance between the two groups rapidly shrank.


    "They''re thunder beast elites."


    "So many?" The expressions of Yun Ling and Yun Ya turned extremely grim, beads of cold sweat forming.


    A thunder beast elite''s basic strength wasparable to a sixth-stage Elysian Field cultivator at least, though they were significantly weaker in other aspects. However, their overallbat strength was still on par with a true second or third-stage Elysian Field cultivator.


    If there were only three to five of them, Yun Ling and Yun Ya might have stood a chance while working together. But with dozens charging at them in unison? The beasts could easily tear the two humans apart, even if it cost them half their numbers.


    <em>Is there a thunder beast king guiding them?</em> Wu Yuan''s mind shed with a hint of vignce.


    Logically speaking, there shouldn''t be so many thunder beast elites gathered in one ce. ording to intelligence reports, while these beasts had low intelligence, they were quitebative amongst themselves.


    <em>Dealing with these thunder beast elites wouldn''t be difficult, but it would require unleashing our full strength.</em> Wu Yuan thought, appearing panicked but actually remaining calm inside.


    He was considering whether he should help Yun Ling and Yun Ya escape first. If they continued being pursued like this, all three of them would eventually be caught.


    Of course, Wu Yuan had another option��using the Law of Space to escape.


    If he employed the Law of Space in conjunction with Little ck''s wings, Wu Yuan''s speed would increase dramatically, enough to outpace these thunder beast elites.


    However, that would mean certain death for Yun Ling and Yun Ya.


    <em>Whoosh~</em> Without warning, Yun Ya, who had been flying a hundred li ahead of Wu Yuan, suddenly sent out a green streak of light toward him.


    It was too close! Too sudden!


    The green light instantly expanded, transforming into arge-like structure that enveloped Wu Yuan, intending to trap him!


    However, as if he had foreseen it, Wu Yuan suddenly spun with a ghost-like agility, evading the that sought to restrain him.


    <em>Swish~ Swish~</em> Almost simultaneously, a series of massive green vines erupted from the ground. Initially thin, they swelled to enormous proportions in the blink of an eye, then began coiling towards Wu Yuan like giant snakes.


    The and vines struck in perfect unison. Wu Yuan dodged the first attack but couldn''t escape the second. Several vines wrapped around his muscr legs, causing his speed to plummet.


    And behind him, the sky-darkening horde of thunder beasts howled as they closed in.


    "Yun Ya!" Wu Yuan''s gaze turned ice-cold, his voice filled with murderous intent as he stared at the rapidly fleeing Yun Ya and Yun Ling.


    Indeed, they had only gotten acquainted recently. But throughout their journey, Wu Yuan had grown quite fond of Yun Ya and Yun Ling, this mutually supportive and deeply affectionate Daopanion couple.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had confidence in his strength, thus he took a risk and grouped up with them.


    "Shadow de, if you must me someone, me your own stupidity!" Yun Ya''s Soul Force transmission was bitingly cold. He nced back at Wu Yuan. "Did you really think we helped you along the way because we liked you? How naive!


    You are nothing more than a decoy, a human shield if we encounter danger!"


    "Shadow de, if you want to live, go battle those thunder beasts!" Yun Ling''s voice also rang out, tinged with cruelty.


    Given how practiced their actions were, this Daopanion couple had clearly done this sort of thing before.


    <em>Indeed, I was naive, toopassionate.</em> Wu Yuan''s eyes radiated an icy indifference. It had been a very long time since he had wanted to kill someone this badly.


    These two made his stomach churn with disgust. Thest person Wu Yuan had felt such a strong urge to kill was Jin Quan.


    <em>Boom! </em>A terrifying pressure suddenly erupted, and hazy earthy yellow and green lights ovepped, forming an invisible de that instantly cut through the vines entangling him.


    "Roar!" At this moment, the dozens of thunder beasts were within a hundred li of Wu Yuan. He could feel their surging lightning aura even without turning to look.


    Wu Yuan stomped fiercely on the air, causing ripples to spread through space itself. Then, the pair of skeletal wings on his back trembled slightly, moving as smoothly as a fish''s fins in water.


    True Domain! Qiankun! He fully unleashed the profundities of these two Intermediate Laws.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>In an instant, Wu Yuan darted away like a fish through water, covering over a thousand li in a single sh. His speed surpassed that of the thunder beast horde by twofold!!


    The Teng Snake was naturally adept at Wind and Space!


    When Wu Yuan activated his Beast Fusion state, his body refiner self''s mastery of the Law of Space far surpassed that of his qi refiner self.


    A thunderous boom echoed as Wu Yuan exploded into motion, his eyes locked on his targets with a single, murderous thought �� kill!


    ��


    Yun Ya and Yun Ling continued their desperate flight, their faces etched with glee.


    "Ling��er, who would have thought this Shadow de was so capable? He bought us time to escape," Yun Ya transmitted. "Pity he''s such a fool."


    "Indeed, aplete imbecile," Yun Ling agreed. "That Zang Xin from before was much cleverer, yet we still killed him. With Shadow de''s strength and vitality as a body refiner, he should be able to hold them off for..."


    The pair was ruthless to the core. They had no qualms about betraying even their own senior brothers, let alone a temporary ally like Wu Yuan.


    Suddenly, Yun Ya''s smirk vanished. "No! Shadow de - he''s catching up. His speed is terrifying!"


    Yun Ling had already noticed. A ghostly figure was closing in at an impossible pace. Yet they couldn��t detect any spatial fluctuations even with their Soul Force extended.


    "How can a Shambh cultivator move so quickly?" Yun Ling''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Seven hundred li. Six hundred. Three hundred. Wu Yuan closed in relentlessly, his aura overwhelming and his gaze as cold as ice.


    "Even if you''re Autumn Lake Hall''s greatest monstrous prodigy, even if you have an ultimate treasure, you''re still dead!" Yun Ya snarled.


    As a Void Refiner Eminence, he acted decisively. With a gesture, countless vines erupted outward, expanding to cover everything in hundreds of li and enveloping Wu Yuan.


    "Die!" Yun Ling unleashed her own attack. Over a dozen streaks of light sliced through the air, homing in on Wu Yuan''s massive head.


    For Shambh cultivators, their bodies were not yet fully merged with their souls, and were unable to regenerate from a single drop of blood like Elysian Field cultivators.


    In their minds, Wu Yuan merely relied on some secret treasure or hidden trump card for his terrifying speed. But in a direct confrontation? They likely outmatched him.


    Their assumption wasn''t entirely wrong; in the vast Greenridge Immortal World, perhaps only one or two hundred monstrous prodigies at the Shambh phase could challenge a mid-stage Void Refiner cultivator.


    And in the entirety of the Greenridge Immortal World, there were over ten million immortal continents. The odds of encountering such an individual were infinitesimally small.


    Unfortunately for them, they had stumbled upon someone who could be considered the most powerful Shambh cultivator in the entire macrocosm!


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Eight arms sprouted from Wu Yuan''s thousand-zhang form, each grasping a gleaming battle saber.


    Advanced ether art �� Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form!


    In the next instant, eight dazzling de rays erupted, as brilliant as supernovas, illuminating the entire world.


    Starsunder Saber Technique �� Scorching Sun!


    The saber technique was imbued with the True Intent of Celestial Body and Longevity.


    <em>Rip~</em> The de rays tore through the tangle of vines, reducing them to nothing more than fragments.


    In a blur of motion, Wu Yuan broke through therge-scale arcane art, appearing before Yun Ya''s horrified face.


    "You? No, please��" Yun Ya''s expression twisted in terror.


    The already fearsome de rays now carried a hint of the Law of Space��s profundities. Following the spatial traces, they struck with unparalleled speed and force, cleaving Yun Ya''s body in two and slicing through his fleeing soul essence.


    Yun Ya was dead!


    Having lost their master, the power of the once-mighty vines diminished.


    A symphony of shing metal rang out as Wu Yuan''s de rays met Yun Ling''s sword lights, sending the flying swords spinning away.


    With another burst of speed, he closed in on Yun Ling.


    "Daoist Shadow de, spare me, I''ll do anything you��" Yun Ling''s expression turned pitiable, a hint of coquettishness in her voice.


    The de ray shed, reducing her body to bloody mist.


    "My mercy isn''t born of foolishness. It stems from my ability to revoke it at will," Wu Yuan''s eyes glinted coldly as he collected their treasures.


    His gaze shifted towards the horde of roaring, thunder beast elites charging towards him.


    This time, Wu Yuan stood his ground.

 Chapter 580: The True Secret Of The Thunder Beast Stones (1)

    Chapter 580: The True Secret Of The Thunder Beast Stones (1)


    ��Roar~��


    "Roar~" Twenty-three thunder beast elites charged forward with thunderous bellows, their already astonishing speed now unleashed to its fullest.


    In the twisting mountain range, their burst speed outpaced even Yun Ling and Yun Ya��s.


    Though Wu Yuan''s sh with Yun Ya and Yun Ling hadsted less than two seconds, it was enough time for these thunder beasts to close the distance of more than a thousand li.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    <em>Boom! </em>The thunder beasts erupted with power, the massive spines on their backs crackling with energy before unleashing terrifying bolts of lightning.


    The lightning wove together like arcane arts cast by multiple qi refiners simultaneouslybined in an array. Without pausing or weakening, it formed a of electricity spanning over a thousand li that crashed down onto Wu Yuan.


    A deafening rumble shook the mountain ranges on both sides.


    The lightning''s range wasn''t limited to a thousand li - that was simply the width of the gap between the mountain ranges.It was blindingly fast!


    Lightning shes traveled at the speed of light. While this attack wasn''t quite so extreme, it still reached an astounding thirty thousand li per second.


    Wu Yuan��s expression shifted slightly. He had no time to dodge and could only react on instinct.


    Wu Yuan never imagined that arge group of thunder beast elites could unleash such a special ability. It wasn''t mentioned in any of the reports he''d studied.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that the information provided by the Longstar Immortal Sect to outsiders like him was only general knowledge. The truly valuable intelligence, paid for with countless lives? How could they casually reveal such secrets?


    <em>Whoosh~</em> The lightning could be considered a superrge-scale arcane art, almost resembling a domain.


    Unless one could slip into a higher spatial dimension or retreat from the area at extreme speeds, there was no avoiding it!


    <em>Only byprehending the Qiankun Dao to the seventh-level True Intent stage, or fully integrating the Intermediate Laws of the Law of Space to the first-level True Intent stage, can one''s physical body enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. </em>Wu Yuan knew this well.


    Higher spatial dimensions weren''t so easily essed.


    <em>Boom!</em> A domain manifested around Wu Yuan, hazy earthy-yellow light intertwining with green as it shed against the descending lightning.


    If this were his qi refiner self, empowered by Amethyst Cradle-level mana, he might have had a chance to withstand it by wielding his flying swords to form a sword domain.


    But his body refiner self? With the same level of Daoprehension butcking mana reinforcement, the power of his domain was far weaker. This was an innate disadvantage of body refiners.


    <em>Rumble~</em> The lightning crashed down. Even after being weakened by Wu Yuan''s domain, it still struck his towering form.


    <em>Crackle~</em> Electricity danced over Wu Yuan''s body. He had equipped battle armor that left only his eyes exposed, with scales covering even his palms and fingers. It was a full set of high-grade spirion armor, infused with vital ether!


    And in areas beneath the armor, countless mysterious green Dao patterns appeared on Wu Yuan''s skin, seemingly unifying his entire body.


    Grand ether art - Great Eldritch Divine Body!


    As a true body-type grand ether art, the Great Eldritch Divine Body had two major states.


    The first was its normal state, requiring no ether consumption. At the third step of mastery, Wu Yuan''s physical body alone approached the strength of second-grade spirit equipment.


    The second was its ether-empowered state. When vital ether activated the ether art''s Dao patterns, the sturdiness of his physique would skyrocket, fullyparable to first-grade spirit equipment. Truly indestructible!


    Of course, while the ether-empowered state granted immense power, it also consumed vital ether rapidly.


    Wu Yuan was concurrently employing multiple ether arts at this moment.


    The advanced ether art Deity Form, the evolved version of Eldritch Form, could erge his body and boost all aspects of his power.


    Naturally, advanced ether arts like Deity Form were considered standard techniques among Shambh cultivators.


    Wu Yuan''s true core ether art was the Great Eldritch Divine Body.


    Body refiners who cultivated different grand ether arts had differentbat styles. Without a doubt, Wu Yuan''s specialty was: tanking hits!


    <em>Hiss~ Boom~</em> As the violent forks of electricity passed through the high-grade spirion armor, their power was weakened by over ny percent. The high-grade spirion armor was undamaged. Even an all-out attack from a High Immortal couldn��t easily destroy such an artifact.


    Prating the armor, the remaining ten percent of power struck Wu Yuan''s body. The terrifying impact and corrosive power caused countless cracks to appear throughout his skin. Blood seeped out, and his body appeared on the verge of copse.


    The force sent Wu Yuan flying backward.


    <em>Rumble~</em> Vital ether poured forth from his internal shambh, quickly stabilizing Wu Yuan''s body that had been on the brink of shattering.


    <em>What a terrifying impact! Such incredible power.</em> Wu Yuan''s heart trembled slightly as he realized he had gotten a bit careless this time.


    If he hadn''t purchased the high-grade spirion armor, if the Great Eldritch Divine Body hadn��t strengthened his physique sufficiently, if he hadn��t had vast quantities of vital ether to heal his injuries�� he would likely have been gravely injured or even dead!


    <em>Thebined power of that lightning definitely surpasses a ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator��s attack. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>If I could cultivate the Great Eldritch Divine Body to the fourth step, activating it would make me nearly as tough as a spirion artifact. Then I could have withstood it directly.</em>


    This had little to do with Daoprehension. The gap in foundations was simply too vast, just as a ninth-stage Earth Immortal''s power was over ten thousand times that of Wu Yuan''s.


    Unless he could fullyprehend a Dao, using its power to overwhelm his opponent, even the slightest ripple of excess power from such a being could kill Wu Yuan.


    <em>Kill! </em>As Wu Yuan��s vital ether rapidly depleted to heal his wounds, his body remainedrgely intact. The wings on his back flickered, and he shot forward, turning into a streak of light as he charged toward the thunder beasts leaping at him.


    ��Roar~��


    "Roar~" These thunder beast elites, more intelligent than their ordinary counterparts, seemed slightly surprised. They hadn''t expected their overwhelming assault to fail to kill a single Shambh cultivator. Yet, they did not feel fear.


    In an instant, the two sides shed. The thunder beasts had the advantage of greater numbers and raw power.


    Wu Yuan countered with superior defense and elusive movement skill!


    <em>ng! ng!</em>


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Unleashing his full might, Wu Yuan''sbat power soared to terrifying heights, surpassing even a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator!


    This wasbined with the Starsunder Saber Art, a dual offensive and defensive technique.


    de rays shed through the air. In the narrow canyon, it seemed as if multiple phantoms of Wu Yuan appeared. In their wake, thunder beasts fell with anguished roars!


    His saber was like a star, heavy and boundless! His saber was like lightning, shifting like mist!


    After nearly ten breaths of furiousbat, the canyon finally fell silent. The surroundings were in utter disarray, all twenty-three thunder beast elites in.


    Wu Yuan let out a long breath, his gaze sweeping over the corpse-strewn ground as he shook his head slightly. <em>These thunder beast elites are truly a frenzied bunch.</em>


    Wu Yuan was certain that if it had been a seventh or eighth-stage Void Refiner cultivator suddenly ambushed by so many thunder beast elites in such a confined space, death would have been inevitable!


    It was worth noting that among these twenty-three thunder beast elites, the two strongest possessed base powerparable to Wu Yuan in his burst state.


    <em>Cultivating the Great Eldritch Divine Body grand ether art was the right choice.</em> Wu Yuan mused. <em>At any time, survival must always be the top priority.</em>


    Only by living could one have a future and hope.


    <em>Whoosh~ Swoosh!</em>


    With a thought from Wu Yuan, crystalline stones flew out from the bodies of the thunder beast elites. These crystals wererger and more rounded, radiating a stronger aura overall.


    <em>Second-grade Thunder Beast Stones. </em>Wu Yuan noted mentally.


    With a wave of his hand, he collected all the Thunder Beast Stones.


    Visibly, the robust, massive corpses of the thunder beast elites began to dissolve one by one.


    <em>I still don''t understand how it works. </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Then, his gaze swept through the depths of the dark canyon, a flicker of wariness in his eyes. <em>So many thunder beast elites gathered together... ording to the intelligence reports, there''s a high probability a Thunder Beast King is controlling them.</em>


    <em>Is there a Thunder Beast King in this passageway of the Inner Region?</em>


    A Thunder Beast King possessed strength rivaling an Earth Immortal! Unless he used his trump card, Shadow Moon, against such a powerful entity, Wu Yuan wasn''t sure he could escape with his life.


    <em>Let��s take a detour!</em> Wu Yuan made a snap decision, immediately backtracking. He was unwilling to provoke such a terrifying existence.


    He could still reach the stone wall Dao patterns in Area 3 of the Inner Region by crossing other mountain ranges.


    ��


    Wu Yuan continued his journey alone. First, he examined the numerous treasures left behind by Yun Ya and Yun Ling. There were no rare artifacts, and the total value was estimated to be less than a billion catties of ethercrystal.


    This was typical. Ordinary Void Refiner Eminences generally possessed wealth amounting to only a few hundred million catties of ethercrystal.


    <em>I was somewhat naive this time.</em> Wu Yuan reflected as he traveled.


    Despite having absolute confidence in his abilities, a mistake was a mistake, no matter the circumstances.


    In life and one''s endeavors, one must have the courage to face their own errors. No matter how strong or self-assured, one must always be wary of unexpected pitfalls.


    <em>While I may not actively harm others, I must guard against those who wish me harm.</em> Wu Yuan mused to himself as he flew through a mountain range, entering another passageway.


    ��


    Within his internal shambh, Wu Yuan''s soul essence hovered high above in the sky.


    <em>Rumble~ </em>Surging vital ether began to infiltrate the twenty-three second-grade Thunder Beast Stones at an rming rate.


    A single second-grade Thunder Beast Stone was worth at least ten million catties of ethercrystal. Yet Wu Yuan paid no heed to their value, focused solely on unraveling the fundamental profundities within these stones.


    Though resilient, even these second-grade Thunder Beast Stones couldn''t withstand such a relentless assault.


    Merely an hourter, a series of explosions rumbled as all twenty-three Thunder Beast Stones shattered simultaneously. Waves of electricity rolled in all directions, only to be suppressed by the vast ocean of vital ether.


    Within his internal shambh, Wu Yuan feared nothing, not even an Earth Immortal �C though of course, no Earth Immortal could enter this space.


    Soon, Wu Yuan neutralized the electric power from the Thunder Beast Stones. When the electricity dissipated, twenty-three Dao pattern diagrams were revealed!


    <em>This?</em> Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Each set of Dao pattern diagrams was clearly iplete.


    <em>However, the Dao pattern diagrams of the second-grade Thunder Beast Stones are tens of thousands of times moreplex andplete than those from the third-grade stones. </em>Wu Yuan realized with immense joy.


    With a thought, a massive image was projected in his internal shambh, stretching a hundred li high, intricate beyond measure.


    It was the Thunder Beast Diagram Wu Yuan had previously copied from the stone wall. The image however,cked spiritual resonance and contained no trace of Dao fluctuation, limiting its usefulness.


    But now, with another thought from Wu Yuan, the twenty-three iplete Thunder Beast Dao pattern diagrams flew out.


    Astonishingly, thirteen of these diagrams perfectly ovepped with small sections of the massive Thunder Beast Diagram!


    <em>Haha, excellent!</em>


    <em>Wonderful, my hypothesis was indeed correct. </em>Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with excitement.

 Chapter 581: The True Secret Of The Thunder Beast Stones (2)

    <h4>Chapter 581: The True Secret Of The Thunder Beast Stones (2)</h4>


    When he first observed the Thunder Beast Diagram, it seemed toe alive. Meanwhile, once the Thunder Beast Stones were removed from those thunder beasts, the bodies of the beasts quickly dissolved. After crushing the stones and stripping away all external power, only these fragments of Dao pattern diagrams remained.


    <i>The thunder beasts born in the Thunder Marsh World truly originate from these Dao pattern diagram fragments. And these diagram fragments are all part of the Thunder Beast Diagrams.</i>


    <i>Most crucially, the Thunder Beast Diagram I copied is a mere image, it can��t beprehended; but the Dao pattern diagram fragments extracted from the Thunder Beast Stones are identical to the true Thunder Beast Diagram. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with hope. <i>They also contain the profundities of the Dao, as well as the faint ripples of artistic conception.</i>


    This meant that by obtaining enough Thunder Beast Stones, then crushing them and extracting their essence, there was hope of reassembling aplete Thunder Beast Diagram within his internal shambh, identical to the one on the stone wall.


    <i>In that case, even after leaving the Thunder Marsh World, I can continue to observe andprehend it.</i>


    Wu Yuan took a deep breath, understanding what he needed to do next: hunt thunder beasts and seize their Thunder Beast Stones!


    However, there were a few issues.


    <i>First, I suspect only aplete Thunder Beast Diagram can truly generate that mysterious artistic conception. </i>Wu Yuan silently recalled.


    Compared to theplete Thunder Beast Diagram, the artistic conceptions of these Thunder Beast Stone diagram fragments were far too weak. Forgetprehending them, even sensing them was incredibly difficult.


    <i>Second, the entire Thunder Marsh World contains 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams, each unique. The Dao pattern diagram fragment of one Thunder Beast Stone only ounts for about 1/300th of aplete diagram. It would take around three hundred Thunder Beast Stones with different cores to form a singleplete diagram.</i>


    <i>To recreate all the Thunder Beast Diagrams, wouldn''t that require hunting at least a hundred thousand thunder beast elites? And that''s not ounting for duplicates?</i> Wu Yuan''s heart shook at the thought.


    A hundred thousand thunder beast elites? Were there even that many in the entire Thunder Marsh World?


    <i>No, that''s not right!</i> A sh of inspiration struck Wu Yuan, and his gaze fell once more on the Dao pattern diagram fragments.


    <i>I''ve only observed one Thunder Beast Diagram, yet of the twenty-three Dao pattern diagram fragments I''ve obtained, there are thirteen matches? </i>By right, he would be fortunate to get even one match. Wu Yuan immediately formed a new hypothesis.


    The 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams were perhaps formed from just five or six hundred second-grade Thunder Beast Stone diagram fragments,bined in different ways, with most patterns repeating.


    <i>If that''s true, I might be able to assemble all the Thunder Beast Diagrams with just one or two thousand second-grade Thunder Beast Stones.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Hunting a hundred thousand thunder beast elites? That was unrealistic! Hunting one or two thousand? It was possible.


    <i>If all else fails, I''ll have to risk entering the Core Region and sending Shadow Moon to hunt thunder beast kings.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    This was extremely dangerous. But Wu Yuan spected that the Dao pattern diagram fragments formed from first-grade Thunder Beast Stones would undoubtedly be moreplex andplete. Perhaps a few dozen would suffice.


    <i>Since I managed to discover the secret of the Thunder Beast Stones, surely the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent or other factions have found out about it as well. </i>Wu Yuan wondered.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that this secret was no secret at all among many factions in the Ling Huan Immortal Nation.


    But knowing made little difference. So what if one could assemble Thunder Beast Diagrams from Thunder Beast Stone cores?


    The Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls had existed in the Thunder Marsh World for countless eons, yet few immortal cultivators had gleaned much from them.


    Moreover, the Thunder Beast Diagrams assembled from the Dao patterns of Thunder Beast Stones had certain wspared to the true Thunder Beast Diagrams engraved on the stone walls, ws that Wu Yuan was currently unaware of.


    ...


    The Thunder Marsh World was opened once every few centuries by the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent.


    Each time it opened, the terrain of the Inner Region changed. Only the Outer Region and the locations of the stone wall Dao pattern diagrams remained constant.


    So Wu Yuan continued referring to his map. Following the general direction indicated, he passed through mountain ranges and winding passageways, steadily approaching Area 3 of the Inner Region.


    Along the way, Wu Yuan encountered numerous thunder beasts and even thunder beast elites attempting to ambush him.


    He slew them all.


    Gradually, his hypothesis was confirmed.


    <i>Just as I suspected, while some of these Thunder Beast Stone cores are duplicates, half of them correspond to parts of that Thunder Beast Diagram.</i> Wu Yuan thought with considerable satisfaction.


    Over the six days since entering the Inner Region, he had in over sixty thunder beast elites, including those at the beginning. He had already filled in more than a tenth of that Thunder Beast Diagram.


    <i>I hope following this canyon passage will lead me to the stone wall in Area 3</i>. Wu Yuan consulted his map.


    ording to the map, the discement was only a few million li. But Wu Yuan had already been diverted from his original direction twice before, and who knew if the winding mountain ranges and canyons might veer off in another direction.


    <i>Let''s go!</i> Wu Yuan no longer stayed close to the ground, instead flying several hundred li above it for a better view.


    In the Thunder Marsh World, one��s eyes were more useful than Soul Force.


    ...


    Several million li from the canyon passage Wu Yuan was traversing through, two figures stood on a massive boulder.


    One stood about three meters tall, burly and robust, d in heavy silver armor. He resembled a small silver mountain, his face adorned with a full beard, exuding an aura of savage dominance.


    Beside him stood a red-robed youth about two meters tall with demonic features. Yet his brow bore a peacefulness at odds with his appearance.


    Beneath the massive boulder where the two men stood, several mutted corpsesy scattered in gruesome disarray.


    "Brother, we''ve already ambushed two teams," the man in silver armor rumbled, his breath like crashing waves. "Do you think more wille?"


    "They should be. We arrived at Area 3 as fast as we could," the red-robed youth replied, his eyes snapping open. "This is one of only two routes to the stone wall Dao patterns from the Outer Region. Aside from our Phoenix Immortal Sect, there are hundreds of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators from the other five major sects and foreign cultivators. Most will attempt to enter the Inner Region."


    "We''ve only killed four so far. That''s nothing. Relying on ourselves to gather Thunder Beast Stones? It''s far quicker to ambush others," the red-robed youth stated matter-of-factly.


    The silver-armored warrior nodded in agreement.


    In the Thunder Marsh World, some sought adventure, while others came for the Thunder Beast Diagrams. But there were also those who hunted other immortal cultivators. The dangers varied, as did the rewards and oues.


    <i>Less than an hourter.</i>


    "Hmm? Another fat sheep approaches," the red-robed youth suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the distant end of the winding canyon pass.


    Eight hundred li away, the imposing figure carrying a saber and d in beast hide also came to an abrupt halt.


    Both parties had spotted each other.


    "How interesting, a ninth-stage Shambh cultivator?"


    "Tsk tsk! A little Shambh brat who managed to reach the Inner Region''s core. Judging by his attire, he''s not from the six major immortal sects. Hmm, let me think," the demonic red-robed youth stood up. "Ah, I remember now. That soul aura... he must be from the Longstar Immortal Sect."


    "A foreign trialist, some faction''s peerless genius?"


    The six major sects were rivals, so the Longstar Immortal Sect naturally wouldn''t share their intelligence with the others.


    "Second Bro, shall we?" the silver-armored warrior asked in a low voice.


    "Of course!" The demonic red-robed youth licked his lips, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Why not?"


    "These geniuses from major factions... killing just one could us billions of catties of ethercrystal."


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Without hesitation, the red-robed youth and silver-armored warrior transformed into streaks of light, shooting forward at terrifying speeds.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Like a volcanic eruption, waves of me burst forth from the red-robed youth''s body.


    Simultaneously, an invisible pulse of soul powershed out in a deadly assault.


    ...


    Wu Yuan had sensed their presence long ago with his Soul Force, but this was the route with the highest chance of reaching the stone wall in Area 3. He couldn''t afford to take a detour.


    The moment Wu Yuanid eyes on the red-robed youth and silver-armored warrior, he halted, sensing their vital auras. <i>Ninth-stage Void Refiner phase? Ninth-stage Elysian Field phase?</i>


    Such power was absolutely top-tier in the Thunder Marsh World.


    Moreover, the corpses strewn across the ground instantly revealed their nature to Wu Yuan �� hunters!


    Some powerful cultivators gained wealth through exploration and adventure. Others did so by ughtering fellow adventurers and taking their treasures.


    Before Wu Yuan could make his final assessment, the two parties had already sprung into motion, attacking with brutal speed.


    "Boy, if you die obediently, your death will be far less painful," the red-robed youth''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    At the same time, an invisible force descended as a powerful soul attack invaded Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe.


    "No!" Though Wu Yuan instantly grew to a thousand zhangs tall, a hint of ��terror and desperation�� surfaced in his expression, and he appeared to be trapped by the soul attack.


    <i>Rumble~</i> A fiery domain spread out, enveloping Wu Yuan and suppressing him.


    Wu Yuan appeared utterly immobilized.


    "Haha, what a weak-willed little brat. Though I must say, his defense isn''t bad. Must be some spirion armor," the red-robed youth grinned, closing in rapidly on Wu Yuan.


    In the blink of an eye, only three hundred li remained between them.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>The red-robed youth waved his hand, conjuring a massive ming hand.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan��s eyes looked vacant and his body was suppressed by the domain.


    As the hand smashed down, poised to utterly annihte Wu Yuan, his eyes suddenly snapped open, his pupils radiating an icy coldness.


    <i>Hum~</i> A pair of wings abruptly unfurled from his back.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan''s towering thousand-zhang form shot skyward like lightning, effortlessly piercing through the seemingly overwhelmingyers of the fiery domain.


    <i>sh! </i>An eerie de ray sliced across the sky, streaking towards the shocked and enraged red-robed youth.

 Chapter 582: Harvest, Thunder Marsh Spirit (1)

    <h4>Chapter 582: Harvest, Thunder Marsh Spirit (1)</h4>


    Had they been separated by a thousand li, the red-robed youth might have had a chance to react when Wu Yuan unleashed his attack. As a ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator, he could have mustered some sort of defense.


    But a mere three hundred li? It was far too close.


    With the assistance of his lifebound Teng Snake and mastery of the Law of Space, Wu Yuan��s burst speed was truly terrifying to behold.


    But the most critical factor was: the red-robed youth never imagined that a ninth-stage Shambh phase cultivator could threaten his life. The gap between them spanned an entire cultivation phase, after all. How many powerhouses had the red-robed youth in?


    By all logic, even the top peerless genius of the Greenridge Immortal World shouldn''t have been capable of such a feat.


    As for artifacts capable of instantly killing a ninth-stage Void Refiner? Those would cost at least a hundred divine crystals, more valuable than the entire fortune of some Earth Immortals.


    "Retreat!" The red-robed youth''s face contorted in terror, veins bulging at his temples as he desperately attempted to flee, his speed rapidly slowing.


    Simultaneously, fiery rainbow light enveloped his body as spirion chainsshed out towards Wu Yuan.


    "Get lost," growled the silver-armored giant, his fury palpable. His hand swelled to monstrous proportions, striking at Wu Yuan like a colossal serpent.


    In this moment between life and death, their coordination was wless, both unleashing their full power.


    But s, they were facing Wu Yuan!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Eight des swung through the air, unleashing dazzling de rays that shed violently with the giant''s palm.


    de rays split the heavens! The palm fell like a copsing sky.


    <i>St! </i>After a lightning-fast collision of over ten de rays, the giant palm was left a mangled, bleeding mess. The silver-armored warrior''s confident expression crumbled, reced by disbelief and terror as he stared at Wu Yuan.


    It was too horrifying. The sharpness of those de rays, and the sheer destructive force behind them, far surpassed his own abilities. He felt his vital qi churning violently within his body.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The silver-armored giant was sent flying backward like a meteor, struck by Wu Yuan''s full-powered assault.


    <i>Impossible! He''s only at the ninth-stage Shambh phase.</i> The silver-armored giant''s mind reeled with shock. <i>Even with a battle saber and supporting artifacts, he should have been easily suppressed by me.</i>


    The gap in their base mana was enormous. Yet Wu Yuan had overwhelmed him.


    <i>Could his Daoprehension rival that of a High Immortal? No, that''s absurd. Perhaps only one or two such monstrous prodigies would exist in the entire immortal world.</i>


    <i>Still, his saber techniques were truly breathtaking, among the most beautiful I''ve ever witnessed.</i>


    The silver-armored giant had experienced countless battles. His mind raced, arriving at two conclusions. First, Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension level was incredibly high, possibly rivalingte-stage Earth Immortals, marking him as one of the most monstrous prodigies in existence. Second, Wu Yuan must have some hidden artifact enhancing his power.


    His deductions weren''t far off. Normally, even the top-tier geniuses of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field could only unleash power equivalent to the seventh or eighth-stage Void Refiner phase. They certainly couldn''t overwhelm him like this!


    However, this was indeed Wu Yuan''s full power unleashed. When the third-level True Intent stage of Celestial Bodybined with the first-level True Intent stage of Longevity, along with a hint of True Domain��s profundities, it rivaled the fifth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.


    This level of Daoprehension was respectable even among High Immortals.


    Combined with Wu Yuan''s foundation, which bordered the Elysian Field phase, it naturally erupted as terrifyingbat power surpassing the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase.


    <i>Flee!</i> Shocked, the silver-armored man realized he had messed with the wrong person. He retreated frantically, abandoning the red-robed youth without hesitation.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> The series of saber techniquesunched by Wu Yuan sent the silver-armored youth flying, then his de rays shattered throughyers of me.


    <i>Rip!</i> Chains were sliced apart.


    Wu Yuanpletely dominated the fight! Hepletely overpowered the red-robed youth, who desperately tried to escape but found himself trapped by waves of unrelenting de rays, leaving him struggling frantically!


    However, the red-robed youth wasn��t weak. His arcane arts and artifacts posed significant challenges to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The domain of mes shed against the merged domain of Celestial Body and Longevity.


    de rays and chains collided, shockwaves rippling outward in all directions.


    Another bizarre de ray shed, avoiding the final chain and striking the red-robed youth''s outer armor in a shower of sparks.


    Though the armor remained intact, the terrifying impact was far beyond what any qi refiner''s physical body could withstand. It instantly reduced him to ashes!


    Suddenly, an invisible ripple radiated from the red-robed youth''s remains.


    "Ha!" Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed. His Soul Will instantly condensed into needles, exploding outward in all directions.


    The second step of the soul secret art ''Soul-extinguishing Needle'' �C Scattered Needle Form!


    "Ah!" A soul screamed in agony before falling silent. The artifacts that had been trembling nearby instantly stilled.


    <i>Hmph! A ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator thinks I wouldn��t know the ''Yuan Soul Embryo Secret Art''?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was as cold as ice.


    Body refiners, with their powerful physiques, were extremely difficult to kill. Meanwhile, as qi refiners cultivated to higher levels, their self-preservation abilities grew stronger.


    For Earth Immortals, even if their physical bodies were destroyed, they could swiftly reconstruct them as long as their Yuan Souls escaped.


    High Immortals who cultivated multiple Yuan Soul lights were even more terrifying. They could survive with just a fragment of their Yuan Soul.


    As for ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivators, most of their souls reached the limits of Soul Will. By cultivating certain secret arts, they could start anew if they found and possessed a suitable body quickly enough.


    If it were other Shambh geniuses facing this technique, they might have been helpless. However, while Wu Yuan''s body refiner self wasn''t as proficient in soul secret arts as his qi refiner self, this was only a rtiveparison.


    He had achieved some mastery of the ''Soul-extinguishing Needle.'' With his body refiner self''s soul cultivation at the peak Soul Will level, destroying the soul of a Void Refiner without a physical body was child''s y.


    As these thoughts shed through his mind, Wu Yuan''s gaze swept into the distance.


    The silver-armored giant had long since fled without a trace. Wu Yuan hadn''t nned on pursuing him anyway. With the giant''s powerful ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivation, killing him would be extremely difficult.


    Wu Yuan might not be able to y him even after battling for hundreds of thousands of li. Even Earth Immortals would struggle to kill a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator in a single strike.


    <i>It''s a pity that in terms of attack power, my body refiner self is indeed slightly weaker than my qi refiner self right now. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>If it were my qi refiner self, forming a sword domain, I could probably have shredded both of them in two or three exchanges.</i>


    His choice of grand ether art, the ''Great Eldritch Divine Body,'' gave Wu Yuan''s body refiner self powerful self-preservation abilities. Yet, it inevitably sacrificed his offensive capabilities somewhat. It was difficult to have the best of both worlds.


    His body refiner self''s immortal root was slightly weaker, and his qi refiner self specialized in sword cultivation.


    Of course, in terms of self-preservation ability, his body refiner self was stronger than his qi refiner self.


    <i>I wonder what treasures this fellow left behind.</i> Wu Yuan waved his hand, collecting the various artifacts left by the red-robed youth, then began examining them with his Soul Force.


    As he inspected the items, Wu Yuan quickly assessed their value. He estimated that the majority of the artifacts and mineralsbined were worth over ten billion catties of ethercrystal. This was no small sum for a Void Refiner phase cultivator, but it meant little to Wu Yuan.


    What truly delighted Wu Yuan was: <i>There are actually 240 second-grade Thunder Beast Stones?</i> Wu Yuan was pleasantly surprised.


    With a thought, a dense cluster of Thunder Beast Stones floated before him. Each second-grade Thunder Beast Stone represented a in thunder beast elite. This was already an astonishing number.


    <i>Indeed, plundering has always been the fastest way to acquire treasures. </i>Various thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. <i>Although this red-robed youth was powerful, he shouldn''t have been able to kill so many thunder beast elites in less than half a month. Did he kill other powerful cultivators?</i>


    <i>However, those who live by the sword die by the sword. umting wealth through killing others will inevitably lead to one''s downfall. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Since arriving in the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan had never considered actively killing other immortal cultivators.


    Wu Yuan''s guess wasn''t far off. In reality, the silver-armored warrior and the red-robed youth had formed a team, with the red-robed youth holding onto most of the treasures they had acquired. During their usual battles, the red-robed youth was far safer, only providing support with ranged attacks. Little did he expect to encounter Wu Yuan.


    <i>With more than two hundred Thunder Beast Stones, I should be able toplete half of that Thunder Beast Diagram. </i>Wu Yuan mused, waving his hand to store the stones.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan flew straight through the canyon, continuing forward.


    <i>Those two were from the Phoenix Immortal Sect. </i>Wu Yuan pondered as he soared.


    During the gathering of the six major sects, he had memorized the general soul auras of everyone present, especially the Earth Immortals and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. Thus, it was easy for him to identify them.


    <i>They seem to have blocked this path intentionally. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the scattered remains near the canyon wall.


    <i>It appears Area 3��s Dao pattern diagrams should be just ahead.</i> Wu Yuan felt a glimmer of anticipation.


    The reasoning behind this deduction was simple. Why else would the red-robed youth and the silver-armored warrior guard this specific spot if it wasn''t a crucial passage?


    Moreover, ording to the map, this location was indeed very close to the stone walls in Area 3.


    <i>My only concern is whether that ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator will seek assistance from the Earth Immortal of the Phoenix Immortal Sect and retaliate?</i> The thought shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    It was entirely possible. As for revealing his strength? Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly worried about that.


    In the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, they were restricted by invisible rules and every move they made was under the scrutiny of two major camps, forcing them to rely solely on their own strength to kill enemies, thus easily exposing their true abilities and potential.


    But this expedition was different. While treasures that enabled one to kill cultivators from higher phases were rare, they were still far moremon than a ninth-stage Shambh cultivator erupting with power close to an Earth Immortal with their personal strength.


    <i>That ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator will likely assume I''m a peerless genius who has grasped the True Intent of an Intermediate Law and used some terrifying secret treasure.</i> Wu Yuan thought calmly.


    It was difficult to transmit information during this expedition, but even if the news did spread, it was unlikely that his disy of power would draw attention from the higher-ups.


    In real-world battles, all sorts of bizarre urrences were asmon as hairs on a cow. How many immortal continents were there in the entire Greenridge Immortal World? Over ten million! Even if some Archimmortals or Astral Lords learned of this, they might not care.


    Moreover, forget Archimmortals, even if this ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator left the Thunder Marsh World, he might not have the means to ry the information to a High Immortal.


    <i>Besides I still have my cover identity as a disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall. No need for exnations; they''ll naturally fill in the nks.</i> Wu Yuan thought as he transformed into a streak of light, shooting into the distance.


    What truly concerned Wu Yuan was potential retaliation from the Earth Immortal of the Phoenix Immortal Sect who had joined them on their expedition to the Thunder Marsh World.


    By Wu Yuan''s estimation, a sect that upied one-sixth of an immortal continent''s territory would have at least tens of thousands of Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses.


    The loss of one was neither insignificant nor too rming.

 Chapter 583: Harvest, Thunder Marsh Spirit (2)

    <h4>Chapter 583: Harvest, Thunder Marsh Spirit (2)</h4>


    <i>Flee! I must escape as far as possible. </i>The silver-armored warrior fled frantically, not daring to pause for even a moment. His heart was consumed with terror.


    As a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, his perspective was far higher than the average person. Though limited to a single immortal continent, he had cultivated for thousands of years and had some knowledge of the upper echelons of the immortal nation. For instance, the legendary peerless monstrous prodigies.


    <i>This mysterious Shambh cultivator''s true strength couldn''t possibly be this formidable. It''s too absurd. He must have used some treasures I''m unaware of.</i>


    <i>Second Bro is dead. He defeated me with one move, then swiftly killed Second Bro. His secret treasures must be worth tens of thousands of divine crystals.</i> The silver-armored warrior quickly analyzed the earlier battle.


    <i>How precious must such a treasure be? He can''t possibly be a disciple of the Longstar Immortal Sect. He must be a foreign trialist, and one with an extremely powerful background at that. He''s likely a core member of an immortal nation-level force.</i> The silver-armored warrior felt goosebumps.


    <i>We were foolish and too arrogant, thinking those monstrous prodigies wouldn''te to a tiny Thunder Marsh World.</i>


    His deduction wasn''t wrong. Apart from the Thunder Beast Diagrams, the Thunder Marsh World wasn''t particrly special among the hundreds of thousands of special worlds and realms in the entire Greenridge Immortal Nation.


    Moreover, as an artificially created world that had been thoroughly explored countless times over billions of years, those peerless geniuses wouldn''te to the Thunder Marsh World for expeditions under normal circumstances.


    <i>The status of a monstrous prodigy like this must beparable to a High Immortal, or even rivals an Archimmortal. I can''t tell the Earth Immortal that I provoked such a powerful figure.</i> The silver-armored warrior quickly made a decision. <i>Once I get out, I''ll inform the sect that Second Bro was killed by a thunder beast elite.</i>


    <i>Once I return, I''ll hide in the sect''s headquarters. Our immortal ancestor is a great Astral Lord. Surely, this monstrous prodigy won''t pursue such a trivial grudge to our Phoenix Immortal Sect''s headquarters. After all, he didn''t suffer any losses. </i>The silver-armored warrior thought to himself.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> He transformed into a streak of light, not daring to linger in Area 3.


    ...


    After traveling just over a hundred thousand li, the narrow canyon passage opened up into a vast expanse.


    An enormous za with a diameter exceeding five thousand li appeared before Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    On both sides of the za stood towering stone walls, upon which numerous colossal Thunder Beast Diagrams were inscribed. There were seventy-three diagrams in total.


    Each Thunder Beast Diagram emitted an incredibly powerful pressure. Thebined auras from over seventy diagrams caused Wu Yuan''s heart to skip a beat. It was overwhelming, as if facing a High Immortal with their aura fully unleashed.


    <i>So this is indeed the right ce.</i> Wu Yuan gentlynded on this vast za.


    The entire za was devoid of people. Evidently, apart from the red-robed youth and hispanion, as well as the immortal cultivators they had killed, Wu Yuan was the earliest to arrive at the stone walls in Area 3.


    <i>These Thunder Beast Diagrams.</i> Wu Yuan endured the pressure emanating from the diagrams as he observed them.


    Ordinary Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators would likely be forced to leave the za before long if they didn''t have treasures for protection. But with Wu Yuan��s strength, he could easily withstand it.


    <i>It''s just as I suspected. Different Thunder Beast Diagrams contain slightly different artistic conceptions.</i> Wu Yuan had a deep impression of the previous diagram he had studied.


    The very first one he had studied was just an inconspicuous one among these seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    <i>Seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams. Judging from appearances alone, they depict the entire process of a thunder beast discovering its prey, preparing to ambush it, striking, and finally killing its target.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    A single Thunder Beast Diagram only depicted one scene. The seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams seemed to tell aplete story about thunder beasts.


    <i>I need to find the Thunder Beast Diagram whose artistic conception I can trulyprehend. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>I can only try to study them one at a time.</i>


    It was impossible to judge from the images alone. He had to contemte each Thunder Beast Diagram individually, which was bound to be a time-consuming process.


    However, with his previous experiences from the first diagram, Wu Yuan estimated it would take at most ten days toplete


    <i>I hope I can find a suitable one. </i>Wu Yuan thought as he sat down in the lotus position on a patch of grass and began to meditate.


    ...


    <i>Not suitable. Still centered on the two paths of Thunder and Fire, with Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain merely as supplements.</i>


    <i>This one doesn''t fit either.</i>


    <i>Not suitable!</i>


    Time passed.


    As he abandoned the study of one Thunder Beast Diagram after another, Wu Yuan''s hopes fell further and further, gradually reaching rock bottom.


    Over twenty Thunder Beast Diagrams, yet not a single one suited him!


    As he studied diagram after diagram, a pattern emerged. The fierce, pointed artistic conceptions of Thunder and Fire grew more intense, while the profundities of the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao faded into obscurity.


    <i>It seems the outward appearance of these Thunder Beast Diagrams subtly represents their underlying artistic conception. </i>Wu Yuan mused, his brow furrowing in concentration as he began to unravel this principle.


    When the thunder beasts in the diagrams exuded an air of ughter and aggression, the profundities of the Thunder and Fire Daos seemed to resonate more powerfully!


    With this realization, Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon the fifty-eighth Thunder Beast Diagram.


    This particr Dao pattern diagram depicted a thunder beast in the midst of attacking and hunting its prey.


    As he contemted it further, his suspicions were confirmed. The artistic conception of this Thunder Beast Diagram was the most domineering. At the same time, it purely contained the interweaving of Thunder and Fire Dao patterns, with barely a trace of the Longevity Dao or Celestial Body Dao.


    As Wu Yuan pondered this revtion, a disturbance caught his attention.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> A series of subtle spatial fluctuations alerted Wu Yuan''s heightened senses, prompting him to turn his head. <i>Someone''sing.</i>


    In the distance, nine figures descended from the sky �C seven Void Refiner cultivators and two Amethyst Cradle cultivators, subtly divided into three groups. Among them were several familiar faces.


    "Childe Shadow de, you''re here alone? What a pleasant surprise to encounter you so soon," said Mu Xin, her voice a mix of innocence and charm, d in a purple robe.


    "Daoist Shadow de," Nie Le, the young man in fine cyan robes, managed to greet him, his smile somewhat forced.


    Wu Yuan acknowledged them with a slight nod.


    "Childe Shadow de is truly extraordinary, reaching this ce so swiftly on his own. Admirable! Most admirable!" The elderly man in white robes, Chi Chang, praised effusively, his admiration seemingly genuine.


    The burly man in ck robes, an eighth-stage Elysian Field phase cultivator, stood silently beside Nie Le, eyeing Wu Yuan curiously, as if wondering how he had managed to reach this ce alone.


    "I was just lucky," Wu Yuan replied nonchntly, clearly disinterested in further conversation.


    "Haha, is Childe Shadow de contemting these Thunder Beast Diagrams? Very well, we won''t disturb you then. We''ll chat another time," Chi Chang said with augh.


    "Childe Shadow de,e find me when you''re done cultivating," Mu Xin added, her eyes twinkling.


    The four of them moved to another area.


    <i>This Mu Xin...</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two distant groups.


    One group consisted of two Void Refiner Eminences. The other group had two Void Refiner Eminences and one Elysian Field cultivator. Judging by their vital auras, they were not to be underestimated, seemingly all high-level Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators.


    <i>Are they cultivators from other immortal sects? Or foreign trialists?</i> Wu Yuan pondered briefly before dismissing the thought.


    He returned his focus to contemting the Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    Combat was strictly forbidden in the locations of the stone wall Dao pattern diagrams, with death as the inevitable consequence for vitors. Thus, everyone was at ease, either resting or studying the Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    ...


    Several days passed in the blink of an eye.


    By now, nearly twenty Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses had gathered in the za, along with four or five Amethyst Cradle/Shambh elites from various major sects.


    Wu Yuan was just one unremarkable figure among them.


    <i>None of the seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams here contain a spiritual resonancepatible with me.</i> Wu Yuan concluded, having finally examined each diagram.


    <i>However, if I had to choose, the most suitable diagram for my contemtion would be the first one. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze settled on the first Thunder Beast Diagram.


    From its outward appearance, this diagram depicted a thunder beast that had just spotted its prey, not yet revealing its desire to hunt.


    <i>The spiritual resonance it carries is the most harmonious. Though the profundities of the Longevity Dao and Celestial Body Dao contained are shallow, at least they are clearly perceptible. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    With a mentalmand, one Thunder Beast Diagram after another appeared within his internal shambh, quickly reaching a total of 365.


    However, these were only the images copied from the diagrams,cking spiritual resonance and the profundities of Dao patterns.


    These Thunder Beast Diagram images were all included in the intelligence provided by the Longstar Immortal Sect. They were no secret.


    <i>Extrapting from this pattern, if I am seeking a Thunder Beast Diagram with the highest likelihood of containing the Celestial Body Dao and Longevity Dao profundities as its main focus, then the thunder beast in the diagram should be in its most peaceful state.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon one particr group of diagrams.


    Five areas, five groups of Thunder Beast Diagrams in total.


    In this group, the thunder beasts were depicted in various states of repose: lying on the ground, leisurely enjoying the breeze, deep in slumber, or perchedzily on trees... All exuding an air of tranquility, ease, and peace.


    <i>The diagrams in Area 1.</i>


    Wu Yuan had a vague feeling that the Thunder Beast Diagrams he was looking for were located in Area 1 of the Inner Region.


    As Wu Yuan was pondering over these Thunder Beast Diagrams, countless bolts of lightning began to materialize in the sky ten thousand li above the za.


    The intensity of this phenomenon caused all the immortal cultivators on the za, whether in quiet meditation or engaged in cultivation, to open their eyes. They all instinctively looked up towards the sky.


    Countless streaks of lightning interwove, forming a massive ball of electric light at the center, its aura and pressure growing increasingly terrifying.


    "What is this?"


    "The Thunder Marsh Spirit!"


    "To think that a Thunder Marsh Spirit would be born while we''re here!"


    "A treasure, we must seize it!" The entire za instantly erupted into chaos, with dozens of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators eyeing it with intense desire.


    <i>A Thunder Marsh Spirit is more valuable than a first-grade Thunder Beast Stone. </i>Wu Yuan was equally surprised.


    Apart from Thunder Beast Stones, Thunder Marsh Spirits were another great treasure originating from the Thunder Marsh World. However, their emergence followed no pattern. They could potentially show up anywhere, at any time.


    No cultivator dared to fly up and seize it. Countless bloody lessons from the past had proven that one could only wait for the Thunder Marsh Spirit to descend of its own ord.


    A full quarter-hour passed.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The immense ball of electricity that had gathered in the sky suddenly exploded, sending countless bolts of lightning in all directions.


    Then, without a sound, a streak of electricity instantly traversed ten thousand li,nding directly in front of Wu Yuan.


    In that moment, the eyes of everyone on the za fell upon Wu Yuan and the ball of light before him.

 Chapter 584: Thunder Beast Diagram? Life Dao Diagram? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 584: Thunder Beast Diagram? Life Dao Diagram? (1)</h4>


    The za froze with tension as dozens of immortal cultivators looked on in disbelief.


    <i>What?</i> Wu Yuan, seated in lotus position on the grass, stared in amazement at the fist-sized orb of milky white light that hovered before him, crackling with lightning.


    When the Thunder Marsh Spirit first emerged, Wu Yuan had indeed entertained thoughts of iming it for himself.


    A Thunder Marsh Spirit was worth ten divine crystals, equivalent to ten trillion catties of ethercrystal, rivaling the wealth of most Earth Immortals.


    For Wu Yuan, however, its value wasn''t the primary concern. What intrigued him most was the mysterious core of the Thunder Beast Stone, and how this legendary Thunder Marsh Spirit might rte to it. Perhaps, like the Thunder Beast Stone, it too could be processed into an iplete fragment of a Dao pattern diagram?


    Never in his wildest dreams did Wu Yuan imagine the Thunder Marsh Spirit would manifest right before him as though it were a gift from the heavens.


    <i>Could it be that I truly possess some kind of providence halo? </i>Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>Or perhaps...</i>


    His gaze drifted to the distant Thunder Beast Diagram.


    <i>Are there some invisible rules governing the entire Thunder Marsh World? Do those who reach a certain level of insight into the Thunder Beast Diagram receive additional blessings?</i>


    Though Wu Yuan had not yet fully grasped the artistic conception of any Thunder Beast Diagram, he had diligently attempted to deduce andprehend them, and had made some progress. Could it be that his efforts had caught the attention of the Thunder Marsh World''s unseen rules?


    Wu Yuan couldn''t be certain.


    Still, when heaven bestows a treasure, how could one refuse?


    Wu Yuan reached out to grasp the orb of milky white light.


    "Stop!"


    "Put it down!"


    "Brat, how dare you?" In an instant, several angry shouts rang out, and streaks of light shot towards Wu Yuan.


    But even the closest of these Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators were hundreds of li away. No matter how fast they moved, how could they possibly match the speed of Wu Yuan stretching out his hand?


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan had already absorbed the milky white orb into his internal shambh.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i>


    Eight powerful Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses converged on Wu Yuan��s position, their eyes fixed on him, brimming with fury and murderous intent.


    These powerhouses hailed from various sects. Some were even trial participants from other immortal continents.


    "Boy, I told you to stop," growled a ck-haired elderly man, a ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator who stood leaning on a cane. He struck the ground with his cane in anger.


    Among those present, he was the strongest.


    The others red just as fiercely.


    As Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators, most of their fortunes amounted to only a few hundred million or billions of catties of ethercrystal. A single Thunder Marsh Spirit, worth ten to a hundred times their wealth, was enough to drive them mad with greed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.


    Across the vast za, the majority of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators stared at him intently, eyes gleaming with greed.


    The only ones maintaining any semnce of restraint were Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and the others from the Longstar Immortal Sect. After all, Wu Yuan had taken part in the trial as a Longstar Immortal Sect participant. They couldn''t openly make a move against him.


    "Childe Shadow de, why don''t you hand the Thunder Marsh Spirit over to Elder Chi? Once we leave, our Longstar Immortal Sect willpensate you with two hundred billion catties of ethercrystal. How does that sound?" A gentle voice suddenly whispered in Wu Yuan''s ear. It was Mu Xin.


    She winked and continued her telepathic message: "This way, Childe Shadow de, you won''t have to face the onught of the crowd."


    Beside her, Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang watched Wu Yuan expectantly.


    Clearly, in the eyes of the Longstar Immortal Sect, there was no way a mere Shambh cultivator like Wu Yuan could hope to keep the Thunder Marsh Spirit while surrounded by so many powerful cultivators.


    On the other hand, with a ninth-stage Void Refiner cultivator, an eighth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, and two recently arrived seventh-stage Void Refiner cultivators, they stood a good chance of securing the Thunder Marsh Spirit.


    "What''s the matter?" Wu Yuan, seemingly oblivious to Mu Xin''s message, swept his gaze across the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses from various factions.


    His eyes lingered on the ck-haired elderly man with the cane before sneering, "Got a problem? Come and snatch it if you''ve got the guts! Come and kill me if you dare!"


    A deathly silence fell over the crowd.


    The Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses stared at Wu Yuan in disbelief.


    Mu Xin, Chi Chang, and the others were equally stunned.


    They had considered many possibilities, but never imagined Wu Yuan would dare to provoke them all.


    Yet, faced with Wu Yuan''s brazen attitude, they found themselves utterly helpless. This was a location with Dao pattern diagrams. To fight here would vite the rules of the Thunder Marsh World.


    It would be a surefire path to certain death!


    "Boy. At first, I wasn��t nning on taking your life," the ck-haired elderly man with the cane spoke coldly. "But I''ve changed my mind. You won''t be leaving the Thunder Marsh World alive."


    The other Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses red at Wu Yuan with equal fury.


    Meanwhile, Chi Chang and the Longstar Immortal Sect group stood silently at a distance, clearly unwilling to intercede on Wu Yuan''s behalf. After all, Wu Yuan was merely a trial participant, not an official disciple of the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    ��Won''t be leaving the Thunder Marsh World alive?�� Wu Yuan looked at the ck-haired elderly man with the cane and sneered, "If you''ve got what it takes,e and kill me then."


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan''s form blurred as he shot forward, the violent rush of air causing the grass to explode. His speed instantly soared to three hundred li per second, transforming into a streak of light that vanished in an instant, heading straight for another passage leading out of the za.


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    "Kill him!"


    "Fool, you are courting death!" At that moment, over a dozen Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses who had been watching Wu Yuan closely erupted into action, transforming into streaks of light as they gave chase.


    "Elder Chi? What should we do?" Mu Xin asked hurriedly.


    "You two wait here. Protectorate Fang, the rest of us will go," Chi Chang said in a low voice.


    Along with the ck-robed protectorate and two other Void Refiner cultivators from their sect, they immediately joined the pursuit. Clearly, they too were unwilling to give up on acquiring the Thunder Marsh Spirit.


    ...


    <i>Originally, I thought I''d have to spend a great deal of time hunting thunder beast elites. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself as he sensed the gazes of numerous Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses boring into him.


    He had already made up his mind - kill!


    Wu Yuan had always lived by the principle of not harming others unless they harmed him first.


    If these Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses actively sought to kill him and steal his treasure, they couldn''t me him for killing them in self-defense. So Wu Yuan had deliberately provoked them before fleeing.


    "Stop running!"


    "A mere Shambh realm cultivator dares to provoke us?" The Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses roared as they gave chase, quickly swarming Wu Yuan on all sides.


    Their angry shouts echoed in Wu Yuan''s ears. Yet, before they left the bounds of the za, not a single one dared to actually attack.


    <i>Almost there, I��m about to leave the za. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed as a pair of wings suddenly materialized on his back. It was his Beast Fusion form, though Wu Yuan had disguised it with a pair of high-grade spirion wings.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan, who had been flying at a speed close to that of a Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivator, suddenly elerated several times over, reaching a shockingly high velocity that surpassed even a ninth-stage Void Refiner.


    <i>Boom!</i> Space itself seemed to tremble as he shot into the canyon passage, covering nearly a thousand li in an instant.


    "So fast!"


    "How did he suddenly cover so much distance?"


    "No wonder he dared to flee. He must possess some kind of flight-enhancing artifact. But he won''t be able to maintain that speed for long."


    "After him!" Though shocked by Wu Yuan''s sudden burst of speed, the nearly twenty Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses instinctively felt that it was only natural.


    After all, if Wu Yuan truly had no trump cards or means of escape, how could he have dared to provoke them earlier? On the contrary, the fact that he could escape was within their expectations.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The numerous Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses gave chase without hesitation.


    The pursuers and their target shot through several twists and turns in the canyon, quickly leaving the Thunder Beast Diagram za thousands of li behind.


    "Something''s not right, Chi Chang," said Protectorate Fang who was keeping pace in the middle of the pack. He remained calm as he transmitted a message. "This Shadow de is far too cunning to act so recklessly."


    He recalled what Nie Le had told him earlier.


    "A trap, you say?" Chi Chang murmured, a creeping suspicion dawning on him.


    Protectorate Fang''s voice rumbled low, "Even if Shadow de wished to flee, there''s no need for such a spectacle. He could easily bide his time, waiting for a moment when everyone was distracted to make his escape."


    "Slow down! No need to rush. We''ll hang back," Chi Chang decided in an instant. At hismand, the four Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses from the Longstar Immortal Sect immediately ckened their pace.


    In truth, Chi Chang and hispanions were far from the only ones sensing something amiss, yet not a single faction was willing to simply give up.


    It was partly confidence in their own strength, but more due to greed! Who would willingly pass up an opportunity to increase their wealth and status a hundredfold?


    This was especially so for the ck-haired elderly man gripping a cane. His dark hair whipped in the wind, a faint ck radiance emanating from his form. His speed increased slightly, making him the only one notpletely left behind by Wu Yuan. In fact, he seemed to be gradually closing the distance.


    "Die, boy!" the ck-haired elderly man at the forefront suddenly roared. ck rings materialized in his palm, rapidly expanding as they flew towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>This should be far enough. We''ve fled about five thousand li from the za.</i> Wu Yuan assessed. <i>This distance should suffice to ughter them all.</i>


    Faced with the onught of ck rings filling the sky, Wu Yuan whirled around. His wings shimmered, instantly creating dozens of afterimages.


    With a wave of his hand, a breathtakingly beautiful woman d in purple robes appeared before Wu Yuan. Her garments billowed around her, her features exquisitely perfect��a rare sight even among the uncannily beautiful immortal cultivators.


    She was the very picture of perfection. Too perfect to be alive.


    "Shadow Moon, activate form one. Kill them all," Wu Yuan''s voice resonated within Shadow Moon''s control center.


    "Understood," Shadow Moon responded instantly.


    Shadow Moon had three different forms.


    The first form consumed about ten billion catties of ethercrystal of energy per second; the second form, about fifty billion catties of ethercrystal per second; the third form, about three divine crystals per second.


    In simpler terms, they all burned through money! If the enemy wasn''t strong enough, he might even make a loss by choosing to activate her.


    However, her power was immense. Even at the most basic first form, she could unleash the might of a second-stage Earth Immortal with a fifth-degree immortal root.


    This entire exchange urred in an instant.


    <i>Boom! </i>Shadow Moon''s aura exploded. Eighty-one throwing knives materialized around her, each gleaming with cold light.


    This was aplete set of high-grade spirion artifacts, prepared by Wu Yuan for Shadow Moon. This single set ofmon-source throwing knife artifacts alone was worth over a hundred divine crystals.


    Infused with Earth Immortal-level mana, they resonated with the Metal Dao, causing each throwing knife to shimmer with a faint golden hue.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>A terrifying expanse of de rays filled the sky, forming a devastating Metal Dao knife domain. Like storms of de rays, they swept through the thousand-li wide canyon, engulfing the nearly twenty Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses in pursuit.


    Those seemingly formidable ck rings were instantly scattered by the de rays within the Metal Dao domain, veering off course.

 Chapter 585: Thunder Beast Diagram? Life Dao Diagram? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 585: Thunder Beast Diagram? Life Dao Diagram? (2)</h4>


    <i>This is bad! An Earth Immortal! An Earth Immortal-level battle puppet?</i> The ck-haired elderly man, who had been brimming with confidence just moments ago, felt his soul nearly flee his body in terror.


    <i>Heavens! An Earth Immortal-level battle puppet must be worth at least several thousand divine crystals. Even ordinary High Immortals couldn''t afford such a thing! </i>the ck-haired elderly man''s mind reeled.


    <i>What background does this Shambh cultivator have? The offspring of an Archimmortal? A core disciple of some super faction? Or perhaps the disciple of an Astral Monarch? He actually has such a life-saving measure?</i>


    In that instant, countless thoughts raced through the ck-robed elderly man''s mind.


    His assumptions weren''t far off. The most basic Earth Immortal-level puppets were worth two to three thousand divine crystals, equivalent to the entire worth of many High Immortals.


    But the question was, what use would a High Immortal have for such a thing?


    And premium Earth Immortal-level puppets like Shadow Moon were even rarer. Most High Immortals wouldn''t even have the connections to purchase one if they wanted to. An Archimmortal would need to spend thirty to forty thousand divine crystals to have a chance of acquiring one.


    Only Wu Yuan, with his status as a nominal disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, could purchase it at the best price from the eldritch world.


    And such battle constructs were a paradox��those who could afford them didn''t need them, and those who needed them couldn''t afford them. Usually, they were bestowed by super powerhouses upon their offspring or disciples as a protective measure during life-or-death ordeals.


    <i>Retreat!! I must survive at all costs. </i>The ck-robed elderly man exerted every ounce of his power, desperate to flee.


    "It''s a trap. This Shambh cultivator deliberately provoked us. Quick, retreat!"


    "Run!" The dozen or so Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses who had been in hot pursuit were now trembling with fear, frantically trying to escape.


    However if they could escape so easily once Shadow Moon unleashed her power, how could she be called an Earth Immortal battle puppet?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The sweeping de rays fell upon the ck-haired elderly man just as he prepared to flee.


    "No!" The ck-haired elderly man''s eyes bulged, his heart filled with boundless regret. He hurriedly cast arcane arts and summoned various artifacts in a desperate attempt to defend himself.


    <i>Schlik~</i> The de rays sliced through him as easily as butchering a chicken, obliterating his body and leaving only a scatter of artifacts tumbling through the air.


    <i>ng~</i> The Metal Dao excelled at offense. In just two or three seconds, the golden de rays swept through thousands of li in the canyon passage.


    The Void Refiner cultivators in its trajectory were cut down without a chance to struggle. Even those Elysian Field powerhouses could only resist for a moment before being torn apart by the relentless de rays.


    In the end, of the twenty-two Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses who had rushed out of the za, only Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and two others��who had cautiously lingered at the back of the group��managed to escape. They had only ventured two thousand li from the za when they fled back, narrowly avoiding the sweeping knife domain.


    As for the other eighteen? Utterly annihted!


    The impossibly perfect purple-robed Shadow Moon stood in the air a thousand li from the za''s perimeter. She cast a cold nce at Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang before swiftly transforming into a streak of light, gathering the scattered artifacts along the way as she rushed back into the depths of the canyon.


    Clearly, had they not fled quickly enough, Shadow Moon would have unhesitatingly ughtered all four of them as well.


    "How terrifying."


    "This Earth Immortal puppet?"


    "To think Shadow de had such a trump card?" Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and their twopanions exchanged nces, their eyes filled with lingering terror and relief.


    "Old Fang, I owe you my life for this," Chi Chang said in a low voice.


    "If you want to thank someone, thank the young master for the warning," Protectorate Fang shook his head.


    "Hm? Nie Le?" Chi Chang was taken aback. That wastrel of a young master deserved thanks for his warning?


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> At this moment, Mu Xin, Nie Le, and the other Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators had rushed over. Though they weren''t clear about what had transpired in the canyon''s depths, they had all witnessed Shadow Moon''s final approach.


    "Protectorate Fang." Chi Chang nced at Protectorate Fang.


    Protectorate Fang nodded slightly.


    The two of them ignored Mu Xin and Nie Le, their gazes sweeping over the three or four Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators in the distance, who looked panicked and were still unclear about the situation.


    These cultivators were elite disciples from other sects, who hade to the Inner Region specifically to study the Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    At this moment, Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang had reached an unspoken agreement��these Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators could not be allowed to leave alive.


    ...


    Over ten thousand li away from the Dao pattern stone walls in Inner Region Area 3.


    <i>How poor. Thebined treasures of eighteen Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators don''t even exceed thirty billion? I''ve actually lost over twenty billion catties of ethercrystal? </i>Wu Yuan was at a loss for words.


    Shadow Moon''sbat state had been active for a total of five seconds, consuming fifty billion catties of ethercrystal in energy. Yet the spoils amounted to less than thirty billion catties of ethercrystal.


    He had made a huge loss!


    <i>However, the real treasures are these Thunder Beast Stones.</i> With a thought, seven hundred second-grade Thunder Beast Stones that shimmered into view before him. As for the third-grade Thunder Beast Stones? There were even more.


    <i>Including the ones previously acquired, my total collection of second-grade stones has surpassed a thousand.</i> Wu Yuan reflected, a smile ying on his lips. <i>In terms of value, they might be worth ten billion catties of ethercrystal, but to me, they''re priceless - I wouldn''t trade them for hundreds of divine crystals.</i>


    <i>How long would it have taken me to hunt down each thunder beast individually to amass such a collection?</i>


    <i>This certainly makes things easier. With this many Thunder Beast Stones, I might just have enough toplete an entire Thunder Beast Diagram.</i>


    However, he decided against attempting it immediately.


    <i>First, I''ll head to the Dao pattern stone walls in Inner Region Area 1.</i> Wu Yuan nned silently. <i>Perhaps I can find a Thunder Beast Diagram that resonates with me there. </i>


    <i>Once I''ve found it, then I''ll crush these Thunder Beast Stones and attempt to match their cores to the diagram. </i>He resolved, no longer hesitating as he swiftly navigated a canyon passage.


    Consulting his map, he set his course for Inner Region Area 1.


    Though the stone walls in the Core Region epassed 360 Dao pattern diagrams, Wu Yuan had no intention of venturing there recklessly.


    Shadow Moon, formidable as she was, was but a single entity. What if he encountered several, or even dozens of thunder beast kings? Even with other life-saving measures, the risk would outweigh the reward.


    A wise man doesn''t stand beneath a copsing wall.


    For Wu Yuan, it made more sense to spend extra time exploring the Inner Region thoroughly. After all, there were only five areas to cover.


    <i>Shadow Moon didn''t kill Chi Chang and the others from the Longstar Immortal Sect? They were certainly cautious, hiding at the very back. </i>Wu Yuan mused, his Soul Will having sensed their presence earlier. <i>Let''s hope they''re smart enough to stay out of my way.</i>


    If pushed too far, it didn��t matter whether the enemy was an Earth Immortal. Wu Yuan would not hesitate to strike them down!


    In her third form, Shadow Moon could unleash power equivalent to a ninth-stage Earth Immortal. Though it consumed three divine crystals per second, making prolonged battles unfeasible, Wu Yuan still had other formidable treasures at his disposal.


    ...


    In the Thunder Marsh World, aside from the lightning array epassing the entire world and the Core Region, the other regions posed little danger to Wu Yuan, including the Inner Region.


    Following his map, he pressed onward.


    Over twenty days, Wu Yuan encountered over a hundred ordinary thunder beast herds and nine thunder beast elites. Twice, he came across more than ten thunder beast elites at once.


    For a lone Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivator, such encounters in the Inner Region would certainly be perilous. But for Wu Yuan? It was an easy issue to resolve!


    Along the way, Wu Yuan also crossed paths with several Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators from other sects, though no conflicts arose between them.


    And so, over twenty-two days, Wu Yuan traversed six hundred million li through winding mountain ranges, covering over a hundred million li in a straight line, before finally reaching the stone walls in Area 1.


    Here too,y a vast za stretching far and wide.


    <i>It��s quite crowded. </i>He observed.


    Wu Yuan gently alighted on a grassy patch at the za''s edge, where even more immortal cultivators gathered.


    Nearly thirty Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses were present, along with seven or eight Amethyst Cradle/Shambh elites.


    "He��s alone?"


    "A Shambh cultivator made it here?"


    "Which sect is he from?"


    "Never seen him before."


    "Judging by his soul aura, he seems to be from the Longstar Immortal Sect." Wu Yuan''s arrival drew the attention of several cultivators in the za.


    But it was merely passing curiosity, wondering how a lone Shambh cultivator dared to venture into the Inner Region. No one approached Wu Yuan.


    With a soft exhale, Wu Yuan casually found a spot and sat down in lotus position, looking up at the towering stone walls inscribed with massive Thunder Beast Diagrams in the distance. He began to contemte them.


    <i>Indeed, these are different.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up with realization.<i> The seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams I studied in Area 3, even the most peaceful first one, only depicted rest before ughter.</i>


    <i>They still centered on the Laws of Thunder and Fire, and while I could sense that mysterious artistic conception, it was difficult to trulyprehend. After all, I haven''t grasped the Laws of Thunder and Fire.</i>


    <i>But the Thunder Beast Diagrams here?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the various diagrams, confirming his initial assessment.


    The thunder beasts in these diagrams were lounging, sprawling... The overarching theme was one of leisure and contentment.


    Simrly, the artistic conception contained within these Thunder Beast Diagrams exuded a sense of peace, solidity, and abundant vitality. It resonated deeply with Wu Yuan.


    <i>This is just an initial impression; I''ll need to study each diagram in detail to truly understand.</i> Wu Yuan began to contemte the first Thunder Beast Diagram.


    <i>Just one dayter.</i>


    <i>This!! How is this possible?</i> Wu Yuan''s heart raced with excitement and joy, his eyes widening in disbelief.


    <i>The very first diagram is alreadypatible with me? Though it appears simr to those in Area 3, with the thunder beast still at its core, the focus of the Dao patterns�� profundities has shifted to Wood, Earth, and Space.</i>


    <i>And it happens to align perfectly with the Intermediate Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain? The profundities of the Dao rted to Thunder and Fire are minimal.</i>


    <i>There''s a real chance I could fully grasp the Dao profundities encapsted in this Dao pattern diagram. </i>Wu Yuan trembled inwardly.


    Suddenly, he noticed even more peculiarities.


    <i>This first Thunder Beast Diagram. How is it so simr to a portion of the Life Dao patterns on the silver sphere?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned.


    The Thunder Beast Diagrams he had seen before only vaguely resembled the Life Dao patterns on the silver sphere, giving him a sense of familiarity but not true simrity.


    But this Dao pattern diagram? Upon careful contemtion, he realized that perhaps seventy to eighty percent of it was identical to the Life Dao patterns.


    <i>Could this Thunder Beast Diagram actually be a Life Dao pattern diagram? But if so, why does it also contain the Laws of Thunder and Fire?</i>

 Chapter 586: Essence Great Dao (1)

    <h4>Chapter 586: Essence Great Dao (1)</h4>


    When Wu Yuan first studied the seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams in Inner Region Area 3, he only suspected it. After all, there was only a slight ovep between the Dao patterns on the silver sphere and the Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    Now, however, Wu Yuan was almost certain. The Dao patterns on the silver sphere ovepped far too closely with those in the Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls in Area 1.


    The simrity was uncanny, as if they had been cast from the same mold


    <i>Master wouldn��t deceive me. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>As a Sovereign of Life, the path he showed me surely leads to the pinnacle. The silver sphere perfectly unites the Dao profundities of True Domain, Longevity, and Celestial Body. There��s no mistake, this must be theplete Law of Life.</i>


    After years of contemtion, Wu Yuan was absolutely confident in this assessment. Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension now rivaled that of a High Immortal. It would be difficult for someone to deceive him when it came toprehending the Dao.


    He pondered and analyzed silently.


    <i>The profundities and artistic conception contained in every one of these Thunder Beast Diagram Dao patterns are truly profound.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>They bring each thunder beast on the stone walls to vivid life.</i> <i>And yet, they remain iplete. Every Thunder Beast Diagram is iplete.</i>


    Wu Yuan contemted further. <i>They pale inparison to the perfection of the silver sphere.</i>


    These Thunder Beast Diagrams seemed to point to a path of immense profundity and power, leading straight to the pinnacle! A path even more vast and expansive than the Law of Life alone.


    But the path revealed to Wu Yuan was iplete. At least, what was shown in these Thunder Beast Diagrams was iplete.


    <i>Still, even if this path is iplete, how has no one else discovered this extraordinary cultivation path? How can the Greenridge Immortal World allow these Thunder Beast Diagrams to be disyed so openly?</i> Wu Yuan wondered


    Wu Yuan spected that the Thunder Beast Diagrams must have some renown in the Greenridge Immortal World, especially within the Ling Huan Immortal Nation of the White Sea Immortal Continent.


    <i>However, even an ordinary Archimmortal or Astral Lord would likely fail to perceive their true nature, only finding them mysterious. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    How mysterious? Beyond what an ordinary Archimmortal or Astral Lord could discern. It was only because Wu Yuan hadprehended three Intermediate Laws to some degree, and had the silver sphere''s Dao patterns from Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi forparison, that he could perceive their significance.


    For other Archimmortals or Astral Lords, even if they fully grasped a Lesser Law, they would be unable to unravel its mysteries.


    Indeed, 99% of Astral Monarchs who did notprehend the Life Dao would struggle to understand it, only finding it inscrutable.


    And monstrous prodigies like Wu Yuan appeared in the Greenridge Immortal World perhaps once every tens of thousands of years. What were the odds of one visiting the Thunder Marsh World? Astronomically low!


    <i>But even if they can''t decipher it, surely they must recognize it as a treasure?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>After eons of exploration, the Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs of the Ling Huan Immortal Nation must have uncovered some of its secrets.</i>


    <i>Nevermind, there��s no need to consider these issues for now.</i>


    <i>These Thunder Beast Diagrams share many simrities with the cryptic patterns of Life on the silver sphere. </i>Wu Yuan reflected. <i>But they''re too iplete and profound... There''s little point in trying to decipher them now, and I don''t have time.</i>


    <i>If I could fullyprehend the Thunder Beast Diagrams, it means I can fullyprehend the silver sphere''s Dao patterns.</i>


    <i>My priority now is to grasp the mysterious artistic conception within the Thunder Beast Diagrams.</i> Wu Yuan reminded himself of his original goal.


    Through that artistic conception, he would understand thebination of profundities within the Life Dao. Then he could properly study the Life Dao patterns on the silver sphere. This was Wu Yuan''s true aim.


    <i>I''ll try them one by one. Let''s see which of these seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams suits me best. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his mind and began to contemte and analyze the diagrams.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self devoted most of its mental energy toprehending each Thunder Beast Diagram.


    Meanwhile, he split off a strand of consciousness, which entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    It swiftly arrived at a special ne that 99% of Astral Lords in the entire eldritch voidrealm could not ess.


    <i>Outside a majestic temple.</i>


    "Halt!"


    "Wu Yuan, stop!" Two thunderous shouts rang out from the guards at the entrance of the temple. They barred Wu Yuan''s path, as imposing as gods.


    "Wu Yuan, though you are the Sovereign''s disciple, you may not trespass into the Eldritch Sovereign Temple," one guard''s voice boomed as he looked down at Wu Yuan.


    "Divine Guard, the fact that I can visit this location proves I have the right to contact the Sovereign," Wu Yuan said with a slight bow. "Please inform the Sovereign that his disciple Wu Yuan has encountered issues with his cultivation and seeks guidance."


    The two guards exchanged a nce


    "Wait here," one guard turned and entered the temple


    Wu Yuan waited patiently, his gaze sweeping his surroundings. This was Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s residence in the eldritch voidrealm �C the Eldritch Sovereign Temple. It was Wu Yuan''s first visit since gaining ess.


    <i>I hope Master won''t reproach me.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Normally, Astral Monarchs and direct disciples had the right to visit the Eldritch Sovereign Temple. But in most cases, without summons from the Eldritch Sovereign, it was unwise to disturb him.


    Of course, those with official duties were different. For example, Astral Monarch Xue Ying could report directly to the Eldritch Sovereign.


    This exception also applied to disciples who had not yet undergone their Tribtions. Beforepleting one��s Tribtions, one''s path remained uncertain, with many variables and potential threats. So the Eldritch Sovereign generally allowed them to visit him at any time.


    A quarter hour passed.


    "Wu Yuan, the Eldritch Sovereign will see you. You may enter," the guard flew out and approached Wu Yuan.


    "Many thanks, Divine Guard," Wu Yuan bowed and strode forward.


    He flew directly into the main hall of the towering temple.


    Inside, massive pirs stood tall. The entire hall was vast and empty, with only a single figure d in beast-hide sitting cross-legged on a jade tform at the far end.


    His presence there was as boundless and unfathomable as heaven and earth itself.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuannded and bowed respectfully. ��Disciple Wu Yuan pays respects to Master."


    "Rise," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked down at Wu Yuan. "Weren''t you on an expedition in the Greenridge Immortal World? Why have youe rushing to find me? Are you in danger?"


    "Disciple is safe and sound," Wu Yuan said respectfully. "It''s just that while exploring the Thunder Marsh World left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei, I discovered a very special type of Dao pattern diagram. I have some questions, and so wished to consult with Master."


    As he spoke, Wu Yuan waved his hand.


    Instantly, projections of the Thunder Beast Diagrams, shrunk to tens of meters in size, appeared behind him.


    There were a total of 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams. However, these projections contained no trace of profundity or artistic conception.


    "Master, these diagrams are called Thunder Beast Diagrams. They are..." Wu Yuan swiftly exined everything he knew.


    Finally, Wu Yuan shared his spection: "Based on my guess, there may be great secrets hidden within them. This iplete path seems to epass the Law of Life, or at least part of it. It gives disciple the feeling that it might be even more powerful than the Law of Life..."


    The implications were momentous. Transcending the Greater Laws! Fullyprehending a Greater Law made one a Sovereign at the peak of the macrocosm. A secret surpassing the Greater Laws?


    As soon as doubts arose, Wu Yuan immediately decided to consult his Master. It concerned the very foundation of cultivation. Wu Yuan worried that rashly trying toprehend it on his own might lead him astray.


    "Thunder Beast Diagrams?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi listened silently to Wu Yuan''s exnation before finally revealing a mysterious smile. "You truly have great providence. On a single journey, out of countless world secrets, you encountered an Essence Diagram Relic."


    "Essence Diagram Relic?" Wu Yuan was stunned, not understanding what his master meant.


    But he had caught a crucial piece of information: his master seemed to have some understanding of what these Thunder Beast Diagrams were.


    "Indeed. I haven''t personally seen the Thunder Beast Diagrams you describe and cannot judge withplete certainty. But based on your description, I''m 90% sure they are Essence Diagrams," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi gazed at Wu Yuan.


    "Essence Diagram Relics are no secret. Across the entire macrocosm, there are dozens of simr relics, though not quite a hundred.


    In our eldritch world alone, I know of six such relics. Some were left behind by powerful beings, others are manifestations of the Essence Great Dao... They are precious and rare, true, but their utility is somewhat limited," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "For most Essence Diagram Relics in our eldritch world, we simply ensure their existence and prevent their destruction.


    As for your Thunder Beast Diagrams, they were likely left behind by that Astral Monarch Wan Lei.


    No wonder he was so formidable in his day, yet perished so early. It seems he too chose to walk this divergent path, and was ultimately unable to break through," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly. "How tragic andmentable.


    The information you''ve provided about the Thunder Beast Diagrams in the Thunder Marsh World was previously unknown to our eldritch world. After all, the vast majority of our attention has been focused on the Voltari Temple, with little regard for the Greenridge Immortal World," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, but was quite shocked internally.


    So, there were actually quite a few relics simr to the Thunder Beast Diagrams throughout the macrocosm. Of course, this referred to absolute numbers. In terms of probability, none might be found within hundreds of spacetime boundaries of immortal nations.


    <i>Master Kua Chi is truly an Eldritch Sovereign that stands at the peak of the macrocosm. His perspective is unparalleled.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    He had initially thought the Thunder Beast Diagrams he discovered were some extraordinary secret.


    However, the fact that Master Kua Chi knew about this secret was within Wu Yuan''s expectations. After all, his master had lived for ten billion years and stood at the pinnacle of the macrocosm. How many secrets could truly remain unknown to him? Very few indeed.


    "There are some things I usually wouldn��t tell my disciples about so early. They��re of little significance and will only add to your worries. But since you''ve encountered a Dao essence Relic and it happens to involve the Law of Life, and you''vee to consult me on it, I''ll share a thing or two," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi calmly said.


    "You should know that Lesser Laws merge to form Intermediate Laws. And numerous Intermediate Laws merge to create Greater Laws..."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "Whether Lesser Laws or Greater Laws, they all have their Dao essence within the vast heaven and earth," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    "Dao essence is the core of the workings of heaven and earth. Immortal cultivators are essentiallyprehending the profundities of the Dao essence.


    Dao essence is near-eternal. Take the qi refining Astral Lords, Astral Monarchs, and even the Sovereigns. The reason they possess near-eternal lifespans is that their Yuan Soul imprints are branded upon the Dao essence," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said softly. "As long as the Dao essence exists, one''s Yuan Soul imprint remains indestructible, enduring as long as heaven and earth."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    This information was confidential. Yet, given his current level of authority, it wasn''t entirely a secret to him.

 Chapter 587: Essence Great Dao (2)

    <h4>Chapter 587: Essence Great Dao (2)</h4>


    This also exined why qi refiners mustprehend a Dao to transcend their Tribtion and ascend to Archimmortality. Without thoroughlyprehending a Dao, one''s Yuan Soul couldn''t approach the Dao essence.


    For body refiners, while they didn''t need to imprint their Yuan Soul on the Dao essence, the manifestation of their internal shambh still required Daoprehension.


    This was the fundamental reason why it was difficult for Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs to break through.


    Once a Yuan Soul imprint was fully integrated into a certain Dao essence, one gained longevity equal to heaven and earth. But oncepletely enveloped within the Dao essence, one��s Yuan Soul imprint would find it near impossible to break free. The influence of Dao Assimtion would be tens of thousands of times stronger than before.


    "The essences of the fifteen Greater Laws are the most fundamental and powerful Dao essences in our cosmic universe," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly. "However, some Daos exist beyond heaven and earth."


    "Beyond heaven and earth?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened.


    At the same time, he caught a phrase��cosmic universe.


    This cosmic universe? Could there be other cosmic universes?


    "The so-called Greater Laws, Intermediate Laws, and Lesser Laws all emerged after the cosmic universe''s creation, evolving alongside the natural order of all things, with spacetime as the foundation," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined slowly.


    "The various Dao essences collectively form theplete heaven and earth��s essence."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but recall the visions he had seen when receiving Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s inheritance �C the creation of heaven and earth, the birth of spacetime. Then, the emergence of various powers of heaven and earth��s essence... It seemed to echo what Master Kua Chi was saying now.


    "Uniting one��s soul with the Dao allows one to live as long as heaven and earth, but even this vast heaven and earth will eventually reach its end," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly. "Once heaven and earth are destroyed, what bes of the countless so-called immortals since heaven and earth''s creation?"


    Wu Yuan was stunned. He had never considered such things.


    The destruction of heaven and earth? Beyond the macrocosmy the vast river of space and time, with numerous other macrocosms.


    This question seemed too distant for him. After all, Wu Yuan was just a small fry at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase.


    "Indeed, these questions are too far removed from your current situation," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi couldn''t help but smile, shaking his head slightly. "But even the essence of Greater Laws cannot persist after the destruction of heaven and earth.


    Some Daos existed before the cosmic universe''s creation; after our cosmic universe''s extinction, they will likely continue to exist.


    These Daos can be called the Immutable Daos. They have transcended the concepts of space and time," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes held a hint of longing.


    Wu Yuan listened, trembling.


    Transcending the concepts of time and space?


    "These Immutable Daos share amon name�� Great Daos!" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "They are also known as the Essence Great Daos."


    "Essence Great Daos? Immutable Daos? Great Daos?" Wu Yuan was astonished.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan recalled something he had seen in the Dao Temple��an option toprehend an Essence Great Dao once! It cost one hundred points for a singleprehension simtion.


    At the time, Wu Yuan didn''t fully understand the significance of the Essence Great Dao. Today, he finally understood. It turned out to be a Dao that transcended the essence of the cosmic universe, surpassing the concepts of time and space. Truly, heaven and earth might perish, but the Dao remained eternal!


    "You''re not wrong. Where there is Dao, there are beings whoprehend it. The Thunder Beast Diagrams you observed likely reveal Dao patterns of an Essence Great Dao," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said solemnly.


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.


    These Thunder Beast Diagrams contained such profound mysteries?


    "However,prehending the Essence Great Dao is considered a divergent path for countless immortal cultivators," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said softly.


    "A divergent path?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    How could such a powerful cultivation path be considered divergent?


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined, "Take the Greater Laws, for instance. Though profound, their Dao essences at least exist, offering the possibility of sensing it.


    Their existence allows countless immortal cultivators to perceive andprehend them," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Indeed! The existence of Dao essence was like a beacon of light in the vast darkness for countless immortal cultivators, pointing the way forward.


    "But the Essence Great Daos are different. The Great Daos are supreme, transcending heaven and earth, surpassing space and time. They are not merely profound, but traceless," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly. "You simply cannot sense the existence of the Essence Great Daos.


    Comprehension? Without any essence toprehend, you can only explore a Great Dao on your own.


    Even if you step onto the path of a Great Dao, you can neither verify it nor receive feedback, and there''s no guidance whatsoever," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sighed softly.


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    He vaguely understood. For instance, whenprehending the Law of Celestial Body, he naturally sensed the Dao essence upon reaching the True Intent stage, receiving guidance in hisprehension, and making the process more efficient. The same applied toprehending the Law of Space.


    But the Great Daos? They were traceless.


    "On top of that, because the Great Daos transcend heaven and earth, the further you progress along this path, the more heaven and earth will push back against you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, shaking his head slightly. "The effects of Dao Assimtion will also intensify.


    If youprehend the Law of Life or the Law of Space, perhaps you''d have a glimmer of hope of fullyprehending it within a million years," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "But if youprehend a Great Dao?"


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi didn''t finish his sentence, but Wu Yuan could understand �C there wasn''t a shred of hope.


    "Of course,prehending the Great Dao isn''t that easy either,�� Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi suddenly smiled. "The Dao patterns constituting the Thunder Beast Diagrams you observed are probably just the most superficial Domain stage patterns of a Great Dao."


    "If they contained the True Intent of a Great Dao, these Great Dao patterns simply wouldn��t persist under the suppression of heaven and earth and would dissipate."


    "Even the Essence Great Dao relics in the eldritch world only contain just the most superficial Great Dao patterns. Even so, left there for countless ages, few can even cross the threshold ofprehension," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "To be able to gain even a bit of insight would make one a monstrous prodigy."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Indeed! From what he had observed, the Dao patterns revealed in the Thunder Beast Diagram involved five Greater Laws: Thunder, Fire, Wood, Earth, and Space. Perhaps there were also other hidden Dao profundities that he hadn''t noticed.


    Combining parts or even all of the profundities of numerous Greater Laws into one? Just thinking about it made Wu Yuan''s heart tremble. Possessing an aptitude for two Daos was already almost inconceivable.


    "Of course, one may face many difficulties attempting toprehend the Great Dao, but the Great Dao is supreme, and countless legends have persisted through endless ages. Over the long years, there have still been a few peerless geniuses who refused to believe it impossible, or by some stroke of fate, stepped onto this path. Unfortunately, they all perished in the end," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said slowly.


    "Of course, cultivating the Great Dao isn''t all disadvantages; there are two major benefits.


    First is power! Just mastering a fraction of a Great Dao''s profundities is enough to rival someone who has fullyprehended a Lesser Law," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    Wu Yuan listened in awe. How domineering!


    By mastering just a fraction of its profundities, one could rival an Archimmortal?


    "With a bit moreprehension, one would possess power rivaling an Astral Monarch," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "After all, this is a Great Dao."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    It appeared Astral Monarch Wan Lei might notprehended a Great Dao to a profound level.


    "Secondly, a Great Dao transcends the cosmic universe, thus suppressing many of the workings of heaven and earth, resulting in various marvels," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said, shaking his head slightly. "However, for different orders of life, the effects produced are also different.


    Many secrets remain obscure, even to me," he admitted.


    "In essence, even after ten or a hundred cycles of birth and destruction, a realm like our Greenridge Macrocosm would likely never produce a supreme being capable of fully mastering a Great Dao," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused softly.


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.


    The Great Dao was indeed an inconceivable path. Sess would be miraculous, but the difficulty was equally extreme.


    "Do you wish to attempt toprehend a fraction of this Thunder Beast Diagram''s profundities?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi gazed at his disciple.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Then give it a try," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "In fact, we Sovereigns specte that the Immutable Land was created by some supreme being, hence its name."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    Immutable Dao? Immutable Land! So this was the origin of its name.


    "It is no coincidence that you have received this opportunity. Even I cannot predict its deeper implications," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said thoughtfully.


    "There is likely a special reason behind the cement of the Immutable Land��s entrance in the Thunder Marsh World.


    Regardless of other factors, if you canprehend even a sliver of a Great Dao''s profundities, it will be enough to upy you for eons toe. Perhaps it will be the key to you fullyprehending a Greater Law in the future," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "However, I cannot guide you inprehending it.


    Just one piece of advice: don''t immerse yourself too deeply into it. The Great Dao is unfathomable. If you lose yourselfpletely in it, unable to extricate yourself, even I won''t be able to help you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi cautioned.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.


    "Go on, then."


    ...


    <i>In the Thunder Marsh World, at the stone wall diagrams in Area 1.</i>


    <i>So this is the true origin of how the Immutable Land got its name? Dao patterns of a Great Dao? </i>Wu Yuan gazed at the distant Thunder Beast Diagram, awestruck.


    <i>These patterns are a hundred, no, a thousand times more profound than Celestial Body True Intent or Longevity True Intent individually. Yet they contain merely the most superficial profundities of a Great Dao?</i> Wu Yuan found it inconceivable.


    Slightly more profound Dao patterns of a Great Dao would be dispersed by the invisible pressure of heaven and earth?


    <i>Master''s advice is correct. This Great Dao is incredibly difficult toprehend, with no guidance or reference.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Moreover, Thunder and Fire are not my strong suits.</i>


    The best choice is the one that suits one best.


    <i>Nevertheless, I''ll give it my all. If I can grasp even a fraction of this Great Dao''s artistic conception, it could greatly benefit me. </i>Wu Yuan concentrated on contemting it.


    <i>This artistic conception! Profound, serene, endless... life.</i> Wu Yuan gradually immersed himself, attempting to understand.


    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.


    <i>The thirty-sixth Thunder Beast Diagram resonates with me the most. </i>Wu Yuan confirmed his direction after contemting all seventy-three diagrams.


    This particr diagram brought the most joy to his spirit. The Dao patterns within were unfathomably profound. Yet on the surface, this thunder beast was simply loungingzily on the ground, taking a nap.

 Chapter 588: Creation Essence Diagram

    <h4>Chapter 588: Creation Essence Diagram</h4>


    Wu Yuan had spent over ten days contemting the seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams. With each passing day, Wu Yuan grew more astonished to discover how well-suited each diagram''s artistic conception was to his own nature.


    The profundities of the Dao contained within each Thunder Beast Diagram centered around Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain. The Laws of Thunder and Fire were only supplementary aspects.


    The thirty-sixth Thunder Beast Diagram resonated most deeply with Wu Yuan. As the diagram with the fewest profundities of Thunder and Fire, it was the most suitable one for Wu Yuan toprehend.


    <i>Rest? Peace? Enjoying life? Perhaps these are the most cherished, carefree aspects of existence.</i> Wu Yuan mused, a faint smile ying across his lips.


    Though he yearned to reach the pinnacle of cultivation, deep in his spirit, moments of tranquility were dear to him, such as the years his body refiner self had spent in seclusion in the Middle Land.


    Given the choice, Wu Yuan preferred nothing more than to bask in the serenity of an untroubled life.


    Wu Yuan exhaled softly, immersing himself in the pressure emanating from the diagram, pondering over its profound artistic conception.


    He eveny down on the ground, just as he had when delving into the profundities of the Land in the past. It bore a striking simrity to the thunder beast''s posture depicted in the diagram.


    <i>To truly grasp the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of this Thunder Beast Diagram, I must emte itpletely.</i> Wu Yuan thought, disregarding the curious gazes of the surrounding immortal cultivators.


    The lotus position, with one''s upper body aligned with the heavens, had long been considered the optimal posture for Daoprehension throughout the vast macrocosm. Yet it was not universally applicable to all individuals or circumstances.


    Meanwhile, within Wu Yuan''s internal shambh, surging vital ether roiled, pulverizing one second-grade Thunder Beast Stone after another.


    Most Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses would never think of doing such a thing, for it obliterated the power of thunder within, leaving only its core Dao patterns. What was the point of that?


    A single second-grade Thunder Beast Stone was valuable enough to make even Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses salivate with desire.


    Thus, the secret ofbining Thunder Beast Stone cores to form Thunder Beast Diagrams remained unknown even to the ordinary Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the six major sects.


    Over the next few hours, more than eight hundred second-grade Thunder Beast Stones were reduced to dust. Countless streaks of lightning dispersed, causing Wu Yuan''s internal shambh to shimmer with innumerable shes of thunder.


    However, Wu Yuan''s soul essence focused solely on the thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments from Thunder Beast Stones now floating within his internal shambh.


    <i>Combine! </i>Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    Instantly, the thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments began to dance, swiftly ovepping with the projected image of the Thunder Beast Diagram.


    Just as Wu Yuan had anticipated, the fragments coalesced into a single, massive, andplete Thunder Beast Diagram in mere moments. The instant it formed, a faint yet distinct spiritual resonance and pressure manifested.


    <i>Sess!</i> Wu Yuan''s heart leaped with excitement, only for him to quickly realize: <i>it seems the artistic conception and spiritual resonance are significantly weaker than those of a true Thunder Beast Diagram.</i>


    Still, Wu Yuan did not feel disheartened.


    <i>At the very least, I can continue toprehend it even after leaving the Thunder Marsh World. </i>Wu Yuan thought with a smile.


    Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through his internal shambh. Not far from where he stood, the previously dormant milky-white orb of light shed violently.


    <i>The Thunder Marsh Spirit?</i> Wu Yuan startled.


    Before he could react, the orb-like Thunder Marsh Spirit darted forward, plunging directly into the newly constructed Thunder Beast Diagram formed from the three hundred Thunder Beast Stone Dao pattern fragments!


    In that instant, a thunderous boom reverberated as the Thunder Marsh Spirit erupted. Countless lightning bolts danced across the surface of the Thunder Beast Diagram, causing its aura to surge dramatically. Both its pressure and spiritual resonance began to climb rapidly.


    <i>Oh? The fusion of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit produces such an unexpected transformation?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes glimmered with surprise and delight.


    Swiftly, the power manifested by the Thunder Beast Diagram within Wu Yuan''s internal shambh grew until it matched the level of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. As the Thunder Marsh Spirit continued to flicker, its pressure and spiritual resonance rose, growing closer to perfection.


    ...


    Just as it surpassed the level of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall, an immeasurable, formless pressure descended from all directions within Wu Yuan''s internal shambh.


    Though this pressure did not seem particrly strong at first nce, it sent a shiver of fear through Wu Yuan''s heart!


    This pressure seemed to ignore the constraints of space, manifesting directly within Wu Yuan''s internal shambh from some unknowable source. It bore down directly upon every facet of his soul.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Wu Yuan felt his entire soul quake, his mind ringing like a struck bell. Even his upper dantian lobe seemed to destabilize.


    This pressure, while simr to a soul attack, was entirely different. It instinctively evoked a profound sense of terror within Wu Yuan. It left him feeling as though he was facing the very heavens themselves, utterly powerless to resist.


    Wu Yuan could only watch helplessly as this pressure swept over him. Yet he had a vague sense that the ultimate target of this soul-crushing force was not himself, but rather��the Thunder Beast Diagram now fused with the Thunder Marsh Spirit.


    <i>Crack!</i> Wu Yuan''s soul essence could only look on in horror as countless fissures appeared on the surface of the Thunder Beast Diagram he had painstakingly constructed, its aura and pressure still in the midst of rising.


    <i>Damn it!</i> Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, struggling to resist.


    <i>Hum~</i> The pressure intensified slightly, rendering Wu Yuan''s soul essencepletely immobile. The disparity between them was as vast as the gulf between heaven and earth.


    At that moment, an invisible ripple suddenly emanated from the ck pagoda, enveloping Wu Yuanpletely.


    Instantly, the unfathomable and terrifying pressure vanished without a trace. As if it had never existed at all.


    It took a long moment for Wu Yuan to fully regain his senses. His heart pounded with shock.


    <i>Where did that mysterious, formless pressuree from? Did the ck pagoda save me once again?</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts turned to the ck pagoda within his upper dantian lobe.


    Unfortunately, the ck pagoda remained as silent and still as ever, as if it had nothing to do with the invisible ripple that had shielded Wu Yuan.


    <i>Thank you.</i> Wu Yuan silently expressed his gratitude.


    His attention returned to the Thunder Beast Diagram he had constructed within his internal shambh...and froze in astonishment.


    At this moment, the aura and pressure emanating from this Thunder Beast Diagram��formed from the cores of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit��far surpassed that of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. Its spiritual resonance and artistic conception were leagues beyond!


    It was as if this was the original, and the Thunder Beast Diagram etched onto the stone wall outside was merely an imitation.


    <i>This...?</i> Wu Yuan''s heart surged with both shock and joy.


    He was shocked that such a Thunder Beast Diagram, surpassing the original, had appeared before him. It was utterly astounding.


    He rejoiced because with such a Thunder Beast Diagram, he could perceive it with much greater rity, and hisprehension efficiency would far exceed what he could achieve by observing the original Thunder Beast Diagram.


    Though it had cost him a great number of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit, the price was well worth it.


    <i>So arge number of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit can form such a Thunder Beast Diagram? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    But then, his mind shed back to that formless pressure, as indomitable as the heavens themselves. Without the protection of the ck pagoda, this incredible Thunder Beast Diagram before him would surely have been destroyed.


    <i>If my conjecture is correct, that wave of pressure just now must have originated from the essence of the vast heaven and earth. This Thunder Beast Diagram likely exceeded the limits permitted by heaven and earth''s essence. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    The operation of heaven and earth''s essence did not allow for the external manifestation of a Great Dao��s essence that transcended time and space.


    <i>The Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls of the za outside probably contain the profundities of the Dao and spiritual resonance at a depth permitted by this vast heaven and earth��merely the most superficial profundities of this Great Dao''s essence.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon the distant Thunder Beast Diagram.


    <i>This Thunder Beast Diagram, however, likely represents the true,plete profundities of the Thunder Beast Diagram, unrestrained by heaven and earth''s essence!</i>


    Beyond Wu Yuan''s own efforts, this was the result of the numerous second-grade Thunder Beast Stones, the Thunder Marsh Spirit, and insights gleaned from countless Thunder Beast Diagrams. And of course��the ck pagoda!


    <i>ording to Master Kua Chi, there are only dozens of relics simr to the Thunder Beast Diagrams in the entire macrocosm? </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>Could it be that even my Master and his peers are unable to resist the pressure of heaven and earth''s essence? Incapable of creating such marvels?</i>


    Wu Yuan couldn''t be certain of this.


    Take Astral Monarch Wan Lei, for instance. He had left behind the Thunder Marsh World, numerous Thunder Beast Diagrams, and even the Thunder Beast Stones he created contained traces of a Great Dao��s essence.


    What about Sovereigns? They were beings whopletely surpassed Astral Monarchs, truly mastering a Greater Law, and were considered unrivaled throughout the macrocosm.


    <i>I''m not sure if Master can achieve this, but I''m certain the ck pagoda can. </i>Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly.


    The ck pagoda was unfathomably mysterious! Every time he glimpsed its wondrous abilities, his heart trembled with awe.


    <i>The being who created the ck pagoda must be an unparalleled powerhouse, surpassing even the Sovereigns.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>The Origin Pagoda? The ck pagoda in my upper dantian lobe is likely not its true form.</i>


    As his cultivation level increased and he understood more of the profundities of heaven and earth, Wu Yuan felt increasingly insignificant.


    As the saying goes: the more you know, the more you realize how little you know.


    <i>Never mind.Those matters are far beyond my reach. This Thunder Beast Diagram is the result of the ck pagoda''s assistance and my own efforts. </i>Wu Yuan smiled softly.


    If he hadn''t seized this opportunity and devoted himself toprehending the Thunder Beast Diagram, the ck pagoda wouldn''t have been able to help him.


    ...


    <i>The Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls outside might be treasures, but in the eyes of Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns, they��re probably insignificant. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been left there for millions of years. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Within his internal shambh, Wu Yuan''s soul essence observed this newly forged Thunder Beast Diagram, born from piecing together numerous fragments.


    <i>Once formed, it can''t be separated again? Was it the Thunder Marsh Spirit that merged the Dao pattern diagram fragments from three hundred Thunder Beast Stones into one?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, processing the information he gleaned from this new diagram.


    <i>This new Thunder Beast Diagram contains deeper Dao profundities than the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. Most importantly, the spiritual resonance contained within the diagram is dozens of times stronger.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with excitement.


    A spiritual resonance dozens of times stronger didn''t mean it was dozens of times more precious. It could be thousands or tens of thousands of times more valuable!


    Moreover, given the ck pagoda''s miraculous nature, Wu Yuan wondered if there was another Thunder Beast Diagram of the same caliber in the entire macrocosm.


    Of course, Wu Yuan didn''t dare to be too certain. After all, the macrocosm was vast, and perhaps someone else had experienced an equally miraculous encounter.


    <i>However, after this transformation, calling it a Thunder Beast Diagram doesn''t seem appropriate anymore. I''ll call it...</i>


    For some inexplicable reason, as if guided by an invisible power, a term suddenly shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. He murmured to himself, "Creation, the Creation Essence Diagram."


    Creating all things, birthing life. This mysterious Great Dao Essence Diagram subtly epassed the Law of Life, making Wu Yuan feel that the name ''Creation'' perfectly captured its profound nature.


    Creation!


    <i>I hope this Creation Essence Diagram will truly allow me to fathom the workings of creation andprehend the profundities of the Law of Life.</i> Wu Yuan thought as he settled his mind.


    He calmed himself, fully immersing in the contemtion of the newly born Creation Essence Diagram within his internal shambh.


    As he did so, his understanding of the spiritual resonance within the diagram began to skyrocket.

 Chapter 589: Finally Comprehending The Law Of Life

    <h4>Chapter 589: Finally Comprehending The Law Of Life</h4>


    After conversing with Master Kua Chi and learning the secrets of the immutable Great Daos, Wu Yuan vaguely realized the magnitude of the opportunity presented by the Creation Essence Diagram.


    <i>A great opportunity! Perhaps it was an unintentional act on the ck pagoda��s part, yet it has brought me an incredible blessing.</i>


    <i>This Creation Essence Diagram is likely far more precious than any legendary root establishment treasure. Most peerless geniuses throughout history have probably never seen one.</i>


    <i>With the aid of the Creation Essence Diagram, I can certainly go much further.</i>


    Of course, even with the Creation Essence Diagram, Wu Yuan still dared not attempt toprehend an Essence Great Dao. He firmly remembered Master Kua Chi''s warning.


    <i>As of now, I haven''t even begun to grasp a single Greater Law... forget about reaching Master''s level, any random High Immortal could crush me with a single hand.</i>


    One step at a time.


    <i>This Creation Essence Diagram is centered around the Longevity Dao...</i> Wu Yuan''s understanding deepened as he contemted.


    Perceiving the wondrous spiritual resonance, hisprehension of the diagram reached new depths.


    <i>In Creation or Life, the most important aspect is this Longevity. Compared to inanimate objects, life possesses infinite possibilities and futures...</i> Wu Yuan mused thoughtfully.<i> Is this the distition of the Law of Life��s profundities?</i>


    ...


    Though he hadpleted the Creation Essence Diagram, Wu Yuan was in no rush to leave the stone walls. After all, the entire Thunder Marsh World was fraught with danger, and ces where one could cultivate in peace were few and far between.


    Moreover, although the Creation Essence Diagram was excellent, it was ultimately just one diagram. The stone walls, however, bore seventy-three diagrams. Even with slight differences between the various Dao pattern diagrams, their core was the same, providing Wu Yuan with ample material for reference and contemtion.


    <i>There are still over four months before the Thunder Marsh token expires. I should set aside at least one month to reach the entrance of the Immutable Land. That leaves me about three months at most toprehend this. </i>Wu Yuan nned.


    His mind was calm. Though he didn��t know what awaited in the Immutable Land, just forming this single Creation Essence Diagram made the journey to the Thunder Marsh World worthwhile.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, nearly two months went by.


    In a dark, damp canyon passage about a hundred thousand li from the Dao pattern diagrams in Area 1, over ten figures wrapped in a hazy earthy-yellow light were advancing at an astonishing speed.


    If Wu Yuan were here, he would instantly recognize four of those figures - Mu Xin, Nie Le, and the Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang, who were responsible for protecting them.


    However, at this moment, the group was not led by the ninth-stage Void Refiner Chi Chang, but rather by a tall, thin figure wearing star-patterned robes and a tall hat.


    His eyes were narrow and long, with a hint of coldness in his pupils, and the aura he emanated was incredibly powerful!


    <i>The speed of an Earth Immortal is truly fast. In just a few short days, we''ve traveled here from the Dao pattern diagrams in Area 4. </i>Nie Le muttered to himself as he flew, wrapped in an invisible force.


    <i>Earth Immortal Qi He. So this is the might of an Earth Immortal. </i>Beside him, the gentle-looking Mu Xin secretly harbored a sense of longing. <i>The Inner Region, which seemed so perilous to Chi Chang, is like t ground before Earth Immortal Qi He. ording to the Earth Immortal, he came from the Core Region?</i>


    <i>When will I be an Earth Immortal?</i>


    Reaching the Void Refiner phase wasn''t too difficult for Mu Xin, but bing an Earth Immortal was another matter entirely. Among hundreds of Void Refiners, barely even one would be an Earth Immortal.


    Earth Immortal Qi He was a rather ordinary Earth Immortal within the Longstar Immortal Sect, but ''ordinary'' was only rtive to other Earth Immortals. In terms of absolute strength, he was undoubtedly formidable.


    He had led the group of teams from the Longstar Immortal Sect to the Thunder Marsh World. Having just emerged from the Core Region, he nned to visit and contemte each of the Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls throughout the Inner Region.


    Along the way, he encountered the team led by Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang, naturally bringing them along.


    "Hmm?" Earth Immortal Qi He abruptly halted, then waved his hand. The entire team, enveloped by his Earth Immortal mana, quickly came to a stop. At the same time, countless points of light converged to form a light screen projection.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Elder." Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, Mu Xin, and the others were puzzled and couldn''t help but look toward the light screen projection.


    "Hmm?"


    "Is that... Shadow de!"


    "It''s Shadow de." Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and the others recognized him immediately.


    In the light screen projection, they saw Wu Yuan, whose outer appearance was rather rugged, lyingfortably on a patch of grass in a za, with a saber ced beside him.


    "His appearance is a match, he''s alone, and at the ninth-stage Shambh phase," Earth Immortal Qi He said in a sharp voice. "He must be the Shadow de you mentioned, the one who possesses a puppet at the level of an early-stage Earth Immortal, right?"


    "Yes," Chi Chang quickly replied.


    "Searching far and wide yields nothing, yet ites effortlessly when least expected," Earth Immortal Qi He''s eyes gleamed slightly. "I thought we wouldn''t encounter him and miss out on the treasure. How fortunate to have run into him here."


    A moment of silence fell.


    Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, Nie Le, and the other Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses all stared at Earth Immortal Qi He in disbelief, finding it hard to believe what they were hearing.


    From the Earth Immortal''s words, it seemed he intended to make a move against Shadow de?


    "Elder, shouldn''t we be more cautious? This Shadow de came here with our Longstar Immortal Sect''s token, didn''t he?" A Void Refiner Eminence voiced his reservations, "If we do this and word gets out, it might not be good for us."


    "Nonsense." Earth Immortal Qi He''s eyes narrowed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, an invisible giant palm struck the Void Refiner Eminence, sending him flying.


    Like a meteor, the Void Refiner Eminence was smashed into the ground, coughing up blood. His face paled with terror as he pleaded, "Elder, spare me! Elder, please spare me!"


    Seeing this, the others in the group were equally shocked.


    "The Thunder Marsh World is an exploration site where one undergoes trials of life or death. What connection does he, a foreign trialist, have with our Longstar Immortal Sect?" Mu Xin suddenly spoke up. "Besides, what trouble could possibly arise from the elder killing some Shambh cultivator?"


    "Hmm, not bad." Earth Immortal Qi He nced at Mu Xin and nodded approvingly. "If I remember correctly, your name is... Mu Xin, right?"


    "Elder," Mu Xin responded respectfully.


    "Does anyone else have any objections?" Earth Immortal Qi He''s gaze swept over the other Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators, most of whom dared not make a sound.


    "Elder," Chi Chang steeled himself and said, "This Shadow de''s personal strength may not be a concern, but doesn''t he possess an Earth Immortal puppet? Shouldn''t we be cautious?


    Moreover, with such a powerful life-saving item, he might have a significant background. Perhaps he''s even a disciple of some super powerhouse."


    "An Earth Immortal puppet? It''s just an early-stage Earth Immortal puppet," Earth Immortal Qi He gave Chi Chang a look, then turned back to the light screen.


    Chi Chang immediately fell silent.


    <i>No matter how strong the puppet is, the strength it can unleash depends on the user.</i> Earth Immortal Qi He thought coldly to himself. <i>A single soul attack from me would severely injure him. Even the most powerful treasures are useless if one can''t deploy them.</i>


    As for Shadow de''s background, how could Earth Immortal Qi He not understand that concept?


    <i>I''ve cultivated for over sixty thousand years, yet still see no hope of a breakthrough. If I don''t take a gamble or risks, choosing to cultivate step by step, umting wealth bit by bit, what hope will I have?</i> Earth Immortal Qi He''s heart hardened.


    The path of immortal cultivation was inherently about wing for that sliver of hope for survival.


    So-called risks only existed when the potential benefits weren''t great enough. If the benefits were sufficientlyrge, forget a possible core disciple of Autumn Lake Hall, even the offspring of an Astral Monarch wouldn��t be spared.


    In Earth Immortal Qi He''s eyes, Wu Yuan was a great opportunity sent by the heavens. As for the Earth Immortal puppet? That was precisely what he was after.


    <i>An early-stage Earth Immortal puppet is worth at least several thousand divine crystals, tens of times my own wealth. If I find a ce to sell it and exchange it for some treasures, it would greatly increase my strength. Then, I could venture to more perilousnds and increase my hopes of breaking through.</i>


    <i>At worst, I''ll flee the sect and escape this immortal continent''s spacetime territory after killing him.</i> Earth Immortal Qi He had thought it through clearly.


    This was a gamble worth taking. If he broke through sessfully, he could roam the world for a million years!


    <i>My Soul Force can cover over a hundred thousand li. He won''t be able to detect it.</i>


    "Everyone, wait here," Earth Immortal Qi He said coldly. "We��ll wait for him to leave the za."


    "Yes," the group had no choice but toply.


    ...


    While Earth Immortal Qi Hey in wait over a hundred thousand li away from the canyon passage, Wu Yuan was naturally oblivious to his schemes.


    Such was the terrifying nature of the Yuan Soul. Just as Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had once utilized his Yuan Soul to wreak havoc on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, the roles were reversed today.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan remained immersed in his cultivation.


    Time continued to flow.


    <i>This spiritual resonance, these profundities... </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner selfpletely focused on the Creation Essence Diagram and the numerous Thunder Beast Diagrams, seeking toprehend that spiritual resonance.


    Peaceful,fortable, gentle, and unending... Wu Yuan''s understanding of the integration of the three Daos�CTrue Domain, Celestial Body, and Longevity�Cdeepened.


    Suddenly, as if everything had fallen into ce, Wu Yuan��s surroundings seemed to grow quiet. Space stilled, and even the gentle breeze ceased to blow.


    Within the internal shambh, around Wu Yuan''s soul essence, the profundities of the three Intermediate Laws��Celestial Body, Longevity, and True Domain��manifested and intertwined, seemingly undergoing a qualitative change as they truly began to merge into one.


    The moment they fused, Wu Yuan had a sudden epiphany. He vaguely glimpsed... in the vast void, a magnificent heaven and earth being born, followed by countless matter converging to form stars... Then, innumerable lives began to emerge and multiply on those celestial bodies...


    True Domain represented space.


    Celestial Body represented matter.


    Longevity represented life force.


    When these three converged and united at a single point, it led to most fundamental elements for the birth of life.


    Heaven and earth were originally deste, their workings conformed to their fundamental nature. Only life held infinite possibilities and futures...The entire heaven and earth became vibrant and colorful because of countless lives!


    Silently and imperceptibly, the instant Wu Yuan vaguelyprehended the essence of Life, the three Intermediate Laws converged and unified. A new profundity of the Dao was born, and a great yet hazy Dao fluctuationpletely enveloped Wu Yuan.


    This thread of Dao fluctuation was incredibly faint, even weaker than the fluctuations of Celestial Body True Intent. Yet it contained a terrifying pressure disproportionate to its power.


    Greater Law��Life.


    ...


    <i>Rumble~ </i>As heprehended the Law of Life, the faint and hazy Law fluctuations enveloped him, transforming Wu Yuan''s body rapidly.


    This was especially so for the ��Great Eldritch Divine Body��. This grand ether art was fundamentally based on the Law of Life. Previously, Wu Yuan had already cultivated it to the peak of the third step with only hisprehension of Longevity and Celestial Body.


    Now, with his sudden breakthrough inprehending the Law of Life, this grand ether art began to evolve and advance towards the fourth step, causing Wu Yuan''s body to undergo immense changes.


    ...


    Wu Yuan had merely crossed the threshold of the Greater Law, notprehend its True Intent, so the fluctuations were very faint. Combined with the deliberate concealment on Wu Yuan��s part, the other immortal cultivators in the za did not notice the anomalies around him.


    <i>After a long while.</i>


    <i>Unexpectedly, by contemting the Creation Essence Diagram and sensing its spiritual resonance and artistic conception, I naturally broke through?</i> Wu Yuan revealed a barely perceptible smile.


    Originally, he had nned toprehend the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of this Creation Essence Diagram, then attempt to break through to the Law of Life.


    Who would have thought that he would break through so easily?


    Of course, Wu Yuan also understood that this was due to his deepprehension of the three Intermediate Laws of True Domain, Longevity, and Celestial Body, as well as the silver sphere bestowed by Master Kua Chi, which allowed him to achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop.


    <i>The Law of Life.</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts stirred.


    He felt a faint green light emerge on the surface of his body. It was almost undetectable, yet the power it contained was terrifyingly formidable.


    <i>I fear it can rival the Dao Field stage of Lesser Laws,parable to theprehension of ordinary Earth Immortals.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <i>Truly worthy of being a Greater Law.</i>


    Moreover, Wu Yuan was well aware that he was merely at the initiate threshold, having justprehended a hint of the profundities of the Dao. Therefore, the improvements in his strength would not be significant.


    However, with some more time, once heprehended Life True Intent, Wu Yuan would be able to rival ordinary Archimmortals in terms of Daoprehension.


    <i>Master Kua Chi��s task for me was to break through within three hundred years, but I''ve done it in just thirty. </i>There was a slight gleam in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    His speed of cultivation was unbelievable.


    <i>Myprehension of the True Domain Dao has already reached the eighth-level Domain stage, and I estimate it will reach the ninth-level Domain stage within ten years... In other words, as long as I cultivate methodically from now on, I canprehend the Law of Life all the way to the ninth-level Domain stage in one go.</i> Wu Yuan was clear about the path ahead.


    The ninth-level Domain stage of a Greater Law��this would be considered top-tierprehension even among High Immortals and High Eldritches.


    <i>Hmm? The Great Eldritch Divine Body, this grand ether art, has evolved to the fourth step under the principles of the Law of Life? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes brightened slightly.


    It was due to this grand ether art that he had dared to fight ninth-stage Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses head-on.


    The power exhibited by grand ether arts also depended on the individual''s ability. Some Shambh cultivators with second-degree immortal roots or third-degree immortal roots might cultivate grand ether arts, but what of it? Without sufficient Daoprehension, they might not even reach the third step.


    <i>The robustness of my body, once boosted with ether, is close to that of a low-grade spirion artifact?</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.


    With such a formidable body, coupled with high-grade spirion battle armor, he wouldn��t need to worry even if Void Refiner cultivators bombarded him madly with arcane arts.


    <i>Afterprehending the Law of Life, the increase in my attack power is minimal, but my self-preservation ability has improved by anotherrge margin. </i>Wu Yuan was extremely satisfied.


    Before striking others, one must first learn to take hits.


    <i>Having crossed the threshold of the Law of Life, these Thunder Beast Diagrams are of little use to me now.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the distant Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    He wasn''t trying toprehend the profundities of the Dao within these Thunder Beast Diagrams after all.


    <i>Moreover, I''ve already formed a Creation Essence Diagram. It''s time to leave and prepare to enter the Immutable Land.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Having made the decision, he didn''t hesitate and stood up.


    He swiftly chose a direction and headed towards the canyon passage on the right.


    ...


    <i>Deep in the canyon passage on the right, about 100,000 li from Wu Yuan��s location.</i>


    <i>Hmm?</i> Earth Immortal Qi He, who had been sitting quietly in the air on one side of the canyon, suddenly opened his eyes. ��Is heing? Finally.��

 Chapter 590: Shadow Moon, Annihilate Them All (1)

    <h4>Chapter 590: Shadow Moon, Annihte Them All (1)</h4>


    With his soul cultivation at the Yuan Soul level, Earth Immortal Qi He could extend his Soul Will over a hundred thousand li even within the Thunder Marsh World.


    Moreover, his soul was an entire level higher, which was a fundamental difference. Thus, he could perceive Wu Yuan''s movements, while Wu Yuan remainedpletely unaware of his presence.


    Earth Immortal Qi He exhaled and stood up.


    "He��sing?"


    "What''s happening?" Chi Chang, Mu Xin, Protectorate Fang, Nie Le, and the others sitting nearby opened their eyes and looked towards Earth Immortal Qi He.


    "Wait here," Earth Immortal Qi He said coldly, offering no further exnation.


    He only knew Wu Yuan''s appearance. As for his soul aura? Before entering the Thunder Marsh World, he hadn''t bothered to pay attention to a Shambh disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall.


    An Autumn Lake Hall disciple? The name sounded intimidating, but it only intimidated Void Refiner and Amethyst Cradle cultivators. For immortals? They didn''t care at all.


    This was also why the Longstar Immortal Sect hadn''t sent any immortals to receive Wu Yuan when he first arrived.


    Yes, the Autumn Lake Hall was powerful. But they recruited tens of thousands of formal disciples every few hundred to thousand years. Why would the upper echelons of the Longstar Immortal Sect care about an ordinary disciple?


    Even if it were a High Immortal from the Autumn Lake Hall, the Longstar Immortal Sect still wouldn''t fear them. After all, the Longstar Immortal Sect also had its own group of Archimmortals, with the powerful Ling Huan Immortal Nation backing them. The Ling Huan Immortal Nation was in no way inferior to the Autumn Lake Hall.


    Of course, Wu Yuan was certainly no ordinary disciple, but one with a powerful background. Otherwise, how could he possess an Earth Immortal puppet worth the entire fortune of a High Immortal?


    Logically, an ordinary Earth Immortal of the Longstar Immortal Sect would be unwilling to provoke someone with such a background upon learning of it. Unfortunately, he encountered Earth Immortal Qi He, who was determined to seize his treasures.


    Time went by.


    A short whileter, Earth Immortal Qi He raised both hands. Instantly, streams of earthy-yellow Earth Immortal mana began to interweave and gather in his palms, surging and roiling like a miniature star being born. The mana gathered andpressed, with countless Dao cryptic patterns intertwined within.


    Gradually, a faint flush appeared on Earth Immortal Qi He''s face. Unleashing such a powerful arcane art was clearly quite taxing even for him.


    The pressure emanating from this palm-sized star made the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses present shiver, let alone Mu Xin and the other Amethyst Cradle cultivators.


    <i>So this is an immortal-level arcane art.</i> Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang exchanged nces, both watching with bated breath.


    In closebat and sudden ambushes, body refiners naturally held the advantage. However, given sufficient time and space, even an ordinary Earth Immortal could cast terrifyingly powerful arcane arts. This was the advantage qi refiners held.


    The difficulty of attacking their of an Archimmortal versus their of an Archdeity was vastly different. Even an Astral Lord would be reluctant to invade their of an ordinary Archimmortal.


    A full ten breaths passed.


    "Go!" Earth Immortal Qi He suddenly thrust out both palms. In an instant, the earthy-yellow orb of light in his hands transformed into a streak of light and roared forth.


    Ten thousand li per second! Thirty thousand li per second! A hundred thousand li per second!


    <i>Boom! </i>This earthy-yellow streak of light,pressed to extremes, elerated to an incredibly terrifying speed. With overwhelming force, it swept through the entire canyon passage like a lightning bolt.


    At this moment, Earth Immortal Qi He was only thirty thousand li away from Wu Yuan.


    Thirty thousand li sounded far, but the arcane art would reach Wu Yuan in less than a second. The horrifying burst of power, especially that fleeting streak of light, made the hearts of Chi Chang and the others shudder.


    <i>Kill him! With the attack power of this ninth-stage Earth Immortal arcane art, a single strike is enough to shatter all obstacles.</i> Earth Immortal Qi He''s eyes were cold.


    <i>There''s an 80-90% chance this Shadow de won''t have time to react at all before perishing. There''s a 10% chance he might activate some protective treasures.</i>


    <i>There''s an extremely small chance he could summon that Earth Immortal level puppet, but even if just 1% of the residual shockwave makes contact with him, it should be enough to kill him. </i>Earth Immortal Qi He was very confident.


    Normally, when ambushed with such an arcane art, even a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator would surely die, and even an ordinary Earth Immortal might perish.


    Moreover, the moment Earth Immortal Qi He had cast the arcane art, he also transformed into a streak of light. With flying swords orbiting his body, he followed the attack along the canyon passage.


    His speed instantly broke three thousand li per second and continued to elerate. Flying in a straight line, an Earth Immortal could quickly break ten thousand li per second. However, the winding canyon passage prevented him from reaching top speed.


    If Wu Yuan truly had an unbelievable self-preservation ability that allowed him to survive the first arcane art, then Earth Immortal Qi He, following closely behind, would continue attacking to finish off his wounded target.


    It could be said that Earth Immortal Qi He had nned for every contingency. In his mind, no matter what, Wu Yuan could not escape this crisis.


    ...


    <i>I''ve finally crossed the threshold of the Law of Life. It''s a pity there''s no time toprehend the Dao pattern diagrams on the other stone walls one by one. </i>Wu Yuan flew at high speed along the canyon passage, feeling quite joyful.


    Although he had just crossed the initiate threshold of a Greater Law, he still had a long way to go before reaching the True Intent stage of the Life Dao. But the hardest part was always getting started. Having taken the first step, Wu Yuan was naturally excited.


    Of course, due to his past experiences, Wu Yuan remained vignt. His Soul Will maintained a constant scan of his surroundings over a radius of ten thousand li.


    After repeated encounters with powerhouses, Wu Yuan had long understood that thunder beasts, Yuan Soul-level Soul Will, and some Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators who had cultivated special secret arts could all potentially evade his Soul Will detection. It wasn''t foolproof.


    However, maintaining a ten thousand li scan was still better than nothing. At least normal arcane arts, talisman activations, and spiritual qi fluctuations couldn''t escape his Soul Will perception.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly as rm bells went off through his soul.


    Every hair on his body instantly stood on end! It was like an ordinary person suddenly seeing a snarling tiger leap out of the grass just three meters away. An unprecedented sense of impending doom gripped Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Danger! Extreme danger! This feeling was ten times, a hundred times stronger than the sense of crisis Wu Yuan had experienced during the worm devil catastrophe years ago!


    At this moment, Wu Yuan''s Soul Force had already ��seen�� it. Just ten thousand li away, a terrifying earthy-yellow streak of light that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth was hurtling along the canyon passage at a horrifying speed.


    <i>An arcane art? An immortal-level arcane art? </i>This thought shed instinctively through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Ten thousand li? For an immortal-level arcane art, the time required to cross such a distance was practically negligible. His life or death would be determined in this moment.


    Flee? It was impossible to escape! Even a High Immortal''s flight speed couldn''t match the speed of an arcane art.


    Dodge? The canyon passage was too narrow. An arcane art like this would sweep through the entire canyon.


    That left only one option - endure!


    In just one-tenth of a second, this arcane art would reach him. Who would ambush him? Wu Yuan had no time to think about it.


    Wu Yuan waved his hand, and the purple-robed Shadow Moon instantly appeared before him.


    Without any prompting from Wu Yuan. Shadow Moon��s aura already began to surge after sensing the danger. She activated her third form right away.


    <i>Boom! </i>Throwing knives appeared one after another, andyers of golden light materialized and spread. The knife domain instantly took shape, shielding Wu Yuan.


    "Master, Beast Fusion." Likewise, without Wu Yuan''s prompting, Little ck sensed the impending danger just as clearly. A vast wave of ether had already begun pouring into Wu Yuan''s flesh, even faster than Shadow Moon''s deployment of the knife domain. At the same time, a pair of wings appeared, like giant double-edged des, faintly curving to shield Wu Yuan.


    <i>Great Eldritch Divine Body! Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form!</i> Wu Yuan simultaneously unleashed these two grand ether arts. Vital ether surged through him.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan unleashed his full might, his vital aura exploding as high-grade spirion armor covered his entire body, and eight shields materialized in his eight arms.


    As for advanced ether arts like Deity Form, Wu Yuan dared not employ them, for it would transform him into a thousand-zhang giant, making him far more susceptible to the shockwave''s impact.


    In reality, maintaining a Soul Will perception of ten thousand li gave Wu Yuan a moment to detect the ambush. This brief time to react presented Wu Yuan with numerous options, such as using one or two of the immensely powerful artifacts or Dao Treasures he had purchased, such as the Void Divine Talisman.


    However, they were far too costly! Using up a Dao Treasure worth hundreds of divine crystals? Wu Yuan naturally felt the pinch. Though wealthy, he couldn''t squander treasures so carelessly.


    The evolved version of the Great Eldritch Divine Body gave Wu Yuan a measure of confidence. Without this moment to react, Wu Yuan would have had over a 50% chance of dying from this strike, rendering even an abundance of treasures useless, as he wouldn''t have been able to employ them.


    Of course, this all happened in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Boom!!</i> Before Wu Yuan could get a firm hold on the eight shields in his hands, that terrifying earthy-yellow beam of light had already pierced into the knife domain that Shadow Moon had just formed.


    <i>Rumble~</i> It was a frightening collision. Although Shadow Moon managed to form a knife domain, it was far from reaching its peak power and instantly showed signs of copse. Throwing knives flew chaotically in all directions.


    However, Shadow Moon, unleashing the might of a peak-stage Earth Immortal, assembled a truly formidable knife domain. The series of collisions weakened the earthy-yellow beam��s power by over 90%!


    <i>Bang~ </i>The remaining 10% of the beam''s power prated the knife domain, sweeping through the area where Wu Yuan stood.


    A terrifying shockwave spread outward.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Wu Yuan instantly sensed waves of unprecedented force radiating outward, prating through the eight shields and striking his spirion armor directly. The eight shields were violently torn from his grasp. The impact sent Wu Yuan flying backward.


    Knife domain! Shields! Armor! Threeyers of defense weakened over 99% of the power, but the remaining sliver of force still caused Wu Yuan''s Great Eldritch Divine Body to tremble, with faint cracks appearing on his skin��s surface.


    <i>Thud!</i> Wu Yuan''s body crashed violently into a mountain, sending countless rocks flying and causing the entire mountain to quake. He was sted back a full thousand li.


    Finally, the power of the earthy-yellow beam was fully exhausted, its aftershocks continuing to surge through the canyon passage, leaving a trail of destruction for at least several thousand li.

 Chapter 591: Shadow Moon, Annihilate Them All (2)

    <h4>Chapter 591: Shadow Moon, Annihte Them All (2)</h4>


    <i>How terrifying! This strike... my Great Eldritch Divine Body merely endured one percent of the impact, yet it''s still trembling and nearly crumbling.</i> Wu Yuan was shocked inwardly.<i> If I had taken a direct hit, I fear my entire body would have been instantly pulverized.</i>


    <i>This attack must have reached the ninth-stage Earth Immortal level! Is an Earth Immortal attempting to assassinate me?</i> Wu Yuan''s judgment wasn''t wrong.


    This arcane art indeed reached the ninth-stage Earth Immortal level after its attack power was charged up.


    Even after being weakened by the knife domain to just one-tenth of its power, it still matched fourth or fifth-stage Earth Immortal-level power. That was why it could prate through the shields and armor, causing Wu Yuan''s fourth-stage Great Eldritch Divine Body to tremble uncontrobly.


    If the Great Eldritch Divine Body hadn''t evolved, Wu Yuan would have been gravely injured even with Shadow Moon''s knife domain weakening the attack and the armor''s protection! This was the terrifying power of an arcane art unleashed by an Earth Immortal after careful preparation.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan was naturally superior; but in raw power, he was over a thousand times weaker than his opponent. Furthermore, the enemy had the element of surprise.


    "Master, there''s a fifth-stage Earth Immortal cultivator fleeing twenty thousand li away," As a puppet, Shadow Moon appeared to be a qi refiner, but her body was incredibly resilient like an artifact. Protected by armor, she wasrgely unaffected.


    She, too, possessed the ability to scan her surroundings, though not as miraculously as individuals with Yuan Souls.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan, having just narrowly escaped death, was filled with rage, growling, "Go, kill him! Kill every immortal cultivator that poses a threat!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Shadow Moon didn''t respond, transforming instantly into a terrifying streak of light, her speed reaching frightening levels as she pursued the target through the canyon.


    As a puppet, she possessed a certain level of intelligence, but she never questioned her master��s orders. At this moment, her mind focused on a singlemand��kill! Kill everything that threatened her master''s life!!


    ...


    <i>Flee! How is this possible! A puppet at the peak-stage Earth Immortal level?</i> Earth Immortal Qi He was so terrified his soul nearly left his body as he fled.


    Originally, he was confident in his ambush, believing he could kill Wu Yuan with a single strike. However, in his Soul Will��s perception, Wu Yuan summoned the puppet with unbelievable reaction speed, which then unleashed terrifying power.


    At that point, Qi He still held a glimmer of hope, thinking that the remaining 10% of his attack''s power should be enough to easily kill a ninth-stage Shambh phase cultivator.


    Never in his wildest dreams did he expect Wu Yuan to actually withstand the shockwave''s impact!


    <i>A ninth-stage Shambh cultivator enduring an arcane art at the fourth or fifth-stage Earth Immortal level? What kind of monstrous prodigy is this?!</i> Qi He finally realized he had picked the wrong target.


    This Shadow de wasn''t just a core disciple of Autumn Lake Hall; he was likely one of those once-in-a-million-year monstrous prodigies, rarely emerging even throughout the entire macrocosm.


    Qi He didn''t even bother with soul attacks anymore. The fact that Wu Yuan detected the attack in advance essentially told him that Wu Yuan had already reached the Soul Will level. He had to have treasures in ce to guard his soul, so attacking him with soul secret arts was just a waste of time.


    <i>The peak Earth Immortal puppet ising to kill me? </i>Qi He had immediately fled the moment he sensed its might.


    However, his speed was far slower than Shadow Moon''s, who was a puppet. With a distance of twenty thousand li between them, he would be overtaken in no time.


    Realizing this, a hint of ferocity shed in Qi He''s eyes as he gritted his teeth. <i>Having provoked such an enemy, it''s time for my true self to escape.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Qi He''s speed elerated to its limit. In the blink of an eye, he had already rushed through the canyon passage, passing by Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and the others without the slightest pause.


    "What?"


    "Earth Immortal?" Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, Mu Xin, and the others were first stunned, then quickly realized what was happening.


    Their expressions changed dramatically as they transformed into streaks of light, attempting to flee. But by then, it was already toote! Shadow Moon had arrived.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The knife domain, enveloping the sky, swept through everything, the countless de rays ughtering all in their path. The raging knife domain descended towards Chi Chang, Mu Xin, and the others.


    "No!"


    "Shadow de, spare us! Have mercy!" A glimmer of despair shed in Chi Chang''s eyes.


    He could see that the puppet was at least ten times more powerful than he previously thought. He also knew that Wu Yuan was this Earth Immortal puppet��s master.


    "No, don''t," Nie Le''s face paled. "Shadow de, my father is a High-"


    "Childe Shadow de, please don''t, I am Mu-" Mu Xin''s beautiful face revealed a hint of despair, looking so pitiful it evoked an instinctive desire to protect her.


    "No!"


    "Childe Shadow de, spare us..." Other Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators from the Longstar Immortal Sect screamed as they fled and begged for mercy.


    But their speed was far too slowpared to Shadow Moon''s.


    <i>sh~ Whoosh~ sh~</i> With the sweeping knife domain crushing everything, all struggles and pleas for mercy abruptly ceased!


    Chi Chang, dead! Nie Le, dead! Protectorate Fang, dead! Mu Xin, dead!


    Apart from Earth Immortal Qi He, all ten-plus immortal cultivators from the Longstar Immortal Sect perished!


    "Kill!" Shadow Moon''s expression remained icy cold, still fixated on Earth Immortal Qi He frantically fleeing ahead.


    To her, killing a few Void Refiner/Elysian Field or Amethyst Cradle cultivators was no different from killing a few insects.


    Finally, after several more breaths, and a chase spanning over a hundred thousand li, Shadow Moon caught up to Earth Immortal Qi He as they approached a transverse mountain range.


    "Damn it all!" A hint of madness shed in Qi He''s eyes as he waved his hand, instantly summoning numerous spirion artifacts.


    An Earth Dao Field appeared, integrating with various spirion artifacts as Earth Immortal Qi He attempted to put up a resistance.


    ��The Knife Which Annihtes Heaven and Earth, Destroy!" Shadow Moon immediately employed her ultimate move.


    Instantly, a multitude of high-grade spirion throwing knives assembled, forming an incredibly terrifying storm of de rays.


    <i>Boom!</i> The de ray storm tore through the vast sky in an instant!


    It crashed into the Earth Dao Field, scattering the spirion artifacts in the sky and sting through the body of Earth Immortal Qi He, shredding his body to nothingness.


    The shockwave of the collision reverberated in all directions, causing the mountain ranges stretching for tens of thousands of li on both sides of the canyon to tremble subtly.


    Even the artifacts left behind by Earth Immortal Qi He were sent flying chaotically in the terrifying aftermath of the de ray storm.


    "Scanning!" Shadow Moon maintained a state of heightened vignce. "No Yuan Soul aura detected. No abnormal soul fluctuations! 80% probability it''s a mana body."


    "Report back to Master," Shadow Moon swiftly gathered up the numerous artifacts left behind.


    Then, she slowed to a speed of one thousand li per second as she flew back towards Wu Yuan. This was her basic mode, the most energy-efficient form, consuming less than her first form. By contrast, in her third form,bined with the use of arcane arts, she could burn through three divine crystals per second!


    ...


    ��What? It''s likely a mana body?�� Wu Yuan furrowed his brow slightly, a cold glint shing in his eyes as he received Shadow Moon''s report.


    Qi refiners who reached the Divided Soul phase, bing Earth Immortals, could cultivate mana bodies once they generated a Yuan Soul. Body refiners who reach the Dharma Body phase, bing Earth Deities, could cultivate ether bodies.


    Mana bodies and ether bodies possessedbat power approaching that of one''s true self. Even if destroyed, they could be recreated by the true self, making them indispensable tools for immortal cultivators venturing on dangerous expeditions.


    Many cautious immortal cultivators only dispatched their mana bodies or ether bodies when exploring treacherous areas.


    Of course, mana bodies and ether bodies were far less valuable than one''s true self. If the true self perished, the mana body or ether body would instantly fall as well.


    "Correct," Shadow Moon swiftly reported the entire course of the battle.


    "I see. Shadow Moon, this is worrisome. Go rest for now," Wu Yuan said, waving his hand to recall Shadow Moon.


    Then, Wu Yuan quickly conducted a cursory examination of the many artifacts left behind by Earth Immortal Qi He and the others.


    This inspection left him feeling pained!


    <i>Aside from the Thunder Beast Stones, the total value of the remaining treasures likely doesn''t exceed two divine crystals. That damned Earth Immortal Qi He barely allocated any valuables to his mana body. </i>Wu Yuan gritted his teeth.


    His hatred for Earth Immortal Qi He had reached its boiling point. It was worth noting that his battle with Shadow Moonsted a total of twenty-five seconds, consuming seventy-five of Wu Yuan''s divine crystals.


    This expedition resulted in a massive loss for him.


    <i>The only constion is these Thunder Beast Stones. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>There are actually over two thousand second-grade Thunder Beast Stones? But how could an Earth Immortal not have a single first-grade Thunder Beast Stone?</i>


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that Earth Immortal Qi He had left the Core Region because he couldn''t defeat those thunder beast kings. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have needed toe to the Inner Region to study the Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls.


    <i>Hopefully, these Thunder Beast Stones can form several Thunder Beast Diagrams. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    This was the only way topensate for his losses.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed. <i>Mu Xin and Nie Le were also here? Both were killed by Shadow Moon?</i>


    After conducting a more detailed inspection, Wu Yuan had discovered their personal belongings. He felt nothing for either of them. Wu Yuan even harbored a trace of disgust towards Mu Xin, so her death meant little to him.


    <i>But this Nie Le seems to be the offspring of a High Immortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect. </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly. <i>And this Qi He is also an Earth Immortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect. Is his true self still alive?</i>


    <i>I hope this doesn''t cause too much trouble.</i>


    <i>This Thunder Marsh World is jointly controlled by the six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent. </i>Wu Yuan quickly analyzed the situation.


    Escape!


    <i>I��ll head directly for the entrance of the Immutable Land. Once I enter the Immutable Land, it won''t matter even if an Archimmortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect personally arrives. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Even Master Kua Chi and the others couldn''t spy on the Immutable Land!


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan swiftly vanished into the canyon passage.


    ...


    The Longstar City was located in the same immortal continent spacetime boundary as the Thunder Marsh World.


    The headquarters of the Longstar Immortal Sect sprawled across a vast area, with a diameter exceeding thirty million li.


    A figure in star-patterned robes, exuding an extraordinary aura, swiftly flew out from an enormous immortal mansion, heading rapidly towards a massive teleportation array not far away.


    Suddenly, a tremendous pressure descended with a thunderous rumble, instantly rendering the star-robed figure immobile. A sh of terror crossed his face.


    "Qi He, where do you think you''re going?" A deep voice inquired, his voice tinged with coldness, "My son''s soulmp was extinguished simultaneously with your mana body''s. Were you nning to leave without offering me an exnation?"

 Chapter 592: First Visit To The Immutable Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 592: First Visit To The Immutable Land (1)</h4>


    "Veteran Elder Nie!" Terror shed in the depths of Earth Immortal Qi He''s eyes. He felt the entire heaven and earth pressing down upon him, rendering him immobile from head to toe.


    He knew this was the effect of a Tribtion Domain, an ability unique to High Immortals. It was formed bybining a High Immortal''s mana with their Dao Field. In terms of sheer power, it rivaled a Dao Realm, created from the Dao profundities of a fullyprehended Dao.


    It was nearly impossible for an ordinary Earth Immortal like him to resist a Tribtion Domain. Moreover, Earth Immortal Qi He didn''t dare resist, for he understood that the Tribtion Domain was merely one of the most basic abilities of a High Immortal. If he angered the other party, death was a foregone conclusion!


    "Speak." The white-robed elderly man''s figure loomed over Earth Immortal Qi He, barely holding back his fury.


    He was Nie Qing, a veteran elder of the Longstar Immortal Sect, an ancient High Immortal who had cultivated for over 800,000 years.


    In his early years, Nie Qing had many children and established a powerful family of immortal cultivators. But as the ages passed, his wives, daughters, and offspring died one by one. Without bing a High Immortal, one could live 90,000 years at most.


    Though he had manyter bloodline descendants, the generations were too far removed, and the bloodline had long since thinned. Why would High Immortal Nie Qing care about them?


    For immortal cultivators, the more powerful one became, the harder it was to produce offspring. This was one of the operational rules of heaven and earth''s essence.


    Now, in his twilight years, he was about to face the Seventh Immortal Tribtion. Having onlyprehended a Lesser Law to the ninth-level Dao Field stage, he had no confidence at all. He understood that he was destined to perish during his Seventh Immortal Tribtion.


    Yet by chance, he had Nie Le. In his youth, Nie Qing was extremely strict with his children, even his daughters, pushing them to seed. But in his old age, Nie Qing had a change of heart after having this young son.


    <i>No matter how strict I am, no matter how much I push them to cultivate diligently, their chances of bing Earth Immortals are extremely low. It''s better to let him enjoy life. </i>Nie Qing doted excessively on this young son, spending enormous resources to help him break through to the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    He also constantly arranged for Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses to protect him.


    This time, Nie Le had stubbornly insisted on apanying Mu Xin, and Nie Qing didn��t think much of it. But he never imagined that the Thunder Marsh World, with its rtively low level of danger, would be Nie Le''s final resting ce.


    As one of the sect''s most powerful veteran elders, Nie Qing had extremely high authority. He immediately checked the soulmps of the Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators who had gone to the Thunder Marsh World.


    Upon inspection, he discovered that the mana bodies of Protectorate Fang, Chi Chang, and even Qi He had all perished almost simultaneously.


    The mana bodies of these Earth Immortals all perished? He quickly scanned the surroundings and found that Earth Immortal Qi He''s true self was preparing to flee. Naturally, his heart was filled with rage.


    "The thunder beasts... we suddenly encountered arge group of thunder beast elites led by a thunder beast king," Earth Immortal Qi He quicklyposed himself and exined with utmost respect, his voice seemingly carrying a hint of fear.


    Though he was terrified, he was still an Earth Immortal. His Dao Heart and willpower were naturally incredibly strong.


    He had immediately thought it through. Tell the truth? That wouldnd him in big trouble.


    Intentionally provoking a top monstrous prodigy of the Autumn Lake Hall was a grave offense. Not to mention that Nie Le had died.


    So, he chose to lie!


    "My mana body couldn''t stop the thunder beast king, so..." Earth Immortal Qi He quickly began.


    "Bullshit!" Nie Qing''s eyes were cold as ice. "Thunder beast kings only act alone in the Inner Region. It''s not even a Beast Deity from the Core Region. How could you be killed so quickly when facing a single thunder beast king? You''re fabricating lies!


    Moreover, if you encountered a thunder beast king and were killed, why would your true self need to flee? Clearly, there''s more to the story." Nie Qing stared intently at Qi He.


    Earth Immortal Qi He''s heart skipped a beat. Thunder beast kings only appeared alone in the Inner Region? He wasn��t familiar with this intelligence, as this was his first time entering the Thunder Marsh World.


    Besides, given that this was a trial and tempering experience, the sect wouldn''t reveal all the information to its disciples. If their disciples knew everything, it would defeat the purpose of holding a trial.


    But Nie Qing, a veteran elder of the sect, had a high clearance level and was clearly aware of everything.


    "Veteran Elder Nie Qing, please calm yourself." A gentle voice resounded.


    The colors of heaven and earth shifted as a ck-robed figure came treading on waves, swiftly crossing millions of li of space.


    "Abbot." Nie Qing frowned slightly, slightly easing the pressure on Earth Immortal Qi He.


    The abbot was the face and authority of any sect. Even those with greater power would show respect.


    "Greetings, Abbot," Earth Immortal Qi He said respectfully.


    "Qi He, I overheard your entire conversation with Veteran Elder Nie Qing just now," Abbot Zhang Xing said with a smile. [1] "You should be aware that I excel in soul secret arts. As long as you rx your control over your soul, you will naturally tell the truth under my questioning.


    If you lie, you��ll be punished depending on the severity of your actions. If you haven''t lied and are being wrongfully used, I will have Veteran Elder Nie Qing apologize to you." Abbot Zhang Xing looked at Earth Immortal Qi He.


    Earth Immortal Qi He''s expression changed slightly.


    Soul control techniques? Indeed, Abbot Zhang Xing excelled in soul secret arts, but those were generally aimed at Shambh/Amethyst Cradle phase cultivators. Even controlling Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses was very difficult.


    As for the souls of Earth Immortals? Interference was easy, destruction was hard, and control was even harder.


    Moreover, the soul was fundamental to cultivation. The slightest mistake could severely damage one''s Yuan Soul or even cause the loss of most memories. How could Earth Immortal Qi He be willing to agree?


    "I..." Earth Immortal Qi He was about to speak.


    "If you''re unwilling, I won''t kill you. I''ll just send you into the Ninth Prison," High Immortal Nie Qing said coldly from the side.


    Earth Immortal Qi He''s expression shifted again. He nced at Abbot Zhang Xing, who stood smiling, showing no sign of intervening.


    He immediately understood that unless he was truly innocent, the sect would definitely side with High Immortal Nie Qing and allow him to punish himself as he saw fit.


    The sect had many rules in ce to protect its disciples, but at its core, the sect was made up of individuals.


    "I''m willing to tell the truth," Earth Immortal Qi He said through gritted teeth.


    Abbot Zhang Xing and High Immortal Nie Qing exchanged nces. In reality, Abbot Zhang Xing had been bluffing.


    Controlling an Earth Immortal''s soul without harm? Even if the other party didn''t resist at all, he wasn''t very confident.


    "Tell everything truthfully. If you deceive me again, I''ll make you understand my methods," High Immortal Nie Qing said coldly.


    "Understood." Earth Immortal Qi He nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken and quickly said, "Over four months ago, I led a group to the Thunder Marsh World... learned of Shadow de... and the group was ultimately wiped out by his puppet."


    He swiftly recounted everything he knew, not daring to y any more tricks.


    Abbot Zhang Xing and High Immortal Nie Qing listened in shock. A Shambh cultivator who could withstand an Earth Immortal''s arcane art without dying? In possession of a puppet at the peak Earth Immortal level?


    In their long lives, they had never seen such a monstrous prodigy. As for the puppet? With their strength, they weren''t concerned about that. But puppets of this caliber weren''t just a matter of price��they had no channels to acquire such items at all.


    "Shadow de?" High Immortal Nie Qing''s eyes flickered.


    "This is a grave matter. You will enter the Sixth Prison first and await judgment," Abbot Zhang Xing said in a low voice. "Do you have any objections?"


    "None," Earth Immortal Qi He quickly replied. How could he dare to object?


    Swiftly, Earth Immortal Qi He left for the Sixth Prison. With the abbot keeping an eye on him, he dared not flee.


    The two High Immortals remained behind.


    "Given that he��s such a monstrous prodigy, he must have noticed that it wasn��t Qi He��s true self," Abbot Zhang Xing looked at Nie Qing. "Veteran Elder Nie Qing, you must resolve this matter properly, you can''t act rashly."


    "I understand," High Immortal Nie Qing had already calmed down and said evenly, "I won''t seek revenge for my son''s death."


    Yes, he had doted excessively on his young son. But that was based on the notion that he had no hope of oveing his Tribtion and only wanted to spend the final years of his life as he pleased.


    Nie Le was more like a beloved pet than a child in essence. Since a beloved pet died, of course he was furious. If the killer''s strength and background were insufficient, he wouldn''t mind exacting revenge.


    But clearly, this Shadow de was not in that category. Blindly seeking revenge would likely bring great cmity upon himself and possibly the entire sect in the future.


    "Such a monstrous prodigy likely has an Astral Monarch behind him, or possibly even a legendary great being," Abbot Zhang Xing said calmly.


    "Even if he bears a grudge, he may not dare to seek revenge now. But in the future, if he bes an Archimmortal, an Astral Lord, or even an Astral Monarch? Anything could happen." Abbot Zhang Xing continued. "Let''s report this to the Archimmortals."


    "Mm." High Immortal Nie Qing nodded.


    Statistically speaking, the chances of this Shadow de bing a super powerhouse were very low, as the vast majority of geniuses perished on the path to immortality. But as long as there was even the slightest possibility, they would prevent it as far as possible.


    Soon after, High Immortal Nie Qing and Abbot Zhang Xing received orders from the Guardian Archimmortal.


    There were twomands: "First, imprison Earth Immortal Qi He. Second, go to the Void Divine Hall outside the Thunder Marsh World to receive Shadow de and apologize to him. If necessary, offer up Qi He as atonement."


    "Veteran Elder Nie Qing, I''ll go this time," Abbot Zhang Xing said. "I''ll handle it well."


    "Thank you for the trouble," High Immortal Nie Qing replied.


    He understood the abbot''s concerns. After all, it was his son who had died. Who knew if he was truly able to control his anger? What if he killed Shadow de in a moment of rage?


    Shadow de could die; geniuses died on expeditions all the time, but he couldn''t die at the hands of an immortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    What infuriated the super powerhouses most was seeing their disciples bullied by those with higher cultivation levels during expeditions.


    1. Zhang Xing = Longstar ?

 Chapter 593: First Visit To The Immutable Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 593: First Visit To The Immutable Land (2)</h4>


    "Confidential information, seal the news?"


    "Which super powerhouse from the Autumn Lake Hall is his master?" In the core region of the Longstar Immortal Sect, an elderly man in cyan robes frowned as he looked at the report in his hand.


    The moment he had received High Immortal Nie Qing''s message, he began investigating the matter, but found no relevant clues.


    Without a choice, he inquired directly with the Autumn Lake Hall. They only replied with �� confidential information, seal the news!


    Clearly, this involved a certain super powerhouse.


    <i>Forget it! If the death of an Earth Immortal is enough to save us some trouble, so be it.</i> This Archimmortal gently closed his eyes, thinking no more of it.


    He believed that his faction��s attitude was humble enough, giving enough face to the other side.


    ...


    <i>The Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Blood Shadow ne, Wu Yuan��s private space.</i>


    "Sir, the trouble has been taken care of. The Blood Shadow ne has mobilized the appropriate resources and resolved everything." The blood-robed figure reported with utmost respect: "An Archimmortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect made inquiries, but the aftermath has been dealt with. Please rest assured, Sir."


    "Oh?" A trace of surprise shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    From the moment he discovered that the attacker was merely Earth Immortal Qi He''s mana body, Wu Yuan was worried it might lead to future trouble, so while hurrying to the Immutable Land��s coordinates, he immediately notified the Blood Shadow ne.


    The Blood Shadow ne didn''t disappoint him, bringing back news and resolving the problem in no time. Such efficiency left Wu Yuan astonished.


    "You need not be too surprised, Sir. Our eldritch world and the Voltari Temple are mortal enemies, but we are not mortal enemies with the Greenridge Immortal World." The blood-robed figure smiled.


    "The vast Eldritch Court is backing our eldritch world. Many super powerhouses in the Greenridge Immortal World have their own interests."


    Wu Yuan instantly understood.


    Within the Greenridge Immortal World, many super powerhouses likely contacted the eldritch world privately, fearing that if the Eldritch Court defeated the Immortal Court in the future, there would be a reckoning.


    They were ying both sides!


    It was even possible that there were factions within the Greenridge Immortal World hoping to side with the eldritch world.


    This was a situation that could ur in any faction.


    For major events, these super powerhouses might not dare to go against the will of the Greenridge Immortal World''s highest echelons. But for minor matters like killing the mana body of an Earth Immortal from an immortal continent��s sect? For Astral Monarchs and even many Astral Lords, resolving such issues was quite simple.


    "Of course, resolving such troubles will consume your resource quota." The blood-robed figure continued. "After our assessment, a total of five hundred eldritch merits will be deducted from your quota, Sir."


    "Five hundred?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The resources of the Blood Shadow ne could not be used without limit, after all, the resources of the entire eldritch world were finite.


    As a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, Wu Yuan was granted a quota of ten thousand eldritch merits.


    Small matters were typically free of charge. But big matters, like fabricating his identity as a disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, cost one hundred eldritch merits. An Archimmortal was involved in this particr incident, so even more eldritch merits were deducted.


    Once he used up his eldritch merits, things wouldn''t be so convenient for Wu Yuan anymore.


    Of course, Wu Yuan could also earn more eldritch merits by trading divine crystals for them, orpleting some missions issued by the Blood Shadow ne.


    All kinds of bizarre missions were avable. For example, helping a certain immortal cultivator receive guidance from an Astral Monarch, or exchanging some treasures, and so on.


    <i>The Blood Shadow ne probably umtes vast resources through the eldritch merit system, profiting from the price difference. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>These resources allow the Blood Shadow ne to extend its branches deep into every corner of the macrocosm.</i>


    Fighting battles, training disciples, rewarding subordinates, and so on all required resources. These resources didn''t appear out of thin air. Various systems were needed to encourage its members, as well as collect resources to maintain the efficient operation of the entire eldritch world.


    <i>In short, make money. Without divine crystals and treasures, even an Eldritch Sovereign would find it hard to motivate the many Astral Monarchs under them.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    He left the Blood Shadow ne.


    ...


    Having resolved the aftermath of killing Qi He, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self continued to venture through the Thunder Marsh World, his mind at ease.


    In his internal shambh, vital ether surged, gradually crushing the two thousand second-grade Thunder Beast Stones he had just acquired. After some time, two thousand fragments of Dao pattern diagrams appeared.


    <i>Combine.</i> With a thought from Wu Yuan, these two thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments immediately beganbining with the remaining seven hundred or so diagram fragments from before. Aplete Thunder Beast Diagram was formed by correctly matching three hundred diagram fragments.


    Gradually, a full fiveplete Thunder Beast Diagrams appeared beside the Creation Essence Diagram.


    These five were all Thunder Beast Diagrams were specifically chosen as their spiritual resonance and artistic conception suited Wu Yuan rtively well.


    <i>Compared to the real Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone wall, these five Thunder Beast Diagrams are far inferior. The spiritual resonance and artistic conception they contain are only one-tenth of the original, and perhaps only one-hundredth of the Creation Essence Diagram. There is noparison at all. </i>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    <i>Still, something is better than nothing, I suppose.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Without the Thunder Marsh Spirit, these Thunder Beast Diagrams couldn''t be transformed to the same level.


    The sudden pressure from heaven and earth''s essence came to Wu Yuan��s mind. If another Essence Diagram was created, would the ck pagoda intervene again? There was no way to confirm it.


    In the end, all things considered, Wu Yuan felt he had made a loss from this incident with Qi He. It wasn��t just the divine crystals lost, but more importantly, resolving the aftermath had cost five hundred eldritch merits.


    <i>The Shadow Moon is indeed a great weapon for my current self. Even a Golden Core cultivator could easily kill an Earth Immortal by controlling her. How heaven-defying is that?</i>


    But the price was also exorbitant. Of course, Wu Yuan felt such a life-saving item was worth the high cost.


    <i>I hope I��ll be able to hunt more thunder beast elites and gather more Thunder Beast Diagrams along the way.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    ...


    After referring to the map and double checking the coordinates indicated by the Immutable Token, Wu Yuan continued his journey.


    Three-tenths of Wu Yuan��s mental energy was focused maintaining his Soul Will perception range at twenty thousand li.


    Keeping this up for a long time was very draining. However, after being at the receiving end of Earth Immortal Qi He''s sudden attack, Wu Yuan came to this decision after some reflection. Although it would lower his cultivation efficiency, it was safer. Staying alive was the top priority.


    Three-tenths of his mental energy continued toprehend the Creation Essence Diagram, as well as the five newly formed Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    Although he had crossed the initiate threshold of the Law of Life, Wu Yuan had not truly grasped the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of the Creation Essence Diagram.


    The remaining four-tenths of his mental energy was fully devoted to fusing the three Intermediate Laws andprehending the Law of Life.


    <i>Temporarily abandonprehending Celestial Body True Intent.</i>


    <i>My qi refiner self will stay in the Immortal Belvedere,prehending the Law of Space, especially the Law of True Domain; my body refiner self will fully focus on fusing the profundities of the Laws. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Matching an Archimmortal��s level of Daoprehension with any single Intermediate Law was too difficult; one had to reach the Dao Field stage to match a fullyprehended Lesser Law. Wu Yuan wasn��t sure he could reach that level even after cultivating for over a thousand years.


    But the Law of Life was different.


    <i>Once Iprehend the True Intent stage of Life, it will be enough to match an Archimmortal��s level ofprehension.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart was full of longing.


    <i>I have considerable aptitude for the Daos of Celestial Body, Longevity, and True Domain. With the Creation Essence Diagram and silver sphere as references, I have hope of reaching this level within a few hundred years, during the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase.</i>


    To possess an Archimmortal��s level of Daoprehension at the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase?


    As far as Wu Yuan knew, among Master Kua Chi''s disciples, only two out of over a thousand senior brothers and sisters had achieved this. At least, ording to public intelligence.


    For thest hundred million years, no one had been able to achieve this feat in the entire eldritch world.


    ...


    The straight-line distance between the Dao diagrams in Area 1 and the coordinates indicated by the Immutable Token was over a hundred million li.


    The distance only increased once the paths through the canyons and mountain ranges were taken into ount. Wu Yuan didn''t know the exact route, so he could only travel in a general direction.


    Along the way, he experienced no small amount of bloodshed. The vast majority involved battling thunder beasts, and he gradually pieced together the sixth and seventh Thunder Beast Diagrams. These could be considered unexpected surprises.


    Finally, after sixteen days, Wu Yuan arrived at the location indicated by the coordinates. This ce was extremely close to the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.


    <i>Nothing extraordinary, just a very ordinary canyon. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the unremarkable canyon before him. It wasn''t much different from the countless canyons he had experienced before.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan flipped his palm, and the Immutable Token appeared, floating above it.


    Just as he was wondering when something would happen, rays of light burst forth from the token''s surface.


    <i>Hmm?</i> A flicker of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes, and his expression changed slightly. <i>Not good!</i>


    But it was toote for him to resist.


    <i>Hum! </i>With the Immutable Token as a medium, an invisible force instantly enveloped Wu Yuan, plunging him into an unconscious state.


    Following that, a mysterious power seemingly descended from an infinitely distant ce, wrapping around Wu Yuan. Then he vanished on the spot.


    This mysterious power carried Wu Yuan, transporting him directly to a mysterious ce far away��the Immutable Land.


    ...


    <i>Hmm? I can��t sense him anymore? Has my disciple finally departed for the Immutable Land?</i>


    In the core region of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, a realm teeming with countless demonic beasts, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, who had been in the midst of his research, suddenly raised his head.


    He had left a trace of his aura signature on Wu Yuan. As long as Wu Yuan was within the range of the macrocosm, he could always sense his presence. The only exceptions were if Wu Yuan entered certain special ces.


    <i>The Immutable Land? I wonder if my disciple will be able to unravel some of its mysteries. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pondered.


    The Immutable Land was and of opportunity. But not everyone who went there found great fortune. The vast majority of Immutable Token holders returned with limited achievements in the end.


    Opportunity was merely an external factor; ultimately, it depended on the individual.


    Some even perished in the Immutable Land.


    ...


    <i>In the Bei You Realm, within the Immortal Belvedere, in the meditation chamber of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.</i>


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, who had been studying the Law of Space, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze held a hint of shock.


    Has my body refiner self gone to the Immutable Land? The Immutable Land can actually block the connection between my two true selves?


    At this moment, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self could only sense that his body refiner self was still alive. He still had strong vitality and was in no mortal danger.


    But what exactly was he experiencing? What did he obtain? It was as if some invisible force had blocked everything, preventing his qi refiner self from prying.


    <i>I hope my body refiner self is alright.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self shook his head slightly.


    He continued to meditate quietly, attempting to deduce the True Domain Dao to the True Intent stage as soon as possible.


    ...


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self felt his head buzzing, then grow muddled. Even his connection with his qi refiner self gradually blurred.


    Following that, a flood of information began to pour into his mind.


    <i>After the creation of Huanggu, the eldritch race was born from the great earth, constantly striving for strength. The demon race upied the Heavenly Pir Mountain, created a new realm, and called themselves the Immortal Court. </i>


    <i>After obtaining the Creation Divine Artifacts, they sealed off the four directions, intending to conquer thend.</i>


    <i>The eldritch race refused to submit, leading great armies in resistance. Thus the eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy began.</i>


    <i>You are an ordinary eldritch warrior of the eldritch race.</i>


    <i>A fleeting lifespan of a thousand years. If you die in Huanggu, you die a true death. This is the Immutable opportunity. It could also be a great crisis.</i>


    Countless pieces of information rapidly flooded into Wu Yuan''s mind, leaving him deep in thought.


    The eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy?


    The Immortal Court?


    <i>Is this Immutable Land sending me to a world in the primordial ages</i>? Wu Yuan hazily sensed. [1]


    At the same time, more information about the world and details about his identity poured in.


    After a long time, everything finally settled down.


    "Senior, may I ask which tribe you are from?" A respectful voice asked.


    1. ��� refers to the state of chaos and ignorance, especially in ancient times. ?

 Chapter 594: Eldritch-Immortal Struggle For Supremacy (1)

    <h4>Chapter 594: Eldritch-Immortal Struggle For Supremacy (1)</h4>


    "This senior has fallen asleep?" someone whispered hesitantly.


    "Surely not," another replied. "This is Great Huang. Wouldn''t he fear being torn apart by wild beasts?"


    A third voice cut in. "Don''t be foolish. Can''t you sense it? Not even demonic beasts would daree within ten li. This senior''s aura... I''d wager he''s at the peak of the Eldritch Warrior phase."


    "Peak Eldritch Warrior? Even our chieftain barely reached that level..." The voices of strangers drifted to his ears like wisps of smoke.


    The murmurs continued as Wu Yuan''s mind gradually cleared. His powerful soul spun into action and organized the flood of information that had poured into his mind.


    His eyes snapped open.


    "The senior is awake!"


    "Senior!"


    "Stand back, all of you!" The crowd of figures that had gathered around him hastily retreated, regarding Wu Yuan with a mixture of reverence and curiosity.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across his surroundings. <i>Where am I? Great Huang?</i>


    He found himself in a deste in, lying atop a bed of wild grass and rocks.


    Inwardly, he took stock of his situation. <i>My body is normal, my internal shambh and the ck pagoda remain... but all my artifacts and storage artifacts have vanished. Were they confiscated by some unseen force of the Immutable Land?</i>


    <i>So my physical body has descended, rather than just my consciousness?</i>


    <i>The Creation Essence Diagram is still with me, as is Little ck, though it seems to be in a deep slumber. I could wake it, but perhaps it''s best to let it rest for now.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s mind raced.


    His true body had arrived in this mysterious world, yet he had lost contact with his qi refiner self, sensing only that it still lived.


    <i>I can no longer ess any of the voidrealms either. This Immutable Land truly is as mysterious as they say. </i>He thought with a mixture of awe and trepidation.


    ording to the intelligence provided by Master Kua Chi, each cultivator''s experience in the Immutable Land was unique.


    Some received instant opportunities, others faced grueling trials. A few encountered no mortal peril, while many walked a razor''s edge between life and death.


    The only constant was that no outside force could interfere or observe what transpired within. Not even the mighty Sovereigns.


    <i>From what I can tell, I''ve entered some kind of special trial ground, with my true body no less. That implies a genuine risk of death. A thousand years... is that the time limit for this trial? I''ll need to tread carefully. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    Pushing aside his thoughts, Wu Yuan focused on his immediate surroundings.


    Several dozen figures stood a short distance away, d in a mix of finely crafted beast hide garments and tattered silks. Their hair was disheveled, faces smudged with dirt and flecks of blood. They had the haggard look of refugees, ranging from children to the elderly.


    <i>Spiritual Body cultivators? All of them?</i> Wu Yuan instantly assessed their cultivation levels. He noted that their immortal roots seemed mediocre, most only reaching the seventh or eighth degrees.


    <i>The suppression effect of heaven and earth in this realm seems slightly stronger than the worlds I''ve previously encountered. </i>Wu Yuan observed. <i>Yet the spiritual qi is far more concentrated here than in the macrocosm.</i>


    <i>Those born here likely reach the Communion phase or Qi Sea phase naturally.</i> He surmised.


    The environments of different worlds varied, but the differences were generally not too great for those hospitable to living beings. The primary distinctiony in the concentration of the world''s spiritual qi.


    <i>Hm? </i>His gaze drifted further, where over a thousand people had gathered. Their faces were etched with desperation, a mix of young and old, though mostly youths in their prime. Their cultivation and attire were noticeably inferior to the few dozen closest to Wu Yuan. However, the weakest one was still at the Communion phase.


    It seemed as though they were fleeing from a natural disaster.


    <i>They''re all body refiners? With only one or two eldritch mages at the Qi Sea phase?</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <i>Is this truly the earliest era of humanity? Their innate physical attributes are astounding.</i>


    It was clear that therger group was led by the few dozen cultivators nearest to him.


    ��Was your tribe overrun by the immortal army?" Wu Yuan asked as he rose to his feet, his voice deep and resonant.


    "Indeed! Senior has keen insight," a short-haired young woman at the forefront replied respectfully, her words crisp and clear. "Our family was attacked by the immortal army. Our chieftain and Eldritch Warriors engaged their immortal soldiers and generals in battle to cover the escape of themon folk. We are but one group of refugees who managed to flee this far."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. ording to the information he''d received, the vast Huanggu was embroiled in a war between the eldritch race and the Immortal Court. Countless tribes like this one had fallen to the advancing immortal army.


    "What is your name?" Wu Yuan asked lightly.


    "Zhu Yi," the young woman answered. She hesitated, as if there was more she wished to say.


    The others around her also appeared on the verge of speaking, but held their tongues.


    "Zhu family? Of the Fire Eldritch lineage?" Wu Yuan nodded, his mind racing.


    While this Huanggu shared simrities with the primordial worlds of many stories from his past life, there were key differences.


    At the very least, the eldritch race of this realm all traced their bloodlines to four Archedritches �C the Earth Archedritch, Wood Archedritch, Water Archedritch, and Fire Archedritch.


    <i>It''s simr to the legends. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>The descendants of the Earth Eldritch lineage are all part of the Hou n, while the descendants of the Fire Eldritch lineage are all part of the Zhu n.</i>


    The four Archedritches had spread both their bloodlines and the foundations of civilization, enabling the eldritch race to flourish throughout thend.


    Of course, the Archedritches themselves were now merely legends, long vanished. In the current era, the struggle between eldritch and immortal dominated the world.


    "Senior," an elderly man in beast hide garments finally spoke up, prostrating himself before Wu Yuan. His voice quavered with emotion. "If you fear the immortal army will overtake us and don''t wish to protect our entire group, please take Zhu Yi with you at least. She is the only one who has awakened the Archeldritch bloodline in our Zhu Fu tribe in a thousand years."


    "Archeldritch bloodline?" Wu Yuan''s interest was piqued as he regarded Zhu Yi more closely.


    Based on the information in his memories, once the Archeldritch bloodline was awakened, one could cultivate to the Eldritch General phase in mere centuries.


    The young woman bit her lip, a stubborn expression on her face. "No. I will stay with our people. I must protect our family. I absolutely refuse to leave alone," she dered firmly.


    "Zhu Yi, the immortal army could reach us at any moment," the elderly man said urgently. "They are immortal warriors. Even Senior cannot protect all of us alone. Only if the two of you flee swiftly do you have a chance of survival."


    His gaze bored into the young woman as he continued gravely, "If you live, our Zhu Fu Tribe may one day be rebuilt. If you die, we will be extinguished forever. Be good."


    "No!" Zhu Yi cried out, her voice rising to a near shriek. "I won''t do it! Our chieftain died protecting me. My parents are dead. I''m useless �C I''m not worth all of you risking your lives. I can''t bear to abandon you and flee alone again."


    Tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill over. The constant battles and flight, the deaths of her loved ones �C it was clear that the seeminglyposed young woman was on the verge of emotional copse.


    "There''s no need for further argument," the elderly man said, steeling himself against his own grief. "You must go."


    The other Spiritual Body cultivators wore expressions of sorrow, but remained silent.


    Living in the harsh Great Huang, constantly threatened by the mighty Immortal Court, they were all too familiar with painful partings.


    "You seem to be deciding my actions without consulting me," Wu Yuan interjected calmly from the side.


    His words caused the crowd to pale.


    "Forgive our presumptuousness, Senior," the elderly man''s face drained of color as he kowtowed repeatedly. "All members of the eldritch race are one family. Please have mercy.


    You need not trouble yourself too much, Senior," he continued urgently, his forehead nearly bloodied from knocking against the ground. "If you would simply drop Zhu Yi off at any Fire Eldritch Tribe along your way, that would be more than enough."


    Suddenly, arge hand grasped the elderly man, effortlessly pulling him to his feet with irresistible strength.


    "Senior?" the old man stammered in confusion.


    The others, including Zhu Yi, watched Wu Yuan nervously.


    "You are right. We of the eldritch race are indeed one family," Wu Yuan said evenly. "I am a member of the Hou Hu Tribe, a mid-tier tribe. I shall protect your group as we travel."


    The Hou Hu Tribe was part of the identity arranged for Wu Yuan, ensuring he could integrate smoothly into this world.


    "Really? Senior, your benevolence knows no bounds!"


    "Senior!" The Zhu Fu Tribesmen burst into excited exmations. Some even wept tears of joy.


    With a peak Eldritch Warrior to protect them, their chances of a sessful escape had increased dramatically.


    They had gathered here earlier because they discovered Wu Yuan and hoped to gain his protection.


    Only the elderly man maintained hisposure. "Senior," he asked cautiously, "we are nothing but burdens. If you encounter arge immortal army battalion alone, even you may be in grave danger."


    "Have no fear," Wu Yuan reassured him. "Though we are gradually losing ground, the eldritch race still holds the advantage in this region for now.


    With the fall of your Zhu Fu Tribe, I expect the mid-tier and high-tier tribes will not stand idly by once word reaches them. They will soon deploy their forces," he continued, drawing on his knowledge of the situation.


    "This immortal army battalion has overextended itself. Even as they hunt down fleeing groups, they cannot linger long. They will withdraw swiftly."


    The elderly man nodded, as did the other Zhu Fu Tribe members. Wu Yuan''s words made sense �C the immortal army had no reason to remain in eldritch territory indefinitely.


    "Then, Senior," the elderly man inquired, "when shall we depart?"


    "I''m ready anytime. We can depart as soon as you''re prepared," Wu Yuan said. After arriving here, he showed no signs of fatigue, having undergone no physical changes.


    "Alright, then we''ll be relying on you for this journey, Senior." The elderly man in beast hide bowed respectfully, along with several dozen other Spiritual Body members of the Zhu Fu Tribe and the young Zhu Yi.


    This time, Wu Yuan didn''t stop them, allowing them toplete their bow.

 Chapter 595: Eldritch-Immortal Struggle For Supremacy (2)

    Chapter 595: Eldritch-Immortal Struggle For Supremacy (2)


    Soon, the massive group of about a thousand people felt rested enough to continue. Supporting each other, they resumed their southward escape.


    Most of the group consisted of ordinary eldritch race members at the mid andte-stage Communion phase, so their speed of travel wasn''t particrly fast. In a day, they could cover 100,000 li at most.


    ording to the map, the closest low-tier tribe was over a million li southward. As for the closest mid-tier tribe? It was several million li away.


    <em>There''s no rush. Though I''ve obtained some information, it''s not extensive. It''s better to slowly understand this Huanggu World from the ground up. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>A thousand years?</em>


    ording to the instructions, Wu Yuan could stay in this world for a thousand years at most, after which he must leave. If he died during this period, it would be a true death!


    As for what opportunities this Huanggu World held? What secrets it concealed? Wu Yuan would have to discover that for himself.


    <em>The struggle between the eldritch and immortal races. With my body refiner self��s heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos, there''s really only one path open to me��to join the eldritch race! To stand on the side of the eldritch camp.</em> Wu Yuan mused.


    ording to the overall intelligence, this entire Huanggu World wasn''t particrly vast. Perhaps it wasn''t even asrge as the maind of an immortal continent. But he was only at the Shambh phase, and all his powerful artifacts and treasures had been confiscated, including Shadow Moon.


    <em>Right now, I don''t even have any artifacts. This Immutable Land only left me with a single storage artifact and a few pieces of first-grade spirit equipment. At most, I can contend with some ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivators.</em> Wu Yuan thought.Strength was derived partly from oneself, but artifacts were also crucial.


    ording to the legends, Archeldritches had appeared in the most ancient of times. Over the long years, the number of Earth Immortal and High Immortal-level cultivators umted in the world was surely not small.


    For now, it wasn''t his turn to be arrogant.


    <em>I need to keep a low profile, slowly integrating into this world. As one of the two supreme factions in the entire world, if I can be part of the eldritch race''s core, I''ll naturallye to know many secrets.</em> Wu Yuan thought through it clearly.


    Wu Yuan attempted to spread his Soul Will, and immediately felt an invisible force of suppression.Just like the Thunder Marsh World, he could only spread it to a maximum of just over 30,000 li. To avoid mental fatigue, Wu Yuan only maintained a detection range of only about 20,000 li.


    While maintaining his vignce, Wu Yuan continued to contemte the Dao as always. A momentter, he was slightly surprised. <em>In this world, deducing andprehending the Law of Life seems much easier than before?</em>


    <em>Moreover it has gotten much easier for me toprehend the Creation Essence Diagram as well.</em> Wu Yuan was quite shocked.


    It was worth noting that whenprehending the Law of Life previously, he had gradually begun to feel the effects of Dao Assimtion from the three Intermediate Laws. Though still very weak, it wasn''t non-existent.


    But in this Huanggu World, there seemed to be no influence? As forprehending the Creation Essence Diagram, thisck of influence was even more apparent, with the Dao patterns within the Essence Diagram emanating Dao fluctuations with little resistance.


    <em>How mysterious and bizarre. No wonder Master Kua Chi said that this Immutable Land might hold a rare great opportunity for me. </em>Wu Yuan thought.


    <em>But why? This Dao Assimtion influence is unavoidable no matter where I am in heaven and earth... Could it be that this ce was really created by a supreme being who transcended heaven and earth? </em>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    <em>Forget it. These matters are too far beyond me. Since I''m here, I''ll make the best of it.</em>


    <em>A thousand years? Even if I don''t gain any opportunities, just cultivating in this Huanggu World for a thousand years is already a great benefit.</em> Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    He continued his cultivation.


    ��


    "Senior is truly a diligent cultivator."


    "I suspect that Senior must have been in arduous cultivation when we found him lying on the grass earlier."


    "Mm-hmm, it must be so. Otherwise, how could Senior have cultivated to the peak of the Eldritch Warrior phase?" As they traveled, the Zhu Fu Tribe members conversed in low voices and stole nces at Wu Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged in mid-air, cultivating quietly yet still keeping pace with the group.


    Though fleeing, their resilient nature allowed them to quickly ept their current situation.


    "Zhu Yi, although you have awakened the Archeldritch bloodline, you��ll still need to work hard if you want to be a powerful expert like this Earth Eldritch lineage Senior," the elderly man in beast hide robes said softly.


    "Mm, I understand," the young girl nodded, her gaze sweeping over Wu Yuan sitting cross-legged in mid-air, her young eyes filled with determination.


    She yearned for the power to seek revenge!


    ��


    Wu Yuan protected the entire group as they fled southward.


    Meanwhile, in the far north, tens of thousands of li from them, a silver battleship hovered in the sky. Light distorted around the silver battleship, concealing its trail.


    Aboard the battleship stood arge group of soldiers in silver armor, each exuding an extraordinary aura. The gs on both sides of the battleship bore ancient characters.


    Any member of the eldritch race would recognize those characters at a nce��Immortal!


    This was the immortal army of the Immortal Court, the sharp de that allowed the Immortal Court to upy Heavenly Pir Mountain and even wage war across Huanggu!


    "General, we''ve killed thest three groups of escapees led by Eldritch Warriors, but still haven''t found the one with the Archeldritch bloodline," a silver-armored soldier with shriveled skin said in a low voice.


    "Then only the group to the south remains," the tall, ck-armored man with triangr eyes revealed a cold smile.


    "They''re quite cunning. They split into sixteen groups, yet ced the one with Archeldritch bloodline in the weakest group?" The ck-armored man, exuding an extraordinary aura, said in a low voice. "Issue my orders immediately: the other sixpanies are to pursue them southward at full speed."


    "We must be quick. This is eldritch territory. Once other eldritch tribes receive the news, they''ll surelye, and many tribes have Eldritch Generals in their ranks."


    "We must capture the one with the Archeldritch bloodline. If we let the tiger return to the mountain, it could be a great threat to our Immortal Court in the future," the ck-armored man said coldly.


    "Yes," the dozens of silver-armored soldiers on the battleship responded solemnly.


    Then, this silver battleship sped southward at an astonishing speed.


    ��


    In the vast mountain ranges, the group took a moment to rest, and many Zhu Fu Tribe members cultivated.


    Wu Yuan meditated nearby, secretly observing them.


    <em>The cultivation methods of this world all seem extremely profound, not at all inferior to the Archeldritch Divine Codex I cultivate.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>Indeed, the legend that Archeldritches passed down teachings in ancient times is true.</em>


    <em>However, the eldritch mage lineage seems weak. So many are at the Spiritual Body phase, yet not a single one is at the Golden Core phase.</em>


    <em>But their overall bloodlines are indeed very strong. The bloodlines they possess seem to naturally align with certain Daos. </em>Wu Yuan quickly assessed based on his memories and personal observations.


    For example, the Zhu Fu Tribe was part of the Fire Eldritch lineage. They were naturally adept at controlling fire, with extremely high sensitivity andpatibility with the Law of Fire.


    The advantage was that it was easier for them to cross the threshold of certain Lower Laws of Fire, making their path of cultivation to the Shambh and Elysian Field phases very smooth.


    The disadvantage was that the upper limit of their bloodline��s talent often became a bottleneck for their strength.


    <em>In this world, there will be a great many cultivators at lower levels, especially at the Spiritual Body and Shambh phases. </em>Wu Yuan quickly deduced. <em>But starting from the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase, the number of powerful experts will sharply decrease. As for Earth Immortals and High Immortals, it will be rare to encounter such powerhouses.</em>


    Along the way, Wu Yuan would asionally converse with the elderly man in beast hide and Zhu Yi, while continuously processing the information he learned about the Immutable Land.


    <em>This world''s cultivation level divisions are quite simr to the eldritch world, also with six major phases, though the terms originate from a very ancient era of the eldritch race.</em>


    <em>The first three major phases are Minor Eldritch, Eldritch Soldier, and Eldritch Warrior; thetter are Eldritch General, Earth Eldritch, and High Eldritch.</em>


    <em>Minor Eldritch is equivalent to the Communion phase.</em>


    <em>Eldritch Soldier is equivalent to the Spiritual Body phase.</em>


    <em>Eldritch Warrior is equivalent to the Shambh phase.</em>


    <em>Eldritch General is equivalent to the Elysian Field phase.</em>


    <em>Earth Eldritch is the Dharma Body phase.</em>


    <em>High Eldritch is the Universe Architect phase.</em>


    <em>The immortal race upying Heavenly Pir Mountain should be of the qi refiner lineage, but ording to the intelligence, it seems they are mostly demons who cultivate the Dao. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <em>They are simrly divided into six major phases: Minor Immortal, Immortal Soldier, Immortal Warrior, Immortal General, Earth Immortal, and High Immortal.</em>


    The categories corresponded to the Greenridge Immortal World.


    <em>Above High Immortals and High Eldritches are the legendary Archeldritches. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>However, Immortal Tribtions don��t appear to exist in this world?</em>


    <em>Throughout the long ages, aside from the earliest four Archeldritches, there have been no reports of any Archeldritch or Archimmortal being born.</em>


    The nine Immortal Tribtions were both trials and opportunities. Each Immortal Tribtion eliminated vast numbers of immortal cultivators, while those who survived grew stronger, bing ever more powerful.


    <em>I don''t yet understand the immortal race. But regarding the eldritch race, their cultivation methods are remarkably intricate, yet their corresponding ether arts seem rather weak? </em>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    He could understand this, to an extent. An Archeldritch could create sophisticated cultivation methods, but ether arts were different. Take the ''Great Eldritch Divine Body'', a grand ether art created by an inconceivably powerful being.


    An Archeldritch? Creating a somewhatplete basic ether art would be impressive enough.


    As for High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches? The basic ether arts they created were mostly suited only for their own constitutions. If these ether arts were passed on to others, those who cultivated them would be lucky if they managed to maintain their sanity.


    <em>In that case, the aspects of arcane arts, equipment forging, pill refining, and such are likely quite primitive in this world as well. </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    A civilization of cultivation required eons of umtion and generation after generation of development to grow prosperous.


    The present era of the Greenridge Macrocosm was certainly more advanced overall than it was ten billion years ago. It was the natural order of things for the present to surpass the past.


    <em>This Huanggu World has probably only existed for several tens of millions of years?</em> Wu Yuan pondered.


    With insufficient time umted, no interactions with the external world, and no guidance from seniors, the overall standard would naturally be lower.


    <em>What great opportunity could such a world hold? The Creation Divine Artifacts? </em>Wu Yuan picked up on a name mentioned in the intelligence.


    Creation Divine Artifacts were controlled by the immortal race.


    <em>No need to rush, take it slow. In a few more decades, I''ll be able to step into the Elysian Field phase, and my Daoprehension will improve greatly. Only then will I have the qualifications to roam freely in this world.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Whencking in strength, one must maintain a low profile.


    <em>Hmm? They''ve caught up so quickly?</em> Wu Yuan frowned slightly, his Soul Will already sensing it.


    ��


    In a canyon ten thousand li away, a silver battleship hovered.


    "We''ve found them. Following the general''s directions, the Eldritch Detection Array has confirmed the presence of arge number of eldritch members within a radius of twenty thousand li." There were nearly a hundred silver-armored soldiers on the battleship. At this moment, their eyes gleamed with excitement.


    The Eldritch Detection Array could only detect the gathering of arge number of eldritch members at close range.


    "Kill!"


    "Begin the search immediately."<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For reference:


    Minor Eldritch


    Communion


    Minor Immortal


    Qi Sea


    Eldritch Soldier


    Spiritual Body


    Immortal Soldier


    Golden Core


    Eldritch Warrior


    Shambh


    Immortal Warrior


    Amethyst Cradle


    Eldritch General


    Elysian Field


    Immortal General


    Void Refiner


    Earth Eldritch


    Dharma Body


    Earth Immortal


    Divided Soul


    High Eldritch


    Universe Architect


    High Immortal


    Tribtion</blockquote>

 Chapter 596: High-Tier Eldritch Tribe (1)

    Chapter 596: High-Tier Eldritch Tribe (1)


    Whether one was from the eldritch race or the immortal race, all were suppressed by heaven and earth within Huanggu.


    For Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, most could only extend their Soul Force for hundreds of li, but their eyesight was often astonishing.


    Shambh cultivators, in particr, could spot human figures a hundred thousand li away without difficulty. As for Amethyst Cradle cultivators? They could cultivate a ''Spirit Eye'', granting them equally incredible vision and the ability to see through many illusions.


    Thus, this group of eldritch escapees deliberately chose to travel through forests and canyons in order to avoid detection.


    ��Even while fleeing, we must cultivate. Only through diligent cultivation can we grow stronger and survive in Great Huang."


    "As proud sons of the eldritch race, we must at least reach the Eldritch Soldier phase in this lifetime, to be qualified as soldiers in the army." Within the group, some elderly men at the Eldritch Soldier phase tirelessly urged the young Minor Eldritches to cultivate.


    Those youths still ssified as Minor Eldritches were all practicing diligently.


    "Zhu Yi, you''ve be an Eldritch Soldier at such a young age. If you keep working hard, you''re certain to be an Eldritch General in the future. Surpassing Senior Hou Feng will be no problem at all," said the elderly man in beast hide. He had reached the peak of the Eldritch Soldier phase, and was Zhu Yi��s instructor.


    During his interactions with these Zhu Fu Tribe members, Wu Yuan had unhesitatingly chosen the alias Hou Feng. In the eldritch world��s system, Wu Yuan was called Hou Feng Wu Yuan anyway, so he didn��t see any issue."Mm, I''ll work hard," the young Zhu Yi nodded firmly, her eyes filled with hatred.


    Eldritch General? In the legends of the Zhu Fu Tribe, any Eldritch General was a world-shaking figure, capable of single-handedly elevating a tribe to mid-tier tribe status.


    <em>If we had an Eldritch General in our tribe, we probably wouldn''t have fallen apart so quickly under the immortal army''s attack. </em>Zhu Yi silently mused.


    ��


    <em>Are these immortal race members mostly qi refiners? Only a few are Immortal Warriors, most are just Immortal Soldiers. </em>Wu Yuan observed quietly.


    With his Soul Force extended, he monitored the movements of this group of immortal soldiers, watching them deploy search teams. At their speed, they would soon reach this valley.


    However, Wu Yuan didn''t warn Zhu Yi and the others to leave, nor did he hastily move to deal with these immortal soldiers. He was observing, seeking to gather more intelligence about the immortal race.


    Soon, Wu Yuan overheard a whispered conversation between two Immortal Warriors.


    <em>General? They have only sent a fewpanies from the battalion. Their leader is an Immortal General?</em> Perhaps overconfident, these Immortal Warriors didn''t use Soul Force tomunicate.


    It was worth noting that most immortal cultivators in the macrocosmmunicated via Soul Force to avoid being spied on by high-level cultivators.


    <em>An Immortal General? That''s equivalent to a Void Refiner Eminence. The weapons these Immortal Soldiers and Warriors use seem quite crude, not even third-grade spirit equipment. Even these immortal armypanies dispatched into enemy territory to hunt us are equipped with poorly constructed artifacts.</em>


    <em>The equipment forging techniques of this world must not be very advanced. </em>Wu Yuan continued to deduce.


    A glimpse reveals the whole picture. Sometimes, seemingly insignificant clues, whenprehensively analyzed, can reveal many deeper secrets.


    Equipment forging, pill refining, talismans, as well as arcane arts, arrays, and so on, were essentially advanced applications of Dao patternbinations, allplementing each other.


    <em>Hmm? </em>Wu Yuan suddenly revealed a faint smile. <em>How interesting. The eldritch race is truly united. Perhaps I won''t need to intervene after all.</em>


    While Wu Yuan was pondering, the elderly man in beast hide, Zhu Hui, approached him. "Senior, we''re well rested. Shall we continue our journey?"


    "Mm, alright, let''s move on," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Let''s go!"


    "Time to move!"


    "We''ve probably advanced another two hundred thousand li over these past two days. We should be out of the immortal army''s pursuit range."


    Some time had gone by since they first fled their homes, and the Zhu Fu Tribe members had gradually regained their calm. Moreover, they had the protection of Wu Yuan, a powerful Eldritch Warrior.


    <em>Hmm? </em>As the entire group began to stir, Wu Yuan appeared to have just noticed something and abruptly looked up.


    Following that, two hundred li away on the horizon, a series of silver-armored figures appeared, nearly a hundred in total. Their auras were all quite extraordinary, especially the leaders at the front, whose auras were vast and mighty.


    They were all looking in this direction.


    "Haha, what luck! We''ve actually stumbled upon these Zhu Fu escapees," the lead silver-armored cultivator revealed a cold smile and said in a low voice, "Brothers, remember, don''t touch the young girls. Capture them alive. Kill all the others!"


    "Follow me!"


    "Kill!" Three Immortal Warriors and seventy-eight Immortal Soldiers immediately unleashed their power. At the same time, their battle armor began to glow, instantly linking them into a cohesive whole!


    A gigantic roc over a thousand zhangs in length materialized. Blinding, raging mes enveloped its body, illuminating the sky. Its might shook the heavens!


    ��It''s the immortal army!"


    "A hundred-man unit from the zing Fire Troops." The elderly man in beast hide and others who served in the tribe''s army all turned grim, well aware of the fearsome nature of the immortal army.


    One-on-one, these immortal race cultivators were no match for eldritch race powerhouses.


    But the most terrifying aspect of immortal army cultivators was the overwhelming might of their battle arrays once they formed up!


    Their Zhu Fu Tribe had been crushed in one fell swoop after the powerful zing Fire Troops, a thousand-man battalion, had formed an unstoppable battle array.


    A hundred-manpany of the immortal army consisted of three ordinary Immortal Warriors leading seventy-eight Immortal Soldiers. In theory, once they formed a battle array, they couldpletely suppress a peak-stage Eldritch Warrior. They were considered invincible below the Eldritch General and Immortal General phase.


    "Run!"


    "Zhu Yi, listen to me, prepare to flee immediately." The elderly man in beast hide was filled with despair.


    He turned and shouted at Wu Yuan: "Senior Hou Feng, flee! They are the zing Fire Troops, you can''t hold them off alone. I only ask that you take Zhu Yi and escape."


    The elderly man in beast hide looked anxiously at Wu Yuan, while the other Eldritch Soldiers'' eyes were filled with despair. They saw no hope of survival.


    Flee? Facing the zing Fire Roc, which was skilled in flight, even a peak-stage Eldritch Warrior might not be able to escape.


    "There��s no need to flee," Wu Yuan said calmly, though his eyes held a hint of curiosity.


    Their equipment forging techniques were not particrly advanced, with even the immortal army battleships appearing quite crudely constructed. Yet, they could form such a perfect battle array?


    This piqued Wu Yuan''s interest.


    Of course, Wu Yuan wasn''t the least bit concerned about this so-called zing Fire Battle Array. He could destroy it with a single palm strike.


    After hearing his reply, everyone was stunned. No need to flee? What did he mean?


    <em>Boom! Boom! Boom!</em> From the mountain peaks on the other side of the range, five or six figures with majestic auras suddenly burst forth, instantly transforming into towering hundred-zhang tall forms in the air. Each one strode through the air at incredible speed.


    "Immortal race scum!"


    "How dare you kill our eldritch race members? Die!"


    "Go to hell, all of you!" These figures, like war gods standing between heaven and earth, seemed to have long been lying in wait. They roared as they charged towards the ming roc plummeting down to attack.


    "What?"


    "They''re Eldritch Warriors, all peak-stage Eldritch Warriors."


    "Other eldritch tribes havee to our aid."


    "This is bad." The zing Fire Troop cultivators, who had been full of confidence moments ago, all paled.


    The faces of the three Immortal Warriors leading the squad were especially ghastly.


    In a fight against three peak-stage Eldritch Warriors, they were confident of escaping with their lives. But here, there were six! No, seven!


    As the six peak-stage Eldritch Warriors who had been hiding nearby erupted into action, Wu Yuan, who had also been waiting on the sidelines, joined in the attack.


    Of course, Wu Yuan only disyed the normalbat power of a peak-stage Shambh cultivator.


    "Another brother is here."


    "Nice work, Brother!"


    "He''s also a brother of our Earth Eldritch lineage." Upon seeing Wu Yuan''s aura erupt as he transformed into a hundred-zhang giant, the six peak-stage Eldritch Warriors all revealed smiles, extremely enthusiastic.


    "Brothers, let''s kill these immortal race bastards together." The ck-armored soldier at the front, with a slightly youthful face, turned to Wu Yuan with a wicked grin.


    "Haha, sounds good. Kill!" Wu Yuanughed in response.


    The eldritch race was inherently bold and warm-hearted. Even in the unfamiliarnd of Huanggu, this trait remained unchanged, bringing a sense of warmth to Wu Yuan''s heart.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> The youngest Eldritch Warrior, equipped in ck armor and exuding the most violent aura, held arge hammer in each of his four arms. He ferociously led the charge against the me roc.


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</em> The other ck-armored Eldritch Warriors also transformed into streaks of light and charged, quickly surrounding the ming roc that was nning to escape.

 Chapter 597: High-Tier Eldritch Tribe (2)

    <h4>Chapter 597: High-Tier Eldritch Tribe (2)</h4>


    The two sides immediately erupted into fierce battle.


    "Filthy eldritch race, get lost!!" Balls of me rained from the ming roc, acting like artifacts as they blocked the strikes from both warhammers and sabers. Spears couldn��t pierce its feathers and talons, scattering away.


    For a moment, the group of Eldritch Warriors surrounded the me roc, yet were stuck in a stalemate.


    <i>The cultivation levels of these Eldritch Warriors are decent, and their battle awareness is alright, but their ether arts are too weak. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head inwardly.


    He had been observing the other Eldritch Warriors fight, estimating their generalbat prowess.


    Their Daoprehension levels weren��t much different from those in the external world. However, these Eldritch Warriors were all of the Earth Eldritch lineage, so the Dao profundities theyprehended were all Lesser Laws of the Law of Earth.


    Their immortal roots weren''t too bad, with sixth or seventh-degree immortal roots, and theirbat skills were average as well, but their ether arts were too poor!


    From Wu Yuan''s perspective, they were only employing some basic ether arts, and had only mastered one or two of them.


    How could Eldritch Warriors unskilled in ether arts be called battle gods who could overturn heaven and earth?


    <i>If I don''t make a move, I''m afraid one or two Eldritch Warriors will perish in the end, even if they can kill this me roc. </i>Wu Yuan had already analyzed the situation.


    Seeing that it couldn��t escape, the me roc was growing desperate, its attacks getting increasingly frenzied. However, Wu Yuan still didn''t want to reveal his true strength.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>A mysterious fluctuation of soul power suddenly radiated from him, directed solely toward the me roc. Like floodwaters from a broken dam, the soul power rolled and crashed, directly prating the me roc to strike at the immortal army cultivators inside.


    Soul secret art �� ��Soulshake Seal��!


    His body refiner self wasn''t skilled in soul secret arts, but having reached the peak of the Soul Will level, dealing with a few ordinary Immortal Warriors without soul defense artifacts was hardly difficult.


    <i>Hum~</i> In an instant, the entire me roc faltered, its enormous body swaying slightly.


    In life-and-death battles, a moment was all it took for the tides to turn.


    <i>Rip! </i>The young ck-armored soldier seized the opportunity,nding a direct hit on the me roc''s head with his dual hammers.


    <i>St~</i> The roc''s head shattered like a burst watermelon, and the entire battle array instantly copsed.


    "No!"


    "Run! Quick, go."


    "No!" The zing Fire immortal army soldiers inside the battle array despaired.


    They relied entirely on the battle array to fight the Eldritch Warriors. Without it?


    Immediately, the Eldritch Warriors swept through this group of immortal army soldiers, dicing them up like melons and vegetables.


    The only thing that surprised Wu Yuan slightly was that when these immortal army cultivators died, they each transformed into different demonic cultivators, like birds, foxes,rge snakes, and so on. They were all demons.


    <i>Demons? </i>Wu Yuan was slightly stunned, he hadn''t noticed this before.


    Demons didn''t refer to a specific race, but rather a general term for most blood and flesh-type life forms besides humans.


    The human race was simply too dominant, recognized as the foremost of all races.


    <i>Eldritch-Immortal struggle? Or Eldritch-Demon struggle? </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    In many legends from his previous life, the demon race seemed to be extremely united. But in reality, there were only demons, and never a ��demon race��.


    Various races fought endlessly. Only in ancient times, facing the dominant human race, did they join forces for self-preservation.


    In the current era of the Greenridge Macrocosm, there was very little racial division. After one reached extremely high levels of cultivation, the evolution of all types of life forms seemed to converge as they appeared more and more simr. Individuals from seemingly different races were capable of having offspring together, continuing their bloodline. Why would there still be racial distinction?


    However, although Wu Yuan was surprised, these eldritch cultivators were all very calm, clearly used to this sight.


    Soon, peace returned.


    "Haha, wonderful."


    "The Archeldritches have blessed us."


    "We��ve finally survived this cmity. It''s the eldritch soldiers from other powerful eldritch tribes." The Zhu Fu Tribesman in the valley, who had been anxious and worried, finally rxed.


    They didn''t celebrate too much. Having just experienced the destruction of their tribe, they weren''t in the mood to celebrate. At this moment, they were simply relieved and grateful.


    <i>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! </i>Five of the six Eldritch Warriors quicklynded on the ground, swiftly organizing the group of over a thousand people before continuing on their journey.


    Wu Yuan and the young ck-armored Eldritch Warrior collected all the spoils of war. Then, they chatted as they walked through the air.


    "Brother, my name is Hou Quan. I��m an Eldritch Warrior from the high-tier Hou Cheng Tribe." The young ck-armored Eldritch Warrior''s body returned to its original form, his skin as ck as charcoal, his eyes extremely spirited.


    "You''re not from the Zhu Fu Tribe, are you?" Hou Quan looked at Wu Yuan, quite curious.


    The various eldritch tribes in Huanggu were extremely united. Although there was intermarriage at the lower levels, all members of a tribe usually belonged to the same lineage.


    "My name is Hou Feng, from the Hou Hu Tribe,�� Wu Yuan replied with a warm smile. "I''m indeed not from the Zhu Fu Tribe, I encountered them by chance while wandering and decided to protect them while they made their way to the nearest eldritch tribe."


    "Hou Hu? Is it the Hou Hu Tribe that was invaded dozens of years ago? You''re a member of the Hou Hu Tribe?" Hou Quan''s face revealed a hint of shock. Evidently, he had heard of it before.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded, seeming somewhat emotional, and said in a low voice, "At that time, I had just be an Eldritch Warrior. It''s precisely because I experienced the destruction of my tribe that I couldn''t bear to see them suffer.


    All eldritch members under heaven are one family," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    "Brother Hou Feng speaks well, and your actions are even more praiseworthy. You were willing to take the risk, even though there��s a chance of encountering an Immortal General, I admire that. Truly a good man of the eldritch race." Hou Quan''s eyes lit up, and he asked, "So, Brother Hou Feng is still alone now? You haven''t joined any tribe?"


    "No. Before I fled, I made a vow to rebuild my Hou Hu Tribe," Wu Yuan said with a sincere face.


    "Rebuild the Hou Hu Tribe? That was a mid-tier tribe. You��ll need to be an Eldritch General at least. Brother Hou Feng has lofty ambitions," Hou Quan smiled and continued. "However, given that you��re acting solo, bing one might be very difficult.


    I, Hou Quan, admire you. Are you willing to join my Hou Cheng Tribe? We are also of the Earth Eldritch lineage." Hou Quan looked at Wu Yuan.


    An invitation!


    Huanggu was in constant warfare, and it was very normal for eldritch tribes to invite new members to join them.


    "But I..." Wu Yuan seemed to hesitate.


    "Haha, Brother Hou Feng, I understand your thoughts. You want to establish a tribe once you��ve obtained sufficient power?" Hou Quanughed and said, "I also have a dream of starting my own tribe.


    When have you ever heard of high-tier tribes preventing their subordinate tribesmen from starting their own tribes? On the contrary, it''s encouraged!


    It''s precisely because strong individuals from our eldritch race start new tribes, multiply, and expand our territory, that we''ve be the overlords of thend.


    That Immortal Court may act arrogantly now, but sooner orter our eldritch race army will conquer their Heavenly Pir Mountain." Hou Quan smiled and said, "Come on, Brother, my Hou Cheng Tribe wees you."


    "Are the Eldritch Generals of the tribe willing?" Wu Yuan asked hesitantly.


    "Haha, Brother Hou Feng, don''t worry." Another hearty voice resonated. It was from an Eldritch Warrior flying over. He smiled and said, "There was an Archeldritch bloodline bearer in the group you protected. This is a great merit you have rendered.


    You are also strong. The Eldritch Generals of the tribe will only wee you. Moreover, Hou Quan is also an Archeldritch bloodline bearer who will eventually be an Eldritch General. His status in the tribe is very high. With his rmendation, there will be no problems." This burly Eldritch Warrior smiled, "My name is Hou Ming."


    "Archeldritch bloodline bearer?" Wu Yuan looked at Hou Quan with slight surprise. No wonder his status was subtly the highest among everyone present.


    However, encountering two Archeldritch bloodline bearers in a row was rare.


    "Brother Hou Feng, are you willing?" Hou Quan smiled.


    "Alright, as long as the Hou Cheng Tribe doesn''t mind, I''ll join you," Wu Yuan grinned.


    ording to his intel, the eldritch tribes across Huanggu were divided into low-tier tribes, mid-tier tribes, high-tier tribes, and Archeldritch tribes.


    There were only four Archeldritch tribes in existence.


    The high-tier tribes, though few in number, were typically led by Earth Eldritches or even High Eldritches. Each high-tier tribe represented a formidable force within the Huanggu eldritch race.


    These high-tier tribes, scattered across thend, were what established the eldritch race as the undisputed rulers of the realm.


    Given Wu Yuan��s current situation, joining a high-tier tribe would not be a bad choice.


    ...


    As Wu Yuan and Hou Quan continued their journey, two hundred thousand li to the north, a battleship cleaved throughyers of turbulent air, speeding forward at an astonishing pace.


    <i>Hmm. The entire Fifth Company has perished?</i> The silver-armored cultivator at the bow of the battleship narrowed his eyes, a flicker of killing intent shing within them. <i>in by a group of Eldritch Warriors? Which high-tier tribe do they belong to?</i>


    Separated by a mere few hundred thousand li, he had received the final messages from his subordinates.


    ��We shall head over immediately.��

 Chapter 598: Thousand Year Goal (1)

    <h4>Chapter 598: Thousand Year Goal (1)</h4>


    The zing Fire Immortal Troops was a thousand-man battalion. It was an elite unit led by an Immortal General, followed by eighty Immortal Warriors. Under them were eight ordinary squads, eachposed of three Immortal Warriors and seventy-eight Immortal Soldiers. In total, 729 immortal troops.


    Such a thousand-man unit could annihte most low-tier eldritch tribes, and even contend with many of the weaker mid-tier tribes.


    Yu Yue, the Immortal General, had received orders that an Archeldritch bloodline bearer had been born in the eldritch Zhu Fu Tribe. Her strength was still weak, making it the perfect opportunity to strangle her in the cradle, so he led his army forth.


    <i>Earth Eldritch phase? Across the entire Huanggu, Earth Eldritch powerhouses are rare, mostly concentrated on the main battlefield. They won��t easily take action. But for a group of peak-stage Eldritch Warriors to arrive so quickly, it''s likely a high-tier tribe, with a small chance of them being from the eldritch army of a mid-tier tribe. </i>Immortal General Yu Yue swiftly deduced.


    <i>The possibility of encountering an Eldritch General? Also not high.</i>


    This region was not the core battlefield of the eldritch-immortal war, though the fighting was still quite intense. The fall of a low-tier tribe wouldn''t cause toorge amotion.


    An Eldritch General was regarded as a key figure in high-tier eldritch tribes. However, even if one or two of them showed up, Yu Yue remainedpletely unfazed. As a battle-hardened veteran who had fought alongside the Immortal Court''s main force against Earth Eldritches at Heavenly Pir Mountain, there was no situation he hadn''t encountered before.


    <i>Annihting a low-tier tribe? Killing some Eldritch Warriors? Mere child''s y.</i> Immortal General Yu Yue was confident.


    <i>Besides, ording to the final message transmitted by the Fifth Company before their demise, they had already discovered the remnants of the Zhu Fu Tribe. The Archeldritch bloodline bearer is most likely in this group.</i> Immortal General Yu Yue continued analyzing.


    He believed he had a thorough understanding of the enemy''s movements and strength.


    <i>Once this mission is aplished, I should have sufficient merits to apply for a one-time entry into the Creation Divine Hall. </i>Immortal General Yu Yue muttered to himself, his heart full of longing.<i> </i>


    <i>In all my years of cultivation, I''ve only entered the Creation Divine Hall once. That single opportunity allowed me to break through my bottleneck and be an Immortal General.</i>


    <i>If I enter a few more times, perhaps I''d truly have a chance of bing an Earth Immortal.</i> Yu Yue thought to himself.


    He was well aware of how the eldritch race had dominated thend in the past. They were truly the overlords of heaven and earth, causing all other races to tremble in fear.


    It was the three Imperial Majesties who wielded the Creation Divine Artifacts, upied Heavenly Pir Mountain, established the Immortal Court, and opened the Creation Divine Hall, truly initiating the era of the eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy.


    And now, the tides were gradually turning in the Immortal Court��s favor, as they sounded the horn of conquest over thend.


    ...


    Amidst towering peaks and rolling mountains, a group of over a thousand people continued to advance through the forests, moving at a considerably rapid pace. After all, even the few children in the group were at the first-stage Communion phase.


    The six Eldritch Warriors and Wu Yuan were merely providing protection, not assisting these Zhu Fu Tribe members.


    Firstly, this was the custom of the eldritch race. Living in Great Huang, one had to rely on one''s own strength. Secondly, while the eldritch race was extremely strong inbat, their methods of equipment forging, pill refining, and other such arts were rather crude and primitive. They didn''t possess many powerful artifacts for travel.


    The battleship artifact they had just acquired was still in the process of having its controls deciphered by Hou Quan.


    As for Wu Yuan? He didn��t have any battleship artifacts with him. Even if he had one, he wouldn''t unt it at this moment.


    "Brother Hou Feng, you needn''t worry too much," Hou Quan shed a reassuring grin. "We''ve in that hundred-manpany. If their Immortal General superior learns of this, he would know to retreat. After all, continuing to linger here will be dangerous for them."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    He conversed with Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others along the way. As Eldritch Warriors from a high-tier tribe, they naturally knew a wealth of intelligence and information, especially Hou Quan who held an even higher position than most.


    Perhaps some tidbits of information they casually dropped would help Wu Yuan gain much deeper insights into this new world.


    <i>Creation Divine Hall. The three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court?</i> Wu Yuan gradually learned of this intelligence, which wasmon knowledge among the upper echelons of Huanggu.


    The Creation Divine Hall, the most miraculous ce in the whole of Huanggu, was also the Immortal Court''s primary sacred ground and treasurend.


    As for the three Imperial Majesties, each wielded a Creation Divine Artifact, empowered by the authority of heaven and earth, granting them unimaginable power.


    "The authority of heaven and earth?" Wu Yuan was stunned when he heard this term. Thest time he heard this phrase was when he first learned of the legend of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.


    "Indeed!" Hou Quan''s face turned serious. "When the Immortal Court was first established, the number of Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches in our ranks outnumbered the Immortal Court��s counterparts tenfold."


    "Originally, the strengths of the three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court were ordinary among High Immortals. But empowered by the authority of heaven and earth, they possess nearly invincible strength within Heavenly Pir Mountain, able to fight ten-to-one." Hou Quan sighed emotionally. "In that battle, countless Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches of our eldritch race perished."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Though he didn''t know of that battle, he could imagine its brutality. For Huanggu, High Eldritches and High Immortals were the pinnacle ofbat strength. Even the three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court were essentially High Immortals.


    Archeldritch? Archimmortal? Those were legends! With the disappearance of Immortal Tribtions, no one in Huanggu could break through.


    <i>Are the Creation Divine Artifacts considered celestial equipment? Or Dao Treasures?</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself. <i>And what exactly is the authority of heaven and earth?</i>


    Wu Yuan had a feeling that his arrival at Huanggu was likely rted to the so-called Creation Divine Hall.


    <i>However, even High Eldritches can��t defeat the three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court. How am I, a member of the eldritch race, supposed to enter the Creation Divine Hall?</i>


    <i>Currently, my strength is onlyparable to peak-level Immortal Generals and Eldritch Generals. Even if I break through in mana again, reaching the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase, I''d only be on par with ordinary Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches.</i> Wu Yuan realized the difficulty.


    Without the aid of external treasures, it was extremely challenging to fight enemies from several cultivation phases higher than him.


    <i>No wonder I was given a thousand years. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, while continuing to converse with Hou Quan and the others.


    At the same time, he continued to cultivate, deducing the Law of Life.


    He never cked off on cultivation. Only through perseverance could one hope to reach the end.


    ...


    ��Eldritch tribes are all established on various spirit veins throughout thend.�� Wu Yuan gained another tidbit of knowledge.


    ��Mm. This isn''t really a secret. Although Huanggu is vast and rich in spiritual qi, those spirit veins are truly where the spiritual qi is most concentrated, worthy of being called grotto-heavens." Hou Quan smiled and said, "Of course, Brother Hou Feng, you''ve been wandering across thend all this time, so you might not have paid much attention to this."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "As far as I know, the spirit veins of thend can be roughly divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and heaven-grade!" Hou Quan smiled and exined, "As you��ve probably guessed, they basically correspond to the four levels of our eldritch tribes.


    The four Archeldritch tribes are established on four heaven-grade spirit veins, and high-tier tribes are basically established on high-grade spirit veins.


    A single spirit vein can only nurture and support a limited number of lives. If they are overpopted, it will lead to a decrease in talent and potential among newborns." Hou Quan said.


    ��Therefore, Archeldritch tribes to mid-tier tribes all encourage its strong members to venture out, leading some ordinary tribe members to establish new eldritch tribes."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    Simply put, when the poption reached the limit a spirit vein could support, new resource points had to be developed. Otherwise, it would lead to the deterioration of the living environment. And controlling arge number of spirit veins meant controlling the vastnd.


    "Of course, there''s a ce in this world that surpasses heaven-grade spirit veins." Hou Quan said in a low voice, "It''s Heavenly Pir Mountain, where countless spirit veins of the entirend converge. It was discovered by the three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court.


    The concentration and quantity of spiritual qi there surpasses heaven-grade spirit veins.


    The realm created at Heavenly Pir Mountain has allowed the Immortal Court to produce numerous powerhouses over the long years. Now, they''ve begun to wage war on thend, emigrating members of the immortal race out of Heavenly Pir Mountain." There was killing intent in Hou Quan''s eyes.


    "However, once they leave the range of Heavenly Pir Mountain, the Immortal Court is far inferior to our eldritch race."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    Through their conversations so far, he had basically sorted out the grievances between the eldritch and immortal races.


    In earlier years, the four Archeldritches descended to propagate the Dao, allowing the eldritch race to flourish and dominate the entirend. The countless races on thisnd were thus suppressed.


    Later, three Imperial Majesties emerged from the myriad races, obtaining Creation Divine Artifacts from somewhere, and created the Immortal Realm at Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    They united the myriad races, spread a unified cultivation method, and merged them into a single race called the immortal race.


    The original demons made up the majority of the immortal race, and some special races such as nt lineages, rock life forms, and peculiar life forms made up the minority.


    At the beginning of the eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy, the immortal race was at an absolute disadvantage.


    However, the immortal race had the Immortal Realm as their foundation, equivalent to an impregnable home base. After many long years, they finally had the ability to counterattack.


    In the current era, the immortal race had gradually expanded their territory beyond the Immortal Realm, annihting arge number of eldritch tribes around Heavenly Pir Mountain, and establishing one immortal city after another on thend.


    <i>It seems the eldritch race is the antagonist in this story? This immortal race''s journey of struggle and resistance sounds more like a passionate, underdog protagonist.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself, then shook his head and smiled.


    As heaven maintains vigor through movements, a noble person should constantly strive for self-improvement. [1]


    Survival in the world followed thew of the jungle. To the heavens, all the myriad races of intelligent life born were indistinguishable.


    There was no such thing as fairness or justice to speak of. Nor was there a distinction between protagonist and antagonist.


    Heaven won''t reward you for saving billions of lives, nor will it punish you for ughtering billions.


    <i>The eldritch race is essentially the human race. Is the eldritch race wrong to want to continue being the leader of all beings? No. </i>Wu Yuan silently mused.


    <i>Is the immortal race wrong to rebel, to yearn topletely rid themselves of the fate of being suppressed and enved by the eldritch race? No.</i>


    <i>There is no inherent right or wrong, only strong and weak!</i>


    <i>Since I''m here, I should naturally do my utmost to help the eldritch race win this eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy, to ensure the eldritch race flourishes eternally in this world. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>By helping the eldritch race, I��m also helping myself.</i>


    <i>Only if the eldritch race wins, do I have a chance at obtaining some of the most important opportunities in this world. </i>Wu Yuan thought with crystal rity.


    <i>I''ll give it my all. Since I no longer have the aid of external treasures, I''ll cultivate slowly, relying purely on my own strength to battle the powerhouses of the Immortal Court one by one, fighting those Immortal Generals and Earth Immortals.</i>


    <i>Hundreds of years from now, I should strive to face the so-called three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race head-on. My goal is to stand at the pinnacle of the entire Huanggu World within a thousand years. This, if nothing else, is a challenge</i>. A gleam of light shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Since he wasn��t sure what opportunities he could gain in this world, he would climb to the peak of strength in Huanggu. When he got to that point, all secrets would likely be revealed to him.


    1. quote from the �׾�, Book of Changes ?

 Chapter 599: Thousand Year Goal (2)

    <h4>Chapter 599: Thousand Year Goal (2)</h4>


    <i>Hmm? My perception of space?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly felt that the rity of his observation of spatial fluctuations seemed to have advanced to a new level.


    A flood of Dao insights surged into Wu Yuan��s mind, and he began to grasp many profundities of the Law of Space.


    <i>Have I progressed a bit in the True Domain Dao?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, a faint smile appearing on his face. <i>Very good.</i>


    <i>I understand now. The Immutable Land may block themunication of thoughts between my two true selves, but it cannot hinder their shared understanding of the Dao.</i>


    <i>Once I��ve made progress in Daoprehension, the insights are etched deep into the consciousness shared by both true selves, difficult to erase.</i>


    <i>As I progress in the Law of Life, my qi refiner self should sense it too. This way, the chances of my n seeding will increase significantly. </i>Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.


    With two true selvesplementing each other''s weaknesses, the cultivation efficiency far exceeded simple addition.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan, who had been maintaining a soul perception range of twenty thousand li, suddenly detected a vast surge of spiritual qi rolling towards them.


    <i>A battleship! It''s a second-grade spirit battleship, led by an Immortal General. There should be about five to six hundred immortal race troops on board. They dare toe after us? Truly arrogant. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Wu Yuan''s soul had reached the peak of the Soul Will level, and he had cultivated multiple soul secret arts. While he could detect numerous individuals within his Soul Will range, some weaker Void Refiner Eminences might not be aware of his presence.


    It seemed that Immortal General Yu Yue hadn''t noticed him.


    <i>An iplete thousand-man battalion of the immortal army. It seems I must take action. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.<i> Fine, I''ll reveal part of my strength.</i>


    When he first arrived, he only understood some basic intelligence, so Wu Yuan didn''t dare to unleash his power rashly, fearing it might lead to trouble.


    But after conversing with Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others, Wu Yuan had a deeper understanding of Huanggu. It was a very special world, where many unique treasures emerged over its long history, most of which were controlled by the four Archeldritch tribes.


    <i>I��ll reveal some strength and establish myself as a super genius of the eldritch race. Naturally, this will lead to me joining the core of the eldritch race. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>Previously, I nned to enter the Hou Cheng Tribe and reveal my strength slowly, but now it seems my ns will have to be brought forward.</i>


    Some time passed.


    ��Hmm? Enemies?�� Wu Yuan, who had been conversing with Hou Quan, suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned his head abruptly, as if sensing something amiss.


    "Enemies?"


    "Where?" Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others immediately turned to look.


    Everything was calm.


    Puzzled, they were just about to ask Wu Yuan to rify when a thunderous boom rocked the ground.


    The colors of heaven and earth changed as waves of energy rippled out for thousands of li, and an enormous battleship appeared. Arge crowd of figures stood on the battleship, exuding a tremendous aura.


    "What? A second-grade spirit battleship? Not good, it''s an Immortal General." Hou Quan''s expression changed drastically. "Is this aplete thousand-man battalion?"


    "A thousand-man battalion?"


    "An Immortal General!" The faces of Hou Ming and the other Eldritch Warriors turned grim.


    Earlier, they had struggled to y a hundred-manpany. A thousand-man battalion was a hundred times stronger!


    "They''ve truly gone mad!"


    "Three Eldritch Generals are leading troops on a hunt for them, yet they still dare to pursue us?" Hou Ming''s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness.


    "Everyone, prepare to flee. I''ve already sent a message to the Eldritch General. In a quarter of an hour at most, the nearest Eldritch General will arrive, and we��ll be safe." Hou Quan said in a low voice.


    A quarter of an hour? Hearing this, the group of Eldritch Warriors felt their hearts sink. Even though their self-preservation abilities were strong, it would be difficult to hold out.


    More crucially, once they fled, the thousands of eldritch refugees would have no chance of survival at all.


    "Are we going to abandon them?" Hou Quan gritted his teeth, pointing at the thousand eldritch refugees below who were still panicking and unaware of the situation.


    "There''s no choice, Hou Quan, don''t be rash. shing with them is just suicide." Hou Ming clenched his jaw. Then, he turned to Hou Feng and shouted, "Brother Hou Feng, you''ve done enough. You take Zhu Yi and leave.


    Hou Quan, you must escape alone, don''t take the same route as Brother Hou Feng.


    You and Zhu Yi are both Archeldritch bloodline bearers, destined to be Eldritch Generals in the future. Your lives are a hundred times more valuable than ours.


    As for the rest of us brothers, we must fight to the death, to create a chance for Brother Hou Feng and Hou Quan to survive." Hou Ming roared, his fighting spirit soaring. "Are you afraid?"


    "We��re not afraid!"


    "It''s just an Immortal General, I��ve yet to fight one."


    "Why should we fear death?"


    The other Eldritch Warriors understood Hou Ming''s n: to sacrifice their lives in exchange for a slim chance of Hou Quan and Zhu Yi��s survival.


    But at this moment, none of them showed a hint of fear. This was the eldritch race. Over the long years, the ideology: fight for the eldritch race, fight till death, was instilled into them. This was glory.


    "Ahhh!!!" Hou Quan''s eyes reddened, his heart filled with unwillingness, yet he understood that Hou Ming''s n was no doubt the best option.


    If he survived and grew stronger, he could contribute the most value in the future.


    With the Soul Forcemunication speed of the Eldritch Warriors, these ns were made moments after they detected the zing Fire immortal army.


    And simrly, thousands of li away, hundreds of immortal army soldiers soared into the sky, already forming an iplete thousand-man battle array.


    After days of intense battles, this thousand-man battalion had lost many Immortal Soldiers and Immortal Warriors.


    However, as long as the Immortal General and eighty Immortal Warriors that made up their core remained, they could form the battle array. The other ordinary Immortal Soldiers and Immortal Warriors in the array were just support, their actual contribution to the overall power of the battle array was small.


    The thousand-zhang tall, majestic fire roc exuded a vast and mighty aura, spreading across ten thousand li.


    The ground below it had burst into raging mes due to the rapidly rising temperature of the air.


    "Seven Eldritch Warriors?"


    <i>Rumble!</i> There was nomunication between the two sides. It was unnecessary.


    The moment the immortal army formed their battle array, this thousand-zhang tall fire roc charged forward under themand of Immortal General Yu Yue, intending to annihte these few Eldritch Warriors in one strike.


    Just as Hou Quan was preparing to flee, and Hou Ming and the other Eldritch Warriors were preparing to fight to the death, Wu Yuan suddenly moved, charging forth to meet the attack.


    "No!"


    "Hou Feng, you''re no match for them. There''s no need for you to throw your life away." Hou Ming shouted, his expression changing.


    "Brother Hou Feng." Hou Quan was even more shocked, and he prepared to fight alongside Wu Yuan.


    "Haha."


    "They actually dare to charge at us?"


    ��The eldritch race is indeed foolish." The immortal army soldiers broke intoughter.


    They had formed a battle array capable of fighting an Eldritch General. Why would they fear a single Eldritch Warrior?


    But in the next moment, the expressions of Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the other Eldritch Warriors, as well as the immortal army led by Immortal General Yu Yue, all changed.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s speed began to skyrocket, his body simultaneously transforming into a colossal form thousands of zhangs tall. The sheer majesty of his stature was no less impressive than that of the ming roc, his vital aura surging explosively.


    At the same moment, a pair of massive skeletal wings materialized behind Wu Yuan. Four arms appeared, each wielding a shining battle saber.


    In this instant, Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others had the impression that Wu Yuan was already approaching the level of most Eldritch Generals.


    "This?"


    "This is Brother Hou Feng." Hou Ming and the other Eldritch Warriors gaped in astonishment.


    <i>So powerful, so incredible!</i> Hou Quan stared intently, muttering to himself. <i>I always thought my talent was exceptional, but now I see I''ve been like a frog in a well. Though we��re fellow Eldritch Warriors, Brother Hou Feng is likely ten times more formidable than me.</i>


    The eldritch race''s side was shocked and excited.


    <i>What a formidable Eldritch Warrior, likely one of the eldritch race''s top-tier geniuses. The more powerful, the more imperative it is to eliminate him.</i> Killing intent surged in Immortal General Yu Yue''s eyes.


    ying such a genius was an immense contribution. Moreover, despite Wu Yuan''s impressive disy of power, it was still not enough to incite fear in him.


    The gap between Eldritch Warrior and Eldritch General was as vast as that of heaven and earth. Throughout Huanggu, over countless ages, those who could cross this great divide in battle could be counted on one hand.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Both Wu Yuan and the enormous ming roc moved at astonishing speeds. In the blink of an eye, the gap of a few thousand li shrunk to just a few hundred li.


    <i>This should be enough.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy cold.


    <i>Boom!</i> A hazy, earthy-yellow radiance suddenly appeared around Wu Yuan, spreading in all directions.


    <i>Hiss hiss hiss~ </i>The vast, surging mes, like snow meeting sunlight, were immediately dissolved as they met that radiance.


    In an instant, the ming roc''s fire domain waspressed to a mere dozens of li in radius, its power now greatly diminished.


    <i>Not good, it''s a Dao Field! A Dao Field that only Earth Immortals can control. </i>Immortal General Yu Yue''s expression changed drastically.


    He wanted to retreat, but how could Wu Yuan allow him to withdraw?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Four first-grade spirit sabers erupted with power, and four terrifying de rays tore through the sky, their might unstoppable.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> In the blink of an eye, sabers and talons shed over a hundred times, each strike incredibly swift.


    For a moment, they seemed evenly matched.


    <i>Rip!</i> Suddenly, Wu Yuan unleashed another dazzling de ray. ��By chance��, it was too fast for the ming roc to evade, cleaving into its neck.


    The de continued down, tearing through to the chest, splitting the entire roc in two.


    Instantly, the battle array copsed, revealing countless terrified immortal army soldiers within.


    "Die!" One of Wu Yuan''s battle sabers grew to an enormous size, plunging directly into the disintegrating body of the ming roc. It seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.


    Then��the saber twisted, de rays exploding in all directions. In a single moment, all the Immortal Warriors and Immortal Soldiers were utterly annihted, their corpses instantly turning to ash. Even many artifacts were destroyed.


    <i>Flee!</i> Only Immortal General Yu Yue managed to block the de rays,yers of shields floating before him as he attempted to escape in utter terror.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Two more long sabers tore through the sky, crossing paths as if rending the sky itself. The de rays were unpredictable, directly cleaving through several spirit artifacts before striking Immortal General Yu Yue''s body.


    His body instantly vaporized into a cloud of blood mist.


    He was dead!


    <i>A third-stage Void Refiner cultivator without any powerful artifacts or impressive arcane arts. Weak immortal root and low Daoprehension as well.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Too weak, not evenparable to the first-stage Void Refiners I''ve killed on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan waved his hand, swiftly collecting all the remaining artifacts left behind by Yu Yue''s immortal army and the other Immortal Warriors and Immortal Soldiers.


    Even mosquitoes were still meat. He currently couldn''t afford to disregard such wealth.


    Wu Yuan quickly flew back to Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others. By now, their gazes had changed, filled with shock and admiration.


    "We pay our respects to Eldritch General Hou Feng." Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the other six Eldritch Warriors suddenly bowed respectfully.

 Chapter 600: The Greatest Genius In Eldritch Race History (1)

    <h4>Chapter 600: The Greatest Genius In Eldritch Race History (1)</h4>


    "Eldritch General?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "You single-handedly defeated a thousand-man battalion of the zing Fire Immortal Army and slew an Immortal General," Hou Ming eximed. "Senior Hou Feng, if you''re not an Eldritch General, who else is?"


    "I''m still just an Eldritch Warrior," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "In our eldritch race, it��s one��s strength that determines one��s rank, not specific cultivation phase. It''s just incredibly difficult for an Eldritch Warrior to unleash the power of an Eldritch General," Hou Quan''s eyes were filled with admiration.


    "Moreover, Senior Hou Feng, you didn''t just disy Eldritch General-level power, you even defeated an Immortal General. Killing an enemy from a higher cultivation phase is a legendary feat across all of Huanggu.


    This level of strength would be considered formidable even among Eldritch Generals. You''d be granted the title of Eldritch General in any high-tier tribe," Hou Quan said with utmost seriousness.


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    A legendary feat across all of Huanggu? He wasn��t wrong. In the vast expanse of the Greenridge Macrocosm, such geniuses emerged in every era, but that was because the macrocosm was so immense, with tens of millions of immortal continents.


    If one were to focus on a single immortal continent, a Shambh cultivator killing a Void Refiner cultivator would indeed be a legendary feat. Thus, Wu Yuan didn''t bother arguing further.


    "You need not call me Senior. I might not be older than you. I''ve only been cultivating for a little over a hundred years," Wu Yuan smiled. "You can still call me Brother Hou Feng."


    "What?"


    "A little over a hundred years."


    "Really?" Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the others werepletely stunned. Even the youngest among the six Eldritch Warriors, Hou Quan, had been cultivating for over two hundred years, and that was with the boost from his Archeldritch bloodline.


    As for the other Eldritch Warriors? The oldest, Hou Ming, had been cultivating for over a thousand years.


    What kind of monstrous prodigy was this?


    "Cultivating for a little over a hundred years, and killing an Immortal General as an Eldritch Warrior?" Hou Ming eximed. "Has our Huanggu eldritch race ever produced such a genius in its millions of years of history?"


    Several Eldritch Warriors revealed astonished expressions.


    The history of the Huanggu eldritch race? Normally, they just drank, cultivated, and patrolled eldritch territories. When had they ever considered such questions?


    "Brother Hou Feng," Hou Quan hesitated before asking, "What you disyed earlier was a Dao Field, right?"


    As the highest-level cultivator among the six Eldritch Warriors, he could vaguely discern this.


    Dao Field? The other Eldritch Warriors all looked at Wu Yuan in shock.


    "Mm, I suppose so," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The saber technique and domain power he had disyed earlier were based on the third-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao. It was equivalent to the third-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law. His Daoprehension could rival that of a peak Earth Immortal.


    Wu Yuan had carefully considered his n. He didn''t have that much time to slowly integrate himself into the world. A thousand years sounded long, but it wasn''t really that long.


    If he wanted to walk the path of a super genius, he needed to reveal some of his strength.


    As for reaching the True Intent stage of two Intermediate Laws, Wu Yuan didn''t n to reveal that yet. Such a genius would be too outrageous.


    For the Huanggu eldritch race, his current talent was already monstrous.


    "It''s really a Dao Field?"


    "Even the strongest Eldritch General has likely only reached the ninth-level True Intent stage."


    "This! No wonder he could kill an Immortal General."


    "Daoprehension rivaling an Earth Eldritch?" These Eldritch Warriors werepletely dumbfounded. Wu Yuan''s level of talent had exceeded their understanding.


    "Brother Hou Feng," Hou Quan suddenly asked, "In the future, you''ll likely be a High Eldritch."


    High Eldritch? Wu Yuan simply smiled in reply.


    But the other Eldritch Warriors were stunned by his words. To be a High Eldritch was to reach the pinnacle of strength in Huanggu.


    ...


    "The immortal army battalion that destroyed your Zhu Fu Tribe has beenpletely wiped out by Senior Hou Feng," an Eldritch Warrior flew down and said in a low voice. "Even the Immortal General leading them was killed. Your vengeance has been exacted.


    Wait here patiently for now. An Eldritch General will arrive with battleships to take you to the nearest Fire Eldritch tribe," the tall Eldritch Warrior exined.


    "Immortal General?"


    "Senior Hou Feng single-handedly killed an Immortal General just now?" In the valley, the thousand or so members of the Zhu Fu Tribe were equally shocked, excited, and joyful. Many of them were even moved to tears, weeping out loud.


    After hearing the ounts from the two Eldritch Warriors, they all knew that Senior Hou Feng had already helped them take revenge.


    "Zhu Yi, did you hear that?" The elderly man in beast hide grabbed her shoulders, his eyes welling up. "We''ve been avenged. Senior Hou Feng avenged us, killing all those immortal race bastards!��


    "Avenged?" Zhu Yi seemed somewhat dazed, her eyes also reddening. "Father, Mother, Chieftain, Grandfather... your deaths have been avenged."


    "No wonder Senior Hou Feng was so calm throughout our journey. He actually possesses such strength, perhaps he''s an Eldritch General or even an Earth Eldritch," the elderly man in beast hide said solemnly.


    "Zhu Yi, we''re not qualified to thank Senior Hou Feng. But in the future, when you''ve made progress in your cultivation, you must repay this debt of gratitude to Senior Hou Feng," the elderly man instructed.


    "Mm." Zhu Yi''s eyes gazed at the towering figure in the sky with a saber on his back. "Senior Hou Feng? Of the Earth Eldritch lineage?"


    ...


    Ten billion li from where Wu Yuan, Hou Ming, Hou Quan, and the others waited stood an enormous city over three hundred thousand li in diameter. Countless immortal cultivators of various races were either building the city or exchanging pointers with each other.


    Above the city floated a hall, guarded and patrolled by numerous immortal guards.


    <i>Hmm? Yu Yue is dead? The entire immortal army battalion was wiped out in an instant?</i> At the far end of the hall, a jade tform held a young man dressed in regal purple robes. His face was adorned with shimmering scales, and two majestic dragon horns crowned his head.


    His eyes snapped open.


    Long Chang, an Earth Immortal entrusted with overseeing this region on behalf of the Immortal Court, wielded considerable authority. His high status granted him direct ess to the Imperial Majesties, and hemanded a vast immortal army.


    With hundreds of Immortal Generals under his leadership, and more continually emerging, the loss of a single General held little significance for him.


    Positioned at the front lines of the war between the eldritch and immortal races, his immortal city periodically faced the loss of Immortal Generals.


    But what concerned him was the message Yu Yue had sent before his death: "My killer, an Eldritch Warrior, uses saber techniques, and is of the Earth Eldritch lineage."


    The immortal race''smunication methods were still rather crude, unable to transmit specific battle imagery over a distance of a billion li.


    In the brief moment between life and death, he was only able to send this short text message. Even so, this simple message was enough to shock Earth Immortal Long Chang.


    <i>Yu Yue is dead. He was quite loyal, and if he wanted the immortal race to avenge him, he wouldn''t have lied.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang quickly pondered.


    <i>An Eldritch Warrior? Even if he��s at the peak stage of the Eldritch Warrior cultivation phase, for him to sessfully kill an Immortal General? Was he alone, or were there other Eldritch Generals distracting Yu Yue?</i>


    <i>Even if other Eldritch Generals were distracting Yu Yue, for this Eldritch Warrior to participate in a battle at this level, his strength must be terrifying, definitely reaching the Eldritch General level, with extremely deep Daoprehension. </i>Earth Immortal Long Chang thought to himself.


    <i>As long as the intelligence is urate, it indicates that this Eldritch Warrior has the potential to be a High Eldritch.</i>


    High Eldritch!


    For the immortal race, the birth of each High Eldritch in the eldritch race was monumental news that could affect the course of the war between the two races.


    <i>It''s just a pity. We don''t know this Eldritch Warrior''s name or specific tribe, only that he''s of the Earth Eldritch lineage and currently at the Eldritch Warrior level of cultivation.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang shook his head slightly.


    <i>Earth Eldritch lineage? The nearest high-tier Earth Eldritch tribe would be the Hou Cheng Tribe.</i>


    The Hou Cheng Tribe was also the biggest threat to his Long Chang Immortal City, and the two sides had shed many times. Long Chang Immortal City had been attacked several times.


    <i>Hmm, I''ll first order my spies to gather intelligence on the Hou Cheng Tribe.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang mused to himself.


    <i>However, I don''t have enough resources. Even if we want to eliminate this great threat preemptively, it''s not up to me. I''ll report this to Heavenly Pir Mountain and let the High Immortals decide. </i>Earth Immortal Long Chang muttered to himself.


    Although he had cultivated a mana body, the mana body cultivation methods in Huanggu world were still imperfect, and his mana body only possessed 30% of his true self''s strength. With such rudimentary mana body teachings, it would take at least ten thousand years to cultivate another mana body if his current one were to perish.


    How long was an Earth Immortal''s lifespan in total? Only ny thousand years. Naturally, Earth Immortal Long Chang was unwilling to take such a risk.


    <i>I''ll investigate the situation a bit and then report it. That should be enough to fulfill my duty.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang thought to himself.


    <i>Whether the High Immortals care or not, it''s none of my business.</i>


    <i>If the sky falls, the Imperial Majesty and the others will naturally hold it up.</i>


    ...


    In the forest, Wu Yuan, Hou Ming, and the others didn''t have to wait long. Soon, two ck eldritch battleships cut through the air currents and hovered above them.


    Dozens of figures rushed over, most of them Eldritch Warriors. Leading them was a bald elderly man with a rather powerful aura, a ck snake wrapped around each of his arms.


    "Hou Ming, Hou Quan, well done." Before he reached them, the bald elderly man''s booming voice had already echoed throughout the mountain forest.


    "Eldritch General Hou She."


    "General She," Hou Ming, Hou Quan, and the others smiled as they greeted the bald elderly man.


    Eldritch General? Sixth-stage Elysian Field phase? Wu Yuan sensed the aura of the bald elderly man and stepped forward.


    Hou Ming, Hou Quan, and the others escorted the bald elderly man towards Wu Yuan, while the other dozens of Eldritch Warriors began to assist the thousand members of the Zhu Fu Tribe onto the battleship.


    "Eldritch General, this is Hou Feng," Hou Quan introduced proactively. "His strength is truly terrifying, surpassing even some of the legendary peerless geniuses in our tribe''s history."


    "Eldritch General," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    "Hou Feng, my young friend, there''s no need for such formalities. I''ve heard all about your exploits from Hou Quan and the others. Your strength likely surpasses my own," the bald elderly man chuckled as he approached. "I am unworthy of such a show of respect."


    Suddenly, the tworge snakes coiled around Eldritch General Hou She''s arms abruptly retracted their heads, their bodies trembling subtly as they stared at Wu Yuan. It seemed as if they had sensed some terrifying presence.


    This scene not only startled the many Eldritch Warriors, but even Eldritch General Hou She was taken aback. He asked carefully, "Hou Feng, is your lifebound eldritch beast also a powerful serpent?"


    "Indeed," Wu Yuan smiled. "Pardon me, Eldritch General. Little ck,e out and greet your kin."


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A small, winged snake immediately darted out from behind Wu Yuan''s battle armor. Its triangr head was raised high, its forked tongue flicking in and out.


    A surge of overwhelming aura spread from Little ck''s body, causing everyone to pale slightly.


    Little ck''s eyes gleamed with a hint of disdain as it nced at the tworge snakes nearby, as if it didn''t want tomunicate with them.


    The moment Little ck appeared, Eldritch General Hou She''s tworge snakes cowered in fear, lowering their heads likemon subjects kneeling before a king.


    "Wings... This is a divine snake? It truly is a divine snake." Eldritch General Hou She''s expression revealed a trace of shock.


    His way he looked at Wu Yuanpletely changed. Any lingering doubt he might have had vanished like smoke in the wind.


    "Divine snake?"


    "Could it be the legendary Teng Snake that apanied the Earth Archeldritch?" The other Eldritch Warriors'' faces were filled with astonishment.


    They were all of the Earth Eldritch lineage, and had grown up hearing tales of the Earth Archeldritch.


    "There''s no mistaking it," Eldritch General Hou She said in a low voice. He turned to Wu Yuan and asked, "Hou Feng, where did you obtain this Teng Snake?"


    "It was bestowed by the heavens," Wu Yuan replied. "While I was cultivating, Little ck suddenly appeared by my side. It naturally fused with my soul chamber, bing my lifebound eldritch beast."


    "A divine snake bestowed by the heavens?" Eldritch General Hou She was stunned.

 Chapter 601: The Greatest Genius In Eldritch Race History (2)

    Chapter 601: The Greatest Genius In Eldritch Race History (2)


    After a moment, he slowly nodded, sighing with emotion, "Indeed, divine snakes are now extinct, not seen in Huanggu for countless millennia. Perhaps, the Archeldritch sent down the Teng Snake to create a monstrous prodigy for our eldritch race."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    Regarding the secrets of his own identity, Wu Yuan had no intention of exining further. Two words were enough��natural talent!


    If it seemed unreasonable? That was due to limited experience, having never encountered such a peerless genius before.


    Looking for other exnations? One lie required countless more to prop up, but concepts like natural talent or heavenly bestowal were impossible to verify.


    As long as he did nothing to harm the eldritch race, Wu Yuan believed that even if the higher-ups of the eldritch race began to have some doubts, they would ultimately set their minds at ease.


    "Hou Feng, does your previous agreement with Hou Quan still stand? Are you willing to join our Hou Cheng Tribe?" Eldritch General Hou She''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.


    "I am," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Based on his conversations with Hou Quan and the others, he knew that as long as his strength grew and his talent was apparent, he would naturallye into contact with the Archeldritch tribes. From there, he could gain ess to the core secrets of the eldritch race."Excellent. It��s not just our Hou Cheng Tribe�Ceven among the four great Archeldritch tribes, there might not be anyone whose talent canpare to yours right now," Eldritch General Hou She smiled.


    ��Rest assured, all eldritch members under heaven are one family. Now, let''s return to the tribe. Then we''ll go meet the chieftain.


    Perhaps, after the chieftain sees you, even the High Eldritches from the Archeldritch tribe wille to meet you," Eldritch General Hou She said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Let''s go!"


    By now, the other Eldritch Warriors had already helped the eldritch refugees aboard the battleship.


    The battleship roared to life, swiftly cutting through the sky, heading towards the South.


    A second-grade spirit battleship could cover nearly eighty million li in a day, but the distance to the Hou Cheng Tribe''s base was nearly three hundred million li. It would take several days for them to arrive.


    Along the way, they passed by a mid-tier Fire Eldritch tribe, where they dropped off the thousand survivors of the Zhu Fu Tribe, as well as Zhu Yi.


    A mid-tier tribe was strong enough to shelter her as she grew. As a bearer of the Fire Archeldritch bloodline, she had to develop her strength among other members of the Fire Eldritch lineage to ensure smooth progress.


    Before departing, she wanted to see Wu Yuan onest time.


    "Little Zhu Yi, you were looking for me?" Wu Yuan smiled as he looked at the young girl.


    This strong-willed young girl had left quite a deep impression on him.


    "Senior Hou Feng, will you be staying in the Hou Cheng Tribe in the future?" Zhu Yi mustered her courage to ask.


    "I might go to an Archeldritch tribe," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "I see," Zhu Yi nodded, then suddenly bowed respectfully. "Senior, Zhu Yi will not forget your kindness. In the future, I will surely repay you."


    "Repay me?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but chuckle, and the group of Eldritch Warriors nearby also broke intoughter. They weren��t mocking her, simply finding her sincerity rather adorable.


    "There''s no need to think about repaying me," Wu Yuan said. "Focus on your cultivation, be an Eldritch General soon, and kill more immortal race members in the future. If you do that, my help will not have gone to waste."


    "Understood," Zhu Yi nodded.


    With that, she left the battleship.


    Soon after, the two battleships swiftly departed from this mid-tier Fire Eldritch tribe.


    Zhu Yi stood at the edge of the tribe, gazing at the horizon for a long time.


    "Grandpa, do you think I''ll be able to see Senior Hou Feng again?" Zhu Yi suddenly spoke.


    "You will," the elderly man in beast-hide beside her smiled. "As long as you work hard in your cultivation, you''ll be able to see him again in the future. When you be an Eldritch General, you may travel anywhere in this vastnd."


    "Eldritch General? No! I want to be an Earth Eldritch, a High Eldritch!!" Zhu Yi said in a low voice, her eyes filled with determination.


    She would never forget the moment her parents died.


    And naturally, she had a deep impression of Wu Yuan, who had helped her avenge them.


    ��


    Wu Yuan didn''t spend much time thinking about Zhu Yi. To him, it was merely a matter of lending a helping hand.


    The battleship pressed on.


    Wu Yuan conversed with Eldritch General Hou She, who seemed to hold nothing back, allowing him to learn even more information.


    Much of this intelligence was new even to Hou Quan and the others.


    "Hou Feng, I trust Hou Quan and the others, and I trust you. So, when we meet the chieftain and the veteran elders of the tribe, you should fully disy your strength," Eldritch General Hou She said, sitting on the deck of the battleship. "Although you''ve killed an Immortal General, they haven''t seen it with their own eyes after all."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    "If you show enough potential, you might have the chance to enter the Archeldritch Hall directly," Eldritch General Hou She said.


    "Archeldritch Hall?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Do you know why the four great Archeldritch tribes have been able to preserve their legacy, remaining the sacrednds of the eldritch race for so long?" Eldritch General Hou She said gravely. "It''s all thanks to the Archeldritch Halls.


    Perhaps the Creation Divine Hall of the immortal race is more miraculous, but the Archeldritch Halls were left behind by the Archeldritches.


    Legend has it that whoever can unravel the secrets of the Archeldritch Halls will have hope of bing an Archeldritch. Unfortunately, no one has been able to unravel it in tens of millions of years," Eldritch General Hou She shook his head and sighed.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. The Archeldritch Hall?


    Several dayster, Wu Yuan, Eldritch General Hou She, Hou Quan, and the others stood on the battleship, observing the massive city on the ground.


    The city��s diameter was over a million li. It was filled with countless floating halls, with an architectural style that appeared rather rugged, but by no means backward. Rather, it was the cultural style of the entire eldritch race.


    <em>This the Hou Cheng Tribe?</em> Wu Yuan gazed into the distance, sensing the immense power within the city.


    Within, there seemed to be numerous terrifying entities capable of threatening his life.


    The Hou Cheng Tribe! ording to the intelligence Wu Yuan had gathered over the past few days, the entire Huanggu eldritch race had nearly a thousand high-tier tribes.


    Thergest ruled over territories spanning billions of li, while the smallest controlled areas of hundreds of millions of li.


    Each high-tier eldritch tribe had at least three Earth Eldritches stationed there, working in tandem with powerful eldritch arrays capable of blocking even High Immortals.


    <em>The war between the eldritch race and immortal race has raged on until now.</em>


    Wu Yuan mused silently. <em>In thest ten thousand years, as the immortal race began to actively counterattack, many low-tier tribes and mid-tier tribes were breached, but the number of high-tier tribes that fell could be counted on one''s fingers.</em>


    And the Hou Cheng Tribe, ranked among the top hundred of the nearly one thousand high-tier eldritch tribes, boasted more than ten Earth Eldritches. Their defenses were as imprable as a fortress of iron and stone.


    The battleship passed through the city''s security barrier and swiftly entered, simultaneously raising a g signifying ��triumphant return��. This instantly elicited waves of cheers along the way.


    <em>Weing the triumphant warriors, this is glory indeed. </em>Wu Yuan observed the scene, noting how the numerous eldritch members along the route cheered from the depths of their hearts.


    Wu Yuan felt quite moved.


    Unity, passion, a love for battle, and glorifying death inbat �C Wu Yuan vaguely understood why the eldritch race could dominate all other races in this world.


    Finally, the battleshipnded on a spacious za, where even more people were waiting, most of which were Eldritch Warriors.


    Hou Quan, Hou Ming, and the other Eldritch Warriors quickly disembarked, jubntly interacting with the numerous Eldritch Warriors.


    As the eldritch army of a high-tier tribe, they typically undertook the most challenging missions in this vastnd. Each time, death was a real possibility.


    "Hou Feng,e with me to the Earth Eldritch Hall," Eldritch General Hou She said with a smile.


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The two transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the floating hallplex in the sky, naturally arousing the curiosity of the many Eldritch Warriors in the za.


    "Who is that?"


    "Why are they going to the Earth Eldritch Hall? That''s where the veteran elders reside, ordinary Eldritch Warriors can''t go there, can they?" Many Eldritch Warriors wondered.


    "Haha, you folks just don''t know," Hou Quanughed. "That Eldritch Warrior is named Hou Feng, originally a wandering Eldritch Warrior, but with incredibly powerful strength. He slew an Immortal General.


    His personality is also excellent, and we all admire him greatly."


    "Slew an Immortal General?"


    "Is that true?"


    "Hou Feng?" The surrounding Eldritch Warriors could hardly believe it.


    Having been part of the army for years, they naturally understood the strength of an Immortal General.


    "How could it be false?" Hou Quan red at them. "Ask Hou Ming and the others, we witnessed it with our own eyes.


    In the future, brother Hou Feng will certainly be a High Eldritch. I believe he is the number one genius in our eldritch race!!" Hou Quan dered solemnly.


    Although the Hou Cheng Tribe was vast, Eldritch Warriors were still a minority, all belonging to the upper-middle echelons.


    Naturally, news of Hou Feng''s exploits spread rapidly throughout the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    Conceal intelligence? The eldritch race, overlords of this vastnd, were ustomed to dominance. Even when facing the Immortal Court, they still held an overall advantage.


    So, they had no habit of concealing information.


    ��


    <em>Earth Eldritch Hall?</em> Wu Yuan followed Eldritch General Hou She, swiftly arriving at the undting hallplex in the sky.


    The Earth Eldritch Hall was the core hall of the high-tier tribe, where treasures, powerful teachings, and other such things were stored. The array core was likewise established here.


    At the same time, the tribe''s highest-ranking Earth Eldritches, as well as many highly regarded Eldritch Generals and young geniuses, also lived year-round in these halls.


    As an Eldritch General, Eldritch General Hou She path was unobstructed until they arrived outside a temple at the center of the hallplex.


    "Eldritch General Hou She, you''ve arrived?"


    "We''ve already received the chieftain''s orders. You are to enter the Veteran Elders Hall directly. This must be Hou Feng."


    "He was able to y an Immortal General?" The peak Eldritch Warrior powerhouses guarding the hall��s doors all curiously eyed Wu Yuan.


    Those outside might not be fully aware, but as close attendants to the Earth Eldritches, they knew many secrets, and had heard Hou Feng''s name yesterday.


    On the way back to the Hou Cheng Tribe, Eldritch General Hou She had already transmitted the news to the tribe''s upper echelons through the battleship''smunication array.


    "Come, Hou Feng, follow me inside. The chieftain and veteran elders are all present." Eldritch General Hou She grinned, "I''ve secured this opportunity for you. What happens next will depend on your own abilities."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    An opportunity?


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> The two entered the Veteran Elders Hall. The hall''syout was rather simple, yet incredibly majestic, held up by a series of towering divine pirs.


    At a nce, Wu Yuan saw several figures sitting casually at the far end of the divine hall, each emanating an incredibly powerful aura.


    Earth Eldritches! Six of them.


    In particr, the elderly man in white robes at the hall''s far end gave Wu Yuan an inexplicable sense of mortal danger.


    "Greetings to the chieftain and veteran elders," Eldritch General Hou She said respectfully. "I''ve brought Hou Feng. We came here as soon as we entered the city."


    Wu Yuan also bowed respectfully. "Greetings to the Earth Eldritches."


    Silence.


    <em>Rumble~</em> Suddenly, an intangible wave of soul energy erupted from the elderly man in white robes, crashing down like rolling waves.


    <em>A soul attack?</em> Wu Yuan wondered inwardly, yet felt this impact wasn''t particrly strong, perhaps not even enough to shake an Immortal General or Eldritch General.


    How powerful was Wu Yuan��s soul? Having also cultivated a soul defense secret art, he naturally endured it with ease. His expression didn''t change in the slightest.


    This oue caused looks of surprise to appear on the faces of the several Earth Eldritches seated on both sides of the great hall.


    "Hahaha!"


    "Hou Fu, you lost the bet. Remember to give me that treasure of yours." The elderly man in white robes suddenly burst intoughter, then turned his gaze to Wu Yuan. "Hou Feng?"


    "Eldritch General Hou She told me your talent is monstrous, and you��re possibly the number one genius in the history of our eldritch race. Seeing you today in person, you''re even more exceptional than I had anticipated."

 Chapter 602: The Archeldritch Trial

    Chapter 602: The Archeldritch Trial


    Upon hearing this, Eldritch General Hou She''s face brightened. He understood that the chieftain had likely already tested Wu Yuan.


    "Earth Eldritch, you tter me," Wu Yuan respectfully replied.


    He was still unsure of the exact names, identities, and cultivation phases of these Earth Eldritches before him, thus he dared not address them carelessly.


    "I''m not ttering you at all," the elderly man in white robes remarked. "The strength of your soul must have reached the level of Soul Will. Tsk, tsk. Many Eldritch Generals who have cultivated for thousands of years might not have souls as powerful as yours. No wonder your Daoprehension is so deep."


    The white-robed elder sighed, "An Eldritch Warrior with Soul Will? This alone makes you one of the top ten geniuses in the ten million year history of our eldritch race."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "Soul Will?"


    "What?!"


    "This youngster has actually reached the Soul Will level?" The other Earth Eldritches, and even Eldritch General Hou She, all revealed looks of shock.For the eldritch race, the normal process was to first break through in cultivation, after which one��s powerful physique would nurture their soul, allowing it to advance to the next level.


    But reaching the Soul Will level while at the Eldritch Warrior phase? Even among the immortal race who specialized in soul cultivation, there probably weren''t many geniuses who could achieve this.


    "I suppose your immortal root must be exceptionally strong too. Third-degree? Or second-degree?" The white-robed elder gazed at Wu Yuan with great interest.


    "Second-degree," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    "Second-degree?"


    "An Eldritch Warrior with a second-degree eldritch root, impressive," the surrounding Earth Eldritches allmented.


    Even Eldritch General Hou She inwardly marveled. Although he knew of Wu Yuan''s battle achievements, he hadn''t really looked into these details.


    A second-degree eldritch root? That was already incredibly extraordinary.


    Wu Yuan, however, remained quite calm. He naturally understood why these Earth Eldritches weren''t too surprised.


    The Huanggu eldritch race faced a scarcity of root establishment treasures and mostly relied on themselves to enhance their immortal roots.


    However, their overall environment was special, with refined cultivation teachings and a vast territory. Therefore, the emergence of geniuses with third-degree eldritch roots and second-degree eldritch roots was not umon.


    "Excellent!"


    "Hou Feng, I heard from Eldritch General Hou She that you''re willing to join our Hou Cheng Tribe," the white-robed elder smiled. "I, Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng, hereby bestow upon you the title of Eldritch General in my capacity as the chieftain of the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    From this day forward, you shall be an Eldritch General of our Hou Cheng Tribe. Do you ept?" The white-robed elder looked at Wu Yuan.


    The other Earth Eldritches all watched Wu Yuan, but none objected. They had already discussed this matter beforehand.


    "I ept," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Good. This is the Eldritch General token, produced by the Archeldritch tribe. Decipher it first," the white-robed elder waved his hand, and an ancient ck token flew out,nding before Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan received it, infusing a trace of Soul Force to decipher it. He quickly left a mental imprint on the token.


    <em>Hmm? </em>Once Wu Yuan sessfully imed ownership, he instantly sensed something calling out to him from the far end of the endless earth, as though he was being summoned.


    A sh of surprise crossed Wu Yuan''s face.


    "Haha, I suppose you''ve already sensed it," the white-robed Earth Eldritch Hou Chengughed. "The ce you''re sensing is the Earth Archeldritch Hall."


    Archeldritch Hall? Wu Yuan listened intently. After gathering intelligence these past few days, he hadrgely confirmed his objectives.


    First, enter the Archeldritch Hall! Second, enter the Creation Divine Hall.


    From Wu Yuan''s spection, the opportunities within Huanggu likelyy in these two halls and the so-called Creation Divine Artifacts. As for other opportunities? He would have to explore them over time.


    "Typically, once someone bes an Eldritch General, they have the chance to visit the Archeldritch Hall," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng exined. "For most Eldritch Generals, this is their only opportunity to enter. But with the vastness of the earth and the long journey required, reaching the Archeldritch tribe is extremely challenging.


    For instance, our Hou Cheng Tribe is over ten billion li from the Earth Archeldritch tribe. It would take several months of travel by ordinary battleship. Even with an Earth Eldritch leading the way, it would still take ten days.


    For some extremely distant tribes, separated by twenty or thirty billion li, the time required is even more staggering," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng smiled. "Additionally, new Eldritch Generals don��t all emerge at the same time from various high-tier eldritch tribes.


    Therefore, the Archeldritch Halls of the four great Archeldritch tribes only collectively open once every hundred years. The next opening is sixty-two years from now," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng exined.


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Sixty-two years? Perhaps for those Eldritch Generals who had cultivated for hundreds or thousands of years, a hundred years wasn''t too long.


    But by then, Wu Yuan would have already entered the Elysian Field phase. He didn''t want to wait that long. It was worth noting that Wu Yuan hadn''t even reached a hundred years old yet.


    "Chieftain," Wu Yuan changed his form of address. "Is there no other way to enter earlier?"


    Instantly, Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng and the other Earth Eldritches exchanged nces, then erupted intoughter.


    "Hou Fu, remember to give me what you promised for our second wager," Earth Eldritch Hou Chengughed. "Hou Feng took the initiative to ask, you''ve lost again."


    The only Earth Eldritch who wasn''tughing sighed ruefully, ncing at Wu Yuan as if ming him for speaking out of turn.


    Wu Yuan felt helpless inside. How could he have known these Earth Eldritches were so idle that they would bet on such matters?


    "There is! Our eldritch race naturally treats peerless geniuses differently," the Hou Cheng Tribe chieftain smiled. ��You may attempt the Archeldritch Trial."


    "Archeldritch Trial?" Wu Yuan revealed a puzzled expression.


    "The Archeldritch Trial has nine levels, testing both real-world battle skills andprehension aptitude," the Earth Eldritch named Hou Fu exined in a low voice.


    "You need toplete the first six levels of the trial within the tribe. Once you sessfully pass the first six levels, you can proceed to the Archeldritch tribe to take the seventh level.


    Passing the seventh level grants you the qualification to enter the Archeldritch Hall directly, along with other rewards, and you''ll even receive an audience with a High Eldritch," Earth Eldritch Hou Fu continued.


    "Although our eldritch race isrge, only peerless geniuses can obtain the most precious resources and treasures. The full power and potential of treasures and resources can only be unleashed in the hands of the strong," Earth Eldritch Hou Fu stated.


    This was a consistent philosophy of the eldritch race.


    "The seventh level allows direct entry to the Archeldritch Hall?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly, then suddenly asked, "What if one passes the ninth level?"


    Instantly, the entire hall fell silent, with all the Earth Eldritches and Eldritch General Hou She looking at Wu Yuan in astonishment.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng. Those who can pass the seventh level are rare in our entire eldritch race, with barely one emerging in ten thousand years," Eldritch General Hou She couldn''t help but say. "As for the ninth level? Since the establishment of the Archeldritch Trial, no one has ever passed it!


    Even those who passed the eighth level number less than ten in thest ten million years," Eldritch General Hou She added.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    Not a single person had passed the ninth level? It sounded challenging enough.


    "Chieftain, I hope that the tribe can initiate the Archeldritch Trial," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    For Wu Yuan, the more impossible and rewarding a task seemed within the Huanggu eldritch race, the more he feltpelled to strive for it.


    Not knowing where the opportunitiesy, there was nothing wrong with him simply expanding his search radius.


    The Earth Eldritches exchanged nces.


    "Alright. If an ordinary Eldritch General requested this, I would only give them a scolding," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng smiled. "However, since it��s you, Eldritch General Hou Feng, making the request, I''m somewhat looking forward to it. I hope you can sessfully pass the seventh or even the eighth level.


    However, we must follow proper procedures. Tomorrow, you will undergo the first six levels of the trial at the Eldritch Battle tform in the center of the tribe, " Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Then go and prepare well," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said. "Hou She, escort Eldritch General Hou Feng to the rest hall."


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan and Eldritch General Hou She both withdrew from the temple.


    "Chieftain, shouldn''t we look into his past a bit more?"


    "Indeed, although we''ve checked the Hou Hu Tribe''s records and confirmed his identity as a genius, there''s been no news of him for decades. It''s very strange."


    "We should investigate thoroughly." These Earth Eldritches voiced their concerns one after another.


    Was Wu Yuan talented? Yes, he was! But it was precisely because he was so talented, unusually so, coupled with his mysterious background, that it made these Earth Eldritches feel uneasy.


    "What''s there to worry about? The existence of the Teng Snake cannot be faked. I don''t believe the noble Teng Snake would follow a spy from the immortal race," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said calmly. "Moreover, even if he were a spy, how could he escape the scrutiny of the Archeldritch Hall?


    Rather than us expending effort to investigate Hou Feng��s past, which might even displease him, why not let him go to the Archeldritch Hall? The Archeldritch tribe will naturally help us perform a thorough investigation," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng smiled. "We��ll be killing two birds with one stone."


    The gathered Earth Eldritches were stunned. They hadn''t expected the chieftain to have such far-sighted thoughts.


    "Very well, let''s discuss another matter," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng suddenly said, his face turning grave. "Long Chang Immortal City grows increasingly brazen. Their immortal armies now dare to venture hundreds of millions of li from the city to encroach upon our eldritch race''s territory."


    "Once the matter with Hou Feng is settled, we Earth Eldritches should stir things up a bit and teach them a lesson."


    "Agreed!" The gathered Earth Eldritches responded in unison.


    ��


    After leaving the Earth Eldritch hall, Wu Yuan was led through a sprawlingplex of halls to a quiet chamber.


    Eldritch General Hou She departed, then quickly returned.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng, this will be your temporary residence. Once you��vepleted the trial, we''ll establish a separate mansion for you," Eldritch General Hou She said with a smile.


    He then flipped his palm, producing a storage artifact which he handed to Wu Yuan. "These are the standard artifacts befitting an Eldritch General."


    "Additionally, some of the spoils you''ve acquired might be difficult to manage personally. You can take them to the Archeldritch shops," Eldritch General Hou She advised. "You can also purchase more suitable artifacts there."


    "Thank you," Wu Yuan said, cupping his hands in gratitude.


    "Haha, no need for thanks. Just perform well tomorrow," Eldritch General Hou Sheughed. "If you can pass the seventh or even the eighth level, it will bring great honor to our Hou Cheng Tribe."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    He could sense that Eldritch General Hou She''s words came from the heart. In this world, the tribal honor among the eldritch race was incredibly important.


    After Eldritch General Hou She left, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position in the hall, first examining the newly acquired treasures.


    <em>Battleship, battle armor, saber... all second-grade spirit equipment. How utterly ordinary. </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Still, getting them for free was better than nothing.


    <em>The Archeldritch Trial tomorrow?</em> Wu Yuan closed his eyes and began to meditate quietly. Though he didn''t believe he would be defeated, even a lion used all its strength to catch a rabbit.


    <em>Besides, my goal is to pass the ninth level. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>Perhaps there will be some extraordinary rewards.</em>


    ��


    "The Archeldritch Trial?"


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng?"


    "An Eldritch Warrior granted the title of Eldritch General by the chieftain himself, and now he''s undergoing the Archeldritch Trial?"


    "We must go watch!"


    "Thest time the Archeldritch Trial was held was one thousand years ago." As the Hou Cheng Tribe''s upper echelons spread the news, word rapidly circted throughout the tribe.


    So, when the next day arrived, nearly a million tribesmen had already gathered at the surrounding viewing tforms of the massive floating Eldritch Battle tform in the east side of the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    The air thrummed with their voices, their eyes fixed on a single stage.


    Ny-nine percent of the audience consisted of Eldritch Soldiers, and elite ones at that. Ordinary Eldritch Soldiers didn''t qualify to attend.


    Of the hundreds of millions of tribesmen in the entire Hou Cheng Tribe, only one in ten could reach the Eldritch Soldier phase. For these Eldritch Soldiers, this was a rare and grand asion.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng!"


    "Hou Feng!"


    "You must clear the sixth level! Enter the Archeldritch Hall!"


    "Hou Feng!"


    When Wu Yuan appeared at the center of the two-thousand-li-diameter Eldritch Battle tform, a saber strapped to his back, the entire arena instantly erupted into cheers. Shouts rose up from all sides.


    Their love of battle seemed etched into their very bones.


    <em>Such passionate fervor.</em> Wu Yuan thought as his gaze swept across the crowd, feeling a hint of fighting spirit rising within him. It was easy to be influenced by such an environment.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng, Archeldritch Trial, first level! Countdown: ten, nine, eight... one!"


    "Begin!" A cold, stern voice echoed across the vast Eldritch Battle tform.

 Chapter 603: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (1)

    <h4>Chapter 603: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (1)</h4>


    <i>On the vast Eldritch Battle tform.</i><i> </i>


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> In an instant, ten imposing figures descended from the four corners of the stands. Each of them was tall and muscr, d in identical battle armor, their presence intimidating.


    In the blink of an eye, they had surrounded Wu Yuan.


    "They''re Elite Eldritch Warriors!"


    "They are among the strongest in the eldritch army, easily ranking in the top hundred of the entire tribe."


    "Ten against one Hou Feng?"


    "Is this the first level of the Archeldritch Trial? It seems too difficult." The tribesmen observing the battle began to discuss.


    They had all heard rumors about Hou Feng to varying degrees, including tales of him ying an Immortal General, but none had witnessed it firsthand.


    The Elite Eldritch Warriors, however, were undisputed powerhouses within the tribe, their strength known to all.


    In the entire Hou Cheng Tribe, with tens of thousands of Eldritch Warriors, only a hundred had earned the title of ''Elite''. One could imagine how low the probability was.


    "Can Hou Feng win?"


    "He should be able to, right? This is only the first level. He should at least make it to the fourth or fifth level before failing." The million spectators debated amongst themselves.


    ...


    <i>On the Eldritch Battle tform.</i>


    "Kill!" "Kill!" The ten Elite Eldritch Warriors dared not let their guards down. They had all studied the reports on Wu Yuan''s abilities before the battle and were well aware of his strength.


    The moment theynded, they charged towards Wu Yuan, roaring battle cries. They attacked from all directions, attempting to disrupt Wu Yuan''s vision while simultaneously unleashing their most powerful ether arts.


    Wu Yuan, however, stood calmly in ce.


    "Isn''t Hou Feng going to make a move?"


    "He''s not even using any ether arts?" Countless spectators were puzzled, but many of the observing Eldritch Generals and Earth Eldritches remained calm.


    Finally, just as one of the Eldritch Warriors violently swung his battle saber, aiming to cleave Wu Yuan''s head, ayer of hazy earth-yellow light appeared in the void.


    <i>Boom! </i>Thisyer of light was like an invisible giant palm, or rather, a vast world. It pressed down heavily on Wu Yuan��s opponents!


    <i>St~</i> The Eldritch Warrior seemed to have been struck by a tremendous force, plummeting downward abruptly.


    He wasn''t the only one.


    <i>Thud~ Thud~ Thud~</i> The Dao fluctuations of Celestial Body True Intent formed a domain. As this domain spread out, those Elite Eldritch Warriors who had been exuding overwhelming auras moments ago fell one after another like meteors, crashing heavily into the stone wall below the Eldritch Battle tform.


    They couldn''t move. No matter how much they struggled, these Eldritch Warriors remained immobilized, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at Wu Yuan in the air above.


    At this moment, the hazy earth-yellow light enveloped the entire Eldritch Battle tform. With the postures of the ten Eldritch Warriors, it seemed as if they were prostrating themselves before Wu Yuan.


    The oue was clear.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng has passed the first level of the trial," a cold voice announced once more. "Prepare yourself. The second level of the trial will begin in ten breaths."


    <i>Whoosh~</i> With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, the pressure of the Celestial Body domain was lifted. The ten Elite Eldritch Warriors exchanged nces before departing in streaks of light.


    How embarrassing! They were the trial examiners, yet the examinee defeated them without even moving a muscle.


    However, for these ten Elite Eldritch Warriors, they didn''t feel that this was a disgrace. They had all sensed Wu Yuan''s immense power and were genuinely in awe.


    Eldritch race warriors admired the strong above all else, and someone like Wu Yuan was destined to be a super powerhouse in the future.


    <i>Dealing with a group of Eldritch Warriors? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, but remained calm inside.


    These Elite Eldritch Warriors hadn''t even reached the seventh-level True Intent stage of a Lesser Law. They were utterly incapable of resisting a domain equivalent to the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law!


    Given the gap in Daoprehension and foundation, Earth Immortals could suppress peak Amethyst Cradle/Shambh powerhouses with a single thought using their Dao Fields.


    Although Wu Yuan had only exhibited the third-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao, as an Intermediate Law, it wasparable to theprehension of a peak-stage Earth Immortal.


    ...


    "He won just like that?"


    "That''s too incredible."


    "What was thatyer of light? I''ve never seen anything like it."


    "Me neither."


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng won without even moving a finger? Even other peak-stage Eldritch General powerhouses couldn''t do that, right?"


    The spectators stared in disbelief. Those eligible to view the trial were at the peak-stage Eldritch Soldier phase at minimum, so they had a decent level of perspective. Most of them thought Wu Yuan could win. But they hadn''t expected Wu Yuan to win so effortlessly.


    ...


    "Is that really a Dao Field?" Above the Eldritch Battle tform, therge group of observing Eldritch Generals was also in an uproar, all looking on in shock.


    "Is it truly a Dao Field?"


    "An Eldritch Warrior whoseprehension of heaven and earth has reached the Dao Field stage? What kind of monstrous prodigy is this?" The group of Eldritch Generals discussed heatedly.


    "Haha, I told you all," Eldritch General Hou Sheughed. "I said it earlier, but you didn''t believe me."


    Before the trial, Eldritch General Hou She had mentioned that Wu Yuanprehended a Dao Field, but few of the other Eldritch Generals in the tribe believed him.


    A Dao Field! Comprehending a Dao Field meant one could be an Earth Eldritch. This was something most Eldritch Generals couldn''t achieve even after tens of thousands of years of cultivation.


    ...


    "A Dao Field?"


    "Is it the Land Dao Field?"


    "Judging by its power, it does seem to be a Dao Field, but from its appearance, it doesn''t quite look like one."


    "I don''t think it quite resembles one either." The six Earth Eldritches observing from afar in the Earth Eldritch Hall all had looks of confusion.


    They weren''t surprised by Wu Yuan defeating ten Eldritch Warriors with a single thought; this was within their expectations. Their main focus was that the technique Wu Yuan had employed was slightly different from what they had imagined.


    "Why do I feel like it resembles the Celestial Body Dao?" Earth Eldritch Hou Fu suddenly spoke up, his voice tinged with shock. "I once saw High Eldritch Hou Zhi employ it. It''s very simr."


    "What?"


    "The Celestial Body Dao? One of the three Intermediate Laws, the Law of Celestial Body?" The other Earth Eldritches instantly erupted in disbelief.


    The Huanggu World was different from the external world. Their naturally powerful bloodlines made it extremely easy for them toprehend particr Lesser Laws, but it also limited their upper potential.


    Even among these Earth Eldritches, the vast majority had onlyprehended a single Lesser Law to the Dao Field level, never crossing the threshold of Intermediate Laws.


    "Hou Fu, can you be certain?" Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng, d in white robes, asked with a fervent look.


    "I can��t say for sure. It was only for a few breaths," Earth Eldritch Hou Fu shook his head. "I''ve only seen the High Eldritch employ it a few times. I need to observe it again."


    Among the Hou Cheng Tribesmen, only Earth Eldritch Hou Fu had participated in the Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain and had broad experience.


    "Alright, good." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng''s eyes glowed. "Watch carefully. If Hou Feng has trulyprehended the Law of Celestial Body and reached the True Intent stage... Perhaps a super powerhouse that will shake Huanggu is about to emerge from our eldritch race."


    ...


    The second level of the trial soon began.


    This time, the examiners were twenty Elite Eldritch Warriors, who were once again suppressed by Wu Yuan with a single thought.


    ...


    The third level of the trial consisted of thirty-six Elite Eldritch Warriors forming three battle arrays. This finally forced Wu Yuan to make his first move, sweeping them away with a single palm strike.


    Yes, just a simple palm strike. One palm shattered an entire battle array.


    Passed!


    ...


    The fourth level of the trial involved sixty Elite Eldritch Warriors forming five battle arrays. They were still swept aside by Wu Yuan with a few palm strikes.


    ...


    The fifth level of the trial consisted of 120 Eldritch Warriors.


    Passed!


    ...


    The sixth level of the trial, the highest level of the Archeldritch Trial that a high-tier eldritch tribe could conduct, soon began.


    By this point, the audience surrounding the Eldritch Battle tform was in a frenzy.


    "Hou Feng!"


    "Hou Feng!"


    "Pass the ninth level of the Archeldritch Trial!" The million eldritch tribesmen roared excitedly, all conquered by Wu Yuan''s strength.


    In the short lifespans of most Eldritch Soldiers, they had never seen such a formidable Eldritch Warrior who could easily triumph over a hundred opponents.


    "It truly is a Dao Field!"


    "In the future, he''s destined to be an Earth Eldritch, or even a High Eldritch."


    "A monstrous prodigy." The hundreds of Eldritch Generals were equally in awe of Wu Yuan''s performance, all discussing amongst themselves.


    In their imagination, Wu Yuan would likely lead the Hou Cheng Tribe to new heights of prosperity in the future.


    <i>Boom! </i>Amidst themotion, a shockwave rippled in all directions as a figure in ck armor appeared on the Eldritch Battle tform.


    When the countless spectators saw who it was, their fervor reached a deafening crescendo.


    "It''s Eldritch General Hou Kong."


    "An Eldritch General! The sixth level of the trial is indeed a battle between Eldritch Generals. However, Eldritch General Hou Kong is the real deal."


    "Can Hou Feng win?"


    "It''s hard to say. Though Hou Feng''s strength is formidable, his base ether is far inferior." Countless voices of discussion arose as all eyes turned to the two figures on the Eldritch Battle tform.

 Chapter 604: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (2)

    <h4>Chapter 604: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (2)</h4>


    <i>Eldritch General Hou Kong? Fifth-stage Elysian Field phase?</i> Wu Yuan sensed the opponent''s vital aura, which was stronger than those from all previous levels.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that his opponent was a renowned genius from the Hou Cheng Tribe, having cultivated for only a few hundred years.


    "Hou Feng. Your talent surpasses mine, and your Daoprehension is far superior to my own." Eldritch General Hou Kong smiled, a massive sword strapped to his back. "However, I will give my all in this battle. You''d best be careful.


    If you find yourself outmatched, surrender."


    <i>Boom! </i>Eldritch General Hou Kong''s form flickered and expanded to a thousand zhangs tall, while four arms sprouted from his body, each grasping a massive sword.


    Multiple ether arts erupted simultaneously, and scales even began to shimmer across his skin, suggesting he had also employed Beast Fusion.


    Wu Yuan gazed at him calmly.


    At that moment, the spectators fell silent. Everyone watched quietly, waiting to see who would emerge victorious.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Eldritch General Hou Kong suddenly lunged forward, crossing over a thousand li in the blink of an eye, closing in on Wu Yuan.


    <i>Swish!</i> Sword light tore through the sky like a dragon as it shed towards him.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan, who had barely moved during the first five levels, finally erupted into action. In an instant, he too grew to a thousand zhangs tall, while four dazzling de rays sliced through the air toward his opponent!


    The de rays were heavy and dense, yet explosive.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Like the collision of two celestial bodies, these two god-like figures instantly engaged in a fierce battle.


    The sword techniques unleashed by each strike were incredibly violent and ferocious. Meanwhile, each streak of de ray was mysterious, unpredictable, and erratically elusive. They were so perfect it seemed unreal, easily deflecting the onught of sword lights.


    "What terrifying sword lights."


    "Such a violent assault, truly befitting Eldritch General Hou Kong."


    "To think Hou Feng could withstand it." The spectators trembled in awe.


    The hundreds of thousands of eldritch onlookers struggled to follow the fight, as it far surpassed their perception abilities. However, the Eldritch Generals observing the battle could see it clearly��and they were all stunned.


    Logically, swords should be swift and nimble, while sabers excelled at chopping and hacking. But at this moment, it was as if the two had switched weapons.


    Eldritch General Hou Kong attacked with unparalleled ferocity. Like waves in a vast sea, each one higher than thest, relentless and unceasing!


    As for Wu Yuan? He was like a reef in the sea, enduring wave after wave of violent impacts. It was said that a prolonged defense was bound to fail, yet Wu Yuan remained as solid as a rock from start to finish. He gave off an impression of being utterly unshakable.


    <i>Body Of A Star. The self is the foundation, and that which rests upon it.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart remained exceptionally calm.


    As the Starsunder saber techniques unfolded one by one, Eldritch General Hou Kong grew increasingly anxious.


    A prolonged defense is bound to fail. This proverb corresponded to another saying��a prolonged assault that fails to break through is destined for defeat!


    <i>It''s time</i>. Wu Yuan gradually familiarized himself with his opponent''s methods.


    If he wanted to win, he could easily unleash multiple ether arts. For example��the advanced ether art Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form! His strength would then increase dramatically.


    However, Wu Yuan felt it was unnecessary. He''d take it slow; even if he wanted to reveal his monstrous talent, there was no need to be too outrageous. His current performance was already astonishing enough.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Wu Yuan''s saber technique abruptly changed. From its original heavy and flowing style, it turned wild and unpredictable in an instant, catching Eldritch General Hou Kong off guard.


    He was forced to take one step back, then another.


    <i>This is bad. Hou Feng''s saber technique? </i>Eldritch General Hou Kong sensed that the situation was turning unfavorable. He felt that each wave of saber techniques seemed to perfectly counter his sword techniques.


    "Admit defeat!" Wu Yuan''s saber technique suddenly changed again, growing increasingly bizarre, vastly different from what he had initially disyed.


    In this short span of time, Wu Yuan had made some adjustments to his saber technique, specifically targeting the vulnerabilities of Eldritch General Hou Kong''s sword techniques.


    With his superior perspective and Daoprehension that had reached that of an average High Immortal, Wu Yuan could easily aplish this.


    But in Eldritch General Hou Kong''s eyes, this feat was inconceivable.


    In this brief period, they had already exchanged over a thousand moves.


    "It seems Eldritch General Hou Kong is no match for him."


    "In terms of base power, Eldritch General Hou Feng is a whole phase lower, but his saber technique is too exquisite. Time and again, he redirects the power of Hou Kong''s sword techniques into the air, leaving Hou Kong full of strength but unable to exert it."


    "If their strengths were equal, Eldritch General Hou Kong would have lost this battle long ago." Even the Eldritch Soldiers noticed something was amiss.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s saber technique changed once more. Wings suddenly appeared on his back, and his speed and agility soared. In an instant, he knocked the sword from Eldritch General Hou Kong''s hand.


    Then, several de rays tore through the sky.


    <i>sh~ </i>A massive head flew off, and the towering body was torn into several pieces, blood sttering everywhere.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan pulled back.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Eldritch General Hou Kong''s dissected body quickly fused and recovered, though his face was slightly pale. He put away his sword and looked at Wu Yuan with resignation. "Eldritch General Hou Feng, your saber technique is truly terrifying! You win."


    "You''re too kind." Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    If he hadn''t been unwilling to appear too monstrous, Wu Yuan was confident he could have in Eldritch General Hou Kong in just three strikes.


    <i>Many monstrous prodigies from the Origin Eldritch Field have astonishingly high Daoprehension levels despite their short cultivation periods.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>But in Huanggu, once Daoprehension reaches a certain level, one typically makes a breakthrough in mana.</i>


    When Daoprehension reached the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law, one would generally be an Earth Eldritch or Earth Immortal, not lingering long at the Eldritch General level.


    So-called geniuses usually referred to those who cultivated faster, rather than those who dominated their peers at a particr mana cultivation level.


    As for Wu Yuan? He had never deliberately suppressed his mana level; it was just that his Daoprehension improved too rapidly.


    <i>Reaching the third-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao after over a hundred years of cultivation. Even in the Greenridge Macrocosm, someone who could aplish this would be considered a top-tier genius. In Huanggu, such a genius probably hasn''t appeared in millions of years. It''s enough. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    If he disyed even greater talent? Once the news spread, it might even provoke the entire Immortal Court toe and eliminate him, deeming him too great a threat.


    <i>I need to stay at the peak-stage of the Shambh phase for at least eighty years. As for the peak-stage Elysian Field phase, at least three hundred years.</i>


    <i>In at most three to four hundred years, I should be able to be an Earth Eldritch. By then, I should fear no one in this world, except for the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.</i> Wu Yuan had a clear n in mind.


    "Congrattions to Eldritch General Hou Feng for passing the sixth level of the Archeldritch Trial!" A cold voice resonated throughout the entire Eldritch Battle tform.


    "Hou Feng!"


    "Hou Feng!"


    "A new historical record!" Instantly, the entire Eldritch Battle tform erupted with earth-shaking roars from hundreds of thousands of spectators, all incredibly ecstatic.


    In the tens of thousands of years of the Hou Cheng Tribe''s history, no one had ever passed the sixth level of the Archeldritch Trial. This was an unprecedented first.


    ...


    <i>Inside the Earth Eldritch Hall.</i>


    "It''s Celestial Body True Intent!" Earth Eldritch Hou Fu was absolutely certain, speaking in a low voice. ��There��s no mistake. Moreover,pared to High Eldritch Hou Zhi, I feel it''s not much weaker. Hisprehension of the Celestial Body Dao has likely reached the third-level True Intent stage." Earth Eldritch Hou Fu said.


    "Is it really Celestial Body True Intent?"


    "Truly... a genius."


    "How does this Hou Feng cultivate?" These Earth Eldritches were all shocked.


    In their understanding, being able to reach the initiate threshold of an Intermediate Law was already impressive. Comprehending it to such a profound level? That was usually something only High Eldritches could achieve.


    "Chieftain, we should report this," Earth Eldritch Hou Fu looked towards Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng.


    "Mm. The birth of such a genius is fortunate for our eldritch race, but unfortunate for our Hou Cheng Tribe." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng sighed.


    The other Earth Eldritches fell silent, somewhat bewildered. Unfortunate?


    "Think about it. Can our Hou Cheng Tribe keep such a genius?" Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng shook his head. "His Daoprehension level might even rival mine. Is there anyone in the tribe who can still guide him? We can''t keep him here."


    The group of Earth Eldritches fell silent.


    Indeed, he was too talented, too monstrous. So monstrous that even a high-tier eldritch tribe like the Hou Cheng Tribe couldn''t retain him.


    "However, it''s a fortunate event for our entire eldritch race. We needn''t escort him to the Archeldritch tribe now. If word leaks out and the immortal race exploits the opportunity, leading to a High Immortalunching an attack, it would be counterproductive," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said.


    "Let''s keep Hou Feng in the tribe for now, and wait for a High Eldritch toe fetch him.


    For the next few days, none of us should venture out. Focus on guarding the tribe, and ensure Hou Feng doesn''t leave the Earth Eldritch Hall." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng made his decision.


    "Understood."


    "Guard the tribe." The Earth Eldritches nodded in agreement.


    Though they all understood that a monstrous prodigy like Wu Yuan might not bring much benefit to the Hou Cheng Tribe, he would eventually make an immense impact on the entire eldritch race.

 Chapter 605: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (3)

    <h4>Chapter 605: Onto The Archeldritch Hall (3)</h4>


    As the six levels of the Archeldritch trial concluded and the million spectators dispersed, news of the battle spread rapidly throughout the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    "He actually defeated Eldritch General Hou Kong?"


    "Our Hou Cheng Tribe might produce a world-shaking powerhouse who will dominate all of Huanggu."


    "Hou Feng!" The billions of tribesmen were shocked, excited, and overjoyed.


    Every eldritch tribe yearned to produce powerful experts and geniuses.


    "Hou Feng,e with me to the Earth Eldritch Hall," Eldritch General Hou She said as he descended, smiling.


    "Your strength surpasses even mine. I''ve crossed des with Hou Kong before, and I was slightly weaker than him," Eldritch General Hou She chuckled. "Yet you defeated him. I''m impressed."


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    The two swiftly made their way to the Earth Eldritch Hall.


    ...


    "A change of hall?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    Eldritch General Hou She led the way. This time, they didn��t return to his previous residence, a floating hall in a cluster on the outskirts. Instead, his new residence was within the central area, right next to the dwellings of the Earth Eldritch veteran elders.


    Dozens of maidservants and manservants at the Eldritch Soldier phase stood nearby, serving Wu Yuan with utmost respect. They appeared to have undergone rigorous training.


    Before Eldritch General Hou She could exin the change, a deep voice rang out. "I was the one who ordered it."


    Following that, a figure in white robes entered the hall.


    "Chieftain." Eldritch General Hou She and Wu Yuan both bowed respectfully, as did the many maidservants and manservants.


    It was none other than Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng.


    "Hou She, you may leave first. All of you, leave. I��d like to speak with Eldritch General Hou Feng in private," Earth Eldritch Hou Chengmanded.


    "Understood." Eldritch General Hou She nodded, swiftly leading the many servants out of the hall.


    Only Wu Yuan and Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng remained.


    "Sit." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng sat down on a carpet made of beast hide.


    Wu Yuan nodded, taking a seat. The carpet was fluffy and well-maintained, veryfortable.


    "Hou Feng, your performance today was excellent. Is the Dao you''veprehended the Celestial Body Dao?" Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng asked, as if casually.


    "Celestial Body Dao? What''s that?" Wu Yuan showed a hint of ��confusion��.


    Celestial Body Dao? Given his understanding of this world, those who couldprehend Intermediate Laws seemed extremely rare throughout Huanggu, and even those Eldritch Generals had never heard of them. So, Wu Yuan had to y dumb.


    Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Have you perhaps fused the insights from several Daos into one?"


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.


    "How did youprehend it?" Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng asked, seemingly casually. "If you feelfortable sharing, did you perhaps have some special encounter?"


    "There weren��t any special encounters. As for how Iprehended it?" Wu Yuan scratched his head, ��unsure how to exin it��. "When I was wandering through Great Huang, exploring and cultivating rigorously, Iprehended it without realizing. Later, my progress grew faster and faster."


    "Without realizing?" As Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng listened, the gleam in his eyes glowed even brighter.


    Monstrous prodigy! Uncut jade! Toprehend the Celestial Body True Intent in just over a hundred years without realizing it, what kind of talent was this?


    Wu Yuan didn''t say more. There was no need to exin anything; all reasons for his strength could be attributed to natural talent. If asked, it was simply that he naturallyprehended it.


    Daoprehension involved understanding the profound principles of the workings of heaven and earth, relying heavily onprehension aptitude. It was inherently difficult to fathom, and longer cultivation time didn��t necessarily lead to deeper Daoprehension.


    <i>Without sufficientprehension aptitude, a pig could live for a million years and still just be a pig.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    But outwardly, Wu Yuan seemed somewhat ��nervous�� as he inquired, "Chieftain, is there something wrong?"


    "Wrong? Of course not. On the contrary, it''s wonderful," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng gave a slight smile. "You needn''t worry. I''ve already reported your situation to the Archeldritch tribe. I expect that in a few days, a High Eldritch will arrive to fetch you.


    Havingprehended the Celestial Body Dao, you should, in principle, qualify for direct entry into the Archeldritch Hall.


    As for the subsequent Archeldritch trial levels? They might still be conducted, but it doesn''t matter whether you pass them or not. Being able toprehend the Celestial Body True Intent is enough to prove your monstrous talent." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng smiled.


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan.


    So,prehending the Celestial Body Dao would grant one special treatment within the Earth Eldritch lineage.


    "Hou Feng, stay here for the next few days. Don''t wander off. If there''s any danger, immediately notify us Earth Eldritches," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said.


    "Once news of youprehending Celestial Body True Intent leaks out, the Immortal Court will certainly view you as their greatest enemy. They''ll exhaust every means to assassinate you.


    After all, with your talent, if you cultivate methodically, perhaps you could gain the recognition of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts in the future and be a new Eldritch Deity of this generation." Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said emotionally, looking at Wu Yuan with great expectations.


    "Archeldritch Divine Artifact? Eldritch Deity?" Wu Yuan was startled. "What are those?"


    "Haha, I''m not clear on the specifics either. I only heard about them in passing years ago," Earth Eldritch Hou Chengughed. "When you go to the Archeldritch tribe, you''ll naturally understand."


    Soon after, Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng left, leaving Wu Yuan alone.


    <i>Eldritch Deity? Archeldritch Divine Artifact? Is there a connection to the Immortal Court''s Creation Divine Artifacts?</i> Wu Yuan pondered quietly.


    <i>The eldritch race has ruled thisnd for millions of years. It appears there are more secrets than I imagined.</i>


    <i>However, my n is indeed the right one. As long as I disy talent, I''ll naturally be part of the Huanggu eldritch race''s core ande into contact with many secrets. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>A High Eldritch wille to fetch me?</i>


    Wu Yuan calmed his mind, suppressing various distracting thoughts, and began to cultivate silently.


    ...


    In a distantnd, over ten billion li from the Hou Cheng Tribe, was an incredibly vast eldritch settlement.


    It was expansive and magnificent, with the settlement''s maximum diameter reaching several dozen million li!


    In terms of settlement size and the poption of eldritch race members living there, it was over a hundred times that of the Hou Cheng Tribe, and the spiritual qi in the environment was extremely dense.


    This was one of the sacrednds of the Huanggu eldritch race �� the Earth Archeldritch tribe. One of the four great Archeldritch tribes.


    In the eastern region of the tribe, deep underground, was a vast subterranean world. An undergroundke, as brilliant as starlight,y like a mirror. A massive snake over ten thousand zhangs long swam slowly through theke. Two wings grew on its back, and it exuded an incredibly powerful aura.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Three muscr figures wearing beast hide flew out from a distant cave passage, arriving at the edge of the massiveke.


    From the aura they emanated, any one of them was more powerful than the strongest member of the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    "We pay our respects to the Snake Ancestor," the three High Eldritches bowed respectfully.


    "Hou Zhi, what''s the matter?" The great snake raised its head, its enormous body exerting unprecedented pressure, its huge eyes fixed on the three High Eldritches.


    The innate coldness in those serpentine eyes made the three High Eldritches'' hearts tremble involuntarily. This was indeed the Teng Snake who was once a follower of the Archeldritch!


    Though they were all at the High Eldritch phase, the Teng Snake��s strength far surpassed theirs, and its lifespan was unbelievably long, still alive even after millions of years.


    "Snake Ancestor," the ck-haired middle-aged man at the front respectfully said, "I��ve just received a report.


    A new individual has joined the high-tier Hou Cheng Tribe. He��s an Eldritch Warrior who has cultivated for just over a hundred years, and is suspected to possess a Teng Snake as his lifebound eldritch beast," the ck-haired middle-aged man said respectfully. "Moreover, he hasprehended the Celestial Body Dao to the third-level True Intent stage."


    "What? Just over a hundred years old yet already possessing such cultivation and Daoprehension?" The great snake in theke showed a hint of surprise. "Is this true?"


    "It should be correct. There are over ten Earth Eldritches in the Hou Cheng Tribe. They wouldn''t misjudge something like this," the ck-haired middle-aged man said respectfully.


    "Alright, I understand. I will instruct the tower spirit to bestow a portion of Archeldritch Origin upon this Hou Feng. As for the rest, it will depend on his own efforts," the great snake said in a low voice.


    "Thank you, Snake Ancestor," the ck-haired middle-aged man said respectfully.


    The three High Eldritch swiftly departed.


    The great snake lowered its head, lost in thought.


    <i>A Teng Snake? In the past, Master left numerous Teng Snakes throughout the world, but it has been many millennia since a new one appeared.</i>


    <i>Moreover, for an Eldritch Warrior to possess an Earth Eldritch��s level of Daoprehension? Such a monstrous prodigy?</i>


    <i>In all my countless years in this world, I fear only Zhu Jiu couldpare.</i> The Snake Ancestor in theke muttered to itself.<i> I hope this one doesn''t disappoint me too greatly.</i>


    <i>It''s a pity, though. Without the Immortal Tribtions, when will an Archeldritch ever emerge? And without an Archeldritch, I''ll remain trapped here forever.</i>


    With a resounding ssh, theke''s surface rippled as its massive form sank beneath the water��s surface.

 Chapter 606: Eldritch Deity, Archeldritch Divine Artifacts (1)

    <h4>Chapter 606: Eldritch Deity, Archeldritch Divine Artifacts (1)</h4>


    The conflict between the eldritch race and immortal race was not limited to direct confrontations and battles. Both sides gradually infiltrated each other''s ranks, gathered intelligence, and even attempted to induce enemy members to switch allegiances, all in an effort to utterly defeat their nemesis.


    The eldritch race, for instance, had long since extended their reach into the Immortal Realm within Heavenly Pir Mountain, providing them with a wealth of information.


    As for Long Chang Immortal City, being the high-tier immortal city closest to the Hou Cheng Tribe, both sides had naturally infiltrated each other over the course of thousands of years.


    The news of Hou Feng passing the sixth level of the Archeldritch Trial spread rapidly throughout the Hou Cheng Tribe. It was impossible to keep such information secret.


    Within just one day, it had reached Long Chang Immortal City.


    <i>In an enormous floating hall at the center of Long Chang Immortal City.</i>


    <i>Hou Feng? He passed the sixth level of the Archeldritch Trial and, as an Eldritch Warrior, defeated an Eldritch General?</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang muttered to himself as he perused the intelligence report in his hand. <i>He must be the Eldritch Warrior who slew Immortal General Yu Yue.</i>


    How rare was it for an Eldritch Warrior to y an Immortal General? Earth Immortal Long Chang didn��t believe that a high-tier eldritch tribe would produce two such peerless geniuses in session. The probability was far too low.


    <i>It''s a pity we couldn''t witness the actual battle to gauge his true strength. </i>Earth Immortal Long Chang shook his head slightly.


    Their means ofmunication were too primitive. Moreover, the few spies he controlled with his soul were initially only peak-stage Eldritch Soldiers, and even now were merely ordinary Eldritch Warriors, incapable of providing highly ssified intelligence.


    <i>In the entire history of the eldritch race, such a genius would surely rank in the top hundred, perhaps even the top ten.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang mused.


    The entire Huanggu World had only existed for just over ten million years.


    The first six levels of the Archeldritch Trial were determined by each high-tier eldritch tribe, so the difficulty wasn''t entirely fixed. Only the final three levels, overseen by the four great Archeldritch tribes, had stringent criteria.


    Thus, many eldritch geniuses who passed the first six levels of the Archeldritch Trial typically had some padding in their achievements. Some defeated extremely weak Eldritch Generals, while others fought Eldritch Generals who deliberately held back.


    Wu Yuan''s feat of defeating an ordinary Eldritch General as an Eldritch Warrior was already quite impressive. There was also his previous achievement of ying Immortal General Yu Yue.


    <i>I hope the High Immortals and Imperial Majesties will take this seriously and not allow him to grow stronger.</i> Earth Immortal Long Chang thought to himself. <i>If he''s allowed to mature, he mighte after me one day.</i>


    Based on his predictions, such a peerless genius would surely continue his cultivation journey in an Archeldritch tribe. But who was to say that Hou Feng wouldn��t return to the Hou Cheng Tribe after bing a true powerhouse?


    Earth Immortal Long Chang had no desire to face a high-tier eldritch tribe with a High Eldritch in the future. That would surely be a nightmare.


    He chose to report this information immediately.


    ...


    Heavenly Pir Mountain was a true mountain, with a diameter exceeding thirty million li. It reached a height of hundreds of millions of li, towering into the clouds, as if propping up the heavens. Hence its name, Heavenly Pir.


    Heavenly Pir Mountain seemed to merge imperceptibly with the vast, boundless earth, harboring immense power. Located at the center of Huanggu, its silhouette could be seen across thend even from billions of li away.


    In this era, it was the stronghold of the immortal race.


    Heavenly Pir Mountain was not just a mountain, but also an incredibly grand world array. Within it, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race had created dozens of worlds, known as the Thirty-Three Heavens. Each world was immeasurably vast, home to countless immortals.


    The Seventh Heaven spanned over ten million li.


    In a majestic floating immortal hall in the east of this world, numerous immortal cultivators were gathered.


    "Long Chang Immortal City reports that the Hou Cheng Tribe has produced a peerless genius who, as an Eldritch Warrior, slew an Immortal General and then passed the first six levels of the Archeldritch Trial," a young man in golden armor sitting on a jade tform calmly stated. "The intelligence is too limited, but by my calctions, his talent should rank in the top twenty in eldritch race history.


    If left unchecked, there''s a high probability that the eldritch race will gain another High Eldritch, perhaps even a peak-stage High Eldritch powerhouse.


    I suggest we report this to the Heavenly Master andunch an attack to destroy the Hou Cheng Tribe and kill him," the golden-armored youth proposed.


    "Report it to the Heavenly Master?"


    "Just because of an Eldritch Warrior?" Immediately, the other two golden-armored figures in the hall hesitated. All three were High Immortals, responsible for gathering much of the immortal race''s intelligence.


    Naturally, they were all quite familiar with the three Imperial Majesties and the various Heavenly Masters, and were well aware of the Heavenly Masters'' temperaments.


    "That won''t be necessary!" A cold voice suddenly resonated throughout the hall, reaching the ears of the three High Immortals. "It��s likely that we won��t have the chance to kill Hou Feng for the time being."


    "Heavenly Master."


    The three High Immortals immediately rose and bowed respectfully.


    A blurred figure appeared not far away, d in white robes, exuding an ethereal, carefree aura like that of a deity.


    "I''ve already received word that the Hou Cheng Tribe has mobilized all its forces to protect Hou Feng. Even if we sent two or three High Immortals, it might not be sufficient to breach the Hou Cheng Tribe''s defenses," the blurred figure in white robes said in a low voice.


    "And the Earth Archeldritch tribe will likely send High Eldritches to escort him, most probably including peak-stage High Eldritch powerhouses.��


    Hearing this, the faces of the three High Immortals changed slightly.


    "Our chances are slim. In as little as one or two days, or at most three to five days, he''ll be escorted away. I estimate that by the time our troops arrive, he will have already left with them," the blurred figure in white robes said. "We''ll have to wait for another opportunity.


    Perhaps when this Hou Feng truly bes an Eldritch General or Earth Eldritch, he''ll venture out to temper himself and participate in wars. At that time, we can seek an opportunity to eliminate him."


    "Understood," the three golden-armored High Immortals respectfully replied.


    <i>Hum~ </i>The blurred figure in white robes slowly faded away.


    "The Heavenly Master has spoken, so let''s put this matter aside for now," the golden-armored High Immortal shook his head slightly, a hint of envy shing in his eyes.


    They were all High Immortals. But within the Immortal Court, the status gap between the Imperial Majesties, Heavenly Masters, and ordinary High Immortals was insurmountable.


    "Let''s move on to the next topic."


    ...


    <i>In the depths of the sprawling hallplex of the Earth Eldritch Hall within the Hou Cheng Tribe.</i>


    <i>It��s indeed much faster toprehend the Law of Life here.</i> Wu Yuan mused, feeling quite pleased.


    In his spirit, the profundities of the Intermediate Laws of Longevity, True Domain, and Celestial Body gradually converged, resulting in incredibly wondrous changes.


    His Daoprehension level seemed unchanged. But once fused and unified, it would undergo a qualitative transformation.


    <i>At this rate, I might be able to reach the seventh-level Domain stage or higher in just twenty or thirty years.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself in amazement.


    In the Greenridge Macrocosm, it would have taken at least a hundred years. The Immutable Land was indeed extraordinary.


    <i>However,paring the progress in Daoprehension between myself and my qi refiner self, time flows at the same rate in this world and the Greenridge Macrocosm. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    Previously, he had been concerned about different time flow rates. But now it seemed that manipting time wasn''t as simple as he had imagined, especially if it affected an entire world.


    In the blink of an eye, more than a day had passed since he took part in the Archeldritch Trial.


    "Hou Feng, High Eldritch Hou Zhi and I will being to see you shortly," a gentle voice suddenly echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. It was Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng.


    Wu Yuan instantly opened his eyes, his vital aura returning to normal. <i>High Eldritch Hou Zhi? That��s fast.</i>


    Originally, Wu Yuan had assumed it would take at least two or three days for the High Eldritches from the Archeldritch tribe to arrive. He only had a vague understanding of the High Eldritches of the eldritch race and knew next to nothing about each of them.


    Wu Yuan waited patiently.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Soon, several figures appeared in Wu Yuan''s hall, led by a middle-aged man with ck hair, exuding an extraordinary aura.


    Standing beside him were two burly men in ck armor, their auras equally impressive, only slightly weaker. Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng stood next to them, appearing quite ordinary inparison. It seemed three High Eldritches had arrived.


    Three High Eldritches? Wu Yuan was secretly astonished.


    Though he wasn''t exactly sure about the peak level of strength of the eldritch race, Wu Yuan had made some guesses through conversations with Eldritch General Hou She and others.


    An Archeldritch tribe probably wouldn''t have more than a hundred High Eldritches in their ranks. The entire eldritch race might have at most three to four hundred High Eldritches, each considered an importantbat force.


    Yet, three of them personally made a trip down just to meet him?


    "Hou Feng pays his respects to the High Eldritches and Chieftain," Wu Yuan bowed.


    Though his Daoprehension might rival that of a High Eldritch, the gap in his fundamental strength was too great. A High Eldritch could kill him with a single p. Wu Yuan naturally understood how to conduct himself.


    "Hou Feng, this is High Eldritch Hou Zhi, a peak-stage High Eldritch of our Earth Archeldritch tribe, second only to the Eldritch Deities In terms of strength, he is on par with the Heavenly Masters of the Immortal Court," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng introduced the ck-haired, middle-aged man.


    The peak stage of the High Eldritch phase? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    ording to the ssifications in the Greenridge Macrocosm, ordinary High Immortals and High Eldritches would typically have a third-degree immortal root.


    Without even a third-degree immortal root, one couldn''t possibly be a High Immortal or High Eldritch. No matter how incredible one''s Daoprehension aptitude, it was useless.


    As for the High Immortals and High Eldritches, their power was usually divided into First to Sixth Tribtion.


    <i>Those who have ovee their First to Third Tribtion are usually referred to as ordinary High Immortals and High Eldritches.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>Their Daoprehension typically ranges from the fourth to seventh-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.</i>


    <i>Those who havepleted their Fourth to Sixth Tribtion are considered peak-stage High Eldritches. Those who ovee their Sixth Tribtion generally reach the ninth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.</i>


    Beyond that was the Seventh Tribtion. To pass the Seventh Immortal Tribtion, one usually needed to fullyprehend a Lesser Law or advance an Intermediate Law to the Dao Field stage.


    Of course, if one fullyprehended a Lesser Law, they could also choose to forge an Archimmortal body after passing the Seventh Tribtion, bing a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal.


    There were nine Immortal Tribtions, each one unavoidable.


    A Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal could live up to one hundred million years, but no more than that. Before the end of their lifespans, they mustplete the Eighth and Ninth Immortal Tribtions.


    Only by passing the Ninth Immortal Tribtion could one truly exist as eternally as heaven itself, with a lifespan reaching inconceivable lengths. Those at this level were qualified to receive the Astral Lord title bestowed by various major factions. Ordinary Archimmortals were not qualified for the Astral Lord title.


    <i>The nine Immortal Tribtions transform the mana and Yuan Soul of High Immortals and High Eldritches, preparing them for the final forging of the Archimmortal or Archeldritch body.</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>The Immortal Tribtions are both trials and opportunities.</i>


    <i>But the Huanggu world has no Immortal Tribtions. I wonder how powerful the peak-stage High Eldritches here are.</i>


    Various thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    The difference between an individual whopleted their Sixth Tribtion versus First Tribtion was immense. Understanding the peakbat power of this world as soon as possible was crucial for Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 607: Eldritch Deity, Archeldritch Divine Artifacts (2)

    <h4>Chapter 607: Eldritch Deity, Archeldritch Divine Artifacts (2)</h4>


    "So you''re Hou Feng? Observing your soul aura, it''s indeed quite extraordinary," the High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s gaze fell upon Wu Yuan.


    His gaze, imbued with his powerful will, couldn''t shake Wu Yuan''s heart in the slightest. This was only natural. In terms of Dao Heart and willpower, Wu Yuan was no inferior to a High Eldritch.


    "Indeed." High Eldritch Hou Zhi grew increasingly satisfied, the slight doubt he harbored about Wu Yuan all but dissipating.


    He continued, "I can sense your vital aura, it''s extremely robust. What Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng said must be correct.


    However, the necessary verifications are still in order. They say you''veprehended Celestial Body True Intent." High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled, "Hou Feng, could you trigger the Dao fluctuations for me?"


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded, and with a thought, a hazy earthy-yellow light spread out, enveloping his entire body. Within this light was a power that made one''s heart tremble.


    At this sight, the eyes of the two ck-armored High Eldritches lit up.


    "Haha, excellent!" High Eldritch Hou Zhi revealed a satisfied smile. "Wonderful! Hou Feng, your talent is indeed exceptional. Another remarkable existence has emerged from our Earth Eldritch lineage."


    "You''ve only cultivated for over a hundred years? You''re far more formidable than I was back then. In the future, you have every chance of bing an Eldritch Deity." High Eldritch Hou Zhi stared at Wu Yuan as if he were looking at a priceless treasure.


    It made Wu Yuan feel somewhat uneasy.


    "Hou Cheng, you''ve handled this matter well," High Eldritch Hou Zhi turned his gaze to Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng. "The reward will be credited to your Hou Cheng Tribe and disbursed with the next round of rewards."


    "Understood," Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng respectfully replied.


    The value of this so-called reward was naturally not on the same level as a future High Eldritch. But Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng understood with crystal rity that his tribe was too weak to retain a monstrous prodigy like Wu Yuan.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi already said he had the potential to be an Eldritch Deity.


    An Eldritch Deity! That was a pinnacle existence in the entire eldritch race.


    "Hou Feng, as Third Veteran Elder of the Earth Archeldritch tribe, I hereby invite you to cultivate in the Archeldritch tribe. Are you willing?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "I am willing," Wu Yuan replied solemnly.


    Cultivating in an Archeldritch tribe was the desire of every eldritch race member in Great Huang, but how difficult was it to enter an Archeldritch tribe?


    For Wu Yuan, entering the Archeldritch tribe was merely the first step in uncovering the secrets of this world.


    "Hou Feng, do you have any final tasks to fulfill? Such as family matters?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi asked. "Once you leave with us, it will likely take at least several hundred or even thousands of years before you return."


    "No, I''ve always been alone," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Alright," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled. "Well then, let''s not dy any further. Come with me to the Archeldritch tribe."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Soon after, High Eldritch Hou Zhi and the other two ck-armored High Eldritches led Wu Yuan outside. Then with a wave of his hand, an ancient, ck battleship appeared.


    <i>A celestial battleship? Does this world also have celestial artifacts?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly surprised, sensing the aura of the battleship.


    It was certainly a celestial artifact, though he couldn''t determine its exact grade. Normally, a piece of low-grade celestial equipment would cost thousands of divine crystals; but the value of battleships waspletely different. A low-grade celestial battleship would cost at least tens of thousands or even over a hundred thousand divine crystals.


    Even in the Greenridge Macrocosm, ordinary peak-stage High Eldritch powerhouses couldn''t afford celestial battleships.


    <i>It seems Huanggu isn''t as simple as I thought, and there''s also the Eldritch Deity they''ve mentioned several times. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>What kind of powerhouse is that exactly?</i>


    It sounded like the Eldritch Deities were far stronger than Hou Zhi, who was a peak-stage High Eldritch.


    "Come, let''s head in." The four entered the battleship, and soon after, the celestial battleship transformed into a streak of light.


    "When Hou Feng returns, I fear he will have already surpassed us," Earth Eldritch Hou Fu, who had been standing guard at the entrance, sighed emotionally.


    "Return?" Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng nced at him. "Do you think Hou Feng wille back? He''s not a native-born powerhouse of our tribe; our emotional ties aren''t that deep."


    Earth Eldritch Hou Fu froze, then smiled. "At least his rtionship with us is closer than with other high-tier eldritch tribes. In the future, when he bes a High Eldritch or even a veteran elder of the eldritch race, it will benefit our tribe."


    Every tribe had its veteran elders. But a veteran elder of the eldritch race was a veteran elder of the entire eldritch race. Each one was at least a peak-stage High Eldritch powerhouse.


    ...


    The battleship soared swiftly through the sky.


    The two ck-armored High Eldritches had entered the meditation chambers, leaving only Wu Yuan and High Eldritch Hou Zhi in the main hall.


    "Veteran Elder, how long will it take us to reach the Archeldritch tribe?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Just over a day." High Eldritch Hou Zhi replied with a smile, "This battleship is among the highest grade in the entire eldritch race, capable of reaching a top speed of six hundred thousand li per breath. It was left behind by an Archeldritch and is a precious treasure of our tribe.


    Even an Imperial Majesty of the Immortal Court couldn''t breach the defenses of this battleship, making it absolutely safe," High Eldritch Hou Zhi exined to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    So it was left behind by an Archeldritch. However, such a celestial battleship was indeed astonishing. Six hundred thousand li per breath? That was equivalent to one hundred thousand li per second. In one day, it could travel eight billion li. Truly terrifying.


    Of course, an ordinary High Eldritch flying at full speed could generally reach sixty to seventy thousand li per second, but it was far less safe than riding within a celestial battleship.


    <i>The eldritch race''s upper echelons are truly attentive in their reception.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He realized the importance the eldritch race was cing on him. Just the talent he had disyed so far was likely among the absolute top tier in the Huanggu eldritch race.


    "Hou Feng, your talent is incredible. In the past, our upper echelons were unaware of you, but now things are different. We will naturally focus on training you," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled. "The Law of Celestial Body you''veprehended is particrly important."


    "The Law of Celestial Body? Important? Why?" Wu Yuan felt slightly puzzled.


    "Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng should have told you quite a bit about the Law of Celestial Body," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled.


    "Yes, Celestial Body is an Intermediate Law," Wu Yuan said.


    Huanggu was a self-contained world, isted from and unable tomunicate with the external world. But with the Archeldritches�� teachings, many basic cultivation methods were widespread. In this aspect, it wasn''t much different from the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    "Back when heaven and earth were created, the Archeldritches spread numerous teachings, and our Earth Eldritch lineage was born. Then the Archeldritches departed, leaving behind two great treasures for our Earth Eldritch lineage. One is the Archeldritch Hall," High Eldritch Hou Zhi exined. "The other is the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    The Archeldritch Hall allows our Earth Eldritch lineage to continuously produce arge number of powerhouses. Even our ability to break through is mostly attributed to the Archeldritch Hall.


    The fact that you couldprehend the Celestial Body Dao relying solely on yourself is simply inconceivable," High Eldritch Hou Zhi marveled.


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    It sounded like this Archeldritch Hall was quite miraculous, and the abilities of that Earth Archeldritch from the past seemed extremely formidable. Could an ordinary Archeldritch be this powerful?


    "The Archeldritch Hall is essible to many Earth Eldritch lineage cultivators," High Eldritch Hou Zhi exined, his voice carrying a hint of reverence. "But the Archeldritch Divine Artifact is an entirely different matter.


    Even the two Eldritch Deities of our Earth Archeldritch tribe can only harness a fraction of the power of the three great Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    Only those who haveprehended the three Intermediate Laws of the Earth Dao to an exceedingly profound level can truly wield the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts." High Eldritch Hou Zhi turned his gaze toward Wu Yuan. "Hou Feng, do you understand what I��m saying?"


    "Comprehend the Intermediate Laws? To unleash the power of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts?" Wu Yuan''s face betrayed surprise, but his mind was already churning with possibilities.


    "Veteran Elder, are you suggesting that I might one day have the chance to wield the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts?" Wu Yuan asked, his voice tinged with barely contained excitement.


    "Precisely! I had my doubts before meeting you, but now, I have none whatsoever," High Eldritch Hou Zhi dered. "It took me hundreds of thousands of years to reach the eighth-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao.


    Without bing an Eldritch Deity, one''s lifespan is limited to a million years at most. I have a feeling that I may never break through that barrier in this lifetime," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said, shaking his head slightly. "But you are different.


    With the aid of the Archeldritch Hall, you have a genuine chance of shattering those limitations. Once you wield the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, even Eldritch Deities will be no match for you.


    At that point, you''ll possess the strength to face the Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court who wield the Creation Divine Artifacts in directbat," High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Our eldritch race will finally have a real chance of triumphing over the immortal race."


    Wu Yuan listened, astonished.


    "High Eldritch, what exactly is an Eldritch Deity?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Eldritch Deity? In the external world, there was no corresponding title.


    "It''s not really a secret; even the Immortal Court is aware of it. You should already know that both High Immortals and High Eldritches have a lifespan limit of one million years," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    "Eldritch Deities, however, can break through that limitation," High Eldritch Hou Zhi exined, his voice filled with reverence. "They have fullyprehended aplete Dao, shattering the restrictions heaven and earth ce on the lifespan of living beings.


    The most ancient Eldritch Deity of our eldritch race has lived for over ten million years and once was a follower of the Archeldritch."


    Eldritch Deity? Follower of the Archeldritch? Understanding dawned upon Wu Yuan.


    The so-called Eldritch Deities must be High Eldritches whose Daoprehension rivaled that of an Archeldritch. Their strength far surpassed even the peak-stage High Eldritches.


    <i>Are the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts truly so miraculous? Even Eldritch Deities can''t match them?</i> Wu Yuan marveled internally, his curiosity and anticipation growing.


    ��This time, the tribe will grant you Archeldritch Origin, ensuring that you have the finest cultivation environment. You''ll understand its effects once you enter the Archeldritch Hall.�� High Eldritch Hou Zhi said with a smile, a hint of expectation in his voice.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Archeldritch Origin? It sounded like the most precious treasure the Archeldritch tribe used to nurture its prodigies.


    Time flowed on.


    The celestial battleship traversed ten billion li over a full day. Soon, a massive eldritch settlement appeared in Wu Yuan''s field of vision.


    <i>So this is the Archeldritch tribe?</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    At a nce, even withyers of defense arrays obscuring his view, he could roughly estimate that the entire Archeldritch tribe was so vast it could easily rival a hundred high-tier eldritch tribes. Countless beings called this ce home.


    asionally, he caught glimpses of numerous powerful eldritch experts flying about, battleshipsing and going.


    "We''re safe now. Come, let''s not waste time. We''ll head straight to the Archeldritch Hall," High Eldritch Hou Zhi announced, steering the battleship directly into the depths of the Archeldritch tribe.


    The deeper they ventured, the fewer people they encountered. Finally, the battleship arrived at a series of undting, circr mountain ranges.


    On either side of the mountain ranges stood a session of enormous floating halls, with powerful Eldritch Warriors patrolling their perimeters.


    At the center of the valley, encircled by the floating halls, stood a towering ck spire, a thousand zhangs tall, exuding an ancient and boundless aura.


    "This is the Archeldritch Hall, the sacred ground of our Earth Eldritch lineage," High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s eyes shone with reverence.


    "Hou Feng, we��re heading in. Follow me."

 Chapter 608: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (1)

    <h4>Chapter 608: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (1)</h4>


    "Hou Feng, cultivate well."


    "When you be a High Eldritch, we''ll fight side by side again." The two ck-armored High Eldritches smiled as they bade farewell to Wu Yuan, then flew towards the massive hall beside the circr mountain range.


    Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, his gaze following the two High Eldritches as they departed.


    After nearly two days of interaction, it was clear that these two High Eldritches thought very highly of Wu Yuan, convinced that he would one day stand alongside them.


    "Let''s head down as well," said High Eldritch Hou Zhi.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    From the intelligence gathered over the past two days, the numerous High Eldritches of the Archeldritch tribe were divided into two levels: veteran elders and ordinary High Eldritches. In terms of strength, the veteran elders could rival the Heavenly Masters of the Immortal Court.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi, who hade to receive him, alsoprehended the Celestial Body Dao. In terms of power, he ranked among the top thirty peak powerhouses in all of Huanggu, and particrly excelled in survival and defense.


    It could be said that even if he encountered any of the three Imperial Majesties of the Immortal Court while carrying out a mission, High Eldritch Hou Zhi would have the means to preserve his life. Therefore, he had been chosen to receive Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> With High Eldritch Hou Zhi leading the way, both of them swiftly made their way to the tall ck spire, its grand doors standing open.


    <i>So many safeguards. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. With his soul and Daoprehension, he could senseyer uponyer of defense arrays surrounding the Archeldritch Hall.


    The surrounding halls seemed to be residences of the High Eldritches. This ce was truly worthy of being the sacred ground of the Earth Archeldritch tribe!


    "High Eldritch Hou Zhi." The two Eldritch Generals guarding the entrance bowed respectfully, allowing High Eldritch Hou Zhi and Wu Yuan to enter.


    Though security didn��t seem too stringent at a nce, Wu Yuan had a vague feeling that countless eyes were watching him from the shadows.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>It wasn''t until they entered the Archeldritch Hall that the feeling disappeared. <i>There are likely quite a few High Eldritches observing me in secret. </i>Wu Yuan muttered inwardly.


    ...


    Walking through the corridors inside the Archeldritch Hall, the path was brightly lit, giving him no sense of difort or unease. On the contrary, the deeper they went, the more tranquil Wu Yuan''s heart became.


    Suddenly, the corridor before his eyes opened up to an enormous circr hall.


    <i>This ce? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly. This hall had to be several hundred zhangs wide, with a height exceeding a hundred zhangs as well.


    It seemed that this was the core of the Archeldritch Hall. Lined on the four walls of the hall were thirty-six closed bronze doors. Each one looked ancient and heavy, with mysterious cryptic patterns engraved on them.


    <i>Thirty-six doors?</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself, but his gaze was inevitably drawn to the white-haired youth in white robes sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall.


    From his hair to his toenails, everything waspletely white. His expression exuded an icy coldness, eyes closed as if unaware that there were visitors. His powerful aura emanated without hindrance, naturally drawing attention.


    Yet, how many super powerhouses had Wu Yuan encountered? He had even met Sovereign-level beings, so naturally, he wasn''t bothered by such pressure.


    "This is Veteran Elder Hou Qiong," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said softly. "His wife was also a High Eldritch, and their love was passionate and intense, but she fell in the Second Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain. Since then, he has secluded himself within the Archeldritch Hall, seeking to reach the level of Eldritch Deity."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The Second Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain? ording to the intelligence he had gathered over the past two days, the rise of the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race and the establishment of the Immortal Court had urred only in thest few hundreds of thousands of years.


    To destroy the Immortal Court, the eldritch race hadunched two major battles on Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    In the first battle, only one Archeldritch tribe had sent troops, somewhat underestimating their enemy. They hadn''t even been able to invade the Immortal Realm and suffered heavy losses, though it didn''t shake the foundation of the eldritch race.


    The second time, they had truly gone all out. The four great Archeldritch tribes joined forces with hundreds of high-tier eldritch tribes. In this battle, they had nearly torn through the Immortal Realm, fighting all the way to the so-called Eighteenth Heaven of the Thirty-Three Heavens.


    In the end, the three Imperial Majesties, wielding the Creation Divine Artifacts, unleashed near-invincible power and swept away the eldritch army.


    In that battle, many High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches had fallen. Even Eldritch Deities standing at the pinnacle of power had perished!


    After that battle, the era of the Eldritch-Immortal struggle for supremacy had truly begun in earnest, affecting all of Huanggu. That battle had also caused the eldritch race severe losses, forcing them into an entirely defensive position, and leaving them unable to attack Heavenly Pir Mountain for the following tens of thousands of years.


    When he first heard this news, Wu Yuan could sense the brutality of the Eldritch-Immortal struggle. Countless powerhouses had fallen.


    This High Eldritch Hou Qiong, a veteran elder of the eldritch race, certainly possessed formidable strength. He was likely among the top-ranked powerhouses in all of Huanggu.


    <i>His wife died in the Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain?</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, gazing at the man''s snow-white hair.


    Such devotion was truly admirable.


    "Brother Hou Qiong, please open the eldritch chamber," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said.


    "Mm." The white-haired, white-robed High Eldritch Hou Qiong opened his eyes, his icy gaze falling on Wu Yuan. His voice, however, was quite gentle: "Are you Hou Feng?"


    "Junior greets Veteran Elder Hou Qiong," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "I have been entrusted by the Snake Ancestor and the Eldritch Deities to guard the Archeldritch Hall. This is the sacred ground of our Earth Eldritch tribe," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said calmly. "Historically, it is only opened once every hundred years, during which the newly emerged Eldritch Generals from various tribes will gather en masse to receive guidance from the Archeldritch Hall.


    As for opening it for individuals? In the history of our Earth Eldritch tribe, this has happened fewer than a hundred times." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong continued, "High Eldritch Hou Zhi praised you highly, iming you are the number one genius of our Earth Eldritch lineage, and that your talent rivals Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu."


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu?" Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with a hint of confusion.


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu is the number one powerhouse of our eldritch race, the strongest Eldritch Deity, and the Eldritch Deity with the shortest cultivation period," High Eldritch Hou Zhi exined from the side. "During the Second Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain, he was in seclusion at first and didn''t take action.


    It wasn''t until our eldritch army was routed and fleeing from the Immortal Realm, with the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race still in pursuit, that Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu arrived.


    Outside Heavenly Pir Mountain, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu single-handedly fought the three Imperial Majesties, holding them off and ultimately withdrawing unscathed, cementing his reputation as the strongest." A glimmer of admiration shed in High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s eyes.


    Wu Yuan was also inwardly astonished.


    ording to the intelligence he had obtained, once the Imperial Majesties of the immortal race wielded the Creation Divine Artifacts, their power was unrivaled within the Immortal Realm. But even outside, their power was still formidable.


    The fact this Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu could face these three opponents alone and withdraw safely was indeed impressive! In terms of personal strength, he was likely the number one powerhouse in all of Huanggu.


    <i>The peakbat power of this world, even if notparable to a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal, should be able to rival a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. Those Imperial Majesties of the immortal race who wield Creation Divine Artifacts are even more unfathomable. </i>Wu Yuan pondered inwardly.


    A thousand years. Could he reach the power level of an Archimmortal in that period? Wu Yuan felt it would be extremely difficult.


    "Hou Feng, I heard your tribe was also destroyed by the Immortal Court?" Veteran Elder Hou Qiong suddenly spoke.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded, a sh of hatred ��involuntarily�� appearing in his eyes.


    "There is no right or wrong in our war with the Immortal Court," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said calmly. "The immortal race seeks to improve their lives, while we want to maintain the prosperity of our race.


    We of the eldritch race were born to be the overlords of heaven and earth. Naturally, we cannot give up this vastnd to the immortal race.


    If we are defeated, the countless eldritch tribes across thend will be destroyed one by one, just like your tribe.


    You are still young and still weak, but your potential is great, and your future achievements are likely to be extremely significant." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong looked at Wu Yuan. "I only hope that as you continue along your cultivation path, you won''t ck off or forget the responsibility on your shoulders.


    Surpass High Eldritch Hou Zhi, surpass me. Follow in the footsteps of Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.


    If you can reach the level of Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu in the future, or even be stronger, perhaps our eldritch race will be able to take the final victory in this war." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said indifferently, "I may not live to see our victory, but I hope our eldritch race will win."

 Chapter 609: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (2)

    <h4>Chapter 609: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (2)</h4>


    As he spoke, Veteran Elder Hou Qiong waved his hand, and a dark green jade vial flew toward Wu Yuan. "Hou Feng, take this."


    Wu Yuan reached out and caught it.


    "Inside is Archeldritch Origin, a precious treasure left behind by the Archeldritch. There are only fifty portions in total. Once used up, that��s it," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong exined. "Consume it after entering the eldritch chamber. It will help youprehend the profundities of the Dao most efficiently.


    Normally, only those who have reached the High Eldritch phase andprehended an Intermediate Law to the True Intent stage would be able to obtain it.


    Although you are only an Eldritch Warrior, yourprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is extremely profound, so it will be granted to you in advance," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said.


    "Go now. Choose any eldritch chamber. Once you approach the chamber, it will open. The Archeldritch Hall will be opened exclusively for you for the next ten years, so don''t ck off." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said, "You may never progress this quickly again for the rest of your life."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded, putting away the dark green jade vial. His gaze swept across the room before randomly selecting one of the bronze doors.


    He walked forward.


    <i>Hum~</i> As Wu Yuan approached, the bronze door seemed to sense him and opened automatically. The interior was veiled by a hazyyer, blurring the details.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi and Veteran Elder Hou Qiong watched as Wu Yuan entered. Then, the bronze door slowly closed shut.


    "Hou Zhi,e back to receive him in ten years," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said indifferently. "When hees out, his Dao Comprehension may reach the High Eldritch level, but he''s still too weak. It will take at least a thousand years before he truly bes a High Eldritch."


    "Mm." High Eldritch Hou Zhi nodded, then couldn''t resist asking, "What about you? Hou Qiong, do you n to just sit here like this forever?"


    "Of course not," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong, said. "I have less than thirty thousand years left in my lifespan. I''m stuck at the ninth-level Dao Field stage, unable to break through."


    "Before I die, I will go out onest time, to see thisnd again, to visit all the ces Xue and I once traveled to."


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi fell silent.


    During the Second Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain, he was merely a newly advanced High Eldritch, still rtively weak, and High Eldritch Hou Qiong was his senior. Later, as his power grew, he learned more about High Eldritch Hou Qiong''s circumstances.


    In High Eldritch Hou Qiong��s earlier years, he favored ck, while High Eldritch Hou Xue favored white. They were a couple with a fairy-tale-like love for each other, envied by even the highest echelons of the entire Huanggu eldritch race.


    Then, things changed. Only a figure in white robes remained, his hair turnedpletely white.


    Later still, even that figure vanished, secluding himself within the Archeldritch Hall for years on end.


    This seclusionsted for hundreds of thousands of years.


    "I fear I may not live to see the end of this war in my lifetime," High Eldritch Hou Qiong said calmly. "So, whenever I encounter these promising youngsters, I can''t help but talk a little more."


    "Hou Feng will not disappoint you," High Eldritch Hou Zhi solemnly assured.


    ...


    <i>So this is an eldritch chamber of the Archeldritch Hall? I''m to spend the next ten years here?</i> Wu Yuan mused as he entered the chamber.


    He watched as the massive door swung shut behind him.


    The eldritch chamber was remarkably simple, spanning no more than ten zhangs in diameter. A solitary jade tform stood at its center, surrounded by nothing but emptiness.


    At first nce, there seemed nothing extraordinary about it. Yet the entire chamber was bathed in an ethereal light, its source a mystery to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Ten years? I hope this Archeldritch Hall doesn''t disappoint. This is likely the greatest opportunity the eldritch race can offer me.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    From High Eldritch Hou Zhi��s words, ordinary Eldritch Generals were only allowed to cultivate here for ten days due to the vast numbers of new Eldritch Generals born every century. But he had been granted ten years!


    Ten years was the absolute limit. Beyond that, the guiding effects of the Archeldritch Hall would diminish rapidly, with drawbacks outweighing the benefits.


    <i>How will this Archeldritch Hall help with my cultivation? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, clutching the dark green jade vial as he plopped down on the jade tform.


    The moment he sat down, an invisible force emanated from the jade tform, instantly enveloping Wu Yuan and plunging his spirit into a state of unprecedented tranquility.


    This effect surpassed any calming array or Daoprehension jade tform Wu Yuan had ever encountered. It was truly unparalleled!


    Before Wu Yuan could fully process his astonishment, another wave of mysterious power descended, effortlessly dispelling all other thoughts from his mind. Even his instinct to conceal his true strength vanished without a trace.


    Only one thought remained �� cultivate! Comprehend the Dao with all his might!


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, Wu Yuan''s singr focus triggered ripples of Dao fluctuations, causing countless mysterious Dao cryptic patterns to materialize.


    The profundities of the Land, the profundities of Gravity, the Earth Origin fluctuations... Swiftly, these invoked Dao fluctuations coalesced into Celestial Body Dao patterns.


    But this was merely the beginning!


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Another stream of profound Dao fluctuations emerged, representing the Longevity Dao that Wu Yuan had never exhibited since his arrival in Huanggu.


    Finally, came the mysterious fluctuations of the Law of Space.


    As the three Intermediate Laws of True Domain, Celestial Body, and Longevity manifested, they instantly merged to form a hazy yet vast Dao fluctuation �� Life!


    In this moment, Wu Yuan''sprehension of the Law of Life broadened and deepened all at once. This thread of Dao fluctuation, though faint, was iparably profound, seeming far nobler than other Intermediate Laws.


    Itpletely enveloped Wu Yuan.


    And the instant the profundities of the Law of Life manifested, the previously still walls of the eldritch chamber suddenly transformed, as if responding to some unseen stimulus.


    Countless mysterious cryptic patterns emerged on the surfaces, wrapping Wu Yuan in dense Dao fluctuations.


    <i>These are... Life Dao patterns? A hundred, no, a thousand times moreplex than those on the silver sphere. They seem perfected to the utmost degree, unfallible.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <i>Could this be... theplete Life Dao��s essence?</i>


    The Life Dao patterns on the silver sphere wereprehensive, but only within the confines of Life True Intent. As he delved deeper intoprehension, Wu Yuan could sense the imperfections in those patterns on the silver sphere, which missed certain aspects.


    On the contrary, Wu Yuan felt these Dao cryptic patterns were iparably mystical and perfect. It seemed that adding even a hair''s breadth more would mar their wlessness.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Simultaneously, the dark green jade vial opened of its own ord, and a single drop of mysterious liquid flew out,nding directly on Wu Yuan''s forehead.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan felt his spirit quake, his consciousness fully merging with the countless Life Dao patterns that had appeared on the four walls of the eldritch chamber.


    Because he had yet to reach the True Intent stage, Wu Yuan had been unable to perceive the Life Dao��s essence. He had relied solely on the guidance of the silver sphere and the Creation Essence Diagram, slowly piecing things together. Even under such circumstances, his progress had been astonishing.


    But now?


    <i>It''s so detailed, this intangible guidance is aplete immersion.</i> Wu Yuan''s spirit trembled. This was far beyond mere guidance.


    It was no longer about approaching the Dao essence, but submerging oneself within it. His perception of the Daos was incredibly clear, ten times, a hundred times clearer than before, if not more!


    Celestial Body, the Land, the vast Space, the unending vitality, the surging Life... Countless Dao insights flooded his mind.


    <i>This is the true Life Dao. The genuine Law of Life. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes held nothing but endless fascination.


    A thought shed unbidden through his mind: <i>Could such a treasure truly have been left behind by an Archeldritch? I fear even Ancestral Master Bei You or Master Kua Chi couldn''t provide such a cultivation environment. It''s too miraculous, too inconceivable. The Immutable Land indeed lives up to its reputation.</i>


    <i>However, had I not disyed my talent and quickly gained ess to the core of the eldritch race, I might never have received such treatment.</i>


    These thoughts were swiftly erased by waves of invisible ripples rising from the jade tform.


    <i>Cultivate! </i>Wu Yuan threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation, contemting the vast and unfathomable profundities of Life Dao��s essence.


    Wu Yuan hadn''t forgotten that he only had ten years.


    ...


    <i>Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, who was immersed in cultivation within the eldritch chamber...</i>


    Deep beneath the earth, not too far from the Archeldritch Hall, stood a vast hall.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Three surges of energy erupted, engulfing the entire hall.


    "This?"


    "What''s happening? What could cause the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to react like this?" Two imposing figures, emanating overwhelmingly powerful auras, stood at the entrance of the hall, staring in shock at the scene before them.


    In all their long years of cultivation, they had never witnessed such a phenomenon!


    In the past, when they attempted to invoke the power of these Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, it had been extremely difficult, and they barely managed to control a fraction of the artifacts'' essence.


    Yet today, these three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts had spontaneously unleashed their power?


    <i>Boom! </i>Suddenly, another powerful presence descended. Its body was immense, making even the two Eldritch Deities, who stood over ten zhangs tall, seem like mere specks before it.


    "Snake Ancestor."


    "Snake Ancestor." The two Eldritch Deities spoke in unison, bowing slightly.


    In terms of power, they were on par with the Snake Ancestor. However, the Snake Ancestor held a special significance within the Earth Eldritch tribe. They had all grown under the Snake Ancestor''s care.


    "Haha, good! Very good." The Snake Ancestor''s enormous eyes remained fixed on the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts in the hall, which were radiating endless brilliance.


    "It''s the Archeldritch Hall! The Archeldritch Hall and the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts are intrinsically linked, so these weapons have sensed a special change within the Archeldritch Hall," the Snake Ancestor said softly.


    "Our Earth Eldritch lineage has finally produced a peerless genius. One who surpasses even Zhu Jiu, a true monstrous prodigy."

 Chapter 610: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (3)

    <h4>Chapter 610: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (3)</h4>


    "Surpassing Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu?"


    "Who?" The two Eldritch Deities of the Earth Eldritch lineage were shocked, well aware of Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s formidable power. In terms of strength, Zhu Jiu far exceeded them.


    These two Eldritch Deities had been in seclusion, so they were unaware of Wu Yuan. No one had informed them about him.


    "Zhu Jiuprehended the Fire Dao to an extremely profound level, and in the future, he has the potential to be an Archeldritch through his own efforts," the Snake Ancestor said softly. "However, that path is incredibly difficult. Even if he seeds, who knows how many tens of thousands of years it might take.


    But once this individual grows to maturity, those so-called three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race will be no match for him at all.


    Hmph, three mere High Immortals dare to call themselves Imperial Majesties? They were just lucky enough to obtain the Creation Divine Artifacts." The Snake Ancestor scoffed, then continued, "The person within the Archeldritch Hall right now is the sessor the Archeldritch has been seeking.


    Remember this: our next task is to diligently protect him and nurture his growth," the Snake Ancestor said gravely. "That youngster from the immortal race called Da Yan keeps fearlessly using the Creation Divine Artifacts to divine the future. He''s not afraid of shortening his lifespan at all. I fear he may have already figured it out."


    "The sessor sought by the Archeldritch?"


    "Snake Ancestor, what''s his name?" Both Eldritch Deities asked, curious.


    "Hou Feng!"


    ...


    Far beyond the Earth Archeldritch tribey Heavenly Pir Mountain, within which resided the Thirty-Three Heavens. Within it was a realm that, while not particrly vast, spanned a million li.


    The air was thick with spiritual qi. Yet this world harbored no immortal race members, only an endless expanse of opulent halls stretching as far as the eye could see.


    This was the legendary Celestial Pce spoken of in countless tales of the immortal race.


    At that moment, a surge of immense power suddenly shot skyward from one of the grand halls. Terrifying shockwaves rippled outward in all directions!


    Several breathster, two figures, d in imperial robes and adorned with purple-gold crowns, appeared outside the hall.


    "Imperial Majesty."


    "Imperial Majesty." The throng of Immortal Generals guarding the hall''s entrance prostrated themselves in reverence, each trembling with fear.


    They had no inkling of what had transpired.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two figures flew directly into the hall, its interior a marvel of intricate carvings and painted beams, exuding an aura of supreme authority.


    However, what truly shook the two Imperial Majesties to their core was the massive bronze mirror at the far end of the hall, now sttered with fresh blood.


    Beneath the ancient mirrory another figure in imperial robes, his vital aura greatly diminished and his countenance haggard.


    "Third Brother!"


    "Third Brother." The two Imperial Majesties, hearts pounding with shock, transformed into streaks of light and rushed forward.


    Before they could draw near, the pallid Imperial Majesty suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Brothers, I am unharmed."


    He was none other than the most mysterious of the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, Imperial Majesty Da Yan, renowned for his ability to divine all matters under heaven.


    "What in the world happened?"


    "What''s wrong?" The two Imperial Majesties approached Imperial Majesty Da Yan, their concern palpable.


    In the hundreds of thousands of years since they had established the Immortal Court, nothing like this had ever urred.


    "Brothers, the greatest cmity to ever befall our Immortal Court has arrived." Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s lips were still stained with traces of blood, his eyes betraying a hint of fear.


    "Cmity?" The two Imperial Majesties started in rm.


    "Previously, ording to my calctions, the greatest obstacles to our Immortal Court were Zhu Jiu and that Teng Snake.," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said in a low voice. "The three of us can just barely match them, but there��s no one to hold back the other Eldritch Deities of the eldritch race.


    So, for years, I''ve been divining more powerful battle arrays, striving to construct a perfect array that High Immortals can form.��


    The two Imperial Majesties listened intently.


    Indeed! The immortal race, established mere hundreds of thousands of years ago, had umted few teachings, far from reaching their zenith.


    Only in the aspect of battle arrays did they far surpass equipment forging, pill refining, and other disciplines.


    This was all thanks to Imperial Majesty Da Yan! Relying on powerful battle arrays, the immortal race dared to venture out from Heavenly Pir Mountain despite their disadvantage in numbers, shing with various eldritch tribes.


    The fate of this vastnd would be determined by the peak powerhouses!


    The foundation of the immortal race was too fragile. If the three Imperial Majesties left Heavenly Pir Mountain, the power they gained from the Creation Divine Artifacts would be significantly weakened.


    "Just now, the Mirror of Creation gave me an unprecedentedly grave warning, the sense of dangerpletely overwhelming my mind." Imperial Majesty Da Yan spoke solemnly. "After exerting all my power, I could only divine a tiny detail about the source of this threat.


    Hou Feng. Earth Eldritch lineage." Imperial Majesty Da Yan enunciated each word slowly. "I only obtained these five words, yet the threat he poses is ten, no, a hundred times greater than Zhu Jiu.


    We must kill him! We must!"


    The other two Imperial Majesties exchanged nces, their eyes brimming with murderous intent.


    In terms of rawbat power, Imperial Majesty Da Yan was far weaker than them. However, his contributions were paramount to them creating their great legacy, enabling them to wage all-out war against the Huanggu eldritch race.


    Without him, they would not have obtained the Creation Divine Artifacts.


    Without him, they could not have established the Thirty-Three Heavens.


    "Third Brother, the Earth Eldritch lineage is not to be trifled with. That Teng Snake is ancient, privy to more secrets than us," the tallest Imperial Majesty said in a low voice.


    ��You should rest and recover first. We will spare no effort to uncover intelligence on this Hou Feng and seek an opportunity to end him as soon as possible."


    ...


    Swiftly, a cascade of orders descended from the highest echelons.


    The immortal race''s intelligencework, long established throughout Huanggu, sprang into action. While maintaining utmost secrecy, they began sifting through information rted to Hou Feng.


    Soon, information concerning Hou Feng of the Hou Cheng Tribe rapidly surfaced, finding its way to the three Imperial Majesties.


    "An Eldritch Warrior capable of defeating an Eldritch General? ying an Immortal General?"


    "He��s of the Earth Eldritch lineage."


    "He''s only been cultivating for a little over a hundred years?" The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race quickly realized this was their target.


    "His current whereabouts are unknown."


    "We don''t know if he''s still in the Hou Cheng Tribe or if he''s already departed for the Archeldritch tribe."


    Though the immortal race''s intelligencework operated at high speed, it wasrgely limited to the Eldritch Warrior level, with only a handful of operatives at the Eldritch General level. At the very least, within the Hou Cheng Tribe, the immortal race had yet to infiltrate the Eldritch General echelon.


    As for detailed intelligence on Wu Yuan, it was considered core information of the Hou Cheng Tribe, something the Earth Eldritches would never leak. Thus, the immortal race could not confirm Wu Yuan''s exact location.


    "Lei Fu." The tallest Imperial Majesty suddenly spoke.


    "Big Brother." The other Imperial Majesty, his body faintly crackling with lightning, turned to his eldest brother.


    Among the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, the eldest was Imperial Majesty Nan You, followed by Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Da Yan.


    "Time is of the essence. Though the odds are slim, we must take a gamble. Third Brother is injured, and I must guard Heavenly Pir Mountain lest the eldritch race attack." Imperial Majesty Nan You spoke with gravity.


    "You shall lead the charge,manding three Heavenly Masters and thirty-two High Immortals in a direct assault on the Hou Cheng Tribe. Annihte it in one fell swoop. Let��s see if we can y this Hou Feng."


    "So many? Big Brother, it''s just a high-tier eldritch tribe. I alone will suffice," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu frowned. "Our immortal race has barely a hundred High Immortals, and only eight Heavenly Masters. Sending so many might leave us vulnerable internally."


    "No! Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit, let alone for a matter of such importance. We must act swiftly and decisively." Imperial Majesty Nan You said solemnly.


    "What I fear is that the eldritch race may haveid intricate traps. With such a force at yourmand, even if you encounter an ambush, you can withdraw safely."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded slightly.


    "Big Brother, what if Hou Feng is not in the Hou Cheng Tribe?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu inquired further.


    "Then it means we''re toote. We can only find a way to trigger the decisive battle early and invade the Earth Archeldritch tribe." Imperial Majesty Nan You''s eyes turned cold.


    "Third Brother''s divination cannot be wrong. Our only chance at survival is to strangle Hou Feng in his cradle, before he can mature!


    It will take him at least a thousand years to reach the High Eldritch phase. These thousand years are our final window to avert this cmity.


    Once he reaches the High Eldritch phase, killing him will be nigh impossible. Should he break through to Zhu Jiu''s level and that old beast intervenes, we''ll be in grave peril." Imperial Majesty Nan You said in a low voice.


    The situation was crystal clear: Hou Feng must die.


    "I understand. Rest assured, Elder Brother. Within two days, the Hou Cheng Tribe will cease to exist." Imperial Majesty Lei Fu said grimly.


    Soon, an incredibly powerful military force led by Imperial Majesty Lei Fu stealthily departed from Heavenly Pir Mountain.

 Chapter 611: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (4)

    <h4>Chapter 611: One-Star Tower, Level One Hundred (4)</h4>


    Merely three dayster, an explosive piece of news spread at an rming rate, shaking countless eldritch tribes across the vast expanse of Huanggu: the Hou Cheng Tribe had fallen!


    This marked the first high-tier eldritch tribe ranked in the top hundred to be annihted since the onset of the eldritch-immortal conflict.


    Facing the army led by an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race, twelve Earth Eldritches all perished. Of the over six hundred million tribesmen within the tribe, not a single one survived.


    "Kill!"


    "Take revenge!"


    "Strike back!" Swiftly, the four Archeldritch tribes reached a consensus and began full-scale retaliation.


    In less than ten days, six high-tier immortal cities fell.


    Across the vast territories surrounding Heavenly Pir Mountain, the two great factions, whose conflicts had somewhat abated over the past tens of thousands of years, once again erupted into a terrifying war!


    The armies shed again and again, with super powerhouses engaging in life-or-death battles. Numerous Eldritch Generals, Immortal Generals, and Earth Eldritches and Earth Immortals began to fall.


    ...


    "We failed to kill Hou Feng. The threat is still present," Imperial Majesty Da Yan stated with absolute certainty, though his repeated attempts at divination brought even more severe bacsh.


    Divining destiny, even with a Creation Divine Artifact, was not something a mere High Immortal could easily endure.


    "Then we fight. Attack! Engage in a bloody battle with the eldritch race, pressure them, kindle their hatred, and destroy one eldritch tribe after another. We shall lure more High Eldritches to leave the Archeldritch tribes to conductrge-scale patrols," Imperial Majesty Nan You said with icy calm.


    "They can only defend, but cannot trulyunch a major counterattack. With our backs to Heavenly Pir Mountain, they cannot harm us.


    We shall wait for our chance. When the number of High Eldritches within the Earth Archeldritch tribe drops to a certain limit, we willmit all the forces of our Immortal Court, strike, and pay an enormous price to kill him," Imperial Majesty Nan You said with unwaveringposure.


    ...


    A terrifying war was thus ignited between the Huanggu eldritch race and immortal race over Wu Yuan��s life.


    It only grew increasingly brutal over time, with even Imperial Majesties and Heavenly Masters asionally taking action. High Immortals and High Eldritches began to fall.


    The level of intensity rivaled the two Battles of Heavenly Pir Mountain, with none but the highest echelons of the immortal race aware of their true purpose.


    As for the eldritch race, they could only specte, but their pride as the world''s overlords made them fearless.


    Moreover, they had no choice but to confront the challenge. Countless eldritch tribes popted thend, and if the four great Archeldritch tribes didn��t take action and send outrge numbers of High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches to patrol and fight, the top powerhouses of the immortal race would systematically destroy weaker eldritch tribes one by one.


    Their strategy was transparent. And in the eyes of the eldritch race, if the life of an Earth Eldritch could be exchanged for that of an Earth Immortal, or the life of a High Eldritch for a High Immortal, it was worth it. After all, how many powerhouses did the entire immortal race have in total?


    While the entire Huanggu was undergoing an upheaval, Wu Yuan, immersed in secluded cultivation within the Archeldritch Hall, remainedpletely unaware.


    The years passed.


    Whether it was the Law of Celestial Body, Law of Longevity, or the Law of Life, the progress of Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was nothing short of mind-boggling.


    Even the Law of True Domain was advancing at an astonishing pace under the influence of his qi refiner self, albeit slightly slower.


    ...


    <i>In a distant spacetime beyond the mysterious Huanggu, in the Bei You Realm of the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    <i>Within the meditation chamber of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s residence in the Immortal Belvedere.</i>


    <i>Hiss~</i> A hazy, vast and ethereal Dao fluctuation hadpletely enveloped Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, giving him an otherworldly appearance.


    <i>Hum~ Hum~</i> Silently, nine lifelike silhouettes of Wu Yuan were formed within the meditation chamber. Each silhouette was incredibly realistic.


    Even an Earth Immortal, probing with Soul Will at the Yuan Soul level, would likely be unable to perceive any difference.


    <i>Is this the True Intent of True Domain?</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self opened his eyes, sensing the Space fluctuations around him, flowing like water. It was crystal clear.


    If Wu Yuan so desired, he could merge into the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, enabling his speed and movement skills to explode to an unimaginable degree.


    <i>Merely six years. What exactly did my body refiner self experience in the Immutable Land?</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self marveled inwardly.


    The first month after the body refiner self left, everything seemed normal. Then changes began to ur, with unprecedented progress in both the Life Dao and several Intermediate Laws.


    The rate of progress surpassed Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s imagination. Even the Immutable Land could not iste the shared Daoprehension between the two true selves. This was a living being''s insight into the profundities of heaven and earth, incredibly difficult to strip away!


    <i>True Domain, one of the three Intermediate Laws of Space.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Also one of the three Intermediate Laws of Life.</i>


    <i>I��ve reached the True Intent stage. Even myprehension of the Life Dao has reached the sixth-level Domain stage in just six years.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self could clearly sense hisprehension into the Law of Life.


    His progress was truly too fast. Frighteningly so, with the power he could harness from the Law of Life alone now surpassing any single Intermediate Law Wu Yuan hadprehended.


    <i>However, the synergy of the three Intermediate True Intents still slightly surpasses the Law of Life.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    Merely employing the first-level True Intent stage of both Celestial Body and Longevity in harmony could rival the fourth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    Once True Domain True Intent was added, the power after harmonization could rival the seventh-level Dao Field stage, even before fusion. This level of Daoprehension already matched peak-stage High Immortals.


    <i>Originally, I thought there was no chance of seeding before reaching a hundred years old. Now, it seems I can give it a try. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sent a strand of consciousness into the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    Within ��Ming Jian��s�� personal hall.


    <i>Seven Star Luminaries Tower.</i> Wu Yuan quickly found what he was looking for. <i>This Ming Jian identity I''ve been assigned has only cleared level fifty?</i>


    Li Xia and Ming Jian were two separate identities prepared by Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    <i>Let''s go. </i>Wu Yuan was directly transported from his personal hall to the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.


    As a grand disciple of the Immortal Sovereign, though not part of the core of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he still had extremely high privileges.


    <i>In the vast world of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.</i>


    <i>One-star tower! </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self flew directly into the one-star tower.


    His actual age was ny-five, but the ''Ming Jian'' identity created by Immortal Sovereign Bei You was now ny-nine years old. Two years older than ��Li Xia��, four years older than ''Wu Yuan''.


    The backdrop of level fifty of the one-star tower was a vast expanse of sky. Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self appeared out of thin air.


    <i>Hum!</i> A ck-robed guardian materialized not far away.


    "Challenger, to reach me before turning one hundred, you''re considered a decent talent," the ck-robed guardian said coldly.


    "A decent talent? How familiar those words sound." Wu Yuan smiled slightly. "Over countless years, do you say the same thing to every challenger?"


    "What do you mean?" The ck-robed guardian frowned slightly.


    "My goal today is to clear level one hundred. I''m very curious what the guardian of level one hundred will say to me," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Arrogant! At ny-nine years old, you��re only at level fifty, yet you dare speak of level hundred?" The ck-robed guardian barked sternly.


    In the next instant, a trace of terror shed through the guardian''s eyes.


    <i>Boom!</i> The three True Intents harmonized, and a powerful Dao fluctuation instantly descended, enveloping the sky.


    It instantly tore the guardian apart, annihting himpletely.


    <i>How easy. </i>Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile. <i>Let��s see who can make me lift a finger today.</i>


    "Next level!"


    ...Level sixty!


    ...Level seventy!


    Wu Yuan swept through all the guardians in his path, until level ny.


    The guardian of this level unleashed Daoprehension at the fourth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law. It was only then that Wu Yuan was forced to make his first move, though he merely formed a Hundred Swords Array and defeated his opponent effortlessly.


    <i>Six years ago, I could have already cleared level ny, Now? </i>Wu Yuan waspletely at ease.


    Level ny-one, level ny-two, level ny-three... The difficulty grew with each level.


    Those who could clear thesest ten levels were the most monstrous prodigies in the entire history of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation. But still, none of the guardians could withstand even a single move from Wu Yuan!


    As soon as the sword array formed, it swept through all obstacles!


    Finally, Wu Yuan fought his way to level one hundred.


    Here, the backdrop had transformed into a vast expanse of outer space, with no trace of solid ground in sight.


    <i>Is this level one hundred?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the dark space.


    "Congrattions, young man." Silently, an elderly man in white robes appeared in the space, gazing at Wu Yuan with a twinkle in his eyes. "In the entire history of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, you are the second to arrive before me.


    The Greenridge Macrocosm has once again given birth to a remarkable monstrous prodigy." The white-robed elderly man smiled as he looked at Wu Yuan.


    ��The second?�� Wu Yuan said softly.


    He had thought he was the first. After all, achieving this feat before the age of one hundred was immensely difficult.


    "That''s right, you''re the second," the white-robed elderly man said with a chuckle. "However, the previous one was defeated by me."


    "That''s good," Wu Yuan finally revealed a faint smile. "I may be the second to arrive before you, but I will be the first to defeat you.


    Defeating you will be my first step on the path to bing a Supreme Genius."

 Chapter 612: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (1)

    <h4>Chapter 612: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (1)</h4>


    <i>Within the dimly lit battle space of level one hundred.</i>


    "Defeat me? It seems you''re quite confident," the elderly man in white robes remarked. He gave off an air of extraordinary dignity, appearing utterly certain that Wu Yuan was no match for him. "Your name is Ming Jian? Regardless of sess or failure, your name is destined to be recorded in the history of the immortal world.


    If you seed, you''ll qualify to have your name inscribed on the Luminary Ranking at the divine court headquarters. However, I won''t hold back. Defeating me won''t be easy," the white-robed elderly man smiled.


    Wu Yuan simply smiled in return.


    The Luminary Ranking at the divine court headquarters?


    "Then let''s begin," Wu Yuan grinned, his mind instantly focusing.


    A vast array of first-grade spirit flying swords materialized around him, 729 in total. This was the first time Wu Yuan, in his guise as Ming Jian, had unleashed the Thousand Swords Array since challenging the one-star tower.


    Even when conquering level ny-nine, Wu Yuan had only employed the Hundred Swords Array.


    The Seven Star Luminaries Tower challenge took ce in the voidrealm, where first-degree immortal roots, nine lifebound flying swords, and other such advantages were rendered unusable.


    But what was Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s greatest asset? His Apotheosis Yuan Soul! This granted him a natural advantage in artifact maniption.


    Wu Yuan''s current body was only at the first-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, but even while he limited the soul power he exhibited to the ordinary Yuan Soul level, it was already terrifyingly powerful.


    If Wu Yuan wished, his qi refiner self could effortlessly assemble multiple Thousand Swords Arrays within this one-star tower with a single thought.


    "Haha, excellent!" the white-robed elderly manughed, likewise waving his hand. A sea of sword lights appeared, as flying sword after flying sword gathered.


    In an instant, the battle erupted.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Like a blow from a massive hammer, an overwhelming wave of soul force suddenly swept towards Wu Yuan.


    Yet it was like a gentle breeze trying to topple a great tree; Wu Yuan''s expression didn''t change in the slightest. Clearly, this sort of attack couldn''t make him budge at all.


    <i>A soul attack? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, then his gaze sharpened!


    The Celestial Body, True Domain, and Longevity True Intents were harnessed simultaneously, merging into one. An immense domain centered on Wu Yuan descended!


    The domain''s power instantly swelled to a terrifying degree, rivaling the seventh-level Dao Field stage.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Dao fluctuations stirred. The 729 flying swords interwove, forming a terrifying divine sword. The moment the divine sword took shape, its fearsome sword intent swept across millions of li. Its momentum was unstoppable, its presence vast and weighty, as if the sword intent permeated all of existence... the nascent form of the divine sword of Life!


    The unity of the three True Intents had given birth to the nascent form of the Life Dao. Wu Yuan had already stepped across the threshold of the Law of Life, but even without deliberately employing the Life Dao, this divine sword contained a hint of Life Dao resonance.


    The instant the divine sword of Life formed, Wu Yuan pointed from afar: "Kill!"


    The divine sword howled as it tore through space, striking at the white-robed elderly man.


    "Celestial Body!" Witnessing this terrifying sword strike, the white-robed elderly man''s rxed demeanor vanished, his gaze turning fierce. Layers of sword intent coalesced around him, as countless Dao patterns interlinked and merged, ultimately forming a miniature star a hundred li in diameter.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> The divine sword of Life and the miniature star immediately engaged in a series of devastating collisions. The residual energy from their shes rent the heavens and split the earth as they battled to a stalemate.


    Wu Yuan only held a slight upper hand.


    <i>Seventh-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao? So this is the difficulty level of level one hundred? No wonder no one has conquered it in countless eons. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Even among the monstrous prodigies of the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase throughout history, those who could reach the sixth-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law after several centuries of cultivation were exceedingly rare. Let alone reaching the seventh-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law before a hundred years of age.


    Wu Yuan''s ability to reach this point was the result of numerous fortuitous encounters.


    "You can��t defeat me," the white-robed elderly man said calmly. He stood in space, the countless sword lights enveloping him to form a miniature star that seemed unshakeable.


    Though he appeared to be at a disadvantage, this was actually due to the nature of the Star Ruins Sword Array.


    "I can''t defeat you? If one divine sword isn''t enough, then how about two?" Wu Yuan suddenly grinned.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Another sea of flying swords materialized, swiftly coalescing into a second ethereal divine sword. It immediately joined the attack.


    "What?" The white-robed elderly man''s previouslyposed expression changed dramatically. "To manipte two Thousand Swords Arrays while below a hundred years old, how is this possible?"


    This was no ordinary sword array, but one formed entirely of first-grade spirit flying swords. And Wu Yuan''s current body was merely at the first-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.


    To operate two such arrays? What kind of monstrous soul did that require?


    However, the white-robed elderly man had no time to ponder further, for the two immensely powerful divine swords had already descended upon him. Their attacks intertwined as they struck.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~ Boom~</i> A series of terrifying collisions ensued. The Star Ruins Sword Array''s resilience was indeed extraordinary, and the white-robed elderly man put up his strongest defense. Yet, the attack power of two nascent divine swords of Life working together was more than triple that of a single sword.


    After over a hundred collisions, the Star Ruins Sword Array was finally torn asunder. In the end, as one divine sword of Life cleaved through the sky, seemingly splitting even outer space itself, the white-robed elderly man was struck down.


    During this lightning-fast exchange of blows. The white-robed elderly man had attempted tounch a counter-attack, maneuvering his miniature star to close in on Wu Yuan.


    Yet Wu Yuan, havingprehended the Law of True Domain to the True Intent stage, possessed unpredictable movement skills. The white-robed elderly man couldn''t even touch him.


    This battle had been a foregone conclusion from the moment Wu Yuan unleashed his second divine sword of Life.


    "Congrattions, Ming Jian," a gentle voice resonated through the void. "You have conquered all one hundred levels of the one-star tower, creating history in the Eternal Sun Immortal World''s one-star tower. You are awarded one hundred Dao Temple points.


    Throughout the history of the numerous macrocosms under the Taiyuan Divine Court''s dominion, you can be considered one of the most monstrous prodigies for your age group, reaching the benchmark of a Supreme Genius.


    Your name will be inscribed on the One-Star Luminary Ranking at the divine court headquarters."


    Wu Yuan stood silently in the space.


    Supreme Genius? Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had once mentioned the path of the Supreme Genius to Wu Yuan.


    Looking across the vast river of space and time,prehending a Greater Law within a million years would qualify one as a Supreme Genius. Upon passing the Ninth Immortal Tribtion, they would directly be Sovereigns.


    To this day, no one in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm had aplished this feat. The Sovereigns of the seven top-tier factions had, for the most part, first be Astral Monarchs before gradually cultivating to be Sovereigns.


    Directly bing a Sovereign? It was too inconceivable, too heaven-defying.


    <i>The highest level of the Eldritch Deity Tower, level forty, requires one to fullyprehend an Intermediate Law to conquer, serving as the benchmark for top-tier geniuses in the eldritch world. </i>Wu Yuan reflected. <i>While in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower serves as the benchmark for Supreme Geniuses.</i>


    However,pared to the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the Seven Star Luminaries Tower of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, originating from the Taiyuan Divine Court, had a more refined ssification, divided into seven towers based on age.


    In fact, ording to the Taiyuan Divine Court''s description, if one followed the prescribed cultivation path and sessfully conquered all hundred floors from the one-star tower to the seven-star tower in sequence, they would be considered to reach the Supreme Genius benchmark of each respective age group.


    <i>One step behind, always behind. One step ahead, always ahead. Late bloomers may exist, but the quicker one progresses, the higher the probability of ultimately standing at the pinnacle.</i> Wu Yuan mused calmly to himself. <i>Level one hundred of the one-star tower is the benchmark for Supreme Geniuses under a hundred years old.</i>


    No one in the Eternal Sun Immortal World had ever sessfully reached this benchmark, until today.


    <i>It makes sense. Geniuses of Senior Brother Jiang Huan''s caliber are already the pinnacle of the macrocosm''s history. At my age, he probably only conquered around level eighty. In the entire history of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, those who reached level ny could likely be counted on two hands. </i>Wu Yuan reflected, his mind perfectly serene.


    He hade here today to test the results of his years of cultivation.


    Wu Yuan clearly understood that he was able to reach this point due to numerous factors. There were his two true selves created through his own efforts, the aid of the ck pagoda, the assistance of two Immortal Sovereigns, and the unfathomable opportunities from the Immutable Land.


    Whether it wasprehending a Greater Law within a million years, or conquering all one hundred levels of any star tower in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower, it could be said such monstrous prodigies mostly encountered extraordinary opportunities and underwent numerous experiences.


    Relying solely on natural talent? It would be difficult to achieve such feats.


    <i>For now, conquering level one hundred of the one-star tower can only be considered taking the first step on the Supreme Genius path. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart surged with ambition.


    Comprehending a Greater Law was the ultimate goal, and now, he could only say he hadpleted the first stage requirement of this objective. Many difficult challenges stilly ahead.


    <i>I''ll conquer them one by one. For now, I��ve passed level one hundred of the one-star tower, and in the future, I''ll conquer level one hundred of the two-star tower, the three-star tower...</i>


    Wu Yuan vanished from the space.


    Besides the base six points granted for clearing levels fifty through one hundred, he received an additional point for conquering level eighty, ten additional points for level ny, and a hundred additional points for level one hundred. Thus, this journey earned Wu Yuan a total of 117 Dao Temple points.


    <i>First, I''ll go to the Dao Temple and receive one inheritance each for the Intermediate Laws of True Domain and Qiankun. </i>


    Wu Yuan was now flush with resources and didn''t mind spending these Dao Temple points. This was the treatment befitting a Supreme Genius.


    Other immortal cultivators would never receive such a generous bestowal of Dao Temple points even if they became disciples of an Immortal Sovereign.

 Chapter 613: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (2)

    <h4>Chapter 613: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (2)</h4>


    Any information above level eighty-five was not disclosed in the records of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    The one-star tower records of various immortal nations generally reached level seventy or eighty-something, with none surpassing level eighty-five.


    However, this news couldn''t be kept from the upper echelons of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Many core Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns swiftly received this information.


    Of course, apart from a select few, most only knew that Ming Jian had cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower, unable to see the battle footage.


    ...


    The first to learn of the news was naturally Immortal Sovereign Bei You. Though not the most central figure in the divine court headquarters, he stood at the pinnacle of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. As a Sovereign of Space, his status was exceptionally special.


    <i>Within the grand temple in the Bei You Mountain range of the Bei You Realm.</i>


    <i>Level one hundred of the one-star tower? He cleared it so effortlessly?</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You watched the battle footage ying before him.


    It showed Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self clearing each level. Two unstoppable divine swords effortlessly ughtered the guardians.


    <i>Already imbued with a hint of spiritual resonance of Life, he''s likely crossed the threshold of the Law of Life.</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You mused inwardly.


    He had to admit, Wu Yuan seemed more adept at the Life Dao.


    <i>However, in just over twenty years, he''sprehended True Domain True Intent in the Immortal Belvedere, and hisprehension of Qiankun is also extremely deep. Though slower in the Law of Spatial Rift, he''s still crossed the threshold.</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You instantly grasped Wu Yuan''s cultivation progress.


    The rate of progress exceeded his imagination.


    Certainly, the ��Compendium of the Law of Space��, ��True Domain Law Codex��, and the aid of the Fire Divine Gorge Brew, along with the special environment of the Immortal Belvedere, had yed a role. But Immortal Sovereign Bei You believed it was more so due to Wu Yuan''s immense talent.


    <i>External environment is only part of it. The most crucial factor is still oneself.</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You reflected inwardly. <i>Looking at the many Sovereigns across the entire macrocosm, how many disciples have they raised over countless ages? How many monstrous prodigies? Yet can any match Ming Jian?</i>


    It wasn��t just the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Evenbining all the factions in the Greenridge Macrocosm, they had never produced a peerless genius who could clear level one hundred of the one-star tower.


    Under a hundred years old. Wu Yuan had already achieved a first in the history of the macrocosm!


    <i>Those guys can finally no longer sit still and areing to pay me a visit.</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled faintly.


    Ordinary geniuses didn''t concern the other Sovereigns of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. But one who could clear level one hundred of the one-star tower? This was the first time, and things were naturally different.


    ...


    This was a special ne within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. It was vast and empty, with endless roiling ck mist below. Above the mist hovered several thrones.


    Normally, this ne remained sealed. Today, however, several great beings upied the ne. Their auras were immense, bodies shrouded in mist, their faces indiscernible.


    "I''m sure you all know why I''ve gathered you here today," said the figure on one throne, his voice detached. He seemed particrly imposing. "Bei You, why don''t you take the lead to exin?"


    "Indeed! Bei You, tsk tsk, to think such a monstrous prodigy was born under your watch without us even realizing. We''re all quite envious."


    "The divine court headquarters has already issued an order for an inquiry."


    "What''s the procedure?"


    "I��ve looked into it. How is it that this Ming Jian hasn''t even entered the divine hall? He''s been cultivating in the Bei You Realm this whole time?" The other great beings on the thrones spoke up. They were the true pinnacle existences of the entire immortal world.


    "Everyone," said Immortal Sovereign Bei You, his voice remarkably calm from his throne. "First, Ming Jian has his reasons for being unable to join the divine court headquarters. This point is not up for debate."


    "Oh?"


    "What about the divine court headquarters'' order?"


    "What reasons?"


    "If Bei You doesn''t wish to say, there''s no need to press further. We''ll simply refuse the divine court headquarters'' order," the most imposing figure said coolly. "We stand with the divine court, but we''re not their ves. This Ming Jian was nurtured by Bei You alone, so naturally Bei You will decide. The divine court headquarters won''t say much about it.


    In the end, he''s still just a youngster."


    The figures on the thrones nodded in agreement.


    "Second, his circumstances are special. My Bei You Realm lineage will not join the immortal world''s core. If he achieves greatness in the future, his rtion to the immortal world might be even more distant than mine," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said calmly. "However, should the immortal world face danger in the future, he will assist to the best of his ability.


    You should consider him an outer member of the immortal world."


    These words immediately set the other great beings on the thrones deep in thought. They weren''t fools. How could they not understand the deeper meaning behind these words?


    "As for everything extra he receives from the divine court and immortal world, such as Dao Temple points, I will bear full responsibility for any resulting karma and additional resources consumed," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said evenly. "Do any of you have objections?"


    The figures on the other thrones exchanged nces. They initially had some thoughts on the matter. But with Immortal Sovereign Bei You putting it like this, they found themselves unable to speak up.


    They all knew Bei You''s temperament well. He was extremely proud, and even the divine court headquarters could only acquiesce to his wishes.


    His fullprehension of the Law of Space, along with some special techniques he had mastered, granted Immortal Sovereign Bei You an extremely high status.


    "Very well, so be it."


    "Bei You, we won''t interfere with Ming Jian''s cultivation then. If you need anything, just let us know." The most imposing figure, whose status was subtly the highest, made the final decision.


    "This meeting is adjourned. I willmunicate directly with the divine court headquarters."


    ...


    The highest echelons of the Eternal Sun Immortal World didn''t make public some of the more sensitive information, but the news they did release was enough to shock the entire upper echelons of the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    "What?"


    "He cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower? Heavens! I''ve never heard of anyone clearing it throughout the endless ages, not even once!"


    "Level one hundred of the one-star tower... in terms of Daoprehension, the guardian is on par with peak High Immortals."


    "The first to conquer it." These immortal world bigshots were all astounded.


    They had all walked the path of cultivation from the beginning, so they naturally understood the difficulty of clearing level one hundred of the one-star tower.


    Less than a hundred years of cultivation, yet his Daoprehension matched peak High Immortals?


    It was widely known that as one''s Yuan Soul strengthened and Daoprehension deepened, the speed ofprehension typically elerated. To possess such monstrous talent at such a young age��what heights could his future possibly reach?


    However, some people began to focus on another matter.


    "Ming Jian isn''t even a hundred years old now. How old was he decades ago when he dominated the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield?"


    "Too terrifying."


    Many tried to search for detailed intelligence about Ming Jian, but apart from learning that ''Ming Jian is part of Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s lineage'', they couldn''t find out anything else. He remained shrouded in mystery.


    ...


    The super powerhouses of the seven top-tier factions of the macrocosm asionally exchanged information. Of course, there was nomunication between the eldritch and immortal factions.


    Such explosive news naturally spread quickly through various private channels.


    "Ming Jian cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower?"


    "If I remember correctly, the difficulty of level one hundred of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower in the Eternal Sun Immortal World is actually set in ordance with the path of the Supreme Genius, right?"


    "Being able to clear level one hundred, if this Ming Jian grows up, he will be a peak Astral Monarch powerhouse at least, right?"


    "Truly extraordinary."


    "I heard he''s from the Bei You''s lineage, so he likely excels in the Space Dao." The super powerhouses from various other factions mostly took note of Ming Jian''s name.


    They wouldn''t bother to remember ordinary geniuses. Even when Ming Jian waspletely invincible on the entry-level battlefield, most super powerhouses from other factions hadn''t paid attention to him.


    But a monstrous prodigy who was almost certain to be a peak Astral Monarch, and even had a chance of bing a Sovereign?


    In a million years at most, he would stand alongside them. A million years? For these super powerhouses, it was just a fleeting period. Naturally, they wouldn��t ignore his existence.


    It could be said that, at this moment, the name Ming Jian truly left its mark among countless peak powerhouses in the macrocosm, truly bing renowned throughout the entire macrocosm.

 Chapter 614: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (3)

    <h4>Chapter 614: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (3)</h4>


    <i>In a mysterious distant ce far removed from the Greenridge Macrocosm, within a rather modest grotto.</i>


    "Sister Haiyue." A worried voice suddenly rang out, followed by a figure in white robes rushing into the grotto.


    The sealed stone door flew open.


    "What is it? Sister, what made you so agitated?" A figure in silver armor flew out, her features wless, her voice cool. Faint lightning flickered across her armor, as if she were a veritable god.


    If Wu Yuan were here, he would surely notice that Zhuo Haiyue''s aura had undergone another transformationpared to decades ago.


    "Sister Haiyue, I truly admire your temperament, always so calm andposed. Well, you''ve conquered level eighty of the two-star tower, so I suppose you''ve earned the right to be nonchnt," the white-robed girl who had hurried over began gushing with adoration.


    "Sister, speak your mind," Zhuo Haiyue smiled faintly,pletely dispelling the killing intent emanating from her body.


    "Have you heard of Ming Jian?" asked the white-robed girl.


    "Ming Jian? Who''s that?" A flicker of confusion shed through Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes as she shook her head slightly. "I''ve never heard of him."


    After arriving at the divine court headquarters, she had spent decades in arduous cultivation, making few friends. She kept a low profile as well.


    After all, this ce was teeming with geniuses, and those with powerful backgrounds were a dime a dozen. Though she was a disciple of an Astral Monarch, she was rather inconspicuous.


    "This Ming Jian has left his name on the one-star Luminary Ranking," the white-robed girl continued, looking at Zhuo Haiyue. "Most importantly, he''s from the Eternal Sun Immortal World of the Greenridge Macrocosm. Haven''t you heard about him?"


    "The one-star Luminary Ranking?" A flicker of shock shed through Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes.


    Having spent decades cultivating in the divine court, she naturally understood what this meant.


    The divine court''s Luminary Ranking was divided into one to seven stars, and only those who conquered level one hundred of their respective star towers were qualified to have their names recorded.


    The most prestigious was the seven-star tower. Those who left their names on its Luminary Ranking were Supreme Geniuses in the vast river of space and time.


    But even securing a ce on the one-star Luminary Ranking was already incredibly dazzling.


    "Before this, no one from your home macrocosm had ever had their name recorded on the Luminary Ranking," the white-robed girl sighed. "Not a single person in trillions of years. This Ming Jian is the first.


    His name has probably spread throughout a good half of the divine court headquarters by now. After all, such a monstrous prodigy hasn''t appeared in the divine court headquarters for over a million years," the white-robed girl sighed.


    "Now everyone is saying that this Ming Jian is the current number one genius of the divine court. Though, I wonder when this Ming Jian wille to the divine court headquarters," the white-robed girl chatted.


    Zhuo Haiyue merely smiled.


    Though this white-robed girl and her came from different macrocosms, their personalities gelled quite well.


    "When this Ming Jian arrives, you must introduce him to me since you''re from the same home macrocosm," the white-robed girl said with a grin.


    "Of course. When hees to the divine court headquarters, we should certainly make his acquaintance at the first opportunity," Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.


    Shortly after, Zhuo Haiyue saw the white-robed girl off and returned to her own meditation chamber, quickly reading up on news regarding ''Ming Jian''.


    <i>Number one in the divine court? His name is recorded on the Luminary Ranking? I never imagined that my home macrocosm could produce such a monstrous prodigy in this era besides myself.</i> Zhuo Haiyue mused inwardly.


    She too was shocked by ��Ming Jian''s�� feats.


    ��Patience, Haiyue." A childlike, naive voice sounded. "It''s just the one-star Luminary Ranking.


    The road is long. You possess theplete Thunder Saint Imprint, and with my guidance, your rate of progress will only elerate. Take it step by step; you can still strive for level ny of the two-star tower.


    Your goal is to challenge the level one hundred of the seven-star tower, to be a Sovereign of Thunder in one go.


    Then, you can return to the Greenridge Macrocosm and pulverize what''s left of that bastard Bloodforge''s rotten bones," the childish voice rambled on.


    "Luckily, this little master was crafty and never exposed myself, never letting Bloodforge detect me. Otherwise, I might have been refined into dust by Bloodforge before meeting you.


    Your soul''s essence is one hundred percentpatible with the Thunder Saint, which is incredibly rare. Don''t sell yourself short."


    "Mm." Zhuo Haiyue nodded slightly.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Streaks of unfathomably profound lightning radiated from her body. The two Bloodforge Battles were key to her rapid rise.


    <i>Ming Jian? Very well, having a rival in this era makes things far more interesting. </i>Zhuo Haiyue gently closed her eyes and continued her cultivation.


    For some reason, an image floated through her mind, and she murmured to herself. <i>Li Xia, I wonder how you are faring?</i>


    ...


    As the news spread throughout the macrocosm, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, far away in the eldritch world, quickly learned of it as well.


    <i>Ming Jian conquered level one hundred of the one-star tower?</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at the intelligence report submitted by Astral Monarch Xue Ying, inwardly shocked.


    <i>This disciple of mine?</i>


    The shock he felt was no less than that of Immortal Sovereign Bei You, if not more. He had a clear understanding of the speed at which Wu Yuan was progressing.


    <i>Too fast. To conquer level one hundred of the one-star tower so quickly, has he grasped the True Intent of the Law of True Domain?</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi could only draw this conclusion.


    Thebination of the True Intents of three Intermediate Laws could unleash incredible power.


    <i>How could his rate of growth be so rapid? Does he possess an inconceivably high affinity for the Law of Space? Or did he obtain a great opportunity in the Immutable Land? </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly, unable to fathom it for the moment.


    Wu Yuan''s growth trajectory had already exceeded the bounds of his understanding. When Wu Yuan first became his disciple, he couldn''t evenpare to many of his past disciples, barely scraping the bottom. In just a decade or two, he had nearly caught up to Jiang Huan and Chang Hong.


    Now, after just another twenty years, Wu Yuan was already the most brilliant among his thousand-plus disciples.


    <i>Even among the countless geniuses raised by the Eldritch Court, he would probably rank in the top ten in terms of disyed talent.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused inwardly.


    The countless geniuses he referred to here meant all the immortal cultivators of the Eldritch Court below the level of Archimmortal/Archeldritch. One could only imagine how many there were.


    As for the Cang Feng Eldritch World? He was already the undisputed number one genius there.


    <i>My disciple is still young, having only just begun to reveal his edge. After cultivating for another ten thousand or hundred thousand years, he may draw the attention of countless powerhouses throughout the entire Eldritch Court.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sighed with some emotion.


    Who would have thought that the little fellow he recruited back then would be so formidable?


    <i>Heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos...The Eldritch Progenitor��s perspective is indeed unfathomable, far beyond mine.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi recalled that order he received years ago.


    If not for that order, he would never have epted Wu Yuan as a disciple. It was fate, destiny.


    <i>And he turned out to be a monstrous prodigy. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled slightly, his heart filled with anticipation.


    If Wu Yuan could cultivate all the way to the Sovereign level in the future, that would truly be a cause for celebration. Having such strong ties to a Sovereign was a great advantage.


    A master-disciple rtionship was an extremely solid bond, second only to that of Daopanions. Over the endless years, most of a super powerhouse''s closest kin would die. Only master-disciple pairs, Daopanions, and the like, with simr strength and eternal lifespans, could support each other as they journeyed on.


    <i>For now, there''s no need to meet Wu Yuan. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought for a moment and made a decision. <i>Let''s wait for his body refiner self to emerge from the Immutable Land.</i>


    <i>As for his qi refiner self? If there''s anything he needs my help with, I believe he''lle to see me. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused inwardly.


    To raise a monstrous prodigy, one couldn��t use the same methods as those for ordinary disciples.


    ...


    The name ''Ming Jian'' spread throughout the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, and even the Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters.


    Yet it didn''t affect Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self much.


    Those who knew the dual identities of Ming Jian and Li Xia were extremely few to begin with. And now? Even those of simr age would hardly guess the connection. The gap was too vast.


    How could onepare a top genius of an immortal nation to perhaps the greatest genius in the endless history of an entire macrocosm? It was likeparing mud to the clouds.


    <i>Inside the Immortal Belvedere.</i>


    <i>Conquering level one hundred of the one-star tower seems to have caused quite a stir. Even Senior Uncle Huo Cang sent congrattions.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    After receiving the inheritance, he had been cultivating in his meditation chamber.


    Over the past two days, he had received numerous congrattory messages via the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. Most were from senior uncles, with a few from third-generation disciples. All in all, more than thirty Astral Monarchs of the Bei You lineage had congratted him on his achievement.


    It was worth noting that when he first officially became a third-generation disciple, these super powerhouses of the Bei You lineage hadn��t bothered to get to know him, clearly not paying much attention to him.


    After all, there existed an immense gap in power between Wu Yuan and these Astral Monarchs.


    But now? They seemed to have be much more courteous.


    <i>My strength is still far from enough. However, the potential I''ve disyed is sufficient to make these eternal Astral Monarchs change their attitudes.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    But Wu Yuan wasn''t carried away by this. There was no fundamental difference between his previous and current self; these Astral Monarchs of the Bei You lineage were merely being polite.

 Chapter 615: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (4)

    <h4>Chapter 615: First In The Divine Court, A Full Ten Years (4)</h4>


    "Junior Nephew Ming Jian, are you there?" A voice suddenly called from outside the courtyard, its tone quite gentle.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes.


    In a sh, he left the meditation chamber and appeared outside.


    "Senior Uncle Gu Lai," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "Haha," the plump Astral Monarch Gu Laiughed, his eyes crinkling into merry crescents. "Junior Nephew Ming Jian, you''re truly remarkable. Congrattions on clearing level one hundred of the one-star tower, setting a record in our Eternal Sun Immortal World."


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan smiled slightly.


    "I''m here not only to congratte you but also to take you to meet the Immortal Sovereign," said Astral Monarch Gu Lai.


    "Grandmaster?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.


    "Yes, you''veprehended the True Intent of an Intermediate Law. The Immortal Sovereign has learned of this, so he specifically ordered me toe and fetch you," Astral Monarch Gu Lai clicked his tongue in admiration. "Junior Nephew, to be summoned by the Immortal Sovereign repeatedly in such a short time is something that even we older disciples can rarely experience."


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    There was something he didn''t say aloud: in terms of progress rate, few of Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s numerous disciples could match his own.


    "Let''s go," Astral Monarch Gu Lai waved his hand, swiftly leading Wu Yuan away from the Immortal Belvedere.


    They advanced quickly through the mountain range, soon arriving before the temple.


    "Go in," said Astral Monarch Gu Lai. "The Immortal Sovereign hasn''t summoned me, so I won''t enter."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    He flew swiftly into the temple.


    "Ming Jian pays his respects to Grandmaster," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully. The figure at the far end of the temple remained unchanged, seemingly embodying the descent of all of heaven and earth, existing eternally.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi and Immortal Sovereign Bei You were both Sovereigns, yet the mastery of different Greater Laws imbued them with starkly different auras.


    "Ming Jian, I hear you have cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower. Excellent, your rate of progress is faster than I had imagined," Immortal Sovereign Bei You leaned forward as he looked down at Wu Yuan below, smiling. "However, you were able to clear it because you stepped through the threshold of the Law of Life, am I right?"


    Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    During his battles in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower world, he hadn''t revealed any profundities rted to the Law of Life, yet it had still been seen through. A Sovereign was indeed someone not to be underestimated.


    "Grandmaster''s insight is profound." Wu Yuan spoke with utmost respect, choosing his words carefully: "This disciple has made extremely rapid progress in the True Domain Dao and Qiankun Dao, but in terms of the Law of Spatial Rift, progress has indeed been pitifully slow."


    Wu Yuan was concerned that Immortal Sovereign Bei You might grow displeased because of this.


    "It''s of no consequence. I''ve said before that whether it''s the Law of Space or the Law of Life, the choice is yours. I won''t be angered by this," said Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    "I''ve summoned you because you''ve met my requirement for the first stage of your cultivation training n. I gave you a hundred years toprehend the True Intent of an Intermediate Law of Space, but you only took twenty-three years. Very good."


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self listened attentively.


    A hundred years? If not for the special changes taking ce in his body refiner self in the Immutable Land, it might have taken him several more decades toprehend the True Intent of True Domain.


    "As a reward forpleting your goal ahead of schedule, I will grant you ten thousand divine crystals.


    I have two requirements for the second stage. First, clear level one hundred of both the two-star tower and the three-star tower. Their difficulty is lower than that of the one-star tower," said Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    That was right. ording to the intelligence he had gathered, within the Seven Star Luminaries Tower world, level one hundred of the seven-star tower was the most difficult, as it required fullprehension of a Greater Law, making it terrifyingly challenging.


    Next in difficulty was level one hundred of the one-star tower. Because the age limit of a hundred years was too short, it would normally be impossible to achieve.


    Following that was level one hundred of the six-star tower, five-star tower, four-star tower, and so on.


    Conversely, if one��s cultivation progress was fast enough to clear level one hundred of the one-star tower, it was almost a given that they could clear level one hundred of the two-star and three-star towers simply by continuing to cultivate methodically.


    "The second requirement is to deduce all three Intermediate Laws of the Space Dao to the True Intent stage within a thousand years," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said, looking at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s expression changed slightly.


    The first requirement wasn''t difficult for him, but the second one? That was entirely different!


    Of the three Intermediate Laws of Space, the other two Laws were fine, but to deduce the Spatial Rift Dao to the True Intent stage? It was difficult!


    It was worth noting that Wu Yuan had only justprehended it to the first-level Domain stage. With slowprehension speed, coupled with ack of interest and motivation, the time and effort required increased dozens of times over, definitely a case of diminishing returns.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Wu Yuan understood that Immortal Sovereign Bei You likely hadn''t given up on the idea of having himprehend theplete Law of Space.


    "Ming Jian, I won''t make things difficult for you," said Immortal Sovereign Bei You. "If you fulfill the first requirement, I will grant you a million divine crystals."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    A million divine crystals? Such wealth wasparable to that of an ordinary Archimmortal. However, when clearing level one hundred of the three-star tower, he would be at the peak of the Void Refiner phase at least. He might even have be an Earth Immortal by then.


    "If you haven''tpleted the second requirement, then after your cultivation period at the Immortal Belvedere has ended, you may leave the Bei You Realm and roam freely, just like the other third-generation disciples," said Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    "However, if you canplete both requirements, then you may proceed to the third stage of your training n." Immortal Sovereign Bei You continued: "Among my numerous disciples, those who can proceed to the third stage are few and far between. This is also the greatest opportunity I have prepared for you.


    The path isid out for you; the choice is yours. Whether you can walk it sessfully depends on your own efforts.


    You may return now," Immortal Sovereign Bei You didn''t ask Wu Yuan to make his decision immediately, directly issuing a dismissal.


    "Yes, Grandmaster," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully and slowly retreated.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self returned to his residence at the Immortal Belvedere.


    <i>The two requirements for the second stage? A thousand years toprehend Spatial Rift, True Domain, and Qiankun, all to the True Intent stage? </i>Wu Yuan sat cross-legged on the jade tform, pondering over the earlier conversation.


    Though he didn''t understand what the greatest opportunity mentioned by Immortal Sovereign Bei You was, the fact that an Immortal Sovereign valued it so highly meant it must be extraordinarily remarkable.


    <i>Master Kua Chi wants to raise another Sovereign of Life. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Grandmaster Bei You likely also wants to nurture another Sovereign of Space... but should I walk both paths simultaneously?</i>


    Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s intentions were clear as day, believing Wu Yuan had extremely high aptitude for Space and wanting to guide himself onto the path of the Law of Space.


    The decision, however,y in Wu Yuan''s hands.


    To say that Wu Yuan entertained no thoughts on the matter would certainly be false. In some ways, a Sovereign of Space was even rarer, nobler, and more powerful than a Sovereign of Life.


    But after just a moment, Wu Yuan calmed down.


    <i>No, that''s not right! My heart actually wavered? As expected of a Sovereign, with just a few simple words, he unknowingly influenced my choice.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, then his eyes regained their determination.


    <i>Biting off more than one can chew leads to nothing. It''s only with both of my true selves coborating and striving together that I have a slight hope of mastering the Law of Life, and it''s also the path most suited to me.</i>


    <i>Though the Law of Space is excellent, it doesn''t align with my heart, at least for now.</i>


    <i>If I were to cultivate both Daos? I fear that in the end, I wouldn''t seed in either. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had already thought it through clearly, and his Dao Heart grew increasingly pure.


    Constant reflection was the way to making one''s inner heart stronger, purer, and more unshakeable.


    <i>However, I shouldn��t give up on those million divine crystals. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Next, I''ll focus onprehending the Qiankun Dao to the True Intent stage. </i>


    Although he didn''t intend toprehend the Law of Space, Wu Yuan was still unwilling to give up on the Qiankun Dao, which would greatly improve self-preservation.


    <i>As for the rest, I��ll think about it when my body refiner self returns from the Immutable Land.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self gently closed his eyes. <i>I wonder what exactly my body refiner self is experiencing?</i>


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was unaware of everything his qi refiner self had experienced.


    In the mysterious Huanggu, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was fully focused on cultivating within the Archeldritch Hall.


    In the blink of an eye, another four years passed. A full ten years had psed. Unknowingly, Wu Yuan was one hundred years old.


    <i>Has it been ten years already?</i> Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, sensing the rapid decline in the Archeldritch Origin''s potency.


    At the same time, the unique enhancement effects of the Eldritch Chamber, which boosted hisprehension, were also fading quickly.

 Chapter 616: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (1)

    <h4>Chapter 616: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (1)</h4>


    <i>What a pity. If I could remain in this state for another decade, I might be able to advance myprehension of the Law of Life to the True Intent stage in one go. </i>Wu Yuanmented inwardly.


    In this state, hisprehension efficiency was truly terrifying. Countless insights into the profundities of the Dao flooded his mind, as if there was no end to them. He had shattered bottleneck after bottleneck, hisprehension speed countless times faster than before.


    <i>When I first epted Master''s trial, I had nned to cross the initiate threshold of the Law of Life within three hundred years, andprehend the True Intent of Life before turning a thousand.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    This was already an incredibly frightening pace.


    Among his thousand-plus senior brothers and sisters under Master Kua Chi, only two had achieved this, both ultimately reaching great heights.


    <i>But now?</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts shifted.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> An immeasurably vast Dao fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan. It had a hazy green hue tinged with a hint of azure, beautiful and mysterious.


    Wu Yuan''s vital aura expanded, boundless and unending.


    <i>Eighth-level Domain stage of Life. With a bit more cultivation, I should be able to reach the ninth-level Life Domain stage.</i> Wu Yuan sensed.


    The eighth-level Domain stage of the Life Dao was equivalent to the eighth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    Among the three subsidiary Intermediate Laws of the Law of Life, he hadprehended the Celestial Body Dao to the sixth-level True Intent stage over the past decade.


    <i>With this level of Daoprehension, breaking through level one hundred of the one-star tower would be effortless. I wonder if my qi refiner self has attempted it. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>My true age is now one hundred.</i>


    <i>If my qi refiner self hasn''t attempted it, then I can only try the two-star tower.</i>


    Level one hundred of the one-star tower could usually be conquered by those at the seventh-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    Wu Yuan''s two true selves shared Daoprehension insights, but the Immutable Land isted their consciousnesses. He wasn��t clear about what his other self had experienced.


    <i>Conquering level one hundred of the one-star tower is easy, but for level one hundred of the two-star tower, I''d probably need to cultivate for another hundred years.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    The two-star tower could only be attempted between the ages of one hundred and three hundred, and required the challenger��s Daoprehension level to reach the Archimmortal level. That was, to fullyprehend a Lesser Law.


    Of course, for Wu Yuan, who wasprehending a Greater Law, as long as he could advance hisprehension of the Law of Life to the True Intent stage, the power unleashed would beparable to a fullyprehended Lesser Law, allowing him to clear level one hundred of the two-star tower.


    <i>Reaching the ninth-level Domain stage of Life isn''t too difficult for me. I just need to cultivate methodically. However, toprehend the True Intent of Life? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, fully aware of the difficulty involved.


    One could either grind it out over time, spending one or two hundred years to eventually break through. Or, one could hope for an epiphany, but that was unpredictable.


    <i>There''s no rush. My gains from Archeldritch Hall have already been immense. There''s no need to be greedy.</i>


    <i>I''ll slowly advance to the ninth-level Domain stage of Life, then continue to umte insights and attempt to break through.</i> Wu Yuan was very patient.


    Breaking through each bottleneck of a Greater Law led to a massive increase in strength, thus it was naturally ten or a hundred times more difficult than an Intermediate Law.


    With a thought, Wu Yuan dispelled the Law of Life��s fluctuations surrounding his body, his surroundings quickly returning to normal.


    However, another issue came to mind��the Archeldritch Origin and Archeldritch Hall.


    <i>Such miraculous treasures are too inconceivable. I fear even the Greenridge Macrocosm doesn''t possess them.</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Forget Archeldritches, even a Sovereign probably couldn''t provide such items.</i>


    The reason for this spection was simple: if Sovereigns could provide such items, then history would have seen the emergence of some inconceivable geniuses.


    But there weren''t any!


    <i>My current cultivation speed can already ce first in the history of the macrocosm among those my age.</i> Wu Yuan mused. He had ess to regted information in both the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Cang Feng Eldritch World, and was privy to much intelligence.


    To reach his current level at a hundred years old? It wasn''t a matter of being able to count them on one''s fingers��there simply weren''t any!


    <i>The guidance of the Archeldritch Hall in cultivation andprehension should stem from the Daoprehended by the cultivator themselves.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    The stronger the cultivator, the better the guiding effect of the Archeldritch Hall.


    Wu Yuan wasprehending a Greater Law, had supreme talent, and had the aid of the Archeldritch Origin. With these factors, the effectiveness of the Archeldritch Hall was raised to the highest limit. That was why he had made such great progress.


    <i>To be able to guide one��sprehension of a Greater Law, as if one is immersed in the Dao essence itself?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. While contemting the Dao under the hall��s effects, his mind was free of all distractions.


    But now that his cultivation session had ended, many thoughts involuntarily arose in his mind.


    <i>One possibility is that this world is very special, created by some supreme being of unknown power. </i>Wu Yuan marveled.


    With his broadened perspective and knowledge, Wu Yuan was beginning to understand the miraculous abilities these beings possessed.


    <i>Another possibility is that both the Archeldritch Hall and the Archeldritch Origin are opportunities prepared for me by the Immutable Land.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    The most likely possibility was abination of both scenarios.


    <i>If the Archeldritch Hall is already so miraculous, how much more amazing will the legendary Creation Divine Hall be?</i> Wu Yuan felt a glimmer of anticipation in his heart.


    Yet it also gave rise to worries. The Creation Divine Hall? It was inside Heavenly Pir Mountain. There was no way to enter without defeating the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.


    <i>First, let''s leave the eldritch chamber. I��ll need some time to think it over. </i>Wu Yuan stood up and walked towards the exit of the eldritch chamber.


    The bronze gates, which had been sealed for ten years, slowly opened.


    ...


    <i>Hmm?</i> As Wu Yuan walked out of the eldritch chamber, he was surprised to find six figures standing in the outer hall, each exuding an incredibly powerful aura.


    Even High Eldritch Hou Zhi and High Eldritch Hou Qiong looked unremarkable within this group.


    The two imposing figures at the forefront had fierce and domineering auras, clearly surpassing High Eldritch Hou Zhi and Hou Qiong in strength.


    Wu Yuan could subtly feel a harmonious resonance between them and heaven and earth. Instantly, he realized they had fully mastered a Dao. This was a hallmark of fullyprehending a Dao, and unless intentionally hidden, it was easily recognizable.


    <i>Eldritch Deities? Two of them?</i> Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    ording to what High Eldritch Hou Zhi had said earlier, a High Eldritch who had fullyprehended a Dao was called an Eldritch Deity within the Archeldritch tribe.


    At that moment, Wu Yuan felt the intense stares of the gathered powerhouses fixed on him, as if they had all been eagerly awaiting his emergence.


    "Eldritch General Hou Feng, haha, you''ve finally emerged from seclusion," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled, "We veteran elders and the two Eldritch Deities have been waiting for half a day."


    <i>Veteran elders, Eldritch Deities? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    All the highest echelons of the Earth Archeldritch tribe were here to wee him?


    "This is Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, this is Eldritch Deity Hou Tu [1], you already know Veteran Elder Hou Qiong..." High Eldritch Hou Zhi introduced them one by one to Wu Yuan.


    As each member was introduced, these Eldritch Deities and veteran elders all nodded slightly, showing great courtesy to Wu Yuan.


    "Greetings to the two Eldritch Deities, greetings to the veteran elders," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    Although his Daoprehension wasn''t much shallower than theirs, his cultivation level was several phases lower. In directbat, he was still far from their level.


    "No need for such formalities, Hou Feng," Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, his stature imposing, looked at Wu Yuan with eyes full of joy, "Following the Snake Ancestor''s decision, the Veteran Elders Assembly of our Earth Archeldritch tribe came to a consensus to appoint you as the eighth veteran elder of the tribe."


    "Veteran elder?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    In the Archeldritch tribe, veteran elders were generally only appointed from peak-stage High Eldritch powerhouses.


    "But my strength isn''t sufficient." Wu Yuan pointed out.


    "Indeed, it''s not quite there yet, but in terms of Daoprehension, you can probably rival us now," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said happily, "At the very least, you''re close. In a few hundred or thousand years, when you be a High Eldritch, your strength will naturally match ours."


    Wu Yuan was somewhat surprised inwardly.


    This news came too quickly. Although their statements made sense, he still hadn''t reached the level of High Eldritch. His strength was far too inferior.


    "Hou Feng." The previously silent Eldritch Deity Hou Tu suddenly spoke, "I know your concerns, but this is the Snake Ancestor''s decision. Come, we will bring you to meet the Snake Ancestor first.


    The Snake Ancestor has said that you will understand everything once you meet it," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said.


    <i>The Snake Ancestor?</i> Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    Who was that?


    In the ancient legends of the eldritch lineage, stories of the Snake Ancestor were once prominent. But over millions of years, as generations passed and the Archeldritch tribe intentionally concealed the details, the legend of the Snake Ancestor had nearly vanished into obscurity.


    Few in the younger generation were aware of it, and Wu Yuan, who only had a basic understanding of the Huanggu eldritch race, was naturally unaware.


    "Come with us first," Eldritch Deity Hou Lu smiled.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    Swiftly, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, High Eldritch Hou Zhi, and Wu Yuan departed from the Archeldritch Hall through the passageway.


    However, Hou Qiong and the other two veteran elders did not follow.


    "What are your thoughts on Hou Feng?" inquired High Eldritch Hou Qiong, his white robes matching his snow-white hair.


    "His soul is powerful, and his will is strong. Under our scrutiny, his gaze never wavered. Quite impressive."


    "I cannot read him." Both veteran elders offered extremely high praise.


    High Eldritch Hou Qiong nodded, "Thest person to receive suchmendation from the Snake Ancestor was Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu of the Fire Eldritch lineage."


    The other two veteran elders nodded in agreement, his words deeply resonating with their own thoughts.


    During their discussion, they had already determined that Wu Yuan had the potential to rival or even surpass Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. They were all immensely pleased with Wu Yuan''s rise to prominence.


    As the highest echelon of the Earth Archeldritch tribe, they bore the brunt of the pressure in the war against the immortal race.


    The emergence of another world-shaking powerhouse would increase their chances of ultimate victory in the war by a significant margin.


    1. not the same Hou Tu as the Eldritch Progenitor ?

 Chapter 617: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (2)

    Chapter 617: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (2)


    The two Eldritch Deities and High Eldritch Hou Zhi flew through the skies above the Archeldritch tribe with Wu Yuan. Throughout the journey, High Eldritch Hou Zhi conversed with him.


    "The Snake Ancestor is the Teng Snake that followed the Earth Archeldritch back then?" Wu Yuan asked, quite surprised.


    There was actually such an ancient being living in Huanggu? Wu Yuan was extremely curious about the four great Archeldritches who first descended upon Huanggu.


    <em>The Snake Ancestor? Following the Archeldritch? After thousands of years, its strength must have grown even more formidable. No wonder even the two Eldritch Deities seem to subtly obey itsmands.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    They had such an ancient being, along with Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, other Eldritch Deities, and numerous veteran elders in their ranks, yet they still could not defeat the Immortal Court?


    As he continued to converse with High Eldritch Hou Zhi, Wu Yuan gradually learned of other matters.


    <em>The great war between the eldritch race and immortal race has reignited and the Hou Cheng Tribe has been annihted? Just two or three days after I left, an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race led arge contingent of High Immortals in an assault on the tribe, and all the tribespeople in the city were ughtered? </em>Upon hearing this news, Wu Yuan was stunned into silence.


    He had arrived in Huanggu over ten years ago, spending the vast majority of his time here in cultivation. He hadn��t interacted much with other members of the Huanggu eldritch race.


    But the few days he spent in the Hou Cheng Tribe left a deep impression on Wu Yuan. The unity and warmth of Eldritch Warriors like Hou Ming and Hou Quan had touched him, moving him profoundly.Moreover, Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng, Earth Eldritch Hou Fu, and the other leaders had done their utmost to assist him, and Wu Yuan was deeply grateful to them.


    Yet in the blink of an eye, the entire Hou Cheng Tribe had been reduced to ruins? Completely annihted?


    Such a drastic event dealt an immense blow to the spirit. Even with his powerful Dao Heart, Wu Yuan found it difficult to ept for a moment.


    But Wu Yuan was, after all, an extraordinary powerhouse. His Daoprehension and Dao Heart were as strong as High Eldritches.


    After a moment, his spirit calmed.


    "A few days after I left? Is the attack on the Hou Cheng Tribe rted to me?" Wu Yuan grasped the key point.


    This caused the two Eldritch Deities and High Eldritch Hou Zhi to look slightly surprised, exchanging nces.


    "Yes, ording to our calctions, there''s a ny percent chance it''s rted to you," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said without mincing words. "The immortal race has three great Imperial Majesties: Imperial Majesty Nan You, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, and Imperial Majesty Da Yan, who respectively possess... Among them, the Mirror of Creation is most adept at divining the threads of karma and destiny.


    "We suspect that Imperial Majesty Da Yan perceived your existence," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu quickly exined.


    With that, Wu Yuan learned some general information about the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.


    Divining the threads of karma? Destiny?


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked beyond words.


    The High Eldritches of the Huanggu eldritch race might not fully understand. But Wu Yuan, originating from the world outside, knew all too well that matters involving karma and destiny were beyond the capabilities of even High Immortals. Even ordinary Astral Monarchs couldn''t achieve such feats.


    As powerful as Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was, when he saw Wu Yuan, he could only glimpse parts of Wu Yuan''s past, unable to predict the future.


    High Eldritch? Sovereign? The difference between the two was beyondparison.


    <em>To enable a High Immortal to possess the power of divination, what exactly is this Mirror of Creation, this so-called Creation Divine Artifact?</em> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    It was certainly not as simple as ordinary celestial equipment or Dao Treasures.


    "Can the Mirror of Creation pinpoint my exact location?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask.


    "ording to the Snake Ancestor, it shouldn''t be that miraculous," said Eldritch Deity Hou Lu. "They probably only vaguely divined the threat you pose.


    However, oncebined with gathered intelligence, such as you passing the sixth level of the Archeldritch Trial, the immortal race likely put the pieces together," Eldritch Deity Hou Lu continued.


    "Then how could they be certain I was in the Hou Cheng Tribe at that time?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "They don''t need to be certain." High Eldritch Hou Zhi shook his head and sighed, "In all likelihood, the immortal race had already guessed that you would be taken in by our Archeldritch tribe.


    But for the immortal race, as long as there''s even a sliver of a chance to kill you, they will spare no expense."


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    His time in Huanggu had been too brief, and coupled with theck of information, Wu Yuan simply couldn''t make many advance preparations.


    He also hadn''t anticipated that his inconspicuous actions would bring such catastrophic disaster to the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    Wu Yuan suddenly realized just how great a threat the immortal race posed to the Huanggu eldritch race, and how insanely bloodthirsty their actions were.


    <em>Right or wrong? I don''t care.</em> A hint of coldness shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Previously, he had been like an observer watching Huanggu from outside. He found it difficult to feel too much love or hate for either the eldritch race or the immortal race.


    Even joining the eldritch race''s camp was an instinctive choice for self-preservation, and his desire to kill the Imperial Majesties of the immortal race was merely for the sake of obtaining opportunities.


    That was, until this moment.


    For the first time, Wu Yuan felt a genuine surge of killing intent toward the immortal race, arising from deep within his heart��driven solely by the memory of those who perished in the Hou Cheng Tribe.


    <em>They died because of me. If not for my sudden visit, they might have continued to live peacefully. </em>Wu Yuan thought silently.


    <em>Even if they would have eventually been destroyed by the fires of war, at least they could have existed for another thousand or ten thousand years.</em>


    <em>Moreover, even if the tribe was destroyed in the war, it wouldn''t have attracted the attention of an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race, and they wouldn''t have beenpletely annihted. </em>Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Perhaps this was the arrangement of some ineffable destiny. But how could Wu Yuan face it calmly?


    <em>Imperial Majesty of the immortal race? Lei Fu? </em>Wu Yuanmitted the name ��Imperial Majesty Lei Fu�� to memory, resolving to exhaust every possibility to kill him before leaving.


    It was both for revenge and also to achieve peace of mind.


    Although Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, and High Eldritch Hou Zhi couldn''t detect Wu Yuan''s emotional changes, they did notice something slightly off about him.


    None of them spoke further. They had seen too many simr incidents.


    Their decision to tell Wu Yuan was not just because he was indeed the trigger for the event, but also to nt the seeds of resentment against the immortal race in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Hatred could sometimes be a great motivator for cultivation.


    ��


    The four of them made their way through the tribe.


    After flying millions of li, they arrived at a sprawling mountain range and immediately entered a heavily guarded cave, descending deep into the earth.


    With two Eldritch Deities leading the way, the Eldritch Warriors and Eldritch Generals guarding the area all bowed respectfully and let them through. No one obstructed their path.


    Finally, the group arrived deep underground, in what appeared to be a vast subterranean world. Herey ake as vast as an ocean, smooth as a mirror, with starlight twinkling upon its surface��indescribably beautiful.


    <em>This underground realm?</em> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the area. He could sense the incredibly dense spiritual qi here. It was at least ten times more concentrated than that of the world outside.


    The water in theke was actually highly purified spiritual qi that had liquefied, forming ake thousands of li in diameter.


    In such an underground world, even ordinary nts and trees might develop spirituality and gain sentience given enough time. This was the importance of one��s environment.


    <em>Ssh~</em> The calmke began to churn, and an enormous figure emerged from beneath the surface.


    It was unimaginably massive, with a pair of wings that seemed capable of blotting out the sky. Each of its scales was over ten meters long, and its giant serpentine head gazed down upon those below.


    Before it, even the two towering Eldritch Deities seemed like specks.


    "Snake Ancestor." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu bowed respectfully.


    "Greetings, Snake Deity." High Eldritch Hou Zhi and Wu Yuan also bowed with reverence.


    The Snake Ancestor''s massive, ancient eyes were weathered with age and brimming with wisdom. It felt as if they could pierce through all of Wu Yuan''s secrets, making his heart skip a beat and causing him to feel instinctively flustered.


    The Snake Ancestor before him was the spitting image of an erged Little ck��an incredibly powerful Teng Snake.


    "Is this Hou Feng?" The Snake Ancestor''s voice was distant, echoing throughout the vast underground world.


    "Yes," replied High Eldritch Hou Zhi.


    "Very well. Veteran Elder Hou Zhi, you may return. Focus on your cultivation and break through to be an Eldritch Deity as soon as possible. The war grows more intense," the Snake Ancestor said tly. "Hou Lu, Hou Tu, go wait in the Divine Weapon Hall. I have some matters to discuss with Hou Feng alone."


    "Understood," High Eldritch Hou Zhi replied respectfully.


    The two Eldritch Deities nodded as well.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi turned to Wu Yuan, "Veteran Elder Hou Feng, work hard and don''t disappoint the Snake Ancestor''s expectations."


    With that, the three quickly departed from the undergroundke, leaving only the Snake Ancestor and Wu Yuan behind.


    It was utterly silent.


    The Snake Ancestor''s massive body hovered above theke, ripples spreading across the water''s surface without a sound.


    Wu Yuan waited quietly, raising his guard higher and higher with each passing moment.


    "You''veprehended a Greater Law. Very good," the Snake Ancestor suddenly spoke. "The Law of Life is very powerful."


    Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat, but he wasn''t overly panicked.


    The Archeldritch Hall was left behind by an Archeldritch, and this Snake Ancestor was a follower of the Archeldritch in the past. It likely had control over the Archeldritch Hall.


    His Daoprehension levels werepletely exposed within the Archeldritch Hall. It probably couldn''t escape the other party''s detection.


    "The Snake Ancestor is indeed perceptive. My ability to step through the initiate threshold was mere coincidence. However, myprehension level is still not very high," Wu Yuan said, carefully choosing his words.


    "What a pity!" The Snake Ancestor''s voice carried a hint of disappointment as it sighed, "You are not a native lifeform of Huanggu. Even if you be an Archeldritch, you won''t be able to help me."


    These words struck Wu Yuan like a thunderbolt, instantly rming him.


    Had he been exposed? His mind was in chaos!

 Chapter 618: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (3)

    Chapter 618: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (3)


    "Hou Feng, there''s no need to worry. Though I don''t know which realm you came from, you are still part of the eldritch race lineage. I won''t do anything to you," the Snake Ancestor''s voice carried a hint of amusement. "I control part of the authority of heaven and earth in Huanggu. Before today, I��ve never met you and thus didn��t notice that you were not a lifeform of Huanggu.


    But the moment Iid eyes on you, I knew." The Snake Ancestor gazed down at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan��s mind reeled.


    So it was through the so-called authority of heaven and earth that it sensed this?


    He knew that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race could control part of the authority of heaven and earth through the Creation Divine Artifacts.


    "Don''t worry, you''re not the only one who isn''t from the Huanggu world. I''m not from here either," the Snake Ancestor said calmly.


    "Back then, the four great Archeldritches were all visitors from beyond this world,ing here to spread teachings and enabling our eldritch race lineage to multiply and thrive, upying thisnd."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    He truly did not know such secrets about thisnd."Snake Ancestor, this junior entered this world by ident, I truly did not intend to intrude," Wu Yuan said. "However, as I am also of the eldritch race lineage, before leaving Huanggu, I will do my utmost to help the Huanggu eldritch race defeat the immortal race." These words came from the bottom of Wu Yuan''s heart.


    "I believe you," said the Snake Ancestor. "We are both outsiders here. I��m not too interested in prying into your reasons foring to Huanggu.


    But if I had to guess, it''s probably for some of the opportunities left behind by the Archeldritches, right? However, if you want to obtain the opportunities of the Creation Divine Hall, the best way forward is to help the eldritch race win this war."


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    As expected of a being who once followed the Earth Archeldritch. To see through him at a nce, its insight and experience were truly extraordinary.


    "Thank you, Snake Ancestor," Wu Yuan said.


    "You want to obtain the opportunities of this world, be it the Archeldritch Hall or the Creation Divine Hall. As for me, I am here to protect the eldritch race lineage until a native Archeldritch is born among them with the ability to control this world. Our goals do not conflict, and I won''t stop you," the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    "You''re only an Eldritch Warrior now, yet your Daoprehension is close to the Archeldritch level.


    Such a monstrous prodigy is beyond my imagination. It seems your background is even greater than I imagined. Is there an Astral Monarch or Sovereign behind you?" The Snake Ancestor gazed down at Wu Yuan. "I hope we can cooperate."


    Wu Yuan grew increasingly shocked as he listened.


    The Snake Ancestor''s perspective and knowledge were beyond imagination. It even knew of Sovereigns?


    This Huanggu World didn��t seem particrly vast, and appeared quite isted, yet it contained special treasures like the Archeldritch Hall, Creation Divine Hall, and Archeldritch Origin.


    Now it appeared there were likely other secrets involved behind the scenes. It was not created specifically for him by the Immutable Land.


    "This junior is willing to hear more details," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "Your Daoprehension is deep enough. With your talent, it will rapidly improve further. But you are not a native lifeform, so you are unable to control the authority of heaven and earth directly," the Snake Ancestor slowly exined.


    "The so-called authority of heaven and earth is the most fundamental power bestowed upon lifeforms by this world, to act on behalf of heaven.


    The core of Huanggu consists of the four Dao essences of Earth, Fire, Wood, and Water."


    Wu Yuan listened in shock.


    This was his first time hearing an exnation on the authority of heaven and earth. Power bestowed by the essence of this world? One had to be a native lifeform?


    "Anyone who can fullyprehend any Lesser Law and integrate their soul into the Dao essence of this world can harness the power from the essence of this world. This power is the authority bestowed by heaven and earth!


    This authority can only be possessed within this world. Once one leaves this world, the authority will be stripped away.


    The deeper one''sprehension of the Dao, the more power one can harness. Whenprehension deepens to the point where one masters any Intermediate Law among the four Greater Laws, one can truly brand their aura imprint onto theplete Dao Essence of this world," the Snake Ancestor said.


    "At that time, one will be the undisputed master of this world, truly acting with the mandate of heaven! One''s will bes heaven''s will.


    Even without Immortal Tribtions, one can tap into the power of Heaven and Earth''s Essence to transform oneself, evolving to be an Archeldritch," the Snake Ancestor slowly said. "As long as the world does not perish, one will not perish. With but a wave of the hand, one will possess the mighty power of the entire world."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan.


    The reason the Snake Ancestor stayed behind was likely to provide guidance to the Huanggu eldritch race, assisting them in producing a powerhouse that could fully master an Intermediate Law. That being would truly control this world.


    "The first being to fullyprehend an Intermediate Law bes the master of this world? What about the second?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "The authority of heaven and earth is singr," the Snake Ancestor gave a mysterious expression.


    "There can only be one emperor among men, just as there cannot be two suns in the sky. Simrly, while the aura imprint of the previous generation''s master remains, how can future generations brand their aura imprints?" the Snake Ancestor said calmly.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    It sounded like a race,peting for the sole chance of survival. Once there was a sessful candidate, countlessters were destined to fail. No matter how monstrous or heaven-defying, they could not surpass their predecessor.


    "However, while it might sound good that ��the authority of heaven and earth is singr��, wielding this authority is both a right and a responsibility.


    What one gains will always be proportional to what one gives. Once an aura imprint is branded, breaking free bes nearly impossible.


    It''s like an emperor among men��with supreme power concentrated in one person. But if there are mistakes in one��s governance that lead to chaos in the world, one may even find it difficult to preserve their own life. At that time, even if one wants to abdicate to preserve their life, would it be possible?"


    Wu Yuan listened, secretly shocked.


    Wielding the sole authority of heaven and earth was like being an emperor among men?


    Though the Snake Ancestor made it sound simple, Wu Yuan had a vague feeling that he had just learned some great secret.


    This Huanggu World, which seemed only the size of an immortal continent, appeared even more mysterious whenpared to a vast immortal nation, involving many secrets.


    "Snake Ancestor," Wu Yuan suddenly realized something. "If you''re an outsider like me, how can you control part of the authority of heaven and earth?"


    The Snake Ancestor uttered slowly, "Archeldritch Divine Artifact."


    Wu Yuan was momentarily stunned.


    "The Archeldritch Divine Artifacts contain the will of the Archeldritches," the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan. "The four great Archeldritches are not ''Archeldritches'' as you understand them, but rather ��Eldritches of Heaven��.


    The divine weapons they left behind contain aplete and independent essence within. The essence is profound and vast. As long as oneprehends it deeply enough, one can borrow part of the authority and will contained within the Archeldritch Divine Artifact."


    Wu Yuan listened, his heart trembling with shock.


    Archeldritch? No! It was clearly Eldritch of Heaven. The difference between the two was as vast as the gap between heaven and earth.


    Millions of years ago, what kind of beings were these so-called four Eldritches of Heaven who descended to thisnd? Astral Monarchs? Sovereigns? Or something else? Everything was a secret.


    Wu Yuan had no way to research it. And clearly, although the Snake Ancestor imed to have followed the Earth Archeldritch, it seemed to be equally vague about it.


    "Only those from eldritch bloodlines can wield the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts," said the Snake Ancestor. "As for the Creation Divine Artifacts, they are even more mysterious. I don''t know much about them.


    If you want to know the secrets of the Creation Divine Artifacts, you''ll have to find out yourself."


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "I hope you can master the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts and use them to unleash your power to its fullest extent," said the Snake Ancestor. "Then, help the Huanggu eldritch race win the war.


    With your talent, you should be able to aplish it in a few thousand or tens of thousands of years at most.


    In return, in theing years, I will protect you as much as possible until you mature. If you have any other needs, you can inform me as well," the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan understood.


    This was a transaction. As an outsider, he could never be an Archeldritch, and never naturally control the authority of heaven and earth in the Huanggu world.


    So, to the Snake Ancestor, his greatest use was to destroy the immortal race. Unfortunately, he didn''t have that much time, only a thousand years.


    "This junior is willing to try his best," Wu Yuan said.


    He had no reason to reject the Snake Ancestor''s proposal.


    "Come with me." The Snake Ancestor flew out of theke, and then began to shrink at a visible speed �C from a thousand zhangs, to a hundred zhangs... until it was only around thirty zhangs in length.


    It flew towards a distant cave.


    Wu Yuan hurriedly followed.

 Chapter 619: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (4)

    <h4>Chapter 619: The Sole Authority of Heaven and Earth (4)</h4>


    This was a vast and endless temple, where Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu were waiting patiently.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Two streaks of light flew in, causing both Eldritch Deities to look over. Their eyes brightened, "The Snake Ancestor and Hou Feng have arrived."


    The Snake Ancestor and Wu Yuan flew into the great hall.


    "Snake Ancestor."


    "Veteran Elder Hou Feng." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu hurried forward to greet them, their eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.


    "I have tested Hou Feng''s strength. It is indeed extraordinary. I believe that before long, his Daoprehension insights will beparable to Archeldritches, on par with you both," said the Snake Ancestor.


    "Moreover, I estimate that the Dao he hasprehended is also extremely suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."


    "Almostparable to us?"


    "Suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts?" The two Eldritch Deities grew increasingly delighted.


    Wu Yuan, however, clearly understood what was left unsaid: the Snake Ancestor seemed unwilling to reveal that he was an outsider to the two Eldritch Deities.


    This was fine with him.


    "Hou Feng, go ahead," the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan. "Try the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts and see what level of power you can unleash."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> He transformed into a streak of light and quickly arrived at the end of the temple, where he immediately saw the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts floating in the void �C one set of battle armor and two sabers.


    <i>Battle armor? Sabers? Were they specially prepared for me? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    The three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts hovered there, giving Wu Yuan the impression of three immovable worlds.


    As he closed his eyes, three streams of Soul Force simultaneously flew out, entering the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. Very quickly, Wu Yuan ''saw'' it.


    The external appearances of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts were merely an illusion.


    Inside, they all contained an incredibly vast and profound Dao essence. Beyond the Dao essence, he could faintly glimpse a vast world, inhabited by countless lives... a world, and life.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan understood the nature of these Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    They were world artifacts, and most importantly, they contained aplete and perfect essence of heaven and earth.


    This was incredibly inconceivable and deeply shocking to Wu Yuan.


    Although the countless worlds of the Greenridge Macrocosm contained world essences, their essences were actually not very strong. The so-called essences were merely external manifestations of the workings of heaven and earth. They were just energy, not true heaven and earth��s essence.


    From the countless worldlets to the nes epassing vast immortal nations, this was the case.


    As for some rare and precious world artifacts? Even if they could sustain a small number of lives, their world��s rules were iplete and their essences weak. The lives born in such worlds were wed, either unable to cultivate or finding it difficult to multiply and flourish.


    Though shocked, Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate too much.


    <i>Boom!</i> <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Three strands of consciousness instantly entered the mysterious essences of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    The profundities of the Law of Life began to manifest, seeking to control them.


    Under the calm gaze of the Snake Ancestor and the shocked eyes of the two Eldritch Deities, the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts suddenly flew up and entered Wu Yuan''s body.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Wu Yuan��s vital aura began to surge rapidly.


    In no time, it reached the Elysian Field level. First-stage Elysian Field phase, third-stage Elysian Field phase... Finally, when his vital aura reached the seventh-stage Elysian Field phase, it stopped.


    "This!"


    "Isn��t it too much? What Dao has Hou Fengprehended?" Both Eldritch Deities revealed shocked expressions.


    Each of them had fullyprehended a Dao and could control the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, yet it only increased their strength by one or two tenths at most.


    But Wu Yuan? His vital aura had increased by more than a hundredfold! Even considering his rtively weaker strength, it was still incredibly terrifying.


    Ordinary Earth Eldritch couldn''t even activate the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    "Excellent! I didn''t misjudge you," the Snake Ancestor''s eyes showed a hint of joy. "A Greater Law is indeed most suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."


    The greater thew, the moreprehensive it was, and thus the more essence one could mobilize when controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts!


    None of them disturbed Wu Yuan, waiting patiently.


    After a long time, Wu Yuan exhaled and slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the vastness of his own vital aura, he already understood the function of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    First, as artifacts, they could be wielded in battle. They were able to withstand his strength and application of Dao profundities even when fully unleashed.


    Second, they could imbue him with the authority of heaven and earth through their essence.


    <i>I''m only at the ninth-stage Shambh phase. My body is too weak, so I can only endure a tiny bit of the authority''s power.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>If my body were stronger and my Daoprehension level higher, I could cope with arger portion of authority.</i>


    <i>One day, when I can fully control them with my Daoprehension, and my body can perfectly bear it, a casual strike would rival the full power unleashed by the heaven and earth��s essence contained in the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.</i> Wu Yuan realized inwardly.


    He was only at the Shambh phase now, and hisprehension of the Law of Life hadn''t reached the True Intent stage yet. So, the power he could unleash was onlyparable to the seventh or eighth stage of the Elysian Field phase.


    Even so, it was terrifying enough. These Archeldritch Divine Artifacts seemed to fundamentally increase Wu Yuan''s base mana.


    <i>Moreover, this empowerment by the authority of heaven and earth is different from borrowing the power of external objects. </i>Wu Yuan was both shocked and fascinated by this power.


    Other objects, be they talismans, ethercrystal weapons, or puppets, were external power. Even if they contained enormous power, one could never exert perfect control over them.


    These Archeldritch Divine Artifacts werepletely different.


    <i>I can exert absolute control, as if I forged them myself. It''s simply inconceivable,</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    <i>There are really such artifacts in the world? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It was truly unheard of.


    "Hou Feng," the Snake Ancestor suddenly said, "I will entrust these three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to you. I hope you will be worthy of their power."


    "Thank you, Snake Ancestor," Wu Yuan said respectfully, his voice tinged with reverence.


    "Haha, good.��


    "Hou Feng, cultivate diligently and be an Earth Eldritch, or even High Eldritch as swiftly as you can," the two Eldritch Deities said, their excitement palpable in the air. "Only when you be a High Eldritch will you truly be able to wield the power of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."


    ...


    Time passed.


    The fact that Wu Yuan was granted the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts of the Earth Archeldritch lineage was known only to a handful of veteran elders in select tribes.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan gradually integrated himself into the Archeldritch tribe, methodically cultivating.


    The war between the eldritch race and the immortal race raged on, its intensity growing over time.


    Countless eldritch tribes were annihted, while an increasing number of Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches departed from the Archeldritch tribes to join the battle near Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    However, the Earth Archeldritch tribe protected Wu Yuan well. Even the highest echelons of other Archeldritch tribes knew little about him, and ordinary High Eldritches werergely unaware of his abilities.


    Wu Yuan continued to cultivate patiently within the tribe, his power growing silently like a seed beneath the earth.


    In the blink of an eye, sixty years had passed. Wu Yuan had quietly crossed the threshold into the Elysian Field phase, continuing to cultivate in seclusion.


    ...


    <i>Within the vast world of Heavenly Pir Mountain, in the highest temple of the Thirty-Three Heavens.</i>


    More than sixty High Immortals and eight hundred Earth Immortals stood within the temple, their auras surging like tempestuous seas. They wore uniform silver battle armor, each face etched with grim determination.


    Suddenly, three figures materialized in the hall, their appearance causing a ripple of tension through the assembly.


    "We pay our respects to the Imperial Majesty," all the High Immortals and Earth Immortals bowed reverently, their voices a unified chorus.


    "For decades, this war has raged. With Heavenly Pir Mountain as our base, we have annihted one eldritch tribe after another, forcing the majority of the elite forces from the four Archeldritch tribes to converge along the Heavenly Pir Mountain��s line." Imperial Majesty Nan You''s voice boomed like thunder, reverberating through the divine hall.


    "The four Archeldritch tribes have been left vulnerable, their defenses stretched thin.


    The reason you have been summoned here is simple. We shall obliterate an Archeldritch tribe, seize their Archeldritch Hall, ughter their Earth Eldritches and Eldritch Generals en masse, and destroy their stronghold." Imperial Majesty Nan You''s voice rumbled.


    "Prepare yourselves.


    We depart in one day to annihte the Wood Archeldritch tribe!"

 Chapter 620: Century-long Plan, The Edge Of Life And Death (1)

    <h4>Chapter 620: Century-long n, The Edge Of Life And Death (1)</h4>


    "Understood!" The assembled High Immortals and Earth Immortals bowed respectfully, their faces alight with unbridled excitement.


    The Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield had raged for hundreds of thousands of years.


    Since the Third Eldritch-Immortal War began, both sides had engaged in increasingly brutal ughter, with more than one high-tier eldritch tribe being annihted.


    But the Four Archeldritch tribes? In the eyes of these High Immortals and Earth Immortals, they were unshakeable.


    Indeed, in the view of many high-ranking members of both the eldritch race and immortal race, the escting conflict between the two great powers over the past century hade to be known as the Third Eldritch-Immortal War.


    The First Eldritch-Immortal War saw myriad races unite as one immortal race, and the emergence of three Imperial Majesties who upied Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    The Second Eldritch-Immortal War proved that the eldritch and immortal races were gridlocked, reaching an equilibrium.


    And the Third Eldritch-Immortal War would mark the beginning of the immortal race''s counterattack and conquest �C at least, that was how many high-ranking members of the immortal race saw it.


    In the blink of an eye, the numerous High Immortals and Earth Immortals departed one after another to make their final preparations before battle, leaving only the three Imperial Majesties in the divine hall.


    "Big Brother, why did you suddenly announce an attack on the Wood Archeldritch tribe? Didn''t we previously agree to deal with Hou Feng?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked.


    "Isn''t Hou Feng in the Earth Archeldritch tribe? We''ve been preparing for decades, sacrificing the mana bodies of countless Earth Immortals and High Eldritches, and even the true bodies of many immortals, to draw awayrge numbers of the eldritch race''s Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches. Wasn''t the ultimate goal to kill Hou Feng?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was puzzled.


    The three Imperial Majesties had never revealed the real reason for waging the Third Eldritch-Immortal War to any High Immortal or even the Heavenly Masters of the immortal race. The truth about Hou Feng was only known to the three of them. Everything was done in the name of secrecy!


    So, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was quite perplexed by Imperial Majesty Nan You''s actions.


    "Who said we''re attacking the Wood Archeldritch tribe?" Imperial Majesty Nan You smiled at his second brother.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was taken aback.


    "Second Brother, this is merely a dying tactic." Imperial Majesty Da Yan, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.


    His face was still pale as he continued, "Over these years, I have performed multiple divinations and gathered extensive intelligence. I can now confirm that Hou Feng is indeed in the Earth Archeldritch tribe.


    However, Hou Feng has never shown his presence within the Archeldritch tribes, remaining hidden the entire time. The vast majority of the eldritch race''s powerhouses are unaware of this peerless genius." Imperial Majesty Da Yan looked towards Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.


    "It''s clear that the Earth Archeldritch faction has been protecting him, and he won''t venture out until he bes powerful enough."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded in understanding.


    "We''ve never revealed the ultimate goal of the Third Eldritch-Immortal War, but the eldritch race will certainly specte.


    Under normal circumstances, it��s still far too early for our immortal race tounch a full-scale counteroffensive," Imperial Majesty Da Yan exined.


    In terms of overall strength, the eldritch race still far surpassed the immortal race. Any single Archeldritch tribe, along with the numerous subordinate eldritch tribes under itsmand, could nearly match the entire immortal race.


    The immortal race''s greatest advantage was Heavenly Pir Mountain!


    The entire mountain was iparably majestic, reaching a height of hundreds of millions of li. Even with the eldritch race''s strength, they couldn''tpletely blockade it.


    And with the three Imperial Majesties guarding Heavenly Pir Mountain, no matter how many High Eldritches or Eldritch Deities the eldritch race sent to attack them, they couldn''t win. This ce was like an impregnable fortress.


    In contrast, the eldritch race had branched out into numerous tribes in order to expand their influence. None of these individual eldritch tribes were particrly strong, and once a major battle broke out, they would require the protection of the eldritch race''s top experts.


    As a result, the immortal race, with no real weaknesses, appeared weaker overall but could easily concentrate their forces to gain an advantage in any local battlefield.


    Unless the eldritch race was willing to abandon the vast majority of their tribes, this vulnerability was unavoidable.


    But if the eldritch race were to abandon arge number of low and mid-tier tribes, the total poption of the eldritch race would fall by more than half. The probability of them producing powerful experts would also drop sharply.


    As time passed, the immortal race, with Heavenly Pir Mountain as their stronghold, would steadily increase their overall strength, eventually approaching or even surpassing the eldritch race.


    For the eldritch race, the optimal solution was to engage in a frenzied war of attrition, to exhaust the immortal race of its powerhouses!


    Trading two Earth Eldritches for one Earth Immortal, or two High Eldritches for one High Immortal, would still be worth it, because the total poption and number of powerhouses in the eldritch race far exceeded that of the immortal race.


    As for the immortal race? The most suitable battle arrays for Earth Immortals and High Immortals had yet to be fully developed. Initiating a series of intense battles at this time would be extremely unwise.


    This reasoning was understood not only by the immortal race but by the eldritch race as well.


    However, guided by the invisible hand of destiny, the pressure Hou Feng brought upon the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race was too great, forcing them to devise a n of action.


    "The eldritch race will specte about our war objectives." Imperial Majesty Da Yan continued: "Especially that old fogey Teng Snake, who will likely protect Hou Feng with all his might, just as he protected Zhu Jiu back then.


    Temporary victories or defeats mean little to the entire eldritch race, especially to the Earth Archeldritch tribe.


    If weunch a frontal assault to kill Hou Feng? The probability of failure would exceed eighty percent!" Imperial Majesty Da Yan stated, "The Earth Archeldritch tribe has at least thirty to forty High Eldritches in their ranks."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded thoughtfully.


    Indeed! Compared to the eldritch race, the immortal race had far fewer peak powerhouses. The so-called vulnerability of the eldritch race''s Archeldritch tribes was only rtive.


    At Heavenly Pir Mountain, the immortal race had the advantage of terrain, but once they invaded the Earth Archeldritch tribe? The situation wouldpletely reverse.


    "Then what''s the n this time?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked quizzically.


    "Second Brother, it''s just a feint," Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled. "Throughout the Eldritch-Immortal War, we''ve nted pawns on the eldritch race''s side, and the eldritch race has nted pawns within our immortal race. This has gotten even easier now. Among the Earth Immortals gathered just now, there were certainly some eldritch race pawns."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded in agreement.


    The eldritch race was a unified race, currently holding the upper hand overall. However, there were still those who felt the eldritch race��s situation was unfavorable overall, choosing to collude secretly with the immortal race. Add to that the numerous eldritch experts whose souls had been controlled by the immortal race over the years, and the number of spies was substantial.


    The immortal race originated from myriad races, with a more diverseposition, and was currently at a disadvantage. Even if they could eventually win, how many years would it take? Ten thousand years? A hundred thousand years?


    Therefore, the probability of spies appearing within the immortal race would only be higher than in the eldritch race.


    Among the eight hundred Earth Immortals summoned earlier, it would be perfectly normal for two or three to be secretly working with the eldritch race, passing on information.


    "Once the news reaches the eldritch race, they will have three choices," Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled. "First, they might think it��s a feint, and ignore it.


    Second, they might choose to believe this information, and then gather arge number of powerful eldritch experts at the Wood Archeldritch tribe, setting up an ambush for us to walk into.


    Third, they might take advantage of our immortal race''sck of manpower to attack our Heavenly Pir Mountain, destroying the lower levels of the world and slowing down our immortal race''s production of powerhouses. After all, the higher we go in the Thirty-Three Heavens, the more powerful our three Creation Divine Artifacts."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded, admiring Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s thorough nning. He had considered almost every possibility.


    "Third Brother, then what should we do?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked.


    "Nothing at all," Imperial Majesty Da Yan shook his head. "If I were part of the eldritch race''s highest echelons, I would most likely choose to attack Heavenly Pir Mountain, engaging in a war of attrition.


    So, tomorrow, Second Brother, you will lead these High Immortals and Earth Immortals, carrying them in the Creation Divine Artifact. This will iste them from the external world so these immortals don''t know exactly where they are and can''t send messages.


    Meanwhile, you will not travel more than ten million li from Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    If the eldritch race attacks and breaks into the Second Heaven, you will immediately lead the army back to reinforce the stronghold, trapping them inside," Imperial Majesty Da Yan exined.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s eyes lit up as he pondered for a moment.


    "What if the eldritch race doesn''t take the bait?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked again.


    "Then so be it. You can simply lead the army back, and we won''t have suffered any losses," Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled.


    "Besides, if we can use this feint once, we can use it multiple times.


    We''ll keep at it until the eldritch race takes the bait."


    ...


    "The immortal race ns tounch an ambush on the Wood Archeldritch tribe tomorrow? No need to pay attention."


    "Let theme if they dare."


    "There''s also no need to attack Heavenly Pir Mountain. The fact that such secret information was leaked out so easily means this is most likely a ploy by the immortal race."


    The highest echelons of the eldritch race indeed received the news. However, after discussions among the Four Archeldritch tribes, the eldritch race''s highest echelons made their decision �C to ignore it!


    You fight your battle. We''ll fight ours.


    For the eldritch race, as long as they firmly held onto their base of territories and tribes, keeping the immortal race guessing when it came to the location of their main forces, that would be enough. They would seek opportunities for constant shes, battles, and attrition.


    If the immortal race truly attacked the Wood Archeldritch tribe with full force?


    ��Then let them attack! Unless the immortal racemits all their forces, they won''t be able to breach the Wood Archeldritch tribe. Even if they seed, we can kill arge number of immortal race powerhouses, which would be worth it." The eldritch race''s highest echelons were prepared to pay the price.


    If one Archeldritch tribe were to fall, but they could kill thirty or forty High Immortals of the immortal race in exchange, it would still be worthwhile.

 Chapter 621: Century-long Plan, The Edge Of Life And Death (2)

    Chapter 621: Century-long n, The Edge Of Life And Death (2)


    And so, year after year, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race repeatedly released information, sometimes iming they would attack an Archeldritch tribe, other times announcing they would annihte a high-tier tribe.


    On the eldritch race''s side, they remained unchanging in the face of these constant provocations, making no alterations to their ns, seemingly allowing the immortal race to attack at will.


    <em>Five years passed.</em>


    The eldritch race received their seventh message from their spies. The immortal race nned to attack the Huo Ning Tribe, one of the high-tier eldritch tribes second only to the four Archeldritch tribes, guarded by several High Eldritches.


    This time, the immortal race was serious.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu led three Heavenly Masters, thirty-two High Immortals, and nearly seven hundred Earth Immortals in a lightning-fast assault, swiftly breaching the Huo Ning Tribe.


    The battle at Huo Ning Tribe was incredibly brutal.


    The eldritch race, having received the distress call from the Huo Ning Tribe immediately, quickly mobilized nearly a hundred High Eldritches along the Heavenly Pir Mountain line. Led by three Eldritch Deities, they invaded the First Heaven of the Immortal Realm.


    Fierce battles erupted simultaneously at two locations.In the end, the Huo Ning Tribe fell, with three High Eldritches and dozens of Earth Eldritches perishing. Only a few Earth Eldritches and tribespeople managed to escape.


    On the immortal race��s side, the mana bodies of several High Immortals perished, with just one High Immortal and over ten Earth Immortals truly dying.


    Within Heavenly Pir Mountain, the First Heaven of the Immortal Realm was utterly destroyed by the eldritch army, but the immortal race was prepared, having gathered arge number of elite immortal cultivators and retreating to the Fourth Heaven, thus suffering rtively minor losses.


    Overall, the eldritch race suffered greater losses in this battle.


    Afterward, the immortal race repeated their tactics, conducting several more probes, each time spreading the news openly.


    Over time, the vignt eldritch race gradually rxed their guard.


    On the twelfth probe, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu led numerous Heavenly Masters and High Immortals in a surprise attack on the Wood Archeldritch tribe.


    For the first time in history, the immortal race had struck an Archeldritch tribe, a truly momentous event. It was a tant provocation against the entire eldritch race.


    In this battle, both sides fought with earth-shattering intensity!


    As a result, the eldritch side lost six High Eldritches, with countless mana bodies of High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches perishing.


    The well-prepared immortal side lost only two High Immortals. Many mana bodies of High Immortals also fell.


    Though not exactly defeated, this battle truly sent the entire eldritch race into high alert, making them realize that continuing with their original strategy would only lead to greater losses.


    Thus, they madeprehensive adjustments to their war strategy against the immortal race.


    "All Archeldritch tribes are to mobilize their Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches.��


    ��Station over two hundred High Eldritches to garrison along the Heavenly Pir Mountain line. If the immortal race''s main force dares to leave Heavenly Pir Mountain to attack Archeldritch tribes or other high-tier eldritch tribes, immediately attack Heavenly Pir Mountain upon receiving the news." Orders were sent down from the highest echelons of Eldritch Deities and veteran elders.


    "The vanguard will be personally led by Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu."


    "We don''t aim to annihte the immortal race, just destroying a dozen or so Heavens will be worth it." The eldritch race''s tactics were simple and brutal, yet extremely straightforward.


    Two words�� exchanging homes!


    If they actively searched for the immortal race''s main force? The sheer size of thend made it too difficult, especially with their Creation Divine Artifacts concealing their auras and blockingmunication.


    But Heavenly Pir Mountain couldn''t run away.


    "Even if an Archeldritch tribe is breached, the immortal race can''t upy the spirit veins of thend; ultimately, they will return to us."


    "However, the foundation for the immortal race''s growth and expansion is the Thirty-Three Heavens. If we destroy the lower eighteen Heavens, it will take them a long time to rebuild their home, and the rate at which they produce immortals will sharply decrease."


    "This way, we won''t lose out." The highest echelons of the four Archeldritch tribes were prepared to bear any cost.


    A battle of foundations! It was a test of who could endure longer.


    The brutal war between the two great powers escted and hatred umted, approaching the brink of another great decisive battle.


    ��


    As spring arrived, the earth stirred from its slumber, and all of nature rejuvenated. Within the Earth Archeldritch Tribe''s territory, a tapestry of spring''s vitality unfurled.


    The tribe was vast, divided into many regions. Just tens of thousands of li from the Archeldritch Hall, there stood an enormous hallplex named Cloudhill Hall. This was Wu Yuan''s residence.


    The Snake Ancestor and Eldritch Deities had designated Wu Yuan as the Eighth Veteran Elder, and the other seven peak-stage High Eldritch veteran elders also knew this.


    But to prevent information leaks, this news was kept secret from the nearly hundred ordinary High Eldritches and over a thousand Earth Eldritches in the tribe.


    Wu Yuan''s residence was located close to the Archeldritch Hall, so in case of an attack, the group of High Eldritches around the Archeldritch Hall could provide support immediately.


    Eldritch Deity Hou Tu secretly guarded him, living in an inconspicuous temple a thousand li away.


    A thousand li? For beings at the Eldritch Deity level, he was practically beside him.


    On top of that, the Snake Ancestor had left its originalke, relocating to a cave underground not far from Cloudhill Hall, all to guard against an attack on Wu Yuan.


    It could be said that the highest echelons of the Earth Archeldritch tribe had done everything possible to protect Wu Yuan.


    Within the hallplex was a massiveke, beside which was a stretch of grasnd.


    "Hou Quan, have you understood this move yet?" Wu Yuany leisurely on the grass, watching a burly young man practicing saber techniques not far away.


    The saber techniques flowed continuously, de rays slicing through the air, yet not causing too much disturbance, somewhat embodying the heaviness of the earth.


    "I can understand your guidance, but when I actually perform it, it''s just slightly off, just by a little bit." The burly young man slowly sheathed his saber.


    He came to Wu Yuan''s side and grabbed a wine jug, drinking from it.


    "You��ve reached the limit of your bloodline power��s potential. You can only depend on yourself now. Ponder more, think more, practice more," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "Practice the saber strike ten million times, and the technique will naturally manifest."


    This burly young man was none other than Hou Quan from the Hou Cheng Tribe, an Archeldritch bloodline bearer Wu Yuan encountered when he first arrived in this world.


    Decades ago, when Wu Yuan first heard the news of the Hou Cheng Tribe''s destruction, he thought Hou Quan, Hou Ming, Eldritch General Hou She, Earth Eldritch Hou Cheng, and the others had all perished.


    That was, until forty years ago.


    At the Archeldritch tribe, Wu Yuan bumped into Hou Quan, who had be an Eldritch General. He learned that when the tribe was destroyed, Hou Quan had just left the tribe on a new mission, thus avoiding the cmity.


    Later, he was brought to the Archeldritch tribe by the High Eldritches who rushed to their rescue.


    Feeling somewhat responsible, Wu Yuan tutored Hou Quan multiple times, and over time, they developed a strong friendship.


    "Mm. I need to work harder," Hou Quan nodded. "Even if I can''t catch up to you, Hou Feng, I must strive to be an Earth Eldritch.


    Only by bing an Earth Eldritch will I qualify to join the fight at Heavenly Pir Mountain." A glimmer of hatred shed in Hou Quan''s eyes.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    He had once confided in Hou Quan, telling him that it was because of himself that the Hou Cheng Tribe met with catastrophe.


    But Hou Quan didn''t me Wu Yuan, and even felt somewhat grateful for Wu Yuan''s guidance. His hatred was solely directed at the immortal race.


    He had even once said, "What''s the point of hating you? You didn''t do anything wrong. The immortal race is at fault. If they wanted to destroy our eldritch race, even without you, disaster would have befallen the Hou Cheng Tribe sooner orter."


    This response left Wu Yuan quite emotional.


    "Hou Feng, I heard that more Earth Eldritches from our tribe have fallen at Heavenly Pir Mountain," Hou Quan suddenly said.


    "Yes, I heard about that," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Under normal circumstances, whether High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches, or High Immortals and Earth Immortals, they wouldn��t perish easily. Most of them sent their ether bodies or mana bodies to battle, while their true selves remained safely behind.


    However, over the past eighty years, the eldritch race and immortal race had fought too fiercely.


    Moreover, the cultivation system in this world was imperfect, resulting in rtively weak ether bodies and mana bodies, so many chose to fight with their true bodies.


    In life-and-death battles, many powerhouses naturally fell.


    Earth Eldritches already held rather high statuses. After all, across the four Archeldritch tribes and numerous high-tier eldritch tribes of the entire eldritch race, the number of Earth Eldritches had never exceeded ten thousand, with the Earth Archeldritch tribe having only about a thousand of them in their ranks.


    <em>It''s been eighty years since I arrived in this world. I''m already 170 years old, and it''s been fifty years since I advanced to the Elysian Field phase. Although I have no divine crystal elixir, I managed to cultivate straight to the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase in one shot ten years ago thanks to the special environment provided by the Archeldritch tribe.</em> Wu Yuany leisurely on the grass, feeling the gentle breeze. It was quite pleasant.


    Though inferior to the divine crystal elixir, the environment in the Archeldritch tribe was still highly suitable for mana cultivation. The resources provided by the Snake Ancestor seemed limitless.


    It had allowed Wu Yuan to reach the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase in just a few decades.

 Chapter 622: Century-long Plan, The Edge Of Life And Death (3)

    Chapter 622: Century-long n, The Edge Of Life And Death (3)


    <em>It''s just a pity. I��m still stuck at the ninth-level Domain stage of the Law of Life.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Without the aid of the Archeldritch Hall and Archeldritch Origin, Wu Yuan''s progress inprehending the Law of Life had slowed down considerably.


    However, fifty years ago, he had methodically broken through to the ninth-level Domain stage, and then spent several decades to reach the peak of the ninth-level Domain stage.


    For the past thirty years, Wu Yuan had been constantly umting insights and attempting toprehend Life True Intent. He could already vaguely see the nascent form of Life True Intent, and was just a hair''s breadth away from sess.


    But this final step was like an insurmountable chasm.


    No matter what he tried, he couldn''t cross it, firmly trapping Wu Yuan at this bottleneck.


    Wu Yuan could only helplessly ept this situation.


    <em>This is Daoprehension. Sometimes, breakthroughs happen without even realizing it. And sometimes, it can take thousands or even tens of thousands of years to break through. However, I reckon it''ll take another fifty years to achieve it at most.</em> Wu Yuan wasn''t in a hurry.


    The True Intent of Life, once grasped, could rival a fullyprehended Lesser Law in power. Naturally, breaking through was arduous.Nine out of ten High Immortals couldn''t take this step even after cultivating for a million years.


    Wu Yuan was already extremely satisfied.


    Even if it took another fifty years to break through, he would only be 220 years old when he would be able to conquer level one hundred of the two-star tower. That wasn''t slow at all.


    <em>Moreover, over these decades, my qi refiner self seems to have made considerable progress. I don''t know what I experienced, but I have evenprehended the True Intent of Qiankun, significantly strengthening my means of self-preservation.</em> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self mused inwardly.


    The Qiankun Dao couldn''t ovep with the Law of Life to produce devastating power. Yet, each had its own uses.


    <em>I''ll take it slow. The soul of my body refiner self has also evolved to the Yuan Soul level,parable to many Earth Eldritches and Earth Immortals.</em>


    His body refiner self wasn��t as extraordinary as his qi refiner self in soul talent. But after Wu Yuan transitioned to the Elysian Field phase, it had unknowingly surpassed the Soul Will level.


    Now, with a single thought, Wu Yuan''s Soul Will could perceive an area of nearly two million li in radius.


    Among Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches, this was considered impressive. The speed of his soul��s progress could only be described as terrifying.


    <em>My mana cultivation will have to remain at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase for now. I''ll focus on contemting the Dao while striving to cultivate this grand ether art ��Rending The Heavens�� toter steps. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    With a second-degree immortal root, he could cultivate another grand ether art after entering the Elysian Field phase.


    Wu Yuan ultimately chose ''Rending The Heavens'', a grand ether art centered around the two Intermediate Laws of Qiankun and True Domain. This was a terrifying ether art thatbined movement skill and attack into one.


    Of course, as a grand ether art, one must fullyprehend the Law of Space to cultivate ''Rending The Heavens'' to its ultimate form.


    The Dao patterns of any grand ether art were centered around a Greater Law, just like the ''Great Eldritch Divine Body'', which applied the Law of Life as its core. That was why Wu Yuan found it the most suitable one to cultivate.


    However, in Wu Yuan''s inheritance memories, there were no movement skill focused grand ether arts with the Law of Life as their core, only advanced ether arts.


    <em>Different Greater Laws have their own specialties. There are no all-rounders. </em>Wu Yuan mused. <em>Though I may not be able to cultivate ��Rending The Heavens'' toplete mastery, just a small degree of mastery will benefit me immensely.</em>


    Fully mastering a grand ether art? That was something for Sovereigns to consider.


    For the current Wu Yuan, being able to cultivate ''Rending The Heavens'' to the third or fourth step would already grant him terrifying power.


    <em>However, the Eldritch-Immortal war across Huanggu seems to be escting.</em> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, feeling the gentle breeze caress his face.


    Over the decades in the Archeldritch tribe, he had befriended various Eldritch Generals, High Eldritch veteran elders, and Eldritch Deities. Through the care they had shown Wu Yuan and interactions with him, he was further integrated into the Archeldritch tribe.


    How long had Wu Yuan lived before this? So-called deep emotions were mostly born from shared experiences and beautiful memories, rather than mere words.


    Initially, he was a cold observer. Then, he developed killing intent toward Imperial Majesty Lei Fu because of the Hou Cheng Tribe��s extermination. And now, Wu Yuan basically viewed himself as a member of the Earth Archeldritch tribe,menting at the fall of each Earth Eldritch and High Eldritch, rejoicing at the breakthroughs of other Eldritch Generals, and worrying about the intensifying battles. This was human nature.


    <em>However, ording to the Snake Ancestor, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race should be plotting other schemes in this war, and are not just targeting me. </em>Wu Yuan pondered.


    asionally, he wouldmunicate with the Snake Ancestor. At first, the Snake Ancestor and the two Eldritch Deities believed the immortal race''s target was Wu Yuan, but as time passed and the war intensified, this spection gradually faded.


    It was too brutal! The immortal race repeatedly ambushed high-tier eldritch tribes and even Archeldritch tribes, even attacking the Earth Archeldritch tribe once, but never specifically targeted Wu Yuan.


    Naturally, this lowered the suspicions of the Snake Ancestor and others, while also leading them to specte whether the Immortal Court had other ns.


    Of course, though their suspicions decreased, the level of protection they provided Wu Yuan wasn��t reduced by much.


    However, due to the war, many High Eldritches had left for the Heavenly Pir Mountain battlefield.


    <em>As of now, the number of High Eldritches within the tribe has likely dwindled to merely twenty or thirty. </em>Wu Yuan mused silently. <em>Yet on the Heavenly Pir Mountain battlefield, over two hundred High Eldritches have gathered, poised for the final confrontation with the immortal race at any moment.</em>


    This was a force of unimaginable terror. Moreover, with Zhu Jiu leading the Eldritch Deities, they could have torn the entire immortal race asunder in an instant were it not for the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.


    <em>With the Snake Ancestor, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and dozens of High Eldritches, our tribe remains an impregnable fortress. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>Unless the Immortal Court is willing to abandon itsir andmit everything to an all-out assault, they pose no real threat to me.</em>


    Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly concerned about his own safety.


    <em>In another two hundred-plus years, I''ll be able to advance to the Earth Eldritch phase. Then, I��ll make my way to Heavenly Pir Mountain.</em> Wu Yuan contemted.


    He needed to spend at least three hundred years at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase. For Wu Yuan, that was still a long way off.


    With his mastery over the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, his current strength was formidable. Yet it still paled inparison to the Eldritch Deities,cking the power to decisively influence the oue of the war between the two races.


    "Hou Feng." A melodious voice rang out, followed by the appearance of a figure d in fiery red robes.


    Her beauty was extraordinary, her bearing even more so. As she walked through the sky, she resembled a raging inferno. All eyes were drawn to her.


    "Eldritch General Hou Tong, you''vee for Hou Feng again," Hou Quan grinned. "Too bad Brother Hou Feng doesn''t seem too keen on meeting you."


    "You little brat, mind your own business," the woman in fiery red robes red at him.


    Hou Quan shrank back, throwing up his hands helplessly, not daring to say more.


    Though both were Eldritch Generals, the woman in fiery red robes was far more powerful than him, with a formidable background. Naturally, he couldn''t afford to offend her.


    The woman in fiery red robesnded on the ground, taking a seat beside Wu Yuan.


    "Why aren''t you cultivating in the eldritch hall? What are you doing here?" Wu Yuan asked coolly.


    "You''re not there either," the woman in fiery red robes snorted.


    "Even a High Eldritch is incapable of mentoring me, yet you presume to instruct me? Even when I''m lying down, I''m cultivating," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile, speaking the in truth.


    The woman in fiery red robes didn''t believe him, but she couldn''t refute his words; because Wu Yuan was indeed strong.


    Even though he had concealed his true power at the Snake Ancestor''s behest, the small fraction he revealed was enough to make him the undisputed top Eldritch General of the Earth Archeldritch tribe. His official status was that of a veteran elder-in-training. Naturally, the various rules and restrictions simply didn''t apply to him.


    While some of the more talented Eldritch Generals in the tribe had to take part in various trials and tutoring sessions, Wu Yuan was exempt.


    "Hmph, if you can cultivate while lying down, I can cultivate just as well sitting here," the woman in fiery red robes huffed. "Hou Feng, don''t even think about chasing me away today."


    Wu Yuan smiled but couldn''t be bothered to respond.


    The woman in fiery red robes was named Hou Tong. She too was an Archeldritch bloodline bearer, with extraordinary talent, and the granddaughter of Eldritch Deity Hou Lu.


    Having cultivated for just a few hundred years, she had already reached the peak of the Eldritch General phase, just one step away from breaking through to the Earth Eldritch phase.


    Once, she had been universally acknowledged as the top genius of the Earth Archeldritch tribe.


    Of course, that ended on the day of Wu Yuan''s arrival.


    At first, when Eldritch Deity Hou Lu praised Wu Yuan, she wasn''t convinced. But after being defeated by Wu Yuan when he had just stepped into the Elysian Field phase, Eldritch General Hou Tong was thoroughly convinced of his strength.


    Later, as their interactions grew more frequent, her admiration for Wu Yuan gradually transformed into infatuation. It was only natural to admire the strong!


    In Eldritch General Hou Tong''s own words: "Hou Feng, in the entire eldritch race, among those our age, only you are worthy of me. Simrly, only I am worthy of you. In the future, we could be Dao Companions like Veteran Elder Hou Qiong and histe wife."


    Unfortunately, her confessions were still mercilessly rejected by Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 623: Century-long Plan, The Edge Of Life And Death (4)

    <h4>Chapter 623: Century-long n, The Edge Of Life And Death (4)</h4>


    "Hou Feng, you give Hou Quan guidance on cultivation every day, yet you''ve hardly instructed me at all," Eldritch General Hou Tong grumbled, lying down on the grass next to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan shook his head with a wry smile, ncing at Eldritch General Hou Tong, but made no move to push her away.


    He had tried it before; pushing her away was futile.


    "You always have ulterior motives for asking me to guide you. Hou Tong, I won''t consider marriage until I be a High Eldritch," Wu Yuan said coolly.


    "That''s fine, I can wait. By the time you be a High Eldritch, I reckon I''ll be an Earth Eldritch. Even then, I''ll still be a match for you," Eldritch General Hou Tong hummed contentedly.


    She had the look of someone who had Wu Yuan all figured out.


    "Brother Hou Feng, though Eldritch General Hou Tong may be a bit overbearing, she''s truly exceptional. You''d be hard-pressed to find someone her equal in the entire eldritch race," Hou Quan chimed in from the side, stirring the pot.


    He was clearly enjoying the show.


    "Focus on practicing your saber techniques and mind your own business," Wu Yuan said with his eyes closed.


    Hou Quan grinned and said no more. Tactfully, he leaped away, leaving Wu Yuan and Hou Tong alone.


    <i>Hou Tong?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, catching a whiff of Eldritch General Hou Tong��s scent.


    As someone whose Dao Heart rivaled that of a High Eldritch, Wu Yuan could easily perceive that Hou Tong''s initial curiosity and defiance towards him had gradually transformed into a genuine crush.


    Eldritch General Hou Tong was indeed exceptional, cold and domineering towards others, yet passionate as fire towards Wu Yuan.


    If Wu Yuan were willing, they likely would have already consummated their rtionship.


    Wu Yuan was no saint; to say he wasn''t moved at all would be a lie.


    <i>However, I''ll only be staying in this Immutable Land for a thousand years at most. </i>Wu Yuan thought calmly. <i>A thousand years? For Hou Tong, who is destined to be an Earth Eldritch, it''s far too fleeting. She may even have a chance to be a High Eldritch in the future.</i>


    Wu Yuan had met Veteran Elder Hou Qiong. While some men and women in the eldritch race had no concept of chastity and indulged in wanton behavior, there were others who remained utterly faithful to their partners.


    He had a feeling that Hou Tong was simr to Veteran Elder Hou Qiong in this regard.


    <i>After I leave, time will heal the scars in her heart.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    "I''m going back to cultivate," Wu Yuan said after some time, rising and flying into a distant hall. The hall''s barriers immediately rose, preventing anyone else from entering.


    "Damn you, Hou Feng." Eldritch General Hou Tong red at his back, then broke into a smile. "Well, it''s only right. A strong man is always challenging to conquer.


    All those other Eldritch Generals are sopliant, yet they don''t hold a candle to Hou Feng."


    ...


    <i>Within the highest temple of the Thirty-Three Heavens in Heavenly Pir Mountain.</i>


    "Third Brother, are you certain?" Imperial Majesty Nan You looked at Imperial Majesty Da Yan, his eyes filled with a hint of disbelief. "Isn''t it a bit too soon?"


    "Big Brother, the longer we dy, the more the eldritch race will lower their guard, but Hou Feng''s strength will also continue to grow," Imperial Majesty Da Yan looked at Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    He continued, "After a hundred years, it''s time to bring in the. We''ve done our utmost to lower the eldritch race''s vignce. We must make this final gambit.


    This attempt must seed. If we fail, the eldritch race will be on full alert, and we''ll likely never get a second chance," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said in a low voice. "By then, what awaits us will most likely be extinction."


    Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu felt a heavy weight in their hearts.


    The scenario Imperial Majesty Da Yan painted was too cruel.


    "Third Brother, can you hold out alone?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked, concerned. "Zhu Jiu is leading over two hundred High Eldritches."


    "Over these tens of thousands of years, I''veid down numerous killing arrays in the lower seventeen Heavens. Even if Zhu Jiu invades us, he won''t be able to reach the Eighteenth Heaven quickly," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said with a slight smile, though his face was somewhat pale. "Even if he does make it up here, I can guard the Eighteenth Heaven with the Creation Divine Artifacts. It will be enough to hold him off."


    Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu exchanged nces.


    In the past, it had always been Imperial Majesty Lei Fu alone who led the army into battle. Why? Because it took at least two Imperial Majesties to defend the Thirty-Three Heavens.


    "Outside Heavenly Pir Mountain, the power boost from the Creation Divine Artifacts is minimal," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said. "If Second Brother heads out alone, our chances of killing Hou Feng would be significantly lower.


    Big Brother, if you go together with him, our odds of sess will increase by at least ten percent.


    The eldritch race is convinced that we won''t abandon the foundation we��ve built in the Immortal Realm andmit everything to an attack. After all, every heaven destroyed is extremely difficult to restore.


    At the same time, that old monster believes Hou Feng is perfectly safe, protected within the Archeldritch tribe, and will lower his guard. But the more they believe this, the more we must do the opposite.


    As long as we can kill Hou Feng, forget the Seventeen Heaven, even if the lower thirty heavens are destroyed, it would be worth it," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said calmly.


    The expressions of Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu turned solemn.


    Both understood the cost of this battle.


    If they seeded, it would be bearable. But if they failed? At least one-third of the immortal race''s foundation would be destroyed, perhaps even more, and the situation would turn far more dire.


    "The key to this battle lies with Big Brother and the High Immortal Wu Zong," said Imperial Majesty Da Yan. "Let us summon High Immortal Wu Zong. When ites to stealth and assassination, her abilities are unrivaled in our immortal race."


    Time flowed on.


    The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race formted multiple ns, spending a century to lower the eldritch race''s guard, imperceptibly weakening the protection around Hou Feng, all for this final strike.


    Paying an enormous price, all to eradicate Hou Feng.


    Not long after, the three Imperial Majesties once again gathered arge number of Earth Immortals and High Immortals, announcing their intent to attack the Fire Archeldritch tribe.


    This news swiftly spread to the eldritch race tribes, but the highest echelons of the eldritch race didn''t take it too seriously.


    Over the past several decades, simr news had been leaked too many times, and the eldritch race''s highest levels had grown ustomed to it, dismissing it as just another of the Immortal Court''s diversionary war actions.


    But in secret, the three Imperial Majesties separately summoned a group of Heavenly Masters and High Immortals who had guarded Heavenly Pir Mountain for a long time.


    They were the most loyal subordinates of the three Imperial Majesties, each harboring a bone-deep hatred for the eldritch race, with an extremely low possibility of betrayal.


    Unbeknownst to others, they entered the Creation Divine Artifacts.


    Everything was in ce!


    Two dayster, while many of the immortal race''s Earth Immortals and High Immortals were unaware of the true situation and believed it to be just another routine operation, the immortal race''s most powerful assassination squad in history departed from Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    ...


    <i>Just one dayter.</i>


    In the sky tens of millions of li from the Archeldritch tribe, over ten figures gathered, emanating powerful auras.


    "Does everyone understand the n?


    In this battle, Tu Liu... you six will lead the battle arrays, following Imperial Majesty Lei Fu to attack the eastern side of the Earth Archeldritch tribe. Create a hugemotion, but don''t be reckless. Try your best to lure the High Eldritches of the Earth Archeldritch tribe to engage you in battle, and upy them. This will be our feint." Imperial Majesty Nan You stood in the sky, his aura powerful.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu stood beside him.


    "Understood," three Heavenly Masters and three High Immortals respectfully replied.


    They were all highly trusted by the three Imperial Majesties, but even at this moment, they still didn''t know the true purpose of this battle. They only knew that this mission was extremely important, because two of the three Imperial Majesties were taking part.


    "Bei Hai, you four will lead the battle arrays, follow me and heed mymands," Imperial Majesty Nan You''s gaze fell upon the other four.


    "Understood," two Heavenly Masters and two High Immortals respectfully replied.


    Then, the two Imperial Majesties once again sealed these Heavenly Masters and High Immortals in their Creation Divine Artifacts, ensuring no aura would leak out.


    Only then did a white-robed woman suddenly appear.


    "Wu Zong pays respects to the Imperial Majesties," the white-robed woman said solemnly.


    She was High Immortal Wu Zong. Firstprehending the Wind Dao, sheter became the only High Immortal in the entire immortal race toprehend the Space Dao to an extremely profound level.


    Her fortey in assassination and stealth. For this mission, she was the immortal race''s strongest trump card.


    "I believe you''ve already vaguely detected the target. This is the power of the Mirror of Creation. Your mission is to infiltrate and kill Hou Feng after I make my move," Imperial Majesty Nan You said in a low voice.


    "Understood," High Immortal Wu Zong nodded solemnly.


    Only the two Imperial Majesties and High Immortal Wu Zong knew who the actual target was. It could be said that the immortal race had alreadymitted its full strength to this battle.


    <i>Hum~</i> High Immortal Wu Zong''s form shimmered slightly, merging into the void, leaving no trace.


    "Big Brother," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu looked towards Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    "Let us give it our all," Imperial Majesty Nan You said calmly, his eyes revealing a hint of coldness. "The rest, we leave to fate."


    "Let''s go."


    The two Imperial Majesties moved, flying off in different directions.

 Chapter 624: Century-long Plan, The Edge Of Life And Death (5)

    <h4>Chapter 624: Century-long n, The Edge Of Life And Death (5)</h4>


    <i>Within the Earth Archeldritch tribe''s Cloudhill Hall, in an enormous battle space.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Streams of de rays shed, shing with surging earthy-yellow torrents. Each torrent''s power was iparably terrifying, sweeping forth with great might.


    Two figures were engaged in frenziedbat.


    One figure wielded a long spear, each move he made terrifyingly powerful. A spear thrust augmented by the mighty torrents seemed to pierce the firmament, while a smash appeared to shatter the void, causing the very space to quake.


    However, the towering, saber-wielding figure was as nimble as a butterfly, its form incredibly elusive. Sometimes, it dodged, other times, it manifested dozens of phantom bodies tounch a wave of attacks.


    After a long while, the battle space finally regained its calm.


    "Haha, exhrating, truly exhrating!" The towering figure holding the long spearughed heartily, swiftly returning to his normal height. "Hou Feng, your strength grows ever greater. Even suppressing my power to match yours, I can barely contain you now."


    "Eldritch Deity is still formidable, I cannot block your attacks," Wu Yuan smiled.


    The one who had been sparring with Wu Yuan was none other than Eldritch Deity Hou Tu.


    Over these years, besides contemting the Dao, Wu Yuan would engage inbat practice with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, both maintaining the same power level.


    With each battle, he constantly improved! From initiallysting only ten moves, he could now endure over a thousand moves.


    Besides his progress in the Law of Life, the most crucial factor was Wu Yuan''s tremendous advancement in the Law of Space.


    With his insights into the Qiankun Dao and True Domain Dao, Wu Yuan studied and practiced ��Rending The Heavens��, taking his movement skills to new heights.


    As for Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, he also enjoyed crossing des with Wu Yuan. There were too few tribesmen who could exchange hundreds of moves with him.


    At the same time, he was shocked by the speed of Wu Yuan''s progress. He had a feeling that in a few hundred years, Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension level might rival his own.


    ��Hmm?�� Just as the two were exchanging words, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu abruptly raised his head.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>A terrifying wave of spiritual qi suddenly rippled out in the distance. As a veteran elder, Wu Yuan naturally sensed it clearly as well.


    "What''s happening?" Wu Yuan was stunned.


    "It''s the immortal race''s Imperial Majesty Lei Fu! He''s leading an army to attack us. Two days ago, news came that he was going to attack the Fire Archeldritch tribe. I didn''t expect he''de to our Earth Archeldritch tribe instead," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu snorted coldly. "Don''t worry, the tribe''s other High Eldritches have all gone to stop them. With the aid of our arrays, it won''t be difficult to hold them off."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Over the years, simr incidents had urred frequently. More than ten years ago, the Earth Archeldritch tribe had suffered an attack as well. Wu Yuan had grown ustomed to it.


    However, things seemed somewhat different this time.


    Ten breaths passed.


    "The situation isn��t looking good, the outer arrays have been destroyed," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s expression changed slightly as he narrowed his eyes. "They��ve sent so many High Immortals this time? Those immortal race scum... Hou Feng, stay in the hall. I''ll go join the battle."


    "Eldritch Deity, please go ahead," Wu Yuan quickly said. "Do you need the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts?"


    "No need, you keep them."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Eldritch Deity Hou Tu transformed into a streak of light and swiftly departed. In terms ofbat power, he alone was worth dozens of ordinary High Eldritches.


    Under normal circumstances, with him guarding the Earth Archeldritch tribe, the tribe��s defenses were as solid as a fortress.


    <i>The battle is truly intense.</i> As a veteran elder, Wu Yuan could clearly sense the battle through the arrays shielding the tribe.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu had led arge force of the immortal race��s High Immortals and Earth Immortals, engaging in frenziedbat with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, dozens of High Eldritches, and numerous Earth Eldritches.


    Layer uponyer of arrays were activated, andyer uponyer of arrays were broken through. It was extremely brutal.


    Just as Wu Yuan was observing the battle, he raised his head sharply, sensing a terrifying aura about to descend.


    "Nan You, get lost!" An enraged roar suddenly rang out.


    Immediately after, heaven and earth exploded as a colossal ck serpent ten thousand zhangs long appeared out of thin air.


    Its wings spread wide, seemingly conjuring endless gales that swept across the vast heaven and earth. It was none other than the Snake Ancestor.


    "Snake Ancestor?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    "Haha, you old fool, you''re indeed protecting him. But s, you can''t stop me." Tens of thousands of li away, a figure d in golden robes gradually materialized in the air.


    He stood with an imperial aura, exuding a majesty that seemed to look down upon all creation, positioned just outside the array''s barrier.


    <i>Imperial Majesty Nan You is here to kill me?</i> Wu Yuan felt a sudden sense of foreboding.


    He knew that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race rarely acted together, especially at such a critical moment.


    After all, hundreds of High Eldritches were gathered outside Heavenly Pir Mountain. Had the immortal race gone mad? Did they no longer care about their foundation?


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a wave of his hand, Imperial Majesty Nan You summoned a massive divine cauldron that seemed to contain boundless power. It loomed ominously, as if suppressing heaven and earth.


    "Break!" Imperial Majesty Nan You pointed from afar, channeling his High Immortal mana, seemingly invoking the might of heaven and earth. In an instant, the world plunged into darkness.


    <i>Boom! </i>The divine cauldron descended like a meteor from beyond the sky, streaking across hundreds of thousands of li, crashing violently into the Cloudhill Hall.


    <i>Crack!</i> <i>Crack! </i>Layers uponyers of array barriers shattered in session, unable to withstand the assault.


    This scene caused Wu Yuan''s pupils to contract, his Yuan Soul perceiving everything with crystal rity.


    "Nan You, how naive. You think you alone can kill someone under my protection?" The Snake Ancestor''s eyes were utterly cold as its wings unfurled, enveloping the world in ayer of misty green light. This light shielded Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom! </i>Theyers of green light and the divine cauldron collided. Thoughyers of green light shattered, they regenerated continuously, somehow preventing the divine cauldron from descending further.


    "You''re right, with your arrays reinforcing you, I cannot defeat you alone," Imperial Majesty Nan You smiled.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Behind him, figures with powerful vital auras suddenly appeared��over twenty High Immortals and over three hundred Earth Immortals.


    "Form the battle arrays!"


    "Quickly!"


    "Assist the Imperial Majesty!" The moment these High Immortals and Earth Immortals appeared, they quickly assembled battle arrays.


    Imposing silhouettes of strange beasts materialized. Some resembled fiery rocs, some turtle-snake hybrids, and others four-legged mythical creatures.


    There were six battle arrays in total. In terms of vital aura, each of them rivaled Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    "Kill!"


    "Charge!" The six beast silhouettes unleashed their power simultaneously, each exuding overwhelming might as they attacked the Snake Ancestor in unison.


    Wu Yuan''s expression shifted subtly.


    He now understood the immortal race''s n. First, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu would expend most of his power to draw away arge number of High Eldritches. Then, Imperial Majesty Nan You would descend to kill him.


    But this was madness! The force they had dispatched here likely represented over sixty percent of the immortal race��s total strength, with two of the three Imperial Majesties present.


    Did they not fear the eldritch race''s army at Heavenly Pir Mountain trampling the Thirty-Three Heavens?


    "Nan You, even if you breach my Earth Archeldritch tribe��s defenses today, it will be a Pyrrhic victory," the Snake Ancestor''s voice echoed across heaven and earth.


    "We��ll see about that." Imperial Majesty Nan You''s aura surged.


    The divine cauldron descended once more.


    "Kill!" The Snake Ancestor''s body suddenly expanded to a colossal hundred thousand zhangs, its massive wings slicing through the sky like two giant des.


    Layers of green light swirled around it like a shield that blotted out the heavens, meeting the divine cauldron and six great beasts head-on.


    The two forces collided!


    Struck by this terrifyingbined assault, the Snake Ancestor was forced back. But with inconceivable strength, its massive form merely shuddered slightly before withstanding the blow.


    "You may endure it once, but how many times can you withstand our attacks?" Imperial Majesty Nan You chuckled coldly, his gaze icy.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!" Suddenly, several towering figures appeared in the air beside the Snake Ancestor. All were High Eldritches, the Snake Ancestor''s final measure to protect Wu Yuan.


    Four High Eldritches roared in fury, brandishing their weapons as they charged fiercely at the beast battle arrays.


    <i>Boom! Crash! </i>Instantly, a terrifying battle erupted in the air above Cloudhill Hall. The devastating shockwaves swept across millions of li, shatteringyer uponyer of barriers along the way.


    <i>This Nan You is truly insane. He''s gambling everything.</i> The Snake Ancestor''s heart raced anxiously. <i>We can''t hold out if this continues.</i>


    <i>Too many High Eldritch were deployed earlier to reinforce the Heavenly Pir Mountain front.</i>


    The Snake Ancestor hadn''t anticipated that the immortal race would view Wu Yuan as such a great threat, willing to risk everything to attack him.


    <i>Their target is Hou Feng.</i> The Snake Ancestor now understood this, though it still couldn''tprehend their actions.


    Was it worth it for the immortal race? After all, the eldritch race''s army at Heavenly Pir Mountain had received the Snake Ancestor''s message and was nowunching a full-scale assault on the Immortal Realm. The immortal race''s remaining forces couldn''t possibly defend against them.


    A trade of homes! In the Snake Ancestor''s view, regardless of the oue, this battle would ultimately lead to a devastating loss for the immortal race. Even if they killed Hou Feng, it would end in a draw at best.


    "Hou Feng, prepare to leave!" The Snake Ancestor decided to flee. It reasoned that as long as it could take Wu Yuan away, it wouldn''t be a total loss even if the tribe fell.


    "Leave? You think you can escape?" Imperial Majesty Nan You seemed to have anticipated this.


    The divine cauldron suddenly erupted with endless divine light, unleashing a terrifying force that bore down on the Snake Ancestor, drastically slowing its movements.


    ��Have you gone mad, Nan You? By using the essence of Creation, your Creation Divine Artifact will be unusable for a thousand years!" The Snake Ancestor red as it hissed deeply.


    Imperial Majesty Nan You paid no heed to its words, his eyes fixed on the Snake Ancestor. Suppressing and binding his opponent also put an immense strain on Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!" Those beast battle arrays had already subdued the other High Eldritches and were tearing through the arrays. Two of the beast battle arrays broke free, intent on ying Wu Yuan.


    "Hou Feng, flee." The Snake Ancestor''s voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Flee for your life, quickly."


    From the moment Imperial Majesty Nan You appeared to the battle taking a drastic turn for the worse, only a fleeting moment had passed.


    <i>Flee. </i>Wu Yuan made his decision.


    Even if he joined the fight, it would make little difference and only serve to further endanger himself. He was their target.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Just as Wu Yuan flew out of the hall, a terrifying sword light burst forth from the void without warning, as if cleaving through the vast expanse of heaven and earth.


    It was silent, unpredictable, and too fast! Even with Wu Yuan''s keen perception of Space, he couldn''t sense it in advance.


    The sword light pierced straight towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>Not good!</i> Wu Yuan''s expression changed drastically as a sense of overwhelming danger enveloped his heart. <i>How is this possible?! A cross-dimensional strike?</i>

 Chapter 625: Life and Death, True Intent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 625: Life and Death, True Intent (1)</h4>


    As the de ray struck, the world seemed to freeze.


    <i>A sword strike!!</i> The Snake Ancestor''s expression contorted in horror, and it immediately thought of a certain terrifying existence of the immortal race.<i> Is it High Immortal Wu Zong?</i>


    If the array was still intact, the Snake Ancestor was confident that they could block her. But now?


    "Not good."


    "To be able to evade our detection andnd a direct hit on Hou Feng?"


    "Is Hou Feng the immortal race''s true target?" The other High Eldritches fighting the beast arrays were both shocked and confused.


    Though they were tasked with guarding him, the Snake Ancestor had never told them their purpose for protecting him, let alone reveal Wu Yuan''s true talent.


    So in the minds of these High Eldritches, though Hou Feng had decent talent, he would only be a High Eldritch veteran elder at most. Was he really worth the immortal race going to such crazy lengths? Paying such a heavy price?


    <i>Die! Eighty years of intelligence gathering,bined with the Mirror of Creation to lock onto the target, all culminates in this moment. We''ve kept this secret for nearly a century, even hiding it from the Heavenly Masters, all for this final strike to kill Hou Feng. I</i>mperial Majesty Nan You focused intently as the sword descended.


    Why did the immortal race wage such a series of risky wars, suffering massive casualties and fighting with reckless abandon throughout thest eighty years? Their goal was topel the eldritch race to send a significant number of their High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches to Heavenly Pir Mountain, weakening the defenses around Hou Feng in the process.


    Why did they not attempt a direct assassination on Hou Feng? The chances of sess were too low. They had only only one opportunity, and they were unwilling to alert their prey. They sought to aplish everything in one fell swoop.


    The eldritch race had never leaked Hou Feng''s peerless talent, already maintaining utmost secrecy. Under normal circumstances, if the immortal race didn''t have the Mirror of Creation to give them such mysterious warnings, they would never have known.


    Apart from the three Imperial Majesties, no one in the immortal race knew that the purpose of the war was to kill Hou Feng until right before the battle started.


    This was a game of chess between two great powers.


    The eldritch race had already done their best to ensure secrecy and protection; the only thing they hadn''t anticipated was that Hou Feng, whose true talent had never been exposed, would exert such great pressure on the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, to the extent that they were willing to pay the price of sacrificing half the immortal race in order to y him.


    <i>The eldritch army led by Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu is likely massacring the denizens of the lower eighteen heavens. </i>A fleeting thought shed through Imperial Majesty Nan You��s mind.


    To ensure the eldritch race wasn''t alerted in advance and to lull them intocency, the three Imperial Majesties hadn''t evacuated the immortal race from the lower eighteen heavens beforehand this time round.


    The lives of billions of immortal race members were the price they paid to get this far!


    This was also why the Snake Ancestor believed that even if they breached the Earth Archeldritch tribe��s defenses, the immortal race would gain nothing.


    The destruction of the lower eighteen heavens was equivalent to the eldritch race losing two Archeldritch tribes, five hundred high-tier eldritch tribes, and tens of thousands of mid-tier and low-tier tribes simultaneously.


    <i>As long as we seed, it doesn��t matter if the immortal race perishes. Even if all High Immortals fall, it''s worth it.</i> Imperial Majesty Nan You''s heart was ice cold.


    Even if the immortal race was destroyed, the three Imperial Majesties might still survive. But ording to the Mirror of Creation''s warnings, if they allowed Hou Feng to grow to maturity, their deaths were certain.


    All their schemes and the enormous price paid were all for this single strike.


    As long as they could kill Wu Yuan, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race felt it was all worth it.


    The sword strike was too quick and unpredictable. At this moment, the High Eldritches led by Eldritch Deity Hou Tu were upied by Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others. The Snake Ancestor was trapped by Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    No one could save Wu Yuan. He could only rely on himself.


    ...


    <i>This strike could only have beenunched from a higher spatial dimension. Otherwise, with myprehension of the Space Dao, it''s impossible I only sensed it an instant in advance. </i>In the moment between life and death, Wu Yuan was shocked, but he didn��t panic.


    An attackunched from a higher spatial dimension to a lower one was called a cross-dimensional strike. Such attacks couldpletely bypass seemingly powerful arrays and ignore aftershocks.


    As the Huanggu eldritch race mainly focused on body refining, the defense array of the Earth Archeldritch tribe was far inferior to arrays set up by qi refiners of the same level. This was a weakness of the body refining cultivation system.


    Additionally, various sections of the defense array had already been breached by Imperial Majesty Nan You and the immortal race army, naturally allowing this flying sword to prate the barrier silently from a higher spatial dimension.


    However, physically stepping into a higher spatial dimension was extremely difficult. Many Archimmortals who shatteredws with brute force could only step into the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, and the disturbance that caused was massive. To do so without causing a single stir?


    <i>Moving seamlessly through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer requiresprehending the Qiankun Dao to the seventh-level True Intent stage at least; manipting a weapon within the Fragmentary Spatial Layer requiresprehending the Qiankun Dao to the fourth-level True Intent stage at least.</i> Countless thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind in an instant.


    Wu Yuan had obtained many powerful inheritances of the Space Dao. In a sh, he judged that he was facing a terrifying assassin who hadprehended the Qiankun Dao to an extremely high level!


    Normally, even a ninth-stage Elysian Field phase cultivator or ordinary Earth Eldritch would certainly die facing this terrifying sword strike.


    If Wu Yuan had just arrived at Huanggu, this strike would most definitely kill him.


    Fortunately, Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul was already strong enough. Moreover, hisprehension of the Law of Space was very deep, allowing him to sense the danger a split second in advance.


    In shes between powerhouses, life or death was decided in an instant.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan, who had only been emanating the aura of a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, erupted with power. With a thought, ayer of ck battle armor appeared on his body''s surface, two ck war sabers appeared in his hands, and his vital aura rose sharply.


    Three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts were activated, enhancing his power!


    <i>Boom!</i> Beneath the ck battle armor, countless faint Dao patterns flickered, turning his body iparably sturdy, like an artifact.


    Grand ether art �C Great Eldritch Divine Body.


    "Life Domain!" Holding two Archeldritch Divine Artifact sabers, a hazy light appeared around Wu Yuan, and vast de rays spread in all directions, causing his aura to erupt to an unprecedented peak.


    Wu Yuan could have employed more ether arts, but unfortunately, there was no time.


    He didn��t even have the chance to swing his sabers.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> This strange and hair-raising sword light had alreadynded, its fearsome power prating through the ck battle armor and impacting his body.


    Cold!


    The sword intent within the de ray was iparably frigid, causing Wu Yuan''s soul to shiver instinctively. This strike also affected the soul.


    Wu Yuan was hurled through the air by the devastating blow, spewing mouthfuls of blood. Deep gashes tore across his body, and blood oozed from countless wounds.


    The force of the strike was overwhelming.


    <i>I estimate the power within this strike has reached the Second Tribtion High Immortal level. </i>Wu Yuan inwardly marveled.


    Even with the enhancement of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, Wu Yuan had yet to employ his ether arts fully, and had very nearly failed to keep his body from exploding.


    In theory, even if his body were to explode, it could be reassembled and healed. But in reality, there would be no time to resist or fight back��it would all be over in an instant.


    <i>What a terrifying strike.</i> Wu Yuan was both shocked and relieved. <i>Thank goodness I always carry the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts with me. Fortunately, I ced utmost importance on the ''Great Eldritch Divine Body'' ether art, cultivating it consistently.</i>


    Self-preservation had always been Wu Yuan��s top priority.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Vital ether frantically repaired the countless injuries he had taken.


    This was the advantage of body refiners.


    Qi refiners excelled in arrays, equipment forging, pill refining, ranged attacks and many other techniques, truly all-rounders.


    Body refiners were only strong in one aspect �C directbat. As long as they weren��t killed in a single strike, it was extremely difficult to kill them.


    <i>However, even with the aid of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, I��m still far from able to contend with powerful High Immortals.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    As he was sent flying, his body began to expand rapidly, with two heads and six arms growing out.


    Two advanced ether arts �C Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form! Deity Form!


    Alongside the two ck war sabers he already wielded, six war sabers simultaneously manifested in the grasp of the other six arms, all high-grade spirion artifacts.


    These were all artifacts the Snake Ancestor provided Wu Yuan, equipment able to withstand the exertion of his full power.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan steadied himself in the air, his aura rising to a new peak!


    This single sh was like a supernova, its aftershocks radiating for ten thousand li around. Countless halls crumbled into dust, the vastke exploded, and innumerable buildings and nts were annihted.


    Within the ten thousand li radius, many weak Eldritch Warriors instantly perished. The bodies of rtively strong Eldritch Generals instantly exploded, leaving them gravely wounded. What remained of their bodies quickly rejoined as they fled in terror.


    This was a battle at the High Eldritch and High Immortal level, destined to shake heaven and earth.


    Silently, a white-robed figure appeared in the void. Her bearing was extraordinary, her killing intent fierce. A trace of shock lingered in her gaze. <i>I failed to assassinate a ninth-stage Elysian Field phase cultivator despite controlling a celestial sword andunching an ambush?</i>


    Before this, she hadn''t understood why the Imperial Majesties were so adamant about killing Hou Feng.


    Now, it was crystal clear to her. If he was already this strong at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase, what hope would the immortal race have once he broke through to be an Earth Eldritch, or even a High Eldritch?


    <i>His aura rivals that of a ninth-stage Earth Eldritch. Are the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts enhancing his power?</i> High Immortal Wu Zong sensed the change in Wu Yuan''s aura, her heart filled with shock.


    <i>Nevertheless, no matter how formidable you are, you will still die today.</i>


    As soon as her first sword strike failed, High Immortal Wu Zong unleashed her full power. To ensure her opponents were not alerted to the assassination attempt, she had only dared to send out a single flying sword.


    But now? Having been exposed, she naturally held nothing back.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Eighty spirion flying swords materialized, each emanating an incredibly sharp sword intent.


    Together with the initial celestial flying sword, she wielded a total of eighty-one flying swords. They formed an incredibly powerful sword domain, enveloping tens of thousands of li of space.


    The more powerful the artifact, the more difficult it was to control. Thus, even for powerful immortals, being able to control a Hundred Swords Array was quite remarkable, with some only able to manipte nine flying swords.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan retreated in a sh, instantly darting back over a thousand li, attempting to flee.


    <i>Boom! Rumble~</i> As the sword domain formed, vast swathes of azure light gathered and exerted pressure on Wu Yuan �C it was a Tribtion Domain.


    Within it, nine flying swords vanished into the void. They had all entered a higher spatial dimension!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> In an instant, these nine flying swords pierced through ten thousand li of space, attacking Wu Yuan from different angles.


    An attackunched by a High Immortal from a higher spatial dimension could easily surpass the speed of light upon descending to the Material Spatial Layer!


    <i>This is the second time. </i>Wu Yuan''s expression was cold as his towering thousand-zhang body moved.

 Chapter 626: Life and Death, True Intent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 626: Life and Death, True Intent (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Seven Wu Yuans appeared simultaneously, each exuding a formidable aura. Every one of them was perfectly lifelike, indistinguishable.


    The grand ether art ��Rending the Heavens�� had two core functions: one, to drastically increase burst speed, and two, to create lifelike phantoms to confuse the enemy during close-quartersbat.


    Wu Yuan could project up to fifty-five such phantoms, each both real and illusory. He could switch between them at will, making it difficult for enemies to discern the true target.


    However, under the immense suppression of High Immortal Wu Zong''s Tribtion Domain, Wu Yuan could only maintain seven phantoms.


    <i>sh~</i> Flying swords sliced through the air, impaling phantom after phantom.


    One of Wu Yuan��s phantoms suddenly unleashed a barrage of de rays, cutting through the air with terrifying force. Eight razor-sharp streaks of light surged forward, their weight and momentum seemingly endless, imbued with the profundities of the Life Dao. Like torrents of raw power, they shed violently with two approaching flying swords.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> The sound of fierce collisions echoed through the air as the two forces shed hundreds of times.


    The overwhelming power of Wu Yuan''s de rays forced the two flying swords to retreat, their momentum blunted.


    High Immortal Wu Zong, who controlled the sword domain, could only deploy nine flying swords at a time. Each sword retained about 80% of its peak strength, but even with two swords attacking together, they were unable to overwhelm Wu Yuan.


    <i>Impossible! </i>Wu Zong was incredulous.


    She hadprehended the Qiankun Dao to the fourth-level True Intent stage and a Lesser Law of the Wind Dao to the sixth-level Dao Field stage. Although she had not attained the rank of Heavenly Master, she was among the most powerful of ordinary High Immortals.


    More importantly, her stealth and assassination abilities were unmatched, evenpared to the three Imperial Majesties, making her the perfect choice for this crucial mission. In her estimation, even a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator with exceptional talent and powerful artifacts should not have been a match for her.


    Yet, Wu Yuan had defied all expectations, meeting her on equal terms in a direct confrontation.


    This scene also left the other fighters thunderstruck.


    "Haha, excellent! Excellent!" The Snake Ancestor''s face lit up with delight as itughed, "Nan You, you''ve paid a huge price, but it seems you''ve miscalcted."


    "This... this can''t be!" Imperial Majesty Nan You could not hide his disbelief. ��Hou Feng isn��t even an Earth Eldritch yet!��


    The power Wu Yuan unleashed rivaled that of eldritch race veteran elder or even immortal race Heavenly Masters.


    It was simply unheard of.


    One had to understand that Wu Yuan was only at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase. Yes, he had the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. But fighting a High Immortal, someone two cultivation phases above him, to a stalemate? It was simply inconceivable.


    "How could Hou Feng''s strength surpass our own?" The High Eldritches were simultaneously stunned and exhrated.


    "Are the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts boosting his power?"


    "Even if so, the strength he��s disying is absurd. Not even Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu could achieve this."


    ��Is this the genius the Imperial Majesties of the immortal race want to eliminate?"


    ��None of us had even heard of him before.��


    Even the High Immortals and Earth Immortals of the six beast battle arrays were visibly shaken, their initial confidence faltering as a hint of fear began to take root in their hearts.


    If this monstrous prodigy was already nearing the power of a Heavenly Master at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase, what would happen when he advanced to Earth Eldritch? Would he have the power of an Eldritch Deity? Or worse, what if he reached High Eldritch?


    "Kill him, don��t hold anything back!" Imperial Majesty Nan You''s voice thundered in Wu Zong��s mind, fueled by desperation. "If he survives, he will annihte our immortal race!"


    Unfortunately, Imperial Majesty Nan You was helpless to assist. While he appeared to be pinning down the Snake Ancestor, the Snake Ancestor was also keeping him upied.


    Moreover, though he wasn''t afraid of the numerous arrays and barriers around the eldritch race tribe, it would still take some time for him to break free. At least, he found it far more difficult than High Immortal Wu Zong.


    <i>Kill! The eldritch race annihted my n, slew my Daopanion, and murdered my kin. This Hou Feng must die! </i>A hint of madness gleamed in High Immortal Wu Zong''s eyes.


    Her hatred for the eldritch race burned fiercely. She was selected for this mission not only for her skills but also because she was one of the most trustworthy and relentless High Immortals.


    <i>Thousand Swords Array!</i>


    <i>Sword! Intent! Divine! Life! Soul!</i>


    <i>Unite. </i>High Immortal Wu Zong screamed inwardly, her amethyst cradle shaking violently. Vast waves of mana roiled as she mobilized her strongest burst-type secret art, burning her life essence.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Flying swords blotted out the sky, integrating with her Tribtion Domain. These low-grade spirion artifacts stabilized the vulnerabilities in the sword domain and amplified its might.


    ...


    Inside the sword domain, Wu Yuan remained eerily calm, his gaze icy.


    <i>Some Second Tribtion High Immortal thinks she can kill me?</i> Wu Yuan thought, undeterred.


    Wu Yuan had been caught off guard by the first strike and didn��t have the time to fully unleash his ether arts, let alone employ his movement skills. That was why he had gotten injured.


    But now, he was ready to fight with everything he had.


    <i>With the enhancement from the authority of heaven and earth granted by the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, I rival a ninth-stage Earth Eldritch in mana power! Once I unleash multiple ether arts and employ Beast Fusion... I''ll be even closer to the High Eldritch level. </i>


    <i>The High Eldritches and High Immortals of Huangguck Immortal Tribtions. Even if their Daoprehension is deeper, their mana capacity only rivals that of a First Tribtion High Immortal at best. </i>Wu Yuan was very clear on this point: <i>In terms of mana, this female High Immortal is stronger than me, but not insurmountably so.</i>


    In Huanggu, without the existence of Heavenly Tribtions, bing an Archimmortal was nearly impossible. The mana of High Immortals and High Eldritches was unable to undergo a true transformation.


    Ordinary High Eldritches and High Immortals could onlypare to First or Second Tribtion cultivators.


    The so-called veteran elders of the eldritch race and the immortal race��s Heavenly Masters possessed strength akin to Third or Fourth Tribtion cultivators.


    Figures like the eldritch race��s Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, though their Daoprehension rivaled that of Archimmortals, had smaller mana capacities, limiting them to power levels equivalent to Fifth Tribtion High Eldritches from the external world. With the enhancement of Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, they could at most match Sixth Tribtion High Eldritches.


    However, top-tier powerhouses like the Snake Ancestor, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, and the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race stood in a league of their own.


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension, the power I can harness from my understanding of the Law of Life plus Law of Space, though not yet at the level of Eldritch Deities, is very close, and far surpasses hers.</i>


    <i>As for artifacts, this female High Immortal has a greater quantity of them, and even a celestial divine sword, but I possess three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, so I''m not too far behind.</i>


    <i>Moreover, while I can''t enter higher spatial dimensions, my movement skills are no worse than hers.</i>


    <i>Defeating you may prove challenging, but you think you can kill me?</i> Wu Yuan��s gaze turned frigid, his aura radiating overwhelming intensity.


    Earlier, he had chosen to flee��not out of fear, but because his current strength wasn''t sufficient to interfere in the battle between the Snake Ancestor and Imperial Majesty Nan You. Moreover, the immortal race was clearly targeting him.


    Yet retreat did not mean Wu Yuan was powerless.


    After her initial attacks failed to subdue him, High Immortal Wu Zong abandoned any reservation, fighting with no regard for her own life. Even if she managed to survive the battle, her life expectancy would be cut short by at least a hundred thousand years.


    "Kill!" High Immortal Wu Zong��s face flushed with a crimson hue as she pointed from afar. The Thousand Swords Array came to life, and eighty-one flying swords assembled into nine azure divine swords. Their power was overwhelming, and their sword qi sliced through the heavens, covering a hundred thousand li.


    The nine divine swords descended together like an enormous, determined to shred Wu Yuan to pieces.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan roared, swinging his eight sabers in unison. de rays erupted like torrents, vicious and unrelenting.


    Simultaneously, countless phantoms of Wu Yuan flickered into existence within the sword domain.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> The two forces shed violently once more, with every collision sending Wu Yuan tumbling backward.


    Yet, every time the divine swords attempted to trap and bombard him, Wu Yuan seamlessly shifted between his phantoms, dodging the killing blows.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The divine swords smashed through his phantoms, but as quickly as they were destroyed, the illusions reformed.


    Wu Zong concentrated six divine swords on suppressing the phantoms, leaving only three to attack Wu Yuan directly.


    But three divine swords were not enough to bring him down.


    <i>I cultivate the Great Eldritch Divine Body. With the protection of my Archeldritch Divine Artifact armor, coupled with the abundant blood mist replenishing my vital ether, you can��t kill me. </i>Wu Yuan��s eyes burned with a savage intensity.


    The Life Dao was known as the Undying Dao.


    The Space Dao was known as the Shadowless Dao.


    When these two Daosbined and his profound mastery of grand ether arts came into y, Wu Yuan''s ability to preserve his life reached an unimaginable level.


    No matter how hard High Immortal Wu Zong tried, her efforts were futile.


    <i>Damn it! Damn it! How can this Hou Feng be so powerful?</i> Desperation crept into Wu Zong''s thoughts, her heart heavy with disbelief.


    Killing Wu Yuan on her own seemed impossible. Her only hope was to trap and bind him within the sword domain, keeping him from escaping.


    "Wu Zong!"


    "We''re here to help!" Two voices called out from the distance as two massive battle arrays charged into the sword domain.


    They had finally breached the defense arrays and gotten past the four High Eldritches, arriving at the sh between Wu Yuan and Wu Zong.


    Their entrance immediatelypounded Wu Yuan��s predicament.


    A beast''s w sliced through the air, hurling Wu Yuan into the distance. With his phantoms upied, he had no way to dodge. The blow left him coughing blood, his body crashing violently against the ground.


    Wu Yuan felt his vital qi churning throughout his body.


    <i>The power of these battle arrays is close to the Third Tribtion High Eldritch level. </i>Madness flickered in Wu Yuan��s eyes.


    This was equivalent to facing one Second Tribtion High Immortal and two Third Tribtion High Eldritches simultaneously.


    The pressure on him more than doubled.


    He knew that breaking free from the Tribtion sword domain was nearly impossible. He was essentially trapped here. While his self-preservation techniques could keep him alive for a time, they wouldn��tst forever.


    The Snake Ancestor, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the other High Eldritches were all tied up with their own battles. No one could save him.


    He had to defeat his opponents. He had to tear this sword domain apart.


    <i>Kill! If there��s no way out, I��ll carve one with my de! </i>Wu Yuan��s battle intent soared, his spirit unshaken.


    If there had been a chance to flee, Wu Yuan would have taken it. However, he wouldn��t give up even in this no-escape scenario. It was only at the edge of life and death that one��s most primal potential could be unlocked.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Divine swords whistled through the air, forcing Wu Yuan to retreat again and again.


    "Die!" A massive tail cracked through the sky toward him.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan��s icy gaze sharpened as he swung his eight sabers. His footing faltered, but he continued to strike, only to be flung backward once more, blood trickling down his chin.


    His vital aura was weakening rapidly.


    <i>Hmm?</i> In the chaotic frenzy, an unexpected rity bloomed within Wu Yuan��s mind. As he teetered on the brink of life and death, an insight struck him.


    Those profundities of the Law of Life which had eluded him until now, suddenly crystallized��the True Intent of Life.


    <i>So, this is theplete True Intent of Life? </i>Wu Yuan''s mind calmed as Dao insights cascaded through his consciousness.


    In that moment, his saber technique evolved.


    This was��an Archimmortal-level saber technique!

 Chapter 627: Eldritch Deity Hou Feng (1)

    <h4>Chapter 627: Eldritch Deity Hou Feng (1)</h4>


    Whether on the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield or adventuring through the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan had faced life-threatening dangers many times before. But in those instances, Wu Yuan was either taking calcted risks or had powerful trump cards to rely on.


    This battle, however, had truly pushed him to the brink. Yet in this desperate situation, Wu Yuan''s spirit became incredibly pure and tranquil.


    The killing intent gathering in his heart was a focused resolve, not mere impulse. In this unique state, amidst the haze of mortalbat, Wu Yuan touched upon an ineffable profundity. He finally grasped that elusive spark needed to crystallize this True Intent of Life.


    <i>The True Intent of Life. What Icked was that desperate desire to survive, to live on, found only at the precipice between life and death.</i> Wu Yuan realized this upon his breakthrough, as theprehension of the three Intermediate Laws - Longevity, True Domain, and Celestial Body - coalesced to form a thread of True Intent.


    Hisprehension of the three Intermediate Laws had long since reached the True Intent stage separately, and after fusion, it was close to the True Intent stage.


    After ten years of cultivation in the Archeldritch Hall and another seventy years of secluded cultivation in the Archeldritch tribe, Wu Yuan had umted numerous profound Dao insights, having long since reached the limit of the ninth-level Domain stage.


    He was just a hair''s breadth away from the next stage.


    One way to take this final step was to continue deducing and contemting the Daos, gradually fusing the three Intermediate Laws to a greater extent. Eventually, a breakthrough would naturally ur, but this process was incredibly arduous. Even with Wu Yuan''s talent, he had estimated it would take him fifty years to break through.


    The other way was toprehend the True Intent itself. The Law of Life differed from Laws like Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, which were the fundamental principles underlying the origin of all existence.


    The Law of Life was instead a special Greater Law that arose from the natural order of all things, containing an extremely unique artistic conception and spiritual resonance.


    Whileprehending the profundities of the Dao was one aspect, truly grasping this artistic conception and spiritual resonance was the core.


    <i>I contemted the Creation Essence Diagram, enjoying those leisurely, carefree days.</i> Wu Yuan now understood clearly.


    <i>Over the past seventy years, despite knowing that the Eldritch-Immortal war was raging fiercely, I still chose to cultivate at my own pace, waiting to break through and gain enough strength before stepping into the conflict, hoping to wipe out the immortal race in one decisive strike.</i>


    <i>It was the same as before, when my body refiner self stayed in the Middle Land, cultivating patiently, biding my time until I was strong enough to make my move.</i>


    <i>Why? Because I enjoyed it. That lifestyle resonated with my spirit, and in that state, my progress was rapid. I cherished life and longed for a peaceful existence. That''s why, when Iprehended the Creation Essence Diagram, I naturally crossed the threshold of the Law of Life.</i>


    <i>But the growth of life isn''t just about leisurelyfort. It also has passionate, fiery aspects, and shadows that skirt the edge of death.</i>


    <i>Sometimes, the hand of destiny won��t wait for us to grow stronger or be fully prepared for what��s ahead. It will collide with us unexpectedly, and if we��re not strong enough, it will crush us. That��s why we must fight��fight for that fleeting chance to survive! Without resistance, the odds of perishing on the path to immortality rise drastically.</i>


    <i>Leisure in times of peace, passion in times of war. </i>


    <i>The path to immortality inherently defies heaven''s will. The longevity of living beings is not what heaven and earth desires. On this path of the Law of Life, without that unyielding desire to live, how could one cut through countless thorns to reach the pinnacle? How could one be worthy of breaking through?</i> Wu Yuan''s mindset had undergone a subtle yet significant transformation.


    He had truly grasped the profundities of the True Intent of Life.


    With this artistic conception in his spirit, he now had hope of advancing all the way to the ninth-level True Intent stage of Life.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan could already sense the vast, all-epassing essence of the Law of Life.


    The Domain stage of a Dao was merely the entrance of the path ofprehending it. At this stage, even perceiving the Dao��s essence was extremely difficult. Crystallizing True Intent meant that one truly entered the inner chamber, able to sense the presence of its essence and receive its guidance. It was like being promoted from a nominal disciple to a direct disciple.


    As one of the six special Greater Laws, crystallizing Life True Intent was extremely difficult. Wu Yuan had only grasped it at this life-or-death moment after a long period of umtion.


    Though it sounded like a gradual process, in reality, Wu Yuanpleted his breakthrough in an instant. The eight sabers naturally applied the newlyprehended profundities of the Law of Life.


    This was no particrly special saber technique. It was simply the natural eruption of Life True Intent �C de of Life!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Eight dazzling, brilliant de rays, brimming with endless vitality and carrying Wu Yuan��s burning desire to live, streaked across the sky, directly cleaving into the bodies of the two arrogant, howling beast battle arrays.


    As the de rays fell, the High Immortals within the two beast battle arrays paled.


    Those surging, overwhelming de rays instantly caused cracks to appear in the beasts'' ws and wings. They couldn��t withstand the attack.


    "Retreat!"


    "Not good, his de rays..." The two beast battle arrays attempted to retreat.


    <i>Boom~</i> Terrifying de rays swept across the sky, crisscrossing over a hundred thousand li.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan stepped into the void, forcing High Immortal Wu Zong into a desperate retreat and sending her flying swords into disarray.


    The sword domain that previously trapped Wu Yuan showed signs of copse under these savage de rays.


    Wu Yuan��s strength skyrocketed after he broke through. Even facing three opponents, he still dominated them all.


    <i>These de rays? Saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level.</i> High Immortal Wu Zong was furious and shocked, her eyes filled with astonishment. <i>A ninth-stage Elysian Field phase cultivator with Daoprehension at the Imperial Majesty level? How did he do it?</i>


    The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race all had Daoprehensionparable to Archimmortals, on par with the Eldritch Deities of the eldritch race.


    ...


    ��Saber techniques at the Eldritch Deity level, truly beautiful.��


    "Excellent!"


    "How long has Hou Feng been cultivating? Only two or three hundred years, right?" The four High Eldritches were all astounded.


    Their own Daoprehension was only around the fifth or sixth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.


    As for Wu Yuan? He was alreadyparable to the Eldritch Deity level.


    <i>Saber techniques at the Archeldritch level. He crystallized the True Intent of Life? How long has he been cultivating? Where did such a monstrous prodigye from?</i> The Snake Ancestor was equally shocked.


    During his years under the Eldritch of Heaven, he had witnessed countless remarkable things. But never had he encountered such an unfathomable prodigy. It was beyond anything he could have imagined.


    ...


    "Saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level, and he broke through just like that?"


    "This battle will be tough."


    "Hou Feng, a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, can unleash such power?" The group of High Immortals locked in fiercebat all trembled, waves of despair engulfing their hearts.


    For the immortal race, the Archimmortal level was incredibly profound. In the entire immortal race, only the three Imperial Majesties had reached this level.


    Among their race, only eight individuals had Daoprehension at or above the seventh-level Dao Field stage �C the eight Heavenly Masters.


    Why was High Immortal Wu Zong chosen to execute the first strike on Wu Yuan? Because her stealth abilities were unmatched in the immortal race, and her attack power also ranked in the top fifteen. Who would they choose if not her?


    In the entire Huanggu world, only the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, the six Eldritch Deities, and the Snake Ancestor had Daoprehension equivalent to Wu Yuan''s current level.


    If one also considered hisprehension of the Law of Space, Wu Yuan would easily rank in the top ten, perhaps even the top five.


    <i>We''ve lost! Kill Hou Feng? It''s no longer possible. The power he''s unleashing now is alreadyparable to a peak-stage Heavenly Master.</i> [1] A glimmer of despair shed through Imperial Majesty Nan You''s heart.


    But soon, it regained tranquility, for he had no regrets. Imperial Majesty Nan You knew he had truly done his utmost.


    At the very beginning, he decisively attacked the Hou Cheng Tribe, then continually schemed to reduce the eldritch race''s protection of Hou Feng without rming them.


    Finally, apart from the Creation Divine Hall, he spared no expense, sacrificing countless immortal race members tounch an all-out assault to kill Hou Feng.


    It could be said that Imperial Majesty Nan You had done everything possible. Yet they still lost.


    He could only me the vast disparity in top-tierbat strength between the immortal race and eldritch race, coupled with Wu Yuan''s absurdly rapid growth... Less than a hundred years had passed from the Mirror of Creation''s warning to Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension reaching the Archimmortal level.


    "Retreat!" Imperial Majesty Nan You''s voice resounded simultaneously in the ears of all the immortal race��s High Immortals, including Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others locked in fierce battle far away. His voice was filled with unwillingness and bewilderment. However, there was no trace of regret.


    "Retreat!"


    "We''ve lost, let''s go."


    "Returning home after paying such a huge price, with nothing to show for? I fear Heavenly Pir Mountain has already turned into a bloodbath." The morale of the immortal race��s High Immortals and Earth Immortals showed signs of copse.


    They clearly understood the price they paid to wage this battle. Originally, what sustained their fighting spirit was Imperial Majesty Nan You''s promise to "resolve a great threat to the immortal race".


    But in the end, they watched helplessly as Hou Feng unleashed saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level. This was an unprecedented blow to the spirit of the immortal race army. And the now-powerful Wu Yuan was clearly no longer someone the immortal race could easily deal with.


    "Kill!"


    "Don''t let them escape!"


    "Don''t let them get away!" The High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches of the eldritch race roared, unleashing everything they had in an attempt to stop them from leaving.


    However, the top experts of the immortal race fought in battle arrays, bncing offense and defense. Each battle array was incredibly powerful, allowing them to calmly respond while retreating. This was also why immortal race experts rarely perished.


    Of course, the drawback was that once any battle array was breached, it often meant the death of arge number of experts.


    1. equivalent to a Fourth Tribtion High Eldritch ?

 Chapter 628: Eldritch Deity Hou Feng (2)

    <h4>Chapter 628: Eldritch Deity Hou Feng (2)</h4>


    "Run!"


    "Flee." The two beast battle arrays that had engaged Wu Yuan, as well as High Immortal Wu Zong, simultaneously abandoned their positions and fled backwards. The immense sword domain that had been restraining Wu Yuan rapidly dissipated.


    "Flee?" Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold. "Do you really think you can escape?"


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan took a single step forward, his vital aura beginning to surge dramatically. His mana power, which had already reached the ninth-stage Earth Eldritch level, started to rise, approaching the High Eldritch level.


    <i>Archeldritch Divine Artifacts! As my mana increases and my Daoprehension improves, the power I can draw from heaven and earth''s authority through the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts grows stronger</i>. Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    The transition from the ninth-level Domain stage to the True Intent stage of Life was a qualitative transformation. However, since Wu Yuan had just made this breakthrough, he still needed time to fully grasp the essence of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. When he initially used his saber techniques, his vital ether hadn��t yet fully transformed.


    But within the span of half a breath, as Wu Yuan attuned to the essence of the artifacts, the authority of heaven and earth surged into him.


    Once it began, the process unfolded rapidly. In an instant, Wu Yuan��s vital aura was elevated to heights he had never reached before.


    <i>High Eldritch level? It seems my strength has just reached the First Tribtion High Eldritch level?</i> Wu Yuan mused, sensing the power within him.


    First Tribtion High Eldritches were the most ordinary High Eldritches. Yet the leap from Earth Eldritch to High Eldritch represented a qualitative change, granting Wu Yuan power on par with the numerous High Immortals and High Eldritches of the immortal and eldritch races.


    With equal power levels, the determining factors of battle would naturally fall to ether arts, saber techniques, artifacts, and the like. In these aspects, Wu Yuan was in no way inferior to the Eldritch Deities and three Imperial Majesties.


    Hisbat power soared to a whole new level.


    <i>Boom! </i>As Wu Yuanpleted his transformation with the empowerment of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, a pair of wings materialized behind him, resembling those of a roc. His speed instantly rose to frightening levels.


    Grand ether art �� Rending The Heavens!


    In a sh, he lunged toward one of the fleeing beast battle arrays, terrifying the four High Immortals within the array.


    They could all sense the changes in Wu Yuan''s vital aura. They already couldn''t withstand him before, how could they hope to now?


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s eyes were ice-cold as he unleashed eight saber strikes simultaneously. The two Archeldritch Divine sabers in particr erupted with immense power.


    Eight dazzling, endless de rays tore through the sky, their power vast and overwhelming.


    "Defend!" The beast battle array gritted its teeth, swinging its ws in defense, attempting to block Wu Yuan.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i> A series of terrifying collisions rang out as the beast battle array was sent flying repeatedly by Wu Yuan''s strikes.


    "Die!" Wu Yuan''s killing intent soared. His de rays were like eight rivers, their power limitless, forcefully severing w after w.


    "No!" The High Immortals and Earth Immortals within the battle array howled in despair.


    A dazzling de ray sliced through the void, leaving an enduring scar in space, cleaving the enormous battle array in two!


    <i>Rumble~</i> A hazy yet grand Dao fluctuation descended, amplifying the saber��s might even further. The de ray howled and erupted.


    In a single exchange, over a hundred Earth Immortals were annihted. Their Yuan Souls emerged, attempting to flee, but were still utterly destroyed.


    "No!" The four High Immortals frantically struggled to escape, but three were instantly in, their Yuan Souls unable to flee. They were merely ordinary High Immortals,pletely helpless before the unstoppable Wu Yuan.


    Only one managed to escape, seemingly skilled in a movement technique that granted incredible speed.


    This was the weakness of High Immortals. If they were body refiners of the same level, they could have put up a longer struggle after defeat thanks to their powerful bodies.


    "Excellent!"


    "Nice kill!" The numerous eldritch race powerhouses were ecstatic.


    "They fell just like that?"


    "His strength has surged once again. He must be nearly as powerful as an Eldritch Deity now. It''s simply unbelievable."


    "A battle array, wiped out in the blink of an eye?" This scene caused many of the immortal race''s powerhouses to feel a shared sense of doom.


    Unlike the eldritch race, the immortal race had fewer than a hundred High Immortals, and now three had fallen in an instant. If one considered the Earth Immortals, the number of casualties was even higher.


    One had to understand that in the nearly hundred years of war prior, the repeated battles had almostpletely annihted the mana bodies and ether bodies of the top powerhouses of both the eldritch and immortal races.


    It took at least tens of thousands of years for High Immortals and High Eldritches to create new mana bodies and ether bodies. So, those who participated in this battle were mostly in their true bodies.


    "All of you deserve to die!" Wu Yuan immediately lunged toward another beast battle array that had nearly left the range of the Archeldritch tribe''s array.


    High Immortal Wu Zong was also fleeing in the same direction.


    <i>Flee. I can''t stop this Hou Feng.</i> High Immortal Wu Zong gritted her teeth, her form instantly melting into the void, traceless.


    Having reached the fourth-level True Intent stage of the Qiankun Dao, her directbat ability might not match that of the immortal race''s Heavenly Masters or the eldritch race''s veteran elders, but her self-preservation ability was simply unparalleled. Even the Imperial Majesties of the immortal race might not be able to catch her.


    While High Immortal Wu Zong managed to escape, this beast battle array''s speed was far too slow. It had no hope of fleeing and was swiftly overtaken by Wu Yuan.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, spare us! Spare us," the beast battle array wailed piteously. "We surrender! We��re willing to serve the eldritch race."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Ruthless de rays crushed everything in their path. The two sides shed over a hundred times, the aftershocks radiating for hundreds of thousands of li. In the end, Wu Yuan forcefully cleaved open the battle array, killing all the High Immortals and Earth Immortals within the array.


    Even a powerhouse with strengthparable to a Second Tribtion High Immortal was pursued and ferociously in by Wu Yuan.


    The other powerhouses of the immortal race shuddered as they witnessed this. Compared to the other Eldritch Deities of the eldritch race, Wu Yuan''s killing style was far more savage, seemingly disregarding defense almost entirely.


    At this moment, Imperial Majesty Nan You had already safely escorted the other beast battle arrays of the immortal race out of the range of the eldritch tribe''s array.


    The defenses of his divine cauldrons were formidable, blocking the pursuit of the Snake Ancestor and several other High Eldritches.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A terrifying bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, swiftly gathering up the remaining beast battle arrays that had shaken off the High Eldritches.


    Finally, the figurended beside Imperial Majesty Nan You. He too wore imperial robes, his aura overwhelming and his body crackling with countless lightning bolts. It was Imperial Majesty Lei Fu!


    He had fullyprehended a Lesser Law of Thunder, allowing him to excel in attacks and movement skills. Few in all of Huanggu could match his speed. That was why he had been given the task of leading the armies in surprise attacks in the past.


    "Hou Feng, don''t chase them out," the Snake Ancestor suddenly spoke.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s ferocious expression calmed slightly as he nodded lightly. Still holding his sabers, hended beside the Snake Ancestor. The auras of these two powerhouses ovepped as they faced off against the two Imperial Majesties in the distance.


    <i>Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.</i> Wu Yuan gazed at that figure, a glint of killing intent shing in his eyes.


    The Hou Cheng Tribe had been destroyed by Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and his army.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> In the air not far away, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu led a group of High Eldritches, rapidly approaching their position.


    "Big Brother." Imperial Majesty Lei Fu looked towards Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    "We''ve lost." Imperial Majesty Nan You gazed deeply at Wu Yuan, then his eyes swept over the Snake Ancestor and the distant Eldritch Deity Hou Tu. He sighed softly, "Let''s go."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu gritted his teeth as he looked at Wu Yuan, understanding what a retreat at this point meant. However, if they didn''t leave now, they might not be able to leave at all.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Imperial Majesty Lei Fu waved his hand, enveloping Imperial Majesty Nan You and instantly transforming into a bolt of lightning. Their speed immediately shot up to a hundred thousand li per second.


    Then it increased to 120,000 li per second, 150,000 li per second... swiftly disappearing from the Yuan Soul perception range of Wu Yuan, the Snake Ancestor, and the others.


    ...


    "We''ve won!"


    "A great victory!"


    "We''ve won this battle." The High Eldritches were all smiles, breathing sighs of relief as they flew over.


    Despite being at a disadvantage and facing two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, they had defended the Earth Archeldritch tribe, and even slew several High Immortals along with arge number of Earth Immortals. This battle could indeed be called a great victory.


    "Hou Feng." The Snake Ancestor��s head swiveled towards Wu Yuan, its eyes brimming with admiration. "Your contributions were monumental to our victory. You are truly worthy of being called an Eldritch Deity."


    "Hou Feng."


    "Eldritch Deity?"


    "Indeed. Though Hou Feng may only be at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase, the power he''s unleashed surpasses many veteran elders. He is more than deserving of the Eldritch Deity title."


    "Eldritch Deity is a title earned through strength after all." The High Eldritches, though initially taken aback, swiftly adjusted their attitudes.


    The way they addressed Wu Yuan changed unanimously��Eldritch Deity Hou Feng!


    "Eldritch Deity?" Wu Yuan was startled at first, but quickly epted it. After this battle, his mindset had undergone a significant transformation.


    Sometimes, one must fight! Giving up without a fight meant death.


    The title of Eldritch Deity represented not only glory, but also the responsibility of carrying the banner of the Huanggu eldritch race.


    "Thank you, Snake Ancestor. However, without the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts..." Wu Yuan began to speak.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu beside him interjected with a smile. "No need to exin. In our hands, the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts can only exert a fraction of their power, but in your grasp, they truly shine.


    When your cultivation advances further, your strength will undoubtedly grow even more formidable, swiftly surpassing me and the Snake Ancestor, perhaps even rivaling Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu remarked with a sigh.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu? He was universally acknowledged as the strongest being in Huanggu.


    Even if the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were to wield their Creation Divine Weapons, they were hardly a match for him outside Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    "I wonder how the battle at Heavenly Pir Mountain is going."


    "I don''t know."


    "With over sixty percent, maybe even seventy percent of the immortal race''s forces attacking our Earth Archeldritch branch, how can they possibly hold out?" The numerous High Eldritch and Eldritch Deities exchanged their thoughts.


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu has already led the army to the Fourth Heaven. It''s just that the numerous arrays are slowing their progress," the Snake Ancestor suddenly spoke,municating swiftly with the frontlines at Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    "However, before the immortal race''s main force returns to Heavenly Pir Mountain, I believe we can destroy the Eighteenth Heaven at least," the Snake Ancestor said solemnly.


    "Haha, excellent!"


    "ughtering our way through the lower seventeen heavens? That''s where over sixty percent of the immortal race''s members are gathered, right? Let''s annihte them all!"


    "Destroying the lower seventeen heavens will significantly slow the immortal race��s production of new powerhouses." The numerous High Eldritch were filled with joy.


    Wu Yuan listened quietly, deep in thought.


    <i>The immortal race paid such a hefty price just to kill me?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>Could it be that in the eyes of the immortal race, my value exceeds that of more than half their poption?</i>


    <i>But over these past decades, I''ve never disyed any dazzling talent. Even the tribe''s veteran elders who know part of the situation only believe my talent rivals that of Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. They don''t know I''veprehended a Greater Law.</i>


    <i>Only the Snake Ancestor knows about this. Could it be the legendary Mirror of Creation? But are its divination abilities really this miraculous?</i> Wu Yuan found it hard to believe.


    Without ever meeting him, and with barely any intelligence to go off from, it could predict his future? Even beings as great as Immortal Sovereign Bei You and Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shouldn''t possess such terrifying abilities.


    Wu Yuan was reluctant to believe it, but after eliminating all other possibilities, only this one remained.


    If it wasn''t the power of the Mirror of Creation, then it could only mean one thing��the Snake Ancestor was a traitor.


    <i>Mirror of Creation?</i> A spark of curiosity ignited in Wu Yuan''s heart.

 Chapter 629: First-Degree Eldritch Root (1)

    <h4>Chapter 629: First-Degree Eldritch Root (1)</h4>


    <i>The Snake Ancestor cannot possibly be a spy. If the Snake Ancestor were a spy, I would have been dead and buried long ago.</i> Wu Yuan thoughts raced.


    As for the veteran elders of the eldritch race? The probability of them being spies was also very low. Even if they were, given the intelligence they knew, leaking it wouldn''t be worth the all-out effort to assassinate Wu Yuan.


    After all, before this battle, the level of talent Wu Yuan had disyed was not unprecedented. Simr geniuses had appeared throughout the Huanggu eldritch race��s history before. Even if the immortal race had ns to assassinate them, they were never this drastic.


    <i>It��s either the Mirror of Creation, or the Creation Divine Weapons in the hands of the other two Imperial Majesties. Or does the immortal race have some other special treasure?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Imperial Majesty Nan You controlled the Cauldron of Creation, specializing in defense and restraint. Imperial Majesty Lei Fu controlled the Bolt of Creation, specializing in offense and escape.


    The eldritch race was quite familiar with this information, as these two Imperial Majesties had often confronted and battled the eldritch race over the long years of war.


    Only Imperial Majesty Da Yan and the Mirror of Creation remained a mystery.


    "Hou Feng,e with me in a moment," the Snake Ancestor''s voice suddenly echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. It was a Soul Will transmission.


    Wu Yuan turned towards the Snake Ancestor.


    "All of you, listen up. The immortal race was indeed targeting Eldritch Deity Hou Feng during this battle," the Snake Ancestor suddenly spoke.


    Immediately, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and the other thirty-plus High Immortals all looked over, their postures respectful.


    The Snake Ancestor held a revered position in the eldritch race, especially within the Earth Eldritch lineage, where its status was even higher than the two Eldritch Deities.


    Among these High Eldritches, several had only heard legends of the Snake Ancestor, but neverid eyes on it before. Usually, only the High Eldritch veteran elders could meet the Snake Ancestor.


    "We concealed the news in the past, hoping to avoid provoking the immortal race. But clearly, the immortal race had other means of learning about Eldritch Deity Hou Feng''s strength and talent, and were willing to pay any price to assassinate him," the Snake Ancestor''s eyes swept over them as it spoke.


    "However, as you have all seen, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng was able to unleash such power after only a few hundred years of cultivation. He is indeed a genius unprecedented in all of Huanggu."


    The many High Eldritches couldn''t help but nod.


    Indeed! In their understanding, bing a High Eldritch in ten thousand years of cultivation was already an incredible feat. As for Wu Yuan��s cultivation speed? It was too outrageous.


    If he cultivated for a few thousand years? Ten thousand years? It was hard to imagine how far he would go.


    "Now that the news has spread, I''ll be straightforward. From now on, the mission of our Earth Archeldritch tribe is to protect Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, allowing his strength to progress," said the Snake Ancestor. "Do you understand?"


    "Understood."


    "Yes."


    "If Eldritch Deity Hou Feng''s strength advances further, he might be able to rival Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu." These High Eldritches spoke up one after another. They were all higher echelons of the eldritch race with high-level perspectives, naturally able to see the big picture clearly.


    The Snake Ancestor nodded slightly, "Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, lead these High Eldritches to guard the ce in case the immortal race returns.


    Arrange for the Earth Eldritches to clean up the battlefield and assess the damages our Earth Archeldritch tribe has taken.


    At the same time, startying down new arrays, especially monitoring arrays," the Snake Ancestor instructed.


    "Mm." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded repeatedly.


    With that, the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan. The two figures, one enormous and one tiny, then quickly flew into a fissure in the ground nearby.


    ...


    Following the Snake Ancestor, Wu Yuan came to a vast underground hall. At a nce, he could tell that this ce was heavily fortified. All security measures were activated in full force.


    "I was careless andcent," the Snake Ancestor''s massive body coiled into a heap as it said in a low voice, "I thought that even if the immortal race knew of your existence, they wouldn''t go all out to kill you as long as they didn��t know the full picture.


    And with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and I around, your safety shouldn��t have been an issue.


    I almost made a fatal mistake." The Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan, a trace of fear lingering in its eyes.


    "Snake Ancestor, it''s not your fault. No one could have imagined that the immortal race''s investigation methods were so advanced, and that they would act with such desperation," Wu Yuan said.


    "Mm. Now that I think about it, the immortal race must possess extremely powerful divination abilities. They even predicted that you are a great threat that could destroy them in the future," said the Snake Ancestor. "Such methods of divination and surveince are too bizarre and difficult to guard against."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, the Snake Ancestor''s spection aligning with his own thoughts.


    "You''ve crystallized the True Intent of Life?" The Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Yes."


    "Comprehending the True Intent of a Greater Law after only two hundred years of cultivation? Unbelievable." Even though the Snake Ancestor had sensed it earlier, getting Wu Yuan''s personal confirmation made it sigh with emotion. It knew very clearly how difficult this step was.


    "Grasping the True Intent of Life has allowed me to further improve my control over the three Archeldritch Divine Weapons," Wu Yuan said. "The simultaneous transformation in Daoprehension and mana allowed me to quickly destroy the immortal race''s battle arrays."


    This was the truth. Each of the immortal race��s beast battle arrays had power approaching that of a Third Tribtion High Eldritch. If Wu Yuan had only broken through in either Daoprehension or mana, it would have been difficult to secure this victory.


    "Your strength is approaching that of an Eldritch Deity. You now have the power to protect yourself. The tides have turned, and it will be very difficult for the immortal race tounch another assassination attempt on you," said the Snake Ancestor. "And you''re only at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase. When you step into the Earth Eldritch phase, you''ll likely advance even further."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly. With his current strength, he no longer feared encountering an Imperial Majesty outside Heavenly Pir Mountain. The tides had indeed turned.


    <i>There will likely still be some time before I be an Earth Eldritch. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    "There''s no rush, take it slow," the Snake Ancestor said in a gentle voice, its mood joyful. "You''ve just grasped the True Intent of Life, and probably haven''t fullyprehended it yet. This is a good time to cultivate.


    Go into seclusion to contemte the Dao. We''ll continue this conversation when you emerge," said the Snake Ancestor, waving a wing.


    The distant stone wall parted, revealing a huge, dark tunnel.


    "What''s this?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "It leads directly to the Archeldritch Hall. I''ve instructed the tower spirit to open it again. You can enter the Archeldritch Hall to cultivate in seclusion," said the Snake Ancestor. "Although the effects won''t be as potent as the first time, it will still be better than cultivating outside."


    "What about the resources consumed?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking.


    Having stayed in the Earth Archeldritch tribe for decades, he had a deep understanding of various aspects of the tribe. He naturally knew that opening the Archeldritch Hall came at a cost. Some special resources were required, including the essence of thend''s spirit veins.


    "Don''t worry about it. These resources would be wasted on most Eldritch Generals. It''s far better to allocate them to you," said the Snake Ancestor. "Don''t dy any further."


    "Alright." Wu Yuan no longer refused. He transformed into a streak of light and swiftly entered the tunnel, making his way to the Archeldritch Hall, which was now empty. High Eldritch Hou Qiong who originally guarded the ce had already left for Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    Wu Yuan casually chose an Eldritch Chamber and walked in.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The bronze gates opened, and Wu Yuan entered.


    He sat cross-legged on the jade tform.


    <i>When I sit here, I can indeed regain my calm far more quickly.</i> Wu Yuan thought silently.


    This thought shed through his mind and disappeared, and then he continued to perceive the vast and boundless essence of the Law of Life.


    Having just broken through, it was a time when countless insights and ideas were interweaving and colliding in his mind. It was the best period to consolidate his foundation.


    As Wu Yuan quieted his mind and his Yuan Soul perceived the essence of the Law of Life, a hazy aura emerged from the four walls of the eldritch chamber. Countless Dao patterns of the Law of Life materialized, assisting Wu Yuan''sprehension.


    ...


    <i>Far from the battle at the Earth Archeldritch tribe, which ended with the immortal race army suffering heavy losses and returning empty-handed.</i>


    Heavenly Pir Mountain towered with endless majesty. It seemed to merge with heaven and earth, unshakeable, yet inside, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race had created numerous worlds, called the Thirty-Three Heavens.


    The Thirty-Three Heavens were where the immortal race had spent hundreds of thousands of years building their stronghold.


    The Eighth Heaven, a vastnd spanning tens of millions of li, was home to billions of immortal race members. These denizens originated from different races.


    Those living here were all elites. Ny-nine percent of them were immortal cultivators, most of them Immortal Soldiers or above. They were the foundation of the immortal race, the reason the immortal race could contend with the eldritch race.


    Today, however, they faced a terrible cmity.


    Led by three Eldritch Deities, over two hundred High Eldritches swept into the Eighth Heaven. Every move they made held the power to destroy heaven and earth, every flip of their palms able to turn hundreds of thousands of li ofnd into nothingness!

 Chapter 630: First-Degree Eldritch Root (2)

    <h4>Chapter 630: First-Degree Eldritch Root (2)</h4>


    The eldritch race army tore through the battlefield like an unstoppable force of nature. Among them, one towering figure stood out, engulfed in roaring mes. Each of his strikes seemed to rend the very fabric of the world.


    It was a true catastrophe. Neither the intricate arrays of the immortal race nor the vast armies of High Immortals and Earth Immortals could hold back the onught of the eldritch race��s army.


    Agonized cries filled the air as the immortal race suffered untold losses.


    "Where are the Imperial Majesties?"


    "Where are our three Imperial Majesties?"


    "Where are our High Immortals? Why have they abandoned us? Will they let the eldritch army ughter us all?" The immortal race screamed and cursed in anguish and fury as they faced their doom.


    Many tried to flee, but the eldritch army��s advance was too swift. Even the immortal race''s Immortal Warriors and Immortal Generals couldn��t reach the higher heavens in time.


    "Kill!"


    "The immortal race''s main force has been routed. Eldritch Deity Hou Feng has in seven High Immortals. The Earth Archeldritch tribe has achieved victory."


    "With this war, we will obliterate the very foundation of the immortal race." The eldritch army surged forward like a tidal wave, their power unrelenting, crushing everything in their path.


    <i>Boom! </i>The earth trembled as a High Immortal erupted in power, summoning countless artifacts to defend against the eldritch army.


    This section of the world was his race''s breeding ground, and he was the sole High Immortal. He refused to flee, rather dying than abandon his homnd. But his struggles were all in vain.


    <i>Boom!</i> A colossal ming palm zed through the sky, spanning hundreds of thousands of li. Spirion artifacts in its path shattered like brittle ss, and the palm descended mercilessly upon the High Immortal.


    With a look of horror, the High Immortal tried to flee, but the gigantic palm trapped him. The two forces collided violently in the air!


    <i>Thud! </i>With a sickening sound, the High Immortal was obliterated, reduced to nothing. He had fought for his people to thest breath, but not even his ashes remained.


    The ming palm crashed to the ground, leveling mountains and valleys, erasing countless lives in an instant.


    It was an apocalypse.


    "Damn the eldritch race!"


    "We myriad races once lived freely upon thisnd. It was you who drove us out, ughtering us and upying our homes. Now, even after retreating to Heavenly Pir Mountain, you won''t leave us in peace?"


    "One day, you too will be destroyed!" Some of the dying immortal race experts cursed with their dying breaths.


    They fought, unwilling to surrender.


    "You are correct," came a cold voice from the sky. Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, wreathed in mes, walked through the air. He towered above all, his mes threatening to devour heaven and earth. His gaze was icy, filled with an overwhelming sense of tyranny. "My eldritch race was not born to rule thisnd, but neither was this world ever your paradise.


    Power belongs to those strong enough to seize it. Weakness is damnation.


    Today, I am strong, and so I ughter you. In the future, I shall eliminate the entire immortal race and im all of Huanggu as the eldritch race��s territory.


    Your blood, your tears, your bones will not trouble my conscience��they will only add to my glory, nourishing the prosperity of my eldritch race.


    And if one day, someone strongeres to destroy me and my people, I will harbor no hatred, only regret for my own inadequacy.


    Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all beings as straw dogs. This is the will of the heavens." Zhu Jiu''s cold words reverberated across the world.


    With a single punch, mes soared into the sky, and the world was set aze. Millions of immortal race lives were snuffed out in an instant.


    In just two hours, under Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s leadership, the eldritch army turned the lower seventeen heavens into a blood-soaked wastnd, reaching the entrance of the Eighteenth Heaven.


    As one ascended through the Thirty-Three Heavens, the power of the Mirror of Creation grew more stronger.


    The Eighteenth Heaven marked a qualitative shift.


    "Da Yan, you dare face me alone?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s dispassionate voice resounded through this realm. "Moreover, your schemes have already failed."


    "Despite paying the price in blood, it was all for naught." Zhu Jiu''s fiery eyes locked onto the Imperial Majesty who stood in the air.


    "How can one know sess or failure without trying? I have no regrets, even in defeat." Imperial Majesty Da Yan��s face was pale butposed. He showed no fear, even as news of the failed ambush on Hou Feng reached him.


    "Our battle from years ago left me unsatisfied. Today, let me witness the full might of the Creation Divine Artifacts," Zhu Jiu said,unching his attack without hesitation.


    He wielded no weapons��his bare hands were his mightiest weapons. mes descended from the heavens, bathing the Eighteenth Heaven in an ominous glow.


    The sheer intensity of his power caused both High Eldritches and High Immortals to pale.


    "The power of Creation is beyond your reach," Imperial Majesty Da Yan countered, stepping forward as a bronze mirror soared skyward, casting its light across millions of li, locking onto Zhu Jiu.


    Streams of purple divine light burst forth, colliding with the torrents of me, unleashing untold destruction.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With each step Da Yan took, his vital aura swelled. After nine steps, it had reached an unfathomable level.


    In the sky, he appeared as a transcendent immortal descended from the heavens, ethereal and untouchable, nearly invincible.


    The oppressive aura left hundreds of High Eldritches gasping for air.


    "An Archimmortal?"


    "As expected! I''ve long suspected that you three could channel Archimmortal-level power within Heavenly Pir Mountain," Zhu Jiu remarked, unfazed.


    Unleashing his full power, palm strike after palm strike erupted from him like ming celestial sabers, their strength rivaling that of Imperial Majesty Da Yan.


    Clearly, in terms of Daoprehension, Zhu Jiu far surpassed Da Yan.


    The two shed, their battle obliteratingyer afteryer of arrays and barriers, leaving the Eighteenth Heaven in utter ruin.


    The High Eldritches and High Immortals on both sides watched in stunned silence. This level ofbat was far beyond their ability to intervene; the mere aftershocks could grievously wound them.


    Suddenly, the Mirror of Creation, suspended in the air, shifted. A beam of light shot across millions of li, locking onto Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu in mid-air and freezing him in ce.


    <i>Thud!</i> A streak of purple light cut through the air, piercing Zhu Jiu''s skull. Blood sprayed forth, painting the sky a deep crimson.


    The sight sent shockwaves through the hearts of the immortal race''s High Immortals.


    <i>Crack! </i>Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s body exploded, the st scattering the purple divine light. But almost immediately, the bits of flesh began to reform, though his vital aura was significantly weaker.


    "Haha! Excellent! Da Yan, I''ll remember this move. The next time we meet, I won''t fall for it again," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s voice boomed without a trace of anger.


    <i>Boom!</i> With a palm strike, he shattered the void, mes blocking the oing sword-like purple divine lights. His body became a streak of light, rushing toward the Seventeenth Heaven.


    "Retreat!" hemanded.


    "Go!" Over a hundred High Eldritches turned into streaks of light, vanishing from the Eighteenth Heaven in an instant.


    The eldritch army had withdrawn.


    "They''ve retreated."


    "We��ve held our ground." The remaining High Immortals looked at each other, uncertain whether to celebrate or mourn.


    They had defended their home, but the losses were staggering. Earth Immortals and High Immortals had fallen in droves, and the lower seventeen heavens were left in ruin, their reconstruction a distant prospect.


    More troubling still, the power Zhu Jiu had disyed was terrifying. Even within the Eighteenth Heaven, he could match an Imperial Majesty. If he breached their defenses once, he could do so again.


    "Remain calm and wait. The other two Imperial Majesties will return soon," Da Yan said, his voice devoid of emotion as his form faded from the Eighteenth Heaven.


    "Yes," the High Immortals replied respectfully.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Like a breeze, Imperial Majesty Da Yan passed throughyers of barriers and defenses, returning swiftly to the Thirty-Third Heaven.


    In the empty pce, he sat cross-legged.


    <i>Puh!</i> Blood sprayed from his lips, his vital aura plunging sharply, weaker now than that of an ordinary High Immortal.


    <i>Even after burning my life essence and channeling the power of Creation, I still couldn''t kill Zhu Jiu? </i>Da Yan closed his eyes wearily.


    Indeed, with the full support of the Creation Divine Artifacts, the three Imperial Majesties could reach Archimmortal-level strength, but only in the Thirtieth Heaven.


    In the Eighteenth Heaven, the boost he received from the authority of heaven and earth was insufficient. Normally, he would only possess the mana of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. It was by burning his life essence and using the bronze mirror to conceal his actions that he had tricked Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu into believing he could exhibit the power of a Seventh-Tribtion Archimmortal.


    Yet even so, Da Yan had failed to kill Zhu Jiu, only managing to wound him. Seeing that the situation had turned unfavorable, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu had immediately fled.


    <i>Zhu Jiu is already a great threat.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan thought with a heavy heart, no longer daring to attempt further divination. In his current weakened state, trying to foresee the future would be nothing short of suicidal.


    Yet, even without the need for foresight, Da Yan could sense the grim reality: the odds of the immortal race''s extinction had now soared to over ny percent.


    <i>There are only two paths. One is to use a divine weapon as a vessel to leave this world. The other is to exhaust everything, sacrifice everything, to y Hou Feng.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan pondered silently. <i>Then flee, and wait for an opportunity to reestablish the Thirty-Three Heavens.</i>


    Neither option offered safety; both paths were riddled with peril.

 Chapter 631: First-Degree Eldritch Root (3)

    <h4>Chapter 631: First-Degree Eldritch Root (3)</h4>


    <i>Whichever path we choose, it will be incredibly difficult to traverse, with a high probability of leading to death or a dead end.</i>


    <i>However, in the workings of heaven and earth, there is always a glimmer of hope. Sitting idly and awaiting death is the true path to doom. </i>Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s eyelids lowered slightly. <i>For now, my priority is to fully recover from my injuries.</i>


    Had Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu fought to the death without retreating in their recent battle, there was a seventy percent chance that Imperial Majesty Da Yan would have perished, given the High Eldritch''s tremendous vitality.


    However, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu was unaware of Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s true capabilities and dared not risk it. Having already sustained injuries, he naturally chose to withdraw.


    ...


    The Third Eldritch-Immortal War concluded with two major battles: the Battle of the Earth Archeldritch tribe and the Battle of Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    The eldritch race achieved an unprecedented great victory, reversing the trend of their long-standing decline.


    This war, whichsted nearly a hundred years, inflicted enormous losses on the eldritch race, but their gains were equally substantial. Not only did theypletely eradicate the numerous immortal cities established by the immortal race outside Heavenly Pir Mountain, but they also ughtered over sixty percent of the immortal race''s poption and core territories in one fell swoop.


    And through these two great battles, the names ��Eldritch Deity Hou Feng�� and ��Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu�� spread across the entirety of Huanggu.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is undoubtedly the greatest genius in our eldritch race''s history, bing an Eldritch Deity after just a few hundred years of cultivation."


    "But I heard he''s only an Eldritch General?"


    "Nonsense, he''s clearly an Eldritch Deity."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng may have great talent, but Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu is truly our eldritch race''s number one powerhouse. Even at Heavenly Pir Mountain, he could face an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race without being killed."


    "They''re both peak powerhouses of our eldritch race."


    "Given more time, our eldritch race will surely breach Heavenly Pir Mountain and exterminate the immortal race." Countless eldritch race powerhouses and members sang their praises, spread their deeds, and worshiped them.


    After much discussion, the four Archeldritch tribes of the eldritch race determined a strategy to protect Hou Feng until he stepped into the Earth Eldritch level.


    Three Eldritch Deities now resided permanently within the Earth Archeldritch tribe.


    It was worth noting that there were only six Eldritch Deities in the entire eldritch race, excluding the Snake Progenitor.


    Of course, the highest echelons of the eldritch race did not disturb Wu Yuan as he cultivated.


    ...


    <i>Within a meditation chamber in the Archeldritch Hall.</i>


    <i>The profundities of Life.</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, fully immersed inprehending the True Intent of life.


    As his understanding deepened, various insights began to converge within his internal shambh without conscious effort.


    For qi refiners, the Voidspace was fundamental, with their amethyst cradle being merely a projection of the Voidspace. The amethyst cradle could not sustain living beings.


    The body refiner system was different. A body refiner opened a realm within the body that operated like an independent world, but was rejected by the true heaven and earth, making it difficult for one to perceive the heavens and earth above.


    Even now, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, despite developing a Yuan Soul, could only vaguely perceive the Destiny Voidscape and Faith power. The internal shambh was the core.


    <i>Life True Intent. </i>The essence of the vast and magnificent internal shambh spanning ny thousand li within Wu Yuan''s body was undergoing a continuous transformation.


    The essence of the Celestial Body Dao was continuously evolving towards the essence of the Life Dao.


    As the Dao reflected heaven and earth, the stronger one''sprehension of the Dao, the more powerful the internal shambh would be, with a more vigorous essence.


    For instance, why was it so difficult for some Universe Architect body refiners to be Archeldritches or Archdeities? It was because their internal shambh essence was too weak, their Daoprehension too shallow.


    Meanwhile, some body refiners had incredibly powerful internal shambhs, so once they underwent refinement via the Ninth Immortal Tribtion, they could swiftly create vast true worlds, leaping to the level of Astral Monarchs or Sovereigns.


    When initially opening his shambh, Wu Yuan had constructed it with the Law of Celestial Body at its core.


    The Law of Celestial Body and the Law of Life were of the same lineage, and as shambh had yet to turn into apletely real world, the evolution naturally took ce rapidly.


    However, the process of driving the evolution of the internal shambh''s essence was rather slow. Of course, Wu Yuan was patient, as he wasying his foundation.


    Moreover, he only devoted a portion of his mental energy to this, with the vast majority of his attention continuing to deduce the Law of Life.


    In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.


    <i>It''s finallyplete. </i>Wu Yuan sensed that the essence of his internal shambh was now entirely constructed from the Law of Life.


    This essence had be quite profound, and the entire world seemed to brim with the vibrancy of life.


    Just as the evolution of his shambh''s essence waspleted, the vast and magnificent internal world suddenly trembled. Massive waves of vital ether began surging towards the four corners of the shambh.


    <i>Boom! </i>The Boundary Tree, towering a thousand li between heaven and earth, also began to shake, starting to grow rapidly.


    <i>Rumble! </i>The entire internal shambh began to expand in all directions.


    An intangible barrier was broken.


    <i>Is the body refiner self''s second-degree eldritch root about to transform into a first-degree eldritch root?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, somewhat incredulous.


    It was already beginning to transform?


    Previously, Wu Yuan had been somewhat concerned about his body refiner self''s immortal root. After all, ording to Master Kua Chi, the further one progressed along the path of cultivation, the more difficult it became to upgrade one��s immortal root.


    It was rtively easy during the Elysian Field phase, but once one crossed into the Earth Eldritch level, it would be much more challenging.


    What Wu Yuan hadn''t anticipated was that he would break through so silently and effortlessly.


    First-degree eldritch root!


    <i>Is it because I reconstructed the shambh''s essence with the Law of Life, causing the essence to be so powerful that it evolved naturally?</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    It was like a building; no matter how much it was renovated, it could never escape its original framework��a three-story building could not be turned into a ten-story one just by adding more levels. Only by rebuilding the foundation from scratch was it possible.


    <i>First-degree eldritch root. </i>With a mentalmand Wu Yuan, vast quantities of ethercrystal poured into his internal shambh, rapidly transforming into vital ether. It drove the expansion of his internal shambh at a frenzied pace.


    <i>Several dayster.</i>


    <i>Boom!</i> The internal shambh expanded to its limit, reaching an astonishing maximum diameter of 160,000 li, far more expansive than before. This was the pinnacle of the Elysian Field phase.


    <i>To expand further?</i> Wu Yuan made a slight attempt, only to be met with great resistance. His internal shambh had reached some limit allowed by the workings of heaven and earth.


    There was only one path to break through further: to cross into the Dharma Body phase and be an Earth Eldritch, at which point the internal shambh would naturally undergo another qualitative change.


    The expansion of the internal shambh would strengthen the physical body, increase vital ether, and improve the efficiency of nurturing the soul.


    <i>Most importantly. A powerful shambh essence can support more grand ether arts.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile. <i>I can now cultivate a third grand ether art.</i>


    Each grand ether art was immensely important. In the recent battle against High Immortal Wu Zong, the reason Wu Yuan could hold out for so long, enabling him to break through mid-fight was partly due to having cultivated ��Rending The Heavens��.


    If he could cultivate another grand ether art, Wu Yuan''s strength would surge tremendously once more.


    <i>I''ll cultivate the ''Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor''.</i> Wu Yuan swiftly selected the ether art from his inheritance memories.


    This was an incredibly formidable offensive ether art. It seemed that only one arm was added from the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form to the Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor, yet it represented a kind of perfection and ultimate state in the cosmic order. Many powerful killing techniques would be perfected, and even one��s defenses would improve significantly.


    <i>With this, I''ll have one grand ether art each for defense, movement skill, and offense. These three grand ether arts will cover both attack and defense, allowing me to maximize my strength. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, satisfied with this choice.


    Of course, making the choice was one thing. To cultivate it to a high level and unleash its full potential would simrly require Wu Yuan to invest considerable effort.


    <i>However, having previously cultivated the ''Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form'', and with my extremely high Daoprehension level, mastering the basics shouldn''t be difficult. </i>Wu Yuan''s mind was tranquil as he continued to study this grand ether art.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self made astonishing progress in the mysterious Huanggu World. Meanwhile, across boundless spacetime, within the Immortal Belvedere of the Bei You Realm in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    <i>Life True Intent? Has my body refiner self encountered another great opportunity? </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self pondered, his heart trembling with awe.


    Though unaware of what his body refiner self had experienced, countless insights into the Life Dao flooded unbidden into his mind the moment his body refiner self had broken through, granting his qi refiner self mastery over Life True Intent.


    Wasn��t it a bit too fast?


    <i>My qi refiner self''s soul is stronger and receives more Faith. Though my Dao Body is somewhat inferior, the cultivation environment in the Immortal Belvedere is excellent. Over these decades, I''ve received multiple inheritances from the Dao Temple.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self mused inwardly.


    Yet surprisingly, his body refiner self''s rate of progress was not the slightest bit slower. It had even achieved a breakthrough.


    <i>After refining my techniques a little more, I should be able to clear level one hundred of the two-star tower. </i>The thought shed through Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s mind.

 Chapter 632: First-Degree Eldritch Root (4)

    <h4>Chapter 632: First-Degree Eldritch Root (4)</h4>


    The difficulty of level one hundred of the one-star tower was equivalent to level ny of the two-star tower. In other words, if Wu Yuan were to attempt it now as ''Ming Jian'', he''d be starting from the ny-first floor of the two-star tower.


    One needed to reach the seventh-level Dao Field stage to stand a chance of clearing level one hundred of the one-star tower. But for level one hundred of the two-star tower, one needed to fullyprehend a Lesser Law to have hope of sess.


    <i>However, my current performance is already dazzling enough, and I still have plenty of unused Dao Temple points. There''s no need to attempt it now</i>. Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Attempting it now would bring no particr benefit and would only draw more attention to himself, putting him in greater danger. The risks outweighed the rewards.


    <i>There��s still time, I��ll wait a hundred years. By then, it won''t be as eye-catching.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self decided.


    <i>But, It''s time to see Master Kua Chi. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self suddenly smiled.


    He hadn''t met his master when he first stepped through the threshold of the Law of Life, as it held little significance and hadn''t greatly increased his strength.


    But crystallizing Life True Intent? That was an entirely different matter.


    With a mentalmand, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, arriving at his personal hall. Simultaneously, he requested an audience with Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    His body refiner self was a disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign and had yet to be an Archeldritch, thus he could visit his master directly. But his qi refiner self, having no public ties to the Sovereign, could not enter the Eldritch Sovereign''s ne. He could only request an audience from his personal hall.


    Wu Yuan didn''t have to wait long.


    In less than a quarter hour, a tall figure d in beast hide appeared in Wu Yuan''s personal hall. Where he stood, it was as if heaven and earth had taken form, vast and boundless.


    "Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "This is a rare sight," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled slightly, his voice resonant. "Wu Yuan, it''s been nearly a hundred years since youst contacted me. Even when you cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower, you didn''t inform me."


    "I felt such trivial matters weren''t worth disturbing Master. Thus, I didn''t inform you. Please forgive me," Wu Yuan quickly replied.


    "Haha, no need to worry. I''m not that petty," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chiughed. "When you achieve something or make progress, I will only be happy for you. How could I me you?"


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Although his bond with Master Kua Chi wasn''t as deep as with Master Dong Yang, he had indeed treated him well.


    "Why have you sought me out?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan, quite expectant: "Have you made a breakthrough in the Life Dao? Entered the threshold of the Law of Life?"


    "Master, I have indeed made a breakthrough in the Life Dao, but it''s not entering the initiate threshold," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "Oh?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi frowned slightly: "You haven''t broken through yet?"


    He felt a hint of dissatisfaction. By his estimation, if Wu Yuan had focused wholeheartedly onprehending it, with all his opportunities, he should have crossed the threshold of the Law of Life by now.


    Could it be that he had been distracted by his contemtion of the Law of Space?


    "This disciple has sessfully crystallized Life True Intent. Please observe, Master." Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Silently, a hazy Dao fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan''s body.


    "Hmm? What?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue, staring at Wu Yuan in astonishment.


    He knew this Dao fluctuation all too well. To him, this thread of Dao fluctuation was very weak, yet it contained abundant vitality and an indescribable tenacity. If not Life True Intent, what else could it be?


    ��You... you''veprehended Life True Intent?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was truly stunned.


    Though Wu Yuan had only been his disciple for over a hundred years, Wu Yuan had given him many pleasant surprises, advancing in strength at an rming rate.


    From what was originally, in his eyes, a not particrly outstanding young genius with only heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos making him somewhat special, Wu Yuan had aplished feats that were a ''first in macrocosm history''.


    And now, at just over 170 years old, he hadprehended Life True Intent. This age was still 130 years short of the 300-year limit for the two-star tower.


    At this rate of progress, what heights would Wu Yuan reach in another hundred years?


    <i>Of the thousand-plus disciples I''ve taken, only two crystallized the Life True Intent early on, but the fastest took a thousand years.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi could hardly believe it.


    170 years versus a thousand years - this wasn''t just a tenfold difference in talent. It was a hundredfold gap.


    And the disciples Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had taken were all monstrous prodigies, with the most outstanding among them undoubtedly ranking as first-rate talents in the long river of the macrocosm''s history.


    Yet Wu Yuan had opened up a hundredfold gap with them?


    <i>Moreover, this disciple of mine isn''t solelyprehending the Life Dao. It seems his achievements in the Space Dao are not minor either. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi stared at Wu Yuan, thinking to himself. <i>This sort of talent... I''ve never seen it before.</i>


    What sort of perspective did he have? He stood at the pinnacle of the macrocosm, having lived for eons, traveling to many macrocosms, having adventured through various parts of the endless river of space and time, and was on good terms with many super powerhouses.


    Throughout his long life, he had seen countless monstrous prodigies and geniuses, but none couldpare to Wu Yuan.


    <i>At least, among those of the same age, no one can match him.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought to himself. <i>Truly worthy of being called a Supreme Genius.</i>


    He recalled some legends from the river of space and time. Back then, when he mentioned it to Wu Yuan, it was just to encourage him. He didn''t believe Wu Yuan could actually achieve it. But now, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi felt there was real hope.


    <i>At this rate of progress, he might reach the Dao Field stage of the Life Dao within ten thousand years. A million years to break through from the Dao Field stage topletion. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought to himself.


    With such ample time, the chances of a sessful breakthrough would be exponentially higher.


    ...


    "Master?" Wu Yuan finally spoke. "Is there something wrong with the Life True Intent that I��veprehended?"


    His master remained silent for a long time. Could it be that there was some problem with his Daoprehension? Wu Yuan felt uneasy.


    "There��s no problem! Very good." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi revealed a brilliant smile, sighing: "Compared to you, those senior brothers and sisters of yours all seem mediocre.


    Your rate of progress has exceeded even my expectations." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile, it was rare to receive such praise from Master Kua Chi. He still clearly remembered the evaluation his master had given him when he first entered the sect.


    "Your Senior Brother Chang Hong has cultivated for thousands of years, yet in terms of Daoprehension alone, he''s probably only one level above you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Senior Brother Chang Hong had reached the Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law and was already a heaven-tier member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field. Over a hundred years had passed; perhaps he had made further progress.


    "How is your body refiner self doing?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.


    "It should be fine, though I''m not clear on exactly what it has experienced," Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self said, quickly recounting what he sensed.


    "Mm." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi turned his gaze toward Wu Yuan, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "It seems you''ve indeed experienced a great fortuitous encounter. However, you say Immortal Sovereign Bei You hopes that you canprehend the True Intent of Space?"


    Wu Yuan nodded. "That''s correct. But this disciple has already decided not to pursue that path, focusing instead on the Law of Life."


    "No!" The words burst forth from Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, sharp and sudden. His next words caught Wu Yuan off guard. "Listen to your Grandmaster Bei You." A smile yed across the Eldritch Sovereign''s lips.


    "Hm?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in confusion.


    This was very different from what Master Kua Chi previously said.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s voice took on a measured tone. "If it took you a thousand years toprehend the True Intent of Life, I naturally wouldn''t allow you to divide your attention. The loss would outweigh the gain."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "At that point, even if you aimed to fullyprehend the Law of Life in a million years, it would be extremely difficult," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued. "But things are different now. Your progress in the Law of Life has been... astonishingly swift.


    So fast that it leaves even your master in disbelief," Kua Chi mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Naturally, we should consider the even more distant future..."


    "More distant future?" Wu Yuan echoed, his confusion evident.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "In time, you will understand. To put it simply, your talent is extraordinary. Compared to some ordinary geniuses, you have the luxury of trial and error.


    Moreover, your aptitude for the Law of Space is by no means inferior. It''s worth giving it a try.


    The third stage of training you��ll receive from your Ancestral Master Bei You is an opportunity countless powerful cultivators yearn for, but might never attain. At the very least, it''s not something I can provide," he admitted.


    "You need not cultivate it to too profound a level. Crystallizing the True Intent of Space will suffice," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "Spending several hundred years toprehend it is entirely worthwhile.


    With the understanding of two Greater Laws, you��ll be even more formidable," he added. "Even if it ultimately proves unsuitable and you abandon it, you''ll have only wasted a portion of your qi refiner self''s energy over a few hundred years. The cost is negligible in the grand scheme of things.


    But if you seed..." he paused, "the benefits will be boundless!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 633: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (1)

    <h4>Chapter 633: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (1)</h4>


    <i>Embark on the path of the Space Dao, boundless benefits?</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly with a hint of surprise.


    For Master Kua Chi to speak so highly of this path, the power one could attain upon walking it had to be truly extraordinary.


    As Wu Yuan contemted further, his mind raced with possibilities.


    <i>Though I''m not yet certain of the future Master speaks of...prehending the True Intent of Space would indeed greatly increase my strength.</i> Wu Yuan reflected silently.


    If he could grasp the True Intent of Space, he could physically step into the higher-dimensional Fragmentary Spatial Layer, vastly improving his self-preservation ability. He wouldn''t need to wait until he gained Archimmortal-level strength.


    The Space Dao was profoundly mysterious, second only to the enigmatic Law of Time. Of course, this path would also be extremely challenging. Wu Yuan could foresee that pursuing the Law of Space would prove even more challenging than the Law of Life.


    After all, Wu Yuan had a great affinity for the three Intermediate Laws of the Law of Life: True Domain, Longevity, and Celestial Body.


    But regarding the three Intermediate Laws of Space? His aptitude for the True Domain Dao was undoubtedly exceptional. His aptitude for the Qiankun Dao was decent, having already crystallized Qiankun True Intent.


    However, his talent in the Spatial Rift Dao was merely average. He had only reached the third-level Domain stage, hardly qualifying as top-tier among the countless immortal cultivators of this era in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    <i>Master Kua Chi possesses great knowledge and insight. Since he says the third stage of training mentioned by Ancestral Master Bei You is a great opportunity, it''s likely to be true.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Master Kua Chi''s assessment of the Immutable Land had proven urate, leading Wu Yuan to undergo a profound transformation.


    The rise of any peerless genius was always tied to opportunities, many of which are beyond even what Sovereigns could offer.


    Of course, the vast river of space and time held countless opportunities. One must strive to seize them, just as Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had done step by step in Huanggu.


    <i>At the very least, the two Sovereigns wouldn''t harm me. They''re both urging me toprehend the Law of Space, so they must have some confidence in my sess.</i>


    <i>Moreover, the fundamental principle of the Law of Life is to fight! In the vast mortal realm, one must fight to cross over, battling for that fleeting chance of transcendence. </i>Though Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self was unaware of his body refiner self''s experiences, his body refiner self''s grasp of Life True Intent had gradually begun to alter the thoughts and mindset of his qi refiner self as well.


    There was nothing wrong with being cautious, but excessive caution could also cause one to miss out on many opportunities. At crucial moments, holding back might lead to failure on the cusp of sess. When the timees to fight, one must do so.


    Master Kua Chi had said this path would take up part of his qi refiner self''s mental energy for several centuries. But why not give it a try? Dividing his focus would indeed impact his progress in the Law of Life to some degree, but what if he seeded? The gains and losses were difficult to predict.


    "This disciple understands. In theing years, I shall strive to meet Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s requirements," Wu Yuan solemnly dered. "I am grateful for Master''s guidance."


    "I''ve shown you the path ahead, but you must walk it yourself," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a faint smile. "You��ve exceeded my expectations byprehending the Life True Intent so quickly, and normally I would grant you some rewards. However, it''s not convenient for me to meet your qi refiner self directly.


    For now, I''ll reward you with one hundred Dao Temple points. The other rewards will have to wait. Come look for me again after your body refiner self returns from the Immutable Land," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile.


    "Yes, Master." Wu Yuan was pleasantly surprised.


    One hundred Dao Temple points would allow him to receive twenty simtions of the Law of Life or Law of Space �C already a considerable reward.


    It was worth noting that Dao Temple points were different from ordinary ethercrystal or divine crystals. They couldn''t be purchased withmon treasures or wealth.


    <i>I''m notcking in Dao Temple points now. Whether it��s the Taiyuan Divine Court or the Eldritch Court, I have over a hundred points. I could receive twenty to thirty Greater Law inheritances or nearly a hundred Intermediate Law inheritances from either faction...</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    Wu Yuan had been receiving a Greater Law inheritance every twenty years - already an extravagant expenditure of his points.


    Wu Yuan understood that his progress only seemed rapid because he was just starting out, and Master Kua Chi and Ancestral Master Bei You were showering him with rewards. As his strength increased, progress would inevitably slow.


    Take the Seven Star Luminaries Tower of the Taiyuan Divine Court �C one could challenge it below a million years of age, as long as one had yet to be an Archimmortal. One could imagine how difficult that would be. Naturally, obtaining such rewards would be more challenging as time went on.


    <i>I should conserve them and use them gradually. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Though from Master''s tone, it seems there may be additional rewards once my body refiner self returns?</i>


    "Additionally, your body refiner self��s eldritch root should have been upgraded to the first degree by now," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi stated.


    "A first-degree eldritch root?" Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed. There are many methods to upgrade one''s immortal root. For example, some extremely rare and wondrous treasures can merge with one''s root essence, naturally elevating it greatly, like the Boundary Tree and such," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    "However, treasures that can upgrade one��s eldritch root to the first-degree are exceedingly scarce. It��s moremon for one to cultivate treasures together with the Dao using special secret arts."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    He was already familiar with these general methods.


    "But the most difficult path is that of essence metamorphosis," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile. "Your body refiner self is likely only at the Elysian Field phase. So, as long as youprehend one Greater Law to the True Intent stage, or an Intermediate Law to the Dao Field stage... In short, attaining Archimmortal-levelprehension will lead to an upgrade of your immortal root."


    Wu Yuan was astonished, quickly grasping the implications. At the Void Refiner/Elysian Field level, attaining Archimmortal-level Daoprehension directly upgraded one''s root to first-degree.


    At the Divided Soul/Dharma Body level, Astral Monarch-levelprehension was required for the upgrade.


    At the Tribtion/Universe Architect level, one needed to fullyprehend a Greater Law for the upgrade.


    "The further one advances on the path of cultivation, the more difficult root upgrading bes." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi gazed at Wu Yuan with increasing satisfaction. "Both your true selves have now established first-degree roots, and your Daoprehension is remarkably deep.


    Your foundation is set. There''s no need to dy further. Break through as soon as you��ve reached the minimum time requirement, and strive to reach the High Immortal and High Eldritch levels as early as possible. That will be when you truly shine," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi dered.


    "Yes, Master," Wu Yuan replied solemnly.


    One had to consolidate one��s insights at the ninth-stage Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase for a minimum of three hundred years, and at the ninth-stage Earth Immortal/Earth Eldritch phase for at least eight hundred years.


    <i>In other words, in about a thousand years, if all goes smoothly, I can advance to the High Immortal and High Eldritch levels.</i> Wu Yuan thought with a hint of anticipation.


    "You may leave." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand.


    ...


    This strand of consciousness departed from the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, returning to the meditation chamber of his personal courtyard in the Immortal Belvedere.


    <i>I''m unaware of my body refiner self''s current state, but judging by my progress over the past few centuries, I��ve mainly beenprehending the Law of Life.</i>


    <i>I should harness my understanding of the Law of Life to drive my understanding of the Longevity Dao, advancing myprehension of the Longevity Dao.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self pondered.


    Hisprehension of the Longevity Dao had also reached the third-level True Intent stage, sufficient to support progress in the Law of Life.


    <i>As for my qi refiner self, going forward, I''ll take Master''s advice and focus all my efforts onprehending the Law of Space.</i> Wu Yuan contemted silently.


    His qi refiner self had three major advantages when it came toprehending the Law of Space.


    First was his powerful Yuan Soul. After nearly a century of Visualizing the ck pagoda, his qi refiner self''s Yuan Soul had grown to a terrifying level. With a single thought, he could extend it across eight million li, and that wasn��t even its limit.


    <i>My qi refiner self''s Yuan Soul can rival that of an ordinary High Immortal.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>As for my perception of higher dimensions...</i>


    In an instant, Wu Yuan''s Soul Will spread out, entering the higher-dimensional Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    In the past, he wouldn''t have dared to interact with it, only sensing it faintly. But now? Havingprehended the Law of Space to considerable depths, coupled with his strengthened Yuan Soul, Wu Yuan now dared to manipte a thread of Soul Will, sending it into the Fragmentary Spatial Layer to roam and explore.


    His perception of Space had advanced to another level. But perception was just one aspect; aptitude was crucial. Evidently, after being nurtured by the Fire Divine Gorge Brew, Wu Yuan''s aptitude for Space had grown even stronger.


    Second was the unique environment of the Immortal Belvedere, along with the inheritances of the ��True Domain Law Codex�� and ��Compendium of the Law of Space��.


    Third was the abundance of Dao Temple points, allowing him to repeatedly receive inheritances and obtain the best guidance.


    <i>I��ll give it my all, sparing no expense. A thousand years? There are still 920 years until Ancestral Master Bei You''s deadline.</i> Wu Yuan had a clear cultivation n in mind.


    <i>First, advance myprehension of the Spatial Rift Dao to the True Intent stage. Once all three Intermediate Laws reach the True Intent stage, it will signify that I''ve truly mastered different aspects of the Law of Space, with no more gaps in knowledge. Then, fusing them and stepping into the Space Domain stage will be much easier.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    This was what Wu Yuan had learned from his past experienceprehending Life True Intent.


    First, he wouldy a sufficiently deep foundation, but not so deep as to be affected by Dao Assimtion, then proceed with fusion.


    <i>Let''s begin</i>. From this day forward, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self devoted himself wholly toprehending and deducing the Law of Space.

 Chapter 634: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (2)

    <h4>Chapter 634: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (2)</h4>


    Days passed one after another.


    <i>In the mysterious Huanggu World, within the Archeldritch tower of the Earth Archeldritch tribe.</i>


    <i>Hmm? Myprehension of the Law of Space, especially my understanding of Spatial Rift, is rapidly improving.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self swiftly noticed.


    This rate of progress wasn''t particrly fastpared to the other two Intermediate Laws of Space. But in terms of the Spatial Rift Dao alone, his progress was dozens of times faster.


    There could be only one possibility��his qi refiner self was fully devoted toprehending the Spatial Rift Dao.


    <i>Could it be that my qi refiner self encountered some special circumstance, necessitating an attempt to cross the threshold of the Law of Space? </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self pondered.


    However, he was also powerless. Their consciousnesses were separated. He couldn''t make an urate judgment of the situation.


    <i>I am still myself, both true selves are me, so I trust the decision made will be the right one. </i>Wu Yuan had full confidence in himself.<i> Very well, while my qi refiner self focuses entirely onprehending the Law of Space, I shall continue toprehend the Law of Life.</i>


    <i>It''s a pity that the silver sphere Master Kua Chi gave me is no longer of much use. </i>Wu Yuan brought his attention to the massive silver sphere within his internal shambh.


    At this moment, the countless Dao patterns upon it werepletelyid bare to Wu Yuan, with no secrets left to speak of, for he had fullyprehended them.


    <i>The path ahead will rely on guidance from the profound essence of the Law of Life.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self already had some ideas about his future cultivation path.


    <i>The support I��m gaining from the Eldritch Tower is also diminishing. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the surrounding walls. Those Dao patterns were still profound and mysterious, but in truth theycked systematic structure. The guiding effect they used to provide was now gone.


    <i>Let''s go!</i> Wu Yuan took a step forward, the bronze gates opened, and he flew out. This time, his seclusion hadsted nearly two years.


    ��Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, you��ve emerged.�� Not far away, a figure in white robes with white hair sat in lotus position, calmly watching Wu Yuan.


    "Veteran Elder Hou Qiong." Wu Yuan spoke.


    "I''ve heard about your deeds. Truly admirable," A rare smile showed on Veteran Elder Hou Qiong''s face. "I''ve already sent word of your emergence to the Snake Ancestor and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly and inquired, "How is the war situation?��


    "The great war has ended... And to this day, we still maintain a garrison in the Heavenly Pir Mountain region," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said.


    Wu Yuan soon understood the state of the war.


    The Third Eldritch-Immortal War had ended in aplete victory for the eldritch race. After this battle, the highest echelons of the eldritch race had reached a consensus, establishing a permanent military camp in the Heavenly Pir Mountain region. Three Eldritch Deities and arge contingent of High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches were stationed there year-round, ready tounch a decisive battle against the immortal race at a moment��s notice.


    Over these two years, the great battles across various regions had gradually subsided. The immortal race, having suffered heavy losses, had not moved their main forces away from Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    "Go then. Thest time you broke through, there wasn''t an official celebration," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said with a faint smile. "This time, I imagine the tribe will hold a grand celebration. The emergence of a new Eldritch Deity is truly rare."


    "I won''t be attending." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to say more.


    Wu Yuan bowed slightly and flew away.


    ...


    As Veteran Elder Hou Qiong had predicted, Wu Yuan''s emergence from seclusion immediately sent the entire Earth Archeldritch tribe into a festive atmosphere, and they swiftly organized a grand celebration.


    However, there weren''t many High Eldritches in the tribe now, with fewer than fifty remaining. Most of the High Eldritches were stationed on the front lines of Heavenly Pir Mountain. This was the duty of the eldritch race''s top powerhouses.


    The celebrationsted for quite a few days. Apart from the High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches from the Earth Archeldritch tribe, the other three Archeldritch tribes also came to offer congrattions. Of course, most only sent their ether bodies.


    "So young."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is only at the Eldritch General phase? The rumors were actually true."


    "Indeed, he''s only an Eldritch General, but anyone who treats him like one is a real fool. He can unleash saber techniques at the Eldritch Deity level."


    "He can already harness the power of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to such an extent as an Eldritch General. Just imagine what he''ll be capable of when he bes a High Eldritch?" The Earth Eldritches discussed in hushed tones, surprised by Wu Yuan''s cultivation level and in awe of his strength.


    And through this celebration, Wu Yuan''s status as an Eldritch Deity of the Huanggu eldritch race was officially confirmed. He was now part of the highest echelon of the entire eldritch race.


    <i>After the celebration concluded.</i>


    "An Archeldritch jade?" Wu Yuan thumbed the token in his hand.


    "Yes." The Snake Ancestor nodded, "Thend is vast and boundless, making it difficult to maintain constantmunication. This world imposes many limitations on voidrealms, including the number that can be constructed.


    Through the Archeldritch jade, the highest echelons of our eldritch race can maintain contact at all times. They are not easy to craft, and are usually only provided to veteran elders." The Snake Ancestor exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    He now understood the hierarchy ofbat strengths of the top powerhouses. At the top were the Snake Ancestor, the six Eldritch Deities, and himself when empowered by the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. Below that were the High Eldritch veteran elders, fewer than thirty in total.


    "What are your ns now?" the Snake Ancestor inquired.


    "I n to leave the Archeldritch tribe," Wu Yuan smiled.


    The Snake Ancestor was taken aback.


    "Being confined to one ce isn''t particrly beneficial for my cultivation," Wu Yuan calmly said. "Toprehend the Law of Life, I need to travel far and wide. The Law of Life isn''t just about merging the profundities of the Dao, but also about experiencing the wonders of life, to understand and to witness the living beings of this world."


    He paused.


    "Moreover," Wu Yuan added with a smile, "I''ve been in this world for nearly a hundred years, yet I haven''t had the chance to properly explore this vastnd. It would be a shame not to. With countless living beings, there must be many incredible marvels."


    The Snake Ancestor nodded. He wasn��t entirely sure how oneprehended the Law of Life. But he knew one thing: for a monstrous prodigy like Wu Yuan, the path of cultivation wasn''t something that he, a High Eldritch who had failed to break through despite cultivating for tens of millions of years, couldment on.


    If you don''t understand? Then don''t try to give misguided advice, but instead find ways to address any concerns.


    "The path of cultivation is yours to walk," the Snake Ancestor smiled. "However, we must ensure your safety. We''ve already suffered once from the Mirror of Creation; we can''t afford to make the same mistake again.


    Let me think." The Snake Ancestor pondered briefly: "With me guarding the Archeldritch tribe, hmm, I''ll have Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Veteran Elder Hou Zhi apany you as manservants, protecting you along the way. They won''t interfere with your cultivation.


    This way, with the three of youbined, even if all three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were to attack, you''d have the power to protect yourselves. Additionally, if there''s any danger, seek help immediately."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    An Eldritch Deity and a veteran elder as his manservants?


    "Will they be willing?" Wu Yuan asked hesitantly.


    "Haha, they will be," the Snake Ancestorughed. "It''s not like they''ll actually be manservants, it''s just a disguise. Besides, they won''t need to protect you for too long.


    In another century or two, once you reach the Earth Eldritch level, your strength should almost rival Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. At that time, you won''t need protection anymore," the Snake Ancestor said.


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    That was true. Once he reached the Earth Eldritch level, with the enhancement of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, his strength would experience another surge.


    "Alright, then I''ll be troubling you," Wu Yuan didn''t refuse again.


    Given the opportunity for greater safety while exploring, why turn it down? After all, who knew if the Mirror of Creation could predict his exact location? If his lone venture enticed the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race to attack him, that would be truly dangerous.


    ...


    <i>Two dayster, at the edge of the Archeldritch tribe.</i>


    "Hou Quan, make sure to work hard," Wu Yuan smiled as he looked at the youth. Though he appeared young, he was extremely mature.


    "Yes, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng!" Hou Quan nodded, looking at Wu Yuan with a somewhat emotional gaze. Then he grinned and said, "Even if I can''t be an Eldritch Deity, I''ll strive to be an Earth Eldritch or even a High Eldritch."


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    They were still good friends even after his breakthrough in strength.


    "Hou Feng, you''ve only been out of seclusion for a few days, and you''re leaving again?" Hou Tong��s eyes were slightly reddened.


    Now that Wu Yuan had be an Eldritch Deity, many Eldritch Generals and Earth Eldritch in the tribe were extremely respectful towards him, and even Hou Quan showed a hint of restraint during their interactions.


    Only Eldritch General Hou Tong remained just as she had been before. The slightly unusual rtionship between the two was already old news to the Archeldritch tribe.


    The highest echelons of the eldritch race weed this development, with few objections. After all, Hou Tong''s talent and background were already unparalleled among the younger generation of the eldritch race.


    "Isn''t this what cultivation is all about?" Wu Yuan smiled softly, gazing at the woman before him, whose passion bloomed like a fierce flower.


    "Are you avoiding me?" Eldritch General Hou Tong suddenly blurted out, gritting her teeth. "Yes, you''re extraordinarily gifted, already an Eldritch Deity, and might even be an Archeldritch in the future. But am I really not worthy of you?"


    Wu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It''s not about worth. We''re all independent individuals. Even if there''s a gap in power, we''re still equals in this matter.


    It''s just that I''m not interested in romance at the moment," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head. "I''ll be off now."


    In an instant, Wu Yuan soared into the sky, vanishing into the clouds. Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi were waiting for him outside the tribe.


    Eldritch General Hou Tong stared at Wu Yuan''s retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She had trulyid her heart bare.


    "Eldritch General Hou Tong, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is merely going on a journey across thend, not embarking on a life-or-death battle," Eldritch General Hou Quan spoke up. "Actually, you could just go with him."


    Eldritch General Hou Tong was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with joy. "Hou Quan, this is the first time I''ve realized how clever you are."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Eldritch General Hou Tong transformed into a streak of light, shooting up into the sky and swiftly piercing through the clouds, racing to catch up with Wu Yuan and the others.


    As Eldritch General Hou Tong drew near, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi exchanged a nce of seasoned familiarity, as if they had witnessed it all before.


    Wu Yuan smiled, no longer resisting the inevitable.


    With their group��s strength, protecting Eldritch General Hou Tong wasn��t difficult.


    "Since you''ve followed us this far, you''d best cultivate diligently," Wu Yuan dered. "I''ll have Eldritch Deity Hou Tu tutor you along the way. If you fail to meet my expectations, I��ll send you back."


    "Hmph. You don��t have to tell me that. Grandfather Hou Tu will naturally instruct me," Eldritch General Hou Tong snapped.


    As the granddaughter of Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, she too referred to him as ''grandfather''.


    "One more thing," Wu Yuan added. "From this day forward, you''ll address me as Young Master for the duration of our journey."


    "And why should I do that?"


    "Because even Eldritch Deity Hou Tu calls me Young Master now," Wu Yuan replied with a grin. "Consider yourself my maidservant."


    "I refuse to be a maidservant."


    "Then you''re free to leave," Wu Yuan said coolly.


    Eldritch General Hou Tong red at Wu Yuan, her eyes burning with indignation.


    "Come, I''ll teach you a set of teachings to conceal your aura. Don''t let it slip," Wu Yuan offered.


    While Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi could mask their presence beyond the detection of ordinary Earth Eldritches, Eldritch General Hou Tongcked such an ability and would need to learn special techniques.

 Chapter 635: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (3)

    <h4>Chapter 635: Time Passes, Stone Sculpture (3)</h4>


    And so their group set out to explore the vastnds of Huanggu, a realm so immense it spanned billions of li in every direction, with countless tribes calling this ce home.


    As their journey progressed, Wu Yuan gradually discovered that beyond the eldritch race, numerous other intelligent species inhabited this boundlessnd. They did not upy the spirit veins, and most were quite weak, with the majority still mortal. Only a rare few managed to be immortal cultivators.


    The eldritch race ruled thisnd, but they were not its sole inhabitants. Even the lowliest eldritch tribe was an overwhelmingly powerful force in the eyes of the weaker races.


    <i>The war between the immortal race and eldritch race rages on, yet for many of the lesser races on the fringes of the world, it remains a distant conflict.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    They passed by numerous civilizations on their travels. Some upied mere tens of thousands of li, situated far from spirit veins, yet still possessed fascinating and unique cultures.


    Time flowed onward, and years turned into decades. In the blink of an eye, over a century had passed.


    ...


    <i>Within the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    <i>Level one hundred of the two-star tower wasn��t much of a challenge.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self easily conquered it.


    Yetpared to his previous feat of conquering the one-star tower, this aplishment caused little stir. Even many Astral Monarchs paid it only passing attention.


    Ming Jian''s reputation as an unparalleled genius was already well established. Only various Astral Monarchs of the Bei You faction congratted him, and neither Immortal Sovereign Bei You nor Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi came to see Wu Yuan.


    In their view, someone who could conquer level one hundred of the one-star tower would naturally conquer the two-star tower as well.


    "Ming Jian is the number one prodigy in the history of our Greenridge Macrocosm." Such praise began to circte, though it had yet to gain universal eptance, after all, he was still quite young.


    If he could conquer level one hundred of the three-star, four-star, and five-star towers, then he might truly earn the recognition of all the super powerhouses.


    ...


    <i>Meanwhile, in the mysterious realm of Huanggu.</i>


    To Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, a century went by in the blink of an eye.


    But for Wu Yuan? It was a time of profound transformation. Never before had he wandered thend with such freedom, visiting countless eldritch tribes and other civilizations without encountering danger or attacks from the immortal race.


    Carefree and unfettered, his heart grew ever more tranquil, yet not truly at peace. For beneath the leisurely exterior, he observed the lives of countless beings, absorbing their joys and sorrows.


    Gradually, Wu Yuan began to spend longer durations in small tribes, living as an ordinary member of the eldritch race to experience their way of life.


    The Ju Hong Tribe was a mid-tier tribe, unremarkable among the countless eldritch settlements. It upied a small spirit vein, home to tens of millions of the eldritch tribespeople. It was like a small nation.


    On the eastern side of the tribe''s main city stood a vast courtyard. A crowd of finely dressed eldritch race members had gathered to watch from a distance.


    <i>Thunk!</i> Chipped fragments of stone fell to the grass as a figure in white robes wielded his tools. Slowly, a ten-man-high boulder began to take the shape of a strange beast. [1]


    Its head was thrown back in a roar. The eyes, fur, tail, and facial features all appeared lifelike, but most striking was the spiritual resonance it exuded. It seemed to be on the verge ofing alive.


    "Truly incredible."


    "Indeed. Who would dare question the skills of Master Thousand Mountains? Do you know how many people have tried and failed tomission a thunder beast statue from him?"


    "It''s so realistic, as if it could spring to life at any moment."


    "If only my father had given me enough ethercrystal... I''d buy it in a heartbeat." The nobles of the tribe whispered among themselves.


    When the granaries are full, one learns etiquette.


    The eldritch race had risen from primordial chaos, yet even after countless millennia, despite their ongoing war with the immortal race and the pressures they faced, they had notpletely stagnated in artistic pursuits.


    While cultivation in the pursuit of longevity and power remained paramount, fields such as cuisine, fashion, painting, and more continued to advance.


    However, perhaps due to their inherently rugged nature, the eldritch race preferred collecting stone sculptures and weapons over delicate paintings or calligraphy.


    Wu Yuan had dwelt in this tribe for nearly a decade, purchasing a mansion here. When the mood struck him, would create stone sculptures for sale.


    At first, the prices were modest. But as his reputation spread, the value of his work skyrocketed. Now, he was widely acknowledged as the finest sculptor in the capital of the tribe.


    Yet Wu Yuan only ever carved thunder beasts, and he never sold them to individuals, even to those who imed to be of high status and influence. Paradoxically, this only served to increase his fame within the Ju Hong Tribe.


    "The young master''s sculptures grow ever more lifelike," one figure remarked.


    "Indeed. He began with wood carvings on the road, then gradually progressed to stone. At first, it was small rocks, but now he works with massive boulders," replied another.


    "It feels to me as though this sculpture contains a spark of life within it." The two figures, who appeared to be manservants of some kind, conversed quietly at the edge of the courtyard.


    They were none other than Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi.


    With their vast experience, they naturally sensed something extraordinary about the beast sculpture. It seemed to contain a special, mystical artistic conception.


    ...


    <i>Carving wood is easier, as nts are inherently forms of life, making it simple to imbue the sculpture with spirituality.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself, his gaze fixed upon the massive stone sculpture before him.


    He had never forced himself to sculpt, merely following the guidance of his heart. This was but one method to cultivate the Law of Life.


    <i>Life... Once one grasps the True Intent of Life, the next step is to observe all things, to understand the profundities of life''s workings, toprehend the unique spirituality possessed by living beings.</i> Wu Yuan reflected silently.


    He had chosen sculpting as his medium. And his subject? The thunder beast!


    The reason was simple: the Creation Essence Diagrams had left a deep impression upon him, particrly the spiritual resonance emanating from the thunder beasts depicted within.


    He had begun with wood, but ultimately chose stone.


    <i>Stone is lifeless. Thinking about it now, the so-called thunder beasts of the Thunder Marsh World were merely imbued with spirituality by Astral Monarch Wan Lei to resemble a form of life. He used the Essence Great Dao containing the Law of Life, with Thunder as its foundation, to grant them a spirituality akin to true living beings. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    He continued his work, lost in thought.


    <i>A stone sculpture, no matter how vivid, remains lifeless in the end. Perhaps one day, if I can truly bring this sculpture to ''life'', make it move and run circles around me like a living creature, I might reach the Dao Field stage of Life. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    s, that goal was still far away.


    Wu Yuan knew that those who hadprehended the Law of Life to its highest levels could even attempt to create life itself. For now, he could only imitate it.


    As thest stone chips fell away, the massive sculpture wasplete. Before him stood a thunder beast so lifelike, it seemed ready to leap from its prison of stone at any moment.


    Its aura was overwhelming. Its eyes in particr seemed to contain a subtle yet palpable pressure that made many of the well-dressed, young Eldritch Soldiers in the za hold their breaths.


    It was terrifying!


    What they didn''t know was that Wu Yuan had carved this using the Creation Essence Diagram and thunder beast elites as temtes. Oncepleted, its aura was naturally intense.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A woman in red suddenly darted out, arriving at the base of the stone sculpture. Her gaze swept over the crowd as she smiled and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, as per our usual rules, the starting price is one hundred catties of ethercrystal. Each bid must increase by at least ten catties of ethercrystal. Let''s begin."


    "200 catties of ethercrystal."


    "300 catties of ethercrystal."


    "320 catties of ethercrystal."


    ...


    "1800 catties of ethercrystal." The number of bidders dwindled as the price climbed.


    After all, it was just a stone sculpture. No matter how marvelous, it was only a collector��s item and didn''t contain any profundities of the Dao. Naturally, its price wouldn''t be too outrageous.


    "Ten thousand catties of ethercrystal." A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. A young man in silver robes stepped forward, surrounded by a group of people.


    Amotion erupted as everyone turned to look.


    Ten thousand catties of ethercrystal for a stone sculpture? Had he gone mad?


    The silver-robed youth wore a slight smile, his face brimming with arrogance. He seemed to relish the attention of the crowd, his eyes betraying a hint of greed.


    "It''s Young Master Zhu Ren."


    "Him?"


    "I didn''t know he was interested in sculptures." The crowd immediately recognized the youth as a famous Eldritch Warrior from the tribe.


    His fame, however, wasn''t due to his strength. It was because of his powerful background. He was the son of an Eldritch General, albeit an unremarkable third son.


    But for a mid-tier tribe like the Ju Hong Tribe, where their strongest members were merely a few Eldritch Generals, having an Eldritch General for a father was enough for Zhu Ren to act wilfully with few consequences.


    Whenever he made minor transgressions, the tribe''sw enforcement would turn a blind eye to them.


    "Ten thousand catties of ethercrystal, are you sure?" Hou Tong, wearing red robes and acting as a maidservant, frowned slightly. "Once confirmed, you can''t back out."


    "Haha. When have I, Zhu Ren, ever gone back on my word? I''ve long heard that Master Thousand Mountains is exceptionally skilled, and today I see his reputation is well-deserved." The silver-robed youth, Zhu Ren, grinned widely.


    "However, these ten thousand catties of ethercrystal aren''t just for this stone sculpture. I was hoping to persuade Master Thousand Mountains to part with this servant girl of his. What do you say?" Zhu Ren fixed his gaze on Hou Tong, his eyes gleaming with greed.


    Hou Tong''s eyes briefly reflected a wintry chill.


    Even though she was concealing her aura and pretending to be a servant, she was still a young Eldritch General, and had far from mastered the art ofpletely suppressing her aura like Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and the others. So, her aura asionally leaked out at times, giving those who sensed it the impression that she had a unique quality.


    This was something that ordinary servants and even Eldritch Warriors didn''t possess. And just now, it had caught Zhu Ren''s attention.


    The stone sculpture? He had onlye to see what themotion was about after hearing about a master sculptor here.


    But after arriving, he found himself immediately attracted to Hou Tong. The red-robed woman before him made his heart itch with desire.


    "He wants the servant girl?"


    "This Zhu Ren, is he here to cause trouble?"


    "But it''s just a servant girl. Her bearing is indeed extraordinary, but Master Thousand Mountains... although his sculpting skills are high, he''s still just an Eldritch Soldier. He probably wouldn��t dare offend Zhu Ren." The onlookers whispered among themselves, but no one dared to intervene.


    With Zhu Ren''s background, few in the tribe��s capital dared to provoke him.


    Hou Tong''s eyes shed with cold intent. She clenched her hands, ready to unleash her power. "You''re looking for..."


    "Little Tong, since Young Master Zhu Ren has made a bid, he is our guest. Don''t be rude." Wu Yuan''s calm voice drifted from nearby.


    Hou Tong frowned slightly.


    "Is Master Thousand Mountains afraid?"


    "It seems so." The crowd wasn''t surprised. Ordinary Eldritch Warriors might not dare to offend Master Thousand Mountains, given the high status of master sculptors.


    But Zhu Ren?


    "Haha, I see Master Thousand Mountains knows how to conduct himself." Zhu Ren''s smile grew even brighter as he leered at Hou Tong. "It''s an auction, after all. The highest bidder wins. I''ll leave ten thousand catties of ethercrystal here. Come, take the sculpture back to my ce, and as for the girl..."


    "We always treat our guests with politeness." Wu Yuan''s calm voice continued. "Leave him an intact corpse."


    "Yes, Young Master." A fierce light shed in Hou Tong''s eyes.


    The onlookers were stunned.


    Intact corpse? Were they hearing him correctly?


    "What?" Zhu Ren was equally stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    His entourage was just as shocked.


    "How dare you screw around with me? You''ll leave me an intact..." Zhu Ren was about to explode in anger when suddenly, fear shed across his eyes.


    "You want me? Here Ie!" The harmless-looking servant girl��s eyes were now cold as ice.


    Swift as lightning, her palm struck out.


    1. any guesses as to how tall one man is? ?

 Chapter 636: The Final Gambit (1)

    <h4>Chapter 636: The Final Gambit (1)</h4>


    "Not good."


    "Young Master!" The two peak-stage Eldritch Warrior experts following Zhu Ren also paled.


    They were responsible for protecting Zhu Ren. Within the tribe''s capital, given their strength and Zhu Ren''s background, they usually encountered no danger, with no one daring to provoke them. But today, they had clearly run into an iron te. [1]


    "Me?" Zhu Ren was merely an early-stage Eldritch Warrior, a pampered young master who had never experienced any life-or-death battles.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The two peak-stage Eldritch Warriors instantly erupted with power, their bodies growing to enormous proportions as they moved to block Hou Tong''s attack.


    But the distance was too close. How could Hou Tong, a peak-stage Eldritch General who had been trained for years by two Eldritch Deities and a High Eldritch veteran elder, miss her target at close range?


    <i>Boom~ Boom~ </i>The giant palm instantly split into several fleshy giant hands, two of which grabbed the two peak-stage Eldritch Warriors. They struggled and unleashed their power, but despite employing their ether arts, they couldn''t move an inch.


    Their expressions crumpled in horrified disbelief. Even with their peak-stage Eldritch Warrior strength, they were powerless to resist?


    <i>Boom! </i>At the same moment, thergest palm directly passed above the crowd, grabbing Zhu Ren, as though he were just a small insect. Her fingers mped around him, immobilizing himpletely. He couldn��t even make a sound.


    <i>St~ </i>The sound of someone squashing a fleshy insect echoed.


    The giant palm opened, revealing weapons and armor scattered on the ground, along with an assortment of bloody body parts and flesh.


    Zhu Ren was dead!


    Elysian Field cultivators could regenerate from a drop of blood, thus one had to destroy all their flesh to kill them.


    As for Shambh cultivators, though they could survive having their heads or hearts pierced, their bodies were far less miraculous. As long as their souls were extinguished or their internal shambhs shattered, they could be quickly killed.


    <i>Boom~ Boom~</i> The two peak-stage Eldritch Warrior Protectorates and remaining ordinary followers were sent flying out of the courtyard with massive ps, looking no better than dead dogs.


    For Hou Tong, killing Zhu Ren was enough. There was no need to take his followers�� lives.


    This scene left the many tribe nobles who were here to watch the auction stunned, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.


    Without a doubt, this seemingly unremarkable red-robed maidservant was actually an incredibly terrifying powerhouse.


    "Quick, let''s go."


    "Run."


    "Hurry, we must report to the Eldritch General." The followers fled the courtyard in terror, turning into several streaks of light.


    Inside the courtyard, all was silent.


    "Alright everyone, the troublemaker has been dealt with. Let''s continue with the auction," Hou Tong said calmly, her aura returning to normal, as if she had truly just squashed an annoying bug.


    But everyone stared at the pile of shredded flesh not far away, swallowing unconsciously.


    Auction? How could anyone still be thinking of the auction?


    These so-called tribe nobles were mostly from Eldritch Warrior families, and the majority were at the Eldritch Soldier phase, only indulging in other pursuits due to their inferior talent. They were far from the true holders of power in the tribe.


    Real experts focused on cultivation. Why would theye to view the works of a so-called master sculptor? Even if they wanted to see them, they would usually just summon the artist to their residence.


    The status of a master artist might be high in the eyes of ordinary eldritch race members, but to true bigshots? It wasn''t worth mentioning.


    "Little Tong, let them go," Wu Yuan spoke up from nearby.


    "Fine then." Eldritch General Hou Tong frowned slightly, but followed his instructions, "Alright, the young master has spoken. You may leave."


    "Thank you, Master Thousand Mountains."


    "Thank you, Master."


    "Quick, let''s go." In the blink of an eye, the hundreds of people gathered in the za scattered and fled rapidly in all directions.


    They could see that this Master Thousand Mountains had an extremely powerful background. Even his maidservant possessed formidable strength.


    However, this was the Ju Hong Tribe, with Eldritch Generals in their ranks. Moreover, they were within the tribe''s territory. How could ordinary experts act brazenly here?


    The courtyard quickly emptied.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Hou Tong flew over to Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and High Eldritch Hou Zhi. She snorted, "Not fun."


    Wu Yuan and the others looked at each other, chuckling.


    "Many tribes of the eldritch race seem to have grown somewhatx again," High Eldritch Hou Zhi sighed.


    "Mm. Another Eldritch-Immortal War has ended, our eldritch race achieved a great victory and has already suppressed the immortal race. Moreover, the vast majority of regions were unaffected by the great war," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said in a low voice. "Without external threats, internal strife and hedonistic trends will naturally arise."


    "All systems will gradually degenerate. This is the norm," Wu Yuan said calmly.


    The three of them were part of the highest echelons of the Huanggu eldritch race. On this journey across thend, they had passed through many eldritch tribes, seeing many pampered young masters, as well as some seemingly powerful tribes that were actually already crumbling internally.


    They had seen quite a bit.


    Someone like Zhu Ren? He was just an unremarkable one among the many pampered young masters they had encountered, and he had only wanted to buy a maid with ethercrystal, not yet reaching the point of outright robbery.


    In some eldritch tribes, only a few powerful experts and bloodline family members of the bigshots lived in abundance, while the remaining eldritch members were treated little better than ves. There weren��t many such tribes, but they did exist.


    "Our eldritch race is inherently united, passionate, and warlike, but with human nature, many things are unavoidable," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said. "The only thing we can do is to inspect and reform the system repeatedly.��


    "The strong should have privileges, but these privileges should be kept within boundaries, not expanded unscrupulously," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said.


    Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu both nodded, clearly having reached a consensus on this matter.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, when are we leaving?" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu smiled. "Our cover here has been blown, so we should move to another ce, right?"


    "Mm. The few of us can''t sort out the entire Huanggu eldritch race on our own, but since we''vee to this tribe, we might as well do a little management," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "Moreover, we''ve also run into an acquaintance, so there''s no need for us to intervene personally."


    "Indeed, an acquaintance."


    "Let''s go!"


    Without much to pack up, Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, High Eldritch Hou Zhi, and Hou Tong turned into streaks of light and departed.


    As for that thunder beast sculpture? It was left in its original position.


    With their power, the defense array of this mid-tier tribe didn��t show the slightest disturbance as they departed.


    ...


    As a mid-tier tribe, the Ju Hong Tribe upied quite arge area, spanning over a hundred thousand li.


    Inside arge hall, a banquet was currently underway.


    "What? My Zhu Ren is dead? Someone killed him outright?" The host of this banquet was none other than Eldritch General Zhu Yan, Zhu Ren��s father. Listening to his subordinate''s report, a hint of anger colored his face.


    He had several sons, and Zhu Ren was just the most unremarkable among them. Thus, he didn''t care much about him and didn''t expect him to achieve much. But no matter how little he cared, that was still his son. Hearing that his son had been killed, a surge of fury naturally filled his heart.


    "Let''s go take a look. Who is this person who dares act so boldly in the tribe''s capital?" Eldritch General Zhu Yan stood up, about to leave.


    <i>Hum~</i> A terrifying wave of pressure suddenly descended. Eldritch General Zhu Yan, who had just stood up, fell back onto his chair with a thud. A hint of terror shed in his eyes.


    What level of pressure was this?


    The dozens of Eldritch Warriors at the banquet copsed to the ground, each one overwhelmed with fear.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> In the sky above the hall, three figures appeared. The leader was an elderly man in ck robes, with a man and a woman in purple robes at his side.


    "Chieftain?" Eldritch General Zhu Yan looked somewhat dazedly at the middle-aged man in purple robes whose posture was simr to a manservant.


    His own chieftain, acting like a servant? Then what kind of existence was this ck-robed elderly man?


    "Zhu Yan, you havemitted a grave error. Do you understand your mistake?" The middle-aged man in purple robes red at Eldritch General Zhu Yan, shouting sternly.


    Eldritch General Zhu Yan grew even more confused, but those at his level didn��t get there without a brain.


    In an instant, he vaguely understood. His son had offended a terrifying existence? Was it this ck-robed elderly man, an Earth Eldritch?


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "Chieftain! I was wrong." Eldritch General Zhu Yan no longer cared about what the others present would think of him. He fell heavily to his knees, tears welling up as he cried bitterly, "It��s all my fault! I failed to educate my son properly, causing him to vite the tribe''s rules. I beg the chieftain to punish me severely."


    Complete silence.


    The Eldritch Warriors sprawled on the ground stared at him, mouths agape. How could their mighty Eldritch General Zhu Yan act like this?


    "Ju Hong, your subordinates are quite interesting. No wonder he could raise such a son," the ck-robed elderly man shook his head slightly, ncing at the purple-robed man. "Your tribe still has room for improvement."


    The purple-robed man''s forehead glistened with sweat as he lowered his voice, "Veteran Elder, it was my oversight."


    The ck-robed elderly man was, in fact, an Earth Eldritch veteran elder from the high-tier eldritch tribe that the Ju Hong Tribe was affiliated with.


    Eldritch General Ju Hong had previously left this high-tier eldritch tribe to establish his own tribe.


    As it happened, this veteran elder was visiting the Ju Hong Tribe these past few days. He was also the acquaintance mentioned by Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others.


    "Enough, Ju Hong. Considering this is your first offense, and those seniors didn''t pursue the matter, I''ll let you off," the ck-robed elderly man said nonchntly.


    "Thank you, Veteran Elder." Eldritch General Ju Hong breathed a sigh of relief.


    "As for you?" The ck-robed elderly man nced at the now-silent Eldritch General Zhu Yan below. "I won''t kill you, but you are to be banished to the border army for thirty thousand years."


    Eldritch General Zhu Yan''s face paled.


    The eldritch race, scattered across thend, did maintain border armies, mostlyposed of forces from Archeldritch tribes and numerous high-tier eldritch tribes. These armies patrolled the vastnds, crushing rebellions and resistance from various major races.


    Normally, an Eldritch General would serve in the border army for three thousand years. Thirty thousand years?


    It was worth noting that Eldritch General Zhu Yan had already lived for over ten thousand years, with less than twenty thousand years of his lifespan remaining. This sentence was tantamount to life imprisonment, unless he could break through and be an Earth Eldritch.


    "Zhu Yan, aren��t you going to thank the Veteran Elder for his leniency?" the purple-robed man bellowed angrily.


    "Zhu Yan thanks the Veteran Elder," Eldritch General Zhu Yan said in a low voice, his heart filled with resentment, yet not daring to show even a hint of defiance.


    Defiance meant death!


    1. kicking/running into an iron te (ײ��������) implies encountering unexpected difficulty or opposition, often from someone or something that proves to be much tougher or more formidable than anticipated. ?

 Chapter 637: The Final Gambit (2)

    <h4>Chapter 637: The Final Gambit (2)</h4>


    Soon after, Eldritch General Zhu Yan packed his belongings and left for the border army''s station without taking any of his subordinates with him.


    Within the hall, the numerous Eldritch Warriors had already departed.


    "Veteran Elder, what exactly happened?" The purple-robed man finally couldn''t hold back his curiosity. "Who was that mysterious senior who killed Zhu Ren?"


    Even now, he was still bewildered. It was too bizarre. He had been hastily summoned by the ck-robed elderly man and was still unclear about the specifics of the situation.


    "They are supreme existences of our Huanggu eldritch race," the ck-robed elderly man''s eyes filled with reverence before he added, "As for their details, there��s no need to ask.


    This time, you can consider yourself lucky. In my younger days, I only caught a glimpse of them from afar," the ck-robed elderly man recalled the Eldritch Deity celebration from a hundred years ago.


    He had been fortunate enough to see Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and memorized their soul auras.


    So, when his Soul Will swept the area earlier, sensing the auras of Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu that were deliberately released, he had been greatly startled.


    "Supreme existences? Eldritch Deities?" The purple-robed man''s eyes widened in terror.


    Such super powerhouses had arrived at his tribe without anyone noticing?


    He now understood that he had indeed been incredibly fortunate this time around.


    ...


    Hundreds of millions of li from the Ju Hong Tribey a rather prosperous civilization of a certain race.


    Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others hovered high in the sky, gazing down at thend below.


    "The erudite dragon race? Interesting," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    "Among the myriad races, many civilizations have their own unique characteristics. That''s why although our eldritch race dominates thend, we haven''t exterminated them," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu exined. "This erudite dragon race, though appearing to be dragon-like, is actually extremely weak. It''s rare for them to produce immortal cultivators. However, they have a fondness for nature, and their civilization itself is quite unique, especially in the art of painting."


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly and smiled, "Then let''s stay with this erudite dragon civilization for a few days."


    "Continuing to sculpt stones?" Eldritch General Hou Tong teased.


    "Not stone sculpting, but cultivating," Wu Yuan nced at Hou Tong and smiled. "This time, let''s paint. Painting is also a form of cultivation.


    But Little Tong, you''ll continue to be my maidservant. Every time I finish a painting, you''ll be responsible for auctioning it off," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    Eldritch General Hou Tong frowned, "It''s always me."


    "If not you, then who else? You''re the weakest in our group," Wu Yuan chuckled. "Not satisfied? Try defeating any one of us if you can."


    Eldritch General Hou Tong grumbled but said nothing more.


    Within the eldritch race, might makes right. This was the norm.


    ...


    Wu Yuan and the others settledfortably within the erudite dragon race, transforming their appearances to blend in as unremarkable painters.


    <i>In just two years.</i>


    "Grandmaster Wan Liu''s paintings have truly transcended mere paintings." [1]


    "Painting Saint."


    "Wan Liu, the Painting Saint." Wu Yuan''s artworks became renowned throughout the entire erudite dragon race, attracting countless schrs and artists who eagerly sought his pieces.


    ��Divine Beast Diagram.��


    ��Indeed, Grandmaster Wan Liu''s Divine Beast Diagrams are the most lifelike. Though merely paintings, they seem toe alive before one''s eyes. It''s truly inconceivable."


    The so-called Divine Beast Diagrams were, in fact, Thunder Beast Diagrams.


    Another year passed, and Wu Yuan quietly departed with Hou Tong, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others, continuing their journey to other regions.


    And so, Wu Yuan traversed the vastnds of Huanggu. For the first hundred years, he mostly wandered and paused at leisure, observing mountains and rivers across thend.


    During the next hundred years, he began to engage in ''creation'' - wood carving, stone sculpting, painting, calligraphy, equipment forging, pill refining, and more.


    Various forms of so-called art became his means and methods for researching the Life Dao. Inadvertently, he created countless legends.


    The myriad races and all forms of life scattered across the vastnds disyed unique characteristics and traits in the evolution, growth, and development of their civilizations. Wu Yuan��s horizons were broadened with each new encounter, immersing him in wonder.


    <i>Life is the purest creation in heaven and earth. Without life, how lonely would all things be?</i> Wu Yuan increasingly understood this point.


    It was life that brought wonder and mystery to heaven and earth.


    In the blink of an eye, several decades passed. Wu Yuan changed his approach once more, delving into several mortal civilizations.


    No longer pursuing the path of art, he took on various identities - a general, a merchant, a carpenter, and more, disguising himself each time.


    When in power, he engaged in political maneuvering and intellectual battles. As a general, he led his troops from the front.


    And when part of the lower ss, Wu Yuan seemed to truly lose his mana, enduring all manner of humiliation and injustice like an ordinary person.


    His actions left Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi, who observed him in secret, in awe. They all admitted they couldn''t have done the same.


    They were filled with confusion - what exactly was Eldritch Deity Hou Feng trying toprehend? Why would he demean himself in such a way? This method of cultivation was unheard of to them.


    <i>To experience the wonders of different lives, having one''s heart at peace, only then can one understand the greatness of life, as well as its insignificance.</i> This was the Dao that Wu Yuan sought to grasp in the depths of his consciousness.


    Though he didn''t seem to be deliberately practicing any secret arts or consciouslyprehending the Law of Life, Wu Yuan''s progress in understanding the Law of Life was not slow at all. In fact, it showed signs of elerating.


    Daoprehension was cultivation. Experiencing the mortal world, too, was cultivation.


    As his understanding of the Dao progressed, Wu Yuan''s spirit grew increasingly powerful andplete, showing subtle signs of transformation.


    ...


    Time flowed like water. Approximately 160 years after leaving the Archeldritch tribe to wander thends, Wu Yuan finally returned to his starting point.


    He no longer took on different identities, nor did he continue to live in different civilizations and tribes.


    Instead, he began to traverse the vastnds anew, witnessing various wonders. asionally, when passing by a mountain range, he would stop for ten days or half a month. Sometimes, when crossing a great river, he would fish for a while. At times, when passing arge tree, he would sit beneath it for a long time, seemingly in deep thought or perhaps sound asleep.


    These various methods of cultivation left the apanying Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi increasingly perplexed.


    However, from beginning to end, Hou Tong, despite her verbalints, had always followed Wu Yuan without truly considering leaving.


    Finally, on a vast grass in, while passing by a towering mountain that rose from the earth, Wu Yuan halted his steps and ascended to the mountain''s peak.


    He sat down in lotus position. For the next ten years, he did not rise.


    One day, a hazy aura of the Dao enveloped Wu Yuan, awakening Hou Tong, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others who were meditating nearby.


    They stared at Wu Yuan, dumbfounded.


    Around Wu Yuan''s body, faint Dao patterns flickered into existence. Immediately after, spiritual qi gathered, coalescing into the shadowy form of a beast-like figure.


    It growled softly, nuzzling affectionately against Wu Yuan, like a child reunited with its mother. But as quickly as it had formed, the spiritual qi dissipated.


    "What was that?"


    "A thunder beast!"


    "Spiritual qi, coalescing into a living thunder beast?"


    "It looked exactly like the thunder beast carved by Eldritch Deity Hou Feng." Even Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, the strongest among them, was utterly astonished.


    This scene, reminiscent of the creation of life itself, left them all bewildered.


    Life! It was supposed to be nurtured by heaven and earth, born from the workings of nature. Even when powerful beings created life, it was usually done by improving upon existing life forms, not creating it from nothing.


    "What are you all looking at?" Wu Yuan stood up from his spot, the Dao aura around him dissipating. He smiled at them.


    The group exchanged nces.


    "That thunder beast just now?" Hou Tong couldn''t help but ask.


    "Merely an illusion. I imbued it with a touch of spirituality," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "It cannotst long, nor is it truly alive."


    The group exchanged nces once more.


    "Has Eldritch Deity Hou Feng made progress as well?" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu asked hopefully. "Are you able to breach Heavenly Pir Mountain?"


    "Mm. After over a century of cultivation, I have indeed gained some sess," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "However, I��m still far from able to breach Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    Let''s wait until I reach the Earth Eldritch phase before discussing that," Wu Yuan added.


    After the third great war between the eldritch and immortal races, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu had spread intelligence revealing that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race could unleash Archimmortal-level power within Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    Wu Yuan naturally learned of this and didn''t dare underestimate them.


    "Let''s go. On to the next location," Wu Yuan said. After over a century of secluded cultivation, he was certain he had found the right path.


    Using the thunder beast from the Creation Essence Diagram as a core, and this profound artistic conception as a source, he could imitate,prehend, and create.


    Without realizing it, his mastery of the Law of Life improved constantly, already propelling him to a whole new level.


    ...


    The divine hall of the Thirty-Three Heavens atop Heavenly Pir Mountain was devoid of servants or guards. Only the three Imperial Majesties were present.


    "By expending thest of the essence power to peer into the bronze mirror, I''ve identified Hou Feng��s general location.


    He''s less than eight hundred million li from our Heavenly Pir Mountain," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said, his face ashen.


    Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu looked at Imperial Majesty Da Yan, their faces filled with concern.


    During thest great battle, the immortal race had suffered a crushing defeat. The eldritch race had demolished the lower seventeen heavens, achieving an unprecedented victory.


    Though the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were grief-stricken by their heavy losses, they had not given up. While recovering from their injuries, they continued attempting to gather intelligence on Wu Yuan.


    However, it had be far more difficult than before. Those Earth Eldritches and Eldritch Generals who had acted as their spies in the past now turned their backs on them, unless their souls were under control.


    Left with no choice, Imperial Majesty Da Yan had expended a great number of treasures umted by the immortal race. Once his injuries had mostly healed, he attempted to divine Wu Yuan''s whereabouts directly. But the cost was immense.


    "I can only confirm the general area, not the specific location," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said, shaking his head slightly. "As for anything else, it''s too difficult to divine more."


    "He''s not staying in the Archeldritch tribe?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was puzzled, "Could this be a deliberate ambush, a plot to lure us there? For all we know, that old beast and Zhu Jiu might be lying in wait right beside him.


    "Big Brother, Second Brother," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said softly, "The guidance of destiny shown in the ancient mirror cannot be wrong. We have only two paths before us.


    First is to flee while we can, using our divine weapons as vessels to leave this world. Though our chances of perishing are extremely high, there''s still a glimmer of hope. The Archeldritches came from beyond the world, proving that it is indeed connected to the realms beyond.


    The second is to abandon all thoughts of escape, give up Heavenly Pir Mountain, and make onest attempt to kill Hou Feng with everything we��ve got.


    Perhaps, it��s a trap. Perhaps, even if we kill Hou Feng, having lost the foundation of our race, failure is still the most likely oue for us," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said calmly. "But at least there''s still a sliver of hope. For us, there are no other paths left to take."


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You fell silent, realizing there truly were no other options.


    "Very well," After a long while, Imperial Majesty Nan You spoke, a hint of resolve in his eyes. "Then let us prepare for our final gambit."


    1. yup, another recycled alias. ?

 Chapter 638: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (1)

    <h4>Chapter 638: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (1)</h4>


    The final gambit? Imperial Majesty Da Yan and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu both felt their hearts drum nervously, a flicker of hesitation passing through their minds.


    A single word echoed in their thoughts��flee!


    They both knew all too well that if they continued this war, even if they managed to kill Hou Feng against all odds, their chances of ultimate victory against the overwhelmingly powerful Huanggu eldritch race would be slim without Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    The eldritch race would not make the same mistake twice, allowing them to establish the Thirty-Three Heavens once more.


    Yet neither Imperial Majesty Da Yan nor Imperial Majesty Lei Fu spoke up, for one simple reason��they couldn''t bear to give up!


    It was much like how many merchants, when faced with a failing business, knew that the wisest choice was to cut their losses and leave. Yet most will cling on until bankruptcy, even resorting to high-interest loans to keep operations afloat. Why? They simply couldn��t bring themselves to admit defeat!


    The three Imperial Majesties now found themselves in a simr predicament.


    "Fleeing beyond the heavens leads to an unknown future, with life and death hanging in the bnce," Imperial Majesty Nan You said in a low voice. "We might as well make onest stand.


    Let us cast aside these ideals. Perhaps, we may yet turn the tide," Imperial Majesty Nan You continued.


    "Elder Brother, should we summon the other High Immortals and Heavenly Masters?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu suddenly asked. "If we could lead arge force of High Immortals and Heavenly Masters, our chances of ying Hou Feng are high as long as the eldritch race hasn''t set too many traps."


    The beast battle arrays led by Heavenly Masters were indeed formidable. Even if they couldn''t kill Wu Yuan, they could at least upy the other High Eldritches.


    "No! Apart from Heavenly Masters Lei Guang and Jiu Zhu, as well as High Immortal Wu Zong, do not summon anyone else. We must keep this information strictly confidential," Imperial Majesty Nan You said calmly.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was momentarily taken aback.


    "Second Brother, Big Brother is right," Imperial Majesty Da Yan interjected. "We cannot rely on anyone else this time.


    Since thest immortal-eldritch war ended, the situation has been extremely unfavorable for our immortal race. How can we be certain those Heavenly Masters and High Immortals haven''t secretly defected to the eldritch race?" Imperial Majesty Da Yan said softly.


    "If we summon too many people, we may have a stronger force, however, our ns might also be leaked immediately. A situation originally free of ambushes might end up riddled with traps set by the eldritch race," Imperial Majesty Da Yan looked towards Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.


    "They dare betray us?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s eyes shed with anger.


    Faint traces of lightning crackled around his body as his fury zed. "It was because of us that they were freed from envement by the eldritch race, and now they would turn their backs on us?"


    "Second Brother, don''t be naive," Imperial Majesty Nan You said in a low voice.


    "Second Brother, back when we were powerful, they were willing to join us. Now that we appear to be losing and the eldritch race grows strong, it''s only natural for some to have second thoughts," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said impassively.


    "Moreover, others have the choice to surrender, and even the Heavenly Masters might be pardoned by the eldritch race. But this option is not open to us. The eldritch race will not give us that chance," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said with a faint smile.


    Ministers may surrender, but never the Sovereign.


    Furthermore, after years of warfare, countless powerful beings of the eldritch race harbored a deep, unquenchable hatred for the three Imperial Majesties, longing to devour their very flesh.


    "Heavenly Master Lei Guang, Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu, and High Immortal Wu Zong all have deep, irreconcble grudges against the eldritch race��hatred that all the water under heaven could not wash away," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said. "Thus, they alone can be trusted.


    However, we must still be cautious. We cannot reveal our target to them until the moment of action, only informing them when we are close."


    "Agreed," Imperial Majesty Nan You nodded.


    Time flowed on.


    Soon after, the two Heavenly Masters and High Immortal Wu Zong swiftly arrived. Without much discussion, they entered the Creation Divine Weapons.


    "It''s time to depart."


    "Lei Fu, we will be primarily relying on you in this battle," Imperial Majesty Nan You said. "The essence of my divine cauldron has been greatly depleted and hasn''t fully recovered. Da Yan''s injuries are even more severe, and his wounds have yet to heal.


    You alone still possess your full strength. When you unleash your power, you can briefly manifest unprecedented might," Imperial Majesty Nan You said.


    "Understood." Imperial Majesty Lei Fu naturally understood this point. His eyes zed with battle intent, equally eager to y Wu Yuan.


    Back then, when the three Imperial Majesties fought against Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, they had only gained the upper hand instead of defeating him. That was because they hadn''t fully unleashed the essence contained within the Creation Divine Weapons, reserving it for potential dangers. Once unleashed, their power would undoubtedly be earth-shattering.


    Silently, the mightiest group of powerhouses in the immortal race left the Thirty-Three Heavens of Heavenly Pir Mountain, embarking on this battle that would determine the destiny of the immortal race.


    Victory would give the immortal race a faint glimmer of hope, while defeat would surely mean Huanggu would fall under the dominion of the eldritch race.


    To ensure their ns remained secret, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race chose not to inform the numerous High Immortals and Earth Immortals.


    It was worth noting that barely a hundred years had passed since thest great eldritch-immortal war. The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race had been in seclusion, recuperating from their wounds. There hadn''t been time to restore the lower seventeen heavens.


    All the remaining members of the immortal race now dwelled in the eighteenth heaven and above, believing themselves safe under the protection of the three Imperial Majesties, at least for the time being.


    How could they have imagined that the three Imperial Majesties would make such a resolute decision,pletely abandoning their stronghold �C the Creation Divine Hall and Heavenly Pir Mountain �C to focus all their efforts on killing Hou Feng?


    The target was less than eight billion li away. With Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s speed, it would take only a few to traverse the distance.


    ...


    The previously calm void trembled slightly as six figures appeared. At the forefront were three figures d in imperial robes.


    Standing to either side of them were Heavenly Master Lei Guang, Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu, and the most mysterious High Immortal of the immortal race, Wu Zong.


    "With the ancient mirror concealing our auras, and High Immortal Wu Zong suppressing the spatial fluctuations, we''ve managed to arrive here without causing much disturbance," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu said with a smile.


    "It��s all thanks to the skills of the three Imperial Majesties," Heavenly Master Lei Guang smiled. Lightning also flickered around his body, as he tooprehended the Thunder Dao like Imperial Majesty Lei Fu. However, his vital aura was noticeably weaker.


    "With all three Imperial Majesties present for the battle, we must strike down the eldritch race''s Hou Feng in one fell swoop," Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu added. His body was covered in feathers, clearly indicating his true form was that of a bird.


    High Immortal Wu Zong remained silent, saying nothing. In terms of directbat ability, she was the weakest among the six present.


    "Third Brother, how much farther?" Imperial Majesty Nan You asked.


    "The closer we get, the more urately I can perceive his location. It''s not far now, just atop a mountain peak about a million li away," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said in a low voice. "However, we are currently concealing our soul auras and spatial fluctuations. If we get any closer, we''ll likely be detected."


    For High Immortals and High Eldritches, it was quite normal for their Soul Will to extend for tens of millions of li. Perceiving everything in a hundred million li radius through the Voidspace wasmonce for High Immortals.


    Naturally, sensing the world through the Voidspace could allow one to cover an immense area, but it had significant limitations and could be easily obstructed.


    Soul Will perception was harder to obstruct, but maintaining a constant scan of one��s surroundings with Soul Will was extremely taxing on the spirit.


    "A million li? That distance is sufficient for us to deploy our techniques. There''s no need to worry about potential ambushes now. This is the most crucial battle, after all," Imperial Majesty Nan You said softly. "Wu Zong, conceal yourself in the void and look for an opportunity to strike."


    "Understood," High Immortal Wu Zong finally nodded.


    With a flicker of movement, she merged into the void, all traces of her presence erased.


    "Third Brother, you should also use the ancient mirror to conceal your aura. Try to remain in ce and avoid revealing yourself unnecessarily. Strike at the critical moment, and if things go awry, withdraw immediately," Imperial Majesty Nan You instructed.


    Imperial Majesty Da Yan nodded slightly. Among the three Imperial Majesties, he was the weakest in terms of directbat prowess.


    "Second Brother, from here on out, it''s all up to you," Imperial Majesty Nan You looked at Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, who nodded in response.


    "Rest assured, Big Brother."


    All eyes turned to Imperial Majesty Lei Fu. His vital aura began to surge relentlessly, while streams of lightning flowed across his arms, shoulders, legs, and head. The interweaving lightning made for a terrifying sight.


    After a while, an enormous sphere of light materialized above Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s head. Within the sphere, shes of lightning crackled, containing an immense power that made one''s heart tremble.


    This power was so formidable that even Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu, standing nearby, felt their hearts quake as they watched. It was far too frightening.


    They all knew that Imperial Majesty Lei Fu wasbining his Creation Divine Weapon with his own arcane arts, preparing to unleash an attack of unimaginable might.

 Chapter 639: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (2)

    <h4>Chapter 639: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom! </i>The sphere of light suddenly moved, its speed instantly skyrocketing to an inconceivable level as it hurtled forth.


    100,000 li per second! 300,000 li per second! 500,000 li per second!


    Almost instantaneously, the sphere''s velocity reached the speed of light, shooting towards the general direction Imperial Majesty Da Yan pointed at.


    <i>Hum~ </i>A powerful wave of Soul Will suddenly spread out��it was Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s Soul Will.


    This was the first time he had revealed and extended it. While it instantly exposed his presence, it also allowed him to pinpoint the exact location of Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others.


    It was like a massive light bulb suddenly illuminating the surroundings, revealing everything in its radius while also exposing itself.


    However, at this point, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu no longer cared whether he was exposed or not.


    "Detonate!" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s eyes narrowed slightly. The sphere of light, traveling at the speed of light, was now about a hundred thousand li from Wu Yuan��s group.


    <i>Rumble! </i>Like a miniature sun exploding, each lightning spark within the orb erupted with a heaven-defying burst of energy. When they converged, the power instantly reached a terrifying intensity! It was undoubtedly an arcane arts explosion nearing the Archimmortal level.


    <i>Boom!</i> Shockwaves instantly spread outward in all directions. The most violent shockwave headed straight for where Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and the others were located.


    "Go."


    "Kill!"


    The instant the light sphere detonated, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu charged out like four bolts of lightning.


    This was amon tactic qi refiners employed �Cunching a surprise attack with powerful arcane arts, then engaging in battle.


    ...


    On an unremarkable mountain peak, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on a giant boulder, with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, High Eldritch Hou Zhi, and Hou Tong not far away. All four were cultivating quietly.


    <i>The cycle of life, vitality...</i> Wu Yuan calmly contemted the Law of Life, numerous Dao insights surging into his mind.


    <i>Hum~</i> Wu Yuan abruptly detected a faint spatial fluctuation. His eyes snapped open, zeroing in on a point far in the distance.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The distorted spatial fluctuations turned perfectly clear in his "sight". Everything was revealed with crystal rity!


    Several figures stood in the air millions of li away, each emanating raging battle intent. At the same time, an orb of light containing terrifying power was hurtling towards them at frightening speed.


    <i>Imperial Majesties of the immortal race? Three Imperial Majesties attacking together? An assassination attempt?</i> Wu Yuan instantly understood what was going on.


    However, everything happened too quickly for him to notify Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and the others. With just a thought, the surrounding space began to warp strangely, as if folding in on itself.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>At that moment, the power contained in that orb of light fully erupted, like terrifying electric serpents striking out in all directions. They caused the sky andnd to quake, even space itself trembled faintly.


    The might of an Archimmortal-level attack could transcend spatial dimensions.


    It was also extremely fast. Separated by only a hundred thousand li, those terrifying electric serpents moving at the speed of light would sweep over in just one-sixth of a second.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Eldritch Deity Hou Tu noticed the attack first. Though he only had the ether of a First Tribtion High Eldritch, as an existence who had fullyprehended a Dao, his perception was still extremely keen. He could even perceive higher spatial dimensions with his Soul Will.


    His pupils constricted slightly.


    <i>Boom!</i> His body instantly began to expand rapidly as a hazy earthy-yellow light appeared, covering an area of ten thousand li.


    "Not good." High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s reaction was slower. He could only watch helplessly as the lightning approached, knowing he would be unable to react in time.


    Last was Eldritch General Hou Tong. A sh of fear passed through her eyes - an instinctive reaction. Her Soul Will unconsciously spread out, her gaze sweeping the distance, seeing only a sh of white lightning filling the sky.


    An inescapable feeling of her imminent demise consumed her, leaving her trembling like a leaf.


    <i>Am I going to die?</i> This was Hou Tong''s only thought. The terrifying pressure and the weakness of her soul caused her to despair instinctively. She was utterly powerless to resist.


    Just at this critical moment, a towering thousand-zhang tall figure appeared in front of Hou Tong. Two massive wings extended like two enormous shields, wrapping around her.


    <i>Is it Hou Feng?</i> A thought shed through Hou Tong''s mind.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan, who reacted even faster than Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, had already fully activated his three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. His vital aura instantly soared to unprecedented levels, surging endlessly.


    That lightning seemed swift, but Wu Yuan''s reaction speed was even swifter. Warping space, activating the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, employing ether arts, Beast Fusion... multiple techniques erupted almost simultaneously.


    <i>Boom! </i>The lightning struck the ground, engulfing everything in hundreds of thousands of li. The entire world was overturned, as if transformed into a terrifying sea of lightning. Mountains and rivers shattered, as though the end of the world hade.


    However, when that iparably terrifying lightning was a thousand li from Wu Yuan, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier, its speed and power diminishing rapidly.


    "Suppress!" Wu Yuan''s gaze was ice-cold. An invisible yet powerful Dao fluctuation descended, emanating a hazy green light that contained unfathomable might. It collided head-on with the oing lightning.


    Life True Intent! As the True Intent of a Greater Law, its Dao power alone was easily able to suppress ordinary Earth Immortals.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Under the dual weakening effects of the warped space and Life True Intent, the power of the seemingly fierce lightning was instantly reduced by more than half.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two terrifying de rays sliced through space, annihting streaks of lightning along the way, eliminating the attack��s remaining power.


    In the air, Wu Yuan��s emanating overwhelming might as he held two sabers, his wings enveloping Eldritch General Hou Tong.


    Everything settled.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng."


    "Hou Feng, so powerful." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi looked at Wu Yuan in shock. This attack wouldn''t have killed them, but they couldn��t say it posed no threat at all.


    However, Wu Yuan''s reaction speed was simply too fast. So fast that this attack, nearly at the Archimmortal level, had no effect whatsoever.


    <i>He��s stronger than me.</i> Eldritch Deity Hou Tu was both shocked and delighted. From the two saber strikes Wu Yuan had unleashed alone, he understood that Wu Yuan had now surpassed him in strength.


    One had to understand that just over a hundred years ago during the battle of the Earth Archeldritch Tribe, Wu Yuan''s strength could only be said to barely reach the Eldritch Deity level. He wasn''t even a match for Hou Tu then. But now, he had clearly surpassed him. Truly, a monstrous prodigy couldn''t be measured bymon sense.


    "It''s Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You, along with two Heavenly Masters. It seems the immortal race couldn''t sit still any longer." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s voice simultaneously echoed in Wu Yuan and High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s minds, filled with wariness.


    "How did they know our whereabouts?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi was shocked.


    "It must be an ability of the Mirror of Creation." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said. After thest assassination attempt, the eldritch race had made further deductions about the Mirror of Creation��s functions.


    "They dare make a second attempt? I''ll send a message to Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu and the others right now, telling them tounch another attack on Heavenly Pir Mountain." High Eldritch Hou Zhi growled. "With Eldritch Deity Hou Feng''s strength, the few of them won''t be able to kill us."


    "Don''t rush. Imperial Majesty Da Yan is still at Heavenly Pir Mountain." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said.


    "It��s not just two Imperial Majesties. The three of them are all here. However, that Imperial Majesty Da Yan still seems to think he can conceal his aura from me," Wu Yuan said calmly. "Send a message to Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. Today is the day we erase the foundation of the Immortal Court.


    With three Imperial Majesties here together, the immortal race has no chance of defending Heavenly Pir Mountain."


    Imperial Majesty Da Yan came too? Eldritch Deity Hou Tu was shocked. He prided himself on his strong perceptive abilities, yet he hadn''t sensed anything at all. Wu Yuan could actually detect him?


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, protect Hou Tong well. Leave the rest to me." Wu Yuan''s voice was indifferent.


    Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi were both stunned. That meant Wu Yuan nned to face them alone?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Before they could rify, Wu Yuan threw the dazed Hou Tong to Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, who instantly shielded her with his massive body.


    <i>Boom!</i> At the same time, Wu Yuan''s wings spread wide, his towering thousand-zhang body looking like an enormous butterfly.


    In just a few shes, he crossed hundreds of thousands of li.


    <i>The three Imperial Majesties are here together? If you had stayed obediently at Heavenly Pir Mountain, I wouldn''t have been able to do anything to you for a while. I would��ve had to wait until I reached the Earth Eldritch phase to stand a chance of winning. But you just had toe here to attack me?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was ice-cold.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan alone charged toward the four mighty powerhouses �C Imperial Majesty Nan You, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.

 Chapter 640: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (3)

    <h4>Chapter 640: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (3)</h4>


    The shes and exchange of Soul Wills took ce at blinding speed. From the moment of ambush to Wu Yuan shielding Hou Tong, then handing her to Eldritch General Hou Tu before charging out to meet the enemy, less than two seconds had passed in total.


    At this moment, Imperial Majesty Nan You and the others were only several hundred thousand li from their original positions, still quite far from Wu Yuan. Now, they all stared at Wu Yuan in utter shock.


    "Completely unscathed?"


    "Such blinding speed."


    "This powerful?" They were all stunned by the might Wu Yuan had disyed. Based on their expectations, even if this surprise arcane art attack couldn''t kill the enemy, it should at least have wounded Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others.


    Never did they imagine Wu Yuan would block it easily, without needing Eldritch Deity Hou Tu to unleash his power.


    Clearly, over the past hundred years, Wu Yuan''s strength had increased tremendously again, far surpassing their expectations.


    "No choice left. Kill! Use all our strength to y Hou Feng." Imperial Majesty Lei Fu let out a low roar.


    <i>Crash! </i>A sky-nketing torrent of lightning, interwoven with terrifying spears, swept toward Wu Yuan in an all-epassing assault.


    <i>Go!</i> With a mentalmand, Imperial Majesty Nan You sent a massive cauldron hurtling forth.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!" Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu likewise unleashed powerful arcane arts, while a stream of mighty artifacts circled their bodies.


    In an instant, a dazzling storm of arcane art energies, high-grade spirion artifacts, celestial equipment, and Creation Divine Artifacts all bombarded Wu Yuan.


    Four mighty powerhouses! Two Imperial Majesties, wielding Creation Divine Artifacts, could unleash power rivaling Sixth Tribtion High Immortals. The two Heavenly Masters likewise possessed strengthparable to Fourth Tribtion High Immortals.


    How terrifying was their synchronized onught? The resplendent heaven and earth seemed on the verge of annihtion.


    "Not good."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi both paled slightly.


    Even if they had Eldritch Deity-level strength, this attack alone would likely send them flying back. The gap in power was too vast. Could Wu Yuan withstand it by himself?


    <i>Encirclement? Against qi refiners, closebat is indeed impossible. But the distance is close enough now. It''s about time. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy, murderous intent gleaming.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s vital aura, originallyparable to a normal First Tribtion High Eldritch, suddenly began skyrocketing again.


    Second Tribtion High Eldritch!


    Third Tribtion High Eldritch!


    Fourth Tribtion High Eldritch!


    Almost instantaneously, Wu Yuan''s vital aura had climbed to a level far surpassing Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You even with their Creation Divine Artifacts.


    It had to be understood that once the Imperial Majesties left Heavenly Pir Mountain, their base power was equivalent to Second Tribtion High Immortals. They could only unleash their greatest strengths at Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    But now, Wu Yuan''s vital aura had reached a level so astonishing it defied belief, absolutely the pinnacle in all of Huanggu eldritch race history.


    The expressions of Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others froze. How could he be this powerful?


    Yet Wu Yuan''s transformation was far from over.


    <i>Rumble!</i> His body morphed again, rapidly expanding to ten thousand zhangs tall, like a divine deity towering in the sky!


    Simultaneously, five more arms emerged from Wu Yuan''s body, adding to the original four, for a total of nine arms.


    Grand ether art �� Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor.


    This was a supremely powerful ether art perfectly designed for ughter, possessing unfathomable might even across the vast river of space and time.


    In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan, unleashing his full power, met the barrage of arcane arts and artifacts head-on.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan let out a furious roar.


    His towering form was shrouded in a hazy green light, covered in Dao patterns containing heaven-shaking might.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Nine arms swung in unison, nine mystical de rays rended heaven and earth.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Those powerful arcane arts were instantly shattered. The few lightning bolts that struck Wu Yuan''s body were like mere tickles. One mighty artifact after another was sent flying. Even that so-called Cauldron of Creation was no exception. All were swept aside.


    "What?"


    "This!"


    "Impossible!" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You and the others were dumbfounded. ��Even if it were Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, facing ourbined attack, he could gain a slight upper hand at most. There��s no way he could dominate the battle so overwhelmingly.��


    Wu Yuan''s disy was even more terrifying than Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. Archeldritch? Archimmortal? Such horrifying strength led Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others to immediately conclude he had reached the Archimmortal level.


    A true Archimmortal!


    "Retreat!"


    "Flee." Imperial Majesty Nan You let out a low roar, instantly falling back at top speed. The others likewise scattered in flight, their hearts filled with dread and bewilderment.


    They never could have imagined this turn of events. In their expectations, they would either seed in their ambush and force a retreat, or engage in a hard-fought battle where Wu Yuan either escaped or was in.


    But Wu Yuan alone had blocked their surprise attack, then swept aside theirbined arcane arts and artifacts. A true, unstoppable sweep.


    How fast were the reactions of High Immortals? Before the battle, they had absolute confidence in victory, yet now they fled frantically without hesitation. No one would throw their life away needlessly.


    "This?"


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng withstood all attacks alone?"


    "No! Not withstood the attacks, but swept them away. An overwhelming advantage." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi watching from afar were likewise dumbstruck. A name simultaneously rose in both their minds �� Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.


    Back then, when Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu faced the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race alone, he had matched them with simr ease. But even that battle ended without victory.


    As for what Wu Yuan aplished this time?


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is even stronger than Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu!" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s voice held a tremor: "Number one. The number one in Huanggu."


    "Number one?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi likewise stared wide-eyed at the void, feeling as though he were dreaming.


    In just two to three hundred years, that Eldritch Warrior who had once followed him to the Archeldritch tribe now possessed terrifying strength surpassing Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu?


    Perhaps it was due to the aid of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. But Archeldritch Divine Artifacts weren''t unique, each Archeldritch tribe had them.


    Among the group of High Eldritches in their tribe, who else could unleash such heaven-defying might?


    "Escape?" Wu Yuan''s eyes were cold as ice, his form shing in an instant as he elerated.


    Two hundred thousand li per second!


    Three hundred thousand li per second!


    Four hundred thousand li per second!


    The powerful physique of a Fourth Tribtion High Eldritch,bined with over a hundred years ofprehending the Law of Space and cultivating the grand ether art ''Rending The Heavens'', granted Wu Yuan an almost unimaginable top speed. It was truly approaching the speed of light!


    The surrounding scenery blurred in Wu Yuan''s vision.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes ignited, zing with light, and everything became clear once more.


    A battle at this level could no longer be fought with mere mortal eyes. One had to use divine eyes.


    Divine eyes were abination of perceiving light, spatial fluctuations, Dao fluctuations, Soul Will perception, and many other methods. It fed back to one''s consciousness, allowing for instant judgments.


    Like a streak of lightning, Wu Yuan lunged towards the frantically fleeing Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, his speed surpassing even that of the so-called Lightning Lei Fu.


    "It was you who annihted the Hou Cheng Tribe years ago," Wu Yuan''s gaze was icy cold. He had always remembered this grudge. It wasn''t that he wouldn''t seek revenge, it just wasn��t time yet back then.


    <i>He��s chasing me?</i> Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s expression changed drastically as he fled in desperation, realizing that Wu Yuan''s speed exceeded his own. Terror gripped his heart.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In the midst of the pursuit, Wu Yuan abruptly swung his battle sabers. Three sabers simultaneously shed toward what appeared to be empty, calm space.


    The attack was overwhelming, its sharpness unparalleled!


    ...


    High Immortal Wu Zong had been concealing herself in the void all along. She harbored an intense hatred for the eldritch race and, being skilled in the Law of Space, held an extremely high position among the immortal race.


    Thus, even as the immortal race faced decline and the threat of annihtion, she persisted. Moreover, she believed that no one in the world could kill her.


    Even if the immortal race was defeated, she could still achieve longevity, relying on her profoundprehension of the Space Dao.


    She had originally been lurking in the void throughout the battle, seeking an opportunity to assassinate Wu Yuan, but the power Wu Yuan suddenly unleashed was truly terrifying. Two great Imperial Majesties and two Heavenly Masters joined forces, yet they were routed immediately?


    In an instant, High Immortal Wu Zong came to a conclusion: <i>The immortal race is done for, there''s no hope left. Hou Feng''s strength is likelyparable to an Imperial Majesty''s full power unleashed at Heavenly Pir Mountain. I must leave now!</i>


    She prepared to flee immediately, not daring to move too fast, for her true body could not yet enter the higher spatial dimension, only hiding in the shallowyer of the void. If she moved too quickly, it would easily cause spatial tremors.


    <i>This Hou Feng''s strength is truly frightening. However, though his power is great, his Soul Will cannot detect my presence. As long as I remain hidden in the void, who could possibly kill me? </i>High Immortal Wu Zong thought.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Three terrifyingly powerful de rays tore through the sky, prating deep into the spatialyer, shing toward High Immortal Wu Zong with an unstoppable might.


    <i>No! How is this possible?! </i>High Immortal Wu Zong''s beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.


    In her panic, she instinctively manipted her artifacts, attempting to defend herself.


    <i>Bang! St! </i>The de rays swept through everything in their path, smashing away the flying sword artifacts one by one. Like a steamroller, High Immortal Wu Zong''s body was crushed to nothingness. Even her Yuan Soul was directly annihted.


    High Immortal Wu Zong was dead!

 Chapter 641: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (4)

    <h4>Chapter 641: Sweep, Number One In Huanggu (4)</h4>


    <i>Two hundred years ago, you attacked me. I couldn''t sense you back then. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze was ice-cold. <i>But now?</i>


    <i>I have even crystallized the True Intent of the Spatial Rift Dao and stepped into the Domain stage of the Law of Space. You dare lurk within a few hundred thousand li of me, thinking you''re well-hidden? That''s simply courting death!</i>


    Indeed, in the nearly two hundred years since thest battle, Wu Yuan had not only made tremendous progress in the Law of Life, but hisprehension of the Law of Space had also undergone a transformation.


    This rate of progress was actually quite normal. After all, before the ambush at the Earth Archeldritch tribe, Wu Yuan had only been cultivating for 170 years. And he had only truly set foot on the path of immortality 150 years ago, not long after his body metamorphosed into a Dao Body.


    During the nearly two hundred years of wandering through Huanggu, the souls of Wu Yuan''s two true selves had grown increasingly powerful. It could be said that these two hundred years were the true period of umtion and transformation for Wu Yuan''s two true selves.


    Limited by the shackles of life, the cultivation phases of Wu Yuan''s two true selves remained at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase and ninth-stage Void Refiner phase. But his Daoprehension had reached a whole new level, no longer considered bottom-tier even among Archimmortals.


    It was precisely because of this profound Daoprehension that Wu Yuan''s mastery of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts had reached an unprecedented level, allowing his power to surge tremendously once unleashed.


    <i>The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race? In the end, they''re just three First Tribtion High Immortals who haveprehended a single Lesser Law.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was cold and detached.


    <i>You should have stayed hidden in your cage. Since you��ve decided toe out, today, I''ll send you on your way!</i>


    ...


    "Wu Zong is dead? Just like that?"


    "Wu Zong is dead!"


    "He can perceive Space, hisprehension of the Law of Space is this profound?" Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu were all shocked.


    <i>He was targeting Wu Zong just now, not chasing me?</i> Imperial Majesty Lei Fu also instantly understood everything.


    Wu Yuan''s pursuit of him earlier had merely been a feint. His real target had been High Immortal Wu Zong, who had been in hiding all along.


    <i>Not good, he''sing after me now.</i> Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s face turned ashen as he continued to flee frantically.


    In terms of burst speed, he could reach three hundred thousand li per second. But Wu Yuan could reach four hundred thousand li per second. In four seconds at most, less than a breath''s time, he would catch up to him.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>As one pursued and the other fled in powerful shes of rainbow and lightning, crossing millions of li in the blink of an eye.


    As for Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and the others? They had all frantically fled in different directions, already putting hundreds of thousands of li between them, not daring to rescue Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.


    Rescue? That would be pure suicide! The current Wu Yuan couldpletely overwhelm them. Moreover, body refiners were most adept at self-preservation.


    <i>Boom!</i> In just two seconds, the distance between Wu Yuan and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu had shrunk to a mere two hundred thousand li.


    The mountains and earth along their path all trembled, copsed, and crumbled to dust, with shockwaves spreading in all directions. This wasn''t evenbat, merely the result of their flight speed.


    They drew ever closer.


    <i>Am I really going to die here?</i> Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s heart was gripped with despair.


    In the past, he had relied on his speed to roam Huanggu unrivaled. But today, he had finally encountered someone whose speedpletely overwhelmed his own.


    ...


    In a part of the seemingly calm and quiet expanse of the void, space was distorted, and a pallid figure stood there. It was Imperial Majesty Da Yan.


    <i>Wu Zong is dead. He can perceive Space. I fear I cannot escape Hou Feng''s perception.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan realized.


    He had originally been the backup, waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to Wu Yuan. But the power Wu Yuan had unleashed was too strong, turning this n into a joke.


    He had two choices. The first option was to remain motionless, praying Wu Yuan hadn''t detected his presence. The second was to flee.


    But how powerful was his predictive ability? Through the Mirror of Creation, he instantly deduced that Wu Yuan''s flight speed was terrifyingly fast, and his spatial awareness even more extraordinary.


    To flee meant certain death. And staying put had a ny-nine percent chance of being a dead end as well.


    <i>Will we all perish here today?</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yanmented inwardly.


    Having grasped the full situation, his heart turned resolute, a glimmer of desperation and madness shing in his eyes.


    <i>So be it! No matter what, I''m doomed. Big brother, Second Brother, I''ll exert every ounce of my strength to try to save you.</i>


    <i>This Hou Feng may possess power defying the heavens, but he is ultimately just an Eldritch General.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan believed he had discerned Wu Yuan''s fatal weakness �C Dao Heart!


    <i>The Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, infused with the essence of Life, greatly enhances soul attack and defense. Though inferior to the Creation Divine Artifacts, they are equally miraculous.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan understood this clearly.


    But while soul defense could be improved, one��s Dao Heart and will couldn''t be altered; this was the inner core of every living being.


    <i>Destroying him is too much to hope for, I merely pray that it��s enough to disrupt him for a moment, allowing my brothers to escape with their lives.</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan had made his decision without a shred of hesitation.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu had left him no time to waver.


    <i>Boom! </i>Imperial Majesty Da Yan��s vital aura erupted, growing overwhelmingly vast like a raging inferno.


    Then a bronze mirror rose, emanating an inconceivable radiance. With a thunderous roar, Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s vital aura surged into it like a tidal wave!


    <i>Hm? Third brother? </i>Imperial Majesty Nan You sensed this anomaly in mid-flight. His expression instantly shifted, a flicker of sorrow crossing his face.


    As someone also wielding a Creation Divine Artifact, he knew exactly what Imperial Majesty Da Yan was doing: sacrificing his life to unleash the full power of the Creation Divine Artifact!


    ��Big Brother, Second Brother, I can''t apany you further on the path of immortality, haha." Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s voice resonated simultaneously in the minds of Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.


    This voice was utterly serene, yet it made both their hearts tremble.


    Having fought side by side to reach this point, the bond of brotherhood between the three was beyond imagination. They were truly willing toy down their lives for each other.


    <i>Boom!</i> Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s dazzlingly brilliant vital aura suddenly extinguished. He had perished.


    At that instant, the Mirror of Creation''s radiance illuminated its surroundings. A blinding arc of light instantly pierced through the sky. This light, imbued with unfathomable power, traversed through higher spatial dimensions, silently crossing a million li in an instant, seemingly possessing the ability to lock onto a target.


    Then, it struck Wu Yuan! Everything happened too swiftly.


    "Not good."


    "Hou Feng, be careful." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s expressions changed abruptly.


    At this moment, they were attempting to intercept the fleeing Imperial Majesty Nan You and the others. They could only watch helplessly as that terrifying arc of light struck Wu Yuan.


    "Is it a soul attack?"


    "So fast. Eldritch Deity Hou Feng can surely withstand any other kind of assault. But a soul attack? Hard to say." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi were quite worried.


    In their view, no matter how extraordinary Wu Yuan was, no matter how profound his Daoprehension, his soul and Dao Heart were likely still vulnerabilities.


    ...


    This special attack from the Mirror of Creation instantly smothered Wu Yuan, and terrifying soul fluctuations swept forth.


    <i>Roar~</i> It was as if countless ghosts were shrieking, or billions of spirits were roaring in rage, forming a terrifying force. It also contained a trace of an indescribably bizarre illusory fluctuation.


    Soul attack! Illusory realm engulfment! Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s sacrificial soul attack was potent enough to annihte an ordinary High Eldritch.


    However, an invisible, formidable wave of soul power protected Wu Yuan, a power derived from the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The soul attack collided with this defensive soul power, instantly weakening it by ny-nine percent.


    How could the remaining trace of power possibly wound Wu Yuan, who had cultivated soul defense secret arts? It was worth noting that Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s soul had long since reached the Yuan Soul level. His soul could rival that of a peak-stage Earth Eldritch.


    One could say that the remaining trace of power was utterly incapable of affecting Wu Yuan.


    Only that wisp of illusory soul fluctuation directly bypassed the numerous soul defenses, pulling Wu Yuan''s consciousness into it.


    This was an extremely special technique unique to the Mirror of Creation.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Originally flying at high speed, Wu Yuan��s eyes suddenly became vacant, as though he had fallen into an illusion.

 Chapter 642: No Regrets (1)

    <h4>Chapter 642: No Regrets (1)</h4>


    "He''s been hit."


    "Hou Feng was struck."


    "Imperial Majesty Da Yan sacrificed his life for this attack. It must be unimaginably devastating. It might even be enough to kill Hou Feng outright." Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu instantly noticed this, jubtion filling their hearts.


    After the fall of High Immortal Wu Zong, they were the weakest among the fleeing immortal race members. They were also the most fearful.


    Seeing Imperial Majesty Da Yan willing to sacrifice his life, burning it all away to kill Wu Yuan, they were naturally the most excited.


    As for Imperial Majesty Da Yan''s death? The two of them weren''t deeply affected. As Heavenly Masters, they were actually leaders of their own separate races, only submitting to the Imperial Majesties due to their superior strength.


    If they had enough power, they would have dered independence long ago. The immortal race was far less united internally than the eldritch race.


    "Third Brother." Imperial Majesty Nan You, flying at high speed, was seething with rage.


    "No!" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu��s roar rang out, his eyes bloodshot with grief and rage.


    For hundreds of thousands of years, the three brothers had supported each other through thick and thin. Only by going through numerous tribtions together did they reach their current positions as the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, vowing to jointly resist the eldritch race.


    Today, they could only watch helplessly as Imperial Majesty Da Yan perished. The sorrow and indignation in their hearts were naturally indescribable.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> However, no matter how angry or hateful they were, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You didn''t hesitate for a moment and continued to flee into the distance.


    Turn back to attack Wu Yuan? As powerhouses who had fullyprehended a Dao, their perceptive abilities were incredibly keen. They could clearly perceive that Wu Yuan''s vital aura hadn''t weakened at all, indicating that his soul hadn''t suffered much damage.


    His current special state was likely due to other reasons, such as illusions, Soulquake, or simr techniques. And these techniques were unlikely to be fatal. In simple terms��Wu Yuan could regain consciousness at any moment.


    If they didn��t flee now, when would they?


    ...


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng."


    "Hou Feng." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi watched Wu Yuan in growing rm as his speed faltered.


    Imperial Majesty Da Yan was the most mysterious among the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race. Given that he sacrificed his life to unlock the Creation Divine Artifact��s power, the resulting attack had to be absolutely terrifying.


    Setting aside its other aspects, the attack��s ability to bypass time and space was enough to strike fear into their hearts. Soul attacks from higher dimensions usually took at least a fraction of time to traverse spacetime. But the rainbow light from the Mirror of Creation had appeared instantly, as if teleporting directly to strike Wu Yuan with zero dy.


    "It must be a soul attack, there are no physical fluctuations at all," said Eldritch Deity Hou Tu.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng." High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s worry deepened as they watched.


    They attempted to rouse Wu Yuan throughmunicating via Soul Will, while also trying to intercept Imperial Majesty Nan You.


    Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu were fleeing in different directions. Imperial Majesty Nan You also had the support of his Creation Divine Artifact, and the power he unleashed was slightly stronger than Eldritch Deity Hou Tu.


    Moreover, Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu suddenly joined forces to rescue Imperial Majesty Nan You for some unknown reason.


    <i>Boom! Rumble!</i> Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Imperial Majesty Nan You shed violently, exchanging blows in rapid session.


    However, Imperial Majesty Nan You was hell-bent on escaping and had the aid of two great Heavenly Masters. In the end, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi could only watch helplessly as Imperial Majesty Nan You and his allies turned into streaks of light, disappearing into the distance.


    "No need to pursue. If we corner them, it might not end well."


    "In a life-or-death battle, we would actually be at a disadvantage." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi didn''t give chase.


    In their view, even if they failed to kill Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You, and the others in this battle, it wasn��t a big deal.


    Wu Yuan had only cultivated for such a short time, yet he couldpletely dominate the three Imperial Majesties. With a few more years of cultivation, even if the two Imperial Majesties hid away, Wu Yuan could still breach the defenses of Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    Moreover, one of the three Imperial Majesties was already gone. In future battles, they would only need to face two Imperial Majesties instead of three.


    Their main concern remained Wu Yuan.


    "Hou Feng." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi rushed back to where Wu Yuan hovered unconscious in the air, his head drooped. His vital aura still surged and billowed outwards, preventing them from approaching any closer.


    No matter how many times they called out to him via Soul Will, there was no response.


    "This is bad."


    "We don''t know what technique Imperial Majesty Da Yan used in his final strike.��


    Worry etched across their faces.


    If Wu Yuan didn��t awaken��or worse, if he died��it would be a catastrophic loss for the Huanggu eldritch race.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A graceful, red-robed figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was Eldritch General Hou Tong, whom Eldritch Deity Hou Tu had kept safely out of harm��s way earlier.


    Although she wasn''t strong enough to participate in the battle, she had been observing from the shadows and roughly understood the situation.


    "Hou Feng." A cloud of worry darkened Hou Tong��s expression as she approached Wu Yuan, sensing that something was seriously wrong.


    ...


    "Formless, soundless, everything is but a dream..."


    "Come, submit to me, be the ruler of this world..."


    "Haha, establish the heart of heaven and earth..." Various voices resonated endlessly in Wu Yuan''s mind as his consciousness was dragged through a terrifying ordeal.


    Illusions haunted him one after another, burying his mind deeper into chaos.


    These illusions all targeted the deepest desires in the hearts of living beings, desires for knowledge, power, procreation, pleasure, food... They struck directly at the spirit, making them exceptionally potent. Most High Immortals would have lost themselves to such illusions, unable to escape.


    Each one of these illusions was no less powerful than the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, some even more terrifying.


    After all, the tribtions sent down by heaven and earth were adjusted for each individual. When Wu Yuan underwent the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, he had only cultivated for mere decades. The illusions formed then were a great ordeal for Wu Yuan at that time, but in the eyes of truly powerful beings, they were insignificant.


    If Wu Yuan had justpleted his Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, this move by Imperial Majesty Da Yan would have seriously endangered him, possibly plunging him into slumber for an unknown length of time, or even killing him outright.


    However, the current Wu Yuan not only had a much stronger soul, but had also made great strides in his Dao Heart and willpower.


    Traveling for nearly two hundred years and contemting the Laws was also a way of tempering his inner heart.


    <i>Too weak. Too shallow. How could such illusions hope to agitate me? I��ve endured the Apotheosis Yuan Soul Tribtion, and saw through all twelve selves. After centuries of tempering, ordinary illusions can''t affect me at all. Shatter! </i>


    Wu Yuan��s Dao Heart was as solid as an iceberg, unmoved by the illusions. His consciousness, a piercing ray of divine light, shattered the illusions one by one.


    What surprised him, however, was the sheer number of illusions, and how each one grew more powerful than thest. The deeper he went, the harder they were to break. It was as if he was ascending an endlessdder.


    However, Wu Yuan''s heart didn''t waver in the slightest, nor did he have any thought of giving up. He kept firmly breaking through each one.


    <i>You can''t stop me. Break! Break! Break!</i> Wu Yuan roared from the depths of his spirit


    Abruptly, all the surrounding scenes shattered with a thunderous crash, and his consciousness was restored to rity.


    He broke through all 5500 illusions, from the lowest High Immortal level one to the highest rivaling the Archimmortal level. All in all, it took him a quarter of an hour.


    Wu Yuan exhaled deeply, his eyes opening. He surveyed his surroundings: ��Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, High Eldritch Hou Zhi.��


    As for Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You, and the others? There was no trace of them.


    "He''s awake."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng." A flicker of joy and relief crossed the faces of Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi.


    A quarter of an hour! What kind of soul attack couldst so long? As time passed, their concern had only deepened. Now that Wu Yuan had fully awakened, they could finally rx.


    Suddenly, a figure d in red robes darted into Wu Yuan��s arms, embracing him tightly. Tears glistened in her eyes. "Hou Feng... I was so scared just now!"


    Wu Yuan stood frozen, feeling the warmth of her body. For a moment, he was taken aback.


    It was the first time Hou Tong had shown such vulnerability and raw emotion.


    She clung to him, as though afraid she would truly lose him.


    "Hou Tong," Wu Yuan murmured softly.


    He took in her beautiful face, now streaked with tears. Hou Tong, always straightforward, was never one for flowery words. So, no more was said.


    This time, Wu Yuan didn''t push her away. He rejected her advances numerous times in the past, but to do so now would be too cruel.


    Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi exchanged knowing nces and withdrew to a distance, giving Wu Yuan and Hou Tong some privacy.


    "Hou Feng." After a long while, Hou Tong shifted, releasing him of her own ord. Her expression had returned to normal, though a faint blush still colored her cheeks.


    As a powerful Eldritch General, her Dao Heart and willpower were formidable. She wouldn''t truly behave like a young girl.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. He knew that this was already her limit.


    ��Hou Tong, is this truly what you want?�� Wu Yuan asked suddenly.


    Hou Tong, who had been regaining herposure, was taken aback. She stared at Wu Yuan, hardly believing what she''d heard. She never expected Wu Yuan to broach the subject so abruptly.


    ��For centuries, you��ve stayed by my side,�� Wu Yuan continued, his voice soft but serious. ��I know how you feel. The truth is, I��ve never disliked you.


    Humans were governed by seven emotions and six desires. Wu Yuan was no saint; how could he not feel anything? After centuries together, he knew his bond with Hou Tong ran deep. Their personalities were quitepatible as well.


    "Then?" Hou Tong found herself at a loss for words.


    "I have my reasons," Wu Yuan said calmly. "Once the matter with the immortal race is settled, I''ll exin everything to you."


    "Mm." Hou Tong nodded gently. Her mind raced with spections.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    When Hou Tong had flung herself into his arms, his heart had indeed skipped a beat. A woman who had stayed by his side for centuries, neverining, worrying herself sick when he faced danger. Who wouldn''t be moved, even a little?


    <i>When the heart dwells on something, karma is born.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. He prided himself on understanding his own heart.


    Matters of the heart were the most difficult to express. There was no point in dying. Whether to pursue or end it, decisiveness was key.


    On the path of cultivation, there would always be attachments. Whether to sever them or attempt to fulfill them, both were valid choices. But constantly evading the issue would only breed regret, and might even give rise to heart devils in the future.


    Soon after, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi returned, asking Wu Yuan about everything he had just experienced.


    "An illusion?"


    "The illusions Imperial Majesty Da Yan unleashed in his dying breath must have been absolutely horrifying. Thousands of them, each more horrifying than thest. I''m not sure I could have withstood it," High Eldritch Hou Zhi remarked with genuine admiration. He looked at Wu Yuan with newfound respect.


    Great power could be attributed to natural talent, but to possess such a formidable Dao Heart after only a few centuries of cultivation was trulymendable.


    "I''ve been thinking," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Perhaps Imperial Majesty Da Yan wasn''t fully aware of the power of his dying strike. Otherwise, Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu wouldn''t have fled, but chosen to counterattack instead."

 Chapter 643: No Regrets (2)

    <h4>Chapter 643: No Regrets (2)</h4>


    To Wu Yuan, the illusions released by the Mirror of Creation weren''t particrly challenging to deal with. But to be incapacitated in the heat of battle for a full quarter of an hour?


    In shes between High Immortals and High Eldritches, hundreds to thousands of exchanges could ur in a single second. If Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You had turned back to attack, they might well have seeded in killing Wu Yuan.


    Of course, while Wu Yuan''s consciousness was trapped in the illusions, Little ck still remained conscious. In a dire situation, it would have carried Wu Yuan to safety. This was one of the advantages of having a lifebound eldritch beast.


    "They fled, and with your condition uncertain, we didn''t dare give chase," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said, shaking his head.


    "With just the two of them left, they no longer pose a significant threat." High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled, adding, "Besides, they were so frightened they didn''t even take the Mirror of Creation with them."


    With a wave of his hand, a bronze mirror appeared, floating in the air. It was none other than the Mirror of Creation, the legendary weapon that had made Imperial Majesty Da Yan a force to be reckoned with throughout Huanggu.


    Simple yet elegant, the mirror''s face was perfectly smooth, without a single blemish.


    Its reverse side, however, was covered in countless cryptic patterns. It exuded an aura of antiquity.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, it��s all thanks to you that we emerged victorious. You should keep the Mirror of Creation for now," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said. "It might prove beneficial to your cultivation. Perhaps you may wish to study it and attempt to gain some insights. You can also try to activate it if you wish."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded, epting the mirror without hesitation.


    This unassuming mirror was, in fact, one of the objectives he had set for himself upon arriving in Huanggu. Atst, he had obtained one of the Creation Divine Artifacts.


    "What''s the situation at Heavenly Pir Mountain?" Wu Yuan suddenly asked.


    As soon as he realized the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were here, he had immediately sent word to the eldritch race''s army at Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    "They''ve already breached the Twenty-sixth Heaven," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said with a hint of a smile. "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s power is overwhelming. Combined with hundreds of High Eldritches, the remaining High Immortals and Earth Immortals of the immortal race stand no chance.


    By the time Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others make it back, I reckon Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu will have already reached the Thirty-Third Heaven," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said with a grin.


    Wu Yuan nodded in approval.


    Years ago, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu had managed to escape unscathed even when facing Imperial Majesty Da Yan at his full, Archimmortal-level strength. His power was unquestionable.


    "We mustn''t dy. Let''s head to Heavenly Pir Mountain at once," Wu Yuan said, looking at Eldritch Deity Hou Tu. "If Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others return, we''ll be there to provide support.


    Ideally, we should intercept them before they reach Heavenly Pir Mountain," Wu Yuan added.


    "Agreed."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is right." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi nodded in unison. Wu Yuan''s words didn��t just echo their thoughts, but that of the upper echelons of the entire eldritch race.


    At this point, the end of the long war was in sight! The immortal race was on the brink of annihtion, with most of their High Immortals and Earth Immortals either captured or in.


    However, if Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You managed to return to Heavenly Pir Mountain, where they could unleash their full Archimmortal-level power, that would be truly terrifying.


    Two Archimmortals? Even if the entire eldritch race banded together, they might not be able to withstand such a force. If the two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were driven to desperation, they could still cause immense trouble for the eldritch race.


    Therefore, the best strategy was to intercept them before they reached Heavenly Pir Mountain. At the very least, they had to be stopped before the Eighteenth Heaven.


    "Let''s go."


    "Move out." Wu Yuan, with Hou Tong by his side, set off with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi, their forms transforming into streaks of light as they sped towards Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    Wu Yuan took the lead, guiding the others. They quickly elerated to an incredible velocity.


    With Wu Yuan''s speed, even if he set out a quarter-hourter, he would still reach Heavenly Pir Mountain faster than Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.


    ...


    Inside Heavenly Pir Mountain, blood flowed like rivers and mes reached the sky. The continent fissured, the earth shattered, andyer uponyer of arrays copsed.


    "No!"


    "Where are the Imperial Majesties?"


    "Where have they gone?" Countless beings of the immortal race wailed.


    It was a rey of thest eldritch-immortal war. At the crucial moment, the Imperial Majesties whom these immortal race beings trusted and worshiped had vanished without a trace.


    Masses of immortal cultivators tried to flee, but the colliding torrents of arcane arts filled the sky, their aftershocks reaching hundreds of millions, even billions of li. Countless immortal cultivators perished.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill! ughter all these immortal race scum!"


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng fought one against three, ying Imperial Majesty Da Yan, and forcing Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu to flee."


    "With this battle, we shall annihte the immortal race." Nearly two hundred High Eldritches of the eldritch race strode through the skies and the earth, exuding overwhelming might. The battle intent they emanated was terrifyingly intense.


    These High Eldritches had all received news of Wu Yuan''s battle with the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race. Although Imperial Majesty Da Yan had willingly sacrificed himself, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu altered the narrative, iming that Wu Yuan had in Da Yan directly. This was propaganda.


    Of course, in a sense, it truly was Wu Yuan who killed Imperial Majesty Da Yan. If not for him, how could Imperial Majesty Da Yan have perished?


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A giant ming palm swept across heaven and earth, piercing through a massive array and obliterating a High Immortal within.


    The giant palm retracted, and a figure strolled casually through the sky of the Twenty-seventh Heaven��it was Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.


    He was the true number one genius and powerhouse to emerge from the Huanggu eldritch race.


    <i>Hou Feng slew Da Yan?</i> Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu murmured to himself, a glint in his eyes. <i>Could his Daoprehension have nearly reached the seventh-level Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law?</i>


    <i>Truly inconceivable. I''ve cultivated for millions of years, yet I''m no match for a child who''s cultivated for mere hundreds. [1] </i>Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu smiled faintly. <i>How utterly pathetic I''ve be, no better than a worthless mutt.</i>


    The seventh-level Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law was generally the level ofprehension ofte-stage Archimmortal powerhouses. In the Greenridge Macrocosm, this would be the level of an Astral Lord.


    ...


    The eldritch race��s army swept through Heavenly Pir Mountain like an unstoppable tide, crushing the remaining dregs of the immortal race��s army.


    Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others were swiftly rushing toward Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    In a deste mountain range about ten billion li from Heavenly Pir Mountain, four figures emanating powerful auras were gathered in a sorry state��they were Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.


    Contrary to the worries of the eldritch race''s highest echelons, not only had these four not fled back to Heavenly Pir Mountain, but after confirming they had shaken off Wu Yuan, they had fled even further from Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    ��Thest message received from Heavenly Pir Mountain was that the eldritch race army breached the Thirty-first Heaven. After that, no more messages were sent out. I fear the entire army has been annihted," said Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You remained silent, seeming lost in thought.


    After a while, Heavenly Master Lei Guang asked in a low voice: "Imperial Majesties, what should we do next? Are we really not going back?"


    "Imperial Majesties, with your ability to unleash Archimmortal-level power, we have hope of killing many eldritch race troops if we fight our way back," said Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.


    "There is no hope left. From the moment Hou Feng disyed his power, it was clear our immortal race no longer had any hope," sighed Imperial Majesty Nan You, his voice tinged with mncholy.


    Silence fell.


    Heavenly Master Lei Guang opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    Indeed! The eldritch race was powerful, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s strength unmatched, yet the immortal race had never given up, and even remained full of confidence.


    Why? It was because the three Imperial Majesties were nearly invincible existences inside Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    But Hou Feng''s appearance disrupted everything. In just a few hundred years, his strength had reached such heights.


    "Even if we return and dy for a time against all odds," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu said softly, "In another few hundred or thousand years, I fear Hou Feng will break through to the High Eldritch phase, growing strong enough to y us in direct confrontation."


    This was an almost inevitable oue! When Wu Yuanpletely dominated the battle against the three Imperial Majesties, it spelled the immortal race��s doom.


    "You two. Lei Fu and I have discussed leaving Huanggu and heading for the outer realms," Imperial Majesty Nan You''s gaze swept over the two men. "Are you willing to follow?"


    Head for the outer realms? Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu hesitated.


    For millions of years, numerous legends of the Archeldritches had circted throughout thend. There had long been rumors that there were evenrger worlds beyond.


    Many High Eldritches and High Immortals had attempted to leave Huanggu in the past. As for Earth Immortals? Theycked the ability to break free from the world''s constraints, and the further they traveled from the ground, the stronger the constraints became.


    However, while High Immortals and High Eldritch could break free from the world''s constraints, none had sent back any news. No one knew whether they lived or died. Thus, gradually, fewer and fewer powerhouses attempted it.


    "If you don''t go to the outer realms, then what? Hide and wait for death? Wait for the eldritch race to capture you?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu snorted coldly. "By heading to the outer realms, we might survive and perhaps even find great opportunities.


    If we truly be Archimmortals, we might be able toe back to Huanggu like the Archeldritches of old and take revenge," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu enticed.


    Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu looked at each other.


    The strongest evidence supporting the theory of ''outer realms'' was indeed the existence of the Archeldritches.


    "Very well, I shall go. I��ll take this gamble alongside the two Imperial Majesties," Heavenly Master Lei Guang''s eyes shed with a hint of madness.


    "Me too," Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu said in a resigned voice.


    Pushed to the brink, these powerhouses of the immortal race were equally decisive.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You exchanged a nce. Although their strength far surpassed Heavenly Master Lei Guang and the others, the future was unknown, and having more individuals on their side was naturally a good thing.


    "We must not dy."


    "Let''s go now."


    "Go." Lightning faintly encircled Imperial Majesty Lei Fu''s body, instantly enveloping Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.


    <i>Boom!</i> A bolt of lightning shot skyward, swiftly heading into the sky. The majestic mountain ranges on the ground rapidly shrank into pinpricks.


    Ten million li...one hundred million li...three hundred million li...five hundred million li!


    After ascending five hundred million li from ground level, they found themselves in a vast and boundless void. Below them was the enormous Huanggu World that obscured nearly half their field of vision.


    Heaven and earth were boundless! What a magnificent sight it was, yet the immense pressure of the Huanggu World gave Imperial Majesty Lei Fu a feeling of tremendous oppression.


    "Continue." Imperial Majesty Lei Fu gritted his teeth. Imperial Majesty Nan You flew out, and the two joined forces, continuing to charge toward the outer realms.


    Eight hundred million li...one billion li!


    Finally, they seemed to have broken through the limit of Huanggu world''s constraints. The terrifying pressure that had been weighing on their bodies began to diminish rapidly.


    "Excellent."


    "Can we really reach the outer realms?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You were overjoyed. They had never been so far from thend before.


    After a long while more, they could vaguely see the silhouette of a majestic temple, floating at the edge of the boundless void.


    "A temple?"


    Before they could ponder further, a beam of rainbow light shed from the majestic temple.


    "Leaving the Primary World while failing to be an Archeldritch is a grave sin! Departing with the Creation Divine Artifacts of the Primary World is a capital offense." Two voices suddenly rang out.


    In an instant, the rainbow light traversed billions of li through the void, sweeping across this expanse of emptiness.


    As everything fell still, only a divine cauldron and a bolt of lightning remained suspended in the void.


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You were dead!


    1. Eldritch Deities can cultivate for >1mil years, unlike other High Immortals whose lifespans are 1 mil years. ?

 Chapter 644: The Creation Divine Hall

    <h4>Chapter 644: The Creation Divine Hall</h4>


    Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You died silently, unbeknownst to the highest echelons of the eldritch race, who never let down their guard against the two Imperial Majesties.


    Outside the towering Heavenly Pir Mountain stood a vast city perpetually bustling with activity, spanning hundreds of thousands of li and teeming with powerful eldritch warriors.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Several streaks of light descended.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu." Three High Eldritches led arge group of Earth Eldritches to wee them, bowing respectfully.


    This group of Earth Eldritches gazed at Wu Yuan with reverence, all aware of his feats of defeating three Imperial Majesties and ying Imperial Majesty Da Yan.


    Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    "How fares the battle?" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu inquired.


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, and the others have led the main army in, likely reaching the immortal race''s Thirty-Third Heaven by now," the lead High Eldritch reported deferentially. "We merely guard the outskirts of Heavenly Pir Mountain, eliminating any remaining immortal race powerhouses attempting to flee.


    We are also keeping a lookout for the immortal race��s remaining Imperial Majesties, prepared to sound the alert immediately should any return," the High Eldritch added.


    Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded in approval.


    In a real decisive battle, ordinary High Eldritches could still y a role, but thisrge group of Earth Eldritches? Their usefulness was limited.


    "Veteran Elder Hou Zhi, the great war is nearing its end. You and Hou Tong should remain here," Wu Yuan said. "Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and I will go take a look at the Thirty-Third Heaven."


    "Alright." High Eldritch Hou Zhi nodded with a smile. "Go ahead."


    Hou Tong had no objections.


    Soon, they watched as Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu transformed into two streaks of light, shooting into the towering, boundless Heavenly Pir Mountain.


    "Little Hou Tong, did Eldritch Deity Hou Feng agree?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi suddenly asked.


    Hearing this, a faint blush crossed Hou Tong''s face, and she hesitated for a moment. "Perhaps... he did!"


    "If he truly agreed, it''s somewhat unexpected," High Eldritch Hou Zhi remarked, seeming somewhat emotional. "And now, looking at the situation, I''m not sure if it''s a blessing or a curse for you."


    Hou Tong was taken aback. "Why? Veteran Elder Hou Zhi, haven''t you been encouraging me these past few hundred years?"


    "At the beginning, I did support you," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled. "In terms of age, you and Eldritch Deity Hou Feng are simr; in terms of talent and strength, you have the potential to be a High Eldritch in the future. Looking across the entire eldritch race, if one were to choose a wife for Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, you would likely be the most suitable candidate.


    This is also something the entire eldritch race''s upper echelons would be pleased to see happen."


    Hou Tong listened attentively. This was something she had always believed without doubt.


    Over these two hundred years, though she apanied Wu Yuan, she never neglected her cultivation. On the contrary, under the guidance of two Eldritch Deities and a High Eldritch veteran elder, her progress sped up.


    "But today, I actually feel that you might not be suitable for him anymore," High Eldritch Hou Zhi sighed.


    Hou Tong grew increasingly confused.


    "I know you''ve always looked up to High Eldritch Hou Qiong, right?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi looked at Hou Tong.


    After several hundred years, he had grown increasingly fond of this junior.


    "Yes," Hou Tong nodded. "High Eldritch Hou Qiong is someone that deserves to be looked up to."


    "It''s not just you who admires him. We High Eldritches also respect him. To be able to do so much for one''s wife is simply incredible," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said with emotion. "But do you think Eldritch Deity Hou Feng and you can be like High Eldritch Hou Qiong and histe wife?"


    Hou Tong hesitated immediately.


    "You hope for it! You yearn for it. But deep down, you know it''s unlikely," High Eldritch Hou Zhi sighed. "At first, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and I both thought that you and Eldritch Deity Hou Feng would develop feelings for each other over time.


    Since ancient times, it''s been said that familiarity breeds affection.


    Later, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng wandered the mortal realm. When he was a schr, you were a maid who lit the candles in his room; when he transformed into a wealthy merchant, you disguised yourself as his wife; when he became a mortal general, you could ride horses beside him, fighting alongside him on the battlefield..." High Eldritch Hou Zhi said.


    "It seems you''ve been through a lot together, and in your brief lives, you''ve shared many longsting memories."


    Hou Tong listened, realizing it was these experiences over the long years that made her believe in her feelings for Wu Yuan.


    "But today, I''vee to a realization." High Eldritch Hou Zhi shook his head and said, "We went through the experiences in the mortal realm together, but Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and I were always above it all, never truly letting ourselves get absorbed into the lives of a mortal. Those experiences didn''t affect us at all.


    You, on the other hand, immersed yourself too deeply, to the point of gradually losing yourself. Each experience and change of identity often left you feeling lost. As outsiders, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and I could see it clearly.


    When Eldritch Deity Hou Feng took on any identity, he would fullymit to it. Yet once he stepped back, he would quickly regain rity, no longer affected in the slightest, merely incorporating the various insights of the mortal world into his own path, tempering his Dao Heart.


    He is a born seeker of the Dao."


    The more Hou Tong listened, the more her heart began to pound in panic. "Veteran Elder, do you mean...?"


    "The terrifying nature of Eldritch Deity Hou Feng''s Dao Heart, the unshakable strength of his will, in my view, cannot be influenced by a brief number of shared years," High Eldritch Hou Zhi sighed, looking at Hou Tong with some regret.


    "Today, I saw it especially clearly. Imperial Majesty Da Yan was most skilled in divination and soul attacks. The killing move he set up, using his life as the price and the Creation Divine Artifact as the conduit, was incredibly horrifying. Even ordinary High Eldritches would likely lose themselves in it and die inevitably.


    But, having cultivated for only a few hundred years, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng was able to quickly break through numerous shackles and regain rity, without being affected by thousands of illusions in the slightest.


    How terrifying is such a Dao Heart? Do you really think he would develop deep feelings for you just because of a few hundred years ofpanionship?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi asked.


    Eldritch General Hou Tong fell silent.


    She wasn''t ignorant. As a powerful Eldritch General, she too had extraordinary insight and experience. She had just been too caught up in the situation to fully realize it before.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s words made her ponder. However, she still found it hard to ept.


    "Veteran Elder, why do you think Hou Feng asked me that? If he hasn��t developed feelings for me, then why?" Hou Tong said softly.


    "In my view, it''s pity, not love," High Eldritch Hou Zhi shook his head and sighed. "Perhaps he truly felt a moment of affection, but this is likely more due to his short cultivation period. No matter how strong his Dao Heart is, it hasn''t been tempered by time yet, and hasn''t truly reached that level ofplete detachment."


    Hou Tong fell silent.


    Pity? A moment of affection?


    "Little Hou Tong, what do you think is a Daopanion? What is a wife?" High Eldritch Hou Zhi suddenly smiled.


    "Aren''t Daopanions and wives just different terms for the same thing?" Hou Tong asked, somewhat hesitantly.


    "Haha, the concept of a Daopanion isn��t as simple as that of a wife. Perhaps I''m just getting senile and misjudged the situation. Maybe Eldritch Deity Hou Feng truly has feelings for you," High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled, seemingly unwilling to say more. "But you need to think carefully about this step.


    The word ''love'' is the most hurtful. Immersing oneself in it hurts both others and oneself," High Eldritch Hou Zhi said emotionally. "Is being like High Eldritch Hou Qiong really right?


    However, you still have time. Think about it carefully."


    Hou Tong fell into deep thought.


    High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled faintly. After hundreds of thousands of years, how much had he seen? He knew very well why the younger generation was always more prone to infatuation. It was because the world of youth was the purest.


    Why was it harder for the powerful and the elderly to fall in love? They had experienced too much, their lives were rich, and they had numerous concerns. Even the deepest emotional imprints would upy an increasingly smaller portion of their lives, making it harder and harder to abandon everything for them.


    <i>Life is like a river. Finding a Daopanion is like the merging of two rivers, forming arger river that can flow through morends and witness more splendor.</i> High Eldritch Hou Zhi mused to himself.


    <i>But only those who are simr have the hope of sharing life and death, of abandoning everything for each other.</i>


    <i>If one is just a stream, while the other is a vast river or even an ocean, it only bes increasingly difficult.</i>


    <i>Life is but a fleeting moment in the vast sea of existence. In this boundless heaven and earth, only the Dao is eternal. </i>High Eldritch Hou Zhi sighed inwardly.


    Love might be as unyielding as steel, but the Dao endured beyond the lifespan of heaven and earth.


    Those who pursued the Dao were not truly devoid of emotion. Rather, they recognized that the Dao''s eternity surpassed even that of love!


    This was High Eldritch Hou Zhi''s insight, but he didn''t voice it. He knew that some things could only be understood by experience. Only by understanding it could one truly see through it.


    ...


    Inside Heavenly Pir Mountain, Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu passed throughyer afteryer of ruined worlds, countless corpses of immortal race beings, and shatterednds.


    The ��immortal race paradise�� of legend in Huanggu was now the scene of an apocalypse.


    Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, however, viewed all this calmly, swiftly making their way toward the Thirty-Third Heaven. Along the way, they encountered only one or two High Eldritches stationed in eachyer.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, what about that Mirror of Creation? Can you control it?" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu asked curiously, with a hint of anticipation in his heart.


    "Not yet, the deciphering process is very slow," Wu Yuan shook his head and replied.


    The Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded, unsurprised. It would have been strange indeed if Wu Yuan had been able to swiftly decipher such an inconceivable artifact.


    Little did he know, Wu Yuan had been attempting to refine the Mirror of Creation from the moment he acquired it. But sess had eluded him at every turn. He couldn''t even brand the faintest aura imprint upon it.


    It was as if an invisible barrier stood between Wu Yuan and the mirror, thwarting his every effort, no matter how hard he tried.


    <i>I��m unable to refine it?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    <i>The aura of the Mirror of Creation has been growing stronger since I entered Heavenly Pir Mountain. Its power seems to be increasing rapidly.</i> Wu Yuan keenly observed.


    Returning to Heavenly Pir Mountain, the Mirror of Creation seemed to have found its way back to the wellspring of its power.


    <i>Heavenly Pir Mountain is unshakeable. Historically, the eldritch race has attempted to destroy Heavenly Pir Mountain, but it seems to be fused with the world itself, the very essence of the entire Huanggu world, the core of thend��s spirit veins.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>And yet, the Mirror of Creation can only unleash its ultimate power here on Heavenly Pir Mountain... </i>A suspicion was slowly forming in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    He recalled the Snake Progenitor''s words, that as outsiders, they could never truly wield the authority of heaven and earth in this world.


    <i>We''ll see when we reach the Creation Divine Hall. </i>He thought.


    They continued onward.


    Encountering no obstacles, they ascended higher, each world they passed through more intact than thest, until they reached the Thirty-Third Heaven.


    This realm had beenrgely untouched by war, with cascading halls suspended in the void.


    A group of High Eldritches stood waiting in the air.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Two figures swiftly approached.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, you have arrived," Having received word in advance, therge group of High Eldritches turned to the neers, flying over.


    Both sides exchanged swift greetings.


    The High Eldritches gave them an exceptionally warm reception, their gazes lingering on Wu Yuan with particr interest. They all knew of his tremendous power. To y an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race��even Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu might not be capable of such a feat.


    But Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon the figure in ck robes, whose aura was extraordinary. Standing there, he was like a zing sun. It was scorching and blindingly radiant!


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu," Wu Yuan smiled in greeting.


    "Haha, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng? I''ve heard much about you, but this is our first meeting," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu smiled slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.


    Without activating the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, Wu Yuan did not exude an overwhelmingly powerful vital aura. Yet that intangible, razor-sharp will was equally heart-stopping.


    "To be able to y Da Yan��you��re strong, far better than me," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiuughed. His voice was domineering and resonant, yet somehow pleasant to the ear.


    "I merely relied on the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts," Wu Yuan said with a humble smile.


    "I too possess Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, yet I cannot unleash even a fraction of their full potential. This is your unique talent, something others couldn''t hope to emte," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu shook his head. "Is there really no trace of the other two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race?"


    "There��s none," Wu Yuan shook his head. "They escaped."


    As for how they escape? Further exnation seemed pointless, so Wu Yuan didn''t borate.


    "No matter. With the two of us working together, along with Hou Tu, Hou Lu, and the other Eldritch Deities, we can hold our own even here in the Thirty-Three Heavens," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    So what if two of them had Archimmortal-level strength? With thebined might of the eldritch race''s top powerhouses, even if they couldn''t emerge victorious, they could at least ensure a safe retreat.


    "Shall we take a look at the Creation Divine Hall first?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu suggested with a smile.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    He had heard many legends about the Creation Divine Hall, but had never seen it himself.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The group took flight immediately, swiftly arriving at the center of the sprawling hallplex in the Thirty-Third Heaven.


    To call it the center of the hallplex was an understatement��it spanned thousands of li.


    Herey a vast, boundlesske, more an ocean in reality. It was shrouded in mist, radiating an aura of divine sanctity. In the center of theke, one could faintly make out an imposing, ancient purple hall.


    It seemed to stand proudly in the void. Yet it also shimmered and wavered, as if floating on the surface of theke. It exuded an immense, ethereal aura that instinctively inspired awe. Standing by theke, one couldn''t help but feel a sense of inner calm.


    "I''ve inquired��aside from the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, no one has truly entered the Creation Divine Hall. The other members of the immortal race mostly just meditate and cultivate by theke," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu exined.


    Wu Yuan listened silently. But inside, his heart was thumping with shock.


    At this moment, the aura emanating from the Creation Divine Hall was extremely simr to the spiritual resonance of the Creation Essence Diagram he possessed.


    No! Not simr! But rather��they shared the same source.


    It was just that the spiritual resonance and artistic conception contained within the distant Creation Divine Hall seemed even more noble and profound.


    A voice in Wu Yuan''s mind urged him��go in!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 645: You Have Finally Arrived (1)

    <h4>Chapter 645: You Have Finally Arrived (1)</h4>


    The irresistible allure Wu Yuan felt was akin to a starving man seeing a feast.


    The Creation Essence Diagram was a wondrous artifact born from numerous Thunder Beast Stones, a Thunder Marsh Spirit, and the aid of the ck pagoda.


    It was Wu Yuan''s greatest harvest in the Thunder Marsh World, imbued with an extraordinary spiritual resonance and artistic conception. Even ordinary Sovereigns might not possess an ultimate treasure on par with the Creation Essence Diagram.


    <i>Back then, when the Creation Essence Diagram coalesced, it felt as if an invisible forcepelled me to name it ''Creation''.</i> Wu Yuan mused, recalling that moment from years past.


    It was miraculous, yet also eerie. At the time, Wu Yuan had dismissed it as a sh of inspiration, not delving deeper. But now, it seemed far from simple.


    After all, the spiritual resonance emanating from the Creation Divine Hall before him was identical to that of the Creation Essence Diagram, only more vast and majestic, and both bore the name ''Creation''.


    Could it truly be mere coincidence?


    <i>Furthermore, back then, the Immutable Token''s spacetime coordinates just happened to point to the Thunder Marsh World, which just happened to contain the Thunder Beast Diagrams left by Astral Monarch Wan Lei?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Initially, it hadn''t seemed significant. But looking back, it was as if an invisible hand had arranged it all.


    The opportunities of the Immutable Land weren��t only found in the Huanggu World. In all likelihood, they already appeared in the Thunder Marsh World, with Wu Yuan''s keen observational skills allowing him to seize them from the very beginning. And with the aid of the ck pagoda, he''d obtained the Creation Essence Diagram.


    During the nearly three hundred years he spent in Huanggu, though Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had devoted most of his energy toprehending the Law of Life, he had also consistently observed and contemted the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of the Creation Essence Diagram.


    Previously, through this spiritual resonance and artistic conception, Wu Yuan had unknowingly stepped across the threshold of the Law of Life.


    Since then, the Creation Essence Diagram had still been of great help in the process of contemting the Law of Life. It simply wasn''t as direct as the assistance provided by the Archeldritch Hall.


    <i>Does this Creation Divine Hall hold the opportunity of the Essence Great Dao Master Kua Chi spoke of?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. [1]


    He thought of the Creation Divine Artifacts and the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. They were simr, differing only in power. Both were incredibly miraculous, at least Wu Yuan had never heard of anything like them during his time in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    If they originated from an Essence Great Dao, it would exin their miraculous nature.


    Essence Great Daos! These were Daos that transcended the cosmic universe, truly eternal, never perishing. They existed from primordial times, surpassing the fifteen Greater Laws.


    <i>However, only the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race can enter, while other powerhouses cannot. Can I enter with the power of the Creation Divine Artifacts?</i> Wu Yuan wondered.


    There was clearly a threshold one had to cross to enter the Creation Divine Hall.


    Wu Yuan knew that although he possessed the Mirror of Creation, he couldn''t decipher it at all, and thus couldn''t borrow its power.


    ...


    As these thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu spoke, "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu. We''ve gathered information via interrogations and have all attempted to enter the Creation Divine Hall.


    It''s actually simr to the Archeldritch Hall. Strands of mystical power gradually umte in the mist rising from theke over time. The power grows more concentrated with time.


    However, the power is ultimately limited, so in the immortal race, only those who have just be Immortal Generals have the chance to enter theke. After that, one must earn merits to enter."


    Wu Yuan and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu both nodded.


    This was simr to that of the eldritch race, likely an imitation created by the immortal race''s upper echelons. It was normal for major factions to copy systems that proved effective from other factions.


    "For us High Eldritches, the effect of thiske isn''t too significant," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said. "I believe the true great opportunity lies within the Creation Divine Hall.


    I experimented a little earlier. Even when I unleashed my full power, enough to destroy all other regions of the Thirty-Three Heavens, I couldn''t make thiske budge in the slightest," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said gravely. "I believe this Creation Divine Hall is the core of the entire Heavenly Pir Mountain.��


    These words caused Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, and other previously uninformed High Eldritches to show looks of surprise.


    If Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu were to unleash his power, he could easily annihte everything in a million li in a single strike. Yet he couldn''t even budge theke before them?


    "So, there''s only one path we can take, and that''s to enter the Creation Divine Hall," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said.


    "How did it go?" Wu Yuan asked.


    A sh of embarrassment crossed Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s face. This sight caused many High Eldritches to burst intoughter.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, it''s not that we don''t want to enter it, but we simply can''t," High Eldritch Hou Qiong chimed in.


    "The distance from the edge of theke to the Creation Divine Hall is about a thousand li. All of us have already given it a try.


    It��s fine at theke''s edge, but after advancing just one hundred li, the pressure gradually grows.


    Us ordinary High Eldritches find it difficult to advance even three hundred li. Eldritch Deity Hou Lu and the others managed to advance four or five hundred li.


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu was the most impressive, reaching a full eight hundred li," High Eldritch Hou Qiong sighed.


    Three hundred li? Five hundred li? Eight hundred li?


    Wu Yuan pondered for a while. Was the entry criteria solely rted to strength? Or was there something else?


    If power was the sole requirement, then given that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race could enter the Creation Divine Hall, there was no reason Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu couldn''t.


    Could it be that they relied on the Creation Divine Artifacts?


    "This Creation Divine Hall is itself an inconceivable ultimate treasure, probably even more precious than the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts or the Creation Divine Artifacts. We don''t aspire to obtain the Creation Divine Hall, yet we can''t even enter its gates. It''s truly difficult." a High Eldritchmented.


    This statement drew nods of agreement from many High Eldritches.


    "If Heavenly Pir Mountain is ours, the miraculous power of thiske alone would be equivalent to two Archeldritch Halls in terms of nurturing the younger generation," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said calmly. "For our eldritch race, it is an ultimate treasure."


    "Hmm, that''s true."


    "With it, the foundation of our Huanggu eldritch race will be solidified further." The many High Eldritches had to nod in agreement.


    Theke''s power was indeed impressive, but it fell far short of their expectations.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, do you want to give it a try?" Eldritch Deity Hou Lu looked towards Wu Yuan and Hou Tu.


    The other High Eldritches had all made their attempts, only these two neers hadn��t.


    "Alright. I''ll go first," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said with a smile. He didn''t stand on ceremony, directly stepping into theke and swiftly flying towards the Creation Divine Hall.


    He crossed the first hundred li almost instantly.


    But as soon as he passed the hundred li mark, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s expression changed slightly, his previously rxed demeanor faltering. His form even swayed a bit.


    <i>Ssh! </i>Eldritch Deity Hou Tu fell directly into the water.


    "Haha!"


    "As expected."


    "Hou Tu indeed fell for it too." Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, and many other High Eldritches burst intoughter. It was rare to see a mighty Eldritch Deity fumble.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t stop himself from grinning as well. Clearly, the highest echelons of the eldritch race all knew about theke''s peculiarity, yet none had spoken up to warn him. They were just waiting for Eldritch Deity Hou Tu to fall for it.


    "You bunch of sneaky bastards," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu retorted, quickly rising and continuing toward the Creation Divine Hall at a reduced speed.


    "At the start, the pressure is minimal. From the hundred li mark, the pressure rises. If you rush in too eagerly, you��ll fall," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said with a smile. "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, when it''s your turn, you''d better go slowly."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    Everyone continued to watch.


    <i>Rumble! </i>Invisible waves of pressure appeared to crash against Eldritch Deity Hou Tu as he continued forward. But Eldritch Deity Hou Tu charged straight ahead without stopping.


    "As expected of an Eldritch Deity."


    "Two hundred li already, he��s fast."


    "Mm, a bit faster than Eldritch Deity Hou Lu." The High Eldritches discussed among themselves.


    In terms of cultivation base, they were all First Tribtion High Eldritches, but the status of an Eldritch Deity was vastly different from that of ordinary High Eldritches. Eldritch Deities were beings who had fullyprehended a Dao, only unable to break through in the Huanggu World. If ced in the world outside, the Eldritch Deities were all capable of bing Archeldritches.


    Three hundred li, four hundred li, five hundred li...


    Eldritch Deity Hou Tu was the oldest Eldritch Deity of the Earth Archeldritch lineage. He was an incredibly ancient existence even within the entire eldritch race, with an extremely strong foundation and power.


    Though his pace slowed as he advanced, he still persevered, quickly crossing the six hundred li mark.


    "Second ce.��


    ��He��s stronger than me,�� Eldritch Deity Hou Lu said with a smile.


    From the 600-li mark, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s speed began to decrease rapidly.


    "He��s slowing down."


    "It seems he��s reaching the limit."


    The unseen pressure had clearly risen by another major notch.


    When he advanced to the 650-li mark, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu finally stopped. His face was flushed red, his body swaying, obviously nearing his limit.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Eldritch Deity Hou Tu suddenly retreated, his speed incredibly swift. His journey back was much faster.


    "Failed. Indeed, I couldn''t reach the end," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu flew out, his expression returning to normal as he sighed, "The pressure is truly terrifying.


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu is truly formidable to have reached 800 li," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu remarked with admiration.


    "Hou Tu, you did well."


    "Second only to Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu."


    "As expected of Eldritch Deity Hou Tu." Several Eldritch Deities and numerous veteran elders spoke up; Eldritch Deity Hou Tu''s performance had been quite impressive indeed.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, now it''s your turn," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu smiled at Wu Yuan. "I know my limits. Although I reached 800 li, it would probably take me a very, very long time to cross the remaining 200 li."


    "Indeed, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng might be able to go further."


    "Hard to say. Eldritch Deity Hou Feng may be stronger, but entering the Creation Divine Hall might still pose great difficulty." The High Eldritches conversed privately with their souls.


    "I''ll give it a try," Wu Yuan smiled, transforming into a streak of light and plunging through the mist-coveredke.


    1. There is no Dao of Essence, Essence Great Dao is just another way of saying Great Dao. ?

 Chapter 646: You Have Finally Arrived (2)

    <h4>Chapter 646: You Have Finally Arrived (2)</h4>


    Even with the powerful eyesight of the High Eldritches, they could only see a blurry silhouette.


    Wu Yuan quickly reached the 100-li mark.


    <i>Rumble!</i> A hazy glow appeared on Wu Yuan''s body, the manifestation of the Law of Life''s profundities he had invoked.


    <i>Hum~</i> As soon as he set foot in this area, Wu Yuan felt an invisible pressure surging towards him.


    <i>Hm? So weak?</i> A trace of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. This pressure, enough to send Eldritch Deity Hou Tu toppling into the water, couldn''t make him budge at all?


    <i>Is it because of my cultivation level?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    At the moment, he had not deployed his Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to unleash manaparable to a Fourth Tribtion High Eldritch. His cultivation base was still at the ninth-stage Elysian Field phase.


    It seemed that the pressure manifested by the Creation Divine Hall''ske corresponded to the intruder''s cultivation level? The higher the cultivation, the higher the pressure would be.


    <i>Creation Divine Hall?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the slightly hazy divine hall in the depths of theke, which was the greatest opportunity in the entire Huanggu World.


    Nearly three hundred years had passed since he arrived at Huanggu. After experiencing so much, he had finally reached this step, arriving before the Creation Divine Hall. How could Wu Yuan be content with failure?


    <i>Let''s go! </i>A hint of fighting spirit gleamed in Wu Yuan''s eyes as ripples of Life True Intent enveloped his body, and he charged straight toward the Creation Divine Hall.


    Two hundred li, three hundred li, four hundred li... With every hundred li crossed, the unseen pressure would increase a notch. But Wu Yuan''s speed did not slow in the slightest. He charged straight through.


    "Eight hundred li already, how fast! And he didn��t slow down at all?"


    "He has surpassed Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu."


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is so powerful." All the High Eldritches watched this scene with utter shock.


    At the beginning, several High Eldritches had said things like ''Eldritch Deity Hou Feng might reach 700 li, but 800 li will be tough'', and ''probably around the same distance as Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu'' and so on.


    It wasn''t that they didn''t think highly of Wu Yuan. They just felt that Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu was already amazing to have reached the 800-li mark.


    Although Wu Yuan was strong, they thought it was all due to his reliance on the power of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    "Nine hundred li now, and his speed has only slightly decreased?" A hint of shock shed in Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s eyes.


    He had exerted all his strength just to reach the 800-li mark. But Wu Yuan hadn''t slowed down at all, as if that invisible pressure had no effect on him. The difference between them was perhaps a bit too great.


    "930 li, 960 li, 990 li." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu stared intently.


    So close! At this moment, all the High Eldritches watched Wu Yuan with bated breath.


    <i>If it had been me two hundred years ago, I might have been unable to withstand such pressure.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind remained perfectly calm.


    Now, Wu Yuan''s strength was more than tenfold greater than before.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s speed slowed. Each step he took across theke''s surface sent ripples radiating outwards.


    Finally, he stepped onto the lowest metal step of the Creation Divine Hall. Then, he disappeared.


    "He��s gone?"


    "Where''s Eldritch Deity Hou Feng?"


    "I can''t contact him." Several eldritch race veteran elders quickly noticed and spoke up, causing an uproar among this group of High Eldritches.


    "No need to panic," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s gaze swept over them as he spoke with a faint smile, "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng''s talent is extraordinary, he��s actually able to enter the Creation Divine Hall in one go.


    His disappearance probably means he has entered the interior of the Creation Divine Hall. We just need to wait patiently for him toe out," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu said.


    However, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu was also pondering how Hou Feng had managed to enter the Creation Divine Hall.


    Thest 200 li didn��t seem far, but once one''s strength reached a certain level, taking even one more step forward was extremely difficult. By Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s estimate, even if he spent several million years, he might not sessfully break into the Creation Divine Hall.


    Moreover, several million years? He was unwilling to wait.


    <i>Eldritch Deity Hou Feng didn''t use the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, nor did he show signs of using the Creation Divine Artifacts. It seems that at different cultivation levels, the pressure is also different. When he emerges, we''ll have to ask him in detail.</i> Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu thought to himself.


    ...


    As soon as he stepped onto the stairs of the Creation Divine Hall, Wu Yuan felt a fog engulf his mind, and the distant hall seemed to call out to him. Unconsciously, Wu Yuan walked up the stairs and entered the hall, his eyes unfocused.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly awoke from his dreamlike state, his gaze instantly sweeping across his surroundings. He was both shocked and rmed.<i> That power controlled me? If it wanted me to kill myself, I would already be dead.</i>


    This technique had surpassed anything Wu Yuan could hope to resist. If the other party wished to kill him, they could do so with a mere thought.


    Before him, a majestic temple emerged, towering in its grandeur. On either side stood rows of ancient, imposing pirs, each one etched with faint patterns. At first nce, the patterns seemed to narrate the rise of a great figure. However, it was too unfamiliar to Wu Yuan, so he couldn''t discern much.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Countless light beams converged, forming a huge illusory jade tform at the end of the great hall. A figure in ck robes stood on the tform.


    His face was gaunt, with ck scales faintly growing on his cheeks, but his eyes were extremely spirited. When he appeared, his powerful aura instantly permeated the entire hall.


    When his eyes fell on Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan''s heart trembled slightly. A feeling of being psychologically dissected overwhelmed him.


    "Hou Feng pays his respects to Senior," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully.


    "Atst, you''vee. I''ve been waiting for a long time. Honestly, I expected it would take several hundred more years before you arrived, but those three fools were more reckless than I anticipated, pushing you here ahead of schedule. Consider this an opportunity for you.


    However, of those three fools, apart from one who was a bit smarter, the other two have already gotten themselves killed trying to escape. But that''s fine too." The ck-robed figure''s voice was deep and resonant, echoing throughout the great hall.


    Waited for a long time? Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.


    The three fools, did he mean the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race? They were all dead?


    "Hou Feng, you don''t need to address me as a Senior. I am the Creation Emissary; you can just call me Emissary," the ck-robed figure said calmly.


    <i>Creation Emissary?</i> Wu Yuan''s confusion grew.


    What did that mean? What exactly was going on with this Creation Divine Hall?


    "You''ve descended here with an Immutable Token, arriving at the Creation Divine Hall, the site of the greatest opportunity in this entire world. Of course I would appear before you," the ck-robed elderly man said impassively.


    "I''ve been observing this entire world, watching your progress. You''ve done remarkably well, advancing at a speed beyond my imagination."


    Wu Yuan was secretly startled. So, his every move had been under the watchful eye of this ck-robed elderly man, this so-called Creation Emissary. Moreover, the other party even knew about the Immutable Token?


    "Esteemed Emissary," Wu Yuan adapted smoothly, asking, "What would you have this junior do? What is the great opportunity within this Creation Divine Hall?"


    When in doubt, ask.


    The Immutable Land was too mysterious. The Huanggu World he had been teleported to felt too real; it couldn��t be an illusion, it had to be a genuine world.


    Was the Huanggu World under the jurisdiction of the Immutable Land? Or perhaps, was the Huanggu World one of countless worlds controlled by the Immutable Land?


    To Wu Yuan, they were all mysteries.


    "This Huanggu World is indeed one of the countless test worlds controlled by the Immutable Land. ording to the protocols established by the Immutable Land, each Immutable Token holder will be transported to a different test world. The specific world for each individual is determined by the system''s rules." The ck-robed elderly man, the Creation Emissary, seemed able to read Wu Yuan''s thoughts.


    "The Creation Divine Hall exists in many worlds, but no matter which world one enters from, they will all arrive here before me."


    Wu Yuan instantly understood.


    The so-called Creation Divine Hall was likely simr to the Dao Temple, both ultimate treasures projected from a higher spatial dimension, reflected in numerous worlds.


    "The Creation Divine Hall is one of the greatest opportunities in the Immutable Land. It is also the greatest opportunity you have the chance to obtain on this journey with your Immutable Token," said the ck-robed elderly man.


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    "The Immutable Land is special. Whenprehending Greater Laws here, such as the Law of Life, the influence of Dao Assimtion will be far weaker, at least, in the beginning. As time passes, the effects of its influence will reach the same level as that of the world outside," the ck-robed elderly man exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Over the past few hundred years, he had felt the influence of Dao Assimtion growing stronger.


    "Cultivating in this special environment is your first opportunity. The eldritch race tribe is your second opportunity," the ck-robed elderly man said calmly. "As for this Creation Divine Hall, consider it your third opportunity. It is also the ultimate opportunity.


    You should be aware that each Immutable Token holder receives different opportunities," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Some Immutable Token holders seemed to leave the Immutable Land quite quickly, unlike himself who had been trapped for hundreds of years.


    "The lower the difficulty, the smaller the opportunity gained; the more challenging the test environment, the greater the opportunities it holds," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    "Over endless ages, those like you who can ovee numerous challenges, progress at a terrifyingly fast pace, and reach me swiftly are extremely rare, fewer than one in ten thousand."


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    From his words, it sounded like many Immutable Token holders who entered the Immutable Landcked sufficient strength and talent, and didn''t even qualify to face the test of the Creation Divine Hall?

 Chapter 647: You Have Finally Arrived (3)

    <h4>Chapter 647: You Have Finally Arrived (3)</h4>


    One could find great opportunities in the Huanggu World, some obviouslyid out. But without any external help to obtain these opportunities, one could only rely on their own efforts.


    Even if he had immense support from the Huanggu eldritch race, how could he defeat the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race within a thousand years and enter the Creation Divine Hall if hecked talent?


    "The Creation Divine Hall is one of the great opportunities in the Immutable Land. Your ability to arrive here proves your potential. When you leave, you will be bestowed a Divine Jade Immutable Token," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    Divine Jade Immutable Token? Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up.


    The Immutable Tokens were very mysterious, but over the long ages, some Immutable Tokens asionally appeared in the Greenridge Macrocosm, allowing the major factions to gather quite a bit of intelligence.


    They roughly knew about the ssification into Bronze, Celestial Iron, and Divine Jade levels. There was no hierarchy among the three levels.


    "In the future, when you pass the Ninth Immortal Tribtion and be an Archimmortal, you can enter the Immutable Land again as long as you hold a Divine Jade Immutable Token," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    "I see," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Now, back to the present. The Creation Divine Hall holds numerous opportunities, including powerful secret arts like grand ether arts highly suited for your constitution; formidable artifacts like high-grade celestial equipment; some rare items like Dao Treasures;rge quantities of divine crystals, somew codexes of Dao inheritances, rare items that can directly upgrade a second-degree immortal root to a first-degree immortal root..." The ck-robed elderly man rattled off hundreds of opportunities in one breath, his gaze falling on Wu Yuan.


    "In short, the better your performance, the better the opportunities you''ll receive."


    Performance? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred slightly.


    From the sound of it, this so-called Creation Divine Hall was somewhat simr to the Overlord Hall. But judging from the rewards, it seemed to be far more powerful.


    Items that could directly upgrade a second-degree immortal root to a first-degree immortal root? Even Master Kua Chi would struggle to produce such a thing.


    However, if these were the only opportunities, Wu Yuan felt somewhat disappointed to be honest. Treasures of simr rarity, while scarce in the Greenridge Macrocosm, did exist. In Wu Yuan''s view, with his talent, he would have a chance to obtain these treasures once he matured.


    "Unsatisfied?" The ck-robed elderly man gave a mysterious smile.


    "This junior wouldn''t dare," Wu Yuan quickly replied.


    "I know your talent is extraordinary. Even looking across the entire river of space and time, you''d be among the very best of your age. Your background must be significant. Perhaps you have a Sovereign as your master, or you''re even a core member of some super faction," the ck-robed elderly man said calmly. "Very well.


    The opportunities are divided into nine grades. What I just mentioned are only the lower six grades. If you want to obtain truly great opportunities? Then strive to seize the top three grades," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    "Even rare items that can upgrade an immortal root to the first degree are in the lower six grades?" Wu Yuan was stunned.


    He suddenly realized that this Creation Divine Hall likely held truly inconceivable great opportunities.


    "Mm," the ck-robed elderly man looked down at Wu Yuan. "You have talent, but to obtain the top three grades of opportunities? That''s still difficult.


    An extremely small number of Sovereigns might be able to provide third-grade opportunities.


    Second-grade? All of them are incredibly rare even across the entire river of space and time, some even unique. The vast majority of so-called Supreme Geniuses won''t obtain such great opportunities in their entire lives," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.


    Many Supreme Geniuses were unable to obtain such opportunities in their entire lives? What an audacious im!


    Wu Yuan knew very clearly that monstrous prodigies who could clear all hundred levels of the one-star tower and two-star tower were extremely rare, with many macrocosms unable to produce even one over countless ages.


    Even in factions like the Taiyuan Divine Court and Eldritch Court, they were exceptionally rare and highly valued. All kinds of precious resources werevished upon them without restraint.


    ��As for first grade? Unattainable before oveing the Immortal Tribtions. Perhaps when you return in the future, holding a Divine Jade Immutable Token, you might have a chance to obtain one. But now? You''re not qualified yet." The ck-robed elderly man smiled faintly.


    "Now, Hou Feng, give it your all. If you only obtain an opportunity from the lower six grades, it won''t be of much help to you, at most adding flowers to the brocade.


    If you can obtain a third-grade opportunity, that would be a truly great opportunity, significantly increasing your chances of directly bing a Sovereign.


    If you can obtain a second-grade opportunity? Haha!" The ck-robed elderly manughed. "A Sovereign? With that, you''d even have a chance to dominate a macrocosm in the future."


    Dominate a macrocosm? Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    As far as he knew, even someone like the leader of the Greenridge Immortal World, Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling, whose fame spread far and wide and was acknowledged as the strongest in the macrocosm, was still far from dominating the macrocosm.


    Was this second-grade opportunity really so heaven-defying? Who was behind the Immutable Land?


    At that moment, many thoughts arose in Wu Yuan''s mind. He had already realized that if the ck-robed elderly man was speaking the truth, the test he was about to face would likely determine his destiny.


    "Esteemed Emissary, what is the test?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "The test is unpredictable. It mightst for hundreds of years, or it might end in an instant. The difficulty is based on abination of your mana cultivation and age, making it very fair," the ck-robed elderly man smiled.


    "Lasting hundreds of years?" Wu Yuan''s expression changed slightly. "My Immutable Token only allows me to stay for a thousand years in total."


    "Correct! For some time-consuming tests, if you fail to meet the requirements for third or second grade opportunities, the test will end immediately when your Immutable Token''s time limit is up," the ck-robed elderly man said. "Then, based on your performance, you''ll be granted treasures directly."


    Wu Yuan understood.


    The ck-robed elderly man either didn''t know the contents of the test, or wasn��t nning to tell him in advance.


    "If I finish the test before the time limit, can I return to the Huanggu World onest time?" Wu Yuan asked in a low voice.


    "No." The ck-robed elderly man replied bluntly. "Once the test in the Creation Divine Hall ends, regardless of the result or time spent, you''ll be transported out of the Immutable Land directly.


    In the future, even if you return with a Divine Jade Immutable Token, you''re unlikely to arrive in the same world."


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    So that''s how it was. The so-called Immutable Land was undoubtedly vast beyond measure. Judging from the legends of the Eldritches of Heaven, it might well be as expansive as a macrocosm.


    "What''s this? Do you still have some unresolved karmic ties in the Immutable Land?" The ck-robed elderly man asked with an enigmatic smile.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Unresolved karmic ties will be shackles in the future. Very well, I can transport you back out for now. When you''ve thought things through and are prepared to leave, return to the Creation Divine Hall to see me," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    "However, I must warn you, you''re not yet four hundred years old... If you dy the test until you��re six or eight hundred, the difficulty of the test will skyrocket.


    Don''t think about returning to face the test when you''re stronger. The rate at which your strength increases may not keep pace with the rising difficulty of the test. Therefore, the sooner youe to attempt it, the better.


    I''ve said my piece. The path you choose is your own." With these words, the ck-robed elderly man said no more and simply waved his hand.


    Wu Yuan vanished instantly from the Creation Divine Hall.


    "What''s this, ck Robes? Unsatisfied with this one? You could always give him to me," a soft, feminine voice suddenly echoed through the hall. "Tsk tsk, a genius with the potential to be a Sovereign directly. That''s quite rare indeed."


    "Hmph! Give him to you?" The ck-robed elderly man sneered. "Does the authority your master wields align with Hou Feng?"


    "Of course not. If it did, would he have fallen to you?" the soft voiceughed, seemingly not angered in the least.


    "Haha, ck Robes, don''t be too picky. Over the long ages, your master has only filled two of the nine nominal disciple positions, right?" Another hearty voice suddenly rang out. "Being too picky might leave you empty-handed. Don��t forget what happenedst time."


    "Your concern is unnecessary," the ck-robed elderly man replied coldly.


    "Hehe, why are you rubbing salt in old wounds? ck Robes'' going to be upset again," the soft voice chuckled. "Though ck Robes won''t say it, I bet he still regrets missing out on that one back then."


    "Enough!" The ck-robed elderly man frowned, waving his hand. Instantly, the Creation Divine Hall fell silent.


    "Behave yourselves. Otherwise, don''t me me if I silence you for another hundred million years! I''m the one managing the Creation Divine Hall, after all," the ck-robed elderly man said with a cold snort.


    ...


    <i>Heavenly Pir Mountain, Thirty-Third Heaven, theke surrounding the Creation Divine Hall.</i>


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Light flickered, and Wu Yuan appeared out of thin air above the ripplingke. He looked around, quickly taking in his surroundings.


    <i>How bizarre. The Dao Temple only summons the soul, but this Creation Divine Hall summons the physical body?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. Both entry and exit processes were strange.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan took a single step, swiftly covering thousands of li to reach theke''s edge.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng has emerged."


    "That was quick."


    "How did it go?" The High Eldritches waiting there quickly gathered around, their gazes filled with curiosity as they looked at Wu Yuan.


    None of them had entered the Creation Divine Hall, only hearing legends about it, so naturally, they were curious.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, how was it?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu likewise looked over.


    "Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu of the immortal race have most likely perished," Wu Yuan said unprompted.


    "What?"


    "Both have perished?" The High Eldritches were shocked.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, are you certain?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu asked urgently, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.


    The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were the greatest threat to the Huanggu eldritch race. As of now, only Imperial Majesty Da Yan was confirmed dead.


    "I''m seventy percent certain," Wu Yuan said.


    The ��three fools�� mentioned by the ck-robed elderly man could only refer to the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s eyes lit up. Seventy percent certain? That was significant!


    "Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, I need to see the Snake Ancestor now. I''d appreciate it if you and the other Eldritch Deities would apany me," Wu Yuan requested.

 Chapter 648: Emotions Cannot Compare To The Dao (1)

    <h4>Chapter 648: Emotions Cannot Compare To The Dao (1)</h4>


    "You wish to see the Snake Ancestor?"


    "And you want all of us Eldritch Deities to apany you?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, and the others exchanged nces.


    Recalling Wu Yuan''s earlier promation that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were dead, they instantly realized that Wu Yuan must have stumbled upon something extraordinary within the Creation Divine Hall.


    "Is it urgent?" Zhu Jiu inquired.


    "You could say that," Wu Yuan replied cryptically. He could sense an invisible force restraining him from divulging the full truth about the Creation Divine Hall.


    "If we all leave, what of the Creation Divine Hall and the Thirty-Three Heavens? Should we leave anyone to guard them?" Eldritch Deity Hou Tu asked, his hesitation palpable.


    The reconstruction of the entire Heavenly Pir Mountain would demand an enormous investment of time and energy from the eldritch race.


    "I can''t be absolutely certain that the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race are truly dead. We''ll need time to verify it," Wu Yuan exined, his voice steady. "If all of us Eldritch Deities depart, leaving only the High Eldritches here... should Imperial Majesty Nan You or Imperial Majesty Lei Fu still live, it will be a difficult fight.


    If we presume that the two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race are dead, that leaves only a few scattered High Immortals and Heavenly Masters making up the remainder of the Huanggu immortal race��s strength.


    They no longer pose a significant threat to our eldritch race. If they''re wise, they''ll likely go into hiding, changing their names and appearances, rather than return.


    Moreover, the Creation Divine Hall remains here, indestructible by any means," Wu Yuan continued. "Therefore, I suggest our forces return to their respective Archeldritch tribes.


    Once this matter is settled and we''ve agreed upon a n to rebuild Heavenly Pir Mountain, we can reconvene without dy."


    His proposal met with nods of approval from the other Eldritch Deities.


    Within Heavenly Pir Mountain, the lower thirty heavensy in ruins, their reconstruction requiring vast resources. Even if the two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race had somehow survived, which seemed unlikely, they would be unable to defend it.


    Leaving it unattended for a time posed no immediate danger.


    "Then let us depart," Zhu Jiu dered.


    "Let''s go!" The assembled Eldritch Deities and High Eldritches reached a consensus, swiftly following Wu Yuan as they descended through the shattered worlds, leaving Heavenly Pir Mountain behind.


    ...


    Just over a dayter, the three Eldritch Deities and Wu Yuan, apanied by arge group of High Eldritches, Earth Eldritches, and others including Hou Tong, returned to the Earth Archeldritch Tribe.


    The remaining High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches dispersed and returned to their respective tribes.


    Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, however, proceeded directly to the vast undergroundke deep within the earth.


    Ripples danced across the water''s surface, the air thick with concentrated spiritual qi.


    The Snake Ancestor, its body as massive as a mountain,y coiled upon itself, its head raised high.


    "You havee," the Snake Ancestor''s voice boomed, reverberating throughout the subterranean world.


    It was clear that it had been waiting for some time.


    "Eldritch Deities, there are matters I must discuss with the Snake Ancestor in private. Please, wait here for a moment," Wu Yuan requested, his tone respectful yet firm.


    "Very well."


    "Go ahead." Zhu Jiu and the others had no objections. Everyone had their secrets, and they could guess that Wu Yuan had likely learned some great secrets.


    The Snake Ancestor, though originating from beyond this world, had remained tight-lipped about its extraterrestrial experiences throughout the long ages.


    Zhu Jiu and the others were well aware that the Snake Ancestor possessed knowledge of many secrets unknown to them.


    With a swift motion, Wu Yuan flew forward,ing face to face with the Snake Ancestor. Immediately, a powerful and majestic mana enveloped the area, shielding them from prying eyes and ears.


    "Snake Ancestor," Wu Yuan bowed slightly, his respect and gratitude for this ancient Teng Snake evident in his demeanor.


    "Thank you," the Snake Ancestor''s voice carried a hint of amusement.


    "You��re thanking me? Why?" Wu Yuan''s surprise was evident.


    "Without you, it would have taken the Huanggu eldritch race an unknown length of time to vanquish the immortal race," the Snake Ancestor exined. "Even Zhu Jiu''s chances of breaching Heavenly Pir Mountain through a frontal assault are slim at best."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Zhu Jiu could perhaps rival an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal. This ced him among the more formidable Archimmortals.


    However, with the base power of merely a First Tribtion High Eldritch, he could only unleash power at the threshold of an Archimmortal after the slight enhancement from the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.


    To defeat, let alone y, the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race entrenched in Heavenly Pir Mountain would be a Herculean task.


    It might take hundreds of millions or even billions of years. Perhaps it would even have remained forever out of reach.


    The path of immortal cultivation was filled with bottlenecks. One could go a hundred million years without a breakthrough �C amon urrence. Zhu Jiu, too, had been cultivating for an immense span of time.


    "The fact that you��ve visited me with such urgency suggests you have important matters to discuss. Are you preparing to leave?" the Snake Ancestor inquired.


    "You knew?" Wu Yuan''s surprise was evident once more.


    "Haha, youe from beyond this world, drawn here by the opportunities it presents. Now that you''ve gained entry to the Creation Divine Hall, there''s little reason for you to linger," the Snake Ancestor chuckled. "It''s not difficult to deduce.


    Moreover, ording to Zhu Jiu''s message, you managed to enter without activating the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, relying solely on your own strength. Truly remarkable," the Snake Ancestor added, a note of admiration in its voice.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Entering the Creation Divine Hall through one''s own power was neither impossible nor trivial. It required one to be among the most exceptional of top-tier geniuses within their cultivation phase. Of course, for Wu Yuan, widely regarded as the most outstanding of his generation, such a test posed little challenge.


    "I n to head to the Creation Divine Hall once more. When I emerge from the hall, I will depart immediately," Wu Yuan exined.


    "Thus, I wish to entrust a few items to you, Snake Ancestor. This is the Mirror of Creation, and these are the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."


    With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan summoned four artifacts, each radiating a powerful aura.


    They were indeed the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts and the Creation Divine Artifact.


    "I suspect these might only manifest their power within the Huanggu World. Taking them with me would likely render them ineffective," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Naturally, they should remain here."


    "Indeed, your assumption is correct. They cannot leave the Huanggu World," the Snake Ancestor''s gaze fell upon the Mirror of Creation.


    "You were unable to im ownership over the Mirror of Creation?"


    "That''s right," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Understandable. The Mirror of Creation is, in essence, a manifestation of this world''s fundamental rules. Unless one''s Daoprehension reaches an inconceivable level, it''s nearly impossible for beings not native to this world to decipher it," the Snake Ancestor mused.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in realization. So that was the reason.


    "With this Creation Divine Artifact, Zhu Jiu should now be able to enter the Creation Divine Hall," the Snake Ancestor added with a chuckle. "The Creation Divine Artifacts dramatically lower the difficulty of entering the hall."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his thoughts aligning with this assessment.


    "Additionally, the Huanggu eldritch race has shown me great kindness," Wu Yuan continued, producing dozens of immortal slips with a flick of his wrist.


    "These immortal slips contain various teachings I''ve recorded. I hope they will be of benefit to the Huanggu eldritch race," Wu Yuan exined with a smile.


    These teachings were aption of knowledge he had gathered during his adventures, along with some publicly avable, free teachings he had transcribed from the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm and Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    For top-tier major factions, such teachings might seem trivial and inconsequential. But for the Huanggu eldritch race? They were invaluable, equivalent to hundreds of millions of years of umted wisdom, if not more.


    "Oh?" The Snake Ancestor''s eyes lit up with interest.


    It briefly examined the immortal slips, quickly grasping their immense value.


    Though the Snake Ancestor came from beyond this world, and previously followed an Eldritch of Heaven, its breadth of knowledge and experience actually fell short of Wu Yuan''s. Many of the teachings and secret arts were unfamiliar to it.


    "Hou Feng, you''ve returned to sever your karmic ties, haven''t you?" the Snake Ancestor suddenly asked.


    Wu Yuan hesitated momentarily before nodding.


    Indeed! Karma, in essence, referred to the various connections formed between different beings through people and events!


    To live in the world was to umte karma. Generally speaking, the longer one lived and the more experiences one had, the greater their karma grew.


    Karma, be it great or small, was neither absolutely good or bad.


    For ordinary mortals, karma held little significance. But once one stepped onto the path of immortal cultivation, the stronger they became, the greater the impact of their karma.


    Some super powerhouses deliberately entangled themselves in karma along their cultivation paths. Far from hindering them, this abundance of karma elerated their progress.


    Others continually severed their karmic ties, smoothing out their destiny, pruning various future branches, all to purify their inner hearts.


    Everything depended on the cultivator''s inner nature and Dao Heart!


    For Wu Yuan, who ced great importance on his inner heart, he leaned more towards the second path, constantly attempting to sever various karmic ties.


    In simpler terms, the Huanggu eldritch race had been of great help to Wu Yuan, cing high hopes on him. Now that he was about to leave, never to return, he felt a lingering sense of guilt, despite havingrgely repaid their kindness by helping them defeat the immortal race.


    If this guilt remained unresolved, given Wu Yuan''s temperament, it might cause disturbances in the future.


    Leaving behind the Creation Divine Artifact and numerous texts and teachings was his way of repaying this debt of gratitude, allowing him to depart with a clear conscience.


    As long as his heart remained tranquil and he could honestly say he had no regrets, even the greatest karma would struggle to interfere with his mental state.


    "What about little Hou Tong?" the Snake Ancestor suddenly asked with a smile. "I''ve only just learned of this matter. The word ''love'' is most difficult to express. Many im not to believe in love, yet in their hearts, they desire it most.��


    "Love is ineffable. But the Dao alone is eternal. When the timees to sever ties, they must be cut," Wu Yuan''s gaze remained crystal clear.


    It was evident he had thoroughly contemted this matter.


    "Very well, the decision is yours to make," the Snake Ancestor said with a smile. "It''s rare to encounter a monstrous prodigy like yourself... With your talent, you''re likely to shine brilliantly in the myriad worlds beyond. I hope we''ll have the chance to meet again."


    "Perhaps," Wu Yuan replied ambiguously.


    The realms beyond? He was to return to the Greenridge Macrocosm, but was it connected to the myriad worlds of the Immutable Land?


    A subtle vibration rippled through the air as the invisible barrier dissipated. Not far away, the three Eldritch Deities, seemingly receiving a message from the Snake Ancestor, flew over.


    "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng has obtained a great opportunity within the Creation Divine Hall," the Snake Ancestor announced, his voice carrying an air of authority. "A super powerhouse from beyond our realm seeks to recruit him."

 Chapter 649: Emotions Cannot Compare To The Dao (2)

    <h4>Chapter 649: Emotions Cannot Compare To The Dao (2)</h4>


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, and Eldritch Deity Hou Tu were instantly taken aback.


    Recruited by a super powerhouse from beyond the realm?


    Had anyone else made such a im, the three Eldritch Deities might have doubted it. Buting from the Snake Ancestor, they epted it without question.


    Atst, they understood why Wu Yuan had been so eager to meet with the Snake Ancestor.


    "Zhu Jiu, take this Mirror of Creation," the Snake Ancestor said, its wings stirring the air as it gestured. "Once you��ve imed ownership, it should allow you entry into the Creation Divine Hall."


    With a soft hum, the Mirror of Creation floated before Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.


    "Thank you, Snake Ancestor," Zhu Jiu said, bowing his head in gratitude.


    "Additionally, these immortal slips contain the knowledge Eldritch Deity Hou Feng gleaned from the Creation Divine Hall. You may peruse them," the Snake Ancestor continued, indicating the dozens of immortal slips hovering nearby.


    The three Eldritch Deities swiftly scanned the contents. Soon, their expressions were filled with astonishment.


    The information was incredibly detailed, covering the eldritch mage lineage''s cultivation methods, qi refining techniques, body refining practices, pill refining, talismans, equipment forging, ethercrystal weapons, and more.


    There were even basic ether arts, Yuan Soul secret arts, mana body cultivation methods, and countless other subjects... trulyprehensive.


    "This..." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu inhaled sharply, his gaze burning with intensity as he looked at Wu Yuan. "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng... your actions, these teachings... they could save our eldritch race billions of years of effort."


    "Such precious knowledge."


    "Incredibly powerful. The concepts are beyond imagination."


    "Far superior to any teachings I''ve created."


    "With these methodologies, our Huanggu eldritch race will produce powerful experts several times faster. All of us will see a significant rise in strength," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu marveled.


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, in particr, was far from ordinary in terms of individual power. Many of the current cultivation methods, secret arts, and even ether arts within the eldritch race were created by him.


    But many secret arts and teachings required generations of powerful cultivators to gradually perfect andplete. Only then could they form the foundation of a truly formidable force.


    "I will be departing," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "Consider this my final contribution to the eldritch race before I leave.


    I hope the Eldritch Deities won''t resent me for abandoning the eldritch race," Wu Yuan added, his tone light.


    "Nonsense," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu replied frankly. "The path of the Great Dao is arduous, yet supreme. Longevity and insight are what we truly seek." He sighed wistfully. "If only I had such an opportunity. Were I invited to venture beyond, I would agree without hesitation."


    "Indeed. The realms beyond are vast and unfathomable," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded in agreement. "Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, you are the most extraordinary genius our Huanggu eldritch race has ever produced. Strive to make a name for yourself out there as well."


    Wu Yuan inclined his head slightly.


    The Dao! Supreme and unrivaled. Without unyielding courage, the resolve to abandon everything, and the madness to press forward even in the face of countless challenges... one would never reach the end of the long path of cultivation.


    These Eldritch Deities had all experienced countless hardships to attain their current strength. They understood all too well the preciousness of such an opportunity.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had personally in Imperial Majesty Da Yan and left behind numerous priceless teachings. He had more than fulfilled his obligations to the eldritch race.


    How could the Eldritch Deities dare ask for more?


    ...


    After bidding farewell to the Snake Ancestor and the Eldritch Deities, Wu Yuan departed from the underground world and arrived at the newly restored Cloudhill Hall.


    Cloudhill and Cloud Capital had left a significant impact on Wu Yuan during his youth. That was why he had named his residence in the Archeldritch tribe ��Cloudhill Hall��.


    The original Cloudhill Hall had been destroyed in the previous battle with the Earth Archeldritch Tribe, and was now rebuilt.


    A figure in crimson robes stood by thekeside, on a grassy shore.


    The setting sun painted the rippling water with golden light, as a gentle breeze stirred her garments, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.


    Wu Yuan alighted softly, his voice calm. "Hou Tong."


    "Hou Feng, I''ve received word from Grandfather. He says you''re about to leave Huanggu..." Hou Tong turned, the wind ying with her hair as she faced him.


    Her eyes betrayed little sorrow.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Hou Tong fell silent.


    "I was wrong," Wu Yuan said softly, shaking his head. "I thought I had more time, but I never imagined this day woulde so soon..."


    This was something Wu Yuan truly didn��t expect. In his original ns, he thought he would spend at least a few hundred years here �C enough time to aplish many things.


    "Hou Feng, would you be willing to stay... for me?" Hou Tong suddenly asked.


    Now it was Wu Yuan''s turn to fall silent.


    After a long moment, Hou Tong spoke again. "I understand. The pursuit of the Dao is your true calling.


    Hou Feng, you''ve done nothing wrong. I was simply too naive, setting myself up for disappointment," Hou Tong said, shaking her head gently. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she continued softly, "I always believed that if I stayed by your side, eventually I would sway your heart, and make you willing to stay."


    At first, she had merely been drawn to Wu Yuan''s unique personality among the Eldritch Generals, as well as his unparalleled talent. But at that point, it couldn''t be called deep, true love.


    Later, during the centuries they wandered the world, especially those decades spent adopting various identities to experience mortal life, she truly fell for Wu Yuan, heart and soul.


    She had always believed that no matter how talented Wu Yuan was, he would ultimately be an Eldritch Deity. And as long as she worked hard, she too could be a High Eldritch.


    But now? Wu Yuan was about to leave Huanggu entirely.


    "Hou Feng, I ask you only this: did you truly develop feelings for me, or did you merely pity me?" Hou Tong''s eyes locked onto Wu Yuan''s, asking the question that weighed heaviest on her heart.


    Wu Yuan''s mind was calm as he met her gaze.


    After a long silence, he spoke. "In my heart, love cannotpare to the Dao.��


    Hou Tong remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "I understand now... Hou Feng, what I yearned for most was a bond like that of High Eldritch Hou Qiong and his wife �C partners willing to sacrifice everything for each other, to risk life and death, to give their all.


    But you''re different. If you had a partner and they were in danger, perhaps you would fight to the death for them.


    If your partner was reviled by all under heaven, perhaps you would sweep aside all opposition for their sake.


    But the one thing you could never do is set aside your pursuit of the pinnacle for the sake of a partner. It''s not that the Dao cannotpare to love, but that love falls short of the Dao." Hou Tong shook her head gently.


    "What you seek is the Great Dao. What you desire most is the supreme, unrivaled Dao. Love would be but a ripple on the surface of your cultivation journey, unable to shake your Dao Heart.


    All this time, I''ve been deluding myself. I''m sorry for intruding on your path these past centuries." Tears glimmered in Hou Tong''s eyes, but she no longer hesitated.


    With a swish of her robes, she took to the air.


    Wu Yuan stood at theke''s edge, watching the crimson figure until it vanished in the distance.


    <i>I am trying to sever my karmic ties, and Hou Tong is doing the same, is she not?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Had he developed feelings for Hou Tong? Yes, he had.


    Perhaps it was the centuries ofpanionship, or perhaps it was during their many experiences living as mortals in disguise, but somehow this seemingly carefree yet inwardly stubborn girl in red had unknowingly found her way into Wu Yuan''s heart.


    However, as Hou Tong had said, if she were in peril, Wu Yuan would spare no effort to save her.


    But this thread of emotion could not hinder Wu Yuan''s path of cultivation. When faced with the chance to stand at the very pinnacle, Wu Yuan''s choice was clear �C to depart without hesitation. There would be little wavering.


    He remembered the Creation Emissary''s warning: the longer he dyed, the more difficult the test would be.


    <i>It''s for the best. </i>Wu Yuan thought, his mind now tranquil. Better for her to cut the threads of emotion herself than for me to sever them.


    These faint strands of not-quite-deep emotion had already been trimmed away.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two figures appeared in the distance �C Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu. They gazed at Wu Yuan.


    "My apologies, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu," Wu Yuan said.


    Hou Tong was the granddaughter of Eldritch Deity Hou Tu.


    "I should be the one apologizing," Eldritch Deity Hou Lu replied, shaking his head. "Hou Tong was too mischievous and caused trouble for you, Eldritch Deity Hou Feng."


    Wu Yuan remained silent, then with a wave of his hand, a stream of light descended before Eldritch Deity Hou Tu.


    "This is a gift I''ve left for Hou Tong," Wu Yuan exined, his voice soft. "However, here''s no need to say it''s from me. Since we''ve severed our karmic ties, there''s no reason to add to her burdens.��


    "Understood," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu nodded, epting without protest.


    Wu Yuan gave a slight nod to Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, soaring towards the heavens and vanishing swiftly into the horizon.


    Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu remained standing where they were, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts.


    "Are you feeling sorry for your granddaughter?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You''ve lost quite the exceptional grandson-inw."


    "I warned her long ago, but she wouldn''t listen," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu sighed, shaking his head. "Such a monstrous prodigy, who recognized his own nature so early... Even if he felt emotions, how could he be constrained by them?"


    He paused. "It''s for the best. This trial will greatly increase her chances of bing a High Eldritch."


    Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu nodded, his expression thoughtful.


    "It��s normal for mortals to be trapped by emotions and the desire to procreate," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu mused, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Their lifespans are brief and their power limited.


    With such short lives and a world full of suffering - poverty, old age, illness... Theyck the power to solve these myriad hardships. Thus, they seek someone to confide in, to understand them, to find a kind of happiness. This is the origin of emotion.


    Their brief lifespans make them cherish family ties all the more as they age, unable to persist long in the world. They naturally pin all their hopes on their descendants, wishing for those who carry their bloodline to experience the wonders of the world in their stead.


    But truly great beings can solve all difficulties themselves, enjoy countless pleasures, and achieve longevity... What we call emotion and desire are mere trifles to them," Zhu Jiu smiled, his eyes gleaming. "Only the Dao remains.


    The eternal, immutable Dao.


    The profundities of the workings of heaven and earth... This is the ultimate pursuit, the yearning of us seekers of the Dao," Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu''s eyes shone with a glimmer of longing.


    He understood Wu Yuan''s actions perfectly. He, too, walked the same path.


    "The Dao isn��t heartless, yet only the Dao is eternal," Eldritch Deity Hou Tu sighed, a wistful smile on his face. "I wonder if Eldritch Deity Hou Feng can truly grasp the Great Dao."


    "Who can say?" Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu replied, his voice trailing off into contemtive silence.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Having severed all karmic ties and stilled his emotions, Wu Yuan journeyed onward. After several days, he once again reached Heavenly Pir Mountain, encountering no obstacles.


    The eldritch race''s army had withdrawn, and the remaining powerhouses of the immortal race dared not approach.


    He returned to theke outside the Creation Divine Hall.


    Wu Yuan suddenly halted.


    <i>Once I leave, I may never see this ce again. </i>Wu Yuan realized, a bittersweet understanding dawning in his heart.<i> But such is the path of cultivation. There will always be partings and farewells.</i>


    <i>Fewpanions remain until the journey''s end. Life is full of wonders at every turn.</i>


    <i>A true Daopanion... is one who can walk alongside you on the path of seeking the Dao.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan flew across the water''s surface, soon entering the Creation Divine Hall once more, vanishing without a trace.


    In truth, he had already left the Huanggu world far behind. Perhaps he would return someday; but more likely, he would never be able toe back.


    ...


    Silently, Wu Yuan reappeared in that grand hall.


    Only the ck-robed elderly man remained at the far end of the hall, as if he had been waiting since Wu Yuan''s departure.


    "Emissary," Wu Yuan said, bowing slightly.


    "You''ve returned so quickly? Are you prepared to face the test?" the ck-robed elderly man asked with a smile.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.

 Chapter 650: That Single Saber Strike (1)

    <h4>Chapter 650: That Single Saber Strike (1)</h4>


    <i>Inside the divine hall.</i>


    "Very well, since you''ve epted the test, I wish you sess in obtaining an opportunity of the top three grades. Strive hard! Remember, give it your all, don''t ck off." The ck-robed elderly man sat in lotus position, his voice calm.


    ��This chance may be an unparalleled opportunity you won''t find again in a billion or even ten billion years. If you ck off and miss it, you''ll have missed it for good."


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.


    Having already witnessed many wonders of the Immutable Land, especially the Creation Divine Artifacts and Archeldritch Divine Artifacts whose mystical nature exceeded imagination, as well as its ability to sever the shared consciousness between his true selves, he now believed the ck-robed elderly man''s words.


    This opportunity might be one thing that would determine his future.


    <i>I''ll give it my all to obtain a second-grade opportunity.</i> Wu Yuan silently vowed. <i>At the very least, I must obtain a third-grade opportunity.</i>


    This was the goal Wu Yuan set for himself. Secure third-grade, strive for second-grade!


    Throughout his cultivation journey, Wu Yuan had repeatedly created miracles, so he had some confidence. Looking at the vast river of space and time, there were likely few monstrous prodigies left who could contend with him in this era.


    "Feeling confident? Good, I like those with confidence." The ck-robed elderly man smiled faintly and waved his hand.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Countless beams of light gathered at one side of the divine hall, quickly forming a massive spatial vortex leading to an unfathomable ce. At least, Wu Yuan couldn''t peer into it.


    "Enter," said the ck-robed elderly man.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, then turned and flew directly into the spatial vortex, which immediately closed behind him.


    <i>Top-tier soul talent, top-tier Daoprehension aptitude, top-tier Dao Heart and willpower... He triggered the most difficult test right away?</i> The ck-robed elderly man quickly sensed this.


    He wasn''t too surprised. This was within his expectations.


    As the overseer of the Creation Divine Hall, his consciousness was divided across numerous worlds. Numerous cultivators would enter the hall simultaneously at any one time, and it was his duty to filter them.


    For 99.9% of those who entered, he would casually bestow some treasures and opportunities before dismissing them. Meanwhile, the more exceptional ones would trigger ordinary tests.


    Only truly supreme geniuses would catch his attention. And only they would qualify to trigger the most difficult test.


    Without a doubt, Wu Yuan was already one of the most elite monstrous prodigies the ck-robed elderly man had seen in his long years.


    Perhaps there were very few who had shown even greater potential than Wu Yuan, but the difference was minimal. They all belonged to the same tier.


    <i>Over endless years, there have been nearly a hundred in total, but only six have passed the second-grade test, and only two have received the Saint imprint��s approval to be nominal disciples. </i>The ck-robed elderly man muttered to himself. <i>I wonder if this Hou Feng will seed...</i>


    <i>It''s been too long, far too long. When will I finallyplete my task... When will I be freed?</i> The ck-robed elderly man shook his head gently and closed his eyes.


    ...


    <i>Hum~</i> With an imperceptible ripple, the scenery around Wu Yuan changed without him noticing.


    He now found himself in a vast world. This was an endless, destend, perfectly t as far as the eye could see, with nine dazzling suns hanging in the sky.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan stood on the ground, extending his Soul Force.


    It spread out to epass a vast area, without facing any obstacles. However, his Soul Force couldn''t prate into the earth.


    <i>Where is the test? </i>Wu Yuan wondered silently. He waited calmly, not daring to act rashly.


    <i>Rumble! </i>Enormous stone walls suddenly rose from the t ground, each inscribed with incrediblyplex diagramsposed of countless Dao patterns. Each diagram emanated a grand and majestic aura, appearing iparably divine. There were 365 stone walls in total.


    Each stone wall was an astonishing one hundred li in length and breadth, arranged in a massive circle, perfectly surrounding Wu Yuan in the center.


    This ensured that as long as he sat in the center, he could observe any of the stone walls at any time.


    <i>365 stone walls... they''re Thunder Beast Diagrams.</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    <i>No! Not just ordinary Thunder Beast Diagrams. They''re Creation Essence Diagrams... 365 Creation Essence Diagrams. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was already surging with shock and awe.


    These stone walls felt incredibly familiar; he had attempted toprehend them before. He could perceive the spiritual resonance and artistic conception contained in each stone wall.


    However, in the Thunder Marsh World, those Thunder Beast Diagrams were suppressed by heaven and earth''s essence, so only a tiny fraction of their power was revealed. Ordinary cultivators couldn''t even understand them, let aloneprehend them.


    With the assistance of the ck pagoda, Wu Yuan had managed to form a single Creation Essence Diagram.


    But now, Creation Essence Diagrams were inscribed on those mountain walls all around him, and their auras seemed even more authentic and profound.


    <i>365 Creation Essence Diagrams, none of them suppressed in the slightest, their power fully unleashed... Each essence diagram expounds upon an Essence Great Dao.</i> Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.


    Comprehending an Essence Great Dao was considered an impossible path in the Greenridge Macrocosm. Everyone knew this path was powerful. But under numerous restrictions, coupled with an extremely difficult entry threshold, hardly anyone could walk it, let alone seed.


    Yet here, these Essence Diagrams had almost fully revealed this mysterious and vast Essence Great Dao. The so-called suppression by heaven and earth''s essence seemed like a joke. It simply didn''t exist.


    <i>But what exactly is the test? </i>


    Just as Wu Yuan was pondering in confusion, massive mountains swiftly emerged behind each of the stone walls. Each mountain was a hundred li tall, and crystal clear as if carved from jade, with countless mysterious Dao patterns flowing across its surface.


    The interweaving Dao patterns subtly emanated all sorts of profound and unfathomable powers.


    <i>What''s this? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon one of the mountains behind an Essence Diagram, and those streams of Dao patterns suddenly seemed toe alive before his eyes.


    They resembled living thunder beasts, roaring fiercely, their ws tearing through heaven and earth, their might shocking...


    Ultimate treasures! Each mountain was an ultimate treasure, containing iprehensibly powerful killing secret arts �C this was Wu Yuan''s initial judgment. But they were too profound.


    <i>I''ve beenprehending this Creation Essence Diagram for a long time, and myprehension of the Law of Life has reached the third-level True Intent stage over these past few hundred years. </i>Wu Yuan thought inwardly.


    Indeed, in his nearly two hundred years of wandering the world, Wu Yuan had made extremely rapid progress in the Law of Life, unknowingly reaching the third-level True Intent stage.


    If not for this, he wouldn''t have been able to unleash such an incredible level of power from the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, nor could he have easily defeated the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.


    Adding his insights into the Law of Space, it could be said that in terms of Daoprehension, the current Wu Yuan could almost rival an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal. Yet he still felt that the mountains behind the distant stone walls were unfathomably mysterious. The killing-type secret arts they contained were all profoundly difficult to grasp. And there were a full 365 mountains.


    Suddenly, an indifferent voice rang out from thin air, echoing throughout heaven and earth. "365 Creation Essence Diagrams, expounding the True Intent of the Great Dao. 365 secret art sacred mountains, containing 365 powerful secret arts. You may study andprehend the Essence Diagrams and secret art sacred mountains to enhance your own strength.


    Suggestion: The Dao is limitless, but there are strong and weak Daos. Only the Essence Great Daos are the eternal and indestructible supreme Daos.


    Suggestion: Create the techniques yourself. The most suitable techniques are the ones you create personally.


    Afterprehensive evaluation, you will be given 400 years. If you can clear level seven of the Creation Tower within 400 years, you will obtain a third-grade opportunity.


    If you can clear level nine of the Creation Tower, you will obtain a second-grade opportunity.


    You may choose to give up at any time by shouting ''I give up'' three times in a row, after which you will be sent out immediately. Good luck and strive hard, lowly lifeform. Only by passing level nine of the Creation Tower can you trulye into contact with the most inconceivable power in this vast river of space and time.


    Only then can you truly approach greatness." The voice soon faded.


    But Wu Yuan was left stunned. The voice should belong to some kind of spirit that controlled this entire test location.


    <i>Pass level nine of the Creation Tower? Where is the Creation Tower?</i>


    After sweeping his gaze around, Wu Yuan��s pupils constricted slightly. At some point in time, a tall azure tower had appeared above his head, floating in the void. This azure tower didn''t seem particrly tall; from the outside, it appeared to have exactly nine floors.


    Only at the very bottom of the tower was there a huge entrance, seemingly waiting for Wu Yuan to enter at any time.


    Wu Yuan fell into deep thought.


    <i>ording to the hints I just received, it seems that this test location, or rather the great beings behind the Immutable Land, want me toprehend an Essence Great Dao and create techniques of my own? </i>Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>Is that how I might hope to pass level nine of the Creation Tower?</i>


    The reason was simple. This Immutable Land was too mysterious and powerful to be unaware of Wu Yuan''s strength and potential. Since it set a 400-year test period, there had to be a good reason for it.


    Having presented 365 Essence Diagrams and the secret art sacred mountains to him, they must all be forms of assistance.


    If he didn��t follow the suggestions, sess was still possible, but it would undoubtedly be much more difficult.


    <i>Level seven? Level nine? </i>Wu Yuan pondered briefly, a glint of battle spirit shing in his eyes. <i>Who cares, let''s give it a try first. Only after trying will I know how difficult it is.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s form blurred as he soared skyward, plunging directly into the Creation Tower.


    Inside, he beheld a vast and boundless expanse, far more spacious than the tower''s modest exterior suggested.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Suddenly, an enormous stele materialized beside Wu Yuan, its surface etched with countless mysterious Dao patterns.


    As his gaze swept over these patterns, Wu Yuan found himself subconsciously understanding what they meant.


    ��The test of the Creation Tower only assessesbat secret arts and Daoprehension. There is no mortal danger. One may choose any level from one to nine. Defeating the opponent grants rewards corresponding to that level...�� The content conveyed by the Dao patterns was simple and direct.


    Choose any level rather than having to progress level by level? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred, and he spoke without hesitation: "I choose level nine."


    Since level nine was the goal, and there was no risk of death, he naturally had to experience the difficulty for himself.


    <i>Boom! </i>An invisible force instantly enveloped Wu Yuan, and he felt his consciousness violently wrenched away. The world spun.


    When he regained awareness of his surroundings, he found himself in a vastbat space, roughly ten thousand li in diameter. The entire space was silent.


    <i>Sabers? </i>Wu Yuan instantly noticed the two floating sabers beside him. They were identical, standard-issue battle sabers.


    This body could not employ any ether arts, relying solely on his base power forbat, thus no more than two sabers were issued.


    <i>The power of the first-stage Elysian Field phase? It seems simr to a voidrealm battle, but it feels far too real.</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    Whether in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm or the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, voidrealm battles could only restrict the physical body, but not the soul. Thus, when his qi refiner self challenged the one-star tower, having a powerful soul was actually quite advantageous.


    But now, Wu Yuan felt that the body his consciousness had descended into restricted even the power of his soul, dramatically slowing his mental processes.


    <i>This truly restricts all external factors, testing onlybat secret arts and Daoprehension.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    As he pondered, Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon a distant figure.


    A silver-robed silhouette wore a silver mask, revealing only a pair of eyes, its features indiscernible. Its aura was elusive and unfathomable, its vital aura identical to Wu Yuan''s. Beside the figure floated two sabers, just like Wu Yuan.


    <i>Is this my opponent?</i> Wu Yuan observed his opponent, a sense of wariness rising within him. The level nine guardian? Its strength had to be utterly terrifying.


    ��The battle willmence shortly. Countdown: three, two..." A cold voice echoed throughout thebat space.


    "One!" As the voice faded, the invisible restraints dissipated. Wu Yuan instantly clutched the two sabers and shot forward.

 Chapter 651: That Single Saber Strike (2)

    <h4>Chapter 651: That Single Saber Strike (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Simultaneously, nine lifelike phantoms materialized throughout the space, indistinguishable from the real Wu Yuan.


    Though this body did not cultivate the Dao patterns of the ether art ��Rending The Heavens��, his Daoprehension remained. Thus, Wu Yuan could easily create nine lifelike phantoms.


    If his true self were here, he could manifest thirty-six lifelike phantoms with a single thought, as long as there were no restrictions.


    The nine lifelike phantoms each performed a different action as they charged towards the silver-robed figure.


    At the same time, a hazy Dao fluctuationpletely enveloped Wu Yuan�� Life True Intent.


    <i>Kill!</i> Wu Yuan lunged directly at the silver-robed figure.


    He knew that his chances of clearing level nine on the first attempt were astronomically low, but Wu Yuan refused to concede defeat.


    If he allowed the guardian to make the first move, he might lose any chance of winning from the get go. So, from the very beginning, he had to unleash everything, giving it his all.


    Abat space of ten thousand li? For someone of Wu Yuan''s level, though it was difficult to reach maximum speed instantly, it would take just over two seconds to close the distance.


    Throughout it all, the silver-robed figure remained motionless, as if oblivious to Wu Yuan''s assault.


    Eight thousand li...five thousand li...three thousand li!


    In a sh, the distance between Wu Yuan and the silver-robed figure had shrunk to less than a thousand li. He raised his dual sabers, prepared to unleash his mightiest strike.


    At that instant, the silver-robed figure finally moved. It raised a hand, grasping a saber. The other saber remained suspended in the air.


    <i>Boom!</i> Like a thunderbolt piercing the heavens, or as if time itself had slowed, the silver-robed figure closed the thousand li in an instant, appearing before Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in shock.


    He had no time to react. He could only stare fixedly at the pair of eyes beneath the silver mask. They were cold and deathly still!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The saber struck, like a bolt of lightning across the cosmos. Countless dazzling sparks seemed to erupt from within the de ray, containing a terrifying power that shook the soul. It felt as though an entire world was being forged anew...


    <i>sh!</i> The de ray passed through Wu Yuan''s body, swift as lightning and ethereal as mist. His form instantly dissolved.


    Challenge failed!


    ...


    <i>This...this saber strike. </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness instantly returned to his true body. His heart trembled as he stood rooted to the spot.


    That dazzling, iprehensibly powerful strike had defeated him in an instant! He reyed the moment over and over again in his mind.


    In the face of this saber strike, all thebat secret arts and saber codexes he had everprehended seemed to pale into insignificance.


    That sh of the de ray seemed to contain the most fundamental and immeasurable power.


    <i>The Dao. In the face of this strike, myprehension and the saber techniques I''ve cultivated seemughably inadequate. </i>Wu Yuan vaguely realized. <i>This strike likely represents a profound interpretation of an Essence Dao, though I cannot fathom its true level.</i>


    How keen was Wu Yuan''s insight? He had learned numerous powerful saber techniques, many of them saber codexes created by Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs who had poured their hearts and souls into their creation.


    The secret arts within the Immortal Belvedere were equally formidable, some even reaching the level of Sovereignbat secret arts.


    In terms of power, the ultimate steps of many saber techniques far surpassed this single strike from the level nine guardian. Yet none could evoke that sense of sheer awe in Wu Yuan! This strike was truly transcendent.


    It could be said that from this moment on, Wu Yuan finally witnessed the true might of the Essence Daos.


    <i>In terms of absolute power, this strike probably doesn''t reach the level of Life Dao Field, perhaps around the eighth-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao</i>. Wu Yuan could only make a rough estimate. The gap in strength was too vast for urate judgment.


    <i>Assuming that I don''tprehend an Essence Great Dao, if I want to reach the seventh-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao in just four hundred years?</i>


    Wu Yuan immediately felt the pressure and realized the immense difficulty. Sess seemed almost impossible!


    The fourth-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao was the baseline for an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal.


    The seventh-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao was the baseline for a Ninth Tribtion Archimmortal, an Astral Lord.


    And the Dao Field stage of the Life Dao could rival an Astral Monarch''s Daoprehension.


    <i>To clear level one hundred of the three-star tower, one only needs to reach the fourth-level True Intent stage of a Greater Law.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    His progress had been rapid enough. In just a few centuries, he had advanced from the first-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao to the third-level True Intent stage.


    With his newfound insights into the Law of Space, Wu Yuan now stood a slim chance of conquering level one hundred of the three-star tower.


    Given a few more centuries of cultivation, reaching the fourth or even fifth level of Life True Intent wouldn''t be too challenging. By then, conquering level one hundred of the three-star tower would be easy.


    But the eighth-level True Intent stage? Such profoundprehension would be impressive even for an Astral Lord, marking one as a true top-tier Archimmortal.


    To expect Wu Yuan to reach this in a mere four hundred years?


    <i>Under normal circumstances, it''s simply impossible.</i> Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, recognizing the immense difficulty.


    The leap from the sixth to seventh level of True Intent was already a qualitative transformation. Even level one hundred of the four-star tower only required seventh-level True Intent of a Greater Law.


    In other words, if Wu Yuan could defeat the level nine guardian, he''d be confident in conquering level one hundred of the four-star tower.


    <i>The four-star tower is meant to be challenged between one thousand and ten thousand years of age.</i>


    <i>So, reaching the seventh-level True Intent stage of a Greater Law before ten thousand years old is considered the standard for Supreme Geniuses.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Yet level nine of the Creation Tower demands I achieve this by seven hundred years old?</i>


    Wu Yuan himself was barely over three hundred years old. Such a requirement was utterly preposterous!


    Wu Yuan was already hailed as the greatest genius in the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    To date, besides Wu Yuan, the Eternal Sun Immortal World had never produced a monstrous prodigy meeting the Supreme Genius standard.


    <i>No wonder that Creation Emissary, despite knowing my exceptional talent and strength, still believed my chances of clearing level nine and obtaining a second-grade opportunity were slim.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    A spark of curiosity ignited within Wu Yuan''s heart.


    What kind of miraculous reward could possibly be worthy of such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy? The Immutable Land grew increasingly mysterious in his mind.


    <i>Level nine is out of my reach for now. Let''s try level eight and seven instead. </i>Wu Yuan decided.


    Time flowed on.


    Wu Yuan''s consciousness was once again drawn into that mysterious battle space, where he faced off against the guardians of level eight and seven in session.


    He failed both times!


    However, while both attempts ended in failure, the circumstances were vastly different.


    <i>The level eight guardian''sbat prowess seems roughly equivalent to the sixth-level True Intent stage of Life. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>level seven guardian''s strength is on par with the fourth-level True Intent stage.</i>


    Against the level eight guardian, his defeat was swift and decisive - Wu Yuan only withstood three saber strikes.


    With level seven guardian, he engaged in a prolonged battle before finally sumbing.


    <i>If I cultivate systematically, I have a ny percent chance of passing level seven within four hundred years, making a third-grade opportunity quite attainable. </i>Wu Yuan roughly estimated.


    <i>There''s a ten percent chance of conquering level eight.</i>


    <i>The probability of passing level nine is zero! </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. He couldn''t see even a glimmer of hope!


    When opportunity knocks, one should seize it. One should always harbor lofty ambitions.


    However, if the gap was too vast, too ridiculous, it became unrealistic to pursue further.


    <i>Let''s try level six next.</i> Wu Yuan thought, his consciousness descending swiftly to engage the level six guardian in battle.


    Victory!


    "Congrattions, upon leaving, you qualify for a fourth-grade opportunity," an indifferent voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s ears.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, at least he had secured a baseline reward.


    <i>Time to exit.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuannded on the ground, his gaze sweeping across the ring of Creation Essence Diagrams and secret art sacred mountains. The situation was now clear to him, and the circumstances equally apparent.


    <i>If I continue down my previous path, focusing solely onprehending the Law of Life, I''m destined to leave with only a third-grade opportunity. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    To seize a second-grade opportunity, there was only one path - toprehend an Essence Great Dao!


    <i>These Creation Essence Diagrams and the secret art sacred mountains ced in this test site �C my hope of passing level nine''s test likely lies within them. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    However, should he truly embark on this path? Wu Yuan hadn''t forgotten Master Kua Chi''s warning �C the path ofprehending the Essence Great Daos, though enticing, was fraught with numerous hardships.


    <i>If I delve intoprehending these Creation Essence Diagrams, my progress in the Law of Life might be hindered... By then, I might not even conquer level seven. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    The fourth-level True Intent stage of Life seemed like a small step up from the third-level True Intent stage, but one had to remember that this was a Greater Law! Each advancement was incredibly challenging.


    If he divided his attention, it might take centuries for Wu Yuan to break through, even with his aptitude.


    Two pathsy before Wu Yuan - one rtively safe, almost guaranteeing a third-grade opportunity. The other was risky, but if sessful, the rewards would be immense.


    He spent a long time deliberating.


    <i>I''ll take the gamble. With such an opportunity before me, if I let it slip by, I might regret it for eons.</i> A glint of determination shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    In his younger years, he might have chosen the safer route. But after the mental transformation brought about by Life True Intent, many of Wu Yuan''s choices subtly changed.


    Sometimes, only by giving one''s all could one live without regrets.


    <i>Throughout the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm, no one has sessfully traversed the path of an Essence Great Dao, but that''s because their talent and strength were insufficient. </i>Wu Yuan felt somewhat confident. <i>However, my talent now stands at the pinnacle.</i>


    <i>When Master gave me his advice, I hadn''t yet revealed such unparalleled talent. I must at least try.</i>


    Wu Yuan hesitated no longer. He sat down in the lotus position, his Soul Will spreading out, his divine eyes zing with light as he threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation.


    He began to study the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams, each one unfathomably profound. The thunder beasts depicted in the Essence Diagrams seemed toe alive, appearing utterly miraculous.


    <i>Creation epasses life. Space, Earth, Wood, Thunder, Fire...</i> Wu Yuan continuously analyzed the profundities of the Dao contained within the Creation Essence Diagrams.


    The more he analyzed andprehended, the more he marveled, sensing the inconceivable power they held.


    As time flowed on, Wu Yuan''s understanding of these Thunder Beast Diagrams gradually deepened.

 Chapter 652: Dharma Body, Divided Soul (1)

    <h4>Chapter 652: Dharma Body, Divided Soul (1)</h4>


    The Greater Laws were already incredibly difficult toprehend, representing the pinnacle of Daos that could manifest in the normal operation of the cosmic universe.


    And the even more profound Essence Great Daos? They contained the most essential power that transcended heaven and earth. Each of these Creation Essence Diagrams was profoundly mysterious.


    <i>Transcending heaven and earth. Surpassing heaven and earth, even the slightest disy of power would be suppressed by the forces of heaven and earth and eliminated.</i> Wu Yuan also sensed these essence diagrams, feeling the mighty power within.


    <i>Epassing numerous Laws, merging and unifying them into a whole. Even the Law of Life is merely a part of it.</i>


    Previously, Wu Yuan only possessed one Creation Essence Diagram, so he couldn��t see the big picture. But when all 365 Creation Essence Diagrams were revealed simultaneously and hisprehension deepened, he vaguely sensed that these essence diagrams seemed to form a whole. They were merely separated.


    On the surface, these essence diagrams all depicted various states and stages in the life of a thunder beast. Ifbined, they would form a vivid and lively thunder beast.


    There were moments of leisurely enjoyment, passionate battle, sadness, joy... Wu Yuan couldn''t help immersing himself in them.


    <i>But toprehend over 300 Creation Essence Diagrams simultaneously? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    It was too difficult. One cannot grow fat from a single meal.


    <i>It��s just likeprehending the Law of Life, I initially started from the profundities of the Land, then gradually expanded and extended my understanding to the Law of Celestial Body, Law of Longevity, Law of True Domain... finally merging them to form the Law of Life. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>Biting off more than one can chew will lead to problems. I should start byprehending the Creation Essence Diagram that I first studied. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the essence diagram depicting a thunder beast lyingfortably on the ground.


    This was the one most in line with Wu Yuan''s inner nature.


    <i>I''ll start from this essence diagram, and afterprehending it to a rtively profound level, I''ll gradually begin toprehend the other essence diagrams. </i>Wu Yuan''s approach to cultivation underwent a change, from seekingpleteness to specialization!


    <i>The Dao profundities contained in this diagram are too profound toprehend directly... I must study the corresponding secret art sacred mountain. </i>


    Wu Yuan divided some of his mental energy into studying the secret art sacred mountain for this essence diagram.


    The Dao patterns on the sacred mountain described an extremely powerfulbat methodology. Studying it allowed Wu Yuan to resolve many of his previous conundrums.


    The essence diagram was like theory, while the methodology of the secret art sacred mountain was like practice. Combining theory and practice, one could progress much faster.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self threw himself fully into contemtion. The more heprehended, the more he could sense the vastness of this Essence Great Dao. The profundities of the Dao derived from numerous Greater Lawsbined, producing all sorts of wondrous changes. Wu Yuan''s understanding of heaven and earth changed unconsciously.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly ten years passed.


    <i>Thunder, Fire... these Greater Laws, and Space, Life, even Earth, Wood, and so on, are all tenuously connected. They are notpletely unrted. It''s just that these connections are extremely weak.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    If he hadn''t entered the Thunder Marsh World, he wouldn''t have noticed. Only through the essence diagram could he perceive this point.


    Over the past decade, through the Creation Essence Diagram, Wu Yuan gained a slight understanding of the Law of Thunder and the Law of Fire.


    It was very superficial, not even reaching the first-level Domain stage. However, it was just like how adding a pinch of salt to ingredients couldpletely transform the vor of a dish.


    Nearly 300 years ofprehending the Creation Essence Diagram had allowed Wu Yuan toprehend its spiritual resonance and artistic conception to an extremely profound level.


    And in this special environment of the test location,bined with Wu Yuan''s already profoundprehension of the Law of Life, the pieces begin to fall into ce. Through ten years of effort, the tiny bit of profundities of the Laws of Thunder and Fire he hadprehended subtly merged with his insights into the Law of Life.


    This merging produced a wondrous change.


    <i>Ten years. Comprehending the Creation Essence Diagram and secret art sacred mountain has yielded results. Let''s try again and see if I can pass level seven. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He leapt up, charging straight into the entrance at the bottom of that unremarkable azure tower suspended in the void.


    ...


    Once again, his consciousness descended into the battle space with a diameter of ten thousand li. As usual, two sabers floated beside him.


    Not far away was that figure shrouded in silver robes, with height and weapons identical to Wu Yuan''s.


    "The battle will soonmence, three, two, one!" The familiar voice echoed again in the battle space.


    But this time, Wu Yuan didn''t take the initiative to attack. He just stood in ce, while that silver-robed guardian also stood in ce. The two sides faced each other from ten thousand li apart.


    Time seemed to slow to a standstill.


    This calmsted only for a breath. Seemingly realizing Wu Yuan wouldn''t take the initiative, the silver-robed guardian finally moved, grasping his saber.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Several afterimages shed, and the silver-robed guardian had nearly closed the distance between himself and Wu Yuan.


    Less than a thousand li away, the cold light on the edge of the saber was clearly visible!


    <i>Here hees.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, gripping the two sabers in hand.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> Four terrifying de rays lit up simultaneously in the air.


    The silver-robed guardian''s de rays were like two crescent moons, destely beautiful, dazzling and intoxicating, as if they wished to tear apart heaven and earth.


    But the saber technique Wu Yuan disyed waspletely different. The de rays interwove, like a cross-shaped sh, simultaneously spreading in all directions. Countless Dao patterns interwove to form a huge spherical shape!


    If one looked closely, it was as if a miniature celestial body enveloped Wu Yuan, shielding him from the front.


    <i>Boom! </i>They collided. Wu Yuan was sent flying backward by those two crescent moons, shooting back over a hundred li like a meteor, but his two sabers didn''t waver at all. They were still as steady as a mountain.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The silver-robed guardian��s figure flickered, his movements bizarre and unpredictable, once again pouncing towards Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan grinned, his figure flickering to produce eleven lifelike phantoms, surrounding the guardian and moving in to attack.


    Each lifelike phantom formed a miniature celestial body, creating a series of eleven miniature celestial bodies.


    <i>ng! ng! ng! </i>Their exchanges were lightning-fast. With each collision, Wu Yuan was sent flying, yet he blocked again and again. With his superb movement skill, he avoided several killing moves unleashed by the silver-robed guardian.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t defeat the silver-robed guardian, but the silver-robed guardian, exerting all his strength and exploding forth time after time, likewise couldn''t find a way to kill Wu Yuan.


    <i>As expected, thebat teachings from the secret art sacred mountains are indeed extraordinary. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <i>Learning the first move alone has greatly increased my strength.</i>


    Over the past decade, Wu Yuan hadprehended the teachings from that secret art sacred mountain and learned a nameless methodology, which he named ��Celestial Body Intent''.


    This was a teaching designed for life-preservation. It could be used in conjunction with sword arrays, flying sword techniques, saber techniques, staff techniques, and so on. Now Wu Yuan was applying it through his saber techniques.


    With the profundities of the Essence Great Dao as its core, it was like a celestial body with inexhaustible protective abilities! Not adept at attacking, but excellent at defending.


    It should be noted that the Dao Wu Yuanprehended most deeply, the one most in line with his inner nature, was the Law of Celestial Body. Thus, cultivating this teaching was rtively easy for him. Only afterprehending the first move did he dare to try level seven again.


    Inside the battle space, the two sides shed time and time again, exchanging more than ten thousand moves!


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The silver-robed guardian suddenly retreated and stopped, then his figure dissipated, along with the two sabers.


    <i>He''s gone just like that?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned. He clearly hadn''t won yet.


    "Congrattions, you have passed level seven of the Creation Tower. Upon leaving, you are eligible for a third-grade opportunity," a cold voice suddenly sounded, echoing in Wu Yuan''s ears.


    He passed?


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness was withdrawn, swiftly returning to his body.


    <i>Was it because he couldn''t ovee my defenses, or did the battle exhaust his ether? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    He couldn''t be sure. During the battle, neither side could actually ovee the other.


    <i>Well, that''s fine too.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.


    In just a decade, Wu Yuan had grasped an Essence Great Dao, mastering a singlebat secret art from the secret art sacred mountain. His power had soared to new heights, allowing him to conquer level seven of the Creation Tower.


    Of course, this was also because Wu Yuan had already umted a deep foundation,prehending many aspects of the Law of Life from the Thunder Beast Diagrams. He only needed to fuse and unify his various Dao insights using the spiritual resonance and artistic conception within the essence diagram.


    <i>However, I still can''t be said to have crossed the threshold of the Essence Great Dao.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>I''ve merely deepened my understanding of the essence diagram��s artistic conception.</i>


    He didn''t attempt level eight. Level seven had been challenging enough. He was guaranteed to fail level eight.


    <i>Conquering level seven grants a third-grade opportunity. At the very least, meeting the minimum requirement means it wasn''t all for naught, even if I ultimately fail. </i>Wu Yuan mused as he sat motionless on the deste in.


    He continued to study those essence diagrams intently.


    The more heprehended, the more he understood the vastness of this Essence Great Dao... yet his rate ofprehension was also slowing.


    <i>My rapid progress over the past decade was due to centuries of umted understanding of the Creation Essence Diagram and the Law of Life. </i>Wu Yuan reflected calmly.


    <i>Now, I can only advance step by step.</i> He cultivated patiently.


    ...


    Nearly a centuryter, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had made great strides inprehending the essence diagrams. He could put up a prolonged fight against the level eight guardian of the Creation Tower, though he still couldn''t clear it.


    On this day, as he contemted the Dao, the internal shambh within Wu Yuan''s body refiner self began to transform. The entire shambh was undergoing an earth-shattering metamorphosis.


    With a thunderous roar, the Boundary Tree grew rapidly. Theke of ether surrounding it, vast as a boundless ocean, surged tempestuously.


    Strands of even purer ether were produced.


    <i>Whoosh! Rumble! </i>Like a great river, spiritual qi poured into his internal shambh, processed into streams of pure vital ether.


    <i>Hum~</i> His already vast and expansive internal shambh shattered its former limits, breaking through to an even higher level.


    The world grew more expansive, the earth more substantial, the sky more distant, the essence more potent... This was a leap in the order of life.


    Wu Yuan''s vital aura grew increasingly profound.


    As time flowed on, a massive ethereal figure gradually materialized behind Wu Yuan. Towering ten thousand zhangs tall, it was unmistakably an erged version of Wu Yuan himself.


    This was his Dharma Body.


    <i>At 60, I reached the ninth-stage Shambh phase. At 140, I entered the Elysian Field phase.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>And after three more centuries, I''ve finally advanced to the Dharma Body phase.</i>

 Chapter 653: Dharma Body, Divided Soul (2)

    <h4>Chapter 653: Dharma Body, Divided Soul (2)</h4>


    Reaching the Dharma Body phase meant that one had be an Earth Eldritch or Earth Deity. Beyond thaty the Universe Architect phase, which would be the final major phase of the six phases of immortal cultivation.


    It could be said that throughout his journey of mana breakthroughs, Wu Yuan had consistently pushed the limits of the evolution of life, breaking through time and again without dy.


    <i>Bing an Earth Eldritch before five hundred? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head inwardly. Those so-called peerless geniuses of the <i>Origin Eldritch Field have likely only just entered the Void Refiner phase.</i>


    Normally, most geniuses would attempt to break through to be Earth Eldritches after one or two thousand years of cultivation. Firstly, it was due to their slower cultivation progress, and secondly, it was to allow their souls time to grow and adapt.


    However, Wu Yuan had never walked the usual path.


    After the sessive trials of the Thunder Marsh World and the Huanggu World, Wu Yuan��s perspective was no longer limited to the geniuses of his generation.


    In terms of Daoprehension, even among the geniuses who had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years in the First Origin Eldritch Field, ny-nine percent couldn''t match Wu Yuan��s current level.


    <i>Shambh, expand.</i> Wu Yuan devoted a portion of his focus to driving the vigorous expansion of his shambh.


    Limited by his environment, he could only continuously refine ethercrystal and divine crystals into vital ether. Thus, the process was much slower. It took a full two months before his entire internal shambh finally expanded to its limit, and his vital ether reached peak purity.


    Wu Yuan perceived the vast world with his consciousness, now three million li in diameter at its widest point. The entire world appeared to acquire weight and dimension.


    The Boundary Tree stood majestically at the center. Mountain ranges and rivers stretched across thendscape, with countless nts growing throughout this world. Among the endless vegetation, numerous thunder beasts lived carefree lives...


    These thunder beasts were the fruit of Wu Yuan''sprehension of the Law of Life and the Creation Essence Diagrams. They possessed no true life or thoughts, and couldn''t be considered living beings. They were merely an application of Wu Yuan''s secret arts. Yet they added a touch of vitality to the entire world, filling it with life.


    <i>Despite having just reached the first-stage Dharma Body phase, my three-million-li internal shambh already rivals that of many ninth-stage Dharma Body powerhouses</i>. Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    This vast world contained immense power.


    What was a Dharma Body? It was, in fact, a true reflection of one''s internal shambh. Upon reaching this level, the shambh appeared to solidify into tangible reality. Every gesture would truly contain a fraction of the internal shambh''s might, causing one''s power to surge dramatically.


    <i>Hum~</i> The moment his internal world expanded to its limit, it subtly distorted, as if another world was emerging. Simultaneously, above his internal shambh, a faint, illusory river began to form rapidly.


    Though called a river, it was actually a convergence of strange forces, flowing mightily from an unknowable past towards an unfathomable future.


    <i>A miniature Destiny Voidscape? </i>Wu Yuan nodded lightly, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.


    Normally, one would need to reach the Universe Architect phase to form a miniature Destiny Voidscape within oneself, reflecting an independent world.


    <i>Is it because of my first-degree immortal root?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently, his gaze sweeping over this not-too-powerful miniature Destiny Voidscape. <i>Unfortunately, it''s too small, too empty, without any living beings</i>.


    A true Destiny Voidscape spanned the entire river of time, corresponding to reality and epassing all timelines. Countless qi refiner cultivators would leave their vital aura imprints within it, subsequently opening their own Voidspaces.


    Body refiners were different. They controlled their own world, with its own voidscape, where countless lives dwelled��essentially a miniature version of heaven and earth. Naturally, this granted them inconceivablebat power and self-preservation ability.


    But correspondingly, as there cannot be two suns in the sky, this independence meant that body refiner cultivators were inherently suppressed and rejected by the existing heaven and earth. The stronger they became, the greater the suppression they faced.


    <i>The Voidspace of my qi refiner self is influenced by the external world.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly. <i>But for my body refiner self, the size of the miniature Destiny Voidscape formed by the reflection of my internal shambh is the size of my Voidspace.</i>


    I am the world, and the world is me.


    With a rumble, Wu Yuan quickly sensed a mysterious power permeating his miniature Destiny Voidscape, nourishing his soul. It was the power of Faith.


    <i>Atst, my body refiner self can also refine Faith. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly, feeling joyful.


    With the power of Faith, his cultivation speed would increase further. Others wouldn''t dare utilize too much Faith, but Wu Yuan, with ck pagodas in both of his true selves, could refine as much as he wanted without fear.


    <i>This Faith poweres partly from the Greenridge Macrocosm and the Summerpeak World... but the majority of it is from the Huanggu World. </i>Wu Yuan quickly noticed.


    Indeed! Though he had resided in the Huanggu World for a few centuries, he had aplished many miracles there and gained great fame. It was only natural for arge number of beings to worship him.


    <i>This Faith power seems insufficient. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.<i> When I get out, I''ll need to find a way to obtain more Faith.</i>


    Wu Yuan vaguely understood why various super factions eagerly seized territory, seeking to propagate Faith. It was indeed good stuff.


    Perhaps its impact on Daoprehension and the soul wasn''t decisive. But for super powerhouses, even a slight increase in strength was precious. The closer one got to the limit, the harder it became to raise it further.


    <i>With the breakthroughplete, I''ll slowly cultivate my mana and nurture my ether body alongside contemting the Dao.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Having entered the Dharma Body phase, his world essence grew more profound. The most iconic ability of this phase��creating an ether body!


    If one cultivated superior teachings, the ether body could nearly match the true self in all aspects, withbat power approaching that of the true self.


    <i>Once I cultivate my ether body, future life-or-death battles will be much safer.</i> A glimmer of anticipation shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he calmed his mind.


    He began to cultivate silently ording to the various ether body cultivation instructions in the ��Archeldritch Divine Codex��.


    Simr ether body cultivation teachings were extremely precious in the Huanggu World, but in the Greenridge Macrocosm, they were quitemon. Rtively powerful sects all possessed them.


    One��s cultivation method wasn''t the key determinant of the ether body��s strength; the most important factor was still the cultivator themself.


    <i>If this were the Cang Feng Eldritch World, one could cultivate a wless ether body in just ten years with the aid of some extraordinary items. But now, I can only rely on myself, taking it slow... I estimate it''ll take about a hundred years. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Without the assistance of rare external objects, his ether body creation proceeded at a snail��s pace, and his umtion of vital ether was equally, ridiculously slow. Wu Yuan estimated that even with the aid of divine crystals, it would take over a thousand years to reach the ninth-stage Dharma Body phase.


    <i>There''s no rush to cultivate ether. By following the proper steps in cultivation, one will eventually reach the ninth-stage Dharma Body. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>For me, the Dao is the root.</i>


    He continued his cultivation.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan thought of his qi refiner self. <i>By my calctions, my qi refiner self should have also advanced to the Divided Soul phase.</i>


    <i>In the past few hundred years, my qi refiner self''sprehension of the Law of Space has been elerating. I wonder how the situation is. Am I truly immersing myself fully in the Law of Space? </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self pondered.


    In terms of the Law of Space, progress had been extremely rapid, and imperceptibly, it was also allowing the body refiner self toprehend the Essence Great Dao more quickly.


    His exceptionally deepprehension of the Law of Space, which took his movement skill to the next level, was also inextricably linked to this Wu Yuan''s body refiner self clearing level seven so quickly.


    ...


    <i>While Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was trapped in the Immutable Land, striving toprehend the Essence Great Dao to obtain the best ultimate opportunity.</i>


    <i>Endless spacetime away, in the Immortal Belvedere within the Greenridge Macrocosm, in the courtyard belonging to Wu Yuan.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Waves of surging power rippled outwards in all directions as Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a jade tform in his meditation chamber. He retracted his vital aura rapidly.


    <i>Using the items I''ve acquired, I estimate it will take about three years to sessfully cultivate my mana body.</i>


    <i>However, with the amount of treasures I have in my possession, there''s no chance of exchanging them for enough divine crystal elixir to reach the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Divine crystal elixir was incredibly precious, with even ordinary Archimmortals struggling to find channels to purchase it.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self did have the qualifications to buy it, but the price was exorbitant. It was generally used for life-saving purposes or to refine some precious medicinal pills.


    Using it solely for cultivating mana? No one could be so extravagant.


    It was worth noting that the amount of divine crystal elixir required to progress from the first-stage to the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase was ten thousand times that needed to advance from the first-stage to the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase.


    <i>If I use divine crystals, supplemented with some rare cultivation treasures, it would only take a few thousand divine crystals and three hundred years to reach the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self swiftly researched various cultivation ns in the immortal voidrealm before finally settling on this one.


    This n, though much slower than cultivating with divine crystal elixir, was still seven hundred years faster than cultivating mana purely with divine crystals. The advantage was that the cost was much lower.


    <i>Cultivating with divine crystal elixir would allow me to reach the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase in ten years. With this current n, it''ll take three hundred years, which is still eptable. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Entering the Divided Soul phase granted a lifespan of ny thousand years. Three hundred years? That was nothing, and the effort expended wasn''t too much either.


    <i>To upgrade my nine lifebound flying swords into high-grade spirion artifacts via the optimal evolution path, the divine crystals required will only increase, not decrease.</i> Wu Yuan felt a headacheing on.


    Whether it was cultivating mana, upgrading his lifebound flying swords, or acquiring other powerful artifacts, all required vast sums of wealth.


    Although Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had previously received a gift of one hundred thousand divine crystals from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, he was still strapped for resources.


    <i>It''s time to see my grandmaster. </i>Wu Yuan stood up, thinking to himself. <i>Previously, when Iprehended the Spatial Rift Dao to the True Intent stage, I paid my respects to Grandmaster.</i>


    <i>Grandmaster said that once I entered the Earth Immortal phase, he would begin the third stage of my cultivation training n</i>. Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.


    Several hundred years ago, Immortal Sovereign Bei You had set two goals for Wu Yuan: First, to conquer level one hundred of the two-star tower and level one hundred of the three-star tower. Second, to deduce three Intermediate Laws of Space to the True Intent stage within a thousand years.


    Wu Yuan had long been able to aplish these two goals.


    <i>Let''s go see my Grandmaster.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self took a step forward, leaving the meditation chamber and flying into the distance.

 Chapter 654: Dao Master Imprint (1)

    <h4>Chapter 654: Dao Master Imprint (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s form blurred as he shot out of the courtyard, flying out of the Immortal Belvedere.


    Having cultivated here for over three hundred years, progressing from the Amethyst Cradle phase all the way to the Earth Immortal phase, he had grown familiar with his surroundings.


    Suddenly, several figures flew towards him from the opposite direction. All were Earth Immortals, each exuding a formidable aura.


    Upon seeing Wu Yuan fly past, they bowed slightly. "Greetings, Grand-senior-uncle Ming Jian."


    "Greetings, Grand-senior-uncle."


    "Greetings, Senior Uncle." The three greeted with utmost respect.


    Their differing forms of address indicated their varying ranks within the Bei You lineage, though they seemed to be friends of sorts.


    Immortal Sovereign Bei You had taken on far too many disciples, making this lineage incrediblyplex. Combined with the multitude of nominal disciples and the passage of long years, the generational hierarchy had be rather muddled.


    Unless one was a direct disciple within three generations, most addressed each other based on rtive strength and closeness of their rtionship.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded with a smile.


    "Senior Uncle, have you broken through to the Divided Soul phase?" The middle-aged Earth Immortal in ck robes who had addressed him as ''Senior Uncle'' eximed, his eyes lighting up in shock.


    "Yes, I just made the breakthrough," Wu Yuan confirmed with a nod.


    "Impressive!"


    "After cultivating for less than five hundred years, you��ve already reached the Earth Immortal phase? You put us all to shame, Senior Uncle," the ck-robed middle-aged man remarked admiringly.


    "What are you saying?" The white-robed youth shook his head. "Senior Uncle has already cleared level one hundred of the two-star tower... isn''t reaching the Earth Immortal phase only natural?"


    "That''s enough. Senior Uncle, we won''t disturb you further," the first Earth Immortal said anxiously. "We''ll take our leave now."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded with a smile.


    The three Earth Immortals bowed respectfully, turning to depart.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Before they could leave, a plump figure in ck robes appeared out of thin air. His aura was ethereal, at odds with his appearance, as he smiled at Wu Yuan.


    "Senior Uncle Gu Lai." Wu Yuan bowed slightly in greeting.


    "Astral Monarch."


    "Greetings, Astral Monarch." The three Earth Immortals grew even more anxious, bowing respectfully once more, their hearts filled with shock.


    Wu Yuan could address him as ��Senior Uncle'' because he was a formal disciple. These three Earth Immortals, not truly part of the inner circle, dared not use overly familiar terms to address an Astral Monarch.


    "Mm." Astral Monarch Gu Lai gave the three Earth Immortals a cursory nce, his attention fully on Wu Yuan. "Junior Nephew Ming Jian, I understand you wish to see Master? Master has agreed and sent me to escort you."


    "Sorry for the trouble, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "No trouble at all. Let''s go." Astral Monarch Gu Lai replied with a beaming smile, waving his hand to envelop Wu Yuan in an invisible force.


    The two transformed into streaks of light and vanished into the distance.


    The three Earth Immortals left behind exchanged bewildered looks.


    "Is Senior Uncle Ming Jian going to see the Immortal Sovereign? He can just request for an audience and be granted one?"


    "It seems so."


    "Astral Monarch Gu Lai came to escort Senior Uncle Ming Jian personally?"


    "Apparently so."


    The three Earth Immortals fell silent. Having cultivated at the Immortal Belvedere for over a thousand years, they had naturally heard tales of Ming Jian''s exploits.


    Dominating the entry-level battlefield, consecutively clearing the one-star tower, reaching level one hundred of the two-star tower �C he was nothing short of a legendary figure.


    Yet, witnessing him firsthand still left them astounded.


    They were all Earth Immortals. The three of them, able to cultivate at the Immortal Belvedere, were considered quite sessful among Earth Immortals. In any immortal continent, they would be regarded as important figures.


    However, an Astral Lord or even an ordinary Archimmortal wouldn��t easily grant them an audience. Wu Yuan, on the other hand, could casually meet the great Sovereign.


    "Let''s go."


    "No use thinking about it. Grand-senior-uncle Ming Jian is on apletely different level from us."


    "I''ve heard that Grand-senior-uncle Uncle Ming Jian''s Daoprehension level is extremely high,parable even to Archimmortals." The three Earth Immortals quickly adjusted their mindsets.


    ...


    High above the Bei You Mountain Range, Astral Monarch Gu Lai escorted Wu Yuan towards the Sovereign''s temple at a leisurely pace.


    "Ming Jian, how were the materials I prepared for you previously?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai asked with a smile.


    "They were excellent. Thank you, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan replied sincerely.


    The materials Astral Monarch Gu Lai mentioned were the resources for upgrading Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords after his qi refiner self broke through to the Void Refiner phase.


    At the Void Refiner phase, one could upgrade their lifebound flying swords to mid-grade spirion artifacts in one go, naturally requiring an enormous amount of materials.


    For ordinary Void Refiner Eminences, if they didn''t have high demands for the quality of their lifebound flying swords, they wouldn��t require materials and metals that were too precious. Of course, the resulting power of the weapons would also be quite weak �C most mid-grade spirion lifebound flying swords were inferior to high-grade spirion artifacts.


    But Wu Yuan was different! All along, he had pursued the optimal path of evolution for his nine lifebound flying swords, always striving to forge the best possible foundation.


    Therefore, during the hundreds of years he spent cultivating at the Immortal Belvedere, besidesprehending the Law of Space and practicing various arcane arts, he also collected various materials and metals to upgrade his lifebound flying swords.


    To upgrade his nine lifebound flying swords from first-grade spirit equipment to low-grade spirion artifacts, Wu Yuan had purchased materials worth over a thousand divine crystals through Astral Monarch Gu Lai.


    To upgrade them from low-grade spirion artifacts to mid-grade spirion artifacts, he had spent nearly twenty thousand divine crystals.


    And this was already including the discounts through Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s connections. If Wu Yuan were to purchase them on his own, gathering the various materials would have taken more time and effort, and the prices would have been even higher.


    These divine crystals were all deducted from the hundred thousand divine crystals that Immortal Sovereign Bei You had gifted Wu Yuanst time.


    The cost was great, but the resulting power of the nine lifebound flying swords was also incredible. In Wu Yuan''s hands, their might approached that of celestial equipment. The gains were equal to the investment.


    After acquiring these materials, Wu Yuan had only devoted a small portion of his efforts over these hundreds of years to upgrade all nine lifebound flying swords to their limits.


    "Now that you''ve broken through to be an Earth Immortal, I suppose you''re nning to upgrade your lifebound flying swords to high-grade spirion artifacts or even low-grade celestial equipment?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a chuckle.


    "Senior Uncle, please don''t tease me," Wu Yuan replied with a wry smile. "Others may not know me well, but surely you do.


    To upgrade all my lifebound flying swords to high-grade spirion artifacts would cost hundreds of thousands of divine crystals. As for upgrading them to celestial equipment? I dare not even think about it," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Hundreds of thousands of divine crystals were an enormous fortune. Even ordinary Archimmortals would struggle to produce such wealth if they exhausted all their resources. This was the price of walking the path of optimal evolution.


    As for upgrading them further to low-grade celestial equipment? The leap from the spirion artifact level to celestial artifacts was a qualitative change. The cost was absurdly high - even an Astral Lord couldn''t afford it.


    More crucially, some of the special materials and treasures required were difficult for even an Astral Lord to collect.


    "Haha, take it slow," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a heartyugh. "When you''ve gathered enough divine crystals or equivalent treasures, just hand them over to me."


    He held this little junior nephew in high regard. After all, Wu Yuan was far too monstrous a prodigy.


    This group of Astral Monarch-level senior brothers had all determined that once Wu Yuan matured, he would at least reach thete-stage Astral Monarch phase, with the potential to be a Sovereign. That was why he proactively took steps to build a good rtionship.


    However, he was still unclear about his master''s ns for training Wu Yuan, so he didn''t dare rashly gift Wu Yuan too many treasures, lest he incur his master''s wrath. Otherwise, these small favors would be insignificant to an Astral Monarch like himself.


    Nevertheless, within the bounds of the rules, he would do his best to make things convenient for Wu Yuan.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan said. He understood Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s intentions but had never thought of refusing.


    Only through interaction could rtionships and goodwill develop between people. If he were to act aloof, what good would his extraordinary talent do? The other Astral Monarchs of the Bei You lineage would likely distance themselves from him as well.


    Besides, he was too poor. Wu Yuan naturally wouldn''t stand on ceremony if he could save some divine crystals.


    "Junior Nephew, you''ve already cleared the twenty-eighth level of the Divine Stele Test. I imagine it won''t be difficult for you to clear the thirty-first level before leaving the Immortal Belvedere," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a smile. "When that timees, the Immortal Sovereign will likely prepare a grand gift for you."


    "The thirty-first level?" Wu Yuan shook his head with a ruefulugh. "Senior Uncle, please don��t joke around. It''s difficult! I can only try my best."


    The Divine Stele Test within the Qiankun Divine Stele consisted of forty levels in total. The thirty-first level was a benchmark, requiring one to fullyprehend a Lesser Law to pass.


    However, one could only utilize insights into the Law of Space.


    Wu Yuan had made good progress over these hundreds of years, not only crystallizing Spatial Rift True Intent but even deducing theplete Law of Space to the sixth-level Domain stage.


    But to pass the thirty-first level? It wasn''t something he could aplish in a short time.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two streaks of lightnded at the entrance of the temple. Astral Monarch Gu Lai smiled, "Go on in. The Immortal Sovereign is waiting for you. I won''t enter."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    He flew into the hall. The interior was still empty, no different from his previous visits. There was only a lone, seemingly eternally unchanging silhouette.


    "Grandmaster," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "You''ve arrived? I see you didn''t dy at all, advancing to the Divided Soul phase as soon as you reached the minimum adaptation time for the evolution of life." Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled faintly. "You''re just like your master, both impatient personalities."


    Master? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred. Immortal Sovereign Bei You had to be referring to Master Dong Yang.


    But several hundred years had passed since Master Dong Yang left the Greenridge Macrocosm, with no news.


    "The task I gave you previously was to advance yourprehension of the Spatial Rift Dao to the True Intent stage within a thousand years," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said. "Yet you��ve seeded in just two or three hundred years, even crossing the threshold of the Law of Space.


    Your aptitude for the Law of Space is very high, exceeding my expectations."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    Comprehending the Spatial Rift Dao? In truth, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had unconsciously been influenced, undergoing subtle changes.


    Combined with his increasingly powerful soul, this allowed him toprehend the Dao even faster.


    Most crucially, after receiving Master Kua Chi''s approval, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self would receive the Dao inheritance of the Law of Space once every decade.


    For many reasons, Wu Yuan''s progress could be described as advancing a thousand li in a single day!


    He had already gained deep insights into the Law of Space, though it stillgged far behind the Law of Life.


    ��Very well. Now that you''ve reached the Earth Immortal phase, I''ll fulfill my promise and begin the third stage of your training," Immortal Sovereign Bei You gazed down at Wu Yuan, speaking slowly.


    "Looking across the entire river of space and time, quite a few peerless geniuses can obtain this training opportunity. But within the Greenridge Macrocosm, only I can provide it."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Immortal Sovereign Bei You, the macrocosm''s only Sovereign of Space, naturally had his unique methods.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As he spoke, a stream of light flew from Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s palm. It then directly merged into Wu Yuan''s body, an invisible power instantly fusing into his soul.


    "This?" Surprise shed across Wu Yuan''s pupils.


    He sensed a strange power hidden within his body, seemingly able to erupt at any moment with just a thought.


    "I have activated the Dao Master Imprint, fusing it with your soul so others cannot strip it away," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled. "With this mark''s aura, you now qualify to enter the Spacetime Dao Realm. And your status there will be extremely high."


    "Spacetime Dao Realm?" A hint of confusion shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    What sort of ce was that? He''d never heard of it!

 Chapter 655: Dao Master Imprint (2)

    <h4>Chapter 655: Dao Master Imprint (2)</h4>


    "The Spacetime Dao Realm is a mysterious ce within the endless river of space and time," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled. "You can think of it as a cultivation sanctuary. Hmm, I''ll just transmit the detailed information to you."


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You pointed from afar, and a flood of information instantly poured into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    In no time, he understood.


    The Spacetime Dao Realm was a mysterious ce created by a supreme being skilled in the Spacetime Dao, the Spacetime Dao Master.


    The Spacetime Dao Realm transcended any single macrocosm, an omnipresent ce. But without a guide, even some legendary supreme beings on par with the Spacetime Dao Master couldn''t locate the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    The Spacetime Dao Master could be described in one word �C mysterious! He was an extremely enigmatic powerhouse in the vast river of space and time.


    Yet he widely epted disciples. Over long ages, the Spacetime Dao Master had distributed spacetime imprints to many macrocosms across the river of space and time. Anyone proficient in the Space Dao or Time Dao could activate a spacetime imprint and travel to the Spacetime Dao Realm to cultivate.


    This was a sacred ground for cultivators of Space and Time, the two Greater Laws, and also a mysterious ce within the vast river of space and time. It was even more mysterious than the Immutable Land.


    The spacetime imprint could only be fused with those who hadn''tpleted Immortal Tribtions or fullyprehended a Dao.


    But in reality, though the Spacetime Dao Master provided guidance to countless powerhouses, he never truly epted disciples. Even for unparalleled talents, the Spacetime Dao Master would only guide them in cultivation. Once they reached a certain level, they would be expelled from the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Peerless geniuses from all the top forces in the river of space and time - the Eldritch Court, Taiyuan Divine Court, Immortal Court, and others - could all go there to cultivate. All were treated equally!


    The Spacetime Dao Realm offered great opportunities but was equally dangerous. Even monstrous prodigies could perish within. Those wishing to cultivate there had to tread with extreme caution!


    ��Within the Spacetime Dao Realm...��


    Besides the brief description of the Spacetime Dao Master, this intelligence dossier also contained a wealth of detailed information about the internal rules of the Spacetime Dao Realm, including solutions to many of its challenges.


    Clearly, this intelligence waspiled by a powerhouse extremely familiar with the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Wu Yuanmitted it all to memory.


    <i>The river of space and time is truly vast and boundless. To think there exists such a supreme being? </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Not truly epting disciples, yet willing to guide peerless geniuses from various forces? How peculiar!


    But such a being surely possessed unfathomable power. Wu Yuan secretly spected that even across the entire river of space and time, he likely stood at the very pinnacle.


    Over these hundreds of years, as he encountered more confidential information, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self gradually came to understand that the Sovereign level was not the end of cultivation.


    In the vast, endless river of space and time, some inconceivable beings surpassing Sovereigns would sometimes emerge, possessing unimaginable godly abilities and power. Clearly, this Spacetime Dao Master was a being who transcended Sovereigns.


    "Ming Jian, have you finished reading?" Immortal Sovereign Bei You said calmly.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "The spacetime imprint of the Spacetime Dao Realm isn''t too rare. Even within our Eternal Sun Immortal World alone, there are quite a few imprint bearers, not mentioning the entire Taiyuan Divine Court," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said.


    "At certain intervals, our Eternal Sun Immortal World would send some individuals to the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Add up the cultivators from all the macrocosms under the entire divine court headquarters'' rule, and the number is even greater... If we count all the top forces across the entire river of space and time, it would be countless."


    Wu Yuan was startled.


    It sounded like this so-called spacetime imprint wasn''t too precious. Of course, Wu Yuan understood that this was likely only rtive to someone like Immortal Sovereign Bei You. For ordinary Astral Monarchs, it probably wasn��t easy to obtain.


    "However, the Dao Master Imprint I''ve imparted to you is different," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said calmly. "It''s more than ten thousand times more precious than an ordinary spacetime imprint."


    Wu Yuan held his breath. So valuable?


    "You''ll naturally understand once you reach the Spacetime Dao Realm," Immortal Sovereign Bei You smiled. "I believe it won''t disappoint you."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded obediently.


    He was going to the Spacetime Dao Realm? Wu Yuan felt a hint of anticipation.


    "The Spacetime Dao Realm is an incredibly distant and mysterious ce far from the macrocosm. At certain periods of time, the divine court will gather the geniuses who have obtained spacetime imprints and send them there together," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said.


    "There are still three years until the next group departure. For these three years, you''ll stay at the Immortal Belvedere. When the timees, I''ll summon you again."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Additionally, with your rate of progress in the Law of Space, cultivating your mana slowly would be a waste of time. This divine crystal elixir is your reward, allowing you to break through to the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase as soon as possible," Immortal Sovereign Bei You suddenly waved his hand, and a stream of light flew out.


    A green jade vial hovered before Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan��s eyes shone. Divine crystal elixir?


    "This is also thest time I''ll be granting you this. Even as your grandmaster, I won��t be able to provide divine crystal elixir to spare you the toil of umting mana after you reach the High Immortal phase," Immortal Sovereign Bei You shook his head.


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Just advancing from the first-stage to the ninth-stage Divided Soul phase required an astronomical quantity of divine crystal elixir. Ordinary Astral Monarchs weren��t able to toss around such wealth. Only Immortal Sovereign Bei You could manage it.


    As for High Immortals? Each breakthrough required such a vast amount of spiritual qi that they all had to break through slowly on their own.


    "The rest depends on you," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said. "If there''s nothing else, you may go."


    "This disciple has one more matter," Wu Yuan suddenly said.


    "Oh?" Immortal Sovereign Bei You was puzzled, then smiled. "You little rascal, I knew you didn''te to see me for nothing. What is it? Speak."


    "Grandmaster previously mentioned that once I cleared level one hundred of the two-star tower and three-star tower, I could receive an additional reward of one million divine crystals. I wonder if that promise still holds?" Wu Yuan asked respectfully.


    His eyes burned with fervor as he looked at Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    "Naturally," Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s expression shifted subtly, a hint of disbelief creeping into his gaze as he regarded Wu Yuan. "But didn''t you just recently conquer level one hundred of the two-star tower? Are you saying... you can conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower?"


    "That''s correct," Wu Yuan nodded firmly, his conviction palpable. "Though this disciple hasn''t attempted it yet, I''m eighty percent certain I will seed. Therefore, I wish to inquire of Grandmaster: should I attempt the challenge now?


    If I do so at this moment, I fear I would expose arge extent of my abilities and stir up even more turmoil. Would it be possible to receive the reward of one million divine crystals in advance before I attempt it?


    The Spacetime Dao Realm is fraught with danger. With only the tens of thousands of divine crystals I currently possess, it would be difficult to fully unleash my potential. If I had one million divine crystals, this disciple''s self-preservation ability would increase substantially." Wu Yuanid out his reasoning in one breath.


    In essence, it boiled down to two words��he wanted money!


    Yet his string of arguments left Immortal Sovereign Bei You silent. He fixed Wu Yuan with an intense stare, waves of pressure radiating from his eyes.


    Wu Yuan''s expression remained utterly unchanged.


    At this, Immortal Sovereign Bei You found himself eighty percent convinced. Over the years, he had asionally observed Wu Yuan, and knew him to be the type who acted only after careful deliberation.


    If Wu Yuan imed to be eighty percent certain, it likely meant he was one hundred percent sure.


    <i>Level one hundred of the three-star tower?</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s gaze lingered on Wu Yuan, still tinged with disbelief.


    He was well aware that Wu Yuan wasn''t even five hundred years old yet. To be able to conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower now? To possess Daoprehension rivaling that of an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal? Even knowing Wu Yuan''s extraordinary talent, it still seemed nearly inconceivable.


    Time ticked by, second by second.


    Wu Yuan waited patiently, his mind calm.


    "Being able to conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower is indeed impressive," Immortal Sovereign Bei You finally spoke. "However, attempting it now would be premature. If you were to challenge it now, you''d have to rely primarily on the Law of Life, wouldn''t you?"


    "Correct," Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self nodded.


    Although his qi refiner self wasn''t entirely clear on his body refiner self''s situation, unaware of thebat secret arts thetter had cultivated, their Daoprehension was shared.


    With Daoprehension that had already reached the fourth-level True Intent stage of the Law of Life,bined with the Law of Space, conquering level one hundred of the three-star tower would be more than achievable.


    "Then let''s hold off on the attempt for now." Immortal Sovereign Bei You gazed at Wu Yuan intently. "I''d prefer that when you conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower, you do so using the Law of Space. At that time, I''ll make yourbat performance public.


    By then, with one of your true selves specializing in the Law of Space and the other in the Law of Life, the chances of their connection being exposed will be much lower," Immortal Sovereign Bei You exined.


    Wu Yuan listened, secretly startled.


    His grandmaster''s n was undeniably clever. However, to conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower using only the Law of Space? That would be incredibly difficult.


    After all, Wu Yuan''s mastery of the Law of Space was currently only at the sixth-level Domain stage. He hadn''t even crystallized True Intent yet, let alone reached the fourth-level True Intent stage, which seemed impossibly far off.


    "This disciple will strive with all his might," Wu Yuan dered solemnly. "Would you like me to demonstrate?"


    Having decided to devote himself wholeheartedly toprehending the Law of Space, he naturally had to give it his all, not allowing himself to fall too far behind inparison to the Law of Life.


    "A demonstration won''t be necessary. I trust you," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said with a smile. "I''ll grant you the one million divine crystals. How you use them will be entirely up to you.


    Furthermore, you needn''t worry too much. When the timees for you to enter the Spacetime Dao Realm, I''ll grant you some items to safeguard your life."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan''s heart swelled with joy.


    Gifts from an Immortal Sovereign would surely be extraordinary.


    "You may return now."


    "Thank you, Grandmaster." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully before leaving Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s temple.


    Sensing Wu Yuan''s departure, Immortal Sovereign Bei You chuckled and shook his head. <i>What a headstrong little one, already trying to manipte me. He''s cut from the same cloth as that master of his.</i>


    Nevertheless, Wu Yuan''s rate of progress truly astonished Immortal Sovereign Bei You. Normally, advancement in the Law of Space would be significantly slower than other Laws like the Law of Life.


    Otherwise, how could there be only one Sovereign of Space in the entire macrocosm over the long ages? Even the number of Space Astral Monarchs was exceedingly low.


    <i>I wonder how far this grand-disciple of mine will go in the Spacetime Dao Realm? </i>Immortal Sovereign Bei You mused, his heart filled with anticipation.

 Chapter 656: A Small Matter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 656: A Small Matter (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self emerged from the temple, leaving with Astral Monarch Gu Lai. Before long, the strand of his consciousness left in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm received a message: one million divine crystals had been transferred to his ount.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. The money had arrived.


    Including his previous bnce, Wu Yuan''s wealth had suddenly skyrocketed to approximately 1.1 million divine crystals.


    This fortune came partially from Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s two consecutive bestowals. A small portion was also from the spoils Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had amassed on the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield, especially when he yed that batch of prodigies from the Immortal Hall.


    Over the centuries, he had sold off some of the more valuable but unnecessary items through Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s channels. The prices had been quite fair.


    <i>As expected, wealth is power. It breeds assurance.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Previously, with only about 100,000 divine crystals left, many cultivation ns were simply impossible. But now, he had sufficient wealth.


    Though time was short, Wu Yuan had already thought things through thoroughly.


    ording to the intelligence he had just obtained from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, the journey to the Spacetime Dao Realm would be long and fraught with danger. This trip would not be a peaceful cultivation retreat. He would likely face many life-threatening perils, so he had to strengthen himself to the utmost degree.


    "Junior Nephew, has something good happened?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai asked with a smile, having noticed Wu Yuan''s momentary change in demeanor.


    "Senior Uncle is formidable indeed, with such keen perception," Wu Yuan ttered him.


    He then continued with a smile, "I do indeed have a favor to ask of you, Senior Uncle. Before we went to see Grandmaster, didn''t you mention my lifebound flying swords? As it happens, I''d like to request your help collecting a batch of rare metals and materials. I''ve already sent the detailed list to you through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm."


    "A small matter," Astral Monarch Gu Lai replied with a smile.


    His soul was incredibly powerful and his knowledge vast. He was familiar with all manner of rare treasures.


    In an instant, he had thoroughly examined the list and calcted the total price of all the materials and treasures based on the unit prices and quantities Wu Yuan had provided.


    "So much?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s eyes shed with a hint of surprise. "The total value of these materials is estimated at 430,000 divine crystals. Junior Nephew, are you nning to upgrade all your lifebound flying swords to high-grade spirion artifacts?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.


    430,000 divine crystals? It was considerably less than he had anticipated, likely due to Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s special channels for acquiring treasures at the lowest prices.


    "Tsk tsk, it seems your meeting with the Immortal Sovereign was quite fruitful," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a chuckle.


    "Senior Uncle jests," Wu Yuan shook his head. "This amount of divine crystal is hardly worth mentioning to someone like you, Senior Uncle."


    It wasn��t an exaggeration. An Earth Immortal''s total worth generally didn''t exceed ten divine crystals. For ordinary High Immortals and High Eldritches, their total worth ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand divine crystals.


    Some powerful High Immortals and High Eldritches usually had wealth exceeding 10,000 divine crystals. Of course, this didn''t include the peerless geniuses from top-tier factions. The wealth of peerless geniuses among High Immortals and High Eldritches often rivaled or even surpassed that of Archimmortals.


    Ordinary Archimmortals generally possessed a total worth valued between several hundred thousand to several million divine crystals.


    As for Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs, their lifespans were as eternal as the heavens, and their worth was even more staggering. Several hundred thousand divine crystals? It truly wasn''t worth mentioning to them.


    "By the way," Wu Yuan added, "Senior Uncle, I also wish to purchase some ordinary artifacts. I hope you can help me acquire those as well."


    The specific list and requirements were instantly transmitted to Astral Monarch Gu Lai through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    "Haha, you little rascal, are you preparing to leave the Immortal Belvedere for some risky adventure?" Astral Monarch Gu Lai was slightly surprised upon receiving the list.


    With his keen insight, he understood Wu Yuan��s intentions with just a brief analysis. Upgrading lifebound flying swords was understandable, it was a matter of course. But these artifacts and life-saving items? Why purchase them unless one was preparing for a perilous journey?


    Wu Yuan smiled without replying.


    Astral Monarch Gu Laiughed, "Very well, the Immortal Sovereign surely has ns for you. I won''t pry."


    "Rest assured, Junior Nephew. Within three days, all the materials and artifacts you''ve requested will be delivered to your courtyard," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said.


    "Thank you for the assistance, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan replied. "I''ll transfer the divine crystals to you right away."


    "Haha, no need," Astral Monarch Gu Lai said with a smile. "That can wait until you receive the treasures."


    "It''s not what you think, Senior Uncle," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I''d like to transfer all my divine crystals to you, and after deducting the cost of the treasures, I hope you can exchange the remainder for physical divine crystals."


    The divine crystals bestowed by Immortal Sovereign Bei You in the previous two instances were not physical objects, but rather recorded as a string of numbers in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    Within the macrocosm, it was more reliable and convenient to leave wealth in one��s immortal voidrealm ount rather than carry it around physically.


    But once Wu Yuan entered the Spacetime Dao Realm, the situation would bepletely different. Transactions through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm wouldn''t be possible in the Dao Realm.


    "Oh? You want to exchange all of it for physical divine crystals?" A hint of surprise shed in Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s eyes.


    Normally, even if one required some physical divine crystals, they wouldn''t exchange all their wealth. After all, under normal circumstances, transactions could be made throughout the entire macrocosm, unless, of course, one was nning to leave the macrocosm.


    "Alright," Astral Monarch Gu Lai''s expression quickly returned to normal as he smiled, "Don''t worry, I''ll have it done within three days as well."


    ...


    Astral Monarch Gu Lai truly lived up to his reputation as one of the most trusted figures in Bei You''s lineage, with unparalleled connections and seniority.


    Though he said three days, it took only one day for Astral Monarch Gu Lai to deliver all the various treasures, materials, and artifacts that Wu Yuan had requested, along with several hundred thousand physical divine crystals.


    In his qi refiner self''s Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm ount, Wu Yuan had left only 100,000 divine crystals for emergencies.


    <i>Inside the meditation chamber.</i>


    <i>These materials. </i>A strand of Wu Yuan''s Soul Will entered the three storage artifacts before him, swiftly imprinting his aura upon them.


    He was met with mountains of piled materials, each heap more precious than thest. There wererge quantities of primary materials for upgrading his lifebound flying swords, as well as many rare materials in smaller amounts.


    He inspected each one, confirming their authenticity.


    Wu Yuan then took a deep breath, muttering to himself. <i>A hundred years should be enough to upgrade all these lifebound flying swords to high-grade spirion artifacts.</i>


    As lifebound flying swords were upgraded, their essence grew stronger, making it increasingly difficult to maintain a stable structure. The process would take longer and longer as it was further upgraded.


    Upgrading a single lifebound flying sword from a high-grade spirion artifact to a low-grade celestial artifact would take over a hundred years. From what Wu Yuan knew, even super powerhouses spent tens of thousands of years crafting powerful celestial equipment.


    <i>But no matter how much time it takes, it''s worth it. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. <i>Once they''re all upgraded to high-grade spirion artifacts, their power will far surpass many low-grade celestial artifacts.</i>


    It wasn��t just ordinary sword cultivators; even many peerless geniuses struggled to nurture their lifebound flying swords to such power and perfection. Of course, the price was eye-watering, costing Wu Yuan 430,000 divine crystals.


    <i>With systematic cultivation, all these lifebound flying swords can reach the high-grade spirion artifact level, but upgrading them to low-grade celestial artifacts will have to be done one at a time. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Ninth-stage Earth Immortals could upgrade their lifebound flying swords to low-grade celestial equipment, but few could afford to do so. Even peerless geniuses were in the same boat. It was rare for anyone at the Earth Immortal stage to possess celestial lifebound artifacts.


    The reason was simple �C it was simply too expensive.


    A normal low-grade celestial flying sword was worth about a thousand divine crystals, something even ordinary High Immortals might not possess.


    But upgrading a single lifebound flying sword to low-grade celestial equipment following the optimal evolution pathway would cost tens of millions of divine crystals.


    And Wu Yuan had nine of them.


    Forget Archimmortals, even powerful Astral Lords couldn''t afford such extravagance. The further one progressed, the more astronomical one��s wealth requirements. Moreover, some precious materials were not easily avable.


    <i>Grandmaster likely didn''t directly bestow me with so much wealth right away because he wanted to encourage me to work hard, to face various trials and tribtions.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He was eager to prove himself.


    If one kept relying on seniors without experiencing life-and-death situations, one��s growth would indeed be limited. True super powerhouses were all forged through repeated life-and-death ordeals.


    It was far more fulfilling to seize wealth and treasures by oneself.


    <i>Using the amethyst cradle, I��ll refine these metals and materials one by one. Just allocate a fraction of mental energy and take it slow... </i>Wu Yuan then examined therge quantity of standardized artifacts he had purchased.


    A vast array of standardized flying swords, shields, battle armor, and more were piled before him, mostly high-grade spirion artifacts. There were over ten thousand pieces in total, costing Wu Yuan tens of thousands of divine crystals. Ordinarily, a single high-grade spirion artifact was worth only one or two divine crystals.


    Wu Yuan had prepared these artifacts for his future mana body.


    <i>When venturing on expeditions in the future, I will face many life-threatening situations. If my mana body fights too recklessly, it may perish. Once it perishes, all the treasures it carries will be lost.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>So, I must prepare several sets of equipment.</i>


    The main purpose of the mana body was to take risks!


    Besides these artifacts, Wu Yuan had also specifically purchased Divided Soul Immortal Life Pills. These medicinal pills were quite expensive, with each pill costing over ten thousand divine crystals.


    They had only one function �C if an Earth Immortal''s mana body perished, consuming this pill reduced the time required for the amethyst cradle to cultivate a new mana body.

 Chapter 657: A Small Matter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 657: A Small Matter (2)</h4>


    <i>The first time one nurtures a mana body, the process is extremely fast. But when a mana body perishes, the true self''s amethyst cradle will also take damage. </i>Wu Yuan contemted. <i>Without external aid, Earth Immortals often need several thousand or tens of thousands of years to cultivate a new mana body.</i>


    Earth Immortals had a maximum lifespan of ny thousand years, and had limited wealth. Therefore, the vast majority of Earth Immortals rarely acted too recklessly, including their mana bodies.


    But how could a true peerless genius wait for so long?


    With the Divided Soul Immortal Life Pills, one could cultivate a new mana body in just a few decades. Of course, this was limited to the Earth Immortal level. When it came to the Tribtion Immortal Life Pills, the price was even more exorbitant!


    These rare immortal pills were mostly refined by pill refining grandmasters at the Astral Lord or even Astral Monarch level with mystical natural treasures, naturally resulting in high prices.


    <i>Ten Divided Soul Immortal Life Pills should be enough. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>Even if I don''t use them all in the end, I can sell them off after advancing to the Tribtion phase.</i>


    Selling such immortal pills was never a worry.


    Besides these treasures, Wu Yuan had also purchased arge quantity of artifacts with various uses, all to deal with different potential dangers. Arge portion of the divine crystals was spent on these.


    ...


    <i>Apart from these treasures, the truly important artifacts in my possession are actually the gifts from my two masters.</i> Wu Yuan finished taking stock of his treasures.


    With a wave of his hand, two treasures floated before him.


    One treasure was an irregrly shaped green sphere about the size of a fruit pit. The surface of the sphere was covered in countless intricate Dao patterns, emanating a rich vital aura.


    The other treasure was a ck ruler, slightly more than an inch long, with countless cracks and patterns on its surface. At first nce, it appeared ordinary. But after perceiving it carefully, one could feel the vigorous spatial fluctuations emanating from the ck ruler, causing the surrounding space to vibrate subtly.


    <i>The Myriad Woods Dao Treasure was a gift from Master Kua Chi after the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield ended. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly. <i>The Void Rift Ruler was from Master Dong Yang.</i>


    These two artifacts were the truly important treasures. Over the past few centuries, as his cultivation progressed and his Daoprehension deepened, Wu Yuan gradually came to understand their capabilities.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self might only be an Earth Immortal now, but even if he advanced to the High Immortal level, they would still be precious treasures.


    Wu Yuan was also very clear about their value. The Myriad Woods Dao Treasure was probably worth around ten million divine crystals. But the Void Rift Ruler? It could be said that if Wu Yuan were willing to sell it, many Astral Lords would be willing to pay a hefty price. It would be more than enough to upgrade nine lifebound flying swords to low-grade celestial equipment.


    <i>Back then, when Master Dong Yang left, he instructed me not to reveal the Void Rift Ruler, fearing it might attract the attention of some Archimmortals or Astral Lords. </i>Wu Yuan smiled slightly.


    At that time, Master Dong Yang probably never imagined that he would reach his current level.


    The Void Rift Ruler? For the current Wu Yuan, it was still a precious treasure. But it was no longer too hot to handle.


    <i>After using divine crystal elixir to cultivate to the ninth-stage Earth Immortal level, and upgrading all my lifebound flying swords to high-grade spirion artifacts, my strength will naturally reach an unprecedented level.</i> Wu Yuan was looking forward to it.


    Even thebat power of his mana body would be incredible. Compared to his true self, his mana bodycked lifebound artifacts, and possessed a much weaker soul, resulting in both weaker soul defense and attack power.


    <i>Everything takes time. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>However, I wonder what exactly my body refiner self is experiencing. It''s been over three hundred years, and I still haven��t left the Immutable Land? </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self pondered.


    Through his deepeningprehension of the Dao, he could sense that his body refiner self seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation, especially in terms of various intangible aspects of artistic conception and spiritual resonance.


    <i>Is it an Essence Great Dao? Previously, in the Thunder Marsh World, Master Kua Chi warned me not to take this path; but my body refiner self seems to be progressing along this route.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self shook his head slightly. He wasn''t sure what his body refiner self was experiencing.


    <i>It��s fine, I trust myself. Moreover, my body refiner self is probably also wondering why I''m dedicating my full effort toprehending the Law of Space.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self couldn''t help but smile.


    He calmed his mind and began cultivating silently. Apart from normal Daoprehension, he also focused on cultivating mana and upgrading his lifebound flying swords.


    Time flew by the quickest when he was immersed in cultivation.


    One day, two days... One month, two months... Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, who had just broken through, was rapidly gaining strength.


    ...


    <i>While Wu Yuan was cultivating in seclusion.</i>


    Within the Greenridge Macrocosm was a mysterious region called the Ivory Realm Boundary.


    The entire realm boundary spanned hundreds of thousands of light-years, evenrger than the spacetime domain of an ordinary immortal continent. It appeared to operate under a fixed set of rules and was a famous realm boundary within the spacetime domain of the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    This realm boundary was also close to the spacetime domains controlled by the Destion Divine Court and the Eight Mountains Alliance.


    It was considered a no-man''snd, with no single force imingplete sovereignty. Combined with the constant emergence of numerous rare treasures, many Archimmortals and Astral Lords from various super factions would head in to explore it over the long years.


    Today, in an inconspicuous area of the Ivory Realm Boundary, in the vast outer space, a terrifying battle was unfolding.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Shocking waves of terrifying light rippled across millions of li.


    Endless mes roared across space, as if threatening to burn the whole of outer space.


    A figure in ck robes strolled casually through the void. His body was engulfed in mes, resembling a sun. The force from each casual palm strike he sent out didn��t dissipate even after sweeping through millions of li.


    It was worth noting that the speed of light was only about 600,000 li per second, and the spread of aftershocks was limited.


    Clearly, each of his strikes descended from a higher spacetime dimension.


    "Long Xing, stop running. [1] You''re no match for me. Today, this mana body of yours is doomed to perish," the ck-robed figure said coldly, his voice echoing throughout spacetime.


    <i>Boom!</i> Within the endless mes, a massive dragon tail suddenlyshed out, and a huge azure dragon about a hundred li long appeared, darting further into the distance.


    Waves of azure light diffused around the azure dragon''s body, resisting the mes as it struggled desperately.


    <i>Rumble! </i>The collision between the two was like the copse of heaven and earth, causing countless stars ands along their path to explode, the aftershocks sweeping across outer space.


    This was a battle at the Astral Lord level, where each move was capable of destroying heaven and earth. Ordinary immortal continents were unsuitable battlefields for them.


    "Huo Long, are you sure you want to push me?" Astral Lord Long Xing struggled while roaring angrily. "I said I''m willing to give you half the treasures. Even if you want to kill this mana body of mine, it won''t be easy. If you push me too far, I''ll dive into ck Devil."


    To one side of space where the two were battling was an extremely dark region,pletely ck, as if all light was swallowed upon contact with it. If Earth Immortals or High Immortals were to rely solely on their naked eyes or Soul Will, they wouldn''t be able to see what was inside.


    However, for beings like Astral Lord Long Xing and Astral Lord Huo Long, their immortal consciousness could prate higher spacetime dimensions, allowing them to observe it clearly.


    At the core of that dark area spanning several light years was actually a dark ck celestial body. This was ck Devil, ranked among the top three most dangerous ces in the entire Ivory Realm Boundary.


    If an Astral Lord entered ck Devil, they had a 99% chance of perishing.


    "Haha, I said, I want it all," Astral Lord Huo Long, d in ck robes, was incredibly overbearing. Streams of me prated the higher spatial dimensions,pletely trapping Astral Lord Long Xing.


    "Two paths. Either surrender all your treasures, and I''ll spare your mana body; or refuse and perish." The Astral Lord Huo Long allowed Astral Lord Long Xing no quarter.


    "Bastard!" Astral Lord Long Xing seethed with fury.


    If only he hadn''t fought so recklessly earlier, expending all the trump cards his mana body carried. Even if slightly outmatched by Astral Lord Huo Long, he wouldn��t have ended up in such a desperate situation.


    Yet, after paying such a heavy price, he had to hand over all his hard-won treasures to Astral Lord Huo Long in the end? How could he possibly ept that?


    "Trying to take advantage of me? Even if I die, you won''t profit from me." Astral Lord Long Xing, equally hot-tempered, growled, "Huo Long, if you''ve got the guts, follow me into ck Devil."


    <i>Boom!</i> Astral Lord Long Xing''s massive form suddenly darted forward.


    He charged directly towards ck Devil, a ce that ordinary Archimmortals and even Astral Lords avoided at all costs.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Outer space trembled, and what appeared to be visible spatial cracks began to form in the void, a sight that would chill anyone to the core.


    In truth, these were not spatial fissures. Rather, the battle had been so intense that it caused a momentary ovep between lower and higher spatial dimensions, creating a visual illusion.


    Space had always been there. It was the foundation for all existence, and could hardly ever truly shatter in any true sense.


    If space were to truly shatter, nothing would exist. What urred was merely the contraction, expansion, or ovepping projection of lower and higher spatial dimensions.


    1. Long Xing = Dragon Star ?

 Chapter 658: A Small Matter (3)

    <h4>Chapter 658: A Small Matter (3)</h4>


    <i>This Old Loach, has he truly gone mad? As long as his mana body lives, he��ll save ten thousand years of effort cultivating a new one, isn''t that good enough? </i>Astral Lord Huo Long''s expression shifted slightly. <i>Or is he bluffing? Trying to force me to agree to his terms?</i>


    However, Astral Lord Huo Long was equally ruthless. Having dered he wanted everything, he naturally wouldn''t fear Astral Lord Long Xing''s threats.


    And so, the two battled fiercely. Astral Lord Long Xing repeatedly brute-forced his way into the higher spatial dimension, heading for that dark region at astonishing speed.


    The moment Astral Lord Long Xing entered that region, he seemed to be caught by an immense force, pulling him ever deeper into the dark region.


    ��Ahh!!�� Even as he screamed, his voice could barely prate the higher spatial dimension.


    ck Devil did not only exist in the Material Spatial Layer, its power also permeated into higher spatial dimensions. Even if one passed through this area via higher spatial dimensions, one would still be caught, falling in.


    <i>This old dragon is truly stubborn. If he had just begged for mercy, his mana body could have survived. Right to the end, he wouldn''t yield an inch.</i> Astral Lord Huo Long halted, not daring to approach further.


    He hadn''t expected this old dragon, known for his caution and fear of death, to actually dare enter ck Devil.


    Although the fall of a mana body wasn''t fatal, it would take at least ten thousand years to cultivate another one without precious treasures or medicinal pills.


    He extended his immortal consciousness, sensing that his mes were eroded away the moment they entered the dark region.


    That terrifying power made his heart tremble. ck Devil truly lived up to its reputation!


    <i>Hmph! If I can''t get those treasures, so be it.</i> Astral Lord Huo Long muttered to himself, his eyes cold. <i>But I''ve seriously offended this old dragon now. I''ll have to be more careful next time.</i>


    Some super powerhouses could destroy their opponents�� true selves through their mana body or ether body via karma. But normally, in battles between equals, it was extremely difficult to truly kill an Astral Lord who shared the same lifespan as heaven and earth.


    Seventh Tribtion Archimmortals and Eighth Tribtion Archimmortals would live for a hundred million years at most if they did not attempt the Ninth Immortal Tribtion. But Astral Lords, having passed all nine Immortal Tribtions, truly coexisted with the Dao essence of heaven and earth.


    Therefore, unless necessary, many powerhouses were unwilling to form mortal grudges with Astral Lords, as they could easilyst for tens of millions of years.


    Time passed.


    Only after confirming that Astral Lord Long Xing hadpletely fallen into ck Devil did Astral Lord Huo Long choose to leave.


    ...


    <i>Damn it! Curse that Huo Long.</i> Within the Greenridge Macrocosm was an unremarkable stretch of outer space.


    No one could have imagined that beneath this expanse of space lurked a powerful array, concealing within it a world spanning roughly a million li.


    This was the trueir of Astral Lord Long Xing. Far removed from any immortal continent or maind, its existence remained unknown.


    As for the Dragon Star Immortal Sect? He rarely visited, and even when he did, it was only his mana body.


    As for his true self, since building thisir, he had not left it for countless eons, save for a few exceptional asions. Thus he managed to weather numerous cmities, surviving to this day.


    <i>I lost the gamble.</i> The massive form of Astral Lord Long Xing''s true self coiled atop the mountain range at the center of the world.


    He had intended to use the threat of death to force Archimmortal Huo Long to agree to split the treasures evenly. He never imagined he would fail.


    The dangers of ck Devil far exceeded his expectations, dragging him in before he could react.


    <i>This treasure is my greatest harvest in millions of years. </i>Astral Lord Long Xing gritted his teeth.<i> I can''t let it end like this. I must find a way to save myself.</i>


    For ordinary dangers, the loss of a mana body was eptable. At most, he would just lie low for another hundred thousand years.


    He had experienced simr situations dozens of times before, repeatedly risking life and limb, his mana body perishing on numerous asions.


    But this time, things were different.


    <i>My mana body can probably hold out for six days. </i>Astral Lord Long Xing estimated.


    Though ck Devil teemed with danger, it wasn''t perilous enough to instantly annihte an Astral Lord of his caliber.


    Swiftly, Astral Lord Long Xing began reaching out to his friends through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, seeking aid. Though a loose cultivator, he had forged many friendships over hundreds of millions of years.


    Soon, responses flooded in.


    "Sorry, Long Xing, ck Devil is too dangerous. I can''t save you."


    "Long Xing, it''s beyond my abilities."


    "My apologies..." Each rejection eroded Astral Lord Long Xing''s hopes a little more.


    Most of his acquaintances were Astral Lords, and ordinary Astral Lords were incapable of rescuing someone from ck Devil.


    "Long Xing, I can request an Astral Monarch to intervene and save you from ck Devil, but you know the rules. For one such favor, the cost would be..." Astral Lord Long Xing''s heart flickered with hope, only to quickly gutter out.


    Too steep! The price was far too exorbitant. It exceeded the value of the treasures he had acquired, making the request hardly worth it.


    However, Astral Lord Long Xing understood the reason. The gap in status between Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs was as vast as the gap between heaven and earth.


    Take the Redmoon Immortal Continent, for instance. It was a rtively prosperous immortal continent, yet ordinary Archimmortals perished upon reaching the end of their lifespans. Thus, over long ages, the entire continent struggled to maintain even a hundred Archimmortals.


    Astral Lords, however, possessed eternal lifespans. Over countless eons, the continent had umted six of them.


    Across the thousands of immortal continents in the Silvermist Immortal Nation, after numerous generations, how many Astral Lords were there in the entire immortal nation? A quick calction revealed the answer: tens of thousands.


    But Astral Monarchs? There were only thirteen!


    If Astral Monarchs were called upon to rescue Astral Lords at the slightest hint of danger, the Astral Monarchs would be overwhelmed with requests.


    Most Astral Monarchs devoted themselves to cultivation, each striving to be Sovereigns of the macrocosm. Therefore, unless they shared an extremely close rtionship or thepensation was enormous, Astral Monarchs usually didn��t bother to intervene.


    After all, in most cases, it was only the death of a mana body. Moreover, in the eyes of Astral Monarchs, with their numerous subordinate Astral Lords, the asional permanent loss of one or two was quite normal.


    <i>I must find a solution. But I''m not particrly close to any Astral Monarchs.</i> As Astral Lord Long Xing pondered, two names suddenly shed through his mind: Ming Jian! Li Xia!


    Before Sword Immortal Dong Yang departed, he had arranged a meeting between himself, the abbot of Dragon Star, and Wu Yuan, but it was just that one encounter. In the centuries since, there had been little interaction between them.


    Thus, he and Abbot Wu were well aware that Li Xia was none other than the renowned peerless genius Ming Jian, whose name echoed throughout the macrocosm. However, this information was confidential, and they were forbidden from revealing it.


    <i>Li Xia must hold an extremely high position in the Bei You faction by now. Perhaps he could persuade an Astral Monarch to help me. </i>Astral Lord Long Xing mused.


    Though an Astral Lord himself, he wasn''t privy to the inner workings of the faction, so he remained uncertain of Wu Yuan''s true standing within the Bei You lineage. But one could glean much from the fact that Wu Yuan had conquered level one hundred of the two-star tower.


    <i>But Dong Yang is currently absent from the sect.</i> Astral Lord Long Xing hesitated. <i>If I approach Li Xia directly, will he be willing to help me?</i>


    <i>Even if he''s willing, can he actually sway an Astral Monarch?</i> In his view, though Wu Yuan possessed extraordinary talent, he was likely still far from an Astral Monarch in status. He might not even be acquainted with any Astral Monarchs yet.


    Moreover, from Astral Lord Long Xing''s perspective, Wu Yuan had only cultivated at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect for a few decades, hardly long enough to develop deep feelings for the sect. If he harbored any attachment, it would be solely towards Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    <i>Before leaving, Dong Yang did ask me to look after him.</i>


    <i>Ah well. Even if it��s embarrassing, so be it.</i> Astral Lord Long Xing sighed inwardly. <i>If he can help me, I''ll find a way to repay himter.</i>


    He wasn''t one to hesitate for long. With a thought, he sent a meeting request to ��Ming Jian�� through the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>Please agree to meet me. I only have six days. </i>Astral Lord Long Xing''s heart pounded with anxiety.


    But contrary to Astral Lord Long Xing''s expectations, Wu Yuan responded to his message in just ten breaths��he agreed to the meeting.


    ...


    Within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm was a vast and majestic hall �C Astral Lord Long Xing''s personal hall.


    A swirl of light coalesced, materializing into a figure d in white robes.


    "Li Xia." Astral Lord Long Xing, now in the form of an elderly man in azure robes, forced a smile.


    But inwardly, he was startled.


    In the voidrealm, one couldn''t discern the specific cultivation level of an individual. But the aura of one''s soul could reveal much.


    Wu Yuan''s soul aura had grown immeasurably stronger from thest time they met several hundred years ago. It seemed no weaker than that of many High Immortals. This rate of growth left Astral Lord Long Xing astounded.


    "Immortal Ancestor, you have an urgent matter?" Wu Yuan smiled.


    He vividly remembered Master Dong Yang''s instructions to assist the Dragon Star Immortal Sect whenever possible.


    Moreover, though the aid provided by the Dragon Star Immortal Sect for his cultivation journey wasn��t immense, it was far from insignificant. The help received during one''s weakest moments held particr importance.


    "I''m ashamed! If it weren''t absolutely necessary, I wouldn''t dream of seeking your help." Astral Lord Long Xing''s face flushed with embarrassment. "But I''ve been driven to desperation. None of my Astral Lord friends can help me.


    In the end, I had no choice but to turn to you." Astral Lord Long Xing exined.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan immediately grasped that Astral Lord Long Xing must be in dire straits.

 Chapter 659: A Small Matter (4)

    <h4>Chapter 659: A Small Matter (4)</h4>


    "Immortal Ancestor, please feel free to speak. If it''s within my power to help, I''ll do my utmost. However, if it''s beyond my capabilities, I hope you''ll understand."


    "Of course, of course. Ipletely understand." Astral Lord Long Xing nodded repeatedly. "If you can''t help, I won''t hold it against you.


    My mana body is currently trapped on ck Devil in the Ivory Realm Boundary. I was hoping that you might be able to persuade an Astral Monarch to rescue me.


    I won''t expect an Astral Monarch to assist me withoutpensation. I''m willing to offer ten million divine crystals as payment." Astral Lord Long Xing said earnestly.


    Ten million divine crystals. Astral Lord Long Xing''s heart bled at the thought, but he knew all too well that this was the minimum price for an Astral Monarch''s intervention. The person he had contacted earlier had demanded an even more outrageous sum.


    "Ten million divine crystals?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly, pondering for a moment. "Time is of the essence, with only six days remaining. I''ll help you inquire. Please wait a moment, Immortal Ancestor."


    "Certainly." Astral Lord Long Xing nodded.


    With that, Wu Yuan''s avatar dissipated, clearly off to consult with other super powerhouses.


    ...


    The Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm was a separate world unto itself, vast and teeming with countless floating realms.


    As a third-generation disciple of the Bei You lineage, Wu Yuan''s authority granted him nearly unrestricted ess. He strode forward unimpeded, his steps echoing through the empty halls.


    It wasn''t until he reached the central divine temple that his path was finally barred.


    "Halt, Earth Immortal Ming Jian," a voice called out. "This is the hall of Astral Monarch Huo Cang. Your entry is not authorized." The two armored guards spoke politely but firmly as they blocked Wu Yuan''s path.


    They had heard whispers of Wu Yuan''s name and knew his status far exceeded that of an ordinary third-generation disciple. Had it been any other Earth Immortal daring to trespass so boldly, they would have been harshly rebuked long ago.


    "Please help me inform the Astral Monarch that Ming Jian seeks an urgent audience with him," Wu Yuan requested.


    The two guards exchanged a nce.


    "Ming Jian, it''s not that we''re unwilling," one guard exined, his voice low and gravelly. "But the Astral Monarch is in the midst of secluded cultivation. We cannot disturb him without cause."


    Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed, deep in thought.


    Aside from Astral Monarch Gu Lai, Astral Monarch Huo Cang was the Astral Monarch of the Bei You lineage with whom he had the closest rtionship. He was also the most likely to lend his aid.


    Astral Monarch Gu Lai? He had already granted many favors, and Wu Yuan didn��t wish to trouble him further. As for the other Astral Monarchs of the Bei You lineage? Though they had some interactions, Wu Yuan hardly knew them well.


    <i>I''ll have to find a way to petition the other Astral Monarchs. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, turning to leave.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of light suddenly zed across the sky, rapidly descending towards Wu Yuan.


    "Ha! It really is Junior Brother Ming Jian! I thought my eyes were ying tricks on me." The boisterous voice rang out before its owner had even touched down.


    A figure d in purple battle armor alighted on the ground, a broad smile spreading across his face as he gazed at Wu Yuan.


    "Senior Brother Hao Chi," Wu Yuan greeted, momentarily taken aback.


    "Astral Lord Hao Chi."


    "Astral Lord." The two guards bowed respectfully.


    "Were you turned away? My master is in secluded cultivation and isn''t seeing anyone. How about you tell me what business you have with him? Perhaps I can help," Astral Lord Hao Chi said with an easy grin.


    Wu Yuan''s mind raced. Astral Lord Hao Chi was a disciple of Astral Monarch Huo Cang, and an Astral Lord of immense power in his own right.


    Among the third-generation disciples of the Bei You lineage, his reputation was legendary. In terms of raw strength, he likely surpassed even Astral Lord Redmoon.


    Over the past few centuries, besides his Astral Monarch senior uncles, Astral Lord Hao Chi was the one with whom Wu Yuan had interacted most frequently in the voidrealm. He had personally visited Wu Yuan to congratte him in the past, and they had met several times since.


    "Senior Brother Hao Chi, it''s not a major issue," Wu Yuan began, hesitating only briefly before continuing. "One of my master''s close friends has encountered trouble. He''s trapped in ck Devil of the Ivory Realm Boundary. So, I hoped to request Senior Uncle Huo Cang''s assistance."


    Within the Bei You lineage, apart from the few dozen fellow Astral Monarchs, no one else knew the true identity of Wu Yuan''s master. It was a closely guarded secret.


    However, Astral Monarch Huo Cang was the closest senior brother to Sword Immortal Dong Yang, and Senior Brother Hao Chi was his most valued direct disciple.


    So, Wu Yuan understood that he likely knew a little about these matters. There was no need for excessive secrecy.


    "I see. ck Devil? That is indeed a dangerous ce," Astral Lord Hao Chi nodded, a smile ying at the corners of his mouth. "But Junior Brother Ming Jian, you''vee to the right person. Leave this matter to me."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Junior Brother, you seem to have forgotten what our Bei You lineage excels at �C Space!" Astral Lord Hao Chi grinned. "That ck Devil may be a death trap for ordinary Astral Lords, with extremely low survival rates. But I''m only a step away from fully mastering the Qiankun Dao.


    Entering and exiting will be child''s y for me. As long as he��s not in the innermost region that can trap even Astral Monarchs, I have nothing to fear there," Astral Lord Hao Chi dered confidently.


    "He��s in the outer region," Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up with hope.


    Of course! Among the three Intermediate Laws of the Space Dao, the Qiankun Dao was most adept at spatial traversal.


    "Send me the spatial coordinates of your senior, and I''ll head there immediately," Astral Lord Hao Chi said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan quickly ryed the information.


    "Got it. My mana body has already set out," Astral Lord Hao Chi informed him. "I should arrive within two days. Tell him to hold on a little longer."


    "Alright."


    ...


    "Two days?" Astral Lord Long Xing eximed upon receiving Wu Yuan''s message, both shocked and ted. "You truly found an Astral Monarch willing to help? For just ten million divine crystals?"


    He was astounded by Wu Yuan''s connections. To secure an Astral Monarch''s aid so swiftly?


    "Please be patient, Immortal Ancestor," Wu Yuan replied, not rifying. Though he had great confidence in Astral Lord Hao Chi, an Astral Lord was not an Astral Monarch, so he dared not make any guarantees.


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Wu Yuan, who had been anxiously monitoring the situation, suddenly received a message from Astral Lord Long Xing: "I''ve been rescued."


    <i>In Astral Lord Long Xing''s personal hall within the immortal voidrealm.</i>


    "You''ve been rescued? That''s wonderful," Wu Yuan said, a smile of relief spreading across his face. "Immortal Ancestor, please be more cautious in the future."


    "This time, I owe my thanks to Astral Lord Hao Chi," Astral Lord Long Xing said, his amazement growing by the moment.


    Special individuals like Astral Lord Hao Chi, while easier to petition than Astral Monarchs, were far more difficult to befriend.


    In terms of status, Astral Lord Hao Chi far outstripped ordinary Astral Lords by at least a hundredfold, and he even had a powerful Astral Monarch as his backer.


    In the past, Astral Lord Long Xing would never have had the qualifications to associate with someone of Astral Lord Hao Chi''s caliber.


    Moreover, Astral Lord Long Xing clearly remembered Astral Lord Hao Chi''s parting words after the rescue: "If you wish to express gratitude, thank Ming Jian. Were it not for him, I wouldn''t havee."


    Clearly, he had acted solely out of consideration for Wu Yuan.


    "Ten million divine crystals," Astral Lord Long Xing said. "Li Xia, I''ve already transferred them to your ount."


    "That''s unnecessary," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "No!" Astral Lord Long Xing insisted. "Perhaps Astral Lord Hao Chi doesn''t mind, but I must show my appreciation."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded, no longer refusing.


    After conversing with Astral Lord Long Xing for a while longer, Wu Yuan''s voidrealm avatar left his personal hall.


    <i>Ming Jian''s status within the Bei You lineage is truly high. </i>Astral Lord Long Xing marveled inwardly.


    His thoughts continued to wander. If Wu Yuan''s position was already this high, then how high must the status of his master, Sword Immortal Dong Yang, be?


    Yet, for the past several hundred thousand years, Sword Immortal Dong Yang had never shown any indication of his immense backing.


    <i>How strange.</i> Astral Lord Long Xing mused to himself.


    What he didn''t know was that for the past several hundred thousand years, Sword Immortal Dong Yang had essentially been in a state of exile from his sect.


    Under the orders of Immortal Sovereign Bei You, the Astral Monarchs and Astral Lords of the Bei You lineage had not dared to interact much with Sword Immortal Dong Yang.


    <i>From now on, I must cultivate a good rtionship with Li Xia.</i> Astral Lord Long Xing realized this was an opportunity.


    When Wu Yuan rose to prominence, he would have a chance to be an outer member of the Bei You lineage through Wu Yuan and Dong Yang.


    Then, he too would have a powerful backer.


    ...


    <i>Meanwhile, in Astral Lord Hao Chi''s personal hall in the immortal voidrealm.</i>


    "Haha, Junior Brother, it was just a small matter, why the formalities?" Astral Lord Hao Chiughed. "I can''t ept these ten million divine crystals."


    "Senior Brother, you must ept them!" Wu Yuan said earnestly. "You went out of your way to help. If you don''t ept, I''ll feel indebted."


    Seeing Wu Yuan''s sincerity, Astral Lord Hao Chi nodded. "Very well, Junior Brother. I''ll ept these ten million divine crystals.


    However, following themon practice among Astral Lords, ten percent of this sum will go to you as the intermediary," Astral Lord Hao Chi said with a smile.


    What he didn''t mention was that the typical intermediary''s cut ranged from one to ten percent. He had given Wu Yuan the highest possible share.


    "I won''t refuse you, so you can''t refuse me either," Astral Lord Hao Chi said, his eyes twinkling.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan received a notification that one million divine crystals had been credited into his ount.


    ...


    After chatting with Astral Lord Hao Chi, Wu Yuan returned to his personal hall. Gazing at the figures in his ount, he couldn''t help but feel a mix of emotions.


    <i>Who would have thought that an unintentional act could yield such a substantial profit?</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>Sometimes, lifting a finger is all it takes to make money.</i>


    This was the power of connections and status.

 Chapter 660: Lingering Concerns (1)

    <h4>Chapter 660: Lingering Concerns (1)</h4>


    One million divine crystals, a sum of wealth enough to rival the entire fortunes of most ordinary Archimmortals, hadnded in Wu Yuan��sp just like that. Even without aiming to make money, wealth came knocking on his door.


    Of course, Wu Yuan knew that such opportunities were rare. Firstly, it was not Astral Lord Long Xing��s true self facing danger. Few Astral Lords were willing to pay a hefty price to save a mana body. The vast majority would rather let it perish and slowly nurture a new mana body or ether body. For Astral Lords, time was not a preciousmodity.


    Secondly, Astral Lord Hao Chi''s quick agreement and eagerness to assist wasn''t due to the divine crystals, but more so Wu Yuan himself.


    <i>This is the first time I''ve asked him for help, which is equivalent to owing a favor.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>In the future when I be powerful, if Astral Lord Hao Chi faces any difficulties and needs my help, I''ll have to assist him as well.</i>


    This was karma, which he would need to find a way to resolve in the future.


    <i>Archimmortal Long Xing''s willingness to pay ten million divine crystals is also because he doesn''t want me to owe too great a karmic debt.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    If Astral Lord Hao Chi had offered his assistance for free, the karmic debt incurred would have been truly immense. But paying ten million divine crystals made the situation entirely different. Ordinary Astral Lords couldn��t ignore such an enormous fortune.


    <i>I''ve never asked anyone for help before. This first request to Astral Monarch Huo Cang is a significant one.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>If I were to act as an intermediary all the time, I''m afraid the Astral Lords of the Bei You lineage, and even those Astral Monarch Senior Uncles, would look down on me. Then things wouldn''t be so convenient anymore.</i>


    Moreover, Wu Yuan was acutely aware that the reason he could garner such respect from Astral Monarch Gu Lai, Astral Lord Hao Chi, and others stemmed from Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s high regard for him.


    <i>The reason Grandmaster values me is because of the talent I��ve disyed. Everything ultimately boils down to strength. </i>Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes. <i>Only with great power can one earn respect and face the winds and waves without fear.</i>


    <i>Right now, I''m merely at the Earth Immortal phase. In a few hundred years, when I break through to the High Immortal and High Eldritch phases, my strength will truly begin to take shape. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He was well aware that the High Immortal and High Eldritch phase was the most crucial stage for peerless geniuses. Spending hundreds of thousands of years at this phase was normal.


    Some formidable peerless geniuses, like Senior Brother Jiang Huan, possessed the power to y Archimmortals. The most outstanding monstrous prodigies would be even more terrifying.


    <i>A meal is eaten one mouthful at a time. I''ve reached the third level of Earth Immortal, time to continue.</i> Wu Yuan calmed his mind.


    Within his amethyst cradle, countless streams of mana surged and churned like mighty rivers. Simultaneously, the Voidspace that reflected his amethyst cradle was slowly expanding as well.


    Therger the Voidspace, the faster it nurtured the soul, and the more Faith power it could absorb. When the Soul Will projected the Voidspace into the real world, it broadened one��s attack range.


    <i>For those with a first-degree immortal root at the Divided Soul phase, the Voidspace can expand to a maximum of three thousand li.</i> Wu Yuan thought with anticipation. <i>At that point, through the Voidspace, my perception can epass three hundred thousand li.</i>


    The Voidspace projection was far clearer than Soul Will perception. Moreover, this was the limit of one��sbat range. Beyond this range, the power of both artifacts and arcane arts would be greatly weakened.


    Of course, the most potent range was half the radius, which was 150,000 li.


    That was why the Earth Immortal in the Thunder Marsh World chose to attack Wu Yuan''s body refiner self from tens of thousands of li away �C his Voidspace wasn''trge enough. Tens of thousands of li was already the furthest casting distance while maintaining the maximum power of his arcane arts.


    ...


    <i>What? Another million divine crystals, and he wants to exchange it all for physical divine crystals again?</i> Astral Monarch Gu Lai received Wu Yuan''s message and felt slightly bewildered.


    <i>He gained another one million divine crystals so quickly? Just how many divine crystals did Master give him?</i> Astral Monarch Gu Lai wondered.


    He knew his master''s temperament well. Normally, he wouldn''t grant so many divine crystals, especially since Wu Yuan had just advanced to the Earth Immortal phase.


    Apart from a disciple��s breakthrough to the High Immortal phase, which would warrant a significant reward, one had to rely on their own hard work most of the time.


    If Wu Yuan had cultivated for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years, Astral Monarch Gu Lai wouldn''t have been too surprised. But he had only cultivated for a few hundred years, where did he get so many treasures from?


    The vast majority of treasures umted by Archimmortals and Astral Lords, barring asional windfalls, were the result of gradual umtion over time.


    <i>Well, this isn''t something I should interfere with.</i> Astral Monarch Gu Lai muttered to himself.


    After a moment''s consideration, he helped Wu Yuan exchange the divine crystals for physical objects.


    To him, a million divine crystals were just pocket change.


    ...


    <i>Ming Jian has obtained a million divine crystals?</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You, who had been in quiet cultivation, quickly received this news.


    As a peak powerhouse of the entire macrocosm, his authority in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm was extremely high, akin to an administrator.


    Moreover, as a Sovereign of space, he could retrace the past through karma with a single thought, perceiving many secrets. Soon, he quickly understood the origin of Wu Yuan''s newfound wealth.


    <i>He acted as an intermediary?</i> Immortal Sovereign Bei You merely nced at it and paid no further attention.


    He modted Wu Yuan''s training at a certain intensity, but as long there weren��t Astral Monarchs and Astral Lords that went overboard, such as intentionally gifting Wu Yuan tens of millions of divine crystals - a terrifying fortune that would leave him with an enormous karmic debt - he wouldn''t interfere.


    After all, Immortal Sovereign Bei You was well aware that Wu Yuan nned to upgrade his lifebound flying swords following the optimal evolution pathway, a path that was a bottomless pit when it came to resource consumption.


    <i>The optimal evolution pathway is not an easy one. I hope this little fellow won''t be frightened and give up, he has such a good foundation after all. </i>Immortal Sovereign Bei You thought, sending a direct message to Wu Yuan.


    ...


    <i>In the meditation chamber of Wu Yuan''s residence in the Immortal Belvedere.</i>


    Wu Yuan was currently cultivating his mana, his vital ether surging around him.


    <i>Hmm? </i>He opened his eyes, a hint of surprise shing in them. <i>Grandmaster Bei You sent me a message?</i>


    In the hundreds of years since his arrival at the Immortal Belvedere, Grandmaster Bei You had never taken the initiative to send him a message. Did something important happen?


    Wu Yuan dared not dy. The strand of consciousness that always remained in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm quickly opened the message.


    "Ming Jian, so far, you''vepleted my training ns with flying colors, but there''s one thing I must remind you of �C your lifebound flying swords must be upgraded via the optimal evolution pathway. Do not ever, ever forget this!


    Even if the cost is enormous and the swords�� transformation at this stage will be rtively slow, you absolutely cannot take a shortcut by switching the so-called superior or normal evolution pathways. Those are paths for ordinary geniuses.


    If your chances of breaking through to the Sovereign phase were slim, I wouldn''t even bother giving you this advice.


    I didn''t suggest this to your Master Dong Yang, and he ultimately took the superior evolution pathway.


    But your talent is unparalleled in the history of the macrocosm, with limitless potential. Be patient and wait. All your efforts will pay off when youplete the Ninth Immortal Tribtion in the future.��


    The message ended.


    The content was very simple, yet profound.


    <i>The optimal evolution pathway for lifebound flying swords, Grandmaster actually took the time to warn me specifically about this? </i>Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    For a Sovereign to make such a specific reminder, it must be an extremely important matter.


    <i>Could it be that after oveing the Ninth Immortal Tribtion, lifebound artifacts upgraded via the optimal evolution pathway will undergo some unusual transformation?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, a hint of anticipation arising in his heart.


    For qi refiners, lifebound artifacts were considered their most important offensive treasures, capable of apanying them for thousands or tens of thousands of years, even to the end of their lives.


    All along, Wu Yuan had insisted on choosing the best path for his lifebound flying swords just to support their continuous growth, and the price he paid was barely manageable.


    However, for lifebound flying swords following the optimal path, the various treasures needed for their upgrades would be increasingly outrageous as they progressed. Even Wu Yuan, with his abundant resources, was finding it difficult to sustain and was quite troubled.


    <i>Is Grandmaster Bei You worried that I might abandon the optimal evolution pathway and switch to the superior evolution pathway?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Many sword codexes andw codexes mentioned the evolution pathways of lifebound artifacts. The methods weren''t secret; the main difficultyy in obtaining the resources.


    The evolution pathways of lifebound artifacts could be roughly divided into four levels based on their quality: inferior, normal, superior, and optimal.


    Immortal cultivators with even a bit of ambition would at least choose the normal evolution pathway.


    If Wu Yuan upgraded his nine lifebound flying swords, from high-grade spirion artifacts to low-grade celestial artifacts following the inferior evolution pathway, it would only require materials and treasures worth about ten thousand divine crystals.


    It wouldn''t be much more expensive than buying nine low-grade celestial flying swords.


    But the caveat was - they could never be upgraded again!


    In fact, if one chose the inferior evolution pathway at the Golden Core or Amethyst Cradle stage, their lifebound artifacts wouldn''t even be able to reach the spirion equipment level.


    If one consistently chose the normal evolution pathway, it would be extremely difficult for their lifebound artifacts to reach the celestial equipment level, even after cultivating to the High Immortal phase.


    <i>The cost of the superior evolution pathway is roughly hundreds of times that of purchasing artifacts of the same level. If my nine lifebound flying swords were to follow the superior evolution pathway, each sword would require an investment of at least hundreds of thousands of divine crystals to reach the low-grade celestial equipment level in the future. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Although it wasn��t optimal, there was little difficulty upgrading them to celestial equipment, and their power would be formidable.


    As for the optimal evolution pathway, the resources consumed would be even more staggering.


    <i>The most precious resources are not used in transforming the intrinsic materials of the lifebound flying swords, but for constructing and maintaining the artifact''s Dao essence. </i>Wu Yuan was very clear about this point.


    Both were low-grade celestial equipment, and the difference didn��t seem too outrageous at first nce. But one had exhausted its potential, while the other still brimmed with infinite possibilities, as if it were truly alive, capable of evolving to even higher levels. How could they be the same?


    <i>It''s just that the rare resources needed to pursue the optimal evolution pathway are absurdly expensive.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Wu Yuan felt that there was hope of following the optimal evolution pathway till the low-grade celestial equipment level, albeit with great effort.


    But when it came to mid-grade celestial equipment, or high-grade celestial equipment in the future... just thinking about it made Wu Yuan''s scalp tingle.


    By that point, even if an Astral Monarch spent their entire fortune, it wouldn''t be enough to sustain the upgrades.


    So, Wu Yuan had considered that after upgrading his lifebound flying sword to low-grade celestial equipment, he might switch to the superior evolution pathway afterwards. This path would be much easier.


    In fact, after researching, it seemed that in the entire history of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, no one had ever been able to upgrade their lifebound artifacts all the way to high-grade celestial equipment following the optimal evolution pathway. At least ording to public records, there wasn��t a single example.


    Those Astral Monarchs and Immortal Sovereigns had mostly followed the superior evolution pathway or the normal evolution pathway.


    <i>However, judging from Grandmaster Bei You''s message, it seems that one might unlock a great secret by following the optimal evolution pathway for one''s lifebound artifacts.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>But it doesn''t make much difference unless one bes a Sovereign?</i>


    Immortal Sovereign Bei You had explicitly mentioned in his message that ''if your chances of breaking through to the Sovereign phase were slim, I wouldn''t even bother giving you this advice��.


    Yet, throughout the endless ages of history, even among those Sovereigns standing at the pinnacle, how many had shown Sovereign potential from the very beginning? Besides Wu Yuan, not a single one.


    Most Sovereigns were previously geniuses on the same level as Jiang Huan, whoter broke through after long years of cultivation and numerous fortuitous encounters.


    Therefore, even though there were many peerless geniuses, most weren��t worth the immense cost the upper echelons of the immortal world had to spend to help them take the optimal path for their lifebound artifacts.


    <i>I must work hard! At worst, I''ll just spend more time in the future collecting various resources and treasures, and dy my Tribtion breakthrough. </i>Wu Yuan silently decided.


    Since Grandmaster Bei You had given this reminder, it would be foolish not to pursue this path.


    <i>If I''m going to do it, I should aim to be the strongest.</i> Wu Yuan thought, filled with fighting spirit.

 Chapter 661: Lingering Concerns (2)

    <h4>Chapter 661: Lingering Concerns (2)</h4>


    Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it had been nearly three years since Wu Yuan advanced to the Divided Soul phase, and the appointed time stated by Immortal Sovereign Bei You was drawing ever closer.


    In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self appeared out of thin air in his personal hall.


    <i>It''s been a long time since Ist saw Master Kua Chi.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself as his gaze fell upon the virtual immortal slips before him.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan lightly tapped them with his fingertip, and light burst forth from the immortal slips, forming several light screens.


    A flood of images rapidly appeared on them. There were many familiar yet unfamiliar scenes, as well as vaguely recognizable figures.


    <i>Cloud Capital has already changed so much. The Middle Land looks like this now.</i> A smile unknowingly appeared at the corners of Wu Yuan��s mouth as he watched.


    These images revealed the various changes that had urred in the Summerpeak World over the years.


    Finally, the images stopped changing, and the figure of a spirited and valiant woman appeared. She sat quietly on a jade tform.


    "Brother! Can you see this? It''s been over a hundred years since west met. I''ve already be a Golden Core cultivator. During this time, Senior Fang Xia returned once. Mother misses you too, but she knows you''re in seclusion, in a crucial moment of cultivation..."


    Wu Yuan watched this light screen projection silently, listening to his sister''s voice.


    "Brother, it''s been over two hundred years, and you still haven''t returned. I don''t know if you can see this recording, but Senior Fang Xia and the others have left again. Bu Yu and Senior Huan Jian have both be Golden Core cultivators. Now there are many Golden Core cultivators in the Middle Land, and the entire Summerpeak has vaguely united as one..."


    His sister''s voice echoed from the second light screen projection, resounding through the personal hall of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    In this projection, Wu Yuan''s sister, Wu Yijun, spoke slowly, rambling on and recounting many events from the Middle Land and Summerpeak.


    "Brother, you''ve been gone for three hundred years now. I''m very worried about you. Are you alright? Over these years, Mother often asks how you are faring, but Senior Cen Jiang says not to worry.


    Brother, I know cultivation is very important to you. Your strength is what allowed the Summerpeak World and the Middle Land to flourish as they have today. However, if you can watch these recordings, I sometimes wonder if it might be possible for you toe back and visit asionally. You may be a legendary powerhouse with a lifespan as long as the heavens in the future. I''ll be fine, but Mother can only live for a thousand years. She''s always worried she won''t see you again..."


    In the most recent projection, Wu Yijun spoke less about the situation in the Middle Land and Summerpeak, and more about their childhood memories and their mother...


    After a long while, the three recordings ended, the light screens reverting back into three virtual immortal slips. Wu Yuan stood there silently, deep in thought.


    Wu Yuan wasn''t too worried about Fang Xia, Arctic, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and the others in the Middle Land and Summerpeak. He had taken good care of them all.


    Before leaving, he had also instructed Cen Jiang to look after them as much as possible, but mostly to let things take their natural course, helping to resolve their troubles and assist in their cultivation when needed.


    However, Wu Yuan couldn''t help everyone reach the Amethyst Cradle phase or be Void Refiner cultivators. Each person had their own path to walk, depending on their own fortunes and opportunities.


    After all, Wu Yuan himself was still moving forward.


    But his concern for his sister and his mother never faded.


    His consciousness was the fusion of Wu Yuan from the Middle Land and Wu Yuan from the Blue. His feelings for his sister and mother were no less intense than those for his sister on the Blue. They were all people he was willing to protect with his life, from the bottom of his heart.


    However, Wu Yuan remained clear-headed. He knew very well that his qi refiner self couldn''t go see his mother and sister.


    Once he went, the possibility of exposing the truth of his two true selves would be too high. And now was far from the right time to reveal this.


    If the Voltari Temple was made aware of this, they would likely go mad, sparing no effort to kill Wu Yuan, perhaps even reporting it to the Immortal Court headquarters.


    Before leaving for the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had set up a system such that any messages from his family would be directly transmitted to the personal hall of his qi refiner self.


    No one else knew about this. And his qi refiner self could only view them, unable to send any replies.


    <i>Little Yi has done very well. She has her own life, and she''s worked hard enough in her cultivation. In the future, she has hope of reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase, or even bing a Void Refiner... </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    The assistance he provided his sister was naturally iparable.


    But what about his mother? Without any aptitude for cultivation, being an ordinary mortal, normal medicinal pills and treasures could only extend a mortal��s lifespan to a thousand years at most. This was the limit under the workings of heaven and earth.


    <i>A life of glory, with the Wu n prosperous and flourishing, holding an exalted position, free from mortal dangers - one can hardly say Mother is unfortunate. And yet, I''ve still failed to fulfill my duties as a son... </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    ...


    Not long after, a man d in beast hide appeared in his qi refiner self''s personal hall within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. It was none other than Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "This visit is rather sudden. Do you have some matter to discuss?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled and asked, "Or perhaps some good news?"


    He didn''t ask whether Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had returned. If he had, it wouldn''t be his qi refiner selfing to see him.


    "This disciple indeed has a matter to bring up and wishes to request Master''s assistance," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "Speak," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "I still have no news of my body refiner self whatsoever, and my return remains far off," Wu Yuan said. "Meanwhile, I have received a bestowal from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, and will soon depart for the Spacetime Dao Realm to cultivate..."


    "Hold on! You say you''re going to the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was slightly taken aback. He certainly knew of the Spacetime Dao Realm''s existence.


    "Have you already entered the threshold of the Space Dao?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked in surprise.


    "Yes. I have alreadyprehended True Domain, Qiankun, and Spatial Rift to the True Intent stage, and my mastery of the Law of Space has likewise reached the sixth-level Domain stage," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    There was no need to conceal this.


    "So quickly?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s pupils constricted as he looked at Wu Yuan with considerable shock. This was far faster than he had anticipated.


    In an instant, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought of many possibilities... his disciple''s qi refiner self likely held even greater secrets, far more than what met the eye.


    His aptitude for the Law of Space seemed weaker than that for the Law of Life on the surface, but in reality it was no less impressive.


    "What about the Law of Life?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked again.


    "Myprehension has reached the fourth-level True Intent stage," Wu Yuan replied.


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi fell silent.


    With such Daoprehension, one could easily conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower even with slightly weakerbat teachings. His rate of progress was growing increasingly outrageous.


    Wu Yuan didn''t mention the matter of the Essence Great Dao, fearing it would worry Master Kua Chi, as he was still unclear about the specific experiences of his body refiner self.


    "Continue," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed.


    "My journey to the Spacetime Dao Realm may mean I��ll be away for an unknown duration," Wu Yuan said, having already researched this information.


    Cultivating for thousands or tens of thousands of years in the Spacetime Dao Realm was quite normal.


    "And the return of my body refiner self is equally uncertain," Wu Yuan added in a low voice. "Therefore, I wish to request that Master look after my homnd in my absence..."


    "Is that all?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked, bewildered.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded. "However, this visit is also to bid farewell to Master, as I won''t be able to see you while in the Spacetime Dao Realm."


    "Haha, I thought it was something major. This is just a small matter. Of course, I understand. You''re still young, and your closest family members are still alive, aren''t they?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chiughed, his gaze warming.


    "Yes, my sister and mother are still living," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Don''t worry. There''s no need to fret about your family. These are minor concerns. The Spacetime Dao Realm is the real significant matter.


    The Spacetime Dao Master is a formidable existence in the endless river of space and time. Even our Eldritch Court is reluctant to provoke him. Being able to cultivate in his domain is a great opportunity for you. Moreover, the spacetime imprint that Immortal Sovereign Bei You gave you is likely no ordinary one," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Seize this chance. I can provide you with an ordinary spacetime imprint, but for the powerful ones, even I have no means to obtain them."


    Clearly, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi knew much about the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    "Yes, this disciple will do his best," Wu Yuan responded.


    Shortly after, Wu Yuan watched as Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi departed. Regarding his family, he could only mention them briefly, unable to ask his master for more.


    <i>I''ve done what I can. Sometimes, on this path of cultivation, one must make choices.</i> As his strength grew and his Dao Heart became more robust, Wu Yuan began to understand this more and more.


    Disappointments and failures made up the majority of life''s experiences. It was rare for everything to work out perfectly.


    Wu Yuan could only do his best to ensure his family lived worry-free until the end of their natural lifespans, and to keep his homnd safe.


    ...


    <i>In that vast world inhabited by countless beasts.</i>


    <i>I never expected my disciple woulde to see me specifically for such a small matter. </i>Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head and chuckled.


    However, he also understood why. Wu Yuan was too young, and his closest rtives were still alive; unlike those ancient beings who had lived for so long that their blood rtives had long since perished in the river of time.


    After all, even if a Sovereign expended resources without limit, it was difficult to nurture an ordinary person to the level of an Astral Lord.


    <i>Very well, I''ll help my disciple alleviate some of his lingering concerns. By making this sacrifice, he will be more grateful to me in the future, and our bond will deepen.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused to himself.


    He valued Wu Yuan immensely, recognizing his talent as the undisputed highest among all the disciples he had taken in recent years.


    "Xue Ying!" [1] Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi called out.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Countless shadows converged, forming a blurry figure that bowed respectfully. "Eldritch Sovereign."


    "Go to the Eldritch Court and request a Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly. "Then deliver it to Wu Yuan''s mother and have her consume it."


    "Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill?" Astral Monarch Xue Ying was stunned.


    He naturally understood the value of this immortal pill. Even he couldn''t afford to redeem one, mainly due tock of authority.


    It was extremely difficult to refine �C no one in the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World could refine it. It had to be redeemed from the Eldritch Court.


    To give it to Wu Yuan''s mother? Was it worth it?


    "Yes, go handle this personally," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed. "The merits required will be deducted from my ount. I''ll notify the Pill Hall of the Eldritch Court.


    Additionally, guide Wu Yuan''s sister to the best of your ability, helping her grow within the permissible limits."


    "Understood," Astral Monarch Xue Ying responded, beginning to grasp the reason behind his actions.


    But he was still shocked. The Eldritch Sovereign was being exceptionally generous to Wu Yuan. Even for a direct disciple, this level of treatment seemed unnecessary.


    Could there be some hidden secret about Wu Yuan that he was unaware of? Astral Monarch Xue Ying spected silently.


    ...


    <i>One monthter.</i>


    "Ming Jian,e to me at once," a voice suddenly resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind while he was in the Immortal Belvedere.


    It was Immortal Sovereign Bei You��s voice.


    <i>Is it time to go to the Spacetime Dao Realm?</i> Wu Yuan immediately opened his eyes, already prepared.


    He rose and left the courtyard without dy.


    Along the way, many Earth Immortals cultivating in the Immortal Belvedere bowed respectfully as he passed by.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    As he flew out of the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but look back.


    <i>In the Spacetime Dao Realm, I probably won''t have such a tranquil cultivation environment. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He also understood that upon returning from the Spacetime Dao Realm, he likely wouldn''t return to the Immortal Belvedere.


    <i>Let''s go!</i> Wu Yuan flew towards the Sovereign''s temple.


    1. Xue Ying = Blood Shadow ?

 Chapter 662: A Reunion After Hundreds Of Years (1)

    <h4>Chapter 662: A Reunion After Hundreds Of Years (1)</h4>


    Having received the message from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, Wu Yuan swiftly arrived at the Sovereign''s temple and flew directly into the hall.


    Inside, everything remained as it had always been.


    "Greetings, Grandmaster," Wu Yuan said respectfully.


    "Fifth-stage Earth Immortal? It seems you haven''t cked in your mana cultivation these past few years," Immortal Sovereign Bei You nced at Wu Yuan.


    "The Spacetime Dao Realm is fraught with dangers. I dared not be negligent, and aimed to raise my strength to its current limit as quickly as possible," Wu Yuan replied earnestly.


    Even with divine crystal elixir, it would take ten years to reach the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase. In these three years, Wu Yuan had not been idle, yet he had only just reached the fifth stage.


    "Mm. The Spacetime Dao Realm is indeed perilous. Your cultivation training there could range from several thousand years to tens of thousands, possibly even more," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said.


    "Of course, you may cultivate there for a maximum of a hundred thousand years. When you return, you may well be among the top-tier of High Immortals."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    So, the maximum cultivation period allowed in the Spacetime Dao Realm was a hundred thousand years.


    "As I mentioned before, I will give you some life-saving treasures and artifacts before you depart for the Spacetime Dao Realm," Immortal Sovereign Bei You looked down at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s heart stirred slightly.


    "First, a batch of special minerals that will help you upgrade your lifebound flying swords along the optimal evolution pathway," Immortal Sovereign Bei You waved his hand.


    Two storage artifacts flew out,nding directly in front of Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan was delighted. Gifts from an Immortal Sovereign were indeed extraordinary.


    His greatest concern at the moment had been obtaining the numerous treasures and divine crystals to upgrade his lifebound flying swords. He never imagined the Immortal Sovereign would give them to him directly.


    "Of course, if I were to help you upgrade all your lifebound flying swords so easily, it would defeat the purpose of tempering you," Immortal Sovereign Bei You continued.


    "Of these two storage artifacts, you can open the first one now. It should be enough to transform one of your lifebound flying swords into low-grade celestial equipment, but only one. As for the other eight lifebound flying swords, you''ll have to rely on your own efforts."


    <i>One? Low-grade celestial equipment?</i> Wu Yuan was quite pleased. This meant the treasures in this storage artifact were worth over a million divine crystals.


    "As for the second storage artifact, I''ve sealed it. You may only open it when you reach the Tribtion phase. Consider it a gift from your Grandmaster to celebrate your ascension to High Immortal," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    He was well aware that the transition to High Immortal or High Eldritch was the most crucial stage in a peerless genius''s growth. Thus, when nurturing talents, major factions would bestowrge quantities of treasures, and even the elders of one''s sect were no exception. And this bestowal was often thest one.


    "As a sword cultivator, you excel inbat and have gained insights into Greater Laws like Life and Space, making you adept in life preservation. You also possess some other treasures, but stillck a truly unparalleled life-saving measure," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said.


    "As you are now, forget an Astral Monarch; even if you encounter some formidable Archimmortals, you''d be powerless to resist."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, an Archimmortal could easily suppress him with a wave of their hand.


    "Therefore, I''ve specially prepared an artifact for you. Come closer," Immortal Sovereign Bei You instructed.


    Wu Yuan stepped forward.


    Immortal Sovereign Bei You pointed from afar, and a stream of light flew out, entering Wu Yuan''s body. Following that, specks of spiritual light seeped into his soul.


    <i>This? </i>A flicker of astonishment passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He could feel what seemed to be atent power permeating his Voidspace. He could summon it at will, with a mere thought.


    "This object is called Nine Firmaments In A Thought, a talisman artifact of sorts," Immortal Sovereign Bei You exined. "Its power lies dormant in your body, with its source concealed in the core of your soul''s Voidspace.


    When faced with any danger, as long as it''s not an Astral Monarch who has perfectly mastered Time Stop or True Domain Continuum, you can escape with a single thought," Immortal Sovereign Bei You continued.


    "It will instantly teleport you over an unfathomably vast distance, and once you flee, it will erase your spacetime traces. It might not work on a Sovereign of Space or the even rarer Sovereign of Time, but Sovereigns who haveprehended other Greater Laws won''t be able to find you."


    "Thank you, Grandmaster," Wu Yuan''s heart surged with excitement.


    Nine Firmaments In A Thought? With it, he could escape from the vast majority of Astral Monarchs, and once he fled, most Sovereigns couldn''t catch up. It was undoubtedly a heaven-defying life-saving treasure.


    The ultimate value of this life-saving measure depended on how he used it. If Wu Yuan were to use it to escape from an Archimmortal or Astral Lord, it would be somewhat wasteful. But if used on an Astral Monarch, it would be worth it. Regardless of how it was used, it was practically equivalent to an extra life!


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that even for someone as powerful as Immortal Sovereign Bei You, crafting such a stable talisman artifact was no easy feat and had taken considerable effort.


    "Don��t forget, you can only use it once, so don''t grow arrogant and reckless, thinking you can act with impunity because of this treasure," Immortal Sovereign Bei You warned him. "The Spacetime Dao Realm is mysterious; there might be individuals there with backgrounds no less impressive than yours."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    He could feel Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s care and concern for him. Though nominally a grand-disciple, the level of attention he was receiving was no less than that of a direct disciple, perhaps even more.


    Things like the Dao Master Imprint and Nine Firmaments In A Thought were probably not items Immortal Sovereign Bei You could casually produce.


    Wu Yuan naturally etched this kindness deep in his heart.


    "Alright, you may go," Immortal Sovereign Bei You seemed unwilling to say more. With a wave of his hand, an invisible wave enveloped Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan vanished from the divine hall.


    "Master, this little one is still quite young. Are you sure about sending him to the Spacetime Dao Realm now?" A deep voice resonated.


    "The old master''s territory isn''t easy to navigate. The geniuses theree from various macrocosms, and some are even super geniuses from other rivers of space and time.


    Although Ming Jian''s talent is great, his cultivation time is too short. I fear he might perish during his struggles there."


    "Of course I know this.�� Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s gaze grew dark as he calmly replied, "But with his level of talent, if he doesn''t weather storms and undergo trials, continuing to linger in the Immortal Belvedere like this, I fear we''ll squander his potential.


    How can it be easy to be a Sovereign in one leap?"


    "Master... the realm created by the Dao Master is indeed extraordinary. Moreover, ording to the Divine Master, the next opening of the Megaverse Crossroads is not far off. If he cultivates systematically, he might miss it," Immortal Sovereign Bei You said. ��The Crossroads is an opportunity that hardlyes by."


    "The Megaverse Crossroads?" The deep voice was shocked. "Doesn''t that mean another era is about to..."


    "Indeed. Ripples have appeared, and under the convergence of destiny, the emergence and rise of the powerful have never been linear. It''s like the tides when rivers and seas meet �C after a troughes a peak. Another great era is approaching, and batches of geniuses are constantly emerging and rising to power throughout the entire river of space and time.


    Take Zhuo Haiyue from our divine court headquarters, who��s also from our Greenridge Macrocosm. Before heading to the headquarters, she wasn''t particrly outstanding, but she has just cleared level one hundred of the three-star tower. In terms of brilliance and rate of progress, she''s no worse than Ming Jian.


    Moreover, judging by her progress over the past two hundred years, there��s a trend of elerating improvement, which is truly inconceivable.


    In top-tier factions like the Immortal Court, Eldritch Court, and Destion Divine Court, there have been constant reports of monstrous prodigies, many of whom have cultivated for tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Heh, every time before and after the Megaverse Crossroads opens, it''s a time of turmoil in the endless river of space and time... an era of great contention.


    The birth and rise of Ming Jian might also be a kind of karmic convergence under the inscrutable workings of destiny.


    Let''s observe. Whether he rises against the odds to be a Sovereign, breaking the shackles of heaven and earth, or falls midway, reduced to blood and bones on the crossroads, depends on him," Immortal Sovereign Bei You gently closed his eyes.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan felt a slight spatial tremor, followed by a sh of light. As the surrounding scenery solidified, he found himself on a vast za.


    Several dozen figures stood to one side of the za, each exuding an extraordinary aura.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across them, instantly discerning that these individuals were either Earth Immortals or High Immortals, though there were also several body refiner High Deities.


    Their appearances and attire varied greatly, but Wu Yuan immediately recognized two familiar faces. Perhaps ''familiar'' was an overstatement, but he had at least seen them before.


    "Ming Jian!"


    "It''s Senior Uncle Ming Jian." Two unremarkable Earth Immortals, a man and a woman, revealed surprised expressions and immediately flew towards Wu Yuan, greeting him.


    "Pei Shi, Hua Zhu," Wu Yuan smiled, returning their greetings.


    These two were Earth Immortals who had once cultivated at the Immortal Belvedere. Both were brilliant geniuses and quite powerful among those at the Immortal Belvedere.


    They had bothprehended an Intermediate Law of Space to the seventh-level True Intent stage or above, marking them as peerless geniuses.


    In terms of theirprehension of the Space Dao, they were both stronger than Wu Yuan, though of course, they had been cultivating for longer. Pei Shi, for instance, had been cultivating for over six thousand years, and Hua Zhu for more than ten thousand years.


    At the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan hadn''t interacted much with the two, but they were all part of the Bei You lineage. Now that they had met once more in a foreignnd, they naturally shared a sense of familiarity.


    "Ming Jian?"


    "Is that Ming Jian?" The voices of Pei Shi and Hua Zhu immediately sparked a series of exmations.


    "Fifth-stage Earth Immortal? Or sixth? Such a high cultivation level."


    "He''s only been cultivating for a few hundred years, right?"


    "He��s venturing to the Spacetime Dao Realm at such a young age? How brave." The group of Earth Immortals and High Immortals, who had initially paid little attention to them, couldn''t resist looking over. They were quite shocked.


    The name Ming Jian might not have resounded throughout the entire Greenridge Macrocosm over thest few hundred years, but it was at least well-known among the upper echelons of the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    Many vaguely hinted that he was the top genius of the macrocosm. Even though he was still very young, who would dare to underestimate him?


    "Just call me Ming Jian, no need for ''Senior Uncle,''" Wu Yuan smiled.


    That was fine for ordinary disciples of the Bei You lineage. But these two before him had the potential to be Astral Lords in the future.


    "Haha, Uncle Ming Jian, you''re too kind," Hua Zhu, whose appearance was quite attractive,ughed. "We have a group of fellow disciples here. Come, Senior Uncle, let me introduce you to them."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan looked over.


    "Senior Uncle Ming Jian."


    "Grand Senior Uncle."


    "Ancestor." More than ten Earth Immortals and High Immortals standing in the distance flew over, each bowing to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan blinked, a little taken aback.


    Soon, through their conversations, Wu Yuan understood that the nearly thirty people present were a group of peerless geniuses from the Eternal Sun Immortal World who were about to journey to the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    To travel to the Spacetime Dao Realm, one had to be an Earth Immortal at least, and deeplyprehend either the Law of Space or the Law of Time.


    Of course, ny-nine percent of those going hadprehended the Law of Space. Comprehending the Law of Time? Those who could do so were far too rare.

 Chapter 663: A Reunion After Hundreds Of Years (2)

    <h4>Chapter 663: A Reunion After Hundreds Of Years (2)</h4>


    <i>So, every thousand years, the Eternal Sun Immortal World selects a batch of geniuses to send to the Spacetime Dao Realm? </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Naturally, most of these geniuses had only fused with the mostmon spacetime imprints, far inferior to the Dao Master Imprint Wu Yuan possessed.


    The Eternal Sun Immortal World lineage''s geniuses skilled in the Law of Space would mostly end up joining the Bei You lineage. As a result, more than half of the nearly thirty Earth Immortals and High Immortals present were considered Wu Yuan''s juniors.


    His peers? There was one, but he hadn''t been acknowledged by Immortal Sovereign Bei You or listed as an official disciple, so he too had to address Wu Yuan as ��Senior Brother��.


    This left Wu Yuan feeling somewhat bemused.


    In reality, Wu Yuan was both the youngest and had the lowest mana cultivation level among the dozens present.


    Several of these High Immortals and High Deities had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years. If willing, they could directly be Archimmortals or Archdeities.


    Of course, most were only at the Seventh Tribtion level, with only one at the Eighth Tribtion level.


    Those who could directly be an Astral Lord? None had appeared so far.


    <i>These Earth Immortals and High Immortals are mostly from the immortal world''s genius training grounds, all considered top talents of their generation. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>They all have the potential to be Archimmortals.</i>


    Bing an Archimmortal was difficult for ordinary High Immortals. But for these geniuses specially nurtured by major factions, it wasn''t too challenging.


    "How much longer do we have to wait?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "It shouldn��t take much longer. Since there��s one batch every thousand years, each batch won''t be toorge," Hua Zhu replied.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    As time passed, several more people arrived, pushing the number past thirty. Everyone chatted amongst themselves. Wu Yuan was without a doubt the focus of the group.


    Suddenly, an invisible pressure descended, causing the group��s expressions to change slightly. Even Wu Yuan was no exception.


    Immediately after, a figure in white robes appeared in the sky above the za. His expression was cold as he looked down at the cultivators below.


    A terrifying oppressive aura spread out, affecting everyone without bias.


    "By the order of the Sovereign, I''m here to send you beyond the macrocosm. There, a divine court battleship wille to pick you up. Don''t resist ande with me," the white-robed young man said coldly. "Do you all understand?"


    "We understand," the thirty-odd people all responded.


    <i>It''s an Astral Monarch.</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked. <i>An Astral Monarch who doesn''t conceal his pressure at all could probably annihte me with a single thought. Senior Uncle Gu Lai has never revealed any hint of his power, and has always been all smiles whenever he sees me.</i>


    When the difference in strength reached a certain degree, a single nce was all it took to shatter the souls of the weak.


    This was truly an Astral Monarch who could dominate an immortal nation and rule hundreds or thousands of immortal continents.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The white-robed man waved his hand, and a formless power enveloped Wu Yuan, Hua Zhu, and the others. They instantly vanished from their spots.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Ripples spread through space, then,plete nothingness.


    Wu Yuan and his group could only see each other and the white-robed man standing at the front of the group.


    An invisible force enveloped them.


    "Vacuum Spatial Layer."


    "This is an Astral Monarch who has mastered the Qiankun Dao." Wu Yuan, Hua Zhu, and the others were all experts in the Law of Space. Thus, they instantly recognized it.


    Material Spatial Layer, Fragmentary Spatial Layer, Turbulent Spatial Layer, Vacuum Spatial Layer... Thisyer was an extremely high spatial dimension.


    As far as Wu Yuan knew, only Astral Monarchs who had mastered the Qiankun Dao could step into this higher spatial dimension. Otherwise, one had to be a Sovereign, forcibly stepping through with sheer power.


    "Meditate for now. In two days, I will send you to the divine court battleship beyond the macrocosm," the white-robed youth said coldly.


    "Astral Monarch, aren''t you the one taking us to the Spacetime Dao Realm?" a High Deity asked curiously.


    "No." The white-robed youth nced at him and said tly, "Although the Spacetime Dao Realm is said to be everywhere, that''s only true if you''re summoned by the Dao Realm. Under normal circumstances, you may only enter through the specific spacetime coordinates.


    The location is incredibly far from our Greenridge Macrocosm, with countless dangers along the way. For me to take you... it would take too long," the white-robed youth shook his head.


    "How long would it take?" Hua Zhu, the Earth Immortal, asked curiously.


    "Seven months!"


    Silence fell, and everyone, including Wu Yuan, revealed shocked expressions.


    <i>Traveling one day in the Vacuum Spatial Layer is equivalent to traveling billions of light-years in the Material Spatial Layer. Seven months?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished.


    The distance was staggering. No wonder Immortal Sovereign Bei You said that the Taiyuan Divine Court would gather everyone up before sending them to the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    ...


    After some initial conversation, Wu Yuan and the others all settled into silent meditation.


    Two days passed.


    "We''ve arrived!" With the white-robed youth''smand, the surrounding space rapidly transformed. They descended from one spatial dimension to another, until finally, in their vision and Soul Will perception, the normal scenery was restored.


    The dark, boundless outer space unfurled before them, with barely any light from the stars. Unseen rays of power pulsed through the space.


    Wu Yuan, Hua Zhu, and the others instinctively felt a surge of wariness.


    "Is this the region beyond the macrocosm?"


    "What a harsh environment."


    "It''s so dangerous. No wonder they say even Archimmortals and Astral Lords generally don''t venture out of the macrocosm." The many Earth Immortals and High Immortalsmunicated silently.


    For them, this was their first time beyond the macrocosm. The deceptive serenity of the void filled them with an overwhelming sense of peril. It felt as if, once they left the white-robed youth''s protection, they would instantly perish!


    The white-robed youth stood at the front of the group, silent.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Ripples spread in the distant void, followed by a ck battleship appearing out of thin air.


    What a battleship it was! Ten thousand li long, it hovered in the void, emanating an ancient aura. The surface of the battleship was inscribed with countless mysterious andplex Dao patterns.


    It seemed as if it had existed since the beginning of heaven and earth. Yet it also gave off a strange sense of newness.


    But at the very least, in front of this battleship, even the white-robed youth seemed insignificant, secretly shocking those present.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The massive hatch opened.


    "Come in," an ancient and indifferent voice transmitted from deep within the battleship, filled with the vicissitudes of life.


    "Prepare to enter," the white-robed youth said. "A Sovereign from the divine court headquarters will pilot this battleship and take you to the Spacetime Dao Realm."


    As he spoke, he waved his hand, and an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan and the others, transporting them into the battleship. Then the hatch closed.


    <i>Hum!</i> Silently, the battleship vanished into the void, without the slightest disturbance.


    <i>A spacetime battleship capable of traversing freely through the Spacetime Intersection Layer.</i> A hint of envy shed through the white-robed youth''s eyes.


    He knew the value of this battleship well. All of his treasuresbined weren''t worth even a fraction of it.


    <i>Time to return. </i>The white-robed youth took a step, once again crossing into the higher spatial dimension, disappearing from this space.


    ...


    "More people have arrived."


    "Several dozen of them."


    "Which macrocosm are they from? I''m not sure." A series of voices echoed, confusing Wu Yuan, Hua Zhu, and the others.


    They had justnded and were still unclear about the situation. But from what they could tell, the interior of this ancient battleship was actually a vast space. A number of figures had already arrived in the space, each emitting an incredibly powerful aura, and were at least Earth Immortals or Earth Deities. There were well over ten thousand in number, densely packed in the limited space.


    "So many people."


    "This many?"


    "We��re all heading to the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Hua Zhu, Pei Shi, and the others were shocked, clearly not expecting this.


    Wu Yuan, however, remained calm inwardly, having already foreseen this.


    The entire Taiyuan Divine Court was immense, ruling over numerous macrocosms. The Greenridge Macrocosm was just one of the many realms this colossal power had a foothold in.


    With Wu Yuan''s clearance ess, he had already learned much of this information.


    <i>I��ve never met any of them before, which makes sense. This is my first time leaving the macrocosm, so how could I have seen anyone here?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd, sensing the countless soul auras.


    These powerful beings were a diverse and peculiar lot, each with a unique appearance. The different environments of various macrocosms had nurtured vastly different beings.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted as he froze in ce. He had sensed a presence that seemed both familiar and strangely foreign.


    Several dozen li away, at the center of a group of several hundred figures, stood a woman in silver armor, her bearing extraordinary.


    She stood there like a bolt of lightning ready to pierce the heavens, making others subconsciously hesitant to look directly at her!


    <i>Zhuo Haiyue? Ninth-stage Earth Immortal? </i>Wu Yuan mused internally, somewhat shocked.


    Zhuo Haiyue. This woman had provided Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self with a great deal of assistance when he first arrived at the immortal continent.


    At that time, in Wu Yuan''s eyes, she seemed incredibly talented and appeared to hail from a powerful background. Their interactions hadn''t been too frequent.


    Later on, Zhuo Haiyue left the immortal continent with her master, and Wu Yuan rose to prominence himself. He hadn''t heard any news of her since and hadn''t given her much thought.


    After all, in Wu Yuan''s estimation, even if Zhuo Haiyue had been cultivating at the divine court headquarters, she would likely have only reached the Void Refiner phase at most. Only a few hundred years had passed by after all.


    But upon meeting her again today, she had actually reached the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase, and Wu Yuan felt an immense pressure radiating from her, seemingly no weaker than himself, perhaps even slightly stronger.


    <i>How does she cultivate? </i>Wu Yuan was shocked.


    In terms of age, Zhuo Haiyue was only about a hundred years older than him, which would have made a significant difference in the early phases of cultivation. But after cultivating for thousands or tens of thousands of years, what difference would a hundred years make?


    <i>Li Xia?</i> Zhuo Haiyue, surrounded by the crowd, initially paid little attention to the group of new arrivals. But she quickly sensed that familiar yet strange aura.


    <i>An Earth Immortal? And that aura, it��s nothing like an ordinary Earth Immortal? It even gives me a sense of mortal danger. </i>Zhuo Haiyue''s gaze was filled with disbelief as she looked towards Wu Yuan.


    She knew very well why she had been able to cultivate so quickly. But how had Li Xia managed it?


    Soon, Zhuo Haiyue heard the people beside Wu Yuan address him as ''Ming Jian''.


    Her pupils constricted. <i>Ming Jian is Li Xia?</i>


    At that moment, she felt somewhat bbergasted.

 Chapter 664: Spacetime Island (1)

    <h4>Chapter 664: Spacetime Ind (1)</h4>


    <i>Ming Jian is Li Xia?</i> Zhuo Haiyue had a deep and vivid impression of Li Xia.


    It wasn''t due to any profound emotional connection between them. Rather, before her true rise to power, only Li Xia could rival her in their entire home immortal continent. Moreover, Li Xia''s growth was, to some extent, rted to her. They even had an agreement.


    However, after participating in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Battle, she not onlypleted the Thunder Saint Imprint, but also evaded the detection of the Bloodforge Overlord��s soul fragment, obtaining the core legacy left by the Thunder Saint. Then, upon reaching the divine court headquarters, her power truly soared to great heights.


    She never spared Li Xia another thought after that.


    In fact, even the prince-rank Fang Family of the Redmoon Immortal Continent had long been dead to her.


    Now, if she wished, she couldpletely annihte them through various means. However, with the hatred deeply ingrained in her bones, she wanted to umte more strength before returning to the Greenridge Macrocosm to finish them off personally. That was the only reason she had not taken action yet.


    ��Haiyue, are you saying that this Ming Jian is the Li Xia you mentioned before? Wasn''t Ming Jian born with extraordinary talent, not someone who rose in strength step by step?�� A childish voice echoed in her mind.


    "Mm," Zhuo Haiyue responded.


    "Unbelievable! How is this possible? Back then, he wasn''t even close to the top of his generation in the macrocosm. How could he possibly catch up to you?" The childish voice eximed, filled with incredulity.


    "Your soul essence perfectly aligns with the Thunder Saint''s inheritance. In the past few hundred years, you''ve been at the divine court headquarters,pleting three hell-level trial missions in session.


    In recent decades, you''ve be a core member of the divine court, and even had a Sovereign personally guide you.


    He''s been staying within the macrocosm all this time, what kind of heaven-defying opportunity could he have? How could his cultivation speed match yours?"


    "I''m not sure," Zhuo Haiyue replied.


    "Could it be that he also obtained the essence imprint of some dead old fogey?" The childish voice suggested.


    "Perhaps it''s his natural talent," Zhuo Haiyue said.


    "It can''t be natural talent alone. If he truly possessed such talent, his power would have risen rapidly long ago. It''s impossible for him to gradually reveal his potential only after reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    He must have gotten some great opportunity unknown to others, possibly no less significant than yours. Others may not know, but this young master sure does. Inside the Spacetime Dao Realm, find a way to kill him and see if we can seize this opportunity," the childish voice cackled.


    "Shut up," Zhuo Haiyue reprimanded in her mind.


    She frowned slightly.


    This Thunder Spirit was fine in every other aspect. The main reason she could progress so quickly, apart from herpatibility with the Thunder Saint Imprint, was thanks to his guidance.


    However, his w was that he constantly urged her to kill others. In two out of the three hell-level trial missions at the divine court headquarters, she had nearly lost her life due to this Thunder Spirit''s suggestions.


    "Each person has their own destiny, some things cannot be forced. I will walk my own path," Zhuo Haiyue said coldly. "This time, I will likely spend thousands or even tens of thousands of years cultivating in the Spacetime Dao Realme. You need to behave yourself. This isn''t the divine court."


    "Don''t worry. Even at my peak, when I followed the Thunder Saint, I couldn''t match the Spacetime Dao Master. I certainly won''t risk exposing myself. Besides, the old Spacetime Dao Master probably can''t be bothered with me.


    As for you, you came here toprehend the Law of Space, but don''t immerse yourself too far into it. Although the Thunder Saint Imprint has granted you extremely high aptitude for the Daos of Space and Wind, they are far inferior to the Thunder Dao," the childish voice prattled on.


    "As long as you cultivate step by step, there''s a ny-nine percent chance you''ll fullyprehend the Law of Thunder.


    You needn''t worry too much about this Ming Jian. Calcting the time to clear level one hundred of the one-star tower, he did conquer it faster, but you cleared level one hundred of the three-star tower first.


    When you be a High Immortal andplete your Yuan Soul, fully fusing with the imprint, your cultivation speed will increase by anotherrge margin. You''re destined to leave him far behind."


    "Mm," Zhuo Haiyue responded indifferently.


    A flicker passed through the depths of her eyes. It was unclear what she was thinking.


    ...


    Although Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue had sensed each other''s soul auras, they hadn''t seen each other for hundreds of years and had no idea what the other had experienced to be so terrifyingly powerful.


    Moreover, given the special environment they were in, neither of them rashly attempted tomunicate telepathically. With tacit understanding, they exchanged a nce, pretending not to know each other, and then averted their gazes.


    Time passed.


    Hua Zhu, Pei Shi, and the others gradually became acquainted with the geniuses from other macrocosms, and slowly gathered some intelligence.


    "Ming Jian? He cleared level one hundred of the two-star tower over a hundred years ago?"


    "Truly heaven-defying!"


    "He''s only been cultivating for fewer than five hundred years."


    "Such terrifying talent, why hasn''t he gone to the divine court headquarters?"


    "He might beparable to Zhuo Haiyue from the divine court headquarters. Zhuo Haiyue is also from the Greenridge Macrocosm?"


    "The Greenridge Macrocosm has produced two potential Supreme Geniuses in session?" The over ten thousand immortal cultivators from various macrocosms broke into excited discussion, with asional shocked gasps.


    They were all outstanding individuals from their respective macrocosms, with extremely broad perspectives, and belonged to various affiliated forces under the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    However, due to the vast distances between macrocosms, these immortal cultivators had been unaware of the names Ming Jian and Zhuo Haiyue until now.


    "Zhuo Haiyue is also from our Eternal Sun Immortal World?"


    "What a coincidence. She cleared level one hundred of the three-star tower even faster than Ming Jian? Ming Jian hasn''t cleared it yet, right?" Pei Shi, Hua Zhu, and dozens of other geniuses were equally shocked.


    They had been unaware of Zhuo Haiyue''s achievements before this.


    <i>Level one hundred of the three-star tower? </i>When Wu Yuan heard this news, he was also astonished.


    <i>I''ve been able to progress so quickly thanks to the guidance of two Sovereigns, two bestowals from the ck pagoda, and the great opportunity in the Immutable Land. What is Zhuo Haiyue relying on? </i>Wu Yuan was equally shocked.


    He pondered silently.


    Wu Yuan knew very well that even if she had been cultivating at the divine court headquarters, she shouldn''t have progressed so quickly in theory.


    When he cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower, Immortal Sovereign Bei You had said that even at the divine court headquarters, he would be considered the number one genius.


    The Taiyuan Divine Court ruled over numerous macrocosms, indeed teeming with geniuses. Throughout history, many benchmark Supreme Geniuses had cleared level one hundred of various star towers. Several of them had even cleared level one hundred of the seven-star tower. However, Supreme Geniuses were not guaranteed to emerge in every era.


    The reason why the Supreme Geniuses were called ''supreme'' was because they truly set an extremely high standard for geniuses.


    <i>One must neither be arrogant nor self-deprecating. </i>Wu Yuan quickly calmed himself, his heart regaining tranquility.


    <i>I have indeed had many opportunities. But in this vast heaven and earth, how many great opportunities are there? Throughout endless ages, the river of space and time is filled with countless secrets.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>The Taiyuan Divine Court is a top-tier major faction in heaven and earth. Its stronghold is home to countless powerful beings. It''s perfectly normal for Zhuo Haiyue to have encountered some great opportunity there.</i>


    Just as he had two Sovereigns to guide him, perhaps in the divine court, Zhuo Haiyue might have received guidance from even more powerful beings. Anything was possible.


    <i>There''s no rush. If I really wanted to attempt it, I could also clear level one hundred of the three-star tower, but there''s no need to draw so much attention.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was already at peace.


    Indeed, Zhuo Haiyue''s strength shocked Wu Yuan, yet it didn''t affect him. What did the strength of others have to do with him?


    <i>I��ll walk my own path, stick to the n, be stronger step by step, and naturally reach the pinnacle.</i>


    ...


    Time flowed on.


    This spacetime battleship seemed to traverse the vast river of space and time without end. Every so often, a few or dozens of immortal cultivators would board the ship.


    This speed astonished Wu Yuan, Pei Shi, and the others.


    From what they knew, the distances between different macrocosms were unimaginably vast, often spanning tens of billions of light-years or even further... How could they arrive so quickly?


    The number of immortal cultivators on the battleship continued to grow.


    As they interacted, neers would initially be surprised by therge crowd, then gradually integrate with the earlier arrivals. They would also eventually learn about the deeds of Ming Jian and Zhuo Haiyue, and be amazed by them.


    "Supreme Geniuses?"


    "The Greenridge Macrocosm is truly extraordinary."


    The various affiliated forces under the Taiyuan Divine Court had different circumstances, but the standards of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower were uniform across the board. Everyone understood the significance of reaching level one hundred of a star tower.


    In terms of raw strength, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue were certainly not the strongest among the tens of thousands of immortal cultivators. Those few High Immortals who had cultivated for a long time were undoubtedly more powerful. But the two of them were, without question, the most eye-catching.


    Finally, when the number of immortal cultivators on the battleship exceeded thirty thousand, an invisible ripple enveloped the entire space.


    "A total of 1821 macrocosms affiliated with the Taiyuan Divine Court have dispatched immortal cultivators fused with Spacetime Imprints. A total of over thirty-one thousand people have been received," an indifferent voice echoed throughout the battleship.


    We will soon depart for the Spacetime Dao Realm, and will arrive in four hours. All immortal cultivators, please make preparations," the indifferent voice said.


    Clearly, this voice belonged to the Sovereign piloting the battleship. However, from beginning to end, he never appeared in person.


    Everyone who heard this was secretly shocked. Wu Yuan was equally amazed. Over 1800 macrocosms, and from the sound of it, this might not even be all the macrocosms with regions under the Taiyuan Divine Court''s rule? The Taiyuan Divine Court was indeed an incredibly vast and unfathomable faction.


    <i>That Astral Monarch of Space previously said it would take him seven months to reach the fixed spacetime coordinates of the Spacetime Dao Realm. Yet this mysterious battleship can arrive in just two hours?</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently.


    This vast universe was truly beyondprehension. The more Wu Yuan''s horizons expanded, the smaller he felt inparison.


    ...


    As the spacetime battleship cruised, the passengers were not disturbed whatsoever. Wu Yuan and the tens of thousands of others aboard did not feel the slightest tremor.


    "Ming Jian."


    "Fellow Daoist Ming Jian."


    "Once we reach the Spacetime Ind and get settled in, perhaps we could team up for spacetime missions?"


    "I''ve already conquered level eighty of the five-star tower, haha." From time to time, immortal cultivators from other macrocosms would approach Wu Yuan, striking up conversations and even extending invitations.


    "Alright, I''ll consider it."


    "Very impressive indeed, you have my admiration." Wu Yuan responded politely to each one, but refrained from making any truemitments.


    Knowing that they were venturing to the Spacetime Dao Realm, everyone had gathered at least some relevant intelligence.


    Many dangerous missions within the Spacetime Dao Realm required teamwork, but Wu Yuan wasn''t in any particr rush. He hadn''t even reached thete-stage Earth Immortal phase in terms of mana cultivation, so why the need for such haste?


    Nevertheless, faced with these immortal cultivators from various macrocosms who were all part of the Taiyuan Divine Court''s faction, Wu Yuan didn''t want to offend anyone and yed along.


    <i>Though I''m not part of the divine court headquarters'' inner circle, I''m still an affiliate member of the divine court. Besides, forging good rtionships with powerful figures from my own faction could prove beneficial on the Spacetime Ind. </i>Wu Yuan reasoned to himself.


    Networking with powerful individuals from all corners could sometimes yield unexpected rewards.


    In stark contrast to Wu Yuan, as soon as the battleship set off, Zhuo Haiyue sat cross-legged in midair, lightning crackling faintly around her body as she began cultivating, utterly ignoring her surroundings.


    No one dared approach her.


    Even the hundreds of geniuses from the divine court headquarters who hade with her kept their distance, clearly unwilling to provoke her. Her demeanor radiated an unmistakable ��do not approach�� signal.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s attitude was the pr opposite of Wu Yuan''s.

 Chapter 665: Spacetime Island (2)

    <h4>Chapter 665: Spacetime Ind (2)</h4>


    Four hourster, that impassive voice resonated once more throughout the space: "We have arrived at the outskirts of the Spacetime Dao Realm. The hatches will open shortly.


    I hope you will achieve greatness in the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Now, go forth!"


    With a thunderous rumble, the space seemed to split open as the battleship''s hatches opened. Immediately after, an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue, Hua Zhu, and all the others.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Tens of thousands of immortal cultivators vanished from their original positions, reappearing in a bright new world.


    They found themselves on an immense za, easily spanning hundreds of thousands of li��a sight that astounded even their keen eyes.


    The ck battleship that had brought them here was already nothing more than a tiny speck in the distance.


    On one side of the zay the endless void. On the other stood an enormous light screen, subtly divided into three sections.


    "Quiet down, young neers," a gentle voice echoed across heaven and earth. This voice seemed to possess an intangible charm, causing Wu Yuan and the others to fall silent instinctively.


    Everyone couldn''t help but look up at the woman who had appeared in the void without prior warning.


    She wore purple battle armor and was breathtakingly beautiful, but these were mere superficial details. Her aura was majestic and overwhelming, exuding a sense of sanctity.


    In that moment, standing before her, everyone��including Wu Yuan��felt a deep sense of unworthiness.


    <i>A Sovereign? </i>Wu Yuan thought in surprise. The aura this woman radiated seemed simr to that of Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    "You may address me as Sovereign Lan Yan. I am also the current overseer of the Spacetime Ind. This is one of my incarnations," the purple-armored woman gazed down at the crowd, her eyes warm and gentle.


    Her presence was aforting warmth, allowing everyone to feel genuinely at ease.


    The crowd held their breath. A Sovereign? Faced with such a super powerhouse, no one dared harbor even a hint of defiance.


    "Do you see the spacetime light screen in the distance?" Sovereign Lan Yan asked. "Pass through this light screen, and you will reach the Spacetime Ind.


    The Spacetime Ind will be your primary residence for the next several thousand or even tens of thousands of years.


    The Dao Master is benevolent, propagating the Dao throughout the realms, but resources are ultimately limited. Your future achievements are hard to predict, but in the initial stages, the resources you''ll receive from the Dao Realm will depend on the tier of your spacetime imprints," Sovereign Lan Yan exined. "The higher the tier of your spacetime imprint, the more abundant the resources you''ll receive."


    "Tier of spacetime imprints?"


    "Are there differences between spacetime imprints?"


    "I''m not sure, the Astral Monarch didn''t tell us about this." The geniuses from various macrocosms of the divine court whispered among themselves.


    Evidently, while most had received some information, it wasn''t particrlyprehensive.


    Only Wu Yuan felt quite clear on the matter, as the resources he''d received came directly from Immortal Sovereign Bei You and were extremely thorough.


    "Spacetime imprints are ssified, from weakest to strongest: Ordinary Imprints, Elite Imprints, Sovereign Imprints, Dao Master Imprints, and Legacy Imprints," Sovereign Lan Yan exined.


    "In the early stages of cultivation, the higher your imprint tier, the better your starting point will be. Of course, as you cultivate on the Spacetime Ind, there are ways to gradually improve your imprint tier.


    Historically, there have been individuals who started with Ordinary Imprints and cultivated all the way to Legacy Imprints, ultimately receiving the final inheritance.


    "Your imprint tier is determined at the moment of fusion," Sovereign Lan Yan continued. "Prepare yourselves, I will now begin examining your imprint tiers. Remember, without an imprint, you cannot enter the Spacetime Ind."


    As Sovereign Lan Yan spoke, she waved her hand. Suddenly over a hundred figures closest to her were lifted into the air.


    Immediately, an invisible ripple enveloped them.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The bodies of the hundred plus individuals glowed with a white light.


    "All Ordinary Imprints. Later, you''ll enter through the first light screen," Sovereign Lan Yan said, seemingly unsurprised, her voice still gentle.


    The group of cultivators immediately flew to one side.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Another hundred people were lifted and enveloped by the invisible ripple. Among this hundred, the vast majority emitted white light, but one person radiated blue light.


    "Oh? An Elite Imprint? Very good, enter through the second light screen," Sovereign Lan Yan said with a faint smile.


    Immediately, the figure emitting blue light separated from the others emitting white light, standing alone to one side. This sight aroused envy in many.


    Batch after batch went through the process, in the blink of an eye, nearly ten thousand people were examined. The vast majority had Ordinary Imprints, with only a few dozen possessing Elite Imprints.


    <i>It seems Ordinary Imprints make up the vast majority. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, realizing how precious the gift from Grandmaster Bei You truly was.


    A Dao Master Imprint! Only one step away from the highest tier Legacy Imprint.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Suddenly, another hundred figures were lifted into the air, including Zhuo Haiyue. The invisible ripple enveloped them.


    The others all emitted white light, but Zhuo Haiyue''s body zed with purple light.


    "A Sovereign Imprint? Excellent!" Sovereign Lan Yan''s tone shifted slightly. "What is your name?"


    "Zhuo Haiyue."


    "Very well. Later, you''ll enter the Spacetime Ind through the third light screen," Sovereign Lan Yan instructed.


    The hundred or so people descended, with only Zhuo Haiyue standing alone before the third light screen.


    "A Sovereign Imprint?"


    "As expected of the divine court''s number one genius." Amotion erupted.


    Among the ten thousand examined so far, no one else had a Sovereign Imprint. Everyone naturally realized how rare Sovereign Imprints were. Even Sovereign Lan Yan personally asked for her name!


    Batch after batch was examined. Many of those already examined or still waiting for their turn couldn''t help but nce at the unperturbed Wu Yuan, quietly discussing.


    "What about Ming Jian? Will he have a Sovereign Imprint?"


    "Hard to say."


    "I hear Ming Jian never went to the divine court headquarters. He probably doesn''t have a Sovereign Imprint."


    "Sovereign Imprints are extremely rare. From what I know, he''s unlikely to have one. I''d guess he has an Elite Imprint at best."


    "Mm."


    "An Elite Imprint is more likely." Many immortal cultivators spected among themselves, clearly not unfamiliar with the significance of Sovereign Imprints.


    Finally, another ten thousand people were examined, with only a few more Elite Imprints discovered and no second Sovereign Imprint bearer emerging.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan and his group.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> They all flew through the air, arriving before Sovereign Lan Yan.


    Instantly, white light surged over the bodies of the other ny-nine people.


    Only Wu Yuan was different - first, waves of purple light emanated from him, followed by a zing red beam that shot skyward. It was scorching and dazzling!


    A hush fell over the crowd.


    The tens of thousands of immortal cultivators from the Taiyuan Divine Court stared in shock at Wu Yuan. This was a sight none had witnessed before, Zhuo Haiyue included.


    Even Sovereign Lan Yan''s eyes shed with surprise, and she looked at Wu Yuan for a few seconds. "A Dao Master Imprint?"


    As soon as the words left her mouth, an uproar erupted, and everyone stared at Wu Yuan in astonishment.


    A Dao Master Imprint? Among the tens of thousands present, only Zhuo Haiyue possessed even a Sovereign Imprint. And Zhuo Haiyue was already considered the foremost genius of this generation in the divine court headquarters.


    For Wu Yuan''s imprint to surpass a Sovereign Imprint by a whole tier?


    "What is your name?" Sovereign Lan Yan asked Wu Yuan.


    "Ming Jian," Wu Yuan replied respectfully.


    "Hmm, Ming Jian? I''ll remember that. I hope you don''t squander the potential of this imprint," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "You may proceed to the third light screen as well."


    "Understood."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The other ny-nine people went to the first light screen, while only Wu Yuan approached the third, where Zhuo Haiyue stood alone.


    "Impressive," Zhuo Haiyue said with a slight smile.


    "You too," Wu Yuan replied with a grin.


    This brief exchange marked their first interaction after centuries apart, with nothing more said between them.


    Time passed, and group after group underwent the examination.


    In the end, over a hundred of the thirty thousand cultivators possessed Elite Imprints. One person had a Sovereign Imprint, and one person had a Dao Master Imprint. The rest all bore Ordinary Imprints.


    "Very good. You are all Spacetime Imprint bearers. Proceed through the light screens to enter the Spacetime Ind. Once you arrive, you''ll understand what to do for your cultivation journey ahead.


    Work hard, and don''t squander the gifts bestowed by the Dao Master," Sovereign Lan Yan'' voice echoed across the za. "I hope that after the passage of long years, I''ll see your faces among the many Sovereigns of the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    Now go."


    Waves of an invisible force swept up the tens of thousands of ordinary and elite imprint bearers, swiftly ushering them through the light screens one by one, who vanished as they were transported away.


    Only Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue remained behind.


    "You two may go as well," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    "Understood.��


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue exchanged a nce before simultaneously darting into the light screen.


    <i>A Dao Master Imprint?</i> Sovereign Lan Yan mused to herself. <i>I wonder which of my fellow martial brothers or sisters it��s from.</i>


    The Spacetime Dao Master did not ept direct disciples, but over the long years, countless powerful cultivators regarded him as their teacher.


    Those of his lineage who achieved great aplishments could receive three Dao Master Imprints directly from him, which they could then bestow upon their own disciples.


    Thus, though the Spacetime Dao Master seemed uninvolved in power struggles or establishing factions, his followers were scattered throughout various factions, forming an influential force not to be underestimated in the vast river of space and time. This was also a key reason why various factions were reluctant to provoke him.


    Of course, the Spacetime Dao Master never intervened on behalf of the powerhouses under him, remaining impartial and carefree as he wandered the river of space and time.


    ...


    <i>Hum~</i> There was a ripple of spatial distortion as Wu Yuan passed through the light screen, and an imposing hall appeared before his eyes.


    <i>Where am I?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept the area.


    Other than a single jade tform, the hall was otherwise empty.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Countless motes of light coalesced, materializing into a seductive woman with enchanting looks. She bowed respectfully to Wu Yuan, "Greetings, Master. I am the Spacetime Spirit assigned to serve you during your time on Spacetime Ind. Master may give me a name."


    Wu Yuan eyed her attire, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Is this your only appearance?"


    "No, I can change it at will." As she spoke, the alluring woman rapidly shifted forms �C teenage girl, teenage boy, young woman, young man, elderlydy �C all while exining, "I simply sensed that Master would prefer my initial form the most."


    "No, let''s go with the third one," Wu Yuan suddenly said.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The so-called Spacetime Spirit transformed into a young woman wearing aplete housekeeper''s uniform.


    "From today on, your name will be Star Moon," Wu Yuan said offhandedly.


    Wu Yuan chose this name on a whim, thinking of the battle puppet he had named ��Shadow Moon''.


    "Understood," Star Moon nodded.


    "Tell me about the Spacetime Ind," Wu Yuan said.


    "Spacetime Ind is a safe dwelling ce for all imprint bearers, with a diameter of over a hundred million li. The entire ind is divided into four main regions based on the tier of one''s imprint," Star Moon quickly exined.


    "Master is an innate Dao Master Imprint bearer. Currently, there are just over twenty individuals with imprints of the same tier as Master''s. However, all of them gradually rose to that tier over time.


    ording to my calctions, for an innate Dao Master Imprint bearer like yourself, Master, the probability of ultimately upgrading to a Legacy Imprint is three in a thousand!" Star Moon dered, brimming with excitement.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Three in a thousand? Was that supposed to be a high probability?


    <i>Only twenty-some people at the same tier as me?</i> Wu Yuan muttered inwardly before asking aloud, "How many imprint bearers are there on the Spacetime Ind in total?"


    "As of now, there should be about eight million living imprint bearers," Star Moon replied.


    Eight million. Just over twenty people - the disparity in those numbers was staggering.


    <i>Grandmaster, you''ve truly given me a great treasure.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. He then asked, "What must I do to upgrade my imprint to the highest tier Legacy Imprint?"

 Chapter 666: The Lineage of Taiyuan Divine Court (1)

    <h4>Chapter 666: The Lineage of Taiyuan Divine Court (1)</h4>


    "Master''s ambitions are truly grand indeed, aiming to ascend to a Legacy Imprint bearer right from the start," Star Moon, dressed as a female housekeeper, said with a grin. "Truly befitting Star Moon''s new master. Even the previous masters Star Moon served couldn''t hold a candle to you."


    Wu Yuan''s mouth twitched as he shook his head, "Star Moon, act normal."


    He felt that this Spacetime Spirit before him was unusually animated, as if galvanized by some unknown stimulus.


    "Aye!�� Star Moon��s expression turned solemn, ��Please observe, Master." With a wave of her hand, a massive light screen materialized.


    The light screen disyed a wall of textual information, along with some of Wu Yuan''s personal data:


    Imprint Bearer: Ming Jian


    umted spacetime points: 20,000 (Dao Master Imprint)


    Remaining spacetime points: 20,000


    Note: When umted spacetime points reach 40,000, the final inheritance trial may be undertaken.


    ...


    "So, one spacetime inheritance can be redeemed with one thousand spacetime points?" Wu Yuan murmured, "A maximum of forty Spacetime inheritances?" [1]


    "Correct!" Star Moon exined, "Different tiers of imprints lead to different starting umted spacetime points. Ordinary Imprint bearers start with one thousand spacetime points, Elite Imprints bearers with three thousand, Sovereign Imprint bearers with six thousand, and Dao Master Imprint bearers with twenty thousand. Spacetime points can be exchanged for treasures or used to receive spacetime inheritances.


    By sessfullypleting spacetime missions, one can obtain spacetime points.


    Spending spacetime points does not reduce the umted spacetime points.


    When the umted spacetime points reach forty thousand, one bes eligible for the final inheritance trial," Star Moon borated.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, understanding now.


    To upgrade one��s imprint to the highest Legacy tier, two conditions must be met: first, umte forty thousand spacetime points; second, pass the final inheritance trial.


    Once someone became a Legacy Imprint bearer, as the name implied, one could obtain the greatest treasure left behind by the Spacetime Dao Master.


    "Achieving a Legacy Imprint represents bing a sessor of the great Spacetime Dao Master," Star Moon chirped. "Historically, many have umted forty thousand spacetime points, but the exact number of Legacy Imprint bearers remains unknown."


    "Unknown?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Yup." Star Moon nodded matter-of-factly, "This information is not public. In fact, even the specific identities of those who have umted forty thousand spacetime points are not disclosed.


    Even if the top factions outside the realm were to investigate, they can only uncover information about Dao Master Imprint Bearers," Star Moon exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    Such measures were likely implemented by the Spacetime Dao Master to protect his lineage of sessors. After all, he wasn''t vying for supremacy, so there was no need for his powerful followers to make a name for themselves.


    This way, the various factions would only be more wary. Who knew how many Sovereigns were actually sessors of the Spacetime Dao Master, or if any of them were supreme beings surpassing Sovereigns?


    <i>Still, it''s quite advantageous that I started with a Dao Master Imprint right off the bat. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    An Ordinary Imprint bearer, starting with just a thousand spacetime points, would need to acquire another thirty-nine thousand points to qualify for the final trial.


    But a Dao Master Imprint bearer started off with twenty thousand spacetime points. They only needed to acquire another twenty thousand spacetime points to seed.


    Even Sovereign Imprint bearers started at a significant disadvantagepared to Dao Master Imprint bearers.


    <i>ording to Star Moon, none of the current twenty-odd Dao Master Imprint bearers started off at this tier. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Which means they must have acquired over ten thousand spacetime points afterwards.</i>


    A brief calction was enough to deduce this.


    Acquiring thirty or forty thousand spacetime points within a hundred thousand years in the Spacetime Dao Realm might be challenging. But umting ten or twenty thousand spacetime points was still highly feasible.


    <i>After all, those currently in the Spacetime Dao Realm are merely geniuses from various realms gathered over the past hundred thousand years.</i> Wu Yuan grinned.


    In the Spacetime Dao Realm, one could cultivate for a maximum of a hundred thousand years.


    Among the tens of thousands of imprint bearers from the Taiyuan Divine Court who arrived here with him, few could match him in terms of pure talent.


    There might be numerous geniuses from various major factions in the present-day Spacetime Ind, but those whose talent could rival his own or Zhuo Haiyue''s were likely few and far between. Perhaps even none!


    <i>However, they have cultivated for longer periods. Especially those Tribtion/Universe Architect cultivators who have cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years. With decent talent and long periods of cultivation on the Spacetime Ind, their strength must be even more formidable.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    Whenpleting spacetime missions, there was always the possibility of encountering other imprint bearers, and conflict between them was inevitable. In battle, imprint tiers didn''t matter.


    "Master, these are the methods for acquiring spacetime points," Star Moon waved her hand again.


    Instantly, the light screen flickered and lines of text appeared once more.


    Spacetime Missions: At least one Elite-level mission must bepleted every one thousand years. Failure toplete even one Elite-level mission in a thousand years will result in expulsion from the Spacetime Ind. Additionally, a maximum of ten Sovereign-level or lower missions can be epted per thousand-year cycle. New missions cannot be epted until the previous mission ispleted.


    Ordinary-level Mission: 1 Spacetime Point


    Elite-level Mission: 10 spacetime points


    Sovereign-level Mission: 100 spacetime points


    Dao Master-level Mission: 1000 spacetime points (Once per thousand years)


    Note: Specific missions cannot be selected. Imprint bearers may only select the mission level they wish to apply for, and then await mission assignment.


    ...


    "So every thousand years, there''s a shared quota of ten missions across Ordinary, Elite, and Sovereign levels," Wu Yuan murmured. "While for Dao Master-level missions, there''s one opportunity every thousand years? Is it an exclusive mission?"


    "Correct." Star Moon nodded emphatically, "The difficulty of missions actually varies for different imprint bearers. The difficulty of spacetime missions is determined based on aprehensive assessment of the imprint bearer''s mana cultivation and cultivation years.


    The lower the mana cultivation and the shorter the cultivation years, the lower the mission difficulty. There''s no possibility of taking shortcuts.


    Given Master''s brief cultivation period, what might be an Elite-level mission for other Imprint bearers could be a Sovereign-level mission for you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In this case, the more exceptional one''s talent, the higher the probability of bing a sessor. Otherwise, if mission difficulty was determined solely by cultivation level, then many monstrous prodigies might choose to keep their cultivation stagnant at the Earth Immortal phase even up till obtaining the final inheritance. This would go against the Spacetime Dao Master''s original intentions.


    "Wait, Star Moon." Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    "If onepletes one Dao Master-level mission and ten Sovereign-level missions every thousand years, wouldn''t that amount to two thousand points in total?


    Couldn''t one umte forty thousand points in twenty thousand years?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    Star Moon stared at Wu Yuan with wide eyes, as if looking at an idiot.


    "Master, that''s only theoretically possible," Star Moon shook her head repeatedly. "In reality, it''s simply impossible. Take Dao Master-level missions for instance, they have another name among the countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind - they''re called ��Hell Missions''.


    They are essentially suicide runs, practically impossible to survive," Star Moon exined.


    "That difficult?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Yes." Star Moon nodded heavily, "Even Sovereign-level missions are often referred to as Hell Missions, with a nine-in-ten chance of death. In fact, rtively weaker and untalented imprint bearers hardly dare to casually ept Sovereign-level missions.


    If they do and fail, losing just their mana body would be considered getting off lightly. If the karma affects their true self, that''s when real trouble begins," Star Moon said, shaking her head.


    "The Spacetime Dao Realm is fraught with dangers. In many ces, there are Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns in seclusion. These super powerhouses don''t care about imprint bearers. In fact, unless one possesses a Legacy Imprint, even Dao Master Imprint bearers can be killed without consequence.


    The Dao Master is impartial and unbiased. Everything is determined by fate and destiny. The old master won''t interfere," Star Moon exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, "I understand."


    Having received intelligence from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, he naturally understood that while the entire Spacetime Dao Realm was far fromparable to a macrocosm, it was still incredibly vast.


    With the supreme Spacetime Dao Master imparting his teachings over endless years, a great number of powerhouses had naturally emerged.


    With a bit of deduction, it was clear that even Sovereign-level missions weren''t something that could bepleted casually.


    Among the over eight million imprint bearers, there wasn��t a single Earth Immortal or High Immortal with truly poor talent. In fact, they all possessed decent aptitude. Yet only twenty-odd Dao Master imprint bearers had emerged.


    "Star Moon, bring me the voidrealm jade for the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm," Wu Yuan suddenly said.


    "You know about it, Master?" Star Moon was surprised.


    "I know more than you can imagine," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.


    He had long known that there were three important locations on the entire Spacetime Ind.


    First was his private hall. Within one''s private hall, absolute safety was guaranteed, and through the hall, one could receive spacetime inheritances.


    Second was the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. Its function was simr to the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm and Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. It was the only voidrealm that could be essed in the Spacetime Dao Realm, allowing formunication.


    Voidrealm jades like those of the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm did not function here.


    Third was the Spacetime Treasure Hall. Why did Wu Yuan withdrawrge quantities of physical divine crystals? It was for usage in the Spacetime Treasure hall, where one could purchase or redeem almost any desired artifact, rare item, or cultivation teaching, though limited to the level of immortal cultivators. Treasures sought by Astral Monarchs would likely be difficult to find there.


    ...


    As time passed, Wu Yuan familiarized himself with each part of the hall''s structure, then stepped outside, arriving at the za beyond the hall.


    An iparably vast continent came into view �C the so-called Spacetime Ind. Though called an ind, its maximum diameter spanned over a hundred million li.


    Wu Yuan''s hall was situated at the highest point on the eastern side of the entire continent, overlooking thendscape.


    Across this endlessndmass, majestic halls were erected at regr intervals. Each of those halls served as a residence for different imprint bearers.


    Without the owner''s permission, outsiders were forbidden from trespassing.


    About twenty halls stood at the same elevation as Wu Yuan''s, though separated by at least a million li.


    <i>The higher the imprint tier, the higher the hall''s location? </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan also observed the massive, floating temples above this vast continent. These were the spacetime teleportation arrays.


    To carry out spacetime missions, one would board these arrays to reach different regions of the Spacetime Dao Realm directly.


    "Master, I''ve brought the voidrealm jade." Star Moon called out as her slightly ethereal figure drifted over.


    "Good." Wu Yuan reached out to grasp it, swiftly imprinting his aura upon it.


    In an instant, a strand of Wu Yuan''s consciousness descended into the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, a gathering ce for only a few million imprint bearers, was far less expansive than the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm or Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.


    Yet in terms of mystique, it was no less impressive. In fact, the personal hall felt even more realistic and wondrous to Wu Yuan, clearly indicating that this voidrealm constructed by the Spacetime Dao Master was even more profound.


    <i>Let''s go.</i> With a thought, Wu Yuan immediately left his personal hall and arrived at a sprawling city - the sole city in the entire Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    The four sides of the city were lined with densely packed shops. Only the centercked any structures, instead filled with a multitude of immortal cultivators engaged in lively discussions. There were tens of thousands of people in total.


    Title floated above each individual��s head, predominantly white Ordinary tier and blue Elite tier imprint bearers.


    The ratio wasn''t as skewed aspared to the Taiyuan Divine Court''s newly arrived batch of cultivators. Evidently many imprint bearers had gradually upgraded their Ordinary Imprints to Elite Imprints while cultivating on the Spacetime Ind.


    asionally, an immortal cultivator with a purple Sovereign tier title would appear. Such cultivators instantly stood out from the rest, bing a focal point of the crowd.


    With a sh of light, Wu Yuan randomly materialized.


    Above his head glowed a fiery purple Dao Master tier title, instantly drawing countless gazes.


    "Dao Master tier? Am I seeing things? Has another Dao Master imprint bearer emerged? But I''ve never seen him before."


    "I haven''t seen him either."


    "I have all thetest news on the Spacetime Ind, and I keep tabs on all the Sovereign Imprint bearers. This person definitely isn''t one of them." The cultivators standing nearby were both shocked and confused.


    They had never seen Wu Yuan before.


    One''s appearance could change, but their soul aura and imprint title would always remain urate to the individual �C an ironw of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    1. Spacetime inheritance refers to the Dao simtions one can undergo to improveprehension, simr to Dao Temple simtions ?

 Chapter 667: The Lineage of Taiyuan Divine Court (2)

    <h4>Chapter 667: The Lineage of Taiyuan Divine Court (2)</h4>


    "His name is Ming Jian!! He''s from our Taiyuan Divine Court lineage, an innate Dao Master imprint bearer who just arrived on Spacetime Ind."


    "Right, I just got the news too."


    "An innate Dao Master imprint bearer? Is that even possible?"


    "How could that be?" The entire city instantly erupted with excitement, and the news spread life wildfire.


    Those who had initially been paying attention to Wu Yuan were now joined by countless others, all eager to catch a glimpse of him. The vast majority were driven by pure curiosity, though a small number harbored envy.


    After all, on the Spacetime Ind, an innate Dao Master Imprint was the stuff of legends! Normally, one might not encounter such an individual even in a million years.


    Only one Dao Master rank imprint bearer might emerge from a million imprint bearers, yet this person already reached this tier from the beginning?


    "I''ve memorized his soul aura."


    "With a Dao Master Imprint, he must be one of the Taiyuan Divine Court''s most valued peerless geniuses, and extremely proficient in the Law of Space."


    "Indeed, even when the Supreme Geniuses of our Destion Divine Court headquarters arrive, they usually only bear Sovereign imprints."


    "Ming Jian?"


    "Never heard of him."


    "It''s only normal that we haven''t heard of him. The river of space and time is boundless, and the macrocosms are separated by vast distances. How could we possibly know everyone?"


    "With such a monstrous prodigy, the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage is set to wee another powerful expert."


    "But he seems to be an Earth Immortal. It''ll take at least thousands or tens of thousands of years for him to fully mature."


    "His current strength probably isn''t that impressive yet." News quickly spread - one told ten, ten told a hundred, a hundred told ten thousand.


    Like a whirlwind, information about Wu Yuan rapidly circted among the hundreds of thousands of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    Even those who hadn''t entered the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm received messages from their friends and fellow disciples.


    "Is this really necessary?" Wu Yuan was startled by such a scene.


    He never imagined himself causing such amotion upon entering the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    Soon after, a figure with a purple-red Dao Master tier title and another with a purple Sovereign tier title appeared, both exuding overwhelmingly powerful auras.


    "Cultivators from the Taiyuan Divine Court have arrived."


    "It''s Nie Zhen and Nangong Meng."


    "They''ve bothe."


    "Sure enough, it''s them." The surrounding crowd retreated like sheep before wolves, visibly intimidated.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two swiftly arrived before Wu Yuan.


    "Haha, you must be Fellow Daoist Ming Jian." The burly man with the Sovereign tier titleughed heartily as he strode forward.


    "And you are?" Wu Yuan hesitated slightly.


    "I''m Nie Zhen, also from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage," the muscr man said with a smile, then introduced the white-robed woman beside him. "This is Nangong Meng, you can call her Nangong. She''s also from our Taiyuan Divine Court lineage."


    Taiyuan Divine Court lineage? A Sovereign Imprint bearer? A Dao Master Imprint bearer? They sure found him quickly. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    From the information provided by Immortal Sovereign Bei You, Wu Yuan was already aware that this would happen. Throughout the endless river of space and time, many top-tier factions, and even slightly weaker ones, would dispatch powerful experts to the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    The Taiyuan Divine Court was just one such faction, albeit an extremely powerful one, capable of sending tens of thousands every thousand years.


    One could imagine that with so many imprint bearers, some extraordinary talents were bound to emerge.


    "Fellow Daoist Ming Jian, let''s go to our Taiyuan Divine Court lineage''s Taiyuan Tower," Nie Zhen said with a smile. "Several fellow Daoists are already waiting there."


    "Fellow Daoist Ming Jian," The white-robed woman, Nangong Meng, also smiled and said, "Our Taiyuan Divine Court is immensely vast. We maye from different macrocosms, but in this Spacetime Dao Realm, we must stand united to contend with other forces."


    "Alright. Please lead the way, Fellow Daoists," Wu Yuan said with a smile, harboring no suspicions.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The group swiftly transformed into streaks of light, darting into a sprawling courtyard at the edge of the city.


    "Ming Jian? We should quickly inform our other senior brothers and junior brothers." The crowd of onlookers dispersed, but not before spreading the news further.


    ...


    "Taiyuan Tower is our Taiyuan lineage''s base in this Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, amodating our Taiyuan lineage''s members," Nangong Meng said with a smile. "Including the newly arrived batch you came with, we now have over five hundred thousand people."


    The three of them soared above the massive Taiyuan Tower. Countless densely packed courtyards spread out below.


    <i>Over five hundred thousand?</i> Wu Yuan marveled silently. The entire Spacetime Ind consisted of only eight million imprint-bearers in total.


    In truth, if calcted at roughly thirty thousand per batch every thousand years, the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage should have had over three million members present.


    However, Wu Yuan also understood that many imprint bearers would depart early or perish on Spacetime Ind. Cultivation in the Spacetime Dao Realm was not without peril.


    "In terms of numbers, only the Nine Phoenix Alliance can surpass our Taiyuan Divine Court on the entire Spacetime Ind," Nie Zhen said with a smile. "Even mighty factions like the Immortal Court, Eldritch Court, and Destion Divine Court have far fewer members here."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    The river of space and time was vast beyond measure, with numerous macrocosms. The various major factions had intricate rtions, but only three were universally acknowledged as the most dominant and prosperous��the Eldritch Court, Immortal Court, and Destion Divine Court.


    By all indications, factions like the Taiyuan Divine Court, Eight Mountains Alliance, Nine Phoenix Alliance, and other major powers were somewhat weaker.


    However, because top factions like the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court were so formidable, with incredibly abundant resources, they had less need to nurture their geniuses within the environment of the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Thus, these three great factions sent rtively few geniuses and experts to the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Within the Spacetime Dao Realm, the Nine Phoenix Alliance lineage was thergest, followed by the Taiyuan Divine Court and Eight Mountains Alliance.


    "It''s been a long time since our Divine Court lineage saw an innate Dao Master Imprint bearer arrive. As word spreads, quite a few Sovereign and Dao Master Imprint bearers will wish to meet you," Nie Zhen said with a smile. "I thought it would be best to simply host a banquet to wee you and Zhuo Haiyue."


    Nangong Meng added with augh, "You''re both listed on the Star Tower''s Luminary Ranking. It is indeed rare it is for you toe to the Spacetime Dao Realm."


    "Indeed." Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Through their earlier conversation, he had learned that even though one��s imprint tier could gradually be upgraded on the Spacetime Ind, Sovereign Imprint bearers were still extremely rare. In total, there were only a few thousand of them, two to three hundred of which were from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage.


    Add to that his and Zhuo Haiyue''s reputation as Star Tower Luminaries, and it was natural that these powerful individuals would pay attention to them.


    However, while Sovereign Imprint bearers were not too rare, Dao Master Imprint bearers were truly scarce. There were only three in the entire Taiyuan Divine Court lineage.


    As they proceeded through Taiyuan Tower, they naturally encountered numerous immortal cultivators along the way, all of whom nodded in greeting. There seemed to be no distinction of rank.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, I should remind you of one thing," Nie Zhen said with a smile. "In future spacetime missions, you''ll often have to fight imprint bearers from other factions, and even fellow disciples.


    When that timees, you must be extremely cautious, even when facing Ordinary Imprint or Elite Imprint bearers," Nie Zhen cautioned. "One misstep could lead to your demise."


    "I see." Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    "The difficulty of spacetime missions varies for each individual. Those skilled in the Spacetime Dao are especially favored by the Spacetime Ind. So, a high imprint tier indicates greater potential in the Spacetime Dao, and is not necessarily an assessment of one��s true strength," Nangong Meng exined with a smile.


    "In our Taiyuan Divine Court lineage, for instance, Daoist Nie Zhen is actually the strongest in terms of true power."


    "Oh?" A hint of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Nie Zhen, a Sovereign Imprint bearer, was the strongest? He hadn''t noticed.


    "It''s nothing worth mentioning," Nie Zhen said with a smile.


    "Daoist Nie Zhen is being modest," Nangong Meng continued. "He''s in Archimmortals several times during spacetime missions. He came to the Spacetime Dao Realm solely toprehend the Qiankun Dao before his Tribtion.


    His specialty is the Greater Law of Metal, which he''s cultivated to the Dao Field stage," Nangong Meng added.


    <i>Dao Field of a Greater Law?</i> Wu Yuan was secretly astonished.


    That level of Daoprehension was on par with Astral Monarchs. It seemed this High Immortal Nie Zhen was no less formidable than Senior Brother Jiang Huan, perhaps even more so.


    "I''m truly impressed!" Wu Yuan said sincerely.


    "I still have a long way to go. I''ve only reached level eighty-something of the seven-star tower, not even close to level ny," Nie Zhen said with a chuckle. "In the future, Daoist Ming Jian will surely surpass me."


    Wu Yuan grew increasingly vignt. Though his imprint tier was high, the Spacetime Ind was ultimately a gathering ce of peerless geniuses from various great factions across the river of space and time. It was a realm of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.


    While their natural talent might not be as extraordinary, their strength was undoubtedly terrifying after hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.


    <i>Very well. I''ll gradually rise to their level.</i> Wu Yuan thought, filled with fighting spirit.


    "We''ve arrived at the banquet hall," Nangong Meng suddenly announced.


    The three descended towards the massive hall below.


    ...


    At this banquet, two of the three Dao Master Imprint bearers attended, along with nearly a hundred Sovereign Imprint bearers. There were also a small number of Elite Imprint bearers of exceptional strength.


    This wee banquet for himself and Zhuo Haiyue was truly grand.


    Wu Yuan took the opportunity to get acquainted with these outstanding individuals of the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage, truly beginning to integrate into this circle.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan obtained much-needed intelligence from these imprint bearers. For example��information on all the Dao Master Imprint bearers, 99% of the Sovereign Imprint bearers, and some exceptionally powerful Elite Imprint bearers currently residing on the Spacetime Ind.


    While Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s intelligence was decent, it only pertained to the Spacetime Dao Realm. Naturally, itcked details on the constantly changing roster of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind. Information on powerful individuals was crucial.


    With this intelligence, he would be better equipped to decide whether to fight or retreat from an enemy when executing various spacetime missions in the future.


    The banquetsted for several hours before the attendees gradually dispersed.


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue came alone to an inconspicuous teahouse within Taiyuan Tower, taking seats by a window.


    Several serving girls brought them tea. These serving girls were not imprint bearers. Rather, they were immortal cultivators arranged by the Spacetime Dao Realm to serve the imprint bearers.


    "Should I call you Li Xia, or Ming Jian?" Zhuo Haiyue, d in silver armor, asked with an enigmatic smile.


    "Let''s stick with Ming Jian," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. "Names are just aliases."


    "Very well. When I was cultivating at the divine court headquarters, I often heard the name Ming Jian, but I never imagined it would be you," Zhuo Haiyue said, shaking her head slightly.


    "I had no idea you cleared level one hundred of the three-star tower when I was in the Greenridge Macrocosm," Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    "I remember that you wereprehending the Celestial Body Dao back then, which falls under the Law of Earth. How did you suddenly startprehending the Law of Space?" Zhuo Haiyue asked casually.


    "The same could be asked of you. You used to specialize in Thunder, so why have youe to the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    They exchanged knowing smiles, with neither pressing further. They both understood that as monstrous prodigies, such significant changes over a few hundred years surely involved great fortuitous encounters. And concealing one��s secrets was an instinct of all living beings.


    "At the banquet, you were quite the social butterfly, friendly with everyone. I noticed the powerhouses of the Taiyuan lineage seemed to prefer you," Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile. "They appeared rather distant towards me."


    "To make friends from all corners is to build influence," Wu Yuan exined. "Being a core member of the divine court headquarters, your background is more impressive than mine. With your cold demeanor, they fear offending you and naturally hesitate to be too friendly."


    "I see," Zhuo Haiyue nodded.


    "Your approach isn''t very endearing," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head with a smile.


    "I was never born to please others," Zhuo Haiyue replied calmly. "When we first met, did you appreciate my attitude then?"


    Wu Yuan was momentarily taken aback, then smiled as he uttered three words. "Not at all!"

 Chapter 668: Spacetime, The Fundamentals Of Creation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 668: Spacetime, The Fundamentals Of Creation (1)</h4>


    His first encounter with her was marked with threats of violence and death, nearly ending in bloodshed. How could he say he was fond of such situations?


    "Your temperament is still the same as ever," Wu Yuan said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Still, I must thank you for your help back then," he continued. "Without your aid, I might never have reached the Spacetime Dao Realm."


    It was the truth. Perhaps Zhuo Haiyue had acted out of self-interest, but without her guidance, Wu Yuan would never have joined the Dragon Star Immortal Sect or met Master Dong Yang.


    Even if his power had grown, his progress would likely have been far slower than it was now. This debt of gratitude weighed heavily on Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Your achievements are your own," Zhuo Haiyue said, shaking her head with a smile. "My help was insignificant. A Supreme Genius cannot be produced through nurturing alone."


    She turned to Wu Yuan. "Does our agreement from back then still stand?"


    "It does," Wu Yuan nodded firmly. "I always honor my promises."


    Years ago, before Zhuo Haiyue had departed for the divine court headquarters, they had made a pact. If she ever required assistance in the future, Wu Yuan would do everything in his power to aid her.


    "Good. Your word is enough," Zhuo Haiyue said, a rare, unguarded smile gracing her features. She raised her teacup. "To find a friend in the Spacetime Dao Realm��I count myself fortunate."


    "As do I," Wu Yuan replied, raising his own cup in response.


    They drank their tea in silence.


    With a sudden motion, Zhuo Haiyue rose to her feet. "Ming Jian, fear not. I''m sure you have your reasons for concealing your identity. I won''t breathe a word about your past to anyone."


    "Thank you," Wu Yuan said with genuine gratitude in his voice.


    "Let us strive together on the path to attaining the Dao," Zhuo Haiyue said, her smile warm. "I hear you''ve be a disciple of Immortal Sovereign Bei You. With your talent, you might ascend directly to a Sovereign of Space after a few hundred thousand years of cultivation."


    "The same could be said of you," Wu Yuan replied with a grin. "The road of a Supreme Genius is fraught with peril. Since the dawn of the Greenridge Macrocosm, none have truly walked it topletion. We are all still on the journey."


    Neither made any attempt to hide their ambitions. There was no need.


    Level one hundred of the seven-star tower stood as the ultimate benchmark for Supreme Geniuses. Reaching level one hundred of any star tower merely meant one had met the standard for their age group.


    Only by fullyprehending one of the Greater Laws and conquering level one hundred of the seven-star tower could one truly be called a Supreme Genius, worthy of leaving their name in the annals of the endless river of space and time.


    Both Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue aspired to this lofty goal.


    "Oh, one more thing," Zhuo Haiyue added.


    "You bear a Dao Master Imprint, so you should have sufficient points. Don''t rush into embarking on spacetime missions just yet. Focus on cultivating your mana to the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase first," she advised. "Also, while you have enough points for twenty spacetime inheritances, don''t be hasty. I suggest waiting at least a century between every two inheritances."


    "Thank you for the advice," Wu Yuan said, inclining his head.


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded slightly. She understood that Wu Yuan had his own mentors and background, and having received the Dao Master Imprint, he surely had ess to relevant information. A gentle reminder was enough to show goodwill. Saying too much would onlye across as nagging.


    "I''ll take my leave now," Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile. "If I require team members for future spacetime missions, I may extend an invitation your way."


    "I look forward to it," Wu Yuan replied.


    ...


    As Zhuo Haiyue''s form receded into the distance, Wu Yuan watched her go, his emotions calm, tinged only with a hint of curiosity.


    <i>How fascinating. After centuries apart, we finally met again, bothpletely changed. Fate truly works in strange ways. </i>He mused to himself inwardly.


    Wu Yuan took another sip of tea.


    A momentter, his form dissipated, his consciousness departing the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    In a vast hall near the eastern edge of the Spacetime Ind, a residence for Sovereign Imprint bearers, a woman in silver armor sat in the lotus position, lost in thought.


    "Not likable?" she murmured to herself. "After enduring hell and nightmares, who cares about being likable?"


    Zhuo Haiyue knew how to appear agreeable, she simply chose not to. During her time at the divine court headquarters, she had maintained an icy demeanor towards all, save for a select few. It was her nature.


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had been forced to take part in the Golden Core Bloodforge Battle. Zhuo Haiyue, born to a prince-rank family of an immortal continent, had voluntarily applied for the Bloodforge Battle at mere decades of age. Her personality was clear as day.


    <i>Time to ept an inheritance. They say the spacetime inheritance of this Spacetime Dao Realm is among the top three inheritances forprehending the Greater Laws of Space and Time.</i> Zhuo Haiyue mused, her eyes slowly closing. <i>I hope it doesn''t disappoint.</i>


    An invisible force enveloped her.


    Time passed.


    <i>The spacetime inheritance truly lives up to its reputation. </i>Zhuo Haiyue opened her eyes, a gleam shining in them. A faint ripple of energy pulsed around her.


    "Little Yue, you''ve finally let me out!" a childish voice eximed. "Did you receive a spacetime inheritance?"


    "Yes," Zhuo Haiyue replied curtly.


    "I must remind you again," the voice continued, "while the spacetime inheritance is valuable, your true path lies inprehending the Law of Thunder..."


    "Enough," Zhuo Haiyue interrupted, her brow furrowing slightly.


    "Fine, fine," the voice acquiesced. "ording to our previous training n, after you assimte the first spacetime inheritance, you should take on a spacetime mission. I suggest starting with an Elite-level mission, then a few Sovereign-level ones to get limated. Only attempt a Dao Master-level mission after breaking through to High Immortal."


    "That''s unnecessary," Zhuo Haiyue said calmly.


    "I''ll take one Sovereign-level mission, then move straight to Dao Master-level missions," she dered. "Mission difficulty increases over time. There''s no point in dying it deliberately."


    "Isn''t that a bit too hasty?" the voice protested. "I still think you should wait until you reach the High Immortal phase..."


    "It''s decided," Zhuo Haiyue cut in. "I''ll inform you of the mission details once they''re sent. You can thenpile a list of necessary treasures. For now, I need to cultivate. You may go."


    "Wait, Little Yue��" the voice began, but it faded away before it could finish.


    Silence reigned in Zhuo Haiyue''s mind once more.


    <i>Always discouraging me from exploring other Daos, always pushing me to advance to the Tribtion phase and fully fuse my Yuan Soul with the imprint... </i>Zhuo Haiyue mused inwardly, her eyes cold. <i>A Saint��s imprint... as if such gifts were offered for free.</i>


    <i>It��s both a blessing and a curse. You seek to use my body... if I fail and you seed, will I still be myself?</i>


    <i>But, I have no choice left.</i> Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes drifted shut.


    She had never regretted choosing this path. Or rather, destiny had left her no alternative. All she could do was struggle, and fight with every ounce of her being. Perish or triumph, there was no third path.


    ...


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, in the private hall of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.</i>


    He sat in lotus position atop a jade tform in his meditation chamber.


    <i>How annoying.</i> He muttered inwardly. <i>My first day here, and there��s already an invitation to join a spacetime mission?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head.


    He chose to ignore this obvious ploy entirely. Since word had spread, countless requests to add Wu Yuan as a ��Daoist Friend�� had flooded in through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    There were thousands upon thousands of them, the vast majoritying from immortal cultivators of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction, with a minority from other factions.


    Wu Yuan promptly blocked most imprint bearers from messaging him through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, leaving only a few like Zhuo Haiyue, Nangong Meng, Nie Zhen, and Pei Shi with permission to contact him.


    The noise quieted atst.


    <i>I''ve got a good grasp on the situation in the Spacetime Ind now.</i> Wu Yuan thought. <i>Even if mission difficulty increases over time, my strength is far from its peak.</i>


    <i>While mana bodies generally don''t carry lifebound flying swords into battle, I should at least raise my cultivation to the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase.</i> He considered.


    With divine crystal elixir, it would take seven years to reach the peak of his current cultivation phase. For Wu Yuan, who had already reached the Earth Immortal phase, staying patient for this bit of time was a small matter.


    <i>I''ll cultivate mana and nurture my mana body simultaneously. </i>He decided. <i>At the same time, I will work on my Daoprehension.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s eyes drifted shut as his Soul Will merged with the entire hall, awakening an invisible force slumbering within.


    In truth, all these countless halls were connected to the boundless, majestic power of the Spacetime Ind!


    A hum resonated through the air as an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan. A cold voice echoed in his mind: "Dao Master Imprint Bearer Ming Jian, do you wish to initiate the spacetime inheritance?"


    "Yes," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Deducting one thousand spacetime points. Neen thousand spacetime points remaining. Inheritancemencing," the voice intoned.


    <i>Boom! </i>Before Wu Yuan could respond, an immense, boundless power instantly enveloped Wu Yuan.


    Despite his Yuan Soul rivaling that of a High Immortal and his Dao Heart nearly matching an Archimmortal''s, he found himself utterly helpless against this overwhelming force. He waspletely submerged.


    A momentter, Wu Yuan felt his ''perspective'' stretch infinitely, as if he had been transported back to the unfathomable time before the creation of heaven and earth.


    He ''witnessed'' that era of primordial chaos. It was an endless, boundless darkness, devoid of up, down, left, or right. There were no concepts of time or space. This instant might havested for billions of years, or just passed in a blink. It was from this moment that everything began. It was then that the concept of ''time'' came into being.


    <i>Boom!</i> A beam of light pierced through the infinite darkness, carving out space and etching the very concept of time into existence.


    This ray of light came from an unknown source and headed towards an unknown destination, as if it were the most primal, vastest force in existence.


    <i>Rumble!</i> As the light shed past, heaven and earth were created. Countless surging, turbulent forces began to emerge... The magnificent heaven and earth started to take shape.


    <i>Space.</i> Wu Yuan waspletely immersed in the experience. From that single beam of light, he sensed an extraordinary power, feeling the profundities of Space.


    The Dao begets one, one begets two, and three begets all things. And Space was that ''one''! It was because of the existence of space that the subsequent two, three, and all things came to be. It represented the beginning of all Dao and all things.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Heaven and earth expanded and countless lives were born, multiplying rapidly. Variousws governing the workings of heaven and earth began to take shape and operate, and the entire world entered an era of prosperity.


    Streams of peculiar fluctuations, like rolling floods, permeated through every dimension and region of the entire world. These fluctuations were omnipresent. There was nowhere they couldn''t prate. Or perhaps it was because of these strange fluctuations that the workings of heaven and earth could operate.


    <i>Time! It''s the fluctuations of Time, the strands of Time!</i> Although Wu Yuan''s perception was blurry, he still managed to sense it.


    <i>It''s because of the Apotheosis Yuan Soul. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    Normally, even High Immortals would find it difficult to truly perceive the existence of Time. Time Dao fluctuations never manifested externally; they were simply part of the workings of heaven and earth.


    However, the Apotheosis Yuan Soul broke some of the limits of the rules of heaven and earth��s workings. Just as the Apotheosis Yuan Soul made it easier toprehend Space, it also allowed Wu Yuan to perceive the existence of Time fluctuations more clearly during the spacetime inheritance simtion.


    Space was the foundation! Time was the pir!


    It was because of Time that the process of the operation of all things came into being, or rather, it was the embodiment of the process of all things operating.


    <i>Time never exists in istion. But it always exists. </i>Wu Yuan pondered, already captivated by the awe-inspiring profundities of spacetime. He waspletely immersed in this experience.


    <i>Rumble! </i>The workings of heaven and earth epassed by Space, the rolling flood of Time... finally this magnificent world headed towards extinction. Everything returned to nothingness, space began to copse, and those strands of time flowing through all things swiftly converged and returned to one!

 Chapter 669: Spacetime, The Fundamentals Of Creation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 669: Spacetime, The Fundamentals Of Creation (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom!</i> The inheritance ended here.


    Wu Yuan remained seated in lotus position on the jade tform. Even as the power of the inheritance faded, the wondrous scenes he had just witnessed still echoed in his mind.


    Space and Time! This was the first time Wu Yuan had perceived the profundities of these two Greater Laws so clearly and intensely, and it was also his first encounter with the Law of Time.


    In terms of effectiveness, it was ten or even a hundred times better than the pure Law of Space inheritance from the Dao Temple.


    Moreover, around Wu Yuan''s body, faint, mysterious fluctuations appeared, blurring his silhouette slightly, as if the flow of time itself was experiencing subtle changes.


    He remained immersed in this state, contemting.


    This scene left Star Moon, who stood watching him, utterly dumbfounded.


    <i>My goodness! Fluctuations of Time? Am I seeing things? </i>Star Moon muttered to herself, herrge eyes wide as saucers.


    <i>I''ve served nearly a million masters, but this is the first time I''ve seen someone invoke Time fluctuations on their firstprehension attempt. As expected of a Dao Master Imprint bearer.</i>


    <i>Mm. It must be because the heavens were moved by my efforts, and finally sent down a peerless genius.</i>


    <i>Wu~ Master Ming Jian will definitely be a Legacy Imprint bearer. I''m finally about to escape this sea of suffering.</i>


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self received a spacetime inheritance for the first time and immersed himself in cultivation.


    Meanwhile, far away in the Creation Divine Hall within the mysterious Immutable Land, 365 enormous Essence Diagrams surrounded Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, and an azure tower loomed high above.


    <i>These Essence Diagrams...I canprehend some profundities from different diagrams, and I''ve already imitated around eight-tenths of their spiritual resonance and artistic conception. But I still feel something is missing. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self pondered deeply.


    Nearly a hundred years had gone by since he began the test.


    At first, his progress was extremely fast, and he cleared level seven of the Creation Tower in just ten years, but that was due to his deep umtion of insights into the Law of Life.


    The further he progressed, the slower it got, and he even reached a bottleneck. Wu Yuan felt this was normal, as the Essence Great Daos were extremely difficult toprehend.


    Suddenly, as if struck by divine inspiration, streams of mysterious fluctuations surged into his mind. These were Dao fluctuations he had never felt before.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze once again turned towards the Creation Essence Diagrams. The countless thunder beasts in the diagrams, which were already vividly depicted, now gave him the illusion of trulying to life.


    <i>Birth, interacting with this world in a haze...</i>


    <i>Sleeping, lying down, freely roaming the wilderness...</i>


    <i>Detecting prey, lurking, ambushing, enjoying food...</i>


    <i>Mating, gestating, reproducing... aging, death.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self waspletely immersed in contemtion.


    In the past, he had contemted the Essence Diagrams one by one and vaguely sensed that these diagrams were subtly connected as a whole. However, sensing and truly understanding were two entirely different concepts.


    One could only grasp a Dao byprehending it. It wasn''t until just now, with that fleeting spark of insight and the Dao fluctuations that surged into his mind, that Wu Yuan truly understood what was missing. It had taken a hundred years of arduous contemtion and re-examination of the 365 Essence Diagrams.


    <i>Time! Have Iprehended a trace of the profundities of Time? No, it''s not my body refiner self, it''s likely my qi refiner self. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self instantly understood.


    In the Inner Region of the Thunder Marsh World, the 365 Essence Diagrams were divided into five sections. At that time, Wu Yuan didn''t understand why, but now he suddenly realized that these represented the five stages of a thunder beast''s life. When the five stages were connected, it formed theplete life of a thunder beast.


    <i>A single Thunder Beast Diagram, no matter how vivid or lifelike, is still not a real living being. Imbuing time into the Law of Life, giving years to life, that is the true nature of Creation Essence. </i>Wu Yuan immediately grasped the fundamental nature of Creation.


    The Law of Life was the foundation, and when infused with aspects of the Law of Time, the Law of Thunder, and the Law of Fire, it became theplete Creation Essence.


    <i>Or perhaps, the Law of Thunder and the Law of Fire might not even be necessary, they''re just auxiliaries.</i> Wu Yuan realized.<i> It''s Time, Time is fundamental. Without the fundamentals, how can one speak of creating life?</i>


    To hear of the Dao in the morning is to die content at nightfall. A hundred years ofprehension and umtion of insights culminated into the epiphany Wu Yuan received after sensing the Time fluctuations.


    <i>Is my qi refiner self attempting to cultivate both Space and Time? </i>


    <i>I wonder, if I truly embark on the Great Dao of Creation Essence,bining it with Space and Time, will it help my qi refiner self''sprehension?</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self pondered, beforepletely immersing himself in it.


    The epiphany was just the beginning. Time was like a thread, but connecting the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams was still a distant process.


    But at least, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self now saw hope of clearing level nine of the Creation Tower.


    <i>Three hundred years left.</i>


    ...


    On the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self was unaware of the changes happening to the body refiner self.


    After all,prehending the Creation Essence Dao was not an overnight endeavor. Sudden epiphanies did not represent a qualitative leap in progress.


    A long while passed in the hall of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    <i>Truly marvelous. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself, opening his eyes which brimmed with awe. <i>No wonder countless peerless geniuses from various factions spare no effort to venture to the Spacetime Dao Realm, all for the sake of receiving spacetime inheritances.</i>


    What he��d gained from this simtion exceeded a century of hard work contemting the Law of Space on his own, helping him unravel countless perplexities he had faced in the past.


    <i>Seventh-level Domain stage of Space, no, given a bit more time, I might swiftly reach the eighth or even the ninth level. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Of course, Wu Yuan, who frequently received inheritances from the Dao Temple, clearly understood that the remarkable effect was also a result of hundreds of years of arduous cultivation.


    It was akin to a teacher exining a problem. You understand when you hear it, err when you attempt it, and nk out during the test! [1]


    <i>Inheritances are like teachers exining problems.</i> He reflected.


    <i>Only by building a solid foundation, repeatedly grappling with the various Daoprehensionplexities until progress seems impossible, and then receiving an inheritance, can one achieve the best results.</i>


    <i>Just as Zhuo Haiyue said, it''s best to space two inheritances a century apart.</i>


    Wu Yuan wasn''t in a hurry. He nned to cultivate for a long time on the Spacetime Ind. Having already received the opportunity for twenty inheritances, he could take it slow.


    <i>However, the most crucial aspect of the spacetime inheritances is that they allow me to sense a thread of the Law of Time''s fluctuations.</i> Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes.


    He could now perceive the subtle, mysterious fluctuations present in all things around him, which were normally imperceptible. Having detected a trace of them, coupled with his Apotheosis Yuan Soul, Wu Yuan was able to discern them with great rity.


    These fluctuations were like the strings of a harp. If the force wasn''t great enough, they couldn''t be stirred; if it was sufficient, they could be plucked. The force could originate from oneself. It could also stem from Daoprehension.


    <i>Is it like how those with immense power can forcibly shatterws and step into higher spatial dimensions? How even the mighty Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns can perceive the existence of Time fluctuations and even interfere with them, despite notprehending the Law of Time?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Slowing, elerating, or even halting Time fluctuations?</i>


    <i>And if one''s power reaches an inconceivable level, could they perhaps make Time fluctuations flow backward?</i>


    The reversal of time was a question that instinctively urred to any being who contemted the Law of Time.


    ...


    As the years passed, most Taiyuan Divine Court cultivators from thetest batch began to receive their first spacetime inheritance before undertaking spacetime missions one after another.


    Some seeded. Many others failed.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan cultivated steadily, neither rushing nor dawdling.


    asionally, he would exchange insights with other powerhouses from the divine court headquarters in the immortal voidrealm, and he even met with Zhuo Haiyue once. During their conversation, he learned that she had alreadypleted one Sovereign-level mission and was in the midst of her second.


    "Consecutive Sovereign-level missions? Don''t be too reckless," Wu Yuan advised. "Though the fall of a mana body isn''t fatal, it can asionally lead to major trouble."


    "I understand, but without a little risk, how can I, with my mere Sovereign Imprint, hope to catch up to you?" Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan shook his head and chuckled, ceasing his attempts to dissuade her.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, nearly a century had passed.


    <i>In a hall on the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    <i>Hum~</i> Waves of Dao fluctuationspletely enveloped Wu Yuan, who sat in lotus position atop a jade tform. His aura and form were ethereal, appearing as though he no longer resided in this space.


    <i>Space True Intent?</i> Standing at a distance, Star Moon grew increasingly astonished. <i>Just how talented is my master? When he first arrived, he was only at the sixth or seventh-level Domain stage of Space.</i>


    In a mere century, he had broken through numerous bottlenecks and grasped Space True Intent? Such cultivation speed was simply unheard of.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The fluctuations in the hall subsided and everything returned to normal.


    <i>After so long, I''ve finally grasped Space True Intent.</i> A hint of joy glimmered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    It might seem that his progress in the Law of Space was much slowerpared to the Law of Life. But in truth, it was already terrifyingly fast.


    <i>With Space True Intent mastered, even without employing the Law of Life, I now possess sufficient strength. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Over the past century, whether in mana cultivation, mana body creation, or mastery of arcane arts, he had long since reached the pinnacle.


    Yet, why hadn''t he undertaken any spacetime missions? It was because Wu Yuan had always kept his master''s words in mind: his qi refiner self should avoid employing the Law of Life as much as possible. This way, he could better conceal the connection between his identities.


    "Star Moon," Wu Yuan suddenly spoke.


    "Master," Star Moon flew over as a streak of light.


    "Help me apply for a spacetime mission."


    "What level?" Star Moon inquired.


    "Sovereign level."


    1. Feng Xian (the author) is a little too spot on with his analogies ?

 Chapter 670: Spacetime Mission (1)

    <h4>Chapter 670: Spacetime Mission (1)</h4>


    "A Sovereign-level mission?" Star Moon eximed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Master, your cultivation period is short, and your talent is unquestionable, attempting a Sovereign-level mission right away seems far too reckless.


    The masters I''ve served throughout the ages had a failure rate exceeding ny-nine percent for their first Sovereign-level mission," Star Moon stated gravely, speaking from personal experience.


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan smiled. "Didn''t you mention earlier that my missions would typically be less challengingpared to other imprint bearers?"


    "Even the easiest Sovereign-level mission has a minimum difficulty level," Star Moon shook her head. "Moreover, Master, your talent is exceptional, and your power formidable, but spacetime missions are ultimately meant to temper you. It''s impossible for you toplete them all unscathed."


    Wu Yuan nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. Indeed, if mere talent and brief cultivation time were enough to easily ovee Sovereign-level trials, Dao Master Imprint bearers wouldn��t be this rare.


    "In fact, given that you��ve already crystallized the True Intent of Space, I suspect that your mission difficulty won''t decrease at all. It might even be more difficult," Star Moon added, her eyes narrowing with concern.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but chuckle. "I understand. Nevertheless, I''ll still apply for a Sovereign-level mission."


    Star Moon stared at him, dumbfounded. It seemed her words had fallen on deaf ears.


    "Go on," Wu Yuan said, his tone brooking no argument.


    "As you wish," Star Moon replied, seeing no point in further protest. She knew that sometimes, one had to learn things the hard way.


    She gently closed her eyes, and momentster, they fluttered open once more. "Master, the application has been submitted. It could take anywhere from one day to ten years for a mission to be assigned."


    <i>One day? Ten years?</i> Wu Yuan��s brow furrowed slightly.


    From what he knew, spacetime missions were rarely fixed, instead randomly generated based on various conditions across the vast expanse of the Spacetime Dao Realm. Thus, there was always a waiting period, typically ranging from half a year to a year before a mission was issued.


    <i>Continue cultivating. </i>Wu Yuan closed his eyes once more.


    Ever since crystallizing the True Intent of Space, he could perceive the essence of the Law of Space. Coupled with the further strengthening of his soul over the years, his rate ofprehension hadn''t slowed in the slightest even with the influence of Dao Assimtion.


    Time flowed on, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. He had been issued a spacetime mission through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    In a sh, Star Moon appeared by his side. With a wave of her hand, a massive light screen materialized, disying lines of text:


    <i>Sovereign-level Mission: Protect, Confront, Hunt.</i>


    <i>Protect: Safeguard Earth Immortal Yin Yan of the Chong Gu Gxy for one day. During this period, two imprint bearers at the Divided Soul/Dharma Body phase will join forces with you, forming a protection squad.</i>


    <i>Confront: During the protection period, other imprint bearers will form teams to assassinate the target. Their numbers and identities are unknown. Eliminate all attackers.</i>


    <i>Hunt: Afterpleting the protection stage, kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan within one day, while ensuring your own survival for three days.</i>


    <i>Mission Background: The Chong Gu Gxy is a vast continent ruled by Archimmortal Chong Gu. Earth Immortal Yin Yan is a master pill refiner who has just used an array to harvest the lives of over ten billion living beings from severals. He is now using the blood of these beings to refine medicinal pills...</i>


    The light screen continued to disy detailed intelligence about the Chong Gu Gxy.


    <i>Chong Gu Gxy?</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    From what he knew, the Spacetime Dao Realm, a realm created by the Spacetime Dao Master, had an internal structure and operational rules different from ordinary macrocosms.


    The so-called gxies, in terms of spacetime territory size, were on the same scale as immortal continents, spanning tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of light years across.


    Gctic clusters, on the other hand, were truly vast, with maximum diameters spanning from tens of millions to over a hundred million light years, fullyparable to an immortal nation!


    <i>This is my first time epting a Sovereign-level mission, and it turns out to be one with multiple stages. From the looks of it, the core of this Sovereign-level mission is confrontation. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Spacetime missions could generally be divided into four main categories: hunting, confrontation, treasure-seeking, and relic exploration.


    Hunting missions often involved eliminating a specific immortal cultivator or group of cultivators.


    Confrontation missions were those where the Spacetime Ind would select different imprint bearers who applied for the same mission level and pit them against each other.


    Treasure-seeking missions involved searching for specific mission items.


    Relic exploration missions were the rarest and most mysterious of all, with dangers spanning all levels, making them the most unpredictable type of spacetime mission.


    From the intelligence provided, Wu Yuan could easily deduce that the core of this Sovereign mission was a confrontation and battle to the death with other imprint bearers. Walking the razor''s edge between life and death was indeed an excellent form of stimtion.


    <i>Their aim is assassination, while mine is protection. Inevitably, one side must fail.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    <i>However, this Earth Immortal Yin Yan is truly unfortunate. First, he''s to be hunted by a group of imprint bearers. And after I protect him for a day, my mission is also to kill him? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, bemused by the apparent contradiction.


    He truly couldn''t fathom the Spacetime Ind''s reasoning. If the goal was simply to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan, why go through such a roundabout process?


    <i>But that''s none of my concern.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself as he continued to read through the mission details. <i>Enter any spacetime teleportation array within one day?</i>


    After a moment of contemtion, a figure in white robes suddenly appeared beside Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self. His appearance, attire, and vital aura were identical to Wu Yuan��s, indistinguishable in every way.


    This was the mana body Wu Yuan had cultivated, the hallmark of the Divided Soul phase, and the main reason why countless immortal cultivators referred to them as ��immortals''.


    "Greetings, Daoist," the white-robed mana body and the qi refiner self suddenly spoke in unison, startling Star Moon.


    Then, both the mana body and the true self broke into smiles.


    <i>It''s truly uncanny. At first nce, this mana body is just like another true self. </i>Wu Yuan observed, studying the mana body intently.


    However, Wu Yuan was well aware of the fundamental differences between a mana body and a true self.


    The two true selves were genuinely independent entities. If one was destroyed, the other could still exist eternally. As time passed and the different true selves grew stronger, the karmic connections between them would weaken.


    By the time one reached the Tribtion/Universe Architect phase, even attacks of karma and destiny would struggle to affect the other true self, their effects negligible.


    If one true self was destroyed, the other couldn''t cultivate it anew. In contrast, the qi refiner��s mana body or the body refiner��s ether body existed as extensions of their respective true selves.


    If a mana body or ether body perished, the true self they belonged to usually wouldn''t be greatly affected, and a new mana body or ether body could be cultivated. However, if the true self died, the cultivated mana body or ether body would instantly perish as well.


    <i>For normal immortal cultivators with second or third-degree immortal roots, the base power of their mana body or ether body can reach ny percent of their true self��s.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self observed, examining the characteristics of the mana body. <i>But for those with first-degree immortal roots, the mana body''s base power can rival that of the true self.</i>


    This was the advantage of a first-degree immortal root. With a wless amethyst cradle, coupled with Wu Yuan''s powerful Voidspace and the near-perfect mana body cultivation technique, it was only natural that he could cultivate the most perfect and powerful mana body.


    There were only two disparities. First was the soul. The soul power of the mana body was far inferior to that of the true self, typically excelling in defense but significantly weaker in terms of offense.


    <i>The mana bodies of other immortal cultivators have weak souls.</i> Wu Yuan mused, a faint smile ying on his lips. <i>But mine?</i>


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self possessed an incredibly formidable soul. Even though his mana body''s soul was much weaker, this was only inparison to his true self. In objective terms, it was not to be underestimated.


    The second disparityy in lifebound artifacts. Typically, mana bodies didn''t carry lifebound artifacts or other precious treasures. Otherwise, if they were to perish and these items were lost, the loss would be too great.


    <i>This first Sovereign-level mission will allow me to test the waters. </i>Wu Yuan decided. <i>There''s no need to carry any significant treasures. I''ll just bring some spirion equipment and an ordinary flying sword. If I fail, the loss won''t be substantial.</i>


    It wasn''t that Wu Yuan was unwilling to carry more flying swords. With his wealth of divine crystals, purchasing several low-grade celestial flying swords wouldn''t be difficult. However, an Earth Immortal''s mana was limited. Unless it was a lifebound flying sword, it would be challenging to wield an additional celestial sword effectively.


    <i>Let''s go. </i>The white-robed mana body moved in an instant, flying out of the hall. It swiftly soared towards the spacetime teleportation arrays floating above the continent.


    Inside the hall, Star Moon eximed, "Master, this mana body of yours gives me a terrifying feeling. I''ve seen some ninth-stage Earth Immortal true selves that weren''t this frightening."


    "Haha," Wu Yuan''s qi refiner selfughed. "Whether it''s powerful or not isn''t important. What matters is whether it canplete this spacetime mission."


    As his mana body departed, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self remained in the hall, cultivating quietly.


    This was precisely why some ancient beings were difficult to kill for good even after eons of adventure and battle.


    The mana body could rise again and again after falling in battle, and there were many who exercised extreme caution, keeping their true selves hidden safely away. They never left their hiding spots, only sending their mana bodies out. As long as the true self did not perish, one could stageeback aftereback.


    ...


    <i>Hum!</i> As Wu Yuan''s mana body entered the teleportation hall, a hazy fluctuation enveloped him and a voice echoed in his ears: "For normal teleportation, select a destination. Or are you embarking on a spacetime mission?"


    "Spacetime mission," Wu Yuan''s mana body answered.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> An invisible force enveloped him, and in an instant, Wu Yuan''s mana body felt a massive distance opening up between him and his true self. This force was vast and magnificent,pletely beyond his ability to resist. Silence and emptiness surrounded him.


    <i>This is not the Vacuum Spatial Layer, but rather the mission waiting area. </i>Wu Yuan deduced.


    For solo missions, the difficulty and restrictions were usually not too high. For group missions, there would be more limitations.


    A good half of the day went by.


    Suddenly, two silhouettes silently materialized beside Wu Yuan. They too immediately sensed his presence.


    The three perceived each other''s auras. Two Earth Immortals and one Earth Deity. The Earth Deity was also of the body refiner cultivation system, though unlike the Earth Eldritch, they generally did not cultivate lifebound eldritch beasts.


    "You are... Ming Jian?" The burly youth d in special metal armor fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan, his eyes lighting up. "I''ve seen you in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm and heard tales of your exploits, Dao Master Imprint bearer."

 Chapter 671: Spacetime Mission (2)

    <h4>Chapter 671: Spacetime Mission (2)</h4>


    "What, you''re the newly arrived Dao Master Imprint bearer? Ming Jian?" The purple-robed girl''s eyes shed with surprise.


    Evidently, while she had not met Wu Yuan before, she had heard of him.


    Wu Yuan had already resided on the Spacetime Ind for a hundred years. Though he rarely made appearances, basic information about him had long spread far and wide. Any imprint bearer would pay close attention to such intelligence.


    "It seems you both know of me, so I''ll skip the self-introduction," Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoists, please introduce yourselves."


    Wu Yuan could only be certain of one thing �C these two were likely not from the Taiyuan Divine Court faction. Of the over eight million imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan had only met a small fraction of them.


    "Hehe, since you don��t recognize me, let''s follow the usual convention. You can call me Metal Devil," the man in special metal armorughed. "I specialize in the Law of Metal, and within the Law of Space, Iprehend the Law of Spatial Rift. My strength lies in attacks."


    Metal Devil? Wu Yuan nodded slightly. This was an unspoken rule �C if teammates didn''t recognize each other during a spacetime mission, they would generally use code names. Wu Yuan was simply too famous.


    "Then call me Purple Secret," the purple-robed girl smiled. "I specialize in the Law of Water, and within the Law of Space, Iprehend the Law of True Domain. I excel at domains."


    Having spoken, they both looked to Wu Yuan.


    "I specialize in the Law of Space," Wu Yuan said tly.


    This caused Metal Devil and Purple Secret to exchange a nce, both frowning slightly. Under normal circumstances, imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind would not solely cultivate the Law of Space. Moreover, the Law of Space was mostly used as a supplementary ability.


    Although they were only temporary allies and thus wouldn''t fully reveal their true capabilities, it wasmon courtesy to give a general idea of one��s abilities to facilitate cooperation. In their view, Wu Yuan seemed somewhat uncooperative.


    Wu Yuan naturally understood what the two were thinking, but couldn''t be bothered to exin further.


    "Alright!" Metal Devil suddenly smiled. "Fellow Daoist Ming Jian, though you''re a Dao Master Imprint bearer, I believe this is your first or second spacetime mission. I''vepleted over a hundred spacetime missions. This time, let me serve as temporary captain. Any objections?"


    "None."


    "Go ahead." Wu Yuan and Purple Secret naturally had no objections. Captain was merely a title with no real authority.


    "Mm." Metal Devil nodded. "The difficulty of this mission may vary among us, but our mission objective is the same.


    The mission is divided into two stages. The first stage is to protect Earth Immortal Yin Yan. The second stage is to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    ording to the information provided, Earth Immortal Yin Yan is at a critical stage of pill refining. He hails from a major sect with High Immortals in their ranks. Though these sectsck Archimmortals behind them, they are still affiliated with other Archimmortal sects," Metal Devil said.


    Wu Yuan and Purple Secret both nodded.


    For weaker sects to survive, they usually had to rely onrger sects. Complete independence? That only existed in dreams.


    "Normal protection missions are actually much easier toplete because we don''t have to rely solely on our own strength, but can ''borrow power'' by informing the sect backing Earth Immortal Yin Yan." Metal Devil''s gaze swept over the other two.


    "This way, leveraging the great power of the Chong Gu Gxy''s forces, we can have his sect dispatch Earth Immortals or even High Immortals to protect Earth Immortal Yin Yan," Metal Devil said.


    "But that won''t work this time." Wu Yuan shook his head decisively. "The more powerful the protectors they dispatch, the more trouble we''ll haveter."


    "Exactly." Metal Devil nodded. "Because after protecting him, we still need to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan, so we can''t borrow external power. If Earth Immortal Yin Yan is under the heavy protection of numerous immortals, our chances of escaping would be very low even if we manage to kill him.


    Therefore, for the first stage of the mission, we need to aplish two things: prevent Earth Immortal Yin Yan from dying, and take advantage of the hunters to strip away Earth Immortal Yin Yan��sbat capabilities as far as possible.��


    "You want us to minimize exposing our true strength?" Purple Secret mused. "That bnce will be difficult to strike. If we reveal too little power, Earth Immortal Yin Yan might easily be killed. But if we show too much strength, Earth Immortal Yin Yan might retain enough power to resist, making the assassination stage troublesome."


    "This is precisely where the mission''s difficulty lies..."


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret went back and forth, with Wu Yuan asionally chiming in. The three swiftly formted a detailed n, each step linking tightly with the next.


    Spacetime missions tested not just raw power, but also wisdom and strategic nning �C using limited intelligence to extrapte the situation and construct numerous contingency ns.


    After a long while, they had hashed out numerous ns.


    ��There are no ring oversights, no need to drag this out until the day''s end. Spacetime Spirit, we request to descend.�� Metal Devil called out loudly.


    "Do you confirm your descent?" A cold, impassive voice echoed simultaneously in the minds of Wu Yuan and Purple Secret. The approval of every team member was required.


    "Confirm!"


    "Confirm!"


    <i>Rumble~</i> A surging, magnificent, and bizarre power instantly enveloped the three of them, swiftly sweeping them into an extremely high spatial dimension before they rapidly descended.


    These were the rolling tides of dimensional space. Wu Yuan, who had crystallized True Intent, felt his heart tremble as he perceived them with utmost rity.


    And swiftly, as the dimensional descent proceeded, Wu Yuan understood that they had arrived at the Chong Gu Gxy. The spacetime mission was about to begin.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret made up the protection team and descended into the Chong Gu Gxy.


    Meanwhile, at the far end of the spacetime teleportation array, twelve figures sat in a dark region of space. Ten Divided Soul cultivators and two Dharma Body cultivators meditated silently, as if they had been waiting for a long time.


    Suddenly, all twelve received a notification and opened their eyes in unison.


    "The mission will begin in a quarter hour," a silver-haired youth who seemed to be the leader said in a low voice.


    "Let me give a final reminder. Our mission is a hunting mission. We have twelve people, while they only have three. At the same time, they will only arrive a quarter-hour before us. Such a short time is insufficient for them to leverage the help of other factions.


    This means the battle will likely only involve our team, their team, and Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    For confrontation missions, the overall strength of both sides is kept equal. This strength includes one''s own power as well as the advantages that can be borrowed from terrain and timing.


    So for this mission, the other side may have an incredibly terrifying powerhouse, or perhaps each of them will far surpass us in strength. Therefore, we must fight with everything we have. Only by giving it our all do we have a chance ofpleting the mission, the silver-haired youth said coldly. "This is an Elite-level mission for me, while it��s a Sovereign-level mission for all of you..."


    The hearts of the other eleven grew heavy. Though their numbers far exceeded the enemy''s, they were mostly on Sovereign-level missions. This indicated that the foes they were about to face were incredibly formidable.


    "Don��t forget the six ns we��ve discussed. Remember, killing Earth Immortal Yin Yan takes top priority," the silver-haired youth said. "Enchantress, we''re counting on you."


    "Mm." A woman in red robes nodded.


    Time ticked by as the twelve-person team waited silently for the moment of descent.


    All had made their preparations for battle.


    ...


    The Chonggu Gxy was a colossal expanse. Within its bounds, billions of celestial bodies sparkled against the darkness.


    Among these countless stars ands, the number of hospitable worlds were few, yet they sustained the lives of a multitude of beings, nurturing a thriving cultivation civilization that spanned the entire gxy.


    The gxy was ruled by the lofty Archimmortal Chong Gu, while numerous High Immortals and Earth Immortals held dominion over vast territories.


    The Jiu Yan Star was a massive celestial body over a million li in diameter, meticulously transformed to serve as the stronghold of Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan was a renowned master pill refining in this cultivation world. He hailed from a great sect, yet for reasons unknown, he seldom returned to his sect, preferring instead to seclude himself within the Jiu Yan Star.


    In the core region of the celestial bodyy an enormous space, over ten thousand li in diameter, where shes of light danced and countless Dao patterns materialized, evidently part of an incredibly powerful array.


    The space was awash with rivers of magma, causing the temperature to soar to terrifying heights.


    At the center of this space stood a colossal pill-refining furnace, now pulsing with waves of light, clearly at a critical juncture of the pill refining process.


    A middle-aged man in ck Daoist robes and a long beard sat in lotus position before the furnace, channeling an endless stream of mana into it.


    By his side crouched two massive beasts, one ck and one white, both exuding overwhelmingly powerful auras, clearly spirit beasts he had tamed.


    Not far away stood a series of slumbering puppets, though these puppets seemed to require manual control.


    At the edge of this space, a group of Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators meditated silently, disciples or followers of Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Earth Immortal Yin Yan, who had his eyes closed, abruptly opened them, a flicker of shock crossing his gaze.


    He sensed an incredibly strange power, seemingly bypassing all the defenses he hadid, directly prating the''s core. In its wake, three figures exuding powerful auras materialized within the space.


    "Who goes there?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s eyes turned cold. "Have youe for revenge?"


    He understood the gravity of his actions; to refine these medicinal pills, he had gone on a true massacre, devastating numerous hospitable worlds.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A figure suddenly darted out from his body. It was none other than his mana body. As it charged forward, waves of Earth Immortal-level mana surged outward, awakening the slumbering puppets around him, their auras ring.


    Masters of pill refining and equipment forging often excelled at controlling puppets.


    "Intruders."


    "Who?"


    "This is bad." The two spirit beasts also sensed the threat. Their eyes snapped open, their auras erupting.


    Simultaneously, the Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses meditating at the edge of the space reacted with shock and fear. From the overwhelming aura of the intruders, they were undoubtedly Earth Immortals.


    Everything unfolded in an instant. As Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body shot out, he activated the��s array without hesitation.


    <i>Boom! </i>Countless Dao patterns materialized, forming a barrier that enveloped everything in a thousand li of the furnace. The barrier''s surface zed with dazzling light, coalescing into two terrifyingly powerful lightning bolts that exploded outward.


    Their might was earth-shattering, sweeping across ten thousand li. In terms of raw power, it nearly reached the High Immortal phase, striking directly at the newly arrived Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Phantom.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan didn''t consider the possibility that they came with good intentions. This was his stronghold; the likelihood of these powerful intruders being enemies exceeded ny-nine percent.


    If they were friendly parties, they would have at least sent word from outside the.


    "Earth Immortal Yin Yan, we are spacetime imprint bearers! We''vee to protect you. Stay calm." Purple Secret''s eerie voice echoed throughout the space.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Simultaneously, a stream of golden light materialized, appearing to rend space as it flew forth to meet the two lightning bolts.

 Chapter 672: Celestial Array (1)

    <h4>Chapter 672: Celestial Array (1)</h4>


    A region spanning ten thousand li might seem vast, but for a sh between Earth Immortals, it was rather cramped.


    In an instant, dazzling golden light collided with surging, violent lightning.


    <i>Boom! </i>The sh sent shockwaves in all directions. Space itself seemed to warp as the impact struck the edge of the ten-thousand-li barrier, causing it to shudder and tear.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Streams of water flowed around Purple Secret, their surface shimmering with ethereal light, effortlessly shielding her, Metal Devil, and Wu Yuan.


    <i>Abination of the Law of True Domain and the Law of Water? </i>Wu Yuan keenly observed.


    <i>Indeed, those arranged to team up with me are not to be underestimated. Purple Secret''s domain is no weaker than the Tribtion Domain of an ordinary High Immortal.</i>


    <i>Metal Devil, being a body refiner, is equally formidable in long-range attacks.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    The Law of Water excelled in its unending flow, while the Law of True Domain was the most adept at creating domains among the three Intermediate Laws of Space. Combined, they made for an exceptionally powerful domain.


    As Wu Yuan delved deeper into the Law of Space, he began to understand why so many peerless geniuses from various factions sought toprehend the Law of Space, even if only as a secondary pursuit.


    The Law of Space was the foundation of all Daos and all things. Any Law could be easilybined with the Law of Space, greatly enhancing one''s power.


    Moreover, the Law of Space was inherently crucial, especially forbat and traversal in higher spatial dimensions, making it highly valued by powerhouses.


    However, those truly proficient in and specializing in the Law of Space were extremely rare. To Wu Yuan''s knowledge, Astral Monarchs of Space were fewer than one in a thousand among Astral Monarch-level powerhouses.


    <i>Ssh~</i> Purple Secret''s strength was immense, easily blocking the shockwaves. But these residual shockwaves caused the faces of the nearby followers and disciples of Earth Immortal Yin Yan to pale, revealing looks of despair.


    "Roar~"


    <i>Boom!</i> The two beasts, one ck and one white, emitted low growls as they rapidly expanded to immense sizes. Drawing on the array''s power, they positioned themselves on either side, ready to block the iing shockwave.


    Yet the aftershocks still tore the skin and flesh of the two-winged, four-legged beasts, sttering their blood. Their expressions twisted in pain.


    The difference in power was clear!


    <i>Hmm?</i> Earth Immortal Yin Yan, who had activated the array barrier, narrowed his pupils in shock.


    This was the core of his stronghold. Although he had only activated the first level of the array, its power wasparable to a High Immortal''s attack. Logically, it should have easily killed several Earth Immortals. Yet its attack was effortlessly blocked?


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan might have heard the ims of these intruders, but how could he believe them easily?


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Dozens of figures shot out like lightning. Their bodies were metallic, wreathed in mes, and they wielded curved sabers!


    Empowered by the array and controlled by Earth Immortal Yin Yan, the puppets howled as they charged towards Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret.


    "Since you refuse the toast, you''ll have to drink the forfeit.�� Purple Secret finally lost her temper, a cold glint shing across her face.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Purple chains suddenly sprouted from her arms. The chains were ice-cold, channeling immense power. Like giant snakes enhanced by streams of flowing water, their might swelled to terrifying levels.


    <i>Thud!</i> <i>Thud! Thud! </i>In a series of lightning-fast collisions, the agile chains easily sent the Earth Deity-level puppets flying.


    <i>Crack~</i> Two of the purple chains intersected, instantly shredding one of the puppets into countless pieces. It stood no chance.


    "What?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s expression changed drastically, finally realizing that the strength of the intruders far surpassed his own. In a normal confrontation, he was no match for them.


    To win? The only way was to activate all three levels of the array in his''s stronghold. With the array''s full power, he might have a glimmer of hope. But doing so would mean abandoning this batch of medicinal pills, and he was currently at a critical point in pill refining.


    <i>Give up on refining the pills?</i> A chill ran down Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s spine as he thought of that terrifying existence.


    Almost instantly, he sent out his distress signal: "High Immortal Zhuo Hao, I need help! I''m under attack by what seem to be Spacetime Ind imprint bearers. Please assist!"


    He received the transmission from the intruders stating that they were there to protect him. However, as an Earth Immortal with years of experience, Yin Yan couldn''t blindly ce his trust in them.


    "Fellow Daoists, I admire your formidable strength. However, I don��t recall meeting you previously, nor forming any grudges with you," Earth Immortal Yin Yan said in a low voice, still keeping the array active but no longer attacking. "Are you Daoists from the Spacetime Ind here to carry out a spacetime mission? Am I the target?"


    Over countless years, generations of Spacetime Ind imprint bearers had carried out spacetime missions throughout the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Their strength was immense and they wielded an endless variety of techniques, infamous among the countless powerhouses of the entire Spacetime Dao Realm. Of course, this infamy was generally limited to those above the Earth Immortal phase.


    Despite Earth Immortal Yin Yan��s notorious deeds over tens of thousands of years of cultivation, he had never encountered a Spacetime Ind imprint bearer, only hearing of them.


    He had learned some basic information from his sect��when facing Spacetime Ind imprint bearers, it was best to avoid conflict if possible if one was below Archimmortal-level strength.


    "I''m sure you understand that it would be difficult for us to intrude into your ce by relying solely on our own power," Metal Devil said in a low voice.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan remained silent.


    This was a key reason he believed the other party''s im of being imprint bearers. He was quite confident in his personal stronghold��s defenses. Unless one could enter a higher spatial dimension, even a High Immortal couldn''t sneak in without a sound.


    Only the Spacetime Ind faction possessed such inconceivable spacetime abilities. Those from the faction were said to be nurtured with great meticulousness by the legendary Spacetime Dao Master who had created the realm.


    Yes, the Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm might know the secrets of the Spacetime Ind, but ordinary Earth Immortals and High Immortals were unaware. In their eyes, the Spacetime Ind was simply a faction under the Dao Master.


    "Yin Yan, just so you know, my strength is the weakest among us three," Purple Secret suddenly spoke, her voice cold. "If we truly get into a fight, you will certainly die. Our spacetime mission is to protect you."


    "The weakest? Protect me?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan grew even more rmed.


    The weakest one in their team was already this strong?


    "Another team of Spacetime Ind imprint bearers is about to arrive to kill you, and their strength far surpasses ours," Metal Devil said coldly. "This is a confrontation mission, and you are their elimination target."


    "A confrontation mission? I''m the target?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan truly panicked.


    He wasn''t stupid. A moment''s deduction made things clear. The chances of the intruders deceiving him were very low, and there was a 99% probability that the attacking team''s strength would be terrifying. After all, if they couldn''t even defeat these three before him, how could they kill him?


    "Alright, I believe you," Earth Immortal Yin Yan gritted his teeth. "What do you want me to do? I''m at a critical moment in pill refining and can''t abandon it."


    Metal Devil, Wu Yuan, and Purple Secret exchanged nces.


    "Release full control of your arrays to us," Purple Secret said coldly. "Your strength is too weak. In my hands, the array''s power will increase severalfold."


    This was their n. The primary objective was to take control of the array.


    "Impossible!" Earth Immortal Yin Yan shook his head firmly. "My array can only be controlled by me. At most, I can grant you first-level ess.


    Additionally, you must leave my and face the enemy outside," Earth Immortal Yin Yan stared at them.


    "It��s fine if you don��t want to hand over the array controls," Metal Devil shook his head. "However, we will only stand guard here. We won''t go out to meet the enemy."


    This was a negotiation.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan wanted Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and the others to leave the core of his stronghold, then have them and the hunting team wear each other down.


    But without gaining control of the array, how could Metal Devil and the others let him have his way?


    "How can I trust you like this?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan said through gritted teeth. "How can I be sure your ultimate goal isn''t me? Or my medicinal pills? Once my array is shattered and the core barrier is broken, I''ll be amb for the ughter."


    The stronghold''s arrays were interconnected. The reason Earth Immortal Yin Yan still had some confidence was the array barrier surrounding his true self and the thousand-li area around the pill furnace. This barrier was his strongest defense measure. However, once the numerous outer arrays of the were breached, the power of the barrier would greatly diminish.


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret both frowned slightly at this old fox.


    "Yin Yan." Wu Yuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "You have no choice but to trust us."

 Chapter 673: Celestial Array (2)

    <h4>Chapter 673: Celestial Array (2)</h4>


    A flying sword had already pierced through the barrier without any prior warning, barely a hundred li from Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s true self.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan nched. "A cross-dimensional strike?"


    Only a cross-dimensional strike could ignore the barrier!


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret were also slightly shocked. Assimting a weapon into a higher spatial dimension was easier than entering it with one''s physical body, but it was still extremely difficult. At the very least, neither of them could do it.


    At this moment, Metal Devil and Purple Secret simultaneously recalled what Wu Yuan had said earlier: "I specialize in the Law of Space." It seemed he hadn��t been lying after all.


    "Yin Yan, I''ve always been reasonable. What do you think?" Wu Yuan''s voice was cold, echoing through space.


    "Daoist, your proposal is...very reasonable. I believe you," Earth Immortal Yin Yan��s mana body wore a strained, awkward smile. ��You may stand guard outside the barrier, and I��ll grant you first-level authority over the array.��


    "Hm, very good." Wu Yuan nodded, and with a thought, the flying sword slipped silently back through the void.


    ...


    "A cross-dimensional strike. Brother Ming Jian is truly extraordinary."


    "With this, killing Yin Yanter will be a walk in the park." Metal Devil and Purple Secret transmitted their voices in session.


    The threemunicated via Soul Will.


    "It won��t be that easy," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "Just now, he only activated the first level of the array, which allowed my sneak attack to seed. During an actual battle, he��ll certainly initiate the array��s second level.


    Based on my observation, if the defense array of this is fully activated, it can hinder the descent of objects and spatial expansion from higher spatial dimensions," Wu Yuan exined.


    Entering a higher spatial dimension didn��t grant absolute invincibility. There were still countermeasures��just that they were difficult to implement.


    "It''s not that hard," Metal Devil chuckled. ��If a fight breaks out, Purple Secret can distract and protect, I��ll attack from the front, and Brother Ming Jian can handle ambushes.��


    "Mm." Purple Secret nodded.


    Previously, they��d felt some dissatisfaction with Wu Yuan, but now they were genuinely impressed. His ability to send a sword into a higher dimension made him the deadliest type of assassin below the Archimmortal level.


    Time passed.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan sensed something, his gaze sharpening. ��The team of imprint bearers on their hunting mission is here. There are twelve of them, already two million li away."


    They had all received level one authority over the arrays. Combined with his mastery over the True Intent of Space, it could be said that no significant spatial fluctuations could escape Wu Yuan''s perception within a radius of ten million li.


    "Twelve people?"


    "How fast." Metal Devil and Purple Secret immediately raised their vignce.


    They also felt a growing admiration for Wu Yuan. Although they could also probe their surroundings through the array, they hadn''t detected anything at all.


    Wu Yuan''s perceptive ability was simply inconceivable.


    ...


    In a region of outer space in the Chong Gu Gxy, a figure radiating a fierce aura emerged from a distant.


    <i>Imprint bearers? A sh? Damn it. How did Yin Yan, an Earth Immortal, get involved in a mission from the Spacetime Ind?</i> The white-robed elderly man''s face was gloomy.


    He was High Immortal Zhuo Hao, ruler of this swath of outer space. He feared no one in the entire Chong Gu Gxy apart from Archimmortal Chong Gu.


    <i>This won''t do. Yin Yan''s medicinal pills are crucial to me. He''s just an Earth Immortal, so this conflict probably only involves cultivators at the Divided Soul or Dharma Body phase. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao quickly analyzed the situation. <i>No matter how strong the imprint bearers at this level, they won��t be absurdly powerful.</i>


    His judgment was a logical one. True peerless geniuses would break through to the Tribtion/Universe Architect phase after cultivating for a few thousand years at the Divided Soul/Dharma Body phase at most. They simply wouldn''t stay at that phase for too long.


    Among High Immortals, some monstrous prodigies could rival or even y Archimmortals. But for Earth Immortals/Earth Deities to rival top High Immortals? That was very difficult.


    <i>These imprint bearers might be geniuses, but the Spacetime Ind won��t seek vengeance on their behalf. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao was much more knowledgeable than Earth Immortal Yin Yan. He was very clear about the inner workings of Spacetime Ind.


    <i>I am a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. I won��t be pushed around by a few kids.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao instantly made a decision.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan��s life wasn��t his concern; he was only interested in the medicinal pills that were about to be refined.


    <i>Boom!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s figure shed as he rushed towards arge teleportation array in the distance. He would be able to reach his destination much faster through teleportation.


    <i>Hmm?</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    He had received another message from Earth Immortal Yin Yan: another team of imprint bearers from Spacetime Ind had already begun their assault.


    ...


    The team of twelve imprint bearer hunters, led by a silver-haired youth and a red-robed girl, arrived andunched their attack without dy.


    The silver-haired youth coordinated with four Earth Immortals, gathering spiritual qi as array disks appeared beneath their feet.


    The array disks activated, generatingyer uponyer of Dao patterns, forming a divine beast with an overwhelming aura. Its body glistened with silver, and it had four legs and four ws. Though its body appeared slender, its presence was deeply menacing, especially the ws, which gleamed like des.


    "The Scimitar Divine Beast?" Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret, who were standing at the core of the, instantly recognized it.


    This was an extremely powerful divine beast. Although it was only a battle array, its power was still terrifying.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>The Scimitar Divine Beast moved, its four ws sweeping across the sky, charging headlong toward the massive.


    The two Earth Deities also grew to ten thousand zhangs in height, nking the divine beast with weapons in hand.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The five Earth Immortals following behind each unleashed their arcane arts, some using domains and arrays, others activating artifacts, each disying powerful abilities.


    In an instant, they unleashed chaos.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The ten Earth Immortals and two Earth Deitiesunched a terrifying offensive, causing the heaven and earth to change in hue.


    The entire suddenly erupted with power, unleashing brilliant mes to block the assault. But how could it possibly stop them? The Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities plowed forward effortlessly.


    The two Earth Deities, one wielding a battle saber, the other swinging a war hammer, easily struck the attacks of the massive array aside.


    The Scimitar Divine Beast''s attacks were incredibly fearsome, but it was ultimately formed by five Earth Immortals through a celestial array, not a real divine beast, so its defense was rtively fragile.


    The Earth Deities were different, shrugging off weaker attacks, while the five Earth Immortals behind them wreaked havoc.


    ��Don��t enter the core yet. Tear apart the outer region and destroy all the array bases,�� the red-robed girl instructed.


    Moving as one, they advanced steadily, pressing forward several hundred thousand li, nearing the��s core.


    ...


    "I''ve already activated the second level of the array, but it won''t hold for long." Earth Immortal Yin Yan��s mana body strained, his eyes red with tension. "That Scimitar Divine Beast has strength rivaling a powerful High Deity. They��ll break through.


    If you three don''t act now, the array will soon bepletely destroyed."


    If he could divert all the��s power to the array, it wouldn''t be breached so quickly, but in order to maintain the pill refining process, most of its power was concentrated in the core.


    "This team of hunters is a bit too strong." Purple Secret watched them warily.


    ��They are indeed powerful. Judging by the strength of those two Earth Deities, they��re not far from my level. The Scimitar Divine Beast��s power isn��t much different from mine.�� Metal Devil��s tone was low.


    They found the situation odd; logically, in confrontations between imprint bearer teams, the overall strength shouldn''t differ too greatly. Otherwise, it wouldn��t be much of a confrontation.


    Yet, they continued holding back, studying the enemy��s tactics, seeking the best moment to strike.


    <i>Boom!</i> Another array base shattered, causing the entire to tremble.


    "Why aren''t you engaging?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan��s voice rose in desperation. "If you don''t act now, the array will be rendered useless!"


    Metal Devil, Purple Secret, and Wu Yuan exchanged a silent look.


    "Let''s go!" Metal Devil''s voice rumbled.


    In an instant, he transformed into a streak of light, bursting forth from the core of the. His form swelled to a towering height of ten thousand zhangs, his entire body gleaming with golden radiance.


    Nine arms branched from his body, each gripping a saber, as he let out a battle cry and charged toward the Scimitar Divine Beast.


    Metal Devil''s aura surged like a tidal wave, de rays whistling through the air as he lunged at the Scimitar Divine Beast.


    ��You��ve finally shown yourselves,�� the Scimitar Divine Beast growled in eerie glee, letting out a guttural roar. Its ws raked the air, shing fiercely with Metal Devil��s assault.

 Chapter 674: Sword Cleaves The Void (1)

    <h4>Chapter 674: Sword Cleaves The Void (1)</h4>


    The Scimitar Divine Beast loomed equally colossal, rising to a daunting ten thousand zhangs. Its four razor-sharp ws gleamed like divine sabers, each one slicing fiercely through the air toward Metal Devil in a flurry of deadly shes.


    The two mighty beings collided in an instant.


    In that moment, de rays crisscrossed throughout heaven and earth. The fearsome shockwaves from their battle further damaged the already crumbling, causing fragments to break apart.


    Metal Devil swung his nine battle sabers with deadly force, yet the Scimitar Divine Beast moved with an uncanny, almost ghostly agility. Its movement skills allowed it to evade each strike, withstanding Metal Devil��s attacks.


    "We can withstand him."


    "Who is this Earth Deity? I''ve never seen him before. He seems to cultivate the Law of Metal, but isn''t as strong as we imagined."


    "Kill!" The silver-haired youth, who led the four Earth Immortals and piloted the celestial battle array, was quite cautious at first. But once they engaged inbat, he and his teammates realized Metal Devil was far weaker than they had anticipated.


    "Die."


    "Fall!" The two powerful Earth Immortals brandished their battle sabers and warhammers,unching their attacks on Metal Devil with the speed and force of lightning. They moved swiftly, surrounding him with lethal precision.


    "Go!"


    "Kill this Earth Deity first!" Five more Earth Immortals, hot on the heels of their teammates, unleashed their own techniques. Weapons and arcane arts surged forth in a terrifying disy of overwhelming power.


    Metal Devil''s aura red as he engaged in intense battle. However, despite his strength, thebined might of the twelve imprint bearers quickly began to overwhelm him. He was forced back, wave after wave of attacks striking him, blood flying from his lips with every blow.


    Individually, Metal Devil was stronger than any of the Earth Immortals surrounding him. But their coordinated assault left him struggling to keep up. The grand ether art he cultivated excelled at offense, and could only unleash its full potential when one maintained an advantage in battle. His position quickly grew precarious.


    ��Water! Frost Immortal Chains!" Purple Secret''s voice cut through the chaos as she drew on the power of the''s array, enhancing her strength.


    A deafening nging echoed as chains appeared, shimmering with a blue, frosty flowing light. Each chain was like a hundred thousand li-long dragon, emitting a freezing cold aura. Theyshed out in all directions, quickly enveloping the Scimitar Divine Beast and two Earth Deities.


    The sheer power of the chains altered the very atmosphere. Purple Secret had spent thest quarter hour diligently deciphering the array controls, merging it with her own artifacts to unleash her strongest attack.


    "Not good!"


    "Block it!" The expressions of the Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities twisted in rm as they sensed the terrifying power of the chains.


    "What a formidable Earth Immortal.��


    "That''s Fairy Zi Han. I recognize her!" an Earth Immortal from the hunting team identified Purple Secret. With openmunication and frequent exchanges of information over the years, it was not umon for the eight million imprint bearers to identify each other.


    "Quick, stop her!" one of the five Earth Immortals from the hunting team shouted. Three of them immediately shifted their focus from attacking Metal Devil to countering Purple Secret''s onught, leaving him temporarily unchallenged.


    Earth Deities had incredibly strong vitality. Unless one had an overwhelming advantage, it was almost impossible to kill them in a short time.


    The three Earth Immortals quickly neutralized Purple Secret''s frost chains with arcane arts and arrays. Theirbined efforts allowed them to gain the upper hand, scattering her attacks and pushing back her domain, rendering her unable to assist Metal Devil.


    The remaining two Earth Immortals cast defensive arcane arts. Powerful artifacts circled around them, protecting their team. Although it seemed like a slow process, the reality was that in just one exchange, Metal Devil and Purple Secret, despite their efforts, had already fallen into a disadvantageous position. Metal Devil��s situation was particrly dire, having been surrounded by enemies.


    "Kill them.��


    "This mission isn''t as difficult as we thought. These two are strong, but they are far from fullyprehending a Dao, and their artifacts are average. They can''t withstand us."


    "Let''s finish off Zi Han first.��


    "Be cautious, though. There''s still one who hasn''t made a move."


    "Don''t worry. Thatst one seems hesitant, he hasn''t even summoned his artifacts yet. But we''ll be careful." The team''s telepathic exchange revealed their overwhelming confidence.


    In terms of Daoprehension, even their weakest matched a Third Tribtion High Immortal, with most at the peak-stage High Immortal level. Even though only their mana bodies were participating in this mission, they could still unleash High Immortal-levelbat power.


    By sheer coincidence, none of them had recognized Wu Yuan, whose features had changed slightly since his appearance in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    Metal Devil coughed a mouthful of blood as the Scimitar Divine Beast and another Earth Deity joined forces, sending him flying back. The situation was growing even more dire.


    "Kill him!"


    "Destroy him!" The twelve-member hunting team sensed an opportunity. Even the two Earth Immortals responsible for defense could no longer hold themselves back, manipting their artifacts to attack, eager to finish Metal Devil in one decisive blow. If they could st his body to pieces, it would be much easier to kill him.


    "Ming Jian," Metal Devil''s anxious voice resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Now''s our chance," Purple Secret urged him as well.


    Wu Yuan, who had been hanging back and observing the situation, knew the moment to strike had arrived. The Earth Immortals in charge of defense had changed their focus to attacking, leaving them vulnerable.


    <i>Indeed, this is our chance. </i>Wu Yuan thought, his gaze calm.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> In the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, a higher spatial dimension invisible to the others, spatial fragments collided, creating turbulent currents. Wu Yuan could perceive this all with ease. If he wished, he could step directly into this higher dimension.


    Currently hidden in this turbulent space were eighty-one spirion flying swords, poised for a deadly strike. Wu Yuan had sent them into the higher spatial dimension in advance, waiting for the right moment to unleash them.


    <i>A cross-dimensional strike, attacking an opponent in a lower dimension from a higher one. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>It��s impossible to defend against. With space expanding ten-thousandfold per dimension, the flying swords appear to teleport from one position to another. </i>


    This was the terrifying nature of the Space Dao.


    Laws like Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth were powerful, but they merely increased one��s power level. The Law of Space, however, was a leap in dimensionality.


    It was divided into three Intermediate Laws. If one onlyprehended the Qiankun Dao, one��s movements would be mysterious and unpredictable. But if one also mastered the True Domain Dao and Spatial Rift Dao, it was different. The Spatial Rift Dao in particr allowed one to unleash formidable offensive power once Space True Intent wasprehended.


    <i>Space True Intent rivals Earth True Intent in terms of domain, matches Metal True Intent in offensive power, and surpasses Wind True Intent in speed and dimensional control.</i> Wu Yuan silently observed. <i>This is why it is ranked second among the fifteen Greater Laws, only behind the Law of Time.</i>


    Even without employing the Law of Life, Wu Yuan''s strength had reached a terrifying level thanks to his mastery of Space True Intent.


    <i>It''s time to end this.</i> With a thought, the eighty-one flying swords hidden in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer assembled into a Hundred Swords Array. Maintaining this array in the turbulent higher spatial dimension was difficult. Even with Wu Yuan''s powerful mana, it was barely possible.


    <i>Go!</i> The flying swords moved.


    In the Material Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan stood over a hundred thousand li away from the red-robed girl and the other four Earth Immortals. But in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, they were only separated by about ten li.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The nearly invisible divine sword of Space seemed to pierce through space itself, appearing directly in front of the red-robed girl''s eyes. Wu Yuan sensed that she was particrly powerful.


    <i>Swish! </i>The divine sword traced a dazzling arc, vanishing in a sh as it pierced through the red-robed girl''s skull. Her body and soul were shredded by the terrifying sword qi.


    She fell without even a struggle.


    Wu Yuan had grasped Space True Intent and also held an overwhelming advantage in Daoprehension, mana, and artifacts. Killing an Earth Immortal was too easy.


    <i>ying an Earth Deity would be troublesome, but killing an Earth Immortal?</i> Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head.


    If they had powerful artifacts stabilizing space and isting the higher dimension, they might have been able to guard against his attack. But the two Earth Immortals hadpromised their defense.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The divine sword of Space, having sessfully struck its target, merged back into the higher spatial dimension, vanishing without a trace. In just an instant, another sh of light signaled the fall of yet another Earth Immortal.


    ...


    "Kill!"


    "y that Earth Immortal!"


    The five Earth Immortals at the rear were filled with confidence, believing this mission was as good aspleted.


    ��What?�� Just momentster, four of them watched in shock as the nearly invisible divine sword sliced through the air, piercing through the defenses of mana and domain to impale the red-robed girl''s skull, instantly killing her.


    "Enchantress is dead?"


    "It''s a cross-dimensional strike!��


    ��Be careful.��


    <i>Thwack!</i> Before they could react, another cold glint shed by, and another Earth Immortal was torn apart.


    The cross-dimensional assault was inconceivably fast, beyond their ability to anticipate.


    ��This is bad."


    "It''s that white-robed Earth Immortal. He''s the strongest one. He''s mastered cross-dimensional attacks, and his attack power is terrifying." Thest three Earth Immortals felt their minds reeling. An Earth Immortal able to unleash cross-dimensional strikes? It was exceedingly rare.


    Without hesitation, they abandoned their long-range artifacts and arcane arts, focusing solely on defending themselves. Artifacts materialized at their sides, stabilizing the space around them.


    ...


    ��What?��


    "This is bad."


    ��Enchantress was killed just like that?�� The Scimitar Divine Beast and the other two Earth Deities turned towards the unremarkable figure in white robes, terror gripping their hearts.


    "Excellent!" Metal Devil roared.


    "Two killed in one strike." Purple Secret was thrilled and also astounded by Wu Yuan''s explosive power.


    Both their gazes were filled with respect and awe.


    Normally, someone at the fourth-level True Intent stage of Qiankun wouldn''t be able to unleash such a devastating cross-dimensional strike in the heat of battle without being detected. After all, these imprint bearers allprehended Space to some degree, and some even reached quite a high level.


    But the red-robed girl and her teammates had no idea what hit them. This meant Wu Yuan''sprehension of the Law of Space was far more advanced than the hunting team.


    "Kill!" Metal Devil roared again, his confidence restored.


    "Go!" Purple Secret urged, manipting her frost chain artifact. Without the assistance of the red-robed girl and the other Earth Immortals, they now had a fighting chance against the Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities.

 Chapter 675: Sword Cleaves The Void (2)

    <h4>Chapter 675: Sword Cleaves The Void (2)</h4>


    <i>Abandoning your long-range artifacts? Clever. </i>Wu Yuan thought, realizing their intentions. If they had hesitated to recall their artifacts for defense, he would have ughtered them all with his divine sword of Space. They had no choice but to act quickly or face certain death.


    <i>Even so, can you block me? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, giving a mentalmand. A hundred thousand li away, the sword array assembled into a single entity once more, striking out once again from a higher spatial dimension. This time, the attack wasunched from a thousand li away.


    <i>Spatial Rift! </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold as he applied the profundities of the Spatial Rift technique.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The sword cleaved through space itself, leaving behind a ck fissure that seemed to split heaven and earth asunder as it hurtled toward the three Earth Immortals.


    Though the sword array he cultivated wasn��t too powerful, Wu Yuan��s mastery of the Law of Space had reached an extremely high level. Relying solely on his Daoprehension to activate it, the sword''s might was already immense. His understanding of the Law of Space rivaled that of a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal.


    Thebined power of a hundred high-grade spirion artifacts under his control was no weaker than that of a typical High Immortal''s artifact, perhaps even stronger. In terms of raw attack power, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self��s mana body was nearly on par with a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal.


    "This is bad."


    "Block it!" The faces of the three Earth Immortals paled. Their strongest artifacts had been temporarily abandoned, and there wasn��t enough time to unleash powerful arcane arts. Desperation fueled their efforts as they joined forces to resist.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>Six consecutive collisions rang out as the divine sword swept through their defenses with unstoppable momentum, as sharp as a needle piercing tofu.


    The defensive artifacts of the three Earth Immortals shattered under the sword''s onught, and their bodies followed suit.


    All were in; none escaped.


    <i>Kill!</i> With another mentalmand, the divine sword of Space howled as it tore through tens of thousands of li, streaking like lightning towards the Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities.


    In that moment, panic set in among the remaining five Earth Immortals and two Earth Deities. They had all witnessed Wu Yuan''s terrifying strength and realized he was the greatest obstacle in this mission. In a head-on sh, their chances of victory were slim.


    "Flee."


    "Quick, retreat!" The Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities instantly decided to escape. A failed mission was just a failed mission. If their mana bodies were to perish, the loss would be far too great.


    The divine sword of Space tore through the sky, sting one of the Earth Deities backward. Another sword stroke followed, ripping the deity apart.


    The separate parts of the Earth Deity''s body frantically gathered in an attempt to reassemble. But at that moment, chains appeared in the air, wrapping around the scattered body parts and preventing them from rejoining.


    The Earth Deity��s vital ether rapidly depleted. When the ether was exhausted, death would follow.


    "Please have mercy!" the Earth Deity pleaded desperately.


    "Is it truly necessary to go this far?" the Scimitar Divine Beast growled anxiously, swinging its ws to fend off the repeated strikes of the divine sword. But with Metal Devilunching frenzied attacks from the side, the divine beast''s speed was greatly hindered, making escape nearly impossible.


    "Spare us!" The other Earth Deity likewise struggled desperately against the onught of several chains.


    "It''s just a spacetime mission, after all. We''re willing to hand over half of our artifacts. What do you say?" the Scimitar Divine Beast transmitted again.


    "We want all of them," Wu Yuan''s voice was cold and detached as dozens more spirion flying swords materialized at his side.


    Sword qi billowed out, enveloping an area of hundreds of thousands of li. The sheer might of this domain surpassed even that of Purple Secret''s. Utter despair engulfed the Scimitar Divine Beast and the two Earth Deities. They saw no hope of escape.


    "Fine."


    "We''ll hand over all our treasures. Just let us leave." The Scimitar Divine Beast transmitted repeatedly. "But you must swear a spacetime oath."


    "You have no choice," Wu Yuan barked, his assault growing even more ferocious.


    Another strike shed by, suddenly severing one of the divine beast''s limbs. The beast stumbled, nearly losing its footing in the air.


    "Alright! Alright! We agree," transmitted the silver-haired youth, themander of the divine beast array. "We''ll deactivate the array now. You mustn��t kill us."


    "Rest assured," said Purple Secret.


    "We understand the rules," Metal Devil growled. "But don''t try any tricks."


    Under the pressure of the sword array, the Scimitar Divine Beast vanished, and five streaks of light flew out.


    The two Earth Deities, one with greatly diminished vital aura and the other on the brink of death, stood fearfully in ce.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret also ceased their attacks. However, they did not put away their artifacts. They maintained their battle stances, ready to strike at any moment.


    "Fellow Daoists, you''re truly ruthless," the silver-haired youth said with a bitter smile, his gaze falling on Wu Yuan. "Especially you, Fellow Daoist. Despite your overwhelming strength, you waited until the very end to act, and then ughtered five Earth Immortals'' mana bodies in an instant."


    While destroying a mana body wouldn''t cause the true self to perish, the loss was still immense. Though everyone who came to the Spacetime Dao Realm was a genius, not everyone was as wealthy as Wu Yuan. Most could only afford to use the Immortal Life Pill once or twice.


    "This is a confrontation mission, yet you speak of ruthlessness? Weren''t you also aiming to kill from the start?" Wu Yuan spoke calmly. "Hand over all your treasures, and you''ll be allowed to leave. But if I sense you''re hiding anything, don''t me us for what happens next."


    This was an unspoken rule in spacetime missions. If imprint bearers from opposing teams had no deep-seated grudges, when one side was utterly cornered, they would usually choose to surrender and hand over all their treasures.


    For the victors, pursuing total annihtion would only breed enmity, with no other benefits. Thus, over time, this unspoken rule had formed.


    "Of course. At this point, we won''t try any tricks," the silver-haired youth shook his head resignedly, turning to his six teammates. "Let''s hand over the treasures. At least we can preserve the lives of our mana bodies."


    Under Wu Yuan''s intimidating pressure, the four Earth Immortals and two Earth Deities nodded obediently. By now, they were all terrified of Wu Yuan.


    Swiftly, the five Earth Immortals and two Earth Deities handed over arge number of artifacts, primarily high-grade spirion artifacts and storage artifacts. There was only one piece of low-grade celestial equipment.


    This was typical. For short-term missions like this, they wouldn''t carry too many powerful artifacts.


    "Farewell, everyone," the silver-haired youth, now d only in robes formed from artifacts, cupped his hands. He led the Earth Immortals and Earth Deities away in retreat.


    The sky regained its calm.


    <i>We''ve held our ground.</i> Wu Yuan smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the distant void. With a thought, waves of spatial fluctuations descended. He swiftly gathered all the artifacts from the five Earth Immortals he had in earlier.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, I''m impressed," Metal Devil said in a deep voice.


    "Incredible," Purple Secret sighed sincerely, her gaze towards Wu Yuan now different.


    At the start of the mission, they had been somewhat worried Wu Yuan might hold them back, as having a big reputation didn''t necessarily mean possessing great strength. But after this battle, they truly witnessed Wu Yuan''s terrifying power.


    "Daoist Ming Jian," Purple Secret suddenly spoke up, "Have you mastered Space True Intent?"


    "Space True Intent? Is that for real?" Metal Devil was stunned.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan hesitated briefly before nodding. There was no need to hide it. The other imprint bearers weren''t fools; after several more spacetime missions, they would naturallye to learn of this. Purple Secret, with her deepprehension of the Law of Space, could clearly discern it.


    "It''s truly Space True Intent?" A sh of shock crossed Purple Secret''s eyes.


    "Space True Intent? An Earth Immortal mastering Space True Intent?" Metal Devil looked at Wu Yuan with utter astonishment.


    Wu Yuan understood why they were so shocked. An Earth Immortal like Senior Brother Chang Hongprehending an Intermediate Law to the Dao Field stage��equivalent to a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal��s Daoprehension��was already considered top-tier among Earth Immortals.


    While Space True Intent seemed equivalent to the Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal-level, the difficulty ofprehending the Law of Space was far greater. Few could achieve it.


    "Truly amazing!" Purple Secret marveled, "A friend from the Taiyuan lineage told me that you''ve only been cultivating for a few hundred years, Daoist Ming Jian. No wonder you were granted a Dao Master Imprint.��


    "Only cultivated for a few hundred years?" Metal Devil was even more shocked. He prided himself on his extraordinary talent, but it had taken him thousands of years to reach his current level of power. Compared to Wu Yuan, he was trash!


    "Haha, no need to dwell on such things," Wu Yuanughed. "Fellow Daoists, let''s divide these spoils of war first.


    I''ll take these two low-grade celestial artifacts. You can split the rest of the artifacts between you. How''s that?" Wu Yuan proposed.


    "Sure."


    "No problem." Metal Devil and Purple Secret had no objections. Although the remaining equipment consisted only of spirion artifacts, when added up, each person''s share was equivalent to hundreds of divine crystals. It wasn''t a small amount.


    Moreover, they had primarily relied on Wu Yuan to win the battle. Without him, forget about getting any spoils��they might have failed the spacetime mission and even lost their mana bodies.


    The three quickly divided up their spoils.


    "Next, we wait for a day to pass, then kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan," Wu Yuan transmitted his voice to Metal Devil and Purple Secret.


    "Mm."


    "One Yin Yan is nothing to worry about. We just need to make sure he doesn''t escape," Purple Secret transmitted.


    "With Daoist Ming Jian here, he won''t get away," Metal Devil said with a chuckle. Clearly, he had great confidence in Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret swiftly returned to the core space of the ruined, which wasn��t affected much by the battle.


    "You won so quickly?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan seemed overjoyed. "Thank you for your help, my three Daoist friends. Yin Yan is deeply grateful."


    However, in his heart, Yin Yan felt a trace of dissatisfaction, grumbling to himself. <i>With such strength, why did they wait until the enemies had destroyed most of my��s arrays before taking action?</i>


    <i>Imprint bearers? Protecting me? Hmph! They probably have ulterior motives. </i>

 Chapter 676: What If I Say No (1)

    <h4>Chapter 676: What If I Say No (1)</h4>


    If Earth Immortal Yin Yan had any thoughts of resistance before, he dared not entertain them now.


    A group of imprint bearers, each capable of unleashing power rivaling High Immortals and High Deities, had easily destroyed half of hisir. Yet they were soundly defeated by the three imprint bearers before him.


    Wu Yuan, in particr, was someone Earth Immortal Yin Yan regarded with extreme wariness. He had in multiple Earth Immortals in rapid session, as easily as autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves.


    His strength was simply inconceivable, far beyond what Earth Immortal Yin Yan could hope to contend with. Any schemes he had nned naturally evaporated into thin air.


    "Fellow Daoists," Earth Immortal Yin Yan said with a fawning smile, "Now that these hunters have been defeated and your spacetime mission isplete, will you be departing?


    I have no other treasures worthy of offering you, only some medicinal pills. I hope you three Daoists won''t find themcking," Earth Immortal Yin Yan continued politely.


    With a wave of his hand, three gourd-shaped artifacts flew over, their stoppers removed, releasing billowing clouds of dense spiritual qi.


    Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret, with their discerning eyes, easily judged them to be mana-replenishing medicinal pills.


    For ordinary Earth Immortals, these pills would be quite valuable. But for the three of them, they were rather useless. There were no mediocre immortal cultivators among those who were sent for training at the Spacetime Ind. All of them possessed abundant resources and wealth.


    "Many thanks, Earth Immortal Yin Yan," Wu Yuan said with a smile, waving his hand to collect one of the gourds before passing the other two to Metal Devil and Purple Secret.


    "However," Wu Yuan continued, his tone shifting, "Our mission is to protect you for three days. The attack just now was only the first wave. There may well be a second or even third wave toe. We cannot be certain.


    Therefore, for your safety and toplete our mission, we cannot leave just yet," Wu Yuan said gravely.


    "Multiple waves of attacks? Three days?" Earth Immortal Yin Yan eximed in shock.


    He was wary of Wu Yuan and the others, but had no way to judge their trustworthiness. Moreover, they had indeed protected him from this first wave of attacks.


    It could be said that without Wu Yuan, he would likely be dead by now.


    "What''s the matter, Daoist Yin Yan? Do you still think we''re deceiving you?" Purple Secret asked coolly.


    "I wouldn''t dare, I wouldn''t dare," Earth Immortal Yin Yan said with a beaming smile. "To have you esteemed Daoists as my guards is my utmost honor. Please,e inside."


    "Very well."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret immediately followed Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body, swiftly returning to the core region spanning ten thousand li at the heart of the.


    The outeryers of the had been badly damaged in the recent battle, but this area remainedrgely unaffected.


    "Make yourselvesfortable, Fellow Daoists. I must return to my pill refining," Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body said with a smile before departing.


    He flew directly into the barrier. At the same time, numerous puppets with strength rivaling Earth Deities began carrying over vast quantities of materials to repair the severely damaged sections of the massive.


    "Let��s sit." Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret each took a seat, betraying no abnormal behavior, as if they truly were just carrying out a protection mission.


    This scene put Earth Immortal Yin Yan, who had retreated into the barrier, somewhat at ease.


    Time went by.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Suddenly, blood-red light began shing within the massive pill furnace surrounded by magma. The thousand-li area within the barrier pulsed with an eerie crimson glow that chilled one to the bone.


    A surging tide of powerful vital aura roiled within the furnace, as if some mighty lifeform was about to be born.


    Though Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret appeared outwardly unperturbed, they were in fact keenly observing the scene andmunicating in secret.


    "The vital aura of this blood light is terrifying," Purple Secret''s voice echoed in the minds of the other two. "It even stirs a hint of reluctance in my heart. What kind of medicinal pill is this Yin Yan refining? Something feels very wrong about this."


    "ording to our intelligence, Earth Immortal Yin Yan ughtered tens of billions of living beings from several hospitables. But judging from the vital aura erupting from that furnace, I fear far more than trillions of lives were taken," Metal Devil transmitted coldly. "It''s bizarre! How could such atrocities go unchecked and unpunished by the powers ruling this expanse of outer space?"


    "The situation does indeed differ from our intelligence," Wu Yuan agreed. "Could this be why the spacetime mission requires us to kill him?"


    "Impossible," Purple Secret shook her head decisively. "Be it hundreds of billions or countless trillions of lives, the Spacetime Ind �� and by extension the Spacetime Dao Master �� would never interfere. This has been the unwritten rule for eons."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Heaven and earth were absolutely impartial, with no inherent distinctions of good and evil, nor concepts of merit and sin.


    Just as an ordinary mortal might aid countless elderly and poor throughout their life, yet also consume vast numbers of cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks and fish to survive, felling countless trees, in the eyes of heaven and earth, what difference was there between intelligent life and chickens, ducks, or fish?


    What constituted merit? What constituted sin? So-called good and evil existed only in one''s heart, merely the perspective of an individual or group, never truly representing the will of heaven and earth. Nor would mass ughter inherently incur some form of divine retribution.


    From Wu Yuan''s own perspective, he deeply abhorred Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s actions, yet some powerful devils might view it as the strong devouring the weak �� the natural way of things.


    And to Wu Yuan''s knowledge, entities like the Spacetime Ind, or rather the Spacetime Dao Master, adhered to principles more closely aligned with the inherent will of heaven and earth.


    That was, non-interference, non-restriction, non-governance.


    "As long as the operational rules of the Spacetime Dao Realm itself aren''t vited, the Spacetime Ind won''t intervene," Metal Devil transmitted.


    "There are two possibilities. First, it''s a random mission and Earth Immortal Yin Yan was simply unlucky to be selected by the Spacetime Ind''s spacetime mission system.


    Second, Earth Immortal Yin Yan is somehow involved in some great matter that threatens the functioning of the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    But how could a mere Earth Immortal be involved in such affairs?" Metal Devil shook his head. "Even beings as mighty as Astral Monarchs are rarely entangled in such momentous events."


    Wu Yuan and Purple Secret were equally perplexed.


    In the end, they could only attribute it to Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s misfortune.


    "Forget it. The spacetime mission requires us to kill him," Wu Yuan transmitted calmly. "So we''ll kill him. Besides, his actions warrant death regardless."


    "Indeed, he deserves to die," Purple Secret agreed.


    "If it were coteral damage from battle, that would be one thing. But to deliberately ughter countless weaker beings like this... He truly deserves death," Metal Devil''s voice carried a hint of killing intent.


    Wu Yuan''s heart remained tranquil.


    He was no paragon of virtue, nor did he consider himself a good person. Typically, he couldn''t be bothered to involve himself in such matters, but when confronted with it, he didn''t mind eliminating the perpetrator.


    <i>If the weak antagonize the strong needlessly, their demise is only natural. But such wanton ughter? If everyone behaved thus, heaven and earth would descend into chaos. Those with great power should exercise even greater self-restraint, and not act without regard for consequences. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    This was also the guiding principle of most major factions throughout heaven and earth. The Eternal Sun Immortal World and Cang Feng Eldritch World were no exception.


    Though they encouraged life-or-death battles and duels between the powerhouses, they still afforded a degree of protection to low-level immortal cultivators and mortals, not permitting powerful immortal cultivators to ughter indiscriminately.


    Of course, the more powerful one was, the more lenient the various powers tended to be. But even an Astral Lord would be executed for excessive ughter, such as outright destroying the maind of an immortal continent.


    For immortal cultivators of different levels, there was always a bottom line that could not be crossed.


    Wu Yuan upheld such a line in his heart as well.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, are you confident you can kill Yin Yan after one day?" Metal Devil transmitted.


    "Killing him won''t be difficult," Wu Yuan replied. "However, he''s activated level two of the array barrier. The barrier has stabilized the void, making it hard for me to prate it directly."


    "That''s not a major issue," Purple Secret transmitted. "When the timees, we''ll simply use brute force to destroy the array. How difficult can an Elite-level Mission be?"


    "We''ll kill him outright," Purple Secret said. "I don''t believe he can stop us."


    "Agreed."


    "An Elite-level Mission �� the earlier fight was dangerous enough. We should act decisively," Metal Devil concurred.


    The three conversed briefly before settling into quiet cultivation.


    Could a mere Earth Immortal Yin Yan truly pose a threat?


    ...


    <i>Something''s not right. Metal Devil and Purple Secret say this is just an Elite-level Mission for them?</i> Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Facing those twelve hunters would indeed qualify as an Elite-level Mission for them.</i>


    Ordinary Missions could generally bepleted without too much difficulty. Elite-level Missions were somewhat dangerous, but usually weren''t too difficult. They had about a 50% sess rate �� after all, they couldn''t let too many imprint bearers get overly discouraged.


    <i>But given my strength, facing a group of Ordinary Imprint bearers constitutes a Sovereign-level Mission?</i> Wu Yuan felt a flicker of doubt.


    Logically speaking, his Sovereign-level Mission should be somewhat easier than the missions of other imprint bearers, but as Star Moon had said, even at the easiest mission still had a baseline difficulty.


    <i>Less than half a day remains. We must stay vignt.</i> Wu Yuan remained highly alert, his Soul Will spreading out.


    He carefully sensed his surroundings, not daring to rx in the slightest. Cautiousness ensured a thousand-year voyage.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret cultivated quietly, waiting for the protection stage of the mission to end so they could deal with Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    Meanwhile, within a grand hall of a mysterious voidrealm.


    "Those three refuse to leave? iming they must protect you for three days?" High Immortal Zhuo Hao, appearing as an elderly man in white robes, asked in a low voice.


    "Yes," Earth Immortal Yin Yan answered respectfully. "I''ve reached a critical juncture in the pill refining process. I suspect they have ulterior motives... I humbly request guidance from the High Immortal." Anxiety gnawed at his heart.


    "Don''t do anything rash," High Immortal Zhuo Hao gazed down at Earth Immortal Yin Yan. "Even if they intend to act, they likely won''t move immediately, since they mentioned a period of three days.


    I''m on my way and should arrive in twelve hours. Just focus on refining the pills and be careful.


    Remember this clearly." High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s eyes glinted coldly. "What I''ve entrusted to you is the life essence of thousands of hospitables, painstakingly selected over centuries. I''ve managed to avoid detection all this time, so don''t mess this up."


    "I wouldn''t dare, Sir," Earth Immortal Yin Yan replied hastily, a hint of fear in his voice.


    He was well aware of the gravity of the situation.


    "Very well, you may go now." High Immortal Zhuo Hao waved his hand, and Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s form instantly dissolved into countless streams of light.

 Chapter 677: What If I Say No (2)

    <h4>Chapter 677: What If I Say No (2)</h4>


    A deep hum resonated through the air. Not far away, an enormous projection materialized, revealing the scene of Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and the others battling the twelve hunters.


    <i>They can all unleash High Immortal-level power. These two can manifest Second Tribtion High Immortal strength, and this one...</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s gaze focused on the ethereal white-robed figure floating gracefully in the light screen.


    <i>A cross-dimensional strike? Able to sweep aside a group of First Tribtion High Immortals and even suppress that Scimitar Divine Beast. From my estimates, hisbat power should be equivalent to the Fourth Tribtion High Immortal level.</i> He pondered silently.


    The power of High Immortals was divided into six Tribtions. Each Tribtion represented not just a leap in mana, but also a vast difference in Daoprehension. Thus, the gap between High Immortals was truly immense.


    <i>An Earth Immortal capable of unleashing Fourth Tribtion High Immortal power, with Daoprehension rivaling an Archimmortal, and profound insights into Space... </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao, initially unconcerned, now felt somewhat troubled.


    He wouldn''t have been worried about a normal Fourth Tribtion High Immortal; at worst, he could fight and kill them.


    But an Earth Immortal with Archimmortal-levelprehension? This had to be one of those Supreme Geniuses.


    And as a member of the Spacetime Ind, this was surely just a mana body. Incurring great enmity with him could lead to endless trouble. Once this intruder became a High Immortal, he might swiftly advance to a Sixth or Seventh Tribtion High Immortal. If he sought revenge then?


    <i>I hope they''re sensible enough.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao mused.<i> I don''t wish to make enemies, but if they force my hand, I don��t have a choice. To enter the ck Devil Blood Hollow, this batch of medicinal pills is crucial. If the refining process is unsessful, it will set me back thousands of years at least.</i>


    His lifespan was limited, with less than a hundred thousand years remaining. Entering the ck Devil Blood Hollow was just the first step. Beyond that, he still needed to seek opportunities within the expedition site and break through to the Archimmortal phase, all of which took time.


    So, time was precious to him. He couldn''t afford dys.


    ...


    As time flowed by, nearly half a day passed without incident. Wu Yuan''s vignce gradually rxed.


    "Just six more hours until weplete the mission," Purple Secret said with a smile.


    "This spacetime mission turned out to be quite easy," Metal Devil added, both of them seeming rather at ease.


    Wu Yuan''s voice suddenly echoed in their minds, "A High Immortal is approaching."


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret were instantly rmed. A High Immortal?


    "Roughly what level is their power?" Metal Devil inquired urgently.


    "It should be a peak-stage High Immortal, though I''m not certain. Just one, though," Wu Yuan''s voice remained calm.


    Yet, his words struck Metal Devil and Purple Secret like lightning.


    First to Third Tribtion High Immortals and High Deities were considered ordinary-stage. Fourth to Sixth Tribtion High Immortals and High Deities were considered peak-stage.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Metal Devil and Purple Secret could match Fifth Tribtion High Immortals. But their cultivation time was rtively short, and they were still at the Earth Immortal phase, so they could only manifest Second Tribtion High Immortal power.


    A peak-stage High Immortal was capable of threatening their lives.


    "Don''t panic, let''s assess the situation," Wu Yuan transmitted. "Perhaps they''re just passing by."


    Wu Yuan observed the situation through his mastery of Space True Intent, gazing down from a higher spatial dimension. The white-robed figure was approaching at an astonishing speed, covering over a hundred thousand li per second. His aura was powerful, the formless pressure alone putting Wu Yuan on alert.


    "Passing by?" Metal Devil and Purple Secret thought the possibility was low. How vast was an entire gxy? Hundreds of millions of stars ands were scattered throughout it, each celestial body normally separated from the next by hundreds of millions of li or even several light-years.


    And immortal cultivators with peak-stage High Immortal strength usually numbered only in the hundreds per gxy. The chances of coincidentally encountering one in such a small expanse of outer space were slim!


    <i>Boom!</i> An incredibly potent wave of Soul Will rolled forth, sweeping across space and engulfing the entire in an instant.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Like massive waves crashing against a cliff, the force caused Metal Devil and Purple Secret''s expressions to change. Even with artifacts protecting their souls, they were still just mana bodies with limited soul power. Being a full phase lower, they seemed greatly affected.


    <i>Rumble!</i> A vast and boundless soul aura suddenly erupted from the. Like a battleship riding the wind and breaking through endless waves, it split the iing High Immortal''s Soul Will power in two, even counterattacking.


    This was Soulshake Seal, the soul secret art Wu Yuan had cultivated! With his short cultivation period, Wu Yuan hadn''t been able to master many soul secret arts, but he had continued to practice the earliest ones he learned: ��Soulshake Seal��, ��Soul-extinguishing Needle��, and ��Sword Soul Sourcelight��. He had achieved a small degree of mastery in all of them.


    <i>Boom! </i>The invisible sh of souls instantly unfolded in the Destiny Voidscape, surging and roiling.


    It didn''t affect the material ne, but this terrifying soul confrontation was immediately sensed by Metal Devil, Purple Secret, and Earth Immortal Yin Yan who was in the midst of refining pills.


    They all revealed stunned looks.


    Finally, the powerful Soul Will rapidly receded, and Wu Yuan swiftly withdrew his soul power into himself.


    "Prepare for battle. The visitor isn''t friendly," Wu Yuan opened his eyes.


    "You won?"


    "You held your ground in a soul sh?" Metal Devil and Purple Secret exchanged nces, inwardly astonished as they gazed at Wu Yuan in disbelief.


    How powerful was his soul? How profound were his soul secret arts?


    Wu Yuan remained calm. He couldn��t say he achieved victory; at best, it was a draw.


    <i>It''s just a High Immortal''s mana body.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>And my mana body''s soul is somewhat stronger than that of the true self of a typical ninth-stage Earth Immortal.</i>


    A High Immortal''s mana body contained only a small fraction of their true self''s soul. Its power was limited.


    ...


    <i>A million li from Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s home.</i>


    <i>Such a powerful soul.</i> The white-robed elderly man stood in the void, wisps of me encircling him for tens of thousands of li. They stabilized space, preventing any surprise attacks from Wu Yuan.


    <i>Is it a High Immortal''s mana body in disguise? Or has this imprint bearer sent his true self?</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao couldn''t be certain.


    Disguising one''s vital aura wasn''t difficult, but the power of one''s soul couldn''t be hidden. The soul secret art Wu Yuan had unleashed shocked him.


    <i>Hmph, it doesn''t matter. If they''re not sensible, I''ll kill them. If it''s his true self, even better.</i> A cold glint shed in High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s eyes.


    On his way here, he had decided that even if he was reluctant to offend the Spacetime Ind''s imprint bearers, if they dared obstruct his path, they would have to die all the same.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, three streaks of light shot out from the massive, damaged star that was in the process of being repaired.


    "Who goes there?" A voice echoed across millions of li of space, appearing to resound everywhere simultaneously.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao narrowed his eyes, his gazending directly on the graceful, white-robed figure among the three in the distant void. This was the opponent he was most wary of.


    "I believe you three young friends must be the ones assisting Yin Yan," High Immortal Zhuo Hao responded with a genial smile. He appeared extremely amiable.


    "I am an elder from Yin Yan''s sect. Upon receiving his call for aid, I came specifically to thank you."


    These words immediately caused Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret''s hearts to sink. This was precisely what they had feared most �C Earth Immortal Yin Yan seeking help from his sect��s elders.


    Once several High Immortals arrived, killing Earth Immortal Yin Yan would be incredibly troublesome. After all, Wu Yuan and hispanions had to wait for the protection period to pass before they could make their move.


    "We find it difficult to discern the truth of your words, Senior," Wu Yuan responded, his voice tinged with skepticism.


    "It''s the truth! Fellow Daoists, this individual is indeed a senior member of my sect." A streak of light suddenly burst forth from the, revealing itself to be Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body. He bowed respectfully and said, "Disciple Yin Yan greets the veteran elder."


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan felt a wave of relief wash over him. With High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s arrival, these three Earth Immortal imprint bearers would no longer be able to cause much trouble.


    "So, this is a senior member of Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s sect," Purple Secret mused, a smile ying on her lips.


    Purple Secret''s voice carried a hint of amusement as she continued, "Well, with a Senior present, it seems it will be much more difficult for anyone to y Earth Immortal Yin Yan now."


    "Indeed. I''ve heard everything from Yin Yan, and I thank you three young friends," High Immortal Zhuo Hao said with a smile. "But now that I''m here, you needn''t worry yourselves. Why not return to the Spacetime Ind to turn in your mission? I''ll stand guard by Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s side for the next few days."


    Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and the others felt their hearts sink even further. The situation was turning increasingly unfavorable.


    "Senior, with just you guarding him, it might prove insufficient," Purple Secret said with a smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes. "Perhaps we should guard him together?"


    "That won''t be necessary. Fellow Daoists, there''s something you should know," Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body interjected with a smile. "The veteran elder is a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. His presence is more than enough to protect me, so there''s no need to trouble yourselves further."


    A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal?


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret felt shock ripple through them, their hearts plummeting. Wu Yuan, however, suddenly understood the true reason for this mission''s difficulty level.


    A protection mission? No. This was an assassination mission! Not only did they have to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan, but they had to do so while he was under the protection of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal.


    "What should we do?"


    "Should we leave? We''re no match for a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal," Purple Secret transmitted anxiously. "They don''t seem eager to fight. We might still have time to escape."


    "Let''s withdraw for now and regroup," Metal Devil agreed. "Perhaps this Sixth Tribtion High Immortal won''t guard Earth Immortal Yin Yan for too long."


    Both of them waited for Wu Yuan to make the final decision.


    After their previous battle, Wu Yuan had proven himself the strongest, and as a Dao Master Imprint bearer, he had naturally be the leader of their trio.


    "You two, withdraw!" Wu Yuan''s voice resonated in their minds.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan addressed the neer aloud. "Senior," he said with a smile, his voice carrying a note of sincerity, "This is, after all, our spacetime mission... We can''t leave in good conscience without seeing it through topletion. How about this: my twopanions will depart early.


    As for myself," Wu Yuan continued, his tone earnest, "I''m willing to join you, Senior, in guarding Earth Immortal Yin Yan. I''ll leave after three days."


    Wu Yuan''s n was clear. Once Metal Devil and Purple Secret left, he would strike the moment the protection period ended, then escape into a higher spatial dimension.


    "That won''t be necessary. I appreciate your help, all three of you," High Immortal Zhuo Hao said, shaking his head. "But this is an internal matter of my sect. The Archimmortal Hierarch gave explicit instructions, and I hope you won''t put me in a difficult position."


    "Leave now. I willplete the task of protecting Yin Yan in your stead." As he spoke his final words, High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s tone shifted noticeably. The threat in his voice was unmistakable.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan replied, his expression unchanged, still wearing a smile. "What if I say no?"


    In an instant, the atmosphere in this region of outer space grew tense.

 Chapter 678: Assimilating Into A Higher Dimension, Black Devil Divine Pillar (1)

    <h4>Chapter 678: Assimting Into A Higher Dimension, ck Devil Divine Pir (1)</h4>


    A subtle change came over Metal Devil and Purple Secret��s countenances. Earth Immortal Yin Yan, standing not far away, also wore an interesting expression. None of them had expected Wu Yuan to outright refuse the request of the Sixth Tribtion High Immortal.


    "Boy, do you know what you''re saying?" High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s face darkened. "I don''t wish to offend members of the Spacetime Ind, but I also know that even if I kill you, you can onlye back to seek revenge after reforging your mana body in the future. The Spacetime Ind won''t intervene on your behalf.


    I''ll advise you onest time. Leave now, I''llplete your protection mission for you. Otherwise, don''t me me for being ruthless," High Immortal Zhuo Hao said coldly.


    "Senior, I''ll also give you two options," Wu Yuan faced off against High Immortal Zhuo Hao from afar, his voice ringing out across millions of li. "Either wait outside the, and we''ll naturally leave when the three days are up, or defeat us.


    A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal is indeed powerful, but not enough to make me back down."


    The exchange between the two sides was like a needle tip against wheat awn! [1] In reality, each had their own considerations.


    ...


    <i>These three imprint bearers likely have ulterior motives, most probably targeting my medicinal pills.</i> This was High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s final assessment of the situation, his killing intent already rising.


    Spacetime Ind imprint bearers? To High Immortal Zhuo Hao, all who blocked his path would be killed!


    ...


    "We have no choice. If he allowed me to guard Earth Immortal Yin Yan together with him, I could ambush and kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan, when the time is up," Wu Yuan''s voice echoed in the minds of Metal Devil and Purple Secret. "But this High Immortal is unwilling.


    Once we leave this, we''d only have the option ofunching another ambush to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan. We''d have to fight this High Immortal sooner orter, and by then we''d have lost the initiative. At least right now, Earth Immortal Yin Yan is close to us, while this High Immortal is still outside the.


    Moreover, I suspect this High Immortal will take Earth Immortal Yin Yan away with him right away. By then, if they hide in their sect''s grand array or this High Immortal''sir, it''ll be much harder for us to kill Earth Immortal Yin Yan."


    Wu Yuan''s analysis convinced Metal Devil and Purple Secret.


    Toplete this mission, they''d have to fight High Immortal Zhuo Hao sooner orter. It was better to engage now. The question was, how would they fight him?


    "I''ll strike down Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body. You destroy the''s array and capture his true self alive, then flee far away, leaving the battlefield," Wu Yuan said decisively. "I''ll handle this Sixth Tribtion High Immortal."


    The mission only required that Earth Immortal Yin Yan not be killed during the protection period. It didn''t say they couldn''t capture him first. If they captured him first, then killed him after the protection time was up, it could still work.


    As for killing his mana body? The death of the mana body wouldn''t affect the survival of the true self.


    ...


    Both sides prepared for battle in an instant.


    Then, they all erupted into action almost simultaneously.


    "Fellow Daoists, I don''t think it''s necessary..." Earth Immortal Yin Yan began to speak, being the most apprehensive and least willing to see the two sides sh. It wasn''t that he was kindhearted, but rather that he was the weakest, and most likely to be caught in the crossfire if the two sides fought.


    Silently, a cold light suddenly thrust out from the calm void behind Earth Immortal Yin Yan, reaching extreme speeds.


    <i>Squelch! </i>The sword struck, piercing his skull. Sword qi erupted, and his body disintegrated.


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body was dead!


    In terms of strength, Earth Immortal Yin Yan was far weakerpared to those hunters. Faced with Wu Yuan''s close-range ambush, he had absolutely no power to resist.


    "Go!"


    "Attack!" Metal Devil and Purple Secret also sprang into action in an instant, one transforming into a towering figure ten thousand zhangs tall, its imposing presence overwhelming.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Rolling and surging like a vast ocean, countless streams of water appeared, along with icy chains that swept across the air. Theyshed out at the''s array that had just been activated.


    Once they erupted into action, these two also showed their extraordinary strength, fiercely turning to attack the''s core.


    <i>Not good. These damned imprint bearers killed my mana body?</i> Earth Immortal Yin Yan was both shocked and enraged.


    He had no idea that Wu Yuan and Metal Devil only intended to capture him for now. From his perspective, these imprint bearers hade for his life.


    Everything had erupted so quickly that his mana body had no time to react. However, as an Earth Immortal, Yin Yan''s reaction time was also extremely fast. In an instant, he had already devised a counterstrategy��abandon pill refining and activate the array in full.


    "Die!" Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s true self suddenly emitted streaks of fiery divine light. Countless fiery Dao patterns appeared across the thousand-li area of the core region.


    <i>Whoosh!!! </i>The entire suddenly burst forth with endless brilliant light, and the surging magma flowing through the''s core instantly transformed into terrifying fire dragons.


    ��Roar!�� Each dragon exuded overwhelming aura, stretching thousands of li long. Roaring, they charged toward Metal Devil and Purple Secret.


    This earth-shattering disy of power caused Metal Devil and Purple Secret''s expressions to shift.


    In terms of strength, these fire dragons were each capable of overpowering an ordinary ninth-stage Earth Immortal. Simultaneously, those puppets with powerful auras also erupted into action.


    This was the strength of qi refiners. In their ownirs, aided by arrays, puppets, and other treasures, they could unleash unprecedentedbat power.


    It could be said that ordinary High Immortals often avoided forcefully invading their of a powerful Earth Immortal. It would be too dangerous.


    "Kill!" Purple Secret swept her icy chains through the air,shing out at the fire dragons. Her violet robes fluttered, her expression as cold as frost.


    "Out of my way!" Metal Devil''s imposing presence was even more terrifying, charging straight through, each sh of his saber sending a fire dragon or puppet flying.


    The two worked in perfect coordination, seemingly unstoppable.


    <i>This is bad.</i> Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s expression darkened. <i>So fast? When these imprint bearers asked me to defend the with the array just now, was it intentional?</i>


    If his had been intact, activating the third level of the array could have increased its power by another thirty percent, allowing him to easily block an ordinary High Immortal. At least, it could have dyed them for longer.


    But now, with nearly half the destroyed and many array bases ruined, it naturally couldn''t unleash its full power.


    "High Immortal Zhuo Hao, save me!" Earth Immortal Yin Yan anxiously sent a message through the voidrealm, calling for help.


    "Do your best to dy them." High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s voice also betrayed his shock. "This white-robed Earth Immortal has mastered the True Intent of Space. Hold on.��


    "True Intent of Space?" While struggling to resist, Earth Immortal Yin Yan nced at the scene in the distance and instantly despaired. "High Immortal Zhuo Hao is trapped?"


    ...


    When Metal Devil and Purple Secret moved to attack the''s core, intending to capture Earth Immortal Yin Yan, High Immortal Zhuo Hao instantly erupted in fury.


    "Courting death. Stop right there!" His form moved, darting towards the.


    A hundred thousand li per second! Two hundred thousand li per second! In the blink of an eye, he had elerated to three hundred thousand li per second! A million li? He could cross it in two or three seconds.


    This was the true power of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. Their strength was already at the limit of beings below Archimmortals. In terms of flight speed alone, they could approach the speed of light when going all out, even if speed wasn��t their forte.


    At the same time, eight streams of fiery light encircled High Immortal Zhuo Hao, three of which shot out at speeds even faster than his own. They elerated to near-light speed!


    "Die!" High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s eyes were ice-cold.


    The three fiery light streams were actually three low-grade celestial artifacts, unleashing their full power as they hurtled towards Wu Yuan.


    His heart burned with all-epassing rage. When faced with a life-or-death decision, Earth Immortal Yin Yan had abandoned pill refining to focus on defense. He couldn''t me him for that. But it also meant that even if the pill refining process was restarted in the future, the chances of failure would be extremely high.


    "Wasting my time? Truly deserving of death!" High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s heart was filled with unquenchable killing intent.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>It was as if three miniature suns had exploded in outer space, igniting endless mes that illuminated the vast cosmos.


    This disy of power caused even Metal Devil and Purple Secret to pale mid-fight. The Law of Fire was known for its ferocity. When a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal wielded celestial artifacts with full force, one could only imagine how frightening the attack was.


    If those attacksnded on them, even Metal Devil, with his powerful self-preservation ability, would be severely injured.


    <i>A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal? It seems he''s close to fullyprehending the Inferno Dao. </i>Wu Yuan''s expression remained incredibly calm.


    The Inferno Dao was one of the mostmon Lesser Laws within the Law of Fire. A head-on confrontation? Relying solely on the Law of Space, Wu Yuan knew he was no match for his opponent. The gap in mana was too great.


    However, he only needed to block them!


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan took a step forward, and his body suddenly integrated into space, vanishing without a trace. No aura remained.


    In the next moment, he reappeared tens of thousands of li away, meeting those three overwhelming fiery stars head on. It was as if he had teleported.


    <i>True Domain, spatial distortion.</i> An invisible ripple of spatial fluctuations materialized around Wu Yuan, instantly enveloping the three ming stars. It also epassed High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    Moreover, it nketed everything in a million-li radius, warping space in this region. Whether it was Soul Will, line of sight, or other probing-type artifacts, all were inexplicably affected.


    Those ming stars, originally moving at nearly the speed of light, visibly slowed tenfold when engulfed by this wave of distortion. If they could originally traverse millions of li in one or two seconds, it would now take at least ten to twenty seconds to cross the same distance. It was extremely bizarre.


    ��Spatial intersection, an application of the Law of True Domain.�� Metal Devil and Purple Secret, observing from afar, were utterly shocked.


    "Ming Jian hasn''t just crystallized Space True Intent, he must have advanced the True Domain Dao to the seventh-level True Intent stage at least. Only in this way can he trap a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal with Earth Immortal mana."


    "Ming Jian has indeed crystallized Space True Intent. His body can truly integrate into higher spatial dimensions, making him practically able to appear anywhere in an instant."


    Both Metal Devil and Purple Secret had some understanding of the Law of Space. Purple Secret, who was cultivating the Law of True Domain and had crystallized True Intent, naturally recognized Wu Yuan''s technique in no time. It far surpassed her own mastery.


    The True Domain Dao, as one of the three Intermediate Laws of Space, excelled at domain and binding techniques.


    Domains created with the application of the Earth Dao, Water Dao, and other Greater Laws often merely strengthened the restraining power and expanded the area of effect.


    Yet the Law of True Domain, when cultivated to profound levels, had many wondrous uses. It didn''t simply sh head-on with enemies, but warped the very existence of space itself.


    The original space was a million li across, but under Wu Yuan''s control, it was distorted and stretched to over ten million li! Whetherunching attacks in or attempting to flee from this area, it would take over ten times as long.


    Moreover, unlike arrays, Wu Yuan could traverse through higher spatial dimensions, constantly moving the region affected by spatial fluctuations. Those trapped had no way to break free. This had a simr effect to the time dtion of the Law of Time.


    "Hurry!"


    "This Sixth Tribtion High Immortal is trapped. But Ming Jian can''t hold him forever, hurry!" Metal Devil and Purple Secret quickly realized that they had been presented with a rare opportunity.


    Under the effects of spatial distortion, one million li was equivalent to ten million li. It would take High Immortal Zhuo Hao at least four breaths to reach the core of the.


    These four breaths were their window. They had to seize Earth Immortal Yin Yan, then flee for their lives!


    1. ������â, means two equals going head to head ?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 679: Assimilating Into A Higher Dimension, Black Devil Divine Pillar (2)

    <h4>Chapter 679: Assimting Into A Higher Dimension, ck Devil Divine Pir (2)</h4>


    <i>It''s spatial distortion, causing spatial intersection...</i> Having survived countless life-or-death battles, High Immortal Zhuo Hao soon recognized Wu Yuan''s technique.


    Simultaneously, he also deduced that this was Space True Intent! Only by harnessing Space True Intent to trigger True Domain could this technique have such heaven-defying power.


    <i>Mastering Space True Intent allows integration with higher dimensions. Killing him is nearly impossible!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao naturally understood this point.


    Normally, only Archimmortals could enter higher spatial dimensions with sheer force. But mastering Space True Intent or advancing the Law of Qiankun to the seventh-level True Intent stage allowed integration with higher dimensions, even without overwhelming mana.


    This was the intractability of the Space Dao. When the powers of twobatants wereparable, those skilled in the Law of Space were practically invincible.


    <i>Break!</i> The High Immortal Zhuo Hao erupted with power. The three dazzling, fierys burst forth with power.


    He was going all out. These eight spherical artifacts were actually forged with eight specials as their cores. Their power was overwhelming.


    <i>Boom!</i> The fierys swept through the void, causing space to tremble faintly. The powerful aftershocks radiated outward, yet it had no effect!


    <i>Unable to shatter it forcefully? </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s pupils contracted slightly. <i>He''s just an Earth Immortal, yet his spatial distortion region is so stable? How deep is his Daoprehension?</i>


    Distorting space meant forcibly altering it, requiring not only deep Daoprehension but also corresponding mana to support it. The stronger the mana, the greater the power.


    Tobat this technique, there were three methods. First, suppress the Space Dao��s fluctuations with a high enough Daoprehension level.


    Second, break away with sheer force, shattering the power limits of the Material Spatial Layer with absolute might. Archimmortals could do this.


    Third, kill the caster. The distorted space would naturally return to normal.


    However, High Immortal Zhuo Hao couldn''t aplish the first two methods. Though he was strong, his attacks couldn''t reach the Archimmortal level.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao continued flying at high speed. Though the surrounding space was distorted, it couldn''t alter his sense of direction. He kept flying towards Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s, trying to arrive as quickly as possible.


    <i>It will take at least three breaths to arrive. Too long. Given the strength of those two imprint bearers, they would likely capture Earth Immortal Yin Yan by then.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao knew how strong Metal Devil and Purple Secret were and felt extremely anxious.


    <i>This won''t do. Earth Immortal Yin Yan has been refining medicinal pills for a long time and has already mastered the pill refining method. If I lose him, I''ll have to find a new pill refiner, who will then have to spend time familiarizing themself with the refining process. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao quickly analyzed the situation.


    Too much time would be wasted, and he couldn''t afford any more dys. Moreover, from Wu Yuan''s earlier gesture of killing Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s mana body, he roughly sensed that the goal of these Spacetime Ind imprint bearers wasn''t as simple as protecting Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    He didn''t want to gamble on it!


    <i>Using the ck Devil Divine Pir risks their exposure, but these Spacetime Ind imprint bearers will soon return to the Spacetime Ind. The Dao Realm is vast, they might not even know about the ck Devil Divine Pir. They probably won''t recognize it.</i>


    <i>Ten ck Devil Divine Pills are enough!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao made his decision.


    Having fought to this point, he couldn''t be bothered to say more. He had only one thought��kill!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A huge ck pir suddenly appeared before High Immortal Zhuo Hao. It was about ten meters tall, inscribed with countless mysterious Dao patterns and emitting waves of a sinister, ancient aura that sent chills down one��s spine. Faint traces of countless mottled bloodstains stained the pir, and innumerable lost souls could be vaguely heard wailing from it.


    The moment the ck pir appeared, High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s aura changed.


    Previously, he gave the air of an immortal sage. Now? A crimson light wreathed his form, lifting his wild hair. His white robes were subtly tinged with blood-red light, as if he had be a great devil.


    ...


    Wu Yuan sat calmly in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. Surrounded by a hazy light, he waspletely unaffected by the countless swirling spatial fragments around him.


    It was difficult to kill a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, but not too hard to restrain and slow his movement through space. Moreover, having integrated into a higher spatial dimension, Wu Yuan believed that it was nearly impossible for anyone below the Archimmortal level to kill him.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan noticed the ck pir hovering before High Immortal Zhuo Hao. The waves of sinister, bizarre aura emitted from it made his heart tremble.


    Danger! Extreme danger! An unprecedented threatening sensation rose in Wu Yuan''s heart. This was an object that could threaten his life.


    Yet simultaneously, in the distant Spacetime Ind, the ck pagoda within his qi refiner self''s sea of consciousness quivered slightly.


    <i>ck pagoda?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked to discover that his pagoda reacted to the mysterious ck pir the moment it appeared.


    An elusive maism radiated from the ck pir, and Wu Yuan found himself inexorably drawn to it.


    <i>This ck pir is rted to the ck pagoda?</i> Wu Yuan was utterly shocked.


    Over the years, he had been trying to uncover the secrets of the ck pagoda. Unfortunately, he couldn''t find a single clue even in the intelligence databases of the Cang Feng Eldritch World and Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    And the ck pagoda, after its previous anomalies, had shown no further activity, only continuing to help Wu Yuan nurture his soul by providing blood mist.


    Until now.


    In Wu Yuan''s knowledge, this was the first time any external object had caused the ck pagoda to respond actively. [1]


    <i>The mana body is a part of the qi refiner self. </i>Various thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind. <i>Despite being separated by such a vast distance, with only my mana body seeing it close up, the ck pagoda in my qi refiner self''s sea of consciousness already resonated with it. </i>


    <i>If my qi refiner self sensed it at close range, what would happen then? This ck pir might hold some secrets about the ck pagoda.</i>


    At this moment, Wu Yuan had only one thought��obtain it! He must seize this mysterious ck pir.


    However, Wu Yuan also realized that High Immortal Zhuo Hao likely brought out this ck pir to unleash a killing move.


    <i>Higher spatial dimension? A soul attack? Regardless of what type it is, I''d like to see if you can actually kill me. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes were cold as ice. His greatest strength was his self-preservation ability!


    ...


    "What?"


    "What is that?"


    "This is bad." Metal Devil and Purple Secret, who were furiouslyunching attacks in the distance, also divided part of their attention to observe the battle here.


    Although they were too far away to see the specifics of the fight, the evil aura emanating from that ck divine pir was unmistakable! It sent chills down both their spines.


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret both had the feeling that if they were to take a direct hit from that ck divine pir, they would surely perish.


    <i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao, this is... </i>Earth Immortal Yin Yan was both shocked and ted.


    He too was frightened by the ck divine pir. Yet he also hoped that High Immortal Zhuo Hao could strike down Wu Yuan in one blow and rescue him.


    ...


    While Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, Purple Secret, and Earth Immortal Yin Yan all stared at the pir in shock, High Immortal Zhuo Hao had already begun his attack the moment he summoned the ck Devil Divine Pir. He knew time was of the essence.


    "ck! Devil! Blood! Sacrifice! Activate." High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s gaze turned frigid, his eyes glowing with a blood-red light. His body seemed to merge with the ck Devil Divine Pir, bing one.


    With a thunderous boom, the ck divine pir erupted with endless blood-red light, filling the sky and enveloping an area of ten thousand li, locking down space itself.


    In an instant, High Immortal Zhuo Hao felt a surge of vast, overwhelming power flowing into him, filling him with unprecedented strength. This immense power was almost beyond his control. At the same time, waves of sinister energy seemed to be eroding his consciousness.


    <i>ck Devil Power.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao was well aware of this. <i>This is Archimmortal-level mana, but I only have one breath''s time. I must break the technique within one breath.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Two more fiery stars shot out from those originally orbiting him in the void, joining the three that had already beenunched.


    Despite having only three fiery stars left for protection, his defense was even more sturdy than before. All five fiery stars elerated to a frightening speed.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The five fiery stars swept through the void, causing this section of outer space to quake, faintly revealing bizarre spatial rifts. It created the illusion of different dimensional spaces intersecting.


    <i>I can only shake it, but I can��t shatter it? </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s pupils constricted, incredulous.


    He couldn��t break away even with this? Then there was only one other path��kill the caster!


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The five fiery stars traced a dazzling trail of fire stretching a million li through outer space. Within that fiery trail were interwoven shes of blood and darkness.


    Following this, space seemed to fracture as all five fiery stars vanished simultaneously��they had forcibly broken away from the constraints of the Material Spatial Layer.


    <i>My power has barely reached the Archimmortal level, I can''t achieve integration with higher dimensions, but my Soul Will and artifacts can ascend to higher dimensions. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s gaze was icy: <i>Killing an Earth Immortal like you? Child''s y.</i>


    <i>There you are! </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao finally discerned Wu Yuan''s location.


    With a mentalmand, the five fiery stars, now exuding a heart-stopping aura, hurtled toward Wu Yuan at top speed. Simultaneously, an invisible wave of soul energy also pierced through from the Material Spatial Layer to the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, striking at Wu Yuan.


    ...


    <i>Within the chaotic Fragmentary Spatial Layer.</i>


    <i>Here ites.</i> Wu Yuan had already ''seen'' the five streaks of fiery light plowing through the spatial currents, their might earth-shaking.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan had two options.


    First, retreat. With his speed in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, he could escape tens of thousands of li away with a thought, far outpacing those five stumbling fiery stars.


    However, retreating tens of thousands of li in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer was equivalent to retreating billions of li in the Material Spatial Layer. It would be equivalent to yielding the path, as he would no longer be able to trap High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    That left only the second option��face the attack! Only by withstanding the five fiery stars and standing firm in this higher spatial dimension could he lock down High Immortal Zhuo Hao in the corresponding area in the lower spatial dimension.


    Observing lower dimensions from higher ones, High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s speed seemed to slow ten thousandfold in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Assemble!</i> With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, a flying sword with an overwhelmingly powerful aura appeared before him, along with one flying sword after another. One low-grade celestial flying sword and eighty high-grade spirion flying swords assembled into an array.


    A hazy azure light emerged. Life True Intent! Space True Intent! Nearly perfectly ovepped.


    In the blink of an eye, a vast, hazy sword domain came into being, enveloping Wu Yuan''s surroundings.


    1. I thought there was a certain meteoroid in the Dragon Star Immortal Set that prompted a reaction... ?

 Chapter 680: Eruption, Successfully Obtained (1)

    <h4>Chapter 680: Eruption, Sessfully Obtained (1)</h4>


    The pressure exerted by higher dimensional spatialyers was immense. It was extremely difficult to withstand torrents of spatial fragments, let alone wield artifacts inbat.


    Spirit equipment couldn''t be deployed at all within the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. The moment they were unleashed, they''d be shattered by the relentless onught of spatial fragments. Even low-grade spirion artifacts would eventually break if exposed for too long.


    In the even more treacherous Turbulent Spatial Layer, any artifact below the level of celestial equipment would be obliterated instantly without proper protection.


    <i>In the Material Spatial Layer, with my mana body, soul, and Daoprehension, I could form a Thousand Swords Array with a celestial sword as the core. But here, in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, I can only maintain a Hundred Swords Array.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was as cold as ice.


    <i>However, this Sixth Tribtion High Immortal''s attack is equally restricted, its power limited by the dimensional constraints.</i>


    If one attacked someone in a lower dimension from a higher one, it would be an overwhelming assault, as one stood in an unassable position. But in a battle within the same dimension, the difference was negligible.


    In truth, if Wu Yuan wished to avoid conflict and flee, it would be child''s y. A single thought could propel him tens of thousands of li away, equivalent to billions of li in the Material Spatial Layer. High Immortal Zhuo Hao, unable to assimte into higher dimensions, couldn''t hope to keep up.


    ...


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness. <i>You have two choices: One, withstand my assault �C but as a mere Earth Immortal, facing the onught of my five celestial artifacts, your demise is certain.</i>


    <i>Or two, step aside. If you flee, clearing my path, I can reach Earth Immortal Yin Yan within half a breath.</i>


    From the moment he deployed the ck Devil Divine Pir, High Immortal Zhuo Hao had meticulously calcted every possibility,mitting himself fully to the battle.


    In his view, Wu Yuan had only two options: retreat or perish!


    <i>ck Devil Blood Sacrifice! Infinite Celestial Bodies.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao manipted the five fiery stars, sending them hurtling with overwhelming force through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    But then, he witnessed a vast, formidable sword domain materializing around Wu Yuan. Its power was unmatched, its might earth-shattering.


    <i>In terms of mana, the gap between us is immense, equivalent to more than a full cultivation phase. As for artifacts, my Hundred Swords Array, centered around my celestial sword, is nearly on par with his.</i>


    <i>The crucial factor is thatbat in higher spatial dimensions doesn''t affect the Material Spatial Layer. Metal Devil and Purple Secret can''t see us, allowing me to unleash my full power. </i>


    <i>While Life True Intent and Space True Intent do not ovep perfectly, theyplement each other. Theirbined might, though not quite matching the Astral Lord-level, certainly ces me at the pinnacle of Eighth Tribtion Archimmortals.</i>


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan far surpassed his opponent. Moreover, with Wu Yuan physically residing in a higher spatial dimension, he could manipte artifacts more effectively and replenish his mana faster.


    <i>Boom!</i> With a celestial sword at the core, the Hundred Swords Array instantly coalesced into a terrifying divine sword, sword light piercing through the void. It met the five fiery stars head-on.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>First, a soul attack swept over Wu Yuan. It didn��t affect him in the slightest, and he ignored itpletely.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>The spatial currents trembled as the sword light collided with the fiery stars, causing the surrounding spatial fragments to veer off to the side.


    The five fiery stars visibly slowed. Meanwhile, the sword light from Wu Yuan''s sword array dissipated. Wave after wave of flying swords gathered, relentlessly obstructing the stars'' advance.


    In the end, it actually managed to withstand the onught of the five fiery stars, forcing them to withdraw once their power was exhausted. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan stood amidst the torrent of spatial fragments, unmovable.


    "Your technique is impressive, Sir. Please, try again," Wu Yuan''s voice echoed through the higher spatial dimension, reverberating across millions of li in the Material Spatial Layer.


    <i>What? This imprint bearer blocked a head-on collision? He can unleash power rivaling an Archimmortal?</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao was incredulous.


    He couldn''t believe that despite going all out, and even summoning the ck Devil Divine Pir, he still couldn''t harm his opponent.


    <i>Again!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao, unwilling to concede, channeled his mana to replenish the power of his celestial artifacts. The five fiery stars, their power restored, once again plunged into the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>Swiftly, another collision urred, and once again, the five fiery stars failed to breach Wu Yuan''s sword array.


    <i>Something''s not right! </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao finally realized. <i>He hasn''t just grasped Space True Intent, there''s another power at work. It seems to be... Life True Intent? And his mastery of it appears to far exceed even that of the Space Dao.</i>


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s heart trembled. It was already frightening enough for an Earth Immortal to master Space True Intent, but to also wield Life True Intent? What kind of monstrous prodigy was this?


    Even among High Immortals, simultaneously mastering two Greater Laws would mark one as a peerless genius.


    <i>No, wait! With such incredible power, he��s able to match me in direct confrontation and has no reason to fear me. Yet he��s satisfied with merely keeping me contained?</i>


    <i>A monstrous prodigy like this must have numerous trump cards up his sleeve.</i> A sense of foreboding crept into High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s heart. His mind raced, thoughts whirling at lightning speed.


    Finally, he reached a conclusion - this imprint bearer was unwilling to reveal his full strength, but now, he had forced it out of him. What would the consequences be?


    <i>Flee! I cannot afford to provoke such a monstrous prodigy.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao��s head hadpletely cooled.


    He didn''t fear ordinary imprint bearers. He would even kill the rtively stronger ones if they dared to oppose him.


    But a monstrous prodigy like Wu Yuan? He only acted rashly because he was unaware of Wu Yuan''s true capabilities. Had he known, he would never have dared to provoke him.


    Such a figure would undoubtedly be valued by Astral Monarchs and even Sovereigns. How could he, a mere ordinary Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, hope to challenge someone like that?


    <i>Boom! </i>Without further hesitation, he immediately recalled the ck Devil Divine Pir and fiery stars. Eight fiery stars encircled him, forming his strongest defensive stance.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao slowed, then he swiftly fled in the opposite direction of Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s.


    Under the influence of spatial distortion, his escape was excruciatingly slow, but he tried to put as much distance between himself and Wu Yuan as possible.


    "Fellow Daoist, I was in the wrong. I''m willing to offer one hundred divine crystals aspensation," High Immortal Zhuo Hao transmitted via Soul Will to Wu Yuan.


    He had already made up his mind - to resolve this matter as peacefully as possible.


    "Earlier you called me ''boy'', and now it''s ''Fellow Daoist''?" A voice echoed from the higher spatial dimension: "I told you that we''d leave after three days and asked you to remain outside the. You refused, and now you beg for mercy?"


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s expression changed subtly. He sensed Wu Yuan''s displeasure. However, Wu Yuan only continued to maintain the spatial distortion effect, notunching any further attacks.


    "Fellow Daoist jests. I was indeed in the wrong earlier." High Immortal Zhuo Hao continued to apologize, "I hope you can show mercy. After all, you haven''t suffered any losses."


    "How about I hand Yin Yan over to you?" High Immortal Zhuo Hao decisively betrayed Earth Immortal Yin Yan. Earth Immortal Yin Yan was important, but far less so than his own life.


    <i>Boom!</i> As High Immortal Zhuo Hao continued to flee, he waited for Wu Yuan''s response, the two locked in a strange standoff.


    ...


    "What?"


    "That High Immortal Zhuo Hao seems to be retreating, and he''s even put away that divine pir?" Upon noticing this development, both Metal Devil and Purple Secret were shocked by this turn of events.


    Just moments ago, High Immortal Zhuo Hao had been bursting with overwhelming power, brandishing that special artifact, seemingly ready to tear Wu Yuan to shreds.


    Yet in the blink of an eye, he had withdrawn his treasure and was attempting to leave?


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret weren''t fools. They instantly deduced that High Immortal Zhuo Hao had suffered a major setback. Or rather, Wu Yuan had employed some technique that made High Immortal Zhuo Hao extremely wary to the point of abandoning Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    "What did Ming Jian do?"


    "Earlier, that Sixth Tribtion High Immortal sent his weapons into a higher spatial dimension, so he must have engaged Ming Jian there."


    "Did he fail to defeat Ming Jian?" Metal Devil and Purple Secretmunicated, increasingly astounded.


    Ming Jian seemed far stronger than what he had revealed. In their minds, he grew increasingly unfathomable.


    "No matter. The stronger Ming Jian is, the better it is for us. Let''s focus on capturing Earth Immortal Yin Yan," Metal Devil transmitted.


    "Kill!" Purple Secret''s eyes shed like lightning.


    The two charged forward with overwhelming momentum, destroying Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s beast and puppet arrays one after another, rapidly approaching the star''s core.


    "High Immortal! High Immortal Zhuo Hao." In a panic, Earth Immortal Yin Yan called for help repeatedly, but received no response.


    <i>Has High Immortal Zhuo Hao abandoned me? </i>Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s heart sank into despair.


    ...


    <i>Let him go?</i> Wu Yuan pondered, still residing in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    If not for that mysterious ck divine pir, sparing the opponent would be inconsequential. After all, killing a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal in full defense mode was extremely difficult. Moreover, there was no prior enmity between them.


    However, Wu Yuan was determined to obtain that ck divine pir.


    "I''ll let you go, but hand over all eight of your star artifacts," Wu Yuan''s voice was icy cold. "Otherwise, you can forget about leaving."


    "You want me to surrender all my star artifacts?" High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s expression changed instantly, his heart sinking. He understood that the worst-case scenario was unfolding.


    "Fellow Daoist, you must be joking. These are eight celestial artifacts.�� High Immortal Zhuo Hao shook his head and transmitted, "How about this? Out of respect, I can give you one low-grade celestial artifact, but no more than that.


    If you still refuse, then let''s battle." High Immortal Zhuo Hao had given his bottom line��one low-grade celestial artifact.


    Moreover, this celestial artifact certainly wouldn''t be one of his star artifacts; they were his lifeline. If he handed them over and Wu Yuan went back on his word, he''d have no bargaining chip left.


    A full breath of time passed.


    <i>Rumble~ </i>In outer space, that over a million li in diameter suddenly exploded, shockwaves rippling outward in all directions. The enormous fire dragons were extinguished, and undting streams of water nketed everything, restoring calm to the battlefield.


    Clearly, Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s resistance had failed, and Metal Devil and Purple Secret had seeded.


    "Fine," Wu Yuan''s voice rang out. "Hand over one low-grade celestial artifact, and I''ll let you go."


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao acted decisively, immediately waving his hand to leave behind a suit of celestial armor emanating a powerful aura.


    Silently, the spatial fluctuations that had enveloped the million-li space around High Immortal Zhuo Hao rapidly dissipated. The surrounding space returned to normal.


    "Farewell, Fellow Daoist." High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s form moved. In everyone''s perception, his speed had increased tenfold.


    In reality, it wasn''t that High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s flight speed had increased tenfold, but that Wu Yuan was no longer restricting his speed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A white-robed figure appeared beside the celestial armor, collecting it with a wave of his hand. Then, he vanished once more.

 Chapter 681: Eruption, Successfully Obtained (2)

    <h4>Chapter 681: Eruption, Sessfully Obtained (2)</h4>


    "He left?"


    "Ming Jian allowed that High Immortal to leave?" Purple Secret asked.


    "Ming Jian might have been able to trap him, but a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal''s methods are unpredictable. If he focused solely on defense, it would likely be difficult to kill him," Metal Devil said in a low voice.


    Purple Secret nodded in agreement.


    <i>Swish!</i> A white-robed figure appeared several hundred li away, quickly arriving at their side.


    "Daoist Ming Jian." Purple Secret immediately approached him. ��To force back a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal single-handedly, your strength is truly astonishing."


    "Truly admirable! Daoist Ming Jian, your strength exceeds our imagination. You must be close to the level of an Archimmortal," Metal Devil sincerely marveled. "How embarrassing! Without you, we likely wouldn''t have been able toplete this mission."


    These were their true feelings. The power Wu Yuan had disyed was indeed beyond their imagination, worthy of being called the most powerful Earth Immortal they had ever seen.


    "It was also because that High Immortal saw that Earth Immortal Yin Yan was doomed, thus he was willing to retreat," Wu Yuan smiled. "In a true life-or-death battle, I''m not confident I could kill him."


    Wu Yuan didn''t want to borate on the battle in the higher spatial dimension. Metal Devil and Purple Secret naturally didn''t press further as well.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, please look," Purple Secret waved her hand, and an icy chain slowly lowered a figure.


    It was Earth Immortal Yin Yan. He was bound tightly in chains, unable to struggle or even make a sound. He looked at Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret, eyes filled with terror and despair. If even High Immortal Zhuo Hao had been forced to retreat, what could he, a mere ordinary Earth Immortal, do?


    "Loosen his restraints a bit," Wu Yuan said.


    "Alright." Purple Secret nodded and the chains ckened slightly, making it slightly less ufortable.


    "Yin Yan, I won''t kill you. However, you must tell me everything you know about that High Immortal from earlier, as well as your rtionship with him," Wu Yuan said calmly. "Don''t even think about lying. If you lie, I''ll make sure you live a fate worse than death, eternally trapped in hell."


    Metal Devil and Purple Secret stood to the side, saying nothing.


    "You won''t kill me?" A glimmer of hope arose in Earth Immortal Yin Yan''s heart.


    Thinking back to earlier events, he realized that Wu Yuan and the others indeed hadn''t tried to take his life. An instinctive desire for survival sprouted in his heart.


    "Yes! This junior will speak immediately," Earth Immortal Yin Yan hastily said. "That person from earlier isn''t actually an elder from my sect. His name is High Immortal Zhuo Hao, and he is... I followed his orders to forge ck Devil Pills using the blood of countless lives."


    Earth Immortal Yin Yan quickly recounted everything about High Immortal Zhuo Hao. He didn��t feel the slightest guilt about selling him out. High Immortal Zhuo Hao had already abandoned him, and their rtionship was purely based on mutual benefit. To save his life, he naturally dared not withhold anything.


    "So, that High Immortal from earlier was actually the mastermind behind the ughter of countless lives," Purple Secret transmitted. "No wonder he rushed over so urgently."


    "It''s a pity we couldn''t kill him," Metal Devil''s voice carried a hint of regret.


    "Yin Yan is in your hands now," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the two, transmitting his voice, "I promised not to kill him, so when the timees, it''ll be up to you toplete the mission.


    I have matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave first. Let��s continue the conversation when we return to the Spacetime Ind."


    Before Metal Devil and Purple Secret could reply, Wu Yuan''s figure had disappeared without a trace. He had clearly entered a higher spatial dimension.


    "We''ll do it?" Purple Secret transmitted.


    "Ming Jian probably went off to find High Immortal Zhuo Hao. He likely wants to obtain that ck divine pir... or there might be other secrets," Metal Devil said. "The objectives of such a monstrous prodigy are beyond us."


    Purple Secret nodded in agreement.


    "However, if they sh and Ming Jian wins, that''s fine. But if he loses, High Immortal Zhuo Hao might return in a fit of rage," Metal Devil transmitted. "We should take Earth Immortal Yin Yan away from this ce first. When the timees, we''ll kill him andplete the mission, then return to the Spacetime Ind."


    "Alright."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Without any hesitation, the two swiftly left with Earth Immortal Yin Yan, who still harbored a glimmer of hope for survival.


    ...


    In the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, amidst the turbulent currents, a white-robed figure shed back and forth at a speed of tens of thousands of li per second.


    From the higher dimension, his eyes searched the Material Spatial Layer. It was Wu Yuan.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan suddenly halted.


    He had spotted a figure in the Material Spatial Layer moving at a pitiful speed of thirty-five li per second. It was none other than High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    <i>ughtering trillions of lives for no reason, you indeed deserve death. </i>Wu Yuan thought calmly. <i>But your greatest mistake was possessing the treasure I desire and unting it right before my eyes.</i>


    Wu Yuan disdained making excuses. The reason he would kill High Immortal Zhuo Hao was simple and direct��that ck divine pir!


    The fact that this High Immortal Zhuo Hao was no benevolent being either merely meant Wu Yuan had no psychological burden ying him.


    Countless flying swords appeared, swiftly converging around Wu Yuan to form an incredibly powerful sword domain. Within the sword domain, a powerful celestial sword took shape.


    <i>Kill! </i>With a thought from Wu Yuan, the celestial sword howled as it descended from the higher spatial dimension, thrusting toward High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    Though they were in different dimensions, he appeared to be within arm''s reach.


    <i>Hum~ </i>An invisible spatial fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan and the hundred li of space surrounding him. This corresponded to a region in the Material Spatial Layer spanning millions of li.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao was flying at high speed through outer space, with eight ming stars orbiting around him.


    However,pared to his battle with Wu Yuan earlier, the power of these ming stars seemed slightly weaker. Evidently, he had reined in some of his mana. Maintaining eight celestial artifacts in operation for an extended period was an immense burden, even for him.


    <i>I''ve flown tens of millions of li. He still hasn''t caught up, I should be safe now. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao muttered to himself, not daring to let his guard downpletely.


    When facing an entity capable of traversing higher spatial dimensions, one could never be too cautious. Those who mastered Space True Intent were different from ordinary Archimmortals.


    When Archimmortals entered higher spatial dimensions, they did so with brute force, creating a tremendous disturbance that was easily detectable.


    But those who mastered Space True Intent did so while relying on their deep Daoprehension, moving with such subtlety that they were nearly impossible to detect unless they unleashed their power.


    <i>Two hundred million li to the teleportation array. Once I reach it, I''ll be safe.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao thought to himself.


    Astral teleportation arrays transported matter through extremely high spatial dimensions, beyond the reach of ordinary Astral Monarchs. During the teleportation process, it was absolutely secure.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> At that very moment, a nearly transparent celestial sword suddenly pierced through space, appearing a thousand li away.


    The power it held was immense, instantly breaking throughyers of fiery barriers from a thousand li away.


    It shot directly toward High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    <i>Not good! It''s him! </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s pupils constricted. As a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, his reaction was incredibly swift.


    In an instant, he activated the eight ming stars surrounding his body and his aura began to surge violently.


    ��Screech!" In that split second, a piercing wail, like the howl of a malevolent ghost, suddenly exploded in High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s mind.


    The terrifying soul attack caused High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s spirit to reel, momentarily stunning him. He was only dazed for an instant. But an instant could make all the difference between life and death.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The celestial sword that silently appeared had already closed the thousand li gap, piercing through the defensive barrier of the fiery stars which had yet to fully form, and impaling High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s chest.


    "No!" High Immortal Zhuo Hao regained his senses, feeling waves of excruciating pain wash over him.


    He instinctively reached for his chest.


    Just as he was about to speak, sword qi erupted, instantly shredding and annihting High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s body, along with the remnants of his soul.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s mana body was dead!


    <i>Hum~ Hum~</i> The auras of the eight star artifacts withdrew, returning to their inactive state. At the site of High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s demise, only his battle armor and a few storage artifacts remained.


    This region of outer space quickly fell silent once more.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A figure in white robes stepped out from nothingness, collecting the various treasures left behind by High Immortal Zhuo Hao with a wave.


    <i>Expending a Ghost Soul Shock Talisman worth over a thousand divine crystals,bined with my soul attack, indeed produced a marvelous effect. </i>Wu Yuan thought calmly.


    With a normal soul attack, he wouldn''t have been able to jolt High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s soul. At most, he would cause a slight disturbance, but not enough to make him lose focus for an instant.


    However, Wu Yuan''s mana body''s soul wasparable to that of a normal ninth-stage Earth Immortal, while High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s mana body had a soul far weaker than a normal High Immortal. Combined with a powerful soul attack talisman, it achieved the desired effect.


    If this were all, it actually wouldn''t have been enough to kill him. In normalbat between immortals, where the two were separated by tens or hundreds of thousands of li, what use was making an opponent lose their focus for an instant?


    But, when Wu Yuan struck from a higher dimension to assassinate his opponent, that instant meant the difference between life and death.


    <i>You are the first Sixth Tribtion High Immortal I''ve killed. Even if it was just a mana body, it was still a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal.</i> A strange light flickered in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, a top-tier existence below Archimmortals, had been in by him just like that.


    <i>Without realizing it, mybat prowess has reached the pinnacle of immortal cultivators. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>Archimmortals? Once I break through to High Immortal, I should be able to challenge Archimmortals like Senior Brother Jiang Huan.</i>


    With their owner still alive, the aura imprints on the storage artifacts were still in effect. Thus, Wu Yuan deciphered each one, forcefully erasing them. Of course, what he cared about most was that ck divine pir, and he didn''t pay much attention to the other treasures.


    Finally, Wu Yuan found what he was looking for in an inconspicuous corner of one of the storage artifacts: a floating ck divine pir, surrounded by over a hundred ck divine pills.


    <i>Can I im ownership?</i> Wu Yuan''s Soul Force surged into the storage artifact, attempting to imprint his aura onto the divine pir.


    <i>Boom!</i> The moment he made contact, an immense wave of energy instantly struck Wu Yuan''s mana body and soul.


    Almost simultaneously, in the distant Spacetime Ind, the ck pagoda in the upper dantian lobe of his qi refiner self also began to tremble slightly.

 Chapter 682: Secrets Of Black Devil (1)

    Chapter 682: Secrets Of ck Devil (1)


    In the depths of the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sat in lotus position atop a jade tform within his private hall.


    He was naturally shocked when the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe reacted to the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    This time, the tremorssted far longer than when he had first encountered the divine pir. Wu Yuan focused intently on the ck pagoda, but apart from the trembling, it showed no other signs.


    Meanwhile, his mana body began receiving a deluge of information from the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    In the Chong Gu Gxy, within an unassuming region of outer space, Wu Yuan''s mana body finally finished absorbing the information after a long while.


    At the end, he vaguely ''saw'' an endless range of ck mountains stretching across the infinite cosmos, its length unfathomable. The undting mountain range was a breathtaking disy of majesty and grandeur.


    At its center loomed a ck throne, upon which a figure sat in a lotus position, his aura vast and unbounded. His eyes burned like twin stars, capable of surveying all realms of heaven and earth, and his gaze seemed to pierce the fabric of time to settle directly upon Wu Yuan.


    "Those who possess the ck Devil Divine Pir or the ck Devil Star," the figure��s voice echoed like thunder, "sacrifice one thousand Devil Divine Pills, and you may enter the ck Devil Blood Hollow. Those who earn my favor shall inherit my legacy��the legacy of Sovereign ck Devil." The figure��s features remained hazy, but his voice rang through Wu Yuan��s mind like a storm. "Haha! All the treasures I have amassed over countless eons are here. Come, if you dare to im them."


    With a powerful rumble, the vision faded, and Wu Yuan��s mana body fully regained awareness, his mind reeling. <em>Sovereign ck Devil?</em><em>So this ck pir is called a ck Devil Divine Pir, an artifact left behind by Sovereign ck Devil?</em> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    If he called himself a Sovereign, he had to be a super powerhouse on par with Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi and Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    A wealth of knowledge flooded Wu Yuan��s consciousness,ying bare many of the mysteries that had puzzled him, including the reason for High Immortal Zhuo Hao��s involvement.


    <em>Most of the information pertains to the ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'', followed by the ''Devil Pill Chapter'' which details the method to refine Devil Divine Pill, andstly, details about the ck Devil Blood Hollow��</em> Wu Yuan reflected, pondering the knowledge he now possessed.


    A secret art, a pill form, plus a trove of information.


    <em>This ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' secret art is truly remarkable, though regrettably iplete.</em> Wu Yuan gradually recalled the details of this secret art.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan also understood how High Immortal Zhuo Hao had been able to wield the ck Devil Divine Pir. In essence, it necessitated consuming Devil Divine Pills.


    Devil Divine Pills contained a special power called ck Devil Power. Only through this extremely unique power could one employ the ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' technique and thereby control the ck Devil Divine Pir. Then, one could receive the ck Devil Power bestowed by the ck Devil Divine Pir. ck Devil Power was an immensely powerful external force.


    <em>Uponpleting part one of ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' and consuming one Devil Divine Pill, one''s mana can briefly reach the level of a Third Tribtion High Immortal for ten breaths.</em>


    <em>Uponpleting part two of ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' and consuming ten Devil Divine Pills, one''s mana can briefly reach the level of a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal for one breath...</em>


    <em>Uponpleting part three of ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' and consuming a hundred Devil Divine Pills, one''s mana can briefly reach the level of a Ninth Tribtion Archimmortal for one breath...</em>


    <em>Uponpleting the final part of ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice��</em>... Wu Yuan was inwardly astounded.


    This teaching was divided into part one, part two, part three, and the final part.


    The information provided by the ck Devil Divine Pir was iplete, including only the first and second parts. Part three and the final part were absent.


    Theoretically, if an Earth Immortalpleted part three and possessed arge quantity of Devil Divine Pills, they could briefly unleash power rivaling an Astral Lord.


    Naturally, this only applied to the base power they could wield; it did not improve one��s Daoprehension. Therefore, the true strength they could manifest would be far weaker than a genuine Astral Lord.


    Even so, it was enough to glimpse how utterly incredible this burst-type secret art was.


    In the past, Wu Yuan had known of some secret arts that burned one''s essence, but most only increased power by half a cultivation stage. [1] Those that could boost mana potency by a full cultivation stage were considered exceptional, and even then, the duration was very short with numerous side effects.


    Meanwhile, the ck Devil Blood Sacrifice could increase one��s power by a whole cultivation phase. Though the mana gap between a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal and a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal wasn''t as vast as that between an Earth Immortal and a High Immortal, it was still considerable. Yet through the ck Devil Divine Pir, one could easily bridge this gap.


    <em>It seems that High Immortal Zhuo Hao likely employed part two of the ck Devil Blood Sacrifice to unleash such tremendous power, </em>Wu Yuan deduced. <em>However, he dared not use it consecutively, likely fearing the corrosive effects of the ck Devil Power.</em>


    With his extensive knowledge of powerful teachings,bined with the technique��s exnations, he could roughly discern the ws in this seemingly extraordinary technique with just a bit of analysis.


    Its first drawback was the requirement for Devil Divine Pills, which had to be crafted from the life essence of living beings. To employ the technique in future battles, a constant supply was needed.


    Without a doubt, the reason High Immortal Zhuo Hao hadmitted such widespread killing across hospitables, and ordered Earth Immortal Yin Yan to refine medicinal pills, was all for the sake of creating Devil Divine Pills.


    How many atrocities would be born from such rampant killing? It would likely incur the wrath of countless powerful beings, causing one to make innumerable enemies.


    The second limitation was that it had requirements on the user��s immortal root. Anyone who used the technique had to possess a robust immortal root. Without it, the influx of power would result in deadly bacsh.


    <em>An Earth Immortal could probably handle up to part two of ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' at most.</em> Wu Yuan quickly assessed. <em>Even if they managed to cultivate part three or the final part and had enough Devil Divine Pills, they wouldn''t dare to employ it carelessly.</em>


    Once employed, if it exceeded their limit of endurance, they might implode and perish instead of boosting their mana.


    <em>To withstand the power infusion of part three of ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'', one would need to be at the Fifth or Sixth Tribtion High Immortal level at least.</em> Wu Yuan spected inwardly.


    The third drawback was the ck Devil Power itself! Consuming Devil Divine Pills meant absorbing ck Devil Power derived from the vital essence of countless beings, filled with resentment, karma, and wicked desires.


    ck Devil Power was used to activate the ck Devil Divine Pir, but it also left one susceptible to the will of the pir.


    With the slightest carelessness or overuse of Devil Divine Pills, one might be assimted or even drivenpletely mad.


    <em>ck Devil?</em> Wu Yuan silently observed the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    It floated within his storage artifact, ancient and sinister. Faint traces of blood sacrifice adorned its surface, and its aura pulsed with a bloodlust that seemed to beckon him toward mindless violence. Even gazing upon it stirred a faint urge to kill in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    <em>The ck Devil Divine Pir is a double-edged sword, truly a devilish object.</em> Wu Yuan realized this point.


    Indeed, it was powerful and could grant its user incredible strength. Any ordinary High Immortal who obtained it, like High Immortal Zhuo Hao, could easily y other High Immortals upon unleashing its power. But at the same time, it demanded endless bloodshed in return.


    <em>ughter begets karma.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <em>And there''s the corruption of one��s mind with constant use of ck Devil Power. If one''s Dao Heart and will aren''t strong enough, they''ll eventually be consumed by ck Devil Power, bing aplete madman.</em>


    The gains and losses could not be easily calcted.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> With a wave of his hand, Wu Yuan summoned nearly a hundred pitch-ck pills that radiated a faint, blood-colored light. The aura they emitted was identical to the aura radiating from the furnace when Earth Immortal Yin Yan was refining pills earlier.


    <em>The ck Devil Power within the ck Devil Divine Pir can only be considered an external power. During the process of oveing the Immortal Tribtions, it will offer no help at all. </em>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <em>But what connection does it have to the ck pagoda?</em>


    Why did it make the ck pagoda tremble?


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but think of the blood mist produced by the ck pagoda, which was also generated through the killing of enemies and also had various miraculous effects. In some ways, it seemed somewhat simr to the Devil Divine Pills.


    However, Devil Divine Pills required refining from vital essence, a far more brutal and bloody process! The blood mist, on the other hand, was merely a byproduct of Wu Yuan''s battles against powerful opponents.


    <em>This ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' secret art is remarkable, but also fraught with danger. I should take the ck Devil Divine Pir back for my qi-refiner self to investigate thoroughly before deciding on the next step. Wu Yuan thought to hims</em>elf.


    Both of his true selves had ck pagodas in their upper dantian lobes, but his mana body did not. So for now, Wu Yuan couldn''t verify the rtionship between the ck pagoda and the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    <em>ording to the information just received, a level above the ck Devil Divine Pir is the ck Devil Star, which also holds vast information. The ck Devil Star might contain theplete ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice''. To obtain specific directions to the ck Devil Blood Hollow, one must sacrifice a thousand Devil Divine Pills?</em>


    These Devil Divine Pills weren''t for personal use, purely to be sacrificed to the ck Devil Divine Pir. Once the sacrifice wasplete, one would naturally receive the desired information from the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    <em>This thing seems to be bait cast out by Sovereign ck Devil, luring countless powerful beings to kill for him, and then refine Devil Divine Pills. </em>Wu Yuan continued to examine the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    As he continued his examination, Wu Yuan��s wariness grew. It was too bizarre. The methods of a Sovereign were truly unfathomable.


    <em>Moreover, logically speaking, the spacetime mission should have only requested us to either protect Earth Immortal Yin Yan or kill him. But why specifically demand that we protect him first and then kill him? </em>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <em>It doesn''t make sense!</em>


    The Spacetime Ind typically didn''t interfere with usual acts of ughter. Earlier, when Wu Yuan, Metal Devil, and Purple Secret were specting on the purpose of the mission, they had considered the possibility that Earth Immortal Yin Yan might be involved in some secret that could affect the operation of the entire Spacetime Dao Realm. At the time, Wu Yuan and the others had dismissed such a notion, deeming it far-fetched.


    Now? Wu Yuan felt there might be a possibility. That was because Earth Immortal Yin Yan had learned the method to refine Devil Divine Pills, unknowingly forming a karmic connection with Sovereign ck Devil.


    And a super powerhouse like Sovereign ck Devil could potentially influence the entire Spacetime Dao Realm.


    1. Eg. first-stage Golden Core to halfway of second-stage Golden Core ?

 Chapter 683: Secrets Of Black Devil (2)

    <h4>Chapter 683: Secrets Of ck Devil (2)</h4>


    <i>I must figure out the limit to Sovereign ck Devil��s abilities and see what this ck Devil Blood Hollow really is about.</i> Wu Yuan had made up his mind.


    <i>At the same time, I need to rify the rtionship between the ck Devil Divine Pir and the ck pagoda.</i>


    Before this was settled, Wu Yuan would not attempt to cultivate the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice��, let alone try to refine this strange Devil Divine Pill.


    He set those thoughts aside for now.


    <i>It''s rather odd. A treasure like this should be an ultimate treasure to High Immortal Zhuo Hao. Why would he entrust it to a mana body?</i> A flicker of doubt crossed Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Logically, it shouldn''t have been in the possession of his mana body.


    <i>If I can''t figure it out, there''s no point in dwelling on it. Besides, killing High Immortal Zhuo Hao will be difficult now.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    At present, Wu Yuan only knew the general location of High Immortal Zhuo Hao''sir. Furthermore, it was a great distance away. By the time he got there, High Immortal Zhuo Hao would have long escaped.


    Moreover, even if he didn''t flee, determined to hide in hisir, he was still a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. Wu Yuan was reluctant to attempt it at his current level, and even a true Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal would generally be unwilling to court such misfortune.


    <i>For now, I still can''t kill him. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>The only potential issue is that I unleashed my full power when fighting him in the higher spatial dimension. He might have sensed the fluctuations of Life True Intent, though I don''t know if he recognized it.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Whether one could recognize it or not was rted to one''s knowledge and experience. It also depended on the strength of the Dao fluctuations Wu Yuan had disyed.


    If it was just a very faint trace of the Law of Life''s profundities, even an Archimmortal might not recognize which Dao it was. But once the Life True Intent fluctuations erupted in full, it would be obvious.


    Additionally, High Immortals with extensive knowledge and experience might recognize it, while some Archimmortals with little experience might fail to recognize it.


    <i>He''s a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, far stronger than the abbot of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, High Immortal Hei Yuan, and others from back then.</i>


    <i>He was able to obtain this mysterious ck Devil Divine Pir and knows how the Spacetime Ind operates. His background is likely not simple, and he must have had many experiences.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes turned cold.


    <i>It''s possible that he could recognize it. At the very least, he should be able to confirm that this is a power distinctly different from Space True Intent.</i>


    But even if he recognized it, so what? From beginning to end, High Immortal Zhuo Hao never knew Wu Yuan''s identity. Countless imprint bearers came and went from the Spacetime Ind. No matter how great his background, how much could a High Immortal know?


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, most only know me as Ming Jian from the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>As for my specific identity? They don''t know. </i>The possibility of someone connecting all the clues and realizing his true identity was very low.


    <i>Besides, my body refiner self is still in the Immutable Land and hasn''t emerged yet. Even if it''s revealed that Ming Jian has mastered two Greater Law True Intents, it has nothing to do with my body refiner self for now. </i>Wu Yuan wasn''t too worried.


    Even if exposed, it would be a matter for the distant future.


    <i>It involves the ck pagoda. Exposure was unavoidable.</i> Wu Yuan didn''t regret his choice to take the risk.


    He stepped forward, his body integrating into a higher dimension. Then, he vanished from this patch of outer space.


    ...


    In a distant region of the Chong Gu Gxy, far from Wu Yuan��s location,y a massive.


    <i>In a core region of this.</i>


    <i>An Earth Immortal imprint bearer possessing such immense power? </i>An elderly man in white robes sat in lotus position atop a jade tform, utterly terrified.


    It was none other than High Immortal Zhuo Hao. The memory of that sword piercing through space still echoed in his mind. His mana body had been killed in one sword strike.


    His mana body was no weaker than his true self in any aspect aside from the soul. Yet it had perished without a sound!


    <i>Such a monstrous prodigy had already promised not to kill me, yet came to ambush me afterward? Why? </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s heart trembled with fear.


    Was it for a few pieces of low-grade celestial equipment? High Immortal Zhuo Hao didn''t think so.


    A monstrous prodigy like that wouldn''tck a few hundred or thousand divine crystals. If he truly wanted to deal with him, he could have done so from the start.


    <i>It most likely has to do with the ck Devil Divine Pir. Once he learns the secret of the ck Devil Divine Pir, he''s very likely toe after my true self; either to eliminate evidence, or to see if I have any other treasures. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao quickly deduced.


    <i>He might not be able to break into myir, but he''s fully capable of requesting help from other powerhouses.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s guess was correct. High Immortal Zhuo Hao had indeed recognized the Life True Intent fluctuations. But his attention wasn''t focused on that at all.


    An Earth Immortal controlling two Greater Law True Intents was indeed terrifying, but what did that have to do with High Immortal Zhuo Hao? He was only concerned about his own survival.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao waved his hand, and instantly, a ck orb of light appeared in his palm, emanating an extremely sinister and violent aura. It was ten times more ferocious than the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    <i>The ck Devil Star, containing twelve ck Devil Divine Pirs... this is my true trump card. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao muttered to himself.


    Why had he let his mana body carry a ck Devil Divine Pir? Because, to him, a single ck Devil Divine Pir was nothing special.


    <i>Let''s go! I must leave quickly.</i> Even in hisir, High Immortal Zhuo Hao didn��t feel secure.


    He swiftly gathered all the treasures he could take with him. Without notifying anyone, he left this region of outer space.


    ...


    Wu Yuan traversed through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, spreading out his Soul Will and scouting a vast area with Space True Intent. With this method, he was hundreds of times more efficient than ordinary High Immortals.


    Soon, Wu Yuan located Metal Devil and Purple Secret, who were leading Earth Immortal Yin Yan through outer space.


    However, Wu Yuan didn''t reveal himself, merely observing them silently. If he appeared, he would have to exin the matter with High Immortal Zhuo Hao. Why go through all that trouble?


    Several hourster, Metal Devil and Purple Secret made their move once they reached an unremarkable rogue, unhesitatingly striking down Earth Immortal Yin Yan.


    Until the moment of his death, Earth Immortal Yin Yan was still begging for mercy.


    Once Earth Immortal Yin Yan died, a cold voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Imprint bearer Ming Jian, first Sovereign-level Missionpleted. Reward: one hundred spacetime points. Do you wish to return?"


    Wu Yuan was startled.


    <i>I''m in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, yet Spacetime Ind can instantly locate and notify me?</i> Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked. <i>Doesn''t this mean that my every action is under the surveince of the Spacetime Ind?</i>


    Wu Yuan considered this question, then he nodded, realizing it made sense. After all, the entire Spacetime Dao Realm was created by the Spacetime Dao Master. What secrets could possibly be hidden from him?


    "I wish to return!" Wu Yuan responded.


    <i>Hum~ </i>A mysterious spacetime fluctuation swept over Wu Yuan in mighty waves, and he vanished from his original location.


    Soon after, Metal Devil and Purple Secret, who were in the Material Spatial Layer, also disappeared.


    They had all chosen to return.


    ...


    The Spacetime Ind sprawled over hundreds of millions of li, with countless residences of imprint bearers scattered across the continent like stars in the sky.


    Wu Yuan''s mana body stepped out from a teleportation array floating in the void, then turned to a hazy light screen in the distance: "Record the arrival spacetime coordinates of myst mission."


    "Understood. Coordinates recorded," a cold voice replied. "For a fee of one thousand divine crystals, you may teleport to the same location again."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    This was a feature of the Spacetime Ind. By paying a fee, one could return to any spacetime coordinates where a spacetime mission had beenpleted.


    Of course, one could visit other non-mission areas in the Spacetime Dao Realm by paying divine crystals.


    If you find it expensive? Then use the regr teleportation arrays and travel the slow way.


    The spacetime teleportation arrays above the ind were the fastest way to travel. Even for spacetime missions billions of light-years away, one could be transported to and fro almost instantaneously.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s mana body left the spacetime teleportation array, oriented himself, and quickly returned to his own private hall.


    "Congrattions on your sessful return, Master! Youpleted a Sovereign-level Mission on your very first attempt." Star Moon was already standing at the entrance of the hall, her face alight with excitement.


    "My true self has been in the hall all along, yet I didn''t see you making any special gestures," Wu Yuan''s mana body said with a smile.


    "It''s different," Star Moon insisted, her expression righteous and stern. "The one who went out to battle was Master''s mana body, so naturally we must congratte Master''s mana body."


    Wu Yuan smiled, toozy to argue with her any further.


    With a soft hum, his mana body streaked forward, merging seamlessly with his true self, and retreating into his amethyst cradle to rest.


    For those of the qi refiner lineage, the amethyst cradle was able to amodate items other than one''s lifebound artifacts and mana body, however, the space was quite limited. It was far from the vast, majestic internal shambh of body refiners.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self waved his hand, and a light screen materialized before him, projecting numerous intelligence reports. All of them consisted of information rted to Sovereign ck Devil, and were sourced from the Spacetime Ind''s database.


    Different imprint tiers granted different privileges, and the intelligence one could ess varied ordingly. As a Dao Master imprint bearer, the intelligence Wu Yuan was permitted to view could be considered extremely detailed.


    "Master wants to learn about Sovereign ck Devil?" Star Moon asked curiously, standing to the side.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded, not bothering to conceal his intentions. There was no need.


    Star Moon, though appearing to be a mere spirit, actually represented the will behind the Spacetime Ind. Every move he made was known to her.


    "The public intelligence on Sovereign ck Devil is just as the light screen shows," Star Moon said with a smile. "He was a brilliantly talented Sovereign born in the history of the Dao Realm with overwhelmingly powerful strength. He was once the top Sovereign of the Dao Realm, and more than one Sovereign fell by his hand."


    <i>He actually killed other Sovereigns?</i> Wu Yuan was shocked.


    Defeating and killing were two entirely different concepts. Destroying a mana body or an ether body could only be considered defeat, not a true death.


    Sovereigns had allprehended at least one Greater Law, and their self-preservation abilities were nothing short of miraculous.


    "Sovereign ck Devil was powerful! Arrogant! Bloodthirsty!


    Trillions of years have passed since the era of his dominance. The ck Devil Blood Hollow he established was once one of the top factions in the Dao Realm, second only to the Spacetime Ind," Star Moon continued. "His strength was publicly acknowledged as second only to the Dao Master in the entire Dao Realm, surpassing numerous other Sovereigns."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    This Sovereign ck Devil was clearly a legendary figure, likely no less prominent than Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling of the Greenridge Macrocosm, and perhaps even stronger.


    ��Butter on, for reasons unknown, hemitted wanton ughter and waged war against many other Sovereign factions... That battle destroyed nearly half the Dao Realm, almost causing the entire Dao Realm to copse," Star Moon shook her head. "The reason remains a mystery to this day. I cannot find it in the Spacetime Ind''s database.


    All that''s known is that in the end, the supreme Spacetime Dao Master descended and personally slew Sovereign ck Devil, annihting all cultivators of his lineage. The many deeds of the ck Devil Blood Hollow faction were also lost to the river of time.


    Among the various factions in the Dao Realm, Sovereign ck Devil and the ck Devil Blood Hollow are taboo! Affiliated cultivators are forbidden froming into contact with their teachings and artifacts," Star Moon said solemnly.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    So that was the case. Sovereign ck Devil��s lineage was taboo throughout the entire Dao Realm.


    "Master, could it be that you''ve obtained a relic from Sovereign ck Devil?" Star Moon asked curiously.

 Chapter 684: Miraculous Function Of The Blood Mist, Genesis Law Sacrifice (1)

    <h4>Chapter 684: Miraculous Function Of The Blood Mist, Genesis Law Sacrifice (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. This question from Star Moon was a little too direct.


    "Continue," Wu Yuan evaded the question, unwilling to give a direct answer even though he knew she represented the will of the Spacetime Ind.


    "Haha, Master, you need not worry. While the ck Devil Blood Hollow lineage is taboo for many factions in the Dao Realm, this doesn''t include the Spacetime Ind," Star Moonughed. "Even if you obtained treasures left by Sovereign ck Devil, or even became his sessor, the Spacetime Ind wouldn��t do anything to you."


    "Oh?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    Wasn''t it the Spacetime Dao Master who slew Sovereign ck Devil back then?


    "Master, the Dao Master slew Sovereign ck Devil only because he endangered the stability of the Dao Realm, not because of any atrocities hemitted," Star Moon shook his head. "In fact, the core region of the ck Devil Blood Hollow is said to exist even till today. The Dao Master never destroyed it. Historically, some imprint bearers are said to have entered the ck Devil Blood Hollow."


    Wu Yuan listened intently. This was all confidential information, never mentioned in any public records.


    "The Dao Master is absolutely impartial, no different from heaven and earth itself. As long as you don''t vite the operationalws of the Spacetime Dao Realm, obtaining treasures left by Sovereign ck Devil makes no difference to him. Besides, you''ll be leaving in 100,000 years at most anyway," Star Moon smiled. "As for the many factions in the Dao Realm? They can''t interfere with our Spacetime Ind."


    "I see," Wu Yuan revealed a faint smile.


    He then fell into deep thought. If the Dao Master and the Spacetime Ind truly cared nothing for Sovereign ck Devil''s legacy, why was Earth Immortal Yin Yan chosen as the mission target? He couldn''t make sense of it!


    ...


    After conversing with Star Moon and thoroughly reviewing all the intelligence on Sovereign ck Devil and ck Devil Blood Hollow in the Spacetime Ind''s database, Wu Yuan activated an array and began cultivating in seclusion.


    <i>First, I can basically confirm that the ck Devil Blood Hollow does exist. The Spacetime Dao Master didn''t destroy it back then for unknown reasons. The various pieces of intelligence provided by the ck Devil Divine Pir are essentially true. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    However, the inherent dangers within the ck Devil Blood Hollow remained a mystery.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil seemed to have fallen into some unusual state back then. Could it be rted to the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice�� teaching? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    This teaching was very powerful, yet also very bizarre. Excessive killing could cause one to be overly influenced by ck Devil Power, making it difficult to break free. Sovereign ck Devil''s own immense power was perhaps inextricably linked to this teaching.


    <i>Let''s try it!</i> Under the cover of the array barrier, even Star Moon couldn''t detect anything. As for whether the power behind the Spacetime Ind could peer in, Wu Yuan didn''t mind.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a mentalmand, the ck Devil Divine Pir, three zhangs tall, appeared before him, emanating an evil and bloody aura.


    At that instant, the dormant ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe suddenly began to tremble violently. The disturbance was greater and more intense than ever before, as if it had sensed something of utmost importance.


    At the same time, a mysterious force of attraction spontaneously emerged from the ck Devil Divine Pir, and the ck Devil Divine Pir itself began to quiver slightly as well.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    Perhaps guided by some intuition, Wu Yuan absorbed the ck Devil Divine Pir into his amethyst cradle. As soon as it was ced in the vast amethyst cradleke, it caused subtle ripples, involuntarily drawing theke towards it. Yet a mysterious pressure emanating from the pir prevented the mana in the amethyst cradleke from truly merging with it.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>In the upper dantian lobe, countless wisps of blood mist suspended around the ck pagoda seemed to receive some sort of directive, growing turbulent all at once.


    <i>Blood mist?</i> Wu Yuan was slightly startled.


    Over the past few centuries, his qi refiner self cultivated in the Immortal Belvedere without experiencing many battles or killing opponents, though the blood mist umted from the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield previously was sufficient for refining Faith. However, after centuries, this process had consumed most of the blood mist.


    Nevertheless, even as Wu Yuan''s cultivation advanced over the years, the blood mist hadn''t disyed any new functions or abilities. So Wu Yuan hadn''t paid much attention to it.


    Upon arriving in the Spacetime Dao Realm, his mana body had in several Earth Immortal mana bodies and even High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s mana body during his first Sovereign-level mission, prompting the ck pagoda to generate arge quantity of new, and even more concentrated, blood mist.


    This confirmed one thing for Wu Yuan - ying powerful mana bodies could also lead to the production of blood mist!


    Now, an anomaly was urring. Wu Yuan dared not act rashly, especially since he had a vague suspicion in mind.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> As he expected, the surging, turbulent blood mist flowed through the mysterious connection between the upper dantian lobe and the amethyst cradle, appearing above the amethyst cradleke in nearly an instant. Then, it poured into the ck Devil Divine Pir, merging with it.


    <i>Hiss hiss hiss! </i>Like the collision of two powerful forces, the ck Devil Divine Pir instantly radiated bursts of intertwined ck and blood-red light.


    This pressure caused even Wu Yuan''s heart to tremble slightly, and he felt his amethyst cradleke quake.


    But soon, the vast blood mist from the upper dantian lobe transformed into a hazy, magnificent blood light, enveloping the entire ck Devil Divine Pir and swiftly weakening its pressure.


    The entire amethyst cradleke regained its calm.


    <i>This? </i>Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted. Such a phenomenon waspletely unexpected. He had thought the ck Devil Divine Pir was connected to the ck pagoda''s main structure. He never imagined the blood mist would surge out first.


    <i>Is the blood mist... refining the ck Devil Divine Pir? </i>Wu Yuan calmly observed the developments, noticing the rapid consumption of blood mist.


    Meanwhile, the aura of the ck Devil Divine Pir was changing dramatically. Its originally violent, bloody, and evil qualities were steadily fading away, seemingly dissolved in the blood mist.


    <i>I see. I had guessed that the blood mist seemed to share some simrities with ck Devil Power within the Devil Divine Pill.</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced. <i>But now it appears that the blood mist is far more powerful than ck Devil Power.</i>


    Blood mist originated from killing, but it was always from battles that were fair and square. Wu Yuan��s enemies had to be on the same level as him at least. ughtering the weak? That never produced blood mist.


    Moreover, the blood mist had always been a magnificent force, never affecting Wu Yuan with negative thoughts or influences.


    <i>Could it be that the blood mist is helping me erase the negative aspects of the ck Devil Divine Pir?</i> A glimmer of anticipation shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    The reason he dared not attempt to cultivate ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice�� was the frighteningly strong negative influence of ck Devil Power. The gains and losses were hard to discern.


    A full quarter hour passed.


    <i>I only have 70% of my blood mist left. Will it be enough?</i> A trace of worry shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    The aura of the ck Devil Divine Pir was still powerful, that violent energy still present.


    60% blood mist remaining... 50% blood mist remaining... 40% blood mist remaining.


    When only about 20% of the blood mist remained in the upper dantian lobe, the blood light that had been enveloping the ck Devil Divine Pirpletely dissipated, and the ck pagoda finally ceased trembling.


    <i>This? </i>A hint of shock and joy shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    The ck Devil Divine Pir before him was still entirely ck, its surface still inscribed with countless mysterious Dao patterns, its aura vast and iparably powerful.


    But the mottled bloodstains that had originally stained the divine pir had vanished, along with all traces of that violent, evil negative energy.


    It was as if, under the baptism of the blood mist, the negative emotions and willpower impurities had been shed from the ck Devil Divine Pir, truly revealing its original form!


    <i>Is this the true appearance of the ck Devil Divine Pir?</i> Wu Yuan had a vague understanding.


    <i>Hum! </i>His Soul Will merged into the divine pir. Instantly, a surge of information flooded into Wu Yuan''s soul consciousness.


    With his qi refiner self��s powerful soul, Wu Yuan regained rity just momentster. This vast influx of information included two new parts in addition to what he had already received.


    The first was a set of spacetime coordinates �C the coordinates of the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    The second was an additional secret art �C ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.


    <i>The coordinates of the ck Devil Blood Hollow? </i>Wu Yuan was startled.


    ording to previous intelligence, one had to sacrifice a thousand Devil Divine Pills to obtain the coordinates of the ck Devil Blood Hollow. But now, these spacetime coordinates were suddenly revealed.


    <i>The coordinates must have been hidden within the ck Devil Divine Pir all along, just obscured by Sovereign ck Devil''s power, requiring the sacrifice of a thousand Devil Divine Pills to unlock.</i> Wu Yuan roughly deduced. <i>And now, the blood mistpletely erased Sovereign ck Devil��s power?</i>


    After memorizing the spacetime coordinates, Wu Yuan turned his attention to the teaching, quicklyprehending it. Soon, various profound insights flooded his mind.


    He swiftly grasped the profundities of this teaching. Its function was almost identical to the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice�� left behind by Sovereign ck Devil.


    It was simrly divided into part one, part two, part three, and a final part... though the inheritance information only included part one and part two.


    The requirements for cultivating the ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� were mostly simr to the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice��.


    There were only two major differences.


    <i>The ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' consumes ck Devil Power, transforming one''s mana into ck Devil Divine Power. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed.<i> While the ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' consumes Genesis Power, converting one''s mana into Genesis Divine Power.</i>


    Compared to ck Devil Divine Power, Genesis Divine Power had no negative effects, making it a truly miraculous burst type secret art in the truest sense.


    Theoretically, as long as one had enough Genesis Power and sufficient mana, one could keep it activated perpetually.


    <i>The essence of this ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' is topress one''s original mana to an unimaginably terrifying degree, reducing the total amount by 90% or even 99%, shortening the duration of sustainedbat. </i>Wu Yuan realized this point. <i>But the power is increased a hundred or even a thousandfold.</i>


    How utterly terrifying!


    Most crucially,pared to the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice��, it had no side effects, naturally making Wu Yuan''s heart race with excitement. He instinctively yearned to cultivate it.


    <i>This ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' must have been recreated by Sovereign ck Devil based on the ''Genesis Law Sacrifice.'' This Sovereign ck Devil was truly a genius.</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    After some brief contemtion, Wu Yuan understood how extraordinary this ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� was, with its cultivation approach defyingmon sense. It was extremely difficult to even attempt cultivating it, let alone modify it.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil must have recreated it as hecked Genesis Power.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The key to performing the ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� was Genesis Power, which then allowed one to activate the ck Devil Divine Pir. No! In fact, the ck Devil Divine Pir before him should originally have been called the Genesis Divine Pir.


    <i>He didn''t have Genesis Power. But I do. </i>A light shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes as he focused his mind. In his upper dantian lobe, a vast amount of blood mist still swirled around the ck pagoda.


    Indeed, after studying the ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, Wu Yuan could now confirm that the blood mist he had been using all along was indeed Genesis Power �C an incredibly mystical, primordial power.


    <i>It would take me another seven hundred years to break through to High Immortal. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>But if I sessfully cultivate part one of the ''Genesis Law Sacrifice,'' I could prematurely unleash the mana of a Third Tribtion High Immortal.</i>


    <i>If I sessfully cultivate part two, I could even unleash mana rivaling that of a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal.</i>


    How inconceivably terrifying was that?


    At that time,bined with Wu Yuan''s exceptional Daoprehension, he would truly be able to unleash power at the Archimmortal level.

 Chapter 685: Miraculous Function Of The Blood Mist, Genesis Law Sacrifice (2)

    <h4>Chapter 685: Miraculous Function Of The Blood Mist, Genesis Law Sacrifice (2)</h4>


    Most Tribtion/Universe Architect cultivators who were able to y Archimmortals throughout history had Daoprehension at the Astral Monarch level at minimum. Only in this way could they ovee the vast disparity in mana between cultivation phases.


    <i>As for me, once I achieve a small degree of mastery in ''Genesis Law Sacrifice,'' I would only need Astral Lord-level Daoprehension to have a chance at ying an Archimmortal.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with anticipation.


    With Astral Lord-level Daoprehension, coupled with the mana of a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal, his power could rival that of an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal.


    <i>This is my opportunity. The Origin Blood Droplet, previously condensed from blood mist, should now be called the Genesis Droplet in light of this new understanding. </i>


    <i>All this time, I thought I hadn��t unlocked all of its functions, but in reality, I simply hadn��t discovered the method to wield it properly.</i>


    <i>The ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' is the ultimate way to harness the blood mist''s power.</i>


    Wu Yuan had already realized the magnitude of this opportunity. On top of that, the Genesis Divine Pir clearly had some nebulous connection to the ck pagoda.


    <i>Back then, when I entered the first floor of the ck pagoda, I was told by that spirit that the ck pagoda was also known as the Ancestral Pagoda, the Origin Pagoda... </i>


    <i>From what I know, Sovereign ck Devil obtained not just one Genesis Divine Pir, but seemingly other ck Devil Stars as well? And potentially even more mysterious objects? </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    He had already made his decision. No matter what, he had to make a trip to the ck Devil Blood Hollow. Inside, he might uncover more secrets of the ck pagoda.


    At the very least, through ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, Wu Yuan had already uncovered the tip of the iceberg regarding the ck pagoda''s secrets, learning a new way to utilize the blood mist.


    ...


    After quieting his thoughts, Wu Yuan began cultivating ��Genesis Law Sacrifice.�� Only then did he grasp the immense challenge it presented.


    Its conception was ingenious.


    <i>Genesis Power is the beginning of all things. The Law Sacrifice returns all mana to its primordial state... The beginning of all things and all Daos is Spacetime... When Space and Time unite, Genesis Power emerges naturally.</i> These profound insights echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    This was the core principle of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��! One must simultaneouslyprehend the Law of Space and the Law of Time to have any hope of sessfully cultivating ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.


    <i>It''s too difficult. Mastery of both Greater Laws to some degree is required. </i>Wu Yuan was taken aback by the enormity of the challenge.


    In contrast, though the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice�� had numerous side effects, it offered one crucial advantage: its cultivation difficulty was hundreds, if not thousands, of times lower. Even an ordinary Sixth Tribtion High Immortal could cultivate up to part two with enough time and dedication.


    <i>Difficult? I''ve not onlyprehended Space, but I''ve also gained some insight into the Law of Time... I refuse to believe I can''t seed.</i> Wu Yuan wasn''t discouraged.


    He wasn''t merely cultivating a secret art. This sort of cultivation was also a form ofprehension.


    Gradually, Wu Yuan discovered another facet of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice.�� It fused the profundities of the Law of Space and the Law of Time into a cohesive whole, creating something truly remarkable.


    In a sense, it was guiding Wu Yuan to unify the Laws of Time and Space.


    <i>The unity of Spacetime! This is undoubtedly an ultimate Dao. It��s just... beyond words. Even the spacetime inheritances from the Spacetime Dao Master, despite being more targeted toward each individual Greater Law, seemcking in certain wayspared to ''Genesis Law Sacrifice.'' Wu Yuan was struck by awe.</i>


    He couldn��t fathom the creation of such a technique; it was beyond his understanding.


    It seemed the creator''s mastery of Spacetime surpassed even the inheritances left by the Spacetime Dao Master.


    Realizing this rare opportunity, Wu Yuan dove fully into his study. For him, evenprehending a fraction of its profundities would be of immeasurable benefit.


    ...


    ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' was so deeply profound that it was hard to imagine what level its creator had reached.


    At its core, though, it was simply a practical secret art, not a guide to Daoprehension. Additionally, the first part was intended for Earth Immortals, so it shouldn��t be insurmountably difficult.


    Moreover, someone like Wu Yuan, who was able to crystallize Space True Intent and gain some insight into the Law of Time as an Earth Immortal, was already considered a monstrous prodigy.


    After three years of intense study, Wu Yuan finally grasped the basics, managing to condense his first Genesis Dao Pattern.


    For any secret art, the initialprehension was often the most challenging stage. From there, it was a matter of systematic cultivation. Over these three years, Wu Yuan also made notable progress in the Laws of Space and Time


    <i>In around twenty years, I should be able topletely master part one of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.</i> Wu Yuan was looking forward to it.


    ...


    <i>In the Immutable Land, within the Creation Divine Hall''s vast test world.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self sat here, contemting diligently. Massive stone walls stood erect, surrounding him.


    <i>These past few years, my qi refiner self��s progress in the Law of Time seems to have elerated, even reaching the initiate threshold.</i> Wu Yuan��s body refiner self showed a flicker of surprise.


    His progress in the Law of Time had sped up several times over. Naturally, this also allowed Wu Yuan''s body refiner self toprehend the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams at a much faster rate.


    <i>When my qi refiner self crystallized Space True Intent, it greatly enhanced my power, allowing me to clear level eight of the Creation Tower.</i>


    <i>Two hundred years remain. Level nine? There��s hope. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self gently closed his eyes and resumed cultivating.


    He had alreadye very far on this path of Creation Essence.


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Dao Realm.</i>


    Since acquiring the powerful ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' teachings, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self had been practicing it in seclusion, attempting to cultivate part one.


    Alongside earlier inheritances, like the ��True Domain Law Codex�� and the ��Compendium of the Law of Space,�� Wu Yuan achieved significant progress in both Space and Time.


    As the years passed, Wu Yuan��s mana body was also far from idle, sessivelypleting three more Sovereign-level spacetime missions.


    The second Sovereign-level Mission was a hunting mission. Wu Yuan was sent to a mysterious ancient river in outer space to hunt river beasts.


    These river beasts possessed low intelligence but immense power. The weakest among them rivaled Earth Immortals, while the mightiest could match Archimmortals. The most formidable even possessed strength on par with Astral Lords. Even with his ability to traverse higher spatial dimensions, Wu Yuan tread cautiously among them.


    He narrowly escaped death time and again, having to flee from the encirclement of several Archimmortal-level river beasts multiple times. After oveing countless perils over three years, Wu Yuan managed to y one hundred river beasts, sessfullypleting the mission.


    The rewards were substantial. The river beast corpses alone fetched Wu Yuan a sum of several hundred thousand divine crystals in the Spacetime Treasure Hall.


    The third mission was an exploration mission, set in a special realm boundary called the Ice Sea Prison. The objective was to retrieve a mission item, but it truly pushed Wu Yuan to his limits.


    In fact, during his first venture, Wu Yuan encountered a terrifying situation that caused his mana body to perish outright, losing many treasures in the process.


    This setback forced Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self to spend ten years cultivating a new mana body before attempting it again. After two more years, he seeded in escaping the Ice Sea Prison with the mission item.


    The Ice Sea Prison taught Wu Yuan the genuine danger of spacetime missions. This was merely a Sovereign-level Mission, yet he lost a mana body due to carelessness.


    How much more dangerous would a Dao Master-level Mission be?


    ...


    It took over a year before Wu Yuan received his fourth Sovereign-level Mission. This time, it was a superrge-scale confrontation mission.


    The mission involved two teams of over a hundred imprint bearers, including several Tribtion/Universe Architect cultivators. The battlefield was vast, fraught with countless hazards.


    In this high-stakes sh, Wu Yuan waspelled to unleash his full power.


    In that outburst of strength, he shook the heavens with his might!


    His mastery of Space True Intent alone, allowing him to move through a higher spatial dimension, drew the attention of many powerful imprint bearers in the battle. In the end, Wu Yuan, working alongside two other powerful High Immortal imprint bearers, emerged victorious.


    This mission catapulted Wu Yuan to fame, and his name truly resounded across the entire Spacetime Ind!


    Previously, when he first arrived, his status as a Dao Master Imprint bearer only led others to believe he possessed extraordinary talent. But this battle revealed to countless imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind that his strength was equally formidable!


    His Daoprehension might not yet rival the most powerful High Immortals, like Nie Zhen, but he was undoubtedly one of the elite. At the very least, among the hundreds of thousands of Divided Soul/Dharma Body imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan''s strength was universally acknowledged to be among the top ten.


    In the blink of an eye, 130 years had passed since Wu Yuan''s arrival on the Spacetime Ind, and forty years since hepleted his first Sovereign-level Mission.


    ...


    <i>On this day, within a courtyard of the Taiyuan Tower in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    "Daoist Nangong." Wu Yuan entered, spotting a young woman in white robes.


    It was none other than Nangong Meng, a Dao Master Imprint bearer from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage who had greeted him upon his arrival at the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Wu Yuan also noticed another figure in ck robes��a High Immortal whose aura was equally extraordinary.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, allow me to introduce you," Nangong Meng smiled. "This is Daoist Kou Lei, a Fellow Daoist from the Eight Mountains Alliance."


    <i>Kou Lei? A Sovereign Imprint bearer?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered as he studied the ck-robed figure.


    Although they hadn��t met, Wu Yuan had heard of Kou Lei, a powerful High Deity who had survived six Tribtions. With Daoprehension on par with Astral Lords, hisbat prowess matched true Archeldritches and Archdeities, making him well-known on Spacetime Ind.


    "Daoist Ming Jian," Kou Lei��s voice was deep, like a resonant bell, as heughed. "Your reputation precedes you!"


    "I''ve also heard of Daoist Kou Lei''s achievements," Wu Yuan smiled in return.


    "Ming Jian, I called you here because Brother Kou Lei has invited you to join him on an exploration mission," Nangong Meng exined.


    "An invitation? For an exploration mission?" Wu Yuan''s interest was piqued. "Where to?"


    "The Snowlight Mist Realm," Kou Lei said solemnly. "This exploration mission is my Dao Master-level Mission. I''m only allowed to team up with two Divided Soul-level cultivators... After much consideration, I believe you, Daoist Ming Jian, were the ideal choice. Thus, I''vee to humbly extend this invitation."


    The Snowlight Mist Realm? Wu Yuan maintained hisposure as he asked, "Who is the other Earth Immortal?"


    "That would be me!" A cool voice rang out as a silver-armored figure appeared at the courtyard entrance.

 Chapter 686: Joining Forces To Complete The Mission (1)

    <h4>Chapter 686: Joining Forces To Complete The Mission (1)</h4>


    "Zhuo Haiyue?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    The neer was none other than Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Sister Nangong, I hope I''m notte." Zhuo Haiyue, d in silver armor, strode into the courtyard. She nodded lightly to Wu Yuan before her gaze settled on Nangong Meng.


    "Not at all. Daoist Ming Jian has just arrived as well," Nangong Meng said with a smile.


    Nangong Meng then turned to Wu Yuan. "Daoist Ming Jian, you and Sister Haiyue should already be acquainted, so I won''t bother with introductions."


    "Indeed, we''re from the same macrocosm and quite familiar with each other," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. This was no secret.


    In the vast river of space and time, while there were many macrocosms, the factions subordinate to the divine court headquarters were limited in number.


    "Please, everyone take a seat," Kou Lei said with a smile.


    Everyone sat down. Zhuo Haiyue, thest to arrive, took the seat next to Wu Yuan.


    "The Eight Mountains Alliance and our Taiyuan Divine Court are on good terms, so imprint bearers from our two factions often team up for missions. Kou Lei here is a good friend of mine," Nangong Meng exined. "Kou Lei, I��ll let you continue."


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue both turned their attention to him.


    "The exploration mission requires me to team up with two Divided Soul-level cultivators. If they are too weak, they''ll be of no help to me and might even be a burden," High Deity Kou Lei stated.


    "I see," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The Spacetime Ind didn��t always assign teammates for spacetime missions, sometimes allowing one to invite their preferred imprint bearers to join them. Given the choice, one would naturally select the most suitable individuals, which was where connections came into y.


    This was why so many powerful figures from the Taiyuan Divine Court were eager to wee Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue when they first arrived.


    "Though there are several Earth Immortals and Earth Deities with decent strength in my Eight Mountains Alliance, they all excel in directbat, simr to myself," High Deity Kou Lei shook his head. "That''s why I asked Nangong to invite you two.


    Daoist Ming Jian, you haveprehended Space True Intent, and are capable of traversing higher spatial dimensions. In terms of escaping and scouting, my abilities fall far short of yours," High Deity Kou Lei looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    Comprehending Space True Intent? Forget Earth Immortals and Earth Deities, even among High Immortals and High Deities, those who could reach the True Intent stage in the Law of Space were extremely rare.


    Among the imprint bearers who came to the Spacetime Ind, the vast majority only studied it as a secondary pursuit, with over 99% onlyprehending an Intermediate Law of Space. Those pursuing the Greater Law were few and far between.


    "Daoist Haiyue, you''re even more extraordinary. Your insights into the Law of Thunder are terrifyingly profound, likely no less than my own. You''re especially skilled in lightning movement arts. Although you haven''t stepped into higher spatial dimensions, your speed in the Material Spatial Layer can likely reach the speed of light," Kou Lei smiled. "I''ve also heard about your two previous confrontation missions."


    "Daoist Kou Lei, you tter me," Zhuo Haiyue said calmly.


    Wu Yuan picked up his teacup and took a sip.


    His previous Sovereign-level missions, especially thestrge-scale confrontation mission where he showcased his mastery of Space True Intent, had earned him both fame and fear among the countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind.


    However, Zhuo Haiyue was even more terrifying. Wu Yuan''s ability to traverse higher spatial dimensions only made others wary of sudden ambushes. But in a direct confrontation, even some powerful High Deities weren''t afraid of him.


    Zhuo Haiyue, on the other hand, was incredibly formidable in direct attacks and skilled in lightning movement arts. She also undertook spacetime missions more frequently, with some intelligence reports indicating that she hadpleted at least six spacetime missions.


    In several of these confrontation missions, she had gone on a killing spree, unleashing overwhelming power close to that of an Archimmortal with the aid of several powerful artifacts, sweeping through hordes of imprint bearers. In terms of fame alone, Zhuo Haiyue now surpassed Wu Yuan by a fair margin.


    <i>During my first spacetime mission, I disyed terrifying power, but Metal Devil and Purple Secret couldn��t confirm the exchanges in higher spatial dimensions. Plus, they were afraid of offending me and didn''t dare leak information about me easily.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Thus, Wu Yuan''s reputation was limited to someone who had crystallized Space True Intent.


    <i>The extent of one''s fame doesn''t matter much.</i> Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly concerned, but he did admire Zhuo Haiyue. In terms of Daoprehension progress and strength, she was indeed extraordinary, no weaker than himself.


    ...


    As time passed, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue gradually gained a better understanding of Kou Lei''s mission.


    "The Snowlight Mist Realm is very dangerous, and my mission objective is in the Core Region," Kou Lei smiled. "But for you Fellow Daoists, as long as you apany me through the Inner Region and send me into the Core Region, your mission will be considered aplished.


    Besides the normal mission rewards, I will gift each of you another two hundred thousand divine crystals. How does that sound?" Kou Lei''s gaze fell on Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue.


    Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    Two hundred thousand divine crystals? Not bad at all. If one had bad luck, one might not even obtain a hundred thousand divine crystals from a Sovereign-level spacetime mission. Moreover, the Snowlight Mist Realm was indeed special.


    "Alright, I agree," Wu Yuan said.


    "I''m in as well," Zhuo Haiyue said casually. "However, we need to sign a spacetime mission contract."


    "Of course, contractse first," Kou Lei smiled.


    Quickly, under the witness of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue, and Kou Lei signed the contract.


    This contract was backed by the Spacetime Ind. Once Kou Leipleted the mission, he would have to give the corresponding two hundred thousand divine crystals to Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Imprint bearer Ming Jian, do you ept the spacetime mission to protect Kou Lei? Difficulty: Sovereign-level." A cold voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Kou Lei''s exploration mission had a Dao Master level difficulty rating. Clearly, Wu Yuan''s escort mission was much lower in difficulty.


    "I ept," Wu Yuan responded.


    Beside him, Zhuo Haiyue also chose to ept.


    "Excellent." Kou Lei received the notification from the Spacetime Ind and smiled. "This mission will begin in ten days. Would you two please enter the spacetime teleportation array at the agreed time?


    I will send you all the information I have regarding the Snowlight Mist Realm and the various requirements for this mission," Kou Lei said.


    "Alright."


    "Then we shall take our leave now," Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue departed one after another.


    ...


    <i>Inside a personal hall in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    <i>The intelligence is quiteprehensive. </i>Wu Yuan received various pieces of intel in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm from Kou Lei and read through them carefully.


    The Snowlight Mist Realm was a highly renowned realm boundary within the Spacetime Dao Realm, naturally formed by the operation of the Dao Realm.


    The entire Snowlight Mist Realm had a maximum diameter of over a hundred thousand light-years, rivaling the spatial territory of an immortal continent. Perpetually shrouded in mist and gued with frequent unpredictable snowstorms, it was thus named as such.


    Of course, the vast majority of areas in the realm boundary were still rtively safe. Only the Inner Region and Core Region could be described as ces where death lurked around every corner.


    In fact, this Snowlight Mist Realm was famous among countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind. Many imprint bearers often ventured to the Snowlight Mist Realm as it producedrge quantities of special artifacts. Many powerful figures from various forces across the entire Spacetime Dao Realm also ventured there.


    <i>Kou Lei''s intelligence is even more detailed than what I''ve gathered from Spacetime Ind. Even some hidden dangerous locations are recorded. </i>Wu Yuan finished reviewing.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t realize was that Kou Lei had previously explored the area alone, sacrificing two of his mana bodies to investigate. Only after gaining some confidence did he return to invite them.


    <i>However, perhaps the hand of destiny is truly involved in the grand scheme of things.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He had epted Kou Lei��s invitation not solely for the two hundred thousand divine crystals, but more so because the spacetime coordinates for the ck Devil Blood Hollow were located in the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Many High Immortals of the Dao Realm were hesitant to venture into the Inner Region recklessly, let alone the Core Region. Many of its hazards were deadly enough to im the lives of even Astral Lords.


    Therefore, in the decades since obtaining ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, Wu Yuan had never considered venturing there. He had nned to wait until he broke through to High Immortal, gaining a significant increase in strength, before attempting to explore the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    <i>However, since the opportunity has presented itself, I might as well go to the Snowlight Mist Realm and take a look, acquiring some experience. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    While his qi refiner self cultivated, his mana body would be idle anyway. Even if he failed and perished, the impact wouldn''t be significant.


    <i>My mana body cannot bring the Genesis Divine Pir when venturing to the Snowlight Mist Realm. I only have one, and without absolute certainty, I can''t risk losing it.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    If it were the original ck Devil Divine Pir, even his mana body could use it as long as he had Devil Divine Pills. But Wu Yuan''s mana body didn��t house a ck pagoda, and therefore couldn''t generate Genesis Power, or blood mist.


    However, after decades of experimentation, especially after sessfully cultivating part one of ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'', Wu Yuan gradually discovered that he could infuse blood mist into the Genesis Divine Pir in advance.


    This way, his mana body could activate the Genesis Divine Pir in battle, unleashing incredible power.


    The drawback was that the Genesis Power in the Genesis Divine Pir wouldn��t be replenished without his qi refiner self''s ck pagoda, so his mana body had to ration its usage carefully.


    <i>For the first expedition there, I will just prepare a standard configuration for my mana body.</i> Wu Yuan decided.


    A standard configuration meant that his battle armor, soul defense artifacts, flying boat, and other equipment were all high-grade spirion artifacts.


    He would also carry nine celestial swords, over a thousand high-grade spirion artifacts, as well as some talismans and mobile arrays.


    These celestial swords and spirion equipment were all obtained by Wu Yuan over the years, purchased from the Spacetime Treasure Hall after selling many treasures.


    <i>Though it''s the standard configuration, the total value of all the mana body''s treasures is close to twenty thousand divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Factoring in the Divided Soul Immortal Life Pills needed to speed up the creation of a new mana body, if Wu Yuan��s mana body were to perish, it would cost him the equivalent of thirty thousand divine crystals and waste ten years of time.


    Soon, he finished deciding on the arrangements for this mission.


    <i>Hiss~ </i>A series of strange fluctuations emanated from Wu Yuan''s body, and his silhouette began to blur.


    At the same time, more Wu Yuans appeared around the original Wu Yuan seated in lotus position, either lying down, sitting, or smiling... Each one looked extremely realistic, making for an incredibly bizarre scene.


    <i>Manipting the flow of time. True intersection of Spacetime... Master''sprehension of the Law of Time is improving steadily</i>. Star Moon marveled from afar.


    She had served many masters, but never one this monstrous.


    <i>Those imprint bearers outside appear to know that Master excels in the Law of Space, but not Time.</i> Star Moon thought to herself.

 Chapter 687: Joining Forces To Complete The Mission (2)

    <h4>Chapter 687: Joining Forces To Complete The Mission (2)</h4>


    In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. Wu Yuan''s mana body left the hall, proceeding to the spacetime teleportation array in space with practiced ease. Then, he entered the mission waiting area.


    <i>Hum! </i>Invisible spacetime fluctuations enveloped him.


    Wu Yuan felt the spacetime around him intersect, and then a silver-armored figure and a ck-robed figure appeared in the space. It was Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei.


    "Daoist Ming Jian has arrived," Kou Lei smiled.


    "I''ve kept you two waiting," Wu Yuan said.


    "I just arrived as well," Zhuo Haiyue said coolly.


    Perhaps due to Kou Lei''s presence, she was as taciturn as ever, less talkative than when chatting alone with Wu Yuan.


    The three conversed briefly, confirming the details of their n.


    "Alright, we''ve made thorough preparations," Kou Lei smiled. "But as a final reminder: within the Snow Devil Cave, prioritize survival and escape."


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue both nodded slightly.


    With that, the three agreed to start the mission, and a vast spacetime fluctuation instantly enveloped them.


    They vanished from their original spot.


    ...


    The Snowlight Mist Realm was the general location they were heading to, though several regions it epassed were highly dangerous.


    <i>Hum~</i> A powerful spacetime fluctuation rippled through a rtively unremarkable area. As it dissipated, three figures appeared.


    They were Wu Yuan, Kou Lei, and Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The wind howled fiercely.


    <i>It''s so cold!</i> Wu Yuan stood in the air, instantly feeling the biting chill. This cold didn��t just affect the body, but seemed to target the soul, causing the soul itself to tremble.


    However, Wu Yuan was still rtively fine.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan noticed that Zhuo Haiyue��s expression had grown even more frigid.


    "Haha, given that Brother Ming Jian''s mana body can endure the conditions here, your soul must be quite powerful, already reaching the level of Divided Soul Will. We��re now in the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, where the air is soul-chillingly cold," Kou Leiughed.


    His build was imposing, his vital aura vigorous, seemingly unafraid of the icy cold. As a Sixth Tribtion High Deity, his physique was extremely sturdy.


    "Mm," Wu Yuan didn''t exin much.


    The term ��Divided Soul�� carried different meanings for soul and mana cultivation.


    In mana cultivation, it referred to splitting the Soul Will into multiple divisions, enhancing a High Immortal''s ability to control artifacts and significantly boosting a High Deity''s or High Eldritch''s resistance to soul attacks.


    On the other hand, the Divided Soul level of the soul itself, also called Divided Soul Will, was the final step before the soul transformed into an Immortal Soul.


    "Haiyue, how do you feel?" Wu Yuan transmitted.


    "I��m fine," Zhuo Haiyue responded, ncing at Wu Yuan. "My soul has reached the Divided Soul Will stage, yet my mana body can barely withstand it... your soul seems to be much stronger than mine."


    Wu Yuan smiled, not exining further.


    Soul? After more than a hundred years of cultivation, his soul had long undergone another qualitative change since he first entered the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    "This is the Frost Mist Sea. Through this passage, we''ll reach the Snow Devil Cave. This is the path you two Daoists will apany me through," Kou Lei said. "However, the entire Frost Mist Sea is vast, and I''ve never been to this area before. So, both of you should also be as careful as possible."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Kou Lei''s figure moved, transforming into a towering hundred-zhang giant, facing the endless mist, wind, and snow.


    He flew directly into the distance.


    <i>Crackle~ </i>Waves of lightning spread out as a powerful lightning domain surrounded Zhuo Haiyue''s body, spreading out for hundreds of thousands of li as she flew after Kou Lei. Yet, even such a vast lightning domain couldn''t reach the edges of the misty snowstorm.


    In such a harsh environment, one��s Soul Will couldn��t travel too far from the body.


    Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue could only maintain a flight speed of about ten million li per second.


    It was worth noting that the entire Frost Mist Sea was vast, spanning over a hundred billion li. It would take a long, long time to cross, even flying at the speed of light. Furthermore, this was a special passage in the Snowlight Mist Realm which many powerful beings would pass through.


    Compared to Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue''s difficult journey, Wu Yuan had it much easier.


    <i>Hum~</i> As Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue flew forth, Wu Yuan took a single step and entered the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, integrating into a higher spatial dimension. This was apletely different world, and the cold dissipated greatly.


    Yet, fierce gusts of wind still prated the space. Evidently, even being in a higher spatial dimension didn��t make one immune to the dangers of the Frost Mist Sea.


    <i>These threats will slow me down considerably.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Yet, if I were to move alone, I''d still be hundreds of times faster than the two of them.</i>


    <i>Unfortunately, I don''t have the ability to bring powerful lifeforms into a higher spatial dimension yet.</i>


    The impact of bringing ordinary beings with him wasn��t too significant. But the more powerful the lifeform, the more terrifying the suppression they''d face in the higher spatial dimension.


    In terms of pure strength, Kou Lei was undoubtedly much stronger. But Wu Yuan''s self-preservation and escape abilities were more extraordinary, and while in a higher spatial dimension, his range of detection and perception was also wider.


    "I''ll be scouting in the higher spatial dimension. If I encounter any danger, I''ll notify you," Wu Yuan''s voice echoed in their minds.


    Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei both nodded slightly, envying Wu Yuan''s ability. This was the heaven-defying aspect of Space True Intent.


    Not long after they began their journey, Wu Yuan''s voice suddenly rang out, "There''s an ice de three million li ahead of you! Avoid it!"


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two quickly altered their direction ording to Wu Yuan''s guidance, and soon, they sensed it.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A massive ice de, tens of thousands of li in diameter, suddenly swept through the air at the speed of light. It was silent and invisible, yet contained terrifying power. If they had been struck by it earlier, they would have suffered serious injuries.


    This was the mostmon danger in the Frost Mist Sea �C ice des! They were randomly generated in the vast sea of mist. Ordinary High Immortals and High Deities struck by it would be severely injured if not killed.


    Time passed.


    From his vantage point in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan continuously monitored the Material Spatial Layer, allowing him to detect dangers ahead of time. This enabled Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue to easily evade threats such as ice des, spatial rifts, and mist droplets��just a few of the hundreds of lurking perils.


    In what seemed like an instant, more than ten days passed, and Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue had traveled billions of li. Soon, Kou Lei sensed that they were less than ten billion li from the Snow Devil Cave.


    "With Daoist Ming Jian, crossing this Frost Mist Sea is a walk in the park," Kou Leiughed. "Thest time I came here alone, I almost died on the way."


    "By integrating into the higher dimension, you��re able to directly bypass many dangers, truly impressive," Zhuo Haiyue couldn''t help but praise.


    "All Laws and Daos have their strengths. Once we enter the Snow Devil Cave, the importance of my role will diminish, and I''ll have to rely on you two," Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    "Not a problem," Kou Lei was full of confidence.


    All three remained cautious, but after long periods of flying and scouting, they were also somewhat fatigued, naturally rxing a little.


    ...


    It was the sixteenth day since Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue, and Kou Lei entered the Frost Mist Sea.


    Beyond the range of Wu Yuan��s detection floated a massive iceberg. The entire iceberg towered millions of li high.


    It was worth noting that many colossal icebergs dotted the Frost Mist Sea, each potentially concealing treasures or dangers, impossible to bypass even from the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. Approaching these icebergs often brought great risk. As a result, throughout their journey, Wu Yuan and hispanions had been carefully steering clear of the icebergs, cautious not to provoke any serious threats.


    Deep within the iceberg''s core, a massive face emerged from the icyyers, with four eyes that seemed capable of observing scenes billions of li away. It watched as two figures advanced through the Frost Mist Sea.


    <i>Interesting. That High Deity has returned? This time, he even brought an Earth Immortal along? </i>Its four eyes focused on the figures, a gleam of amusement flickering in its pupils.


    <i>Thest time we destroyed his mana body, the treasures we collected fetched tens of thousands of divine crystals.</i>


    <i>And now he''s back again?</i>


    <i>Considering how far they''ve traveled, I imagine his vital ether is nearly drained again. He''s powerful, sure, but no stronger than a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal.</i>


    <i>I''ll inform the leader so we can set a trap and finish them. </i>The massive face sank back into the iceberg, unnoticed by Wu Yuan.


    Even though they were separated by billions of li, the creature''s unique powers in the Frost Mist Sea allowed it to sense Kou Lei and hispanion��but it was incapable of detecting Wu Yuan, who was residing in a higher spatialyer. Likewise, with the great distance and its concealment abilities, Wu Yuan was unable to detect it.


    ...


    Kou Lei��s group pressed on for another half day. They appeared outwardly calm but remained on high alert. The deeper they ventured, the more treacherous the journey became.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> asionally, mist droplets��a liquid-like substance��shot across the sky at high speeds. They were silent, nearly untraceable, and lethal. Even for an Earth Deity, a direct hit could be fatal.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Millions of li ahead of Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue, an arm appeared out of thin air, snatching up a peculiar, glowing crystal before disappearing again.


    <i>Another Froststone��worth about twenty divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan mused satisfactorily as he traversed the higher spatialyer.


    These Froststones were a valuablemodity of the Frost Mist Sea. Over thest two weeks, Wu Yuan had gathered several dozen of them with his extraordinary perceptive abilities, worth over a thousand divine crystals in total.


    <i>Hm?</i> Suddenly, Wu Yuan froze.


    Thousands of li away in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, several figures with formidable, overwhelming auras were swiftly navigating throughyers of spatial fragment currents!


    Their auras were tempestuous,pletely unmasked! No, not unmasked, but rather, they were brute-forcing their way through a higher spatial dimension, incapable of concealing themselves.


    <i>Archimmortals... Seventh or Eighth Tribtion? Are they hunters?</i> Wu Yuan��s pupils narrowed. He immediately withdrew his aura, standingpletely still.


    In higher spatial dimensions, one��s perception wasn��t reliant on Soul Will, but on one��s sensitivity to spatial currents.


    Having grasped Space True Intent, Wu Yuan had the upper hand. His presence now felt as insignificant as a pebble on a riverbed��unless these figures came within a hundred li, they would be oblivious to his existence.


    ��Hunters?��


    ��Archimmortal hunters? What bad luck..." Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue paled when they received Wu Yuan''s warning.


    Though Kou Lei was on par with a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal, navigating higher spatial dimensions was beyond his capability.


    <i>Several breaths passed.</i>


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Three enormous presences honed in on Kou Lei''s group from a higher dimension, still unaware of Wu Yuan.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Tens of thousands of li away from Kou Lei''s group, the very fabric of space seemed to warp as golden light erupted like an exploding sun, swallowing Zhuo Haiyue��s lightning domain.


    The battle had begun!

 Chapter 688: The Terrifying Wu Yuan (1)

    <h4>Chapter 688: The Terrifying Wu Yuan (1)</h4>


    In theory, travelling through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer would be tens of thousands of times faster than travelling in the Material Spatial Layer at the same speed after dimensional expansion.


    However, the vast majority of Archimmortals had yet to reach the Daoprehension level required for integration into higher spatial dimensions, relying on brute force instead. Thus, their speed in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer would be drastically reduced. Even so, it would normally still be a thousand times faster.


    Additionally, the environment of the Frost Mist Sea was special and had a greater impact on higher spatial dimensions, making it easy for Wu Yuan to detect these Archimmortals as they moved through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    In fact, even before the three Archimmortals couldunch their attack, the violent spatial fluctuations from their movements in a higher spatial dimension already alerted Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei to their approach.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The lightning domain spread over hundreds of thousands of li, their power concentrated on the centermost area in a ten thousand li radius. Zhuo Haiyue exerted her full strength,pletely stabilizing the spatial fluctuations.


    Unable to descend directly from the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, these ambushing Archimmortals could onlyunch their killing moves from tens of thousands of li away.


    <i>Boom! </i>A golden light, vast enough to cover the sky and earth, surged forward with unimaginable explosive power, distorting space around it. It reached the speed of light, barreling straight towards them.


    This was clearly a powerful arcane art cast by an Archimmortal, with overwhelming might capable of instantly killing an ordinary High Immortal.


    "It''s you! You were the one who hunted me down in the Frost Mist Seast time as well!" Kou Lei''s eyes burned with fury the moment he recognized them.


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue''s expressions shifted. Kou Lei had been killed by these hunters before? They were that strong?


    "Haha, we killed youst time, yet you dare toe to the Frost Mist Sea again."


    "Kill!" A series of cold battle cries pierced through space, transmitted at speeds beyond light.


    At the Archimmortal level, a single thought could facilitate tens of thousands of consciousness exchanges.


    <i>Thunder! Dragon! Weapon!</i> Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes turned cold. Strange knife-like objects flickering with lightning appeared around her. No! They weren''t knife rays, but merely manifestations of Thunder essence.


    <i>Boom!</i> Hundreds of thousands of Thunder essence knife rays flickered, stirring up dense lightning shes, which then assembled into an array. In an instant, they formed numerous massive dragons stretching over ten thousand li each, with majestic auras and ferocious appearances!


    "Roar! Roar!�� The lightning dragons unleashed a series of roars. Facing the terrifying golden light, they didn''t dodge at all, but met it head-on. In an instant, both sides collided.


    <i>Rumble~</i> A terrifying explosion ensued. The lightning dragons were torn apart, the aftershocks sending them flying back. But those golden rays were also greatly weakened, with only a few continuing to surge forward.


    "Get lost!" High Deity Kou Lei''s eyes were ice-cold.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A long spear appeared in his hand. As he thrust it forth, it seemed to pierce the firmament and even tear space itself. There seemed to be no end to its sharp edge, which swept across a vast expanse of space, obliterating the remaining weakened rays of golden light.


    The seemingly almighty arcane art unleashed by the Archimmortals was easily blocked by Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei.


    <i>What a formidablebination. No wonder Kou Lei invited Zhuo Haiyue to join the mission.</i> Wu Yuan observed from a higher spatial dimension.


    Zhuo Haiyue''sprehension of the Law of Lightning was extremely deep, and she had clearly made great progress in the Qiankun Dao as well. Her overall burst power was very strong. At the very least, the pure power of her domain was formidable.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Hundreds of thousands of li away, three figures appeared in the sky, each one tall and imposing. Two wore blue robes, while the other wore ck robes. Their auras were all incredibly powerful. Each possessed four eyes and were humanoid in form.


    The leader, in particr, was a silver-skinned youth without a single hair on his body. His four eyes flickered, giving off an extremely oppressive aura.


    Golden light swirled around their bodies, suppressing spatial fluctuations to prevent ambushes from enemies in higher spacetime dimensions.


    <i>Two Archimmortals and one High Immortal?</i> Wu Yuan, situated in a higher spatial dimension, could finally confirm the vital auras of the opponents.


    The silver-skinned youth in the lead was only a High Immortal.


    ��Not bad at all. This time, thepanion you''ve brought is quite impressive, actually withstanding the first attack from my subordinate. I''m willing to give you one chance," the silver-skinned youth smiled, his voice melodious as it echoed across the air.


    Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue''s expressions darkened slightly at his words. Subordinate? That arcane art attack just now had definitely reached the level of a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal, yet he was merely his subordinate?


    "Previously, I only encountered two Archimmortals, both Seventh Tribtion Archimmortals, but not this mysterious High Immortal. Given that he canmand Archimmortals while only being a High Immortal himself, his strength must be terrifying," Kou Lei''s voice resonated in Zhuo Haiyue and Wu Yuan''s minds.


    If the opponent were an Archimmortal, it wouldn''t be so frightening, as one could judge their approximate strength from their vital aura alone.


    But High Immortals were different. Some extremely monstrous prodigies at the High Immortal level could actually y Archimmortals, capable of unleashing power at the Astral Lord level.


    "From the looks of it, we have no choice but to engage in battle, Daoist Ming Jian, try to interfere covertly," Kou Lei said. "If the situation turns dire, just flee."


    "Let''s fight first before making a decision," Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes shed with a hint of battle intent.


    Archimmortals? She had yet to fight an Archimmortal before.


    "I''ll do my best," Wu Yuan simply transmitted back. "They probably haven''t noticed my presence yet."


    If Wu Yuan were to take action, the Archimmortals could sense him given their close range. But since detecting their presence, Wu Yuan had remained stationary in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, doing his utmost to conceal his aura.


    ...


    "We''ve disappointed you, Your Highness," the golden-skinned figure in blue robes beside the silver-skinned youth said shamefully. It was he who had cast the arcane art attack earlier.


    "Listen, you two. Hand over all your artifacts, and His Highness Li Xuan will forgive your crime of rebellion, allowing your mana bodies to return alive," the ck-robed man said in a deep voice.


    "His Highness Li Xuan is a lord of the Hundred Mysteries Pce. He''s willing to give you a chance to live. You''d better cherish it." The ck-robed man''s gaze swept over Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei.


    "A lord of the Hundred Mysteries Pce? Li Xuan?" Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue, and Kou Lei instantly understood the opponent''s background.


    The Hundred Mysteries Pce was one of the top-tier major factions in the Spacetime Dao Realm, established by a Sovereign. To be granted the title of lord, one had to be a top-tier genius of the younger generation in the Hundred Mysteries Pce. There were only ever one hundred lords in the Hundred Mysteries Pce.


    Due to the Spacetime Dao Master imparting the Dao, the top-tier geniuses of the Dao Realm were actually somewhat stronger than those of normal macrocosms, despite the smaller territory.


    To rank among the top hundred in the Hundred Mysteries Pce, one had to be a peerless genius. Throughout history, the most outstanding ones could potentially reach the level of Jiang Huan and Nie Zhen.


    Of course, those who did reach that level were few and far between. Most lords of the Hundred Mysteries Pce would do well to be Astral Lords after oveing their Tribtions, with many having Daoprehension at the level of Eighth Tribtion Archimmortals.


    "To be able tomand Archimmortals, this Li Xuan must rank near the top among the lords of the Hundred Mysteries Pce," Zhuo Haiyue said. "His Daoprehension level should beparable to an Astral Lord, likely somewhat higher than yours, Daoist Kou Lei. His strength should be close to an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal, perhaps even stronger..."


    Wu Yuan and Kou Lei nodded in agreement upon hearing this.


    The top-tier geniuses native to the Spacetime Dao Realm were no weaker than the top imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind, and might even be stronger. After all, most factions and macrocosms had only sent a small number of geniuses to cultivate in the Dao Realm.


    "You want us to hand over all our treasures? Are you willing to swear an oath?" Kou Lei''s voice rumbled, echoing through the void.


    Without an oath, handing over their treasures would leave them as vulnerable asmbs to the ughter.


    "An oath? I''m willing to show you mercy, yet you dare to ask me to swear an oath. It seems you don''t understand the situation you��re in. What a bunch of fools," His Highness Li Xuan, the silver-skinned youth, shook his head. "Kill them."


    "Yes!"


    "Kill." The two Archimmortals sprang into action. One unleashed a roaring golden light that surged towards them in a relentless wave. Meanwhile, the other conjured a vast domain filled with massive serpents, each one a formidable force formed from powerful artifacts, hissing as they lunged forward to strike.


    "Run!"


    "Quick, go!" Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei moved as well. A series of terrifying lightning bolts enveloped Kou Lei. It was Zhuo Haiyue''s technique.


    <i>Boom!</i> Their speed instantly skyrocketed, quickly reaching the speed of light as they shot towards the distance, easily avoiding the attacks of the two Archimmortals. At the same time, streaks of lightning suppressed the surrounding space to prevent ambushes.


    "What?"


    "Light speed?"


    "To instantly reach light speed, how deep is that female Earth Immortal''sprehension of The Law of Lightning?" Both Archimmortals were utterly shocked.


    Although they could use brute force to break into higher spatial dimensions, they couldn''t reach light speed instantaneously in the Material Spatial Layer. This speed represented a sort of limit. With such an ability alone, one could dominate the battlefield.


    "Interesting. Chase them down," His Highness Li Xuan''s eyes shed with a hint of surprise. "Let''s go, advance through the higher dimension."


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The three joined forces, instantly breaking into a higher spatial dimension. In a sh, they covered millions of li, then rapidly descended to the lower dimension.


    They appeared tens of thousands of li ahead of Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei''s path �C a head-on collision.


    "With them travelling through higher dimensions, we can''t escape at all," Kou Lei''s heart sank to rock bottom. A hint of madness rose in his eyes. "At worst, we��ll drag one of them down with us."


    Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes shed, yet not a hint of worry crossed her face. She had faced countless life-or-death situations; what was this bit of danger? In her view, the situation was far from dire!


    "Go!" Zhuo Haiyue led Kou Lei, moving like lightning. She was eerily swift, intending to evade their pursuers.


    "Still trying to escape?" His Highness Li Xuan''s gaze fell upon Zhuo Haiyue. "I admire your abilities, so... die!"


    He raised his hand.


    <i>Boom! Boom! </i>Two dazzling silver lights materialized before him, tearing through the sky like two terrifyingly immense silver torrents. Their might shook heaven and earth as they elerated to light speed almost instantly, even surpassing it, hurtling directly towards Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue.

 Chapter 689: The Terrifying Wu Yuan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 689: The Terrifying Wu Yuan (2)</h4>


    Under normal circumstances, the speed of light was the maximum possible within the Material Spatial Layer. However, when theyer was stabilized and higher dimensions became inessible, or the profundities of the Dao came into y, even light speed could be exceeded��though such feats were beyond the reach of most Archimmortals.


    This astonishing disy left all who witnessed it in shock.


    <i>sh! Thud! </i>The lightning dragons coiled around Zhuo Haiyue, formed from countless Thunder essence knife rays, were instantly shredded as they shed with the iing silver light, the entire sequence unfolding with incredible speed.


    "This is bad." Kou Lei''s expression changed drastically. "Daoist Haiyue, his silver light has definitely reached the level of an Eighth Tribtion Archimmortal,parable to a strike from a fourth-stage Archimmortal. You can''t block it. Quick, let go of me and hide behind me."


    Archimmortals, having ovee seven, eight, or nine Tribtions, were often ssified by the number of Tribtions they hadpleted.


    But in reality, Archimmortal cultivation was also divided into nine stages.


    Seventh Tribtion Archimmortals were the first to third-stage Archimmortals.


    Eighth Tribtion Archimmortals were fourth to sixth-stage Archimmortals.


    Ninth Tribtion Archimmortals, also known as Astral Lords, were the seventh to ninth-stage Archimmortals.


    "Fourth-stage Archimmortal?" Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes flickered. Her Daoprehension was extremely deep, but aside from speed, her strength in other aspects was only close to that of a first-stage Archimmortal.


    Just as she was about to release Kou Lei and let him take the brunt of the attack, an invisible wave descended without warning, enveloping the two massive silver lights. To those with divine eyes, the two enormous silver beams seemed to slow down several times over, instantly moving much slower than Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei instantly widened the gap.


    <i>Spatial distortion? So there''s another one. An Earth Immortal traversing higher spatial dimensions? What a monstrous prodigy!</i> His Highness Li Xuan instantly sensed Wu Yuan''s intervention and was shocked.


    A sh of envy crossed his eyes. Despite being a High Immortal who prided himself on his talent, he was still far from mastering Space True Intent even after cultivating it for hundreds of thousands of years.


    "An Earth Immortal traversing higher spatial dimensions?" The two Archimmortals were equally shocked, having never seen such a prodigy before.


    Indeed, the one who had trapped those two silver lights was none other than Wu Yuan, who had intervened upon seeing Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei in dire straits.


    <i>What a pity. You''re merely an Earth Immortal with limited mana. You can''t contain my artifacts. Break! </i>His Highness Li Xuan''s gaze turned cold as he gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Boom!</i> The two silver lights suddenly erupted forth with immense power, instantly exceeding the limit of what the spatial distortion field could withstand and causing it to copse violently. This vast expanse of space immediately returned to normal.


    However, by this time, Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei had already fled much further, evading the pursuit of the two silver lights.


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!" After confirming Wu Yuan''s position in the higher spatial dimension, the two Archimmortals alsounched their attacks, two immensely powerful arcane arts breaking straight into the higher spatial dimension.


    <i>They��reing after me? </i>Wu Yuan frowned. This time, unlike his previous encounter with High Immortal Zhuo Hao, he didn''t remain stationary at all.


    Amidst the torrents of spatial fragments, Wu Yuan moved nimbly, covering nearly a thousand li with each step and avoiding the devastating blow of their arcane arts!


    Seventh Tribtion Archimmortals, when manipting artifacts in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, typically only had an attack range of several hundred to a thousand li. Even if Wu Yuan couldn''t win, he could at least escape.


    Following that, Wu Yuan took another step, once again enveloping the area where His Highness Li Xuan and the others were located with spatial fluctuations, attempting to interfere with their movements.


    But the surging Archimmortal-level mana from three powerful beings joining forces easily shattered Wu Yuan''s spatial fluctuations.


    "Your Highness, we can''t kill him, we can''t even harm him," the two Archimmortals felt helpless. Their strength was formidable, their frontal attacks overwhelmingly powerful. Yet they could do nothing about Wu Yuan.


    This was the heaven-defying nature of the Law of Space, universally acknowledged as one of the top-ranking Laws among the fifteen Greater Laws.


    "He''s a slippery one, having mastered Space True Intent. Thanks to that, he certainly has first-rate self-preservation ability. Even an Astral Lord might not be able to kill him," His Highness Li Xuan shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the distance. "But he is still weak. We''ve already detected his presence, his interference is limited.


    Go kill those two. They don''t know Space True Intent and can''t escape from us."


    "Let''s go!"


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The three figures flickered, their power erupting as they stepped into a higher spatial dimension, seemingly traversing over a million li in an instant.


    Once again, they closed in on Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei.


    "Go!" His Highness Li Xuan raised his hand, and once again, terrifyingly powerful silver lights burst forth. This time, there were four beams, each with unimaginably great might.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The silver beams tore through heaven and earth, surpassing light speed as they hurtled toward the frantically fleeing Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei.


    "This is bad." Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei''s expressions changed slightly as they sensed the deadly iing threat, feelingpletely stifled.


    When one side could break through to higher dimensions and their attacks were stronger, the battle became almost one-sided, with no suspense.


    <i>Hum! </i>That familiar spatial fluctuation descended, enveloping this region of space, attempting once again to hinder the four silver beams.


    <i>Boom!</i> Space trembled as the spatial fluctuations manipted by Wu Yuan were shattered.


    Why had His Highness Li Xuan expended so much energy, casting four silver beams? His intent was clear: to crush his opponents with sheer overwhelming power.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The silver beams bore down on Zhuo Haiyue, whose face turned grim as she hesitated, unsure whether to reveal her ultimate technique.


    Just then, a voice echoed in her mind, "Haiyue, stop suppressing space. Trust me."


    Startled, Zhuo Haiyueplied without question.


    In the next moment, everything around her began to shift. A white-robed figure appeared out of thin air hundreds of li away, and the scene before her started to warp. Everything seemed to slow down��the flowing streams of misty light, the four silver beams moving faster than light��all of it began to decelerate rapidly.


    No! It wasn''t that her surroundings had slowed; rather, she had elerated.


    It was time! The flow of time itself had changed!


    <i>Rumble~</i> The lightning Zhuo Haiyue had unleashed to protect Kou Lei and the newly arrived Wu Yuan intensified, moving at three times the speed of light, easily outpacing the silver lights and creating a wide gap between them.


    They had sessfully evaded His Highness Li Xuan��s killing strike.


    "What?��


    ��How is this possible?!"


    ��This!�� Li Xuan and the two Archimmortals, who were certain of their victory just moments before, were left dumbfounded. The scene before them defied all logic.


    Time maniption? Though it seemed unbelievable, they couldn��t deny the change in the flow of time in the distant void.


    But, wielding time maniption in a battle at the Archimmortal level? Immortal cultivators whoprehended the Law of Time were exceedingly rare. And to apply it inbat? What level of Daoprehension had this person reached?


    "Is that the Earth Immortal who has mastered Space True Intent?" Li Xuan couldn''t believe it. With a mentalmand, his artifact soared forth in a silver streak toward the target.


    Yet, the strange fluctuations around Zhuo Haiyue returned, boosting her speed yet again, and she effortlessly evaded the attack. Trying to catch up was futile. The Space and Time fluctuations covered only a thousand li, but their power was immeasurable.


    Li Xuan made multiple attempts, but failed miserably each time. Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Kou Lei and Wu Yuan, pulled further and further away. Despite Lord Li Xuan and the two Archimmortals traveling through a higher spatial dimension to close the gap, they simply couldn��t catch up. It was hopeless.


    "Your Highness?" The ck-robed Archimmortal hesitated. "Moving through a higher dimension drains a tremendous amount of mana. If we continue, we may not have enough strength to sustain it."


    "Indeed, Your Highness," the golden-skinned Archimmortal added. "Killing someone with such mastery over the Laws of Space and Time is nearly impossible. Even an Astral Lord might struggle to y him."


    They were all trembling inwardly. Heavens above! An Earth Immortal who had cultivated both the Laws of Time and Space, with such a high level ofprehension in both. What kind of monstrous prodigy was this?


    Moreover, they felt uneasy. What kind of background would such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy have? And it wasn''t just Wu Yuan - even the power Zhuo Haiyue had disyed was terrifying for an Earth Immortal.


    "I understand. We were simply unlucky to provoke so many unparalleled monstrous prodigies at once," Lord Li Xuan said coldly. "We''re leaving."


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Without hesitation, the three Archimmortal-level powerhouses stepped through the higher spatial dimension and unleashed their power, retreating far away.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Meanwhile, Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan and Kou Lei, continued to flee for hundreds of millions of li even after seeing Lord Li Xuan and his subordinates depart.


    Only after Wu Yuan confirmed that there was no further activity in the surroundings and that their pursuers had truly left, did the three finally stop to rest.


    Though it seemed that there was little direct confrontation, this battle had been incredibly dangerous. The slightest misstep would have resulted in Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei''s demise.


    Now that they were safe, the tension finally eased.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, you... are too formidable," Kou Lei''s eyes still held a trace of shock. "Space True Intent, the Law of Time - these are universally acknowledged as the two most powerful Greater Laws of heaven and earth." He had never heard of such a monstrous prodigy, let alone seen one.


    "Ming Jian... you��re truly admirable," Zhuo Haiyue stared at Wu Yuan.


    She was acutely aware of the immense difficulty inprehending Space and Time. Moreover, as she had been the one taking the lead in their escape, she could sense that Wu Yuan likely still had power in reserve, seemingly not having unleashed his full strength. If he were to go all out, how powerful would he be? His strength seemed truly unfathomable.


    "Thanks to you two, we survived this battle," High Deity Kou Lei sighed. "It seems I chose my teammates well this time."


    "I''m nothing special, I just relied on my speed," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. ��Without Ming Jian, we would have certainly perished."


    Purely achieving light speed in flight was impressive, but there were always many ways to counter such a technique. After all, it was just a technique within a single spatial dimension.


    But thebination of the Laws of Time and Space was overwhelmingly powerful, capable of producing terrifying effects.


    "In terms of escape and support, my abilities are decent," Wu Yuan smiled. "However, when ites to directbat, I''m not your equal."


    This was also the truth. Without revealing hisprehension of the Law of Life, Wu Yuan''s spatial attacks weren''t particrly strong. As for the Law of Time? Manipting it actually consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.


    Therger the area of effect and the more powerful the beings affected, the greater the energy consumption. Just maintaining the effect on himself, Zhuo Haiyue, and Kou Lei, while influencing the time flow in part of the surrounding area, was taxing enough.


    If he wanted to affect three Archimmortal-level powerhouses directly? Wu Yuan could at most elerate time by one or two times, and even then, sustaining it for any length of time would leave his mind utterly exhausted.

 Chapter 690: Completion, Spacetime Labyrinth (1)

    <h4>Chapter 690: Completion, Spacetime Labyrinth (1)</h4>


    "Directbat?" Kou Lei shook his head, sighing. "Unless the power gap is truly absurd, where one could be eliminated in a single move, thebination of Time and Space is the mightiest. At least in the aspect of self-preservation, it''s truly unparalleled."


    Wu Yuan smiled lightly, offering no further exnation.


    Indeed! Greater Laws like Metal, Wood, Water, and Wind, while each having their specialties, were fundamentally the basis for the genesis and evolution of all things. In a sense, they shared amon origin, with minimal differences between them.


    Only the Greater Laws of Space and Time are different. They were the cornerstones of all Laws and Daos, the primordial source of everything in heaven and earth. Naturally, their powers were the most exceptional.


    If one were to rank the fifteen Greater Laws, Time would be first, and Space second.


    Next were the six special Greater Laws, each with unique aspects. For instance, when the Law of Life was cultivated to profound levels, one��s vitality could reach inconceivable heights.


    Following that were the sevenmon Greater Laws.


    <i>For that Li Xuan to possess such power, he must have the mana of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>His Daoprehension should have reached the level of an Astral Lord.</i>


    Only then could he unleash power equivalent to a fourth-stage Archimmortal.


    Take Zhuo Haiyue, for example. In terms of Daoprehension, she was simrly approaching the Astral Lord level, but limited by her inferior mana, her overall strength didn''t even match a first-stage Archimmortal.


    As for Kou Lei, his directbat prowess wasparable to a third-stage Archimmortal.


    Thus, in a head-on confrontation, His Highness Li Xuan, apanied by two Seventh Tribtion Archimmortals,pletely overwhelmed Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei, who could only flee for their lives.


    As for Wu Yuan?


    <i>Applying only the profundities of Space and Time, My power is merely equivalent to a Fifth Tribtion High Immortal in directbat.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    His mana was only at the Earth Immortal level and he had yet to crystallize the True Intent of the Law of Time. Also, he had merely reached the second-level True Intent stage of the Law of Space. How strong could he be in direct confrontation?


    Yet by relying on the special nature of the two Greater Laws of Time and Space, as long as Wu Yuan detected the danger a moment in advance, he could escape immediately from any enemy and secure his survival. Forget about Seventh or Eighth Tribtion Archimmortals, even an Astral Lord would fail to capture ornd attacks on him unless they unleashed their attack instantaneously at close range.


    Of course, if Wu Yuan were carrying the Genesis Divine Pir, his strength would naturally be a different matter entirely once he unleashed his full power.


    After a brief rest, the team continued on. Just like before, Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei joined forces to advance through the Frost Mist Sea, while Wu Yuan, situated in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, scouted the path forward with caution.


    The three sped towards the Snow Devil Cave at full speed.


    ...


    In a patch of space over a billion li away from Wu Yuan and his teammates, several figures gathered atop a cier.


    "Your Highness, we couldn''t find any information," the ck-robed man said respectfully. "I just essed the immortal voidrealm and searched our Hundred Mysteries Pce''s intelligence database. There''s no information on these three among the geniuses of the nine major factions."


    Everyone listened silently. Among those present were the two Archimmortals who had joined the battle, and two additional Archimmortals.


    "Hmph!" The silver-skinned Li Xuan snorted coldly. "An Earth Immortal skilled in Space and Time, another Earth Immortal with Daoprehension approaching mine, and a High Deity who can unleash Archimmortal-level power... Any one of them would be renowned in any faction.


    Especially those two Earth Immortals - the entire Dao Realm might struggle to produce even one in an era.


    Such abination, and you''re telling me there''s not a trace of them in the intelligence database?" His Highness Li Xuan questioned coldly, feeling quite irritated.


    His status was extremely high, and he would be an Astral Lord as soon as hepleted his Tribtions. He had extended his cultivation period at the High Immortal level on purpose, ensuring that when he advanced, his power would far surpass that of ordinary Archimmortals, allowing him to dominate them with ease.


    But encountering several monstrous prodigies during a routine hunt naturally worried him, and he wanted to investigate the backgrounds of his opponents thoroughly.


    The Archimmortals didn''t dare to make a sound, especially the two Archimmortals who hadn''t participated in the battle. Even now, they could hardly believe that their lord, already ranked in the top ten among the Hundred Mysteries Pce''s lords, had somehow encountered two Earth Immortals whose talents seemed to eclipse his by hundreds, if not thousands, of times.


    The Hundred Mysteries Pce might never have produced a single equivalent genius in its entire history.


    "Your Highness, besides the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, there''s only one other ce," the ck-robed man said in a low voice. "The Spacetime Ind... Those three are very likely imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind, here to carry out a spacetime mission."


    "This could also exin why that High Deity, despite having fallen once, still insisted on venturing here again. It��s likely toplete his spacetime mission," the ck-robed man said.


    "Oh? You make a good point!" Li Xuan''s eyes lit up. "They must be members of the Spacetime Ind. The Spacetime Ind is directly under the Dao Master''smand, but he has never interfered with the life and death of its imprint bearers.


    Hmm, ording to the intelligence, these imprint bearers alle from beyond the Dao Realm, stay for a hundred thousand years at most, and absolutely won''tplete their Tribtions... They won''t pose much threat to me."


    His mood improved considerably, no longer worried. No matter how monstrous their talent, how strong could they be with only tens of thousands of years of cultivation? Moreover, withoutpleting their Tribtions, they naturally couldn''t threaten him.


    At worst, he could retreat to the Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters. Even an Astral Monarch wouldn''t dare intrude into it.


    "We''ve been roaming the Frost Mist Sea for so long, yet our hunting efficiency is dismal," His Highness Li Xuan''s gaze swept over the four Archimmortals. "Let''s go to the Snow Devil Cave and try our luck there."


    "Understood," the Archimmortals responded.


    The Frost Mist Sea was vast and boundless, leading to many perilous regions. Many immortal cultivators and even Archimmortals passed through it.


    The Snow Devil Cave, being even more dangerous, asionally nurtured wondrous treasures over the long ages.


    ...


    Wu Yuan, Kou Lei, and Zhuo Haiyue''s group spent nearly two more days traversing the remaining tens of billions of li of the Frost Mist Sea.


    Though there were many dangers, and they encountered other immortal cultivators along the way, both sides merely sensed each other from afar before passing by. No battles ensued.


    With Wu Yuan''s constant guidance from the higher spatial dimension, and following Kou Lei''s directions, the three finally saw an endless expanse of ciers amidst the blustering snow storms.


    ciers! Endless, sprawling ciers! More precisely, they had arrived in a world of iceposed of numerousyers of ice sheets, where each ice sheet was of immeasurable thickness �C perhaps tens of billions or even hundreds of billions of li.. Due to the intersection and ovepping of spacetime, it was impossible to investigate in detail.


    Enormous crevasses were amon sight within ice sheets, each hundreds of thousands or millions of li wide. They acted like passageways, each one unfathomably deep.


    "We''ve arrived at the Snow Devil Cave," Kou Lei said in a low voice, gazing at the distant ice sheet. "This is also the second stage of our mission, and it will be even more challenging."


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue nodded slightly. They were all already aware of this.


    The Frost Mist Sea was dangerous, but with Wu Yuan''s presence, it could be said that apart from the earlier encounter with His Highness Li Xuan''s ambush, other dangers were within a controble range.


    But the Snow Devil Cave was different. This was a ce at least ten times more dangerous than the Frost Mist Sea. It harbored numerous perils, the most famous being the snow devils, followed by cier copse, spacetime traps etc.


    Snow devils were creatures naturally born of the Snow Devil Cave, living in groups. The weakest had the strength of a First Tribtion High Immortal, while the strongest rivaled peak Astral Lords in power.


    They had extremely low intelligence, or rather, they only possessed some battle instincts. Compared to living beings, they were more akin to puppets.


    But most crucially, snow devils were truly undying beings. In the past, some formidable powerhouses killedrge numbers of snow devils, but even when their bodies were crushed to dust, they would gradually recover until fully restored to their original state, given enough time. It was incredibly mysterious.


    Moreover, the snow devils seemed able tomunicate with each other. If someone encountered a snow devil and engaged it in battle, unable to break away quickly, more and more snow devils would rush over as time passed, eventually wearing the opponent down to death.


    So, when facing snow devils, there was only one path - flee! Quickly break away!


    "For us, the most dangerous aspect of the Snow Devil Cave is that it stabilizes spatial fluctuations, making it impossible to enter higher spatial dimensions," Kou Lei shook his head. "Otherwise, with Daoist Ming Jian leading the way, what dangers would there be?"


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Indeed, while traversing within the Snow Devil Cave, he wouldn''t be able to enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, thus losing a powerful trump card.


    In actual fact, many special regions could impact higher spatial dimensions. For instance, theirs of many powerful beings and celestial arrays would specifically seal higher spatial dimensions.


    Of course, with sufficient ability, such as advancing to the Dao Field stage of the Qiankun Dao, or reaching the seventh-level True Intent stage of the Law of Space which enabled one to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer, one could ignore such spatial suppression.


    In simple terms, all so-called spatial seals had their limits. As long as one had enough strength, all such seals could be broken.


    "From now on, I can only y a minor role, so we will mainly have to depend on Haiyue," Wu Yuan smiled. "With her instantaneous burst speed at light speed, we should be able to break away from the snow devils as long as we don''t encounter Astral Lord-level ones."


    "Astral Lord-level snow devils are extremely rare," Kou Lei said. "We only need to advance three trillion li, then we can leave the Snow Devil Cave along one of the branch crevasse passages and enter the Core Region. Then your mission will beplete.��


    "Mm," Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue both nodded.


    The entire Snow Devil Cave stretched for over ten trillion li, growing more dangerous the deeper one went. The first three trillion li? Not too dangerous.


    "Let''s go!" The three transformed into streaks of light, arbitrarily choosing a crevasse millions of li wide, and plunged in.


    Invisible lightning spread out for hundreds of thousands of li - this was Zhuo Haiyue''s domain.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Simultaneously, an invisible force rippled outward �C this was Wu Yuan''s perception of Space. Although spatial fluctuations were sealed, Space itself could not be sealed.


    Space was right there.


    <i>I��m unable to enter higher spatial dimensions, but the impact on my perception of spatial fluctuations is not significant.</i> Wu Yuan remained calm inwardly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 691: Completion, Spacetime Labyrinth (2)

    <h4>Chapter 691: Completion, Spacetime Labyrinth (2)</h4>


    The interior of the ice sheet was extremely vast, with numerous branching paths, intertwining ciers, and many ice pirs stretching for hundreds of thousands of li. It resembled a colossal de of ice.


    <i>Crack!</i> A massive chunk of ice, spanning tens of thousands of li, broke off from its base. As if pulled by an invisible force, its speed instantly skyrocketed, hurtling into the depths below.


    <i>Boom!</i> In an instant, the ice sheet trembled for millions of li around.


    "Run!" A deep voicemanded.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A terrifying bolt of lightning streaked across the ice sheet, carving bizarre refractions through the void. In mere seconds, it had traversed over a million li.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Another gigantic cier fell, threatening to block their path.


    <i>Hum!</i> Invisible fluctuations of Time spread out, altering the flow of time around the lightning bolt. Its speed suddenly tripled.


    <i>Boom!</i> A long spear thrust forward violently, sweeping aside countless smaller ice chunks spanning hundreds or thousands of li.


    With their coordinated efforts, they managed to escape this danger zone.


    "cier copse. Truly terrifying. This must be the most dangerous encounter we''ve faced," Kou Lei said with a smile.


    "Indeed. This is the 126th cier copse we''ve encountered in nine days. It''s certainly the most perilous one," the three chatted, still rtively at ease.


    ...


    <i>Crack! </i>The sturdy ice sheet cracked, and several crystals emanating powerful auras flew out.


    <i>Three Snow Devil Sourcestones, and suchrge ones too. I estimate they''re worth nearly ten divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan grinned as he collected the crystals.


    The Snow Devil Cave was fraught with danger, but it also yielded many treasures.


    The mostmon were Snow Devil Sourcestones, nurtured by the unique environment of the ice sheet. They had some special uses, though their value was far lower than the Froststones from the Frost Mist Sea. However, it was made up for in quantity.


    As the three continued their journey, Wu Yuan''s perceptive abilities naturally allowed him to gather quite a few of these treasures. Though each find was small, they umted into a considerable fortune.


    For such risk-free treasures, they followed the principle of "finder''s keepers."


    Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei''s gains were much more modest.


    ...


    "Roar!" "Roar!" A chorus of angry bellows erupted as Snow Devils, resembling white bears tens or hundreds of li tall, burst forth from ice crevices with lightning speed, howling as they charged to attack.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Spear silhouettes intertwined, instantly piercing through the bodies of over a hundred Snow Devils.


    They exploded into fragments, falling onto the ice sheet. But visibly, the bodies of these High Immortal-level Snow Devils began rapidly reforming and healing.


    The three humans had already swiftly departed.


    "That''s the 78th wave of Snow Devils. Fortunately, they were all rtively weak."


    "The battle was quite easy."


    Traversing through this deadly realm was inevitably a slow process. Over twenty days, the three had advanced over a hundred billion li, encountering numerous dangers.


    For normal dangers, Zhuo Haiyue would employ her lightning movement arts to help them make a swift escape.


    For slightly more perilous situations, Kou Lei would take action. His frontalbat prowess was the most formidable, able to shatter ordinary Snow Devils with a single spear thrust.


    When faced with great danger, it fell to Wu Yuan to act! Under the cover of his time domain, both Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei''s strength would surge dramatically, allowing them to easily escape from many perils.


    However, this technique took a massive toll on his mind and thus had a certain cooldown time required for recovery. It was a trump card, not to be used lightly.


    But overall, their journey had been thrilling yet safe. Before they knew it, they had covered more than half the distance to their destination.


    ...


    <i>Deep within an ice sheet of the Snow Devil Cave.</i>


    In a dark passageway, countless ciers stood, their surfaces smooth as mirrors, reflecting myriad silhouettes.


    A figure in white robes walked cautiously along the ice sheet. He probed his surroundings, searching for Snow Devil Sourcestones. His search efficiency was far inferior to Wu Yuan''s and he would only make discoveries on rare asions.


    <i>As a Fifth Tribtion High Immortal, my gains from safer regions are too meager. It would take over a thousand years to umte a hundred divine crystals.</i>


    <i>In this Inner Region, the Snow Devil Cave is considered an extremely dangerous area. Yet, in just ten years of exploration, I''ve already gathered Snow Devil Sourcestones worth several hundred divine crystals.</i> The white-robed figure mused to himself. <i>Truly, great rewards go hand in hand with great risk.</i>


    For an ordinary High Immortal unwilling to take risks, umting a thousand divine crystals might take tens of thousands of years.


    As a Fifth Tribtion High Immortal, his wealth was not insignificant, but to ovee the Sixth Immortal Tribtion and be a lofty Archimmortal, following the normal path of cultivation offered almost no hope given his talent.


    Among ten thousand High Immortal cultivators, it was rare for even one to be a Seventh Tribtion Archimmortal. One could imagine how low the odds were.


    So, he had to take desperate measures.


    <i>I must persevere! Only when I umte two hundred thousand divine crystals can I receive an inheritance. </i>The white-robed figure prayed silently.


    Manyrge factions would open channels for ordinary immortal cultivators to exchange resources for opportunities. So for many High Immortals, gathering enough resources to gamble on some fortuitous encounters was the only way to grasp that sliver of hope. If sessful, they could enjoy longevity spanning a hundred million years.


    <i>Hmm? </i>The white-robed figure abruptly sensed powerful energy fluctuations erupting not far ahead. <i>Such intense fluctuations?</i>


    <i>A treasure? Could it be that my opportunity has arrived?</i> A glimmer of joy shed in the white-robed figure''s eyes.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Following his senses, he quickly rushed over, passing throughyer afteryer of ice until he arrived at one particr ice sheet.


    <i>Rumble! </i>In the distance, the massive ice sheet was fracturing apart. Ice and snow sealed for trillions of years were melting, turning into a colossal whirlpool of icy water that spanned over a million li in diameter.


    Moreover, this enormous icy vortex was visibly expanding, ripping apart more ciers and ice sheets, growing increasingly vast and turbulent. Even from afar, one could feel the extreme cold.


    At the same time, deep within this massive icy vortex, space seemed to ovep and flicker, with the faint silhouette of a temple visible.


    <i>What? An ice vortex? A temple?</i> The white-robed figure was stunned.


    He wasn''t particrly strong, still far fromprehending even a Lesser Dao. He could only vaguely sense that the shadowy temple at the center of the vortex seemed to lead to another realm beyond the world, leaving him bewildered.


    <i>What is this?</i> Hesitation shed in his eyes.


    Even with all the knowledge he possessed, he had never heard of such a phenomenon.


    <i>Boom!</i> Just then, a terrifying ray of silver light suddenly tore throughyers of ice, traversing a million li almost instantly, and pierced the white-robed figure''s body.


    <i>St! </i>His body exploded,pletely annihted!


    He was dead!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Five figures swiftly appeared,nding beside the ice vortex.


    At the forefront was His Highness Li Xuan.


    "A Fifth Tribtion High Immortal dares to linger near such a great opportunity? Blocking His Highness''s path is tantamount to courting death," the ck-robed man said coldly, waving his hand to collect the various treasures left behind by the white-robed High Immortal.


    They felt nothing about the death of a High Immortal''s mana body, having done this countless times before.


    "What is this? Could it be the legendary..." His Highness Li Xuan stared in shock at the massive ice vortex and the shadowy temple flickering at its center.


    "Indeed, Your Highness." Another Archimmortal breathed, "It''s the Spacetime Labyrinth, said to contain the greatest secrets of the entire Snowlight Mist Realm.


    It''s said to appear only after countless ages pass, randomly manifesting in any area of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    But most often, it appears in the Core Region. I never expected it to appear in the Inner Region this time," the golden-skinned Archimmortal said solemnly. "This is absolutely a stroke of fortune for you, Your Highness."


    Fortune! His Highness Li Xuan stared at the vortex intently. Though he was indeed among the top ten lords of the Hundred Mysteries Pce, how many lords had the Hundred Mysteries Pce produced over its long history?


    Once he ascended, he would be just an ordinary member among the countless Astral Lords of the Hundred Mysteries Pce.


    Driven by ambition, he hade to the Snowlight Mist Realm to seek opportunities, yearning to be an Astral Monarch directly afterpleting his Tribtion, a renowned powerhouse of the Dao Realm.


    And now, the opportunity had arrived. But whether he could seize it depended entirely on himself.


    "It seems the Spacetime Labyrinth has just emerged, the entrance passages have yet to open fully," His Highness Li Xuan intoned gravely.


    "Each of you is to guard one of the ice sheet passages. Eliminate as many powerhouses drawn by the disturbance as possible. Contain the information at all costs," His Highness Li Xuan ordered.


    "Understood," the four Archimmortals responded solemnly.


    They all knew that each time the Spacetime Labyrinth opened, it would remain open for a long while. Once word spread, it would attract countless powerful beings, resulting in brutal bloodshed.


    Naturally, the earlier one entered, the higher the probability of obtaining invaluable treasures.


    ...


    Days passed.


    <i>Within one of the ice sheets of the Snow Devil Cave.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Three figuresnded on the ice sheet, their keen eyes fixed on a massive crevasse in the ice and snow nearby, leading into an unfathomable, gloomy abyss.


    "Another ten billion li more, and we''ll enter the Core Region," Kou Lei said with a smile. "I''m grateful to you both for assisting me along this journey."


    "This is our duty as part of our mission," Zhuo Haiyue replied.


    "Our gains have been considerable as well," Wu Yuan added with a grin.


    Working together, their progress through this treacherous journey had been surprisingly smooth. Indeed, for Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue, this Sovereign-level escort mission hadn''t posed much of a challenge.


    <i>Boom!</i> A colossal wave of spacetime fluctuations surged through their ice sheet, simultaneously sweeping towards even more distant ice sheets.


    Instinctively, Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue, and Kou Lei raised their heads in unison, gazing in a single direction, their eyes shing with surprise.


    This eruption of energy was too violent and obvious to ignore. It was as though something was telling them: a great treasure was manifesting.


    "It''s far," Wu Yuan instantly judged, estimating the source of the spacetime disturbance to be tens of billions of li away.


    "What could it be?"


    "I��m not sure," Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei responded, both deeply shocked.


    Barely ten breathster, Kou Lei''s eyes widened with astonishment. "It''s the Spacetime Labyrinth! An imprint bearer has spread the news through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. A Spacetime Labyrinth has emerged within the Snow Devil Cave.


    However, Dao Realm powerhouses are blocking the path. He couldn''t get past them, and with the Spacetime Labyrinth already manifested, he chose to disseminate the information."


    Among the nearly ten million imprint bearers of the Spacetime Ind, quite a few were exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm. It was only natural that some would be venturing through the Snow Devil Cave.


    "The Spacetime Labyrinth?" Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes flickered with shock.


    They were well-versed in the intelligence surrounding the Snowlight Mist Realm. Of course, they had heard of the Spacetime Labyrinth and understood its immense value.


    "Ming Jian, Daoist Haiyue, you should hurry there right away," Kou Lei suddenly said with a smile. "There''s no need to apany me for thest leg of this journey. If you''rete, you might miss this chance entirely."

 Chapter 692: Ice Vortex

    <h4>Chapter 692: Ice Vortex</h4>


    "Daoist Kou Lei?" Zhuo Haiyue furrowed her brow slightly.


    "You are allowing us to leave now?" Wu Yuan was equally taken aback.


    There were still ten billion li left before they entered the Core Region. Although the danger level would be lower after entering this branch path ording to the intelligence, it would still be extremely perilous for Kou Lei to venture forth alone.


    "I won''t be attempting this opportunity. The Spacetime Labyrinth is tempting, but my strength is hardly top-tier among High Immortals. Even if I made it inside, I''d unlikely obtain any treasures. I''d rather focus onpleting this Dao Master-level Mission first," Kou Lei said with a smile.


    "However, if you two apany me for the remaining ten billion li before turning back, it would cost you an extra day at least. You might miss your chance.


    You should hurry on ahead. With your talents and abilities, you may be able to acquire treasures from the Spacetime Labyrinth," Kou Lei smiled. "As for the mission?"


    Instantly, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue received a notification from the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm: "Sovereign-level escort missionpleted."


    At the same time, they also received a transfer of 200,000 divine crystals from Kou Lei, which could be used to purchase treasures from the Spacetime Treasure Hall.


    "Daoist Kou Lei, are you certain you don''t need us to apany you?" Wu Yuan asked in a low voice.


    "It''s not necessary," Kou Lei shook his head. "If I can''t even make it through this final stretch with my abilities, then entering the Core Region would surely mean certain death."


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue exchanged a nce. Clearly, Kou Lei had thought this through carefully.


    "Then you have our thanks."


    "We��ll be leaving first." Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue were decisive individuals. Without further hesitation, they swiftly transformed into two streaks of light and flew to a higher ice sheet, rushing toward the source of the fluctuations they had sensed earlier.


    <i>These two are both monstrous prodigies. It''s worth cultivating a good rtionship with them when there''s a chance. This may prove beneficial in the future.</i> Kou Lei mused to himself.


    If not for witnessing the terrifying strength of Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue firsthand, he wouldn''t have bothered to do them this favor.


    <i>From here on out, I''ll have to rely on myself.</i> Kou Lei transformed into a streak of light and continued along the branch crevasse of the ice sheet toward his mission destination.


    ...


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue flew through the ice sheet. More urately, Zhuo Haiyue carried Wu Yuan as they flew. In terms of flight speed alone, Zhuo Haiyue was far faster.


    If Wu Yuan hadprehended the Law of Space to the fifth or sixth-level True Intent stage, his flight speed might not have been slower than Zhuo Haiyue''s, perhaps even faster. Unfortunately, Wu Yuan had only cultivated to the second-level True Intent stage, so naturally there was still a long way to go.


    "I never expected the two of us to team up to attempt the Spacetime Labyrinth. It''s quite an opportunity," Zhuo Haiyue''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Historically, many imprint bearers never even had the chance to challenge it."


    "Indeed, it is unexpected," Wu Yuan replied, his body wrapped inyers of electric power as the two traveled at near light speed through the ice sheet.


    "However, it''s just as you said back on the Redmoon Immortal Continent �C that you would invite me to go on expeditions together when necessary," Wu Yuan said with a faint smile. "Now, it seems that promise has been fulfilled."


    Zhuo Haiyue said nothing more.


    Neither asked if the other was willing to make the attempt. There was no need �C the determination in their eyes said it all.


    Though the Dao Realm was vast, the Spacetime Labyrinth was one of the greatest opportunities essible to imprint bearers. How could they bear to miss it? When it was time to take risks, they naturally had to do so.


    "Let''s get up to speed on the situation first," Wu Yuan said.


    Their true selves on the Spacetime Ind immediately began gathering relevant intelligence. In addition to information about the Spacetime Labyrinth from the database, they also learned about the current situation in the Snow Devil Cave.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue exchanged information, gradually rifying the current state of affairs.


    The Spacetime Labyrinth had first appeared at least ten days ago, but its emergence was a gradual process. As time passed, the impact and fluctuations it produced would grow stronger and stronger. And when it finally fully manifested, terrifying fluctuations would sweep across nearly half of the Snowlight Mist Realm. It would affect a region of at least tens of thousands of light years.


    It was worth noting that among all the imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, at least ten thousand regrly ventured into the Snowlight Mist Realm to explore when not on missions. There were at least dozens of imprint bearers in the Snow Devil Cave alone. So the news was bound to spread eventually.


    "The Snowlight Mist Realm has its rules. Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns cannot enter," Wu Yuan transmitted. "But there are quite a few Astral Lords from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm who havee to explore it. Some powerful imprint bearers are also on their way.


    The powerhouses already in the Snow Devil Cave have the greatest advantage," Wu Yuan continued. "If we wait for those Astral Lords and powerful imprint bearers to arrive, our chances will be slim. If they guard the entrance to the vortex, we''ll have great difficulty getting in."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded slightly.


    That was correct. Though they were monstrous prodigies, they were still far from the level of Astral Lords. Their greatest advantage now was their proximity.


    Though Astral Lords were powerful, most were exploring the Core Region. Even after receiving the news, it would take time for them to reach the Snow Devil Cave.


    "Let''s advance at full speed," Wu Yuan transmitted. "As long as we work together, the two of us should be able to fight our way into the passage."


    "Mm." Zhuo Haiyue suddenly smiled and said, "What if we encounter each other inside the Spacetime Labyrinth?"


    In previous emergences of the Spacetime Labyrinth, many strong individuals had entered, but only a tiny fraction ever managed to obtain treasures. Competition between them was the norm.


    "We''ll each rely on our own abilities," Wu Yuan smiled. "Before your rise to prominence, I was the number one genius of the divine court headquarters. But we''ve never truly faced each other inbat. I''m quite curious to exchange pointers with you."


    "Very well." A glint of fighting spirit shed in Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes.


    She and Wu Yuan were friends in name and had grown to trust each other more as they cooperated to y enemies in the Snowlight Mist Realm over the past few days. But this did not dampen thepetitive spirit in both their hearts. They each had full confidence in themselves.


    "Let''s hurry there first."


    ...


    <i>In the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.</i>


    "The Spacetime Labyrinth has actually emerged! Haha, I''ve waited in the Snowlight Mist Realm for over a million years. Finally, the day hase. I must go!" A bald figure d entirely in golden robes walked through the air.


    He swiftly made his way towards the Inner Region.


    ...


    "If I abandon a Sovereign-level Mission, a hundred spacetime points will be deducted.


    But if I obtain treasures from the Spacetime Labyrinth, the gains may be worth more thanpleting several Dao Master-level Missions. " A ck-robed figure was rapidly approaching from another direction in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    ...


    "Teleport to the Snowlight Mist Realm, destination: Frost Mist Sea." On the Spacetime Ind, powerful imprint bearers were attempting to teleport in.


    News of the Spacetime Labyrinth''s emergence was nowmon knowledge. The powerhouses already exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm began rushing over, and some powerful imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, as well as top-tier geniuses and Astral Lords from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, all hurried to arrive after receiving the news.


    Of course, it would still take these individuals quite some time to get there.


    ...


    <i>In an ice sheet.</i>


    "Get out of the way!" A fierce shout rang out. Vast, rolling lightning shed, sting apart arge group of snow devils, sending some flying while others exploded into pieces.


    Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan, fought their way through hundreds of snow devils and continued fleeing towards the more distant ice sheets.


    When facing snow devils, engaging in intensebat was the most foolish option. Fighting them yielded no benefits.


    "Haiyue, your attacks are truly devastating," Wu Yuan sincerely marveled.


    The Law of Thunder might seem inferior to Time, Space and the six special Greater Laws, but as a Greater Law itself, the gap wasn''t so extreme. They were still of the same level, naturally possessing their own unique qualities.


    It looked like an ordinary lightning arcane art. Yet in Zhuo Haiyue''s hands, those bolts of lightning transformed from mundane to miraculous. Their power was unfathomable.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but marvel. In terms of arcane art mastery, he admitted he was no match for Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Thunder! It represents judgment," Zhuo Haiyue only responded faintly.


    ...


    Though it was just Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue joining forces, their speed did not slowpared to when they were a team of three. Though they encountered many dangers, they were able to ovee them one by one.


    In just two days, they had already reached the source of those vast spacetime fluctuations.


    Standing a great distance away, they were deeply shocked by the scene before them.


    A massive, ocean-like ice vortex approximately a hundred million li in diameter, with countless icebergs bobbing up and down within it came into view. The entire ice vortex cut through numerous ice sheets, as if it had torn these ice sheets apart. It was heart-stopping!


    And at the center of the ice vortex stood a majestic divine temple about ten thousand li tall, yet seemingly existing across infinite spacetime, as if realities were ovepping. It was indescribably bizarre.


    "The Spacetime Labyrinth?" Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue instantly confirmed.


    Even separated by billions of li, they could feel the vast, ancient aura emanating from that majestic divine temple at a nce, as if it could crush one''s breath.


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue stopped about a million li away from the ice vortex, not daring to proceed rashly.


    They had already sensed numerous powerful auras lingering in different ice sheet passages that led to the ice vortex. The majority were High Immortals, with only a rare few Archimmortals and Archdeities. Within their range of perception, they could already sense over a hundred auras.


    "Earth Immortals?"


    "Two Earth Immortals dare to challenge the Spacetime Labyrinth? Are they courting death?" Naturally, some powerful beings had noticed Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue''s approach.


    "Fools! Two Earth Immortals who can navigate the Snow Devil Cave? Would they be ordinary Earth Immortals? Use your brains."


    "Ignore them. Two Earth Immortals, no matter how monstrous, won''t be able to break through." The many High Immortals and even Archimmortals conversed among themselves. None paid much attention to Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Earlier intelligence said powerhouses were blocking the entrances to the Spacetime Labyrinth," Wu Yuan transmitted mentally. "But now it seems the situation has changed. No one is blocking the way, so why aren''t these High Immortals and Archimmortals attempting to enter?"


    "Let''s observe for now," replied Zhuo Haiyue.


    The two refrained from rash action, realizing that with the ice vortex spanning a hundred million li in diameter, even powerful beings couldn''t easily obstruct everyone from entering.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Three formidable auras surged through Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue''s ice sheet passage, rapidly closing in. They were three High Immortals acting in concert.


    <i>Someone''sing?</i> Wu Yuan frowned. An ice sheet passage was only sorge; the two groups were bound to collide.


    That was unless Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue plunged directly into the ice vortex.


    "Two Earth Immortals? You dare block our path? Move aside if you don''t want to die." An angry shout echoed through the passage.


    A stream of me erupted, hurtling towards them.


    The three High Immortals charged forward, their speed undiminished, clearly not considering Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue worthy opponents.


    Normally, a single arcane art from a High Immortal would be enough to annihte two Earth Immortals.


    "Seeking death." Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes instantly turned cold.


    Zhuo Haiyue stood her ground, deploying her domain without hesitation. Terrifying bolts of lightning burst forth, twisting and shattering the ice in their path. Vast lightning coalesced into writhing dragons.


    <i>Hiss!</i> The lightning shed with the me stream, instantly annihting it!


    Zhuo Haiyue''s lightning domain could weaken even an Archimmortal''s arcane arts to some degree, let alone those of a High Immortal.


    <i>Boom!</i> Zhuo Haiyue��s body transformed into a bolt of lightning as she streaked hundreds of thousands of li forth, her domain expanding simultaneously.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!" The terrifying lightning dragons unleashed their strength, sweeping across the sky and striking everything in their path.


    "This is bad."


    "This is an Earth Immortal?"


    "We''re finished." The three initially confident High Immortals were instantly dumbfounded. Despite their desperate struggles against the ferocious, terrifying assault, they were swept away by the savage lightning dragons after just two shes.


    Not one survived; all were in.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> With a wave, Zhuo Haiyue swiftly collected the artifacts left behind by the three High Immortals.


    This scene shocked the many High Immortals and Archimmortals in other ice sheets who sensed the battle.


    "A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal?"


    "An Earth Immortal capable of such power?"


    "Where did they pop out from?" These High Immortals and Archimmortals grew wary. Such a monstrous prodigy likely possessed some hidden trump cards.


    Many gazes swept over to Wu Yuan in the distance. If they came as a pair, and one Earth Immortal was this strong, how weak could the other possibly be?


    "Haiyue, an Archimmortal is attempting to enter the ice vortex. Let''s watch," Wu Yuan suddenly transmitted.


    Both turned their gazes toward the ice vortex.


    An Archimmortal, seemingly unable to restrain himself any longer, was plunging into the ice vortex.

 Chapter 693: You Are The Chosen One

    <h4>Chapter 693: You Are The Chosen One</h4>


    With just one strike, Zhuo Haiyue obliterated three High Immortals, establishing her dominance.


    The remaining High Immortals and the few Archimmortals within the vast ice passages no longer dared to underestimate or provoke Zhuo Haiyue and Wu Yuan, the two Earth Immortals.


    All attention now turned to the Archimmortal who had dived into the ice vortex.


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue were no exception, their gazes locked on the distant ck-armored Archimmortal as he charged into the vast expanse of ice and water that formed the vortex, stretching for over a hundred million li.


    His speed was incredible, nearly reaching the speed of light. In just over ten breaths, he had traversed more than ten million li, the streams of icy water offering no resistance.


    "There''s no danger," Zhuo Haiyue frowned.


    "It can''t be that simple," Wu Yuanmunicated telepathically.


    No sooner had he spoken than a thunderous boom echoed through the air.


    The previously calm waters suddenly turned violent. Great quantities of ice essence coalesced, forming massive beings with overwhelmingly powerful auras. These weren''t mere snow devils; in a sense, they could be called water devils.


    These water devil entities, each with a liquid-like outeryer, exuded tremendous power. Roaring and bellowing, they charged at the ck-armored Archimmortal, surrounding him from all directions.


    "Kill!" the ck-armored Archimmortal exploded into action. His fingers danced, unleashing Archimmortal mana in an instant. He cast arcane arts that manifested as enormous golden mountain-like pirs, each as vast as the heavens themselves, radiating terrifying auras as they crashed towards the water devils, each nearly a hundred li tall.


    A ten-li-tall water devil typically possessed the strength of a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal. Those a hundred li tall usually wielded power equivalent to a first-stage Archimmortal.


    With a thunderous crash, as if the sky had shattered and the earth had split, the towering golden pirs struck down, crushing five water devils and hurling them into the churning waters, sending ice and water sshing in all directions.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Seizing the opportunity, the ck-armored Archimmortal swiftly evaded the five water devils and plunged deeper into the ice vortex.


    "He''s a second-stage Archimmortal," Zhuo Haiyue quickly assessed. "He can''t tear these Sixth Tribtion High Immortal-level water devils apart in a short time."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    From the High Immortal/High Deity level onwards, one had to face Immortal Tribtions.


    Under normal circumstances, oveing six Immortal Tribtions was the pinnacle for High Immortals and High Deities.


    Surviving the seventh Immortal Tribtion and fullyprehending a Lesser Law qualified one to merge their soul with the Dao Essence, forging an immortal body. This marked the first-stage Archimmortal phase, the weakest of Archimmortals. Through continuous umtion of mana and transformation of the immortal body, one''s power could smoothly reach the third-stage Archimmortal phase.


    If one''s Dao Heart was strong enough, Daoprehension was deep enough, and one was sufficiently confident, one could choose to face the Eighth Immortal Tribtion. Failure meant death, but sess would propel them to the fourth-stage Archimmortal phase.


    To break through to the seventh-stage Archimmortal phase, one must survive the Ninth Immortal Tribtion. Only by weathering nine Immortal Tribtions could one be an eternally existing immortal.


    Ordinary Archimmortals that had yet to ovee their Ninth Immortal Tribtion could live to a hundred million years at most.


    <i>Without facing the Ninth Immortal Tribtion, one''s lifespan remains limited.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>Only seventh-stage Archimmortals and above have nearly infinite lifespans.</i>


    Unfortunately, once one fullyprehended a Dao, imprinting their Yuan Soul upon the Dao Essence, further Daoprehension became a thousand or ten thousand times more difficult.


    Many Archimmortals struggled to advance even a single step in tens of millions of years because of this.


    Out of hundreds of ordinary Archimmortals, it was rare for even one seventh-stage Archimmortal, or Astral Lord, to emerge.


    As for an Astral Lord breaking through to be an Astral Monarch? That required fullyprehending an Intermediate Law. The difficulty of such a breakthrough was even greater.


    Thus, ordinary Archimmortals would desperately venture on expeditions, seeking great opportunities for the sake of longevity and greater strength.


    For this reason, High Immortals and High Deities would strive to linger at their current phase for as long as possible, only breaking through when their lifespan neared its end.


    ...


    <i>Boom!</i> The ck-armored Archimmortal exerted all his might, repeatedly unleashing his power to shake off the water devils that kept spawning. The deeper he ventured, the more terrifying the strength of the emerging water devils became.


    When he advanced to the thirty million li mark from the edge of the ice vortex, Archimmortal-level water devils finally began to appear. Though most were only at the first or second-stage Archimmortal level with crude battle skills, their sheer numbers made them a force to reckon with when they worked together to swarm him.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The ck-armored Archimmortal ultimately halted at the 36 million li mark, surrounded by more than ten Archimmortal-level water devils.


    Shocked and enraged, the ck-armored Archimmortal attempted to retreat, but it was toote. He was brutally annihted and torn apart by the horde of water devils.


    This scene shook all spectators. Although this Archimmortal had only sent in a mana body, its destruction was still a grievous loss.


    It was important to note that the stronger one''s power, the more difficult it was to create a mana body, often requiring rare treasures as catalysts. The loss of a mana body represented a significant setback.


    ...


    "Without at least fourth-stage Archimmortal strength, it''s nearly impossible to break through. Those water devils are too powerful."


    "Indeed, it''s terrifying."


    "How are we supposed to get through?" The numerous High Immortals and Archimmortals observing from afar exchanged thoughts and pondered.


    Some High Immortals with ordinary strength even began to have second thoughts. If even an Archimmortal couldn''t break through and perished in the depths of the ice vortex, what hope did they have?


    Only an extremely rare, monstrous prodigy among High Immortals could hope to match an Archimmortal''s strength.


    "No wonder so many Archimmortals and High Immortals dare not attempt the challenge," Wu Yuanmunicated telepathically. "It also exins why we haven''t encountered any particrly powerful Archimmortals."


    "Indeed, those with great power have likely already made their way in," Zhuo Haiyue replied. "Let''s keep watching."


    Time flowed on.


    Gradually, more Archimmortals and even some High Immortals began to attempt the challenge.


    Each and every one met with defeat. Some, in their reckless determination, even perished within the ice vortex.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue began to discern certain patterns. When Archimmortals attempted the challenge, the water devils spawned by the ice vortex tended to be stronger. When High Immortals made the attempt, the water devils they encountered were generally weaker.


    "High Immortals have weaker vital auras, causing smaller disturbances. This ice vortex is clearly a test of the Spacetime Labyrinth," Wu Yuan deduced. "As we''re both Earth Immortals, logically, the water devils that appear should be even weaker."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in agreement.


    However, neither of them dared to be entirely certain, for to this point, they remained the only two Earth Immortals in the vicinity of the entire ice vortex. There was no precedent to guide them.


    ...


    After a series of consecutive failed attempts, the initial excitement that these immortal cultivators felt gradually cooled off. Some chose to leave, but many more remained, watching and waiting to see if any special opportunities might arise.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Out of the blue, two streaks of light shot skyward, merging into a single bolt of lightning that plunged directly into the vast ice vortex.


    "It''s those two Earth Immortals."


    "Their strength may be formidable, but this is too reckless."


    "Confidence is good, but excessive confidence bes arrogance." This scene immediately drew the attention of numerous High Immortals and even Archimmortals.


    Earth Immortals attempting the challenge? This was the first time it had happened.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Lightning shed, cutting through stream after stream of water, erupting with a speed approaching that of light, causing hearts to tremble in awe.


    "This is bad. The environment within the ice vortex is unique; the resistance is immense. I can''t reach light speed," Zhuo Haiyuemunicated telepathically.


    "No need to rush," Wu Yuan replied.


    While the two remained cautious, this disy had already shocked the multitude of Archimmortals and High Immortals. An Earth Immortal approaching light speed within the ice vortex? What kind of monstrous prodigy was this?


    <i>Boom! </i>Leveraging her terrifying speed, Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan, crossed the thirty million li mark in one go, outpacing one water devil after another. They were now just twenty million li from the center of the ice vortex.


    As they had anticipated, perhaps due to their weaker vital auras, the water devils emerging from the icy waters were rtively ordinary in strength. Even in vast numbers, they still failed to impede Zhuo Haiyue''s progress.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar! Roar!" At the thirty million li mark, as if crossing some invisible boundary, Sixth Tribtion High Immortal water devils finally began to appear. Dozens materialized, lunging towards them from all directions, seemingly blocking every possible escape route.


    "It''s over."


    "Sixth Tribtion High Immortal water devils can move incredibly quickly within the ice vortex. These two Earth Immortals are doomed." This was the prevailing thought among the watching Archimmortals and High Immortals.


    <i>Hum~</i> Suddenly, an invisible wave of fluctuations enveloped the area. The surrounding space seemed to distort, undergoing some peculiar transformation.


    <i>Boom!</i> Zhuo Haiyue, who had been surrounded, suddenly gained a huge boost in speed. Simultaneously, the water devils that had formed an encirclement inexplicably began moving at varying speeds, creating gaps in their formation.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan, shot through these gaps at an incredible speed, breaking free of the encirclement.


    They had shaken off thisrge group of water devils.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!" More water devils spawned, howling as they charged towards them, bellowing furiously.


    In a one-on-one confrontation, Zhuo Haiyue feared no water devil, but she dreaded being surrounded.


    Once again, that invisible wave of fluctuations manifested.


    In the final ten million li, Wu Yuan employed the same time dtion technique twice more in dozens of seconds, joining forces with Zhuo Haiyue to enter the majestic temple.


    Sess!


    ...


    This seemingly effortless feat was in fact uncannily mystifying, deeply shocking all the observing Archimmortals and High Immortals.


    "Did my eyes deceive me?"


    "It was Time."


    "The Law of Time? That white-robed Earth Immortal can manipte time? Where did such a monstrous prodigye from?" A group of Archimmortals and High Immortals erupted in astonishment.


    Even among those Archimmortals, each having lived for eons, none had ever witnessed such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy.


    To perceive the profundities of Time at the Earth Immortal phase? Under normal circumstances, even an Astral Lord might not be able to perceive the profundities of Time.


    "I��ve confirmed their identities."


    "It''s Ming Jian!"


    "It''s him, the other one with an overwhelmingly powerfulprehension of the Law of Lightning is Zhuo Haiyue. Both are Earth Immortals."


    "It''s those two, they''re too freakish, especially Ming Jian."


    "Comprehending Space and Time simultaneously? That��s insane." Within the passages, dozens of imprint bearers were also waiting patiently and observing from afar.


    They were all High Immortals, and two were imprint bearers from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage.


    They had naturally witnessed this scene. At first, they dared not be too certain, after all, individuals with simr appearances weremon, but with the various techniques disyed and the fact that they were Earth Immortals, they could finally confirm their identities.


    Although Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue knew Wu Yuanprehended the Law of Time before this, they naturally didn��t leak such information.


    But now, imprint bearers from various factions had simultaneously witnessed it, and the news could no longer be concealed. Moreover, the Spacetime Labyrinth was already the focus of countless imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    "What?"


    "The Dao Master Imprint bearer Ming Jianprehends Time and Space simultaneously? And has evenprehended Time to an extremely high level? Is this fake news?"


    "It''s absolutely true, here''s the visual evidence."


    "He and Zhuo Haiyue have already joined forces to breach the Spacetime Labyrinth, and they''re both only Earth Immortals."


    "Monstrous prodigies." This news spread like a hurricane across Spacetime Ind, causing countless imprint bearers to take notice.


    Upon learning of the news, almost everyone felt their hearts tremble. Such talent was too exaggerated.


    ...


    Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue''s true selves on the Spacetime Ind were naturally aware that revealing their strength would stir up waves. However, they paid it no mind.


    As one��s strength increased, exposure was inevitable in the struggle for opportunities and treasures. Should they always hide their power and hold back?


    They didn''t have much thought to spare for the rumors and gossip of the external world. At this moment, all of their attention was focused on the Spacetime Labyrinth.


    This was a mysterious realm.


    <i>This ce? </i>Wu Yuan''s mana body was extremely vignt as he surveyed the surroundings, a vast world of ice and snow.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Frigid winds howled in the sky. Beneath his feety unfathomably thickyers of ice. Even with his formidable strength, Wu Yuan could feel waves of biting cold.


    <i>Hum!</i> A hazy, vast aura spontaneously manifested, followed by the appearance of a tall, thin figure in ck robes. He wore a faint smile as he looked down at Wu Yuan.


    "I am the temple spirit of the Spacetime Labyrinth. Congrattions, the fact that you can see me means you are qualified to ess the ultimate treasure of the Spacetime Labyrinth," the ck-robed figure said with a smile.


    "Ultimate treasure?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. "No tests?"


    "Tests? Those are merely methods used on foolscking talent, to gauge their providence, potential, and the like." The ck-robed figure gazed at Wu Yuan. "But for you, tests are unnecessary.


    With such talent, you have already been chosen by heaven. Not qualifying you would be a dereliction of my duty."

 Chapter 694: Spacetime Secret Codex

    <h4>Chapter 694: Spacetime Secret Codex</h4>


    Wu Yuan was momentarily puzzled. <i>Chosen by heaven? Selected for my natural talent? </i>


    But he regained his calm in an instant. Such urrences were entirely normal.


    It reminded him of when he first entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm back in the Summerpeak World. His talent had been unrivaled across the Middle Land, earning him immediate recognition from the realm master.


    Today was no different. So-called trials often tested one''s physical aptitude, Daoprehension, willpower, and Dao Heart. By sessfully making it through the ice vortex, he had demonstrated exceptional talent, rendering many trials nothing more than jokes.


    When one''s abilities far exceeded the requirements, direct inheritance of treasures often followed after verification.


    "Ordinary immortal cultivators must pass twelve trials of the Spacetime Labyrinth before they can meet me. Many of these trials are life-or-death ordeals," exined the ck-robed figure iming to be the temple spirit.


    "Like the young girl who entered with you �C though talented, she excels in the Law of Lightning. So shecks the qualifications to meet me directly and must undergo many dangerous trials.


    I estimate her chances of sess to be less than ten percent," the ck-robed figure added casually.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Zhuo Haiyue? Even if her talent fell short of his own, it couldn''t be by much. Yet she had less than a ten percent chance?


    On second thought, it made sense. This was the Spacetime Labyrinth after all, part of the Spacetime Dao Realm''s territory. Naturally, it would ce the highest demands on one''s mastery of Spacetime.


    "ording to the Spacetime Ind records, your name is Ming Jian?" the ck-robed figure inquired offhandedly.


    "Yes." But inwardly, Wu Yuan was startled.


    "Don''t be surprised," the ck-robed figure smiled. "Did you think the Spacetime Labyrinth was left behind by just anyone? It was created by the Dao Master himself."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback. Left by the Dao Master?


    "The entire Spacetime Dao Realm holds many opportunity grounds, all left behind by the Dao Master for future disciples. They emerge ording to various operationalws.


    Take this Spacetime Labyrinth I control, or the ck Devil Blood Hollow also located in the Snowlight Mist Realm. Though left by Sovereign ck Devil, it ultimately exists because the Dao Master has permitted it.


    Talents from various factions in the Dao Realm, like you Spacetime Ind members, all qualify toe. Encountering these ces is a matter of luck. But whether one can obtain their treasures depends on talent and strength.


    Nothing in the entire Dao Realm can be hidden from the Dao Master. The greatest opportunity in the entire Dao Realm is the Dao Master himself," the ck-robed figure smiled. "And I have the authority to ess all records from the Spacetime Ind and the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    A quick search was all it took to find your information."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    It made sense. What made the Spacetime Dao Realm special? It was the Dao Master, of course.


    The Greenridge Macrocosm, for instance, far surpassed the Spacetime Dao Realm in both spatial territory and poption of living beings.


    But from what Wu Yuan knew, the number of Astral Lord and Astral Monarch level existences in the Greenridge Macrocosm couldn''t match that of the Spacetime Dao Realm.


    Why? It was due to the Dao Master''s presence.


    He was an ancient, supreme existence who spread the Dao far and wide, unconsciously influencing countless cultivators to grow stronger.


    "Ming Jian, you''re qualified and that''s what matters," said the ck-robed figure. "Though the Spacetime Labyrinth holds many treasures, they pale inparison to what Legacy Imprint bearers of the Spacetime Ind receive. So the rewards here are limited.


    First, I''ll grant you divine crystals."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A hazy light shed, and a storage ring materialized before Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan reached out to grab it, probing with his Soul Force.


    He was immediately taken aback, for inside the storage ring was a vast mountain of divine crystals. At a nce, there seemed to be over ten million units of divine crystals �C a truly staggering amount.


    "Thirty million divine crystals. No more, no less," the ck-robed figure said with a faint smile. "You''re only an Earth Immortal after all. This is the best you can get, enough to significantly boost your strength."


    Wu Yuan nodded repeatedly, quite satisfied.


    Indeed, with thirty million divine crystals, he could finally upgrade his second to fourth lifebound flying swords.


    During his hundred-plus years on the Spacetime Ind, he had only managed to upgrade one lifebound flying sword to a low-grade celestial artifact using the resources gifted by Ancestral Master Bei You.


    His other lifebound flying swords? They remained high-grade spirion artifacts.


    The ck-robed figure simply smiled. Thirty million divine crystals? To him, it was hardly worth mentioning.


    "The second treasure is an inheritance. For you, this is truly priceless �C the best treasure of all," said the ck-robed figure.


    Inheritance? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    As he spoke, the ck-robed figure raised his hand and pointed to the void. Countless streams of light converged, instantly coalescing into a towering ethereal figure.


    He stood there as if transcending heaven and earth. All things and Daos seemed nonexistent before him.


    Though he exuded no powerful aura, Wu Yuan felt an instinctive urge to prostrate. Seeing him was like beholding the Lord of Heaven himself�C a sensation utterly different from encountering a Sovereign.


    What astounded Wu Yuan most was that although he could clearly see the figure''s face, his memory of it would rapidly fade as soon as he closed his eyes. It was impossible to retain.


    "The Great Dao cannot be revealed. The Dao Master transcends heaven and earth. Where he stands, the Great Dao is. Though the Spacetime Dao Realm is special, it ultimately falls within the boundaries of the river of space and time. So while the restrictions are somewhat looser than in normal realms, they still exist," the ck-robed figure said calmly.


    "Unless one is a Sovereign who can resist the pressure of heaven and earth, it''s impossible to remember the Dao Master''s visage."


    Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked. The Great Dao?


    Was the Dao Master truly an existence who had fully mastered an Essence Great Dao?


    "An Essence Great Dao transcends the myriad Daos of heaven and earth, existing eternally," the ck-robed figure nced at Wu Yuan, seemingly able to read his thoughts. "Only by grasping the essence can one truly attain eternity..."


    "Alright, that��s enough talk. Prepare to receive the inheritance," the ck-robed figure smiled.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A beam of light suddenly flew out from the towering ethereal figure, merging directly into Wu Yuan''s body.


    <i>Boom! </i>The towering figure dissipated.


    Wu Yuan involuntarily sat down in lotus position, his consciousness fully immersed. Vast quantities of information surged into his mind, etching themselves deep into his soul. His brain felt on the verge of bursting.


    It wasn��t just his mana body. At this moment, even his qi refiner self sank into this special state.


    <i>Spacetime!</i> Wu Yuan felt as if he had transformed into different cultivators, each practicing incredibly powerful Space and Time secret arts. Every technique possessed unique and formidable abilities.


    From ''Higher Dimensional Crossing'' of Qiankun True Intent, to ''Spatial Fracturing'' of Spatial Rift True Intent, to ''Domain Seal'' of True Domain True Intent... to techniquesbining the Law of Time like ''Great Spacetime Severance'' and ''Spacetime Divination Art''...


    The secret arts and arcane arts progressed from weak to strong, shallow to profound, leaving Wu Yuan dumbfounded.


    Many secret arts were interpreted in ways he had never imagined, especially the fusion of Time and Space, which utterly fascinated him.


    Wu Yuan felt as if he were possessing these cultivators, sensing the myriad subtleties in the cultivation process of these secret arts.


    He could not fathom what level of existence could create such powerful secret arts.


    <i>Time and Space... can bebined so perfectly. </i>Wu Yuan was immersed in it all.


    Some secret arts clearly represented the perfect fusion of Space and Time. The profundities they contained had already transcended the scope of Greater Laws.


    After a long while, the vast knowledge regarding the Law of Time, Law of Space, and their powerfulbination techniques, along with countless cultivation insights, were all etched into Wu Yuan''s mind.


    This was a rare opportunity.


    Daoprehension was one aspect, but to fully manifest its power, the secret arts one could employ were equally crucial.


    Moreover, by cultivating these secret arts and drawing inferences, one''s Daoprehension would rapidly improve as well.


    Wu Yuan sat cross-legged and began to cultivate quietly.


    The ck-robed figure beside him merely watched without interrupting.


    ...


    The Spacetime Ind was mysterious and unfathomable.


    In an even higher spatial dimension of the ind, space seemed nonexistent, yet multiple spatial dimensions seemed to converge. The flow of time constantly fluctuated, even showing signs of stagnation.


    In this intersection of space and time stood a special hall.


    Inside the hall sat a ck-robed figure, his long hair obscuring his face. He seemed eternally unchanging.


    Suddenly, a deep voice resonated within the hall, "First step of inheritance, secret codex transmission, Ming Jian."


    The ck-robed figure seemed not to hear, or perhaps had fallen into slumber, showing no reaction.


    ...


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, over ten years had passed.


    During this time, numerous powerful cultivators from the Spacetime Ind and the nine major factions of the Dao Realm sessively arrived at the Snow Devil Cave, attempting to explore the Spacetime Labyrinth.


    Many entered, but few emerged.


    Within the Spacetime Labyrinth was a bizarre, unpredictable ce where spacetime ovepped.


    A silver-armored figure stood there.


    She raised her head, silently observing andprehending a series of diagrams containing infinite profundities of the Dao, utterly entranced.


    <i>I didn''t encounter the ultimate treasure in the end. My aptitude for Spacetime is ultimatelycking.</i>


    <i>However, gaining ess to this Spacetime Essence Diagram can still be considered a great opportunity. </i>Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.


    This mana body of hers had fought frantically through countless trials in the Spacetime Labyrinth, enduring numerous ordeals to reach this point. But this was her limit.


    <i>At least, it''s given me a glimpse of hope for escape.</i> Zhuo Haiyue remained immersed, continuing toprehend the diagram.


    ...


    In the midst of an icy, snow-covered wastnd.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop the frozen in, his body enveloped by a thickyer of ice and snow.


    He slowly opened his eyes.


    <i>The ��Spacetime Secret Codex'' truly lives up to its reputation as an inheritance left by the Dao Master. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with a hint of fervor.


    It was utterly miraculous.


    These ten-plus years of insight were equivalent to forty or fifty years of arduous cultivation in the past. Not only had heprehended numerous secret arts and teachings, but his progress in the Law of Space and Law of Time had also been tremendous.


    In the depths of his consciousness, Wu Yuan could already see the path to crystallizing Time True Intent. It no longer seemed too far off.


    The Dao Master''s phantom had long since dissipated, leaving Wu Yuan alone on the vast ice in.


    <i>Crack!</i> Wu Yuan stood up, theyers of ice that had covered his body shattering and falling away.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Countless shimmering shadows converged, and the ck-robed figure that called itself the temple spirit materialized, stepping out from the void.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "The ''Spacetime Secret Codex'' is a collective term, the overarching framework for the many secret arts and teachings created by the Dao Master. By studying and utilizing it, you will go further on the path of spacetime," the ck-robed figure smiled. "I hope you won''t disappoint this teaching."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.


    Only afterprehending it could one truly understand the wonder and power of this teaching.


    "Additionally, since our meeting is fate, I''ll give you a piece of advice," the ck-robed figure looked at Wu Yuan. "A member of the Spacetime Ind who bears a Legacy Imprint will receive the ��Spacetime Saint Codex'' inheritance, which is the Dao Master''s ultimate teaching... It truly contains a trace of the Saint Source!"


    The ''Spacetime Sacred Codex''? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    As for the Saint Source? What was that?


    "And..." the ck-robed figure suddenly stopped, his eyes shing with a hint of surprise. A momentter, heughed, "Haha, that��s all I can say, I��m not allowed to speak further on this. So be it. Work hard, and don��t give up.


    Never give up, haha.


    Alright, you may go now." The ck-robed figure waved, and a spacetime fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan before he could reply.


    Wu Yuan instantly vanished from the spot.


    ��You��re using me of meddling again?�� The ck-robed figure stood in ce, seemingly talking to himself, yet also as if conversing with an invisible figure in the void. ��Aren''t you the same? We both hope for the Dao Master to have another sessor. This little one clearly has potential, so why not give him a few more pointers?��


    ��Spacetime is one of the Essence Great Daos. He mustprehend it himself to truly have a chance of treading this path,�� a deep voice resonated.


    The voice paused for a moment. "Moreover, I sensed the aura of Creation within him. It seems he''s not far from crossing the threshold of Creation Essence."


    "Creation?" The ck-robed figure''s pupils contracted slightly.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Spacetime shifted.


    Wu Yuan appeared out of thin air amidst a vast sea of mist.


    <i>He transported me away without even finishing his words? </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Scanning his surroundings, he immediately understood where he was. <i>The Frost Mist Sea? He actually teleported me here?</i>


    The entrance to the Spacetime Labyrinth was quite far from the Frost Mist Sea, but Wu Yuan understood that the mysterious ck-robed figure could probably transport him to any part of the Snowlight Mist Realm with a mere thought.


    <i>Haiyue, I didn''t even get to ask how she''s doing... Oh well, if she gained anything, she''ll tell me. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He believed that with Zhuo Haiyue''s talent and strength. As long as her luck wasn''t too bad, she should have obtained something.


    <i>When I came to the Snowlight Mist Sea, I only intended toplete a Sovereign-level Mission and gain some experience for my future venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a faint smile. <i>I didn''t expect to reap such great rewards.</i>


    The thirty million divine crystals were just one aspect. The ''Spacetime Secret Codex'' was the truly great treasure, providing Wu Yuan with enough numerous secret arts to cultivate for a long time.


    <i>Time to head back.</i> Wu Yuan chose to return right away.


    Afterpleting a spacetime mission, one could return directly to the Spacetime Ind if not engaged inbat.


    Carrying tens of millions of divine crystals while venturing into the ck Devil Blood Hollow? Wu Yuan wasn''t that bold. If he were to die, the loss would be too great.


    <i>Hum!</i> A vast ripple of spacetime, seemingly from the endless depths of time and space, suddenly enveloped Wu Yuan, causing him to vanish from the spot.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s mana body returned to the Spacetime Ind, quickly handing over all the treasures from this journey to his qi refiner self.


    Without much hesitation, Wu Yuan swiftly essed the ''Spacetime Treasure Hall'' of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, purchasingrge quantities of special minerals and materials with divine crystals. These were all for upgrading his lifebound flying swords.


    The thirty million divine crystals were rapidly depleted, but Wu Yuan didn''t feel too distressed about this. Treasures and divine crystals were meant to strengthen one''s power.


    The evolution of each lifebound flying sword would be a very slow process.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan''s brows lifted slightly. <i>Hmm? Nie Zhen is urgently seeking me?</i>


    In fact, after waking from his immersive state, Wu Yuan was already aware that many imprint bearers had sent messages to him through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    News about the Spacetime Labyrinth had already spread.


    At that time, both his mana body and true self were receiving the inheritance information of the ''Spacetime Secret Codex'', so he hadn''t paid much attention.


    Much time had passed since then, and Wu Yuan was toozy to respond to most of the messages, only replying to a few.


    <i>I''ll go see him. </i>Wu Yuan thought, and a strand of his consciousness descended into the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.

 Chapter 695: It’s A Small World

    <h4>Chapter 695: It��s A Small World</h4>


    <i>The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    <i>Within a private room of a tavern.</i>


    In the voidrealm, one couldn''t perceive other areas with their Soul Will.


    "Daoist Nie Zhen," Wu Yuan smiled as he entered thevishly decorated private room, guided by a waitress.


    Three people were already seated in the room. Upon seeing Wu Yuan enter, they all stood up, revealing smiles.


    "Ming Jian, you''ve finally arrived, haha!"ughed the burly man in ck robes, Nie Zhen.


    Nie Zhen was a Sovereign Imprint bearer, and had achieved the feat of ying an Archimmortal. When Wu Yuan first arrived on the Spacetime Ind, it was he and Nangong Meng who had weed him.


    "Daoist Ming Jian."


    "I''ve long heard of Daoist Ming Jian''s great name. Your feats in the Snow Devil Cave have spread across all of the Spacetime Ind. Truly admirable." These two immortal cultivators he didn��t recognize, one a High Immortal and one a High Deity, both seemed quite powerful to Wu Yuan. Yet they ttered him, appearing very courteous.


    "You''re too kind," Wu Yuan smiled, not wanting to rebuff their friendly gestures.


    "Come, let me introduce you to these two," Nie Zhen said with a smile, quickly introducing the pair to Wu Yuan.


    The High Immortal was named Pu Guang, and the High Deity was named Ci Yue. Both were Sovereign Imprint bearers.


    <i>Sovereign Imprint bearers? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the introductions. He smiled faintly and asked, "Are you both cultivators from the Immortal Court?"


    "You''ve heard of us, Fellow Daoist?" High Immortal Pu Guang seemed quite surprised.


    Wu Yuan simply smiled, without offering further exnation.


    Though there were many imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, there weren''t many Sovereign tier ones. Now that he knew their names, a quick search through the intelligence gathered by the Taiyuan Divine Court faction was enough to identify them.


    "Ming Jian, since you know of Pu Guang and Ci Yue, I won''t waste time on introductions," Nie Zhen said with a smile. "I''ve asked you toe here for a simple reason. These two are about to undertake a Dao Master-level Mission. They''re facing some difficulties and would like to invite you to assist them."


    "A Dao Master-level Mission?" Wu Yuan repeated softly.


    "Yes," High Deity Ci Yue, a gentle woman with a warm smile, said, "Daoist Ming Jian, your power is immense. You''re a monstrous prodigy who has cultivated both Time and Space Daos. Though yourprehension may not be as deep due to your short cultivation time, many of your techniques are unparalleled on all of the Spacetime Ind."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    Indeed, in terms of directbat ability, some of the top powerhouses on Spacetime Ind, like Nie Zhen, could unleash Astral Lord-level strength. Wu Yuan was still far from that level.


    But in terms of cultivating both Time and Space simultaneously, he was truly unique among the eight million imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    In this era of the Spacetime Ind, there might be others who could sense the profundities of Time, but not a single person had achieved any sess inprehending the Law of Time.


    Not one.


    If not for this, Wu Yuan wouldn''t have garnered such fame.


    It should be known that the Law of Time was exceptionally special, being the only one without Lesser or Intermediate Laws. There was only theplete Law of Time.


    As far as Wu Yuan knew, it was extremely rare for immortal cultivators to primarily cultivate the Law of Space. To sense the profundities of Time and achieve some sess was even more heaven-defying.


    Normally, it was only Astral Lords or even higher-level cultivators who would graduallye into contact with time-based techniques.


    Sovereigns of Space were exceptionally rare. And to be a Sovereign through the Law of Time? Such super powerhouses were many times rarer than Space Sovereigns.


    "We hope to gain your assistance in this mission, Fellow Daoist," High Deity Ci Yue said sincerely. "We''re willing to offer a price of 300,000 divine crystals."


    "Here are the detailed mission briefings," High Deity Ci Yue waved her hand, causing a light screen to appear.


    Lines of text appeared on the screen, and Wu Yuan quickly scanned through them.


    "Ming Jian, how is it?" Nie Zhen probed.


    "My apologies, but I can''t help with this," Wu Yuan shook his head directly. "As you probably know, my mana body is still in the Spacetime Labyrinth and hasn''t returned yet. I''m afraid I can''t be of assistance."


    "There''s no rush. Daoist Ming Jian, we''re aware of the Spacetime Labyrinth. However, our mission doesn''t need to be undertaken for another hundred years at most," High Deity Ci Yue smiled. "So, we can certainly wait for your mana body to return before setting out together."


    "Yes, there''s no hurry," Nie Zhen also chimed in. He clearly wanted to facilitate this arrangement.


    "I apologize, it seems my refusal was too subtle," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "This price is too low."


    With these words, the private room suddenly fell silent.


    "Too low?" High Immortal Pu Guang nced at Nie Zhen, then looked back at Wu Yuan, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction. "Daoist Ming Jian, this mission poses no difficulty for you. We''re merely asking for your help with getting through the first half, and it would take ten days at most."


    Ten days for 300,000 divine crystals was not only not a low rate, but in some sense, quite high.


    "Ming Jian, do this as a favor to me," Nie Zhen said in a low voice, the smile on his face fading.


    "Brother Nie Zhen, I can help with other matters, but for today''s affair, I''m sorry," Wu Yuan shook his head lightly. He held up one finger, "I want this many."


    "One million divine crystals?" Nie Zhen''s voice held a hint of anger. In his view, Wu Yuan wasn��t giving him face at all.


    "No! Ten million divine crystals."


    ...


    At this point, there was naturally no room for further discussion. High Immortal Pu Guang and High Deity Ci Yue left in anger, not even bothering with polite farewells.


    In their view, since Wu Yuan was so disrespectful, why bother with niceties?


    "Ming Jian, you''re going too far," Nie Zhen said in a low voice.


    "Brother Nie Zhen, there are some things I can help with, and some things I can only apologize for," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "My mana body is still in the Spacetime Labyrinth. I''ll be leaving now."


    With that, Wu Yuan''s figure abruptly dissipated, clearly having left the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>This Ming Jian. Hmph! I clearly checked, and he has no grudges with Pu Guang and the others. They''re even from different macrocosms. Yet he immediately asks for ten million divine crystals? Is he deliberately trying to make me lose face?</i> Nie Zhen''s eyes turned cold.


    Though his personality seemed straightforward, he was quite overbearing and liked things to go his way. Wu Yuan''s behavior had naturally angered him.


    <i>Cultivating both Space and Time simultaneously, isn''t he afraid of overreaching?</i> A trace of disdain shed in Nie Zhen''s eyes.


    He quickly left.


    ...


    <i>Within a hall on the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    <i>I''ve likely angered Nie Zhen.</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself, sitting in lotus position on a jade tform.


    <i>But if he''s angry, so be it. </i>A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    His primary reason for refusing High Immortal Pu Guang and the others was that they were members of the Immortal Court. Why would Wu Yuan want to help the Immortal Court?


    But another, secondary reason was because of Nie Zhen. He clearly knew that Wu Yuan''s mana body was most likely still in the Spacetime Labyrinth, yet he used the excuse of an ��urgent matter�� to see him, disturbing Wu Yuan.


    This had happened once before. At that time, Wu Yuan didn''t mind it too much. But now that it happened again? Naturally, it left Wu Yuan feeling displeased.


    If he was displeased, he would vent it out! Why should he go out of his way to make others feelfortable while he endured? This was Wu Yuan''s nature.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan suddenly received several messages.


    They were all from imprint bearers of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction. Nangong Meng, for instance, had sent a message asking, "Did you have a conflict with Nie Zhen?"


    Clearly, in this short time, Nie Zhen had already spread word of the incident. Several imprint bearers from the Taiyuan Divine Court faction who were familiar with Wu Yuan all sent messages inquiring about it.


    Wu Yuan pondered briefly, replied to some of them, and then couldn''t be bothered to deal with it further.


    <i>Reputation? They say I''m arrogant? Let them call me arrogant then. It might mean fewer troubles to deal with.</i> Wu Yuan didn''t care at all. He decisively severed his connection to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    <i>The ��Spacetime Secret Codex�� contains many powerful secret arts. Not only will it enhance my application of the Laws of Space and Time, but it will also elerate my cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>After receiving the inheritance earlier, I cultivated for over ten years straight in that Spacetime Labyrinth, with an efficiency four or five times greater than before.</i>


    <i>The boost I��ll experience might be lower in the future, but overall, my cultivation will proceed much faster than before.</i>


    Previously, although Wu Yuan had obtained many secret arts and teachings rted to the Law of Space, those rted to the Law of Time or abination of Space and Time were very rare. Even in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, such secret arts were scarcely found.


    <i>However, while the Spacetime Secret Codex contains countless techniques and secret arts, these three are the most suitablebat secret arts for me among them.</i> Wu Yuan pondered.


    After more than ten years of deduction andprehension in the Spacetime Labyrinth, he had already selected the most suitable ones for himself from the countless techniques in the codex.


    The sword attack-type technique ''Nine Swords of Spacetime'' was an inconceivably powerful offensive technique thatbined Space and Time.


    ''Moonlight Shadow'' was a movement technique!


    ''Sea Of Stars'' was a soul technique, suitable for both offense and defense.


    <i>Forbat techniques, quality is more important than quantity. If I can cultivate these three techniques to a profound level, their power will surpass the techniques I cultivated previously many times over. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    These three techniques were all created by the Dao Master and ranked among the top thirtybat techniques in the Spacetime Secret Codex.


    The ''Nine Swords of Spacetime'', in particr, ranked in the top three among offensive techniques. It primarily applied the Law of Qiankun and was both extremely bizarre and unpredictable.


    The Law of Time and the Law of Space seemed incrediblypatible, as if they originated from the same source. Since his qi refiner self would mainly apply both Daos, Wu Yuan naturally chose suitablebat teachings.


    <i>In the short term, I can only draw inspiration from some of the other secret arts in the Spacetime Secret Codex. These three majorbat teachings form the foundation of my practical application of Space and Time. </i>Wu Yuan pondered, having thought it through thoroughly.


    In fact, over the past decade, he had been primarily focused onprehending the ''Nine Spacetime Swords'', and had already gained some insights.


    ...


    Due to Nie Zhen''s deliberate efforts, news of the conflict between Wu Yuan and Nie Zhen spread rapidly.


    But Wu Yuan remained utterly unaffected, and aside from a few close friends like Nangong Meng, he couldn''t be bothered to exin himself or refute it.


    <i>My true self will continue cultivating. It��s time my mana body make an attempt to venture to the ck Devil Blood Hollow.</i> Wu Yuan''s true self continued to contemte the three majorbat teachings.


    His mana body, having just returned to the Spacetime Ind, took a brief respite. Less than ten dayster, he paid one thousand divine crystals and entered the spacetime teleportation array once again, heading back to the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    ...


    This was a dim expanse of outer space, where wisps of elusive mist drifted, and colossal, towering ciers hung suspended.


    These ciers were unimaginably vast, the smallest reaching heights of over a hundred million li, with most ranging from several billion to billions of li tall.


    The most enormous even reached heights of ten billion li, emanating an iparably terrifying aura. Calling them ciers was actually inurate. Instead, they were closer to massive continents of ice floating in outer space.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>On one of the ciers billions of li high, a figure in white robes appeared out of thin air, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.


    <i>The cier Domain? They actually teleported me to this godforsaken ce?</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>Within the Inner Region, this ranks among the top three most dangerous areas.</i>


    He had no way to teleport back. Outside of a spacetime mission, one could only take the fixed teleportation arrays scattered across the Spacetime Dao Realm to return. After leaving the Snowlight Mist Realm, one could follow certain fixed routes to return to the Spacetime Ind eventually.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>As howling winds whipped past, even Wu Yuan felt some difort from the cold, prompting him to distance himself unconsciously from the cier''s surface.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Just as Wu Yuan reached a height of tens of thousands of li from the cier''s surface, an overwhelmingly powerful gravitational force suddenly pulled at him, causing him to plummet rapidly downward.


    <i>Indeed, it''s just as the intelligence described. Once you fall within the cier''s range, there''s simply no way to break free unless you possess strength at the Astral Lord level. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    <i>Even if one is capable of traversing higher spatial dimensions, one will still fall without sufficient strength.</i>


    These ciers inherently suppressed spatial fluctuations. Want to leave? Either wield enough strength to break free directly, or navigate along the countless crevasses through the cier to reach the Core Region.


    There were various spatial passages in the Core Region, some leading to other ciers, others to the edge of the cier Domain. Only by reaching the edge could one leave the cier Domain.


    The entire cier Domain had a maximum diameter of about 160 light years.


    <i>If luck isn''t on my side, I might be stuck in this cier Domain for many years. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Well, since I''m here, I''ll make the best of it. It makes no sense to destroy my mana body after all.</i>


    Wu Yuan spread his Soul Will out. Its range was severely limited, though he was still able to perceive a massive crevasse hundreds of thousands of li away. The gap was tens of thousands of li wide.


    <i>The environment is simr to the Snow Devil Cave, except there are no snow devils here, only deadly traps scattered throughout the cier''s interior. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Many of these traps were deadly enough to annihte Archimmortals.


    Of course, some special treasures also existed throughout the cier Domain. While venturing through the cier''s interior, one might obtain some precious artifacts with enough luck.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> Wu Yuan swiftly plunged deeper into the cier.


    Time passed.


    Although Wu Yuan couldn''t enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, his powerful spatial perception allowed him to easily navigate through the cier''s crevasses.


    He avoided most traps, but asionally fell victim to some, escaping with his powerful evasion techniques and the mysterious Law of Time.


    He also encountered two other cultivators. Wu Yuan didn''t make a move on them, and they avoided him as well. After all, an Earth Immortal venturing alone in the cier Domain did seem rather peculiar.


    <i>Two dayster.</i>


    <i>I should be nearing the Core Region soon.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the ice crevasses expanding in size rapidly from hundreds of thousands of li to millions of li in width.


    This was one of the characteristics of the Core Region.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Suddenly, an astonishing wave of energy was transmitted through vastyers of ice, abruptly reaching Wu Yuan''s location.


    <i>Hmm? A treasure is manifesting? Such intense energy fluctuations. </i>A hint of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>Boom!</i> Without hesitation, Wu Yuan''s form shifted, swiftly transforming into a streak of light as he rushed toward the source of the disturbance.


    In just a quarter of an hour, Wu Yuan had covered over ten million li.


    The winding, twisting crevasses within the cier meant that a distance of ten million li might only equate to a discement of two or three hundred million li.


    <i>It''s right there. </i>Wu Yuan finally arrived, immediately spotting four figures engaged in a fierce battle within a massive cier crevasse spanning a million li.


    The sh was earth-shattering, causing a tremendousmotion. Fortunately, the cier was sturdy enough to withstand battles at the Archimmortal level, suffering minimal damage.


    Among those participating in the skirmish, a High Immortal with the weakest vital aura was surprisingly holding his own against three Archimmortals, clearly having the upper hand.


    <i>Hmm? It''s him?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    The High Immortal dominating the fight was none other than High Immortal Pu Guang whom he had met in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm not long ago.


    <i>Is that Ming Jian? Didn''t he say his mana body was in the Snow Devil Cave?</i> High Immortal Pu Guang likewise detected Wu Yuan''s presence.


    He was momentarily puzzled. Then he understood �C Wu Yuan had deceived him earlier, never intending to help at all.


    <i>Hmph. </i>A cold glint shed in High Immortal Pu Guang''s eyes, but he continued to focus on suppressing the three Archimmortals before him with his arcane arts. He had no intention of making a move against Wu Yuan.


    Displeasure aside, without a conflict of interest, taking action against Wu Yuan would mean making a mortal enemy, something few were willing to do.


    But suddenly, a sh of fury appeared in High Immortal Pu Guang''s eyes, and he growled angrily, "Ming Jian, you''re courting death!"


    In the distance, the treasure they had been fighting over had somehow ended up in Wu Yuan''s grasp.

 Chapter 696: Helpless

    <h4>Chapter 696: Helpless</h4>


    In that moment, High Immortal Pu Guang and the other three Archimmortals all turned to look at Wu Yuan.


    "Daoist Pu Guang, my apologies. I truly didn''t expect this low-grade celestial artifact to find its way into my hands of its own ord," Wu Yuan grinned as he tucked away the saber-shaped celestial artifact in his palm.


    Within the cier Domain, numerous artifacts were formed inside the ciers, ranging from high-grade spirion artifacts to even high-grade celestial artifacts.


    Where did these artifacts originate from? Why did they emerge in the cier Domain? It had always been a mystery, but after his time in the Spacetime Labyrinth, Wu Yuan now had a theory �C perhaps these ��item drops�� were all casually designed by the Dao Master when he created the Dao Realm.


    Spirion equipment and celestial equipment were nothing to a being of the Spacetime Dao Master''s caliber.


    During the emergence process, these treasures formed in the ciers could not be stored in storage artifacts, nor could one attempt to im ownership. This was fundamentally different from areas like the Snow Devil Cave and the Frost Mist Sea.


    Just moments ago, as the four powerhouses battled, the treasure had fully emerged, sted to the side by the residual force of their attacks.


    As luck would have it, Wu Yuan had ''picked it up''.


    "It found its way into your hands? What utter nonsense," Pu Guang snarled, no longer bothering to conceal his anger. "You clearly manipted Space and Time to snatch it away."


    Wu Yuan smiled. He wasn''t wrong.


    It was one thing for the low-grade celestial artifact to be knocked aside during the intense battle, but Wu Yuan had indeed seized the opportunity to employ the Moonlight Shadow technique, transforming into a beam of moonlight while simultaneously manipting the flow of time.


    In an instant, he had darted tens of thousands of li from his position, snatching up the treasure. The simultaneous use of Space and Time techniques allowed Wu Yuan to move at an unbelievable speed.


    It happened so quickly that the treasure fell into Wu Yuan''s hands before High Immortal Pu Guang and the three Archimmortals could even react.


    Now, the two sides were separated by tens of thousands of li.


    "Such incredible speed."


    "This? He��s merely an Earth Immortal?"


    "Did he alter the flow of time just now?" The three Archimmortals were shocked.


    They had onlypleted the Seventh Immortal Tribtion, with the strongest among them being merely a third-stage Archimmortal, while the other two were only first-stage Archimmortals. This was why they had the lower hand in the fight against High Immortal Pu Guang.


    "You three fools, are you still nning to fight me?" High Immortal Pu Guang''s gaze swept over the three Archimmortals.


    Then, he turned back to Wu Yuan, barely able to contain his rage. "Ming Jian, I won��t pursue the matter of you deceiving me, but you must hand over that celestial artifact."


    "No," Wu Yuan grinned widely: "Since when did the treasures born in the cier Domain belong to anyone? Now that it''s in my hands, it''s naturally mine."


    It was indeed an ownerless item, but even if it did have an owner, Wu Yuan wouldn''t hesitate to snatch it away if its owner was from the Immortal Court.


    The path of immortality was all about seizing opportunities.


    The saber-shaped low-grade celestial artifact might appear to be worth at most one or two thousand divine crystals, but on the path of immortality, getting the chance to acquire a great treasure in one fell swoop was a truly rare urrence.


    For most immortal cultivators, the norm was to umte wealth slowly over long years.


    "Ming Jian, do you truly wish to be my enemy?" High Immortal Pu Guang was struggling to keep his anger in check.


    Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, but couldn''t be bothered to respond further.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>In an instant, Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, hurtling towards the distant end of the passageway, having no desire to spend any more time with High Immortal Pu Guang.


    His speed was so great that he appeared to practically vanish, reaching a velocity of forty to fifty thousand li per second in the blink of an eye. This kind of instantaneous burst speed was beyond even ordinary Archimmortals.


    "You''re courting death! Don''t me me for what happens next." High Immortal Pu Guang roared. "I wasn��t intending to kill you."


    Suddenly, within this ice crevice a million li wide and tens of millions of li long, enormous blood-colored vines burst out.


    These vines ranged from over a hundred thousand li long to more than a million li in length. They were densely clustered, almost instantly blocking off most of the passage on both sides, obstructing Wu Yuan''s path. Each of these vines emanated an incredibly powerful aura.


    This sight caused the three Archimmortals to start in surprise. In their previous sh with High Immortal Pu Guang, they hadn''t detected any sign of such a hidden technique.


    An array? Wu Yuan''s mind raced.


    His opponent had apparentlyid down some arrays in advance. After umting power for so long, these arrays now possessed terrifying might.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> The massive vines whistled through the air like giant serpents. Some were rooted in the ice, others directly anchored in the void. Theyshed out towards Wu Yuan with terrifying speed, nketing the sky and covering the earth.


    "Such powerful might."


    "Such an attack is on par with fourth-stage Archimmortals, even fifth-stage Archimmortals." The three Archimmortals watched in shock.


    While each individual vine wasn''t particrly strong and posed no threat to them, the sheer number was staggering. Thebined force was enough to make even an Archimmortal��s scalp tingle.


    "Where did this High Immortale from? In a one-on-one fight, he could probably kill us. It took ourbined efforts just to barely hold him off."


    "And that Earth Immortal is even more of a monstrous prodigy. He can actually manipte Time?"


    "Hmm, they seem to know each other." The three Archimmortals exchanged nces, but didn''t rashly follow High Immortal Pu Guang''s lead.


    They all realized that both Wu Yuan and High Immortal Pu Guang were not to be trifled with, and only wished to leave and avoid this conflict.


    ...


    Faced with the all-epassing vines, Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Sword array, assemble."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Sword intent erupted from Wu Yuan. Nine celestial swords appeared like nine strands of terrifying thread, weaving through the void, epassing a region of space hundreds of thousands of li wide.


    They burst forth in an instant, shing with the vines.


    In that moment, space itself warped. Those threads of sword light grew blurry and dreamlike, their speed strangely increasing by several times, reaching three to four times the speed of light.


    No! It wasn''t that their speed had changed, but rather the flow of time around them had altered, causing these swords to elerate dramatically.


    These streaks of sword light were none other than the first step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime �C the Sword of Spacetime. A terrifying sword technique that trulybined the Law of Time and the Law of Space.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish! </i>Like a knife through cucumbers, the nine threads of celestial sword light sliced through the vines.


    Some were cut clean in two while others were blocked, their power greatly diminished. They barely slowed Wu Yuan''s advance at all.


    "What? What kind of sword technique is this? Such a terrifying sword art."


    "The mana powering it is weak, yet it possesses an inconceivable might."


    "It''s beautiful, profound and unfathomable. Even among the sword techniques I''ve seen executed by Astral Lords, they might not be more profound than this." The three Archimmortals observing from afar were astounded.


    An Earth Immortal deploying a sword array that could sweep aside a horde of peak-stage High Immortals?


    <i>Is this... thebination of Space and Time?</i> High Immortal Pu Guang''s pupils constricted.


    The power Wu Yuan disyed was far greater than the rumors suggested. In past intelligence reports, Wu Yuan had never exhibited such a terrifying sword technique.


    As the sword struck, all spectators trembled in awe.


    Yet Wu Yuan, speeding forward, remained incredibly calm. Once Space and Time werebined, the resulting power was terrifyingly strong.


    Over the past decade or so, with his hundreds of years of contemtion into the Law of Time and Law of Space, he had managed toprehend the first step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime.


    Perhaps it wasn''t fully mastered or perfected yet, but the profundities contained in just this first step were enough to rival attacks from fifth or sixth stage Archimmortals. It wasn''t much weaker than Zhuo Haiyue��s attacks.


    <i>I possess a first-degree immortal root, with mana approaching that of a First Tribtion High Immortal.</i>


    <i>With nine celestial swords, I can perfectly unleash their power. In terms of rawbat strength, I''m not far behind Zhuo Haiyue, and my sword techniques are even more unpredictable. </i>Wu Yuan was brimming with confidence.


    <i>The various teachings of the Spacetime Secret Codex have truly allowed me to fully unleash both the Law of Time and Law of Space.</i>


    In the past, Wu Yuan had mostly relied on his Daoprehension to battle enemies.


    Of course, Zhuo Haiyue might have also made gains in the Spacetime Labyrinth, so it was hard to say how strong she was now.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wielding all nine celestial swords simultaneously was Wu Yuan''s limit. Even with his extraordinarily powerful soul, the burden was still immense.


    Cutting through vine after vine as he swept forward, Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, reaching the speed of light as he rushed into the distance.


    <i>Boom! </i>Out of nowhere, an invisible wave enveloped Wu Yuan, instantly causing his speed to plummet.


    Looking back, he saw High Immortal Pu Guang, whose speed had also increased to a terrifying degree, now surrounded byyer uponyer of bizarre light. These rays of light stretched across hundreds of thousands of li, faintly enclosing Wu Yuan.


    <i>A binding-type secret art? </i>Wu Yuan instantly deduced.


    While High Immortal Pu Guang might not be a peerless genius like Nie Zhen, he likely wasn''t far behind His Highness Li Xuan of the Hundred Mysteries Pce. His Daoprehension rivaled that of an Astral Lord, and his directbat power was on par with a fourth-stage Archimmortal.


    More crucially, from Wu Yuan''s knowledge, he hadprehended the Law of True Domain to an extremely high level, at least reaching the seventh-level True Intent stage.


    Thebination of the Law of True Domain and the Law of Wood allowed him to excel in binding and domain techniques.


    Since his mana capacity far surpassed Wu Yuan''s, Wu Yuan couldn��t break free easily.


    Among the eight million imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, High Immortal Pu Guang easily ranked in the top ten when it came to binding techniques.


    "Ming Jian, a typical fifth-stage or sixth-stage Archimmortal might not be able to deal with you, but I happen to be your perfect counter," High Immortal Pu Guang growled, his voice low and menacing.


    Confidence radiated from every fiber of his being.


    The distance between the two rapidly diminished.


    "That Earth Immortal is in grave danger."


    "He''s formidable, true, but that High Immortal''s mana is overwhelmingly superior in quantity and quality. In a direct confrontation, the Earth Immortal will be annihted in a single move." The three observing Archimmortals exchanged their assessments.


    No matter how extraordinary one might be, with such a vast disparity in both Daoprehension and mana, destruction was inevitable.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>At that very moment, Wu Yuan��s silhouette suddenly and inexplicably split into nine distinct figures. These nine Wu Yuans didn''t scatter far, remaining in rtively close proximity.


    Simultaneously, the terrifying binding force that had been focused solely on Wu Yuan was divided, with each figure bearing only one-ninth of the original power!


    With a burst of speed, the nine Wu Yuans elerated, swiftly reaching light speed. Concurrently, the flow of time around them warped, suddenly increasing severalfold.


    Their velocity continued to climb. In a matter of seconds, Wu Yuan had broken free of the vines�� range, rapidly widening the gap between himself and High Immortal Pu Guang.


    "What in the world?"


    "Nine figures, all of them real? I can''t distinguish the original at all!" The three Archimmortals watched, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    <i>What kind of secret art is this?</i> High Immortal Pu Guang was equally stunned.


    With his binding secret art still in effect, he could clearly sense that the space and time surrounding those nine figures had been bizarrely interwoven. It was impossible to identify the true body.


    Little did they know, this was the extraordinary power of ��Moonlight Shadow��. By simultaneously incorporating the Laws of Space and Time, it wasn''t mere duplication. Rather, it was Wu Yuan''s true body being projected and segmented across spacetime��each figure both real and illusory.


    When mastered to its pinnacle, not only could it neutralize binding secret arts, but even the most enigmatic karmic attacks could be greatly diminished by the core abilities of the technique.


    This was truly worthy of being called an ultimatebat technique created by the Spacetime Dao Master!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s speed showed no signs of abating. The further the distance between them grew, the weaker High Immortal Pu Guang''s binding secret art became.


    In the end, High Immortal Pu Guang could only watch helplessly as Wu Yuan escaped further and further, until he vanished into a crevasse, leaving no traces.


    <i>This Ming Jian... he''s far too terrifying. </i>High Immortal Pu Guang halted his pursuit, a flicker of wariness dancing in his eyes.

 Chapter 697: Wu Yuan Perishes

    <h4>Chapter 697: Wu Yuan Perishes</h4>


    <i>First, he applied the profundities of Space, followed by Time. Now, he can even employbat techniquesbining Space and Time. </i>High Immortal Pu Guang mused inwardly. <i>Truly an inconceivably monstrous prodigy.</i>


    <i>His sword techniques are also frighteningly powerful. Though he''s still some distance from the Archimmortal threshold, he can somehow overwhelm my arrays.</i> High Immortal Pu Guang shook his head slightly. <i>Is this the power of Spacetime?</i>


    In theory, his arrays could even trap an Archimmortal for a brief moment. This spoke volumes about the uncanny nature of Wu Yuan''s techniques.


    <i>By right, one shouldn''t offend such a peerless monstrous prodigy. But the deed is already done, what can he do to me? Kill me?</i> A hint of contempt shed in High Immortal Pu Guang''s eyes.


    If not for their previous grudge, yielding a low-grade celestial artifact wouldn''t have been an issue. But even before their encounter today, High Immortal Pu Guang had already been seething with anger.


    <i>I paid a hefty price to request his help withpleting a Dao Master-level Mission. If he was unwilling, a simple refusal would have sufficed. Yet he deliberately humiliated me with that ten million divine crystal price tag. </i>High Immortal Pu Guang inwardly snorted.


    Moreover, he had expended time, effort, and energy to suppress three Archimmortals andpete for the treasure. Just when he was on the verge of iming the prize, Wu Yuan had snatched it away in the chaos.


    How could he back down now?


    On the path of immortal cultivation, one should respect the strong and avoid offending monstrous prodigies. But that doesn''t mean bowing all the time like a dog!


    <i>He can��t kill my true self on the Spacetime Ind.</i> High Immortal Pu Guang remained unfazed. <i>He''s from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage, while I''m from the core of the Immortal Court. We''re from different macrocosms. What can he do?</i>


    <i>He must have already disliked me, otherwise why humiliate me previously? Today''s enmity will only deepen our grudges.</i>


    High Immortal Pu Guang was unwilling to continue fighting to the death with those three Archimmortals, choosing to leave swiftly.


    Wu Yuan might disy some talent, showing potential of bing a Sovereign. But the possibility was still miniscule, and the path of immortality was long. Who could predict the final oue?


    Even if Wu Yuan truly became a Sovereign, so what? In the future, Pu Guang would return to the Immortal Court. Even a heaven-defying Sovereign of Time wouldn''t dare storm the divine court headquarters to y his true self.


    ...


    <i>This celestial artifact should be worth about two thousand divine crystals. Not bad.</i> Wu Yuan flew through the cial crevasse, his mood rather cheerful.


    In a sense, two thousand divine crystals wasn��t much. When it came to upgrading his lifebound flying swords, it was a mere drop in the bucket.


    But it was also a considerable sum. An ordinary Archimmortal, without risking their life by embarking on expeditions, might not umte even a million divine crystals after living for several million or even tens of millions of years.


    Someone like High Immortal Pu Guang could offer a hiring fee of several hundred thousand divine crystals just toplete a Dao Master-level Mission because he was a peerless genius, among the top beings on all of the Spacetime Ind, and had been granted many treasures by the Immortal Court.


    It wasn''t because High Immortal Pu Guang himself was particrly adept at amassing wealth.


    A single low-grade celestial artifact was enough to drive ordinary High Immortals mad with desire. It could even incite Archimmortals to fight to the death.


    This was because their wealth was slowly umted through countless life-and-death battles over long years.


    Opportunities to gain several hundred thousand or million divine crystals'' worth of wealth in one go? The vast majority of Archimmortals might never get such a chance.


    Sometimes, Archimmortals who were blinded by rage or greed would fight desperately over treasures worth just over a hundred divine crystals. What did it matter if they perished? Only their mana bodies would die.


    Wu Yuan was unfazed by the prospect of making enemies with Nie Zhen or forming grudges with High Immortal Pu Guang.


    <i>Immortal cultivators are bound to make many enemies over their long years.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Afraid of making enemies? Not fighting for treasures when one encounters them? Always backing down?</i>


    <i>If one is so timid, why bother with immortal cultivation?</i>


    In fact, High Immortal Pu Guang''s reaction was within Wu Yuan''s expectations. It would have been far stranger if he had swallowed his anger.


    ...


    Several hourster, Wu Yuan suddenly halted in a corner of the cier Domain''s Core Region. He gazed towards a crevasse in the ice a hundred million li away.


    There, a spatial vortex about ten thousand li in diameter swirled.


    <i>I finally found a spatial vortex. Hopefully, it can transport me to the edge of the cier Domain.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>His form shed as he plunged into the vortex. Immediately, he felt space tremble slightly, and the scenery around him shifted. He had arrived in another realm.


    Immediately after, an invisible gravitational force took effect, and Wu Yuan''s form plummeted rapidly. He swiftly fell onto an icy in.


    <i>Transported to another cier?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>I can only continue searching for spatial vortices.</i>


    This was an entirely new cier. Wu Yuan chose a path at random and continued making his way towards the Core Region of this cier.


    This was the nature of the cier Domain. By entering the spatial vortexes in the Core Regions and being teleported to a different location, one would eventually be transported out with enough attempts.


    But there was no fixed pattern, it all depended on luck. With good fortune, one might escape in ten days or half a month. With poor luck, even a hundred years might not be enough to leave.


    ...


    Time flowed on.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self remained in secluded cultivation, silently practicing the threebat teachings from the Spacetime Secret Codex.


    His mana body, meanwhile, ventured through cier after cier in the cier Domain, attempting to break free, only to fail time and again.


    Wu Yuan wasn''t particrly anxious. Embarking on a journey to the ck Devil Blood Hollow was, in a sense, a form of tempering.


    While traveling through the cier Domain, Wu Yuan would asionally encounter other powerhouses.


    Under normal circumstances, if no treasures appeared, most encounters were peaceful. But asionally, some Archimmortals or High Immortals, upon encountering an Earth Immortal like Wu Yuan, would attempt to make a move against him.


    Wu Yuan, unwilling to show weakness, would retaliate. Sometimes he won, defeating or even ying his opponents. Those who kill would be killed in turn.


    However, unless it was for the sake of seizing treasures, Wu Yuan wouldn''t take the initiative to attack other immortal cultivators.


    Once in a while, when encountering formidable Archimmortals, Wu Yuan would have no choice but to flee for his life. In a head-on collision, any Archimmortal could defeat Wu Yuan.


    Simply put, when celestial equipment was at stake and Archimmortals were involved, he could only hope to snatch leftovers.


    But after repeated engagements and encounters with some imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind, information about Wu Yuan''s techniques, such as Moonlight Shadow and Nine Swords of Spacetime, gradually spread.


    Naturally, this further strengthened his fame. Word spread beyond the Spacetime Ind to even some of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. Many took note of an extraordinary Earth Immortal from the Spacetime Ind, a prodigy in the Laws of Space and Time, who frequently explored the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    The repeated battles and life-and-death struggles also tempered Wu Yuan, speeding up his growth.


    In the blink of an eye, eight years passed.


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, in a tavern of the Taiyuan Tower.</i>


    The sky outside was clear and bright, while waitresses continuously presented an array of exquisite dishes.


    A figure in silver armor leisurely savored the delicacies before her, as if she were an insatiable glutton.


    "Your love for food hasn''t changed one bit," Wu Yuan chuckled. He only tasted a morsel or two, preferring to sip the immortal wine. Compared to fine cuisine, he favored fine liquor.


    "Among the many pleasures of the world, only food is indispensable," Zhuo Haiyue smiled softly, wiping her mouth.


    "I sent you messages earlier but got no response. Have you finally left the Spacetime Labyrinth?" Wu Yuan asked with a grin.


    "Mm, I��ve just emerged," Zhuo Haiyue nodded. "However, based on the intelligence I''ve gathered, I fear my gains pale inparison to yours. The spacetime techniques you''ve mastered are incredibly formidable.


    Now, in terms of directbat, even if you''re not my equal, you''re likely not far behind," Zhuo Haiyue remarked with a sigh. "Not to mention your various other auxiliary abilities."


    Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile but offered no further exnation.


    The supreme teachings left by the Spacetime Dao Master were indeed powerful.


    Take the Law of Space, for instance. He had only just reached the third-level True Intent stage ofprehension, and hadn''t even begun crystallizing the True Intent of the Law of Time. Yet whenbined, the power they unleashed was utterly terrifying.


    This news had spread throughout the Spacetime Ind during his years of adventuring.


    But Wu Yuan wasn''t surprised. It was already fearsome to induce a hint of a Greater Law''s fluctuations via thebination of Intermediate Laws. The fusion of two Greater Laws? Their power was naturally heaven-defying.


    Moreover, ording to Wu Yuan''s knowledge, thebination of Time and Space was already rted to a certain legendary Essence Great Dao...


    "Since you emerged thiste, your gains must be considerable as well," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "I did reap some rewards." Zhuo Haiyue nodded, then changed the subject: "I''ve heard about your conflict with Nie Zhen. You needn''t worry too much about it. He''s destined to be an Astral Monarch in the future and belongs to a different macrocosm than you. Naturally, he won''t truly fear you."


    "Likewise, I need not concern myself with him," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    Different temperaments meant that even if two people started off on good terms, diverging opinions and conflicts would naturally arise over time.


    But the two hadn''t yet reached the point of a life-or-death feud.


    ...


    After meeting with Zhuo Haiyue, neither inquired about the other''s ns. Both were peerless geniuses with their own cultivation agendas.


    Time flew by swiftly.


    After nine years of exploring the cier Domain, Wu Yuan''s mana body amassed treasures worth tens of thousands of divine crystals, and finally found a way to leave.


    Subsequently, Wu Yuan began using Higher Dimensional Crossing to elerate his progress through the Snowlight Mist Realm, heading towards the ck Devil Blood Hollow��s spacetime coordinates.


    Although the Snowlight Mist Realm was dangerous, neither the Outer Region nor the Inner Region posed much of a challenge for Wu Yuan whoprehended Space and Time. He made his way through them with virtually no obstacles.


    It wasn''t until he entered the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm that Wu Yuan finally suffered a severe setback.


    In a treacherous area known as the Ice Vortex Valley, his mana body perished!


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, Immortal Court Pavilion.</i>


    This was where cultivators of the Immortal Court regrly gathered to exchange insights within the voidrealm.


    However, only a small minority of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind were from the Immortal Court. They typically numbered around 100,000, and were not considered a dominant force.


    In one of the halls of the Immortal Court Pavilion, six individuals were seated, among which were High Immortal Pu Guang and High Deity Ci Yue.


    "Haha, Daoist Mi Yun, I raise this toast to you," High Immortal Pu Guang lifted his wine cup, eximing excitedly, "You''ve certainly helped us vent our frustrations."


    "We are all of the Immortal Court lineage, naturally we stand united. What I did was nothing special," the ck-robed middle-aged man said calmly. "By looking down on you, that Ming Jian looked down on our entire Immortal Court faction.


    When the treasure appeared in Ice Vortex Valley, Ming Jian didn��t know his ce, so I taught him," the ck-robed middle-aged man said indifferently.


    "He has grown too arrogant just because heprehends Space and Time. He only has a few hundred years of cultivation, and failed to see Daoist Mi Yun''s true strength," High Deity Ci Yue''s voice remained gentle as she smiled and said, "Daoist Mi Yun is equally proficient in the Law of Space, havingprehended the Law of True Domain to the Dao Field stage."


    "Indeed, in terms of theprehension of Space alone, Daoist Mi Yun is no inferior to Ming Jian, and even surpasses him," the others chimed in agreement.


    "It was merely the destruction of his mana body, not his true self," the ck-robed middle-aged man said with a faint smile.


    "Come, let''s drink."


    "Cheers."


    ...


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, within Wu Yuan''s private hall.</i>


    <i>I truly didn''t expect the destruction of a single mana body to attract so much attention. Indeed, this news couldn''t be kept under wraps. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, sitting in lotus position atop the jade tform.


    Just moments ago, he had received messages from numerous friends including Zhuo Haiyue, Nangong Meng, Hua Zhu, and Kou Lei, all inquiring about the situation.


    Wu Yuan had responded to each of them. Only then did things quiet down.


    <i>However, this Mi Yun is truly formidable. He certainly lives up to his reputation as the strongest expert from the Immortal Court faction on the Spacetime Ind.</i> Wu Yuan reflected on the battle he had fought two hours ago.


    The Ice Vortex Valley was a notorious danger zone in the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Many Archimmortals regrly ventured into the Core Region, including powerhouses at or above the seventh-stage Archimmortal, or Astral Lord, level. Even numerous top-tier imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind explored its depths.


    Wu Yuan''s strength, while decent in the Inner Region, was at the bottom of the hierarchy in the Core Region.


    A treasure worth hundreds of thousands of divine crystals had appeared, attracting many Archimmortal-level powerhouses. Wu Yuan happened to be nearby as well.


    Amidst the chaos, High Deity Mi Yun disyed his might, single-handedly contending against numerous powerful Archimmortals, even ying several of their mana bodies.


    As the fight progressed, Wu Yuan tried to take advantage of the confusion to seize the treasure.


    Little did he expect that High Deity Mi Yun would employ a specialbat technique that fused the Law of Metal with the Law of True Domain,bining both attack and binding capabilities to restrict Wu Yuan''s agility.


    Afterwards, he unleashed just one saber strike! It tore through a million li, instantly annihting Wu Yuan''s mana body.


    <i>This Mi Yun''s Daoprehension far surpasses mine. It likely isn''t even at the bottom among Astral Monarchs, and his mana capacity far exceeds mine as well. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The gap in strength was too great. That High Deity Mi Yun could truly unleash power at the seventh-stage Archimmortal level. Wu Yuan wasn''t surprised that he was in by him in one strike.


    <i>You can''t walk along the river''s edge without getting your shoes wet.</i> Through this battle, Wu Yuan also came to understand the gap between himself and the top-tier imprint bearers of the Spacetime Ind.


    The top-tier imprint bearers of the Spacetime Ind, numbering only about ten, all possessed Daoprehension at the Astral Monarch level.


    <i>However, once I break through to the High Immortal realm, the gap in strength between us will narrow considerably. </i>Wu Yuan calmed his mind.


    He began using a Divided Soul Immortal Life Pill to cultivate a new mana body within his amethyst cradle.


    When a mana body perished, it took ten years to create a new one even with the aid of immortal pills. On this trip, he had also lost various treasures worth nearly 100,000 divine crystals.


    ...


    Many imprint bearers from various factions on the Spacetime Ind secretly gloated over his loss at the Ice Vortex Valley, but Wu Yuan paid no heed.


    Ten yearster, Wu Yuan finished creating his mana body and once again teleported to the Snowlight Mist Realm. This time, he spent only a month to enter the Core Region.


    But the final oue was the same �� annihtion! And this time, he perished silently, encountering a deadly trap with no chance to resist, dying instantly.


    Another ten years passed.


    Wu Yuan cultivated his third mana body and once again ventured into the Snowlight Mist Realm. This time, he spent three years there, enduring numerous perils.


    But finally, he reached the location of the ck Devil Blood Hollow in the Core Region.


    It was a tranquil expanse of space, with only howling winds. asionally, massive shards of ice drifted through the space, floating towards a distant cier.


    <i>Is this the right ce?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the space, inwardly perplexed.


    <i>Crack~ </i>Suddenly, a massive spatial fissure tore open before him, and an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan. In an instant, it sucked him into the rift.


    The fissure closed, and tranquility returned to this region of space.

 Chapter 698: Breakthrough, Twelve Yuan Souls (1)

    <h4>Chapter 698: Breakthrough, Twelve Yuan Souls (1)</h4>


    In the vast, endless void, darkness stretched in all directions, with no discernible end in sight.


    At the center of this void stood a majestic, boundless range of ck mountains. The mountain range undted, its peaks soaring to heights of at least billions of li. As for its length? It far exceeded Wu Yuan''s sensory range, boundless!


    Wu Yuan stood at the foot of this ck mountain range, which resembled an expansive world unto itself. Here, a grand hall stood.


    He stood before the hall, not daring to move rashly.


    <i>What a strange world. Could this be the ck Devil Blood Hollow? The legendaryir of Sovereign ck Devil?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Just moments ago, as Wu Yuan had begun to sense something in the void, he was suddenly transported by a terrifying force, arriving in this realm.


    Wu Yuan was certain of two things: first, he was at the location specified by the spacetime coordinates. Second, when he had first learned of the ck Devil Blood Sacrifice, he had caught a distant glimpse of Sovereign ck Devil perched atop a ck mountain range, strikingly simr to the one before him now.


    <i>Hum~</i> Suddenly, a figure in ck robes materialized not far from Wu Yuan, his aura both ethereal and domineering.


    Though the figure appeared slightly illusory, his mere presence caused Wu Yuan''s heart to shudder instinctively.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "There''s no need to address me as Senior. You may call me Big Devil," the ck-robed figure replied, his voicepletely devoid of warmth. "I am a spirit entity created by the Sovereign, or more precisely, the spirit of the ck Devil Blood Hollow, tasked with assessing the countless immortal cultivators who arrive here.


    Only those who pass my assessment may obtain the treasures left behind by the Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    "All of the many spacetime coordinates left by my master lead to the ck Devil Blood Hollow. But among those who enter through the second most dangerous coordinates, you are the first Earth Immortal to date," the ck-robed figure nced at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    Indeed, Earth Immortals were rarely seen in the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, and the Core Region was even more perilous.


    In his decades of exploration and hundreds of battles, Wu Yuan had scarcely encountered High Immortals, let alone Earth Immortals.


    In fact, over ny percent of those who ventured into the Core Region were Archimmortals from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    "I can sense a trace of the ck Devil Divine Pir''s aura within you. The fact that you found this ce means you''ve met the basic requirements of the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    To possess such power when you��re merely an Earth Immortal, and at such a young age, your talent must be extraordinary." The ck-robed figure looked down at Wu Yuan, his expression unchanging: "By right, you should be qualified to face the Sovereign''s trials."


    Wu Yuan''s heart stirred. By right? What about by left?


    ��However, why did you only send your mana body here? And why did you not even bring the ck Devil Divine Pir?�� The ck-robed figure shook his head with icy disdain.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Was it necessary to bring the ck Devil Divine Pir? The information stated by Sovereign ck Devil had never mentioned this requirement.


    "Just because the Sovereign didn''t mention it, you can��t think for yourself?" The ck-robed figure sneered, seemingly reading Wu Yuan''s thoughts. "Besides, did you really think you could obtain the Sovereign''s true treasures with just a mana body?


    Remember this well. Come in your true self and carry the ck Devil Divine Pir to qualify for entry into the ck Devil Blood Hollow." The ck-robed figure looked down at Wu Yuan. "This mana body of yours is unqualified!"


    Unqualified? Wu Yuan was stunned. If he was unqualified, why bring him here in the first ce?


    "Unqualified, yet daring to trespass into the ck Devil Blood Hollow��a capital offense!" The ck-robed figure''s eyes turned frigid as he pointed at Wu Yuan from afar.


    Capital offense? Wu Yuan was instantly rmed and tried to speak: "Sen��"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A terrifying beam of light emerged from the ck-robed figure''s fingertip,pletely piercing through Wu Yuan''s mana body near instantaneously.


    Even though Wu Yuanprehended both Time and Space Daos, he couldn''t muster even the slightest reaction in the face of the attack.


    In that moment, Wu Yuan''s mana bodypletely dissipated, vanishing into nothingness.


    ��An Earth Immortal? A monstrous prodigy? Hmph! Trying your luck with just a mana body, too cowardly to risk your life, yet daring to venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow?" A sh of murderous intent gleamed in the ck-robed figure''s eyes. "I would sooner let my master''s treasures rot than carelessly pass them on."


    He didn��t care whether they were geniuses or not. Anyone who didn''t meet Sovereign ck Devil''s dying wishes would be in without exception.


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self��s hall.</i>


    <i>Theoretically qualified, but in reality unqualified? And for that, my mana body was destroyed?</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly.


    If he wasn''t qualified, why transport his mana body into the ck Devil Blood Hollow in the first ce? Expulsion would have sufficed. Instead, it was outright annihtion.


    <i>As expected of Sovereign ck Devil, who stirred up countless cmities in the Dao Realm, to the point where even the Dao Master had to personally intervene to destroy him. His methods are indeed tyrannical.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyebrows arched.


    He had read up on Sovereign ck Devil and knew his usual style of doing things.


    <i>Demanding that my true self bring the ck Devil Divine Pir?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>Is this true or false?</i>


    <i>The loss of a mana body is one thing, but my true self?</i> Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    For ordinary Earth Immortals and High Immortals, the loss of a mana body was a significant matter. After all, their lifespans were limited, and methodically refining a new one could take tens of thousands of years.


    Immortal Life Pills were extremely expensive��a Divided Soul Immortal Life Pill was worth over ten thousand divine crystals. A Tribtion Immortal Life Pill was worth a hundred thousand divine crystals.


    As for Immortal Life Pills at the Archimmortal level? They were worth a million divine crystals, so most Archimmortals were unwilling to purchase them, and would rather spend a hundred thousand years slowly nurturing a new mana body.


    For Wu Yuan, if he were toplete his Ninth Immortal Tribtion in the future and be an Astral Monarch or even a Sovereign, spending millions of years nurturing a single mana body was normal. To create one in a short time woulde at an even greater cost.


    But currently? For Wu Yuan, even if his mana body perished again and again on various expeditions, he could still afford the price to hasten their recreation.


    Yet, the death of his true self would mean theplete end of his qi refining journey. Therefore, whether to go forth in his true self along with the ck Devil Divine Pir was a question he had to consider carefully, as the level of danger was exceptionally high.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan suddenly sensed something and looked up.


    "Master." Star Moon had already flown to his side, speaking urgently, "The Spacetime Ind just issued an order, assigning you a Dao Master-level Mission."


    As she spoke, Star Moon waved her hand, and a massive light screen appeared, filled with detailed text.


    <i>Dao Master-level Mission: Exploration</i>


    <i>Exploration: Head to the Snowlight Mist Realm, enter the ck Devil Blood Hollow within the Core Region, and return alive. This mission must be undertaken by your true self.</i>


    <i>Reward: One thousand spacetime points.</i>


    <i>Mission Background: The ck Devil Blood Hollow was created by the extremely powerful Sovereign ck Devil in the early years of the Dao Realm...</i>


    <i>Note: To bepleted within the current spacetime mission cycle. 792 years remaining.</i>


    <i>Assigned to me? </i>Wu Yuan stared at the light screen in disbelief.


    It was not unheard of for the Spacetime Ind to assign missions without the imprint bearer''s consent. But it was extremely rare.


    To Wu Yuan''s knowledge, many imprint bearers could spend tens of thousands of years on the Spacetime Ind,pleting hundreds of missions, without being assigned a singlepulsory spacetime mission.


    Yet, Wu Yuan, not even three hundred years into his first mission cycle of a thousand years, had already been assigned one? And it was a Dao Master-level mission at that.


    <i>As I suspected earlier, the Spacetime Ind has been monitoring me in secret? </i>Wu Yuan mused internally. <i>Or perhaps, nothing that happens in the Dao Realm escapes the Spacetime Ind''s notice.</i>


    Given that the Dao Master mastered Spacetime, the fact that he possessed such capabilities was within Wu Yuan''s expectations.


    <i>ording to what that temple spirit said previously in the Spacetime Labyrinth, many of the opportunities in the Dao Realm were left behind by the Dao Master. The fact that the ck Devil Blood Hollow wasn''t destroyed must also be in line with the Dao Master''s wishes. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>Now, with this spacetime mission being arranged for me, it seems there shouldn''t be any safety concerns, at least.</i>


    Spacetime missions were never suicide missions. There was always hope for survival.


    <i>But, for my true self to enter the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm?</i>


    Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, still feeling a little reluctant. He had already lost several mana bodies in session.


    After cultivating part one of the ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, his true self, while carrying the ck Devil Divine Pir, could unleash the mana of a Third Tribtion High Immortal.


    Yet Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self''s directbat prowess had merely progressed from approaching the Archimmortal level to reaching the second-stage Archimmortal level.


    After all, thebat secret arts Wu Yuan mastered, such as the Nine Swords of Spacetime and Moonlight Shadow, were onlyparable to the fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal level, not yet reaching the Astral Lord or seventh-stage Archimmortal level.


    For the nine stages of the Archimmortal level, every three stages represented a qualitative leap.


    <i>There are still nearly eight hundred years left, enough for me to step into the High Immortal phase.</i> Wu Yuan had already made up his mind. <i>It''s better to wait until I enter the High Immortal phase before venturing into the ck Devil Blood Hollow with the ck Devil Divine Pir.</i>


    Once he entered the High Immortal phase, he would have a stronger foundation overall. Even if his Daoprehension didn''t improve further, Wu Yuan was confident his strength would increase significantly.


    Moreover, up to now, Wu Yuan had only been cultivating for just over six hundred years. After several hundred more years, no one could predict how much Wu Yuan''s strength would grow.


    <i>When the timees, my true self will head there toplete the spacetime mission and obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s treasures.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with determination.


    <i>If I can obtain a Sovereign''s treasures, my chances of bing a Supreme Genius and ascending to the Sovereign phase in one go will increase even further.</i>


    Indeed, although it was dangerous for his true self to venture forth, many powerful opportunities could only be seized by taking such risks. The path of immortal cultivation was far from smooth sailing.


    <i>For now, I''ll focus on cultivating another mana body first.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self decided.


    He dedicated a portion of his mental energy to creating a new mana body within his amethyst cradle using a Divided Soul Immortal Life Pill.


    ...


    Ten yearster, his new mana body was created. As Wu Yuan already had a Dao Master-level Mission, he couldn''t ept new spacetime missions.


    His mana body once again set out to explore the Snowlight Mist Realm, dying several times consecutively.


    Not counting the loss of treasures, Wu Yuan had lost over a hundred thousand divine crystals in purely Immortal Life Pills and personal artifacts alone.


    This was the nature of expeditions. They went hand in hand withplications and challenges.


    Even for super powerhouses, it was possible for their mana bodies to perish after many battles if luck wasn''t on their side.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan began to receive his second spacetime inheritance, two hundred years after thest time.

 Chapter 699: Breakthrough, Twelve Yuan Souls (2)

    <h4>Chapter 699: Breakthrough, Twelve Yuan Souls (2)</h4>


    Time flowed on, and the years passed.


    Wu Yuan''s mana body no longer ventured into the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, instead exploring various danger zones in the Inner Region.


    In the Inner Region, Astral Lord level powerhouses were rare, and even cultivators above the fourth-stage Archimmortal level were not amon sight.


    With Wu Yuan''s mastery of Space and Time, he might be unable to match Archimmortals in directbat, but could at least ensure his own safety.


    At the same time, he gradually acquired treasures in many danger zones, though most were not of high value.


    Without an active mission, it took at least half a year for him to return to the Spacetime Ind from the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm. Thus, without sufficient gains, Wu Yuan was reluctant to have his mana body return.


    For Wu Yuan, the acquisition of treasures was secondary; the most important thing was shing with powerful High Immortals and Archimmortals, tempering himself.


    His swordsmanship grew increasingly exquisite, his movement skill reaching new heights. Hisprehension of Space and Time also grew deeper and deeper. All of these were a form of umtion, and one day they would bear fruit.


    With each sessive battle, Wu Yuan''s reputation grew steadily.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly forty years had passed.


    Wu Yuan had reached seven hundred years of age.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self cultivated in seclusion on the Spacetime Ind, steadily improving his overall strength.


    Meanwhile, in the test grounds of the Creation Divine Hall in the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self gazed at one of the enormous Creation Essence Diagrams on the stone wall, inscribed with countless Dao patterns.


    <i>Law of Time. Law of Thunder, Law of Fire.</i> The thunder beast depicted on the stone wall was in a state of fiercebat, emanating a violent, murderous aura. The waves of oppression radiating from it seemed to stifle one''s heart.


    The first Creation Essence Diagram that Wu Yuan''s body refiner selfprehended, the thunder beast lounging on the earth, gave a sense of peace, leisure, and tranquility. Meanwhile, this current Creation Essence Diagram hadpletely swung to the opposite extreme. The two were diametrically opposed.


    <i>The first Essence Diagram Iprehended was based on the Law of Life, which epasses parts of the three Greater Laws of Space, Earth, and Wood. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>It contained very little, almost none, of the profundities of Time, Thunder, and Fire.</i>


    <i>But this current Creation Essence Diagram is dominated by the Laws of Time, Thunder, and Fire. Thebination of these three seems to produce another profound fluctuation.</i>


    A mysterious fluctuation that seemed to oppose yet also embrace the Law of Life, together forming a profoundw.


    In the past, Wu Yuan didn''t understand it. But after cultivating in the Creation Divine Hall for over three hundred years, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had unknowingly reached the fifth-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao, even though he had been fully focused onprehending the Essence Diagrams.


    With deliberate contemtion over time, Wu Yuan had achieved considerable progress in the Laws of Thunder and Fire. And most importantly, the Law of Time! His progress was astounding.


    Combining various aspects, Wu Yuan understanding of the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams was now vastly different from before.


    Over the past three hundred years, Wu Yuan would venture into the Creation Tower every few years to battle the level nine guardian. From initially failing after just a few moves, he could nowst over ten exchanges.


    <i>My qi refiner self''sprehension of the Laws of Time and Space has reached an extremely high level, greatly enhancing mybat strength. My saber techniques are not far behind those of seventh-stage Archimmortal powerhouses.</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self reflected.


    Only the Daoprehension of his two true selves was shared at present. The link between their memories,bat secret arts, and other aspects was still severed


    Therefore, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self didn''t know the various battle secret arts from the Spacetime Secret Codex and could only utilize Time and Space in rtively simple ways.


    If Wu Yuan''s body refiner self knew techniques like the Sword of Spacetime and Moonlight Shadow, his chances of conquering level nine of the Creation Tower would naturally increase significantly.


    Unfortunately, his body refiner self did not.


    <i>Just a hair''s breadth away. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had long since thought it through clearly. <i>My umtion of insights into the Life Dao is already very profound.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had a vague feeling that if he could understand thebined profundities of the Laws of Time, Thunder, and Fire, and then leverage hisprehension of the Life Dao, he might truly be able toprehend the nature of the Creation Essence Diagrams.


    But it was incredibly difficult.


    <i>Less than fifty years to go before the end of the four-hundred-year test duration</i>. Wu Yuan frowned slightly. <i>Can I seed?</i>


    He wasn''t very confident. The more heprehended, the more Wu Yuan''s body refiner self understood the difficulty ofprehending this Essence Great Dao, and the clearer he understood the challenge posed by level nine of the Creation Tower.


    <i>I''ll exert my utmost effort. Even if I fail, I have no regrets.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart remained as unwavering as a cier.


    Even knowing the high likelihood of failure, even if pushed to the brink, Wu Yuan would never choose to give up even till thest moment. He would strive with all his might.


    <i>Hmm? </i>A sh of shock passed through Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s eyes.


    For an instant, he had faintly sensed the existence of his qi refiner self.


    <i>The Yuan Soul of my qi refiner self; it''s expanding rapidly, seemingly about to break through the power of the Immutable Land isting my true selves. Have I broken through some sort of bottleneck?</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was slightly startled.


    He knew that the Yuan Soul of his qi refiner self was an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, far from ordinary.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was not wrong.


    After hundreds of years of Visualizing the ck pagoda, the soul of his qi refiner self had long since reached the limit of the Yuan Soul stage.


    Now, it had finally broken through another shackle.


    <i>Inside Wu Yuan''s private hall on the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    <i>The Divided Soul level of the soul! Multiple Yuan Souls!</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sat in lotus position, silently sensing the changes.


    At this moment, within Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, the Yuan Soul condensed from his soul essence was undergoing an extraordinarily violent transformation.


    Strands of radiant light burst forth as the massive form of the Yuan Soul gradually tore apart, forming one ethereal Yuan Soul after another.


    Each additional Yuan Soul formed caused Wu Yuan to experience an agonizing rending of his soul. This pain would be unbearable for an ordinary High Immortal, making them tremble in fear, yet Wu Yuan endured it without much trouble, only gritting his teeth.


    <i>First Divided Soul...Second Divided Soul.</i> Wu Yuan employed the Divided Soul Secret Art, carving out one Yuan Soul essence after another from his soul essence.


    In the instant these Yuan Soul essences were fully split off, they remained part of Wu Yuan''s soul yet also became vaguely independent.


    <i>Third Divided Soul...Sixth Divided Soul...Eighth Divided Soul.</i>


    After consecutively eight Yuan Soul essences were split off, even Wu Yuan began to feel waves of dizziness despite his willpower, an instinctive urge to slip into unconsciousness creeping up on him.


    <i>Hmm? I can split off even more?</i> Wu Yuan was astonished. Normally, when an immortal cultivator��s soul advanced from the Yuan Soul level to the Divided Soul level, they would have nine Yuan Souls.


    Wu Yuan had split off eight Yuan Souls. With his original Yuan Soul, that made nine in total. But now, Wu Yuan could clearly sense that his soul essence remained robust, as if it could be further divided.


    <i>Continue! </i>Wu Yuan clenched his jaw and continued employing the secret art, dividing his soul essence. In this manner, he split off two more Yuan Soul essences.


    Each additional split left Wu Yuan struggling to maintain control. This excruciating pain emanated from the very depths of his soul, countless times more terrifying than any so-called torture in the mortal world!


    <i>I can keep on going. Split!</i> Wu Yuan roared inwardly. Abruptly, one more Yuan Soul essence violently split off from that still-powerful soul essence.


    He had split off eleven in total, which together with the original one, made twelve Yuan Soul essences.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>An overwhelming wave of agony wracked his spirit. Despite blocking off his six senses, it didn��t diminish in the slightest. Weakened, Wu Yuan instantly fell into a deep slumber.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, the instant the eleventh Yuan Soul essence split off, the twelve Yuan Soul essences seemed to react to each other, instinctively forming a circle. Then, each began to change, taking on Wu Yuan''s appearance.


    These newly born Yuan Souls were still quite weak and should have taken a long time to recover to their peak. But the moment the twelve Yuan Souls merged into one, the ck pagoda suddenly erupted with endless radiance.


    The light enveloped the upper dantian lobe as well as Wu Yuan''s twelve Yuan Souls, making each Yuan Soul essence feel a genuine warmth. They began to recover and grow stronger rapidly.


    <i>Master, what an incredibly powerful Yuan Soul. This! This! </i>Star Moon stood not far from the hall, staring dumbfounded at the mysterious ripples faintly surrounding Wu Yuan''s body.


    It was an iparably mighty aura.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan had fallen into a deep sleep and couldn''t control his aura. Moreover, having just broken through, his soul aura erupted outward without any restraint, shocking Star Moon.


    <i>Even among the High Immortal masters I''ve served in the past, none of their Yuan Souls couldpare to Master''s in strength! </i>Star Moon couldn''t understand it.


    Unlike Daoprehension, where extremely talented High Immortals could possess Daoprehension rivaling a Sovereign''s, Yuan Souls were closely tied to one''s mana cultivation, and usually wouldn''t exceed it by too much.


    Normally, an Earth Immortal possessing a Yuan Soulparable to a High Immortal''s was already terrifyingly impressive, let alone far surpassing a High Immortal.


    <i>It''s still growing stronger, approaching the Archimmortal level. What a monstrous prodigy, how scary. </i>Star Moon truly couldn''t understand it.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she chose to report it. This was her duty.


    ...


    Above the Spacetime Ind, in an area invisible to ordinary imprint bearers, stood a purple hall. Though called a hall, its interior actually opened into a vast world.


    This entire world was covered inyer uponyer of purple mes. The mes filled the sky, faintly causing cracks to appear in space itself, as if space ceased to exist.


    Clearly, these mes were so terrifyingly powerful that they could affect even the highest dimensions of space, causing multiple spatial dimensions to intersect.


    A figure in purple battle armor bathed amidst the endless purple mes, eyes closed. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, radiating a holy and gentle aura.


    It was none other than Sovereign Lan Yan, who seemed to be in a deep slumber.


    <i>Hmm? An Earth Immortal with a Yuan Soul surpassing a High Immortal''s? And it''s still growing stronger?</i> In the midst of cultivation, Sovereign Lan Yan received this message.


    She pondered for a moment, then abruptly opened her eyes. Her gaze was no longer gentle as before, but instead ice-cold.


    Her vision pierced throughyers uponyers of space, allowing her to see what was transpiring in one of the halls on the Spacetime Ind.


    <i>So it is true. Is it an Apotheosis Yuan Soul? No, why do I feel it''s even more powerful than an Apotheosis Yuan Soul?</i> A flicker of shock passed through Sovereign Lan Yan''s eyes.


    She was a direct subordinate of the Spacetime Dao Master, highly valued by him.


    Throughout the long ages, the Spacetime Dao Master rarely appeared, leaving her and several other Sovereigns to take turns overseeing the Spacetime Ind.


    These Sovereigns were also mostly leaders of the Dao Realm''s nine major factions. Thus, they were extremely knowledgeable, their perspectives not limited to the Spacetime Dao Realm. They were aware of certain intelligence from across the vast river of space and time.


    An Apotheosis Yuan Soul was already incredibly rare. Most Sovereigns across the vast river of space and time would struggle to evolve their souls to the Apotheosis Yuan Soul level, let alone beyond it.


    <i>Is it Ming Jian? That youngster is actually hiding such a secret? </i>In an instant, Sovereign Lan Yan learned of Wu Yuan''s many deeds on the Spacetime Ind over the past few centuries.


    <i>Cultivating both Space and Time? He hails from the Taiyuan Divine Court. With suchbat prowess, he��s likely close to clearing level one hundred of the four-star tower.</i> Sovereign Lan Yan swiftly drew her conclusions.


    Her heart trembled with shock. <i>Which Sovereign under the Dao Master does he receive his tutge from?</i>


    <i>Has our Spacetime Dao Realm ever produced such a monstrous prodigy in its history?</i>

 Chapter 700: Saint Prohibition Art (1)

    <h4>Chapter 700: Saint Prohibition Art (1)</h4>


    Years ago, when Wu Yuan arrived with the spacetime battleship, it was one of her incarnations that greeted him at the entrance of the Spacetime Ind.


    Due to Wu Yuan''s status as a Dao Master Imprint bearer, her gaze had lingered on him for a while longer than the rest. However, she hadn''t paid him much attention at that time, nor did she gather information on him.


    After all, during her long years overseeing the Spacetime Ind, she had seen many innate Dao Master Imprint bearers. Most performed well, but weren''t exceptionally monstrous.


    The definition of a so-called genius or monstrous prodigy varied among different powerhouses. For an ordinary Archimmortal, someone having the potential to be an Astral Lord would be considered a monstrous prodigy; for an Astral Monarch, someone having even a sliver of hope to be a Sovereign would be deemed a monstrous genius.


    And to be considered a monstrous prodigy by a Sovereign, one had to meet the benchmark of Supreme Geniuses at minimum, with a clear potential to ascend to Sovereignhood.


    Supreme existences like the Spacetime Dao Master didn��t exist in the vast majority of macrocosms. Therefore, although the Spacetime Dao Realm wasn''t particrly vast, it was quite special. Over countless years, it had produced geniuses and powerhouses surpassing those of ordinary macrocosms.


    True Supreme Geniuses had been born here before, and those who met the benchmark for different age groups were even more numerous.


    Clearly, given the current performance of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, he stood out even among those who met the benchmark of Supreme Geniuses.


    <i>Not only is his aptitude for the Law of Space incredible... but also the Law of Time? </i>Sovereign Lan Yan pondered silently.


    She was a Sovereign of Space. Sovereigns of Space were rare in ordinary macrocosms, but within the Spacetime Dao Realm, there were multiple.


    Moreover, being a follower of the Spacetime Dao Master had given Sovereign Lan Yan ess to a great deal of information, allowing her to learn many secrets.


    For instance, body refiners were rarely able to evolve their souls to Apotheosis Yuan Souls, as they were naturally poor at soul cultivation.


    Meanwhile, among qi refiners, possessing an extraordinary soul would grant one astonishing aptitude for the Law of Space. But this was limited to only the Space Dao.


    <i>Such strong aptitude for the Law of Time as well? It''s truly bizarre, this can''t be exined by a mere Apotheosis Soul.</i> Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head slightly.


    Normally, one would only begin to touch upon the profundities of Time after bing an Archimmortal.


    The Law of Time was mysterious and special.


    Sovereigns of Time were incredibly rare. Although the Spacetime Dao Master had spread his teachings far and wide, guiding countless cultivators toprehend the two Greater Laws of Space and Time, the Spacetime Dao Realm had never produced a Sovereign of Time to this day.


    <i>Hmm? I can''t retrace his past at all?</i> Sovereign Lan Yan attempted to peer into Wu Yuan''s past, but found it obscured by fog.


    She could only vaguely perceive Wu Yuan''s experiences on the Spacetime Ind, confirming that Wu Yuan came from the Greenridge Macrocosm. Anything further back? She was unable to perceive it.


    <i>Even ordinary High Immortals can''t resist my prying, yet retracing his past is as difficult as retracing an Astral Monarch��s past? </i>Sovereign Lan Yan grew increasingly shocked.


    The difficulty of retracing a person��s past was rted not only to the strength of the subject, but also to certain fateful encounters. Even for mortals, if they were involved with existences at the Dao Master��s level, the difficulty of retracing would skyrocket.


    <i>This Ming Jian must have other great secrets.</i> Sovereign Lan Yan thought to herself. <i>He''s from the Greenridge Macrocosm? Ah, so he''s from the Bei You lineage.</i>


    She was able to glean some understanding from his records in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. The fact that Wu Yuan was part of the Bei You lineage wasn''t a great secret, but it was limited to certain small circles within the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    <i>Bei You is capable of nurturing such a monstrous disciple? </i>Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head slightly. She wasn''t very familiar with Sovereign Bei You, having only seen him from afar a few times.


    After all, when Sovereign Bei You rose to power, she had not yet be a Sovereign herself.


    <i>Boom!</i> A majestic aura suddenly descended, enveloping the entire world of mes. Sovereign Lan Yan''s eyes flickered with surprise.


    "Lan Yan." A deep voice resonated, echoing throughout the world.


    "Kong." Sovereign Lan Yan bowed her head slightly.


    "Ming Jian is now under close observation, undergoing the second step of inheritance. Do not disturb him, let him forge his own path. Do you understand?" the deep voice instructed.


    "Yes." Sovereign Lan Yan was inwardly shocked. The second step of inheritance? This Ming Jian hade to the Dao Realm less than a thousand years ago.


    Then, she realized it made sense. Such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy, if not unique in the universe, should at least catch the eye of the Dao Master.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The grand fluctuation quickly dissipated.


    <i>Dao Master? Inheritance?</i> Aplex expression shed in Sovereign Lan Yan''s eyes. <i>When will I have the chance to advance to the next step?</i>


    Afterwards, she closed her eyes, once again immersing herself inyers of purple mes.


    ...


    <i>Proceed as usual, no need to interfere? </i>Star Moon was inwardly surprised as she received the message. <i>Or perhaps my master has already garnered the attention of the higher-ups?</i>


    But ultimately, she was just a spirit, unaware of certain secrets.


    <i>Master.</i> Star Moon looked towards Wu Yuan in the distance.


    On the jade tform, the majestic soul aura emanating from Wu Yuan continued to expand, already reaching the threshold of an Archimmortal.


    After some time, its expansion gradually slowed. Yet Wu Yuan still hadn''t awakened.


    In the past hundreds of years, this was one of the rare times Wu Yuan had fallen into deep slumber due to exhaustion. He slowly regained consciousness.


    <i>Did I sessfully break through to the Divided Soul Will level?</i> Wu Yuan did a quick scan of himself, feeling better than ever before.


    His soul was robust. Within his upper dantian lobe, twelve Yuan Souls all bore Wu Yuan''s appearance, vaguely gathering into a cluster, merging into his soul essence.


    <i>I slept for half a month? Each of the twelve Yuan Souls is now many times stronger than my pre-breakthrough soul essence? </i>Wu Yuan was inwardly amazed.


    Normally, when an immortal cultivator''s soul progressed from the Yuan Soul level to the Divided Soul Will level, they would be weakened for a long time, taking a while to recover.


    As for himself? Not only was he not weakened, but his condition had rapidly stabilized and grown stronger.


    <i>Is it due to the Apotheosis Soul, or the ck pagoda? Or both? </i>Wu Yuan pondered, unable to discern the reason for now.


    In any case, he now had twelve Yuan Souls, three more than the nine Yuan Souls of ordinary High Immortals, and each Yuan Soul was iparably stronger.


    Before the breakthrough, although Wu Yuan was at the peak Yuan Soul level, his soul, being an Apotheosis Soul, was slightly stronger than the souls of ordinary High Immortals.


    Now? Wu Yuan''s soul essence was strengthened dramatically.


    <i>It should have reached the Archimmortal level. My Soul Will can integrate into higher spatial dimensions with a thought.</i> Wu Yuan quickly assessed, both shocked and delighted.


    Archimmortal! Many unparalleled monstrous prodigies might havebat power rivaling fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortals, or in extremely rare cases, even Astral Lords.


    But in terms of soul power, how could a High Immortal hope to match an Archimmortal? It was almost impossible! Yet Wu Yuan achieved this today.


    <i>My soul continues to grow stronger?</i> With a brief attempt, Wu Yuan discovered that Visualizing the ck pagoda would still cause each Yuan Soul to grow stronger.


    Although the rate of growth was very slow, as long as he improved day by day, he would still make astonishing progress over time.


    Wu Yuan began to explore the changes in his abilities after his Yuan Soul breakthrough.


    Controlling artifacts was now easier, he could manipte more powerful artifacts, he could cultivate stronger soul secret arts, his Soul Will''s range of perception was more expansive...


    <i>Artifact and secret art cultivation can wait, there''s no rush.</i> Wu Yuan had his priorities straight.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan''s Soul Will prated space from the shallowest Material Spatial Layer to the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, where countless streams of spatial fragments collided, faintly stirring up innumerable spatial fluctuations.


    <i>Such a clear perception of Space. The essence of the Law of Space. </i>Wu Yuan vaguely perceived an immeasurably profound fluctuation in the vast heaven and earth.


    This was the Law��s essence that could be sensed after crystallizing Space True Intent. In the past, his perception of it had been rtively vague. Now, it was over a hundred times clearer.


    <i>No wonder Senior Brother Chang Hong, who cultivated for thousands of years before deducing an Intermediate Law to the first-level Dao Field stage, is considered to be as talented as Senior Brother Jiang Huan. </i>Wu Yuan mused. S<i>enior Brother Jiang Huan has fullyprehended the Law of Celestial Body.</i>


    Fullyprehending an Intermediate Law was over ten thousand times more difficult thanprehending it to the first-level Dao Field stage. Yet Jiang Huan had only taken a hundred times longer.


    Comprehending a Dao became exponentially more difficult towards the end, and there was also the effect of Dao Assimtion.


    <i>Yet the two are considered geniuses of the same level.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Why? It was because the souls of High Immortals usually reached the Divided Soul Will level, far surpassing the Yuan Souls of Earth Immortals, allowing them toprehend the profundities of the Dao much faster.


    For immortal cultivators, as long as they didn''t choose to forge their immortal body or merge their soul with a Dao��s essence, they would not bepletely assimted by the Dao��s essence.


    Thus, countless peerless geniuses throughout history would mostly remain at the High Immortal or High Deity phase until they approached the end of their lifespans.


    Many peerless geniuses who ascended to immortality could directly be Astral Lords or even Astral Monarchs, possessing eternal lifespans while simultaneously being constrained by the shackles of the Dao. The gains and losses were difficult to calcte clearly.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan sensed a disturbance in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, and suddenly, he felt as if his Soul Will had crossed some sort of boundary.


    Traversing that vast torrent of spatial fragments, he arrived in another realm, where only countless threads stretched across space. Their origin and destination were unknown. It was utterly dark.


    <i>The Turbulent Spatial Layer. </i>Wu Yuan instantly realized. This was a higher spatial dimension that normally only Astral Monarchs could enter.


    <i>My Daoprehension is not yet sufficient to support my entry into the Turbulent Spatial Layer, but my Soul Will, rivaling that of an Archimmortal, has sensed it first.</i>


    <i>Spatial turbulence...</i>


    The countless threads were beautiful and dazzling in the darkness, yet radiated an aura of danger.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan observed something different from what he had previously experienced while entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer with his seniors. <i>Time?</i>


    Among the countless threads of spatial turbulence, there were faint, wondrous fluctuations intertwined inseparably.


    That was��Time.


    <i>Time essence... </i>Wu Yuan''s soul faintly sensed that mysterious and unfathomable fluctuation; formless and shapeless, yet seemingly omnipresent.


    <i>How is this possible? </i>A trace of disbelief shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>I''m not even close to crystallizing the True Intent of Time, yet I can sense the essence of Time?</i>


    This was almost an impossibility! Yet it had urred.


    <i>An opportunity! This is the true great opportunity that possessing an Apotheosis soul has brought me. </i>Wu Yuan quickly realized this point.


    Compared to before his breakthrough, Wu Yuan''s sensitivity to the Laws of Space and Time had heightened by an unimaginable degree, all due to his Apotheosis soul.


    <i>Although the deeper theprehension, the stronger the influence of Dao Assimtion, the power of my soul will still ensure that myprehension progress in Space and Time will continue to proceed at breakneck speed.</i> A gleam shone in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Other peerless geniuses would need to ascend to Archimmortality, borrowing the power of the Dao��s essence to nurture a soul as powerful as Wu Yuan''s. But once they became Archimmortals, they would lose out on other aspects.


    As for Wu Yuan, his natural talent was already top-notch. He already possessed a soul at the Archimmortal level, and when he became a High Immortal, hisprehension progress would not be hindered too greatly by Dao Assimtion. What a heaven-defying advantage this was!


    <i>Sovereign of Space? Sovereign of Time?</i> Such an opportunity was enough to fuel Wu Yuan��s ambition and confidence.


    Sovereigns of Space were rare, and Sovereigns of Time even rarer, but Wu Yuan saw a glimmer of hope for sess in both. He still had almost a million years to go.


    But to speak of surpassing Sovereigns to be a supreme existence? Wu Yuan dared not dream about it yet. As of now, he knew far too little about that level.


    From what he knew, there were numerous macrocosms in the vast river of space and time. The territory upied by the divine court headquarters alone epassed at least a thousand macrocosms. Naturally, there were a good number of Sovereigns in their ranks.


    But existences surpassing Sovereigns? Those were beings that could be called ''supreme'' even in the entire river of space and time.


    <i>One bite at a time. My qi refiner self has such a strong aptitude for Space and Time, and with the excellent cultivation environment of the Spacetime Ind, I must seize this opportunity.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    On the path to immortality, one should set lofty goals. Now, Wu Yuan''s goal was to be a Supreme Genius, directly advancing to be a Sovereign, and even...surpass that!

 Chapter 701: Saint Prohibition Art (2)

    <h4>Chapter 701: Saint Prohibition Art (2)</h4>


    <i>My body refiner self.</i> After examining the various new abilities of his Apotheosis soul, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self also sensed the presence of his body refiner self in a mysterious and unfathomable ce.


    <i>The fact that I can sense my other true self means I''ve broken through the isting power of the Immutable Land to some degree, but I''m still a bit short of merging the memories of my two selves. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self shook his head.


    He then stopped dwelling on it and continued his secluded cultivation.


    Whetherprehension or deduction, he was far more efficient than before. Only when encountering certain bottlenecks would he slow down or get stuck.


    ...


    A year passed in the blink of an eye.


    A figure in white robes darted down from a spacetime teleportation array above the Spacetime Ind, swiftly returning to a hall.


    It was Wu Yuan''s mana body, who currently wore a smile on his face. <i>I finally made it.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The mana body entered the hall, directly merging with his true self.


    <i>My mana body went on a decades-long exploration, yet only acquired treasures worth less than a hundred thousand divine crystals? </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    In reality, such a bounty was already astonishing. Thanks to Wu Yuan''s strong aptitude for Space and Time, his treasure-hunting efficiency already approached that of an ordinary Astral Lord.


    Even so, if one counted the previous times his mana body had perished, he still made a loss overall.


    Wu Yuan focused on strengthening the mana body that had returned to the Amethyst Cradle, and it soon began to undergo changes.


    It was difficult for mana bodies to break through on their own. Wu Yuan had his mana body return, firstly, to bring back the treasures acquired over these decades. Secondly, because his soul had broken through to a new level, he naturally needed to reforge his mana body to strengthen its soul.


    As time passed, Wu Yuan divided his focus between Daoprehension and reforging his mana body.


    <i>The reforged mana body now has a soul no weaker than a true High Immortal, even slightly stronger than the soul of an Archimmortal''s mana body.</i> Wu Yuan was quite expectant.


    Most Archimmortals broke through with second-degree or third-degree immortal roots. With their immortal roots not fully perfected, their mana bodies were naturally wed, unlike Wu Yuan''s perfect mana body.


    <i>A stronger soul will allow the mana body to unleash even greater power.</i> Wu Yuan began to purchase suitable treasures for his mana body from the Spacetime Treasure Hall.


    After three years of effort, Wu Yuan''s reforged mana body once again arrived at the Snowlight Mist Realm through the spacetime teleportation array, continuing its adventures.


    However, in the short term, there were no suitable opponents who could force Wu Yuan to exert his full strength. Thus, no one yet knew of this transformation he had undergone.


    ...


    The entire Spacetime Ind remained eternal and unchanging, just as it had for trillions of years.


    On this day, in a hall of the Taiyuan Tower within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, several figures had already gathered.


    "Ming Jian has arrived."


    "Ming Jian." Those already in the hall all looked towards the entrance, nodding at the neers with polite smiles.


    "Nangong, Dong Fan, Xiang Dao." Wu Yuan nodded to each one with a smile.


    Dong Fan and Xiang Dao, two youthful-looking men, were both Sovereign Imprint bearers whom Wu Yuan had befriended over the centuries on the Spacetime Ind. They were also from the Taiyuan Divine Court faction, and their personalities were quitepatible with his, thus they got along well.


    "Please, sit," Nangong Meng smiled.


    Everyone took their seats.


    "As usual, let''s first exchange the intelligence we''ve gathered over the past few years," Nangong Meng led the discussion with a smile.


    Wu Yuan and the others didn''t stand on ceremony. With a wave, virtual immortal slips appeared before each person. Anyone could freely peruse them.


    After the four traded information, they began to chat amongst themselves. They were all elites of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction on the Spacetime Ind, and needed to take time to rx once every so often. By conversing with those of a simr level as themselves, they felt far less burdensome.


    ��Hmm?�� A trace of shock shed through Xiang Dao''s eyes. "Everyone, I just received a battle recording. You should all take a look."


    "Oh?"


    "What recording?" Wu Yuan, Nangong Meng, and the others were immediately curious.


    Xiang Dao was a Sovereign Imprint bearer, a High Deity whose strength could rival a fourth-stage Archimmortal. If something could surprise him, it had to be significant.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Xiang Dao didn''t give any further exnation. With a wave of his hand, a light screen projection materialized, drawing everyone''s attention.


    "Hmm, Haiyue?" Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly as he instantly recognized one of thebatants.


    "It''s Zhuo Haiyue."


    "Indeed, it''s her." Nangong Meng and Dong Fan also recognized her. Zhuo Haiyue had grown famous ever since she conquered level one hundred of the three-star tower.


    The light screen projection revealed a vast, deste in nketed in ice and snow. Across the expansive wastnd, numerous powerful cultivators were engaged in fiercebat or fleeing for their lives.


    Among them, a figure in silver armor was also in retreat. It was none other than Zhuo Haiyue.


    Suddenly, one High Immortal and two High Deities abandoned their opponents and joined forces to pursue Zhuo Haiyue.


    These three powerhouses possessed terrifying strength, ranking among the most powerfulbatants on the entire in. Their attacks already reached the Archimmortal level in power.


    The two High Deities moved with astonishing speed, while the High Immortal excelled in binding techniques. Together, they cornered Zhuo Haiyue, hemming her in with no visible escape.


    Although Zhuo Haiyue''s Daoprehension was astounding, approaching the level of an Astral Lord, she was merely an Earth Immortal. Her mana capacity was too small, and in directbat, she was no match for an Archimmortal.


    <i>Is she about to perish? </i>Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly.


    <i>Boom!</i> Terrifying lightning suddenly erupted around Zhuo Haiyue��s body as she hovered in the void, her expression cold and murderous. Her vital aura surged dramatically, and the countless knife rays around her instantly reconfigured.


    With a resounding crack, dozens of horrifying electric knife rays tore through hundreds of thousands of li, as if threatening to rip apart space itself.


    The two High Deities at the Archimmortal level were instantly sted away, one of them torn in half.


    <i>Rip!</i> A sea of lightning swept across the sky, shredding the remaining High Immortal who tried to flee in terror.


    The two surviving High Deities scrambled to escape. Zhuo Haiyue, unleashing her full power, pursued them relentlessly. She managed to y one more High Deity before finally relenting.


    As she departed, the projection ended.


    In the hall of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, silence reigned. Wu Yuan, Dong Fan, Nangong Meng, and Xiang Dao were all somewhat shocked.


    "That was incredible," Dong Fan eximed. ��Such power must rival a third-stage Archimmortal."


    "The profoundness of her techniques...did it deepen? It''s hard to say."


    "Indeed. From the battle footage alone, we can''t discern the level of profundity, only estimate the overall power."


    "An Earth Immortal erupting with the strength of a third-stage Archimmortal?" Those present found it almost unbelievable.


    The gap in mana between an Earth Immortal and an Archimmortal was practically immeasurable.


    "Unless she possesses Daoprehension at the Astral Monarch level," Nangong Meng shook her head. "But she''s been cultivating for less than a thousand years, hasn''t she?"


    Reaching Astral Monarch-level Daoprehension in a thousand years? It was unheard of.


    "Perhaps she used some special treasure," Wu Yuan suggested.


    "Ah, that must be it."


    "Some treasures do possess extraordinary power."


    "But it doesn''t seem quite right. Her techniques flowed too smoothly, as if the power truly came from within."


    "Some treasures can affect one''s intrinsic abilities." The group continued to discuss, each holding different opinions.


    Regardless, Zhuo Haiyue''s battle had truly astounded them all.


    Soon after, the discussion concluded and they went their separate ways.


    ...


    <i>Truly impressive. Third-stage Archimmortal? I fear even my true self, wielding the Genesis Divine Pir and my lifebound flying swords, might struggle to unleash such power. Perhaps I''d even fall short.</i> Wu Yuan mused internally.


    Yet in the battle projection, Zhuo Haiyue had clearly manifested such power with just her mana body.


    <i>No use pondering further. In this vast heaven and earth, be it through mortal means or the workings of heaven and earth, special treasures will always emerge. Just as the Sovereign ck Devil possesses the ck Devil Divine Pir and other such treasures, it''s only natural that other Sovereigns or even higher existences might create powerful artifacts.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The more one learned, the more one came to revere the vastness of the river of space and time.


    <i>For now, my priority is to swiftly crystallize Time True Intent</i>. Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self devoted the majority of his energy toprehending the Law of Time.


    He sent a brief message to Zhuo Haiyue, offering his congrattions.


    Soon after, Zhuo Haiyue replied with a message: "It was a confrontation mission. Circumstances forced me to go all out."


    Wu Yuan smiled, not pursuing the conversation further. He returned to his cultivation.


    ...


    <i>In the vast world within the purple hall above the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    ��What? A Saint Prohibition Art? Kong, are you saying this young woman is involved with a True Saint?" Sovereign Lan Yan, having also received the news, was quite shocked.


    Minor events that took ce among the numerous imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind didn''t warrant her attention, but significant urrences like the changes in Wu Yuan''s soul or Zhuo Haiyue''s mana body unleashing Archimmortal power were truly exceptional. She would always be informed of such matters.


    "Yes. The usage of a Saint Prohibition Art is always under strict conditions. Even ordinary Sovereigns struggle to recognize it, let alone detect it. If this weren''t the Dao Realm, even I might not have noticed," the deep voice continued.


    "She''s also from the Taiyuan Divine Court. However, unlike Ming Jian, this young woman doesn��t have a strong aptitude for Spacetime. We should simply ensure her safe departure.


    We mustn''t disturb the existence behind her," the deep voice cautioned.


    "Understood," Sovereign Lan Yan replied solemnly.


    ...


    The battle where Zhuo Haiyue unleashed overwhelming power was soon followed by several more conflicts. Her strength showed no signs of diminishing, proving that it was her own power and she wasn��t relying on a treasure.


    As such, it truly shook Spacetime Ind and even caught the attention of various factions in the Dao Realm.


    Swiftly, Zhuo Haiyue''s fame surpassed that of the rising star Ming Jian, and she was subtly recognized as the ''number one genius of the Spacetime Ind''.


    Regardless of what treasures one might use, power was power. If she was already so formidable as an Earth Immortal, how terrifying would she be upon advancing to the High Immortal phase? And she had cultivated for less than a thousand years.


    The world outside buzzed with rumors, yet Zhuo Haiyue seemed unaffected by it all. As for Wu Yuan? He cared even less aboutpeting for the title of top genius.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly ten years passed.


    <i>The Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.</i>


    This was a vast, boundless continent of ice and snow, dotted with towering mountains. No trace of life could be seen.


    <i>The Myriad Mountains Ice in.</i> A figure in white robes flew between the ice-capped peaks.


    These mountains weren''t particrlyrge, nowhere near the scale of those in the cier Domain.


    The white-robed figure was none other than Wu Yuan''s mana body, which had been exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm all these years.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan halted his advance.


    <i>Boom! </i>A powerful energy wave suddenly swept through his location, rolling further into the distance.


    <i>A treasure is emerging? After searching for so long, I''ve finally encountered a decent artifact, and it doesn��t seem too far from me. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart leapt with joy.


    He swiftly rushed towards the source of the energy fluctuations.


    Mere momentster, a flicker of surprise passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>Hm? It''s him!</i>


    Tens of millions of li away, amidst the ongoing energy fluctuations from the emerging treasure, he faintly sensed several vital auras. Among them was a familiar High Immortal��s soul aura.


    <i>Excellent. Truly, what one seeks often appears when one least expects it. </i>Wu Yuan''s face broke into a smile.

 Chapter 702: Fellow Daoist, Please Hold On

    <h4>Chapter 702: Fellow Daoist, Please Hold On</h4>


    The Myriad Mountains Ice in was a moderately dangerous area within the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm. While not particrly abundant in treasures, it asionally yielded extraordinary artifacts.


    As such, those who dared to explore this area were primarily High Immortals. Archimmortals were a rare sight, encountered only on asion.


    <i>It must be him, no doubt about it!</i> Wu Yuan,prehending both Space and Time, possessed an acute sensitivity to the fluctuations of Space. Furthermore, his perceptive abilities had undergone a qualitative transformation since his soul��s breakthrough.


    The person he sensed was none other than High Immortal Zhuo Hao, the Sixth Tribtion High Immortal he had encountered during his first Sovereign-level spacetime mission.


    Back then, in order to seize the Genesis Divine Pir from Zhuo Hao, Wu Yuan struck him from a higher spatial dimension, killing his mana body. In that battle, Wu Yuan had exposed hisprehension of Life True Intent, but he had no regrets. Obtaining the Genesis Divine Pir was worth the risk.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao had only lost his mana body, but his true self was still alive, which Wu Yuan saw as an unresolved threat. However, Wu Yuan had been unable to locate him since, thus he could only let the matter rest.


    Unexpectedly, after several centuries, they crossed paths once more in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    <i>Under normal circumstances, it takes tens of thousands of years for a High Immortal to nurture a new mana body. To expedite the process, one would need a Tribtion Immortal Life Pill worth ten thousand divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced. <i>A Sixth Tribtion High Immortal like him shouldn''t possess such wealth.</i>


    <i>Then again, it''s not impossible. Given that he owns a treasure like the Genesis Divine Pir, perhaps he has a substantial fortune, or he might have powerful connections.</i>


    <i>Typically, would a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal��s true self dare to venture into the Snowlight Mist Realm?</i> Wu Yuan spected. <i>There''s a fifty percent chance it''s his true self.</i>


    There was a fair distance between them, and they had yet to engage in directbat. Thus, he couldn''t be entirely certain.


    But for Wu Yuan, this was an opportunity he couldn''t pass up. If he could eliminate Zhuo Hao''s true self, it would remove a potential threat.


    <i>It''s unfortunate though. Although the Myriad Mountains Ice in isn''t highly dangerous, it''s simr to the Snow Devil Cave in that it suppresses spatial fluctuations, preventing entry into the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    This was the norm in the Snowlight Mist Realm. The Core Regionpletely suppressed spatial fluctuations, while most hazardous areas in the Inner Region also dampened them.


    <i>If I couldprehend the Law of Space to the seventh-level True Intent stage, the Astral Lord level, I''d be able to traverse the Turbulent Spatial Layer and move freely throughout the Snowlight Mist Realm. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Unfortunately, it was incredibly challenging. After shifting his focus towards the Law of Time, Wu Yuan remained stuck at the third-level True Intent stage of Space, unable to break through.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan concealed his aura and elerated to the speed of light.


    He soared past ciers that stretched millions of li into the sky, racing towards the source of the spiritual qi fluctuations.


    ...


    "A treasure is emerging, and it''s close to us!"


    "Hurry!"


    ...


    "This is our chance. Even if it''s not a celestial artifact, with such intense fluctuations, it must be a treasure of simr caliber."


    "Let''s head over!"


    ...


    The immortal cultivators in the vicinity sensed the disturbance and rushed towards it with frenzied determination.


    Among them were two cultivators.


    "Hao Zhuo, let''s go. We need to get there," a purple-robed High Deity''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. "A treasure like this could be worth thousands of divine crystals."


    "Agreed. Let''s move." The ck-robed High Immortal exuded a palpable killing intent, his aura formidable. "I��m a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal while you��re a Fifth Tribtion High Deity. Between us, we can handle anything short of an Archimmortal."


    "Let��s go!"


    The ck-robed High Immortal was none other than High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    Fearing retribution after his battle with Wu Yuan centuries ago, he had changed his identity upon leaving his oldir.


    Following the coordinates left by Sovereign ck Devil, he hade to the Snowlight Mist Realm, only to discover the myriad dangers that awaited him.


    Allowing his true self to venture here was extremely perilous, but he had no choice. Cultivating a new mana body would take tens of thousands of years �C time he didn''t have.


    <i>I must take this risk! My true self is more powerful than a mana body. If pushed to the brink, I''ll activate the ck Devil Star. Even against an ordinary Archimmortal, I''d stand a fighting chance.</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao felt confident.


    <i>Fortune favors the bold. If I can survive a thousand years in the Snowlight Mist Realm, I might amass tens of thousands of divine crystals with luck. </i>Such were his thoughts.


    How could one acquire a wealth of divine crystals and treasures in a short time without taking risks?


    ...


    As he approached, Wu Yuan sensed more than ten vital auras converging on the emerging treasure��s location. The energy fluctuations hadn''t diminished in the slightest, suggesting an ongoing battle.


    Soon, Wu Yuan got a clear view of the situation.


    The area where the treasure was emerging was a vast in over a million li wide. The in was encircled by several towering mountains.


    Around the in, three or four groups totaling nearly twenty High Immortals/High Deities had gathered, with High Immortals making up the majority.


    Most of the immortal cultivators weren''t engaged inbat, instead waiting on the sidelines. The real battle was between three figures.


    One was a ck-armored High Deity, his aura wild and overwhelming. Standing ten thousand zhangs tall with eight arms, he wielded four silver spears. His spear techniques were bold and powerful, each thrust appearing to tear through space itself, leaving lingering trails of his attacks in the void.


    Despite facing two opponents alone, he showed no fear.


    His adversaries were a High Deity and a High Immortal, who held a slight advantage while fighting together.


    <i>I don''t recognize two of them. That ck-armored High Deity must be at the Sixth Tribtion level, with power approaching that of a first-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan assessed, his gaze shifting to the other side.


    <i>A Fifth Tribtion High Deity? And a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal?</i>


    That Sixth Tribtion High Immortal was none other than High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    At this moment, the purple-robed Fifth Tribtion High Deity wielded nine battle sabers, fighting with frenzied intensity against the ck-armored High Deity.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao stood at a distance, continuously casting powerful arcane arts, either to restrain their opponent or tounch attacks. Working together against a single opponent gave them the upper hand.


    At the center of the battlefield, emerging from a spatial vortex, was the coveted treasure �C a massive crystal emanating a rich aura of spiritual qi.


    ��They''re all at the Fifth or Sixth Tribtion level. It''ll be hard to snatch the treasure.��


    "We''re no match for any of them one-on-one."


    "The treasure hasn''t fully emerged yet. We still have a chance. Let''s wait and see." The majority of the spectating High Immortals and High Deities had limited strength, mostly at the Third or Fourth Tribtion level.


    This was the norm. For most High Immortals, reaching the Third Tribtion level through diligent cultivation wasn''t overly difficult. Beyond that? It depended on talent and opportunities.


    Naturally, with their level of power, they dared not interfere in a sh approaching the Archimmortal level �C they would be killed in mere moments.


    That was unless these ordinary High Immortals amassed in sufficientlyrge numbers, say a hundred. If such a groupunched a joint attack, even an Archimmortal would have to retreat.


    Suddenly, some of the observing High Immortals and High Deities noticed Wu Yuan''s presence and turned to look.


    "An Earth Immortal?"


    "An Earth Immortal dares to interfere? Though, he gives me a dangerous feeling."


    "He''s probably not ordinary." These High Immortals and High Deities were initially startled, but quickly dismissed their concern.


    Earth Immortals, generally speaking, were considered exceptional if they could unleash power equivalent to a First or Second Tribtion High Immortal. Anything beyond that? They had rarely encountered such individuals.


    But in the next instant, Wu Yuan, who had just approached, suddenly charged directly towards the three High Immortals and High Deities locked in fiercebat.


    "What?"


    "Is that...?" At that moment, all the High Immortals and High Deities who had been observing from afar, waiting for an opportunity to act, were shocked.


    Did they just witness an instantaneous burst of speed at the speed of light?


    ��It''s the Spacetime Sword Immortal. It''s him." Someone finally recognized Wu Yuan.


    During his adventures in the Snowlight Mist Realm, Wu Yuan often changed his appearance and attire.


    Though intelligence about him and Zhuo Haiyue had long circted among the major factions of the Spacetime Dao Realm, most people wouldn''t recognize them on sight.


    It was only when they took action, unleashing their power, that they could no longer hide their strength. And in the entire Spacetime Dao Realm, how many Earth Immortals could unleash such formidable might? Not a single one!


    Among the tens of billions of Earth Immortals across Spacetime Ind and the Spacetime Dao Realm, only he and Zhuo Haiyue could unleash power rivaling a Fifth Tribtion High Immortal or above, at least, ording to public knowledge.


    So when Wu Yuan exploded into action, he was immediately recognized.


    "The Spacetime Sword Immortal!"


    "It''s him."


    "That monstrous prodigy from the Spacetime Ind." The gathered High Immortals and High Deities erupted inmotion. Even though they weren''t part of the core of the nine great factions of the Dao Realm, they had all heard legends of Wu Yuan during their years of exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Zhuo Haiyue was nicknamed the Thunder Knife Fairy. Wu Yuan was nicknamed the Spacetime Sword Immortal, both named for their signature killing techniques.


    One might mistake their given names, but never their nicknames.


    ...


    With a thunderous boom, the colors of the world shifted.


    From his arrival to his approach and outburst, Wu Yuan moved in one fluid motion. He was already charging towards the center of the in.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A hazy spacetime domain materialized, enveloping hundreds of thousands of li and pressing down on the three High Immortals/High Deities.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Nine celestial swords appeared, orbiting Wu Yuan''s body. In an instant, they transformed into threads of sword light, circting endlessly. The sword qi surged boundlessly, forming an incredibly powerful spacetime sword domain.


    Hundreds of thousands of li? He crossed it in an instant.


    "Not good."


    "It''s the Spacetime Sword Immortal."


    "He''s here." The three High Immortals/High Deities were stunned, for Wu Yuan''s attack came too swiftly and ferociously.


    Moreover, they never expected to encounter this legendary monstrous prodigy of the entire Dao Realm.


    <i>It��s him? He��s the Spacetime Sword Immortal?</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao was particrly shocked.


    As he sensed and confirmed Wu Yuan''s vital aura, his expression changed in an instant. This was someone he never wanted to encounter again in this lifetime.


    Furthermore, he was absolutely certain that the one who had ambushed and nearly killed him years ago had wielded the True Intent of Life in his killing move. Yet that same person was now renowned throughout the Dao Realm for his mastery of the Laws of Space and Time? What kind of monster was this?


    Deep down, High Immortal Zhuo Hao had a premonition that Wu Yuan was likely targeting him specifically.


    In that split second, High Immortal Zhuo Hao had only one thought - flee for his life!


    Without hesitation, he retreated towards the side where the purple-armored High Deity and ck-armored High Deity were battling, elerating to his highest speed. He hoped to use the two High Deities to dy Wu Yuan.


    "Fleeing?" The ck-armored High Deity was stunned.


    "Hao Zhuo? You''re running away just like that?" The purple-robed High Deity was even more bewildered. In his view, though Wu Yuan''s approach was fierce, they should still be able to put up a fight.


    But there was no time for the two High Deities to think further.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan, wielding his vast and mighty sword array, had already crossed hundreds of thousands of li, charging straight for High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    But this also meant he was charging towards the two High Deities in the same direction.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Four silver spears danced through the air, their radiant spear lights sweeping across a hundred thousand li, stabbing directly at Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The purple-robed High Deity likewise instinctively swung his battle saber, attempting to block Wu Yuan''s path.


    At this moment, the High Immortals and High Deities surrounding the ice ins all watched the battle from afar. Even the fleeing High Immortal Zhuo Hao looked back to observe.


    <i>That ck-armored High Deity possesses power approaching a first-stage Archimmortal. Combined with a Fifth Tribtion High Deity going all out, their strength should rival a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal. They should be able to hold off the Spacetime Sword Immortal for a while...</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao thought to himself.


    But then, a look of stark incredulity swept across his face. All the observing High Immortals and High Deities also wore dumbfounded expressions.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s eyes were cold as ice as he pointed from afar. His sword domain instantly transformed, six celestial swords streaking across the sky in a deadly assault. Sword lights shed as the flow of time began to change.


    Two times the speed of light! Three times! Four times the speed of light!


    <i>Schlik! Schlik!</i> Three celestial swords sliced through the air, their terrifying power instantly sweeping over the purple-robed High Deity. His body exploded with a thunderous boom, and the sword qi within the sword domain shredded his flesh and blood.


    <i>Boom! ng! ng!</i> Though the ck-armored High Deity was stronger, he could barely parry the three mighty celestial swords. The impact sent him flying backwards. Under the assault of the terrifying sword lights, his vital aura rapidly diminished. The attack was utterly unstoppable.


    <i>My strength nearly matches an Archimmortal. ording to intelligence reports, I should be evenly matched with the Spacetime Sword Immortal in directbat. How am I being utterly crushed? </i>The ck-armored High Deity was shocked.


    <i>This Spacetime Sword Immortal''s power has definitely reached the Archimmortal level. An Earth Immortal unleashing Archimmortal-level power? </i>He could scarcely believe it.


    Information on Zhuo Haiyue''s true strength had only circted within the Spacetime Ind so far, and had not yet spread to the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. Thus the ck-armored High Deity was naturally unaware of it.


    Over these decades, Wu Yuan had made tremendous progress in both the Law of Time and the Law of Space. Naturally, the power he could unleash from the Nine Swords of Spacetime had grown exponentially.


    Without relying on the Genesis Divine Pir, his mana body alone could now unleash Archimmortal-level power.


    This scene left the many observing High Immortals and High Deities in an uproar.


    <i>His strength has grown again? Flee! I must flee. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s heart raced as he fled frantically, seeing that the two High Deities could not stop Wu Yuan.


    ��Fellow Daoist, please hold on." Wu Yuan''s voice carried a hint of amusement as it echoed through the air.


    <i>Boom!</i> The flow of time around Wu Yuan''s body changed and his speed grew eerily fast �C several times that of High Immortal Zhuo Hao��s. It was impossible for him to escape.


    "Kill!" Though Wu Yuan''s voice held a trace of mirth, his eyes were utterly cold. The nine celestial swords surrounding him instantly exploded into action, sweeping toward their target.


    Three swords were enough to defeat a Sixth Tribtion High Deity earlier. All nine? High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s pupils constricted.


    High Deities had a slight edge over High Immortals in short bursts of power due to their ability to use grand ether arts.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao understood he could not afford to hold back anymore.


    <i>Boom!</i> A pitch-ck sphere about a hundred zhangs tall appeared behind High Immortal Zhuo Hao, resembling a miniature star.


    The ck sphere radiated an endless aura of cruelty and bloodthirst, vaguely merging with High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    The moment the ck sphere appeared, High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s vital aura began to surge violently, climbing to the Archimmortal level in the blink of an eye.


    <i>Is that... a ck Devil Star?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with recognition.


    This was a treasure of Sovereign ck Devil��s lineage, an even higher level artifact than a ck Devil Divine Pir!

 Chapter 703: What Do the Rules Of The Dao Realm Matter To Me

    <h4>Chapter 703: What Do the Rules Of The Dao Realm Matter To Me</h4>


    Wu Yuan had obtained relevant intelligence from the messages delivered by the ck Devil Divine Pir, which mentioned the ck Devil Divine Pir and the ck Devil Star. The ck Devil Star was a higher grade artifact than the ck Devil Divine Pir.


    <i>Back then, I found it strange that a mana body of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal would dare to carry an artifact as precious as a ck Devil Divine Pir. So it turns out he possessed a ck Devil Star.</i> Wu Yuan now understood.


    Originally, he had only intended to kill High Immortal Zhuo Hao to eliminate a potential threat. Now, Wu Yuan had only one thought in his mind��to seize this ck Devil Star, then use the Genesis Power, or blood mist, to undo Sovereign ck Devil��s alterations. Perhaps he could then uncover deeper secrets of the ck pagoda.


    The moment the ck Devil Star appeared, the ck pagoda in the upper dantian lobe of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self began to tremble slightly once again.


    Though Wu Yuan''s thoughts raced, his movements did not slow in the slightest.


    <i>Boom! </i>Nine celestial swords howled through the air, their sword qi interweaving, subtly distorting space and altering the flow of time. Like a series of hazy sword silhouettes, they struck toward High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    "No matter how great your talent, you''re still merely an Earth Immortal. I don''t believe you can defeat me," High Immortal Zhuo Hao roared through voice transmission. "Now die!"


    <i>Boom!</i> High Immortal Zhuo Hao suddenly waved his hand.


    As his vital aura surged, seven enormous spirit cauldrons materialized before him. Each cauldron burned with mes, exuding a powerful aura. All were low-grade celestial artifacts, yet they clearly possessed auras far stronger than normal low-grade celestial artifacts.


    <i>Lifebound artifacts? Following the ordinary evolution pathway?</i> Wu Yuan instantly understood.


    Forget following the optimal evolution pathway like himself, even for the intermediate evolution pathway, it was no easy feat for an ordinary High Immortal to upgrade their lifebound flying sword to the level of a low-grade celestial artifact.


    At the same time, over a dozen miniature stars wreathed in mes also appeared, all at the level of low-grade celestial artifacts.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao infused his mana, which rivaled that of an Archimmortal, into the twenty-plus low-grade celestial artifacts.


    This instantly augmented the might of these low-grade celestial artifacts, their power reaching a terrifying level that even caused the stable space around them to tremble faintly.


    <i>How powerful. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed.


    Relying on hisprehension of both Time and Space, he had frustrated many Archimmortals before, but had never truly faced someone at the Archimmortal level head-on. In the past, he was indeed no match for them.


    ��Hao Zhuo." The purple-robed High Deity who had just escaped death at Wu Yuan''s hands and barely reconstituted his body stared at Wu Yuan in shock.


    "What artifact is that?"


    "I''m not sure."


    "What a terrifying aura. Does this High Immortal possess Archimmortal-level strength?" The many High Immortals and High Deities observing the battle were secretly astonished.


    Normally, even among ten thousand High Immortals, it was rare for one to be able to unleash Archimmortal-level power.


    Even among the elite High Immortals and High Deities who ventured into the Snowlight Mist Realm, only one in a thousand could unleash Archimmortal-level strength on average.


    <i>It''s a ck Devil Star... it must be! A ck Devil Star has appeared here? </i>The ck-armored Sixth Tribtion High Deity who had fled far away after employing his spear technique was both shocked and delighted.


    He was part of a major faction in the Dao Realm and possessed extensive knowledge. He knew a thing or two about ck Devil Stars. Without hesitation, the ck-armored High Deity began transmitting a message for help.


    "Senior Uncle, a ck Devil Star has emerged. The location is the Myriad Mountains Ice in, and the spacetime coordinates are..."


    ...


    The various High Immortals and High Deities observing the battle were all shocked by the sessive disys of power from Wu Yuan and High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    Many High Immortals and High Deities chose to flee, as the level of their battle was far beyond them. Even the slightest ripple effect could result in their demise.


    <i>Rumble!</i> At this moment, the seven spirit cauldrons and fourteen ming stars converged to form a single entity, taking the shape of a terrifying jiaolong towering tens of thousands of zhangs tall, with a body so long it coiled without end. Nine ws protruding from its mid-section enveloped High Immortal Zhuo Hao within.


    <i>Boom! </i>As soon as the nine-wed jiaolong was formed, its entire body burned with mes, as though transforming into an inferno that raged through the sky. The ancient and ferocious aura it radiated spread far and wide.


    "He''s formed a solo battle array."


    "So powerful." Many High Immortals and High Deities were frightened. This level ofbat power would absolutely crush them.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The instant the nine-wed jiaolong took form, the sword domain assembled from the nine great celestial swords nketed the sky and covered the earth. Sword intent surged to the heavens as sword lights enveloped everything.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The nine-wed jiaolong roared as itshed out with its ws, swatting away the celestial swords.


    Each collision was like an explosion.


    At the same time, the nine-wed jiaolong swung its tail, rending space as it tried to pursue and kill Wu Yuan.


    <i>Rumble!</i> A great battle raged. The Dao profundities disyed by the nine-wed jiaolong still fell short of the Archimmortal level, but its overwhelming power definitely gave it Archimmortal-levelbat strength.


    As for Wu Yuan''s celestial swords, each strike barely reached the threshold of the first-stage Archimmortal level. But they had the advantage of greater numbers and his sword domain''s binding and suppression effects.


    But the biggest advantage was Wu Yuan''s Moonlight Shadow technique, which allowed him to split into phantoms and easily evade the nine-wed jiaolong''s killing strikes.


    This naturally led to a fierce battle that was evenly matched on both sides.


    <i>My mana capacity is still too small. If I had brought the Genesis Divine Pir to boost my mana, a single sword strike would have been enough to breach his jiaolong array. </i>Wu Yuan found himself in a predicament.


    Over the years, he had made significant progress in the Laws of Time and Space. For instance, though he was still on the first step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime, he was already able to unleash far greater power than when he first grasped it. The profoundness of the sword techniques he could now employ wasparable to the Archimmortal level.


    In terms of artifacts, with nine celestial swords in hand, he was not far behind High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    The only shoring was his mana. It could be said that if not for hisprehension of Space and Time, and his exceptional movement skill, the current Wu Yuan might have had to flee in defeat.


    <i>This ck Devil Star is indeed much more powerful. Most importantly, it��s his true self this time. </i>Wu Yuan silently pondered.


    If this wasn��t High Immortal Zhuo Hao��s true self, how could he possess suchbat power?


    The key difference between one''s true self and mana bodyy in the soul and lifebound artifacts. If it were his mana body, he wouldn''t be able to control so many low-grade celestial artifacts.


    <i>Stall! He''s activating the ck Devil Star, granting him a tremendous boost inbat power, but he can''t sustain it indefinitely. </i>Wu Yuan understood clearly.


    ...


    "They''re both so terrifying!"


    "Indeed, to think the Spacetime Sword Immortal could truly unleash Archimmortal-level power."


    "That High Immortal actually possessed such overwhelming strength? He didn''t reveal it at all before." The many High Immortals and High Deities marveled in admiration. They couldn��t afford to provoke either one.


    "Hmm? Something''s not right. Why did that nine-wed jiaolong flee?"


    "It was gaining the upper hand, yet it fled?" Most of the High Immortals and High Deities were bewildered.


    ...


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao manipted the various artifacts that formed the nine-wed jiaolong, repeatedly blocking Wu Yuan''s attacks while attempting counterattacks.


    At first nce, he seemed to have the advantage. Yet he was unable to do any real damage to Wu Yuan. Even when fleeing frantically, he couldn''t shake off Wu Yuan, who continued to pressure him at close range.


    Unlike Wu Yuan, High Immortal Zhuo Hao needed to consumerge quantities of Devil Divine Pills to activate the ck Devil Star, and his supply of pills was limited.


    <i>Boom!</i> Several towering ciers over a million miles high were impacted by the shockwaves of their battle.


    Fortunately, the environment of the Myriad Mountains Ice in was special and sufficiently resilient.


    Suddenly, High Immortal Zhuo Hao, who had been fighting with overwhelming momentum, saw his vital aura plummet sharply. The speed and power of the nine-wed jiaolong abruptly diminished, and it stumbled, nearly crashing to the ground.


    <i>Thousand Swords Array! </i>Wu Yuan, who had been waiting for an opportunity, finally seized his chance.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>High-grade spirion flying swords filled the sky, 720 in total. Each flying sword was etched with Dao patterns that emitted an unfathomable aura.


    <i>Boom!</i> As he infused his mana into them, the nine celestial swords and 720 high-grade spirion flying swords converged into one.


    In the sky, a divine sword radiating a terrifyingly dreadful aura appeared. It waspletely transparent, as if merged with space itself.


    This was Wu Yuan''s ultimate killing move after his soul''s breakthrough��the Thousand Swords Array.


    However, using so many celestial swords and high-grade spirion artifacts to form a sword array ced extreme demands on one''s soul and consumed vast amounts of mana. Therefore, Wu Yuan would not employ it except at crucial moments.


    <i>First step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime��the Sword of Spacetime.</i> With a mentalmand from Wu Yuan, the divine sword moved.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The world seemed to split in half as an eerie thread of sword light appeared, sweeping across the sky. It severed two of the jiaolong''s ws that were raised in defense. Then, amidst the jiaolong''s despairing roars, it pierced an inconspicuous scale on its belly.


    <i>Rip! </i>The jiaolong''s body was instantly impaled, and the resentful auras contained within it dissipated. Like a cascade of falling dominoes, the entire jiaolongpletely disintegrated.


    <i>No! Impossible. </i>High Immortal Zhuo Hao gazed at Wu Yuan in the distance, filled with terror. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    Even if he had pushed the ck Devil Star to its limits, causing it to falter, it should have logically taken Wu Yuan a considerable time to breach his nine-wed jiaolong. How could he destroy it with a single sword strike?


    What High Immortal Zhuo Hao didn''t realize was that while an ordinary Archimmortal might indeed take that long, he was facing Wu Yuan.


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan far surpassed him, as did his swordsmanship.


    During their previous exchanges and shes, Wu Yuan had been using his sword domain and flying swords to probe and locate the vulnerable points in the nine-wed jiaolong.


    He wouldn''t strike while uncertain, but when he did, it was fatal!


    "Fall," Wu Yuan''s gaze was cold as he strode through the sky, splitting into multiple phantoms indistinguishable from himself.


    <i>Boom! </i>The divine sword pierced through the nine-wed jiaolong, tracing an eerie path through the air before swooping towards High Immortal Zhuo Hao once more.


    Though High Immortal Zhuo Hao was still desperately trying to flee, without the enhancement of the ck Devil Star, he was merely a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, his power vastly inferior to that of a true Archimmortal. How could he possibly escape?


    <i>ng! ng! </i>The divine sword swept through, obliterating a series of artifacts that High Immortal Zhuo Hao had deployed, warping the space around them. Even the flow of time was distorted and erratic.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The sword light pierced High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s body. It copsed, his Yuan Soulpletely eradicated.


    High Immortal Zhuo Hao was dead.


    Arge assortment of artifacts was left suspended in ce, their auras rapidly diminishing.


    And besides the pile of celestial equipment and storage artifacts, there was also that ck sphere emanating a powerful and mysterious aura �C the ck Devil Star.


    This scene left the High Immortals and High Deities standing on the distant cier gaping in disbelief.


    A powerful High Immortal whose strength rivaled an Archimmortal had fallen just like that?


    However, they dared not approach. High Immortal Zhuo Hao might have died, but the even more powerful Wu Yuan was still well and alive.


    <i>A ck Devil Star. Not bad.</i> Wu Yuan took a single step, crossing hundreds of thousands of li and arriving at the site of High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s demise.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The spacetime divine sword rapidly dispersed, transforming into countless flying swords that circled around Wu Yuan.


    ��Spacetime Earth Immortal, I implore you to relinquish the ck Devil Star! It is a forbidden item that none of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm are permitted to use. I must take it back." A deep voice suddenly resonated from millions of li away, echoing throughout heaven and earth.


    This voice, transmitted through Dao fluctuations, naturally traveled at extreme speeds.


    Instantly, numerous High Immortals and High Deities turned to look, and were somewhat surprised to see a being with an incredibly majestic aura rapidly approaching at the speed of light. An Archimmortal! And a rather powerful one at that.


    "What is this ck Devil Star? I know nothing of it. How do I know you''re not trying to deceive me? I only know that this is my spoils of battle, and naturally belongs to me," Wu Yuan''s voice likewise resounded throughout heaven and earth. "Even if what you say is true, it''s merely a rule of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. What does that have to do with me? I am a member of the Spacetime Ind."


    As he spoke, Wu Yuan instantly collected all the suspended treasures with a wave, including the ck Devil Star.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan elerated to the speed of light as well, quickly leaving. He had no intention of directly confronting a powerful Archimmortal.


    "Spacetime Sword Immortal, if you roam the Dao Realm, you must abide by the rules of the Dao Realm." A rather angry roar echoed.


    <i>Hum~</i> A vast wave of soul power began sweeping towards Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 704: Astonishing Harvest

    <h4>Chapter 704: Astonishing Harvest</h4>


    A soul attack was transmitted through the Destiny Voidscape, the virtual aspect of heaven and earth. Its speed in any spatial dimension was a staggering million times faster than light! In essence, unless one was beyond the target''s Voidspace reflection range or couldn��t be detected, escaping such an attack was nearly impossible.


    <i>Boom! </i>This powerful soul attackunched from tens of millions of li away struck Wu Yuan almost instantaneously, causing his soul to shake violently.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Above Wu Yuan''s mana body and soul essence, a purple jade disc revolved. It suddenly red with brilliant light. Combining with his soul, it unleashed its might, blocking the iing soul attack.


    The purple jade disc was a low-grade celestial artifact that protected one''s soul. Wu Yuan��s mana body had brought it along on expeditions after his soul''s metamorphosis.


    <i>Hum~</i> The soul attack persisted relentlessly, but Wu Yuan''s soul defense proved even more formidable, sessfully resisting it.


    <i>To execute such a powerful soul attack, the attacker likely possesses the strength of an Astral Lord.</i> Wu Yuan was astonished despite fending it off. <i>This Archimmortal��s power has reached the Astral Lord-level? And he was aiming to annihte my soul.</i>


    Directly obliterating an enemy''s soul was extremely difficult. Even for fellow mana bodies, it was incredibly challenging for an Archimmortal to destroy a High Immortal''s soul outright. Usually, one had to be exceptionally skilled in soul attacks to aplish such a feat.


    Of course, merely disrupting the opponent or causing momentary soul disorientation was far easier.


    <i>Which Archimmortal is this? I don''t recognize him. </i>Wu Yuan sensed the attacker''s vital aura andmitted it to memory.


    He hadn''t encountered this individual before. Though he had been exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm, Wu Yuan only spent around a century here and had only met a handful of Archimmortals during this time.


    Since he wasn��t a core member of any of the Dao Realm''s nine major factions, hecked ess to information on various powerful figures across the realm.


    ��Haha, I''ll remember this grudge. Rest assured, I will pay it back in the future.�� Wu Yuan''s voice rang out, echoing through the air.


    <i>Flee! </i>Wu Yuan''s speed remained unaffected.


    Simultaneously, the flow of time shifted, rapidly elerating to four times the speed of light. In a single second, he could traverse millions of li, escaping like a bolt of lightning.


    Wu Yuan had no intention of engaging inbat. In a direct confrontation, without the Genesis Divine Pir, Wu Yuan could barely match a first-stage Archimmortal. Facing a powerful Archimmortal was pure suicide.


    Moreover, having just acquired the ck Devil Star, Wu Yuan''s top priority was to safely deliver it to his true self.


    ...


    Hearing Wu Yuan''s voice and witnessing his escape, a hint of bewilderment appeared in the eyes of the white-robed Archimmortal, who was currently plunging down from a cier. <i>He blocked itpletely? It didn��t affect him at all?</i>


    As a sixth-stage Archimmortal, his directbat prowess wasn''t exceptionally terrifying, but he excelled in soul attacks. The previous strike was delivered with his full power. Theoretically, any mana body below a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal would have insufficient soul strength to resist it, and would be instantly annihted.


    In his view, although the Spacetime Sword Immortal''s talent was inconceivable, he was still merely an Earth Immortal. His soul strength likely matched that of a High Immortal at best.


    <i>Even with a low-grade celestial artifact guarding his soul, he should have been greatly affected, if not killed outright. At least, his speed should have plummeted.</i>


    <i>Could it be that he possesses a mid-grade celestial soul defense artifact?</i> The white-robed Archimmortal''s eyes flickered as he spected.


    Low-grade celestial artifacts generally ranged in value from over a thousand divine crystals to tens of thousands, and were typically wielded by High Immortals and ordinary Archimmortals.


    Mid-grade celestial artifacts, even the mostmon ones, were worth at least hundreds of thousands of divine crystals. The most expensive could reach tens of millions of divine crystals. Usually, only Astral Lords could afford them.


    Their value was determined by their function. Items used purely for physical attacks like flying swords and sabers were the cheapest, while special celestial artifacts used for soul attacks or spacetime maniption were the most expensive.


    Soul defense celestial artifacts? Though not the most costly category, they were still extremely valuable.


    <i>A mid-grade celestial soul defense artifact is worth millions of divine crystals at least. </i>The white-robed Archimmortal''s eyes shed with greed.


    His entire fortune, umted over countless years of expeditions, barely approached ten million divine crystals.


    Little did he know that Wu Yuan''s soul rivaled that of an Archimmortal, and his mana body''s soul was also exceptionally powerful. Even with just a low-grade celestial soul defense artifact, he could withstand the Archimmortal''s soul attack.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two rapidly left the group of High Immortals and High Deities behind, beginning a high-speed chase. No one dared to follow and observe the battle.


    The environment of the Myriad Mountains Ice in was harsh and popted with towering mountains. The white-robed Archimmortal pursued with all his might, even resorting to paying a great price to employ a powerful secret art, but still couldn''t catch up to Wu Yuan. The distance between them grew increasinglyrger.


    Finally, Wu Yuan abruptly dove into a crevasse in an iceyer, taking advantage of the Myriad Mountains Ice in''s unique environment which hindered the Archimmortal''s soul detection abilities.


    Having lost his target, the white-robed Archimmortal had no choice but to give up. In his anger, he struck the ground with a casual blow, creating a massive crater.


    <i>He truly has powerful backing and great wealth! A mere Earth Immortal mana body dares to carry a mid-grade celestial soul defense artifact?</i> The white-robed Archimmortal hovered in the iceyer, still reluctant to let his target go. <i>Not to mention the ck Devil Star he just acquired.</i>


    The ck Devil Star was even more precious, its value so high that it simply couldn''t be measured in divine crystals.


    <i>If I seize it, I could offer it to the Astral Monarch. With the Astral Monarch''s aid, my chances of oveing my Ninth Immortal Tribtion and bing an Astral Lord would greatly improve. I too could possess an eternal lifespan...</i> The white-robed Archimmortal was filled with regret. A monumental opportunity slipped through his fingers just like that.


    <i>Whoosh!</i><strong> </strong>Soon after, a figure in ck armor flew over at a leisurely pace of three to four hundred thousand li per second.


    It was the sixth-stage High Deity in ck armor who had fought High Immortal Zhuo Hao for the treasure earlier. He was the one who had sent a message to the white-robed Archimmortal.


    "Senior Uncle," the ck-armored High Deity bowed respectfully, "Did you seed?"


    "I couldn''t catch him," the white-robed Archimmortal shook his head, disying no anger.


    He was aware of the ck-armored High Deity''s strength. This junior had a significant chance of oveing his Seventh Immortal Tribtion and bing an Archdeity, thus he was naturally willing to show some courtesy.


    "He escaped?" The ck-armored High Deity was stunned.


    "Yes," the white-robed Archimmortal didn''t borate further.


    "Senior Uncle, will we face retaliation from the Spacetime Sword Immortal?" The ck-armored High Deity asked hesitantly, a hint of fear on his face.


    "What��s there to fear? He''s just a member of the Spacetime Ind, bound to leave our Dao Realm eventually. Even if he grows powerful in the future, what of it? Even Sovereigns from the world outside can''t enter the Dao Realm, so there��s no need to worry," The white-robed Archimmortal shook his head.


    "Besides, if there��s anyone he hates, it''s me. He doesn''t know you were the one who sent the message," the white-robed Archimmortal added.


    The ck-armored High Deity sighed inwardly in relief.


    "Did you manage to acquire the treasure?" the white-robed Archimmortal inquired.


    "Yes, I obtained it," the ck-armored High Deity nodded.


    "Continue with your expedition. You did well to send me the message, so I''ll reward you with one thousand divine crystals. I''ve already transferred them to you," the white-robed Archimmortal said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave now."


    With that, the white-robed Archimmortal''s form blurred as he swiftly descended into the depths of the ice crevasse. He was still unwilling to give up just yet, and wanted to search a bit more.


    "Farewell, Senior Uncle," the ck-armored High Deity called out, his heart filled with joy.


    A thousand divine crystals? Though he possessed strength approaching that of an Archimmortal, this was still a small fortune, especially for simply passing along a message.


    ...


    <i>In an ice crevasse over a hundred million li away.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Throughout his escape, Wu Yuan hadn''t dared to rx for even a moment. He fled frantically until he was certain he hadpletely shaken off his pursuer. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    <i>I''ve struck it rich! Haha, I''ve made a fortune! </i>Wu Yuan''s heart was filled with excitement as he examined the numerous treasures he��d gotten from High Immortal Zhuo Hao.


    The other celestial equipment, spirion equipment, and various misceneous treasures were worth an estimated tens of thousands of divine crystals in total. But the most crucial treasure was the ck Devil Star!


    Upon inspection, Wu Yuan discovered eleven ck Devil Divine Pirs inside the ck Devil Star. Moreover, these ck Devil Divine Pirs were not an integral part of the ck Devil Star. Even if removed, they wouldn''t affect the use of the ck Devil Star itself.


    It was truly a massive haul!


    <i>From the intelligence I gathered, I only knew that ck Devil Divine Pirs were inferior to ck Devil Stars. I never imagined they were actually a part of it. </i>Wu Yuan thought excitedly. <i>Including the one I already possess, that makes twelve ck Devil Divine Pirs.</i>


    <i>As long as I can deliver them back, cleanse them with Genesis Power to restore their essence, and then infuse them with Genesis Power, my mana body will be able to carry Genesis Divine Pirs while on expeditions. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    Why hadn''t his mana body dared to bring the divine pir with him all this time? The reason was he had only one Genesis Divine Pir. If his mana body were to fall or lose it during an expedition, he wouldn''t be able to visit the ck Devil Blood Hollow any longer.


    <i>Let''s go back to Spacetime Ind.</i> Wu Yuan was eager for his mana body to deliver the ck Devil Star safely.


    He no longer had any desire to continue exploring.


    ...


    The Hundred Mysteries Pce, one of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm which had a Sovereign presiding over it, upied a vast region within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    In a special ne within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm belonging to the Hundred Mysteries Pce, a figure d in white robes appeared out of thin air. After reviewing several reports, he wasted no time making his way to a majestic hall.


    "Greetings, Astral Monarch!" The white-robed figure stood in the grand divine hall, bowing respectfully.


    "Jing Qu, you said you had an important matter to report? What is it?" A figure in ck armor sat on the throne at the far end of the divine hall. He emanated a vast aura, waves of oppressive pressure sweeping out from his body.


    Even within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, the Astral Monarch exerted immense power. His gaze was calm.


    As an Astral Monarch, he ruled over vast territories with tens of thousands of Archimmortals under hismand. Only the Astral Lords, who possessed eternal lifespans, were worth some attention.


    As for ordinary Archimmortals? With lifespans of merely a hundred million years, they died in batches over the long years, and he hardly paid them any mind. Under normal circumstances, it was difficult for them to even catch a glimpse of him.


    Of course, Archimmortal Jing Qu was very close to the Astral Lord phase, and coupled with his im of having important news to deliver, the Astral Monarch naturally didn''t mind granting an audience.


    However, if he detected any deception, severe punishment would undoubtedly follow.


    "Astral Monarch, I''ve discovered traces of a ck Devil Star," Archimmortal Jing Qu quickly reported.


    "A ck Devil Star?" A cold glint shed in the ck-armored Astral Monarch''s eyes. "Is this true?"


    "It''s absolutely true. It''s in the Snowlight Mist Realm," Archimmortal Jing Qu hurriedly continued. "Here''s the battle footage."


    With a wave of his hand, a projection appeared, showing the entire process of Wu Yuan''s mana body engaging inbat with High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s true self.


    As the projection ended, Archimmortal Jing Qu swiftly recounted the events once more.


    "Spacetime Sword Immortal? A member of the Spacetime Ind?" The ck-armored Astral Monarch murmured softly, seemingly lost in thought.


    The great hall fell silent.


    Archimmortal Jing Qu waited anxiously but respectfully. After another fruitless attempt at searching, he had immediately decided to report this matter.


    The appearance of a ck Devil Star was of great importance! ording to the publicized rules of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm, it was indeed a forbidden item. No powerhouse was allowed to use it freely.


    Archimmortal Jing Qu understood that capturing Wu Yuan was beyond his capabilities alone.


    What he didn''t know was that the Astral Monarch had already sent a sliver of consciousness to a special ne within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    The sky in this ce was filled with purple mes, as if it were a world of fire.


    "Great Sovereign." The ck-armored Astral Monarch appeared and bowed deeply.


    "Ya Hei, what brings you here?" A cold voice resonated from within the endless purple mes, and a blurry figure began to coalesce in the sky, bearing down on the ck-armored Astral Monarch. Yet its face remained indiscernible.


    ��I��m here regarding a member of the Spacetime Ind, known as the Spacetime Sword Immortal. His mana body is currently fleeing with a ck Devil Star,�� the ck-armored Astral Monarch said respectfully. "Given his talent, he''s likely the most valued prodigy of the Spacetime Ind, possibly even someone who has caught the Dao Master''s attention.


    If he intends to visit the ck Devil Blood Hollow, his true self will certainly proceed there. If our Hundred Mysteries Pce were to pursue him with full force, it might endanger his life.


    What should we do? I humbly seek the Sovereign''s guidance," the ck-armored Astral Monarch said respectfully.


    "Is this all you came for?" The cold voice echoed from within the endless purple mes. "Remember, you absolutely cannot trespass onto the Spacetime Ind, but outside of it, no one will interfere. You may use any means necessary.


    If you want the ck Devil Star, then feel free to take action. Even if the Dao Master values him, should you truly kill him, you won''t be held responsible. It can only be med on his inability to withstand the hardships of tempering.


    Moreover, you should be aware that if the Dao Master truly cares for someone, he can even bring the dead back to life by reversing time.


    Now go! Don''t bother me with such trivial matters again." A hint of anger seeped into the cold voice.


    <i>Boom! </i>As if heaven and earth were shattering, Astral Monarch Yai Hei''s wisp of consciousness was instantly expelled from this immortal voidrealm ne.

 Chapter 705: Wanted, Caught Between Heaven And Earth (1)

    Chapter 705: Wanted, Caught Between Heaven And Earth (1)


    Within the majestic temple, Archimmortal Jing Qu waited anxiously in silence.


    "Jing Qu, you��ve rendered a substantial contribution. Well done. Remember, this information must not be leaked," Astral Monarch Ya Hei, standing at the far end of the temple, suddenly spoke. "I will reward you with a million divine crystals."


    "Thank you, Astral Monarch," Archimmortal Jing Qu respectfully replied.


    His heart swelled with joy. A million divine crystals? This wealth meant little to the Astral Monarch, but for an Archimmortal like him who wasn''t even an Astral Lord, it was a considerable fortune.


    Of course, he also felt a tinge of disappointment. If a single piece of information was worth so many divine crystals, what rewards would he have gotten if he��d managed to obtain the ck Devil Star?


    "Additionally, I will issue a bounty to all my subordinates of fourth-stage Archimmortal strength and above," Astral Monarch Ya Hei said coolly. "Anyone who reports the Spacetime Sword Immortal''s whereabouts will be rewarded with one hundred thousand divine crystals per instance.


    Anyone who captures the Spacetime Sword Immortal and presents the ck Devil Star to me will be rewarded with one billion divine crystals, along with a promise from me.


    So, Jing Qu, you can continue tracking him down. As soon as you locate any trace of the Spacetime Sword Immortal, report it immediately. I will reward you ordingly. If you obtain the ck Devil Star, one billion divine crystals will be yours." Astral Monarch Ya Hei gazed down at Archimmortal Jing Qu.


    Archimmortal Jing Qu listened with bated breath.A hundred thousand divine crystals just for providing information on his whereabouts? One billion divine crystals for obtaining the ck Devil Star?


    Someone like him who possessed nearly ten million divine crystals in wealth was considered quite rich among those below the Astral Lord phase.


    As for Astral Lords, except for a few skilled in the Law of Space, most had wealth ranging from tens of millions to several hundred million divine crystals. Astral Lords with a worth exceeding one billion divine crystals were extremely rare!


    In essence, such an enormous fortune was enough to tempt and even drive the numerous powerhouses under Astral Monarch Ya Hei''smand crazy. They would spare no effort to hunt down Wu Yuan.


    <em>One billion divine crystals?</em> Archimmortal Jing Qu''s heart trembled. <em>If I had such wealth, I could easily exchange it for numerous Daoprehension opportunities from the Hundred Mysteries Pce. My chances of breaking through to be an Astral Lord would increase by at least twenty or thirty percent.</em>


    Observing Jing Qu''s expression, Astral Monarch Ya Hei also pondered. <em>One billion divine crystals are enough to drive the Archimmortals under mymand into a frenzy.</em><em>It''s also enough to offset their greed for the ck Devil Star.</em>


    If he had only offered a bounty of tens or hundreds of millions of divine crystals, those Astral Lords were highly likely to flee upon obtaining the ck Devil Star, as the ck Devil Star itself was worth even more.


    When managing subordinates, one must use both carrot and stick.


    Obtaining a ck Devil Star indeed granted powerhouses the qualification to explore the ck Devil Blood Hollow, but it didn''t necessarily guarantee such enormous wealth.


    Divine crystals weren''t easy toe by.


    For Archimmortals and Astral Lords, if their talent wasn''t sufficient, they would have to rely on secret arts, teachings, and Daoprehension opportunities for support, all of which required enormous wealth to acquire.


    And when sending their mana bodies on dangerous expeditions or battles, the treasures lost upon their deaths could range from tens of thousands to millions of divine crystals.


    Moreover, for certain important treasures, one might never make back their losses once they were gone.


    In battles between powerhouses, many medicinal pills, arrays, and weapons and artifacts were consumables, and had to be replenished with wealth.


    Unless one were an Astral Lord proficient in the Law of Space��exceptional in both self-preservation and reconnaissance, and able to amass wealth with ruthless efficiency��many Archimmortals, despite adventuring for countless ages, might struggle to earn much and instead fall deeper into debt.


    However, how many Astral Lords of Space were there? At least, among the nearly one thousand Astral Lords under Astral Monarch Ya Hei''smand, there were only two skilled in the Law of Space.


    <em>One billion divine crystals?</em> Astral Monarch Ya Hei shook his head slightly.


    This sum of wealth wasn''t too much for him. If he hadn��t been unable to enter the Snowlight Mist Realm, he would have personally gone over to hunt Wu Yuan down.


    <em>If I obtain a ck Devil Star, even the price of billions of divine crystals would be worth it.</em> Astral Monarch Ya Hei mused silently.


    "Jing Qu, you may go," Astral Monarch Ya Hei said. "I have already issued the relevant orders and messages."


    "Understood."


    ��


    The vast headquarters of the Hundred Mysteries Pce spanned multiple spatial dimensions.


    <em>Within an unremarkable pce.</em>


    <em>Hmm? The Astral Monarch has sent a message? </em>A purple-robed figure, whose outeryer of skin was nearly transparent, suddenly opened his eyes and quickly began to review the information.


    <em>One billion divine crystals? The Astral Monarch is being quite generous this time. Such wealth is enough to make other Astral Monarchs take action.</em> The purple-robed man''s eyes shed with surprise. <em>All this to capture an Earth Immortal?</em>


    He was Astral Lord Gu Shou, an Archdeity possessing terrifying power rivaling a ninth-stage Archimmortal. Moreover, he was skilled in the Law of Space.


    In terms of strength and status, he was absolutely among the top Astral Lords, worthy of being called the number one Astral Lord under Astral Monarch Ya Hei''smand. He was no weaker than Astral Lord Hao Chi who had once saved Archimmortal Long Xing.


    But even so, one billion divine crystals was enough to tempt him.


    <em>A ck Devil Star? Legend has it that this was one of the great treasures scattered throughout the Dao Realm by Sovereign ck Devil before his demise. After countless ages, it��s likely that extremely few are still in cirction outside. At least, I''ve only heard of it, but never actually seen one. </em>Astral Lord Gu Shou thought to himself.


    <em>If I obtain it, even if I don''t present it to the Astral Monarch, I can still venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow.</em>


    His heart stirred.


    Immortal cultivators only needed to carry the ck Devil Divine Pir with them to qualify for entry; but for those who had already ascended to Archimmortality, they had to carry a ck Devil Star to enter.


    <em>Legend has it that the ck Devil Blood Hollow hides the secrets of Sovereign ck Devil, who was the number one Sovereign of the Dao Realm. </em>Astral Lord Gu Shou pondered. <em>This might also be an opportunity to break through and be an Astral Monarch.</em>


    Though he served under Astral Monarch Ya Hei, he couldn''t help but yearn to break through and be an Astral Monarch himself. It was just that taking this step was too difficult. On average, fewer than one in several thousand Astral Lords could break through.


    The difficulty of fullyprehending an Intermediate Law while at the Archimmortal or Archdeity phase was over ten thousand times greater than while at the High Immortal or High Deity phase.


    <em>To the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou gave a mentalmand.


    A strand of his consciousness instantly descended into a special temple within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, where hundreds of powerhouses with strong auras had already gathered. The vast majority were Archimmortals, and only a few were Archdeities.


    "Astral Lord Gu Shou has arrived."


    "Gu Shou."


    "Haha, with Gu Shou here, I''m afraid our chances of snatching the prize are slim." The numerous Archimmortals and Archdeitiesughed as they spoke.


    Many Archimmortals looked at him in awe.


    "Where''s Astral Lord Li Wu? He isn��t here?" Astral Lord Gu Shou swept his gaze around, not finding his old friend.


    Astral Lord Li Wu was another individual under Astral Monarch Ya Hei''smand skilled in the Law of Space.


    "Everyone, let''s work together to capture this little Earth Immortal," Astral Lord Gu Shou smiled. "My mana body is about to depart. Those who are at the headquarters cane with me to the Snowlight Mist Realm."


    "Let''s go."


    "Astral Lord Gu Shou, wait for me."


    Time passed.


    Astral Monarch Ya Heimanded tens of thousands of Archimmortal-level powerhouses, but those who could reach the fourth-stage Archimmortal level and earn his trust were naturally few. Moreover, not every Archimmortal''s mana body was avable or unupied.


    In the end, within a short span of two hours, about eight hundred Archimmortal/Archdeity mana bodies set out for the Snowlight Mist Realm. Among them were dozens of Astral Lord-level powerhouses.


    "The target wasst seen in the Myriad Mountains Ice in," Archimmortal Jing Qu hurriedly said. "It takes several days at least to leave the Myriad Mountains Ice in."


    "Mm, we''ll get there as fast as we can."


    "Haha, I''m already in the Snowlight Mist Realm, I''ll head over right away." A few Archimmortals who were already in the Snowlight Mist Realm naturally had an advantage.


    In their view, even if they didn''t ultimately obtain the ck Devil Star, just providing information on his whereabouts once or twice would be profitable enough.


    Moreover, hunting down an Earth Immortal posed no danger to them.


    ��


    <em>A bunch of fools. Spacetime Sword Immortal? How can an Earth Immortal whoprehends the Law of Time be an easy target?</em> In an inconspicuous region of outer space in the Dao Realm was an artificially created world. An Archimmortal was currently hiding here.


    <em>The Astral Monarch will be fine. Even if a Sovereignunches a karmic attack, it''ll be hard to kill him</em>.


    <em>But us?</em>


    He was one of the two Astral Lords skilled in the Law of Space under Astral Monarch Ya Hei''smand��Astral Lord Li Wu.


    After receiving Astral Monarch Ya Hei''s message, he pondered briefly before finding an excuse to decline.


    <em>We can''t kill this Spacetime Sword Immortal anyway. With his talent, as long as he doesn''t die prematurely, there''s a high probability he''ll be a Sovereign in the future, and a Sovereign of Space at that.</em> Astral Lord Li Wu shook his head slightly.


    <em>A Sovereign of Space skilled in the Law of Time? Even if he can''t enter the Dao Realm, once heunches a karmic attack, how many Archimmortals and Archdeities could withstand it?</em>


    In terms of karmic attacks, someone whoprehended the Law of Karma was naturally the most terrifying, but it was worth noting that the Law of Karma was built upon the foundation of the Laws of Time and Space.


    In terms of rarity, a Sovereign of Karma was no less rare than a Sovereign of Space. Therefore, in terms of the power of karmic attacks, a Sovereign skilled in Space or Time was equally terrifying.


    Even if the probability was small, Astral Lord Li Wu didn''t want to court disaster.


    One billion divine crystals? To him, it wasn��t worth it.


    ��


    The battle on the Myriad Mountains Ice in was witnessed by numerous High Immortals and High Deities. As time passed, news gradually began to spread.


    However, most of these High Immortals and High Deities were not part of the core of their factions, andpared to Wu Yuan''s previous feats, this battle wasn''t particrly extraordinary. Thus, for the time being, the news didn''t spread very quickly.


    Although Astral Monarch Ya Hei had issued a search warrant, it was only distributed within a small circle of Archimmortals under hismand. Therefore, the matter of the ck Devil Star had not yet been brought to light.


    In the short term, no other Astral Lords or Astral Monarchs of other major factions had taken notice of this incident.


    Wu Yuan was even less aware of it.


    ��


    Days slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, six days had passed.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Amidst the endless ciers and ice sheets, howling winds raged. The cold here was severe enough to fell even a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse.


    <em>Crack! </em>One of the ice sheets shattered, and a ck-robed figure darted out.


    <em>It''s truly freezing here. However, if I press on for another few dozen billion li, I should be able to escape the Myriad Mountains Ice in. </em>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    For the past few days, he had been traveling at full speed. Unfortunately, while traversing the depths of the ice sheets, he had the misfortune of getting ensnared by a powerful array, which had taken him several days to break free from. Luckily, there had been no mortal danger.


    <em>Let''s go.</em> Wu Yuan said, his form blurring into motion as he navigated the deep crevasses between the towering ciers, pressing forward across this vast and endlessnd of ice and snow.

 Chapter 706: Wanted, Caught Between Heaven And Earth (2)

    <h4>Chapter 706: Wanted, Caught Between Heaven And Earth (2)</h4>


    A powerful purple-robed figurebed leisurely through the outskirts of the Myriad Mountains Ice in. His immortal consciousness was fully extended in the Voidspace, cing an enormous burden on his soul.


    <i>Aside from Jing Qu who was already here, I''m among the first to arrive at the Myriad Mountains Ice in since the bounty was announced six days ago. This is the advantage I have for exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm beforehand.</i> The purple-robed figure mused to himself. <i>I wonder if the Spacetime Sword Immortal is still here.</i>


    The Snowlight Mist Realm was vast beyond measure. The Myriad Mountains Ice in alone had a diameter of over ten trillion li. Even traveling at the speed of light, it would take several days to traverse.


    <i>If he''s not here, it will be a troublesome search.</i> The purple-robed figure thought to himself.


    They weren''t just searching on their own, but also mobilizing arge number of ordinary Archimmortals and High Immortals who were exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm to look for traces of the Spacetime Sword Immortal.


    <i>Hmm? Is that... an Earth Immortal? </i>The purple-robed figure abruptly detected a figure nearly ten million li away, his eyes narrowing slightly. <i>The attire and flight speed don''t match, but he��s an Earth Immortal.</i>


    How many Earth Immortals would dare to venture alone into the Myriad Mountains Ice in?


    <i>Better to kill the wrong target than to let him escape.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The purple-robed figure exploded into motion, elerating to near light speed as he charged toward his target.


    ...


    Wu Yuan sensed a powerful immortal consciousness sweeping past, but he didn''t pay it much attention, having had many simr encounters in the past.


    Under normal circumstances, Archimmortal-level beings exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm wouldn''t bother with a mere Earth Immortal.


    However, the powerful Archimmortal ten million li away suddenly sprang into motion, heading unmistakably toward Wu Yuan at full speed.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly and he hesitated for a few seconds, but the Archimmortal showed no signs of slowing down. The distance between them had already shrunk by hundreds of millions of li.


    <i>Flee!</i> Wu Yuan quickly altered his course, turning into a streak of light as he fled. However, he deliberately held back, careful not to reveal his full speed.


    Yet, Wu Yuan discovered that the Archimmortal had changed directions too!


    <i>Is he targeting me? There''s no one else between us.</i> Wu Yuan finally confirmed that this Archimmortal was indeed after him.


    There was no more time for hesitation.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan erupted with full power, immediately employing the Moonlight Shadow technique. He instantly soared to light speed, while the flow of time around him began to fluctuate.


    The deeper one''sprehension of the Law of Time, the easier it was to manipte time.


    ...


    <i>Hmm? Has he sensed me? This Earth Immortal is rather peculiar. </i>The purple-robed Archimmortal noticed Wu Yuan change his direction, and his suspicion grew. But he still couldn��t confirm that this was the right target.


    A momentter, Wu Yuan erupted with all his power, instantly elerating to the speed of light. Yet, this wasn''t his limit; he continued to elerate to twice the speed of light, four times the speed of light... far surpassing the purple-robed Archimmortal.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The gap between them rapidly widened.


    <i>So fast? It''s the flow of time, the flow of time is changing.</i> The purple-robed Archimmortal was a fifth-stage Archimmortal, and his experience and insight were considerable. <i>It''s him! He must be the Spacetime Sword </i>Immortal.


    <i>An Earth Immortal who can manipte time, and just happens to be in the Myriad Mountains Ice in, there can''t be such a coincidence.</i>


    He was certain that this was indeed the target he had been searching for.


    "Spacetime Sword Immortal, don''t run." The purple-robed Archimmortal no longer concealed his intentions and directly transmitted his voice: "You can''t escape."


    <i>Boom!</i> As he activated a secret art, his speed surged, breaking past the threshold of light speed and even surpassing it. He streaked through the void like aet.


    Yet, this was his limit. Light speed represented a sort of limit. While artifacts and weapons could exceed this threshold rtively easily, for a physical body to do so was an extremely difficult feat.


    This was where the Law of Time revealed its heaven-defying power. It did not directly elerate objects but instead manipted the flow of time. By elerating time''s passage rtive to constant speed, it created the illusion of increased velocity.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> One fast, one slow��the gap between them widened by millions of li each second. In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan vanished among the ciers, his pursuer left far behind.


    <i>I can��t catch up. </i>The purple-robed Archimmortal came to a halt, his expression grim. <i>I��m not particrly adept at speed, and this Spacetime Sword Immortal��s burst speed is terrifying. Even an Astral Lord might struggle to catch him.</i>


    Even though he knew he could annihte his opponent with a single strike in a direct confrontation, he simply couldn''t catch up.


    He sighed in frustration, his hands clenching briefly before releasing. All this power, and yet he couldn��t use it.


    <i>Still, reporting his location will earn me a reward of one hundred thousand divine crystals. </i>Without dy, the Archimmortal transmitted the intelligence.


    ...


    "What? The Spacetime Sword Immortal is still in the Myriad Mountains Ice in?"


    "Excellent." The Archimmortals and Astral Lords under Astral Monarch Ya Hei��smand, already en route to the ice in, reacted with excitement. Their pace quickened, eagerness burning in their eyes.


    The orders had been issued days ago, and numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords had converged on the region.


    The strategy they had agreed upon was simple: first, establish roadblocks at every route that led out of the Snowlight Mist Realm, and second, eliminate any Earth Immortal encountered.


    ...


    <i>In a crevasse between ice sheets.</i>


    Wu Yuan exhaled a frosty breath, his gaze sharp. <i>I��ve shaken him off. That Archimmortal was relentless, chasing me like a mad dog the moment he detected me. Is it worth getting so worked up over a mere Earth Immortal? </i>He shook his head, incredulous.


    Through his spatial perception, Wu Yuan could tell the pursuer was a fourth- or fifth-stage Archimmortal, someone who could obliterate him with a single strike in directbat.


    <i>It''s a pity that I can''t enter a higher spatial dimension in the Myriad Mountains Ice in.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>If I could enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer... forget a fourth or fifth-stage Archimmortal, even an Astral Lord would find it difficult to capture me.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan didn''t dare to be careless, swiftly moving along the ice sheets and making sure he hadpletely shaken off his pursuer.


    Another day passed.


    A flicker of surprise shed in Wu Yuan��s eyes as a series of messages arrived. <i>Haiyue, Dong Fan, Xiang Dao, Nangong Meng... all requesting urgent meetings at the same time?</i>


    In all his years on the Spacetime Ind, this was the first time all of his friends messaged him simultaneously. This could only mean something of monumental importance had happened.


    Without hesitation, Wu Yuan dispatched a strand of consciousness to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, Taiyuan Tower.</i>


    The grand hall, typically quiet, was now alive with activity. A small group had gathered here.


    Wu Yuan arrived, his expression calm but curious. "Haiyue, Nangong, Dong Fan..." He greeted each one with a slight nod.


    "Ming Jian, did you obtain the ck Devil Star?" Xiang Dao''s abrupt question startled Wu Yuan, and his expression shifted involuntarily.


    ��Ming Jian,�� Nangong Meng spoke, her tone grave, ��judging by your reaction, it��s true. This news isn��t confined to us��it��s spreading across the Spacetime Ind and beyond, circting among many factions in the Dao Realm. Countless Archimmortals and Archdeities from various major factions likely already know about it."


    Wu Yuan��s pupils narrowed. What was going on?


    ��Take a look.�� Zhuo Haiyue raised her hand, and an enormous light screen materialized, disying a crystal-clear projection.


    The scene was unmistakable: Wu Yuan��s intense battle with High Immortal Zhuo Hao. The decisive moment where Zhuo Hao unleashed the ck Devil Star was captured in vivid detail.


    The angle of the projection suggested it had been recorded by a nearby High Immortal or High Deity.


    ��This was seven days ago,�� Dong Fan said, his voice urgent. ��At first, it circted among High Immortals and High Deities in the Spacetime Dao Realm. But your reputation has always been immense, Ming Jian. Furthermore, this recording of an Earth Immortal disying Archimmortal-level prowess quickly attracted the attention of many powerful figures in the Dao Realm.


    And then someone identified the ck Devil Star.��


    Dong Fan��s voice lowered as he continued. ��The ck Devil Star isn��t just any treasure. It��s a relic of Sovereign ck Devil. Anything tied to that legacy is priceless.


    Opportunities like this surpass even the Spacetime Labyrinth. The Dao Realm��s nine major factions are in an uproar. Astral Monarchs are offering rewards of up to three billion divine crystals to anyone who delivers the ck Devil Star.


    Moreover, it''s almost certain that your mana body hasn''t left the Snowlight Mist Realm. This means that anyone who kills your mana body can obtain the ck Devil Star.


    This information has spread throughout the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. It has even circted across the entire Spacetime Ind," Dong Fan continued. "The moment we learned of this, we immediately requested to meet you."


    Wu Yuan��s expression darkened.


    Three billion divine crystals?


    The ck Devil Star was indeed in his mana body��s possession. He had begun to grasp its importance over the past few days, understanding that it was crucial for Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs who wished to venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    But he hadn''t anticipated this.


    These Dao Realm Astral Monarchs were willing to offer a bounty of three billion divine crystals? They must have gone mad.


    For a moment, Wu Yuan even felt a fleeting impulse to sell the ck Devil Star and pocket the three billion divine crystals...assuming he could actually make the exchange.


    Of course, Wu Yuan understood that while such an enormous bounty would certainly sow enmity between them, it was a gamble the Dao Realm��s Astral Monarchs were willing to make. They were betting that he wouldn''t be able to threaten them in the future. Even if he became a Sovereign, what of it? Unable to enter the Dao Realm, he would be powerless against them.


    "Ming Jian. Now that the news has spread, the entire Snowlight Mist Realm has been stirred into a frenzy. Countless High Immortals and High Deities will be trying to locate your whereabouts. Even providing information about your movements will earn them divine crystal rewards," Nangong Meng said, shaking her head.


    "And those Archimmortals and Archdeities will be desperately searching for you, intent on killing you to im the ck Devil Star for the reward.


    Moreover, many powerful figures from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm are rushing here, hoping to capture you.


    You must flee and return to the Spacetime Ind as quickly as possible," Nangong Meng urged gravely.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Why were so many immortal cultivators from the Dao Realm venturing into the Snowlight Mist Realm? Wasn''t it all for divine crystals and wealth?


    He himself had be a walking treasure worth billions of divine crystals��the greatest opportunity of all.


    <i>If this were the Greenridge Macrocosm, would a few Astral Monarchs dare to publicly put a bounty on a member of the Bei You faction? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Each member of the Spacetime Ind might be a monstrous prodigy, but their external backing was useless here. The members of the nine major Dao Realm factions would not fear them.


    The Spacetime Ind would not intervene in such matters. In fact, in the eyes of Spacetime Ind''s highest echelons, this bounty was likely seen as a form of tempering for Wu Yuan.


    ��Very well. Thank you, everyone," Wu Yuan said with a smile, cupping his hands. "After this storm has passed, I��ll host a feast to show my gratitude. For now, I must take my leave.��


    ...


    Time passed swiftly.


    Wu Yuan quickly obtained more intelligence through the channels of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction.


    Many imprint bearers were active in the Dao Realm, and numerous imprint bearers had connections with immortal cultivators and even Archimmortals and Archdeities. There was no shortage of information.


    <i>At least 121 Astral Monarchs have put out a bounty on me?</i> Wu Yuan was speechless, muttering to himself. <i>Is there really a need to go this far?</i>


    Each Astral Monarchmanded tens of thousands of Archimmortals.


    With so many Astral Monarchs involved from all nine major factions of the Dao Realm, it meant that any powerful figure adventuring in the Snowlight Mist Realm could find someone to im the bounty from. This was destined to create utter chaos!


    In a crevasse within the ice sheets of the Myriad Mountains Ice in.


    <i>I never imagined that I''d be hunted by everyone one day.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>This journey back to the Spacetime Ind will be a desperate struggle to avoid being caught between heaven and earth.</i>


    <i>Hmm? </i>A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.<i> Nie Zhen is requesting a meeting? He has a way to help me bring the ck Devil Star back? </i>


    Could Nie Zhen really be so kind-hearted?

 Chapter 707: Karmic Secret Art (1)

    <h4>Chapter 707: Karmic Secret Art (1)</h4>


    After acquiring the ck Devil Star from High Immortal Zhuo Hao, Wu Yuan immediately chose to flee, intending to return to the Spacetime Ind as quickly as possible.


    However, like most areas in the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, the Myriad Mountains Ice in suppressed spacetime fluctuations, making it impossible to enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer unless one had the ability to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer directly.


    Additionally, during his escape, Wu Yuan fell into aplex array trap, so even after seven days, he still hadn''t managed to leave the Myriad Mountains Ice in.


    <i>Under normal circumstances, three or four days would be enough for me to escape the Myriad Mountains Ice in</i>. Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>But even with the best luck and optimal route, it would still take at least several months to leave the Snowlight Mist Realm entirely.</i>


    If luck wasn''t on his side and he stumbled into some treacherous area, he would perish at worst or be trapped for a long time at best.


    Among the many times Wu Yuan embarked on adventures within the Inner Region and ventured into the Core Region, his unluckiest attempt had cost him several years of dys. As for returning to the Spacetime Ind? That would take even longer.


    <i>Now, it''s not just the inherent dangers of the Snowlight Mist Realm I have to worry about, but also over a hundred Astral Monarchs and countless immortals hell-bent on hunting me down.</i> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Trying to return on his own? It would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens!


    <i>I''ll go see Nie Zhen and find out what tricks he''s ying. </i>Wu Yuan thought. Though he and Nie Zhen were at odds, he wasn''t so inflexible. A strand of consciousness entered the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>Inside a tavern in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    Wu Yuan swiftly arrived at the address Nie Zhen had sent him.


    As he entered the private room, his eyes scanned the space and then paused��both men waiting inside were familiar faces.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, it''s been a while. Have you been well?" The ck-robed middle-aged man smiled.


    "Mi Yun." Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed.


    The ck-robed middle-aged man before him was none other than High Deity Mi Yun, who had previously destroyed his mana body in the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    He could unleash the power of a seventh-stage Archimmortal while at the High Deity phase, likely ranking in the top ten among the millions of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, please, have a seat," Nie Zhen, also d in ck robes, said with a grin. "Let''s have a nice talk."


    The three of them took their seats.


    "Well, gentlemen, speak your minds," Wu Yuan said with a forced smile. "I doubt you''ve sought me out with good news."


    "What are you saying, Daoist Ming Jian?" Nie Zhenughed. "We invited you here because Mi Yun and I wanted to discuss a potential deal with you."


    "Go on."


    "Fellow Daoist, you now possess a ck Devil Star, worth three billion divine crystals. Are you confident you can return safely?" High Deity Mi Yun smiled. "With over a hundred Astral Monarchs after you, I''ve heard that several thousand Astral Lord-level powerhouses will storm the Snowlight Mist Realm within ten days.


    If you can''t escape from the Snowlight Mist Realm within a month, your death is certain," High Deity Mi Yun stated.


    Wu Yuan smiled coldly, but he didn''t refute his words.


    After all, what Mi Yun said was true. Once thousands of Astral Lords gathered, they could theoretically block all exits from the Snowlight Mist Realm. His chances of escaping would be extremely low!


    "I''m willing to offer you a way out now. Hand over the ck Devil Star to me, and I''ll give you five hundred million divine crystals," High Deity Mi Yun smiled. "What do you say?"


    "Ridiculous! It''s worth three billion divine crystals," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Five hundred million divine crystals? That was an insult!


    "It''s only worth three billion when offered to an Astral Monarch. In your hands or mine, it''s not worth three billion divine crystals," High Deity Mi Yun smiled, showing no anger.


    "How would we conduct this transaction?" Wu Yuan asked.


    No harm in hearing him out.


    "My mana body is currently in the Snowlight Mist Realm, not far from the Myriad Mountains Ice in," High Deity Mi Yun smiled. "Go into hiding, then send me your spacetime coordinates. I''lle to find you. Once you hand over the ck Devil Star, I''ll transfer the divine crystals to you through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    Even if your mana body perishes then, you won��t have made a loss.


    If you don''t trust me, we can establish a contract through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm," High Deity Mi Yun continued. He seemed quite sincere.


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    "Ming Jian, we''re all just immortal cultivators. The ck Devil Star is useless to us. This thing only has great value in the hands of an Astral Monarch from the Dao Realm," Nie Zhen chimed in, also trying to persuade him.


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    They weren''t wrong; the ck Devil Star indeed wasn��t too useful for ordinary immortal cultivators.


    To be precise, the ck Devil Divine Pir and the ck Devil Star had simr effects for cultivators, only allowing them to perform part one and part two of the ��ck Devil Blood Sacrifice��.


    However, Wu Yuan had the ck pagoda!


    "The price is too low." Wu Yuan shook his head and said, "Mi Yun, Nie Zhen, you must understand that on the entire Spacetime Ind, you two aren''t the only ones who can contact Astral Monarchs from the Dao Realm."


    There were several other imprint bearers with Daoprehension at the Astral Monarch level, High Immortals and High Deities withbat prowess rivaling Astral Lords, and who had spent many years on the Spacetime Ind �C they all had connections to the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    "Fine, name your price," High Deity Mi Yun smiled.


    "Two billion divine crystals," Wu Yuan said calmly.


    High Deity Mi Yun''s smile froze.


    "Ming Jian, that''s too much." Nie Zhen shook his head and said, "You won''t get that price from any imprint bearer. And you must understand, even if we deliver the ck Devil Star to a Dao Realm Astral Monarch, they won''t give us three billion divine crystals."


    "Then the deal is off. I''ll try my luck with others," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, there aren''t many in the Snowlight Mist Realm who are both capable and willing to help you," High Deity Mi Yun''s smile slowly returned as he continued, "How about this - I''ll give you my bottom line: 1.2 billion divine crystals.


    That''s the limit. If youe to me within ten days, I''llplete the transaction at this price," High Deity Mi Yun said. "I''m taking a risk too; you can''t expect us to make no profit at all."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. "Alright, I''ll give you an answer within ten days."


    With that, Wu Yuan left the room, leaving the two High Deities behind.


    "Are you really going to give him 1.2 billion?" Nie Zhen asked in a low voice. "ording to our deal with Astral Monarch Ya Hei, we''d only get two billion in total."


    "We only get two billion divine crystals if we actually obtain the ck Devil Star," High Deity Mi Yun shook his head slightly. "If we can''t get it, it''s all for nothing.


    Right now, Ming Jian holds all the cards. After all, he''s the one with the item," High Deity Mi Yun said softly.


    Nie Zhen fell silent.


    "However, we can''t let him lead us by the nose," High Deity Mi Yun said calmly. "My mana body is on its way, and from what I know, powerful imprint bearers from other factions are also rushing to the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    They''ll all be searching for traces of Ming Jian, and when they find him, they''ll strike hard.


    What about you?" High Deity Mi Yun looked at Nie Zhen.


    "Me?" Nie Zhen hesitated, then shook his head and said, "Though I have a grudge against him, it''s not a blood feud. I''m still part of the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage. We''ll have to face each other again when we leave the Spacetime Dao Realm in the future."


    Using others to strike at someone was one thing, but killing them directly was another matter entirely!


    "I see. You might be worried about future retaliation from him, but I''m not," High Deity Mi Yunughed. "Alright, I''ll be going now. Let''s see if I��m lucky enough to find Ming Jian first.


    If I''m the first to find Ming Jian and kill him, I''ll still share a portion of the divine crystals with you as agreed."


    With that, High Deity Mi Yun departed.


    ...


    Nie Zhen and Mi Yun were among the earliest to request a meeting with Wu Yuan. Within a day, over a thousand imprint bearers attempted to meet with Wu Yuan, all trying to negotiate a deal with him.


    Of course, Wu Yuan directly refused most of thosecking sufficient strength, only speaking with a few dozen.


    More than half of these were from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage, some from the Eldritch Court lineage, and others from factions like the Eight Mountains Alliance and so on.


    All the major factions were represented!


    They proposed various ns, and Wu Yuan listened to them, but didn''tmit to any.


    ...


    <i>The Myriad Mountains Ice in.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan was sped through the crevasse in the iceyer, nearly at the speed of light, attempting to leave the Myriad Mountains Ice in as quickly as possible. His whereabouts had been exposed, so the further he fled, the safer he''d be.


    <i>Many havee to negotiate with me, offering various proposals, but generally, they fall into two categories. </i>Wu Yuan��s thoughts swirled as he fled.


    <i>The first category is transactions, those urging me to sell the ck Devil Star. These imprint bearers have connections to Astral Monarchs from the Dao Realm. The highest offer is 1.5 billion divine crystals, and the lowest is 800 million.</i>


    To say he didn��t waver at all would naturally be a lie.


    1.5 billion divine crystals! Without some miraculous encounter or bestowal from his master or grandmaster, who knew how long it would take him to earn such a sum by himself?


    With so many divine crystals, even the evolution of his lifebound flying swords, which had been put on hold, could be set in motion once more.


    <i>Unfortunately, the ck Devil Star has inextricable ties with the ck pagoda. Even if I were to sell it in the future, it would have to wait until I return to the Spacetime Ind at the very least. </i>Wu Yuan had already thought it through.


    Bringing it back to the Spacetime Ind was non-negotiable.


    <i>The second category is escorting. Some imprint bearers havepleted their spacetime missions but have yet to leave the Snowlight Mist Realm. If I hand the ck Devil Star to them, they can use the spacetime teleportation array to return directly to the Spacetime Ind. Once back, they can deliver the ck Devil Star to my true self. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    But the cost was substantial. The lowest price was fifty million divine crystals. The highest price was five hundred million divine crystals.


    There were also many difficulties. For example, most of these imprint bearers were far from Wu Yuan, and even arranging a safe meeting would be challenging. More importantly, Wu Yuan didn''t have enough divine crystals.


    Of course, some imprint bearers were ''thoughtful'' enough to give Wu Yuan the option of deferring his payment for up to five thousand years at most.


    <i>The greatest risk is that after handing it to these imprint bearers, they might not return it.</i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    For a deal like this, everyone readily agreed to sign a contract with him in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.


    However, aside from contracts for joint participation in spacetime missions�� which the Spacetime Ind fully guaranteed��other contractscked absolute enforcement and were vulnerable to loopholes.


    When dealing with hundreds of millions or even billions of divine crystals, one couldn''t be too careful.


    Among the numerous imprint bearers, those he found rtively trustworthy, like Nangong Meng and Xiang Fan, were currently not in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    <i>There��s still one path I can take.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>If I truly can''t trust anyone, then I''ll hide the ck Devil Star in a location only known to me first, ande back for itter when I''ve broken through to be a High Immortal and my strength has grown.</i>


    Only those below the level of Astral Monarch could enter the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Wu Yuanprehended both Time and Space. In the future, if he became a High Immortal, he might be able to unleash power at the Astral Lord level. Moreover, if heprehended the Law of Space to the seventh-level True Intent stage, he could easily leave then as well.


    The risk of this ny in the numerous variables that could arise during this span of time. If he was unlucky, the treasure might be discovered by someone by chance and taken away.


    <i>For now, I��ll attempt to bring it with me. Even if numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords encircle me, I might still be able to escape with my mastery of Space and Time. </i>Wu Yuan still held a glimmer of confidence.


    The Snowlight Mist Realm was vast. With numerous danger zones and space mostly stabilized, finding him wouldn''t be an easy task.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan continued to flee towards the outskirts of the Myriad Mountains Ice in, winding through twisting crevasses in the ice and frequently changing direction. Due to this, Wu Yuan couldn''t maintain his top speed, only managing to stay close to the speed of light.

 Chapter 708: Karmic Secret Art (2)

    <h4>Chapter 708: Karmic Secret Art (2)</h4>


    While Wu Yuan fled frantically, Archimmortals and Astral Lords from various factions of the Dao Realm were rushing towards the Snowlight Mist Realm. However, it would still take them some time to arrive.


    Meanwhile, Astral Lord Gu Shou and other Astral Lords and Archimmortals, who had set out at the earliest possible notice under Astral Monarch Ya Hei��s orders, had already sessively arrived at and entered the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    <i>The news could only be concealed for seven days, but it was worth it.</i>


    <i>Being seven days faster than other Astral Monarchs, this is the advantage of being the first mover. </i>Even Astral Monarch Ya Hei''s own mana body had already arrived outside the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    <i>Whether my subordinate Archimmortals capture this Ming Jian, or if Ming Jian chooses to strike a deal with me, as long as I obtain the ck Devil Star, it counts as a sess.</i>


    <i>I hope he chooses to negotiate with me.</i> Astral Monarch Ya Hei was reluctant to be enemies with Wu Yuan.


    Through some channels, he hadmunicated with powerful imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind and obtained detailed intelligence on Wu Yuan.


    He knew this individual was a Dao Master Imprint bearer and member of the Taiyuan Divine Court, named ��Ming Jian''.


    Most crucially, Ming Jian had only been cultivating for less than a thousand years, which was what Astral Monarch Ya Hei found most intimidating and inconceivable.


    However, although he was unwilling to sow enmity, such a matter was insignificantpared to gaining the ck Devil Star.


    ...


    After fleeing through a maze of ice crevasses for two full days, Wu Yuan finally left the range of the Myriad Mountains Ice in.


    During this time, he encountered many High Immortals and High Deities, far more than before. Clearly, a considerable portion had arrived here specifically to search for him.


    However, Wu Yuan managed to avoid all of them with his powerful perceptive abilities.


    <i>The Frost Mist Sea, I��m back here again.</i> Wu Yuan entered the vast and unfathomable Frost Mist Sea, a slight smile appearing on his face.


    The first time he came to the Snowlight Mist Realm, it was with Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue. Together, they had made their way through the Frost Mist Sea, adventuring and exploring.


    Although the Frost Mist Sea was vast and seemingly more dangerous than the Myriad Mountains Ice in, Wu Yuan had one enormous advantage here �C the spatial suppression force was weak, allowing him to enter higher spatial dimensions. Thus, traveling through this area would actually be safer and quicker for him.


    With a thought, Wu Yuan enveloped himself in the fluctuations of the Law of Space.


    He swiftly entered the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, where torrents of spatial fragments flowed endlessly, yet it made Wu Yuan feel at ease.


    In the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, even fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal level powerhouses couldn''t hope to catch up to him.


    Only Astral Lords, shatteringws with their overwhelming power, could maintain an ultra-high speed of ten thousand li per second in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer even if they weren''t skilled in the Law of Space. If expanded to the lower spatial dimension, it would be equivalent to advancing hundreds of millions of li in a second.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan traveled through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer with ease, covering over ten thousand li in a second.


    And so, Wu Yuan traversed the Frost Mist Sea, with a maximum diameter of over a trillion li, in just a few hours.


    Along the way, he encountered many High Immortals and High Deities, and even numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities, yet none of them detected Wu Yuan.


    Then, he entered the Hundred Gales Domain. It was known as the most perilous area in the Inner Region, and spatial fluctuations were simrly suppressed here.


    <i>I��m unable to enter higher spatial dimensions, I''ll have to be more careful.</i> Wu Yuan cautiously navigated through the area.


    Space was distorted in this area, greatly limiting soul perception. However, the greatest danger was the streaks of icy gales appearing in the void. They materialized out of nowhere, and once struck, even an Archdeity might perish outright despite their powerful vitality.


    This ce was extremely dangerous, rivaling some hazardous areas in the Core Region.


    Originally, Wu Yuan wouldn''t have been willing toe to the Hundred Gales Domain at all, but now he had no choice.


    <i>Taking alternative routes might be safer, but they would take too long. I might not even make it out of the Inner Region before those Astral Lords arrive to hunt me down.</i>


    <i>Only by entering the Hundred Gales Domain and crossing it within ten days will I be able to leave the Inner Region directly. </i>Wu Yuan had already thought it through thoroughly.


    Even if he decided to go with concealing the ck Devil Star in a hidden location, the Hundred Gales Domain was also an excellent option.


    ...


    Wu Yuan arduously advanced through the Hundred Gales Domain, avoiding one hazard after another.


    Meanwhile, in a region of outer space not too far from him, a massive iceberg floated.


    At the foot of the iceberg was a tform that resembled an ice in. A figure in silver armor sat in lotus position here.


    "Haiyue, have you sensed him through your karmic connection?" A childish voice resonated in Zhuo Haiyue''s mind.


    "Mm." Zhuo Haiyue''s expression was cold. The vital aura she emanated was strong and vigorous.


    "Tsk tsk! Truly worthy of being 100%patible with the Thunder Saint Imprint. Haiyue, your progress surpasses my imagination. You''ve mastered this karmic secret art so quickly," the childish voice continued.


    "If I hadn��t reached the Dao Field stage of the Greater Law of Thunder, I wouldn��t be able to master the karmic secret art even after many more years. Otherwise, why would I bother fusing with the imprint?" Zhuo Haiyue responded indifferently.


    "That''s true. Haiyue, you''ve now be a High Immortal and have perfectly fused with the imprint. Next, as long as you follow the steps to integrate andprehend it, you will face no more bottlenecks in your progress until the ninth-level Dao Field stage. Only the final step." the childish voice said.


    "Hmm." Zhuo Haiyue listened, her beautiful face betraying little joy. In fact, a hint of coldness gleamed in the depths of her eyes.


    "You sensed Ming Jian''s aura through karma, are you nning to snatch the ck Devil Star he possesses? It''s quite a treasure, you might even get your hands on the Sovereign ck Devil''s artifacts..." the childish voice prattled on.


    "You should go back now," Zhuo Haiyue suddenly said.


    "But��" the childish voice began to protest.


    The voice vanishedpletely.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Zhuo Haiyue stood up, her body faintly radiating with lightning. Her eyes held a tinge of sorrow and coldness as she murmured to herself. <i>Fusing with the vital aura imprint... Once the imprint is fully restored, will I still be me? To gain something, how much must I lose?</i>


    <i>Yet, given another chance, I''d still make the same choice. If I hadn''t, I''d have remained as just another unremarkable immortal cultivator on the Redmoon Immortal Continent back then.</i>


    <i>I have no regrets.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Zhuo Haiyue took a step forward, her body transforming into a bolt of lightning that vanished instantly into the vast space.


    Evidently, she had entered a higher spatial dimension using her lightning movement arts.


    ...


    The Hundred Gales Domain was a vast region filled with countless bizarre spatial corridors that led to different areas.


    Numerous ck mountains floated in the air. These mountains varied in size, some towering over a hundred million li, others merely tens of thousands li tall. Some were clustered densely, while others were separated by vast gaps.


    But they were the only ''coordinates'' in the Hundred Gales Domain. Only with these ck mountains could one roughly determine their position.


    Wu Yuan was currently walking through one section of the void.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In the distance, a terrifying force materialized out of thin air, followed immediately by what seemed like a massive de, instantly slicing through the void, causing the space to subtly distort and warp.


    It was too fast.


    <i>Not good! </i>Wu Yuan''s expression changed involuntarily as his mind raced.


    The celestial swords that had been hovering around him activated simultaneously, their sword domains erupting in unison. At the same time, the flow of time around him changed, amplifying the power of the nine celestial swords to their limit.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The sword domain instantly collided with the terrifying icy gale that cut through a hundred thousand li of space like a de.


    The impact caused the space to tremble slightly, and the celestial swords were sent flying. But it also slightly slowed the icy gale''s advance.


    Seizing this opportunity, Wu Yuan''s figure split into nine, each phantom flying in different directions while deploying the sword domain. After fleeing tens of thousands of li, three of the phantoms were swept away and annihted by the terrifying icy gale. Then, the cold light continued to surge into the distance.


    The other six phantoms rapidly converged, reforming into Wu Yuan''s figure.


    The surrounding void grew calm.


    <i>That was truly dangerous. </i>Wu Yuan''s face turned slightly pale. This was the most perilous encounter he''d had since entering the Hundred Gales Domain.


    Icy gales could appear from anywhere and werepletely unpredictable. Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand, gathering the scattered celestial swords and examining them briefly. Two of the celestial swords showed signs of damage.


    <i>Even the celestial swords were nearly shattered. If I had been hit directly?</i> Wu Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.


    Their power was terrifying. It reminded him of that saber strike from High Deity Mi Yun he had faced before. This ce truly deserved its reputation as a danger zoneparable to the Core Region.


    <i>It''s also because my mana capacity is too small. If I had the mana of a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, would I struggle so much?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    But there was nothing he could do about it.


    Choosing a direction, Wu Yuan continued on his journey.


    ...


    On a ck mountain over a hundred million li from Wu Yuan in the Hundred Gales Domain, several figures were gathered.


    At the forefront was a lean, elderly man in ck robes, with two pointed horns protruding from his forehead. He sat in lotus position on a ck rock. The rock''s surface was smooth, clearly having been polished.


    Not far from him, two ck-armored men, one tall and one short,y on the rocks.


    "Big Brother," the tall, burly man in ck armor said in a low voice, "they''ve all rushed to the Myriad Mountains Ice in, why are we waiting here in the Hundred Gales Domain? Can we really encounter the Spacetime Sword Immortal?"


    "There''s a small chance we might," the elderly man in ck said softly.


    "A small chance? How small?" the tall man in ck armor muttered.


    "Fool! Third Brother, think about it. With so many Astral Monarchs offering bounties and numerous Astral Lords pouring in, if we followed the normal route to hunt Ming Jian, would we stand a chance?" the short man in ck armor shook his head.


    The tall man in ck armor was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head.


    "The Spacetime Sword Immortal''s directbat strength isn''t impressive, but his ability to escape is first-rate. There are roughly nine routes to leave the Inner Region from the Myriad Mountains Ice in... Seven of these routespletely suppress spatial fluctuations.


    Only two routes allow for one to enter a higher spatial dimension for part of the journey.


    One of these routes is to pass through the Frost Mist Sea, then cross the Hundred Gales Domain to enter the Outer Region," the short man in ck armor exined. "That''s why Big Brother brought us to wait here."


    Realization dawned on the tall man in ck armor.


    "Of course, with so many routes and the vast size of the Hundred Gales Domain, our chances of actually encountering him are extremely slim," the short man in ck armor smiled. "Out of thousands of Astral Lords and tens of thousands of Archimmortals, only a few will im the Astral Monarchs'' rewards.


    It''s also possible that Ming Jian might return directly to the Spacetime Ind. In the end, we''re just trying our luck," the short man in ck armor expounded.


    Suddenly, the elderly man in ck spoke, ��It''s not about trying our luck anymore. Luck is on our side." He opened his eyes, a glint of coldness shining within. "I believe the detection array I set up has sensed the Spacetime Sword Immortal��s presence."

 Chapter 709: A Light Streaking Across Heaven and Earth (1)

    <h4>Chapter 709: A Light Streaking Across Heaven and Earth (1)</h4>


    "Oh? The Spacetime Sword Immortal?"


    "Big Brother?" The two ck-armored men, one tall and one short, turned to the elderly man in ck, their faces etched with surprise.


    Was their luck really this good?


    "There''s no mistake. The Hundred Gales Domain is fraught with danger. Under normal circumstances, only Archimmortals would be willing to venture into this area," the elderly man in ck with sharp horns growing from his head said softly.


    "A lone Earth Immortal, moving at near-light speed, brave enough to roam through this ce. Who else could it be, if not the Spacetime Sword Immortal?" the elderly man in ck chuckled.


    The eyes of the two ck-armored men lit up.


    "At this moment, we''re certainly not the only group lying in wait for the Spacetime Sword Immortal within the Hundred Gales Domain," the elderly man in ck said with a smile. "But encountering him is a matter of providence and opportunity.


    Follow me," the elderly man in ck rose to his feet.


    "Yes." Following the instructions from the elderly man in ck, the three quickly transformed into streaks of light, swiftly rushing off in different directions.


    Their target was Wu Yuan, ten million li away.


    However, the Hundred Gales Domain was a strange and unpredictable ce, the space within twisted and distorted. Thus, whether by the naked eye, soul perception, or even spatial awareness, their range of detection remained limited.


    They were only able to detect him by setting up arrays in advance.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan moved through the void at high speed, cautiously probing the path forward, fearful that an icy gale might suddenly appear from somewhere.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s spatial awareness was extremely keen. Even limited by the environmental constraints, he still sensed a ck-armored figure several million li behind him. It was furiously charging towards him.


    An Archdeity?


    <i>Such speed, and vigorous vital aura. His strength is likelyparable to a fourth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan felt uneasy.


    Afterpleting their Seventh Immortal Tribtion, if qi refiners chose to forge their immortal body, they were called Archimmortals.


    Afterpleting their Seventh Immortal Tribtion, if body refiners chose to forge their deity body, they were called Archdeities or Archeldritches.


    Regardless of the title, Archimmortal-level beings were all divided into nine stages.


    Once theypleted their Ninth Immortal Tribtion, from the seventh to ninth-stage, they were uniformly addressed as Astral Lords.


    Beyond the ninth-stage, they were uniformly addressed as Astral Monarchs.


    Above Astral Monarchs are the Sovereigns.


    However, Archimmortals were more adept at long-range attacks, arrays, soul attacks, detection and perception, and so on; while Archdeities and Archeldritches were more skilled in closebat and had stronger vitality.


    Also, because qi refining was the mainstream cultivation system, cultivators often used Archimmortal stages to roughly gauge battle strength.


    Among the different methods, there were those that specialized in countering attacks, and defeating stronger opponents.


    But no matter what, with Wu Yuan''s current strength, trying to kill such a powerful Archdeity would be nothing short of a fool''s dream.


    So, Wu Yuan immediately chose �C to flee!


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan, who had been moving somewhat slowly before, instantly elerated to light speed, fleeing into the distance.


    <i>The Spacetime Sword Immortal, it must be him.</i> All traces of doubt vanished from the short, ck-armored man��s mind. His gaze locked onto Wu Yuan.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The ck-armored man swiftly pursued Wu Yuan, faint clouds appearing beneath his feet as he also elerated to light speed.


    The two, one chasing and one fleeing, crossed a distance of several million li in an instant.


    "Spacetime Sword Immortal, stop running," the ck-armored Archdeity transmitted through his immortal consciousness. "If you stop, we won''t kill you. After weplete the transaction with the Astral Monarch, you can still obtain arge quantity of divine crystals."


    "Only a fool would believe you," Wu Yuan sneered in response.


    The fact that they recognized him at a nce made it even more imperative for him to escape.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> In this region, one had to travel along numerous winding, barely discernible spatial corridors. Otherwise, it would trigger the formation of icy gales.


    Wu Yuan''s mastery over spacetime surpassed his pursuer, thus his instantaneous burst speed was much higher. The distance between them grewrger over time.


    <i>Boom! </i>A million li ahead of Wu Yuan, an iparably terrifying aura suddenly erupted.


    Wu Yuan had failed to detect the ambusher lurking there.


    A terrifying giant palm instantly swept across hundreds of thousands of li, smashing fiercely toward Wu Yuan. It resembled the copse of the sky!


    The attack caused Wu Yuan��s heart to jolt instinctively. Another Archdeity?


    If this palmnded a solid hit, it could even annihte a third-stage Archimmortal.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> Wu Yuan immediately employed the ��Moonlight Shadow�� technique, his figure splitting into nine, transforming into nine lifelike phantoms fleeing in different directions. This was a technique of interweaving spacetime, all real yet all illusory.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>The giant palm swept through heaven and earth, its five fingers like five massive celestial pirs, directly smashing two lifelike phantoms.


    Like bubbles, they burst at a touch!


    The remaining seven lifelike phantoms, now separated byrge distances, continued to flee frantically, attempting to break free and escape.


    "What an impressive spatial phantom technique.�� Apanied by a thunderous boom, the pair of massive hands withdrew, and then fiercely struck four of the phantoms. Each palm strike was terrifyingly powerful.


    This Archdeity''s strength was definitely above the fourth-stage Archimmortal level, possibly even approaching the level of an Astral Lord. Fighting him head-on was impossible!


    <i>Time.</i> The vital aura of all seven Wu Yuans began to change, their bodies turning dreamlike and hazy. Their speed immediately soared.


    Despite Wu Yuan''s desperate efforts to escape, unleashing the time domain to its fullest extent, the pair of massive palms shattered the domain in a single strike.


    <i>Boom!</i> Faced with overwhelming power, Wu Yuan��s time domain copsed. It was not invincible�� therger the area it affected and the stronger the opponents it tried to influence, the greater the strain.


    <i>Puff! Puff!</i> Four lifelike phantoms were instantly destroyed.


    The other three lifelike phantoms could no longer be sustained, suddenly converging into a single figure in the void. Wu Yuan''s face had turned extremely pale. But in the end, he escaped from this Archdeity''s pursuit range.


    At this time, the short, ck-armored Archdeity who had been chasing him from the beginning transformed into a streak of light in pursuit, but was once again quickly shaken off by Wu Yuan.


    <i>Three paths. It seems I can only take this one. </i>Wu Yuan scanned the paths ahead with his Soul Will. Of the three, two were fraught with danger. Only one seemed to offer safe passage.


    <i>Hmph! </i>A resolute gleam shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes, but instead of taking the seemingly clear path, he abruptly shifted course. Without hesitation, he sped onto a perilous path, elerating to light speed. The air was thick with danger.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Just one secondter, a terrifying icy gale spanning tens of thousands of li suddenly appeared in that seemingly calm space. The wind was like a knife, slicing through the air.


    But Wu Yuan was prepared for it. Blocking it without much effort, he continued to flee, though his speed drastically slowed under the influence of the icy gale.


    "What?"


    "He discovered it?" The expressions of the two Archdeities shifted from confidence to surprise.


    By now, it was toote to stop Wu Yuan. They could only grit their teeth and continue the pursuit.


    <i>Boom!</i> Along that calm and quiet path, a ck-robed figure suddenly appeared, emanating green light that shattered the stillness. His aura was vast and powerful, seemingly even stronger than the two Archdeities. He had been lying in ambush on that ��safe path�� all along.


    He sped towards Wu Yuan.


    "Spacetime Sword Immortal, stop," the ck-robed elderly man''s voice was deep, echoing through the air.


    <i>Sure enough, there was an ambush. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold, but inwardly his heart sank.


    Two Archdeities and one Archimmortal had almost driven him to a dead end. Could he escape through the numerous blockades?


    <i>nk! </i>Massive chains appeared and began swirling around the ck-robed elderly man, winding through the air across millions of li like giant serpents. They quickly enveloped Wu Yuan.


    <i>As expected, Archimmortals excel at long-range attacks and binding techniques. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    In a direct confrontation, Archdeities were stronger. But when it came to various auxiliary techniques, Archdeities couldn''t hold a candle to Archimmortals.


    Gritting his teeth, Wu Yuan once again employed the Moonlight Shadow technique, narrowly avoiding the ck-robed elderly man''s attempt to capture him.


    "Haha, Spacetime Sword Immortal, if we were in another region, I wouldn''t be able to catch you. But you''ve entered the icy gale zone, and can''t utilize your advantages here," the ck-robed elderly man moved with incredible speed, his chains able to withstand some of the weaker icy gales.


    "Give up! The ck Devil Star is an ultimate treasure, you can''t hold onto it," the ck-robed elder shouted, unleashing another wave of attacks. The chain artifact hurtled towards Wu Yuan, aiming to ensnare himpletely.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two Archdeities also approached from different directions, pushing their speeds to the limit.


    <i>Am I destined to perish here? No! There''s always a way, there��s always a glimmer of hope. </i>Wu Yuan clenched his teeth, desperately avoiding this attack once more, though five of his nine lifelike phantoms were shattered in the process.


    With his soul scanning possible routes, he frantically dove into an even more dangerous area, while his mind raced to find a way to escape.


    The more dangerous the area, the more frequently icy gales emerged, each one growing more fearsome in power.


    "You may break free once, but not twice," the ck-robed elderly man smiled, strolling through the air as if taking a leisurely walk.


    He could already envision himself exchanging the ck Devil Star for immense wealth.


    At that moment, a thunderous shout echoed through heaven and earth, "Stop!"


    The next instant, lightning shed across millions of li, and the entire world looked like it had been transformed into a sea of lightning. Wu Yuan, the ck-robed elderly man, and the two ck-armored Archdeities looked over in astonishment.


    <i>Boom! </i>A silver-armored figure appeared, flying over from a distance at nearly twice the speed of light.


    Countless throwing knives surrounded her body, their surfaces crackling with lightning.


    <i>Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted, his heart filled with shock. <i>A High Immortal? How did she cultivate to be a High Immortal?</i>


    <i>Based on the timeline, if she wanted to ensure a wless foundation, she should only break through to High Immortal after another few hundred years, right?</i>


    Indeed! The one rapidly closing the distance was none other than Zhuo Haiyue, but at this moment, her aura was terrifyingly powerful.


    At first nce, she appeared to be merely a High Immortal. But upon closer inspection, Wu Yuan felt that Zhuo Haiyue''s vital aura seemed even more terrifying than many Archimmortals.


    What was going on?

 Chapter 710: A Light Streaking Across Heaven and Earth (2)

    <h4>Chapter 710: A Light Streaking Across Heaven and Earth (2)</h4>


    "It''s a High Immortal, and a formidable one at that."


    "She looks like the Thunder Knife Fairy, doesn��t she? Also an imprint bearer of the Spacetime Ind." The ck-robed elderly man and hispanions instantly recognized her.


    Zhuo Haiyue��s fame surpassed even Wu Yuan��s.


    "She''s already be a High Immortal?"


    "She��s powerful enough to threaten us." The three powerhouses were all startled, and the two Archdeities instinctively began to back off.


    "How strong can a High Immortal be? Her power wasparable to a third-stage Archimmortal previously. Even if she has broken through, barely any time has passed. She''d be on par with us at most," the ck-robed elderly man barked, immediately issuing an order: "Go, hold her off. Wait for me to capture the Spacetime Sword Immortal."


    "Alright."


    "Let''s go." Although the two Archdeities were initially shocked by Zhuo Haiyue''s aura, they still steeled themselves and turned to attack her.


    As the ck-robed elderly man had said, how strong could a High Immortal who had cultivated for less than a thousand years be? At most, she''d be on par with them.


    But a momentter, they both regretted their decision.


    "Obstruct me? Today, you shall be fodder for my path," Zhuo Haiyue''s eyes were hardened chips of ice.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The countless small knives surrounding Zhuo Haiyue instantlybined to form two enormous throwing knives. They shot out, sweeping across millions of li.


    Two times the speed of light! Three times the speed of light! Four times the speed of light!


    As the two knife rays tore through heaven and earth, the expressions of the two Archdeities and the ck-robed elder shifted, while Wu Yuan, still fleeing, was shocked.


    With their knowledge and insight, they immediately understood the terrifying nature of the knife technique.


    <i>This is Thunder! Ultimate destruction.</i> Wu Yuan��s pupils constricted in disbelief.


    He was studying the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� and was aware of the Law of Life his body-refiner selfprehended. But at this moment, both of those Greater Laws felt vastly inferior to the knife technique Zhuo Haiyue had just disyed��like they existed onpletely different levels.


    ��This?��


    "It��s over!" Both Archdeities were dumbfounded. These knife rays reminded them of rare monstrous prodigies they had encountered in the past �C High Immortals and High Deities who had cultivated for only hundreds of thousands of years, yet with Daoprehension rivaling Astral Monarchs.


    However, the attacks of those prodigies seemed far weaker than the two knife rays before them.


    The Archdeities couldn''t even attempt to block the attack.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> The lightning-infused knife rays seemed to tear heaven and earth apart, instantly sending the two Archdeities flying, overwhelmed.


    Their vital auras rapidly diminished, and with a final explosion, the shorter, ck-armored Archdeity��s body disintegratedpletely by the sheer force of the attack.


    Shock rippled through everyone present, Wu Yuan included, as they witnessed the devastating power Zhuo Haiyue had unleashed.


    It was beyond outrageous. A High Immortal had not only sent two Archdeities with fourth or fifth-stage Archimmortal-level strength flying, but had even killed one. What kind of strength was this?


    <i>An Astral Lord! She wields the strength of an Astral Lord! </i>The ck-robed elder��s expression changed drastically. His extensive knowledge allowed him to assess the situation urately. <i>Second Brother and Third Brother are Archdeities; they might survive a few more strikes, but I��m just an Archimmortal��one hit and I��m dead.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>The ck-robed elder no longer spared a thought for Wu Yuan. His form flickered as he flew into the distance. The chains surrounding his body rapidly expanded into a battle array, resembling a giant serpent, to dy Zhuo Haiyue.


    <i>sh! sh! sh!</i> Under the vast sea of lightning, knife rays swept across the air, ughtering the two Archdeities in an instant.


    When the difference in strength was this vast, even the self-preservation abilities Archdeities were known for became meaningless.


    <i>One more, trying to escape?</i> Zhuo Haiyue, controlling the lightning sea and her twin knives, pursued the ck-robed elder with overwhelming force.


    The metal serpent formed by the chains hissed and roared as it attacked Zhuo Haiyue, its power immense.


    "Die!" Zhuo Haiyue pointed from afar, and the two thunder knives hovering around her dispersed into individual knives, quickly reforming into a new, even more powerful thunder knife.


    It looked like a bolt of lightning streaking across the air. No! It was a knife ray formed from lightning itself!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> It struck with terrifying speed, piercing the giant metal serpent and shattering it. It barely slowed, aiming straight for the ck-robed elder a hundred million li away.


    "No!" Terror shed in the ck-robed elder��s eyes. He tried to dodge, but the knife had locked onto him in a way that seemed inescapable.


    <i>Schlik! </i>The thunder knife pierced his body, and the sixth-stage Archimmortal disintegrated instantly.


    <i>This? This strength?</i> Wu Yuan watched everything unfold from a distance, shaken to his core.<i> ying a sixth-stage Archimmortal in one strike? Annihting two mighty Archdeities in mere moments?</i>


    A glimmer of joy shed through his heart, having made a narrow escape from certain doom. Yet, a sense of absurdity overwhelmed him.


    The silver-armored woman before him was not someone who had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years; but someone who had cultivated for less than a thousand.


    Years ago, when they first met, he was at the Golden Core phase, while she was at the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Later, he had encountered numerous fortuitous opportunities, rising rapidly in power and status. He considered himself someone who reached the benchmark of a Supreme Genius. Thus, when they crossed paths on the Spacetime Ind and saw that her power matched his own, he was astonished.


    Several centuries had passed since then.


    Wu Yuan''s progress was remarkably swift and his Daoprehension approached that of an Astral Lord. Yet she could now y a sixth-stage Archimmortal. She had only revealed a glimpse of her thunder knives�� power, yet Wu Yuan already found it unfathomable.


    Without a doubt, Zhuo Haiyue''s Daoprehension had not just surpassed Wu Yuan''s by a small margin, but left him far behind in the dust.


    This disparity didn''t fill Wu Yuan with despair. Instead, it evoked a sense of surrealism! Zhuo Haiyue''s power increase had transcended Wu Yuan''s understanding, unprecedented in any record or legend.


    The ce fell silent.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The lightning that had spread across tens of millions of li dissipated, and the thunder knives returned to her.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s vital aura receded, and she now appeared no different from an ordinary High Immortal.


    "Li Xia," she turned to Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Oh? I nearly forgot. Here, I should address you as Ming Jian," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head slightly.


    She took a step, swiftly appearing before Wu Yuan.


    Something felt wrong as Wu Yuan gazed at Zhuo Haiyue. Her eyes held an alien frost, and she regarded him with unfamiliar detachment, as though they''d never met.


    Moreover, forgot? How could a High Immortal, with their astounding memory, possibly forget? They shouldn''t misremember such details even after ten thousand or a hundred thousand years.


    Unless��her memories themselves had been interfered with.


    Wu Yuan immediately sensed something amiss with Zhuo Haiyue, and a hint of wariness arose in his heart.


    "Haiyue, thank you," Wu Yuan said.


    "Your whereabouts have been exposed. The three who just died were merely mana bodies. They couldn''t capture you, but they''ll surely report your location. We should leave this ce now," Zhuo Haiyue said tly. "Come with me."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <i>Boom!</i> A surge of lightning instantly enveloped Wu Yuan as Zhuo Haiyue carried him away. They transformed into a bolt of lightning, streaking into the distance at nearly twice the speed of light!


    They charged forward recklessly. Icy gales? Zhuo Haiyue either avoided them with sheer speed or simply plowed through, disregarding most dangers.


    Swiftly, Zhuo Haiyue and Wu Yuan rapidly left their original location far behind.


    After flying for a long while, the two finally rxed slightly and began to converse.


    "Haiyue, how did you locate my whereabouts?" Wu Yuan asked curiously through telepathy.


    He had never revealed his location.


    "Karma! There are numerous karmic ties between us. I was already exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm, so I could sense them," Zhuo Haiyue said tly.


    "Karma?" Wu Yuan was startled, his mind churning with shock.


    Indeed, karmic connections were formed between countless beings in the world through love, hate, emotions, grudges, bloodlines, and more.


    Why could karmic attacks affect the true self through the mana body? Essentially, it was because the mana body and true self shared a karmic connection.


    However, karma was a fundamental mystery in the workings of heaven and earth. Most Astral Lords couldn��t perceive it, let alone immortal cultivators.


    That was unless oneprehended the Karma Dao.


    The Karma Dao, as far as Wu Yuan knew, was formed by fusing aspects of the three Greater Laws of Time, Space, and Thunder.


    It was extremely difficult to reach the threshold, no less challenging thanprehending the Space Dao.


    "Crystallizing Karma True Intent allows one to sense their own karmic threads. Through these threads, one can perceive the existence of those with karmic ties to oneself at close range," Zhuo Haiyue voluntarily exined via telepathy.


    "The stronger the karmic connection and the closer the distance, the clearer the perception.


    Of course, even withoutprehending Karma True Intent, if one''s Daoprehension in any single Dao reaches the Astral Monarch level, they can still attempt to cultivate karmic secret arts to sense karmic threads. That''s how I did it.


    The Law Thunder Iprehend is closely rted to the Karma Dao, so cultivating karmic secret arts wasn''t difficult for me," Zhuo Haiyue said nonchntly.


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    He had heard of karmic secret arts but never attempted to cultivate them. Typically, that was something only Astral Monarchs would consider.


    ording to Zhuo Haiyue''s words, her mastery of the Law of Thunder had already reached the Astral Monarch level? The same level as Senior Brother Jiang Huan, Nie Zhen, and Mi Yun?


    But she had been cultivating for less than a thousand years!


    "Your talent... far surpasses mine," Wu Yuan sighed with genuine admiration.


    He didn''t feel discouraged or defeated. There were countless beings in the world; there would always be those with great fortunes and monstrous prodigies. He epted this reality calmly.


    For Wu Yuan, it was enough to surpass himself one step at a time, rather than constantlypeting with others. Regarding Zhuo Haiyue, he only felt admiration and awe.


    "No! In terms of talent, you surpass me ten or a hundred times over... If you had a choice, you probably wouldn''t walk the path I''m on," Zhuo Haiyue said tly.


    Wu Yuan was stunned, confusion filling his heart.


    "You''ll understand in the future," Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan beside her. "You''re probably also curious about how I became a High Immortal so quickly."


    Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.


    By his calctions, Zhuo Haiyue hadn''tpleted her eight-hundred-year cultivation consolidation period.


    "Some things aren''t a matter of choice for me; I have no option..." A fleeting expression of pain crossed Zhuo Haiyue''s face, quickly reced by her usual demeanor, her gaze growing increasingly cold. "I can''t say more, and you shouldn''t ask further."


    Wu Yuan''s heart tightened.


    He vaguely sensed that Zhuo Haiyue must also harbor a great secret, one that allowed her to progress so rapidly, but also came with significant risks. However, Wu Yuan couldn''t begin to guess what this secret might be. His perspective was, after all, limited.


    "Ming Jian, you now have two options. First, you can pass the ck Devil Star to me. I''vepleted my spacetime mission and can return to the Spacetime Ind at any time.


    Second, I can protect you as we fight our way out of the Snowlight Mist Realm," Zhuo Haiyue suddenly said. "The choice is yours."

 Chapter 711: Remembering Me Is The Best Help You Can Offer (1)

    <h4>Chapter 711: Remembering Me Is The Best Help You Can Offer (1)</h4>


    "Why help me?" Wu Yuan didn''t answer directly.


    Whether the karmic secret art or the Astral Lord-level power she disyed, Zhuo Haiyue was unimaginably powerful.


    If she wanted to seize the ck Devil Star, Wu Yuan would be powerless to stop her. So, there was no need to talk aboutpensation, nor was there any possibility that Zhuo Haiyue would intentionally deceive him.


    Wu Yuan knew for a fact that if it had been High Deity Mi Yun or even High Deity Nie Zhen instead of her, without a prior spacetime contract, they would likely kill him on sight and snatch the ck Devil Star.


    "Why? You are my friend." A slightly stiff smile appeared on Zhuo Haiyue''s beautiful face. "Isn''t helping each other what friends do?


    Have you forgotten what I said back then? I will treat you as a true friend."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    Friend? True friend? Wu Yuan felt that he was transported back to when he first entered the Redmoon Immortal Continent, facing Zhuo Haiyue''s overwhelming pressure, and making a choice.


    "Haiyue, by saving me, you''ve exposed yourself, haven��t you?" Wu Yuan suddenly realized. "This rate of progress... it isn��t through normal cultivation, right?"


    It was simr to why Wu Yuan never dared to reveal the ck pagoda. It was simply too mysterious, its implications too great, and he feared it would attract the covetous gaze of some powerful beings.


    And Zhuo Haiyue''s performance was ten, a hundred times more monstrous than his own, evidently abnormal.


    Not to mention, the Spacetime Dao Realm was the territory of the Spacetime Dao Master.


    "Don''t worry, I understand what you''re thinking," Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "But from the moment I became a High Immortal, I knew the Dao Master wouldn''t act against me.


    Those capable of erasing me won''t act... those who want to erase me no longer have that ability." Zhuo Haiyue spoke vaguely.


    But Wu Yuan understood. Simply put: there''s no need to worry!


    "Choose quickly, time is of the essence," Zhuo Haiyue said. "I''m not interested in the ck Devil Star. I''m here to help you purely as a friend... Whatever you want to do, it''s up to you."


    "The first option," Wu Yuan said directly.


    There was no real choice. Returning the ck Devil Star as soon as possible was the right option. As for his mana body? Even if it perished, the loss would be insignificant.


    As he spoke, Wu Yuan waved his hand, producing a storage artifact ring. Still surrounded by lightning, he sent it to Zhuo Haiyue. "The object is inside. After you return, just pass it to my true self."


    "You really do trust me," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head, giving Wu Yuan a deep look. "Aren''t you worried that I''m deceiving you, tricking you into taking out the ck Devil Star?


    After all, you could have hidden the ck Devil Star anywhere along your journey back. Even if I killed you, I wouldn''t have been able to get my hands on the ck Devil Star."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Hiding the ck Devil Star in a random location? This n was one of the three Wu Yuan had initially considered but ultimately rejected.


    "I trust you. We are friends," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "Alright," Zhuo Haiyue nodded and collected the storage artifact Wu Yuan had given her with a wave. "From here on, whether your mana body can escape depends on your own abilities."


    "I''ll be going on first," Zhuo Haiyue said.


    "Okay," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <i>Boom!</i> Zhuo Haiyue acted decisively. A majestic spacetime fluctuation from the depths of spacetime swept over her. Then, Zhuo Haiyue��s mana body disappeared without a trace.


    Wu Yuan waited till the powerful spacetime fluctuation disappeared into the distance, and the void returned to tranquility.


    <i>She sure left quickly, not even sending me out of the Hundred Gales Domain first. </i>Wu Yuan muttered, unable to suppress a smile.


    With the heavy burden finally lifted from his shoulders, he felt a profound sense of relief and lightness.


    <i>Over a hundred Astral Monarchs? Thousands of Astral Lords?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head andughed. <i>Come and catch me if you can.</i>


    <i>Even if you catch me, you won��t gain anything.</i>


    It wasn��t just the ck Devil Star. In the storage artifact Wu Yuan gave to Zhuo Haiyue, he had included the spirion equipment, celestial equipment, and gains from his adventures over the past few decades. She had left with almost everything he owned.


    Right now, even Wu Yuan''s underwear was formed from mana. He was truly as bare as the day he was born.


    <i>Time to go. </i>Wu Yuan casually chose a direction, heading out of the Hundred Gales Domain.


    If his mana body could make its way back on its own, that would be good. Cultivating a new one would cost considerable resources and time.


    ...


    Zhuo Haiyue took advantage of the spacetime mission to return directly to the Spacetime Ind, and Wu Yuan continued to make his way through the Hundred Gales Domain.


    Meanwhile, the Archimmortal and two Archdeities reported the feat of Zhuo Haiyue killing them in just a few moves to their superiors, causing the news to spread like wildfire.


    The Archimmortals and Archdeities from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm were in constantmunication with each other as they hunted Wu Yuan. Thus, they all learned about it immediately.


    "What?"


    "The Thunder Knife Fairy killed a sixth-stage Archimmortal in one strike? Even Archdeities couldn''t withstand a few of her knife strikes?"


    "With such strength, she''s definitely on par with a ninth-stage Archimmortal."


    "How can a High Immortal have such strength? It''s inconceivable." Tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities were in an uproar.


    Ninth-stage Archimmortal? This level of strength was the pinnacle of the Astral Lord level, though not considered heaven-defying. Among the Astral Lords deployed this time, some had such strength.


    But, it was extremely bizarre for a High Immortal to disy such strength.


    "It''s been at least a hundred million years since the Spacetime Ind and Dao Realm produced such a monstrous prodigy. For a High Immortal to unleash ninth-stage Archimmortal strength, it should require Daoprehension at the peak Astral Monarch level."


    "Thest time we saw this was over a hundred million years ago, when Astral Monarch Gui Yi killed over ten Archimmortals in one battle as a High Deity. Now, Astral Monarch Gui Yi is a super Astral Monarch ranked in the top ten of the Dao Realm, with the potential to be a Sovereign."


    "Monster."


    "Terrifying." Many ancient Astral Lords recalled certain scenes they had witnessed in the past.


    A High Immortal erupting with ninth-stage Archimmortalbat power? Such urrences had happened in the history of the Dao Realm, but they were rare.


    Those who could achieve this eventually went on to bete-stage Astral Monarchs, and some had even be Sovereigns.


    Quickly, news of this battle made its way to the Astral Monarchs, who were even more shocked.


    "How is this possible?"


    "This Thunder Knife Fairy, whose real name is Zhuo Haiyue, has only been cultivating for less than a thousand years, right? She''s a monstrous prodigy from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage."


    "If she had cultivated for a hundred thousand years, such strength wouldn''t be too shocking, but she''s only cultivated for a thousand years."


    "I��ve never seen anything this absurd in the history of the Dao Realm."


    "How did she do it?" Arge group of Astral Monarchs, like Astral Monarch Ya Hei, werepletely stunned.


    It was too exaggerated! Throughout the history of the Dao Realm, the so-called number one genius was far, far inferiorpared to the current Zhuo Haiyue.


    Therefore, as expected, the Sovereigns of the nine major factions standing at the pinnacle of the Dao Realm also sessively received messages from their subordinate Astral Monarchs and Astral Lords.


    Looking across the entire river of space and time over endless years, there were only a handful of such monstrous prodigies.


    However, these Sovereigns were not stunned by the news. Their perspective and experience were iparable to ordinary Astral Monarchs.


    "This cultivation speed cannot be exined by talent alone."


    "Does it involve a supreme existence?"


    "Probably." In a majestic hall within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, in a special ne, many Sovereigns from the Dao Realmmunicated.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Purple mes gathered, and a slightly blurred figure in purple robes appeared.


    "Lan Yan."


    "Lan Yan is here." All the Sovereigns looked over.


    "By order of the Dao Master, the Sovereigns of the Dao Realm are not to move against Zhuo Haiyue, nor provoke her," Sovereign Lan Yan''s gaze swept over everyone. "Do you all understand?"


    "Understood." The Sovereigns nodded.


    The Dao Master rarely gave orders.


    "Lan Yan, should we conceal the news about Zhuo Haiyue?" A Sovereign asked, "Also, how should we deal with that little fellow called Ming Jian, who obtained the ck Devil Star?"


    ��The Dao Master hasn''t given any instructions, but I''ll offer you a friendly word of advice.�� Sovereign Lan Yan spoke calmly, ��The ck Devil Star is inconsequential. ck Devil has been dead for so many years, why dwell on it?


    Moreover, you should be aware of Ming Jian''s talent. What lies behind him may not be less significant than Zhuo Haiyue. This is all I have to say.��


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Sovereign Lan Yan instantly vanished from this special ne.


    The numerous Sovereigns of the Dao Realm all wore expressions of deep contemtion. They had once suffered greatly at the hands of Sovereign ck Devil, and were naturally unwilling to see the possibility of his legacy resurfacing.


    ...


    News of the battle soon spread throughout the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, as well as the Spacetime Ind.


    Nearly ten million imprint bearers were in an uproar.


    "It''s too heaven-defying."


    "Zhuo Haiyue!"


    "With the strength of a ninth-stage Archimmortal, she��s undoubtedly the strongest among us."


    "Indeed, in terms of absolute strength, High Deity Mi Yun, High Deity Nie Zhen, and the others are far inferior."


    In no time, Zhuo Haiyue''s was unanimously acknowledged as the most powerful imprint bearer in the current generation on Spacetime Ind. The undisputed number one.


    Figures like High Deity Mi Yun and High Deity Nie Zhen could only unleash seventh-stage Archimmortal-level power at their limit.


    One had to understand that each subsequent increase inbat power grew exponentially more difficult to attain the further one advanced.


    But simrly, the prodigies from various factions on the Spacetime Ind were no fools. They all sensed that something was off about Zhuo Haiyue. How could one''s strength improve so dramatically in just a few hundred years?


    Moreover, if this was the result of normal cultivation, it would be even more heaven-defying for her to be so formidable in just a few centuries. What kind of natural talent was this?


    Thus, many imprint bearers began rying intelligence about Zhuo Haiyue back to their respective factions via their own special channels.


    The Taiyuan Divine Court was the first to learn of it.


    Soon after, the upper echelons of various superpowers throughout the river of space and time, such as the Immortal Court, the Eldritch Court, the Destion Divine Court, and the Nine Phoenix Alliance, were all made aware of Zhuo Haiyue''s existence.


    The impact was extensive!


    However, it was Zhuo Haiyue at the center of this massive storm. It had little to do with Wu Yuan.


    Although the talent he had disyed was also monstrous, it was still overall within the realm of normalcy.


    Therefore, Wu Yuan was not caught up in it for the time being.

 Chapter 712: Remembering Me Is The Best Help You Can Offer (2)

    <h4>Chapter 712: Remembering Me Is The Best Help You Can Offer (2)</h4>


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, inside Wu Yuan''s private hall.</i>


    The silver-armored woman sat across Wu Yuan, who was d in white robes.


    "Here you go," Zhuo Haiyue said as she waved her hand.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The storage artifact that Wu Yuan''s mana body had previously entrusted her with flew out,ing to rest before Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self.


    "Check it to see if anything''s missing," Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.


    "There��s no need. I trust you," Wu Yuan shook his head, then added, "Haiyue, are you sure there''s nothing you want? Whether it''s divine crystals, or even the ck Devil Star, it can all be discussed."


    Wu Yuan was well aware that he now owed her a great debt of gratitude.


    Moreover, news of this battle had spread throughout the Spacetime Ind. With Wu Yuan''s intelligence, he could easily deduce the massive storm it might trigger.


    "It''s not necessary," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. "I told you, the ck Devil Star is useless to me. As for divine crystals, my current troubles can''t be solved with those.


    Alright, I''ll be going then," Zhuo Haiyue stood up to leave.


    "Haiyue!" Wu Yuan called out abruptly.


    Zhuo Haiyue halted mid-step, turning back to Wu Yuan. The smile on her face seemed somewhat cold.


    "We''re friends," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Perhaps I can''t help you now, but in the future, if you think there''s anything I can assist with, don''t hesitate to ask."


    Zhuo Haiyue fell silent for a moment.


    Then, she smiled. "Li Xia, remember this promise you''ve made to me. Remember how you address me, remember that my name is ''Haiyue''... That will be the greatest help you can offer me.


    Farewell."


    This time, she addressed him as Li Xia, the name they had known each other by when they first met.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Zhuo Haiyue took a step and vanished from Wu Yuan''s residence.


    <i>Promise, address, name... Haiyue?</i> Wu Yuan stood dazed in ce for a long while.


    Zhuo Haiyue''s words were likely not spoken without reason.


    <i>What secrets could she possibly be entangled in? </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently as he returned to the jade tform.


    At this moment, a faint sense of powerlessness crept into Wu Yuan''s heart.


    Yes, he was considered a peerless genius, highly valued by Immortal Sovereigns in both the Eternal Sun Immortal World and the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    Even among the multitude of prodigies in the Spacetime Dao Realm, he was regarded as among the top of this era.


    But talent was, after all, just talent.


    <i>Forget beings as exalted as the Spacetime Dao Master, even in the eyes of the numerous lofty Sovereigns, their so-called regard for me is probably just superficial.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>After all, throughout history, even those hailed as monstrous prodigies and Supreme Geniuses only managed to be Sovereigns.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s knowledge of the level beyond Sovereigns was limited. But over the years, he had interacted with many Sovereign Imprint bearers from different macrocosms affiliated with the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    The countless macrocosms had produced numerous Sovereigns and even several Supreme Geniuses throughout their histories.


    But none of these powerful imprint bearers had ever heard of beings surpassing Sovereigns emerging from their own macrocosms. Not a single one!


    <i>Supreme beings? They''re too far beyond my reach. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>My current strength pales inparison even to Astral Lords.</i>


    <i>I must strive hard! When I be a High Immortal, I''ll first work to reach Senior Brother Jiang Huan''s level of power. I��llpete with High Deity Mi Yun, Nie Zhen, and the others on the Spacetime Ind, aiming to be the second strongest imprint bearer after Zhuo Haiyue.</i>


    <i>Then, I''ll strive to be a true Supreme Genius.</i> Wu Yuan harbored no delusions of matching Zhuo Haiyue''s strength in the short term. It wasn''t realistic.


    Gradually realizing his potential and seizing opportunities, progressing step by step ording to his cultivation n, and exerting his full effort �C this was Wu Yuan''s true nature.


    <i>For now, let''s have a look at the ck Devil Star. </i>Wu Yuan thought, giving a mentalmand.


    <i>Hum!</i> The ck Devil Star, resembling a miniature celestial body and already imprinted with traces of Wu Yuan''s aura imprint, was immediately transferred into the amethyst cradle of his qi refiner self.


    <i>Boom!</i> Inside the amethyst cradle, a thunderous explosion resounded, as vast waves of essentia and mana surged in all directions.


    The ck pagoda in the upper dantian lobe sensed the disturbance, trembling slightly. Then, vast waves of Genesis Power, or blood mist, began pouring into the amethyst cradle.


    <i>Hum~</i> Massive quantities of blood mist swiftly enveloped the ck Devil Star, beginning to dissolve and erase its aura of violence and malevolence.


    <i>As expected.</i> A glimmer of anticipation shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    The ck Devil Star shared the same source as the ck Devil Divine Pir, and was likewise linked to the ck pagoda. However, the exact nature of their rtionship was still unclear to Wu Yuan at present.


    <i>There should be sufficient Genesis Power.</i> Wu Yuan''s mana body had umted a considerable amount of blood mist over the years, ying enemies while exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm, long approaching the saturation limit.


    Acquiring the ck Devil Star now was perfect timing, as he could purify it immediately, though the malevolent power within the ck Devil Star, originating from Sovereign ck Devil, was clearly far stronger than that of the ck Devil Divine Pir. Therefore, it would take time.


    <i>I estimate it will take about half a year toplete the purification process.</i> Wu Yuan calcted silently.


    With a thought, he sent a strand of consciousness into the ck Devil Star.


    Within this miniature star was a majestic divine temple, with rows of pirs standing on either side. There were thirty-five pirs in total, arranged symmetrically.


    <i>Originally, there should have been thirty-six pirs. Twenty-four of them are integral to the ck Devil Star and cannot be moved. </i>Wu Yuan''s Soul Will sensed.


    <i>The other twelve ck Devil Divine Pirs are detachable, and removing them wouldn''t significantly impact the ck Devil Star.</i>


    <i>The missing pir is likely the one I obtained after ying High Immortal Zhuo Hao''s mana body.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    His qi refiner self thoroughly examined the ck Devil Star. Then, he divided a sliver of his focus to purify it, while continuing toprehend the Law of Time from the ��Spacetime Secret Codex��.


    As for his mana body, it was still struggling to escape from the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, over two months passed.


    <i>In a private room of a tavern within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    "Ming Jian."


    "Ming Jian has arrived." The group of imprint bearers in the room, disying imprint tiers like ''Sovereign'' and even ''Dao Master'', all turned to look at Wu Yuan.


    Mi Yun, Nangong Meng, Nie Zhen, and others were all present. There were nearly twenty people in total.


    Only Wu Yuan stood at the entrance of the private room.


    "Everyone, please be seated." Wu Yuan smiled and said, "I''ve called you all here for a purpose, which I believe you all understand.


    You all have connections with various Astral Monarchs in the Dao Realm." Wu Yuan continued with a smile, "Not long ago, my mana body was destroyed. I imagine you''ve all received the news.��


    The numerous imprint bearers nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, over these past two months, Wu Yuan''s mana body had struggled desperately. But being barely equipped and faced with an overwhelming pursuit by Archimmortals and Archdeities, Wu Yuan''s mana body couldn''t escape from the Outer Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm in the end.


    Surrounded by enemies, it perished!


    Moreover, in the scramble for Wu Yuan''s two remaining storage artifacts, a group of Archimmortals and Archdeities fought fiercely, resulting in several deaths.


    The oue �C they gained absolutely nothing.


    Naturally, numerous Astral Monarchs from the Dao Realm immediately began contacting Wu Yuan through Spacetime Ind imprint bearers, seeking to purchase the ck Devil Star.


    Ever since Zhuo Haiyue rescued Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan''s mana body had been acting alone. Thus, all of them understood that the ck Devil Star had most likely been brought back to the Spacetime Ind by Zhuo Haiyue.


    The chances of forcibly obtaining the ck Devil Star from Wu Yuan''s hands had be extremely slim.


    "You can go back and tell the Astral Monarchs that if they want to obtain the ck Devil Star, they can! I''m selling it," Wu Yuan dered. "The price is ten billion divine crystals or treasures of equivalent value."


    Silence fell!


    The numerous imprint bearers all wore expressions of shock. Ten billion divine crystals?


    "Ming Jian, have you gone mad?" High Deity Mi Yun frowned slightly. "No Astral Monarch will agree to this price."


    "Ming Jian, it''s too high."


    "You''d better lower it." The other imprint bearers all spoke up, feeling that this price was far too outrageous.


    "This price is non-negotiable," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "If these Astral Monarchs are unwilling, then I''ll have to decline their offers."


    He naturally understood that these Astral Monarchs wouldn''t pay this price.


    A normal Astral Lord''s wealth was only around a hundred million divine crystals. Even those Astral Lords skilled in the Space Dao would struggle to amass wealth exceeding ten billion divine crystals.


    Or rather, even if there were Astral Monarchs capable of paying this price, they couldpletely try to obtain a ck Devil Star through other channels. This ck Devil Star wasn''t the only one of its kind.


    "Alright, that''s all for now. I''ll take my leave," Wu Yuan said, vanishing from the private room.


    The group of bewildered imprint bearers were left behind.


    "Let''s go."


    ��Our job is just to report the price to those Astral Monarchs. Whether they''re willing or not is their business."


    "Let''s go." The imprint bearers began to leave.


    ...


    "He''s gone mad!"


    "Insatiably greedy!"


    "He''s just an Earth Immortal, demanding so many divine crystals? Isn��t he afraid that his stomach can��t handle such an appetite?"


    "Impossible! With so many divine crystals, I could easily trade with other Astral Monarchs instead." As expected, numerous Astral Monarchs from the Dao Realm rejected the offer one after another.


    They did desire the ck Devil Star. However, possessing the ck Devil Star only granted the qualification to enter the ck Devil Cave. The actual treasures one could obtain still depended on luck and strength.


    ...


    <i>They all rejected the offer? But privately, these Astral Monarchs have been contacting me one by one, with the highest offer being four billion divine crystals?</i> Wu Yuan received private offers from numerous Astral Monarchs.


    He promptly rejected them all, firmly sticking to his price of ten billion divine crystals.


    In reality, this was merely an excuse Wu Yuan hade up with. With the ck Devil Star restored to its original state by Genesis Power, Wu Yuan could no longer possibly give it away.


    <i>ck Devil Star? No, it should be called the Genesis Star. It actually contains part three of the ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' within?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>If I want to learn part three after stepping into the High Immortal phase in the future, I can only do so with the Genesis Star.</i>


    Ten billion divine crystals was indeed a considerable sum, but it couldn''t bring about an earth-shattering change in Wu Yuan''s strength. Even some powerful artifacts required sufficient strength to unleash their potential. But the Genesis Star could!


    <i>Other High Immortals, even if they obtained the ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' and cultivated it, wouldn''t be able to execute it, let alone unleash part three.</i> Wu Yuan smiled slightly, filled with anticipation. <i>But I have hope.</i>


    <i>Time True Intent. I��m almost there.</i>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 713: Spacetime, Creation, The Singular Essence (1)

    <h4>Chapter 713: Spacetime, Creation, The Singr Essence (1)</h4>


    To cultivate ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'', one must simultaneouslyprehend the Law of Time and the Law of Space. Achieving this was extremely difficult, let alone reaching a profound level of understanding. Furthermore, one must possess Genesis Power.


    Among the immortal cultivators Wu Yuan had encountered and in the texts he had perused, there was no mention of the ck pagoda, nor any reference to Genesis Power. Only the Genesis Divine Pir before him seemed to hold any potential answers.


    <i>The Law of Time.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. He had obtained the ''Spacetime Secret Codex'' over a century ago.


    Over more than a decade, his soul had evolved from a Yuan Soul to twelve divided Yuan Souls. This progress was extraordinarily swift.


    For Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns, even if they originallycked affinity for certain Daos, their powerful souls should allow them to sense the fluctuations of most Daos clearly. Yet after integrating with the Dao essence of heaven and earth, the omnipresent influence of Dao Assimtion slowed their progress to an excruciating crawl.


    With inferior talent and opportunities, many Astral Monarchs might cultivate for hundreds of millions of years without matching the progress of a High Immortal cultivating for ten thousand years.


    <i>Boom!</i> The flow of time around Wu Yuan began to change dramatically, causing violent fluctuations. Originally, his top speed was four times that of light.


    The power of his Apotheosis soul had allowed Wu Yuan toprehend the Law of Time to a profound level over years of arduous cultivation. There was only a hair''s breadth separating him from crystallizing Time True Intent.


    A breakthrough could happen at any moment.


    ...


    Several monthster, Wu Yuan finally purified the ck Devil Star fully with Genesis Power.


    It remained pitch-ck, resembling a miniature star, appearing unchanged at first nce. However, its aura was vastly different. The past ck Devil Star had been violent and sinister, but now it exuded a majestic, unrivaled power. The countless mysterious Dao patterns engraved on its surface appeared iparably divine.


    Clearly, under the influence of Genesis Power, the ck Devil Star had shed the malevolent energy imbued by Sovereign ck Devil, revealing its true form.


    <i>Part three of ''Genesis Law Sacrifice''.</i> Wu Yuan had also finished receiving the vast wealth of information.


    It was an immense flood of information. But for Wu Yuan, whose soul had broken through to be twelve divided Yuan Souls, he absorbed it at an extremely rapid pace.


    Besides the teachings, there were also spacetime coordinates of the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    <i>The Genesis Star has different spacetime coordinates from these Genesis Divine Pirs. This one points to a location outside the Snowlight Mist Realm?</i>


    <i>The coordinates of the twelve Genesis Divine Pirs are consistent.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>It seems they share amon origin.</i>


    When he previously entered the ck Devil Blood Hollow, Big Devil had implied that there were many entrances. Thus, Wu Yuan had originally harbored some hope of finding other spacetime coordinates.


    Now, his hopes were dashed.


    Although the Genesis Star''s spacetime coordinates differed, there was a note stating that this coordinate entrance was located in another perilous region of the Dao Realm. The danger level of that region far surpassed the Snowlight Mist Realm. Normally, only Astral Monarchs had the strength to venture inside.


    <i>The Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm is fraught with danger. </i>Wu Yuan thought. <i>The bounty storm stirred up by the numerous Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm hasn''t subsided yet. There are likely still many Astral Lords remaining in the Snowlight Mist Realm.</i>


    Wu Yuan decided to keep the n unchanged. He would wait until breaking through to High Immortal before his true self ventured into the ck Devil Blood Hollow. After several centuries, this storm would likely have blown over.


    <i>Moreover, I''ve just finished cultivating part one of ''Genesis Law Sacrifice''. If I cultivate for a few more centuries and make further progress in Space and Time, I might be able to master part two or even part three.</i> Wu Yuan harbored a glimmer of anticipation.


    The ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'' had many limitations. The Devil Divine Pill alone was problematic, and one had to worry about the corrosion of malevolent energy.


    But when Wu Yuan employed ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'', these issues did not exist.


    Mastering part one could boost his mana to the level of a Third Tribtion High Immortal.


    Mastering part two could elevate his mana to that of a first-stage Archimmortal.


    Mastering part three could raise his mana to that of a seventh-stage Archimmortal.


    <i>Channeling Genesis Power through the Genesis Divine Pir, I can transform mana into Genesis Divine Power.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>My mana body now carries a Genesis Divine Pir infused with Genesis Power.</i>


    <i>With the mana of a Third Tribtion High Immortal,bined with the ''Nine Swords of Spacetime'', I can unleash power rivaling a second-stage Archimmortal. But it''s far from enough, and the duration of sustainedbat still falls short of a true Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan recognized this clearly.


    After all, he was merely an Earth Immortal with limited mana. Once he became a High Immortal, the situation would change dramatically, and his mana reserves would greatly increase. He would have hope of mastering part two.


    <i>By then, even if my directbat prowess fails to match an Astral Lord, it should at least rival a fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan thought.


    Coupled with the special nature of the Space Dao and Time Dao, venturing into the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm would naturally be more manageable.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>For the time being, I''ll focus on quiet cultivation.</i> Wu Yuan was in no rush. It would take him at least a decade to create a new mana body after the previous one''s demise.


    He immersed himself in cultivation.


    ...


    Years passed, and over two decades went by. Wu Yuan took no action during this time, and his mana body did not return to the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Many of the Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm chose to give up, but several Astral Monarchs still persisted.


    <i>In a ne belonging to the Hundred Mysteries Pce in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    A group of powerful Astral Monarchs gathered within a majestic temple.


    "It''s been over twenty years."


    "Should we give up?"


    "Many Astral Monarchs from other factions have already abandoned hope."


    "Ten billion divine crystals, this youngster truly refuses to budge." The dozen or so Astral Monarchs conversed.


    It wasn''t that they hadn''t attempted to negotiate a deal with Wu Yuan. In fact, the highest offer had reached five billion divine crystals, but it was still rejected.


    "Everyone, there��s no need to be so disheartened." Ya Hei, the Astral Monarch d in ck armor, smiled. "This is merely a minor opportunity in our long lives."


    The assembled Astral Monarchs nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, for them, a single ck Devil Star could only be considered a small opportunity. The vast majority of Astral Monarchs in the Dao Realm hadn��t even bothered topete.


    "Ming Jian is in no hurry. Neither should we be." Astral Monarch Ya Hei smiled and said, "The ck Devil Star is useless to immortal cultivators and serves no purpose outside the Dao Realm. Ming Jian will trade with us eventually; we just need to wait patiently.


    Furthermore, the ck Devil Star holds ck Devil Divine Pirs... Barring unforeseen circumstances, Ming Jian will inevitably carry some ck Devil Divine Pirs and venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow. A peerless genius like him can''t possibly endure such tedium," Astral Monarch Ya Hei continued.


    "Moreover, I suspect the entrance to the ck Devil Blood Hollow might very well be within the Snowlight Mist Realm. Otherwise, why would that High Immortal carry the ck Devil Star while exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm previously?"


    The group of Astral Monarchs nodded, finding Astral Monarch Ya Hei''s logic rational.


    "Just inform your subordinate Archimmortals and Archdeities that those willing to can continue exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm," Astral Monarch Ya Hei instructed. "If they manage to ambush Ming Jian, capture him, but don''t kill him. Obtaining a few ck Devil Divine Pirs would be beneficial.


    Then, perhaps Ming Jian will be willing to trade. A single ck Devil Divine Pir, if sold to certain peerless geniuses, could fetch hundreds of millions of divine crystals."


    "Agreed," many Astral Monarchs nodded, not taking it too seriously.


    ck Devil Divine Pirs? They held little significance for them.


    However, they had mobilized numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities, including many powerful Astral Lords, tounch this operation. Somepensation was necessary.


    Information on Wu Yuan was one form ofpensation these Astral Monarchs could provide.


    "Ming Jian might return to explore the Snowlight Mist Realm while carrying ck Devil Divine Pirs?"


    "When?"


    "The timing is uncertain."


    "It''s pure spection by the Astral Monarchs to string us along. Who knows when Ming Jian wille? A thousand years? Ten thousand years? Will his strength be weaker by then?" Upon receiving this information, most of the Astral Lord-level powerhouses chose to abandon the search and leave the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    In their view, there was little meaning in staying any longer.


    "Haha, I��m not in a rush."


    "It''s been a long time since Ist visited the Snowlight Mist Realm."


    "This is as good a ce to explore as any other. Who knows, with luck, we might encounter Ming Jian''s mana body. Then we could seize a ck Devil Divine Pir." A few Astral Lords decided to stay.


    As for ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities? Even more chose to remain in the Snowlight Mist Realm for short-term exploration.


    The influx of powerful individuals had led to a rapid increase in battles and bloodshed within the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    Even imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind found their expeditions increasingly perilous.


    The Outer Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm was now entirely devoid of Earth Immortals, for any Earth Immortal encountered was in without mercy, suspected of being Ming Jian''s mana body.


    ...


    Above the Spacetime Ind, two figures walked through space, their forms blurred and indistinct. They gazed down upon the vast ind below.


    Yet not a single cultivator on the ind could sense their presence.


    "Zhuo Haiyue''s impact is truly remarkable," mused a ck-robed figure wearing a weeping ghost mask, his voice tinged with amusement. "Who would have thought that such legendary events would unfold in our time? I wonder who stands behind her. Lan Yan, do you know?"


    The ck-robed figure''s aura seemed unremarkable.


    Beside him stood Sovereign Lan Yan, d in purple robes. It was clear that the two were equals.


    "What of it, Jia Lou? Do you have some notion?" Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head.


    "I wouldn''t dare," the ck-robed figure chuckled. "I''ve tried to discern Zhuo Haiyue''s karmic threads, but to no avail. Her past is unfathomable, her future unpredictable... Just as the legends say: transcending heaven and earth, binding time itself, eternally indestructible.


    Mere curiosity, that''s all," the ck-robed figure continued. "Still, the final step will be fraught with countless perils."


    "Some matters are beyond our meddling," Sovereign Lan Yan cautioned.


    "Indeed," the ck-robed figure nodded, then changed the subject. "That Ming Jian... I''ve been observing him. His natural talent seems truly terrifying. Do you think he''ll gain Big Devil''s approval?"


    "Him?" Sovereign Lan Yan''s tone was t. "Jia Lou, your battles with ck Devil were the fiercest back then. You im to want to learn more Zhuo Haiyue, but you''re really more interested in Ming Jian, aren''t you?"


    Sovereign Jia Lou merely chuckled without answering, his expression unreadable behind the mask.


    "Don��t worry," Sovereign Lan Yan continued. "The Dao Master said long ago that ck Devil��s path would threaten the Dao Realm''s longevity, and so it was severed. That little Ming Jian may glean some benefits from the ck Devil Blood Hollow, but he won''t form any karmic ties with you."


    "Ha! With your assurance, Lan Yan, I can set my mind at ease," Sovereign Jia Louughed jovially.


    Suddenly, both Sovereigns turned their heads in unison. They had just sensed an unfathomable, vast presence descending upon the Spacetime Ind.


    ��Spacetime��s essence? The essence of a Great Dao descends?��<i> </i>Sovereign Jia Lou''s voice betrayed a hint of shock.

 Chapter 714: Spacetime, Creation, The Singular Essence (2)

    <h4>Chapter 714: Spacetime, Creation, The Singr Essence (2)</h4>


    ��The essence of a Great Dao? Spacetime?��<i> </i>Sovereign Lan Yan was even more astonished.


    This vast, majestic, Dao fluctuation that descended was unfathomable and elusive. Ordinary immortal cultivators, even Archimmortals and Archdeities, could not sense it in the slightest.


    This fluctuation did not manifest in the normal realm of heaven and earth. Even with the special characteristics of the Spacetime Dao Realm, it could not truly transcend heaven and earth.


    But the two Sovereigns were different. They had reached incredible levels, having long mastered a Greater Law, and they too were on the path ofprehending a Great Dao.


    What they sought, with utmost dedication, was to fullyprehend a Great Dao! Naturally, they could sense it clearly.


    "The essence of a Great Dao descends." Sovereign Jia Lou and Sovereign Lan Yan exchanged a nce, their hearts filled with indescribable shock.


    They understood well what this meant �C another cultivator had embarked upon the path ofprehending a Great Dao.


    "Who could it be?" Sovereign Jia Lou couldn''t resist asking. "Judging by the direction, it''s from the Spacetime Ind, isn''t it? The imprint bearers there should all still be immortal cultivators."


    Hecked the authority to pry into the Spacetime Ind��s situation.


    Sovereign Lan Yan nced at him but remained silent.


    "Lan Yan, even if you don''t say it, I can guess. The Great Dao of Spacetime is both the easiest and the hardest toprehend. Within the Spacetime Ind, very fewprehend the Law of Time, and fewer are able to reach the level of True Intent. Only Ming Jian is able to achieve that.


    He''s cultivated for merely a thousand years, and already he treads the path of a Great Dao?" Sovereign Jia Lou marveled.


    Sovereign Lan Yan remained silent, merely continuing to observe the phenomenon through her perception.


    Inwardly, she too was utterly shocked, silentlymenting. <i>It took me hundreds of millions of years as a Sovereign, leveraging vast amounts of Faith power, to barely cross the threshold of Spacetime... Truly,parison is the thief of joy.</i>


    Of course, what she hadcked then was only sufficient insights into the Law of Time; she had long fullyprehended the Law of Space.


    Countless years had passed, and she had progressed further along the path of Spacetime, yet still saw no hope of reaching its end.


    <i>The Dao Master must be aware of this.</i> Sovereign Lan Yan thought to herself.<i> I wonder if Ming Jian will catch his eye.</i>


    She couldn''t be certain. The step from Sovereign to the supreme was incredibly difficult. Countless Sovereigns failed to take that step.


    Thus, even a true Supreme Genius might not necessarily gain the Dao Master''s approval.


    ...


    The descent of the Dao essence was formless and unfathomable. Apart from the two Sovereigns who happened to be passing by, not one of the millions of imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind was aware of it.


    <i>Within the private hall.</i>


    ��Master?" Star Moon whispered, her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the scene before her. "Have you crystallized the True Intent of Time? But something feels... different."


    She dared not approach.


    <i>Hum~</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop the jade tform. His form had blurred, enveloped by a vast and majestic aura. This immense aura did not extend beyond the confines of the hall.


    Even to Star Moon''s eyes and senses, Wu Yuan seemed to exist in another realm entirely. He had be somewhat unreal and dreamlike!


    <i>Time... is this the True Intent of Time? </i>Wu Yuan''s thoughts stirred.


    He realized that the flow of time, which had been so difficult to sense and manipte before, now seemed ten or even a hundred times easier to control.


    After more than twenty years of secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan had finally broken through this boundary, crystallizing Time True Intent and reaching a new stage in the Law of Time.


    <i>No! Something seems... off.</i> Wu Yuan realized. <i>This is... Spacetime? The fusion of Time and Space?</i>


    The moment he grasped Time True Intent, Wu Yuan sensed something amiss. Countless profundities of the Law of Space and the Law of Time began to merge involuntarily. Moreover, a vast Dao essence descended, resonating faintly with Wu Yuan''s soul.


    In the past, hisprehension of the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, ��Moonlight Shadow��, ��Sea Of Stars��, and other techniques had unconsciously led Wu Yuan to attempt tobine Time and Space.


    However, in the past, it had merely been abination. He had never truly fused the two Greater Laws perfectly. But when Wu Yuanprehended the Time True Intent, everything changed.


    <i>Hiss~</i> Countless Dao insights converged, forming a familiar yet entirely new profundity of the Dao in Wu Yuan''s mind��Spacetime!


    <i>The Great Dao of Spacetime? An Essence Great Dao? </i>Wu Yuan had an epiphany.


    <i>Hum!</i> As Time True Intent initially crystallized, the soul of Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self unknowingly merged with this vast descending Dao essence.


    <i>Singrity! Heaven and earth are boundless, but the Great Dao is singr.</i> Wu Yuan faintly sensed and understood this.


    In a distant, vast realm, a majestic force was calling out to him, resonating with his being. Yet Wu Yuan could barely sense it. It was blurry and indistinct. Toprehend it seemed even more challenging.


    <i>Without realizing it, I''ve already crossed the threshold of the Great Dao of Spacetime? Comprehending the Great Dao of Spacetime��s essence? </i>Wu Yuan was shocked. <i>But is the threshold of the Great Dao of Spacetime really this easy to cross?</i>


    Wu Yuan was bewildered.


    He hadn''t been prepared for this at all. Although he had long known of the Great Dao of Spacetime, he never imagined he would cross its threshold so quickly.


    <i>This is bad! Wood, Water, Fire...</i> Wu Yuan immediately began to attempt to perceive other Greater Laws.


    Immediately, an immense wave of Dao essence enveloped him, obscuring his once-clear perception of Wood''s essence, Fire''s essence, Earth''s essence, and others by a thousandfold or more!


    Dao Assimtion! The moment he stepped onto the path of the Essence Great Dao, his soul sensed the presence of the Dao essence, leading to a simr effect as merging with it.


    The effects of Dao Assimtion were instantly magnified countless times, making other Daos far more difficult toprehend.


    ...


    <i>In the mysterious and unfathomable Immutable Land, within the test site of the Creation Divine Hall.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had been undergoing the test here for over three hundred years.


    In recent decades, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self made rapid progress in the Law of Time, and his body refiner self was also influenced by this. Gradually, it was able to sense an entirely new aspect of the Creation Essence Diagrams.


    When part of the profundities of Space, Wood, and Earth werebined, along with the artistic conception of Life''s profundities, one formed the Law of Life.


    When part of the profundities of Time, Thunder, and Fire werebined, they formed a Law that seemed to share the same source as the Law of Life, yet was fundamentally opposite.


    All that was missing was that artistic conception!


    <i>ording to what Master Kua Chi once said, among the six special Greater Laws, the one corresponding to Life is the Law of Death. </i>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had not stopped pondering those Creation Essence Diagrams, especially those depicting killing andbat.


    Those enormous Dao pattern diagrams contained the profundities of Time, Thunder, and Fire, which Wu Yuan had found difficult to understand. But he persevered,pletely immersing himself in it.


    Even as hisprehension of the Law of Time progressed rapidly in recent decades, Wu Yuan repeatedly attempted to create differentbat secret arts, while also studying the secret art sacred mountains.


    His progress was remarkably swift. From exchanging a dozen moves with the level nine guardian of the Creation Tower, he could now withstand dozens of exchanges, up to a hundred.


    It seemed he was getting closer and closer to conquering level nine of the Creation Tower.


    However, Wu Yuan''sbat techniques still had ws, and each time he shed with the guardian of the ninth floor of the Creation Tower, he would ultimately be defeated.


    Every time, he was just one or two moves short! And this seemingly minute gap was like an insurmountable chasm, impossible to cross no matter how hard he tried...


    Until this moment.


    <i>Time... Time True Intent... This is the true nature of Time, this is the profundity of Spacetime fusion.</i>


    When his qi refiner selfprehended Time True Intent, his body refiner self finally grasped that insight through the intangible connection between his two true selves.


    <i>Creation! There can be death only where there is life, life cannotck the space to grow, cannotck the nourishment of the earth...</i>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <i>The endpoint of death is the extinction of time... When death urs, time no longer has meaning.</i>


    <i>Life and death... This is the true meaning of death.</i> A thick aura of death suddenly enveloped Wu Yuan.


    It was oppressive! If an ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse were standing beside him now, they would likely feel an involuntary surge of sorrow, an urge to end their own life.


    This was Death, the True Intent of Death! Among the six special Greater Laws, it was an exceptionally uniquew. Only by realizing the terror of death could one appreciate the preciousness of life.


    <i>Between life and death lies great terror. And between life and death lies infinite creation... </i>Wu Yuan contemted the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams.


    At this moment, those Creation Essence Diagrams appeared as the interweaving and fusion of the Law of Life and the Law of Death in his eyes. All conundrums were resolved.


    <i>Creation True Intent.</i> Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes.


    <i>Boom! </i>A vast and supreme Dao essence instantly descended from an infinitely distant ce upon this test site.


    Even the special nature of the Immutable Land, which could iste heaven and earth, could not prevent the descent of this Dao essence.


    A Great Dao��s essence was eternal and indestructible! Transcending heaven and earth, reigning supreme over all living beings.


    <i>Hum!</i> Wu Yuan felt his soul faintly merge with this majestic Dao essence, perceiving its vast existence beyond the infinitely distant realm.


    <i>Soul integrates with the Dao essence. The Essence is singr. </i>Wu Yuan felt that his body refiner self''s partial understanding of Space and Time''s fusion seemed to be erased by an invisible force.


    Only the pureprehension of the Laws of Time and Space remained, along with theprehension of the Great Dao of Creation.


    The moment Wu Yuan grasped Creation True Intent, the essence of the vast internal shambh within Wu Yuan''s body refiner self transformed from the Law of Life to the Creation Dao.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The entire internal shambh began to undergo an earth-shattering change, expanding rapidly. It broke through the limits of the first-degree eldritch root.


    ...


    <i>Haha, excellent. After countless ages, it''s finally happening. </i>In the Creation Divine Hall, the Creation Emissary, appearing as a ck-robed figure, materialized with a faint smile. <i>Master is finally about to wee another sessor.</i>


    <i>Apotheosis immortal root. Atst, the Saint Prohibition Art can be passed on.</i>

 Chapter 715: Heaven And Earth Has An Endpoint, The Authority Of The Great Dao (1)

    <h4>Chapter 715: Heaven And Earth Has An Endpoint, The Authority Of The Great Dao (1)</h4>


    Within the Creation Divine Hall, the ck-robed elderly man revealed a smile.


    "ck Robes, why did you release us?" A soft, feminine voice suddenly rang out. "Didn''t you say you''d silence us for a hundred million years?"


    "That''s right! That''s right!"


    "Old ck Robes must have gotten lonely again and wanted to chat with us," another hearty voice chimed in. "But his patience has waned considerably this time. Last time he silenced us for over eight million years, yet this time it''s been less than four hundred."


    "You two, keep talking and I''ll really silence you for a hundred million years," the ck-robed elderly man said coldly. "Me, lonely? I can manifest numerous incarnations and traverse the realms of the Immutable Land. Can you?


    I was afraid you''d go mad from loneliness."


    The two bantering voices fell suddenly silent.


    After a moment, the soft voice spoke up again, "ck Robes, you only locked us away for a few hundred years this time. That''s not like you. Is there something you want to show off to us?"


    "It must be," the hearty voiceughed. "I reckon that little fellow Hou Feng has done well."


    "What was that word we learned before? Ah yes, ''flexing''! ck Robes wants to flex on us."


    The two voicespleted each other��s sentences like a duet, causing the ck-robed elderly man''s eyes to bulge with anger.


    "Hmph! You two short-sighted fools, you don''t know anything," the ck-robed elderly man snorted. "Do you know what Hou Feng has aplished?"


    "What did he do? Probably just cleared level nine of the Creation Tower," the hearty voice chuckled. "Don''t tell me he actuallyprehended the True Intent of a Great Dao?"


    "Correct!" The ck-robed elderly man revealed a hint of a smug smile. "And it just happens to be the True Intent of Creation."


    "What?"


    "True Intent of Creation?" Both voices were suddenly shocked. "How is that possible? He''s been cultivating for less than a thousand years, hasn''t he?"


    "I''d believe you if you said he cultivated a Greater Law to the Dao Field stage, but Great Dao True Intent?" The soft voice was particrly incredulous.


    "Why would I lie?" The ck-robed elderly man snorted, then smiled again. "The day I��m set free is not far off."


    "Old ck, don''t get too cocky. You said the same about the previous two, but they both died," the hearty voice cautioned.


    "That''s right, those two little ones showed promise too, but s..." The soft voice began to speak.


    "Silence!" The ck-robed elderly man waved his hand forcefully, and the hall fell quiet once more. <i>That��s enough bragging. Time to silence them again.</i>


    <i>Hmm?</i> A sh of surprise crossed the ck-robed elderly man''s eyes. <i>His Apotheosis root...why does it contain a trace of Spacetime��s profundities?</i>


    <i>Could it be that he''s alsoprehended the Great Dao of Spacetime?</i>


    ...


    In the test location, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, his aura surging and spreading in all directions.


    The grand Dao fluctuations previously enveloping him had nowpletely receded and vanished. However, his soul essence had undergone a fundamental transformation.


    Within his upper dantian lobe, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self��s soul had split into nine Yuan Souls. Influenced by the Great Dao��s essence, his soul had progressed from the peak of the Yuan Soul level to the Divided Soul Will level.


    <i>Sss sss~</i> The ck pagoda suddenly began emitting dazzling rays of light, facilitating the rapid recovery of Wu Yuan''s newly evolved soul. It swiftly reached the High Immortal soul level and continued to grow even stronger.


    <i>Nine Yuan Souls is considered the limit for normal immortal cultivators. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Evenpared to many Sixth Tribtion High Immortal qi refiners, it''s impressive. However, it probably falls far short whenpared to my qi refiner self.</i>


    His qi refiner self, having undergone a soul transformation thanks to the Origin Blood Droplet, had long surpassed his body refiner self in terms of soul strength.


    ...


    Wu Yuan wasn��t too focused on the breakthrough and transformation of his Yuan Soul. Even if he hadn''t broken through under the influence of the Great Dao��s essence this time, he would have broken through after a few hundred more years of Visualizing the ck pagoda.


    He was slightly surprised by the sudden reaction of the ck pagoda. In the past, the ck pagoda had shown no signs of directly strengthening his Yuan Soul essence.


    What truly concerned Wu Yuan was the transformation of his internal shambh. For the past few hundred years, he had devoted all his energy toprehending the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams.


    Although he had been consuming divine crystals like water to cultivate his vital ether, he had only just broken through to the second stage. This was normal. For Earth Immortals and Earth Deities with lifespans of ny thousand years, it was typical to spend tens of thousands of years cultivating to the ninth stage, barring the use of precious treasures to aid one��s cultivation rate.


    <i>Afterprehending Creation��s essence, my internal shambh has broken through its limits and expanded to six million li at just the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    A first-degree immortal root was the limit under the rules of heaven and earth''s workings. This was indisputable.


    In fact, from the research Wu Yuan had done, the vast majority of immortals and eldritch beings who underwent their Tribtions did so with second-degree or third-degree immortal roots.


    A third-degree immortal root was the minimum requirement to forge an immortal body or deity body.


    A first-degree immortal root? Even among immortals, deities and eldritches, it was rare. As for surpassing that? Wu Yuan had yet to hear of it before.


    <i>Perhaps my knowledge is limited. I was unaware of the Apotheosis soul too until my qi refiner self broke through. </i>Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Now, the immortal root of his body refiner self had shattered the constraints of a first-degree immortal root, reaching a whole new level.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The internal shambh expanded, undergoing earth-shattering changes.


    The Boundary Tree grew rapidly, bing increasingly majestic. The sea of vital ether surrounding the tree also turned purer and more vigorous.


    The transformation of his immortal root strengthened his ether, simr to a breakthrough of a cultivation phase. To maintain the expansion of his internal shambh, Wu Yuan frantically absorbed the spiritual qi from the test location.


    What surprised Wu Yuan was that this test location seemed to be aware of his state. Streams of dense spiritual qi poured in continuously, flowing directly into Wu Yuan''s body.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Unknowingly, a Dharma Body phantom appeared behind Wu Yuan, towering at 120,000 zhangs, its aura vast and boundless.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>A 120,000-zhang Dharma Body?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned for a long while.


    Just like the Yuan Soul, which was normally divided into nine, the Dharma Body was the strongest physical form body refiners possessed to battle heaven and earth. Some grand ether arts for cultivating the body considered nine as the ultimate number, allowing a body to grow up to 90,000 zhangs tall at most.


    120,000 zhangs? Wu Yuan had never heard of such a thing before. Clearly, this was also a result of breaking through the constraints of a first-degree immortal root.


    <i>Several hundred years have passed. Judging solely from my Daoprehension, my qi refiner self has also made great progress. I wonder what the situation there is like now?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>My soul''s perception of Creation��s essence...It''s as if I''ve undergone a Tribtion to be an immortal, my soul merging with the Dao��s essence.</i>


    <i>Now, I can onlyprehend the Essence Great Dao of Creation, meaning I can onlyprehend the Law of Life and Law of Death epassed within this Great Dao. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    He became increasingly aware of the significance of Master Kua Chi��s words.


    The path ofprehending an Essence Great Dao wasn''t an easy one to walk. The power it granted wasn��t necessarily stronger than that of Greater Laws and might even have many limitations. The best path was one that suited oneself.


    <i>Regardless, I''ve already set foot on this path. I can only continue forward.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with determination.


    The path was set and couldn''t be changed. Moreover, the True Intent of Creation was indeed powerful beyond imagination.


    <i>Previously, when my understanding of Life advanced to the fifth-level True Intent stage and I deeplyprehended the Law of Death, the saber technique I could unleash bybining the two barely reached the Astral Lord level,parable to a seventh or eighth-stage Archimmortal.</i> Wu Yuan reflected.


    But now? Waves of concentrated Dao fluctuations enveloped his body, perfect and wless. They brimmed with vitality, as well as death that awaited at the end of life. An aura of death shrouded him.


    Life and death, perfectly fused andplementary to each other. This also caused the power of this trace of True Intent to reach an unimaginable level.


    <i>Great Dao True Intent, transcending heaven and earth. The Great Daos are truly eternal Daos, truly wless Daos. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.<i> The gap between them and Greater Laws is too vast.</i>


    Once a Great Dao��s True Intent was crystallized, its power could rival that of aplete Intermediate Law, equivalent to the Daoprehension of a newly advanced Astral Monarch.


    <i>A single transformation brought me from the level of a seventh-stage Archimmortal to that of an early-stage Astral Monarch?</i> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly at this inconceivable transformation.


    However, he didn''t dwell on it further. This transformation had brought great progress, but the cultivation path ahead would be much more difficult, as his perception of the Creation Dao��s essence was too vague. It was a thousand times vaguer than his perception of the Life Dao��s essence or Death Dao��s essence.


    Without the guidance of the Dao��s essence, he could only continueprehending the Law of Life and Law of Death, then slowly explore ways to fuse them on his own.


    <i>I just hope it hasn''t affected my qi refiner self. </i>Wu Yuan furrowed his brow again.


    When Wu Yuan��s soul fused into the Creation Dao��s essence, the parts of his spirit and consciousness concerning the Law of Time and Law of Space remained unaffected. Yet, all his insights about the fusion of the two Greater Laws of Space and Time seemed to be extracted and erased by an invisible force. Even when Wu Yuan tried toprehend them again, he found himself unable to do so.


    <i>Is this the singrity of Essence?</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self shook his head slightly, only able to patiently continue the transformation of his internal shambh.


    The internal shambh was fundamental and could not bepromised.


    With about twenty years left until the four-hundred-year deadline, Wu Yuan wasn''t in a rush.


    ...


    His body refiner self broke through and transformed.


    <i>Meanwhile, on the Spacetime Ind, inside his private hall.</i>


    <i>Spacetime True Intent. </i>Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on the jade tform, grasping this Essence Great Dao''s True Intent. With a single thought, a powerful Dao fluctuation descended. Countless Spacetime profundities merged.


    <i>The perfect union of Time and Space. Spacetime is the foundation of all Daos, and Spacetime True Intent is the perfect fusion of the True Intent of the two Greater Laws.</i> In Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    There wasn��t any distinction between time and space when it came to all things in heaven and earth; the two were inherently one. In his perception, all matter existed perpetually in Space, while some objects around him��like the divine hall, the jade tform, and Star Moon standing in the distance��were also enveloped by inseparable fluctuations of Time.


    Everything could be attributed to Spacetime.


    <i>With a thought, I can manipte the flow of time, speeding it up tenfold or a hundredfold?</i> Wu Yuan gave a mentalmand, and the flow of time around him began to change.


    Fivefold...tenfold...twentyfold! Wu Yuan gradually felt the strain. The greater the change, the heavier the burden on his mana and mental strength.


    Yet he continued to elerate time: thirtyfold...fortyfold...sixtyfold... When it reached eightyfold, the space around him began to tremble subtly. The impact on his surroundings was too intense.


    Star Moon, standing in the distance, was already dumbfounded, watching this scene in disbelief. In her vision, Wu Yuan''s form had bepletely blurred. He seemed to have entered an entirely different dimension of existence.

 Chapter 716: Heaven And Earth Has An Endpoint, The Authority Of The Great Dao (2)

    <h4>Chapter 716: Heaven And Earth Has An Endpoint, The Authority Of The Great Dao (2)</h4>


    Star Moon whispered to herself, perplexed, "Just how powerful has Master be?"


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>The rapid flow of time slowed down, returning to its normal pace. Yet, this was not the conclusion��it was just the beginning of deceleration!


    The flow of time around Wu Yuan began to slow. However, slowing time seemed to have an even greater impact on space, forcing him to halt his experiment.


    <i>The threshold for time eleration seems to be about a hundredfold. This seems to be a boundary, a limit imposed by heaven and earth''s workings.</i>


    At this moment, Wu Yuan couldn''t exceed that limit.


    <i>I might manage to sustain a hundredfold time eleration for Earth Immortals and Earth Deities briefly, but doing so for Archimmortals and Archdeities would be far more draining. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    <i>If I wanted to affect an Astral Monarch? I doubt I could maintain it for even a second; my mana isn''t sufficient.</i>


    Daoprehension was only one part of the equation. The cruxy within Wu Yuan himself.


    <i>My soul isn''t strong enough, and my mana capacity is too limited. </i>Wu Yuan reflected, shaking his head. Mana was essentially the matter one could manipte. Matter was the foundation.


    <i>Spacetime True Intent,parable in power to the Dao Field of a Greater Law, should be the result ofbining Time and Space.</i> Wu Yuan thought.


    Silently, he vanished, clearly having entered a higher spatial dimension.


    Star Moon was left in awe. <i>The spacetime fluctuations in the Spacetime Ind are suppressed. Normally, even Astral Lords can only stay in the Material Spatial Layer. How did Master break through to a higher spatial dimension?</i> Star Moon muttered to herself, unable to peer into the spatial dimension Wu Yuan was in.


    Upon entering the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan observed that normally immense and chaotic space fragments were entirely solidified. This expanse of void had beenpletely congealed.


    <i>Suppressing spatial fluctuations?</i> Wu Yuan thought. <i>No wonder even Astral Lords can''t ess this dimension. It must operate under simr principles to the Snowlight Mist Realm.</i>


    As he traveled through this dimension, the massive space fragments and forces of suppression proved ineffectual against him.


    This was because his power was even stronger, originating from an even higher dimension. It was like how the sharpest swords on the ground couldn''t damage debris in space.


    After some time, he returned to his original position.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>With a swift movement, Wu Yuan''s form was enveloped in intense spatial fluctuations. The enormous space fragments vanished, reced by countless, ethereal spatial threads.


    This was the Turbulent Spatial Layer, a dimension typically essible only to Astral Monarchs. Yet, Wu Yuan entered it with ease.


    These seemingly benign threads were, in reality, the source of spatial fluctuations affecting all matter in the Material Spatial Layer, harboring formidable power.


    But Wu Yuan, having mastered Spacetime True Intent, stood unharmed in this realm.


    <i>This dimension. </i>Wu Yuan sensed the countless spatial threads around him.


    It was an ocean of spatial fluctuations, withyers uponyers of dimensions constructing the vast foundation of the Material Spatial Layer.


    And at an even higher level beyond the countless spatial threads, Wu Yuan sensed a realm of nothingness��the Vacuum Spatial Layer.


    <i>My Daoprehension is deep enough for me to sense the Vacuum Spatial Layer. </i>Wu Yuan realized. <i>But my mana capacity is too small.</i>


    The higher the spatial dimension, the greater the pressure. Only immense power could withstand such crushing force.


    Daoprehension was power, as was mana.


    Consider Sovereigns��even if they didn''t understand a thing about the Law of Space, they could still enter the Vacuum Spatial Layer with their powerful mana.


    Meanwhile, Astral Monarchs who mastered the Qiankun Dao, also had substantial mana. Thebination of both allowed them to step into the Vacuum Spatial Layer.


    In terms of mastery over Space, Wu Yuan was hardly inferior to many Astral Monarchs of Space. However, his mana was insufficient. Entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer was already his current limit.


    <i>If I were to venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow now, ordinary Astral Lords couldn''t stop me. They wouldn''t even detect my presence.</i> Wu Yuan thought with a slight smile. <i>Of course, there''s always the risk of encountering the rare Astral Lord of Space.</i>


    Even withprehension of Spacetime True Intent, he was still an Earth Immortal, and couldn''t match an Astral Lord in directbat.


    But the special nature of the Spacetime True Intenty in that no matter how strong an enemy was, they''d have to find him first.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.


    Among the countless spatial turbulence threads, a stunningly beautiful figure in purple robes had materialized. Her smile was so captivating that one couldn''t help but be drawn in.


    Yet, with his soul and consciousness merged with the Great Dao��s essence, a trace of rity remained in the depths of Wu Yuan''s spirit, allowing him to recover instantly.


    "Ming Jian pays respects to Sovereign Lan Yan," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    At this moment, in Wu Yuan''s eyes, Sovereign Lan Yan was just a Sovereign with a powerful vital aura, nothing else.


    "As expected of a peerless genius who has crystallized a Great Dao��s True Intent. Even Astral Monarchs probably wouldn''t regain rity as quickly as you," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled.


    "This junior dares not make such ims," Wu Yuan said.


    "You are worthy of it," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled, taking a step forward. Without affecting the spatial fluctuations around them, she appeared before Wu Yuan.


    This surprised Wu Yuan at first, but he soon understood. His Daoprehension might beparable to a newly advanced Astral Monarch. Butpared to Sovereign Lan Yan, who had fullyprehended Law of Space? It wasughable!


    Moreover, Wu Yuan also sensed a faint, familiar aura radiating from Sovereign Lan Yan. This startled him, prompting him to ask, "Spacetime Essence?"


    Judging from the fluctuations alone, Sovereign Lan Yan''s perception seemed far clearer than his own. In the end, Wu Yuan had only just crystallized the True Intent of Spacetime.


    "Mm. We Sovereigns have allprehended at least one Greater Law, and naturally all yearn for greater strength," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled. "Having cultivated to our level, none of us wish to vanish in the cycle of samsara.


    However, those who seed are few and far between," Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head slightly.


    "Vanish in the cycle of samsara?" Wu Yuan was startled: "What is samsara? Can Sovereigns perish too? Afterpleting the Ninth Immortal Tribtions, isn��t one''s lifespan equal to that of heaven?"


    "Equal to heaven''s lifespan?" Sovereign Lan Yan revealed a mysterious smile. "What if heaven itself reaches the end of its life?"


    Wu Yuan was shaken to his core, yet he vaguely recalled some things Master Kua Chi had once told him.


    ��Whether it''s the essence of Lesser Laws or Greater Laws, Time, Space, Wind, Fire... they all came into being after heaven and earth was formed, everything originates from heaven and earth''s essence.�� Sovereign Lan Yan said softly.


    ��The Nine Immortal Tribtions are a test from heaven and earth. Only by passing it does one qualify to integrate with the Dao essence of heaven and earth, attaining longevity.


    But vegetation withers and flourishes. Spring passes, and autumn arrives.


    This vast heaven and earth had a beginning, so naturally it will have an end," Sovereign Lan Yan said calmly. "When heaven and earth''s lifespan ends, all will perish.


    All Dao essences will dissolve and return to one, and naturally, all living beings must perish, Sovereigns included.


    Hence it''s called samsara. This heaven and earth has gone through countless cycles of samsara," Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head slightly.


    Wu Yuan listened in shock.


    Though he had heard Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi describe bits and pieces of this concept before, it was never exined so thoroughly. Back then, he was too weak, so even if Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had exined it to him, it wouldn��t have mattered.


    "To transcend, to attain eternity, one mustprehend an Essence Great Dao. The Great Dao is eternal. Us Sovereigns are mostly on the path ofprehension, but this path is incredibly difficult." Sovereign Lan Yan looked at Wu Yuan and smiled, "Congrattions, Fellow Daoist Ming Jian, you have now stepped onto this path as well."


    Wu Yuan felt dazed.


    Fellow Daoist? A Sovereign addressing him as Fellow Daoist? This was usually a term used to address peers of equal strength. Of course, Wu Yuan understood that Sovereign Lan Yan was likely just expressing her wistfulness.


    "You tter me, Sovereign," Wu Yuan said.


    Sovereign Lan Yan smiled and spoke no more on the matter: "You''re probably still wondering why you crystallized Spacetime True Intent right after crystallizing Time True Intent, aren''t you?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but nod. This was indeed puzzling.


    "There are many Essence Great Daos, such as Spacetime, Creation, Destiny, Five Elements, and so on. They are all formed by the fusion of different Greater Laws," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled. "Spacetime is said to be the easiest to grasp, yet the hardest to master."


    <i>Easiest? Hardest?</i> Wu Yuan was baffled.


    "Spacetime is the foundation of all things, inherently perfect and wless. So once the True Intent of these two Greater Laws areprehended, they naturally merge into one, bing the cornerstone of many other Great Daos," Sovereign Lan Yan exined.


    "Take Creation Essence for example. To crystallize its True Intent, one must have extraordinary understanding and insight into both Life and Death.


    Many cultivators find it difficult to fuse them even if theyprehend the True Intents of multiple Greater Laws.


    Only Spacetime is special in this regard," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    So that was how it was. His body refiner self in the Immutable Land clearly had a great aptitude for Creation. For a long time, he had been on the verge ofprehending Creation Essence, yet never truly seeded. [1]


    Meanwhile his qi refiner self had seeded without even intentionally cultivating the Essence Great Dao of Spacetime.


    "I came to see you just to give you some guidance," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    Wu Yuan listened respectfully.


    "Those who can be Sovereigns are all peerless geniuses, some with talent no worse than yours in their youth," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "But those who can transcend heaven and earth are extremely rare."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly, well aware of the difficulty of transcendence.


    "It''s not that they don''t know the power of the Essence Great Daos, but the vast majority choose to specialize in one Greater Law at first.


    Why? The Great Daos are hard to express, our perceptions of them too vague. You''ve crystallized True Intent in one go, but further progress in cultivation will be extremely difficult," Sovereign Lan Yan said gravely. "However, you no longer have a choice.


    The Essence is singr. It will be extremely difficult for you to pursue other paths. Even if you want toprehend the Law of Space or Law of Time separately, once you reach the final step, you''ll be influenced by the Essence Great Dao.


    In fact, one could say that this is the only path avable to you," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    "Please guide me, Sovereign," Wu Yuan''s heart tightened. He hadn''t expected it to be so serious, that even his individual progress in Time and Space would bepromised.


    "The Dao Master is not the only supreme being in heaven and earth to haveprehended Spacetime.


    But he is the first toprehend the Great Dao of Spacetime throughout the endless river of space and time, across many heaven and earth''s samsara cycles. He wields the authority of a Great Dao, hence he is called a Dao Master," Sovereign Lan Yan said solemnly.


    "You must be a Legacy Imprint bearer. Only then will you have hope of catching the Dao Master''s eye. He is the one most capable of guiding you.


    Without the Dao Master''s guidance, I fear you may even struggle to be a Sovereign in the future."


    1. perhaps this is from the view of his qi refiner self ?

 Chapter 717: Greater Dao Body (1)

    <h4>Chapter 717: Greater Dao Body (1)</h4>


    ��Struggle to be a Sovereign?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Wasn''t advancing to the Sovereign phase always meant to be a near insurmountable challenge?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Greenridge Macrocosm was immensely vast, its expanse stretching beyond mortalprehension. Yet how many Sovereigns had it birthed across the endless ages?


    In Wu Yuan''s original ns, if his qi refiner self could fullyprehend a single Greater Law while still a High Immortal, bing a Supreme Genius, it would already be an extraordinary feat. After all, most macrocosms struggled to produce even one true Supreme Genius over countless eons.


    "It''s different," Sovereign Lan Yan intoned. "Though you''re part of Immortal Sovereign Bei You''s lineage, your perspective remains somewhat limited. You don''t yet grasp the full scope of the distinction.


    Bing a Sovereign is indeed tremendously difficult. But given the talent you demonstrated, you should be able to reach the seventh-level True Intent stage within a thousand years if you were to focus solely on the Law of Space.


    In as little as ten thousand years, or at most thirty thousand, you should be able to grasp Space Dao Field."


    "Ten thousand years?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly, absorbing the information.


    The timeframe Sovereign Lan Yan predicted was slightly longer than Wu Yuan''s own estimates, but still remarkably swift.


    He thought of the Seven Star Luminaries Tower of the Taiyuan Divine Court.


    The four-star tower could be challenged between one thousand and ten thousand years of age. Those at the seventh-level True Intent stage of Space could typically conquer level one hundred.


    The five-star tower was for those between ten thousand and ny thousand years old. Reaching the first-level Dao Field stage of a Greater Law or fullyprehending an Intermediate Law allowed one to conquer level one hundred.


    Cultivators like Nie Zhen, Mi Yun, and even Senior Brother Jiang Huan fell into this category. [1] They had all cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years. Such talent was considered top-tier within a macrocosm, worthy of bing direct disciples under Sovereigns.


    The six-star tower could be challenged between ny thousand and three hundred thousand years of age. Reaching the fourth-level Dao Field stage in a Greater Law allowed one to conquer level one hundred. Those who could achieve this were often hailed as the cream of the crop among High Immortals and High Deities across the entire river of space and time.


    The seven-star tower was reserved for those over three hundred thousand years old. To conquer level one hundred, one had to fullyprehend a Greater Law.


    "In my previous estimates, you had the potential to fullyprehend the Law of Space within a few hundred thousand years," Sovereign Lan Yan dered solemnly.


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    Level one hundred of the seven-star tower posed the most formidable challenge.


    Within the vast territories under the Taiyuan Divine Court''s rule, individuals who could conquer level one hundred of the three-star or five-star towers might emerge every few hundred thousand or million years.


    But level one hundred of the seven-star tower? The entire divine court headquarters might not see such a feat in over a hundred million years.


    "Supreme Geniuses who advance directly to the Sovereign phase often stand at the very pinnacle of Sovereigns." Sovereign Lan Yan''s gaze pierced Wu Yuan, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and wistfulness.


    ��Supreme beings who transcend Sovereigns are exceedingly rare. Throughout the entire river of space and time, there are but a handful. But even among Sovereigns, there are varying degrees of strength. The mightiest among Sovereigns each possess terrifying levels of power."


    Sovereign Lan Yan continued, "My Spacetime Dao Realm has produced two Supreme Geniuses."


    "Two?" Wu Yuan was astonished.


    It was considered a monumental achievement for a normal macrocosm to produce even one. Two? The Spacetime Dao Realm was truly a realm established by the Dao Master himself.


    "You already know of one �C Sovereign ck Devil," Sovereign Lan Yan revealed. "His power is extraordinary. He once battled the Sovereigns of all nine major factions in the Dao Realm simultaneously, without a shred of fear."


    "So formidable?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened in amazement.


    Only now did he learn that Sovereign ck Devil had also walked the path of a Supreme Genius.


    "And the other?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "That was in an ancient era, shortly after the Dao Realm''s creation. They were one of the earliest lifeforms to emerge in the realm. I''ve only heard tales," Sovereign Lan Yan said softly. "That individual was the Dao Master''s only publicly acknowledged disciple. It''s said they perished not long after bing a Sovereign."


    "Perished?" Wu Yuan''s shock was palpable.


    A Supreme Genius of unparalleled talent, ascending to the Sovereign phase only to meet their end?


    "Now do you understand the implications of your talent? Even if you didn��t break through within a million years, merely reaching the peak of the Astral Monarch phase, bing a Sovereign shouldn''t be difficult for you given enough time." Sovereign Lan Yan stated.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "However, my previous assessment of you was inurate. Your greatest talent lies not in the Law of Space, but in the Law of Time." Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head, a hint of wonder in her voice. "I never imagined you would crystallize Time True Intent so swiftly."


    Wu Yuan was left speechless.


    Indeed! After his soul''s metamorphosis into twelve Yuan Souls, his progress in the Law of Time had been nothing short of terrifying, allowing him to grasp Spacetime True Intent in one go. Normally, it would take ten thousand years to reach the first-level Dao Field stage, yet he had achieved it at a mere seven hundred years of age.


    "With Spacetime True Intent crystallized, your future bes far less certain," Sovereign Lan Yan''s gaze bore into Wu Yuan. "This isn''t to say this path is weaker. On the contrary, an Essence Great Dao is an eternal Dao, undoubtedly far stronger than Greater Laws. It''s simply more challenging to master.


    In the future, perhaps in tens or hundreds of thousands of years, you might reach the Dao Field stage of a Great Dao, with Daoprehension rivaling Sovereigns, or even ranking among the mightiest of Sovereigns. But breakthroughs will be increasingly difficult.


    Bing an Astral Monarch requires fullyprehending an Intermediate Law, which shouldn''t pose much challenge for you. However, to be a Sovereign, one must fullyprehend a Greater Law.


    Under the influence of an Essence Great Dao, the deeper yourprehension of the Great Dao, the more difficult it bes to sessfullyprehend a Greater Law. The hope of sess bes vanishingly small." Sovereign Lan Yan''s tone was grave.


    "Ultimately, you may well be what''s known as a ''Supreme Astral Monarch''."


    "Supreme Astral Monarch?" Wu Yuan chewed over the words.


    "That is, an Astral Monarch whosebat power rivals that of Sovereigns," Sovereign Lan Yan exined, shaking her head slightly. "Such Astral Monarchs are exceedingly rare. To my knowledge, there aren''t many even across the endless river of space and time.


    Without exception, they all arise from situations simr to yours �C individuals of unparalleled talent, with astonishing aptitude in multiple Greater Laws, who crystallize a Great Dao��s True Intent early on, yet ultimately fail to ascend to Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan now fully grasped the situation.


    Crystallizing a Great Dao��s True Intent had little impact onprehending Lesser or Intermediate Laws. It only affected the ultimateprehension of Greater Laws. It was a trade-off of gains and losses.


    <i>By walking the path of an Essence Great Dao, what''s gained is greater power, potentially surpassing so-called Supreme Geniuses even at the High Immortal stage.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>But there are also losses. The difficulty of bing a Sovereign in the future will be far greater than through normal cultivation.</i>


    Presumably, this was the reason behind Master Kua Chi''s earlier warning. Bing a Sovereign was already challenging; trying to do so under the influence of an Essence Great Dao? Even more so.


    "Sovereign, what about Zhuo Haiyue?" Wu Yuan couldn��t resist asking. "Is her situation simr to mine?"


    Wu Yuan''s previous astonishment stemmed from her outrageous growth rate, which defied normal understanding.


    "Zhuo Haiyue? No! You needn''tpare yourself to her. Regarding her situation... I''d rather notment on it." Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head slightly. "Her path differs from that of normal cultivators. Neither so-called cultivation talent nor cultivation opportunities significantly affect her.


    I estimate that in as little as ten thousand years, or at most a hundred thousand, she will ascend to the Sovereign phase," Sovereign Lan Yan''s gaze bore into Wu Yuan.


    "Throughout the river of space and time, there have been multiple examples of simr situations. Even in this era, there are others like her. But they aren''t categorized within the normal spectrum of genius growth. You needn''tpare yourself to her."


    "Bing a Sovereign in ten thousand years?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted.


    What kind of cultivation speed was that?


    "You are different from her. Her growth rate doesn''t depend on her own efforts," Sovereign Lan Yan hesitated before continuing, "In fact... I''d advise you to keep your distance from her to avoid entangling yourself in too deep a karmic tie."


    Wu Yuan''s mind was a tempest of thoughts.


    He was no fool. How could he not understand the significance of Sovereign Lan Yan''s words? As a Sovereign of Space, serving directly under the Spacetime Dao Master, her status likely surpassed even that of Master Kua Chi and the others.


    For her to be so reticent about Zhuo Haiyue, the implications surrounding Zhuo Haiyue ran far deeper than Wu Yuan had imagined, likely involving supreme beings.


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan recalled his earlier conversation with Zhuo Haiyue, how she had shown little joy at her own progress.


    He had found it strange at the time, but now he began to understand it slightly.


    1. should be referring to their past aplishments ?

 Chapter 718: Greater Dao Body (2)

    <h4>Chapter 718: Greater Dao Body (2)</h4>


    "Back to you," Sovereign Lan Yan''s gaze returned to Wu Yuan. "With your talent, any Sovereign would eagerly ept you as a direct disciple. None of my numerous disciples canpare to even a tenth of your potential.


    But the Dao Master is different. Among the Supreme Geniuses born throughout the river of space and time, most can reach the pinnacle of the Sovereign phase. But those who ultimately transcend beyond it can be counted on one''s fingers." Sovereign Lan Yan said solemnly. "Thus, the Dao Master rarely takes on sessors."


    Wu Yuan nodded lightly.


    With each samsara cycle of heaven and earth, even Sovereigns of immense power would eventually fall and perish. Transcendence was the only way out.


    "Your talent should be sufficient. Historically, there are very few geniuses who surpass you. At least in the history of the Spacetime Ind and the Dao Realm, you stand as the most talented individual. But you''re not native to the Dao Realm... so it''s hard to say what the Dao Master himself will think," Sovereign Lan Yan mused. "He might acknowledge you, or he might dislike some aspect of you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    From the Dao Master''s perspective, standing at the pinnacle of the endless river of space and time, having even experienced multiple samsaras of heaven and earth... epting disciples was no longer just about talent, but likely more about fate.


    If he took a liking to someone, he would ept them as a sessor. If he felt no connection, what did it matter how great their talent was? He might not look favorably upon them. After all, nurturing someone to the peak of the Sovereign phase probably made little difference to beings of his level.


    <i>But there''s still hope.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>The fact that the Dao Master created the Spacetime Ind proves he''s open to selecting sessors. With his guidance, my chances of bing a Sovereign in the future will naturally increase.</i>


    The Dao Master was, after all, the first being in all of history to master the Great Dao of Spacetime, an unfathomable being.


    "Oh, right. There''s another source of hope," Sovereign Lan Yan added. "The Megaverse Crossroads."


    "Megaverse Crossroads?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled. He had never heard of it before.


    "It''s a grand opportunity," Sovereign Lan Yan exined. "It opens once every 5.5 billion years, a major opportunity presented by the workings of heaven and earth. Each time it opens, providence intertwines, often heralding an era of prodigies, with numerous monstrous prodigies emerging."


    Once every 5.5 billion years? Wu Yuan held his breath. It was an impossibly long span of time.


    "Those like you who managed to rise in strength so swiftly might be blessed by the providence of the impending Megaverse Crossroads," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    "Normally, a genius like you would be a truly invincible prodigy among High Immortals after cultivating for hundreds of thousands of years. But in this era, there are likely other monstrous prodigies of your caliber as well.


    A special individual like Zhuo Haiyue may also not be the only one of her kind," Sovereign Lan Yan mused. "In the end, most will gather at the Megaverse Crossroads. This is an ineffable and grand opportunity from heaven and earth.


    Top-tier major factions like your Taiyuan Divine Court, as well as the Immortal Court and Eldritch Court, will ce immense importance on it. After it ends, a great number of Sovereigns will often subsequently emerge."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    It seemed this Megaverse Crossroads was a grand opportunity arising from the workings of heaven and earth, aimed at those who had yet to be true immortals?


    "May I ask, Sovereign, how long do I have left until it begins?" Wu Yuan inquired curiously.


    "At the earliest, ten thousand years; at thetest, two or three hundred thousand years. It''s quite close," Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head. "The passage of time is long, and it''s impossible to pinpoint exactly. Perhaps the Dao Master could divine it, but I cannot."


    Wu Yuan fell silent. Whether it was ten thousand or hundreds of thousands of years, it was a long time for him, who had only lived for over seven hundred years.


    "Strength is not the only factor that determines one��s performance at the Megaverse Crossroads; how well one does also depends on fortune and providence," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled. "Providence is crucial.


    When the Crossroads open in the future, you''ll certainly be recalled to your divine court headquarters. They''ll have more detailed intelligence, as they always send numerous geniuses to participate. In contrast, far fewer people from my Dao Realm participate," Sovereign Lan Yan exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Sovereign."


    If not for Sovereign Lan Yan, he wouldn''t have known about these matters.


    "Have you decided on your cultivation ns moving forward?" Sovereign Lan Yan smiled.


    "I haven''t thought it through yet," Wu Yuan shook his head, then respectfully added, "I hope you can offer some advice, Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan wasn''t a fool. Sovereign Lan Yan''s willingness to meet him and provide so much information showed that she thought highly of Wu Yuan. She was likely no less knowledgeable than Immortal Sovereign Bei You.


    "In terms of Daoprehension, you have reached the threshold of the Astral Monarch level. I can''t really advise you on specifics; so just follow what your heart tells you," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled.


    "But I have three suggestions for you to consider.


    First, use the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� you''ve acquired as your core technique, and contemte the Dao through the study ofbat secret arts. The ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� is one of the supreme techniques created by the Dao Master, considered one of the top arts of the Spacetime Essence Dao. Even I study it frequently.


    As for the other secret arts you''ve obtained? You can learn them, but don''t spend too much energy on them."


    Wu Yuan nodded, inwardly surprised.


    It seemed Sovereign Lan Yan knew he had obtained the ��Spacetime Secret Codex��.


    "Second, you still have a good amount of spacetime points. Increase the frequency at which you receive spacetime inheritances," Sovereign Lan Yan said.


    "Don''t wait hundreds of years between each simtion �C that''s the approach of ordinary imprint bearers, who mostly cultivate multiple Daos. Their progress is far slower, coupled with the difficulty of acquiring spacetime points.


    But you have already crystallized Spacetime True Intent. The benefits you��ll reap from the spacetime inheritance will be far greater. Yourprehension efficiency far surpasses that of ordinary imprint bearers.


    It''s difficult for you to clearly sense the Spacetime Dao��s essence, so the spacetime inheritance will be your guide," Sovereign Lan Yan looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan understood.


    Regardless of which Dao oneprehended, the best method was always to follow the guidance of the Dao��s essence. Comprehending the Great Dao of Spacetime was no exception.


    But the Dao��s essence was too hazy; if he contemted it on his own, progress would be too slow. Thus, the spacetime inheritance,bined with the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, would be his best guides.


    ��Third is battle. Battle is the best teacher. No one has ever heard of a peerless expert that rose to prominence from seclusion," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "Send your mana body to various parts of the Dao Realm to battle those Archimmortals and Astral Lords. In the crucible ofbat, you''ll find the correct path, and your progress will speed up even more.


    These are my three suggestions for you," Sovereign Lan Yan concluded.


    "Thank you, Sovereign," Wu Yuan said sincerely.


    Sovereign Lan Yan''s guidance seemed unremarkable, but that was from an outsider''s perspective. Without her advice, Wu Yuan might have taken many detours.


    "Very well, I''ve said all that��s needed. I hope you can cultivate the Great Dao of Spacetime to the Dao Field stage before the Megaverse Crossroads open. Though we speak of fortune and luck, in the end, the only thing we cultivators can truly control is our own strength," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded at first, then shook his head: "Comprehending a Great Dao is an arduous path. Cultivating to the Dao Field stage, rivaling a Sovereign... it''s not so easy to achieve."


    He had just crystallized the True Intent of a Great Dao, and his strength was extraordinary.


    But without the guidance of the Great Dao��s essence, the path of cultivation ahead would be extremely difficult to traverse, and progress might not necessarily be fast.


    Daoprehension rivaling a Sovereign? How many Sovereigns were there in an entire macrocosm?


    "For ordinary geniuses, if they choose toprehend a Great Dao early on, reaching the Dao Field stage is naturally difficult. Even reaching the ninth-level True Intent stage is extremely challenging," Sovereign Lan Yan smiled.


    "But you? I think your chances are very high. I have great expectations for you. In the future, you might be able to rival me while at the Astral Monarch stage."


    Wu Yuan was speechless.


    It seemed Sovereign Lan Yan thought highly of him, but unfortunately, it was incredibly difficult to rival a Sovereign at the Astral Monarch stage.


    At least, in the Greenridge Macrocosm, there had never been such a special existence.


    ...


    Having received Sovereign Lan Yan''s guidance, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self returned from the Turbulent Spatial Layer to his private hall.


    <i>It will take several more years before my new mana body is created. </i>


    <i>Tempering through battle? Mm, when my mana body is ready, it''s indeed time for some battle tempering.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes held a hint of anticipation. <i>I was hunted relentlessly after all.</i>


    Wu Yuan hadn''t forgotten how ruthlessly his mana body was pursued.


    Although the losses were minor and the situation wasn''t truly dangerous, Wu Yuan had always maintained the habit of settling grudges to clear his mind��a habit he had developed from a young age and never abandoned.

 Chapter 719: Greater Dao Body (3)

    <h4>Chapter 719: Greater Dao Body (3)</h4>


    <i>My qi refiner self should focus on two things: first,prehending the profundities of Spacetime. Having just broken through, now is the time for contemtion. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Second, studying ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.</i>


    Wu Yuan had previously only cultivated part one of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, but now that he had crystallized Spacetime True Intent, he had hope of cultivating part two and even part three.


    <i>If I sessfully cultivate part two, gaining first-stage Archimmortal mana, I won''t have to fear ordinary Astral Lords.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    His mana capacity was his weakness. For the foreseeable future, he would remain at the High Immortal phase, so ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� was extremely important.


    With this heaven-defying teaching, Wu Yuan had hope of rivaling Astral Lords and even Astral Monarchs while still at the High Immortal stage.


    <i>If I wish to rival Astral Monarchs? It''s still extremely difficult. Part three of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� alone might not be enough; I need to find the final part.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>I''ll have to venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow sooner orter.</i>


    Whether to uncover the secrets of the ck pagoda or for ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, he had to make the journey.


    <i>Third is to cultivate the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��.</i>


    Various chapters of the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� floated through Wu Yuan''s mind. Parts of the second step that he couldn''t understand orprehend before now became clear at a nce, and with a bit of deduction, he could execute them.


    Wu Yuan understood that this was because hisprehension had undergone a qualitative change.


    <i>ording to the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, now that I''ve crystallized Spacetime True Intent, I should be able to cultivate the fourth step. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    With this overarching perspective, he would be able to quicklyprehend the second and third steps. Comprehending the fourth step would pose some difficulty, but once mastered, it would greatly increase Wu Yuan''s strength.


    No matter how deep one''s Daoprehension, one must cultivatebat secret arts of aparable level to unleash its strongest power.


    The ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� was the most suitablebat secret art for Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self. There was hardly any debate.


    ...


    Half a year passed.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self cultivated in seclusion on the Spacetime Ind.


    Meanwhile, in the distant, unfathomable Immutable Land, the internal shambh within Wu Yuan''s body refiner self finally reached perfection, his vital ether likewise refined to the utmost purity.


    <i>It''s already over twenty million li? I��m only at the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Even the internal shambhs of ordinary High Eldritch and High Deities probably couldn''tpare to his in terms of grandeur.


    The entire world had transformed utterly. ciers, canyons, deserts, forests, rivers, oceans... it had every natural marvel one could imagine. Within this vast world, numerous thunder beasts roamed carefreely.


    <i>These thunder beasts nearly rival those in the Thunder Marsh World. </i>Wu Yuan mused.


    They had even developed a glimmer of rudimentary thought. If not for Wu Yuan''s small mana capacity and unfamiliarity with applying Creation True Intent, he might have been able to create true life.


    <i>Thete Astral Monarch Wan Lei likely reached a higher level than me, but it should have also been within the True Intent stage of Creation, not yet crossing into the Dao Field stage.</i> Wu Yuan estimated.


    The True Intent stage and Dao Field stage of a Great Dao were two entirely different concepts.


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    <i>My vital ether likely rivals that of an eighth-stage Earth Eldritch with a second-degree immortal root. </i>Wu Yuan roughly gauged.


    He could sense the immense power granted by the Apotheosis root.


    Being able to rival an eighth-stage Earth Eldritch while only at the second stage represented a fundamental transformation in the nature of life, far exceeding the shift from a second-degree to a first-degree immortal root.


    What would his vital ether be like if he cultivated to the ninth-stage Earth Eldritch phase in the future? Wu Yuan could scarcely imagine it. Perhaps it could rival a First Tribtion High Eldritch.


    <i>Miniature Destiny Voidscape. </i>Wu Yuan sensed the virtual aspect of his internal shambh, where a vast, unfathomable river seemed to flow.


    A body refiner created their own voidscape. Now, this miniature Destiny Voidscape had likewise expanded over a hundredfold. By Wu Yuan''s estimates, even the miniature Destiny Voidscapes of ordinary High Eldritches likely paled inparison to his.


    <i>I can also refine a hundred times more Faith power.</i> Wu Yuan observed the Faith power permeating his miniature Destiny Voidscape. It was pitifully meager.


    With the ck pagoda and blood mist, Wu Yuan wasn��t afraid to refine Faith power continuously, using it to nourish his soul and elerate his cultivation.


    <i>When I return to the Cang Feng Eldritch World, I must find a way to obtain more Faith power. </i>Wu Yuan''s mind brimmed with ideas.


    After half a year, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self long realized the difficulty ofprehending an Essence Great Dao. Progress was extremely slow. This highlighted the importance of Faith power.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan stood up, his gaze sweeping across the Creation Essence Diagrams surrounding him.<i> It''s time to leave this ce.</i>


    The Creation Essence Diagrams had seemed profoundly abstruse to him hundreds of years ago. Now, he no longer felt a shred of confusion.


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Wu Yuan stepped forward and flew into the Creation Tower. Inside, he was met with a familiar sight��a vast expanse of chaos, the same environment he encountered every time he visited.


    <i>Boom! </i>With a thought, a strand of his consciousness entered once more, but this time he no longer feltpletely out of control, able to clearly sense the process of his consciousness descending.


    ...


    <i>In the battle space.</i>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan opened his eyes. Two sabers hovered at his side. With great familiarity, he grasped them.


    His gaze fell once more upon the distant guardian whose face remained indiscernible.


    "You''re finally here," the guardian suddenly spoke.


    "You can speak?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.


    This was the first time the Creation Tower''s guardian had spoken. In their dozens of previous encounters, the other party had never uttered a word.


    "Of course I can," the guardian''s voice was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "When I am able to speak, it also means you will absolutely pass the test. You are the first ever challenger to make me speak."


    "The first?" Wu Yuan grew increasingly astonished.


    This Creation Divine Hall had existed for who knew how long. ording to the Creation Emissary, there should have been quite a few monstrous prodigies who had attempted this challenge before.


    "Yes. Six others have defeated me, but none overwhelmed me with absolute strength," the guardian said. "So, they weren''t worthy of hearing my voice."


    Wu Yuan understood.


    Level nine of the Creation Tower likely requiredprehending the eighth-level True Intent stage of a Greater Law, reaching the Astral Lord level, to pass. Meanwhile, he had already transcended to another level entirely.


    "I am certain to lose this battle, but I hope you will defeat me with your full strength," the guardian said tly. "Let me see what kind of monstrous prodigy has the greatest hope of obtaining the True Saint''s legacy."


    "Very well," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The two shed, and after three saber strikes, the guardian dissipated.


    That''s right, merely three strikes.


    Even though Wu Yuan hadn''t learned any particrly powerfulbat secret arts and their power level was the same, his Daoprehension level was far higher.


    With his first strike, he overwhelmed the guardian. The second strike exploded like a supernova, tearing his body apart. The third strikepletely obliterated him.


    As the ninth floor guardian dispersed, Wu Yuan''s strand of consciousness swiftly returned.


    Then, the Creation Tower and test location began to rapidly copse before him, a sight that initially startled him. But he soon realized that everything around him seemed to exist in a different dimension, its destruction not affecting him in the slightest.


    "Congrattions. Hou Feng, you have be the third sessor of the Immutable True Saint." A gentle voice spoke in Wu Yuan''s ears. "The Great Dao imprint will now be fused.


    From today onwards, your destiny will undergo great changes."


    Before Wu Yuan could ponder further, the rapidly copsing Creation Tower and test location ultimately condensed into an azure, teardrop-shaped liquid.


    It hovered above Wu Yuan''s head.


    All around was boundless void, with no end in sight to Wu Yuan''s senses.


    <i>Drip~</i> The azure teardrop suddenly fell,nding on Wu Yuan''s body before instantly diffusing.


    This droplet seemed to contain unfathomable power, directly permeating every corner of Wu Yuan''s form. It even prated every part of his soul and the vast expanse of his internal shambh.


    The physical body was the outward manifestation of power. The soul was the foundation of consciousness. The internal shambh was the lifeblood of life.


    In an instant, every part of Wu Yuan waspletely enveloped by the mysterious power carried by the azure liquid.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan was immediately shocked to find that countless minute and incredibly intricate Dao pattern diagrams had faintly appeared in the most fundamental depths of his body, the depths of his soul, and the essence of his internal shambh. They fused with his flesh, soul, and the essence of his internal shambh, radiating vigorous vitality.


    They were indivisible, emitting strands of vast, majestic, yet nearly imperceptible Dao fluctuations. These were fluctuations of a Great Dao.


    <i>A Creation Dao Body? No, not quite. I seem to now have a Life Dao Body enveloped by the essence of a Great Dao. </i>Wu Yuan inwardly realized. <i>That drop of azure liquid transformed my body into a Life Dao Body?</i>


    In the past. Wu Yuan only knew of Lesser Dao Bodies and Intermediate Dao Bodies. Even an Intermediate Dao Body was extraordinarily remarkable, enough to turn one into a peerless genius.


    As for Greater Dao Bodies? He had never even heard of such a thing!


    <i>Now that my body has transformed into a Life Dao Body, how��s my perception of the Law of Life?</i> Wu Yuan''s mind stirred.


    Instantly, Wu Yuan sensed that the essence of the Law of Life, which had grown rather hazy under the influence of Dao Assimtion, was now crystal clear once more. It was even clearer than before he had crystallized Creation True Intent.


    <i>Rumble~</i> Even the vast, boundless Creation Essence Great Dao seemed much clearer in Wu Yuan''s perception. Though still quite blurry, it was at least much easier toprehend now.


    <i>Just as the Celestial Body Dao Body made it easier for me toprehend the Law of Life, evolving to a Life Dao Body simrly makes it easier for me to sense the essence of the Great Dao, under the premise of crystallizing Creation True Intent. </i>Wu Yuan had a sudden realization.


    <i>Hum~ </i>An invisible wave suddenly swept past, instantly teleporting Wu Yuan away from this realm of nothingness.

 Chapter 720: Greater Dao Body (4)

    <h4>Chapter 720: Greater Dao Body (4)</h4>


    The Creation Divine Hall stood towering and endless, just as before.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan appeared out of thin air,nding on the ground. At a nce, he saw a familiar elderly man in ck robes not far away, smiling at him.


    "Sir Emissary," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully. He understood that earlier congrattory words were likely uttered by this Creation Emissary.


    "Originally, I thought it would be impressive enough if you passed level eight of the Creation Tower. After all, all of the nearly one hundred individuals who have entered the tower in history have reached the benchmark of a Supreme Genius. Among them, you could only be considered above average, not among the very top," the elderly man in ck robes smiled.


    ��I didn''t expect you to undergo such a transformation in just a few hundred years, sessfully crystallizing Creation True Intent."


    "It was luck," Wu Yuan said.


    "How could crystallizing the True Intent of a Great Dao be a matter of luck?" The elderly man in ck robes shook his head, "Previously, you only showed extremely high affinity for the Law of Life, but didn''t reveal any talent in the Law of Death..."


    Law of Death? Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    Indeed, when it came to the Law of Death, he couldn''t be considered talented. Just as the core of the Law of Life was the Law of True Spatial Domain, the Law of Death, at its core, was the Law of Time.


    The Law of Death was formed by the fusion of parts of the Laws of Time, Thunder, and Fire.


    Even with consecutive breakthroughs in his soul level and hundreds of years of cultivation, hisprehension of the Thunder and Fire Daos remained ordinary. It was his breakthrough in the Law of Time that led to his breakthrough in the Law of Death.


    More urately, it wasn''t the talent of his body refiner self, but the insights of his qi refiner self that helped him break through.


    However, being able to take the final step and crystallize Creation True Intent wasn''t purely a stroke of luck as the elderly man in ck robes said.


    Since his visit to the Thunder Marsh World, he had intentionally imitated and perceived the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of each Thunder Beast Diagram.


    The peace and leisure of the thunder beasts represented life. The ughter and struggle of the thunder beasts represented death.


    It was not long after the start of the four-hundred-year test that Wu Yuan firmly chose to walk the path of a Great Dao.


    Before epting the test, how long had Wu Yuan lived? Yet in those hundreds of years, despite setback after setback, he never once thought of giving up. His determination did not waver in the slightest.


    With this umtion of insights and persistence, plus the breakthrough of his body refiner self, he finally achieved the breakthrough with some luck and sudden epiphanies.


    Without the persistence of his body refiner self, failure would have been inevitable. Without the achievements of his qi refiner self, sess would have been equally impossible.


    Neither could becking.


    ...


    "Of the previous hundred peerless geniuses, over sixty percent eventually went on to be true Supreme Geniuses. Among them, quite a few are now powerful existences whose names resound throughout the river of space and time," the elderly man in ck robes said, "However, in terms of their aptitude for the Essence Great Dao of Creation, none of them match you."


    Wu Yuan revealed a faint smile.


    "Of course, six others before you have passed level nine of the Creation Tower��s test," the elderly man in ck robes said, "Among them, two even received the recognition of the Great Dao imprint, bing Master��s sessors."


    Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily. Six? Two?


    This probability was undoubtedly very low. The sessor selection criteria of this mysterious Immutable True Saint were indeed stringent. Those who qualified to enter the test location were already extraordinary.


    For instance, throughout the endless ages of the Greenridge Macrocosm, not a single person had been able to enter the test location apart from himself.


    "Sir Emissary, is the Great Dao imprint what allows our bodies to evolve into Greater Dao Bodies?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Correct!" The elderly man in ck robes nodded heavily, "The Great Dao imprint belongs to the highest tier of second-grade opportunities, without exception. Only Master''s sessors are qualified to receive it.


    Each one is incredibly rare, and only beings surpassing Sovereigns can produce them. Even ordinary supreme beings are reluctant to part with them.


    Master, the Immutable True Saint, established the Immutable Land and left behind nine Great Dao imprints, prepared for nine sessors.


    Once fused, one��s body will evolve into a Greater Dao Body. Apart from the primordial Deities and Devils of heaven and earth, Greater Dao Bodies are almost never formed through natural means. One may only see hope of establishing one through the bestowal by supreme beings like Master," the elderly man in ck robes said.


    Realization dawned on Wu Yuan.


    Indeed, even in the Greenridge Macrocosm, there had never been mention of Greater Dao Bodies, let alone ancient Deities and Devils.


    "To fuse with the Great Dao imprint, one must also have sufficient strength, and must not have forged their immortal body or deity body," the elderly man in ck robes looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Of course, for someone like you who has crystallized the True Intent of a Great Dao, you can easily withstand it. And since you excel in the Law of Life, your body naturally evolved into a Life Dao Body," the elderly man in ck robes said.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    These secrets were aplete mystery to him in the past. Now, it seemed that the second-grade opportunities of this Immutable Land were indeed extraordinary.


    "Do you know the greatest function of a Greater Dao Body?" The elderly man in ck robes smiled.


    "I don''t," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Actually, with your talent, it wouldn''t be difficult for you toprehend the Great Dao of Creation to the ninth-level Dao Field stage given enough time," the elderly man in ck robes smiled and said.


    ��However, the more deeply youprehend the Great Dao, the further your soul assimtes into the Great Dao, which in turn affects your ability to fullyprehend Greater Laws... You might end uppletely trapped at the Astral Monarch phase."


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self understood the concept of a Supreme Astral Monarch.


    "The Greater Dao Body enhances your perception of the essence of the Law of Life," the elderly man in ck robes said, "This way, the difficulty of fullyprehending the Law of Life will drastically decrease.


    Although the difficulty of bing a Sovereign will still be higherpared to other Astral Monarchs, it won''t be too outrageous."


    Wu Yuan understood.


    He thought of Astral Monarch Wan Lei. Even if he had managed to advance hisprehension of the Great Dao another step, rivaling a Sovereign, he likely still couldn''t be a Sovereign.


    "Of course, the Great Dao imprint can at most help you reach the peak of the Sovereign phase," the elderly man in ck robes said, "The final step of fullyprehending the Great Dao and the Law of Death depends on you alone. Transcending the Great Dao to be supreme, even Master can''t help you with that.


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    Of Master''s two previous sessors, one has perished, while the other remains stuck at the Sovereign phase."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    He now understood everything. To be a Sovereign was to fullyprehend a Greater Law.


    To be a supreme existence was to fullyprehend a Great Dao.


    The Great Dao was eternal! Only by thoroughlyprehending a Great Dao could one truly be eternal, unafraid of the samsara cycle��s end.


    "Sir Emissary, even now, I don''t know the name of the Immutable Land��s master," Wu Yuan said.


    "You should call him Master," the elderly man in ck robes smiled and raised his hand, saying, "Hou Feng, look over there."


    Wu Yuan looked in the direction that he pointed to.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> In the void a distance from the temple, space seemed to distort faintly, as if projecting a scene from endless ages ago.


    There stood a temple, and within it sat a Daoist in azure robes, his features too blurry to discern. Below him, countless beings seemed to be kneeling, listening to his teachings.


    Suddenly, this azure-robed Daoist seemed to sense something, and he looked over, his gaze falling upon Wu Yuan.


    <i>Boom!</i> A vast amount of information flooded into Wu Yuan��s mind.


    "Wu Yuan, from this moment on, you are my third nominal disciple. I am Bu Xiu," a gentle voice resounded in the divine hall. [1]


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The chaotic and bizarre scene dissipated, and the entire temple returned to normal.


    Wu Yuan��s eyes remained closed, still digesting the enormous wealth of information he had just received.


    The elderly man in ck robes smiled contentedly, watching from the side.


    ...


    Scene after scene appeared in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    This was a spear expert who had practiced with the spear since childhood. Initially, his spear techniques were not particrly impressive, but he grew obsessed with practicing, bing a true fanatic.


    His cultivation environment was extremely rudimentary, not evenparable to the Middle Land. Yet he stubbornly carved out a path with his spear, bing the strongest expert in that small worldlet, and even began toprehend the nature of heaven and earth.


    His spear techniques grew increasingly powerful, and relying on self-created techniques, he reached the Amethyst Cradle phase.


    Later, he finally arrived at a cultivation sect on an immortal continent, and from there, his progress skyrocketed.


    Void Refiner phase, Earth Immortal, High Immortal... at the High Immortal phase, he stepped onto the path of the Creation Great Dao.


    He continued to hone his spear techniques, striking terror in the hearts of Astral Lords. Even Astral Monarchs fell to his spear, while Sovereigns watched in disbelief, marveling at his prowess.


    Then, he broke through to be an Astral Monarch. As an Astral Monarch, he was already the strongest Astral Monarch in the vast river of space and time, battling Sovereigns and defying the heavens.


    After breaking through to be a Sovereign, he stood at the very pinnacle of Sovereigns, worthy of being called invincible among Sovereigns, until he transcended.


    <i>Such spear techniques!</i> Wu Yuan waspletely shocked.


    Each thrust of the spear carried endless vitality.


    Each sweep of the spear carried endlessmentations.


    Each movement of his spear embodied the nature of life and death. Even before transcendence, his spearmanship was so terrifying that ordinary Sovereigns could scarcely withstand a single strike.


    This spearmanship pierced through life and death, transcending the samsara cycle of heaven and earth.


    This ultimate set of spear techniques was known as ��The Will of Life and Death��.


    1. Bu Xiu = Immutable ?

 Chapter 721: Wu Yuan Returns, Merging Of Memories (1)

    <h4>Chapter 721: Wu Yuan Returns, Merging Of Memories (1)</h4>


    <i>The ��Will of Life and Death��. A single spear strike holds both life and death, yet also transcends them.</i> Wu Yuan immersed himself in contemtion. <i>Death awaits at the end of life, yet within death often lies the seed of rebirth.</i>


    He had learned numerousbat secret arts in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, as well as various exquisitebat techniques from the secret art sacred mountains during his test.


    However, none couldpare to this ��Will of Life and Death��. It was not merely a simple convergence of Dao insights, but seemed to contain traces of the Immutable True Saint''s will within.


    Whenever Wu Yuan recalled thisbat secret art, memories of the Immutable True Saint''s cultivation experiences would surface. Unconsciously, it guided Wu Yuan towardsprehending the Great Dao of Creation.


    It should be noted that Wu Yuan had only recently grasped the True Intent of Creation and only just established a Life Dao Body.


    Now that he had obtained the ��Will of Life and Death��, countless insights into the Dao flooded his mind. Scene after scene of spear training flickered through Wu Yuan''s thoughts.


    <i>The Immutable True Saint wielded a spear. To trulyprehend this secret art, a spear would likely be ideal. </i>Wu Yuan mused. B<i>ut my strength lies in the saber, and it��s the weapon I��m most fond of.</i>


    <i>I should learn from those who came before, while still forging my own path.</i>


    Only by standing on the shoulders of giants could one see farther and gain strength more swiftly. To stubbornly insist on zing a new trail through the wilderness when a broad highway already existed was not the mark of genius, but of foolishness!


    Yet walking the pathid by one''s predecessors did not mean blind imitation. Rather, it meant absorbing their wisdom while finding the way best suited to oneself.


    <i>The most crucial aspect of the Will of Life and Death is this will.</i> Wu Yuan realized with sudden rity.<i> I must study the profound workings of the Laws of Creation, yet gradually form a will that is uniquely my own.</i>


    <i>The saber! First, I must learn to wield this powerfulbat secret art with a saber.</i> Wu Yuan made up his mind.


    The weapon was merely the external form. The profundities and will of the Dao were the true core.


    Wu Yuan sank deep into contemtion, feeling countless insights surge through him, propelling his progress. He became utterly oblivious to his surroundings.


    The elderly man in ck robes merely smiled, making no move to interrupt. For him, waiting a few years more or less made little difference.


    ...


    Exhaling, Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.


    It felt as if only an instant had passed, yet all the insights into the Great Dao of Creation he had umted over centuries seemed to have been unleashed at once under the guidance of the ��Will of Life and Death��.


    "Senior, how long has it been?" Wu Yuan turned to the ck-robed elderly man.


    "One year," the elderly man replied with a smile.


    "So long?" Wu Yuan was startled. He hadpletely lost track of time.


    "What''s a mere year? In the future, you may seclude yourself in cultivation for millions of years at a stretch," the elderly man said, still smiling.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile as well.


    Indeed, the further one progressed in cultivation, the more difficult each step became. He had yielded great gains from this one year ofprehension. Yet, he was still far from breaking through to the second-level True Intent stage of Creation.


    "As the sessor of the Immutable True Saint, the ��Will of Life and Death�� is your second reward," the elderly man said, gazing at Wu Yuan. "It contains a trace of the True Saint''s will, which will unconsciously guide you towards the essence of the Great Dao as you cultivate �C an opportunity rarely afforded to those who seek toprehend the Great Dao.


    With the Life Dao Body and ��Will of Life and Death��, your chances of bing a Sovereign in the future have increased at least tenfold, and your hope of achieving transcendence has grown significantly as well," the elderly man continued.


    Wu Yuan listened intently, realizing the strength and uniqueness of the ��Will of Life and Death��. Its power as abat technique was but one aspect. More crucially, it offered guidance inprehending the Dao.


    "Emissary, was it truly my master, the True Saint himself, who spoke to me earlier?" Wu Yuan asked.


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    "Indeed." The elderly man nodded. "Master has not perished. The scene you witnessed was of one of his lectures within the Creation Divine Hall. It took ce countless eons ago, when the Immutable Land was first established. But as a transcendent being, Master holds all imprints of time and space within his mind.


    That which he contemtes bes manifest. Thus, the words spoken to you by Master in the past are equivalent to him addressing you in the present.


    Master is aware of your existence," the elderly man said.


    Wu Yuan was stunned by this revtion.


    He was so powerful?


    "Of course, you are currently only a nominal disciple, not yet a true disciple," the elderly man continued. "As such, you are not yet qualified to learn of Master''s precise whereabouts."


    Naturally, the elderly man left some things unsaid �C even he did not know the current location of the Immutable True Saint.


    Since the creation of the Immutable Land and his master''s departure, countless eons had passed without his return.


    "When might I meet Master?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.


    "That is unknown," the elderly man shook his head. "When Master deems it appropriate to meet you, he shall do so... But your two senior brothers have not seen Master since their time in the Creation Divine Hall either."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    His two nominal senior brothers had only met the Immutable True Saint once? And it wasn''t even considered a true meeting?


    "May I know who my two senior brothers are?" Wu Yuan inquired.


    "There''s no need to speak of the one who has perished," the elderly man said. "As for the one who still lives, he would be your Great Senior Brother... His name is Jian Huang."


    "Sovereign Jian Huang?" Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He had never heard of this name before, but made note of it.


    "Sovereign Jian Huang is ate-stage Sovereign in the river of space and time, ruling over a great macrocosm. He has achieved no small measure of sess, even ying other Sovereigns," the elderly man exined. "He reigns supreme in his domain, and even some super powers are wary of provoking him."


    Wu Yuan nodded, impressed.


    It seemed this Sovereign Jian Huang possessed terrifying strength, likely on par with or even surpassing Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling of the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    "However, he has not yet met Master''s expectations, at least not as of now," the elderly man said, looking at Wu Yuan. "You must understand, Master is a supreme being who has transcended the samsara cycles of heaven and earth.


    Be they Sovereigns, or evente-stage Sovereigns, Master has little use for them. Master established the Immutable Land, created the Creation Divine Hall, and even paid a great price to leave behind imprints of the Great Dao �C but not for the sake of nurturing Sovereigns," the elderly man continued.


    "Even some exceptionally powerful Sovereigns known as Overlords, with strength approaching Master''s level, are not worth his attention.


    No matter how mighty they may be, as long as they have not transcended, they too shall ultimately perish when the cycle of samsara ends."


    Wu Yuan listened in shock.


    Exceptionally powerful Sovereigns known as Overlords? His mind immediately shed to the Overlord Hall in the Bloodforge Spacetime. Could it be that the Bloodforge Spacetime was created by one such Overlord?


    "Take the powerful Deities and Devils born in the era when the heavens were first created. Many were Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns from birth. They were the darlings of heaven and earth, yet almost none had any hope of transcendence," the elderly man said.


    Born as Sovereigns? Wu Yuan grew increasingly astonished.


    This was information he had never heard of before. He only knew of some powerful Deities and Devils from ancient times, like the Teng Snake Progenitor who followed Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.


    He had yet to ascend to Archimmortality, and thus did not qualify as a true elite of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, let alone the Eldritch Court. Naturally, there was much ssified information he remained unaware of.


    Moreover, under the current workings of heaven and earth, 99% of powerful beings arose from various macrocosms. Their understanding of those primordial, inherently mighty lifeforms was naturally scarce.


    "In short, Master chose you as his sessor and is nurturing you in hopes of raising another supreme, transcendent being," the elderly man said.


    Wu Yuan was secretly shocked. Such lofty expectations from a supreme being! When ordinary Sovereigns nurtured disciples, they only dared hope for their disciples to reach the Sovereign phase, even if they were their most brilliant geniuses.


    A supreme being? They were not something one could nurture simply by wanting to. His two senior brothers must have been monstrous prodigies as well, far surpassing ordinary Supreme Geniuses. Yet what of it? They still saw no hope of sess.


    "Of course, this path is extremely difficult. What we call opportunities and treasures are all rtive," the elderly man said.


    "For instance, a third-degree immortal root would be considered a great opportunity among most Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators, with those possessing one called monstrous prodigies. But to an Archimmortal, it is utterlymonce �C without a third-degree immortal root at least, one could not even forge an immortal body or deity body.


    Things like first-degree immortal roots, Intermediate Dao Bodies, and supreme techniques would be considered heaven-defying opportunities and characteristics of monstrous prodigies to ordinary immortal cultivators. But every Sovereign possesses a first-degree immortal root at least.


    Without a first-degree immortal root, one simply cannot be a Sovereign. As for Intermediate Dao Bodies? At the Sovereign phase, even those are nothing special," the elderly man shook his head.


    "Why? Because anyone who reaches that phase has experienced great providence and extraordinary opportunities. How could theyck such things?"


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    He understood this principle well. In the past, he had been considered top-tier within the Bloodforge Spacetime. But upon first arriving in the eldritch world, he was mediocre in Master Kua Chi''s eyes.


    It was the same now. Among supreme transcendent beings, his current achievements could likely only be deemed passable, for their standards were far too high.


    "Thus, Master has prepared what could be called the finest training conditions for you," the elderly man said. "You relied on your own power to establish an Apotheosis root, which is excellent. With this foundation, you have hope of bing an Overlord in the future."


    "Apotheosis root?" Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with surprise.


    "I know everything about you. You are only at the Earth Eldritch phase now, thus your root can be upgraded upon crystallizing the True Intent of Creation. If your cultivation phase had been more advanced, this would not have been possible," the elderly man said with a smile.


    "The more powerful one bes, the harder it is to upgrade one''s root. Among Sovereigns, 99% do not possess an Apotheosis root. If they wished to upgrade their roots? The chances are not much greater than transcending."


    Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up. So an Apotheosis root was extremely rare even among Sovereigns.


    "A Greater Dao Body and a supreme technique containing the will of a transcendent being are equally rare. Most ordinary Sovereigns do not have such benefits," the elderly man said. "With these three advantages, you have hope of standing at the peak of Sovereigns in the future.


    But all of this will be useless when it��s time to take the final step. You can only achieve transcendence by yourself," the elderly man said. "At that stage, no one can help you - not even Master can do it for you."


    "This junior shall strive with all his might," Wu Yuan said respectfully, bowing his head.


    That final step? It was still far too distant!


    As an Earth Eldritch, he should focus on slowly cultivating to High Eldritch, then breaking through to the pinnacle of Sovereign. Transcendence? He��d consider that after reaching thete-stage Sovereign phase.


    "Besides these, there are two secret arts suitable for you," the ck-robed elderly man said. "Both are considered life-saving techniques. With them, your path to bing a Sovereign will be smoother. These two secret arts are also considered Master''s masterpieces. Ordinary Sovereigns won��t be able to create them. And one of them will be of great use even after you be a Sovereign."


    "Oh?" A flicker of anticipation shed through Wu Yuan''s heart.


    A supreme being��s masterpieces? They must be extraordinary.

 Chapter 722: Wu Yuan Returns, Merging Of Memories (2)

    <h4>Chapter 722: Wu Yuan Returns, Merging Of Memories (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The ck-robed elderly man pointed from afar, and a streak of light shot into Wu Yuan''s body.


    The moment the light touched Wu Yuan, a flood of information poured into his mind. It took him a long time to fully absorb it.


    There were two teachings in total, one called ''Creation Saint Prohibition'' and the other ''Immutable Soul'', both with heaven-defying, miraculous powers.


    <i>These two secret arts? </i>Wu Yuan pondered briefly, roughly learning the usage methods of the two teachings.


    ''Creation Saint Prohibition'' was a burst-type secret art, where one unleashed unprecedented power from the internal shambh. It could also be called a Saint Prohibition Art, and was divided into four parts.


    While cultivating part one, one''s vital ether would progressively rise to the level of a First Tribtion High Immortal, then a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal, and finally a first-stage Archimmortal.


    In part two, one��s vital ether could be enhanced to the level of a third-stage Archimmortal, then a fifth-stage Archimmortal.


    In part three one��s vital ether could be enhanced to the level of a seventh-stage Archimmortal, then a ninth-stage Archimmortal.


    In the final part, one��s vital ether could be enhanced to the base level of an Astral Monarch.


    "Emissary, isn''t this ''Creation Saint Prohibition'' too terrifying?" Wu Yuan couldn��t resist asking, "A High Eldritch can unleash the mana of an Astral Monarch?"


    ��Its power is indeed terrifying. But it''s not as easy as you think. Why is it called ��Saint Prohibition��? Only supreme beings have the right to be called Saints. It is prohibited below Sainthood.


    To cultivate it, one must first have an Apotheosis root, and also require the support of a Great Dao imprint. How many individuals can meet these two conditions?


    Those with Apotheosis root possess a vast internal shambh and Voidspace. Yet they are suppressed by heaven and earth and cannot unleash their full strength.


    The so-called Saint Prohibition Arts are techniques to help those with Apotheosis roots unleash their potential.


    Moreover, it''s extremely difficult to truly cultivate to the final part," the ck-robed elderly man said. "For example, the final part of ''Creation Saint Prohibition'' demands an exceptionally deep understanding of the Dao of Creation."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Indeed, at his current Daoprehension level, he had hope of cultivating part two. But the final part? There wasn''t even a glimmer of hope.


    Even so, it was terrifying enough. With this secret art, he would have a chance to contend with Astral Monarchs once he reached the High Eldritch phase.


    "As for the other secret art, ''Immutable Soul'', even if you cultivate it sessfully, try not to use it," the ck-robed elderly man said. "Each revival will weaken your vitality."


    "Junior understands," Wu Yuan said.


    ''Immutable Soul'' was a supreme life-saving technique, in some ways a hundred or thousand times more precious than ''Creation Saint Prohibition''.


    ''Creation Saint Prohibition'' was only useful before onepleted their Tribtions. Once one became an Astral Monarch or Sovereign in the future, it would be of little use.


    However, ''Immutable Soul'' taught one how to create a Bloodsoul. As long as the Bloodsoul was ced in a safe ce, even if the true self perished, one could be reborn again with the Bloodsoul!


    Logically, when the true self perished, death was certain, but ''Immutable Soul'' could allow one to truly revive and start anew time after time.


    How heaven-defying was that? Even after bing a Sovereign, he could still use the teaching to revive himself and return.


    <i>However, the teaching also cautions that each death leads to a huge drain in power, and beforepleting the Tribtions, one can revive three times at most. Once this is exceeded, one''s vitality will be greatly affected.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>Even after bing a Sovereign, it''s best not to exceed nine times.</i>


    This seemed to be a kind of restraint imposed by heaven and earth.


    "Being careful is not enough, you must not be arrogant either. If you truly encounter some heaven-defying beings, they can destroy your Bloodsoul through karma, making even revival impossible," the ck-robed elderly man seemed to read Wu Yuan''s thoughts.


    Wu Yuan''s heart trembled, "Understood."


    There were no absolutely foolproof methods.


    "Each Greater Law and even Essence Law has its own specialties. For example, to cultivate ''Immutable Soul'', one mustprehend Creation Essence," the ck-robed elderly man looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Those whoprehend the Great Dao of Spacetime, for instance, can make their true bodiespletely undetectable and untraceable.


    Those whoprehend the Great Dao of Five Elements can create five mana/ether bodies, making them nigh invincible in directbat.


    Those whoprehend the Great Dao of Destiny canunch attacks across the endless river of space and time, impossible to defend against. And when defending, they can sever all karma..."


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    They all sounded terrifying! Indeed, each Essence Great Dao was eternal and above the samsara cycles of heaven and earth, how could any of them be weak?


    "Emissary, what is Master''s purpose for nurturing sessors?" The question suddenly came up in Wu Yuan��s mind.


    "Purpose? Achieve transcendence. That is Master''s purpose," the ck-robed elderly man said. "If you achieve transcendence in the future, then remembering the Master for eternity is the greatest way to repay his kindness."


    "Remembering is repayment?" Wu Yuan was stunned.


    "Remembering is karma!" The ck-robed elder said calmly, "If you transcend, then your memories will also exist eternally. The master in your memories will naturally also exist eternally.


    In the eyes of a being at Master��s level, what is death? It is not the death that ordinary beings understand but ratherplete oblivion��true forgetting. So long as one is remembered, there will always be an echo, a resonance that endures." The ck-robed elder said softly, "To be remembered is to not perish."


    Wu Yuan listened in shock.


    To be remembered is to not perish? What level of concept was that? It waspletely iprehensible.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The ck-robed elderly man flipped his palm, and a token emitting a special aura floated out and stopped before Wu Yuan. "This is the Divine Jade Immutable Token, take it."


    Wu Yuan reached out and took it.


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    "In the future, whether you be an Astral Monarch first or directly be a Sovereign in one go, after forging your deity body,e look for me through the spacetime coordinates indicated by the Divine Jade Immutable Token. I will have another gift for you," the ck-robed elderly man said.


    A gift? Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Perhaps, in the eyes of the Creation Emissary or the Immutable True Saint, only afterpleting his Immortal Tribtions and forging a deity body would one be considered to have a bit of strength.


    Now? He was still very weak. urately speaking, just a fledgling.


    "Alright. Wu Yuan...Yes, indeed! Master has looked through your past and future. Your true name is Wu Yuan?" The ck-robed elderly man looked at Wu Yuan. "I''ve imparted you the corresponding knowledge and guidance. It''s time to leave.


    How far you can go in the future, whether you perish early, struggle to break through at thete-stage Sovereign phase, or rival Master as a supreme being, depends entirely on yourself," the ck-robed elderly man said solemnly.


    "If you perishpletely before forging your deity body, I might be able to request Master to use his supreme divine abilities to revive you from the past.


    But if you perishpletely after forging your deity body, then even the legendary Spacetime Dao Master would find it difficult to revive you, let alone Master," the ck-robed elderly man said. "So, be extremely cautious... I hope we have a chance to meet again."


    Wu Yuan listened in shock.


    Revival? Did this mean that supreme beings could revive beings who had yet to attain Archimmortality from the past?


    "Well, since you must leave anyway, I won''t say more. Go," the ck-robed elderly man waved his hand.


    Spacetime trembled slightly, teleporting the still-shocked Wu Yuan away.


    ...


    <i>In the Thunder Marsh World of the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    The world created by Astral Monarch Wan Lei remained as before. Majestic mountain ranges stretched across thend, forming long and winding passages between them. Endless seas of lightning covered the sky.


    In an inconspicuous corner of a canyon near the Core Region, a formless spatial ripple appeared, and a ck-robed figure appeared out of thin air.


    <i>I��m back in the Thunder Marsh World?</i> Wu Yuan''s body refiner self thought to himself, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings.


    Everything was just as it had been over six hundred years ago.


    He had only lived for over seven hundred years, and more than six hundred of those years were spent in the Immutable Land.


    <i>Boom!</i> An unfathomable force descended, and a huge influx of memories poured into the mind of Wu Yuan''s body refiner self.


    <i>The memories of my qi refiner self?</i>


    ...


    Almost simultaneously, on the distant Spacetime Ind, his qi refiner self suddenly froze while cultivating in his private hall.


    Through the intangible connection between his two true selves, a vast flood of memories from the body refiner self surged into his mind.


    For over six hundred years, the two true selves had been connected, yet subtly independent. Their Daoprehension was shared, yet their individual experiences remained unknown to each other.


    Memories, which carried one��s emotions, formed the core of a living being.


    When his body refiner self left the Immutable Land, the memories of the two true selves naturally began to merge.


    His qi refiner self had trained at the Immortal Belvedere, witnessed countless events on the Spacetime Ind, endured many brutal battles, and suffered numerous deaths of his mana body��a form of tempering.


    His body refiner self had likewise experienced wars and conflicts in Huanggu, and had undergone four hundred years of grueling cultivation in the test location. It was also a sort of trial of his spirit, which never wavered in the slightest.


    Their reconnection was akin to a great river splitting into two branches��one coursing through a tropical rainforest, the other traversing a deste desert��before merging once again, inevitably changed.


    Wu Yuan''s Dao Heart and will had undergone subtle transformations without him realizing it. But no matter the changes, both were Wu Yuan.


    After a long while, the memories of his two true selves mergedpletely, bing unified once more, and Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted ever so slightly.


    <i>I never imagined that each of my two true selves would crystallize the True Intent of a Great Dao during this period of independence.</i>


    <i>However, though the memories and consciousness of the two true selves are aligned, a subtle distinction remains. </i>Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>The qi refiner self can only wield Spacetime True Intent, or the individual Laws of Life and Death, but cannot employ the True Intent of Creation.</i>


    <i>The same applies to the body refiner self, who can only wield the True Intent of Creation, or the individual Laws of Space and Time.</i>


    Wu Yuan finally grasped the profound nature of the singrity of Essence.


    Whether Lesser Laws or Greater Laws, all were Daos evolving with the vast heaven and earth, and hisprehension of them was shared between both true selves. Only the Great Daos were unique, and could not be employed simultaneously by both true selves.


    <i>Each true self can onlyprehend one Great Dao. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>For ordinary cultivators, an additional true self merely means an extra life.</i>


    <i>But for me, simultaneouslyprehending two Great Daos means that if I cultivate both to the Sovereign phase in the future, it opens up an additional possibility for transcendence.</i>


    By pursuing two Great Daos concurrently, he only had to seed in one to achieve transcendence.

 Chapter 723: Sourcing For Faith Power (1)

    <h4>Chapter 723: Sourcing For Faith Power (1)</h4>


    The two true selves, unified in consciousness, understood both the profundities of Spacetime and the Law of Creation. Wu Yuan grasped it all, andprehended it all.


    But what did the singrity of Essence mean?


    In a sense, the two true selves were independent entities. Each could wield an Essence Great Dao because they had each integrated with the essence of a Great Dao, resonating with it.


    Great Daos were eternal Dao. While they held boundless power, they also subtly imposed many restrictions and limitations on those who sought toprehend them. This was also one reason why those whoprehended Great Daos struggled to be Sovereigns.


    To be a Sovereign, one must fully grasp a Greater Law. Only then could one forge a Sovereign-level immortal body or deity body through the essence of a Greater Law.


    The essence of a Greater Law was the most powerful Dao essence in heaven and earth. Within heaven and earth, its might was not at all inferior to a Great Dao, and it could even suppress the fluctuations of a Great Dao��s essence, impeding its manifestation.


    Yet those whoprehended a Great Dao had already merged their souls with it. Thus, conflict between the two was inevitable!


    <i>In the future, no matter which Greater Laws my two true selvesprehend to the ninth-level Dao Field stage, the process won��t differ too greatly from the past, except for the final step.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.<i> Fullyprehending them will be extremely difficult.</i>


    Take the Great Dao of Spacetime for example. Whenprehending it to the first-level Dao Field stage, the power one could harness would rival a fullyprehended Greater Law.


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    Comprehending the Laws of Time and Space separately to the first-level Dao Field stage was merely the basic requirement. The fusion of both was the key, augmenting its power hundredfold or thousandfold.


    If one fullyprehended the Laws of Time and Space, then perfectly fused them? That would be theplete Great Dao of Spacetime.


    <i>It will be a hundred times more difficult for my qi refiner self to be a Sovereign in the future than my body refiner self.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    With the Life Dao Body and the ��Will of Life and Death��, the path ahead of his body refiner self was far smoother.


    While his qi refiner self had obtained the ��Spacetime Secret Codex�� and the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� within it were no less profound than the ��Will of Life and Death��, itcked that strand of will from the Spacetime Dao Master!


    <i>The Great Dao imprint seems extremely precious.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <i>Just as Sovereign Lan Yan said, if my qi refiner self aims to advance to the Sovereign phase, it would be best to receive guidance from the Spacetime Dao Master.</i>


    However, Wu Yuan was unclear about the Spacetime Dao Master''s intentions.


    <i>In any case, I''ll do my utmost.</i> Wu Yuan''s heart found tranquility. <i>It would be best to receive the Dao Master''s guidance, but if I ultimately do not, I''ll continue down my own path.</i>


    <i>As the Creation Emissary said, supreme beings can assist one in reaching thete-stage Sovereign phase at most through external means.</i>


    <i>Beyond that? To transcend heaven and earth, and be a supreme being? One can only rely on oneself. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s spirit and will had subtly undergone a transformation through the collision and fusion of memories from his two true selves, growing even more powerful.


    One could borrow the power of external objects and opportunities as a form of support, but one shouldn��t rely on them, much less depend on them.


    Transcendence! By venturing to the Immutable Land and the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan was able to witness grander, loftier vistas. This kindled greater ambition and desire within him.


    He too yearned to be a transcendent, supreme being.


    ...


    <i>Haiyue? Could she have received the legacy of some supreme being? Her ability to unleash such power when she saved me previously was likely through the execution of a Saint Prohibition Art or simr teaching. </i>With the memories of his two true selves merged, the breadth and depth of Wu Yuan''s knowledge was now extraordinary.


    After a brief recollection, he began to understand the reason behind Zhuo Haiyue''s special characteristics.


    To possess such powerful strength after less than a thousand years of cultivation, with a vital aura surpassing ordinary Archimmortals despite being a High Immortal? All this highlighted her unique situation.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan recalled his various encounters with Zhuo Haiyue. She seemed unsatisfied with her own situation. There was even a hint of... despair!


    Yes, a sense of despair.


    <i>Haiyue once said that remembering her would be the greatest help I could offer her. That��s almost exactly the same as what the Creation Emissary said.</i>


    <i>And what did Sovereign Lan Yan mean by telling me to avoid deepening karmic ties with Haiyue as much as possible? </i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    Too many puzzles swirled in Wu Yuan''s mind. He could only be certain that Zhuo Haiyue was most likely involved with a supreme being. Moreover, it was unlikely to be a simple rtionship of sessor or disciple. It likely involved some conspiracy that even Sovereigns were unwilling to meddle with.


    <i>When my strength increases further, perhaps I''ll naturally learn more about such secrets.</i>


    <i>For now? Even if I wanted to help her, I''m unable to.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, pushing these thoughts aside.


    His gaze swept in all directions as his Soul Will spread out to sense his surroundings.


    <i>The environment of the Thunder Marsh World is actually simr to the Snowlight Mist Realm��s. Spatial fluctuations are suppressed here.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Over 600 years ago, when he first arrived, he had been too weak to sense this clearly. Now, however, he perceived it with perfect rity.


    <i>If it were my qi refiner self, I could enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer and depart from this ce swiftly, but my body refiner self can''t manage that. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    From now on, his two true selves were destined to have their own specialties, and it would be difficult for their abilities to remain as simr as they had in the past.


    <i>Over 600 years have passed. I wonder if the Longstar Immortal Sect still remembers me.</i> Wu Yuan recalled previous scenes of him exploring the Thunder Marsh World.


    Back then, he had only been at the ninth-stage Shambh phase.


    He arrived at the White Sea Immortal Continent with the assistance of the Blood Shadow ne, joining the Longstar Immortal Sect''s team to explore the Thunder Marsh World as an official disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall.


    In the end, he had furiously ughtered the entire Longstar Immortal Sect team after being ambushed. Mu Xin, Nie Le, and the cultivators protecting them were all killed.


    Of course, the Blood Shadow ne had helped Wu Yuan resolve some of these issues back then.


    With this in mind, Wu Yuan waved his hand.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A woman d in purple robes instantly appeared before Wu Yuan. Her gaze was initially cold, but quickly softened.


    "Master," the purple-robed woman bowed respectfully.


    "Shadow Moon, it''s been centuries," Wu Yuan smiled. "Have you been well?"


    "Mm." Shadow Moon nodded. "It''s just that I haven''t been able to fight for so many years... But Master''s vital aura seems no weaker than mine at my peak, so I can rest easy."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    As a puppet at the peak Earth Immortal level, Shadow Moon possessed high intelligence. Her spirit was no different from a normal living being''s.


    "For now, act as my guard. At the same time, scout several hundred thousand li along both sides of the passage to confirm that there are no threats, then report back to me," Wu Yuan instructed. "Also, check for the presence of other immortal cultivators."


    "Yes," Shadow Moon nodded.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>She swiftly departed, while Wu Yuan sat in lotus position.


    <i>Whether the Greenridge Macrocosm or the Cang Feng Eldritch World... The level of danger far surpasses Huanggu.</i>


    The higher and broader his perspective, the more well-versed Wu Yuan was in certain terrifying techniques.


    Take the Sovereigns of the Voltari Temple. Once they knew of his real strength, they would likely attempt to y him directly through karmic attacks.


    <i>First I should cultivate and quickly increase my strength.</i> Wu Yuan thought, as profundities of ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� and ��Immutable Soul�� surfaced in his mind.


    He had already decided that he would cultivate these two teachings here in the Thunder Marsh World, achieving a small degree of mastery before leaving.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan had other ideas. The Thunder Marsh World was left behind by thete Astral Monarch Wan Lei. What was the purpose of him making so many arrangements, leaving behind so many Creation Essence Diagrams andying down such a powerful defense array?


    What exactly was in the Core Region? Wu Yuan was naturally curious.


    <i>Mastering the basics of these two great teachings won''t take much time, but it will greatly improve my strength and self-preservation ability.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Then I can go have a look at the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.</i>


    He began to cultivate silently. Waves of colorful light emanated from his body �C a sign that one was condensing a Bloodsoul through the ��Immutable Soul�� technique.


    <i>Hmm? Master Kua Chi is looking for me?</i> A trace of surprise shed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>Master knows I''ve returned?</i>


    He had arrived back in the Thunder Marsh World only a short while ago.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t know was that Master Kua Chi had marked him with his aura signature. When he had lost contact years ago, Master Kua Chi had known immediately that he had ventured to the Immutable Land.


    <i>I''ll go see Master.</i> Wu Yuan didn''t bother thinking too much about it. A strand of his consciousness had already entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    ...


    <i>Within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Sovereign Kua Chi''s personal ne.</i>


    A ck-robed figure appeared out of thin air and swiftly descended before a majestic hall guarded by numerous divine generals.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The divine generals all nodded and bowed as he passed by, having received the Sovereign''s orders.


    "That''s Wu Yuan? I''ve seen him once before, I can''t be mistaken."


    "They say he''s the Sovereign''s disciple?"


    "Seems he hasn''te in a long time. He''s already an Earth Eldritch, and his aura is quite powerful." Some of the divine generalsmunicated telepathically.


    "I only arrived 300 years ago and haven''t seen him before. An Earth Eldritch, but he hasn��t achieved much fame in the Second Origin Eldritch Field. Could he really be the Sovereign''s disciple?" A newly appointed divine general asked curiously.


    "Before reaching the High Eldritch phase, how could a Sovereign''s disciple be famous? Be careful not to leak any information while on duty here," a guard captain snorted.


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 724: Sourcing For Faith Power (2)

    <h4>Chapter 724: Sourcing For Faith Power (2)</h4>


    Under the gazes of the many divine generals, Wu Yuan flew directly into the highest hall in the hallplex. The interior was simply decorated, with only a single jade tform.


    On the jade tform sat a man in beast-skin robes, his legs crossed. Even within the voidrealm, he emanated an unfathomably vast aura.


    However, Wu Yuan was no longer his former self. Having distantly glimpsed the image of a supreme being, he could naturally remainposed.


    Wu Yuan bowed respectfully. "Disciple Wu Yuan pays his respects to Master. This disciple arrivedte, and hopes Master will forgive the transgression."


    "It''s no matter. I know that you''ve just returned." Sovereign Kua Chi gazed down at Wu Yuan. "Over six hundred years, and you''ve be an Earth Eldritch. It seems you''ve had no small fortune in the Immutable Land."


    Wu Yuan nodded. "This disciple did indeed have some good fortune."


    Yet he couldn''t borate. Upon leaving the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan had already sensed an invisible force preventing him from speaking of anything rted to the Creation Divine Hall, let alone matters concerning the Immutable True Saint.


    The abilities of supreme beings were unfathomable.


    <i>Hmm? </i>A flicker of shock suddenly passed through Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes. "Wu Yuan, you... you''ve crystallized the True Intent of Creation. Your soul''s aura?"


    In the voidrealm, physical bodies couldn''t be examined, but soul auras could be sensed. With Sovereign Kua Chi''s abilities, he could naturally perceive it clearly.


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded firmly. "In the Immutable Land, this disciple chanced upon an opportunity to take the path of the Creation Great Dao, going against Master''s instructions from years past. I await Master''s punishment."


    Years ago, while he had explored the Thunder Marsh World, Master Kua Chi had specifically instructed him to avoid directly treading the path of an Essence Great Dao if possible. Though broad, that road had too many obvious pitfalls.


    "Punishment? What is there to punish? I can''t praise you enough." Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head.


    The way he looked at Wu Yuan waspletely different now. ��When I gave you that piece of advice years ago, it was because you had shown no talent for the Law of Death, and hadn''t even begun to grasp the Law of Life. Blindly pursuing that path then would have led you astray.


    But now, I see that your achievements far exceed my expectations. I know a thing or two about your qi refiner self''s exploits in the Spacetime Dao Realm, and your astounding aptitude for the Law of Time." Sovereign Kua Chi continued, "In mere centuries, you''ve crystallized the True Intent of Creation. Your talent for the Law of Death must also be extraordinary.


    Well done!��


    ��It was all thanks to some opportunities and providence," Wu Yuan said vaguely.


    "Everyone knows the Immutable Land holds great opportunities, but of the countless entrants from myriad macrocosms, how many actually obtain them?" Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head. "Being able to seize a great opportunity is a testament to your strength."


    Wu Yuan listened. Strength? Indeed, he had to rely on his strength to defeat the level nine guardian of the Creation Tower.


    ��To crystallize a Great Dao''s True Intent within a thousand years �C even among the countless macrocosms under the Eldritch Court''s dominion, throughout endless ages, peerless geniuses like you are rare." Sovereign Kua Chi smiled.


    "You''re not the least bit inferior to even the most outstanding geniuses in the Eldritch Court''s history."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    His qi refiner self had learned much from its time on the Spacetime Ind. The Eldritch Court was a vast faction second only to the Immortal Court in the river of space and time, and the two forces were locked in endless conflict.


    The number of macrocosms under the Eldritch Court''s rule was immense, far surpassing the Taiyuan Divine Court at the very least.


    To receive such praise from his master naturally filled Wu Yuan with joy.


    "In just a few centuries, your Daoprehension level is on par with your Senior Brother Jiang Huan��s." Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "Of all the disciples I''ve taken over my long years, you rank first among them."


    "This disciple wouldn''t dare im such," Wu Yuan hastily replied.


    "What��s this talk about daring again? In terms of raw power, you still fall short, but your potential far surpasses theirs." Sovereign Kua Chi said, "For you, the only real challenge in the future will be bing a Sovereign. It''s exceptionally difficult for Essence Great Dao cultivators to advance to that phase."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Clearly, Master Kua Chi was also familiar with this information. Moreover, by Wu Yuan''s estimation, Master Kua Chi was likely treading the path of the Great Dao of Creation himself.


    Every Sovereign yearned to fullyprehend an Essence Great Dao.


    "Very good. Your cultivation seems to still be at the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase. You should return to the eldritch world as soon as possible. Or shall I send someone to escort you?" Sovereign Kua Chi offered.


    "Your current Daoprehension level is extremely high, but your cultivation level is still rtively low. This is a very dangerous period for you."


    "Master, there''s no need to trouble yourself. I can return on my own," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head repeatedly.


    "That works too." Sovereign Kua Chi nodded and said, "Do you have any thoughts on your cultivation path going forward? Is there anything your master can help with?"


    "After returning to the eldritch world, this disciple wishes to umte more cultivation insights for a time. Once I advance to High Eldritch, I''ll continue to venture out and temper myself," Wu Yuan said. "There''s only one matter where this disciple may need Master''s assistance."


    "Speak," said Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "Faith Power," Wu Yuan uttered. "This disciple requires vast amounts of Faith Power to aid my cultivation."


    "Faith Power?" Sovereign Kua Chi pondered, "Faith Power can indeed aid your cultivation. I''ll arrange to convert the Faith of some worldlets to you as soon as possible, but it takes time for living beings to multiply."


    "It��s not that,�� Wu Yuan''s gaze met Sovereign Kua Chi''s directly. "Master, the vast amount this disciple needs isn''t on the scale of ten or a hundred worldlets... but Faith from living beings on the scale of immortal continents."


    In the past, while he was at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase, a small amount of Faith Power had sufficed.


    But at his current level, especially after both his qi refiner and body refiner selves had established an Apotheosis soul and Apotheosis root respectively, the amount of Faith Power he could process was over a million times greater than during the Shambh phase.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Once he broke through to High Immortal and High Eldritch, his ability to absorb and refine Faith Power would increase exponentially again.


    Ordinary immortal cultivators didn''t dare refine too much Faith Power, but Wu Yuan possessed Genesis Power, effectively removing this cap. He feared not having enough Faith Power, rather than having too much.


    His perception of the Great Dao''s essence was still hazy, which meant his cultivation would inevitably slow. Increasing Faith Power was one of the methods Wu Yuan could think of to greatly boost hisprehension and cultivation.


    "You want Faith on the scale of immortal continents?" Even Sovereign Kua Chi was stunned by Wu Yuan''s words.


    The entire Cang Feng Eldritch World contained a vast number of immortal continents, numbering in the millions, but in reality, every single immortal continent already had a master. The weaker ones were ruled by Astral Lords, while the stronger ones were upied by Astral Monarchs.


    Yes, he was a Sovereign, and Wu Yuan''s master. But he was also one of the leaders of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, and had to consider the big picture.


    "My disciple." Sovereign Kua Chi pondered briefly, then said, "You''re only an Earth Eldritch, yet you''re asking for such an enormous amount of Faith. When you eventually be a High Eldritch or even an Astral Monarch, I fear you''ll require even more Faith, won''t you?"


    Wu Yuan nodded. He understood his master''s thoughts �C this was a bottomless pit.


    As one progressed in cultivation, especially inprehending an Essence Great Dao, the difficulty increased exponentially. Perhaps a single bottleneck would trap him for a long time.


    Faith Power? Naturally, the more the better.


    "If it were just allocating the Faith of living beings from one or a few immortal continents, I could manage that." Sovereign Kua Chi said slowly. "That wouldn''t be difficult, but if it''s more - say, hundreds or thousands of immortal continents - that''s different.


    You should understand one thing: the Cang Feng Eldritch World doesn''t belong solely to us few Sovereigns." Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Master means the Eldritch Court?" Wu Yuan mused thoughtfully.


    "Correct. You''ve spent time in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, so you should understand that every living being on any immortal continent in the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World dedicates their Faith to True Saint Taiyuan." Sovereign Kua Chi said, "Our Cang Feng Eldritch World is the same.


    Ny-nine percent of the Faith from countless living beings in the eldritch world is collected by the Eldritch Court.


    The Eldritch Court raises a vast number of powerful experts, seizing territory and vying fornd in countless macrocosms. One important reason for this is to obtain Faith," Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    "Faith Power is extremely important to the Eldritch Court. The monitoring of Faith Power''s ebb and flow is also exceptionally strict. Even Sovereigns would face punishment if they vited the rules."


    Wu Yuan immediately understood.


    The Faith of vast poptions of living beings wasn''t something his master could decide with a single word.


    "Therefore, if you want to obtain arge amount of Faith from the Eldritch Court, the best way is to take up an official position," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "To truly be a member of the Eldritch Court."


    "An official position?" Wu Yuan asked, puzzled.


    "Right now, you''re not yet considered a true member of the Eldritch Court. Generally speaking, only those with the strength of a seventh-stage Archimmortal are granted the title of Astral Lord," Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "Only then are you counted as a member of the Eldritch Court."


    "One needs Astral Lord strength to be considered a member of the Eldritch Court?" Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    It was a truly high standard. Even ordinary Archimmortals weren''t qualified.


    However, it made sense. Ordinary Archimmortals only had lifespans of a hundred million years. What was that worth to the Eldritch Court, which stood at the pinnacle of the river of space and time?


    "The Eldritch Court does make allowances for geniuses," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "If High Immortals or High Eldritches can fully conquer the Eldritch Deity Tower, they''ll also be granted positions. Taking up a position allows you to truly ess various privileges within the Eldritch Court.


    You''ll also be given clearance to enter the Eldritch Court Voidrealm. The higher your position, the more benefits you''ll receive from the Eldritch Court, including Faith Power," Sovereign Kua Chi exined.


    "The more merits you umte, and the greater talent you disy, the more Faith Power you''ll obtain."

 Chapter 725: Summerpeak And The Wu Clan (1)

    Chapter 725: Summerpeak And The Wu n (1)


    "I''ve sent the relevant information to your personal hall. You can review it there," said Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Yuan nodded, receiving it with a thought.


    He quickly read through the various details about serving in the Eldritch Court.


    Holding a position,pleting assigned tasks from the Eldritch Court, voluntarily applying for missions, or making significant contributions��all these would allow one to earn eldritch merits and determine one��s rank.


    Divine crystals, circting among countless factions across the vast river of space and time, were considered hard currency. However, in reality, many special resources couldn''t be obtained with divine crystals.


    Eldritch merits, on the other hand, were the hard currency of the Cang Feng Eldritch World and even the entire Eldritch Court��a currency backed by the Eldritch Court.


    Among the many ways to obtain eldritch merits, there were three main methods. First was bestowals, most often granted to junior disciples. As a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, Wu Yuan was given an allowance of ten thousand eldritch merits.


    Before entering the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan had mobilized many resources through the Blood Shadow ne by expending eldritch merits.


    The second method waspleting missions. The mostmon were guard tasks and nurturing assignments��guarding territory or nurturingrge numbers of junior disciples. The third was through contributions��voluntarily offering rare treasures to the Cang Feng Eldritch World or the Eldritch Court. Donating divine crystals was the most basic form of contribution.


    <em>One can exchange eldritch merits for all sorts of resources.</em> Wu Yuan mused. <em>Even inheritance techniques of supreme beings, on par with the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� and the ��Will of Life and Death��, can be obtained?</em>


    These were things that divine crystals simply couldn''t buy.


    There were also treasures like the Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill, which could extend a mortal''s lifespan to a million years��a priceless item that even ordinary Sovereigns couldn''t refine.


    They could even be exchanged for Faith power.


    Of course, some precious resources were limited. Having eldritch merits alone wasn''t enough; another crucial factor was one''s rank.


    The higher one''s rank in the Eldritch Court, the greater their authority, granting them ess to certain special resources. Otherwise, no matter how many eldritch merits one possessed, they could only exchange them formon resources.


    <em>One��s ranking is determined through strength and achievements?</em> Wu Yuan pondered. <em>One needs sufficient personal power and mustplete specific tasks or render contributions to qualify for certain high positions?</em>


    Wu Yuan instantly understood.


    The so-called specific contributions and tasks were, in essence, tests of loyalty. For a super faction like the Eldritch Court, they wouldn''t simply ept any Sovereign who wanted to join them.


    Loyalty was the top priority!


    "Ranks are divided from one to ten," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi exined with a smile. "Astral Lords usually range from rank one to three, with a rare few reaching rank four.


    Astral Monarchs typically fall between ranks four and six.


    Sovereigns generally upy ranks seven through nine," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan. "I am an eighth-rank member��considered average among the many Sovereigns in the Eldritch Court."


    "What about the tenth rank?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    This was something his master''s information hadn''t mentioned.


    "Overlord!" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi spoke solemnly, "This is a title that is only conferred to the top Sovereigns in the Eldritch Court. Each of them possesses unfathomable power, and only by making immense contributions can one hope to advance to the tenth rank."


    "Overlord?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    So that was it. One had to possess the strength of an Overlord and render great meritorious service to stand a chance of promotion to the tenth rank in the Eldritch Court. No wonder his master hadn''t bothered to mention it.


    For Wu Yuan himself, the tenth rank seemed quite distant.


    "For geniuses, there''s additional nurturing provided, and the requirements won''t be too stringent," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "For instance, if you conquer the final level of the Eldritch Deity Tower and be a High Eldritch, you''ll qualify as a first-rank member. Further promotions, however, will require you to contribute to the Eldritch Court and umte sufficient eldritch merits.


    In a sense, from the day you receive a rank in the Eldritch Court, you''ll no longer be merely a genius, but a true powerhouse! One worthy of being called a powerhouse even across the endless river of space and time." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said solemnly.


    "That will also be the time you graduate from my tutge," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi added.


    "Disciple understands," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    In his master''s eyes, or rather, in the eyes of the various factions across the vast river of space and time, one needed to possess the strength of an Astral Lord to cross the threshold into the realm of true powerhouses, qualified to make certain contributions to their respective factions.


    To fully conquer the Eldritch Deity Tower, one needed to possess Daoprehension on par with an Astral Monarch. High Eldritches and High Immortals with such Daoprehension levels could generally unleash power equivalent to the seventh-stage Archimmortal level.


    It was clear the Eldritch Court had its reasons for establishing such rules.


    "Moving forward, I''ll do my best to allocate some Faith power for you. Countless worldlets are born and destroyed, so the Eldritch Court doesn''t ce too much emphasis on the Faith of worldlet inhabitants," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said. "But if you truly want to obtain Faith power on arge scale, it''ll depend on your own efforts."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded repeatedly.


    Though there were numerous worldlets, the Faith power from billions of worldlets couldn''tpare to that of a single eldritch maind continent.


    "When do you think you''ll be able to return?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi inquired.


    "Disciple still needs to seclude himself for cultivation for some time," Wu Yuan replied. "Also, the Thunder Marsh World seems to hold some secrets hidden by Astral Monarch Wan Lei... Disciple wishes to investigate further before returning."


    There was no need to conceal this from his master. Moreover, as his strength grew, so too would the enemies he might provoke. Sometimes, informing his master of his whereabouts in advance could increase his chances of survival if he needed to call for help at a critical moment.


    "Astral Monarch Wan Lei?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pondered briefly before replying, "Very well. He onceprehended the Great Dao of Creation. Though he never matched a Sovereign, hisbat prowess surpassed that of a ninth-stage Astral Monarch, ranking him among the top hundred Astral Monarchs in the macrocosm.


    The Thunder Marsh World he left behind seems to hold some mysteries that haven''t been fully unraveled over the years. Perhaps the Sovereigns of the Greenridge Immortal World were unwilling to remove all the treasures. Since you''reprehending the Great Dao of Creation, you might gain some insights.


    However, you must still be cautious. It is, after all, a relic site left by a powerful Astral Monarch. Killing you would be quite easy for such a being," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded repeatedly.


    Even among Astral Monarchs, there were differences in strength. Clearly, Astral Monarch Wan Lei had been a terrifyingly powerful existence. The Thunder Marsh World alone was evidence enough of that.


    "Alright, go then. If you encounter any trouble,e see me again," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Oh, and before breaking through to High Eldritch, don''t rush to challenge the Eldritch Deity Tower. Although the information within the Eldritch Deity Tower is absolutely confidential, we can''t rule out the possibility of spies secretly controlled by the Voltari Temple gaining ess to your secrets.


    Once the Voltari Temple is aware of your talent, they will certainly go all out to assassinate you. It��s likely that even Sovereigns would take action.


    After bing a High Eldritch, your self-preservation ability will significantly improve," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said gravely.


    "Understood," Wu Yuan''s heart tightened.


    Then, Wu Yuan''s avatar dissipated as Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi sent him out of this ne.


    ��


    Wu Yuan returned to his personal hall in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, where numerous virtual immortal slips hovered in the air.


    "Six hundred years, and I''m back here again," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over these immortal slips.


    Wu Yuan hadn''t managed to read them all before his master had summoned him. Now he finally had the time to do so.


    Wu Yuan swiftly scanned through the immortal slips one by one. Most contained trivial matters, mainly responsibilities and mission updates for Origin Eldritch Field members transmitted from the Origin Eldritch Field.


    <em>Come to think of it, I''ve missed quite a few Heaven and Earth Tournaments in the Origin Eldritch Field.</em> Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <em>I also haven''tpleted many of the tasks for the Elysian Field phase. Regaining membership in the Second Origin Eldritch Field might be a bit troublesome.</em>


    Of course, Wu Yuan didn''t care too much. Given his current strength and perspective, he wasn''t particrly concerned about his status as a member of the Origin Eldritch Field. Even Master Kua Chi hadn''t specifically mentioned it.


    The purpose of the Origin Eldritch Field was to nurture arge group of top-tier geniuses for the Cang Feng Eldritch World, while Wu Yuan was already considered the top genius to emerge from the entire Eldritch Court in countless ages��they simply weren''t on the same level.


    Besides the immortal slips, Wu Yuan also began reviewing the numerous messages he hadn''t read over the years.


    There were inquiries from several Astral Monarch powerhouses like Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Astral Monarch Xue Ying, who had always paid close attention to Wu Yuan but hadn''t received any news from him.


    There were messages from fellow disciples like Senior Brother Jiang Huan and Senior Brother Chang Hong.


    There were also many from friends he had crossed paths with in the Fourth and Fifth Origin Eldritch Fields. Most of these friends had now be Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators and entered the Third Origin Eldritch Field.


    There were messages from Cen Jiang, Fang Xia, and others as well.


    Of course, these were just a small portion. The majority of messages came from his sister, Wu Yijun.


    In addition to detailed immortal slips sent about once every hundred years, describing her own situation and various happenings in the Summerpeak World, there were also numerous brief messages.


    Even though he had anticipated this, Wu Yuan couldn''t help but sigh. Before his qi refiner self left for the Spacetime Ind, he had read through a few immortal slips, but to conceal his identity, he had ultimately chosen not to reply. Not until his body refiner self returned.


    ��


    <em>Senior Brother Jiang Huan still cares about me, sending messages once in a while.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <em>Senior Brother Chang Hong just messaged me once to ask how I was doing, probably because he didn''t hear any news from me for some time.</em>


    He read through them one by one. The vast majority of the messages were well-intentioned.


    <em>Cen Jiang actually broke through to be a High Immortal? </em>Wu Yuan couldn''t help but recall the alluring woman in red robes who had sworn an oath before him years ago.


    After more than six hundred years, she had be a High Immortal. Even as a High Immortal, she remained Wu Yuan''s servant, diligently executing the various ns Wu Yuan had put in ce before his departure.


    Even though Wu Yuan had never replied, her messages had never ceased, informing him about various developments once a decade.


    <em>Little Sister? She''s already reached the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase? </em>Wu Yuan read through some of Cen Jiang''s status reports.


    Over the centuries, the overall impact of Wu Yuan��s departure on the Summerpeak World wasn''t significant. In fact, it had grown far stronger than before.


    An Archimmortal from the Eldritch Court had taken his sister, Wu Yijun, under her wing as a disciple. Under the Archimmortal''s guidance, and with ess to abundant resources, her cultivation speed was fast. However, she wasn��t too talented, so she didn''t qualify to cultivate in the Origin Eldritch Field.


    At the same time, his sister had also gotten married. More urately, her husband had married into her family.


    Her husband was a cultivator of considerable talent who had emerged from the Summerpeak World. He was now also a Shambh cultivator, and they had two sons together.


    They all bore the Wu surname now, carrying on the Wu n lineage.


    It was only now that the Wu n had truly begun to flourish in Summerpeak, and the entire Summerpeak World had be more prosperous.


    <em>Mother actually took a special kind of medicinal pill? Her lifespan is no longer a concern?</em> Wu Yuan was likewise slightly surprised. <em>Was this Master��s arrangement?</em>


    The abilities of his master, a Sovereign, were surely extraordinary. In Wu Yuan''s heart, a sliver of gratitude towards his Master arose, realizing that he had already helped resolve his lingering concerns.


    Now, the Middle Land and the Summerpeak maind had fully merged andpleted their Faith conversion to Wu Yuan. The Summerpeak World had also truly integrated into the order of the eldritch world.


    A multitude of cultivators from the Summerpeak World had chosen to leave their homnd, venturing into the nearest eldritch continent. Some gradually grew into formidable immortal cultivators. With the support of abundant resources, nearly a hundred Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators had emerged.


    As he perused this information, the smile never left Wu Yuan''s lips.


    But suddenly, the smile on his face froze.


    <em>Hmm? Fang Xia?</em> A flicker of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes, quickly followed by a hint of anger. <em>Old Fang!</em>


    The message was very clear �C Fang Xia had disappeared!


    <em>I should go see my sister first and ask for the specifics.</em> Wu Yuan decided


    With a thought, he sent a message to Wu Yijun and Cen Jiang.

 Chapter 726: Summerpeak And The Wu Clan (2)

    Chapter 726: Summerpeak And The Wu n (2)


    <em>Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Shan Lin.</em>


    Unlike the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, the eldritch voidrealm was generally divided intos and nes.


    Ordinary immortal cultivators from the eldritch continent entering the eldritch voidrealm would typically gather on a single, and theses would then converge to form a ne.


    Shan Lin was a gathering ce within the eldritch voidrealm for immortal cultivators from the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent. The itself was immense.


    The Summerpeak World was a worldlet. Thus, most of its immortal cultivators arrived at the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent through teleportation arrays before exploring the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent.


    Consequently,rge numbers of cultivators from Summerpeak entered the eldritch voidrealm, all congregating on the Shan Lin. After some time, they decided to purchase their own plot ofnd, establishing a vast estate called the Summerpeak Manor, with Wu Yijun as its mistress.


    Although Wu Yuan had never made an appearance, Wu Yijun, as the disciple of an Archimmortal, along with Cen Jiang, a High Immortal who asionally showed up, had given the Summerpeak World faction quite a reputation in the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent.


    Today, the Summerpeak Manor, spanning dozens of li, was particrly lively, with immortal cultivators from the Summerpeak lineage arriving and gathering.


    "You''ve all arrived?""Yes, we''re here."


    "We received a message from the World Master, it must be something important."


    "I heard that even High Immortal Cen Jiang will be present this time." These Amethyst Cradle/Shambh and Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators whispered among themselves.


    A few thousand people had gathered at the central za of the manor, all core members of the Summerpeak lineage.


    Around ten individuals stood in the center of the group. Their auras weren''t particrly strong, but even the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators regarded them with great reverence.


    "It''s the Wu n cultivators."


    "They''re all here."


    "Aside from the World Master and her Daopanion, most of the Wu nsmen are only at the Golden Core/Spiritual Body level." The numerous Summerpeak lineage cultivators whispered amongst themselves.


    <em>Whoosh~ Whoosh! </em>Two figures suddenly appeared out of thin air, one wearing purple robes with an unremarkable aura, the other in red robes. Both were women.


    "Greetings, World Master. Greetings, High Immortal Cen Jiang." Immediately, all immortal cultivators on the za bowed respectfully.


    The two were none other than Wu Yijun, the World Master of the Summerpeak World, and High Immortal Cen Jiang.


    Wu Yijun''s gaze swept across the crowd. "Today, I''ve summoned all of you to introduce you to someone �C the leader of our Summerpeak World. Most of you have never met our leader before."


    Leader? Instantly, everyone on the za was stunned, even the ten-odd Wu n cultivators in the za were taken aback.


    The za fell intoplete silence!


    The head of the Summerpeak World was Wu Yijun, who had be the World Master with the help of her Archimmortal Master.


    But there was only one leader.


    It was that incredibly legendary figure who, in just a few decades of cultivation, had imed the heaven-tier title in both the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field �C the peerless genius, Wu Yuan.


    Indeed, for countless beings in the Summerpeak World, Wu Yuan''s ability to im a heaven-tier title in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field was already dazzling and legendary enough.


    It was rumored that Wu Yijun was able to be a disciple of an Archimmortal all because of Wu Yuan.


    Centuries had passed, and the strength of this leader of theirs must have grown even more formidable.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Without warning, a figure in ck robes appeared out of thin air beside Wu Yijun. His features weren''t particrly outstanding, save for a pair of eyes as sharp as swords. As they swept across every figure in the za, everyone felt their hearts tremble. Even the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators were no exception.


    It was worth noting that this was the voidrealm, where such terrifying pressure shouldn''t exist. Little did they know, this was the pressure brought by the essence of a Great Dao.


    "Leader!"


    "How terrifying, he feels even more frightening than High Immortal Cen Jiang. So powerful."


    "If my calctions are right, the leader has only cultivated for a few centuries, right? And he''s already this formidable? Truly worthy of being called a legendary monstrous prodigy." The many Summerpeak lineage immortal cultivators were filled with excitement.


    "It''s the chieftain."


    "Uncle." The ten-odd Wu n immortal cultivators were the most excited, gazing at Wu Yuan with utter admiration.


    "We pay our respects to the leader."


    "We pay our respects to the chieftain." The thousands of individuals on the za knelt and bowed. In the Summerpeak World, Wu Yuan had long be a mythological figure.


    "Master." Even Cen Jiang bowed respectfully.


    Seeing even a powerful High Immortal kneel and pay respects, countless cultivators felt their hearts race with fervor.


    "The Summerpeak lineage has indeed grown strong," Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd, spotting very few familiar faces. Most were strangers.


    Centuries had passed. For mortals, that meant the passing of numerous generations, leading to significant changes.


    Currently, those gathered were the powerful immortal cultivators. In the mortal realm of Summerpeak World, the transformations would be even more dramatic.


    ...


    After meeting with the elite immortal cultivators of the Summerpeak lineage, Wu Yuan didn''t say much before departing.


    <em>In the hall of the Summerpeak Manor.</em>


    "Brother, this is Zishan, and this is Zimu," Wu Yijun gestured at the two brothers standing respectfully to the side.


    They were quite handsome, their appearances very simr to Wu Yijun''s. In fact, they even resembled Wu Yuan somewhat.


    "Uncle."


    "Uncle." Wu Zishan and Wu Zimu looked at Wu Yuan somewhat nervously, not daring to make eye contact.


    This was their first time meeting Wu Yuan. For the past few centuries, they had grown up hearing legends and tales of Wu Yuan''s deeds, and they deeply admired him.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded, looking at his two nephews, unconsciously revealing a slight smile.


    This was a connection born of blood. The image of his niece from his previous life on the Blue rose to his mind, unbidden. Unfortunately, even though he had utilized various channels, he still couldn''t find any trace of the Blue. It was as if it didn''t exist at all.


    "Zishan, Zimu, you''ve both chosen the path of qi refining? Show me some techniques of the Dao you specialize in," Wu Yuan smiled.


    The two were stunned for a moment.


    "Hurry up and do it," Wu Yijun, understanding Wu Yuan''s intentions, urged them.


    "Yes. Little Brother, I''ll go first," Wu Zimu, not at all timid, immediately began his demonstration.


    Swiftly, both of them gave a brief demonstration. They were both Golden Core cultivators, specializing in the Law of Wood.


    "The Law of Wood?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly, smiling. "I''ve already transmitted immortal slips with some teachings to your personal halls. Later, you can study them on your own.


    Your uncle��s true body is still out exploring, but when I return, I will give you another gift."


    "It��s an immortal-level codex?"


    "Heavens!" The brothers were no longer children. In fact, they had already produced offspring of their own and had quite a broad perspective.


    Upon checking their present, they naturally understood how weighty this gift was, and eximed excitedly, "Thank you, Uncle!"


    "Thank you, Uncle."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In their minds, Wu Yuan grew even more mysterious and powerful.


    "Wan Xiao," Wu Yuan''s gaze finally fell on the ck-d man standing not far away.


    The man grew visibly nervous.


    "Big Brother," the man in ck forced a faint smile. He was Wu Yijun''s Daopanion, Wan Xiao.


    "Brother," Wu Yijun called out from the side.


    "Don''t worry," Wu Yuan cast an affectionate nce at his sister, then turned to Wan Xiao. "Thank you for your hard work all these years, it mustn��t have been easy. It''s no small feat for the Summerpeak lineage to produce a Shambh cultivator."


    "Not at all, not at all," Wan Xiao finally let out a sigh of relief.


    He knew well that in terms of importance, he probably didn''t even measure up to a fraction of his own sons in Wu Yuan''s eyes, let alonepared to Wu Yijun.


    In terms of talent, Wan Xiao was considered decent, reaching the eighth-stage Shambh phase after several hundred years of cultivation. Butpared to Wu Yuan, there was simply noparison. Naturally, Wan Xiao didn''t dare show the slightest disrespect in Wu Yuan''s presence.


    "Wan Xiao, go downstairs with Zishan and Zimu first," Wu Yuan said. "I have some matters to discuss with Little Yi."


    "Yes," Wan Xiao replied promptly, leading Wu Zihan and Wu Zimu out of the hall.


    Only Wu Yuan, Wu Yijun, and Cen Jiang remained, and the three continued their conversation.


    "Mother has taken a liking to Realm Chess?" Wu Yuan asked, slightly surprised. This was an incrediblyplex and profound game that even ordinary Archimmortals and High Eldritch couldn''t calcte all the possibilities of. It was a widely popr game in the eldritch world.


    "Yes. After taking the Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill, Mother''s lifespan has been greatly lengthened.


    Her mentalputing power now rivals those in the Amethyst Cradle phase, her energy has greatly increased, and her perspective and knowledge have broadened. She''s be curious about many things," Wu Yijun said with a smile. "For the past hundred years, she''s been most fascinated with Realm Chess."


    "What? The Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill?" Wu Yuan felt a jolt of shock.


    From Cen Jiang''s message, he only knew that his mother had taken medicinal pills sent from the eldritch world. He never imagined it would be the legendary Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill.


    Taking this pill could allow one to live for a million years. This was already the limit under the workings of heaven and earth. A treasure that granted an even longer lifespan? Even Sovereigns couldn''t provide that.


    No matter how many rare treasures and resources one had, one needed to cultivate at the very least to have a chance at longevity. One needed a certain level of talent as well.


    That was why, after countless years, those super powerhouses had almost no close blood rtives left.


    <em>Was it Master?</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Only his master had the rank and authority to obtain such a precious medicinal pill from the Eldritch Court.


    "Brother, is this medicinal pill very precious?" Wu Yijun asked curiously.


    She only knew the name of the pill, but wasn''t very clear about its specific effects.


    "It is very precious, but don��t worry. There''s no need to tell Mother about it," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Even ordinary Archimmortals might not know the name of this pill. There was no need to say more.


    "Cen Jiang, thank you for your hard work all these years," Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the woman in red robes beside them. "The Summerpeak World has developed wonderfully, and without a doubt, you deserve the greatest credit."


    "It''s all Cen Jiang��s duty," Cen Jiang quickly replied.


    "I won''t forget your efforts. When I return, I''ll do my best to help you," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "You were able to be a High Immortal purely through your own efforts... With my help, bing an Archimmortal in the future isn''t impossible for you."


    "Be an Archimmortal?" Cen Jiang''s pupils constricted slightly.


    Wu Yijun was equally shocked.


    "You''ll understand when the timees," Wu Yuan smiled, then abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, what happened to Fang Xia? Wasn''t he out adventuring? Why has he gone missing? Is he alive or dead now?"


    The smiles on Cen Jiang and Wu Yijun''s faces quickly faded.


    "Master, let me exin," Cen Jiang quickly said. "Fang Xia and the others initially went on an expedition with Arctic and his group.


    Following your orders, I secretly looked after them along the way. After you entered seclusion, their strength grew even more through the risks they took and opportunities they encountered.


    This is especially so for Fang Xia, who is the most talented among them. He had quite a few fortuitous encounters, sessfully entering the Amethyst Cradle phase, even reaching the seventh-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. He also upgraded his immortal root," Cen Jiang exined.


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Old Fang''s talent and temperament were both excellent.


    "Until a hundred years ago."

 Chapter 727: The Astral Monarch’s Treasure Trove (1)

    <h4>Chapter 727: The Astral Monarch��s Treasure Trove (1)</h4>


    "With his strength far surpassing Arctic and the others, coupled with our assistance, Fang Xia reached the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase. He sought an opportunity to break through to the Void Refiner phase," Cen Jiang exined.


    "So he ventured alone into the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley, ultimately disappearing within without a trace of news emerging."


    "Any word from the eldritch voidrealm?" Wu Yuan immediately inquired.


    Unless the power disparity was truly extraordinary, resulting in instant demise, immortal cultivators could generally transmit a message through the voidrealm before death. A single thought was all it took.


    "None. No message came through. We suddenly lost all contact," Cen Jiang said. "However, Fang Xia''s soulmp hasn''t been extinguished. He may still be alive.


    But the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley is fraught with dangers. We can''t be certain," Cen Jiang added.


    Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Soulmp? Many major sects would light soulmps for important cultivators to determine whether they were still alive.


    Though expensive, the Summerpeak lineage decided to purchase them for some key figures, and Fang Xia was undoubtedly a veteran elder of Summerpeak. He held a special ce in Wu Yuan''s heart, second only to his family.


    However, soulmps had several ws. They could malfunction in certain dangerous locations or if the distance from the user was too vast.


    "Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow slightly.


    He''d never heard of it.


    "It''s an exploration site on the Shan Lin Immortal Continent, controlled by the Shan Yue Sect," Cen Jiang exined.


    "Brother, I''ll provide the intelligence��" Wu Yijun beside him began to speak.


    "There��s no need. Give me a moment," Wu Yuan said, then with a thought, he began gathering the relevant information.


    As a disciple of a Sovereign, he possessed Astral Lord-level authority within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. essing some information about an immortal continent took no effort and didn''t consume any eldritch merits. These were all part of his benefits.


    Soon, Wu Yuan had a general understanding.


    There weren''t many forces within the Shan Lin Immortal Continent. It was primarily dominated by two factions: the Shan Yue Sect and the Bai Lin Valley, each controlling vast territories.


    These two forces were of the same caliber as the Redmoon Immortal Hall, though slightly weaker.


    The Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley was an exploration site controlled and upied by the Shan Yue Sect. It spanned a vast area and held some opportunities, though the area was fraught with peril.


    Under normal circumstances, visiting immortal cultivators could pay the Shan Yue Sect a sum of ethercrystal to enter and explore it.


    "Have you contacted the Shan Yue Sect?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "We did. Shortly after losing contact with Fang Xia, we requested assistance from a High Immortal of the Shan Yue Sect," Cen Jiang replied respectfully. "But after investigating the matter briefly, they told us Fang Xia had perished and that we needn''t search further.


    However, they provided no evidence. When I tried to contact them again, the Shan Yue Sect simply stopped responding," Cen Jiang said with a bitter smile. "We were helpless to pursue the matter."


    She understood the bond between Wu Yuan and Fang Xia.


    "The Shan Yue Sect would rather offend you than offer any exnation over a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator?" Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed.


    It was strange. Normally, ordinary High Immortals and even some major sects would be reluctant to offend a cultivator like Cen Jiang who represented Wu Yuan. There was no benefit in it.


    Were they hiding something? Although Fang Xia''s talent was impressive, it was only within the Summerpeak lineage. How much trouble could a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivator cause?


    "With the Shan Yue Sect refusing to exin, we were powerless to investigate the matter," Cen Jiang shook her head. "After all, they are a powerful sect presided by multiple Archimmortals, including an Astral Lord... It��s difficult for me to even meet with one of their Archimmortals."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Archimmortals viewed ordinary High Immortals with a condescending attitude. After all, it was rare for a single Archimmortal to emerge from over ten thousand High Immortals.


    Over ny percent of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field��s members would perish or be eliminated as they progressed through each Origin Eldritch Field, leaving an average of only tens of millions of High Immortals and High Eldritches in the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    In the end, far less than ten percent would be Archimmortals.


    Despite his brilliant performance in the Fifth and Fourth Origin Eldritch Fields, it wasn''t enough to make such a powerful sect fear him.


    Moreover, he wasn''t personally making an appearance; it was just Cen Jiang. The Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect probably weren''t even aware of the situation.


    "Alright. I understand the situation now," Wu Yuan said. "I''ll handle it. You can continue cultivating as per usual."


    "Yes." Cen Jiang nodded, inwardly heaving a sigh of relief.


    "Little Yi, you can tell Mother that I should return to Summerpeak to see her in three years at the earliest, or ten years at thetest," Wu Yuan said.


    "You want me to tell her now?" Wu Yijun was startled.


    "If you tell her now, she''ll be happy for a long time, looking forward to my return," Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "But if I surprise her by showing up unexpectedly, her happiness will onlyst for a moment. Why keep it a secret?"


    "I see, Brother. I��ll do just that," Wu Yijun''s eyes lit up.


    "If anythinges up, send me a message. I''ll most likely be staying in the eldritch world for quite some time," Wu Yuan said. "I''m going to see your master now."


    "My master?" Wu Yijun was surprised at first, then nodded, "Alright."


    ...


    Within the Inner Region of the Thunder Marsh World was an inconspicuous canyon passage.


    <i>Hum!</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a massive boulder, his body emanating waves of blood-red light.


    He was fully focused on cultivating ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� and ��Immutable Soul��. For Wu Yuan, mastering these two great teachings wasn''t particrly difficult, but it required a substantial investment of time.


    Meanwhile, in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, his nine Yuan Souls simultaneously transformed into nine phantoms, concentrating on forming one mysterious seal after another, which emitted strange fluctuations.


    <i>This karmic secret art is truly challenging to cultivate. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>Fortunately, I have some understanding of the Laws of Space and Time.</i>


    <i>Compared to my body refiner self, my qi refiner self is progressing faster. I''ve already achieved a small degree of sess with the karmic secret art, which should suffice for now.</i>


    In terms of Daoprehension, Wu Yuan currently rivaled Astral Monarchs. Although he hadn''tprehended the Law of Karma, he could still cultivate karmic secret arts.


    Just as Archimmortals could use brute force to enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, cultivating karmic secret arts followed simr principles.


    Astral Monarchs could easily perceive karma due to their high Daoprehension level and formidable strength.


    This karmic secret art was something Wu Yuan had obtained from the eldritch voidrealm. It was quitemon, but the cultivation requirements were extremely high, beyond even Astral Lords.


    Besides the karmic secret art, Wu Yuan was also attempting to cultivate other secret arts, many of which were not for use in directbat, but auxiliary purposes.


    For example �� a transformation secret art! It could disguise one''s appearance, vital aura, and even soul aura. This was a specialty of the Dao of Creation.


    <i>Old Fang?</i> As Wu Yuan cultivated, Fang Xia''s image involuntarily surfaced in his mind.


    Scenes from their early years in the Middle Land also shed before him. Without Old Fang''s help, he might not have smoothly cultivated to be an eldritch warrior. Not to mention surviving the worm devil cmityter.


    Thus, Wu Yuan didn''t wish to see Fang Xia die. If he was in danger, Wu Yuan would spare no effort to save him.


    <i>If Old Fang had encountered danger and perished in the past hundreds of years, it would have been toote. Going now would be useless.</i>


    <i>But his soulmp is still burning. Generally, unless separated by the spacetime domain of an immortal nation, the soulmp should function urately.</i>


    <i>But the message the Shan Yue Sect gave to Cen Jiang seems somewhat strange. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>I must find an intermediary to inquire about the situation first.</i>


    Logically, searching for an Amethyst Cradle cultivator in the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley shouldn''t be too difficult. Even if they couldn''t find him or encountered difficulties, the Shan Yue Sect could have proactively provided an exnation.


    <i>Hm? Archimmortal Xu Cai can see me now?</i> A glint of surprise shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes as a strand of consciousness entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm to meet her.


    ...


    Within one of the nes in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm was an icy.


    Halfway up the highest mountain of the entire was a hall. Sitting here, one could overlook nearly half the��sndscape.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A ck-robed figure appeared out of thin air, immediately spotting the majestic and elegant woman seated in the distance.


    "Wu Yuan, my young friend." The elegant woman stood up.


    "Fellow Daoist Xu Cai." Wu Yuan smiled.


    This address of ��Fellow Daoist�� prompted a flicker of surprise in the elegant woman''s eyes. She could clearly sense that Wu Yuan was merely an Earth Eldritch. An Earth Eldritch, addressing her as ��Fellow Daoist��?


    "Please, sit." Archimmortal Xu Cai smiled, not revealing a hint of dissatisfaction on her face despite feeling a touch of displeasure inwardly.


    "Mm." Wu Yuan didn''t stand on ceremony, taking a step tond opposite Archimmortal Xu Cai.


    He appeared extremely at ease, seemingly unconcerned by Archimmortal Xu Cai''s status.


    "Wu Yuan, my young friend, what brings you here?" Archimmortal Xu Cai smiled, unhurriedly pouring tea for Wu Yuan.


    "I would like to thank Fellow Daoist, for nurturing and guiding Little Yi over the years. It must have been troublesome for you," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "It''s nothing. I''m very fond of Little Yi," Archimmortal Xu Cai''s face involuntarily lit up with a smile at the mention of Wu Yijun.


    "Though she is not considered highly talented, her personality is excellent... I believe you understand that even among Archimmortal disciples, very few can be Archimmortals. I took her as my disciple not for her talent."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    If Archimmortals took disciples based on talent, they would at least seek geniuses at the level of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field members. His sister fell far short of that.


    "Young friend, if you have something to say, please speak frankly," Archimmortal Xu Cai said.


    "Very well, there is indeed a matter I''d like to request your assistance with," Wu Yuan said. "I have a close friend named Fang Xia, a ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator, who entered the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley in the Shan Lin Immortal Continent...


    I was hoping you could inquire with the Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect, to see if they could investigate the matter, and if Fang Xia is still alive, whether it be possible to bring him back."


    "Is that all?" Archimmortal Xu Cai asked, taken aback.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "It seems this Fang Xia is quite important to you," Archimmortal Xu Cai said with a smile. "Alright, I''ll ask around. However, I''m not particrly close with the Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect, so I can only inquire through the eldritch voidrealm."


    "I appreciate your help, Fellow Daoist," Wu Yuan said. "If there are any expenses involved, please don''t hesitate to let me know."


    "One moment, please," Archimmortal Xu Cai said. Her eyes briefly lost focus before returning to normal.


    It seemed she had already transmitted an inquiry.


    Wu Yuan waited patiently.


    After a while, Archimmortal Xu Cai suddenly spoke, ��Young Friend Wu Yuan.��


    "Do you have any news?" Wu Yuan asked eagerly.


    "I have news, but the situation doesn''t look good," Archimmortal Xu Cai said, a hint of confusion shing in her eyes.


    "What do you mean?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "I managed to contact an Archimmortal from the Shan Yue Sect. The conversation went well initially, but as soon as I mentioned Fang Xia and your name, this Archimmortal seemed to already know about the matter," Archimmortal Xu Cai said gravely. "He told me right away that Fang Xia is dead, without a doubt."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Dead?" Wu Yuan''s expression changed slightly.


    The Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect had already been aware of this matter?


    "I tried to probe a bit further, asking for the specifics, but they simply said he was killed while encountering the usual threats in the area, and refused to say more," Archimmortal Xu Cai shook her head. "I didn''t feel it was appropriate to press further."


    "I understand. Thank you for your help, Daoist Xu Cai," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "It''s no trouble."

 Chapter 728: The Astral Monarch’s Treasure Trove (2)

    <h4>Chapter 728: The Astral Monarch��s Treasure Trove (2)</h4>


    The two conversed for a bit longer before Wu Yuan stood to take his leave, disappearing from Archimmortal Xu Cai''s sight.


    <i>Wu Yuan? He''s only been cultivating for such a short time, disappearing for a few hundred years, yet somehow, he gives me a feeling of immense danger.</i> Archimmortal Xu Cai mused to herself as she sat alone on the jade tform.


    At first, she had assumed Wu Yuan was merely an Earth Eldritch, and felt a touch of displeasure at how he addressed her. But as their conversation continued, the sharp edge she sensed within Wu Yuan''s soul shocked her tremendously. She no longer dared to underestimate him.


    <i>After cultivating for a few hundred years, his current strength is likely a mystery. In ten thousand years, his power might rival that of an Archimmortal.</i> Archimmortal Xu Cai thought to herself. <i>Moreover, for the Astral Lord to give me a direct order to take Little Yi as a disciple, was this to appease Wu Yuan?</i>


    This spoke volumes about Wu Yuan''s importance.


    <i>It seems that some high-ranking figures in the eldritch world are paying close attention to, or even favor this Wu Yuan. </i>Archimmortal Xu Cai pondered.


    Her knowledge was limited, making it impossible to deduce the full picture.


    <i>However, the Shan Yue Sect is not to be trifled with. Their Astral Lord is a ninth-stage Archimmortal, and may not necessarily do him any favors. </i>Archimmortal Xu Cai shook her head slightly. <i>If he could im the heaven-tier title in the Second Origin Eldritch Field, that might be a different story.</i>


    <i>Even if this Wu Yuan has suspicions, he can''t do anything against Astral Lord Shan Yue.</i>


    A ninth-stage Archimmortal was a peak Astral Lord, just a step away from bing an Astral Monarch.


    Such a figure wasn��t someone an ordinary immortal cultivator could challenge, let alone meet.


    ...


    Time passed, and Wu Yuan sought help from two other Archeldritches/Archimmortals to inquire with the Shan Yue Sect about Fang Xia''s situation.


    The result was the same as when Archimmortal Xu Cai made her inquiry. The Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect had only one answer: Fang Xia is dead.


    But at the same time, they couldn''t produce any evidence, nor would they allow other Archimmortals or Archeldritches to investigate the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley.


    Hence, there was no progress on this front.


    Inside the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan cultivated while pondering.


    <i>It''s very strange. Although I haven''t revealed much of my talent in these few hundred years, just iming the heaven-tier title in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field after only a few decades of cultivation should be enough to show I''m not to be trifled with. </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    <i>Add to that the consecutive inquiries from several Archimmortals and Archeldritches. Logically, to avoid trouble, even if Fang Xia were truly dead, the Shan Yue Sect should have made an effort to provide an exnation, rather than covering it up. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head.


    It was too strange. Typically, these major sects and factions would avoid making enemies with other Archimmortals unless absolutely necessary.


    Moreover, Fang Xia''s soulmp hadn''t gone out yet.


    <i>If I were truly just an ordinary Earth Eldritch, that would be one thing.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with a hint of coldness. <i>But they''re unwilling to tell the truth and won''t allow me to enter the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley?</i>


    Under normal circumstances, only Earth Immortals, Earth Eldritches, and lower-level immortal cultivators were allowed to explore the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley.


    But rules meant little to the strong. The Shan Yue Sect wasn��t qualified to make Wu Yuan obey their rules, and he had no intention of doing so.


    <i>When I return to the eldritch world, I''ll go to the Shan Yue Sect.</i> Wu Yuan had thought it through.


    As long as he finished cultivating part one of ��Creation Saint Prohibition��, he would have little to fear below the Astral Monarch level.


    In fact, Wu Yuan had another option, which was to request help from an Astral Monarch, such as Astral Monarch Hou Qu. Once an Astral Monarch intervened, the Shan Yue Sect would likely not dare to be so evasive.


    Archimmortal Xu Cai and the others he had asked for help with this matter were, after all, just ordinary Archimmortals and Archeldritches, unable to intimidate the Shan Yue Sect.


    However, if he personally asked Astral Monarch Hou Qu for help with Fang Xia''s matter without his master''s approval �C how would a mighty Astral Monarch view it? It was hard to say whether they��d be willing to help him.


    <i>In the end, my fame and strength are still not great enough. The top powerhouses of the eldritch world only help me out of respect for my master.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>I''m still just a youngster in the eyes of the eldritch world''s powerhouses.</i>


    <i>I''ve only cultivated for a short time, and haven��t made any true friends or subordinates yet.</i>


    There was no other way. Some things had to be done personally.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, two years passed.


    <i>Finally, my body refiner self has mastered the karmic secret art, and I''ve cultivated ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� to arge degree of mastery.</i> Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a massive boulder.


    Within his internal shambh, countless mysterious Dao patterns were converging, faintly forming the silhouette of a massive Thunder Beast Diagram �C these were the cryptic patterns of the Saint Prohibition Art.


    Though this massive Thunder Beast Diagram still appeared crude, the pressure it emanated was incredibly potent, enough to make one''s heart tremble!


    Surrounding the internal shambh, surging vital ether swirled, ready to burst forth through the Saint Prohibition cryptic patterns at any moment.


    <i>Let''s give it a try. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. With a mentalmand, a vast amount of vital ether poured into his internal shambh.


    <i>Boom! </i>The Saint Prohibition cryptic patterns activated, releasing a blindingly brilliant azure light. His vital ether, alreadyparable to a First Tribtion High Deity, began to flow out like a turbulent river. Following the mysterious channels between the internal shambh and his body, it instantly infused every part of his physique.


    <i>Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!</i> The vital ether surged through every meridian in his body, flooding into every bit of flesh and blood, nourishing his musculoskeletal structure.


    Wu Yuan felt an overwhelming, surging power ready to burst forth at hismand.


    <i>Whew! </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes reddened slightly, feeling pain ripping throughout his body as if it was being torn apart, but it quickly ended. It was always a bit painful the first time.


    Gradually, Wu Yuan adapted to his newly enhanced vital ether.


    <i>Now, the power of my vital ether is roughly equivalent to a Fourth Tribtion High Deity.</i> Wu Yuan estimated.


    As one cultivated part one of the Creation Saint Prohibition to a small degree,rge degree, and eventuallypletion, the power of one''s vital ether would steadily increase to the level of a First Tribtion High Immortal, Fourth Tribtion High Immortal, and first-stage Archimmortal, respectively. These were fixed power levels.


    <i>However, the stronger I be, the longer I can sustain this enhanced vital ether in battle.</i> Wu Yuan had basically figured it out. <i>For instance, my unenhanced ether is onlyparable to a First Tribtion High Deity, so in a prolonged battle, I''m not as formidable as a Fourth Tribtion High Deity.</i>


    Essentially, Creation Saint Prohibition couldn''t increase the total amount of Wu Yuan''s vital ether out of thin air. It merelypressed the vital ether, increasing its quality while reducing the total quantity.


    <i>I''m only an Earth Eldritch now, my body is too weak. Even if my Daoprehension is deep enough, and I spend a great deal of time cultivating part three topletion, my body would likely be torn apart once I unleash it. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    The enhanced vital ether was too potent; his physical form couldn''t withstand it. He would need to be a High Eldritch before he could truly unleash the full power of ��Creation Saint Prohibition��.


    <i>Come to think of it, ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� and ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� are somewhat simr.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>However, cultivating ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� requiresprehending the Great Dao of Creation, and only those with an Apotheosis root have hope of mastering it. Its advantage lies in that one can rely solely on oneself for power, without needing external resources.</i>


    <i>The Genesis Law Sacrifice, on the other hand, has lower requirements, but its drawback is the extremely high demand for external resources.</i>


    His qi refiner self couldn''t cultivate ��Creation Saint Prohibition��. But if he could employ ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, his directbat strength wouldn''t be too weak.


    <i>I''ve mastered part one to arge degree, but to reachpletion? That''ll take at least a few more decades. </i>Wu Yuan roughly estimated.


    It would consume too much time. Fang Xia��s matter couldn''t afford to wait.


    <i>The power of a Fourth Tribtion High Deity should be enough. </i>Wu Yuan thought, giving a mentalmand.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Beside Wu Yuan, another ck-robed figure appeared, his appearance and vital aura identical to Wu Yuan''s.


    It was the ether body of his body refiner self!


    His ether body was essentially a part of his internal shambh, equally capable of wielding ��Creation Saint Prohibition��. In terms of total vital ether andbat prowess, it was nearly indistinguishable from his true self. Only its ability to recover vital ether was inferior to the true self.


    <i>Let''s go.</i> Wu Yuan''s ether body moved, instantly transforming into a streak of light that shot into the distant canyon passage.


    In an instant, it elerated to light speed, barreling through the winding path towards the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.


    <i>Indeed!</i> Even within the twisting, serpentine canyon passages, Wu Yuan''s burst speed effortlessly reached light speed. If he employed time eleration, his speed would soar even further.


    Though Wu Yuan''s body refiner self couldn''t wield the Great Dao of Spacetime, the merebination of the Laws of Time and Space with the Great Dao of Creation could already grant immensely formidable power.


    Of course, unless absolutely necessary, Wu Yuan wouldn''t reveal his body refiner self''s deep insights into Space and Time.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan sped forth at an extreme velocity.


    The Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World was dangerous for ordinary Earth Immortals. But for Wu Yuan''s ether body, there was no danger at all.


    Common thunder beasts? By the time they noticed Wu Yuan, he would��ve already passed by like a gust of wind.


    Thunder beast kings? A mere thought would be enough to y them.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan entered the Core Region.


    ...


    The Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World was an expansive wilderness, surrounded on all sides by massive stone walls. The walls were thick and ancient, stretching for a hundred li, exuding an aura of antiquity.


    A full 365 Dao pattern diagrams adorned the stone walls.


    On this enormous wilderness spanning over a hundred thousand li in diameter, six teams were converging from all directions.


    Each team consisted of dozens of figures, their auras varying in strength. A small minority were High Immortals, while the vast majority were at the Earth Immortal phase.


    At this moment, the gazes of these hundreds of powerful immortal cultivators were fixed on an azure sphere hovering at the center of the wilderness.


    The sphere, about ten thousand li in diameter, resembled a, its surface etched with countless mysterious Dao patterns.


    This was emitting waves of lightning, spreading out for thirty thousand li. The lightning contained unfathomable power, preventing the various teams from approaching.


    There were six enormous openings in the azure, leading to unknown ces.


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    Time passed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Immortal cultivators from the six teams asionally attempted to breach the sea of lightning. But as soon as they entered, they would be assailed by lightning strikes. At first, the attacks weren''t too powerful, but the deeper they ventured, the stronger the attacks became.


    Eventually, one cultivator after another was forced to retreat from the lightning sea, returning to the outskirts of the wilderness.


    "Senior Uncle. What should we do? The treasure left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei has finally resurfaced, but we can''t even reach it," an Earth Immortal from one of the teams couldn''t help but speak up. "The strongest Earth Immortals in our sect, along with the High Immortals capable of entering, are all here."


    "Don''t be hasty," the white-robed High Immortal at the forefront said softly. "Did you think the Astral Monarch''s treasure would be so easily obtained?


    We may not be able do it, but neither can the other five major sects."

 Chapter 729: Subduing All Sides With One Finger (1)

    <h4>Chapter 729: Subduing All Sides With One Finger (1)</h4>


    "Other immortal sects?" The gazes of the cultivators in this group swept involuntarily over the other five groups at the outskirts of the wastnd.


    Immortal cultivators would enter the sea of lightning from time to time, attempting to pass through, only to retreat out of its range shortly after.


    asionally, even Earth Immortals would be injured, but fortunately they were well-prepared. So far, no one had truly perished.


    "This Astral Monarch''s treasure trove has emerged quite mysteriously and suddenly. Our six great immortal sects have gathered here, bringing all Earth Immortals and Earth Deities who have gained insights into the Laws of Thunder and Earth. In total, there are over a thousand individuals," the white-robed High Immortal said softly.


    "Over sixty High Immortals and High Deities who passed the Thunder Marsh Trial have alsoe.


    The vast majority have attempted it, but all have failed. So far, only Earth Immortal Zhu Guan from the Longstar Immortal Sect is the closest to sess, reaching a position about a thousand li from the. But even he couldn''t enter it," the white-robed High Immortal said.


    "Don''t be impatient, wait for an opportunity. With each attempt, it bes a little easier for those who follow.


    Historically, the Astral Monarch''s treasure trove has emerged a few times. Our Phoenix Immortal Sect once obtained the treasure, and it wasn''t purely through strength," the white-robed High Immortal said.


    Everyone nodded silently, waiting patiently.


    "Mu Hao, the greatest threat is still Nie Qing from the Longstar Immortal Sect," transmitted a burly ck-armored High Deity standing nearby. "Among the dozens of High Immortals and High Deities present, he is the only Sixth Tribtion High Immortal.


    In a real fight, he alone could take on ten of us," the ck-armored High Deity transmitted.


    "Mm, I understand," High Immortal Mu Hao nodded.


    The six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent controlled the Thunder Marsh World, sealing off the entire world. It was easy for them to dispatch as many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities as they wished.


    But High Immortals? The Thunder Marsh World operated under intangible rules. High Immortals and High Deities had to pass corresponding trials to enter. Whether they could enter or not had no real corrtion with their strength.


    It wasn��t just the Phoenix Immortal Sect''s group. The Skyfeather Immortal Sect��s group and the others were equally wary of the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    "Veteran Elder Nie Qing, the other sects seem to be subtly ostracizing us."


    "It does appear so."


    "Are they nning to unite against us?" The Longstar Immortal Sect''s group consisted of nearly two hundred Earth Immortals and Earth Deities, and over ten High Immortals.


    They weren''t fools; they had all noticed the attitudes of the other groups.


    "What are you panicking over?" the white-haired elderly man called Nie Qing said nonchntly. "In terms of strength, I''m number one; in terms of potential, Earth Immortal Zhu Guan hase closest to that. Naturally the other sects are wary, fearing we''ll im the entire treasure for ourselves."


    The Longstar Immortal Sect members all nodded, feeling quite encouraged. On paper, their chances seemed the highest.


    "Zhu Guan, your talent for Thunder techniques is exceptional. Sense the patterns carefully, and strive to seed in one attempt," High Immortal Nie Qing instructed.


    "Yes, Veteran Elder," the pudgy middle-aged man nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with determination as he cultivated.


    He had originally been an ordinary Earth Immortal in the Longstar Immortal Sect. Although he possessed some talent, if he followed the standard path of cultivation, breaking through to High Immortal in the future would have been extremely difficult.


    Yet with the emergence of the Astral Monarch''s treasure trove, he had suddenly be the most dazzling star.


    <i>This is my great opportunity. </i>Earth Immortal Zhu Guan resolved inwardly.


    When opportunity knocks, one must seize it. Such an important opportunity might onlye once in a lifetime.


    Time flowed on.


    Suddenly, a ferocious wave of qi fluctuations suddenly swept through one of the passages connecting to the outermost regions of the wilderness.


    The disturbance was immense, immediately prompting many immortal cultivators from the six groups to turn their heads toward that particr canyon passage.


    The Longstar Immortal Sect was closest to this passage. The ten-plus High Immortals in their group each revealed cautious expressions.


    <i>The other sects have dispatched more powerhouses? </i>High Immortal Nie Qing frowned slightly, sweeping his gaze as he transmitted, "Which sect does this neer belong to?"


    "Not our sect. The abbot didn''t inform me that anyone else wasing," the Phoenix Immortal Sect was the first to respond.


    "We don��t know.."


    "Not from our sect." The other four sects also denied any knowledge, none having received any information.


    <i>Boom! </i>As theymunicated, A ck-robed figure streaked over in a sh of light, instantly arriving at the wastnd, standing between the Longstar Immortal Sect��s group and the Phoenix Immortal Sect��s group.


    This neer was d in ck armor and carried a saber strapped to his back. His features were strikingly handsome and the aura he exuded was extraordinary. A faint smile yed on his lips.


    "An Earth Deity?"


    "He came here alone?"


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    "I''ve never seen him before. Does anyone know him?"


    "No."


    "Could someone have leaked the information to other immortal continents or even immortal nations? But the Archimmortals of our six sects are standing guard outside the Thunder Marsh World." The powerful experts of the various sects grew increasingly wary.


    Where did this unfamiliar Earth Deitye from?


    Only a few High Immortals from the Longstar Immortal Sect nced at each other in disbelief, shes of recognition in their eyes.


    "Shadow de?"


    "Is it him?"


    "The attire looks the same. We haven''t seen him in hundreds of years, and he''s be an Earth Deity? Is it really him?" These High Immortals transmitted to each other.


    A sh of hatred appeared in the depths of High Immortal Nie Qing''s eyes, along with some confusion, but he didn''t act rashly.


    Over six hundred years ago, Shadow de, a formal disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, had killed Nie Le, Mu Xin, and Earth Immortal Qi He��s mana body, causing quite a stir in the Longstar Immortal Sect. Many High Immortals in the sect knew of this.


    Nie Le had been High Immortal Nie Qing''s own son.


    Afterwards, the Longstar Immortal Sect had attempted to search for Shadow de in the Thunder Marsh World, but to no avail.


    Hundreds of years had passed, and themotion had long since died down.


    No one had imagined that today, Shadow de, the mysterious disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, would suddenly appear again, and had even be an Earth Deity.


    Was it really Shadow de, or was this Earth Deity impersonating him? None of the immortal cultivators present today had truly seen Shadow de before, and weren''t able to identify his soul aura.


    If it really was Shadow de, wouldn''t that mean he had never left the Thunder Marsh World in the past hundreds of years?


    ...


    The various parties remained silent, none daring to act rashly.


    <i>A? Is this Astral Monarch Wan Lei''s treasure trove?</i> Wu Yuan stood on the ground, his gaze falling on the azure with a diameter of ten thousand li hovering in the distance.


    From the information he had gathered previously, there wasn��t any mention of an azure in the core region of the Thunder Marsh World.


    There were six openings on the surface of the, leading to unknown realms.


    <i>Lightning? Are the lightning bolts blocking these immortal cultivators?</i> Wu Yuan pondered inwardly.


    With his mastery of Space True Intent, his perception was incredibly keen, allowing him to assess the situation quickly.


    "Who are you, Sir? Which of the six major immortal sects do you belong to?" A ck-robed High Immortal from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect finally broke the silence.


    "I don''t belong to any immortal sect." Wu Yuan met his gaze, speaking indifferently, "Let me ask you, do you have any information on this? Was it left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei?"


    If there was detailed intelligence, the six great immortal sects would certainly know best.


    The ck-robed High Immortal''s expression changed, a sh of anger crossing his face. As a High Immortal, he felt that he was giving enough face to Wu Yuan, an Earth Deity.


    Yet from Wu Yuan''s words, it was obvious he didn��t hold a shred of respect for him.


    "Boy, you''re far too arrogant for an Earth Deity. Since you don''t belong to our six great immortal sects, leave the Thunder Marsh World at once," another purple-robed High Immortal from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect said coldly. "Otherwise, this mana body of yours will perish today."


    His words sounded perfectly reasonable to the powerhouses of the various groups.


    Perish? Wu Yuan smiled and shook his head.


    His form suddenly streaked forward, like a beam of light slicing across the sky. In the next instant, Wu Yuan had already arrived before the Skyfeather Immortal Sect''s group, tens of thousands of li from his original position.


    He was too fast!


    With Wu Yuan''s terrifying burst speed, therge group of Earth Immortals and Earth Deities from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect barely had time to react. Most could only look on in shock, their pupils constricting slightly.


    But the six High Immortals and one High Deity from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect managed to respond in time.


    "Please calm down, Sir," the silver-armored High Deity''s voice boomed. He had already sensed that Wu Yuan would not be easy to deal with. With such terrifying speed, how could he be weak in other aspects?


    In one step, he crossed thousands of li, his body instantly growing to a towering height of ten thousand zhangs, his aura surging and exploding outwards.


    Employing his ether arts, he waved his eight arms. Like eight pirs of heaven, they struck simultaneously, blocking Wu Yuan��s advance.


    <i>A Third Tribtion High Deity? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze was icy cold. He didn''t even bother to draw his saber, merely raising his palm.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s vital aura instantly began to skyrocket, reaching the level of a First Tribtion High Deity.


    Then, he jabbed a finger forth towards the silver-armored High Deity.


    That single finger instantly swelled to a towering ten thousand zhangs, tearing through the air!


    One had to remember that Wu Yuan had an Apotheosis root, and was destined to possess an immensely colossal deity body in the future. Creation True Intent was most adept at physical body cultivation. In terms of pure strength, it was iparably terrifying.


    Since he was dealing with a mere Third Tribtion High Deity, Wu Yuan didn''t want to reveal too much power, only drawing upon a tiny fraction of Creation��s profundities, without fully unleashing it.


    However, the moment he jabbed his finger forth, the faces of the High Immortals and High Deities from the six great immortal sects paled.


    Even if they couldn''t understand what gave it such power, they could still sense the profoundness of this finger technique.


    <i>This finger technique?</i> Nie Qing, the High Immortal with the highest cultivation among them, was also the most shocked.


    He felt that this single finger was like a battle saber that could rend heaven and earth. It also resembled a divine spear that could pierce through heaven and earth.


    It was indomitable.


    <i>Such a powerful aura, but he''s still just an Earth Deity after all. </i>This thought had barely shed through the silver-armored High Deity''s mind when his palm collided with Wu Yuan''s fingertip.


    A millisecondter, his face nched, a hint of terror shing in his eyes. He sent repeated mental transmissions: "Please calm down, Sir! Please calm down!"


    Just as he was about to retreat, this finger, like a long spear piercing the firmament, instantly pierced through the eight arms of the silver-armored High Deity, held in front of him in defense. His arms exploded with a thunderous boom.


    The finger did not slow at all,nding on the silver-armored High Deity''s chest. He waspletely powerless to resist. His body instantly exploded, each part sting in all directions.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t withstand it at all. Rather, he proactively detonated himself to lessen the terrifying impact of this finger. The instant they shed, his body was already on the verge of copse.


    <i>Sixth Tribtion High Deity-level strength at minimum, perhaps even approaching the Archimmortal level.</i> The silver-armored High Deity''s heart was filled with terror. <i>Where did this monstrous prodigye from? Or is he not actually an Earth Deity at all?</i>


    His body rapidly began to reform in the distance.


    At the same time, he sent a message through the voidrealm to the Archimmortal of his sect: "Ancestor! Ancestor! This is bad, it seems a Sixth Tribtion High Deity has appeared in the Thunder Marsh World. His strength is terrifying �C he defeated me in a single move."


    ...


    He had defeated the silver-armored High Deity with one finger.


    The area fell silent for a moment.


    Those High Immortals and High Deities were bbergasted. Even Nie Qing had to admit that while defeating a Third Tribtion High Deity wouldn''t be difficult for him, it wouldn''t be this easy.


    The many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities were even more stupefied, finding it somewhat absurd. Could an Earth Deity really be this powerful?


    Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate, nor did he pay any more attention to the silver-armored High Deity whose vital aura had greatly diminished and fled to the side.


    Taking a single step, he arrived above the Skyfeather Immortal Sect''s group.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Within a thousand-li radius of the Skyfeather Immortal Sect''s group, a powerful array had already formed under the orders of the six High Immortals. Strands of fire light emerged from the array.


    The array was vast and mighty, as if roaring fire dragons were prowling within it, faintly causing the hues of the world to shift. It was clearly a defensive array.


    A defensive array formed by the joint efforts of six High Immortals should, in theory, be difficult for even an Archimmortal to shatter in a single strike. The Skyfeather Immortal Sect was clearly well-prepared; this array of theirs was originally intended to protect them from other High Immortals.


    At this moment, all eyes were on Wu Yuan. Could he break it?

 Chapter 730: Subduing All Sides With One Finger (2)

    <h4>Chapter 730: Subduing All Sides With One Finger (2)</h4>


    <i>An array? If it were an array formed by six Archimmortals, it might be worth looking at...</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze was calm. His Soul Will swept over, faintly perceiving the six High Immortals inside, as well as the many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities.


    Again, he jabbed a finger out.


    This finger, like a spear or a sword, swept across heaven and earth, directly piercing this array that could withstand an ordinary Archimmortal''s strike. But as if by coincidence, this finger did not strike any of the High Immortals.


    The array began to copse, revealing the figures of the six High Immortals and the many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities, who looked on in stark horror.


    Their array had actually been destroyed in a single strike?


    The two sides werepletely on different levels.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Six arms suddenly extended from Wu Yuan''s body, their movements surpassing the speed of light. Gigantic hands flew out like dark clouds, instantly grabbing the six High Immortals.


    A restrictive force rendered the six High Immortalspletely immobile, preventing them from even speaking.


    Utter silence descended!


    "This?"


    "How terrifying." Nie Qing and the other High Immortals and High Deities from the six great immortal sects looked incredulously at the scene.


    An Earth Deity hadpletely suppressed the entire Skyfeather Immortal Sect''s group with as much ease as flipping a palm. What kind of strength was this?


    Most of them were beginning to doubt whether this was really an Earth Deity. Was he not an Archdeity?


    "Now, can you tell me more about this azure and what you know about Astral Monarch Wan Lei?" Wu Yuan calmly looked at the purple-robed High Immortal. "Hand over the information and I won''t kill you. Otherwise, don''t me me for turning hostile.


    Transmit it to me. If there''s even a hint of a lie, you will also die!"


    Suppressing a group of High Immortals and High Deities with a flip of his palm was, in Wu Yuan''s view, perfectly normal.


    Even without employing the Saint Prohibition Art, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self might appear to be a second-stage Earth Eldritch, yet could unleash strength at the threshold of the Archimmortal level.


    If he were to go all out and employ the Saint Prohibition Art, Wu Yuan wouldn''t fear a head-on sh with a fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal.


    The six High Immortals of the Skyfeather Immortal Sect had lost all will to fight.


    "Sir, this azure is indeed the Astral Monarch''s treasure trove. As long as one passes through the sea of lightning, one can enter the interior of the..." That purple-robed High Immortal quickly transmitted what he knew to Wu Yuan, too terrified to put up any resistance.


    Although this was only his mana body, its death would still be a great loss to him. Moreover, this information wasn''t particrly precious.


    Wu Yuan listened, nodding slightly.


    The information could be summarized as such: first, one had to cross the sea of lightning; second, there were still some threats inside the, and one could obtain the Astral Monarch''s treasures after passing through them.


    The treasures varied. Historically, this azure star had manifested several times, each appearancesting for a period of time before disappearing.


    "You. Tell me what you know," Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on another High Immortal.


    Under the pressure of his aura, these High Immortals couldn''t transmit messages to one another.


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    Of course, their true selves were all in the outside world, and they might be able to transmit messages to each other. This was something Wu Yuan couldn''t prevent.


    In no time, he interrogated all six High Immortals of the Skyfeather Immortal Sect one by one, obtaining six information reports.


    "You, tell me what you know as well," Wu Yuan''s gaze was cold as he turned to the Phoenix Immortal Sect''s group in the distance.


    Immediately, the group of High Immortals from the Phoenix Immortal Sect felt chills down their spines. The leading High Immortal quickly chose to hand over the information to ensure his safety.


    "Your turn." Wu Yuan looked towards another group.


    He collected intelligence reports from all six groups, cross-referencing them with each other, minimizing the chances of falsehood or error.


    ...


    Outside the Thunder Marsh World, in a vast expanse of outer space, six figures emanating powerful auras red furiously at the scene projected on a massive light screen before them.


    The projection showed Wu Yuan dominating the six major immortal sect teams with sheer force in the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World, forcing them to cough up information on the treasure trove.


    "Could it be Shadow de, the disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall?" an Archimmortal in fiery red robes asked, looking towards the Archimmortal in azure robes.


    "Absolutely not. Shadow de was merely at the Shambh phase back then. It''s impossible for him to acquire Archimmortal-level strength in just a few hundred years," the azure-robed Archimmortal replied coldly. "It''s more likely some High Deity disguised as an Earth Deity. His vital aura is at the High Deity level."


    "Indeed. He must be courting death. Where did hee from?"


    "How dare he provoke our six major immortal sects." These Archimmortals spoke in turn, all quite enraged.


    Each of the six Archimmortals hailed from a different major immortal sect. Upon learning of the emergence of the Astral Monarch''s treasure trove, they had all gathered here, firstly to guard the Thunder Marsh World against any intruders, and secondly to respond quickly to unforeseen circumstances.


    Although Wu Yuan''s strength shocked them, it hadn''t reached the point of making them fearful or wary. After all, each of the six major immortal sects had an Astral Lord presiding over them.


    "Such arrogance."


    "He''ll have toe out eventually."


    "He probably snuck in earlier when we weren''t paying attention." The six Archimmortals had many spections.


    For now, they could only sit and wait.


    ...


    <i>The Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.</i>


    The six groups,prising over a thousand Earth Immortals and Earth Deities, and dozens of High Immortals and High Deities, all stood in silent fear, staring at the figure with a saber on his back.


    Too domineering. One man had suppressed all six groups, and no one dared to resist.


    "The intelligence is urate," Wu Yuan swiftly cross-referenced all the information from the six major immortal sects, finding no errors.


    With a wave, he released all six captured High Immortals, tossing them to the side.


    Barring special circumstances, Wu Yuan couldn��t be bothered to shed blood. Moreover, they were only mana bodies; killing them would have little effect and only breed enmity.


    <i>However! </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze shifted,nding on High Immortal Nie Qing in the distance. Nie Qing''s heart instantly shuddered, his vignce raised to the highest level.


    <i>Karma? </i>Wu Yuan could clearly sense a thread of karma between himself and this High Immortal, who seemed to be the strongest among those present in his perception. It appeared to be one of enmity.


    Without a doubt, this group was from the Longstar Immortal Sect, and the other party was most likely the father of Nie Le, whom he had killed years ago.


    Karmic threads! High Immortal Nie Qing couldn''t sense them. But Wu Yuan, having made some progress in the karmic secret art, could perceive them clearly at close range.


    <i>However, the karma doesn''t seem that deep.</i> Wu Yuan also felt a bit puzzled. <i>It seems he doesn''t harbor such great hatred towards me.</i>


    Either the other party didn''t care much for this son, or he had given up on revenge.


    <i>Forget it then! </i>Wu Yuan''s thoughts shifted. If the karma had been deep and the resentment strong, he wouldn''t have minded destroying Nie Qing''s mana body.


    But since the karma seemed shallow, there was no need to deepen it further.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan took a step forward, directly plunging into the sea of lightning that spread across tens of thousands of li in the center of the wilderness.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>As soon as he entered, the entire lightning sea seemed to boil. Countless bolts of lightning erupted, striking Wu Yuan like lightning dragons.


    This scene left the numerous High Immortals and High Deities from various immortal sects dumbfounded, even shocking the six Archimmortals standing guard outside the Thunder Marsh World. They had never seen such a sight before.


    "Even an Archimmortal probably couldn''t withstand these lightning bolts," a High Immortal muttered in a low voice.


    The next scene astounded them even more. Wu Yuan walked amidst the all-epassing lightning, engulfed by the thunderbolts. But, despite the entire lightning sea''s upheaval, Wu Yuan strolled through as if taking a leisurely walk, each step covering thousands of li, seemingly ignoring theyers of lightning obstructing him.


    "This?"


    "How is this possible? How is hepletely ignoring it?"


    "It doesn''t look like he''s forcibly enduring it either." Everyone watched in amazement. From what they knew, even High Deities wouldn''t dare forcibly endure the lightning when attempting to pass through.


    <i>Rumble!</i> The lightning sea grew increasingly violent, bombarding Wu Yuan. Yet he remained unperturbed The lightning strikes could barely make him budge at all.


    <i>Under the influence of Creation True Intent, these lightning attacks seem to bepletely dissolved, unable to affect me in the slightest. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    He noticed something unusual. ording to the recently gathered intelligence, Earth Deities or Earth Immortals barely caused any disturbance when passing through the sea of lightning. Yet when it came to him, it was this violent?


    Nine thousand li, ten thousand li, twelve thousand li...


    The entire lightning sea had a diameter of tens of thousands of li, but one only needed to traverse just over ten thousand li to reach the entrance on the surface of the azure.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan entered a cave mouth,pletely disappearing from sight.


    "He''s entered it just like that?"


    "Too terrifying."


    "He''s probably not an Earth Deity. How could the lightning attacks triggered by an Earth Deity be so violent?" The High Immortals and High Deities from the six major immortal sects werepletely shocked.


    "Well, that''s good."


    "With this mysterious powerhouse breaking through, the difficulty of crossing the lightning sea has decreased. It will be much easier for us to get through now."


    "Is he really just a High Deity?"


    "If he''s a High Deity with such terrifying strength, we should have heard of him. He''s likely a peerless genius from some great faction in the immortal world." The six Archimmortals standing guard outside felt somewhat uneasy.


    Judging from the disturbance in the lightning sea alone, the power Wu Yuan disyed was probably not much weaker than their own, naturally rming them.


    ...


    Wu Yuan was unaware and unconcerned about the various reactions outside.


    He was now making his way through the, which appeared to span only ten thousand li from the outside but actually contained a vast world within.


    He walked through a pitch-ck metal corridor. The passage was a thousand li wide, with a depth that seemed immeasurable.


    An intangible yet overwhelming force nketed the entire corridor, pressing down like the weight of an immense world resting squarely on Wu Yuan''s shoulders. Each step feltborious, slowing his movements to a crawl.


    As he proceeded, attacks would asionally descend, sometimes physical assaults like lightning bolts, sometimes soul attacks, and asionally array traps.


    But having just obtained intelligence from the six major immortal sects and possessing formidable strength himself, Wu Yuan simply charged straight through. Nothing could trap him.


    After just one hour, he finally saw a glimmer of light while millions of li deep into the corridor. He didn''t hesitate much, heading straight for it.


    What greeted Wu Yuan''s eyes was a rather vast temple. The temple didn''t seem too dpidated; rows of divine pirs stood tall, seemingly forged from divine gold, with a radiance that seemed on the verge of bursting forth, speaking of its past power and antiquity. Only the floor was covered in dust, sealed away for who knew how long.


    <i>This temple?</i> A hint of confusion shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. This was not mentioned in the intelligence. It seemed the six major immortal sects had never reached this ce before.


    Suddenly, Wu Yuan froze, his gaze no longer moving.


    At the end of the temple, on a huge jade tform,y a silver humanoid figure about a hundred zhangs long. Its entire body was encased in silver battle armor which looked brand new, and it had lifelike hands, feet, skin, and facial features. Most importantly, strands of lightning immortal energy swirled around the armor, undiminished even after countless eons.


    A powerful aura emanated from the humanoid figure, far surpassing that of Archimmortals and Archdeities. It looked like a super powerhouse who had fallen into a deep slumber.


    Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted slightly. <i>Astral Monarch?</i>


    But a momentter, with his acutely keen perception, he sensed an incredibly faint aura of death.


    <i>Dead?</i> Wu Yuan realized inwardly. <i>A deceased Astral Monarch?</i>

 Chapter 731: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (1)

    <h4>Chapter 731: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (1)</h4>


    <i>Is he Astral Monarch Wan Lei?</i> Wu Yuan felt a flicker of doubt.


    This was the core of the Thunder Marsh World. Logically, it should be Astral Monarch Wan Lei. But in all the intelligence reports, there had never been any mention of an Astral Monarch''s corpse here.


    "Master, the vital aura of this Astral Monarch''s corpse is perfectly preserved. He must have been a body refiner like you," Little ck''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. "But once an Astral Monarch-level body refiner perishes, their body should theoretically disintegratepletely."


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Body refiners possessed an undying body from the Elysian Field stage onward, their vitality growing increasingly powerful as they progressed.


    After surviving nine Immortal Tribtions, they could even be considered truly undying and indestructible. Even with just a tiny shred of flesh or a fragment of animus remaining, a body refiner could regenerate and revive.


    <i>Could it be that he was killed by a soul attack? But how terrifying must a soul attack be to instantly kill an Astral Monarch?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    ording to the intelligence he possessed, ordinary Archimmortals had lifespans of a hundred million years; Astral Lords theoretically had unlimited lifespans, but due to factors like Dao Heart and willpower, there were limits to it, though they could still live for at least ten billion years or even longer.


    As for Astral Monarchs, they were already powerful enough to fuse with the essence of Intermediate Daos, truly existing as long as heaven and earth. As long as heaven and earth wasn��t destroyed and the current samsara cycle hadn��t reached its end, they would not perish.


    Therefore, the Astral Monarch before him couldn''t have died of natural causes.


    <i>This vast heaven and earth... is fraught with unfathomable dangers.</i> Wu Yuan felt a newfound reverence for the immense world around him.


    There should have been arrays active within the hall to sweep away the dust, but now even those arrays no longer functioned. It was evident that this had urred an immensely long time ago.


    Wu Yuan observed the Astral Monarch''s corpse without acting rashly. The aura emanating from the corpse was terrifying; even ordinary High Immortals and High Deities might not be able to remain in its presence for long.


    <i>Thunder techniques! And... traces of the Great Dao of Creation. </i>As time went by, Wu Yuan studied the corpse in greater depth, growing increasingly shocked. He was now almost certain that the dead Astral Monarch before him was indeed Astral Monarch Wan Lei.


    Throughout the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm, there shouldn''t have been many who could step onto the path of the Great Dao of Creation while still at the Astral Monarch stage, especially considering that this was the Thunder Marsh World.


    <i>But they said this ce was a treasure trove. Where''s the treasure? Surely it can''t just be the corpse.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>The interior of this azure is vast. I must��ve been guided here by some invisible power, but for what purpose?</i>


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed as he whirled around abruptly.


    The passageway leading into this temple had somehow beenpletely sealed off.


    <i>Hum~ </i>The moment the entrance to the passageway closed, the entire temple seemed to subtly transform into a single entity. Even spatial fluctuations were thoroughly suppressed.


    <i>This? Even if my qi refiner self were here, it probably couldn''t enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with a hint of surprise.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was an exceptionally powerful sealing technique, yet he stayed calm. A seal of this level was enough to block ordinary Astral Monarchs from probing in. While many Astral Monarchs could deploy simr measures, doing so came at a high cost and typically only covered a limited area.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, countless beams of light shot out from the divine pirs surrounding the hall, converging to form a spectral figure. She wore a red belly-warmer and stood barefoot, looking like a three or four-year-old girl at first nce.


    She stood directly in front of Wu Yuan, her ck eyes fixed upon him. Those eyes held a hint of sorrow that seemed incongruous with her apparent age.


    <i>This?</i> Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat in surprise.


    Outwardly, Wu Yuan maintained hisposure and bowed slightly in respect, "How may I address you, Senior?"


    "You can call me Thunder Spirit," the child in the red belly-warmer spoke in a voice that belied a maturity beyond her appearance. "I am the controller of the Thunder Marsh World, as well as the master of this divine hall."


    "Senior Thunder Spirit." Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    "I''m no senior, just a spirit," Thunder Spirit shook her head.


    Her form was ethereal as she walked across the cold floor of the divine hall with bare feet. She stood to one side, pointing at the corpse on the distant jade tform. "You should know who my master is, right?"


    "Senior Wan Lei?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Yes, he is Astral Monarch Wan Lei, who once struck fear into many immortal nations. Throughout the entire macrocosm, my master was considered one of the most formidable powerhouses among those below the Sovereign phase. In terms of strength, he had already surpassed the ninth-stage Astral Monarch level, worthy of being called a quasi-Sovereign," Thunder Spirit seemed to be speaking to herself.


    "A quasi-Sovereign?" Wu Yuan was slightly shocked.


    "You and my master bothprehended the Great Dao of Creation, and even crystallized the True Intent of Creation. Your perspective must be quite broad," Thunder Spirit nced at Wu Yuan.


    "Although my master was trapped at the ninth-level True Intent stage for countless eons, he managed toprehend a Sovereign-level technique. Combined with his first-rate Astral Monarch mana, he naturally deserved the title of quasi-Sovereign."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Astral Monarch Wan Lei''s actual strength was not far from his guess, with the exception of himprehending a Sovereign-level technique.


    One��s Daoprehension level and the power of one''s techniques were not necessarily entirely corrted. Some powerful beings excelled atbat, able to exert strength beyond their level ofprehension; others were less adept at fighting.


    "It makes sense. Ordinary immortal cultivators would be shocked to hear this, but you crystallized the True Intent of Creation at the Dharma Body phase, and in less than a thousand years of cultivation. With such unparalleled talent, how could you be surprised by my master''s achievements?" Thunder Spirit shook her head.


    "The deeds of Senior Wan Lei, though urring countless ages ago, are still known to us," Wu Yuan said solemnly.


    This was the truth. Even to this day, Astral Monarch Wan Lei still had some renown, though mostly as a cautionary tale.


    "Enough! Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Since he''s dead, everything from the past no longer matters," Thunder Spirit looked at Wu Yuan. "This time, the reason for the treasure trove��s emergence is you."


    "Me?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    The treasure trove had emerged because of him?


    "Back then, my master roamed freely across the macrocosm. Relying on the terrifying vitality granted by the Great Dao of Creation, he feared not even Sovereigns, and even ventured into many dangerous exploration sites beyond the macrocosm," Thunder Spirit slowly exined. "Until, in a dispute over treasure, he provoked a Sovereign from the Voltari Temple."


    "A Sovereign from the Voltari Temple?" Wu Yuan''s heart stirred.


    A Sovereign from the Immortal Court?


    "During that battle, my master joined forces with another Astral Monarch of Space to snatch a precious treasure from the opponent''s hands," Thunder Spirit''s voice grew somber. "My master''s ether body perished in battle, but the other Astral Monarch of Space took advantage of the chaos to escape with the treasure."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. Given that his ether body perished, the battle must have been incredibly fierce.


    The escape techniques of an Astral Monarch of Space were in many ways not inferior to those of a Sovereign.


    "That Sovereign wanted revenge, but my master was part of the Greenridge Immortal World lineage, and his own strength was formidable. Why would he worry?" Thunder Spirit snorted coldly. "As long as they couldn''t find my master''s true body, even a Sovereign could do nothing. The arrays in my master''s stronghold could block karmic perception."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    "After that battle, several hundred million years passed. My master thought this storm had long since blown over, so he didn''t pay it much mind," Thunder Spirit shook her head. "But unexpectedly, that Sovereign from the Voltari Temple still held a grudge. Somehow, he managed to divine the location of my master''s true body.


    That day, the enemyunched a sudden, lethal assault," Thunder Spirit''s eyes shed with a hint of hatred. "By then, my master had grown even stronger, having touched the threshold of the Creation Dao Field.


    That battle shook heaven and earth, tearing through the spacetime of several immortal continents. Countless gctic clusters were reduced to scorched earth.


    In the end, my master''s ether body was captured, while his true body escaped with his life."


    Wu Yuan listened in awe.


    An Astral Monarch, able to escape from a Sovereign''s grasp? Astral Monarch Wan Lei was truly formidable. The further one progressed in cultivation, the more difficult it became to fight across phases. An Astral Monarch who could exchange even one or two blows with a Sovereign was already extraordinary.


    "The Thunder Marsh World was just one of several secret bases my master had quietly established," Thunder Spirit shook her head. "My master came here intending to recuperate, but shortly after arriving... he fell victim to a karmic attack through his ether body.


    One strike, and my master perished," A faint tear trailed down Thunder Spirit''s childlike face. "My master didn''t manage to exin what what happened before his death, but I can deduce that the enemy must have used his ether body as a flesh and blood karmic medium tounch the karmic attack.


    Moreover, they must have enlisted a Sovereign who had fullyprehended the Law of Karma, or possibly even an Overlord intervened. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to kill my master outright," Thunder Spirit''s eyes burned with hatred.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. In the past, he��d never known how those at the level of Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns battled. In his understanding, even a Sovereign would find it difficult to kill an Astral Monarch''s true body. But today, he learned the process of a powerful Astral Monarch��s demise.


    Karmic attack! As powerful as Astral Monarch Wan Lei was, havingprehended the Great Dao of Creation and gained formidable self-preservation abilities, even he couldn''t withstand a terrifying karmic attack.


    Karmic attacks generally took two forms: one targeted the soul to destroy it, while the other attacked the spirit to copse it.


    "Your name is Shadow de?" Thunder Spirit looked at Wu Yuan.


    "That''s right," Wu Yuan nodded. The other party controlled the Thunder Marsh World and had seen through hisprehension of the Great Dao of Creation at a nce.


    It seemed she was well aware of his experiences in the Thunder Marsh World. She might even know about his journey to the Immutable Land.


    "I''ve been watching you since you first entered the Thunder Marsh World, but I hadn''t made up my mind yet at that time," Thunder Spirit said. "But in these past six hundred years, you underwent a transformation, likely as a result of visiting a special ce. Your talent is beyond anything I''ve ever heard of.


    That''s when I became certain about you," Thunder Spirit looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Certain about me?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "I hope to avenge my master," Thunder Spirit''s childish voice was filled with endless hatred. "But I am just a spirit, incapable of exacting revenge. So, I created the Thunder Marsh World and ced the Dao pattern diagrams my master left before his death within it, hoping to attract some geniuses and select a suitable person."


    Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. So this was the reason behind the sudden appearance of the Thunder Marsh World countless ages ago.


    "Since you��ve benefitted from Master''s grace, you must seek vengeance for Master," Thunder Spirit shook her head and said. "Over these endless years, I''ve chosen a few individuals, but in the end, I never heard back from them. I reckon they all perished."


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.


    Revenge? To seek vengeance against a Sovereign, how infinitesimally small was that hope? Even if the macrocosm''s strongest, Immortal Sovereign Qing Ling, were to act, he might not be assured of sess. [1]


    "I know the possibility is incredibly slim, but as long as one doesn��t give up, there will always be a glimmer of hope," Thunder Spirit gazed at Wu Yuan. "See? After waiting all these years, you finally arrived.


    With your talent, the likelihood of you bing a Sovereign is extremely high."


    Wu Yuan was speechless.


    <i>Me?</i>


    1. Qing Ling = Greenridge ?

 Chapter 732: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (2)

    <h4>Chapter 732: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (2)</h4>


    "Of course, I know Master isn''t able to be your master, especially since he has already fallen," Thunder Spirit shook her head. "So, the choice lies with you. If you''re willing to ept this karmic burden, then you can obtain the most important treasure Master left behind.


    However, you must swear an oath that when you be a Sovereign, you''ll exhaust all efforts to hunt down the Sovereign who killed him.


    If you''re unwilling, then I''ll send you on your way," Thunder Spirit said solemnly.


    "Shadow de, the choice is yours."


    A choice? Wu Yuan fell into deep contemtion.


    As a quasi-Sovereign, Astral Monarch Wan Lei''s most important treasure had to be incredibly valuable, perhaps even coveted by Sovereigns themselves.


    But, to swear an oath to hunt down a Sovereign? If the target were a Sovereign from the Greenridge Immortal World lineage, Wu Yuan would likely refuse immediately and leave. Without prior grudges or enmity, why provoke such a formidable enemy? When karma was formed, the other party would likewise sense the karmic connection.


    But since it was a Sovereign of the Voltari Temple, it was a different matter entirely. Even if Wu Yuan didn''t provoke them, they would still be mortal enemies in the future. This was predestined.


    "Can you tell me what the treasure is?" Wu Yuan looked toward Thunder Spirit.


    "When Master was fleeing for his life, he didn''t carry many ordinary treasures, and over the long years, most of thosemon artifacts have been lost," Thunder Spirit said. "But there is one artifact that I��ve always held onto.


    A Dao Instrument!" Thunder Spirit said, "Moreover, it''s a high-grade Dao Instrument, containing theplete profundities of the Law of Life."


    "What?" A glimmer of light shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He was truly tempted.


    Celestial artifacts were ssified into low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade.


    A mid-grade celestial artifact typically started at a value of a million divine crystals, with the most expensive reaching a dozen million divine crystals. They were often wielded by Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs.


    High-grade celestial artifacts were worth at least a billion divine crystals, with the most precious being priceless. Apart from a handful of Astral Lords, they were mostly used by Astral Monarchs.


    In fact, many Astral Monarchs of ordinary strength might not even be willing to equip their mana bodies with high-grade celestial artifacts when sending them out into battle.


    High-grade celestial artifacts were mostly forged by Sovereigns. Some high-grade celestial artifacts could even withstand the impact of battles at the Sovereign level.


    Beyond celestial artifacts, there were two more ratings of treasures: Dao Treasures and Dao Instruments!


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self possessed a Dao Treasure which was bestowed by Master Dong Yang, though it was iplete and would not fetch too high a price.


    Dao Treasures contained a thread of Dao essence, their power not particrly extraordinary.


    Dao Instruments, however, were truly formidable artifacts, containing at least oneplete Dao Law. They were further divided into low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade Dao Instruments.


    Low-grade Dao Instruments contained at least oneplete Lesser Law. When fully unleashed, their power wasparable to high-grade celestial artifacts.


    Mid-grade Dao Instruments contained aplete Intermediate Law, far surpassing high-grade celestial artifacts. Many Sovereigns equipped their mana bodies with mid-grade Dao Instruments when embarking onrge-scale wars.


    High-grade Dao Instruments? They were considered ultimate treasures. Many ordinary Sovereigns might only possess two or three high-grade Dao Instruments.


    <i>If it were a low-grade Dao Instrument, one might hope to purchase it with divine crystals. But a high-grade Dao Instrument?</i> Wu Yuan was tempted.


    Divine crystals had a wide range of uses, and were important for Archimmortals, Archdeities, and Astral Lords alike. But many precious treasures Astral Monarchs required were difficult to obtain even with divine crystals.


    As for Sovereigns? The ultimate treasures they truly desired couldn��t be exchanged for any amount of divine crystals, as divine crystals were useless to them.


    A high-grade Dao Instrument was precisely one such ultimate treasure.


    "I suppose you understand the value of a high-grade Dao Instrument. This Dao Instrument was acquired by Master after exhausting all his efforts back then, and it served as his true self''s mainbat weapon," Thunder Spirit continued. "Moreover, it will greatly support yourprehension of the Law of Life."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    Low-grade Dao Instruments, thoughparable in power to high-grade celestial artifacts, were actually much more expensive in trade.


    Why? Dao Instruments, containing theplete profundities of a Dao, could assist one in Daoprehension. Celestial artifacts, on the other hand, mostlyck this auxiliary effect.


    After pondering for a long while, Wu Yuan spoke, ��I ept this karmic burden.��


    "Good!" A glimmer of light shed in Thunder Spirit''s eyes. "First, swear a Great Dao oath, then the treasure will be yours. You may have a look at it first."


    Thunder Spirit pointed upwards, and an azure, slightly transparent saber appeared, hovering in the air.


    <i>Hmm? It''s a saber? </i>Wu Yuan''s heart leaped with joy as he examined it closely.


    The entire saber was three meters long. The back of the de was thick and broad, giving it a rather rugged appearance.


    Countless mysterious Dao patterns were engraved on the surface of the de, interweaving to create an exquisitely beautiful design. It emitted a rich vital aura, involuntarily drawing one closer!


    This was undoubtedly the most formidable saber Wu Yuan had everid eyes upon. He fell in love with it at first nce.


    It was indeed a high-grade Dao Instrument; Thunder Spirit hadn''t deceived him.


    "Back then, this saber apanied Master as he conquered the macrocosm and traversed the endless river of space and time," aplex expression shed across Thunder Spirit''s eyes. "Shadow de, swear the oath, and it will be yours."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Alright." Wu Yuan nodded, then hesitated slightly before asking, "I still don''t know the name of that Sovereign."


    "You don''t need to know. Just swear to avenge Master. Sovereigns are all extremely adept at manipting karma.


    If you were to know his name now, he might sense it as soon as the karmic connection is formed," Thunder Spirit said. "His name is hidden within the core of the saber''s Dao essence. When you fully master the saber, you will naturally learn his name.


    If you have yet to fully wield the saber, it means you''d fail to kill him anyway, so knowing it in advance would be pointless," Thunder Spirit added.


    Wu Yuan nodded, impressed by how thoroughly the other party had considered everything.


    "By the Great Dao, I hereby swear that if I receive the high-grade Dao Instrument saber left by Astral Monarch Wan Lei, I shall, upon bing a Sovereign, exhaust all efforts to avenge him. If I vite this oath..." Wu Yuan quickly made the Great Dao oath.


    <i>Hum~</i> As soon as the oath was made, an invisible wave enveloped Wu Yuanpletely, and he felt a binding sensation in the depths of his being.


    An oath, in essence, was an invisible constraint under the workings of karma and the workings of heaven and earth.


    With certain treasures, one could escape the consequences of breaking ordinary oaths. Even the so-called Heavenly Dao oaths could be broken by Sovereigns, for they had reached the pinnacle of strength under heaven and earth. Heaven and earth can hardly restrain them.


    Only a Great Dao oath was inescapable! To make such an oath, one had toprehend a Great Dao. If an Astral Monarch who didn��tprehend a Great Dao were to make such an oath, they wouldn''t be bound or affected by it. However, once a Great Dao oath was truly made and bound by the Great Dao, it could not be easily vited.


    In Thunder Spirit''s view, a monstrous prodigy like Wu Yuan would not easily vite a Great Dao oath for the sake of his own future.


    "Mm." Seeing that the oath was made, a smile appeared on Thunder Spirit''s childlike face, and her attitude towards Wu Yuan improved.


    With a wave of her hand, the azure saber in the distance flew towards Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan reached out and caught it. As per usual, he attempted to brand his vital imprint onto it.


    <i>Boom! </i>He felt a surging force and pressure crash into him, as if a wild horse was trying to break free from control.


    "Normally, a high-grade Dao Instrument can only be imed by an owner who��s an Astral Monarch. Master has sealed most of its power, but I''m afraid you''ll need to reach the level of a Sixth Tribtion High Deity before you can hope to..." Thunder Spirit began to console him.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s vital aura surged violently, and a hazy aura of Great Dao��s True Intent enveloped both him and the saber.


    <i>Hum~</i> In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan had left his vital imprint on the saber. Strands of azure threads rapidly grew, quickly fusing with Wu Yuan''s arm, as if bing part of his body.


    <i>Such a powerful Dao essence.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the terrifying power contained within its Dao essence, where countless Dao patterns interweaved.


    With a single thought, Wu Yuan could unleash its power. At the same time, Wu Yuan could sense that the majority of this war saber''s Dao essence power seemed to remain sealed. He would have to break those seals himself.


    <i>The saber''s name is Hundred Stars?</i> A vast amount of information left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei poured into Wu Yuan��s mind, exining the war saber''s history.


    The war saber, Hundred Stars!


    <i>This war saber will likely apany me for a long time toe. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Sovereigns typically refrained from giving high-grade Dao Instruments to their mana bodies, only wielding them at crucial moments �C a testament to their preciousness.


    He was very satisfied with this war saber. Although the price was having to give his all to y a Sovereign in the future, that was a matter for another time.


    Right now, he was only at the Dharma Body phase. Without making such a vow, even Master Kua Chi might not be willing to bestow such an ultimate treasure upon him.


    One must give to receive.


    "I didn��t expect that you��d be able to im ownership. But that��s not a bad thing. Here are some ordinary treasures Master left behind. Take them all." Standing at a distance, Thunder Spirit waved her hand, sending a storage artifact flying over.


    Wu Yuan reached out and caught it, taking a brief look inside.


    "So many treasures?" Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished.


    He hadn''t had very high expectations originally, but upon inspection, this storage artifact contained dozens of mid-grade celestial artifacts and two Dao Treasures. Divine crystals were piled like mountains, likely over 100 million of them.


    The total value was estimated at 200-300 million divine crystals, rivaling the entire worth of many Astral Lords.


    However, there were no low-grade celestial artifacts or high-grade celestial artifacts.


    Besides these celestial artifacts, there were alsorge numbers of immortal slips containing numerous teachings, both cultivation methods andbat techniques.


    "Low-grade celestial artifacts were useless to Master, so naturally there are none. As for the few high-grade celestial artifacts he previously collected, they''ve all been given away," Thunder Spirit shook her head and said. "Compared to the Hundred Stars Saber, these things can only be called scrap metal, but they may be of some help to you.


    Besides the treasures, there are also secret arts and such left by Master. Hopefully they will provide you with some inspiration.


    If even you cannot help Master take revenge, there would be no point in keeping these things, so I''m giving them all to you," said Thunder Spirit.


    Wu Yuan nodded solemnly and said, "This junior will exert every effort."


    Thunder Spirit shook her head, unwilling to say more. "Go then. You may leave directly through the thunder sea above the Thunder Marsh World."


    She waved her hand.


    <i>Whoom!</i> An invisible wave enveloped Wu Yuan, and he vanished from the spot. The temple was once again empty.


    "Master." Thunder Spirit gazed at the corpse on the distant jade tform, murmuring to herself. "Perhaps it truly is providence. Youprehended the Great Dao of Creation back then, and Shadow de alsoprehends the Great Dao of Creation.


    He... may be able to seed."

 Chapter 733: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (3)

    <h4>Chapter 733: The Saber Named Hundred Stars (3)</h4>


    Beyond the azure, the vast expanse of lightning churned like a restless sea, itsyers cascading outward and stretching tens of thousands of li in every direction.


    At this moment, the teams from the six major sects were all watching a figure advance through the lightning sea �C Earth Immortal Zhu Guan from the Longstar Immortal Sect.


    After the difficulty of the lightning sea decreased, he decided to make another attempt. This time, his progress was remarkable, and he made it to approximately 500 li from the''s entrance.


    <i>I still have strength left. There''s real hope of making it!</i> Earth Immortal Zhu Guan gritted his teeth, exerting all his power to maintain his arcane arts.


    He was advancing very slowly, clearly approaching his limit.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>A streak of light suddenly cut across the sky. It was a figure carrying a saber on his back, flying directly out of the''s entrance.


    It was Wu Yuan.


    "He''s out?"


    "What? He��s already out after just over an hour?"


    "Did he obtain the treasure?" There was an instantmotion as the immortal cultivators from the six major immortal sects stared at Wu Yuan in shock.


    He had emerged too quickly. ording to their past intelligence, even if someone managed to obtain the treasure, it would take at least several days. It hadn''t even been two hours.


    However, intimidated by the immense power Wu Yuan had disyed earlier, not a single person dared to speak up. They all lowered their heads in fear.


    At that moment, the sprawling sea of lightning, which filled the air, began to copse inward at an astonishing speed. Simultaneously, the massive azure, spanning over ten thousand li in diameter, started to shrink dramatically.


    Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the azure and the lightning sea spanning tens of thousands of lipletely vanished.


    Only Earth Immortal Zhu Guan was left standing in the midst of the empty wilderness, his expressionpletely bewildered. <i>I... this... I was almost inside. Why did it disappear? My opportunity!</i>


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    At this point, how could they still not understand what had happened? The treasure had undoubtedly been obtained by Wu Yuan, who was the first to enter.


    <i>It disappeared? That makes sense. I��ve been given all the remaining treasures. I''m afraid this treasure trove of the Thunder Marsh World will never open again. </i>


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept around, lingering on the hundreds of stone walls with Dao pattern diagrams in the distance. In truth, those were the most precious objects in the Thunder Marsh World. Unfortunately, few could decipher their mysteries.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan soared skyward, flying directly into the lightning barrier that enveloped the world, leaving all the immortal cultivators dumbfounded.


    The lightningyer above the Thunder Marsh World was an array! Even a High Immortal would surely die if they forced their way through.


    However, although bolts of lightning appeared, they merely grazed past Wu Yuan''s body without affecting him at all.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan vanished from sight.


    At the same time, millions of li away within the Thunder Marsh World, another figure simrly soared into the sky, rapidly converging on the first figure��s position. It was Wu Yuan''s body refiner self.


    Only his ether body had entered the azure.


    ...


    Outside the vast Thunder Marsh World, the six Archimmortals spread out. Through the light screen projection and voidrealm transmissions, they already had a general understanding of the situation inside the Thunder Marsh World.


    "He must have obtained the treasure."


    "We must intercept him at all costs."


    "The treasure left by Astral Monarch Wan Lei is worth at least tens of thousands of divine crystals, and possibly hundreds of thousands or even more."


    "Given that he managed to im the treasure on his own and the trove sealed immediately afterward, it must be something extraordinary��likely valued at no less than ten million divine crystals."


    "The Thunder Marsh World is jointly owned by our six immortal sects." The six Archimmortalsmunicated with each other.


    Over the long years, Thunder Spirit had distributed treasures time and time again. To attract neers, she would bestow small gifts to many immortal cultivators, though rarely granting important treasures.


    Many items she considered ��small gifts�� were treasures even by the standards of ordinary Archimmortals. That was why all six Archimmortals had decided toe.


    The Astral Monarch''s treasures had mostly been obtained by disciples of the six immortal sects. Therefore, these Archimmortals had a general understanding of the value of the Astral Monarch''s treasures.


    It could be said that the rise of the six immortal sects and the emergence of numerous powerful figures throughout their history were closely rted to the Astral Monarch''s treasures.


    So although they didn''t know exactly what treasures Wu Yuan had obtained, the six Archimmortals would not allow him to leave easily.


    Indeed, Wu Yuan''s strength was certainly astonishing, and he might have powerful backers, but that didn''t mean the six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent were willing to simply back down.


    A treasure worth ten million divine crystals was enough to make ordinary Archimmortals fight tooth and nail over.


    "Array! Activate!" The six Archimmortals simultaneously manipted the array.


    Temples appeared out of thin air in outer space, serving as the cornerstones of the array.


    The six Archimmortalspletely sealed off the space covering nearly half of the Thunder Marsh World, spanning around tens of millions of li.


    At the same time, streams of water carrying unfathomable power appeared in this space, like enormous water dragons roaming this vast region.


    They hadpletely blocked off all exits from the entire Thunder Marsh World.


    "Unless he''s an Astral Monarch or an Astral Lord of Space, there''s no way he can slip away unnoticed," the six Archimmortals were full of confidence.


    The array here had been jointlyid down by the six immortal sects. Its purpose was to guard the entire Thunder Marsh World.


    Of course, if the opponent had extremely highprehension of the Law of Space, there was nothing they could do. But those proficient in the Space Dao were extremely rare to begin with.


    Soon, one of the Archimmortals transmitted to the others, "He''s out. I sense his presence. He''s already entered the array. But in my perception, he''s still at the Dharma Body phase? Such an impressive disguise technique?"


    "Let''s negotiate first."


    "Don''t make a move yet. It''s best if we can get him to hand over the treasure willingly." The six Archimmortalsmunicated among themselves, a thread of worry in their hearts.


    They refrained from taking immediate action.


    ...


    Though the Thunder Marsh World was vast, the majority of it waspletely sealed off, encased in a restrictive arrayid down by Astral Monarch Wan Lei. There was only a small area in which one could make a swift departure.


    Wu Yuan soon passed through the lightningyer. Upon reaching outer space, he began to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    At that moment, he sensed an unseen force sweeping over him, enveloping him in immense pressure. It was a spatial restriction��an overwhelming suppression generated by an array.


    <i>An array?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he instantly assessed the situation. <i>It''s restricting spatial fluctuations, but the power doesn''t seem too strong. It''s a celestial array.</i>


    Though space was sealed, spatial fluctuations couldn''t bepletely eliminated. Through his spatial perception, Wu Yuan could roughly gauge that the restriction zone spanned tens of millions of li. Such a domain was often within the capabilities of an Astral Lord.


    <i>Is this the work of the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    Without much hesitation, he elerated to light speed, plunging into the array. He could traverse hundreds of thousands of li in a second, swiftly rushing towards the edge of the array.


    "Young friend, please hold on." A voice resonated through the vast expanse of space.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A figure appeared in the void millions of li away, his aura vast and imposing as he gazed directly at Wu Yuan.


    <i>An Archimmortal?</i> Wu Yuan did not slow in the slightest.


    ��Why are you blocking my path?�� Wu Yuan responded directly. His voice was carried through waves of Dao fluctuations, reaching millions of li into the distance.


    ��I do not know who you are, young friend, but the Thunder Marsh World belongs to our six major sects," the white-robed Archimmortal''s voice resonated once more.


    "You''ve taken treasures that belong to us. We''re willing to overlook your previous transgressions against our six sects within the Thunder Marsh World. We only ask that you return the Astral Monarch''s treasures and swear an oath not to reveal our secrets.


    Then we shall let you depart in peace," the white-robed Archimmortal dered.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered to respond. Their treasures? And they wanted him to swear an oath?


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s speed didn''t diminish in the slightest. Following his senses, he flew to an area where streams of water were meandering through space.


    "Young friend..." the white-robed Archimmortal was about to speak again.


    "Yu Zhou, stop wasting words on him. He''s almost escaped," a deep voice resonated through the void.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Another figure in ck robes appeared millions of li away, clearly part of a premeditated n.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> As the ck-robed Archimmortal appeared, the streams of water in space, each tens of thousands of li long, suddenly transformed into water dragons.


    Empowered by the might of the array, they roared and charged. In the blink of an eye, over ten water dragons rushed at Wu Yuan from all directions at rming speed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The ck-robed Archimmortal formed a hand seal, directly unleashing a powerful arcane art. An endless mass of vines manifested from the empty void, aiming to ensnare and immobilize Wu Yuan.


    <i>Hmph!</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold. With a thought, he activated the Saint Prohibition Art, instantly boosting his vital aura to the level of a Fourth Tribtion High Deity.


    <i>Boom!</i> He transformed into a colossal figure tens of thousands of zhangs tall, a pair of enormous Teng Snake wings manifesting on his back.


    Nine arms sprouted simultaneously, each grasping a battle saber, elevating Wu Yuan''s aura to a terrifyingly formidable level. Each one was a low-grade celestial saber.


    Though he had acquired some mid-grade celestial artifacts, he had just imed ownership over them and they weren''t fully deciphered. It was somewhat challenging to wield mid-grade celestial artifacts with the vital ether of a High Deity.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!" The water dragons bellowed.


    <i>Swish~ Swish~ </i>A sky-nketing deluge of vinesshed out, instantly enveloping Wu Yuan. It was an attack capable of imprisoning an Archimmortal. From a distance, it appeared as if a massive ball of vines had sprung from thin air.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Terrifying de rays shed forth wildly, shredding the vines to pieces. This Archimmortal-level arcane artpletely copsed.


    Overwhelming de rays streaked across millions of li, their power unrivaled as they effortlessly sliced through the water dragons. Nothing could stand in their way.


    This sight startled both the ck-robed Archimmortal who had cast the arcane art and the white-robed Archimmortal in the distance.


    They could sense Wu Yuan''s vital aura �C merely at the level of a Fourth Tribtion High Deity. Yet the de rays he unleashed made their hearts tremble.


    ��How formidable! This saber technique must be at the fourth-stage Archimmortal-level.��<i> </i>Both Archimmortals were shocked.


    The two Archimmortals exchanged nces, both hesitating slightly. They were both only third-stage Archimmortals.


    "Fellow Daoist, your strength is astounding. Might I inquire as to which Sovereign or Astral Monarch��s tutge you are under? Please enlighten us." A gentle voice rang out.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A figure in silver armor descended, his vital aura powerful, long hair flowing freely. Overall, he exuded an extraordinary presence.


    "Wu Hai."


    "Daoist Wu Hai has arrived." The white-robed and ck-robed Archimmortals immediately felt relieved.


    "Are you a fifth-stage Archimmortal? Or a sixth-stage one?" Wu Yuan''s gaze remained cold, his voice echoing through space. "I''ll warn you only once.


    Block my path again, and you''ll all die!"

 Chapter 734: Blade Rays Rise, Archimmortals Fall (1)

    <h4>Chapter 734: de Rays Rise, Archimmortals Fall (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s voice echoed across outer space.


    "Such an arrogant brat," The silver-armored youth with flowing hair frowned slightly. "I treat you with courtesy, yet you respond with hostility. Do you truly think we fear you?"


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Within the array that epassed arge expanse of outer space, three more figures appeared, each one about several million to ten million li away from Wu Yuan.


    All were Archimmortals, with formidable vital auras. They subtly formed a circle around Wu Yuan, working in tandem with the array to block Wu Yuan''s path of escape.


    <i>Six Archimmortals? </i>Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn''t expected to encounter so many Archimmortals immediately upon leaving the Thunder Marsh World.


    Judging by their vital auras alone, most of these six Archimmortals only had ordinary strength. Only the silver-armored figure was somewhat stronger than average.


    However, Archimmortals were Archimmortals after all, their power was far beyondparison to High Immortals and High Deities.


    "Young friend, I''ll ask you one more time. If you reveal your background and lineage, we might show you some leniency." The silver-armored Archimmortal Wu Hai suppressed his anger, trying to keep his tone as gentle as possible.


    If it were a fourth-stage Archimmortal cultivator, he would have already attacked. He wasn''t afraid of offending an Archimmortal or two. But an immortal cultivator who could unleash Archimmortal-level power was truly terrifying, and he was reluctant to offend such a person lightly.


    "I''ll say it again as well. Make way." Wu Yuan''s voice remained cold: "Otherwise, don''t me me for being merciless."


    Reveal his background? In the vast Greenridge Immortal World, with millions of Amethyst Cradle cultivators masquerading as disciples of sects like the Autumn Lake Hall, such ims rarely drew attention.


    However, an Earth Deity wielding the power of a fourth-stage Archimmortal was a rarity. Across the entire Greenridge Immortal World, there were likely only a few dozen, or at most a hundred, Sixth Tribtion High Deities capable of such strength. Finding out his identity would hardly take much effort.


    Fabricating a convincing background was impossible under such scrutiny. The more he spoke, the greater the chance of making a mistake. Silence was the safest course of action.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan now stood towering at ten thousand zhangs tall, his nine arms extended. The massive wings on his back pped once and he soared to light speed, charging towards the other side.


    "Attack. Capture him first, then we''ll talk." Archimmortal Wu Hai''s gaze finally turned cold: "Even if you truly are a Sovereign''s disciple, there''s no justification for such behavior.


    Kill!" Two incredibly powerful divine dragon puppets materialized around him simultaneously, each dragon stretching ten thousand li long, as lifelike as real creatures.


    "Roar~"


    "Roar~" The two divine dragons bellowed, elerating to light speed as they pursued Wu Yuan.


    Light speed was a type of limit under heaven and earth��s workings and could not be easily surpassed, especially when it came to one''s own flight speed, a puppet��s speed, and so on. But arcane arts and artifacts were often much faster.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Archimmortal Wu Hai also unleashed a powerful arcane art. Water currents rippled through the void, reshaping an expanse of outer space spanning millions of li. Gradually, they formedyers, with swirling vortexes emerging and expanding.


    Each water vortex contained terrifying power, seemingly able to tear High Immortals and High Deities apart. More than a hundred water vortexes swarmed toward Wu Yuan from all directions.


    "Impressive, Daoist Wu Hai. This arcane art borrows the power of the array."


    "Vortex Realm Art!" The other five Archimmortals, including Archimmortal Yu Zhou, stood in rapt admiration.


    Wu Hai was the leader among the six Archimmortals.


    "Follow Daoist Wu Hai''s lead and attack."


    "Kill!" The other five Archimmortals didn''t remain idle either. They were all only at the second-stage or third-stage Archimmortal phase, each unleashing techniques they specialized in.


    In an instant, chains filled the vast million-li expanse of outer space, as though attempting to seal off an entire realm.


    Golden torrents of light surged toward Wu Yuan, while a formidable sword array taking the form of a divine de cleaved through the void, speeding toward him.


    The techniques of the six Archimmortals were clearly designed for restraint, aimed at subduing Wu Yuan with overwhelming force rather than killing him.


    <i>They��re mostly casting binding-type arcane arts...they must be aiming to capture me. But the array is suppressing me, so I can''t fully utilize my speed advantage, unless I expose my Time True Intent techniques. </i>


    <i>Maintaining only fourth-stage Archimmortal-level power, my chances of escape are very slim. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold.


    If he were able to enter a higher spatial dimension, he''d be confident in shaking off these Archimmortals, even if there were ten times as many. But with the array stabilizing space, he could only engage them head-on.


    <i>If I use evasion techniques to dodge and seek opportunities to flee, I will run out of ether before long. The Saint Prohibition Art drains it too quickly. I''m only at the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase after all, and can''t fight for long.</i>


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>To break free, I can only unleash my full power.</i> Killing intent was welled up in Wu Yuan''s heart.


    <i>I don��t wish to unleash it, yet you force my hand. In that case, you can all die!</i>


    Wu Yuan''s ether cultivation was only at the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase,parable to an ordinary seventh or eighth-stage Earth Eldritch. In theory, even with Astral Monarch-levelprehension, his power should only be equivalent to a second or third-stage Archimmortal.


    However, the Saint Prohibition Art allowed his vital ether to briefly reach the Fourth Tribtion High Deity level, which was an entirely different story.


    In terms of Daoprehension, he utterly dwarfed this group of Archimmortals. Even Archimmortal Wu Hai was far inferior to him.


    In terms of artifacts, once he utilized the Hundred Stars Saber, the power of his attacks would rise by orders of magnitude as well.


    As for secret arts and ultimate techniques, he was cultivating the ultimate teachings of supreme beings.


    Wu Yuan''s eyes were ice-cold. <i>Today, I''ll use you to test out the results of my past six hundred years of cultivation.</i>


    The Saint Prohibition Art provided an incredible burst of power, but the drawback was that it couldn''t be sustained for long.


    <i>I must end this quickly!</i>


    ...


    Faced with the overwhelming arcane arts and artifacts crashing towards him, Wu Yuan, who had been maintaining the Saint Prohibition Art all along, finally erupted with full strength.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> He employed the Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor technique, swinging nine celestial sabers simultaneously. The sabers stirred the essence of the Great Dao of Creation, creating ripples of essence that were extremely faint, almost imperceptible, yet contained supreme might transcending heaven and earth.


    Nine dazzling de rays lit up! Those streaks of de rays were like the fleeting radiance of stars twinkling in the void for endless eons �C brilliant, resplendent and unceasing!


    The first move of the ��Will of Life and Death�� �C Starlight!


    The ��Will of Life and Death�� consisted of seven moves in total. The first move, Starlight, represented the foundation of the entire technique. It wasn''t just the radiance of supernovas, but the radiance of life itself.


    Despite contemting the technique for some time, Wu Yuan had yet to fully grasp its profundities and could barely execute it. But this move incorporated Wu Yuan''s insights into the Great Dao of Creation. It was the most powerful attack his body refiner self could unleash.


    ...


    "Still trying to resist?"


    "Whether he''s an Earth Deity or High Deity, how can he resist thebined attacks of six Archimmortals?"


    "Immobilize him." The six Archimmortals each unleashed their arcane arts and artifacts while drawing upon the array''s power, intending to suppress Wu Yuan in one fell swoop.


    However, when those streaks of de rays lit up, all six Archimmortals were utterly shocked.


    "What is that? How is it possible?" Archimmortal Yu Zhou''s eyes widened.


    "Such saber techniques?"


    "I-" Archimmortal Wu Hai''s expression shifted. He sensed that the vast profundities within the saber techniquepletely surpassed the level of his own techniques!


    <i>Boom! </i>Dazzling de rays sliced through the void. Chains were directly sted away, torrents of golden light were shattered, and the sword array copsed with a thunderous boom.


    Even those seemingly invincible water vortexes were split in half by the terrifying de rays, disintegrating into nothingness.


    The various ultimate techniques and methods of the six Archimmortals seemed like a joke in the face of Wu Yuan''s eruption of power. They were utterly crushed in a single exchange.


    <i>Kill!</i> Wu Yuan tread upon the void, his form turning faintly illusory like a beam of moonlight as he broke the speed of light.


    Evasion technique �C ��Moonlight Shadow��!


    Although he avoided directly employing Space True Intent or Time True Intent, the Great Dao of Creation inherently involved the Laws of Time and Space. Thus, it remained a viable and effective evasion technique.


    Techniques like the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� were difficult for his body refiner self to execute, and would be extremely weak even if he did so. But ��Moonlight Shadow�� was easily applicable.


    Given that this ultimate evasion technique was created by a Dao Master, its might was naturally terrifying.


    <i>Boom!</i> Wu Yuan charged directly towards the ck-robed Archimmortal millions of li away. It was this ck-robed Archimmortal who had struck first. Moreover, his current position was closest to Wu Yuan��s.


    "So fast," Archimmortal Wu Hai''s expression changed drastically. "Quick, flee!"


    "Not good," the ck-robed Archimmortal''s expression shifted, and he attempted to escape.


    "Hurry! Deploy arcane arts, trap him, use all your strength to block him. Quickly form a defensive array!" Archimmortal Yu Zhou also hurriedly transmitted.


    "Yes, form the array, gather near Daoist Wu Hai..." The other Archimmortals were also panicked, beginning to flee.


    They all realized that their individual strength was far too inferior to Wu Yuan''s. Trying to resist Wu Yuan alone was an exercise in futility.


    Earlier, they had spread out to block Wu Yuan��s path, but now their only concern was survival. The power Wu Yuan had unleashed was far too terrifying.


    ...


    Roaring, the dragon puppets unleashed several powerful arcane arts, attempting to obstruct Wu Yuan.


    But with his full power unleashed, both Wu Yuan''s attacks and speed reached inconceivable levels.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Multiple Wu Yuans seemed to appear in outer space, evading each arcane art attack.


    The asional unavoidable obstacle, like Archimmortal Wu Hai''s dragon puppets, was cleaved apart with a single saber strike. They barely affected his speed at all.


    He rapidly closed in on the ck-robed Archimmortal at a speed of more than one million li per second. In less than a breath''s time, Wu Yuan caught up to the frantically fleeing ck-robed Archimmortal and immediately unleashed his power.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan roared, nine sabers striking as one. Nine vast and mighty de rays swept across the void.


    "No!" The ck-robed Archimmortal was utterly terrified. Though he could reach light speed, he was far slowerpared to Wu Yuan. He could only frantically activate multiple artifacts, using a massive cauldron as his primary defense against Wu Yuan''s relentless assault.


    <i>Boom! Crash! </i>The de rays collided, shattering all his artifacts like dry twigs and sweeping across his body.


    <i>sh!</i> His body disintegrated.


    The ck-robed Archimmortal was dead.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan waved his hand, his form flickering as he collected the artifacts dropped by the ck-robed Archimmortal.


    <i>Though only a mana body, a third-stage Archimmortal was in by me in a single strike? </i>This thought shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Since stepping onto the path of immortal cultivation over seven hundred years ago, this was the first time that Wu Yuan had relied entirely on his own strength to y an Archimmortal.


    <i>When I first became a disciple of Master Kua Chi, I heard that Senior Brother Jiang Huan had single-handedly killed several Archimmortals. Back then, it made my heart race with excitement. I never imagined that, in the blink of an eye, I too would possess such strength.</i> Wu Yuan also felt a surge of battle intent rising within him.


    Having begun the ughter, he might as well kill to his heart''s content.

 Chapter 735: Blade Rays Rise, Archimmortals Fall (2)

    <h4>Chapter 735: de Rays Rise, Archimmortals Fall (2)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan turned to see the five Archimmortals gathered in one ce millions of li away, forming a rather powerful array that resembled a massive water sphere.


    The sphere, spanning over ten thousand li in diameter, enveloped the five Archimmortals within its protective embrace. Its surface shimmered with cascadingyers of rippling water, brimming with unfathomable profundities.


    "Hei You has fallen."


    "It was only his mana body, but it will still take a hundred thousand years to nurture a new one. This High Deity is truly ruthless."


    "His strength is also terrifying."


    "Where did this High Deitye from? With such power, he''d likely rank in the top ten among immortal cultivators across the entire macrocosm."


    "We''ve formed the Water Element Heavenly Array. With this in conjunction with the array in outer space, blocking him shouldn''t be difficult." The five Archimmortalsmunicated with each other, feeling some of their initial fear melt away.


    When Wu Yuan had unleashed his power and mercilessly killed Hei Yuan earlier, it had frightened them as well.


    Though it was only a mana body, the loss of a mana body was still a great price for an Archimmortal to pay. Not only did they lose some artifacts, but more importantly, they couldn''t act without risk for the next one hundred thousand years.


    If they chose to spend their wealth to create a new one quickly? The Immortal Life Pills used by Archimmortals and Archdeities were worth a million divine crystals each. Ordinary Archimmortals were unwilling to pay such a massive price.


    "Should we let him go?" Archimmortal Yu Zhou asked, "With such great strength, his background must be formidable. It would be best not to offend him."


    The other High Immortals also seemed to be considering this.


    ��We''ve already offended him," Archimmortal Wu Hai shook his head. "I''ve already reported the situation to Astral Lord Bai Hai." [1]


    "The Astral Lord is already on his way," Archimmortal Wu Hai said gravely. "He has given strict orders��we must ensure he does not escape."


    Astral Lord Bai Hai? Archimmortal Yu Zhou and the others were startled.


    The six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent were each led by an Astral Lord, but the strongest was undoubtedly the Astral Lord Bai Hai. He was a ninth-stage Archimmortal. Even the immortal continent was named after him.


    ...


    In outer space, Wu Yuan and the Archimmortals within the enormous water sphere faced each other from afar.


    "Sir, your strength is truly astonishing. To unleash power rivaling an Astral Lord while only a High Deity is truly admirable.


    But taking a life is crossing the line." Archimmortal Wu Hai''s voice rang out again: "An Astral Lord from our six major immortal sects will soon arrive via teleportation array. Once he��s here, you will surely be captured.


    If you surrender now and hand over the treasures, perhaps you may still have a chance to leave safely." Archimmortal Wu Hai''s voice rang out loud and clear.


    Even now, he was still thinking about the Astral Monarch''s treasures.


    "Astral Lord? You six major immortal sects sure have a big reputation. Your strength may becking, but your tongues are quite sharp." Wu Yuan''s gaze was frosty. "Fine, let��s see whether you��re able to dy until your Astral Lord arrives."


    Astral Lord? Wu Yuan wasn''t confident that he could face one yet.


    The Saint Prohibition Art wasn''t suited for prolonged battles. If he were to truly fight an Astral Lord, the chances of defeat were extremely high.


    But the array''s range was too vast, taking him at least ten breaths to fly out from his current position. In that time, the Astral Lord might arrive through the teleportation array.


    Teleportation arrays transported individuals through a higher spatial dimension, allowing them to reach their destinations extremely quickly.


    Wu Yuan had no desire to face an Astral Lord.


    From the moment Wu Yuan entered the array, to their exchange, to Wu Yuan killing the ck-robed Archimmortal, only three or four breaths had passed in total.


    Hearing the other party��s words, Wu Yuan instantly understood that there was only one path he could take��kill all these Archimmortals.


    <i>Such a vast array requires Archimmortal-level mana to activate. Though I don''t know who the arraymander is, as long as I kill all these Archimmortals, the array will naturally copse.</i> Wu Yuan''s mind was clear. <i>As long as I''m fast enough, even if the Astral Lordes to save them, he''ll be toote.</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan''s form flickered, his wings vibrating as he transformed into a streak of light, charging toward the distant giant water sphere.


    Archimmortal Wu Hai, who was inside the Water Element Heavenly Array, revealed a smile when he saw this. <i>Haha, he''s fallen for it. He actually thinks he can breach my array?</i>


    His words had been meant to provoke Wu Yuan. If Wu Yuan focused solely on escaping, the Astral Lord might not arrive before Wu Yuan left the array''s range. But if Wu Yuan wasted time attacking the array, then the Astral Lord would definitely make it in time.


    "Water Element!" Though confident, Archimmortal Wu Hai didn''t dare be careless. He led the other four Archimmortals, casting another powerful water arcane art and integrating it with the defense array.


    "We can definitely block him."


    "It''s foolproof."


    "The Water Element Heavenly Array alone should already be enough to block him." Archimmortal Yu Zhou and the others were also full of confidence.


    To be precise, they had confidence in Archimmortal Wu Hai. Archimmortal Wu Hai was a fifth-stage Archimmortal.


    <i>How cautious.</i> Wu Yuan''s perception was extraordinary. He could naturally sense the formidable nature of the water sphere before him.


    <i>If my ether body were here alone, or I hadn''t obtained Astral Monarch Wan Lei''s treasure, I might indeed be unable to deal with you.</i>


    <i>Unfortunately for you...</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Suddenly, another towering figure tens of thousands of zhangs tall appeared beside Wu Yuan. He wore the same battle armor, and his vital aura was equally boundless.


    Nine arms, nine sabers. There was only one difference��among the nine battle sabers in his hands, one was an almost transparent azure saber. At first nce, the saber seemed ordinary, its aurapletely concealed.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! sh!</i> Two Wu Yuans erupted with power simultaneously, unleashing eighteen dazzling de rays that illuminated outer space, shing forth with savage intensity.


    The eighteen de rays seemed to merge into one. One de ray in particr warped the very space it passed through, even creating a visible rift �C its raw power had shattered the boundaries between spatial dimensions.


    Astral Lord level! Indeed, after wielding the Hundred Stars Saber, Wu Yuan''s maximumbat strength had reached the seventh-stage Archimmortal level.


    The leap from third-stage to fourth-stage Archimmortal-level was a major breakthrough. Simrly, sixth-stage to seventh-stage Archimmortal-level was a qualitative transformation.


    "No!"


    "Two of them? His true self is here too? Both his true self and ether body ventured here?"


    "This is bad!" The five Archimmortals who had been brimming with confidence that they could block the attack, were taken aback when they saw another Wu Yuan appear.


    And when they witnessed the de rays ovepping, especially that one de ray that caused the spatial dimension boundary to warp and distort, they fell into utter despair. This power was undoubtedly at the Astral Lord level.


    de rays crisscrossed through space! In an instant, they sliced through the massive water sphere. The surface currents of the sphere surged and roiled, desperately attempting to weaken the de rays'' power.


    <i>Schlick!</i> The entire water sphere violently copsed as the particrly powerful de ray, imbued with Astral Lord-level power, cleaved straight through Archimmortal Wu Hai''s body.


    <i>Me? No, spare me... </i>The thought of begging for mercy had barely flickered through Wu Hai''s mind before his immortal body was annihted, perishing!


    All that remained was a set of silver battle armor and several storage artifacts.


    "No!"


    "Run!"


    "Quick, flee!" The remaining Archimmortals fled in panic and terror, desperately scattering in all directions.


    "Flee? Die, all of you." Wu Yuan''s body refiner self and ether body split off simultaneously, swinging their sabers as they gave chase.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>As several de rays streaked across the sky, the four remaining Archimmortals perished one after another. None could withstand even a single saber strike.


    This expanse of outer space fell utterly silent. Only a few remnant artifacts floated in the void.


    <i>Hum~</i> The instant Wu Hai perished, the massive array spanning millions of li began to copse and dissipate. Wu Yuan smiled as he observed it. <i>Just as expected.</i>


    As long as the arraypletely dispersed and the spatial restriction was lifted, he would be able to enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>With a thought, Wu Yuan swiftly collected the many artifacts left behind by the five Archimmortals, and then began to examine them.


    <i>This Archimmortal only had treasures worth tens of thousands of divine crystals? So poor.</i>


    <i>This one''s a bit better, but still not even a hundred thousand divine crystals... this one too, they''re all paupers.</i> Wu Yuan silentlyined.


    Of course, Wu Yuan wasn''t too surprised. Ordinary Archimmortals usually only equipped their mana bodies with artifacts worth tens of thousands of divine crystals when venturing forth. They would only bring truly valuable treasures for important missions.


    <i>Hmm? </i>A glint of astonishment shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>This? Something''s not right, could it be...?</i>


    As soon as Wu Yuan inspected the artifacts left behind by Archimmortal Wu Hai, he sensed something amiss.


    There was actually arge pile of celestial equipment, along with numerous metals and materials, spiritual nts, medicinal pills, and the like, in vast quantities. A rough estimate put the overall value at over six million divine crystals!


    <i>Could it be that the fifth-stage Archimmortal from earlier was actually his true self, not a mana body?</i> Wu Yuan could hardly believe it.


    But, there was no other exnation. Why would an Archimmortal''s mana body carry so many treasures?


    Wu Yuan''s guess was correct. Archimmortal Wu Hai''s true self had indeed been killed in the earlier battle. His mana body had perished not long ago and he hadn''t had time to nurture a new one yet.


    <i>Why would his true selfe here?</i> Wu Yuan was puzzled. Normally, Archimmortals wouldn''t risk their true selves on such expeditions.


    What Wu Yuan didn''t realize was that under normal circumstances, monstrous prodigies like him wouldn��t appear in the Thunder Marsh World. In Archimmortal Wu Hai''s view, this trip to the Thunder Marsh World should have beenpletely safe.


    <i>Who cares if it was his true self or not. I��ve already killed him.</i> Wu Yuan didn��t feel the slightest bit of fear.


    At worst, he''d offended a few Astral Lords. Furthermore, they were all from the Greenridge Immortal World lineage. What was there to be afraid of?


    From collecting the treasures to roughly examining them, barely a second had passed. By now, the array hadpletely dissipated.


    Wu Yuan could now cross into the higher spatial dimension.


    "Please hold on, Fellow Daoist." A deep voice hundreds of millions of miles away, instantly resounded in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Boom!</i> The next moment, a ck-armored figure radiating a powerful aura instantly appeared ten million li away.


    He was traversing the higher spatial dimension, rapidly closing in on Wu Yuan.


    The ck-armored figure''s gaze was cold, revealing a hint of undisguised killing intent.


    <i>Ninth-stage Archimmortal. Astral Lord Bai Hai? </i>Wu Yuan instantly understood who the neer was from their vital aura and attire: the number one expert of the White Sea Immortal Continent �C Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    He sure arrived quickly.


    <i>Time to go.</i> Wu Yuan took a step forward, the surrounding space distorting as he entered the Fragmentary Spatial Layer. Here, countless spatial fragments surged chaotically.


    The instant Wu Yuan entered the higher dimension, the ck-armored figure also appeared out of thin air, merely a thousand li away from him.


    Even without mastery of the Law of Space, an Astral Lord could move swiftly through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer by brute force alone.


    "Stay." A bewitching voice suddenly resonated deep within Wu Yuan''s mind, causing his body to waver involuntarily.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was a soul attack from ate-stage Astral Lord!


    1. Bai Hai = White Sea ?

 Chapter 736: An Undivinable Existence (1)

    <h4>Chapter 736: An Undivinable Existence (1)</h4>


    <i>Buzz~</i> The soul attack struck with astonishing speed. Wu Yuan had no chance to dodge and could only endure it head-on. His true self and ether body''s eyes simultaneously zed over, their flight speed sharply decreasing.


    <i>I got him? Hmm, it makes sense. Despite having the vital aura of a High Deity, he was able to swiftly kill Wu Hai and the others. His strength may have reached the threshold of seventh-stage Archimmortal, but in the end, he''s just an immortal cultivator. How could he resist my illusion art attack?</i>


    Astral Lord Bai Hai walked through the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, rapidly approaching Wu Yuan. His gaze was rather cold, carrying a hint of killing intent.


    He had already determined that Wu Yuan had killed all the Archimmortals in the area. Archimmortal Wu Hai��s true self had even perished in the battle.


    This made his heart bleed. Over long ages, he was the strongest in the immortal continent, but nurturing an Archimmortal was no easy feat, let alone a fifth-stage Archimmortal powerhouse.


    From what he understood, Archimmortal Wu Hai had the potential to be a seventh-stage Archimmortal in the future.


    An Astral Lord-level powerhouse he personally raised was naturally of great importance to him. Whether in battle or on expeditions, their mutual trust would be exceptionally strong.


    <i>This youth''s talent is extraordinary, his Daoprehension is at least on par with mine, perhaps even reaching the Astral Monarch level. He must have a powerful background.</i>


    <i>But to stealthily infiltrate the Thunder Marsh World without revealing his lineage, and then strike so ruthlessly, the probability that he''s from an enemy faction of my White Sea Immortal Continent exceeds ny percent! </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai''s thoughts were very clear.


    The Greenridge Immortal World was a native power, withplex political rtionships between its internal factions. Competition and ughter were the norm.


    The Thunder Marsh World was controlled by the six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent. If any major faction wished to send their disciples on trials there, they simply needed to say the word. The six major immortal sects wouldn''t make things difficult for them, especially if these factions were on friendly or even neutral terms.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    From Astral Lord Bai Hai''s perspective, Wu Yuan''s behavior clearly marked him as an enemy of their faction. Entering their territory without prior notice and striking ruthlessly at the slightest provocation �C only a hostile figure would take such actions.


    Should one bow and scrape to curry favor simply because the enemy showed exceptional talent and potential? It would be like surrendering to an invader of your homnd solely because they were stronger.


    If so, why go through the hardships of cultivating to be an immortal? Might as well die early.


    Moreover, with Archimmortal Wu Hai''s true self dead, Astral Lord Bai Hai couldn''t possibly let Wu Yuan leave just like that. He had to capture him at the very least.


    If he truly was from an opposing power, Astral Lord Bai Hai wouldn''t mind killing Wu Yuan.


    <i>So what if there''s an Astral Monarch behind him? So what if he could be an Astral Monarch in the future? I''ve made an enemy of more than one Astral Monarch, who all want me dead. </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai��s mind was clear.


    <i>My true self is in the Sovereign Field. Who can kill me?</i>


    Just as Astral Monarch Wan Lei dared to fight andpete with Sovereigns over treasures, many formidable Astral Lords simrly dared to contend with Astral Monarchs from other factions due to treasures or grudges. Even if they couldn''t win, they still had ways to make life difficult for their opponent.


    <i>Go! </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai waved.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A ck chain flew out, transforming into a ck jiaolong amidst the turbulent spatial fragments. The jiaolong roared, crossing over a thousand li to arrive before Wu Yuan in an instant. Its massive tailshed out, coiling around Wu Yuan.


    Evidently, Astral Lord Bai Hai still had some reservations and didn''t immediately use a killing move, but rather attempted to capture Wu Yuan.


    Just as the ck jiaolong was about to touch Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan��s eyes regained their rity.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> He split into two, his true self and ether body simultaneously erupting with frenzied power.


    Eighteen dazzling de rays swept across space, causing the surrounding spatial fragments to grow even more chaotic as a result. An overwhelming barrage of de rays crashed thunderously against the ck jiaolong''s tail.


    <i>Boom! </i>A terrifying collision resounded.


    The ck jiaolong��s tail shatteredyer byyer, revealing the chain within.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan''s true self and ether body were also sted back hundreds of li. They soon found their footing on the turbulent waves of fragments, sending ripples through space.


    In this head-on sh, even with Wu Yuan''s true self and ether body working together, he was still at an absolute disadvantage. Exerting all his strength, he barely managed to withstand it.


    <i>Hmm, he actually blocked it? And it''s his true self. His true self''s soul must be very powerful. </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai was initially surprised, but upon seeing Wu Yuan''s true self emerge, some of his doubts were resolved.


    An ether body''sbat power was often not far behind a true self''s. The biggest differencesy in the soul and lifebound artifacts.


    "Haha, Astral Lord Bai Hai, as expected of a ninth-stage Archimmortal powerhouse. I''ll be taking my leave first." Wu Yuan''s voice rang out clearly, reverberating through the spatial fragments. His form moved, fleeing into the distance.


    That soul attack just now was an illusion art with terrifying power. Wu Yuan��s true self, possessing a sturdy soul and having begun to fuse with the Creation Great Dao''s essence, was protected by the Great Dao''s essence. Otherwise, he absolutely wouldn''t have been able to withstand that attack!


    If his ether body had been acting alone, he would definitely have been trapped and captured in an instant.


    <i>The Creation Great Dao not only strengthens my vitality and enhances my vital ether recovery, but also fortifies my soul''s defense. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>However, after I return, I must obtain another strong soul defense artifact.</i>


    Breaking through to Astral Monarch-level Daoprehension enhanced one''s strength holistically. Moreover, the Creation Great Dao was most adept at vitality and recovery, and equally adept at defense. But Wu Yuan had no intention of fighting head-on. The other party was ate-stage Astral Lord powerhouse after all.


    As of now, Wu Yuan had only cultivated part one of the Saint Prohibition Art to a great degree. Even if he had cultivated it topletion and his body refiner self could burst forth with the base power of a first-stage Archimmortal, he might only be able to suppress the other party. In a prolonged battle, he might still not be able to win, let alone now.


    "Trying to escape?" Astral Lord Bai Hai took a step forward, chasing after him.


    At the same time, heunched another soul attack, enveloping them in an illusory soul world. This was another soul attack technique, simr to the previous one.


    <i>Rumble!</i> Wu Yuan was hit again, then quickly regained rity, once again shing with Astral Lord Bai Hai''s artifact.


    The collision''s aftermath spread far and wide, and Wu Yuan was sted away again.


    <i>If I only continue to fight with my present abilities, I can''t guarantee that I��ll be able to block his attacks time after time. This Astral Lord Bai Hai clearly has an extremely deep understanding of the soul.</i> Wu Yuan understood he could no longer hold back.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s form moved. He no longer concealed anything, applying the profundities of Space True Intent. Combined with Creation True Intent, his speed soared to a terrifying level as he fled through the spatial fragments.


    Ten thousand li per second! Thirty thousand li per second!


    Continuing to elerate, he quickly pulled away from Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    <i>Such speed? Could it be that he''s mastered Space True Intent?</i> Astral Lord Bai Hai was greatly shocked.


    For ordinary Archimmortals, even if they could enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, they could usually only advance a thousand li per second due to the obstructing spatial fragments. Astral Lords could often advance tens of thousands of li per second.


    Of course, when Astral Lord Bai Hai rushed over via teleportation array earlier, he was transported at light speed through the Turbulent Spatial Layer. It was equivalent to traveling several light years through the Material Spatial Layer in one breath, which was why he could arrive so quickly.


    But the teleportation array''s route was fixed, achieved through array cryptic patterns. It was extremely difficult to reach light speed in higher spatial dimensions relying solely on oneself. The mana and Daoprehension requirements to achieve this were both extremely high.


    If one could reach light speed in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, it also meant they weren''t far from breaking into the Turbulent Spatial Layer by force.


    Astral Lord Bai Hai quickly understood that if he continued to hold back, he would surely fail to stop the other party from leaving.


    <i>Kill!</i> A trace of cold killing intent shed through Astral Lord Bai Hai''s eyes.


    With a wave of his hand, nine celestial swords flew out from his sleeve, their auras sharp and vast. All of them were mid-grade celestial artifacts.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The nine celestial swords instantly assembled to form a slightly hazy sword array. Within the sword array, sword qi intertwined, like a vast world of swords, advancing through the surging waves of spatial fragments with unstoppable momentum.


    It aimed right at Wu Yuan.


    <i>Danger! Extreme danger! </i>Wu Yuan instantly sensed that it was a lethal threat. Though he couldn''t discern the exact power of this sword array, he could still make a rough judgment.


    This, he feared, was Astral Lord Bai Hai''s ultimate killing move, far surpassing the celestial chain attack previously.


    Earlier, Astral Lord Bai Hai intended to capture him, so he had held back some of his trump cards. But now, Astral Lord Bai Hai finally decided to execute his killing move, the sort of attack he would employ when confronting other Astral Lords.

 Chapter 737: An Undivinable Existence (2)

    <h4>Chapter 737: An Undivinable Existence (2)</h4>


    <i>The situation is dire. The sword array is too quick. I can try to deploy a Time domain, but my current power output is already high, and trying to influence the sword array would be extremely taxing.</i> Wu Yuan��s mind raced as he fled at breakneck speed.


    Time techniques were not invincible. They worked well against ordinary Archimmortals, but againstte-stage Astral Lords, attempting to interfere was far too difficult.


    If his qi refiner self were here, deploying a Spacetime domain would naturally allow him to make an easy escape. But this was his body refiner self.


    <i>A head-on sh? It��s a guaranteed defeat. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, a glint of madness in his eyes. <i>I can only make a desperate gamble.</i>


    At this point, escaping unscathed was no longer possible.


    ��Fellow Daoist, halt immediately. If this truly is a misunderstanding, I will naturally let you go and offer my apologies," Astral Lord Bai Hai''s voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind once more. "If you continue to struggle, I truly fear I might identally kill you."


    His words were met with silence.


    Wu Yuan didn��t slow in the slightest as he continued his frantic escape.


    Just as the sword array was about to descend, Wu Yuan''s icy voice suddenly rang out, "Bai Hai, you''re forcing my hand."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The frantically fleeing Wu Yuan suddenly split in two again, and over ten lifelike phantoms materialized among the torrent of spatial fragments.


    It was utterly bizarre. Each lifelike phantom frantically fled in all directions, their auras all seemingly authentic, making it impossible to distinguish the real from the fake.


    <i>Hmm? What evasion technique is this? Even I can''t tell them apart?</i> Astral Lord Bai Hai grew increasingly astonished. Wu Yuan''s life-preserving methods seemed endless.


    Ordinary illusory clone techniques couldn''t stump Astral Lord Bai Hai; usually, he could instantly identify the true body with his heavenly eye arcane art.


    <i>Disperse! </i>With a thought, Astral Lord Bai Hai''s unified sword array instantly scattered, reforming into nine flying swords that shot out in all directions, pursuing and attacking each lifelike phantom.


    <i>Swoosh~ Swoosh~</i> Space rippled as several phantoms dissipated under the onught of celestial swords, finally revealing Wu Yuan''s true figure.


    <i>There he is! Kill! </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai''s gaze turned piercing cold. With a thought, the massive sword array swiftly converged to pursue Wu Yuan''s true body,pletely enveloping that section of heaven and earth.


    The two shed.


    <i>ng! ng!</i> Saber and sword collided as Wu Yuan unleashed his full power. Nine battle sabers howled, desperately fending off the sword array''s attacks, only to be knocked back time and again.


    In the blink of an eye, the two had shed over a hundred times. Each exchange wounded Wu Yuan, his vital aura rapidly diminishing.


    While they fought, several lifelike phantoms continued to flee, escaping far beyond the sword array''s range.


    "Surrender now," Astral Lord Bai Hai swiftly closed in, sending forth two ck celestial chains with a wave. They transformed into two ck jiaolongs, once again charging toward Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan was already struggling bitterly; if the celestial chains reached him, he might be captured immediately.


    "Want to trap me? Dream on!" Wu Yuan roared in fury, suddenly bellowing, "Detonate!"


    Astral Lord Bai Hai was taken aback.


    His ether nearly depleted, Wu Yuan��s ether body ordered the remaining vital ether within his flesh and blood to detonate.


    Self-detonation! A desperate final attack made at the cost of one''s life, burning vital ether to unleash immense power.


    <i>Boom~</i> This seemingly terrifying tsunami of energy instantly crashed in all directions, yet it could barely shake the massive sword array epassing a thousand li, let alone threaten Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    Self-detonation differed from normal attacks; it didn''t apply one��s Daoprehension, so its power stemmed solely from one''s mana or ether.


    Wu Yuan was merely at the Earth Deity phase, so his self-detonation was merely to avoid capture. Once captured, his life or death would no longer be in his own hands, and even self-detonation would be difficult.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan always remembered Astral Monarch Wan Lei''s fate��it was because his ether body was captured that his true self ultimately perished.


    <i>Hmm? Something''s not right!</i> Astral Lord Bai Hai suddenly realized, turning to look into the distance.


    Among the turbulent fragments, several lifelike phantoms continued to flee. By now, they were two hundred thousand li away, leaving him far behind.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Those phantoms instantly merged into one, reforming Wu Yuan''s figure, though his face was slightly pale.


    "Fellow Daoist, you''re truly ruthless! You''d rather abandon your ether body than talk? Do you truly bear such a grudge against me, fearing I''d kill you?" Astral Lord Bai Hai''s voice transmitted from afar.


    "Talk my ass! Bai Hai, you''ve pushed me this far today," Wu Yuan''s voice was cold as it echoed. "Just wait, I''ll return to kill you someday. "


    "Very well, I''ll be waiting for your esteemed presence," Astral Lord Bai Hai responded calmly.


    He paid no heed to Wu Yuan''s threats, having heard plenty of simr ones before.


    He stopped his pursuit; in terms of flight speed within the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, he was far inferior to Wu Yuan. He merely waved his hand to collect the numerous treasures left behind by Wu Yuan''s ether body.


    He watched as Wu Yuan vanished into the torrent of spatial fragments.


    <i>This fellow is truly decisive.</i> Astral Lord Bai Hai shook his head slightly.


    He hadn''t had much choice either. When Wu Yuan split into over ten lifelike phantoms, his sword array, though powerful, could not pursue all of the lifelike phantoms.


    From the moment Wu Yuan chose to separate his ether body and true self, it was a gamble.


    If Astral Lord Bai Hai had pursued his true self, then Wu Yuan would have had to reveal the profundities of Time True Intent and fight with all his might, trying his best to escape.


    But the result was that Astral Lord Bai Hai ultimately pursued his ether body. Thus Wu Yuan seized the opportunity to abandon his ether body and escape right away.


    <i>Such a monstrous prodigy should logically be renowned throughout the immortal world, yet I''ve never heard of him. </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai mused. <i>Where did hee from?</i>


    Suddenly, a flicker of confusion crossed his features. <i>The Astral Monarch ising to investigate this matter personally? He''ll be here in just a quarter hour?</i>


    The Spacetime boundary of an immortal nation spanned tens of millions of light-years. To facilitate better management of their territory, various factions would establish high-grade teleportation arrays on immortal continents, allowing cultivators to travel through the Vacuum Spatial Layer.


    Traversing the Vacuum Spatial Layer across a macrocosm with a diameter of ten billion light-years often took only a few days.


    The Astral Monarch, who was taking the highest-grade teleportation array, could arrive from his stronghold in a quarter hour, which wasn''t long considering they were within the same immortal nation.


    The time he took to arrive didn''t surprise Astral Lord Bai Hai. What surprised him was the Astral Monarch��s decision to make a trip here at first notice.


    After all, the Astral Monarchmanded numerous powerful subordinates. Although he had reported the situation promptly, the Astral Monarch wouldn''t necessarily respond immediately.


    Astral Lord Bai Hai waited patiently.


    ...


    In the chaotic Fragmentary Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan sped forward at a hundred thousand li per second. This was the limit of his body refiner self''s speed in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    As he fled, he also pondered over the earlier battle. <i>As expected of a ninth-stage Archimmortal. Truly formidable. I still underestimated him. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Wu Yuan��s direct attacks barely reached the seventh-stage Archimmortal-level. And in terms of endurance, physical defense, and so on, he was inferior to experts of that phase, his techniques severelycking in power.


    Astral Lord Bai Hai��s soul illusion arts, soul extinguishing techniques, ranged binding technique, flying sword techniques, and various other methods, were all at the peak of the ninth-stage Archimmortal level!


    When the two engaged in battle, Wu Yuan was naturally overwhelmed.


    If it were Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, his directbat power would be even weaker than his body refiner self, but relying on the special nature of the Spacetime Dao, he could easily escape. Different Daos excelled in different aspects.


    <i>In terms of Daoprehension, I far surpass him, but I''m still at a disadvantage in base power.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The same applied Dao techniques, when executed by those with different foundations, naturally produced vastly different levels of power.


    <i>It��s time to return to the Cang Feng Eldritch World. Before bing a High Deity and grasping part two of ��Creation Saint Prohibition��, no more expeditions for me.</i> Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Once he grasped part two of the Creation Saint Prohibition, he could unleash ether at the level of a third-stage Archimmortal, naturally leading Wu Yuan''sbat power to skyrocket.


    ��Master, when you��ve created a new ether body, let me join you on adventures like this. Don''t leave me cooped up at home with your true self.�� Little ck''s voice echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    "Of course," Wu Yuan responded with a smile.


    Starting from the Shambh phase, if a lifebound eldritch beast perished, it could be revived within the internal shambh. In a sense, a lifebound eldritch beast was another type of ether body.


    Therefore, body refiners of the eldritch lineage often carried their lifebound eldritch beasts in their ether bodies when roaming through the realms.


    <i>Though I exposed myprehension of Space True Intent, I didn''t reveal my understanding of Time True Intent. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Even if the Greenridge Immortal World discovers my true identity in the future, the impact won''t be too great.</i>


    Wu Yuan wasn''t too concerned. Exposure was inevitable; as long as he wasn''t fully exposed before bing a High Deity, it was fine.


    Apart from the Voltari Temple, other major factions generally wouldn''t request their Sovereigns to intervene.


    <i>Hum~</i> A Time domain appeared around Wu Yuan. and the flow of time began to change. His speed remained the same, but the distance covered increased exponentially.


    He swiftly vanished into the distance.

 Chapter 738: An Undivinable Existence (3)

    <h4>Chapter 738: An Undivinable Existence (3)</h4>


    In the expanse of outer space beyond the Thunder Marsh World, all was quiet. Only Astral Lord Bai Hai remained, gazing pensively at the distant Thunder Marsh World.


    Earlier, the two had battled in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, so it hadn''t affected the Material Spatial Layer.


    This was why battles between super powerhouses often went unnoticed by the mortal realm. They mostly fought in higher spatial dimensions, their abilities invisible to ordinary beings, and the impact of their battles rarely affected them.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A towering figure appeared in the distant void. d in purple armor, he tread upon the void with battle boots as if trampling the entire heaven and earth beneath his feet.


    His aura was overwhelming, far surpassing that of Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    "Astral Monarch." Astral Lord Bai Hai, upon seeing him from afar, immediately flew over to the purple-armored figure and bowed respectfully.


    The neer was none other than the ruler of the Ling Huan Immortal Nation��Astral Monarch Ling Huan.


    Just as the Silvermist Immortal Nation had thirteen Astral Monarchs, the Ling Huan Immortal Nation also had more than one Astral Monarch.


    It could be said that those capable of establishing immortal nations were generally among the stronger Astral Monarchs.


    "Bai Hai." Astral Monarch Ling Huan''s gaze fell upon Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    He ruled over thousands of immortal continents, with over ten thousand Astral Lords directly under hismand. Astral Lord Bai Hai''s strength ranked in the top hundred, naturally deserving his attention.


    "I''ve thoroughly reviewed the intelligence you reported. Where is he?" Astral Monarch Ling Huan inquired.


    "He has already fled. After receiving reports from my subordinate Archimmortals, I rushed here immediately, intending to detain him, but he resisted... In the end, even at the cost of his ether body''s demise, he managed to escape." Astral Lord Bai Hai quickly exined the situation, lowering his voice: "This subordinate was ipetent and failed to detain him."


    "Oh? He managed to escape from your grasp?" A hint of surprise shed in Astral Monarch Ling Huan''s eyes.


    He was well aware of Astral Lord Bai Hai''s capabilities.


    "His Daoprehension should have reached the level of an Astral Monarch. His techniques were profound, and I couldn''t discern his background... I only felt that it was somewhat simr to the Law of Life, but not entirely so." Astral Lord Bai Hai said solemnly: "Also, he seemed to have mastered Space True Intent."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Law of Life, Astral Monarch level? Space True Intent?" A sh of shock passed through Astral Monarch Ling Huan''s eyes.


    He could immediately tell that if this were truly just an immortal cultivator, such a monstrous prodigy would likely be unparalleled even across the entire macrocosm.


    "Therefore, this subordinate judges that he is most likely not from our lineage," Astral Lord Bai Hai said gravely. "He might even harbor enmity towards us."


    "Hmm." Astral Monarch Ling Huan nodded in agreement.


    With such talent, if he were from their lineage, his status would certainly be extremely high. He would only need to reveal his identity, and Astral Lord Bai Hai wouldn''t dare to trouble him.


    "Step back a bit, let me take a look," Astral Monarch Ling Huan said.


    "Yes." Astral Lord Bai Hai immediately flew into the distance, his eyes shing with anticipation at the chance to witness the Astral Monarch''s divine abilities once again.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Astral Monarch Ling Huan closed his eyes. Behind him, a faint image of a giant eye appeared. This ethereal eye radiated purple light, illuminating the space around them.


    <i>The Eye of Ling Huan. </i>Astral Lord Bai Hai thought to himself.


    This was the signature technique that Astral Monarch Ling Huan was famous for. It excelled in soul attacks and was even more proficient in divination and karmic perception.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The radiance of the giant ethereal eye suddenly intensified, beams of light stretching out in all eight directions of heaven and earth.


    Where the ethereal light touched, countless images began to appear, as if time itself was flowing backwards.


    There were scenes of Wu Yuan flying out of the Thunder Marsh World, scenes of him battling with Archimmortal Wu Hai and the others... even scenes of Wu Yuan''s confrontation with Astral Lord Bai Hai in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    This sight left Astral Lord Bai Hai astounded. Reversing the flow of time, retracing the past��these were abilities beyond his imagination. He waited patiently.


    More and more images of the past continued to appear.


    Just then, an unexpected change urred.


    <i>Crack!</i> A chilling sound echoed as a jagged fissure abruptly tore through the surface of the colossal eye. The rupture spread with rming speed, countless intricate fractures branching out like a spiderweb until they covered the entirety of the eye''s surface.


    It happened too quickly, so fast that even Astral Monarch Ling Huan had no time to react.


    <i>Boom! </i>The giant ethereal eye suddenly shattered, the purple light rapidly dimming.


    "Ah!" Astral Monarch Ling Huan involuntarily cried out in pain.


    Two streams of bloody tears flowed from his tightly shut eyes, and even his soul aura turned chaotic.


    "Astral Monarch? What''s happening?" Astral Lord Bai Hai watched in shock, a flicker of fear passing through his heart.


    Had Astral Monarch Ling Huan suffered some kind of attack? If even an Astral Monarch was affected this badly, what chance did he stand as a mere Astral Lord?


    After a while, the trails of blood on Astral Monarch Ling Huan''s face disappeared, the ethereal eye behind himpletely vanished, and he seemed to return to normal. Only his soul aura seemed to wane, clearly having suffered significant damage.


    His eyes reflected a hint of shock.


    "Bai Hai, what kind of monster did you provoke?" Astral Monarch Ling Huan stared at Astral Lord Bai Hai, his voice tinged with shock.


    "When I attempted to divine the location of a Sovereign in the past, I was discovered and suffered a bacsh. Yet the injuries I took then weren��t as severe as today''s.


    The person you encountered today is even more difficult to divine than a Sovereign!" Astral Monarch Ling Huan said in a low voice: "In his destiny, there seems to be a terrifying power that I cannot match."


    "What?" Astral Lord Bai Hai was dumbfounded.


    It seemed absurd. More difficult to divine than a Sovereign? He couldn''t believe it, but Astral Monarch Ling Huan had no reason to deceive him.


    "You''ve truly stirred up big trouble," Astral Monarch Ling Huan shook his head.


    Astral Lord Bai Hai''s heart was instantly gripped with panic.


    "However, it''s not your fault," Astral Monarch Ling Huan said in a low voice. "I''ve cultivated for countless years, yet I''ve never heard of such an existence.


    I suspect that this immortal cultivator you encountered isn''t disguising himself as an Earth Deity, but actually is an Earth Deity," Astral Monarch Ling Huan shook his head.


    "Actually is an Earth Deity?"Astral Lord Bai Hai was shocked. All along, he believed that he had encountered a High Deity who was merely disguising his aura, as one��s vital aura couldn''t be faked.


    If he truly was an Earth Deity...An Earth Deity unleashing power Astral Lord-level power? Thinking back to Astral Monarch Ling Huan''s recent injury, Astral Lord Bai Hai felt his scalp tingle.


    "This matter is beyond my ability to investigate. But for the Sovereigns, it''s not too important an affair." Astral Monarch Ling Huan shook his head and said: "I will report this to the Sovereign immediately, but as you know, the Sovereign has countless powerful subordinates, and I don''t know when I''ll be granted an audience.


    When there''s news, I��ll update you."


    "Understood," Astral Lord Bai Hai quickly responded.


    Sovereign? He had cultivated for hundreds of millions of years, yet had only been fortunate enough to see a Sovereign twice. He wasn��t even worthy of exchanging words with them.


    ...


    <i>Nearly a monthter.</i>


    The Greenridge Immortal Voidrealm was thergest voidrealm in the Greenridge Immortal World The vast majority of powerhouses in the Greenridge Immortal World were active here.


    <i>Within an immense ne carved out in the immortal voidrealm, inside a majestic temple.</i>


    "Sovereign," Astral Monarch Ling Huan bowed respectfully, his heart filled with trepidation.


    "I have attempted to divine the matter you reported a month ago," spoke a purple-robed woman atop a lofty throne, her voice melodious yet filled with authority.


    "Too much time has passed, I have gotten no results. The other party is an existence beyond divination," dered the purple-robed Sovereign.


    "What?" Astral Monarch Ling Huan grew increasingly rmed.


    As someone whoprehended the Law of Karma, he naturally understood the implications of such an assessment. To think even a Sovereign would say such a thing.


    "But I have inquired with other Sovereigns of the immortal world. This immortal cultivator should not be a member of our immortal world," the purple-robed Sovereign continued slowly.


    ��He is likely a super genius hidden here by another great faction of the macrocosm. Even if his identity is not exposed today, it will naturally be revealed when he rises to prominence in the future. We need only observe from the shadows.


    But pass down the order that this matter must not be leaked," the purple-robed Sovereign gazed down at Astral Monarch Ling Huan.


    "Understood." Astral Monarch Ling Huan nodded repeatedly. "I know the gravity of this matter and have already sent down orders to seal this information."


    "Good. You may leave now."


    ...


    Wu Yuan was naturally unaware of the events unfolding among the upper echelons of the Greenridge Immortal World.


    After leaving the White Sea Immortal Continent behind, he disguised himself as an ordinary Earth Deity, swiftly making his way towards the Eternal Sun Immortal World through teleportation arrays scattered across outer space in the Greenridge Immortal World.


    After more than a month, he finally returned to the Spacetime domain of the Cang Feng Eldritch World via the Eternal Sun Immortal World.


    Only then did he truly breathe a sigh of relief. He was home.


    Even in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he had been on edge. After all, even Immortal Sovereign Bei You might not recognize his body refiner self. As for the other higher-ups of the Eternal Sun Immortal World? They were even less likely to know who he was.


    Of course, within the Bloodforge Devil Hall, there was a group of Archimmortals and Astral Lords who remembered his existence, as less than a thousand years had passed since he set some of those records.

 Chapter 739: An Undivinable Existence (4)

    <h4>Chapter 739: An Undivinable Existence (4)</h4>


    <i>At the core of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, the Cang Feng Continent.</i>


    <i>Finally, I��m back.</i> Wu Yuan emerged from the teleportation array, gazing down at the vastndscape below and the halls scattered throughout it like stars. His heart swelled with genuine joy.


    Then, he flew towards Cang Feng City.


    Cang Feng City was the very core of the entire eldritch world, the location of many residences of Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs in the eldritch world.


    In a special spacetime at the highest point of this sprawling city that spanned hundreds of millions of li, stood the temples of the Sovereigns of the eldritch world.


    Simrly, within the city were teleportation arrays leading to the five Origin Eldritch Fields. Years ago, when Wu Yuan left the eldritch world, he had first arrived at Cang Feng City before departing from there.


    Holding a token, Wu Yuan reached the void continent of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field through the teleportation array. But as soon as he stepped out, he was ordered to remain where he was.


    "Halt!"


    "Wu Yuan? That Wu Yuan from hundreds of years ago, he''s finally returned?"


    "He''s still alive? I thought he had perished." The group of High Immortals and High Eldritches guarding the teleportation array were shocked.


    Back then, Wu Yuan had imed the heaven-tier titles in the Fifth and Fourth Origin Eldritch Fields in just a few decades, causing quite a stir.


    At the very least, these High Immortals and High Eldritches of the Origin Eldritch Fields remembered it clearly. In their perception, Wu Yuan''s talent was so immense that he would certainly rank among the top even in the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    However, they never expected him to disappear for over six hundred years. For Wu Yuan, who wasn''t even a hundred years old back then, six hundred years was a very long time. So, many High Immortals and High Eldritches of the Origin Eldritch Fields had spected that Wu Yuan had perished in the world outside.


    Wu Yuan didn''t have to wait long.


    "Wu Yuan." A ck-armored Sixth Tribtion High Eldritch descended, alongside several High Immortals that stood behind him, all wearing solemn expressions.


    "I am a member of the enforcement hall of the Origin Eldritch Field. You may address me as Ju Hai," the ck-armored High Eldritch said gravely.


    "High Eldritch Ju Hai," Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    "We have verified that you havepleted the trial task for the Shambh phase and qualify to enter the Third Origin Eldritch Field after advancing to the Elysian Field phase," High Eldritch Ju Hai looked at Wu Yuan.


    "However, as you are now an Earth Eldritch, you must proceed to the Second Origin Eldritch Field. Yet you haven''tpleted the trial task for the Elysian Field phase."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    Members of the Origin Eldritch Field had corresponding trial tasks for each major phase. They mustplete these trial tasks to enter the next Origin Eldritch Field.


    After all, if members of the Origin Eldritch Field cultivated methodically, each of them could be a High Eldritch. But their numbers were too vast, and if they all became High Eldritches, the cost in resources would be too great for the eldritch world to bear.


    Thus, there were numerous rounds of trials, constantly weeding out candidates. Without passing the trials, even if one advanced to the next cultivation phase, it would be difficult to enter the next Origin Eldritch Field.


    "Wu Yuan, the eldritch world has its rules. asionally, there are members of the Origin Eldritch Field who break through while adventuring in the world outside, unable to meet the trial requirements.


    They can choose to have their abilities evaluated through an assessment instead.


    Although you were a heaven-tier member back then, you must pass the corresponding assessment orplete a trial task if you wish to proceed to the Second Origin Eldritch Field," High Eldritch Ju Hai said in a low voice. "Do you understand?"


    "I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    While his identity as a Sovereign''s disciple remained a secret, being a member of the Origin Eldritch Field was a good disguise.


    Moreover, it was safe enough within the five Origin Eldritch Fields. Unless the enemy was a Sovereign of Space, they would find it difficult to intrude.


    "Wu Yuan, if you choose to proceed with a trial task, your mission will be to head to a mid-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield and be a seventh-rank fighter," High Eldritch Ju Hai exined. "If you choose to proceed with an assessment, we will select a member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field, and you must defeat them inbat.


    Which option do you choose?"


    "I''ll take the second option," Wu Yuan replied immediately.


    High Eldritch Ju Hai and the other High Immortals couldn''t help but exchange nces.


    One of the High Immortals couldn''t resist saying, "Wu Yuan, won''t you reconsider? Members of the Second Origin Eldritch Field have mostly cultivated for thousands of years. Their cultivation time far exceeds yours."


    "Wu Yuan, think it over. This is a random selection. If you happen to be matched with one of the earth-tier members, their strength could rival that of a High Eldritch," High Eldritch Ju Hai added in a deep voice.


    "Cultivating for a long time doesn''t necessarily mean they''re stronger," Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile. "Let''s go with the second option."


    He understood what these High Eldritch and High Immortals meant. Of these two options, The first would take more time but had a lower difficulty. Grinding it out slowly would offer a better chance of sess.


    "Very well, thene with us to the Second Origin Eldritch Field," High Eldritch Ju Hai said, no longer trying to persuade him. "After you pass the assessment, your servants will move your belongings to the Second Origin Eldritch Field."


    "Mm," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Over the years, his former Void Refiner servants, Cen Jiang and the others, had mostly stayed in his void continent.


    The group swiftly passed through the teleportation array, heading towards the Second Origin Eldritch Field.


    ...


    The five Origin Eldritch Fields, each incredibly vast, seemed to exist in different worlds yet were actually located close to one another. This facilitated convenient management by the eldritch world.


    At the highest point of the First Origin Eldritch Field stood a temple, guarded by many High Eldritch and High Immortals who considered it an honor to be stationed there.


    Today,ughter could be heard from within the hall, puzzling the High Eldritch and High Immortals outside. Why was the Astral Monarch so pleased?


    <i>Inside the divine hall.</i>


    <i>Interesting, how interesting indeed. After disappearing for over six hundred years, Wu Yuan has now returned.</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled as he looked at the message in his hand. <i>And he''s already be an Earth Eldritch?</i>


    <i>Tsk tsk! By the looks of it, he seems to have broken through to Earth Eldritch early on, advancing as soon as he could. Quite confident, indeed. Well, he is a Sovereign''s disciple after all. </i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu shook his head.


    He was the overall manager of the Origin Eldritch Fields and knew the backgrounds of all members of the Origin Eldritch Fields. He paid close attention to disciples of Sovereigns like Wu Yuan.


    As soon as Wu Yuan returned, the news was ryed to him.


    <i>He''s truly confident, choosing the second option right away.</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu muttered to himself.<i> Isn''t he afraid of encountering an earth-tier member?</i>


    In his eyes, though Wu Yuan''s talent was extraordinary, he had cultivated for less than a thousand years. His strength was likely inferior to the earth-tier members of the Second Origin Eldritch Field.


    <i>Who should I choose? Should I go easy on him, or give him a challenge? I''m not sure of his current abilities.</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu pondered.


    At this moment, a gentle voice echoed in his mind, "Hou Qu!"


    "Sovereign?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu was startled, instantly recognizing the voice.


    It was Sovereign Kua Chi. Only the Sovereign could transmit a message so silently and effortlessly.


    "For Wu Yuan''s assessment regarding his return to the Origin Eldritch Field, send Chang Hong," Sovereign Kua Chi''s voice resonated once more.


    "Chang Hong?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s eyes widened. "Sovereign, do you wish to temper Wu Yuan?"


    There was no further response.


    <i>What could the Sovereign be thinking?</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu muttered to himself. <i>One has cultivated for over seven thousand years, with Daoprehension rivaling an Archimmortal, the other for barely seven hundred years. Is there even a need for a battle?</i>


    <i>It seems the Sovereign might be somewhat displeased with Wu Yuan''s disappearance for hundreds of years. However, given the Sovereign''s nature, his willingness to personally instruct me indicates he still wishes to nurture Wu Yuan. </i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu tried to fathom Sovereign Kua Chi''s intentions.


    After a moment''s reflection, he swiftly sent a message to both Chang Hong and Jiang Huan, thinking to himself. <i>Since this is a battle between the Sovereign''s disciples, it''s best to keep it private.</i>


    Then, he immediately called out to those outside, "Tell them to bring Wu Yuan to the First Origin Eldritch Field. I shall personally oversee the battle."


    "Yes, sir," a High Eldritch promptly responded.


    These High Eldritches weren''t particrly surprised; they were well aware of Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s hands-on nature.


    Moreover, they had all heard of Wu Yuan.


    ...


    <i>In the Second Origin Eldritch Field, on Earth Eldritch Chang Hong''s void continent, within the Meditation Tower.</i>


    <i>Hmm? </i>Chang Hong, d in ck robes and deep in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. He had received Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s message.


    <i>Junior Brother Wu Yuan has broken through to Earth Eldritch? So quickly?</i>


    <i>He hasn''t passed the Elysian Field phase trial yet? </i>Chang Hong furrowed his brow. <i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu has chosen me to test Junior Brother Wu Yuan.</i>


    <i>Does he want me to teach Junior Brother Wu Yuan a lesson?</i>

 Chapter 740: Master, Its Truly Not Enough (1)

    <h4>Chapter 740: Master, It''s Truly Not Enough (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan followed Ju Hai and the other High Eldritches, arriving at the Origin Eldritch Continent of the Second Origin Eldritch Field through the teleportation array on the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field.


    Just momentster, outside the teleportation array, Wu Yuan saw a familiar figure emerge from another small teleportation array.


    It was a ck-robed youth with an extraordinary aura and a rather cold expression.


    "Senior Brother Chang Hong?" Wu Yuan was slightly startled. It was indeed Chang Hong, whom he hadn''t seen in several hundred years.


    A coincidence?


    Over six hundred years had passed, and Wu Yuan had progressed from the Shambh phase to the Earth Eldritch phase. Meanwhile, Chang Hong still remained at the Earth Eldritch phase.


    Wu Yuan found thispletely normal. Earth Eldritches lived for ny thousand years, and Senior Brother Chang Hong had only been cultivating for a little over seven thousand years. He was still considered very young.


    In ordinary immortal sects, Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches under thirty thousand years old were all considered ''young talents''.


    Moreover, members of the Second Origin Eldritch Field were all geniuses with extremely rapid cultivation progress, and there was a rule that one should break through to the High Immortal or High Eldritch phase within twenty thousand years.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Chang Hong headed over andnded on the ground.


    "Earth Eldritch Chang Hong."


    "It''s Chang Hong."


    "Chang Hong, the heaven-tier member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field." Ju Hai and the others turned to look at Chang Hong.


    It wasn��t just them; all the cultivators within the teleportation array couldn''t help but look over with either admiring or respectful gazes. Clearly, Chang Hong��s reputation was immense.


    Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, unsurprised by this.


    The Second Origin Eldritch Field had only one heaven-tier member, representing the number one individual among trillions of Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches across the eight hundred eldritch nations and four million eldritch continents of the Cang Feng Eldritch World!


    He would rank in the top ten among all Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm at least. His renown went without saying.


    "Earth Eldritch Chang Hong." Even Ju Hai greeted him respectfully, though he was somewhat puzzled: "May I enquire as to your purpose foring?"


    He wasn''t nearly this polite to Wu Yuan.


    "I received orders from the higher-ups to engage inbat with Wu Yuan, to verify if he qualifies to join the Second Origin Eldritch Field," Chang Hong said coldly.


    Ju Hai was stunned. The group of apanying High Immortals and High Eldritches were also shocked.


    Wu Yuan was equally astonished. Senior Brother Chang Hong was selected to fight him?


    "Really?" Ju Hai couldn��t help confirming.


    "Would I lie about this?" Chang Hong shook his head, then turned his gaze to Wu Yuan, speaking rather coldly: "We have been ordered to hold the match in the First Origin Eldritch Field. The higher-ups will be watching. Let''s head there quickly."


    Ju Hai and the others looked at each other and nodded: "Alright, let''s go."


    By this time, they had also received orders through the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.


    "Wu Yuan." Ju Hai nced at Wu Yuan, his mouth opening slightly, but ultimately he said nothing.


    The other High Eldritches and High Immortals also looked at Wu Yuan with sympathetic expressions, clearly feeling sorry for him.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile. He naturally understood what these High Eldritches and High Immortals were thinking.


    "Senior Brother Chang Hong, are you really fighting me?" Wu Yuan transmitted.


    "Mm." Chang Hong responded via transmission, his voice cold: "Little Junior Brother, it seems you''ve forgotten what I told you back then. You didn''t pass the trial of the Elysian Field phase, nor did you be a legendary-rank fighter on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. How could you break through to Earth Eldritch?"


    Wu Yuan was speechless.


    Years ago, when Wu Yuan had first be a disciple of Master Kua Chi, Senior Brother Chang Hong had shown some dislike toward him and told him some things. However, Wu Yuan had paid little attention to it at the time. Unexpectedly, more than six centuriester, his senior brother still remembered.


    "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother," Wu Yuan smiled and transmitted back.


    "Hmph, we are Master��s disciples. Though outsiders may not know of this, how could we forget? Junior Brother, you haven''t achieved anything noteworthy in all these years. What would Master think?" Chang Hong transmitted coldly.


    Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly, not bothering to respond further.


    "I won''t hold back in this assessment," Chang Hong transmitted coldly. "I hope you''ve made some progress over the years. Give it your all, and hopefully you canst a few more moves."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan responded with a smile: "Senior Brother is right. I''ll certainly give it my all."


    Only then did Chang Hong nod with satisfaction.


    ...


    The various Origin Eldritch Fields were not far from each other. Through the teleportation array, the group quickly arrived at the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    Those who cultivated and lived in the First Origin Eldritch Field were High Eldritches and High Immortals.


    Therefore, the Eldritch Battle tforms here were especially enormous, with eachbat space vast and expansive, stretching millions of li to amodate their battles.


    "You enforcement hall members need not enter. By order of the Archeldritch, only Wu Yuan and Chang Hong are to go in." Outside the central Eldritch Battle tform, two Sixth Tribtion High Eldritches stopped Ju Hai and the others.


    "Yes." Although Ju Hai and the others felt puzzled, they could only watch as Wu Yuan and Chang Hong entered thebat space.


    This also caused Wu Yuan and Chang Hong to feel a hint of confusion.


    Passing through the corridor, the two entered the interior of thebat space, which was already enveloped by an array. The space waspletely enclosed, preventing any observation from outside.


    What surprised Wu Yuan and Chang Hong were the two figures standing on one side of thebat space.


    One was a burly man wearing ck battle armor, his aura domineering and unmatched. The other was a white-robed youth with a smile on his face, graceful as jade.


    "Astral Monarch Hou Qu?"


    "Senior Brother Jiang Huan?" Wu Yuan and Chang Hong were both surprised, not expecting these two to be waiting here. They bowed in greeting.


    "You''ve arrived." Astral Monarch Hou Qu revealed a smile, his eyes sweeping over the two: "Wu Yuan, we haven''t met in a few hundred years. In the blink of an eye, you''ve be an Earth Eldritch. Not bad."


    "You tter me, Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan smiled.


    It was Astral Monarch Hou Qu who had brought him to the eldritch world years ago, and their rtionship was quite good.


    "Alright, now that you''re both here, and there are no outsiders, I''ll be direct," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said solemnly. "By the order of the Sovereign, Wu Yuan, to join the Second Origin Eldritch Field, you will battle Chang Hong.


    If you fail, you will go to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield for tempering. Only after you be a ninth-rank fighter can you return to the Second Origin Eldritch Field."


    "Understood." Only now did Wu Yuan realize it was his master''s orders.


    He had been wondering earlier how, among the millions of members in the Second Origin Eldritch Field, he would be so coincidentally matched up with Senior Brother Chang Hong.


    Chang Hong also nodded.


    "Junior Brothers, I am only here to observe the battle under orders," Senior Brother Jiang Huan smiled. "This battle is only a test, so stop when defeat is clear. Junior Brother Wu Yuan, even if you lose this battle, don''t be discouraged. It''s all just Master''s way of tempering you."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    In truth, he was pondering Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s words, silently contemting. <i>Although Master doesn''t know my exact strength, he knows I''ve crystallized a Great Dao��s True Intent, yet he specifically ordered me to fight Senior Brother Chang Hong... </i>


    <i>Mm, I understand. He wants to use me to temper Senior Brother Chang Hong?</i>


    <i>Alright, then I''ll try not to hold back. </i>Wu Yuan believed he had seen through Master''s intentions and made his decision.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ...


    <i>In the airspace of thebat space.</i>


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Wu Yuan and Chang Hong transformed into two streaks of light, each soaring skyward, then faced each other over a hundred thousand li apart.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Jiang Huan stood to one side, looking down at the two. As an Astral Monarch of Space and someone with Astral Lord-levelbat power respectively, they naturally weren''t concerned about the aftershocks from a battle between two Earth Eldritches.


    "Listen up, both of you. Fight with your full power. I will call for you to stop when I see a clear victor," Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s voice sounded in both their ears. "Also, you are not allowed to use items like talismans or secret treasures."


    As an Astral Monarch of Space, supervising a battle between two Earth Eldritches was naturally effortless for him.


    "Begin." Astral Monarch Hou Qu gave themand.


    An invisible ripple spread out, and the entirebat space seemed to fall silent. Wu Yuan and Chang Hong exchanged a nce.


    "Little Junior Brother, prepare yourself." Chang Hong moved instantly, taking a step forward to transform into a ten-thousand-zhang-tall giant with nine arms, each arm holding a divine sword.


    An imposing aura erupted as his gaze locked onto Wu Yuan. He was going all out right from the start.


    <i>Senior Brother Chang Hong has a second-degree immortal root?</i> Wu Yuan roughly sensed Chang Hong''s vital aura.


    One had to have a fifth-degree immortal root at least to be an Earth Eldritch or Earth Immortal. A second-degree immortal root was considered top-tier among Earth Eldritches, and was also the level of most peerless geniuses.


    A first-degree immortal root? That was extremely rare even among High Immortals and High Eldritches.


    After all, to be a Sovereign, one was not only required toprehend a Greater Law, but also establish a first-degree immortal root.


    Greater Laws were the strongest Daos under the rules of heaven and earth��s workings! A first-degree immortal root was simrly the most perfect root under its rules.

 Chapter 741: Master, Its Truly Not Enough (2)

    <h4>Chapter 741: Master, It''s Truly Not Enough (2)</h4>


    <i>A ninth-stage Earth Eldritch with a second-degree immortal root isn''t much stronger than me in terms of ether power. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Although he was only at the second-stage Earth Eldritch phase, his Apotheosis root far surpassed a first-degree immortal root, let alone a second-degree one.


    <i>There��s no need to use the Saint Prohibition Art or ether arts, nor summon Little ck.</i> Wu Yuan thought as he flipped his palm. A low-grade celestial artifact saber materialized in his grasp.


    At the same cultivation phase, body refiners could instantly overwhelm qi refiners in burst power, relying on their lifebound eldritch beasts and grand ether arts.


    After upgrading to an Apotheosis root, Wu Yuan''s lifebound Teng Snake had also undergone a transformation, growing even more terrifying.


    Seeing Wu Yuan standing in ce, only drawing a celestial saber, Astral Monarch Hou Qu��s eyebrows rose in surprise.


    <i>No ether art? What is Little Junior Brother thinking? He is already at an absolute disadvantage in terms of ether cultivation level, is he just giving up?</i> Jiang Huan was equally puzzled.


    They couldn''t understand what Wu Yuan was thinking.


    <i>Boom!</i> Separated by just over a hundred thousand li, it took less than a second for Chang Hong to cross the distance at full speed �C so fast that space itself seemed to tremble.


    Countless earthy-yellow lights suddenly appeared around him, forming his Celestial Body Dao Field. The Celestial Body Dao Field instantly enveloped everything in an area of tens of thousands of li, including Wu Yuan.


    His eyes turned cold: "Little Junior Brother, you disappoint me. Even in a battle destined for failure, you should give it your all.


    I won''t hold back."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> He rapidly approached Wu Yuan, then swung his nine swords simultaneously. The nine divine swords radiated intense killing intent, aiming right at Wu Yuan.


    Chang Hong intended to defeat Wu Yuan in one move. He felt quite disappointed, but his nature dictated that he wouldn''t hold back. Even if Wu Yuan couldn''t block a single one of his attacks, he wouldn''t show mercy.


    But in the next instant, Chang Hong''s pupils contracted, a sh of disbelief crossing them. <i>What?</i>


    A dazzling azure de ray suddenly lit up the battle space!


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was like a supernova, or an eternally verdant, ancient mountain range. It seemed to contain the vastness of heaven and earth, imbued with infinite Dao profundities expressing an invincible saber technique.


    <i>This Dao fluctuation? </i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu was shocked.


    <i>What? Little Junior Brother?</i> Jiang Huan was astonished.


    On one side was a full-force attack with nine swords, seemingly overwhelming at first nce, like an endless world of swords bearing down. On the other, just a simple swing of an ancient saber.


    The seemingly simple saber strike made Chang Hong''s heart tremble, and he felt a dense aura of death enshrouding him.


    The two forces shed. Chang Hong''s full-powered ultimate technique was as fragile as a withered branch before this single de ray�Cit was crushed in an instant.


    <i>Bang~ </i>The power of the de ray forcefully knocked the nine divine swords from Chang Hong''s hands. The piercing de ray then swept towards him, sending him flying backwards.


    The horrific shockwave, though greatly weakened by his battle armor and defensive ether arts, still permeated into his body.


    <i>Boom! </i>Like a giant boulder crumbling under immense pressure, Chang Hong''s body violently burst apart, nearly disintegratingpletely.


    In one move, the oue was decided, the victor determined. Clearly, they were not on the same level.


    The entire battle space seemed to fall silent, with only the two observers, Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Jiang Huan, staring at Wu Yuan with their mouths agape!


    Even in their wildest imagination, they could never have anticipated this. If Wu Yuan had won with great difficulty, they would have been surprised but not found it too outrageous. After all, history had seen many peerless geniuses in the macrocosm who attained Archimmortal-level Daoprehension after only a few hundred years of cultivation.


    With just one saber strike, Wu Yuan defeated Chang Hong, dealing a crushing victory. And he hadn''t even gone all out, not even employing ether arts.


    If he had used his full power, he probably could have killed Chang Hong with that single strike. What level of strength was this?


    "Impressive!" Astral Monarch Hou Qu revealed a smile, marveling, "Our eldritch world has finally produced a monstrous prodigy no worse than Ming Jian."


    "This saber technique must be at the ninth-stage Archimmortal level. Little Junior Brother is extraordinary," Jiang Huan was equally amazed.


    Both of them had keen insight, roughly judging the profoundness of the saber technique Wu Yuan had just disyed.


    ...


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Chang Hong''s shattered body quickly regenerated, though his vital aura had diminished by over seventy percent.


    It could be said that if Wu Yuan had unleashed his ether arts and lifebound eldritch beast earlier, he likely could have in Chang Hong with that single saber strike.


    <i>This? How is this possible!</i> Chang Hong stared at Wu Yuan in disbelief.


    He had gone all out, yet was still defeated in a single saber strike.


    Recalling his previous words and actions, Chang Hong''s face alternated between shades of red and white, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.


    He understood now that Wu Yuan''s apparent nonchnce was indeed due to him not taking this battle seriously. But it wasn��t because he was weak, but rather because he was too strong. Strong enough to disregard Chang Hong.


    "Senior Brother Chang Hong, good match," Wu Yuan bowed slightly with a smile, showing no sign of mockery, as if it had just been a normal sparring match.


    In Wu Yuan''s eyes, this battle was indeed just a spar.


    "Little Junior Brother...you��re truly impressive." Chang Hong''s gaze wasplex as he fell silent for a second before sighing, "I''ve lost. I''m far inferior to you."


    Though disappointed, his pride wouldn''t allow him to deny his defeat. A loss was a loss.


    Wu Yuan''s saber technique was no trick; it simply overwhelmed him with absolute power! He epted his defeat wholeheartedly.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Astral Monarch Hou Qu and Jiang Huan flew over.


    Wu Yuan and Chang Hong both looked their way.


    "Junior Brother Chang Hong, victory and defeat aremon in battle. Little Junior Brother has heaven-shaking talent. It isn��t just you, even I find it inconceivable," Jiang Huan smiled. "At Little Junior Brother''s rate of cultivation, he''ll likely surpass me within ten thousand years."


    "Surpass you within ten thousand years, Senior Brother?" Chang Hong was even more shocked upon hearing this: "But Senior Brother, you''ve fullyprehended the Celestial Body Dao and are now studying the Law of Life!"


    "Indeed." Jiang Huan nodded, his gaze falling on Wu Yuan: "Little Junior Brother, if I''m not mistaken, your current Daoprehension is likely just one step away from the Astral Monarch level."


    "Senior Brother has keen perception," Wu Yuan nodded.


    The saber technique he had disyed was indeed at the ninth-stage Archimmortal level. The gap between the ninth-stage Archimmortal to the Astral Monarch level seemed like just one step. But in reality, it was like the chasm between heaven and earth.


    Among tens of thousands of Astral Lords, it was rare for even one to be an Astral Monarch. One could imagine how difficult it was to take that single step.


    Wu Yuan didn''t want to appear too outrageous, as there was no real need. The current situation was already quite shocking. If he truly revealed Astral Monarch-level Daoprehension, it would be too monstrous.


    "Haha, that was truly an exhrating battle. The Sovereign specifically chose you, Chang Hong, to face your junior brother. It seems the Sovereign was already aware of Wu Yuan''s strength," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile.


    "Hmm...I originally thought that the Sovereign wanted to temper Wu Yuan. But it seems the Sovereign''s intention was to refine your character after all," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, looking at Chang Hong.


    "Yes, I''ve disappointed Master," Chang Hong nodded calmly. After this crushing defeat, he had be much more clear-headed.


    "Wu Yuan," Astral Monarch Hou Qu turned to Wu Yuan. "You''re truly a monstrous prodigy. I thought Jiang Huan''s talent was already impressive, but you''re ten or even a hundred times more monstrous. Your name will go down in the history of the macrocosm.


    Evenpared to Ming Jian from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, you might surpass him by a notch," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said sincerely.


    "Ming Jian?" Wu Yuan was slightly startled.


    Chang Hong was equally stunned.


    "It seems none of you know, but Ming Jian of the Eternal Sun Immortal World is said to be cultivating in a distant cultivation sanctuary, and has mastered both Space and Time. He''s a true monstrous prodigy," Jiang Huanughed. "But from what we''ve seen today, our Little Junior Brother is far more formidable."


    "My modest talents are nothing special," Wu Yuan shook his head. "In the endless river of space and time, there are many far stronger than me."


    "Haha, endless is the long river, infinite are the years. Countless geniuses have been born throughout history," Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. "But at the very least, you could be called the greatest prodigy in the entire history of the eldritch world."


    Wu Yuan shook his head with a wry smile, no longer arguing the point.


    Jiang Huan listened with a faint smile, seemingly unconcerned with such des. Chang Hong, however, stared nkly into space, lost in thought.


    "Alright, by order of the Sovereign, news of this battle must be kept secret," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said. "Chang Hong, Jiang Huan, you must not speak of this to others. If word gets out, I fear the Voltari Temple will focus all their efforts on Wu Yuan."


    "Understood," Jiang Huan replied solemnly.


    "Yes," Chang Hong also responded gravely. Though he cared about fame and glory, he naturally knew what was important here.


    "Astral Monarch, Chang Hong and I will take our leave now," Jiang Huan said with a smile. "You can give any further instructions to Little Junior Brother in private."


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded.


    "Little Junior Brother, with your level of Daoprehension, focus on quickly reaching the ninth-stage Earth Eldritch phase, then break through to the High Eldritch phase. When that timees, we martial brothers must have a proper duel," Jiang Huan said with a grin.


    "I look forward to crossing swords with Senior Brother as well," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. "Safe travels to you both."


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Jiang Huan and Chang Hong swiftly departed.


    ...


    Walking out of the battle space, they made their way down the corridors of the Eldritch Battle tform.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve disappointed you," Chang Hong couldn''t help saying.


    "Disappointed? What is there to be disappointed about? You''ve already reached the second-level Dao Field stage ofprehension. Your cultivation speed is very fast," Jiang Huan said with a faint smile.


    "Given Little Junior Brother''s strength, it''s only natural that you lost. In tens of thousands of years, even I won''t be a match for him."


    Chang Hong fell silent.

 Chapter 742: Master, Its Truly Not Enough (3)

    <h4>Chapter 742: Master, It''s Truly Not Enough (3)</h4>


    After a long moment, Chang Hong asked, "Senior Brother, don''t you have even the slightest misgivings?"


    "None at all," Jiang Huan smiled. "I know what you mean. Little Junior Brother has extraordinary talent. When he first became Master''s disciple, it wasn''t yet apparent. Only now is he truly beginning to blossom... But having great talent doesn''t necessarily mean one will go far.


    Or rather, no matter how far he goes, it won''t affect us.


    Whether he bes an Astral Monarch, a Sovereign, or even one of the legendary supreme beings, I would only be happy for Little Junior Brother," Jiang Huan looked at Chang Hong. "On our cultivation journeys, what''s important is notparing ourselves to others, but to continually surpass our own limits.


    If we''re talking about talent, that Zhuo Haiyue is even more outrageous than Little Junior Brother and Ming Jian. ording to Master, she might reach the Sovereign phase in just tens of thousands of years. But so what?


    As long as we keep progressing, after billions of years, we too will have the chance to be Sovereigns," Jiang Huan shook his head. "Junior Brother, you''re getting caught up in appearances.


    It��s clear that Master used this battle today with Little Junior Brother to wake you up," Jiang Huan said. "Think it over carefully. I''ll be going now.


    If you have time, feel free toe visit me." Jiang Huan strode away with purposeful steps.


    Chang Hong was now alone.


    <i>Caught up in appearances? </i>Chang Hong pondered silently. This wasn''t the first time Jiang Huan had warned him of this.


    Today was the first time it struck him with such rity.


    ...


    ��Wu Yuan, do you understand all the main things to note about the Second Origin Eldritch Field?�� Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked.


    Wu Yuan nodded. "I understand."


    "You can cultivate as per usual in the Origin Eldritch Field. If there''s anything inconvenient for you to handle personally, or if there��s a matter you find inappropriate to seek the Sovereign��s assistance for, you can alwayse to me," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a heartyugh.


    "And I''m not just boasting when I say that there are few matters I can''t handle in the entire eldritch world below the Sovereign level."


    Wu Yuan smiled.


    Previously, while Astral Monarch Hou Qu had been friendly towards Wu Yuan, his attitude hadn''t been this warm. Now, he treated Wu Yuan like a close friend, clearly a result of the strength Wu Yuan had demonstrated.


    Before, his respect stemmed from Wu Yuan��s status as a Sovereign''s disciple. Now, it was Wu Yuan��s own power and talent that earned his admiration.


    Not every disciple of a Sovereign could be an Astral Monarch, and even among Astral Monarchs, the vast majority were inferior to Astral Monarch Hou Qu, who was an Astral Monarch of Space.


    But now, Wu Yuan already revealed the potential to reach the Sovereign phase. As long as he didn''t perish before maturity, he would be a peak Astral Monarch in the future at least. Naturally, the treatment he would receive was different.


    Relying on others was like leaning on a mountain. If it copsed, one had nothing left. True strength came from oneself.


    "Astral Monarch, there is indeed one matter I need your help with." Wu Yuan said after hearing his words.


    "Oh? Speak," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said.


    "I have a good friend named Fang Xia who is trapped in the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley on the Shan Lin Immortal Continent... I''ve invited three Archimmortals in a row, but they��ve all been turned away," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I was originally nning to seek help from some of my senior brothers, but I''m not close to any of them.


    So, forgive me for being thick-skinned, but would you be able to make a trip there?" Wu Yuan requested with a smile.


    Apart from the three who had not yet ascended to Archimmortality, there was also arge group of Astral Monarchs among Sovereign Kua Chi''s disciples.


    Wu Yuan''s previous n was to ask one of his senior brothers for help. However, he didn''t have a close rtionship with any of them. It was far better to ask Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    "A small matter. The Shan Lin Immortal Continent?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "That''s the immortal continent upied by those two youngsters, Shan Yue and Bai Lin, right? I''ll go right away. The trip should take less than half a day.


    Wait for me on your void continent in the Origin Eldritch Field. I''ll definitely give you an answer."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.


    Astral Lord Shan Yue and Astral Lord Bai Lin, one at the eighth-stage Archdeity phase and the other at the ninth-stage Archimmortal phase, were referred to as youngsters. Only someone at Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s level could call them that.


    Normally, asking an Astral Monarch to take action or make an appearance would cost at least ten million divine crystals. For some dangerous tasks, the price could easily reach billions or even tens of billions of divine crystals.


    But both parties tacitly avoided mentioning this.


    ...


    Wu Yuan walked alone through the corridor of the battle space, heading out.


    <i>Old Fang? I hope you''re still alive.</i> He thought to himself. Having Astral Monarch Hou Qu intervene was far better than going himself.


    If he still couldn''t rescue Fang Xia, or if it was confirmed that he had truly died, then Wu Yuan couldn''t think of a better solution for now.


    Soon, he arrived at the exit of the Eldritch Battle tform.


    "Wu Yuan, you won?"


    "This..."


    "You fought against Earth Eldritch Chang Hong and actually won?" High Eldritch Ju Hai and a group of High Immortals and High Eldritches saw Wu Yuan emerge and all gathered around, each of them utterly shocked.


    Although they hadn''t witnessed the battle''s oue, they had received a notification from the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, informing them that Wu Yuan had be a member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field.


    Naturally, this astounded them.


    "I didn''t win," Wu Yuan smiled wryly and shook his head. "How could I possibly win? The assessment only required me tost ten moves against Earth Eldritch Chang Hong."


    "Oh?"


    "I see," High Eldritch Ju Hai and the others nodded in understanding, their shock lessening somewhat.


    But, they couldn''t help but take a second look at Wu Yuan. So, Wu Yuan hadsted ten moves against Chang Hong?


    Being able tost ten moves meant their strengths were rtively close, but how long had Wu Yuan been cultivating? Just over 700 years!


    <i>In terms of talent, Wu Yuan might even surpass Chang Hong.</i> This group of High Eldritches and High Immortals all had the same thought.


    ...


    In no time, news of this battle spread quickly throughout the Five Origin Eldritch Fields. Chang Hong''s reputation was significant after all.


    "Wu Yuan, isn''t he the guy who won heaven-tier titles in both the Fifth and Fourth Origin Eldritch Fields over 600 years ago?"


    "We haven''t seen him for a few hundred years."


    "And hested ten moves against Chang Hong?"


    "What a monster!"


    "Impressive. He should be strong enough to rank in the earth-tier of the Second Origin Eldritch Field. How many years has he been cultivating for?" There was a burst of exmations.


    Just this small nugget of information was enough to catch the attention of countless members of the Origin Eldritch Fields, and Wu Yuan''s fame rapidly soared.


    ...


    <i>Little Junior Brother actually took the initiative to say he lost? </i>Chang Hong quickly received this news as well, not quite believing it at first.


    Then he shook his head with a bitter smile. <i>I lost! Thoroughly lost.</i>


    He gently closed his eyes, no longer dwelling on it.


    At this moment, his heart becamepletely tranquil.


    ...


    <i>Little Junior Brother, with such patience and a mind unburdened by fame or status, it��s no wonder your cultivation progresses so swiftly.</i> Jiang Huan couldn''t help but smile upon hearing the news.


    ...


    The Voltari Temple and Cang Feng Eldritch World had been at war for countless ages, and both sides paid close attention to the growth of the enemy��s younger generation.


    The Voltari Temple was particrly focused on gathering intelligence on the First and Second Origin Eldritch Fields, expending vast resources in this endeavor.


    Naturally, once the publicized news of Wu Yuan''s battle with Chang Hong spread throughout the Origin Eldritch Field, it was swiftly uncovered by the Voltari Temple''s intelligencework.


    "Wu Yuan has already be an Earth Eldritch after cultivating for over 700 years."


    "ording to previous intelligence, he already had immense talent. To hold out for so long against Chang Hong, who has cultivated for over 7000 years �C could his talent surpass even Chang Hong''s?"


    "Impressive indeed."


    "Keep him under close observation." A flood of intelligence reports converged in a world carved out within the depths of outer space in the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    The reports soon made their way to several Astral Lords responsible for intelligence gathering.


    "Jiang Huan has always been number one on the assassination sequence, that remains unchanged. Now, raise Wu Yuan to number two on the assassination list, and lower the rankings of everyone else ordingly,"manded the leader of the entire world, the sole Astral Monarch.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Spare no effort in uncovering every detail about him. Wu Yuan''s past, what he''s been doing these 600-plus years, where he''s been. The situation in his homnd, who he''s connected to, who he''s keeping an eye on - investigate it all thoroughly.


    At the same time, mobilize some of our Archimmortal pawns within the eldritch world. Pass this information to them. When necessary, even if we must sacrifice an Astral Lord-level pawn, we must kill him," the Astral Monarch ordered.


    "Understood!" The numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities within the world felt a chill run through them.


    They could all feel their leader''s determination. Ordinary Archimmortal-level pawns could be sacrificed if need be, after all, ordinary Archimmortals lived 100 million years at most.


    But Astral Lords were different. Theoretically, they could exist eternally. Over the long years, the secrets they could ess were numerous, and the impact they could have was immense.


    It could be said that each Astral Lord-level agent nted within the eldritch world was extremely precious, worth as much as a hundred normal Astral Lords.


    From this, one could imagine how seriously their leader regarded Wu Yuan. It should be noted that even Chang Hong was ranked ninth as he was still only an Earth Eldritch


    If Wu Yuan were a High Eldritch like Jiang Huan, he would almost certainly be ranked first on the assassination list.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 743: Master, Its Truly Not Enough (4)

    Chapter 743: Master, It''s Truly Not Enough (4)


    Wu Yuan was unaware of his new sequence number on the assassination list, but this was only expected. Even if he did learn of it, he wouldn''t have cared.


    On the path to bing a powerhouse, one must weather countless storms. Only by facing these storms head-on and holding out through them could one hope to be a super powerhouse of heaven and earth, a pir holding up the eldritch world.


    Within the Second Origin Eldritch Field was an unremarkable void continent. The overallyout wasn''t much different from that of the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, aside from being vastlyrger.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Wu Yuan stepped out of the teleportation array and immediately spotted over a hundred figures standing not far away. At the forefront was a woman in red robes with a bewitching figure.


    "Cen Jiang!" Wu Yuan broke into a smile.


    "Master." Cen Jiang smiled as well. Thest time they had met in person was over 600 years ago.


    "We pay our respects to Master," the numerous servants bowed respectfully.


    These servants included some of his earliest Void Refiner servants, as well as some new ones arranged for him by Astral Monarch Hou Qu. Among them were nearly a hundred Earth Immortal servants, and over ten High Immortal and High Deity servants.


    Wu Yuan had initially refused to take them. After all, this treatment was usually reserved for heaven-tier members of the Second Origin Eldritch Field. Astral Monarch Hou Qu��s words had quashed his objections. "A Heaven-tier title? For someone like you, it��s just a matter of reaching out and iming it. I��m merely giving it to you ahead of time. As for these servants, they��re only here for menial tasks��don��t overthink it," he had said.


    To this, though Wu Yuan felt somewhat helpless, he no longer refused the Astral Monarch��s goodwill and chose to ept them all, leading to the scene before him now.


    "Listen up, all of you. From today onwards, all arrangements on this continent will be made ording to Cen Jiang''s instructions," Wu Yuan ordered directly.


    "Yes, Master," the many servants responded respectfully.


    ��


    The servants dispersed, each proceeding with their duties. When not upied with tasks, they would cultivate on their own, striving to reach higher phases.


    Wu Yuan walked with Cen Jiang through the air above the continent.


    "Congrattions on advancing to the Second Origin Eldritch Field, Master. Even the Astral Monarch regards you highly," Cen Jiang smiled.


    "It��s nothing," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile.


    "Master," Cen Jiang followed Wu Yuan, staying a step behind. "Among the servants sent by the Astral Monarch, there are actually several Fourth Tribtion High Immortals and Fourth Tribtion High Deities. Their strength far surpasses my own.


    Master, do you truly wish for me to takemand of them?" Cen Jiang looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    "Whether it��s a Fourth Tribtion High Immortal or Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, it makes no difference to me," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "What I value is your loyalty."


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan waved his hand, producing a storage artifact which he passed to Cen Jiang, causing her to start in surprise.


    "This?" Cen Jiang was taken aback.


    "Take it. You''ve worked hard these past 600 years," Wu Yuan said with a smile. It was no exaggeration to say that Cen Jiang was the main driving force behind the development of the Summerpeak World during the time he had been away.


    Cen Jiang epted it tentatively, but as soon as she examined its contents, her eyes widened. She looked up at Wu Yuan. "Master, these treasures?"


    Stored within the artifact were numerous teachings and secret arts, as well as many spirion and celestial artifacts.


    Setting aside the teachings and secret arts, the various treasures alone were worth tens of thousands of divine crystals. This was equivalent to what many Sixth Tribtion High Immortals might umte only after struggling for hundreds of thousands of years.


    "I told you before. As my follower, I will not leave you wanting," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Cultivate well. Those treasures are secondary; the teachings are what''s truly important. I will provide you with more opportunities for Daoprehension. Your mana body can also venture out to various regions of the eldritch world.


    Work hard, and perhaps you may be an Archimmortal in the future," Wu Yuan said casually. "Only as an Archimmortal will you be of some use to me."


    Cen Jiang listened with bated breath.


    Thest time they had met, Wu Yuan had said something simr, but she hadn''t taken it too seriously, thinking that such a day was too distant in the future.


    But now? She truly saw a glimmer of hope. He casually bestowed treasures worth tens of thousands of divine crystals upon her, a mere servant. How many treasures must Wu Yuan himself possess? The mere thought made Cen Jiang tremble inwardly.


    "Master, Cen Jiang will certainly work hard," Cen Jiang said solemnly. A spark of desire had ignited in her heart.


    Years ago, when she had been captured on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield and made a servant, she had lost all hope. She never imagined there woulde a day when her fortunes would turn so dramatically.


    <em>A servant? With Master''s talent, he will be a peak Astral Monarch-level powerhouse in the future at least. </em>Cen Jiang thought to herself. <em>To be the servant of such a super powerhouse is something countless ordinary Archimmortals hardly dare dream of.</em>


    Wu Yuan was naturally unaware of Cen Jiang''s thoughts. His thinking was simple: over these hundreds of years, Cen Jiang had proven her loyalty. Thus she should naturally be rewarded and nurtured.


    Cultivating to the High Immortal phase despite limited resources showed that she had considerable talent. With a great abundance of resources bestowed upon her, bing an Archimmortal was within the realm of possibility.


    "Master," Cen Jiang said, "Now that news of your battle with Earth Eldritch Chang Hong has spread, drawing much attention, you must be wary of assassination attempts by the Voltari Temple. Your whereabouts must not be carelessly revealed."


    "Assassination by the Voltari Temple?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    He was well aware of this point. Historically, many geniuses of the Cang Feng Eldritch World had been killed by sleeper agents of the Voltari Temple.


    Of course, many geniuses of the Voltari Temple had also fallen to covert assassinations by the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    The mutual ughter and endless hatred of both sides naturally made Wu Yuan vignt.


    <em>However, I won''t be venturing out again before bing a High Eldritch.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself, a hint of anticipation tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    <em>I wonder who the Voltari Temple will arrange to assassinate me within the eldritch world? An ordinary Archimmortal? Or perhaps an Astral Lord? </em>Wu Yuan felt no worry, only a trace of eager expectation.


    As for an Astral Monarch? Wu Yuan felt that unless the full scope of his strength was exposed, the probability was very small. Any Astral Monarch-level sleeper agent was incredibly valuable to the Voltari Temple, nearly on par with a Sovereign in terms of importance. They wouldn''t be sacrificed lightly.


    At the very least, in the history of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, there had never been an instance of an Astral Monarch-level sleeper agent being exposed due to an assassination attempt on a young genius.


    "Master, do you intend to reside on this void continent?" Cen Jiang asked.


    "No, I will reside in Summerpeak in the long term," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    "Stay in Summerpeak in the long term?" Cen Jiang was taken aback.


    ��


    <em>Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within a Sovereign''s temple in a particr ne.</em>


    "Master, you summoned me?" Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.


    "Mm, it��s nothing major," Sovereign Kua Chi sat atop the jade tform, appearing as an ordinary middle-aged man. He smiled, his eyes twinkling with approval. "You handled yourself well during your return to the Origin Eldritch World. I��m d you didn''t let it go to your head. It''s good to be cautious."


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "I''ve already instructed Astral Monarch Xue Ying to provide you with enough divine crystal elixir to swiftly cultivate to the ninth-stage Earth Eldritch phase," Sovereign Kua Chi continued.


    "Divine crystal elixir?" Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up, a spark of excitement shing across his face. He hesitated for a moment before asking, unable to contain his curiosity, "Master, how many doses?"


    "Three thousand," Sovereign Kua Chi replied, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "It should be more than enough. You''ll likely have some left over."


    "Three thousand?" Wu Yuan''s brow furrowed as he shook his head. "Master, it''s not enough."


    "Not enough?" This time, it was Sovereign Kua Chi''s turn to be taken aback. He tilted his head, confusion evident in his voice. "Your Senior Brother Jiang Huan only used a little over two thousand doses to progress from the first-stage to ninth-stage Earth Eldritch phase, and he also possessed a first-degree immortal root."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Master, it truly isn''t enough," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I fear my internal shambh isrger than Senior Brother Jiang Huan''s."


    "Muchrger," Wu Yuan added, gesturing with his hands to emphasize the magnitude.


    "How much do you estimate you''ll need?" Sovereign Kua Chi asked, a slight frown creasing his brow.


    "Thirty thousand?" Wu Yuan estimated with some uncertainty.


    "Thirty thousand?" Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Thirty thousand!" Wu Yuan nodded emphatically, his conviction growing stronger.


    A heavy silence fell between them, stretching for several heartbeats.


    "Very well, thirty thousand it is," Sovereign Kua Chi finally said, shaking his head with a rueful chuckle. "Who asked me to make such promises to my disciples?


    But remember," he added, his tone growing serious, "once you reach First Tribtion High Eldritch, you''re on your own. Your master truly can''t afford to support you beyond that point."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan replied with a smile.


    "Why is your internal shambh so vast?" Sovereign Kua Chi asked, his curiosity piqued. "You both possess first-degree immortal roots. Even ounting for individual differences, the disparity shouldn''t be this significant."


    "Master, this disciple��s root has already been upgraded to an Apotheosis root," Wu Yuan revealed. "Creation True Intent allows an Earth Eldritch��s root to evolve into an Apotheosis root."


    After contemting for a long time, Wu Yuan ultimately decided to disclose it. He knew that by revealing some of his secrets and disying extraordinary talent, his master would naturally ce greater importance on him.


    "An Apotheosis root? You?" A hint of shock creeped into Sovereign Kua Chi��s tone. "Creation True Intent can catalyze the evolution of an Earth Eldritch��s eldritch root, breaking through the shackles of heaven and earth?"


    Despite being a Sovereign, he was genuinely unaware of this information. After all, throughout the endless river of space and time, there had been few Earth Eldritches or Earth Immortals who could grasp Creation True Intent.


    "How unbelievable," A broad smile spread across Sovereign Kua Chi��s face. "Excellent, truly excellent! Thirty thousand doses of divine crystal elixir? Ha! Even if it were a hundred thousand or a million doses, it would be worth it!


    Worth every drop!" Sovereign Kua Chi dered, hisughter echoing through the chamber.

 Chapter 744: Sovereigns Council (1)

    Chapter 744: Sovereigns Council (1)


    "Master, is an Apotheosis root truly so important?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "Haha, of course it''s important! How could one��s root not be important? Why else would we call it the root?" Sovereign Kua Chi replied, his voice filled with satisfaction.


    The longer he regarded Wu Yuan, the more his expression radiated affection and approval. Wu Yuan''s growth had far exceeded his expectations, with potential that could only be described as terrifying.


    <em>When I crystallized a Great Dao��s True Intent previously, it also shocked Master, but failed to elicit such joy. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself in astonishment.


    He knew an Apotheosis root was incredibly rare, and had learned more about it over the years. But he was still not a Sovereign, and hadn��t lived for long. Thus, many secrets remained unclear to him.


    "The importance of one��s root needs no further exnation from me," Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile.


    "Indeed, the root is crucial," Wu Yuan nodded emphatically.


    Cultivation was like constructing a building, with the root serving as the foundation. A powerful root not only directly enhanced one''s mana, but also subtly led to the continuous evolution and strengthening of the soul,prehension abilities, temperament, and more.


    One such aspect was one��s Daoprehension aptitude. Under normal circumstances, those with stronger roots wouldprehend the Dao faster. While not absolute, this held true in 99% of cases.Those with first-degree immortal roots didn��t necessarily have fasterprehension than all individuals with second-degree immortal roots. But 99% of those with second-degree immortal roots had inferiorprehension aptitudepared to those with first-degree immortal roots.


    Even in rare cases where a monstrous prodigy had unremarkable roots, it was only inparison to other peerless geniuses.


    In recent years, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had encountered many peerless geniuses on the Spacetime Ind withprehension aptitudes no worse than Chang Hong and Jiang Huan, all of whom possessed at least third-degree immortal roots.


    For peerless geniuses, third-degree immortal roots were considered poor, with second-degree immortal roots being the norm. But in reality, less than one in trillions of immortal cultivators had third-degree immortal roots.


    <em>Among millions or tens of millions with third-degree immortal roots, there might asionally be one whoseprehension aptitude could rival an individual with a first-degree immortal root.</em> Wu Yuan mused.


    <em>But throughout the entire river of space and time, from the beginning of history to the present, none with eighth or ninth-degree immortal roots have ever matched someone with a first-degree immortal root.</em>


    The root guaranteed a baseline! Throughout history, no immortal cultivator with a first-degree immortal root had ever failed to be an Archimmortal or Archdeity, barring early demise.


    ��The root is best upgraded as early as possible. Theter it is upgraded, the greater the cost.�� Sovereign Kua Chi gazed at Wu Yuan. "Once someone bes an Astral Monarch, forget crystallizing Creation True Intent, evenprehending the ninth-level Dao Field stage of Creation would not lead the root to undergo Apotheosis. So, it''s excellent that you��ve already reached this level."


    Wu Yuan listened attentively.


    The ninth-level Dao Field stage of Creation represented a level of Daoprehension that was likely considered extremely powerful even among Sovereigns.


    "Apotheosis root?" Sovereign Kua Chi pondered, then shook his head with a smile. "You may well be the first in the history of our Greenridge Macrocosm to possess an Apotheosis root."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "The first?" Wu Yuan was startled. "Master, don''t you have one?"


    "No. Among Astral Monarchs, over 90% have second-degree immortal roots, with only about 10% possessing first-degree immortal roots.


    As for us Sovereigns, we all have first-degree immortal roots �C it''s a prerequisite for bing a Sovereign," Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "But while Astral Monarchs might have a slim chance of undergoing root Apotheosis, the difficulty of us Sovereigns seeding is probably second only to transcendence.


    The difficulty of bing an Overlord is even lower than that of a Sovereign upgrading their root to the Apotheosis degree," Sovereign Kua Chi stated frankly.


    Wu Yuan was stunned. Was it truly so difficult? He finally understood why Sovereign Kua Chi was so excited. It was indeed incredibly rare.


    "The advantages of an Apotheosis root aren''t too outrageous at the immortal cultivator stage," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head. "The further you progress, the greater the advantages be.


    For example, when you be an Astral Monarch in the future, your ether will be ten times stronger than an Astral Monarch with a first-degree immortal root, and a hundred times stronger than one with a second-degree immortal root.


    Despite employing the same technique, the power you can unleash will be a hundred times greater than that of an ordinary Astral Monarch.


    An ordinary Astral Monarch who mastersmon Astral Monarch techniques would be considered a first-stage Astral Monarch in strength; but one with an Apotheosis root who masters the same techniques could unleash power equivalent to a seventh-stage Astral Monarch.


    Take Astral Monarch Wan Lei, whom you know of �C he has a first-degree immortal root and has mastered several Sovereign-level techniques, yet he''s only at the quasi-Sovereign level," Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan. "But when you be an Astral Monarch in the future, if you can master Sovereign-level techniques, you''ll be able to truly rival Sovereigns.


    With such power, one would truly deserve the title of a Supreme Astral Monarch."


    An Astral Monarch rivaling a Sovereign? Wu Yuan breathed. This was something he hadn''t dared to hope for before, as it was far too difficult. Even among the countless records on the Spacetime Ind, such cases were exceedingly rare.


    Throughout the history of countless macrocosms, those like Astral Monarch Wan Lei were generally considered the peak of Astral Monarchs.


    A Supreme Astral Monarch? The Creation Emissary in the Creation Divine Hall had mentioned it, but how many had actually emerged throughout the vast river of space and time?


    "Only with an Apotheosis root is there hope of bing a Supreme Astral Monarch. Otherwise, the chances are incredibly slim," Sovereign Kua Chi smiled.


    "Since you��reprehending a Great Dao, it will be difficult for you to advance to the Sovereign phase in one leap. You''ll likely be stuck at the Astral Monarch phase for a long time.


    "If you eventually be a Sovereign,�� Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes shed, "with an Apotheosis root, you might even be an Overlord... Haha, that''s too far off, too far indeed."


    Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head. It seemed he had let his imagination run too wild.


    "My disciple, your foundation is already excellent. In terms of your root, you''ve reached Apotheosis; in terms of Daoprehension, you''ve crystallized a Great Dao��s True Intent. What are your ns for the future?" Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Disciple ns to have my body refiner self remain in the eldritch world until I be a Sixth Tribtion High Deity. My true self will reside in Summerpeak long-term. Once I be a Sixth Tribtion High Deity and my strength can progress no further, I''ll venture out to explore and take risks.


    As for my qi refiner self far away in the Spacetime Dao Realm, since that''s the territory of the Dao Master and no major factions are targeting me there, I''ll continue to temper myself," Wu Yuan outlined his cultivation n.


    The Eldritch Court and Immortal Court were locked in constant warfare. His body refiner self had returned from the Immutable Land already blessed with great opportunities, so there was no need to make a big ssh and draw the focus of the Immortal Court to himself.


    Inparison, his qi refiner self was much safer. Even if he went out to explore and engage in battles, he would at most encounter some Astral Monarchs. The level of danger was controble.


    The Spacetime Dao Realm was the domain of the Spacetime Dao Master, and major factions like the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court typically wouldn''t target talents there.


    Moreover, his qi refiner self''s public identity was aligned with the Eternal Sun Immortal World lineage, without any mortal enemies among the major factions.


    "Mm, that works," Sovereign Kua Chi nodded upon hearing this. "The consciousness of your two true selves is the same, so when your qi refiner self tempers your Dao Heart and will, it��s equivalent to tempering your body refiner self.


    Regarding the Faith power you mentioned earlier, I''ll arrange for it as soon as possible. There should be no issues while you��re at the Earth Eldritch phase," Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan said gratefully.


    "No need for thanks. Isn''t it a master''s duty to solve his disciple''s problems? I can no longer provide you with major cultivation guidance, so if you need anything, just let me know," Sovereign Kua Chi smiled at Wu Yuan.


    "After you be a High Eldritch, go challenge the Eldritch Deity Tower. Once you''ve achieved something there, I''ll have another discussion with the Eldritch Court to try and secure arge quantity of Faith power for you."


    "Discuss with the Eldritch Court?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.


    "Geniuses are special. The Eldritch Court''s Faith power has to be used by someone, so why not you? There��s no point giving it to some useless individuals who won��t achieve much," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head. "The greater your talent and achievements, the more confident I''ll be when requesting precious resources from the Eldritch Court for you.


    Cultivate well," Sovereign Kua Chi encouraged.


    "Yes, this disciple will do his utmost," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly, feeling his master''s regard for him.


    He could sense his master��s shifting attitudes. He recalled how difficult it was to even see his master when he first became a disciple, toter frequently being asked about his cultivation progress and being able to meet anytime. Then upon returning to the eldritch world, the level of attention he received from his master skyrocketed.


    And now��


    <em>Master oversees the eldritch world, with countless disciples and numerous subordinate Astral Monarchs.</em> Wu Yuan mused. <em>The level of closeness naturally varies based on the depth of the rtionship. But as the leader of a major force, Master still values the strength and potential of his disciples more.</em>


    If one''s potential wascking and they couldn''t even be an Astral Monarch in the end, they naturally wouldn''t receive much attention or resources.


    But for someone like Wu Yuan, who had disyed terrifying potential, Sovereign Kua Chi was willing to spare no effort in nurturing him.


    "You''ve only cultivated for a thousand years. After secluded cultivation for tens of thousands of years, or at most hundreds of thousands of years, the Megaverse Crossroads may open," Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "That will be your opportunity."


    "Being alive in this era is your fortune. Or perhaps it''s the convergence of this era''s providence that led to your rise. It''s hard to say which is the cause and which is the effect," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head and sighed.


    "Megaverse Crossroads?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly.


    This was the second time he had heard of it. The first time was when his qi refiner self heard Sovereign Lan Yan mention it.


    "I''ve already sent information about the Megaverse Crossroads to your personal hall. You can read it when you return," Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "There''s still a long time to go, so there''s no rush. Just familiarize yourself with it for now."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan respectfully replied.


    ��


    <em>On the same day.</em>


    <em>Within a mysterious ne in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm.</em>


    A single temple floated in the void, with six suspended ck thrones within. This temple seemed to have existed here for all of eternity.


    Today, figures appeared on four of the six ck thrones, each emanating an immense and powerful aura.


    One of them was Sovereign Kua Chi, wearing beast hide clothing. However, he was not seated in the host seat. Instead, a figure in ck robes sat there, resembling a god, with a faint hint of violence in his aura.


    "Hmm, it''s just us few again." The ck-robed man swept his gaze over the others. "Xuan Qing and the other one are far away at the Eldritch Court headquarters and won''t participate in this Eldritch World Council. Today, we''ll make the decisions.


    The topic for today��s discussion was raised by Kua Chi, who proposes dedicating the Faith power of an entire eldritch nation unit to Wu Yuan.


    I presume everyone has reviewed the intelligence reports on Wu Yuan. Feel free to express your thoughts."


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remained silent.


    The other two super powerhouses exchanged nces.


    "I''ve seen the reports on Wu Yuan, and indeed, his talent is astounding," a figure in green robes coldly stated. "However, most of the Faith power in the eldritch world is collected by the Eldritch Court. How much Faith power do we have left for free allocation?


    Even the Faith power of a hundred eldritch continents is extremely valuable, let alone that of an entire eldritch nation. Many Astral Monarchs are stuck at the final step, perhaps justcking some Faith power. With a bit more time, they could break through.


    You want Faith power? Allocating the Faith power of a few eldritch continents is possible, but if he wants to collect it for an extended period, he''ll have to fight for it himself," the green-robed figure shook his head. "This time, I disagree."


    Sovereign Kua Chi frowned slightly but didn''t speak.


    After all, such an opinion waspletely reasonable. How many Astral Monarchs were there in the entire eldritch world? Tens of thousands, and which one didn''t thirst for Faith power? One could say that thisrge pie had long beenpletely divided up.


    Given his proposal to convert the Faith of an eldritch nation unit to Wu Yuan, it would be strange if they didn''t object.

 Chapter 745: Sovereigns Council (2)

    <h4>Chapter 745: Sovereigns Council (2)</h4>


    "Haha, I''m not saying I disagree," the other plump elderly man smiled. "It''s just that such an enormous reward is far more precious than even a mid-grade Dao Instrument. Shouldn''t we be more cautious?


    The younger generation should be gradually nurtured. Though Wu Yuan''s talent is monstrous, he''s only cultivated for a few hundred years and just recently became an Earth Eldritch. It''s still early.


    I suggest that we first allocate the Faith power of a hundred eldritch continents to him. For more? Wu Yuan should continue to prove himself and strive to obtain his fair share from the Eldritch Court," the plump elderly man said.


    He was clearly trying to avoid offending anyone.


    "Kua Chi, what about you?" The ck-robed man looked towards Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi. "Do you have anything to add?"


    "Providing Faith power equivalent to an eldritch nation is indeed not an easy decision. Not only would many Astral Monarchs have their Faith power significantly reduced, but even we would be affected," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s gaze swept across the group as he smiled. "However, I have my reasons for making such a request. I''ll only add one point."


    After a pause, Sovereign Kua Chi slowly enunciated each word: "Wu Yuan possesses an Apotheosis root."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The other three figures in the divine hall simultaneously turned to look at Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "An Apotheosis root?"


    "How is that possible? It can''t be!"


    "He''s just an Earth Eldritch, how could it be possible? No matter how deep his Daoprehension is, this shouldn''t be possible."


    "Could he have had some special encounter?" The three super powerhouses were shocked. In their long years, they had never seen such a monstrous prodigy.


    An Earth Eldritch with an Apotheosis root? Even in the endless history of the Eldritch Court, they had rarely heard of such cases. Perhaps there were some, but most were kept secret. The information wouldn''t be made public.


    "Kua Chi, are you certain?" the ck-robed man asked in a low voice.


    "I am," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. In reality, he wasn''t one hundred percent sure, but he believed Wu Yuan wouldn''t deceive him. There wasn''t much point in lying about such a matter; it would be exposed sooner orter.


    "Very well. If Kua Chi says so, it should be true," the leading ck-robed man said. "I believe you all understand the significance of an Apotheosis root, and I needn''t exin Wu Yuan''s talent andprehension aptitude further.


    Therefore, let��s decide on one of the three rewards.


    First, Faith power equivalent to an eldritch nation.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Second, Faith power equivalent to five hundred eldritch continent.


    Third, Faith power equivalent to one hundred eldritch continents." The ck-robed man''s gaze swept across the three. "Make your choices."


    Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remained silent; he had already made his choice long ago. Moreover, the options were much better than he had initially anticipated. At the very least, it wouldn''t be aplete loss, with a minimum Faith power equivalent to one hundred eldritch continents.


    The other two figures exchanged nces, hesitated for a moment, then spoke.


    "Wu Yuan''s talent is indeed unparalleled, but the Faith power of an entire eldritch nation unit is too enormous. Let''s start with five hundred eldritch continent units."


    "Mm, I also think we should first grant him the Faith power of five hundred eldritch continent units."


    The two super powerhouses made their decisions.


    "Good, then it''s settled. For the next million years, we''ll allocate to Wu Yuan Faith power equivalent to five hundred eldritch continents. Make the arrangements as soon as possible," the ck-robed man made the final decision.


    <i>Not bad.</i> Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded to himself.


    He hadn''t dared hope to truly secure the Faith power of an entire eldritch nation for Wu Yuan in one go.


    Bid high, settle low. [1]


    The Cang Feng Eldritch World epassed eight hundred eldritch nations, but the Faith power these Sovereigns could independently allocate amounted to only a few dozen eldritch nation units, and any changes to an eldritch nation unit of Faith power involved immense implications.


    Each eldritch nation unit was further divided into five thousand eldritch continent units of Faith power.


    <i>The Faith power of five hundred eldritch continents should be enough for Wu Yuan for now.</i> Sovereign Kua Chi pondered. <i>We can only take it step by step.</i>


    <i>When Wu Yuan bes a High Eldritch, I''ll find a way to get more from the Eldritch Court headquarters.</i>


    "Kua Chi," the ck-robed man looked towards Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "Cang Feng," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded, meeting his gaze.


    The ck-robed man was none other than the leader of the Cang Feng Eldritch World��Sovereign Cang Feng. He was also one of the threete-stage Sovereign powerhouses standing at the pinnacle of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm.


    The other two were Sovereign Voltari and Sovereign Qing Ling. [2]


    "Go tell Wu Yuan that resources must ultimately be earned with sufficient talent and strength. His current power is too weak, and his cultivation level isn''t high enough. It''s impossible to grant him so much Faith power. The eldritch world''s resources are also limited," Sovereign Cang Feng said.


    ��However, when he reaches the High Eldritch phase and can disy power equivalent to ate-stage Astral Lord, I will grant him another eldritch nation unit of Faith power."


    "Excellent," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes lit up.


    The two other Sovereigns furrowed their brows, though they didn��t respond.


    Over the long years, the Cang Feng Eldritch World had produced six Sovereigns. Two resided far away in the Eldritch Court headquarters, while the four of them jointly governed the eldritch world.


    But Sovereign Cang Feng undoubtedly held the highest status. He was the leader of the Eldritch Court in the Greenridge Macrocosm. The other Sovereigns had to obey his orders. Even if they disagreed, they had to report to the Eldritch Court headquarters and wait for instructions.


    In short, Sovereign Cang Feng had the final say. The other three great Sovereigns had the right to advise and report to the higher-ups.


    Of course, under normal circumstances, Sovereign Cang Feng wouldn''t act arbitrarily and would consider the opinions of the other Sovereigns.


    This time was no exception.


    ...


    While the highest echelons of the eldritch world were deliberating...


    <i>In the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent, at the headquarters of the Shan Yue Sect.</i>


    The Shan Yue Sect was one of the two strongest factions in the entire eldritch continent, presided over by an Astral Lord and even several Archimmortals.


    Naturally, the sect''s territory was incredibly vast, spanning over a hundred million li, and home to countless immortal cultivators. In a restricted area within the sect, enclosed in an invisible array, were rows of prison cells.


    "Damn it."


    "Ah! Ah!"


    "Stop beating me, I''ll talk, I''ll tell you everything."


    "I''ve told you everything, really!" Screams of agony asionally echoed from the cells.


    Outside the cells, a group of servants attended to a white-robed youth.


    "High Immortal."


    "Have some tea!" The youth exuding an extraordinary aura lounged on a chair, leisurely sipping tea. He appeared to find the screams echoing around him melodious and enjoyable, smiling as he savored them.


    His expression made the surrounding manservants and maidservants tremble, though they dared not show the slightest trace of unhappiness.


    "Bai Mo, has the one called Fang Xia agreed to confess?" the white-robed youth suddenly inquired.


    "Not yet," a white-haired servant beside him quickly replied. "Following your orders, we''ve been flogging him for years, High Immortal. We''ve even used the Soul-Refining Whip several times, but that Fang Xia still hasn''t uttered a word. We''re just short of using the soul-search secret art.


    High Immortal," the white-haired servant cautiously continued, "The Archimmortal only instructed us to imprison Fang Xia, but not torture him. By punishing him privately, won''t we..."


    "Little Bai Mo," The white-robed youth shook his head, a dismissive smirk ying on his lips. "What are you worrying about? Fang Xia''s just a lucky beggar. The Archimmortal only fears we might identally kill him during interrogation. We''re not after his life, just teaching him a little lesson.


    Besides," the youth continued, his eyes gleaming with ambition, "if we can force him to talk quickly, wouldn''t that be a great contribution? The Archimmortal might not only spare us from punishment but even reward us."


    "The High Immortal is wise," one servant chimed in.


    "Indeed, the High Immortal''s wisdom knows no bounds," the others echoed, their sycophantic praise swelling the white-robed youth''s ego.


    Suddenly, a thunderous boom shattered the air. A presence of overwhelming power descended upon them, causing everyone to turn and stare. The white-robed youth looked over, ready to unleash his fury, but his face quickly drained of color.


    "Hierarch?" he gasped, hastily bowing in reverence.


    In the Shan Yue Sect, only Archimmortals could hold the title of Hierarch.


    "Where is Fang Xia?" the middle-aged Archimmortal in ck robes demanded, his voice as cold as frost. His eyes zed like twin furnaces as he waved his hand.


    With a dull thud, Fang Xia''s body, covered in bloody gashes, fell to the ground. He was barely clinging to life, countless chains piercing through his flesh, bound byyer uponyer of arrays. Yet, his eyes still burned with an indomitable resolve.


    Upon seeing this, the ck-robed Archimmortal''s eyes widened slightly. He fixed his gaze on the white-robed youth. "Li Guang, who gave you permission to torture Fang Xia?"


    "I��" Li Guang began, ready to defend himself.


    <i>Pa!</i> A vicious backhand sent him sprawling to the ground, a vivid handprint blooming on his cheek.


    "Hmph!" The Archimmortal''s contempt was palpable. "Save your excuses. Come with me. You can exin yourself to the Astral Lord."


    With a wave of his hand, a mysterious liquid rained down upon Fang Xia. His wounds began to heal at an astonishing rate, flesh knitting together before their very eyes. Simultaneously, the chains embedded in his body loosened and retracted.


    In mere moments, Fang Xia''s previously wretched appearance had transformed, returning to a semnce of normalcy.


    "Let''s go," the Archimmortalmanded. An invisible force enveloped the barely-conscious Fang Xia and the trembling Li Guang, whisking them away in an instant.


    As they traveled, High Immortal Li Guang''s heart pounded with increasing terror. Their destination, he realized with mounting dread, was the most sacred ce in the entire sect��the legendary dwelling of the sect''s ancestor.


    In all his years as a High Immortal, Li Guang had only gotten glimpses of the Archimmortal Hierarchs a handful of times. He had never so much asid eyes on the ancestor.


    Fang Xia, though his vital aura had strengthened slightly, remained in a daze. He had no idea where they were taking him or what new torments awaited.


    Before long, the trio arrived at a majestic temple deep within the sacred grounds. An invisible force permeated the area, making it difficult even for High Immortals to fly.


    With a casual flick of his hand, the ck-robed Archimmortal tossed Li Guang to the ground. He then gently set Fang Xia down beside him.


    "Astral Lord, I''ve brought them as requested," the Archimmortal announced respectfully, keeping his head bowed as he awaited further instructions.


    In the blink of an eye, two figures materialized before them, their auras profound and ethereal.


    "Senior Hou Qu," one of them, an elderly man with jet-ck hair, addressed the other party with utmost reverence. He stood slightly behind, like a servant attending to his master.


    This scene sent shockwaves through the ck-robed Archimmortal and left the kneeling Li Guang utterly stupefied.


    Though Li Guang had never met the ck-haired elder in person, he had seen images of him before. This was undoubtedly the sect''s ancestor, the legendary Astral Lord. His aura alone was unmistakable.


    <i>Our Ancestor is calling him ''Senior''? Who in the heavens is this man in ck armor?</i> Li Guang''s mind reeled with shock and confusion.


    "Fang Xia?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s gaze fell upon the young man, his eyes softening with an unexpected warmth.


    Witnessing this, Li Guang''s heart sank. He knew, without a doubt, that he was in deep, deep trouble.


    1. ���캰�ۣ���ػ�Ǯ. It can be used to describe a negotiation tactic where one starts with an unrealistically high offer or demand, knowing they''ll eventually have toe down to a more reasonable level. ?


    2. Qing Ling = Greenridge ?

 Chapter 746: Senior Expert (1)

    <h4>Chapter 746: Senior Expert (1)</h4>


    "Void Refiner phase? Not bad, slightly stronger than I expected," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled at Fang Xia.


    "Senior, you were looking for me?" Fang Xia struggled to his feet and bowed slightly in greeting.


    The injuries to his body had fully healed under the effects of the medicinal herbs from the ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal.


    Qi refiners could easily recover from physical injuries. However, the numerous punishments he had endured targeted not just his physical body, but also his spirit and soul.


    What mortals considered torture wasughable to immortal cultivators with strong Dao Hearts and willpower. Thus, torture methods for immortal cultivators mostly targeted the spirit and soul.


    Fang Xia had just regained consciousness from that endless nightmare of spiritual punishment, and was still unsteady on his feet.


    "Your injuries are not fully healed. Sit down and take this medicinal pill," Astral Monarch Hou Qu waved his hand, and a spirit pill flew out.


    "Thank you, Senior." Although Fang Xia didn''t know who Astral Monarch Hou Qu was, he could tell the other party was an important figure.


    However, having experienced numerous life-and-death situations, especially having just returned from the brink of death, his mind was now calm, and he epted his fate.


    It was nothing more than death.


    He reached out to catch the pill and swallowed it. Immediately, a surge of potent energy rapidly permeated his entire body, and even his soul and spirit. His fractured soul essence began to recover.


    <i>What kind of medicinal pill is this?</i> Fang Xia was inwardly shocked as he sat down in lotus position to meditate.


    Throughout their exchange, no one else dared to interject.


    "Shan Yue." Seeing Fang Xia begin his recovery process, Astral Monarch Hou Qu nced at the ck-robed elderly man behind him and said calmly, "Is this what you meant by just having a good talk with Fang Xia? Do you think you''re clever, or that I''m a fool?"


    Silence fell!


    "Senior Hou Qu." Cold sweat broke out on Astral Lord Shan Yue''s forehead as he turned to re at the ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal and High Immortal Li Guang, feeling the urge to tear them apart.


    Yes! He had indeed ordered Fang Xia''s imprisonment, intending to wait until Fang Xia had thought things through before giving him the answers he sought. But he never imagined his subordinates would dare to presume his intentions and torture Fang Xia on their own.


    However, Astral Lord Shan Yue also felt somewhat wronged. He had already thoroughly investigated Fang Xia''s background and found no significant connections other than his close rtionship with Wu Yuan, a member of the Origin Eldritch Field.


    When Wu Yuan had consecutively requested three Archimmortals to search for Fang Xia, it surprised him, making him realize how extensive Wu Yuan''s connections were.


    But he never could have imagined it would eventually lead to a visit from Astral Monarch Hou Qu.


    He was a super powerhouse at the ninth-stage Astral Monarch phase, and an Astral Monarch of Space at that. It could be said that Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s status was absolutely top-tier within the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    "No words of exnation?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked with a mysterious smile.


    "This junior has erred. I was unaware of Fang Xia''s rtionship with Senior. I humbly seek Senior Hou Qu''s punishment," Astral Lord Shan Yue said very honestly.


    He understood clearly that there was no need for exnations at this moment.


    If Astral Monarch Hou Qu were truly angered, he could kill an Astral Lord like himself with barely a thought. Exnations were useless.


    "Since Fang Xia is safe and sound, I won''t be too harsh on you," Astral Monarch Hou Qu nced at him. "Just hand over 100,000 divine crystals to Fang Xia topensate him a little. That''s not too much, is it?"


    "Not at all, not at all," Astral Lord Shan Yue said repeatedly, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.


    100,000 divine crystals? It was just a fraction of his overall wealth.


    He quickly sent a storage artifact over to Fang Xia, forcing a smile onto his face, "Young friend Fang Xia, please have a look. There are definitely 100,000 divine crystals inside. I hope you find it satisfactory."


    "This?" Fang Xia opened his eyes and looked up at Astral Monarch Hou Qu in astonishment.


    100,000 divine crystals! As a Void Refiner cultivator, all the wealth and treasures he possessed didn''t even amount to one divine crystal. This was a huge windfall!


    "Just take it," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said with a smile.


    "Yes." Fang Xia nodded. He didn''t stand on ceremony any longer and reached out to ept it. Having roamed the eldritch continent for many years, he knew that only a fool would pass up such an opportunity.


    Chances like this were rare. With 100,000 divine crystals, his future prospects of bing a High Immortal or even an Archimmortal would greatly improve.


    Meanwhile, the ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal and High Immortal Li Guang were dumbfounded. This mysterious powerful figure had made their Sect Master obediently hand over 100,000 divine crystals with just a few sentences?


    High Immortal Li Guang��s entire wealth amounted to only one or two thousand divine crystals.


    "Very well, Shan Yue. This matter ends here. I''ll take Fang Xia with me now," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said. "Handle the rest yourself."


    "Yes, this junior understands," Astral Lord Shan Yue said respectfully.


    Astral Monarch Hou Qu nodded, disappearing from the temple along with Fang Xia without the slightest spatial fluctuation.


    Astral Lord Shan Yue and the other two remained behind.


    "Hmph!" Astral Lord Shan Yue''s expression darkened as he cast a cold look at High Immortal Li Guang. "So you''re Li Guang. You''re the one who took it upon yourself to torture and punish Fang Xia? This is tant defiance of my orders."


    "Sect Master, I..." Li Guang began to exin.


    "Will you do it yourself, or shall I send you on your way?" Astral Lord Shan Yue''s gaze was ice-cold.


    High Immortal Li Guang''s heart trembled, his eyes filled with a hint of despair. His entire body went limp and copsed to the ground.


    He couldn''t believe that the ancestor would execute him over such a small matter.


    "Astral Lord." The ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal beside him spoke up, "That senior from earlier didn''t actually say anything about punishment..."


    "Shut up! The senior didn''t mention it because he couldn''t be bothered. But we need to understand his intentions and act ordingly. If we wait until the senior gives the order, it will no longer just be the death of one Li Guang. Recing the entire Shan Yue Sect would only take a single word from him," Astral Lord Shan Yue said coldly.


    The ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal was greatly shocked.


    A single word? Rece the Shan Yue Sect? He realized what kind of existence that person must be �C his status was likely higher than an ordinary Astral Monarch.


    "Furthermore, although Li Guang is at fault, you must be punished as well," Astral Lord Shan Yue nced at him. "You will volunteer to participate in the high-level Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield for 100,000 years. You may only return after this period,"


    "100,000 years?" The ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal''s expression paled. Participating in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield carried the risk of perishing. The longer one spent there, the higher the possibility of death.


    True, he could send his mana body there first, but once his mana body perished? Unless he could quickly create a new mana body, his true self would have to enter the battlefield.


    The only way to nurture a new mana body quickly was with the use of treasures like the Archimmortal Immortal Life Pills, which were extremely expensive. How could an ordinary Archimmortal like him afford them?


    "Damn you, Li Guang." The ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal nced at High Immortal Li Guang, knowing he had been implicated by Li Guang''s actions.


    Seeing this, High Immortal Li Guang fell intoplete despair, but he still clung to a glimmer of hope for survival. "Ancestor, I wish to also go to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield to atone for my crimes..."


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of light flew out, instantly passing through High Immortal Li Guang''s body. A sh of terror appeared in his eyes before he turned to ashes.


    Almost simultaneously, within a grotto far away on the Shan Lin Eldritch Continent, was a figure that looked identical to High Immortal Li Guang. A trace of fear shed through his eyes. As it faded, his vital aurapletely dissipated.


    The one at the sect headquarters was High Immortal Li Guang''s true self. With his true self dead, his mana body naturally perished as well.


    Time passed.


    After ordering the ck-robed middle-aged Archimmortal to leave for the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, Astral Lord Shan Yue returned alone to his hall.


    <i>He actually has the ability to get Astral Monarch Hou Qu to respond to his request?</i>


    <i>How could someone of Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s status care about Qian She''s legacy? [1] He couldn''t possibly know Fang Xia, otherwise he could have found Fang Xia directly through karma. </i>Astral Lord Shan Yue pondered. <i>Was it Wu Yuan?</i>


    <i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu is the overall supervisor of the Origin Eldritch Field.</i>


    <i>Wu Yuan is a member of the Origin Eldritch Field, and reportedly quite talented, but how could he contact Astral Monarch Hou Qu? </i>Astral Lord Shan Yue shook his head slightly.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He was an ex-member of the Origin Eldritch Field. He had even once sessfully imed the earth-tier title in the First Origin Eldritch Field.


    He knew very well that even those talents who seemed to shine brilliantly in the Origin Eldritch Fields could hardly catch the eye of an Astral Monarch.


    <i>I must find out the reason.</i> Astral Lord Shan Yue immediately began collecting intelligence about Wu Yuan through hiswork of connections.


    Although Wu Yuan had caused a stir in the Origin Eldritch Field, it was brief and the news had yet to spread widely. Most Astral Monarchs and Astral Lords in the eldritch world were unaware of his aplishment.


    But with Astral Lord Shan Yue''s deliberate investigation, he quickly learned the details, which gave him a huge shock. <i>Suspected to already possess Archimmortal-level Daoprehension after only cultivating for a thousand years?</i>


    <i>With such talent, there''s a great chance of him bing an Astral Monarch. No wonder he could request the aid of Astral Monarch Hou Qu. </i>Astral Lord Shan Yue was secretly shocked. <i>Fortunately, I didn''tpletely offend him.</i>


    If it were Astral Monarchs from other major factions, he wouldn''t care.


    As an Astral Lord of the eldritch world, if he managed to offend an Astral Monarch from the Voltari Temple enough to be remembered, it would be considered an honor.


    But an Astral Monarch from his own faction? If he offended one too severely, it would be quite troublesome.


    <i>This matter must also be kept secret.</i> Astral Lord Shan Yue thought to himself, shaking his head and personally handling some details.


    ...


    In the Vacuum Spatial Layer, Astral Monarch Hou Qu swiftly led Fang Xia forward.


    "You received the inheritance of Astral Lord Qian She?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked, quite surprised as he listened to Fang Xia''s ount.


    Though he had rescued Fang Xia, he didn''t care much about an ordinary Void Refiner cultivator who had only cultivated for a few hundred years; he came because of Wu Yuan. But upon hearing this, he finally took a closer look at Fang Xia.


    "Yes, I obtained it by chance," Fang Xia said with a bitter smile. "The Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley was created by Astral Lord Qian She. I was teleported to a mysterious ce... And after experiencing many dangers, I received the inheritance.


    But just as I was teleported back to the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley, I was captured by an Archimmortal from the Shan Yue Sect, who forced me to hand over many secret arts and teachings from Astral Lord Qian She''s inheritance. But I had already sworn an oath, so even if I wanted to speak, I couldn''t." Fang Xia sighed, "So, I was imprisoned all this time."


    "A small matter," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. "Now, no one will force you to give it up. Since you''ve received the inheritance, focus on cultivating well.


    To catch the eye of an Astral Lord means there��s something special about you. In the future, you might even be an Archimmortal."


    "This junior will certainly work hard," Fang Xia said respectfully.


    After pondering for a moment, Fang Xia asked curiously, "Senior, your power is immense, but you don''t seem to know this junior. Why did youe to rescue me? Is there anything I can do to repay you?"


    "No need. I��m here at someone��s request," Astral Monarch Hou Qu said.


    "Someone��s request?" Fang Xia was stunned. He had made many friends in his years of adventuring, but who could request the aid of such a super powerhouse?


    Suddenly, a sh of insight struck him, and he eximed excitedly, "Was it the young master? Has he returned?"


    "Young Master?" Astral Monarch Hou Qu asked, puzzled.


    "The young master is Wu Yuan," Fang Xia quickly exined.


    "Ah, I see. Yes, it��s him," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. "No need to thank me, thank Wu Yuan instead. Even without me, with young friend Wu Yuan''s capabilities, requesting the aid of other Astral Monarchs would be a small matter."


    "The young master is that powerful?" Fang Xia was utterly shocked by what he was hearing.


    He also realized that the ck-armored man before him was one of the legendary Astral Monarchs who could rule vast domains of spacetime.


    Such an existence actually referred to Wu Yuan as ''young friend''?


    1. Qian She = Thousand Serpents ?

 Chapter 747: Senior Expert (2)

    <h4>Chapter 747: Senior Expert (2)</h4>


    After bidding farewell to his master in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self made his arrangements in the Second Origin Eldritch Field.


    Then, through a teleportation array on the void continent, specially constructed as per the instructions of Astral Monarch Hou Qu, he returned once again to the Summerpeak World after more than six hundred years.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    <i>Summerpeak.</i> Wu Yuan stepped out of the teleportation array. With a thought, the vast world spanning tens of millions of li entered the range of his Soul Will.


    Nothing could hide from his perception. Over six hundred years had passed, and the Summerpeak World had undergone immense changes.


    Besides the original Summerpeak maind, several new continents had appeared. For instance, the Middle Land had expanded from one hundred thousand li to a continent of a million li through the arcane arts of many powerful immortal cultivators. It had overtaken the Summerpeak maind to be thergest continent in the entire world!


    <i>Six continents, and countless inds, with a poption exceeding one trillion? </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    Within his Soul Will, everything in the entire Summerpeak World couldn''t escape his perception and detection.


    The changes were astounding. The number of immortal cultivators had greatly increased, and Wu Yuan detected the presence of many Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators. Even the vast majority of ordinary mortal folk lived prosperous lives.


    The spiritual qi of heaven and earth was rich, no less than that of the macrocosm. Countless mechanical puppets made life far easier for ordinary people, who could live over a hundred years without illness or cmity.


    The entire Summerpeak had be a paradise.


    Like many worldlets, it had its rules and restrictions. For example, the Summerpeak World''s territory was limited, and foreign Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses couldn''t enter. They could only send incarnations.


    Only native lifeforms who naturally resonated with the world''s essence were unaffected by these influences and constraints.


    Of course, for super powerhouses like Archimmortals and Archdeities, it wouldn''t be difficult to annihte a worldlet once they unleashed their full power.


    <i>Hmm? There''s actually a good seedling here, let''s take a look.</i> Surprise shed across Wu Yuan''s eyes. He took a step, vanishing without a sound.


    Then, he reappeared millions of li away in the Middle Land.


    ...


    The Cloudhill Martial Academy was the number one martial academy in the Middle Land, and also one of the top-ranked martial academies in the entire Summerpeak World.


    Countless martial arts prodigies from across the continent were sent here for training.


    Today, in one of the battle spaces at thebat arena, two Grandmaster-level martial artists, wearing protective gear and carrying unsharpened weapons, were engaged in fiercebat.


    On the spectator stands on both sides of the battle space, a crowd of academy disciples cheered and waved gs, watching the exchange between the two Grandmasters in the arena with rapt focus.


    Hundreds of years had gone by. Now, in the Summerpeak World, the status of Grandmaster experts was equivalent to second-rate or third-rate Adepts of the past. They could only be considered elite disciples within the martial academy.


    In Cloudhill Martial Academy, only those who became true qi refiners or body refiners were qualified to graduate.


    <i>Boom! Bam~</i> The white-robed youth wielding a long spear disyed precise spear techniques, filling the air with spear silhouettes thatpletely enveloped the ck-armored man wielding a battle axe.


    <i>Kill! Kill! Kill! </i>The ck-armored man stared intently at the white-robed youth, gripping two massive double-edged battle axes.


    The axe, heavy and powerful, could also serve as a shield to block enemy attacks. The double-edged great axe, when wielded in attacks, was even more ferocious.


    However, no matter how hard the ck-armored man tried, repeatedly chopping at the long spear, attempting to close in on the white-robed youth, the youth always evaded him like a phantom.


    His footwork was as elusive as the wind, his spear technique as swift as lightning,pletely dominating the ck-armored man.


    Finally, as the ck-armored man��s final roar of unwillingness tore from his throat, a spear strike slipped past his battle axe and struck his chest, sending him flying.


    One of the battle axes in his hand was knocked away,nding heavily on the ground.


    Both sides ceased fighting.


    "Good match," the white-robed youth said with a faint smile.


    "I lost. I''ve cultivated for over thirty years and have always been in the top ten of hereditary disciples. Even Teacher said I had a great chance of bing an eldritch warrior." The ck-armored man shook his head with a bitter smile, staring at the white-robed youth.


    "Gu Qi, you''re not even twenty years old, yet you can defeat me. Your physical constitution is stronger than mine, your spear technique and footwork are both superior to mine. You''re simply a monster."


    "A monster? I''m hardly a monster," the white-robed youth grinned. "Compared to the World Master, I''m still far behind.


    Back then, the World Master was just over twenty years old when he dominated the Middle Land, defeating the Golden Core founder of Great Jin.


    I haven''t even be an eldritch warrior yet," the white-robed youth shook his head.


    "You''reparing yourself to the World Master?" the ck-armored man was taken aback.


    "Why not?" the white-robed youth countered with a smile. "I may never catch up to even a fraction of the World Master''s achievements in this lifetime, but that doesn''t stop me from setting him as my goal.


    The World Master is a goal worthy of dedicating my entire life to pursue," the white-robed youth dered, a spark of determination gleaming in his eyes.


    The ck-armored man was speechless, muttering, "Well, you won, so you can say what you want." Then, he turned and left.


    "Gu Qi!"


    "Gu Qi, number one in the academy!"


    "Gu Qi." Immediately, a thunderous wave of cheers and shouts erupted from the spectator stands, with even some screams mixed in, clearly showing how much they favored the white-robed youth.


    The white-robed youth grinned, enjoying his moment of glory.


    Suddenly, the world fell silent.


    The white-robed youth Gu Qi vanished from his spot. He only felt his vision blur before finding himself on a vast training ground.


    Silence reigned supreme.


    <i>What? How? What''s happening, where am I?</i> Gu Qi looked around in utter shock, his senses on high alert.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He had just been inside the martial academy.


    <i>There are Golden Core powerhouses watching over the martial academy. Who could have spirited me away without a sound, under the watchful eyes of so many? </i>Gu Qi was both rmed and enraged, yet he managed to maintain hisposure.


    Such ghostly, godlike abilities were frightening.


    <i>Hmm? </i>He whirled around suddenly, only to see a figure in ck robes standing not far away, smiling at him.


    This figure was utterly mysterious.


    <i>An immortal cultivator?</i> Though Gu Qi was only a Grandmaster martial artist, he had encountered many immortal cultivators at the martial academy and possessed some knowledge of them.<i> Could it be... a legendary Amethyst Cradle or Shambh cultivator?</i>


    Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators were the mightiest beings he knew of.


    "Don''t panic, little one," Wu Yuan smiled at Gu Qi. "Show me your spear technique. Attack me."


    "Show my spear technique?" Gu Qi was taken aback.


    But his hesitationsted only a moment before he steeled himself. Unable to fathom the situation, he could onlyply for now.


    If this person possessed such supernatural abilities, killing him would hardly take any effort. If they truly meant him harm, there''d be no need for such theatrics.


    "Be careful, Senior," Gu Qi warned before taking a step forward. His spearshed out suddenly, transforming into a storm of illusory strikes that seemed to mergepletely with the surrounding phantasms.


    It was like an eruption of raging mes, radiating an intense heat. More than that, wisps of heaven and earth''s power were stirred.


    Harmony of Man and Nature!


    <i>This spear strike?</i> Gu Qi''s eyes zed with fervor. Under some intangible influence, this attack was undoubtedly the strongest he had ever unleashed.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan extended a finger, its tip barely grazing the spear''s point. In that instant, the long spear was deflected, sending Gu Qi flying backwards.


    <i>Thud! Thud! Thud!</i> Gu Qi took three steps back to steady himself on the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    He sensed that his opponent had only used a weak trickle of power, far less than his own, yet it had effortlessly nullified his entire attack and sent him flying in the process.


    That single finger tap was profoundly mysterious.


    "Again," Wu Yuan smiled.


    Gu Qi dared not lower his guard, continuing his assault. He was now acutely aware that the person before him was far beyond his level.


    <i>Swish! Swish! Swish!</i> And so it went on, with Gu Qi attacking frantically again and again. But it didn��t matter how clever his spear techniques, how intricate his footwork, or how cunningly he angled his strikes, Wu Yuan would invariably deflect his spear with the lightest touch of a finger.


    Quickly, Gu Qi began to understand his situation.


    <i>An opportunity! A great opportunity!</i> Gu Qi sensed the profoundness of Wu Yuan''s finger technique. It wasn''t a mere finger tap, but clearly an unfathomably deep spear technique.


    As their exchanges continued, Gu Qi felt many of his long-standing confusions about spear techniques unraveling, only to be reced by even more perplexing questions. But facing Wu Yuan''s finger technique, these new puzzles were swiftly solved.


    Gu Qi felt his spear technique constantly evolving and improving, surpassing a decade of painstaking practice.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Suddenly, his spear technique changed dramatically. No longer did it draw upon mere wisps of heaven and earth''s power, but naturally conjured mes.


    zing Fire Domain! One spear strike, mes ignite!


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Once again, Gu Qi''s Domain-stage spear technique was easily deflected by the finger.


    "That''s enough," Wu Yuan spoke with a smile, his voice carrying some sort of mysterious magic that made Gu Qi stop involuntarily.


    "Thank you, Senior," Gu Qi said, overwhelmed with excitement. He could now sense the vast, limitless power of heaven and earth.


    Domain! He had practiced spear techniques for ten years, reaching the level of Harmony of Man and Nature, just one step away from entering the Domain stage. Such talent was considered remarkable in the Summerpeak World.


    Unexpectedly, in just a quarter of an hour of guidance, he had taken another step forward, reaching the Domain stage. This was already on par with many Golden Core cultivators.


    "No need to thank me. I merely drew out the umtion of your past efforts," Wu Yuan smiled and waved his hand.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A streak of light flew out, entering Gu Qi''s mind under his shocked gaze, flooding his consciousness with countless pieces of information.


    After a long while, he finally regained his senses.


    <i>This? This spear technique... it leads directly to the legendary Archimmortal-level spear technique, the Law of zing Fire? </i>Gu Qi was both shocked and ted.


    From the teachings, he now understood how lofty and powerful Archimmortals were.


    "Senior? Hmm?" Gu Qi was startled to find himself back in the courtyard of the martial academy, everything around him unchanged, as if what just happened was merely an illusion.


    Only the profound spear technique��s instructions in his mind reminded him that everything had been real.


    ��Practice diligently. When you reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, you will naturally see me again,�� a faint, warm voice echoed in his mind.


    "Senior?" Gu Qi''s eyes lit up.


    Then he thought to himself. <i>Amethyst Cradle phase? With the teachings bestowed by Senior, I must strive to cultivate to the Amethyst Cradle phase.</i>


    ...


    <i>In Cloud Capital, deep within the imperial city, on a vast za.</i>


    "Big Brother, you personally guided that little martial artist just now?" Wu Yijun smiled at her elder brother. "He probably doesn''t even know who you are. For him, this is an incredible stroke of fortune."


    Indeed, the ce where he had just given his guidance was within the imperial city, where Wu Yijun had been residing for many years.


    As soon as Wu Yuan returned to the Cloud Capital, he hadmunicated with his sister via Soul Force.


    "I merely encountered a promising talent and gave some casual pointers," Wu Yuan smiled. "In this generation of the Summerpeak World, he''s probably the only one with a chance of bing a High Immortal through his own efforts."


    "Be a High Immortal? That little fellow from just now?" Wu Yijun was astonished.


    She understood how difficult it was to be a High Immortal. However, she didn''t doubt her elder brother''s judgment for a moment.


    "Big Brother, you''re bing more and more like a real deity or immortal," Wu Yijun remarked sincerely. "You''re starting to resemble my master."


    "Haha," Wu Yuan chuckled.


    A real deity?


    "On my journey of growth, I''ve received guidance and inheritances from many senior experts," Wu Yuan smiled. "Now, asionally ying the role of a senior expert myself feels quite nice.


    Come, let''s go see Mother."


    "Mm," Wu Yijun smiled. "When Mother heard you wereing back today, she actually went to the kitchen herself, which is rare. She''s preparing something special for you."


    The siblings flew towards a distant hall.


    ...


    With Wu Yuan''s return, his mother, Wanqin, was naturally overjoyed beyond measure. It had been a long time since the family had been reunited.


    Although the Wu n''s poption had grown steadily, all the younger generations of the Wu familybined couldn''t match Wu Yuan''s importance in Wanqin''s heart.


    After spending a good half of the day with his mother, Wu Yuan finally received a message from Astral Monarch Hou Qu: he had brought Fang Xia back.

 Chapter 748: Ming Jian Emerges From Seclusion (1)

    <h4>Chapter 748: Ming Jian Emerges From Seclusion (1)</h4>


    <i>The Summerpeak World, within the imperial city of the Middle Land.</i>


    <i>Inside a grand hall.</i>


    "Astral Monarch, thank you for your assistance," Wu Yuan said with a slight bow.


    "It was a trifling matter, and this Fang Xia is indeed quite talented," Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. "Now that the matter is settled, I shall no longer maintain this incarnation. You may continue your discussion. Regarding the array you mentioned, I will make arrangements as soon as possible."


    "Thank you for your help, Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan stood and cupped his hands respectfully.


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s incarnation silently dissipated. His true body could not enter the Summerpeak World; only his incarnation could descend.


    As a non-native Astral Monarch, if his true body were to forcibly descend upon a worldlet, it would cause the entire world to copse.


    In the hall, only Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Wu Yijun remained.


    "Thank you, Young Master. Without your help, I fear I would have been trapped in the Shan Yue Sect until my dying day," Fang Xia said respectfully, attempting to kneel.


    "Old Fang." Wu Yuan waved his hand, and an invisible force instantly steadied Old Fang. It prevented him from kneeling and lifted him to his feet.


    "There''s no need for such formalities between us. Once I found out that you went missing, I naturally had to investigate," Wu Yuan smiled. "After all, you are my ancestor. Without you back then, there wouldn��t be me today."


    "It is all due to Young Master''s unparalleled talent," Fang Xia shook his head repeatedly.


    "Ancestor Fang, Brother, why don''t you stop praising each other and try the delicacies I''ve prepared?" Wu Yijun smiled from the side.


    "Old Fang,e. Let��s eat," Wu Yuan said with a smile.


    "Mm, indeed," Fang Xia nodded, looking at the tableden with exquisite cuisines and immortal wines. He sighed with emotion, "All these years trapped in the Shan Yue Sect... It��s been a long time since I��ve had such delicacies. Yijun, you are truly thoughtful."


    Immortal cultivators ate not out of hunger, but for the pleasure of taste.


    The three ate and drank while conversing.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Gradually, Wu Yuan learned of Fang Xia''s many experiences over the years, and couldn''t help but smile, "Old Fang, to think you obtained Astral Lord Qian She��s legacy? Not bad at all."


    "The core inheritance had long been taken. What I obtained were merely some teachings and secret arts, nothing truly precious," Fang Xia said with a wry smile. "And I nearly lost my life because of it."


    "Teachings and secret arts are priceless treasures in their own right," Wu Yuan said.


    "That Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley is under the control of the Shan Yue Sect. Astral Lord Shan Yue is quite formidable, and was likely keeping watch from the beginning," Wu Yuan said softly. "He probably feared that forcibly seizing it would destroy the inheritance grounds, so he patiently waited outside. Once someone obtained the legacy, he would imprison them.


    It''s understandable. When ites to an Astral Lord''s legacy, he wouldn''t give face to other Archimmortals," Wu Yuan said.


    "It''s likely as Young Master says," Fang Xia agreed with Wu Yuan''s reasoning.


    "Old Fang, now that you''ve reached the Void Refiner phase, do you have any ns?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.


    "ns?" Fang Xia hesitated, then shook his head, "Astral Monarch Hou Qu ordered Astral Lord Shan Yue topensate me with treasures worth a hundred thousand divine crystals, settling this karmic debt. For now, I needn''t venture out and take risks. I''m thinking of cultivating to the ninth-stage Void Refiner phase first."


    Wu Yuan listened quietly.


    He understood that Fang Xia had suffered greatly. Given his personality, he might seek revenge once he became powerful enough. But Astral Monarch Hou Qu had essentially made the decision to forgive this karmic debt with a hundred thousand divine crystals on his behalf.


    Since Fang Xia had epted this, Wu Yuan decided not to say more.


    "Ancestor Fang, in that case, why don''t you reside in Summerpeak long-term?" Wu Yijun smiled. "My brother will also be staying in Summerpeak for the foreseeable future."


    "The young master is returning to Summerpeak?" Fang Xia was surprised.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "But Young Master, aren''t you a member of the Origin Eldritch Field? As an Earth Eldritch, shouldn''t you reside in the Origin Eldritch Field?" Fang Xia asked, puzzled. "Moreover, I''ve heard that members of the Origin Eldritch Field are required to undergo many trial tasks and tests. Shouldn''t you be preparing to be an Archeldritch in the future?"


    "That''s unnecessary. If I wished, I could more or less be an Archeldritch right now," Wu Yuan smiled. "Old Fang, what you speak of applies to ordinary members of the Origin Eldritch Field. I need not fulfill those duties; I can cultivate as I please."


    <i>He can be an Archeldritch now?</i> Fang Xia was secretly shocked.


    He then recalled Astral Monarch Hou Qu''s attitude towards Wu Yuan, and his doubts cleared. How else could he be given such treatment from a legendary Astral Monarch?


    "Summerpeak is my homnd. Dwelling in my homnd soothes my mind, allowing my cultivation to progress more smoothly," Wu Yuan said. "So, for the years toe, I will likely reside in Summerpeak.


    As for you, Old Fang, you''ve already obtained many inheritance teachings and secret arts, as well as divine crystals and treasures. Why not engage in secluded cultivation for a time?"


    "Very well, I''ll do as Young Master says," Fang Xia nodded.


    ...


    <i>Six dayster.</i>


    About ten thousand li from Cloud Capital, a towering pagoda a hundred li high gradually materialized. The pagoda was pure white like jade, with nine floors in total. It stood majestically between heaven and earth, as though reaching for the sky.


    Several thousand immortal cultivators stood outside the pagoda. Apart from a few at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase with powerful auras, the vast majority were Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators. They were all elite immortal cultivators who resided long-term in Summerpeak.


    "Is this the Summerpeak Tower mentioned in the Teng Snake Guard''s message?"


    "I heard it was built by the World Master, containing countless Daoist scriptures and teachings."


    "We can enter now."


    "Let''s go." As the tower fully materialized and its grand doors opened, these thousands of immortal cultivators began to enter the tower one after another.


    Soon, exmations of surprise erupted from within.


    "This? There are such secret arts on the first floor alone?"


    "This is perfect for me. This sword art is extremely suitable, it truly points to the essence of the sword path."


    "There are even array teachings..." These immortal cultivators were stunned. The countless Daoist scriptures and teachings on just the first floor alone left them in shock.


    They quickly dispersed, searching eagerly through the first and second floors of the tower.


    The Summerpeak Tower had nine floors in total.


    ording to Wu Yuan''s decree, those at the Golden Core/Spiritual Body phase could enter the first floor; those at the Amethyst Cradle/Shambh phase could enter the second.


    On each floor, one could redeem five teachings or secret arts free of charge. More? One would have to undergo various trials. One could redeem a maximum of one hundred techniques.


    To enter the third floor, one either had to reach the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase or pass the trials set by Wu Yuan.


    Time flowed on.


    Many Amethyst Cradle/Shambh cultivators didn''t rush to choose their teachings, instead attempting to pass Wu Yuan''s trials, hoping to enter the third floor.


    One after another failed.


    <i>In the air above.</i>


    "Young Master is truly benevolent," Fang Xia smiled. "With such a Daoist Scripture Tower, the Summerpeak cultivators will progress much faster."


    "It''s a pity that no one has passed the trials," Fang Xia shook his head and sighed. "None of thempare to you, Yijun."


    Yijun had also attempted the trials to enter the third level, and seeded!


    "Ancestor, please don''t tease me," Wu Yijun smiled and shook her head. "In terms of natural talent, I''m nothing special. It''s all thanks to my brother''s support."


    "Your own efforts still y a big part," Fang Xia said with a smile.


    Wu Yuan smiled but said nothing.


    On the path of cultivation, so-called talent was essentially abination of one''s immortal root potential, soul potential,prehension aptitude, willpower, and many other aspects.


    None of these were constants.


    One''s immortal root and soul could be enhanced through external means, whileprehension aptitude, willpower, and the like could change dramatically with various experiences an immortal cultivator underwent over the long years. This was why there werete bloomers and those who faded into obscurity.


    His sister Wu Yijun was indeed not exceptionally gifted in her earliest years, but with Wu Yuan''s continuous influx of resources, her own diligent cultivation, her hundreds of years as an empress, and the experience of family life, she had weathered the vicissitudes of the mortal world. Later, she received guidance from seniors like High Immortal Cen Jiang and Archimmortal Xu Cai, and was now no longer her former self.


    At least, in Wu Yuan''s view, among countless immortal cultivators in the present day Summerpeak World excluding himself, his sister''s potential ranked in the top five. With his help, she could be a High Immortal without much difficulty.


    <i>As for the top two in potential, it''s still Old Fang and Gu Qi. </i>Wu Yuan mused, recalling the child he had instructed earlier.


    Fang Xia had relied mostly on himself, fighting and struggling all the way. His cultivation journey had been a bumpy one.


    Gu Qi truly naturally possessed great talent.


    "Let them choose their teachings first," Wu Yuan said. "Once the world expansion isplete, I''ll invite an Archimmortal to reconstruct the Summerpeak Immortal Voidrealm. Then, we''ll build another Summerpeak Tower in the voidrealm, so cultivators of the Summerpeak lineage won''t have toe all the way to the Middle Land."


    Wu Yijun and Fang Xia both nodded, their eyes brightening. A voidrealm constructed by an Archimmortal?


    "Brother, will this world expansion you speak of be risky?" Wu Yijun couldn''t help but ask.


    "There''s no need to worry. I''ve spent an enormous price to purchase immortal stones and array disks to fuse with the world''s essence," Wu Yuan said.


    Indeed! World expansion.


    Under the rules of the macrocosm''s operation, countless worldlets were born and destroyed, destroyed and born again.


    The expansion of a worldlet could happen in two ways. The first was natural expansion under the workings of heaven and earth, which took an immense span of time. The second was artificial expansion.


    "In a hundred years, the Summerpeak World will be expanded to a maximum diameter of over a hundred million li," Wu Yuan smiled. "By then, our Summerpeak World''s poption can multiply rapidly, reaching tens of trillions without much difficulty."


    The limits on poption growth werend, space, and resources. Therger a world, therger the poption it could support.


    "Tens of trillions?" A glimmer of anticipation shed in Wu Yijun and Fang Xia��s eyes.


    The more populous a world, the more immortal cultivators it naturally produced, and the more geniuses emerged from it.


    "With the Summerpeak Tower, I believe we''ll see quite a few Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators born as the poption grows," Fang Xia said with a chuckle. "We might even see immortals emerge."


    Currently, in all of Summerpeak, besides Wu Yuan, only Fang Xia had reached the Void Refiner phase. In truth, they were still quite weak.


    <i>I must do all I can to strengthen the Summerpeak lineage. </i>Wu Yuan silently vowed. This had be a subtle obsession of his.


    It was his way of giving back to Summerpeak.


    The world expansion array alone had cost Wu Yuan tens of millions of divine crystals. Fortunately he had obtained Astral Monarch Wan Lei��s treasure trove and didn''t mind the expenditure much.


    "Old Fang, Yijun," Wu Yuan said, "Though I will be residing in Summerpeak, you should continue to manage its affairs. I''ll have Cen Jiang assist you; do listen to her counsel."


    "Very well."

 Chapter 749: Ming Jian Emerges From Seclusion (2)

    <h4>Chapter 749: Ming Jian Emerges From Seclusion (2)</h4>


    Another half a month passed.


    <i>In an expanse of outer space beyond the Summerpeak World.</i>


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Streams of purple light, each spanning tens of millions of li, crisscrossed like chains. Thousands of purple light streams interwove, forming a great that enveloped the entire Summerpeak World.


    "Activate!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Countless beams of purple light erupted skyward, drawing in vast quantities of spiritual qi. This process continued for nearly a day.


    Finally, the beams of purple light absorbed enough spiritual qi to merge into one with the Summerpeak World.


    "Wu Yuan, the nineyered array is fully deployed," said Astral Monarch Hou Qu, standing in the void with a smile. "From now on, even an Astral Monarch can��t forcibly destroy Summerpeak."


    "Many thanks, Astral Monarch," Wu Yuan sped his hands respectfully.


    "It''s a small matter. The array is set, so I''ll take my leave." Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled, his mana body swiftly departing.


    <i>With the nineyered defense array perfectly integrated, Summerpeak World is truly a secure haven now. </i>Wu Yuan broke into a grin.


    This array wasn''t his idea. After he decided to reside in Summerpeak long-term, Sovereign Kua Chi had ordered Astral Monarch Hou Qu to set it up �C an incredibly powerful celestial array.


    Summerpeak World orbited the Cang Feng Continent, which was already the heart of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. The Cang Feng Continent itself was already protected by numerousyers of eldritch world arrays.


    With the addition of this specially deployed array, it was truly impregnable.


    <i>Unless they''re a Sovereign of Space, even the Sovereigns of the Immortal Court would likely be detected if they attempted to infiltrate the world.</i> Wu Yuan mused. <i>Even if an Astral Monarch-level sleeper agent with clearance could stealthily approach the Summerpeak World, they still couldn''t enter it undetected.</i>


    <i>To forcibly destroy the Summerpeak World? With the nineyered defense array, even ate-stage Astral Monarch would need many attempts to seed.</i>


    It wasn''t that the arraycked power, but rather the Summerpeak World itself had limitations.


    However, the moment the Summerpeak World came under attack, Wu Yuan, who controlled the grand array, would immediately call for aid. Naturally, the eldritch world��s Sovereigns would intervene.


    In effect, these various measures ensured Wu Yuan''s absolute safety while he remained in Summerpeak. Of course, if he ventured out on expeditions, it was impossible to guarantee his safety.


    Wu Yuan''s reasons for expanding the Summerpeak World not only included strengthening the Summerpeak lineage and increasing its poption, but also considerations for his own safety.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Therger the world, the harder it would be to destroy, preventing it from being obliterated in one strike by an Astral Lord.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan took a step and returned to the Summerpeak World, descending into a special realm within.


    This small realm spanned ten thousand li. It was vast and hazy, shrouded in mist like the primordial chaos. A solitary temple stood within.


    This was the dwelling Wu Yuan had created in Summerpeak World for his body refiner self, which he casually named Creation Hall.


    At his current level, he could easily sense the world''s fundamental essence and, facing no rejection from the world, could naturally harness the immense power of heaven and earth within the Summerpeak World.


    Flying into the temple, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a jade tform, flipping his palm.


    <i>Thirty thousand doses of divine crystal elixir. </i>Wu Yuan looked at the jade vial in his palm, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    This quantity of divine crystal elixir wouldn''t truly pain Master Kua Chi, but it couldn��t be taken lightly either. At least, as far as Wu Yuan knew, Master Kua Chi had never invested so heavily in nurturing a disciple who hadn''t undergone their Tribtions.


    <i>Let''s begin.</i> With a thought from Wu Yuan, the jade vial was moved directly into his internal shambh. As drops of divine crystal elixir materialized, they instantly sent his entire internal shambh into turmoil, swiftly initiating a new round of frenzied evolution.


    <i>I estimate it will take twenty years to reach the ninth-stage Earth Eldritch phase.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    Even with divine crystal elixir, the progress of his Apotheosis root was much slower than a first-degree immortal root. But it didn��t affect him much.


    <i>My Faith power has increased as well.</i> Wu Yuan sensed the Faith power in the miniature Destiny Voidscape within his internal shambh rapidly growing.


    Refining vast amounts of Faith power would consume massive amounts of blood mist!


    <i>I never imagined Master could procure five hundred eldritch continent units of Faith power in one go. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself.


    Even ordinary Astral Monarchs of the eldritch world likely didn''t possess so much Faith power. Though his talent was exceptional, he was still only an Earth Eldritch after all.


    <i>If I demonstrate power equal to ate-stage Astral Lord level at the High Eldritch phase, I will be granted Faith power equivalent to an eldritch nation. </i>Wu Yuan recalled.


    A few days ago, he had discussed this with Master Kua Chi, learning the stance of the highest echelons of the Eldritch World.


    They were very supportive of him. But Sovereign Kua Chi had also made it clear: "The eldritch world''s resources are limited. The eldritch world��s Sovereigns must also consider the views of various Astral Monarchs. Moreover, they''re still not very familiar with you. Talent and potential are illusory �C only strength is real."


    Wu Yuan could understand this perspective.


    <i>For now, these five hundred eldritch continent units of Faith power will suffice.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Once I''ve been a High Eldritch for some time, if this Faith power is insufficient, I''ll demonstratete-stage Astral Lord-level strength.</i>


    It was difficult for other peerless geniuses at the High Immortal or High Eldritch phase to unleashte-stage Astral Lord-level power because their foundations werecking.


    But this wasn''t an issue for Wu Yuan. Once he cultivated part one of ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� topletion, or when he started on part two, unleashingte-stage Astral Lord-level power wouldn''t be too challenging. Moreover, his Daoprehension would continue to improve.


    His body refiner self''s current strategy could be summed up as - keep a low profile!


    <i>But asionally, I still need to dispatch my disguised ether body to the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield to y some enemies, so the ck pagoda can keep generating Genesis Power for my cultivation. </i>Wu Yuan contemted.


    The ck pagoda was too mysterious. So far, only the tip of the iceberg had been revealed to Wu Yuan.


    The few instances of good fortune it brought Wu Yuan in the past had been crucial. As for its supporting functions, their benefit to Wu Yuan had now been reduced to basically just Genesis Power. Even the soul protection feature was of little help.


    <i>The effectiveness of the ck pagoda''s soul protection feature seems to be limited to attacks below the seventh-stage Archimmortal level.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    This was the conclusion he''d drawn after his sh with Astral Lord Bai Hai.


    For soul attacks below the seventh-stage Archimmortal level, the ck pagoda could generally block them directly after absorbing Genesis Power. But for the seventh-stage Archimmortal level and above, the effect seemed very weak.


    This was why Wu Yuan had immediately decided then that he needed to find a way to obtain a soul protection treasure.


    <i>Perhaps I still haven''t truly grasped the right way to utilize the ck pagoda.</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. <i>Or maybe... It''s because I haven''t yet earned the ck pagoda''s acknowledgement.</i>


    Wu Yuan couldn''t be certain about other matters, but there was one thing Wu Yuan was fairly sure of �C the ck pagoda seemed to be some kind of powerful artifact from a supreme being.


    And the so-called ''ck pagodas'' in the upper dantian lobes of his two true selves were likely just a projection of the ck pagoda''s true form.


    <i>Hopefully, when I venture to the ck Devil Blood Hollow in the future, I can uncover more details about the ck pagoda.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself as he closed his eyes and resumed cultivation.


    ...


    Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, nearly twenty years had passed.


    Within a spatial fold of the Cang Feng Eldritch World was a vast world serving as a base for the Voltari Temple''s intelligence operations.


    "Astral Monarch, over these twenty years, we''ve made numerous attempts targeting Wu Yuan, ranked second on the assassination list," a ck-robed figure bowed respectfully in the temple.


    "We tried investigating his whereabouts over the past few centuries, to no avail.


    We''ve made various attempts to ascertain the location of Wu Yuan''s true body, and have essentially ruled out the Origin Eldritch Field. There''s a 90% chance he''s in his homnd, the Summerpeak World.


    But the Summerpeak World is a worldlet, and our assassins can''t infiltrate it. So we first tried to arrange meetings with him, but even with Astral Lord agents taking action, we either only met his ether body or had our meetings confined to the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. The only option left is a forceful assault on the Summerpeak World.


    The Summerpeak World is quiterge. To destroy the world, locate Wu Yuan''s true body, and kill him �C all before the eldritch world��s Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns can respond �C an Astral Lord''s chances aren''t great. Only an Astral Monarch would have a 90% chance of sess," the ck-robed figure reported respectfully.


    "Abandon the operation for now. Just keep a close watch on his movements," the Astral Monarch leader shook his head. "Sacrificing an Astral Monarch-level agent for one genius? Impossible, unless there''s proof he''s 100% certain to be a Sovereign.


    Let this matter rest here for now."


    Even if he were willing to make the sacrifice, it wouldn''t matter. With his position and authority, he could only contact a portion of Astral Lord agents.


    As for the Astral Monarch agents? Each one was of utmost importance, personally contacted by the Sovereigns of the Voltari Temple to ensure absolute secrecy.


    "Understood," the ck-robed figure replied.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s body refiner self cultivated leisurely in seclusion.


    <i>Meanwhile, far away on the Spacetime Ind, within the private hall of his qi refiner self.</i>


    <i>My body refiner self faces pressure from the Immortal Court and needs to keep a low profile, but my qi refiner self needn''t worry about such concerns.</i>


    <i>The path of cultivation always requires some adventures and bloodshed.</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self smiled faintly. <i>Besides, after years of intensively refining Faith power, I''ve nearly exhausted my Genesis Power.</i>


    <i>It''s time to venture out.</i>


    While his body refiner self could replenish Genesis Power in the safe confines of the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, his qi refiner self didn''t have such favorable conditions.


    <i>Merely seeking out Earth Immortals and Earth Deities would hardly pose a challenge.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. <i>Though my qi refiner self may not match my body refiner self in directbat, it still needs a worthy challenge.</i>


    <i>I think I''ll head to the Snowlight Mist Realm. With luck, I might even encounter some old ''acquaintances''. </i>Wu Yuan grinned wickedly.


    When he first acquired the ck Devil Star, his mana body had encountered numerous ambushes and blockades while fleeing, eventually leading to its demise.


    In the decades since then, even after crystallizing Spacetime True Intent, he had restrained himself from taking action, biding his time until he was powerful enough to embark on a truly satisfying killing spree.


    <i>Karmic secret art,bined with Spacetime True Intent. I wonder how many can escape my pursuit.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold and merciless.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>An identical white-robed figure appeared��his mana body.


    With his strength having undergone massive transformations, Wu Yuan''s concerns had diminished. He not only carried numerous celestial swords and artifacts but also brought along a Genesis Divine Pir.


    <i>Let''s go. </i>Wu Yuan''s mana body strode out of the hall, swiftly soaring toward the spacetime teleportation array in the distant sky.

 Chapter 750: Ive Come To Kill You

    <h4>Chapter 750: I''ve Come To Kill You</h4>


    <i>The Snowlight Mist Realm, Snow Devil Cave.</i>


    A sudden, powerful ripple disrupted the fabric of spacetime, and a figure d in white robes materialized from the void. The turbulent spacetime fluctuations quickly settled into stillness.


    <i>This time, it actually teleported me directly to the Snow Devil Cave? I truly don''t get the mechanisms of the spacetime teleportation array. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across his surroundings.


    This was a ce he had once explored with Zhuo Haiyue and Kou Lei. Ice sheets stretched out endlessly, nketed by snow.


    <i>Coming here is easy, but returning to the Spacetime Ind will be troublesome. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    At the Spacetime Ind, one could pay a thousand divine crystals to use the spacetime teleportation array, which transported them to the general location they had previously arrived at within the Dao Realm.


    To return? Unless one had justpleted a spacetime mission and had a ��free return ticket��, it would depend on one''s own abilities.


    <i>However, the concerns other imprint bearers may have are mostly irrelevant to me.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    With a thought, the space around Wu Yuan suddenly distorted, and he found himself amidst countless bizarre threads. The countless threads, all parallel, resembled fine streams.


    This was the Turbulent Spatial Layer, a higher spatial dimension beyond the Material Spatial Layer and the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    <i>Spacetime True Intent rivals Space Dao Field. In terms of Space Daoprehension, ordinary Astral Monarchs of Space aren''t much stronger than me, we''re on the same level. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.<i> It''s just that my mana capacity is still too small.</i>


    If he had the mana capacity of an Astral Monarch, Wu Yuan''s mana body could already enter the Vacuum Spatial Layer. Now that would be truly terrifying.


    Wu Yuan''s current mastery of Space was enough for him to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer, on par with Astral Lords of Space and ordinary Astral Monarchs.


    Of course, in directbat, he was still far from their match and needed to be extra cautious.


    <i>It''s sufficient for now. Astral Monarchs can''t enter the Snowlight Mist Realm, so the strongest individuals here are just Astral Lords.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>An Astral Lord of Space? There''s hardly one among thousands of Astral Lords. As long as I''m careful, I won''t encounter one.</i>


    Moreover, even if he did encounter one, so what? His mana body might not be as robust as his ether body in terms of vitality or as fierce inbat when his ether body employed the Saint Prohibition Art. But with the Genesis Divine Pir, he would still be a force to reckon with if he were to unleash his full power.


    Wu Yuan was confident that he could preserve his life. In fact, as long as his mana body didn''t deliberately venture into extremely dangerous ces like the ck Devil Blood Hollow, Wu Yuan believed he would be safe and sound.


    <i>Tempering! The main objective of my mana body venturing to the Snowlight Mist Realm is to hone myself, to forge strongerbat will and battle techniques through fights with other Archimmortals and Archdeities.</i> Wu Yuan had long since figured this out.


    <i>The secondary objective is revenge. Those who attacked me during the ck Devil Star incident and are still in the Snowlight Mist Realm will be paid back in full.</i>


    Repaying kindness with gratitude and grudges with vengeance had always been Wu Yuan''s principle. Having the ability and opportunity but not taking revenge would leave Wu Yuan feeling like he had unfinished business.


    <i>Karma!</i> Standing in the Turbulent Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan''s twelve Yuan Souls vibrated as he employed the karmic secret art.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>A total of six karmic threads, some weak and some strong, appeared in the invisible Voidspace, extending into the depths of the Destiny Voidscape.


    The Destiny Voidscape was where the fates of countless lives converged.


    <i>Karmic threads!</i> Wu Yuan perceived them clearly.


    If he were to reach the Sovereign phase in the future, he could attack enemies directly through these karmic threads, and they would find it impossible to defend against. This was known as a karmic attack. Karma was extremely unpredictable.


    Although Wu Yuan didn''t have the ability tounch karmic attacks, he could ovep the karmic threads with space to roughly determine the positions of the individuals at the other ends of these six karmic threads.


    <i>How lucky, encountering six enemies right away.</i> A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Karmic perception was not without its limitations.


    Firstly, there was a distance constraint. Given Wu Yuan''s rtively low strength and rudimentary grasp of the karmic secret art, his perception range would have been extremely limited if not for his proficiency in Spacetime. Even so, when the distance increased, his perception became increasingly vague.


    Secondly, if the enemy was extremely powerful, they might sense Wu Yuan the moment Wu Yuan sensed them. Karmic perception was mutual!


    Fortunately, there were many enemies who had pursued Wu Yuan previously, and all those who had engaged with him had formed some degree of karmic connection. Combined with his deepprehension of Spacetime, he could sense six individuals right away.


    <i>Six powerhouses. Among them, two seem to be only High Immortals. I''ll pass on them, it''s not worth it, they''re probably just informants.</i> Wu Yuan decided against going after High Immortals, seeing little meaning in it.


    As for the other four, the level of threat they posed to Wu Yuan suggested they were all at the Archimmortal or Archdeity phase.


    <i>Let''s go. I''ll kill them one by one.</i> Wu Yuan''s figure moved, traveling through the Turbulent Spatial Layer at a speed of ten thousand li per second.


    The higher the spatial dimension, the greater the degree of spatial contraction or expansion.


    Traveling ten thousand li in the Turbulent Spatial Layer was equivalent to traveling one trillion li in the Material Spatial Layer!


    In just a few breaths, Wu Yuan had already traveled the equivalent of about one light-year in the Material Spatial Layer, approaching his target.


    During his journey, Wu Yuan passed by quite a few Archimmortals and Archdeities. But without grudges or enmity, he couldn''t be bothered to make a move.


    As the distance shortened, Wu Yuan''s perception grew clearer.


    <i>Oh? It''s actually an old acquaintance.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile. <i>I thought it was an Archimmortal, but it turns out I''ve found a High Immortal.</i>


    Wu Yuan''s first target was Li Xuan.


    Back then, it was he who had pursued Wu Yuan in the Frost Mist Sea. If not for Wu Yuan''s proficiency in the Law of Time, he might not have escaped.


    <i>Where there''s a cause, there''s an effect. </i>Wu Yuan muttered, growing increasingly in awe of the wonder of destiny. [1]


    <i>Boom!</i> With a thought, Wu Yuan chose to descend from the Turbulent Spatial Layer to the Fragmentary Spatial Layer.


    The Fragmentary Spatial Layer waspletely solidified due to the suppression of spatial fluctuations. However, this had no effect on Wu Yuan. His control over space had already surpassed the restrictions here.


    There has never been an absolute rule. So-called rules could all be broken with enough strength.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ...


    The Hundred Gales Domain was an extremely dangerous area within the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    It was here that Zhuo Haiyue had saved Wu Yuan''s mana body years ago.


    In an expanse of space, a ck mountain floated. Icy gales would asionally appear around it, tearing through space. On the mountain peak, four figures were gathered.


    "Your Highness, we''ve killed two more Archimmortals this time and obtained quite a few treasures."


    "Indeed! Your Highness is truly formidable. Your strike directly tore that Archdeity''s deity body apart. Haha!" The three white-robed Archimmortals showered him with ttery.


    They were all ordinary Archimmortals from the Hundred Mysteries Pce, with strength only at the first or second-stage Archimmortal phase, ranking at the bottom among Archimmortals.


    However, when the three Archimmortals joined forces, they could employ abined secret art with strong defensive capabilities, which had caught Li Xuan��s.


    The three Archimmortals were quite willing to follow a peerless genius who was destined to reach thete-stage Astral Lord phase in the future, and even had the potential to be an Astral Monarch.


    "Don''t get careless. The Hundred Gales Domain is different from the Frost Mist Sea. This ce is very dangerous," His Highness Li Xuan said calmly, his silver skin shimmering.


    "Understood."


    "Your Highness is wise." The three Archimmortals replied.


    <i>Fullyprehending an Intermediate Law is truly difficult. How should I break through? </i>His Highness Li Xuan frowned, silently cultivating.


    After hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation, he had long since reached the ninth-level Dao Field stage, but no matter how he tried, he couldn''t take that final step. Crossing over would allow him to advance to great heights in one go.


    Suddenly, the calm space in the distance erupted into chaos. Numerous icy gales appeared, intersecting and slicing through the air. Themotion was tremendous.


    <i>Hmm? </i>His Highness Li Xuan raised his head, looking into the distance. The three Archimmortals also looked over.


    "Is someone there?"


    "Who dares to intrude into the Hundred Gales Domain?"


    "Let''s take a look," the three Archimmortals conversed, a glint of killing intent shing in their eyes. Their purpose for waiting here was precisely to hunt.


    Only His Highness Li Xuan felt different. For reasons unknown, an instinctive unease flickered deep within his spirit, as if some great danger approached.


    It was pure instinct. Though he hadn''t cultivated karmic secret arts, his Daoprehension was exceptionally deep. The stronger one became, the clearer their perception of destiny.


    Suddenly, a figure emerged from the distance, striding forth with purpose.


    In an instant, His Highness Li Xuan and the three white-robed Archimmortals saw him clearly �C it was a figure d in white.


    "An Earth Immortal?"


    "How can an Earth Immortal withstand so many icy gales?" The three white-robed Archimmortals were dumbfounded, finding it inconceivable.


    "It''s him!" His Highness Li Xuan''s eyes narrowed as he abruptly stood up. "It''s the Spacetime Sword Immortal, Ming Jian."


    He had been part of the great hunt for Wu Yuan, and had even crossed swords with him once, memorizing his soul aura. Even if Wu Yuan changed his appearance, he couldn''t deceive Li Xuan. Moreover, Wu Yuan hadn''t altered his appearance at all.


    "Ming Jian? The Spacetime Sword Immortal? It''s really him?"


    ��Indeed, it��s him.�� The three white-robed Archimmortals finally recognized him as well. Though they had never seen Wu Yuan''s mana body, they had all heard of the famous Ming Jian, the Spacetime Sword Immortal.


    Indeed, no one who ventured into the Snowlight Mist Realm didn''t know of him.


    In a sh, Wu Yuan took several steps forward, the very fabric of space appearing to warp around him. He swiftly closed the distance, halting when only about two million li remained between them.


    At this, the expressions of the three white-robed Archimmortals shifted slightly.


    His Highness Li Xuan was equally surprised internally, but he maintained an outward calm. He smiled, "Should I address you as Ming Jian, or as Spacetime Sword Immortal?"


    "Up to you," Wu Yuan replied calmly.


    "Very well, I''ll call you Ming Jian then," His Highness Li Xuan said with a smile. "During ourst battle, you relied on the Law of Time to flee in panic. Yet today, you stand before me without a hint of fear.


    Are you really so confident that you can slip through my grasp by yourself?"


    This also reassured the three Archimmortals beside him. Then they realized �C they were all Archimmortals, why should they fear a mere Earth Immortal?


    "Li Xuan!" Wu Yuan suddenly spoke. "I''m here specifically for you."


    "Specifically for me?" His Highness Li Xuan was stunned for a moment, thenughed. "Could it be that you''vee to your senses and wish to make a deal with me and my Hundred Mysteries Pce, to sell the ck Devil Star in your possession? If you''re willing to part with the ck Devil Star, I can overlook our past grievances."


    He didn''t take Wu Yuan seriously at all.


    "No! The ck Devil Star is not for sale," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I''vee ... to kill you!"


    A deathly silence fell.


    "Kill me?" His Highness Li Xuan''s face twisted into a sneer, as if he''d heard the most ridiculous joke. "You, a mere Earth Immortal, think you can kill me and three Archimmortals?"


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In an instant, the three white-robed Archimmortals erupted into action. Coordinating their efforts, they instantly formed a formidable array that loomed like a majestic mountain range, radiating dense earthy-yellow qi streams.


    With a thunderous roar, space itself tore apart as the three white-robed Archimmortals controlled the array, sending it crashing into Wu Yuan.


    "Pressure Ming Jian at close range!"


    "Create an opening for His Highness to attack!" The objective of the three Archimmortals was clear - being weaker, their role was mainly to assist.


    "Kill!" His Highness Li Xuan struck at the same moment. Since a battle was inevitable, there was no need for further words.


    ��Ming Jian has grasped both Time and Space, excelling at escape. His attacks are also formidable and unpredictable, but his weakness lies in his limited mana... However, his talent is extraordinary. After decades, his strength has likely improved considerably. We must be cautious." His Highness Li Xuan was no reckless fool.


    From the day their grudge was formed, he had been gathering information about Ming Jian.


    Ming Jian''s greatest weakness was that he was merely an Earth Immortal with little mana. Yet, he could still unleash power on par with an Archimmortal. This was already incredibly extraordinary, indicating Daoprehension approaching that of an Astral Lord.


    <i>I''ll test his abilities first, to see what tricks he has up his sleeve.</i> His Highness Li Xuan thought, his gaze cold and calcting.


    Four silver lights circled his body as a series of spirit cauldrons materialized, forming a powerful defense.


    One of the silver lights howled across heaven and earth, instantly slicing toward Wu Yuan with terrifying power that surpassed the speed of light.


    <i>How decisive. </i>Wu Yuan inwardly praised. <i>As expected of a lord of the Hundred Mysteries Pce.</i>


    His gaze sharpened, sweeping over the three Archimmortals and His Highness Li Xuan as he employed one of the three techniques of the ��Sea Of Stars�� soul secret art �C ��Star Seal��.


    Back then, Wu Yuan had selected three teachings from the vast array in the Spacetime Secret Codex.


    One of them was ��Sea Of Stars��, a supreme teaching created by the Spacetime Dao Master thatbined both offense and defense. Most of the supreme teachings cultivated by Sovereigns were at this level.


    ��Star Seal�� was one of the three techniques within this teaching, a group soul attack primarily aimed at disrupting the enemy''s soul. It didn''t seek to kill, only to interrupt the opponent��s focus.


    Although Wu Yuan didn��t dedicate much effort to cultivate it over the years, the formation of his twelve Yuan Souls and his exceptional Daoprehension had unconsciously elevated the Sea of Stars to a remarkably advanced level.


    <i>Boom! </i>The three Archimmortals and His Highness Li Xuan, who hadunched attacks with great momentum just moments ago, suddenly felt a terrifyingly powerful shockwave sweep through their spirits and souls. It was as if the very heaven and earth was exploding around them.


    Truly advanced soul secret arts didn''t just target the soul, but also exploited weaknesses of the spirit.


    In an instant, a glimmer of confusion shed through the eyes of the three Archimmortals and His Highness Li Xuan, clearly showing they had been greatly affected.


    Although His Highness Li Xuan was much stronger and had powerful treasures guarding his soul, his soul was weaker than an Archimmortal''s. Thus, his soul defense wasn''t much stronger than the three white-robed Archimmortals.


    Of course, this effect would onlyst for a moment. But for Wu Yuan, this moment was enough.


    <i>Go! </i>Two sword arrays emerged from the palms of Wu Yuan''s hands, eachposed of nine celestial swords. Powerful Spacetime Dao patterns intertwined with them.


    Assembling nine celestial swords into a single sword array was absolutely unimaginable for ordinary Earth Immortals or even High Immortals, requiring far too much mana and cing a great strain on one''s soul. But with Wu Yuan''s soul strength and Daoprehension, he could aplish it with ease.


    One sword strike could severely damage or even shatter a worldlet.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>The two Spacetime divine swords formed from the arrays sliced through the void, vanishing in a sh.


    In the next instant, they each appeared hundreds of millions of li away.


    No! Not just hundreds of millions of li away �C one of the celestial swords appeared directly inside the array of the three white-robed Archimmortals.


    Wu Yuan''s swords could enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer, descending from higher dimensions to lower ones, bypassing most so-called defensive measures.


    <i>Splurt!</i> One sword passed through, as if gliding through the void without leaving a trace. The bodies of the three Archimmortals were instantly annihted.


    They were dead!


    This was the fourth step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime �C Untraced In The Void!


    <i>Hmm? Not good! </i>His Highness Li Xuan finally came to his senses, shocked and furious as he witnessed his subordinate Archimmortals perishing.


    His instincts told him to flee and block the attack. But by then, it was already toote.


    <i>Shlick!</i> Silently, the other Spacetime divine sword suddenly appeared a hundred meters in front of him, then pierced through his body.


    Sword lights erupted, obliterating him.


    The space fell intoplete silence.


    <i>How weak. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, waving his hand to collect the numerous treasures left behind by the fallen.


    1. Karma (���), is made of two characters, �� means cause, and �� means effect. ?

 Chapter 751: One Strike To Kill Those Below Astral Lord

    <h4>Chapter 751: One Strike To Kill Those Below Astral Lord</h4>


    <i>These Archimmortals barely have any treasures. How poor. Altogether, they''re not even worth 100,000 divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan examined his recent spoils.


    With his current strength, he no longer thought much of such treasures.


    <i>Hmm, this Li Xuan��s treasures aren��t half bad... The total value is actually close to a million divine crystals?</i> Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.


    His Highness Li Xuan''s strength was only around the fourth-stage Archimmortal level. Yet he had this many treasures?


    Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, Li Xuan was regarded with quite some importance by the upper echelons of the Hundred Mysteries Pce. He had brought many treasures with him when embarking on his expedition, and due to his confidence, had never returned in all these years.


    Little did he expect, it all became a dowry for Wu Yuan.


    Killing His Highness Li Xuan stirred not the slightest ripple of excitement in Wu Yuan''s heart. From the day he crystallized Spacetime True Intent, killing such enemies was destined to be effortless.


    <i>There''s no need to use my trump cards to kill a fourth-stage Archimmortal.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>When my mana body kills enemies, the Genesis Power generated all goes to the true self. The Genesis Divine Pir carried by the mana body can''t be replenished. </i>


    Indeed, from the start to the end of the battle just now, Wu Yuan hadn''t employed ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��. He had relied entirely on his own strength to kill His Highness Li Xuan.


    <i>A battle with dimensional differences is indeed one-sided. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>This battle counts as my first one since crystallizing Spacetime True Intent. I didn''t expect that when it would be so terrifying once applied.</i>


    When the body refiner self fought, he could only employ the Law of Space or Law of Time, and only use them as auxiliary techniques.


    It was only when his mana body fought that Wu Yuan truly realized the terrifying nature of the Spacetime Dao.


    <i>I used my full power in that sword strike just now, yet its might only reached the fourth-stage Archimmortal level. In fact, it wasn''t even as strong as Li Xuan''s technique.</i>


    That was right! In terms of the power of their techniques, Wu Yuan was inferior to Li Xuan. But in a life-and-death battle, Wu Yuan only needed one strike to kill him.


    Why? It was a cross-dimensional strike!


    <i>When fighting in the Material Spatial Layer, I can send my sword into the Turbulent Spatial Layer with a single thought. Once it descends, it��s equivalent to an attack hundreds of millions of times the speed of light, even faster than a soul attack. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>It can also avoid all obstacles in its way.</i>


    During the battle just now, the three Archimmortals had formed an array, and Archimmortal Li Xuan had summoned numerous artifacts, putting up a mighty defense.


    If it were his body refiner self, he would have to employ the Saint Prohibition Art, overwhelming the opponent''s defenses with sheer power.


    But Wu Yuan''s mana body didn''t need to. With a thought, he could direct the sword array to descend within a hundred meters of the enemy or even closer.


    For battles at the Archimmortal level, a hundred meters betweenbatants was equivalent to a de already piercing through the flesh in battles between mortals, with only a hair''s breadth left before reaching the heart.


    So, even though his technique''s power seemed inferior to his opponent''s, Wu Yuan could still kill His Highness Li Xuan in one move. The other had no possibility of defending at all.


    <i>It��s just like no matter how many, how tall, or how thick the walls built on the ground, they cannot stop someone who can fly.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    This was a cross-dimensional strike.


    <i>This is probably why among the many Greater Laws, Time is acknowledged as the top and Space is second.</i> Wu Yuan now understood.


    But because the Law of Time was so profound, the vast majority of cultivators encountered more Astral Lords of Space, Astral Monarchs of Space, and so on.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan knew that the full terror of the Law of Time could only be unleashed once it was fullyprehended.


    This was also the reason why figures like Astral Lords of Space and Astral Monarchs of Space had such high status and were so difficult to deal with. Just by being able to ess one dimension higher than cultivators of the same level, there was already a distinct difference in their abilities.


    <i>In terms of directbat power, my qi refiner self isn��t as strong as my body refiner self.</i>


    <i>Among the many Great Daos�� True Intents, only the Creation True Intent can upgrade the roots of cultivators at the Divided Soul/Dharma Body phase to the Apotheosis degree. This is a characteristic of the essence of the Creation Great Dao.</i>


    <i>But my body refiner self can''t hold a candle to my qi refiner self''s unpredictability inbat. </i>Wu Yuan was quite satisfied. <i>Previously, it took my body refiner self and ether body quite a while to kill those few Archimmortals from the White Sea Immortal Continent.</i>


    <i>If my qi refiner self were there, it could ughter them all in an instant without even needing to unleash ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, relying solely on its own power.</i>


    The more he cultivated, the more Wu Yuan understood what the Creation Emissary had said back then.


    The Great Daos were eternal, they all contained inconceivable power, andprehending different Great Daos led to vastly different areas of expertise.


    <i>But this mana body of mine is not invincible. My mana body doesn''t have a high-grade Dao Instrument, nor does it carry a lifebound flying sword. Even if I unleash Genesis Law Sacrifice, its directbat power would only beparable to a sixth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan had a very clear understanding of his abilities.


    <i>When facing an Astral Lord, I''d have to retreat.</i>


    <i>Astral Lords have huge mana capacities. Although they can''t break through to the Turbulent Spatial Layer, they can seal the surrounding space, preventing the free contraction and expansion between spatial dimensions in the range of effect. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    This was the essential difference between Astral Lords and ordinary Archimmortals. Astral Monarchs could often kill ordinary Archimmortals in one move whether they were first-stage Archimmortals or sixth-stage Archimmortals. But killing an Astral Lord often required more effort, and this was the reason why.


    <i>I''m far from the level of a real Astral Monarch. But when ites to dealing with those below the Astral Lord level, there''s not much difference between me and an Astral Monarch in a sense.</i> Wu Yuan was quite confident.


    <i>The Genesis Divine Pir should be saved for crucial moments. </i>Wu Yuan smiled. <i>Let��s see who can force me to go all out.</i>


    <i>Or rather, I''m very curious to see how many individuals in the Snowlight Mist Realm can withstand one sword strike from me.</i>


    <i>Whoosh~ </i>The space around Wu Yuan distorted, and he instantly vanished from this dark space, once again entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    Peace returned to this expanse of space. No one could have imagined that several Archimmortal-level existences had just died here without a sound.


    ...


    The Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters upied a vast expanse of spacetime, within which was a sprawlingplex of halls.


    Among them was a hall named Li Xuan Hall. Many maidservants and manservants came and went from it, bearing proud expressions. For they served none other than one of the top-tier geniuses of this generation in the entire Hundred Mysteries Pce �C His Highness Li Xuan.


    On ordinary days, Archimmortals would asionallye to visit him.


    Archimmortals! In the world outside, many High Immortals couldn''t even catch a glimpse of one, yet they came specifically to pay respects to their young master who hadn''t even ascended to Archimmortality.


    Inside the hall, two Archimmortals were in the midst of conversing with His Highness Li Xuan.


    Suddenly, a sh of shock and anger crossed His Highness Li Xuan''s face. "Damn it, how is this possible!" His expression soon morphed into pain.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Your Highness Li Xuan." The two Archimmortals were startled, thinking that His Highness Li Xuan had suffered some kind of attack.


    But this was the Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters, withyers uponyers of restrictions. What kind of figure could attack His Highness Li Xuan without a sound?


    "No one is attacking me. It''s my mana body, it has perished." His Highness Li Xuan said in a low, grating voice. His face was slightly contorted, his eyes revealing a hint of astonishment.


    "Your mana body perished?"


    "Perished?" The two Archimmortals exchanged nces. Though still shocked, they were no longer as panicked.


    When embarking on expeditions, the deaths of mana bodies was amon urrence.


    They had lost no less than ten mana bodies each.


    "Fellow Daoists, I won��t be able to continue our discussion today. I have urgent matters to consult my Master about," His Highness Li Xuan''s expression had returned to calm.


    "Alright."


    "If Your Highness has matters to attend to, please don''t let us keep you waiting." The two Archimmortals hurriedly stood up to take their leave, and His Highness Li Xuan rose to see them off.


    His consciousness had already entered the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, arriving at a special ne belonging to the Hundred Mysteries Pce.


    <i>Momentster, in thergest hall within this special ne.</i>


    "Master, this is what happened." His Highness Li Xuan said respectfully. He had already recounted the entire battle process in detail. He had also projected all the images from his memories.


    Within the hall was a figure in azure robes, his Astral Monarch master.


    For peerless geniuses like him who were destined to be Astral Lords, many Astral Monarchs were willing to take them as disciples.


    ��What a terrifying sword strike. From the images alone, it''s impossible to evaluate the profoundness of the technique. But ording to what you said, it was undetectable. The power of his sword wasn''t too outrageous, only at the fourth-stage Archimmortal level, yet it ignored the defenses of your immortal treasure," the azure-robed Astral Monarch said slowly.


    "Combined with the final result... Hmm, I believe it was a cross-dimensional strike!"


    "Master, I also considered this possibility," His Highness Li Xuan said. "But the area I was in was the Hundred Gales Domain, where the Fragmentary Spatial Layer ispletely sealed off."


    "Who said anything about the Fragmentary Spatial Layer?" The azure-robed Astral Monarch shook his head. "It was the Turbulent Spatial Layer. His sword wasunched from the Turbulent Spatial Layer, that''s why it was so terrifying."


    His Highness Li Xuan��s eyes widened. The Turbulent Spatial Layer?


    "Master, are you saying that this Ming Jian''s insights into the Space Dao rival those of an Astral Lord?" His Highness Li Xuan asked.


    "No! They rival an Astral Monarch of Space," the blue-robed Astral Monarch said softly. "His mana is weak, yet he can perform at this level. It must be theprehension of an Astral Monarch of Space.


    The Spacetime Ind truly has too many monstrous prodigies. First Zhuo Haiyue, and now Ming Jian."


    His Highness Li Xuan fell silent.


    Zhuo Haiyue? He had heard of her. When he first learned of her abilities, he was shocked. He had never seen such an earth-shattering peerless genius before. And now, another one named Ming Jian had appeared, equally terrifying.


    The most crucial point was: it appeared he had formed grudges with both of them.


    Realizing this, His Highness Li Xuan, who was usually quite arrogant, couldn''t help but shudder inwardly.


    But soon, he rxed slightly. Fortunately, they were only members of the Spacetime Ind.


    "Li Xuan, let this matter rest here," the blue-robed Astral Monarch suddenly spoke. "The other Spacetime Ind imprint bearers are one thing. Even if they''re monstrous prodigies, most aren''t truly skilled in Spacetime, and will eventually leave. But this Ming Jian is special."


    "Special?" His Highness Li Xuan was taken aback.


    "Yes." The blue-robed Astral Monarch nodded. "The purpose of the Spacetime Ind is to select super geniuses skilled in Spacetime. Don''t provoke him again. It''s best if you don''t venture out at all.


    You''ve undergone plenty of tempering over these years. Focus on cultivation for a while."


    "Understood," His Highness Li Xuan responded respectfully. Even though he was worried and uneasy, he could only set it aside for now.


    "Furthermore, don''t spread news of this battle."


    "Disciple understands," Li Xuan quickly replied. "I''ve already sent messages to the other Archimmortals."


    ...


    In a treacherous, ice-cold exploration site within the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    "Hmm?"


    "What''s that fluctuation?"


    "It''s... Ming Jian! It''s Ming Jian!" Three Archimmortals and one Archdeity simultaneously sensed a white-robed figure suddenly appearing not far away, rapidly approaching them.


    Among the four Archimmortals/Archdeities, the Archdeity had once pursued Wu Yuan and saw him from afar, so he instantly recognized him.


    "Is he the one who acquired the ck Devil Star, an ultimate treasure worth billions of divine crystals?" One of the Archimmortals revealed a greedy expression.


    "Calm down. This is definitely his mana body. The ck Devil Star has long been taken back to the Spacetime Ind," another Archimmortal said.


    "How arrogant, charging straight at us. Did he know we were here from the start?"


    "He''s so monstrous, we shouldn''t offend him." The Archimmortals and Archdeitymunicated, each with their own opinions.


    They had joined forces to explore this ce, but weren��t too close.


    "Ming Jian, stop!" That Archdeity suddenly flew out, speaking in a low voice, "We don''t want to offend you. Don''t force our hand."


    "I''m here for you alone," Wu Yuan fixed his ice-cold gaze on the distant ck-armored Archdeity. "Back then, you joined the hunt for me."


    The ck-armored Archdeity''s expression changed slightly. He had indeed pursued Wu Yuan back then, but they had only caught a glimpse of each other from afar. How could he remember that?


    "You three." Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the other three Archimmortals. "I have no grudge against you, and I''m toozy to kill you. Get out of the way."


    The three Archimmortals were originally hoping to avoid offending Wu Yuan, but his words angered them.


    They could all see that Wu Yuan was merely an Earth Immortal. An Earth Immortal dared to speak with such disrespect to them, a group of Archimmortals and Archdeities?


    But in the next instant, the three Archimmortals witnessed a scene they would never forget.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Two divine swords appeared out of thin air, piercing through the ck-armored Archdeity''s head and torso, instantly tearing his body apart.


    It was too fast.


    No! It could no longer be described as fast, but rather as if space itself had been torn open.


    <i>Boom! </i>


    ��No! Sir Ming Jian, spare me! Please!" The ck-armored Archdeity''s desperate plea echoed through the air.


    "With your death, this karmic debt will be settled!" Wu Yuan''s voice was cold and merciless.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Two Spacetime sword arrays interwove, and in less than half a breath, they utterly annihted this Archdeity, leaving not even a shred of flesh or soul fragment.


    He was dead!


    Wu Yuan waved his hand, putting away various treasures, and nced at the three distant Archimmortals.


    <i>Hum~ </i>He vanished from the spot.


    "How terrifying!"


    "His swords seemed to appear out of nowhere, impossible to defend against."


    "He killed Qu Wei just like that? He was a third-stage Archdeity!" The three Archimmortals were utterly shocked.


    "Is he really an Earth Immortal?"


    "Can an Earth Immortal be so unbelievably powerful?" The three Archimmortals felt a trace of lingering fear, d they hadn''t been too impulsive earlier.


    ...


    <i>Next!</i> Wu Yuan, guided by his karmic perception, continued to hunt down his next target.


    <i>Archdeities are harder to kill than Archimmortals. </i>Wu Yuan realized.


    And so, Wu Yuan went on a mad killing spree in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    At his speed, it didn��t take long for him to traverse the length of the Snowlight Mist Realm. Therefore, while pursuing one karmic thread, he would often sense other enemies he had grudges with.


    Once he encountered them, Wu Yuan would usually strike immediately once he confirmed the target.


    In just three short days, over two hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities fell by Wu Yuan''s hand.

 Chapter 752: Forging A Fearsome Reputation

    <h4>Chapter 752: Forging A Fearsome Reputation</h4>


    The Snowlight Mist Realm teemed with Archimmortals and Archdeities, yet the deaths of so many in such a short time still caused an uproar.


    Ny-nine percent of those in by Wu Yuan were merely mana bodies or ether bodies. Only a few unfortunate Archimmortals and Archdeities lost their true bodies.


    While a fair number of these Archimmortals and Archdeities chose not to further offend Wu Yuan, hoping to resolve the karmic debt with the loss of a mana body or ether body, even more seethed with rage. How could they not be furious at their losses? They chose to spread the news.


    "What?"


    "You were killed by Ming Jian? That Earth Immortal brat who obtained the ck Devil Star? How is that possible!"


    "You''re a third-stage Archimmortal."


    "I was killed, simple as that. Do you think I''d lie about this?"


    These Archimmortals and Archdeities whose mana or ether bodies were killed came from different major factions. So when the news first began circting within the various Dao Realm factions, most paid little heed, only expressing slight surprise. Many assumed Wu Yuan relied on a couple of special treasures to aplish this.


    But as time passed, more and more Archimmortals and Archdeities fell, including fourth-stage Archimmortal powerhouses.


    "So many have been in by Ming Jian?"


    "How is this possible?"


    "It seems to have all happened in the past day or two."


    "How did Ming Jian manage this? Many exploration sites in the Snowlight Mist Realm suppress spatial fluctuations. Even if Astral Lords could do it, such a rate of ughter should be beyond them."


    "He''s still just an Earth Immortal." This news began spreading through various channels of the nine major powers of the Dao Realm, finally causing somemotion.


    For the nine major Dao Realm factions, the loss of some Archimmortal and Archdeity mana bodies and ether bodies was trivial. Even the fall of many Archimmortal true selves would be a minor matter.


    But the key was that this was aplished by an Earth Immortal. Naturally, it drew immense attention!


    The news swiftly reached the Astral Monarchs of the major factions, and even many intelligence agencies began actively gathering information.


    Meanwhile, one mana/ether body after another continued to fall! Wu Yuan''s bloody ughter showed no signs of stopping.


    "He can swiftly traverse the Snowlight Mist Realm, ignore all kinds of defenses, and his flying sword attacks at close range... Ming Jian��s Daoprehension seems to rival an Astral Lord of Space. He��s able to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer." Many Dao Realm Astral Monarchs made conjectures and judgments based on various reports.


    This was the most likely possibility.


    "An Earth Immortal able to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer? His mana capacity is clearly limited."


    "It only goes to show how deep his Daoprehension is."


    "Decades ago, when he was chased and forced to flee from those trying to snatch the ck Devil Star, he clearly didn''t have this level of power."


    "In just a few short decades, his strength has transformed to this degree?"


    "Could he be another Zhuo Haiyue?"


    "Zhuo Haiyue''s throwing knives and lightning can at least be seen, even if they are hard to block. Ming Jian''s attacks are even more bizarre than Zhuo Haiyue''s. He often kills his target with just one sword strike, seemingly ignoring all defenses. Mastering both Space and Time, he''s reached an inconceivable level."


    "Truly extraordinary."


    "His cultivation time is even shorter than Zhuo Haiyue''s. He''s only an Earth Immortal, while Zhuo Haiyue is already a High Immortal." Waves of discussion arose among the nine major Dao Realm factions.


    Apart from the Sovereigns at the pinnacle, most Astral Monarchs were unaware of Zhuo Haiyue''s special nature.


    In the eyes of the many Dao Realm Astral Monarchs, the terrifying potential Ming Jian disyed was no less than Zhuo Haiyue''s, perhaps even more special. Because what Wu Yuan hadprehended was��Spacetime.


    "The Archimmortals and Archdeities he goes after are the same ones who once hunted him. Is Ming Jian here for revenge?" Some Astral Monarchs quickly noticed this point.


    Revenge? An Earth Immortal, seeking revenge against a group of Archimmortals and Archdeities?


    When this news spread, it naturally caused another wave of shock andmotion.


    "He must have cultivated a karmic secret art, able to sense karmic threads. Those below the sixth-stage Archimmortal level likely can''t withstand him."


    "Leave quickly."


    "All those below the sixth-stage Archimmortal level who once hunted Ming Jian, leave the Snowlight Mist Realm."


    "Group up near the closest sixth-stage Archimmortal or Astral Lord."


    "Though Ming Jian''s sword strikes are terrifying, his mana is limited. He can''t kill those that are too powerful." Some Astral Monarchs began issuing orders.


    These Astral Monarchs knew how terrifying an Astral Lord of Space could be when acting without restraint. ughtering arge group of Archimmortals and Archdeities was all too normal.


    ��They��re asking us to leave?"


    "Damn it all."


    "He''s just an Earth Immortal, yet he dares to challenge our nine great Dao Realm factions?"


    "Why don��t the Astral Monarchs punish him?" Many Archimmortals and Archdeities exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm felt frustrated and upset, but faced with the threat of death, they had no choice but to start grouping up.


    And they had to hurry. If they were slow, they might be Wu Yuan��s next victim.


    ...


    As the news spread among the nine major Dao Realm factions, it also began to gradually reach some imprint bearers of the Spacetime Ind through certain channels, naturally shocking them immensely.


    But as little time had gone by and there was ack of battle footage, it had not yet fully spread among the millions of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    ...


    <i>In the Snowlight Mist Realm, within an exploration site where spatial fluctuations were suppressed.</i>


    In the Fragmentary Spatial Layer, massive spatial fragments hung as if frozen, no longer flowing or colliding.


    On one enormous spatial fragment, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position.


    <i>Over these past few days, I''ve killed so many Archimmortals and Archdeities. </i>Wu Yuan muttered to himself. <i>The remaining Archimmortals and Archdeities, as long as they''re not fools, have probably received the news and started fleeing for their lives.</i>


    <i>Moreover, from what I sense through the karmic threads, many seem to have grouped up.</i>


    At close range, Wu Yuan could clearly judge the approximate positions of his enemies through the karmic threads.


    <i>Killing so many Archimmortals and Archdeities has yielded quite a harvest. ughter is indeed the best way to umte treasures. </i>Wu Yuan examined the treasures he had gained, sighing inwardly.


    Killing over two hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities hadted him tens of millions of divine crystals.


    It was enough to upgrade two more lifebound flying swords into low-grade celestial artifacts, but Wu Yuan still had six lifebound flying swords that were high-grade spirion artifacts. It still wasn��t enough!


    <i>I must continue. </i>Wu Yuan''s heart remained calm.


    In the future, when it was time to upgrade his lifebound flying swords from low-grade celestial artifacts to mid-grade celestial artifacts, the amount of treasures required would only increase. Naturally, he had to umte as many as possible.


    In reality, only a special individual like Wu Yuan could aplish this.


    Why were those Astral Lords of Space so absurdly wealthy? By possessing power that allowed them to ess higher dimensions, their ability to umte wealth was far superior that of their peers.


    However, most Astral Lords of Space usually didn''t dare to go on a rampage like Wu Yuan, as they feared making too many enemies.


    Among powerhouses, unless there was great enmity, they generally wouldn''t specifically hunt down or engage in the frenzied ughter of weaker individuals.


    For Astral Lords of Space, asionally ughtering a few dozen ordinary Archimmortals was fine. But if they deliberately ughtered hundreds or thousands? It would rouse Astral Monarchs into action!


    There was another consideration as well: it was difficult to kill the true bodies of Archimmortals and Archdeities. After all, most of those Wu Yuan killed were just mana bodies or ether bodies. After killing them, the karmic connection might not dissipate, instead growing even stronger.


    But Wu Yuan didn''t care.


    <i>When they came to hunt me back then, they should have been prepared to be killed by me. </i>Wu Yuan had his own principles. <i>If I kill their mana body or ether body once, then naturally I won''t seek revenge again.</i>


    In Wu Yuan''s mind, this karmic debt was settled.


    As for those he had killed? If they dared to seek revenge in the future, Wu Yuan wouldn''t mind killing them again.


    The strength of karmic threads was greatly rted to the importance one ced on them.


    For example, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had spared High Immortal Nie Qing in the Thunder Marsh World because he sensed that their karmic thread had grown very faint, and the other party had given up on revenge.


    If two super powerhouses both deemed each other mortal enemies, engaging in substantialbat, then the karmic thread would grow increasingly obvious.


    <i>When the soldierse, block them with generals. </i>Wu Yuan had his own cultivation n and followed it step by step.


    <i>I��ve digested my insights from the battles over these past few days, it''s time to seek new opponents.</i> Wu Yuan said as he slowly stood up.


    <i>The strongest opponents I''ve found so far were only fourth-stage Archimmortals, which could only be considered target practice for mybat techniques.</i>


    <i>This time, I need to seek out those who can genuinely challenge and push me to my limits. </i>


    Wu Yuan��s body flickered, entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer. He began searching the Snowlight Mist Realm for targets, scanning for powerful existences along the karmic threads.


    Not long after, Wu Yuan found a suitable target, quickly approaching and observing from a higher spatial dimension.


    <i>Archimmortal Li Shu? Sixth-stage Archimmortal. Very suitable.</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered. <i>I hope you don''t disappoint me.</i>


    Silently, sword arrays formed under Wu Yuan''s control, assembling into two Spacetime divine swords. They were ready to be unleashed at any moment.


    <i>Hmm? It seems my luck is quite good. A treasure is emerging?</i> Wu Yuan''s eyes lit up, looking rather surprised.


    ...


    The Emerald Ice River was a famous exploration site in the Inner Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, located in close proximity to the Core Region.


    The entire river stretched over six light-years in length, with a width reaching hundreds of billions of li and a depth of over a trillion li.


    Though called a river, it was actually an oceanic world formed by the convergence of various special liquids.


    Here, endless emerald waters stretched as far as the eye could see, with massive ciers asionally drifting by. The temperature was also extremely low.


    <i>Rumble!</i> At this moment, a fierce battle was erupting within the Emerald Ice River, churning up waves tens of thousands of li high, a battle of epic proportions.


    Over a dozen Archimmortals and Archdeities, divided into several teams, watched a few silhouettes fighting in the river from a great distance.


    On one side was a female immortal, dressed in snow-white robes. She had an ethereal bearing, standing atop a lotus tform. Snow-white lotus flowers bloomed beneath her feet, each containing unfathomable power.


    At the same time, numerous powerful celestial swords formed two sword arrays, tracing dazzling arcs of sword light through the void, shing towards her opponents. Her aura was imposing and overwhelming!


    This was none other than Archimmortal Li Shu, whose strength was incredibly close to that of an Astral Lord.


    Fighting her were two powerful Archdeities, both wielding ether arts and holding shields. They defended against Archimmortal Li Shu''s continuous stream of attacks.


    Themotion was tremendous.


    At the center of the sh between the three powerhouses was a massive vortex, where something seemed to be causing a huge disturbance. It looked like some treasure was about to emerge.


    "Archdeity Wan Bo and Archdeity Wan Xiao were taught by the same master, and both possess thebat strength of fifth-stage Archimmortals, with extremely strong self-preservation abilities."


    "One-on-one, neither is a match for Archimmortal Li Shu, and even while working together, they''re at a disadvantage."


    "But they can hold out." The many observing Archimmortalsmunicated telepathically.


    They had all sensed the disturbance caused by the emerging treasure and rushed over, only to find they stood no chance.


    Unless an Astral Lord arrived, no one dared im they could snatch the treasure from the hands of these three powerhouses.


    ...


    "Wan Bo, Wan Xiao, withdraw quickly and I''ll spare your lives," Archimmortal Li Shu''s figure was graceful, exuding a holy aura like a snow lotus fairy, but her voice was utterly cold. "Otherwise, don''t me me for being merciless. If I truly decide to kill you, it will hardly take any effort."


    "Shut your mouth, old woman."


    "We brothers aren''t afraid of you." Archdeity Wan Bo and Archdeity Wan Xiao showed no fear of Archimmortal Li Shu. Wielding numerous shields,bined with grand ether arts and battle armor, they easily withstood the attacks of the lotus flowers.


    This was the formidable aspect of Archdeities. When their strength was close to their opponent��s, it was extremely difficult to defeat them if they were determined to defend till the end.


    The two Archdeities joined forces in an explosive disy of might, firmly upying half the area of the massive vortex, stubbornly refusing to retreat.


    "You two bastards. If I hadn''t left my fire lotus behind, how could you be so arrogant?" Archimmortal Li Shu''s eyes shed with a hint of hatred.


    In truth, neither side had gone all out yet, as the treasure had not truly emerged.


    Just then, under the shocked gazes of the many observing Archimmortals, as well as Archdeity Wan Bo, Archdeity Wan Xiao, and Archimmortal Li Shu, ayer of hazy light enveloped the area above the ice vortex. Then, a white-robed figure stepped out from the distorted space, two nearly transparent celestial swords floating beside him.


    At the same time, more celestial swords hovered some distance from his body, with numerous celestial artifacts faintly forming a powerful sword domain, epassing an area of over a hundred thousand li.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was as if he had forcibly upied a corner of the area Archdeity Wan Bo, Archdeity Wan Xiao, and Archimmortal Li Shu were fighting over.


    This scene naturally left everyone stunned. Before this moment, no one had sensed the white-robed figure''s presence. How did he arrive?


    "An Earth Immortal?"


    "That''s... Ming Jian!"


    "It''s Ming Jian from the Spacetime Ind, the Spacetime Sword Immortal." Among the group of Archimmortals, someone recognized Wu Yuan.


    Instantly, a synchronized change overcame their features, shock giving way to fear. Many Archimmortals even began to flee, retreating into the distance.


    Over the past few days, Wu Yuan forged his reputation with the blood of numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    At the very least, the countless Archimmortals and Archdeities roaming the Snowlight Mist Realm had reached a consensus��unless one had the strength of a sixth-stage Archimmortal, it was best not to provoke Ming Jian.


    "Ming Jian!"


    "It''s him, how did hee here?"


    "We didn''t hunt him down back then." Archdeity Wan Bo and Archdeity Wan Xiao''s faces shed with a hint of trepidation.


    They weren''t afraid of Archimmortal Li Shu because her attacks were visible and tangible, but Wu Yuan''s swords were different, and impossible to block.


    In recent days, more than one powerful Archdeity had fallen by Wu Yuan''s hand, including some as strong as themselves.


    Wu Yuan stood within his sword domain, sword qi billowing around him, giving the appearance of a peerless sword immortal.


    "Wan Bo! Today, I''m not here for you two. Leave now, and I won''t kill you." Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the two Archdeities, his eyes piercing.


    The two Archdeities exchanged a nce, both feeling a flicker of anger in their hearts. Yet they dared not express it, only pondering for an instant.


    "Second Brother, let''s go."


    "Let''s go." The two Archdeities chose to withdraw, quickly departing. If Wu Yuan truly set his sights on them, their chances of leaving the Snowlight Mist Realm alive were slim.


    After all, they couldn''t maintain their full power indefinitely, but Wu Yuan, upon entering the higher spatial dimension, could attack them at any time without warning.


    Above the massive ice vortex, only Wu Yuan and Archimmortal Li Shu, who stood on her lotus tform surrounded by countless snow lotuses, remained.


    "Ming Jian, you want to snatch the treasure from me?" Archimmortal Li Shu''s eyes remained cold. "Do you really think you can kill me?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 753: Stirring Up A Storm (1)

    <h4>Chapter 753: Stirring Up A Storm (1)</h4>


    "Kill you? How about I give it a try?" Wu Yuan stood amidst his sword domain, a smile ying on his lips.


    He understood Archimmortal Li Shu''s thoughts. While a sixth-stage Archimmortal couldn''t stabilize space over a hundred thousand li like an Astral Lord, they could easily seal off a ten thousand li radius around themselves.


    In other words, Wu Yuan''s swords would struggle to directly prate an area of ten thousand li around his opponent from a higher spatial dimension.


    Ten thousand li was arge enough distance for Archimmortal Li Shu to react.


    "Even if I can''t kill you, you can''t kill me either, and I have nothing to lose," Wu Yuan said with a rxed expression. "Besides, you don''t think I''m here topete for the treasure, do you? Have you forgotten the day you hunted me down?"


    Decades ago, Wu Yuan''s mana body had perished after being surrounded and attacked, with Archimmortal Li Shu being one of the key figures involved.


    "Fine, then let me see how an Earth Immortal like you ns to kill me." Archimmortal Li Shu''s graceful demeanor belied the murderous intent in her beautiful eyes. "You want revenge? You''re not qualified to take it yet."


    Archdeity Wan Bo and the others might fear Wu Yuan, but Archimmortal Li Shu was not afraid.


    An Earth Immortal, even with Astral Monarch-levelprehension, would only have attack power at the fourth-stage Archimmortal level. The gap between the fourth-stage and sixth-stage Archimmortal levels was very significant.


    "Not qualified?" Wu Yuan raised his right hand, and the two sword arrays assembled into two divine swords, glowing with hazy and indistinct light. "One step at a time. Once I defeat you, or perhaps kill you, I��ll gain some confidence to face Astral Lords."


    The exchange between the two, especially Wu Yuan''s words, shocked the spectating Archimmortals and Archdeities even more.


    "Ming Jian wants to kill Li Shu?"


    "He''s just an Earth Immortal. How can he be confident in killing a sixth-stage Archimmortal? Even with Astral Monarch-level insights, it shouldn''t be possible."


    "It''s too difficult!"


    "Let''s watch and see." Even though Wu Yuan''s reputation was already immense, the vast majority of Archimmortals and Archdeities still didn''t quite believe it.


    It was too absurd. Even among Sixth Tribtion High Immortals, it would take a peerless genius to have any hope of aplishing this feat.


    ...


    "Die!" The lotus tform beneath Archimmortal Li Shu''s feet moved. Her speed instantly skyrocketed, breaking the speed of light.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <i>Whoosh~ Whoosh~ </i>A multitude of snow-white lotus flowers transformed into streaks of light, like a barrage of meteors hurtling towards the vast sword domain surrounding Wu Yuan.


    <i>Bang!</i> As they closed in, the snow-white lotus flowers suddenly exploded, their terrifying power radiating in all directions.


    These lotus flowers weren''t physical objects, but rather an offensive secret art that Archimmortal Li Shu had cultivated after obtaining the lotus tform. Their power was incredibly formidable.


    <i>Boom!</i> The explosions of the countless lotus flowers seemed to destroy space itself. The aftershocks spread across millions of li.


    But this horrifying attack was like a powerful punch striking a pillow. The moment these snow lotuses surged forth, Wu Yuan had already taken a step, entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer. No matter how terrifying their power, it couldn''t threaten him in the slightest.


    "Li Shu, you''re truly naive!" A cold voice suddenly rang out.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A sh of light emerged from the void not far behind Archimmortal Li Shu. It was a sword light.


    <i>Swish! </i>The sword light was hazy yet iparably sharp as it shot forward.


    <i>Not good. Bloom, Snow Lotus. </i>Archimmortal Li Shu''s expression changed slightly. Having experienced countless life-and-death battles, she reacted in an instant.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The lotus tform beneath her feet blossomed. Layer uponyer of lotus leaves appeared, filling the space thousands of li around her and blocking the sword light��s path.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> The sword light pierced the firstyer of lotus leaves, scattering them. But there were more than a thousandyers in its way.


    <i>Rustle~</i> The interwoven lotus leaves began to twist, attempting to distort the sword light''s power.


    In the end, after breaking through only a hundred or soyers of lotus leaves, the power of this sword light dissipated.


    With its power exhausted, the hazy divine sword retreated, vanishing into the void.


    Wu Yuan''s figure reappeared a million li away.


    "As expected of a monstrous prodigy who can enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer. I admire your abilities, but if this is all you''re capable of, you''d better scram." Archimmortal Li Shu stared at Wu Yuan, unsurprised by his ability to evade her attack.


    Entering a higher spatial dimension meant controlling the initiative in battle. In other words, as long as Wu Yuan didn''t expose his location, she couldn''t kill him.


    But she could sense that Wu Yuan''s attack was rather weak.


    "Is that so?" Wu Yuan gazed at her coldly, his brow furrowing slightly.


    Archimmortal Li Shu''s assessment wasn''t wrong. Although his mana body had a first-degree immortal root, he was still only at the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase. The difference in mana was too great.


    To disy attack power at the sixth-stage Archimmortal level with his own strength? He would need to employ the fifth step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime to have any hope.


    And the fifth step was something that took most Astral Monarchs of Space tens of millions of years of contemtion before seeing any hope of mastery. The current Wu Yuan hadn''t even perfectly mastered the fourth step yet.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Several more flying swords attacked in session, their flight paths mysterious and unpredictable, each time easily arriving within ten thousand li of Archimmortal Li Shu.


    Yet they were easily blocked by Archimmortal Li Shu''s defenses.


    "Ming Jian, are you trying to tickle me? If youck the ability to face me, just get out of the way." Archimmortal Li Shu sneered, firmly upying the central area of the vortex.


    Protected byyers of lotus arcane arts, shepletely disregarded Wu Yuan''s attacks.


    <i>It''s time to use Genesis Law Sacrifice. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    His decision to target Archimmortal Li Shu was naturally made with some confidence.


    Once he employed the first part of Genesis Law Sacrifice, his mana power would increase from the ninth-stage Earth Immortal level to the Third Tribtion High Immortal level.


    This increase in mana power, when applied to his sword array, naturally boosted its power by leaps and bounds!


    ...


    Numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities observed this battle.


    "Ming Jian can escape into higher spatial dimensions at any time, inherently putting him in an unassable position, and he canunch his swords from higher spatial dimensions."


    "Archimmortal Li Shu can only passively endure the attacks." Many Archimmortals and Archdeities discussed among themselves.


    For many weaker immortals and deities, it was rare to witness a confrontation at this level.


    "Ming Jian''s swordsmanship isn''t powerful enough. At the fourth-stage Archimmortal level, it can''t break through Archimmortal Li Shu''s defensive arcane arts..." Archdeity Wan Bo and Archdeity Wan Xiao also exchanged views.


    Suddenly, their eyes widened in unison. At the same time, shock rippled through the other dozen or so Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    Two more Spacetime divine swords shot forth, crossing a million li in silence, and arriving ten thousand li from Archimmortal Li Shu��s position.


    Just as everyone thought that Wu Yuan''s attack would be ineffective once more, the two sword lights instantly erupted with iparably terrifying power, like two horrifying arcs of light that could rend heaven and earth. They directly ripped through hundreds ofyers of lotus leaves without the slightest pause, prating even deeper into the lotus world.


    <i>How is this possible? Retreat!</i> rm washed over Archimmortal Li Shu. She dared not withstand the attack head-on, instantly controlling her lotus tform to make a rapid retreat.


    <i>Rip~ Rip!</i> Layer afteryer of lotus leaves scattered. Finally, one divine sword tore through numerous leaves, striking a massive lotus leaf.


    Though it only contained a trace of its original power, it still shook Archimmortal Li Shu''s body violently, and she spewed out mouthfuls of blood that sttered on her snow-white robes.


    The other divine sword tore through over ny percent of the lotus leaves, causing the lotus world to tremble before its power was finally exhausted.


    <i>A single strike almost tore my lotus arcane art apart?</i>


    <i>The attack power of his divine swords must have reached the sixth-stage Archimmortal level. </i>Archimmortal Li Shu waspletely shocked.


    An Earth Immortal unleashing an attack at the sixth-stage Archimmortal level? Just how profound were the Dao insights embedded within his sword technique?


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s mana body had activated the Genesis Divine Pir. His mana body''s mana reached the Third Tribtion High Immortal level, slightly weaker than his body refiner self when using the Saint Prohibition Art.


    His body refiner self and ether body could employ grand ether arts, and in terms of weapons and artifacts, his mana body was also not as well-equipped. In terms of pure burst power, his mana body was not as strong as his ether body either.


    But his mana body excelled at long-range attacks, and its movements were more unpredictable. As long as it could find a weak point, it could deliver a fatal strike.


    ...


    "Kill!" Once Wu Yuan made his choice, he naturally gave it his all. After all, his Genesis Power was limited, and his mana was finite as well. A prolonged battle would not be advantageous for him.


    <i>Hum~ </i>The two divine swords of Spacetime danced unpredictably, transforming into countless sword lights that seemed to converge from all directions of heaven and earth. At first nce, it appeared overwhelmingly violent.


    Archimmortal Li Shu felt as if space itself waspressing bit by bit, subtly affecting the stability of her lotus world.


    It was too fast. The flow of time subtly fluctuated around each sword light, sharpening them further.


    "Lotus tform Realm Transformation." Archimmortal Li Shu cast another arcane art, and the vast lotus world grew even more resplendent. Countless lotus petals began to spin, and a multitude of broken petals continuously regenerated, colliding with the sword lights.


    In an instant, strands of sword light were shredded, while countless lotus petals were sliced. The resulting shockwaves rippled in all directions.


    <i>Boom! Whoosh~ </i>The two mighty beings engaged in a terrifyingly fierce sh above the ice river.


    Wu Yuan''s swordy shone with blinding brilliance, forcing Archimmortal Li Shu to retreat step by step. She no longer cared about seizing treasures, continuously falling back to dissipate the power of Wu Yuan''s swordy.


    Realizing she couldn''t kill Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu poured all her energy into defense.


    A single stray sword light or a torn lotus petalnded with enough impact to stir up waves of river water tens of thousands of li high.


    <i>Shick~</i> A diverted sword light suddenly pierced through a million li of space, impaling an Archimmortal who failed to dodge in time.


    A flicker of terror shed in this Archimmortal''s eyes before they instantly perished!


    "Quick, retreat!"


    "The range of their battle is toorge. Stand further back." These Archimmortals and Archdeities had kept a distance of at least ten million li from thebatants, yet it wasn��t enough. Naturally, they were all terrified.


    "Archimmortal Li Shu''s defense is formidable."


    "But Ming Jian''s attacks are even more ferocious." The eruption of power from these two mighty powerhouses left them in astonishment.


    ...


    <i>Swoosh! </i>Another heaven-rending sword strike tore through the air.


    It nearly ripped apart the lotus world, which had already been reinforced by multiple arcane arts.


    This forced Archimmortal Li Shu to retreat once more. Countless lotus petals seemed toe alive, rapidly restoring the world.


    "Ming Jian! Today, I admit defeat," Archimmortal Li Shu''s melodious voice carried a hint of unwillingness. "You can''t kill me either. I''m willing to offer treasures worth five hundred thousand divine crystals aspensation to resolve this karmic debt. How about that?"


    She had finally chosen to yield. The continuous exchanges had left her heart trembling.


    Wu Yuan''s sword technique was unfathomable and elusive, each strike originating from a higher spatial dimension.


    This meant she had to maintain her arcane arts and lotus world with all her might, sealing off an area of ten thousand li. The strain on her mana was too great.


    In Archimmortal Li Shu''s view, if they continued to sh like this, she would eventually exhaust her mana and inevitably be defeated.


    "She''s yielding?"


    "Archimmortal Li Shu was clearly holding her ground, yet she chose to yield?" The numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities, who had retreated tens of millions of li back, observed the oue of the battle in shock.


    The powerful Archimmortal Li Shu had conceded defeat to Ming Jian. How would Ming Jian respond?

 Chapter 754: Stirring Up A Storm (2)

    <h4>Chapter 754: Stirring Up A Storm (2)</h4>


    <i>Yield? My attacks were still too weak. </i>Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    If his qi refiner self were here, wielding multiple lifebound flying swords, his attack power would have been far higher, greatly increasing his chances of killing Archimmortal Li Shu.


    With nine lifebound celestial flying swords, Wu Yuan believed he could contend with an Astral Lord.


    <i>Right now, it''s still very difficult for me to kill a sixth-stage Archimmortal. Li Shu''s strength is also greater than I imagined. </i>Wu Yuan made his own assessment.


    Archimmortal Li Shu worried about depleting her mana in a prolonged battle. But in reality, Wu Yuan''s mana consumption was even higher. Unable to break through the opponent''s defense after a series of consecutive attacks, he had already considered leaving.


    "Very well. Li Shu, I ept. Five hundred thousand divine crystals to resolve this karmic debt." Wu Yuan agreed after brief consideration.


    By agreeing, he could gain some treasures.


    "Here!" Archimmortal Li Shu waved her hand, and a storage artifact immediately flew out, arriving before Wu Yuan secondster. "Inside are treasures worth five hundred thousand divine crystals. You may inspect them."


    Wu Yuan reached out and grasped it, sweeping it with his Soul Will to confirm the amount. "All good."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan recalled the two sword arrays, finally allowing Archimmortal Li Shu to rx slightly.


    "Ming Jian. There aren''t many who can earn my sincere admiration, but you are one of them," Archimmortal Li Shu gazed at Wu Yuan from afar. "For an Earth Immortal to possess such strength... I''ve never heard of such a thing.


    But your actions are so reckless. The Astral Lords of Space in the Dao Realm won''t stand idly by. I hope you can weather theing storm.


    "I''ll take my leave now." Archimmortal Li Shu hadn''t fully recalled her arcane arts, still maintaining her lotus world.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> She swiftly departed.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Storm? Astral Lords of Space? </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>This Archimmortal Li Shu, she��s giving me a warning?</i>


    Even without her warning, Wu Yuan could anticipate that the various major factions of the Dao Realm might not let the matter rest after he had killed so many Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan turned back, shing to a spot several million li away, above the massive ice river vortex.


    The vortex churned and expanded, clearly indicating that the treasure''s emergence was near.


    <i>Hum~ </i>After a moment, a fist-sized ck crystal appeared, emanating strands of sinister energy.


    <i>Star Vein ck Crystal? One of this size should be worth at least several hundred thousand divine crystals.</i> Wu Yuan smiled, waving his hand to collect it.


    This trip had yielded quite a harvest.


    Wu Yuan had perused various materials and intelligence reports over the years, especially those concerning treasures. If he encountered precious treasures but failed to recognize them, it would be a tremendous regret for him.


    <i>Let''s go!</i> Wu Yuan''s form flickered and vanished, entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    Only a handful of dazed Archimmortals and Archdeities lingered, their expressions frozen in astonishment.


    "Incredible!"


    "Ming Jian actually forced Archimmortal Li Shu to yield, and he''s only an Earth Immortal."


    "A monstrous prodigy!"


    "When has such a monstrous Earth Immortal ever emerged in the history of the Dao Realm?" These Archimmortals and Archdeities weren''t disappointed about failing to obtain the treasure. Instead, they were exceptionally excited.


    "We must spread this news."


    "I fear this Ming Jian won''t stop at this battle. He''s bound to stir up even greater waves."


    Their long years of cultivation, coupled with their true selves being in no danger of perishing, made them particrly keen to watch shes between powerhouses. Perhaps they could glean some unique insights from these confrontations between the mighty.


    Moreover, personally witnessing such a sh between powerhouses would serve as a topic of conversation in their respective social circles.


    With their long lifespans and slow progress in strength, most Archimmortals and Archdeities ced great importance on such bragging rights.


    ...


    <i>This battle has been incredibly beneficial for me. My swordsmanship still has many weaknesses. </i>Wu Yuan walked through the Turbulent Spatial Layer, carefully recalling the recent battle.


    Only in real-world battles could one discover their own shorings and subsequently work to address them.


    Regarding the fourth step of the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, Wu Yuan could only say he had grasped the basics, still far fromplete mastery.


    The further one progressed in cultivation, the slower their progress naturally became. In fact, each step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime consisted of thousands of variations, with different moves for different situations, all of which Wu Yuan needed to master one by one.


    <i>There''s no rush to seek the next opponent. First, I''ll reflect and digest the gains from this battle.</i> Wu Yuan casually found a spot in the Fragmentary Spatial Layer to cultivate.


    shing with powerhouses to temper himself was his primary goal.


    ...


    The fierce battle between Wu Yuan and Archimmortal Li Shu quickly spread among the numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities. But since no one had perished, the news wasn��t disseminated to arge extent, and naturally, its impact wasn''t as significant.


    After resting for several days, Wu Yuan set out once more, this time targeting an Archdeity whose strength rivaled that of a sixth-stage Archimmortal.


    The battle ended in another draw between the twobatants.


    In truth, Wu Yuan knew that his chances of defeating or killing his opponent were slim even before the fight began.


    An Archdeity''s self-preservation ability far surpassed that of an Archimmortal; even if Wu Yuan''s sword techniques struck true, his opponent could withstand the assault. Not to mention, this Archdeity could parry with his weapon time and time again.


    "I''ve heard about Archimmortal Li Shu''s situation, but I refuse to yield. Ming Jian, if you have the ability,e kill me if you can," dered the powerful Archdeity, showing no sign of submitting.


    Archimmortal Li Shu had conceded due to concerns about insufficient mana for prolongedbat and the possibility of being struck by Wu Yuan''s sneak attacks. But an Archdeity''s life force was robust, rendering them fearless of ambushes.


    In the end, Wu Yuan had no choice but to retreat, seemingly gaining nothing from the encounter.


    <i>It wasn''t aplete loss.</i> He mused.


    <i>Engaging an Archdeity of this caliber provides an even greater opportunity to hone my skills.</i> Wu Yuan reflected, his mind perfectly calm.


    Crossing swords with top-tier powerhouses and using them to refine his swordsmanship was his primary objective.


    ...


    Days passed, and Wu Yuan sought out targets at his own pace.


    He focused mainly on sixth-stage Archimmortals and Archdeities who pursued him previously and remained within Snowlight Mist Realm thereafter.


    He hunted them down one by one, engaging in fierce battles!


    After each major confrontation, Wu Yuan would find a ce to seclude himself and cultivate for a time, digesting the insights gained from the sh.


    In one year, Wu Yuan fought forty-two battles.


    In most, there was no clear victor; even when he held the upper hand, he could often only suppress his opponent, at most forcing them to concede.


    Previously, Wu Yuan focused on secluded cultivation and had little real-world battle experience. Thus, as the battles continued, he saw his sword techniques enter a period of explosive growth.


    His swordsmanship grew increasingly profound, and the power he could unleash grew ever more terrifying. As a result, his victory rate climbed higher inter battles, even leading to the deaths of some sixth-stage Archimmortal powerhouses at his hands.


    Indeed, in thest dozen or so of the forty-plus battles, three sixth-stage Archimmortal powerhouses with slightly inferior defenses ultimately perished by his sword.


    Moreover, he would asionally look for weaker Archimmortal enemies to exact his vengeance.


    Thus, the number of powerhouses below the sixth-stage Archimmortal level he had killed eventually exceeded five hundred! This was an utterly staggering figure.


    Through frenziedbat and ughter, his reputation spread.


    "He''s merely an Earth Immortal."


    "Yet even sixth-stage Archimmortal powerhouses have fallen to him? His strength is truly terrifying."


    "Few below the Astral Lord level can withstand his attacks."


    "He''s already in five or six hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities."


    "This Ming Jian is just an Earth Immortal, yet already this formidable. Once he breaks through to High Immortal, how much stronger will he be?" Within the year, the name Ming Jian had spread throughout the entire Snowlight Mist Realm, and even among the countless immortals and deities of the nine major factions across the Dao Realm.


    An Earth Immortal, ying sixth-stage Archimmortals.


    Wu Yuan forged his resounding reputation through his battle record, striking fear into countless Archimmortals and Archdeities across the Dao Realm, and catching the attention of numerous Astral Lords.


    The Astral Monarchs who had originally ordered the hunt for Ming Jian to seize the ck Devil Star were not only shocked by his strength, but also extremely infuriated. Those fallen Archimmortals and Archdeities were all subordinates under theirmand.


    Ming Jian''s rampage was, without a doubt, a p to their faces.


    "Although most of those he killed were merely mana bodies and ether bodies, inflicting minimal losses to us, the impact is far too negative."


    "This is an affront to our dignity."


    "His attacks aren''t overwhelmingly powerful; he hasn''t sought targets at the Astral Lord level yet."


    "Let''s gather the Astral Lords of Space under ourmand to enter the Snowlight Mist Realm and y Ming Jian."


    "Yes, that''s right."


    "We must kill him once more to make him understand that we, the nine major factions, are the true core of the Dao Realm." The powerful Astral Monarchs from various factions, including Astral Monarch Ya Hei, reached a decision after deliberation�Cthey would mobilize arge number of Astral Lords of Space.


    Only Astral Lords of Space had any hope of catching and killing Ming Jian within the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    ...


    <i>In the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, amidst endless blizzards.</i>


    <i>A message from the Astral Monarch?</i>


    <i>Ordering me to hunt down Ming Jian? </i>A figure in purple robes, whose skin was nearly transparent, gazed at the message in his hand.


    He was Astral Lord Gu Shou, a subordinate of Astral Monarch Ya Hei, a powerful Archdeity with strength equivalent to a ninth-stage Archimmortal. He was also an Astral Lord of Space.


    Decades ago, during the ck Devil Star incident, he was the first Astral Lord of Space to arrive at the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    In that battle, Wu Yuan''s mana body ultimately perished, primarily due to his relentless pursuit, which had left Wu Yuan with nowhere to flee.


    <i>Capable of killing so many sixth-stage Archimmortals? And several hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities?</i> Astral Lord Gu Shou''s eyes flickered. <i>Though most weren''t true selves, it''s enough to demonstrate this Ming Jian''s strength.</i>


    <i>He can even enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer. He''s be truly formidable.</i> Previously, Astral Lord Gu Shou had in Wu Yuan''s mana body effortlessly.


    But now? He felt that Wu Yuan''s strength warranted his full attention; even if not yet at the Astral Lord level, he was close. And he was skilled in the Spacetime Dao.


    <i>If he hasn''t returned to the Spacetime Ind, he must be carrying treasures worth at least tens of millions of divine crystals, possibly even hundreds of millions. </i>Astral Lord Gu Shou spected.


    He felt that such a wealth of treasures was worth putting in some effort.


    <i>Let''s go!</i> Astral Lord Gu Shou plunged into the Turbulent Spatial Layer, beginning his search for Wu Yuan.


    ...


    <i>The Astral Monarch has orders for me? Very well, let''s search for Ming Jian.</i> Another Astral Lord of Space in the Snowlight Mist Realm, Astral Lord Xiang Xiao, also chose to join the hunt for Wu Yuan.


    His sole purpose in the Snowlight Mist Realm was treasure hunting. If he could y Ming Jian, he would acquire treasures worth at least tens of millions of divine crystals, naturally tempting him.


    ...


    There were many Astral Lords exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm, but the vast majority never considered going after Ming Jian. They simply had no hope of sess; once Wu Yuan escaped into the Turbulent Spatial Layer, these Astral Lords could only helplessly watch him go.


    Only Astral Lords of Space had the ability to catch up to him.


    Besides Astral Lord Gu Shou and Astral Lord Xiang Xiao, several other Astral Lords of Space received orders from their respective Astral Monarch superiors and began converging on the Snowlight Mist Realm from various parts of the Dao Realm.


    Indeed, Wu Yuan had disyed great potential and formidable strength. But this didn''t mean the Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm''s nine major factions would allow Wu Yuan to run rampant and p their faces. It was time for them to counterattack!


    After all, historically, no Spacetime Ind imprint bearer had ever returned to the Dao Realm afterpleting their Tribtions.


    Even the rumored potential sessors of the Dao Master had never returned to the Spacetime Ind.


    ...


    In the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was a special ne belonging to the Spacetime Ind.


    Inside the private room of a tavern in the Taiyuan Court, only two people were present: Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue.


    "Ming Jian, you''ve stirred up quite a storm this time." Zhuo Haiyue smiled faintly. "I suspect those Dao Realm Astral Monarchs won''t let this slide. They''re sure to dispatch Astral Lords of Space to hunt you down. Are you confident?"

 Chapter 755: Dominating The Spacetime Island (1)

    <h4>Chapter 755: Dominating The Spacetime Ind (1)</h4>


    "I''m not certain," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "In a direct confrontation, I''m no match for a single Astral Lord, let alone a group of Astral Lords of Space."


    Zhuo Haiyue nodded in agreement. She could unleashte-stage Astral Lord-level power as a High Immortal as she cultivated a Saint Prohibition Art. From Wu Yuan''s disyed battle prowess, she could roughly deduce that Wu Yuan likely possessed a simr secret art.


    It was unthinkable for an Earth Immortal to unleash power equivalent to a sixth-stage Archimmortal purely with their own mana. That would be too terrifying.


    Such heaven-defying burst secret arts also came with numerous limitations.


    "Then don''t be too arrogant. The Dao of Spacetime gives you formidable escape abilities, but it''s not omnipotent. If things get dicey, send the treasures back to the Spacetime Ind first," Zhuo Haiyue advised. "If there''s anything you need my help with, just let me know."


    "Alright," Wu Yuan replied. "If I need anything, I''ll definitely tell you."


    In terms of directbat, Zhuo Haiyue was at thete-stage Astral Lord level, far more powerful than Nie Zhen and the others.


    "By the way, you previously made enemies with that group of imprint bearers from the Immortal Court faction on Spacetime Ind," Zhuo Haiyue said. "Now that you''ve caused such a hugemotion, haven''t the Immortal Court faction''s imprint bearerse looking for you?"


    "No," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    Over the past year, as Wu Yuan slew Archimmortals and Archdeities in droves, his name had spread throughout the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. As time passed, it gradually spread across the Spacetime Ind as well, creating an equally massive storm.


    It had been a very long time since an Earth Immortal had been able to unleash such terrifying power, even within the various major factions.


    "If you can resolve the grudge, it''s best to do so. You didn''t suffer too great a loss back then," Zhuo Haiyue advised.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Wu Yuan listened with a smile, keeping silent.


    "Don''t ignore my advice," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head and said. "This past year, you''ve repeatedly disyed astonishing power in the Snowlight Mist Realm. Your fame has grown immensely. Though you may seem slightly weaker than me, your true situation is different from mine.


    I think the highest echelons of the many factions across the vast river of space and time have already taken notice of you. The amount of attention they��ll pay to you will likely be on par with what I��m receiving.


    If you appear too hostile towards the Immortal Court, their highest echelons will also be wary of you. The losses would outweigh the gains," Zhuo Haiyue warned.


    Wu Yuan replied nonchntly, "Mm, I''ll think about it."


    He naturally understood the reason for Zhuo Haiyue''s warning.


    For the top factions in the river of space and time, especially those at the level of the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court, even geniuses of Senior Brother Jiang Huan, Nie Zhen, and Mi Yun��s caliber wouldn''t concern them too much. After all, such geniuses mostly wouldn''t be Sovereigns.


    But if one reached the level of a Supreme Genius, one��s significance would be entirely different, not to mention that his own performance had far surpassed the benchmark of Supreme Geniuses.


    <i>When the soldierse, block them with generals. When floods arrive, dam them with earth. Who could possibly deal with me in the Spacetime Dao Realm?</i> A hint of killing intent shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    <i>The Immortal Court faction? Everything else can be negotiated, except for Mi Yun. Even if he wants to lower his head, I must still squeeze him dry first.</i>


    Wu Yuan hadn''t forgotten how the other party had mercilessly in his mana body with a single saber strike in the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm back then.


    ...


    In fact, it wasn''t just Zhuo Haiyue. Over the past year, as Wu Yuan''s reputation in the Snowlight Mist Realm grew ever greater, friends like Dong Fan, Xiang Dao, Nangong Meng, and many others all strove to strengthen their ties with Wu Yuan,municating frequently with him.


    Wu Yuan was also happy to chat and drink with these friends in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm between battles, as it was a rare form of recreation and rxation.


    <i>On this day.</i>


    <i>Hm? </i>Wu Yuan opened his eyes, a trace of surprise shing through them. <i>Nangong Meng is hosting a banquet and inviting me?</i>


    He quickly read through the message. Soon, his lips curled into a strange smile. <i>So arrogant back then, yet now proactively lowering his head?</i>


    This banquet invitation wasn''t simply a gathering between friends. In reality, Nangong Meng was acting as an intermediary.


    It was another peerless genius from the Taiyuan faction, Nie Zhen, who wanted to apologize and reconcile with Wu Yuan. Evidently, the power and rate of progress Wu Yuan had disyed had frightened Nie Zhen.


    <i>I''ll give Nangong face and go take a look.</i> Wu Yuan decided after brief consideration. [1]


    He didn''t have many friends on the Spacetime Ind. Nangong Meng counted as one.


    ...


    <i>The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, Taiyuan Court.</i>


    Several imprint bearers from the Taiyuan Divine Court faction had gathered in a hall, conversing with each other.


    "Everyone, Nie Zhen," Nangong Meng suddenly smiled. "Ming Jian just sent me a message agreeing to attend the banquet."


    "As expected, Nangong''s face carries weight."


    "Nangong is indeed Brother Ming Jian''s good friend," the other two High Immortals in the hall couldn''t help but smile.


    "Nangong, thank you for the trouble this time," Nie Zhen, tall and imposing in his ck robe, said in a deep voice.


    Even in the voidrealm, the aura Nie Zhen emitted was still domineering.


    "Don''t say that. We''re all from the Taiyuan faction. I don''t want you to remain at odds either, as we��ll simply be aughingstock for outsiders. It''ll be best if you two reconcile," Nangong Meng said with a smile.


    "But Nie Zhen, you know Ming Jian''s personality. He''s very stubborn and rarely shows goodwill towards others. Since you''re lowering your head this time, you must be polite. Don''t cause any more conflicts and make things difficult for me," Nangong Meng instructed.


    She had always been sociable and adept at handling rtionship matters, but Wu Yuan was clearly someone she regarded with great importance.


    "I understand," Nie Zhen said in a muffled voice. "But I��ll need you to put in a good word for me."


    "Of course," Nangong Meng nodded.


    This made the other two High Immortals sigh inwardly.


    What kind of figure was Nie Zhen? At the High Deity phase, he could unleash Astral Lord-level power. Without a doubt, once hepleted the Ninth Tribtion, he could immediately be an Astral Monarch.


    Moreover, Nie Zhen��s personality was extremely overbearing and arrogant. In the tens of thousands of years he had roamed the Spacetime Ind, no one had heard of him suffering any major setbacks.


    But now, faced with Wu Yuan, who had risen meteorically and shone with dazzling brilliance, he had no choice but to take the initiative to lower his head.


    This was enough to show just how intimidating Wu Yuan��s reputation was.


    "Hm? Ming Jian is almost here," Nangong Meng stood up, revealing a smile. "I''ll head out to wee him. Everyone, please wait here."


    "Let''s go together."


    "Haha, I''ll go wee him too," the two High Immortals both stood up.


    <i>He''s here. </i>Nie Zhen, sitting not far away, sighed inwardly. <i>During ordinary gatherings like this, Nangong has never weed me personally before, let alone Tu Qing and Ye Tong. It seems they truly value Ming Jian far more than me... I hope this Ming Jian won''t make things too difficult for me.</i>


    <i>However, since he''s willing toe, negotiations should be possible. I''ll just have to pay a price.</i> Nie Zhen silently made some calctions.


    ...


    <i>In the corridor leading to the hall.</i>


    "Ming Jian."


    "Brother Ming Jian." Nangong Meng and the two High Immortals were all smiles as they approached.


    "Nangong, Daoist Tu Qing, Daoist Ye Tong," Wu Yuan also smiled as he greeted the group.


    The three before him were all Dao Master Imprint bearers of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction.


    Aside from Nangong Meng who was slightly weaker, Tu Qing and Ye Tong both possessed Astral Lord-level strength. They were on the same tier as Nie Zhen �C once they passed their Ninth Tribtions, they could directly be Astral Monarchs.


    It could be said that Tu Qing and Ye Tong were among the top five super geniuses of the Taiyuan faction on the Spacetime Ind, yet they were quite courteous towards Wu Yuan. One could even say there was a hint of respect in their attitude.


    Wu Yuan naturally knew why this was so�Cthe progress he had disyed was too shocking, leaving these peerless geniuses dumbfounded.


    With his current rate of progress, as long as nothing unexpected happened, Wu Yuan would go on to be an extremely high-level figure in the Taiyuan Divine Court in the future.


    "Ming Jian, as you know, the reason we��ve invited you here is to facilitate reconciliation between you and Nie Zhen," Nangong Meng said. "Tu Qing, Ye Tong, and I are just here as witnesses."


    "Mm, let me meet him first," Wu Yuan nodded, but didn''t express his stance directly.


    The group exchanged nces.


    "Brother Ming Jian, please," Tu Qing smiled.


    ...


    Inside the private room.


    Seeing the crowd escorting Wu Yuan over, Nie Zhen hurriedly stood up and squeezed out a smile: "Brother Ming Jian, I admit that I have offended you in the past. I hope Brother Ming Jian can forgive me."


    "Forgive you?" Wu Yuan''s face held an ambiguous smile as he said coolly, "Brother Nie Zhen, this wasn��t the attitude you had back then."


    Wu Yuan didn''t harbor that great a grudge against Nie Zhen, there was no mortal enmity between them. But to say Wu Yuan didn''t take it to heart at all? He wasn''t that magnanimous either.


    In fact, ever since crystallizing the True Intent of two Great Daos, Wu Yuan no longer considered geniuses on the level of Nie Zhen and Tu Qing as his rivals.


    In his heart, those still worth surpassing were the top group of peerless geniuses in history. The goal after that was to be a Sovereign!


    As for geniuses on the level of Nie Zhen and the others? Wu Yuan would swiftly surpass them in strength once he broke through to be a High Immortal.


    "I was arrogant in the past, and that was my mistake," Nie Zhen said in a low voice. "I''m willing to pay one million divine crystals to seek Brother Ming Jian��s forgiveness."


    "One million divine crystals?" Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn''t respond.


    "Brother Ming Jian," standing from the side, Nangong Meng chipped in with a smile. "We know a little about the grudge between you and Nie Zhen. Nie Zhen now knows his mistake and is willing to pay a price. Why don''t you forgive him, Ming Jian?"


    "Yes, Brother Ming Jian. You''re already considered the leader of our Taiyuan faction on the Spacetime Ind, and will even be a future high-ranking member of our divine court headquarters. It��s beneath you to hold onto these trivial grudges." Tu Qing also chimed in with a smile.


    They had been invited by Nie Zhen, so naturally they tried their best to help them make up.


    After pondering for a moment, Wu Yuan said coolly, "Fine! Nie Zhen, if it weren''t for Nangong��s invitation, I definitely wouldn''t have agreed toe. But since you''re sincere about reconciling, and we''re both from the Taiyuan faction, I''ll give you a chance."


    "Feel free to state your conditions, Brother Ming Jian," Nie Zhen said quickly.


    What he feared most was Wu Yuan refusing to give him any chance at all, just waiting until he became a Sovereign in the future before taking revenge.


    Indeed, in his view, Wu Yuan''s potential was so great that as long as he didn''t perish prematurely, there was an extremely high probability he would be a Sovereign in the future. Otherwise, why would he be willing to lower his head?


    "Five million divine crystals," Wu Yuan said. "Pay five million divine crystals, and our grudge will be wiped clean."


    Five million divine crystals?


    For some Archimmortals and Archdeities of the Dao Realm, the price Wu Yuan stated was five hundred thousand divine crystals. This was because they couldn''t threaten the life of his true self, and Wu Yuan was destined to leave in the future, not staying in the Spacetime Dao Realm for too long.


    But it was different for Nie Zhen. They all belonged to the Taiyuan faction. If Wu Yuan really became a Sovereign in the future, he would naturally have many ways to deal with him.


    "Five million divine crystals isn''t much for an Astral Lord-level powerhouse," Wu Yuan saidzily.


    Nie Zhen quickly tried to negotiate, "Brother Ming Jian, many Astral Lords are only able to umte hundreds of millions of divine crystals after roaming for eons. Although I have the strength of an Astral Lord, my cultivation period is very short, and I''ve umted very little wealth. Five million divine crystals..."


    "Nie Zhen. I''m giving you a chance solely out of respect for Nangong and the others," Wu Yuan said with a cold smile. "Do you think I really care about these five million divine crystals? If you really don''t want to reconcile, then forget it.


    Besides, are you really unable toe up with five million divine crystals?"


    1. doing xx to give someone ��face�� is equivalent to doing xx out of consideration for someone��s rtionship with you or out of respect for someone. ?

 Chapter 756: Dominating The Spacetime Island (2

    <h4>Chapter 756: Dominating The Spacetime Ind (2</h4>


    Nie Zhen''s heart trembled.


    Nangong Meng, Tu Qing, and the others also sighed inwardly, feeling that Wu Yuan was quite ruthless.


    But Wu Yuan knew what he was doing.


    For ordinary Astral Lords, producing several million divine crystals would require deep consideration, but for peerless geniuses like Nie Zhen, the bulk of the treasures they obtained came from the divine court headquarters'' bestowals. Five million divine crystals wasn''t much.


    "I understand," Nie Zhen tried to calm himself and said in a low voice, "Brother Ming Jian, within two days, I will transfer five million divine crystals to your Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm ount."


    "Mm." Wu Yuan nodded.


    It was more convenient this way, as he could use the divine crystals to purchase treasures from the Spacetime Treasure Hall after receiving them.


    With that, Nie Zhen quickly left. Although he had paid a huge price, being able to obtain Wu Yuan''s forgiveness was still a good thing.


    As for Wu Yuan, Nangong Meng, and Tu Qing, they naturally had a feast hosted by Nangong Meng.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Wu Yuan turned to Nangong Meng.


    "Nangong, is there anything else?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "There is indeed one more matter," Nangong Meng hesitated before continuing, "Besides Nie Zhen, High Deity Mi Yun from the Immortal Court has also sent someone to inquire about reconciliation with you."


    "Mi Yun?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.


    "If I recall correctly, your mana body was once destroyed at Mi Yun''s hands," Tu Qing interjected.


    "Mi Yun wants to reconcile?" Wu Yuan''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Well, Nangong, you can tell Mi Yun that I''m willing to reconcile, but I have one condition."


    "Oh? What condition? Another five million divine crystals?" Nangong Meng asked curiously.


    "No. Thirty million divine crystals," he dered, his words falling like hammer blows.


    The group was stunned into silence.


    ...


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, within an immense private hall.</i>


    <i>He demanded thirty million divine crystals from Mi Yun? This Ming Jian is truly ruthless. </i>Nie Zhen mused, having received Nangong Meng''s message immediately.


    His initial dissatisfaction began to dissipate. <i>He only asked me for five million divine crystals. It seems Ming Jian was quite merciful towards me.</i> Nie Zhen muttered to himself.


    Human nature always cravedparison.


    Five million divine crystals wasn''t a crippling loss for Nie Zhen. After all, as someone destined to be an Astral Monarch, he possessed considerable wealth and treasures.


    But thirty million divine crystals? That was enough to make even a genius of his caliber wince in pain.


    <i>Hmph. </i>Nie Zhen scoffed inwardly. <i>Come to think of it, my feud with Ming Jian originated because of the Immortal Court faction. Now, let''s see if Mi Yun is willing to part with such a vast fortune.</i>


    <i>If Mi Yun pays up, he will feel the pain. If he doesn''t, he''ll have to continue feuding with Ming Jian. Can he win? </i>Nie Zhen shook his head.


    Even if Mi Yun could match Ming Jian now, what about in a few thousand years?


    When one was down on their luck, seeing someone worse off often brought a strange sense offort.


    That was precisely how Nie Zhen felt at this moment.


    ...


    In the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, within the core hallplex of the Immortal Court faction, nearly ten imprint bearers had gathered. Each of them possessed formidable strength.


    "He''s just an Earth Immortal who has cultivated for less than a thousand years, yet he dares to be so arrogant? Thirty million divine crystals? Why doesn''t he just rob us outright?" High Deity Mi Yun stood in the hall, unleashing an enraged roar.


    The other imprint bearers exchanged uneasy nces.


    Among them, High Immortal Pu Guang, High Deity Ci Yue, and a few others felt particrly bitter.


    While the Immortal Court faction didn''t have an overwhelming number of imprint bearers, they did have arge concentration of elites among the hundred thousand imprint bearers, naturally forming various small circles.


    This group of elite imprint bearers was led by High Deity Mi Yun, which was why he had initially stood up for them, even going so far as to destroy Wu Yuan''s mana body.


    "Thirty million divine crystals!"


    "Does this Ming Jian think divine crystals grow on trees?"


    "He''s too harsh. It''s clear Ming Jian has no intention of reconciling with us."


    "Mi Yun, I think..." These Immortal Court imprint bearers began to speak up.


    "Silence, all of you!" High Deity Mi Yun suddenly roared.


    His face darkened like storm clouds, his heart filled with regret.<i> This Ming Jian barely scraped the threshold of a Supreme Genius back then. By all rights, his chances of bing a Sovereign should have been slim. I thought offending him wouldn''t matter, but how did he be so powerful in the blink of an eye?</i>


    <i>Cultivating for less than a thousand years, yet possessing Daoprehension at the level of an Astral Monarch?</i> Mi Yun''s heart trembled.


    It had taken him tens of thousands of years to reach such a level of Daoprehension.


    Mi Yun instinctively felt a wave of dread wash over him when he received news of Ming Jian''s insane rate of cultivation. Such a monstrous prodigy had a ny percent chance of bing a Sovereign in the future!


    "All of you," Mi Yun''s gaze swept across the group, his anger mounting.


    "You talk a good game, but now, who''s willing to voluntarily offer up divine crystals?" High Deity Mi Yun fumed.


    <i>This Ming Jian is demanding thirty million divine crystals from me?</i>


    High Deity Mi Yun was in a serious dilemma. If it had been five million divine crystals, he would have agreed to resolve the feud without hesitation.


    If Wu Yuan had demanded an even higher price, say two hundred million or three hundred million divine crystals, he simply couldn''t afford it now and would have no choice but to be mortal enemies.


    At worst, his true self would have to avoid leaving the Immortal Court headquarters in the future.


    They belonged to different major factions after all.


    But thirty million divine crystals? It hit right at his bottom line.


    <i>Is it worth risking the eternal enmity of a future Sovereign-level powerhouse over thirty million divine crystals? </i>High Deity Mi Yun wavered. <i>And not just any Sovereign, but a Sovereign of Space.</i>


    Offending an ordinary Sovereign was one thing, but offending a Sovereign of Space was an entirely different matter.


    After a long deliberation, High Deity Mi Yun made his decision.<i> I''ll swallow my pride. There''s no need to let a Sovereign of Space fixate on me in the future over this small grievance.</i>


    ...


    After Nie Zhen and High Deity Mi Yun lowered their heads in session, both didn''t keep the news secret. Instead, they deliberately spread the information.


    Although it was embarrassing that the news got out, it was also a form of protection.


    Having publicly backed down and paid arge sum of divine crystals and treasures, it meant that the karma between them had been resolved.


    If Wu Yuan truly became a super powerhouse in the future and came knocking on their doors over these old grudges, it would be Wu Yuan who was unreasonable, and he would be scorned by other powerhouses.


    Among super powerhouses, most didn''t adhere to concepts of good and evil or right and wrong, but they did believe in keeping their word.


    Once a promise was made, regardless of whether it was good or bad, it should be honored - this was the code of conduct in the world of the strong.


    However, the actions of Nie Zhen and Mi Yun finally pushed Wu Yuan''s reputation on the Spacetime Ind to its peak.


    "Nie Zhen is considered a top existence among the Taiyuan faction of Spacetime Ind."


    "And Mi Yun is the leader of the Immortal Court faction, yet he also bowed his head?"


    "He only asked Nie Zhen for five million divine crystals, probably because Ming Jian considered them both part of the Taiyuan faction."


    "Thirty million divine crystals is ruthless enough, but to think the proud High Deity Mi Yun would actually give it up." Countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind sighed and marveled.


    Nie Zhen and Mi Yun''s loss of face served to strengthen Ming Jian''s fearsome reputation.


    "By rights, Ming Jian''s strength should still be inferior to theirs, right?"


    "What do you know? Ming Jian is only an Earth Immortal. Once he breaks through to High Immortal, his strength will surge again. By then, he''ll definitely match Zhuo Haiyue."


    "But Zhuo Haiyue specializes in Thunder techniques."


    "And Ming Jian? He excels in Spacetime, which is best for pursuit and ambush. If he wants to hunt down Nie Zhen and Mi Yun in the future, it''ll be difficult for them to evenplete spacetime missions unless they never reveal their whereabouts."


    "In the future, Ming Jian has the potential to be a Sovereign of Space, the most troublesome type to deal with of all. He��s not someone those two can afford to provoke." Countless imprint bearers discussed, quickly adding Wu Yuan to the list of those who couldn''t be offended.


    It could be said that from the moment Nie Zhen and Mi Yun lowered their heads, Wu Yuan''s prestige among the eight million imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind skyrocketed, bing a monstrous prodigy on par with Zhuo Haiyue. Or perhaps even stronger!


    After all, while Zhuo Haiyue was strong in directbat, but as long as one could avoid her, they had nothing to fear. But facing Wu Yuan, if one couldn''t withstand his frontal assault, one couldn''t even escape.


    ...


    The storm Wu Yuan stirred up naturally spread through the numerous imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind, gradually reaching the top-tier major factions behind them.


    "Ming Jian!"


    "Suspected to possess the talent of a Supreme Genius, with the potential to directly be a Sovereign of Space in the future."


    "His cultivation speed is incredibly rming."


    "Collect intelligence on him. He will undoubtedly participate in the uing Megaverse Crossroads."


    "And when he grows up, he will be a major threat on the Nine Domains Battlefield."


    The headquarters of major factions like the Immortal Court, the Nine Mountains Alliance, and the Destion Divine Court all began to gather intelligence on Ming Jian.


    These top-tier major factions in the river of space and time had existed since before the creation of heaven and earth, with histories so ancient they had endured countless samsara cycles.


    It could be said that talents like Jiang Huan and Nie Zhen, considered top-tier in the macrocosm, mostly didn''t qualify to enter the core lists of the intelligence agencies of these major factions.


    ...


    <i>Half a monthter, on the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    With a ripple of spatial distortion, a white-robed figure emerged, swiftlynding before a majestic hall.


    <i>I��m finally back.</i> Wu Yuan''s mana body smiled.


    Indeed, after his conversation with Zhuo Haiyue, and specting that various factions of the Dao Realm might send numerous Astral Lords of Space to hunt him down, Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate to return.


    His mana body departed via the Turbulent Spatial Layer, leaving the Snowlight Mist Realm behind.


    After distancing himself from the Snowlight Mist Realm, he disguised himself, taking the numerous teleportation arrays around the Dao Realm to return to the Spacetime Ind.


    <i>Now is not the time to confront the Astral Lords of Space. </i>Wu Yuan thought with rity. <i>If I were to identally encounter an Astral Lord of Space, the loss of my mana body would be the least of my concerns. Losing the many treasures I carry with me would be the true catastrophe.</i>


    This was but one consideration.


    On the other hand, after roaming the Snowlight Mist Realm for so long and repeatedly activating the Genesis Divine Pir to battle other powerhouses, the Genesis Power within the pir had been depleted by more than eighty percent.


    Naturally, he needed to return.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s mana body flew into the hall, reuniting with his true self.


    Time flowed on.


    "We��re unable to find any trace of Ming Jian."


    "His mana body seems to have vanished, and he hasn''t instigated any more battles. Could he have fled?"


    "How cunning." Within the Snowlight Mist Realm, the multitude of Astral Lords of Space who had arrived on orders continued to search frantically for Wu Yuan''s whereabouts.


    Yet they found nothing.


    In the end, over thirty Astral Lords of Space concluded that Ming Jian had left the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    They could only curse Ming Jian''s craftiness, powerless to do anything more.


    The Dao Realm was vast; if Ming Jian had left the Snowlight Mist Realm to explore other regions of the Dao Realm, not only would they be unable to find him, but even an Astral Monarch of Space would be at a loss.


    ...


    The Spacetime Treasure Hall within the Spacetime Ind was the designated ce for imprint bearers to sell their treasures.


    "Imprint bearer Ming Jian, you are selling all of the above treasures. Do you confirm?" A cold voice echoed through the temple. "The total value of the treasures is 53,260,000 divine crystals."


    "Confirm!" Wu Yuan replied.

 Chapter 757: Five Hundred Years Later (1)

    <h4>Chapter 757: Five Hundred Years Later (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Inside the Spacetime Treasure Hall, in a massive ring-shaped cavern not far from Wu Yuan, the numerous treasures he had previously ced within began to vanish rapidly one by one. Clearly, they had all been transported away.


    Selling treasures in the Spacetime Treasure Hall was a simple process. One merely needed to ce the items they wished to sell into the Treasure Chamber, proceed with the appraisal, and the Spacetime Treasure Hall would naturally offer a corresponding value. If one agreed to sell the treasures for the stated amount, they simply had to ept.


    "Imprint bearer Ming Jian, 53,260,000 divine crystals have been credited to your ount. Your remaining bnce is 89,270,000 divine crystals," a message from the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was transmitted to Wu Yuan.


    This was the bulk of wealth possessed by Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self at present. Besides these divine crystals, his qi refiner self owned some weapons, artifacts, and treasures like the Void Rift Ruler.


    <i>Nearly 90 million divine crystals? </i>Wu Yuan''s lips curved into a smile, his heart filled with satisfaction.


    This wealth was not bestowed upon him by some senior. Rather, it was the fruit of his own efforts and hard work over these years.


    "I require the list of treasures needed for the optimal evolution pathway of my lifebound flying swords," Wu Yuan announced in a clear voice.


    Swiftly, Wu Yuan began filtering through the list, selecting the items he needed. In the end, he had chosen treasures worth approximately 60 million divine crystals.


    "Do you confirm the purchase?" The voice within the Treasure Hall sounded once more.


    "Confirmed," Wu Yuan replied.


    "Imprint bearer Ming Jian, 61,200,000 divine crystals have been deducted from your ount. The relevant treasures will be delivered to your residential hall within ten days."


    ...


    Spending over 60 million divine crystals in one go left Wu Yuan feeling a twinge of pain, yet also a sense of exhration.


    This mana body of his turned and left the Spacetime Treasure Hall.


    Flying high above the Spacetime Ind, he gazed down at the countless halls scattered like stars below.


    <i>With this many treasures purchased, it should be enough to upgrade all six remaining lifebound flying swords into low-grade celestial artifacts.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Over these years, his qi refiner self made numerous preparations for his trip to the ck Devil Blood Hollow, including upgrading all of his lifebound flying swords.


    Before his true self brought his mana body to the ck Devil Blood Hollow to explore the treasure trove left behind by Sovereign ck Devil, he aimed to fulfill three major goals.


    First, upgrade all nine lifebound flying swords to low-grade celestial artifacts.


    Second, break through to be a High Immortal himself.


    Third, cultivate part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.


    <i>The first goal should be achievable after a few more decades of effort.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>As for the second and third goals, theyplement each other.</i>


    In the decades since crystallizing Spacetime True Intent, Wu Yuan was fully focused onprehending part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��. He had broken through various bottlenecks, and sess was merely a matter of time.


    It would take at least a few decades, or at most two to three hundred years, but he would definitely break through. However, to employ part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, it would be best if he was a High Immortal first.


    <i>Part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� can enhance mana power to the level of a first-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>But the function of Genesis Power is only to enhance andpress mana, the mana unleashed stilles from myself.</i>


    <i>If I were to employ it with the mana of an Earth Immortal, I fear my mana would be depleted after just a few breaths of battle.</i>


    The duration of sustainedbat would be too brief. Moreover, such powerful mana would ce an immense burden on the body. Using it excessively would instead damage one''s immortal root.


    <i>Only by breaking through to High Immortal and then employing part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� can I fight for a rtively longer time. </i>Wu Yuan contemted.


    Of course, this rtively longer time was only inparison to an Earth Immortal employing it, far fromparable to a true Archimmortal.


    Such a heaven-defying burst secret art inevitably had some drawbacks, making it difficult for Wu Yuan to match a true Archimmortal in sustainedbat.


    <i>But it''s enough.</i> Wu Yuan felt a sense of anticipation


    Right now, even if he unleashed his full power, he only had thebat strength of a sixth-stage Archimmortal. He could only flee for his life if he encountered any random Astral Lord. Thus, those Astral Lords of Space could bully him at will.


    <i>Astral Lord Gu Shou</i>. A cold glint shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    He hadn''t forgotten the time he was hunted down mercilessly by the other party, resulting in the swift death of his mana body.


    When Wu Yuan ughtered his way through the Snowlight Mist Realm previously, it wasn''t that he couldn''t sense the karmic threads of those Astral Lords who had once hunted him. It was just that he was sure to be defeated if he confronted them, simply humiliating himself.


    <i>Once I break through to High Immortal and employ part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, my mana power will reach the Archimmortal level. With the Nine Swords of Spacetime, I should have thebat strength of an eighth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes gleamed.


    <i>Add to that my nine lifebound flying swords, it will be enough to contend with thosete-stage Astral Lord powerhouses.</i>


    Once the nine lifebound flying swordspleted their upgrades along the optimal evolution pathway, they might appear to be merely low-grade celestial artifacts, but their power would far surpass ordinary mid-grade celestial flying swords. Then, they would truly shine.


    <i>It won��t be toote to venture into the ck Devil Blood Hollow after obtaining the strength of ate-stage Astral Lord.</i>


    Of course, all of this had to be aplished before Wu Yuan turned 1,400 years old, which was the time limit for his spacetime mission.


    If Wu Yuan still hadn''t broken through by then, he would have no choice but to venture forth anyway.


    ...


    In a hall within a tavern in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, two figures sat leisurely in chairs, chatting with each other.


    One wore purple battle armor, exuding a domineering and savage aura. The other was a woman d in snow-white robes, with an elegant and dignified demeanor.


    "Ruan Shu, did Ming Jian mention why he summoned you this time?" The man in purple battle armor asked in a deep, resonant voice.


    "What about you?" The woman in snow-white robes threw the question backzily, stretching her arms above her head, entuating her graceful figure.


    This left the man in purple battle armor feeling somewhat helpless.


    <i>Thump~ Thump~</i> The sound of footsteps suddenly rang out, causing both of them to turn towards the entrance of the hall. Soon, a figure in white robes appeared in their line of sight.


    He was white-robed, with short hair and amanding presence. His eyes were especially sharp.


    The eyes were the windows to the soul.


    Through this pair of eyes, the two of them could sense Wu Yuan''s powerful will, enveloping them in a stifling pressure.


    It should be noted that both of them had been High Immortals for tens of thousands of years, and each possessed the power of a fourth-stage Archimmortal. Yet they were still greatly affected.


    The two sigh couldn��t help but sigh inwardly in admiration �C truly, there was substance behind the famous name. The name Ming Jian was indeed worthy of shaking the Spacetime Ind.


    "Daoist Ruan Shu, Daoist Zi Jue, I apologize for keeping you waiting," Wu Yuan smiled.


    The two before him were both Sovereign Imprint bearers of the Taiyuan lineage.


    "We just arrived as well," High Immortal Zi Jue smiled.


    "Don��t worry about it," High Immortal Ruan Shu''s gaze was dreamy, exuding a hint of seduction as she sat down beside Wu Yuan. "It''s our honor to meet you, Daoist Ming Jian."


    Even those like Nie Zhen, Tu Qing, and Ye Tong, who possessed the strength of Astral Lords and were top existences on the Spacetime Ind, had to yield the path to Wu Yuan, let alone the two of them.


    "I''ve long heard of Fellow Daoists�� abilities. I''ve invited you here because there are two matters I''d like to request your help with," Wu Yuan smiled.


    "If we can be of help to Daoist Ming Jian, we will naturally do our utmost," High Immortal Zi Jue smiled.


    "First, I need the coordinates for all the Dao Master battle relic sites across the entire Dao Realm," Wu Yuan added, "The current coordinates."


    "Second, I need the passage ess tokens of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, allowing me to freely enter and exit these battle relic sites," Wu Yuan said. "You two are the most skilled at gathering intelligence in our Taiyuan lineage."


    Dao Master battle relic sites?


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    High Immortal Zi Jue and High Immortal Ruan Shu immediately understood what Wu Yuan��s intentions were upon hearing this.


    The two pondered briefly.


    "Merely obtaining the spacetime coordinates is a small matter, but all the Dao Master battle relic sites are upied by the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. These passage ess tokens are not easily acquired," High Immortal Zi Jue said in a low voice. "Daoist Ming Jian, for 4 million divine crystals, I can arrange everything for you."


    "What about you, Daoist Ruan Shu?" Wu Yuan looked towards the woman in snow-white robes.


    She hesitated for a long while before finally gritting her teeth and saying, "3.6 million divine crystals, and I''ll get all nine tokens for you."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly.


    3.6 million divine crystals? That was considerably lower than he had anticipated.


    Wu Yuan nced at High Immortal Zi Jue.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, I can''t go any lower," High Immortal Zi Jue smiled bitterly. "4 million divine crystals is already my lowest price. Any lower, and I''d be operating at a loss."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    These passage ess tokens were essentially purchased from high-ranking members within the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. Naturally, there would be some costs involved.


    "Alright, High Immortal Ruan Shu, I''ve transferred the divine crystals to you. How long will it take?" Wu Yuan asked directly.


    "I''ll get you the coordinates within ten days, and secure all nine tokens within three months," High Immortal Ruan Shu replied quickly.


    "Good, then I''ll entrust this matter to you, High Immortal Ruan Shu," Wu Yuan said.


    He wasn��t worried that she might deceive him. They could not bear the weight of this fury.


    With that, Wu Yuan rose and departed, leaving behind High Immortal Zi Jue and High Immortal Ruan Shu.


    "Ruan Shu, I have to give it to you," High Immortal Zi Jue shook his head. "No matter how I calcte it, the lowest I can go is 3.9 million divine crystals. Did you find a new channel to acquire cheaper tokens?"


    "No," High Immortal Ruan Shu smiledzily.


    "Then?" High Immortal Zi Jue nced at her.


    "You can''t catch a wolf without sacrificing amb," High Immortal Ruan Shu chuckled. "What''s wrong with taking a loss to build a rtionship?"


    "I really have to give it to you," High Immortal Zi Jue gave a thumbs up.


    He couldn''t bring himself to make a loss just to curry favor with Ming Jian.


    ...


    Time flowed on.


    <i>Two monthster, in Wu Yuan''s hall on the Spacetime Ind.</i>


    <i>Dao Master battle relic sites. </i>Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self sat on a jade tform, studying the detailed intelligence about the Dao Master battle relic sites on the light screen before him.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Countless points of light converged, forming a vast map projection of the Dao Realm. The map projection was dotted with numerous flickering markings.


    <i>116 Dao Master battle relic sites?</i> Wu Yuan mused silently, his gaze sweeping over the nine ess tokens before him. They had just been delivered by High Immortal Ruan Shu.


    "Master, are you going to observe the Dao Master battle relics?" Star Moon, taking the form of a young girl, asked with a hint of surprise.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "The Dao Master battle relic sites, though called battle relic sites, are actually just ces the Dao Master left behind when he spread the Dao at the beginning of the Dao Realm''s creation. Some are very rudimentary, while others are quiteplex," Star Moon exined.


    "These relic sites are considered precious as they were left by the Dao Master and are said to hold unrivaled opportunities.


    Therefore, all the relic sites have been upied by the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    But in reality, over countless years, despite countless imprint bearers from the Spacetime Ind and powerful cultivators from various factions studying them, no one has reportedly trulyprehended anything from them," Star Moon added.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Star Moon was correct. These Dao Master battle relic sites were, in essence, not much different from many of the relic sites in the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    But Wu Yuan had no choice.


    <i>I hope they''ll be of some use.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Otherwise, my qi refiner self��s progress will only fall further and further behind my body refiner self.</i>


    When his body refiner self had first returned, this wasn''t apparent. But after several decades of both selves cultivating at full capacity, Wu Yuan had noticed the difference.


    Guided by the ''Will of Life and Death'' and possessing a Life Dao Body, the progress of his body refiner self was astonishingly rapid, far surpassing the qi refiner self''sprehension of the Spacetime Dao.


    It had only been a few decades, thus the difference in strength between the two true selves was not yet obvious. But as time passed, over thousands or tens of thousands of years, the gap would naturally widen.


    <i>My qi refiner self��s advantage lies in its twelve Yuan Souls, but without the support of a Great Dao imprint, the gap between my current body and a Greater Dao Body is toorge. </i>Wu Yuan mused. <i>I can only hope to gain something from the Spacetime Dao Master��s relic sites.</i>

 Chapter 758: Five Hundred Years Later (2)

    <h4>Chapter 758: Five Hundred Years Later (2)</h4>


    After obtaining the ess tokens of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, Wu Yuan''s mana body set out from the Spacetime Ind the next day.


    Apart from one of the tokens, he also brought along numerous treasures such as the Void Rift Ruler and the Genesis Divine Pir.


    Merely ten dayster, he arrived at the Mingyan Gxy.


    The Dao Realm consisted of thousands of gctic clusters, eachparable in size to an immortal nation, and contained numerous gxies.


    The vast majority of gxies were ruled by Archimmortals, with shifts in power urring from time to time.


    However, the Mingyan Gxy was quite renowned among high-level cultivators throughout the gctic cluster, solely because this gxy was home to a Dao Master relic site.


    In the vast, endless darkness of outer space, a spatial fluctuation rippled through.


    The figure of a burly man in ck armor appeared, none other than Wu Yuan in disguise.


    <i>The Dao Master relic site should be here</i>. Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the void.


    The Dao Master battle relic sites were not some great secret. Generally, Archimmortals of the major factions had the right to know about them.


    However, even someone as powerful as Wu Yuan couldn''t see them, as these relic sites had all been enclosed in arrays set up by Sovereigns using their great divine abilities. One could only enter the arrays and observe the relics with the corresponding ess tokens.


    Wu Yuan flipped his palm, producing one of the tokens from High Immortal Ruan Shu.


    The token was just an ordinary fire-red token with the image of a mountain range engraved on it. It was the token of the Fire Spirit Pce, one of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    <i>Hundred Mysteries Pce, Fire Spirit Pce, Hanging Moon Pce... </i>Wu Yuan muttered. <i>The nine major factions of the Dao Realm all seem to like including the word ��pce�� in their names.</i>


    Wu Yuan infused a stream of mana into the token.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Wu Yuan immediately felt the pull of an intangible guidance, swiftly following it to a special spatialyer.


    This spatialyer was still within the Material Spatial Layer, yet previously, Wu Yuan could only vaguely sense it without being able to approach it. Clearly, the other party''s attainments in the Space Dao far surpassed Wu Yuan''s.


    Soon after, space rippled, and Wu Yuan appeared on a rather vast ind.


    The entire ind had a diameter of about ten thousand li. Standing in the sky, one could vaguely see numerous halls on the ind, all surrounding a central sea.


    <i>Unable to peer inside?</i> Despite Wu Yuan��s control over space, he found it difficult to spy into the interiors of the halls.


    He could only vaguely sense that many powerful beings resided in the numerous halls.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> A white-robed figure appeared out of thin air. His aura was quite powerful, clearly an Archimmortal.


    "Senior," Wu Yuan bowed slightly.


    "I am one of the custodians of the Relic Ind. You''vee bearing a token toprehend the Dao Master''s relic?" the white-robed Archimmortal asked in a low voice.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Since you have a token, I won''t inquire further about your specific identity," the white-robed Archimmortal said coldly. "Relic contemtion costs one divine crystal per year, with a minimum payment of one hundred divine crystals per use. The halls below with activated barriers are already upied.


    You may choose an unupied hall. Inside, you will receive instructions on contemting the relic.


    Remember, fighting is not allowed on the Relic Ind," the white-robed Archimmortal said with a hint of murderous intent. "Once a fight breaks out, it''s death without mercy."


    "Junior understands," Wu Yuan nodded repeatedly, waving his hand to offer one hundred divine crystals. "For now, Junior will contemte the relic for one hundred years."


    The white-robed Archimmortal waved his hand to collect the divine crystals, his expression softening slightly. "Go ahead."


    Then, the white-robed Archimmortal flew into one of the halls on the ind, no longer bothering with Wu Yuan.


    <i>Quitex indeed.</i> Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.


    This was fine with him. The morex the management, the more convenient it was for Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the hundreds of thousands of halls on the ind, most of which were upied.


    In other words, this Relic Ind could earn billions of divine crystals every ten thousand years.


    Very profitable!!


    But thinking about how the entire Fire Spirit Pce only managed a dozen or so Dao Master battle relic sites, Wu Yuan felt it was normal.


    <i>This one will do.</i> Wu Yuan randomly chose a hall. The hall spanned over ten li in diameter, with everything one could need inside. There were also various introductions and guidelines.


    Soon, Wu Yuan familiarized himself with everything.


    <i>Dao Master battle relic site? Legend has it that each relic site was once a ce where the Dao Master lectured on the Dao at the beginning of the Dao Realm''s creation.</i> Wu Yuan came to one side of the hall, facing the vast sea.


    Sitting in lotus position and looking down at the vast sea, he already understood why so many cultivators would gather here at any cost.


    The sea at the center of the entire ind was no ordinary sea. As Wu Yuan carefully observed it, he could perceive that it was actually formed by the interweaving of countless profundities of the Law of Time and Law of Space.


    <i>This sea is actually a Spacetime sea? </i>Wu Yuan was shocked.


    Countless profundities of the Law of Time and Law of Spacebined, creating something beautiful and intricate. At different levels of cultivation, one observed the same scene from different perspectives.


    <i>Nine Swords of Spacetime. </i>Wu Yuan vaguely sensed the profundities of the Nine Swords of Spacetime technique within.


    In that sea of intertwining,plex Laws of Space and Time, he seemed to ''see'' a tall, thin figure in Daoist robes. He appeared to stand atop the river of space and time, continuously practicing each step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime.


    Each move and each form exhibited the profundities of Spacetime. The vastness, grandeur, and unpredictability of Space... The flow of Time, rolling forward unstoppably.


    Space and Time intertwined, all epassed within the ancient and profound sword technique.


    <i>Battle relic... The Dao Master once practiced the Nine Swords of Spacetime here? I seem to be witnessing the wondrous Moonlight Shadow movement technique. </i>Wu Yuan was entranced, gradually immersing himself in the experience.


    In truth, Wu Yuan was simply catching fleeting glimpses of his ownbat secret arts reflected within the boundless sea of the Laws of Space and Time, which seemed to manifest as a guiding force.


    This guidance was far inferior to the True Saint''s will guiding his body refiner self in the ��Will of Life and Death��.


    However, it was still far better than Wu Yuan practicing on his own.


    ...


    <i>An Earth Immortal is cultivating here? Nowadays, over ny percent of those cultivating at the Relic Ind are Archimmortals and Archdeities.</i>


    <i>Yet he seems able to stir the sea of Spacetime, something even those Astral Lords cannot aplish.</i>


    Above the Relic Ind, a figure in ck armor sat in lotus position, his aura vast and unfathomable.


    When Wu Yuan stirred the sea of Spacetime due to his deepprehension, it was immediately detected by the ck-armored figure.


    <i>He seems very young. Who is he? When did our Fire Spirit Pce produce such a monstrous prodigy?</i> The ck-armored figure pondered, puzzled.


    But he didn''t investigate too deeply.


    <i>Spacetime is vast. Relics left behind by the Dao Master are mysterious and unfathomable. </i>The ck-armored figure was alsoprehending the Spacetime relic site.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed, and Wu Yuan chose to leave the Relic Ind, heading towards the next Dao Master battle relic site.


    <i>My gains over thest hundred years have been substantial. Combined with my qi refiner self receiving another spacetime inheritance on the Spacetime Ind, my cultivation efficiency has at least doubled.</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    <i>At this rate of cultivation, I''ll be able to advance to the second-level True Intent stage of Spacetime in a thousand years at most.</i>


    To progress one level in the Great Dao of Spacetime in just a thousand years was already incredibly swift. Many Astral Monarchs struggled to advance a single step even after cultivating for hundreds of millions of years.


    <i>However, the effects of the progress boost from the relic site are gradually diminishing.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.<i> I must head to the next relic site to take a look.</i>


    There were over a hundred Dao Master battle relic sites in the entire Dao Realm. If Wu Yuan were to spend a hundred years at each relic site, doing nothing but contemtion, it would take over ten thousand years for his mana body to tour all hundred-plus relic sites.


    <i>After contemting for so long, it''s time to test out some techniques.</i>


    <i>The nearest exploration site from here is the Red Leaf River. There should be quite a few Archimmortals and Archdeities adventuring there. </i>Wu Yuan immediately set his sights on the Red Leaf River, heading in its direction.


    The Red Leaf River was no less dangerous than the Snowlight Mist Realm, and was just asrge. However, it didn''t produce as many treasures. Thus, there were fewer Archimmortals and Archdeities on expeditions there than in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    ...


    <i>Just one monthter.</i>


    "Ming Jian! He''s appeared again."


    "He''s in the Red Leaf River."


    "In eight consecutive battles, he defeated ten sixth-stage Archimmortals and Archdeities. Including an Archimmortal and Archdeity working together." This explosive news spread rapidly among the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    Wu Yuan used the numerous powerful Archimmortals and Archdeities in the Red Leaf River as whetstones to test the results of his past hundred years ofprehension.


    At first, many Archimmortals and Archdeities didn''t recognize him. But throughout the Dao Realm, was there another Earth Immortal as formidable as Wu Yuan?


    So, after just two disys of his strength, Wu Yuan was recognized. Even changing his appearance was useless.


    "Let''s go."


    "Instead of staying in the Snowlight Mist Realm, he��s gone to the Red Leaf River." Many Astral Lords of Space chose to go after Wu Yuan upon receiving the news.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But by the time they hurriedly arrived, Wu Yuan was nowhere to be found.


    ...


    <i>Tianbo Gxy.</i> Wu Yuan had long since departed, arriving at his next destination.


    Within the Tianbo Gxy were two Dao Master battle relic sites.


    ...


    And so, Wu Yuan would cultivate for a hundred years at each Dao Master battle relic exploration, then head to locations where numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities gathered, finding opponents to hone himself and verify his cultivation insights.


    His power continued to grow, and his sword techniques became more refined. As he progressed, he consistently sought out stronger opponents.


    Gradually, he could even defeat a group of three or four sixth-stage Archimmortal-level powerhouses working together.


    In the blink of an eye, five hundred years passed.


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had broken through to be a First Tribtion High Immortal.


    <i>On the Spacetime Ind, inside Wu Yuan''s hall.</i>


    <i>It''s time to recall my mana body and head to the ck Devil Blood Hollow. </i>Wu Yuan rose from the jade tform.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 759: Slaying An Astral Lord (1)

    <h4>Chapter 759: ying An Astral Lord (1)</h4>


    <i>Five hundred years have passed. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>The ancients spoke true when they said cultivation knows no years.</i>


    Over five hundred years ago, Wu Yuan was seven hundred years old. Now? He approached 1300 years of age.


    Wu Yuan''s mana body had explored the Dao Realm for more than five centuries, visiting five Dao Master battle relic sites, and was now in silent meditation at the sixth site.


    Over the centuries, he had asionally made appearances, crossing swords with Archimmortals and Archdeities from various factions of the Dao Realm, causing his reputation to soar ever higher.


    Meanwhile, his qi refiner self remained in quiet seclusion on the Spacetime Ind, not only cultivating mana andprehending the Great Dao, but also sessively receiving five spacetime inheritances.


    His progress was immense.


    <i>I''ve reached the second-level True Intent stage of Spacetime. </i>Wu Yuan reflected inwardly. The more he delved into the Great Dao of Spacetime, the more he sensed its profound difficulty. Each step forward was incredibly arduous.


    Fusing the Laws of Space and Time was far more challenging thanprehending them separately.


    One had to understand that this rapid rate of progress was only possible due to Wu Yuan''s powerful Yuan Soul, the fact that he was still an immortal cultivator, guidance from the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, as well as the spacetime inheritances and other resources at his disposal.


    <i>If it were Senior Brother Jiang Huan and the others, it would take at least tens of millions of years for them to reach this level once they be Astral Monarchs, given their talent. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    His advancements in Daoprehension had also led to great improvements in techniques like the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� and ��Moonlight Shadow��.


    <i>In terms of mana cultivation, I''ve sessfully be a First Tribtion High Immortal. </i>Wu Yuan felt the surging mana within him.


    It was over ten times more powerful than when he was at the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase.


    A First Tribtion High Immortal with a first-degree immortal root could rival Second or Third Tribtion High Immortals with second or third-degree immortal roots.


    A High Immortal had to undergo an Immortal Tribtion every 180,000 years for their first six Tribtions, andplete the seventh tribtion within a million years at most to forge an immortal body and be a first-stage Archimmortal.


    The Immortal Tribtion was a divine test from the Heavens, where myriad trials �C Lightning, Wind Killing, Heart Fire, and more �C converged upon a cultivator''s form. Should one fail to weather this tempest of tribtions, they would inevitably crumble to ash and be scattered to the winds.


    Thus, most High Immortals with insufficient strength would try their best to dy, only triggering an Immortal Tribtion when the 180,000-year limit approached.


    But in reality, the Immortal Tribtions were also opportunities, helping immortal cultivators rapidly temper their bodies and mana.


    For instance, when Wu Yuan''s body refiner self was adventuring in the Immutable Land, the multitude of High Immortals and High Eldritches there were unable to forge their immortal or eldritch bodies precisely because that world could not generate Immortal Tribtions.


    <i>Dying Immortal Tribtions is the choice of ordinary High Immortals.</i> A look of eagerness shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>As for me, I intend to undergo all six Tribtions in one go.</i>


    Most peerless geniuses would be Sixth Tribtion High Immortals or Sixth Tribtion High Deities in an extremely short time.


    Of course, there was still a limit to how fast one could progress.


    <i>To push my mana capacity from its current level to the peak of First Tribtion High Immortal, then trigger an Immortal Tribtion, it would take at least 2000 years even with divine crystals. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    By his calctions, it would take roughly ten thousand years to cultivate from First Tribtion to Sixth Tribtion High Immortal.


    Using divine crystal elixir would naturally reduce the time taken, but the mana one had to umte at the High Immortal phase far exceeded that of the Earth Immortal phase, and the price to pay was truly too great.


    To use divine crystal elixir for cultivation at the High Immortal phase? Even an Astral Monarch couldn''t afford to bankrupt themselves for such extravagance.


    And the effect would merely save one ten thousand years, a pitiful cost-performance ratio.


    <i>Even if one became a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal early on, one would still need to spend several hundred thousand years to improve their Daoprehension. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <i>Moreover, there''s little difference between a First and Sixth Tribtion High Immortal when ites to Daoprehension.</i>


    Thus, to Wu Yuan''s knowledge, since ancient times, even peerless geniuses would only use divine crystals to cultivate their mana after reaching the High Immortal or High Deity phase.


    Wu Yuan was in no rush. Bing a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal within ten thousand years was already extremely fast.


    <i>At least for now, I''ve already cultivated part two of ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��. Even if I became a Sixth Tribtion High Immortal, it would only extend my battle endurance. The power I could unleash wouldn''t be any stronger. </i>Wu Yuan understood clearly. <i>My strength is about the same as what I estimated five hundred years ago.</i>


    His mana body, due to further advancements in his sword techniques, now had strength slightly surpassing an eighth-stage Archimmortal!


    As for his qi refiner self, possessing nine lifebound flying swords, his power was even more terrifying. Wu Yuan was confident he could matchte-stage Astral Lords, and perhaps even gain the upper hand against them.


    One had to understand that while the optimal evolution pathway of lifebound flying swords came at an enormous cost, the swords�� formidable power would be increasingly apparent as one progressed.


    Take Astral Lords for example. Even with sufficient wealth, why did they rarely use mid-grade celestial artifacts? It was because the mana consumption was too great, and wielding them took far more effortpared to their lifebound flying swords.


    And Wu Yuan''s lifebound flying swords, though appearing to be low-grade celestial artifacts, actually possessed power surpassing mid-grade celestial artifacts.


    Once his nine swords struck in unison, who could possibly match him?


    <i>My qi refiner self grows ever stronger, butpared to my body refiner self, the gap has actually widened. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    His body refiner selfprehended the Great Dao of Creation more swiftly, having already reached the third-level True Intent stage of Creation. With an Apotheosis root, cultivating ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� progressed even more smoothly.


    The true strength of his body refiner self was unfathomable, yet he remained in the Summerpeak World, silently cultivating in seclusion, awaiting the day he would unveil his power.


    ...


    Although there were still nearly two hundred years until the deadline for the Dao Master-level spacetime mission, Wu Yuan was unwilling to wait any longer.


    With his current strength, even if he cultivated for another thousand years, it would be difficult to achieve any qualitative change.


    This was the norm. Many peerless geniuses would progress rapidly in their first few hundred or thousand years, but as they advanced further, the pace of improvement naturally slowed. Often, even tens of thousands of years would pass with little progress.


    It was like a skyscraper - once the building reached a certain height, raising it even one meter higher would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible.


    <i>Afterpleting this Dao Master-level spacetime mission, I can use the remaining time toplete other Sovereign-level missions.</i> Wu Yuan had a clear cultivation n.


    Spacetime missions operated on thousand-year cycles, with each cycle allowing a maximum of ten Sovereign-level missions and one Dao Master-level mission.


    Even if Wu Yuan sessfullypleted all missions in each cycle, it would still take over ten thousand years to meet the minimum requirements for the Legacy Imprint.


    Half a monthter, Wu Yuan''s mana body returned to the Spacetime Ind from the sixth Dao Master battle relic site.


    <i>Mana body, carrying the Genesis Divine Pir, Void Rift Ruler, Myriad Woods Dao Treasure, as well as numerous low-grade and mid-grade celestial artifacts...</i>


    <i>Qi refiner self, carrying the Genesis Star, Genesis Divine Pir, nine lifebound flying swords, a multitude of celestial swords, and Nine Firmaments In A Thought bestowed by Grandmaster Bei You... </i>Wu Yuan silently made his preparations.


    In addition to numerous battle treasures, Wu Yuan had also purchased various medicinal pills, array disks, and other items. In particr, he bought vast quantities of medicinal pills for detoxification and mana replenishment.


    Unlike a mana body, whose demise was inconsequential as it could be recreated after some cultivation, one could never be too careful when one��s true self ventured forth.


    After all, if his true self perished, that would mean true death.


    <i>All preparations areplete! Time to depart! </i>His qi refiner self, carrying his mana body, stepped into the spacetime teleportation array and selected the destination.


    "Warning: Dao Master Imprint bearer Ming Jian, your true self is about to leave the Spacetime Ind. Confirm teleportation?" A cold voice rang out.


    "Confirm!"


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Apanied by a soaring pir of light, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self and mana body simultaneously vanished from the teleportation array.


    ...


    In the Snowlight Mist Realm, amidst the Frost Mist Sea and endless ethereal mist, a white-robed figure appeared out of thin air.


    <i>The first time I teleported here, I arrived at this ce. Now, my qi refiner self has been sent here again? It truly seems there might be some hand of fate at work. </i>Wu Yuan stood in the void, gazing into the distance at various points in space.


    With his level of sensitivity to spatial fluctuations, he could clearly perceive a multitude of peculiar disturbances. Everythingy bare before him.


    <i>It''s been five hundred years since Ist came to the Snowlight Mist Realm. I wonder how many still remember me. </i>A faint smile yed at the corners of Wu Yuan''s mouth. <i>I also wonder how many of those Astral Lords from back then are still here.</i>


    Five hundred years was a very brief period for Archimmortals and Astral Lords. Once they began exploring a certain area, they rarely left quickly.


    <i>Mm. This time, my goal is to enter the ck Devil Blood Hollow, but if I can sense some Astral Lord enemies through karmic threads along the way, then I might as well resolve some karma in passing.</i> A glint of killing intent shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    Repaying debts of vengeance - this was Wu Yuan''s creed.


    Five hundred years ago, Wu Yuan had relied on his ability to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer to roam the Snowlight Mist Realm with confidence.


    Now? His confidence had grown even further. <i>No one can force me to back down without a fight. Even if I encounter someone as powerful as Astral Lord Gu Shou, they��ll have to sh des with me before anything is resolved.</i>


    <i>Swish!</i> Wu Yuan took a step forward, entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer and swiftly heading towards the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    ...


    Wu Yuan advanced through the Turbulent Spatial Layer, his Soul Will spread out, sensing the spatial fluctuations from all directions. At the same time, he also paid conscious attention to the presence of karmic threads.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Several centuries had passed since his frenzied killing spree, and very few ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities who shared a karmic connection with him dared remain in the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    <i>Hm? </i>As he traveled, Wu Yuan felt something and halted. He then reached out and grasped at the void, causing an invisible force to prate the Material Spatial Layer from the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    In a tranquil section of the void, a broken celestial sword floated, drifting aimlessly.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Suddenly, arge hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the sword hilt.


    Then, as if being dragged underwater, the broken celestial sword and therge hand both vanished into thin air, and this section of void quickly returned to stillness.


    Within the Turbulent Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan examined the sword closely. <i>To think it''s a mid-grade celestial artifact? A battle sword? It seems to have once belonged to a powerful Archdeity.</i>


    His mana permeated the interior of the sword, sensing the fragmented information held in its core. The sword had clearly endured a brutal battle to end up in such a state.


    <i>A mid-grade celestial artifact is worth a million divine crystals, but this sword is far too damaged. Even its core essence is mostly shattered.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    Artifacts and weapons were not eternal. In battle, weapon breakage wasmonce. There was also the corrosion of time. Many high-grade celestial artifacts would rust over the long ages.


    Only Dao Instruments, containingplete Dao Laws, existed alongside heaven and earth, impervious to external forces, and could remain unchanging for as long as heaven and earth.


    <i>This sword is too severely damaged to be used. Its power likely doesn''t even match a low-grade celestial artifact. It can only be sold for its raw materials, worth perhaps tens of thousands of divine crystals. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Tens of thousands of divine crystals was not bad.


    <i>Is this providence? With strong providence, one easily obtains many opportunities and treasures.</i>


    Wu Yuan understood that providence and opportunity were merely aids; the key was one''s own strength.


    With great power, one could face any storm without fear.


    So-called providence was just part of heaven and earth''s operation. As for those transcendent supreme beings, they could ignore even samsara cycles, naturally disregarding so-called providence.

 Chapter 760: Slaying An Astral Lord (2)

    <h4>Chapter 760: ying An Astral Lord (2)</h4>


    After traveling through the void for a while more, Wu Yuan entered the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    The Core Region was fraught with dangers, but Wu Yuan was in the Turbulent Spatial Layer and could easily avoid numerous perils, which set his mind at ease.


    <i>Hmm? Karmic threads? </i>Wu Yuan abruptly halted, a sh of killing intent passing through his eyes.


    He had just sensed three karmic threads, extending to the other end of the unfathomable Destiny Voidscape.


    In his karmic perception, the vital auras of these three were extremely powerful. All were Astral Lords!


    <i>They still dare to linger in the Snowlight Mist Realm?</i> Wu Yuan murmured to himself. <i>That''s right, they have Astral Lord-level strength, and only a few hundred years have passed. Why would they fear me?</i>


    <i>Unwilling to leave? Then I''ll send you on your way.</i> Wu Yuan immediately followed one of the karmic threads.


    In reality, Wu Yuan couldn''t be certain of the other party''s specific identity or strength from the karmic thread alone.


    But he already decided��in the Snowlight Mist Realm, no one could make him retreat. Even if it was ate-stage Astral Lord, they would have to battle it out first.


    ...


    The Snowlight Mist Realm''s Ice Vortex Valley was a notorious exploration site in the Core Region. Precious treasures often spawned here, attracting many Archimmortals and Archdeities, and even numerous Astral Lords were present.


    In one of its icy canyons, fierce winds howled, like countless razor-sharp des slicing through the sky. Even Earth Immortals and Earth Deities would perish instantly before these raging gales.


    On one side of the mountain wall, atop a massive protruding stone face, three towering figures sat in the lotus position.


    The leading figure had skin that was brilliant crimson, smooth and hairless. Hecked even the mostmon human features like hair or eyebrows, yet his appearance was far from grotesque. Instead, he exuded a sense of warmth.


    He was an Astral Lord powerhouse of the Hanging Moon Pce��Astral Lord Huo Xiang.


    Within the Ice Vortex Valley, he held considerable renown. The two crimson-skinned figures beside him hailed from the same gxy, and were considered his n''s younger generation.


    One was a sixth-stage Archimmortal, the other a sixth-stage Archdeity. Such abination was considered extremely formidable within the Ice Vortex Valley, and ordinary groups dared not provoke them. Thus, Astral Lord Huo Xiang felt rtively at ease.


    <i>Hmm?</i> Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp as an arrow. In an instant, it pierced through the endless gales, spotting a figure a million li away.


    <i>White robes, High Immortal... this aura! </i>Astral Lord Huo Xiang leaped to his feet, gazing into the distance at the white-robed figure. He recognized him at once: <i>Is that Ming Jian? That imprint bearer of the Spacetime Ind?</i>


    <i>Hundreds of years have passed, and true to the rumors, he''s be a High Immortal. He''se to the Snowlight Mist Realm again?</i>


    Years ago, Astral Lord Huo Xiang encountered Wu Yuan once and chased him, so he remembered Wu Yuan''s soul aura.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two nsmen beside him, Archimmortal Huo Feng and Archdeity Huo Lie, also stood up, staring in shock at the figure in the distance.


    A High Immortal daring to venture into the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm? Was he mad?


    "It''s Ming Jian," Astral Lord Huo Xiang said coldly.


    "Ming Jian?"


    "That monstrous prodigy from the Spacetime Ind?" Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng were quite astonished.


    They had naturally heard of Wu Yuan''s name. Over the past millennium, two monstrous prodigies had gained widespread fame in the Dao Realm: one was Zhuo Haiyue, and the other was Ming Jian.


    "With his talent, it��s indeed unsurprising that he��s be a High Immortal this quickly," Archdeity Huo Lie said in a low voice. "He''s appeared in other exploration sites before, already a High Immortal, but his strength hasn''t increased noticeablypared to the past.


    The burst secret art he employed when fighting Archimmortals and Archdeities in the past wouldn''t significantly boost his power upon him breaking through to High Immortal," Archimmortal Huo Feng added.


    Various major factions in the Dao Realm had spected about Ming Jian''s true strength. One rtively urate point was this: Ming Jian''s sword art was indeed extraordinarily profound, reaching the level of an Astral Monarch. However, his ability to unleash such powerful strength was also due to his use of an extremely powerful secret art that greatly enhanced his mana.


    <i>ording to intelligence reports, his strength has been steadily improving, but he should still be quite far from the Astral Lord level. </i>Astral Lord Huo Xiang frowned slightly. <i>Yet he dares to show himself here and seek revenge against me?</i>


    Astral Lord Huo Xiang was on guard, but not afraid. Nor would he flee.


    Firstly, he wasn''t an Astral Lord of Space, so escape was impossible; secondly, he had his own pride.


    The three powerhousesmunicated swiftly. In the instant Wu Yuan appeared, they had already reached an agreement.


    "Ming Jian," Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s voice was deep, resonating through the endless gales with his powerful mana. "Why have youe here? What do you want?"


    The fierce winds howled, whipping at their robes.


    "What do I want?" Wu Yuan stood in the void, looking down at the three figures below. His gaze was sharp, like a predator eyeing its prey. He revealed a cold smile and sneered, "Huo Xiang, don''t tell me you''ve forgotten what happened years ago?"


    "You��re here for revenge?" Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s eyes flickered.


    "Correct! I''ll give you one chance. Hand over five million divine crystals worth of treasures, and I��ll take it that the karma from years past is resolved," Wu Yuan said coldly. "Otherwise, prepare to die."


    Silence fell!


    Astral Lord Huo Xiang, Archdeity Huo Lie, and Archimmortal Huo Feng all stared at Wu Yuan, hardly believing their ears.


    Wu Yuan dared to threaten them without any backup?


    <i>Something''s not right. This Ming Jian is such a monstrous prodigy, there��s no way he��d be so foolish. Could he really have the upper hand? </i>A sense of unease shed through Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s mind.


    But as an Astral Lord-level powerhouse, how could he be cowed so easily? At the very least, he wouldn''t hand over treasures worth millions of divine crystals just because of a High Immortal''s words.


    "Ming Jian, I don''t wish to fight you. Leave immediately." Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s voice was resonant.


    His instinct was to avoid fighting Wu Yuan. Even if he could win, the chances of killing Wu Yuan were too low.


    "You refuse to hand them over? Then die." Wu Yuan''s vital aura suddenly surged as he employed part two of ''Genesis Law Sacrifice''.


    His mana''s might exploded to the level of a first-stage Archimmortal. Simultaneously, numerous celestial swords appeared around him.


    <i>Boom! </i>Wu Yuan moved, plummeting hundreds of thousands of li, rapidly closing the distance.


    A full eighty-one low-grade celestial flying swords encircled him, whistling as they flew out. In the blink of an eye, they assembled into a vast and mighty sword domain. The sword domain spanned a million li, engulfing Astral Lord Huo Xiang, Archdeity Huo Lie, and Archimmortal Huo Feng.


    "This?"


    "Such a powerful sword domain." Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng trembled inwardly. They felt an rming pressure from the vast sword domain, as if the entire heaven and earth were pressing down upon them.


    The strength Wu Yuan disyed far exceeded what the intelligence reports had suggested.


    "A sword domain? Mere child''s y. I''ll break it!" Astral Lord Huo Xiang also erupted with power in an instant. mes appeared in the air around him, and several chains flew out, intertwining with the mes to form a vast fiery realm.


    <i>Whoosh~ Boom! </i>The fiery realm exploded, colliding with the immense sword domain and producing shockwaves of unimaginable power. The impact spread in all directions.


    ...


    "Such powerful energy fluctuations."


    "Where is iting from? Has a treasure emerged?"


    "That seems to be Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s territory."


    "No matter, hurry." The battle''s aftershocks were tremendous, instantly spreading across more than ten billion li of icy terrain.


    Numerous Archimmortals, Archdeities, and even Astral Lord-level powerhouses sensed it. Swiftly, a multitude of powerhouses began rushing over from all directions.


    ...


    <i>In this sh of domains, I''m actually at a disadvantage?</i> Astral Lord Huo Xiang was shocked.


    Two mid-grade celestial artifacts,bined with his domain arcane arts, was his strongest domain technique, yet he still had the lower hand.


    <i>I refuse to believe this. As a mighty Astral Lord, how can I fail to suppress a mere High Immortal? </i>Astral Lord Huo Xiang gritted his teeth, his mind racing.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Streams of fiery light shot out, rapidly coalescing in the void. Fluctuations of the Law of Fire rippled and connected, forming an immense divine elephant. The divine elephant was lifelike, its aura vast and boundless.


    ��Roar~�� The divine elephant, spreading its twin wings, stomped onto the air. With a low growl, it charged towards Wu Yuan, intent on ying him.


    "The Divine Elephant Array."


    "It��s both earth-shaking and heaven-startling, the Astral Lord''s strongest move." Archimmortal Huo Feng and Archdeity Huo Lie held their breath as they watched this scene unfold.


    This move was the very technique that had earned Astral Lord Huo Xiang his fame. [1] When this move was unleashed, even an ordinary sixth-stage Archdeity would have their deity body shattered if struck head-on.


    <i>Divine Elephant Array? This must be Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s ultimate technique.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze remained cold. <i>Relying solely on my mana body won''t be enough to swiftly defeat Astral Lord Huo Xiang.</i>


    The sword domain, controlled by his mana body, could only suppress Astral Lord Huo Xiang, but not defeat him quickly.


    However, Wu Yuan had already sensed numerous powerful presences flying towards them. There were quite a few Astral Lords among them.


    <i>I must end this quickly!</i> Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self instantly sprang into action. He raised his hand, and nine dazzling divine swords with ethereal auras appeared in his palm.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan uttered a single word.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The nine lifebound flying swords, having been upgraded to celestial equipment, were finally unleashed for the first time.


    Heart-shaking Spacetime cryptic patterns appeared on their des. The countless cryptic patternsbined, instantly merging into one. The nine swords united, forming a new, slightly transparent Spacetime divine sword.


    <i>Swish! </i>The divine sword moved.


    <i>My Divine Elephant Array can contend even with an eighth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Astral Lord Huo Xiang was full of confidence.


    But upon seeing that streak of light cutting across heaven and earth, his expression instantly shifted, his heart involuntarily quivering. <i>No, this is?</i>


    As the sword thrust forth, ripples of spacetime interwove, as if the vast heaven and earth had been cleaved, turning hazy.


    The nearly transparent divine sword sliced into the colossal divine elephant.


    Like a block of tofu, Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s ultimate array was instantly sliced through. The array copsed in an instant, its myriad artifacts scattering in all directions.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Even after having shattered the Divine Elephant Array, the Spacetime divine sword''s power barely diminished. It traversed over a hundred thousand li in an instant, shing directly towards Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s body.


    <i>This��!</i> Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s pupils constricted, instinctively attempting to evade the attack while desperately activating artifacts to defend.


    <i>Swish!</i> There was a sh of sword light, and Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s body was instantly annihted. Only his battle armor and numerous celestial artifacts, now ownerless, were left.


    <i>Astral Lord Huo Xiang? Merely a seventh-stage Archimmortal.</i> Wu Yuan murmured, his gaze falling upon the distant Archimmortal Huo Feng and Archdeity Huo Lie.


    An icy chill gripped their hearts.


    1. Huo Xiang means Fire Elephant ?

 Chapter 761: The Arrival Of An Overlord (1)

    <h4>Chapter 761: The Arrival Of An Overlord (1)</h4>


    "Did he fall just like that?"


    "The Astral Lord is a seventh-stage Archimmortal powerhouse, yet he had no chance against this Ming Jian, falling in a single strike?" Archimmortal Huo Feng and Archdeity Huo Lie felt a tendril of fear grip their hearts.


    They had anticipated that Wu Yuan had some level of confidence toe here looking for a fight, but they never expected his power to be this overwhelming.


    If he could kill a seventh-stage Archimmortal in one sword strike, how strong was Ming Jian when he fought seriously? Ninth-stage Archimmortal-level? Or perhaps even beyond that, quasi-Astral Monarch-level?


    Through methodical cultivation, Archimmortals and Archdeities could generally reach the ninth stage. However, the gap between a ninth-stage Archimmortal and an Astral Monarch was immense. Only an extremely small number of powerful Astral Lords could disy strength approaching the Astral Monarch-level while still at the Astral Lord phase.


    For example, first-degree immortal roots,bat secret arts at the Astral Monarch level, or formidable Dao Instruments could all augment the strength of an Astral Lord.


    In this moment, Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng both felt as though they weren��t facing a High Immortal, but a super powerhouse at the quasi-Astral Monarch level.


    What they didn''t know was that even if Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self unleashed all nine of his lifebound flying swords at once, their pure offensive power would only reach the ninth-stage Archimmortal level.


    It was just that Spacetime sword strikes were the most unpredictable and mysterious of all attacks. One could say that as long as the opponent��s defense was insufficient, they would be killed in an instant when faced with Wu Yuan''s divine sword. Spacetime was inherently the most enigmatic and unfathomable among all the Great Daos.


    "Flee!"


    "Run, quick!" At that moment between life and death, Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng instantly chose to escape.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan waved his hand, collecting the many treasures left behind by Astral Lord Huo Xiang. He didn''t feel particrly excited. It was just killing an ordinary Astral Lord after all.


    <i>In terms of strength, Senior Brother Jiang Huan, Nie Zhen and the others are also only at the seventh-stage Archimmortal level, on par with Astral Lord Huo Xiang.</i> Wu Yuan mused to himself.


    Without realizing it, his qi refiner self had already reached the point where he could kill an ordinary Astral Lord with a wave of his hand.


    <i>My Daoprehension level isn''t much higher than Senior Brother Jiang Huan and the others. We''re all around the early-stage Astral Monarch level. What''s different is that I��ve learned ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    He could sense how incredibly powerful and heaven-defying ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� was for a secret art. For a High Immortal, it granted one the ability to fight above one''s phase.


    The ��Creation Saint Prohibition�� that his body refiner self cultivated was even more formidable and unique, but the conditions for acquiring it were also more difficult to replicate. How many could receive the favor of a True Saint?


    Without ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��, Wu Yuan''s current strength would only reach the fourth or fifth stage Archimmortal level.


    <i>Boom!</i> After killing Astral Lord Huo Xiang with one strike and collecting his treasures, Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate much before charging toward Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng.


    Amidst the howling winds, Wu Yuan''s figure flickered as he rapidly closed in.


    <i>Hmm? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he saw numerous powerful figures appear tens of millions of li away, causing faint ripples in space.


    The weakest among them had vital auras at the fourth or fifth-stage Archimmortal level. There even seemed to be powerhouses at the Astral Lord level.


    They were all powerhouses who had sensed the intense energy fluctuations while exploring the Ice Vortex Valley and rushed over, thinking some treasure had emerged.


    This was just the first wave. As time passed, more and more powerhouses would arrive.


    "Ming Jian''s is too fast. If we flee together, we''re sure to die. Even an Astral Lord couldn''t withstand a single strike, let alone us."


    "Let''s split up and escape."


    "Hurry!" Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng fled frantically, each unleashing various burst secret arts to push their speed to the limit.


    However, faced with a being who had crystallized Spacetime True Intent, their escape was destined to be in vain. No matter how far they fled, as long as Wu Yuan entered the Turbulent Spatial Layer, he could catch up in a single step.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s figure shed, and two dazzling divine lights appeared in the sky.


    They streaked through the air like two bolts of lightning, striking Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng respectively. Each divine light was a lifebound flying sword.


    "No!"


    "Block it!" Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng were scared out of their wits. One employed an ether art, growing ten thousand zhangs high in an attempt to resist, while the other unleashed multiple arcane arts.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The seemingly tough deity body and the seemingly powerful multiyered arrays were instantly pierced. The terrifying sword qi within the divine lights erupted, shooting in all directions like exploding fireworks.


    Archdeity Huo Lie was dead!


    Archimmortal Huo Feng was dead!


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Yuan waved his hand, gathering the treasures dropped by the Archimmortal and Archdeity.


    A moment of silence fell.


    <i>They should all be powerhouses who came running after sensing the battle fluctuations.</i> Wu Yuan nced at the figures tens of millions of li away. <i>There��re no karmic threads connecting me to any of them, which means none of them have formed grudges with me in the past. There''s no need for a massacre.</i>


    There wasn��t any enmity between them and Wu Yuan wasn''t the type to kill indiscriminately, so he naturally couldn''t be bothered to deal with them.


    <i>Let''s go. </i>Wu Yuan took a step and merged into the Turbulent Spatial Layer, vanishing from his original spot.


    ...


    Tens of millions of li away, the first batch of Archimmortals and Archdeities who had arrived from all directions, including two Astral Lords, were all staring in shock at the scene before them.


    They hadn��t witnessed Astral Lord Huo Xiang��s death, but they saw with absolute rity how Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng were effortlessly killed, unable to offer any resistance.


    "A High Immortal? Who was that?"


    "Judging by his appearance and techniques, he seems to be Ming Jian. It should be him."


    "Huo Lie and Huo Feng both had strength at the sixth-stage Archimmortal level, yet they were killed instantly?" This group of powerhouses was shocked.


    Archdeity Huo Lie and Archimmortal Huo Feng weren''t exceptionally strong, but they were among the most formidable existences below the Astral Lord level.


    Furthermore, Archdeity Huo Lie, as an Archdeity, undoubtedly had extraordinary self-preservation abilities. Yet he was still killed in a single strike. This was definitely not something an ordinary Astral Lord could aplish.


    "But more importantly, where is Astral Lord Huo Xiang?"


    "Could he have also been killed by Ming Jian?"


    "After five hundred years, Ming Jian has appeared in the Snowlight Mist Realm once more? I remember when hest appeared in another realm boundary a few decades ago, he was only at the sixth-stage Archimmortal level."


    "How did he be so powerful in the blink of an eye?" These powerhouses were both shocked and suspicious.


    If Astral Lord Huo Xiang had also perished, then Wu Yuan was far too terrifying.


    They didn''t have to wait long for an answer.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> As more powerhouses arrived, they learned what had transpired from those who had arrived first.


    Soon, another piece of news spread.


    "Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s true self has sent word that his mana body was killed by Ming Jian in a single strike," an Astral Lord called out excitedly.


    "The one who killed him was Ming Jian."


    "Killed in a single strike? Ming Jian?"


    "Is this true or false?"


    "Huo Xiang said it himself, how could it be false?" Therge group of powerhouses gathered there broke into a mor, all astonished by the news.


    Although Ming Jian had broken through, he should only be a First Tribtion High Immortal based on the timeline. How could a First Tribtion High Immortal be powerful enough to kill an Astral Lord in a single strike?


    ...


    News of Astral Lord Huo Xiang''s death began to spread throughout the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, but because not much time had passed, it hadn''t spread very far yet.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan was traversing the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    Following a karmic thread, he quickly arrived at the location of another Astral Lord and appeared before him.


    "Ming Jian? You dare to show yourself in the Snowlight Mist Realm again?" Astral Lord Tong Heng, seated atop a cier, opened his eyes. He stood up.


    "Why wouldn''t I dare?" Wu Yuan strolled through the air, smiling as he said, "Rather, Tong Heng, I''vee to hunt you down, yet you don''t flee for your life?"


    "Ridiculous! You''re just relying on that one burst secret art. A mere High Immortal thinks he can make me flee? Get lost!" Astral Lord Tong Heng roared angrily.


    In the next moment, a ck longbow materialized in his palm. He drew the bow, nocking a silver arrow that gleamed like the full moon.


    He understood Wu Yuan''s intentions clearly and didn''t want to waste words. Let their strength determine life and death.


    <i>Oh? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of surprise shing through them. As the silver arrow locked onto him, he felt as if his spirit was being suppressed by waves of pressure. It was a formidable divine bow.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>The silver arrow shot forth. Spiritual qi from millions of li gathered into its shaft, causing it to radiate with an iparably fearsome light.


    It streaked across millions of li, causing the vast heaven and earth to fall silent.


    <i>Retreat. </i>Wu Yuan didn''t hesitate, shing back into the Turbulent Spatial Layer. This was the heaven-defying advantage ofprehending Spacetime �C no matter how powerful the opponent��s technique, he could simply withdraw to a higher spatial dimension, remaining safe and sound.


    <i>Boom!</i> But to Wu Yuan''s surprise, the silver arrow pierced through the boundaries between spatial dimensions. It streaked through the spatial turbulence, shooting towards him.


    <i>Breaking dimensional boundaries?</i> Wu Yuan''s expression changed slightly. He had a vague feeling that this arrow had locked onto his soul and spirit.


    His opponent must haveprehended part of the Law of Karma and incorporated it into his archery.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s form scattered as he employed ��Moonlight Shadow��, instantly splitting into nine silhouettes. At the same time, a sky-covering expanse of sword lights appeared, forming a sword domain.


    <i>Thud~ </i>Faced with the nine Wu Yuans, the silver arrow wavered slightly before shooting directly towards one of the silhouettes, colliding with numerous sword lights that greatly diminished its power.


    But an invisible soul wave also enveloped all nine Wu Yuans simultaneously, seeking to destabilize Wu Yuan''s soul. This arrow strike wasbined with a soul attack.


    <i>Hold. </i>Wu Yuan''s twelve Yuan Souls zed, their power like a vast sea. This was the Yuan Sea, a soul defense secret art from the Sea Of Stars, which he had already mastered to an extremely profound level.


    Even without employing a soul defense secret art, ordinary soul arts from Astral Lords couldn''t affect Wu Yuan in the slightest.


    This arrow was undeniably powerful. If it were any other Astral Lord facing this attack, it would certainly spell big trouble. But Wu Yuan''s self-preservation ability was heaven-defying, allowing him to block it with ease.


    <i>As expected of Astral Lord Tong Heng. Kill.</i> Wu Yuan''s form flickered as he descended once more to the Material Spatial Layer.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Nine lifebound flying swords spun out, merging into a single spacetime divine sword that thrust straight toward his opponent. He wouldn''t give Astral Lord Tong Heng another chance to use his divine bow.


    <i>What? He''s just a High Immortal, yet my arrow had no effect on him at all?</i> Astral Lord Tong Heng was stunned.


    He knew Wu Yuan excelled in the Dao of Spacetime and had extremely formidable self-preservation abilities, which was why he had wanted to kill him with his strongest attack.


    He never expected that it would have no effect on Wu Yuan whatsoever.


    "Tong Heng, I was hoping we could talk this out, but now you shall die." Wu Yuan''s cold voice echoed in Astral Lord Tong Heng''s mind.


    Wu Yuan''s mana body had merged with his qi refiner self. Though appearing as one individual, they were actually fighting together.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>With a mentalmand from his mana body, a barrage of celestial swords shot forth, transforming into an enormous sword domain that enveloped Tong Heng, greatly reducing his flight speed.


    At the same time, nine lifebound flying swords merged into one, forming a spacetime divine sword. Employing the Nine Swords of Spacetime, its power increased threefold within the sword domain as it shot forward like lightning.


    <i>So fast. How can he be this quick? And his sword domain? </i>Astral Lord Tong Heng grew increasingly rmed. He felt Wu Yuan''s strength far exceeded his imagination.


    In an instant, he put away his divine bow and his body grew to a gigantic form. Six war sabers and three shields appeared in his hands as he prepared to resist Wu Yuan.


    As an Archdeity, he had confidence in his self-preservation ability.

 Chapter 762: The Arrival Of An Overlord (2)

    <h4>Chapter 762: The Arrival Of An Overlord (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i> Saber and sword shed in the void. The space around Astral Lord Tong Heng shook violently as a terrifying force was transmitted through his war saber, reverberating through his entire body. Even his deity body trembled.


    <i>How is this possible? </i>Astral Lord Tong Heng''s face was filled with disbelief. <i>He��s too strong!</i>


    What he didn''t know was that when Wu Yuan unleashed his full power, each one of his lifebound flying swords surpassed mid-grade celestial artifacts in might, and the power he possessed approached that of a ninth-stage Archimmortal.


    When nine swords unified into one, the resulting power could overwhelm a ninth-stage Archimmortal, approaching the level of a quasi-Astral Monarch. Suppressing a seventh-stage Archdeity was hardly an issue.


    Even though Astral Lord Tong Heng was considerably stronger than Astral Lord Huo Xiang, it was no use.


    <i>Boom! </i>Astral Lord Tong Heng was sent flying by the Spacetime divine sword, almost losing his grip on his war sabers.


    Astral Lord Tong Heng attempted to block, but the Spacetime divine sword, after shing by, suddenly swerved and shed horizontally, once again striking his massive body.


    Countless cracks instantly spread across Astral Lord Tong Heng''s deity body.


    "No!" he roared, his voice a mixture of shock and rage. He desperately tried to flee, but his struggles proved futile against Wu Yuan''s relentless onught.


    The Spacetime divine sword struck over and over,nding more than ten devastating blows in rapid session. Astral Lord Tong Heng''s howls of fury echoed through the void as his deity body, unable to withstand the assault, finally shatteredpletely.


    Astral Lord Tong Heng was dead!


    This region of the void grew quiet.


    <i>Archdeities are indeed much harder to kill than Archimmortals. Their power levels were simr, but killing this Tong Heng consumed so much mana. </i>Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    These two battles might appear effortless, but in reality, they consumed a huge percentage of his mana.


    It was mainly because keeping ��Genesis Law Sacrifice�� activated consumed dozens of times more mana than if he fought without activating it.


    So for Wu Yuan, his main priority when engaging in these life-or-death battles was speed! He had to end them quickly.


    <i>If it turned into a battle of attrition, I''d have no choice but to leave. </i>Wu Yuan waved his hand to collect the many treasures Astral Lord Tong Heng dropped.


    Then, he swiftly departed.


    ...


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Yuan''s battle with Astral Lord Tong Heng was even more brutal, causing even greater aftershocks, but because they fought in the void with no witnesses, the news didn''t spread as quickly.


    Time passed.


    Wu Yuan was aware that he had only killed the mana bodies of his opponents. Time was of the essence; once word of his attacks spread, the remaining Astral Lords would undoubtedly scatter to the winds.


    With this urgency in mind, Wu Yuan swiftly traced each karmic thread connecting him to his targets. Moving at an unprecedented speed, heunched into a relentless hunting and killing spree.


    Fifteen battles in five days!


    In reality, the time Wu Yuan spent on traveling and fighting was very short. Most of the time was taken up by mana recovery.


    Wu Yuan''s chosen targets for these fifteen battles were all Astral Lord-level powerhouses who had hunted him in the past.


    Wu Yuan won thirteen of the battles, killing his opponents.


    As for the remaining two, one was a ninth-stage Archdeity and the other a ninth-stage Archimmortal. Both had extremely strong self-preservation abilities. Wu Yuan couldn''t defeat them after a prolonged battle and his mana was mostly drained, so he could only choose to leave.


    However, killing thirteen Astral Lord level powerhouses in a row, and fighting twote-stage Astral Lords to a standstill or even gaining the upper hand, still caused a hugemotion.


    "Thirteen Astral Lords have fallen."


    "Truly insane."


    "Those who died all had grudges with Ming Jian in the past. Whether Archimmortals or Archdeities, all were killed by him."


    "Evente-stage Astral Lords could only passively defend against him, struggling to resist."


    "His attacks are terrifying. The key is his mastery of Spacetime, granting him unparalleled evasive abilities. He wields the initiative in battle and his soul defense is also absurdly strong. Whether attacking or escaping, his abilities are heaven-defying... Didn''t Ming Jian only recently be a High Immortal?"


    "He is definitely no weaker than Zhuo Haiyue."


    ...


    The news first spread among the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    The fall of thirteen Astral Lords wasn''t too significant an event. Any major faction had tens of thousands of Astral Lords, and it was only their mana bodies or ether bodies that perished.


    But the key was that all this was aplished by a High Immortal who had only cultivated for just over a thousand years. That was somewhat unbelievable.


    "This is troublesome."


    "This Ming Jian has grown extremely powerful. He''s probably approaching the level of a quasi-Astral Monarch, even more heaven-defying than ordinary Astral Lords of Space."


    "It��s no longer easy to kill him to save face."


    "The Spacetime Ind hasn''t produced such monstrous prodigies in countless ages." Many Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm felt vexed.


    They had previously ordered his assassination, firstly because they didn''t fear Ming Jian''s future retaliation, and secondly to save face and vent anger on behalf of their subordinates.


    But Ming Jian''s growth rate was too fast, and his desire for revenge became even stronger. Unless these Astral Monarchs personally took action to hunt him down, there was nothing they could do to him. Their subordinates were no longer his match.


    Moreover, many of the Astral Lords of Space who had originally obeyed orders to hunt Ming Jian began to have second thoughts, choosing to only pay lip service while secretly disobeying their superiors.


    Astral Lords of Space only excelled at escaping. Their head-onbat ability wasn''t necessarily very strong.


    Although some Astral Lords of Space also had the strength of quasi-Astral Monarchs, those were extremely rare, even fewer in number than Astral Monarchs.


    This also caused Ming Jian''s reputation to rise among the various factions of the Dao Realm.


    ...


    The astounding string of victories spread among the many major factions of the Dao Realm, gradually circting within the Spacetime Ind through various channels.


    Instantly, it caused a stir.


    "Madness."


    "Ming Jian arrived at the Spacetime Ind fewer than a thousand years ago, right? How long has he been cultivating?"


    "Late-stage Astral Lord strength! He��s no weaker than Zhuo Haiyue." Countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Ind discussed.


    "I''ve heard that Zhuo Haiyue''s situation is extremely special, she''s not that kind of monstrous prodigy."


    "In terms of raw talent, Ming Jian is number one throughout Spacetime Ind."


    "I''ve checked, Ming Jian has conquered level one hundred of the one-star and two-star towers in the Taiyuan Divine Court... Now he''s even more dazzling." Very quickly, Wu Yuan''s reputation on the Spacetime Ind skyrocketed.


    Given the current trend, there was a real chance of him surpassing Zhuo Haiyue to be the number one powerhouse among the millions of imprint bearers on the Spacetime Ind.


    Of course, the most important factor was that Zhuo Haiyue had only unleashed her power once, while Wu Yuan had killed over ten Astral Lords consecutively, forging his reputation with blood.


    In the world of the strong, nothing carried more weight than actualbat achievements.


    ...


    "Thank goodness! Thank goodness I reconciled with him." Nie Zhen was in a great mood as he chatted with Nangong Meng and the others.


    "Too monstrous. Havingte-stage Astral Lord strength after a thousand-plus years of cultivation?" Nie Zhen shook his head in amazement. "If anyone tells me Ming Jian won''t be a Sovereign in the future, they��ll be hearing from me."


    Hearing this, Nangong Meng, Tu Qing, and the others couldn''t help butugh.


    They were equally amazed, Ming Jian''s growth rate was too fast. In the blink of an eye, he had left them all behind.


    ...


    <i>Spending thirty million divine crystals to resolve the karma was worth it.</i> High Deity Mi Yun had originally been distressed about those thirty million divine crystals. But when he received news of Wu Yuan ying over ten Astral Lords in session, he immediately felt that this was one of his wisest decisions.


    He was such a monstrous prodigy and not from an opposing faction anyway, why make an enemy of him?


    <i>When encountering super geniuses on the path of cultivation, it��s important to know when to lower your head.</i> High Deity Mi Yun thought to himself.


    ...


    The news of Wu Yuan achieving such an unbelievable battle record as a First Tribtion High Immortal naturally spread quickly through various channels to the intelligence agencies of numerous factions across the vast river of space and time.


    Simrly, this news also reached the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    In the Bei You Realm, within the temple where the Sovereign Bei You resided.


    <i>Late-stage Astral Lord strength? ying thirteen Astral Lords in session? How did my grand-disciple aplish this?</i> When Immortal Sovereign Bei You received this news, he found it somewhat unbelievable.


    He was a Sovereign of Space, part of the Spacetime Dao Master��s lineage, and someone who resided in the Taiyuan Divine Court. Naturally, he knew far more secrets than ordinary Sovereigns.


    He was well aware that there were many heaven-defying methods in this world, like Saint Prohibition Arts, ''ck Devil Blood Sacrifice'', and so on.


    <i>Those heaven-defying burst secret arts all have numerous limitations, and most are created by supreme beings. </i>Sovereign Bei You thought to himself. <i>Could it be that Ming Jian has already be a sessor of the Spacetime Dao Master?</i>


    <i>But the Dao Master has not passed down Great Dao imprints for ages, and Ming Jian has only cultivated for just over a thousand years.</i>


    Moreover, Sovereign Bei You knew that even if one obtained a heaven-defying burst secret art, the extent of its power ultimately depended on the individual''s ability to wield it.


    Take ''Creation Saint Prohibition''. If an ordinary High Immortal with mediocre Daoprehension employed it, the power unleashed would match some ordinary Archimmortals at most.


    After cultivating for over a thousand years, Wu Yuan��s Daoprehension rivaled Astral Monarchs, and with nine lifebound flying swords, he finally had enough strength to unlock his current power.


    <i>Hmm?</i> A trace of surprise shed in Sovereign Bei You''s eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Countless points of light gathered, instantly forming a blurry figure shrouded in ck mist within the temple. Their aura was very faint, yet there was a trace of transcendence.


    "Bei You, long time no see." The figure''s voice was gentle, echoing in the temple.


    "Overlord." Sovereign Bei You rose, bowing slightly in respect.


    As powerful as he was, fearing no Sovereign in the Greenridge Macrocosm, he still had to bow before a noble Overlord.


    "I believe you understand the purpose of my visit. Has Ming Jian already be a sessor of the Spacetime Dao Master?" the figure asked.


    "I''m not sure," Sovereign Bei You shook his head, he truly didn''t know.


    The figure was slightly startled.


    "Ming Jian''s performance is incredibly heaven-defying, in terms of potential, he can be considered among the top ten in the divine court since this samsara cycle of heaven and earth.


    The True Saint has divined the rough timing of the next opening of the Megaverse Crossroads. By that time, we Overlords believe that Ming Jian''s strength might rank in the top three of the divine court��s current generation," the figure said slowly.


    "Moreover, he excels in Spacetime. His aplishments in the Megaverse Crossroads are likely to be immense.


    So, we hope he can join the core of the divine court. Feel free to state your conditions.


    If the Spacetime Dao Master is unwilling to take him as a sessor, then I am willing to seek an audience with the True Saint. Of course, the True Saint��s insights are not in the Great Dao of Spacetime, so it still depends on the True Saint''s decision."


    The figure''s gaze fell on Sovereign Bei You: "Bei You, what do you think?"


    Sovereign Bei You''s heart trembled.


    Seek the True Saint? He was very clear about the status of the figure before him. In the divine court, he was absolutely one of the top existences below the True Saint. If he spoke, the True Saint would naturally listen.


    "Overlord, the most suitable path for Ming Jian is the Spacetime Dao," Sovereign Bei You shook his head and said, "Everything can only be discussed when Ming Jian returns."


    "Alright. Then we''ll wait until Ming Jian returns to discuss it." The figure nodded, dispersing into countless points of light.


    Only his incarnation had descended. His true body was still in the distant Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters.


    <i>Ming Jian, oh Ming Jian. Sending him to the Spacetime Dao Realm was indeed the right choice.</i> Sovereign Bei You sighed inwardly. <i>Even an Overlord personally made a visit.</i>


    An Overlord''s strength and status far surpassed that of ordinary Sovereigns.


    ...


    Wu Yuan was vaguely aware of the storms in the world outside, but he paid little attention to them, focusing all his energy on his present situation.


    <i>The ck Devil Blood Hollow. I have finally returned. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the seemingly calm expanse of void in the distance.

 Chapter 763: The Devil Hollow Emerges (1)

    <h4>Chapter 763: The Devil Hollow Emerges (1)</h4>


    This region seemed quiet, but massive ciers would asionally drift by.


    The ciers appeared to move slowly, but that was due to their immense size. In reality, they were moving at a speed of a hundred thousand li per second. If a High Immortal or High Deity were careless enough to get struck by one, they might be killed on impact.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Wu Yuan''s form flickered, easily avoiding cier after cier as he waited in this area.


    Previously, he had been transported into the ck Devil Blood Hollow from this ce.


    <i>Last time, I was brought into the ck Devil Blood Hollow rather quickly.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept the area. <i>This time, nearly half a day has passed, and there��s still no sign of it?</i>


    Another hour went by.


    <i>Crack!</i> A fissure suddenly appeared in the distant space. An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, pulling him into the crack.


    Wu Yuan did not struggle throughout this process, allowing himself to be transported.


    ...


    At its center of a dim expanse of void stood an immense, boundless range of ck mountains, stretching for hundreds of millions of li.


    <i>Hum~</i> Simr to thest time, Wu Yuan felt the space before him waver slightly, and he found himself at the foot of the towering ck mountain range. Before him stood that majestic ck temple.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Youngster, you''ve got guts to be back so soon," a cold voice resounded from the temple.


    <i>Thud~ Thud~</i> Footsteps sounded as a ck-robed figure emerged from the temple. His form was somewhat ethereal, his aura elusive yet domineering.


    With an icy gaze, he looked down at Wu Yuan.


    It was Big Devil, the spirit of the ck Devil Blood Hollow, whom Wu Yuan had met on his first visit.


    "Senior Big Devil." Wu Yuan bowed slightly. He appeared respectful, but in truth he was on high alert internally, ready to use Nine Firmaments In A Thought at any moment.


    Unlike thest time, his qi refiner self was here. He couldn''t be too careful. Survival was the top priority.


    "Oh? So you''ve broken through to be a High Immortal," Big Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Well, challenging the ck Devil Blood Hollow as a High Immortal does indeed increase your chances. But ultimately, the trials of the ck Devil Blood Hollow ce more emphasis on your potential."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    During hisst visit, the other party hadn''t said nearly this much.


    "I can sense the aura of the ck Devil Divine Pir on you, and your true self hase. You''ve got guts, and you meet the basic requirements. I won''t make things too difficult for you," Big Devil said coldly. "But whether you can pass the Sovereign''s trials and gain the Sovereign''s approval depends on you alone."


    "Understood." Wu Yuan nodded. As long as it was a normal trial, there was no problem.


    What he feared most was the other party acting unreasonably like thest time, striking him down without warning. That would be a terrible injustice.


    In reality, although Wu Yuan had used Genesis Power to cleanse the ck Devil Star into a Genesis Star, he had only transformed two of the twelve ck Devil Divine Pirs inside into Genesis Divine Pirs. The remaining ten still maintained their ck Devil Divine Pir form, just in case something unexpected happened in the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    After all, who knew how this mysterious Big Devil would view the Genesis Star and Genesis Divine Pirs? Naturally, it was safer to keep some ck Devil Divine Pirs as insurance.


    "Enter the ck Devil Hall," Big Devil pointed at the temple behind him. "The ck Devil Hall was once the Sovereign''s residence. Your potential is excellent... perhaps you will obtain the Sovereign''s treasures and return alive.


    Go on."


    "Thank you, Senior Big Devil," Wu Yuan said, his heart filled with anticipation.


    Return alive? In Wu Yuan''s mind, this journey was not just about obtaining Sovereign ck Devil''s treasure, but more importantly to investigate the ck pagoda��s rtionship with the ck Devil Divine Pirs, ck Devil Star, and other such treasures. This was of utmost importance.


    <i>Whether it is a test of talent or strength... Let��s see what Sovereign ck Devil''s requirements will be. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself, confident in his own abilities.


    If he could pass True Saint Bu Xiu��s trial, what more a Sovereign''s? [1] Even if this was a terrifying Sovereign, would Wu Yuan dare to let his qi refiner self venture here if he trulycked confidence?


    <i>Whoosh!</i> From the outside, the interior of the great hall appeared endlessly dark, like a massive ck cave. Wu Yuan flew directly into the hall, disappearing into the endless darkness.


    <i>Cultivating for just over a thousand years, yet able to y an eighth-stage Archimmortal. </i>Big Devil watched as Wu Yuan entered the temple.


    <i>And he''s even crystallized Spacetime True Intent? Even the Sovereign in his early years can��tpare... I wonder if he��ll seed. </i>Big Devil pondered silently.


    Though trapped in the ck Devil Blood Hollow, nothing in the entire Snowlight Mist Realm could escape his detection. He was well aware of Wu Yuan''s background.


    However, he was created by Sovereign ck Devil, and his temperament was in line with Sovereign ck Devil''s. If Wu Yuan could seed, he would be pleased. If he failed? He wouldn''t be disappointed either.


    <i>The Sovereign is destined to perish, unable to return</i>. Big Devil murmured to himself. <i>Dao Master, since you want to erase all traces of the Sovereign, why leave me alive? Why leave the ck Devil Blood Hollow intact?</i>


    Suddenly, a flicker of surprise and shock shed through Big Devil''s eyes. <i>This is the aura of the Ancestral Pagoda. He''s an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? How is this possible!</i>


    He could hardly believe it. It had been endless ages since the Sovereign perished. And now, one appeared?


    Big Devil might be excited, but his instincts as a spirit enabled him to act without hesitation. He immediately began to activate the vast array within the ck Devil Blood Hollow, following the orders left behind by Sovereign ck Devil ages ago.


    "Activate the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array.


    Devil Realm, begin recruitment.


    Snowlight Mist Realm, targets locked, begin teleportation!"


    ...


    Inside the ck Devil Hall, darkness surrounded everything.


    At the center of the hall, a massive ck circr pattern was traced on the ground. Wu Yuan was currently standing on it, gazing downwards in a momentary daze. His heart was racing with both excitement and shock.


    The moment he had stepped onto the ck circr pattern, the dormant ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe began to tremble violently��far more intensely than when he firstid eyes on the ck Devil Star or ck Devil Divine Pirs.


    The tremors were magnified thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of times, shaking even his twelve Yuan Souls like an earthquake.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Moreover, endless red light burst forth from the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, and a message was transmitted to Wu Yuan: "Obtain it, you must obtain it!"


    As Wu Yuan hesitated, countless points of light silently gathered, coalescing before Wu Yuan into the shadowy form of a ck pagoda.


    It stood about one meter tall, suspended in mid-air. Though it looked like a projection, it emanated an immeasurably vast and profound power.


    When it appeared, the trembling of the ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe grew even more intense, as if it were trying to break free.


    <i>This? Is it a projection of the ck pagoda?</i> Wu Yuan was stunned.


    The pagoda projected before him was identical to the ck pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, matching even in the finest details.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan''s heart was churning with waves of shock and awe.


    <i>The true forms of the ck Devil Divine Pirs and the ck Devil Star are all powered by Genesis Power, and Genesis Power is produced by the ck pagoda. The ck pagoda in my upper dantian lobe is merely a projection of the true ck pagoda.</i> Countless thoughts shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil must have an inextricable connection to the ck pagoda. Or could it be that Sovereign ck Devil was the previous owner of the ck pagoda?</i> A bold idea shed through Wu Yuan''s mind.


    The ck pagoda was profoundly mysterious. To this day, Wu Yuan had not uncovered its true nature, but today, he finally glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.


    What perplexed Wu Yuan the most was the ck pagoda��s projection suddenly appearing within the ck Devil Hall.


    Could it be that the ck Devil Blood Hollow was also aware of the intense resonance of the ck pagoda within him?


    Wu Yuan felt uneasy, an instinctive reaction to having one''s greatest secret potentially exposed.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A blurry figure coalesced behind the ck pagoda��s projection. He sat upon a ck throne, his aura vast and mighty, his features indistinct save for a pair of clearly visible eyes that burned like two stars. An intangible pressure spread out, causing Wu Yuan''s spirit to tremble.


    Sovereign ck Devil? Wu Yuan was startled.


    ��Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. Did youe specifically because you sensed the resonance of the essence?" The blurry figure on the throne spoke, his voice resounding majestically through the temple, yet carrying an undercurrent of sorrow.


    This voice held an intangible power to move hearts, instinctively evoking a sense of grief in Wu Yuan.


    "You are very weak... If I were still alive, you would surely die. s, it''s all the Dao Master''s... Well, I��m already dead. What does your life or death matter to me?


    Since you desire it, I''ll give it to you. But whether you can receive it depends on your strength. If you''re not strong enough, you''ll perish here.


    I only hope you won''t regret itter... The path of Genesis is both destiny and cmity. Don''t end up like me, toiling only for others'' benefit, haha!" The blurred voice on the throneughed, his tone filled with endless sorrow and hatred.


    An unseen force enveloped Wu Yuan, overwhelming him with emotion. Tears flowed uncontrobly as countless sorrowful memories from his past surged to the forefront of his mind. An intangible sadness weighed heavily on his spirit, pushing aside all other thoughts.


    Like a dream bubble bursting, the silhouettes of the ck pagoda and Sovereign ck Devil vanished simultaneously. The invisible force enveloping the great hall also dissipated rapidly.


    After a long while, Wu Yuan finally regained his rity, and immediately, a surge of shock welled up in his heart. <i>How terrifying. This power to affect one��s emotions is simply inconceivable.</i>


    Wu Yuan was certain that if those thoughts had continued to influence him, they might have led him to suicide, and he would have followed itsmand without hesitation.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil has fallen, yet even this mere remnant of his will is so formidable?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    In the past, he had encountered many Sovereigns, but they had all been polite. He had never truly felt the might of a Sovereign powerhouse. Today, he finally witnessed the capabilities of a pinnacle expert in heaven and earth.


    One had to understand that in terms of soul strength, Dao Heart and willpower, Wu Yuan was not inferior tote-stage Astral Lord powerhouses, yet he was still affected by this influence.


    Then, Wu Yuan began to ponder Sovereign ck Devil''s words. The path of Genesis? Generating a resonance?


    <i>Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? Ancestral Pagoda, it��s exactly the same as what the Origin Spirit called it back then. </i>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Could it be that those like me, who possess an Ancestral Pagoda projection in their upper dantian lobe, are Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers?</i>


    <i>What is this path of Genesis? Is it rted to the Ancestral Pagoda?</i>


    <i>Was Sovereign ck Devil also an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? But he possessed treasures like the Genesis Divine Pir and the ck Devil Star, seemingly more than what I have, yet he still perished.</i>


    <i>Toiling for others'' benefit? Is he referring to the Dao Master? </i>Wu Yuan felt that there were too many puzzles, all waiting to be pieced together.


    What did the ck pagoda, or rather the Ancestral Pagoda, truly represent? And what was its ultimate purpose?


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil just said he would give me something. What is it, and where is it? </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across his surroundings.


    There was nothing.


    <i>Hum~ </i>An invisible force suddenly enveloped Wu Yuan. His mana resisted instinctively, and he instantly vanished from his spot.


    1. Immutable True Saint = True Saint Bu Xiu ?

 Chapter 764: The Devil Hollow Emerges (2)

    Chapter 764: The Devil Hollow Emerges (2)


    While Wu Yuan was experiencing all this in the ck Devil Hall...


    <em>In the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, atop a vast cier.</em>


    <em>This Ming Jian, he went after so many Astral Lords, but after so many days, he hasn''te looking for me?</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou sat in lotus position on the cier.


    Back then, he had personally in Ming Jian''s mana body. Logically, if Ming Jian sought revenge, he would have targeted him first, as their karmic connection was the strongest.


    <em>Perhaps he believes he''s no match for me. </em>Astral Lord Gu Shou snorted coldly. <em>Cowardly fellow.</em>


    Other Astral Lords might be unwilling to provoke Ming Jian, but Astral Lord Gu Shou was not afraid. He was ate-stage Astral Lord powerhouse, skilled in the Space Dao.


    Suddenly, a cold voice resonated in his mind, "ck Devil Blood Hollow, inheritance trial begins, prepare to enter."


    <em>What? The ck Devil Blood Hollow? Isn''t that the treasure trove left behind by Sovereign ck Devil?</em>


    <em>But Sovereign ck Devil perished long ago. How could I suddenly be summoned to participate in his inheritance trial? Is it a trap?</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou was startled at first.Then he felt an unseen force envelop him. Immediately, he darted into the Turbulent Spatial Layer to break free from the restraints.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>The force intensified, refusing to let him go even in the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    <em>Hum!</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou instantly vanished from his position.


    <em>I must report this to the Astral Monarch immediately!</em> Far away in the Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters, Astral Lord Gu Shou''s true self began to report the situation to his superiors in shock.


    ��


    Simultaneously, all Archimmortals and Archdeities within the entire Snowlight Mist Realm were encountering simr situations.


    Whether they were as powerful aste-stage Astral Lord powerhouses, or as weak as first-stage Archimmortals/Archdeities, they all received the same notification.


    Then, regardless of their consent, a terrifying force teleported them away. It was like arge-scale capture operation; not a single Archimmortal or Archdeity in the entire Snowlight Mist Realm could escape.


    This revealed the frightening power of the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    Even many Archimmortals and Archdeities who were in the midst of fierce battles were instantly teleported away.


    Meanwhile, the countless High Immortals and High Deities in the Snowlight Mist Realm werepletely unaffected.


    The number of Archimmortals and Archdeities teleported away in this instant exceeded tens of thousands. News of this strange urrence naturally spread at an rming rate among the nine major factions of the Dao Realm.


    Perhaps in the vast river of space and time, Sovereign ck Devil wasn''t particrly famous. After all, he was just a Sovereign, not an Overlord.


    But in the Spacetime Dao Realm, Sovereign ck Devil was exceptionally special. He was once acknowledged as the number one Sovereign of the Dao Realm. He had even waged war against numerous Sovereigns of the Dao Realm simultaneously and maintained the upper hand.


    Though he had fallen, his legend persisted. With his inheritance emerging, it naturally attracted immense attention.


    ��


    The ck Devil Blood Hollow, though seemingly hidden within the Snowlight Mist Realm, was actually a space specially created by Sovereign ck Devil, containing a vast world within.


    Within this vast world, numerous expansive realms were created, each no smaller than an immortal continent, some even more extensive. The total area of these realms far exceeded that of an immortal nation.


    These realms, collectively known as the Devil Realm by the countless beings within the ck Devil Blood Hollow, nurtured innumerable lifeforms, among which arose a multitude of powerhouses, including vast numbers of Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    These powerhouses could not leave the Devil Realm, let alone the ck Devil Blood Hollow, and had lived in the Devil Realm all their lives.


    Today, countless powerhouses throughout the Devil Realm simultaneously received a message from the will of the Devil Realm: ��Whoever obtains the Devil Lord''s inheritance shall control the entire Devil Realm.��


    In an instant, powerhouses across the many realms of the Devil Realm were in an uproar.


    For the High Immortals and High Deities, the Devil Realm was vast enough to spend a lifetime exploring. However, for Astral Lords, who possessed near-eternal lifespans and stood at the pinnacle of power, the realm felt far too small.


    "Devil Lord! The Devil Lord''s inheritance."


    "Legend has it that the Devil Lord once waged war in the worlds beyond. He never returned, and never again summoned our Devil Realm''s great army."


    "This is our opportunity, a chance to transcend the Devil Realm."


    "Yes! A chance to surpass the Archimmortal phase." Countless powerhouses across the Devil Realm were incredibly frenzied and excited.


    Legend had it that the Devil Lord created this world, establishing the entire Devil Realm. He was the progenitor of myriad devils.


    However, as eons passed, the early super powerhouses born in the Devil Realm had long been recruited for battles beyond the realm.


    The birth of powerhouses required the right environment and foundation. Although the realms within the ck Devil Blood Hollow were vast, theycked great opportunities,petition, and battles. More importantly, theycked the guidance of even stronger beings.


    Thus, in the billions of years since Sovereign ck Devil''s fall, many Astral Lords had been born, yet no Astral Monarch had emerged.


    Now, for the countless powerhouses of the Devil Realm, their opportunity had arrived. If they could obtain the Devil Lord''s inheritance, they could naturally ascend to the heavens in a single step. They could even leave the Devil Realm and venture into the vast world outside.


    "Let''s go."


    "Let''s take up the challenge. I no longer wish to be confined in the Devil Realm. It''s too small, like a tiny pond. Only by going outside can we seek the path to eternity."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Unlike the Archimmortals and Archdeities in the Snowlight Mist Realm who were forcibly captured, the Devil Realm powerhouses were given a choice to take up the challenge.


    However, after weighing the pros and cons, over half of the Astral Lords and more than thirty percent of the Archimmortals and Archdeities in the Devil Realm chose to ept the challenge.


    When opportunity came knocking, one had to make a decision.


    ��


    After being teleported by an invisible force from the ck Devil Hall, Wu Yuan felt himself plunging into a realm of nothingness. Darkness surrounded him, with no exit in sight.


    <em>Where is this? Why have I been brought here? </em>Wu Yuan wondered inwardly.


    Although news of the events in the Snowlight Mist Realm had spread throughout the Spacetime Ind, only Archimmortals and Archdeities were teleported in, and no Spacetime Ind imprint bearers were transported, thus the impact of this incident wasn''t particrly significant on the Spacetime Ind.


    Moreover, both Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self and mana body were in the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    Upon entering the ck Devil Blood Hollow, Wu Yuan immediately sensed that his connection to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm had been severed.


    Although his two true selves shared a consciousness, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self couldn''t instantly find out what was happening on the Spacetime Ind. Therefore, Wu Yuan was temporarily unaware of the developments in the world outside.


    Though trapped in this realm of nothingness, there was no immediate danger, so Wu Yuan naturally didn��t rashly use Nine Firmaments In A Thought, and instead waited patiently.


    Another day passed.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Another formless power enveloped him, and Wu Yuan felt the space around him shift. Suddenly, he found himself in a vast world.


    An endless, sprawling ice in stretched before him.


    <em>So many people.</em> Wu Yuan''s heart tightened.


    As soon as he was transported to this realm, he was shocked to discover at least ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities densely packed together on this wastnd. The sheer number of them was terrifying!


    Countless Archimmortals and Archdeities were either gathered in groups of three to five or stood alone, scattered across the expanse.


    <em>So many Archimmortals and Archdeities? </em>Wu Yuan''s heart raced, and he sensed something amiss. <em>It seems there isn''t a single High Immortal or High Deity among them.</em>


    Moreover, among the tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities on the wastnd, Wu Yuan could easily sense that several hundred of them posed a clear threat to him. They were all at least Astral Lord-level existences.


    So many Astral Lords?


    <em>Sovereign ck Devil said that if I had enough strength, I could obtain what he left behind. Otherwise, if I perished, so be it. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>But then, why transport me here? What''s going on?</em>


    Where did all these Archimmortals and Archdeitiese from?


    Wu Yuan could sense that many of the powerhouses here seemed to exude a strong thirst for blood. None of them appeared to be easy targets.


    <em>The spatial restrictions are even more severe now.</em> After a brief attempt, Wu Yuan discovered that he was unable to break through to the Turbulent Spatial Layer.


    Being unable to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer meant that Wu Yuan''s self-preservation ability was severely weakened. If he were to be surrounded and attacked, it would be extremely dangerous.


    Of course, aside from the absurdly strong spatial pressure, other aspects of this vast wastnd spanning tens of millions of li were not much different from the world outside.


    "A High Immortal?"


    "A High Immortal is here too? High Immortals can also receive the message from the Devil Realm''s will and are qualified to ept the Devil Lord''s inheritance?"


    "Who is he?"


    "I''ve never seen him before. There shouldn''t be any legendary High Immortals in this generation of the Devil Realm who can rival Archimmortals inbat power." At least several hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities around Wu Yuan noticed his presence.


    If he were an Archimmortal, they wouldn''t have been surprised. But a High Immortal? This left them shocked and puzzled. How could a High Immortal appear here? Where did hee from?


    "It''s Ming Jian."


    "It really seems to be him."


    "He''s an imprint bearer of the Spacetime Ind, but he''s only a High Immortal. How did he get transported to the ck Devil Blood Hollow?" A very small number of Archimmortals and Archdeities quickly recognized Wu Yuan.


    They were all Archimmortals and Archdeities who had been directly transported here from the Snowlight Mist Realm.


    One��s reputation extended like a tree''s shade.


    Wu Yuan''s fame was immense among the nine major factions of the Dao Realm, especially in the Snowlight Mist Realm, where he could be described as terrifyingly notorious. His reputation was forged with the blood of countless immortals and deities, naturally drawing much attention.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A figure in snow-white robes shed over in an instant, stopping about ten thousand li away from Wu Yuan.


    Ten thousand li was afortable range for Archimmortals and Archdeities to exchange words without feeling threatened.


    <em>Archimmortal Li Shu?</em> A flicker of surprise passed through Wu Yuan''s eyes. He hadn''t expected to encounter an old acquaintance.


    Several hundred years ago, when Wu Yuan first went on a frenzied killing spree in the Snowlight Mist Realm, he had crossed des with Archimmortal Li Shu, only gaining a slight upper hand at the time.


    At the end of that battle, Archimmortal Li Shu had paid a price of five hundred thousand divine crystals to resolve their karmic entanglement.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, I never expected to encounter you here in the ck Devil Blood Hollow. What luck indeed," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted her voice to Wu Yuan. Her appearance was still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, and her aura as extraordinary.


    <em>Inside the ck Devil Blood Hollow? Archimmortal Li Shu knows this is the ck Devil Blood Hollow? </em>Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    He was also quite puzzled as to why she was here. Did she possess a ck Devil Divine Pir?


    "Daoist Ming Jian, I''m curious. How did you, a mere High Immortal, get transported in here?" Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted.


    "Why can��t I be here?" Wu Yuan countered directly.


    This time, it was Archimmortal Li Shu''s turn to be stunned.


    She pondered for a moment, then nodded, supposedly having figured it out. "Daoist Ming Jian, you possess a ck Devil Star. Could it be that you entered this ce on your own through the spatial coordinates from a ck Devil Divine Pir?


    That makes sense! Since you can enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer, you must have rushed here immediately after receiving news of the Devil Hollow''s emergence.


    After all, if someonepletely obtains Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, the value of the ck Devil Star would decrease drastically."

 Chapter 765: Bloody Slaughter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 765: Bloody ughter (1)</h4>


    Wu Yuan''s mind was filled with confusion and shock. Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance? How did she know about that?


    In an instant, Wu Yuan deduced that something must have happened during the day or two he was inside the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan could sense that he stood out among everyone present. There were over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities on this vast wastnd, yet he was the only High Immortal. It was only obvious that many eyes were on him.


    <i>Are they all watching me?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the surrounding Archimmortals and Archdeities, many of whom kept ncing his way.


    It was like amb suddenly appearing among a pack of wolves �C naturally drawing attention.


    So, Wu Yuan didn''t refute Archimmortal Li Shu''s words. If she coulde up with an exnation on her own, he wouldn''t need to exin further.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, our previous karma has been resolved. This inheritance trial of Sovereign ck Devil has drawn too many Devil Realm powerhouses �C over 90% are from the Devil Realm. It would be too dangerous for us to fight alone. Shall we join forces?" Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted.


    "Devil Realm powerhouses? What Devil Realm?" Wu Yuan''s interest was piqued.


    His gaze swept over the numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities around him. He noticed that their attire and auras were indeed quite different from the Dao Realm immortals and deities he had encountered in the past.


    <i>Could it be that these Devil Realm powerhouses will all team up?</i>


    Wu Yuan transmitted, "How does allying with you benefit me?"


    Wu Yuan now far surpassed Archimmortal Li Shu in terms of strength. Having one or two more helpers wouldn''t make much difference.


    Hearing this, Archimmortal Li Shu instead revealed a slight smile and transmitted, "Daoist Ming Jian, as a Spacetime Ind imprint bearer, you may not be familiar with the details of the ck Devil Blood Hollow or know much about the Devil Realm."


    Wu Yuan listened silently.


    "Let me first exin some things," Archimmortal Li Shu said. "The Devil Realm is a world created by Sovereign ck Devil..."


    Soon, Wu Yuan learned more about the situation from Archimmortal Li Shu. The Devil Realm was a vast world created within the ck Devil Blood Hollow which gave rise to numerous powerful beings.


    Back when Sovereign ck Devil dominated the Dao Realm, a considerable portion of his subordinate powerhouses were selected from the ck Devil Blood Hollow. However, after Sovereign ck Devil perished, the ck Devil Blood Hollow was sealed, and the so-called Devil Realm was cut off from the Dao Realm.


    At the same time, Wu Yuan also learned about the current affairs of the world outside from Archimmortal Li Shu.


    "Now, the nine major factions of the Dao Realm are all gathering intelligence," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted. "I am a powerhouse from the Hanging Moon Pce. ording to our pce''s intelligence, there are a total of fifty-five trial grounds like this ice in we''re on."


    "Fifty-five?" Wu Yuan was inwardly rmed.


    With over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities in one trial ground, didn''t that mean there were hundreds of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities in total?


    "All Archimmortals and Archdeities from the Snowlight Mist Realm have likely been transported into the ck Devil Blood Hollow. By our estimates, there should be twenty to thirty thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted. "The rest are all Devil Realm powerhouses.


    We estimate that the entire Devil Realm has over a million Archimmortals and Archdeities," Archimmortal Li Shu said.


    "That many?" Wu Yuan was surprised.


    But then he realized it made sense. ording to what Archimmortal Li Shu had just said, the entire Devil Realm''s territory exceeded that of a gctic cluster in the Dao Realm. A Dao Realm gctic cluster was on the same scale as an immortal nation.


    <i>Under normal circumstances, an immortal nation can nurture hundreds of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>I just don''t know if there are any Astral Monarch level powerhouses in this Devil Realm.</i>


    A single Astral Monarch could easily ughter thousands upon thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    ...


    "We Dao Realm powerhouses who were transported here are the minority. Although more Archimmortals and Archdeities will soon enter the Snowlight Mist Realm, they won''t have the chance to enter the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    Though we still don''t know why Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance trial suddenly began, this is definitely a great opportunity.


    In the end, only a very small number will be able to ess the inheritance," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted. "We know nothing about the Devil Realm powerhouses, but my Hanging Moon Pce''s powerhouses are scattered across dozens of trial grounds. We will try to gather intelligence on all the Devil Realm powerhouses as quickly as possible and share it with you.


    Daoist Ming Jian, if we join forces, it will firstly reduce the number of enemies we have to deal with, and secondly I can provide you with the Hanging Moon Pce''s intelligence," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted. "You are extremely strong and your talent is exceptional. With my faction��s intelligence, your chances of obtaining the final inheritance will greatly increase."


    Wu Yuan fell into thought.


    He had to admit that Archimmortal Li Shu made a good point. With spatial fluctuations suppressed, he could no longer consider himself unmatched. But having fewer enemies was secondary, the key was intelligence!


    <i>Most of them, like Archimmortal Li Shu, only had their mana bodies transported here, so they can share intelligence between their true selves outside.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>Meanwhile, many of these Devil Realm powerhouses know each other and will choose to team up.</i>


    Wu Yuan himself was at a disadvantage on both fronts. He had neither intelligence nor allies. As a High Immortal, and the most eye-catching one at that, it would certainly be very dangerous if fighting broke out.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Of course, Wu Yuan was confident in his strength. Although there were over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities on this ice in alone, he believed that very few could surpass him in power. There wouldn''t be many who could match him either.


    <i>The only concern is that my mana is insufficient. My endurance can��tpare these Archimmortals and Archdeities in prolonged battles. I need to be careful. </i>Wu Yuan remained vignt.


    Though he didn''t know what dangersy ahead, it never hurt to be cautious.


    ...


    ��Alright, I agree to team up," Wu Yuan transmitted after a moment of consideration. "If I��m able to, I''ll naturally do my best to protect you. But if we encounter a trial where we must fight each other, I won''t show mercy.��


    "Of course," Archimmortal Li Shu was immediately overjoyed. "My goal is to leave this ce alive. I dare not hope to obtain the final inheritance."


    It was prudent to be mindful of one''s own limits. Archimmortal Li Shu had been forcibly transported here, rather thaning of her own volition.


    She was well aware of Wu Yuan''s strength, which even surpassedte-stage Astral Lord powerhouses. Teaming up with Wu Yuan naturally greatly increased her chances of survival.


    "I''ll pass some of the information I have to you," Archimmortal Li Shu quickly transmitted some intelligence to Wu Yuan.


    Both had extremely powerful souls, allowing them tomunicate very rapidly.


    <i>So many Astral Lord powerhouses?</i> Wu Yuan reviewed the information, which primarily consisted of profiles of the powerhouses present on the ice in. A smaller portion detailed powerhouses from other trial grounds.


    Of course, it mostly detailed those from the Snowlight Mist Realm, with little intelligence on powerhouses from the Devil Realm.


    With no battles having taken ce yet, there naturally wasn''t much information on them.


    ...


    <i>In a temple within a special ne of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.</i>


    "You say you''ve discovered Ming Jian''s whereabouts?" An Astral Monarch sat on a throne, quite surprised.


    "Yes. I''ve formed a temporary alliance with Ming Jian, Astral Monarch," Archimmortal Li Shu said respectfully.


    "Good. This is the first time in history that the Devil Realm��s powerhouses have appeared inrge numbers alongside the emergence of the Devil Hollow. There has never been such an anomaly in the ck Devil Blood Hollow before," the Astral Monarch on the throne said in a low voice. "There''s a possibility that Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance will truly emerge.


    With him being the only High Immortal present... his situation is very special.


    He has the ck Devil Star and his talent is immense. Pay close attention to him," the Astral Monarch on the throne said solemnly. "But remember, try not to offend him either."


    "Understood," Archimmortal Li Shu said respectfully.


    <i>I never imagined Ming Jian would be in there too.</i> The ck-robed Astral Monarch on the throne muttered to himself.<i> It seems I should report this to the Sovereign.</i>


    Among the powerhouses in the same ice in as Wu Yuan, there were not only members of the Hanging Moon Pce like Archimmortal Li Shu, but also Archimmortals and Archdeities from other Dao Realm factions.


    A High Immortal was simply too eye-catching. And Wu Yuan was too famous.


    Within the various Dao Realm factions, the same message was reported up the chain ofmand: "Ming Jian has also been spotted inside the ck Devil Blood Hollow."


    ...


    At the very core of the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was a majestic temple. Seated on the thrones within the hall were the apex existences of the Dao Realm.


    "ck Devil''s inheritance has emerged after eons, but the timing is quite strange."


    "And the criteria are a bit odd too."


    "Logically, the best sessor should either be an Astral Monarch that is close to advancing to Sovereign, or a monstrous immortal cultivator prodigy who hasn''tpleted their Tribtions. Why would so many Archimmortals and Archdeities be chosen?"


    "If we were about to die and wanted to pass on our inheritance andbat secret arts, who would choose Archimmortals and Archdeities as sessors?"


    "It is very strange."


    "What was ck Devil thinking before he died?" These Sovereigns spoke up one after another, voicing their confusion.


    The sudden emergence of the ck Devil Blood Hollow seemed to only involve some Archimmortals and Archdeities. Yet, it rmed all these Sovereigns of the Dao Realm, for this concerned the inheritance of Sovereign ck Devil!


    Sovereign ck Devil had once been the nightmare of the entire Dao Realm. One could say that most of the Sovereigns sitting here now had once been enemies of Sovereign ck Devil.


    If not for the Dao Master''s order to preserve the ck Devil Blood Hollow after ying Sovereign ck Devil years ago, these Dao Realm Sovereigns would certainly have joined forces to destroy the ck Devil Blood Hollowpletely, erasing all traces of Sovereign ck Devil to prevent any chance of resurgence.


    However, they dared not defy the Dao Master''smand, and could only watch as the ck Devil Blood Hollow endured through the long years.


    However, when it came to the matter of Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, certain aspects seemed quite unusual to them.


    When Sovereigns chose sessors, they usually selected peerless geniuses. Only those who reached the Astral Monarch level of Daoprehension while at the High Immortal or High Deity level, like Jiang Huan, Nie Zhen, and Mi Yun, could be called geniuses.


    Although none of these Sovereigns were Supreme Geniuses who became Sovereigns directly afterpleting their Ninth Immortal Tribtion, they had all directly advanced to the Astral Monarch phase in their youth.


    It was extremely rare for an Archimmortal or Archdeity to slowly advance to the Astral Monarch phase before finally bing a Sovereign. Were there examples of this? Yes, but they were incredibly rare.

 Chapter 766: Bloody Slaughter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 766: Bloody ughter (2)</h4>


    "There''s a special case. Ming Jian, a mere High Immortal, managed to enter as well," a female Sovereign wearing robes adorned with patterns of the sun and moon suddenly spoke, her voice melodious. She was none other than the leader of the Hanging Moon Pce, Sovereign Xuan Yue. [1]


    "This Ming Jian doesn''t seem inferior to Zhuo Haiyue in terms of talent. Could he be in a simr situation to Zhuo Haiyue?"


    "Moreover, he excels in Spacetime."


    "His previous rampage has greatly displeased some Astral Monarchs under ourmand." The Sovereigns seated on the thrones spoke one after another, clearly all aware of Wu Yuan''s existence.


    "In terms of talent alone, he is undoubtedly the most gifted among those participating in this ck Devil Blood Hollow inheritance trial."


    "His situation is very special."


    "Could it be because he possesses a ck Devil Star?" These Sovereigns were all somewhat puzzled, but also extremely attentive to the unfolding events.


    If an Archimmortal or Archdeity were to obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, they wouldn''t be too concerned. But if it were to fall into the hands of a monstrous prodigy like Ming Jian, the situation would be quite delicate.


    "Everyone." A cool voice suddenly resonated.


    All Sovereigns turned to look.


    "Lan Yan." Sovereign Xuan Yue spoke. As they were both female Sovereigns, they were usually on very good terms.


    "I must remind everyone that Ming Jian is a Dao Master Imprint bearer of the Spacetime Ind. Even if he ultimately obtains ck Devil''s inheritance, he will eventually leave the Dao Realm, and won''t have too great an impact on us," Sovereign Lan Yan said slowly. "If you don''t want to meet the same fate as ck Devil, it''d be best not to personally move against Ming Jian."


    The gathered Sovereigns all felt a chill in their hearts.


    Meet the same fate as ck Devil? Sovereign ck Devil had been personally killed by the Dao Master years ago. Considering Sovereign Lan Yan''s special status, the implications of her words were clear.


    "Haha, Lan Yan, you jest."


    "Ming Jian has little to do with us. If he obtains ck Devil''s inheritance, it might even be a good thing."


    "Indeed." Sovereign Xuan Yue and others all spoke up, easing the previously tense atmosphere.


    These Dao Realm Sovereigns soon fell silent, waiting for updates from those within the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    ...


    As the days passed, more Archimmortals and Archdeities arrived sessively, appearing out of thin air on various regions of the ice in. These new arrivals were all powerhouses from the Devil Realm.


    The number of powerhouses on the wastnd gradually exceeded fifteen thousand. Not all were human beings; in fact, many of the Archimmortals and Archdeities were of various races. It was just that most super powerhouses no longer cared about racial distinctions.


    At this moment, Archimmortal Li Shu and more than ten other Archimmortals and Archdeities had gathered around Wu Yuan, meditating quietly. They were all powerhouses from the Hanging Moon Pce.


    Wu Yuan didn''t mind this. There wasn��t a single Astral Lord among them. Even if they suddenly attacked him, they wouldn''t pose much of a threat to him.


    However, Wu Yuan also felt puzzled. <i>It''s been eight days already, what exactly is the ck Devil Blood Hollow nning to do?</i>


    He continued meditating silently.


    Suddenly, an immense pressure descended upon the barren ice in stretching millions of li, sensed by all the powerhouses present.


    In the sky above, countless beams of light converged, forming a figure shrouded in ck robes, emanating an aura both ethereal and domineering.


    It was none other than Big Devil, but the aura he now exuded far surpassed what he had disyed when meeting Wu Yuan earlier. With his power alone, he effortlessly suppressed tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities, as if he were a Supreme Astral Monarch.


    <i>Is this a projection of will? Or a puppet? </i>Wu Yuan looked up, secretly astonished.


    Either scenario was highly unusual. It also signified that the formidable might of the ck Devil Blood Hollow was beyond their ability to resist.


    "I am the guardianmander of the ck Devil Blood Hollow. You may call me Big Devil," his cold voice resonated through heaven and earth.


    Everyone listened intently.


    Most of the Archimmortals and Archdeities weren''t as informed about the situation as Wu Yuan.


    "Big Devil! ording to ancient records, the legendary Big Devil was Sovereign ck Devil''s top war general. He''s still alive?" Archimmortal Li Shu eximed in shock through telepathy.


    <i>Top war general? Not a spirit? </i>Wu Yuan was startled.


    "This emergence of the Devil Hollow signifies that the Sovereign''s inheritance is about to be revealed. Ultimately, only one sessor will be chosen," Big Devil''s voice remained cold and detached. "And there will be only one sessor.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Those from the world outside call the Sovereign ''ck Devil��. Those from the Devil Realm call the Sovereign ''Devil Lord.''


    Regardless of where youe from, you should all be aware of the Sovereign''s might. The wonders of the Sovereign''s inheritance will surpass your imagination.


    The Sovereign calls himself a ''devil,'' so naturally, his sessor must rise from endless bloodshed. Only after being tempered by blood and fire can one be worthy of being addressed as ''devil.''


    This first trial is simple. You will kill each other. When the number of candidates is reduced by half, all fighting will cease. Those who have killed at least one enemy by then will qualify for the second trial.


    If the number of candidates is reduced by half, or if the battlests for a quarter of an hour, and you still haven''t achieved any kills, you will be eliminated!


    Remember, the more you kill, the better you perform, and the greater your chances of receiving the ultimate inheritance.


    ughter to your heart''s content. You have ten breaths to prepare. The battle begins after ten breaths," Big Devil''s unemotional voice echoed throughout heaven and earth.


    His figure vanished. In its ce, an enormous, blood-drenched number appeared in the sky��ten!


    The countdown began.


    ...


    Across the vast ice in, silence reigned. All powerhouses stared at the blood-soaked number in the air, feeling involuntary waves of killing intent surge within them.


    <i>Just looking at this number can actually stir a living being��s desire for ughter?</i> Wu Yuan frowned.


    Even he felt waves of irritation and a strong urge to kill others to vent the fury in his heart.


    A fierce beast lurked within the hearts of all living beings. Most of the time, intelligent creatures would suppress their desires, keeping this beast caged, but now, the blood-red number in the sky seemed intent on unleashing the beasts within all the powerhouses.


    <i>What cruel rules. Is this Sovereign ck Devil''s selection method? Just the first trial will eliminate half the candidates?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <i>No! </i>Wu Yuan suddenly realized. <i>It''s not just half. Some super powerhouses might killrge numbers of Archimmortals and Archdeities, meaning many Archimmortals and Archdeities won''t have time to kill enemies and will end up being annihted as well.</i>


    In an instant, Wu Yuan judged that this first trial alone would likely eliminate seven or eight out of ten Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    Truly brutal!


    <i>Those Devil Realm powerhouses seem to be intentionally choosing to ally with each other. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the surroundings.


    Big Devil hadn''t forbidden them from forming alliances.


    <i>Kill! If Archimmortal Li Shu and the others are eliminated, it''s just their mana bodies that perish. For me, this is my true self. </i>A hint of coldness shed in Wu Yuan''s eyes.


    To survive, one must exert every effort.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan also remembered Big Devil''s words: ��The more you kill, the greater your chances of receiving the ultimate inheritance.��


    For someone who had already obtained True Saint Bu Xiu''s inheritance, an ordinary Sovereign''s inheritance wasn��t that appealing. To be precise, even if a Sovereign''s treasure trove contained several high-grade Dao Instruments, they wouldn��t bring about a fundamental change to Wu Yuan��s strength.


    However, Sovereign ck Devil was involved in the secrets of the Ancestral Pagoda, with far-reaching implications, naturally making Wu Yuan crave his legacy intensely.


    <i>The secrets of the Ancestral Pagoda must involve supreme beings. That''s my primary goal.</i>


    <i>Additionally, if I truly obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s treasure trove, such as arge number of divine crystals and Dao Instruments, it would also facilitate smoother growth. </i>Although confident, Wu Yuan didn''t dare assume Sovereign ck Devil would willingly bestow his treasures upon him.


    Therefore, he could only exert his utmost effort, striving to perform the best within the rules of the trial.


    ...


    The ten breaths passed in a sh.


    The countdown number in the void instantly transformed into a blood-drenched character: KILL!


    It wasn''t mere text, but formed with Dao patterns, allowing Archimmortals and Archdeities to understand its meaning at a nce. Its bewitching power intensified, overwhelming their minds.


    "Kill!"


    "Group up, charge and kill!" The tranquility of the vast ice in shattered in an instant.


    Over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities, some in groups of dozens or hundreds, others confident in their individual strength, all erupted into action.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Rumble! </i>Archdeities employed grand ether arts, growing into towering forms, while Archimmortals either manipted artifacts or invoked arcane arts. Domain after domain manifested, as if heaven and earth were copsing.


    The eruption of a single powerhouse wasn''t overwhelming. But when thousands, tens of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities erupted in power simultaneously, the resulting destruction was utterly terrifying.


    Fortunately, the ice in was incredibly sturdy, and the space was very stable, easily withstanding the eruption and battles of over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    "Kill! Die!"


    "Ice Heaven, Law Imprint!"


    "Bunch of trash, die!" As the battle erupted, a barrage of attacks surged from all directions, targeting Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu, and their group of over ten Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    Three teams, consisting of over a hundred Devil Realm powerhouses, had set their sights on them!


    It could be said that the team led by Wu Yuan and Archimmortal Li Shu instantly faced attacks from over eighty percent of the powerhouses in their vicinity.


    "Quickly, defend!"


    "This is bad." Archimmortal Li Shu and the other powerhouses from the Hanging Moon Pce gritted their teeth.


    Each employed their own methods, attempting to block the iing attacks.


    <i>Everyone wants to kill me?</i> Wu Yuan understood why �C their group of just over ten was the smallest.


    After Big Devil exined the rules, most other powerhouses had formed teams of thirty to fifty individuals. Moreover, there wasn��t a single Astral Lord in Wu Yuan''s team.


    As for Wu Yuan? On the surface, he appeared to be a mere High Immortal. In the minds of these Devil Realm powerhouses, a High Immortal could at most unleash the strength of a fourth or fifth-stage Archimmortal.


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan''s form blurred, instantly splitting into nine phantom bodies, charging in all directions.


    His mana body assembled a sword domain, and he employed ��Genesis Law Sacrifice��.


    <i>Rumble~</i> One after another, celestial swords radiating immense power materialized, swiftly forming a formidable sword domain that deflected the onught of attacks from every direction.


    What seemed like a straightforward two-pronged strategy sent waves of unease through the expressions of the Devil Realm powerhouses.


    As Archimmortals and Archdeities, each extremely knowledgeable, they naturally sensed the terrifying nature of Wu Yuan''s movement technique and domain.


    His movement technique was particrly unpredictable. The nine phantom bodies flickered, dodging the barrage of arcane art attacks. It was worth noting that over half of the previous attacks were aimed at Wu Yuan.


    <i>Now it''s my turn.</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze turned icy as his qi refiner self gave a mentalmand.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>Nine lifebound flying swords appeared simultaneously, like nine lethal divine beams, whistling as they streaked across the sky.


    As they impaled their targets, blood sprayed the air. In just one exchange, six Archimmortals and three Archdeities fell.


    It was nothing short of a one-sided ughter.


    "This is bad!"


    "It''s a quasi-Astral Monarch powerhouse, retreat quickly!"


    "Fall back!" Faced with such a bloody massacre, the expressions of the hundred-over Devil Realm powerhouses who had been surrounding Wu Yuan changed dramatically.


    They now realized that Wu Yuan''s strength was far beyond anything they could hope to match.


    1. Xuan Yue = Hanging Moon ?

 Chapter 767: The Biggest Threat (1)

    <h4>Chapter 767: The Biggest Threat (1)</h4>


    The three teams surrounding Wu Yuan wereposed of over a hundred Devil Realm powerhouses in total. Originally intending to squeeze a soft persimmon, they had unexpectedly kicked an iron te. [1]


    "A quasi-Astral Monarch."


    "We can''t match him, retreat!" The crowd of Devil Realm powerhouses fled in panic. In their view, someone capable of instantly ying nine Archimmortals and Archdeities had to possess at least quasi-Astral Monarch-level strength.


    "How terrifying."


    "Is this Ming Jian, the most monstrous prodigy among the High Immortals of the Dao Realm?" Archimmortal Li Shu and the others watched in shock. While they were still struggling to fend off attacks, they saw Wu Yuan sweep away arge group of powerhouses.


    It should be noted that among the nine Archimmortals/Archdeities in by Wu Yuan, two were estimated to be sixth-stage Archimmortals. Yet facing Wu Yuan, they still perished in an instant. This showed the absurdlyrge disparity in strength!


    "Kill!" Wu Yuan��s mana body activated the sword domain for defense, simultaneously suppressing and restraining the various experts, while his qi refiner self summoned the lifebound flying swords to attack. Working in perfect harmony, they brought out the highest level of his power.


    There was only one thought in Wu Yuan''s mind��Kill!


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Sword light flickered as Wu Yuan summoned his nine lifebound flying swords.


    Nine streams of sword light shed within the sword domain, as if they were nine ninth-stage Archdeities skilled in sword arts.


    <i>Most of these Devil Realm powerhouses are below the sixth-stage Archimmortal level, with only a small minority at Astral Lord strength. There''s no need tobine the nine swords; spreading them out will actually increase killing efficiency. </i>


    Wu Yuan quickly perceived that the Devil Realm powerhouses were weaker overall, with less than five percent being Astral Lords.


    This ratio was lowerpared to Dao Realm powerhouses, where Astral Lords could make up five percent of all Archimmortals/Archdeities.


    In reality, only one Astral Lord would emerge from several hundred ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities. It was just that Astral Lords had longer lifespans, while ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities could live for a hundred million years at most, so the proportions didn''t seem as disparate.


    <i>Is the Devil Realm sealed off, with no strong powerhouses to guide them? </i>Wu Yuan had his suspicions.


    Cultivators of equal talent would achievepletely different results depending on whether or not they had guidance.


    But Wu Yuan couldn''t be bothered to investigate deeply. The weaker the overall strength of the Archimmortals and Archdeities on the ice in, the more advantageous it was for Wu Yuan right now.


    Not many experts could withstand even a single sword strike from him. Moreover, his excessively domineering performance caused many powerhouses to avoid him at all costs, fleeing for their lives.


    <i>Swoosh!</i> In less than two breaths of time, over thirty Devil Realm powerhouses fell to Wu Yuan''s swords amidst the dancing sword lights.


    "Run!"


    "What a brutal High Immortal."


    "Where did hee from?"


    "How can a High Immortal be this strong? When did our Devil Realm produce such a heaven-defying monstrous prodigy?"


    "Is he an unparalleled monstrous prodigy from the world outside?" Nearly a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities within millions of li took note of Wu Yuan''s frenzied killing.


    It was far too unusual!


    The Archimmortals and Archdeities who participated in the trial varied in strength, but in this chaotic melee, most advanced and retreated together, theoretically strong enough to hold their own against top experts. Yet, even whenbining their efforts, they were still ughtered by Wu Yuan.


    This was because, with the sword domain''s suppressive effects and Moonlight Shadow, Wu Yuan had no fear of being surrounded, dominating all opponents.


    Moreover, an Astral Lord who dared to confront Wu Yuan head-on could only endure three sword strikes before beingpletely annihted by several streams of sword light.


    "A quasi-Astral Monarch! Without a doubt!"


    "His sword art is so profound."


    "He''s only a High Immortal, but his Daoprehension has definitely reached the Astral Monarch level." The many Devil Realm powerhouses were convinced of this point.


    In truth, Wu Yuan''s attack power was still slightly below that of a quasi-Astral Monarch. However, his exceptional movement skill, along with the coordination between his true self and mana body, made his killing efficiencyparable to, if not greater than, a quasi-Astral Monarch.


    He was easily the most brilliant presence across the entire wastnd. Wherever he went, he left nothing in his wake. The Devil Realm teams that had originally banded together could only scatter and flee when confronted by Wu Yuan.


    "Kill!"


    "Quick, kill! This is our chance!" Archimmortal Li Shu and the dozen or so Hanging Moon Pce powerhouses following behind Wu Yuan felt utterly ted.


    Normally, in such arge-scale melee with numerous experts joining forces, it would be difficult to achieve instant kills. But Wu Yuan was too ferocious, scattering team after team with overwhelming force, giving Archimmortal Li Shu and the others an opportunity.


    Swiftly, Archimmortals and Archdeities began to fall at the hands of Archimmortal Li Shu and herpanions.


    Wu Yuan didn''t deliberately assist them, but for them, having Wu Yuan at the forefront as a deterrent was the greatest help.


    "Flee."


    "We should save ourselves first." Many powerhouses had initially strived to maximize their kills, but soon discovered they had to prioritize saving their own lives.


    However, some particrly powerful individuals fought with no holds barred, determined to seize the final inheritance.


    Wu Yuan was one such person.


    Across the icy battlefield, there were other simrly formidable existences, including a ck-armored Archdeity of especially terrifying strength, wielding nine battle sabers and sweeping a vast area.


    "Kill!"


    "Die!" This ck-armored Archdeity roared, de rays shing as he sent Archimmortals and Archdeities flying or cleaved them to death.


    "It''s Astral Lord Ding Lie."


    "Ding Lie, it''s him."


    "Quick, retreat." The expressions of many Devil Realm powerhouses changed drastically as they hastily withdrew, not daring to engage him head on.


    The Devil Realm was vast, and no Astral Monarch had emerged in a long time. The quasi-Astral Monarch level was the current pinnacle of strength, achieved by an extremely rare few.


    Normally, someone with ninth-stage Archimmortal strength was considered a peak powerhouse, each one famous and ruling over vast territories in the Devil Realm.


    Astral Lord Ding Lie was an Archdeity of terrifying power.


    "A mere sixth-stage Archimmortal, how dare you act so arrogantly." After sweeping a wide area clear of opponents, Astral Lord Ding Lie set his sights on Archimmortal Li Shu and her group.


    His figure towered imposingly as he strode forward toward them.


    "Not good."


    "What a powerful Archdeity." The dozen or so powerhouses from the Hanging Moon Pce paled, especially the two Archimmortals at the forefront.


    Unable to dodge in time, they were killed by two saber strikes.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom! </i>A series of de rays collided, sweeping away all the arcane arts and artifacts wielded by Archimmortal Li Shu and the others.


    "Late-stage Astral Lord."


    "He''s a peak powerhouse of the Devil Realm." The faces of Archimmortal Li Shu and herpanions contorted with rm and dread. How could they possibly contend with such a powerful existence?


    But Astral Lord Ding Lie closed in at lightning-fast speed.


    "Li Shu, fall back!" A cold voice suddenly rang out, followed immediately by a torrent of sword lights crashing toward Astral Lord Ding Lie.


    It was Wu Yuan!


    <i>Boom! </i>Noticing that Archimmortal Li Shu was in danger, Wu Yuan''s form blurred like a phantom as he pounced to attack.


    "Thank you.


    Quickly retreat." Archimmortal Li Shu immediately led the surviving Hanging Moon Pce powerhouses in a rapid withdrawal.


    Half of them had already achieved kills, and they all recognized the reality of their situation. At this moment, they only wanted to prioritize staying alive.


    This was also the norm. Many fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal powerhouses were normally confident in their strength, but when thousands upon thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities gathered, they would perceive their own inadequacy.


    When vast numbers of Archimmortals and Archdeities converged, onlyte-stage Astral Lords had the ability to start a massacre. Even ordinary Astral Lords weren��t qualified!


    "High Immortal? Die!" Astral Lord Ding Lie growled, his form colossal, yet not hindering his agility in the slightest. Like a nimble butterfly, he darted towards Wu Yuan.


    "Ninth-stage Archdeity?" Wu Yuan''s gaze turned cold. He had encountered such opponents before. Naturally, he was unafraid.


    With a thunderous roar, a sword domain centered around eighty-one low-grade celestial artifact flying swords instantly enveloped an area spanning hundreds of thousands of li,pletely engulfing Astral Lord Ding Lie. An invisible pressure surged towards him from all directions.


    "You think you can pressure me with such a domain?" Astral Lord Ding Lie roared with unbridled arrogance.


    He had cultivated for eons in the Devil Realm, standing at the pinnacle of strength, and dominated his territory. Few could make him lower his head. He was naturally prideful.


    Even after witnessing Wu Yuan''s devastating attacks, he still believed he could hold his own.


    Though the sword lights from the sword domain restrained him, drastically reducing his speed, they could hardly harm him.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Nine swords! Unite!</i> With a thought from Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, the nine lifebound flying swords acting independently suddenly assembled to form a single divine sword array.


    In a sh, a Spacetime divine sword formed, immediately unleashing the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime�� technique. The sword light sliced through heaven and earth, striking Astral Lord Ding Lie''s towering form like lightning.


    It was too fast. So fast that even Astral Lord Ding Lie could hardly evade it. Shock and fury overcame him.


    <i>Boom!</i> The terrifying force imbued within the Spacetime divine sword instantly sent Astral Lord Ding Lie flying backwards.


    ...


    The battle on the ice in was incredibly fierce, with Archimmortals and Archdeities falling one after another.


    As time passed, the most eye-catching conflict on the entire ice in was undoubtedly the sh between Wu Yuan and Astral Lord Ding Lie. Both sides fought with all their might!


    In terms of raw power, Astral Lord Ding Lie was naturally stronger. A casual swing of his saber could cause tremors even in the stable space.


    But Wu Yuan''s swordy was too exquisite, too unpredictable. The Spacetime divine sword, formed by the assembly of nine lifebound flying swords, was truly unparalleled in might. It forced Astral Lord Ding Lie to retreat step by step.


    <i>sh!</i> "No!" The shockwaves of their fierce battle struck an unsuspecting Archimmortal, who barely let out a strangled cry before he perished.


    "Flee quickly!"


    "Don''t get close!" The crowd of Archimmortals and Archdeities no longer dared to approach the twobatants.


    <i>How can he be so strong? Can a High Immortal really reach such a level of strength? </i>The more Astral Lord Ding Lie fought, the more rmed he became. In his long years of cultivation, he had never encountered such a terrifying opponent.


    He had no idea that Wu Yuan��s sword techniques were so profound they could rival those of top-tier geniuses from macrocosms, even those who had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years.


    Compared to those of the same age, Wu Yuan was already among the top geniuses in the entire river of space and time after a thousand years of tempering.


    The Devil Realm where Astral Lord Ding Lie had grown up was only the size of an immortal nation. What kind of talented individuals could it produce? How could theypare to Wu Yuan?


    <i>Faster! Even faster! </i>Wu Yuan''s true self and mana body worked in tandem, using Astral Lord Ding Lie as a punching bag to constantly hone and test his sword art insights.


    After several exchanges, Astral Lord Ding Lie realized he waspletely outmatched by Wu Yuan and could only focus on defending with all his might.


    <i>Hum~</i> An invisible pressure suddenly enveloped the world. The ice in, previously locked in fierce battle, fell silent as everyone stopped fighting.


    Wu Yuan and Astral Lord Ding Lie, engaged inbat, also felt a powerful binding force descend upon them. They had no choice but to stop their battle there.


    1. They nned to pick an easy target (persimmon), but ended up meeting far more resistance (iron te). ?

 Chapter 768: The Biggest Threat (2)

    <h4>Chapter 768: The Biggest Threat (2)</h4>


    <i>Just over twenty breaths, and already more than half are dead?</i> Wu Yuan nced over the ice in, instantly grasping the general situation of the ice in.


    It didn''t even take a quarter hour.


    In this short time, of the ten thousand plus Archimmortals and Archdeities crammed into the tiny space, less than eight thousand remained.


    As for Archimmortal Li Shu and her group, out of sixteen Archimmortals and Archdeities, eleven had survived. They were considered one of the groups with a rtively high survival rate.


    "First, congrattions on staying alive," a cold voice rang out.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>Countless beams of light converged, and Big Devil once again appeared in the void, looking down at everyone.


    Silence fell.


    "However, many of you have no kill count, which disappoints me," Big Devil shook his head slightly, then a glint of murderous intent shed in his eyes. "Therefore, you don''t deserve to live."


    <i>Thud! Thud! </i>Silently, the eyes of over three thousand figures on the ice ins turned vacant simultaneously. They copsed to the ground, their vital aura lost.


    Their bodies remained intact, but their soul auras had dissipated. Their souls had been annihted!


    "This?"


    "Instant kill?" The over four thousand powerhouses still alive on the ice ins all felt a chill down their spines.


    <i>What a terrifying soul attack, instantly killing thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities.</i> Wu Yuan was equally shocked.


    The remaining four thousand-plus powerhouses realized that getting eliminated in Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance trial was no mere false scare.


    "To those remaining, congrattions on passing the first trial. You are each granted a ck Devil Token," Big Devil waved his hand. "Don��t lose them."


    <i>Whoosh! </i>A ck token appeared before each of the four thousand-plus powerhouses.


    Faced with Big Devil''s iron-blooded killing intent, no one dared to question his instructions, and all reached out to ept.


    Wu Yuan did the same.


    His Soul Will began to probe it instinctively. The token waspletely ck, without text or Dao patterns, and without any designs. At first nce, it looked just like a piece of iron.


    When he grasped it, it felt ice-cold to the touch, and he couldn''t detect anything special about it.


    <i>ck Devil Token?</i> Wu Yuan pondered silently. Though he couldn''t sense anything unusual, he carefully put it away.


    ��Twenty-six individuals have performed exceptionally well and are qualified to receive a second ck Devil Token," Big Devil waved his hand again.


    <i>Hum~ </i>This time, under the watchful eyes of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities, ck tokens appeared before twenty-six of the powerhouses.


    They were all individuals who had achieved an extremely high kill count, including Wu Yuan and Astral Lord Ding Lie.


    They each reached out to ept the tokens.


    "They''re all Astral Lord-level powerhouses."


    "All of them arete-stage Astral Lords. And there��s also that High Immortal too."


    "Right! That High Immortal is truly terrifying. His strength is frightening." The Devil Realm powerhouses discussed among themselves through telepathy.


    They all sincerely acknowledged Wu Yuan''s strength. These Devil Realm powerhouses had never seen such an extraordinary High Immortal before.


    "Three individuals are qualified to receive a third ck Devil Token," Big Devil continued, waving his hand once more.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! </i>A token appeared once more before Wu Yuan, a red-haired Archdeity, and a white-robed female Archimmortal. This time, only the three of them received it.


    "That High Immortal."


    "And Astral Lord Red Devil."


    "I''ve never seen that white-robed Astral Lord before. She must be a super powerhouse from outside our realm." The Devil Realm powerhouses naturally paid close attention to these three mighty beings.


    Without a doubt, on this trial ground, these three had shown the most dazzling performance and possessed the greatest strength.


    <i>My strength is close to that of a quasi-Astral Monarch. </i>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept over the two distant figures. <i>They are probably not weaker than me, and are able to maintain their power in prolongedbat.</i>


    <i>In a true life-or-death battle, I''m no match for that red-haired Archdeity or Astral Lord Xue Yao.</i> Wu Yuan analyzed.


    The red-haired Archdeity was from the Devil Realm, so Wu Yuan didn''t know his name, only taking note of his soul aura.


    But Wu Yuan recognized the white-robed female Archimmortal. She was named Archimmortal Xue Yao, a highly renowned Astral Lord.


    Though Wu Yuan acknowledged that he was weaker than the red-haired Archdeity and Astral Lord Xue Yao, in reality, the both of them did not see him as an easy opponent at all.


    <i>A High Immortal with strengthparable to mine? His movement technique is terrifying. </i>Astral Lord Red Devil, who had also received three ck Devil Tokens, felt immense pressure.


    <i>As expected of Ming Jian, the legendary monstrous prodigy. </i>Astral Lord Xue Yao felt the same. She had long heard of Ming Jian, but this was her first time truly witnessing his abilities firsthand.


    Since there was such arge gap in base power, yet their strength wasparable, it showed that Wu Yuan far surpassed them in other aspects.


    Competing against such a monstrous prodigy for Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance? The mere thought filled them with immense pressure.


    "Possessing five ck Devil Tokens grants you the qualification to leave alive." Big Devil''s voice once again resonated through heaven and earth: "When you obtain twelve ck Devil Tokens, you''ll be qualified to advance to the final trial.


    However, the uing trials will get increasingly difficult, so quickly demonstrate your potential and strength to acquire more ck Devil Tokens. Otherwise, you''ll inevitably perish under the mounting challenges.


    You have one hour. After an hour, the second trial willmence." Big Devil''s voice remained cold and indifferent.


    Then, he vanished once more.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> Mysterious raindrops began to appear in the sky, falling upon the bodies of the many Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    "Hmm? My mana is rapidly recovering."


    "Mine too." Soon, many Archimmortals and Archdeities were astonished to discover that these falling raindrops could swiftly restore their mana.


    Instantly, almost everyone sat down in lotus position, beginning to recover their mana. Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu, and others did the same.


    <i>The previous battlested dozens of breaths, and the other Archimmortals and Archdeities likely spent far less than ten percent of their mana, while I expended over fifty percent.</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    As a mere First Tribtion High Immortal, his mana capacity was indeed too small, which was his greatest disadvantage. He couldn''t keep up his power in prolonged battles.


    With such massive mana consumption, Wu Yuan naturally focused all his efforts on absorbing and processing these mysterious raindrops, recovering to his peakbat strength.


    <i>Just twelve ck Devil Tokens are needed to qualify for the final trial? </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    His performance in the first trial was among the most ster, yet he only obtained three ck Devil Tokens.


    <i>I wonder what the next trial will be?</i> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    While refining mana, he collected the numerous treasures around him, dropped by the Archimmortals and Archdeities whose souls had just been extinguished.


    Though other Archimmortals and Archdeities coveted these items, none dared to provoke Wu Yuan��s ire. Wu Yuan had already proven his strength through the previous battle.


    <i>The bloodshed from this first trial has yielded quite a profit.</i> Wu Yuan took a quick inventory.


    He had collected treasures from at least a hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities, with a total value exceeding thirty million divine crystals. Such an efficiency of wealth umtion was astounding.


    Of course, Wu Yuan understood that such opportunities were extremely rare, only possible in ces like the trial grounds of a Sovereign where numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities were concentrated.


    <i>However! To truly amass vast quantities of treasures, one must y Astral Lords.</i> Wu Yuan nced at the various Astral Lord-level powerhouses on the ice ins through his peripheral vision.


    These Astral Lords not only possessed abundant personal treasures and wealth, but during the recent battle, most had also acquired the possessions of other Archimmortals and Archdeities. Moving forward, ying just one Astral Lord would yield at least several million divine crystals.


    <i>No need to rush. There are still more trials toe, and more opportunities. </i>Wu Yuan contemted. To him, there was no such thing as excessive wealth.


    His nine lifebound flying swords were merely low-grade celestial artifacts. To upgrade them to mid-grade celestial artifacts would require an astronomical amount of treasures and wealth.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Naturally, Wu Yuan had to seize every opportunity to garner more wealth.


    ...


    Time flowed on.


    Though Wu Yuan''s mana consumption had been immense, his recovery process was equally swift. Under the effect of those mysterious raindrops, it took only a quarter of an hour for both his true self and mana body to fully recover their mana to peak levels.


    "Daoist Ming Jian, this is all the intelligence we''ve gathered on powerhouses who obtained two or more ck Devil Tokens from the fifty-five trial grounds." Archimmortal Li Shu passed the updated information to Wu Yuan.


    "Many thanks." Wu Yuan swiftly began perusing the intelligence.


    Fifty-five trial grounds, thousands of Astral Lords, hundreds ofte-stage Astral Lords. The majority were unfamiliar Devil Realm powerhouses. However, Wu Yuan also discovered several ''acquaintances'', such as Astral Lord Gu Shou.


    Nevertheless, what Wu Yuan paid the most attention to were the three super powerhouses mentioned in the intelligence, all of whom had disyed quasi-Astral Monarch strength.


    <i>Dozens of trial grounds, nearly a hundred thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities in total, yet only three quasi-Astral Monarch powerhouses?</i> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    The probability was pitifully low. But undoubtedly, these three quasi-Astral Monarch powerhouses would pose a massive threat to Wu Yuan.


    <i>Strength is unlikely the sole criterion in obtaining Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>If it were purely based on power levels, there''d be no need for such aplicated assessment.</i>


    Comprehension aptitude, potential, whether one''sprehended Dao aligned with the inheritance, and so on, should all be key points of the inheritance trial.


    ...


    "Ming Jian actually obtained three ck Devil Tokens as well?"


    "His talent is too heaven-defying, he''s definitely the biggest threat."


    While Wu Yuan was reviewing intelligence on powerhouses from other trial grounds, information about him was simrly transmitted through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm to Astral Lord Gu Shou and other Dao Realm powerhouses.


    They quickly learned of his performance.


    "The only High Immortal, his cultivation period must be very brief."


    "Such a monstrous prodigy has never emerged in my Devil Realm''s history! I truly have no idea how he cultivates."


    "He''s the greatest obstacle to our acquisition of the Devil Lord''s inheritance."


    "Find an opportunity to join forces and kill him!" Although the Devil Realm powerhouses were divided into different trial grounds, they had their own unique methods ofmunication. Thus, intelligence about Wu Yuan spread rapidly.


    Even without knowing Wu Yuan''s previous circumstances, the mere fact that ''a white-robed High Immortal suppressed Astral Lord Ding Lie'' was enough to draw the attention of all Devil Realm powerhouses.


    Therefore, even though most Devil Realm powerhouses had never seen Wu Yuan, over eighty percent of thete-stage Astral Lord powerhouses across dozens of trial grounds unanimously viewed Wu Yuan as the greatest threat to them obtaining the inheritance.


    ...


    One hour passed in the blink of an eye.


    "The second trial, begin teleportation." Big Devil''s cold voice rang out, and unseen fluctuations enveloped everyone.


    In an instant, Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu, Astral Lord Ding Lie, and other powerhouses vanished from the ice in.


    <i>Hum~</i> Wu Yuan felt the world around him shift, and he found himself in an entirely new world.


    <i>Pill furnaces?</i> Wu Yuan immediately spotted the enormous pill furnaces floating in the distant expanse of void.

 Chapter 769: Wu Yuans Predicament (1)

    <h4>Chapter 769: Wu Yuan''s Predicament (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> Countless silhouettes materialized in a dense crowd around Wu Yuan, including figures like Archimmortal Li Shu, Astral Lord Red Devil, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and numerous other Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    Over four thousand individuals who had passed the first trial appeared simultaneously on this vast za.


    Like Wu Yuan, the moment theynded, they all gazed toward the enormous pill-refining cauldrons floating in the distance.


    Beneath the cauldrons that dotted the void, roaring mes burned, containing extraordinarily mysterious power. Tens of thousands of cauldrons were arranged in a massive fan shape.


    "Pill-refining cauldrons?"


    "Does the next trial involve pill refining?" The thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities were filled with confusion, yet none dared to act rashly.


    As they pondered in bewilderment, more silhouettes began to appear on one side of this immense za spanning millions of li, each one exuding a powerful aura.


    Such intense fluctuations naturally drew the attention of Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Red Devil, and the others, causing them to turn their heads involuntarily, their expressions changing.


    "So many people."


    "All Archimmortals and Archdeities."


    "Are they from other trial grounds?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, while Archimmortal Li Shu and the others were utterly astonished as they gazed over.


    They saw that a dense mass of silhouettes had appeared at the far end of the za, numbering over five thousand figures.


    "They''re from another trial ground," Archimmortal Li Shu immediately transmitted to Wu Yuan: "Several of them are powerful Archimmortals and Archdeities from my Hanging Moon Pce. It seems that candidates from multiple trial grounds will be taking the second trial together in one ce."


    Wu Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping across the thousands of silhouettes, quickly locking onto certain figures.


    These individuals were mentioned in Archimmortal Li Shu''s intelligence reports as powerhouses who had obtained two or more ck Devil Tokens.


    <i>Astral Lord Gu Shou? </i>Wu Yuan spotted an old acquaintance, none other than Astral Lord Gu Shou.


    Just as Wu Yuan noticed Astral Lord Gu Shou, thetter''s gaze also fell upon Wu Yuan.


    Their eyes met, and Wu Yuan''s held an unconcealed murderous intent.


    Astral Lord Gu Shou smiled faintly,pletely unafraid. He too had obtained three ck Devil Tokens in the first trial.


    "Astral Lord Red Devil is here too."


    "And that High Immortal! That peerless High Immortal from the external world."


    "It''s their trial ground." This batch of over five thousand newly arrived Archimmortals and Archdeities noticed Wu Yuan''s group, scanning for various specific powerhouses.


    Naturally, Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Red Devil, and Astral Lord Xue Yao, who had each obtained three ck Devil Tokens, drew the most attention.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, this realm had invisible restrictions in ce, preventing anyone from making a move. Thus, they all remained wary of each other, keeping their distance.


    "What is the second trial?"


    "No idea."


    "Let''s wait patiently." The two groups, totaling nearly ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities, conversed among themselves.


    Time passed.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i> In less than ten breaths, three more groups of powerhouses arrived in session. These three groups ranged from just over four thousand to more than five thousand individuals each.


    With that, five groups from five trial grounds, totaling about eighteen thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities, had gathered in one ce. The massive za no longer seemed so spacious.


    All the powerhouses observed each other.


    Among the five groups, there were over a hundred individuals who had obtained two ck Devil Tokens, with the number varying for each group.


    As for those who had obtained three ck Devil Tokens, there were exactly fifteen. Among these fifteen universally acknowledged super powerhouses, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly Wu Yuan �C the only High Immortal on the entire za.


    "The one with the shortest cultivation time, yet the most formidable strength."


    "His potential must be the greatest." Almost all powerhouses instinctively viewed Wu Yuan as the biggest threat.


    <i>Boom! </i>A subtle, invisible ripple swept over each powerhouse, followed by a cascade of spacetime fluctuations. In an instant, every individual who had been standing on the za was simultaneously transported elsewhere.


    In a blink, they appeared before the pill-refining cauldrons floating in the void.


    One powerhouse appeared before each cauldron. The moment they materialized, enormous transparent barriers appeared simultaneously in a ten-thousand-li radius around each cauldron,pletely isting the space inside.


    Each powerhouse was confined within a space with a cauldron of their own.


    "What''s this?"


    "What''s going on? Is the second trial really about pill refining?" Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Red Devil, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and the others grew increasingly perplexed, while also examining the cauldrons.


    <i>This cauldron seems to be of the mostmon type, merely at the level of top-grade spirit equipment. But the furnace fire is quite strong.</i> Wu Yuan observed silently.


    Although had perused many pill cultivation methods and was fairly knowledgeable, he had never actually refined pills. After all, his cultivation years were brief, and the vast majority of his energy had been devoted toprehending the Great Daos. Where would he have found time to study pill cultivation?


    Pill cultivation was generally considered a minor cultivation path in mainstream immortal cultivation.


    Just as all the powerhouses began looking around in confusion, countless points of light converged, forming a ck-robed figure. His gaze was cold as he looked down at everyone. It was Big Devil.


    "You have all seen the pill-refining cauldrons before you," the Big Devil began coldly. "On the path of cultivation, it is said thatprehending the Dao is the foundation, but what exactly is the Dao?


    The Dao is formless by nature. Only through the workings of heaven and earth and the birth of all things does the Dao gain its unfathomable power. The Dao is inherently hidden within all things," the Big Devil spoke slowly.


    <i>The Dao is hidden within all things?</i> Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.


    The other Archimmortals and Archdeities also listened intently.


    "Many monstrous prodigies attain the status of Astral Monarch or even Sovereign early on, but ultimately struggle with the final step of transcendence. This is a symptom of an unstable foundation," the Big Devil pointed at the array of cauldrons.


    "The path of cultivation is not just aboutprehending the Dao, but also about deeply understanding the natural order of all things.


    Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation��these three are the methods of application used by countless cultivators after studying the myriad things of heaven and earth.


    Every supreme being has performed profound research into these three methods of application.


    The second trial will test your mastery of pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation," the Big Devil continued slowly.


    Hearing this, the faces of many Archimmortals and Archdeities changed instantly, and even Wu Yuan''s expression shifted subtly.


    <i>Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation?</i> Wu Yuan felt a twinge of anxiety. He had barely researched any of these, essentially making him aplete novice.


    <i>Haha! To think the trial will test my expertise on these minor cultivation paths. My progress in Daoprehension may be slow, taking billions of years to reach just the sixth-stage Archimmortal phase, but over those long years, I''ve researched both pill refining and equipment forging extensively. </i>More Archimmortals and Archdeities were rather excited, feeling that their opportunity had arrived.


    This was the norm. Many Archimmortals and Archdeities, after cultivating for eons, would turn to researching pills, equipment, arrays, and the like if they felt they had reached the limit of strength, seeking to promote progress through rted fields.


    Indeed, many powerhouses would gain inspiration from such pursuits, allowing them to advance continually.


    Historically, many master alchemists and array masters neverprehended Laws intentionally, yet unknowingly became Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns.


    This was because pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and so on inherently involved the profound principles of the workings of heaven and earth.


    ...


    "I know that your strengths vary, and your current levels of mastery in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation differ," the Big Devil looked down at all the Archimmortals and Archdeities, continuing, "Therefore, the requirements for each of you will vary.


    To your right is a materials space. Whatever raw materials you need, you can find them there. If it''s not avable, then it cannot be provided.


    To your left are three immortal slips, each containing the Sovereign''s teachings and insights on these three cultivation paths. Although only part one is avable, making the information rtively surface-level, they are still considered top-tier masterpieces in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation. You may study,prehend, and draw inspiration from them."


    Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu, Astral Lord Red Devil, and the others all listened attentively.


    "Cultivation insights from a Sovereign?"


    "Legend has it that Sovereign ck Devil was the foremost pill cultivator within the Dao Realm." Many Archimmortals and Archdeities'' eyes grew fervent as they looked towards the three immortal slips to their left.


    If they could learn such high-level teachings, this trip would already be worth it.


    "Each of the three tests of pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation has its own passing requirements. Only by meeting the requirements of each test can you proceed to the next one," the Big Devil continued slowly.


    "There is no time limit for the second trial. Completing the requirements of all three tests means passing the second trial.


    The first ten to pass the second trial will receive three ck Devil Tokens.


    The eleventh to hundredth to pass the second trial will receive two ck Devil Tokens.


    The 101st to 3000th to pass the trial will receive one ck Devil Token.


    When the 3000th candidate seeds, the rest will be eliminated," the Big Devil said dispassionately. "Due to insufficient ck Devil Tokens, elimination means death!"


    Silence fell!


    Everyone was shocked. The first trial had already eliminated about two-thirds of the Archimmortals and Archdeities, which was brutal enough. But this second trial would eliminate over eighty percent of the eighteen thousand candidates?


    In an instant, everyone felt the pressure.


    "Remember! Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation contain the profound principles of the workings of heaven and earth. Studying them will greatly benefit your cultivation and contribute to you receiving the final inheritance," the Big Devil said coldly.


    ��The earlier you pass the trial, the better. The more ck Devil Tokens you obtain, the sooner you''ll reach the final trial.


    Moreover, only by obtaining five ck Devil Tokens will you have the right to leave alive," the Big Devil''s gaze swept over the powerhouses. "If you ultimately fail to obtain five ck Devil Tokens, you will inevitably perish."


    With that, the Big Devil''s figure dispersed.

 Chapter 770: Wu Yuans Predicament (2)

    <h4>Chapter 770: Wu Yuan''s Predicament (2)</h4>


    This realm fell intoplete silence as over ten thousand powerhouses gazed at the pill-refining cauldrons before them, heated with roaring mes.


    Everyone felt a heavy pressure weighing down their hearts.


    The most powerful among them, those who had obtained two or three ck Devil Tokens in the first trial, now found themselvescking in confidence. After all, this was not a test ofbat prowess.


    Though all the powerhouses were isted in separate spaces, they were not restricted frommunicating with each other.


    "Archimmortal Li Shu," Wu Yuan transmitted his voice. "This second trial can only be passed with individual strength. We cannot help each other."


    "Mm, I understand," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted back. "ording to the intelligence gathered by my Hanging Moon Pce, the second trial is held in eleven locations. The content of the trials is the same. The codex left behind by Sovereign ck Devil is called the ''ck Devil Secret Codex'', and it''s considered a top-tier codex on pill refining, equipment forging, talisman crafting, and array formation."


    "Daoist Ming Jian, your cultivation years are brief. I fear your understanding of these minor cultivation paths is not deep. You must study and deduce the ''ck Devil Secret Codex'' extensively," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted.


    "Mm, thank you for the reminder," Wu Yuan transmitted in reply.


    With a flicker of thought, his Soul Will delved deep into the three immortal slips, silently receiving the inheritances.


    Indeed, it was as Archimmortal Li Shu had said. The three immortal slips actually originated from the same codex, the ''ck Devil Secret Codex''.


    The entire codex was divided into five chapters, covering various aspects including pill refining, equipment forging, and array formation.


    These three immortal slips each contained part one of a chapter. [1]


    <i>Such profound and mysterious pill-refining teachings. </i>Wu Yuan immersed himself in the inheritance as soon as he received it.


    Though it was only part one, it was truly worth millions of years of study for many Astral Monarchs.


    ...


    <i>Excellent. I am an Astral Lord of Space, and have researched talisman cultivation deeply. Though my mastery of pill refining and equipment forging are somewhatcking, all paths are interconnected. With a bit of studying, I believe I have a good chance of passing the trial.</i> Astral Lord Gu Shou was full of confidence.


    <i>Ming Jian?</i> Astral Lord Gu Shou nced at Wu Yuan. <i>His Daoprehension level is very high, but I bet he''s never studied pill refining and the like.</i>


    ...


    <i>Pill refining is my forte. Let��s see just how difficult this second trial is. </i>Astral Lord Xue Yao was filled with determination.


    <i>I''ve been stuck at this level for countless years. My spirit is on the verge of decay. Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance is myst chance to be an Astral Monarch. I must obtain it.</i>


    These Astral Lords, with their high Daoprehension levels and long years of cultivation, naturally had more confidence.


    This trial also gave them some hope of finally being able to contend with Wu Yuan, that monstrous prodigy.


    ...


    <i>It��s true. I have indeed never studied pill refining, equipment forging, or talisman cultivation. But my Daoprehension level is likely the highest among everyone here. </i>Wu Yuan was equally confident.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Moreover, I have two true selves... Both true selves canprehend simultaneously.</i>


    <i>I have already crystallized the True Intents of both the Great Dao of Spacetime and the Great Dao of Creation.</i>


    <i>With such a top-down view, as long as I expend some effort in studying these paths, my progress will surely be extremely rapid.</i>


    His starting point was the lowest, his foundation practically zero. But Wu Yuan believed his progress would be incredibly fast.


    ...


    The second trial was held in eleven trial grounds.


    Hundreds of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities began to study andprehend the ''ck Devil Secret Codex'', then examine their passing requirements.


    In the Dao Realm, within a vast hall at the Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters, over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities gathered.


    These Archimmortals and Archdeities had been temporarily brought here by several Astral Monarchs from various parts of the Hundred Mysteries Pce''s territory.


    They waited quietly, with several Astral Monarchs emanating powerful auras standing on both sides of the hall.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> A figure wreathed in ck mes suddenly appeared. His aura was vast and unfathomable, enveloping the entire temple andpletely overshadowing the auras of the Astral Monarchs.


    "Greetings, Pce Master," the four Astral Monarchs bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with reverence.


    "Pce Master."


    "Greetings, Pce Master."


    The eyes of over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities in the hall were filled with excitement and reverence at the sight of the great Pce Master.


    The Hundred Mysteries Pce was presided over by two Sovereigns. One was Sovereign Lan Yan, who rarely managed the affairs of the Hundred Mysteries Pce.


    The other was Sovereign Bai Xuan, also the Pce Master of the Hundred Mysteries Pce. The faction was named after him. [2]


    In the past, most of these Archimmortals and Archdeities were merely ordinary members of the Hundred Mysteries Pce. Even the few Astral Lord powerhouses didn''t have the qualifications to meet Sovereign Bai Xuan.


    "I''ve never seen a Sovereign before."


    "One billion years ago, when I was conferred the title of Astral Lord, I, along with many other Astral Lords, had the chance to pay respects to the Sovereign once. Since then, I''ve never seen the Sovereign again."


    "Even the Sovereign attaches great importance to ck Devil��s inheritance.�� The eyes of over a thousand Hundred Mysteries Pce powerhouses were zing with reverence.


    Most of them had grown up hearing legends of the Hundred Mysteries Pce Master, much like how people of Huaxia grew up hearing tales of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. [3]


    "I heard that you 1300-odd individuals have been transported into the ck Devil Blood Hollow," Sovereign Bai Xuan''s voice was mellow, his features obscured by the ck mes. "This is a great opportunity for you.


    Sovereign ck Devil was an immensely powerful Sovereign, his strength surpassing my own. The inheritance he left behind is invaluably precious. But now, only you are qualified topete for it. This will be your chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step." Sovereign Bai Xuan spoke slowly.


    Over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities listened attentively.


    "I have learned that the second trial assesses your mastery of pill refining, talisman crafting, equipment forging, and so on," Sovereign Bai Xuan looked down upon them. "Therefore, I will personally lecture you.


    I will exin various methods once every ten years, in hopes of aiding you in obtaining the inheritance," Sovereign Bai Xuan said slowly.


    At this, the Archimmortals and Archdeities and four Astral Monarchs were shocked. The Sovereign was going to lecture them personally? How incredibly rare!


    Over countless years, the Sovereign mostly just gave pointers, rarely lecturing others personally, including his direct disciples. The thousand-plus Archimmortals and Archdeities were naturally over the moon.


    "I hope you will not disappoint my expectations. If you obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, you will certainly be an Astral Monarch, and may even have the chance to be a Sovereign," Sovereign Bai Xuan said.


    "Today, I will first exin pill refining..."


    "The Sovereign is lecturing us personally?"


    "This..." These Archimmortals and Archdeities listened eagerly to every word.


    ...


    The first trial tested one''s personal strength. Thus even though the higher-ups of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm received the news, they could only watch.


    But when the second trial began, the higher-ups of many factions in the Dao Realm took action.


    Some ordered Astral Monarchs under theirmand who excelled in pill refining, equipment forging, and talisman crafting to lecture and guide the true selves of some Astral Lords, helping themprehend the ''ck Devil Secret Codex'' and then proceed with refining. Some Sovereigns decided to lecture the candidates from their factions personally.


    Such resources and treatment were beyond the reach of many Devil Realm powerhouses. After all, Devil Realm powerhouses had fewer inheritances andcked guidance from predecessors.


    The number of powerhouses from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm totaled just over ten thousand, less than one-tenth of all candidates. But in the eyes of the higher-ups of these factions, cultivators from the Dao Realm would have an absolute advantage in the second trial.


    If it were the inheritance of an ordinary Sovereign, perhaps the Sovereigns of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm wouldn''t treat it so seriously. But the implications of Sovereign ck Devil��s past were too serious.


    Many Dao Realm Sovereigns who had once been enemies with Sovereign ck Devil came to a conclusion: if they couldn''t prevent Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance from emerging, then they should try to be the one to control it.


    ...


    Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self and mana body were participating in the trial together, and connection to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was lost when he entered the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    Moreover, even if he had ess to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, so what? As a member of the Spacetime Ind, no Sovereign would guide him.


    Even Sovereign Lan Yan, who was closest to him, most likely wouldn''t help him, given that she was a member of the Hundred Mysteries Pce.


    He could only rely on himself.


    But Wu Yuan''s advantage was that his two true selves shared consciousness, memories, and perceptions.


    <i>In the distant Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    After learning of the second trial, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self immediately left the Summerpeak World and headed to the Cang Feng Continent to seek an audience with Sovereign Kua Chi.


    <i>In the Cang Feng Continent, within the Eldritch Sovereign Temple.</i>


    "Master, the situation is as follows," Wu Yuan quickly recounted his experiences, from him first obtaining the ck Devil Star, to the emergence of the ck Devil Blood Hollow. He only omitted the information regarding the Ancestral Pagoda.


    Finally, Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Master, I am determined to obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance. I hope Master can help me."


    "Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance? Such an opportunity emerged in the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Sovereign Kua Chi was quite surprised, then nodded. "That''s right, among those participating, only you are a member of the Spacetime Ind. I fear even the Spacetime Ind isn��t paying this matter much attention, let alone other major factions in the river of space and time."


    Before Wu Yuan had brought it up, Sovereign Kua Chi was unaware of this matter. After all, the river of space and time was vast and boundless. Simr Sovereign inheritances would asionally emerge, and the Spacetime Dao Realm was rtively isted, so news naturally didn''t spread easily. He wouldn''t usually pay much attention to such things.


    "Sovereign ck Devil was an incredibly powerful Sovereign. Though I''ve never seen him, I''ve heard tales," Sovereign Kua Chi said gravely. "I suspect that before his fall, his strength had reached the level of an Overlord."


    "An Overlord?" Wu Yuan held his breath.


    After everything he had experienced, his perspective had broadened, and he understood the special nature of Overlords.


    Among Sovereigns, only the truly elite could be called Overlords. They were but a single step away from the supreme level.


    "Of course, this is merely my conjecture. Sovereign ck Devil was in by the Spacetime Dao Master long ago," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "Regardless, this is a great opportunity for you. Naturally, I shall assist you with all my power. Come with me."


    Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand, and an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, whisking him away from the temple.


    Space warped and shifted. When his surroundings solidified, Wu Yuan found himself within an enormous hall.


    Inside the hall stood a massive pill-refining furnace, the fires zing. Surrounding the furnace were numerous floating spatial vortexes, each emanating dense spiritual qi.


    "Where are we?" Wu Yuan asked, slightly startled.


    "This is the highest-grade pill-refining ground in the entire eldritch world," Sovereign Kua Chi exined. "These spatial vortexes lead to various spirit realms which nurture vast quantities of spirit herbs and spirit beasts. Whatever raw materials you need can be swiftly obtained.


    Now then, I shall instruct you in the art of pill refining!" Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile.


    "Master, you?" Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.


    "What? You don��t trust me?" Sovereign Kua Chi nced at Wu Yuan. "When ites to pill refining, if I im second ce in the eldritch world, no one dares im first ce."


    Wu Yuan grew increasingly astonished.


    "In the future, your pill refining skills will naturally surpass mine," Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation. "The Great Dao of Creation is indeed mostpatible with pill refining.


    However, your current foundation is still too weak. We must proceed step by step," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly.


    1. eg. chapter 1, part 1 ?


    2. Bai Xuan = Hundred Mysteries ?


    3. ���� (Hu��xi��) is an ancient name for China and its civilization. ������ (Hu��xi�� r��n): This term refers to Chinese people or people of Chinese descent.


    The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (�������) are legendary rulers of ancient China who are credited with creating Chinese civilization. They are said to have lived in the period before China''s first verifiable dynasty, the Xia Dynasty.


    The Three Sovereigns (����) typically refer to:


    Fuxi (����)


    N��wa (�)


    Shennong (��ũ)


    The Five Emperors (���) usually include:


    Yellow Emperor (�Ƶ�)


    Zhuanxu (���)


    Emperor Ku (���)


    Emperor Yao (Ң)


    Emperor Shun (˴) ?

 Chapter 773: The Fruits Of Lengthy Preparation (1)

    The first trial was brief, a single battle eliminating most candidates. The second trial, however, stretched on for an exceedingly long time.


    A full two hundred years slipped by in silence.


    Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation �C the three tests were a tough challenge for all the Archimmortals and Archdeities across the eleven trial grounds. Even the mighty Astral Lords were no exception.


    In the trial ground where Wu Yuan was assigned to, no one hadpleted all three tests yet.


    <em>It''s just as Master predicted.</em> Wu Yuan mused. <em>Those who''ve lingered at the Archimmortal or Archdeity phase for such a long period aren''t true geniuses. Few can excel in all three paths simultaneously.</em>


    Master Kua Chi had estimated that even if this trialsted ten thousand years, fewer than a thousand of the nearly twenty thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities wouldplete all three tests, far short of three thousand.


    But with his life at stake, Wu Yuan dared not be careless.


    For two hundred years, besides his own research and deductions, he closely monitored the progress of other candidates. The actual results aligned closely with Sovereign Kua Chi''s predictions.


    <em>There was a spike in sesses around the hundred-year mark, with over a thousand passing the pill cultivation test. But the number dropped rapidly after that. Currently, only about 1300 havepleted the first test. </em>Wu Yuan noted.This was typical. In the first century, those already aplished in pill cultivation naturally broke through quickly. But for Archimmortals and Archdeities who''d struggled for millions of years yet were far from meeting the requirements, rapid breakthroughs were nigh impossible.


    Though the nine major factions of the Dao Realm provided specialized training for their Archimmortals and Archdeities, the Dao Realm powerhouses were the minority; over 90% were from the Devil Realm. The Devil Realm''s powerhousescked such external support.


    <em>Thirty-six have passed the second test so far. </em>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept his surroundings. <em>The number of those who passed the third test is currently zero.</em>


    No one hadpleted the second trial yet. This was why Wu Yuan cultivated steadily, step by step, without haste.


    <em>ording to Master, even if I rush, it would take me centuries at least just to fulfill the pill cultivation requirements. Add equipment and talisman cultivation, both starting from scratch. Since I��m beginning from zero on all three, it''d likely take a thousand years.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    A thousand years was quite long rtive to his lifespan. But the path of analyzing the fundamental nature of all things, though slow at first, was one that led to a myriad of possibilities.


    Once he met the requirements for the pill cultivation test, he would be able to perceive manymonalities when studying equipment and talisman cultivation. Moreover, it could potentially aid in the third and fourth trials, as analyzing all things led to a fundamental improvement.


    So from the start, Wu Yuan had thought it through, dedicating a century to attempting the second path. If progress remained slow after a hundred years, he''d switch to the first path.


    After all, even if Wu Yuan had initially chosen the first path, his chances of iming three ck Devil Tokens were very low. At best, he might obtain two.


    <em>Now, I''vepleted a preliminary analysis of fifty-five thousand spirit herbs. But of the 5.5 million basic units of life, I''ve only deduced three hundred thousand. </em>Wu Yuan''s body refiner self continued his contemtion and deduction in the highest-grade pill-refining ground of the eldritch world.


    Progress was swift at first. His Daoprehension was exceptionally high, allowing him to easily perceive familiar basic units of life.


    But as he progressed, analyzing and understanding the basic units of life grew increasingly difficult.


    <em>In theory, to analyze all basic units of life, one must fullyprehend the Law of Life.</em> Wu Yuan mused.<em> Or conversely, if one could analyze all basic units of life, thenprehending the Law of Life would be highly probable.</em>


    The two wereplementary.


    <em>The Great Dao of Creation epasses both the Laws of Life and Death. It��s moreprehensive.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. <em>But it��s bing increasingly difficult. I have no hope of grasping all the basic units of life in one go.</em>


    <em>My greatest advantage still lies in the Great Dao of Spacetime.</em> Wu Yuan had realized this over the past two centuries.


    The collision of insights as heprehended these two Daos yielded astonishingly efficient results.


    <em>One-tenth, perhaps. Once I analyze 550,000 basic units of life, I should be at the threshold of the Astral Monarch level in terms of analyzing the fundamental nature of all things and beings.</em> Wu Yuan pondered. <em>With this foundation, my mastery of equipment and talisman cultivation should quickly reach the Archimmortal level.</em>


    <em>Continue!</em> Wu Yuan wasn''t overly anxious.


    His goal was to secure at least one ck Devil Token in the second trial, striving for two if possible.


    ��


    <em>This disciple of mine.</em> In the pill-refining ground, Sovereign Kua Chi stood nearby as Wu Yuan''s body refiner self devoted himself fully toprehension. He concealed his aurapletely, not disturbing Wu Yuan.


    At first, Sovereign Kua Chi would frequently offer guidance to Wu Yuan, but as time passed, Wu Yuan no longer needed his instruction, independentlyprehending and deducing the basic units of life.


    What oneprehended and pondered independently often led to a more solid foundation than what was taught by others.


    <em>This disciple of mine is truly worthy of being called a top-tier genius even in the entire history of the Eldritch Court.</em> Sovereign Kua Chi couldn''t help but marvel. <em>How could his cultivation progress so rapidly?</em>


    He was a Sovereign of Life. Though notparable to some of the Eldritch Court''s most extraordinary masters in pill cultivation, equipment forging, and other areas, he ranked first in the Cang Feng Eldritch World, which was quite remarkable.


    Over the long years, he had seen countless so-called geniuses. He had also read about many monstrous prodigies from ancient texts, including peerless geniuses from previous samsara cycles of heaven and earth. The Daoprehension progress of some monstrous prodigies was no less impressive than Wu Yuan''s.


    <em>But at the very least, in terms of analyzing the basic units of life, my disciple should be the fastest I''ve ever seen. I''ve never witnessed an immortal cultivator make faster progress than him. </em>Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly.


    If it were a Sovereign of Life who had already fullyprehended the Law of Life, with a Sovereign-level soul, progress would naturally be extremely swift. Different cultivation levels resulted in different speeds of deduction andprehension.


    But for Wu Yuan, merely a First Tribtion High Immortal and First Tribtion High Deity, this speed ofprehension was terrifying.


    <em>He''s hundreds or thousands of times faster than many Astral Monarchs of Life. It''s not just because the effects of Dao Assimtion are less severe, it''s rted to Wu Yuan''s natural talent. It should also be connected to hisprehension of the Great Dao of Spacetime.</em> Sovereign Kua Chi spected.


    <em>Is simultaneouslyprehending two Great Daos truly this powerful?</em> Sovereign Kua Chi wondered.


    He truly felt that his disciple was extraordinary. As an immortal cultivator, crystallizing the True Intent of a single Great Dao was already remarkably impressive, let alone two Great Daos.


    Spacetime and Creation. The two were profoundly interconnected, one the origin of all things, the other the foundation of the evolution of all beings.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <em>However, this Sovereign ck Devil is quite intriguing. If he''s choosing a sessor, why select Archimmortals and Archdeities? </em>Sovereign Kua Chi furrowed his brow slightly.


    Just like many Dao Realm Sovereigns who sensed something amiss, Sovereign Kua Chi likewise perceived that something was off.


    <em>Even if he forgoes selecting the most elite monstrous prodigies, at the very least, he should choose Astral Monarchs who align with his own path. </em>Sovereign Kua Chi mused.


    He couldn''t understand what Sovereign ck Devil was thinking.


    <em>What did this Sovereign ck Devil do in the past? It was enough to provoke a great being like the Dao Master to descend and eradicate him. </em>Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head lightly.


    He was well aware of the vast gulf between Sovereigns and the Dao Master.


    Logically, such supreme beings wouldn''t easily move against Sovereigns, as that was a difference of dimensions. Sovereigns were merely the pinnacle of life confined within the samsara cycle of heaven and earth. Meanwhile, supreme beings had transcended, truly unbound by any constraints, free and unfettered.


    <em>Nevertheless, my disciple may have already caught the attention of the Dao Master. </em>Sovereign Kua Chi pondered. <em>Sovereign ck Devil''s legacy was deliberately left behind by the Spacetime Dao Master. Even if he obtains it, it should be fine.</em>


    Sovereign Kua Chi naturally assumed that Wu Yuan had a high likelihood of acquiring Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance.


    ��


    Time flowed by as Wu Yuan continued his cultivation.


    asionally, Sovereign Kua Chi would offer guidance, but Wu Yuan''s ownprehension took precedence.


    In the blink of an eye, the second trial hadsted four hundred years.


    In the ck Devil Blood Hollow, within Wu Yuan''s trial ground, countless pill furnaces were arranged in rows, with a cultivator before each one.


    Of course, among the tens of thousands of pill furnaces, many equipment forging and talisman crafting chambers were interspersed.


    By now, over 1500 powerhouses hadpleted the first test. Those who''dpleted the second test exceeded a hundred.


    All powerhouses were either studying the codexes, or actively refining pills and forging equipment.


    On this day, a dazzling radiance suddenly shot skyward from one of the sealed spaces, instantly drawing the attention of all the powerhouses.


    "Who is it?"


    "What happened?"


    "It seemed to havee from Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s location. Has she met the requirements?" Over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities looked over, especially those who hadpleted the second test, their expressions changing dramatically.


    "Senior Big Devil has emerged."


    "Senior Big Devil." Everyone''s expressions changed. Big Devil had appeared twice after the second trialmenced, once when Astral Lord Gu Shoupleted the first test and another when Archimmortal Xiang Feipleted the second. They were the first to pass the respective tests. After that, he hadn''t shown himself since.


    Now, he was appearing for the third time.


    "I am pleased," Big Devil dered, his gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd. His voice resonated with a slow, deliberate cadence. "Over four centuries, across eleven trial grounds, among nearly two hundred thousand candidates... at longst, someone has passed the second trial."


    "Xiang Fei, you have done well," Big Devil''s eyes fixed upon her.


    "What?" A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.


    "The first among all trial grounds?"


    "Archimmortal Xiang Fei, a powerhouse from the Devil Realm?" A wave of astonishment swept through the onlookers. Even mighty figures like Astral Lord Gu Shou and Astral Lord Xue Yao, along with numerous other Dao Realm powerhouses, found this difficult to ept.


    They had superior Daoprehension and stronger foundations, and had been receiving the finest training from their respective factions for centuries.


    And yet, they were outpaced by a sixth-stage Archimmortal from the Devil Realm? It made them appear utterly ipetent byparison.


    <em>I��m truly the first?</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s features were ordinary, but at this moment, she was ovee with excitement. She paid no heed to the countless envious and resentful gazes shot at her.


    "Xiang Fei, here are three ck Devil Tokens," Big Devil announced, still looking at her. "Furthermore, you have earned the right to proceed to the third trial.


    I trust that this second trial has brought you great gains, which will aid you in swiftly oveing the trials toe. Strive to acquire five ck Devil Tokens as soon as possible."


    "Understood," Archimmortal Xiang Fei responded solemnly.


    Her heart raced with excitement.


    <em>My Daoprehension progress is slow, but in the past, I relied entirely on my own research, achieving a measure of sess in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, arrays, and various other fields.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei mused inwardly. <em>This time, obtaining the ck Devil Secret Codex has truly illuminated the path ahead for me.</em>


    Over the course of several centuries, through careful study of the ck Devil Secret Codex, Archimmortal Xiang Fei had fully tapped into the umtion of knowledge from her long years of cultivation.


    Archimmortal Xiang Fei believed that even if she ultimately failed to im Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, she would still swiftly break through and be an Astral Lord in the future.


    <em>Moreover, I now have a certain advantage, so naturally, I must strive topete. </em>Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s heart harbored burning aspirations. <em>Although I am only a sixth-stage Archimmortal, Sovereign ck Devil��s inheritance trial assesses more than just one��sbat prowess. I still have a chance.</em>


    Among those who had cultivated to be Archimmortals and Archdeities, who didn''t harbor pursuits and aspirations in their hearts?

 Chapter 774: The Fruits Of Lengthy Preparation (2)

    ��I shall also inform all of you," Big Devil continued.


    "The inheritance trial is divided into eight trials in total." Big Devil''s gaze swept across everyone present. "The eighth trial is the final inheritance trial.


    In other words, one must acquire twelve ck Devil Tokens from the first seven trials to advance to the eighth trial.


    Starting from the second trial, there is no time limit. However, once someone passes the final inheritance trial, those among the remaining candidates who have yet to obtain five ck Devil Tokens will be eliminated," Big Devil dered coldly.


    A deathly silence fell over the crowd.


    All the Archimmortals and Archdeities listened intently, finally understanding the full requirements of Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance trial.


    So, there were eight trials in total. One had to obtain twelve ck Devil Tokens in the first seven trials to qualify for the eighth trial.


    "Archimmortal Xiang Fei, you shall begin the third trial," Big Devil announced slowly.


    With a wave of his hand, Archimmortal Xiang Fei vanished instantly from her spot.Immediately after, Big Devil disappeared as well.


    ��


    <em>Seven trials, requiring at least twelve ck Devil Tokens? This means one must rank at or near the top in every single trial? </em>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    This newly acquired information had caught himpletely off guard. Naturally, his ns would need to be adjusted.


    <em>If one can obtain three ck Devil Tokens in each trial, thenpleting just the first four trials would be enough to gain twelve ck Devil Tokens.</em>


    <em>That would allow direct advancement to the eighth trial. </em>Wu Yuan realized this point.


    It wasn''t necessary to pass all seven trials. If one was exceptional enough, outstanding performance in just the first four trials would suffice.


    <em>I can''t afford to dy any longer. Now, my body refiner self will continue analyzing the basic units of life, while my qi refiner self will begin attempting pill refining.</em> Wu Yuan had previously been unhurried, as few hadpleted the first test of the second trial, not even two thousand individuals.


    He had believed there was still ample time. Thus, he wanted to gain sufficient confidence before swiftly tackling the three tests.


    But now, knowing the full set of rules, the situation had changed, and naturally, he needed to pass the second trial as quickly as possible.


    <em>The second trial is unfavorable for me. Even if I had initially chosen the first path, it would be difficult topete with figures like Archimmortal Xiang Fei. But this may not be the case forter trials.</em> Wu Yuan silently reasoned that it would be best to pass the second trial as soon as possible.


    Although he had not yet reached his expected goal, four hundred years of dedicated research had already taken Wu Yuan very far along the path of analyzing all things.


    It was worth noting that previously, Wu Yuan had cultivated for fewer than 1300 years in total, yet had already achieved such aplishments.


    He had spent four hundred years on the second trial. Moreover, both his true selves tackled this task with their full focus, their powerful souls operating at full capacity. Naturally, his progress was beyond imagination.


    If Wu Yuan hadn''t chosen to divert his attention to analyzing all things, his body refiner self might have even been able to deduce the Great Dao of Creation to the fourth-level True Intent stage.


    <em>As of now, over a hundred individuals havepleted the second test. I must act quickly, aiming to be among the first hundred to pass the trial and obtain two ck Devil Tokens. </em>Wu Yuan, having thought it through, naturally made changes to his approach.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> After four hundred years of secluded cultivation in the lotus position, Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self finally stood up and approached the enormous pill furnace before him.


    He began selecting the ingredients for the first medicinal pill.


    ��


    Wu Yuan''s actions didn''t attract much attention. After more than four hundred years, he still hadn''t passed the requirements for the first test, and most Archimmortals and Archdeities had long since stopped paying attention to him.


    Even the numerous major factions of the Dao Realm didn''t focus much on him anymore. They had long since concluded that Wu Yuan would spend a very, very long time on the second trial.


    "By the time Ming Jian passes the second trial, Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance trial might well be over." This was the consensus among many powerhouses.


    "Archimmortal Xiang Fei was the first toplete the second trial, but her performance in the first trial was quite ordinary."


    "We still have a great chance."


    "Go for it, Gu Shou. If you can secure three ck Devil Tokens in the second trial, you''ll have six ck Devil Tokens in total. Your advantage would actually be greater than Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s."


    "Understood."


    Whether they were powerhouses from the Dao Realm or the Devil Realm, they were all doing their utmost.


    ��


    In the ck Devil Blood Hollow, deep within a mysterious location, countless tendrils of ck mist swirled around the periphery.


    In the center stood a group of figures. These figures varied greatly in stature �C some were as diminutive as dwarves, others as towering as giants, and some even took on bestial forms.


    The auras they emanated were equally diverse - some exuded bone-chilling cold, others radiated heat like zing suns, while some possessed a ghostly, sinister quality.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    There were nine figures in total.


    Big Devil stood among them.


    Themon feature among these figures was that they were all shrouded in ck robes. Apart from Big Devil, it was difficult to discern the faces of the others.


    Before them, a massive light screen projection appeared, disying the scene of Wu Yuan attempting to refine pills.


    "Too poor."


    "Four hundred years, and he hasn''t even met the requirements for the first test," the short, ck-robed figure spoke in a raspy voice.


    "Big Devil, is this the sessor you specially activated the inheritance trial for?" The four-legged bestial figure''s voice boomed: "His foundation in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation is indeed poor, but no matter how poor, he should have at least been able to meet the first requirement after so many years."


    "At this rate, his chances of passing the eighth trial are pitifully low." One by one, the ck-robed figures spoke up, their voices filled with dissatisfaction.


    "What''s the rush? He is indeed very talented. I believe in him," Big Devil''s gaze swept across the figures. "Besides, don��t forget that the order to initiate the inheritance trial came from the Sovereign. Ming Jian has his special qualities."


    The ck-robed figures fell silent, their eyes fixed on the white-robed figure in the light screen, waiting silently.


    Their displeasure stemmed from their expectations, from their fervent desire for the emergence of a monstrous prodigy who could inherit the Sovereign''s legacy. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.


    <em>Ming Jian, are you truly this untalented in pill cultivation and equipment cultivation?</em> Big Devil stared at the light screen, his brow slightly furrowed.


    ��


    Time flowed on, and merely ten yearster, another streak of brilliant light shed across the sky, once again drawing the attention of all the powerhouses.


    "Gu Shou haspleted the third test and passed the second trial," Big Devil appeared again, his gaze sweeping over all the candidates. "Gu Shou is also the sixth to pass the trial among the eleven trial grounds."


    "Astral Lord Gu Shou."


    "He obtained three ck Devil Tokens in the first trial."


    "He��s now gained another three ck Devil Tokens?"


    "Doesn''t that mean he already has six ck Devil Tokens? His progress is far too swift." The various Archimmortals and Archdeities felt the pressure, especially top candidates like Astral Lord Xue Yao and Astral Lord Red Devil.


    ��


    In one of the massive halls within the Hundred Mysteries Pce headquarters, over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities were gathered, many of whom were cordoned off in separate areas.


    One such area was upied by an Astral Monarch skilled in talisman cultivation alongside Astral Lord Gu Shou''s true self. Over the years, this Astral Monarch had been guiding Astral Lord Gu Shou.


    "Sess!"


    "Astral Lord Gu Shou."


    "He''s obtained six ck Devil Tokens." The thousand-plus Archimmortals and Archdeities from the Hundred Mysteries Pce with mana or ether bodies at the trial grounds were all utterly shocked as they gazed at Astral Lord Gu Shou.


    Among them, half hadn''t even met the requirements for the first trial yet.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A figure wreathed in ck mes appeared, his imposing aura enveloping the entire temple.


    "Sovereign."


    "Sovereign." The numerous Astral Monarchs, Archimmortals and Archdeities in the temple all bowed respectfully.


    "Gu Shou." Sovereign Bai Xuan''s gaze fell upon Astral Lord Gu Shou, a faint smile appearing on his face. [1] "Very good, you''re the first from our Hundred Mysteries Pce to enter the third trial ground.


    You''ve already seized six ck Devil Tokens, giving you a tremendous advantage. You must strive to reach the eighth trial as quickly as possible.


    Regardless of your final sess or failure, as long as you can advance to the eighth trial, it will prove your potential, and I will bestow an extremely generous reward upon you."


    "Yes, Sovereign," Astral Lord Gu Shou replied respectfully.


    His heart was also filled with excitement. The Sovereign had personally made him a promise, which meant his chances of bing an Astral Monarch in the future would naturally increase dramatically.


    <em>I must give it my all! This is my opportunity. I must exert every ounce of effort to vie for Sovereign ck Devil''s legacy.</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou thought to himself.


    In his heart, a burning ambition grew.


    ��


    Another three years passed.


    <em>Hum~</em> A mysterious ripple enveloped the space where Wu Yuan was located.


    "Congrattions, Ming Jian. You havepleted the first test," a cold voice resonated in Wu Yuan''s mind. "Please proceed to the second test."


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan put away the immortal pill he had just refined, and the pill furnace immediately transformed into an enormous equipment forging chamber.


    This scene caught the attention of some people.


    "Ming Jianpleted the first requirement?"


    "His Daoprehension isparable to that of an Astral Monarch, yet it took him over 400 years toplete the first requirement? That''s far too slow."


    "Indeed, it''s too slow." Many Archimmortals and Archdeities shook their heads, losing interest.


    In their view, Wu Yuan posed no threat, at least in the second trial.


    As time passed, more and more people reached the requirements for the first and second tests, and several even managed toplete the third test, passing the trial!


    Among them was Astral Lord Xue Yao, who once again drew attention. She too had effectively obtained six ck Devil Tokens.


    When the second trial had reached its 480-year mark, six people from this trial ground had already entered the third trial ground.


    <em>Hum~</em> On this day, another ripple enveloped the space where Wu Yuan resided, and the equipment forging chamber transformed into a talisman chamber.


    "Hmm?"


    "What? Ming Jian haspleted the second test? So quickly?" The Archimmortals and Archdeities not far from Wu Yuan were shocked.


    "It''s not that fast, is it? Over 150 people have alreadypleted the second test by now," someone questioned.


    "What do you know? It took him over 400 years to meet the first requirement, and how long has it been since then? He''s alreadypleted the second test?"


    "He took less than 50 years toplete the second test after passing the first, the shortest time out of anyone."


    "It''s even shorter than the time Archimmortal Xiang Fei took!"


    After more than 400 years, the name ''Ming Jian'' once again caught the attention of countless Archimmortals and Archdeities on the trial grounds, simply because this rate of progress was too fast.


    It was worth noting that at the beginning of the second trial, Ming Jian was already widely recognized as the candidate with the most potential and hope of obtaining the inheritance.


    ��


    <em>Once I��ve analyzed the fundamental nature of all things, learning pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation is indeed easy.</em> Wu Yuan smiled.


    It was as if he had first constructed a massive excavator from raw materials and then used it to swiftly dig through and level a small hill. The efficiency was only natural.


    <em>Talisman cultivation? I should be able to pass the test within 50 years.</em> Wu Yuan immersed himself in drawing talismans.


    1. Bai Xuan = Hundred Mysteries ?

 Chapter 775: Twelve Black Devil Tokens (1)

    Wu Yuan''s sudden leap in progress,pleting the second test just a few decades after the first, astounded the Archimmortals and Archdeities from various factions.


    In a daze, many powerhouses from the Dao Realm suddenly remembered who Wu Yuan was: a High Immortal with less than two thousand years of cultivation, possessing Daoprehension at the Astral Monarch level. Someone who obtained three ck Devil Tokens in the first trial.


    "We''ve overlooked Ming Jian."


    "He was originally the greatest threat. During the few hundred years he wasn��t refining pills, he was clearly searching for his own path."


    "He''s still a major threat."


    "He already ranks in the top two hundred in our trial ground."


    "He has a good chance of obtaining two ck Devil Tokens." The powerhouses from various factions exchanged thoughts, reevaluating Wu Yuan as an even greater threat.


    If not for the second trial''s restrictions onbat and killing, many powerhouses would likely have already surrounded Wu Yuan.


    ��<em>At the third trial.</em>


    <em>What? Ming Jian has alreadyplete the second test of the second trial? He''s already started crafting talismans.</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou, who was deep in thought, couldn''t help but reveal a look of astonishment when his true self received the news.


    He hadn''t considered Wu Yuan a major threat previously. After all, when he hadpleted the three tests and entered the third trial ground, Wu Yuan hadn''t even reached the requirements for the first test.


    <em>I need to calm down. No matter how big a threat he is, he hasn''t caught up to me yet.</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou struggled to calm his racing mind.


    His gaze fell upon the enormous wall before him.<em> This is where my advantage lies.</em>


    <em>I''m already ranked fourth. In this third trial ground, there''s a chance to obtain six ck Devil Tokens and advance to the eighth trial in one shot.</em> Astral Lord Gu Shou thought to himself. <em>I must work hard.</em>


    He pushed aside all other thoughts, continuing to deduce andprehend wholeheartedly.


    It wasn''t just him. Throughout the grounds of the third trial, dozens of Archimmortals and Archdeities revealed looks of surprise. Clearly, they had all received news about Ming Jian.


    ��


    <em>Ming Jian?</em> Astral Lord Xue Yao recalled that terrifying figure wielding flying swords, effortlessly ughtering enemies in his path.


    ��


    <em>That white-robed High Immortal?</em>


    <em>As expected of a monstrous prodigy beyond the realm, his strength can''t be measured bymon standards.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei had also received the news.


    <em>His cultivation years are short, he definitely hasn''t studied pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, or talisman cultivation before. Yet in just a few hundred years, he''s reached such heights.</em> She felt genuine admiration.


    <em>However, I''m currently in first ce. I must strive to obtain five ck Devil Tokens in this third trial.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei thought to herself.


    ��


    Time passed.


    Perhaps it was due to the guidance of the ��ck Devil Secret Codex��, or perhaps the pressure of looming death, or maybe it was the desire for the Sovereign''s inheritance, but in Wu Yuan''s trial ground, more and more Archimmortals and Archdeitiespleted the first test, the number gradually approaching two thousand.


    And the number of Archimmortals and Archdeities passing the second test was also steadily increasing, approaching two hundred.


    Wu Yuan was the first among them.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> A pir of light shot into the sky, and Big Devil appeared once again, attracting the attention of many powerhouses.


    ��Astral Lord Red Devil, congrattions on meeting the requirements. You are the eighth in this trial ground, and the seventy-fifth overall, to advance to the third trial.�� Big Devil looked down at the red-haired Archdeity.


    "Thank you, Senior," Astral Lord Red Devil suppressed his excitement.


    "The eighth one."


    "Only the top ten who pass the trial can obtain three ck Devil Tokens."


    "He''s like Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and the others, obtaining six ck Devil Tokens." The powerhouses from various factions discussed, quickly spreading this intelligence.


    Although Astral Lord Red Devil took slightly longer, obtaining six ck Devil Tokens was enough to prove his astonishing potential.


    It was worth noting that although over seventy Archimmortals and Archdeities had advanced to the third trial, less than twenty had obtained six ck Devil Tokens in the first two trials.


    Those with great strength were often skilled in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and many other aspects. But nothing was absolute, just like how the one ranked first in the third trial was Archimmortal Xiang Fei, who was rtively weak.


    ��Fewer than twenty powerhouses from the Dao Realm have advanced to the third trial."


    "In the end, the Devil Realm''s powerhouses are still the majority." Faced with this situation, the Sovereigns of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm felt quite helpless.


    Although they had tried their best to help, offering all kinds of guidance, the number of candidates from the Devil Realm was too great. Among the nearly one million Archimmortals and Archdeities who had poured in, there were bound to be some outstanding and dazzling individuals.


    ��


    As years passed, the ninth person toplete the third test emerged from this trial ground.


    "It''s Archdeity Tu Hu."


    "A fifth-stage Archdeity actually seeded? I, a mighty Astral Lord, have onlypleted the first test."


    "I wonder who the tenth will be." The many Archimmortals and Archdeities discussed.


    As more and more passed the second trial, many of the remaining powerhouses began to realize the gap between themselves and others.


    Those who had yet toplete the pill cultivation test requirements were mostly on the verge of despair, instinctively thinking of giving up. The gap was simply too great.


    ��


    Within the ck Devil Blood Hollow, in that mysterious ce shrouded in darkness and mist, nine figures cloaked in ck robes fixed their gaze upon the scene within the light screen.


    The talisman chamber waspletely sealed. Thus, they couldn''t discern the exact situation inside.


    "The ninth sessful candidate of this trial ground has been decided, and the tenth will likely emerge soon," the short ck-robed figure said in a low voice. "Could it be that our chosen one won''t even make it into the top ten?"


    "We needn''t be too demanding."


    "Ming Jian has already exceeded our expectations by passing the first and second tests at such a rate. His progress has been remarkably swift."


    "Indeed, that''s right."


    "Ninth Devil, we shouldn''t set the bar too high. Although Ming Jian''s Daoprehension has reached a profound level, he''s only been cultivating for less than two thousand years. Catching up so quickly is already an astonishing feat."


    One by one, the ck-robed figures spoke up, their attention firmly fixed on Wu Yuan''s situation. As for the other candidates? While they paid some attention to them, they weren��t a primary concern.


    "I''m not demanding too much. He has the potential to inherit the Sovereign''s legacy," the short ck-robed figure said gravely. "Once he bes the Sovereign''s sessor, he will be master, and we��ll have to serve him.


    Only the truly powerful are worthy of being my master," the short ck-robed figure said coldly.


    Hearing this, the group of ck robed figures all revealed a hint of helplessness. They understood the logic, but they were simply more rational, believing the probability of Wu Yuan taking the tenth spot was extremely low.


    After all, though Wu Yuan had taken the least time to progress from the first test to the second, he had spent far too long at the very beginning.


    "He''s done it," the silent Big Devil abruptly spoke.


    He had been listening to the ck-robed figures argue, but hadn''t said anything until now. As the overseer of the entire ck Devil Blood Hollow, Big Devil was the only one who could constantly monitor each candidate''s progress.


    "What''s done?"


    "You mean Ming Jian?" All the ck-robed figures were filled with astonishment, even the short figure known as Ninth Devil was utterly shocked.


    <em>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</em> In an instant, the gazes of these ck-robed figures all fell upon the enormous light screen projection in the distance.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> At this moment, a pir of light shot skyward, illuminating the light screen projection.


    ��


    Within Wu Yuan''s trial ground, over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities were in the midst of refining pills, forging equipment, or crafting talismans.


    As the pir of light shot skyward, it immediately attracted the attention of over ny percent of the powerhouses. After so many urrences, they all knew that this light signified that another candidate hadpleted the third test.


    "Who is it?"


    "The one who takes the tenth slot is thest to receive three ck Devil Tokens. Even if one passes the second trial after this, they''ll only get two ck Devil Tokens."


    "Missing one ck Devil Token means having to work even harderter to make up for it." The thoughts raced through the minds of the numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    However, when their gazes fell upon the source of the light, almost everyone gaped in astonishment.


    "It''s him?"


    "How is this possible!"


    "Ming Jian? He''s actuallypleted the third test? How long has it been since hepleted the second test?"


    "Impossible!" Almost all the Archimmortals and Archdeities in the entire trial ground were dumbfounded. Even the powerhouses from the Hanging Moon Pce who were on good terms with Wu Yuan, like Archimmortal Li Shu, found it hard to believe. It was too shocking!


    Yes, Ming Jian''s talent and Daoprehension were indeed exceptional, but it had taken him over four hundred years to meet the requirements for the first test.


    Almost everyone had believed it would take Ming Jian at least six hundred years toplete the third test.


    Even if it took six hundred years toplete the third test, it would have been astounding enough. After all, even the fastest, Archimmortal Xiang Fei, had taken over three hundred years to progress from the first test to the third.


    But in the end, Ming Jian had seeded in just over a hundred years.


    "Too fast."


    "The tenth position."


    "Passing the third test just one hundred years after the first? How could his rate of progress be so swift?"


    "It''s iprehensible." The vast majority of Archimmortals and Archdeities couldn''t understand, but regardless, the pir of light shooting skyward couldn''t be faked.


    Ming Jian was indeed the tenth candidate to pass the second trial in this trial ground.


    "Ming Jian," Big Devil looked down at Wu Yuan as he emerged from the talisman chamber.


    Wu Yuan bowed slightly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Very good. You are the tenth in this trial ground, and the ny-sixth overall to advance to the third trial," Big Devil said slowly,pletely ignoring theplex gazes of the over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    "You have earned the right to receive three ck Devil Tokens."


    <em>Whoosh!</em> With a wave of his hand, three ck tokens hovered before Wu Yuan.


    The tokens looked ordinary, but their significance was immense.


    "Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan reached out and grasped the three ck Devil Tokens, storing them in his storage artifact.


    His mind remained quite calm. Although his progress in equipment cultivation and talisman cultivation was indeed rapid, it was within his expectations. After analyzing the fundamental nature of all things for hundreds of years, Wu Yuan had some confidence.


    <em>The more Iprehend, the more I realize that the paths of crafting talismans, forging equipment, and refining pills all lead to the same destination. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    When traced to their origins, all these paths led to the same source.


    Although Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension was still far from the Sovereign level, the method of analyzing the fundamental nature of all things was the path that many powerful Sovereigns took when learning pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, talisman cultivation, and array cultivation from scratch.


    By mastering that one path, one couldprehend all paths.


    "Proceed to the third trial," Big Devil nced at Wu Yuan. "You''ve fallen rather far behind. I hope you can catch up."


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Wu Yuan vanished from his spot.


    Big Devil''s final words secretly rmed many Archimmortals and Archdeities. Among the many who had passed the second trial, few had received additional remarks from Big Devil. Clearly, Big Devil had high hopes for Wu Yuan.

 Chapter 776: Twelve Black Devil Tokens (2)

    Ming Jian had swiftly progressed to the third trial.


    "That was quick."


    "We expected him to be stuck in the second trial for a while, yet he''s caught up at an astonishing speed."


    "He truly deserves to be called a monstrous prodigy, the likes of which the Dao Realm has never seen," remarked the Sovereigns from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. They received the news with mixed feelings of awe and helplessness.


    Wu Yuan already stood out, being the sole High Immortal. His remarkable talent made it seem almost inevitable that he would inherit Sovereign ck Devil��s inheritance.


    "We must give it our all.��


    "There��s still hope.�� Despite Wu Yuan��s performance, the Sovereigns of the various powers in the Dao Realm were not ready to concede defeat. Orders were swiftly dispatched to the various candidates to continue their efforts.


    For now, Wu Yuan wasn��t definitively leading the race.


    ...<em>Within the grounds of the ck Devil Blood Hollow''s third trial.</em>


    <em>This ce? </em>Wu Yuan surveyed his surroundings. He found himself in a vast, seemingly infinite void.


    This void contained numerous expansive passages, each one stretching a hundred li wide, with nearly a hundred such passages spiraling into the distance.


    The passages wereid with stone, extending for hundreds of thousands of li, nked on each side by towering stone walls.


    <em>Astral Lord Gu Shou? Astral Lord Xue Yao? Archimmortal Xiang Fei? </em>Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the void, discovering several familiar figures. Yet, many others remained unfamiliar.


    Each person stood silently in one of these passages, contemting the imposing stone walls before them.


    <em>Ny-five people. I��m the ny-sixth? </em>Wu Yuan instantly understood.


    <em>The first trial was held in fifty-five trial grounds. The second trial was held in eleven trial grounds. But the third trial is only held in this one trial ground. </em>Wu Yuan had already figured it out.


    <em>These ny-five people are all the candidates who have advanced to the third trial.</em>


    However, what would this third trial entail?


    "Ming Jian."


    "He''s arrived."


    "Can it be him?" murmured the candidates scattered across the various passages, noticing the new arrival. Those who knew him, like Astral Lords Xue Yao and Xiang Fei, were taken aback, not expecting Wu Yuan to break into the top ten.


    "Is that Ming Jian?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "He managed to acquire six ck Devil Tokens?" Many candidates, seeing Wu Yuan for the first time, watched him with wary eyes.


    Though unfamiliar with his appearance, Wu Yuan��s reputation preceded him.


    As a High Immortal, Wu Yuan had demonstrated power that matched ate-stage Astral Lord, enough to surprise any Archimmortal or Archdeity and put them on alert. Moreover, he had acquired six ck Devil Tokens during the first two trials, a truly remarkable aplishment.


    <em>Hum~</em> Countless points of light converged to form the silhouette of Big Devil, his piercing gaze fixed intently on Wu Yuan.


    "Senior Big Devil," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully.


    "The third trial has a time limit of one thousand years," Big Devil stated directly, his voice cold and detached. "Do you see the passage you��re standing on?"


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "Each participant is assigned a unique passage," Big Devil borated. "These passages are segmented into six primary zones, each stretching for one hundred thousand li. Within every zone, you''ll find two hundred Dao pattern diagrams etched into the stone walls: one hundred areplete, while the rest remain unfinished.


    Your task is to study theplete Dao patterns and then finish the iplete ones in each zone.


    To proceed to the next zone, you will need toplete ten diagrams in your current zone.


    For each zone you pass through, you will receive one ck Devil Token; if you can pass through all six zones within a thousand years, you will obtain six ck Devil Tokens." Big Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Do you understand what this means?"


    Wu Yuan already understood.


    In the third trial, the maximum number of ck Devil Tokens he could obtain was not three, but six!


    <em>I have already obtained six ck Devil Tokens. If I can obtain another six ck Devil Tokens in the third trial, I��ll have a total of twelve ck Devil Tokens.</em> Wu Yuan felt a rush of adrenaline, realizing he had this advantage.


    If he could advance as the top candidate all the way, then afterpleting the third trial, he could begin the eighth trial right away. He could then ess the ultimate inheritance.


    "Ny-five candidates have entered before you, and so far only seven have reached the second zone. All the others are still stuck in the first zone," Big Devil said indifferently.


    "As you progress through the six zones, the difficulty level will rise. How far you can go within a thousand years depends on your ability.


    If you can''t even get past the first zone within a thousand years, this is where your journey ends."


    "Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.


    <em>Whoosh~ </em>Big Devil''s illusory image dispersed into countless points of light, leaving Wu Yuan alone at the entrance of the passage.


    <em>Twelve ck Devil Tokens. Stay calm!</em> Wu Yuan tried to steady himself. <em>The existence of seven trials suggests that in Sovereign ck Devil��s expectations, most will fail to obtain twelve tokens.</em>


    <em>Moreover, Archimmortal Xiang Fei and Astral Lord Gu Shou have been here for over a hundred years and are still stuck in the second zone.</em>


    <em>And it gets harder as one progresses. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>This third trial must not be simple.</em>


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Wu Yuan took a step forward and flew into the first zone, immediately feeling an unseen pressure weighing him down.


    At the same time, he received a reminder that if he couldn''tplete ten iplete Dao pattern diagrams, he wouldn''t be able to leave this zone.


    <em>This? </em>As Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon one of the diagrams, he waspletely stunned.


    The stone wall before him was etched with countless Dao patterns, evoking a familiar sensation deep within him. Invisible waves of Dao resonance surrounded him.


    <em>Creation Essence Diagram? </em>Wu Yuan could hardly believe it.


    The consciousnesses of his true selves were shared, so even if Wu Yuan��s qi refiner self couldn''t utilize Creation True Intent, he naturally recognized it.


    Moreover, his qi refiner self could employ Life True Intent and Death True Intent without an issue.


    In the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self had even spent several hundred yearsprehending the Creation Essence Diagrams. How could he make a mistake?


    <em>No, there''s a slight difference. </em>Wu Yuan quickly noticed. <em>This isn''t aplete Creation Dao pattern diagram... it''s inteced with profundities of the fundamental nature of all things.</em>


    The two were rted. Wu Yuan��s two true selves had spent more than five hundred years analyzing the fundamental nature of all things and beings in the second trial. He had delved extremely deeply into this path.


    <em>I made the right bet! Indeed, choosing to take the path of analyzing all things during the second trial has proven useful. </em>Wu Yuan thought excitedly. <em>If I had only aimed to pass the second trial back then, I wouldn��t have been as prepared now.</em>


    <em>Let''s take a look at the other Dao pattern diagrams on the stone wall.</em>


    Quickly, Wu Yuan began to look at the otherplete Dao pattern diagrams, noticing the differences and categorizing them.


    Then, he began to examine the hundred iplete Dao pattern diagrams.


    <em>A hundred Dao pattern diagrams. Ten of them pertain to the Great Dao of Creation, but the profundities they contain are very shallow.</em>


    <em>Ten are rted to the Great Dao of Spacetime.</em>


    With Wu Yuan''s Daoprehension, he could naturally easily distinguish these two Great Daos.


    <em>The other eighty Dao pattern diagrams seem to involve profundities of other Great Daos, very profound, but not paths I have undertaken... </em>Wu Yuan categorized them, already understanding the purpose of the third trial.


    <em>This trial is to screen for those with the talent toprehend the Great Dao directly. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <em>If one performs well in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation during the second trial, their talent for analyzing all things usually wouldn''t becking, and they would have hope ofprehending Great Daos based on the foundation established from self-study.</em>


    <em>Analyzing all things is the foundation. </em>This method of testing the candidates was indeed unique, surpassing Wu Yuan''s imagination and understanding.


    <em>As for the so-calledpletion of the Dao pattern diagrams, it simply involves choosing one of the Great Daos, studying its Dao pattern diagrams, and thoroughly understanding them. Then finally, inscribing one''s insights into the iplete Dao pattern diagrams. </em>Wu Yuan''s gaze fell on the iplete Dao pattern diagrams in the distance.


    Inscribing Dao patterns appeared straightforward at first nce. However, much like mastering secret arts and teachings, one must deeplyprehend them to perform the inscriptions effectively. The outward appearance of these patterns was secondary; the true challengey in grasping the Dao resonance and the profound mysteries they held within.


    <em>During the second trial, my skills paled inparison to those Archimmortals and Archdeities who have honed their abilities over countless eras. </em>Wu Yuan smiled. <em>But this third trial seems tailor-made for me.</em>


    Ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities mostly onlyprehended one Lesser Law, how far were they from the Great Daos?


    As for Wu Yuan? He had already crystallized the True Intent of two different Great Daos early in his journey.


    <em>Spacetime. My qi refiner self excels in the Great Dao of Spacetime.</em> Wu Yuan made his choice. <em>Then let''splete these ten iplete Dao pattern diagrams of the Great Dao of Spacetime.</em>


    He began toprehend.


    ��


    In the highest-grade pill-refining ground of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.


    "You''ve already advanced to the third trial?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was slightly surprised. "And you feel confident?"


    "Yes!" Wu Yuan''s body refiner self''s eyes shone brightly. "Master, from now on I won''t study pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and such anymore, but will continue to focus on deducing and analyzing the basic units of life, continuing to research the fundamental nature of all things.


    Apart from these spirit herbs, I need more substances," Wu Yuan said. "Ores, metals, spiritual liquids... all special substances, I need them all."


    Analyzing the fundamental nature of heaven and earth was an incredibly difficult endeavor, and this path was vast and unfathomable.


    The countless life forms wereposed of 5.5 million basic units of life. And for the vast array of substances, their fundamental natures were even moreplex and mysterious.


    "Alright," Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. Although he wasn''t clear about Wu Yuan''s situation, he trusted his disciple''s judgment.


    <em>My qi refiner self isprehending the Great Dao of Spacetime, but those Dao pattern diagrams also contain numerous profundities about the natural order of all things. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself. <em>The myriad paths of heaven and earth are essentially rted.</em>


    <em>My body refiner self will continue to analyze all things and beings, which will naturally help my qi refiner selfplete the iplete Dao pattern diagrams.</em> Wu Yuan had figured out his n.


    All that was left was to execute it with his full effort.


    ��


    Time passed, and more Archimmortals and Archdeities sessively advanced to the third trial, bringing the total number of people at the trial ground to over a hundred.


    <em>Rumble~</em> On this day, invisible waves radiated out, immediately attracting the attention of over a hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    "Someone has made it to the second zone?"


    "Who?"


    "Probably one of those ranked near the top," most of the Archimmortals and Archdeities were still calm, as they had experienced this many times before. The neers were generally more curious.


    Soon, a collective shock rippled through the crowd.


    Upon investigation, they realized that the one who had cleared the first zone was none other than Ming Jian!


    "One year!"


    "Ming Jian only started the third trial a year ago, right?��


    "A single year, and he''s already advanced to the second zone? Impossible!" The assembled Archimmortals and Archdeities werepletely incredulous.

 Chapter 777: Breakthrough, Success (1)

    "He''s already passed through the first zone?"


    "Ming Jian!"


    "How could he be this fast?" The hundred-odd Archimmortals and Archdeities participating in the third trial were all stunned.


    Earlier, Wu Yuan had made a surprisingeback in the second trial,pleting three tests in session to snatch thest spot in the top ten, obtaining three ck Devil Tokens. That alone had shocked them.


    Now, even if Wu Yuan performed exceptionally well in the third trial, most Archimmortals and Archdeities had imagined it would still take him several decades at least to advance to the second zone. But it had only been one year.


    <em>This shouldn''t be possible. These Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls are soplex,prised of multiple Greater Laws... it shouldn''t be possible. </em>Astral Lord Gu Shou gritted his teeth, unable to understand.


    He had thought his own progress was already very rapid. He had even glimpsed the way to be an Astral Monarch from theplete Dao pattern diagrams. Butpared to Wu Yuan, his progress was dismal.


    <em>One year? This! </em>Even Archimmortal Xiang Fei, widely acknowledged as the candidate taking the lead, felt a wave of despair.


    <em>These Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls gave me brand new guidance, but it still took me sixty years to choose one path among them andplete ten Dao pattern diagrams.</em>The hundredplete Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls represented the paths of multiple Great Daos, pointing the way towards higher levels.


    Archimmortal Xiang Fei had sensed that one of those paths suited her, giving her some confidence. However, Wu Yuan''s appearance made even her feel somewhat hopeless.


    Passing through the first zone in just one year �C Archimmortal Xiang Fei understood clearly what this meant: <em>This foreign monstrous prodigy of a High Immortal has found a path extremely suited to him. In such a short time, he''s reached the second zone. At this rate, the third and fourth zones won''t be able to stop him either.</em>


    <em>The realms beyond are vast beyond measure. Legend has it that the external realms are thousands or tens of thousands of timesrger than the Devil Realm. </em>Archimmortal Xiang Fei thought to herself. <em>In such an immense heaven and earth, it''s only natural that some monstrous prodigies would emerge.</em>


    A hint of disappointment welled up in her heart, but it was quickly reced by an intense unwillingness to give up. <em>Xiang Fei, oh Xiang Fei! How can you surrender before the very end?</em>


    <em>Indeed, this High Immortal may have monstrous talent, but he''s just entered the second zone. He hasn''t left me behindpletely yet.</em>


    <em>Even if he does surpass me, as long as he hasn''t obtained the final inheritance, I still have hope.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s heart was filled with longing.


    She understood that this was the greatest opportunity of her life. She would give it her all!


    <em>I''ll exert every ounce of effort. Even if I fail in the end, even if I perish because of it, I''ll have no regrets. In this lifetime, even if I cannot reach the pinnacle, I should at least fall while walking on the path toward it.</em>


    Archimmortal Xiang Fei calmed her mind. She no longer paid attention to Wu Yuan, focusing solely on her own challenge. Whether she seeded or not, she would give her all, with no regrets even unto death!


    Throughout the long ages of the river of space and time, most Sovereigns had skipped the Archimmortal or Archdeity phase, bing Astral Monarchs directly before cultivating to the Sovereign phase over countless years.


    However, there were always somete bloomers. They weren��t too naturally talented, and their cultivation speed was rtively slow. But they constantly improved, and constantly moved forward, with the determination to forge ahead and the perseverance to never admit defeat.


    Thus, as long as even a small opportunity fell into their hands, it would allow them to shine with boundless radiance.


    Without a doubt, Archimmortal Xiang Fei was one such figure!


    ��


    "The second zone."


    "He reached the second zone in just one year?" The upper echelons of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm quickly received the news, feeling a mixture of shock and helplessness.


    Only Sovereign Lan Yan, who had been coldly observing from the sidelines all along, remained rtively calm upon receiving this news.


    <em>In the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, on a special celestial body.</em>


    "Bai Xuan, the chances of beating Ming Jian are very low," said Sovereign Lan Yan calmly, shrouded in endless blue mes. "The third trial tests one''sprehension of the Great Daos.


    If numerous Astral Monarchs could join the trial, there might be hope. But the most outstanding Astral Lord under yourmand, Astral Lord Gu Shou, is only at thete-stage Astral Lord level. He hasn''t even fullyprehended a single Intermediate Law, let alone begin toprehend a Great Dao. How can hepete with Ming Jian?


    Ming Jian is a monstrous prodigy who crystallized the True Intent of a Great Dao at the Earth Immortal phase," Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head. "I told you long ago, he can''t be surpassed."


    Shrouded in ck mes, the Pce Master of the Hundred Mysteries Pce, fell silent.


    After a long while, the Pce Master of the Hundred Mysteries Pce spoke slowly, "There will always be a glimmer of hope.��


    Sovereign Lan Yan smiled, no longer bothering to argue.


    ��


    <em>In the ck Devil Blood Hollow, at the grounds of the third trial.</em>


    <em>The first zone was too easy.</em> Wu Yuan thought as he arrived in the second zone, looking at the new Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls.


    The hundredplete Dao pattern diagrams still expressed different Great Daos. However, each Dao pattern diagram now contained some special profundities. These were the fundamental profundities of all things and all beings within every Law. They were rted to all Laws, yet not entirely the same.


    <em>If I hadn''t analyzed the fundamental nature of all things during the second trial, the first zone might have trapped me for some time.</em>


    <em>But I''ve alreadyid a solid foundation. As long as I contemte a bit more andbine these fundamental profundities of all things with the profundities of Spacetime, I''ll naturally clear this zone. It''s extremely easy. </em>Wu Yuan revealed a faint smile.


    <em>Passing through the first zone in just one year has probably caused quite a stir. But this is only the beginning.</em> Wu Yuan didn''t care at all about what others thought. No one could interfere with his progress anyway.


    His current goal was to clear all six zones of the third trial in one go and seize twelve ck Devil Tokens.


    <em>The Great Dao profundities within these Dao pattern diagrams have reached a greater depth. They allow me to understand the profundities of the Great Dao of Spacetime anew from the perspective of the fundamental profundities of all things. </em>Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    Over the past few centuries, his two true selves had been analyzing the fundamental profundities of all things, but the more he deduced, the harder it became to perceive how these Great Dao profundities were connected to the fundamental profundities of all things.


    But back then, he didn''t dare divert too much attention to this question, as his main focus was passing the second trial.


    Now in the third trial, the Dao pattern diagrams left behind by Sovereign ck Devil gave Wu Yuan more guidance and more to ponder.


    <em>Analyzing all things and understanding the basic units of life has greatly aided myprehension of the Law of Life. Without realizing it, my body refiner self has made great progress in the Great Dao of Creation.</em>


    <em>And throughprehending these Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls, I believe my progress in the Great Dao of Spacetime will also elerate.</em> Wu Yuan continued to ponder silently.


    Passing the third trial was one thing. More importantly, this strengthened his understanding of both Great Daos, allowing him to advance much faster than when he had beenprehending them separately before.


    In fact, while deducing and contemting the ten Dao pattern diagrams expressing the Great Dao of Spacetime, Wu Yuan diverted some attention to studying the ten Dao pattern diagrams expressing the Great Dao of Creation. Even so, he advanced at an astonishing speed.


    In the sixth year after starting the third trial, Wu Yuan cleared the second zone.


    In the eighteenth year, Wu Yuan cleared the third zone.


    In the forty-second year, Wu Yuan cleared the fourth zone.


    ��


    As more Archimmortals and Archdeities began the third trial, the number of passages increased to over 130.


    A deathly silence reigned.


    The Archimmortals and Archdeities on various passages would asionally look up, their expressionsplex as they gazed at the white-robed figure far ahead on one of the passages.


    In first ce was Wu Yuan, in the fifth zone.


    Behind him were ten others in the second zone, including Archimmortal Xiang Fei, Astral Lord Gu Shou, and Astral Lord Xue Yao.


    Indeed! In the decades since Wu Yuan had entered the third trial ground, no one else had made it to the third zone.


    The third trial wouldst for a thousand years. This meant that most candidates would likely find it difficult to reach the fifth and sixth zones.


    When most candidates first advanced to the third trial and heard the rules, they all longed to seize six ck Devil Tokens in one go. But as time passed and theirprehension deepened, they came to understand just how unrealistic their goal had been.


    Forget about passing through all six zones �C even getting to the third zone was incredibly difficult.


    "Ming Jian!"


    "He''s left us far behind." When Wu Yuan had passed through the second zone, moving onto the third, these Archimmortals and Archdeities had felt despair and shock.


    And when Wu Yuan continued to clear the fourth zone, reaching the fifth zone, all the Archimmortals and Archdeities were mostly numb by then.


    The gap was too massive, sorge that even these powerhouses could no longer muster even a hint ofpetitive spirit. Anyone could see that at Wu Yuan''s rate of progress, clearing all six zones was likely just a matter of time.


    In fact, even if he ultimately didn��t pass through the sixth zone, so what? Wu Yuan had already effectively imed ten ck Devil Tokens. He was only two more away from twelve ck Devil Tokens. With the power and potential he''d disyed, how could he possibly fail to obtain two more ck Devil Tokens in the remaining trials?


    "We can''t match him."


    "We can only do our best."


    "Now, we can only hope Ming Jian encounters difficulties in the eighth trial." These were the prevailing thoughts among the many Archimmortals and Archdeities.


    ��


    Deep within the ck Devil Blood Hollow, in that mysterious ce, the nine ck-robed figures had fallenpletely silent.


    Even the short ck-robed figure, who had always maintained the highest, most exacting standards, now looked on with great anticipation.


    <em>Reaching the fifth zone in fifty years; what kind of genius is this? </em>Big Devil stood at the front of the group, his eyes gleaming intensely.


    <em>Though he''s crystallized Spacetime True Intent,pleting these Dao pattern diagrams requires more than justprehension of Spacetime. He must also have insights into the fundamental nature of all things in heaven and earth.</em>


    <em>Ah, I see. I understand now. Back in the second trial, he meditated in seclusion for several centuries, likely working on precisely this.</em> Big Devil shook his head, sighing with emotion. <em>Even so, this rate of progress is far too swift.</em>


    To analyze the profundities of all things to such a degree in just a few centuries? The mere thought of it left Big Devil incredulous.


    The potential Wu Yuan had revealed seemed to far surpass even his existing Daoprehension.


    <em>Could it be that he has some secret I''m unaware of?</em> Big Devil pondered silently.


    "Big Devil, how long do you think it will take Ming Jian to pass through the sixth zone?" the shortest of them, Ninth Devil, inquired.


    "How long?" Big Devil hesitated before replying, "The sixth zone is the most challenging, and Ming Jian''s Daoprehension is only at the level of an early-stage Astral Monarch... Three hundred years at the least, five hundred at most.


    You should all understand that while the six zones set by the Sovereign vary in difficulty, even at the current lowest difficulty, it was never expected that anyone could break through rapidly."


    The other ck-robed figures nodded. They trusted Big Devil''s judgment.


    "Three to five hundred years? Even if it takes the full five hundred, that''s still dazzling enough." Ninth Devil''s voice was low and deep. "I was wrong about him... This Ming Jian is indeed the most brilliant genius I��ve ever encountered.


    Even if the Sovereign were reborn and reached the same age, he still wouldn''te close to matching Ming Jian," Ninth Devil said, shaking his head.


    "Haha, even Ninth Devil admits his mistake?"


    "How rare." The other ck-robed figures couldn''t help butugh upon hearing this, well aware of Ninth Devil''s temperament.


    Getting him to concede was extremely difficult. Even the Sovereigns of the Dao Realm in days past couldn''t sway Ninth Devil �C at least, he was always stubborn in his speech.


    <strong>Table forws vs cultivation phases</strong><blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For reference:


    <strong>Lesser Law</strong>


    <strong>Intermediate Law</strong>


    <strong>Greater Law</strong>


    <strong>Great Dao</strong>


    <em>Land</em>


    <em>Celestial Body, Longevity</em>


    <em>Space, Time, Life, Death</em>


    <em>Spacetime, Creation, </em>


    Domain= initiate threshold


    x


    x


    x


    True Intent


    Domain= initiate threshold


    x


    x


    Dao Field


    True Intent


    Domain= initiate threshold


    x


    (Completion) = Archimmortal


    Dao Field (7th level = peak-stage Archimmortal = Astral Lord)


    True Intent


    Domain= initiate threshold


    x


    (Completion) = Astral Monarch


    Dao Field (1st-3rd level = early-stage Astral Monarch, 4th-6th level = mid-stage Astral Monarch, 7-9th level =te-stage Astral Monarch, 9th level = peak-stage Astral Monarch)


    True Intent


    x


    x


    (Completion) = Sovereignn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Dao Field


    x


    x


    x


    (Completion)</blockquote>

 Chapter 778: Breakthrough, Success (2)

    <em>In the fifth zone of the third trial ground.</em>


    <em>Exhrating! Truly exhrating.</em> Guided by these Dao pattern diagrams, Wu Yuan����s insights into the profundities of all things, umted over the past five hundred years, transformed intoprehension of the Great Dao of Spacetime.


    His understanding of the Great Dao of Spacetime swiftly broke through to the third-level True Intent stage, then progressed toward the fourth-level True Intent stage.


    It wasn''t a direct transformation, but rather the insights allowed Wu Yuan to rapidly break through one bottleneck after another in his fusion of Spacetime.


    <em>Spacetime is the beginning of all things in heaven and earth. </em>


    Follow this sensation.


    <em>The first to third levels of Spacetime True Intent correspond to early-stage Astral Monarchprehension. The fourth to sixth levels correspond to mid-stage Astral Monarchprehension. </em>Wu Yuan waspletely immersed in his insights.


    Countless shes of inspiration flooded his mind.


    On the path of cultivation, there were times when one had to bury oneself in arduous cultivation. But when the umtion of insights reached a certain level and breakthroughs became difficult, that was when one needed that sh of inspiration and epiphany, just like when Wu Yuan first crystallized Time True Intent. Before entering the ck Devil Blood Hollow, he had spent centuries contemting six Dao Master battle relic sites, receiving multiple spacetime inheritances and cultivating constantly. He had umted numerous profound insights.


    After entering the ck Devil Blood Hollow, his two true selves had spent over five hundred years analyzing the profundities of all things.


    And these past decades, witnessing the Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls,bined with powerful secret arts like the ��Nine Swords of Spacetime��, he finally had an epiphany, entering an extremely special state.


    At his level, even a brief cultivation session couldst decades or centuries. So, Wu Yuan''s state of epiphany likewise persisted for over a hundred years.


    Seeing a hundred years pass by without him making any progress, many of the Archimmortals and Archdeities behind him secretly breathed sighs of relief, thinking Wu Yuan had encountered an insurmountable bottleneck.


    Time flowed like water and a century passed by.


    Finally, as thest strand of profundity wasprehended, it was as if an enormous puzzle had beenpletely pieced together.


    <em>Boom!</em> An incredibly powerful wave of energy rippled out from Wu Yuan''s body, as the pressure of Spacetime diffused outward.


    <em>Fourth level. </em>Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze bright. With a mentalmand, a lifebound flying sword flew forth.


    <em>Whoosh~</em> The flying sword, devoid of any mana, danced through the void, instantly leaving behind an enduring sh in space.


    This sh not only remained in the Material Spatial Layer, but faintly prated the stable space, entering higher spatial dimensions, and causing spatial fluctuations to turn chaotic.


    Its sharpness was boundless, enough to make any High Immortal or High Deity tremble with fear, and this was without any mana infused. If imbued with powerful mana, it would be enough to strike terror into the hearts of countless peak-stage Astral Lords.


    <em>The fifth step, Chaotic Void. I''ve finally grasped it.</em> Wu Yuan smiled. Comprehending this move truly signified that Wu Yuan had reached a new level in the Great Dao of Spacetime.


    <em>Now, in terms of Daoprehension, I have reached the mid-stage Astral Monarch level.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    In the past, it was said that his Daoprehension rivaled that of Astral Monarchs, but in reality, he was at the bottom tier among Astral Monarchs. Rtively powerful Astral Monarchs could overpower him.


    Now, the situation was entirely different.


    The fourth step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime was an early-stage Astral Monarch-level move.


    The fifth step was a mid-stage Astral Monarch-level move.


    The sixth step would be a peak-stage Astral Monarch-level move.


    If he couldprehend the seventh step, that would be a Sovereign-level technique.


    <em>With deeper Daoprehension,pleting these Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls bes much easier. </em>Wu Yuan felt utterly ted. He then nced at the other passageways.


    Although it had taken a hundred years to process this epiphany, to this day, no one else had made it to the third zone, revealing the vast gulf between Wu Yuan and the others.


    <em>There��s no need to linger any longer. Time toplete them. </em>Wu Yuan stood up and walked towards the iplete Dao pattern diagrams on the distant stone wall.


    What was once iprehensible now became easily understood and quickly mastered. This was the difference a solid foundation could make.


    Just a few monthster, Wu Yuanpleted the tenth iplete Dao pattern diagram in the fifth zone.


    <em>Hum~ </em>An invisible wave instantly spread throughout the third trial ground, sensed by every Archimmortal and Archdeity present.


    <em>Whoosh! </em>Wu Yuan felt the barrier dissipate, and he proceeded to the sixth zone.


    ��


    "The sixth zone already?"


    "Ming Jian." Archimmortal Xiang Fei, Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Xue Yao, Astral Lord Red Devil, and other powerhouses all sensed it.


    It wasn��t just them. Within the grounds of the third trial, those three quasi-Astral Monarch level powerhouses were also present.


    However, quasi-Astral Monarch strength didn''t necessarily mean higher Daoprehension than peak Astral Lords. So, they didn''t stand out much.


    "Ming Jian''s breakthrough seems to have slowed somewhat!"


    "No! The six zones of the third trial grounds grow increasingly difficult as one progresses. The second zone is several times harder than the first zone... By the fifth zone, I can''t even imagine how difficult it is, yet Ming Jian only took a little over a hundred years."


    "The sixth zone... how long will it take him to break through?" The Archimmortals and Archdeities spected.


    ��


    <em>In the mysterious ce within the ck Devil Blood Hollow.</em>


    "Hmm? So quick?" Big Devil stared at the scene projected on the light screen, utterly shocked. "He''spleted the first Dao pattern diagram in less than three years after entering the sixth zone?"


    "What?"


    "That fast?"


    "Didn''t he spend over a hundred years in the fifth zone?" The other ck-robed figures were all astonished.


    "Within each zone, the difficulty of the ten iplete Dao pattern diagrams is simr. If a candidate canplete one, they''ll surelyplete the remaining nine given enough time," Big Devil said softly. "It''s incredible!"


    The difficulty level of the six zones increased progressively. The sixth zone in particr saw a sharp rise in difficultypared to the fifth zone.


    In Big Devil''s estimation, if Wu Yuan could clear the sixth zone within 300 years, that would be impressive enough.


    "Everyone, let��s sit back and wait. Our ck Devil Blood Hollow may soon wee a new master." Big Devil smiled.


    ��


    Another decade passed in the blink of an eye.


    <em>The eighth one.</em> Wu Yuan stood before this iplete Dao pattern diagram. With a thought, his Soul Force stirred and mana poured forth, swiftly beginning toplete it.


    He had long sinceprehended those tenpleted Dao pattern diagrams. Using the Daoprehension of a mid-stage Astral Monarch toplete these Dao patterns was akin to bringing a cannon to a knife fight.


    However, some of the concepts and profundities within these Dao patterns still gave Wu Yuan tremendous inspiration.


    <em>Sovereign ck Devil must have been a true peerless genius to leave behind so many Dao pattern diagrams. Did he crystallize the True Intent of all these Great Daos? Or perhaps heprehended them to an even higher level?</em> Wu Yuan mused inwardly.


    The more he deduced and contemted, the more he realized how formidable Sovereign ck Devil was. The thought of one person simultaneously cultivating so many paths was simply terrifying.


    <em>Even if I gain nothing else from this journey, my progress in Daoprehension alone has been an enormous harvest.</em> Wu Yuan thought to himself.


    <em>The only regret is that I''ve spent too much time in the ck Devil Blood Hollow, dying my next spacetime mission.</em> Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.


    He didn''t mind it too much. The purpose of spacetime missions was to strengthen oneself, so there was no need to lose sight of the forest for the trees.


    Moreover, with 100,000 years of allotted time on the Spacetime Ind, Wu Yuan was confident that he could eventually umte 40,000 spacetime points with his current strength. At most, it would be dyed by a few thousand years.


    <em>A few thousand years earlier orter, what difference does it make? </em>Wu Yuan calmed his mind.


    He continuedpleting the eighth iplete Dao pattern diagram.


    ��


    By now, nearly two hundred Archimmortals and Archdeities had advanced to the third trial. But ny percent of them remained in the first zone, and fewer than twenty had reached the second zone.


    "Archimmortal Xiang Fei."


    "Archimmortal Xiang Fei, a powerhouse from the Devil Realm who was previously only a sixth-stage Archimmortal, has reached the third zone so quickly..."


    "Impressive!"


    "She surpassed numerous quasi-Astral Monarchs andte-stage Astral Lords, how extraordinary."


    "Ming Jian is a monstrous prodigy, likely the number one genius even in the history of our Dao Realm. His brilliance is only to be expected."


    "Xiang Fei is the only one who cane close to Ming Jian." The Archimmortals and Archdeities discussed among themselves.


    Even those powerhouses from the Dao Realm couldn''t help but admire Archimmortal Xiang Fei. She had no background or assistance, and her strength wasn''t considered exceptional, yet she had steadily climbed to the forefront, second only to Ming Jian. This proved her extraordinary potential.


    <em>The third zone.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei proceeded to the third zone, unhurried and steady, continuing toprehend the Dao pattern diagrams at her own pace.


    Wu Yuan stood before thest iplete Dao pattern diagram, now wless. <em>Finally, it��spleted.</em>


    <em>All ten Dao pattern diagrams in the sixth zone arepleted. I should have passed this third trial with flying colors.</em> Wu Yuan smiled. <em>Obtaining twelve ck Devil Tokens means I can advance to the eighth trial directly.</em>


    <em>Whoosh! </em>At that instant, a beam of light soared skyward, followed by an immense wave that enveloped the grounds of the third trial.


    This disturbance was so shocking that all Archimmortals and Archdeities instantly opened their eyes, instinctively looking toward its source.


    "It''s Ming Jian!"


    "What''s happening?"


    "Could it be..." At this moment,yers of dazzlingly radiant light enveloped Wu Yuan. All the Archimmortals and Archdeities stared at this scene in utter shock.


    They all understood what was happening, yet could scarcely believe it. Wu Yuan had only entered the sixth zone a mere decade ago.


    "This shouldn''t be possible. Even if Ming Jian progresses unimaginably quickly, there should be a limit, right?"


    "He spent over a hundred years in the fifth zone. How could heplete the even more difficult sixth zone in just over ten years?" Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Red Devil, and the others felt as though they were dreaming.


    <em>The sixth zone? </em>Archimmortal Xiang Fei gazed from afar, faintly sighing.


    It wasn''t that she hadn''t worked hard enough; she had simply encountered an opponent that was far too monstrous.


    <em>I should focus on myself.</em> Archimmortal Xiang Fei instead lowered her head and continued herprehension.


    ��


    "This!"


    "There''s no hope left." Most of the Archimmortals and Archdeities naturallycked Archimmortal Xiang Fei''s mindset, sighing in despair one after another.


    They all knew that Wu Yuan had previously obtained six ck Devil Tokens, and now he would gain another six. That meant he would have twelve ck Devil Tokens in total, allowing him to advance to the eighth trial. Given the talent he had disyed, the possibility of him obtaining the inheritance was extremely high.


    <em>Hum~</em> Silently, the ck-robed Big Devil appeared in the void. His gaze fell onto Wu Yuan, no longer cold but instead revealing a hint of a smile. "Ming Jian, well done."


    Utter silence.


    Apart from Archimmortal Xiang Fei, all the other powerhouses looked up at Big Devil.


    "By sessfullypleting the third trial with an outstanding performance, you have earned the right to receive six additional ck Devil Tokens," Big Devil said slowly.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Six ck Devil Tokens appeared in the air before Wu Yuan.


    "With this, you have obtained a total of twelve ck Devil Tokens," Big Devil smiled. "You are now qualified to advance to the eighth trial."


    As expected! All the Archimmortals and Archdeities felt their hearts sink.


    "The eighth trial is the final trial, created by the Sovereign. I do not know the specific nature of the trial or what it holds," Big Devil said slowly.


    "There is only one thing I must tell you: If you seed, then you will be the new master of the ck Devil Blood Hollow. You will also be my master." Big Devil stared at Wu Yuan. "However, the contents of the final inheritance ground must not be leaked.


    If you fail, then you will certainly perish. Not just your current body, but even if you have other incarnations or even another true self, they will all suffer karmic bacsh and perish.��


    Silence fell.


    All the Archimmortals and Archdeities were startled. So the eighth trial was truly do or die �C one could either seed and be the new master of the ck Devil Blood Hollow, with a bright future ahead, or fail and perish right away!


    It wasn��t just the death of one��s mana body or ether body, but even one��s true self in the external world would perish.


    "Ming Jian, you must now choose whether you are willing to proceed to the eighth trial," Big Devil stared at Wu Yuan. "If you are unwilling, I will send you away."


    <em>Failure means death?</em> Wu Yuan frowned slightly.


    His true self was participating in this trial. Moreover, it would affect his body refiner self as well?<blockquote>


    Whysee''s Thoughts


    For reference:


    <strong>Type of Lifeform</strong>


    <strong>Phases</strong>


    <strong>Title/other names</strong>


    <strong>Stages</strong>


    <strong>Lifespan (years)</strong>


    Mortal


    Tribtion


    High Immortal (pseudo-immortal)


    1-3 Tribtions: ordinary, 4-6 Tribtions: peak-stage


    1,000,000


    Sempiternal


    Archimmortal (early-stage sempiternal lifeform)


    Heavenly Immortal plete 7-8 tribtions)


    7th Tribtion: 1st-3rd stage, 8th Tribtion: 4th-6th stage


    100,000,000+


    Astral Lord plete 9 Tribtions)


    7th-9th stage


    Billions of yearsn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Astral Monarch (mid-stage sempiternal lifeform)


    Stages are based on overall strength - factors include mana/immortal root degree, Daoprehension, techniques.


    Immortal root: 2nd degree = base-level Astral Monarch mana, first-degree = first-level Astral Monarch mana, Apotheosis = Apotheosis-level Astral Monarch mana


    As long as heaven and earth (till end of current samsara cycle)


    Dao Field of Greater Law: 1st-3rd level = early-stage Astral Monarch, 4th-6th level = mid-stage Astral Monarch, 7-9th level =te-stage Astral Monarch, 9th level = peak-stage Astral Monarch


    Techniques (power varies by 1. degree of mastery - small, great,plete/full, 2. strength of technique itself): early-stage Astral Monarch, mid-stage Astral Monarch, peak-stage Astral Monarch, Sovereign-level</blockquote>

 Chapter 779: The Ancestral Pagoda Wants You Dead (1)

    <h4>Chapter 779: The Ancestral Pagoda Wants You Dead (1)</h4>


    "A candidate has qualified for the eighth trial. Therefore, I have made the rules public," dered Big Devil, standing in mid-air as his gaze swept over the Archimmortals and Archdeities. "The rest of you may also ponder this.


    Ming Jian, you may take your time to think it through carefully. Answer me when you''re ready," Big Devil said nonchntly.


    He then closed his eyes. Unlike before, he did not vanish.


    Within the grounds of the third trial, hundreds of Archimmortals and Archdeities began to contemte his words, especially those like Archimmortal Xiang Fei, Astral Lord Gu Shou, and Archimmortal Xue Yao who had already obtained six ck Devil Tokens.


    If they were given the chance, should they take it?


    The Sovereign would only have one sessor. Once the sessor was chosen, all others who entered the grounds of the eighth trial would perish.


    None of these Archimmortals and Archdeities from the Devil Realm doubted Big Devil''s words. In their eyes, Big Devil represented the Devil Lord.


    The Devil Lord was the mightiest being in the eyes of these Devil Realm powerhouses, the one who had created the entire Devil Realm.


    The Archimmortals and Archdeities from the Dao Realm treated this with equal gravity, for Sovereign ck Devil had once been universally acknowledged as the foremost Sovereign of the Dao Realm.


    <i>If I can ultimately obtain twelve ck Devil Tokens, I will go! </i>Astral Lord Xue Yao''s eyes flickered. <i>Such a great opportunity��if I don''t seize it, I''ll never have another chance. My spirit will eventually rot away. If I can''t obtain it, I''ll die sooner orter anyway.</i>


    Though she had survived for billions of years through caution, she would still seize any opportunity presented with all her strength.


    <i>I mustpete for this opportunity. </i>Archimmortal Xiang Fei decided without hesitation. She had long thought it through thoroughly and would not waver in the slightest.


    <i>Should I really risk the life of my true self?</i> Astral Lord Gu Shou, on the other hand, felt a flicker of doubt.


    As an Astral Lord of Space, he was quite contented with his life even if he failed to obtain Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance. Moreover, he believed he had already glimpsed the path to bing an Astral Monarch.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>If I cultivate normally, I can still be an Astral Monarch. Even if I sessfully obtain this inheritance after staking my life, there��s no guarantee that I can be a Sovereign. </i>Astral Lord Gu Shou hesitated.


    <i>Although Sovereign ck Devil was powerful, he was still just a Sovereign. And he��s already dead, so how could the treasures he left behind help me be a Sovereign?</i>


    As an Astral Lord of Space, Astral Lord Gu Shou had considerable knowledge and some understanding of Astral Monarchs and even Sovereigns.


    At this moment, faced with Big Devil''s question, the hundreds of Archimmortals and Archdeities present each had their own thoughts.


    Even if they perished during the first trial, most would only lose their mana bodies or ether bodies in reality. But now, they faced the danger of true death, so naturally they were extremely cautious.


    Each individual only had one life.


    ...


    "How will Ming Jian choose?"


    "It''s hard to say."


    "His situation is different from ours."


    "Most of us Archimmortals and Archdeities have cultivated for eons, yet still haven''t be Astral Monarchs. To be honest, in terms of talent, we''re quite average among the countless immortals and deities."


    "Indeed. If we had sufficient talent and opportunities, we''d have be Astral Monarchs long ago." The many Archimmortals and Archdeities conversed among themselves.


    "Ming Jian is different. His talent is unbelievable. Even without Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance, if he cultivates step by step, he''ll at least reach thete-stage Astral Monarch level, and most likely be a Sovereign."


    "He has no need to take such risks." Many immortals and deities discussed, making their own judgments.


    In fact, many Archimmortals and Archdeities instinctively hoped Wu Yuan would give up. After all, Wu Yuan had toorge of an advantage. If he didn''t give up, their own chances would be far too slim.


    ...


    <i>Even my other true self faces a risk of perishing.</i> Wu Yuan was indeed hesitating.


    If only his qi refiner self faced the risk of death, then after brief consideration, Wu Yuan would choose to take the gamble. After all, based on the intelligence gathered earlier, Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance was deeply connected to the ck pagoda. If he wasn''t willing to take any risks at all, Wu Yuan wouldn''t have put his true self into such a risky situation in the first ce.


    But since it involved his body refiner self, Wu Yuan naturally had to think twice.


    <i>My body refiner self has already obtained a Great Dao imprint. I am already the sessor of True Saint Bu Xiu. With systematic cultivation, as the Creation Emissary said, it shouldn''t be difficult for me to reach thete-stage Sovereign level in the future, with the possibility of bing an Overlord.</i> Wu Yuan mused.


    <i>Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance... No matter how powerful it is, could it really surpass a supreme being��s?</i>


    The Creation Emissary had made it clear that even for a supreme being, a Great Dao imprint was extremely precious and would not be casually bestowed.


    <i>My qi refiner self is affected by the Great Dao and will find it difficult to fullyprehend a Greater Law. But even if I don''t obtain the Spacetime Dao Master''s inheritance in the future, reaching thete-stage Astral Monarch level shouldn''t be difficult. </i>


    <i>At the very least, I should have a glimmer of hope to be a Sovereign. </i>Wu Yuan pondered. <i>Is it worth risking everything just for a Sovereign''s inheritance?</i>


    Other Archimmortals and Archdeities had no choice, so they wouldn''t struggle with this dilemma for too long. But for Wu Yuan, his future path was already bright enough.


    A treasured son should not be ced where beams might fall. [1]


    One could say that if this were an ordinary Sovereign''s inheritance, faced with such great risk, there was over a fifty percent chance Wu Yuan would choose to give up. It simply wasn''t necessary.


    But Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance was rted to the Ancestral Pagoda, which naturally made Wu Yuan hesitate.


    <i>Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. Don''t toil only for others'' benefit... What exactly did Sovereign ck Devil leave behind? </i>Wu Yuan''s eyes flickered.


    The Ancestral Pagoda was undoubtedly tied to supreme beings, but the depth of those connections remained uncertain.


    ...


    <i>In the pill-refining ground within the Cang Feng Eldritch World of the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    "Master, that is the situation," Wu Yuan said respectfully. He had just finished recounting everything in detail, only omitting the information rted to the ck pagoda.


    Unable to decide for himself, Wu Yuan naturally thought of Master Kua Chi. His master was a Sovereign of the Eldritch Court. He was extremely knowledgeable and might be able to offer advice.


    "There''s a risk of perishing, and it would even affect your other true self? That one called Big Devil said that?" Sovereign Kua Chi frowned slightly.


    Wu Yuan nodded. "He did indeed say so."


    "That''s not right! It shouldn''t be." Sovereign Kua Chi said solemnly. "If what Big Devil imed is true, Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance is likely extremely special."


    "Special?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.


    "Disciple, you are not yet a Sovereign, so you don''t understand." Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan. "An ordinary Sovereign''s inheritance, such as mine, essentially consists of divine crystals, divine crystal elixir, personal cultivation insights, powerful teachings, high-grade Dao Instruments, mid-grade Dao Instruments, and the like.


    No matter what, unless the Sovereign deliberately left a deadly trap, it shouldn''t cost the sessor''s life." Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, the so-called selection of a sessor rarely directly caused one��s death unless deliberately designed to do so.


    "Even if they intended to take their sessor''s life, it''s difficult for them to harm their true self through a mana body or ether body." Sovereign Kua Chi continued. "Let alone destroy the sessor''s other true self through a single mana body or ether body."


    "It is indeed inconceivable," Wu Yuan shook his head.


    He was very clear about this point. For example, through Wu Yuan''s mana body, it wouldn''t be too difficult for some powerful beings to try to kill Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self. But to harm Wu Yuan''s body refiner self? The difficulty would increase a hundredfold or thousandfold.


    The karmic connection between his two true selves was already very weak, and Wu Yuan was now strong enough to put up a formidable resistance.


    ��With your strength, even a Sovereign skilled in karmic attacks would find it difficult to kill your body refiner self directly through your qi refiner self." Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan. "Moreover, now that you''ve exined the situation, I will protect you.


    If you take refuge in an eldritch world stronghold, with thebined protection of the stronghold and your own strength, even an Overlord who has mastered the Great Dao of Destiny couldn''t kill you across spacetime, even if they used their full power," Sovereign Kua Chi said solemnly. "Your master is confident of this."


    As a Sovereign of the eldritch world, he possessed such certainty.


    "Master, what do you mean?" Wu Yuan hesitated slightly.


    "Sovereign ck Devil is dead, so I believe there are two possibilities." Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "First, that Sovereign ck Devil left behind some terribly vicious method before dying, ensuring that all who didn''t pass his final requirement would die in order to conceal information. But he has already perished, so setting up such a vicious method would be very difficult. Even if it exists, it couldn''t be used many times. It shouldn''t be necessary, so this possibility is very small.��


    Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.


    "Second, his inheritance involves a supreme artifact." Sovereign Kua Chi said. "And it''s an extremely high-level and important supreme artifact."


    "A supreme artifact?" Wu Yuan''s pupils constricted slightly as he instantly thought of the ck pagoda.


    "Yes. The True Saints, such as Bu Xiu, and the Dao Master we speak of are all supreme beings." Sovereign Kua Chi said slowly. "They have transcended the samsara cycles of heaven and earth and are truly eternal and undying.


    Supreme artifacts naturally hold extraordinary power. Some terrifying supreme artifacts could severely wound or evenpletely destroy a Sovereign whoes into contact with them if their strength is insufficient.


    "Some of the most horrifying supreme artifacts, once activated, have destructive power so terrible it may be as if a supreme being personallyunched an attack." A sh of barely perceptible fear passed through Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes, as though recalling some scene he had once encountered.


    However, Wu Yuan did not notice this.


    "If so, that Big Devil indeed has a basis for his words." Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan and said, "I guess the second possibility is more likely with regards to Sovereign ck Devil''s inheritance."


    <i>An extremely high-level supreme artifact?</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself, feeling his master''s words made sense.


    He couldn''t help but feel fortunate that he had a Sovereign master he could consult at any time to help assess his situation. Otherwise, with his own knowledge and perspective, how could he have figured it out?


    "Master, what do you think I should choose?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help asking.


    "From my perspective, I hope you give it up. You already have a high chance of bing a Sovereign, especially your body refiner self, and your potential is limitless," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly.


    "And Sovereign ck Devil��s inheritance is far too dangerous, even more perilous than many supreme legacies. I even suspect that Sovereign ck Devil''s downfall may be rted to this inheritance he left behind.


    If you get entangled in it, one misstep could lead to your demise."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Indeed, if it truly involved the ck pagoda, perhaps that was the reason for Sovereign ck Devil''s death.


    "However, your strength is already formidable. If I''m not mistaken, you should have reached the fourth-level True Intent stage of the Creation Great Dao, correct?" Sovereign Kua Chi asked with a faint smile.


    "Master is perceptive," Wu Yuan''s eyes shed with surprise.


    Exactly,pared to his qi refiner self''s progress in the Great Dao of Spacetime, his body refiner self''s analysis of the profundities of all things and beings had advanced just as swiftly, in fact, he was nearly reaching the fifth-level True Intent stage of Creation.


    His body refiner self, endowed with a Life Dao Body, exhibited an astonishingly rapid efficiency inprehending Laws.


    "Your Daoprehension level might approach mine in tens of thousands of years," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "With your talent, I suspect you harbor some desire to glimpse the supreme level."


    Wu Yuan couldn''t help but smile.


    Indeed! Bing an Astral Monarch? For Wu Yuan, it was merely a matter of time, and his chances of bing a Sovereign were also extremely high.


    But what about beyond that? Any Sovereign would yearn for the supreme level. After all, only supreme beings had truly transcended, no longer bound by the samsara cycle of heaven and earth.


    "At first, I only hoped for you to be a Sovereign," Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan. "But if you aspire to the supreme level, then ck Devil��s inheritance might greatly increase your chances.


    I''ve said all that needs to be said. The final choice is yours," Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    1. ǧ��֮�ӣ���������!The meaning of this proverb emphasizes the importance of protecting valuable assets, particrly children from influential families. It can be extended metaphorically to mean that anything of great value should be safeguarded and not needlessly exposed to risk. ?

 Chapter 780: The Ancestral Pagoda Wants You Dead (2)

    <h4>Chapter 780: The Ancestral Pagoda Wants You Dead (2)</h4>


    Sovereign Kua Chi''s words sent a jolt of electricity through Wu Yuan''s heart.


    With his current resources, following the normal path of cultivation, bing an Astral Monarch or even a Sovereign wouldn''t be difficult. But what about beyond that?


    <i>Throughout endless ages, how many monstrous prodigies, how many so-called ''Supreme Geniuses'' have there been in the river of space and time? All external training methods only lead to the Sovereign phase at most.</i>


    <i>Among the numerous macrocosms, how many Sovereigns are there? Yet few among them are able to transcend.</i>


    <i>I may be talented enough to catch the eye of True Saint Bu Xiu, but the True Saint''s two previous disciples, whose talents surpassed most Supreme Geniuses, also failed to transcend.</i>


    <i>The Spacetime Dao Master hasn��t disyed any interest in me yet, indicating I haven''t caught his attention. To supreme beings, my talent probably doesn''t amount to much.</i>


    <i>If I want to transcend, then I can''t be content with my current achievements. I must seize as many opportunities as possible. Sovereign ck Devil may notpare to supreme beings, but he''s connected to the Ancestral Pagoda. The Ancestral Pagoda, based on current evidence, should be an extremely special and powerful supreme object.</i>


    <i>This is an opportunity! ording to Sovereign ck Devil''s remnant consciousness, this inheritance of his is likely one left for Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers.</i>


    <i>I should be the only Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer among the numerous candidates. In terms of talent and strength, I dare say I''m the strongest among all the candidates. </i>Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    He had already made up his mind.


    ...


    "Master," Wu Yuan opened his eyes.


    "Have you made your decision?" Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.


    "Yes," Wu Yuan nodded firmly. "This disciple is determined topete for it!"


    "Good," Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. He didn''t ask for his reasons; Wu Yuan must have already thought it through.


    As his master, all he could do was to support Wu Yuan to the best of his ability.


    "Take these," Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand, and nine streams of light flew out, revealing nine purple lotus tforms. Their aura was ethereal, with even the tforms themselves appearing slightly illusory.


    "What are these?" Wu Yuan was startled, sensing that these nine purple lotus tforms were extraordinary objects.


    "These are called the Nine Star Lotus tforms, a mid-grade Dao Instrument set," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "They are artifacts that protect the Yuan Soul. I��m giving them to you."


    "A mid-grade Dao Instrument set?" Wu Yuan was astonished, looking at his master in surprise.


    Mid-grade Dao Instruments were far more precious than high-grade celestial artifacts, especially treasures that guarded the Yuan Soul. Their value was so high that countless peak Astral Monarchs would covet them. To be given such treasures?


    "I''ve never bestowed such a valuable treasure to any of the one thousand-plus disciples I''ve taken, even your Third Senior Brother and Ninth Senior Brother. They all had to strive to earn it for themselves," Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "But this time, the situation is indeed different. Your talent truly far surpasses that of your senior brothers. I can��t give you higher quality Yuan Soul defense treasures lightly, and you might not be able to use them anyway," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "So, these will have to do."


    Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.


    For him, there was little difference between mid-grade and high-grade Dao Instruments at present, as he could only unleash a tiny fraction of their power.


    "Take them and quickly decipher them. Each of the nine tforms can guard one Yuan Soul, providing maximum protection against karmic and soul attacks," Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan put away the Nine Star Lotus tforms and quickly imprinted his vital aura on them, iming ownership. Then, his nine Yuan Souls began to decipher the usage of this mid-grade Dao Instrument.


    Soon, Wu Yuan could sense its incredible power. The nine tforms, seemingly separate, were actually interconnected,yering their defenses to provide maximum protection for the Yuan Souls.


    "Come, follow me to the Cang Feng Temple," Sovereign Kua Chi said, waving his hand.


    Instantly, the world around them shifted, and Wu Yuan felt spacetime rippling before suddenly appearing inside a majestic temple.


    The temple was vast and empty, with rows of divine pirs standing on both sides.


    At the far end of the temple, a ck-robed muscr man sat in lotus position, his aura tyrannical and fierce. As it spread out, even Wu Yuan felt slightly suffocated.


    <i>A Sovereign?</i> Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.


    It wasn''t that the ck-robed man before him was more powerful than Sovereign Kua Chi, but rather that Sovereign Kua Chi''s aura was more restrained.


    "Disciple, quickly pay your respects to Sovereign Cang Feng," Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Greetings, Sovereign Cang Feng," Wu Yuan hastily bowed, now understanding who the figure before him was.


    It was none other than the leader of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, Sovereign Cang Feng. He was one of the titans of the Greenridge Macrocosm.


    "Kua Chi, this must be that little disciple of yours," Sovereign Cang Feng smiled, taking a step forward to arrive before Wu Yuan.


    His gaze was sharp as he looked down at Wu Yuan. The pressure he exerted was overwhelming!


    Although Wu Yuan felt immense pressure, his powerful Yuan Soul and will allowed him to endure it.


    "Not bad. With such strong willpower, it��s no wonder your master calls you a top-tier genius of the Eldritch Court," Sovereign Cang Feng praised, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes.


    In his eyes, Wu Yuan, who had only cultivated for two thousand years, was but a child. Yet this child''s willpower was stronger than he had imagined.


    "Kua Chi, how can I help you?" Sovereign Cang Feng looked at Sovereign Kua Chi.


    "I need to borrow your temple and activate the grand array to protect Wu Yuan for a period of time." Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    "Protect him?" Sovereign Cang Feng was first surprised, then a sh of anger appeared in his eyes: "Who dares to attack him through karma? The Voltari Temple? Or which old codger?"


    Sovereign Cang Feng had already guessed the general reason for their visit from Sovereign Kua Chi''s opening words.


    "No need to question further. It��s just a possibility, and even if an attack does arrive, it would originate from outside our Greenridge Macrocosm," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "In terms of defense, your temple is the best in our eldritch world, so I will have to trouble you."


    "Alright, it''s no problem. My true self stays in this temple all the time anyway," Sovereign Cang Feng nodded.


    Everyone had secrets. Since Sovereign Kua Chi didn''t borate, he didn''t pry further.


    "Wu Yuan, sit on that jade tform over there and focus on safeguarding yourself," Sovereign Cang Feng instructed, pointing to a distant tform. "You have nothing to fear here. Even if an Overlord were to attack, with my protection, it would be nearly impossible for them to harm you."


    "Thank you, Sovereign," Wu Yuan said.


    "Go on," Sovereign Kua Chi said.


    Wu Yuan nodded and flew over.


    Uponnding on the jade tform, he immediately felt a vast and powerful force enveloping him, even including his upper dantian lobe.


    <i>Such a powerful protective force. </i>Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.


    "Disciple," the voice of Sovereign Kua Chi echoed in Wu Yuan''s mind. "The connection between your two true selves is weak, which will greatly reduce the attack power. The Cang Feng temple can further weaken it.


    With the protection of the Nine Star Lotus tforms, a Dao Instrument... I believe that even if you encounter an attack, your body refiner self should be unharmed."


    "Thank you, Master. I am eternally grateful," Wu Yuan transmitted back. He was indeed grateful. Master Kua Chi had already done more than enough.


    "You are my disciple. It is only natural that I do my utmost," Sovereign Kua Chi transmitted with a smile. "Go now, and focus entirely on the task at hand. If you''re going to fight, then fight with everything you''ve got."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly and closed his eyes.


    ...


    <i>Within the grounds of the third trial in the ck Devil Blood Hollow.</i>


    "It''s been so long. Has Ming Jian still not made his decision?"


    "If you were in his position, you��d be stuck in a dilemma too."


    "Is he going to give it up?" The Archimmortals and Archdeities conversed among themselves. Wu Yuan had been silent for a very long time.


    "Senior Big Devil," Wu Yuan suddenly spoke up.


    Immediately, everyone��s attention snapped to him.


    "What is it? Have you made your choice?" Big Devil opened his eyes, looking at Wu Yuan eagerly.


    "I will attempt the challenge," Wu Yuan uttered.


    "Good. You''ve got guts," Big Devil''s lips curved into a faint smile. "The Sovereign likes those with courage.


    Go then.�� Big Devil waved his hand, and Wu Yuan vanished from his spot in an instant.


    ...


    The news that Wu Yuan had chosen to attempt the eighth trial spread quickly through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm to the upper echelons of many factions in the Dao Realm.


    "Ming Jian has chosen to attempt it?"


    "He''s such a monstrous prodigy with a bright future ahead. Yet he dares risk it all?"


    "He��s truly courageous!"


    "Without such unwavering bravery, he probably wouldn''t have made it this far. Which monstrous prodigy fears death?"


    "The path of the strong is fraught with peril." In that special ne within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, many Sovereigns of the Dao Realm exchanged their thoughts, marveling and sighing at Wu Yuan''s choice.


    "Let''s see if he can seed."


    "Could this be a ruse? Could Big Devil be lying?" one Sovereign suddenly asked.


    "I doubt it! Given ck Devil''s personality, he wouldn''t stoop to deceiving us," another Sovereign quickly rebutted.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Let''s wait for news."


    "We should have results in a few hundred or thousand years at most."


    For these Sovereigns, a single session of secluded cultivation couldst tens of thousands of years.


    Among them was a towering figure in purple robes, his eyes shing with a cold light. <i>Ming Jian? So desperate to obtain ck Devil''s inheritance?</i>


    <i>Hmph! If you don''t obtain the inheritance, so be it. But if you do... I''ll make sure you swear an oath.</i>


    He was Sovereign Mo Lang. In the past, he had the deepest grudge against Sovereign ck Devil. In that climactic battle, his stronghold was breached by Sovereign ck Devil, and his true self nearly lost his life at Sovereign ck Devil''s hands.


    "Jiu Xue," he transmitted a secret order.


    Astral Monarch Jiu Xue was the Astral Monarch under hismand in charge of intelligence.


    "Without alerting the other eight major factions of the Dao Realm, mobilize as manyte-stage Astral Lords, Astral Lords of Space, and quasi-Astral Monarchs as possible. Instruct them to enter the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm covertly.


    Once you detect any trace of Ming Jian, capture him immediately.


    Remember, don''t leak any information, especially to the Hundred Mysteries Pce and the Hanging Moon Pce."


    ...


    Sovereign Mo Lang''s orders were unknown even to the other Sovereigns of the Dao Realm, let alone Wu Yuan. He waspletely unaware that a vast was closing in around him.


    At this moment, Wu Yuan had entered a mysterious realm within the ck Devil Blood Hollow.


    <i>This ce?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across his surroundings. An endless, gloomy void shrouded in boundless ck mist stretched as far as the eye could see.


    <i>What is the eighth trial? </i>Wu Yuan remained extremely vignt.


    <i>Hum~ </i>Countless points of light appeared out of thin air, converging to form a figure in ck robes. His aura was ethereal and vast, and his eyes shone like brilliant stars.


    "Sovereign ck Devil?" Wu Yuan was startled.


    "You''ve still reached this stage after all. Though I must say, you��re faster than I had imagined," Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan, his voice calm. "Don''t worry, this is merely a remnant of my consciousness left before my death.


    The so-called final trial is actually quite simple. It is to fuse with a sliver of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence," Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Seed, and you''ll inherit everything I possess."


    "Fail, and you die. It''s not me that wants you dead, it��s the Ancestral Pagoda."

 Chapter 781: The Truth, Chesspiece (1)

    The essence of the Ancestral Pagoda? The Ancestral Pagoda wants you dead?


    Sovereign ck Devil��s words carried an overwhelming weight of information, hitting Wu Yuan like a thunderous roar that nearly seemed to shatter his brain. In that instant, countless thoughts flooded his mind.


    <em>Master Kua Chi''s judgment was truly urate. </em>Wu Yuan''s mind was in turmoil. <em>Indeed, Big Devil made such a bold im not because of the deceased Sovereign ck Devil, but because it involved the Ancestral Pagoda. </em>


    <em>Only... the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence? What exactly is the Ancestral Pagoda? </em>Wu Yuan was both shocked and curious.


    The Ancestral Pagoda was incredibly mysterious. Until now, Wu Yuan had not figured out all its secrets, but from Sovereign ck Devil��s words, he finally understood a tiny bit.


    Moreover, Wu Yuan thought of even more questions. What exactly did Sovereign ck Devil do to incite the Dao Master into action back then? Was it because of the Ancestral Pagoda?


    Also, in Sovereign ck Devil''s words, toiling for another��s benefit? There were too many puzzles.


    "Ming Jian, I��m sure you are confused. Don''t worry, before you make contact with the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence, I will naturally exin everything to you clearly." Although Sovereign ck Devil was only left with a remnant of consciousness, the aura he emitted was still vast, as if he was still alive.


    "First of all, you are an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer, which means you are destined to walk this path of no return," Sovereign ck Devil said slowly."Senior ck Devil, what exactly is an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? And what is the Ancestral Pagoda?" Wu Yuan asked.


    Path of no return?


    "The Ancestral Pagoda is a pagoda, yet not a pagoda," Sovereign ck Devil said indifferently. "I was ultimately unable to walk this path to the end, and have already died, so I only know part of the information.


    Just listen quietly."


    Wu Yuan nodded gently.


    "Within this vast heaven and earth, what we call the river of space and time is merely one universe. Many universes converge to form a megaverse," Sovereign ck Devil began.


    "Numerous universes, undergoing samsara cycles over time, do not affect the megaverse.


    Breaking free from the constraints of the universe, transcending the samsara cycle of heaven and earth, that is how one bes a supreme existence." A glimmer of longing shed in Sovereign ck Devil''s eyes.


    Universe? Megaverse? Wu Yuan was increasingly bewildered. So this vast river of space and time was just one universe? Many universes formed a megaverse?


    In an instant, Wu Yuan thought of the soon-to-open Megaverse Crossroads he had heard of in the past.


    <em>Could it be that the Megaverse Crossroads is where powerhouses and geniuses from various universes gather? </em>Wu Yuan spected.


    However, he still knew very little about the Megaverse Crossroads.


    "The Great Daos are eternal Daos," Sovereign ck Devil gazed down at Wu Yuan and continued, "From what I know, before the many samsara cycles of heaven and earth, three supreme divine objects descended upon the vast megaverse. We call them artifacts, but their forms suggest they weren''t naturally created, but rather forged.


    In truth, these three supreme divine objects are not objects at all. They are more akin to the essence and rules themselves.


    They cannot be touched by living beings. Even supreme existences cannote into contact with them. They are the mightiest objects in the megaverse, standing above even the eternal Great Daos."


    Three supreme divine objects? Even supreme existences couldn''t touch them?


    Wu Yuan listened in astonishment, yet in his mind, he already had some vague guesses about these three supreme divine objects.


    "The various supreme existences call the three supreme divine objects the Original Sword, Heavenly Cauldron, and Ancestral Pagoda," Sovereign ck Devil spoke slowly.


    "I don''t know the story behind their names or their origins. Perhaps the Spacetime Dao Master knows. But the Original Sword and Heavenly Cauldron have already influenced the workings of heaven and earth, affecting countless cultivators across the various rivers of space and time.


    Take the sword cultivation path, for instance. There are myriad weapons in the world, especially for cultivators. Weapons are merely external forms; logically, what matters most is the application of the Dao."


    But why is it that even among Sovereign powerhouses, sword cultivators are the most numerous? It''s because the Original Sword has influenced the Great Daos, affecting the workings of heaven and earth, and making sword-shaped weapons more formidable.


    The very existence of the three supreme divine objects constitutes part of the workings of heaven and earth, even transcending the Primordial Rules." Sovereign ck Devil spoke gravely.


    Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.


    These were all secrets beyond his knowledge. At least, in all the intelligence Wu Yuan had ess to, there had never been any mention of the three supreme divine objects.


    "After their initial appearance, the Original Sword and Heavenly Cauldron became elusive. But they undoubtedly exist, as the workings of heaven and earth have been influenced by them. Thus, countless cultivators are aware of these two divine objects to some degree, even if they''ve never encountered them directly." Sovereign ck Devil continued slowly.


    "The Ancestral Pagoda, however, hasn''t directly influenced the workings of heaven and earth. So ordinary cultivators arepletely unaware of its existence. Even many Sovereigns throughout the samsara cycles of heaven and earth don''t know about it.


    Yet it has truly affected many cultivators, the most special of whom are the Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers.


    The Ancestral Pagoda is profoundly mysterious. I don''t know where it physically resides, after all, I''m merely a Sovereign.


    But Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers are essentially those chosen by the Ancestral Pagoda. Why they were chosen, and what the criteria are��I don''t know either. The Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers throughout history havee from different rivers of space and time. There''s far more than one imprint bearer, and it''s even possible for multiple to exist in the same era." Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan.


    "I am one such Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. And so are you."


    Wu Yuan listened in astonishment. As the exnation unfolded, some of the confusion in his mind began to dissipate.


    <em>Among the three supreme divine objects, the Original Sword and Heavenly Cauldron have no imprint bearers, yet they invisibly influence the workings of heaven and earth?</em> Wu Yuan pondered silently.


    <em>The Ancestral Pagoda barely influences the workings of heaven and earth, but it chooses imprint bearers? And these imprint bearers are greatly influenced by the Ancestral Pagoda?</em>


    The three supreme divine objects seemed to have chosen two different approaches.


    While Wu Yuan''s progress wasrgely the result of his own efforts, the Ancestral Pagoda had yed a significant role in shaping his cultivation journey.


    "What happens to Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers?" Wu Yuan asked. "What is the Ancestral Pagoda''s purpose?"


    He was indeed curious, and wary��the Ancestral Pagoda likely had its own agenda for doing this.


    "The Ancestral Pagoda''s power is limitless. If I''m not mistaken, it exists at the pinnacle of an infinitely high dimension of spacetime, illuminating the past, present, and future, existing across many rivers of space and time. We cannot perceive it, yet it can perceive us no matter where we are." Sovereign ck Devil sighed softly.


    "Every imprint bearer receives gifts from the Ancestral Pagoda. The stronger one''s power and potential, the greater the help received from the Ancestral Pagoda."


    Wu Yuan nodded slightly. It was indeed so.


    "I was aided by the Ancestral Pagoda during my rise to power back then," said Sovereign ck Devil. "Even after bing a Sovereign, under the Ancestral Pagoda''s subtle guidance, I received the legacy of a supreme being called True Saint Shi Yuan, obtaining a series of treasures like the Genesis World, Genesis Stars, Genesis Divine Pirs, and so on. [1]


    There was also a powerful teaching called ''Genesis Law Sacrifice''. After my modifications, I transformed them into a series of ck Devil treasures, which led to the creation of the ck Devil Blood Hollow." Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "The ck Devil Star you obtained��you''ve used Genesis Power to restore it into a Genesis Divine Pir, haven''t you?"


    "True Saint Shi Yuan?" Wu Yuan was dumbfounded. "''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' wasn��t granted by the Ancestral Pagoda?"


    All along, Wu Yuan had believed that ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' and the series of treasures like the Genesis Star all came from the Ancestral Pagoda. After all, the Genesis Power produced by the Ancestral Pagoda couldn''t be faked!


    "Of course not. Initially, I thought the same way." Sovereign ck Devil shook his head slightly. "True Saint Shi Yuan was also an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. However, this supreme being has long since perished.


    Most of what I know about the Ancestral Pagodaes from the information left behind by this True Saint Shi Yuan."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Does the Ancestral Pagoda in your upper dantian lobe generate Genesis Power?" Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    "But ording to the information left by the True Saint Shi Yuan, when he first became an imprint bearer, there was no Genesis Power within the Ancestral Pagoda imprint," Sovereign ck Devil said softly. "But after he ascended to the supreme level and spent a great deal of effort to create ''Genesis Law Sacrifice'' with his divine abilities, subsequent Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers were able to receive Genesis Power.


    Later on, True Saint Shi Yuan perished. He never revealed the truth, but I have my suspicions. Ming Jian, I think you probably have some guesses too." Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan, his eyes carrying a hint of pity and mockery.


    A chill ran through Wu Yuan''s heart. How could he not understand what he meant? If what Sovereign ck Devil said was true, the truth was too terrifying.


    "All gainse with a price. Destiny never bestows gifts without seekingpensation," Sovereign ck Devil''s voice deepened.


    "Being an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer, in my view, is already a path of no return. But we have no choice. This is our fate."


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    ording to Sovereign ck Devil, the so-called Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers were merely pieces on a chessboard, chosen by the supreme Ancestral Pagoda. It nurtured them and strengthened them, until they became extremely powerful, only to devour these chess pieces in the end. True Saint Shi Yuan was one such example.


    However, Wu Yuan dared not fully trust this information. This was simply the opinion of Sovereign ck Devil.


    Moreover, supreme beings were incredibly powerful. Of the few supreme beings Wu Yuan knew of, which one didn''t possess incredible divine abilities? How could they be so easily controlled by the Ancestral Pagoda?


    So, Wu Yuan took all this with a grain of salt.


    "Senior ck Devil," Wu Yuan bowed slightly and said, "If that''s the case, then back then in the Dao Realm, why did you..."


    "Silence!" Sovereign ck Devil��s eyes narrowed, a ferocious glint shing through his pupils.


    <em>Boom! </em>An unseen but overwhelming force descended upon Wu Yuan, silencing him mid-sentence and crushing the words he was about to speak.


    The pressure was unimaginably strong, rendering himpletely powerless to resist.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Just as abruptly as it appeared, the oppressive force vanished, leaving Wu Yuan stunned. He turned to Sovereign ck Devil, his eyes filled with confusion.


    "This is the Dao Realm��do not speak of the Dao Master," Sovereign ck Devil said, shaking his head. "Remember, within the Dao Realm, nothing escapes the Dao Master��s perception if he wishes to know your affairs."


    Wu Yuan''s heart skipped a beat.


    "My dealings with the Dao Master are beyond your involvement, and you cannot interfere," Sovereign ck Devil said, fixing his gaze on Wu Yuan. "There��s no need for you to understand, and knowing would bring you no benefit. Am I clear?"


    Wu Yuan nodded.


    "I know you still have some questions. For example, why I specifically required your true self to participate, while most other candidates only sent their mana bodies or ether bodies." Sovereign ck Devil said tly.


    Wu Yuan nodded. "This junior indeed wishes to know."


    "You were the only true sessor from beginning to end, and only you are qualified to participate in the eighth trial," Sovereign ck Devil said slowly. "This trial was initiated for you alone.


    To fuse with this strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence, one must first be an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer," Sovereign ck Devil intoned.


    "My legacy is inconsequential. What matters is this single strand of essence," Sovereign ck Devil continued. "My expectation for you was to obtain twelve ck Devil Tokens within the first four trials.


    If you couldn''t meet even that basic requirement, you wouldn''t be worthy of an audience with me. I''d simply annihte you on the spot.


    Fortunately, your performance has been quite impressive, exceeding my expectations," Sovereign ck Devil remarked, casting a sidelong nce at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan felt inwardly surprised. So this was the truth behind it all.


    ��I��m the only one truly receiving the inheritance? What about the others?" Wu Yuan couldn''t help but ask, his curiosity getting the better of him.


    "They are merely devil army candidates I prepared for you," Sovereign ck Devil replied, his tone unnervingly calm. "Big Devil told them they had a chance to receive the inheritance in order to bring out their maximum potential, allowing us to select the most promising individuals.


    After all, positions in the devil army are limited. At the very least, one must have the potential of an Astral Monarch to qualify for entry into the devil army."


    Sovereign ck Devil turned his piercing gaze towards Wu Yuan. "I haven''t exactly deceived them. If they truly manage to obtain twelve ck Devil Tokens, proving their potential, and ultimately join the devil army, they can indeed receive one of my teachings as an inheritance. That could be considered a Sovereign''s inheritance."


    Wu Yuan was struck speechless.


    He hadn''t imagined that all of this was orchestrated by Sovereign ck Devil, and that the others were destined never to receive the ultimate inheritance. On top of that, they were expected to be part of the devil army?


    1. Shi Yuan = Genesis. I will refer to him as either the Genesis True Saint or True Saint Shi Yuan. ?

 Chapter 782: The Truth, Chesspiece (2)

    "Senior, the powerhouses from the Devil Realm are one thing, but what about the other Archimmortals and Archdeities from various factions in the Dao Realm? Would they willingly be members of the devil army?" Wu Yuan asked, his voice tinged with confusion.


    "If they were Astral Monarchs, I naturally couldn''t force them if they were unwilling to join the devil army," Sovereign ck Devil replied, his voice as cold as ice.


    "But a group of mere Archimmortals and Archdeities?" His eyes glinted with a merciless light. "If I want them to join, they''ll have no choice but toply, whether they like it or not... Rest assured, if you seed, they will follow your orders without question.


    Even if they only sent their mana bodies or ether bodies, the measures I��ve put in ce can still affect their true selves," Sovereign ck Devil exined, his tone matter-of-fact.


    Wu Yuan listened, his heart pounding with shock.


    In an instant, he understood. It must be soul control.


    He realized that promising individuals like Archimmortal Xiang Fei and Astral Lord Gu Shou, once chosen, would likely have their souls controlled by Sovereign ck Devil, rendering them incapable of resistance.


    His thoughts turned to Cen Jiang and the numerous servants of his body refiner self, whose souls were all simrly under the Eldritch Court''s control.


    Controlling souls was incredibly difficult and it came with numerous drawbacks.<em>Sovereign ck Devil possesses such terrifying power even after his death?</em> Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. <em>If he were still alive, he might even be able to control Astral Monarchs directly, turning them into his servants.</em>


    <em>The so-called devil army troops are nothing more than ves. </em>Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly. He was beginning to understand the nature of Sovereign ck Devil.


    This being, self-proimed to be a devil, was certainly no benevolent entity. Acting without any regard for others, he truly lived up to the name of ��devil��!


    Simultaneously, Wu Yuan��s initial confusion about why the inheritance candidates were chosen from Archimmortals and Archdeities, rather than Astral Monarchs, was now resolved.


    It was because the measures prepared by Sovereign ck Devil were incapable of controlling the souls of beings as powerful as Astral Monarchs.


    No matter how hard the other Archimmortals and Archdeities fought, their fates were sealed in tragedy.


    <em>Perhaps those who were eliminated early in the first trial, losing only their mana bodies or ether bodies, are actually the lucky ones. </em>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    Such was the nature of destiny. Those with great power could do as they pleased, while the weak had no means to resist. They could only choose to believe or disbelieve.


    Evidently, most Archimmortals and Archdeities chose to believe Big Devil''s words, exerting their fullest efforts, yet they were doomed to a tragic fate. But there was nothing to be done about it.


    <em>In fact, am I any different?</em> Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. <em>By choosing to send my true self here, my fate is already sealed. I can''t resist Sovereign ck Devil; I can only choose to trust him.</em>


    What would the consequences be? Wu Yuan didn''t know. He could only make his choices, take his chances, and hope that he would emerge victorious and survive.


    <em>Power.</em> Wu Yuan reflected silently. <em>If I possessed the strength of a Sovereign, even Sovereign ck Devil couldn''t force me to make choices against my will.</em>


    As if sensing Wu Yuan''s thoughts, Sovereign ck Devil said slowly, "You are an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. Others may choose to kill you, but they can never control your soul. If anyone dared to invade and control your soul, they would likely incur punishment from the Ancestral Pagoda."


    "Unable to control my soul?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "Don''t think this is a good thing," Sovereign ck Devil sneered, shaking his head. "This is all because we imprint bearers are merely ''food'' to the Ancestral Pagoda."


    Wu Yuan fell silent.


    He could sense the deep resentment and mncholy in Sovereign ck Devil''s heart. He seemed to harbor intense hatred towards the Ancestral Pagoda.


    "Senior ck Devil," Wu Yuan ventured. "If you believe the Ancestral Pagoda to be so malevolent... Why leave behind this legacy? Wouldn''t it be better to simply destroy this strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence?"


    He couldn''t understand.


    "You truly are naive," Sovereign ck Devil nced at Wu Yuan. "Do you really think death brings liberation?"


    Wu Yuan was stunned.


    "Have you ever heard of reincarnation?" Sovereign ck Devil asked.


    "I have," Wu Yuan nodded. The concept of reincarnation had existed since ancient times, prevalent even on the Blue.


    "Reincarnation does indeed exist. But there are no such things as the underworld, hell, or the six realms of reincarnation asmonly imagined. Those are merely the fantasies of ordinary beings.��


    Sovereign ck Devil spoke gravely, "The animus of life is essence born from the workings of heaven and earth. Once it perishes, it will be reborn in the vast rivers of space and time across the megaverse under the operational rules of heaven and earth... In reincarnation, it is absolutely impossible to awaken memories of past lives.


    The origin of all life stems from the beginning of this cycle of heaven and earth, and when the samsara cycle of heaven and earth concludes, all animus will bepletely annihted, with no possibility of returning."


    Wu Yuan listened, awestruck.


    In this vast heaven and earth, reincarnation truly existed? This information indeed surpassed his imagination.


    "Trapped in samsara, each new life is, under normal circumstances, like a true death, with almost no connection to past lives," Sovereign ck Devil continued. "There is only one exception, and that is bing a supreme entity, reaching the ultimate heights.


    Once one transcends the samsara cycle of heaven and earth, they can break free from reincarnation, no longer suffering its torments, and also awaken memories of life after life since the very beginning of the samsara cycle of heaven and earth.


    However, in each samsara cycle of heaven and earth, countless Sovereigns are born, yet how many truly transcend?" Sovereign ck Devil''s voice grew somber.


    Wu Yuan remained silent.


    Transcendence was indeed incredibly difficult.


    "The Ancestral Pagoda, too, can escape the constraints of samsara cycles," Sovereign ck Devil''s eyes shed with a hint of fear. "For all Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers, it''s fine if they haven''t merged with the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence, but once they do, even if they perish, hoping to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation is nothing but a pipe dream."


    Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    Once an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer merged with a strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence, they couldn''t enter the cycle of reincarnation even in death?


    "This remnant consciousness of mine can clearly sense that my true spirit has been trapped, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation," Sovereign ck Devil shook his head gently. "Without entering the cycle of reincarnation, I will never have a chance of breaking free.


    Perhaps the probability of eventually reaching the supreme level after struggling through each reincarnation is extremely low, and even if I were to reach the supreme level in the future, I would no longer be who I am today. But, there is still a glimmer of hope.


    Being bound eternally by the Ancestral Pagoda leaves not even a shred of hope," Sovereign ck Devil spoke slowly.


    "If I wish to be reincarnated, there is only one possibility. That is to choose an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer to rece me, to merge with this strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence. Then, the Ancestral Pagoda will naturally set me free," Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Do you understand?"


    Wu Yuan now understood clearly.


    Sovereign ck Devil had set up this inheritance, not truly for the sake of finding a sessor, but to free himself from the Ancestral Pagoda''s constraints and regain his freedom to enter the cycle of reincarnation.


    And he, Wu Yuan, was the chosen one.


    "I am not the one who chose you," Sovereign ck Devil shook his head. "Your arrival here might also be due to the intangible guidance of the Ancestral Pagoda. Even without me, you would surely have had the ''coincidental chance'' to merge with a strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence in the future.


    From the day we became Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers, we no longer had a choice. None whatsoever." Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan with a hint of pity. "This is truly a path of no return."


    Wu Yuan''s heart trembled.


    He now understood why Sovereign ck Devil had said those things earlier... If what he said was true, this was indeed a path of no return.


    Realizing this, Wu Yuan fell silent.


    "Moreover, you have no choice now either," Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "This is your true self. You have only two paths before you: either attempt to merge with that strand of the Ancestral Pagoda��s essence �C fail and die, or seed and inherit everything I''ve left for you.


    Or, I kill you right now!" Sovereign ck Devil said casually.


    It was a tant threat, revealing Sovereign ck Devil''s true nature. This was his inherent character.


    <em>Either choose to merge, with death as the price of failure. </em>Wu Yuan pondered silently. <em>Or refuse, and die all the same.</em>


    Even if he refused today, could he escape in the future? Wu Yuan understood he had no choice. Now, there was only one path of survival �C sessful fusion.


    "It��s isn��t all disadvantages," Sovereign ck Devil said. "If you seed, your chances of bing a Sovereign or an Overlord are high with the aid of the Ancestral Pagoda, and even your hope of transcendence will greatly increase."


    Wu Yuan remained silent inwardly.


    Transcendence? That was too distant a goal.


    "Senior ck Devil, wherein lies the difficulty of merging with this strand of Ancestral Pagoda��s essence?" Wu Yuan asked.


    "I do not know," Sovereign ck Devil shook his head.


    "You don''t know?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.


    "The Ancestral Pagoda is a supreme divine object, its physical form unfathomable. This strand of its essence is likely but a mere fraction of its essence power, yet it holds boundless profundities," Sovereign ck Devil exined.


    "Throughout history, each ck pagoda imprint bearer has fused with the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence under different circumstances, with variations in their strength levels when initiating the process.


    From what I learned from True Saint Shi Yuan, there are only two certainties. First, merging before transcendence increases the chances of sess.


    Second, failure means certain death."


    Wu Yuan''s heart raced. No wonder Big Devil stated that there was such a consequence. It wasn''t a threat from Sovereign ck Devil himself, but from a supreme divine object, the Ancestral Pagoda.


    "Once you die, no one can save you, not even the supreme beings.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Take the Spacetime Dao Master, for instance. He can resurrect many beings before they re-enter the cycle of reincarnation, even reviving fallen Astral Monarchs. But should you fail, even if he were willing to intervene, he couldn''t bring you back," Sovereign ck Devil stated.


    <em>The Spacetime Dao Master can resurrect even fallen Astral Monarchs? Yet he wouldn��t be able to resurrect me?</em> Wu Yuan marveled at the Spacetime Dao Master''s abilities.


    He also sighed at the overwhelming power of the Ancestral Pagoda.


    But Wu Yuan didn''t feel too disheartened. Even if the Spacetime Dao Master could resurrect him, it all depended on whether the Spacetime Dao Master would be willing to do so.


    "Ming Jian, all you can do now is give it your all," Sovereign ck Devil looked at Wu Yuan.


    Wu Yuan nodded, now understanding everything.


    "You''ve already crystallized Spacetime True Intent at such a young age, and your Dao Heart and willpower are exceptionally strong among your peers... At the very least, you''re more talented than I was at your age," Sovereign ck Devil gazed down at Wu Yuan. "I seeded back then, so I believe you can seed as well."


    Wu Yuan listened intently.


    The future was unpredictable. Even if the Ancestral Pagoda harbored some grand conspiracy, he was powerless to resist it now.


    All he could do was give his utmost effort, striving to survive the present challenge.


    <em>Whoosh!</em> Sovereign ck Devil pointed towards the void, and countless wisps of blood mist appeared, coalescing into a hazy, dreamlike tower of swirling crimson.


    "This is the strand of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence."

 Chapter 783: Two True Selves, Dual Apotheosis (1)

    <h4>Chapter 783: Two True Selves, Dual Apotheosis (1)</h4>


    <i>A trace of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence?</i> Wu Yuan''s gaze fell upon blood mist.


    The blood mist roiled and flowed subtly, forming the shape of a tower. It seemed unremarkable, yet contained a power that made one''s heart tremble.


    <i>Hum~</i> At this moment, the ck pagoda in Wu Yuan''s upper dantian lobe, which had previously fallen silent, began to quiver faintly once more.


    Desire, endless desire! Wu Yuan felt an instinctive urge rising within him, a longing to devour and refine that trace of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    In the past, Wu Yuan would have undoubtedly been ted and excited. But now? Wu Yuan felt far less joy, Sovereign ck Devil''s words still echoing in his mind��this was a path of no return.


    <i>A path of no return. But I have no choice now.</i> Wu Yuan mused silently. <i>I just don''t know if failing to merge with this trace of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence would affect my body refiner self.</i>


    <i>ording to Big Devil, it would, but my body refiner self has made thorough preparations, with numerous defensive measures. </i>Wu Yuan pondered.


    From his earlier conversation with Sovereign ck Devil, it seemed the Sovereign had not detected the existence of his body refiner self. So, Wu Yuan did not intend to ask, nor did he regret choosing to challenge the eighth trial.


    <i>If I hadn''te, how would I have learned these secrets about the Ancestral Pagoda?</i>


    <i>If I hadn''te, ording to Sovereign ck Devil, as one already bearing the Ancestral Pagoda''s imprint, I would have been imperceptibly guided to walk the path of merging with the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence anyway. </i>Wu Yuan reflected silently. <i>This path is pre-ordained.</i>


    Unable to change it, he could only grasp a chance of survival.


    <i>Even if what Sovereign ck Devil said is true, it would take me reaching the Sovereign phase, or even true transcendence at least, before the Ancestral Pagoda sets its sights on me.</i> Wu Yuan thought to himself. <i>As one of the three supreme divine objects, I fear only a supreme being would barely qualify to be its opponent.</i>


    In other words, before transcendence, at least before bing a Sovereign, Wu Yuan was certainly rtively safe.


    <i>I''m too weak now. Only by growing stronger can I slowly seek a way to break free of this situation.</i> Wu Yuan had made his decision:


    <i>Besides, what Sovereign ck Devil said is just one side of the story. Take the matter of the three supreme divine objects for example.</i>


    <i>Long ago, the realm master of the Fourth Eldritch Realm said that it was two supreme beings of heaven and earth, one wielding a sword and the other a cauldron, that influencedter generations. Although the essence of what he said was simr, it actually deviates somewhat from the truth of how the three supreme divine objects came to be.</i>


    <i>With different levels of strengthe different heights of perspectives and scopes of knowledge, so naturally, the conclusions made will differ. Sovereign ck Devil''s words cannot be dismissed entirely, nor can they be fully trusted. </i>Wu Yuan mused silently.


    But, that was for future him to worry about.


    <i>Now, my top priority is fusing it sessfully. Only sess will allow me to survive, to continue growing stronger.</i> This was the only thought remaining in Wu Yuan''s mind.


    Meanwhile, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, far away in the Greenridge Macrocosm, had likewise prepared to face any cmity or attack.


    ...


    "Ming Jian, you only have one chance." Sovereign ck Devil''s eyes held a glimmer of anticipation: "If you can seed, regardless of what happens in the future, the immediate benefits you��ll gain are endless.


    Are you ready?"


    "Yes." Wu Yuan nodded: "Senior, let''s begin."


    Seeing this, Sovereign ck Devil no longer hesitated. With a thought, that blood mist tower floated over, stopping directly above Wu Yuan''s head.


    Silently, this blood mist tower entered Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self, then immediately made its way to his upper dantian lobe.


    In the vast, boundless upper dantian lobe, the blood mist tower split into thirteen parts, thergest of which instantly flew into the ck pagoda.


    <i>Rumble~</i> The base of the ck pagoda opened once more, absorbing the blood mist.


    <i>Boom! </i>The ck pagoda, which had been trembling slightly, suddenly erupted the moment the blood mist surged inside, radiating endless red light. The light engulfed the entire upper dantian lobe, enveloping Wu Yuan''s twelve Yuan Souls.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The other twelve wisps of blood mist also surged into the twelve Yuan Souls respectively.


    The instant that the red light nketed the world, a trace of surprise shed across Wu Yuan''s eyes. <i>This? The ck pagoda?</i>


    <i>Boom! </i>A majestic and vast power, originating from an unfathomable ce,pletely swallowed Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    In the final moment before losing consciousness, Wu Yuan vaguely saw a void dimension devoid of light, where a colossal structure that spanned space and time loomed in the boundless void. It seemed to be ck...


    ...


    Endless ck fog surged around Wu Yuan as he stood in this expanse of void, his body now faintly enveloped by ayer of red light.


    The light was boundless! It augmented the aura emanating from his body to a terrifying degree, granting it a subtle hint of a supreme Dao resonance. At this moment, he appeared absolutely untouchable.


    This remnant consciousness of Sovereign ck Devil calmly watched Wu Yuan, whose eyes were closed and consciousnesspletely subsumed.


    <i>After endless ages, I''ve finally found an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer, and one with heaven-shaking talent at that.</i> Sovereign ck Devil murmured. <i>But was it truly the Ancestral Pagoda''s imperceptible guidance that led Ming Jian here to me? Or was it you, Dao Master?</i>


    <i>Dao Master, you perceive all. Back then, you stopped me from continuing down my path, believing it was wrong... yet you deliberately kept the ck Devil Blood Hollow and this trace of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence intact. What exactly are your intentions? </i>Sovereign ck Devil shook his head slightly.


    He could not understand. For eons, he had pondered this matter, but to no avail.


    <i>Enough, the considerations of supreme beings are ultimately beyond me. I am already dead, what more can I do? </i>Sovereign ck Devil''s gaze fell upon Wu Yuan. <i>I can only hope you seed.</i>


    <i>Your sess will be my liberation.</i> Sovereign ck Devil''s eyes were filled with anticipation.


    ...


    <i>Within the Cang Feng Temple at the heart of the eldritch world in the Greenridge Macrocosm.</i>


    Wu Yuan, who had been sitting in lotus position atop a jade tform, suddenly looked fearful, then his gaze went nk and he closed his eyes, his consciousnesspletely subsumed.


    At this moment, in the upper dantian lobe of Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, that ck pagoda likewise radiated endless red light. Clearly, fusing with this trace of the ck pagoda''s essence affected not only his qi refiner self, but also implicated his body refiner self.


    Though the karmic connection between the two true selves was faint, they were ultimately one, and both true selves had ck pagodas in their upper dantian lobes.


    When the body refiner self''s upper dantian lobe underwent this anomaly, ayer of red light faintly suffused the surface of Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, and he emanated an extremely special aura!


    This aura was not particrly strong, yet it contained a mysterious hint of Dao resonance.


    <i>Whoosh! </i>This aura suddenlyshed out in all directions. Though not intense, it rmed Sovereign Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng.


    <i>Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The two Sovereigns immediately arrived before Wu Yuan, perceiving the special aura emanating from him.


    "This? Attacking Wu Yuan silently, breaching my Cang Feng Temple��s defenses without a trace. What kind of technique is this?" Sovereign Cang Feng was utterly shocked.


    The Cang Feng Temple was his most powerful treasure, as well as his ultimate treasure for traversing the river of space and time. He was certain that even an Overlord��s attack would be unable to evade his perception.


    "This aura feels threatening even to me." Sovereign Cang Feng frowned.


    "Wu Yuan has lost consciousness." Sovereign Kua Chi said softly, a trace of worry shing in his eyes.


    Earlier, when Wu Yuan chose to attempt the trial, he had not stopped him, but his heart was filled with concern.


    Now, the situation had veered off in an unpredictable direction.


    "Kua Chi, what exactly has this disciple of yours provoked?" Sovereign Cang Feng looked at Sovereign Kua Chi: "Such a profound and inscrutable attack... There''s a ny percent chance it came from a supreme being. How could a mere High Eldritch provoke a supreme existence?"


    Though Sovereign Cang Feng did not know the truth, he could deduce a thing or two.


    "It''s not an attack. If a supreme being attacked my disciple, how could he still be alive?" Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head: "I''m not entirely clear about the specifics either. Let''s wait and see."


    "Kua Chi, I must warn you, this is no small matter. If worsees to worst, report it to the Eldritch Court." Sovereign Cang Feng said.


    "I''ve already reported it. However, even the Great Eldritches cannot intervene, and the Eldritch Progenitor roams many spacetimes��he may not quickly take notice of a youngster like Wu Yuan." Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head.


    Sovereign Cang Feng frowned slightly, but he did not inquire further.


    As Wu Yuan''s Master, if Sovereign Kua Chi took such a stance, it was not his ce to say more.


    <i>Disciple, what could a mere inheritance of a Sovereign possibly stir up? </i>Sovereign Kua Chi stared at Wu Yuan''s body refiner self, a trace of worry shing in his eyes: <i>Or have you stumbled upon some great secret, leaving you unable or unwilling to send a message?</i>


    <i>You must survive!</i>


    The special pressure enveloping Wu Yuan''s entire body was inscrutable to Sovereign Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng, so they naturally dared not act rashly.

 Chapter 784: Two True Selves, Dual Apotheosis (2)

    <h4>Chapter 784: Two True Selves, Dual Apotheosis (2)</h4>


    The two true selves, separated by endless spacetime, were under the watchful eyes of several Sovereigns.


    As for Wu Yuan, his consciousness was drawn by an invisible, otherworldly force into a realm that defiedprehension. It felt as though he had left his physical body behind entirely.


    <i>A void? Fifty-five divine mountains?</i> Wu Yuan��s awareness drifted through this enigmatic realm, his previous worries and considerations forgotten. All his thoughts and ideas had dissolved into an indistinct haze.


    The divine mountains floated in the vast expanse around him, their majesty unmatched and shrouded in eternal mists, as if this was a ce created before heaven and earth. Great Dao resonances echoed within them.


    asionally, streaks of blood-red light flickered and danced between the mountains, weaving intricate patterns that emanated an unearthly, sacred Dao resonance.


    The various Greater Laws and profundities Wu Yuan hadprehended in the past all paled inparison to the profoundness of these Dao resonances. They were not even worth mentioning, like firefliespared to the sun and moon.


    Even the Great Dao True Intents Wu Yuan hadprehended appeared primitive in the face of their magnificence.


    <i>Transcending the Laws... Transcending the Great Daos... Transcending eternity. </i>Wu Yuan murmured, perceiving the profundities of the fifty-five divine mountains. <i>Eternal? No, the Great Daos are wed. These are the truly perfect and eternal Dao resonances.</i>


    Wu Yuan instinctively immersed himself in it, yearning toprehend this power. This was the instinct of one who had cultivated for thousands of years, with Daoprehension rivaling that of an Astral Monarch.


    Vast. Magnificent. Profound.


    Within the divine lights of the Dao resonances emanating from the divine mountains, Wu Yuan gradually sensed many powers, including the profundities of the Great Dao of Creation and the Great Dao of Spacetime.


    <i>The divine resonances of these mountains transcend all the Greater Laws I know, and even transcend the Great Daos, rising above the Great Daos. Is this the power within the Ancestral Pagoda? </i>An incarnation formed from Wu Yuan''s consciousness murmured.


    Rising above the Great Daos. Rising above eternity.


    Without needing to reveal themselves, the mere existence of the three supreme divine objects could influence the workings of heaven and earth.


    <i>I came here to fuse with a strand of the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence.</i> Though Wu Yuan''s consciousness was fuzzy and unclear, he still remembered this.


    But how should he go about it?


    <i>Comprehend. </i>Wu Yuan chose to continue contemting the profundities of the fifty-five divine mountains. They were vast andplex, makingprehension far from easy.


    Here, there seemed to be no concept of the passing of time. Perhaps ten thousand years had passed, or a hundred thousand years, or even longer. The long years, however, left no trace on Wu Yuan''s consciousness.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally captured a thread of their true profundity after repeated observations and examinations.


    <i>Creation! Spacetime! </i>


    On the left side of his incarnation, a Dao pattern diagram emerged, depicting the intertwining Laws of Life and Death. On the right side, another Dao pattern diagram formed, intertwining the Laws of Time and Space.


    Two Great Dao pattern diagrams.


    In the external world, Wu Yuan��s qi refiner and body refiner selves could manifest only one Great Dao at a time. But in this mysterious realm, he could break free from this constraint, allowing their profundities to coexist.


    <i>Power that transcends the Great Daos. </i>Wu Yuan''s consciousness imitated the vast and magnificent resonances of the divine mountains.


    <i>Hiss~</i> Like puzzle piecesing together, strands of Law-chains began extending from the Creation Dao pattern diagram and Spacetime Dao pattern diagram that Wu Yuan manifested. At their convergence, blood-red Dao patterns began to form, bearing a vague simrity to the profundities within the fifty-five divine mountains.


    ...


    Time flowed differently in the two realms. While Wu Yuan''s consciousness spent what seemed like countless years in that mysterious realm, in reality, only an instant had passed.


    The red light emanating from Wu Yuan''s body refiner self suddenly intensified rapidly. His aura became markedly more vigorous, his entire being radiating a heightened sense of holiness.


    This unexpected change caused the expressions of Sovereign Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng, who stood guard nearby, to shift subtly. Immediately, they arrived before Wu Yuan, perplexed by the sudden transformation.


    "What��s going on?" Sovereign Cang Feng asked, his voice tinged with concern.


    "Wasn''t everything stable just now? What is this? Has Wu Yuan''s attack intensified?" Both Sovereigns were visibly puzzled and shocked by the abrupt change.


    From their view, Wu Yuan had undergone a dramatic transformation in the blink of an eye.


    "His vital aura has grown stronger; there''s no immediate danger," Sovereign Kua Chi responded in a low voice, though uncertainty flickered in his eyes. "But remain cautious, don''t act hastily."


    He had his suspicions but couldn''t fully grasp the extent of Wu Yuan''s change.


    ...


    Inside the ck Devil Blood Hollow, Sovereign ck Devil observed Wu Yuan with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Wu Yuan''s aura had skyrocketed unexpectedly.


    <i>The evolution of the Great Daos? How is this possible? He''s merely a High Immortal.</i> Sovereign ck Devil could hardly believe it.<i> Back then, it was only after reaching the Sovereign phase and undergoing a metamorphosis that I achieved this step... Even True Saint Shi Yuan wasn''t much stronger than me at the same age.</i>


    Having once fused with the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence, Sovereign ck Devil was familiar with the process. He understood that while the fuser might experience an extended passage of time, the external world would see only moments pass. However, Wu Yuan''s transformation had far exceeded his expectations.


    <i>It appears sess is possible. But this Ming Jian is more formidable than I imagined. He has only crystallized Spacetime True Intent. Even with an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, he shouldn''t undergo such a transformation in theory.</i>


    <i>It shouldn''t be possible. He must have some secret that I don''t know about.</i> Sovereign ck Devil thought to himself.


    <i>ording to the records left by True Saint Shi Yuan, none of the many Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers he knew could achieve this step at the High Immortal or High Deity phase.</i>


    Beyond his shock, Sovereign ck Devil felt a surge of joy. From his perspective, the stronger and more impressive Wu Yuan appeared, the better.


    ...


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Back in the vast and mysterious realm, Wu Yuan''s incarnation remained focused,rgely oblivious to the passage of time.


    His entire being was devoted to perceiving andprehending the divine light, the manifestation of the Dao resonances of the fifty-five divine mountains.


    The two Great Daos heprehended had merged, giving rise to an intensified blood-red light. Simultaneously, he glimpsed the endless profundities of these Great Daos within the divine mountains.


    For Wu Yuan, this merging process was an unparalleled opportunity.


    <i>Fuse. Ancestral Pagoda essence...</i> He cultivated without conscious thought, relying purely on instinct.


    An unknown length of time passed��perhaps a hundred thousand years, or even a million years.


    <i>Boom! </i>At this moment, on both sides of Wu Yuan''s incarnation, more than each half of the two initially separate Great Dao pattern diagrams in front of him were already merged, Theybined wlessly, emitting vast ripples.


    At the center of this intricate fusion, a strand of dazzling and brilliant Dao patterns emerged. The power contained in this strand rivaled the profundities of the divine mountains themselves. Though its aura was weak and iplete, the strand''s existence defied allws, a miracle possible only in this mysterious realm


    <i>Boom!</i> Suddenly, Wu Yuan''s incarnation dissipated. The massive, merged Dao pattern diagram began to unravel, its glowing fragments dispersing.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> Wu Yuan''s consciousness withdrew swiftly, leaving the vast and mysterious realm behind and returning to his two true selves.


    ...


    In the Cang Feng Temple of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self radiated an endless crimson light.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The light began to retract into his body.


    <i>Boom!</i> Within his upper dantian, a vast and majestic strand of Dao patterns shed momentarily, and a powerful aura surged from his nine Yuan Souls.


    <i>Crack~</i> The nine Yuan Souls began to split, rapidly forming twelve Yuan Souls.


    In that moment, the Apotheosis Yuan Soul underwent a profound transformation. Bathed in the crimson light radiating from the ck pagoda, the newly evolved Yuan Souls began to grow rapidly.


    Archimmortal level! In an instant, it advanced through the mid-stage Archimmortal level, toward thete-stage Astral Lord level, reaching the limit of the Apotheosis Yuan Soul.


    "This... This Yuan Soul aura?" Sovereign Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng were struck speechless. Both sensed the vast pressure enveloping Wu Yuan begin to dissipate, yet they also detected the dramatic transformation of Wu Yuan''s Yuan Soul.


    "Apotheosis Yuan Soul!" Sovereign Cang Feng eximed in utter shock, unable to contain himself. "Kua Chi, what exactly has your disciple experienced? How could his soul transform into an Apotheosis Yuan Soul? He''s still a High Eldritch, for heaven''s sake!"


    The body refiner lineage typically had weaker Yuan Souls. Even among qi refiners, cultivating an Apotheosis Yuan Soul was exceedingly rare��only one in tens of millions seeded. For a body refiner, it was an achievement unheard of.


    At the very least, throughout the history of the eldritch world, no High Eldritch had ever established one.


    "Cang Feng, this must be kept a secret. It must not be leaked under any circumstances," Sovereign Kua Chi said gravely. His voice was low, his expression solemn.


    "I understand, it must be concealed," Sovereign Cang Feng agreed quickly, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Wu Yuan''s talent was already exceptional, with an Apotheosis root. Now that his soul has evolved into an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, his cultivation speed will be even faster.


    There''s an extremely high probability he''ll be a Sovereign in the future, and an extraordinarily powerful one at that."


    He could almost envision the eldritch world producing another Sovereign in the not-so-distant future.


    <i>This disciple of mine.</i> Sovereign Kua Chi''s eyes flickered, his thoughts running deeper.


    Unlike Cang Feng, he knew the full truth. Wu Yuan didn''t just have a body refiner self, but also a qi refiner self.


    And now his body refiner self��s soul had transformed into an Apotheosis Yuan Soul?


    <i>Dual Apotheosis... What kind of monstrous prodigy is this? He hasn��t even undergone his Tribtions.</i> Sovereign Kua Chi could hardly believe it.


    Perhaps some Overlords, after eons of cultivation, could achieve perfection in both aspects. But for a High Eldritch? Such a feat was unprecedented.


    And if his body refiner self had undergone such a transformation, what about his qi refiner self?


    Wu Yuan, what exactly are you going through? Kua Chi thought silently. Such an incredible achievement couldn''t have been easy.


    He had been observing Wu Yuan''s body refiner self all along and didn��t notice him encountering anything unusual, yet suddenly, his Yuan Soul hadpleted an Apotheosis transformation?


    Despite his curiosity, Wu Yuan''s body refiner self remained seated with his eyes shut, seemingly yet to regain consciousness. For now, Kua Chi had no way of getting answers.


    ...


    Just moments ago, the pressure emanating from Wu Yuan''s qi refiner self had subsided, leading Sovereign ck Devil to believe the fusion wasplete.


    Then, an anomaly suddenly urred: Wu Yuan''s vital aura began to skyrocket.


    Sovereign ck Devil might only be left with a remnant of consciousness, but through the power of the ck Devil Blood Hollow, he quickly sensed that Wu Yuan''s immortal root was breaking through the shackles of heaven and earth, reaching Apotheosis.


    <i>Ming Jian already possessed an Apotheosis Yuan Soul. And now, his immortal root has also reached Apotheosis? Dual Apotheosis? </i>Sovereign ck Devil was shocked beyond words.


    This was something he hadn''t achieved even in his prime.


    <i>If I had achieved dual Apotheosis back then, perhaps the Dao Master wouldn''t have subdued me so easily. </i>Sovereign ck Devil mused.


    Yuan Soul and immortal root, both reaching Apotheosis. This was the pursuit of countless Sovereigns, but those who could truly achieve it were less than one in ten thousand.


    <i>This Ming Jian, he''s actually achieved this at the High Immortal stage?</i> Sovereign ck Devil shook his head slightly.


    For a moment, he was at a loss for words.


    <i>Well, it��s not a bad thing that he��s such a monstrous prodigy. In the future, with him around, perhaps my name will still be remembered.</i> Sovereign ck Devil thought with a hint of self-mockery.


    He waited silently.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> After his immortal rootpleted its upgrade, the vast pressure enveloping Wu Yuan rapidly dissipated, and that surge of vital aura was instinctively withdrawn.


    After a long while, Wu Yuan exhaled, and finally opened his eyes. His gaze was bright and resolute, as if he had experienced an iparably long span of time.


    "Senior ck Devil." Wu Yuan bowed slightly in greeting.


    At this moment, Sovereign ck Devil stood nearby, a smile gracing his features.


    "Congrattions, Ming Jian, you''ve sessfully fused with the Ancestral Pagoda''s essence," Sovereign ck Devil smiled. "You are now the new master of the ck Devil Blood Hollow."


    "The new master of the ck Devil Blood Hollow?" Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.


    "Thanks to you, I, ck Devil, can finally be free," Sovereign ck Devil said slowly, his gaze growing distant.


    <i>Whoosh~</i> The next moment, Sovereign ck Devil''s remnant consciousness dissipated into countless motes of light.


    It hadpletely dispersed!


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