Yuan's Ascension - Chapter 1311: Target, Wu Yuan (1)
Chapter 1311: Target, Wu Yuan (1)
Eldritch Progenitors Hou Tu and Di Jiang gazed at each other, their eyes alight with undisguised joy. They had always held high expectations for Wu Yuan, convinced he would one day stand as a pillar of strength for the Eldritch Court, but they thought this development would take trillions of years, perhaps multiple samsara cycles of heaven and earth.
Never could they have foreseen this.
Less than a hundred million years had passed since the opening of the Tenth Chaos Void, yet Wu Yuan had undergone another metamorphosis.
“A monstrous prodigy beyond compare,” Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu mused. “In terms of raw talent, neither I nor Jin Yi can match Wu Yuan. He’s like a piece of uncut jade, revealing increasingly brilliant facets as he progresses along his cultivation path.”
Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang nodded, a sincere sigh escaping his lips. “You chose well indeed.”
In the past, when Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had selected Wu Yuan, he hadn’t regarded him so highly. Di Jiang had believed a true monstrous prodigy should naturally rise step by step from numerous living beings instead of being deliberately chosen. Hou Tu had selected many individuals before, but none had proven particularly outstanding. Barely any had even reached True Sainthood.
That was, until Wu Yuan came along, repeatedly shattering Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang’s preconceptions. By now, even he had to admit he was impressed.
“According to Dong Yi, a great secret lies deep within the Tenth Chaos Void, connected to the legendary Great Leader. They all underwent massive transformations there,” Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said with a slight smile. “To be associated with such an existence is also Wu Yuan’s good fortune.”
“Indeed,” Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu nodded. “True Saint Luan Hai, True Saint Luo Quan, and the other two are all formidable in their own right, each having created Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques. Yet Wu Yuan slaughtered them in the blink of an eye.
“Wu Yuan can rightfully be called the strongest True Saint since the Primordium. If we can see it, the other old fogeys in the cosmic sea won’t fail to notice either,” Hou Tu concluded.
“You’re worried they won’t take action?” Di Jiang instantly read her thoughts.
Hou Tu nodded slightly.
“As long as Wan Yu is willing to take action, using the Eternal Register to divine Wu Yuan’s whereabouts, Wu Yuan will find it difficult to evade detection,” Di Jiang said. “Unless Wu Yuan keeps hiding and never emerges, these Dao Zenithels will likely take the risk to seize his treasure.”
“Compared to them, I’m more concerned about how Wu Yuan feels about us,” Di Jiang’s brow furrowed. “When it comes to the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, will he fully trust us?”
“Don’t worry, he will,” Hou Tu smiled with quiet confidence. “I’ll speak to him myself.”
“Very well,” Di Jiang nodded.
…
Within the Tenth Chaos Void, silence reigned across the five-colored realm.
They could have kept their lives, yet insisted on fighting to the bitter end. Wu Yuan shook his head as he casually collected the numerous treasures dropped by the four True Saints.
Apart from a few rare items that had been damaged in the clash, the vast majority remained intact. It wasn’t that True Saint Luan Hai, True Saint Luo Quan, and the others had willingly given everything to Wu Yuan. Rather, his killing strike had been too swift. So swift they hadn’t even had time to destroy their treasures before death claimed them.
With this, the total value of treasures I possess likely rivals twenty or thirty Chaos Treasures. Wu Yuan reflected.
A single battle had made him fabulously wealthy! His riches now surpassed many Dao Zenithels. This windfall resulted primarily from the opening of the Tenth Chaos Void, which had brought forth numerous treasures. As top-ranking True Saints, Luan Hai and the others had naturally acquired the most valuable items.
Under normal circumstances, even slaying a Dao Zenithel might not yield as much as killing any one of them.
Despite these great gains, Wu Yuan felt no particular excitement. At his current level of strength, once he broke through, he would stand among the highest level of powerhouses in the cosmic sea. The utility of external treasures was rapidly diminishing.
Consider the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, for instance. As far as Wu Yuan knew, even without employing Xuanhuang Dao Treasures, the power these two could unleash was in no way inferior to that of Great Emperor Yan Tuo or Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang.
While Chaos Treasures and Xuanhuang Dao Treasures held importance, one’s own strength remained the core. What use were Xuanhuang Dao Treasures to most Dao Masters? They still couldn’t match the likes of the Blood Emperor or Dream Emperor.
Upon my return, both of my true selves will first step into the Dao Zenithel stage, then utilize these treasures to nurture several Chaos Treasures most suited to me using the Eternal Realms’ essences. Afterwards, I’ll retrieve the Samsara Sword. Wu Yuan decided.
Once he reclaimed the Samsara Sword, it would mark another leap in the strengths of his two true selves. Beyond that point, further improvements would likely come very slowly.
There’s no rush. I’ll cultivate step by step. By the end of this samsara cycle of heaven and earth, with each of my two true selves controlling a universe, my strength will naturally progress further. Wu Yuan’s heart brimmed with anticipation for the road ahead.
His plan was clear. Foreseeably, both of his true selves would gradually reach the level of Great Emperor Yan Tuo. However, his qi refiner self, lacking the opportunities at Frostheaven Peak, would progress much more slowly.
As Wu Yuan pondered, a voice called out.
“Wu Yuan! Wu Yuan!”
A streak of light approached rapidly, materializing into True Saint Dong Yi. His face shone with great enthusiasm as he looked at Wu Yuan. “That was too cool! You’re too incredible.”
“Dong Yi, calm yourself,” Wu Yuan couldn’t help but smile.
“I can’t calm down!” True Saint Dong Yi shook his head, eyes wide. “How can you expect me to be calm? You slaughtered True Saint Luan Hai and all the others!”
“I think even the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu were far from your level during their True Saint days,” Dong Yi marveled.
Wu Yuan smiled faintly. Indeed, there likely hasn’t been a True Saint who could match him since the Primordium. Even those Peak Dao Zenithels wouldn’t have been stronger during the True Saint stage. After all, most True Saints would break through shortly after taking the fourth step. True Saints capable of creating Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques were the rare exception.
“Dong Yi, prepare to part ways,” Wu Yuan said. “You’ll have to leave on your own now.”
“Leave alone?” True Saint Dong Yi was stunned. “Why?”
Wu Yuan pointed to the distance, where over a dozen True Saints stood, full of shock but still not retreating. These True Saints represented all major factions except the Immortal Court.
A glimmer of understanding flashed through Dong Yi’s eyes. “Are you thinking about the Dao Zenithels?”
“Yes.” Wu Yuan nodded calmly. “For us to advance from True Saint to Dao Zenithel, our true selves must return to our Saint Realms, combining our Eternal Psyches with the Saint Realm’s essence to drive its evolution… then using the evolved essence to nourish the Eternal Psyche, transforming it.
“We know this, and the Dao Zenithels of the cosmic sea surely know it too. They won’t miss this opportunity and will likely intercept me.
“If you leave with me, it will be very dangerous,” Wu Yuan stated frankly.
“I’m not afraid,” True Saint Dong Yi frowned. “If we’re ambushed, I can still help you at critical moments.”
“I believe you’re not afraid, but there’s no point,” Wu Yuan replied with a smile.
After spending so much time together, he had come to understand Dong Yi’s straightforward personality. He kept a clear tab on gratitude and grudges. If there was a debt of kindness, he would strive to repay it even unto death.
“But—” Dong Yi began.
“No buts,” Wu Yuan cut him off with a shake of his head. “If you fall, damaging your essence, it would only be a loss for our Eldritch Court. After you return and break through to the Dao Zenithel stage, I certainly won’t stop you from participating in conflicts at this level.”
True Saint Dong Yi fell silent, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him. He truly wanted to help Wu Yuan, but after a moment’s reflection, he recognized the truth in Wu Yuan’s words. His involvement would only lead to more casualties.
“If you leave alone, no Dao Zenithel will intercept you,” Wu Yuan assured him. “Don’t worry about me. Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the others have their plans.”
“Alright,” Dong Yi finally nodded. “When I return, I’ll break through as quickly as possible. In future conflicts with the various factions of the cosmic sea, you will be one of the greatest combat forces of our Eldritch Court. I can’t fall too far behind.”
“Indeed. You may not necessarily be inferior to Eldritch Progenitor Zhu Rong and the others in the future either,” Wu Yuan smiled encouragingly.
Dong Yi had already created a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique. If he advanced slightly further, he would become a Peak Dao Zenithel right after breaking through.
Whoosh! True Saint Dong Yi departed, leaving Wu Yuan alone in the void.
Wu Yuan transformed into a streak of light, suddenly charging toward the dozen or so True Saints in the distance. His voice boomed across the void: “The show is over. Do you all still intend to follow me?”
His speed was terrifyingly fast. Eight hundred times the speed of light! A thousand times! One thousand and five hundred times! In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan’s speed soared to over two thousand times the speed of light as he hurtled straight toward the group, murderous intent billowing around him.
“Not good!”
“Such frightening speed!”
“Wu Yuan!”
The dozen or so True Saints scattered in panic, frantically dispersing in all directions. Even True Saint Luan Hai and the others had been cleaved in half with a single strike. In their eyes, Wu Yuan was already no different from a true Dao Zenithel. How could they dare to face him? They vanished in an instant.
All fled? Seeing that he had frightened off this swarm of flies, Wu Yuan didn’t pursue. He flew directly toward one of the spacetime corridors, with no True Saint daring to follow.
Two days later, Wu Yuan exited the five-colored realm through this spacetime corridor, causing the various major factions to lose track of him.
…
In the depths of the cosmic sea, within a dark expanse of void, floated an obscure and mysterious star.
The star was entirely azure, its surface covered in countless fissures, as if parched for endless eons. Desolate and vast, its environment was extremely harsh, showing no signs of life whatsoever.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Several immensely powerful consciousnesses traversed the void, descending upon this ancient star. Four towering figures gradually materialized.
The first projection was an elderly man in white robes, emanating an ethereal and boundless aura, as if existing in another spacetime entirely.
The second figure was clad in silver armor. Though simply a projection, it exuded an undisguised domineering presence, its fierce and intense pressure bearing down in all directions.
The third figure was graceful and alluring, standing atop an azure lotus platform, possessing a captivating charm that could bewitch all living beings. Waves of invisible fluctuations rippled outward, capable of entrancing countless True Saints against their will.
The final figure stood towering before a full moon, its light radiating across endless spacetime.
“Where are Yan Tuo and the Blood Emperor? Wan Yu, did you not invite them?” The silver-armored figure’s voice rang out like that of a war god.
