Yuan's Ascension - Chapter 947: Overlords Grave (3)
Chapter 947: Overlord’s Grave (3)
At the headquarters of the Eldritch Court’s Long Shan Saintdom, within an enormous hall, an elderly man wearing cerulean robes sat in lotus position.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a flash of surprise crossing his gaze. Wu Yuan was suddenly disconnected from the Eldritch Court Voidrealm while in the Creation Dao Realm?
“Exact last known location.” The cerulean-robed elderly man spoke softly.
“Insufficient authority, cannot be disclosed.” A mysterious voice resonated in his consciousness.
“Insufficient authority?” The cerulean-robed elderly man frowned slightly. He was one of the top three Overlords in strength within the Eldritch Court’s Long Shan Saintdom. He was also currently responsible for managing many important affairs within the Saintdom.
News of Wu Yuan’s arrival in the Long Shan Universe hadn’t been widely spread, but the cerulean-robed elderly man was aware of it. He also knew that Wu Yuan’s true self was exploring the Creation Dao Realm.
However, since Wu Yuan hadn’t come to pay his respects or requested help, the cerulean-robed elderly man couldn’t be bothered to concern himself too much.
Each life unfolded according to its own fate. Peerless genius? Potential to become an Overlord? The cerulean-robed elderly man held greater belief in one thing: one should be responsible for the paths one chooses. Since Wu Yuan’s true self decided to venture forth, he should be prepared for the possibility of perishing.
“Give me the most detailed intelligence on Astral Monarch Wu Yuan within the Long Shan Universe that’s within my authority, including unverified information.” The cerulean-robed elderly man said.
“One moment.” A formless fluctuation transmitted.
Soon, a flood of intelligence surged into the cerulean-robed elderly man’s mind, including both verified information and speculations.
“Supreme Astral Monarch? Suspected to be Wu Yuan?” The cerulean-robed elderly man muttered to himself.
Over the past few centuries, Wu Yuan had repeatedly demonstrated his strength in the Creation Dao Realm. News had spread far and wide, prompting speculation from various Saintdoms across the Long Shan Universe. The abilities Wu Yuan displayed at the Megaverse Crossroads matched this mysterious figure closely.
However, apart from the Immortal Court which secretly dispatched some teams of Sovereign and issued orders to certain members within the Dao Realm, other Saintdom factions didn’t pay much attention to the matter.
Within the Eldritch Court’s Long Shan Saintdom, some rumors also swirled. But firstly, Wu Yuan wasn’t originally from the Eldritch Court’s Long Shan Saintdom, and secondly, he had never appeared in person at the Eldritch Court’s Long Shan Saintdom, so he didn’t attract much attention.
“The number of Immortal Court Sovereigns in the Creation Dao Realm has notably increased?” The cerulean-robed elderly man muttered softly.
“Correct! According to the gathered intelligence, there are now 167 Immortal Court Sovereign powerhouses in the Creation Dao Realm, with 24 of them appearing in the last thousand years.” The formless fluctuation transmitted: “Over the past one billion years, the average number of Immortal Court Sovereign powerhouses exploring the Creation Dao Realm, based on known intelligence, is approximately 158.”
Both the Immortal Court and the Eldritch Court possessed vast and comprehensive intelligence archives. They could make precise records and analyses of various regions across the endless megaverse.
Such a deviation from the average? And this sudden increase occurred within the last thousand years? The cerulean-robed elderly man’s brow furrowed slightly.
When Sovereigns explored an expedition site, their expeditions usually didn’t end in a short time. A sudden increase of several dozen Sovereign powerhouses in the last thousand years was very telling.
“Show me the distribution of areas where these Immortal Court Sovereigns have appeared.” The cerulean-robed elderly man continued: “As well as a map of the sighting locations and routes of the Supreme Astral Monarch suspected to be Wu Yuan.”
“Understood.”
Quickly, more intelligence was sent over. The routes of both parties aligned closely.
“Based on the analysis, there’s more than 80% probability that these Immortal Court Sovereigns who recently entered the Creation Dao Realm are pursuing this Supreme Astral Monarch.” The formless fluctuation transmitted: “There’s a 99% probability that this Supreme Astral Monarch is Wu Yuan.”
The Immortal Court didn’t know that Wu Yuan had broken through to become an Astral Monarch, nor did they know he had come to the Long Shan Universe, which was why the match rate was only around 80%.
The Eldritch Court, however, knew that Wu Yuan was already an Astral Monarch and had entered the Creation Dao Realm, so the match was naturally 99%.
“Good, I understand,” the elderly man in cerulean robes said.
“Issue an eldritch merits mission. Thirty Sovereigns shall be recruited. They will enter the Creation Dao Realm with the objective of killing the Immortal Court Sovereigns…” He issued the order.
“Understood!”
…
Inside the Creation Dao Realm, Wu Yuan proceeded along the stone-paved path in the mysterious canyon he had entered.
He had walked for over ten li, yet encountered no danger.
“Hmm? What’s this?” Wu Yuan was taken aback.
Before his eyes lay a vast expanse of over a thousand graves, densely packed together. Each grave had a headstone. They appeared to be crudely constructed, and the soil was freshly turned. It was as if these graves had only recently been erected.
However, what truly alarmed Wu Yuan were the words engraved on the headstones.
“Tomb of Sovereign Cen Huan.”
“Tomb of Sovereign Wan Gu.”
“Tomb of Sovereign Qu Jin.”
…
“Tomb of Sovereign Ji Yi.”
“Tomb of Overlord Xia Zhou.” The inscriptions on each simple headstone shook Wu Yuan to his core, making his mind tremble.
Over a thousand graves. Except for one grave belonging to an Overlord, all the rest were graves of Sovereigns.
So many graves. Are they cenotaphs? Or are these truly the burial grounds of these Sovereigns? Are their true bodies actually interred within? Wu Yuan felt waves of absurdity and unease in his heart.
It was too bizarre. Sovereigns, those super powerhouses who ruled over vast macrocosms, were left with only these small plots of land after death. Moreover, one of the graves even belonged to an Overlord.
At this moment, Wu Yuan couldn’t help but think of the corridor in Taiyuan Hall, with its densely lined statues of Sovereigns and Overlords. How similar it was to the field of graves before him now?
If these are truly the burial grounds of those Sovereigns and Overlords, whatever caused them all to perish simultaneously must be... Wu Yuan’s mind was already forming conjectures.
He had never heard of any of these Sovereigns and Overlords. There wasn’t a single record of them in the Eldritch Court’s intelligence archives. Clearly, these Sovereigns and Overlords had existed before the current samsara cycle of heaven and earth, in an age long past.
Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
“Honored predecessors,” Wu Yuan bowed deeply towards the graves.
This bow was not only to honor these powerhouses. More than that, it was Wu Yuan paying respects to that bygone era.
“At least you have some reverence for your predecessors, unlike those fools who tried to dig up the graves right away.” A cold female voice suddenly rang out from thin air.
Whoosh~ A mass of green light streamed out from the nearby trees, swiftly coalescing into the figure of a woman in green robes.
“Senior, you are…?” Wu Yuan was slightly startled. There were still living people here?
“I am the spirit of this graveyard, tasked with guarding the tombs of the Dao Master’s followers,” the green-robed woman said coldly. “This is Burial Mountain 36. Your arrival here… I’m not sure if it’s your fortune or your misfortune.”
“Burial Mountain 36?” Wu Yuan couldn’t help but ask, recalling the island he had seen from the Aquaflame Chasm, “May I ask, Senior, how many burial mountains are there in total?”
“I don’t know,” the green-robed woman shook her head. “The Dao Master has experienced numerous samsara cycles of heaven and earth. At the end of each cycle, he would establish several burial mountains for the deceased Sovereigns and Overlords previously under his command.”
Wu Yuan nodded slightly.
He now understood that this place was likely quite similar to the one outside Taiyuan Hall.
“Senior, how can I leave this place?” Wu Yuan asked.
“Leave? You’re just a lowly Astral Monarch. I don’t know how you managed to break in here, but as for leaving, I’m afraid you have no hope of that until this samsara cycle of heaven and earth ends,” the green-robed woman shook her head. “Just wait for death.
“However, many of those fools who broke in previously didn’t know what was good for them and actually tried to dig up the graves, ransacking them for the relics of these deceased Sovereigns and Overlords. I killed all of them outright.
“You, kid, are somewhat pleasing to the eye,” the green-robed woman glanced at Wu Yuan. “From now on, keep me company with good conversation. When you die, I’ll erect a grave for you.
“Of the hundred-odd cultivators who arrived here so far, only six were given graves by me.”
Wu Yuan was speechless.
She found him pleasing to the eye, so she would erect a grave for him in the future? What kind of explanation was that?
“Senior, is there really no hope at all?” Wu Yuan asked. “Of those cultivators who entered before me, not a single one exited?”
As long as there was even a glimmer of hope, Wu Yuan would fight for it. If there truly was no hope, then Wu Yuan would have no choice but to find a way for his qi refiner self to contact True Saint Taiyuan. However, unless absolutely necessary, Wu Yuan was reluctant to do so.
“None,” the green-robed woman shook her head decisively. “All of the hundred-odd people who entered before you were Sovereigns. Most were ether bodies – they were either killed by me or quickly gave up and committed suicide.
“Only nine were true selves. It was probably nearing the end of a samsara cycle, so they came to the Dao Realm seeking a slim chance at survival… They all died here.
“As for you, just a lowly Astral Monarch, this samsara cycle should still be in its early stages, right?” The green-robed woman glanced at Wu Yuan. “Yet your true self dares to venture here recklessly.”
Wu Yuan was at a loss for words.
In the endless universe, dangers lurked everywhere. It was indeed extremely risky for one’s true self to venture on expeditions.
“Fine, if I don’t make you give up hope, you certainly won’t be able to keep me company with a peace of mind,” the green-robed woman sighed. “Come with me. After this, you’ll surely lose hope.”
The green-robed woman walked straight into the depths of the canyon, and Wu Yuan hurriedly followed.
Along the way, Wu Yuan saw another six graves, not much different from the others, only appearing somewhat lonely and isolated.
Soon, Wu Yuan followed the green-robed woman to the deepest part of the canyon.
Here was an enormous plaza. Within the plaza stood one massive stele after another, the vast majority about ten meters in height and width.
Three steles stood out in particular, crystalline throughout and over a hundred meters tall.
These steles? Wu Yuan’s gaze swept over them, immediately noticing their unique qualities, especially the three largest steles.
“Do you see those two stone doors in the mountain wall over there?” The green-robed woman pointed to the distance.
“Yes,” Wu Yuan looked over involuntarily.
“The smaller door is for Astral Monarchs,” the green-robed woman said with an enigmatic smile. “The larger stone door is for Sovereigns.
“As long as you can push open either of the stone doors, you’ll be able to leave the burial mountain.
“Oh, and one more thing. Legend has it that behind the stone doors, the Dao Master left behind some treasures. But no one has been able to confirm it.”
