Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1165: The River’s End, Vanquishing All Daos (2)

Dangerous? Containing the greatest secrets of the River of Universes?

“Senior, I choose the second option,” Wu Yuan’s voice was calm, without any hesitation.

“You don’t wish to consider further? Obtaining a Xiantian Instrument is actually quite a good choice, its value nearly on par with a Chaos Treasure,” the Heavenly Domain Emissary persuaded. “An opportunity to experience the workings of the River is equally precious.”

“There’s no need to try to convince me, Senior.” Wu Yuan shook his head. “Since this Path of Legends is a challenge meant for sempiternal lifeforms, I have no reason to pass it up.”

Difficult? If it weren’t difficult, how could it have remained a secret until now? With Wu Yuan’s current strength, only the Xuanhuang Cosmiris held any appeal to him in the entire River of Universes.

And this was the greatest opportunity within the Xuanhuang Cosmiris.

Most importantly, if I miss this chance, there won’t be another. Wu Yuan’s eyes gleamed with resolve. If those Legends of the River throughout history dared to challenge it, why shouldn’t I?

Indeed! He may not have pioneered a Dao yet, but with his two true selves working together, he was not necessarily weaker than those Legends of the River who had pioneered Daos.

The Heavenly Domain Emissary said no more. He looked at Wu Yuan, faintly seeing the shadows of many others – all with that same confidence, that same determination, that same refusal to admit defeat. All were Legends of the River, invincible in their era.

Perhaps without such an indomitable spirit, one cannot become invincible as a sempiternal lifeform, let alone forge a Legend. The Heavenly Domain Emissary mused silently.

In all the long years he had witnessed, almost no Legend of the River would choose the first path. And those who returned alive and didn’t perish after Dao Enlightenment ultimately all became Dao Zenithels.

“Very well! Wu Yuan, let me give you one final warning,” the Heavenly Domain Emissary said kindly. “The Path of Legends grows more difficult with each challenger who enters it.”

The Heavenly Domain Emissary waved his hand, and a colossal rift suddenly tore open in the void nearby with a thunderous boom.

Rumble~ As the rift opened, an ancient, weighty path was revealed, shrouded in unfathomable darkness and exuding an endless, primordial aura as if it had existed since the Primordial Era.

As the ancient path opened, the vast qi of heaven and earth that had been drifting in the surrounding void suddenly rushed into the rift as if possessed.

“Go,” said the Heavenly Domain Emissary.

Wu Yuan nodded, bowed slightly to the Heavenly Domain Emissary, and transformed into a streak of light as he flew into the ancient path in the void.

Rumble~ A brilliant light suddenly burst forth from the ancient path. The vast Xuanhuang qi was devoured completely, as if an ancient beast had awakened from a long slumber to feast, causing the aura it emanated to grow even more ferocious.

The most difficult Path of Legends in history. The Heavenly Domain Emissary observed silently, thinking to himself. If you can make it through, it means the next challenger will have an even harder time.

…

The Path of Legends, though called a path, was in reality a treacherous and winding stairway.

Darkness stretched in all directions, fathomless and impenetrable.

In this vast and mysterious void, there was only an ancient and majestic heavenly stairway, extending endlessly upwards into the shadowy heights,

The entire staircase consisted of countless stone steps. The surface of the stone bore the marks of time as if carved by knife and axe, yet it gleamed with a vibrant luster, as if growing more radiant with age.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Two figures, one black and one white, appeared out of thin air at the base of the heavenly stairway, with an unfathomable abyss stretching thousands of feet below.

It was none other than Wu Yuan’s two true selves.

I’m no longer in my body? Wu Yuan mused to himself.

Upon setting foot on that mysterious ancient path, the consciousnesses of Wu Yuan’s two true selves had plunged into darkness. In the next instant, their consciousnesses had arrived here.

The physical strength of both true selves seems identical, apparently capable of both close combat and out-of-body techniques. Wu Yuan sensed the power contained within his bodies.

At the same time, the Yuan Soul power his consciousness could wield also seemed unchanged.

In this moment, Wu Yuan vaguely understood the words of the Heavenly Domain Emissary. On the Path of Legends, the foundational physical strength of all challengers was equalized, testing only the power of their Daos. This was the radiance of one’s self-created Dao, so compared to the challengers of past eras, he was indeed at a significant disadvantage, having yet to pioneer his Dao.

However! Wu Yuan’s mana body’s eyes gleamed with light. My Dream World still persists, and even the operation of my psyche weapon is completely unaffected, allowing perfect utilization.

It made sense that the Dream World remained unaffected, after all, the strength of soul class powerhouses was entirely dependent on their Dream World.

But the psyche weapon had evolved from the Netherworld Sword, yet no restrictions had been placed on it? There were only two possibilities.

First, this Path of Legends was more lenient towards soul class powerhouses.

Second, the Netherworld Sword was too perfect – having split off from the Samsara Sword, a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, it wasn’t detected as an External Psyche Weapon under the Primordial Rules of the River of Universes, but was instead recognized as a Lifebound Psyche Weapon.

Either way, this means my qi refiner self can unleash its full power now. Wu Yuan’s two true selves gazed at the endless heavenly stairway. Let’s see just how this Path of Legends intends to stop me.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan’s two true selves simultaneously stepped onto the first step, instantly feeling a heavy pressure rolling towards them. The spatial suppression here was thousands upon thousands of times greater than in the cosmic sea.

Boom! Almost simultaneously, a sky-shaking explosion erupted from the stairway, as countless streams of light gathered from the surrounding darkness, quickly coalescing into an endless tide of golden radiance that surged towards Wu Yuan.

Those were no mere golden lights, but rather the Law of Metal’s essence from the Divine Essence Order.

Like a vast ocean, it crashed down violently, attempting to erase Wu Yuan’s two true selves.

This was a sight that would undoubtedly shock countless sempiternal lifeforms and even Eternals if word spread. Not because of the overwhelming might of these golden lights, but because their source represented a form of divine punishment – it was retribution from the essence of Metal in the River of Universes.

The so-called essence of the River of Universes was in fact formed by the convergence of fifteen Greater Laws – Time, Space, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and so on – operating under the Primordial Rules.

A Dao tribulation? So this is the Path of Legends? Wu Yuan pondered, yet made no move, his two true selves unflinchingly enduring the onslaught of countless golden lights.

Hiss~ His physical bodies immediately began to sustain damage, the outer layer of skin torn away to reveal the bright red flesh beneath. Some bones were even exposed.

However, the Dao and Laws imbued within each strand of golden light produced a mysterious resonance upon contact with his body, permeating Wu Yuan’s spirit as countless insights flooded his mind.

As expected! This is both tribulation and opportunity. Wu Yuan realized. This must be the comprehension opportunity the Heavenly Domain Emissary spoke of, where the myriad essences of the River of Universes manifest, allowing cultivators to gain new insights into the Laws and comprehend the profundities of the universes’ operations!

Boom! Wu Yuan’s body refiner self moved, suddenly lashing out with a punch. Though his fist was covered in blood, it was imbued with an overwhelmingly powerful Dao Intent, as if it could pierce through the very heavens!

Boom! The punch transcended past and present, its power limitless, embodying endless destructive energy that could annihilate all things.

In an instant, strands of golden light were annihilated under the impact of this punch, leaving only those mysterious resonances that permeated Wu Yuan like a great tonic, allowing Wu Yuan’s two true selves to gain even deeper insights into the Law of Metal.

In this moment, the consciousnesses of Wu Yuan’s two true selves seemed to become one with the vast and boundless essence of Metal, his awareness expanding to every corner of the River of Universes, his consciousness present wherever the Laws held sway… This bore a striking similarity to when he comprehended the Flower of Sin of the past.

In that instant, Wu Yuan’s comprehension of the Law of Metal skyrocketed.

Time flowed on.

With each step Wu Yuan ascended, those strands of golden light would manifest. But under the punches of Wu Yuan’s body refiner self, all these lights were reduced to dust. His divine fists swept across the heavens, their intent invincible.

That was Dao Intent capable of slaying Saints. It was a killing move that applied his understanding of eternity, born from insights into the Great Destruction–not something that could be suppressed or shaken by the Greater Laws of the River of Universes.

With each step he climbed, more Dao fluctuations suffused his body, and vast insights flooded Wu Yuan’s mind. He understood that this was a rare grand opportunity, one that could truly allow his spirit to merge with the operations of the Laws of the River of Universes. As long as he endured, ensuring his consciousness returned alive, it would be an immense blessing.

Comprehend all Laws, crystallize eternity. Wu Yuan now understood this grand opportunity.

Perhaps he could use this chance to thoroughly comprehend all Greater Laws.

Whoosh~ Along with the surges of vast golden light, endless lightning appeared in the surrounding void, transforming into an infinite sea of thunder. Electricity intertwined as it joined with the boundless golden light to strike at Wu Yuan.

First Metal, then Thunder! Could it be that in the end, all Laws will manifest, all the catastrophes of the River of Universes will appear, subjecting me to myriad tribulations? Wu Yuan’s eyes blazed with battle intent. If so, then I shall use my Dao to vanquish all other Daos.