Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1252: Wu Yuan’s Strength (1)

Boundless black and white qi streams intertwined across the battlefield as Wu Yuan’s eternal ultimate technique, Chiaroscuro Domain, erupted with full force.

Boom! The surging energies slammed into True Saint Mu Jiang’s battle armor with earth-shattering force. Though the True Saint could withstand the domain’s impact, his movement slowed dramatically, his speed reduced by more than half. Shock registered across his face.

This…! He gasped, eyes widening. What kind of domain secret art possesses such heaven-defying power? His saber techniques were already extraordinary, and now this domain art proves equally formidable, truly at the Full True Saint level. Astonishment washed over Mu Jiang.

How can I know nothing about such a powerful True Saint? Who is this person?

The question rattled through his mind. All great power has its origins. Logically, a True Saint of this caliber should rank among the top hundred across the entire cosmic sea, their name echoing through all factions. Even a cultivator on the verge of a breakthrough would have been a True Saint before, with at least some measure of fame.

After all, throughout the endless cosmic sea and its long ages, only that many True Saints had ever been born. How could one remain completely unknown?

First, a mysterious True Saint Tian Chan appeared, instantly claiming fourth rank on the True Saint Rankings. No, another mysterious saber-wielding True Saint emerges from nowhere. Countless thoughts flashed through Mu Jiang’s mind in an instant.

Then, like a lightning strike, realization exploded in his consciousness.

Uses a saber? Incredibly strong, yet has never appeared before? Already obtained the treasure, yet unwilling to leave, and engaging him in a fight to the death?

“Wu Yuan!” he roared, staring intently at the approaching black-armored figure. “You are Wu Yuan!!”

Everything suddenly made sense. No wonder the saber technique felt familiar. He had studied recordings of Wu Yuan’s battles more than once. While recordings couldn’t capture the internal workings of Dao profundities, the external appearance was similar enough.

“Haha!” Wu Yuan’s radiant smile shone through his battle fervor. “As expected of True Saint Mu Jiang, you’ve guessed right. Unfortunately, there’s no prize!”

Wu Yuan wasn’t surprised that he’d been identified. At the True Saint level, only so many powerhouses existed across the endless cosmic sea, each with their unique self-created Daos. Even with deliberate imitation, one couldn’t perfectly replicate another’s techniques and methods.

Within his own domain, Wu Yuan’s speed, strength, and other attributes were greatly enhanced. He swiftly closed the distance to Mu Jiang.

Towering a million li tall, Wu Yuan resembled a god or devil in the primordial chaos. Yet despite his colossal form, he moved with uncanny grace. Empowered by the Xiantian Instrument, Duskweave, his movements became ghostly and elusive.

Wu Yuan rarely employed wing artifacts. In the past, he had mainly relied on Little Black. As a lifebound eldritch beast, the Teng Snake could theoretically grow alongside him continuously, but even this method had its limits—the ultimate boundary of the Great Dao itself.

Little Black, being a lifeform, needed to walk its own path to create an eternal self-created Dao. In a sense, the Saint Realm opened by Wu Yuan was also Little Black’s Saint Realm, allowing it to grow rapidly to the Peak Perennial level.

To advance further to the Saint stage, however, depended entirely on Little Black’s own efforts. Of course, if Wu Yuan’s Saint Realm grew strong enough and he eventually opened an Eternal Realm, Little Black might become a Saint or even a True Saint while immersed in the profundities of the Eternal Realm’s evolution progress. It even had a small possibility of becoming a Dao Zenithel.

But that was for the future. For now, Little Black temporarily couldn’t assist Wu Yuan.

As for the lifebound flying swords of Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self? Over the past hundred million years, they had been nurtured to high-grade Xiantian artifacts alongside the breakthrough of his qi refiner self’s self-created Dao. The normal limit of growth for lifebound flying swords was the Xiantian Instrument level, capable of power approaching Chaos Treasures in their master’s hands.

To surpass that level would require an enormous price. Naturally, should he reforge his lifebound flying swords into Chaos Treasures in the future, they would be more powerful than standard ones. However, Wu Yuan had only dispatched his mana body and ether body for this expedition, both of which faced a high likelihood of dying in battle. His mana body wouldn’t risk carrying his irreplaceable lifebound flying swords.

Of course, while his lifebound flying swords could potentially grow stronger than other Chaos Treasures in the future, they would still pale in comparison to Xuanhuang Dao Treasures.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Wu Yuan attacked with lightning speed, his nine battle sabers forcing True Saint Mu Jiang into repeated retreats. But constrained by the Chiaroscuro Domain, Mu Jiang knew that escape was impossible.

Unable to flee, his only option was to fight to the death!

Boom! True Saint Mu Jiang struggled desperately, controlling two Xiantian Instruments while manifesting nine arms that wielded nine battle sabers, frantically fighting back.

“Close combat?” Wu Yuan’s laughter echoed across the battlefield. “Mu Jiang, you dare engage me in close combat?” His form remained ghostly and elusive as he unleashed his saber technique upon his opponent.

Wu Yuan employed the sixth move of his ultimate technique—Worldforge.

Over the eons, he had accumulated deep insights. Though his body refiner self hadn’t yet taken the third step of its self-created Dao, his understanding of the second step of his self-created Dao had deepened immeasurably.

If the sixth move could only be considered Standard True Saint level when initially created, its offensive power now reached the Peak True Saint level.

No! How can he be this strong? He truly possesses Full True Saint strength, not merely relying on some secret treasure. Even if his talent is unrivaled, how could he reach the limit of the third step so quickly? Anxiety and fury mingled in True Saint Mu Jiang’s mind as the endless onslaught of saber strikes steadily weakened his vital aura.

Most crucial was the Eternal Psyche. In battles between eternal powerhouses, the Eternal Psyche was key. Under repeated frenzied impacts, it could shatter completely. Once shattered, he would fall!

Mu Jiang’s assessment was indeed correct. In terms of his self-created Dao, neither Wu Yuan’s body refiner self nor qi refiner self could be said to have reached the limit of the True Saint level.

However, Wu Yuan’s body refiner self’s Dao was exceptionally powerful, and the Saint Realm he opened was vast and boundless, providing an extremely strong ether foundation for his ether body. It was at least 50% stronger than other True Saints.

Combined with the nine Xiantian Instrument battle sabers Wu Yuan currently wielded, artifacts he had redeemed from the Eldritch Court’s treasury long ago, his arsenal far exceeded most True Saints. Few True Saints had such an impressive array of offensive artifacts.

An extraordinarily strong foundation, incredibly powerful artifacts, coupled with formidable saber techniques, all combined to elevate Wu Yuan’s offensive power to the Full True Saint level.

Wu Yuan’s killing intent soared as he stared intently at True Saint Mu Jiang. I must end this swiftly.

Wu Yuan knew that the other True Saints of the Immortal Court were certainly rushing over as they fought. Once they arrived and coordinated their efforts, killing Mu Jiang would become significantly more difficult.

At this moment, Wu Yuan had only one goal: to eliminate True Saint Mu Jiang. Better to sever one finger than injure ten.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan employed Worldforge repeatedly. Within the Chiaroscuro Domain, surging Xuanhuang qi billowed forth, each strike seemingly recreating the formation of heaven and earth. In such intense combat, Wu Yuan’s insights continued improving, the power of his saber techniques increasing with each moment.

This damned domain! True Saint Mu Jiang was completely panicked. Yan Huo! Come quickly! Hurry!

According to previous intelligence, Wu Yuan was only skilled in saber techniques. How could he have created such a powerful domain technique? How could his movements be so bizarrely unpredictable?

In theory, any self-created Dao should have flaws. If its physical attacks were strong, its other aspects wouldn’t be so formidable. Without this domain technique, Mu Jiang could have fought while retreating. Even at a disadvantage, his losses would have been minimal. If Wu Yuan’s movements weren’t so elusive, he could have blocked most attacks.

But there were no ifs. Mu Jiang didn’t know that Wu Yuan’s self-created Dao was already nearly perfect and complete. Creating new secret arts came naturally to him.

Of course, True Saint Mu Jiang was in no mood to investigate. He only wanted to escape, but couldn’t. He was at an absolute disadvantage, his vital aura diminishing.

…

“It’s Wu Yuan?” The news spread rapidly among the other True Saints.

“That mysterious True Saint who obtained the Chaos Orichalcum vein is Wu Yuan?”

“Wu Yuan has already become this powerful?” Whether it was True Saint Mu Jing stationed at the Twin Purple Mountain stronghold or True Saint Yan Huo en route, all observed the battle through the immortal voidrealm with extreme shock.

“Only a billion years have passed since he became a True Saint, yet he already possesses Full True Saint strength? And his domain and movement technique are both incredibly formidable.” These True Saints found it difficult to accept.

Indeed, they acknowledged that Wu Yuan was a monstrous prodigy, even more extraordinary than the Heavenly Imperator in his younger days. But surely there had to be a cap on one’s talent! Cultivating as an eternal lifeform was completely different from cultivating as a sempiternal lifeform. Yet he was this strong after just a hundred million years?

“This Wu Yuan is truly insane!”

“His strength is indeed astounding. Such power would undoubtedly place him among the top hundred in the entire cosmic sea. But how long has he been cultivating for? He dares dispatch his true self to the Ninth Chaos Void?” While shocked by Wu Yuan’s might, the True Saints couldn’t help but admire his audacity.

Certainly, Dao Masters were considered immortal, able to resurrect repeatedly from the Great Dao’s essence. But so-called immortality was always relative. For ordinary Dao Zenithels, perhaps three or four revivals were the limit. Some extremely powerful ones with deep accumulations might manage six or seven resurrections at most.

As for Dao Masters? They could revive more than ten times, but not infinitely. Even the Great Dao’s essence had its limits.

“Perhaps he wishes to temper himself.”

“Relying on his immense power and Dao Master status, he dares to send his true self forth.” The Immortal Court True Saints felt somewhat frustrated. Wu Yuan clearly looked down on them.

“Mu Jiang, hold on,” True Saint Yan Huo sent urgent messages. “In half a day, I’ll arrive.”

Though Wu Yuan’s strength was formidable, True Saint Yan Huo remained confident. After all, he ranked twelfth on the True Saint Rankings.

…

As Wu Yuan remained locked in struggle against True Saint Mu Jiang, news of their clash had already reached the highest authorities within the Immortal Court. True Saint Mu Jing had personally made the report.

Wu Yuan’s true self has appeared in the Ninth Chaos Void? And within the heart of our Immortal Court’s territory? Immortal Eminence Jiu You’s eyes gleamed with excitement upon receiving the report. With Wu Yuan’s true self present, the possibility of his permanent elimination suddenly seemed within reach.

However, as Jiu You’s eyes scanned the latter portion of the document, his expression transformed into one of utter disbelief. Full True Saint level? Impossible!

If Wu Yuan had somehow reached the Peak True Saint level, that would have been astonishing enough.

Even a Dao Master’s development shouldn’t proceed at such a terrifying pace. Immortal Eminence Jiu You contemplated.

During the Primordial Era, the ten most ancient Dao Masters had rapidly risen to become Dao Zenithels, the first of their kind across the endless cosmic sea. Yet even the swiftest among them required over a trillion years to reach that level.

Compared to Wu Yuan? The disparity was stark.

Enough! Jiu You finally shook his head. Wu Yuan’s affairs are no longer my business. Let Imperial Majesty Dong Huo and the others concern themselves with this matter.

He sighed deeply. Full True Saint? Perhaps Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu has granted him some extraordinary life-preserving treasure. Killing him will be no easy feat.

…

Within the vast expanse of the Ninth Chaos Void, Wu Yuan and True Saint Mu Jiang engaged in a furious battle. Despite Wu Yuan’s relentless efforts to contain his opponent, True Saint Mu Jiang managed to retreat again and again.

Their confrontation could only be described as a wild pursuit across the heavens.

A quarter hour passed, then half an hour. Soon, a full hour went by.

The shockwaves emanating from their conflict distorted the spacetime along their path, pulverizing numerous ruined continents into dust. Countless Saints of the Immortal Court sensed the disturbance and watched from afar, their faces masks of stunned disbelief.

All fled to safer distances, none daring to venture closer.

Everyone who sensed the conflict recognized that this was no ordinary skirmish. This was a genuine clash between True Saints.

“Isn’t that True Saint Mu Jiang? Our Immortal Court’s own True Saint Mu Jiang?”

“But who is the enemy? He’s actually overwhelming True Saint Mu Jiang.” The numerous Immortal Court Saints exchanged anxious glances, fear rippling through their ranks.

News of this battle spread like wildfire among the Immortal Court powerhouses stationed in the Ninth Chaos Void. Though these Saints harbored their suspicions, none had confirmed Wu Yuan’s identity with certainty.

Of course, with the conflict erupting so suddenly, the Eldritch Court remained completely unaware of these developments.

…

The entire upper echelons of the Immortal Court were in uproar, following this confrontation closely. Yet at this crucial moment, no one could extend aid to True Saint Mu Jiang.

He stood alone against the storm.

“True Saint Mu Jiang is barely holding his ground.”

“Wu Yuan’s saber technique is truly terrifying. Its power not only warps spacetime but subtly unravels and eliminates it.”

“But the most problematic is his domain’s constraints. True Saint Yan Huo may arrive too late.” The assembled Immortal Court True Saints observing through the Immortal Court Voidrealm seethed with a mixture of anxiety and rage.