Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1346: The Might Of Great Destruction (2)

“This move is called Light of Destruction,” said the Heavenly Imperator, nine golden divine swords gleaming in his grip as he smiled at Wu Yuan. “With this technique, I once stood alongside Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Though I execute it more skillfully now than I did then, I can only match you.

“I underestimated you. In the cosmic sea, I would have no chance of killing you.”

He acknowledged Wu Yuan’s strength. Perhaps Wu Yuan held the advantage with his two Xuanhuang Dao Treasures, and his ether might be somewhat stronger, but these weren’t excuses. Strength was strength.

“This second move,” the Heavenly Imperator continued, “is my strongest ultimate technique, the one that allowed me to surpass Hou Tu and become the strongest in the cosmic sea in attack power. You should be able to withstand it.” His smile deepened. “Very few Dao Zenithels have truly seen this move. Most who have seen it are already dead.”

The Heavenly Imperator waved his hand. With a thunderous boom, a towering mountain peak materialized at his feet, radiating an endless destructive aura. It stood like a supremely powerful Dao Zenithel, its ancient presence spreading outward.

Wu Yuan instantly recognized this mountain peak as the Imperator Mountain, the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure possessed by the Heavenly Imperator.

“Come,” Wu Yuan challenged, his eyes flashing golden as he focused on his opponent. “Let’s see just how strong it can be.”

The Imperator Mountain suddenly transformed, projecting a massive shadowy mountain above the Heavenly Imperator. In an instant, two mountains stood in opposition—one real, the other illusory.

With a deafening crash, the illusory mountain shattered, transforming into nine streams of gray light that fused into the nine divine swords. Their power surged visibly.

Wu Yuan’s pupils constricted. If he could sense that the nine divine swords were of the same source before, now they felt truly unified, as if merged into a single divine weapon.

The nine swords moved again, and nine streaks of golden light sliced through heaven and earth. Though appearing to be the most ordinary of attacks, they contained the most extreme destruction.

The nine golden lights encircled each other, perfectly combining into one.

Ultimate technique—Great Destruction!

This was the Heavenly Imperator’s strongest move, created by combining his self-created Dao with the essence of the Imperator Mountain. Its power had grown far more terrifying compared to when he only had eight Heavenly Imperator Swords. Nine compared to eight was not just one more—it formed the most perfect battle formation, like the final piece of a puzzle slotting into place.

The unified golden light enveloped Wu Yuan, evolving into infinite worlds and infinite possibilities, yet all pointed toward a single final outcome—destruction!

Destruction? Wu Yuan murmured, sensing the move’s profundities with shock. All possibilities, all origins, all lead to destruction. The great Dao knows no end, but the end of all paths is ultimately destruction…

Indeed, he was shocked. The depth of this move surpassed his imagination and vaguely opened a new world to him. It gave him the illusion that, in terms of pure destruction, even the moves of the founder of Frostheaven Peak seemed less pure than the Heavenly Imperator’s divine swords.

Unmixed with anything else. Not evolving into anything else. Born for destruction, perishing for destruction.

The ultimate destruction. This is true Great Destruction. Wu Yuan realized, understanding that this was a realm he could never hope to reach. Their Daos were different, incompatible. Wu Yuan’s heart would always contain hope and the spark of life. He could never cultivate such an ultimate technique.

But my Dao can find a glimmer of life even in destruction. Wu Yuan’s eyes grew resolute, completely unaffected by this world of endless destruction.

His Saber of Oblivion and the other eight battle sabers struck simultaneously. Nine blade rays merged, and waves of destruction and vitality spread out. It was the Dao resonance of the Saber of Oblivion.

Under the Heavenly Imperator’s pressure, Wu Yuan’s saber technique had changed. He had finally comprehended the last profundity of the Saber of Oblivion’s Dao essence: at the end of destruction lay vitality, but it was never necessary to destroy first for life to emerge.

Creation has always coexisted with destruction. Wu Yuan realized, his heart tranquil. The Saber of Oblivion, the trace of white light preserved on its blade, is hope. This saber, seemingly yearning to destroy everything, actually contains infinite hope.

As the blade rays blossomed, infinite vitality emerged from endless destruction.

Saber and sword collided, a clash of two utterly different Dao Intents! They met like a battle between two faiths, each seeking to prove the absolute strength and correctness of their own beliefs.

In an instant, they clashed trillions of times, competing in mana, in artifacts, and even more in the determination and will of two great powerhouses toward their own Daos.

Finally, the layers of blade rays sent out by Wu Yuan were annihilated time and again. No matter how powerful their vitality, they were ultimately extinguished by that golden light. Even the Chiaroscuro Domain was completely annihilated.

In this clash, Wu Yuan had clearly fallen into a disadvantageous position, but his eyes showed no disappointment. Instead, they gleamed with excitement.

Through the profundities of the Heavenly Imperator’s ultimate move, Wu Yuan had seen more possibilities in the evolution of his own Dao. Given just a bit more time, Wu Yuan’s saber technique would advance further, truly forging his own path based on the Primordial Rules.

The remaining golden light struck Wu Yuan’s body, forcing him back, yet unable to cause any real damage. An attack of this magnitude couldn’t harm Wu Yuan in the slightest.

How could Saint Yuan withstand that strike so effortlessly? Imperial Majesty Nan Guang watched from afar, utterly astonished. In his estimation, even if Wu Yuan could endure it, he would surely be completely overwhelmed. He never imagined Wu Yuan would merely be at a slight disadvantage.

Back then, the Heavenly Imperator used this move to overpower Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, yet Saint Yuan withstood it so easily? Various thoughts raced through Imperial Majesty Nan Guang’s mind. Does this mean Saint Yuan’s attack power is now comparable to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu’s?

His assessment wasn’t far off. In terms of Dao cultivation level and profundities, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu was indeed more advanced. But Wu Yuan, having fully deciphered the Saber of Oblivion, had completely caught up in terms of artifact levels. His ether was at an absolute advantage. In terms of pure offensive might, Wu Yuan essentially matched Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.

He truly stood at the pinnacle of the cosmic sea. Given more time, Wu Yuan’s physical attacks would surpass Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu’s, rivaling the Heavenly Imperator’s.

…

Destruction and creation coexisting. The Heavenly Imperator mused. This is essentially the Primordium! No, Saint Yuan’s self-created Dao is even more powerful than the fundamental nature of the Primordium. His strongest ultimate move had failed to prevail, yet he didn’t seem overly surprised. More accurately, the surprise in his heart paled in comparison to the joy he felt.

Just as Wu Yuan had benefited greatly from his ultimate move, the Heavenly Imperator was also inspired by Wu Yuan’s display, glimpsing a trace of the profundities within Wu Yuan’s saber techniques.

The Primordium. He thought. I underestimated it. Though the Primordial Rules are endlessly profound, the fusion of destruction and creation remains rigid, never truly merging. It’s ultimately not supreme perfection, incapable of perfect integration.

If perfect integration were achieved, we eternal powerhouses wouldn’t be able to discern the separate paths of destruction and creation at all when sensing the Primordial Rules. Countless thoughts surfaced in his mind.

Yet Saint Yuan’s Dao can achieve perfect integration. His saber technique is like two sides of the same coin, nearly perfect. It just lacks sufficient accumulation and hasn’t yet incorporated all Great Daos.

The Heavenly Imperator’s Dao cultivation level was simply too high. Over eons, he had sensed the workings of the Primordial Rules through the Immortal Court Universe. He had clashed with one Dao Zenithel after another. Then, he had entered Yonder Cliff and observed the Heavenly Cauldron. After that, he had come to the Realm of Destruction and contemplated the Original Sword. He had traversed and set foot in almost every expedition site across the cosmic sea before finally forming his own Dao.

His choice of ultimate destruction stemmed from his firm belief that this path could lead to the supreme pinnacle. The reason he went after Wu Yuan, besides verifying some guesses, was also to engage Wu Yuan in battle and experience Wu Yuan’s Dao firsthand. And the result left him immensely satisfied. Through Wu Yuan’s saber techniques, he saw another possibility of surpassing the Primordium.

The perfect fusion of destruction and creation. This must be the Perfect Dao of Han, absolutely transcending the Primordial Rules. This foundation aims for Grand Supreme from the very beginning.

Saint Yuan’s self-created Dao is not yet perfected, not yet at its zenith. However, it’s still ultimately just the limit of rule operations within the supreme framework. Even Han is not omnipotent; Lord Hong can rival him. My destruction, however, can encompass the destruction of the real and illusory, matter, laws, and all things…”

The Heavenly Imperator never considered his own Dao inferior to Wu Yuan’s. Weakness and strength always varied from person to person. And the Heavenly Imperator, from beginning to end, firmly believed himself to be the strongest.

“Saint Yuan, being able to withstand my second move proves your strength is no less than mine,” the Heavenly Imperator’s voice echoed through endless spacetime. “I admire you greatly, Primordium’s foremost genius. Your reputation is well-deserved.”

“The Heavenly Imperator’s Dao also commands my admiration,” Wu Yuan replied in a deep voice.

As the two peerless powerhouses clashed, each could sense the other’s might, deepening their mutual respect.

“However,” the Heavenly Imperator continued, his tone shifting, “our paths differ; we cannot work together. If only you were a member of my Immortal Court.” A hint of regret colored his voice. “This is the Realm of Destruction. Here, I am not the same as in the world outside.

“However, I must thank you. Without you, the power of my third move wouldn’t have reached new heights.”

His voice grew cold, tinged with cruelty. “This third move. If you cannot withstand it, I will kill you.”

Kill Saint Yuan? Imperial Majesty Nan Guang was stunned, seemingly surprised by the declaration.

“Kill me?” Wu Yuan’s pupils constricted slightly. The Heavenly Imperator clearly understood his own power, yet he dared make such a claim? There had to be a reason.

The Heavenly Imperator suddenly waved his hand, recalling the nine divine swords in his grasp. Even the Imperator Mountain beneath his feet vanished.

This sight further shocked Wu Yuan. To put away all weapons and artifacts? Was the Heavenly Imperator planning to fight bare-handed? Or had he ascended to the level of Grand Supreme? But Wu Yuan sensed no change in the Heavenly Imperator’s aura. A transformation in one’s order of life would be nearly impossible to conceal.

The Heavenly Imperator’s towering form shrank, his extra arms disappearing until only two remained. He had returned to his normal form

Silently, an entirely pitch-black divine sword materialized from nothingness, appearing in the Heavenly Imperator’s grasp.

As this divine sword manifested, spacetime seemed to crumble subtly. Everything in heaven and earth felt simultaneously suppressed. Even Wu Yuan, with his powerful aura, suddenly felt insignificant.

What? Imperial Majesty Nan Guang’s eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the divine sword that had appeared out of thin air. His heart surged with shock. He had seen this sword many times before, but this was his first time witnessing the Heavenly Imperator truly wielding it.

This? Wu Yuan stared intently at the divine sword. Destruction! This sword? As its tip pointed at him, he felt as if he were destined for destruction. Imperceptibly, it had already affected Wu Yuan’s Dao Heart.

The Heavenly Imperator seemed to exert all his might, gripping the black divine sword tightly. With the slightest movement, strands of light emerged, causing the entire void to change hues.

The Original Sword? Wu Yuan finally confirmed. What other weapon could possess such power? Apart from the Original Sword, one of the Three Supreme Divine Objects, what else could it be? From the dawn of the Primordium, a super powerhouse capable of wielding a supreme divine object had finally appeared.

Flee! Without hesitation, Wu Yuan recalled his mana body and frantically fled into the distant void.