Yuan’s Ascension

Swoosh~ Having completed its transformation, the aura of the lifebound flying sword quickly receded.

Soon, it appeared utterly ordinary, even more commonplace than the other eight mid-grade celestial lifebound flying swords. Only Wu Yuan, wielding it with perfect control, could sense the terrifying power this lifebound flying sword held.

For those like Master Dong Yang who don’t follow the optimal evolution pathway, their lifebound flying swords, upon reaching the high-grade celestial artifact level, can only approach mid-grade Dao Instrument power at full force. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

From spirit equipment to spirion equipment, then to celestial equipment and Dao Instrument, the power gap between each artifact grade grew increasingly vast.

Even for lifebound artifacts, bridging these gaps became progressively more difficult. Only artifacts following the optimal evolution pathway held any hope of success.

Whether it’s the Hundred Swords Silver River, Golden River, and Myriad Stars Celestial Chain possessed by my qi refiner self, or the Hundred Stars Saber and Mystic Turtle Shell owned by my body refiner self, the biggest issue is that my mana capacity is insufficient. Wu Yuan reflected.

In terms of maximum power, Dao Instruments like the Hundred Swords Silver River and Hundred Stars Saber surpassed Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self’s lifebound flying sword.

However, to unleash the Hundred Stars Saber’s full power? At least Sovereign strength was needed. Displaying the Hundred Swords Silver River’s maximum power required quasi-Sovereign power.

Wu Yuan hadn’t achieved either yet.

Therefore, considering only the present, it was his lifebound flying sword that wielded the most power in Wu Yuan’s hands.

The most suitable choice was the best choice, just as the most suitable weapon for a child would be a small knife rather than a spiked club weighing a hundred catties.

Moreover, I have nine lifebound flying swords. Wu Yuan reflected. Among the Supreme Geniuses in the vast megaverse, some might also upgrade their lifebound artifacts through the optimal evolution pathway, but not all possess nine lifebound artifacts.

In this aspect at least, I’ve reached the limit of what is possible. Wu Yuan was full of anticipation.

In terms of foundation and immortal root, he had achieved perfection – even the lofty Overlords could not have done any better.

In the future, once I fully comprehend the Law of Space, these lifebound flying swords can be upgraded directly to high-grade Dao Instruments. Wu Yuan sensed the rich essence of Space contained within that one lifebound flying sword.

He had established a flawless foundation for it. Only lifebound flying swords following the optimal evolution pathway could become high-grade Dao Instrument artifacts.

High-grade Dao Instrument lifebound artifacts represented the pinnacle of artifacts in heaven and earth and were absolutely perfect – even the slightest flaw would relegate them to mid-grade Dao Instruments.

To upgrade his lifebound artifact from a high-grade celestial artifact to a high-grade Dao Instrument, no external materials were required. After absorbing so much essence from the Space Essence Stone, the lifebound flying sword already possessed the foundation of a high-grade Dao Instrument. Wu Yuan would only need to imbue it with Dao essence in the future.

Unfortunately, the amethyst cradle has limited capacity, and can only nurture one flying sword at a time. Wu Yuan mused. The process of nurturing all nine flying swords can’t be rushed.

In reality, nurturing one successfully in just several thousand years was already astonishingly fast. This was only possible due to Wu Yuan’s dual Apotheosis root and soul. With just a first-degree immortal root, Wu Yuan estimated it would take tens of thousands of years to nurture one sword at least.

With the first success as a precedent, the process will accelerate. Wu Yuan was quite expectant.

In the future, once all nine lifebound flying swords completed their upgrades, his qi refiner self would not necessarily be inferior to his body refiner self in direct combat.

The various Great Daos each had their specialties. The Great Dao of Spacetime was unrivaled in control. The Great Dao of Creation wasn’t the strongest in offense, somewhat inferior to the Great Dao of Destruction, but its recovery ability was most terrifying, most suited for prolonged battles.

In Wu Yuan’s view, it wasn’t that his qi refiner self’s attack power was insufficient, but rather that his body refiner self was more formidable.

Moreover, in Wu Yuan’s overall plan, his qi refiner self would specialize in control and group combat.

My body refiner self still hasn’t reached the Dao Field stage of Creation. At the current rate of comprehension, I should be able to cultivate part three of ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’ to a great degree of mastery before the Megaverse Crossroads opens.

Wu Yuan’s two true selves shared a single consciousness. Over thousands of years, his body refiner self had also progressed. Though his Dao comprehension had hit a bottleneck, his strength continued to increase steadily and unhurriedly.

The path of cultivation was endlessly long – being hasty was a cardinal error. Maintaining a steady mindset was extremely important.

Hopefully I can upgrade a second lifebound flying sword before the Megaverse Crossroads opens. Wu Yuan stopped pondering further, devoting a small portion of his mental energy to upgrading his lifebound flying sword.

The vast majority of his focus remained on comprehending the Law of Space. Though it sounded slow, Wu Yuan had actually sorted everything out clearly in the blink of an eye.

With each step forward, he would reassess and clarify his future cultivation path.

Hum~ Those strands of mysterious Primordial Matter continued to merge into every part of Wu Yuan’s body, allowing him to comprehend the Law of Space at an astounding rate.

Spatial Rift! Qiankun! True Domain!

Countless profound Space Dao patterns manifested on Wu Yuan’s body, then combined in different ways before dispersing and reforming. He experimented repeatedly, seeking the perfect combination.

If an immortal cultivator who had just begun comprehending the Law of Space sat beside Wu Yuan and watched the countless Dao patterns randomly manifesting around him, they would certainly be dumbfounded.

Moreover, if such a cultivator observed Wu Yuan as a target for comprehension, they would benefit immensely.

This was the Dao! The path of cultivation was the pursuit of the Great Dao, and when cultivated to extremely high levels, a super powerhouse in some sense became an embodiment of the Dao.

Wu Yuan, who had cultivated for over ten thousand years, had grown ever closer to attaining the Dao without realizing it, just one step away from the Sovereign level.

…

Time flowed like water, and another thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self left the Primordial Hall and returned to cultivate at Taiyuan Island, calmly awaiting the opening of the Megaverse Crossroads.

Only hundreds of years remained. In a sense, the Megaverse Crossroads could open at any time now.

In the distant Greenridge Macrocosm, within the Summerpeak World.

After several thousand years of development, the entire Summerpeak World had grown increasingly prosperous with Wu Yuan’s help. It now spanned hundreds of millions of li in diameter, and was home to countless living beings.

At the highest peak of Archeldritch Mountain in the Middle Land, outside the hall.

Today, the highest echelon of the entire Summerpeak lineage had gathered – Wu Yijun, Fang Xia, Gu Qi… the weakest among them were all Earth Immortals.

“Yuan’er, do you really have to go for that long? Over ten thousand years?” his mother Wanqin couldn’t help but ask.

Having consumed the medicinal pill gifted by Sovereign Kua Chi, she now had a lifespan of one million years, thus she appeared quite youthful.

“Mother, I’ve heard Master mention the Megaverse Crossroads a few times – it’s a clash of top-tier geniuses from the rivers of space and time,” Wu Yijun said. “It takes place in another realm entirely. Being gone for ten thousand years is normal – perhaps just the journey there will take a very long time.”

“Young Master is among the top geniuses across the entire river of space and time – this is an opportunity like no other, so of course he must participate,” Fang Xia said solemnly.

Thanks to Wu Yuan, the highest echelons of the Summerpeak World were far more knowledgeable compared to the past, having access to many secrets unknown to ordinary High Immortals.

Over the years, though Wu Yuan’s body refiner self resided in Cang Feng Temple, his ether body spent most of its time in the Summerpeak World, accompanying his family and cultivating quietly.

Others couldn’t distinguish between Wu Yuan’s ether body and true self. Moreover, Wu Yuan wouldn’t reveal his cultivation secrets to his family, as there was no benefit to them. So, they weren’t aware that this wasn’t Wu Yuan’s true self before them.

“Mother, I’ll be gone several thousand years at least, and twenty thousand at most,” Wu Yuan smiled. “Not too long really.”

Based on what Wu Yuan knew, the Megaverse Crossroads had no absolute time limit – the shortest in history lasted just over three thousand years, while the longest continued for nearly twenty thousand years. Its internal operating mechanisms weren’t fully understood even by the various Saintdoms.

Wu Yuan could sense the varying attitudes toward his departure. Things were different this time – once he decided to participate, both Wu Yuan’s true selves as well as his mana body and ether body would enter.

Within the Megaverse Crossroads, there was no way to contact his home.

Thus, his mother was very reluctant to part with him, while those like Fang Xia who had experienced many tribulations strongly supported Wu Yuan.

Of course, Wanqin’s perspective had also broadened considerably – though reluctant, she understood that Wu Yuan’s decision was correct.

“Mother, the future is long – ten thousand years isn’t much,” Wu Yuan smiled.

Then, he turned his gaze to Fang Xia: “Old Fang, I’ll be leaving the Summerpeak World to you. Though Yijun’s abilities are decent, she’s still weaker than you.”

“The World Master will have my full assistance,” Fang Xia quickly replied.

At the moment, both Fang Xia and Wu Yijun had cultivated to the High Immortal phase, but even with an Archimmortal’s guidance, Wu Yijun still couldn’t match Fang Xia.

Over the years, Fang Xia had gradually revealed his own brilliance, and with Wu Yuan’s full support, he had the potential to attain Archimmortality in the future.

Many great talents failed to rise to their full potential due to a lack of resources and opportunities. But without a doubt, Wu Yuan could provide Fang Xia with both.

“Zishan, Zimu,” Wu Yuan’s gaze swept across his two nephews. “Help your mother shoulder her burdens, and take good care of your grandmother.”

“Yes,” Wu Zishan and Wu Zimu replied respectfully.

His once naive nephews had been tempered by time, and were now both Earth Immortals.

In fact, several members of the Wu Clan’s younger generation were also here to send him off, including talented juniors of an even younger age.

However, Wu Yuan didn’t care much for them. The familial bonds he cared about stopped at his two nephews.

As for the later generations of the Wu Clan? Unless their talent was exceptionally stunning, he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to them.

Unfortunately, in over ten thousand years, the Wu Clan had never produced anyone truly brilliant.

“Gu Qi,” Wu Yuan turned his gaze to another youth in fiery red robes with an exceptionally powerful vital aura.

This youngster, who had once received Wu Yuan’s guidance, had continued to grow, later earning Wu Yuan’s high regard due to his brilliant performance.

After ten thousand years, he had become an Earth Eldritch with considerable strength, and was a member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field.

Though merely an unremarkable member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field, he was already an invaluable member of the Summerpeak lineage.

“Master,” Gu Qi said respectfully.

Indeed! He had become Wu Yuan’s nominal disciple, and was Wu Yuan’s only disciple in the Summerpeak World.

“In terms of talent, you are second only to me in the Summerpeak World, and I have high hopes for you,” Wu Yuan said. “Don’t slack in your cultivation while I’m gone.

“I’ve already spoken with Astral Monarch Hou Qu. If you encounter any major troubles in the Origin Eldritch Field, you can seek his help,” Wu Yuan said.

Wu Yuan had paved the way for his one and only disciple, albeit a nominal one.

“Thank you, Master,” Gu Qi felt excited.

As a member of the Origin Eldritch Field, he knew Astral Monarch Hou Qu’s status – one of the top Astral Monarchs of the eldritch world, managing all five Origin Eldritch Fields.