Yuan’s Ascension

Days passed one by one.

Just over a month later.

"He’s not stopping. Ming Jian is still on the mainland, despite the Immortal Court dispatching hordes of powerhouses. They can't halt his killing spree."

"Still as elusive and unrivaled as ever."

"He’s closing in on 3.1 billion ethercrystal laurels!"

"Only 20 million left to go."

"Ming Jian is truly astonishing."

"I knew he wouldn't disappoint us."

When Wu Yuan’s ethercrystal laurel count reached the three billion mark, the Eldritch Court camp buzzed with excitement, especially those from the Cang Feng Eldritch World.

Eons of relentless conflict had etched a deep-seated hatred for the Voltari Temple into their bones, alongside their belief that eliminating the enemy was their sacred duty.

As Ming Jian's ethercrystal laurels continued to increase, the powerhouses felt as though they were right there with him, hearts pounding with excitement. They all eagerly hoped that Ming Jian would carve a bloody path through the encirclement of Immortal Hall geniuses.

However, when only 10 million ethercrystal laurels remained to break the highest record in 10 billion years, his progress suddenly halted.

"What’s going on?"

"Has he stopped killing? With just 10 million left, it should only take him three days at most, given Ming Jian’s efficiency."

"Could it be that he’s afraid?" An uproar surged through the Eldritch Court camp. They were all curious, puzzled, and confused.

...

"Where exactly is this Ming Jian?"

"He was clearly active in this area, yet dozens of teams couldn't find him at all."

"No matter how strong his soul is, it can’t possibly have evolved to a Yuan Soul, right?"

"He hasn’t initiated another battle. We've checked the site of his last clash, but there's no trace of him." Many peerless geniuses and Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses from the Voltari Temple felt a wave of helplessness as they scoured the battlefield in vain.

...

In an inconspicuous mountain range on the mainland, deep within a vast cave, Wu Yuan sat in lotus position on a jade platform inside his spirion battleship.

These people are truly naive, still searching for me? Wu Yuan's thoughts were clear as he meditated.

Amidst the constant battles, his Soul Will scanned his surroundings continuously, easily detecting the movements of Immortal Hall geniuses, yet he chose to avoid them.

The reason Wu Yuan could sit here peacefully was simple: his Yuan Soul enveloped everything.

Even if the Soul Will of a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse swept by, it wouldn’t detect him. This was one of the wonders of the Yuan Soul.

As for the highest kill record on the battlefield, Wu Yuan had never cared about it. Records were illusory; only strength was real. It was like how he had the confidence to clear level 79 of the one-star tower yet never attempted it. There was no need—apart from drawing the attention of his enemies, there were no other benefits.

Why had he stopped when there were only 10 million ethercrystal laurels to go? The reason was simple: the blood mist had once again reached saturation.

Nothing is happening. Wu Yuan silently observed.

In his upper dantian lobe, the blood mist had accumulated to its saturation point, yet neither the black pagoda nor the stone pillar atop it reacted.

Twelve Origin Blood Droplets, strengthening my soul time and again, even breaking the limits of heaven and earth’s rules, Wu Yuan mused. I had a feeling there would be a limit to this limit-breaking.

His soul couldn't grow stronger indefinitely. Indeed, his hunch was confirmed.

Twelve Origin Blood Droplets, just enough to transform my soul into a Yuan Soul. Perhaps there are some kind of rules at work here too. Wu Yuan pondered but couldn't fully unravel the mystery.

Regarding the black pagoda, he knew a bit about its origins and had made some guesses, but he had only scratched the surface of its mysteries. The vast majority of its secrets remained shrouded in fog, seemingly waiting for him to explore.

At least, it seems my qi refiner self won’t receive any further gifts from the black pagoda at the Amethyst Cradle phase. Wu Yuan reflected. I just don’t know if my body refiner self can form another Origin Blood Droplet by accumulating blood mist to its saturation point?

Wu Yuan wasn’t very confident. Based on past experiences, the black pagoda's effects on his qi refiner self and body refiner self seemed to differ.

Hmm? Suddenly, Wu Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly as a flicker of surprise passed through them. Master Kua Chi has summoned me?

This caught Wu Yuan off guard. It wasn’t his body refiner self being summoned, but his qi refiner self, and he was to meet his master in his personal space within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. This was the message his body refiner self had just received.

...

With Wu Yuan’s two true selves cultivating the soul secret art to this day, one could say that from outward appearances alone, it was nearly impossible to tell they were both him. At least, neither the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm nor the Eldritch Court’s Dao Temple could tell.

In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, within his qi refiner self’s personal hall.

Countless motes of light converged, and the silhouette of a man in beast hide appeared in the hall. His aura was ethereal, carrying no pressure, yet he seemed to stand at the infinitely distant edge of heaven and earth.

"Master." Wu Yuan's qi refiner avatar bowed respectfully.

"This is the first time I've met with your qi refiner self, isn’t it?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked down at his little disciple. "And in the voidrealm, no less."

"Master." Wu Yuan bowed again, feeling a slight tightening in his chest. Even in the voidrealm, his master’s gaze seemed to possess an inconceivable power, as though able to pierce through his secrets.

"Your growth over these past ten-plus years has been quite impressive," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi remarked lightly. "One could say it has far exceeded my expectations."

Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.

Far exceeded? This was high praise, especially from a sovereign-level existence.

"Even your senior brothers Jiang Huan and Chang Hong didn’t shine as brilliantly as you during their younger days," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued.

"I wouldn’t dare compare myself to my two senior brothers," Wu Yuan replied softly.

"What's this talk of daring? Strong is strong, weak is weak," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a faint smile. "There’s no need for modesty at a time like this. Where has your killing intent and arrogance from dominating the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield gone?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master," Wu Yuan nodded lightly, accepting the rebuke.

Indeed, Eldritch cultivators didn’t seem to favor modesty; they preferred straightforwardness and direct action.

"Master, why have you come to see me?" Wu Yuan asked.

"The Voltari Temple has now mobilized a large number of Immortal Hall members and a great many Void Refiner-level cultivators to encircle and annihilate you. Are you afraid?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked lightly.

"I’m not afraid!" Wu Yuan shook his head. "I am confident I can handle it."

"Good." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded in satisfaction. "Here’s an intelligence dossier on the top-tier geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall. It’s all information gathered by the eldritch world's intelligence department. You may peruse it."

Whoosh~ A virtual immortal slip materialized in the air.

Wu Yuan was slightly stunned.

“I have only one task for you: break that kill record," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed. "Kill as many enemies as possible, and slay those Immortal Hall geniuses. Reveal the full extent of strength and talent of your qi refiner self."

Wu Yuan was taken aback.

"Don’t worry about your safety. I will make all the necessary arrangements," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said with a mysterious smile. "As long as you break the record, the result will certainly not disappoint you."

"Understood," Wu Yuan nodded, harboring some guesses in his mind.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.

"Master, I obtained a Bronze Immutable Token," Wu Yuan hurriedly inquired. "How should I handle it?"

Leaking news of the Bronze Immutable Token to others might invite disaster, but Wu Yuan trusted that Master Kua Chi wouldn’t go that far.

"A Bronze Immutable Token?" A flash of surprise crossed Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi's eyes. "How much time is left before the deadline?"

"Less than twenty years," Wu Yuan answered honestly.

"Hmm, there’s still time. No need to rush," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded slightly. "Wait until your qi refiner self leaves the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, then seek an opportunity to venture forth.

In a few days, I’ll provide you with some intelligence about the Immutable Land. Though it’s fraught with danger, with your talent and strength, you might be able to obtain a great opportunity. Go and attempt it."

"Yes," Wu Yuan’s heart settled somewhat. As expected, his master had some intelligence about the Immutable Land that he couldn’t access.

"Is there anything else?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.

"No," Wu Yuan shook his head.

"Mm." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. "I’ll give you special authority. From now on, both of your true selves will be able to contact me directly through the eldritch voidrealm. If you’re in danger, you can seek me. However, I hope that barring major issues, you’ll be able to resolve things on your own."

"I understand," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.

Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi nodded slightly before his form dispersed into countless motes of light.

...

Wu Yuan stood still in his personal hall for some time, pondering.

Master must have a reason for suddenly appearing and tasking me with breaking the kill record. However, since Master has promised protection, there’s no need for further misgivings.

At the same time, Wu Yuan sensed the change in his master’s attitude toward him.

The first time I met Master, when I became his disciple, he didn’t really value me much. The second time, when I claimed the heaven-tier title in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field and acquired the True Spatial Domain Tome, he treated me with more importance. Wu Yuan mused.

And this time, I’ve obtained the right to see Master at any time.

Perhaps I've truly gained Master’s recognition in a meaningful sense.

Wu Yuan’s gaze fell on the virtual immortal slip beside him. He lightly tapped it with his fingertip, and it displayed its contents.

Wu Yuan swiftly browsed through it, gaining a clearer understanding of the strength of this generation’s top geniuses from the Fourth Immortal Hall.

After a while, he memorized it all.

It’s time to act. A glint of killing intent flashed through Wu Yuan’s eyes. You want to kill me? We'll see who’s the one doing the killing. The blood of the Immortal Hall geniuses will pave my road to becoming number one on the battlefield.

With that thought, Wu Yuan’s consciousness retracted from the voidrealm, returning to his main body. Following that, he put away his spirion battleship and left the cave.

...

Whoosh! Wu Yuan flew through the air, his Soul Will spreading out and maintaining a range of about a million li.

With my killing efficiency, I fear various forces have already determined that my soul has evolved to the Yuan Soul level. Wu Yuan's heart was calm. In that case, I’ll display the soul power of one who has just reached the Yuan Soul level.

He scouted his surroundings as he advanced.

Hmm? Wu Yuan abruptly halted.

Just a million li to his left, his Soul Will picked up on an incredibly powerful team, consisting of three Amethyst Cradle cultivators, eight Void Refiner cultivators, and four Elysian Field cultivators.

Judging by their attire and aura, that’s the peerless genius Teng Duo, ranked in the top ten of the Immortal Court. I’ve encountered him once before. As for the other two, their strength is likely no worse than Feng Sheng’s. Wu Yuan’s gaze turned cold. I’ll start with you.

Boom! Wu Yuan moved, charging over at high speed.