Yuan’s Ascension

Dragon Star, spanning over a hundred thousand li, remained unchanged since Wu Yuan's first visit. High Immortal Nan Yin's super mansion stood as imposing as ever.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan materialized from the teleportation array, his eyes immediately drawn to an unkempt elderly man hovering in the air.

How unusual, Master isn't lying down today. Wu Yuan thought. In his memory, each time he visited his master for a tutoring session, High Immortal Nan Yin would always be reclining on a chair.

"High Immortal," Wu Yuan greeted as he glided closer, bowing respectfully.

"You've arrived?" High Immortal Nan Yin turned, his face devoid of its usual playful demeanor. Instead, a profound solemnity etched his features.

Wu Yuan started, taken aback by the deep, ocean-like eyes that met his. Was this truly his master?

"Over these past two years, your strength has grown with each visit," High Immortal Nan Yin began, his voice soft yet resonant. "Your grasp of the Longevity Dao has reached the fifth-level Domain stage. Your comprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is also progressing steadily."

Wu Yuan listened intently.

Indeed, the boost from Faith Incense's power had propelled his qi refiner self to remarkable heights in the Longevity Dao.

At present, he had reached the fifth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao and the first-level True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao.

Coupled with his rapidly accumulating mana, Wu Yuan's combat power far surpassed that of two years prior.

In fact, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self now dared to challenge an average Void Refiner cultivator. Only with such power could he confidently embark on expeditions.

"My disciple," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, his voice low and measured. "When a sect member begins to venture on expeditions, it typically marks a graduation of sorts from discipleship."

"Master," Wu Yuan responded softly.

Indeed, while disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign typically reached the Archeldritch/Archimmortal phase before graduating, in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, attaining the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase often sufficed for graduation as an immortal's disciple. Beyond this point, masters rarely intervened in their disciples' fates or chosen paths.

"Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36 lies boundless spacetimes away," High Immortal Nan Yin explained, his tone grave. "Moreover, it's a world jointly controlled by the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple. Should you encounter danger there, I, your master, will be powerless to assist you."

He paused, his eyes flickering with an emotion Wu Yuan couldn't quite place. "Therefore, before you graduate, I shall grant you several treasures."

With a wave of his hand, High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "First, a set of flying swords from the same source." [1]

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The air above High Immortal Nan Yin was suddenly filled with nearly a thousand flying swords, their presence blotting out the sky. Each sword radiated a terrifying aura, embodying the sturdiness of Celestial Body and the tenacity of Longevity. Their sword qi intertwined in a mesmerizing dance of power.

"This?" Wu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly. His trained eye immediately recognized these as first-grade spirit equipment.

"729 first-grade spirit equipment flying swords, all from the same source," High Immortal Nan Yin explained. "They combine the profundities of the Celestial Body and Longevity Daos, allowing you to unleash both simultaneously. I believe they will reach their full potential in your hands."

"Master," Wu Yuan protested, overwhelmed by the gift's magnitude, "you must have treasured this set of artifacts for a long time."

A regular first-grade spirit flying sword commanded a price of one million catties of ethercrystal. With over seven hundred swords, under normal circumstances, the cost would approach a staggering one billion catties of ethercrystal.

Moreover, these swords shared the same source and were imbued with the profundities of two Intermediate Laws. This would double their value at least. Conservatively estimated, this set of swords would fetch no less than three billion catties of ethercrystal.

To High Immortal Nan Yin, however, such wealth was but a trifle.

For context, an ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivator's total wealth hovered around a few hundred million catties of ethercrystal. Possessing a billion catties of ethercrystal marked one as relatively affluent.

Typical Divided Soul/Dharma Body cultivators had fortunes ranging from several hundred billion to a trillion catties of ethercrystal.

A regular, low-grade spirion artifact usually cost between one to two hundred million catties of ethercrystal.

High Immortal Nan Yin, a Sixth-Tribulation immortal with hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation, possessed wealth far surpassing that of an ordinary High Immortal.

To him, billions of catties of ethercrystal were mere pocket change.

Case in point: upgrading Wu Yuan's lifebound flying swords had required materials worth hundreds of billions of catties of ethercrystal.

Nevertheless, such a cohesive set of artifacts from the same source was considered the pinnacle of first-grade spirit equipment and incredibly rare. Even Earth Immortals would struggle to amass such a collection.

High Immortal Nan Yin's palm turned, revealing a golden tower that seemed to shimmer between reality and illusion. It radiated an aura of majesty and power.

"This is the Soul Calming Golden Tower, an artifact that protects the soul," High Immortal Nan Yin explained. "I'm aware of your formidable soul, but remember, the soul is the foundation of all. Once damaged, it's beyond repair."

His eyes locked with Wu Yuan's as he continued, "With the Soul Calming Golden Tower, coupled with your practiced soul defense secret arts, you need not fear soul attacks in Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36."

Wu Yuan bowed deeply, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Master." Waves of warmth surged through his heart.

Though Wu Yuan knew the Soul Calming Golden Tower was of little use for him given that he had the black pagoda, his master's thoughtfulness touched him profoundly.

High Immortal Nan Yin's palm turned once more, revealing an azure talisman that hovered in the air. Its surface was etched with countless cryptic patterns, exuding an aura of vast, untamed power. "This talisman is known as the Void Divine Talisman," he said.

"Void Divine Talisman?" Wu Yuan echoed, his curiosity piqued.

"Indeed. You may know it by its other name: the Light Speed Talisman," High Immortal Nan Yin explained. "Once activated, it will propel your flight speed to nearly the speed of light, lasting for three breaths.

"In those three breaths, you should be able to escape millions of li away. Even if Void Refiner or Elysian Field cultivators give chase, you should be able to slip away to safety."

Wu Yuan nodded.

The Void Divine Talisman's reputation was indeed well-established. Achieving light speed was a feat beyond the reach of typical Earth Immortals or Earth Eldritches.

"Lastly, take this token," High Immortal Nan Yin said, his palm turning once more to reveal a peculiar jade stone.

Wu Yuan's brow furrowed in confusion. "Voidrealm jade?"

"This is a voidrealm jade of the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm," High Immortal Nan Yin explained. "With this token, you'll automatically receive a new identity as a member of the Huo Cang Region. It's an identity I've crafted for you. Rest assured, no one will be able to trace it to your real identity.

"All relevant information has been transmitted to your personal hall in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm. Review it at your leisure. You may choose any name you wish upon your first entry into the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm."

Wu Yuan stood stunned. Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm?

He knew that voidrealms were constructs of high-level qi refiners, built within their own Voidspace. As such, their scope was inherently limited. Even the Silvermist Immortal Voidrealm could only encompass the spacetime territory of the Silvermist Immortal Nation.

However, voidrealms like the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm and Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm were on a different level. They spanned the entire macrocosm, allowing communication across a spacetime territory of billions of light-years.

Ordinary Earth Immortals and Earth Eldritches from the Redmoon Immortal Continent couldn't even dream of entering the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, let alone becoming disciples.

"Master, is this... legal?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with concern.

High Immortal Nan Yin's eyes flashed, his beard quivering with indignation. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think me so unreliable?"

A smile broke across Wu Yuan's face. "Haha, that's a relief then." His expression sobered as he continued, "With all these treasures you've bestowed upon me, Master, I vow to return safely."

"Enough, enough. I've given you all I can. The rest is up to you," High Immortal Nan Yin said, making a shooing gesture. "Now go, and don't you dare die out there!"

He turned away, no longer meeting Wu Yuan's gaze.

Wu Yuan's eyes misted over, moved by his master's evident concern. How could his master not be worried? The path of immortality was littered with fallen cultivators. Perhaps this farewell would be their last.

Such partings were not unfamiliar to Wu Yuan, having experienced several throughout his life. Yet, High Immortal Nan Yin had lived for hundreds of thousands of years. His knowledge and experiences likely dwarfed Wu Yuan's by a hundredfold, if not a thousandfold.

"I shall take my leave," Wu Yuan said, bowing solemnly. He turned and flew directly into the teleportation array, vanishing without a trace.

High Immortal Nan Yin remained motionless, lost in thought. My disciple has grown; it's time to let him go. Calamity and fortune are two sides of the same coin. Perhaps it's time for me to face my own Tribulation.

…

Before visiting his master, Wu Yuan had meticulously packed all his treasures and necessities, ensuring nothing was left behind. Thus, upon leaving Dragon Star, he didn’t return to his world residence, teleporting directly to the sect's mountain gate.

This is my first time at the mountain gate. Wu Yuan stepped out of the teleportation array, gazing upon the towering structure before him.

Though called a mountain gate, it more closely resembled the mythical Heaven's Gate. Its grandeur seemed boundless to mortal eyes, its elaborate design serving a more decorative purpose than practical use.

Everyone loves a spectacle, it seems. Even immortals are no exception. Wu Yuan muttered to himself as he leapt into the air.

He swiftly made his way towards the massive teleportation array situated a few hundred li from the mountain gate.

The internal teleportation arrays of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect were intentionally isolated from external networks to prevent infiltration by hostile powers.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan broke through layers of clouds, descending slowly. The area around the teleportation array bustled with activity, immortal cultivators coming and going, most of them disciples of the sect.

Wu Yuan cast one last glance at the vast expanse of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect behind him, the Dragon Star itself no longer visible.

Decades had passed since he first set foot on the Redmoon Immortal Continent. He had spent most of that time within his sect, and it was fair to say that Wu Yuan felt a stronger connection to the Dragon Star Immortal Sect than he ever had to the Cloudstride Sect.

"Hurry up! The teleportation array to Redmoon City is about to be activated. If you don't make haste, you'll have to wait for the next one," called out a distant guard, an Amethyst Cradle Reverend.

"I'm coming!" Wu Yuan called back.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan darted into the array, joining dozens of cultivators already inside, most of them at the Golden Core stage. Sensing the powerful aura emanating from Wu Yuan, most instinctively took a step or two back.

Whoosh! As the teleportation array flashed with brilliant light, Wu Yuan and his fellow passengers vanished from sight.

1. source here should refer to Dao(s) ☜