Yuan’s Ascension

“Leave?” Bing Roushui’s voice trembled with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Lie Shier, Shi Ji, and the others stood in stunned silence, their disbelief palpable.

“What are you all thinking?” Pei He suddenly scolded, turning to face them. “The commander killed Feng Sheng, a top-tier genius of the Immortal Court, like it was nothing. Our commander is undoubtedly one of the top Amethyst Cradle cultivators in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, a peerless genius.”

He paused before continuing somberly. “To have followed him for two years is already a rare honor. If we continue to follow him, it would only delay our progress and be of no help to him either. It’s mutually detrimental. We each have our own paths to walk.”

The crowd quickly understood that Pei He was right.

Following Wu Yuan, they would develop a dependency on him.

Facing weaker foes? Knowing there’s no life-threatening danger, how could they improve?

Facing foes only Wu Yuan could handle? They’d merely be a burden.

Yet, a sense of reluctance lingered in their hearts. After all, following a super powerhouse made life on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield much easier.

A peerless genius? If his qi-refiner self were in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he would indeed rank among the top-tier geniuses, likely within the top ten of Amethyst Cradle/Shambhala cultivators in power.

“All right. It will take a few days to return to the war base,” Wu Yuan said, smiling. “During that time, anyone who comprehends the Earth Dao can come to me for guidance.”

His Dao comprehension, comparable to that of an Earth Immortal, made guiding Amethyst Cradle-level cultivators a simple task.

“Guidance? The commander is granting you an opportunity,” Pei He said in a low voice “Aren’t you going to thank him?”

“Thank you, Commander,” the Amethyst Cradle-level soldiers who were studying the Earth Dao quickly bowed, unable to hide their excitement.

For centuries, most of them had cultivated in isolation. Seeking guidance from a Void Refiner Eminence wasn’t easy.

In their eyes, Wu Yuan’s ability to unleash such terrifying power at the Amethyst Cradle phase meant his Dao comprehension must have reached incredible depths. And now, they had the chance to learn from him.

…

As Wu Yuan’s spirion battleship sped through the vastness of space, the major forces of the Cang Feng Eldritch World and the Voltari Temple swiftly mobilized their intelligence networks to investigate his background.

In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, a majestic palace stood within a specially created plane.

"Astral Monarch." Four Archeldritches bowed deeply, their expressions tinged with curiosity.

These four were responsible for monitoring Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield 36, and they couldn’t help but wonder what matter warranted a sudden summons from the Astral Monarch.

“This concerns the intelligence you submitted previously regarding Ming Jian of the Eternal Sun Immortal World. We’ve received a response,” announced a figure shrouded in endless black fog, seated atop a towering throne.

The four Archeldritches were taken aback. A response? No matter how much Ming Jian stood out, he was merely an Amethyst Cradle genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Why would the Astral Monarch take special interest in this, even giving them a response?

As Archeldritches, their vast knowledge and experience quickly led them to realize that Ming Jian must be far more significant than they had initially assumed.

“First, swear an oath in the name of the Eldritch Progenitor that you shall not disclose any information about Ming Jian,” the figure in the black fog commanded, his voice deep and resonant.

The four Archeldritches, now more astonished than ever, complied without hesitation.

The Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm was an enigmatic place—though a voidrealm, numerous elements felt incredibly real. Here, even an oath sworn in the name of the Eldritch Progenitor would bind them by destiny.

“No battle recordings, identity speculations, or intelligence deductions about Ming Jian are to be leaked,” the figure in the black fog continued nonchalantly. “Treat him according to normal procedures—neither favoring nor distancing.”

“Yes,” the four Archeldritches replied in unison.

“Astral Monarch, we can keep this secret, but what about the Voltari Temple? They’re likely to investigate Ming Jian’s identity as well,” asked one of the Archeldritches, clad in purple battle armor.

“That’s up to the Voltari Temple,” the figure in the black fog responded calmly. “Remember, no matter what commotion Ming Jian causes, regard him as merely a genius of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation. Do not spread his exploits, nor deliberately conceal them.”

“Understood,” the Archeldritches replied, beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation.

“Dismissed.”

…

The core of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, known as the Cang Feng Continent, was a realm teeming with special demonic beasts. In the vast wilderness, countless demonic creatures roamed contentedly.

“Eldritch Sovereign, there is a report from the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield regarding your disciple Wu Yuan,” a shadowy figure, shrouded in black fog, appeared. “I have ordered strict regulation of the related information to ensure no leaks.”

“Wu Yuan?” Sovereign Kua Chi’s brow arched slightly as he remained seated in the midst of the wilderness, quickly scanning the transmitted report.

“Understood,” Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi replied indifferently. “Also, as per protocol, send this report to the Eternal Sun Immortal World, and then withdraw.”

Whoosh! The figure wrapped in black fog vanished in an instant.

His progress is quite good; he appears to have reached the seventh-level or eighth-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused to himself, though he didn’t dwell on it further.

Wu Yuan’s progress, while slightly beyond expectations, wasn’t particularly extraordinary.

To Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, unless Wu Yuan embarked on that special path or fully comprehended the Celestial Body Dao within tens of thousands of years, he was no different from most of his other disciples.

…

In the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, within a specially created space bustling with immortal cultivators.

In a vast hall on the third floor of the highest seven-story tower.

“Ming Jian?”

“He displayed power comparable to a king-rank fighter on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.”

“His combat prowess is phenomenal, his strength formidable, and most importantly, he’s suspected of possessing nine lifebound flying swords. Among the younger generation in the immortal world, his immortal root alone is unparalleled.”

“He doesn’t belong to the core circle of our Eternal Sun Immortal World.”

“Based on our intelligence, considering the number of lifebound flying swords and his Dao comprehension level, his traits align most closely with Li Xia of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, though their age and cultivation don’t match.”

“According to the intelligence, Li Xia is still a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, given Li Xia’s previous rate of progress, his Dao comprehension shouldn’t have reached this level as of yet.” Six Archimmortals debated the matter.

They were responsible for intelligence acquisition in the Eternal Sun Immortal World.

Suddenly, a cold voice echoed through the hall. “Intelligence Division 93 of the Sixth Jurisdiction, heed your orders.”

“Yes,” the six Archimmortals immediately bowed with utmost respect, facing the throne at the end of the hall.

“Ming Jian, also known as Li Xia of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, is a peerless genius of our younger generation in the Eternal Sun Immortal World. Information regarding him is classified under Tier Two Confidentiality—not to be disseminated or investigated,” the cold voice declared.

“Understood,” the six Archimmortals responded, inwardly shocked.

From the vast amount of intelligence they had gathered, they now had a clear understanding of the situation.

Geniuses as dazzling as Li Xia or Ming Jian were rare, emerging only once in centuries across the entire macrocosm.

Hearing the higher authorities confirm this only deepened their shock. This meant that the genius Li Xia from the Silvermist Immortal Nation had become nearly invincible in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.

In the past, Li Xia had been considered merely a top-tier genius of an era within the immortal world. But now, based on his performance in the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, Li Xia could potentially clear level seventy-five of the one-star tower, perhaps even higher.

And how old was Li Xia? Only sixty-four years old–previously disguised by the sect to appear two years older.

Such terrifying progress was simply unimaginable. He even had a chance of surpassing level eighty of the one-star tower before reaching a hundred.

In the million years of recent history in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, there had been few prodigies of such monstrous talent.

The gap between him and the most monstrous prodigies in history was minimal.

…

Who would have thought that my disciple would be this talented?

Sword Immortal Dong Yang stood on a tall hill within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, looking at the report in his hand.

In just three or four years, his progress seems to have gotten even faster than Luo Gu’s.

He found it hard to believe—it seemed almost too exaggerated.

Just four years after stepping into the Amethyst Cradle phase, he was already invincible on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield?

Is it because the Eldritch Sovereign teaches him well, or is he just naturally gifted? Sword Immortal Dong Yang muttered to himself.

Very soon, he made a judgment—Wu Yuan’s natural talent was simply extraordinary.

At this rate of progress, perhaps my disciple will surpass me in the future. Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled to himself.

He had requested Astral Monarch Huo Cang to handle the related intelligence matters.

As they investigated further, the major factions would quickly speculate that Ming Jian was likely Li Xia. After all, the similarities in their characteristics were undeniable.

Thus, the Eternal Sun Immortal World did not publicly deny this matter.

By not denying their relation, the Voltari Temple would likely only speculate that Ming Jian and Li Xia are core figures of our immortal nation, without linking them to Wu Yuan. Sword Immortal Dong Yang saw through the situation clearly.

Over-concealment will only arouse suspicion.

…

As a top-tier faction of the macrocosm that had battled the Cang Feng Eldritch World for endless ages, and even held a slightly dominant position, the Voltari Temple’s intelligence capabilities were unquestionable.

Within just two days, orders from the Voltari Temple's higher echelons quickly reached the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield.

“We have found no relevant intelligence on Ming Jian in the database of geniuses from the Huo Cang Region and the Eternal Sun Immortal World.

“Based on the Eternal Sun Immortal World’s database, the individual closest to Ming Jian’s characteristics is Li Xia from the Silvermist Immortal Nation, but there is a significant difference in talent assessments.

“The Eternal Sun Immortal World is concealing information. It is currently uncertain whether Li Xia is still in the Silvermist Immortal Nation.

“Based on our current evaluation, there's a seventy percent probability that Ming Jian is a peerless genius meticulously nurtured in secret by the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation.

“There’s a thirty percent probability that Ming Jian is Li Xia. Given Li Xia's age, he would definitely be one of the most valued geniuses in the Eternal Sun Immortal World, comparable to the first ten members of the Cang Feng Eldritch World in the assassination sequence.

“Issue the order: do not provoke! As long as Ming Jian does not engage in king-rank battles or deliberately kill our Immortal Hall geniuses, do not target him.”

Other than those from the Origin Eldritch Field, the Voltari Temple would not deliberately target top-tier geniuses of other major factions unless their actions were too extreme.

Such peerless geniuses were hard to come by for their respective factions, and killing them would easily provoke the factions into conflict with the Voltari Temple.

Of course, if Ming Jian specifically hunted the Immortal Hall geniuses or frequently attacked their war bases, the Voltari Temple wouldn't hesitate to go all out to kill him!

Moreover, should Ming Jian’s bloodlust lead to excessive carnage, resulting in him being surrounded and killed by a horde of immortal cultivators, he would have no one to blame but himself.

This was an unspoken understanding among top-tier factions.

From beginning to end, the Voltari Temple never linked Ming Jian or Li Xia to Wu Yuan, who was number 764 on the Eldritch assassination list.

Following the Heaven and Earth Tournament in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, Wu Yuan’s rank rose slightly on the Voltari Temple’s assassination list.

…

Wu Yuan remained oblivious to the chaos unfolding outside the battlefield.

Days later, he led over two hundred Huo Cang soldiers back to the war base. It had been two years since they had last returned.

In space, about ten million li from the war base, Wu Yuan gathered the soldiers of the Huo Cang Army that had fought with him over the past few years.

“Pei He, Bing Roushui, brothers and sisters,” Wu Yuan began with a slight smile. “There are many eyes inside the war base, so let’s part ways here. If fate permits, we shall meet again.”

“Safe travels, Commander,” Pei He said solemnly.

“Safe travels, Commander,” Bing Roushui's eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Safe travels, Commander,” over two hundred Huo Cang soldiers echoed, their voices filled with respect and admiration.

They had only spent two years together, but in that time, they had grown to genuinely admire and respect Wu Yuan.

“Haha,” Wu Yuan chuckled, waving off their formalities. Without another word, he flew into the spirion battleship, which quickly took off.