Yuan’s Ascension

Time flowed on.

After breaking through to the Yuan Soul level and upgrading his immortal root, Wu Yuan didn't rush to continue killing but instead cultivated at a steady pace.

Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the chopping of wood.

Wu Yuan adapted to his newly upgraded immortal root, reattempting various arcane arts and cryptic patterns. Simultaneously, he strove with all his might to comprehend the Longevity Dao, attempting to break through to the True Intent stage.

After ten years of tempering on the mainland, he made progress in both the Celestial Body Dao and the Longevity Dao, which was currently at the ninth-level Domain stage, just a hair's breadth away from the True Intent stage.

With this transformation of his Yuan Soul and the establishment of the Wood Origin Dao Body, Wu Yuan naturally yearned to complete the breakthrough in one go.

Moreover, his qi refiner self once again visited the Eldritch Court's Dao Temple through the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, receiving another round of inheritance of the Longevity Dao.

In the blink of an eye, several more months passed.

In the meditation chamber of the spirion battleship, Wu Yuan was surrounded by streaks of mottled green light.

Despite his utmost efforts, he was just one step short, but this single step was an insurmountable chasm—visible, yet impossible to cross.

Back then, my body refiner self fought hundreds of battles against opponents of the same level, tempering myself for years before breaking through. Wu Yuan pondered silently. My qi refiner self's talent has improved, with the enhancements of the soul and Faith power, but it's on par with my body refiner self at most.

If the two work in isolation, I might not be able to break through even after ten years.

Breaking through major bottlenecks was extremely arduous, requiring not just the so-called aptitude brought about by a Dao Body but also the impetus of the inner heart brought about by various experiences.

If one could become an Archimmortal by burying oneself in cultivation, there wouldn't be so many immortal cultivators risking their lives on dangerous expeditions.

Thinking of this, Wu Yuan couldn't help but recall the various illusions his twelve avatars experienced. During those repeated immersions, he struggled to prevent the collapse of his Dao Heart and avoid losing himself. In the end, he had managed to endure it.

It was a tribulation, but also an opportunity, transforming my spirit and forging an unshakable Dao Heart and will. Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

And now, if I want to comprehend the True Intent of Longevity, I need a similar kind of impetus, be it in spirit or Dao. Wu Yuan calmed his spirit, clearing away the sense of defeat from failing to break through.

This was the path of immortal cultivation. Even with extraordinary talent, there were always bottlenecks and predicaments; there was no smooth-sailing route to immortality.

I can't continue cultivating in seclusion. Wu Yuan decided, standing up. His form shifted, his robes transforming into blood-red garments as an intangible aura of killing intent spread from him.

The world of slaughter Wu Yuan experienced in the illusion was as vivid as if he had lived through it personally.

With a wave of his hand, he stored away the spirion battleship.

Boom! The reinforced ground split beneath him as Wu Yuan shot into the sky. The landscape below remained unchanged—vast mountains and endless rivers stretching out before him.

After billions of years of war, the mainland of the battlefield was never altered. Even if battles left it damaged, an invisible force would repair it, returning it to its original state. This world, in essence, was an artificially created trial ground.

First, I'll try once more to accumulate blood mist to its saturation point, to see if I can still produce an Origin Blood Droplet. Wu Yuan mused, looking down at the vast continent.

Secondly, I'll suppress my strength, using only the Longevity Dao to engage in battle with the powerhouses on the mainland.

Just like when I broke through in the Celestial Body Dao, I’ll use these powerhouses as whetstones to temper myself. His thoughts were crystal clear.

…

After nearly a year of secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan once again began to roam the mainland. His Soul Will spread out for a hundred thousand li, but his Yuan Soul was now too powerful, his perception of space incredibly sharp.

He could sense the slightest fluctuations in spiritual qi tens of millions of li away, though he couldn’t determine the specifics of the battles taking place.

However, to Wu Yuan, it didn’t matter. Was there anyone on the entire mainland who could make him retreat? As long as he sensed spiritual qi fluctuations that weren’t too far away, he would immediately rush over.

…

Two months later.

Between two vast mountain ranges, in a canyon spanning thousands of li, two forces were engaged in fierce combat.

"Haha, kill them!"

"These Eldritch Court scum, several of them are eldritch warriors, no doubt about it."

"Slaughter them all." More than ten Amethyst Cradle and Shambhala battle arrays, all from the Immortal Court camp, exuded tremendous auras and battle intent, exerting pressure on six battle arrays from the Eldritch Court camp.

High in the sky, three Void Refiner Eminences from the two camps fought an incredibly intense battle.

The Eldritch Court had only one Void Refiner Eminence, his body wreathed in flames, spreading throughout the sky and earth. Chains transformed into fire dragons, lashing out in all directions as he fought with overwhelming might.

However, his opponents were two Void Refiner cultivators. One employed ice arcane arts, filling nearly twenty thousand li with layers of ice, pushing back against the flames. The other manipulated numerous sword arrays, which howled like dragons as they closed in for the kill time and again.

The two worked together, easily suppressing the lone Void Refiner Eminence from the Eldritch Court.

"Die!"

"No one can save you." The two Immortal Court Void Refiner Eminences stared intently at the bald giant as he struggled desperately.

"Ahhhh!" The muscular giant, his body wrapped in chains, roared in anger. He tried to repel his enemies, but the sword array repeatedly obstructed him.

"Damn it! Damn it!" The giant’s heart filled with unwillingness. As a Void Refiner Eminence, if he fled alone, he might have a chance of escaping. But if he fled, the hundred Amethyst Cradle and Shambhala cultivators in the six battle arrays would certainly die.

Yet, what difference did it make whether he retreated or not? Whether in combat power or overall army strength, his force was at an absolute disadvantage.

I, Yan Quan, finally reached the Void Refiner phase after numerous trials. Will I truly die here today? This thought flashed through the bald giant's mind. He seemed to vaguely see his death approaching.

Suddenly, a green light spread soundlessly across heaven and earth, followed by countless vines materializing and growing wildly, lashing out and shattering the layers of frost. These vines were created from mana and the power of heaven and earth, containing unimaginable might.

A figure in blood-red robes appeared in the void, surrounded by the vines.

Arcane art—Void Myriad Vines!

Just as body refiners could cultivate ether arts with heaven-defying power, qi refiners could also cultivate powerful arcane arts as their cultivation levels rose. Even without any artifacts to enhance them, these arcane arts still possessed terrifying might.

Wu Yuan's cultivation time was insufficient, and he hadn't mastered many arcane arts, nor had he comprehended them deeply. But with his vast mana capacity and high level of Dao comprehension, his arcane arts were no less formidable than the high-level arcane arts painstakingly cultivated by many Void Refiner Eminences.

His powerful arrival instantly drew the attention of all the combatants.

"Amethyst Cradle cultivator?"

"An Amethyst Cradle cultivator dares to interfere in a battle between Void Refiner Eminences?"

"Seeking death." The dozen or so commanders of the Immortal Court's battle arrays sensed Wu Yuan's aura and dismissed him as a threat.

Yes, his aura was strong, but ultimately, he wasn’t at the Void Refiner phase. Fighting enemies from higher cultivation phases? It didn’t seem uncommon, but that was because most of Wu Yuan’s interactions were with the top-tier geniuses of the macrocosm. Those who could truly fight across phases were actually extremely rare.

However, while the Amethyst Cradle/Shambhala cultivators of the Immortal Court were confident, the two Void Refiner Eminences were wary.

"Where did he come from?"

"His arcane arts are powerful, and his Dao comprehension level is high. He should be at the ninth-level Domain stage. Is he a genius from the Origin Eldritch Field?" The two Immortal Court Void Refiner Eminences communicated telepathically. They didn’t recognize Wu Yuan.

"Ming Jian?"

"It's Ming Jian!"

"We’re saved! It’s him! He hasn’t left the mainland? We haven’t heard news of him in so long."

"Haha! There’s hope for victory yet." The immortal cultivators on the Eldritch Court's side were boiling with excitement.

They had seen Wu Yuan's name through the voidrealm jade.

"Ming Jian?" The bald giant, Yan Quan, stared at the blood-robed figure in the sky in disbelief.

Years ago, they had met briefly. Later on, he heard tales of Ming Jian’s exploits time and again, his feats becoming a legend across the entire Battlefield 36. Yet they never met again.

Who would have thought that today, when he was facing great calamity and on the verge of death, he would meet this man once more?

Is this destiny? This thought flashed through Yan Quan's mind. Then, he erupted with power. Sparing no cost, the layers of flame-wreathed chains grew even more powerful.

…

Yan Quan? Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the bald giant. With his exceptional memory, of course he remembered him.

However, to Wu Yuan, Yan Quan was merely a passing acquaintance in his life. He hadn't come here to save him; he was purely attracted by the battle’s fluctuations.

Two Void Refiner cultivators. I can test my techniques. He thought. With a mental command, two enormous seals appeared before Wu Yuan.

With a clatter, the two great seals flew out. Countless green Dao patterns glowed, covering their surfaces, harnessing the Longevity Dao’s essence. This instantly caused the seals' power to surge, and their size increased dramatically, like two mountains.

Spirion artifact—Mountain Transformation Seal.

This was a common spirion artifact, one of the spoils of war Wu Yuan had obtained from slaying many Void Refiner Eminences. But this seemingly ordinary artifact unleashed inconceivable power in Wu Yuan's hands.

"Not good!"

"Block it!" The two Void Refiner Eminences of the Immortal Court were taken aback. One controlled a sword array, while the other manipulated countless shards of ice, instantly transforming into two roaring ice dragons that streaked across the sky.

Boom! Arcane arts and artifacts collided in the sky, unleashing terrifyingly powerful shockwaves that reverberated for thousands of li on both sides.

With each clash, the two mountain-like seals battered the sword array and the ice dragons, forcing them to struggle desperately and retreat step by step.

This scene left the two Void Refiner Eminences incredulous. Two against one, yet they were still at a slight disadvantage.

"Kill!" Yan Quan erupted with power. Dozens of chains condensed into a flaming staff that he thrust forward with overwhelming might.

This display of power immediately forced the Void Refiner Eminence controlling the sword array to turn back and defend, blocking Yan Quan's attack.

The Void Refiner Eminence controlling the ice dragons was forced to face the pressure of Wu Yuan’s attacks alone, his position instantly turning precarious.

After just a few exchanges, the two great seals suddenly clapped together, sandwiching one of the ice dragons in between and crushing it.

Boom! Boom! One great seal suppressed the other ice dragon, while the other seal flew towards the Void Refiner Eminence whose arcane art had been nullified. Under Wu Yuan's powerful control, the seals moved with terrifying speed.

Thud! The great seal descended, shattering the body of the Void Refiner Eminence who couldn't react in time.

He was dead!

"Flee." Seeing this, the other Void Refiner sword cultivator immediately transformed into a streak of light, fleeing for his life.

Yan Quan exerted all his strength but couldn’t stop him from escaping.

"Flee? Why bother?" Wu Yuan sighed, shaking his head slightly as his fingertip moved. "Go!"

Whoosh! A blurred streak of light tore through the sky, piercing ten thousand li and shattering the sword arrays.

Splat! As the light streaked past, the Void Refiner Eminence's body instantly turned to blood mist. He was dead!

I had intended to kill you with the Longevity Dao. Wu Yuan muttered to himself. You forced me to use my lifebound flying sword.

At Wu Yuan's current strength, once he exerted his full power, killing a few ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators was as easy as cutting vegetables.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The artifacts left behind by the two Void Refiner Eminences transformed into streaks of light and flew into Wu Yuan's hands. He quickly put them away.

"Daoist Ming Jian." Yan Quan flew over.

"Haha, our meeting is a matter of fate. Cherish your life and live it well." Wu Yuan merely laughed and soared into the sky as a streak of blood-red light.

Yan Quan watched as he left, dumbfounded.

So this is what a peerless genius is like? Yan Quan sighed inwardly, but his gaze fell on the numerous Amethyst Cradle battle arrays from the Immortal Court camp in the distance, fleeing in panic.

"Kill!" Yan Quan charged towards them.

…

Two months have passed. I've experienced quite a few battles and killed dozens more Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses. Though I've made some progress, ordinary Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators can hardly give me any pressure. Wu Yuan frowned slightly as he flew through the air.

Even deliberately suppressing his own strength, when he knew that there wasn’t the slightest danger to his life, it naturally failed to stimulate his life potential. The pressure of a life-or-death crisis was irreplaceable and impossible to simulate. In short, the opponents in the entire entry-level battlefield were already too weak for the current Wu Yuan.

It's indeed time to leave the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield. However, before I go, I should make one last attempt.

I wonder if those peerless geniuses sent to hunt me from the Immortal Court are still here. Wu Yuan's eyes glinted with light.

Perhaps it’s time to send the Immortal Court a grand gift!