Yuan’s Ascension

He arrived quite swiftly, considering the distance. Wu Yuan mused as he rose, departing the hall without delay.

Outside, the same elderly man in white robes who had previously escorted Wu Yuan stood at the entrance, “Childe Ming Jian,” he greeted with a slight bow.

Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You're still here?"

The elderly man chuckled softly. "I've been at your service these past few days, Childe Ming Jian. The Archeldritch has sent word. Please, follow me."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

In a blur, two streaks of light shot upwards, ascending to the higher floors of the Blood Eldritch Temple.

…

At the temple's highest floor, a vast space stretched out like an endless void. Six figures stood waiting. Four were the Archimmortals and Archeldritches overseeing Battlefield 36.

Normally, these four managed the temple, but now they watched nervously as two figures approached from a distance. One figure was clad in pristine white robes, the other in black garments that seemed to flicker like flames.

"Astral Monarch Huo Cang is a renowned figure from the Eternal Sun Immortal World, known for his terrifying power."

"And the High Immortal accompanying him?"

"I’m not sure, but their status seems similar. They both give me an extremely dangerous feeling."

"Could it be some peerless genius from the Eternal Sun Immortal World?" The Archimmortals and Archeldritches whispered among themselves.

They could easily crush an ordinary High Immortal. For a High Immortal to pose a threat to them despite the vast mana gap between the High Immortal and Archimmortal phases meant the white-robed figure’s Dao comprehension likely rivaled or even matched that of an Astral Monarch.

This person must be one of the absolute top-tier geniuses!

Suddenly, two streaks of light—one black, one white—flew in from the distant corridor, entering the vast hall.

"Childe Ming Jian has arrived," the white-robed Earth Immortal announced respectfully, head bowed.

Wu Yuan flew directly to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the six figures before settling on two at the far end.

One wore white robes, exuding an ethereal aura, while the other radiated intense heat, like a deity forged from fire.

It was the white-robed figure that captured Wu Yuan's attention. His appearance and bearing were different, but the glint in his eyes was familiar.

Wu Yuan’s heart trembled. How could Wu Yuan forget the bond they had forged over decades as master and disciple? Yet he hesitated, scarcely daring to believe it.

"Ming Jian pays his respects to the Seniors," Wu Yuan said, bowing respectfully.

"Ming Jian, I am Astral Monarch Huo Cang. Come with us back to the immortal world," said the deity-like figure in black robes, smiling.

"Yes," Wu Yuan responded with a nod.

"Thank you all for your assistance," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said, his gaze sweeping the four Archimmortals and Archeldritches. "We’ll be taking him now."

"Farewell, Astral Monarch," the four figures bowed slightly.

Astral Monarch Huo Cang nodded and waved a hand. An invisible force lifted Wu Yuan, placing him by the side of the white-robed High Immortal.

Without triggering the temple’s security mechanisms, ripples spread through the air around them, and the trio vanished from the temple.

"As expected of Astral Monarch Huo Cang—he bypassed the temple's defenses entirely."

"An Astral Monarch who has comprehended the Qiankun Dao far surpasses other Astral Monarchs in spatial traversal."

"For an Astral Monarch to come personally, this Ming Jian must be the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign from the Eternal Sun Immortal World."

"Indeed, with his talent, he is worthy." The four Archimmortals and Archeldritches discussed among themselves, feeling somewhat envious.

Becoming the disciple of an Immortal Sovereign at the Amethyst Cradle phase?

Even they, as Archimmortals, struggled to become disciples of an Astral Monarch, let alone an Immortal Sovereign.

…

The surrounding space distorted and fragmented into shimmering threads, before fading into nothingness.

An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan and the High Immortal, shielding them from the corrosive energies of the spatial void.

"The Vacuum Spatial Layer?" Wu Yuan's eyes flickered with surprise.

"Haha, Junior Brother Dong Yang, your disciple is sharp. No wonder Master wants to see him personally," Astral Monarch Huo Cang laughed. Though imposing in stature, he exuded a refined martial air rather than brutish strength.

Dong Yang? Disciple?

Even with his earlier suspicions, hearing Astral Monarch Huo Cang's confirmation sent waves of shock crashing through Wu Yuan's mind.

Master Nan Yin was really High Immortal Dong Yang?

"What's the matter, silly boy? Still doubting your Master?" The white-robed Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled gently.

Though his voice had changed, it was unmistakably that of High Immortal Nan Yin.

"Your disciple is slow-witted and failed to recognize Master earlier," Wu Yuan said respectfully, suppressing his inner turmoil. "I beg Master's forgiveness."

"Oh? Junior Brother Dong Yang, your disciple didn't recognize you just now?" Astral Monarch Huo Cang laughed.

"My apologies, Senior Brother. I’ve made a fool of myself," Sword Immortal Dong Yang smiled and explained, "As you know, I previously angered Master and went into seclusion alone, making many enemies. So after taking Ming Jian as my disciple, I didn't tell him the truth."

"I understand," Astral Monarch Huo Cang nodded. "At the time, none of us fellow disciples dared to help you.”

“But now that you’ve returned to Master’s tutelage, those old foes pose no threat," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said imperiously. "Our Bei You lineage is one of the top powers in the immortal world."

"Until I pass the Ninth Immortal Tribulation, I must rely on myself," Dong Yang replied with a faint smile. His gaze shifted to Wu Yuan. "As for my disciple, I hope Senior Brother will look after him once I’m gone."

"We are brothers, there’s no need to make distinctions. Your disciple is like my own," Astral Monarch Huo Cang assured.

"Ming Jian, thank your Senior Uncle," Sword Immortal Dong Yang said softly.

Look after him once I'm gone?Wu Yuan felt confused, but he respectfully obeyed, "Many thanks, Senior Uncle."

"Haha, since you've called me Senior Uncle, of course I'll take care of you. In the future, if you need anything, just come find me," Astral Monarch Huo Cang said magnanimously.

"But work hard. Don’t disgrace your master. Among your grandmaster’s many disciples, your master was the most rebellious—yet also the most brilliant," Astral Monarch Huo Cang remarked.

Wu Yuan was astonished. The most brilliant among Immortal Sovereign Bei You’s disciples?

Though his master was a powerful High Immortal, shouldn’t a Sovereign have numerous Astral Monarch disciples?

"Ming Jian, meditate in lotus position for now. It will be a while before we reach the Bei You Realm," Sword Immortal Dong Yang instructed.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded, sitting cross-legged.

But soon after, Wu Yuan received a notification. Someone was requesting to speak with him in the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.

…

In Wu Yuan's personal hall within the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm.

After he accepted the request, countless motes of light coalesced into a white-robed figure before Wu Yuan. The figure smiled warmly.

"Master," Wu Yuan bowed deeply.

"Haha, it’s just us here, no need for formalities," Sword Immortal Dong Yang laughed. "But I see you didn’t prepare a lounge chair for your Master?"

"Of course, Master. Please, take a seat," Wu Yuan waved, summoning a lounge chair—identical to the one High Immortal Nan Yin used to recline on.

The unspoken understanding between master and disciple was unmistakable.

Sword Immortal Dong Yang leaned back comfortably on the chair, grinning at Wu Yuan who stood nearby.

It was as if they had returned to their days on Dragon Star.

Warmth spread through Wu Yuan’s heart. Though he had accepted Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi as his master, when it came to emotional bonds, there was no comparison to the decades spent with High Immortal Nan Yin.

This was a connection forged over time. In Wu Yuan's life, it held irreplaceable significance.

"You guessed correctly. Nan Yin was merely a role played by my mana body," Dong Yang revealed with a smile. "Nan Yin means a secret hard to discuss.” [1]

"Master’s efforts are deeply appreciated. I will never forget them," Wu Yuan said solemnly.

"I’ve made many enemies, some quite difficult to eliminate," Dong Yang explained. "At the time, your grandmaster had not yet allowed me to return to the sect. To ensure your safety, I resorted to this method."

Wu Yuan listened closely.

He had already deduced some of this from the conversation between Astral Monarch Huo Cang and his master earlier.

"Master, were you expelled from Grandmaster’s tutelage?" Wu Yuan asked hesitantly.

By all rights, a nominal disciple of an Immortal Sovereign shouldn’t have found themselves in such circumstances.

After all, the Eternal Sun Immortal World wasn't like the Cang Feng Eldritch World, where disciples of Eldritch Sovereigns had to keep their identities secret before overcoming their tribulations to avoid assassination by the enemy faction.

Dong Yang smiled faintly. "More or less. Do you know much about your grandmaster?"

"I don’t," Wu Yuan admitted. Until now, he knew little about Immortal Sovereign Bei You, save for his name.

"Your grandmaster, Immortal Sovereign Bei You, is one of the most formidable Sovereigns in the entire Greenridge Macrocosm," Dong Yang began. "While his power in direct combat isn’t necessarily unrivaled, his self-preservation ability is unmatched.

Should he so desire, no other Sovereign in the macrocosm could track his whereabouts. Even his domain, the Bei You Realm, is a true forbidden zone. If he wills it, no other Sovereign can locate it, let alone launch an attack."

Wu Yuan's eyes widened in astonishment. It was that exaggerated?

Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Does grandmaster's Bei You Realm exist in an extremely high spatial dimension?" Wu Yuan asked. It was the only possibility he could fathom.

"Clever boy. Your time under the Eldritch Sovereign’s tutelage has broadened your perspective," Sword Immortal Dong Yang chuckled. "You're correct. Immortal Sovereign Bei You is the only Sovereign in the entire macrocosm who has fully comprehended the Space Dao."

"In terms of spatial mastery, he is undefeated." Sword Immortal Dong Yang shook his head slightly. "When it comes to self-preservation, no one can find him if he wants to stay hidden."

"As for escape speed, your Master Kua Chi is on par with Astral Monarch Huo Cang and Astral Monarch Hou Qu, perhaps marginally faster," Sword Immortal Dong Yang explained with a smile. "But your grandmaster, Immortal Sovereign Bei You, can physically traverse higher spatial dimensions. In mere dozens of breaths, he can appear anywhere within the macrocosm."

Dozens of breaths? Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.

The Greenridge Macrocosm spanned a diameter of ten billion light years. From the perspective of the Material Spatial Layer, this meant that Immortal Sovereign Bei You could traverse billions of light-years in a single second. What a truly unfathomable ability!

"Thus, he can roam the river of space and time, leaving his mark in different locations," Sword Immortal Dong Yang continued. "Among the fifteen Greater Laws, the Law of Time is universally acknowledged as supreme. Yet, throughout the entire river of space and time, those who have fully mastered it are few and far between."

"Second only to the Law of Time is the Law of Space," Sword Immortal Dong Yang explained. "It is equally challenging to comprehend."

"Since the birth of our macrocosm, your grandmaster Bei You has been the sole Sovereign of Space."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He began to grasp the uniqueness of Immortal Sovereign Bei You. With such unparalleled self-preservation and escape abilities, which Sovereign would dare provoke him?

As this thought crossed his mind, Wu Yuan's gaze fell upon Master Dong Yang. How had he managed to become a disciple of such an extraordinary being? And why had he been expelled from his tutelage?

1. Original line: 南隐，不过难言之隐. Nan Yin’s name is 南隐, 南 meaning South and 隐 meaning hidden. It sounds the same as 难隐 (nan yin), short for 难言之隐 which means a secret hard to discuss ☜