Yuan’s Ascension

This was a vast and endless temple, where Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu were waiting patiently.

Whoosh! Two streaks of light flew in, causing both Eldritch Deities to look over. Their eyes brightened, "The Snake Ancestor and Hou Feng have arrived."

The Snake Ancestor and Wu Yuan flew into the great hall.

"Snake Ancestor."

"Veteran Elder Hou Feng." Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and Eldritch Deity Hou Lu hurried forward to greet them, their eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

"I have tested Hou Feng's strength. It is indeed extraordinary. I believe that before long, his Dao comprehension insights will be comparable to Archeldritches, on par with you both," said the Snake Ancestor.

"Moreover, I estimate that the Dao he has comprehended is also extremely suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."

"Almost comparable to us?"

"Suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts?" The two Eldritch Deities grew increasingly delighted.

Wu Yuan, however, clearly understood what was left unsaid: the Snake Ancestor seemed unwilling to reveal that he was an outsider to the two Eldritch Deities.

This was fine with him.

"Hou Feng, go ahead," the Snake Ancestor looked at Wu Yuan. "Try the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts and see what level of power you can unleash."

"Alright," Wu Yuan nodded.

Whoosh! He transformed into a streak of light and quickly arrived at the end of the temple, where he immediately saw the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts floating in the void – one set of battle armor and two sabers.

Battle armor? Sabers? Were they specially prepared for me? Wu Yuan thought to himself.

The three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts hovered there, giving Wu Yuan the impression of three immovable worlds.

As he closed his eyes, three streams of Soul Force simultaneously flew out, entering the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. Very quickly, Wu Yuan 'saw' it.

The external appearances of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts were merely an illusion.

Inside, they all contained an incredibly vast and profound Dao essence. Beyond the Dao essence, he could faintly glimpse a vast world, inhabited by countless lives... a world, and life.

In an instant, Wu Yuan understood the nature of these Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.

They were world artifacts, and most importantly, they contained a complete and perfect essence of heaven and earth.

This was incredibly inconceivable and deeply shocking to Wu Yuan.

Although the countless worlds of the Greenridge Macrocosm contained world essences, their essences were actually not very strong. The so-called essences were merely external manifestations of the workings of heaven and earth. They were just energy, not true heaven and earth’s essence.

From the countless worldlets to the planes encompassing vast immortal nations, this was the case.

As for some rare and precious world artifacts? Even if they could sustain a small number of lives, their world’s rules were incomplete and their essences weak. The lives born in such worlds were flawed, either unable to cultivate or finding it difficult to multiply and flourish.

Though shocked, Wu Yuan didn't hesitate too much.

Boom!Boom! Boom! Three strands of consciousness instantly entered the mysterious essences of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.

The profundities of the Law of Life began to manifest, seeking to control them.

Under the calm gaze of the Snake Ancestor and the shocked eyes of the two Eldritch Deities, the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts suddenly flew up and entered Wu Yuan's body.

Rumble~ Wu Yuan’s vital aura began to surge rapidly.

In no time, it reached the Elysian Field level. First-stage Elysian Field phase, third-stage Elysian Field phase... Finally, when his vital aura reached the seventh-stage Elysian Field phase, it stopped.

"This!"

"Isn’t it too much? What Dao has Hou Feng comprehended?" Both Eldritch Deities revealed shocked expressions.

Each of them had fully comprehended a Dao and could control the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, yet it only increased their strength by one or two tenths at most.

But Wu Yuan? His vital aura had increased by more than a hundredfold! Even considering his relatively weaker strength, it was still incredibly terrifying.

Ordinary Earth Eldritch couldn't even activate the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.

"Excellent! I didn't misjudge you," the Snake Ancestor's eyes showed a hint of joy. "A Greater Law is indeed most suitable for controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."

The greater the law, the more comprehensive it was, and thus the more essence one could mobilize when controlling the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts!

None of them disturbed Wu Yuan, waiting patiently.

After a long time, Wu Yuan exhaled and slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the vastness of his own vital aura, he already understood the function of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts.

First, as artifacts, they could be wielded in battle. They were able to withstand his strength and application of Dao profundities even when fully unleashed.

Second, they could imbue him with the authority of heaven and earth through their essence.

I'm only at the ninth-stage Shambhala phase. My body is too weak, so I can only endure a tiny bit of the authority's power. Wu Yuan thought to himself. If my body were stronger and my Dao comprehension level higher, I could cope with a larger portion of authority.

One day, when I can fully control them with my Dao comprehension, and my body can perfectly bear it, a casual strike would rival the full power unleashed by the heaven and earth’s essence contained in the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts. Wu Yuan realized inwardly.

He was only at the Shambhala phase now, and his comprehension of the Law of Life hadn't reached the True Intent stage yet. So, the power he could unleash was only comparable to the seventh or eighth stage of the Elysian Field phase.

Even so, it was terrifying enough. These Archeldritch Divine Artifacts seemed to fundamentally increase Wu Yuan's base mana.

Moreover, this empowerment by the authority of heaven and earth is different from borrowing the power of external objects. Wu Yuan was both shocked and fascinated by this power.

Other objects, be they talismans, ethercrystal weapons, or puppets, were external power. Even if they contained enormous power, one could never exert perfect control over them.

These Archeldritch Divine Artifacts were completely different.

I can exert absolute control, as if I forged them myself. It's simply inconceivable, Wu Yuan thought.

There are really such artifacts in the world? Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

It was truly unheard of.

"Hou Feng," the Snake Ancestor suddenly said, "I will entrust these three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to you. I hope you will be worthy of their power."

"Thank you, Snake Ancestor," Wu Yuan said respectfully, his voice tinged with reverence.

"Haha, good.”

"Hou Feng, cultivate diligently and become an Earth Eldritch, or even High Eldritch as swiftly as you can," the two Eldritch Deities said, their excitement palpable in the air. "Only when you become a High Eldritch will you truly be able to wield the power of the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts."

…

Time passed.

The fact that Wu Yuan was granted the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts of the Earth Archeldritch lineage was known only to a handful of veteran elders in select tribes.

Meanwhile, Wu Yuan gradually integrated himself into the Archeldritch tribe, methodically cultivating.

The war between the eldritch race and the immortal race raged on, its intensity growing over time.

Countless eldritch tribes were annihilated, while an increasing number of Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches departed from the Archeldritch tribes to join the battle near Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

However, the Earth Archeldritch tribe protected Wu Yuan well. Even the highest echelons of other Archeldritch tribes knew little about him, and ordinary High Eldritches were largely unaware of his abilities.

Wu Yuan continued to cultivate patiently within the tribe, his power growing silently like a seed beneath the earth.

In the blink of an eye, sixty years had passed. Wu Yuan had quietly crossed the threshold into the Elysian Field phase, continuing to cultivate in seclusion.

…

Within the vast world of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, in the highest temple of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

More than sixty High Immortals and eight hundred Earth Immortals stood within the temple, their auras surging like tempestuous seas. They wore uniform silver battle armor, each face etched with grim determination.

Suddenly, three figures materialized in the hall, their appearance causing a ripple of tension through the assembly.

"We pay our respects to the Imperial Majesty," all the High Immortals and Earth Immortals bowed reverently, their voices a unified chorus.

"For decades, this war has raged. With Heavenly Pillar Mountain as our base, we have annihilated one eldritch tribe after another, forcing the majority of the elite forces from the four Archeldritch tribes to converge along the Heavenly Pillar Mountain’s line." Imperial Majesty Nan You's voice boomed like thunder, reverberating through the divine hall.

"The four Archeldritch tribes have been left vulnerable, their defenses stretched thin.

The reason you have been summoned here is simple. We shall obliterate an Archeldritch tribe, seize their Archeldritch Hall, slaughter their Earth Eldritches and Eldritch Generals en masse, and destroy their stronghold." Imperial Majesty Nan You's voice rumbled.

"Prepare yourselves.

We depart in one day to annihilate the Wood Archeldritch tribe!"