Yuan’s Ascension

"Other immortal sects?" The gazes of the cultivators in this group swept involuntarily over the other five groups at the outskirts of the wasteland.

Immortal cultivators would enter the sea of lightning from time to time, attempting to pass through, only to retreat out of its range shortly after.

Occasionally, even Earth Immortals would be injured, but fortunately they were well-prepared. So far, no one had truly perished.

"This Astral Monarch's treasure trove has emerged quite mysteriously and suddenly. Our six great immortal sects have gathered here, bringing all Earth Immortals and Earth Deities who have gained insights into the Laws of Thunder and Earth. In total, there are over a thousand individuals," the white-robed High Immortal said softly.

"Over sixty High Immortals and High Deities who passed the Thunder Marsh Trial have also come.

The vast majority have attempted it, but all have failed. So far, only Earth Immortal Zhu Guan from the Longstar Immortal Sect is the closest to success, reaching a position about a thousand li from the planet. But even he couldn't enter it," the white-robed High Immortal said.

"Don't be impatient, wait for an opportunity. With each attempt, it becomes a little easier for those who follow.

Historically, the Astral Monarch's treasure trove has emerged a few times. Our Phoenix Immortal Sect once obtained the treasure, and it wasn't purely through strength," the white-robed High Immortal said.

Everyone nodded silently, waiting patiently.

"Mu Hao, the greatest threat is still Nie Qing from the Longstar Immortal Sect," transmitted a burly black-armored High Deity standing nearby. "Among the dozens of High Immortals and High Deities present, he is the only Sixth Tribulation High Immortal.

In a real fight, he alone could take on ten of us," the black-armored High Deity transmitted.

"Mm, I understand," High Immortal Mu Hao nodded.

The six major immortal sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent controlled the Thunder Marsh World, sealing off the entire world. It was easy for them to dispatch as many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities as they wished.

But High Immortals? The Thunder Marsh World operated under intangible rules. High Immortals and High Deities had to pass corresponding trials to enter. Whether they could enter or not had no real correlation with their strength.

It wasn’t just the Phoenix Immortal Sect's group. The Skyfeather Immortal Sect’s group and the others were equally wary of the Longstar Immortal Sect.

"Veteran Elder Nie Qing, the other sects seem to be subtly ostracizing us."

"It does appear so."

"Are they planning to unite against us?" The Longstar Immortal Sect's group consisted of nearly two hundred Earth Immortals and Earth Deities, and over ten High Immortals.

They weren't fools; they had all noticed the attitudes of the other groups.

"What are you panicking over?" the white-haired elderly man called Nie Qing said nonchalantly. "In terms of strength, I'm number one; in terms of potential, Earth Immortal Zhu Guan has come closest to that planet. Naturally the other sects are wary, fearing we'll claim the entire treasure for ourselves."

The Longstar Immortal Sect members all nodded, feeling quite encouraged. On paper, their chances seemed the highest.

"Zhu Guan, your talent for Thunder techniques is exceptional. Sense the patterns carefully, and strive to succeed in one attempt," High Immortal Nie Qing instructed.

"Yes, Veteran Elder," the pudgy middle-aged man nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with determination as he cultivated.

He had originally been an ordinary Earth Immortal in the Longstar Immortal Sect. Although he possessed some talent, if he followed the standard path of cultivation, breaking through to High Immortal in the future would have been extremely difficult.

Yet with the emergence of the Astral Monarch's treasure trove, he had suddenly become the most dazzling star.

This is my great opportunity. Earth Immortal Zhu Guan resolved inwardly.

When opportunity knocks, one must seize it. Such an important opportunity might only come once in a lifetime.

Time flowed on.

Suddenly, a ferocious wave of qi fluctuations suddenly swept through one of the passages connecting to the outermost regions of the wilderness.

The disturbance was immense, immediately prompting many immortal cultivators from the six groups to turn their heads toward that particular canyon passage.

The Longstar Immortal Sect was closest to this passage. The ten-plus High Immortals in their group each revealed cautious expressions.

The other sects have dispatched more powerhouses? High Immortal Nie Qing frowned slightly, sweeping his gaze as he transmitted, "Which sect does this newcomer belong to?"

"Not our sect. The abbot didn't inform me that anyone else was coming," the Phoenix Immortal Sect was the first to respond.

"We don’t know.."

"Not from our sect." The other four sects also denied any knowledge, none having received any information.

Boom! As they communicated, A black-robed figure streaked over in a flash of light, instantly arriving at the wasteland, standing between the Longstar Immortal Sect’s group and the Phoenix Immortal Sect’s group.

This newcomer was clad in black armor and carried a saber strapped to his back. His features were strikingly handsome and the aura he exuded was extraordinary. A faint smile played on his lips.

"An Earth Deity?"

"He came here alone?"

"I've never seen him before. Does anyone know him?"

"No."

"Could someone have leaked the information to other immortal continents or even immortal nations? But the Archimmortals of our six sects are standing guard outside the Thunder Marsh World." The powerful experts of the various sects grew increasingly wary.

Where did this unfamiliar Earth Deity come from?

Only a few High Immortals from the Longstar Immortal Sect glanced at each other in disbelief, flashes of recognition in their eyes.

"Shadow Blade?"

"Is it him?"

"The attire looks the same. We haven't seen him in hundreds of years, and he's become an Earth Deity? Is it really him?" These High Immortals transmitted to each other.

A flash of hatred appeared in the depths of High Immortal Nie Qing's eyes, along with some confusion, but he didn't act rashly.

Over six hundred years ago, Shadow Blade, a formal disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, had killed Nie Le, Mu Xin, and Earth Immortal Qi He’s mana body, causing quite a stir in the Longstar Immortal Sect. Many High Immortals in the sect knew of this.

Nie Le had been High Immortal Nie Qing's own son.

Afterwards, the Longstar Immortal Sect had attempted to search for Shadow Blade in the Thunder Marsh World, but to no avail.

Hundreds of years had passed, and the commotion had long since died down.

No one had imagined that today, Shadow Blade, the mysterious disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, would suddenly appear again, and had even become an Earth Deity.

Was it really Shadow Blade, or was this Earth Deity impersonating him? None of the immortal cultivators present today had truly seen Shadow Blade before, and weren't able to identify his soul aura.

If it really was Shadow Blade, wouldn't that mean he had never left the Thunder Marsh World in the past hundreds of years?

…

The various parties remained silent, none daring to act rashly.

A planet? Is this Astral Monarch Wan Lei's treasure trove? Wu Yuan stood on the ground, his gaze falling on the azure planet with a diameter of ten thousand li hovering in the distance.

From the information he had gathered previously, there wasn’t any mention of an azure planet in the core region of the Thunder Marsh World.

There were six openings on the surface of the planet, leading to unknown realms.

Lightning? Are the lightning bolts blocking these immortal cultivators? Wu Yuan pondered inwardly.

With his mastery of Space True Intent, his perception was incredibly keen, allowing him to assess the situation quickly.

"Who are you, Sir? Which of the six major immortal sects do you belong to?" A black-robed High Immortal from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect finally broke the silence.

"I don't belong to any immortal sect." Wu Yuan met his gaze, speaking indifferently, "Let me ask you, do you have any information on this planet? Was it left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei?"

If there was detailed intelligence, the six great immortal sects would certainly know best.

The black-robed High Immortal's expression changed, a flash of anger crossing his face. As a High Immortal, he felt that he was giving enough face to Wu Yuan, an Earth Deity.

Yet from Wu Yuan's words, it was obvious he didn’t hold a shred of respect for him.

"Boy, you're far too arrogant for an Earth Deity. Since you don't belong to our six great immortal sects, leave the Thunder Marsh World at once," another purple-robed High Immortal from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect said coldly. "Otherwise, this mana body of yours will perish today."

His words sounded perfectly reasonable to the powerhouses of the various groups.

Perish? Wu Yuan smiled and shook his head.

His form suddenly streaked forward, like a beam of light slicing across the sky. In the next instant, Wu Yuan had already arrived before the Skyfeather Immortal Sect's group, tens of thousands of li from his original position.

He was too fast!

With Wu Yuan's terrifying burst speed, the large group of Earth Immortals and Earth Deities from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect barely had time to react. Most could only look on in shock, their pupils constricting slightly.

But the six High Immortals and one High Deity from the Skyfeather Immortal Sect managed to respond in time.

"Please calm down, Sir," the silver-armored High Deity's voice boomed. He had already sensed that Wu Yuan would not be easy to deal with. With such terrifying speed, how could he be weak in other aspects?

In one step, he crossed thousands of li, his body instantly growing to a towering height of ten thousand zhangs, his aura surging and exploding outwards.

Employing his ether arts, he waved his eight arms. Like eight pillars of heaven, they struck simultaneously, blocking Wu Yuan’s advance.

A Third Tribulation High Deity? Wu Yuan's gaze was icy cold. He didn't even bother to draw his saber, merely raising his palm.

Boom! Wu Yuan's vital aura instantly began to skyrocket, reaching the level of a First Tribulation High Deity.

Then, he jabbed a finger forth towards the silver-armored High Deity.

That single finger instantly swelled to a towering ten thousand zhangs, tearing through the air!

One had to remember that Wu Yuan had an Apotheosis root, and was destined to possess an immensely colossal deity body in the future. Creation True Intent was most adept at physical body cultivation. In terms of pure strength, it was incomparably terrifying.

Since he was dealing with a mere Third Tribulation High Deity, Wu Yuan didn't want to reveal too much power, only drawing upon a tiny fraction of Creation’s profundities, without fully unleashing it.

However, the moment he jabbed his finger forth, the faces of the High Immortals and High Deities from the six great immortal sects paled.

Even if they couldn't understand what gave it such power, they could still sense the profoundness of this finger technique.

This finger technique? Nie Qing, the High Immortal with the highest cultivation among them, was also the most shocked.

He felt that this single finger was like a battle saber that could rend heaven and earth. It also resembled a divine spear that could pierce through heaven and earth.

It was indomitable.

Such a powerful aura, but he's still just an Earth Deity after all. This thought had barely flashed through the silver-armored High Deity's mind when his palm collided with Wu Yuan's fingertip.

A millisecond later, his face blanched, a hint of terror flashing in his eyes. He sent repeated mental transmissions: "Please calm down, Sir! Please calm down!"

Just as he was about to retreat, this finger, like a long spear piercing the firmament, instantly pierced through the eight arms of the silver-armored High Deity, held in front of him in defense. His arms exploded with a thunderous boom.

The finger did not slow at all, landing on the silver-armored High Deity's chest. He was completely powerless to resist. His body instantly exploded, each part blasting in all directions.

It wasn't that he couldn't withstand it at all. Rather, he proactively detonated himself to lessen the terrifying impact of this finger. The instant they clashed, his body was already on the verge of collapse.

Sixth Tribulation High Deity-level strength at minimum, perhaps even approaching the Archimmortal level. The silver-armored High Deity's heart was filled with terror. Where did this monstrous prodigy come from? Or is he not actually an Earth Deity at all?

His body rapidly began to reform in the distance.

At the same time, he sent a message through the voidrealm to the Archimmortal of his sect: "Ancestor! Ancestor! This is bad, it seems a Sixth Tribulation High Deity has appeared in the Thunder Marsh World. His strength is terrifying – he defeated me in a single move."

…

He had defeated the silver-armored High Deity with one finger.

The area fell silent for a moment.

Those High Immortals and High Deities were flabbergasted. Even Nie Qing had to admit that while defeating a Third Tribulation High Deity wouldn't be difficult for him, it wouldn't be this easy.

The many Earth Immortals and Earth Deities were even more stupefied, finding it somewhat absurd. Could an Earth Deity really be this powerful?

Wu Yuan didn't hesitate, nor did he pay any more attention to the silver-armored High Deity whose vital aura had greatly diminished and fled to the side.

Taking a single step, he arrived above the Skyfeather Immortal Sect's group.

Rumble! Within a thousand-li radius of the Skyfeather Immortal Sect's group, a powerful array had already formed under the orders of the six High Immortals. Strands of fire light emerged from the array.

The array was vast and mighty, as if roaring fire dragons were prowling within it, faintly causing the hues of the world to shift. It was clearly a defensive array.

A defensive array formed by the joint efforts of six High Immortals should, in theory, be difficult for even an Archimmortal to shatter in a single strike. The Skyfeather Immortal Sect was clearly well-prepared; this array of theirs was originally intended to protect them from other High Immortals.

At this moment, all eyes were on Wu Yuan. Could he break it?