Yuan’s Ascension

Time passed.

Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, Yun Ling, and the others led over thirty Amethyst Cradle cultivators another ten million li inward. Finally, they arrived at one of the most important locations in Area 163 of the Outer Region.

This place resembled a canyon, seemingly no different from the winding mountain ranges elsewhere, but on one side of the canyon stood an enormous stone wall, towering and stretching for a hundred li.

As they entered the canyon, an invisible pressure weighed heavily on their hearts, filling them with a sense of unease.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Wu Yuan, Yun Ya, and the others descended, landing in the center of the canyon.

Besides them, there were two other groups of immortal cultivators from different sects in the central area.

"It's the Phoenix Immortal Sect."

"And the Soaring Feather Immortal Sect's team."

"So these are the stone wall Dao patterns? How incredible, I've only ever heard of them, never seen them before."

"We must try to comprehend them." The dozens of disciples from the Longstar Immortal Sect whispered among themselves.

Before entering the canyon, they had been on high alert, fearing an ambush. But upon arriving here, they all relaxed, as did the immortal cultivators from the other two sects.

This was because the location of the stone wall Dao patterns was a restricted area in the Thunder Marsh World! Thunder beasts could not invade this location, and fighting was likewise prohibited!

Those who violated this rule would undoubtedly perish.

Once a battle broke out here, it would trigger the release of lightning bolts from the array. A single strike was enough to kill a Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouse.

This was a lesson learned through the blood and lives of countless adventurers over billions of years. Wu Yuan and the others were well aware of this.

In short, any area with stone wall Dao patterns was a safe zone.

"What terrifying pressure."

"It's just as the legends say, these Thunder Beast Diagrams hold the teachings of the ancient Astral Monarch Wan Lei," Yun Ling looked up, breaking into a stunningly beautiful smile.

One side of the canyon wall was incredibly smooth, exuding an ancient and archaic aura, with waves of terrifying pressure enveloping the area.

On the wall, countless mysterious patterns were etched, perfectly converging to form a massive, complete Dao pattern diagram!

At first glance, the entire Dao pattern diagram on this stone wall resembled a crouching thunder beast, its head slightly raised, as if ready to leap forward at any moment.

"These stone wall Dao patterns are also known as Thunder Marsh patterns or Thunder Beast Diagrams." Yun Ya clicked his tongue in admiration. "Junior Sister, although our chances of comprehending their profundities are low... we should still try to contemplate them."

"Mm." Yun Ling nodded.

"What about you, Daoist Shadow Blade?" Yun Ya looked towards Wu Yuan, sighing, "These Thunder Beast Diagrams are the greatest treasure in the entire Thunder Marsh World.

Legend has it that the ancient Astral Monarch Wan Lei was one of the most powerful Astral Monarchs in the Greenridge Immortal World. His strength was immense, ranking at the pinnacle, and it's said these Thunder Beast Diagrams contain his teachings."

"Thunder Beast Diagrams?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

"There are 365 Thunder Beast Diagrams in total." Yun Ya smiled, "Legend has it that if one can comprehend even a small fraction of their profundities, becoming an Archimmortal or Astral Lord would be a walk in the park.

Because of this, over countless ages, many immortal cultivators from various immortal continents have come here seeking to contemplate them, like us.

Unfortunately, these Thunder Beast Diagrams are far too mysterious and profound. Even after trillions of years, we’ve never heard of anyone learning any world-shaking divine abilities from them. So, as time passed, fewer and fewer explorers visit this place.

Now, it's mainly the six major sects of the White Sea Immortal Continent who come to comprehend them." Yun Ya sighed wistfully, "My junior sister and I have only heard rumors, and since we're both studying thunder techniques, we applied to our sect to come and try our luck."

Wu Yuan nodded gently. He was already aware of this information.

Throughout the long ages, there were many powerful legacies similar to this relic left behind in the vast macrocosm, just like the nine treasure lands within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

Naturally, the Thunder Marsh World left behind by an Astral Monarch held considerable allure, but no one had truly unraveled its mysteries.

Or perhaps, those immortal cultivators who truly gained an inkling of insight into its profundities never spoke of it openly. Wu Yuan casually sat down on a patch of grass, silently pondering. For example—myself!

Seeing Wu Yuan walk to the side, Yun Ya didn't pay much attention. He and Yun Ling also found their own spots and began attempting to comprehend the patterns.

Anyone arriving here for the first time would naturally give it a try.

…

This stone wall Dao pattern diagram, this so-called Thunder Beast Diagram, actually holds such wonders. Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, looking up at the diagram, his eyes filled with ‘curiosity and confusion’.

In reality, tremendous waves of excitement were surging through Wu Yuan’s heart. Before coming to the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan hadn't taken it too seriously, even after learning some of its secrets. After all, how powerful could the legacy of an Astral Monarch be? He had merely regarded the Thunder Marsh World as the entrance to the Immutable Land.

But upon truly entering the world, Wu Yuan first noticed the similarities between the core patterns of the Thunder Beast Stones and the patterns on the silver sphere. Then, when he truly laid eyes on the Thunder Beast Diagrams, he was taken aback once more.

The crude Dao patterns of the Thunder Beast Stones merely make up one-millionth of this Thunder Beast Diagram! No! Not even one millionth. Wu Yuan gazed at the enormous Thunder Beast Diagram.

Other immortal cultivators might only sense a tiny fraction of the profundities of Thunder, Fire, Earth, Space, and so on, but Wu Yuan was different.

His perspective was extremely high, and with just a bit of contemplation, he understood that this Thunder Beast Diagram contained not only the profundities of Thunder and Fire, but also the Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain that he was currently studying.

I see. How could ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivators or Void Refiner cultivators comprehend these Thunder Beast Diagrams? Their perspectives are too low, they're not qualified. Wu Yuan's heart quivered with excitement.

At this moment, within Wu Yuan's internal shambhala, countless points of light began to gather beside the enormous silver sphere, forming an incredibly complex diagram.

It was a Thunder Beast Diagram, yet it only copied the appearance and lacked the terrifying pressure. Comparing the two, Wu Yuan discovered that when magnified, the cryptic patterns throughout the silver sphere bore striking similarities to those of the Thunder Beast Diagram. In some places, they were even identical.

The silver sphere's patterns are more complete, unified, and fluid. Wu Yuan mused, drawing on years of studying the sphere.

Though he hadn't unraveled the profundities of the Life Dao, he had grown quite familiar with it.

This Thunder Beast Diagram seems incomplete, far less whole than the silver sphere's patterns... Yet it contains a deeper level of Dao insights, embodying a mystical artistic conception that brings the beast to life! Wu Yuan's mind raced.

His understanding of various Intermediate Laws and Life Dao patterns allowed him to perceive the image's profound nature. Other immortal cultivators would only sense its imposing aura and struggle to grasp any insights.

Compared to the silver sphere, this Thunder Beast Diagram, though seemingly cruder, feels more... correct. Its mysterious artistic conception seems to truly embody the profundities of Life. Wu Yuan's realization left him not just shocked, but in disbelief.

After all, the silver sphere was a gift from Master Kua Chi, a Sovereign of Life, while these Thunder Beast Diagrams were merely left behind by an Astral Monarch.

Could it be that the true profundities of Life aren't simply the convergence of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain cryptic patterns...but also encompass the profundities of Thunder, Fire, and other Daos? Wu Yuan quickly hypothesized.

It was a bold theory. The fusion of aspects from the three Greater Laws was already incredible. To include even more? The very thought made Wu Yuan tremble.

Compared to the Thunder Beast Diagram in reality, what I've simulated in my internal shambhala is mere surface-level patterning, lacking the deeper Dao profundities and that ineffable artistic conception! Wu Yuan swiftly realized. That artistic conception is also absent from the silver sphere.

Form was external. The inner Dao profundities and artistic conception were the true core.

Now, gazing up at the Thunder Beast Diagram, Wu Yuan felt as if he were witnessing a powerful creature about to leap into action. This artistic conception wasn't just profoundly mysterious. It carried a trace of realism.

Real life. Wu Yuan had an epiphany. The Thunder Beast Stones harvested from the ordinary thunder beasts I slew must contain a fraction of this Thunder Beast Diagram’s profundities, thus they are able to manifest Thunder Beast life forms. A mere fraction is enough to create Shambhala-level thunder beasts. If a complete Thunder Beast Diagram were the source... How powerful would such a thunder beast be? Wu Yuan marveled silently.

The difference between the two was surely beyond measure.

Whoosh~ Within his internal shambhala, cryptic patterns manifested around Wu Yuan's soul essence, embodying the Intermediate Laws of Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain.

The artistic conception of real life! This time, Wu Yuan didn't attempt to directly combine the patterns following those on the silver sphere as he had before.

Instead, he used these three Intermediate Laws as a foundation, trying to mimic the mysterious artistic conception of the Thunder Beast Diagram. This artistic conception, in a sense, was the manifestation of profound Laws.

In simpler terms, Wu Yuan suspected that the Thunder Beast Diagram contained something even more mysterious than the Law of Life itself…

If I could grasp even a fraction of the Thunder Beast Diagram's artistic conception, it would likely make comprehending the Law of Life far easier. Wu Yuan realized.

It was like learning a language. Studying the Law of Life through the silver sphere was like learning written characters in isolation, naturally difficult; but grasping this artistic conception was like immersing oneself in the language's environment. Once acclimated, learning the corresponding written language would come much more naturally.

Time passed.

Wu Yuan tried again and again, failing each time. Grasping the artistic conception seemed simple in theory, but it was like fruit hanging from the highest branches, visible yet out of reach. To pluck it, one needed a ladder of sufficient height.

No, that's not it! None of this is right. This Thunder Beast Diagram is centered on the profundities of Thunder and Fire, with Longevity, Space, and others merely as support. It doesn't align well with the three Intermediate Laws I've been studying. Wu Yuan quickly realized.

The ladder he was using simply wasn't tall enough!

I must comprehend the Laws of Thunder and Fire to an extremely profound level. Only then might I hope to crystallize this mysterious artistic conception. Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.