Yuan’s Ascension

After conversing with Master Kua Chi and learning the secrets of the immutable Great Daos, Wu Yuan vaguely realized the magnitude of the opportunity presented by the Creation Essence Diagram.

A great opportunity! Perhaps it was an unintentional act on the black pagoda’s part, yet it has brought me an incredible blessing.

This Creation Essence Diagram is likely far more precious than any legendary root establishment treasure. Most peerless geniuses throughout history have probably never seen one.

With the aid of the Creation Essence Diagram, I can certainly go much further.

Of course, even with the Creation Essence Diagram, Wu Yuan still dared not attempt to comprehend an Essence Great Dao. He firmly remembered Master Kua Chi's warning.

As of now, I haven't even begun to grasp a single Greater Law... forget about reaching Master's level, any random High Immortal could crush me with a single hand.

One step at a time.

This Creation Essence Diagram is centered around the Longevity Dao... Wu Yuan's understanding deepened as he contemplated.

Perceiving the wondrous spiritual resonance, his comprehension of the diagram reached new depths.

In Creation or Life, the most important aspect is this Longevity. Compared to inanimate objects, life possesses infinite possibilities and futures... Wu Yuan mused thoughtfully. Is this the distillation of the Law of Life’s profundities?

…

Though he had completed the Creation Essence Diagram, Wu Yuan was in no rush to leave the stone walls. After all, the entire Thunder Marsh World was fraught with danger, and places where one could cultivate in peace were few and far between.

Moreover, although the Creation Essence Diagram was excellent, it was ultimately just one diagram. The stone walls, however, bore seventy-three diagrams. Even with slight differences between the various Dao pattern diagrams, their core was the same, providing Wu Yuan with ample material for reference and contemplation.

There are still over four months before the Thunder Marsh token expires. I should set aside at least one month to reach the entrance of the Immutable Land. That leaves me about three months at most to comprehend this. Wu Yuan planned.

His mind was calm. Though he didn’t know what awaited in the Immutable Land, just forming this single Creation Essence Diagram made the journey to the Thunder Marsh World worthwhile.

…

In the blink of an eye, nearly two months went by.

In a dark, damp canyon passage about a hundred thousand li from the Dao pattern diagrams in Area 1, over ten figures wrapped in a hazy earthy-yellow light were advancing at an astonishing speed.

If Wu Yuan were here, he would instantly recognize four of those figures - Mu Xin, Nie Le, and the Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang, who were responsible for protecting them.

However, at this moment, the group was not led by the ninth-stage Void Refiner Chi Chang, but rather by a tall, thin figure wearing star-patterned robes and a tall hat.

His eyes were narrow and long, with a hint of coldness in his pupils, and the aura he emanated was incredibly powerful!

The speed of an Earth Immortal is truly fast. In just a few short days, we've traveled here from the Dao pattern diagrams in Area 4. Nie Le muttered to himself as he flew, wrapped in an invisible force.

Earth Immortal Qi He. So this is the might of an Earth Immortal. Beside him, the gentle-looking Mu Xin secretly harbored a sense of longing. The Inner Region, which seemed so perilous to Chi Chang, is like flat ground before Earth Immortal Qi He. According to the Earth Immortal, he came from the Core Region?

When will I become an Earth Immortal?

Reaching the Void Refiner phase wasn't too difficult for Mu Xin, but becoming an Earth Immortal was another matter entirely. Among hundreds of Void Refiners, barely even one would become an Earth Immortal.

Earth Immortal Qi He was a rather ordinary Earth Immortal within the Longstar Immortal Sect, but 'ordinary' was only relative to other Earth Immortals. In terms of absolute strength, he was undoubtedly formidable.

He had led the group of teams from the Longstar Immortal Sect to the Thunder Marsh World. Having just emerged from the Core Region, he planned to visit and contemplate each of the Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls throughout the Inner Region.

Along the way, he encountered the team led by Chi Chang and Protectorate Fang, naturally bringing them along.

"Hmm?" Earth Immortal Qi He abruptly halted, then waved his hand. The entire team, enveloped by his Earth Immortal mana, quickly came to a stop. At the same time, countless points of light converged to form a light screen projection.

"What's wrong?"

"Elder." Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, Mu Xin, and the others were puzzled and couldn't help but look toward the light screen projection.

"Hmm?"

"Is that... Shadow Blade!"

"It's Shadow Blade." Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, and the others recognized him immediately.

In the light screen projection, they saw Wu Yuan, whose outer appearance was rather rugged, lying comfortably on a patch of grass in a plaza, with a saber placed beside him.

"His appearance is a match, he's alone, and at the ninth-stage Shambhala phase," Earth Immortal Qi He said in a sharp voice. "He must be the Shadow Blade you mentioned, the one who possesses a puppet at the level of an early-stage Earth Immortal, right?"

"Yes," Chi Chang quickly replied.

"Searching far and wide yields nothing, yet it comes effortlessly when least expected," Earth Immortal Qi He's eyes gleamed slightly. "I thought we wouldn't encounter him and miss out on the treasure. How fortunate to have run into him here."

A moment of silence fell.

Chi Chang, Protectorate Fang, Nie Le, and the other Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses all stared at Earth Immortal Qi He in disbelief, finding it hard to believe what they were hearing.

From the Earth Immortal's words, it seemed he intended to make a move against Shadow Blade?

"Elder, shouldn't we be more cautious? This Shadow Blade came here with our Longstar Immortal Sect's token, didn't he?" A Void Refiner Eminence voiced his reservations, "If we do this and word gets out, it might not be good for us."

"Nonsense." Earth Immortal Qi He's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, an invisible giant palm struck the Void Refiner Eminence, sending him flying.

Like a meteor, the Void Refiner Eminence was smashed into the ground, coughing up blood. His face paled with terror as he pleaded, "Elder, spare me! Elder, please spare me!"

Seeing this, the others in the group were equally shocked.

"The Thunder Marsh World is an exploration site where one undergoes trials of life or death. What connection does he, a foreign trialist, have with our Longstar Immortal Sect?" Mu Xin suddenly spoke up. "Besides, what trouble could possibly arise from the elder killing some Shambhala cultivator?"

"Hmm, not bad." Earth Immortal Qi He glanced at Mu Xin and nodded approvingly. "If I remember correctly, your name is... Mu Xin, right?"

"Elder," Mu Xin responded respectfully.

"Does anyone else have any objections?" Earth Immortal Qi He's gaze swept over the other Void Refiner/Elysian Field cultivators, most of whom dared not make a sound.

"Elder," Chi Chang steeled himself and said, "This Shadow Blade's personal strength may not be a concern, but doesn't he possess an Earth Immortal puppet? Shouldn't we be cautious?

Moreover, with such a powerful life-saving item, he might have a significant background. Perhaps he's even a disciple of some super powerhouse."

"An Earth Immortal puppet? It's just an early-stage Earth Immortal puppet," Earth Immortal Qi He gave Chi Chang a look, then turned back to the light screen.

Chi Chang immediately fell silent.

No matter how strong the puppet is, the strength it can unleash depends on the user. Earth Immortal Qi He thought coldly to himself. A single soul attack from me would severely injure him. Even the most powerful treasures are useless if one can't deploy them.

As for Shadow Blade's background, how could Earth Immortal Qi He not understand that concept?

I've cultivated for over sixty thousand years, yet still see no hope of a breakthrough. If I don't take a gamble or risks, choosing to cultivate step by step, accumulating wealth bit by bit, what hope will I have? Earth Immortal Qi He's heart hardened.

The path of immortal cultivation was inherently about clawing for that sliver of hope for survival.

So-called risks only existed when the potential benefits weren't great enough. If the benefits were sufficiently large, forget a possible core disciple of Autumn Lake Hall, even the offspring of an Astral Monarch wouldn’t be spared.

In Earth Immortal Qi He's eyes, Wu Yuan was a great opportunity sent by the heavens. As for the Earth Immortal puppet? That was precisely what he was after.

An early-stage Earth Immortal puppet is worth at least several thousand divine crystals, tens of times my own wealth. If I find a place to sell it and exchange it for some treasures, it would greatly increase my strength. Then, I could venture to more perilous lands and increase my hopes of breaking through.

At worst, I'll flee the sect and escape this immortal continent's spacetime territory after killing him. Earth Immortal Qi He had thought it through clearly.

This was a gamble worth taking. If he broke through successfully, he could roam the world for a million years!

My Soul Force can cover over a hundred thousand li. He won't be able to detect it.

"Everyone, wait here," Earth Immortal Qi He said coldly. "We’ll wait for him to leave the plaza."

"Yes," the group had no choice but to comply.

…

While Earth Immortal Qi He lay in wait over a hundred thousand li away from the canyon passage, Wu Yuan was naturally oblivious to his schemes.

Such was the terrifying nature of the Yuan Soul. Just as Wu Yuan's qi refiner self had once utilized his Yuan Soul to wreak havoc on the Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield, the roles were reversed today.

Meanwhile, Wu Yuan remained immersed in his cultivation.

Time continued to flow.

This spiritual resonance, these profundities… Wu Yuan's body refiner self completely focused on the Creation Essence Diagram and the numerous Thunder Beast Diagrams, seeking to comprehend that spiritual resonance.

Peaceful, comfortable, gentle, and unending... Wu Yuan's understanding of the integration of the three Daos–True Domain, Celestial Body, and Longevity–deepened.

Suddenly, as if everything had fallen into place, Wu Yuan’s surroundings seemed to grow quiet. Space stilled, and even the gentle breeze ceased to blow.

Within the internal shambhala, around Wu Yuan's soul essence, the profundities of the three Intermediate Laws—Celestial Body, Longevity, and True Domain—manifested and intertwined, seemingly undergoing a qualitative change as they truly began to merge into one.

The moment they fused, Wu Yuan had a sudden epiphany. He vaguely glimpsed... in the vast void, a magnificent heaven and earth being born, followed by countless matter converging to form stars... Then, innumerable lives began to emerge and multiply on those celestial bodies…

True Domain represented space.

Celestial Body represented matter.

Longevity represented life force.

When these three converged and united at a single point, it led to most fundamental elements for the birth of life.

Heaven and earth were originally desolate, their workings conformed to their fundamental nature. Only life held infinite possibilities and futures...The entire heaven and earth became vibrant and colorful because of countless lives!

Silently and imperceptibly, the instant Wu Yuan vaguely comprehended the essence of Life, the three Intermediate Laws converged and unified. A new profundity of the Dao was born, and a great yet hazy Dao fluctuation completely enveloped Wu Yuan.

This thread of Dao fluctuation was incredibly faint, even weaker than the fluctuations of Celestial Body True Intent. Yet it contained a terrifying pressure disproportionate to its power.

Greater Law—Life.

…

Rumble~ As he comprehended the Law of Life, the faint and hazy Law fluctuations enveloped him, transforming Wu Yuan's body rapidly.

This was especially so for the ‘Great Eldritch Divine Body’. This grand ether art was fundamentally based on the Law of Life. Previously, Wu Yuan had already cultivated it to the peak of the third step with only his comprehension of Longevity and Celestial Body.

Now, with his sudden breakthrough in comprehending the Law of Life, this grand ether art began to evolve and advance towards the fourth step, causing Wu Yuan's body to undergo immense changes.

…

Wu Yuan had merely crossed the threshold of the Greater Law, not comprehend its True Intent, so the fluctuations were very faint. Combined with the deliberate concealment on Wu Yuan’s part, the other immortal cultivators in the plaza did not notice the anomalies around him.

After a long while.

Unexpectedly, by contemplating the Creation Essence Diagram and sensing its spiritual resonance and artistic conception, I naturally broke through? Wu Yuan revealed a barely perceptible smile.

Originally, he had planned to comprehend the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of this Creation Essence Diagram, then attempt to break through to the Law of Life.

Who would have thought that he would break through so easily?

Of course, Wu Yuan also understood that this was due to his deep comprehension of the three Intermediate Laws of True Domain, Longevity, and Celestial Body, as well as the silver sphere bestowed by Master Kua Chi, which allowed him to achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop.

The Law of Life. Wu Yuan's thoughts stirred.

He felt a faint green light emerge on the surface of his body. It was almost undetectable, yet the power it contained was terrifyingly formidable.

I fear it can rival the Dao Field stage of Lesser Laws, comparable to the comprehension of ordinary Earth Immortals. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. Truly worthy of being a Greater Law.

Moreover, Wu Yuan was well aware that he was merely at the initiate threshold, having just comprehended a hint of the profundities of the Dao. Therefore, the improvements in his strength would not be significant.

However, with some more time, once he comprehended Life True Intent, Wu Yuan would be able to rival ordinary Archimmortals in terms of Dao comprehension.

Master Kua Chi’s task for me was to break through within three hundred years, but I've done it in just thirty. There was a slight gleam in Wu Yuan's eyes.

His speed of cultivation was unbelievable.

My comprehension of the True Domain Dao has already reached the eighth-level Domain stage, and I estimate it will reach the ninth-level Domain stage within ten years... In other words, as long as I cultivate methodically from now on, I can comprehend the Law of Life all the way to the ninth-level Domain stage in one go. Wu Yuan was clear about the path ahead.

The ninth-level Domain stage of a Greater Law—this would be considered top-tier comprehension even among High Immortals and High Eldritches.

Hmm? The Great Eldritch Divine Body, this grand ether art, has evolved to the fourth step under the principles of the Law of Life? Wu Yuan's eyes brightened slightly.

It was due to this grand ether art that he had dared to fight ninth-stage Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses head-on.

The power exhibited by grand ether arts also depended on the individual's ability. Some Shambhala cultivators with second-degree immortal roots or third-degree immortal roots might cultivate grand ether arts, but what of it? Without sufficient Dao comprehension, they might not even reach the third step.

The robustness of my body, once boosted with ether, is close to that of a low-grade spirion artifact? Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.

With such a formidable body, coupled with high-grade spirion battle armor, he wouldn’t need to worry even if Void Refiner cultivators bombarded him madly with arcane arts.

After comprehending the Law of Life, the increase in my attack power is minimal, but my self-preservation ability has improved by another large margin. Wu Yuan was extremely satisfied.

Before striking others, one must first learn to take hits.

Having crossed the threshold of the Law of Life, these Thunder Beast Diagrams are of little use to me now. Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the distant Thunder Beast Diagrams.

He wasn't trying to comprehend the profundities of the Dao within these Thunder Beast Diagrams after all.

Moreover, I've already formed a Creation Essence Diagram. It's time to leave and prepare to enter the Immutable Land. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Having made the decision, he didn't hesitate and stood up.

He swiftly chose a direction and headed towards the canyon passage on the right.

…

Deep in the canyon passage on the right, about 100,000 li from Wu Yuan’s location.

Hmm? Earth Immortal Qi He, who had been sitting quietly in the air on one side of the canyon, suddenly opened his eyes. “Is he coming? Finally.”

Whysee's Thoughts

For reference:

Lesser Law

Intermediate Law

Greater Law

Domain = initiate threshold

x

x

True Intent

Domain = initiate threshold

x

Dao Field (1st level = Earth Immortal, 4th level = High Immortal)

True Intent

Domain = initiate threshold

(Completion) = Archimmortal

Dao Field (7th level = peak-stage Archimmortal = Astral Lord)

True Intent

x

(Completion) = Astral Monarch

Dao Field

x

x

(Completion) = Sovereign