Yuan’s Ascension

As he spoke, Veteran Elder Hou Qiong waved his hand, and a dark green jade vial flew toward Wu Yuan. "Hou Feng, take this."

Wu Yuan reached out and caught it.

"Inside is Archeldritch Origin, a precious treasure left behind by the Archeldritch. There are only fifty portions in total. Once used up, that’s it," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong explained. "Consume it after entering the eldritch chamber. It will help you comprehend the profundities of the Dao most efficiently.

Normally, only those who have reached the High Eldritch phase and comprehended an Intermediate Law to the True Intent stage would be able to obtain it.

Although you are only an Eldritch Warrior, your comprehension of the Celestial Body Dao is extremely profound, so it will be granted to you in advance," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said.

"Go now. Choose any eldritch chamber. Once you approach the chamber, it will open. The Archeldritch Hall will be opened exclusively for you for the next ten years, so don't slack off." Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said, "You may never progress this quickly again for the rest of your life."

"Understood." Wu Yuan nodded, putting away the dark green jade vial. His gaze swept across the room before randomly selecting one of the bronze doors.

He walked forward.

Hum~ As Wu Yuan approached, the bronze door seemed to sense him and opened automatically. The interior was veiled by a hazy layer, blurring the details.

High Eldritch Hou Zhi and Veteran Elder Hou Qiong watched as Wu Yuan entered. Then, the bronze door slowly closed shut.

"Hou Zhi, come back to receive him in ten years," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong said indifferently. "When he comes out, his Dao Comprehension may reach the High Eldritch level, but he's still too weak. It will take at least a thousand years before he truly becomes a High Eldritch."

"Mm." High Eldritch Hou Zhi nodded, then couldn't resist asking, "What about you? Hou Qiong, do you plan to just sit here like this forever?"

"Of course not," Veteran Elder Hou Qiong, said. "I have less than thirty thousand years left in my lifespan. I'm stuck at the ninth-level Dao Field stage, unable to break through."

"Before I die, I will go out one last time, to see this land again, to visit all the places Xue and I once traveled to."

High Eldritch Hou Zhi fell silent.

During the Second Battle of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, he was merely a newly advanced High Eldritch, still relatively weak, and High Eldritch Hou Qiong was his senior. Later, as his power grew, he learned more about High Eldritch Hou Qiong's circumstances.

In High Eldritch Hou Qiong’s earlier years, he favored black, while High Eldritch Hou Xue favored white. They were a couple with a fairy-tale-like love for each other, envied by even the highest echelons of the entire Huanggu eldritch race.

Then, things changed. Only a figure in white robes remained, his hair turned completely white.

Later still, even that figure vanished, secluding himself within the Archeldritch Hall for years on end.

This seclusion lasted for hundreds of thousands of years.

"I fear I may not live to see the end of this war in my lifetime," High Eldritch Hou Qiong said calmly. "So, whenever I encounter these promising youngsters, I can't help but talk a little more."

"Hou Feng will not disappoint you," High Eldritch Hou Zhi solemnly assured.

…

So this is an eldritch chamber of the Archeldritch Hall? I'm to spend the next ten years here? Wu Yuan mused as he entered the chamber.

He watched as the massive door swung shut behind him.

The eldritch chamber was remarkably simple, spanning no more than ten zhangs in diameter. A solitary jade platform stood at its center, surrounded by nothing but emptiness.

At first glance, there seemed nothing extraordinary about it. Yet the entire chamber was bathed in an ethereal light, its source a mystery to Wu Yuan.

Ten years? I hope this Archeldritch Hall doesn't disappoint. This is likely the greatest opportunity the eldritch race can offer me. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

From High Eldritch Hou Zhi’s words, ordinary Eldritch Generals were only allowed to cultivate here for ten days due to the vast numbers of new Eldritch Generals born every century. But he had been granted ten years!

Ten years was the absolute limit. Beyond that, the guiding effects of the Archeldritch Hall would diminish rapidly, with drawbacks outweighing the benefits.

How will this Archeldritch Hall help with my cultivation? Wu Yuan pondered, clutching the dark green jade vial as he plopped down on the jade platform.

The moment he sat down, an invisible force emanated from the jade platform, instantly enveloping Wu Yuan and plunging his spirit into a state of unprecedented tranquility.

This effect surpassed any calming array or Dao comprehension jade platform Wu Yuan had ever encountered. It was truly unparalleled!

Before Wu Yuan could fully process his astonishment, another wave of mysterious power descended, effortlessly dispelling all other thoughts from his mind. Even his instinct to conceal his true strength vanished without a trace.

Only one thought remained — cultivate! Comprehend the Dao with all his might!

Boom! In an instant, Wu Yuan's singular focus triggered ripples of Dao fluctuations, causing countless mysterious Dao cryptic patterns to materialize.

The profundities of the Land, the profundities of Gravity, the Earth Origin fluctuations… Swiftly, these invoked Dao fluctuations coalesced into Celestial Body Dao patterns.

But this was merely the beginning!

Whoosh~ Another stream of profound Dao fluctuations emerged, representing the Longevity Dao that Wu Yuan had never exhibited since his arrival in Huanggu.

Finally, came the mysterious fluctuations of the Law of Space.

As the three Intermediate Laws of True Domain, Celestial Body, and Longevity manifested, they instantly merged to form a hazy yet vast Dao fluctuation — Life!

In this moment, Wu Yuan's comprehension of the Law of Life broadened and deepened all at once. This thread of Dao fluctuation, though faint, was incomparably profound, seeming far nobler than other Intermediate Laws.

It completely enveloped Wu Yuan.

And the instant the profundities of the Law of Life manifested, the previously still walls of the eldritch chamber suddenly transformed, as if responding to some unseen stimulus.

Countless mysterious cryptic patterns emerged on the surfaces, wrapping Wu Yuan in dense Dao fluctuations.

These are... Life Dao patterns? A hundred, no, a thousand times more complex than those on the silver sphere. They seem perfected to the utmost degree, unfallible. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly. Could this be... the complete Life Dao’s essence?

The Life Dao patterns on the silver sphere were comprehensive, but only within the confines of Life True Intent. As he delved deeper into comprehension, Wu Yuan could sense the imperfections in those patterns on the silver sphere, which missed certain aspects.

On the contrary, Wu Yuan felt these Dao cryptic patterns were incomparably mystical and perfect. It seemed that adding even a hair's breadth more would mar their flawlessness.

Whoosh~ Simultaneously, the dark green jade vial opened of its own accord, and a single drop of mysterious liquid flew out, landing directly on Wu Yuan's forehead.

Boom! Wu Yuan felt his spirit quake, his consciousness fully merging with the countless Life Dao patterns that had appeared on the four walls of the eldritch chamber.

Because he had yet to reach the True Intent stage, Wu Yuan had been unable to perceive the Life Dao’s essence. He had relied solely on the guidance of the silver sphere and the Creation Essence Diagram, slowly piecing things together. Even under such circumstances, his progress had been astonishing.

But now?

It's so detailed, this intangible guidance is a complete immersion. Wu Yuan's spirit trembled. This was far beyond mere guidance.

It was no longer about approaching the Dao essence, but submerging oneself within it. His perception of the Daos was incredibly clear, ten times, a hundred times clearer than before, if not more!

Celestial Body, the Land, the vast Space, the unending vitality, the surging Life... Countless Dao insights flooded his mind.

This is the true Life Dao. The genuine Law of Life. Wu Yuan's eyes held nothing but endless fascination.

A thought flashed unbidden through his mind: Could such a treasure truly have been left behind by an Archeldritch? I fear even Ancestral Master Bei You or Master Kua Chi couldn't provide such a cultivation environment. It's too miraculous, too inconceivable. The Immutable Land indeed lives up to its reputation.

However, had I not displayed my talent and quickly gained access to the core of the eldritch race, I might never have received such treatment.

These thoughts were swiftly erased by waves of invisible ripples rising from the jade platform.

Cultivate! Wu Yuan threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation, contemplating the vast and unfathomable profundities of Life Dao’s essence.

Wu Yuan hadn't forgotten that he only had ten years.

…

Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, who was immersed in cultivation within the eldritch chamber…

Deep beneath the earth, not too far from the Archeldritch Hall, stood a vast hall.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Three surges of energy erupted, engulfing the entire hall.

"This?"

"What's happening? What could cause the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts to react like this?" Two imposing figures, emanating overwhelmingly powerful auras, stood at the entrance of the hall, staring in shock at the scene before them.

In all their long years of cultivation, they had never witnessed such a phenomenon!

In the past, when they attempted to invoke the power of these Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, it had been extremely difficult, and they barely managed to control a fraction of the artifacts' essence.

Yet today, these three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts had spontaneously unleashed their power?

Boom! Suddenly, another powerful presence descended. Its body was immense, making even the two Eldritch Deities, who stood over ten zhangs tall, seem like mere specks before it.

"Snake Ancestor."

"Snake Ancestor." The two Eldritch Deities spoke in unison, bowing slightly.

In terms of power, they were on par with the Snake Ancestor. However, the Snake Ancestor held a special significance within the Earth Eldritch tribe. They had all grown under the Snake Ancestor's care.

"Haha, good! Very good." The Snake Ancestor's enormous eyes remained fixed on the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts in the hall, which were radiating endless brilliance.

"It's the Archeldritch Hall! The Archeldritch Hall and the three Archeldritch Divine Artifacts are intrinsically linked, so these weapons have sensed a special change within the Archeldritch Hall," the Snake Ancestor said softly.

"Our Earth Eldritch lineage has finally produced a peerless genius. One who surpasses even Zhu Jiu, a true monstrous prodigy."