Yuan’s Ascension

"Hou Feng, you give Hou Quan guidance on cultivation every day, yet you've hardly instructed me at all," Eldritch General Hou Tong grumbled, lying down on the grass next to Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan shook his head with a wry smile, glancing at Eldritch General Hou Tong, but made no move to push her away.

He had tried it before; pushing her away was futile.

"You always have ulterior motives for asking me to guide you. Hou Tong, I won't consider marriage until I become a High Eldritch," Wu Yuan said coolly.

"That's fine, I can wait. By the time you become a High Eldritch, I reckon I'll be an Earth Eldritch. Even then, I'll still be a match for you," Eldritch General Hou Tong hummed contentedly.

She had the look of someone who had Wu Yuan all figured out.

"Brother Hou Feng, though Eldritch General Hou Tong may be a bit overbearing, she's truly exceptional. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone her equal in the entire eldritch race," Hou Quan chimed in from the side, stirring the pot.

He was clearly enjoying the show.

"Focus on practicing your saber techniques and mind your own business," Wu Yuan said with his eyes closed.

Hou Quan grinned and said no more. Tactfully, he leaped away, leaving Wu Yuan and Hou Tong alone.

Hou Tong? Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, catching a whiff of Eldritch General Hou Tong’s scent.

As someone whose Dao Heart rivaled that of a High Eldritch, Wu Yuan could easily perceive that Hou Tong's initial curiosity and defiance towards him had gradually transformed into a genuine crush.

Eldritch General Hou Tong was indeed exceptional, cold and domineering towards others, yet passionate as fire towards Wu Yuan.

If Wu Yuan were willing, they likely would have already consummated their relationship.

Wu Yuan was no saint; to say he wasn't moved at all would be a lie.

However, I'll only be staying in this Immutable Land for a thousand years at most. Wu Yuan thought calmly. A thousand years? For Hou Tong, who is destined to become an Earth Eldritch, it's far too fleeting. She may even have a chance to become a High Eldritch in the future.

Wu Yuan had met Veteran Elder Hou Qiong. While some men and women in the eldritch race had no concept of chastity and indulged in wanton behavior, there were others who remained utterly faithful to their partners.

He had a feeling that Hou Tong was similar to Veteran Elder Hou Qiong in this regard.

After I leave, time will heal the scars in her heart. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

"I'm going back to cultivate," Wu Yuan said after some time, rising and flying into a distant hall. The hall's barriers immediately rose, preventing anyone else from entering.

"Damn you, Hou Feng." Eldritch General Hou Tong glared at his back, then broke into a smile. "Well, it's only right. A strong man is always challenging to conquer.

All those other Eldritch Generals are so compliant, yet they don't hold a candle to Hou Feng."

…

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

"Third Brother, are you certain?" Imperial Majesty Nan You looked at Imperial Majesty Da Yan, his eyes filled with a hint of disbelief. "Isn't it a bit too soon?"

"Big Brother, the longer we delay, the more the eldritch race will lower their guard, but Hou Feng's strength will also continue to grow," Imperial Majesty Da Yan looked at Imperial Majesty Nan You.

He continued, "After a hundred years, it's time to bring in the net. We've done our utmost to lower the eldritch race's vigilance. We must make this final gambit.

This attempt must succeed. If we fail, the eldritch race will be on full alert, and we'll likely never get a second chance," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said in a low voice. "By then, what awaits us will most likely be extinction."

Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

The scenario Imperial Majesty Da Yan painted was too cruel.

"Third Brother, can you hold out alone?" Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked, concerned. "Zhu Jiu is leading over two hundred High Eldritches."

"Over these tens of thousands of years, I've laid down numerous killing arrays in the lower seventeen Heavens. Even if Zhu Jiu invades us, he won't be able to reach the Eighteenth Heaven quickly," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said with a slight smile, though his face was somewhat pale. "Even if he does make it up here, I can guard the Eighteenth Heaven with the Creation Divine Artifacts. It will be enough to hold him off."

Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu exchanged glances.

In the past, it had always been Imperial Majesty Lei Fu alone who led the army into battle. Why? Because it took at least two Imperial Majesties to defend the Thirty-Three Heavens.

"Outside Heavenly Pillar Mountain, the power boost from the Creation Divine Artifacts is minimal," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said. "If Second Brother heads out alone, our chances of killing Hou Feng would be significantly lower.

Big Brother, if you go together with him, our odds of success will increase by at least ten percent.

The eldritch race is convinced that we won't abandon the foundation we’ve built in the Immortal Realm and commit everything to an attack. After all, every heaven destroyed is extremely difficult to restore.

At the same time, that old monster believes Hou Feng is perfectly safe, protected within the Archeldritch tribe, and will lower his guard. But the more they believe this, the more we must do the opposite.

As long as we can kill Hou Feng, forget the Seventeen Heaven, even if the lower thirty heavens are destroyed, it would be worth it," Imperial Majesty Da Yan said calmly.

The expressions of Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu turned solemn.

Both understood the cost of this battle.

If they succeeded, it would be bearable. But if they failed? At least one-third of the immortal race's foundation would be destroyed, perhaps even more, and the situation would turn far more dire.

"The key to this battle lies with Big Brother and the High Immortal Wu Zong," said Imperial Majesty Da Yan. "Let us summon High Immortal Wu Zong. When it comes to stealth and assassination, her abilities are unrivaled in our immortal race."

Time flowed on.

The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race formulated multiple plans, spending a century to lower the eldritch race's guard, imperceptibly weakening the protection around Hou Feng, all for this final strike.

Paying an enormous price, all to eradicate Hou Feng.

Not long after, the three Imperial Majesties once again gathered a large number of Earth Immortals and High Immortals, announcing their intent to attack the Fire Archeldritch tribe.

This news swiftly spread to the eldritch race tribes, but the highest echelons of the eldritch race didn't take it too seriously.

Over the past several decades, similar news had been leaked too many times, and the eldritch race's highest levels had grown accustomed to it, dismissing it as just another of the Immortal Court's diversionary war actions.

But in secret, the three Imperial Majesties separately summoned a group of Heavenly Masters and High Immortals who had guarded Heavenly Pillar Mountain for a long time.

They were the most loyal subordinates of the three Imperial Majesties, each harboring a bone-deep hatred for the eldritch race, with an extremely low possibility of betrayal.

Unbeknownst to others, they entered the Creation Divine Artifacts.

Everything was in place!

Two days later, while many of the immortal race's Earth Immortals and High Immortals were unaware of the true situation and believed it to be just another routine operation, the immortal race's most powerful assassination squad in history departed from Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

...

Just one day later.

In the sky tens of millions of li from the Archeldritch tribe, over ten figures gathered, emanating powerful auras.

"Does everyone understand the plan?

In this battle, Tu Liu... you six will lead the battle arrays, following Imperial Majesty Lei Fu to attack the eastern side of the Earth Archeldritch tribe. Create a huge commotion, but don't be reckless. Try your best to lure the High Eldritches of the Earth Archeldritch tribe to engage you in battle, and occupy them. This will be our feint." Imperial Majesty Nan You stood in the sky, his aura powerful.

Imperial Majesty Lei Fu stood beside him.

"Understood," three Heavenly Masters and three High Immortals respectfully replied.

They were all highly trusted by the three Imperial Majesties, but even at this moment, they still didn't know the true purpose of this battle. They only knew that this mission was extremely important, because two of the three Imperial Majesties were taking part.

"Bei Hai, you four will lead the battle arrays, follow me and heed my commands," Imperial Majesty Nan You's gaze fell upon the other four.

"Understood," two Heavenly Masters and two High Immortals respectfully replied.

Then, the two Imperial Majesties once again sealed these Heavenly Masters and High Immortals in their Creation Divine Artifacts, ensuring no aura would leak out.

Only then did a white-robed woman suddenly appear.

"Wu Zong pays respects to the Imperial Majesties," the white-robed woman said solemnly.

She was High Immortal Wu Zong. First comprehending the Wind Dao, she later became the only High Immortal in the entire immortal race to comprehend the Space Dao to an extremely profound level.

Her forte lay in assassination and stealth. For this mission, she was the immortal race's strongest trump card.

"I believe you've already vaguely detected the target. This is the power of the Mirror of Creation. Your mission is to infiltrate and kill Hou Feng after I make my move," Imperial Majesty Nan You said in a low voice.

"Understood," High Immortal Wu Zong nodded solemnly.

Only the two Imperial Majesties and High Immortal Wu Zong knew who the actual target was. It could be said that the immortal race had already committed its full strength to this battle.

Hum~ High Immortal Wu Zong's form shimmered slightly, merging into the void, leaving no trace.

"Big Brother," Imperial Majesty Lei Fu looked towards Imperial Majesty Nan You.

"Let us give it our all," Imperial Majesty Nan You said calmly, his eyes revealing a hint of coldness. "The rest, we leave to fate."

"Let's go."

The two Imperial Majesties moved, flying off in different directions.