Yuan’s Ascension

Whether on the entry-level Eldritch-Immortal battlefield or adventuring through the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan had faced life-threatening dangers many times before. But in those instances, Wu Yuan was either taking calculated risks or had powerful trump cards to rely on.

This battle, however, had truly pushed him to the brink. Yet in this desperate situation, Wu Yuan's spirit became incredibly pure and tranquil.

The killing intent gathering in his heart was a focused resolve, not mere impulse. In this unique state, amidst the haze of mortal combat, Wu Yuan touched upon an ineffable profundity. He finally grasped that elusive spark needed to crystallize this True Intent of Life.

The True Intent of Life. What I lacked was that desperate desire to survive, to live on, found only at the precipice between life and death. Wu Yuan realized this upon his breakthrough, as the comprehension of the three Intermediate Laws - Longevity, True Domain, and Celestial Body - coalesced to form a thread of True Intent.

His comprehension of the three Intermediate Laws had long since reached the True Intent stage separately, and after fusion, it was close to the True Intent stage.

After ten years of cultivation in the Archeldritch Hall and another seventy years of secluded cultivation in the Archeldritch tribe, Wu Yuan had accumulated numerous profound Dao insights, having long since reached the limit of the ninth-level Domain stage.

He was just a hair's breadth away from the next stage.

One way to take this final step was to continue deducing and contemplating the Daos, gradually fusing the three Intermediate Laws to a greater extent. Eventually, a breakthrough would naturally occur, but this process was incredibly arduous. Even with Wu Yuan's talent, he had estimated it would take him fifty years to break through.

The other way was to comprehend the True Intent itself. The Law of Life differed from Laws like Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, which were the fundamental principles underlying the origin of all existence.

The Law of Life was instead a special Greater Law that arose from the natural order of all things, containing an extremely unique artistic conception and spiritual resonance.

While comprehending the profundities of the Dao was one aspect, truly grasping this artistic conception and spiritual resonance was the core.

I contemplated the Creation Essence Diagram, enjoying those leisurely, carefree days. Wu Yuan now understood clearly.

Over the past seventy years, despite knowing that the Eldritch-Immortal war was raging fiercely, I still chose to cultivate at my own pace, waiting to break through and gain enough strength before stepping into the conflict, hoping to wipe out the immortal race in one decisive strike.

It was the same as before, when my body refiner self stayed in the Middle Land, cultivating patiently, biding my time until I was strong enough to make my move.

Why? Because I enjoyed it. That lifestyle resonated with my spirit, and in that state, my progress was rapid. I cherished life and longed for a peaceful existence. That's why, when I comprehended the Creation Essence Diagram, I naturally crossed the threshold of the Law of Life.

But the growth of life isn't just about leisurely comfort. It also has passionate, fiery aspects, and shadows that skirt the edge of death.

Sometimes, the hand of destiny won’t wait for us to grow stronger or be fully prepared for what’s ahead. It will collide with us unexpectedly, and if we’re not strong enough, it will crush us. That’s why we must fight—fight for that fleeting chance to survive! Without resistance, the odds of perishing on the path to immortality rise drastically.

Leisure in times of peace, passion in times of war.

The path to immortality inherently defies heaven's will. The longevity of living beings is not what heaven and earth desires. On this path of the Law of Life, without that unyielding desire to live, how could one cut through countless thorns to reach the pinnacle? How could one be worthy of breaking through? Wu Yuan's mindset had undergone a subtle yet significant transformation.

He had truly grasped the profundities of the True Intent of Life.

With this artistic conception in his spirit, he now had hope of advancing all the way to the ninth-level True Intent stage of Life.

At this moment, Wu Yuan could already sense the vast, all-encompassing essence of the Law of Life.

The Domain stage of a Dao was merely the entrance of the path of comprehending it. At this stage, even perceiving the Dao’s essence was extremely difficult. Crystallizing True Intent meant that one truly entered the inner chamber, able to sense the presence of its essence and receive its guidance. It was like being promoted from a nominal disciple to a direct disciple.

As one of the six special Greater Laws, crystallizing Life True Intent was extremely difficult. Wu Yuan had only grasped it at this life-or-death moment after a long period of accumulation.

Though it sounded like a gradual process, in reality, Wu Yuan completed his breakthrough in an instant. The eight sabers naturally applied the newly comprehended profundities of the Law of Life.

This was no particularly special saber technique. It was simply the natural eruption of Life True Intent – Blade of Life!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Eight dazzling, brilliant blade rays, brimming with endless vitality and carrying Wu Yuan’s burning desire to live, streaked across the sky, directly cleaving into the bodies of the two arrogant, howling beast battle arrays.

As the blade rays fell, the High Immortals within the two beast battle arrays paled.

Those surging, overwhelming blade rays instantly caused cracks to appear in the beasts' claws and wings. They couldn’t withstand the attack.

"Retreat!"

"Not good, his blade rays…" The two beast battle arrays attempted to retreat.

Boom~ Terrifying blade rays swept across the sky, crisscrossing over a hundred thousand li.

"Kill!" Wu Yuan stepped into the void, forcing High Immortal Wu Zong into a desperate retreat and sending her flying swords into disarray.

The sword domain that previously trapped Wu Yuan showed signs of collapse under these savage blade rays.

Wu Yuan’s strength skyrocketed after he broke through. Even facing three opponents, he still dominated them all.

These blade rays? Saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level. High Immortal Wu Zong was furious and shocked, her eyes filled with astonishment. A ninth-stage Elysian Field phase cultivator with Dao comprehension at the Imperial Majesty level? How did he do it?

The three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race all had Dao comprehension comparable to Archimmortals, on par with the Eldritch Deities of the eldritch race.

…

“Saber techniques at the Eldritch Deity level, truly beautiful.”

"Excellent!"

"How long has Hou Feng been cultivating? Only two or three hundred years, right?" The four High Eldritches were all astounded.

Their own Dao comprehension was only around the fifth or sixth-level Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.

As for Wu Yuan? He was already comparable to the Eldritch Deity level.

Saber techniques at the Archeldritch level. He crystallized the True Intent of Life? How long has he been cultivating? Where did such a monstrous prodigy come from? The Snake Ancestor was equally shocked.

During his years under the Eldritch of Heaven, he had witnessed countless remarkable things. But never had he encountered such an unfathomable prodigy. It was beyond anything he could have imagined.

…

"Saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level, and he broke through just like that?"

"This battle will be tough."

"Hou Feng, a ninth-stage Elysian Field cultivator, can unleash such power?" The group of High Immortals locked in fierce combat all trembled, waves of despair engulfing their hearts.

For the immortal race, the Archimmortal level was incredibly profound. In the entire immortal race, only the three Imperial Majesties had reached this level.

Among their race, only eight individuals had Dao comprehension at or above the seventh-level Dao Field stage – the eight Heavenly Masters.

Why was High Immortal Wu Zong chosen to execute the first strike on Wu Yuan? Because her stealth abilities were unmatched in the immortal race, and her attack power also ranked in the top fifteen. Who would they choose if not her?

In the entire Huanggu world, only the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race, the six Eldritch Deities, and the Snake Ancestor had Dao comprehension equivalent to Wu Yuan's current level.

If one also considered his comprehension of the Law of Space, Wu Yuan would easily rank in the top ten, perhaps even the top five.

We've lost! Kill Hou Feng? It's no longer possible. The power he's unleashing now is already comparable to a peak-stage Heavenly Master. [1] A glimmer of despair flashed through Imperial Majesty Nan You's heart.

But soon, it regained tranquility, for he had no regrets. Imperial Majesty Nan You knew he had truly done his utmost.

At the very beginning, he decisively attacked the Hou Cheng Tribe, then continually schemed to reduce the eldritch race's protection of Hou Feng without alarming them.

Finally, apart from the Creation Divine Hall, he spared no expense, sacrificing countless immortal race members to launch an all-out assault to kill Hou Feng.

It could be said that Imperial Majesty Nan You had done everything possible. Yet they still lost.

He could only blame the vast disparity in top-tier combat strength between the immortal race and eldritch race, coupled with Wu Yuan's absurdly rapid growth... Less than a hundred years had passed from the Mirror of Creation's warning to Wu Yuan's Dao comprehension reaching the Archimmortal level.

"Retreat!" Imperial Majesty Nan You's voice resounded simultaneously in the ears of all the immortal race’s High Immortals, including Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others locked in fierce battle far away. His voice was filled with unwillingness and bewilderment. However, there was no trace of regret.

"Retreat!"

"We've lost, let's go."

"Returning home after paying such a huge price, with nothing to show for? I fear Heavenly Pillar Mountain has already turned into a bloodbath." The morale of the immortal race’s High Immortals and Earth Immortals showed signs of collapse.

They clearly understood the price they paid to wage this battle. Originally, what sustained their fighting spirit was Imperial Majesty Nan You's promise to "resolve a great threat to the immortal race".

But in the end, they watched helplessly as Hou Feng unleashed saber techniques at the Imperial Majesty level. This was an unprecedented blow to the spirit of the immortal race army. And the now-powerful Wu Yuan was clearly no longer someone the immortal race could easily deal with.

"Kill!"

"Don't let them escape!"

"Don't let them get away!" The High Eldritches and Earth Eldritches of the eldritch race roared, unleashing everything they had in an attempt to stop them from leaving.

However, the top experts of the immortal race fought in battle arrays, balancing offense and defense. Each battle array was incredibly powerful, allowing them to calmly respond while retreating. This was also why immortal race experts rarely perished.

Of course, the drawback was that once any battle array was breached, it often meant the death of a large number of experts.

1. equivalent to a Fourth Tribulation High Eldritch ☜

Whysee's Thoughts

For reference:

Minor Eldritch

Communion

Minor Immortal

Qi Sea

Eldritch Soldier

Spiritual Body

Immortal Soldier

Golden Core

Eldritch Warrior

Shambhala

Immortal Warrior

Amethyst Cradle

Eldritch General

Elysian Field

Immortal General

Void Refiner

Earth Eldritch

Dharma Body

Earth Immortal

Divided Soul

ordinary High Eldritch

(comparable to 1st-2nd Tribulation) Universe Architect

ordinary High Immortal

(comparable to 1st-2nd Tribulation) Tribulation

eldritch race veteran elder

(comparable to 3rd-4th Tribulation) Universe Architect

immortal race Heavenly Master

(comparable to 3rd-4th Tribulation) Tribulation [at or above seventh-level Dao Field stage]

Eldritch Deity (High Eldritch)

(comparable to 5th Tribulation, 6th Tribulation with boost from Archeldritch Divine Weapons) Universe Architect [Fully comprehended a Lesser Law]

Imperial Majesty (High Immortal)

(comparable to 5th Tribulation, 6th Tribulation with boost from Creation Divine Weapons) Universe Architect [Fully comprehended a Lesser Law]