Yuan’s Ascension

The difficulty of level one hundred of the one-star tower was equivalent to level ninety of the two-star tower. In other words, if Wu Yuan were to attempt it now as 'Ming Jian', he'd be starting from the ninety-first floor of the two-star tower.

One needed to reach the seventh-level Dao Field stage to stand a chance of clearing level one hundred of the one-star tower. But for level one hundred of the two-star tower, one needed to fully comprehend a Lesser Law to have hope of success.

However, my current performance is already dazzling enough, and I still have plenty of unused Dao Temple points. There's no need to attempt it now. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Attempting it now would bring no particular benefit and would only draw more attention to himself, putting him in greater danger. The risks outweighed the rewards.

There’s still time, I’ll wait a hundred years. By then, it won't be as eye-catching. Wu Yuan's qi refiner self decided.

But, It's time to see Master Kua Chi. Wu Yuan's qi refiner self suddenly smiled.

He hadn't met his master when he first stepped through the threshold of the Law of Life, as it held little significance and hadn't greatly increased his strength.

But crystallizing Life True Intent? That was an entirely different matter.

With a mental command, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, arriving at his personal hall. Simultaneously, he requested an audience with Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.

His body refiner self was a disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign and had yet to become an Archeldritch, thus he could visit his master directly. But his qi refiner self, having no public ties to the Sovereign, could not enter the Eldritch Sovereign's plane. He could only request an audience from his personal hall.

Wu Yuan didn't have to wait long.

In less than a quarter hour, a tall figure clad in beast hide appeared in Wu Yuan's personal hall. Where he stood, it was as if heaven and earth had taken form, vast and boundless.

"Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.

"This is a rare sight," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled slightly, his voice resonant. "Wu Yuan, it's been nearly a hundred years since you last contacted me. Even when you cleared level one hundred of the one-star tower, you didn't inform me."

"I felt such trivial matters weren't worth disturbing Master. Thus, I didn't inform you. Please forgive me," Wu Yuan quickly replied.

"Haha, no need to worry. I'm not that petty," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi laughed. "When you achieve something or make progress, I will only be happy for you. How could I blame you?"

Wu Yuan nodded.

Although his bond with Master Kua Chi wasn't as deep as with Master Dong Yang, he had indeed treated him well.

"Why have you sought me out?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan, quite expectant: "Have you made a breakthrough in the Life Dao? Entered the threshold of the Law of Life?"

"Master, I have indeed made a breakthrough in the Life Dao, but it's not entering the initiate threshold," Wu Yuan said respectfully.

"Oh?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi frowned slightly: "You haven't broken through yet?"

He felt a hint of dissatisfaction. By his estimation, if Wu Yuan had focused wholeheartedly on comprehending it, with all his opportunities, he should have crossed the threshold of the Law of Life by now.

Could it be that he had been distracted by his contemplation of the Law of Space?

"This disciple has successfully crystallized Life True Intent. Please observe, Master." Wu Yuan gave a mental command.

Whoosh~ Silently, a hazy Dao fluctuation enveloped Wu Yuan's body.

"Hmm? What?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue, staring at Wu Yuan in astonishment.

He knew this Dao fluctuation all too well. To him, this thread of Dao fluctuation was very weak, yet it contained abundant vitality and an indescribable tenacity. If not Life True Intent, what else could it be?

“You... you've comprehended Life True Intent?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was truly stunned.

Though Wu Yuan had only been his disciple for over a hundred years, Wu Yuan had given him many pleasant surprises, advancing in strength at an alarming rate.

From what was originally, in his eyes, a not particularly outstanding young genius with only heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos making him somewhat special, Wu Yuan had accomplished feats that were a 'first in macrocosm history'.

And now, at just over 170 years old, he had comprehended Life True Intent. This age was still 130 years short of the 300-year limit for the two-star tower.

At this rate of progress, what heights would Wu Yuan reach in another hundred years?

Of the thousand-plus disciples I've taken, only two crystallized the Life True Intent early on, but the fastest took a thousand years. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi could hardly believe it.

170 years versus a thousand years - this wasn't just a tenfold difference in talent. It was a hundredfold gap.

And the disciples Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi had taken were all monstrous prodigies, with the most outstanding among them undoubtedly ranking as first-rate talents in the long river of the macrocosm's history.

Yet Wu Yuan had opened up a hundredfold gap with them?

Moreover, this disciple of mine isn't solely comprehending the Life Dao. It seems his achievements in the Space Dao are not minor either. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi stared at Wu Yuan, thinking to himself. This sort of talent... I've never seen it before.

What sort of perspective did he have? He stood at the pinnacle of the macrocosm, having lived for eons, traveling to many macrocosms, having adventured through various parts of the endless river of space and time, and was on good terms with many super powerhouses.

Throughout his long life, he had seen countless monstrous prodigies and geniuses, but none could compare to Wu Yuan.

At least, among those of the same age, no one can match him. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought to himself. Truly worthy of being called a Supreme Genius.

He recalled some legends from the river of space and time. Back then, when he mentioned it to Wu Yuan, it was just to encourage him. He didn't believe Wu Yuan could actually achieve it. But now, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi felt there was real hope.

At this rate of progress, he might reach the Dao Field stage of the Life Dao within ten thousand years. A million years to break through from the Dao Field stage to completion. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought to himself.

With such ample time, the chances of a successful breakthrough would be exponentially higher.

…

"Master?" Wu Yuan finally spoke. "Is there something wrong with the Life True Intent that I’ve comprehended?"

His master remained silent for a long time. Could it be that there was some problem with his Dao comprehension? Wu Yuan felt uneasy.

"There’s no problem! Very good." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi revealed a brilliant smile, sighing: "Compared to you, those senior brothers and sisters of yours all seem mediocre.

Your rate of progress has exceeded even my expectations." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile, it was rare to receive such praise from Master Kua Chi. He still clearly remembered the evaluation his master had given him when he first entered the sect.

"Your Senior Brother Chang Hong has cultivated for thousands of years, yet in terms of Dao comprehension alone, he's probably only one level above you," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.

Wu Yuan nodded.

Senior Brother Chang Hong had reached the Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law and was already a heaven-tier member of the Second Origin Eldritch Field. Over a hundred years had passed; perhaps he had made further progress.

"How is your body refiner self doing?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked.

"It should be fine, though I'm not clear on exactly what it has experienced," Wu Yuan's qi refiner self said, quickly recounting what he sensed.

"Mm." Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi turned his gaze toward Wu Yuan, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "It seems you've indeed experienced a great fortuitous encounter. However, you say Immortal Sovereign Bei You hopes that you can comprehend the True Intent of Space?"

Wu Yuan nodded. "That's correct. But this disciple has already decided not to pursue that path, focusing instead on the Law of Life."

"No!" The words burst forth from Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, sharp and sudden. His next words caught Wu Yuan off guard. "Listen to your Grandmaster Bei You." A smile played across the Eldritch Sovereign's lips.

"Hm?" Wu Yuan's brow furrowed in confusion.

This was very different from what Master Kua Chi previously said.

Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi's voice took on a measured tone. "If it took you a thousand years to comprehend the True Intent of Life, I naturally wouldn't allow you to divide your attention. The loss would outweigh the gain."

Wu Yuan listened intently.

"At that point, even if you aimed to fully comprehend the Law of Life in a million years, it would be extremely difficult," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi continued. "But things are different now. Your progress in the Law of Life has been... astonishingly swift.

So fast that it leaves even your master in disbelief," Kua Chi mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Naturally, we should consider the even more distant future..."

"More distant future?" Wu Yuan echoed, his confusion evident.

Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled. "In time, you will understand. To put it simply, your talent is extraordinary. Compared to some ordinary geniuses, you have the luxury of trial and error.

Moreover, your aptitude for the Law of Space is by no means inferior. It's worth giving it a try.

The third stage of training you’ll receive from your Ancestral Master Bei You is an opportunity countless powerful cultivators yearn for, but might never attain. At the very least, it's not something I can provide," he admitted.

"You need not cultivate it to too profound a level. Crystallizing the True Intent of Space will suffice," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi explained. "Spending several hundred years to comprehend it is entirely worthwhile.

With the understanding of two Greater Laws, you’ll be even more formidable," he added. "Even if it ultimately proves unsuitable and you abandon it, you'll have only wasted a portion of your qi refiner self's energy over a few hundred years. The cost is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

But if you succeed..." he paused, "the benefits will be boundless!"