Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 780: The Ancestral Pagoda Wants You Dead (2)

Sovereign Kua Chi's words sent a jolt of electricity through Wu Yuan's heart.

With his current resources, following the normal path of cultivation, becoming an Astral Monarch or even a Sovereign wouldn't be difficult. But what about beyond that?

Throughout endless ages, how many monstrous prodigies, how many so-called 'Supreme Geniuses' have there been in the river of space and time? All external training methods only lead to the Sovereign phase at most.

Among the numerous macrocosms, how many Sovereigns are there? Yet few among them are able to transcend.

I may be talented enough to catch the eye of True Saint Bu Xiu, but the True Saint's two previous disciples, whose talents surpassed most Supreme Geniuses, also failed to transcend.

The Spacetime Dao Master hasn’t displayed any interest in me yet, indicating I haven't caught his attention. To supreme beings, my talent probably doesn't amount to much.

If I want to transcend, then I can't be content with my current achievements. I must seize as many opportunities as possible. Sovereign Black Devil may not compare to supreme beings, but he's connected to the Ancestral Pagoda. The Ancestral Pagoda, based on current evidence, should be an extremely special and powerful supreme object.

This is an opportunity! According to Sovereign Black Devil's remnant consciousness, this inheritance of his is likely one left for Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers.

I should be the only Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer among the numerous candidates. In terms of talent and strength, I dare say I'm the strongest among all the candidates. Wu Yuan pondered silently.

He had already made up his mind.

...

"Master," Wu Yuan opened his eyes.

"Have you made your decision?" Sovereign Kua Chi looked at Wu Yuan.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded firmly. "This disciple is determined to compete for it!"

"Good," Sovereign Kua Chi nodded. He didn't ask for his reasons; Wu Yuan must have already thought it through. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As his master, all he could do was to support Wu Yuan to the best of his ability.

"Take these," Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand, and nine streams of light flew out, revealing nine purple lotus platforms. Their aura was ethereal, with even the platforms themselves appearing slightly illusory.

"What are these?" Wu Yuan was startled, sensing that these nine purple lotus platforms were extraordinary objects.

"These are called the Nine Star Lotus Platforms, a mid-grade Dao Instrument set," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "They are artifacts that protect the Yuan Soul. I’m giving them to you."

"A mid-grade Dao Instrument set?" Wu Yuan was astonished, looking at his master in surprise.

Mid-grade Dao Instruments were far more precious than high-grade celestial artifacts, especially treasures that guarded the Yuan Soul. Their value was so high that countless peak Astral Monarchs would covet them. To be given such treasures?

"I've never bestowed such a valuable treasure to any of the one thousand-plus disciples I've taken, even your Third Senior Brother and Ninth Senior Brother. They all had to strive to earn it for themselves," Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"But this time, the situation is indeed different. Your talent truly far surpasses that of your senior brothers. I can’t give you higher quality Yuan Soul defense treasures lightly, and you might not be able to use them anyway," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "So, these will have to do."

Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.

For him, there was little difference between mid-grade and high-grade Dao Instruments at present, as he could only unleash a tiny fraction of their power.

"Take them and quickly decipher them. Each of the nine platforms can guard one Yuan Soul, providing maximum protection against karmic and soul attacks," Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan put away the Nine Star Lotus Platforms and quickly imprinted his vital aura on them, claiming ownership. Then, his nine Yuan Souls began to decipher the usage of this mid-grade Dao Instrument.

Soon, Wu Yuan could sense its incredible power. The nine platforms, seemingly separate, were actually interconnected, layering their defenses to provide maximum protection for the Yuan Souls.

"Come, follow me to the Cang Feng Temple," Sovereign Kua Chi said, waving his hand.

Instantly, the world around them shifted, and Wu Yuan felt spacetime rippling before suddenly appearing inside a majestic temple.

The temple was vast and empty, with rows of divine pillars standing on both sides.

At the far end of the temple, a black-robed muscular man sat in lotus position, his aura tyrannical and fierce. As it spread out, even Wu Yuan felt slightly suffocated.

A Sovereign? Wu Yuan was secretly shocked.

It wasn't that the black-robed man before him was more powerful than Sovereign Kua Chi, but rather that Sovereign Kua Chi's aura was more restrained.

"Disciple, quickly pay your respects to Sovereign Cang Feng," Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"Greetings, Sovereign Cang Feng," Wu Yuan hastily bowed, now understanding who the figure before him was.

It was none other than the leader of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, Sovereign Cang Feng. He was one of the titans of the Greenridge Macrocosm.

"Kua Chi, this must be that little disciple of yours," Sovereign Cang Feng smiled, taking a step forward to arrive before Wu Yuan.

His gaze was sharp as he looked down at Wu Yuan. The pressure he exerted was overwhelming!

Although Wu Yuan felt immense pressure, his powerful Yuan Soul and will allowed him to endure it.

"Not bad. With such strong willpower, it’s no wonder your master calls you a top-tier genius of the Eldritch Court," Sovereign Cang Feng praised, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

In his eyes, Wu Yuan, who had only cultivated for two thousand years, was but a child. Yet this child's willpower was stronger than he had imagined.

"Kua Chi, how can I help you?" Sovereign Cang Feng looked at Sovereign Kua Chi.

"I need to borrow your temple and activate the grand array to protect Wu Yuan for a period of time." Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"Protect him?" Sovereign Cang Feng was first surprised, then a flash of anger appeared in his eyes: "Who dares to attack him through karma? The Voltari Temple? Or which old codger?"

Sovereign Cang Feng had already guessed the general reason for their visit from Sovereign Kua Chi's opening words.

"No need to question further. It’s just a possibility, and even if an attack does arrive, it would originate from outside our Greenridge Macrocosm," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "In terms of defense, your temple is the best in our eldritch world, so I will have to trouble you."

"Alright, it's no problem. My true self stays in this temple all the time anyway," Sovereign Cang Feng nodded.

Everyone had secrets. Since Sovereign Kua Chi didn't elaborate, he didn't pry further.

"Wu Yuan, sit on that jade platform over there and focus on safeguarding yourself," Sovereign Cang Feng instructed, pointing to a distant platform. "You have nothing to fear here. Even if an Overlord were to attack, with my protection, it would be nearly impossible for them to harm you."

"Thank you, Sovereign," Wu Yuan said.

"Go on," Sovereign Kua Chi said.

Wu Yuan nodded and flew over.

Upon landing on the jade platform, he immediately felt a vast and powerful force enveloping him, even including his upper dantian lobe.

Such a powerful protective force. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

"Disciple," the voice of Sovereign Kua Chi echoed in Wu Yuan's mind. "The connection between your two true selves is weak, which will greatly reduce the attack power. The Cang Feng temple can further weaken it.

With the protection of the Nine Star Lotus Platforms, a Dao Instrument... I believe that even if you encounter an attack, your body refiner self should be unharmed."

"Thank you, Master. I am eternally grateful," Wu Yuan transmitted back. He was indeed grateful. Master Kua Chi had already done more than enough.

"You are my disciple. It is only natural that I do my utmost," Sovereign Kua Chi transmitted with a smile. "Go now, and focus entirely on the task at hand. If you're going to fight, then fight with everything you've got."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly and closed his eyes.

...

Within the grounds of the third trial in the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

"It's been so long. Has Ming Jian still not made his decision?"

"If you were in his position, you’d be stuck in a dilemma too."

"Is he going to give it up?" The Archimmortals and Archdeities conversed among themselves. Wu Yuan had been silent for a very long time.

"Senior Big Devil," Wu Yuan suddenly spoke up.

Immediately, everyone’s attention snapped to him.

"What is it? Have you made your choice?" Big Devil opened his eyes, looking at Wu Yuan eagerly.

"I will attempt the challenge," Wu Yuan uttered.

"Good. You've got guts," Big Devil's lips curved into a faint smile. "The Sovereign likes those with courage.

Go then.” Big Devil waved his hand, and Wu Yuan vanished from his spot in an instant.

...

The news that Wu Yuan had chosen to attempt the eighth trial spread quickly through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm to the upper echelons of many factions in the Dao Realm.

"Ming Jian has chosen to attempt it?"

"He's such a monstrous prodigy with a bright future ahead. Yet he dares risk it all?"

"He’s truly courageous!"

"Without such unwavering bravery, he probably wouldn't have made it this far. Which monstrous prodigy fears death?"

"The path of the strong is fraught with peril." In that special plane within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, many Sovereigns of the Dao Realm exchanged their thoughts, marveling and sighing at Wu Yuan's choice.

"Let's see if he can succeed."

"Could this be a ruse? Could Big Devil be lying?" one Sovereign suddenly asked.

"I doubt it! Given Black Devil's personality, he wouldn't stoop to deceiving us," another Sovereign quickly rebutted.

"Let's wait for news."

"We should have results in a few hundred or thousand years at most."

For these Sovereigns, a single session of secluded cultivation could last tens of thousands of years.

Among them was a towering figure in purple robes, his eyes flashing with a cold light. Ming Jian? So desperate to obtain Black Devil's inheritance?

Hmph! If you don't obtain the inheritance, so be it. But if you do... I'll make sure you swear an oath.

He was Sovereign Mo Lang. In the past, he had the deepest grudge against Sovereign Black Devil. In that climactic battle, his stronghold was breached by Sovereign Black Devil, and his true self nearly lost his life at Sovereign Black Devil's hands.

"Jiu Xue," he transmitted a secret order.

Astral Monarch Jiu Xue was the Astral Monarch under his command in charge of intelligence.

"Without alerting the other eight major factions of the Dao Realm, mobilize as many late-stage Astral Lords, Astral Lords of Space, and quasi-Astral Monarchs as possible. Instruct them to enter the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm covertly.

Once you detect any trace of Ming Jian, capture him immediately.

Remember, don't leak any information, especially to the Hundred Mysteries Palace and the Hanging Moon Palace."

...

Sovereign Mo Lang's orders were unknown even to the other Sovereigns of the Dao Realm, let alone Wu Yuan. He was completely unaware that a vast net was closing in around him.

At this moment, Wu Yuan had entered a mysterious realm within the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

This place? Wu Yuan's gaze swept across his surroundings. An endless, gloomy void shrouded in boundless black mist stretched as far as the eye could see.

What is the eighth trial? Wu Yuan remained extremely vigilant.

Hum~ Countless points of light appeared out of thin air, converging to form a figure in black robes. His aura was ethereal and vast, and his eyes shone like brilliant stars.

"Sovereign Black Devil?" Wu Yuan was startled.

"You've still reached this stage after all. Though I must say, you’re faster than I had imagined," Sovereign Black Devil looked at Wu Yuan, his voice calm. "Don't worry, this is merely a remnant of my consciousness left before my death.

The so-called final trial is actually quite simple. It is to fuse with a sliver of the Ancestral Pagoda's essence," Sovereign Black Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Succeed, and you'll inherit everything I possess."

"Fail, and you die. It's not me that wants you dead, it’s the Ancestral Pagoda."