Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 713: Spacetime, Creation, The Singular Essence (1)

To cultivate 'Genesis Law Sacrifice', one must simultaneously comprehend the Law of Time and the Law of Space. Achieving this was extremely difficult, let alone reaching a profound level of understanding. Furthermore, one must possess Genesis Power.

Among the immortal cultivators Wu Yuan had encountered and in the texts he had perused, there was no mention of the black pagoda, nor any reference to Genesis Power. Only the Genesis Divine Pillar before him seemed to hold any potential answers.

The Law of Time. Wu Yuan pondered silently. He had obtained the 'Spacetime Secret Codex' over a century ago.

Over more than a decade, his soul had evolved from a Yuan Soul to twelve divided Yuan Souls. This progress was extraordinarily swift.

For Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns, even if they originally lacked affinity for certain Daos, their powerful souls should allow them to sense the fluctuations of most Daos clearly. Yet after integrating with the Dao essence of heaven and earth, the omnipresent influence of Dao Assimilation slowed their progress to an excruciating crawl.

With inferior talent and opportunities, many Astral Monarchs might cultivate for hundreds of millions of years without matching the progress of a High Immortal cultivating for ten thousand years.

Boom! The flow of time around Wu Yuan began to change dramatically, causing violent fluctuations. Originally, his top speed was four times that of light.

The power of his Apotheosis soul had allowed Wu Yuan to comprehend the Law of Time to a profound level over years of arduous cultivation. There was only a hair's breadth separating him from crystallizing Time True Intent.

A breakthrough could happen at any moment.

...

Several months later, Wu Yuan finally purified the Black Devil Star fully with Genesis Power.

It remained pitch-black, resembling a miniature star, appearing unchanged at first glance. However, its aura was vastly different. The past Black Devil Star had been violent and sinister, but now it exuded a majestic, unrivaled power. The countless mysterious Dao patterns engraved on its surface appeared incomparably divine.

Clearly, under the influence of Genesis Power, the Black Devil Star had shed the malevolent energy imbued by Sovereign Black Devil, revealing its true form.

Part three of 'Genesis Law Sacrifice'. Wu Yuan had also finished receiving the vast wealth of information.

It was an immense flood of information. But for Wu Yuan, whose soul had broken through to become twelve divided Yuan Souls, he absorbed it at an extremely rapid pace.

Besides the teachings, there were also spacetime coordinates of the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

The Genesis Star has different spacetime coordinates from these Genesis Divine Pillars. This one points to a location outside the Snowlight Mist Realm?

The coordinates of the twelve Genesis Divine Pillars are consistent. Wu Yuan mused. It seems they share a common origin.

When he previously entered the Black Devil Blood Hollow, Big Devil had implied that there were many entrances. Thus, Wu Yuan had originally harbored some hope of finding other spacetime coordinates.

Now, his hopes were dashed.

Although the Genesis Star's spacetime coordinates differed, there was a note stating that this coordinate entrance was located in another perilous region of the Dao Realm. The danger level of that region far surpassed the Snowlight Mist Realm. Normally, only Astral Monarchs had the strength to venture inside.

The Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm is fraught with danger. Wu Yuan thought. The bounty storm stirred up by the numerous Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm hasn't subsided yet. There are likely still many Astral Lords remaining in the Snowlight Mist Realm.

Wu Yuan decided to keep the plan unchanged. He would wait until breaking through to High Immortal before his true self ventured into the Black Devil Blood Hollow. After several centuries, this storm would likely have blown over.

Moreover, I've just finished cultivating part one of 'Genesis Law Sacrifice'. If I cultivate for a few more centuries and make further progress in Space and Time, I might be able to master part two or even part three. Wu Yuan harbored a glimmer of anticipation.

The 'Black Devil Blood Sacrifice' had many limitations. The Devil Divine Pill alone was problematic, and one had to worry about the corrosion of malevolent energy.

But when Wu Yuan employed 'Genesis Law Sacrifice', these issues did not exist.

Mastering part one could boost his mana to the level of a Third Tribulation High Immortal.

Mastering part two could elevate his mana to that of a first-stage Archimmortal.

Mastering part three could raise his mana to that of a seventh-stage Archimmortal.

Channeling Genesis Power through the Genesis Divine Pillar, I can transform mana into Genesis Divine Power. Wu Yuan mused silently. My mana body now carries a Genesis Divine Pillar infused with Genesis Power.

With the mana of a Third Tribulation High Immortal, combined with the 'Nine Swords of Spacetime', I can unleash power rivaling a second-stage Archimmortal. But it's far from enough, and the duration of sustained combat still falls short of a true Archimmortal. Wu Yuan recognized this clearly.

After all, he was merely an Earth Immortal with limited mana. Once he became a High Immortal, the situation would change dramatically, and his mana reserves would greatly increase. He would have hope of mastering part two.

By then, even if my direct combat prowess fails to match an Astral Lord, it should at least rival a fifth or sixth-stage Archimmortal. Wu Yuan thought.

Coupled with the special nature of the Space Dao and Time Dao, venturing into the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm would naturally become more manageable.

For the time being, I'll focus on quiet cultivation. Wu Yuan was in no rush. It would take him at least a decade to create a new mana body after the previous one's demise.

He immersed himself in cultivation.

...

Years passed, and over two decades went by. Wu Yuan took no action during this time, and his mana body did not return to the Snowlight Mist Realm.

Many of the Astral Monarchs of the Dao Realm chose to give up, but several Astral Monarchs still persisted.

In a plane belonging to the Hundred Mysteries Palace in the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.

A group of powerful Astral Monarchs gathered within a majestic temple.

"It's been over twenty years."

"Should we give up?"

"Many Astral Monarchs from other factions have already abandoned hope."

"Ten billion divine crystals, this youngster truly refuses to budge." The dozen or so Astral Monarchs conversed.

It wasn't that they hadn't attempted to negotiate a deal with Wu Yuan. In fact, the highest offer had reached five billion divine crystals, but it was still rejected.

"Everyone, there’s no need to be so disheartened." Ya Hei, the Astral Monarch clad in black armor, smiled. "This is merely a minor opportunity in our long lives."

The assembled Astral Monarchs nodded in agreement.

Indeed, for them, a single Black Devil Star could only be considered a small opportunity. The vast majority of Astral Monarchs in the Dao Realm hadn’t even bothered to compete.

"Ming Jian is in no hurry. Neither should we be." Astral Monarch Ya Hei smiled and said, "The Black Devil Star is useless to immortal cultivators and serves no purpose outside the Dao Realm. Ming Jian will trade with us eventually; we just need to wait patiently.

Furthermore, the Black Devil Star holds Black Devil Divine Pillars... Barring unforeseen circumstances, Ming Jian will inevitably carry some Black Devil Divine Pillars and venture into the Black Devil Blood Hollow. A peerless genius like him can't possibly endure such tedium," Astral Monarch Ya Hei continued.

"Moreover, I suspect the entrance to the Black Devil Blood Hollow might very well be within the Snowlight Mist Realm. Otherwise, why would that High Immortal carry the Black Devil Star while exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm previously?"

The group of Astral Monarchs nodded, finding Astral Monarch Ya Hei's logic rational.

"Just inform your subordinate Archimmortals and Archdeities that those willing to can continue exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm," Astral Monarch Ya Hei instructed. "If they manage to ambush Ming Jian, capture him, but don't kill him. Obtaining a few Black Devil Divine Pillars would be beneficial.

Then, perhaps Ming Jian will be willing to trade. A single Black Devil Divine Pillar, if sold to certain peerless geniuses, could fetch hundreds of millions of divine crystals."

"Agreed," many Astral Monarchs nodded, not taking it too seriously.

Black Devil Divine Pillars? They held little significance for them.

However, they had mobilized numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities, including many powerful Astral Lords, to launch this operation. Some compensation was necessary.

Information on Wu Yuan was one form of compensation these Astral Monarchs could provide.

"Ming Jian might return to explore the Snowlight Mist Realm while carrying Black Devil Divine Pillars?"

"When?"

"The timing is uncertain."

"It's pure speculation by the Astral Monarchs to string us along. Who knows when Ming Jian will come? A thousand years? Ten thousand years? Will his strength be weaker by then?" Upon receiving this information, most of the Astral Lord-level powerhouses chose to abandon the search and leave the Snowlight Mist Realm.

In their view, there was little meaning in staying any longer.

"Haha, I’m not in a rush."

"It's been a long time since I last visited the Snowlight Mist Realm."

"This is as good a place to explore as any other. Who knows, with luck, we might encounter Ming Jian's mana body. Then we could seize a Black Devil Divine Pillar." A few Astral Lords decided to stay.

As for ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities? Even more chose to remain in the Snowlight Mist Realm for short-term exploration.

The influx of powerful individuals had led to a rapid increase in battles and bloodshed within the Snowlight Mist Realm.

Even imprint bearers from the Spacetime Island found their expeditions increasingly perilous.

The Outer Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm was now entirely devoid of Earth Immortals, for any Earth Immortal encountered was slain without mercy, suspected of being Ming Jian's mana body.

...

Above the Spacetime Island, two figures walked through space, their forms blurred and indistinct. They gazed down upon the vast island below.

Yet not a single cultivator on the island could sense their presence.

"Zhuo Haiyue's impact is truly remarkable," mused a black-robed figure wearing a weeping ghost mask, his voice tinged with amusement. "Who would have thought that such legendary events would unfold in our time? I wonder who stands behind her. Lan Yan, do you know?"

The black-robed figure's aura seemed unremarkable.

Beside him stood Sovereign Lan Yan, clad in purple robes. It was clear that the two were equals.

"What of it, Jia Lou? Do you have some notion?" Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head.

"I wouldn't dare," the black-robed figure chuckled. "I've tried to discern Zhuo Haiyue's karmic threads, but to no avail. Her past is unfathomable, her future unpredictable... Just as the legends say: transcending heaven and earth, binding time itself, eternally indestructible.

Mere curiosity, that's all," the black-robed figure continued. "Still, the final step will be fraught with countless perils."

"Some matters are beyond our meddling," Sovereign Lan Yan cautioned.

"Indeed," the black-robed figure nodded, then changed the subject. "That Ming Jian... I've been observing him. His natural talent seems truly terrifying. Do you think he'll gain Big Devil's approval?"

"Him?" Sovereign Lan Yan's tone was flat. "Jia Lou, your battles with Black Devil were the fiercest back then. You claim to want to learn more Zhuo Haiyue, but you're really more interested in Ming Jian, aren't you?"

Sovereign Jia Lou merely chuckled without answering, his expression unreadable behind the mask.

"Don’t worry," Sovereign Lan Yan continued. "The Dao Master said long ago that Black Devil’s path would threaten the Dao Realm's longevity, and so it was severed. That little Ming Jian may glean some benefits from the Black Devil Blood Hollow, but he won't form any karmic ties with you."

"Ha! With your assurance, Lan Yan, I can set my mind at ease," Sovereign Jia Lou laughed jovially.

Suddenly, both Sovereigns turned their heads in unison. They had just sensed an unfathomable, vast presence descending upon the Spacetime Island.

“Spacetime’s essence? The essence of a Great Dao descends?” Sovereign Jia Lou's voice betrayed a hint of shock.