Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1205: The Nine Realms (2)

To call it an entrance was perhaps misleading—it was in fact a colossal light screen over a hundred million li wide and over thirty million li tall. The crystalline light screen pulsed with waves of hazy energy.

Probing is impossible; my soul power can’t penetrate it. Wu Yuan made several attempts before giving up. It’s just as the intelligence reports described. Who knows where it will transport me to?

The outer region of the Azure Saint Tomb was enigmatic and fraught with secrets. The Eldritch Court powerhouses who had ventured inside over the ages had all encountered vastly different scenarios. It depended greatly on luck. With good fortune, one might obtain invaluable treasures without expending much effort. But with poor luck? One could easily find oneself in mortal peril.

Of course, there was one inviolable rule—a token was required for entry. Without it? Certain death awaited any who dared to intrude! There were no exceptions.

An azure pagoda materialized in the palm of Wu Yuan’s ether body. Simultaneously, his mana body—concealed within a grotto-heaven artifact—also grasped an azure pagoda.

I wonder if it’s possible for both of my true selves to enter together? The thought flickered through Wu Yuan’s mind.

There were no records of such an attempt. After all, possessing two true selves was already quite rare, let alone both cultivating to extreme heights. The tokens for the Azure Saint Tomb were even more scarce.

The void was utterly silent as Wu Yuan’s ether body swiftly approached the light screen entrance. Without further hesitation, he plunged headlong into the shimmering barrier.

The moment he entered, Wu Yuan sensed the connections between true selves and his mana and ether bodies weaken rapidly, as if some terrifying force sought to sever them completely.

Such a powerful force of isolation—even stronger than the Creation Dao Realm? Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.

Fortunately, Wu Yuan had already pioneered his self-created Daos. The connections between his true selves and his mana and ether bodies were too strong—even the power of the Azure Saint Tomb could not completely sever them.

As long as I can retain my memories and connections to my true selves, it’s fine. Wu Yuan remained relaxed. After all, these were merely his mana body and ether body. Even if they were to perish, the losses would be minimal.

Where is this? Wu Yuan carefully probed his surroundings, sensing only a hazy void with no discernible boundaries.

Suddenly, a mysterious force buzzed through spacetime, enveloping Wu Yuan completely.

It even penetrated his grotto-heaven artifact, enveloping Wu Yuan’s mana body as well.

This mysterious force seemed capable of piercing through everything, causing Wu Yuan’s soul to tremble instinctively, involuntarily feeling as if he had been thoroughly seen through.

What’s going on? Wu Yuan was shocked inwardly. The Eldritch Court’s intelligence archives never mentioned anything like this.

Whoosh! The force dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, and Wu Yuan’s surroundings warped.

He found himself in a completely unfamiliar world.

…

The Azure Saint Tomb appeared to be a tower, but its interior contained infinite profundities, housing countless worlds.

Deep within the Azure Saint Tomb was a strange world. If Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu were here, she would certainly determine that this area was part of the forbidden zone of the Azure Saint Tomb.

“Warning. Initial screening complete, first-grade Saintcrest requirement met… Ninth Realm activated, commencing transfer!”

“Transfer initiated, returning…” A series of cold voices suddenly echoed through this strange world.

But there was no response. It was as if too much time had passed, and the original overseers waiting here had long since perished.

…

Whoosh! Wu Yuan felt the spacetime around him shift, and he found himself landing in a mysterious world.

Vast, endless land stretched before him, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges. Rich spiritual qi saturated the world, wrapping Wu Yuan in a warm feeling of comfort.

What a powerful world. Where am I? Wu Yuan’s ether body vigilantly surveyed his surroundings, inwardly shocked. Space is even more stable here than in the cosmic sea.

In the cosmic sea, Wu Yuan’s normal flight speed was tens of times the speed of light, but here? It would likely be even slower.

Boom! Wu Yuan lightly swung his fist, and only a faint ripple appeared in the void.

With Overlord power alone, I’d struggle to reach light speed. Wu Yuan mused in shock. Moreover, the surrounding spiritual qi is very strange – it’s neither Xiantian spiritual qi nor Xuanhuang qi.

In the cosmic sea, sempiternal lifeforms absorbed Xiantian spiritual qi. As for eternal powerhouses, their Eternal Psyches converted Xuanhuang qi to energy for usage. But in this world, it was neither – crucially, it was even purer than Xiantian spiritual qi and easier to absorb.

Where is this? Is this a world within the Azure Saint Tomb? Wu Yuan was both shocked and puzzled. But the Eldritch Court’s intelligence archives never mentioned a world like this.

According to the Eldritch Court’s intelligence, sempiternal lifeforms who entered the outer region of the Azure Saint Tomb with a token would encounter various dangers.

For example, they might land in certain dangerous sites and have to struggle desperately to escape.

Or they might enter certain mysterious worlds that required them to undergo trials. Only by passing the trials could one hope to obtain treasures.

There were many such scenarios. But one thing was common – no matter which area one was transported to, there would always be guidance from the Azure Saint Tomb. The entire Azure Saint Tomb operated under invisible rules.

I should now be trapped in some special world of the Azure Saint Tomb. Wu Yuan frowned slightly. But why is there no guidance?

He thought back to the mysterious force that had permeated both his true selves earlier. Without a doubt, Wu Yuan had encountered a very special situation.

No guidance? The connection between my mana and ether bodies and my true selves indicates that we are separated by a vast distance. Wu Yuan’s brow furrowed as he contemplated his situation. I have no choice but to explore independently and uncover whatever mysteries this world conceals. Perhaps then I’ll understand why the Azure Saint Tomb has brought me here.

With fluid grace, Wu Yuan transformed into a brilliant streak of light and ascended skyward. His ether body soared toward the distant mountain ranges, his mana body still concealed.

The landscape below unfolded in breathtaking splendor—verdant mountains and crystalline rivers painting a tapestry of extraordinary beauty.

Beasts? Wu Yuan mused, perceiving his environment. Such powerful vital auras. The creatures he encountered radiated vital auras comparable to Archimmortals and Archdeities, a revelation that startled him.

This discovery carried two significant implications. First, if even the weakest beings possessed such strength, it spoke volumes about this world’s fundamental power. Second, this realm was neither a Saint Realm nor Eternal Realm, yet it nurtured sempiternal lifeforms with remarkable ease.

Saint Realms and Eternal Realms are essentially miniature Rivers of Universes. Wu Yuan reflected, ideas cascading through his mind. Could the Azure Saint Tomb contain its own independent universe?

He continued his flight, covering tens of millions of li of uninhabited wilderness. His Soul Force stretched outward, detecting numerous beast-like entities engaged in serious cultivation across the vast terrain. Among these beings, the strongest possessed early-stage Astral Monarch strength, with clear signs of intelligence—further evidence of this world’s extraordinary nature.

Hmm? A town? With his exceptional perception, Wu Yuan easily identified an enormous city hundreds of millions of li distant, nestled among the mountains and waterways. The metropolis teemed with lifeforms that appeared human, each bearing an immortal presence.

The human race? He murmured thoughtfully. They seem formidable–generally Archimmortal level, with a number of Astral Monarchs.

Though Wu Yuan detected no Sovereigns, such an impressive city likely dominated the surrounding hundred-million-li area, marking it as their territory.

Suddenly, a series of thunderous vibrations shook the eastern sky above the city. Clouds and mist churned violently as three massive battleships broke through the atmospheric barrier, descending upon the settlement below.

In immediate response, the entire city blazed with light as its defensive array activated. Numerous powerful cultivators emerged from the battleships, launching a barrage of attacks on the city. Both sides engaged in ferocious combat.

War? Wu Yuan observed with keen interest, maintaining light-speed as he approached.

The primary combatants on both sides were Astral Monarchs, though Wu Yuan detected a concealed aura belonging to the attacking force. A hidden Sovereign?

The attackers clearly possessed greater overall strength, fielding several late-stage Astral Monarchs in addition to the concealed Sovereign. Yet to Wu Yuan, this meant little. Astral Monarchs? Sovereigns? Mere ants to someone of his caliber.

Since his mana body had pioneered a Dao, Wu Yuan was capable of annihilating over a thousand Overlords effortlessly in a single thought with his psyche weapon.

Still, every war has its causes. Wu Yuan reasoned. These battleships must represent some faction. Perhaps through them, I can uncover this world’s secrets and find my path back.

Wu Yuan had two main objectives. First, to uncover the secrets and opportunities of this world. Second, to return.

Wu Yuan silently approached the battlefield. With his overwhelming power, avoiding detection by these sempiternal beings required minimal effort. Since he had yet to understand the full dynamics of this world—especially its peak combat level—he preferred caution over recklessness.

Theoretically, Wu Yuan could sweep through the Azure Saint Tomb’s outer region, but who could predict what unexpected situations might arise? He observed the brutal conflict unfolding below.