Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1334: The Hand That Envelops All (1)

Boom! Boom! Wu Yuan’s ether body, now wielding a saber, swept through everything in his path, charging to the twenty-eighth layer in one breath before being halted again. Then he drew eight more sabers, his power surging once more.

With such combat power, those guardians with early-stage Dao Zenithel combat power are cut down like vegetables. Tian Chan looked on in awe. They simply couldn’t impede Wu Yuan’s advance.

After a while, even Tian Chan could barely see what was going on inside. Moments later, the battle fluctuations deep within the nebula completely subsided.

He made it through? As expected of my master. Tian Chan waited patiently. At this moment, he was thoroughly convinced of Wu Yuan’s strength.

…

At the heart of the nebula, an endless darkness stretched before Wu Yuan. His ether body, unleashing its full power, had torn through every barrier in his path.

Thirty-six layers. The guardians of the final layer each possessed mid-stage Dao Zenithel combat power. Truly beyond reason. Wu Yuan shook his head in disbelief.

The combined force of over a hundred Dao Zenithels united against him had been overwhelming.

Though individually weaker than him, they were all at the same cultivation stage. Under their collective assault, Wu Yuan had found himself completely outmatched. Only his exceptional defenses had allowed him to force his way through.

Despite his ether body lacking a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, the combination of his Chaos Treasure battle armor, Xuanhuang Dao Body, and resilient Eternal Psyche granted him physical defense far beyond ordinary Dao Zenithels.

Standing at last in the deepest reach of the void, Wu Yuan gazed ahead.

The Ancestral Pagoda? He could finally behold the full majesty of the structure towering before him.

It stood entirely jet-black, radiating an aura both ancient and vast. The pagoda seemed to embody the Primordium itself while somehow transcending it—real yet slightly illusory, as if caught between states of existence.

Even now, we appear separated by endless spacetime. Wu Yuan observed, puzzled.

Through the imprint embedded deep within his soul, Wu Yuan sensed the Ancestral Pagoda beckoning him. Yet he felt uncertain.

How do I gain its acknowledgment? He wondered.

Before he could contemplate further, a gentle voice broke the silence.

“Wu Yuan, you’ve finally arrived.”

Countless points of light converged, forming a white-robed figure who regarded Wu Yuan with warm familiarity.

“Heavenly Domain Emissary?” Wu Yuan’s expression shifted to shock as he stared at the projection.

He recognized the figure instantly; it was none other than the mysterious being who had appeared in both the Megaverse Crossroads and the Xuanhuang Cosmiris.

“It’s been a long time.” The white-robed figure smiled. “You seem surprised to see me here.”

Wu Yuan nodded wordlessly. How could he not be? Previously, this being had claimed to be a manifestation of the River of Universes’ Order, controlling places like the Megaverse Crossroads and Xuanhuang Cosmiris.

When Wu Yuan had become a Dao Zenithel, he’d attempted to perceive the entire River of Universes. Despite feeling its vastness and unfathomability, he’d found no trace of the Heavenly Domain Emissary, nor could he find any trace of the Xuanhuang Cosmiris or Megaverse Crossroads.

Now, unexpectedly, they met again in the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime.

Even more puzzling, Wu Yuan still found the white-robed figure a complete enigma, his aura strangely reminiscent of the Ancestral Pagoda itself.

“Could it be that the Xuanhuang Cosmiris and Megaverse Crossroads were both created by the Ancestral Pagoda?” Wu Yuan wondered aloud, his mind racing with possibilities.

After all, the Ancestral Pagoda coexisted alongside the Primordium and could influence its rules.

“Good guess.” The Heavenly Domain Emissary smiled. “You’ve got part of it right, but not entirely. With your current strength, you’re qualified to understand some truths about the Nine Megaverses Spacetime.”

“Truths?” Wu Yuan’s heart quickened.

“First, you’re correct that both the Megaverse Crossroads and Xuanhuang Cosmiris were artificially created,” the Emissary explained. “However, it wasn’t the Ancestral Pagoda that created them. It was the work of two supreme leaders.”

“Two supreme leaders?” Wu Yuan’s mind immediately connected the dots. “Hong? The creator of Frostheaven Peak?”

“It seems you’ve learned many secrets over these few billion years.” The Emissary nodded appreciatively. “Yes, it’s them. The entire Nine Megaverses Spacetime, in essence, was jointly created by them.”

The Nine Megaverses Spacetime was their creation? Wu Yuan listened in stunned silence.

He had believed that both the mysterious Hong and the creator of Frostheaven Peak were merely Grand Supreme beings born in Primordial Epochs before the Nine Megaverses Spacetime, just exceptionally powerful ones. But the Nine Megaverses Spacetimewas actually created by them?

“It’s not that all matter in the Nine Megaverses Spacetime was created by them,” the Emissary clarified, his eyes reflecting ancient memories. “To be precise, they established all the rules.

“The nine great megaverses, the River of Universes with its thirty-six universes, the cycles of the Megaverse Crossroads and Xuanhuang Cosmiris, samsara, the Chaos Voids, the Three Supreme Divine Objects—all these operational frameworks of this boundless cosmic sea were set by these two great leaders.”

The Emissary’s voice grew solemn. “It is because of them that the Nine Megaverses Spacetime now has its order and rules.”

Wu Yuan’s understanding crystallized. These two supreme beings were the masterminds behind everything, jointly creating the framework for all things.

No wonder! Long ago, I questioned the nature of the Megaverse Crossroads, Xuanhuang Cosmiris, and Three Supreme Divine Objects. They never seemed to have been naturally formed. Wu Yuan realized. As if an invisible hand controlled everything.

Now he understood that the invisible hand spanning the entire cosmic sea was these two supreme leaders.

“What is the aim of the two leaders?” Wu Yuan asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“Their aim?” The Heavenly Domain Emissary wore an enigmatic smile. “Didn’t I already tell you back in the Xuanhuang Cosmiris?”

“You told me?” Wu Yuan paused, confusion giving way to dawning comprehension.

The Emissary continued: “At the pinnacle of mortal lifeforms, one is called a Saintcrest Prodigy! That is the Megaverse Crossroads. Those who excel there can hope to become Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers.

“At the pinnacle of sempiternal lifeforms, one can be called a Legend! That is the Xuanhuang Cosmiris!

“And the ultimate goal is to give rise to the supreme among eternal lifeforms.” The Emissary’s voice took on an ethereal quality as he smiled at Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan now understood completely. His previous conjectures had been correct; both the Megaverse Crossroads and Xuanhuang Cosmiris were designed to nurture exceptional prodigies and strengthen cultivators.

Ultimately, they prepared one for the path of eternity.

The treasures emerging from the Chaos Void and the Archons of the Three Supreme Divine Objects were all meant to produce powerhouses that could reach the fifth stage of eternity.

The designs of these two Great Leaders had proven successful. In this era alone, many True Saints and Dao Zenithels had risen from Saintcrest Prodigies and Legends of the River. The Chaos Jade Crystals and Chaos Nuclei in the Chaos Voids had enabled countless True Saints to break through to Dao Zenithel, resulting in hundreds of Dao Zenithels throughout the cosmic sea.

“Wu Yuan,” the Heavenly Domain Emissary addressed him directly. “You’ve now reached the final stage, that of the Supreme Divine Object. Your self-created Dao is unfathomably powerful. At least, in this Primordial Epoch, no one can surpass its fundamental nature.”

The Emissary gestured toward the dark pagoda. “The Ancestral Pagoda awaits. Try to control it. If you succeed, achieving the fifth step of eternity will be effortless. Even if you don’t succeed, I believe the ultimate secrets within will provide sufficient aid, perhaps even helping you advance further.”

Wu Yuan’s heart quickened. What could these ultimate secrets be?

“Senior, what should I do?” he asked, looking toward the Emissary.

“Fly forward, and you’ll naturally sense it,” came the solemn reply.

Without hesitation, Wu Yuan launched himself forward. After half a day’s flight, however, the towering, endless Ancestral Pagoda remained unchanged before him, seemingly no closer than before.

“Senior?” Wu Yuan turned back, confusion evident.

The Heavenly Domain Emissary wore a look of bewilderment, staring at Wu Yuan. “This shouldn’t be… As an Ancestral Pagoda Archon, you should be able to traverse the boundary between real and illusory realms, directly sensing the Ancestral Pagoda’s essence…”

A thought struck Wu Yuan. “Senior, must it be my true self?”

“Of course it must be your true self; only a true self possesses an Eternal Psyche.” The Emissary nodded, then sudden realization dawned on his face. “This is just your ether body? Your ether body can also cultivate an Eternal Psyche?”

“One moment, Senior.” Wu Yuan smiled slightly.

While the Heavenly Domain Emissary might be mysterious, it appeared that he didn’t control everything. There were many things that even he didn’t know of.

…

In the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime, outside the nebula.

Master has been inside for days, yet there’s been no movement. Dao Zenithel Tian Chan muttered as he waited patiently.

He wasn’t concerned. When facing the Ancestral Pagoda, a legendary Supreme Divine Object, taking billions of years was only normal.

Suddenly, the spacetime behind him rippled slightly. A black-robed figure emerged, flying past.

“Hm?” True Saint Tian Chan started, instantly recognizing the familiar aura. “Master? How did you…?”

The arrival was Wu Yuan’s body refiner self, who had spent several days crossing the Realm of Darkness to reach the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime.

“The one who entered just now was my ether body. This is my true self,” Wu Yuan explained with a slight smile. “I’m going in now.”

He soared skyward, once again facing the guardians’ resistance in the layers of the nebula. This time, Wu Yuan’s performance was even more domineering.

The previous one was the ether body? And this is the true self? Dao Zenithel Tian Chan’s eyes widened as he watched Wu Yuan rapidly break through dozens of layers. He’s withstanding the assault of over a hundred Dao Zenithels?

Master’s true self seems even stronger than the ether body. He muttered to himself.

…

In the dim expanse of void before the Ancestral Pagoda.

“Senior,” Wu Yuan’s body refiner self greeted the Heavenly Domain Emissary with a respectful bow.

“You? This?” The Emissary stared in shock at the two identical black-robed figures before him.

Their vital auras were indistinguishable. Both were Dao Zenithels, with no way to tell which was the true self and which the ether body.

“Eternity is singular. This is an ironclad law of the Primordium! Only the Five Elements Dao Master is a slight exception. You?” The Emissary scrutinized Wu Yuan intently.

As an embodiment of Order, though bound by many restrictions, he knew more secrets than most. He understood how inconceivable it was to break this fundamental law at the Dao Zenithel stage. By all logic, it should have been impossible.

“This junior obtained an ultimate treasure from the Azure Saint Tomb,” Wu Yuan explained simply.

“The Azure Saint Tomb? The Azure Saint?” The Emissary’s surprise was evident; he clearly recognized the name.

After a moment’s contemplation, he shook his head. “I don’t know many things from the previous Primordial Epoch; I only came into being in this one. I cannot comprehend how you broke the Primordium limitations, nor do I need to understand.”

The Emissary gestured forward. “Since your true self has arrived, proceed. There’s no need to fear failure. As an Ancestral Pagoda Archon, even if you fail once, you can return again and again.”

Wu Yuan nodded, then waved his hand to store away his ether body before flying forward. Instantly, he sensed the Eternal Psyche within him responding.

A hazy projection of the Ancestral Pagoda appeared, enveloping his Eternal Psyche. The Eternal Psyche burst forth with endless light; it was the radiance of Wu Yuan’s self-created Dao.

Ancestral Pagoda imprint. Wu Yuan’s consciousness pierced through the darkness and arrived in a mysterious realm.

Instantly, Wu Yuan sensed two other imprints similar to his own—the other Ancestral Pagoda Archons.

One of the imprints felt unfamiliar, yet incredibly powerful. It was faint, so vague it was nearly imperceptible, as if it existed in an entirely different spacetime dimension, impossibly far from Wu Yuan.

The second imprint was equally powerful but clearer, and felt somewhat familiar.

That unfamiliar, vague imprint must be Goddess Nüwa. Wu Yuan instantly understood. The other imprint is… Dao Zenithel Wan Yu!

Dao Zenithel Wan Yu was the last Ancestral Pagoda Archon? Before Wu Yuan could contemplate this further, his consciousness fully descended into that special, mysterious realm.

…

Deep within the Wan Yu Eternal Realm, an elderly man in white robes abruptly opened his eyes. A flash of surprise crossed his face.

So it is you, Wu Yuan. He murmured. You’ve reached the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime, haven’t you? I wonder how much you’ll gain.