Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1336: Four Paths To Apex Strength (2)

What struck Wu Yuan most was that self-created Daos were encompassed within the supreme.

“It’s merely not seeing the forest for the trees.

“We originate from this, yet believe we can surpass it,” the azure-robed figure said, his expression returning to serene calmness. “It resembles climbing a mountain. Countless paths exist. We become complacent about our discoveries, proud of blazing new trails.

“But upon reaching the summit, we discover that regardless of which path we had chosen, novel or ancient, all roads lead to the same singular peak.

“And beyond that mountain lies an infinite expanse.

“The great Dao knows no end.

“How is our pursuit of Dao not itself a cage? Born of this heaven and earth, how can we truly transcend it?” The azure-robed figure’s words emerged measured and deliberate. “This is the final stage, samsara.

“We believe we’ve escaped samsara, becoming eternal and indestructible, yet we remain forever bound to its cycle.”

Wu Yuan held his breath, the weight of each word pressing upon him. Deep in his mind, he sensed profound regret underlying the Great Leader’s words.

“When you reach my level, you will come to understand all of this naturally.” The azure-robed figure’s sudden smile softened his features. “Without entering samsara, one cannot comprehend its tranquility.

“I share this only to prevent you from remaining a frog in a well. This infinite chaotic spacetime stretches far beyond your imagination…”

Wu Yuan listened, barely daring to breathe.

“The path of Dao creation.

“From pioneering, through each step of further deduction, then reaching the pinnacle of Sainthood, it approaches perfection,” the azure-robed figure explained. “Ultimately, it pursues the limit of the fundamental nature of all things: Reality and Void.”

Wu Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly.

“Throughout the vast expanse, everything exists as either Void or Reality, ultimately inseparable from false and real, true and fake,” the azure-robed figure continued. “The paths of saber, sword, spear, the Daos of Fire, Destruction, Life—all laws involving matter fall under the path of Reality.”

Wu Yuan absorbed every word.

“This Path of Reality can also be divided into the perfect law, and the Dao without law,” the azure-robed figure said.

“The perfect law encompasses all laws. Every Dao I mentioned, including all self-created Daos pioneered by cultivators, can be traced back to the perfect law. This is the Perfect Dao! Unsurpassable! The supreme first law, the strongest law,” he declared.

The Perfect Dao?” Wu Yuan felt shock ripple through him.

The strongest law? It made sense. A law encompassing everything truly could not be surpassed.

“Han took this path from the mortal stage, and remains the only one who succeeded in walking it from start to end.

“Other Grand Supremes who eventually walk this path typically make gradual breakthroughs in their self-created Daos first, perfecting them until one Dao begets a myriad Daos, and they eventually step into this path.

“Only he never pioneered a self-created Dao, but walked the truest path from the beginning,” the azure-robed figure said with evident emotion. “Of course, his circumstances were ideal. The environment he was born into was exceptional.”

Han? The creator of Frostheaven Peak? Wu Yuan instantly recalled the consciousness silhouette he’d encountered at Frostheaven Peak.[1]

Indeed, it had encompassed everything. He could find traces of all the myriad laws and Daos he’d witnessed within it.

“The Perfect Dao represents the strongest law.

“And the Dao Without Law is the most chaotic law,” the azure-robed figure continued. “This path pursues the fundamental nature of all things, the origin of all matter. Laws are merely profundities derived from the natural order, but cannot coalesce matter itself.

“The Dao Without Law moves to another extreme, and can also be called the Primordial Law.”

The Primordial Doctrine? Wu Yuan felt stunned as understanding dawned.

Now he comprehended why those Dao Zenithels in the vast cosmic sea would cultivate the Primordial Doctrine alongside their self-created Daos.

These two seemingly different paths to apex strength both pointed directly to the ultimate end.

Yet, countless cultivators since the Primordium primarily walked the Perfect Dao, treating the Primordial Doctrine as merely a secondary cultivation path, with the Xuanhuang Body as the highest achievement. None thought to break through further.

As one who had cultivated the Primordial Doctrine to its limits, Wu Yuan had to admit that advancing to a deeper level of deduction felt nearly impossible.

“These are the two paths of Reality to apex strength.

“The other two paths belong to Void,” the azure-robed figure continued. “Reality operates with perfect rules, the strongest law.”

“Void encompasses destiny, karma, souls of living beings; Void integrates with spacetime yet transcends it. When powerhouses sense each other across infinite spacetime, they apply Void laws,” he explained calmly. “Void remains mysterious. Most powerhouses merely interact with it, finding true comprehension elusive.

“Progress grows increasingly difficult, eventually reaching an unimaginable level.”

Wu Yuan understood that this Void law corresponded to the path of the soul.

“The core principle of the supreme is opposition.”

“Reality is divided into with-law and without-law,” the azure-robed figure said. “Similarly, Void is divided into order and disorder.”

“Ordered Void, the most perfect law, constructs the most vast and perfect Void. When sufficiently perfect, it can become immutable in samsara, even transforming from Void to Reality. Disordered Void harnesses the power of Void to kill, destroying all things with a single strike, annihilating all possibilities—the ultimate destruction in Void.”

Ordered Void? Disordered Void? Though only Wu Yuan’s body refiner self was present, the memories of his two true selves were interconnected. Realization dawned instantly.

These two paths clearly represented the two major classes of the soul path in the cosmic sea: the Psyche Dream class and the Psyche Arsenal class.

Is the Psyche Dream class Ordered Void, and the Psyche Arsenal class Disordered Void? Wu Yuan’s mind raced, making numerous connections. These four paths to apex strength had subtly permeated every corner of the cosmic sea.

Countless cultivators, especially eternal powerhouses, walked these four great paths, differing only in depth of understanding and speed.

None deviated from the paths.

These two Great Leaders established rules for the Nine Megaverses, setting the general direction for all future cultivators. Wu Yuan inwardly marveled.

…

As time passed, the azure-robed figure explained the overall framework of the four stages of cultivation and four paths to apex strengths, detailing key aspects of each path.

Wu Yuan listened with rapt attention.

Though knowledgeable about many cultivation secrets, he had never heard them presented with such clarity and thoroughness.

In just ten days, previously unclear aspects of his future path became crystal clear. He finally understood how to reach the Grand Supreme stage.

The impact this had on him was profound, demonstrating the vital importance of inheritance and knowledge. Without this lecture, Wu Yuan might eventually have systematized this understanding after cultivating for ages, when his cultivation level had reached tremendous heights. But that would have required countless eons. With inheritances and guidance, he could save immeasurable effort.

Only by standing on the shoulders of giants can one see further and higher. Wu Yuan reflected silently.

This Lord Hong, whether concerning with-law or without-law, order or disorder, has mastered everything with such depth and clarity. What manner of being is he? Wu Yuan’s thoughts wandered.

Why had he and the creator of Frostheaven Peak jointly established the rules of the Nine Megaverses Spacetime?

Regardless of their ultimate purpose, Wu Yuan remained deeply grateful for the teachings these two Great Leaders had bestowed.

The azure-robed figure continued his exposition for ten days, demonstrating various techniques. Powerful secret arts and teachings flowed from him effortlessly.

Yet with Wu Yuan’s discerning eye, he detected subtle differences in how the azure-robed figure demonstrated various techniques.

Lord Hong seems to have a deeper mastery of the Psyche Dream class and the Perfect Dao. Wu Yuan noted inwardly.

Finally, the explanations concluded.

“These four paths to apex strength each lead to the ultimate Dao, to the end of samsara,” the azure-robed figure said deliberately. “The path of a Grand Supreme must ultimately be walked individually.

“The methods of predecessors can only serve as a reference, offering inspiration. How you ultimately break through depends on yourself,” he stated.

Wu Yuan nodded, agreeing completely.

Any powerhouse seeking to reach the ultimate end must rely on their own efforts. Depending solely on external aids would make even achieving eternity difficult, let alone reaching the pinnacle of one’s self-created Dao.

“Each of these four steles contains the teachings of a Grand Supreme. You may choose one to contemplate,” the azure-robed figure pointed to the four steles. “They are the Five Moves of Destruction, Sword Dao Samsara, Heaven’s Horizon, and Nine Refinement Legacy.”

“Remember, the Dao is difficult to express. Too much is as harmful as too little. Choose only one stele,” the azure-robed figure smiled faintly before his form vanished into nothingness.

The valley fell silent once more.

Four steles, four great teachings? Wu Yuan studied the massive monuments.

Each contained the teachings of a Grand Supreme.

“Wu Yuan, briefly perceive each stele. Each one retains the external manifestations of a Grand Supreme’s Dao,” the four-eyed spirit beast beside him advised quietly. “See which one resonates most with your Dao and choose accordingly.”

“Mm,” Wu Yuan nodded.

With a thought, his consciousness began probing the four steles, starting with the Five Moves of Destruction.

I’ve already obtained this ultimate technique from Frostheaven Peak’s creator. Wu Yuan reflected. This should be the technique most suited to me, so I needn’t choose it again.

Afterward, Wu Yuan sensed the three remaining steles one by one, gradually understanding the other Supremes’ Daos.

Sword Dao Samsara was left by Lord Hong. Using the sword as a medium, it contains boundless profundities, though rather complex. Wu Yuan perceived. Traces of all four paths to apex strength existed within this teaching, testament to Lord Hong’s immense power.

Heaven’s Horizon, left by a Grand Supreme named Tian Ya, represented the ultimate technique of a Psyche Dream class Grand Supreme.

This integrates three major teachings of the Psyche Dream class. Wu Yuan noted. Yet it seems somewhat weaker than Sword Dao Samsara.

Nine Refinement Legacy, left by a Grand Supreme named Jiu Lian, surprisingly contained many cultivation insights into the Path Without Law.

At the pinnacle of this teaching, one can actually construct a Grand Supreme Body surpassing the Xuanhuang Body? Wu Yuan marveled silently.

This teaching transcended the Primordial Doctrine, yet it presented extreme difficulty. Entering the threshold alone proved incredibly challenging, unlike the all-encompassing Primordial Doctrine accessible from any angle.

After brief contemplation, Wu Yuan decided.

If I were already a Grand Supreme, Sword Dao Samsara would be ideal, but I haven’t taken that final step.

And Nine Refinement Legacy doesn’t align with my current path. Wu Yuan dismissed these options with a slight headshake.

His priority now was reaching the Grand Supreme stage.

That leaves only Heaven’s Horizon. Wu Yuan’s gaze settled on one stele.

He made this choice not for his body refiner self, but for his qi refiner self.

My qi refiner self has managed to progress this rapidly thanks to Goddess Nüwa’s inheritance as reference.

But now, having opened a Dream Megaverse, I approach the level Goddess Nüwa reached back then. Wu Yuan reflected.

Nüwa had left her inheritance before her departure, when she was still a Dao Zenithel.

Heaven’s Horizon would essentially become his qi refiner self’s inheritance.

Without hesitation, Wu Yuan directed his vast consciousness to enter the stele.

Boom! An endless flood of information surged into Wu Yuan’s spirit and consciousness.

Moments later, his consciousness was ejected from the mysterious spacetime.

1. 寒 Han = Frost ☜